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Greece has also seen a huge rise in Egyptians migrating to the country over recent years

Egypt occupies the tenth place among countries that see irregular migrants travel to Italy, which is symptomatic of a rising trend in Egyptian emigration since the 2011 uprising, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said in a recent statement.

In the first five months of 2016, a total of 1,815 Egyptian irregular migrants landed on Italian shores.

Of those migrants, 1,147 were unaccompanied migrant children, making Egypt the top country to see unaccompanied minors arrive in Italy.

The year 2011 saw almost 2,000 migrants arrive in Italy with the number increasing each year to peak at 4,095 irregular migrants in 2014.

Irregular Egyptian migrants are also setting their eyes on Greek shores, IOM reports.

In 2015, almost 1,000 Egyptian migrants reached Greece, a huge increase from the 238 who arrived to the country in 2011.

"Egypt's economic growth is insufficient to absorb labour market entrants, in turn resulting in high unemployment prompting youth to find work opportunities abroad," IOM Egypt head Amr Taha said in the statement.

The IOM provides assistance for irregular migrants wishing to return to Egypt.

Since 2012, the organisation provided voluntary return and reintegration assistance to 1,269 Egyptians returning mainly from Germany, Greece and the Netherlands.

However, according to IOM, few Egyptians who migrate to Italy return to their homeland.

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Clean living, it would seem, really does keep a body healthy. Just look at those nonsmoking, nondrinking boys in The Book of Mormon. Theyve been hanging around in the insalubrious, soul-sapping environs of Broadway for more than three years. Yet they dont look a day older than when they arrived.

On my fourth visit to The Book of Mormon on a recent night, the show still had me at Hello, the first word of the first song in this long-running musical. I had anticipated a certain falling off of religious fervor and discipline in this ebullient satire about naive Mormon missionaries in Uganda, written and composed by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, directed by Mr. Parker and Casey Nicholaw, also its choreographer. Three years is a long time for a peppy musical to stay peppy.

But gosh darn it if I didnt feel born again all over again, ready to spread the word about the faith that this show preaches and, more important, practices. I do not mean the religion of the followers of Joseph Smith, which is so scrupulously disassembled here, but the holy faith of musical comedy, into which my mama baptized me before I could walk.
ORLANDO, Fla.  GROWING up as a gay man in the suburbs of Orlando, Fla., was a challenge. After I started coming out to friends and family when I was 15, I was moved from school to school and I was subjected to the Exodus program, which attempted to change my sexuality through religious reform.

In the face of this kind of discrimination, L.G.B.T. people in Orlando have carved out our own safe zones, congregating at bars and restaurants where we can dare to be ourselves, away from disapproving eyes. Pulse, the nightclub that was attacked on Sunday morning, was one of those places. My husband and I got married in Orlando on April 23. The night before, we went to Pulse with our closest friends to celebrate and to feel a sense of love and community. Thats the type of environment that Pulse offered us.

This week we faced a new challenge: mass violence in the very place we felt most comfortable, accepted and secure. After the attack, the city of Orlando and the state of Florida mobilized. Officials called on people in the area to donate blood for those who were injured in the shooting. Thousands of people have reportedly lined up to donate. But some of them  gay and bisexual men  are unable to.

As a registered nurse, I know the importance of donated blood. It can save the lives of people with traumatic injuries, and during tragedies like Sundays, donation centers are stressed and often lack what they need to treat the wounded.

But many of the people who felt the tragedy most closely cant offer their help. Thats because the Food and Drug Administration bars sexually active gay men from donating. This ban is ostensibly in place to protect blood supplies from being contaminated with H.I.V. But it dates from a time before H.I.V. testing was standard practice for blood donations. It is now generally agreed that H.I.V. can be detected in the blood of an infected person within a matter of weeks. Donors should be assessed according to their risk  not their sexual orientation. In the wake of a hateful attack that left over a hundred people from our community dead or injured, this ban must be removed.
Chips Moman, a producer and songwriter who helped define the Memphis sound in soul music in the 1960s, generated dozens of pop, soul and country hits and helped resuscitate Elvis Presleys career in the late 60s, died on Monday in LaGrange, Ga. He was 79.

The cause was complications of emphysema, said Donny Turner, a friend.

Mr. Moman was a session guitarist at the renowned Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles in the late 1950s when he teamed up with the founders of Stax Records in Memphis, Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton. At Gold Star, he had paid close attention to the engineers and producers as they worked, and at Stax, he applied his newly learned lessons, producing Carla Thomass Top 10 hit Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes) in 1960 and William Bells You Dont Miss Your Water in 1961.

After a dispute with Stax, Mr. Moman created American Sound Studio with settlement money from a lawsuit against his former employers and assembled a dynamic house band, known informally as the Memphis Boys. Between 1965 and 1971, the studio accounted for more than 120 records on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, beginning with the Gentrys Keep On Dancing.

Artists who recorded at American Sound included the Box Tops (The Letter and Cry Like a Baby), Neil Diamond (Sweet Caroline), B. J. Thomas (Hooked on a Feeling), Joe Tex (I Gotcha), Dusty Springfield (Son of a Preacher Man) and Wilson Pickett (Im in Love and Im a Midnight Mover).
SHANGHAI  Chinese stocks had seemed poised to join an important global benchmark, paving the way for overseas money to pour into the countrys markets.

But the provider of the index, MSCI, decided that China was not yet ready, again holding off on adding mainland stocks to its influential emerging-markets benchmark.

The decision, announced on Tuesday, was a blow not only to despondent local investors but for the Chinese government more broadly. For several years, China had been pushing hard to increase its sway in global financial markets, an effort that recently resulted in having its currency, the renminbi, included in the exclusive club of currencies at the International Monetary Fund.

A year ago, China seemed close to having won over MSCI, whose remaining major concern was the difficulty for foreigners to buy and sell stocks in China, where the government has significant influence over markets.
Only Mr. Trump knows whether the bans are the result of pique or some carefully thought-out strategy (he denies the latter).

But that doesnt matter.

As of now, there is only this: The all-but-confirmed standard-bearer of one of the United Statess two major political parties is actively stripping credentials from news organizations that report things that he deems unfair or inaccurate. He has a black list and, unlike the one that Nixon kept, this is not a secret. Quite the opposite.

I called and sent email to the Republican National Committee a couple of times on Tuesday, to see whether the party Mr. Trump will soon be nominated to lead would carry out the same bans, but I did not get a return call.

I did get a call back from Mr. Trump, who said that he was exercising his right to choose whom he grants credentials to as he runs a campaign that he has mostly paid for himself. Im from a different world, other than politics, he said. In my world, when people dont treat you fairly   He didnt finish the sentence, but he didnt have to: You cut them off.

I dont want good stories, he said, I want fair stories.

To his mind, The Post had not been fair in its coverage of his speech, as evidenced by its decision to change its headline. But why, I asked him, was that the incident that led him to ban the paper. It was the last straw, he told me. At The Washington Post, he said, virtually every article is negative even when I have big victories.
One victim, rushed into surgery on Sunday, had a severe abdominal wound and was also close to bleeding to death from shots to the arm and leg, said Dr. Matthew W. Lube, another trauma surgeon at the center.

Dr. Cheatham said that he would not be surprised if one or two of the six victims who are in critical condition do not survive and that he had concerns about whether others would recover fully. At least one had been shot in the head.

Eleven victims were taken to other hospitals in Orlando.

The patient who attended the news conference, Angel Colon, was saying goodnight to friends at the club when the shooting began. He was shot three times in the right leg, fell and was trampled, shattering bones in his left leg. As he lay on the floor, the gunman shot a woman next to him and then shot him twice more, seeming to aim for his head but striking him in the hand and the hip. Mr. Colon remained motionless, hoping the shooter would think him dead.

When the police arrived, Mr. Colon was unable to stand, so an officer hurriedly dragged him out of the club, across broken glass that cut his legs and back. But Im grateful for him, Mr. Colon said.

To the doctors and nurses at the briefing, Mr. Colon said, I will love you guys forever.

When it came to rescuing victims at the site, the usual rules did not apply, Dr. George Ralls, the medical director for Orange County, where Orlando is located, said in an interview. At most sites with multiple casualties, emergency medical technicians assess the victims and color-tag them according to how urgently they need to be evacuated. Yellow can wait, red means hurry up, black means its too late.

But that night, unless someone obviously needed urgent help for hemorrhaging or breathing trouble, technicians skipped the assessments and loaded people into ambulances and rushed them to the medical center, Dr. Ralls said. Because it was so close, the technicians realized they could drive patients there, several at a time, faster than they could assess them. And for critically injured people, the thing most likely to save their lives is getting to the hospital as fast as possible.
Child soldiers. Abductions. Infant mortality. Earthquakes. Caches of Kalashnikovs  in teenage hands.

Shortages of food, water, electricity. Hospitals where surgeons operate without water, gloves, antibiotics or soap.

During his first months on the job, The Timess Andes bureau chief Nicholas Casey experienced a full spectrum of disasters.

In this podcast, Nick, who is stationed in Caracas, Venezuela, but was briefly in New York, talks about his experience in and reporting on a country on the brink of collapse.
A reader asks: An obit for the woman who invented the beehive hairdo? How did that come about?

Bruce Weber, the Times reporter who penned it, responds.

Margaret Vinci Heldt was a natural subject for a Times obituary; she created something that affected the culture and carved out a place for itself in social history  just about a texbook definition for changing the world, no? As for how it came about, I cant say that we keep an eye on famous hairdressers who have lived beyond their prime, and Im afraid we cant claim, in this instance anyway, to have mined any secret resources to learn of Ms. Heldts death. She was a Chicagoan; The Chicago Sun-Times published her obituary, which is where we in the department read about it. (The Associated Press also ran a brief item.) I will note that the editors were going to give the obit to another writer because, as one of them said to me, It isnt exactly in your wheelhouse, but then I reminded him that four years ago I had written the obituary of Vidal Sassoon  on deadline.
When the magazine published my article on how my husband and I navigated selecting a school for our daughter in New York City  one of the most segregated school systems in the country  it certainly touched a nerve. Since it went online last Thursday, it has garnered hundreds and hundreds of comments, emails, Facebook shares and Twitter conversations.

Its clear that people felt compelled to share, criticize and consider the arguments put forth in the article and discuss their own school decisions, and mine. Below are some comments and questions from readers, with responses from me.

Segregated Is a Contentious Term

Segregated is most definitely a poor word choice. It has a connotation implying that the lack of diversity in New York City schools is imposed by law. How is a predominantly Latino school in a predominantly Latino neighborhood segregated? The school demographic is based on who lives in the neighborhood. New York City has had specifically ethnic neighborhoods since its birth. To use the term segregated is dangerous. If you dont like the schools in a particular neighborhood, choose another neighborhood that suits your needs better. Margaret Elizabeth

Some readers objected to my use of the word segregation to describe schools in New York City that are almost entirely black and Latino. They believe that segregation occurs only when mandated by law. But both legally and culturally, we have always recognized varying forms of segregation  de jure, by law, and de facto, by fact. In the North, the lines between de jure and de facto segregation have long been muddied, because while laws requiring segregation were not common, as my article points out, segregation still often resulted from the intentional and discriminatory policies and actions of public officials. To say that the segregation in New York City, or any city, is simply a result of individual housing choices assumes a free and open housing market, where people can simply choose where they want to live. We have never had a free and open housing market in this country, and that is why it was important for me to show the story of the Farragut Houses, and how federal and local policy constrained the choices of black and Puerto Rican residents and how it socially engineered housing segregation where it did not exist before.
The same issues that bothered them  poverty, inequality, lack of educational resources  these are progressive values, Ms. Lopez said. I told them, you have more in common with us.

She said she was born in Puerto Rico, and her mother, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic without a high school diploma, worked in a sewing factory in New York. Were hardworking people. We have pride in where we come from, Ms. Lopez said. Isnt that what being American is? The power of overcoming adversity, and being the best you can be with little resources.

At times, the training took on the air of a sorority meeting  a room full of young women clapping in unison to show attention and snapping their fingers to show affirmation.

Other times it felt like a support group, with women telling their familys painful story of immigration, of abuse, of resilience. Tears fell and napkins were passed.

As the conference was winding to a close on Sunday, Ms. Bhojwani stepped out of the room, encouraged and yet concerned.

What this affirms is that if women have a space where their voices are validated, they will speak out, she said.

The thing that Im struggling with is how can we take this affirmation, and strength and solidarity that a womens-only space provides, and carry that into spaces that are coed.
This is the second gag order to be issued on the case after the prosecution imposed a similar order last year, before the case was referred to court

Cairo Criminal Court has imposed a media gag order on the case of the assassination of the country's top prosecutor, Hisham Barakat, in 2015  the second such order in the case.

Hisham Barakat, 64, was killed when a car bomb struck his convoy in the east Cairo upscale district of Heliopolis on 29 June last year.

The court imposed Wednesday a media gag order on the case. The decision includes all information, documents and investigations pertaining to the case, but excludes the proceedings of the trial hearings.

Some 67 people are being tried in the case. They face charges of "belonging to a terrorist group," "premeditated murder" and espionage with the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

The first hearing of the case was postponed to 13 July.

This is the second time a gag order has been imposed on the case. Acting prosecutor general Ali Omran issued a gag order in July 2015 when a probe was underway by the prosecution before the case was referred to court.

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By rights, on a bright Friday afternoon in late spring, Sumeja Tulic had every reason to relish walking the streets of New York, a city she moved to nine months ago from London for graduate school. When the weather is good, its very hard to find a reason to be depressed or melancholic or dissatisfied with the city, Ms. Tulic said.

Yet her time in New York has coincided with a season of ceaseless ugliness in politics and serial acts of terrorism around the world. One day you laugh, and then youre really angry, said Ms. Tulic, a Bosnian-Libyan and a Muslim.

As she walked toward the subway station in TriBeCa on Friday, she hoped for a fair, fresh wind.

I was saying, Please, God, just something nice  I want to see something nice, she said. Enough of this craziness.

At the City Hall station for the R train, she settled onto a bench. It was just after 2 p.m. Only a few people were at the station. The space was quiet, the lack of noise and bustle a substrate for the events about to unfold. A man leaned against a pillar, the way anyone might, waiting for the train that would go uptown in Manhattan and later turn east for Queens. The stillness was interrupted with an announcement. They said the next train was two stations away, Ms. Tulic said. Another long moment, then out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the man at the pillar collapsing forward, but the movement did not register as much as the sound.
Even before the first car traveled across the 6,690-foot bridge, officials fought publicly over the spelling. The name has appeared both ways in books, historical documents and newspaper archives.

A monument in Battery Park dedicated to the Italian has two zs in his name. So does a bridge in Florence, Italy, that opened in 1967. The Mariners Museum and Park in Virginia uses two zs, as does the Castle of Verrazzano in Italy, where he is said to have been born.

But in 1960, John N. LaCorte, the executive director of the Italian Historical Society of America who pushed for the bridge to be named after the Italian, insisted that one z was the proper spelling. Mr. LaCorte said he had consulted with authorities in Italy and photographed the explorers signature in the Latin form: Janus Verrazanus.

And so the bridge was christened with a single z. Gay Talese, the reporter who covered the opening for The New York Times and wrote a book about the bridge, said he now considered the spelling a typo set in stone.

I dont know what theyll do, Mr. Talese said of the transportation authoritys current predicament. Its a little damn late.

The quandary recalls the fate of many European immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries whose names ended up changed, sometimes by mistake, sometimes by choice, in the course of their entry into the United States.
The real progressive agenda will be written over the next few years, either to push the Clinton administration or to shape a challenge to a Republican president and Congress. But its unlikely that this new progressive agenda will be Mr. Sanderss agenda, specifically, or that Mr. Sanders himself will be the leading advocate and arbiter of progressive policies in the way that Senator Edward M. Kennedy once was. Mr. Sanders is still running the Windows 95 version of progressive politics.

For one thing, he has never had the kind of influence with his colleagues that he found with the grass roots this year, in part because he never defined himself as a Democrat. No one expects that hell run for president again at 78 or 82, so he wont have the clout of a senator who is seen as a potential president. And any institutional power he may gain as chairman or a ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee sounds a lot bigger than it really is. The committees main job is to produce a nonbinding budget resolution, and in many recent years, it hasnt even done that.

But the biggest reason that Mr. Sanders wont shape the next progressive agenda stems from a little-noticed aspect of his campaign: His policy proposals were consistently out of step with the ideas that have been emerging from progressive think tanks like Demos or the Center for American Progress or championed by his own congressional colleagues.

For example, many liberal Democrats would agree with Mr. Sanders, in theory, that single-payer health insurance could be fairer, more efficient and cheaper than our fragmented system. But the president and Congress made the decision in 2010 to build on the private insurance system, in the form of the Affordable Care Act, in part because single-payer wasnt politically viable. A Democratic administrations next moves will be to expand and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, not start over.

Like many of Mr. Sanderss policy proposals, single-payer is an all-or-nothing proposition that creates few openings for legislators who want to do something incremental that could lead to a bigger goal. Congressmen like Senator Kennedy or Representative Henry Waxman of California often put forward ambitious ideas, too, but with manageable steps to build a structure that could be expanded later or that could attract enough support to pass.
The simple yet profound classification of broadband connections as a type of utility was central to winning the case, which was heard in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and pitted the Federal Communications Commission against trade groups for the broadband companies. The agency had tried twice before to establish rules for competition and consumer protection on the internet. The broadband industry successfully challenged both proposals, largely on the ground that it was primarily an information provider, more like a discretionary convenience for consumers than a utility, and thus not subject to F.C.C. authority. The industrys goal was to kill off net neutrality  the doctrine that cable and phone companies should treat all information equally as it travels over their broadband networks.

In late 2014, the ground under the debate shifted when President Obama called on the commission to treat broadband service providers more like utilities, subject to rules similar to those governing telephone services. At the same time, millions of Americans weighed in on the F.C.C.s proposed rules, saying much the same thing. In response, the F.C.C. developed the new and stronger regulations that prevailed this week. Gone were earlier proposals to let cable and phone companies offer separate (and unequal) high-quality and low-quality tiers. Gone were proposals to regulate some provider practices while putting others outside the purview of federal regulation.

Even before the ruling, cable and phone companies had vowed to challenge any unfavorable outcome, possibly by taking the case to the Supreme Court. The industry is also virtually certain to ask Congress to pass legislation to revoke or water down the F.C.C.s regulations.

It is hard to imagine lawmakers taking a stand to make the internet less accessible. It is unknown whether the Supreme Court would hear an appeal. Tuesdays ruling is a step forward for the internet and its users, and deserves to stand.
Austin, Tex.  ANY day now, the Supreme Court is going to decide whether women everywhere have full access to the right to an abortion, or just those who live in the right ZIP code  and whether any other woman in Texas, where I live, will have to go through what I did last fall.

The abortion restrictions that the court is currently considering, which were passed in 2013 under the pretext of protecting womens health and safety, are really nothing more than unnecessary obstacles. In my life, they made a devastating situation much worse.

Nearly six months after my abortion I still carry the scars of the experience  not of the procedure itself, which was a blessing I will never regret, but of how hard it was to get the care I needed in the state where I live.

Im already a mother of two. And after years of being told I couldnt have any more children, I was shocked when my doctor told me last summer that I was pregnant. I wanted another child, and I immediately began prenatal care.
In a speech on Tuesday to update the nation on the battle against the Islamic State, given against the backdrop of the Orlando, Fla., massacre, President Obama gave the most powerful rebuke yet to the increasingly unreasonable and dangerous ravings of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

Mr. Obama started by listing the ways in which his administration has worked to subdue the threat of terrorism abroad and at home. And because of the use of American and allied force, the Islamic State is losing ground in Syria, Iraq and Libya, he said.

Then he addressed the accusation  a fetishized Republican talking point, repeated by Mr. Trump after Orlando  that Mr. Obama is surrendering to the enemy by avoiding the label radical Islam. The idea that reciting those words would help magically defeat the terrorists is absurd, and worse. It plays into the desire of groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda to make the war, as Mr. Obama said, a war between Islam and America, or between Islam and the West. They want to claim that they are the true leaders of over a billion Muslims around the world who reject their crazy notions.

Implying that these terrorists speak for Islam aids their propaganda, Mr. Obama said. Thats how they recruit. And if we fall into the trap of painting all Muslims with a broad brush, and imply that we are at war with an entire religion, then we are doing the terrorists work for them.
As families began planning funerals for the victims of Sundays rampage at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., gay Americans mourned a loss that extended beyond the lives cut short.

Omar Mateen shattered the tenuous, hard-fought sense of personal safety that many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have begun to feel as the movement for equality has made significant gains in recent years. His bullets and the blood he left behind that early morning were a reminder that in many corners of the country, gay and transgender people are still regarded as sinners and second-class citizens who should be scorned.

While the precise motivation for the rampage remains unclear, it is evident that Mr. Mateen was driven by hatred toward gays and lesbians. Hate crimes dont happen in a vacuum. They occur where bigotry is allowed to fester, where minorities are vilified and where people are scapegoated for political gain. Tragically, this is the state of American politics, driven too often by Republican politicians who see prejudice as something to exploit, not extinguish.

Since the 1990s, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans have made considerable progress in the fight for equality under the law. By living openly and proudly, they have changed societys attitudes about sexual orientation and gender identity. That shift has prompted politicians who were once wary about embracing equal rights for L.G.B.T. Americans  including President Obama and Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee  to become resolute allies. The 2015 Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage was celebrated by many in the gay community as the crowning achievement of a decades-long quest for respect and dignity.

Yet, that fight remains far from over. Since the marriage ruling, several Republican-led state legislatures and Republican governors and federal lawmakers have redoubled their fight against legal protections for people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. So far this year, more than 200 anti-L.G.B.T. bills have been introduced in 34 states.

Donald Trump, unlike some other prominent Republicans, called the Orlando massacre what it was: an attack on gay people. Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, could not even offer that recognition to a community in pain.

Yet, Mr. Trump has vowed to choose Supreme Court justices who would overturn marriage equality, and he supports the deceptively named First Amendment Defense Act, an effort to approve discrimination against gay and transgender people nationwide under the guise of religious freedom. And Mr. Trump backtracked from his statement that transgender people should be able to use the restroom consistent with their gender identity after Senator Ted Cruz used his words to attack him during the nomination fight.

That restrooms have become such a fixation, particularly at the state level, is a worrying reminder of the entrenched stigma the community continues to face. The loudest advocates of this odious effort have been Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina and Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, who has worked in lock step with the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton. Meanwhile, Gov. Phil Bryant of Mississippi in April signed into law a bill that allows discrimination against L.G.B.T. people in schools and the workplace.

Its hard to say how many politicians take these positions as a matter of principle and how many do so because it has proved to be an effective way in the past to raise money and turn out the vote. As the funerals are held for those who perished on Sunday, lawmakers who have actively championed discriminatory laws and policies, and those who have quietly enabled them with votes, should force themselves to read the obituaries and look at the photos. The 49 people killed in Orlando were victims of a terrorist attack. But they also need to be remembered as casualties of a society where hate has deep roots.
The massacre of 49 people at a gay club in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday by a gunman claiming inspiration from the Islamic State resonated instantly around the world. Though it echoed recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Brussels, Beirut and Bamako, it also raised painful memories of attacks targeting gay men and women, from the arson at a gay bar in New Orleans in 1973 that took 32 lives to the nail-bomb explosion at a London pub in 1999.

Yet despite the messages of condolence and outrage from world leaders  several of whom were silent about the sexual orientation of the victims  and the heartening displays of solidarity as rainbow colors lighted up the Eiffel Tower and Sydneys Harbour Bridge, the fact is, gay rights remain elusive in much of the world. In at least 74 countries, being gay is a crime. In at least 10 countries, gay sex is a crime punishable by death.

In Russia, a noxious gay propaganda law enacted in 2013 is being used to prosecute people for such offenses as publishing a poem or posts on social media that refer to same-sex love. In India, a colonial-era law criminalizing sex against the order of nature rarely results in convictions but remains a powerful tool to harass gay men and lesbians.

As with Donald Trump in America, hatemongering is on the rise around the world, as authoritarian leaders and right-wing nationalist groups target the immigrant, the gay man or the minority citizen as a scapegoat for frustrations. Hate is becoming mainstreamed, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, warned on Monday.
Philip Warren Majerus was born in Chicago on July 10, 1936, the son of Clarence Majerus, a manufacturer who owned a five-and-dime store in Quincy, Ill., and the former Helen Mathis.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1958, graduated from Washington University School of Medicine and did postdoctoral training at the National Institutes of Health. He joined the Washington University faculty in 1966 and retired in 2014 as a professor of medicine and biochemistry and molecular biophysics.

I got my start in biochemistry because of the Vietnam War, he recalled in The Journal of Biological Chemistry. As I was finishing my medical residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1963, I had two choices going forward: Either I could go to Vietnam as a physician, or I could become a research associate in the United States Public Health Service at the National Institutes of Health. The choice was easy.

As early as the 1950s, studies had demonstrated that aspirin reduced clotting; one California doctor, Lawrence Craven, reported that he had prescribed daily doses to thousands of patients without a single case of detectable coronary or cerebral thrombosis.

In the 1970s, Dr. Majerus and his postdoctoral research fellow, Gerald Roth, focused on the impact of aspirin on platelets, small cells that precipitate clotting when a blood vessel is injured. They clump together and a clot forms and seals the wound.

Late one afternoon, I looked in the St. Louis phone directory for aspirin and found a company in town, Rexall, that made aspirin tablets, Dr. Majerus recalled in 1978. I called after hours, and a man answered the phone. I explained what I wanted: 100 bottles of 100 tablets containing 160 MG aspirin and the same number of bottles of a matched placebo. The man said he could make them without any problem, and he delivered them to my lab the next morning at no charge.

He studied patients who were being treated for kidney failure and, to facilitate dialysis, had shunts, which can cause clotting, inserted in their arms. After six months, 18 of the 25 patients who were taking a placebo developed a blood clot, compared with six of the 19 who were given aspirin.
Update, April 27, 2017: Since this article was published in June 2016, the military policy bill was restructured and the language requiring women to register for selective service was removed. The bill passed with language calling for a review of the current rules. Read more in our fact check of viral claims to the contrary.

WASHINGTON  In the latest and perhaps decisive battle over the role of women in the military, Congress is embroiled in an increasingly intense debate over whether they should have to register for the draft when they turn 18.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved an expansive military policy bill that would for the first time require young women to register for the draft. The shift, while fiercely opposed by some conservative lawmakers and interest groups, had surprisingly broad support among Republican leaders and women in both parties.

The United States has not used the draft since 1973 during the Vietnam War. But the impact of such a shift, reflecting the evolving role of women in the armed services, would likely be profound.
Egypt's top prosecutor Nabil Sadek flew Wednesday to Cyprus to discuss the extradition of an Egyptian man who hijacked a domestic EgyptAir flight and redirected it to the Mediterranean island last March.

The prosecutor-general, along with other Egyptian judicial officials, will follow up on the latest developments in the probe of the hijacking by 59-year-old Seif Eddin Mostafa, who has been described by Cypriot authorities as "psychologically unstable."

Sadek is scheduled to meet with a number of Cypriot officials in the southern city of Larnaca to discuss the extradition of Mostafa to Egypt so he can face trial, state news agency MENA said.

A Cypriot court is looking into the extradition matter, and proceedings in the case have been adjourned until June 17.

Mostafa is fighting extradition, arguing he would not receive a fair trial in Egypt and could face torture or be given the death penalty.

Cypriot authorities have rejected his request for political asylum, deeming him a "perpetrator of serious crimes."

Mostafa is accused of using a fake suicide belt to seize the plane, which was en route to Cairo from Alexandria, and diverting it to Cyprus on 29 March.

He was arrested when he stepped off the plane after all 55 passengers on board were released unharmed following a six-hour standoff.

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GREENSBORO, N.C.  In his first campaign rally since the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Donald J. Trump again attempted to portray himself as a better friend of L.G.B.T. Americans than Hillary Clinton, in part because of his opposition to immigration from Middle Eastern countries.

We want to live in a country where gay and lesbian Americans and all Americans are safe from radical Islam, Mr. Trump said, which, by the way, wants to murder and has murdered gays and they enslave women.

As he did on Monday, Mr. Trump claimed Mrs. Clintons immigration policies would open the floodgates to jihadists, pointing to her plan to increase the number of Syrian refugees admitted to the country by 550 percent over President Obamas plan.

We dont know who they are, where theyre coming from, theres no documentation, Mr. Trump said. (Mrs. Clintons plan does call for more refugees from Syria, but also intense vetting processes, of which one is already in place.)

Crooked Hillary wants to increase these immigration numbers very, very substantially, he said. Shes no friend of women. And shes no friend of L.G.B.T. Americans. No friend, believe me.

In the past, Mr. Trump has been more accepting of sexual minorities than his partys leaders have been, but his particular emphasis on gay and lesbian communities and calls to embrace them, even shrouded in caustic comments toward Middle Eastern immigrants, was notable in North Carolina, which is the epicenter of the debate over transgender bathrooms. (It should be noted that Mr. Trump still opposes same-sex marriage.)

Mr. Trump said in April that transgender people should use the bathroom they feel is appropriate, but later said the issue should be left up to the states.

Mr. Trump later recalled a story accusing soldiers of skimming money in Iraq, also notable in North Carolina, a state home to Fort Bragg.

Iraq, crooked as hell, Mr. Trump said, at the tail end of his normal screed about ISIS controlling some of the highest grades of oil in the world. How about bringing baskets of money, millions and millions of dollars and handing it out. I want to know who are the soldiers that had that job because I think theyre living very well right now, whoever they may be.

His campaign said he was referring to Iraqi soldiers, although previous reports had found that some U.S. soldiers were convicted of bribery and fraud. It was an accusation Mr. Trump, who has made support for veterans such a key part of his campaign, has levied before, but never as the presumptive Republican nominee, and one who has made support for veterans such a key part of his campaign.

But as he sought to shore up support in the wake of the tragedy in Orlando, Mr. Trump continually emphasized his anti-immigration proposals.

Every year we bring in more than 100,000 lifetime immigrants from the Middle East, and many more from Muslim countries outside of the Middle East, he said. A number of these immigrants have hostile attitudes.

He said that his stand was a major reason for the support he has received.

Weve admitted four times more immigrants than any other country in the world, Mr. Trump said. We cant do this. Not surprisingly, wages for people working in our country, real wages, real numbers, havent increased for 18 years.

He added: And then they wonder why I have packed houses all over the place.

Those in the crowd were mixed on Mr. Trumps plan on immigration. Nancy Alford, 51, from Greensboro, said that it was a very sensitive issue but that she wanted everyone to be treated and vetted equally.

Others thought Mr. Trump didnt go far enough.

They need to round them up and let them get out of the country, said Lance Shafley, 61, of Liberty, N.C., who also referred to camps from World War II. This country is at war against ISIS and the hostile Muslims.
BERLIN  The commemoration of war is frequent enough in Europe, and it is tempting sometimes to ask whether time is turning historys cataclysms into the commonplace.

Yet the importance of some lessons cannot be ignored. In recent months, the centenaries of great battles of World War I have recalled the cruel paradox that human loss does not necessarily equate to strategic or tactical gain  a conclusion just as valid now as then.

Those murderous frays at the Somme and Verdun in 1916 confirmed the arrival of a new kind of warfare. Battles fought over a day in the previous century gave way to lengthy campaigns that consumed unparalleled casualties.

The Battle of the Somme lasted from July to November, Verdun from February to December. Between them they accounted for hundreds of thousands of dead, but the war had almost two years still to run.
Iran has reached an agreement with the Boeing Company for the acquisition of new passenger planes to help modernize its outdated fleet, state-run Iranian news media reported on Tuesday.

Such an agreement, if completed, would potentially be worth many billions of dollars to Boeing and amount to the most prominent commercial transaction between an American company and Iran since sanctions linked to Irans nuclear program were lifted six months ago. It also would send a strong signal that Iran and the United States, despite decades of antipathy, might be moving toward normalized ties.

Numerous obstacles remain to such an agreement, most notably other American sanctions on Iran that are not related to the Tehrans nuclear program, including a ban on using dollars in trade with the country. The restraints have dissuaded many international banks and financial companies, fearful of running afoul of American laws, from venturing into the Iranian market.

Many Republican lawmakers and others who opposed the nuclear agreement, and who have long warned of any reconciliation with Iran, could object to a Boeing deal.
UNITED NATIONS  For years, diplomats were more comfortable talking about nuclear warheads than sexual orientation.

Sexual orientation was one of those subjects burdened with too many cultural sensitivities. American officials, even if they wanted to advance it on the diplomatic agenda, were wary of offending their allies, not least in the Islamic world.

The attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., moved the needle.

In its aftermath, the United States corralled an unlikely group of countries to support a United Nations Security Council statement that condemned the attack for targeting persons as a result of their sexual orientation. Even Egypt and Russia  not known for embracing their gay and lesbian citizens  signed on, after what diplomats called intense consultations.

Earlier in the day, the United States delivered a pointed rebuke to countries that block gay rights at the United Nations, urging them to contribute more than condolences and condemnations after the Orlando attack.
Its all about imagery: army fatigues, ink splatters and a train of fabric that stretches long or gathers in a swirl around a womans ankles. Is it a lake or quicksand? Probably both. Jessica Langs dances may be subdued, but they dont embrace subtlety.

On Tuesday, Jessica Lang Dance returned to the Joyce Theater in celebration of its fifth anniversary. In September, the company will move into a new dance center in Long Island City, Queens, where classes will be offered at all levels. Its an impressive accomplishment. If only the same could be said of Ms. Langs tepid choreography, which is frequently performed by ballet companies, and illustrates how quickly simplicity can slide into blandness.

The Joyce program features three New York premieres, including Solo Bach (2008), in which Patrick Coker, upbeat and high-spirited, starts out with his back to the audience. Kicking a leg forward with a jaunty hop, he faces us with upturned palms  a greeting that is repeated throughout  and presses ahead with fleet footwork and airy jumps. Its sweet, yet overwrought.
Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Getaway

(Warner Bros.)

Flea, the slap-happy bassist in the Red Hot Chili Peppers, recently stirred up a small tempest: A lot of times, especially recently, I look at rock music as kind of a dead form in a lot of ways. He was talking with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam on SiriusXM, and quickly hedged: Nothing to take against us or you guys, because you know, were obviously  I believe that were relevant bands that come with a real energy. (He used profanity there.)

Flea was talking about punk values, basically: insurgency, impertinence, whatever is the opposite of groomed and packaged. Thirty years ago, the Red Hot Chili Peppers formed an embodiment of that riotous ideal. It lingers mainly as a fond reverberation on The Getaway, their 11th studio album, a back-to-basics record with an asterisk: It doesnt sound exactly like classic-vintage Chili Peppers, but it might just sound like how you remember them. Rather than regrouping with Rick Rubin, the producer of note throughout the Chili Peppers canon, the band enlisted Danger Mouse, a paladin of pastiche.

Image Credit...

Danger Mouse takes a Rubinesque approach, smartly punching up the sinewy cohesion that still sets the Chili Peppers apart. Dark Necessities has all the trademarks: thumb-popping bass, chiming guitar, vocals that oscillate between rhythmic patter and a plaintive chorus. Goodbye Angels forms an even more perfect distillation, with mounting pressure and a hard swerve, after three and a half minutes, into a polyrhythmic mosh-pit jam.
Louis Brandeis geared up for combat when J. P. Morgans New Haven Railroad tried to buy the Boston and Maine lines. Brandeis hated the thought of what he called a monster corporation controlling all transportation facilities of New England, and lobbied fiercely against the merger. Morgan prevailed, but it took all the power of the Republican machine and of the bankers money to do it, Brandeis wrote, and I am well content with the fight made.

Brandeis would win many other battles on behalf of his people: consumers, workers, small-business men and other common folk. He rode his success as the peoples lawyer into President Woodrow Wilsons inner circle as an influential economic adviser, and then onto the Supreme Court, where he was the first Jewish justice and a progressive champion.

The brilliant, crusading Brandeis is the subject of Jeffrey Rosens excellent Louis D. Brandeis: American Prophet. The book, part of the Yale Jewish Lives series, is not a full biography  that ground is already well trod  but rather a concise and sympathetic exploration of Brandeiss main intellectual causes. It is well titled: Brandeis resembled an Old Testament prophet  Franklin D. Roosevelt called him old Isaiah  with his highly articulated moral vision and true believers zeal. It is also well timed: Mr. Rosen persuasively makes his case that recognizing Brandeis as an American prophet seems more important today than ever.

Brandeis was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1856, to immigrant Jewish parents. Like many Southerners  including Thomas Jefferson, whom he revered  Brandeis developed a strong sympathy for farmers and state governments, and a mistrust of big government and big business.
Mr. Valvani, 44, and Mr. Johnston, 64, were introduced through a so-called expert network in 2005 and quickly entered into a private arrangement that spanned more than five years. During that period, Mr. Johnston received a monthly payment that started at $3,000 and later went up to as much as $5,000 for his inside information, the government said. From 2009 to 2010, Mr. Johnston received $108,000 for information.

Image Jacob Gottlieb, the founder of Visium Asset Management, told investors in March that the hedge fund was being investigated. Credit... Rick Wilking/Reuters

Their scheme is reminiscent of a time when expert networks  firms that connected hedge fund managers with experts in various fields  were commonly used by the industry to get an investing edge. These networks were the focus of a relentless and multiyear crackdown on insider trading in the hedge fund industry brought by Preet Bharara, the United States attorney in Manhattan. His prosecutions resulted in the convictions of more than 80 traders, consultants and analysts in the hedge fund industry. Several of those convictions involved traders at SAC Capital Advisors, the former hedge fund owned by billionaire investor Steven A. Cohen.

Barry H. Berke, a lawyer representing Mr. Valvani, said his client was innocent and added that his investment decisions were always based on rigorous and entirely appropriate research and analysis, consistent with his high integrity.

The prosecution of Mr. Valvani is yet another example of this United States attorneys office stretching the facts and law to try to transform entirely innocent trading decisions into a crime, said Mr. Berke, who also represented Michael S. Steinberg, the highest-ranking SAC Capital employee to stand trial for insider trading.

Last year, the government was forced to drop Mr. Steinbergs conviction after a federal appellate court decision to overturn two prominent convictions in 2014. The ruling dealt a blow to Mr. Bhararas office; prosecutors argued that it was the greatest setback in decades and warned that it would stall any new cases.

In charging Visium employees and Mr. Johnston on Wednesday, the government is sending a strong signal that it can still bring new insider trading cases. The government has gained momentum over the last month, having filed criminal charges against William T. Walters, the high-rolling Las Vegas gambler, and Thomas C. Davis, a former Dean Foods chairman, in a case that also ensnared Phil Mickelson, the champion golfer, who was named a relief defendant.

The government on Wednesday brought separate charges against Mr. Plaford and Stefan Lumiere, who are both former Visium employees, accusing them of conspiring to inflate the value of certain stock positions to extract bigger payouts from Visium investors. Mr. Lumiere and Mr. Plaford are accused of engaging in a fraudulent scheme over an 18-month period, using fake quotes from a broker to hide the real value of at least 28 securities each month. They used a personal cellphone or a flash drive that was delivered by courier to pass along the inflated price quotes. Their compensation was based in part on the valuation of these securities. In all, these inflated prices led to a $5.9 million payout of performance fees.
In February, the inspectors spent five days at the plant and then shared their findings with Whole Foods, which responded within 15 business days. The company told the F.D.A. that it had retrained employees to address most of the issues the agency raised.

That response, however, failed to satisfy the F.D.A. We do not consider your response acceptable because you failed to provide documentation for our review, which demonstrates that all your noted corrective actions have been effectively implemented, the agency wrote in its June 8 warning letter.

Whole Foods said the letter came as a surprise. The company said it had taken steps to correct the problems and would meet on Thursday with the F.D.A. to discuss what the issues are and how to address them.

Whats confusing to us is the fact that the letter identifies issues weve already corrected, said Ken Meyer, the companys executive vice president for operations.

We worked with a third-party consultant and our own global food safety team, he said, to address their concerns and assumed we were in good standing with them until this letter arrived on Friday.

Whole Foods now has about two weeks to provide evidence to the F.D.A. that steps it has taken bring the company into compliance. Otherwise, the company might have to pay the agency to reinspect the facility.

Groceries have long offered prepared foods like rotisserie chickens and broccoli salad. But as business has declined in the center store, companies have upped their game, adding sophisticated meals that consumers can take home or eat in the store.
Among those who manage gobs of money, the possibility that Britain might actually disavow the European Union seemed until recently like a remote and even outlandish possibility.

But about a week before voters go to the polls to determine their future, masters of finance are suddenly absorbing the prospect that Britain might really walk, unleashing anxiety and uncertainty throughout the global economy.

Like local responders readying sandbags as a hurricane menaces their shores, financial industry overseers have been quietly drawing up contingency plans while surveying the expensive havoc a so-called Brexit is already wreaking. Central bankers from London to Washington have been monitoring the tempest while making preparations to unleash credit should markets seize with fear.

Angst has seeped into the calculations. As investors digest the possibility that the largest marketplace on earth may be days away from a messy alteration, they have been yanking money out of riskier storehouses like stocks and putting it into safer instruments like bonds. The British pound and London stocks have been falling in frenzied trading.
Ten Islamic State militants were killed in northern Syria by coalition air strikes and cross-border artillery fire from Turkey, military sources said on Wednesday.

A total of seventeen targets, including mortar positions, were hit in the operation, which was carried out on militants thought to have been preparing for an attack on Turkey, the sources said.

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SHANGHAI  It has been a roller coaster ride.

Six days ago, Robert A. Iger, Disneys chief executive, was on a high, beaming as he guided reporters around the soon-to-open Shanghai Disneyland. Then came the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., home to Walt Disney World. Mr. Iger responded by tightening security at that resort, releasing a statement expressing heartbreak and clearing a $1 million donation for shooting victims.

But the show in Shanghai went on. At a festive event on Tuesday night to celebrate the start of an all-Mandarin version of Disneys Lion King stage musical, Mr. Iger was surrounded by giddy lieutenants who had flown in for the party. The Champagne flowed freely. The next morning, a relaxed-looking Mr. Iger stood on the parks Tarzan stage for a news conference attended by roughly 800 journalists from around the world.

By Wednesday afternoon, however, more grim news from Florida cast a pall all the way to China: An alligator had dragged a toddler into a lake at a Disney World hotel. After a search, authorities announced that the boy was presumed dead. After the body of the child was discovered, Mr. Iger said from Shanghai in a statement, As a parent and a grandparent, my heart goes out to the Graves family during this time of devastating loss.

It was probably for the best that Wednesday nights unveiling of the Shanghai Disneyland nightly fireworks show, Ignite the Dream! A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light, was canceled because of a rainstorm.
Though Mr. Kane is Scottish and his company is based in London, for example, it is owned by the French conglomerate Kering, many of whose executives, including Francois-Henri Pinault, the chief executive, actually live in London, though the group is based in Paris.

Mr. Kane has, he pointed out, all these amazing seamstresses from Italy, from all over Europe, that have been working with us for five years  How much would it cost for us to get them visas? The answer is unclear: Few specifics have been laid out as to how an exit might take place (other than that they will have two years to figure out the logistical decoupling).

According to Peter Pilotto, who founded his namesake brand in London in 2007, even though he is Austrian-Italian and his partner, Christopher De Vos, is Belgian-Peruvian, 70 percent of their team is (as they are) international. If Brexit occurs, people will have to migrate again, Mr. Pilotto said. In fact, the whole company might.

Indeed, some of the most influential names on the London Fashion Week schedule, especially in womens wear, are not British. Mary Katrantzou, winner of the British Fashion Councils 2015 New Establishment designer award, is Greek. Daniela and Annette Felder of Felder Felder are German. Roksanda Ilincic, whose color-block dress was recently worn by the duchess of Cambridge at a street party to celebrate Queen Elizabeths 90th birthday, is Serbian. (Serbia is in the midst of membership negotiations with the E.U.)

London has long been a magnet for fashion students from across Europe, all of whom benefit from reduced tuition costs and have gone on to populate fashion teams throughout the industry.
FLORENCE, Italy  The 15th-century Palazzo Pitti, by the banks of the Arno, is one of the great storehouses of Italian Renaissance painting, an embarrassment of riches by Raphael, Titian and Tintoretto. But the fashion industry is never shy of gilding the lily. This week, on the occasion of the semiannual Pitti Uomo mens wear fair, an installation of photography by Karl Lagerfeld, fashions own Renaissance man, joined the work of the past masters, hanging or posted among them, beside them and, in some cases, over them.

Karl Lagerfeld: Visions of Fashion catalogs a small part of the designers prodigious output, unparalleled among his fellow fashion polymaths.

In 1984, for the shooting of the collection of Chanel, he was complaining to the director of images, said Gerhard Steidl, Mr. Lagerfelds publisher, who with Eric Pfrunder (that director of images for Chanel) curated the exhibition. Mr. Pfrunder told Mr. Lagerfeld, it would be best to buy you a camera to do the photo shootings yourself, Mr. Steidl added. Mr. Lagerfelds shutter has been blinking continuously since.
The forthcoming Matthew McConaughey drama Free State of Jones lays claim to being the first Hollywood film in decades to depict Reconstruction, the still controversial post-Civil War period that attempted to rebuild the South along racially egalitarian lines.

But the movie, written and directed by Gary Ross, might also lay claim to a more unusual title: the first Hollywood drama to come with footnotes.

The film recounts the true story of Newton Knight (Mr. McConaughey), a Confederate deserter who led a ragtag dissident army from the swamps of Jones County, Miss., and continued to fight for the rights of African-Americans after the Civil War ended.

In advance of the films release, on June 24, Mr. Ross, whose credits include Seabiscuit and the first installment of The Hunger Games, is posting an elaborate website annotating some three dozen topics and scenes from the movie, allowing audiences to click through and evaluate for themselves his historical sources, including many primary documents.
The one-fare plan fits with the liberal agenda of Mr. de Blasio, who has championed transit equity for all New Yorkers. To fulfill the mayors promise, the city will have to contribute a substantial operating subsidy, a commitment that several of his predecessors were unwilling to make.

Mr. de Blasios former rival for the mayors job, Christine C. Quinn, applauded his embrace of ferries as a form of mass transit. Theres a little bit of a whimsical, historic notion of ferries; they seem to be a lot more fun than other modes of transportation, said Ms. Quinn, the former City Council speaker. You dont want ferries to just be the fun, fancy transport of people with money.

Of course, New Yorks waters were once clogged with ferries. In the early 1900s, when there were few bridges and no car tunnels, as many as 147 boats carried people across the Hudson and East Rivers.

The only vestige of that era is the Staten Island Ferry, nine hulking boats that make regularly scheduled point-to-point crossings of New York Harbor. For routes from Brooklyn and Queens, city officials have largely relied on private companies operating their own ferries to deliver workers to Manhattan every weekday.

Image A design for a proposed Hornblower ferry. Credit... Incat Crowther

City officials have been leaning on Hornblower Cruises and Events, the San Francisco-based company they chose in March to operate the service, to order the boats it will need. Hornblower, which runs cruises to the Statue of Liberty, has settled on a design for 149-passenger boats and is negotiating with a few boatyards around the country to build 18 of them, at a cost of nearly $4 million each.
For all of us who were worried that the conservative backlash in this country would bring about unnamed terrible things, the future is now.

The words appeared on the front page of a gay newspaper, heralding an article about bar patrons being gunned down where they stood. They were not written this week, but 36 years ago, describing a spasm of violence that fewer and fewer people now recall.

They were written by the reporter Andy Humm as he told readers of The New York City News on Nov. 28, 1980, what most of them already knew: that a former transit police officer had rampaged through Greenwich Village, killing two men and wounding six.

West Street Massacre, the headline read.

Shortly before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19, a 38-year-old former transit police officer named Ronald K. Crumpley opened fire outside a deli at Washington and Charles Streets, cutting down Richard Huff, 30, and Rene Matute, 23.

The gunman then made his way to West Street, between 10th and Christopher Streets, a blockfront shared by the Ramrod, a popular leather bar, and Sneakers, a gay dive.
When the Rockefeller University in Manhattan wanted to expand its campus, it bumped up against the same problem other developers in the jam-packed city face: a lack of space.

Crammed hard against the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive from 62nd Street to 68th Street on the Upper East Side, the university had limited space for new construction and no real estate was available on any edge of its property. So the university looked again to its border with the F.D.R. Drive, and building over it became the best option, said Timothy OConnor, the executive vice president of Rockefeller.

This is the only way that the acreage of the university was going to expand, Mr. OConnor said. It was the most creative approach.

The $500 million project, called the Stavros Niarchos Foundation-David Rockefeller River Campus initiative, will straddle the busy highway and will include adding a two-story building as well as two acres to the 14-acre campus. The university also plans to repair the sea wall along the East River and improve the public esplanade adjacent to the campus, according to its website.
To the Editor:

Re Senate Votes for Women to Register for the Draft (news article, June 15):

As a veteran of the Navy Nurse Corps, I wholeheartedly support requiring women to register for the draft. We women have long demanded equality. There is no reason that we should then leave it to men to serve and protect our country.

The argument that we are requiring young women to go into combat is nonsense. Although combat roles are now open to women, even many men who serve in the military in times of war never see combat.

The military is a very large organization employing everyone from supply personnel and drivers to cooks, chaplains and office workers. It is about time that we asked the same patriotic duty of women that we ask of men.

ANNE-MARIE HISLOP

Chicago
To the Editor:

Re Obama Condemns Trumps Response to Florida Attack (front page, June 15): President Obamas remarks condemning Donald Trumps hateful rhetoric and dangerous mind-set were a welcome relief and a badly needed reality check to the frenzy that has followed the horrible events in Orlando. As I watched him lay out his case I thought: This is real leadership. How grateful I am that he is our president.

His clarity, compassion, empathy and righteous anger all rang true. May his example reassure those who are uncertain in these troubled times that even in the worst of times there are always hopeful ways forward.

MAREA SIRIS WEXLER

Northampton, Mass.

To the Editor:

President Obama is correct that Donald Trumps rhetoric is dangerous, but Mr. Trump is right about one thing. After every terrorism act with Islamic roots, Mr. Obamas immediate reaction is to spend more time chastising Republicans and conservatives about what he sees as their demonization of and discrimination against all Muslims than he does denouncing the terrorists themselves.

Even as Mr. Obama takes great pains not to define Islam with sweeping labels, he stereotypes the American political right as filled with actual and potential discriminators. In historical terms, Mr. Obama implies that Republicans are always just one incident away from rounding up Muslims the way Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat, once rounded up Japanese-Americans, while Mr. Obama himself and his fellow Democrats of today are of course far more enlightened than that.
KARACHI, Pakistan  I live in a neighborhood by the shore made famous by the eighth-century saint Abdullah Shah Ghazi. He has been the citys designated trouble-shooter since he arrived here as a horse trader. If you have an urgent problem that the living cant help with, you walk up the stairs of the shrine. You offer a prayer and maybe a handful of rose petals. Your problem may not be solved immediately, but you come out feeling better.

So confident are Karachiites of Ghazis power that whenever there is a storm warning, instead of running away, they rush to the sea to have some fun. This city has had its share of troubles  water shortages, ethnic strife, gang wars, criminalized local politics  but for more than 12 centuries Ghazi has protected it from the fury of the Arabian Sea.

Now Karachis savior saint is himself in trouble. Ghazi has a new upstart neighbor: the Bahria Icon Towers, a pair of buildings including one 62 stories high that will be Pakistans highest building and the countrys first proper skyscraper. The project, though unfinished, doesnt just dwarf the saints shrine; it has surrounded it with ugly prison-like walls, making the shrine invisible and very, very difficult to access.

Like any wise saint living by the sea, Ghazi, according to folklore, chose to set his shrine at the top of a hillock. Its green and white striped dome used to be visible from miles away. Its open courtyards and surrounding empty spaces have hosted thousands of people every day, and hundreds of thousands on public holidays and on the anniversary of Ghazis death. People come for prayer, music, food and rendezvous. The shrine hosts a nonstop party for the kind of people who dont get invited to parties.
The Syrian government said on Wednesday that German special forces were present, alongside French and American military personnel, in northern Syria, an accusation denied by Germany.

Syrian state media said the government strongly condemned the presence of French and German forces in Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobani, and Manbij.

"Syria ... considers it explicit and unjustified aggression towards (Syria's) sovereignty and independence," state news agency SANA quoted the foreign ministry as saying.

The U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) are staging an offensive against Islamic State near Manbij, while Kobani is under the control of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, part of the SDF.

Germany's defence ministry said repeated claims by the Syrian government that German special forces were in northern Syria were not and had never been true.

"There are no German special forces in Syria. The accusation is false," a ministry spokesman said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian civil war now in its sixth year, said French special forces were building a base for themselves near Kobani.

France's defence minister said last week that there were special forces operating in Syria helping the SDF advance towards Manbij.

The Observatory also said German, French and American military advisers, and French and American special forces, were assisting the SDF in its fight against Islamic State but had so far remained in a support role and not fought on front lines.

A spokesman for the SDF-allied Manbij Military Council said there were no German forces operating alongside them on the ground.

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Many of you asked questions about black holes so profound and clever I couldnt even start to answer them.

Quite a few readers wanted to know what happens at the center of a black hole. Is there a wormhole to another space and time, another universe, another big bang, other dimensions? The short honest answer is that nobody knows. We have no accepted theory of quantum gravity, and that is needed to explain what happens when gravity is very intense and the distances are very short, as in a black hole or the Big Bang. According to Albert Einsteins classical equations of general relativity, the density of matter and energy becomes infinite under such circumstances, but the appearance of infinity in scientific calculations is usually a sign that something is being missed. Thats why the work of theorists goes on.

In the meantime you are free to imagine anything. And here are some of the great questions I was able to answer.

Questions for Beginners

Hello Dennis, my name is JJ Hennessy and I am 13 years old. I think the entire realm of black holes is completely fascinating, and I am dying to learn more about them in order to achieve a more fruitful understanding of these mysterious things. Since you are probably going to get a lot of questions about the scientific side of things, I thought I would instead ask you how you became interested in this complex field and where you began your pursuits.  James Joseph Hennessy
Get ready for big increases in premiums under the Affordable Care Act. A new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation examined the most popular individual plans under the new health care law in 14 major cities around the country and found that insurers were asking for increases in 2017 that are twice as big as this years. There is wide variation, including some places where rates will go down, but the average requested increase is 10 percent.

While it will be months before insurers and regulators agree to final rates for the coming year, the Kaiser analysis confirms the signals we have seen from industry and government experts  that consumers and the federal government are likely to see much higher prices in many markets. Clearly, insurers are struggling to figure out how much to charge so they can cover their costs but still attract customers.

As health care reporters, weve been debating exactly how worried one should be about the fate of the Affordable Care Act, known informally as Obamacare, in the face of steep rate increases next year.

Reed: Margot, you were definitely right to sound the alarm last month. While its still early  and we dont know what regulators are likely to do with the proposals theyre getting  the Kaiser analysis seems to me another sign that were a long way from having a stable individual market. Kaiser was looking at major cities, after all, where there is supposed to be plenty of competition and the market is supposed to work the best. But in our hometowns, New York City and Washington, the proposed rate increases were among the highest  16 percent for each market!
Anderson Cooper was reading the names of victims of the Orlando massacre on CNN this week when, uncharacteristically, his voice wavered and he drew up short. For moments, viewers around the country heard only silence, and then the sounds of the anchor struggling to compose himself.

That was horrible, Mr. Cooper recalled, a bit sheepishly, in an interview on Wednesday. Accustomed to covering foreign wars and lethal hurricanes, Mr. Cooper said he did not like to show his feelings on camera.

But this time, he added, felt different: Ive been surprised at how emotional this has been.

As the news industry descended on Florida this week in the aftermath of a mass shooting in a gay nightclub, Mr. Coopers raw, activist-style coverage has stood out. He has held a prime-time vigil of sorts, reciting a list of the dead; refused to name the gunman, saying he wanted to focus on victims; and, in a widely viewed exchange, grilled Floridas attorney general for defending a state ban on same-sex marriage.

Mr. Cooper, who is gay, has seemed to embrace an advocacy role rarely seen among top network anchors, blending on-the-ground reporting with a distinctly personal and empathetic touch.
ORLANDO, Fla.  Corpses do not faze him but Joshua D. Stephany, Orlandos chief medical examiner, still has the image of what he saw inside the Pulse nightclub on the morning of the slaughter seared into his head.

Strobe lights were still flashing. The television was still on. Purses and cellphones were strewn about the floor. And there were bodies everywhere.

What you saw was drinks that were just served. You saw bills that were about to be paid. You saw half-eaten food, said Dr. Stephany, 41, who was called into duty hours after Omar Mateen barged into the popular gay nightclub and opened fire. Forty-nine people were killed in the attack. Time just stopped.

Although he had been filling in for about a year, Dr. Stephany was officially made Orange Countys chief medical examiner two days after the slaughter at Pulse. On his first real day on the job, his office completed 18 autopsies. He said he performed at least seven of the 49 autopsies. The exact number he is not certain of. He lost count.

He and his four colleagues, aided by two state pathologists called in from elsewhere in Florida, have now conducted autopsies on all 49 victims as well as the assailant. Out of respect for those who were killed, Mr. Mateens corpse is being held in a different part of the morgue, in an area typically used for decomposing bodies.

Determining the cause of death was routine in this case, as all of the victims had bullet wound after bullet wound.

So you kind of take a typical homicide scene, multiply it by 50, even that just wont prepare you for what you see, he said. I dont think you can find anybody more experienced than medical examiners to go to that type of events, but to see the sheer number of decedent is almost surreal.

The pathologists put aside their emotions, he said, as they sought to identify everyone.

The technicians photographed, X-rayed and fingerprinted the bodies to confirm their identities. They inspected tattoos. They washed blood off the victims faces so they could be compared to photographs from their drivers licenses and Facebook profiles.

The identity of one victim frustrated the team for dozens of hours, until Dr. Stephany realized that a wallet he had picked up off the ground at the club as evidence contained the persons name.

In autopsy after autopsy, the doctors documented every wound and plucked every bullet, noting where it entered and the direction it traveled.

It doesnt appear anyone suffered, he said. Everyone went down where they were. I dont think anyone had prolonged suffering.

A New Hampshire native, Dr. Stephany has conducted several thousand autopsies in his life. He has seen his share of overdoses, suicides, hangings and car crashes. But he said he knows this case, his first as the chief, will be one he will not forget.

It hasnt been able to sink in yet, Dr. Stephany said. I dont think theres any way it could not affect you immediately or eventually.
ORLANDO, Fla.  Amid the massacre at a gay nightclub here, while the gunman held dozens of people hostage, the police got word from multiple sources that the killer had booby-trapped himself, hostages and the building with explosives, Orlandos mayor said on Wednesday.

Holed up in Pulse nightclub early Sunday, the gunman, Omar Mateen, told the police by phone that he would strap explosives to four hostages and place them strategically in the corners of the building, Mayor Buddy Dyer told reporters. People trapped inside made panicked calls and text messages to 911 operators, friends and family members, also warning that Mr. Mateen was talking about bombs, he said.

We had a lot of information from the inside and they independently were saying yes, the bomber is about to put on an explosive vest, Mr. Dyer said.

So far, investigators have not found any evidence that Mr. Mateen, 29, had explosives, senior law enforcement officials said Wednesday. His rampage with an assault rifle and a handgun left 49 people dead and 53 wounded, the worst mass shooting in United States history, and he died in a shootout with law enforcement officers.

Investigators continued looking into whether his wife, Noor Zahi Salman, knew what he had planned, but at a news conference, officials deflected questions about possible criminal charges against her.

Im not going to speculate with respect to any charges that might be brought, said A. Lee Bentley III, the United States attorney for the Middle District of Florida. Were not sure what charges will be brought, or if charges will be brought.

Ms. Salman has told F.B.I. investigators that she had tried to talk her husband out of some kind of attack, according to senior law enforcement officials. But she also told them that she had gone with him to buy ammunition, and that she had once driven him to Pulse, they said.
WASHINGTON  Donald J. Trump said Wednesday that people on the terror watch list should be barred from buying firearms, putting himself in the center of a gun-control debate in Congress revived by the worst mass shooting in United States history.

Mr. Trumps stance, expressed in a Twitter post, does not necessarily jibe with the positions of the Republican Party and the National Rifle Association, whose endorsement Mr. Trump frequently boasts about on the campaign trail. His tweet could be read to support measures pushed by Democrats and opposed by Republicans in Congress, reflecting the unusual nuances of the issue, which touches on public safety and civil rights beyond the Second Amendment.

I will be meeting with the N.R.A., who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no-fly list, to buy guns, Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, wrote Wednesday morning on Twitter. His comment came three days after 49 people were killed when a gunman who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State stormed an Orlando nightclub.

On the same morning, a group of Democrats took to the Senate floor in a filibuster to protest the lack of improvement in gun safety measures in recent years.

Ive had enough, said Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, who spoke on and off for more than 14 hours. I couldnt just come back to the Senate this week and pretend like this is business as usual.

When he finished talking shortly after 2 a.m. on Thursday, Mr. Murphy said he had secured agreement for votes on the measures.
ATLANTA  Since becoming the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump has changed little at his rallies, often building on his caustic comments from the primary campaign.

In an hour-plus speech here on Wednesday, Mr. Trump stuck to that script, touring through his foreign policy proposals and occasionally offering positions at odds with decades of American diplomacy. He said he would accept a visit to the United States by the North Korean dictator as part of opening a dialogue, and focus on the heritage of the shooter in the Orlando, Fla., massacre, as a possible source of radicalization.

He also reiterated his desire to temporarily bar immigrants from Middle Eastern countries from entering the United States.

Mr. Trump, who was frequently interrupted by protesters, continued to make the Orlando shooting a major focal point, building upon fear of Muslims and threats abroad.
HAMPTON, Va.  Hillary Clinton rebuked Donald J. Trump on Wednesday for proposing national security ideas that she argued would put America in greater danger and inspire more terrorist attacks.

The criticism comes as Mr. Trump is under fire for offering what Democrats and Republicans have called an off-key response to the massacre in Orlando, Fla.

After 49 people were killed in a gay nightclub by an American-born Islamic State sympathizer on Sunday morning, Mr. Trump expanded his proposed ban on Muslim immigration to include people coming from countries with a history of harming America. He also suggested that President Obama was appeasing the nations enemies.

During a round-table discussion Wednesday with military members and veterans in Hampton, Va., Mrs. Clinton argued that such notions were nonsense.
WASHINGTON  A polarized House committee on Wednesday recommended that the House censure the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, John A. Koskinen, and seek to strip him of his office and his federal pension for a pattern of conduct that betrayed the trust of Congress and the public.

Following the House Republicans vote in 2012 to hold the attorney general at the time, Eric H. Holder Jr., in contempt of Congress, the action against Mr. Koskinen appeared to show the lengths they would go to pursue Obama administration officials they oppose. Separately they are considering the more severe action of impeaching Mr. Koskinen, a move that has not been taken against a federal executive other than two presidents in 140 years.

Censure by the House would be the first step, supporters say, yet its impact will probably be limited to political symbolism. The Senate, also run by Republicans, is not expected to follow suit, or to support impeachment. It is unclear when the full House might act on the censure resolution, said aides to House Republican leaders, who are unenthusiastic about the effort against the commissioner.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted 23 to 15 for his censure, with Republicans in support and Democrats opposed, after hours of exchanging condemnation and praise for Mr. Koskinen.
Fallout continues over the controversial Stanford sexual assault case. Here are highlights of the latest developments:

 In an unusual move, prosecutors on Tuesday had Judge Aaron Persky of the Santa Clara County Superior Court removed from hearing a case in which a male nurse was accused of sexually assaulting an anesthetized female patient.

Prosecutors filed a peremptory challenge to Judge Persky after he dismissed charges against a woman in an unrelated misdemeanor theft trial on Monday. That objection automatically prevented him from presiding over a preliminary hearing in the sexual assault case.

We are disappointed and puzzled at Judge Perskys unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate, the Santa Clara district attorney, Jeff Rosen, said in a statement. After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient.

The nurse, Cecil Webb, is accused of touching the genitals and breasts of a sedated woman in 2014 at Kaiser Permanentes Santa Clara Medical Center, according to The San Jose Mercury News. He was charged with a felony count of sexual battery.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday he had discussed ways to revive a "frayed" Syrian truce and get aid into besieged communities with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who had indicated "how this can be achieved".

Addressing a seminar in Norway on conflict resolution, Kerry said he was working to put in place a "genuine" ceasefire agreement among warring factions, despite repeated violations of the Feb. 27 truce.

The 70-minute meeting with Zarif took place soon after Kerry's arrival in Norway from the Dominican Republic. The two also discussed the implementation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and related sanctions relief for Tehran, the U.S. State Department said.

Iran has complained that concerns among banks about breaking remaining sanctions had deterred investment since the deal was signed in July. Washington has said Iran needs to do more to make itself attractive to Western companies.

On Syria, where the war is in its sixth year, Kerry said he still hoped to be able to fully stop the fighting. The February agreement has largely collapsed and there has been little progress in negotiating a political transition that is supposed to begin on Aug. 1.

Backed militarily by Iran and Russia, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has shown no willingness to compromise, much less step aside to allow a transition Western powers maintain is the solution to the conflict.

At Wednesday's meeting Zarif had "indicated to me possibilities of how this can be achieved", Kerry said.

"It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk," Kerry told delegates at the forum near Oslo.

"Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, and in fact very limited, with respect to whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable," he said.

"My hope is we will open some political space to try and resolve one of the most complex international challenges the community has faced in at least a generation," he said.

Damascus said on Wednesday that German special forces were present, alongside French and American military personnel, in northern Syria, an accusation denied by Germany.

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Take this dynamic of coercive violence to its most horrible extreme, and it looks an awful lot like how the Islamic State treats women in its self-proclaimed caliphate. As my Times colleague Rukmini Callimachi has reported, the group has created a vast infrastructure of rape and slavery in which women are held captive and bought and sold by its fighters. It is intimate violence on an industrial scale.

Domestic violence, experts say, is also often a way for male abusers to impose their view of traditional gender roles. Ms. Epstein said such traditions in the United States were rooted in the idea of men having control over women.

Thats our culture: Its all about men controlling women in their lives, she said. Intimate terrorism stems from that desire to control.

This bears striking similarities to how the Islamic State presents its treatment of women as a recruiting tool, promising young men abroad  particularly in Europe  that its caliphate will allow them to restore traditional gender norms of male dominance. This dominance is exercised in part through violence including systematic rape and the threat of rape. The group often presents this violence as a means to measure and protect mens honor.

It seems natural, then, that the Islamic State might appeal to men who desire that sort of control over the women in their lives, separate from any ideological draw  the kind of men who might have domestic violence in their past.

Nimmi Gowrinathan, a visiting professor at the City College of New York who studies womens roles in insurgent and terrorist conflicts, said that restrictive norms about gender and sexuality could be a pull factor for terrorist organizations  but that people who are drawn to them are also often pushed by their own pre-existing attitudes or desires.

Personal and Global Grievances

Terrorist attacks and mass shootings garner attention and frighten the public much more than episodes of domestic violence. But domestic violence has a much higher death toll in the United States.

According to the Violence Policy Center, 895 women in the United States were murdered by their current or former intimate partners in 2013 (and this does not include those killed amid mass shootings). That single-year tally is more than nine times the 92 people the New American Foundation has counted as killed in jihadist attacks on American soil in the past decade.

But there are striking parallels between the intimate terrorism of domestic violence and the mass terrorism perpetrated by lone-wolf attackers like Mr. Mateen seems to have been. Both, at their most basic level, are attempts to provoke fear and assert control.

Domestic violence, experts say, often occurs when an abuser concludes that violence is the best tool to solve his or her grievances. That might mean a husband who perceives his wifes failure to do the laundry as a challenge to his rightful authority, leading him to try to reimpose his will through violence.

Clark McCauley, a professor at Bryn Mawr College who studies the psychology of mass violence and terrorism, said he was not aware of research finding a causal relationship between domestic violence and terrorism. But he has found that a characteristic common to mass killers is a sense of grievance: a belief that someone, somewhere, had wronged them in a way that merited a violent response.

Image Omar Mateen, who fatally shot dozens of people at an Orlando nightclub early Sunday. Credit... via Agence France-Presse  Getty Images

That grievance could be personal, or it could be political  a sense that the perpetrator needed to act in the name of a larger group.

Paul Gill, a senior lecturer at University College London who studies the behavior of lone-actor terrorists, said that violence was, in a sense, a learned psychological skill: Having a history of violence might help neutralize the natural barriers to committing violence.

From that perspective, domestic violence can be seen as a psychological training ground for someone like Mr. Mateen to commit a mass attack.

Gender Norms, Gender Panic

A domestic abusers desire to impose, by force, supposed traditional gender roles also sometimes includes sexuality. Such abusers, experts say, may see homosexuality as a threat to their masculinity.

There is an idea that what it means to be masculine is to be vigilant of your sexuality, and hypervigilant towards keeping anyone from perceiving you as gay, said Gillian Chadwick, a fellow at Georgetown University Law Center.

Intimate terrorism, in that sense, rests on a broader spectrum of violence meant to preserve the traditional dominance of heterosexual men, and coerce those who are perceived as threatening that order. That spectrum, at the extreme end, includes mass shootings.

This connection makes it somewhat easier to understand an apparent contradiction: that Mr. Mateen targeted a gay nightclub and that his father and ex-wife have said he had a history of homophobic remarks, but that he also had been seen visiting Pulse, the gay nightclub he targeted, and, according to some news reports, used a gay dating app.

Could Mr. Mateen have been trying to use violence to reimpose rules about gender and sexuality that he himself was troubled about violating? If so, he would not be the first.

Ms. Chadwick said there was an entire category of legal argument, called gay panic and trans panic claims, in which defendants say that they turned to violence because they were so upset about being perceived as gay, or about discovering they were attracted to a transgender person.

Ms. Gowrinathan, who studies gender and terrorism, warned against making assumptions based on Mr. Mateens having been a Muslim raised by Afghan immigrants to the United States, saying that domestic violence and homophobia are prevalent across cultures.

He is the outcome of the United States political culture, not the Islamic States, she said.

Ms. Epstein of Georgetown agreed. People in the U.S. throw acid in the faces of their wives who have betrayed them, she said. Anything you could find overseas happens here, too.
Grass-roots organizers say they have no intention of laying down their banners until deeper systemic problems are addressed, including high rates of poverty and unemployment among black Canadians; a lack of educational opportunities; and police harassment, particularly against gay or transgender black people.

Theres so much more to do, said Pascale Diverlus, 21, a journalism student and a founder of the Black Lives Matter chapter. We know were in for a long battle to see an end to anti-black racism in this city and country.

While Canada is often lauded for its past role as a haven for black slaves fleeing the United States, the Canadian government historically tried to prevent black immigration, out of fear that it might prompt a backlash from whites. An order issued in 1911 barred any immigrants belonging to the Negro race, which is deemed unsuitable to the climate and requirements of Canada, according to an archived government document.

From a Canadian standpoint, race is an American phenomenon, said Grace-Edward Galabuzi, a political science professor at Ryerson University in Toronto who studies race and poverty. As for the activists accusations of racism, he said, Were supposed to be a colorblind society, so when a small minority of the population makes this claim, theyre met with denial.

Government statistics illustrate the challenges black Canadians face. They make up less than 3 percent of the national population but 10 percent of the inmates in federal prisons, and represent the fastest-growing group in such prisons. Just 8 percent of Torontos youth population is black, but 41 percent of the children who are removed from their families and placed in the care of the Childrens Aid Society of Toronto are black.

The issues raised by Black Lives Matter Toronto are not new. Nor is black activism.

A wave of police shootings of black men more than 15 years ago prompted residents to form the Black Action Defense Committee, and the government to form the Special Investigations Unit to look into the shootings. But according to reports from the Ontario Ombudsman, the units work has been hampered, first by pro-police bias, and then by interference from the provincial Ministry of the Attorney General when the unit has tried to introduce changes.
BEIJING  One of Chinas best-known imprisoned dissidents, Yang Maodong, is putting his already fragile health at risk after weeks on a hunger strike, his wife and sister said on Wednesday, after his sister said she had unsuccessfully asked the prison authorities to be allowed to see him and beg him to stop fasting.

Mr. Yang, better known by his pen name, Guo Feixiong, has been among Chinas most persistent and combative campaigners for expanding democratic rights, and he has continued his resistance while confined in Guangdong Province in southern China. For more than a month, he has refrained from eating to protest his conditions, especially what he said was a humiliating rectal examination, and to demand sweeping political change, according to his family.

During a routine monthly visit from his brother last week, Mr. Yang, 49, appeared to have lost a great deal of weight, which may have exacerbated his chronic illnesses, his sister, Yang Maoping, said by telephone on Wednesday, as she waited at the prison in the hope of seeing him.

I want to tell him to stop the hunger striking, Ms. Yang said. But they have said they have laws and regulations to follow, and this breaks the rule of a visit once a month. I want to beg him to stop before he really puts himself in danger.
Zhou Yongkang, 73, was the highest-ranking official felled so far in President Xi Jinpings crackdown on corruption, now in its fourth year. Until November 2012, Mr. Zhou was a member of the Communist Partys elite Politburo Standing Committee, overseeing the countrys criminal justice system and its huge police force. The sentencing of Mr. Zhous wife and son was announced on Mr. Xis 63rd birthday.

News of the trials of Zhou Yongkangs wife and son was not made public, but neither were the trials a surprise. When Mr. Zhou was sentenced last June, the official news agency Xinhua said that Ms. Jia and Zhou Bin had accepted bribes amounting to more than $20 million.

The elder Mr. Zhous downfall was especially thorough: Dozens of his close political associates have also been imprisoned, and several of his family members disappeared into police custody. A 2014 New York Times investigation found that relatives of Mr. Zhou, including Zhou Bin, his sister-in-law and several other family members, controlled stakes in dozens of companies across China with combined assets of at least $150 million. The whereabouts of a second son, Zhou Han, are not known.

No pictures accompanied the terse announcement from the court on Ms. Jias sentencing. But Chinese state television did broadcast a clip from Zhou Bins trial. Balding, expressionless and bearing a striking resemblance to his square-jawed father, he was flanked by two police officers. He confessed to accepting more than $33 million in bribes and was fined more than $53 million, an indication of his wealth.
The rest of the pride, presumed innocent, will be released to the forest.

It is rare for lions to attack humans, but in the first six months of 2016 there have already been six killings in the area around the Gir Forest, which is home to Indias only population of wild lions.

In three cases, the lion ate only part of the person, which is even more unusual, said Uday Vora, the states forest conservator.

Wildlife officials say the lion population is 523, nearly double the parks capacity of 300, pushing hungry prides into adjacent villages and into range of unsuspecting laborers. In April 2013, the India Supreme Court ordered a number of lions to be transferred to another wildlife sanctuary in a neighboring state, but none have yet been removed.

Mr. Vora said the attacks on humans this year were puzzling.

Among the theories: Because of a heat wave, laborers have been more likely to sleep in the open air, under blankets, and the lions may have mistaken them for buffalo calves. Another possible explanation is that when wildlife officials captured the adult male that eventually proved to be the killer, the group dynamics in the remainder of the pride were disturbed, leading the subordinate lions to attack humans, Mr. Singh said.

We are closely observing, he said. There is no shortage of prey in the forest. Why they became man-eaters is a concern for us as well.
NEW DELHI  The health authorities in the southern Indian state of Telangana have issued a high alert in Hyderabad, the state capital, after finding a strain of polio in sewage water there, a state health official said Wednesday.

A polio vaccination drive will begin on Monday, the health authorities said, with the aim of vaccinating about 300,000 children in parts of Hyderabad and in the Rangareddy district also part of the state of Telangana, according to a statement from Indias Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Hyderabad metropolitan area has more than 7.7 million people and the Rangareddy district 5.2 million, according Indias 2011 census.

We have to avoid any kind of risk, even though nobody has been affected, said Rajeshwar Tiwari, the principal secretary for the Ministry of Health in Telangana. We want to remain a polio-free nation.

India was declared free of polio in 2014 after having no new cases over three years. The countrys polio vaccination program, in which health workers fanned out across the country to reach millions of children, is widely considered a great success. Polio vaccination rates for Indias children reached more than 90 percent, said Nicole Deutsch, the director of polio operations for Unicef India.
JAKARTA, Indonesia  Indonesias national medical association has told its members not to cooperate with a presidential decree authorizing the countrys courts to punish convicted child molesters with chemical castration, escalating a nationwide debate over the legality, medical ethics and efficacy of the procedure after a series of recent rapes and murders.

In chemical castration, drugs are used to reduce a mans sex drive. Despite widespread skepticism about its effectiveness, a number of countries have employed it as a punishment for convicted sex offenders and pedophiles, in many cases in exchange for more lenient prison sentences. They include Australia, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

But the Indonesian Doctors Association, in a statement late last week, rejected the procedure as superfluous.

Based on science and scientific proof, chemical castration doesnt guarantee the loss or reduction of desire and potential sexually violent behavior, the organization said.
HONG KONG  A Chinese official warned on Wednesday that a scheduled meeting between President Obama and the Dalai Lama in Washington would undermine mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries.

Hours later, Mr. Obama met with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader at the White House as planned.

Beijing routinely pressures foreign leaders not to meet the Dalai Lama, whom it accuses of seeking Tibets independence from China. The Dalai Lama, however, says he merely wants to protect Tibetans and their homelands identity.

Tibet affairs are part of Chinas internal affairs, and no foreign country has the right to interfere, Lu Kang, a spokesman for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday. He accused the Dalai Lama of long conducting anti-China splittist activities on the world stage under the cloak of religion.

Foreign leaders have increasingly declined to meet with the Dalai Lama, fearing retaliation from Beijing. China protested and canceled high-level visits to Britain after Prime Minister David Cameron met with him in 2012. When the Dalai Lama visited Britain again three years later, Mr. Cameron avoided him, something the Tibetan spiritual leader suggested was because of concerns about trade.
SYDNEY, Australia  An Australian businessman who was jailed in China after a dispute over his company there has been granted early release from a prison in Australia, 19 months after being returned to his home country to complete his sentence, under a treaty between the two countries.

The businessman, Matthew Ng, was released from a Sydney prison on Wednesday afternoon, said Tom Lennox, a lawyer who had campaigned for his release. It is very good news, Mr. Lennox said by telephone. Hes out. Its just great.

Mr. Ng was sentenced by a Chinese court in 2011 to more than 12 years in prison on bribery and fraud charges. Mr. Lennox has said the case was fabricated to allow a Chinese state-owned company to confiscate Mr. Ngs travel business.

Australias justice minister, Michael Keenan, said in a statement on Wednesday that he had approved Mr. Ngs early release based on his exceptional family circumstances. Since his arrest, Mr. Ngs eldest daughter has died and his wife learned she had cancer.
Like so many decisive moments in British history, the question of whether to leave the European Union devolved on Wednesday into a naval confrontation.

Only this time the brawling was on the Thames, the cannons shot only water, and the blare of trumpets came from an enormous speaker system aboard a pleasure cruiser blasting the song The In Crowd.

This was London, a week before one of the most critical political decisions in a generation.

In what has been dubbed the Battle of the Thames, a flotilla of Scottish fishermen, led by the United Kingdom Independent Party leader, Nigel Farage, and agitating for Britain to leave the European Union, was met by an armada of dinghies and pleasure cruisers in support of remaining in the bloc.
US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Russia and the Syrian government on Wednesday to respect a "frayed" ceasefire, as vicious fighting south of second city Aleppo left dozens dead.

The vital northern province of Aleppo has been ravaged on multiple fighting fronts in a devastating war that has killed more than 280,000 people.

The conflict has also drawn in world powers who back opposing sides -- including the United States which broadly supports the opposition and Russia on the side of President Bashar al-Assad.

"Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable," said Kerry.

"We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition," he said after a meeting in Norway with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

UN-hosted peace talks aimed at ending the five-year conflict have been stalled since April, and a fragile ceasefire deal between the government and non-jihadist rebels has all but collapsed.

Washington and Moscow have tried to reinforce the broader truce with temporary, local freezes on fighting, but to no avail.

"It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place. We know that, we have no illusion," said Kerry.

Efforts were underway, he said, to reach a new agreement "in the next week or two" to reinstate the ceasefire across Syria, leading to more humanitarian aid deliveries and a resumption of the peace process.

In Aleppo province, dozens of fighters were killed in a fresh bout of fighting between the regime, rebels, and jihadists south of Aleppo city, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Backed by Russian and government air strikes, pro-regime fighters are locked in battle with rebel groups and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front for a string of villages lying in hilly terrain between strategic routes.

"To the west there is an opposition supply route that reaches Idlib province, and to the northeast there is the last regime supply route out of Aleppo city," said the Observatory's Rami Abdel Rahman.

Since fighting erupted on Tuesday, at least 70 fighters in total have been killed and the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa have changed hands twice.

The strategic border province is criss-crossed with supply routes for various sides of the conflict, including rebels, regime, Kurds, and jihadists like the Islamic State group.

Aleppo was once Syria's commercial powerhouse, but it has been a battleground since 2012 when rebels seized the east of the city confining the army to the west.

As opposing forces close in from either side, residents of both halves of the city fear a potential total siege on the northern metropolis.

The UN says nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas, most surrounded by government forces.

Earlier this month, it said the government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas, after one was taken off the UN's list.

Dozens of opposition activist groups accused the UN of "capitulating" to Damascus on aid access.

The scathing report, authored by The Syria Campaign (TSC) advocacy group, was based on testimonies from current and former UN staff and other aid workers.

It accused the UN of "choosing to prioritise cooperation with the Syrian government at all costs," allowing the regime to unduly influence UN aid strategy.

The UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Yaacoub El Hillo, said however that while aid access was not ideal, the UN continues to "assist Syrians based on need".

TSC spokeswoman Bissan Fakih countered: "A UN with the backbone to stand for its principles would help get aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians under siege, many of them only a few minutes' drive from where the UN is based in Damascus."

Syria's government condemned "the presence of French and German special forces" in the country's north, including the flashpoint towns of Kobane on the border and IS-held Manbij.

Paris recently admitted its special forces were deployed alongside an Arab-Kurd alliance backing the offensive to expel IS from Manbij.

But German defence ministry spokesman Boris Nannt denied his country's troops were in Syria, telling journalists "there is absolutely nothing (to) it".

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GENEVA  An employee of the law firm at the center of the leaks of the Panama Papers, which have revealed offshore wealth held in secretive accounts worldwide, has been arrested here on charges of data theft, one of the employees lawyers, Romain Jordan, said on Wednesday.

It was not immediately clear what connection, if any, the person might have had with the Panama Papers, a trove of 11.5 million documents from a Panama-based law firm, Mossack Fonseca. A consortium of news organizations began publishing findings from the documents  some dating to the 1970s  in April, and the disclosures have prompted investigations of politicians and other prominent figures around the world.

On Wednesday, the Swiss newspaper Le Temps reported that an information technology employee in the Geneva office of Mossack Fonseca had been arrested on suspicion of stealing confidential information. Computer equipment was seized as part of the inquiry, Le Temps reported.

Asked about the report, a spokesman for Claudio Mascotto, the chief prosecutor in Geneva, declined to comment. The spokesman said only that the office had opened a criminal investigation based on a complaint filed by Mossack Fonseca. The employees name was not made public, and the lawyer did not give his clients name or provide any detail about him.
After meeting with a group of gay people who said they had been bullied, Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, appeared on the cover of Attitude, a gay magazine, and urged young people to report instances of abuse to an adult.

No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason, and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives, Prince William said in an accompanying statement. You should be proud of the person you are, and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

The cover was planned weeks before a shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., killed 49 people, but the magazine said in a statement that the type of hatred exhibited by the gunman, Omar Mateen, begins at an early age.

Such violence does not exist in a vacuum but snowballs from intolerance and bullying that begins in classrooms, too often comes from politicians, religious leaders and is often not treated with respect by the media, the statement read.
There was no immediate word on the precise location of the wreckage or whether it included the data recorders that are essential for helping determine why the plane crashed.

The discovery was the first significant breakthrough in the search for the plane since investigators said they had detected signals from one of its two flight recorder beacons, or pingers, nearly two weeks ago.

With the battery life of those beacons expiring by next week, investigators are hoping to retrieve the recorders  which contain cockpit conversations and data from the planes onboard computers  before they fall silent.

Investigators and search teams will begin mapping the debris field on the ocean floor, the Egyptian committee said. Even in the absence of the data from the flight recorders, air accident experts have said that the distribution of the wreckage would yield significant clues. If the debris contains large pieces of the plane that are concentrated in a relatively small area, that would suggest that the plane hit the water largely intact. Smaller debris scattered across a wide area would suggest that it broke up in midair  possibly the result of an explosion.

Remi Jouty, the director of Frances air accidents bureau, which is advising Egypt in the investigation, said last week that investigators were still very far from understanding what may have caused the crash. Earlier this week, the Egyptian authorities appeared to back away from suggestions that Flight 804 had disappeared abruptly from radar screens  a scenario that had fanned theories that the plane might have been brought down by a terrorist bomb or other deliberate act, rather than a mechanical or other failure.
Before visiting a rental car counter this summer, its wise to make two telephone calls: one to the insurer that covers your personal car and one to your credit card company.

Many people feel pressured to buy the rental companys insurance coverage on the rationale of better safe than sorry, even though it can cost up to $30 a day, said Norma Garcia, a lawyer with Consumers Union, the advocacy and policy arm of Consumer Reports. But if you verify coverage you may already have before setting out on vacation, she said, You can be safe and not sorry.

Many, but not all, credit cards offer rental coverage at no extra cost, as a perk for customers when they pay for the rental with the card and decline the rental companys offering. Coverage varies, however, and depends not only on the cards payment network  like Visa or MasterCard  but also on the issuing bank, according to a recent analysis from CardHub.com, a card comparison website.

To avoid surprises, contact your card company before renting to confirm that your card indeed offers insurance protection, and ask about any limits or exclusions: A simple call ought to do it, Ms. Garcia said. Ask for the terms in writing, said Loretta Worters, a spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute, an industry group.
IN GRATITUDE

By Jenny Diski

250 pp. Bloomsbury. $26.

Jenny Diski was dying. It was 10:07 a.m. on April 25; I Googled to make sure, before I filed this review, that she was still alive. She was. Her onc doc gave her a year in April 2015, which meant, if she survived another seven days, she would technically beat the projections. She did not. She died on the morning of April 28, 2016.

Diski, as she makes vitally clear in her new memoir, In Gratitude, spent her every moment on earth beating the projections of authority figures. She overcame abusive and neglectful parents, foster homes, suicide attempts, repeated hospitalizations and the persistently gloomy conviction of relatives, caregivers, teachers, doctors and occasionally herself that she would fail at whatever she attempted.

Diski did not fail. Over the past 30 years, Diski published 17 books of fiction and nonfiction and became a writer who commanded descriptions from reviewers like individual and wildly various; her books  such as her 1997 so-called travel book, Skating to Antarctica (which she described as being about Icebergs, mothers. That sort of thing)  all proof, as Giles Harvey wrote in a 2015 New York Times Magazine profile, of her spectacular originality.

In September 2014, two months after the diagnosis, Diski began publishing essays in The London Review of Books about her illness and impending death. She was more than wary of the maudlin pitfalls (even she expressed disbelief at her choice to write another [expletive] cancer diary); as a result, her monthly testimonies are droll and uncertain and disobey time and, like memory itself, circle obsessively back to moments she finds most difficult to emotionally process, such as the realization that she will never see her small grandchildren become their own people.
Of course, his 1864 movement across central Georgia also is remembered by his name  Shermans march. Yet this most famous of his actions is probably his least understood, or perhaps most misrepresented. He did not conduct total war. Nor did he use violence indiscriminately. To the contrary, his march across Georgia and then into South Carolina was a targeted use of violence against wealthy Confederate die-hards in the rural South who had been largely untouched by the war. It was to these plantation owners that Sherman intended to bring the hard hand of war, and he did so with audacity and courage.

The surprise now, in 2016, is that this soldier, portrayed to generations of children as the father of the American style of scorched-earth warfare, was actually a politically shrewd general, probably more so than 99 percent of our top officers today. He grew up in a political atmosphere. His foster father and one of his brothers were United States senators from Ohio and also became secretaries of the Treasury. Though Sherman disliked the political world, he understood it well. He knew how Washington worked and how events there were affected by military operations. He understood, for example, that Union soldiers randomly stealing from the farmers of Kentucky would turn the people against us. This concerned him especially because he believed that holding Kentucky and Tennessee, and their rivers, was the key to winning the war. Another example: He knew that taking Atlanta at a time when Grant was stalemated in Virginia would help Lincoln win re-election in 1864.

James Lee McDonoughs biography, William Tecumseh Sherman: In the Service of My Country, tells this story well. McDonough, an emeritus professor of history at Auburn University, shows how Shermans first experience of war, fighting the Seminoles in Florida in the early 1840s, gave him a holistic sense of how to win. More than most officers, Sherman understood that attacking the enemys supplies is often the best way to undermine his morale and will to fight.

Perhaps because of this understanding of the role of logistics and economics in supporting war, Sherman had a better sense than most of his contemporaries of what an American civil war would entail. In 1860-61, as war approached, he was living in Louisiana, where he was the first superintendent of what is now Louisiana State University. McDonough quotes him telling Southern friends that they did not understand what they were getting into: You people speak so lightly of war. You dont know what you are talking about. The people of the North, he continued, are not going to let this country be destroyed without a mighty effort to save it. . . . In the end you will surely fail.
FLORENCE, Italy  Like baby rabbits, so pale and unformed are the teenage models cast by the Russian street style phenomenon Gosha Rubchinskiy  whose rapid ascent to cult design status was slyly overseen by the marketing masterminds of the Japanese designer Rei Kawakubos company, Comme des Garcons.

Response to an Instagram call for potential models for Mr. Rubchinskiys show at Pitti Uomo, the mens wear trade show here, was so overwhelming that it crashed an assistants email account.
Wooden coasters: towering, majestic, beautifully designed, classic. But the same woodies that look so wondrous from afar can be rickety, shaky and head-jangling to ride. As trains wear down their wood tracks, a coaster that was once smooth becomes more and more difficult to handle over time. How do you solve the problem? The answer used to be to call in experts to repair the tracks. But now park owners are turning to a new option: replacing the wood tracks with bendable, pliable steel, and turning the coaster into a thrilling hybrid.

One company in northern Idaho, Rocky Mountain Construction, has forged a business out of this practice and, in the process, has become responsible for turning a handful of existing wooden coasters into some of the most thrilling, contemporary and innovative rides in the coaster world. The rides often keep much of their look intact, maintaining a lot of the wood that makes up their basic structure, but now running through them is a sleek, shiny, colorful steel track that stands out from the wood and makes the overall attraction feel more 21st century.

A signature project by the company, founded by Fred Grubb and Suanne Dedmon 15 years ago, is its rehabilitation of Colossus, a giant white wooden coaster near the parking lot at the edge of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif. The dual-track racing coaster had been a staple at the park since 1978, thrilling generations of riders, and undergoing generations of wear and tear.
When it comes to that most personal, yet universal, of rituals  the daily act of getting dressed  Duro Olowu leaves little room for deviation. The fashion designers finely honed routine begins, without fail, with a shirt: Its not something I do consciously, but I always dress from the top down  thats my ritual, says the former lawyer, who takes no time when it comes to compiling his outfits (but spends ages in the shower). Thanks to his armory of bulk-bought basics, Olowus multilayered look is effortlessly streamlined. Though when it comes to packing, hes anything but: Im notorious for not traveling light. Im Nigerian! laughs Olowu, who goes between London and New York, where his wife, the Studio Museum director Thelma Golden, is based. I hate to go unprepared. Even for a three-day trip, I have serious luggage.

The significance of what we wear has long been imprinted in Olowus psyche: My father had an inordinate amount of shoes, says the designer, who favors Sebago, chocolate brown desert boots from Clarks and Converse, occasionally teamed with a tux. For his generation, if you meet another man in the professional world for the first time you always look down. In some sense clothing defines who you are. Although his days in the corporate world gave him a distaste for the yuppyish undertones of suiting, today he mixes in specially tailored two-pieces from New & Lingwood with super fine merino wool button-downs from Uniqlo and the preworn French workwear jackets hes been picking up in Portobello Market, and at Vanves in Paris, for some 25 years. I have more than forty of these jackets, mostly in blue, says Olowu, who leaves his sleeves unbuttoned, especially when designing in the studio. I find workwear to be much like classic tailoring, but more practical.

Accessories come in the easily packable form of silk scarves, some dating back to the 1920s. Theyre really transformative, he says, wrapping a dotted design from Turnball & Asser twice around his neck before tying it. It completely changes the look. Another of Olowus constants  his tortoiseshell glasses  stem from a more surprising source: I bought four pairs of these from Hudson News. Theyre like $30, he explains. I love Tom Ford glasses, but I lose my expensive ones so often. If I lose these, it doesnt matter. Of all his sartorial staples, its his Sidney Garber bracelet that hes most attached to: If I leave the house without this bracelet, I go back for it, he says of the chunky white-gold bangle. Mens jewelry is a tricky thing: you dont want to look like youre wearing something to look arty or cool. But I cant tell you how many people ask me about this.
Many NATO governments will agree next month to fund Afghanistan's armed forces until 2020, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Wednesday.

The decision will be formalised at NATO's Warsaw summit on July 8-9, Carter said.

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Yemen's warring parties have discussed forming military and security committees to oversee a transition period aimed at ending 14 months of fighting, the UN special envoy said on Wednesday.

"Discussions continued on security and military issues, including the details of military and security committees," Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said in a statement early Wednesday.

Peace talks in Kuwait between Iran-backed rebels and the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi have completed their eighth week without any major breakthrough other than the release of some prisoners.

Shia Houthi rebels have announced the release of 187 prisoners and Saudi Arabia, which backs Hadi's administration, said last week it freed 52 children.

The UN envoy had tried to push the two sides to release half of all their prisoners before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began on June 6.

The main sticking point in talks remains the form of the government that would oversee a transition back to normality once a peace deal is reached.

The rebels and their allies have held out against demands contained in a UN Security Council resolution for their surrender of heavy weaponry and withdrawal from areas, including the capital, which they seized in September 2014.

The head of the Houthi delegation Mohammed Abdulsalam told Yemeni media late Tuesday that they would reject any deal that does not include their input on the makeup of the transitional body.

"Any deal that does not meet our demands of forming a consensual authority... will be rejected," Abdulsalam said.

This should include Houthi agreement on the president, the national unity government and military and security committees, he said.

The government has resisted proposals for a unity administration with the rebels, fearing it would undermine the international legitimacy of Hadi.

Yemen's war has left some 6,400 people dead, with more than 80 percent of the population in desperate need of humanitarian aid, according to the UN.

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It will be nearly impossible for visitors to miss the 60-foot-wide by 10-foot-high mural displayed on the walk-up outside of the 50th annual Sawdust Art and Craft Festival this summer.

Contemporary and world-renowned artist Rolland Berry and art entrepreneur Adam Casper donated the gigantic artwork, priced at $100,000, as a gift to the city of Laguna Beach to commemorate the golden anniversary of the annual art festival. The festival opens on June 24 and will run through Aug. 28.

Los Angeles resident Berry, whose mixture of pop and graffiti art has been displayed in galleries throughout the world as well as by major retail company products such as Adidas and Reebok, said the mural is meant to embody the feeling of the Sawdust Festival. As a child, he used to frequent the festival with his family:

I remember thinking it was a giant maze full of tree houses with art, he said. I truly believe in the power of the universe and being where youre supposed to be at the right moment. This for me was the right place, and exactly the right time to return and create a piece for the public to enjoy. Its a full-circle moment for me.

The colorful mural pays homage to Americas indigenous culture, with a Native American womans face and colorful headdress painted across the facade. Berry said he chose the subject matter specifically because of his own Native American lineage, and his hope is to create awareness and empower the native women who were tribal chiefs and considered the keys to our wisdom.

The mural was created in three phases, with the first phase of the painting being sketched out in black and white and set for a day. In the second phase, Berry and his team of artists painted broad strokes of red, blue, yellow, orange and green hues across the sketch with matte-finish spray paints.

The last phase, which Berry said brings the mural back to life, will not be completed until opening day, so guests can witness the face and other details being brushed and finalized.

I thought it would be fun for the community to see how I work; to actually destroy a perfect mural and bring it back channeling my energy and that of the artists from the Sawdust Festival into the work.

The interactive piece of street art allows festivalgoers to actually be able to touch and take pictures in front of and against it. Berry encourages everyone to get up close and personal to the mural:

Im interested in generating a dialogue with the viewers that has not existed previously in Laguna. This work is made to be touched and interacted with. Come up and lean on it, take a photo or a selfie. Share a moment while strolling by. People interact differently to art in outdoor spaces, especially when they can actually walk into the same space the art occupies.

Contact the writer: jmoe@ocregister.com
Barbara Benun can tell you how many steps there are to the top of the Eiffel Tower. She has climbed all 1,710. And she has taken thousands of steps along the Great Wall of China.

After that, the hill up to Stater Bros. is nothing! the 85-year-old joked.

Benun is a familiar figure on the sidewalks of Laguna Woods, where she has lived for 13 years. She walks to the mall, to the grocery store, and even to neighboring Lake Forest to do errands.

Today, Benun will embark on another adventure on foot when she, her daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter begin a six-day trek over the last 70 miles or so of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

The foursome will walk in the footsteps of religious pilgrims whove traversed the network of ancient routes to the tomb of St. James since the ninth century.

Benun may be among the few to carry her provisions in a Mickey Mouse backpack.

Shes definitely a free spirit. She has a very open mind, said Donna English, 59, Benuns look-alike daughter and frequent travel companion.

Benun came across the walk  known as St. James Way  on an internet search. After watching the movie The Way starring Martin Sheen, she and English were hooked.

Englishs daughter, Michelle Schleich, and her granddaughter Reagan jumped at the chance to go along.

Schleich, 35, said she feels blessed to be able to experience the walk with the most important women in her life.

Its not every day that four generations can get together, travel halfway across the world and experience a modern-day pilgrimage such as this.

Reagan, a seventh-grader, is more than excited, Schleich said. Once she found out that she was going on the trip, she petitioned her counselor so she could take Spanish for two terms.

After meeting in Chicago (the Schleichs live in Oregon), the four will fly to Madrid, then to Santiago. From there, its a three-hour bus ride to Valenca, Portugal, where they begin the walk, which ends back in Santiago.

Nights will be spent in two- to four-star hotels arranged by a tour company.

All I want is a bed and a private bathroom, Benun said. Other than that, I can handle anything.

The foursome plans to lunch on fruit and cheese purchased in villages along the route. Dinners will be served family-style at the hotels, shared with other pilgrims making the walk.

I think its going to be fun just seeing what we experience, English said. Not having so many expectations, and just enough information so we dont get lost.

Following a program recommended by the tour company, they will walk 10 to 13 miles each day.

To prepare, Benun and English work out three times a week at their clubhouse fitness center. Both participated in the Laguna Hills Memorial Day Run/Walk last month with backpacks fully loaded.

Benun ran the 10K in one hour and 50 minutes, but wasnt happy with her time.

I have never met a more determined, independent and adventurous woman, Schleich said about her grandmother. Im quite sure that she could outwalk me during this trip  shes done it before.

Schleich recalled a summertime trip from her grandmothers Costa Mesa home to Newport Beach on foot, about 12 miles round trip.

Unfortunately, the walk back is what I mostly remember, she said. I remember telling Grandma that she needed to get the car because if I was going to walk any further, my legs would give out. Of course she laughed, and of course didnt let us stop.

Adventure is nothing new to Benun, who ticked off the names of countries she has visited like she was reciting a grocery list.

Shes hung out with giraffes in Africa and faced gun-toting guards in Jordan.

Last year, Benun was among the first Americans to visit Cuba after the restrictions were lifted.

Still on her bucket list? Times Square on New Years Eve.

My mother thought playing bridge was the ultimate adventure, Benun laughed. My whole family thinks Im crazy.

Contact the writer: 949-837-5200 or jkarmarkar@ocregister.com
ORLANDO, Fla.  He knew it was bad when he heard the tone in Dr. Chadwick Smiths voice on the other end of the line. The conversation took less than 10 seconds.

I have 20 gunshot victims, Smith said. I need you.

Dr. Michael Cheatham hung up, jumped into his car and raced to the Orlando Regional Medical Center, the hospital where he had worked for two decades. His mind raced, too: Twenty.

He was minutes from the hospital when he saw a sea of flashing blue lights outside the Pulse nightclub. Hed driven by Pulse hundreds of times on his way to work. Hed never seen any emergency vehicles.

It was just after 2 a.m. Sunday.

When he arrived in the emergency room, he could tell immediately that something had gone terribly wrong.

Every bed in the trauma bay was filled, Cheatham said. There were things all over the floor. There were dead bodies covered in sheets in the hallway.

Smith quickly directed him to a victim bleeding badly. The person had a gunshot wound in the back. It took Cheatham 30 minutes to sew him up. As soon as he was done, another victim was rolled in. It was like a MASH unit.

It was one after another after another after another, he said.

A little more than 48 hours after the mass shooting in Orlando killed 49 people, left the gunman dead and sent 44 of the wounded to the Orlando Regional Medical Center, Cheatham said he still hadnt had a moment to reflect on being a part of the tragedy.

The 53-year-old, who grew up in Ventura before moving to Tennessee to study at Vanderbilt University, said that in the first four hours after the shooting, he was involved in 12 operations. Normally, he said, it might be two to six operations.

It was such a mass-scale tragedy, the wounded were arriving by truckloads instead of by ambulances, Dr. Kathryn Bondani said.

Cheatham said the early surgeries were simply about stopping the bleeding and closing up the wounds. By around 7 a.m., he began directing traffic inside the trauma center, identifying which victims needed more help.

The hours went by quickly. The surgeries continued. Even Tuesday, he said, six of the patients remained in critical condition, and he was worried about the long-term effects for two of them. One, he said, was in a coma after being shot in the head.

After Cheatham had worked relentlessly for 40 straight hours, Orlando Health Chief Executive David Strong approached him.

He ordered him to go home and rest, Orlando Health spokeswoman Kena Lewis said.

Cheatham did.

He drove home and said he finally had dinner with his wife and daughter. He said it was a much-needed moment to try to slow down. But his mind still wandered back to the victims. He knew hed have to get back to the hospital.

After he finished eating, he got a second instruction.

My wife ordered me to go to bed and get some sleep, Cheatham said.

The doctor followed her instructions and finally drifted off Monday night.

By Tuesday morning, he was back at the hospital, monitoring patients. Since he started on Sunday morning, 44 patients had been admitted. When he got back Tuesday, 27 remained, including Angel Colon.

Colon sat in a row of chairs with the other medical staff to face a roomful of media. Cheatham didnt remember if he had treated Colons injuries, but he was grateful to see him alive.

The 26-year-old thanked the medical staff.

If it wasnt for you guys, I wouldnt be here, Colon said. Ill love you guys forever.
Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens rescued a proposed cybercrime investigations unit from being cut out of next years budget on Tuesday when she told supervisors that local businesses are being increasingly hacked, defrauded and ransomed by online scammers.

Cybercrime has become such a major issue impacting our businesses, Hutchens said at the budget hearing. That is the future of the crime were facing in America.

County CEO Frank Kim had recommended removing the proposed investigation unit to save money after county staff revealed last week that low sales tax revenue payments from the state could leave Orange County with $20 million less than expected to fund law enforcement operations.

But Hutchens argued that the unit is needed because the departments economic crimes detail  which investigates credit card and identity theft, internet fraud and investment scams  is overloaded.

California had more cybercrime victims and loss than any other state last year, accounting for almost 15 percent of the nations Internet crime, resulting in $195 million in losses, according to an FBI report. Yet a county budget report states, there is currently no local law enforcement agency in Orange County prepared to investigate a major cyber-intrusion crime.

In addition to policing Internet fraud and data hacks, the new cybercrime unit would investigate online bullying and child porn, Hutchens said. The new unit calls for one sergeant and one investigator at a cost of $341,545 next year.

Supervisor Shawn Nelson called the cybercrime problem significant. Chairwoman Lisa Bartlett said her office has been called often by locals who have been defrauded online.

Supervisor Todd Spitzer voted to restore the unit to the budget, but warned that piecemeal budgeting made it difficult to make decisions that favored the countys long-term fiscal health.

The boards Tuesday votes are nonbinding. The board will vote to approve its 2016-17 budget on June 28.

Contact the writer: jgraham@ocregister.com or 714-796-7960
ANAHEIM  The Walt Disney Co. has pledged a $1 million cash commitment to a newly created nonprofit to help those affected by the mass shooting tragedy in Orlando.

We are heartbroken by this tragedy and hope our commitment will help those in the community affected by this senseless act, Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said in the companys official Disney Parks Blog. We mourn the loss of the victims and offer our condolences to their families, friends and loved ones.

The money will go to the OneOrlando Fund, announced Monday by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. The Central Florida Foundation will distribute the funds to nonprofits assisting the victims and families, as well as to groups representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer, Hispanic and faith communities.

Disney said, additionally, it will match donations made by its employees to the fund. The Walt Disney World Resort is also helping with complimentary accommodations for the victims families, and encouraging employees to give blood at donation stations across the resort.

In Sundays early morning shooting  the countrys worst mass shooting in modern history  police said Omar Mateen fatally shot 49 people and injured more at Orlandos Pulse Nightclub. An estimated 320 people were in the gay nightclub club celebrating Latin Night. Mateen died in a shootout with police.

In 2011, Disney donated $2.5 million to help with relief efforts after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. In 2012, the company gave $2 million to the American Red Cross and other organizations to support hurricane relief and rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Sandy.

In 2013, Disney contributed $250,000 to assist with Oklahoma tornado relief efforts and $500,000 after Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

For more information on the OneOrlando Fund, visit oneorlando.org.

Contact the writer: 714-796-2443 or jpimentel@ocregister.com or follow on Twitter @OCDisney
Five years ago, people around the world watched attentively the flow of breaking news and images coming from Egypt. Observers followed the inspiring live stream showing the streets inundated with millions of Egyptian protesters standing up for their dignity and fully determined that their demands for freedom be fulfilled.

What occurred in Egypt during that time gave a huge momentum to what was referred to as the Arab Spring. Tahrir Square, packed with thousands of protesters at the heart of Cairo, became a symbol of a countrys rebellion for freedom from the shackles of tyranny. Egyptians were determined to take back their country from a ruling clique that dominated the political scene and monopolized the economic wealth for decades.

Their determination ensured their success at first. Egyptians ousted a dictator who reigned unencumbered for three decades, started a transition under the auspices of the Egyptian armed forces, held their first free and fair election, and elected the first civilian president in modern times. Despite these achievements, chaos characterized the transition period until the armed forces decided to interfere to terminate the short-lived civilian administration of the country.

Egypt nowadays is under the ironclad rule of Abdel Fattah El Sisi, the army leader who ousted the first democratically elected president. The current regime is more authoritarian than the one that Egyptians attempted to depose. Protests are banned; freedoms of assembly and expression are not tolerated; more than 50,000 political prisoners are behind bars; thousands of peaceful protesters were shot dead in the streets of Egypt; defiance is considered an act of treason; the police state is restored; and the entire country is mobilized in a war against terrorism that is used as a pretext for the actions of the officers out of the purview of the law.

Observers wonder how a country, where the echo of the cry of freedom was heard in every corner, could turn into a republic of fear. The answer lies in the extent of activities of the Egyptian armed forces establishment in the last few decades. After the peace accord with Israel in the 70s, the Egyptian armed forces turned into an economic juggernaut whose activities span several sectors of the economy. This was essential to absorb thousands of discharged officers by opening prospects of employment in these economic enterprises, and to ensure the loyalty of the officers and the allegiance of the top brass who made fortunes by securing top positions in the militarys economic empire after retirement.

The militarys enterprises were given preferential treatment that included tax exemptions, subsidies, concessions, favorable treatment in the bidding process for state contracts and government procurement, priority access to infrastructure schemes and advance notification of pending projects. They are immune from government regulations, allowed to employ conscripted labor, used soldiers to secure their corporate assets, bought public land at favorable terms, and did not have to disclose anything to the public or to any government body.

All these factors allowed the military empire to expand to cover diverse activities that span manufacturing, agriculture, mining, services, construction, land reclamation, food production, livestock, tourism, real estate, energy, infrastructure and others.

The army is not only a political force to be reckoned with, but is a leading economic actor with tentacles extending throughout the country. The army leaders thought that a heavier dose of democracy would certainly entail more accountability and perhaps a direct assault by the countrys civilian administration on the militarys political authority and economic privileges. The generals realized it is imperative to dominate the political scene to be able to protect their economic interests.

The military establishment endorsed their leader, Sisi, to be in charge of the dramatic end of the countrys short-lived democratic experience. Sisi, who does not have any combat experience in Egypts wars, would try to seek glory away from the battlefield. He is the man who admitted that he had a dream to become the ruler of Egypt and continues to present himself as the one who saved the country from the turmoil of transition. His dream materialized, but many believe it has become Egypts nightmare.

Besides the leaders of the armed forces, there are others who could be seen to share the blame, as well: the politicians who could not overcome their petty differences with their counterparts, the political groups that encouraged the military interference to settle their differences with their competitors, the revolutionary activists who did not rise to the occasion, the class that wants to preserve its interests at the expense of the entire nation, those who could not bear to pay the price that everyone had to sacrifice to earn their freedom, in addition to those who sought stability, even at the expense of their liberty.

Sherif Khalifa, associate professor of economics at Cal State Fullerton, is a former Egyptian diplomat and the author of Egypts Lost Spring, published in 2015 by Praeger. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from Johns Hopkins University.
LAGUNA NIGUEL  More than 100 firefighters battled a vegetation fire that spread to 30 acres and threatened homes in Laguna Niguel on Wednesday afternoon.

In all, 135 firefighters fought back the blaze that burned for some three and a half hours, starting at about 2 p.m. Firefighters were also stationed throughout the Concord Hill neighborhood while the fire consumed dry brush threatening homes, said Capt. Larry Kurtz of the Orange County Fire Authority.

But we have resources on those houses to prevent anything, Kurtz said.

No madatory evacuations were issued.

Several residents saw helicopters using water from a nearby lake to help extinguish the blaze. The OCFA deployed three helicopters, two bulldozers to take out brush and hand crews.

The California Highway Patrol issued a traffic advisory for drivers on the I-5 near the 73 because of heavy smoke.

Neighborhood residents gathered outside their homes and walked a small trail to get a closer look into the canyon where the blaze was burning. Some residents sprayed the nearby vegetation with hoses.

The blaze was contained by 5:30 p.m. but a strike team would stay at the site to monitor for hotspots igniting.

Amanda Nadal just moved to the area from Austin, Texas. Black smoke could be seen over her house and a helicopter dropped water yards from her new backyard.

She loaded her kids, the family cat and a few bags of luggage into her SUV to prepare to escape.

Were just going to take precautions, Nadal said. We have (fires) in Texas, too.

For 20-year resident John Purdy, the fire is something new. He said the Wednesday blaze was the second one in less than a year.

Weve got all our dogs and our kids ready to go if we have to, he said.

No injuries or damages were reported and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7802 or jsudock@ocregister.com
Related Israeli officer will not face trial over shelling Gaza clinic in 2014 assault

Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman has revoked a senior Palestinian official's permit to enter Israel over alleged attempts to destabilise society, sources said Wednesday.

Mohammad Madani, head of the Committee for Interaction with the Israeli Society, told AFP the decision to cancel his VIP card was proof of the "racist policy" of the newly appointed Lieberman.

The card enabled Madani to travel freely between Israel and the Palestinian territories in his role to cultivate ties.

Lieberman was widely reported to have said that Madani tried to form a joint Israeli-Arab party as a means of destabilising local politics.

Madani, member of the ruling Fatah party's Central Committee, rejected Lieberman's claims.

"If partnership between the Israelis, Arabs and Jews, in political life in Israel cause such misery and anger within Lieberman, it reflects how far Israel of today is from any attempt to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region," said Madani.

"It also confirms that the current cabinet in Israel is a government of war, not peace," he said in a statement.

A spokesman for Lieberman confirmed the details of the report, but added no further comment.

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For two years, a group of families in Newtown, Conn., quietly laid the groundwork for a legal case against the maker and sellers of the assault rifle that on Dec. 14, 2012, claimed 26 lives  and shattered their own  in less than five minutes.

The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School was carried out with an AR-15, a military-style assault rifle that has surfaced in recent mass shootings, like Aurora, Colorado, and San Bernardino, California. On the eve of a hearing to determine whether the lawsuit can proceed, a rifle similar to the AR-15 was used yet again  in an attack early Sunday at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, the deadliest shooting in American history.

The legal challenge faces long odds, and a key hearing next week will determine its future. But the lawsuit has already progressed further than many had expected  a Connecticut judge has set a trial date and has ordered the defendants to turn over documents  and no matter the outcome, it represents a muscular campaign against the powerful gun industry.

The lawsuit seeks to overcome the broad immunity given to gun makers and sellers under a 2005 federal law, protecting them from liability when guns are used in a crime. But there is a small window for holding companies accountable, including instances of so-called negligent entrustment, in which a gun is carelessly given or sold to a person posing a high risk of misusing it.

The 10 Newtown plaintiffs argue that the AR-15 is a weapon of war  its cousin, the M-16, was the rifle of choice in Vietnam  and therefore should never have been marketed to civilians. They say, in effect, that the availability of a high-velocity weapon capable of inflicting such rapid carnage constitutes such negligence.

The novelty of the approach is that it doesnt depend upon an argument that the manufacturer knows that a particular shooter is a high-risk buyer, said Heidi Li Feldman, a professor at Georgetown University Law School, who has followed the Newtown litigation. The novelty is that it substitutes the general public for a particular individual.

The timing of the attack in Orlando, where 49 people were fatally shot, may invigorate and inflame the legal challenge against the gun industry. Gun-control advocates and victims rights groups have embraced the case as a way to knock down stalwart gun protections, while gun makers and dealers are watching the case intently.

Eighteen months after it was filed, the lawsuit  naming the manufacturer, Remington; the wholesaler; and a local retailer  is still in the early stages. But the case has not yet been tossed out of court. Even some plaintiffs were startled when Judge Barbara N. Bellis of state Superior Court, who has yet to rule on a final effort to quash the case, set a trial date  two years from now  and ordered the defendants to disclose marketing materials and other internal documents.

Also central to the case is the way that gun makers and dealers promote assault rifles. Just before a hearing in April, Bill Sherlach, whose wife, Mary, a school psychologist, was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, said he was eager to see company memos.

We look forward to the discovery process, where we can see what goes on behind the curtain, Sherlach said outside the courthouse in Bridgeport.

The defendants have been vigorously seeking to have the lawsuit thrown out, and they have one last chance at a hearing Monday in which both sides will make their cases. The judge has until October to decide whether the case will go to trial.

The gun companies had asked Bellis to delay the discovery phase until she ruled on the defendants motion to strike the case. The judge denied the defendants request, saying that the plaintiffs had waited long enough and that the parties should start exchanging information immediately.

The Sandy Hook families legal team has requested numerous documents relating to the marketing of the AR-15, as well as the companies desired customer base and use of video games for promotion, among other things.

Mark Barden recalled watching his wife, Jacqueline, at the computer in the first weeks after their 7-year-old son, Daniel, died in the 2012 shooting. She was trying to research how the kid around the corner got his hands on a military rifle designed for combat, Barden said, and carried it into our sons school to murder him.

Using an AR-15 model known as the Bushmaster, Adam Lanza, a disturbed 20-year-old who lived near the Bardens, shot his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School. In less than five minutes, he fired 154 rounds. His mother, Nancy Lanza, whom he also killed, had legally purchased the weapon.

The Bardens were stunned, they said, to see how gun companies advertised the weapons online to the general public, using militaristic language and macho phrases like Get your man card and The opposition will bow down.

The plaintiffs lawyer, Joshua D. Koskoff, contends that the AR-15s overwhelming firepower makes it a poor choice for home defense, hunting and recreation. But there is one civilian activity in which the AR-15 reigns supreme: mass shootings, the lawsuit said. Assailants have unleashed the rifles lethal power into our streets, our malls, our places of worship and our schools.

On Sunday, Koskoff said the carnage of the Orlando attack showed how unreasonably lethal the AR-15 is. Its no more a gun than a tank is a car, he said in an interview.

Dr. Garen Wintemute, a public health researcher at the University of California, Davis, said sales of all types of guns rose after mass shootings. As for why purchases of assault rifles increase, he said: Our informed guesswork is that its strategic buying  buy it now because you wont be able to later. One unanswered question is when there is such a spike, how much of that is new purchasers and how much is people buying additional firearms.

In a motion filed Friday to strike the Newtown lawsuit, Remington called the plaintiffs arguments a strained effort to evade the immunity provided to firearm manufacturers under the 2005 federal law. The brief argues that the negligent entrustment exception applies to gun sellers and dealers, not a gun maker like Remington.

Of course, if Bellis does allow the case to proceed, the eventual outcome is uncertain. Trial court judges do not really go for far-out theories or highly novel adaptations of established theories, said Feldman of Georgetown. It goes against their experience and the nature of their job.
IRVINE  When Callum Lamb moved to this master-planned community to attend UC Irvine, he couldnt help but notice the stark difference with Seattle, where he grew up.

Walking around Downtown Seattle, he said, he could feel the citys heartbeat and cultural diversity through various street art.

In comparison, Irvine gives the appearance of basically being culturally bland because the city is so ubiquitously beige, the 22-year-old said. There is absolutely a lot of diversity among the people in Irvine. However, thats not really represented in a diversity of ways.

Lamb was one of the public speakers who attended Tuesdays City Council meeting to show support for a proposal that would make it easier for companies along major freeways to paint murals on their buildings.

At the end of the public hearing, the council directed staff to draft the ordinance and return within 30 days for a council vote.

Councilman Jeff Lalloway, who proposed the mural arts program, said he was inspired by the mural on the freeway-facing wall of the Tillys building along I-405 near the 133 interchange and the positive feedback it received.

He recommended that the city establish standards and streamline the process for companies that want to paint murals on their building walls facing I-405 or I-5. He said he wants such projects to bypass cumbersome, and sometimes political, Planning Commission hearings  a step currently required by the city law.

Irvine is not like what it used to be 30 years ago  a lot of new people, a lot of new perspectives, many young people who have a different expectation for this city, Mayor Pro Tem Lynn Schott said. I think that this is a really great opportunity for us to turn a little bit of a unique corner in this city of Irvine and have a new dimension to our community.

However, not everyone was on the same page.

Councilwoman Christina Shea and Mayor Steven Choi said Irvine has its own uniqueness thats different from other urban cities. Having massive murals all over the city could take away the culture of Irvine, Shea said.

I just see it as kind of opening up a can of worms here, she said, suggesting that the city hold a workshop to gauge what the community wants.

Major cities such as Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Portland, Miami and Minneapolis have mural arts programs, which generally require permits and set rules on the size and location of murals, according to Irvine staff.

Councilwoman Beth Krom said she wants Lalloways proposal to be part of a bigger vision for arts in the city, such as collaboration with UCI, Irvine Barclay Theatre, Irvine Fine Arts Center and public schools.

Upon Kroms request, the council also directed staff to research arts master plans and public art programs in other cities.

The Tillys mural, created by artist Zio Ziegler last summer, is slated to be painted over at the end of June, when the agreement with the city expires.

Ziegler, a Rhode Island School of Design graduate, specializes in large, improvisational murals. His Irvine piece was sponsored by Tillys, Vans and Laguna Beach-based Artists Republic Gallery to bring attention to the Orange County art scene.

In addition to the agreement with the city, Tillys had to get permission from Irvine Co., whose guidelines govern how the property may look. An Irvine Co. spokesman said the company will follow the citys lead on the future of the Tillys mural and the proposed mural arts program.

Lamb said Irvines rigid master plan and restrictions dont leave much room for residents to express their diverse culture through visual arts.

I think the city is in incredible need of a more communal aspect to it, he said. Having something like a mural program would bring different niche Irvine communities together.

Contact the writer: 949-445-6397 or tshimura@ocregister.com
While families prepare for 50 funerals in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shootings, our leaders and our nation play blame games.

Instead, we should be thinking deeply about death and life in America.

Human rights advocates blame homophobia for the weekend tragedy. Build the wall advocates blame immigration. Candidates and President Barack Obama debate terms like radical Islam. Gun control advocates  and I am one  call for banning assault-style weapons.

But the tragedy in Florida isnt only about hot-button issues. Its also about mental health.

The Orlando gunmans first wife says he was abusive and mentally unstable. His second wife says she tried to talk him out of the attack. Neither woman went to authorities.

Had they done so in a state such as California, they could have employed a little-known new law to have authorities temporarily take away the shooters guns. But Florida and most states have no such gun violence restraining order for individuals in crisis.

In October, I talked to townspeople in Roseburg, Ore., the day after a 29-year-old man shot and killed nine people at a community college. Law enforcement officials said Christopher Harper-Mercer had long-term mental illness, something they learned after the deaths.

It was the same four years ago when 20 children were slaughtered at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Conn. Adam Lanzas father  after the killings  said he suspected that his son was schizophrenic.

In some ways, mental health in the United States has gone backward. The reason? Shame.

In an era in which PTSD is finally coming out of the closet, our 20th-century culture surrounding mental illness isnt simply shameful. Its deadly.

Instead of passing and employing gun violence restraining order laws, our secret shame about mental health issues enables people in crisis to be locked and loaded.

The reasons why humans pick up guns and shoot other humans are as complicated as the world of mental illness.

Experts differentiate between what they call disturbed people and the diagnosable mentally ill. A terrorist may be disturbed, yet takes action based on ideology, beliefs and values.

Obama and the FBI determined that the San Bernardino attack last year in which 14 people were killed was terrorism.

That may also be the case with the homophobic, internet-inspired racist who pledged allegiance to ISIS before opening fire in the Pulse nightclub. Obama called his actions homegrown terrorism. For now, though, Im going with the first wifes diagnosis  mental illness.

About a fourth of Americans at some point in a given year suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder, according to the Kim Foundation. Nearly half will struggle with mental illness in their lifetimes.

Very few people with mental illness pick up a gun. But some do.

Significantly, mental illness is often treatable. But too often, those who need treatment the most get the least treatment.

Jeffrey Nagel is a chief of operations for the OC Health Care Agency. He cautions that because of shame and the complexity of the issue, mental illness is often misunderstood.

Overwhelmingly, Nagel says, people with mental illness arent violent. Far more often, they are victims of violence. Labeling anybody who does a mass shooting perpetuates a stigma that mentally ill people commit acts of violence.

Rather than branding a shooter, Nagel suggests the national conversation turn toward a call to action.

There should be no shame in treatment, he says. Reduce the shame and get them into care.

Six months ago, Californias pioneering Gun Law Violence Restraining Order went into effect. The new law is aimed at gun owners who pose a threat to themselves or others.

The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence sums up the legal language; the law allows police officers and concerned family members to petition to:

 Temporarily prohibit that person from purchasing or possessing firearms or ammunition.

 Allow law enforcement to temporarily remove any firearms or ammunition already in that persons possession.

 Include procedures to allow the person have his or her guns and ammunition returned.

Use the law if it applies. There is no shame in saving lives.

Contact the writer: dwhiting@ocregister.com
Last July, just weeks before she would embark upon her senior year, Claire Nakaki joked with a friend about the competitive landscape of college applications and attention-grabbing personal statements.

I told him, Its like you have to get cancer to have something to write about, Nakaki remembers.

A few days later, the all-around star student at Tustins Foothill High was, in fact, diagnosed with cancer  osteosarcoma, in the bone of her left leg.

Finally, I had a a good topic, Nakaki wryly noted.

Rather than tackling a slate of four Advanced Placement classes and playing varsity volleyball, Nakaki would spend her final year of high school either undergoing treatment at Childrens Hospital of Orange County or resting at home.

Its not what shed had in mind when she was elected to ASB leadership the spring before. But its what she got  as the preternaturally mature girl quickly came to accept.

I find it easier to be positive than to be angry, Nakaki said. It helps you heal.

Along with her classmates, Nakaki will walk  with a slight limp  at graduation on Thursday. And come fall, she will head off to her dream college, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

Last week, she was back at CHOC for maintenance, so to speak. After a grueling regimen of surgeries and chemotherapy, Nakakis cancer is in remission  but a recent skin graft left her in need of pain management.

Nakaki went to her doctor last summer complaining of knee pain. At first, both attributed it to strain from her years as an athlete. But eventually, an MRI revealed a mass.

Theres never a good time to get cancer, but the start of your senior years has got to be the worst, said Nakakis school counselor, Lisa Hermanson. We have so many fun activities for seniors. I felt awful for her.

Nakaki was forced to drop her AP classes for a pared-back schedule. Hermanson periodically visited so Nakaki could keep up enough to graduate on time.

She was bedridden and weak, but she did it all, Hermanson said.

Doing it all included mustering the energy to accept the crown as homecoming queen last October  on crutches and wearing a wig.

Soon afterward, Nakakis mother, Suzanne, suddenly needed open-heart surgery. The youngest of three siblings, Claire was left pretty much to her own devices with her mom miles away at UCLA Medical Center.

I had to learn to be my own health advocate with my doctors, Nakaki said. I tried my best to be persistent. It resulted in a lot of control over my own health, which felt very empowering.

At times, Nakaki noticed a disconnect from her peers. So, as the saying goes, she made new friends but kept the old  through the Adolescent and Young Adult support group at CHOC.

Now I have my cancer friends and my school friends, Nakaki said. My cancer friends just get it.

Kara Noskoff, a child life specialist at the hospital, met Nakaki soon after she checked in. When her hair began falling out during chemotherapy, Nakaki asked Noskoff to shave her head. Later, Nakaki counseled another teen patient.

Half an hour later, Claire was already mentoring other girls on the floor, Noskoff said. Throughout this journey, her ability to process this very challenging event has been amazing. She exudes confidence.

Nakaki will occasionally return to CHOC for checkups. Other than that, she looks forward to a typical college experience living in a dorm with a roommate she met on Facebook.

Cancer is just a blip on her radar screen.

Missing one year of my social life is not going to be a detriment, Nakaki said. I had 17 years of a normal life, and now Im going to have a hundred more.

Contact the writer: sgoulding@ocregister.com
Theres a good chance state lawmakers this year will pass a ban on ex parte communications involving members of the California Coastal Commission. Its a nice idea, but inadequate.

Ex parte communications  the legalistic name for private meetings, phone calls and email exchanges between key state officials and the people or companies they regulate  emerged two years ago as one of the most corrupt parts of Californias public life.

Thats when emails revealed then president of the states Public Utilities Commission, Michael Peevey, had met secretly with a former executive of the Southern California Edison Co. during an industry meeting in Poland. The meeting produced a hotel napkin outline of a $3.3 billion charge to Edison customers, who might get off the hook later this summer for at least some of the expense of closing the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, caused in large part by an Edison blunder.

Before then, executives of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. were already talking and emailing secretly with PUC members and staff about how to ease their costs for the 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion that killed eight and destroyed dozens of homes.

Last year, legislators unanimously passed several PUC reform bills, including a ban on ex parte communications with commissioners. Gov. Jerry Brown quickly vetoed the measures, which could have harmed the interests of San Diego-based Sempra Energy, parent company of Southern California Gas Co. and the San Diego Gas & Electric Co., where Browns sister Kathleen is a highly paid director.

The bills Brown vetoed had a narrow focus, homing in on only one state commission. Revelations over the last year made it clear that ex parte communications have also long been a key part of how the states Coastal Commission operates. No one knows how much influence consultants meeting privately with commissioners had over the springtime firing of that agencys strongly environmentalist former executive director.

Brown, whose coastal appointees approved the firing, has so far said nothing about ex parte communications, or whether he will veto the bill banning them from Coastal Commission operations that easily passed the state Senate. It is carried by Democratic Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, who represents much of the Santa Barbara and Ventura county coastline.

Jacksons bill is fine as far as it goes, but it falls far short of whats needed. Browns 2015 veto means ex parte communications are still legal at the PUC, where commissioners lately adopted their own rule against such conversations or emails. But the PUC can cancel that rule anytime, and just might when the heat is off.

Ex parte communications are also allowed at the state Board of Equalization, the Public Employee Relations Board and the California Air Resources Board, where automakers are a constant lobbying presence.

Whats needed is an across-the-board ban, not piecemeal legislation like last years attempted ban at the PUC and this years reaction to crises at the Coastal Commission.

Members of these commissions and boards often whine that they rule on so many cases theyd be swamped if they had to act only on information in submitted documents. They say their talks with parties affected by their rulings give them better, more complete understanding.

But these officials are often well-paid, with many state board members taking home six-figure salaries. Why shouldnt they pore over detailed documents, rather than the blandishments of lobbyists, consultants and landowners?

All of which means the playing field in state government right now tilts toward favoring big money interests. Sure, a ban on ex parte communications by coastal commissioners would be a step in the right direction, but its just not enough, not when the same practice is common elsewhere, too.

Thomas D. Elias is a writer in Southern California.
As the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeares death, this year is chock-full of productions of his plays.

For its 2016 Summer Series, Costa Mesa-based American Coast Theater Co., referred to as ACTC, is honoring that occasion with a production of the Bard of Avons most celebrated play, Hamlet, in repertory with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Tom Stoppards 1966 absurdist retelling of the tragedy.

James McHale, ACTCs associate artistic director, said that as Stoppards play has most of the same characters as Hamlet, it made sense to cast the same actors in the same roles for both shows.

McHale, who plays Hamlet in both plays, said that such an unusual approach allows audiences to see actors providing entirely different interpretations of the same characters in two separate shows.

His work in the title role of Hamlet, for example, is grounded in drama, but in Stoppards play, the Prince of Denmark is seen in a different light, so McHale has shaded his portrayal towards comedy without being outright comical.

Though one show is dramatic and the other comedic, McHale said theyre unified by aesthetic and design elements, related themes and questions, and an overall sense of tragedy.

Supported by design elements, both shows are set in the period following World War II, but in Rosencrantz, McHale said, that world is an odd, alternate reality version that reflects the plays Absurdist roots; one example is an added scenic element that physicalizes the idea of man as a puppet.

A total of 15 actors were cast, 12 of them appearing in identical roles in both shows. Two of the actors appear only in Hamlet, which is directed by Jeremy Aluma, and one appears only in Rosencrantz, directed by Christi McHale.

A producer with more than 30 directing credits under his belt, Aluma calls Hamlet the most difficult play Ive ever directed, citing the emotional complexity of its super-compelling themes that revolve around betrayal, revenge, and depression and loneliness.

The plays key question, Aluma said, is What is the value of a life?, and Shakespeare uses Hamlets brilliant mind to explore that question. Life is precious, and Hamlets hesitancy to kill his uncle isnt cowardice; its his understanding that life is important, which leads us to think about what life is worth.

Tightening the five-act play, which can exceed four hours in performance, was a must. Aluma made judicious cuts to move the action forward, including shedding moments of reiteration or redundancy, dropping recaps of external events and dropping characters (eg. Fortinbras) who are sort of outside of the play.

Excluding intermission, the show is now a tight 2.5 hours, and Aluma said he has added a few gifts to those who know the play well while maximizing its clarity and impact for those audiences unfamiliar with Hamlet.

Aluma said his Hamlet creates a relationship between the audience and the plays ghosts and (the subject of) death. Audiences who see both shows, he said, will understand Shakespeares themes even more pointedly, thanks to the two directors coordinated efforts and in the way that Christis direction makes Rosencrantz more accessible.

Though cast in the absurdist mold, Stoppards play, Aluma said, is about relationships, conflict, and how we effect one another, elements everyone understands.

Where other productions, Aluma said, can lose that sense of loneliness thats vital to the show, Christi creates nice moments of strife, fear and animosity that make following the play a lot easier.

An associate producing director for ACTC, Christi McHale said the Stoppard play provides a heightened portrayal of the Danish court from Rosencrantzs and Guildensterns perspective  but the stagings of both shows include quite a few little surprises for the audience along the way.

She and Aluma found that in addition to the challenges inherent in both scripts, sharing most of their cast members posed logistical challenges in terms of the scheduling of rehearsals.

The two directors, she said, kept a running dialogue throughout rehearsals to discuss character development, text, and our approach to specific moments, and that they effected bits of crossover, primarily by attending each others rehearsals.

Aluma said that rather than detract, the dual rehearsals of the two different scripts increased the cast members energy levels and understanding of their characters and of the shows and themes.

McHale agreed: The actors, she said, would bring in a new thought or idea to rehearsals that often came out of their work on the other show.

The shows play at the 179-seat Lyceum Theater, ACTCs home at the Costa Mesa campus of Vanguard University, where the troupe is the resident professional company.

A special ticket price of $30 is set for those who wish to see both productions during the run; you can see both shows in one day on Sunday or July 2.

Contact the writer: emarchesewriter@gmail.com
ORLANDO, Fla.  Ortiz. Rivera. Gonzalez. Almodovar. As the names of the victims of Sundays massacre here rolled out, this slice of the United States  known as the unofficial 79th municipio, or municipality, of Puerto Rico  felt a communal shudder.

It was a roll call of Puerto Ricans, gay and straight, who had gathered to dance and hear salsa music at the club and died in the barrage of bullets. Like so many others, they were here, in this booming Central Florida metropolitan area of nearly 400,000 Puerto Ricans, because it has become a Puerto Rican touchstone: Spanish flows freely; the smells of Mallorca pastries and mofongo waft from bakeries and restaurants; the hot and humid weather feels like home.

Its as though it had happened in our own family, said Yolanda Rivera, 71, who works at the Melao Bakery, a popular shop in Kissimmee, just south of Orlando. We are praying to God he heals their pain for the loss of their children. We Hispanics have become a little closer because of this.

A staggering 90 percent of the 49 victims killed by Omar Mateen, the gunman who opened fire in a gay nightclub, were Hispanic or of Hispanic descent, including Mexican, Colombian and Dominican, community leaders said. Of those, 23 were Puerto Rican. This has stunned Puerto Rican residents across Florida  where there are 1 million islanders, rivaling the number in New York state  and on the island, where the deaths have set off a national mourning.

For Puerto Ricans here, the heartbreak is especially strong. Orlando was meant to be a haven for Puerto Ricans who fled the island because of its imploding economy and spectacularly high crime rate. The fact that so many young Puerto Ricans died in a spasm of violence during a night of dancing seems a particularly bitter twist.

Ramona Nazario, 67, who arrived three years ago from Ponce, Puerto Rico, said the shooting reminded her too much of what she had left behind. The same things are happening here  the killings, the drugs, Nazario said in Spanish. You dont feel so well when these things go on. People here fail, too.

Across Puerto Rico, flags remained at half-staff, and Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla extended the mourning to Friday. Victims family members on the island are streaming into Orlando, or trying to do so, either to fly home with the dead or to help other grieving relatives. Some have set up GoFundMe sites asking for help with the cost of taking victims home to be buried on the island.

The Puerto Rican community in the Kissimmee-Orlando area has quickly pulled together. Some funeral homes have offered discounts. JetBlue has offered to fly victims relatives to and from Orlando.

Business and social service groups have put out calls for interpreters to help relatives navigate the thicket of paperwork, particularly difficult during a time of grief. They are also mobilizing to help those from Latin American countries, including the families of three undocumented immigrants who died, said Zoe Colon, director of Florida and Southeast operations at the Hispanic Federation, a nonprofit group.

One of the victims, Franky Jimmy DeJesus Velazquez, 50, came here in 2010 for the same reasons that have driven tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans in recent years: better jobs, health care, housing, friends, relatives and, in his case, greater acceptance of his sexual identity. But he was a proud Puerto Rican  a jibarito a professional dancer on the island with a fierce devotion to jibara, a folkloric dance created long ago by workers on coffee plantations and inland farms. Latin Night at the club was a natural fit for him.

They come here, come to Kissimmee, where you have lechon asado and you can hear Latin music; you can hear our language, said Maria Hernandez, who is Puerto Rican and was a close friend of DeJesus. This is little Puerto Rico. Thats what its called.

But, like many others, DeJesus had a hard time initially. Although some Puerto Ricans here are bilingual, many struggle with English. Jobs are not always plentiful. Housing is pricey and getting pricier by the month. Social services are limited. And schools, particularly in the Kissimmee area, are bulging with new arrivals.

In the last couple of years, some Puerto Ricans, unable to make ends meet, have returned to the island. DeJesus went on interview after interview and landed a few jobs, most recently in visual media.

Puerto Ricans, when they come from Puerto Rico, they hear so much, You need to follow your dreams, Hernandez said. In reality, when they come here, they are lost.

Their presence has made the Orlando area a remarkably diverse place. So many Puerto Ricans arrived that the Puerto Rican government opened up a branch here to help islanders. And recently, the Hispanic Federation, long active with Puerto Ricans in New York City, set up shop as well. Not all of the Puerto Ricans in the area came directly from the island; many ventured here from New York and Chicago.

Businesses that cater to Puerto Ricans  be it food, health care training, moving needs, travel, language instruction  have also opened and spread across the area. Valencia College is expanding to accommodate the growing numbers. Seven current students or recent graduates died at the club on Sunday.

The profound sense of loss clings to the community as relatives plan funerals or arrange to bring the dead back home. Ana Disla is reeling from the death of her nephew, Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, who loved to dance so much that he moved here from Puerto Rico three years ago to pursue a job as a dancer and choreographer. She wishes now that he had not come at all.

He came here to try to have a better quality of life, she said. And look what happened now.
Aliso Viejo-based Sequent Medical Inc. has been acquired by Terumo Corp. for $280 million, the companies said Tuesday.

Sequent makes a minimally invasive brain aneurysm treatment implant called Web, which the company said has been used on over 3,000 patients worldwide. The device, which is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval, is not sold or distributed in the U.S.

The sale comes with an additional $100 million for Sequent if development or commercial milestones are achieved.

Tom Wilder, Sequents chief executive, called the acquisition a success story for the life-sciences industry in Orange County.

The company, founded in 2007, has roughly 80 employees. Wilder said staffing decisions moving forward would be up to Terumo, but most employees likely would remain at Sequent.

Sequent was formed by Bob Rosenbluth and Brian Cox, biotech entrepreneurs who also founded the neurovascular device maker MicroVention, now based in Tustin.

The deal marks the second time Terumo, a manufacturer of medical devices such as syringes, blood bags and IV solutions, has bought a life sciences company created by Rosenbluth and Cox.

In 2006, the Japanese company acquired MicroVention for an undisclosed sum. MicroVention, which also makes products for the treatment of aneurysms, is planning to shift its headquarters to a new campus in Aliso Viejo next year.

This will enable the Web product, which treats brain aneurisms, to be made more widely available to patients across the world. MicroVention and Terumo will be able to help us do so, Wilder said of working with the two companies.

The acquisition, which is expected to close in July or August, continues an already busy year for local companies being acquired by foreign companies. Four tech companies announced in February they were being acquired:

 Irvine-based Ingram Micro Inc. is being acquired for $6 billion by Chinese shipping company Tianjin Tianhai.

 Irvine-based Broadcom was sold to chipmaker Avago Technologies for $37 billion.

 Kurion Inc., the Irvine company known for helping stabilize the contaminated Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan after a 2011 tsunami, was sold for $350 million to Veolia, a Paris-based nuclear cleanup specialist.

 Multi-Fineline Electronix, an Irvine-based maker of circuit boards, said it would be acquired by a Chinese manufacturer for $610 million.

Contact the writer: hmadans@ocregister.com Twitter: @HannahMadans
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.  The body of a 2-year-old Nebraska boy who was snatched off a Walt Disney World beach by an alligator and dragged underwater was recovered Wednesday, ending a ghastly search at one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations.

Divers found the body of Lane Graves about 16 hours after authorities first got the call that a reptile had taken the boy from the waters edge at Seven Seas Lagoon despite his fathers frantic attempt to save the child.

Sheriff Jerry Demings said it appeared the gator pulled the child into deeper water and drowned him, leaving the body near the spot where he was last seen. An autopsy was planned.

Of course the family was distraught, but also I believe somewhat relieved that his body was found intact, Demings told a news conference.

The boys parents were identified as Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska, a suburban area of Omaha. A family friend released a statement on behalf of the couple thanking well-wishers for their thoughts and hope-filled prayers.

CEO Michael Iaccarino of Infogroup, a marketing company where Matt Graves is chief data officer, said Graves family is the light of his life.

In a statement from Disney World Resort President George A. Kalogridis, the company said it was doing what we can to help the family.

Disney World closed beaches around Seven Seas Lagoon during the search, and it was not immediately clear when they would reopen.

While no swimming signs are posted at the beach where the boy was attacked, no signs warn about alligators. A company representative said it would thoroughly review the situation for the future.

Demings said his agency and state wildlife officials would look into the issue of warning signs. The sheriff told The Associated Press that investigators would also review whether the boys parents should be charged, but its not likely.

There nothing in this case to indicate that there was anything extraordinary in terms of neglect by the parents, Demings said.

Wildlife officials said the attack was a rarity in a state with a gator population estimated at 1 million. But it still spooked visitors in a city built on tourism.

We have been to Yellowstone and encountered grizzly bears, but this is just freaky, said Minnesota tourist John Aho, who was staying at the park with his wife, Kim, and their 12-year-old son, Johnny.

The child had waded no more than 1 or 2 feet into the water around nightfall Tuesday when he was taken from a small beach, authorities said.

The boys father desperately tried to fight off the gator, suffering lacerations on a hand, but he could not save his son. Neither could a nearby lifeguard, officials said.

No other alligator attacks have been reported on the man-made lake, according to Demings.

Some visitors were surprised to learn the reptiles lived on the property.

My question is why are there alligators in there? said Michelle Stone, who lives near Detroit and was visiting Disney for 10 days with her two children.

The sheriff said the company has a wildlife management system and has worked diligently to ensure their guests are not unduly exposed to wildlife here in this area.

Nick Wiley with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said witnesses estimated the alligator was 4 feet to 7 feet long. Crews removed five gators from the lake during the search, and officials said one could have been the animal that attacked the boy.

The beach where the reptile grabbed the child is part of the luxury Grand Floridian resort, across the lake from Disneys Magic Kingdom theme park. The lake stretches over about 200 acres and reaches a depth of 14 feet. It feeds into a series of canals that wind through the entire Disney property.

Though Florida has grown to the nations third-most populous state, fatal alligator attacks remain rare. Since 1973, 23 people had been killed by wild alligators in Florida, according to data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The boy makes 24.

The grim news was only the latest for a city buffeted by tragedy in the past few days.

On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, leaving 49 people dead in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. On Friday night, Christina Grimmie, 22, a contestant on season six of The Voice, was fatally shot as she signed autographs after a show in Orlando.
The wife of the gunman who killed 49 people at an Orlando gay nightclub could face criminal charges as early as Wednesday after a federal grand jury was convened to study possible wrongdoing by her, a law enforcement source said.

Omar Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, knew of his plans for what became the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, said the law enforcement source, who has been briefed on the matter.

U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which received a briefing on the investigation into Sunday's massacre, told CNN it appeared Salman had "some knowledge" of what was going on.

"She definitely is, I guess you would say, a person of interest right now and appears to be cooperating and can provide us with some important information," King said.

Salman was with Mateen when he cased possible targets in the past two months, including the Walt Disney World Resort in April, a shopping complex called Disney Springs and the Pulse nightclub in early June, CNN and NBC reported.

Mateen, a New York-born U.S. citizen of Afghan heritage, was shot dead by police after a three-hour rampage through the Pulse nightclub. The attack was the deadliest on U.S. soil since the hijacked plane attacks on New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer opened a family assistance center at a stadium on Wednesday to provide help to victims of the attack and their survivors. Autopsies had been completed on all 49 dead, and that about 20 bodies had been released to funeral homes, he told reporters.

Bodies could not be removed for hours after the shooting, he said, because authorities initially feared the shooter had booby trapped the club. Ultimately, no explosives were found.

"We know that it's been traumatic for everybody, and we do know that we need to provide a lot of support," Dyer said.

Federal investigators have said Mateen, who was 29 and worked as a security guard, was likely self-radicalized and there was no evidence he received any help or instructions from outside groups such as Islamic State.

Salman's mother, Ekbal Zahi Salman, lives in a middle-class neighborhood in Rodeo, California, about 25 miles (40 km) north of San Francisco. A neighbor said Noor Salman visited her mother only once after she married Mateen.

Noor Salman's mother "didn't like him very much. He didn't allow her (Noor) to come here," said neighbor Rajinder Chahal. He said he had spoken to Noor Salman's mother after the Orlando attack and she "was crying, weeping."

The shooting raised questions about how the United States should respond to the threat of violence from militant Islamists at home and abroad. The Federal Bureau of Investigation questioned Mateen in 2013 and 2014 for suspected ties to Islamist militants but concluded he did not pose a treat.

The shooting reverberated through the presidential election campaign. President Barack Obama slammed Republican candidate Donald Trump for reiterating his proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States, joining fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton in portraying Trump as unfit for the White House.

Trump criticized Obama for not using the phrase "radical Islam" to describe the threat from Islamist militants. Obama replied that using that label would not accomplish anything.

'I AM THE SHOOTER'

Mateen made multiple calls to 911 emergency services during his rampage, which he used to declare his allegiance to various Islamist militant groups, some of which are at odds with one another. He also called a local 24-hour cable news channel, News 13, the station revealed on its website on Wednesday.

Matthew Gentili, who was the producer on duty at the time, described the call in an interview with the station.

"'I'm the shooter. It's me. I am the shooter,'" Gentili described Mateen as saying. Gentili said Mateen also told him, "'I did it for ISIS. I did it for the Islamic State.'"

U.S. officials were investigating media reports that Mateen may have been gay but not openly so, and questioning whether that could have driven his attack, according to two people who have been briefed on the investigation and requested anonymity to discuss it.

Barbara Poma, the owner of the Pulse nightclub, speaking through a representative, denied reports Mateen had been a regular patron.

"Untrue and totally ridiculous," spokeswoman Sara Brady said in an email when asked about the reports.

Mateen's father also rejected the idea that his son had been gay.

Mateen's ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, said her ex-husband had facets of his life that he did not share with his family, such as drinking and going to nightclubs.

"He did have a different side to him that he could not open up to his father about," Yusufiy told CNN. "It doesn't surprise me that he might be gay."

She has previously said he was mentally unstable and beat her and that she fled their home after four months of marriage.

Orlando is one of the United States' most popular tourist destinations, with its theme parks helping to draw more than 60 million visitors a year. As the city mourned Sunday morning's attack, a huge search began for a 2-year-old boy who was dragged off by an alligator in a lagoon on Tuesday while visiting Walt Disney World with his family.

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A picturesque Chinese village where humans live alongside hundreds of macaques sounds like a great vacation destination, but for the local population its apparently a daily living hell.

A little over a decade ago, authorities in Xianfeng village, in southwestern Sichuan Province came up with an ingenious plan to boost tourism and turn their quaint settlement in one of Chinas most popular destinations  attracting wild macaques from the surrounding mountains to their village. Locals spent 48 days drawing in 73 monkeys using food, and their plan worked like a charm. The animals started settling in, and as word about a real-life monkey village spread throughout the region, businessman interested in investing in the novel tourist attraction arrived in Xianfeng.

It wasnt long before the small village transformed into the tourist magnet people had envisioned when they cam eup with the idea of drawing in wild macaques. For years, it attracted both curious visitors and wealthy investors, and villagers felt like they had built their very own goldmine. But everything changed two years ago, when main investor Zhou Zhenggui passed away, and his tourism company collapsed. The relatively small number of macaques originally attracted to Xianfeng had multiplied to a population of over 600, and they all relied on their human neighbors for food. Only without the support of Zhengguis company, villagers couldnt afford to pay for it.

Having accepted the demise of their once great tourism project, villagers expected the now starving macaques to leave Xianfeng in search of food, but the monkeys had other plans. They had grown so fond of their home that they decided to stay indefinitely and do anything in their power to survive. That meant terrorizing the villagers, damaging their crops and homes, and fighting among themselves for food.

Residents of Xianfeng had only considered the positive effect of their monkey village idea, but had failed to foresee the negative consequences. And since macaques are a Class II national protected species, they had limited options of dealing with the animals. Over the last few years, animal experts have been placing traps around the village and have managed to trap and send away about 300 monkeys, but the remaining 300 are still terrorizing the locals and multiplying at an alarming rate.

Try as they might, Xianfeng villagers cant seem to get rid of the macaques they once worked so hard to attract. Experts say the animals are determined to stay in the mountain village and locals will just have to learn to co-exist with them until they decide to leave of their own accord. Whether that will ever happen, nobody really knows.

The story of Chinas monkey village and its problems has recently gone viral in national media, and everyone seems to agree that it teaches us a valuable lesson  there is a clear boundary between man and nature, and attempting to exploit wildlife in search of economic gain clearly never ends well for any of the parties involved.

Photos: Tuotiao (Chinese)
A high-end tire company in Dubai has recently secured the Guinness World Record for the most expensive set of tires, after creating four tires encrusted with 24-carat gold and diamonds.

In keeping with the luxury and glamour Dubai is so well-known for, Z Tyres has gone to great lengths to create a unique set of tires that could make some of the worlds most expensive cars seem cheap. Designed and fabricated at the Z Tyres factory, the Z1 tires were shipped to Italy to be encrusted with diamonds by Italian artisan jewelers before being returned to the rich Arab country for the application of gold leafing by the very same craftsmen who have worked on the new presidential palace in Abu Dhabi. The four bespoke tires were individually inspected by Guinness experts and recognized as the most expensive in the world.

In a country where even college parking lots are full of luxury cars worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, its no surprise that the special set of tires was acquired by an unknown buyer for Dh2.2 million ($600,000). And in the true spirit of Ramadan, all proceeds were donated to the Zenises Foundation which focuses on improving access to education across the world.

Weve always treasured the outstanding skills and dedication involved in developing our Z Tyre range so we thought what better way to celebrate this achievement than with a record-breaking special set of tires especially commissioned for a unique buyer, Z Tyres CEO, Harjeev Kandhari, said in a statement.

I wonder if the person who bought the worlds most expensive tires will be crazy enough to actually mount them on a car and use them as regular tires. I imagine driving on a bumpy road or even a small pothole could cause the diamonds and gold leaf to detach from the tire. Do they even have potholes in Dubai, though?
London residents too busy to hit the gym every once in a while will soon get the chance to work out during their commute, thanks to a fleet of ingenious fitness buses packed full of stationary bikes.

The Wheels on the Bus childrens song is going to have a whole new meaning once British fitness company 1Rebel launches its new Ride2Rebel buses on the streets of London. The modified public transportation vehicles will feature stationary bikes instead of seats, allowing commuters to spin at their hearts content on their way to work. Buses will travel from four pick-up points in north, east, south and west London along the citys most popular commute routes, all the way to the 1Ride studio where riders can come in for a shower and a smoothie before work.

The idea for these Ride2Rebel fitness buses was developed by 1Rebel co-founders, James Balfour and Giles Dean. It is an absolute no brainer for us that we can create more efficiency in peoples routines by transforming their commute, Balfour said. For those who want the components of a class, but perhaps dont have the time to commit during the day, this provides a great solution for them to maximise time they would otherwise be spending just travelling to work.

Ride2Rebel basically leave workaholics who claim to be too busy to work out with no more excuses, and 1Rebel, one of Londons most popular fitness companies, confirms that interest in their novel idea is through the roof. This morning interest peaked so much that the registration website crashed and had to be moved to a separate server, Balfour told CNBC, last month. According to the Ride2Rebel website, there are currently 8121 people in line for tickets, and the service hasnt even launched yet.

As for when the fitness buses will actually launch, it all depends on whether the plans get signed off by the government, but 1Ride claims Rid2Rebel will hit the city streets later this year. Apparently, safety concerns are the biggest obstacle in the way of this project becoming a reality. The bikes mounted in the buses do not currently include seatbelts, and Balfour made no mention of helmets, CNBC reports. We are working with bus companies and the government to establish all health and safety conditions, the co-founder said. As this is such an innovative idea there are no established norms but due to the high levels of interest this is something that all our partners are focused on.

If, and when Ride2Rebel launches, passengers can expect to pay 12 to 15 for a 45-minute ride.

1Ride is not the first to come up with the idea of a fitness bus full of stationary bikes. Last year, Boston company Bike Bus made headlines with a similar service.
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President Francois Hollande on Wednesday finalised ratification of the Paris climate accord reached in December 2015, making France the first industrialised country to do so.

"Signing is good, ratifying is better," Hollande quipped at the Elysee Palace ceremony, flanked by Environment Minister Segolene Royal, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and other top officials.

He noted that the deal will not come into force unless at least 55 countries responsible for at least 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions ratify it.

So far 17 states -- mainly small island and low-lying coastal countries that are especially vulnerable to the sea-level rise -- have ratified the deal.

Hollande called on other European countries to follow France's lead by the end of the year.

The United States, the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after China, will ratify the accord soon, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday during a visit to Oslo.

Norway's ratification is also imminent following a green light by its parliament on Tuesday.

"The United States will join soon, this year and together we are going to work to bring this agreement into force as quickly as possible," Kerry told a news conference in Oslo.

Kerry was to overfly the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, north of the Arctic Circle, on Thursday "to see first hand the impacts of climate change on the Arctic".

At the December COP21 gathering in Paris, 177 governments signed the historic agreement setting a target of limiting global warming to "well below" 2.0 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) compared with pre-industrial levels.

The French hosts of the meeting, held just weeks after the devastating November terror attacks on Paris, were showered with praise for its success, notably Hollande and then foreign minister Laurent Fabius.

The 32-page deal also calls on rich nations to muster at least 100 billion dollars ($90 billion) a year in climate aid from 2020. Just how that will happen has yet to be worked out.

COP21 is the acronym for the 21st conference of parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the arena set up under the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio.

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(Beijing)  Domestically listed Chinese stocks failed to make the grade for inclusion in a key emerging markets stock tracker after their third attempt in three years, as index complier Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) said more time was needed to see if recent reforms to China's market will be effective.

The decision marked a major disappointment for Chinese regulators and stock market boosters, who have been lobbying heavily for the MSCI's inclusion of local stocks, known as A-shares. Such inclusion would not only add greater credibility to China's stock markets, but could facilitate the inflow of billions of dollars in offshore funds that make their investments based on MSCI's indexes.

China also sees the adding of A-shares to the index as an important step in opening the domestic capital market and making the yuan a global currency, as it would help attract capital from the world's top institutional investors to the mainland.

In its latest decision, MSCI said it will "delay including China's A-shares market in its Emerging Markets Index," which serves as a benchmark for the pricing of assets worth US$1.5 trillion worldwide, according to a press release issued on early June 15.

China had made significant steps towards reaching the global standards necessary to be included in MSCI's index, the U.S. company said. But it added that investors need more time to assess the effectiveness of improvements made in recent months to tackle factors previously cited as impediments to inclusion. Those include the allocation of quotas that allow big foreign investors to trade in China stocks under a program known as QFII, and capital mobility policy changes, as well as new trading suspension policies.

The MSCI also highlighted that a rule limiting foreign investors from repatriating more than 20 percent of their funds each month remains a significant hurdle for investors such as mutual funds, and must be satisfactorily addressed. Pre-approval restrictions on launching financial products is also an issue that remains unresolved, MSCI said.

MSCI said it will review China A-shares for possible inclusion as part of its annual review next year, but does not rule out a potential off-cycle announcement if further significant positive developments occur before June 2017.

"MSCI will monitor the implementation of the recently announced policy changes and will seek feedback from market participants," said Remy Briand, MSCI Managing Director and Global Head of Research.

The MSCI began considering adding A-shares into its index in 2013 but twice put off approval before the latest decision.

In its last rejection on June 10 last year, the MSCI cited investor concerns including the lack of transparency in the investment quota allocation system, restrictions on capital mobility and a lack of clarity over shareholders' rights.

In the year since that rejection, Chinese regulators have adjusted policies to address those issues. In February, the State Foreign Exchange Administration (SAFE) said in a guideline that fund managers were no longer required to apply for investment quotas in the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) system, which allow foreign investors to buy securities in China.

Instead, managers can operate under a new scheme linked to the size of assets under management. The foreign exchange regulator also reduced the time QFII funds must wait to transfer money out of China from one year to three months. But it requires them to do so in batches with a limit capping the amount of capital that could be repatriated at 20 percent of their investment in the mainland market each month.

To address concerns over shareholder rights, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) issued two notices in May to clarify issues of beneficial ownership, which is crucial to the protection of investor rights.

To further clear the way, the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges on May 27 published separate guidelines to address investor concerns about regulatory loopholes that allowed listed firms to suspend the trading of their shares almost indefinitely on dubious grounds.

Many companies took advantage of the previous lax trading rules to stop investors from dumping their shares during last year's stock market rout. Nearly half of all stocks listed on the A-share market were not tradeable as of July 8 last year, just a month after the market began a major correction. Many firms rushed to halt trading after sharp falls in their share prices, citing reasons such as unspecified reorganizations and major acquisitions.

Briand said Chinese authorities have demonstrated a clear commitment to bringing China's A-shares market closer to international standards. But time is still needed to see if the new policies will be effective.

At a regular press conference June 15, CSRC spokesman Deng Ge said the commission agreed and supported the MSCI's review on A-shares inclusion, adding the company's decision will not affect the pace and direction of China's capital market reform.

Guan Qingyou, executive director of Minsheng Securities' research institute, said it is only a matter of time before A-shares are included in the index because China is becoming an increasingly strong force in the global securities market.

Even if the shares were included, the immediate impact in terms of foreign investments that would be attracted to the A-share market would be small, he said. But over the long term, as the weight assigned to A-shares increases, more capital would come into China.

Zhang Jun, director of research at Morgan Stanley Huaxin Securities, said the rejection had no substantive impact on A-share market, because fundamentals of the Chinese economy and the yuan's exchange rate are the most important factors determining whether foreign capital flows into China.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index consists of 23 countries representing 10 percent of world market capitalization, according to the company website.

(Rewritten by Han Wei)
Dog Gone Problems is a weekly advice column by David Codr, a dog behaviorist in Omaha. David answers dog behavior questions sent in by our readers. You can reach him at momaha@owh.com.

* * *

Dog Gone Problems,

We have a 2-year-old Wheaten terrier who likes to jump up on us. She does it quite a bit, but it's the worst when we get home.

We have tried turning around, yelling at her, giving her treats and petting her  but nothing works. We called the behaviorist at the Nebraska Humane Society who told us to ignore her. But when we do that and walk away, she just jumps up on us from the side or behind.

After a few minutes, she calms down and stops. But for the first few minutes of anyone coming home, it's the danger zone.

Aside from the jumping up, she is a lovely dog. Do you have any advice on how we can break her of this habit?

Andrea

***

Dear Andrea,

I'd suggest you work on building up some self control and also start adding structure when giving your dog attention.

As far as self control: The next time she jumps up on you, freeze in place. Don't push her off, say anything or move at all. Once she realizes you are stationary, she will sit in front of you.

The instant her rear makes contact with the floor, extend your arm to her mouth as fast as you can (within a third of a second) and give her a treat. Retract your hand and keep both arms at a 90-degree angle with your hands right next to each other and your forearms parallel to the floor and resting against your torso. Wait for a second, then rapidly extend your arm to her mouth with another treat.

As your dog gets better at this, she will start sitting faster and eventually sit in front of you rather than jumping up. Try to vary the time between delivering treats to keep her guessing. Start at one second delays, but move it up to a few seconds, then back to one. This way she learns she needs to watch you to see when you will be giving her the next treat.

I'd also add structure to rewards by practicing my "petting with a purpose" method. This involves everyone in the family no longer petting her unless she does something for you first. This can include sitting, coming to you when called or laying down.

It will take a few days, but once everyone starts petting her only after she sits or lays down, she will start to do those actions to get your attention. She will also start to realize she has to ask for a reward instead of getting it for no reason. This gives her motivation to listen to you and will help her develop respect for you as authority figures.

Good luck and remember: Everything you do trains your dog, only sometimes you mean it.

David

* * *

Submit your pet questions to David Codr by emailing a photo of your dog and question to momaha@owh.com

Visit doggoneproblems.net for more from David.
WASHINGTON  A federal appeals court voted to uphold a series of strict new rules for Internet providers, handing a major victory to regulators in the fight over net neutrality and ensuring that one of the most sweeping changes to hit the industry in recent years will probably remain on the books.

The 2-1 court ruling Tuesday forces Internet providers such as Verizon and Comcast to obey federal regulations that ban the blocking or slowing of Internet traffic to consumers. The regulations from the Federal Communications Commission also forbid carriers from selectively speeding up websites that agree to pay the providers a fee  a tactic that critics have said could unfairly tilt the commercial playing field against startups and innovators that may not be able to afford it.

More broadly, the decision affirms Washingtons ability to regulate Internet providers like legacy telephone companies. Approved in a bitterly partisan vote last year, the move by the FCC to reclassify Internet providers signifi

cantly expanded the agencys role in overseeing the industry. It opened up Internet providers to all-new obligations that they were not subject to before, such as privacy requirements that all telecom companies follow in order to protect consumers personal data.

Tuesdays opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit comes months after a group of industry leaders, including AT&T and the nations top cable association, sued the FCC in hopes of overturning the rules. They argued that the agency overstepped its congressionally granted authority in applying telecom-style rules to Internet providers, a class of industry that had been only lightly regulated during the Bush administration.

The court verdict puts to rest  for now  a key question: whether the Internet represents a vital communications platform that deserves to be regulated with the same scrutiny as the common networks of the past, such as the telephone system. Writing for the court, Judges David Tatel and Sri Srinivasan held that despite advances in technology, the underlying importance of the Internet to everyday communications and commerce makes it more similar to the phone system than not. Today, for example, consumers are accustomed to using not just the email accounts that their broadband provider gave them, but also using third-party services such as Gmail, as well as Netflix, Amazon and Uber.

Given the tremendous impact third-party Internet content has had on our society, it would be hard to deny its dominance in the broadband experience, the judges wrote. Over the past two decades, this content has transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, from profound actions like choosing a leader, building a career, and falling in love to more quotidian ones like hailing a cab and watching a movie.

The industry had claimed that certain services they offered as part of the Internet bundle, such as email, were one reason that it deserved to be lightly regulated as information services under the FCCs rules, rather than as telecommunications services, which are policed more strictly.

The courts lone dissenting voter, Judge Stephen Williams, said that although he agreed that the FCC could legally classify broadband companies as telecommunications carriers, the agency did not do enough to prove that todays information ecosystem has changed sufficiently to justify the move.

Federal regulators and consumer advocates hailed the landmark ruling  marking the third time that the FCC had gone to court to defend its net neutrality rules  as a decisive outcome in a years-long battle over the future of the Internet.

Todays ruling is a victory for consumers and innovators who deserve unfettered access to the entire web, and it ensures the Internet remains a platform for unparalleled innovation, free expression and economic growth, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said in a statement.

This is a slam-dunk win, said Gene Kimmelman, president of the advocacy group Public Knowledge. Its just a huge win for the open Internet order and for the FCC.

Industry officials must now mull whether to escalate the court battle. The National Cable and Telecommunications Association, the top cable trade group that also challenged the FCC rules, said it was considering its options in light of the decision.

This is unlikely the last step in this decadelong debate over Internet regulation, it said.

Broadband providers could next request a rehearing at the D.C. Circuit  but some carriers hinted at going further.

We have always expected this issue to be decided by the Supreme Court, and we look forward to participating in that appeal, AT&T general counsel David McAtee said.

Even as Internet providers weigh an appeal, Tuesdays ruling sets the stage for a new set of debates over the future of the web. Now the FCC must decide how to implement many of the regulations that it laid out in its net neutrality policy.

Internet providers now face expectations that they once could safely ignore because they were not considered telecommunications carriers. For instance, phone companies must obtain consumers explicit consent before sharing their names, phone numbers, addresses or other personal information with marketers. Internet providers do not, but a pending proposal at the FCC would seek to extend a similar set of expectations to broadband companies.

The FCC has also held recent meetings with companies to discuss an increasingly common practice known as zero rating, in which carriers allow subscribers to use certain partner services without counting that usage against data caps. While zero-rating gives users virtually unlimited access to popular online content, critics say it could give large, established companies an advantage over smaller ones.
The Omaha Public Power Districts board of directors is poised to accept the recommendation of the utilitys management to permanently close the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant.

In interviews this week with members of the eight-person board, five of the elected officials told The World-Herald that shuttering the plant makes the most financial sense for the utility and its ratepayers.

Two board members said they were either undecided or would wait to hear from the public at the board meeting Thursday before making a final decision. Both told The World-Herald last month that the writing was on the wall at Fort Calhoun  it would need to close.

Another board member who last month said the plant had become too costly to keep running didnt return calls this week.

OPPD executives have said it has become too expensive to operate Fort Calhoun, the countrys smallest nuclear plant. They have refused to release the exact costs to generate electricity at Fort Calhoun, but an analysis by The World-Herald of the utilitys financial information found that it cost the plant more than $71 to generate a single megawatt hour of electricity in 2015.

Thats double the industrywide average of $35.50 per megawatt hour as reported by the Nuclear Energy Institute, placing Fort Calhoun in a position where the plant is just not a competitive alternative anymore, board member Mick Mines said.

(To compare, a megawatt hour of electricity has been selling on the open market on which OPPD buys and sells power for about $20.)

Its been a long and costly road for Fort Calhoun over the past five years: An electrical fire that followed historic Missouri River flooding in mid-2011 beset the plant with a federal regulatory shutdown. Those regulators followed up with a strict oversight program. All told, there was hundreds of millions of dollars in repair costs and lost revenue.

Those costs have added up to the tune of $250 million annually, OPPD President and Chief Executive Tim Burke said at the board of directors public meeting last month.

Thats more than it costs Nebraska Public Power District to operate its Cooper Nuclear Station in Brownville. The only other nuclear plant in Nebraska is capable of churning out about 800 megawatts of power at full steam, or nearly 70 percent more than OPPDs 478-megawatt plant at Fort Calhoun.

Weve looked at trying to uprate it to generate more megawatts, and you cant do that, said Tim Gay, vice chairman for the board and chairman of its nuclear oversight committee. You cant ask ratepayers to continue to subsidize the plant at that level.

Ratepayers were socked with an increase in their monthly bills to the tune of 7.7 percent starting in January 2013 as a result of OPPDs increased costs to run Fort Calhoun.

Fort Calhoun drops out in every case that we ran when its given an option, compared with other forms of energy, said Mary Fisher, division manager of corporate planning and analysis. We see much cheaper options out there in the industry today.

Those options include wind blowing more energy onto the OPPD grid in the future. Not all of Fort Calhouns output will be replaced, because the utility has more generating capability than it needs. But wind energy will make up nearly all of the replacement power in the wake of the nuclear plants expected closure. Natural gas-fired electricity will replace a smaller fraction.

Those two energy sources have become a common theme, especially in the Midwest and Plains regions of the United States, where wind energy resources and gushing natural gas opened up by fracking have dramatically dragged down wholesale energy prices in recent years.

Said four-year board member Tom Barrett: When you look at it from either the future of energy or the price of energy, the economics kill it. My vote is going to be to shut it down.

Energy prices are not the only factor likely to doom the Fort Calhoun plant.

Past and present board members and executives have said a turning point for the plant was the final version of the federal Clean Power Plan, which came out last August.

Early proposals of the environmental legislation would have given operators of nuclear plants some credit for running power plants that did not emit greenhouse gases; the final rule omitted that credit.

Still, even though the board seems likely to vote to kill the plant, there are voices of dissent when it comes to the publicly owned utilitys plans.

Representatives of the Nuclear Energy Institute have said nuclear plants like OPPDs are due far more credit for their lack of greenhouse gas emissions, especially when compared with fossil fuel-powered sources like coal and natural gas. Lets be clear. No other carbon-free generating source can match the scale of nuclear energys carbon-free electricity output or its reliability, NEI Chairman Donald Brandt said during a speech in Miami on May 24.

Nuclear power proponents havent gotten their way lately, though. Should OPPDs board vote as expected on Thursday and follow managements recommendation to close Fort Calhoun, the plant will be the third nuclear facility in the past three weeks to hit upon its day of reckoning.

Chicago-based Exelon Corp. on June 2 announced plans to shut down two nuclear plants in Illinois that together have hemorrhaged $800 million in the past seven years. The companys Clinton Power Station in Clinton and its Quad Cities Generating Station in Cordova will close on June 1, 2017, and on June 1, 2018, respectively.

Exelon is the largest operator of nuclear plants in the United States. In 2012, the company entered a 20-year, $400 million contract with OPPD to operate Fort Calhoun through what was supposed to be the end of the plants license period in 2032. Since September 2012, OPPD has paid Exelon about $87.5 million.

Contact the writer: 402-444-1534, cole.epley@owh.com
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)  The United States and Canada produced record amounts of maple syrup this year, thanks to the weather and more people getting into the business or expanding their operations.

U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics released this month show that the United States produced 4.2 million gallons, the greatest amount since record-keeping began in 1916.

Vermont is by far the countrys largest producer of maple syrup. The state yielded 1.9 million gallons this year, beating the previous record of 1.48 million gallons, set in 2013, according to Henry Marckres, the maple specialist at Vermonts agriculture agency.

Bruce Burnor said his familys maple operation in Eden, Vermont, had its best year ever  producing 800 gallons, up from the previous record of 550 gallons.

The weather was perfect. We had cold nights, warm days  thats what you need, he said.

Vermont also had a tremendous increase in the number of taps in trees, which has jumped from around a million about 15 years ago to nearly 5 million now, Marckres said.

Because the price has been good and stable, weve had many more people get into the business. Others expand, Marckres said. The price, while it went down a little bit this year for bulk syrup, it didnt go down a lot, and the markets seem really strong, so Im in hopes that there will be a home for everything thats produced.

Maple syrup retails for an average of about $48 to $52 per gallon, and Marckres doesnt expect the quantity of syrup produced to affect prices for consumers.

In terms of syrup produced, New York was second with 707,000 gallons.

Canada, which supplies about 70 percent of the worlds maple syrup, also had a banner year with about 13.5 million gallons  a 23 percent increase from the previous record, set in 2013.
WASHINGTON  A bill headed for President Barack Obamas desk is aimed at preventing the kind of pipeline explosion and fire that rocked the Old Market earlier this year.

This bipartisan legislation will create a safer pipeline transportation network across our country through stronger congressional oversight and increased collaboration between stakeholders, Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., said in a press release. It will also provide greater resources for state and local pipeline safety officials.

Fischer worked on the measure as chairwoman of the surface transportation subcommittee. It re-authorizes the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Its not clear that any particular provision in the bill would have prevented the explosion and fire that ravaged the Ms Pub building in January.

But Fischer said it would provide better tools for dealing with such incidents.

Those include bringing more oversight and transparency to federal regulations and trying to foster collaboration and information sharing between federal regulators and the industry.

Specifically, the bill calls for studying how GPS can be used to create more accurate maps of pipeline systems and for devoting resources to one-call programs.

Both are intended to reduce the risk of contractors puncturing gas lines that can lead to an explosion.

Other language in the bill is intended to produce better risk assessments on when pipelines should be inspected.

The PIPES Act is a major bipartisan achievement, and I appreciate the hard work of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move it toward the finish line, Fischer said.
(Beijing)  Dalian has become China's latest city to offer cash subsidies for new home buyers, seeking to shore up weak demand that is also hurting local government income from land sales.

The northeastern city of Shenyang and the provinces of Shandong and Sichuan announced similar measures for home buyers earlier this year, including cash payouts. Maintaining strong property sales is critical to local economies and finances, since related land sales for new development are a key source of government income.

In Dalian, college students and graduates who graduated less than five years ago can receive a government subsidy when they buy or rent apartments in any of the city's four central districts, according to a policy released last week by the northern coastal city.

The payments range from 400 yuan per square meter to 200 yuan for buyers depending on their level of education. For example, the holder of a doctoral degree can save 40,000 yuan off the price of a 100-square-meter home.

The policy also offers smaller cash incentives to people who buy homes during three promotional events organized by the government to facilitate property sales.

Besides the subsidies, Dalian also relaxed minimum down payment requirements, cut transaction taxes, and said it would seek to have 1.2 million rural residents relocate to the city, hopefully to buy homes there.

Subsidies were also available for renters who either graduated less than five years ago or own their own startup companies, according to the policy. The size of subsidies also depends on a person's educational degree, ranging from 240 yuan to 900 yuan every month.

The measures were announced as the latest housing market data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show the price of new homes in Dalian remained flat in April compared with a year ago, amid concerns about oversupply.

It would take about three years to sell all of the homes that have been built in Dalian, according to a March report by real estate services firm Leju Holdings Ltd.

The Dalian government said it wants to bring the local inventory of residential properties down to a "reasonable level" within three years. The goal for this year was to increase sales, measured by square meters, by 10 percent from last year's level, the policy says.

Slow sales have deterred developers from buying new land and weighed on the city government's revenue from land sales.

Data from the Ministry of Finance show that Dalian's revenue from land sales in 2015 fell the fastest from the previous year's level among all 36 regions it tracks, which includes all 31 provinces and autonomous regions on the mainland, plus five cities whose data were calculated separately.

Dalian made 56 percent less revenue last year from selling land, the ministry's data show. The other two areas where revenue more than halved were Ningbo, a city in the eastern Zhejiang Province, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the north. The ministry did not say how much their revenues were.

China's housing market has gone through an investment and construction boom and is headed for what pessimists say is a collapse in some small cities where it would take years to sell existing properties. With the economy slowing, finding buyers has become more difficult.

The central government has made reducing the stock in the residential property market a top priority this year and has told local governments to resolve their real estate problems as they see fit, rather than following a unified action plan due to widely different local conditions.

The government of Shenyang raised eyebrows in March with a policy that allowed college graduates to buy homes without any down payment, in addition to giving them cash to help repay their mortgages. It reinstated the down payment requirement the same month in response to criticism.

Migrant workers are viewed as the most likely beneficiaries of recent subsidies. The eastern province of Shandong, for example, has announced measures this year to subsidize migrant workers with cash that would reduce their home purchase bill by up to 10 percent. Meizhou, a city in the southwestern province of Sichuan, has also been offering subsidies to migrant workers, and the provincial government has said other cities should follow.

These measures are beginning to take effect, the NBS said on June 13, citing data that show the stock of homes ready for sale fell for the third month in a row in May to 722 million square meters nationally, meaning more than 5 million square meters were sold.

(Rewritten by Wang Yuqian)
The Elkhorn boy who was killed by an alligator at Disney World died of drowning and traumatic injuries, according to an autopsy completed Thursday.

Two-year-old Lane Graves had been wading and splashing in the Seven Seas Lagoon at a Disney World resort Tuesday night when an alligator dragged him under the water.

His body was recovered Wednesday afternoon 10 to 15 feet from the shore.

Lane, his 4-year-old sister, Ella, and their parents, Matt and Melissa Graves, had been in Orlando since Sunday night for a family vacation.

The Graves family issued a statement Thursday afternoon to ABC News: Words cannot describe the shock and grief our family is experiencing over the loss of our son. To all of the local authorities and staff who worked tirelessly these past 24 hours, we express our deepest gratitude.

All the beaches on Disney grounds remained closed Thursday.

Officials have said no swimming signs were near the shore, but resort visitors said there were no warnings about alligators. Disney officials said Thursday that the company has decided to add alligator warning signs.

We are conducting a swift and thorough review of all of our processes and protocols, Jacquee Wahler, vice president of Walt Disney World Resort, said in a statement.

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the investigation into the alligator attack continues, and results will be made public when it is complete.

The agency is analyzing evidence to ensure that the alligator responsible for the deadly attack has been captured.

The Orlando Sentinel reported Thursday that trappers have caught six alligators so far and are examining them for any evidence of an attack, but they havent found anything.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said there was no indication that Matt and Melissa Graves committed any crime that contributed to the attack.

Thursday morning, dozens more people than usual attended the scheduled Mass at St. Patricks Catholic Church in Elkhorn to pray and grieve for the Graves family.

About 150 people attended the somber 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Patricks, 20500 West Maple Road. Roughly half stayed for the rosary dedicated to the Lane and the family.

The Rev. Gary Ostrander said prayer is the best way to offer support for the family as it moves forward with Lanes funeral.

Ostrander said he received an email from a man in California who wanted to help. Ill tell him, pray,  he said.

Many of those at the Mass hugged one another and wiped tears away.

Friends of the family declined to comment.

Nearby, in the Ranch View Estates neighborhood where the family resides, blue ribbons adorned trees and yards to show support.

Neighbors will sell lemonade and cookies Friday to raise money for a memorial. Lemonade for Lane will be from noon until 5 p.m. at Elkhorn Valley View Middle School, 1313 S. 208th St. It originally had been planned for the entrance of the neighborhood near 214th and Pacific Streets.

A Mississippi woman who also asked for prayers for the Graves family posted photos on Facebook of her young son, who she said was wading in the same spot of the lagoon less than an hour before Tuesdays attack.

Its a tiny beach, surrounded by pools, water slides, a restaurant and a fire pit, Jennifer Venditti wrote. I cant conceive that an alligator would be in such a busy, small space.

This report contains material from the Associated Press.

* * *

Disney vacation turns horribly tragic

Sunday

Graves family arrives in the evening at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando.

Tuesday

Grand Floridian Resort hosts movie night.

About 9 p.m.: Two-year-old Lane Graves, who waded into the Seven Seas Lagoon, is pulled into the water by an alligator. His father tries in vain to save him.

9:16 p.m.: Initial call for help is made to the Reedy Creek Fire and Rescue Department.

Wednesday

About 6 a.m.: Officials say they are continuing to search for the boy and hope to find him alive.

Noon: Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings says the effort has turned into a recovery mission to retrieve the boys body.

About 1:45 p.m.: Authorities determine the approximate location in the lagoon where Lanes body is.

About 3:30: Lanes body is recovered.

At 4:30: Authorities hold a press conference and identify the Graves family.

Sources: The Associated Press and the Orlando Sentinel

* * *

Read more
Modi in Nepal again in December: Hindutva, strategic reasons on agenda

 Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas  slogan is baseless, says BJP MLA from UP

UP: Moustache allowance for cops see hike by 400%

Know Constituencies of UP Assembly polls 2017: SIKANDRA

Feature

oi-Pallavi Sengupta

Uttar Pradesh will go to Assembly elections early in 2017. The state has an Assembly comprising 403 seats and a party/alliance has to win 202 seats to form the government. In 2012, when the last state election was held in UP, the Samajwadi Party had won 224 seats to get a decisive majority.

Oneindia will take one Assembly constituency a day and have a look at electoral information related to it:

------------------------> KNOW NEXT CONSTITUENCY-BHOGNIPUR

Constituency Name: SIKANDRA (207)

[5-Sikandra Tehsil; KCs 1-Derapur & 2-Sithmara of 2-Derapur Tehsil]

Constituency Number: 207

Winner: Indrapal Singh

Winning Party: BSP

Winning Votes: 54,482

Runner Up: Devendra Singh Bhole

Runner Up Party: BJP

Runner Up Votes: 52,293

Total Votes: 1,82,334

Margin: 2,189

Margin Percent: 1.20%

Turnout: 61.44%

District: KANPUR DEHAT

District: KANPUR DEHAT About KANPUR DEHAT: Kanpur District was divided into two districts, namely Kanpur Nagar and Kanpur Dehat in year 1977.

The two were reunited again in 1979 and again separated in 1981. Uttar Pradesh government decided to rename Kanpur Dehat district as Ramabai Nagar district on 1 July 2010. In July 2012, it was returned to Kanpur Dehat.

Electors: 11,74,105

Votes Polled: 7,34,650

Turnout: 62.6%

Total ACs: 4

Census Data for District Kanpur Dehat

Total area: 3,021 square kilometer

Urban area: 80 square kilometer

Rural area: 2,940 square kilometer

Total Rural population: 16,22,761, out of which 48.5% is male and 41.8% is female

Total Urban population: 1,73,423, out of which 5.1% is male and 4.5% is female
AgustaWestland: After saying witness may have died, ED cites a little birdie to say he is alive

AgustaWestland: ED names middleman, Michel in chargesheet

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, June 15: The Enforcement Directorate today named middleman James Michel in its chargesheet filed in connection with the AgustaWestland probe.

The ED has been probing the flow of money in the AgustaWestland deal and how Michel was paid huge sums of cash to be paid as kickbacks in India.

During the course of the investigation, the ED had identified the various companies that were set up by Michel. The ED says that these companies had become fronts only to move money into India.

Several companies such as Global Services FZE were set up. This company was in fact initially set up to keep tabs on the media and report the narrative regarding the VVIP chopper deal.

Michel had also been identified by the Italian investigators. It was found that he had received a total of Rs 330 crore from AgustaWestland which were to be paid as kickbacks in India to swing the deal in their favour.

One of the main reasons for the money being paid was to influence a decision on the altitude ceiling height for the choppers. This was eventually done following which the deal was cracked.

The ED has not been able to question Michel a British national believed to be residing in Dubai. Although he had offered to depose, the ED states that no such offer was made to them.

During the probe the ED also identified several benami properties which were purchased by Michel while he was in India. Among them was a flat in Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi, a fixed deposit of Rs 54 lakh and also a luxury car.

OneIndia News
Army man presumed dead returns home after 7 years in Rajasthan

India

oi-PTI

Jaipur, Jun 15: In a scene straight out of a Bollywood tear-jerker, an army man, who was presumed to have died in an accident nearly seven years ago, returned home to the astonishment of his family in Alwar's Behror town in Rajasthan.

Dharmveer Yadav, who was an Indian army soldier, had gone missing following a car accident in Dehradun on November 27 in 2009 and even his family pension was started in 2012 after the force presumed him dead.

It was a road accident that had separated Yadav from his family and it was a similar mishap which brought them together. Five or six days back, a motorcycle hit Dharmveer when he was wandering on the streets of Haridwar.

He received a mild injury to the head which brought his memory back. After regaining his memory, he reached Behror in a bus from Delhi on Monday night using the Rs 500 the motorcyclist had given him after the accident.

His father Kailash Yadav initially did not answer his call to open the door thinking he was either dreaming or there was some drunken man at the door. "After second or third knock, I realised that I was not dreaming and rushed to the door.

I went numb after seeing my son who for us was dead. I could not even utter a word. My elder son and his wife also came and brought Dharmveer and me into the room. No one could believe that he had returned," Kailash, also an ex-serviceman,said.

Alwar district Soldier Welfare Officer R P Yadav said he has informed Dharmveer's unit about his return.

"I have communicated to the CO of his unit, who advised to get his medical check up done. Dharmveer will be handed over to his unit," the officer said. Dharmveer's wife and two daughters were very happy to see him back.

His father said Dharmveer told them after the first accident, he was rescued by locals. Beyond that, he remembers nothing. "It is a filmy story which I and my family have lived," the elated father said.

PTI
Two arrested for firing at a person in north Delhi

Chhath Puja fasting rules: What one must keep in mind during the 4-day festival

Connaught Place world's 7th costliest office destination

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jun 15: Delhi's Connaught Place has slipped one notch to become the world's seventh most costliest office destination, according to property consultant CBRE.

Mumbai's BandraKurla Complex (BKC) is at the 19th position and Nariman Point at 34th, according to CBRE Research's Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs bi-annual survey.

"With annual occupancy cost of USD 149.71 per sq ft, New Delhi's Central Business District (CBD) of Connaught Place ranks as the seventh most expensive prime office market in the world," CBRE said in a statement.

Hong Kong (Central) became the highest-priced office market with an overall prime occupancy costs of USD 290 per sq ft per annum, followed by London-Central (West End) with annual occupancy cost of USD 262.29. Beijing (Finance Street), Beijing (Central Business District) and Hong Kong (West Kowloon) are at third, fourth and fifth positions, respectively.

Tokyo (Marunouchi/Otemachi), London-Central (City), New York (Midtown Manhattan) and Shanghai (Pudong) featured in the list of top 10 most expensive office markets globally.

In CBRE's ranking released last December, London-Central (West End) was at the first position while Connaught Place sixth. CBRE South Asia Chairman and Managing Director Anshuman Magazine said: "Over the past year, the commercial real estate market in India has witnessed positive movement.

At rank seven, Connaught Place (CP) continues to attract occupiers and witnesses steady leasing activity for front office space." "Its (CP) central location and ease of connectivity continues to attract big corporates - especially banks, other financial institutions and engineering firms," he said.

Overall, Magazine said, India continues to be a preferred destination for various multinationals to expand their operations or to set up offices due to adequate supply of quality space. According to the survey, Asia continued to dominate the list of the world's most expensive office locations, accounting for seven of the top-10 markets.

Global prime office occupancy costs, which reflect rent, plus local taxes and service charges for the highest-quality, prime office properties, rose 2.4 per cent year-on-year. In Asia Pacific, prime office occupancy costs grew at a faster pace than global average.

A few key Southeast Asian markets registered decreases, including Singapore and Jakarta. CBRE tracks occupancy costs for prime office space in 126 markets globally. Of the top 50 most expensive markets, 20 were in Asia Pacific, 20 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and 10 in the Americas.

PTI
Prashant Kishor claims Nitish Kumar in touch with BJP says don't be surprised if he joins hands with it again

Dalit BJP leader Sanjay Paswan attacks party over 'tokenism'

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, June 15: At a time when BJP is aggressively wooing Dalits with an eye on the UP assembly polls, a former head of the party's Scheduled Castes Morcha has faulted its strategy, saying the organisation should go beyond "rhetoric" and the "tokenism of sitting, eating and meeting" with the community as what it wants is "parity not charity".

In an apparent criticism of party chief Amit Shah's much-publicised 'Kumbh Snan' with Dalit sadhus and sharing meal with the members of the community in UP, Sanjay Paswan, also a former union minister and currently a BJP National Executive member, called them a "myopic" exercise which "irritates" Dalits as issues like these were no longer relevant to them.

He also said the party should go beyond honouring Dalit icon B R Ambedkar and acknowledge contributions of his "progeny" like BSP founder Kanshi Ram and former deputy prime minister Jagjivan Ram if it wanted to increase its penetration among Dalits in politically crucial states like UP and Bihar. "All sorts of rhetoric is going on.

We will do this and that for Dalits. We will eat and bathe with them. It is no longer relevant. Issues like entering temple or eating together do not exercise the minds of people. It irritates them. It is myopic. People think Dalits will be happy with such tokenism or symbolism. it is not like that.

The aspirations of the new generation of Dalits is different. "We should go beyond 'sitting, eating, meeting' gesture. Dalits are not merely a vote bank but also thought bank. There should be talk about parity and not charity," he said without naming Shah.

Pitching for the party to include Kanshi Ram in the pantheon of leaders it has adopted from outside its fold, he hailed the "integrationist approach" of BSP founder, who unlike Ambedkar, he pointed out, did not leave Hinduism while fighting for the rights of the SCs.

Paswan noted that even Sardar Patel was not "ours" and had even banned the RSS but has been now appropriated by the party.

"If you do not want to own Kanshi Ram, at least do not disown him. Make at least a passing reference to his works, his speeches," he said.

He recalled that he had put up a photograph of Kanshi Ram in the BJP office when he headed its SC Morcha but it was removed after he was replaced with another leader in the organisational reshuffle in 2014 when Shah took over.

Jagjivan Ram, Kashiram and former President K R narayanan are held in high esteem by the disadvantaged community, he said.

Over 50 per cent of Dalits had voted for Narendra Modi during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, claiming that the party lacked leaders to win them over to its side in state polls and the community remained behind BSP chief Mayawati in large numbers in UP.

BJP can counter it by projecting a Dalit leader in a big way in the state which is going to the polls early next year, the leader from Bihar said.

PTI
IAF's women fighter pilots: Mohana continues flying legacy (Part-III)

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia

Bengaluru, June 15: For Flight Cadet Mohana Singh, the inspiration to join the Indian Air Force (IAF) came from her family. Her father is serving the IAF now and her grandfather was a Flight Gunner in Aviation Research Centre. Mohana's mother is currently a teacher.

In this Part-3 of IAF's first women fighter pilots, OneIndia brings to you Mohana's story.

"My grandfather used to go to different places, on various missions as a Flight Gunner. Joining IAF for flying was a dream instilled by parents and grandparents. I wanted to carry on the family legacy of serving the Nation by being in defence forces. I wanted to live the same life. Flying was the best opportunity," says Mohana.

[IAF's women fighter pilots: Bhawana, a go-getter (Part 1)]

IAF's Public Relations Officer Wing Commander Anupam Banerjee says Mohana aspired to make her parents proud by becoming a fighter pilot one day.

[IAF's women fighter pilots: Avani aims for the best (Part-II)]

"She always wanted to fly the best of the fighter aircraft in the IAF. She dreams of being part of the future combat missions and fight for the nation when duty calls for guarding the nation's skies," says Wing Commander Banerjee.

Mohana hails from Jhunjunu in Rajasthan and did her schooling from Air Force School, New Delhi. She completed her B Tech (Electronics & Comm) from GIMET, Amritsar.

She loves singing, sketching abstracts, reading, travelling, photography and cooking.

Recalling her first sector solo sortie in night, on a Kiran aircraft, Mohana says she witnessed lightning from close quarters, frightening her for a moment.

"I immediately initiated rejoin and during descent I encountered clouds. I faced difficulty in discerning between the stars in the dark sky above and the small clusters of light on the dark ground beneath. Soon I realised that I was not able to maintain any connection between instruments and the visual indications of aircraft attitude," recalls Mohana.

She said she recalled what her instructor taught her to 'not to make any unnecessary head movements, switch over to instruments, trusting them.'

"These words echoed in my head, I disregarded the visual indications and continued descent to a lower altitude relying totally on instruments. Once visual with the ground, I got oriented and recovered the aircraft safely," says Mohana.

(Series concluded)

By OneIndia Defence Bureau
Two arrested for firing at a person in north Delhi

Delhi LG approves Chhath ghats, warns CM against 'premature publicity' over it

Chhath Puja fasting rules: What one must keep in mind during the 4-day festival

Police arrest UP siblings wanted in separate rape, kidnapping cases

Defence Ministry Recruitment Drive 2022: Check post, qualification and how to apply

Last date to submit application for NMMSS extended

News flash: Sonia Gandhi accepts Kamal Nath's Resignation

India

oi-Oneindia

By Oneindia Staff Writer

Bengaluru, June 15: Hillary Clinton wins the last Democratic primary election, held in the US capital. Meanwhile, Union Cabinet meeting is scheduled to take place in Delhi, today.

Get all the latest news updates of the day:

11.59 pm: Fire breaks out in a chemical factory in Navi Mumbai. Four injured, fire tenders at the spot

11.27 pm: Makers of #UdtaPunjab file FIR with Mumbai police Cyber Cell against unknown people, after the film got leaked online

Way he(Kamal Nath)has tendered his resignation it's clear that he was somewhere guilty in '84 riots-Sambit Patra,BJP pic.twitter.com/nvDHNSrYL6  ANI (@ANI_news) June 15, 2016

10.43 pm: Congress President Sonia Gandhi accepts Kamal Nath's resignation: Sources

10.40 pm: I request, I may be relieved of my charge to ensure that attention isn't diverted from the real issues facing Punjab: Kamal Nath to Sonia Gandhi

10.10 pm: Kamal Nath writes to Cong President Sonia Gandhi requesting to relieve him of Punjab charge to ensure attention is not diverted from real issues

9.30 pm: BJP writes to Parliamentary Committee on the 'Feasibility of holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies', says it has no problem.

9.15 pm: Goa Cricket Association fraud case: EOW arrests GCA President Chetan Desai, Treasurer Akbar Mulla and Secretary Vinod Phadke.

9.00 pm: Petrol price hiked by 5 paise per litre, diesel by Rs 1.26, with effect from midnight, tonight.

8.15 pm: Bihar toppers scam: Bihar police issues look out notice against Ex- BSEB Chairman Lalkeshwar Sinha.

8.10 pm: IT worker at Panama Papers firm arrested in Geneva (Source: AFP)

Good news for wildlife lovers: Over 100 lionesses reported to be pregnant in Gujarat's Gir Sanctuary pic.twitter.com/Iculk6kGCK  ANI (@ANI_news) June 15, 2016

7.28 pm: Fact finding committee looking into incident of restaurant in Delhi allegedly denying food to underprivileged children submits its report.

7.20 pm: We have received certificate. They (CBFC) has given 'A' rating, says Ravi Suryavanshi,Lawyer, Anurag Kashyap on Udta Punjab.

7.15 pm: Such an act violates the Human Rights & Fundamental Rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India and is against its spirit and essence, says Report.

7.11 pm: 29 killed and 9 injured as a bus falls into a gorge in Sonapur.

6.55 pm: 2 grenade blasts in Shopian. One near police station & 2nd at Batpora chowk. 3 civilians injured.

6.53 pm: This is false. There was no Chinese intrusion. Both sides had met to sort out differences: Kiren Rijiju, MoS Home.

6.03 pm: Two grenade blasts in Shopian. One near police station and second at Batpora chowk. One civilian injured in J&K.

6.00 pm: India win by 10 wickets. Lokesh Rahul unbeaten on 63 and Faiz Fazal unbeaten on 55.

5.43 pm: When BJP used to have Parliamentary Secretaries, then its 'legal' but when we do it, its 'illegal', says Arvind Kejriwal.

5.42 pm: Want to request Modiji with folded hands that do whatever you want to me but don't let the people of Delhi suffer, requests Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

5.41 pm: In 1997, BJP CM in Delhi also appointed parliamentary secretary,Congress also did during Sheila ji's time.Then it was right?, asks CM Kejriwal.

5.29 pm: If there is any economy growing fastest in the world it is the Indian economy, says Home Minster Rajnath Singh in Delhi.

5.28 pm: Home Minister Rajnath Singh addressing a public meeting in Delhi.

5.21 pm: Self defence camp organised for girls by Aryaveer Dal to protect them from 'love jihadis'in Aligarh.

WATCH: Self defence camp organised for girls by Aryaveer Dal to protect them from 'love jihadis' in Aligarh (UP)

WATCH: Self defence camp organised for girls by Aryaveer Dal to protect them from 'love jihadis' in Aligarh (UP)https://t.co/DDby9oGwqe  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) June 15, 2016

5.13 pm: Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) suspends 22 people, three others sent showcause notice in connection to Bihar topper scam.

5.12 pm: Nearly 50 dogs burnt to death by unidentified people after the dogs allegedly killed their livestock in TN.

4.48 pm: Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling meets PM Narendra Modi.

4.32 pm: Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan flags off mobile van selling Pulses at lower prices in Delhi.

4.26 pm: Helicopters now free to fly from point to point without prior clearance by ATC under air space 5000 ft other than controlled areas.

4.00 pm: Have observed there has been mass exodus of ppl from Kariana. Principally ppl are moving due to 'gunda raj' in state, says Raghav Lakhanpal, BJP.

3.50 pm: Govt will make sure that no child is deprived of education in state, will provide whatever asssistance needed, says MP CM.

3.49 pm: The Enforcement Directoratre has named middleman James Christian Michel in its chargesheet in the AgustaWestland probe.

3.38 pm: New civil aviation policy restricts companies from charging over Rs 2500 per passenger for a one hour flight.

3.36 pm: Cabinet quashes 5/20 rule that restricts companies from flying abroad unless they've flown in India for 5 years and have fleet size of 20 aircraft

3.30 pm: Cabinet has given its approval for disinvestment of 10% paid up equity of HUDCO out of Government of India's shareholding of 100%.

3.25 pm: Cabinet approves raising age of superannuation of Non-Teaching and Public Health Specialists of Central Health Service frm 62 to 65years, says RS Prasad

3.15 pm: Rebel Congress leader Ajit Jogi resigns from primary membership of the party in Chhattisgarh.

3.00 pm: Cabinet has approved development of 4/6 laning of Kharar-Ludhiana Section of NH-95 (New NH-05) in Punjab, says Ravi Shankar Prasad.

2.45 pm: This is like rubbing salt on the wounds, says MS Gill,former UPA minister on Kamal Nath appointed Congres Punjab incharge.

2.31 pm: From June to August Tomato, potato prices always increase, but this is just temporary, says Ram Vilas Paswan, Food Minister.

2.30 pm: 3 people injured in a cylinder blast in Varanasi (UP).

2.15 pm: 1 person injured in a low intensity blast in Kollam Collectorate, investigation underway.

2.03 pm: From June to August Tomato, potato prices always increase, but this is just temporary, says Ram Vilas Paswan,Food Minister.

1.46 pm: NGO Human Rights Awareness Association sought implementation of Bombay HC order regarding removal of a scene from the film Udta Punjab.

1.45 pm: 3 people injured in a cylinder blast in Varanasi (UP).

1:06 pm: One injured in an explosion in a jeep outside Kollam court, Kerala. Police suspect crude bomb explosion. Forensic team at the spot.

12:50 pm: Delhi HC tells 'Udta Punjab' producers to remove from the film promos the cut ordered by Bombay HC.

12:42 pm: CBFC should become a body that does not censor or even certify, but only classify films: Shabana Azmi on Udta Punjab row.

12:32 pm: The prime accused in the Mathura violence Chandan Bose who shot a cop dead has been arrested from basti.

12:28 pm: Assam: 26 killed and 8 injured as a bus falls into a gorge in Sonapur

12:17 pm: Jet Airways Flight from Bengaluru to Mangalore returns to Bengaluru after smoke scare. All passengers evacuated safely.

12:10 pm: Cabinet clears civil aviation policy: Report.

12:00 pm: J&K is the most secular place, don't want it to be hijacked by extremist forces: CM Mehbooba Mufti in Jammu varsity.

11:57 am: FM Arun Jaitley to meet Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and Food minister Ram Vilas Paswan today on rising inflation.

11.50 am: CRPF jawan posted at CRPF headquarters in Delhi commits suicide by shooting himself.

11.25 am: Jet Airways Bengaluru to Mangalore flight 9W 2839 returned back to Bengaluru airport soon after departure due to smoke detected in cabin.

11.11 am: Jet Airways flight faces technical problem while landing at Bengaluru International Airport, all passengers safe.



11.03 am: PM Narendra Modi to visit 5 African nations in July, 2016.

10.48 am: Punjab based NGO moves SC challenging Bombay HC order on Udta Punjab, seeks stay on film.

10.42 am: BJP investigation team reaches Kairana, UP.

Uttar Pradesh: 9-member BJP team reaches #Kairana, will probe into mass exodus pic.twitter.com/mYQcRpDdlh  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) June 15, 2016

10.17 am: Karnataka: Yogesh Gowda, Member of BJP's Dharwad district panchayat, hacked to death by unidentified men.

10.00 am: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley calls for a meeting on price rise.

9.40 am: 1 terrorist and 1 soldier killed in encounter inMachhil, Kupwara district; 4 soldiers wounded.

9.20 am: Tension in Jammu: Cops resorted to lathi charge after protesters torch vans.

9.10 am: Goa receives heavy pre-monsoon showers in last 24 hours, MeT says monsoon may advance over Goa within 2 days.

Panaji: Goa receives heavy pre-monsoon showers in last 24 hours, MeT says monsoon may advance over Goa within 2 days pic.twitter.com/cwvWs1p7Ls  ANI (@ANI_news) June 15, 2016

8.43 am: Mobile internet services suspended in Jammu followed by violent protest in the region yesterday.

8.28 am: US President Obama to meet Dalai Lama at White House today.

8.12 am: Hillary Clinton wins the last Democratic primary election, held in the US capital.

8.00 am: Union Cabinet meeting scheduled to take place in Delhi, today.

OneIndia News
China's metropolitan areas and small cities tell different tales about the nation's property market.

Entrepreneurs in the southern city of Shenzhen, for example, say they've been completely priced out of the real estate market by a home-buying boom. But small city governments in many parts of the country are struggling to find willing buyers for the land they control.

Against the backdrop of this growing divergence, central government officials have told local officials across the country to resolve real estate problems any way they see fit instead of requiring them to follow a unified action plan.

Many governments in cities with overheated markets have responded to this directive by capping prices or adding land sale contract conditions that raise developer costs.

But the policy of letting each local government go its own way should be carefully managed. One risk that's already surfacing involves the re-emergence of "land king" entities, including some of the country's biggest state-owned enterprises (SOEs), whose deep pockets let them snap up and in some cases hoard the best properties.

Many of the SOEs under the central government's wing that were told in 2010 to wind down and exit the real estate business have so far ignored the order.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of land kings have been paying record prices for premium land plots in metropolises and second-tier cities, which include provincial capitals and regional commercial hubs. In May alone, major land sales led to crownings for 56 land kings in second-tier cities, and 13 in other communities.

Most of the SOEs playing the land king game are directly supervised by the central government. They're chasing crowns not only for prestige but in reaction to the government's ongoing campaign for SOE reform.

Executives at many SOEs apparently think that by hoarding valuable land they can avoid privatization and-or forced mergers tied to the reform movement by beefing up balance sheets and promoting themselves as financially healthier than other SOEs slated for reform. They have found support from banks which, thanks to the government's loose monetary policy, remain willing to issue loans to government-backed firms.

SOEs that do not follow strict standards for financial discipline may not be thinking through the costs and benefits of a proposed real estate deal before offering to buy land. That explains why in some cases SOEs have been unable to follow through after successful land bids by actually paying the exorbitant prices offered. And in other cases, SOEs raised the necessary funds but in the end lost money because they overpaid for land.

By driving up land prices with record-breaking bids, today's land kings are rebelling against the government's real estate market policies. They're contributing to the market's worsening imbalance by siphoning off capital and other resources that could go toward supporting small cities, but are instead channeled into overheated big cities. As long as this counter-productive resource allocation process continues, there's no reason to hope that the country as a whole will be able to bring down excess property inventories.

Supervisors of state-owned assets such as SOEs should work together with the central bank, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development to address the land king problem. Also those SOE executives who like to talk about "corporate social responsibility" should now show they mean what they say.

A range of factors contributed to the re-emergence of the land king phenomenon. Resolving this problem therefore requires a wide-ranging solution.

Recommendations have been made to big city governments to solve the problem, including increasing the amount of land available for sale and raising the proportion of land earmarked for residential development relative to industrial-use plots. These measures might be able to take some of the pressure off land and home prices, but they cannot have the desired effect unless reforms in other areas such as the hukou registration system have gained progress.

Telling local governments that there will be no one-size-fits-all solution does not mean the central government can now sit back and let each community pursue its own goals. It's now time to step in and prevent myopic moves by local government authorities.

It's especially important to act quickly in the face of China's slowing economy, as local governments are now more than ever being tempted by the prospects of lucrative land sales. Timely action would also serve to counteract any pessimistic views about an imminent collapse for the property market  views that could take hold in small cities with struggling real estate markets and prompt local officials to capitulate by backtracking on reasonable policy plans.

Needed are measures such as preventing the emergence of land kings that get to the root cause of China's property market problems and that, in the end, have a lasting and beneficial impact on the industry.

Hu Shuli is the editor-in-chief of Caixin Media
Centre allows domestic flights to operate at full capacity from Oct 18

Old video of Instagram influencer Bobby Kataria smoking cigarette on SpiceJet plane goes viral; FIR filed

New civil aviation policy approved, passenger-friendly measures introduced

India

oi-Jagriti

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet introduced various passenger friendly measures on Wednesday as it approved the new civil aviation Policy, media reported.

According to report, the cabinet has put a cap on airfares at Rs 2,500 for an hour-long flight and Rs 1,200 for 30-minute flights.

The new policy has been introduced with an aim to bolster the domestic aviation sector by tapping its high growth potential.

Measures like capping airfares, auctioning of unilateral traffic rights, tax incentives for airlines, maintenance and repair works of aircraft besides mooting 2 percent levy on all air tickets to fund regional connectivity scheme and providing viability gap funding for airlines to encourage operate on regional routes have been introduced in the new aviation policy.

The proposal was sent for approval to Cabinet on June 3.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the policy is a "game changer" and that the country's aviation sector is poised to become the world's third largest by 2022.

The policy has been finalised after nearly eight months since the Ministry came out with the revised draft in October 2015 and follows many rounds of deliberations with stakeholders.

The NDA government had for the first time unveiled the policy draft in November 2014. Initially, the policy was expected to be finalised in the last financial year as certain proposals were to be in effect from April 1, 2016.

However, the government had been moving back and forth on the policy seeking to sort out the differences among stakeholders including on 5/20 norm.

In the run-up to the framing of policy, various provisions including the issue of international flying norm witnessed extensive debate, with legacy carriers opposing any changes to the rule, while start-up airlines frantically demanding its scrapping.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from PTI)
Prime accused in Mathura violence arrested

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, June 15: One of the main accused in the Mathura violence case has been arrested by the police in Basti, Uttar Pradesh. Bose was being pursued by the police for inciting the violence and also shooting dead police officer Santhosh Yadav.

The police have been attempting to get a piece of land evacuated in Mathura. The locals had been complaining of nuisance and complained on several occasions.

However there was widespread violence which led to the death of 29 persons including two police officials.

Chandan Bose was considered to be the second in command in the Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satagrahi.

He was second to Ram Vriksh Yadav, the police stated. Bose belongs to Ludhiana in Punjab. The 45 year old Chandan Bose had stayed in Delhi for several years before he landed in Mathura.

The police had formed special teams to track Bose and several others involved in the case. During the course of the probe, the police found that Bose had played a major role in the incident and was also the man who shot down a police official.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, June 15, 2016, 13:02 [IST]
SBI fined Rs 85,000 after it misread Kannada numeral on cheque, dishonoured it

SBI PO Recruitment 2022: Vacancy, eligibility, last date and other details

SBI Clerk Recruitment: Tomorrow is last date to apply for 5,000 posts, check details here

SBI RBO jobs 2022 registration begins today, know how to apply

SBI Bank PO 2022: Last date to apply form is tomorrow

SBI PO Recruitment: Registration ends today; Last day to apply for 1673 posts

SBI Clerk preliminary exam 2016 results declared: Check the results here

India

oi-Mukul Kumar Mishra

New Delhi, June 15: There is good news for all the aspirants who appeared for SBI clerical exam 2016 last month. Reportedly the bank has released the results of Junior assistants and Junior agricultural assistants in the clerical cadre. The public sector bank had conducted prelim exam from May 22 to June 5.

Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) 2016 results declared: Check the results here

This time bank has not provided any particular link to check results. Instead, SBI has provided a direct link to download call letters for the mains examination.

Candidates can click here to know their fate.

After submitting the required details like registration number and date of birth, candidate can check whether they have qualified for next round(Mains).

Mains exam is scheduled on June 25 and 26, 2016.

AIIMS MBBS exam results 2016 declared,counselling from July 4

Earlier, the bank had announced that candidates can apply for 10726 posts of Junior Associate (Customer support & sales). Bank also invited application for 3008 posts of Junior Agricultural Associate.

SBI is one of the largest public sector bank. Government-owned bank has its head office in Mumbai.

OneIndia News
'Udta Punjab' takes a deserving flight; to be released on June 17

India

oi-Pallavi Sengupta

Mumbai, June 15: After much controversy, the movie 'Udta Punjab' is likely to be released on June 17. The decision came after the Bombay High Court cleared the film for release with one cut and 3 disclaimers.

Co-producer Vikas Bahl said, "The verdict has been fantastic for all of us. It has been wonderful for the country and it shows that there is freedom of expression and we want to announce that 'Udta Punjab' is coming on June 17."

Film's actor Shahid Kapoor said that he is extremely proud with the verdict. "This shows there is freedom of expression, but we need to be responsible and it's a nice balance," he added.

Co-star Alia Bhatt said, "When I heard about the cuts, I questioned why and how because I was not able to understand. I am a director's daughter and I know what a director goes through. I was so delighted by the verdict yesterday."

[Read: Anupam Kher backs Kashyap in 'Udta Punjab' controversy ]

Speaking of the problems created by Pankaj Nihalani, the films co-producer Anurag Kashyap said, "If he goes, who will come? And whoever comes in, how will they interpret the system? First Pahlaj should be replaced and the biggest thing what I feel is that an actor like Shahid came out of his comfort zone to do this film. Because of such things, they will not have the courage to do a film like this. This is important for us."

[Read: Pahlaj Nihalani welcomes HC's decision on 'Udta Punjab' ]

Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday ordered a special screening of the movieto decide if this was inappropriate for the public. Bombay High Court cleared the movie with just 1 cut and 'A' certificate.

While that happened, a Punjab-based NGO moves the SC challenging Bombay High Court order on 'Udta Punjab', demanding a stay on the film.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, June 15, 2016, 11:17 [IST]
This UP village lights up on Diwali, for the first time ever!

Who is Mukeem Kala, the man terrorising Kairana, UP

India

oi-Vicky

New Delhi, June 15: There was a controversy that arose following an allegation by a BJP leader from Uttar Pradesh who said that several Hindu families had migrated out of fear from Kairana. It was stated that these families were getting death and extortion threats and hence had left the village in fear.

All through this episode, the name of one Mukeem Kala was being quoted. It was said that his gang members were handing out the threats which was forcing people out of their villages.

The question now is who is Mukeem Kala and how has he managed to force so many families out of a village.

Who is Mukeem Kala?

Mukeem Kala had entered the world of crime in the year 2010. Since then his rise has been fast although his first crime was a robbery. Kala who is currently lodged in jail runs a gang of 25 members today. While all of them are still in jail, it is quite ironic that he has managed to run his empire.

Kala has a host of cases lodged against him which also include the murder of four police personnel. He is a much feared person in Kairana. His activities in Kariana have been extortion and also driving people out of their homes in a bid to snatch their property. He has cases registered not just in Uttar Pradesh, but also in Haryana as well.

The more surprising aspect regarding this man is that his empire is intact despite him and 24 members of his gang being in jail since 2015. This gives an indication that he is operating out of jail.

OneIndia News
Some countries want to patent Yoga, but it belongs to India: RSS chief

Yoga should not be imposed on anybody: Mizoram Guv

India

oi-PTI

Aizawl, Jun 15: Mizoram Governor Lt General Nirbhay Sharma on Wednesday, June 15 suggested that the the controversy over Yoga should be sorted out through dialogue and said no one should be compelled to practice Yoga, it should be done voluntarily.

"I have practised Yoga for over four decades which, I found was extremely good for health, but it did nothing to re-enforce my religious belief," Sharma said, adding that practising yoga does not mean conversion to Hinduism.

"Practice of Yoga should not be imposed on anybody and any one who wants to practice Yoga should do it voluntarily," the Governor said.

Expressing the wish that International Yoga Day to be observed next Tuesday, would be considered as the commencement of Healthy Mizoram Campaign, Sharma said that Yoga could become instrumental in the combat against high incidence of cancer and HIV/AIDS, drug addiction and alcoholism and other social ills in the state.

Change of lifestyle and exercise could make Mizo youths healthier physically and mentally, he added. The Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), conglomerate of 14 major churches, recently asked all the church members across the state to refrain from the practice of Yoga.

Rev. Lalramliana Pachuau, Senior Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Church's Mizoram Synod and one of the leaders of the MKHC, said the Yoga issue was raised during a meeting of the MKHC at the Synod office on June 2.

Pachuau said the churches did not have any objection to the government propagating Yoga at the official level as the government is a secular institution.

He, however, said, the churches regarded Yoga as something that can dilute the doctrine of Christianity and asked all the constituent churches of the MKHC to issue messages cautioning their members.

The MKHC looked upon Yoga as against the teachings and beliefs of Christianity, he added. The meeting of the MKHC decided that Yoga is based on Hindu philosophy and cannot be accepted as something that can be blended with Christianity.

"Yoga exercise may be able to heal some illness, but Christians cannot use it to replace the eternal healing of Christ," the meeting said, adding that Yoga might be used to assimilate or convert Christians.

PTI
Cornered Pakistan looks to hire lobbyists in US to mend ties

International

oi-Shubham Ghosh

Islamabad/Washington, June 15: Cornered by the recent developments in international politics, Pakistan is looking to hire lobbying firms in Washington after almost a decade in a bid to refurbish its image in the US, the Reuters reported.

The country is making the move at a time when the relation between the two old allies reached a low, two officials in Islamabad told Reuters on Tuesday (June 14). [US cartoon compares Pakistan with donkey]

Ties between Islamabad and Washington have particularly been strained after an unmanned US aircraft killed top Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in western Punjab in May, fuelling strong reaction from Pakistan which called it a violation of its sovereignty.

The time-tested relationship also saw a bitter phase over Washington's refusal to approve the sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. The US Congress said no to the authorisation of use of US funds to pay for the aircraft under the Foreign Military Financing programme. Pakistan is now cosidering buying of used F-16 jets from Jordan.

A government official, on the condition of anonymity, said Pakistan used to maintain lobbyists in the US but stopped the practice during the rule of General Pervez Musharraf in 1999-2008. He said the government has now decided to restart the process to rebuild its image.

The official also acknowledged that India and other countries were having "aggressive public relations", something which his country seemed to lack.

The officials, however, did not name the lobbying firms the Pakistani authorities were aiming to rope in.

Oneindia News
Sonia chose Manmohan Singh as he posed no threat to her, Rahul Gandhi: Obama

Obama meets Dalai Lama at White House

International

oi-PTI

Washington, Jun 15 US President Barack Obama today met Tibetan Spiritual Leader the Dalai Lama at the White House, his spokesman said, underlining the meeting between the two Noble laureates does not change America's stand on Tibet.

"This is actually the fourth opportunity that President Obama has had to meet with the Dalai Lama here at the White House over the last eight years," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference.

"And I would just reiterate once again that the US's position, as it relates to Tibet has not changed. Tibet, per US policy, is considered part of the People's Republic of China. And the United States has not articulated our support for Tibetan independence," Earnest said. Obama met the 80-year-old spiritual leader in the historic Map Room of the White House.

The meeting was closed for the press. The Tibetan spiritual leader did not speak to the battery of reporters waiting inside.

"Just to give you a sense of the meeting, the President thanked the Dalai Lama for his expression of condolences about the terrorist attack in Orlando over the weekend," Earnest said.

"The President has spoken publicly in the past about his warm, personal feelings for the Dalai Lama.

The president has articulated his appreciation for the Dalai Lama's teachings, and believes in preserving Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions," he said in response to a question.

Earnest said the personal nature of their meeting would explain why the President received the Dalai Lama in the White House residence, as opposed to the oval office, for example.

Earlier in a statement, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, who hosted a lunch for the Tibetan leader's simplicity has caught the imagination of the world.

"I think he has received just about every award we have to give him. In fact, I felt a little sheepish this morning when I realised that all I had to offer him was a lunch. But, as he likes to say, he is a simple Buddhist monk," Ryan said.

"And it is that very simplicitythe simplicity of faiththat has captured the world's imagination. It is almost as if he has no room in his soul for impatience or self-serving. All he has room for is kindness.

It is inspiring to see," he said. Later in the day the Dalai Lama attended an event of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) to present the Democracy Service Medal to honour the courageous work of the late Tibetan Buddhist Monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a prominent political prisoner who died in a Sichuan prison in 2015.

According to Human Rights Watch, Tenzin's imprisonment in 2002 was the culmination of a decade-long effort by Chinese authorities to curb his efforts to foster Tibetan Buddhism.

Tenzin was an inspiration for Tibetans struggling to retain their cultural identity in the face of China's harsh policies.

PTI
Obama says he cried at daughter Malia's school graduation

International

oi-PTI

Washington, Jun 15: President Barack Obama has said that he cried at the recent high school convocation ceremony of his elder daughter Malia, thinking about how she is graduating at this "extraordinary time" for women in America.

"Some of you may know that on Friday, my elder daughter Malia graduated from high school. And I sat in the back and wore dark glasses," Obama told a gathering of women from across the county at the Women Summit held at the White House.

"And only cried once, but it was -- I made this weird sound because I was choking back -- and people looked at me, people sitting in front of us turned back. And then I suppressed it," Obama said describing the incident.

"I was thinking about how she is graduating at this extraordinary time for women in America," said the 54-year-old US President. Malia Obama, 17, graduated from the prominent Sidwell Friends School in Washington DC last Friday, which was attended by the US President.

She has taken admission in the prominent Harvard University, but she would be taking a year's off from studies. She would be joining Harvard next year. In an interaction with Oprah Winfrey, First Lady Michelle Obama recollected the childhood days of her two daughters Malia and Sasha, 15.

It would take another two years for Sasha to graduate from high school. As a result, the First Family has decided to live in Washington DC after they leave the White House. "Malia and Sasha were little itty-bitties when we came into office.

I mean, it still moves me to tears to think about the first day I put them in the car with their Secret Service agents to go to their first day of school," 52-year-old Michelle said. "And I saw them leaving and I thought, what on Earth am I doing to these babies? So I knew right then and there my first job was to make sure they were going to be whole and normal and cared for in the midst of all this craziness," Michelle said amidst applause from the audience.

"And then I started to understand that if I was going to protect them, I had to, number one, protect myself and protect my time," she said and then recollected the graduation ceremony of Malia.

"We just went to Malia's high school graduation and we were watching Sasha move her way through high school. I am very proud of those two and how they have managed this situation and how they have continued to be themselves, regular little girls just trying to figure it out," she said.

"As all mothers do, you breathe that sigh of relief that you didn't mess up your kids. Every day I cross my fingers and hope that I'm doing right by them, and I'm providing them with a good foundation so that they can be great people," she added.

PTI
Donald Trump does it again, says 'US must consider racial profiling'

Orlando shooting: Mateen's wife knew of attack, could be charged

International

oi-Sandra Marina Fernandes

Washington, June 15: With each passing day new details are emerging in the Orlando shooting case and according to latest reports, prosecutors believe that the shooter's wife knew of her husband's plans prior to the incident.

According to agency reports, wife of Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, knew of his plans to attack the club and once even drove him to the place where he opened fire killing 50 and injuring 53 people on Sunday.

Orlando Shooting brings back Ustad Rashid Khan's humiliation in the US

She is said to have tried to talk him out of it but he did not pay attention. Both, Mateen and his wife Noor Zahi Salman, even visited Walt Disney World, as Mateen wanted to scout it as a potential target alongwith the club.

Mateen and his wife had visited the park in April. Officials investigating the case said that Salman knew what was going on and failed to inform the officials. Prosecutors are now seeking to charge Mateen's wife as an accessory to 50 counts of murder and 53 counts of attempted murder and failure to notify law enforcement agencies about the attack.

Orlando shooter visited gay nightclub several times

On the other hand, the shooter's father on Tuesday said that if he had the slightest inkling about what his son was upto, he would've handed his son to the FBI.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Wednesday, June 15, 2016, 14:02 [IST]
India always views war as last resort, but... : PM Modi to armed forces in Kargil

South African-Indians plan grand reception for PM Modi

International

oi-PTI

Johannesburg, June 15: Cultural groups representing expatriate Indians and the South African Indian descendants are planning a grand reception for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to South Africa next month.

A cultural programme incorporating Indian and African dance and music is being planned for the event organised by SAWelcomesModi committee.

Don't let acts by a few hoodlums sour India-Africa ties

"This visit marks a turning point in the special relationship between South Africa and India," a statement by the SAWelcomesModi committee said, adding that it is the first time when an Indian Prime Minister will address a public gathering of this magnitude.

"South Africa's deep and revered bond with India spans five generations during which two global icons, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, gave birth to new ideals of freedom and democracy, further entrenching the shared histories of the two countries," the statement said.

South Africa's deep and revered bond with India spans five generations

"Gandhi in particular started his Satyagraha campaigns in South Africa as a leader in the struggle against oppressive colonial policies of discrimination and carried them back to India a century ago to lead that nation to freedom from the shackles of colonialism, " it said.

"Mandela acknowledged how Gandhi's thinking had influenced his own reconciliatory approach to bringing about a peaceful transition to democracy in South Africa after decades of apartheid domination," the statement added.

A website has been launched by the SAWelcomesModi committe for registering members for secure access to the venue where Modi is expected to address a grand community reception on July 8.

PTI
US cartoon compares Pakistan with donkey

International

oi-Shubham Ghosh

New York, June 15: A cartoon by Heng published in The New York Times on June 12 made the headlines for its presentation of India and Pakistan in the form of an elephant and donkey [click here for the cartoon], respectively, against the backdrop of the current international politics.

In this cartoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama are seen happily riding an elephant which is approaching a nervous-looking donkey with a Chinese person riding on its back. [Pakistan looks to fire lobbyists in US to rebuild image]

Presenting Pakistan as a donkey might be because of its declining relationship with the US following the latter's refusal to sell it F-16 fighter jets and also killing the head of the Afghan Taliban through a drone attack in its territory last month.

It could be also because the artist felt Pakistan is an insignificant country compared to India, particularly after the much publicised recent visit by Modi to the US or since Pakistan is increasingly been seen as a client state of China.

The third reason could be the real one since Pakistan has been represented by no leader and only a helpless animal.

The cartoon also makes it clear that the Chinese are using Pakistan to put up obstacles on the way of the India-US bonhomie as it has been seen in its strong bid to block India's entry in the Nuclear Suppliers Group despite getting backing from the US.

Howver, before the nationalist Indians have a nice laugh after watching this, they should remember that it was the same Heng who had shown India as a "farmer with a cow" knocking the door of an "elite space club" or that India as an elephant blocking the Paris Climate summit.

Oneindia News
Chhath Puja fasting rules: What one must keep in mind during the 4-day festival

Mayawati expels Dalit leader over anti-Brahmin FB post: Is she eyeing a repeat of 2007?

New Delhi

oi-Shubham Ghosh

New Delhi, June 15: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has expelled a core cadre leader from her party for making objectionable remarks against Brahmins, suggesting that she is eyeing the upper-caste vote-bank for the UP Assembly election scheduled early next year.

The expelled leader, Sanjay Bharti, a Dalit---had allegedly posted some remarks against the Brahmins on his Facebook account, said an Economic Times report.

Bharti, however, defended himself saying he did not make any remarks against the Brahmins or any other case and blamed former BSP minister MA Lari and Pramod Gautam for defaming him. He hoped that Mayawati would know the "truth" and reverse her decision.

Bharti also said that his Facebook account had been hacked and somebody else had posted the remarks. He said that he came to know about his expulsion through the newspapers as the party did not inform him about the decision.

Bharti has been associated with the BSP since its inception and was appointed as the president of Salempur Assembly constituency.

Mayawati is eyeing to forge a Dalit-Brahmin vote-bank in the next election to repeat her success story of 2007. By targeting the Brahmin votes, the Dalit messiah is also expecting to avenging the defeat in the 2014 general election when the Narendra Modi wave had drawn the Dalits votes towards the BJP, leaving the BSP with no seats in the Lok Sabha.

Oneindia News
Central team roped in as dengue cases in Bihar rise to over 5000

Topper scam in Bihar: Court issues arrest warrants against ex-BSEB chief, JD(U) MLA

Patna

oi-PTI

Patna, June 15: A court on Wednesday,June 15 issued arrest warrants against former Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife, former JD(U) MLA Usha Sinha, in connection with +2 toppers scandal in the state.

Patna Chief Judicial Magistrate Om Prakash issued the arrest warrants against the couple on a plea by police. Sinha was yesterday replaced as principal of Ganga Devi College here by senior professor of the institution Kanchan Chakhaiyar.

Sinha had appointed junior professor Dilip Kumar Verma as principal of the college before proceeding on leave after her name cropped up in the +2 examination scandal in which her husband and ex-board chairman was a prime player.

Investigation in the scam had highlighted her role and the police made her a co-accused in the case. Smelling trouble, Sinha went underground last week and appointed Verma as principal of the college. Sinha, who did not contest the 2015 Assembly elections as her seat Hilsa in Nalanda district had gone to RJD quota, had joined the college and was made the principal.

"Prima facie there are ample evidences against Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh. Proof of tampering in the exam copies and evaluation have been found which was in the knowledge of the ex-BSEB chairman (Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh)," senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj, who heads the SIT to probe the scam, had said.

Police had on June 11 arrested Bacha Rai, the kingpin of the toppers scandal, from Bhagwanpur police station in Vaishali district.

Rai is the secretary-cum principal of controversial Bishun Rai College. The scandal was brought to the fore by media by conducting interviews of arts and science toppers Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shreshta for their answers to simple questions.

PTI
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With the news that Hillary Clinton is all but set to lead the Democratic Party into what is lining up to be one of the most anticipated and divisive US Presidential elections in recent history  and as Donald Trump for the Republican Party begins to up his game  there is growing feeling within Clintons people that the need to forge together to face Trump and the Republican Party after the Party Convention in July - and that it needs to happen sooner rather than later. Clintons cause has taken a considerable boost in the face of recent press regarding her email usage while under the office of Barack Obama  as Obama himself has pledged support to Clintons campaign in the late stages of the nomination process.

However, the media continues to report that Bernie Sanders will stay in the nomination race up to the Party Convention as he had previously confirmed, opting to change his focus in recent days to beyond that of the Presidential election. Many have voiced concerns that his continuing standing in the race could distract from the larger issues at stake, such as mobilizing the party to work on strategies to face off against Trump and his running mate in the months to come. However, while Sanders has yet to acknowledge a Clinton victory, he has advised publicly that he will work with the likely candidate in an effort to combat Trump in the run up to the election.

Certainly, Sanders has run a much closer-run campaign to Clinton than many had anticipated, with many young and working class voters having been turned around to the senators economic policies  however, Clinton has largely remained the more popular candidate and the more likely to win the nomination despite having lost out to Sanders in a number of key states  and Sanders was quoted as being keen to see how close the results will be from the crucial California primary once votes are fully tallied. Regardless of who will win the nomination  and what may come of recent reports over Clintons email usage  it is clear that the Democratic Party will now strive to unite as time ticks away before what will likely be one of the most interesting and polarizing US Presidential election campaigns that we have seen for some considerable time.
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A PASTOR who allegedly obtained K90,000 from a couple as payment for a piece of land has had his case adjourned to allow his lawyer to make submission.

Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Cosmas Bidar had found sufficient evidence in the case involving Pastor Nou Mase from Pari village in the National Capital District but agreed to allow his lawyer to make submission on the sufficiency of evidence.

The court had ruled on May 31 that there was sufficient evidence to have Mases case referred to the National Court for trial.

The United Church pastor allegedly pretended to William Garey and Louisa Garey that he was a landowner of customary land known as Portion 1074 at Idarobada and Nadibada in Taurama, NCD.

He allegedly obtained K90,000 from the couple as payment over the land between January 3 and October 5, 2015.

But the couple was allegedly chased out of the land by a group who claimed that the pastor did not own the piece of land.

Mase was charged with obtaining money by false pretence. He is on a K2000 bail. Meanwhile, Motu-Koitabu landowners were urged not to sell their land. The National/ One PNG


Pierre-Philippe Ste-Marie Benedicte Gravrand, Opalesque London for New Managers:

There is support for the emerging manager community out of Montral, Quebec.

According to Pierre-Philippe Ste-Marie, founder and CEO of Razorbill Advisors, a Canadian fixed income manager founded in 2013, there is an initiative called the Emerging Managers Board (EMB), which his firm is a part of.

The non-profit organisations mission is to promote and contribute to the growth of Canadian emerging managers. So far, it has only gone as far as covering Qubec, but it plans to launch in Ontario next year and expand in the rest of the country in the next few years.

Out of the EMBs 50 members, 40 are managers registered with the AMF (Canadas financial regulator), and more than half of them have alternative products, he said during a recent Opalesque Roundtable.

"The EMBs goal is to get the largest pension funds in Qubec to invest 1% of their AuM with local emerging managers," he continued. "From our computation that would be the equivalent of C$3bn (US$2.3bn). Once that kind of money is invested towards emerging managers, we think we will find great momentum and be able to support our local talent to emerge."

Then there is the PGEQ (Programme des Gestionnaires en merge......................

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Investigative Journalist Marcy Wheeler

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My guest today is Marcy Wheeler, independent journalist, author and blogger. Wheeler writes widely about the legal aspects of the "war on terror" and its effects on civil liberties. She blogs at emptywheel.net.





Joan Brunwasser: Welcome back to OpEdNews, Marcy. She just co-wrote the piece "Exclusive: Snowden Tried to Tell NSA About Surveillance Concerns, Documents Reveal" that appeared at Vice News. I'm hoping you can help us untangle the complex web that surrounds Snowden, his revelations, and the blowback that followed. Where would you like to begin?

Marcy Wheeler: First, the simple stuff: Snowden revealed to Americans and people around the world just how extensive America and its "FiveEyes" allies' (the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) spying really is. Even people who followed this stuff really closely -- as I had since 2005 -- had only guessed at some of these things. In the wake of those disclosures, some of the programs have been reined in, some have been enshrined in law, and others continue unchecked.

The more complex question has to do with accountability. Snowden has said (credibly, given the examples of even NSA-employee whistleblowers who went before; Snowden was a contractor) he had no means to raise concerns about these issues except to leak. The government would like to argue he could have gone through formal whistleblower channels, rather than leaking troves of information (but even some people insisting he could have done so admit the effect would not have been the same).

JB: Snowden had wanted to publicize the spying for a long time. And he was initially encouraged by President Obama's election. Then, everything went south. What happened?

MW: Snowden served as a Sysadmin at the NSA (though our story shows he moved into a more analytical role in the month before he left), which meant he had ready access to massive troves of documents. A lot of what he took falls into several categories: programs that affect Americans (like domestic and foreign bulk collection, and the "back door searches" of data collected from domestic Internet providers), programs that affect the security of the Internet (like efforts to weaken encryption), and programs targeting civilian foreign targets.

The most famous of these programs was the bulk domestic phone program, in which NSA aspired to collect all the phone records in American. That's what got significantly constrained by the USA Freedom Act last year, though equivalent bulk collection continues undiminished overseas, and that still sucks up a lot of Americans' data.

Snowden never tried to use formal whistleblower approaches. But he did, our story shows, discuss with colleagues concerns about privacy and constitutionality of all this.

JB: Speaking of whistleblower protection, many federal whistleblowers nevertheless suffer on various fronts for blowing the whistle. All the more so for those who have no protection. On that count, I read that as of now, most of our intelligence functions have been outsourced and privatized. That was astounding to me. It also has implications going forward for government contractors who would not be protected, should they leak information. What do you think about that?

MW: Right: more and more of our intelligence functions are being outsourced to contractors. And whereas government personnel are not supposed to be retaliated against (though that often if not usually happens anyway), contractors have no protection against their employers retaliating against them. The Office of Director of National Intelligence's General Counsel Bob Litt told me in an interview for this story that that's because the IC can't get contractors to change their contracts with employees. That's not a very compelling argument.

The House version of the Intelligence Authorization for next year proposes asking the Intelligence Community Inspector General to do a study to quantify how often contractors get retaliated against.

Until some kind of protection is put in place, though, the IC can continue to contract out some of its most sensitive programs and ensure that the people doing them can't complain about problems, including legal problems.

JB: That's indeed problematic. Let's cut to the chase. Who is Snowden? Why did he do what he did? And is it good for our country or bad that he did it?

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When someone commits mass murder in the United States and is tied, however significantly, to a foreign terrorist group, there remains a section of the U.S. population willing to recognize and point out that no ideology, fit of hatred, or mental derangement can do the same damage without high-tech weaponry that it does with it. Why does this understanding vanish into the ether of ignorance and apathy at the water's edge?

ISIS videos display U.S. guns, U.S. Humvees, U.S. weaponry of all sorts. The profits and political corruption that bring those weapons into existence are the same as those that litter the United States with guns. Shouldn't we be bothered by both?

The same politicians who claim they'd like to restrict U.S. gun sales have flooded the world markets with the weaponry of mass slaughter. President Obama's administration has approved more weapons sales abroad than any other administration since World War II. Over 60 percent of those weapons have been sold to the Middle East. Add to that total huge quantities of U.S. weapons in the hands of the United States or its proxies in the Middle East -- or formerly in their hands but seized by ISIS.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton waived restrictions at the State Department on selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Qatar, all states that had donated to the Clinton Foundation. Saudi Arabia had chipped in at least $10 million, and Boeing added another $900,000 as Secretary Clinton made it her mission to get Saudi Arabia the planes with which it would attack Yemen.

In the past five years, the United States has sold weapons to at least 96 countries. As of 2011 the United States accounted for 79% of the value of transfer agreements to ship weapons to governments in the Middle East, 79% also to poor nations around the world, and 77% of the value of total agreements to ship weapons to other countries, according to the Congressional Research Service. By 2014, those percentages had dropped a bit but remained over 50%.

In 2013, the big war profiteers spent $65 million lobbying Congress. There's a big headline when the National Rifle Association spends $3 million. We ask if black lives matter. In addition, do foreign lives matter?

Toddlers with guns kill more people in the United States than do foreign terrorists -- even adding in domestic terrorists somehow tied to foreign ideas. But we don't hate toddlers. We don't bomb toddlers and whoever's near them. We don't think of toddlers as inherently evil or backward or belonging to the wrong religion. We forgive them instantly, without struggle. It's not their fault the guns were left lying around.

But is it the fault of ISIS that Iraq was destroyed? That Libya was thrown into chaos? That the region was flooded with U.S.-made weapons? That future ISIS leaders were tortured in U.S. camps? That life was made into a nightmare? Maybe not, but it is their fault they murder people. They are adults. They know what they are doing.

True enough. But could they do it without the weapons?

On the domestic scene, we are able to recognize that other nations have conflict, hatred, and crime, but that -- in the absence of all the guns -- the crimes do less damage. Australia got rid of its guns following a killing less deadly than Orlando. Now a gun in Australia costs more than anyone would be likely to get out of an armed robbery. Now Australia has no mass killings, apart from its participation in U.S. wars.

On the foreign scene, can we recognize that regions armed to the teeth with U.S. weapons, wars with U.S. weapons on both sides, and CIA and Pentagon proxies fighting each other in Syria are not the inevitable result of backwardness in Arab culture, but rather the result of giving free rein to merchants of death?
Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) June 15, 2016: In a previous op-ed at OEN, I characterized the white male supporters of Donald Trump as rage-aholics. I now also suspect that the American born and raised terrorist gun-man in the recent massacre in Orlando, Florida, was also a rage-aholic. But he was not a white male, and he may not have been a Trump supporter.

The Homeric epic the Iliad begins with the words, "Rage -- Goddess, sing the rage of Peleus' son Achilles,/ murderous, doomed, that cost the Achaeans countless losses,/ hurling down to the House of Death so many sturdy souls,/ great fighters' souls, but made their bodies carrion, feasts for dogs and birds,/ and the will of Zeus was moving toward its end" (Book I, lines 1-6, translated by Robert Fagles, Viking/Penguin Group, 1990, page 77).

In addition, to all countless Achaean losses that resulted from King Achilles' rage at King Agamemnon's publicly dishonoring him, we should note all the Trojan losses the raging Achilles inflicts during the wild killing rampage the mourning Achilles goes on after the death of his friend Patroclus -- a massacre similar in spirit to the massacre in Orlando early Sunday morning.

In the introduction to Fagles' translation (pages 3-64), the classicist Bernard Knox argues that "the stern lesson of Homer's presentation of the [Trojan] war [is] that no civilization, no matter how rich, no matter how refined [as Troy is portrayed to be by the standards of the day], can long survive once it loses the power to meet force with equal or superior force" (page 17).

At first blush, Knox may seem to be articulating a principle about national defense. But the massacre in Orlando involved an American-born-and-raised non-state actor. So can American culture today muster the power to meet the enemy within American culture?

In an informed op-ed titled "Why Do Terrorists Commit Terrorism" in the New York Times (dated June 14, 2016), Peter Bergen raises two important questions: (1) "Why would someone take the lives of innocent civilians who are total strangers?" (2) "Is an answer even possible?"

Bergen reports that he has "reviewed court records in more than 300 cases of people charged with jihadist terrorism in the United States since Sept. 11, 2001."

However, he does not explicitly include the case of Achilles in his discussion in his op-ed.

Arguably Achilles is portrayed as being incapable of mourning in a healthy way his loss of face publicly. With that backlog of unresolved mourning, Achilles then experiences the loss of his friend Patroclus to death.

Surprise, surprise, Bergen says, "I found that the perpetrators were generally motivated by a mix of factors, including . . . a need to attach themselves to an ideology or organization that gave them a sense of purpose; and a 'cognitive opening' to militant Islam that often was precipitated by personal disappointment [like Achilles' personal disappointment at being publicly dishonored by Agamemnon], like the death of a parent [or the death of a comrade-in-arms like Patroclus]. For many, joining a jihadist group or carrying out an attack allowed them to become the heroes of their own story."

Now, I am reasonably sure that Peter Bergen has read the Iliad, which is an accessible work in literature -- and one of the most famous works in Western literature.

Next, I want to turn to the work of Vamik D. Volkan, M.D. (born in 1932), a psychiatrist and Freudian psychoanalyst at the University of Virginia Medical School in Charlottesville, which is not a long drive from Washington, D.C.

Joseph V. Montville, then research director of the Center for the Study of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State, supplies the foreword to Volkan's book The Need to Have Enemies and Allies: From Clinical Practice to International Relationships (Jason Aronson, 1988, pages ix-xiv).

In that book, Volkan says that the inability to form more adaptive relationships may be due to the hatred involved as the basis of a particular interpersonal relationship with intrapsychic connections (page 102).

In the case of Achilles, Volkan's analysis of hatred here suggests that Achilles may have a deep interpersonal relationship with intrapsychic connections that is compounding his public loss of face to Agamemnon.

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In the latter stages of the primaries, as Bernie Sanders' chances of actually winning the Democratic nomination went from remote to virtually nonexistent, his remaining in the race has had less to do with winning the presidency and more to do with promoting his campaign's core ideas. Would issues like single-payer healthcare, free public college and regulating Wall Street stay on the front burner, or be left behind as a primary-season ideological fling?

And as his candidacy's political purpose became clearer, corporate media criticism of his intention to stay in the race has become sharper. After the June 7 primaries, when it became mathematically impossible for Sanders to win a majority of the pledged delegates, much of the media circled the wagons, insisting Sanders drop out in the interest of "party unity" and "stopping Trump" -- something Sanders himself has pledged to work toward.

But for establishment outlets like the New York Times, more important than Sanders dropping out of the race is that his core policy goals be dismissed as fantasy. In its editorial look back at the Sanders campaign, the Times (6/11/16) did some ideological policing:

"Mr. Sanders offered prescriptions that too often consisted of facile calls for 'revolution,' for feel-good but economically unsustainable proposals for universal healthcare and free tuition to public colleges."

With this one sentence, the New York Times not only embraced a right-wing canard that's been peddled by everyone from the Wall Street Journal to the neoliberal Urban Institute, it also contradicted its previous editorial stance on the issue. In 2013, the Times (9/29/13) presented universal healthcare as a widespread standard that the US ought to meet:

"After decades of debate and bitter political battles, millions of uninsured Americans will soon be able to get health coverage they can afford, a right that has long been universal in other advanced nations."

And later that November (11/18/13):

"The report found that by virtually all measures of cost, access to care and ease of dealing with insurance problems, Americans fared poorly compared with people in other advanced countries. The survey covered 20,000 adults in the United States and 10 other industrial nations -- Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Britain, all of which put in place universal or near-universal health coverage decades ago. The United States spends far more than any of these countries on a per capita basis and as a percent of the national economy."

But now universal healthcare is "feel-good," "economically unsustainable" claptrap? Sanders' proposal is based largely on the single-payer model of Canada -- a model the Times editorial board venerated less than three years ago. What changed?

One major change was in the official policy position of the Democratic Party. While universal healthcare was once a broad goal of putative liberals, the Democrats' soon-to-be leader, Hillary Clinton, says that single-payer healthcare will "never, ever happen." New York Times' Clinton partisan and leading center-left economist Paul Krugman insisted in January that single-payer was "a distraction." Adam Gaffney of the New Republic wrote in March, "Republicans are no longer afraid of the menace of single-payer, for a perfectly good reason: The mainstream of the Democratic Party has largely abandoned it."

One could argue that the New York Times' problem is with Sanders' specific proposals, and not the goal of single payer in the abstract, but such a position has never been proffered by the Gray Lady since the beginning of the Clinton/Sanders debate. The Times' dismissal of free public college -- again, also routine in several countries -- is also telling: Large social programs are "unsustainable," despite being entirely unexceptional throughout the developed world.

Conversely, the Times editorial board, which supported US wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, rarely if ever discusses the "economic sustainability" of these ventures. The urgency of these long-term budgetary commitments (over $4 trillion and counting) was put in purely moral and life-and-death terms, cost be damned.

Such conviction is entirely absent when it comes to overhauling America's healthcare system, despite the fact that one 2009 Harvard study found that 45,000 Americans die a year due to lack of healthcare coverage. And while the ACA has mitigated this crisis somewhat, almost 10 percent -- or 33 million -- Americans remain without coverage.

Any attempt to radically address this shortfall -- and the deaths inevitably resulting from it -- is not seen as something worthy of consideration, much less endorsement. Instead, what is normal in most rich countries is dismissed by the paper of record as the "unsustainable," "feel-good" posturing of an "unkempt," "impatient" and "angry" socialist.
"We need a party which is prepared to stand up for the disappearing middle class, for the 47 million people in this country who are living in poverty, and take on the greed of the powerful special interests that are doing so much harm to this country, who have so much power over the political and economic life of our country," he said.

"We need, obviously, to get rid of superdelegates," he added.

The news conference also precedes a speech that Sanders plans to deliver to his supporters on Thursday via an online video address.

"When we started this campaign, I told you that I was running not to oppose any man or woman, but to propose new and far-reaching policies to deal with the crises of our time," he stated in an email advertising the event. "And for the past fourteen months, through the entire primary process, we've sent the establishment a message they can't ignore: we won't settle for the status quo."

"After today, the voting is done, but our political revolution continues," he wrote, referring to the primary taking place in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.

Over the past year, political revolution has become Sanders' signature call to action; as he and Clinton prepare to meet, observers noted the significance of his campaign in influencing Democratic platforms and breathing new life into the electorate at large.

As author and activist Naomi Klein wrote on Tuesday:

"The evidence is clear: The left just won. Forget the nomination -- I mean the argument. Clinton, and the 40-year ideological campaign she represents, has lost the battle of ideas. The spell of neoliberalism has been broken, crushed under the weight of lived experience and a mountain of data. "What for decades was unsayable is now being said out loud -- free college tuition, double the minimum wage, 100 percent renewable energy. And the crowds are cheering. With so much encouragement, who knows what's next?"

To that end, Sanders is expected to push for progressive reforms to the DNC's platform in his meeting with Clinton as the two candidates carve out an action plan following her win in California, clinching the Democratic nomination.

According to CNN, the concessions he is likely to ask for include a change in DNC leadership, more open primaries that make it easier for independents to take part, and a roll call vote at the party's upcoming convention in Philadelphia that would allow his delegates to speak before a nominee is chosen.




IN THE LATE 1990s, Eric Rudolph -- raised Catholic and affiliated for a time with a Christian Identity sect -- bombed abortion clinics and a gay bar, insisting they were venues of immorality and evil. Last July, an Orthodox Jewish Israeli attacked the marchers in the Jerusalem LGBT pride parade, stabbing six of them, and one of them, a teenager, died of her wounds; justifying his attacks by appealing to Talmudic punishments for homosexuality, he had just been released from a 10-year prison term for doing the same in 2005. Yesterday, a Christian pastor from Arizona, Steven Anderson, praised the slaughter of 49 people in an Orlando LGBT club on the ground that "homosexuals are a bunch of disgusting perverts" and are "pedophiles."

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Pharmaceuticals Global Market Analytics Released By The Business Research Company

Pharmaceuticals Global Market Analytics provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global Pharmaceuticals sector.The pharmaceuticals industry develops drugs to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent diseases. Pharmaceutical companies produce both generic and branded drugs for medications. Pharmaceuticals are subjected to various laws and regulations that deal with patenting, testing, safety, efficacy and marketing of drugs.Pharmaceutical companies produce biological products, pharmaceutical preparations and medicinal and botanical products.Biological products are medicinal products made of natural sources: human and animal cells or microorganisms. Most biological products are intended to treat diseases or medical conditions and some biological products are used to prevent or diagnose diseases.Biological products include vaccines, blood products for transfusion, allergy shots, human cells and tissues used for transplantations such as tendons, ligaments and bones.The pharmaceuticals market was the second largest of the selected industries in 2015, accounting for $XX billion. It is one of the main providers to other healthcare industries including hospital and outpatient care, dental services and diagnostics services. The healthcare services market was the largest market accounting for $XX billion.The pharmaceutical market was the second largest market, accounting for $XX.The medical equipment market was the third largest market and was worth $XX billion.Turning Away From Animal Testing  The pharmaceutical industry is moving away from animal testing towards cheaper and more efficient technologies. For example, LiverChip technology created an alternative model of testing which uses a 3D cell culture platform that mimics the architecture and physiology of a human being, which was significantly less expensive and more efficient than animal testing.Increase In Personalized Medicine  There has been an increasing push towards the development of personalized medicine. Personalized medicine is also referred to as precision medicine, the idea of which is to provide medical care according to patients individual characteristics, needs, preferences and genetic makeup. According to a survey by the Tufts Center, 94% of pharmaceutical companies have invested in personal medicine research.Description Where is the largest and fastest growing market for pharmaceuticals? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The Pharmaceuticals Global Market Analytics Report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the markets historic and forecast market growth by geography. It places the market within the context of the wider pharmaceuticals market, and compares it with other sectors. The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market and forecasting the future. Drivers and restraints looks at the external factors supporting and controlling the growth of the market. Market segmentations break down market into sub sectors. The regional and country breakdowns section gives the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth. It covers all the regions, key developed countries and major emerging markets. It draws comparisons with country populations and economies to understand the importance of the market by country and how this is changing. Competitive landscape gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified. The trends and strategies section highlights the likely future developments in the market and suggests approaches companies can take to exploit this. The pharmaceuticals market section of the report gives context. It compares the pharmaceuticals market with other segments of the pharmaceuticals market by size and growth, historic and forecast. It analyses Expenditure Per Capita, Expenditure Per Household, Government Expenditure, Pharmaceuticals Indicators Comparison, and Surgical Procedures.Reasons to Purchase Outperform competitors using accurate up to date demand-side dynamics information. Identify growth segments for investment. Facilitate decision making on the basis of historic and forecast data and the drivers and restraints on the market. Benchmark performance against key competitors. Develop strategies based on likely future developments. Utilize the relationships between key data sets for superior strategizing. Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis.ScopeMarkets covered: Pharmaceuticals.Markets compared: Services, Social Services, Professional Services, Transportation Services, Recreation, IT and Hospitality.Companies mentioned: Pfizer, Roche, Merk & Co., Sanofi, Gilead Sciences, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Abbvie, Amgen, Glaxosmithkline and Others.Countries: Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, Russia, UK, USA.Regions: Asia, Americas, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Oceania.Time series: Five years historic and forecast.Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, population, GDP, capex, Pharmaceutical Indicators Comparison, Surgical Procedures (all in $ billions).Data segmentations: country and regional splits, market share of competitors, market segments.Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.Table of Contents Introduction 6 Pharmaceuticals Market Characteristics 7 Pharmaceuticals Market Size and Comparisons 2015 8 Pharmaceuticals Market Historic Growth 9 Drivers of the Market 9 Restraints on the Market 10 Pharmaceuticals Market Forecast Growth 12 Drivers of the Market 12 Restraints on the Market 13 Pharmaceuticals Market Regional And Country Comparison 14 Pharmaceuticals Market Size, 2015, By Region 14 Pharmaceuticals Market, 2011  2019, Historic and Forecast, By Region 16 Pharmaceuticals Market Size, 2015, By Country 17 Pharmaceuticals Market Size, 2011  2019, Historic and Forecast, By Country 19 Pharmaceuticals Market Comparisons 21 Pharmaceuticals As A Percentage Of Total Healthcare Market, Global 21 Pharmaceuticals As A Percentage Of Total Healthcare Market, By Country 22 Pharmaceuticals Compared to other segments of Healthcare Market 24 Pharmaceuticals Compared to other segments of Healthcare Market, Historic and Forecast. 25 Pharmaceuticals Competitive Landscape 26 Key Mergers And Acquisitions In The Pharmaceutical Market 31 Number Of Mergers And Acquisitions In The Pharmaceuticals Market 32 Value Of Mergers And Acquisitions In The Pharmaceuticals Market, Global, 2010-2014 33 Pharmaceuticals Market Size, Percentage Of GDP, Global 34 Pharmaceuticals Market Size, Percentage Of GDP, By Country 35 Per Capita Average Pharmaceuticals Expenditure, Global 36 Per Capita Average Pharmaceuticals Expenditure, By Country 37 Per Household Average Pharmaceuticals Expenditure, By Country 38 Per Household Average Pharmaceuticals Expenditure as a % of Household Income 40 Elderly Population (65+) ,By Country 42 Pharmaceuticals Expenditure Per Capita versus Proportion of Elderly People (65+) By Country 43 Pharmaceutical Indicators Comparison 44 Hospitals by Country 44 Pharmaceutical Expenditure Per Capita Versus Number Of Hospitals Per 1 Million Population, By Country 46 Hospital Beds By Country 47 Pharmaceutical Expenditure Per Capita Versus Number Of Hospital Beds Per 1 Million Population, By Country 49 Surgical Procedures By Country 50 Pharmaceutical Expenditure Per Capita Versus Number Of Surgical Procedures Per 1 Million Population, By Country 52 Pharmaceuticals Market Trends And Strategies 53 Market Background: Global Healthcare Market 55 Healthcare Market Characteristics 55 Healthcare Market Historic Growth 58 Healthcare Market Forecast Growth 59 Government Expenditure on Healthcare by Country, $ Billion 60 Share of government and private expenditure in healthcare market, By Country 62 Figure 24: Global Healthcare Market, Share Of Government And Private In Healthcare Market, By Country, 2015 62 Number Of Mergers And Acquisitions In The Healthcare Industry 64 Appendix 65 NAICS Definitions Of Industry Covered In This Report 65 Abbreviations 65 Currencies 65 Research Inquiries 65 The Business Research Company 65List of Tables Table 1: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Historic Market Size, 2011  2015, $ Billion 9 Table 2: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Forecast Market Size, 2015  2019, $ Billion 12 Table 3: Global Pharmaceuticals Market, Split By Region, 2015, $ Billion 14 Table 4: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Size, Historic and Forecast Growth Rate, By Region, 2011  2019 16 Table 5: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Size, Split By Country, 2015, $ Billion 17 Table 6: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Size, Historic and Forecast Growth Rate, By Country, 2011  2019 19 Table 7: Global Healthcare Market, Split Pharmaceuticals , 2011  2019 21 Table 8: Global Pharmaceuticals Market, By Country, Percentage of Healthcare Market, 2015 22 Table 9: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Total Number of Deals, 2009  2014 32 Table 10: Global Pharmaceuticals Market, Value of M&A Deals, 2009  2014, $ Billion 33 Table 11: Global Pharmaceuticals Market, Per Capita Average Pharmaceuticals Expenditure , 2011  2019, $ 36 Table 12: Pharmaceuticals Market, Per Household Expenditure By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019 38 Table 13: Total Hospitals By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019, 000s 44 Table 14: Healthcare Market, Hospital Beds By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019, Thousand 47 Table 15: Surgical Procedures, By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019, Million 50 Table 16: Global Healthcare Market Historic Market Size, 2011  2015, $ Billion 58 Table 17: Global Healthcare Market Forecast Market Size, 2015  2019, $ Billion 59 Table 18: Global Healthcare Market Total Number of Deals, 2010  2015 64Table of Figures Figure 1: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Historic Market Size, 2011  2015, $ Billion 9 Figure 2: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Forecast Market Size, 2015  2019, $ Billion 12 Figure 3: Global Pharmaceuticals Market, Split By Region, 2015, $ Billion 14 Figure 4: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Size, Historic and Forecast Growth Rate, By Region, 2011  2019 16 Figure 5: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Size, Split By Country, 2015, $ Billion 17 Figure 6: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Size, Historic and Forecast Growth Rate, By Country, 2011  2019 19 Figure 7: Global Healthcare Market, Split Pharmaceuticals, 2011  2019 21 Figure 8: Global Pharmaceuticals Market, By Country, Percentage of Healthcare Market, 2015 22 Figure 9: Global Healthcare Market Value, Comparison With Other Markets, 2015, $ Billion 24 Figure 10: Global Healthcare Market, Historic and Forecast Growth Rate, Split By Segment, 2011-2019, %s 25 Figure 11: Global Pharmaceuticals Market, Key Competitor Shares, 2015, Percentage (%) 26 Figure 12: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Total Number of Deals, 2009  2014 32 Figure 13: Global Pharmaceuticals Market, Value of M&A Deals, 2009  2014, $ Billion 33 Figure 14: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Value, Market Size As A Percentage Of Global GDP, 2011  2019, $ Billion 34 Figure 15: Global Pharmaceuticals Market Size As A Percentage Of GDP, 2011, 2015 And 2019 35 Figure 16: Global Pharmaceuticals Market, Per Capita Consumption, 2011  2019, $ 36 Figure 17: Global Pharmaceuticals Market, Per Capita Average Pharmaceuticals Expenditure, By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019 ,USD($) 37 Figure 18: Global Pharmaceuticals Market, Per Household Average Pharmaceuticals Expenditure By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019 , USD($) 38 Figure 19: Total Hospitals By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019 44 Figure 20: Medical Equipment Expenditure Per Capita Versus Number Of Hospitals Per 1 million Population, By Country, 2015, USD ($) 46 Figure 21: Healthcare Market, Hospital Beds By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019, Thousand 47 Figure 22: Pharmaceutical Expenditure Per Capita Versus Number Of Hospital Beds Per 1 Million Population, By Country, 2015 49 Figure 23: Surgical Procedures, By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019, Million 50 Figure 24: Pharmaceutical Expenditure Per Capita Versus Number Of Surgical Procedures Per 1 Million Population, By Country, 2015 52 Figure 25: Global Healthcare Market Value, Comparison With Other Markets, 2015, $ Billion 56 Figure 26: Global Healthcare Market Historic Market Size, 2011  2015, $ Billion 58 Figure 27: Global Healthcare Market Forecast Market Size, 2015  2019, $ Billion 59 Figure 28: Global Healthcare Market Expenditure By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019, $ billion 60 Figure 29: Global Healthcare Market Total Number of Deals, 2010  2015 64Figure 21: Chemicals Industry, Energy Consumption By Country, 2015, 000 TOE (Tonnes Of Oil Equivalent) 42 Figure 22: Chemicals Industry Capital Expenditure By Country, 2015, $ Billion 44 Figure 23: Chemicals Market R&D Spend By Country, 2015, $ billion 46 Figure 24: Chemicals Market Production By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019, $ billion 47 Figure 25: Chemical Market Imports By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019, $ billion 49 Figure 26: Chemical Industry, Imports As Percentage Of Market Value By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019 51 Figure 27: Chemicals Industry Exports By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019, $ Billion 52 Figure 28: Chemicals Industry, Exports As Percentage Of Production By Country, 2011, 2015 And 2019, %s 54Buy Now Pharmaceuticals Global Market Analytics is a detailed report giving a unique insight into this market. The report is priced at $2000 for an individual user. To use across your office the price is $3000 and $4000 if you wish to use across a multinational company. Clients are able to input on the design of the report and highlight points of special interest.Visit TheBusinessResearchCompany.com, mail info@tbrc.info or call +447443439350 or +918897263534 or +919160996838 for more information on this and many other titles.The Business Research Company is a market research and intelligence company which excels in company, market and consumer research.It has research professionals at its offices in the UK, India and the US as well a network of trained researchers globally. It has specialist consultants in a wide range of industries including manufacturing, healthcare, chemicals and technology.The Business Research Company's management have more than 20 years of varied business research experience. They have delivered hundreds of research projects to the senior management of some of the world's largest organizations.The Business Research Company,Horizon Avenue,8-2-603/b/s/1/2Road Number 10Banjara HillsHyderabad (India)
The largest manufacturer and supplier of honed and unhoned tubing in Africa

AC Honed Tube

http://www.achonedtube.co.za

AC HONED TUBE was founded in 1978 by Andre Calitz and was first known as Hydrofit Engineering. At that time we specialised in the design and manufacture of specialised hydraulic equipment. We found there was a shortage of honed cylinder tubing and chrome shafting, so we investigated the possibility of manufacturing these products locally.We built a honing machine and later purchased a large honed tube manufacturing plant from British Steel. We also set up an agreement for the distribution of their material. We are now sourcing material from all over the world to get the best quality and prices possible. A hard chrome plant company was purchased for the manufacturing of chrome shafting and hard chroming. Due to the change in product, our name was changed to AC HONED TUBE and AC HARD CHROME.We are now one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of honed and unhoned tubing and chrome shafting in Africa. We also do deep hole drilling and skive & burnishing. We also have a finished products plant to manufacture and supply peeled and polished bar, induction hardened bar, ground bar and chromed bar. We now have endless manufacturing and jobbing possibilities. We are still expanding to ensure that we can always meet your requirements in our field.Services include honing, deep hole drilling, skive and burnishing, chroming, peeling, boring, pressure testing, straightening, turning or CNC machining, grinding and polishing, milling and drilling and internal grinding. Products range include honed and unhoned tubing, chrome shafting, ground bar, turned bar of any grade, cylinder kits, large tubing made up and cast iron.info@achonedtube.co.za+2711 900 1413AC HONED TUBE was founded in 1978 by Andre Calitz and was first known as Hydrofit Engineering. At that time we specialised in the design and manufacture of specialised hydraulic equipment. We found there was a shortage of honed cylinder tubing and chrome shafting, so we investigated the possibility of manufacturing these products locally.We are now one of the largest manufacturers and suppliers of honed and unhoned tubing and chrome shafting in Africa. We also do deep hole drilling and skive & burnishing. We also have a finished products plant to manufacture and supply peeled and polished bar, induction hardened bar, ground bar and chromed bar. We now have endless manufacturing and jobbing possibilities.9 Drakensberg Boulevard, Alrode South Ext 17, Alberton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 1451, South Africa
Practice Management Systems Market: Evolving into a Major Market Opportunity

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Practice Management Systems Market: OverviewMedical practice is defined as the science and the art of healing in accordance with scientific diagnosis of the disease. Medical practice therefore, requires significant volume of patient data which is difficult to maintain in the long run especially if its recorded in the physical form of documents and files. The entry of computer software and software systems like SaaS (Software as a Service) has greatly assisted in the overall process of patient data and medical practice data management. Medical Practice Management System (PMS) is a software that helps medical organization (or clinic) to record patient data, fix appointments with practitioners, maintain record of insurance payment companies (and contacting them when required), perform billing related tasks and generate final reports. PMS nowadays are integrated with Electronic Medical Records (EMR) that deals strictly with patient medical data (medical and treatment history) as an all inclusive data management system.To access full report, please visit :PMS is designed according to the volume of data that needs to be maintained, the size of the organization and their financial capacity. Generally PMS are classified as; desktop variants for limited computers, client-server (physical servers) for large institutions with strong finance and requirement for easy access to patients confidential data, and internet server (virtual/cloud servers) for institutions that require cost saving alternatives. Software companies offer services in different price ranges varying from few hundreds to thousands of dollars depending upon aforesaid parameters. Integrated systems (EMR and PMS) are more expensive in comparison to standalone services. Some companies that provide these services are Acrendo Softwares, Allegiance MD, WRS Health, Practo Ray and Athena Health to name a few.Practice Management Systems Market: Opportunities and TrendsPMS have a great future ahead, as medical institutions worldwide see it as a better alternative to physical document records which have a very high error rate bringing into light the nature of human incompetency, that are minimized to a great extent in PMS. Also, medical errors result in severe adverse events and death, this is efficiently tackled by the presence of automated programmed software. Cost saving is another financial reason for a shift into PMS, it reduces data management costs and as a result the overall medical treatment costs. Medical insurance claims and payouts also see a positive change with fast processing times. Countries like the U.S. also offer subsidies to hospitals opting for such systems.Practice Management Systems Market: RestraintsPMS however, is useful only as long as the personals are trained in the dynamics of the software, this requires training and practice. Many countries also have strict patient confidentiality laws, any breach or leak patient records may pose a great threat to the integrity of the whole process and shall render an institution liable for prosecution by the law. In such a situation, PMS becomes more of a liability than assistance. However, with entry of Asian software companies like Practo Ray who have developed portable android based software systems can be easily accessed and require minimum training. Cost effective alternatives are on the rise along with better algorithms to integrate the complete process of medical practice.Practice Management Systems Market: Regional InsightPMS market is expected to increase owing to the presence of virtual/cloud based service systems, these enable companies far offshore to provide services at competitive prices. Service providers are at present largely based in the North America and European region, where the demand is the highest owing to large population patients with health insurance. The PMS market in Asia-Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR owing to more number of companies establishing business in this region coupled shift in service providers from the North American region to emerging economies. Also, with greater returns on investment a large number of Asian medical institutions are now opting for PMS.Request A Sample Of This Report:The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact us:Mr. Sudip STransparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email:A sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Pasta & Couscous Market: Market Segmentation, Growth Drivers, Regional Outlook and Forecast 2016 - 2026

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Pasta is a staple ingredient in North America and is versatile for making gourmet dishes. There are generally two types of pasta available all over the world and in U.S. such as macaroni and spaghetti. Couscous is generally considered a pasta which is produced of small granules of semolina flour, and is traditional in North African cuisine. It has been noticed that the consumption of couscous and other types of pasta have been rising with extensive range of new products launched in the market over the past few years from 2010 to 2015. Rising consumer demand has bolstered the development and production of new variety of pasta such as flavored and filled and new couscous products. The global pasta and couscous market has grown at a higher pace in the last few years and is likely to showcase significant growth over the forecast period. Besides this, pasta segment is facing challenges in the form of inclined focus of media on health related problems such as heart disease and obesity which may hamper the growth of global pasta & couscous market in the next few years.Request Sample of this Report:Global Pasta & Couscous: Market SegmentationThe Global Pasta & Couscous market is segmented on the basis of type such as dried pasta, chilled/fresh pasta and canned/preserved pasta. The dried pasta segment has been estimated to be stood at first position followed by chilled past in global past & couscous market in 2015. The global pasta & couscous market is also segmented by storage type such as chilled, frozen and shelf stable. Out of which shelf stable contributed highest share in global pasta & couscous market in 2015. The global pasta & couscous market is further sub-divided by flavors type such as plain, roasted garlic and olive oil, parmesan cheese, Mediterranean and others.Global Pasta & Couscous Market: Growth DriversRobust growth of disposable personal income along with rising population is anticipated to bolster the growth of global Pasta & Couscous market. Apart from this, changing lifestyle along with urbanization is expected to drive the global Pasta & Couscous market during the forecast period. The advent of new class of customers as well as the entry of various new global players is expected to intensify the growth of Pasta & Couscous market all across the globe during the forecast period. Besides this, it has been noticed that pasta consumption is high in households with children, where the utilization is particularly high for dried or chilled pasta. This is anticipated to further drive the growth of global pasta & couscous market over the forecast period.Global Pasta & Couscous Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the Global Pasta & Couscous industry can be divided by major regions which include North America, Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific region, Japan, Middle East and Africa. North America contributed the highest share in the global Pasta & Couscous market in 2015. Popularity of pasta and couscous in European region such as in U.K., Italy and Germany has strengthened the growth of Europe market in the same year. Rising economic growth along with better income of households especially in India and China is expected to expand the growth of Asian pasta and couscous market over the forecast period.To Buy Report:Global Pasta & Couscous Market: PlayersSome of the key players identified across the value chain of the global Pasta & Couscous market include Barilla Holdings SpA, Nestle SA, ConAgra Foods Inc., Granoro, Campbell Soup Co., Grupo Ebro Puleva SA, Ralcorp Holdings Inc. and other. Amongst these players, Barilla Holdings captured the highest market share in the global pasta & couscous market in 2015. The advent of new products introduced with options of convenient and easy to cook. This encouraged manufacturers to launch various chilled/fresh pastas characterizing diverse flavors. The past and couscous manufacturers are producing such options as organic, gluten-free, fortified, and enriched, while exploring other grains to diversify their offerings. This demand for innovative products, such as alternative grain pasta, has contributed to value sales performance.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007USUSA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
This Life-Changing, technologically advanced Artificial Knee Is On The Market After Years Of Design

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Global Knee Prosthetics Market: OverviewProsthetics are artificially designed devices and equipment used for replacing a missing body organ or part caused due to factors such as congenital conditions, accidents, or any other disease. Knee prosthetics are devices used to replace the knee and associated parts, and are one of the most important contributors of the prosthetic products industry. Knee prosthetics are specialized products and equipment (knee implants, knee orthosis and others) used for the replacement of knee structures and in maintenance of injured knees, and act as a supportive tool for the knee.To access full report, please visit :Global Knee Prosthetics Market: SegmentationThe market for knee prosthetics is segmented on the basis of products, such as knee implants and knee orthosis braces. Knee implant segment includes a wide range of sub-segments, such as partial knee implants (fixed bearing and mobile bearing), total knee replacement implants (non-constrained retraining implants), semi-constrained substituting implants, hinged/retained implants, mobile bearing total knee replacement implants (non-constrained retraining implants, semi-constrained substituting implants, and hinged/retained implants) and others (artificial cruciate ligaments and cartilage repair).The knee implant segment can be further segmented on the basis of implant fixation technology into cemented, hybrid and cementless. Knee orthosis braces segment can be divided according to availability of various braces that are used for supportive activities, such as knee orthosis, knee-ankle-foot orthosis, ankle-foot orthosis, foot orthosis and others. In addition, the knee prosthetics market can be segmented on the basis of geography into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). The North America market is the dominating market across the gobe, owing to the high incidence of knee disorders. On the other hand, Asia-Pacific and RoW regions are the most promising markets in the upcoming period, owing to the rise in awareness and growth of medical infrastructure.Global Knee Prosthetics Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe major drivers of the knee prosthetics market include extensive R&D, increasing incidence of orthopedic diseases, rapid growth of medical infrastructure, rising awareness of the global population towards knee disorders and therapies available, and technological advancements. Increased prevalence of joint diseases, particularly knee diseases, is one of the major drivers of the market. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 27 million people in the U.S. were suffering from osteoarthritis (OA) in 2005, an approximate increase of around 6 million people since 1990. In addition, rapid developments in the medical infrastructure globally is another major contributor to the markets growth. Due to the rise in medical infrastructure, the number of knee prosthetic surgeries conducted across the globe is increasing. However, high cost of R&D and therapy, long term care period post treatment, risks associated with the replacement, lack of awareness in certain region of the world, and limited availability of technically equipped surgeons are some of the major factors expected to hinder the growth of this market. High cost of therapy is considered as the biggest hurdle in the market growth. According to the CDC, in 1997, the total cost of knee and hip replacement therapy was around USD 8 billion and since then there has not been significant change in the pricing. The major opportunities in the knee prosthetics market include the development of economic and technologically advanced knee prosthetics and manufacturing of easy-to-maintain knee prosthetic devices.Request A Sample Of This Report:The major players in the knee prosthetics market include Smith & Nephew, Zimmer Holdings, Inc., DePuy Synthes, Stryker Corporation, Medtronic, Inc., Otto bock Healthcare, and others.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact us:Mr. Sudip STransparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email:A sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Automotive Seat Recliners Market: Overview, Drivers and Restraints, Segmentation and Forecast 2016 - 2026

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Automotive Seat Recliners Market: OverviewAutomotive industries are prominent field in todays experimental world with constant innovative technologies playing in to deliver better comfort and secured ride for occupants. Automotive recliner is a type of seating which reclines backwards upon leaning and raises its footrest by means of a lever. Automotive seat recliner is a key component in automotive seating systems to provide comfort for neck, spine and foot while driving so that one feel relaxed. Automotive seat recliner mechanism consists of seat cushion and seat back with upper and lower arm mounted, spiral springs to exercise radial forces on a rotatable cam for locking and unlocking operation. High quality chromium steel or magnesium are mostly used as materials to withstand high impact forces during accidents which can otherwise harm the occupant. For the increased seat size twin recliners are used to endure static and fatigue loads. Growing automotive industries globally and major players launching innovative models generates bright prospectus for automotive seat recliners market.Request Sample of this Report:Automotive Seat Recliners Market: Drivers and RestraintsAutomotive seat recliners market is driven by the demand for comfortable and relaxed seating and also with new trends in seat designs and increasing demand for premium vehicles has opened opportunities for automotive seat recliners market. The emerging technological advancements in automotive seat recliners is also fostering the growth for automotive seat recliners market. For instance, one of the major player Faurecia has launched a technologically innovative seat recliner in the market which detects persons health conditions such as respiration, heart rate and replies with solution such as energizing massage, warming or cooling according to the need, this emerging trend is expected to foster growth in the automotive seat recliners market globally. However, the increased seat recliners cost with variety of features in-build is limited to premium vehicles which might restraint the global automotive seat recliner market causing lesser impact in low economic regions.Automotive Seat Recliners Market: SegmentationOn the basis of vehicle type automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows:-Passenger CarsLight commercial vehiclesHeavy commercial vehiclesOn the basis of type of recliners automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows:-Lever type reclinerRotary type reclinerSlider type reclinerSlider cum latch reclinerWalk in reclinerRear seat reclinerTo Buy Report:On the basis of recliner mechanism automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as follows:-Ratchet / Tooth engagement ReclinerTaumel ReclinerPower Taumel ReclinerOn the basis of distribution channel automotive seat recliners market can be segmented as followsOriginal Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)AftermarketAutomotive Seat Recliners Market: Region Wise OutlookThe global automotive seat recliner market is divided into seven regions, namely North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Among the aforementioned regions the APEJ market for automotive seat recliner market is expected to hold the largest market share by the end of forecast period. The exponentially growing automotive sector with advanced technologies in China is contributing to the growth of automotive seat recliner market in the region. The Latin America market and Western Europe market is followed by the APEJ market for automotive seat recliners. Japan being the automotive manufacturer hub, automotive seat recliner market in the region is expected to show significant growth. The market in Middle East and Africa are expected for improvement during the forecast period.Automotive Seat Recliners Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players identified in the global automotive seat recliners market includes:Lear CorporationSHIROKI CorporationIFB Automotive Private LimitedJohnson Controls, Inc.FaureciaAtwood Mobile ProductsToyota Motor CorporationFisher & CompanyThe research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geography, technology and applications.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.ContactPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007USUSA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Global Cast Resin Transformer Industry Analysis, Trend, Growth and Market Research Report 2014 | Researchmoz

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "2014 Market Research Report on Global Cast Resin Transformer Industry " to its huge collection of research reports.2014 Market Research Report on Global Cast Resin Transformer Industry> was a professional and depth research report on Global Cast Resin Transformer industry that you would know the world's major regional market conditions of Cast Resin Transformer industry, the main region including North American, Europe and Asia etc, and the main country including United States ,Germany ,Japan and China etc.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The report firstly introduced Cast Resin Transformer basic information including Cast Resin Transformer definition classification application and industry chain overview; Cast Resin Transformer industry policy and plan, Cast Resin Transformer product specification, manufacturing process, cost structure etc. Then we deeply analyzed the world's main region market conditions that including the product price, profit, capacity, production, capacity utilization, supply, demand and industry growth rate etc.In the end, the report introduced Cast Resin Transformer new project SWOT analysis, investment feasibility analysis, and investment return analysis and Global Cast Resin Transformer industry.Browse Detail Report With TOC @In a word, it was a depth research report on Global Cast Resin Transformer industry. And thanks to the support and assistance from Cast Resin Transformer industry chain related technical experts and marketing experts during Research Team survey and interviews.The report including six parts, the first part mainly introduced the product basic information; the second parts mainly analyzed the Asia Cast Resin Transformer industry; the third part mainly analyzed the North American Cast Resin Transformer industry; the fourth part mainly analyzed the Europe Cast Resin Transformer industry; the fifth part mainly analyzed the market entry and investment feasibility; the sixth part was the report conclusion chapter.About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Worldwide Application Server Market Shares, Strategies and Forecasts Research Report 2014 to 2020

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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Application Server Market Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2014 to 2020" to its huge collection of research reports.Next Generation Mission Critical Application Servers for the Cloud, Apps, Tablets, and Mobile Devices. The 2014 study has 577 pages, 267 tables and figures. Worldwide Application Server markets are poised to achieve significant growth as Internet of things and the mobile Internet further evolve, driving the market for apps into the trillions in the next few years.WinterGreen Research predicts that the application server market will be $23 billion by 2020, new markets evolved because of the value that apps provide to smart phones, mobile devices, tablets, and the Internet of things. These apps will drive the application server market to $30 billion by create the need for tools to use in writing the apps.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @According to Susan Eustis, lead author of the study, "Application servers are being used to create apps that run on mobile devices and that tie together the Internet of things. Infrastructure for the Internet and for smart mobile devices creates demand for more sophisticated web development and web applications. Everything is going mobile. This evolution is driven by mobile smart phones and tablets that provide universal connectivity. Application servers represent a significant aspect of Internet market evolution."IBM is moving toward domination of the application server market, going from 55% share in 2011 to 60% share in 2012, buttressed in part by its dominance in supporting development of mobile apps. This achievement of 60% share of the application server market provides IBM with a defacto standard status in the market.Mission critical application servers are needed in the enterprise to support scalability, reliability, and security. More light weight open source application servers have a place in the market for web presence software, but for a solution that involves transactions intensively and has the downside of losing significant revenue if the site is down the mission critical servers are needed.IBM WebSphere application server is a proven, high-performance transaction engine that can help build, run, integrate, and manage dynamic web applications. The IBM WebSphere application server Liberty profile option and development tool options extend the mission critical aspects of the system. Intelligent management capabilities minimize end-user outages and maximize operations monitoring and control of the production environment.Browse Detail Report With TOC @IBM WebSphere application server features robust capabilities.Key features relate to configuration. IBM ability to support development of mobile apps is unparalleled in the industry. The app server is able to provide the flexibility needed to create tags and URLs that support search engines.Search engine optimization is a key strength of the IBM WebSphere application server. Companies with a web presence need to be seen across all devices that a user may have in use on any given day. WebSphere permits users to choose the application server configuration that best fits a current business strategy.IBM WebSphere application server is far and away the best product on the market for growing solutions as needs evolve. As market conditions change, applications need to be changed and adjusted rapidly. The modular construction and the solid front end and back end integration of the IBM WebSphere application server give IBM significant advantage in the market.The J2EE application server software market is defined by the ability to build mission critical web sites that support a globally integrated enterprise. Strong growth is anticipated as tablets, smart phones, and mobile devices replace PCs. Mobile devices proliferate with 6.9 billion smart phones anticipated to be installed in 2019.There are now 6.9 billion cell phone registered, paying users. Portable, mobile systems will expand the Internet at a pace not yet achieved. It is anticipated that the apps market will expand from $24 billion in 2013 to $35 trillion by 2019. This expansion of mobile computing at the device level is nothing compared to what is happening at the machine to machine (m to m) communications, with sensors being located everywhere, and monitoring of those sensors proliferating.Application servers are poised to deal with the complexity that is being instantiated at every level of the environment that humans touch. Communication, analytics, collaboration are all part of what will make application servers relevant. The Internet of Everything (IoE) is expected to enable global private-sector businesses to generate at least $613 billion in global profits in 2013. Quadrillions of interconnected sensors will drive market innovation. Apps will proliferate based on the ability to quickly, accurately put together an app in one half hour or less and launch it. This is a fundamental aspect of application servers.Application server mobile extensions are integrated in the Web apps development environments of vendors. Application server development can create Web applications using business server pages. They can use the mobile extensions of the Web application server, which makes the special requirements and characteristics of mobile devices available.Application servers leverage evolving software delivery models, new development methodologies, emerging mobile application development, and open source software. Mobile application development projects targeting smartphones and tablets are an essential aspect of any departmental application initiative. Native PC projects are anticipated to give way to smartphone and tablet apps for the enterprise. Every enterprise has to have apps that give customers, distributors, partners, and suppliers access to information.Mobile changes how consumers behave. Users leverage mobility to communicate. They use it to improve their daily lives. Mobile is growing through existing data services and new services. Users demand connectivity anywhere and anytime. Enterprises are beginning to exploit the opportunities provided by mobility. Mobile communications permit the enterprise improve efficiency by enabling remote services and sales people to work efficiently, by enabling better access to enterprise records from remote sites, by streamlining processes, and by supporting new business models.Worldwide application server market revenues are forecast to grow 17.5% year-over-year from $7.4 billion in 2013 to $23.1 billion by 2020. This is in the context of a world communications infrastructure that is changing. Technology is enabling interaction, innovation, and sharing of knowledge in new ways and application servers promise to bring significant capability to enterprises seeking mission critical solutions to making the Internet available for productive, efficient use.Companies ProfiledMarket LeadersIBMRedHatMicrosoftSAPAdobe SystemsOracleAttachmate / NovellNECSoftware AGFujitsuMarket ParticipantsApacheAureaBizAgiBizFlowBonitaSoftCA TechnologiesCiscoCompuwareEMCEMC / VMwareFioranoHewlett PackardHostBridge TechnologyOpen Source BPM Software VendorProgress SoftwareRedHatRocket SoftwareSAPSoftware AGTibcoWorkdayCheck Out These Key TopicsApplication ServerWeb ServicesE-CommerceCloud TechnologyApplication Server BloggingWeb 2.0Wiki-Style CollaborationSocial NetworkingBusiness Process ManagementVirtualized SystemsOpen Source Application ServerWinterGreen ResearchWeb AssetsJBOSSSOA Reusable Software ComponentsVIrtualizationServer Hosting CentersWeb PropertiesWeb Application GalleryWeb PICollaborationMashupsSalesforce.comWeb servicesWeb Analytics / FrameworksJavaLinuxAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Automatic Passenger Counting and Information System Market 2014  2020

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Automatic passenger counting and information system is an electronic device utilized by many public transit vehicles which correctly records boarding and alighting data. Automatic passenger counting system can be used autonomously as well as being integrated into existing system structures. The automatically transferred counting data is processed by statistical tool. This device offers reliable and permanent data on the degree of utilization of vehicles used in public transit systems.Browse Full Report @The global automatic passenger counting and information system market is mainly driven by growing demand for smart telematic solutions coupled with technological advancement is expected to positively affect on market within the forecast period. Additionally, government support and increasing urbanization are anticipated to fuel the growth in the years to come. However, high installation cost of the system may curb the market growth during the forecast period. Furthermore, dynamic ticket pricing and increasing adoption of real time passenger information systems may open up new avenues for the growth of the market in the years to come.The report provides a compressive view of the automatic passenger counting and information system market based on system, devices, applications and region. The automatic passenger counting and information system market can be classified in terms of systems into passenger information display systems, passenger information announcement systems, emergency communication systems and others. Passenger information display system is the leading segment and expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period.Based on device, the market has been segmented into multimedia displays, networking and communication devices and sensors. In terms of revenue, multimedia display was the largest segment in 2014 due to increasing installation of passenger information systems. Some of the key application in automatic passenger counting and information system includes roadways, railways, waterways and airways. Railway application segment is expected to be fastest growing market in the near future.Get Free Request Sample @Geographically, the automatic passenger counting and information system market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa, further bifurcation of region on the country level, which include U.S., Germany, UK, France, China, Japan and India. North America has witnessed significant growth of automatic passenger counting and information system in recent past years on account of technological advancement. North America is expected to exhibit moderate growth over the forecast period.The report provides comprehensive view on the automatic passenger counting and information system market. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the automatic passenger counting and information system market has also been included. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein application segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate and general attractiveness.Some of the key players operating in the automatic passenger counting and information system market Alstom, Cisco systems, Inc., Eurotech SpA, iris-GmbH, Urban Transportation Associates, Inc., DILAX Intelcom GmbH, Hella Aglaia Mobile Vision GmbH, GE Transportation, Hitachi, Ltd and Siemens AG. The detailed description of players includes parameters such as company overview, financial overview, business and recent developments of the company.Get Illustrative Sample before buying:This report segments the global automatic passenger counting and information system market as follows:Global Automatic Passenger Counting and Information System Market: System Segment Analysis Information Display Systems Passenger Information Announcement Systems Emergency Communication Systems OthersGlobal Automatic Passenger Counting and Information System Market: Devices and Component Segment Analysis Multimedia Displays Networking and Communication Devices SensorsGlobal Automatic Passenger Counting and Information System Market: Application Segment Analysis Roadways Railways Waterways AirwaysGlobal Automatic Passenger Counting and Information System Market: Regional Segment Analysis North Americao U.S. Europeo UKo Franceo Germany Asia Pacifico Chinao Japano India Latin Americao Brazil Middle East and AfricaSyndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market 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 US3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442,USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWeb:
Vietnam's Fusion Art of Music Goes To The World First Time

Each musician represents different Vietnamese musical instrument

https://www.facebook.com/ossso.fusion

Ho Chi Minh City, June 23  For the first time in Vietnams musical history, an unprecedented cultural experience through the Fusion art of music by blending traditional folk, pop and symphonic music will come in play and debut on July 12 and July 15 at St. Petersburg, Russia.After its much sought success at the Opera House, Ho Chi Minh City last January 29, 2016, Mr. Nguyen, Hung Nguyen, Chairman of OSSSO Company Limited and the man behind the successful OSSSO Fusion Musical Experience decided to stage this show for music and culture lovers abroad kicking off first in Russia through a Vietnam Cultural Exchange Festival.It is about time that the world would see and hear what and how Vietnam music has evolved and can evolve into. Vietnam, having 54 ethnic minorities preserves a century deep and timeless culture, customs, rituals and music. This traditional folk music is a priceless treasure and an endless inspiration for generations. We want to showcase an innovation and blend of traditional music transformed into a unique, bright, impressive symphonic music blending modern, pop music, Mr. Hung Nguyen said.The OSSSO Fusion team, composed of twenty five talented Vietnamese artists, as well as, renowned musicians and artists like composer Tran Manh Hung, musician Nguyen Hoang Kim Quang, musician Tran Vuong Thach, stage director Tat My Loan, sound engineer Nhat Ly and artist Cao Ho Nga and the Red Sun Band, with special participation of world-famous conductor Marius Stravinsky. The team travelled from North to South of Vietnam to collect original traditional music rhythms, documented and studied countless records of traditional music and instruments.Mr. Tran Manh Hung, composer, said, It has been very challenging blending Western music with Eastern musical colors but this is a phenomenal breakthrough for Vietnamese to move to a new era of art and culture development, in which traditional music becomes a fertile field for musicians to exploit and develop in diverse ways.This OSSSO Fusion Musical Experience is something truly worth remembering and every Vietnamese people must take pride of for the generations to come. This musical experience kicks off in Russia and then to the rest of the world.For more details visit OSSSO Fusion Facebook Page:Occasional Social Solutions Service Organization (OSSSO) is the first brand in Vietnam that provides artistry, quality and high-class experiential services and personalized gifting solutions with a heart.Company Name: OSSSOPress Contact: Ms. Pham Minh Ngoc (Jenny)Mobile: +84985477723Email: ngoc.pham@ossso.coAddress: OSSSO, 10th Floor Saigon Centre, 65 Le Loi St,Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 1111
Cmed Puts the Spotlight on Game-Changing Innovation for Clinical Trials

DURHAM, NC  June 15, 2016 Cmed, an innovative, full service technology-led CRO, together with life science consultancy Proventa International, hosted its Innovation Spotlight Session on May 12, in Princeton, New Jersey. Industry thought leaders and executives from medium to large biopharma companies from across the region enjoyed a full day of informative and stimulating roundtable discussions around the theme Technology Possibilities: Challenging todays approaches to address the future needs of clinical trials.Cmeds CEO, Dr. David Connelly, kicked off the symposia with a keynote presentation on shifting the paradigm in clinical trials. This was followed by facilitated, open discussions where attendees were able to candidly share their views, share ideas, be provocative and explore game-changing technology, strategies and approaches to revolutionize clinical trials.Highlights of the day included: The impact of RBM: perceptions and truth, chaired by Patrick Zbsyzewski, Executive Director Data Management at Onconova Data here, there and everywhere, chaired by Athula Herath, Global Head of Real-world Evidence Epidemiology at Novartis Best practices for integrating eDC, IRT and other data collection systems, chaired by Eric Mortensen, Vice President Clinical Sciences at Pfizer How to stay engaged with patients using social media and wearable technologies, chaired by Nina Spiller, Vice President, Clinical Management at Otsuka Imagine the possibilities: Revising the way clinical trials can be conducted, chaired by Graham Belgrave, Chief Operations Officer at CmedIn the final session of the day, attendees were given a live demonstration of Cmeds new generation Clinical Data Suite, called Encapsia, which streamlines the capture, management and reporting of clinical trial data beyond what is currently possible. It offers integrated, multiple ways for data capture, including eSource, multi-media capture via an iPad and web eDC, saving monitoring time and costs, while being displayed in live visual insights and providing live analytics. Observations and issues can be highlighted, actioned, discussed, tracked and audit trailed from within Encapsia.For further information or to schedule a demo of Encapsia, contact Cmeds innovations team at encapsia@cmedresearch.com.About CmedCmed is an innovative, full service technology-led CRO. Cmed brings together experienced people and technology, providing customers with a friendly, proactive service, and delivers this service using advanced clinical data capture, management and reporting software and processes. Cmeds new generation clinical data suite streamlines the capture, management and reporting of clinical data, saving customers time and money. Clinical data can be captured flexibly by eSource, multi-media and web eDC, while being displayed in live visual insights, providing live analytics, and allowing within suite audit trailed actions. It is fully compliant with regulatory guidelines, and allows integration with existing systems. ends Proventa International is a management consultancy specialising in the life sciences and healthcare sectors. We work with leading emerging-to-large Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Academic Institutions worldwide.By creating an executive network of strategic partnerships, we are able to engage and bring true innovation through our global stakeholders  reducing timelines and helping to achieve their short, medium and long-term vision.5th Flr. King Court II Bldg., 2129 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City 1200, Philippines
ComplianceOnline to Host Pharma Summit 2016 on October 6-7, 2016 in Philadelphia, PA

http://www.complianceonline.com/pharma-summit-2016-risk-control-compliance-seminar-training-80332SEM-prdsm?channel=openpr

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ComplianceOnline, the leading governance, risk and compliance advisory network with over 1,000 experts in various regulatory subjects will host pharma summit on October 6 and 7, 2016 in Philadelphia, PA. The two day summit will provide a venue for industry experts, policymakers, manufacturers, inventors and clinician to discuss and debate these challenges as well as explore new strategies and opportunities for growth. This event therefore gives professionals  whether they are new entrants in the field or middle management or veterans  to interact with the leading minds in the industry about the current state of laws and technology and government oversight and more.The panel discussions, debates, workshops and exhibitions will also throw light on the direction the industry will take in the future  making it all the more important for todays pharma professionals to actively take part in this Summit.Attending this Pharma Summit will help participants understand:Future of Healthcare, NOT Embodied by Government ReformFDA's View on Domestic Manufacture of APIs in the CountryQuality System Management and Changing RegulationsReturning the FDA to Its Proper Role in the Medical EcosystemHow Does the FDA Monitor Off Label Drug AdministrationClinical TrialsAssessing Safety and Efficacy for Diverse PopulationsFDA Approval Licensing Process for Products Containing Novel AdjuvantFCPA and Internal Control Issues Across Pharmaceutical IndustryDrugs Patent & TrademarkFDA Quality Metrics UpdateAssay Modernization for Legacy Biologics  Good for Industry, Regulators and Public HealthDrug Safety Regulatory Update and OutlookEvolving Payment Models and Regulatory ConsiderationFeatured speakers invited so far:FDA ProfessionalsRobert Popovian, Sr. Director, US Government Relations, Pfizer PharmaceuticalsRick Williams, (Partner, Newport Board Group New England Practice, Chairman of Point Care Technology, Board Member of Amorphex Therapeutics)John Kelly E, Healthcare, Compliance and Government Investigations Attorney, Bass, Berry & SimsJosh Stein, CEO & CO Founder, AdhereTechDarin Oppenheimer, (Regulatory Affairs Expert, Global Medical Product Regulations & Licensure Authority, Strategic & Engaging Leader, Baxter Healthcare Corporation)Tom Loker, (Businessman | Author | Speaker, Startup Consultant and Advisor SYDK.ORG, Contributor to California Political Review)Terri Jollymour, Senior Director, Corporate Q&C Strategy, Operations Readiness & Convergence, Johnson & JohnsonDr. Ron Weissman, (Chairman, Software SIG, Band of Angels)Nikolaos Tezapsidis, PhD, President & CEO, Neurotez, IncMark Faupel, CEO, Guided Therapeutics inc.Rajesh K. Gupta, Visionary Scientific & Compliance Consultant, Biologics Quality & Regulatory Consultants, LLC (Ex-FDA Official) Angela Bazigos, (CCO Morf Media Inc) Nanda Subbarao, Senior Consultant, Biologics Consulting Group Amir Handzel, Science Director, AstraZeneca Joseph Gulfo, Executive Director, Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Kari K Loser, Senior Director & Senior Compliance Counsel, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Norma (Kirschner) Skolnik, Regulatory Consultant, EAS Consulting GroupThe event serve as an integrated platform for exclusive business opportunities for pharma and biotech companies  stalls will be available for organizations to exhibit their latest products and technological innovations. From a marketing and branding perspective too, the event will provide a conducive environment for both established as well as up-and-coming pharma/biotech companies and their suppliers.When & Where:Date: Thursday, October 6 and Friday, October 7, 2016, 8.30 AM- 5.00 PMVenue & Location: Philadelphia, PA, USARegistration Cost: $799.00 per registrationFor More Details:Register by Phone: Please call our customer service specialists at +1-650-620-3915 or email to referral@complianceonline.comNote: Get 10% Discount, Use Promo Code - NB5SQH8NAbout ComplianceOnline:ComplianceOnline is a leading provider of regulatory compliance trainings for companies and professionals in regulated industries. ComplianceOnline has successfully trained over 45,000 professionals from 9,000 companies to comply with the requirements of regulatory agencies. ComplianceOnline is headquartered in Palo Alto, California and can be reached at. ComplianceOnline is a MetricStream portal. MetricStream () is a market leader in enterprise-wide Governance, Risk, Compliance (GRC) and Quality Management Solutions for global corporations.For more information please contact:Ashutos SwainMarketing ManagerComplianceOnline2600 E Bayshore RdPalo Alto CA USA 94303Phone - +1-650-620-3915Fax - 650-963-2530ashutos@complianceonline.comAt ComplianceOnline, we are focused on:Enhancing global compliance, creating a world where quality and compliance professionals, regulators, and government agencies come together to help the world comply with the intent and the spirit of laws, policies and mandates, ensuring continuous improvement in global operations, quality & safety.Making sure that we are responsible corporate citizens helping our constituents build a more responsible enterprise, one which operates with high quality , under a code of ethics, and with process discipline to ensure greater shareholder returns.Keeping things simple and straight forward , so that we all can indeed improve the quality of our processes, our work, our businesses and enhance compliance globally.Being inclusive, giving the process experts ( & novices! ), compliance professionals, quality champions, and regulatory agencies a voice so that all of us can contribute and make a difference.2600 E. Bayshore RoadPalo Alto, CA 94303
Making Healthcare Transparent | Hospitilio

Being fragmented and with hardly any transparency in pricing and services, healthcare industry is the one which needs immediate attention. The idea of hospitilio was thus conceived, primarily with the intent of empowering patients to make informed decision about their healthcare needs.This is not another startup story of having a bad experience leading to the idea, and hospitilio arent a team having medical background, but yes hospitilio felt the need to improve healthcare industry in terms of accessibility, pricing & service and put a step forward towards the same. Healthcare is a very sensitive service and has emotions attached to it, people by compulsion and without compromise have to part with huge amount of money paying the medical bills for treatments for self or the near and dear ones. But are the bills correct? Is the price paid for the medical treatment being justified? What if patients could have actually got the same treatment with same service at a lower price?Hospitilio was thus born to enable patients to search, compare and choose the right medical treatment.MissionHospitilio's mission is to help patients find the right healthcare services providers for the treatment they want, by giving them access to all the information they need to make an informed decision. Hospitilio would empower patients to choose and decide what they want. Patients will be able to make individual decisions based on their requirements.VisionHospitilio believe in a world where patients are the empowered consumers and where it is easy for healthcare service providers to provide accurate and pertinent information as well as excellent healthcare services. Hospitilio will be a leader in providing excellent customer experience, connecting patients with the right healthcare service provider. Hospitilio would provide the needful informations enabling patients to make the right decision.Hospitilio is a web based healthcare aggregator. We list the hospitals along with their cost/packages for treatment, this enables the patients to choose and compare the cost of treatment / hospitals / doctors and make an informed decision on their healthcare needs.No. 20, Unit 308, Brigade Rubix,HMT Main Road, Jalahalli,Bangalore 560 013
 /lambda/ olive oil exclusively available this summer at Remezzo Mykonos. The first luxury olive oil in the world in the oldest place-to-be of Mykonos.



Speiron is very pleased to announce that Remezzo, the oldest and hottest bar/restaurant in Mykonos, will exclusively offer for this summer  /lambda/, the undisputed creme de la creme of olive oil, to its upscale clientele.

 /lambda/ is a limited-production, award-winning ultra-premium olive oil which has constantly ntense edian of Fruitiness (mF: over 6.0). Originated from some of the oldest centenarian olive trees of Greece and created from a finest blend of Koroneiki and Kolovi olives,  /lambda/ is of ultra-low acidity (0.19) and is being bottled and labeled entirely by hand.

Speiron was founded in 2006 by entrepreneur Giorgos Kolliopoulos and is the first Luxury Food & Beverage Company in Greece. It produces  /lambda/, the first luxury olive oil and currently exports in 5 countries. Also available worldwide from www.speironcompany.com .

Remezzo Mykonos is an exceptional restaurant with sophisticated Mediterranean cuisine founded by Makis Zouganelis, in 1967. Placed at the beginning of the harbor front in Mykonos, Remezzo has always been one of the hottest places to be for experiencing the most sublime dining experience and unforgettable nights.

For any media enquiries, please contact press@speironcompany.com



Speiron was founded in 2006 by entrepreneur Giorgos Kolliopoulos and is the first Luxury Food & Beverage Company in Greece. It produces  /lambda/, the first luxury olive oil and currently exports in 5 countries. Also available worldwide from www.speironcompany.com .



Speiron office

Eleonon 4, 15351 Pallini, Athens, Greece

email: press@speironcompany.com



This release was published on openPR.



Permanent link to this press release: Copy Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release.
Ferroelectric RAM Market: FRAM is expected to witness healthy demand in near Future

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Global Ferroelectric RAM Market: OverviewFerroelectric random access memory (RAM), also called as FRAM, is a random access memory that combines the features of dynamic RAM (DRAM) with read-only memory (ROM) and flash memory. FRAM offers fast read and write access along with the ability to retain data even after the power supply is turned off. As against DRAM, FRAM uses a ferroelectric layer for its fabrication instead of a dielectric layer. Although the construction of FRAM is similar to that of DRAM, unlike DRAM, FRAM is non-volatile in nature. Thus, FRAM provides functionality similar to conventional flash memories. FRAM offers various advantages over DRAM, static RAM (SRAM) and other non-volatile memories. Some of the advantages include lower power requirement, faster read and write operations and high number of write and erase cycles. The FRAM requires power only when writing or reading a cell and requires no power during its idle state. Moreover, unlike the flash memories, FRAM does not require refresh process and are capable of completing a write process in much less time cycle. Since FRAM are faster than flash memories, these are expected to replace other technologies such as electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM) and SRAM in wireless applications.Global Ferroelectric RAM Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe major driving factor for the ferroelectric RAM market is its advantages over other conventional memory technologies. Moreover, due to increasing developments in the electronic handheld devices, FRAM is expected to witness healthy demand in near future. Rising demand for fast memory operations in security systems and smart card applications is another factor contributing to the demand for ferroelectric RAM. Furthermore, ferroelectric RAM is an emerging technology and is expected to have huge potential owing to its advantages over conventional memories. Thus, vendors in the ferroelectric RAM market are increasingly investing in research and development (R&D) of ferroelectric RAM. This is expected to boost the FRAM market growth significantly in near future. Also, due to its fast operations, FRAM is likely to be used widely in data storage applications and other applications such as wireless sensors deployment. However, low density of FRAM as compared to the conventional volatile as well as non-volatile memories is a significant aspect that may hamper the growth of the ferroelectric RAM market. The storage capacity of ferroelectric RAM is much lower as against that of conventional memory. Thus, these memories are majorly used where speed of operation is more important than the data storage requirement.Global Ferroelectric RAM Market: Segmentation and Regional DynamicsFerroelectric RAM market can be segmented based on the applications, device types and geographic regions. FRAMs are used in security systems, energy meters, smart card applications, access control applications, sensor networks and others. FRAM is widely used in wireless applications and wireless sensors applications due to their high power efficiency. FRAM are used in various devices such as computer desktops, laptops, mobile devices, meters, personal digital assistant (PDA) and other handheld devices. On the basis of geography, the ferroelectric RAM market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW).Get More Information :Some of the key players in the ferroelectric RAM market are Cypress Semiconductor Corporations, Texas Instruments Inc., International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Infineon Technologies Inc., LAPIS Semiconductor Co. Ltd. and Fujitsu Ltd. Fujitsu Ltd. was the first semiconductor manufacturer to build embedded ferroelectric RAM.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.GAbout UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: mailto:sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Wood Coating Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016  2024

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Global Wood Coating Market: OverviewWood coatings are a range of chemicals applied on to wooden surfaces to increase their durability and enhance their appearance. Polishes and water repellants are among the most commonly used wood coatings due to their high effectiveness. The application of wood coatings comprises a crucial part of the wood processing and furniture industries, since it helps increase consumer satisfaction and thus ensure sustained demand.Stains and varnishes, water repellants, and wood preservatives are among the most widely used types of wood coatings, while roll coating, brush coating, spray coating, and vacuum coating are the major mechanisms of application of wood coatings. Furniture is the largest application segment of the global wood coatings market due to the widespread popularity of wood in manufacturing furniture. This trend is expected to continue in the next few years.Request FREE Sample Pages Of Premium Research Report :Global Wood Coating Market: DriversThe ongoing construction industry boom has been a major driver of the global wood coatings market. Demand for various types of wood fittings is rising owing to the growing demand for new construction. This is directly driving the wood coatings market. Wood furniture is an integral part of any residential as well as commercial construction, while wooden flooring is also becoming increasingly popular.Rise in global population is also a major factor propelling the global wood coatings market. The increase in population, allied to the rampant urbanization observed across the world, has augmented the demand for new residential construction, further fueling the usage of wooden fittings.Demand for high-end wooden fittings and flooring is also being propelled by the increasing spending power of consumers in developing economies, where the construction industry boom is centered. Rise in GDP of countries such as India, China, and Brazil has led to a marked increase in the disposable income of consumers in these regions, resulting in higher demand for premium goods. This is anticipated to remain an influential factor in the growth of the global wood coatings market in the near future.Increase in demand for protective coatings has been another marked feature of the global wood coatings market since the last few years. Due to the well-funded research avenues in the wood coatings industry, highly effective wood protective coatings have been developed and are being marketed across the world. Rising demand for longer lasting fittings has driven the demand for protective coatings, thereby indirectly driving the global wood coatings market.Global Wood Coating Market: Restraints and OpportunitiesDespite the influential prevalence of several favorable factors, the wood coatings market is restrained in Europe by the continued recession in the region. The global wood coatings market is estimated to be led by growth in emerging economies in the new few years.The presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in wood coatings has also come under the scanner, due to the growing acknowledgement of the adverse effects of VOCs on the environment. On the other hand, this presents a promising opportunity for manufacturers to innovate low-VOC formulations of wood coatings.Global Wood Coating Market: Competitive LandscapeContinued investment in research to enhance the performance of wood coatings is another major factor likely to play an important role in determining the markets competitive hierarchy in the near future. Major players operating in the global wood coatings market, according to 2015 figures, include BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, Nippon Paint Co. Ltd., The Valspar Corporation, Akzonobel N.V., Arkema SA, and The Sherwin-Williams Company.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactMr. Sudip. STransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
Power over Ethernet (PoE) Chipsets Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024

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Global Power over Ethernet (PoE) Chipsets Market: OverviewThe Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology enables the transfer of electrical signals and data over cables, thereby avoiding the usage of separate power cords. Demand for fast and cost-effective communication is rising due to the increase in the number of internet users. Under the PoE technology, power is supplied through two or more differential pair of wires seen in Ethernet cables. Implementation of the PoE chipsets for the transfer of data signals saves the cost for setting up separate network of cables.On the basis of product type, PoE chipsets have been classified into proximity sensors, VoIP phones, Ethernet switches, wireless radio access points, and pan-tilt-zoom cameras. The VoIP applications contribute significantly toward the growth of the global PoE chipsets market. PoE chipsets are deployed in majority of business-class IP phones. The PoE technology provides value proposition for wireless LAN access points, as it can be deployed without tethering to an AC outlet. Network security cameras are anticipated to hold the maximum growth potential for the market in the next few years.Get More Information :Global Power over Ethernet (PoE) Chipsets Market: OverviewIncrease in adoption of IP telephony has driven the demand for Power over Ethernet (PoE) chipsets. Rise in the deployment of network security cameras and Ethernet-based RFID readers will further boost the global PoE chipsets market. Introduction of industrial Ethernet PoE solutions is expected to contribute significantly toward the expansion of the market. The overall market has an opportunity to grow in the near future, with the rising popularity of PoE for digital signage.Increasing costs of energy have pushed energy-efficient PoE solutions into the spotlight. Introduction of upgraded PoE plus is anticipated to propel the applications of PoE in high-power devices. However, non-standard PoE chipsets cast a long shadow of worry over the growth of the market. Deployment of PoE technology requires high capital investment on electrical and data infrastructure. Lack of awareness about the benefits of the technology and insufficient power requirements will also impede the global PoE chipsets market.Introduction of standards such as IEEE 802.3 for the PoE technology has expanded the applications of PoE chipsets, including wireless access points and security surveillance cameras. When integrated into application and switching infrastructure, the PoE technology offers reduced deployment costs and increased control and monitoring capabilities across large enterprises and businesses.Global Power over Ethernet (PoE) Chipsets Market: Region-wise OutlookThe global PoE chipsets market has been segmented into four key regions: Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. Due to the availability of technologically advanced infrastructure, North America has been contributing significantly toward the growth of the market. In the near future, Asia Pacific is expected to emerge as a potential market for PoE chipsets, as a large number of players are operating in the region.Key players in the global PoE chipsets market include Shenzhen Quanma Industry Co. Ltd., Silicon Laboratories, STMicroelectronics, Flexcomm Technology, VISIX, Maxim Integrated, Akros Silicon Inc., Microsemi Corporation, and ON Semiconductor. The market has witnessed an influx of a number of vendors from various other sectors such as semiconductors, power infrastructure, network infrastructure, and cabling and network devices.Market players are primarily focusing on product development and innovations. Furthermore, the key vendors are seeking mergers and acquisitions to expand their business. For example, U.S.-based chipmaker Microsemi Corporation acquired Zarlink Semiconductor, a specialty chip manufacturer, and AML Communications, a manufacturer of microwave and microelectronic assemblies, to enhance its expertise in the manufacture of PoE chipsets.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: mailto:sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Hygiene Adhesives Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016  2024

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=12227

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/

http://globalresearchanalysis.blogspot.in/

Hygiene Adhesives Market: OverviewHygiene adhesives are used in the global non-woven and textiles market that includes sanitary napkins, diapers, briefs, and absorbent underwear. These adhesives may also be used in other applications such as ECG electrodes, dental devices and transdermal patches. They are non-toxic materials that have been approved by the FDA for their safety and play a major role in the quality of finished non-woven textiles segment consequently affecting the production quality, performance and manufacturing efficiency.These hygiene adhesives are attached to tapes, bands and straps on the non-woven products. Hot-melt adhesives are used almost exclusively for hygiene products and popular products include compounds such as hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins, polyolefins and hydrocarbon pure monomer aromatic resins. Ethylene and propylene based elastomers are used on a large scale in the hygiene adhesives market particularly due to excellent stability and improved color. In the hygiene industry, transparency of the adhesive is of vital to the quality and success of finished product.Download And Get FREE Sample PDF File Of Hygiene adhesives Market :The market can be segmented on the basis of application markets such as end users (adult diapers, female hygiene products), liquid absorption capacity or adhesion performance, the formulations used in the adhesives.Hygiene Adhesives Market: Trends and DriversThe design changes in sanitary pads for thinner more absorbent and more discreet shapes has compelled innovators to develop new combinations which are safe for health yet can secure the non-woven products.The market for hygiene adhesives may face challenges such as the reluctance of adopting new-age adhesives unless there is considerable consumer benefit seen by non-woven manufacturers. Along with this, the rising cost of adhesives may compel manufacturers to turn back to cheaper products that may cause allergies, create harm to the environment and have considerable level of toxicity. Adhesive bleed has also been a considerable challenge for non-woven manufacturers and new age adhesives that provide a solution to this will find considerable opportunity in coming years.The struggle to balance cost with ingenuity will eventually bring about new products that cater to large markets in North America and Europe due to a greater demand for thinner hygiene products that cause lesser waste.According to Bostik Hygiene, emerging countries in Asia-Pacific are a significant revenue opportunity due to continued increase in penetration. The rising education, affordability and availability of hygiene products will propel this market further in coming years.Awareness and increasing adoption of female hygiene products in APAC is a significant growth driver of the market. Up until the last decade, women regularly opted to use soft cloth as absorbent material instead of sanitary napkins, and this trend has changed greatly in the past 8-10 years. Currently North America and Asia-Pacific are the largest markets for hygiene products. Japan has a very large hygiene products market where adult diapers market is expected to exceed childrens diaper market. Low birth rate in several regions of Europe has dragged the growth of the market in the region.Hygiene Adhesives Market: Competitive OverviewThe global market for hygiene adhesive manufacturers is highly fragmented due to the low entry barrier, good growth in demand of hygiene products, low technological involvement and regional nature of operation for most companies. China is a very large supplier for raw adhesives to the global market, where they are further processed for non-woven industry. Notable players in this area are Henkel AG & Co., H.B. Fuller, Bostik SA, 3M Corp, Lohmann GmbH, Dow Chemicals, Eastman, Vixxol, Al Mehraj Adhesives, Stanley Adhesive Industrial Co., Ltd, Kraton Polymers, TSRCDexco, Exxon Mobil Chemicals, Nordson, Copind and Om Midwest Industries among several others.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactMr. Sudip. STransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit :
5 Digital Marketing Trends Until 2018 - from Customer-centric Experience to Realtime Marketing Automation

https://www.artegic.com/digital-marketing-trends

http://www.artegic.com

http://twitter.com/artegic_uk

https://plus.google.com/111057448053888319461/posts

Marketing is taking on a leading role in the digital transformation. Traditional campaign management has become worn out and is giving way to dynamic real-time communication. The Internet of Things opens up a number of new communication channels, contexts and data sources. Mobile marketing no longer only consists of mobile optimised measures but now also incorporates the context of use and location-based services. Traditional buyer-seller relationships between customer and company are becoming more complex and must be understood in a more differentiated way. artegic has identified the five most important trends which will shape the marketing of companies until 2018The digital transformation is led by a radical customer focus in marketing. Customer demand for of a best-in-class experience and personal appreciation can only be achieved in marketing in the context of an increasingly fierce competition. Marketing is becoming the driving force to push forward the factors necessary for customer-focussed user experiences, such as data availability, process automation and analytical intelligence. The high time-to-market pressures in this transformation will be accelerated by a market, where market entry barriers are lowered through digitalisation, new business models become possible and changes in value chains. The transformation will also be accelerated by the growing pressure on companies for profitability; by increasing demands of customers who are used to be mobile, always on, linked, social, prepared to switch and increasingly used to best-in-class user experiences. Marketing Engineering - the ability to achieve quick results in a complex digital transformation - will become a future challenge.artegic has identified five elementary trends in this field which companies will have to face in the coming years.1. Customer-centric Experience - The Digital Dialogue Takes the Lead in the Transformation2. Responding to Behaviour in Real Time - From Campaign Management to Realtime Marketing Automation3. Smartwatches, Wearables & Internet of Things - New Terminal Devices, New Touchpoints, New Connections4. Geo-fencing, Beacons, Location-based - Mobile Contexts and Touchpoints Set the Time5. The End of Unilateral CRM - Taking Into Account The Complexity of Customer RelationshipsAll five trends as a free e-book downloadOn more than 15 pages, artegic presents all five trends in a free e-book. Download the e-book atartegic AG supports companies in the construction of customer-centred, digital, best-in-class direct marketing. With 10 years of experience in marketing engineering, our service portfolio includes consulting, IT-integration and technology for realtime marketing automation and online CRM. artegic is the leading German specialist supplier of standard software for marketing automation via email and mobile. artegic is also operator of one of the largest software-as-service platforms for digital marketing in Europe.With 65 employees at its German sites in Bonn and Munich, as well as international branches, artegic stands for sustainable and successful dialogue marketing with significantly better results and less operative expenses.82% of German internet users are in contact with companies via artegic's multi-award winning ELAINE technology. Our customers include RTL, PAYBACK, BMW, BURDA, Web.de, REWE, maxdome, as well as one in three DAX companies.Every month, approximately 2.7 billion emails, SMS and social media messages are sent in 141 countries.artegic is certified company-wide by TUV Rheinland according to the international standard for IT and data security ISO/IEC 27001 and has received several awards for its innovative and trend-setting implementation of data protection requirements, including the eco Internet Award, the Cased Security Award and the International Business award (Stevie).artegic AGZanderstrae 753177 BonnMr. Sebastian PieperTel: +49(0)228 22 77 97-0Fax: +49(0)228 22 77 97-900pr@artegic.deTwitter:GooglePlus:
YOUNG UKRAINIAN DIRECTORS SUMMED UP THEIR WORK ON THE 69TH CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

YOUNG UKRAINIAN DIRECTORS SUMMED UP THEIR WORK ON THE 69TH CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

On the 14th of June 2016 the Cafe LEtage hosted the informal meeting of the young Ukrainian directors who took part in the 69th Cannes Film Festival with the founder of the NGO "Initiative for the Future, Igor Iankovskyi, who financed their journey to the Cote dAzur, and the Head of the Ukrainian State Film Agency, Philip Illienko. Among the activities, conducted by Ukrainian delegation, it is to acknowledge the first in the festivals history business-lunch (Meet Ukrainian producers) that gathered together Ukrainian and foreign producers on the 12th of May and the projections of 10 Ukrainian short films under the Short Film Corner section of the Le Marche du Film.Opening the meeting, Igor Iankovskyi outlined his hopes that such a landing party of the young Ukrainian directors in Cannes has really helped those cinema beginners to broaden their creative horizons. Our main goal is to help them to establish useful contacts on the international cinema market and facilitate their professional and creative development. And the participation on the international film festivals with the young generation of directors is one of the best ways to strengthen Ukrainian position on the international level!  noted Igor Iankovskyi.The Head of the Ukrainian State Film Agency, Philip Illienko, in his turn, described the significance of those activities to the Ukrainian cinema industry: At some point of its development, Ukrainian cinema has been left out from the global cinema process. And those are not the quantity of the prizes awarded that matters the most, but the participation on the festivals itself, the constant and consistent dialogue with foreign colleagues on prospective projects and co-production of movies. Due to the support provided by the NGO The Initiative for the Future and Igor Iankovskyi personally, this year we seized the opportunity to make a statement on Ukrainian cinema on the biggest cinema gathering, where the first in the history of our cinema business-lunch Meet Ukrainian producers took place. It really helped us to establish a fruitful dialogue with foreign producers.Director Nariman Aliiev presented in Cannes his movie Without You (Sensiz) that already took part in the Berlins Film Festival program Generation+, supported as well by Igor Iankovskyi. He also envisaged his new project to the foreign producers. The participation in the world-biggest film festival was of the great importance not only for me personally, but for the whole Ukrainian cinema. Not only the opportunity to present our projects to the international community, but also the participation in a great number of creative, interesting and professionally important activities and master-classes, meet our colleagues and cinema professionals from other countries, - pointed his impressions Nariman Aliiev and added, that after the Cannes he is already entered into negotiations with a French producer on the realization of his future projects in co-production.Nikon Romanchenko, who took part in the Cannes Film Festival for the second time, this year has been presenting his movie Carousel along with the new project, gave his advice to the future festivals participants: It is really easy to lose your head from those amount of people and events flooding the festival every day. It is useful to prepare yourself in advance, choose and prioritize the events. Talking about the outcomes of the festival, he noted all that preparatory work conducted by the NGOs Contemporary Ukrainian Cinema and Initiative for the Future, with the help of the specialists of the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Center.The most important thing is that Cannes Film Festival has inspired into shooting new movies in order to return there for the participation in the contest program, - noted Rita Kuzmina, one more meeting participant. Director Pavlo Ostrikov has revealed that before the trip to Cannes he could never finish one of his scenarios, and after the return he already wrote two new ones. Maryana Lytvynova, Anna Borysova and Solomiya Tomashchuk pointed their impressions from workshops and master-classes, Philip Sotnychenko outlined his experience of interaction with movie critics and selectors, due to which he has drawn the promotion plan for his movies.Summing up this years activities on the 69th Cannes Film Festival, the young directors have agreed on the crucial importance of the participations in such big festivals for the competitive, powerful and modern Ukrainian cinema industry, getting acquainted with modern trends. Furthermore, international cinema forums are made for the professionals to establish new contacts with their foreign colleagues, selectors and producers, which will blossom into the joint projects, large-scale movies that will help to introduce Ukrainian culture to the broader audience.The projections of the short films by the young Ukrainian directors under the Short Film Corner section of the Le Marche du Film took place on the 18th and 19th of May. This project, entitled In short, Cannes, is aimed to introduce the young generation of Ukrainian directors to the global professional environment and teach them to fully grasp the opportunities, and provided by the international festivals, for their professional development. In terms of the project, the organizing committee has selected 10 (ten) young Ukrainian directors, who had already proven themselves during national and international film festivals. Due to the financial and organizational support of the NGO Initiative for the Future, they received an opportunity to visit France and take part in the 69th Cannes Film Festival, to present their movies personally."Initiative for the Future"  is Ukrainian Charitable Foundation, founded by Igor Iankovskyi - a successful Ukrainian businessman, financier and philanthropist.Charities unite like-minded people in a common goal - to develop and implement educational and cultural programs in Ukraine. Activities of the organization based on voluntary initiatives.Igor Iankovskyi Foundation "Initiative for the Future" was founded June 5, 2012, and since its foundation supports talented young people from all over Ukraine, contributing to a highly cultured society in the future. Projects that have already been implemented charitable foundation, got success not only in Ukraine, but also in USA and European countries - Belgium, France, Germany and Poland.12, Amosova Street, build. 1, 5th floor,Horizont Park Business Center,Kiev, 03680, Ukraine
Permanent Peace Of Mind Through The Moran Method: James Anthony Moran Announces 2016 Tour Of US

James Anthony Moran

http://www.jamesanthonymoran.com

Author and speaker James Anthony Moran's goal is to provide knowledge that leads people to a state of permanent peace of mind. To this end he has developed a unique and powerful approach entitled The Moran Method.The Moran Method is based on the concept of four worlds or states. These are:* The Spiritual World* The Soul World* The Physical World* The Virtual WorldWhen out of balance, people experience mind states that lead directly to negative perceptions and experiences. Peace of mind is the natural result of achieving better balance across these states."Today we live in primarily the physical world and the virtual world," Moran stated. "Beyond both the virtual and the physical worlds lies the natural world which is interconnected and in relationship with the invisible spiritual world. As individuals and as a species we need that soul connection with the natural world which will also connect us with the invisible spiritual world. At a deep and fundamental level, we are souls here on planet earth having the human experience.""Before the material or virtual worlds came into being, our ancestors who lived at that time knew the natural world as well as the spiritual world because those were the only worlds in existence at that time. At a deep and fundamental level, we are powerful, spiritual beings but we need to awaken to this fact. Awakening is all about developing an awareness of who we really are.""Right now humanity is at a crossroads because if we see ourselves as just physical beings we are in a spiritless world and we can see the damage this has done to humanity; other life forms as well as the living earth. If we enter the domain of the virtual world we are entering a soulless world. Already we see in this world that some people are losing that vital living connection with others, but most of all, have no idea about the benefits of reconnecting with the living earth. Is this to be the destiny for the human species  spiritless, soulless beings trapped in a matrix of their own making? Or, are we going to take the responsibility to look at ourselves genuinely and honestly?"Moran offers a host of resources that can help put one on the path to permanent peace of mind. The James Anthony Moran Channel is now on Pivotshare and at his website. There are two series of videos available, with more added monthly. The free videos include "James Anthony Presents His Personal Story & Research to Local Irish Community" - This is the recording of his most recent event where he presented his personal story and an overview of his research to date. The event was live streamed at the time and now is available on this channel.The other free video available is entitled "A Historic Message From A Remarkable Irish Man" - This video details the 9 aspects of the mind and how when activated, the individual begins to experience another world beyond the physical. This video is unique, original and universal and is based on a lifetime of research and discovery. It is a breakthrough video in the field of consciousness.Moran was also recently interviewed by Limerick 95FM Radio, and was featured in a Limerick Post article.James currently offers a number of services for those who hope to create permanent peace of mind:Skype one-to-one consultationsA subscription video libraryThe opportunity to work with James over a 3 or 10-day period from the months of May through to September 2016.One-to-one packages, arranged on location in Ireland over a 3-day period.Group packages up to a maximum of five people at a time, arranged on location in Ireland over a 10-day period. Activities will be focused on the development of a permanent peace of mind. This will be an opportunity to experience a unique perspective as well as experience the deep spiritual heritage that Ireland has to offer.In the words of Dr. Cathal OConnell, Director of Applied Social Studies at University College Cork, Ireland, "James Anthony is a devout believer in sharing his knowledge with others. Truly, it is the story of one who is on a remarkable journey."He now firmly believes that his purpose lies in passing on the knowledge he possesses to those individuals who are finding the challenges of life difficult. Down through the years he has worked with people from all walks of life and he strongly believes that the answers people seek are within themselves.Moran will tour the US later in 2016. His book, 'Irish Spirit Rising: The Journey', will be available late in 2016.James Anthony Moran is available for media interviews, speaking engagements and consultations. He can be reached using the information below or by email at james@jamesanthonymoran.com. More information, including client booking information, a media kit and video samples, is available at his website.Graduating from University College Cork Ireland with a Bachelor of Social Sciences degree in 1997, James Anthony began to look at the whole idea of how change affects people. What he has now drawn from his soul searching escapades is a body of knowledge garnered from a variety of life experiences, as well as a study of various disciplines in relation to the effects of consciousness on the ongoing evolutionary development of the human species, as well as all other life forms which includes the living earth. In June 2014, his research was validated as original, unique and universal by University College Cork.PO Box 1613Shallotte, NC 28459
BATCHMASTER ADDS THE TECHNOLOGICAL INGREDIENT FOR SUCCESS TO THE LIP SMACKING RECIPES OF KASA FINE FOODS

www.batchmaster.co.in

http://www.batchmaster.co.in/pr/kasa-fine-foods.html

'Kasa Fine Foods chooses BatchMaster to increase visibility and gain greater operational control'Indore, M.P. - June 13, 2016 - Kasa Fine Foods, the brand name that is synonymous with the quality and taste in the Bakery business, shows trust in BatchMaster due to its brand reputation.The customer was using Tally.ERP9 software for tracking financial operations. However, they lacked control on manufacturing operations due to poor visibility of available raw materials and time consuming plus error prone manual paper work. They were looking for a single unified ERP software with greater manufacturing capabilities.The SaaS based bakery specific ERP solution provided by BatchMaster seamlessly integrated with their existing Tally.ERP9 and was successful in meeting the unique needs of the customer, which included a tighter control on manufacturing, as well as inventory and distribution management.The unbeatable combination of BatchMaster ERP with Tally now aptly manages their finances in parallel to supporting their manufacturing and distribution operations.In addition to having an accurate tracking of financial operations, the product ensures a clear visibility of all available raw materials. Handling batches, performing accurate cost analysis, maintaining shelf life/expiration dates, executing efficient planning, procurement, sales, quality assurance, etc. further empowers the customer with greater hold on supply chain and frees them up from the error prone manual paper work completely.Above all, the reports and dashboards available in the product quickly displays the desired information with a single click. Subsequently, helps the customer take timely decisions.Finally, being a cloud based solution, the customer relishes the use of the product with practically no IT cost.About Kasa Fine FoodsKasa Fine Foods is an emerging manufacturer of bakery products in Jabalpur. The company symbolizes quality, nutrition and great taste. It offers a wide variety of treats and bakery products including breads, cakes and cookies (under the brand name Oven Classics). The company has started with sales in Jabalpur and aims to cover the entire Central India. Within a short duration of 6 months, the company is successful in earning faith and trust of its consumers.About BatchMaster SoftwareBatchMaster Software is one of the market leaders in offering enterprise software solutions for the manufacturing industries. With an in-depth industry analysis, gained through a vast industry experience with over 2000 implementations worldwide, we clearly understand the unique industry challenges. BatchMaster offers ERP solutions that supports industry specific functionalities and handles critical processes of the micro-verticals. We empower organizations streamline their operations, reduce wastage, bring down costs, increase profits, improve compliance and manage safety to keep their customers happy and satisfied.Key facts30+ years of experienceERP solutions for small to mid-sized industriesSAP B1 and Microsoft certified solutionOver 40,000 users worldwideHeadquartered in California, with footprints across the worldA global presence with offices in 3 continent- North America, Australia, and AsiaAvailable in 3 languages- English, Chinese, and SpanishConsistent record of never exceeding implementation time of 350 to 500 hoursHead OfficeBatchMaster Software Pvt. Ltd.(An ISO 9001-2008 Certified Company)Brilliant SolitairePlot 6 - AOffice 201-A to 204-BScheme 78, Part-IIIndore - 452010Ph: +91-731-4008031/ 35/39Fax: +91-4008033sales@batchmaster.com
Locanto Classifieds turns 10!

www.locanto.info

www.yalwa.info/about

Wiesbaden, Germany  June 15, 2016  The last 10 years has seen Yalwa GmbH transition from a humble one-man-show to a bustling internet company, employing a dedicated team of professionals made up of more than 20 nationalities.Klaus Gapp, CEO of Yalwa GmbH, said he was thrilled to be able to assist so many around the world in fulfilling their local needs. 'Although we have been pushing hard and expanding rapidly, our main focus has always been on how to best serve local needs,' he said.A quick look back: Locanto Classifieds launched in New York in 2006. Rapid expansion saw Locanto city websites quickly spring up across the United States, and a successful foray into the Indian classifieds market. By 2009, Locanto was already in 38 countries. In 2010, in response to the increasing popularity of mobile browsing, Locanto launched its first mobile website.In 2012, Locanto launched its Premium Features, which helps Locanto users increase the success rate of their ads. In 2014, as mobile usage continued to increase, apps were released for both ios and Android. As things stand, Locanto has close to 100 million ads across its 65 country websites, drawing millions of visitors each month.Browse ads in your area by selecting your country from the map:###Launched in 2006, Yalwa GmbH is a privately-owned internet company focused on connecting locals with the information, goods and services they need on a daily basis. Yalwa operates three distinct internet platforms: Locanto, a full-service classifieds; Yalwa, a local business directory; and askalo, a Q&A website for local information sharing.Yalwa offers its services in 65 countries, and in six languages. Millions of people around the world take advantage of Yalwa's platforms on a daily basis. To learn more about Yalwa, visit the company page:Contact:Dane Aikendane.aiken@yalwa.comBahnstr. 2, 65205,Wiesbaden, Germany
Full set of meteorites found by the First Antarctic Meteorite Expedition of Ural Federal University arrives in Ekaterinburg

30 kg of meteorites arrived in Ekaterinburg

http://www.urfu.ru/en

The long-awaited, approximately 30 kg package from the Antarctic has arrived in Ekaterinburg today, on June 15, and was delivered to the Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies research and educational center of Ural Federal University.A lot of research is ahead, says the Professor of UrFU Institute of Physics and Technology Victor Grokhovsky. We have already done a good job with the first samples, which our team brought back in January. They are very interesting  we hadnt had the chance to study such kinds of meteorites before in our laboratory.According to Prof. Grokhovsky, the first Antarctic samples, LOM 15001 and LOM 15002 (named after the place of finding, the Lomonosov mountains), were classified as aerolites: one of them, containing a lot of metal, is a chondrite, while the other does not contain any chondrules, but has a small piece of metal in its very center. This means that the matter of cosmic bodies is very diverse, and there are many surprises waiting for us. Moreover, it is a much easier way to obtain extraterrestrial matter.After the study of the material is finished, the UrFU scientists are going to apply for registration of the meteorites in the International Meteoritic Nomenclature Committee of the Russian Academy of Sciences.ReferenceThe First UrFU Antarctic Meteorite Expedition consisting of six young scientists form Ekaterinburg and Perm searched for meteorites on the southernmost continent for the first time in the history of modern Russia. The scientific leader of the expedition is UrFU Professor Victor Grokhovsky.The first meteorite was identified right in the field on December 31, 2015. Two days later, the expedition found another one.The scientists brought the two samples to Ekaterinburg on January 18. The rest arrived by the Academic Fedorov expeditionary ship in Saint Petersburg on May 31 together with participants of the 61st Russian Antarctic Expedition. There, the scientists took the blue ice, which contains cosmic dust, to the B.P. Konstantinov St. Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute for study.The Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin, (formed by a merger of the Ural State Technical University and Ural State University) is one of the leading educational institutions in the Ural region. Ural Federal University acts as a research and innovation center of the Ural region and has close cooperation with the Russian Academy of Sciences. Training of students is carried out in four main areas of knowledge and 108 academic majors. The links between the university and intermediate educational institutions are actively developed. The University also performs consistent work on establishing strategic partnership with employers for the sake of development of the regional economy: employers are involved in the educational environment as direct participants, large-scale enployers-sponsored and corporate education is carried out based on the client-centered approach, joint business projects in economic and social areas are realized.19, Mira str., Ekaterinburg, Russia, 620002Marina SannikovaHead of International Marketing Officeinfo.international@urfu.ru+7 343 375 97 77
MoneyBug Now Buying Homes for cash in Tampa, FL

Homeowners now have opportunity to sell their home fast in Tampa, FL with Moneybug's instant cash offer.

Tampa, Florida: Crowned by Tampa Bay Business Journal and Money Magazine as one of the Best Places to Retire, Tampa, Florida, is currently host to one of the nationwide locations of the home buying company MoneyBug. Since it was founded in 2008, MoneyBug has been experiencing rapid growth and massive success, and is proud to help homeowners who need to sell their house in Tampa fast.While the title of Best Place to Retire is fully embraced by the city, Tampa is not just seeing a spike in the population of Midwest retirees. Both young and old are relocating to the Tampa area, and this has prompted an increase in demand for homes. First-time homeowners are coming to Tampa to put down their roots, and retirees come to spend retirement in the sunshine.With such a growth in population, the housing market in Tampa is having a hard time supplying enough modestly-priced, comfortable homes. Luckily for homeowners who need to sell a home fast, Tampa has a demand, and MoneyBug is buying.Instead of wasting time and money through a drawn-out and expensive services of a realtor, MoneyBug buys houses through a fast and easy process. Theres no need to make repairs before the sale, and Tampa homeowners can sell a house fast no matter their situation. With MoneyBug, homeowners in Tampa can sell their house fast, even if the house is damaged or distressed condition, if it needs repairs, or if it has flood damage.If a homeowner wants to sell a home fast in Tampa, MoneyBugs website will provide them with an instant cash offer. MoneyBugs website has new, state-of-the-art technology that provides homeowners with an instant ability to see how much their house is worth. Advanced algorithms search a comprehensive database and crunch data to return a cash offer that is, not only guaranteed to be the highest possible, but will be given to the homeowner upon the close of the sale in seven days.MoneyBug proudly brings this opportunity to sell a house fast to homeowners coast-to-coast. Homeowners who want to sell their house fast in Collin County, The Colony, Fort Worth, Houston, Dallas, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and California. According to their public relations manager, MoneyBug has facilitated the sale of over 6,000 single-family homes that equals over a billion dollars in acquisitions.MoneyBug works hard to help homeowners who dont want to deal with the hassle of listing their home through MLS and traditional realtors, or just want an easy solution to sell their house fast. They stand separately from other cash-for-home companies with a unique ability to work quickly to close the sale in just seven days, while high-tech advancements provide homeowners with an instant cash offer for their home online. Homeowners dont even have to pay to make repairs or renovations before they sell. MoneyBug buys houses as-is, even if it is damaged. Without spending extra time or hard-earned cash on repairs and improvements, MoneyBug will still give homeowners the highest amount of money for their home.4600 Fuller Dr.Irving, TX 75038
Growth of Ammunition Market to be Steered by Measures to Safeguard National Security

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ammunition-market.html

http://bit.ly/1TcyHAV

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/

Currently, arms and ammunition form a large part of major nations annual expenditures. This is because nations around the world are grappling with terrorist threats that have necessitated overhauling their defense capabilities. In this regard, organizations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are working towards counteracting terrorism by improving awareness of the threat, enhancing capabilities to prepare and respond, and intensifying engagement with partner nations and other international entities. Consequently, procuring and developing state-of-the-art weaponry and ammunition has become a high priority for nations worldwide.In the light of political developments and incorporation of hi-tech weaponry to combat terrorism, the global ammunition market will rise at a CAGR of 3.7% from 2015 to 2021, says Transparency Market Research.Read the Detailed Information of Ammunition Market:Q. What are the core factors driving the global ammunition market?A. Nations around the world are striving to safeguard national security, thereby spending heavily on modern weaponry and ammunition. These measures are closely related to securing the countrys economy and the lives of its citizens. The rising concerns due to geopolitical disputes and changing military and law enforcement mandates as preparatory measures to respond to contingency are boosting the growth of the ammunition market across the world. Continual research and development for technologically advanced weaponry is also improving the demand for ammunition globally. With the rising popularity of shooting-related sports, the ammunition market is receiving a further boost.Q. How lucrative are Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa regions for the global ammunition market?A. Enormously. The increasing arms race in these regions due to some of the most brutal terrorist attacks in nations here in the past are the reason for this. Nations in these countries are striving to gear their armed forces to combat terrorist activities and be prepared in the instance of an eventuality.For instance, following the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai in India, several security measures were implemented. The entire west coast is now under continuous surveillance by aircraft and ships of the Navy and Coast Guard. The country is also making massive investments in ammunition in view of its conflicts with China and Pakistan.Q. Where does Europe stand in the ammunition market globally?A. The region is positioned as a clear leader in the global ammunition market. In 2014, the region contributed a revenue of 35% to the global market. Meticulous efforts carried out for the modernization of the armed forces and the increasing adoption of technologically developed ammunition are the reasons for the same. European countries such as France and Belgium, where recent terrorist attacks have left hundreds dead, are being compelled to strengthen their capacity to counter insurgents.Handouts to get the professional aspects of Ammunitions at:Q. Is demilitarization in Europe negatively impacting the ammunition market?A. Yes. With the beginning of demilitarization in Europe in the 1970s that solidified in the 1990s and finally aggravated with the financial crisis of 2008, the demilitarization in Europe is undeniable. The reasons for this are the shrinking budgets leading to smaller armed troops, deployment of equipment in small quantities, and inadequate military capacity. Resultantly, demilitarization is resulting in shaky demand for ammunition in the region.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Mr.Sudip S90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) begun its first public consultation of the year on March 13, 2019. The consultation is looking at the proposal to classify three substances as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs). The three substances under consultation are: 1. 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy)propanoic acid, its salts and its acyl halides (covering all individual isomers and combinations) 2. 2-methoxyethyl acetate 3. Tris(4-nonylphenyl, branched and linear) phosphite (TNPP) with  0.1% w/w of 4-nonylphenol, branched and linear (4-NP) The first 
"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling did it. "Game of Thrones" creator George R.R. Martin did it. "Where's Waldo?" illustrator Martin Handford did it. Now Portland writer Chuck Palahniuk, best known for "Fight Club," is doing it.

Palahniuk is jumping on one of the biggest bandwagons to rumble through the publishing industry in recent years: This fall he'll release a coloring book, "Bait: Off-Color Stories for You to Color."

The Associated Press described "Bait" as "a hybrid of short stories and black-and-white illustrations by a variety of artists that readers can fill in."

Coloring books have been a hugely successful category for publishers. Nielsen reported May 31 that sales of coloring books went from 1 million units in 2014 to 12 million in 2015, and spinoffs such as color-your-own postcard books have been selling well, too.

According to a press release from publisher Dark Horse Books of Milwaukie, "Bait" will include these four storylines:

A passenger on the Titanic who finds a surgical solution to the obstacle of "women and children first"

A Hollywood star, whose fading brand faces a viral (and scatological) internet campaign

An animal psychic who coaxes a statement from a fish that witnessed a political assassination

Increasingly terrible birthday gifts that place a girl at the center of an extinction-level event

The stories will be illustrated by comic book artists Lee Bermejo, Kirbi Fagan, Duncan Fegredo, Alise Gluskova, Joelle Jones, Steve Morris, Tony Puryear and Marc Scheff, according to Dark Horse.

Peek Inside Author Chuck Palahniuk's New Adult Coloring Book  https://t.co/NE4mupHuGc pic.twitter.com/pDNVYTVJop  Mental Floss (@mental_floss) June 16, 2016

"Bait" is scheduled to go on sale Oct. 26. Palahniuk is scheduled to promote "Bait" with a 10-city tour, his first since 2010, that will take him to Seattle; San Francisco; Los Angeles; St. Louis; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Louisville, Kentucky; New Orleans, Durham, North Carolina; New York; and Boston.

-- Amy Wang

awang@oregonian.com

503-294-5914

@ORAmyW
The city of Damascus, which voted overwhelmingly last month to disincorporate, may not be dead yet.

A Clackamas County Circuit Court judge on Wednesday promised a ruling soon after hearing arguments over the legality of the legislatively referred measure to dissolve the city's 12-year-old boundaries and charter.

If Judge Katherine E. Weber sides with attorneys representing the state, Damascus would become only the fourth city to disincorporate since Oregon gained statehood in 1859.

But a lawsuit filed by Damascus City Councilor James De Young claims that the state Legislature acted improperly in referring the disinicorporation measure to residents.

In addition to the city itself, De Young named Clackamas County, the state of Oregon and Gov. Kate Brown as defendants.

Should De Young's suit prevail, it would tee up a particularly challenging instance of local governance since Damascus residents voted overwhelmingly May 17 to end their long-stuttering experiment of municipal incorporation.

The Oregon Secretary of State's Office is expected to ratify the vote Thursday, making the outcome -- barring some other legal ruling -- official.

De Young maintains that the Legislature overstepped its authority in 2015, when it referred the disincorporation to voters.

"The bill in question didn't repeal existing state law that requires not just a simple majority, but a majority of all registered voters, to approve a disincorporation measure," De Young said prior to the hour-long hearing. "It applies only to Damascus. You can't have the Legislature do that without it applying statewide."

Nicole DeFever, an attorney representing the state Department of Justice, disagreed.

"This measure was voted on by residents of Damascus and that's who it applies to," she told the judge. "It may be a state statute, but it can have significant limitations."

Judge Weber, taking note that the city is under pressure to pass a new budget before the fiscal year ends June 30, said she would try to have a ruling by then.

The current City Council, including De Young, is scheduled to meet June 20 to wrestle with a new budget. Since no one knows how the decision will go, it's likely two budgets will be presented - one encompassing an entire year and another addressing projected expenses only through the end of the month.

-- Dana Tims

503-294-7647; @DanaTims
Portland International Airport

A Virgin America jet at the gate at Portland International Airport on April 26, 2016.

(Kristyna Wentz-Graff/Staff)

NEW YORK -- Alaska Airlines CEO Brad Tilden said Wednesday that he might keep the Virgin America brand, running it and Alaska as two different products within the same airline group.

In April, Alaska announced plans to buy Virgin America for $2.6 billion, a deal which would make it a West Coast powerhouse. Both airlines have very loyal -- but different -- followings and almost immediately both groups expressed fears that the combination would kill off what they love about their own airline.

A decision hasn't yet been made but Tilden noted that European carriers have kept their own identity following mergers.

"We are looking at that because we do believe in the power of the Virgin America brand and we don't want to lose all that loyalty and revenue that exists today," Tilden said at the end of a speech at The Wings Club, an aviation professional group that frequently hosts CEOs as speakers.

Past aviation mergers in the U.S. have meant the death of the acquired brand. But Tilden noted that in Europe both names and cultures tend to live on. He cited the Lufthansa Group, which includes its namesake German airline, along with Swiss and Austrian Airlines. Air France and Dutch carrier KLM operate as two separate carriers despite common ownership. And International Airlines Group runs several individual brands including British Airways, Spanish carrier Iberia and Ireland's Aer Lingus.

In a brief interview with The Associated Press after the speech, Tilden said he is "taking a good look at running two brands for some period of time, perhaps forever." He also said the airline is looking to have regulatory approval for the merger by late summer or early fall.

Alaska is loved in its hometown of Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest. It has one of the best on-time performances, the industry's lowest complaint rate and tries to strike a balance between making a profit and keeping passengers happy. For instance, like most other airlines, it charges a fee for checked luggage. However, Alaska was the first carrier to add a guarantee -- if a checked bag isn't at the pickup area within 20 minutes, fliers get $25 off a future trip or 2,500 bonus miles.

Virgin America, which is based near San Francisco airport, has its own loyal following, especially in Silicon Valley. The airline started flying in 2007 with backing from Richard Branson, the colorful British billionaire, as a minority owner -- U.S. law limits foreign ownership of airlines. It quickly won over fliers with its funky mood lighting, inflight internet and individual TVs at each seat. Passengers can order meals or drinks from the screens and can even send a drink to another passenger.

But the Virgin name doesn't come cheap. In the past three years, Virgin America has spent more than $22 million in license fees to a company controlled by Branson.

Discussion of the brands came up in a question and answer session where J.P. Morgan analyst Jamie Baker noted that this is the first merger he's seen with such different corporate and passenger cultures.

"It is the thing I'm losing the most sleep over with our merger," Tilden replied.

After the speech, Baker told The Associated Press that the airline-within-an-airline model in the U.S. has been proven "time and time again, to be inefficient."

"Maintaining two distinct brands adds complexity and expense and potentially confuses passengers and employees." Baker said. "More likely is an outcome where each brand's best practices are retained. For core Alaska flyers, this could mean ordering a meal from one's seatback monitor on a flight to Anchorage."

-- The Associated Press
We all know Royce Freeman is great.

But can he be the best in the country?

The Oregonian's Andrew Greif and Tyson Alger take a look at Freeman's chances for a Heisman Trophy, diving into the numbers Freeman would have to put up in order to have a chance.

Then, recruiting writer Andrew Nemec stops on by to discuss the latest in Oregon recruiting news: including the recent offer of Tua Tagovailoa.

As always, you can listen to the podcast in the player above, or you can find us on iTunes.

Thanks for listening.

-- Tyson Alger

talger@oregonian.com

@tysonalger
The cost of eating out in Portland has risen more than any other U.S. metropolitan area over the last 10 years. The rate of increase leaves even San Francisco and Seattle in the dust -- two cities where the cost of living is becoming unaffordable to many.

The data comes from the San Francisco Chronicle, which used numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to make the comparison. According to the Chronicle's data, the cost of eating away from home started leaving the rest of the country behind at the beginning of the Recession in 2008. But it picked up more steam, leaving behind cities with similar growth patterns, in 2012.

In a column, San Francisco food writer Jonathan Kauffman argues that the high-end restaurants and $2.50-per-bagel shops are not to blame, necessarily. It's the way those restaurants are taking over neighborhoods, pushing out cheaper family restaurants, Mexican restaurants and greasy spoons.

The price of food eaten outside the home in SF has risen 35% in 10 years, a rate topped only by PDX and St. Louis. pic.twitter.com/hbFbAHztxu  Jonathan Kauffman (@jonkauffman) June 10, 2016

Portland, in some ways, mirrors the same changes. Housing prices are climbing precipitously with no sign of stopping. The month of May marked the first time the sale of homes slowed down, but only due to having so few left to sell.

The city is engaged in a debate about how to provide more affordable housing, as many mourn long-time Portland establishments closing to make way for luxury apartments.

Yet, a list of Portland's most expensive restaurants next to San Francisco's points out that many of the city's fine-dining options often don't come close to the cash customers throw down in other cities for similar fare.

The data doesn't reveal why the change happened, so what do you think? Is it Portland catching up to the rest of the country after years of depressed prices or is Portland eating going the way of Portland housing?

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com

503-294-5923

@MollyHarbarger
knitting.JPG

As far as I'm concerned, every day ought to be Knit in Public Day. Here, Wearing her tally counter, Sheri Hill of Beaverton looks up from her knitting project on Oct. 29, 2014. She sells those counters, along with other practical items for knitters, through her business The Knitter's Helper.

(Nuran Alteir/Staff)

Saturday, June 18, is World Wide Knit in Public Day! And naturally, the greater Portland area is prepared. Here's a roundup of local events:

Knit Purl is having a knit-in from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in Director Park. "We'll have staff participants on hand to give a taste of our Structure of Knitting class as well as some giveaways!" the store writes. "Some giveaways include gift cards and yarn from local yarn companies!" The event is free, and all ages are welcome. "Anyone can come sit, talk, and knit with us. Bring a project or something new to start. Not a knitter? No worries! We can show you a few basics to start." Director Park is at Southwest Taylor Street and Southwest Park Avenue in Portland.

In Hillsboro, Amy Marie Pittman is hosting a Knit in Public event from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Downtown Hillsboro Farmers Market. "All fiber mediums, skill levels and interests are welcome with an emphasis on knitting in its many forms," Amy writes. "Bring a project or three and a willingness to share what you know/do with others. Also chair, water and snacks. Examples to show. Dress for weather." The market's on Main Street between 1st and 3rd avenues, one block northwest of the 3rd Avenue MAX station, and the knit-in's at Hillsboro Civic Center Plaza near the fountain. Civic Center is on South 1st between East Main and Southeast Washington; the plaza is on the northeast side of the building. There is parking on-site.

Happy Knits and Knit Picks are hosting a a Knit Pick-Nic in Portland. The store writes: "Join our friends from Knit Picks (we will be stopping by, too!) at Colonel Summers Park on Saturday, June 18th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for goodies, designer trunk shows and showcases, and giveaways! World Wide Knit in Public Day started back in 2005 by Danielle Landes as a way for knitters to come together and enjoy each other's company and it is the largest knitter-run event in the world! Bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket, and your knitting, crocheting or 'other crafty project.'" Colonel Summers Park is at Southeast 17th Avenue and Taylor Street in Portland. The event's at Shelter B. Email hello@knitpicks.com to RSVP.

Did I miss any local KIP events? Let me know in the comments, or email me, and I'll update this post as needed.

As of this writing, the weather forecast Saturday calls from a partly cloudy day with highs in the low 70s and lows in the upper 40s. Sure sounds like perfect outdoor knitting weather to me. Happy WWKIP Day!

UPDATE I: SCRAP PDX is hosting a knit-in for Orlando from noon-5 p.m. Saturday, June 18, to benefit the Pulse Tragedy Community Fund. Here's how SCRAP PDX describes it:

"We at SCRAP PDX are heartbroken over the tragedy at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. To honor our friends and loved ones in the LGBTQIA, Latin@, and Muslim communities, we would like for our craft store to become a place of emotional and financial support. Because Saturday is World Wide Knit in Public day, SCRAP PDX will host a "Knit-in" for Orlando from 12-5 p.m. Bring your own projects and materials, or shop our store beginning at 11 a.m. Basic knitting and crochet instruction will be offered from 1-3pm by our wonderful volunteers Tess (facebook.com/tessknits) and Tricia (madebytricia.com).

"Admission is free and no purchase is required, but donations are encouraged. From the time we open on Saturday until we close, all donations received at SCRAP PDX will go to the Pulse Tragedy Community Fund. This fund was set up by the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida (thecenterorlando.org) to support victims and their families with counseling services. You may give directly here: https://www.gofundme.com/OrlandoUnited.

"At SCRAP PDX we're calling it craftivism: let's raise money to benefit those affected by this tragedy while also making things of beauty in each other's company." SCRAP PDX is at 1736 S.W. Alder St. in Portland.

UPDATE II: PDXKnitterati is celebrating World Wide Knit in Public Day with a pattern sale! All of her patterns are 20 percent off through Sunday, June 19, with code WWKIP.

-- Mary Mooney

mmooney@oregonian.com

503-412-7020; @MaryKnitsPDX
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Evidence of a homeless camper under the I-5 overpass near the Hawthorne Bridge, in Portland, in a file photo.

(Len Reed/Staff)

Few things made homeless folks more visible to Portlanders and out-of-towners than the decision early this year by Mayor Charlie Hales to relax restrictions on sleeping in public spaces. Result: Unrolled sleeping bags and staked tarps became visible at daybreak in previously unthinkable places, such as the grassy areas between sidewalks and curbs in residential neighborhoods. Some homeless folks even set up camp -- read: adjoining tents -- adjacent to private buildings and near a preschool, sparking worry that children might find themselves navigating a woolly reality of adults under stress and, in many cases, beset by addiction and mental illness.

http://media.oregonlive.com/opinion_impact/photo/agenda-2013jpg-da8a3522a991b9c6.jpg

Editorial Agenda 2016



Get Oregon centered

Better leadership in education

Make Portland a city that works

Build Oregon prosperity

Protect and expand personal freedom

Get pot right

_______________________________

But Hales' fury-raising action merely followed years of burgeoning homelessness, during which people slept less conspicuously under bridges, in industrial brownfields, in unpatrolled woods, along river banks. Multnomah County's homeless population last year surpassed 3,000, with nearly 2,000 wanting for a roof to sleep under every night. While homelessness challenges Beaverton and Gresham as well as Portland, lost and sometimes untidy folks in Portland's downtown core, in the North Park Blocks in particular, last year raised the ire of a business community citing disruption and threat to workers and customers. Since, the city and the county have wisely streamlined efforts to more swiftly create shelter and housing and better services. But the hard reality is that homelessness persists, with appreciable reductions well into the future.

Enter Homer Williams. With his longtime partner Dike Dame, Williams is known for game-changing projects that seeded the prosperous Pearl District and, in lockstep with Oregon Health & Science University, South Waterfront. Williams figures Portland's homeless challenge can be met in large part by the creation of a $100 million compound situated on the Willamette River north of downtown and providing transitional shelter and long-term residential and health services to a combined 1,400 homeless people. To that end, Williams has been discreetly shopping the idea to city and business leaders, several of whom have written checks to him pledging their support.

The concept as conceived may or may not be right-sized for Portland's needs. But it already takes shape in San Antonio, Texas, where a billionaire who pondered the homeless challenge felt a faith-driven call to plunk down $20 million of his own money to start the $100 million facility called "Haven for Hope." Since opening in 2010, "Haven" has reduced San Antonio's street population an estimated 80 percent and freed up 800 jail beds otherwise occupied by homeless people, Williams told The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board.

"It's the only way," Williams said. "This is not warehousing. This is a home where people at their lowest point in life live for several months -- no shuttling around -- and rebuild. I've been to San Antonio five times. Ninety-two percent of the people who leave 'Haven' graduate to go to jobs and housing. It's that effective."

The key, Williams correctly argues, is in providing on-site services from the city's many nonprofits already at work addressing the needs of homeless people citywide. They would ideally be joined on-site, Williams also argues, by major entities that could expand their reach while serving their best purposes, such as OHSU in its medical and dental training programs or, perhaps, Portland Harbor industries seeking trainees for jobs. Children of homeless parents, meanwhile, would live on-site, too.

Significantly, the project depends heavily upon private financing. Williams insists that the business community, which has much at stake in the face of entrenched homelessness, pony up more than half the costs. And he argues the project he's dubbed "Oregon Trail to Hope" should be run privately, "like a business," by a management group and a well-paid professional administrator.

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Can Williams and an expanding circle of Portland supporters, from both the private and public sectors, really pull this off? A few key things should be considered.

Portland is not San Antonio. The consortium known as A Home for Everyone, run by Multnomah County, is an inspired, Portland-style outreach to serve and place in stable circumstances as many homeless people citywide as possible. Any "Oregon Trail to Hope" center must be configured to complement the group's efforts if the metropolitan region's homeless population is to be rationally served. To that end, the very scale and services rendered at an "Oregon Trail to Hope" should be informed by A Home for Everyone.

Portland owns the 14-acre, riverfront site eyed by Williams. It is surplus property that once served as the Port of Portland's Terminal 1 but held by the Bureau of Environmental Services, barred from spending ratepayers' money to subsidize non-utility endeavors, Brad Schmidt of The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. So the city or Multnomah County should investigate buying the property, valued at $8.6 million but likely to fetch more, and decide whether it's a prudent investment to be contributed to a fruitful cause. Both the city and the county are otherwise spending millions already on homelessness.

Portland should have such complications as those thrown down by Williams and his partner, Dame. The "Oregon Trail to Hope" is an idea worth a very, very hard look as a big part of the solution to a very, very hard problem.
Trump10.JPG

Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., on Tuesday.

(AP Photo)

By The Washington Post editorial board

It had not seemed possible, but Donald Trump descended this week to a new low of bigotry, fear-mongering and conspiracy-peddling. Republican leaders who said last week that they expected a change in tone after Trump's racist attacks on a California judge quickly received their answer. What can House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., or Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., possibly say now? As the country mourned the wanton slaughter of 49 people early Sunday, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee took a victory lap, hinted darkly that President Obama is an enemy of the nation, libeled American Muslims and, in grotesque punctuation, finished up with a vindictive attack on the media.

"Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism," he tweeted. "I don't want congrats," he continued, as though that were not exactly what he wanted, "I want toughness & vigilance." Trump may have calculated that a suddenly anxious electorate would be more receptive to his campaign of fear and prejudice, emotions he immediately attempted to inflame.

In a Monday speech, Trump painted a false picture of a nation infiltrated by waves of unscreened Muslim refugees and immigrants, who, abetted by Democrats, are destroying American values and threatening the public. Among other things, he chillingly accused Muslim Americans of complicity with terrorists: "The Muslims have to work with us," he said. "They know what's going on. They know that [the Orlando shooter] was bad. They knew the people in San Bernardino were bad. But you know what? They didn't turn them in. And you know what? We had death, and destruction."

The following shouldn't have to be repeated, but Trump makes it necessary. Most American Muslims are as patriotic and law-abiding as most American Christians, Jews and Hindus. Many have fought for and are fighting for the United States in dangerous theaters far away. To generalize as Trump does about "the Muslims" is to set the nation down a dangerous road it has trod, to its eventual regret, in the past: banning Chinese immigrants a century ago, rounding up U.S. citizens and noncitizens of Japanese descent in the 1940s, expelling "wetbacks" a decade later.

Trump also raised suspicion in television interviews that President Barack Obama wants terrorists to strike the United States, or at least looks the other way as they scheme. "We're led by a man that either is not tough, not smart or has something else in mind. And the something else in mind - people can't believe it. People cannot believe that Obama is acting the way he acts and can't even mention the words 'radical Islamic terrorism.' There's something going on." He invited poisonous speculations about his Democratic opponent's motives, as well: Hillary Clinton "wants to allow radical Islamic terrorists to pour into our country,"he said. Informal Trump adviser Roger Stone, meanwhile, claimed that Huma Abedin, a top Clinton aide, might be "a terrorist agent."

Trump capped a day of assaulting fundamental liberal democratic values by announcing he would ban Post reporters from covering his campaign events. If this is his inclination now, imagine how he might wield the powers of the presidency.

Before the Orlando shooting, Beltway analysts speculated about how a terrorist attack might affect the presidential election. Now we know at least part of the answer: Trump would reveal himself more clearly than ever as a man unfit to lead.

(c) 2016, The Washington Post
Media coverage during the past year has boosted Donald Trump's popularity at the expense of rival Hillary Clinton, but that has not stopped Clinton from widening her lead over Trump, according to findings from a Harvard University study and a new poll.

A study released Tuesday by Harvard's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy said Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has disproportionately benefited from news coverage of his campaign, although Trump has regularly complained the media has treated him unfairly.

Despite the study's findings, Trump announced Monday he was banning The Washington Post from campaign events, extending the list of banned media organizations to more than a half dozen.

In response to the ban, the White House Correspondents Association criticized Trump for "arbitrarily" banning news outlets.

"Any nominee for the highest office in the country must respect the role of a free and adversarial press, not disown the principles of the First Amendment just because he or she does not like the tone or content of their coverage," president Carol Lee said in a statement Tuesday.

The study found Trump received 34 percent of the media's coverage of the Republican primaries, far more than any of his Republican rivals. Jeb Bush came in second with 18 percent. Trump's media coverage was worth about $55 million, compared with $19 million for Bush.

The report said that because Trump had no political experience or voter base, he resorted to the use of harsh rhetoric to compete with party rivals Bush, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.

"The politics of outrage was [Trump's] edge, and the press became his dependable if unwitting ally," the report said. And "Trump exploited [the media's] lust for riveting stories," the report found.
Photo provided

Mary Anne Forgach was singled out for her inspirational teaching when she received the Green Apple Teaching Award from the Michigan State University College of Engineering. Only one Green Apple Teaching Award is presented each year by the MSU College of Engineering.

Forgach teaches third grade at Carpenter Street Elementary School in Midland and will retire at the end of this school year.
Blessed Sacrament Church will hold a prayer gathering tonight in light of the mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub. Its scheduled for 7 p.m. at the church, at 3109 Swede Ave.

Everyone in the community is welcome, said Debbie Ballard.

An ecumenical prayer service is also set for 6 p.m. Thursday at First Congregational Church, 430 S. Jefferson St. in Saginaw. And in Bay City, at the fountain on Third Street downtown near the river, a civil remembrance service is set for 7:30 p.m. with a walk to Asian Noodle for a light dinner afterward.

I hope people come, said Joan Brausch.

Brausch is a board member of Perceptions Saginaw Valley, a Midland nonprofit whose website states it strives to foster a positive image for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and our allies.

I hope out of this comes some action, some way to change our response to this besides just prayer, she said. We need to change the way we are as Americans.

A gunman opened fire early Sunday at the Pulse club in Orlando in what would later be called the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Police said Omar Mateen, 29, killed 49 people and wounded at least 53 at the gay club.

Before being slain by a SWAT team, Mateen told his father he had been disturbed by seeing two men kissing in Miami, the Associated Press reported. Officials said Mateen pledged allegiance to ISIS in a 911 call during the rampage.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  A judge dismissed misconduct charges Tuesday against a former Michigan lawmaker who was forced from office in a sex scandal and ordered another ex-legislator to stand trial.

Lansing District Judge Hugh Clarke Jr. ruled that there was not enough evidence for Cindy Gamrat to face felony misconduct in office charges. But he said the case against Todd Courser will proceed on two of four counts  a perjury charge that carries a maximum 15 years in prison and a misconduct in office charge that has a maximum penalty of five years.

Clarke tossed two other misconduct charges against Courser.

Gamrat, 42, became only the fourth legislator in state history to be expelled in September. Courser, 43, resigned rather than be kicked out.

An aide testified during the hearing that Courser asked him to send an outlandishly false, sexually explicit email to thousands of fellow Republicans as a ruse so his extramarital affair with Gamrat  a fellow freshman tea party conservative  would not be believed if it became public, but the staffer refused because he thought it was unethical and possibly illegal.

The state attorney general's office accused Gamrat and Courser of lying during a House Business Office investigation and of having staff in their combined office forge their signatures on legislation ready for introduction to beat another lawmaker in proposing a road-funding bill. But the judge said there was no probable cause that Gamrat ever told a staffer to sign her name on the legislation. He also ruled there was insufficient evidence that she knew about the email's contents.

"I can't say that there was corrupt intent here," Clarke said.

Gamrat teared up while giving a short statement to reporters after the judge announced his decision.

"I do have a lot of mixed emotions. It's been a really hard journey," Gamrat said.

The judge threw out a charge that Courser solicited his aide to send the bogus email during a late-night meeting at Courser's law office in Lapeer, about 65 miles from Lansing.

"It didn't take place here in my jurisdiction," said Clarke, who also dismissed a charge that Courser gave false information to the House Business Office during its investigation.

Courser expressed confidence that he would prevail at trial, calling the remaining allegations  that he ordered staff to affix his signature to proposed bills in violation of House rules and subsequently perjured himself before a legislative disciplinary committee  the "weakest" brought by Attorney General Bill Schuette.

"I certainly maintain my innocence," Courser said.

Assistant attorneys general had no comment when leaving the courtroom.
GENEVA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP)  Authorities have arrested an armed man in rural southwestern Michigan following a standoff.

TV station WOOD reports (http://bit.ly/1Pt7IKu ) that the man barricaded himself in a home in Van Buren County on Tuesday and was under arrest early Wednesday. At several times the 41-year-old fired toward police, prompting officers to return fire.

No officers were hurt.

State police say they went to the home Tuesday morning to investigate alleged threats against an elected official and the man became upset, got a gun and fired a shot. Police say they tried to negotiate with the man during the standoff.

Police say the Van Buren County prosecutor's office authorized charges against the man of carrying of a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, assault with a dangerous weapon and reckless use of a firearm.

___

Information from: WOOD-TV, http://www.woodtv.com
Europeans generally see Islamic State (IS) as the biggest threat to their nations, the Pew Research Center reports.

Climate change is the second largest concern of Europeans, ahead of the influx of refugees on the continent from Iraq and Syria, according to the new study "Europeans Face the World Divided" by the Washington-based research center.

Only 17 percent of respondents in the ten European countries surveyed feel IS is a minor threat, and only 3 percent view it as no threat at all to their nation.

Terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels over the past year have put terrorism on the top of the list of concerns of Europeans, and security remains elevated across the continent.

Most Europeans, however, do not feel that military spending should be increased, fearing that increasing military force to fight terrorism only leads to more hate which will increase violence, according to the study.

Brussels was targeted by IS terrorists in March, with 32 people killed in bombings that hit the city's airport and metro. IS also attacked Paris in November of last year, killing 130 people.
The Michigan Interscholastic Press Association has honored Midland High School teacher James Woehrle with its 2016 Golden Pen Award.

Woehrle was honored at MIPAs Spring Awards and On-Site Contests in Lansing, along with more than 2,500 contest winners in the organizations statewide scholastic journalism contest.

The Golden Pen is the highest award MIPA bestows on a student media adviser and has been bestowed continuously since 1952. Teachers must be nominated by their students, who assemble an extensive portfolio showcasing the teachers involvement in scholastic journalism activities and the impact he or she has had on current and past students.

The recipient is chosen by a committee of previous Golden Pen honorees.

Jim Woehrles classroom represents what is so special about scholastic journalism, and he embodies the characteristics of what makes a great journalism teacher, said Jeremy Steele, executive director of MIPA and a faculty member in the Michigan State University School of Journalism. Jim empowers his students with the knowledge they need to produce great journalism and gives them the freedom to reach their full potential.

And when those students leave his classroom, theyre better writers, stronger communicators and more informed citizens.

Woehrle has advised Midland High Schools student newspaper, Focus, since 2000. In that time, the newspaper has earned 13 Spartan Awards, the highest award MIPA gives to student media, and a National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker. In addition, he is an instructor at the MIPA Summer Journalism Workshop at Michigan State University and is a frequent presenter at MIPA conferences.

When most high school programs are designed to prevent students from failing at all costs, even if it means threatening their grades or making decisions for them, the Focus puts all the responsibility on the student editors and staff, giving them unprecedented control over what they create, wrote Focus Editor-in-Chief William Hackbarth and Managing Editor Megan Nylund in their nomination of their teacher. While he would never take credit, Jim Woehrle is directly responsible for this amazing environment.
To the editor:

Many members of the Saginaw Diocese came together on the evening of May 3 at Assumption Parish Hall in Midland to discuss the topic of Why are Catholics Leaving the Church? Between 2005 and 2015, data shows that over 18,000 Catholics no longer attended Mass and presumably have left the church in the Saginaw Diocese. This is a 37 percent decrease over the last 10 years and was based on information that was gathered by the Diocese through their October pew count.

One hundred twenty-five people listened to an introduction by Fr. Joseph Schabel and were encouraged to discuss the topic in small groups. Catholics from many parishes (as well as non-Catholics) had lively discussions about the reasons people are leaving and each table shared a final consensus with the full group at the end of the evening. Data was collected and is being compiled to share with those who attended, as well as other parish and diocesan clergy and staff. The second part of the program is to be scheduled for the coming fall. Watch the newspaper for the date and time. We hope to continue the discussion and to take action to keep our church vibrant and alive.

The evening was sponsored by The Mid-Michigan Voice of the Faithful which meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. at a local Midland parish. For more information, contact: MidMichiganVOTF@gmail.com.

JOSEPH SCHOREN

President

Mid-Michigan VOTF

Midland
This jet is a stud, said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Ian Bennett as he looked up at the number nine jet while the rest of the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 F-18A Hornets lined down the ramp, each significantly less used.

Bennett, a power line technician with the squadron based out of Miramar, Calif., is one Marine who maintains the jet, which is holds the highest flying hours in the Marine Corps F-18A Hornet inventory. With 9,748 flying hours, the jet will be retired for parts or another useful purpose shortly after the 10 sorties and travel involved with RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2.

Its never too late to teach an old dog new tricks, said U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Anthony Tilelli, the VMFA 314 officer in charge of maintenance. In development these jets were designed to fly 5,000 hours. When they hit the fleet, that was raised to 6,000. Now we are pushing the originally intended target 100 percent to 10,000 till a jet is sent for a new purpose.

With each jet at least 2,000 hours behind number nine, Bennett and Tilelli agree on one thing, This jet likes to fly.

Flying with the most hours hasnt stopped this jet, in fact, it just goes, Tilelli said. Although it is often more work, it is absolutely imperative to keep all our jets working perfect for this exercise. Its no different than a real life operations; it is our responsibility to provide the combatant commander with the requirements he asks for.

Born April 8, 1987, number nine holds the lot number 163137. It has served around the world in contingency operations in the Middle East and then showcased as a U.S. Navy Blue Angel. Now, it is showing its grit in the premier training exercise in the Arctic.

The biggest challenge being here with jets of this age is parts, said Bennett. When you look for certain replacements you hear, We dont make that anymore, Thats on back order, or We are going to check a scrap jet for that. That just shows age is catching up with them.

However, this doesnt stop the team of more than 150 maintainers from keeping this fleet aloft.

We get creative, Bennett explained. You have to adapt and overcome these hiccups. There are a ton of bright Marines ready to offer solutions and keep the ball rolling, getting these jets off the ground, winning the fight and arriving back home safe.

RF-A 16-2 will keep jets in the air through 10 simulated combat sorties flying over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, a more than 67,000 square mile airspace, including one conventional bombing range and two tactical bombing ranges containing 510 different types of targets and 45 threat simulators.

Eight thousand hours is a high-mileage jet, said Tilelli. With the 10 sorties here we will push most of these jets into Life Limiting Repair Maintenance, which is due every 50 hours on airframes this old.

Pushing those 10 jets, regardless of the amount of flying hours, is what shows the perseverance of the U.S. Marine Corps. The reward for the maintainers comes at the beginning and end of each launch.

Being hands on and physically in and around these jets daily you create a bond and ownership over that piece of equipment, said Bennett. To see all the jets take off and come back safe is a great feeling every time.
Maj. Gen. Kevin Schneider, Pacific Air Forces chief of staff, visited Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson June 9 to 12 as part of RED FLAG-Alaska's Executive Observer Program.



During the visit, Schneider and 13 other leaders from 12 different nations' air forces participated in presentations and discussions how the U.S. Air Force integrates and synchronizes service capabilities, resources and effects to meet national challenges. All participants focused on learning each respective air forces operational challenges, as well as developing potential way-ahead for more efficient interoperability.



The framework for this iteration of the EOP is set against RF-A 16-2, a PACAF commander-directed field training exercise for U.S. and international forces, which provides joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support and large-force employment training in a simulated combat environment.



"There are a number of challenges in the world today: weapons of mass destruction proliferation, aggressive state actors, terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief," Schneider said. "Regardless of the size of the air force, there is a lot of common ground and common challenges throughout the international community.



"What the EOP allows us to do is to figure out ways to be more effective and efficient together," he added."



Schneider said it is critical each nation's forces understand how the others think and operate. In a manner of speaking, everyone needs to speak a common language.



"Our pacific partners' various roles are essential to security and stability in the pacific region, Schneider said. "The challenges we all face are such that no nation is going to go at it alone. Whether it's a disaster relief type of contingency or all the way at the other end of the spectrum -- conflict."



Schneider explained one of the main goals of the EOP is to help establish and maintain the relationships amongst people, because at the end of the day, it takes people coming together to accomplish the mission.



"Partnerships don't happen by accident," Schneider said. "Partnerships happen through interaction. Whether it be the young Airman or staff sergeant out there as a subject matter expert exchanging information in a country, or whether it's a unit level deployment like RED FLAG, those relationships take time to mature. It takes work to build on those. When crisis happens, those partnerships are what we rely on to get the mission done."



PACAF's mission is to deliver rapid and precise air, space and cyberspace capabilities to protect and defend the United States, its territories allies and partners; provide integrated air and missile warning and defense; promote interoperability throughout the Pacific area of responsibility; maintain strategic access and freedom of movement across all domains; and posture to respond across the full spectrum of military contingencies in order to restore regional security.



Schneider said he is proud of the commitment to excellence he sees in PACAF's Airmen as they work to fulfill their part of the mission.



"We're doing exceptionally well," Schneider said. "You see Airmen at very junior levels who have technical expertise, knowledge, skill sets and ultimately intellect that is tremendously advanced. They're thinking through problems that are far more complex than those facing the Air Force of yesteryear. It's truly impressive."



The general encouraged JBER's Airmen to continue to strive for excellence and highlighted the importance of their role in PACAF's area of responsibility.



"We have a strategic triangle in PACAF: Alaska, Hawaii and Guam," Schneider said. "Operationally and strategically, JBER is tremendously important because of its location and ability to project power not only in the region but around the world.



"The role the Airmen here play is vital to stability and security in the pacific region," he continued.
Gen. Robert B. Brown (left), U.S. Army Pacific commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Bryant Lambert (right), U.S. Army Pacific command sergeant major, present the Mana O Ke Koa "Spirit of the Warrior" Award to the Honorable Daniel K. Akaka, a Hawaii U.S. Representative (1976-1990) and Senator (1990-2013). Akaka was on hand Friday evening to receive the Mana O Ke Koa "Spirit of the Warrior" Award which honors individuals who have distinguished themselves by their steadfast support of Soldiers, their Families and the Army community. The award was established by United States Army Pacific in June 2007, coinciding with the centennial celebration of Fort Shafter. The Mana O Ke Koa award is symbolized by the Kahili, handcrafted in the traditional Hawaiian manner and made entirely of wood, bone and feathers. Kahili were used in ancient Hawaiian times in the same way as European nobility used shields with coats of arms. Hawaiian nobility used the Kahili to show status, lineage and family ties. Akaka shared how honored he was to have served in the Army, how he is what he is today, and how he has been able to do what he has done, thanks to his service in the U.S. Army. "I'm so grateful and appreciate the privileges that I have in helping our country's security to the United States Army," Akaka said. "I want to tell you that the Army made a huge difference in my life." (U.S. Army picture by Staff Sgt. Chris McCullough, U.S. Army Pacific Public Affairs)

USARPAC Celebrates Armys 241th Birthday By Staff Sgt. Christopher McCullough U.S. Army Pacific
Rear Adm. John Fuller, commander of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, sent a third Red Hill "stakeholder letter" to business and community leaders and elected officials Friday, June 10.Fuller shared the latest news about the fuel storage facility, explained why Red Hill is important especially on the eve of RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific Exercise) 2016, and explained how the Navy is monitoring groundwater with additional sites in order to keep drinking water safe.This latest correspondence is a means to keep communication lines open, provide details about ongoing improvements and show transparency with our military mission in Hawaii."I want to begin by assuring you that testing clearly indicates that all drinking water near Red Hill continues to be safe," Fuller said. "Additionally, independent testing indicates that neighboring drinking water used by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) also remains safe to drink and continues to meet all Federal and State Safe Drinking Water standards.""The Navy and DLA continue our Red Hill Facility inspections and modernization upgrades to further protect drinking water and minimize the risk of future releases," added Fuller. "We prepared documents that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently posted to their website: http://www.epa.gov/red-hill/ . This website contains a summary of meeting discussions, outlines, and reports by the Navy and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for the EPA and the State of Hawaii Department of Health (DOH)."The EPA and DOH held a series of meetings last month."As part the Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) agreement, we participated with Defense Logistics Agency, DOH and EPA in three days of meetings May 10-12 at the DOH offices," Fuller said. "Subject matter experts from the University of Hawaii, BWS with their consultants, State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), and United States Geological Survey also attended. During this same week the EPA also invited their consultants who will help with future Red Hill Facility inspections. EPA's consultants reported that the facility meets or exceeds all current industry standards for the storage and management of bulk fuel, and these experts found no immediate deficiencies requiring correction."Fuller noted, "During the May meetings all attendees gave considerable attention to the topic of groundwater monitoring. As you may recall, the Navy installed two additional monitoring wells in the Red Hill area in October 2014, bringing the number of active monitoring wells to 10 total sampling locations. We will install four additional monitoring wells 2016-2017 for a new total of 14 monitoring points around the facility. The regulatory agencies are now reviewing the work plan for the January 2014 fuel release investigation and potential remediation, and separately, the groundwater flow evaluation. The agencies are also evaluating comments by the BWS and their consultants.""We continue to meet our commitments outlined in the AOC including tank inspection, repair and maintenance procedures, and the tank upgrade alternative reports. In early April the Navy and DLA submitted to EPA and DOH the first reports on the current release detection and tank tightness testing section as well as the current corrosion and metal fatigue practices section."Both of these reports are pending approval from the regulatory agencies, which also received comments and input from BWS."We continued upgrading the facility's fire suppression, ventilation, and oil-tight door systems during the last few months," Fuller also noted. "We also completed inspections and conducted maintenance upgrades to main pipelines to prevent potential leaks. We continue warranty repairs on Tank 5 and plan to put that tank back into service only after it is ready; we are targeting year's end."The Navy and DLA remain committed to securing the funding necessary to fulfill obligations under the AOC as dictated by the regulatory agencies, according to Fuller."We will continue to submit water test results to DOH and will promptly inform DOH, EPA and the public if there is ever any risk to our drinking water," said Fuller.Beginning June 30 and through July the Navy will host the Rim of the Pacific exercise. Twenty-seven nations will participate in and around Hawaii, and RIMPAC 2016 is expected to bring tens of millions of dollars into the state."Most importantly, this cooperation-building exercise, designed to strengthen peace, stability and understanding here in the Pacific further underscores the strategic importance the Red Hill Facility continues to play in meeting our national and international defense obligations," Fuller added.Fuller concluded his letter reiterating the Navy's commitment to "safeguarding our national interests, and ensuring the free flow of commerce so vital to us in Hawaii" while ensuring the drinking water remains safe."I am firmly committed to protect the drinking water in and around the Red Hill Facility; we will work collaboratively with the regulators under the AOC, and to continue keeping you informed along the way," said Fuller.Both the first and second stakeholder letters from Rear Adm. Fuller, along with other information and photos, are available at http://www.cnic.navy.mil/redhill/ or http://www.epa.gov/region9/waste/ust/redhill/index.html/ For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil/ http://www.facebook.com/usnavy/ , or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy/ For more news from Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/cnrh/
WASHINGTON, June 14, 2016  The biennial

 The biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise that begins at the end of June will boast participation from 27 nations and 25,000 service members, 45 ships, five submarines and more than 200 aircraft, Defense Department Press Operations Director Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told Pentagon reporters today.

Known as RIMPAC, the exercise is slated to operate June 30 through Aug. 4 in and around Hawaiian waters and Southern California, Davis said.

25th Exercise in 45 Years

In its 25th iteration this year since its 1971 inception, RIMPAC is the worlds largest international maritime exercise, Davis said, adding that it provides a training exercise opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relations that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security of the worlds oceans.

China is one of the 27 nations participating in this years exercise, Davis said.

Chinese participation in RIMPAC will be in compliance with U.S. legislation and regulations, he said. The U.S. Navy has operational security safeguards to protect U.S. technology and [U.S.] tactics, techniques and procedures from disclosure. Thats the case for all nations that participate in RIMPAC.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  From cheese to sliced turkey, the Obama administration is encouraging food companies and restaurants to lower the amount of salt in the foods they sell.

If the effort is successful, most Americans won't even notice the change. The idea is to lower sodium levels gradually so consumers' taste buds can adjust, and to give the industry time to develop lower-sodium foods. Voluntary guidance proposed by the Food and Drug Administration this month sets two-year and 10-year sodium targets for around 150 categories of foods.

It's the first time the government has recommended such limits. Sodium content already is included on existing food labels, but the government has not previously set specific sodium recommendations.

Things for consumers to know about the new guidelines:

You probably eat too much salt

Health officials from the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say 9 out of 10 Americans are eating too much salt.

The recommended amount is 2,300 milligrams a day, or about a teaspoon. But most people eat closer to 3,400 milligrams a day. That number has stayed steady over the years.

The government says overwhelming scientific evidence shows that blood pressure increases when sodium intake increases, upping the chances of heart disease and stroke. Most of that sodium is hidden inside common processed foods and restaurant meals, making it harder for consumers to control how much salt they eat.

Soup to doughnuts to deli meat

The new targets cover a wide variety of processed and packaged foods. The guidelines propose average sodium amounts for categories of foods, and also upper limits for individual foods.

For some foods, levels of sodium can vary widely. According to the CDC, sodium in a slice of white bread ranges from 80 milligrams to 230 milligrams. The new guidelines are designed to encourage more consistency, and for companies to aim for the lower ranges.

When lowering sodium levels, companies say that in some cases, just removing added salt or switching ingredients does the trick. Potassium chloride can also substitute for common salt (sodium chloride), though too much can cause a metallic taste.

In addition to flavor, companies use sodium to increase shelf life, prevent the growth of bacteria or improve texture and appearance. That can make it more difficult to remove from some products.

Diners may not taste change

Whether you can taste it or not, many food companies have already lowered the amount of sodium in their foods. Wal-Mart, ConAgra Foods, Mars Food, Nestle and Subway restaurants say they have achieved major sodium reductions in their products.

While those companies have touted their reductions, others have kept them quiet, fearing consumers may think their foods don't taste as good.

The food industry has lobbied against the guidelines, noting companies are already making changes. Leon Bruner of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, an industry group, said companies will work with the FDA on the guidelines and will ensure the agency is using the most recent science.

FDA officials say they expect companies to eventually comply.

Guidelines are a long time coming

The guidelines were delayed for several years amid the backlash from the food industry. The FDA first said it would issue voluntary guidelines in 2010, after an Institute of Medicine report said companies had not made enough progress on reducing sodium and advised the government to establish maximum levels for different foods. The FDA decided to go with a voluntary route instead.

In the meantime, the institute issued another report in 2013 that said there is no good evidence that eating sodium at very low levels  below the 2,300 milligrams a day that the government recommends  offers benefits. The food industry touted that report.

Some companies have worried that the guidelines are more warning than suggestion. But the wait means that Obama administration officials probably won't be around to see if individual companies follow the guidelines. A new administration likely will be tasked with making them final, as they could take a year or more to complete.

Range of opinions

Health groups have argued for mandatory standards, but say voluntary guidelines are a good first step. Michael Jacobson, the head of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, says the government should assess how the voluntary standards work and set mandatory targets if they don't.

The guidelines could face some backlash in Congress. Republicans have already fought the Obama administration over efforts to require calorie labels on menus and make school lunches healthier.

And at least one group is totally opposed to the guidelines: The American Salt Institute. The group says lowering levels could be harmful if people don't get enough sodium.
Military police on Tuesday seized two Chinese trawlers that were illegally fishing in neutral waters between the two Koreas.

Officers caught the two 20-ton Chinese trawlers in the Han River estuary around 7 p.m. and handed 14 violently resisting fishermen over to coast guards in Incheon, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The fishermen threw fishing tackles at their captors, but none were injured. Six other Chinese trawlers that had been trying to fish there escaped, the JCS said.
TUSCOLA  A Douglas County judge said Wednesday that he will rule next week on whether Alan Beamans lawsuit against three retired Normal police officers will move forward, but the judges decision to set more hearing dates may be a sign that the case is headed for trial.

If Judge Richard Broch Jr. denies a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by lawyers for three former officers and the town of Normal, Beaman would return to the McLean County Law and Justice Center for a trial involving accusations that he killed his former girlfriend in 1993. This time, however, the focus will be on the Normal Police Department and its handling of the murder case that sent Beaman to prison for more than 13 years, before he was released.

Broch, appointed to hear the case because of conflicts of interest for former McLean County prosecutors who went on to serve as judges in the 11th Judicial Circuit, said Wednesday that he will rule next week on the defense motion to end the lawsuit.

The judge went ahead with setting a July 28 pretrial hearing where motions from both sides to exclude certain evidence may be heard. It is unlikely such legal work would be performed if the lawsuit were headed for dismissal.

An Aug. 8 trial date is set in McLean County, but that may be postponed if the pretrial motions and other legal work is still going on.

Beaman, now 43 and living in Rockford with his wife and two children, is seeking more than $50,000 in damages from the town of Normal and retired police officers Tim Freesmeyer, Dave Warner and Frank Zayas.

In 2009, the Illinois Supreme Court vacated Beamans conviction in the death of Jennifer Lockmiller, a 22year-old Illinois State University student who was found strangled and stabbed in her apartment in Normal on Aug. 28, 1993. The McLean County states attorneys office later opted to dismiss the murder charges that were, according to the Supreme Court, based on weak and tenuous evidence.

Locke Bowman, one of Beamans lawyers, and defense counsel Thomas DiCianni declined to comment after Wednesdays hearing.

The state argued in Beamans 1994 trial that he managed to speed to Lockmillers apartment from his home in Rockford, kill her, and return home within a 3-hour window between documented phone calls he made from his home and his mothers return, when she found his car in the driveway.

Lawyers for Normal and its retired officers contend that police acted properly during the investigation in which Beaman, then a student at Illinois Wesleyan University, was considered a suspect based in large part on his rocky relationship with Lockmiller. The two had ended their relationship weeks before her death.

In a March hearing, Bowman outlined a list of alleged misconduct by the police. During his interrogation by Freesmeyer, Beaman was threatened with the death penalty, a tactic not allowed by law, said Bowman.

Beaman also claims that police failed to seriously investigate his alibi or several other, more viable suspects.

Former prosecutors, now retired judges, James Souk and Charles Reynard were involved in the Beaman investigation and are expected to testify during the upcoming trial. Reynard, who was states attorney at the time, stated in a deposition in the lawsuit that the decision to charge Beaman with murder was made by him and Souk and not the officers.
BLOOMINGTON  A McLean County jury acquitted a driver involved in an incident that left a cyclist injured in July of misdemeanor reckless driving Thursday but deadlocked on two felony counts, prompting a judge to declare a mistrial on the more severe charges.

Randy Crump, 62, was accused in the felony charges of forcing Dean Davis off the road and injuring him July 7, 2015, on a rural road near Hudson. Crump, a retired Eureka school superintendent, denied during his testimony that he deliberately forced Davis off the road, saying he was driving cautiously, not aggressively.

The misdemeanor count related to a second rider, Kelly Ruiter, who told police Crump approached her bike from behind and honked aggressively before passing her and slamming on his brakes just ahead of her.

Davis and Ruiter were part of a group of 10 cyclists participating in Tuesday Night Time Trials in which cyclists peddled a 20-kilometer route.

The jury notified Judge William Workman at 3 p.m. Thursday that it had reached decisions on one count but was deadlocked on two others. The judge told jurors to make another effort but an hour later another note indicated that the stalemate still existed.

The jury deliberated for about three hours Wednesday afternoon before being sent home for the night and resuming Thursday morning.

After the verdict, defense lawyer Stephanie Wong said, "We are very pleased with the partial verdict and hope to achieve the same result as to the remaining counts when our next trial concludes."

Assistant State's Attorney Ashley Scarborough declined to comment, citing the pending charges that are set for a status review hearing on July 15.

Davis, 61, of Bloomington was hospitalized with back and neck injuries after his bicycle crashed into a ditch to avoid running into the back end of Crump's vintage Cadillac. He later underwent surgery for related shoulder injuries.

Davis testified during the three-day trial that when Crump "slammed on the brakes" and immediately stopped the car in front of him, "I knew if I hit the rear of his vehicle, bad things were going to happen."

In his testimony Wednesday, Crump reiterated what he told McLean County sheriff's Deputy Jason Simmons in a video recording played in court Tuesday: He was passing some of the bicyclists and he had to brake because a car was coming from the other direction.

But under questioning by Scarborough, Crump said he was not in any danger of colliding with any oncoming vehicle when he applied the brakes after passing Davis.

According to Davis and other witnesses, there was no oncoming traffic and there were no bicyclists immediately in front of Davis, who was traveling around 20 mph to 22 mph on his racing-style bicycle.

Crump said he honked the car horn at some of the bicyclists "because I wanted them to know I was right behind them."

A civil lawsuit filed by Davis against Crump remains pending.
BLOOMINGTON  Ben Owens will wrap up his McLean County Board service early.

Owens, a District 10 Republican, announced Tuesday he has resigned, effective June 30. Owens was set to leave the board Dec. 1 after losing to Josh Barnett in the March 15 primary election.

Barnett is likely to win the seat after no Democrat filed to oppose him in November. Independents may file June 20 to 27.

In the case of a County Board vacancy, the board chairman usually seeks applications, invites applicants to interview with the executive committee and recommends an appointee to the full board, but Owens has asked Board Chairman John McIntyre to skip that process.

"I am asking that, this one time, the County Board not go through (its usual appointment) process ... and appoint Josh Barnett as the District 10 representative," Owens said in a letter to McIntyre, which Owens read aloud at the end of Tuesday's executive committee meeting.

Owens said in his letter he "will be moving out of the district," which precipitated his resignation. District 10 covers part of the city of Bloomington.

He said after the meeting he plans to continue living in the Twin Cities.

Owens, one of the board's longest-serving members, has represented District 10 since 2000.

He also chairs the board's finance committee. District 9 Democrat Erik Rankin is that committee's vice chairman.

During his re-election campaign, Owens said he was proud of his service on the property committee through several critical projects. During his tenure the county bought the former Champion Federal building in downtown Bloomington and converted it into the Government Center and renovated the former county courthouse, which now houses the McLean County Museum of History.

He also pointed to the county's track record of doing such projects without increasing property tax rates.

Owens is the fourth member of the 20-seat board to resign since last fall, following District 5 Republican Sondra "Sonny" O'Connor, in October; District 2 Republican and board Chairman Matt Sorensen, in January; and District 6 Democrat Paul Finch, in February. Dave Selzer, Scott Murphy and Laurie Wollrab have since been appointed to those seats.
Hyundai will launch several new models in the second half of this year to recover its sales after struggling in the market with a lack of new models.

Hyundai recently started receiving pre-orders for its G80 luxury sedan which will be released in July. The face-lifted version of the Genesis DH released in November 2013 is the second model under the luxury badge following the EQ900.

The automaker also plans to release a series of new models -- the revamped version of its i30 hatchback, the completely-modified versions of the luxury Grandeur sedan and the Morning compact -- sometime later this year.
SPRINGFIELD  Even before the deadliest shooting in U.S. history happened last weekend in Orlando, Fla., efforts were underway in the Illinois General Assembly to strengthen the state's gun laws.

The Illinois House is considering a bill that would require gun dealers to be licensed by the state and another that would create a "lethal violence order of protection," allowing family members, roommates or law enforcement officers to seek court orders barring individuals from possessing firearms if there's evidence that they pose a danger to themselves or others.

Both measures are sponsored by state Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, who didn't respond to requests for comment.

Colleen Daley, executive director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, said mass shootings like the one in Orlando, in which 49 people died and more than 50 were injured at a gay nightclub before police killed the gunman, underscore the need for stricter controls on the sale and possession of guns.

"We see this time and time again, primarily in Congress," Daley said. "These things happen and everyone says 'thoughts and prayers,' and then it leads to inaction. Inaction is no longer an option. We have to do absolutely everything we possibly can to help save lives in our country."

The need for stronger gun laws should already be clear in Illinois, Daley said, noting that 42 people were shot, seven of them fatally, this past weekend in Chicago.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was able to purchase the semi-automatic handgun and rifle he used in the attack despite reportedly having previously been investigated by the FBI for possible terrorist connections. Changing that would require congressional action, but Daley said measures like those under consideration in Illinois could help stem the tide of gun violence.

"Congress refuses to act, so we need to do things here in Illinois that are going to save lives," she said.

Allowing family members to go to court for lethal violence orders of protection could potentially prevent a mass shooting, Daley said.

Since the Orlando shooting, Mateen's ex-wife has said publicly that he was "mentally unstable and mentally ill." Under the proposed Illinois law, however, only a relative "by blood or present marriage," a roommate or a law enforcement officer would be able to seek such a court order.

State licensing of firearm dealers, meanwhile, would help prevent guns from reaching the streets to be used in crimes, Daley said.

A 2014 report from the Chicago Police Department notes that four stores  three in suburban Cook County and one in Gary, Ind.  accounted for nearly 20 percent of the guns recovered in Chicago crimes from 2009 to 2013.

More scrutiny from state regulators and local law enforcement would help keep guns out of criminals' hands, the report says.

But Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said both measures under consideration in the General Assembly are examples of unnecessary overreach.

The organization posted an announcement on its website Monday saying that "the gun-grabbers in the Illinois House" are still waiting for their opportunity to call for a vote on the "dangerous legislation" on state licensing.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives already tightly regulates gun sales, making additional state oversight unnecessary, Pearson said.

If the bill were to become law, he said, it would be "used by Chicago and Cook County to harass gun sellers."

Likewise, allowing family members to seek court orders barring people from possessing guns could be "used for harassment of people, of relatives you didn't like," Pearson said.

"Somebody can complain against you, and your rights are immediately wiped out without any hearing," he said.

The bill provides for a hearing within 14 days of an emergency order being granted.

Pearson said his organization isn't against laws that will help put people who use guns illegally in jail. For example, the association supported a bill the Legislature approved this spring that would create a felony charge for firearm trafficking.

The General Assembly also approved a bill that would require the Illinois State Police to notify local law enforcement agencies when someone's Firearm Owner's Identification card is revoked due to a court-issued order of protection.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Bruce Rauner said he "will carefully review these bills to ensure they protect public safety and the rights of lawful gun owners."
The government will partially privatize the power and gas grid now monopolized by state-run KEPCO and Korea Gas Corporation.

The aim is to end the decades-long monopoly of the state-run companies over the utilities and make the bloated businesses more efficient. The measure was announced in a workshop chaired by President Park Geun-hye for CEOs of state-run companies.

Korea, Mexico and Israel are the only countries in the OECD that have not at least partially privatized their utilities.

Private businesses must sell any electricity they produce from solar panels and windmills to KEPCO, which sells them to consumers. But the government wants to end KEPCO's monopoly as early as the second half of this year so private firms can sell power directly to consumers.

Critics fear that electricity prices may rise as they have in many Western countries that privatized their utilities, while there are moves afoot in some countries to take the grid back into public hands.

But Chae Hee-bong at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, "Electricity fees for household use still stand at only 60 percent of charges in other OECD member nations. The latest reforms are at reducing costs and allowing new energy businesses to enter the market quickly."

Korea Gas Corporation controls 94 percent of the natural gas import business in the nation. POSCO, GS Energy, SK E&S and Korea Midland Power are allowed to import natural gas for their own use but are barred from reselling it.

The gas market is to be opened to private businesses by 2025.
Parents refusing vaccines insist that they want to wait on vaccines that protect their children against certain illnesses. There are other reasons imposed by parents on why they refuse to vaccinate their children. Such decision gives ceaseless struggle for physicians on how to care for those families as the number of parents refusing vaccines increase.

Archy Nety reports that there are top three resolutions in the present on parents who refuse vaccination for their children. One is to ask for an insurance policy statement with the removal of nonmedical exemptions towards the requirement that youngsters be immunized to go to school and daycare. Another is to request from the academy to aid pediatricians who decide to release patients following a reasonable, fixed period of time dealing with parents refusing vaccines for their kids based on the suggested schedule. Lastly, a resolution for those who neglect to follow the agreed-upon suggested catch-up schedule after refusing vaccines.

One good example was cited in The New York Times by Dr. Perri Klass. In one case, a preschool-age patient with parents refusing vaccines insisted that they wanted to wait on the vaccine that protects against pertussis.

"It wasn't a dangerous case of a whooping cough; the patient's airway wasn't compromised so maybe parents refusing vaccines might think it's still okay, but he was pretty sick and pretty miserable for a good long time," she said. Doctors would commonly treat pertussis with antibiotics, which make the sick person noninfectious. "But the cough though, can persist for six weeks or more and severe enough to cause rib fractures in some unfortunate patients especially with parents refusing vaccines," she added.

Pediatricians would feel unnecessary guilt for the kids with parents refusing vaccines. Feelings that he or she could've been more persuasive and that it would have made the parents come around to the idea of immunization usually surmount. In that case patients could have been spared from the coughing attacks that convulsed their small bodies which in most cases are often followed by vomiting.

Doctors, discharging patients with parents refusing vaccines are convinced that this can be a question of values. It is as if it has become an impossibility to operate together, as though "vaccines are a purchase of magnitude greater than other things." Parents might want to disregard other pediatric recommendations such as refusing vaccines but it is the pediatricians' obligation to educate parents, and get them to consider the right choice to protect their children from disease and not to refuse it.

Baylor College of Medicine doctors, Dr. Carol Baker, says they have to keep talking to the parents, and try to get patients vaccinated. The most effective practice is giving families a finite time period to consider vaccination leading to "respectful one-on-one discussions." This often ends up well making families refusing vaccines change their mind and agree to have the vaccine administered instead.

Tara Haelle focuses on vaccine hesitancy and vaccine refusal. She explains what underlies the fear and hesitancy that many people have toward vaccines in the video below:
Just because it's summer doesn't mean that students will stop learning science, technology, engineering and math skills essential for higher education. Some summer camps are offering STEM-related programs that cater to students of color in an effort to improve the quality of their lives and produce a more diverse workforce.

Summer Engineering Experience For Kids (SEEK)

Summer Engineering Experience for Kids, or SEEK, is a three-week summer camp experience that immerses black students between the third grade and fifth grade into STEM fields through hands-on projects. SEEK is computer-based and is held from Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM.

Participants will work alongside their peers on projects, which will be put in a competition attended by their parents. Aside from these hands-on activities, the children will be exposed to collegiate STEM students and African-American figures in the STEM field.

SEEK locations are held in states including Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and Philadelphia from June to August. There's a non-refundable $50 application fee for each student.

Black Girls Code

Black Girls Code engages young girls into STEM fields by providing them with hands-on and projects-based programs for 10 days. In this summer camp, black girls with ages between seven and 17 learn how to code and are exposed to computer science and technology.

BGC, which was founded by Kimberly Bryant in 2011, doesn't require students to have prior coding experience. Camp locations are held in Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco Bay Area, New York City and Washington, D.C. Two-week camps cost $300 while one-week programs are for $150. Register here.

Stanford University's Summer Math and Science Honors Academy (SMASH)

Stanford University's Summer Math and Science Honors Academy, or SMASH, is a college preparatory program for underrepresented students of color in high school. SMASH is free of cost and guides students into STEM education through demanding 5-week, 3-year summer programs.

In SMASH, students of color are exposed to rigorous coursework, mentors, role models and support networks consisting of other colored students. Even if the school year rolls in, SMASH scholars are still tied up in the program through monthly STEM activities and workshops. SMASH programs encourage students' critical thinking skills, civic awareness, leadership and sense of social accountability.

Manhattan College Summer Engineering Awareness Program for High School Students

Manhattan College's Engineering Awareness Program develops high school students' interest in engineering as well as science and SAT preparation. For 10 days, students are exposed to guest speakers in STEM fields and experiments in mechanical, civil, electrical, computer and environmental engineering.

The program prioritizes minority and female students from the 11th to 12th grades. Scholarships and financial aid are also on the cards for some pupils.
Charlie Hunnam and Morgana McNelis engagement rumors have been making rounds on the Internet for a while now. The "Sons of Anarchy" actor was recently spotted on a date with his longtime girlfriend and several fans noticed that McNelis was covering her tummy. Is the couple expecting?

Charlie Hunnam and Morgana McNelis are rumored to be expecting their first child after being together for nine years. The couple was recently spotted on a date while furniture shopping in West Hollywood, California, reports Mail Online.

The 36-year-old actor and his girlfriend were seen happily smiling at the cameras as they strolled around the streets of California on Saturday. This is the second time the couple was seen doing some furniture shopping.

The couple was all smiles as the paparazzi took their photos, but many fans noticed that McNelis seemed to be hiding her tummy behind her coat. This led to speculations that the "Pacific Rim 2" actor and his girlfriend are already pregnant with their first child.

While Charlie Hunnam and Morgana McNelis have yet to confirm or deny the pregnancy rumors, many fans expressed their support for the couple. As most fans can recall, Hunnam previously defended McNelis from his fans after being constantly bashed online.

Hunnam took the liberty of expressing his disappointment towards the hate that they are directing to his longtime girlfriend. He also shared that McNelis is the person he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

This sparked speculations that Hunnam and McNelis are engaged. An earlier report from Inquisitr notes that Hunnam previously talked about the diamond ring that he received from his girlfriend.

"She told me she was making me a diamond-encrusted ring," Hunnam said. "She's a jewelry designer, not an actor - and I was like, 'Uh oh. This is not going to go well for me.' But I love it."

Do you think Charlie Hunnam and Morgana McNelis are pregnant? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!


Prince William and Kate Middleton pregnancy rumors have been making rounds online for a while now. While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have yet to confirm or deny the rumors, a recent report claims that Middleton's decision to skip the Summer Olympic Games in Brazil can be taken as a hint that the couple is pregnant with their third child.

Kate Middleton is rumored to be pregnant with her third child, as the Duchess of Cambridge was recently spotted hiding her tummy from the public. Celeb Dirty Laundry also notes on Middleton's decision to skip the Summer Olympic Games in Brazil for fear of contracting the Zika virus.

This might be taken as a confirmation that Middleton is pregnant with her third child after Prince George and Princess Charlotte. An insider told the Daily Star that Middleton has been receiving a couple of advice from her friends to avoid attending the event in order to reduce her chances of contracting the said virus.

The World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control have already issued a warning to all pregnant women to avoid the Summer Olympic Games. Brazil is one of the countries affected by the Zika virus and the CDC has already issued a Level 2 alert for the country.

Rumors about Kate Middleton and Prince William's third child began after a royal insider told Vanity Fair that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge want to have three kids in their family.

"They want at least three kids and for them to be close in age," the source said.

Prince William also addressed issues surrounding his public appearances and said that he would like to focus on his responsibilities as a father. Prince William and Kate Middleton are parents to George, 2, and Charlotte, 1.

Do you think Kate Middleton is pregnant with her third child? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!


It's the 21st century but racism still persists. In New York City, three federal complaints had been filed against schools for allegedly mishandling sexual assault cases involving black girls.

In the span of eight months, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights had already received three complaints from the same lawyer, Attorney Carrie Goldberg. Her complaints are grounded on the assumption of racial and gender discrimination in NYC schools' handling of sexual assault cases. According to her, the response of NYC schools seem to have been influenced by the victims being black and being girls (via Huffington Post).

One of the provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 require institutions that receive federal funding from the Department of Education to undergo their own investigation of sexual assault cases and provide counseling and any necessary assistance to the sexual assault victim. On the basis of sex, Title IX per se, is against discrimination of any individual on any education program or activity.

This is not the case for the tons of girls, ages 13 to 15, who ran to Attorney Carrie Goldberg in need of help. These girls have reported as victims of campus sexual assault but instead of receiving the assistance they need from their NYC school, they had either been suspended or were forced to transfer to a "safer" school.

"Title IX is one cause of action, but there's a greater standard of care required when you are dealing with underage kids. Schools shouldn't just be afraid of losing federal funding. They should also be afraid of lawsuits, and about jeopardizing the safety and wellbeing of their students," Atty. Goldberg said as quoted by Buzzfeed.

Buzzfeed narrates the story of a Haitian-American eight grader who claimed to be raped by a boy who videotaped the incident and shared it on the Internet. The girl, alias G, is one of the many young girls of color included on Goldberg's complaints to the Department of Education (via Huffington Post).

G., who used to study at Spring Creek Community School, was temporarily sent home by the principal until the school finishes working on her sexual assault report. After four days, G. and her mother was told that G. has to transfer to another school for her sake. The mother and daughter would later find out through Atty. Goldberg that no school investigation took place, and that Spring Creek did not do anything to find a replacement school for G.

Another story is that of a 15-year-old student at Teachers Preparatory School. With five witnesses, the girl was forced to give oral sex to two boys. Fearing that it might happen again, the girl reported the incident but the school did not believe her. It claimed that the act was consensual which is why the reporting victim was suspended for "engaging in sexual activity on school grounds" (via Huffington Post).

"I think there's a race and a class issue, in addition to a sexism issue. Teenage black girls are sexualized in society in a way that white girls are not. In these cases, there was doubt the sex happened, no belief the girls were making up the whole stories, there was ample proof this happened. What was being disbelieved was whether or not it's consensual," Atty. Goldberg told Huffington Post.

Now on Atty. Goldberg's latest complaint filed on June 4, she is requesting the Departments of Education and Justice to investigate NYC schools pertaining to sexual assault cases involving black girls. She aims to give justice to these victimized minors.

Do you agree with Atty. Goldberg that racial and gender discrimination influenced the NYC schools' response to sexual assault cases involving black girls? Share your views on the Comments section below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.
The final Democratic primary is underway in Washington, D.C. and Hillary Clinton is presumably the presidential nominee for the Party resulting to many names surfacing on the possible Vice Presidential picks and most of them have made significant contributions in the field of education.

Education Week reported that the names surrounding the position are Julian Castro, Elizabeth Warren, Time Kaine, Sherrod Brown, and Clinton's co-presidential candidate Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Castro is the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He has touched on the topic of education earlier this month after he joined forces with Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. and Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx who top penned the letter Dear Colleague that encourages leaders in education, housing, and transportation to take action regarding the promotion of racial diversity as well as socioeconomic factors.

Castro is also best known for his work on expanding pre-kindergarten via an increase in the sales tax as well as his "Cafe College" initiative. The initiative aims to provide various resources in order to help students in San Antonio to enter higher education.

As for Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat served on the education committee of the Senate and has contributed on the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA). She is best known for her views on students loans for higher education.

Kaine is the Democratic senator from Virginia and has been pushing for career and technical education. He has introduced an amendment making career and technical education a core subject. He also ordered a review on the participation of minority students in gifted academic programs.

Brown, on the other hand, is an Ohio Democratic senator but does not have that much experience in education-related matters as compared to the first three possible VP picks of Clinton. He did urge President Barack Obama's administration not to forget the rural schools when awarding money. He also co-authored Ready for Schools Act with former North Carolina Democratic Senator Kay Hagan in order to prepare elementary schools to educate all children.

Sanders served on the Senate education committee and voted for ESSA. One of his strongest platforms for the campaign trail was the proposal of making public colleges and universities tuition-free.

Clinton and her team have not yet released any names nor confirmed the reports about these people being linked to take on the post. She did say, however, that they will announce their pick during the July convention.
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns gave a commencement speech at Stanford University on Sunday and spent around 10 minutes criticizing GOP presumptive nominee Donald Trump noting that the real estate mogul is an "insult to history".

Burns first shared to his audience, the graduates this year, that he strives for "conscious neutrality in my work" however there are times that he could no longer remain neutral or silent about the presidential candidate of the Republican Party.

Huffington Post reported that Burns said for 216 years, the elections in the United States have featured the philosophies and characters of candidates who are qualified but is not apparently so in the case this year. He did not, however, mention the name of Trump in his speech.

Burns shared, "He is an insult to our history. Do not be deceived by his momentary good behavior. It is only a spoiled, misbehaving child hoping somehow to still have dessert." He pointed out that the real estate mogul insults veterans, threatens a free press, mocks the handicapped, and denigrates women.

Trump has indeed said many insults to women, the Mexican and Muslim community and even proposed building a wall to prevent immigrants from illegally crossing the border. Trump also most often takes his criticisms to Twitter regarding people whom he does not like.

Burns also said during his speech that the GOP presumptive nominee easily lies and creates an environment where the truth does not matter. He added that Trump is an "infantile, bullying man", who depending on his mood is willing to discard old and established alliances.

The speech of Burns was delivered hours after a homegrown terrorist killed 50 people and injured dozens at a gay bar in Orlando, Florida.

Trump has not yet commented on the speech of Burns. The New York businessman, however, said in a statement that he wants to ban immigrants from the Middle East from entering the country in an attempt to ward off terrorism.

The commecenement exercises in Stanford University also pushed through amid the school facing backlash over the controversial rape case involving one of its former students.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) is now preparing to send expert personnel to certain states where the case of Zika Virus contamination is at high risk. The experts will do further laboratory tests as well as strengthen mosquito control within the community.

A few days ago, the video conference held by Health and Human Services Secretary, Sylvia M. Burwell; CDC Director, Tom Frieden; and Deputy Homeland Security Adviser, Amy Pope reported certain states with the highest risk of local transmission. Those are Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Furthermore, Georgia, Hawaii, and California become the largest areas to cover.

According to 7 News, CDC has awarded $700.000 to Florida alone to control and prevent the infections. The funding was issued to cover expenses on lavatory , epidemiology staff, useful equipment and supplies.

ABC News reported that the Federal Health Officials believe that the virus has already been contracted by some individuals even before they go back to the US. Thus, the victims may suffer already within the location before they can get possible recovery from the US health department. That would explain why government awards huge costs to send necessary help in targeted areas.

U.S. official is trying to eliminate the local case of Zika infection since the vector was found throughout South America and even has in the Midwest. Interestingly enough, mosquitoes that carries the Zika virus is not so different from those that cause dengue fever.

The CDC Director, Freiden claimed that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes range to only about 150 meters in its lifetime. "We don't think this is going to be a very common problem, but we do think it's going to be a very high-profile problem," Frieden said.

Today, the virus infects about 2 percent of the adult population in Latin America each month. However, the number could possibly reach the peak and become greater during certain months.
The reputation of Korean universities among employers has not improved for several years, according to the Asian university rankings by the Chosun Ilbo and Quacquarelli Symonds.

Employer reputation is an indicator based on a global survey of how Korean and foreign firms assess university graduates. Some 44,226 personnel managers around the world were asked to make a list of universities from which able employees graduated.

Graduates from the top 10 Korean universities barely managed a combined average ranking of 29.8th this year, a little higher than last year's 31.2th but way behind Japan's 25.5th and with Chinese universities in hot pursuit at 31.4th.

The top 10 Chinese universities ranked a poor 81.4th in employer reputation in 2010, far below Korean universities, but they almost closed the gap this year.
The involvement of fathers in the lives of their children have increased more than ever, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The report looked at father's involvement across childhood ages and the influence of fathers' physical and mental health on their children. It also called on pediatricians to involve fathers in taking care of the health of their children.

According to the report, there are two factors that have led to more involvement of fathers in the lives of their children. These are the growth in the educational achievement of women and the Great Recession of 2008. Due to these, fathers have reportedly more chances to do more at home or even stay at home when mothers have sustainable income for the family.

Dads Are More Involved Than Ever, and Yes, It's Good for Kids https://t.co/hs1xj6tIlH  Photo Roll (@photo_roll) June 14, 2016

Fathers' Impact On Children

"Fathers really have a quite impressive impact on their children's health, including how well they do in school, how well they get along with friends, and whether children run into problems like substance abuse or delinquency," said Dr. Michael Yogman in a news release. Yogman is the chairman of the AAP Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health and co-author of the report.

According to Yogman, pediatricians can encourage fathers to be involved in the lives of their children even through a simple prescription asking them to play with their children every day. In the report, pediatricians are given 14 suggestions on how to involve fathers in children's health care, such as welcoming them in pediatric visits and to encourage them to play a role in caring for children.

Fathers As Primary Caregivers

The importance of fathers in the lives of their children is not a novel concept, but psychologist Eric Lewandowski said that the AAP report has successfully compiled studies on the impact of fathers, Health Day reported. Lewandowski is a psychologist at the New York University Langone's Child Study Center.

Lewandowski noted that the AAP report also called on fathers to be primary caregiver of their children and not be relegated to a role of "auxiliary" support to their wives. The AAP report was published in the journal Pediatrics

Fathers, are you investing time in your children? What is preventing you from doing so? Write your comments below.
Im Woo-jae (46) told the Monthly Chosun that Samsung "made up" the story that he started working as a computer engineer at the conglomerate. In fact he says he started out a bodyguard for chairman Lee Kun-hee.

The estranged husband of Samsung heiress Lee Boo-jin in a rare interview sought to set straight what he said were false rumors about him leaking out of the conglomerate.

Im has been demoted to an adviser at Samsung Electro-Mechanics, where he used to be vice president. "News reports that the chairman was furious when he found out that I was dating his daughter are not true. I got his permission first."

Im said he had not intended to marry Lee and was prepared to end his relationship once the time came for her to find a husband. But they married because her younger sister, Seo-hyun, was in a rush to tie the knot herself.

Like a fairy-tale patriarch, Lee Kun-hee would only consent if his elder daughter married first.

Im also spoke about the difficulties of being the son-in-law of a tycoon. "As the oldest son-in-law of the Samsung family, I had to attend business school at MIT, and this was tough," he said. "I got so stressed that I tried to kill myself twice, only to be stopped by my wife at the last minute."

Im explained why he is turning to the courts to stop the divorce. "I can't accept my wife's claim that I drank a lot of alcohol and battered her several times," he said. "There are 18 domestic staff in our house and none of them ever saw me get drunk and have a fit."

Lee Boo-jin claims Im drank heavily in front of guests and acted violently.

Im said he was unable to become as close to his own son, who is in elementary school, as ordinary dads. "He is Lee Kun-hee's grandson, and that fact made it difficult for me to approach him as a father."


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Censorship is a complicated thing. That time where publication was an easily controlled act and the state actively did the controlling is over. Contemporary totalitarian states do their best, but even in China unwanted information has begun to leak into the farthest corners of that nation. Today in the United States the last areas where unambiguous censorship occurs touches upon what can be deemed national security and some matters that involve sex. In Europe also some things touching on sex, national security and here and there some areas of political and even religious speech are censored. It can and is argued that the areas that remain are censored for the common good.

In contemporary Western cultures it can be argued what precisely is or is not censorship. Here in the United States people whose views run contrary to the established norms, to use a stark example, people who hold various types of Marxist perspectives feel their attempts to broadcast their views are censored. It could be. And it could be argued no one cares and the public venues for distributing information are only interested in what people care about and will look at. (Hence the expression if it bleeds, it leads. Unfortunate, perhaps, but true) Still, I would hope most of us can name some political view we think doesnt get a fair shake in the public forum. When we see those we can think the word censorship. No doubt, it can get ambiguous.

Today that ambiguity has been further muddied with the advent of social media. The era where the only way to communicate broadly was through print is long gone. In the past hundred and fifty years the advance of variety of ways to communicate has been exponential. And with it what we think of as censorship has changed.

People who are de-friended from Facebook, commentators on blogs who find their comments deleted, and people expelled from various listservs for obnoxious comments all have been known to wail loudly how theyve been censored. Now possibly by the narrowest of definitions, the removal of offensive materials or preventing their publication by a second party are examples of censorship.

As a matter of practice, so far as social media goes, however, its obvious people who are blocked from commenting at someone elses private site, are not prevented from sharing their opinions to the world, they simply are not allowed to use someone elses platform to do it. There is no third party monitoring with the intent of silencing voices, again, with some specific exceptions. They are free to set up their own platform, have their own Facebook account, start their own blog, create their own listserv. Most all of these things can be done for free, and if someone doesnt have a computer, they can use one at a public library. Its hard to call that censorship in any meaningful sense.

To give the word censorship any real meaning for our times, we must speak an act of a government or a similarly powerful institution. Censorship is the blocking of expression. And in America if the government does that, it is unconstitutional. Except, of course, when it isnt. I alluded to some forms of sexual expression as censorable. To be specific those forms that involve the abuse of individuals who cannot speak for themselves (as defined by law) together with the somewhat dangerous catch all of national security.

And, at the same time I can think of one real example that seems pretty text book, if veiled. Ill get back to that.

As it happens it was on this day in 1966 that the Vatican abolished its Index Librium Prohibition, what we call the Index of Prohibited Books. While a church, the Roman Catholic Church had for large parts of its history, still does in some places, the force of government. Being prohibited to publish by the church could be the end of someones lifetime of work.

The issue turns on power. Censorship isnt just a passive act. I will not publish your work. Real censorship is active. I will prevent you from expressing your views. And when ones views about the world are challenged by someone unconcerned with your theologies, but rather with pursuing knowledge, well, we start moving into very ugly territory.

We all know Galileos story.

There are other events that stand in a broad area between the silly complaints around being kicked off a listserv and banning Galileo from publishing. In fact most examples of censorship today can be argued in a couple of directions. Is a record label removing a song from publication due to a pressure group threatening a boycott wrong? How about firing an offensive radio show host? Depend on who is offended, Lots of ambiguity here, with various contending goods.

And with that back to, gee I would have thought this would be unconstitutional.

Seems on topic as once again we find ourselves in the aftermath of some mass shooting.

Since 1996 it has been illegal for the Center for Disease Control to conduct research on gun violence. Those who justify it say that the research doesnt really seem to be leading in any direction we need to worry about, and besides it is obvious the CDC just wants to ban guns and given the chance will fake up whatever it takes to do that. Interesting assertion that.

And, of course, it isnt just a negative, not funding research. Funds are, after all, fungible. And so why dont they just go ahead and do their research? Well. There is an actual law on the books that stops it. Its called the Dickey amendment for Arkansas Republican Representative Jay Dickey, which was tacked onto an appropriations bill, one of those must pass things that are used to force such thing into law. It expressly prohibits the CDC to advocate or promote gun control. Which is understood to be any actual research. Go figure

Does the word censorship ring in your ear? The word censorship in its truest sense?

It does in mine. Censorship.

And, sure enough, it is something ugly.
Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who seems to have finally found his life's calling of becoming a crusader against alcohol drinking over other social issues facing Bihar, continued his victory lap for imposing total prohibition in the state saying he would 'rather die than revoke prohibition' from the state.

"I am ready to die but will not back out of prohibition in Bihar," Kumar, who has been accused by his detractors of letting Bihar slip into darkness in terms of crime, education, health care and other social issues in favor of ban on alcohol, said at a Jeevika function at Sri Krishna Memorial Hall in Patna on Tuesday.

Like he has done in the past, Kumar exhorted women associated with Jeevika to go out and find illegal stills and destroy them.

"You have nothing to fear as the entire state administration is behind you," he said.

The Chief Minister said despite being the target of the opposition's mockery, the 'entire Bihar was in a state of bliss and happiness' since he imposed prohibition in the state.

"They made fun of me. Some even hurled abusive words against me but I did not care. Today, the same people who were against prohibition are now telling me that my decision was wise and prudent for the happiness of the state," he said.

Kumar credited the women for encouraging him to impose prohibition in the state and asked them to continue their war against liquor to put an end to domestic abuse in Bihar.
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UN Body Calls for Immediate Release of Bahareh Hedayat

06/15/16

Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

Imprisonment of Prominent Women and Human Rights Defender Is Against International Law, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Rules





June 14, 2016-The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has issued an opinion on the case of the Iranian womens rights activist and human rights defender, Bahareh Hedayat, demanding her immediate release. The opinion ruled Hedayats imprisonment since 2009 is arbitrary and against international law.

WGADs consideration and ruling of Hedayats case, adopted on April, 19, 2016 and released on May 26, 2016, comes in response to a submission to the WGAD by the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

Hedayat was given a brief furlough (temporary leave) from Evin Prisons Womens Ward on June 7, 2016, but was returned to prison less than a week later on June 13. The Campaign calls for her immediate release in light of the WGAD ruling.

It is high time for this injustice to end. After almost seven years of unlawful imprisonment, the Iranian authorities should release her immediately, said Hadi Ghaemi, the Campaigns executive director.

The WGAD opinion noted that the Judicial proceedings against Hedayat were riddled with breaches of due process and international law.

The deprivation of liberty of Bahareh Hedayat was arbitrary, being in contravention of articles 9, 10, 11, 19 and 20 of the UDHR [the Universal Declaration of Human Rights] and articles 9, 10, 14, 19 and 21 of the ICCPR [the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights], and falls within categories I, II and III of the categories applicable to the consideration of cases submitted to the Working Group, it stated.

WGAD also expressed serious concern for Hedayats health, stating: ... the Working Group wishes to record its grave concern about Ms. Hedayats deteriorating health since her detention in December 2009, particularly the allegations made by the source that she has not been provided with adequate medical care and that this may result in irreparable harm to her health and leave her permanently sterile.

The WGAD ruling concludes by calling for her immediate release: Taking into account all the circumstances of the case, especially the risk of irreparable harm to Ms. Hedayats health and physical integrity, the Working Group considers that the adequate remedy would be to release Ms. Hedayat immediately, and accord her an enforceable.

WGAD also noted that it communicated its concerns to the Government of Iran and requested it response, but the Government of Iran did not provide a reply within the standard response time required.

Agents of the Ministry of Intelligence arrested Hedayat on December 30, 2009. On May 5, 2010, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court in Tehran sentenced Hedayat to a total of 7.5 years of imprisonment for the following three charges:

Six months of imprisonment for insulting the President,

Two years of imprisonment for insulting the Leader, and

Five years of imprisonment for acting against national security and publishing falsehoods.

In July 2010, the Appeals Court upheld Hedayats sentence. According to Article 134 of the Iranian Penal Code, a prisoner sentenced under multiple charges should serve no more than the maximum sentence for the charge carrying the heaviest sentence. In Hedayats case, the application of Article 134 meant that she should be released after five years relating to her charge of acting against national security and publishing falsehoods.

Accordingly, on August 12, 2015, the Appeals Court issued a release order for Hedayat. Yet she was never released and the judicial authorities insisted on imprisoning her for another two years, claiming that she should serve a suspended sentence of two years issued against her in May 2007. According to Iranian law, this suspended sentence expired in 2012 under a five-year statute of limitation.

Hedayat is held at Evin Prisons Womens Ward, which is used exclusively for political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.

The Campaign will be publishing an in-depth report on this ward next week, titled Inside the Womens Ward: Mistreatment of Women Political Prisoners at Irans Evin Prison. The report, based on exclusive and detailed first hand testimonies, reveals the inhumane and unlawful conditions the women political prisoners suffer there.

Iran must cease criminalizing peaceful dissent. It can begin with the immediate release, after almost seven years behind bars, of the unjustly imprisoned human rights defender Bahareh Hedayat, said Hadi Ghaemi.
Zarif, Kerry meet in Olso to discuss Iran's complaints

06/15/16

Source: Press TV

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry have met to discuss the implementation of last year's nuclear accord and obligations in its implementation. The 70-minute closed-door talks in a downtown Oslo hotel on Wednesday touched on Iran's complaints that it's not getting the sanctions relief it deserves under the agreement.



Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Oslo, Norway on June 15, 2016 (photo by

(photo by Islamic Republic News Agency

The meeting came just a day after Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stated again that the US is not living up to its commitment to ease sanctions under the agreement.

"The two discussed progress on the continuing implementation of the (nuclear deal), including issues related to banking and relief of nuclear-related sanctions," the State Department said in a brief statement.





On Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran has fulfilled its obligations under the agreement but the US is dragging its feet on lifting sanctions in the banking and insurance sectors, and on unfreezing Iranian assets.

"The Americans have not carried out an important part of their commitments," the Leader said. Ayatollah Khamenei also said if the next US president tears up the nuclear deal, Iran will "light it on fire."

Zarif, who was already in Oslo, said "psychological remnants" of the previous sanctions regime are preventing European and Asian banks from conducting business with Iran.

The minister said the US must show seriousness in encouraging banks to do business with Iran following the lifting of sanctions.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Ministers Abbas Araqchi and Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi also met with deputy EU foreign policy chief Helga Schmid.
Supreme Leader: Iran will burn JCPOA if U.S. tears it up

06/15/16

Source: Tehran Times

TEHRAN - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that Iran will burn the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action if the U.S. tears it up.



Ayatollah Khamenei talking to regime's officials

(source:

Ayatollah Khamenei talking to regime's officials(source: Vatan Emrooz

We will not violate the JCPOA; however, if the other side violates it, as the U.S. presidential candidates are threatening to tear up the JCPOA, we will burn it, he said during a meeting on Tuesday with the heads of the three branches of the government and other ranking officials of the country.

According to Reuters, Republican candidate Donald Trump said last August it would be hard to rip up the deal, but if elected president he would police that contract so tough they dont have a chance.

The Islamic Republic wont be the first to violate the nuclear deal. Staying faithful to a promise is an order of Quran, but if the American presidential candidates carry out their threats to tear up the deal, then the Islamic Republic will burn the JCPOA, the Leader stressed.

In March, Ted Cruz, a Republican presidential hopeful, told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) that they would scrap the nuclear deal with Iran as they take office.

The Leader further stated that the other side is committed to remove sanctions, but the sanctions have not been lifted completely, adding that the U.S. says there is no impediment to banking interaction with Iran, but banks do not dare interacting with Iran in practice.

The issue of insuring oil tankers has not been resolved completely yet, Ayatollah Khamenei continued saying.

Iran has fulfilled its commitments, stopped its uranium enrichment at 20 percent, and shut down nuclear facilities in Fordow and Arak, the Leader reminded.

It is difficult for Iran to access oil revenues and the countrys assets in foreign banks have not been returned due to the U.S. enmity and failure to deliver its promises, he said.

Elsewhere, the Leader noted that it is a misconception that we [the Islamic Republic] can come to terms with the US. We cannot rely on illusions, calling it wrong.

The main problem of the U.S. is the existence of the Islamic Republic of Iran which will not be resolved through negotiation and establishment of relations, because power and independence which originate in Islam are not acceptable for the arrogant power, he added.

Elsewhere, the Leader warned of enemy plots to hinder Irans progress.

The enemys plan is to eliminate the Islamic Republic capabilities or prevent the capabilities from flourishing, he said.

Finally, the Leader highlighted that planning and prioritizing issues related to recession and unemployment will speed up implementation of the resistance economy.

Iran and the 5+1 group - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany - finalized the text of the JCPOA in Vienna in July 2015. The nuclear deal went into effect in January 2016.
Iran deal allows for sales of passenger planes: U.S. State Department

06/15/16

Source: Press TV

The spokesman of the US State Department says Iran's historic nuclear agreement with the permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany (P5+1) allows Western jet manufacturers to trade with Tehran.



A recent report by Iranian magazine Tejarat Nameh claims Iran overpaid for the planes purchased from Airbus

A recent report by Iranian magazine Tejarat Nameh claims Iran overpaid for the planes purchased from Airbus



John Kirby said Tuesday that the deal included a statement that "allowed for a case-by-case licensing of individuals and entities seeking to export, re-export, sell, lease or transfer to Iran commercial passenger aircraft ... exclusively for commercial passenger aviation."

His comments followed reports that Iran had reached an agreement with Boeing Co. for the supply of jetliners after months of negotiations.

Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi said earlier that the deal with Boeing had been finalized, adding that its details will be announced within the next few days.

Akhoundi added that Iran was able to save at least $5 million in its last negotiations over the finalization of the purchase.

The media on 6 June quoted Farhad Parvaresh, the head of the national flag carrier airline of the Islamic Republic - Iran Air - as saying that a "historic aircraft purchase deal" with Boeing was expected to be sealed in the near future.

"Meetings and negotiations are going on. We hope that in the future we can reach an understanding with each other," Parvaresh told Reuters in an interview.

"The number and type of aircraft have to be discussed in the future, but the first step is to have a mutual understanding."

In January, Iran signed a major deal worth $27 billion with aviation giant Airbus to purchase 118 planes from the company. The deal with Airbus was sealed during a state visit to Paris by Iran's President Hassan Rouhani.

Apart from Airbus and Boeing, Iran is also negotiating with several other global aviation giants over the purchases of planes including Bombardier and Embraer.

Iran has a fleet of 250 aircraft, of which 90 are grounded due to the economy or missing parts, officials say.

Of that total, 80 percent will need to be renewed in the next decade, he said, adding that growth could add even more jets to Iran's shopping list.

Iran's nuclear agreement with the P5+1 countries, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was inked in July 2015 in the Austrian capital, Vienna. The agreement went into effect on January 16.

Under the JCPOA, Iran agreed to put some restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.
Zarif, Mogherini exchange ideas on sidelines of Oslo Forum: JCPOA under scrutiny

06/15/16

Source: Tehran Times

Top foreign policy decision-makers of Iran and EU sat together on the sidelines of the Oslo Forum 2016 to clear away obstacles hindering full implementation of the nuclear deal. Participating in the meeting were Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini with other senior diplomats.



Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini (source:

Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (R) with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini (source: Islamic Republic News Agency

One key concern of Iran after the implementation of the nuclear deal has been reluctance shown by international banks, including European ones, to normalize ties with Iranian partners, taking fright at possible fines by the U.S.

"In the first four months this year trade between the European Union and Iran increased by 22 percent," Mogherini told a news conference on Tuesday, adding, "We are very actively engaging with the business community and the banks in Europe and elsewhere to encourage engaging in Iran."

The unsatisfied Tehran has aired grievances, urging the U.S. to take measures to soothe Europeans' banking fears.







During his May visit with New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully in Tehran, Zarif lamented that "We have not fully achieved what we must have, and more measures need to be carried out by the U.S."

The banking challenge will be most likely one major theme of the meeting between Zarif and his American counterpart John Kerry slated for Wednesday.

Under the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, EU terminated limitations on transfers of funds between EU persons and entities, including financial institutions, and Iranian persons and entities, including financial institutions.

Also, EU agreed to allow banking activities, including the establishment of new correspondent banking relationships and the opening of new branches and subsidiaries of Iranian banks in the territories of EU Member States.

Iran expects to reap economic gains from the deal with West and strong banking ties with international partners is key to fulfilling the goal.

Iran and the 5+1 group of countries, including five permanent members of the UN Security Council members plus Germany, forged a deal in July 2015 on Tehran's nuclear program, resulting in removal of sanctions against Iran in exchange for constraints on the country's nuclear activities.
Iran Accuses British-Iranian Woman Of Seeking To Overthrow Government

06/15/16

Source: RFE/RL

Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has accused a British-Iranian woman arrested in April of seeking to "overthrow" the clerical establishment. The IRGC made the accusation in a June 14 statement published by Iranian news sites.





Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe with her daughter Gabriella





The statement claimed that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, had been involved "in media and cyberprojects [focused on] the soft overthrow of the holy establishment of the Islamic republic."

Similar charges have been leveled in the past against other dual nationals and Iranian intellectuals and activists.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, was arrested with her daughter at a Tehran airport on April 3 after visiting family in Iran.

The passport of her 22-month-old daughter, who has only British citizenship, was confiscated.





Husband's plea for British Iranian Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe BBC





The IRGC said she was arrested after "an extensive intelligence operation."

The statement said her case had been sent to Tehran for legal proceedings while an investigation by the IRGC continues.

In recent months several dual citizens have been either detained or faced pressure and interrogations by Iranian authorities.

Based on reporting by Fars and Metro.co.uk

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
Adobe Systems warned users Tuesday that an unpatched Flash Player vulnerability is currently being exploited in targeted attacks. The company expects to deliver a patch as soon as Thursday.

The exploit was discovered by researchers from antivirus vendor Kaspersky Lab in attacks attributed to a cyberespionage group known in the security industry as ScarCruft.

The group is relatively new, but is apparently quite resourceful, as this is possibly the second zero-daypreviously unknown and unpatchedexploit that it used this year.

The other exploit targeted a critical remote code execution vulnerability in Microsoft XML Core Services that was tracked as CVE-2016-0147 and was patched by Microsoft in April.

ScarCruft has been exploiting the new Flash Player zero-day flaw, which Adobe tracks as CVE-2016-4171, as part of a cyberespionage campaign against high-profile victims that was launched in March.

Kaspersky Lab has dubbed this campaign Operation Daybreak and has detected victims in Russia, Nepal, South Korea, China, India, Kuwait and Romania.

ScarCruft is also behind a separate cyberespionage campaign dubbed Operation Erebus that exploits a critical vulnerability in Flash Player patched in May. That vulnerability was also a zero-day when it was discovered in the wild by researchers from security vendor FireEye.

In a security advisory published Tuesday, Adobe said that it will address the new vulnerability in its monthly security bulletins, which will be available as early as Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Kaspersky Lab researchers have confirmed that Microsofts Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) blocks the attack so companies should consider using this tool on their endpoint systems, if they arent already.
An IT worker at Mossak Fonseca, the company at the heart of the Panama Papers leak, was arrested Wednesday in Geneva.

The arrest was made as part of the investigation into the leak, which saw 11.5 million documents from the law firm leaked to the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung.

The documents detailed thousands of offshore companies set up by Mossak Fonseca on behalf of rich clients, sometimes for the purpose of tax avoidance.

The identity of the worker has not been released, and the Suddeutsche Zeitung reporter who led a year-long investigation into the documents said he did not believe the arrested worker was his source.

According to our information the #mossackfonseca IT person arrested in Geneva is not #panamapapers source John Doe @ICIJorg @f_obermaier  Bastian Obermayer (@b_obermayer) June 15, 2016

Still, a lawyer for Mossak Fonseca told Swiss newspaper Le Temps that the millions of documents were accessed and downloaded via the arrested workers computer.

No other details were released. The newspaper quoted a lawyer for the arrested worker denying all charges.

The leak caused embarrassment for many, including politicians who had used the law firm to establish overseas companies to hold assets. Among the casualties was Icelands prime minister, who resigned in April.
Email scammers, often pretending to be CEOs, have duped businesses into giving away at least $3.1 billion, according to new data from the FBI.

The email schemes, which trick companies into wiring funds to the hacker, continue to bedevil companies across the world, the FBI warned in a posting on Tuesday.

The amount of money theyve tried to steal has grown by 1,300 percent since January 2015, it said.

In the U.S. alone, victims have lost $960 million to the schemes over approximately the past three years, FBI figures show. That figure reaches $3.1 billion when global data from international law enforcement and financial groups is included. The number of victims: 22,143.

In many cases, the scammers pretend to be a business executive at the victims company or a trusted supplier. They can do this by hacking into email accounts to send off fraudulent messages. This type of cybercrime, which usually involves a request for a wire transfer, may be called CEO Fraud and The Supplier Swindle depending on the scheme used.

In other cases, the scammers will create fake email accounts that look like those of the business executive or supplier. Sometimes they pretend to be a lawyer handling confidential matters and pressure the victim into sending funds.

These scammers have requested wire transfers to 79 countries, but most go to banks located in China and Hong Kong, the FBI said.

In some cases, the scammers will follow up with a ransomware attack, the FBI added. Victims may receive an email that contains a link or an attachment with malware. If its opened, it will threaten to hold their data hostage.

There are ways to ward off the danger. The FBI said the scammers study their targets carefully, so company employees should be careful about what professional details they post to social media. Spam should never be opened, and any wire transfers should be verified with telephone calls between the subjects.

Trend Micro Which company positions are most faked in the email schemes, according to Trend Micro

Security firm Trend Micro has also been tracking these email scams and found that 31 percent of the time, the hackers pretend to be a company CEO.

The schemes most often target a companys financial department. Forty percent of the malicious email messages were sent to a companys chief financial officer, Trend Micro said in its analysis.
Freshmen wont be the only new faces at San Bernardino Valley College in San Bernardino and Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa this fall: Both community colleges will have new presidents when the 2016-17 school year begins.

At its Thursday, meeting, the San Bernardino County Community College District Board of Trustees named Diana Rodriguez the new president of San Bernardino Valley College and Wei Zhou the new president of Crafton Hills College. Both begin their new positions in July.

Rodriguez replaces outgoing Valley College President Gloria Fisher, who announced her retirement in November, effective June 30.

Rodriguez is the vice president of Student Services at Las Positas College in Livermore near San Francisco. She has also served as the vice president of Student Services at Palo Verde College. Rodriguez was also a tenured faculty member at San Bernardino Valley College in the Counseling Department, teaching courses in Student Development and Human Development.

SBVC is a dynamic institution with excellent faculty, staff and administrators committed to transforming the lives of our students, Rodriguez said in a statement the San Bernardino Community College District issued Monday. Im excited to join the Valley College team and to work with the community to move the college forward.

At Crafton Hills College, Zhou replaces outgoing President Cheryl Marshall, who accepted a job as the chancellor of the North Orange County Community College District in February.

He is the vice president of Instruction at Cuyamaca College in the suburbs of San Diego. He has previously served as the interim president at Cuyamaca College, the vice president of Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree, the dean of Evergreen Valley College in San Jose and has been a teacher and administrator at other colleges.

I am also so pleased by the opportunity to serve as the president of Crafton Hills College, an institution with a terrific reputation for bringing out the best in its students, Zhou said in the news release. I am looking forward to working with the innovative faculty and staff to expand the comprehensive nature of the college and to providing clear pathways to lead our students to achieve their educational goals.

San Bernardino County Community College District board President John Longville praised the two new presidents in the release.

Finding two such qualified candidates for our campuses is tantamount to hitting a home run with the bases loaded, Longville said. The board is very pleased to have been able to provide our colleges and the community with strong, competent individuals who will keep the best interests of students in mind during these very complex times.
Now heres something to bark about.

Temecula is the second most dog-friendly city in the nation, according to the data team at Realtor.com, which recently published a top ten list on its website.

The results  which took into consideration the rate of dog ownership and the number of dog parks, dog walkers and groomers, among other parameters  didnt come as a great shock to Addie Robles, a Temecula resident since 2006.

I think people really love their dogs around here, said Robles, who brought her corgi-pit bull hybrid, Mutley, to the Redhawk Dog Park for a romp on Monday, June 13. Dogs are like family.

RELATED Temecula pooch is top dog at Westminster show

Temecula trailed only Charleston, S.C., in the rankings. San Diego was No. 5. California was the only state with two cities on the list.

Temeculas ranking was boosted by its proximity to Wine Country, which features numerous wineries that host events for pooches and their wine-sipping companions, and its 85 percent dog ownership rate, the highest of the 10 cities profiled.

Redhawk Dog Park helped Temecula place second on https://t.co/fmheWGPCvOs list of dog-friendly cities. pic.twitter.com/7Jb9ih5Wbk  PE_Claverie (@PE_Claverie) June 15, 2016

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Wiens Family Cellars was specifically mentioned in the report because of its Wines for Canines and Kitties event, a live auction of donated items that culminates with a fashion show for adoptable dogs.

Oak Mountain Winery also was singled out for the Woofs and Purrs in the Wines gala it hosts each fall, a fundraiser for pets with diabetes.

Many of the other wineries in the Temecula Valley welcome dog owners because of the heat during the summer, which doesnt allow patrons to leave a dog or dogs in the car.

Robles picked up Mutley two years ago as a rescue from Animal Friends of the Valleys, the Wildomar-based nonprofit organization that handles animal control services for Temecula and a broad swath of Southwest Riverside County.

She brings her barrel-chested pal to Walmart and Lowes and various restaurants around the area with dog-friendly patios, including the Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar at the Promenade mall, which has made doggie dining a key part of its business plan.

The Redhawk Dog Park where Mutley frolicked, mixing it up with bigger dogs and chasing after any and all balls thrown in his general vicinity, is a off-leash park in Redhawk Community Park.

Its one of the nicer off-leash parks in the region, according to the various dog owners who were on hand Monday morning, drawing visitors from Escondido, Murrieta and Winchester.

Its segregated (there are separate areas for large dogs and small dogs) and kept up, said James Brown, a longtime Temecula resident who was watching his boxer bound about.

Other parks in the region are much smaller and some dont have grass, he said.

Wythe Davis, a relatively new city resident of two-and-a-half years, said the park fits with some of the other amenities in the city, such as its bike lanes and the special needs park at Margarita Community Park that features a splash pad.

The city does a good job catering to different needs, he said.

The city has a second dedicated dog park behind the old YMCA building at Margarita Community Park, amenities that cost about a half-million dollars each, according to Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar.

When they were first proposed, I thought it was a ridiculous idea, he said, but in all honesty, our citizens really want and use them all the time.

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Contact the writer: 951-368-9698 or aclaverie@pressenterprise.com
That summertime urge to splurge just might be nudging you toward a couple of rather lavish events in the area. So, start your credit cards and get ready to 

GO FOR BROKE

Celebrity pop-up dinner at a winery: $195 per person or $579 for two, plus an overnight stay. Claudia Sandoval, season 6 winner of the Fox TV reality series MasterChef, has teamed up with South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, 34843 Rancho California Road, Temecula, to host a Sabor Y Vinos (Flavor and Wine) meal under the stars at 6 p.m. Friday.

The kickoff is a three-station raw bar cocktail hour followed by a seven-course meal. Natasha Clement, winner of the Food Networks All-Star Academy, and Iker Castillo, executive chef and owner of Meraki Casa de Humo in Tijuana, Baja, will be cooking alongside Chef Sandoval. Information: 951-587-9463, southcoastwinery.com

Champagne dinner at the Mission Inn: $150 per person and a news flash: Open Table has just named the Mission Inn Restaurant, 3649 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, as one of the best outdoor dining spots in America.

Find out why yourself. The hotel is hosting a special champagne, al fresco dinner at 7 p.m. July 8.

In the roofless rotunda, guests can gaze at the stars and indulge in a five-course meal paired with premium French Champagnes from the hotels reserve collection. Enjoy music and hear historical tales about the inn and rotunda. The chef and sommelier will explain step-by-step what youre eating and drinking. Information: 951- 784-0300, missioninn.com

SMALL BITES

Riverside Restaurant Week: Some of the participants offering a special menu, discounts or featuring an exclusive item from Friday June 26: Costa Delmar; Wicks Brewing Co.; Daves New York Pizza; Cocos Bakery; Daily Brew Coffee House; Smokey Canyon BBQ; Juice It Up; San Juan BBQ; Amagi Sushi; Habanero Mexican Grill; Applebees; La Valentina Mexican Food; Peking Express; Subway; Farrells Ice Cream Parlour & Restaurant; Sweets Yogurt & Creamery; and Taco Station. Information: riversideca.gov/dineriverside

Kaput: Although aficionados raved about the food, AJ Bariles Chicago Pizza, 32693 Yucaipa Blvd., Yucaipa, is permanently closed, according to its Facebook page.

Raves for Redlands: Restore Kitchen recently opened at 1711 W. Lugonia Ave., Suite 101, in the former Carolyns Cafe. The latter has moved to 1150 Brookside Ave., Suite A, where its as popular and jam-packed as ever. A friend told me there was a 90-minute wait this past Sunday for brunch.

Restore in Redlands has metamorphosed into a gastropub specializing in craft food, craft beer and boutique wines. The owners, chef Rick Wineman and managing partner Al Barilla, are serving fare that includes Jidori chicken lettuce wraps ($10), hand-slashed truffle frites ($6), short rib Reuben on spent-grain sourdough ($14) and pig candy dessert, meaning praline and pepper-smoked bacon crisps with caramel and chocolate beer dipping sauces ($8). Next month, the restaurant will open at 7 a.m. for breakfast and weekend brunch. 909-798-4179, restore.kitchen/home

Coming soon: Steak n Shake, 6231 Valley Springs Parkway, Riverside. This is no shakey startup. Steak n Shake was founded by Gus Belt in February 1934 in Normal, Ill. steaknshake.com

IN THE WEEDS

If your mouth waters at the thought of nettle pesto, make it yourself. You can learn about wild edibles from 4  7 p.m. at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 1308 N. Riverside Ave., Rialto. The Inland Empire Raw Foods Meet Up group will lead a mini hike to identify good weeds, tout their benefits and teach how to make delicious, healthy creations. Bring a fave dish to the raw vegetarian potluck.

To pass on tips about restaurants, breweries and food shops that are opening or closing, contact Laurie Lucas at llucas@pressenterprise.com or 951-368-9559.

Contact the writer: llucas@pressenterprise.com, 951-368-9559
She was a sweet, pretty California girl with Palestinian roots who left an arranged marriage only to find love with a man who committed the worst mass shooting in modern U.S history.

Little by little, details have begun to emerge about 30-year-old Noor Zahi Salman, who grew up in the small suburb of Rodeo, California, tucked in the dry hills near the oil refineries 25 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Her romance with Omar Mateen  security guard, bodybuilder and devout Muslim  began online, according to a neighbor, and they were married on Sept. 29, 2011, near her hometown, according to public records. The couple has a 3-year-old son.

Early Sunday, the 29-year-old Mateen opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded.

Authorities believe Mateens wife knew about the plot ahead of time, said an official who was briefed on the progress of the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation. The official said investigators are reluctant to charge her only on the basis of possible advance knowledge of her husbands plans.

Three people identifying themselves as FBI agents visited Salmans childhood home in Rodeo on Tuesday and spoke with her mother, said Jessie Rojas, a next-door neighbor.

In Fort Pierce, Florida, where Salman and Mateen lived, Salman made a brief visit to their first-floor apartment late Monday, escorted by police and her brother-in-law. Her father-in-law said she came to retrieve clothing. She did not speak with reporters. She has otherwise been in seclusion.

According to marriage documents on file in the Contra Costa County Recorders office, Salman was born in the United States while her parents birthplaces were listed as Palestine.

Its unclear when her parents, who served as witnesses for the wedding, came to the United States, but their naturalization papers allowing them to stay in the country were approved in 1984.

No one answered the door at the Salman home Tuesday, but neighbors who know the 2004 graduate of John Swett High School in nearby Crockett said they find it hard to believe she had anything to do with the massacre.

Jasbinder Chahal, who has lived across the street from Salmans childhood home for the last 15 years, said Salman is very nicenot the smartest, but she was beautiful.

You know, some kids after high school, they open up the box and the world is theirs. She was inside the box, just pack it up and get married, said Chahal.

They had a small wedding and took lots of pictures here at the house, said Chahal. The marriage license says the ceremony took place in Hercules, California, and that an imam officiated.

Of Mateen, Chahal said, He was shorter than her and did not seem very friendly.

Chahal said Salmans mother, Ekbal Salman, was deeply upset when she visited her Monday night and said she feared for the safety of her daughter and grandson.

Salmans parents tried to shelter their four girls as they grew up.

Noor never played in the street, and the girls were never allowed to drive, Chahal said.

The neighbor quoted Salmans mother as saying Mateen also kept her daughter from driving, until he recently allowed her to take a test to get her drivers license.

Salmans marriage to Mateen was her second, said Chahal. Mateen had previously been married as well.

Her first marriage had been arranged in the Palestinian Territories by her parents, said Chahal, adding that the union did not work out.

He was in Chicago and they were living there, but they were not married long, Chahal said. They had cultural differences since she grew up here and was American.

Mateen had met his first wife, Sitora Yusufiy, online, too. They married in 2009 after a whirlwind romance.

Yusufiy, who immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan, has told reporters that Mateen was mentally unstable and abusive during their brief relationship.

She said she knew quickly that the marriage had been a mistake and she left him a few months later. The couple didnt divorce, though, until June 21, 2011  just three months before Mateen married Salman.

On one of her sisters Facebook pages  next to a family photo  there is a box with the words: Solidarity with Gaza.

Salman rarely came home to visit after she married because Mateen would not let her, Chahal said. She quoted Salmans mother telling her that Mateen even tried to keep the daughter from traveling home to see her father when he was sick.

The younger Salman managed to scrape together the money to visit before her father died in a local hospital, Chahal said.
After the San Bernardino mass shootings, Dr. Michael Neeki told his colleagues that such events would continue. But he wasnt ready for the scale of the attack in Orlando.

Utter disbelief, he said of his reaction to the news.

Neeki, an emergency physician at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center specializing in trauma, treated victims of the Dec. 2 shootings at San Bernardino Countys Regional Center, where 14 people were killed and 22 wounded. He knew what the doctors at Orlando Regional Medical Center were facing.

As a physician, Neeki said he thought one of the worst parts of the Orlando attack was the prolonged standoff with the shooter. The initial assault transitioned into a hostage situation and it was three hours before police stormed the building and killed Omar Mateen. By then, 49 people that Mateen had shot were dead.

Because medical personnel could not get to them during the standoff, Neeki said, many victims probably just bled to death.

The same thing happened to some of those shot in the San Bernardino attack. And since then, Neeki has been pushing for ways to get quicker triage and treatment in such situations.

I have suggested a concept called a special medical response team, Neeki said.

He wants a group of paramedics trained to more quickly and effectively assess the needs of trauma patients in the field and to be able to provide more advanced treatment such as performing intubations and inserting chest tubes.

Arrowheads chief of surgery, Dr. Dev GnanaDev, is behind Neekis effort.

GnanaDev laments the fact that many of the victims in the San Bernardino shootings might have been saved if they could have been reached more quickly.

Several people in San Bernardino shooting died of bleeding, he said. The only way to save those people is to triage them faster.

How to accomplish that when an active shooter might still be present, he said, is a major issue in my mind.

In addition to Neekis efforts, GnanaDev said hes hoping a future meeting with colleagues might generate some ideas. He expects to meet with other area trauma experts in the coming weeks.

We actually wanted to wait for the autopsy reports, he said, which were released in late May. He said the experts will get together to see what else can we do to get these people out of the scene when there is still an active shooter.

Speed and communication are the primary concerns local physicians say they would like to address.

At Riverside University Health System  Medical Center, emergency doctor Humberto Ochoa said when he was operating on one of the San Bernardino victims, it was hard to know what was going on and what to expect.

You hear a lot of rumors, Ochoa said. We didnt know who we were treating, how many more patients we were going to get. Our first victim we were treating, we heard a rumor that he was the shooter.

That turned out not to be the case. But Ochoa said its hard for emergency rooms to be prepared when they dont know whats coming.

Ive been doing this for years and communications is one of the first things that fail, he said.

He would like to see Riverside County address the issue more effectively.

We always talk about having a communication center for Riverside, which we dont have now, Ochoa said. If you had one command center, that would make the communications more accurate.

The medical centers own communication protocols have been changed since the attacks, he said, making it easier to alert physicians and nurses that a large scale emergency exits.

Few other changes have been made in the wake of the attacks however. Hospital officials said that the regular training they do for such circumstances served them well.

You cannot completely plan for every contingency and much of it is done on the run, said Dr. Lester Mohr, a trauma surgeon at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

But, he said, the hospital was effective in handling the five shooting victims it received Dec. 2.

Mohr said he watched the Tuesday press conference at the Orlando hospital. Despite the horror of such mass shooting, he said he finds some solace in the way people react.

People in society pretty much close ranks and everybody helps, whether its 9/11 or Dec. 2, locally, or obviously in Orlando, he said. We count on good people doing the right thing.

Given the political climate, Neeki is less optimistic.

Im praying this is the last one, he said, but I dont think its going to end.

Contact the writer: mmuckenfuss@pressenterprise.com or 951-368-9595
Lawsuits dont necessarily succeed or fail based on common sense. Often, they hinge on legal technicalities.

So while it makes sense to stop the pumping of millions of gallons of water annually from the drought-parched San Bernardino National Forest, it became clear in court Monday that the judge will rely on a strict reading of the law.

U.S. District Court Judge Jesus G. Bernal closely questioned lawyers for the U.S. Forest Service and the environmental groups suing the agency about two sections of the government code related to renewing such permits.

The lawsuit alleges that the Forest Service is letting Nestle Water North American extract water on a permit that expired 28 years ago.

Neither lawyer could answer the questions to the judges satisfaction, so Bernal ordered them to submit briefs on the subject no later than June 24. Those briefs may give him enough information to make a decision, so there may not be another hearing in the Riverside court.

That would be a shame, because there is clearly a lot of public interest in the case.

Two dozen people showed up at the courthouse for the hearing, many of them residents of the San Bernardino Mountains but others from as far away as Los Angeles and Pasadena.

Some 280,000 people have signed an online petition asking Nestle to stop taking the water, which the multinational company sells under the Arrowhead 100% Mountain Spring Water label.

The turnout and petition signatures are an indicator of how outraged people are by the U.S. Forest Services lax handling of Nestles permit during the prolonged drought.

The permit expired in 1988. The Forest Service dawdled on processing a renewal for 28 years, starting only after the environmental groups went public last year.

The agency contends it was authorized to allow water-extracting to continue without any action on its part, as long as Nestle notified the agency it wanted to renew the permit.

Nestle did that in May 1987, through its predecessor company, Beatrice Bottled Water Division, Bernal said.

But he added that there is very little in terms of documentation from the key enforcers in this case. In other words, the Forest Service.

The governments lawyer declined to answer questions after the hearing, so I couldnt ask him why the record is so scarce on such an important matter. And a U.S. Forest Service spokesman told me the agency cannot discuss ongoing litigation.

We will have to evaluate the judges ruling and determine our best course of action, spokesman John C. Heil III said by email, apparently referring to when Bernal issues a decision.

The Forest Service is being sued by the Center for Biological Diversity, Story of Stuff and Courage Campaign, environmental groups that hope Bernal will order Nestles pumping to be shut down until the Forest Service can assess whether plants and animals, including several endangered or threatened species, are being harmed.

Some believe the flora and fauna are already suffering.

Retired Forest Service biologist Steve Loe said in a recent email that the water extraction needs to be stopped because the watershed is extremely stressed and needs to recover.

The government is trying to get the case thrown out on grounds the statute of limitations has passed.

I wanted to ask the governments lawyer when the clock started ticking on the statute: When Nestle (as Beatrice) asked for the renewal in 1987? When the permit would have expired in 1988? Or after some years of government inaction? If so, how many?

If the government can string out a renewal by failing to act for nearly three decades, how is the public supposed to know when it must act or be too late? Im sure that Catch-22 did not escape the judges notice.

Bernal has obviously read the applicable regulations. He asked the lawyers how he is supposed to determine whether Nestles application for renewal was timely and sufficient, as the code requires, although he noted it was timely.

If the Forest Service never asked Nestle to complete the application, whose fault is it if it was not sufficient? It seemed to me, sitting in the courtroom, that the case may be decided on that single word.

Bernal might be sympathetic to the environmentalists and residents concerns. But if the environmentalists lawyers cant give him a clear legal reason to decide in their favor, it will be case closed.

Fortunately, the groups are pursuing other avenues to shut down the pumping, such as putting pressure on Nestle by persuading retailers not to carry its water.

One mountain resident called for an outright boycott.

Should Nestle be put out of business? I dont think so.

But the company casts itself in an ongoing ad campaign as environmentally sensitive. For that image to ring true, it needs to stop extracting millions of gallons from Southern California mountains during a severe drought.

I hope Nestle can be persuaded to leave the water on the mountain until the drought ends. It should bottle its water from sources where it is abundant. Not here.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9470 or cmacduff@pressenterprise.com
County museum to hold day camp

REDLANDS  The San Bernardino County Museum is offering five week-long sessions of its Summer Explorers day camp starting June 28. Each week of camp has a different theme.

The cost is $155, with limited scholarships available.

Advance registration is required. Registration forms are available at sbcounty.gov/museum and the front desk at the museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane.

Information: 909-798-8611

 Staff report

HEMET  The Hemet Valley Art Association has announced the winners of its recent contest, Reflections.

In the fine art category, the winners are: 1st place, Joyce Thomas; 2nd place, Virginia Melton, and 3rd place, Rigo Rivas.

In photography, 1st place went to Marda Ruth Roberts; 2nd place, Judy Giberson; and 3rd place, Earl McNeese.

Their artwork, as well as a new display of gourd art by Jenny Gagnon and Beckie Corroo, are exhibited at the associations gallery at 144 N. Harvard St. until July 2. The gallery is open 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

 Staff report

HEMET  Ken Mathes, acting president of the Veterans & Friends Club at the Del Webb Solera Diamond Valley community, is set to present a $1,000 donation to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars on Saturday, June 18.

The Del Webb club raises funds for veterans organizations. An email from club secretary Don Harn says members raffled off various items on Memorial Day with assistance from the VFW.

 Staff report

REDLANDS  Pet owners can get their pets michrochipped for free 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 18 at the Redlands Animal Shelter, 504 Kansas St. The offer is for Redlands residents only, with proof of residency required. The shelter will microchip up to two pets per household. Fifty microchips are available.

Microchip Madness is provided by the shelter in partnership with R.U.F.F., or Redlands Unleashed Fidos & Friends.

 Staff report

SAN BERNARDINO  A free steel drum performance is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, June 18 at the Feldham Central Library, 555 W. Sixth St. Guests will also have the opportunity to play a percussion instrument in a drum circle.

The performance features musician Joseph Peck.

Information: Linda Yeh at 909-381-8238

 Staff report

TEMECULA  The nonprofit Safe Alternatives for Everyone, or S.A.F.E., has a new program for middle-school girls. The goal of the program is to build girls self-esteem and help them establish friendships, according to a news release.

Girls Circle begins July 7 and space is limited to 10 to 12 girls. Participants will meet weekly 6-8 p.m.

Information: 951-587-3900, Janelle Millburn at janellem.safe@gmail.com or safefamiliesca.org

 Anne Marie Walker

Send items for possible inclusion in Community Notes to community@pressenterprise.com.
Workers of the Tema Shipyard have welcomed governments decision to hand over the administration of the Shipyard and the Dry Dock Company Limited to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).



The workers contend that the move will enhance efficiency and increase governments revenue. It means that we are moving from one zone to another and we believe that the GPHA will take care of us the way we want to be treated, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association Christian Dogbe told Citi Fms Tema correspondent, Elvis Washington.



Cabinet on Monday announced that it has directed the Ministry of Transport to hand over the operations of the PSC Tema Shipyard and Dry Dock Company Limited (PSCT) to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).



A statement on the move also explained that the decision would in the long term attract the needed resources to venture into the building of Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels for the oil and gas industry even as it continues to provide services to the ports and harbours and related sectors in the short to medium term.



Transport Minister Fiifi Kwetey is however expected to conclude the official transfer to the GPHA within the next few weeks.



Transfer is a relief from poor leadership



The workers earlier in May had demanded the withdrawal of the CEO over allegations of mismanagement leveled against him. They had also demonstrated in support of his removal from office.



At the time, Transport Minister Fiifi Kwetey assured the workers he was going to take their concerns into consideration especially the termination of the appointment of their two colleagues. We are going to look into the termination properly in order to determine whether the proper procedure has been followed and if they have not been followed, we will take a decision in order to change that position.



But the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association Christian Dogbe tells Citi Business News the move will reverse what he describes as the inefficient management by the companys former MD; Alhaji Tunde.



The style of management was very poor and his human relationship equally poor. A few years now there has been neither salary increment nor bonus for we the workers so all the Ghanaian workers had to leave to Nigeria, Cote dIvoire and Senegal.



He also criticised Alaji Tunde of contributing to a decline in the companys revenue due to a decline in business for the past three years he was in office,



Before he took over we used to 52 vessels in a year service about 14 vessels in the first year; 18 in the second year while this year being the third year, up till June, we have serviced only 5 vessels, Mr. Dogbe noted.

Source: citifmonline.com









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The Ghana Living Standard Survey Round Six, conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service, indicates that 8,697,602 children aged five to 17 are engaged in economic activities.



Out of that, 21.8 per cent constitute child labour with 14.2 per cent in hazardous work.



The Brong Ahafo Region recorded 302,972 children, representing 33.5 per cent, the Central Region recorded 70, 535 children, representing 8.9 per cent, with the Greater Accra Region being the lowest with 62,526 children, representing 5.2 per cent of children engaged in child labour and harzardous work.



Alhaji Adams Nuhu, the Municipal Chief Executive of Awutu Senya East, speaking at this years World Day against Child Labour celebration in Kasoa, said the fact that the region recorded the lowest did not mean that stakeholders should rest on their oars.



We need to come together to eradicate child labour in the region and concentrate on quality education which would position our children better in international realm in future.



Awutu Senya East Municipality is not an exception to this problem. It is estimated that 1,657 children are engaged in child labour representing five per cent. This is one of our major challenges as a municipality and we all need to contribute in diverse ways to ensure that those involved are rescued from it, he said.



The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has set aside June 12 each year as the World Day against Child Labour to draw world attention on the seriousness of child labour and the need for all stakeholders to work together to reduce or eradicate it.



This years celebration was on the theme; End Child Labour in Supply Chains: It is Everybodys Business and was organised by the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly in collaboration with the Awutu Senya East Department of Social Welfare and Community Development to highlight the menace.



The ILO estimates that about 168 million children worldwide are employed in child labour which is 100 per cent of the worlds children population.



In Sub-Saharan Africa 30.3 per cent of the population of children are engaged in economic activities. Out of that figure 21.4 per cent constitutes child labour whereas 4.7 per cent are engaged in hazardous work.



Alhaji Nuhu, therefore, called on stakeholders to contribute in diverse ways to ensure that children received quality education.



He also called on the public to be on the lookout for the perpetrators of the act in the communities so that they could alert the Social Welfare officials to rescue those children.



You should be an agent of change as you go to your various homes to educate people on child labour and its effects, he said, and urged children to value education more than to think about how to make quick money at the expense of their education.



Mr Jacob Asiedu, the Head of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, said children were not only the future leaders but also the greatest hope of the nation and must be protected from any form of hazardous work.



He said the Government, over the years, had not relented in its efforts to protect and promote the welfare of children to enable them to take their rightful positions in the society.



As government continues to play its role, it behoves on us as school children to also live up to expectation in all facets of societal life, he said.



Mr Asiedu called for the formation of anti-child labour clubs in schools to sensitise the children on activities that constitute child labour, exploitation and hazardous work.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Centre for Alternative Development (CENFAD-Ghana) has expressed concern about the spate of depletion of forest reserves in many communities in the Upper East Region.



CENFAD-Ghana is a non-governmental organisation working in the area of good governance and climate change.



The Programme Co-ordinator of CENFAD-Ghana, Mr Martin Abelwine, was speaking in Bolgatanga on Wednesday at a climate change workshop organised by CENFAD with support from Ibis Ghana.



The workshop, on the theme Climate Change - Enhancing Partnership in improving Sustainable Livelihoods in Our Rural Community for Development, brought together Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), government agencies, civil society organisations (CSOs), Youth Against Climate Change (YACC) and womens groups and journalists to deliberate on climate change issues in the region and to chart a way forward.



Mr Abelwine expressed fears about the looming threat of climate change in the region, adding that the MMDAs either have no by-laws on the environment or gazetted ones to ensure enforcement.



He also complained about the meagre budget allocated to the MMDAs climate change issues, and called on them to be more proactive by teaming up with the CSOs to develop good proposals to access climate change funding externally.



He explained that CENFAND, in collaboration with Ibis Ghana, is implementing a Climate Change Project, dubbed Improving Sustainable Livelihoods through Participatory, Accountable and Transparency governance, which is a component under Ibis Ghana Democratic and Accountability Governance Programme.



He said the project, which is being implemented in the Bolgatanga Municipality, Bongo, and Kassena-Nankana West and Talensi Districts, has started yielding good results.



He referred to the YACC group in the Bongo District, which had teamed up with the assembly to grow trees in the area.



Ms Sofaya Musah, the Programme Facilitator of IBIS in charge of the Northern and Upper East regions, explained that the project seeks to support CSOs in identifying climate change-related threats to local community livelihoods and to advocate pro-poor climate policies and public programmes.



She indicated that Ibis Ghana is concerned about issues relating to livelihoods of people, particularly the vulnerable.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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As an Energy Watcher and Commentator, I have been following closely developments in the oil and gas industry in Ghana. I have noted discussions by stakeholders, especially our political leaders on how they wish to commercialize the oil and gas resources of this country.



I have read with keen interest the recent declaration by the NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo Addo, that he will initiate policies that would monetize the countrys gas resource with a view of creating a multibillion dollar gas feedstock industry. I find his declaration interesting in view of the efforts that have been put in by the current government in that direction. I am wondering and curious to know what Nana Addo will do differently.



Nana Akufo Addo says the vision of his government will be to transform Ghanas economy from an exporter of raw materials, and a retailer of cheap imported goods, to a modernized, industrialized one focused on value addition activities. One of the critical pillars he identifies to achieve his vision is the commercialization of the gas resource of the country, and he says that includes monetizing the countrys gas to create a multibillion dollar gas feedstock industry.



Nana Akufo-Addo outlined a number policy measures to help realize this vision at a fundraising dinner organized in London by the UK branch of the Young Executive Forum of the NPP on Friday, June 11, 2016



It is a fact that Ghana struck oil in commercial quantities in 2007 under the Kufour regime. However, as soon as the new NDC regime took office in 2009, it recognized that the country should not discount the commercial potential of significant natural gas which was expected to be produced with oil from the Jubilee fields. Conservative estimates showed that Ghana has about 4Tcf (four trillion cubic feet) of gas reserves and that can translate into some 3,300MW of generation capacity. It was estimated that 1000 cubic feet of gas was expected to be produced with each barrel of oil.



The NDC Government considered it expedient to monetize the associated gas by processing it to extract natural liquids (NGLs) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and the remainder used for power generation and industrial application.



Also, it was important to the government that the countrys gas monetization plans for the Jubilee field and the policy framework considerations needed to ensure sustainable development of otherwise stranded gas assets.



Accordingly, in February 2011, the Government commissioned a National Gas Development Task Force to review and make appropriate recommendations for the speedy realization of a national gas commercialization infrastructure system. The Task Force reviewed all aspects of the gas commercialization project, including its technical, economic and financing options and recommended the most efficient and viable way to bringing it to fruition.



Members of the Task Force included:



Dr. Kwesi Botchway, former Minister of Finance and a member of the Economic Advisory council



(Chairman)



Mr. Amarquaye Armar, former Energy Policy Advisory to H.E the President (Member)



Nana Boakye Asafu  Adjaye, former MD, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (Member)



Ms. Anna Bossman, former Deputy Commissioner, Planning/ Investigations, CHRAJ (Member)



Hon. Emmanuel Buah, former Deputy Minister of Energy (Member)



Dr. Kwaku Temeng, Oil & Gas Expert & former Member of GNPC Board of Directors (Member)



Hon. Seth Terkper, former Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning (Member)



The Task Force did a thorough job by reviewing all available project financing models and selected the met the Governments primary objective for the gas commercialization project. In selecting the best model, the upheld the Governments commitment to ensuring local content and local participation was strictly adhered to. Subsequently in April 2011, the Task Force submitted its report to the President and eventually culminated in the establishment of the Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) as a limited liability company in July 2011. Ghana Gas was given the responsibility to build, own and operate infrastructure required for the gathering, processing, transporting and marketing of natural gas resources in the country. The Government secured a USD I billion to undertake the Early Phase Ghana Gas Infrastructure Project (EPGGIP). Under the supervision of the Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas), the Contrator (SINOPEC) completed the design and construction of the following:



 A 44-km shallow water section of the Offshore Pipeline from the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah to the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant site. An initial 14-km deep water section of the Offshore Pipeline was inherited by Ghana Gas from GNPC.



 A state of the art 150 million standard cubic feet per day Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo.



 A 111-km Onshore transmission pipeline to transport lean gas from the Early Phase Ghana Gas Processing Plant site to the Aboadze Thermal Plant.



 A 75-km Onshore transmission lateral pipeline from Esiama to transport lean gas to power plants at Tarkwa/Prestea (70 percent complete).



 The Atuabo Gas Processing Plant was successfully tied in to the Jubilee Field on November 8, 2014. Ghana Gas thus began commissioning of the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant. Fifteen (15) days later, on November 23, 2014, the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant began delivery of the nations first processed gas from Ghanas hydro-carbon fields, with the supply of lean gas to the VRA at the Aboadze Thermal enclave. The commissioning process ended successfully on March 31, 2015, with a seamless transition from commissioning to commercial operation on April 1, 2015.



 The Atuabo Gas Processing Plant successfully completed its first mandatory vendor/insurance-required maintenance shutdown at 4,000 hours of operation in April this year (2016).



 The Early Phase Ghana Gas Infrastructure Project (EPGGIP) has gone through successful mechanical completion, pre-commissioning and commissioning during the past year. Works such as free-span correction, as-built surveys, hydro-testing of the facility, MEG Handling and dewatering works, among many others, were carried out during this period.



 The Atuabo Gas Processing Plant is today supporting the generation of over 500 Megawatts of power at a much cheaper price per kilowatt, by providing cost effective, more efficient lean gas to the Aboadze Thermal Plant. The plant is supplying over 100 million standard cubic feet of gas a day (mmscfd) to Aboadze, contributing effectively to the reduction of the current energy deficit.



 Additionally, the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant is on track to produce Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) of more than 180,000 metric tonnes per year, which would amount to over 50% of the present estimated 360,000 metric tonnes annual LPG national demand.



 Moreover, Atuabo also produces over 46,000 metric tonnes of condensate annually. All these have come to support the economy and foreign exchange retention in the country.



I wish to ask whether Nana Akufo Addo will reinvent the wheel in the commercialization of the countrys gas resource seeing that the government has gained tremendous mileage in that direction.

Source: The Gazette









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Vice President of think tank, IMANI Ghana, Kofi Bentil has said that he would consider Ghana a nation for sale to the highest bidder if it turns out to be that the President accepted a Ford Expedition car gift from a Burkinabe contractor.



Joy News Manasseh Azure in his latest expose claims President John Mahama (then Vice President) was presented with a new Ford Expedition vehicle as a gift by Burkinabe contractor Djibril Kanazoe, allegedly for helping him to secure contracts for fencing Ghanas embassy in Burkina Faso and also winning a 46.4km European Union funded Dodo-Pepesu Road Contract.



Burkinabe contractor, Mr. Djibril Kanazoe, who has received praise from President John Mahama for his work, has confirmed he presented a brand new Ford Expedition to the President as a gift, Manasseh wrote in his expose, which was also aired on Joy FM.



These claims have been challenged by the Communications Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah.



The programme sought to link a vehicle presented to the President in 2012 to two contracts awarded to a Burkinabe-owned construction firm. The said vehicle, which was placed in the vehicle pool at the Presidency as per established convention had nothing to do with the award of the contracts, the Communications Minister posited in a statement.



But Dr Omane Boamah's assertion has been dismissed by Imani's Kofi Bentil.



I am so ashamed to hear people say the vehicle was put in the pool so its not a problem..., he stated in a Facebook post. He continued: "This thinking is appalling to say the least and reveals the dearth of knowledge of the people in power about fighting corruption!!. So don't they know that this is an absolute no no? and Mr. Batidam goes to work everyday?? what does he do?? If our Presidency is this open to contractors, then our nation is for sale to the highest bidder because Ghana doesn't have a proper process for managing gifts to the President. so anything goes! If we want to accept gifts at the Presidency, lets develop a proper procedure (like they have in the US) for that. So that its clear to everyone, he insisted.

Source: Classfmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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We know that the limit of pop culture-themed eateries has been well and truly reached. We know, okay? We get it. But phizz-whizzing and whoopsy-splunkers, are we 100% here for the nostalgic ones.

And get this  theres a BFG-themed pop-up coming to Sydney.

BUT NOW GET THIS  you need to be accompanied by a small child to eat there.

KOI Dessert Bar in Chippendale  headed up by MasterChef 2015 fave Reynold Poernomo  will be transforming into a whizzbanger BFG ~experience~ for one day only, ahead of the films release. Itll be called Rotsome Restaurant. Of course.

According to the Facebook event, itll be serving a frothbuggling and filthsome three-course meal of unexpected BFG recipes and flavours.

But all giants (a.k.a. adults) will need a childer (a.k.a. a small human, and in this case one whos over six years of age but presumably not old enough to think this whole thing is like, so lame) in order to actually go.

If you are lucky enough to have a small child available to you, then Rotsome Restaurant will pop-up on July 4 from 1pm to 6pm, running on a first-come, first-served basis.

However, if you are not so lucky, and are in fact eyeing off local schools and Craigslist babysitting ads then weve already alerted the authorities.

Find out more: Rotsome Restaurant.



Image: Facebook / Rotsome Restaurant.
While youre happily chowing down on your smashed avo with lemon and feta on toasted sourdough, you should spare a thought for your poor brothers and sisters from across the dutch.

New Zealand is currently in the throes of a fairly profound avocado shortage, after a poor local growing season last year drastically affected the number of fruit produced by this years yield.

The avo shortage that hit Australia over the summer continues to wreak havoc on the breakfast plates of our Kiwi friends, which is not only experiencing supply issues, but unheard-of increase in demand.

Some 96,000 extra households began purchasing avocados in 2015, and the local industry (which normally has focused on the much-more lucrative international export trade) is buckling under the strain.

The fruit over there is selling for as much as NZ$4$6, and people and businesses are starting to get desperate.

So desperate that theyre stealing the shit out of them.

An actual avocado crime wave has swept across the land of the long white cloud this year, with as many as 40 large-scale thefts from avocado orchards taking place this year. All the thefts have been from farms on the North Island of the country, reportedly seeing as much as 350 avocados nicked every time.

The thefts have been happening in the middle of the night, with trees either raked and the ill-gotten loot collected in blankets, or hand-picked and spirited away from the farms.

The thieves have then been transporting the fruit to roadside pop-up stalls, or delivering them to grocery stores and small cafes or sushi stores where theyre sold black market-style.

Sergeant Aaron Fraser of the Waihi police department stated that the avocados, ripped straight from the tree, are not totally risk-free.

These stolen avocados can carry risks. They are unripe, some have been sprayed recently and they may still carry toxins on the skin. But with the prices so high at the moment, the potential for profit is a strong inducement for certain individuals.

Avo farms in NZ have been getting wise to the thefts, and have been installing extra security measures such as sensor lights and alarm systems. Its expected that the crisis will end imminently, when a bumper new crop of the fruit floods the market.

TO REITERATE:

People in NZ have been straight-up tonguin for an avo so badly that people have been running a crime all up on avocado farms and selling them off on the black market.

THE BLACK MARKET.

FOR FRUIT.

Holy shit, New Zealand is the best.

Source: The Guardian.

Photo: Tom Kelley/Getty.
ICYMI, Queensland MP Bob Katter released a really weird political ad yesterday in which he murdered his Labor and Liberal opponents in the Outback because of their commitment to foreign investment. The Australian political discourse absolutely requires someone who is willing to kill, so it was clearly a welcome addition.

One could question the timeliness of releasing an election ad featuring a double gun murder only days after the Orlando mass shootings, and question it people did. People from both sides of the political aisle united to slam Katter as insensitive over the ad, which was produced with satirists from The Betoota Advocate (or, as Katter called them, The Betoota Advocator).

Fellow Queensland MP Barry OSullivan thought it was enough for Katter to pull out of the election race, and Liberal Senator Iam Macdonald called the ad offensive and childish.

Katter showed up on Sky News to defend the ad, which he called screamingly funny and beloved by all Australians except the book burners in the political correctness brigade.

.@RealBobKatter :ad is screamingly funny but the political correctness brigade try to cloud the issue #pmlive https://t.co/tq0pVY39hm  Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) June 15, 2016

Katter is also copping it on another front. Hes infamous for his weird comments in the past about gay people in his electorate  he reckons they dont exist  and he gets mighty fired up whenever anyone tries to mention it. Like on Triple J last night, when he walked out of the interview when Stephen Stockwell asked him about the issue.

Bob: Look mate Im not interested in talking about it. You want to talk about it. All you blokes get obsessed about it, every time we open our mouth you get obsessed about it and you seem to be obsessed now. Im not obsessed about it but Ive got to worry about you blokes that are. Stephen: Im just curious, I mean youre the elected representative for this area, do you worry about how statements like that make the young gay people in this community feel? Bob: Mate, I told you Im not talking about it right? Dont you understand English? Youre obviously obsessed with it, youll just go on and on and on. You can have your obsession, Ive got my right to say Ive got better things to do with my time.

Listen to the full interview below.

Seems like Bobs pet issue, foreign investment, isnt getting much airplay when hes filling so much airspace with weird murder videos and his deeply strange beliefs about LGBT people.

Source: The Guardian / Triple J.

Photo: Facebook.
Oh-my-giddy-bloody-god this is too cute.

TOO CUTE, we tells ya.

A tweet from British dude Ben John about his grandmas internet search habits is going viral, and while that sentence would usually be followed by all kinds of depraved and unforgettable discovers, this one will warm the cockles of your cold dead heart.

His tweet consisted of a pic of his grandmas latest Google search, which reads: please translate these roman numbers mcmxcviii thank you.



He wrote: Omg opened by Nans laptop and when shes googled something shes put please and thank you. I cant.

Omg opened my Nans laptop and when shes googled something shes put please and thank you. I cant ?????? pic.twitter.com/hiy2tecBjU  Ben John (@Push10Ben) June 9, 2016

Apparently, she thinks saying please and thank you to Google is the norm.

@martynhett its too much isnt it! I asked her about it and she just thought it was the norm ??  Ben John (@Push10Ben) June 10, 2016

Confirmed: Ben Johns nanna is the politest internet searcher since Ask Jeeves. And he was only ever being smarmy.

Bless ya.



Photo: Twitter / @Push10Ben.
Here it is, ladies (and gentlemen). Were in the final, merciful last few weeks before the 2016 Federal Election, and both major parties have once again dug their heels in in regards to the stupidly odd tampon tax; the application of the GST to sanitary products such as tampons and pads, which under the current law are mysti-fucking-fyingly classified as luxury items, despite being a pretty bloody vital product for around half the population.

The Coalition, under then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott, declared it had no interest in removing the tax last year after Labor repeatedly called for the Government to act, only to have Labor and Bill Shorten turn around this week and themselves confirm theyre not interested in removing the tax because Australia simply cant afford it.

The GST on womens sanitary products, it should be noted, raises roughly $30 million per year. Thats it. Thats all.

And while were scratching our heads at all that malarky, its Glenn Lazarus of all people who is one of the few active politicians coming out and standing in favour of scrapping the tax.

Senator Lazarus, the former Palmer United Party member and current Glenn Lazarus Team head honcho announced his Women Deserve Dignity policy, which despite its godawful name is shockingly on the money.

In a post to his Facebook page, Lazarus took the tax to task, labelling it sexist and discriminatory.

The Glenn Lazarus Team acknowledges the importance of ensuring women are not penalised financially for the need to purchase essential items such as tampons and sanitary napkin (sic) and that women across Australia have access to basic sanitary items during times of difficulty and hardship. Sanitary items are essential products for women and must be GST free. The Glenn Lazarus Team is committed to removing the GST from tampons and sanitary napkins. It is our view these items should be GST free and we will work with the Government of the day to achieve this. Removing GST from tampons and sanitary pads will reduce the unnecessary and unfair financial burden women face every month when buying these essential items. Condoms, lubricants, sunscreen and nicotine patches are all tax-free because they are classed as important health goods. Sanitary items are not a luxury, they are a health and sanitation necessity for women. It is our aim to achieve the removal of the GST from these items as a matter of urgency. We will work with the Government to draft the necessary bill to amend the relevant legislation to enable this. We also believe sanitary items should be made available at no cost to women in Government funded facilities such as crisis and emergency accommodation.

The Glenn Lazarus Team is committed to supporting and assisting women across the country and removing the GST from sanitary items. The tampon tax is a sexist, unnecessary, and discriminatory tax which unfairly targets women in our country and it must be abolished.

And if this whole situation isnt bonkers enough as is, heres a bunch of photos of, again, GLENN BLOODY LAZARUS cradling an armful of tampons to show his support for the policy.

Auspol. It never stops being surprising.

Source: Facebook.

Photo: Senator Glenn Lazarus/Facebook.
I hate to make broad sweeping statement about an incredible array of different peoples over vastly different timelines, but also: historical people were gross.

Bog just might be one of the most disgustingly evocative words. It should conjure images of the sort of filthy swamp that Shrek would live in, not as somewhere to store food  but thats exactly what old timey Scottish and Irish people did.

People would chuck huge quantities of butter into bogs because, thanks to their temperature and acidity and oxygen levels, they are basically perfect at preserving big ol lumps of dairy.

Turf cutter (which I assume means he sleeps with other peoples girlfriends) Jack Conaway was cutting turf (lol) in County Cavan, Ireland when he came across the massive, two millennium old hunk of spreadable goodness.

The butter has been given to the Conservation Department of the National Museum for further analysis.

In 2013 another turf cutter came across a similar chunk of butter estimated to be about 5000 years old. Back in the day butter was a luxury good used not just for cooking, but also as currency and to ward of evil spirits.

Although theoretically its completely edible, scientists and archeologists do not recommend you use it to line your cake pan. What a world.

Photos: Cavan County Museum.

Story: CNN.
Sometimes in politics you need a bloke who can call a spade a spade. A straight shooter. The kinda fella who doesnt go in for this airy-fairy bureaucratic nonsense and can cut right through through the bullshit. The kinda bloke who can make a cool campaign ad where he shoots his electoral opponents to death.

Im talking about Bob Katter, everyones favourite agrarian socialist Queensland MP. Katter  who reckons there isnt a single gay person in his 100,000 strong electorate which is bigger than the United Kingdom  is not a big fan of foreign investment and ownership.

He reckons both Labor and Liberal have sold us out to foreign business, allowing them to buy swathes of Australian land. His latest ad solves that through a double murder:

See that bloody cheesy grin? The bloke loves it! Bloody Member for Wolf Creek over here. You could argue that an ad featuring guns in this manner might be more than slightly tasteless given the events of the past week, but clearly thats not on Katters mind.

So there ya go mate. Cross Bob Katter, and he will murder you. Phwoar. Rinse your eyes with this wonderful photo Katter posted to Twitter of him playing footy on the beach.

You can see the determination in his eyes. Determination to rid Australia of foreign investment.

Source: Facebook.
Tri-Motor airplane

In this 2006 photo, people watch a 1929 Ford Tri-Motor after it landed at Capital City Airport in Fairview Township. File photo, Dan Gleiter, dgleiter@pennlive.com

Don't be surprised if you see a propeller-driven vintage plane flying overhead this weekend.

A Ford Tri-Motor plane will be making a return visit to the area from June 16-19. The plane will be based at the Capital City Airport in Fairview Township.

L.B. Smith Ford Lincoln is hosting the event which includes public rides. The plane was manufactured in 1929 by Ford Motor Company and was the first transcontinental airliner.

During the 1940's the plane was primarily used to fight forest fires in the western part of the United States.

Automobile magnate Henry Ford built 199 of the planes between 1926 and 1933 in an unsuccessful attempt to break into the fledgling airline industry.

A 12-year restoration was performed on the plane, which is owned by the Experimental Aircraft Association.

The community of aviation enthusiasts is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and has more than 180,000 members in about 100 countries.

If you want to fly in the plane, rides cost $75 per person and $50 for those 17 or under. Proceeds are dedicated to ongoing restoration and maintenance costs of the aircraft.

You can reserve your flight online at www.flytheford.org or by calling 877-952-5395.
J.C. Lee | jlee@pennlive.com

12 of the most expensive Dauphin County homes for sale

If you have a spare million dollars lying around, you could cash in on one of these expensive homes. Some of these properties boast of expansive living spaces and acreage, which includes wooded trails and ponds. We've profiled a few and included listings for the rest of the houses on this list, just in case you're hungry for more. Here's a snapshot of some of the priciest properties that you can find throughout Dauphin County as of June 8, according to Zillow.

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A side view of the home. Linda and Walt Grudi have their home for sale at 1383 A.V. Acri Road in West Hanover Twp. for $1,975,000. The house has 7,000 square feet of living space. June 7, 2016. (Dan Gleiter | PennLive.com)

$1,975,000 home in West Hanover Twp.

This West Hanover Twp. home has 6,928 square feet of living space and is built on 40 acres of partly-wooded land. The 13-year-old house has four bedrooms, three full and two partial bathrooms.

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The great room. Linda and Walt Grudi have their home for sale at 1383 A.V. Acri Road in West Hanover Twp. for $1,975,000. The house has 7,000 square feet of living space. June 7, 2016. (Dan Gleiter | PennLive.com)

$1,975,000 home in West Hanover Twp.

It's located at 1383 A.V. Acri Road. You can learn more about the property and find other photographs here.

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(Photo provided / HersheyHomes.com)

$1,795,000 home in Derry Twp.

This Derry Twp. home has 7,077 square feet of living space. The 106-year-old house has five bedrooms, four full and three partial bathrooms.

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(Photo provided / HersheyHomes.com)

$1,795,000 home in Derry Twp.

It's located at 13 Para Ave.. You can find the listing for the property here.

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Photo provided by Brownstone Real Estate Company

Sue Gleiter | sgleiter@pennlive.com

$1,595,000 home in Lower Paxton Twp.

This Lower Paxton Twp. home has 6,800 square feet of living space and is built on 24 acres of wooded land. This eight-year-old house has four bedrooms and five full and one partial bathroom. It's located at 2008 Colonial Road. You can find the listing for the property here.

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Decks and porch space overlook the large pool and hot tub. This Harrisburg home is priced at $1,495,000, it's a large home that sits on part of 19 acres, half of which is wooded. Saturday, May 28 2016. (Daniel Zampogna | PennLive.com)

$1,425,000 home in Lower Paxton Twp.

This Lower Paxton Twp. home has 8,161 square feet of living space and is built on 18.75 acres of land The 20-year-old house has six bedrooms, four full and two partial bathrooms.

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A cool stone porch looks out onto the pool area. This Harrisburg home is priced at $1,495,000, it's a large home that sits on part of 19 acres, half of which is wooded. Saturday, May 28 2016. (Daniel Zampogna | PennLive.com)

$1,425,000 home in Lower Paxton Twp.

It's located at 7056 Creek Crossing Dr. You can learn more about the property and find more photographs here.

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Pictured is part of the house at 6045 Lyters Lane in Lower Paxton Twp., which owner Brian Joseph Szeles built himself 25 years ago. Szeles wants to sell the home for $1,385,000. (Enhanced with high dynamic range photo provided by RSR, Realtors)

$1,395,000 home in Lower Paxton Twp.

This Lower Paxton Twp. home has 10,288 square feet of living space and is built on 10 acres of land. The 25-year-old house has eight bedrooms and five full and two partial bathrooms.

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Pictured is part of the house at 6045 Lyters Lane in Lower Paxton Twp., which owner Brian Joseph Szeles built himself 25 years ago. Szeles wants to sell the home for $1,385,000. (Enhanced with high dynamic range photo provided by RSR, Realtors)

$1,395,000 home in Lower Paxton Twp.

It's located at 6045 Lyters Lane. You can learn more about the property and find more photographs here.

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(Photo provided | Judy Stover - Keller Williams Of Central Pa East)

$1,349,000 home in Hummelstown

This Hummelstown home has 6,214 square feet of living space and is built on 1.59 acres. This 12-year-old house has five bedrooms and five full and three partial bathrooms.

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$1,349,000 home in Hummelstown.

It's located at 1051 Woodridge Dr. You can find the listing for the property here.

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Pictured is the 102-year-old home at 246 E. Caracas Ave. in Hershey. The Hershey Company founder Milton S. Hershey had the house built in 1914 for his mother Veronica "Fanny" Snavely, but she never moved into the house because it was too opulent. The Derry Township Historical Society would later award the house its Preservation Award in September 1998. (Photo provided)

$1,325,000 home in Hershey

This Hershey home has 4,500 square feet of living space and has three floors and a basement. The 102-year-old house has 25 rooms.

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Pictured is part of the 102-year-old home at 246 E. Caracas Ave. in Hershey. The Hershey Company founder Milton S. Hershey had the house built in 1914 for his mother Veronica "Fanny" Snavely, but she never moved into the house because it was too opulent. The Derry Township Historical Society would later award the house its Preservation Award in September 1998. (High dynamic range photo provided)

$1,325,000 home in Hershey

It's located at 246 E. Caracas Ave. in Hershey. You can learn more about the property and find more photographs here.

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(Dauphin County property records)

$1,250,000 home in Hummelstown

This Hummelstown home has 5,556 square feet of living space and is built on 1.98 acres of land. This 12-year-old house has six bedrooms and six bathrooms. It's located on 1321 Fox Glen Road. You can find the listing for the property here.

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(Photo provided | HersheyHomes.com)

$1,174,000 home in Hummelstown

This Hummelstown home has 7,759 square feet of living space and is built on 3.26 acres of land. This house has five bedrooms, five full and two partial bathrooms.

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(High dynamic range photo provided | HersheyHomes.com)

$1,174,000 home in Hummelstown

It's located on 6 Smokehouse Lane. You can find the listing for the property here.

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(Photo provided | Robert Fox, RE/MAX Pinnacle)

$1,150,000 home in Hummelstown

This Hummelstown home has 5,159 square feet of living space and is built on three acres. This 34-year-old house has five bedrooms and four full and two partial bathrooms.

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(Photo provided | Robert Fox, RE/MAX Pinnacle)

$1,150,000 home in Hummelstown

It's located at 4 Smokehouse Lane. You can find the listing for the property here.

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(Dauphin County property records)

$1,025,000 home in Lower Paxton Twp.

This Lower Paxton Twp. home has 4,800 square feet of living space. This house has five bedrooms, four full and one partial bathroom. It's located at 2749 Colonial Road. You can find the property listing here.

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$1,000,000 home in Lower Paxton Twp.

This Lower Paxton Twp. home has 9,740 square feet of living space and is built on 2.09 acres of land. This 48-year-old house has five bedrooms and four bathrooms. It's located at 4122 Crestview Rd. You can find the listing for the property here.
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The search for the little boy from Nebraska believed dragged away by an alligator near Disney's upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Tuesday evening is ongoing, with some 50 officers involved. But hopes are waning.

(screen shot/NBC-10)

UPDATE: The boy's body was recovered.

The search for the little boy from Nebraska believed dragged away by an alligator near Disney's upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Florida Tuesday evening is ongoing, with some 50 officers involved. But hopes are waning.

This, after authorities tell NBC-10 in Philly that the 2-year-old boy was snatched away by the alligator in front of his father, who tried to take his boy back from the reptile's jaws before it dragged the boy into the water they were wading in.

The incident happened near Seven Seas Lagoon that Disney had marked with 'no swimming' signs. But there is no record of other alligator attacks in the area, according to Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler.

Wahaler told NBC-10 affiliates that everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney is helping the family.

Background from NBC-10:

The family of five from Nebraska was on vacation and wading in a lake when the attack happened, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told an earlier news conference. The father tried to rescue his son but was unsuccessful, Demings said.

"We could have success soon or it could take hours," Demings said Wednesday of the search. He added, "after a period of time the hope does dim. But right now there's hope"
Alligator Drags Toddler

Florida Fish and Wildlife found the body of a 2-year-old boy Wednesday after he was dragged into the water Tuesday night by an alligator near Disney's upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) -- Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings says searchers have recovered the body of a 2-year-old Nebraska boy snatched by an alligator at Walt Disney World.

The boy was attacked Tuesday night as he waded in shallow water at the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney's Grand Floridian resort.

Demings identified the boy as Lane Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska.

The sheriff said it appeared the gator drowned the child and left the body "completely intact" near the spot where was last seen. An autopsy was planned.

"Of course the family was distraught, but also I believe somewhat relieved that his body was found intact," Demings told a news conference.

The search team had grown to 50 people Wednesday as trappers and divers searched Disney's network of man-made canals, ponds and lakes. At least five other alligators were caught and cut open before they found the killer.

Demings said they had to use sonar to find the body in the murky water.

This story has been updated with additional information about how authorities believe the toddler was killed.
Craig Stedman

Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman addresses the media in 2014.

(JULIA HATMAKER | jhatmaker@pennlive.com)

Lancaster County's Office of the District Attorney is refuting a news report which said Warwick School District's superintendent was under investigation for allegedly secretly recording a phone conversation with a newspaper reporter.

"Superintendent [April] Hershey is not under investigation by any law-enforcement agency, including my office," District Attorney Craig Stedman writes in a statement released by his office Wednesday afternoon.

"My office did receive an anonymous allegation regarding Superintendent Hershey. Per policy, we investigated the matter and determined there was no wrongdoing or illegal activity whatsoever."

Dr. April Hershey

A report in the Lititz Daily News earlier this week said Hershey was under investigation after secretly recording a conversation with LancasterOnline/LNP reporter Kara Newhouse, without Newhouse's knowledge or consent.

According to the Daily News:

Hershey allegedly admitted to a confidential informant that she recorded calls with Newhouse on multiple occasions during 2014. Lori Zimmerman, public relations coordinator for the district, was allegedly present when Hershey reportedly confessed making the recordings. After Hershey allegedly stated she recorded Newhouse, she stated that she only recorded her (Hershey's) side of the conversation.

A motive for the recordings was not immediately clear.

"It is a felony to record a conversation without permission where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy," attorney Melissa Melewsky, who serves as media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, told the paper.

A message left with Hershey's office Wednesday afternoon was not immediately returned.

But she has previously denied the wiretapping allegations as "baseless and false."

Stedman, meanwhile, said his office considers the matter closed and that there will be no charges.
Toomey

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) on Wednesday urged fellow Senate members to find common ground on gun control legislation.

(Submitted)

Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey again on Wednesday broke rank with hardline GOP stance on gun control and urged Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find common ground to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists.

Toomey, who once earned top marks from the National Rifle Association, said Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens have to be protected.

"Let's get to work here," Toomey said on the floor of the chamber. "Let's sit down together and let's figure out how we can achieve this. Because I think everybody ought to be in agreement in principle. We don't want terrorists to be able to walk into a gun store and buy a gun, and we don't want innocent, law-abiding citizens to be denied Second Amendment rights because he's wrongly on the list with a bunch of terrorists."

Toomey made his remark amid an impassioned filibuster-like control of the Senate by Democrats in the wake of a massacre at an Orlando, Florida gay night club that claimed the lives of 49 people. Lawmakers demanded a vote on legislation aimed at preventing suspected terrorists from obtaining a firearm or explosive.

Led by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who represents Newtown, Conn. -- where 26 children and six other people were shot and killed by a lone gunman in December 2012 -- Democrats seized control of the chamber, vowing to stop only when lawmakers addressed gun violence.

It is not the first time that Toomey, who ran unopposed in the May primary, has bucked the hardline GOP stance on gun control.

In 2013, he co-authored legislation that would have introduced the most expansive new gun restrictions in two decades. Toomey's gun law proposal, which he co-sponsored with West Virginia Democrat Joe Minchin, came in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting and would have narrowed the so-called gun show loophole.

The Manchin-Toomey bill was soundly defeated on the Senate floor in 2013.

The NRA has branded Toomey a "gun control supporter."

The organization on Wednesday released the following statement regarding terror watchlists:

We are happy to meet with Donald Trump. The NRA's position on this issue has not changed. The NRA believes that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms, period. Anyone on a terror watchlist who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing. If an investigation uncovers evidence of terrorist activity or involvement, the government should be allowed to immediately go to court, block the sale, and arrest the terrorist. At the same time, due process protections should be put in place that allow law-abiding Americans who are wrongly put on a watchlist to be removed. That has been the position of Sen. John Cornyn (R.-Tex.) and a majority of the U.S. Senate. Sadly, President Obama and his allies would prefer to play politics with this issue.

Wednesday's statement by the NRA contradicted the organization's earlier stance in opposition to so-called "terrorist watchlist bills."

In 2011, the NRA opposed such a bill citing concern that the FBI watchlist might include a person as a "suspected terrorist" on "dubious grounds." The gun-rights organization at the time explained that under federal guidelines, "rightwing extremists" prone to "confrontations" with "government authorities" could include: Americans who are concerned about issues such as abortion, immigration, the economy; or who disagree with the policies of the Obama Administration.

Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, Jr., said he stood behind Murphy and other Democrats in calling for gun control legislation. Casey called on a ban on military style weapons.
harrisburg treasurer selection.png

Harrisburg city council members interviewed and voted for a new city treasurer in 2014 after John Campbell resigned amid theft charges. The position has been a revolving door ever since.

HARRISBURG- Former Harrisburg City Councilman Brad Koplinski, a frequent opponent of the mayor who lost his reelection bid last year, is throwing his hat into the ring to become the next city treasurer.

And he's not the only mayoral foe vying for the part-time job. Former City Controller and mayoral hopeful Dan Miller is also interested in the position, which opened up last month after Tyrell Spradley resigned.

City council members expect to choose a new city treasurer during a special legislative session Thursday night from a slate of nominees. Each council member was allowed to nominate one candidate.

Council members must pick a replacement for Spradley within 30 days of his resignation, which was effective May 20.

Peter Marks, a local attorney, also will vie for the job overseeing the treasurer's office. He was a finalist in a previous selection process. Another finalist from a previous process, Karen Balaban, also may be included in the slate of nominees.

City council members will interview each candidate and then vote on nominees, marking the third time within two years that council members have had to fill the elected position.

Former City Treasurer Tyrell Spradley resigned to pursue "other opportunities" without providing a specific reason. Council members picked Spradley over Marks and Balaban in late 2014 to fill the spot after former Treasurer John Campbell was arrested on theft charges.

Spradley then won last year's election to keep the job. His opponent in last year's race, Brian Ostella, declined to apply this year because of competing obligations.

The person selected to become the next city treasurer will be sworn in at a later date and serve until the city's next election.

Council President Wanda Williams, a longtime friend of Koplinski, nominated him for the job, according to her colleagues. Councilman Ben Allatt said he nominated Miller.

Allatt said he planned to ask the nominees tough questions Thursday night to determine each candidate's understanding of financial issues facing the city and their proposals to address them.

Councilman Cornelius Johnson said sought out candidates to nominate, but didn't find anyone. The job requires a special financial management skill-set, he said.

Koplinski describes himself as a political activist, strategist and attorney on his Twitter account. He is the principal of a political campaign strategy company and formerly worked for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice as well as the Internal Revenue Service's Office of Chief Counsel, both in Washington, D.C. He ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2014.

Papenfuse worked against Koplinski's re-election campaign for city council last year, saying Koplinski represented political interests that were not his own and was responsible for dysfunction on the council.

Longtime Harrisburg resident Dan Miller, a certified public accountant, lost his mayoral bid against Papenfuse in 2013 in a bitter contest. The former city councilman and city controller has worked in accounting for 35 years.

Peter Marks has lived in the city for six years and works as an attorney, arbitrator and mediator. He previously said he ran his legal business, administered a $6 million budget and once served as deputy commissioner for the Commonwealth.

Karen M. Balaban has lived in her Harrisburg home for 23 years and works as an attorney. She was treasurer of the Dauphin County Bar Association and served as power of attorney for clients managing more than $1 million in cash and investments.
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Handguns for sale at Staudt's Gun Shop in West Hanover Twp. Wednesday November 28, 2012. CHRIS KNIGHT, The Patriot-News (Photo by Chris Knight, The Patriot-News)

Gun shop owners in Pennsylvania said fear over this weekend's deadly terrorist attack in Orlando and the possibility of additional gun regulations has led to an increase in gun sales.

In the United States, gun sales tend to increase following mass shootings. After many mass shootings, state and federal lawmakers propose gun regulations. That also leads to more gun sales.

Joe Staudt, owner of Staudt's Gun Shop in Harrisburg, said he's seen a 20 percent increase in sales since the terrorist attack. Customers are specifically purchasing the AR-15 -- a semi-automatic rifle similar to the gun used by the shooter in Orlando.

"They're going right to the rack," Staudt said. "We sold one this morning before we even opened."

President Barack Obama and federal lawmakers have reignited the debate for stricter gun regulations. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has said that gun control is now "part and parcel of homeland security."

Staudt, a former U.S. Marine, said this kind of talk about gun control typically leads to more people purchasing guns that would not have normally bought guns. However, the current discussions haven't led to a surge in gun purchases.

"It's not at a panic level yet," Staudt said.

"[The fear of the government taking guns away] has been somewhat overblown in the past, but you never know. And people don't want to take the chance."

Nathan Lamb, owner of Lanco Tactical LLC in Elizabethtown, said he's seen a slight increase in gun sales since 49 people were killed and another 53 were injured in the Orlando nightclub shooting.

Lamb said gun sales can swing wildly depending on the economy and what's going on in the world. At times, guns are luxury items that are only purchased by enthusiasts. At other times, like after a mass shooting, people see guns as a necessity.

After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, lawmakers from all over the country proposed new gun regulations or worked to reinstate the federal assault weapons ban.

Lamb said that's when wives tell their husbands to pick up the essentials, "milk, bread, eggs and remember to buy an AR-15 and a bunch of ammo."

"It becomes a necessity in their mind," Lamb said. "They think to themselves, 'I have to buy one.'"

Staudt said the regulations following the Sandy Hook shooting led to the "biggest spike in sales we'd ever seen before."

"A standard AR-15 that sells for $700, were selling for $2,500," Staudt said. "You ran out of everything."

Sales also rose after the San Bernardino shooting and the attacks in Paris in 2015, he said.

Lamb said the proposed gun regulations after the Sandy Hook shooting had a "massive" effect on gun sales. Since there has not been as much talk about gun control following the Orlando shooting, Lamb said the sales increase has been slight.

"It's human nature, maybe it's American nature, but I think it's human nature," he said. "If anything is threatened to be taken away, people run out and buy it"
edward hopes.png

Edward P. Hopes

(Hamilton County Sheriff's Office)

A 60-year-old Lancaster man is in custody after reportedly shooting his ex-wife.

Edward P. Hopes is accused of shooting the woman five times at around 1 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment complex in Symmes Township, Ohio. The woman "miraculously" only sustained not life-threating injuries and was treated at a local hospital, according to a news release from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office.

Hopes fled the scene of the shooting and was on the run for a few hours. Authorities discovered that Hopes expressed plans to harm himself as well as law enforcement and issued a broadcast to law enforcement in the region.

Hopes was subsequently identified and arrested in Hebron, Ky., which is about 40 miles away. The Boone County Sheriff's Office assisted in his arrest.

Hopes is currently being held in Kentucky awaiting extradition.
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Ronald Thomas Comeger

(Lancaster County district attorney's office)

A 32-year-old man faces at least 29 charges after a high-speed chase at more than 100 mph and veering into a state trooper's vehicle during the incident, police said.

Ronald Thomas Comeger is accused of fleeing police with a woman and a 7-week-old infant as passengers during the chase on June 11. Comeger fled a traffic stop while heading west on Route 283 before deliberately veering at a state trooper and coming to a stop after crashing into another car, according to a news release from the Lancaster County district attorney's office.

The following is a police account of the incident provided by Trooper Stefanie Schiavoni:

State police radar captured the Volkswagen driven by Comeger going 73 mph in a 55 mph zone at the Route 283 and Route 30 interchange in Manheim Township. The trooper turned on the patrol vehicle's lights and sirens to pursue Comeger, but he sped up and headed west on Route 283, weaving through traffic.

The chase continued for about 21 miles, until Comeger steered the Volkswagen directly at a trooper who was out of his vehicle attempting to deploy stop sticks. The trooper was able to dive away from the oncoming vehicle.

Comeger crashed into another vehicle, causing both to strike a wall and come to a stop near the Toll House Road exit in Dauphin County. Comeger then climbed into the back seat of the Volkswagen and was holding the baby as a human shield when police approached.

Police said the baby sustained cuts to his head. The child's mother sustained cuts and bruises to her arms and legs, officials said. The trooper also had cuts and bruises on his arms and legs.

Comeger refused to give police an address when he was arrested. His Delaware driver's license was suspended, officials said.

Police found an ounce of cocaine, a marijuana joint, $350 in cash and a six-pack of beer with two beers missing. Comeger had alcohol on his breath at the hospital and police are awaiting blood test results, officials said.



The child's mother told police that Comeger said "someone is going to get hurt" as the chase ensued. He also told the woman he didn't want to go back to jail when she asked him to pull over during the chase.

Charges filed against Comeger include felony counts of attempted homicide, three counts of aggravated assault, four counts of aggravated assault by vehicle, endangering a child, fleeing police and three counts of causing a crash while not licensed. He is being held at the Lancaster County Prison on $1 million bail scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. on June 24.
Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey, R, meets with The Patriot-News edit board August 15, 2012 in Mechanicsburg, Pa. MARK PYNES, The Patriot-News

(MARK PYNES, The Patriot-News)

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and other Republicans are dodging questions about Donald Trump's response to the Orlando shooting, according to NBC News.

Trump has renewed his call for a temporary ban on Muslim immigration after an American-born gunman killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in a gay nightclub.

The shooter, Omar Mateen, was born in New York and grew up in Florida. His parents are from Afghanistan.

Many critics say Trump's ban wouldn't have prevented the Orlando massacre because Mateen was radicalized and pledged allegiance to ISIS while living in the U.S.

Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama and Sen. Harry Reid, have dared Republicans to defend Trump's rhetoric in the days following the shooting.

Many top Republicans are saying they won't comment.

When reporters caught up with Toomey he said he "didn't follow it closely."

The Lehigh Valley Republican was referring to Trump's speech Monday when he called for the ban.

Similarly, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he wouldn't be commenting on presidential candidates, NBC reported.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said he disagreed with the ban, but wouldn't comment further, NBC reported.

Perhaps this part of NBC's report sums it up best:

"Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C., paused a moment after being asked by NBC News whether he had any thoughts on Trump's response to Orlando.

"You know...hmm," he said.

Then without another word, he walked onto the Senate floor."

But some Republicans did speak up.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, told NBC that Trump's "ill-informed, ill-conceived ban on Muslims" was damaging the Republican Party.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, said, "It wasn't the kind of response that I would expect when 50 people have perished."

Others told NBC that Congress "would oppose Trump if he tried to implement a religious test for visitors to the United States by executive order," the network reported.

However, one senator defended Trump's words.

"It was a good speech," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, who has been Trump's top ally in the Senate, according to NBC. "He told the truth about the threat we are facing."
ANNVILLE -- The information war surrounding a proposed $3 billion, 10-county natural gas pipeline resumed on Tuesday, a day after a public meeting in Lancaster was commandeered by protesters and abandoned by federal regulators unable to maintain control.

For a second straight night, residents on both sides of the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project squared off in a public hearing called by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC is seeking public input after judging the project to have a less than significant expected environmental impact, effectively ushering it past another regulatory hurdle and bringing it one step closer to becoming a reality. FERC's public comment period continues through June 27.

But where Monday's meeting at Manheim Township High School was dominated by vocal opponents, many heavily critical of FERC's environmental assessment, Tuesday's meeting at Lebanon Valley College here was more civil, and front-loaded with supporters who spoke of the anticipated economic advantages that such a project could bring.

"It's the right thing to do. It [the natural gas] is right here," said Mark Thomas, mayor of nearby Cornwall Borough.

"Economics-wise you can't argue with the numbers."

Those numbers, as presented by pipeline supporters with labor unions and energy companies Tuesday, include 2,300 new jobs in 10 Pennsylvania counties during the construction phase, and 6,000 new jobs in supporting and ancillary industries.

But communities like this one remain split over the weighing of potential costs and benefits. That is particularly true here in Lebanon County where, as Pam Bishop of West Cornwall Township explained, two pipeline projects, Williams/Transco's Atlantic Sunrise project and Sunoco's Mariner East 2 project, are slated to pass through.

"Lebanon County is in the crosshairs of two monster pipelines," Bishop told the crowd Tuesday before declaring her opposition to both. The convergence has been labeled a "pipeline revolution" by some locals, one increasingly unpopular with a group of vocal residents both here and in neighboring Lancaster County where a grassroots resistance has grown in recent years.

But mayor Thomas maintained that a "silent majority" of residents actually support the Atlantic Sunrise, despite an opposing vocal "minority's" visible presence at events like these.

"There's a very small pocket of anti-fracking, anti-gas, anti-American people unfortunately, and the true heart of America doesn't come out and yell and scream and try to create havoc, and I do believe the other side does," Thomas said before the meeting.

"It's getting to the point that I have to leave work early and wait in a line to speak for the average person. ... I do not believe the opposition represents the average person."

In addressing Tuesday's hearing, Thomas touted the economic and national security benefits of US energy independence, the same he says is dependent on pipeline projects like the Atlantic Sunrise becoming a reality.

He was joined by Douglass Henry, president and CEO of Henry Molded Products in Lebanon, who in a written statement called new pipelines and the utilization of American produced natural gas "The most promising route to a goal of energy, security and prosperity."

David N. Taylor, president of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association, a trade group, said 25 to 30 percent of Marcellus Shale wells today lack "pipeline takeaway capacity."

Taylor said more natural gas flowing to manufacturers and businesses in Pennsylvania would be a good thing, also linking new pipeline infrastructure and capacity with lower energy costs for American consumers. Opponents argue that the pipelines are more likely to ship that gas overseas to markets there, with American energy consumption continuing to decline.

But after years spent attempting to convince regulators of this, opponents of the Atlantic Sunrise sounded disillusioned Tuesday as they expressed little faith in their ability to sway government agencies like FERC before the project wins final approval.

"FERC fully intends to approve this project," Mike Schroeder of the Lebanon Pipeline Awareness group said.

"FERC doesn't care what citizens say at these meetings, it is the illusion of listening."

Another opponent, equating the pipeline project with terrorism, called FERC her last line of defense, saying "This pipeline is like ISIS (the Islamic State). We live in fear that we cannot protect out families or residents. ... We ask FERC to defend our way of life."

Pipeline opponents on Tuesday also argued that the jobs created by pipeline projects are only temporary and unlikely to go to locals. They also continued to warn of the Atlantic Sunrise project's impact on landowner rights, as well as the region's agriculture and tourism industries and environment, potential harms they feel outweigh the benefits claimed by supporters.

In making those arguments Tuesday, though, the opponents lacked the vitriol of a night earlier.

Before the start of Tuesday's hearing, Joanne Wachholder, an environmental project manager with FERC who led both hearings, said in no uncertain terms that disruptions would not be tolerated again.

"I understand this is a sensitive subject," Wachholder said of the pipeline, before adding that interruptions would result in evictions or the hearing being cancelled.

Tim Spiece of Martic Township in Lancaster County was one of Monday's "disrupters." He responded to Wachholder and others critical of the pipeline opponents' actions by saying they've been forced to adopt such tactics by the circumstances.

"I have better things to do than make your life miserable and than to attend meeting after meeting to defend my home and to do what's right," Spiece said.

Pipeline opponents on Tuesday also called on FERC to launch a supplemental environmental assessment, calling the previous assessment "incomplete."

FERC was also urged to add more public hearing to its current schedule, although Wachholder said anyone unable to attend the meetings could submit comments online.

When pressed to extend the public comment period beyond June 27, Wachholder indicated no wiggle room.
Security will be heightened at this year's pride festival in Lancaster, officials say, exactly one week after a gunman with a terrorist's agenda and a reported grudge against gays killed 49 at an Orlando nightclub.

It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, and the deadliest terror attack since 9/11. It has also renewed the LGBT community's vigilance and safety concerns with pride season hitting full swing.

In Lancaster, police lieutenant Todd Umstead said as a result, more police officers have been added to Sunday's pride festival at Binns Park. Umstead declined to discuss specific numbers but said plainclothes and uniformed police will both likely be there -- enough to "ensure a safe event."

City police have provided security for the event before. Lancaster's Pride Festival is now in its 10th year.

And while in years past related incidents have been largely limited to hecklers and a small number of protesters, Umstead and event organizers said, the concern is greater this year after Sunday's shooting in Orlando and the arrest of a heavily armed man reportedly bound for Los Angeles' pride parade later that same day.

In a vigil for the Orlando victims held at Penn Square in Lancaster on Sunday, some attendees saw the violence as a natural outgrowth after years of building tension as gays made great gains in this country, including earning the right to marry, and segments of the population pushed back.

At Sunday's vigil, Barry Russell, a local LGBT advocate, warned the roughly 100 present that safety is still an issue, with Sunday's shooting in a gay-friendly city like Orlando offering the latest proof.

"This [Orlando] could happen anywhere, including here," he said.

Security has also been reevaluated ahead of San Francisco's upcoming pride parade, among the largest in the nation.
classroom school stock photo 6

File photo, Shutterstock.com

A public school teacher who was fired after being arrested for having a sawed-off shotgun, marijuana and drug paraphernalia must be re-hired because the school board mishandled his termination, a state appeals court panel has ruled.



The Commonwealth Court judges found that, even though Joseph Melnick was convicted on the drug counts, he must be reinstated because the New Kensington-Arnold School Board violated his civil rights when it axed him.



That board didn't allow Melnick a disciplinary hearing that is required under the Public School Code for teacher firings, President Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt found in the court's opinion issued this week.



The reinstatement order upholds an arbitrators ruling that was backed by a Westmoreland County judge. The school board appealed those decisions to the state court, which also affirmed the arbitrator's findings.



According to Levitt's opinion, Melnick began working for the district as a music teacher in 2008. He was also the assistant high school band director.



In 2013, he was arrested for possessing the shotgun, 90 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the form of a water pipe. District officials immediately placed Melnick on unpaid leave. He was convicted of the marijuana and paraphernalia possession charges in February 2014 and was fired by the school board three months later on grounds of immorality.



Before his firing, Melnick told school officials he didn't want to have a hearing before the school board, but wanted to file a grievance to challenge his termination instead, Leavitt noted. Melnick argued that he was "the victim of unfortunate circumstances and wanted to get back to teaching," Leavitt wrote.



He claimed during an arbitration hearing that police found the gun and the drug items when they searched the house he shared with his brother, who was a suspect in a hit-and-run accident. The marijuana was in a locked ammunition box that had belonged to his late uncle, a former police officer, he said.



The water pipe was actually a vaporizer he used to ingest legal herbs that helped him to sleep and to relax, Melnick stated. He noted that the 12-month probation sentence he received for his criminal convictions required him to undergo regular drug testing.



The arbitrator concluded that school officials violated Melnick's due process rights by suspending him without pay right after his arrest without giving him a hearing where he could defend himself. The statement of charges against Melnick was also defective because it was issued by the district superintendent, the arbitrator found. It should have been issued by the school board as required by the Public School Code.



In agreeing with the arbitration ruling, Leavitt rejected the district's argument that "there is a well-defined, dominant and compelling policy to removing teachers with a drug history from contact with children."



Leavitt noted that none of the charges of which Melnick was convicted trigger automatic termination of a teacher under the Public School Code. "There was no showing that a teacher in Melnick's situation presents an unacceptable risk to school students," she wrote.



In any case, she found, "The arbitrator did not hold that Melnick could not be dismissed for his criminal convictions. Instead, the arbitrator found that Melnick had to be reinstated because the school district deprived him of procedural safeguards mandated by the Public School Code."



The Melnick case marks the second time this month that Commonwealth Court judges have ordered the reinstatement of a fired public school teacher because a school board flubbed the termination process.



Two weeks ago, a court panel ruled that a School District of Philadelphia teacher who was axed for supposedly cursing and talking about sex with students must be reinstated because the school board didn't follow proper procedures in firing him.




Prince William is speaking out on homophobic bullying  and is now the first royal ever to cover an LGBT magazine.

William recently opened his Kensington Palace home for a discussion with British LGBT magazine Attitude and met with a group of nine people who have endured homophobic bullying.

After the palace chat, William released a statement to the magazine saying, No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives.

The royals appearance on the cover of the magazine comes just days after the mass shooting at the Orlando gay nightclub, Pulse. William and wife Princess Kate paid their respects in the wake of the attack Tuesday when they signed a book of condolence at the U.S. Embassy in London.

Williams efforts are part of the joint campaign on combating mental health difficulties that he has started with Kate and brother Prince Harry. William has also highlighted the plight of male suicide  something he has come across in his work as an air ambulance pilot.

The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now, he added.

He praised their sense of strength and optimism, which he said should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it. You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

The young people and families he met explained how bullying had led to low self-esteem, suicide attempts, eating disorders, depression and drug addiction.

 Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter.

Attitude editor Matthew Todd tells PEOPLE, He put us all at ease despite the fact that we were talking about some intense and sometimes harrowing things. One of those was a mother, Mena Houghton, whose son Mark Houghton died in 2010 at age 27 from an unintentional overdose after years of being homophobically bullied at school. He was great with her and with all of us.

He said he wants to help and wants people to stop being unkind to each other, Todd continues.

Todd  whose book Straight Jacket: How to be Gay and Happy is out this week  got a sense of how deep-seated William, Kate and Harry feel about the issue.

I was completely bowled over by him, he says. He was absolutely passionate, compassionate and relaxed. Someone got upset during the conversation and he said, Its oay to cry. You can cry and be strong. 

You can tell when a celebrity or a politician is paying lip service to something, but I absolutely felt he meant it and you can see peoples mental health is important to him, Todd explains.

There is a head of steam about this issue building which is exciting, he adds.

RELATED VIDEO: How will Prince William Be Spending Fathers Day This Year?

On a trip to North Wales last November, William was praised for his understanding and empathy. He and Kate met a group of students from Coleg Menai supported by the mental health charity, Mind.

James Cheffings, 19, from Bangor, told reporters he went through a difficult time at college but talking though things had helped. I accepted that I was a gay man and now I work in an attitude-free gay bar and am a drag queen on weekends, he said.

It came across that they were really accepting and understanding about the whole LGBT community, Cheffings said. Which was really nice to see that we in that community have got that support from the royal family.

It shows that people who are quite famous people do go to little villages like Caernarfon and little buildings like this and meet people like us who might not always get our voices heard, he added.

Williams spokesman said in a statement, The Duke of Cambridge is working hard to support the fight against bullying and to help break the stigma around mental health. He has established a task force on the prevention of cyberbullying and along with The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, is leading the Heads Together campaign on mental health and well-being.

He knows that LGBT young people suffer unacceptably high rates of bullying and he was grateful to Attitude for facilitating such a serious conversation on this topic, the statement continued. He was moved by the stories he heard and impressed by the positivity and courage of the people he met.
Emmet County plans road work, new signs with ARPA funding

Bids will be going out this winter for a Camp Petosega Road project and new road signs throughout the county.
Venezuela's PDVSA oil production tumbles as economic crisis worsens

Reuters/Isaac Urrutia



Oil pumps are seen in Lake Maracaibo, in Lagunillas, Ciudad Ojeda, in the state of Zulia, Venezuela, March 20, 2015.

CARACAS

Petroleumworld.com 06 15 2016

Hungry Venezuelans are rioting and looting amid worsening food shortages, but the OPEC country's remote oil fields have been sheltered from the social unrest so far.

But Venezuela's blistering economic crisis is hitting them full on.

Output in the country, which has the world's largest oil reserves, dropped to 2.37 million barrels per day (bpd) in May, according to OPEC data provided by Venezuela.

That's down some 5 percent from April and nearly 11 percent from 2015's average, data showed on Monday, piling more stress on oil-dependent Venezuela as it wrestles with the economic crisis. The drop could also help erode a supply glut that has weighed on prices.

Amid a cash crunch, Venezuela's oil industry is suffering from shortages of spare parts, the retreat of oil services companies due to unpaid bills, maintenance issues, and crime, according to workers, union leaders, and foreign executives.

Oil workers earn only a few dozen dollars a month at the black market rate due to the bolivar currency's rapid tumble on the parallel market. Many lives now revolve around the quest for food, fostering worker absenteeism and a brain drain.

"Workers' moods are in the dumps," said Francisco Luna, a union leader in the oil-producing area of Lake Maracaibo. "Every day it's worse. Maintenance is lacking, equipment is lacking."

Officials at state-run oil company PDVSA did not respond to a request for comment. The company has blamed problems on saboteurs and international smear campaigns.

Separately, Caracas is in talks with China to obtain a grace period in its oil-for-loans deal that would improve its capacity to make bond payments amid the crisis, sources told Reuters.

As Venezuela's recession appears set to worsen, many wonder how much output could slide and whether unrest could encroach on operations.

Energy consulting firm IPD Latin America caused waves earlier this year when it forecast that output could slip to 2.35 million bpd this year, a figure on par with last month's output.

That would be even lower than average production in 2002 and 2003, when Venezuela was shaken by a massive oil strike.

Even production in the Orinoco Belt, a promising swath of extra-heavy crude deposits in the Venezuelan savannah, is down.

Beyond output, Venezuela's refineries and ports have suffered problems due to equipment failures and power cuts. And payment delays led to less diluents for Venezuelan crudes.

Wall Street is also monitoring the lower output amid default fears, although President Nicolas Maduro insists Venezuela will honor all debts.

"In the short term, it will negate some of the recent oil price rise and make the bond payments in late-2016 and 2017 more difficult, though not necessarily impossible," said a U.S.-based fund manager.






"XPN's embrace made sense on several fronts," said Bruce Warren, assistant general manager for programming. "So much of what 'American Routes' does fits into what WXPN is about in the vibrant and broad continuum of roots music. Producer and host Nick Spitzer incorporates R&B, blues, soul, New Orleans funk, hot zydeco music from Louisiana, elements of jazz and folk into his musical mix. He always very thoughtfully and thoroughly tells great stories about the music with the musicians who create it."

Not incidentally, Spitzer was a program director of WXPN during the early 1970s, when the station was an all-volunteer, Penn undergrad-run activity. Now also an anthropology prof, he'd started digging his roots academically as a student of UPenn's since shuttered folklore department under the esteemed direction of Dr. Kenneth Goldstein. And as Nick "Spencer," the guy did a mid-day shift here on WMMR in its wide-open, free-form era. But even he had a falling-out with the program director (Jerry Stevens) over the playing of a particularly rustic artist. Sleepy John Estes, maybe?

Spitzer emailed today that he's "still kind of amazed by the corporate isolation of HYY in making this choice with so little notice; the outpouring of support by our listeners; the willingness of WXPN to move forward. "

To make room for "Routes," WXPN is eliminating a re-run of "World Cafe."
THE ONLY THING as predictable as America's gun violence, including mass shootings, is America's political rapid reaction, especially in an election year - calling for legal measures to save us from America's gun violence.

If that sounds annoyingly repetitive, it's because it's like everything to do with this issue.

The Orlando nightclub shootings early Sunday set off yet another national debate on guns, offering politicians at all levels yet another platform for themselves.

So, no surprise, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Katie McGinty is calling out her Republican opponent, Sen. Pat Toomey, to do more to fight gun violence.

There is some irony here.

Toomey's just about the only Republican anywhere who's actually tried to do something on guns. He pushed to expand background checks for gun purchases after the December 2012 shooting deaths of 20 elementary school children and six educators in Newtown, Conn. The effort failed - twice.

But now, McGinty is at Toomey for voting against a Democratic measure last December that would ban those on the FBI terror watch list from buying guns. It, too, failed.

Toomey backed a similar but less-restrictive GOP version of the measure that allowed gun buyers to challenge being on the watch list. That also failed.

So, a couple things.

McGinty's urging Toomey to now change his mind and vote for the Democratic terror-list ban, if and when it resurfaces, is perfect in its political timing (if not in its implication).

Orlando is on everyone's mind, and keeping terror-watched individuals from buying guns sounds eminently sensible.

Where's the leadership!

But McGinty is quoted in a piece by my colleagues Jonathan Tamari and Chris Brennan as saying Toomey "has worked to allow suspected terrorists to buy guns."

Really? He worked to get terrorists guns?

Is it me, or is that slightly overstated?

Even though the Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was on an FBI watch list a few years back, he was removed from the list after two investigations.

So linking Mateen and Orlando to Toomey's vote last December is disingenuous.

It implies a "yes" vote from Toomey could have somehow resulted in stopping Mateen (who was not on a watch list, and had two gun licenses and legally purchased weapons) from his rampage.

The hard truth is, nothing stops this stuff.

Not a single bill. Not a single vote. Not a speech. Not a law. Gun violence happens, mass shootings happen, regardless of laws.

How often does this need to be proved?

Still, we get calls, including now from Hillary Clinton, to reinstate a ban on assault weapons, such as the AR-15-style rifle used in Orlando.

The ban was in place from 1994 to 2004. There were mass shootings before, during, and after it. There will be more.

But where's the political will or intent to enact new gun-control laws?

An ABC News/Washington Post survey just last December - right after a terror attack in San Bernardino, Calif., left 14 dead, 21 wounded - found a majority of Americans, for the first time in 20 years, opposed banning assault weapons.

Online polling this week - right after Orlando - in states as different as New Jersey and Colorado found a majority of respondents opposed to reinstating an assault weapons ban.

Think Congress, in an election year, or Pennsylvania (ever) is moving toward reducing access to firearms of any kind?

It's more likely a President Hillary Clinton abolishes the Second Amendment, or a President Donald Trump deports 11 million undocumented immigrants.

But, by all means, let's rev up the rhetoric. Let's see what comes of that.

baerj@phillynews.com

Blog: ph.ly/BaerGrowls

Columns: ph.ly/JohnBaer
Mining history runs deep here in Kellogg, ID, the host town for the NAEC. Legend has it that in 1885, a prospector named Noah Kellogg stumbled upon a lode of galena while searching for his lost mule. Galena is an ore composed mainly of lead, but also silver. Shortly after Kellogg's discovery, the area was dubbed "Silver Valley". Before silver mining went bust in Silver Valley in the early 1980s, over 360 million troy ounces were extracted; that's 11,000,000 kg of silver or 24.25 million pounds. Mining continues today, but primarily for lead and zinc.

There's still a fair bit of mining history on display in Kellogg, ID. All you need to do is poke around town a bit.

The pre-race meeting held at the foot of the 3,400-foot gondola ride. Each of the primary race organizations representatives-Trey Wilson of the CDC, James Lang of the Idaho Enduro Series, and Tony Zammit of the Montana Enduro Series took a few minutes to go over course details and race rules.

The Shimano "neutral-ish" ("We can't really work on SRAM stuff"; go figure) support was on hand to support racers free of charge. Pivot's Carolyn Romaine chats it up with Nick and Kim Hardin on the eve of racing.

Glitter for the winners, with the "team" trophies front and center.

Matt Blake getting "active" with his timing chip while Logan Wetzel waits his turn.

Local boy, Tommy McGrath coyly giving fellow racers quality advice, like "go as hard as you can on the climb" before the start of the first day's racing. Yeah, right...

Team Idiot's Joey Wyckoff stepping up and making shapes on stage one of day one.

Fanatik Bike's Nick Tuttle adrift in the lush ferns at the bottom of stage one. Intermittently heavy rains the night before and during the first day of racing had the vegetation exploding with life. That also gave the trails early in the day a decidedly greasy feel, and in some cases, traction was at a premium.

Kim Hardin on stage one of the NAEC. Hardin fought tooth and nail all weekend against area local DH racer Jaime Rees, ending day one 2 seconds adrift from the top step, but came out on top by some 28 seconds at the end of it all - nearly 45 minutes of racing!

One time Pro DH racer (that was nearly 2 decades ago, dammit!) Tracy West sending stage one in the Expert Veteran Male (40+) category.

Day one saw racers climb some 1100 vertical feet for the first stage of the NAEC race, and then shuttle up to the top of Kellogg Mountain via the Silver Mountain Gondola only to ball up into a massive line up for the start of stage 2, a pedally 3km or so track with a 600 vertical foot climb back to the gondola station for the start of stage 3.

Racers at the start of stage 3 were treated to the sight of incoming wet weather (thankfully no lightning, though--nothing like having to hide out on a mountain top during a lightening storm!). About half the field of 243 racers got alternatively rained on and hailed on as they waited to drop in off the summit. A plus note on the precipitation, though, was velcro dirt conditions for day two.

Andrew Flaschenriem casually floating into stage 3. The big Canfield rider was able to take seventh on the stage, edging out eventual second place winner Mathew Chynoweth by just less than a second.

Stage 4 featured some climbing early on, made all the more awkward by battered hands from the high-speed chatter on stage 3 and some larger root lines midway through the uphill portion of the stage before the fun index got dialed back up to ten. The stage actually dropped a fair bit, but the 27 vertical feet of elevation gain were hard on the legs after the uber pedally stage 2 earlier in the day. Likely even harder when rallying the course on a hardtail, too!

Layton Meyers sneers at knee guards. The kid in the Jr Expert Boys 17 and under category was as loose as they come as he rallied the harder sections of the track but always kept it under control despite the wide open throttle. And let's face it, at 17, everyone's pretty sure they're invulnerable. And he did win his category, too.

Lisa Curry, on the other hand, opting for the full face and knee guards on her romp through the rocks on stage 5.

Fifth place finisher overall Janea Perry opted for the alternative line on the rock filled chute on stage 5 of the first day of the NAEC. Her time of 5:41.98 on the stage was good enough for fourth place and only .5 seconds behind eventual NAEC winner Kim Hardin.

Karen O'Connell was looking good on stage 5, but unfortunately, DNF'd when a training run crash requiring stitches took her out of the race.

Expert Female racer Michelle Warner on the exit line below the rock chute of stage 5. Warner was on a tear in stage 5, edging out her nearest competitor for the overall in her category by nearly 30 seconds. Yew!

The leaderboard watch. Glory, exultation, bitter disappointment, and inspiration to dig deeper all wrapped up in one place.

Chris Andreason and the Bike Hub crew out of Spokane, WA mulling over the day's war stories around a couple cozy campfires under the clearing skies at the camp area below the Silver Mountain gondola in Kellogg, ID.

Eric Geist leading out a small pack of riders for the long climb up to the top of Sunday's one and only stage: a top to bottom romp through Silver Mountain's bike park all the way back to the edge of town.

Marin/SR Suntour's Craig Harvey dropping into the start of stage 6. This was an arm pump burner of a super D style of a stage, with riders dropping 3400 vertical feet during the course of the 4.9 miles of North Idaho brown pow.!

Racers saw nearly every kind of trail condition during the "one and done" day two stage at Silver Mountain. Rains Friday night and the previous day had damped down the blown apart sun-baked sections of track, creating brown pow of the finest quality. But it wasn't all velcro dirt, there was still a mix of treacherous roots and rocks, and in some of the more churned up sections of track, the odd fang lay in wait to ambush the unwary with a punctured tire.

Logan Wetzel sending it on stage 6 of the NAEC. Wetzel's time was strong enough to hold off all comers for the weekend.

Double Duty time for Shimano's Tommy Magrath; he not only raced pro to 24th place but also put in his fair share of time spinning wrenches.

Mathew Chynoweth trying, but failing, to reel in Logan Wetzel and Branham Snyder on the top to bottom "super D" style stage 6 of the NAEC.

Eric Geist floating down the Hammer Trail on stage 6. Geist would finish 6th overall, a mere 6.5 seconds adrift of the of the podium after nearly 40 minutes of racing.

One signature of Silver Mountain was unrelenting 180-degree corners in some places. The tracks were plenty rowdy for the trail bikes riders were putting to the test, but an effort by the trail builders to maximize trail to vertical drop ratio saw lots of 180-degree course changes as the various tracks snaked down the mountain. It was all good, though, as the turns easily allowed riders to carry their speed through the corners, even as they left a bit of a "pinball" impression on the racers.

Second Place Expert Master Male (30-39) finisher Phil Grove carrying speed over a root line on the Pirate Trail segment of stage 6.

Kryptonite in the rain, the off-camber roots of Pirate Trail were considerably tamer in the dry conditions found on day two of the NAEC.

Steep? Check. Rocks? Check. Good times? Check, check, and check!

Only Moses can part rough seas better. Some unknown Senior Expert Male snuck through this rock garden by the skin of his teeth...

Not everyone escaped the rocks, though. Alex Walker tasting some bitter ashes of what might have been. The Jr Expert Boys 17 and Under race leader from day one flatted above this chaos filled steep corner stage 6, and saw his 89 seconds lead from day one evaporate into a DFL finish. He was game, though; I could hear him coming for nearly a minute before he came into view.

Another day one race leader who ran afoul of mechanical issues on day two was the pro women's leader Jaime Rees. Rees was up by two seconds over Kim Hardin coming into stage six, but Rees tossed a chain at some point and lost valuable seconds getting it back in place. Hardin, too, lost a chain, but a quick back pedal got it re-mounted with a minimal time loss. Rees wasn't so fortunate, though; and the combination of an inspired Hardin and Rees' mechanical saw her lead disappear into a 28-second deficit by the end of the final stage.

Emily Sabelhaus dropping into yet another root filled 180-degree course change midway through her 17:05.61 top to bottom stage six run.

Amy Josefczyk's run on stage 6 was good enough to sew up a fourth place finish in the Women's Expert field.

The fastest neutral tech support ever: FSA's Patrik Zuest (and his partner in crime, Derrick Henry) not only raced but did it with 30 or so pounds of essentials stuffed into that pack.

The women's pro podium: L-R Lisa Curry (4), Jaime Rees (2), Kim Hardin (1), Emily Sabelhaus (3), and Janea Perry (5). And the bubbly battle immediately after.

Pro Men's podium, L-R: Craig Harvey (4), Branham Snyder (2), Logan Wetzel (1), Mathew Chynoweth (3), and Andrew Flaschenriem (5). The pro men also had a bubbles battle, ignited by Marin/ SR Suntour's Craig Harvey before the podium call up had even been finished.

Okay Lets face it: the Enduro race format has exploded in North America like an over-insured building liberally splashed with jet fuel and struck by lightning. Theres the Oregon Enduro Series (OES), Cascadia Dirt Cup (CDC), BC Enduro, Montana Enduro Series, Idaho Enduro Series, Big Mountain Enduro (BME), WVMBA Enduro Series, Eastern States Cup Enduro Series (ESC) You get the idea. So the announcement of the formation of the North American Enduro Coalition (NAEC) and their North American Enduro Cup (also the NAEC) kind of flew under the radar.So what are the two NAECs? In short, the Coalition NAEC was the brainchild of the Idaho Enduro series director, James Lang. The Coalition was initially established as a collaborative race effort between the Cascadia Dirt Cup Enduro Series, the Idaho Enduro Series, and the Montana Enduro Series. The idea was to establish a flexible set of rules that could be adapted to each of the participating series, so that racers would have a standardized set of rules to work with across the various race series, but flexible so that the various race organizations involved could adapt the rules to individual races within their respective series. But somewhere along the way, the Coalition birthed the Cupthe other NAEC.The Cup is a one-off race that embraces all the regional race series: the CDC, the Idaho Enduro Series, the Montana Enduro series, BC Enduro, and MTB Enduro (a Mexican Enduro race organization). Initially, the Cup was planned to be a race series, but with the announcement of the North American Enduro Tour (NAET) becoming an EWS qualifier, the Coalition adopted more of an Enduro of Nations format: a one event race with teams as well as individual racers competing against each other. Hows that work? Simple: you can compete within your category as an individual, but you can also be part of a team and have that team compete within various team categories, like pro women, pro men, mixed sport, etc. Anyway, as long as the NAET remains a series/EWS qualifier, the NAEC will remain as a one-off race with the team component for the foreseeable future.The inaugural Cup NAEC was hosted this past weekend by Silver Mountain Bike Park in the old mining community of Kellogg, IDa small town located some 40 minutes east of the Coeur dAlene, ID in the middle of the panhandle of the state. Silver Mountain offers a 3.1-mile long gondola ride that climbs 3400 vertical feet to the summit of Kellogg Peak directly from town. Over the weekend, racers ascended some 10k feet via pedals, the gondola, and a single chairlift ride, and then raced all that vertical back down over six stages that took the pro mens winner, Transitions Logan Wetzel, nearly 38 minutes to complete. Now thats some legit racing! So strap in and enjoy the ride.It was cool to see a return to that "Enduro of Nations" team format that used to cap off the French Enduro Race series a few years ago. All the racers raced as individuals, but had the option to form teams in various categories (for a complete breakdown of the rules for team racing go here) . The woman's Pro "Team" Winner, the "Oregon Udders", an ad hoc team assembled the night before the start of the NAEC, was composed of race winner Kim Hardin, Nikki Hollatz (10), and Carolyn Romaine (6) - Romaine was absent for the podium on a run to the airport.That's all, folks. Keep an eye out for the dates for next year's NAEC event to be announced sometime late this year and be sure to make plans to register for what promises to become a fantastic fixture on the North American Enduro race calendar. Racing will be capped at 300, so don't lag when registration opens for next season's race. @meagerdude / @CascadiaDirtCup / @bcenduroseries / @MontanaEnduroSeries
"We immediately started fighting that fire," [NASA astronaut Jerry Linenger] reported later from Mir. "You had to react to the situation, you had to keep your head about you, so I guess it was just a matter of survival. Going through your mind were thoughts'We need to get that fire out.'"

The situation was critical. The fire blocked the only path between the crew and one of the two Soyuz vehicles. At the moment, there was a way of escape for only three of the six men onboard the station.
Come get Merry on Main Audio Article The 2022 Merry on Main committee is busy preparing for the annual two-day Christmas festival held at the Pleasanton River...

Out and About Audio Article Dia De Las Fresas on Oct. 29 One-day fall festival event hosted by Poteet Strawberry Festival Association. Live music from...
New York Senate Passes Online Poker Bill

June 15, 2016 Jason Glatzer Editor

Big, positive news came out of New York on Tuesday, June 14, as Senator John Bonacics online poker bill, S5302C, passed the state's Senate by a vote of 53-5.

The bill quickly passed after earlier in the month the New York Senate Finance Committee reported with a 20-8 vote to the Senate floor.

While the bill still has a way to go before it can potentially become a state law, Online Poker Report editor Dustin Gouker pointed out that this represents the first time a gaming bill has passed any legislative chamber in any state since Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey passed its bills.

Poker players have been waiting a long time for any significant movement in online poker legislation. New Jersey, the last of the three states to create a regulated online gaming regime, passed its bill into a law in February 2013, with regulated online poker operators dealing the first hands in November 2013.

However, the same day the bill was passed The Buffalo News reported that the chairman of the New York Assembly racing and wagering committee Gary Pretlow reported that the legalization of online poker "is dead." This might be due to there being not much reported support from the Assembly and its session due to end on Thursday, June 16.

Even if the Assembly passes the bill without any amendments, in order for the bill to become a law, it would still require the approval of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who would have 10 days to decide whether to pass or veto the bill. If neither action is taken within that period, the bill would automatically become law.

Despite what still seems like an uphill battle with time ticking away, the bill has a wide range of support from both the industry and poker players. Long-time online gaming advocate MGM Resorts International, who will likely enter the New Jersey regulated online gaming marketplace through its recent $900 billion acquisition of 50 percent of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa from Boyd Gaming Corp. earlier in the month, applauds the momentum, citing new tax revenues and player protection.

"Creating a safe, regulated option for online poker players in New York would generate millions in new tax revenue that could be used for education and other critical investments," MGM General Counsel John McManus shared in a statement reported on a variety of media outlets. "We applaud the Senate for passing this sensible legislation that will help protect New Yorkers who have for years played online poker on unprotected, off-shore poker websites that today operate with no regulation, fraud controls, or age restrictions. This bill will open opportunities for all providers of online poker to deliver a safe, regulated alternative."

Likewise, the Poker Players Alliance and poker players through social media, including Jason Somerville to his 57,600 Twitter followers are urging the Assembly to pass the bill.

we are SO close to bringing regulated online poker to NY! New Yorkers, let's make our voices heard and get it done! https://t.co/uX1tWAI3Ih  Jason Somerville (@JasonSomerville)

Help Get Online Poker Passed in New York

While it was a big step forward for the online poker bill to pass through the Senate, and a very positive development it did so at such a wide margin of votes at 53-5, work still needs to be done if the Empire State is going to receive online poker in the near future. That's why your help is requested.

Our friends at the Poker Players Alliance ask that you take a mere 30 seconds to send a letter of the Assembly and Governor supporting online poker in New York. The next step for the bill will be to pass Assembly vote, and all the support that can get behind this bill, the better.

Please, click here to take 30 seconds out of your day and send this pre-filled letter to the New York Assembly and Governor.

Stay tuned at PokerNews as more develops in the New York iGaming marketplace.

*Lead image courtesy of Wikipedia.org.

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Even NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton sees through the empty tough talk of Donald Trump.

In a press conference at the NYPD headquarters on Tuesday, Bratton praised President Obamas record on combatting the threat of terrorism and questioned whether Trump could ever match it.

Actions speak louder than words, Bratton said. [Obamas] been doing one hell of a job, I think, basically trying to kill those bastards before they kill us. So, lets see what Mr. Trump does in terms of matching actions to rhetoric.

Bratton is likely referring to the extensive list of senior-level terrorists taken out during Obamas presidency, including Osama bin Laden. The president has also authorized thousands of airstrikes against ISIS, more than all U.S. allies combined, resulting in the terror groups loss of almost half their territory in Iraq and 20 percent in Syria.

The commissioners comments come in the midst of Trumps erratic and irresponsible response to the tragedy in Orlando. Trump, of course, responded by first congratulating himself for being right on terrorism and then accused the president of siding with extremist groups like ISIS.

Bratton also expressed his concern at the alarming number of mass shootings that take place in the United States.

We have a mass shooting every day in the United States involving four or more victims. Every day in the United States, a mass shooting, the commissioner said. Its become almost a fact of life here.

On MSNBCs Morning Joe this morning, Bratton was even tougher on Trump and Republicans, saying they prostitute themselves in front of the NRA.

They put the interest of their own political careers and that of the NRA ahead of the American people, he said.

At his press conference later in the day, Bratton also responded to critics of Obama  namely Trump and Rudy Giuliani  who have accused the president of making it harder for police to do their job and prevent terrorism.

This is an old warhorse that he and the presidential candidates continue to bring up, New Yorks top cop said. I knocked it down with [Sen. Ted] Cruz, Ill knock it down with Trump and Ill knock it down with the former mayor.
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*The following is an opinion column by R Muse *

It is really curious why so many Americans, and political pundits, put so much value into polls and voter surveys. It is understandable that sitting politicians like to get a feel of the will of the electorate, and more to the point their own constituents, but being confident about a candidate solely on the basis of what this poll or that survey reveals is, frankly, foolish, particularly during a presidential primary. Democrats and many on the left are feeling fairly good about the Democrats chances going into the general election proper based on the Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump as the GOP standard bearer. However, as Robert Reich noted a couple of weeks ago, it would be politically stupid to dismiss Donald Trumps chances against Hillary [Clinton].

Now, Professor Reichs screed is not in any way discounting Hillary Clintons ability to win; quite the contrary. In fact, Mr. Reich said that as far as delivering carefully crafted speeches and policy proposals calculated to appeal to particular constituencies, Mrs. Clintons proposals and speeches are almost flawless.

Where Reich sees an opportunity for Democrats to be politically stupid is underestimating Donald Trumps appeal to a fair segment of the population even though he may offend their sensibilities on myriad issues. Reich also noted that despite unfavorable reports about the way Trump regards women, immigrants, Muslims, and his propensity to lie, as one of his supporters said regarding Trump, He may be a jerk, but hes our jerk.

When any American claims Trump is theirs, they mean they like his portrayal as an authoritarian bully  a strongman who will kick ass. This portrayal fits many Americans ideal of a real American anti-politician who is tough and confrontational enough to take on the powers that be in Washington and dominate the leaders of the rest of the world.

Of course anyone with a pulse comprehends that Donald Trump epitomizes the powers that be who are responsible for an increasing number of Americans plight And, because they are not getting filthy rich like their hero they believe the only way to affect change is through Trumps hostility borne of suspicion, of every and anything they are either afraid of or ignorant about.

Reich shared some comments from Trump supporters he heard as he traversed the nation, and it boils down to what the Professor said is the new era of anti-politics. It is worth noting that for the past four years conservative voters have complained bitterly that their representatives in Congress have abandoned them because they have been unable to transform America into some kind of idealized white Christian nation they believe is their birthright and Americas destiny; exactly what Donald Trump promises only he will deliver with an iron-fist.

Some of the stories Reich shared was, for example, an Hispanic woman from Texas said she and the majority of her friends support the racist Trump because he wants to keep the Mexicans out of America. Apparently, the Hispanic lady believes more Mexicans in America make it harder for those already here. But she cant comprehend that when Trump and his supporters says they want the Mexicans out of America, they mean Mexicans like her, so she is supporting him all the way.

Another story was about a union member from Pittsburgh who supports Trump because he will be tough on American companies shipping jobs abroad. This is beyond belief and informs just how politically stupid many Americans really are. For dogs sake, it is the super-rich like Trump and Republicans that are responsible for giving companies tax breaks to outsource Americans jobs. But Trump talks like a badass; apparently thats enough to fool a union member that Trump claims is a major source of Americas problem in that his wages are just too high to compete with and defeat China.

Where Mr. Reich really gets it right is explaining that Donald Trumps appeal to a certain segment of America is his ability to convince morons that only someone with a giant ego, money to burn, and the audacity of a real American can make America great again. It is precisely the image Trump portrays and his supporters love him because they say he is authentic, unscripted, and unfiltered; what is considered a real American in conservative circles.

That certain segment is also not interested in a candidate that carefully explains or even has any agenda or policy proposals; they want someone who is outrageous, politically incorrect, provocative, and offensive to everyone. As one mid-level Salt Lake City executive told Reich, Trump is the real thing. He says what he believes, and you know where he stands. Apparently the executive is unaware that Donald Trumps propensity to lie rivals his ability to offend everyone.

One doesnt want to believe for a minute that there are a majority of Americans who think that just because Trump says what he believes means they know where he stands. Despite what Trump or his adherents claim, he is as establishment a conservative as any Republican and is not anti-politics. Remember, Donald Trump is a scam artist and a television show celebrity and has successfully dialed in to what the base wants him to be; a loudmouthed bully who claims he, as a real American badass, can deliver what establishment Republicans have failed to give the base; a white Christian nation with a dictator at the helm.

It is unlikely that Democrats are unaware of Trumps appeal to the GOP base, but it is unclear if they understand that what is offensive to decent Americans is precisely what Trump is employing to garner support among more than just the Republican base. For decent human beings at home and abroad the idea that any American supports a madman like Donald Trumps candidacy is a damning indictment on the sad state of American society.

For Democrats, Trumps candidacy is a prime opportunity to shift the balance of power away from the hate-mongering Republican party but only if they heed Professor Robert Reichs sage advice. Resist being politically stupid by dismissing Donald Trumps chance at being elected president because what may seem offensive and a death knell for Republicans is exactly what no small number of Americans want much more of and they want it from a loudmouth, racist bully like Donald Trump.
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So yesterday, as George Takei was penning an op-ed for the Daily Beast with the message to the NRA, You dont want to mess with us, Donald Trump, following up Mondays claim that hes a real friend to the LGBT community, was tweeting his thanks to the us in question, apparently for being behind him 100 percent.

Thank you to the LGBT community! I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 14, 2016

Now, weve seen Donald Trump express love for everyone  he even ate a taco bowl to express his love of Hispanics, for crying out loud  and has his very own African American.

However, in the wake of his celebration of the Orlando massacre, there seems something extremely creepy about Trump thanking LGBT people for their nonexistent support. And because his nose is so far up the backsides of the Religious Right, his thanks sound a bit muffled. After all, its a bit hard to say overturn marriage equality and I will fight for you in the same breath.

This is the same guy who, as PFAWs Brian Tashman noted in The Huffington Post the other day, cozies up to anti-LGBT activists like Harlems notorious stone homos pastor James David Manning and far-right radio show host Alex Jones, who thinks the LGBT rights movement is a suicide cult bent on the destruction of humanity.

Those guys.

It should be obvious to everyone that Donald Trump cannot be both for and against LGBT rights. Surely, even Donald Trump can see that.

Seriously, Donald Trump, who gets support from people who think gays and lesbians, let alone transgenders, have no right to even exist, is promising he will defend their freedoms and beliefs? And at the same time he giving back rubs to the NRA  the guys who made it possible for the Orlando killer to have an assault rifle  with his small, small hands?

You remember how Trump said hes going to get advice on combating terrorism from the NRA, right? You can bet George Takei remembers.

Martina Navratilova immediately slapped Trumps hand away in a tweet of her own, saying, @realDonaldTrump agree with George Takei- we dont need your protection. Fight for us? Like you will fight for our equal rights? NOPE.

George Takei, you see, had just made the very important point to the NRA and its Republican lapdogs, that nobody knows how to organize like the LGBT community:

Now this latest and most deadly attack has targeted a group that has spent the last few decades learning how to organize, fight for, and protect its rights. Perhaps, then, the next chapter of LGBT history might not be just about the struggle to gain equality for ourselves, but also how we might help lead this country towards a collective right to participate and live free of fear and terror, and ultimately toward a common-sense, permanent ban on weapons designed for mass slaughter.

Like it or not, this history and this obligation have been thrust upon us, and we must now rise to its challenge. For if there is one group in this country with more will, more experience, and more tenacity than the NRA, it is the LGBT community.

You dont want to mess with us.

Donald Trump has done just that. Youd have thought pissing off the editor of The Washington Post was bone-headed enough. As Charles P. Pierce wrote the other day in Esquire, Donald Trump Picked the Wrong News Editor to F*ck With.

And now hes gone and done it again.

From his reaction of a victory lap over the deaths of 49 LGBT people to the outrageous assumption that they support him heart and soul, Donald Trump has messed with the wrong group.
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Sen. Rubio made it clear that he hates being a Senator, but after his run for the White House spectacularly crashed and burned, Rubio is reconsidering and may run for reelection after all.

Video:

Senator @MarcoRubio answers a question on whether he's reconsidering his decision to not run for reelection.https://t.co/qcNzGn3C71  CSPAN (@cspan) June 15, 2016

Rubio said:



.@marcorubio tells reporters he spoke with Carlos Lopez-Cantera Sunday re: reconsidering a Senate reelection bid pic.twitter.com/YARfNotOdf  Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) June 15, 2016

This is the same Marco Rubio who told CNN that voting in the Senate doesnt mean anything, A lot of these votes dont mean anything. Theyre not going to pass, and even if they did, the President would veto them. In the same interview, Rubio explained his belief that voting wasnt an important part of the job of being a Senator, We do all the intelligence briefings. I was just there this Tuesday. I got fully briefed and caught up on everything thats happening in the world. Im fully aware. We have a staffer thats assigned to intelligence who gets constant briefings. I think votes, of course, are important, but unfortunately, too many of them today are not meaningful.

Marco Rubio has missed nearly 15% of the votes while he has been in the Senate. The median average for all currently serving Senators is 1.6%. Of course, Sen. Rubio wants his current/possible future old job back. After taking a look at the private sector and seeing that no private company would pay him for not showing up, being a US Senator must have begun to look pretty good to Rubio.

Sen. Rubio hates being in the Senate, but he wants to run for president again in 2020, so in the meantime, he has got to be paid for doing as little as possible. Marco Rubio hates being a Senator and rarely shows up, but he expects the people of Florida to send him back to Washington.

Lets hope Floridas voters turn off the taxpayer faucet on Moochin Marco Rubio.
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Republican Senators are hiding and in some cases running away from reporters because they are afraid to answer questions about Donald Trump.

CNN reported on the tricks Republicans are using to dodge reporters:

Just because you have to walk past reporters to get places in the Capitol doesnt mean you have to answer their questions.

Theres always the Im on the phone method  whether or not theres someone on the other line is irrelevant.

Senators-only elevators are good hideouts  until the doors open again.

But the best way is simply to move quickly.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a vulnerable Republican facing a tough re-election battle in New Hampshire, has gotten pretty good at one important part  walking briskly past reporters and pretending not to hear anything. She added to that Tuesday, when her staff stepped between her and a reporter to say she would not be commenting on Trump.

Trump is so toxic that Republican Senators are going into hiding to avoid answering questions about the GOP nominee. Republicans think that they will be able to separate themselves from their partys nominee if they refuse to talk about him, or even better just dont ever take questions. But there is nowhere to run. Republicans have nowhere to hide. Donald Trump is their nominee, and there is no escape.

There is no way that a political party can win a presidential election when half to two-thirds of the party spend their time distancing themselves from their presidential nominee.

It has gotten so bad that some Republicans like Sen. Kelly Ayotte are using staff as human shields to keep the media away from them. Republicans created and exploited the political culture that enabled Trump, and now they are going to pay for their years of obstruction, racism, and bigotry by losing their jobs in November.
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By this time, you know I really believe in having good content in your business websites, emails, blogs and posts. So, I was looking at business folks who share this value with me. One such person is Michael Katz, who is the founder of the Blue Penguin Content Club, a membership site for solos and freelancers with an interest in creating great content.

I learned a great lesson from Katz when he posted on the topic of "Marketing Tips I learned From My Dog." It is so good that I want to share some of the ideas.

"I guess I'm really not sure how smart our dog, Abbie, is," Katz said. "I mean, of course, I'd like to believe she's the canine Einstein (a great name for a rock band, by the way). But really, how can you tell? It's not like you can give her some kind of doggie IQ test (I'm quite certain she can't even hold a No. 2 pencil). I suppose I could base it on her behavior. But even then, it's hard to reach a definitive conclusion."

He continues this homie narrative "one minute she'll be showing off her smarts by slowly tapping the back door to indicate her interest in going outside. But then 10 minutes later, I'll stand there and watch as she insists on eating some of the horse poop she just found on the trail in the back woods."

But Katz says "she is smart enough to have figured out one thing, however: If you want food, don't bother waiting by your food dish."

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So here is the point he makes, "We feed Abbie twice a day: Once in the morning and once at lunchtime, around 12:30. By noon, if you happen to be in the house, Abbie will begin harassing you. Subtly at first -- looking sideways at you, following you around, pushing on you, etc. As 12:30 approaches though, and if you still haven't fed her, she'll be in your face like a vote-hungry politician in late October. The point is, even though she knows that the food ultimately arrives in her bowl, she looks to people -- not the bowl itself -- to bring the meal. She understands the relation between cause and effect."

So now think about this. I have seen it when I work with small businesses. Many CEOs in search of clients pay way too much attention to the bowl (i.e., prospects) and not nearly enough attention to the people who keep it filled (i.e., their existing relationships).

It seems like it makes sense to focus on prospects. After all, prospects become clients, and clients are the ones who write the checks. But I remind you there's an earlier step, a step which if focused on consistently and thoroughly, keeps the prospect/client/money machine turning. It's called "staying in front of the people you know." Not "people who are likely to buy today" (or even ever).

Katz is talking about a much larger group -- "people you know." The 500 or so co-members of the human race whom you've gotten to know in the course of your professional and personal life  and that you may routinely ignore in your thoughts about marketing:

 The people who send you an email with a quick question that you don't bother answering (you're too busy chasing prospects).

 The people who publish a newsletter with something useful or intriguing that you don't bother replying to with a comment (you're too busy chasing prospects).

 The people you're connected with on LinkedIn who mention they just got a new job and whom you ignore (you're too busy chasing prospects).

"Here's the bottom line," Katz said. "I know you've got a lot going on every day. And so it may seem more efficient to prioritize your marketing efforts and go where the business is.The problem with this narrow, nothing-but-the-final-step-in-the-process focus is that it's the business development equivalent of standing by an empty dog-food dish."

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It ignores the fact it's the people you already know -- the ones who move along the continuum from loose acquaintance to colleague to friend to fan -- who ultimately buy from you and/or send others your way.

"Take it from Abbie: If you want to eat on time every day, step back from the food bowl and go find the people with the ability to fill it," Katz said.
Airlines are doing a better job of sticking to their schedules, and consumer complaints are falling.

The Department of Transportation said Monday that 84.5 percent of flights on the largest 12 U.S. airlines arrived on time during April, better than the previous month and up from 81.8 percent in April 2015.

Hawaiian Airlines and Delta Air Lines were the best at staying on schedule, while Spirit Airlines was last, arriving late more than one-fourth of the time.

Consumer complaints about U.S. airlines fell 20 percent to 870 from 1,083 in April 2015.

April flights on Hawaiian, which operates on routes that are usually blessed with good weather, arrived on time 94.1 percent of the time. Delta had a 90.3 percent on-time rating. Discount carrier Spirit arrived on time just 73.8 percent of the time.

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The government counts flights as on-time if they arrive within 14 minutes of schedule.

Passengers on two domestic flights, one by American Airlines and another by Alaska Airlines, and two international flights operated by United Airlines were stuck on the ground longer than allowed by federal regulations. The Transportation Department said it was investigating; violations can bring fines.

The department said it received 870 consumer complaints about U.S. airlines, down from 1,083 in April 2015. That was a tiny fraction of the roughly 60 million people who boarded planes during the month, although many consumers who protest to airlines don't bother to file a complaint with the government.

Southwest Airlines had the lowest rate of complaints, while Spirit had the highest rate by a wide margin.
This story was revised at 8:45 p.m. June 15.

WINONA  The man who abruptly resigned as vicar general and chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Winona continues to say Mass and celebrate the sacraments , parishioners say.

The Rev. Msgr. Richard Colletti has officiated at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and St. Casimir, both in Winona, according to parishioners who were present.

Colletti, 63, resigne d a week ago after the Post-Bulletin discovered he admitted under oath in the early 1990s that he had a sexual relationship with a college freshman whom he was counseling. The relationship lasted for more than a year, according to court documents, and included a pregnancy scare.

The woman filed a personal injury lawsuit in 1991 against Colletti, the diocese, Saint Mary's University and the Church of St. John the Evangelist, where Colletti was later transferred. The parties settled the case three years later. Though the file remains open, the terms of the settlement are confidential.

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The vicar general is the second-highest ranking position in the diocese . Colletti also resigned from his position as administrative chaplain for the Winona Newman Center .

Ben Frost, the diocese's public relations director, told the Post-Bulletin late Wednesday that Colletti resigned his leadership positions but was not suspended from his assignment as a priest.
A Lake Mills, Iowa, man arrested in Rochester and charged with felony counts of promoting prostitution and fifth-degree drug possession has been sentenced in the case.

Michael Alan Gardner, 40, was sentenced Monday in Olmsted County District Court to 48 months in prison, stayed for 15 years. Judge Kathy Wallace also handed down a 16-day jail sentence, with credit for 16 days served.

Gardner was ordered to complete chemical dependency evaluation/treatment and other counseling/evaluations ordered by his probation officer.

He was arrested Feb. 22 after an undercover Rochester Police Department officer responded to an online ad for an escort. The officer arranged a meeting at a hotel, where Gardner dropped off a 22-year-old woman.

Gardner was arrested outside the hotel when investigators determined a phone in his possession had been used to communicate with an undercover officer and had negotiated for sex.

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Gardner was also found to be in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine.
AUSTIN  A Glenville man accused of breaking the arm of a 10-month-old was sentenced last week to five years probation and 80 hours of sentence to service.

Joshua Robert Kluender, 28, pleaded guilty in March in Mower County District Court to one count of malicious punishment of a child, a felony.

He received a statutory stay of adjudication, which means the defendant pleads guilty, but the court doesn't "accept" the plea. When probation and its conditions are successfully completed, the charges are dismissed and the defendant's criminal record doesn't reflect a conviction. The arrest record remains.

In addition to the sentence to service, Kluender was also ordered to complete a chemical assessment.

The investigation began July 3, 2014, when a doctor contacted Austin police to report possible child abuse.

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The child's mother had brought her to the emergency room the day before, stating the little girl's arm was swollen and she wasn't moving it. The child was diagnosed with a fracture to the outside knob of the humerus bone, near the elbow.

The woman said she'd left the baby with Kluender the morning of July 2. About 20 minutes later, he called her, but she didn't answer. He called again five minutes later, the complaint says, and asked the woman if the child had hurt her arm that morning because she was "babying her right arm."

The child had been fine when her mother left, she told investigators.

Kluender said the little girl had been crying since the woman left, and refused to eat breakfast. He took her out of the high chair and began fixing her a bottle when she "fell on the linoleum," Kluender told the woman.

According to the medical report, the "high velocity" injury is a common fracture in children 3 years of age and older, a result of holding out their arms to brace a fall while running.

The doctor told authorities it was impossible for a child of the victim's age and abilities to sustain such an injury in the manner Kluender described, court documents say.

In a child of her age, the fracture can be caused by dragging, snapping, pulling or jerking to hyper-extend the elbow, or by someone else hitting the elbow.

The doctor also said a bone scan indicated a second, healing fracture on the child's left arm.
A Rochester woman who pleaded not guilty to financially exploiting a woman in her care has skipped her most recent court appearance.

Bonnie Lou Quimby, 72, was charged June 8, 2015, with two felony counts of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. She pleaded not guilty to both charges in October, then skipped her next court date on June 9, 2016.

According to the criminal complaint, in August 2013, the county's Adult Protective Services received a report that a woman was possibly being financially exploited by Quimby, who is described as the victim's foster parent.

The woman said she used her own money to pay for groceries, gas for Quimby's van and meals. She also gave Quimby money for gambling, bought appliances for her home and took out a $1,500 loan to make Quimby's house payment, the report says.

A review of the victim's bank accounts indicates that from July 2012 until July 2013, Quimby spent more than $3,500 of the woman's money on herself.

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Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.
Sooner rather than later' for Shanghai Disney Resort expansion: Disney CEO

From:Shanghai Daily | 2016-06-15 16:26

THE Walt Disney Co will expand the Shanghai Disney Resort "sooner rather than later" and some work has already started, the Disney chairman and CEO Robert Iger said in Shanghai today.

Disney still has 7 square kilometers of land to add more attractions with partners Shanghai Shendi Group and local government, Iger said.

When we open, we will continue with the construction to expand what is on the opening-day menu and we are already discussing what to do next year, he told the global media at a jungle-themed Adventure Isle within the Shanghai Disneyland, a day before its official opening.

The US$5.5 billion Disney resort which took about five years to build is a joint venture between the Walt Disney and the Shanghai Shendi Group.

In another interview, Iger spoke of new attractions that will be supported by automaker Chevrolet. It will open later this year and a section themed on the Disney cartoon series Toy Story will be open early next year.

The second phase of the theme park will be on 3.9 square kilometers and located between the current park and the Value Retail Shanghai Village, an outlet neighboring the Disneyland.

Iger also acknowledged today that the trial operations that began in late April has created little pressure on demand and the resort was working to resolve the problems found during the trial operation.
LANESBORO  Two people reported missing on the Root River Saturday were later arrested for motor vehicle theft on Sunday, according to a report from the Fillmore County Sheriff's Office.

The pair, a 25-year-old woman from Austin and a 30-year-old man from Minneapolis, borrowed a tube and were reportedly headed for the Root River. When the pair had not returned, the woman's grandmother called the 911 at 10:05 p.m. Saturday to report they had not returned, the report states.

Fillmore County Sheriff's deputies, Preston and Lanesboro police, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Lanesboro Fire Department assisted in the search for the pair, but found nothing.

While continuing the search, members of the Lanesboro Fire Department noticed an open garage on Graceful Road with an open vehicle that appeared to have been gone through, the report states. Fillmore County Deputy Leif Erickson discovered that a 2014 Chevy Equinox was missing from the scene.

At 6:07 a.m. Sunday, a police officer observed a vehicle matching the description the one reportedly being driven by the missing tubers on Huron Road. During the course of the investigation, Sgt. Don Kullot discovered the two missing tubers were involved in the theft of the Equinox, the report states.

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Jessi Kominek, 25, of Austin and Joshua Vlasaty, 30, of Minneapolis, were charged in Fillmore County District Court for motor vehicle theft. Kominek has been released on her own recognizance, and Vlasaty continues to be held awaiting bail, the report states.
RED WING  No sale.

The Red Wing City Council voted 5-2 Monday night to accept the Red Wing Port Authority's recommendation and deny the sale of the former Central Research Laboratories building at 250 Minnesota Highway 19 to Red Wing Firearms and Gun Range. Council President Dean Hove and Council Member Dustin Schulenberg voted against the port authority's recommendation.

The prospective owners of the gun range had offered the city $1,000 for the property, which the port authority had appraised at a value of $147,000 for the 4.5-acres of empty land.

"It's not empty land," said Bill McKinley, one of the three prospective owners of the gun club. "The port authority said the building is unusable." He cited a port authority report that the building would need to be removed at a cost of nearly $200,000. "It's $50,000 in the hole."

Several members of the public spoke against the gun range, specifically concerned about whether there might be a danger to the public or any noise associated with the business.

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"An indoor gun range is a very controlled environment." said Robert Haupt, another member of the gun range group. He, McKinley and former city councilman Jason Sebion, who was the third member of the group at the meeting Monday, said air quality is monitored by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Certification of the range for safety comes from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and all range safety officers are certified by the National Rifle Association.

"The misinformation we get from people, it'd be nice if they ask questions or do some research," McKinley said. "No one will wander around and get shot. You cannot walk in with loaded gun. It is a very safe environment. You'll never ever ever get a bullet out of that building."

Hove disagreed with how the sale had been handled by the port authority from the beginning.

"My biggest concern is we can't expect to have the port authority sell this without setting a price," he said. "It's just this group that's being treated differently than any other land sale we've ever had."

Council Member Dan Munson echoed Hove's statement.

"This is the first time we have taken any public input on this issue," he said. "The first time we hear details, we're going to deny the sale. I would like the port authority to continue to have discussions with this group."

Wrong site for gun range?

Of a larger concern, said Council Member Ralph Rauterkus, was the number of jobs the gun range would bring. Sebion had said the range might employ 15-20 full time individuals once the range was fully up and running.

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"This land should be able to support 200-400 jobs," Rauterkus said. "To bring 12-15 jobs, that's as much as some small restaurants.

"I support the gun range," he said. "This is just the wrong place for it."

The council also voted to uphold the appeal of Goodhue County concerning the demolition of a muti-family dwelling at 406 West Ave. The city's Heritage Preservation Commission had turning down an the county's request at a meeting last week.

The home, which was built in 1910 or earlier, said City Planning Director Brian Peterson, is part of the historic downtown Civic Mall District.

"This is one of the most unique features of our city," Peterson said, referring to the mall district. "It's one of the reasons we have a preservation ordinance preserve to these unique features of our city."

Goodhue County has a purchase agreement in place for the property and wants to demolish the home to make room for a parking lot to service the Citizens Building, which houses the Goodhue County Health and Human Services Department. The county argued that the 24-space parking lot is needed for the elderly or mobility-challenged clients that frequent the county services.

'Losing one of your front teeth'

Ruth Nerhaugen, vice chair of the HPC, said the council should either reject the county's appeal of the HPC decision or at least put it on hold until the city can conduct a reuse study to determine if the building can be renovated.

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"The building in question is historic," Nerhaugen said. "Losing that building would be like losing one of your front teeth."

The building has been poorly cared for, Peterson said. While structurally in fair condition, any renovations would trigger permits that could make those renovating the home not economical due to the need to bring the building up to code.

Goodhue County Administrator Scott Arenson said the county hired an appraiser and had several inspectors look at the building. The building was appraised at $230,000, but those individuals also indicated that the building would cost $1 million or more to renovate due to old wiring that needs to be replaced, poor repair work done without permits, asbestos and other code and structural issues.

Council Member Lisa Bayley said the problem is whether the council felt the buyers were likely to find someone who could renovate the building.

"We do have competing needs in that area. Are we going to sit there with a building that can't be renovated?" she said.

"The worst thing we can do is nothing," said Red Wing Mayor Daniel Bender. "There's nothing about that house in its current condition that does anything for the mall district. Ruth says it's like losing a tooth, but that's a tooth in serious decay. In fact, it hasn't even been brushed in years."

Eventually, the council agreed to uphold the appeal by the county contingent upon the county providing a detailed plan for the parking lot that can be approved by the HPC and the city council.

"The landscaping would need to take into account trying to blend into the district, so it looks like it's part of the park," Bayley said.
There weren't enough chairs for everyone, but that didn't stop an estimated 150 people from crowding into the Rochester Civic Theatre lobby for a vigil and open mic event meant to help those in the Rochester community cope with a recent national tragedy.

Tuesday's event at the theater was just one of hundreds of gatherings and vigils across the country held in response to the shooting at a gay night club in Orlando, Fla., early Sunday that took the lives of 49 people and left 53 injured. It is considered the deadliest mass shooting in United States history.

Gregory Stavrou, executive director of the Rochester Civic Theatre, said that the idea to host a community event and vigil seemed rather obvious, with those involved knowing that something had to be done.

"It is very important that we take the time to acknowledge and honor and mourn for our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community and appreciate how devastatingly horrific this is for that community," he said.

Stavrou estimated 150 people were in attendance on Tuesday night. People of various ages, genders, ethnicities and sexualities filled the room to show support for the LGBTQ community and for those directly affected by the shooting.

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The event began with a few words from Stavrou, who briefly expressed his grief over what happened in Orlando and then gave a preview about what was to come that night.

"We lost a lot of young and beautiful members of the LGBTQ community," said Stavrou. "We feel for you, and we're so overwhelmingly sad."

The night included speakers, musicians, poets and spoken-word performers who expressed their thoughts and feelings through different forms. The microphone was then opened up to the public. Audience members lined up one after another to tell their stories through music or poetry. Some just wanted their voices heard, talking about their feelings or their grief, and some urging for specific action, including a change to gun legislation.

When entering the theater, community members were handed a white candle and a white rose. The white roses were given out by Muslim women from the Rochester community. The women felt a Muslim presence was needed at the event, especially as anti-Muslim language from some politicians grows louder. The Orlando shooter was a Muslim who had pledged allegiance to ISIS.

"Oftentimes our voices are silenced or we're not given the opportunity to say how we really feel about things like this. We hope from this event that we're able to show a different perspective," said Rasha Elnimeiry, one of the Muslim women who were giving out the roses.

"Our religion is peace, and we chose to symbolize that with the white roses," Elnimeiry said.

She spoke to the crowd at the beginning of the event, expressing her sadness about the tragedy and talking about how Islam is a peaceful religion that does not promote violence, despite what is often shown in the media. To further state her point, Elnimeiry referenced a passage from the Quran.

"It says in there that if you kill one life, you've killed all of humanity," said Elnimeiry. "So this man, he's killed pretty much 50 times over humanity. And that's not something that us Muslims stand by."

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Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede expressed sympathy and grief over the tragedy.

"We pray for the victims that have been shot, the families and the communities affected," he said. "But besides prayer, which is so powerful, we also must act. Thoughts and prayers alone, particularly from our lawmakers, are simply not enough."

Brede also talked about how the ceiling of the city hall building is under construction, and they are looking into putting lights into the top of the building to display various colors throughout the year.

"Maybe Fourth of July, if we're ready, it will be red, white and blue," said Brede. "Maybe when we do Pride Fest here in July we can have rainbow colors on top of city hall."

The night ended with a reading of the names of the 49 people who died in the shooting, accompanied by the playing of Taps.

Stavrou said that he hoped the event might help people to begin to heal.

"I think the sharing of voices, the sharing of heartbreak, the sharing of questioning, the listening to one another, is very important at times like this," he said. "I hope that events like this, where we all come together, reinforce the fact that there's a lot more good than evil out there."

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WEST CONCORD  The West Concord Public Charter School closed its doors for good on June 9.

The West Concord Public Charter School Board voted 5-0 on May 24 to close the school after only three years in operation.

The main reason for closing the school was the consistently small enrollment numbers. There were 29 students enrolled to attend the school for the 2016-17 school year, which the board decided wouldn't be enough to pay to keep the school open.

Before the school closed there was extra effort put into increasing enrollment numbers, said Minor "Corky" Buckingham, chairman of the school board. This involved having parents network to friends and people they knew to try and get their children to attend the charter school.

Buckingham said that this brought in 10 more students, but it still wasn't enough to save the school.

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Needing 40 students for the 2016-17 school year and falling short, the board decided that there would not be enough financial resources to keep the school going.

Like public schools, charter schools are tuition-free and are funded by the state. However, they are funding according to enrollment levels and a per pupil basis. Also, in Minnesota charter schools usually receive less funds than public schools to pay for school operations.

Buckingham said that a school is still a business, and needs a steady flow of income to be sustained and continue to grow. With the low enrollment numbers, this was no longer possible.

"It's just a reality," Buckingham said.

Parents were notified of the school closing by email on May 25, and it will be up to each family to choose what school their children will be attending in the fall.

Buckingham said that families will most likely go with a school that is in the area and that have buses that already go through the town of West Concord, including Kasson Mantorville and Kenyon-Wanamingo.
Design guidelines to steer the Destination Medical Center development outline an ambitious goal to transform Rochester into "America's City For Health."

The guidelines, created by the University of Minnesota Metropolitan Design Center, will be on display in two meetings Thursday.

"The sedentary, auto-centric lifestyle that dominated urban and suburban living over the last 70 years has negatively affected both human health, evident in the obesity epidemic, and environmental health, apparent in our changing climate," the authors wrote in an executive summary.

"No city in the United States has a better chance of demonstrating a healthier way forward than Rochester and it's Destination Medical Center, aiming to be 'America's City for Health.' "

What's in the guidelines?

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The DMC Design Guidelines incorporated decades' worth of planning documents created by the city of Rochester and aligned those priorities and standards with the DMC Development Plan.

The guidelines are broken into three categories, with 12 guidelines per category. They are: Downtown District; Streets and Corridors; and Individual Sites and Buildings.

Each of the 36 guidelines includes a section on "performance guideline," a concise statement describing the desired outcome of the guideline.

Guidelines referring to streets, corridors, sites and buildings also include "prescriptive guidelines" that are requirements intended to be adopted in city planning standards, including the Rochester Zoning Ordinance, and Land Development Manual.

What does a typical guideline look like?

In the "Streets and Corridors" category, the first guideline is to design multimodal streets prioritizing pedestrians first.

The performance guideline in this example describes designing downtown and urban neighborhood streets with pedestrians as a priority  maximizing sidewalks widths, providing street amenities, slowing traffic and providing transit facilities.

The prescriptive requirements include minimum standards for sidewalk widths, sidewalk materials and lighting. Each prescriptive requirement includes illustrations and examples.

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How will the standards be used?

With development standards in a single, accessible document, the DMC Design Guidelines will be a resource for both developers and the bodies that review projects.

"It certainly makes it much easier for everybody  the persons who want to develop and city staff and boards and councils that evaluate projects  to have one document that includes these guidelines in them, rather than searching through a number of documents," Terry Spaeth, city development director, said.

The guidelines could reach to other agencies operating in the DMC district, like the Rochester Downtown Alliance, which have counted on other city planning documents for their work.

"We use (the city's) Urban Design Guidelines as we facilitate the Facade Improvement Program," Jenna Bowman, Rochester Downtown Alliance executive director, said. "I would anticipate with the level of detail these design guidelines have gotten to, that that would most likely impact that work as we look at facade improvement grants as they come forward, as well."

What's next?

The design guidelines will be open for public review at two meetings Thursday: from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the University of Minnesota Rochester campus and from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Rochester Public Library.

The Rochester City Council plans to review public input and discuss adoption of the guidelines over the summer months. It will also discuss which points of the guidelines and prescriptive requirements to adopt into the city's zoning ordinance and land development manual.
WINONA  The Winona County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved the first step in implementation of a half-cent local optional transportation sales tax.

Board members said the sales tax will help address a potential funding shortfall for county road and bridge projects due to the lack of a state transportation bill being passed by the Minnesota Legislature.

Tuesday's vote would need to be followed by several steps before being enacted, including a public hearing, creation of a list of projects to be funded, and notification to the Minnesota Commissioner of Revenue 90 days prior to the tax beginning. The tax could begin as soon as Oct. 1, but a more likely timeline would be Jan. 1, 2017.

While the governor might still call a special session to complete either a transportation bill or bonding bill that could bring state funds to some road or bridge projects, the county is currently looking at a shortfall in road and bridge monies between $3.5 million and $4.4 million, said Winona County Engineer Dave Kramer.

"I guess that leaves us with nothing out of the Legislature on this," Kramer said.

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Kramer gave the board three options for dealing with the shortfall, institute a wheelage tax that would generate $390,000, increase the levy where an additional $2 million in funding would represent a 12.1 percent increase in the levy, or institute a half cent sales tax, which would generate $1.68 million. Without additional revenue, the county would have to hope for relief from a special session in St. Paul.

Commissioner Marcia Ward said maintaining the roads is one of the primary functions of the county.

"The important crux for me is that this goes strictly for bridge and road repair," Ward said.

The problem with passing a sales tax for the county, said Commissioner James Pomeroy, is that it takes the pressure off the Legislature to do their job.

"As we pass taxes like these, the pressure to have the legislature do what is fully expected of them lessens," he said.

The counties surrounding Winona County all have either wheelage or sales taxes  or a combination of the two  to fund road projects, Kramer said. In fact, Winona County is the only county with a significant retail base that does not have a local optional revenue in the state, he said.

"The people in Winona County are already being penalized by this tax, but they're receiving no benefits," said Commissioner Steve Jacob, noting that when traveling outside the county, residents pay the sales tax in other counties.

Jacob and Ward said they have already talked to constituents in their districts who support the tax as long as it is strictly used for roads and bridges.

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"I'm not for raising taxes, but there is a huge demand," Ward said. "We have roads that receive no state funding. I believe part of our responsibility is to vote on taxes."

Kramer said once passed the tax can be phased out as long as the board does not add new projects to the list to be funded.

"As much as no one likes taxes, we all like safe roads," said Board Chair Marie Kovecsi.

In other business

The board passed a motion directing the planning department to review the county ordinance concerning commercial dog breeding operations. Olson voted against the motion, saying he would prefer a moratorium on issuing conditional use permits for new dog breeding kennels while the county works toward a ban on large-scale dog breeders.

Ward said a moratorium "is a slippery slope" toward a ban. "We're becoming the county known as 'No,'" she said. "How do you spell Winona?" Ward asked, then she spelled it, emphasizing the "N-O" in the middle of the name. "This board has become the 'No' board. We propose bans. We propose moratoriums. I don't think it's required to change anything."

Winona County Attorney Karin Sonneman said the moratorium would technically be an interim ban, which would require a public hearing before being enacted.

Richmond McCluer of Wilson Township, a member of the Winona Area Humane Society Board of Directors, said he supported further study of the breeding issue because dogs that are used repeatedly can take a year to rehabilitate. "And there's a tremendous financial impact," he said.

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Pomeroy said the problem with the current conditional use permitting is that the board has been all over the map on what it has approved in the past as far as number of dogs allowed. "We did 85 for one, 50 for the rest," he said.

"I do support the best interest of the animals," Jacob said. "The best interest is for us to be involved."

Jacob said he was concerned that by banning breeding operations, the businesses would go underground. "I want our county to be open to business," he said.
Young South Koreans get taste of Dragon Boat Festival

From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-06-15 16:36

A China Cultural Centre worker in Seoul introduces books about the Dragon Boat Festival to South Korean students. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

A Dragon Boat Festival experience activity was held for young South Korean students in Seouls China Cultural Center on June 9. Aimed at promoting cultural exchanges and enhancing friendship between the two countries, the activity attracted more than 30 students from 7 middle and elementary schools, based in Seoul and other cities.

Teachers and students visited the cultural centers library and read books about the Dragon Boat Festival. Later, they watched a cartoon introducing the festival and played a competitive answering game. After that, they made rice dumplings (zongzi) under the guidance of the centers cook. Curious to find out how to package rice with reed leaves, they were all excited to learn.

South Korean students watch a cartoon about the Dragon Boat Festival. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

South Korean students compete to answer questions about the Dragon Boat Festival. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

South Korean children scramble to make rice dumplings. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

Two South Korean children make rice dumplings. . [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

A Chinese worker teaches two South Korean girls how to roll rice into reed leaves. [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]
ST. PAUL  Testifiers from around the state implored key lawmakers on Tuesday to support efforts to pass a $1 billion public works bill in a special session.

U.S. Highway 14 Partnership President Robert Bussman urged legislators to pass funding to expand U.S. 14 from two lanes to four lanes from Rochester to New Ulm. The failed $1 billion construction bill set aside funding for the project, including widening a stretch of the highway from Dodge Center to Owatonna.

"We've been at this for well over 50 years," Bussman told the committee. He added, "The change from four to two (lanes), plus heavy traffic equals a very dangerous highway."

Despite pleas from project supporters like Bussman, the prospects for a special session remain as uncertain as ever. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders are slated to meet this morning to talk about calling a special session to pass the $1 billion public works bill, along with a package of tax cuts. But Tuesday's legislative hearing picked up right where the 2016 legislative session left off, with plenty of partisan finger pointing. Members of the House-Senate conference committee that put together the public works package blamed each other for the bill's failure to pass in the final minutes of the session.

Democrats noted that the failed bill was filled with errors and accused House Republicans of failing to do their job because they waited too long to together a proposal. Republicans defended their work and noted the last-minute amendment passed by the DFL-led Senate to the bill that would have helped fund the Southwest Light Rail project.

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If the dispute in St. Paul isn't resolved, it will mean millions of dollars worth of projects in southeast Minnesota won't get done this year. Local projects that made it into the failed public works bill include $5 million for Rochester International Airport's expansion, $15 million for a rail grade separation in Red Wing, $25 million for Winona State University Education Village, $1.5 million for the Dyslexia Institute of Minnesota and $3.6 million to restore the Lanesboro Dam.

The governor has said he won't call a special session unless he gets an additional $183 million worth of projects added to the public works bill. Meanwhile, some Rochester lawmakers and leaders are pushing for a change of their own  getting $20 million in the bill for a Rochester Community and Technical College project. The RCTC project involves demolishing Plaza and Memorial halls, building a 20,000-square-foot addition and renovating 11,000-square-foot of existing space. Despite the project being ranked seventh on Minnesota State Colleges and Universities priority list, it was left out of the public works bill. Other, lower-ranked projects got funded instead.

Rochester higher education leader Don Supalla sent an email to conference committee members urging them to follow MnSCU's priority list.

"I am particularly concerned that Rochester Community and Technical College's demolition/renovation project, ranked #7 on MnSCU's overall list of recommendations, was omitted from the proposed list in favor of projects ranked much lower on the list," wrote Supalla, executive director of Greater Rochester Advocates for Universities and Colleges.

Brian Yolitz, MnSCU's associate vice chancellor for facilities, told lawmakers that MnSCU's priority list is put together as part of a very deliberative process. He stopped short of urging lawmakers to follow the priority list, but did say the system hoped lawmakers would agree to fund additional projects.

"Simply put, we can't prepare people for the 21st century workforce in outdated facilities, with 50-year-old electrical systems, leaking roofs and 20th century technology," Yolitz said.

Lawmakers' decision to stuff $700 million in transportation funding in the public works bill instead of passing a separate long-term funding bill also generated heated discussion. Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Charles Zelle criticized the number of earmarks for specific road and bridge projects in the bill.

"We think that's a very dangerous precedent. It is choosing winners and losers in ways that don't follow prescribed criteria and priorities which are actually in Minnesota law," Zelle said.

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There was also plenty of discussion about the push by Senate Democrats to fund the costly Southwest Light Rail project. Rochester GOP Sen. Dave Senjem, who serves on the conference committee, said it appears that the fate of the public works bill hinges on whether funding for the light rail project is included. Senjem has said such a requirement simply won't win the necessary Republican support.

Senjem asked Metropolitan Council Chairman Adam Duininck, "Is this the linchpin for getting us back into special session  the agreement to do light rail?"

Duininck replied, "I just don't think I'm the right person to give you an answer."

After the meeting, Senjem said the hearing offered no indication of whether a special session deal is possible.

"I don't think the meeting really told us anything about the deal," Senjem said.

Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, attended the meeting and said she was prevented from testifying in front of the committee. Despite that, she did make a brief comment at the end of the meeting that she did not appreciate being "stifled" and urged lawmakers to work toward passing a separate transportation funding bill and a public works bill, also known as a "bonding bill."

In an interview after the meeting, Norton said she was disheartened by the number of earmarks for projects throughout the bill, saying it was one of the most partisan construction measures she had seen during her time in St. Paul. Her hopes for a special session are dwindling.

She added, "I felt no sense of urgency by members of the committee in having a bonding bill."
CAIRO  Egypt on Wednesday said that it spotted and obtained images from the wreckage of the EgyptAir plane flying from Paris to Cairo that crashed into the Mediterranean last month, killing all 66 people on board, according to a statement by the country's investigation committee.

The committee said in a statement that a vessel, the John Lethbridge, contracted by the Egyptian government to join search efforts for the data recorders and the wreckage "had identified several main locations of the wreckage." It added that it obtained images of the wreckage.

The next step, the committee said, will be drawing a map showing the wreckage location.

The vessel is equipped with sonar and other equipment capable of detecting wreckage at depths up to 6,000 feet (1,830 meters).

The EgyptAir Airbus A320 had been cruising normally in clear skies on an overnight flight on May 19. The radar showed that the doomed aircraft turned 90 degrees left, then a full 360 degrees to the right, plummeting from 38,000 feet (11,582 meters) to 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) before disappearing at about 10,000 feet (3,048 meters).

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The cause of the crash still has not been determined. Ships and planes from Egypt, Greece, France, the United States and other nations are searching the Mediterranean Sea north of the Egyptian port of Alexandria for the jet's voice and flight data recorders, as well as more bodies and parts of the aircraft.

Egypt's civil aviation minister has said he believes terrorism is a more likely explanation than equipment failure or some other catastrophic event. But no hard evidence has emerged on the cause, and no militant group has claimed to have downed the jet.

Leaked flight data indicated a sensor detected smoke in a lavatory and a fault in two of the plane's cockpit windows in the final moments of the flight.

Since the crash began, only small pieces of wreckage and human remains have been recovered in a search that has been narrowed down to five-kilometer (three-mile) area of the Mediterranean.

Wednesday's announcement came after Egyptian investigators said that time is running out in the search for the black boxes. They said on Sunday that only five days remain before the batteries of the flight's data and cockpit voice recorders expire and they stop emitting signals.

The boxes could reveal whether a mechanical fault, a hijacking or a bomb caused the disaster. Finding them without the signals is possible but more difficult.
There are 2.75 million Muslims in the U.S. One of those Muslims, a gay-basher, murdered people in a nightclub.

Before extrapolating the actions of that bully to all Muslims, go to Muna Halal Restaurant by the corn cob, or to Almis Coffee Shop on Broadway, or to Arabic Market on Center Street, or to any other store in Rochester owned by a Muslim. There you will meet normal men and women who go to work, normal children who like to throw water balloons on a hot day and normal people who smile and say hello.

And like all normal Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and atheists, normal Muslims abhor the actions of bullies.

Philip Green

Rochester
The Folwell neighborhood has been told by real estate development firm Alatus a traffic study was forthcoming to gauge the impact of its 900-stall garage on 15th Avenue Southwest. I wasn't surprised to read it's absolutely needed for the development to work, and Alatus is soliciting the city to help control traffic.

What a shock: a small, residential side street can't handle the volume of a 900-stall garage.

"Controlling traffic" means punching a hole from 15th Avenue Southwest to 16th Avenue Southwest, via a new Third Street Avenue. This requires knocking down two more houses, taking several backyards and nearly the whole KFC parking lot.

This would cost the city $6 million, the figure stated at a Folwell neighborhood meeting by a Rochester city councilman.

Alatus is asking for some level of public funding, which apparently includes additional money for Third Street Southwest. Rochester needs to focus on affordable housing, not pay millions to help a developer create a luxury high-rise with rents that could be $1,500 to $3,000.

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We need to keep our priorities in order and not spend the city's money  our money  to build a glass-and-steel cathedral to the rich. Worse yet, to help Alatus build a garage that alters the aesthetics of an historic, quiet street.

I would urge anyone who feels the same way to contact their city council representative.

Mark Bransford

Rochester
As a lung cancer specialist, I continue to see the toll that tobacco use takes on my patients. We know that tobacco use causes one-third of all cancer deaths, as well as many other chronic health problems ranging from heart disease to emphysema.

The good news is that most tobacco users I meet want to quit. External factors, like price, can help influence someone's decision to finally put down their cigarettes or other tobacco products for good.

Since Minnesota's 2013 tobacco tax increase, adult smoking rates have dropped from 16 percent to 14 percent. That tax increase will help more than 36,000 Minnesota smokers quit and will save more than 25,700 Minnesotans from premature smoking-related deaths.

I was so disappointed to see Minnesota lawmakers put the interests of the tobacco industry ahead of the health of Minnesota with a tax bill that gave a $32 million future tax break to Big Tobacco. Keeping the cost of tobacco down will not help my patients, will not help our state, and will certainly not help our pocketbooks.

When Gov. Mark Dayton pocket vetoed the tax bill, he did what was right for Minnesota. I hope the legislature will remember the interests of Minnesota, not the tobacco industry lobbyists, if it goes into a special session.

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Aaron Mansfield

Rochester
The June 7 article about the mom in Woodbury who spent years fundraising for an accessible playground highlights the fact very few of Rochester's playgrounds are accessible for all abilities, including those at many of Rochester's Public Schools. Franklin/Montessori at Franklin Elementary is just starting a campaign to build a new playground to meet the needs of all students.

While it isn't the $800,000-plus type of playground built in Woodbury for children with disabilities, elementary school playgrounds can cost up to $100,000.

Unfortunately, due to years of budget cuts, the school district doesn't have the money to fund overhauls of every school's playground. Consequently, efforts to upgrade playground facilities have fallen on the shoulders of each school's PTA.

This is a lot of money to raise, especially considering many PTAs already pay for teacher and student supplies, technology, and field trips to help make up for budget cuts.

What I would like to see is a partnership between Rochester School District and the city of Rochester to work on upgrading these playgrounds. Many of the playgrounds are used by neighborhood children and families during off-school hours and the physical benefits of having facilities for play and exercise are too numerous to mention.

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This partnership seems to be a solution that needs to be discussed.

Amy L. Nelson

Rochester
What happens when I cut my social media usage for a couple of days last weekend?

I was one of the last people to learn about the horrific mass shootings at a gay club in Orlando, Fla.

Another mass shooting and more lives were destroyed due to senseless violence. My heart fell into my stomach when I learned the sispected shooter, Omar Mateen, was identified as being Muslim.

Let's get this straight, I do not consider Mateen to have been a true Muslim, nor does his allegiance to ISIS automatically mean he practiced true Islam.

Shorty after his shooting spree began, this murderer called 911 to pledge allegiance to the extremist militant group ISIS. The result was the loss of at least 49 lives, 53 injured and immeasurable sorrow.

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It didn't take long for the media to pick up Mateen's apparent Muslim identity, thus labeling this attack as homegrown terrorism. It is alleged Mateen visited ISIS websites prior to this attack but there is no evidence that ISIS was directly involved in the planning of these shootings. I am sure, however, that ISIS took much pride in the outcome.

Presidential candidate Donald Trump wasted no time in banking on the event to bolster his fanatical immigration reform goals and anti-Islam rhetoric. He, along with much of the media, is using this tragedy to fuel the far right-wing agenda of painting Islam as inherently violent and incompatible with American values.

I do agree with them though, that these killings are indeed acts of terrorism, but so are the countless other mass-shootings in this country that have become the norm of our American existence.

What is most interesting, and tragic, is that on the same day as the Orlando shootings, a white non-Muslim male was arrested in Santa Monica, Calif., when automatic rifles and explosives were found in his car. Twenty-year old James Howell admitted he planned to harm the gay-pride festival scheduled in his area that day.

Where were the media and presidential hopefuls calling him a terrorist? Oh, that's right! He's not Muslim and therefore not a terrorist. Duh! Wrong! He is a terrorist and the actions he intended to carry out were indeed means of causing terror.

Once again the words "Islamic terrorism" are splashed across screens, newspapers and heard through the airways due to the despicable actions of a twisted, sick man who carried a Muslim name.

As the LGBTQ community and Muslim Americans stand together in numerous peace vigils throughout the country, I'd like to say to Mateen and anyone like him: "How dare you mention a group of heinous thugs like ISIS before killing innocent people and thus incorporating the religion of Islam into your evil. Don't pretend to be a Muslim. No doubt, ultimate blame rests with you."

And to the other fear mongers, how dare you ignore the true, peaceful voice of American Muslims and Muslims around the world. Stop using Islam as a scapegoat for this country's violent, gun-obsessed culture. By doing so, the victims and families of the Pulse Club in Orlando will be short-changed their right to full justice.

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To fully honor the lives lost, we all must strive to understand those we perceive as the "other" and overcome any fear.

Regina Mustafa, of Rochester, is the founder of Community Interfaith Dialogue on Islam and a member of the Post-Bulletin's Community Editorial Advisory Board.
L. Thomas Sullivan Untalan, 18, completed an Eagle Scout project by sending seven care packages full of local treats and goodies to Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii for Guam Army National Guard soldiers who are receiving treatment for injuries sustained in Afghanistan in 2013.

The goal of the Eagle Scout project is to deliver a service beneficial to our community. Past projects have ranged from painting bus stops to contributing books to school libraries, Untalan wrote in a letter to Gen. Roderick Leon Guerrero, the adjutant general of the Guam National Guard. This project addresses members of our community who selflessly dedicate themselves to serving in the armed forces.

Leon Guerrero recently awarded Untalan a TAG Star Note in recognition of his project at the Guard Readiness Center in Barrigada. It took Untalan almost four months to raise enough money to purchase the items and mail them to about two dozen Guam Guardsmen in Hawaii.

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Guam Army National Guard soldiers regularly deploy to locations in need of help throughout the world, Untalan wrote. When it is time to come home, some veterans require medical attention before they can rejoin their families and community. At present, there are approximately 40 Guam Guardsmen receiving treatment and recovering in Honolulu, far from family and friends.

Eric Untalan, the father of Thomas, wrote: He is very grateful to Gen. Leon Guerrero and the Guam Army National Guard for allowing him the opportunity to be of service to our Guardsmen recovering in Honolulu.

Untalan joined the Cub Scouts when he was in first grade at St. Johns School. He is to graduate from 12th grade at St. Johns this month.
We have reached many milestones and witnessed plenty of success stories at the Guam Department of Labor during my current tenure, but I will b Read moreGDOL wants to be a part of your employment solutions
In the wake of the terrorist attack in Orlando, battle lines were clearly drawn. Donald Trump claimed credit for sounding warnings about Islamic terrorism and called, once again, for a suspension of immigration from predominantly Muslim countries. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton expressed outrage at Trumps reaction and doubled down on the claim that Islamic terrorism has nothing to do with Islam. That, together with the assertion that being selective about immigration is not who we are.

My instinct was that Trump decisively won the political battle. (I also think he is right as a matter of policy, of course.) However, early poll results suggest that assessment may be wrong. A CBS News poll out this morning says that most Americans agree with Barack Obama, not Trump:

A CBS News poll conducted in the days since the attack finds 51 percent of those surveyed said they did not like the way Trump was handling the shooting.  Just 25 percent of those surveyed said they approved of Trumps reaction.

Ouch.

The numbers for President Barack Obamas handling of the shooting are much better. Forty-four percent of Americans gave Obama high marks for his response, while 34 percent gave him an unfavorable rating.

I find that rather shocking, given that Trump was right when he said Obama was more angry at Trump than he was at the terrorist.

For whatever reasonperhaps merely the fact that her statements werent as widely covered as Trumps and Obamasvoters have a less clear reaction to Hillarys response to the attack:

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clintons response rating was split, with 36 percent favorable, 34 percent unfavorable and 30 percent of respondents saying they did not know or did not answer.

These results are disturbing. Maybe they confirm, once again, that America is now a center-left country, rather than center-right. Maybe the cause is narrower: the Democrats have succeeded in demonizing Trump to the point that most people will disapprove, no matter what he says. Maybe the problem is partly due to the fact that a number of prominent Republicans have joined in the attacks on Trump, thereby isolating him. In any event, the fact (assuming this CBS poll is representative) most Americans first instinct is to side with Obamas view of terrorism rather than Trumps is discouraging. This should be Trumps strongest suit.
The College Board is at it again. Having mandated a left-wing narrative for the teaching of AP U.S. History, it is now out with the corresponding narrative for the teaching of AP European History. You can read it here.

The invaluable National Association of Scholars is publishing a 12,000-word critique of the new AP European History (APEH) exam. The report, written by David Randall, is titled The Disappearing Continent.

Here are Dr. Randalls key findings.

1) APEH presents the history of government rather than of liberty. 2) APEH presents religion throughout as an instrument of power rather than as an autonomous sphere of European history. 3) APEH treats the movement to abolish slavery without mentioning how it was inspired by religious faith, led by saints such as William Wilberforce, and hymned to Amazing Grace. 4) APEH underplays British history throughout, thus minimizing the importance of Britains distinctive history in the European tradition as the champion of liberty. 5) APEH minimizes and extenuates the evils of Communism, the brutal destructiveness of Soviet rule, and the aggressiveness of Soviet foreign policy. 6) APEH virtually ignores Europes unique development of the architecture of modern knowledge, which made possible almost every modern form of intellectual inquiry. 7) APEH doesnt argue that European history is important or interesting in itself. APEH never gives a reason why students should study Europes history in particular.

In addition, APEH omits key figures ranging from Christopher Columbus to Winston Churchill. It seems impossible that Churchill would be airbrushed out of a European History course until one remembers how inconvenient he is for leftists.

Stanley Kurtz has much more on this sad story. He concludes:
Earlier today, the Huffington Post went after Donald Trump for wanting to suspend immigration by Muslims. Reporters Jennifer Bendery and Laura Barron-Lopez think that Trumps vow is somehow inconsistent with Republicans criticisms of President Obama for acting unconstitutionally, at times, via executive order:

House Republicans were outraged when President Barack Obama acted without their approval  in fact, despite their explicit opposition  on immigration. Now they have to contend with their own partys presumptive nominee promising to do the same thing.

No. Obama violated his constitutional duty by refusing to enforce the immigration laws and issuing orders that were contrary to federal law. That has nothing to do with what Trump is proposing.

GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump vowed again Monday to indefinitely ban Muslims from entering the U.S. after a deadly mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub, carried out by an American-born man who authorities say expressed loyalty to Islamic extremists. For the first time, Trump argued that he would have the authority to impose a sweeping ban like that with or without Congressional approval.

Trump is right. As president, he would have that power.

The immigration laws of the United States give the president powers to suspend entry into the country of any class of persons, he said at a Monday event. I will suspend immigration from areas of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies, until we fully understand how to end these threats. Trumps proposal has put GOP lawmakers in a sticky spot: They have spent years opposing Obamas executive actions on immigration and even joined a lawsuit to stop him, based on the argument that he was overstepping his constitutional authority. So what do they do with a presumptive nominee who seems as eager to bypass them as they say Obama is?

The reporters interviewed several Republicans who said they hoped Trump wouldnt issue such an order. Paul Ryan tried to give them a hint:

The top House Republican, Speaker Paul Ryan (Wis.), has previously spoken out against Trumps attacks on Muslims. But on Tuesday, he refused to say if his partys presidential candidate would have the authority to enact such a ban without congressional approval. He told reporters to look it up themselves. Thats a question about immigration law, Ryan said during a press briefing. You can go into the 1952 Immigration and Naturalization Act to determine whether or not the president has that kind of discretion.

Unfortunately, the HuffPo reporters didnt follow Ryans advice. If they had, they would have learned that as president, Trump would have the authority he claims:

Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) (f) Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.

Instead of looking up the law, HuffPo blithely asserted that suspending immigration by Muslims would be unconstitutional:

(For the record: Legal experts have said Trumps proposal for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. would be unconstitutional.)

Wrong again. The United States Supreme Court wrote in United States ex rel. Knauff v. Shaughnessy, 338 U.S. 537 (1950):

At the outset we wish to point out that an alien who seeks admission to this country may not do so under any claim of right. Admission of aliens to the United States is a privilege granted by the sovereign United States Government. Such privilege is granted to an alien only upon such terms as the United States shall prescribe.  Thus the decision to admit or to exclude an alien may be lawfully placed with the President, who may in turn delegate the carrying out of this function to a responsible executive officer of the sovereign, such as the Attorney General. The action of the executive officer under such authority is final and conclusive. Whatever the rule may be concerning deportation of persons who have gained entry into the United States, it is not within the province of any court, unless expressly authorized by law, to review the determination of the political branch of the Government to exclude a given alien.

The United States can admit or not admit any alien into this country, for any reason whatsoever or for no reason. There is no constitutional right for an alien to enter the United States.

So: Trump 1, HuffPo 0. HuffPo should run a correction, and it may want to find some new legal experts, too.
We know the poor cry often. We also know that the rich cry. They do. But that is only a small manifestation of the many things they suffer quietly. Rich people all over the world have a common debilitating disease. It is called influenza, and it will be discussed exhaustively here to enhance the understanding of the behaviour of the rich and to know how we relate with them.

A poor mans cry

Check this out! A mans wife was very ill and needed to be rushed to the hospital. Short of money, he runs to a rich man in their neighbourhood for financial assistance. After listening to the crying mans story, he dismissed him with the excuse that he had spent the little he had to spare the day before. He did not even look that the poor man in the face, which perhaps could have moved him.

You may also be aware that while many rich men spend lavishly on vanities, they pay little attention to their drivers and house helps. Now, if you are wondering why this happens, it is because, as studies have found out, more money, less empathy or compassion. We will return to this later.

I used to have a great boss, who in absurd situations would say, Ah, Peter (his name) I have suffered! Then, I wondered how a director of a big company could be suffering. If he did, then junior staff would be dead.

Absurdity



Last year I behaved like my former boss when I read what is reproduced below: In December 2013, State District Judge Jean Boyd sentenced a North Texas teenager, Ethan Couch to 10 years probation for drunk driving and killing four pedestrians and injuring 11 after his attorneys successfully argued that the teen suffered from affluenza (though in this case, the lawyer used the term affluenza to mean that Couch was unable to understand the consequences of his actions because of his financial privilege) and needed rehabilitation, and not prison.

The defendant was witnessed on surveillance stealing beer from a store, driving with seven passengers in a Ford-350 stolen from his father, speeding (70 MPH in a 40 MPH zone), and had a blood alcohol content of 0.24%, three times the legal limit for an adult in Texas, when he was tested 3 hours after the accident. Traces of Valium were also in his system. G. Dick Miller, a psychologist hired as an expert by the defense, testified in court that the teen was a product of affluenza and was unable to link his bad behavior with consequences due to his parents teaching him that wealth buys privilege.

The rehabilitation facility near Wichata Falls, Texas, that the teen will be attending will cost roughly $700 a day; however Couch will be paying only a portion of that. At a February 5, 2014 hearing, Eric Boyles, whose wife and daughter were killed in the crash, said Had he not had money to have the defense there, to also have the experts testify, and also offer to pay for the treatment, I think the results would have been different.

Chai, I have suffered! But truly, one of the problems of some rich men, certainly not all of them, is that their children are spoilt.

The latest on case is that the teen who used the now infamous affluenza defense after killing four people in a drunken driving accident will serve nearly two years in jail, a judge ruled in April.

The ruling came after an hour of arguments about whether a judge in an adult court had the ability to sentence Ethan Couch to serve time in jail for violating a probation imposed on him by a juvenile court in 2015.

What is affluenza?

So what is affluenza? Affluenza is a combination of the English words affluence (which means wealth) and influenza (the flu.) The Oxford English Dictionary defines affluenza as a psychological malaise supposedly affecting wealthy young people, symptoms of which include a lack of motivation, feelings of guilt, and a sense of isolation. The term became popular in the late 1990s after the publication of The Golden Ghetto: The Psychology of Affluence by Jessie ONeil.

ONeill is the granddaughter of a past president of General Motors. Since the book was written, it has also been used to describe a condition in which children  generally from richer families  have a sense of entitlement, are irresponsible, make excuses for poor behaviour, and sometimes dabble in drugs and alcohol, explained Dr. Gary Buffone, a Jacksonville, Florida, psychologist who does family wealth advising.

Lately, affluenza has become an interesting subject worldwide. It exists in Nigeria too. So dont believe everything you see. For example, wealth is no guarantee for happiness or love, which many rich men cannot get.

More money, more trouble

Many of us are not likely to see the pains of the rich and powerful. To live up to their status as powerful they hide their pains  loneliness, unhappiness, lack of love, and serious diseases. So you dont see them, but people like Pastor E.A. Adeboye, who are consulted when situations worsen for the rich, have revealed that some of them do suffer pain of many kinds. And they cry!

Sudden-wealth syndrome



Ordinarily, most of the Nigerian rich are curiously greedy, suffering the syndrome of primitive acquisition; they display oppressive impunity; and those who suffer from the sudden-wealth syndrome are too flashy and boastful. What do you expect if a man from the streets finds himself in the state or national assembly to be called an honourable with all the money that goes with it? Painfully, many of them are wastefully obsessed with vanity.

However, the rich people who made money from their own sweat and invest heavily for the benefit of the economy and to offer employment tend to be less arrogant with money.

Affluenza naturally breeds socio-economic inequality, but it would seem that the rich rub the pain in. British psychologist Oliver James asserts that there is a correlation between the increasing nature of affluenza and the resulting increase in material inequality: the more unequal a society, the greater the unhappiness of its citizens and insecurity.

Of course, the rich desire to be in a special class, and the more the poor, the more special they feel. But in truth, they suffer. Various studies have pin-pointed some of the pains by experts and writers such as Carolyn Gregoire.Some are cited below.

Wealth affects moral judgment.



Many rich Nigerians have no scruples sleeping with other peoples wives. A top rich Abuja politician shocked me recently, when cautioned that a woman he had a crush on was married. He retorted, And so what? Do you know what it takes for us to do this job? I hid my face. Shocked.

In the United States, a UC Berkeley found that in San Francisco  where the law requires that cars stop at crosswalks for pedestrians to pass  drivers of luxury cars were four times less likely than those in less expensive vehicles to stop and allow pedestrians the right of way. They were also more likely to cut off other drivers.

Another study suggested that merely thinking about money could lead to unethical behavior. Many rich men are liars. Research from Harvard and the University of Utah found that study participants were more likely to lie or behave immorally after being exposed to money-related words.

Wealth linked with addiction.



While money itself doesnt cause addiction or substance abuse, wealth has been linked with a higher susceptibility to addiction problems. A number of studies have found that affluent children are more vulnerable to substance abuse issues, potentially because of high pressure to achieve and isolation from parents. Researchers found that children of the rich may be more likely to internalize problems, which has been linked with substance abuse.

But its not just adolescents: Even in adulthood, the rich out-drink by more than 27 percent.

Money itself is addictive.

It has been observed that the more money people have the more of it they want. Sometimes, as in many parts of the third world, greed sets in and spirals high away. The pursuit of wealth itself becomes a compulsive behavior. As Psychologist Dr. Tian Dayton explained, a compulsive need to acquire money is often considered part of a class of behaviours known as process addictions, or behavioral addictions, which are distinct from substance abuse.

While a process addiction is not a chemical addiction, it does involve compulsive behaviour.

Wealthy children may be more troubled.



Children growing up in wealthy families may seem to have it all, but having it all may come at a high cost. Wealthier children tend to be more distressed than lower-income kids, and are at high risk for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, cheating and stealing. Research has found high instances of binge-drinking and marijuana use among the children of high-income, two-parent, white families.

We tend to perceive the wealthy as evil.

On the other side of the spectrum, lower-income individuals are likely to judge and stereotype those who are wealthier than themselves, often judging the wealthy as being cold.

In Nigeria, there is the tendency to think many wealthy people as those who made their money through dubious means and rituals.

Money cant buy happiness (or love).

We tend to seek money and power in our pursuit of success (and who doesnt want to be successful, after all?), but it may be getting in the way of the things that really matter: Happiness and love.

There is no direct correlation between income and happiness. After a certain level of income that can take care of basic needs and relieve strain (some say $50,000 a year, some say $75,000), wealth makes hardly any difference to overall well-being and happiness and, if anything, only harms well-being: Extremely affluent people actually suffer from higher rates of depression. Some data has suggested money itself doesnt lead to dissatisfaction  instead, its the ceaseless striving for wealth and material possessions that may lead to unhappiness. Materialistic values have even been linked with lower relationship satisfaction.
The management of the African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower FM Stations has sacked all the workers of its station in Benin, Edo State.

The decision was conveyed in a letter dated June 2, 2016, signed by Victor Okasoga, the Senior Manager in charge of Human Resources.

Daar Communications Plc is the owner of AIT and Raypower FM stations.

The letter advised the sacked staff to surrender all company properties in their possession and added, Failure to surrender company properties in your possession may delay the processing of your entitlements.

The dismissal came three weeks after some of the affected staff that include reporters, cameramen, newscasters, presenters and producers, who are owed up to 24 months of arrears of salaries, protested the non-payment of their salaries.

The companys head of administration, in charge of Benin, Ndah Muhammed, told PREMIUM TIMES the decision to lay off the workers was taken by the management at the head office of the company.

Please, get in contact with our head office. The sacking was not from Benin here. It was from head office, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES understands that the management gave all the sacked workers forms to fill and return, purportedly for payment of the outstanding salaries, under the intimidating presence of armed policemen at the premises.

The latest sack action by AIT/Raypower followed a similar lay-off of 13 senior journalists by the management of Leaders and Company Limited, publishers of ThisDay Newspapers in Abuja last Friday. ThisDay also owes its workers backlog of salaries and allowances.

Earlier, the management of Global Media Mirror Limited, publishers of National Mirror Newspapers, had also relieved some of its workers in what it described as a reorganization exercise without paying some of the staff the arrears of 12 months unpaid salaries.

Meanwhile, the Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the sack of the staff of Daar Communications Plc.

In a statement, the state chairman, Rowland Osakwe, faulted DAAR Communications management for sacking its workers without fulfilling necessary financial obligations.

Mr. Osakwe said, It is not a good thing that you enslave labour, and at month end, you dont give them their stipend. Then, you are sacking them and not giving them their cheques.

The act is condemnable. It does not even happen in the animal kingdom these days. We are not going to relent. We will write them a letter and ask the management to pay them their money or we will take a legal step.

One of the affected workers, who pleaded anonymity, stated that the decision of the company came as a surprise as both staff and management had already met over the payment of their outstanding salaries.
The Code of Conduct Tribunal on Wednesday adjourned hearing in the alleged false and anticipatory assets declaration trial of Nigerias Senate President, Bukola Saraki, after prosecution counsel failed to show up.

Danladi Umar, chairman of the tribunal, fixed next Tuesday for continuation of trial only 45 mins into Wednesdays proceeding.

Mr. Umar also fixed Tuesday for hearing on a resh disqualification motion filed by the defence team.

Mr. Umar is being asked to step down from the case on allegations that he lacked moral standing to continue presiding over Mr. Sarakis case.

Mr. Umar said a notice would be communicated to Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, lead prosecution counsel, advising him on the new date.

More to come
The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Waziri Adio, says Nigeria lost at least $9 billion in 2013 to sharp financial practices in the oil and gas sector.

Mr. Adio stated this while briefing the Senate on the agencys 2013 audit report on the oil and gas sector and solid minerals sector in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said Nigeria lost 5.9 billion dollars and N20 billion to inefficient practices and theft, among other things, and that 1.7 billion dollars was still owed to the federation from oil mining leases (OML).

In 2013 the country produced 800.3 million barrels and out of that, the country made 58.07 billion dollars and that represents an eight-per cent reduction from the 62.9 billion dollars the country made in 2012.

The issue is that there are some monies that were withheld, lost or underpaid for different reasons.

The first is in the category of the non-remitted, and the non-remitted amounted to 3.8 billion dollars and N358 million.

 The second category is the category of losses. Because of some inefficient practices and theft among other things, the country lost 5.9 billion dollars and N20 billion.

N20 billion was lost because the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) did not observe the 90 days credit grace.

Looking at the time value of money, if you calculate at 12 per cent interest, the country lost N20 billion.

Under the category of the under-assessed, the country lost 599.8 million dollars.

When we look at the non-remitted, 1.7 billion dollars is still being owed the federation for OMLS.

Those are the monies we have established that should have been paid to the federation and were not paid, he said.

Mr. Adio also said that the audit report revealed that the NNPC divested some monies that should have been transferred to the federation account.

NNPC, between 2010 and 2011, divested eight assets that belong to the federation to its upstream subsidiary, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

So, NNPC divested 55 per cent of the shares being held on behalf of the federation to the NPDC.

These eight OMLS are valued at 1.8 billion dollars by Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

NPDC paid only 100 million dollars out of the 1.8 billion dollars, meaning there is an outstanding of 1.7 billion dollars and even the 100 million dollars was paid two years after.

What this means is that NNPC lifted oil on behalf of NPDC not on behalf of the federation in spite of the fact that NPDC has not fully paid for those assets, he said.

Another issue is the losses incurred from swap and crude oil offshore processing agreement (OPA).

This is the arrangement where NNPC exchanges crude for product and the country lost 518 million dollars due to the inefficiency of the swap and OPA, he said.

The NEITI boss said the audit report revealed infrastructural deficit in the oil and gas sector, revealing that lack of metering among other things, had serious implication on the countrys revenue and security.

He said though the country could account for exports, it could not say authoritatively the quantity of oil produced.

He attributed the losses incurred in the sector to systemic and governance issues that needed to be addressed.

After we released this report many Nigerians expressed outrage about the amount of losses, about the amount of money unremitted and all of that.

The outrage is good but outrage is not a strategy; we need to come up with strategy to make sure that what happened in the past will not happen again.

As a country we have to decide, do we want to make sure that we put systems and structures in place that will make sure that there are sanctions for misdemeanours? he said.

Mr. Adio called on the National Assembly to consider the audit report in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) to address some of the issues in the sector.

He also called on the National Assembly to increase the powers of the agency to enable it to punish offenders.

(NAN)
A group, the Global Prolife Alliance, on Tuesday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to fire the board and management of the National Biosafety Management Agency, NBMA.

The chairman of the group, Philip Njemanze, made the call in Owerri, Imo State, on Tuesday while addressing journalists.

Mr. Njemanze hinged the call for the sack of the leadership of the agency on the issuance of two permits for the introduction of genetically modified crops in the country.

Despite public outcry, the NBMA had issued permits for commercial release cotton, MON 15985, genetically modified for lepidopteran insect pest resistance and Confined Field Trial (CFT) of maize, NK603 and MON 89034 x NK603, genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance.

The two permits, posted on the NBMA website, is signed by agencys Director-General, Rufus Ebegba.

It is said to have been issued to Monsanto Africulture Nigeria Limited on May 1, 2016, which was a work-free day in the country.

Mr. Njemanze said the action was in total disregard for the safety concerns regarding GMOs crops expressed by leading governments around the world.

He argued that some of the countries, who have rejected the technology have had firsthand experience with genetically modified maize.

According to him, France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Luxemburg, Austria, Hungary and Greece have banned the same insect-resistant corn variety citing environmental concerns.

He quoted the German Agricultural Minister, Ilse Aigner, who banned the cultivation of GMO corn and the sale of its seeds, as saying that she had legitimate reasons to believe that MON 810 posed a danger to the environment.

On its part, he said French scientists headed by Gilles-Eric Seralini, established that the effects of GMO crops were similar to that of pesticides, including inflammation disorders and severe toxicity to liver and kidney.

Again, he said Hungarian scientists headed by Professor Bela Darvas of Debrecen University had shown that Monsanto MON 810 is lethal to two Hungarian protected species and one insect classified as rare.

Maize is a wind-pollinated plant so could cause serious devastation to the environment, since wind that can transport GMO pollens or seeds would contaminate the entire environment, said Mr. Njemanze.

The recklessness in approval of use of pesticides and GMO crops in Nigeria led to dangerous contamination of food in Nigeria. These approvals were granted despite warnings from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

In August 2015, the European Food Safety Authority detected a 460 times above lethal limits of a very toxic and cancerogenic pesticide in food import from Nigeria.

The levels detected ranged from concentrations of 0.03mg per kilogramme to 4.6mg/kg of dichlorvos pesticide, when the acceptable maximum residue limit is 0.01mg/kg.

He argued that the dangerous levels of pesticides for GMOs sink to the water aquifer, killing aquatic life and poisoning drinking water for humans and animals.

Based on its findings, he said the European Union banned many food imports from Nigeria, resulting in loss of huge revenue and under performance of the agricultural sector with regard to its contribution to the nations Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

He further argued that the National Biosafety Management Agency Act 2015, is not compliant with the Cartagena Protocol to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Mr. Njemanze said the convention is based on the Precautionary Principle designed to protect human health, the environment and biodiversity from the risks posed by GMOs.

Continuing, he said, As a way to further improve biosafety laws in African countries, African leaders also drafted an African Model Law on Biosafety, to give guidance to African governments, in the drafting of their national laws on biosafety.

The African Model Law sets a higher benchmark for biosafety for Africa. Nigeria was party to the African Union, AU, Summit in July 2003, where member states were formally urged to use the African Model Law on Safety in Biotechnology as a basis for drafting their national instruments on biosafety.

However, undue interference from international biotechnology companies through corruption in government in Nigeria has led to permits for unhindered introduction of GMOs foods with no thorough health and environmental impact studies.

The recent actions of the management of the NBMA are clear manifestations of the undue interference by biotechnology firms who dictate the actions of their government regulators.

These actions of the NBMA are dangerous and unpatriotic. They are in violation of food and environmental safety laws in Nigeria.

These actions of NBMA display total incompetence and unprofessionalism by the management, and calls into question their fitness to administer such a crucial job of securing the food security of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Christopher Kolade, will on Friday lead other speakers to a dialogue session on Parenting for Nation Building hosted by PREMIUM TIMES.

The event, organized in partnership with TW Magazine and Parenting Resources & Initiatives of Atlanta, USA, takes place in Lagos.

The motivation for the event is hinged on the fact that the family remains the bedrock of the nation, says Kemi Oyebanji, General Manager, Business Services, Premium Times.

Increasingly, it is becoming more apparent that the need to start to build the requisite values that build a strong nation must begin in the homes irrespective of the global influences, challenges at work, society or even at the national level.

Alongside Mr. Kolade, those to speak at the event include Amina Oyagbola, HR/Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, who will speak on the Imperatives of Work-Life Balance.

Ms. Oyagbola, who had served as a Corporate Services Executive of MTN Nigeria and headed regulatory affairs, has been Head of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs at the company since December 3, 2015.

Nimi Akinkugbe, CEO of Best Man Games, will speak on Money Value and Children;,

Ms. Akinkugbe spent over two decades in the banking sector, including two and a half years as Regional Director at Barclays Bank, before establishing Best Man Games in September 2012.

Another speaker, Bola Odetokun, will speak on Critical Life Values: Precursors in Nation Building and Living in the Diaspora.

Mrs. Odetokun, a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; the Federal University of Technology, Akure; and Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a certified Information Systems Auditor and Database Administrator with several years of experience.

She had worked for top global IT consulting firms in the US before establishing Parenting Resources & Initiatives, Inc., a non-profit, faith-based organization committed to helping parents fulfill their God-given role of raising well-rounded children.

Ayodele Adeboye, Country Manager, Econet Wireless, in Nigeria, will present Parenting by Example.

We expect that this programme will also contribute to the national discussion on the areas of imperatives for social change, Ms. Oyebanji said.

It is for this purpose that we find this event particularly important and the time auspicious.
A former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, on Wednesday lashed out at the Nigerian government, a day after operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission raided his home and a property belonging to his son, Jide, in Lagos.

Mr. Obanikoro, who left for the United States shortly after the 2015 elections and has remained there, said the action constituted a sad throwback to a tyrannical past that is better forgotten as no warrant was legally obtained from any court to embark on the search.

Mr. Obanikoro issued the statement in a series of tweets he posted on his Twitter page, @MObanikoro, on Wednesday morning.

The properties, located at Parkview Estate and Onikoyi Drive, both in the Lagos highbrow suburb of Ikoyi, were thoroughly searched by operatives, a family source told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday.

The wife and children of the younger Mr. Obanikoro were at home when the property along Onikoyi Drive was raided, the source said. Mr. Obanikoro, his son, Jide, and another son, Gbolahan, as well as his wife were said to be in the U.S.

Authorities said Mr. Obanikoro is being investigated on allegations of official misconduct and illegal contract splitting, and operatives made away with documents, vehicles and other valuable items from the two properties.

But in his reaction, Mr. Obanikoro said he was not aware of any investigation into his activities when he held different ministerial portfolios in the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that he was being victimised because of his political affiliation.

The Illegal Invasion of my house, Femi Fani-Kayode and several others in detention give me no confidence in governments willingness to do justice, Mr. Obanikoro said. I cannot submit myself to such glaring witchhunt, injustice and charade but Ill fight it legally, with God and clear conscience on my side.

Mr. Obanikoro said that any extradition proceeding against him cannot stand the test of a decent judicial system, especially in the United States.

Rumours of extradition are also lies  false allegations cannot stand up to any decent legal inquiry in a civilised system such as in the U.S.

Mr. Obanikoro said his travails at the hands of anti-graft officials were calculated to divert the attention of Nigerians away from the abysmal and ignominious economic records of Mr. Buhari.

This is a government determined to outdo the abysmal and ignominious economic records of Dec. 31, 1983 to Aug. 27, 1985 that ended in shame.
The governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has been sued over his decision to join workers of the states civil service in their industrial action.

A lawyer, Kabir Akingbolu, who sued the governor before a Federal High Court in Lagos, argued that Mr. Fayoses decision amounted to abdication of duties.

Considering the provision of Section 176 subsection 1 and 2 of the Constitution whether the abdication of duty by the 1st Defendant in reckless abandonment is not a violation of Oath of office taken by him as Governor of Ekiti, Mr. Akingbolu stated in his originating summons.

Joined as defendants in the suit are the states Attorney General, Accountant-General of the Federation, and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Mr. Fayose had announced in a televised broadcast his decision to join the workers indefinite strike in solidarity.

The workers are being owed five months salaries.

I want to tell workers that I have placed myself on indefinite strike in solidarity with you, Mr. Fayose was quoted as saying.

I have shared your pains, but it was rather unfortunate that a man cant give what he doesnt have.

I have told you the true position of the finances of the state, of which you had played critical roles in allocation to relevant sectors which shows how well I had carried you along since the dwindling revenue to the state commenced.

But the workers responded by telling him to pay their salaries rather that engaging in the solidarity strike.

In his court papers, Mr. Akingbolu sought an order of the court declaring that Mr. Fayose has lost his position as governor having failed to transmit power to his deputy as envisaged by the constitution.

He also sought, among others, an order directing President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in Ekiti State to avert breaking down of law and order, since there is a vacuum in governance.
The Nimbo community in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State has urged the Federal Government to pay N17 billion to the community as compensation for the invasion of the community and the killing of residents by suspected herdsmen.

The traditional ruler of the community, John Akor, made the demand when he testified at the panel of inquiry into the attack on Wednesday.

He said that the money would be a recompense for the ills suffered by members of the community.

Our community demands a compensation of N17 billion for human losses, unlawful destruction of property and criminal deprivation of use of our farms for over two decades, he said.

The monarch said the community also needed a trauma hospital to rehabilitate victims of the prolonged herdsmen incursions.

Mr. Akor said that 11 people lost their lives during the April 25 invasion while several others were injured, adding that the corpses were still at the morgues.

The conclusive evidence of deaths recorded during the incursion stands at 11. The economy of our community has been ruined.

Part of our prayers is for a combined team of police, DSS and the military to investigate why the invasion was not contained in spite of prior information to the effect.

We equally request the Federal Government to establish security presence in Nimbo, being a border community, he said.

Mr. Akor said as a traditional ruler he never collected any form of gratification from the herdsmen to allow them graze in the community.

The traditional ruler said the economy of the rural community had been shattered following the activities of the herdsmen.

Also testifying, the president-general of Nimbo Town Union, Mathias Ekere, said the community had coexisted peacefully with the herdsmen for over 30 years.

Mr. Ekere said from the onset different cattle breeders resided in their community and local people insisted that each group must have identification mark.

When the arrangement of cattle identification was not working, the herdsmen had to relocate but came back in 2003.

After they returned, our relationship with them became like that of cat and mouse.

Our people are always intimidated because the herdsmen came with sophisticated weapons, order farmers to kneel down and match their cows to graze on cash crops, he said.

He said at their return, the herdsmen did not come with their wives and families, but entered the community through Kogi.

He said from their experiences, members of the community were still in fear and would no longer want herdsmen in the community.

Our men were traumatised as our wives were raped in our presence.

From our soured relationship, we do not want them again in our land. They should find another place to graze their cattle, Mr. Ekere said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prior to the commencement of the sitting, the Chief Legal Officer of the panel, Richard Udeichi, announced that the Fulani community would be present on June 27.

The Fulani community informed me that they will come on June 27 due to their ongoing Ramadan, Mr. Udeichi said.

(NAN)
Medical doctors in Ekiti State on Wednesday declared an indefinite strike in protest of their five-month unpaid salaries and to demand improvement of medical facilities in their hospitals.

The notice of strike was issued in a communique signed by the acting president of the Association of Resident Doctors, Tunji Alaoye, and the chairman of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, Ekiti State, Folu Ekundare.

Other labour unions such as the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in the state have been on strike for over three weeks for reasons of unpaid salaries.

But the government had a relief when health workers initially withdrew from the industrial action citing love for the citizenry and the hope that the government would consider paying their January salary from the last federal allocation.

This is to notify the general public especially residents of Ekiti State and its immediate environs that rising from a joint emergency meeting of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, Ekiti State, branch(NAGGMDP))and the Association of Resident Doctors in Ekiti State Teaching Hospital held on the 14th of June 2016 at the NMA Doctors House along Ado-Iyin road to discuss issues bordering on the welfare of doctors working with the Ekiti state government(state specialist hospitals, general hospitals and the Ekiti state University teaching hospital) a painful, hard, unfortunate and difficult decision that could have been avoided if the necessary actions had been taken, was reached by our members, the communique read.

All members of the above named associations, (NAGGMDP Ekiti State, and ARD EKSUTH) have resolved to embark on a total and indefinite strike action, starting from midnight on the 15th of June 2016.

We implore the general public to bear with us as we assure you that we are always open to dialogue and negotiation.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES by phone, Mr. Alaoye said the strike action followed the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum given to the state government.

He said the state government did not respond to the notice of 21 days.

He said the doctors had made a four-point demand, which include the payment of their five-month salary arrears, improvement of facilities in the hospitals, promotion of members who are due, and improving funding for training of resident doctors.

The Ekiti governor, Ayo Fayose, has maintained that he had not enough funds pay salaries, while appealing to striking workers to return to work.

He has also refused to engage them in any negotiations, saying they would return to meet him after the strike as he could not sell himself to pay them.
Hundreds of Students of Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu of Ogun State, on Wednesday embarked on a protest on behalf of their lecturers who they said had been denied their salaries for 13 months.

The protesters, led by the chairman of National Association of Nigerian Students, Ogun State, Joint Campus Committee, Dotun Opaleye, stormed Iwe-Iroyin press centre and some major parts of Abeokuta, with placards calling on the government to address the plight of their lecturers and other burning issues.

After 13 months in which the staffs of this institution have worked without being paid a kobo in the form of salary or allowances; it is so pathetic and incomprehensible how we students of Tai Solarin College of Education deserve this from government, he said.

The students said the nonpayment of lecturers salary was having a damaging effect on their future.

Education is our right and not a privilege, Mr. Opaleye said.

It is crystal clear that our school, as the first tertiary institution in Ogun State, has produced refined and quality teachers that produced most of our leaders now and even their children that are lawyers, doctor and so on. Come to think of it, what does the government want us to become in the nearest future, the students said.
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.




Squadsourcing  Trust Currency  Time Design

FIT's Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management Master's Program in Partnership with LVMH Perfumes & Cosmetics, North America Predicts The Future of Innovation: Global Insights, New Business Models, and Recommendations

NEW YORK, June 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, innovation goes far beyond research labs and Silicon Valley pitch meetings. Given the breakneck speed of change in the business climate, fueled by the constant evolution of technology, corporations have an imperative to innovate or perish.

Emerging beauty industry executives in the Fashion Institute of Technology's (FIT) Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing and Management (CFMM) Master of Professional Studies program presented global qualitative and field research on June 8, examining "The Future of Innovation." The research focused on infusing external points of view, as well as creating "best practice" models for internal corporate innovation culture. The research benchmarked ten industries, including technology, automotive, fashion, retail, and academia, across the U.S., China, South Korea, and Japan. Eighty qualitative interviews with global experts informed the work, with viewpoints from a diverse group of companies such as 3M, Google, and L'Oreal.

Key Insights :

The Burden of Knowledge: Innovation can be stifled by an endless stream of data and ideas.

Fast Is Too Slow: It is projected that 40 percent of current Fortune 500 companies will be out of business by 2025 (Iannou, 2014).

Man vs. Machine: In 30 years, 50 percent of the workforce may well be a form of artificial intelligence (AI).

The Linked Generation: Gen Z is reframed as "The Linked Generation." Entrepreneurial and independent, they reject bureaucracy and are driven by purposeful work.

Predictions:

The "New American Truth" will replace the American Dream. Instead of linking their career paths to corporations, individuals will become their own self-made brands.

Instead of linking their career paths to corporations, individuals will become their own self-made brands. The speed at which trust is earned and exhibited will play a critical role in reaching the goals of Gen Z, who expect to have started a business by the time they graduate college and spend fewer than three years at their first job.

who expect to have started a business by the time they graduate college and spend fewer than three years at their first job. Education will become modular and tied to professional skill development.

The democratization of innovation will continue to influence business. The expansion of platforms such as Fab Labs, Etsy, and YouTube provide unprecedented access to innovative tools.

The expansion of platforms such as Fab Labs, Etsy, and YouTube provide unprecedented access to innovative tools. A trust economy and trust culture will replace our current sharing economy, which has virtually eliminated the need to own even the most basic possessions (e.g. cars and clothes).

which has virtually eliminated the need to own even the most basic possessions (e.g. cars and clothes). By 2020, 40 percent of the workforce will consist of "omni employees," who work on a freelance basis (Intuit, 2010), most likely in an app-driven environment.

Recommendations

#1 The Innovation Ecosystem: A New Business Methodology. Comprising six key, interdependent componentsthe government, the non-governmental organization, the city, the academy, the corporation, and the individualthe innovation ecosystem is a new model for a global, interdependent innovation culture that mitigates risk, promotes curiosity, and uncovers groundbreaking ideas through collaborative partnerships.

The New IP: Innovation Partnerships. To succeed, corporations will need to evolve the existing IPintellectual propertymindset focused on ownership of ideas. The new model relies on a more collaborative system of innovation partnerships, termed "the new IP."

To succeed, corporations will need to evolve the existing IPintellectual propertymindset focused on ownership of ideas. The new model relies on a more collaborative system of innovation partnerships, termed "the new IP." Crowdsourcing will evolve into "squadsourcing." Rather than relying on a generic crowd, squadsourcing will identify trusted and valued external partners to source a solution. This will be Gen Z's version of a brain trust.

#2 The Innovation Blueprint: A New Corporate Innovation Model. This new model shifts focus from employee output to external partner input and delivers an incremental 18 percent ROI over seven years, based on three key components:

Fluid Organization: An adaptive and dynamic organizational structure meant to disrupt the rigid business models currently in place in order to bring in diverse perspectives. Projects are staffed with a variety of talents based on skills and expertise rather than job title, in order to harness a wide range of thought and backgrounds.

Projects are staffed with a variety of talents based on skills and expertise rather than job title, in order to harness a wide range of thought and backgrounds. Time Design: An experiential concept that shifts the focus of corporate organizations from the traditional model of employee output to a more collaborative structure of input from external partners. Time design redefines how employees drive their careers and projects, and promotes broadening employee perspectives in order to foster innovation.

Time design redefines how employees drive their careers and projects, and promotes broadening employee perspectives in order to foster innovation. Trust Culture: A dynamic corporate environment rooted in psychological safety and the exchange of perspectives. Reportedly, increasing trust within a corporate structure by 10 percent has the same impact as giving employees a 36 percent increase in pay (Helliwell & Haifang, 2008).

Video of the event, white papers, and infographics of The Future of Innovation research are posted for public view at fitnyc.edu/cfmm.

Contact:

Cheri Fein/FIT

+1 212 217.4718

cheri_fein@fitnyc.edu

Christy McCuaig/LVMH

+1 917 769.1690

christy.mccuaig@lvmhuspc.com

Related Links

http://www.fitnyc.edu



SOURCE Fashion Institute of Technology
LONDON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

An Cuong Wood Working Joint Stock Company ("An Cuong" or "the Company") - one of Vietnam's leading wood-working and decorative materials companies - announces the strategic investment and development partnership with VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund ("VOF"), a London Stock Exchange Main Market traded investment fund, and DEG - Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH ("DEG"), a member of the KfW Group. At an event held today in Ho Chi Minh City, An Cuong said it is finalising the investment of close to USD30 million by the consortium led by VinaCapital.

Established in 1994, An Cuong manufactures a wide range of products including wood and laminate panelling, flooring and furniture. The company is a manufacturer and exporter for well-known brands in the Japan, South East Asia, USA and Europe. Recognized as the top wood-based surface specialist in the country, the company's products meet international standards for design and quality. Its sustainable environmental and social ("E&S") practices have been recognized with an ISO 14001:2004 certification and its products are certified by Green Label Singapore. As part of its commitment to continuous improvement in E&S practices, An Cuong is implementing an E&S action plan with the objective of compliance with the International Financial Corporation Standards.

Employing approximately 1,300 people, An Cuong operates 10 showrooms across Vietnam, as well as representative offices in Malaysia, Japan, US, Canada and Australia. Products are manufactured in a 90,000 m2 state-of-the-art facility using the latest manufacturing technology from Germany and Italy. An Cuong's wood-based materials (MFC/ Melamine MDF; Laminates; High Gloss Acrylic; Veneer and auxiliary products) are used extensively in modern interior design and decoration such as indoor furniture, door, flooring and kitchen door/cabinets. An Cuong currently supplies its products to Vietnam's largest developers and the Company has been working with thousands of interior design firms, contractors and local carpenters across the country.

With consistent growth rate of 30%-35% over the past several years, An Cuong has reached an annual turnover of over USD70m in 2015 with dominant market shares of over 50% in branded MFC panel and 70% in branded laminate panel.

Le Duc Nghia, CEO of An Cuong, said, "We are delighted to welcome VinaCapital and DEG as strategic shareholders. One of the reasons we have entered into this transaction is because these two organisations bring not only capital, but expertise and a track record of working with their investees. They share our commitment to building this business to the next level. We are also gratified that our efforts to operate the company to the highest standards, be it in our environmental, sourcing or labour practices, have been recognized by DEG, which attributes great importance to these issues when considering an investment."

Don Lam, VinaCapital CEO, said, "An Cuong has been on our radar for some time. It's well managed, ambitious and innovative, and always looking at how it can expand in a sustainable way. We are pleased to be partnering with DEG to help An Cuong further build on its leading position in the industry and enter a new phase of growth."

Dr. Herbert Baumgartner, director of DEG's representative office in Bangkok, stated, "DEG is excited about its cooperation with such an innovative and dynamic company like An Cuong that shows strong commitment to E&S issues. DEG looks forward to working with VinaCapital in supporting the company as it expands its operations thus creating employment opportunities in Vietnam."

About VinaCapital

Founded in 2003, VinaCapital is a leading investment and asset management firm headquartered in Vietnam, with a diversified portfolio of USD1.4 billion in assets under management. The firm has three closed-ended funds that trade on the London Stock Exchange: VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Limited, which trades on the Main Market, as well as VinaLand Limited and Vietnam Infrastructure Limited, which trade on the AIM. Further, VinaCapital manages the Forum One - VCG Partners Vietnam Fund, Vietnam's largest open-ended UCITS-compliant fund. VinaCapital's expertise spans a full range of asset classes including capital markets, private equity, venture capital, real estate and fixed income.

About DEG

DEG, a subsidiary of KfW, finances investments of private companies in developing and transition countries. As one of Europe's largest development finance institutions, it promotes private business structures to contribute to sustainable economic growth and improved living conditions. DEG's current portfolio in Asia amounts to EUR 2.6 billion.

About An Cuong Wood Working JSC

The An Cuong Wood - Working Joint Stock Company is a leading company in wood-working and decorative materials in Vietnam's since 1994. We are manufacturer and distributor for various well-known brands from USA, Germany, Italy, Spain and Australia in wood and plastic based panels widely used in interior decoration of houses, apartment buildings, schools, supermarkets, and offices. Currently, An Cuong has more than 1,300 employees, 10 showrooms across the country and a factory in Binh Duong province with an area of more than 90,000 m2, alongside representative offices around the world, including Cambodia, Malaysia, Japan, Canada, USA, and Australia.

All of An Cuong's products are certified by Green Label Singapore. The company has also received International Certificates for our product quality including CQ (Certificate of Quality from Malaysia), SA 8000:2008, ISO 9001-2008, and ISO 14001:2004.

With technology and products of international standards, An Cuong confidently satisfies all the diverse furnishing needs, ensuring material durability and consumers' health.

Enquiries:

For VinaCapital:



For VinaCapital:

Jeremy Greenberg

Investor Relations

+84-8-3821-9930

jeremy.greenberg@vinacapital.com





Joel Weiden

Communications

+84-8-3821-9930

joel.weiden@vinacapital.com





Daniel Jason, Peregrine Communications

Tel (Direct): +44-(0)20-3040-0872

Tel (Mobile): +44-(0)770-2954-837

daniel.jason@peregrinecommunications.com





For An Cuong :

Nguy Thanh Vi (Mr.)

PR Marketing Manager, An Cuong Wood Working JSC

Tel +84(0)909-626-516

Email: viacc@ancuong.com





For DEG:

DEG Press Office

+49-221-4986-1474

presse@deginvest.de



SOURCE VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Limited
ALBANY, New York, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Transparency Market Research has published a new market report titled, "Viral Conjunctivitis Pipeline Drugs Market - Industry Analysis, Pipeline Review, Patent Analysis, and Forecast 2020 - 2023". According to the report, the viral conjunctivitis pipeline drugs market is projected to reach US$ 0.5 Bn in 2023 at a CAGR of 69.6% from 2020 to 2023.

You can download a sample for free: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=12251

The viral conjunctivitis pipeline drugs market estimated in the report include FST-100 and APD-209, which are in phase II clinical trials. APD-209 is developed by Adenovir Pharma AB and is under phase II clinical trial. The company is likely to launch the drug in 2021. It has a patent in the EU, the U.S., China, Japan, Singapore, Russia, and Hong Kong for the treatment of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC). The phase II trials for keratoconjunctivitis have been completed in Sweden, Germany, and Poland. Targeted action for adenoviruses and safer than FST-100 are the major factors anticipated to drive the market for APD-209. However, narrow range of indication, long treatment duration as compared to FST-100, and launch of other medicines are likely to restrain the market during the forecast period from 2021 to 2023.

FST-100 is developed by New York-based Foresight Biotherapeutics, Inc. However, Shire plc acquired Foresight Biotherapeutics in July 2015. The company completed phase II clinical trial in May 2014 and Shire is expected to commence phase III clinical trial in 2016. It is a combination suspension of povidone-iodine and dexamethasone that targets microbial eradication along with anti-inflammatory action. If the drug is launched in 2020, it will have the first launch advantage in the market, as not a single drug is available in the market to treat viral conjunctivitis. However, presence of steroids in the formulation can lower the immunity of a patient and promote viral shedding, which can prolong symptoms. Hence, application of the drug for viral conjunctivitis is likely to be limited during the forecast period.

Browse research report with ToC & free analysis: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/viral-conjunctivitis-pipeline-drugs-market.html

Other major drugs in pre-clinical and clinical trials are Zirgan (Bausch + Lomb, Inc. / Lifelong Vision Foundation), EKC-Cide (NanoViricides, Inc.), and PP-001 (Panoptes Pharma) to treat viral conjunctivitis.

Low diagnosis rate is a major restraint of the viral conjunctivitis pipeline drugs market. Most cases of conjunctivitis are diagnosed based on history and clinical examination. Hence, less than 50% of the cases are correctly diagnosed with the condition. However, AdenoPlus is a point of care test developed and manufactured by Rapid Pathogen Screening, Inc. (RPS). Sensitivity of this test is low; however, it is preferred in complicated cases. Hence, companies are recommended to tie up with diagnostic companies to develop and commercialize quick and accurate tests to diagnose various types of conjunctivitis.

The number of players operating in the viral conjunctivitis pipeline drugs market are limited, while demand for the therapy is high. Major players operating in the viral conjunctivitis pipeline drugs market are Adenovir Pharma AB, Allergan plc, NanoViricides, Inc., Shire plc, NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Novartis AG, Panoptes Pharma GES.M.B.H., and NicOx S.A.

Browse Press Release: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/viral-conjunctivitis-pipeline-drugs-market.htm

The viral conjunctivitis pipeline drugs market has been segmented as follows:

Viral Conjunctivitis Pipeline Drugs Market Revenue, by Pipeline Drug, (US$ Mn), Expected Launch-2023

FST-100 (2020-2023)

APD-209 (2021-2023)

Early Stage Preclinical Trials (Tabular Format)

Viral Conjunctivitis Pipeline Drugs Market Revenue, By Country, (US$ Mn), Expected Launch-2023

Overview

U.S.

U.K.

Germany

Australia

Japan

Brazil

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http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/dry-eye-syndrome-market.html Telep s harmacy Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/telepharmacy-market.html

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/telepharmacy-market.html Cell Analysis Market: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cell-analysis-market.html

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- Bulk Drug Intermediate Produced in CMC Biologics' Copenhagen, Denmark Facility

COPENHAGEN, Denmark and BOTHELL, Washington, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CMC Biologics, a global leader in clinical and commercial manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies, coagulation factors and other therapeutic proteins, today announced that it will supply bulk drug intermediate for CSL Behring's recently FDA-approved product, AFSTYLA [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Single Chain], its novel long-lasting recombinant factor VIII single-chain therapy for adults and children with hemophilia A, to reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes; on-demand treatment and control of bleeding episodes; and the perioperative management of bleeding.

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"Working together with CSL Behring to achieve this important commercial milestone has been a major focus for our entire team in Copenhagen," said Patricio Massera, PhD, Site Head & General Manager of CMC Biologics' Copenhagen facility. "We are proud to have played an important role on the clinical development and manufacturing of the recombinant factor VIII single-chain of AFSTYLA."

CMC Biologics has an agreement with CSL Behring for the manufacture of the first intermediate of recombinant factor VIII single-chain drug substance. CMC Biologics' facility in Copenhagen, Denmark was inspected by the FDA as part of the approval for the commercial manufacture of AFSTYLA.

"We are extremely pleased to help CSL Behring provide this critical treatment option to patients for management of hemophilia A," said Gustavo Mahler, PhD, President & Chief Executive Officer of CMC Biologics. "With marketed products manufactured in both our Seattle and Copenhagen facilities, we provide robust commercial solutions and experience for our clients on both continents. Our commitment to deliver on our client's products is prioritized across the entire organization."

About CMC Biologics

CMC Biologics is leading the industry among CDMOs in reliability, technical excellence, and quality  Right and On Time. With three facilities in the USA and Europe, the Company provides fully integrated biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing solutions to clients globally. The Company has proven expertise in delivering custom solutions for the scale-up and cGMP manufacture of protein-based therapeutics for pre-clinical, clinical, and commercial production. The Company's wide range of integrated services includes cell line development, bioprocess development, formulation development, and comprehensive analytical testing. Clients can also benefit from CMC Biologics' proprietary CHEF1 expression system for mammalian production. CMC Biologics has fully segregated microbial fermentation and mammalian cell culture suites and offers both fed-batch and perfusion production processes. More detailed information can be found at www.cmcbiologics.com.

Contact:

Robert Broeze, PhD, SVP, Global Business Development, CMC Biologics, +1 (609) 273-3414

AFSTYLA [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Single Chain] and any and all CSL Behring's brand, products, services and feature names, logos, and slogans are trademarks or registered trademarks of CSL Behring or its subsidiaries in the United States or other countries. All rights reserved.

Related Links

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SOURCE CMC Biologics
PUNE, India, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Strategic Focus Report - Enterprise content management market research report analyses the current trends, drivers, and inhibitors impacting the ECM market. The report outlines the evolution of enterprise content management, and identifies and assesses the best performing vendors in the market. This report also presents view of the revenue opportunities in the enterprise content management market through to 2019, highlighting the market size and growth by technology, geography, sector, and size band. Moreover, following in-depth ICT decision maker surveys, the report outlines enterprises' investment priorities in enterprise content management.

This product covers the latest trends in the enterprise content management market, coupled with insight into the vendor landscape and market size in the enterprise content management domain. Complete report titled "Strategic Focus Report - Enterprise content management; Technology and market trends" spread across 36 pages that provide analysis of 5 Vendors, 7 tables and 8 figures is now available at http://marketreportsstore.com/strategic-focus-report-enterprise-content-management-technology-and-market-trends/ .

Key Findings: ECM has entered a state of disruption, wherein these solutions are increasingly being assimilated with third platform technologies such as cloud, mobile, social, and analytics, to meet new age enterprise content requirements. Advances in ECM systems that have tighter integration with case management tools are a step forward in boosting the end-user experience. Case management enables the information workforce to extract and group critical case information that is based on customers, locations, processes or queries into a single location or platform. Disparate data types and enterprise data silos are some of the challenges hindering the widespread adoption of ECM technologies.

In particular, the report provides an in-depth analysis of the following:

The latest trends impacting the enterprise content management market. The market drivers (both supply-side and demand-side) that will facilitate the growth of the enterprise content management market. The market inhibitors that may hinder the pervasive adoption of enterprise content management. Identification of the top ICT vendors in the enterprise content management market, coupled with an overview of the top 5 vendors. The primary findings from view of revenue opportunities in the enterprise content management market through to 2019, highlighting the market size and growth by technology, geography, sectors and size band. An identification of enterprises' investment priorities based on their budget allocations relating to enterprise content management.

Order a Copy of Report at http://marketreportsstore.com/purchase?rname=41273.

Reasons To Buy

- Understand the enterprise content management landscape, the recent trends, drivers, and inhibitors shaping the enterprise content management segment.

- Comprehend the enterprise content management vendor landscape and track their relative performance in the enterprise content management market to gain a competitive advantage.

- Enhance your market segmentation by analyzing the revenue opportunity forecasts figure in the enterprise content management market from 2015 to 2019, spanning six regions, 14 verticals, and two size bands.

- Understand how organization's enterprise content management requirements are set to change in the next two years in order to prioritize your target market.

Another related report is "ICT investment trends in telco/service providers ; Enterprise ICT spending patterns through to the end of 2016." The rise in the use of wireless technologies in the context of stiff competition within the telecoms industry is driving telcos to explore and invest in emerging technologies such as network functions, virtualization, data centers, and virtual private cloud, among others.

The survey shows that in order to harness potential benefits including consumer satisfaction, enhanced revenue streams, and cost savings, telcos are actively investing in core technology areas. With respect to investments in the core areas of ICT expenditure, including hardware, software, and IT services, the survey reveals that respondents are increasing their investments in clients, software licenses, and application development and integration services. Meanwhile, cutting costs, increasing revenues, and improving efficiencies are the primary business objectives for telcos. Complete report available at http://marketreportsstore.com/ict-investment-trends-in-telcoservice-providers-enterprise-ict-spending-patterns-through-to-the-end-of-2016/.

Explore other reports by Kable Global ICT Intelligence.

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Large multi-strategy fund manager implements state-of-the-art portfolio management platform

LONDON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Finisterre Capital LLP, the large London-based multi-strategy investment manager specializing in emerging market investments, implements Orchestrade as its core portfolio management platform for trading, risk management and compliance.

Finisterre Capital partnered with Orchestrade to modernize its technology back-bone for trading, investment operations, risk and compliance. Finisterre Capital manages $2.9B in regulated and non-regulated funds, with multi-asset investment strategies across all global currencies, fixed income and credit. Orchestrade delivered a complete cross-asset, front-to-back solution for all trading, real-time risk and compliance functions.

"We wanted to have one user-friendly system with a real-time view of risk and P&L. Our portfolio managers now have the desired flexibility to slice-and-dice their portfolios across all investment strategies," said Nigel Eastman, Director of Operations and Technology at Finisterre Capital. "The solution had to be scalable and adaptable to fast changing regulations. We partnered with Orchestrade to expand their compliance module to meet the needs of our regulated funds."

"Our successful implementation track record, with over 20 investment managers, has helped Orchestrade grow and expand its functional coverage," said Hakim Erhili, CEO of Orchestrade. "Our customers always come first. We are delighted that Finisterre Capital has successfully implemented the Orchestrade platform for its core front-to-back investment activities."

Post-implementation, Finisterre Capital is benefiting from vastly improved efficiency throughout its investment operations, real-time view of risk as well as one centralized hub for all portfolio management and compliance activities.

ABOUT ORCHESTRADE

Founded in 2009, Orchestrade Financial Systems delivers the most modern technology for cross asset, front-to-back trading and risk management. Its award-winning capital markets platform has been implemented by leading financial institutions in North America, Europe and Asia. Orchestrade is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in Paris, London and New York. The world needs a better financial technology solution and Orchestrade delivers. For more information, please visit: www.orchestrade.com

Related Links

http://www.orchestrade.com



SOURCE Orchestrade Financial Systems
QualiTest stands out for its strong thought leadership, innovation, and flexibility

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the software testing services market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes QualiTest with the 2016 Global Frost & Sullivan Award for Customer Value Leadership. In the growing software testing services market, QualiTest differentiates itself by offering a superior customer service experience, making the most of its expertise in testing and strong emphasis on right-shore test centers.

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QualiTest's deep understanding of technological trends and regulations in each of the industry verticals it serves has given it a clear edge over other software testing services providers, across verticals. QualiTest achieves such high levels of expertise by hiring people that have specific vertical industry knowledge, and trains and endows them with the testing knowledge necessary to fulfil its vision of having the best software testing team in the world.

"QualiTest's global presence in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and India enables it to leverage a mix of off-shore, on-site, and on-shore options to provide right-shore testing. Its solutions are tailored to end-user needs, whether those solutions are delivered by a single testing team working in just one location, or through the combined efforts of its testing experts worldwide," said Frost & Sullivan Industry Director Jessy Cavazos. "QualiTest makes testers available anywhere in the world, even in highly specific regions due to distinctive network conditions, language, localization, or time-to-market requirements."

QualiTest mostly operates on an outcome-based pricing model that guarantees results contractually for quality improvement and cost reduction. The company bases such agreements on efficiency and cost key performance indicators (KPIs), which establish the baseline for continuous improvement; also referred to as 'results-based testing'. Over 60 percent of its services are delivered through a managed service model, which is essential for multi-year service-level agreement (SLA)-based agreements. The majority of QualiTest's SLA-based services are outcome-based services. Other models include staffing, consulting, and crowd testing.

While there is significant price pressure in the outsourced testing services market, QualiTest competes by providing superior customer service born of its thought leadership and experience. Its on-shore test centers are strategically located in the same time zone as that of its customers, giving customers the option of not maintaining in-house staff.

"QualiTest has demonstrated consistently high growth rates, underlining its ability to retain customers while adding new ones," noted Cavazos. "The company has also been able to grow with current accounts, migrating from disparate, regional customers to global ones."

QualiTest aims to intensify its focus on business assurance, as well as expand to new industry verticals and geographic regions, notably China and Latin America. Frost & Sullivan is excited to recognize QualiTest for its industry-leading focus on augmenting the value of its products to improve customer experience in the software testing services market.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated excellence in implementing strategies that proactively create value for its customers with a focus on improving the return on the investment that customers make in its services or products. The award recognizes the company's inordinate focus on enhancing the value that its customers receive, beyond simply good customer service, leading to improved customer retention and, ultimately, customer base expansion.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About QualiTest

Deploy software that you and your customers trust by testing beyond the obvious with QualiTest Software Testing and Business Assurance Services. QualiTest designs and delivers contextualized solutions that leverage deep industry-specific understanding with technology-specific competencies and unique testing-focused assets. QualiTest delivers results by combining customer-centric business models, critical thinking and the ability to gain a profound comprehension of partners' goals and challenges.

Learn more at www.QualiTestGroup.com.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.

Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.

The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation.





provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.

For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organization prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

According to market research "Global Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Battery Market Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast to 2022 - Industry Insights by Type (Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH), Lithium-Ion (LIB)), by Application (Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), Plugin Hybrid Electric vehicle (P-HEV), Electric Vehicle (EV)" by P&S Market Research, the global hybrid and electric vehicle battery market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.0% in terms of value during 2016-2022. Among the various applications, the electric vehicle segment accounted for largest share (46.5%) in the hybrid and electric vehicle battery market in terms of value in 2015.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150727/756778 )

Access Report Description with Detailed TOC at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/hybrid-and-electric-vehicle-battery-market

Electric vehicle require battery for their operation, while hybrid electric vehicle use conventional fuel along with an electric propulsion system. Hybrid electric vehicle accumulate energy, when the vehicle decelerates. The power stored in batteries of hybrid electric vehicle is used for forceful tasks, such as accelerating from standstill. Once the vehicle is in motion, the combustion engine later runs the vehicle's movement

Majority of European countries import hybrid and electric vehicle battery from China, Japan, and South Korea. Despite slower economic growth in Europe, countries such as Norway, France and Sweden are expected to witness growth in the hybrid and electric vehicle market during the forecast period. The increasing penetration of hybrid and electric vehicle is expected to drive the growth of the hybrid and electric vehicle battery market during the forecast period.

Explore Related Research at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/industry-report/semiconductor-and-electronics

China accounted for the largest market share of electric vehicle in 2015. With newly built smart cities and modern infrastructure, China is giving significant attention to the emission free public transit system. The government of China offers subsidies on the purchase of emission free vehicles that has assisted the growth of the electric vehicle market in the country. China is expected to lead the global hybrid and electric vehicle battery market during the forecast period. The average cost of lithium-ion battery is expected to decline significantly by the end of 2022.

Battery is a major factor in determining the cost and range of the battery driven hybrid and electric vehicle. Due to the high cost of the batteries, the overall cost of the vehicle is also high, and it acts as a hindrance for hybrid and electric vehicle battery market, but only the initial purchase cost is high, as the vehicle runs on electricity and the price of electricity to run an electric vehicle is a small fraction of the cost of liquid fuel needed to produce an equivalent amount of energy; therefore, the operating cost is cheaper. The range up to which an electric vehicle can run on a single charge is also determined by the battery's capability

The major players operating in the global hybrid and electric vehicle battery market include, Panasonic Corporation, Automotive Energy Supply Corporation, BYD Company Limited, Mitsubishi Corporation, LG Chem., Wanxiang EV Co. Ltd., Tianneng Power International Co. Ltd, Hitachi Vehicle Energy Ltd., Shenzhen Bak Battery Co. Ltd., and Zhejiang Tianneng Energy Technology Co. Ltd.

Browse Other Published Reports by P&S Market Research

Electric Bus Market - https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/electric-bus-market

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Market - https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/electric-vehicle-charging-station-market

Low Emission Vehicle Market - https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/low-emission-vehicle-market

About P&S Market Research

P&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.

As one of the top growing market research agency, we're keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.

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Assistant - Client Partner

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Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com

SOURCE P&S Market Research
DUBLIN, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Tantalum and Niobium (Columbium) Global Market Review 2015/2016" report to their offering.

The report presents a thorough study of tantalum and niobium (columbium), covering both global and regional markets.

It aims to give a proper picture of the market, its trends, perspectives and opportunities.

Comprehensive data showing tantalum and niobium (columbium) worldwide production, consumption, trade statistics and prices are provided.

Each country's market overview covers the following: tantalum and niobium (columbium) production in the country, major manufacturers, tantalum and niobium (columbium) consumption, tantalum and niobium (columbium) trade.

The report offers a 5-year outlook on the reviewed market, including tantalum and niobium (columbium) market volume predictions and prices trends.

Reasons to Buy

The report provides analysis of factors that affect the market.

Company's business and sales activities will be boosted by gaining an insight into the tantalum and niobium (columbium) market.

The report will help to find prospective partners and suppliers.

Detailed analysis provided in the report will assist and strengthen company's decision-making processes.

Key Topics Covered:

1. WORLD TANTALUM AND NIOBIUM (COLUMBIUM) INDUSTRY

1.1. General data about tantalum and niobium (columbium)

1.2. Tantalum and niobium (columbium) market trends

- Resources globally

- Production and consumption

- Demand structure

1.3. Tantalum and niobium (columbium) prices

2. TANTALUM AND NIOBIUM (COLUMBIUM) INDUSTRY IN ASIA PACIFIC

2.1. China

3. TANTALUM AND NIOBIUM (COLUMBIUM) INDUSTRY IN NORTH AMERICA

3.1. Canada

3.2. USA

4. TANTALUM AND NIOBIUM (COLUMBIUM) INDUSTRY IN LATIN AMERICA

4.1. Brazil

5. TANTALUM AND NIOBIUM (COLUMBIUM) INDUSTRY IN AFRICA

5.1. Burundi

5.2. Congo

5.3. Ethiopia

5.4. Mozambique

5.5. Nigeria

5.6. Rwanda

6. TANTALUM AND NIOBIUM (COLUMBIUM) INDUSTRY PROSPECTS TO 2020

6.1. Production forecast, projects

6.2. Demand future trends

6.3. Consuming industries

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/4z3dzc/tantalum_and

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

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SOURCE Research and Markets
BOSTON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Gordon Brothers Group, a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial and real estate sectors, announced that it has expanded its global footprint into Latin America with key leadership appointments and has formed a strategic partnership with Planconsult, a leading Brazilian appraisal business.

Under the leadership of Senior Managing Director of Gordon Brothers International, Rafael Klotz, Alfredo Finotti will serve as Executive Director and Marcos Brandt as Commercial Director of the firm's newly established Sao Paulo-based operations.

The firm's partnership with Planconsult will be led by Ronald and Edgar Salem. Planconsult provides appraisals and business valuations across a broad range of sectors and industries. The partnership will augment Gordon Brothers Group's valuation operations across North America, Europe and Asia and support the Brazil team's disposition and turnaround practices.

"I am thrilled to welcome the addition of Alfredo, Marcos, and the Planconsult group and the enhanced capabilities they bring to our firm," said Kenneth Frieze, Chief Executive Officer, Gordon Brothers Group. "Latin America is an important priority for us. I am confident that their experience will help strengthen our strategic growth in this promising market," he added.

"There is a tremendous opportunity in bringing Gordon Brothers' expertise and offerings to Latin America and I am excited by the firm's commitment to the region," stated Alfredo Finotti, Executive Director. "I look forward to joining such a well-established, international team and contributing to the firm's continued success."

"We are excited to work alongside the Gordon Brothers team and look forward to expanding our capabilities by leveraging their global appraisal and disposition expertise," said Ronald Salem, Executive Director of Planconsult.

Finotti brings close to 35 years of experience in marketing, retail and consumer products, managing the operations of several international brands, including Seagram, LVMH, BRASIF, Salton and Westinghouse. Brandt has over 25 years of experience with consumer products, including imports and distribution into all levels of Brazilian retail.

About Gordon Brothers Group

Founded in 1903, Gordon Brothers Group (www.gordonbrothers.com) is a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial and real estate sectors. Gordon Brothers Group maximizes value for both healthy and distressed companies by purchasing or selling all categories of assets, mitigating leases, appraising assets and operating businesses for extended periods. Gordon Brothers Group conducts over $70 billion worth of transactions and appraisals annually. As of November 2014, debt financing is provided by Gordon Brothers Finance Company (www.gbfinco.com).

About Planconsult

With over 40 years in the Brazilian market, Planconsult is the leading appraisal business in the country. Planconsult provides business valuations, asset appraisals, advisory and restructuring services across a range of sectors and industries. Recognized and accepted by legal regulators, tax and major financial institutions and private equity funds, Planconsult works in partnership with national and multinational companies searching for new methodologies and specific solutions to meet market demands.

Related Links

http://www.gordonbrothers.com



SOURCE Gordon Brothers Group
LONDON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Q_PERIOR is expanding to Great Britain. With the opening of its new office in London, the business and IT consulting firm is further reinforcing the international alignment of its operations.

By making this move to the British capital, the consulting firm is continuing to pursue its goal of expanding its cross-sector client base in English-speaking markets. Just as it does at its other locations in Europe and North America, Q_PERIOR will be providing both regular and new clients with a range of classical consulting services, as well as acting as an agency to provide clients with skilled freelancers. Having a base directly in the City of London will facilitate faster and more personal contact with clients.

Building a Bridge Between Europe and North America

With its expansion to London, the hub of international financial trading, the company is building a bridge between its European and North American businesses. "By setting up this additional location, we would like to strengthen our leading position in the consultancy market for financial service providers in Europe and live up to our own expectation of providing personal client support at a local level," explains Walter Kuhlmann, a partner at Q_PERIOR. "In addition, internationalisation is important for the future of Q_PERIOR. As well as working with new clients and new markets, we are making our business more attractive in the long term for current and prospective employees. We at Q_PERIOR are very excited about the opportunity."

About Q_PERIOR:

Q_PERIOR is an owner-managed business and IT consulting firm with locations in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, England, the USA, Canada, Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The company supports large corporations and large mid-sized companies with integrated specialized and IT competencies.

On top of specialized services at our target industries insurance, banking, travel, transport & logistics, industry and public sector, Q_PERIOR provides a cross-sector consultancy spectrum in the fields of Audit & Risk, Procurement, Business intelligence, Finance & Controlling, Customer Management, Project & Implementation Management, Strategic IT Management and Technology. Across all business areas Q_PERIOR successfully implements projects that make companies more competitive in times of digital transformation.

Press contact:

Q_PERIOR AG

http://www.q-perior.com/en.html

pressestelle@q-perior.com

Anna Wasser

Communication Manager

Phone: +49-89-45599-254

Mobile: +49-151-12043795

SOURCE Q_PERIOR Ltd.
Marken Operates in More African and Middle Eastern Countries than Any Other Provider

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, North Carolina, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Marken announced today that their fully certified supply chain partner network in Africa and the Middle East now provides the most comprehensive and experienced time and temperature solutions in the region.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110930/NY78064LOGO

Africa and the Middle East continue as emerging preferred locations for new clinical trials because patients previously had limited options to quality healthcare. This diverse population of patients is now able to more easily enroll in clinical trials which are targeted for diseases prevalent in the region.

There is a further logistics benefit to sourcing patients in Africa. European pharma companies and their supply chains are in closer geographic proximity to Africa than Latin America. US-based pharma companies and their supply chains can benefit by supplementing patients in Africa over Asia. This expanding pool of new patients has translated into almost 12,000 active clinical trials running in 72 African and Middle Eastern countries including Egypt, Israel, Uganda, Jordan,and Kenya. *

Marken has a long and extensive experience in Africa and the Middle East. As a leader in the transport of biologic samples in the region, Marken has expanded its regulatory and compliance expertise to offer new services including drug and ancillaries shipments using the latest packaging innovations, state of the art GPS tracking, lane verification and risk mitigation to avoid catastrophe in countries with a still-developing infrastructure.

Wes Wheeler, Marken's Chief Executive Officer, noted, "Marken's dedicated team of Customs and Trade Compliance experts understand the regulatory requirements for every Health Ministry across the entire African continent and the Middle East. Clients tell us that they need Marken as their strategic partner to ensure a consistent level of performance, offer a single point of contact and, most importantly, to provide time and temperature compliant deliveries with reliable service. Marken has already managed nearly 3,000 shipments into the region this year, a 25% increase over 2015. We will continue to expand our reach and capabilities as the region evolves."

Marken is conducting a survey with a short series of questions regarding expanded supply chain solutions in Africa and the Middle East. Participants may share thoughts and provide valuable insight and suggest new services. To participate, visit www.marken.com and click on the survey link.

About Marken

Marken is the only patient-centric supply chain organization 100% dedicated to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Marken maintains the leading position for Direct to Patient services and biological sample shipments, and offers a state of the art GMP-compliant depot network and logistic hubs in 43 locations worldwide. Marken's 630 staff members manage 50,000 drug and biological shipments every month at all temperature ranges in more than 150 countries. Additional services such as biological kit production, ancillary material sourcing, storage and distribution, shipment lane verification and qualifications, as well as GDP, regulatory and compliance consultancy add to Marken's unique position in the pharma and logistics industry.

*Source: clinicaltrials.gov

Related Links

http://www.marken.com



SOURCE Marken
Ten-fold increase in airstrikes closes last road into Aleppo City

GAZIANTEP, Turkey, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A ten-fold increase in airstrikes and corresponding clashes on the ground have made routes into Aleppo City effectively impassable, according to the global organization Mercy Corps. The organization urges the international community and the International Syria Support Group to recommit and expand the negotiated cessation of hostilities agreement. Central to this agreement are the necessary steps to ensure the safety of aid workers and civilians and allow unfettered and sustained humanitarian access to civilians in need.

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"What we're seeing is not by definition a siege, but we've been unable to bring new supplies into Aleppo city since mid-May," says Xavier Tissier, North Syria Director. "Over the past six weeks, Mercy Corps has seen life become even more dangerous for both aid workers and civilians. This is the worst we've seen so far in Aleppo."

Mercy Corps provides essential relief to approximately 570,000 people across Syria each month, including more than 75,000 people in Aleppo City alone.

"The roads are being hit on an hourly basis. To send our team members in trucks full of food and supplies would make them a target," says Tissier. "We have prepositioned stocks in Aleppo City, but they won't last forever."

To support and learn more about Mercy Corps' lifesaving work in Syria and elsewhere in the world, join us at mercycorps.org.

Related Links

http://www.mercycorps.org



SOURCE Mercy Corps
DUBLIN, June 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Data Centre Middle East 2016 to 2019" report to their offering.

The 3rd edition of the Data Centre Middle East report, which provides forecasts for Data Centre raised floor space and Data Centre Customer Power (DCCP) for the 3 year period from the end of 2016 to the end of 2019.

The Data Centre Middle East 2016 to 2019 report provides a unique survey of 85 Data Centre Providers with over 120 Data Centre facilities over ten countries (including Bahrain, Cyprus, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia & the UAE).

From the survey, the author calculates that the region almost 140,000 m2 of Data Centre raised floor space and 176 MW of DCCP as of the end of 2016.

But the rate of growth in the region has slowed with just over 7,400 m2 of new raised floor space added in total during 2015, with the Telecom Provider accounting for the majority of new Data Centre facilities launched over the past year  with the main growth taking place in Saudi Arabia. The report uses primary research and information from the unique Data Centre pricing database.

The largest markets in the Middle East include the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Additionally Iran has the potential to become one of the largest markets, with some 16 Data Centre facilities, and a need for new domestic IT infrastructure investment, with additional capacity for international communications also required.

For the six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries the third party Data Centre provider faces competition from the in-house Data Centre  with financial institutions, hospitals, universities & other Government institutions building their own Data Centre facilities in the region. As a result, migration to 3rd party hosting in the Gulf States is taking longer to achieve in the light of considerable overhang of under-used hosting space available and with IT users reluctant to migrate away from their own self-built facilities.

Overview:

- 85 Data Centre Provider with over 120 Data Centre Facilities

- Forecast raised floor space and DCCP 2016 to 2019

- A profile for each DC market, with brief profiles of key Data Centre providers and key trends in the Data Centre landscape in each country.

- Data Centre pricing for each country aggregated into an industry average

- Profiles of 10 largest Data Centre Providers

Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Data Centre Middle East Country Market Profiles

Chapter 3: Outlook for the Middle East Data Centre from 2016 to 2019

Chapter 4: Outlook for the Middle East Data Centre from 2016 to 2019

Chapter 5: Conclusions - Data Centre Middle East - 2016 to 2019

Companies Mentioned

- Equinix

- Etisalat

- Injazat

- Mobily

- Oman Data Park

- Ooredoo

- Pars National Data

- STC

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/nghx3m/data_centre

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
This time, the provocation was Balagopal's comment that "those from Uttar Pradesh would not be able to understand the ways of educational institutions in Kerala".
ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

10 September 2016 - 12 February 2017

Kunsthal Rotterdam presents major retrospective on Peter Lindbergh

Opening September 10th, the first exhibition in the Netherlands devoted to German photographer Peter Lindbergh, which is initiated, produced and toured by Kunsthal Rotterdam will feature more than 220 photographs. This spectacular overview of Lindbergh's extensive oeuvre will also present exclusive material varying from previously unseen material from personal notes, storyboards, props, polaroids, contact sheets and films to monumental prints, in a large-scale retrospective of the photographer's work. Lindbergh's pure black-and-white photographs have determined the course of fashion photography since the early 1980s.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379530 )



The exhibition 'A Different Vision on Fashion Photography' is an ode to Lindbergh's multi-faceted oeuvre from 1978 to the present day. Regarded as one of the most influential fashion photographers, the multimedia exhibition is presented in a thematic approach marking his creative development and focusing on his themes, imaginary world and passions through the years, into nine different sections: Supermodels, Couturiers, Zeitgeist, Dance, The Darkroom, The Unknown, Silver Screen, Icons and an exclusive Rotterdam gallery. The 'Rotterdam Gallery', photographed for the October Issue of Dutch Vogue, shows the results of Lindbergh's shooting with Dutch top model Lara Stone and emerging talent Elise Hupkes in the Port of Rotterdam. Film excerpts and interviews with collaborators, models and actors throw light on Lindbergh's oeuvre on the basis of their collaboration with the photographer.

Peter Lindbergh introduced a new realism into photograph with timeless images redefining the norms of beauty. Lindbergh's visual idiom is influenced by the language of film and by playing with the type of the strong, self-willed woman, from the femme fatale to the heroine, but also the female dancer and the actress. His oeuvre is characterised by portraits that radiate a certain lack of inhibition and physical grace.

Press preview Friday 9 September, 1 pm - Opening Saturday 10 September, 5:30 pm*

The press conference will be held on Friday 9 September in the presence of Kunsthal Director Emily Ansenk, Peter Lindbergh, curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot and the supermodels.

*Accreditation is mandatory as capacity is limited for both events. Please register via: communication@kunsthal.nl

Please visit http://www.kunsthal.nl/en/exhibitions/peter-lindbergh/ for the complete press release and available press images.

http://www.kunsthal.nl

Golden partner : Swarovski

SOURCE Kunsthal Rotterdam
LONDON, June 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Reincubate leading market in iOS and app data access

Reincubate updates its iCloud API and iPhone Backup Extractor products to support iOS 10 iCloud backups, one day after Apple's developer preview release of the new iOS.

Providing full iOS 10 iCloud backup support for both Windows and Mac OS X platforms, Reincubate's iPhone Backup Extractor reinforces its place in the market as the leading tool for recovery of data from iOS and watchOS devices: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Watch.

About the iPhone Backup Extractor

iPhone Backup Extractor is the only product to support recovering data from iOS 10 iCloud backups on Windows and Mac OS X platforms.

Aside from iOS 10 iCloud backup recovery, iPhone Backup Extractor provides powerful features such as:

iCloud backup support for two-factor authentication (2FA) and two-step authentication (2SV) protected accounts

Restriction passcode PIN recovery

Photo Stream photo recovery

Application data recovery like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Kik, Viber, WeChat, and more

Extraction of contact, call history, SMS / iMessage, and notes

Proprietary technology to recover deleted SMS text messages and notes

What Users Say about iPhone Backup Extractor

"As a forensic examiner, obtaining Digital Evidence in a reliable timely way is critical. The iPhone Backup Extractor has been the perfect addition to my arsenal of tools. It literally does a better job overall when compared to tools that cost $1,000s of dollars. A must for any professional looking to reliably identify download and view iCloud backups." -- Louis Cinquanto via TrustPilot

"Great product, stellar support and customer service. Retrieved thousands of photos from my backup and the support folks went the extra mile to check that I got what I needed." -- Sfbaytech via TrustPilot

"I've used this product for the last few years and it has bailed me out many times. I've been able to recover thousands of photos that would have been lost due to a dead phone. This app is worth every penny." -- Justin Rairden via CNET

About Reincubate's iCloud API

The Reincubate iCloud API makes the iCloud accessible to investigators, developers and integrators. The API includes functionality for extraction, manipulation and recovery of many types of iOS and app data.

It fully supports iOS 9.3 and iOS 10 iCloud backups, and backups created with A9 and A9X chipsets. It can provide real-time iCloud data for a number of data-types, and supports access to content which has been previously erased from the iCloud.

Reincubate's iCloud API provides a number of benefits:

Ease of integration. The API is easy for development teams at any level to work with, and they remove the need for any highly specialist knowledge of either iCloud / CloudKit storage, or of third-party apps.

Future proofing. Reincubate is committed to the maintaining support for contemporary and past iCloud and iOS data formats, and has a solid track record in this space.

Support & access to unrivalled expertise. Users of the feeds are able to take advantage of Reincubate's proprietary techniques in extraction and undeletion of app data.

Out of the box app support. Aside from the core iOS data-types the API has modules to support dozens of third-party apps.

Out of the box developer platform support. The API has Open Source client implementations available in a number of languages, including Python, .NET / C# and JavaScript.

Speed & scalability. The Reincubate iCloud API platform is built to scale.

Rich feed customisation options. The feed platform is readily customisable for partner deployments, with protobuf format feeds and aggregation of messaging app attachments.

Trust. Reincubate is trusted by security, LEA, and government users around the world.

What Users Say About Reincubate's iCloud API

"Reincubate have been super responsive to our needs, and as the market's "table stakes" features have expanded, Reincubate has responded by constantly improving and expanding their technology solutions to help us meet those increased customer demands. We are super pleased with our decision to partner with Reincubate!" -- Steve Woda, CEO, uKnowKids

About Reincubate

Reincubate is the app data company. The company's mission is to provide data access and recovery for all app platforms, be they mobile, desktop, web, IoT or in-vehicle. The company was founded in 2008 and was first to market with both iOS and iCloud data extraction technology. With over half a decade's experience helping law enforcement and security organisations access iOS data, Reincubate has licensed software to government, child protection and corporate clients around the world.

For more information on Reincubate please visit https://www.reincubate.com/about/

SOURCE Reincubate
BENGALURU, SINGAPORE and DUBAI, UAE, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Gartner 'Cool Vendor' Sanovi, the leading provider of Cloud Migration, Business Continuity, and IT Recovery software, announced that the company has signed up multiple global and regional partnerships for its Cloud Migration Manger software. Sanovi Cloud Migration Manager2.0 (CMM) is a leading edge enterprise software platform that enables managed service providers and enterprise customers to accelerate deployment of large-scale cloud transformation projects.

"Cloud Migration Manager has received very positive response from the ecosystem. Several global as well as 'born in the cloud' consulting partners have already signed up for Sanovi Cloud Migration Manager and we are in talks with several others," said Raji Iyengar, VP Global Alliances and Partners, Sanovi Technologies.

"It's exciting to note that with Sanovi CMM, we no longer need to wing it and fly into the cloud," said Varun Mathur, AVP & Head Hybrid IT Practice, Zensar Technologies. "With its structured lifecycle approach, Sanovi CMM provides the instruments for monitoring and managing the migration SLA and ROI metrics. It provides a complete cloud migration flight navigation plan for flying a modern enterprise application into public cloud. The speed of migration with the tool is a compelling case for business nod. We are happy to partner with Sanovi Technologies," he added.

"Sanovi's CMM's complete lifecycle approach, visibility and control of all phases of migration are a great advantage," said, Veeraj Thaploo, Chief Technology Officer, Blazeclan. "The software provides ability to migrate the entire application stack along with features like non-intrusive automated testing and optimization of cloud resources based on workload analysis. These features are truly beneficial. We have evaluated the product and are happy to partner with Sanovi Technologies," he added.

"Sanovi CMM helps in quickly identifying the optimal-sized infrastructure on AWS cloud, based on policy knobs, including cost and performance," said Seema Sinha, VP Operations, Crimson Cloud, a frontier company that signed up as a partner with Sanovi. "Some of the major benefits from the product include faster migration and huge savings in deployment and operational costs," she added.

About Sanovi:

Gartner 'Cool Vendor' Sanovi Technologies provides Cloud Migration, Business Continuity, and IT Recovery solutions using its innovative Application Defined Continuity (ADC) technology for workloads across physical, virtual and cloud infrastructures. Sanovi has over 350 customers, including fortune 500 companies, service providers and multi-billion dollar enterprises across vertical industries.

Media Contact:

Rohit Thakur

+91-9899294868

rohit.thakur@sanovi.com

Director marketing



SOURCE Sanovi Technologies
BASEL, Switzerland, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

2016 Swarovski Designers of the Future Award winners: Studio Brynjar & Veronika, Yuri Suzuki, Anjali Srinivasan  Mark Cocksedge

Swarovski and Design Miami/ unveil three installations created by the winners of the Swarovski Designers of the Future Award at the 11th edition of Design Miami/ Basel held June 14-19, 2016.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379665 )



2016 Swarovski Designers of the Future Award winners: Studio Brynjar & Veronika, Yuri Suzuki, Anjali Srinivasan  Mark Cocksedge

This global forum for design offers a progressive platform for innovative design commissions. The three recipients of the 2016 award - Anjali Srinivasan, Studio Brynjar & Veronika and Yuri Suzuki - were asked to consider and interpret 'betterment' as part of the creative process, in response to the current need for designers to address the quality of interaction between people and the designed world around them.

Anjali Srinivasan's installation for Swarovski, Unda, is inspired by the beauty and impact of the human gesture. The rolling wave surface, made up of glass elements developed by Anjali and Swarovski Touch Crystal with new touch-sensitive technology, responds to human touch with glowing illumination.

Currents, developed by Studio Brynjar & Veronika, is an installation that creates unexpected moments of beauty using natural light in conversation with crystal. Each of the three elements presented investigates the different qualities of the material to bring a sense of the natural world into the domestic space, making the home a place of constant change, surprise and delight.

London-based Japanese sound artist Yuri Suzuki explores crystal as an acoustic material with Sharevari, a mechanical, interactive crystallophone. The instrument consists of 16 brass mechanical structures or 'notes', each one featuring a handmade crystal form, ranging 95-250mm in diameter and representing tones from c1 up to d3. When brass hammers hit the crystal, the vibrations are translated into beautiful, pure sound.

This diverse group of practitioners has responded with thought-provoking and considered commissions that express the creativity and experimentation at the heart of this award, which is being supported by Swarovski for the second time as part of a three year partnership with Design Miami/.

The 2016 Swarovski Designers of the Future Award winners were selected by a jury of leading figures in the design world, including Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board; Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum in London; Zoe Ryan, Curator of Architecture and Design at the Art Institute Chicago; Li Edelkoort, trend forecaster and Director of Parsons Interdisciplinary Design Program; Asif Khan, Architect; and Alexandra Cunningham Cameron, Special Projects, Design Miami/.

The Swarovski Designers of the Future commissions will be exhibited alongside Design Miami's gallery program for the duration of the fair, which runs June 14-19 in Hall 1 Sud, Messeplatz, Basel, Switzerland.

For further images please find in the dropbox link here. All imagery to be credited to Mark Cocksedge.

SOURCE Swarovski and Design Miami/
The change of event dates takes place in combination with a change of exhibit hall to accommodate the increasing demand for exhibit space.

With this newly booked and larger hall, all exhibits will be accommodated in the same hall, on the same level.

Therefore, please note the change in dates and hall:

Fieramilanocity, Hall 3 | 10-12 April 2017

The flagship event Tissue World, which started in Nice in 1993, is the only show exclusively dedicated to the tissue business. For the first time, Tissue World will be held in Milan, Italy and this move received a strong support from the entire industry.

For more details on Tissue World Milan, please visit www.tissueworld.com/milan/ or email info@tissueworld.com.

About Tissue World

Tissue World is the leading global event series serving the tissue industry worldwide since 1993. With events in Istanbul, Milan, Miami and Sao Paulo, it offers an integrated and intertwined platform consisting of exhibitions, conferences and a magazine providing an unmatched offline and online meeting place to do business, exchange ideas and learn, all year round.

Contact:

Agnes Gehot

+65 6592 0888 ext 886

agnes.gehot@ubm.com

Related Links

http://www.tissueworld.com



SOURCE Tissue World - UBM
SANTA CLARA, California, DUBAI, UAE, and BANGALORE, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Trianz, a global consulting and technology services company, and a member of the AWS Partner Network (APN), announced today that it has achieved Amazon Web Services (AWS) Managed Service Provider (MSP) partner status following successful completion of rigorous third-party validation audit. This endorsement from AWS validates Trianz's knowledge and skills, business practices, and comprehensive management lifecycle capabilities that aligns with AWS standards.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/809578 )



Trianz, one of the early AWS consulting partners in India, helps clients effectively deploy and manage AWS Cloud services and achieve the desired business impact. More than 60 clients have partnered with Trianz and benefited from the cloud paradigm. Membership in the AWS Managed Services Partner program is well-earned through a rigorous, third-party audit and fulfillment of all the stipulated criteria which covers how partners should plan, build, integrate, operate, optimize, and provide security on AWS.

Vivek Gupta, Worldwide VP at Trianz, said, "We are rapidly expanding our Cloud and AWS eco-system, and are delivering best-in-class services to our clients. We are thrilled to achieve the MSP partner status - this will complement our Cloud vision and strategy."

Trianz, an Advanced Consulting Partner for in the APN, was conferred the Customer Obsession Award by AWS last year, which recognizes partners who are focused on the customer, nimbly changing to address their most pressing needs.

Dr. AL Rao, Head of Cloud & Infrastructure Services at Trianz, expressed, "Achieving AWS Managed Service Provider partner status brings increased credibility to our relationship, and reiterates our commitment to the client experience, by rigorously following the defined processes. With a mission to enable our clients to create and execute operational strategies, to leverage Cloud technologies, we have also launched a flagship program 'On the Cloud in 60 Days' - where we work with business and technology leaders in their journey to Cloud and embrace the technology to achieve speed, agility, elasticity and cost efficiency."

About Trianz

Trianz is a dynamic and fast growing firm that helps leaders in client organizations formulate and execute operational strategies to achieve business results from a senior management perspective. Leveraging the cloud, digital, analytics and security paradigms, Trianz brings the best of consulting and technology experiences, execution models and IP to deliver consistent success to clients. With offices in Silicon Valley, Washington DC Metro, New York, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and the UAE, Trianz serves a wide range of clients from Fortune 1000 to emerging companies in high tech, insurance, financial services, retail, life sciences, public sector and logistics industries. Over the past decade, Trianz has developed a reputation for excellence in execution, enabling global organizations to achieve results envisioned by their senior management. Trianz measures success completely in client terms - the impact created through business execution.

Contact:

Prashant Bhavaraju

Director, Marketing

+1-408-387-5800

reach@trianz.com



www.trianz.com

SOURCE Trianz
ISTANBUL, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Hi-tech Media Startups Want to Change the way Newsgathering is Done

Terrorism, conflict and a constitutional crisis may have taken Turkey off the map for many travellers this summer, but Istanbul-based media tech startups are beating the odds and channelling the country's relentless flow of news to create what analysts believe may be the Middle East's latest tech bubble.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/809611 )



One of Turkey's latest startup success stories TVHI Media Lab this week announced the launch of its NewsKit Horizon system for photojournalists and video news teams. The latest offering joins their wider TVHI NewsKit journalism platform that has seen growing adoption by newsrooms covering breaking incidents since 2015.

New Horizon system connects smartphones and digital cameras wirelessly to the newsroom

TVHI founder Alp Toker explains, "Good reporting, fact checking and a free press are the cornerstones of democracy. NewsKit has proven over the last year that technology isn't the threat to journalism some make it out to be - newsrooms willing to embrace social media and mobile video through our platform are achieving higher engagement rates than ever."

"We've found a way to help media organisations master social media networks Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, letting them become more resilient in a media industry faced with unique challenges and opportunities."

Toker sees new possibilities that go beyond traditional publishing: "Right now, people are coming to us from other industries saying they share the same needs - we have inquiries from the public sector, NGOs, emergency services, even weddings and a rock band - and we're working to meet those demands. That said, our driving goal is to support free and independent media outlets."

NewsKit: Innovation driven by R&D

Startup commentator Alev Erkan believes that products like TVHI NewsKit are succeeding where others have failed because of a newfound willingness to invest in research and development:

"We're seeing a degree of sophistication with offerings like TVHI's NewsKit end-to-end journalism SaaS that was rare in Turkey up until recently. What we're looking at here is a world-class team building new hardware as well as software as part of their IP portfolio; they're testing new ideas, talking and engaging with subscribers - news agencies and reporters - to deliver innovative platforms that are in demand because they solve real problems."

About TVHI:

TVHI, a Turkish startup and social enterprise founded in September 2014 and Headquartered in Taksim, Istanbul, also participates in activities supporting writers' freedom of expression, equality and human rights.

Contact

https://newskit.org

info@newskit.org



SOURCE TVHI
'Behind the scenes, the lighting for warehouses and distribution centres has undergone a quiet revolution,' says organiser Ray Molony. 'With LEDs and smart controls, energy can be cut by up to 80 per cent and lighting can work in harmony with people to improve the wellbeing, concentration and decision making of staff and reduce mistakes and accidents.'

Expert speakers will look at the latest developments in technology and explain how to design and specify a world-class lighting installation. Other sessions will include lighting for shift working, how to achieve top energy ratings and how to de-risk a lighting purchase by writing your own warranty.

Lighting for Logistics and Warehouses takes place on Friday 30 September, with pre-event activities on Thursday 29 September, at the W Hotel, Amsterdam. Entry is free to facility managers, engineers and executives in the logistics, distribution, e-commerce and retail sector.

More details are available at www.lightingforlogisticsconference.com.

NOTE FOR EDITORS: The Lighting for Logistics and Warehouses conference is organised by Revo Media and PennWell Corporation, the leading event organisers in the lighting sector.

Media contact: Ray Molony, Revo Media Partners ray.molony@luxreview.com

SOURCE PennWell Corporation; Revo Media
MONS, Belgium, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Meet authentic Norwegian children's voices created by Acapela Group, made by and for children.

Acapela Group, the voice solutions expert, today introduces Emilie and Elias, two new natural-sounding children's voices that will meet the needs of Norwegian children looking for a voice that reflects their age.

Meet them all! Unique Portfolio: 18 voices already available.

Acapela Group is the only voice specialist worldwide to offer users such a rich repertoire of children's voices which are truly lifelike.

Emilie and Elias are joining the cheerful family of Acapela genuine children's voices that already give the say to young users around the world - English (British, American, Australian), French, German, Swedish and bilingual American English/Spanish North American are already available. All Acapela children's voices are recorded by and for children. The Norwegian voices represent a new milestone for young Norwegian users, especially for those who rely on AAC.

The Norwegian children's voices have been developed with the Swedish-based company Tobii Dynavox, leader in touch and eye tracking based AAC devices and AssistiveWare, leader in AAC apps for iOS. Tobii Dynavox has brought in its knowledge and expertise of the Scandinavian market and strongly contributed to the quality achievement of Emilie and Elias voices. AssistiveWare has been our historical partner since the inception and creation of the genuine children's since they were introduced as a world first.



Hear voices samples here:

Emilie

https://soundcloud.com/acapelagroup/norwegian-emilie-child-genuine

Elias

https://soundcloud.com/acapelagroup/norwegian-elias-child-genuine-voice

Test the children voices with your own words on the interactive demo: http://www.acapela-group.com/voices/authentic-children-voices/

"We are very proud of our children's voices that enable kids around the world to finally express their thoughts, needs and desire with a voice they like and find comfortable. We are delighted to be able to provide Norwegian kids with voices that may change their daily lives. We will continue to add new children's voices to our portfolio and so help change the way kids with disabilities can benefit from voice technologies.' said Lars-Erik Larsson, CEO of Acapela Group.

More about Acapela Group http://www.acapela-group.com

More About Tobii Dynavox http://www.tobiidynavox.com

More About AssistiveWare http://www.assistiveware.com

SOURCE Acapela Group
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SugarCon 2016 -- Aavaz, a Los Angeles based provider of integrated voice management solutions, today announced the release of SugarOnTop, its new PBX application designed to integrate with SugarCRM. It offers a plug and play solution for businesses to truly track and make every call count towards business goals. The appliance complements Aavaz' call center focused hybrid cloud and premise-based dialing solutions for telesales, telemarketing and tele-support, and makes professional call management accessible to the SMB sector. SugarOnTop was launched at SugarCRM's annual SugarCon event, which is being held in San Francisco from June 14  16, 2016.

Reflective of its "out-of-the-box" integration with Sugar, the Aavaz SugarOnTop appliance enables small and medium businesses to make calls like professional call centers for both outbound telesales/marketing and inbound sales/support organizations.

According to Aavaz US-based General Manager and co-founder Keith Mintzer, "Our suite of voice solutions is designed to increase agent efficiency through ease of use and intelligent tracking and follow up. Aavaz can increase outbound telesales performance for our clients by as much as 50%. It enables callers  both onsite as well as virtual - to be trained and become fully operational in less than 30 minutes. All that is needed is internet connectivity and a soft phone to be operational."

"The Aavaz SugarOnTop appliance is intuitive and user-friendly, which makes it an ideal fit for organizations that want to track all customer voice touch points in a seamless manner," Mark Weitzel, Senior Director of Worldwide Alliances for SugarCRM. "SugarOnTop will be a great addition to our solution providers' arsenal to provide their clientele with industry-leading solutions built on the SugarCRM platform."

The Aavaz SugarOnTop Appliance will be available for shipment in July 2016. The Cloud-based version of Aavaz  which also integrates with Sugar  is available immediately.

About Aavaz:

Aavaz (which means Voice or Song in Indian, Arabic and Persian languages) is a U.S. based division of Tekege Solutions, offering a Cloud Call Center Product Suite featuring enhanced Dialer, IVR and PBX integrated with the business end CRM, Contact, Lead and Ticket management functions.

Aavaz brings call center precision to the forefront and call center set up and operational costs to the minimum. With 99% up time, detailed reporting, out-of-the-box functionality, scalability and intelligent user experience specifically catered to the call center world, Aavaz is the ideal solution for a wide range of call center, telesales, tele-support and telemarketing organizations.

- See more at: http://www.aavaz.biz/presskit/

Media Contact:

Keith Mintzer, General Manager, North America

609-923-1020

[email protected]

SOURCE Aavaz

Related Links

http://www.aavaz.biz


WASHINGTON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following Congressional progress toward providing additional resources for patients with serious mental illness, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) today applauded passage of H.R. 2646 "Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015" by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. Dr. Jay Kaplan, president of ACEP, thanked Reps. Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), the sponsors of the legislation, and Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and ranking member Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ).

"This legislation is a critical step to helping the millions of people who come to emergency departments with psychiatric emergencies because of the severe shortages of mental health resources in the United States," said Dr. Kaplan. "The nation desperately needs to establish policies and programs for individuals with serious mental illness, as well as provide sufficient resources. The nation's emergency physicians will continue to work with Congress to enact this vital legislation."

The legislation will help expand the mental health workforce and promote efforts to implement mental health parity in health plans. In addition, it also will create an Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders and a National Mental Health Policy Lab and promote the use of telemedicine services.

Nearly 5.5 million people with psychiatric emergencies come to emergency rooms each year, accounting for about 4 percent of all visits, according to the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

ACEP is the national medical specialty society representing emergency medicine. ACEP is committed to advancing emergency care through continuing education, research and public education. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, ACEP has 53 chapters representing each state, as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A Government Services Chapter represents emergency physicians employed by military branches and other government agencies.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100616/DC22034LOGO-d

SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)

Related Links

http://www.acep.org


LORRACH, Germany and SAINT LOUIS, France, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Allecra Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel antibiotics to combat drug-resistant bacterial infections, announced today the closing of its 22 Million Series B investment round. The round was led by new investor, Delos Capital. Existing investors Forbion Capital Partners, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, EMBL Ventures and Allecra's co-Founder Nicholas Benedict also participated.

The proceeds will fund Phase 2 development of AAI202, Allecra's proprietary, novel antibiotic combination designed to treat drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. AAI202 is a combination of a powerful -lactam antibiotic together with a proprietary, novel Extended Spectrum -Lactamase Inhibitor. The combination is designed for use as broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy to treat hospitalized patients who contract infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria proven or suspected to express certain resistance mechanisms, particularly extended-spectrum -lactamases (ESBLs).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] have estimated[1] that in the USA alone at least 2 million people each year acquire serious infections due to drug-resistant bacteria.

"FDA has granted QIDP status [Qualified Infectious Disease Product] for AAI202, including eligibility for Fast-Track designation in the USA" commented Nicholas Benedict, Allecra's CEO.

"QIDP facilitates getting a potentially life-saving new antibiotic to patients in the USA. The FDA is not alone in recognizing that Gram-negative antibiotic resistance is a growing and a widespread epidemic, somewhat analogous to the situation with MRSA [methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus] during the last decade."

Holger Reithinger of Forbion Capital Partners and Allecra's Chairman, added, "This Series B investment into Allecra enables pursuit of the development program of AAI202, speeding the potential availability of AAI202 to patients who need it. Forbion is confident that Allecra can build on the already positive results for AAI202 and has invested in excess of our pro-rata share by deploying capital from both our main fund and now also from our latest co-invest fund."

Henry Chen, Managing Partner of Delos Capital commented, "Delos finds Allecra's highly focused approach to combatting drug-resistant Gram-negative infections compelling. The company is working on one of the most important public health issues of our time and brings a deeply experienced team to address the problem. We are confident that Allecra can make a significant contribution to the fight against drug-resistant infections."

About Allecra Therapeutics

Allecra is a biopharmaceutical company established in 2013 in the European BioValley Life Sciences cluster located in the Upper Rhine valley encompassing northwest Switzerland, southwest Germany and the Alsace Region of France. Allecra is focused on the development of novel treatments to combat multi drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. Allecra's mission is to contribute towards the global effort to combat antibiotic resistance by developing new treatments which overcome emerging resistance mechanisms, thereby saving lives of patients whose infections may otherwise be inadequately treated. Allecra's wholly-owned French subsidiary is a beneficiary of financial support from the French public bank Bpifrance and from the Region Alsace. For more information on Allecra please visit http://www.allecra.com or email [email protected].

About Forbion Capital Partners

Forbion Capital Partners is a dedicated life sciences venture capital firm with offices in The Netherlands and Germany. Forbion invests in life sciences companies in the pharmaceutical, as well as the medical device space. Forbion's investment team has built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with successful investments in multiple companies. With the new FCFIII fund, Forbion manages well over 700 Million across six funds, including the new fund FCF III. Its investors include the EIF through its European Recovery Programme (ERP), LfA and Dutch Venture Initiative (DVI) facilities and the KFW through the ERP - Venture Capital Fondsfinanzierung facility. Forbion also operates a joint venture with BioGeneration Ventures, who manages two separate seed and early stage funds focused on Benelux. For further information please visit http://www.forbion.com.

About Delos Capital

Delos Capital is a healthcare-focused fund that invests in growth platforms in Greater China and innovation in the US in the areas of therapeutics and medical technology. Delos Capital seeks to achieve returns through supporting these companies in their development and also helping to create additional value from collaboration between these companies. Founded in 2014, Delos Capital operates from its main office in Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.delos.capital.

About Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners

Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners is a leading investor in minority investments into privately-owned companies. Affiliate of the Edmond de Rothschild Group, the fund management employs 41 employees and has approximately 1.3 Billion under management. Its Life Sciences team of nine professionals brings together over 60 years of experience in the Life Science industry and more than 100 years of private equity and venture capital experience. The team has raised more than 450 Million through its Biodiscovery franchise and is currently completing the investment of BioDiscovery 4 fund. Since their inception, BioDiscovery Funds have invested in 54 privately-held companies, of which 14 have been sold and 16 listed on public financial markets, while 23 are active in the portfolios. For more information, please visit http://www.edmond-de-rothschild.com.

About EMBL Ventures

EMBL Ventures, based in Heidelberg, invests throughout Europe in life science companies with the aim to create significant commercial opportunities based on new therapeutic treatment modalities, next generation enabling technology platforms or innovations in the diagnostics and device area. EMBL Ventures manages more than 120 Million on behalf of major European institutional and private investors and typically invests 3 to 5 Million as lead or co-lead investor. For more information, please visit http://www.embl-ventures.com.

--------------------------------------------------

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013

SOURCE Allecra Therapeutics
TROY, Mich. and TAUFKIRCHEN, Germany, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Altair and APWorks have recently entered a non exclusive partnership for additive manufacturing (AM) with two key areas of collaboration. Bringing the considerable benefits of geometrical freedom, lightweight, functionally integrated and customized designs of AM to their customers from various industries. Additionally they will provide them with consulting, advanced design and simulation technology as well as production processes.

A key area of collaboration is going to be joint, end-to-end consulting by Altair and APWorks to help companies explore the potential of additive manufacturing for their own applications through pilot projects and technology demonstrators. The offering will include screening and identification of applications, the redesign of components, quantification of potential levels of product performance improvements, printing and physical testing of prototypes up to serial production, and cost analysis and business case preparation. In a second phase, the offering will also include knowledge transfer to the customer and the adoption of additive manufacturing within their organization. Another area of collaboration will be the advance of Altair's Software through APWorks' expertise aiming for an end-to-end simulation driven design process for printed metal parts. This will provide engineers with a seamless working environment going from design to validation in a very short time and with an intuitive user experience.

"I am very happy about this agreement," said Dr. Pietro Cervellera, Managing Director, Altair Engineering GmbH. "At Altair we have always believed that the place for simulation and optimization is right at the concept phase of the development process. A simulation driven design process can help designers and engineers generate better design ideas faster and inject innovation into products. APWorks has fully embraced this philosophy as demonstrated by the "Light Rider". The bionic frame of this new motorbike APWorks developed has been inspired by nature, generated with OptiStruct's topology optimization technology and then printed."

"This partnership will help us to support our customers even better," said Joachim Zettler, Managing Director Airbus APWorks GmbH. "Our know-how in additive manufacturing and Altair's expertise in Simulation Driven Design are a perfect combination to help customers truly benefit from the advantages of additive manufacturing. In our "Light Rider" project topology optimization and the advances in additive layer manufacturing have allowed us to realize the bionic design we had in mind for the motorcycle, without having to make any major changes. This led to the revolutionary and lightweight design we envisioned for this project."

"Topology optimization combined with additive manufacturing will bring about a large range of new products that will be lightweight, efficient, appealing, and sustainable," said Dr. Robert Yancey, Vice President of Additive Manufacturing for Altair. "We are very pleased to partner with an innovative organization like APWorks that is aggressively developing and producing these new products of the future with additive manufacturing."

"Combining design expertise with production knowledge will greatly expand the possibilities for our customers. We are looking forward to various applications and business cases in the future," said Joachim Zettler, managing director of APWorks.

To learn more about the "Light Rider" please visit: www.lightrider.apworks.de or register here for Converge 2016 in September in Essen, Germany, where Daniel Schneider, APWorks, will talk about the project in the conference's main session and the "Design for additive Manufacturing" Masterclass.

About ALTAIR

Altair is focused on the development and broad application of simulation technology to synthesize and optimize designs, processes and decisions for improved business performance. Privately held with more than 2,600 employees, Altair is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, USA and operates more than 45 offices throughout 22 countries. Today, Altair serves more than 5,000 corporate clients across broad industry segments. To learn more, please visit www.altair.com.

About APWorks

As a 100 % subsidiary of the Airbus Group, AP Works is familiar with modern production processes, and makes proven aerospace technologies accessible in many different industries. In metallic 3D printing or additive manufacturing the company covers the entire value chain, from optimized component design to the choice of suitable materials, from prototyping to qualified serial production. Its customers in robotics, mechanical engineering, automotive industry, medical technology and aerospace benefit from all the advantages that additive manufacture has to offer  the shortest possible production times, lower weight and lower material consumption. 3D printing also allows much more complex geometries than were previously possible. For more information please visit: apworks.de.

Media Contacts Altair:

Altair Europe, the Middle East and Africa

Evelyn Gebhardt

+49 6421 9684351

[email protected]

Corporate / Americas

Biba A. Bedi

+1.757.224.0548 x 406

[email protected]

Media Contact APWorks:

Angela Grunewald

+49 (0) 89 607 29149

[email protected]

SOURCE Altair

Related Links

http://www.altair.com


Common shares commenced trading on OTCQB under the ticker "LIACF"





Closes acquisition of Colorado and San Emidio lithium brine properties, prepares to commence Phase 2 explorations programs in Fish Lake Valley and San Emidio basins

VANCOUVER, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - American Lithium Corp. (TSXV: Li) (OTCQB: LIACF) (Frankfurt: 5LA) ("American Lithium" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that the Company's common shares have been accepted for trading on the OTCQB Venture Market in the United States, under the ticker "LIACF", effective immediately. American Lithium's common shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "LI".

In addition, American Lithium confirms that it has completed the acquisition of 1067323 B.C. Ltd. ("1067323"), a private British Columbia company which holds the rights to acquire a series of 193 placer and 44 lode claims, over 4,870 acres (1971 hectares) in Fish Lake Valley, Esmeralda County, Nevada (the "Colorado Property"). Additionally, 1067323 holds the rights to acquire the San Emidio property ("San Emidio Property"), representing a series of twenty-eight (28) placer claims, over 2,240 acres (907 hectares) in Washoe County, Nevada. For further information concerning the Colorado Property, and the San Emidio Property, and 1067323's obligations in respect of those properties, readers are encouraged to review the Company's news release dated May 24, 2016.

Mr. Michael Kobler, CEO of American Lithium, commented, "We are very pleased that American Lithium's common shares have successfully commenced trading on the OTCQB which gives the Company access to a deeper capital pool, including knowledgeable investors who understand the value and future potential of our 20,790 acre Nevada lithium brine portfolio". Mr. Kobler continued, "The closing of the acquisition of the Colorado and San Emidio properties is a turning point for the Company as we prepare to begin Phase 2 explorations programs in both the Fish Lake Valley and San Emidio lithium brine basins during the second half of 2016, while continuing to pursue opportunities to expand American Lithium's portfolio through additional acquisitions."

Colorado & San Emidio Properties

With the closing of the acquisition of 1067323, American Lithium now holds the rights to the Colorado Property, and the San Emidio Property. The San Emidio Property is subject to a two-and-one-half (2.5%) percent net smelter returns royalty, and the Colorado Property is subject to a one (1.0%) percent royalty. In consideration for all the outstanding share capital of 1067323, the Company has issued 6,000,000 common shares and has assumed 1067323's obligations in respect of the Colorado and San Emidio properties. The Company has also issued 400,000 common shares to satisfy obligations of 1067323 related to the Colorado Property, and 100,000 common shares to satisfy obligations of 1067323 related to the San Emidio Property.

All securities issued in connection with the acquisition of 1067323, the San Emidio and Colorado properties, are subject to a four-month-and-one-day statutory hold period.

ABOUT American Lithium Corp.

American Lithium Corp. is actively engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of lithium deposits within mining-friendly jurisdictions throughout the Americas. American Lithium holds options to acquire Nevada lithium brine claims totaling 20,790 acres (8,413 hectares), including 18,552 acres (7,508 hectares) in Fish Lake Valley, Esmeralda County, and the 2,240 acre (907 hectare) San Emidio Project in Washoe County. The Company's Fish Lake Valley lithium brine properties are located approximately 38 kilometers from Albemarle's Silver Peak, the largest lithium operation in the U.S., approximately 3.5 hours from the Tesla Gigafactory. American Lithium is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "Li". For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.americanlithiumcorp.com.

On behalf of the Board,

American Lithium Corp.

Michael Kobler, Chief Executive Officer

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE American Lithium Corp

Related Links

www.americanlithiumcorp.com


TAMPA, Fla., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- American Riding Tours, Inc. (OTC Pink: AMRD - News) (the "Company), today announced changes to its executive management team with the appointment of Kevin Gillespie as the Company's President, Chief Executive Officer, a member of the board of directors (the "Board") and the Chairman of the Board. Edward Zimmerman has resigned as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Mr. Zimmerman remains as a member of the Board and has agreed to serve as the Company's Chief Financial Officer on a going-forward basis.

"I am very pleased to take an active role in American Riding Tours as we seek to find future growth opportunities for the Company," said Mr. Gillespie. "Our focus will be on growing the Company through strategic acquisitions."

Mr. Gillespie has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of First Harvest Financial, Inc. ("FHF"), a financial consulting company, since its incorporation in November 2014. FHF beneficially owns a majority of the Company's issued and outstanding common stock. Mr. Gillespie is currently a Member and Managing Director of Midtown Partners & Co, LLC, a registered broker-dealer, the President and Chief Executive Officer of FH Acquisition Corp., the President and Chief Executive Officer of Watchtower Masterpieces, Inc., the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cannavoices, Inc. and the President and Chief Executive Officer of FHF Opportunity Fund I, LLC.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Because such statements involve risks and uncertainties, the actual results and performance of the Company may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements include: inaccurate data or assumptions; unforeseen expenses; changes in estimates or judgments related to tax liabilities; potential goodwill impairments; potential litigation, bad debts or other contingencies; and facts or circumstances affecting the application of the Company's critical accounting policies, including revenue recognition. These forward looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in condition, significance, value and effect as well as other risks detailed in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that we may file from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Unless otherwise required by law, the Company also disclaims any obligation to update its view of any such risks or uncertainties or to announce publicly the result of any revisions to the forward-looking statements made here. Readers should review carefully reports or documents the Company files periodically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information on this announcement please contact media relations liaison of iBoss Advertising, Dana Blickensderfer, at 813-775-7107 or via email at [email protected]

SOURCE American Riding Tours, Inc.
DALLAS, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T selected 18 non-profits to share in $10 million through the Aspire Connect to Success Competition.

Hundreds of organizations applied. It was a rigorous and competitive process. The awardees support and motivate underserved students to stay in school and prepare for their next step in life.

AT&T funds the competition through AT&T Aspire, our signature philanthropic initiative to help students thrive in school and beyond.

Today, about 1-in-5 students don't graduate high school on time. There are persistent gaps for students of color, students with disabilities, English-language learners and low-income students.1

"A high school diploma is a ticket to future success for students and our country," said Nicole Anderson, assistant vice president, AT&T Social Innovation and Philanthropy. "We work with the best-of-the-best organizations, ones that use proven interventions to support students throughout high school."

We chose the 18 non-profits that will serve students in 14 states and Washington D.C. They have demonstrated their effectiveness in helping students graduate ready for college or career. They each use evidence-based approaches and can prove they make an impact for their students.

"We measure the non-profits' impact. We know they're moving the needle on high school graduation rates," said Anderson.

Aspire Connect to Success funding recipients deliver a range of programs. Their focus includes integrated student supports, college or career preparation, and mentoring or peer-to-peer relationships.

For example, the YMCA of Greater New York will receive $250,000 to expand Y Scholars. The college access and success initiative provides services to underserved students in New York City.

Another awardee, Family Connection-Communities In Schools of Athens, Georgia will receive $1 million to place site coordinators in 3 high-poverty high schools. The coordinators will provide targeted and school wide interventions to increase graduation rates and improve student achievement.

Previous AT&T Aspire competitive funding recipients are making a difference.

While the results continue to grow, data from 2014 awardees show positive outcomes. Aspire students had higher attendance in grades 9-12. And they were more likely to graduate in grades 10-12, than their peers.

During graduation season, we encourage people to share advice for this year's graduates. We celebrate learners from all stages of life  from preschool, high school, college, an online training program or a professional certification.

Join hundreds of others by sharing advice on social media. Post on your Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook using #GradAdvice.

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T

AT&T (NYSE: T) is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. AT&T Aspire is AT&T's signature philanthropic initiative that drives innovation in education by bringing diverse resources to bear on the issue including funding, technology, employee volunteerism, and mentoring. Through Aspire, we've passed the $250 million mark on our plan to invest $350 million in education from 2008-2017.

 2016 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property.

1 2016 Building a Grad Nation Report

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SOURCE AT&T Inc.

Related Links

http://www.att.com


BOSTON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A national scientific conference, "Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Illnesses: Diagnostics, Emerging Pathogens and Avenues for New Research," was convened at Massachusetts General Hospital to educate and inspire collaboration toward a greater understanding of tick-borne diseases and how research should be focused. This conference, which was attended by academia, industry, and government, was supported by Bay Area Lyme Foundation. Lyme disease infects more than 329,000 people each year in the U.S., and there is currently no sufficiently reliable Lyme diagnostic test and there is no universally effective treatment.

"Our hope is that the collaborations ignited at this program will propel us forward toward making Lyme disease easy to diagnose and simple to cure," said conference co-director Kent Lewandrowski, MD, pathologist, Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of pathology, Harvard Medical School.

The two-day program opened with course director Elizabeth Lewandrowski, PhD, MPH, Research Faculty at Massachusetts General Hospital relating her own story of having had neuro-Lyme disease. Her personal struggle set the stage for the conference speakers emphasizing that Lyme disease can be complex and may cause significant morbidity in some patients.

Adriana Marques, MD of the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, indicated specific areas that need more research funding, including diagnostics for Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections, new techniques for discovering unknown tick-borne diseases, clinical studies, data management and specimen repository.

"Collaboration is critical to our efforts to efficiently use current funding to develop sensitive diagnostics and reliable therapeutics," said Wendy Adams, Bay Area Lyme Foundation, who also presented at the conference. "The more we can encourage collaboration among researchers, the more quickly we can succeed in identifying ways to best diagnose and treat tick-borne diseases."

The conference highlighted recent research advances and underscored the need for funding for Lyme disease. The topics addressed at the meeting included:

Challenges of diagnostics at different stages  William Robinson , MD, PhD, Stanford University and Bay Area Lyme Foundation scientific advisor outlined the need for effective diagnostic tools for every stage of the disease, while John Branda , MD, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, and recipient of the Emerging Leader Award grant from Bay Area Lyme Foundation, shared data regarding the inconsistent reliability of current tests.

 , MD, PhD, and Bay Area Lyme Foundation scientific advisor outlined the need for effective diagnostic tools for every stage of the disease, while , MD, and General Hospital, and recipient of the Emerging Leader Award grant from Bay Area Lyme Foundation, shared data regarding the inconsistent reliability of current tests. Cardiac, neurological and pediatric concerns related to Lyme disease  Brian Fallon , MD, Columbia University discussed the neuropsychiatric manifestations of Lyme disease. Cardiologist David Dudzinksi, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital shared a recent realization that young people who have been dying from heart conditions may have undiagnosed Lyme disease while Duke University oncologist Neil Spector , MD, Bay Area Lyme Foundation scientific advisor shared his personal story of requiring a heart transplant due to Lyme disease.

 , MD, discussed the neuropsychiatric manifestations of Lyme disease. Cardiologist David Dudzinksi, MD, General Hospital shared a recent realization that young people who have been dying from heart conditions may have undiagnosed Lyme disease while oncologist , MD, Bay Area Lyme Foundation scientific advisor shared his personal story of requiring a heart transplant due to Lyme disease. Tick-borne diseases beyond Lyme disease  Alan Barbour , MD, University of California, Irvine , offered the plenary session regarding the increasing number of tick-borne diseases and Peter Krause , MD, Yale University School of Public Health offered additional data on the ability of various types of ticks to transmit diseases. Importantly, each shared important facts about the growth of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases in California .

In addition to researchers and administrators from Massachusetts General Hospital, clinicians from Partners Healthcare, and Scientific Advisory Board members and executives of Bay Area Lyme Foundation, attendees included representatives from: Mayo Clinic, National Institutes of Health, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Stanford School of Medicine; Yale University School of Public Health; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Tufts Medical Center; Columbia University Medical Center; Northeastern University, and other academic medical centers.

About Lyme disease

One of the fastest growing vector-borne infectious diseases in the United States, Lyme disease is a potentially debilitating infection caused by bacteria transmitted through the bite of an infected tick to people and pets. If caught early, most cases of Lyme disease can be effectively treated, but it is commonly misdiagnosed due to lack of awareness and unreliable diagnostic tests. There are approximately 329,000 new cases of Lyme disease each year, according to statistics released in 2015 by the CDC. As a result of the difficulty in diagnosing and treating Lyme disease, as many as one million Americans may be suffering from the impact of its debilitating long-term symptoms and complications, according to Bay Area Lyme Foundation estimates.

About Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a national organization committed to making Lyme disease easy to diagnose and simple to cure, is the leading public not-for-profit sponsor of innovative Lyme disease research in the US. A 501c3 non-profit organization based in Silicon Valley, Bay Area Lyme collaborates with world-class scientists and institutions to accelerate medical breakthroughs for Lyme disease. It is also dedicated to providing reliable, fact-based information so that prevention and the importance of early treatment are common knowledge. A pivotal donation from The Laurel Foundation covers all overhead costs and allows for 100% of all donor contributions to Bay Area Lyme Foundation to go directly to research and prevention programs. For more information about Lyme disease or to get involved, visit www.bayarealyme.org or call us at 650-530-2439.

SOURCE Bay Area Lyme Foundation

Related Links

http://www.bayarealyme.org


DRAPER, Utah, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- HZO, Inc., the total solutions leader in liquid protection technology for any size electronic component, sensor, assembly or device, announced that it has partnered with Binatone, an official Motorola licensee, to integrate both water and sweat protection into their wearable, wireless and waterproof earbuds from the VerveLife range launching today.

Two products - the VerveOnes+ and VerveRider+ - feature HZO liquid protection and carry a waterproof rating of IP57, allowing the earbuds to perform far beyond the most rigorous testing standards and extreme environmental conditions because of how, when, and where HZO's thin-film coating solution is applied.

"HZO aligns with the VerveLife mission to push the limits of technology while making daily activities more enjoyable for users without fearing electronic failure caused by sweat and water," said Simone Maraini, Chief Sales Officer for HZO. "Binatone was an ideal partner to work with; by trusting our expertise in protective coating application during the manufacturing process, we were able to ensure the products delivered reliable protection without impacting the battery life or wireless audio quality as an end result."

"HZO helped us build a better product that meets the needs of those who live an active and unpredictable lifestyle," said David Harris, VP of Products at Binatone. "The VerveOnes+ and VerveRider+ are sportier styles that are built to withstand a tough workout or getting stuck in the rain. HZO has enabled the VerveLife brand to be positioned as an innovative market leader by exploring new technologies that push the boundaries of design and usage."

VerveOnes+ features include:

Completely wireless stereo earbuds with innovative new wear style;

12 hours of battery life with protective charging case;

Integrated dual mics for calls;

Siri and Google Now compatible

Hubble Connect App for iOS and Android;

IP57 water/sweat proof enabled by HZO Protection;

3 extra ear gels for a total of 6 to get a perfect fit;

Sport carry case.

VerveRider+ features include:

All day comfort collar wear style that fits with your gear;

12 hours battery life outlasts your day;

Integrated mic for calls;

Hubble Connect App for iOS and Android;

IP57 water/sweat proof enabled by HZO Protection;

4 ear gels for a perfect fit.

VerveLife by Motorola is an innovative, revolutionary collection of wireless video and audio products that allows consumers full freedom to enjoy life and stay connected. Cutting edge technology aligned with sleek and streamlined product designs have created a collection that sets a new standard in wireless connected devices.

The collection of wearable, wireless and waterproof devices are designed to give ultimate freedom for social, on-the-go lifestyles. VerveLife's smart, interconnected wireless devices bring freedom to busy lives  whether it's listening to music, staying in touch or live casting video on the go.

The range consists of three alternative HD wireless headphones, including the first True Wireless earbuds from a major manufacturer, and a QHD live streaming lifestyle camera, VerveCam. Further wearable, wireless and waterproof VerveLife devices are planned for later in 2016.

About HZO:



HZO is a technology solutions and licensing company that provides electronics' manufacturers and device makers in a range of industries, including consumer, medical, military and industrial, with thin-film protection against damage caused by liquid submersion, corrosive environments, humidity, sweat, dust and debris. With a scalable end-to-end solution that supports mass volume production and a technical team dedicated to innovation and customer success, HZO's patent protected solution enables product design freedom, delivers product differentiation and goes beyond the boundaries defined by electronics testing standards like IPX7. For more information, visit http://www.hzo.com.

About Binatone:

Binatone is a leading global manufacturer of innovative IoT, smart home and consumer electronic devices for the baby, pet, home, personal audio and lifestyle camera categories. As well as selling products under its own name, Binatone is a licensee of Motorola and AEG. Binatone products are now sold in over 50 countries. For more information, visit http://www.binatoneglobal.com.

Media Contacts:

HZO, Inc.

Ryan Moore

+1.801.867.1416

[email protected]

Binatone

Annette Maggiacomo

+1.401.274.0001

[email protected]

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SOURCE HZO, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.hzo.com


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Blu Skyy Realty has already turned heads with its innovative, cloud-based real estate brokerage; now, the agency is keen to give military veterans an opportunity to build personal wealth by becoming licensed real estate agents. Blu Skyy has recently become one of the newest partners of the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program, a Commonwealth-wide initiative to bridge the gap between veterans and the employers who want to hire them.

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The V3 Program launched in 2012 with a mandate to connect employers with veterans across the Commonwealth. The program provides all the resources necessary for employers to implement proven best practices in recruiting and retaining qualified veterans. More information on the program is available at https://www.dvsv3.com/.

"At Blu Skyy, we're continuing to disrupt the traditional broker model," explains Chief Executive Officer Frank Tommaso. "Our participation in the V3 Program is one more example of how we do things different. Virginia has an enormous and underutilized talent pool in the form of its thousands of veterans. The skills learned in the course of military service  leadership, communication, discipline  overlap perfectly with the skills required of a top-performing real estate agent. Therefore, it only makes sense for us to join the hundreds of other Virginia companies already taking advantage of the V3 Program."

As home to numerous military bases and related facilities, the Commonwealth of Virginia is in a unique position to leverage the experience and skills of its veterans. Virginia has both the youngest and the fastest-growing veteran population in the U.S. Thousands more veterans enter the workforce every year, and that rate is expected to continue climbing.

While analysts continue to harp on uncertainty as the major driver of today's real estate market, Blu Skyy has worked hard to develop a high-tech, web-based brokerage that's resistant to typical market fluctuations. The cloud-based business model serves to increase agent productivity and enhance customer service, while also providing numerous opportunities for growth. Blu Skyy has deployed all of the most advanced tools to engineer a fully web 3.0 experience  connecting not just data, but people.

Blu Skyy agents have access to a cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) system, complete with mobile apps and other productivity tools. Everything an agent needs to excel is provided, including daily lead generation. The efficiency and low overhead of a cloud-based brokerage means a better experience for buyers, sellers and agents.

To prepare veterans and other newcomers to the world of real estate sales, Blu Skyy Realty operates the Blu Skyy Academy in partnership with Kaplan Real Estate Education. The academy also gives experienced agents a powerful tool for professional development. Blu Skyy has been recognized as one of Virginia's best places to work for two years running, and that culture starts from the first interview and continues throughout an agent's career.

"Excellent communication skills, a strong work ethic and a passion for success are all that's needed to do well in real estate," concludes Tommaso. "We look forward to showing veterans the incredible opportunities available in real estate today."

To learn more about Blu Skyy Realty or request a demo of their CRM and lead generation system, visit www.thebluskyyway.com.

Contact:

Chris Carlson

Blu Skyy Realty

757-340-6022

Email

SOURCE Blu Skyy Realty

Related Links

http://www.thebluskyyway.com


MIAMI, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Casa De Montecristo by Prime Cigar & Whiskey Bar in Brickell-Miami officially opens its doors to the public after an invitation-only "Gold" carpet event attended by VIPs, city officials and local celebrities. Prime Cigar's first location in Boca Raton, set them apart as the premier cigar bar in South Florida. Prime Cigar is partnering with Tabacalera USA to unveil a one of a kind cigar and whisky lounge. The new establishment looks to thrive in the heart of Miami's business district, at Brickell's newly built 1100 Millecento residential tower.

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Prime Cigar's founders, Jason Reznik and Ryan Leeds, celebrated in grand style, as they treated over 300 event guests, to an evening of live music, cocktails, catered food, and a variety of select Montecristo cigars. Guests were also treated to a special Johnnie Walker tasting. Hosted by a Master Whiskey expert, the tasting featured a traveling showcase trunk, with every expression of the brand. Casa De Montecristo by Prime Cigar & Whiskey Bar finally became a reality after Jason and Ryan along with Javier Estades, Head of Premium Cigar Operations for Tabacalera USA, cut the ceremonial ribbon with oversized scissors. Ryan and Jason were later presented with a "Salute" by Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.

The location of the 4,700 square foot Casa De Montecristo by Prime Cigar & Whiskey Bar, was strategically chosen. Brickell has become one of Miami's most dynamic neighborhoods, where business and nightlife seem to live together seamlessly. The upscale bar and lounge, features a walk-in humidor, full-bar stocked with exclusive and hard to find whiskeys, members' lounge, and private board room. Custom furniture and design elements (which exude simple elegance) will please the cigar aficionados, or those looking for a unique experience, for a rare whiskey, craft cocktails, or a nightcap. The establishment also features a "vintage collector's room," which houses unique and vintage cigars.

One important feature that sets Prime Cigar apart is the state-of-the-art air control system. This innovative system provides 80 tons of A/C, and replaces 100 percent of the air constantly. This system was of great importance to Leeds and Reznik, as they wanted customers to enjoy themselves in the upmost comfort.

Prime Cigar was born out of close bond between father and son. Ryan Leeds' father passed away in a tragic accident, which led Leeds to ponder the meaning of life, with friend and business partner, Jason Reznik. Ryan retired from his career in banking which spanned two decades, and put his efforts into creating Prime Cigar in Boca. Inspired by the lessons and experiences of his father, Ryan created a space which celebrates their love of cigars, good whiskey, and luxury comforts.

Casa De Montecristo by Prime Cigar & Whiskey Bar invites the Miami-Dade public to experience 'sophisticated relaxation.'

ABOUT PRIME CIGAR & WINE BAR

Founded in 2010, Prime Cigar & Wine Bar is a cigar bar and lounge featuring premium cigars, top-shelf spirits and fine wines. Prime Cigar delivers a sophisticated relaxation experience to all its guests and boasts a state-of-the-art air control system, ensuring a comfortable smoke-friendly environment.

About Tabacalera USA

Tabacalera USA oversees the Fort Lauderdale-based premium cigar division of Altadis U.S.A., the manufacturer and marketer of such classic hand-made cigars as Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta and VegaFina. Tabacalera USA is also responsible for the North Carolina-based 800-JR Cigar and its affiliates. Tabacalera USA's affiliates operate premium cigar production facilities in the Dominican Republic and Honduras. For more information about Tabacalera USA, please contact Mark Smith at email.

Contact:

Gabriel Pineres

Email

7865417411

SOURCE Casa De Montecristo By Prime Cigar & Whiskey Bar
thinkThin High Protein Smoothie Mix combines the three essential building blocks for consumers to make a nutritious, delicious smoothie at home: real fruit pieces, a protein boost, and healthy mix-ins like chia seeds. Available in convenient pre-portioned packages, thinkThin High Protein Smoothie Mix delivers 15 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, real fruit pieces, and 160mg of omega-3 ALA's from chia seeds and ground flaxseed. Just add water, ice and blend for an energizing smoothie drink in delicious fruit combinations such as Blueberry Banana and Strawberry Raspberry. For a more indulgent smoothie experience, thinkThin also offers a Protein Smoothie Mix in Peanut Butter Banana flavor.

thinkThin's new product line of smoothie mixes can be found in the Protein Powder aisle and is currently available at Target, Whole Foods and online.

About thinkThin, LLC

Since launching in 1999, thinkThin LLC has been committed to making food that is as nutritious as it is delicious. From High Protein Bars that are certified gluten-free with zero grams of sugar to Protein & Fiber Hot Oatmeal made from non-GMO ingredients, thinkThin believes in using high quality ingredients that provide a good source of protein and nutrition. As a leader in creating guilt-free products for women, the company has grown by double digits annually and been recognized by influential media such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Today Show and Forbes. thinkThin products are nationally distributed at major retailers including Whole Foods, Target, Kroger, Trader Joe's, CVS and many more. For more information, please visit http://www.thinkproducts.com

Media Contact

Joshua Levitt, PR for thinkThin

213.335.5671

[email protected]

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SOURCE thinkThin, LLC

Related Links

http://www.thinkproducts.com


Supporting the region's population and growth, the goal of the RPRP is to connect residents, businesses and visitors to a variety of leisure, education, healthcare and other destinations, and provide additional transportation choices through the implementation of a new passenger rail service. The 9-mile rail extension, which is designed to integrate conveniently with other modes such as auto, bus and bicycle, will modernize an existing rail right-of-way owned by SANBAG and provide a new train line connecting to the Los Angeles Basin's existing Metrolink commuter rail lines.

As a subcontractor to the project's lead program manager, RailPros, CH2M will provide planning, coordination and risk assessment, and management services for the RPRP. CH2M also will assist with the rail passenger vehicle acquisition and conduct a fare collection system study. Because safety is a critical component of rail systems, especially with the startup of a new passenger service, CH2M will work closely with RailPros, SANBAG, the Federal Railroad Administration and other regulators and rail operators to develop system processes that ensure public safety.

"As the top ranked program management firm, and as a leader in transit and rail planning, design, construction and procurement, CH2M looks forward to delivering high-quality services for RailPros, SANBAG and the rail passengers of Southern California," said Tom Donahue, CH2M's Transit & Rail Director.

About CH2M

CH2M leads the professional services industry delivering sustainable solutions to clients working on the world's most complex challenges. CH2Mers make a positive difference providing consulting, design, engineering and management solutions for vital infrastructure and resources serving diverse public- and private-sector clients. With $5.4 billion in revenue and ~22,000 people, the firm has offices in 50 countries and four business groups: water; environment and nuclear; transportation; and energy and industrial. Known for managing global events such as the Olympic Games, CH2M ranks among Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies; number-one in environmental consulting and program management by Engineering News-Record; and among sustainability leaders by independent analyst Verdantix. CH2M in 2016 was selected to receive the World Environment Center's Gold Medal Award for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development, and in 2015, received the Stockholm International Water Institute's highest Industry Water Award for advancing innovative potable reuse technologies. To learn more about the CH2M difference, connect with the firm at www.ch2m.com; linkedin.com/company/ch2m; twitter.com/ch2m; facebook.com/ch2mhill; and search for jobs at www.ch2m.com/careers.

About RailPros

Consistently delivering outstanding service for more than 15 years, RailPros, Inc. is focused on providing engineering, construction management and project management services for transportation infrastructure projects. The company's main expertise is the design and management of rail infrastructure projects on dense-traffic, mixed passenger and freight corridors. Clients include public agencies like San Diego Association of Governments, Orange County Transportation Authority, Los Angeles County Metro, Southern California Regional Rail Authority, Riverside County Transportation Authority, San Bernardino Associated Governments, Port of Long Beach, Bay Area Rapid Transit and Caltrans. In addition to RailPros extensive work in the California market, they have staff providing services in North Western and North Eastern United States.

Contact: Tom Doerr

Marketing & Communications

720.286.3004

[email protected]

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SOURCE CH2M

Related Links

http://www.ch2m.com


WASHINGTON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 40 children with medically complex conditions and their families will meet this week with members of Congress during the Children's Hospital Association's Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day, June 21-22, 2016, to discuss how to improve quality and care coordination for this unique population of children by passing the bipartisan, bicameral Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act of 2015 (ACE Kids Act of 2015 S. 298/H.R. 546). Of the approximately three million children who are medically complex, two million rely on Medicaid for access to multiple specialists, therapists and hospitals. These children represent six percent of all children with Medicaid coverage yet account for 40 percent of Medicaid's spend on kids.

"The Medicaid program is essential to millions of children, especially the two million kids with complex medical conditions who need comprehensive coverage to meet their unique needs," said Mark Wietecha, president and CEO of the Children's Hospital Association (CHA). "But statistics tell only half the story. Today, children with medically complex conditions and their families will share their stories directly with members of Congress so legislators can hear firsthand how vital it is to pass the ACE Kids Act of 2015."

Chloe and Kenneth Allen, both age 8, of Heber Springs, Arkansas, represent just two stories of medical complexity that legislators will hear when they meet with families. Chloe and Kenneth were part of a set of triplets born early at just 25 weeks. (Their sister Cara did not survive.) Chloe, who weighed just 1 pound 5 ounces at birth, came home with a feeding tube, an oxygen mask and numerous medications. Eight years later, she continues to suffer from brain hemorrhages and will require special care well into the future. Her brother Kenneth was born weighing 1 pound 10 ounces and due to complications of his premature birth, his parents were told he might never walk, talk or even breathe on his own. He spent his first 316 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas, approximately 70 miles away from the family's home. Today, Kenneth has defied the odds and is always on the move, though he uses a feeding tube, sometimes needs oxygen and requires multiple medications.

Kenneth and Chloe have made significant health strides thanks to Arkansas Children's and neonatologist Robert Lyle, MD, who oversees and coordinates the comprehensive care they receive through the hospital's Medical Home Program. Between Kenneth and Chloe, they see 13 specialists and seven therapists for their complex needs. Key to this care coordination is clear and open communication between the Medical Home Program, the family and a broader care team of specialists and therapists.

While there are a handful of medical home-type programs for children with medical complexity underway in other states, children's hospitals believe comprehensive care coordination across the family, community providers and the hospital should be available to all children with medically complex conditions regardless of geography. That's why children's hospitals are advocating passage of the ACE Kids Act of 2015. The bill enables states the option of creating coordinated pediatric-focused networks of providers to improve care for children with medical complexity in the Medicaid program while reducing unnecessary costs.

In 2011, clinicians at the Arkansas Children's Research Institute and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences studied the Medical Home Program and found it saved nearly $1,200 per patient per month for the year after a patient's initial clinic visit. Based partially on this and other studies of cost savings associated with medical homes, actuaries assessed the ACE Kids Act would reduce Medicaid spending on this population of children by $13 billion over 10 years. But more important than bending the cost curve is the improvement in care coordination and delivery via the most appropriate settings  home, primary, ambulatory, acute and post-acute  that would result from the creation of pediatric networks designed specifically for children with medical complexity.

While Chloe and Kenneth are receiving quality care from Arkansas Children's Medical Home Program, they and millions of other children with medical complexity could be benefiting from the acceleration of care improvement expected once the ACE Kids Act is implemented. The ACE Kids Act would enable data sharing on a national basis, across states, to advance best practices and national standards of care much like Medicare does for its beneficiaries. Furthermore, the bill advances the development of risk-based payment models that would provide predictable costs and flexibility to providers to use the most appropriate care setting.

"Children like Chloe and Kenneth deserve a vibrant and cohesive national system of pediatric care purposefully designed to meet their needs," explained Wietecha. "We hope hearing directly from families about how the ACE Kids Act would improve care for their children will help Congress to pass the ACE Kids Act this year."

A bipartisan group of nearly 40 senators and more than 200 representatives support the bicameral ACE Kids Act. Original cosponsors include: Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Rob Portman (R-OH), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Patty Murray (D-WA), and Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Gene Green (D-TX), Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and David Reichert (R-WA).

Children's Hospital Association is the national voice of more than 220 children's hospitals, advancing child health through innovation in the quality, cost and delivery of care.

http://www.childrenshospitals.org | www.speaknowforkids.org

Learn more about the ACE Kids Act and Speak Now for Kids Family Advocacy Day; read stories about the patient heroes coming to D.C.; and follow the families on Facebook, www.facebook.com/speaknowforkids, and Twitter, @speaknowforkids, #SpeakNowForKids.

Contacts:

Daniel Sweet

JPA Health Communications

202-591-4063

Norida Torriente

Children's Hospital Association

202-753-5359 | 202-253-5058

SOURCE Children's Hospital Association

Related Links

http://www.childrenshospitals.org


SAN JOSE, Calif., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud Harmonics, the fastest growing full-service, next-generation distributor, announced today channel partners will be able to register their Arista Networks deals through the Cloud Harmonics partner portal. Arista Networks, a leading provider of cloud networking solutions, aims to minimize channel conflict within enterprise accounts through this new deal registration capability.

"We are excited to launch this comprehensive channel support program with Cloud Harmonics, a strong training and distribution partner of Arista Networks," said Mark Smith Senior Vice President World Wide Sales Operations for Arista Networks. "Arista's Macro-Segmentation Services (MSS) positions Cloud Harmonics perfectly for distributing next-generation, cloud-security solutions."

Deal registration is the latest component of Cloud Harmonics' channel program, which is designed to educate, engage and enable the more than 400 Cloud Harmonics' partners to sell Arista Networks solutions. In addition to the pre- and post-sales services, Cloud Harmonics has created unique Foundation Training, ACE Training, and Ultimate Test Drive days to help partners build the skills and create the opportunities they need to grow their Arista Networks business.

"Our true value-added distribution model gives award winning, next-generation technologies faster access to customers," Pradeep Aswani, CEO of Cloud Harmonics. "We work hard to give our partners the knowledge and support they require to meet the needs of their customers and grow their revenues."

About Cloud Harmonics

Cloud Harmonics Inc., the fastest growing full-service, Next-Generation Distributor of cybersecurity and cloud technologies, is fueling the channel with its innovative Educate, Engage and Enable business model. Working with leading technology providers, such as Aruba Networks, Arista Networks, HPE, Palo Alto Networks and others, Cloud Harmonics provides the awareness, technical proficiency and services support its more than 400 reseller partners need to create opportunities, close deals and secure repeat business. Cloud Harmonics trains more than 4000 engineers annually. Through its large distribution channel, the company provides resellers access to an arsenal of business applications that streamline sales, reduce costs, and accelerate the adoption of next-generation solutions. To learn more about the world-class training, disruptive engagement methodology and differentiated services and applications that has made Cloud Harmonics the distributor of choice for resellers and technology companies everywhere, please visit www.cloudharmonics.com.

Contact:

Sarah Sorensen

[email protected]

SOURCE Cloud Harmonics

Related Links

http://www.cloudharmonics.com


DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Expert insights into the key trends, business challenges and opportunities in today's technology market will be explored when CompTIA, the nonprofit association for the technology industry, hosts its second annual ChannelCon Vendor Summit.

The Vendor Summit runs parallel to ChannelCon, the industry's premier conference for collaboration, education and networking, Aug. 1-3 at the Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood, Fla.

"The Summit is an exclusive offering for ChannelCon attendees, providing them with insights and opinions from executives with some of the industry's most influential vendors and distributors," said Kelly Ricker, senior vice president, events and education, CompTIA. "It's especially relevant as a learning and networking forum for the channel chiefs and senior executives who lead the tech vendor community."

The ChannelCon Vendor Summit agenda will explore the issues shaping conversations and making headlines within the IT channel and across the industry. Scheduled sessions include:

Transforming in the New Era  The summit's opening keynote by Tim Curran , CEO of the Global Technology Distribution Council, will examine the latest industry trends and forecasts, including fast-growing product categories; which channel partners are doing the most purchasing; partner attitudes on cloud; new distribution models; and the cost of various routes to market.

 The summit's opening keynote by , CEO of the Global Technology Distribution Council, will examine the latest industry trends and forecasts, including fast-growing product categories; which channel partners are doing the most purchasing; partner attitudes on cloud; new distribution models; and the cost of various routes to market. Changing Landscape of Distribution  Executives will discuss how leading distributors are responding to the cloud and other market innovations that have dramatically rearranged the ways in which vendors and the channel operate, make money and go to market.

 Executives will discuss how leading distributors are responding to the cloud and other market innovations that have dramatically rearranged the ways in which vendors and the channel operate, make money and go to market. What's Keeping Vendors Up at Night?  This interactive session will feature a panel of leading vendors, who will share insights on the critical trends impacting the channel ecosystem. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss with their vendor partners the issues keeping them up at night.

 This interactive session will feature a panel of leading vendors, who will share insights on the critical trends impacting the channel ecosystem. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss with their vendor partners the issues keeping them up at night. Being a High Performing Sales Organization Requires a Hard Reset on Conventional Thinking  Tiffani Bova, global, customer growth and innovation evangelist for Salesforce.com, will deliver the Summit's closing keynote, outlining what she thinks the modern channel sales force will look like in the future. She'll challenge conventional thinking, advocating for pushing sales toward a customer-driven mindset and away from an internal performance-based management.

"The Summit is a strong complement to ChannelCon's solution provider-focused education and discussion tracks," Ricker said.

To register for ChannelCon 2016, visit https://www.comptia.org/events/view/comptia-channelcon-2016. Media and industry analysts are encouraged to attend ChannelCon 2016. Highlights from CompTIA ChannelCon will be available on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #ChannelCon16.

To learn more about CompTIA visit CompTIA online, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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SOURCE CompTIA

Related Links

http://www.comptia.org


IRVINE, Calif., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cryoport, Inc. (CYRX) ("Company"), the world's leading cryogenic logistics company, today announced the launch of its bio-storage offering. The new offering is the result of a clear demand from Cryoport customers to complement its leading cryogenic logistics solutions with advanced storage and fulfillment capabilities. Cryoport Biostorage will support cryogenic storage, fulfillment, and transportation of all valuable and often irreplaceable temperature-sensitive biologic material, including clinical trial samples, vaccines, stem cells, regenerative therapies, bio-markers and immunotherapies.

Through a strategic partnership with Pacific Bio-Material Management, Inc. ("PBMMI"), Cryoport will offer storage solutions that include cGMP compliant biorepositories at controlled temperatures and climatized systems with effective redundancies such as back-up freezers and power. Cryoport Biostorage's service will feature extensive management and monitoring, including controlled access to commodities, periodic temperature and activity reports, as well as 21 CFR, Part 11 compliant monitoring with 24/7/365 alarm response.

Additionally, Cryoport announced today the formal launch of its Laboratory Relocation Service, which further extends its offering beyond cryogenic logistics and bio-storage services to include the safe and secure transport of complete laboratories. The Laboratory Relocation Service can now manage the safe, secure and proper transportation of materials that are stored in the lab as well as lab equipment and instruments. Relocation projects can range in size from the relocation of a fully equipped lab to the move of a single freezer.

Cryoport Laboratory Relocation Service is headed by Tamie Joeckel, who recently joined Cryoport's executive team as Sr. Vice President  Client Services. She has over 25 years of pharmaceutical industry logistics experience having worked with companies such as AmerisourceBergen, McKesson, PAREXEL and Dohmen Life Sciences. She has been a key member in commercialization strategies throughout her career. Ms. Joeckel also oversees the Company's Temperature Controlled Logistics Consulting Division and client care.

"The launch of Cryoport's Laboratory Relocation Service is a new revenue generator for our company and formalizes a business line where Cryoport has been thriving. Over the past few months, we have performed laboratory moves for the Smithsonian, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centers' Clinical Research Division and Tufts University. We continue to experience a growing demand for the storage and transport of temperature controlled biologics from the simplest moves consisting of a few samples to moves as complex and comprehensive as storing and moving a researcher's entire life's work containing thousands of samples, including unique cell lines, constructs, biomarkers and proteins," said Ms. Joeckel.

Commenting on Cryoport's entrance into these new markets, Jerrell Shelton, CEO, said, "Our world-class cryogenic logistics solutions have helped establish Cryoport as a market leader and critical provider of enabling technologies to a number of the foremost biopharma companies, research institutions, laboratories and researchers around the globe. Our entry into the bio-storage market in particular is an important step in realizing our vision to deliver fully integrated solutions that further enhances the biopharma industry's ability to safely and efficiently manage their most valuable biological assets. In addition, by utilizing a single source solution, our clients will be able to further benefit from our proven commitment to help monitor their material while in the cold chain. Our ability to provide unmatched, comprehensive logistics solutions, including Smart Pak II monitoring capabilities that communicate real time to our Cryoportal operating platform, is one of the primary drivers of our success, and we look forward to building on this success."

"With our market leading cryogenic logistics solutions as the cornerstone, Cryoport is continuing to add new, strategic, lines of business solutions, including expert consulting, bio-storage and laboratory relocation services. These expanded capabilities are building upon our position as the partner-of-choice when it comes to temperature-controlled solutions and most important, fill a clear void in the global market for a fully-integrated, fully-compliant solution from a single-source provider," concluded Mr. Shelton.

Michael Lebbin, CEO of PBMMI, said, "With our offsite cGMP compliant bio-storage facilities in New York and California, we are in a position to meet Cryoport customers' most critical biomaterial storage and transportation requirements. Having successfully completed thousands of moves for clients such as hospitals, state and federal government agencies, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, research institutions and foundations, and clinical lab companies across the U.S. and Canada, we bring this experience to our strategic partnership with Cryoport."

About PBMMI

Founded in 2000 to assist the Life Sciences industry, Pacific Bio-Material Management, Inc. (PBMMI) is based in Southern California and provides frozen biomaterial storage and transportation services. A Division of PBMMI, Pacific BioStorage has repositories in New York, NY, Fresno, CA, Torrance, CA and Los Angeles, CA. Biomaterial, freezer and laboratory transport services are provided by Pacific Scientific Transport, a Division of PBMMI. Laboratory supplies and equipment, and equipment service are provided by Pacific Science, a Division of Air Liquide Healthcare America. For more information, visit www.pbmmi.com.

About Cryoport, Inc.

Cryoport is the premier provider of cryogenic logistics solutions to the life sciences industry through its purpose-built proprietary packaging, information technology and specialized cold chain logistics expertise. The Company provides leading edge logistics solutions for biologic materials, such as immunotherapies, stem cells, CAR T-cells and reproductive cells for clients worldwide. Leading global companies, such as FedEx, UPS and DHL have each separately selected Cryoport as the preferred cryogenic logistics provider for time- and temperature-sensitive biological material. Cryoport actively supports points-of-care, CRO's, central laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, contract manufacturers and university researchers. For more information, visit www.cryoport.com.

To download Cryoport's investor relations app, which offers access to SEC documents, press releases, videos, audiocasts and more, please click to download from your iPhone and iPad or Android mobile device.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this news release which are not purely historical, including statements regarding Cryoport, Inc.'s intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, plans or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. It is important to note that the company's actual results could differ materially from those in any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with the effect of changing economic conditions, trends in the products markets, variations in the company's cash flow, market acceptance risks, and technical development risks. The company's business could be affected by a number of other factors, including the risk factors listed from time to time in the company's SEC reports including, but not limited to, the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2015. The company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Cryoport, Inc. disclaims any obligation, and does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this press release.

SOURCE Cryoport, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cryoport.com


NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Clayton, Dubilier & Rice ("CD&R") today announced the appointment of David Scheible, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Graphic Packaging International, as an Operating Advisor to CD&R funds.

Mr. Scheible is credited with building Graphic Packaging, a former CD&R portfolio company, into a top-performing packaging leader, expanding the business as a growing international company, and creating a culture of innovation and execution excellence. Under Mr. Scheible's leadership, Graphic Packaging's sales grew by 79%, EBITDA margins expanded by nearly 500 basis points, and the stock price increased 166%. Mr. Scheible drove the $1.75 billion merger between Graphic Packaging and Altivity Packaging, creating a new leader in global packaging.

"David is a talented executive with whom we have worked closely and successfully in the past," said Don Gogel, CD&R's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "David's skills managing strategic renewal and corporate transformation on a global scale make him a unique and valuable resource for our funds focused on industrial businesses."

Mr. Scheible served as Chief Executive Officer of Graphic Packaging from January 2007 to January 2016 and Chairman of the Board from May 2013 to May 2016. From 1999 to 2007, he held various senior leadership positions, including Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Commercial Operations. Before joining Graphic Packaging, Mr. Scheible held senior leadership positions at Avery Dennison Corporation after starting his career at B.F. Goodrich Corporation.

"As the CEO of a portfolio business, I always felt a part of CD&R's high integrity culture," said Mr. Scheible. "I look forward to sharing my experience and bringing value in new ways as an Operating Advisor."

RISI, an information provider for the global forest products industry, named Mr. Scheible the 2015 North American CEO of the Year. He was also named PaperAge magazine's Executive Papermaker of the Year, an award based on corporate vision, strategic objectives and strong leadership. In addition, Mr. Scheible was 2013 winner of the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year in the Southeast for industrials.

David currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Benchmark Electronics Inc. and on the boards of Flint Group, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Inc. and Georgia Partners in Education.

Mr. Scheible holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Purdue University and an MBA in Finance and M.S.I.A. from the Krannert School of Business at Purdue University.

About Clayton, Dubilier & Rice

Founded in 1978, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is a private investment firm with an investment strategy predicated on producing financial returns through building stronger, more profitable businesses. Since inception, CD&R has managed the investment of $21 billion in 66 businesses representing a broad range of industries with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $100 billion. The Firm has offices in New York and London. For more information, visit www.cdr-inc.com.

SOURCE Clayton, Dubilier & Rice

Related Links

http://www.cdr-inc.com


NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nadeem Faruqi, founding partner at Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities firm headquartered in New York City, is investigating the Board of Directors of Demandware, Inc. ("Demandware" or the "Company") (NYSE:DWRE) for potential breaches of fiduciary duties in connection with the sale of the Company to salesforce.com for approximately $2.8 billion.

The Company's stockholders will only receive $75.00 in cash for each share of Company common stock they own. However, this consideration is below at least one analyst's price target of $100.00 per share and Demandware's 52-week high of $75.90 per share.

Click here for more information: www.faruqilaw.com/DWRE. There is no cost or obligation to you.

The investigation focuses on whether Demandware's Board of Directors breached their fiduciary duties to the Company's stockholders by failing to conduct a fair sales process and whether and by how much this proposed transaction undervalues the Company to the detriment of Demandware's shareholders.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is a national law firm which represents investors and individuals in class action litigation. The firm is focused on providing exemplary legal services in complex litigation in the areas of securities, shareholder, antitrust and consumer litigation, throughout all phases of litigation. The firm has an experienced trial team which has achieved significant victories on behalf of the firm's clients. To keep track of the latest securities litigation news, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MergerActivity or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FaruqiLaw.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is working together in this investigation with Juan E. Monteverde from Monteverde & Associates PC.

If you own common stock in Demandware and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit us at www.faruqilaw.com/DWRE or contact Nadeem Faruqi, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (877) 247-4292 or (212) 983-9330. You may also contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP

685 Third Avenue, 26th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Nadeem Faruqi, Esq.

[email protected]

Toll Free: (877) 247-4292

Phone: (212) 983-9330

Attorney Advertising. (C) 2016 Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We are happy to discuss your particular case.

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SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP

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http://www.faruqilaw.com


For months, hundreds of mosaic enthusiasts ranging from A&D professionals to budding designers of tomorrow had been submitting mosaic mural designs based upon the theme "The Essence of Las Vegas." Semi-finalists and, ultimately, the winner were selected by an esteemed panel of judges, all with strong industry ties. The grand prize winner, Nicole Faith Kohri, had her creation "Delta Waves" unveiled in front of 1,500 hospitality design professionals as a 20' x 8' backlit mosaic tile mural permanently installed on a very focal poolside wall at MGM Grand's "Wet Republic" day club on May 5 th during HD Expo's famed Party By The Pool event.

Two weeks later at AIA in Philadelphia, Bostik sponsored the convention's annual "The Party!," the convention's annual biggest bash which included one of Philly's most famous sons, actor Kevin Bacon and his band, The Bacon Brothers Band, at the convention center's Grand Ballroom. Prior to the band coming on stage, with nearly 3,000 architects and design professionals already in party mode, Scott Banda, Director of Marketing & Business Development of Bostik's Consumer & Construction Business Unit and Dr. Ted Acworth, CEO & Founder of Artaic Innovative Mosaic, kicked off the event by addressing the crowd. Basically, they quickly described their firms, talked about their collective efforts to resurrect mosaic mural design, one of the most time-honored architectural & design techniques in history and then, introduced Nicole Kohri to the appreciative audience. Ms. Kohri humbly thanked both Bostik and Artaic for the opportunity, and very professionally stated her intentions of becoming an architectural designer.

In the ballroom's lobby, ten brightly-lit, free-standing, mosaic tile displays exhibited all semi-finalists' work and of course, that of Nicole Kohri. "Together with Artaic, we want to give back to the design community," stated Scott Banda. "Everyone loves mosaic design, but most of what they've seen during their lifetimes has been when touring historical sites. Artaic invented a computerized process where mosaic designs are incredibly assembled by robots in its Boston-based manufacturing center. This regimen is hundreds of times faster than the archaic, time-consuming process of putting little mosaic squares into place by hand. As a result, not only are finished designs delivered much more expediently and cost-efficiently because they are computer-driven, repeat versions will be perfect every time."

Inventor and scientist Dr. Ted Acworth added, "Our relationship with Bostik began when we started using Dimension RapidCure Grout, their unique formulation which contains 60% recycled glass content, in our productions. The product is easy to apply, highly durable and most of all, actually adds more luminosity to mosaic productions. For example, if a project contains glass mosaics, imagine another light source being incorporated: that's what Dimension RapidCure offers."

After the event, Artaic even went as far as to offer Nicole Kohri some "very cool project work." Acworth concluded, "Bostik and Artaic want not only to bring back the popularity, appreciation and enthusiasm which comes along with true mosaic design. Together, we want to find highly talented, motivated young designers who see mosaics as their future. And if possible, we want to help them jump-start their design careers."

To chronicle the timeline of this groundbreaking program, Bostik has produced a video which beautifully shows the people, the products, the procedures and, the professionalism all of which were integral components of DNG. It can be seen by clicking on: https://youtu.be/qBatC3BOjV4

High resolution photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wfdt9ut24hkgo9x/AABgvfo5gLkOp0jynlnUXZ1xa?dl=0

About Bostik, Inc.

Bostik is a leading global adhesive specialist in industrial manufacturing, construction and consumer markets. For more than a century, they have been developing innovative adhesive solutions that are smarter and more adaptive to the forces that shape people's daily lives. From cradle to grave, from home to office, Bostik's smart adhesives can be found everywhere. With annual sales of $1.63 billion, the company employs 4,800 people and has a presence in more than 50 countries. Bostik is a company of Arkema. Visit bostik-us.com for more information.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379685

Video - https://youtu.be/qBatC3BOjV4

SOURCE Bostik, Inc.

Related Links

http://Bostik.com/us


CHERRY HILL, N.J., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Destination Imagination (DI), a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching students the creative process through hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) as well as social entrepreneurship challenges, today announced the appointment of Michael Flachbart as managing director of development and strategic initiatives. Flachbart will collaborate with the DI Board of Trustees on expanding existing initiatives in addition to spearheading the creation of new scalable opportunities for increased engagement of Destination Imagination's academic offerings and strategic alliances.

A deeply respected voice in the space science education community, Flachbart spent nearly three decades with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama in various positions. In his most recent role, Flachbart served as vice president of Global Space Camp Operations where he oversaw all aspects of Space Camp Operations for more than 30,000 trainees annually; attending all 50 states as well as more than 60 international locations. Flachbart's work also supported the licensed operations of Space Camp campuses in Laval, Canada and Izmir, Turkey as well as supporting regional partners in Beijing, China and Dubai, UAE. The weeklong immersive STEM-based space training programs has produced more than 700,000 graduates.

"Welcoming Michael to the Destination Imagination leadership team is an exciting moment for the organization and for our global community of learners," said Dr. Chuck Cadle, CEO of Destination Imagination. "His rich international experience in space science education combined with his passion for inspiring student curiosity and exploration will greatly enhance our STEAM academic challenges as we continue to work toward preparing students for the 21st century workforce."

Flachbart also joins four other recently appointed DI team members as the organization builds capacity for continued growth. These strategic hires signify Destination Imagination's heightened commitment to teaching students the creative process and empowering them with the skills needed to succeed in an ever-changing world. Recent Destination Imagination appointments include:

Stephan Turnipseed , Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer

, Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer Eric Wolff , Managing Director of HR, Culture and Communications;

, Managing Director of HR, Culture and Communications; Johnny Wells , Director of Education;

, Director of Education; Amanda Potter , Program Coordinator

"Joining Destination Imagination now allows me to be a part of extending a child's STEM-based learning experiences from one week to an entire year of challenges that also include fine arts concepts," said Michael Flachbart. "This is an incredible organization that I truly believe is positively transforming our citizens, workers and leaders for the 21st century and beyond. I look forward to working with the leadership and board members to drive Destination Imagination's mission forward."

About Destination Imagination

Destination Imagination, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-led non-profit organization whose purpose is to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators, leaders and industry pioneers. The most popular education offering is the Challenge Program, where student teams solve open-ended STEM, arts and service learning Challenges and present their solutions to trained appraisers. Founded in 1982, Destination Imagination has impacted more than 1.5 million students. To learn more, please visit http://destinationimagination.org.

SOURCE Destination Imagination

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DALLAS, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Don Morphy of Dallas Texas just launched a crowdfunding Kickstarter campaign aimed at making their luxury, Italian-manufactured range of shoes and boots accessible to fashion conscious trendsetters around the world. The company produces premium quality shoes designed in the US and 100% manufactured by artisans in Italy.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/379394

The proceeds will be used to expand production and increase the range of models. Currently Don Morphy markets a limited range of boots and shoes through their e-commerce website. The funding will enable the founders to target a worldwide customer base and increase awareness of the high-end product, which sells at very affordable prices.

The Don Morphy team learns from the best and brings the finest shoes to customers who desire to be both fashion-forward and comfortable. To ensure the brand offers a high quality product, which reflects the latest trends, Don Morphy's chief designer Daniel Mofor travels regularly to premier seasonal fashion events worldwide. He also keeps a sharp eye on the manufacturing team in Italy.

The brand has been featured in The Huffington Post, Vogue Magazine, GQ Magazine, Esquire and The New York Times Fashion to name a few. At last year's Pitti Uomo show, Daniel Mofor was named "Best dressed man" by VOGUE.

Founded in 2015 by a pair of designers from Dallas, TX and Fayetteville, AR Don Morphy designs high fashion and comfortable men's shoes that are all 100% Italian made. The Don Morphy Line is fashion-forward and comfortable.

Name: Terri Edwards

Phone: 469-444-3740

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.donmorphy.com

Kickstarter Campaign: http://kck.st/1tdxwGm

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SOURCE Don Morphy

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https://www.donmorphy.com


WALTHAM, Massachusetts, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

EarlySense, the market leader in contact-free continuous monitoring solutions, announced today that Tim O'Malley, president of EarlySense, Inc., accepted an award on behalf of the company at the AAMI 2016 Conference Awards Ceremony, which recognizes leaders and innovators whose efforts have moved the healthcare technology industry forward to improve patient care and safety.

The AAMI 2016 Conference Awards honored an impressive lineup of healthcare technology experts, patient safety champions, young professionals, and industry partners for their leadership, commitment, and contributions to the field.

Marilyn Neder Flack, Executive Director of the AAMI Foundation stated, "I am very grateful that EarlySense is a premiere partner with the AAMI Foundation in the National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids. This level of support and involvement in this critically important initiative demonstrates EarlySense's commitment to ensuring no patient on opioids will have a poor outcome due to undetected opioid induced respiratory depression."

EarlySense works closely with the AAMI Foundation to expand the messages and tools developed by the foundation's National Coalition to Promote Continuous Monitoring of Patients on Opioids. The EarlySense System, used by medical facilities around the world, continuously monitors patient heart rate, respiratory rate and motion via an under-the-mattress sensor. It is designed to assist clinicians in identifying patient risk early, helping clinicians to reduce the chance of respiratory depression and decreasing the risk of complications, including patient death.

"Use of Opioid-based medications presents a risk which may significantly elevate the occurrence of adverse events due to respiratory depression, therefore continuous monitoring of these patients is critical," said Tim O'Malley, President of EarlySense, Inc. "We are pleased to work alongside AAMI to raise awareness of this challenge, while continuing to expand the reach of our technology to improve healthcare safety across the country."

About EarlySense

EarlySense provides contact-free, continuous monitoring solutions for the medical and consumer digital health markets. EarlySense's patented sensor and advanced algorithms monitor and analyze cardiac, respiratory, sleep and motion parameters. Used in hospitals and healthcare facilities worldwide, EarlySense assists clinicians in early detection of patient deterioration, helping to prevent adverse events, including code blues, preventable ICU transfers, patient falls and pressure ulcers.

The myEarlySense smart home-compatible consumer solution brings hospital-proven technology to the home, providing valuable data regarding wellness and sleep. myEarlySense OEM technology is at the core of wellness and sleep products marketed by international partners including Samsung, Beurer and iFit. EarlySense was founded in 2004 and has offices in Waltham, MA and Ramat Gan, Israel. For more information, please visit http://www.EarlySense.com and http://www.myEarlySense.com.

About AAMI

The AAMI Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization whose primary mission is to serve the public welfare and improve patient safety by fostering support and recognition for the advancement of healthcare technology management. It does this through the work of safety initiatives, the distribution of scholarships to students, global outreach initiatives, and awards for excellence. http://www.aami.org





Media Relations Contact:

Ellie Hanson

Finn Partners

+1-929-222-8006

[email protected]



Company Contact:

Maayan Wenderow

+1-617-971-6464

[email protected]





SOURCE EarlySense
SAN FRANCISCO and STAMFORD, Conn., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today that risk management professional Mark Millard has joined the firm's Stamford, Conn.-based EPIC Risk Solutions team as a Principal and Senior Producer.

Millard will be based in EPIC's Morristown, N.J. office and report to Steve Levene, Managing Principal of EPIC Risk Solutions.

Millard joins EPIC from EY where he was a senior manager in their Insurance Risk and Claims Practice based in New York. At EY, Millard led a team of risk professionals on countless Fortune 1000 and public entity insurance risk program assessments as well as numerous specialty projects for clients that included the development of an insurance purchasing framework; authoring a manual to negotiate insurance provisions in contracts; evaluating a commercial loan portfolios exposure to construction defect and warranty claims; and M&A due diligence. In addition, Millard developed and led EY's initiative in cyber insurance risk advisory services.

Prior to joining EY in 2008, Millard spent the first half of his career developing his technical insurance risk management skill set while working as an insurance risk manager in corporations that included UBS and Lend Lease.

"Our Northeast leadership team is very excited to have someone of Mark's caliber join our group," said Steve Levene. "His background and experience, risk management expertise and leadership skills will materially contribute to EPIC Risk Solution's future growth plans and the service excellence we deliver to our EPIC clients."

As one of the nation's fastest growing private insurance brokerage firms, EPIC has been on an aggressive national growth trajectory, successfully competing against the large, institutional brokers with an entrepreneurial, client-focused business model. Since The Carlyle Group became the firm's major investment partner in December 2013, EPIC has added multiple locations and new team members across the country, growing revenues from roughly $80 million to estimated run rate revenues of almost $250 million  a 212% increase.

Millard is a graduate of Montclair State University in New Jersey, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree and holds the Associate in Risk Management designation. Professionally, he has written and spoken extensively on a wide range of risk management and insurance topics, including cyber risk mitigation techniques and private equity's exposure to directors & officers liability claims.

Mark Millard can be reached at:

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants

55 Madison Avenue - Suite 400, Morristown, NJ 07960

mark.millard[at]epicbrokers.com

973-241-1953 office

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 http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Dave Hock

EPIC

650.295.4608

[email protected]

Nicole Conley

408.295.4309 x104

[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


"This was a very savvy move by Nathan from Madison to Lex, and I think we'll see more art galleries following him to open up along this corridor," said Faith Hope Consolo, Chairman of the Worldwide Leasing & Sales Team at Douglas Elliman.

Nathan A. Bernstein & Co. is known for showcasing masters Monet, Leger, Renoir, Picasso, Klee, as well as contemporary artists Warhol, Koons, Basquiat, Nara and Wang, and building museum-quality collections over the past three decades.

"Art in New York City thrives, and the big institutions, like the Park Avenue Armory, on Park and 66th, complement the galleries already here, including Gallery 71, a block up on Lex, which make this a neighborhood where collectors come to treasure hunt," Consolo said.

Along this corridor, the Worldwide Leasing & Sales Team also arranged the leases for pop art gallery Diamondocity at 958 Lexington and for designer antiques furniture gallery L'Art de Vivre Antiques at 978 Lexington.

"Between 70th and 74th is what we call 'Baby Madison'  it's like a little French neighborhood on the Left Bank, with the art galleries, the patisseries, and all the right shopping, of course."

The Worldwide Leasing & Sales Team at Douglas Elliman exclusively represented both the landlord and the tenant in the transaction.

Recognized worldwide as the "Queen of Retail," Faith Hope Consolo is sought out for her expertise as a consultant and retail broker, playing a major role in revitalizing and sculpting retail corridors in New York and around the world. As chairman of Douglas Elliman's Retail Group, she is responsible for the most successful commercial division of New York's largest residential real estate brokerage firm.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379493

SOURCE Douglas Elliman
WASHINGTON, June 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One of the charges against David Daleiden in Harris County, Texas was dismissed yesterday by Judge Diane Bull, who ruled that the indictment for the misdemeanor charge against Daleiden claiming he attempted to purchase baby body parts was void. Daleiden still faces a felony charge for allegedly using a fake driver's license to conceal his identity during the undercover investigation of Planned Parenthood.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:

"I am grateful that Judge Diane Bull was able to see through what appears to be a baseless charge that is politically-motivated. There was no transaction or attempted transaction to suggest Daleiden was actually buying aborted baby body parts. Of course the charges against Daleiden screams the question: why didn't the District Attorney charge Planned Parenthood for selling the body parts? You can't have a buyer without a seller.

"The Harris County judge overseeing the felony false identification charge against Daleiden should follow the example of Judge Bull in dismissing the indictment, and realize that these charges against Daleiden are nothing but naked political intimidation and attempts to silence the truth of what the abortion industry is doing.

"I also urge California Attorney General Kamala Harris to follow the lead of Judge Bull and return Daleiden's undercover footage exposing the sale of baby body parts, which was illegally seized by the state in violation of Daleiden's constitutional rights. It is time to end this political bullying of Daleiden and his colleagues who simply exposed the abhorrent sale of aborted children's organs. It is Planned Parenthood, biotech companies, and the abortion industry that need to be investigated further, not those who expose their illegal and heinous activities," Perkins concluded.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150422/200566LOGO

SOURCE Family Research Council

Related Links

http://www.frc.org


PUNE, India, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The report "Fiber Cement Market by Material (Portland cement, Sand, Fiber, And Other Materials Including Paints and Additives), Application (Siding, Roofing, Molding & Trim, and Other Applications), End-Use (Residential and Non-Residential) - Forecast to 2021" published by MarketsandMarkets, The market is projected to grow from USD 13.75 Billion in 2016 to USD 17.38 Billion by 2021, at an estimated CAGR of 4.80%.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )



Browse 159 market data Tables with 52 Figures spread through 184 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Fiber Cement Market"



http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/fiber-cement-market-186027265.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

This growth is due to growing construction activities, globally. A stringent regulation against the use of asbestos cement also provides an opportunity to the market to grow further, especially in the emerging Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions.

Residential sector to gain maximum traction during the forecast period

The residential sector is projected to be the fastest-growing segment by 2021. Favorable and lenient lending policies initiated by governments across all regions are one of the major factors driving this sector. Durability and aesthetics of fiber cement for applications such as siding and roofing have made them a popular choice in the residential construction market.

The siding segment contributes maximum market share to the Fiber Cement Market

Fiber cement siding is the largest application area. This is because fiber cement siding does not require maintenance and is impervious to degradation. Also, growing construction projects, both residential and commercial, have driven the market in this segment. Other application areas of fiber cement are roofing, molding & trim, countertops, and backer boards.

Make an Enquiry: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=186027265

Asia-Pacific to play a key role in the market for fiber cement

On the basis of key regions, the market for fiber cement is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World (RoW). The Asia-Pacific region is the most attractive market for fiber cement. Rising economy and rapid growth in the infrastructure sector in this region have significantly impacted the growth of fiber cement. This region is projected to see the highest number of new constructions and infrastructural activities in the near future.

The global market for fiber cement is dominated by large players such as Etex Group NV (Belgium), James Hardie Industries PLC (Ireland), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA (France), and Toray Industries Inc (Japan). Other players in this market include CSR Limited (Australia), The Siam Cement Public Company Limited (Thailand), Nichiha Fiber Cement (Japan), Plycem USA, Inc. (U.S.), and Cembrit Holding A/S (Denmark).

Browse Related Reports:

Investment Analysis of Construction Industry in GCC Countries (Contracts, Investments, Underway and Planned Projects (Major Construction Projects, Oil & Gas, Residential), Raw Material Trade Information, Opportunity Analysis)

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/investment-analysis-gcc-construction-239406153.html

Dry Construction Market by Type (Supporting Framework & Boarding), Material (Metal, Wood, Plasterboard, Plastic, & Others), System (Wall, Ceiling, Flooring, & Others), Application (Residential & Non- Residential) & Region - Trends and Forecast to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/dry-construction-market-230745531.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.



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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Fitango Health, a leading provider of population health management technology, released an innovative remote patient monitoring module today at the 2016 AHIP Institute and Expo in Las Vegas, NV. The complete solution is fully integrated with Fitango Health's collaborative patient engagement and care management platform.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/379362LOGO

"Care providers have recently become much more adept at using the technology that is now automatically available in devices which track vital measurements," stated Dr. Dov Biran, CEO of Fitango Health, "We believe our integrated platform can assist in taking these advances to patients in remote settings as well."

Through Fitango Health, patients and providers can connect using a full suite of outreach services including multi-point video, email or text alerts. Providers will be able to review vital data from devices measuring temperature, blood pressure or blood glucose, to name a few, and then proactively create Care Plans in response to patient needs. This enhanced interaction enables providers with patients in remote areas to address health issues before they escalate.

Our integrated platform can assist as a communication hub in taking the technological advances in healthcare and device monitoring to patients in remote settings, allowing for a continuous care model. Further, Fitango Health's unique patient engagement components available via web or mobile access, allow participants and their family members to have daily interaction with health information, metrics and providers.

"Fitango Health's collaborative system allows providers to extend care beyond their point-of-care facilities and provides a mechanism to intervene with patients to ensure a healthier population and better outcomes," said Matt Morris, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Fitango Health, "This is a critical component to care management in rural areas, as well as other parts of the country."

The Fitango Health suite helps patients better understand and be more involved in their health through a range of engagement mechanisms that are competitive, social and fun. Compliance tools track adherence to medications and personal plans, and points can be awarded for positive behaviors. Patients can invite family and friends to act as Motivators, allowing them to receive alerts when they are non-compliant with their plans.

About Fitango Health

Fitango Health, Inc., an innovative developer of healthcare technology solutions, was founded in 2010 by a group of experienced entrepreneurs and health care specialists. Our mission is to help healthcare organizations improve the monitoring of collaborative care, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and increase care plan adherence at a lower cost.

Matthew J. Morris

Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Email

o: 212.956.0555 x.307

m: 310.291.2639

119 W 57th St., #615 | New York, NY 10019

www.fitangohealth.com

SOURCE Fitango Health, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.fitangohealth.com


Progressive Grocer's "Top Women in Grocery" is the industry's leading awards program that recognizes the outstanding contributions of female leaders in the retail food industry. Candidates are nominated for one of three award categories  Senior-Level Executives, Rising Stars and Store Managers  which represent all levels in the industry within both the retailer and supplier communities.

Beth Faught, Natalie Runyan and Kari Sims were nominated as Rising Stars. Faught is Division Manager at CROSSMARK and manages a national retail team of more than 600 sales and marketing specialists representing the Hill's Pet Nutrition brands. Over the past year, Faught has created innovative solutions to deliver business results and sales growth for her client, executing more than 100,000 in-store events in pet specialty retailers across the nation, engaging 1.5 million pet shoppers around the Hill's Pet Nutrition brands.

Runyan is Director at CROSSMARK, responsible for the implementation and development of the company's Net Promoter Program (NPP). In this capacity, she directly connects with CROSSMARK's entire customer and client base, working closely with the teams that own these relationships to assess performance that leads to targeted improvement. Through her detailed analysis of the NPP data, she helps to remove barriers and deepen relationships with current clients.

Sims is Director Retail Operations at CROSSMARK, leading the company's 70-person retail team that drives in-store activity and execution for Kimberly-Clark. Prior to moving into this role, Sims supported multiple clients in 2015 as Director of Client Services on the Field Intelligence Team, achieving top revenue goals and on-boarding a dozen new clients during the year. She also led several important client initiatives that improved performance and financial metrics.

Katherine Fuller and Sheila Gamble were nominated as Senior Level Executives. Fuller is Vice President/Managing Director at CROSSMARK and manages the syndicated and Field Intelligence Team client engagement groups, representing a client portfolio of more than $100 million. In this role, she is accountable for developing and sustaining deep relationships with each of her clients. While her primary focus is client engagement, she also drives multiple initiatives across CROSSMARK to enhance both client and operational wins.

Gamble is Senior Vice President of Client Development at CROSSMARK, overseeing more than 150 individuals in the Client Services group who manage consumer goods clients across the U.S. Combined, these corporate clients generate more than $300 billion in annual industry retail sales. During 2015, Gamble led a major change in the company's go-to client strategy, which has successfully positioned CROSSMARK for future growth.

"We are proud of these women's inclusion in the 2016 Top Women in Grocery listing," said Steve Schuckenbrock, CROSSMARK CEO. "They are dedicated team players with a deep understanding of the food and retail industries. They work tirelessly every day to ensure CROSSMARK's customers and clients get the best experience possible, and it's nice to see their hard work recognized by an industry leading trade magazine."

Winners will be formally honored at a gala awards celebration, where finalists are individually recognized with an engraved award before a crowd of industry luminaries, colleagues and invited guests from across the country.

About CROSSMARK

CROSSMARK is a leading sales and marketing services company that provides growth solutions for consumer-branded suppliers and retailers. For more than 100 years, CROSSMARK has helped the world's most powerful brands achieve their business objectives across major classes of trade. Expertise includes Headquarter Sales, Retail Merchandising, Retailer Solutions, Shopper and Consumer Engagement, In-Store Events, Experiential Marketing, Shopper Marketing, In-Store Data Collection & Field Intelligence, and Analytics & Insights.

CROSSMARK is majority owned by Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, CROSSMARK employs over 40,000 people throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/379407

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SOURCE CROSSMARK

Related Links

http://www.crossmark.com


WASHINGTON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Robert Weiner, a former spokesman for the Clinton White House and senior members of Congress, and senior policy analyst Ben Lasky have written a Charleston Post and Courier article, "FLAGS LOWERED, BUT GUNS STILL RAISED", on the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting at the Emanuel AME Church. Weiner and Lasky argue that Ted Cruz was correct when he said that the 2016 presidential election is critical in terms of the future of the Supreme Court's actions on guns, but not for the reason Cruz asserted of continuing to block gun access reforms. Weiner and Lasky say exactly the opposite: With the right choice, the "one vote" sought by Cruz to replace Antonin Scalia, who recently died, could instead lead to "flipping decisions regarding the Second Amendment" and "can save thousands of lives."

Weiner and Lasky begin, "June 17 marks the one year anniversary of the shootings and murders of nine victims at Emanuel AME Church. While the Confederate Flag has been taken down throughout South Carolina, mass shootings haven't stopped, as the June 12 horrific mass killing of fifty in Orlando shows once again. Guns and assault weapons aren't any harder to buy."

They argue, "Though he lost the nomination, Ted Cruz was right when he said that the 2016 election is important to the future of the Supreme Court and the Second Amendment. On Feb. 14, Cruz appeared on 'Meet the Press' and said, 'We are one justice away from the Second Amendment being written out of the constitution altogether.' Cruz, a Constitutional lawyer, knows that the Supreme Court can't simply get rid of an amendment. However, it can interpret it, and the one justice to replace Scalia could cause more murders, or slow down the carnage. If on the other side, one new Justice could slow down the carnage."

They write, "Both D.C. v. Heller (2008) and McDonald v. Chicago (2010) were 5-4 decisions, with one of the five being the late Antonin Scalia. One judge has the ability to turn them both over and prevent thousands of preventable deaths."

They continue, "Every year, 33,000 people die by guns, partially because of the then-majority's decision to ignore a modifying phrase in Article Two of the Constitution. When is the last time anyone heard the modifier, 'Informing a militia' when Second Amendment defenders talk about their 'right' to own a firearm? They're wrong. If part of the National Guard, sure, someone must have a gun. However, where is it stated that everyone has the right to own a gun? In his opinion representing the four dissenters in McDonald v. Chicago, Justice Breyer wrote, 'In sum, the Framers did not write the Second Amendment in order to protect a private right of armed self-defense. There has been, and is, no consensus that the right is, or was, 'fundamental.'"

They go on, "Amazingly, the Supreme Court Justices majority of one followed a special interest NRA-leadership position, whereas polling consistently shows that 80 to 90 percent of Americans support reforms such as increased background checks. According to a 2012 poll by Republican pollster Frank Luntz, even among the NRA, 74 percent of its members support background checks on gun transactions."

They explain, "After the Charleston shooting, South Carolina's revered congressman, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), the Assistant House Democratic Leader, announced the introduction of the Background Check Completion Act, which would close a loophole that allowed shooter Dylann Roof to purchase a firearm. 'Tragically, the Charleston shooter was allowed to purchase a gun even though the FBI had not completed his background check. My bill is a commonsense fix to our nation's gun laws, and I call on my colleagues in Congress to move it immediately towards passage,' Clyburn said. Unsurprisingly, in the Republican House, the bill is languishing.

They say, "Many will tell you that the problem isn't guns, but mental illness as a decoy against doing anything about guns. However, a May 19 Washington Post article finds that 'Most mass shooters aren't mentally ill.' Michael Stone, a forensic psychiatrist at the Colombia College of Physicians and Surgeons, found that only two out of every 10 mass killers is likely to be helped by the mental health system. The other eight suffer from various personality disorders that would not be helped."

They continue, "When Roof shot the nine people at Emanuel AME, he did it for no other reason than the color of their skin. According to survivors, when Roof was asked why he was shooting, he replied, 'I have to do it. You rape our women and you're taking over our country. And you have to go.'"

They write, "Many believed that the Confederate flag represented that racism, and it was the right move to replace it in July, 2015. However, as we mark the anniversary of the shooting, removing the flag was only symbolic. Had Roof not had a gun, those who attended the Bible study that night probably would have survived. The sole purpose of a gun is to maim and kill quickly."

Weiner and Lasky conclude, "How could Charlestonand Newtown, Columbine, Virginia Tech, San Bernardino, and now Orlando--not motivate action? Florida Governor Rick Scott said June 12 that 'now is not the time' to debate ease of gun ownership. That would be never, if the NRA leadership has their way, again. The best commemoration of the sad anniversary of the souls murdered at Emanuel AME Church would be to pass Congressional legislation like Clyburn's --and to act on Cruz's warning of what one new Supreme Court Justice could change but by finding one who properly reads the Second Amendment."

Link to article: http://www.postandcourier.com/20160615/160619643/flags-lowered-but-guns-still-raised

Contacts: Bob Weiner/Ben Lasky 301-283-0821, cell 202-306-1200 [email protected]

SOURCE Robert Weiner Associates and Solutions for Change
youtu.be/7qg7NBY8Gm8

All Proceeds from "THE FIGHT" benefit The Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal

TORONTO, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - In grateful appreciation to firefighters and first responders, Fort McMurray's rock band FREEDOM'S NOTE and their song/video "THE FIGHT" have hit 180,000 views (Facebook, YouTube combined) in the first week of release (June 8th).

Having just returned to their homes, Donny Synard (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Danny Fewer (lead guitar, backup vox), Mark Stewart (bass, backup vox) and Trevor Lethbridge (drums), evacuated with over 80,000 others from Fort McMurray in early May. "We didn't have time to properly pack anything," said Donny Synard, "we literally grabbed our families and left before the highway to Fort McMurray was closed. We left everything behind  our personal possessions and our gear. Currently, we are in the process of replacing what we lost in the fires."

The displacement of Freedom's Note contributed to Donny and Danny writing, 'THE FIGHT'  an anthem of appreciation to firefighters and first responders that acted with speed and military precision during this devastation. While 'THE FIGHT' was recorded, produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Grammy-nominated Johnny Gasparic at multi-award winning studio, MCC Recording Studio, Calgary, Freedom's Note extends an extra special thank you to Shane Gaalaas at Crumb Studios in Los Angeles for donating his talents and studio time by performing and recording the drum track on 'THE FIGHT'.

"I was approached by my old friend Dave Temple from MCC Recording Studio about recording the drum track for the band," said Shane Gaalaas (B'z). "I gladly obliged. I grew up in Alberta; my father worked in Fort Mac during the 60's. So this tragedy, really hits home for me. I am really happy "The Fight" is getting so much attention for such a great cause. I am grateful that I could be a small part of it."

With video compilation and production by Matthew Jensen of JensenWorks Technology in Kelowna, utmost appreciation and respect for the media and individuals who filmed is acknowledged. The combined visuals are headshaking, heart-wrenching and resonate an underlying sense of hope.

All proceeds from the purchase of 'THE FIGHT' will be donated to the Red Cross for the Alberta Fires Appeal. Click here freedomsnote.com/the-fight to purchase.

About Freedom's Note:

Originally from Newfoundland, and currently based in Fort McMurray, Freedom's Note have opened for Kim Mitchell, Finger Eleven, Trooper, Simple Plan, Motley Crue's Vince Neil, and Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver fame. Responding to the devastation from wildfires that have swept through Fort McMurray, the community of Brooks, AB hosted a fundraising event on May 14th at their Centennial Regional Arena. With overwhelming support from the community, Fort McMurray's rock band Freedom's Note, along with other local bands, helped raise over $100,000 in funds and necessity supplies which required three flatbed trucks to transport the donated items to the Canadian Red Cross and distributed to evacuees.

Freedom's Note will be among some incredible talent performing at The Rivoli on Friday, June 24th with 94.9 The Rock Presents: HOLD THE FORT  Giving Back to Fort Mac Toronto Style: A Benefit to support The Red Cross Alberta's Fire Appeal. Find out more here freedomsnote.com/hold-the-fort

SOURCE Freedom's Note
ONTARIO, Calif., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ANTOP Antenna, a global leader in the manufacturing and marketing of digital indoor and outdoor TV antennas, will be offering a full suite of 28 different Over-The-Air digital TV antenna models allowing consumers multiple options to enjoy the freedom of no-cost broadcast TV. From their new Southern California-based headquarters, ANTOP will market Over-The-Air digital TV antennas to support consumers as they continue to "cut-the-cord."

"We're focused on providing superior customer service and offering the best Over-The-Air TV signal reception solutions for consumer home, recreational vehicle, and marine antenna use," said Eric Jiang, ANTOP vice president. "Our 2016 line up of indoor and outdoor antennas illustrate why we've been a leader in the design, engineering, and manufacturing of TV antennas and signal distribution products for more than 36 years."

Antenna styles from ANTOP include indoor and outdoor models to better suite user needs.

Indoor models

The popular Paper Thin, featuring a lightweight, ultra-thin .02 of an inch design

Curved and Flat Panels models, sleek and elegant

And, the more traditional Ring model with telescoping antenna

New Concept Outdoor Models

The Wing, Butterfly and Flat Panel, feature slim compact designs and utilize innovative weather-resistant materials.

Ideal for the Do-It-Yourself crowd, these outdoor models are engineered for easy installation.

Each ANTOP antenna is supported by a dedicated team of international (US/China/Europe) product engineers. From initial concepts to manufacturing and final testing, product engineers control all the variables in the development process cycle to ensure consumers receive the highest quality products. The ANTOP engineering team enables the company to quickly respond to changing technologies and consumer needs. Consumers can expect ANTOP to continuously release new innovative antenna products that will increase their HDTV viewing experience.

In terms of innovations:

The Smart Pass Amplifier, an exclusive technology offered only by ANTOP, uses an all-in-one design to allow an easier connection and deliver the correct balance between short and long range reception.

4G LTE filter. ANTOP was the first antenna manufacturer to include a built in filter in all their products to block 3G and 4G wireless signals to ensure noise-free digital TV reception.

Committed to providing superior customer service, the opening of ANTOP's Southern California headquarters will allow the company to better service trade customers and support consumers as the trend to "cut-the-cord" from cable and satellite pay TV services continues to grow. Sales and Marketing and Logistics and Customer Service functions will be directed from the new headquarters to support the company's North American growth objectives. With the new office in place and staff continuing to come on board, ANTOP is moving forward with plans on expanding its brand presence in the region by opening retailer, distributor and on-line sales channels to better service consumers. Currently consumers may purchase ANTOP antennas at various on line stores, but soon to be, available on shelves at selected retailers throughout the US.

ANTOP has built a gold star reputation within a global industry by presenting a corporate culture of cooperation and respect while delivering mutually-beneficial high quality antenna solutions to business partners and consumers alike. Based on a commitment to quality, engineering, research, and customer experience, ANTOP indoor and outdoor antennas lead the way in product satisfaction and value. ANTOP combines aesthetically pleasing product designs suitable to match a wide range of home decor styles and the latest antenna technology to provide a crystal clear HDTV over the air TV reception. Providing innovative solutions leads ANTOP's future development.

About ANTOP: Established in 1980, ANTOP is focused on providing superior customer service and offering the best Over-The-Air TV signal reception solutions for consumer Home, Recreational Vehicle, and Marine antenna use. ANTOP has also successfully developed, manufactured and marketed professional grade CATV, MATV and SMATV signal distribution products and telecommunication antennas. Visit www.antopantenna.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379797LOGO

SOURCE ANTOP Antenna

Related Links

http://www.antopantenna.com


ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. ("Hannon Armstrong," or the "Company") (NYSE: HASI) announced today that it is commencing a public offering of 3,850,000 shares of common stock. The Company expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 577,500 additional shares of common stock.

BofA Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo Securities and Baird are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. The underwriters propose to offer the shares of common stock from time to time for sale in negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The offering will be made only by means of a preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, which have been filed with the SEC. A copy of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus related to the offering can be obtained by contacting: BofA Merrill Lynch, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by e-mailing [email protected]; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department; Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 375 Park Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10152, Attention: Equity Syndicate, or by telephone at 800-326-5897, or by e-mailing [email protected]; or Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Attention: Syndicate Department, 777 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, or by telephone at 800-792-2473 or by e-mailing at [email protected].

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the offered shares, nor shall there be any sale of such shares in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About Hannon Armstrong

Hannon Armstrong provides debt and equity financing to the energy efficiency and renewable energy markets. The Company focuses on providing preferred or senior level capital to established sponsors and high credit quality obligors for assets that generate long-term, recurring and predictable cash flows. The Company is based in Annapolis, MD.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and 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. When used in this press release, the words such as "believe," "expect, "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "may," or similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on such statements. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include those discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" included in the Company's report on Form 10-K that was filed with the SEC, as well as in other reports that the Company files with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements are based on beliefs, assumptions and expectations as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements reflecting new estimates, events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

Contact: Investor/Media Relations

Phone: 410-571-6189

Email: [email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160203/329541LOGO

SOURCE Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.hannonarmstrong.com


NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The healthcare biometrics market is projected to reach USD 2,848.3 million by 2021 from USD 1,182.6 million by 2016, at a CAGR of 19.2% during the forecast period. The growth of this market is majorly driven by government initiatives to support the implementation of biometrics in healthcare facilities and increasing healthcare fraud & medical identity theft. On the other hand, the high cost of biometric devices and issues related to the use of biometric technologies are the major factors limiting the growth of the market.



North America commanded the largest share of the global healthcare biometrics market in 2015 and is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 20.2% during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to increasing government initiatives to ensure data protection and the security of healthcare facilities and presence of large number of prominent players. Owing to this, biometric technologies are increasingly being adopted to comply with stringent laws such as HIPAA and HITECH.



The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was passed as a federal law in the U.S. to safeguard the confidentiality of Electronic Protected Health Information (EPHI) of patients. Under this law, covered entities such as healthcare clearing houses, health plans, and healthcare providers, who transmit EPHI as a part of their business, are obligated to employ reasonable and appropriate levels of security to control access to EPHI. Additionally, healthcare organizations that violate any HIPAA regulations face significant financial penalties. This changing regulatory scenario in the North American region has resulted in an upsurge in the demand for efficient security measures in order to comply with these norms.



Apart from the comprehensive regional analysis, product analysis, and market sizing, the report also provides a competitive landscape that covers growth strategies adopted by industry players over the last three years. The company profiles comprise basic views on key players and their product portfolios, developments, and strategies adopted. The above-mentioned market research data, current market sizes, and forecast of future trends will help key players and new entrants make informed decisions regarding product offerings, geographical focus, change in strategic approach, R&D investments, and levels of output in order to remain successful.



Reasons to Buy the Report:

The report will enrich both established firms as well as new entrants/smaller firms to gauge the pulse of the market, which in turn will help firms, garner a greater market share. Firms purchasing the report can use any one or a combination of the below-mentioned five strategies (market penetration, product development/innovation, market development, market diversification, and competitive assessment) for strengthening their market shares.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

- Market Penetration: Comprehensive information on the product portfolios of the top players in the healthcare biometrics market. The report analyzes the healthcare biometrics market by technology, application, end user, and region

- Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, R&D activities, and new product launches in the healthcare biometrics market

- Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market strategies, geographical and business segments, and product portfolios of the leading players in the healthcare biometrics market

- Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative emerging markets. The report analyzes the market for healthcare biometrics market across geographies

- Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products and services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the healthcare biometrics market



Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03878146-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

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DALLAS, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Higginbotham and AmeriCap Insurance Group, Inc. announced today the merger of their operations. Higginbotham is based in Fort Worth, Texas, and ranked by revenue as one of the largest independent insurance brokers of U.S. business, and AmeriCap is an independent broker based in Dallas with offices in Hurst and Sherman and a workforce of 25. Combined, the group has 50 Dallas-area insurance, risk management and employee benefit professionals backed by another 720 in 24 offices across the state.

This is the third merger Higginbotham has completed this year as part of a growth initiative started in 2008. The firm is expanding statewide by partnering with brokers that add capacity to its "single source" service model and geographic scale to its operation. Higginbotham founded its Dallas office in 1999, its third location at the time.

"This partnership literally doubles our manpower in Dallas," said Higginbotham President/CEO Rusty Reid. "What drives our growth strategy is our desire to give customers a single resource for all their insurance and financial services while keeping their business local. Adding partners like AmeriCap to Higginbotham lets us continue to give customers personal attention no matter our size."

Jeff Strahan and Brook Crawford started AmeriCap in 2012. A young management team dedicated to serving middle-market businesses commonly undervalued by large brokers propelled the agency's fast-paced growth. AmeriCap developed into a full-service practice with more than 1,500 business and individual clients through organic growth and acquisitions.

Jeff Strahan, AmeriCap principal, added, "Higginbotham focuses its efforts on mid-sized companies in Texas and makes services like loss control, employee benefit administration and compliance that are typically reserved for large national companies accessible to them. We have similar service philosophies, and Higginbotham's size gives us the substance to back it up."

AmeriCap will continue operating under the leadership of Managing Director Jeff Strahan at 15770 North Dallas Parkway, near the dynamic business community at Dallas North Tollway and Belt Line Road.

About AmeriCap

AmeriCap Insurance Group, Inc. is an independent property/casualty insurance, employee benefit and life insurance broker serving business and individuals in the Dallas Metroplex. It opened in 2012 with a mission to make the caliber of services offered by national brokers accessible to middle market customers without sacrificing personal account support. Visit www.americapgroup.com for more information.

About Higginbotham

Higginbotham is a single source for insurance and financial services that brokers business insurance, employee benefits, retirement plans, executive benefits, life insurance and home/auto insurance from more than 250 regional and national carriers. It supplements coverage with in-house risk management and benefit plan administration services. The firm was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, with 23 additional offices statewide. Higginbotham ranks as the nation's 32nd largest independent insurance brokerage firm based on revenue (Business Insurance, July 2015). Visit www.higginbotham.net for more information.

SOURCE Higginbotham

Related Links

http://www.higginbotham.net


Now known as Wuyuan County, the area has been famous for calligraphy and literature since the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). One of the highlights of the day's events was a demonstration on the village's iconic Tianjie Street of how to make inkstones, which were used in ancient China for the storage of ink. Huizhou's inkstone is one of the four great inkstones of China, and was highly sought after by writers in later dynasties.

"Civilization is universal," said Elliot Conner, a tourist from United States who stopped by to watch craftsman chiseling the inkstones. "Although I come from an entirely different cultural background, I can learn more and understand more of the Huangling and Chinese culture through these exhibitions of folk customs and cultural heritages. I think it's a great opportunity for everyone to experience the history in person through interactive events just like this."

Together with the inkstones, Suzhou embroidery, Jialu paper umbrellas and the three Huizhou carvings (wood carving decorations on Hui-style buildings) were among the intangible heritages presented to tourists during the folk customs carnival.

On the day, the crowd on Tianjie Street also enjoyed the live cooking of famous Wuyuan delicacies and tasted the fresh local flavors, including the Wuyuan steamed cake, a savory snack made with rice milk fermented with distiller's yeast that's then steamed in clay pot and seasoned with dried shrimp, bamboo shoots and green onion.

Huangling will also be presenting visitors the performance of a Huizhou style wedding ceremony in July. The wedding ceremony will allow visitors from around the world to learn about the traditional Southern Chinese wedding. The ancient village wedding features escorting the bride, traveling by bridal sedan chair -- a traditionally decorated carriage carried by two or more porters -- performing formal bows, a traditional wedding feast and more.

Wu Xiangyang, CEO of Wuyuan Rural Culture Development Co., Ltd., said that the culturally rich Huangling Village has much more to offer than flower seas in the spring and serene mountain scenery, and the many cultural events in the village can entertain visitors throughout the year.

"The folk customs and traditions are bringing back the original vitality and endless possibilities for the ancient Huangling Village," Wu said. "By continuous exploration of cultural heritage, Huangling is presenting everyone a new perspective on China."

About Huangling

Located in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province, China, Huangling attracts visitors from all over the world. The quaint and elegant village has preserved and maintained its ancient Hui-style architecture and offers an authentic Chinese countryside travel experience. Praised as the most beautiful countryside in China, the unique view of shaiqiu can only be found in Huangling, where baskets of colorful harvest bask in the sunshine.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379495

SOURCE Wuyuan Rural Culture Development Co., Ltd.
ITATIAIA, Brazil, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading automotive interior components supplier International Automotive Components (IAC) is continuing its aggressive global growth with the opening of its first South American plant in Itatiaia, Brazil. The new 4,500 square-meter (48,437 square-foot) facility officially opened today and is expected to employ approximately 40-to-50 people when production reaches full capacity. It assembles and delivers highly crafted cockpits to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) do Brasil to support the production of the 2017 Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque premium sport utility vehicles (SUVs).

"As we strive to meet our OEM customers' worldwide demands, the development of our first South American plant is a testament to IAC's global capabilities," said IAC Chief Operating Officer (COO) Brian Pour. "In just six short months, we were able to set up our facility, get it operational and start supporting vehicle production."

IAC Itatiaia assembles cockpit components provided by five of the company's United Kingdom (UK) facilities, which are located in Halewood, Elmdon, Sunderland, Scunthorpe and Coleshill. The completed cockpits are delivered to the nearby JLR do Brasil in Itatiaia.

"Our presence in Brazil allows us to be a reliable strategic partner to Jaguar Land Rover's global expansion and successfully support the lean operations of this important customer," said Pour.

Currently employing 17 dedicated team members, the greenfield plant follows the IAC Production System (IPS) for lean operational excellence and is strategically located to support the customer's growth plans in the region.

ABOUT IAC

International Automotive Components (IAC) is a leading global supplier of automotive interiors components and systems. IAC's 2015 sales were $5.9 billion. The company operates 85 manufacturing facilities in 20 countries. IAC employs approximately 32,000 people around the world and is headquartered in Luxembourg. For more information, visit www.iacgroup.com.

An image of the new IAC Itatiaia, Brazil, facility can be downloaded at  https://www.dropbox.com/s/bqqub57cswuikff/IMG_1172_v02.jpg?dl=0

SOURCE International Automotive Components (IAC)

Related Links

http://www.iacgroup.com


SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Intersolar and ees North America, the most attended solar plus energy storage industry exhibition and conference dedicated to the North American market, will host more than 20 workshops this year to educate installers and project developers on the key trends and new products shaping the industry. The featured workshops this year are developed in partnership with the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA), the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP) and the National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Batteries (NAATBatt). For the third straight year, Intersolar North America will host CALSEIA's Contractor Day, an all-day, all-inclusive package deal designed for those involved in solar sales and installations, on Tuesday, July 12.

Information on the exhibition program, including Contractor Day, is available online.

As part of Contractor Day, attendees will pick from five workshops that cover the hot topics of running a solar business. At a special luncheon, CALSEIA's executive director Bernadette Del Chiaro will discuss the latest developments regarding rate structure and Net Energy Metering in an open-format Q&A session. Additionally, included in the special Contractor Day package is a ticket to Intersolar's premier networking event, the Solar Summerfest.

"We're pleased to be hosting Contractor Day at Intersolar to provide solar professionals with special access to workshops and programs designed just for them covering topics such as storage, permitting and HOA challenges, rate design, and marketing," said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of CALSEIA.

As an integral part of Intersolar's and ees' exhibition program, more than 20 workshops will feature product insights, discussions on solar and energy storage and more to help contractors gain an in-depth understanding of the products being showcased on the exhibition floor. As the first major solar plus energy storage industry event of the year in North America, Intersolar and ees attract 18,000 visitors from companies across the whole value chain to see firsthand the next-generation products from more than 500 exhibitors to help reduce costs, boost efficiency and drive the market forward.

CALSEIA's Solar Heating and Cooling Alliance (SH&C) will host a symposium to examine the impact these technologies can have on energy and natural gas consumption in California and across the U.S.. Industry SH&C experts will discuss industry trends, including emerging financing tools and commercial solar pool heating projects, and examine innovations to help these projects succeed.

With California positioned as the largest energy storage market in North America, Intersolar and ees North America is the perfect place for its partner NAATBatt to host two important workshops. The two workshops, "Making Money with Storage" and "What's Next in the Development of the California Energy Storage Market" will examine the future of the energy storage industry in California and beyond.

"Solar developers thinking about adding storage to their product offerings should attend the NAATBatt solar plus storage workshops on Wednesday, July 13," said James Greenberger, executive director of NAATBatt International. "The workshops will offer a frank assessment of how competing storage technologies compare and how developers can use them to enhance returns. The afternoon workshop will focus on the future of the California market and how developers can take advantage of the quickly growing and quickly changing storage opportunity in the Golden State."

Installers attending Intersolar and ees North America are able to attend at 12 NABCEP technical training and hands-on product workshops. NABCEP, Intersolar and ees selected exhibiting companies representing the latest in energy storage, mounting and racking systems, inverter and monitoring technologies. Attendees will earn 2 NABCEP CEUs for each two-hour workshop. Presenting companies include Anchor Products, Aquion Energy, eGauge Systems, Ginlong Technologies (Solis Inverters), GS Battery (U.S.A.) Inc., IronRidge, Quick Mount PV, Rolls Battery Engineering, SolarEdge Technologies Inc., sonnen, Inc., SunModo Corp., and Trojan Battery Company.

"As the U.S. solar market continues to break records and expand, installers across the country need to stay on top of the product trends and best practices that are streamlining the installation process, boosting efficiency and making solar a viable option for a variety of customers," said Don Warfield, Chairperson at NABCEP. "We're excited to partner with a variety of companies to offer in-depth technical training workshops and hands-on product workshops at Intersolar and ees North America this year, and help installers gain an edge in a competitive marketplace."

Exhibition Stages Offer Free Presentations on New Products, Market Trends

Attendees will be able to see more presentations from Intersolar and ees North America exhibitors on the Innovation & Application stage, located on Level 3 of Moscone West, and the ees stage on Level 2 of Moscone West. The Innovation & Application stage will feature free training programs to attendees, as well as 30-minute presentations from Intersolar AWARD finalists. On the ees stage, visitors will hear industry experts discuss their experience with production, sale, installation and application of batteries and energy storage systems, as well as presentations from ees AWARD finalists.

The Intersolar North America exhibition will be held July 12 to 14 at the Moscone Center West in San Francisco, and is co-located with both ees North America, the ideal platform to connect stakeholders in the rapidly growing energy storage market, and SEMICON West, the world's marketplace for microelectronics innovation. Registration for the exhibition and conference is available online. For a full listing of exhibition events, visit the online schedule.

About ees North America

The ees global exhibition series is the electrical energy storage industry's hotspot for manufacturers, distributors, users and suppliers of stationary and mobile storage solutions. ees exhibitions are organized in cooperation with Intersolar, the world's leading exhibition series for the solar industry.

The ees exhibitions and accompanying conferences are focused on storage solutions for renewable energy, from residential and commercial applications to large-scale storage systems for stabilizing the grids. ees also features energy management, electric transportation and uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

There are three ees events around the worldees North America in San Francisco, ees Europe in Munich, and ees India in Mumbai. The ees North America debuted in 2015 as a special exhibition in San Francisco. In 2016, ees North America becomes a stand-alone exhibition co-located with Intersolar North America.

With 100 expected exhibitors and 18,000 visitors at the co-located events, it will be the most-attended solar-plus-storage event in the U.S.

For more information on ees please visit www.ees-northamerica.com

About Intersolar North America

With events spanning four continents, Intersolar is the world's leading exhibition series for the solar industry and its partners. It unites people and companies from around the world with the aim of increasing the share of solar power in our energy supply.

Since its establishment in 2008, Intersolar North America has become the most attended solar event and the premier networking platform for the North American solar industry. Co-located with SEMICON West, Intersolar North America takes place annually at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, in the heart of the United States' pioneering solar market. The event will expand to host a co-located energy storage-focused exhibition, ees North America. ees grew out of Intersolar North America's popular energy storage exhibition segment.

A total of 521 exhibitors and around 17,835 visitors participated in Intersolar North America in 2015. The conference and exhibition program featured 47 sessions with more than 200 speakers and 25 workshops.

Intersolar North America's exhibition and conference focus on photovoltaics, energy storage systems, smart renewable energy and solar heating & cooling technologies. Since being founded, Intersolar has become the most important industry platform to connect manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service providers, policy makers, start-up founders, financiers, installers and partners in the global solar industry.

With 25 years of experience, Intersolar has the unique ability to bring together members of the solar industry from across the world's most influential markets and solar supply chain. Intersolar exhibitions and conferences are held in Munich, San Francisco, Mumbai, and Sao Paulo, and, starting in 2016, in Dubai. These global events are complemented by the Intersolar Summits, which take place in emerging and growing markets worldwide.

For more information on Intersolar North America, please visit: http://www.intersolar.us

Organizers: Intersolar North America is organized by Solar Promotion International GmbH, Pforzheim and Freiburg Management and Marketing International GmbH (FMMI).

SOURCE Intersolar North America

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MANCHESTER, England, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Potential investors in off-airport car parking at the UK's busiest and fastest growing airports are encouraged to experience the first class service in which they are considering investing.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/809544 )



Direct Airport Parking Investment, on behalf of the UK's leading provider of secure off-airport car parking Park First, arranges for its clients who are considering taking up this unique buy-to-let property opportunity to visit the facility they are interested in.

Cheshire-based Direct Airport Parking Investment is a master agent for Park First, which owns and manages world class off-airport car parking worth in excess of 190 million sited around some of the UK's busiest airports.

Park First is the company behind trusted industry names such as Direct Parking, Help Me Park, Cophall Parking, Park Safe, Park Fast, Swift Park and Park n Fly, operating successfully around London Gatwick and Glasgow international airports. The company is currently expanding its portfolio to include other major UK airports.

These brands all offer long stay car parking services for airport users, with a choice of Meet & Greet or Park & Ride services. Collectively they park tens of thousands of cars every year on their Park Mark approved car parks. They offer a stress free, round-the-clock service on secure car parks with the latest CCTV systems, meaning customers can leave their vehicles in the knowledge that they will be safe in their absence. Park First brands offer exceptional customer service and decades of experience.

Dean McDonough, Client Liaison Manager at Direct Airport Parking Investment said:

"It's very important to us that we offer anyone interested in investing in Park First the opportunity to experience their first class service for themselves. Visiting an off-airport car park in person and experiencing the service helps them to get a true feel for the quality product in which they are considering investing.

"From the premium quality buses used by Park & Ride services, to the highly professional staff working for Park First's Meet & Greet brands, from the quick transit times between car parks and terminals, to the superb condition of all car parks - experiencing all of this gives potential investors greater confidence in this unique opportunity."

Mrs K from London was considering investing and took up the opportunity to visit a Park First facility. She said:

"I am very happy with how everybody at Direct Airport Parking Investment dealt with me and how professional they all are, including the tour at Gatwick. After receiving our first year's rental up-front, we decided to purchase another space. We are very pleased to be able to meet a representative from the company face-to-face and this, along with the site tour, gave us confidence to invest with Direct Airport Parking Investment Limited."

With an outlay as low as 20,000, Park First investors own individual car parking spaces at growing UK airports, a tangible asset that will grow significantly in value over time and earn them an ongoing income. It is a low risk buy-to-let property investment that produces double digit returns. Investors are assured of an 8% return in each of the first two years of their investment, rising to a predicted 10% in years three and four and 12% in years five and six. Year three investors are already enjoying returns of up to 10.8%, exceeding the predicted 10% and far outstripping returns on more traditional investments such as shares and ISAs.

For more information about investing in off-airport car parking at major UK airports with Direct Airport Parking Investment Limited, visit www.directparkinginvestment.co.uk or call +44 (0) 161 820 4956.

SOURCE Direct Airport Parking Investment Ltd
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE), the world leader in visual scientific education and learning solutions, announced the launch of the first Clinical Skills video collections to their Science Education database today. The database provides simple, easy-to-understand video demonstrations of science methods and practices to support faculty and students in high schools and colleges, leading to more efficient, consistent student comprehension and success. The new Clinical Skills collections provide medical and nursing students a visual platform to more successfully learn how to perform everything from general physical examinations to specialized assessments.

"I'm very excited about this new Clinical Skills release, the videos will help students transition from classroom lectures to actual medical experiences," said Moshe Pritsker, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of JoVE. "These videos will help medical and nursing school students better visualize the intricacies of performing medical examinations."

The new Clinical Skills collections will showcase a variety of essential medical exams which are vital for medical and nursing students to understand. To help ensure that this understanding is achieved as consistently and deeply as possible, all of these essential Clinical Skills are taught through step-by-step video guides which can be indefinitely accessed by subscribers.

In previous JoVE Science Education collection releases, this unparalleled presentation of procedures has helped professors teach the foundations of scientific studies with more ease, efficiency, and depth than ever before possible. With the Clinical Skills collection debut, this same level of comprehension and skill-building is available to nursing students, medical students, and faculty.

To coincide with this new collection release, JoVE is now offering free trials until July 31st. During this trial period, institutions will receive full access to the Clinical Skills collections. Visit the Clinical Skills page to learn more and get started.

About JoVE

JoVE is the leading creator and publisher of video solutions that increase productivity in scientific research and education. JoVE has produced over 5,000 videos demonstrating experiments from laboratories at top research institutions; delivering them to millions of scientists, educators, and students worldwide. JoVE subscribers include over 900 universities, colleges, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, including Harvard, MIT, Yale, Stanford, and Princeton. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, JoVE maintains offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Visit the JoVE website to learn more.

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SOURCE Journal of Visualized Experiments

Related Links

http://www.jove.com


NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Kalorama Information, companion diagnostic testing continues to grow as new partnerships are formed and new tests marketed. The healthcare market research firm the values the market at approximately $1.6 billion in 2015, up 33% from two years earlier. In its report the firm uses a broad definition of companion diagnostics market, including both FDA-defined companion diagnostics and other personalized medicine testing. The firm suggests this segment is large and rapidly growing market, as researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and diagnostic companies are now starting to develop personalized medicine tests. The World Market for Companion Diagnostics analyzes the market for these aids in diagnosis that classify patients with disease-specific therapeutic targets that may dramatically improve outcomes.

"Our market estimate in this field is most accurate as it takes into account all paring of tests for any therapeutic purpose," said Bruce Carlson, Publisher of Kalorama Information. "We are looking at strict test/pair combination, but also non-required pharmacogenomics and tests supported by scientific literature but not yet in regulatory model."

As part of its market estimate, Kalorama Information includes:

Strict FDA defined companion diagnostics.

Pharmacogenomic biomarkers for which pharmacogenomics information is included in the drug labeling for approved drugs, but not required testing before the drug can be prescribed.

Biomarkers and Panels  Targeted Genes Supported by Scientific Literature: This includes tests for individual genes supported by the scientific literature and accepted for use in personalized medicine applications, and also panels of these genes.

Genetic Signatures to Predict Prognosis and/or Best Therapeutic Option

Antibiotic Resistance or Susceptibility Tests

Drug Metabolism Tests

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring  Especially tests that monitor serum blood levels and anti-drug antibodies for biological agents such as infliximab

Kalorama's report lists scores of products on the market and in development and companies involved in deals. It also notes a large amount of partnerships in the area. Companies working in the field of personalized medicine need to understand both the pharmaceutical and diagnostic markets (including regulatory and other issues), but many companies do not have expertise in both fields. This has lead to many agreements and acquisitions, and a large number of diverse deals. The growth in companion diagnostic testing is likely to continue, as many new therapies are being developed and commercialized.

The World Market for Companion Diagnostics covers the world market for companion diagnostic and personalized medicine diagnostics. Market analysis in the report includes the following: world IVD companion diagnostics test market (in vitro diagnostic kits) by region (North America, EU, rest of world), 2015-2020; world IVD companion diagnostics test market by disease segment, 2015 (cancer, other); and worldwide companion diagnostics test services market, 2015 and 2020.

The report provides profiles of selected pharmaceutical companies that are active in the fields of companion diagnostics or personalized medicine. They include companies that market drugs that have associated companion diagnostic tests, pharmaceutical companies that are collaborating with diagnostic companies to develop companion diagnostic tests, and companies with their own internal capabilities and activities in companion diagnostics. These include Pfizer, Inc., Novartis AG, Roche (F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.), Merck & Co., Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, and many more.

Also included in the report are profiles of companies that are active in the discovery and/or commercialization of companion diagnostics or other in vitro diagnostic tests for personalized medicine. This includes diagnostic companies that market kits that are used by clinical laboratories, and also diagnostic companies that are commercializing their novel diagnostic tests as a service offered to physicians, with the tests performed in the company's own CLIA certified laboratory. These include Abbott Laboratories, Beckman Coulter, Inc. (a subsidiary of Danaher Corporation), Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), bioMerieux SA, QIAGEN N.V., and others. The information presented in this report is derived from publicly available information sources such as company reports and announcements, government reports and databases, medical organization reports, medical associations, and other publications. The analysis is based on the author's industry knowledge combined with literature searches and discussions with industry professionals and experts in the areas of point-of-care tests, decentralized healthcare and healthcare economics.

The World Market for Companion Diagnostics can be found at Kalorama Information: http://www.kaloramainformation.com/Companion-Diagnostics-10101302/.

About Kalorama Information

Kalorama Information, a division of MarketResearch.com, supplies the latest in independent medical market research in diagnostics, biotech, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare; as well as a full range of custom research services. Reports can be purchased through Kalorama's website and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com.

We routinely assist the media with healthcare topics. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and our blog at www.kaloramainformation.com.

Contact:

Bruce Carlson

(212) 807-2622

[email protected]

www.KaloramaInformation.com

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SOURCE Kalorama Information

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DALLAS, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) today announced that Christa S. Quarles, CEO of OpenTable was elected to its board of directors, effective immediately.

"Christa is a proven leader with a track record of delivering results in the expanding world of digital commerce," said Thomas J. Falk, Chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark. "As we continue to execute on our growth strategy, I know Kimberly-Clark will benefit from Christa's strategic vision and financial and operational experience."

OpenTable is a leading provider of online restaurant reservations and part of The Priceline Group. Ms. Quarles was appointed CEO in November of 2015 after serving as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining OpenTable, Quarles served as Chief Business Officer of Nextdoor, Inc., and prior to that, she held positions of increasing responsibility with The Walt Disney Company, including Senior Vice President, General Manager, Mobile and Social Games. Before joining Disney, she served as Chief Financial Officer of Playdom, which was acquired by Disney in 2010. Earlier in her career, Ms. Quarles was a Managing Director in the equity research group of Thomas Wiesel Partners (now Stifel Financial), where she covered the internet sector.

Ms. Quarles graduated from Carnegie Mellon University and received a Master's degree in Business Administration from Harvard University.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trust K-C's brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the Company's 144-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

[KMB-F]

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SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation

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BitSight Security Ratings are a measurement of an organization's security performance and range from 250 to 900, where higher ratings equate to lower risk. Much like credit ratings, BitSight Security Ratings are generated through the analysis of externally observable data such as compromised machines, vulnerabilities in important communication protocols, and user behavior.

"Security Ratings provide a data-driven means for evaluating the security posture of an organization's third party vendors, as well as their own," said Ira Scharf, vice president and general manager of worldwide cyber insurance at BitSight. "Lockton is a leader in the cyber risk management market and we are pleased to be able to deliver additional value through BitSight Security Ratings to their clients."

Key Benefits

Continuously Monitor the Security Effectiveness of your Third Party Vendors

Prioritize and continuously manage cyber risk across your entire vendor ecosystem.



Prioritize and continuously manage cyber risk across your entire vendor ecosystem. Assess the Cyber Risk of Prospective Vendors

Quickly identify, quantify, and mitigate the risk inherent in sharing sensitive data with prospective vendors and business partners.



Quickly identify, quantify, and mitigate the risk inherent in sharing sensitive data with prospective vendors and business partners. Enable Third Parties to Remediate Security Issues

Provide BitSight platform access to vendors to view their rating and remediate any major security issues that arise.



Provide BitSight platform access to vendors to view their rating and remediate any major security issues that arise. Report Security Risk Metrics to the Board of Directors

Present complex cyber security topics to the Board via an intuitive interface and simple reports.

"We are always looking for ways to help our clients bolster their approach to information security," said Ben Beeson, cyber risk practice leader for Lockton. "We encourage our clients to use BitSight Security Ratings to reduce cyber risk across their entire business ecosystem."

About BitSight Technologies

BitSight Technologies is transforming how companies manage information security risk with objective, verifiable and actionable Security Ratings. Founded in 2011, the company offers a Security Rating Platform that continuously analyzes vast amounts of external data on security issues and behaviors in order to help organizations manage third party risk, underwrite cyber insurance policies, benchmark performance, conduct M&A due diligence and assess aggregate risk. Seven of the top 10 cyber insurers, 56 Fortune 500 companies, and 3 of the top 5 investment banks rely on BitSight to manage cyber risks. For more information, please visit www.bitsighttech.com, read our blog or follow @BitSight on Twitter.

About Lockton

More than 6,000 professionals at Lockton provide 48,000 clients around the world with risk management, insurance, employee benefits consulting, and retirement 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 magazine has recognized Lockton as a "Best Place to Work in Insurance." To see the latest insights from Lockton's experts, check Lockton Market Update.

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SOURCE Lockton

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"We are very pleased that both Primark and Zara share our vision of making Kings Plaza a 'must have' retail location in this densely populated trade area," said Randy Brant, Executive Vice President, Development, Macerich. "We have been pursuing this significant redevelopment opportunity since we purchased the property and we look forward to creating even more value at Kings Plaza."

Key details of the redevelopment include a three-level Primark on the north half of the building; a two-level Zara adjacent to the mall entrance, the first Brooklyn location announced for this retailer; plus room for several more high-profile retailers and restaurants. Beyond the addition of great retail brands, the redevelopment will include a new Flatbush Avenue entrance with a sweeping, four-level glass curtain wall to provide more natural light and greater visibility. The project also includes two new escalators and elevators, and striking building facade and exterior improvements. Construction is set to begin in early 2017.

"Transforming this space at Kings Plaza gives us tremendous opportunity to bring in a slate of market-leading new specialty retailers starting with Primark and Zara, and evolve the customer experience in line with what Brooklyn's trend-forward shoppers look for," said Doug Healey, Executive Vice President, Leasing, Macerich. "Just as Macerich accomplished with our Queens Center property  now consistently among the country's highest-performing regional malls in terms of sales per square foot  we are elevating both the merchandise mix and the overall experience at Kings Plaza, which dominates another densely populated New York City borough."

Primark, a fixture on the high streets of the UK and throughout Europe with over 300 stores in 11 countries, is growing its reputation as a destination retailer in the U.S. thanks to must-have styles for the whole family at affordable price points.

"We are pleased to announce that we will be opening a store in Kings Plaza mall, an exceptional shopping destination in New York City," said Paul Marchant, Primark Chief Executive. "This represents our 10th store in the Northeast of the United States."

The new Primark coming to Kings Plaza represents the third location in the Macerich portfolio for this exciting European import: The new Primark at Danbury Fair mall opened on June 10, and will be followed by a new store at Freehold Raceway Mall opening on July 16.

Since acquiring Kings Plaza, Macerich has renovated key elements of the interior space, updated the parking garage and successfully delivered many attractive new retailers including Michael Kors, Vince Camuto, Adidas, NYX Professional MakeUp, Kiko Milano, American Eagle plus Aerie, Vans, Zumiez, Footlocker with House of Hoops, Guess, Champs, Fossil and Solstice, as well as Chipotle and Starbucks. Kings Plaza is anchored by Macy's and Best Buy, plus dozens of well-known specialty retail stores including Forever 21, H&M, Victoria's Secret, A/X Armani Exchange, M.A.C and more.

About Primark

Primark is one of the largest clothing retailers in Europe, offering its customers quality, up-to-the-minute fashion at value-for-money prices. It has 310 stores and has approximately 60,000 permanent employees in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, France, Italy and the United States. Primark, which is a subsidiary of Associated British Foods plc, was founded in June 1969 in the Republic of Ireland and now operates from 11.8 million square feet of selling space across 11 countries. Primark has been ranked a Leader by the UK's Ethical Trading Initiative since 2011, and in March 2015, Greenpeace's Detox campaign recognized Primark as a leader on the issue of chemical management. Primark currently has three open stores in the U.S.  Boston Downtown Crossing, King of Prussia and Danbury Fair mall.

For more information on Primark, visit Primark.com or follow us @Primark on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Zara

Zara features on-trend apparel for women, men and children, such as outerwear, dresses, trousers, blouses, footwear, accessories and more. Zara is owned by the Inditex Group, one of the world's largest fashion retail groups. In addition to Zara, Inditex has seven other brands: Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home and Uterque. The Inditex Group has more than 7,000 stores in 90 markets. Inditex entered the U.S. in 1989 with Zara, when it opened its first store on New York's Lexington Avenue. Today, Zara operates 74 stores in more than 50 cities.

About Macerich

Macerich, an S&P 500 company, is a fully integrated self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust, which focuses on the acquisition, leasing, management, development and redevelopment of regional malls throughout the United States.

Macerich currently owns 55 million square feet of real estate consisting primarily of interests in 50 regional shopping centers. Macerich specializes in successful retail properties in many of the country's most attractive, densely populated markets with significant presence in the Pacific Rim, Arizona, Chicago and the Metro New York to Washington, D.C. corridor. Additional information about Macerich can be obtained from the Company's website: www.macerich.com

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SOURCE Macerich

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NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Match Group, Inc. (NASD: MTCH), the world's leading provider of dating products with a portfolio spanning more than 45 brands, announced today that it has hired senior political and media strategist Matt David as Vice President, Public Affairs. David's responsibilities will include media relations, corporate communications, policy initiatives, and marketing and PR strategy. David comes to Match Group from Outside Eyes where he was managing partner focused on public affairs and corporate positioning. He has also been a part of the last four presidential elections serving in various campaign roles for President Bush, Senator McCain, Governor Huntsman, and Governor Kasich.

"Matt's diverse experiences in both the political and business arena make him an ideal leader for a global company like Match Group," said Greg Blatt, Chairman and CEO of Match Group. "As we continue to grow our brands and provide innovative products for consumers, his blend of strategy, media and policy skills are invaluable. I've no doubt he will elevate our game meaningfully in this important area."

"Match Group is the leading global platform in a growing space that bridges technology and human connection, and I could not be more thrilled to join the team," said Mr. David. "The depth and breadth of the Match Group portfolio is impressive, and I am eager to begin working with the talented team Greg has amassed."

Match Group operates in over 190 countries. The company reported 21% revenue growth in its Q1 earnings call earlier this month. David has already started in his new role and is based in the Los Angeles offices.

About Matt David

Matt David's experience as a political and media strategist includes work for successful federal and state-level campaigns, Fortune 100 companies, and service in federal and state government. In addition to his work in the 2016 Presidential election cycle, David served as Managing Partner for Outside Eyes, a boutique communications and branding firm. He also held the role of partner at Outland Creative Works, a production company focused on digital media strategy.

David's work in government spans a number of high-profile campaigns and senior-level roles in government. In the 2012 Presidential election, David served as campaign manager for Governor Jon Huntsman's presidential bid. He also held prominent roles in the 2008 McCain presidential campaign, as well as the 2004 re-election campaign for President George W. Bush. From 2008 to 2010, David served as deputy chief of staff for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. David also served in the White House, in the administration of President George W. Bush.

About Match Group

Match Group is the world's leading provider of dating products. We operate a portfolio of over 45 brands, including Match, OkCupid, Tinder, Meetic, Twoo, OurTime, BlackPeopleMeet and FriendScout24, each designed to increase our users' likelihood of finding a romantic connection. Through our portfolio of trusted brands, we provide tailored products to meet the varying preferences of our users. We currently offer our dating products in 38 languages across more than 190 countries. In addition to our dating business, we also operate The Princeton Review, which provides a variety of test preparation, academic tutoring and college counseling services.

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SOURCE Match Group

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PLANO, Texas, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Monogram Residential Trust, Inc. (NYSE: MORE) ("Monogram" or the "Company"), an owner, operator and developer of luxury apartment communities with a significant presence in select coastal markets across the United States, today announced that it has reached an agreement with Snow Park Capital Partners, LP ("Snow Park"). Under the terms of the agreement, Monogram will appoint R. Scot Sellers to serve as an observer to its Board of Directors (the "Board"), effective immediately. Mr. Sellers will attend Monogram Board meetings as a non-voting observer subject to the terms of the agreement until the earlier of June 30, 2017 or the appointment to the Board of an independent director mutually agreed upon by Snow Park and the Company.

In connection with the agreement, Snow Park has agreed, among other things, to vote its shares in favor of each of the Monogram Board's nominees at the Company's 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, and subject to limited exceptions, abide by certain standstill provisions until June 30, 2017.

"We welcome open dialogue with stockholders, and are pleased to have reached this agreement with Snow Park," said Alan Patton, Chairman of the Board.

Mark Alfieri, Chief Executive Officer, noted, "We look forward to working productively with Mr. Sellers, who has an outstanding track record of value creation in our industry."

In addition, Monogram's Board has agreed to take all action necessary to permanently opt out of provisions of the Maryland Unsolicited Takeover Act ("MUTA"), without stockholder approval. This follows the previously announced proactive governance changes Monogram adopted in 2014 in conjunction with its public listing on the NYSE, including the adoption of a majority voting standard in uncontested elections, limitations on the ability to adopt a stockholder rights plan, and other significant changes.

"Under the leadership of Mr. Patton, the Monogram Board has in recent months added well known shareholder advocates Tammy Jones, Ben Moreland and Tim Pire, and with its legacy directors and the addition of Scot Sellers as an observer, this Board's composition is amongst the best in the industry," said Jeffrey Pierce, Managing Partner of Snow Park.

About R. Scot Sellers

Mr. Sellers was previously Chief Executive Officer of Archstone, one of the largest owners of apartment communities in the United States, a position he held from 1997 until 2013. Mr. Sellers had previously served in various roles at Archstone, including Chief Investment Officer, Senior Vice President and Managing Director. During Mr. Sellers' over 30-year career in the apartment business, he has been responsible for the development, acquisition and operation of over $40 billion of apartment communities in over 50 different cities across the United States. Mr. Sellers served as the Chairman of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts from November 2005 to November 2006. Mr. Sellers serves on the boards of directors of the Howard Hughes Corporation, the Irvine Company, Inspirato LLC and the international board of directors of Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Sellers received his M.B.A. from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and a B.S. from Lewis and Clark College.

About Monogram

Monogram is a fully integrated self-managed real estate investment trust that invests in, develops and operates high quality multifamily communities offering location and lifestyle amenities. Monogram invests in stabilized operating properties and properties in various phases of development, with a focus on communities in select markets across the United States. Monogram's portfolio includes investments in 55 multifamily communities in 10 states comprising 15,211 apartment homes.

About Snow Park

Snow Park Capital Partners, LP ("Snow Park") is an investment advisor that focuses on publicly traded real estate securities.

SOURCE Monogram Residential Trust, Inc.
Runcible, announced one year ago at Mobile World Congress, is modeled on the pocket watch and features a high resolution, fully round screen. The device includes wi-fi connectivity, a camera with unique workflows based on the round screen, and features designed to refocus users' attention on real people and the real world.

"Runcible is a totally new kind of device whose purpose and philosophy is antithetical to today's commodified smartphone. It's only natural that we drive a different and more open approach to co-creating its possibilities with our early adopters," said Aubrey Anderson, CEO and co-founder, Monohm Inc. "We wanted to provide an open reference device to unleash this creativity and co-discovery, versus taking a conventional approach where we launch a product that consumers are simply told to buy, consume, and replace."

Features and Benefits

High resolution, 640x640 fully round screen and palm-sized form factor modeled on devices that humans have always carried with them: the pocket watch, the compass, the magical stone that fits the palm of our hand.

modeled on devices that humans have always carried with them: the pocket watch, the compass, the magical stone that fits the palm of our hand. Open Source, top to bottom: Runcible's operating system is based on Open Web Standards and the Android Open Source Project. You can build the entire operating system yourself and change it as you see fit.

Runcible's operating system is based on Open Web Standards and the Android Open Source Project. You can build the entire operating system yourself and change it as you see fit. Discovery-centric: Runcible features simple interfaces which focus on clean summaries of our digital lives, and a curated maps program that differs from others in finding the most interesting route to a destination versus the fastest, along with other elements.

Runcible features simple interfaces which focus on clean summaries of our digital lives, and a curated maps program that differs from others in finding the most interesting route to a destination versus the fastest, along with other elements. Planned non-obsolescence: Unlike today's smartphones which become outdated or obsolete within two or three years, Runcible's parts can be replaced, repaired, augmented and upgraded, enabling the device to be kept for decades.

Unlike today's smartphones which become outdated or obsolete within two or three years, Runcible's parts can be replaced, repaired, augmented and upgraded, enabling the device to be kept for decades. No interruptions: Runcible will never beep, alert or otherwise interrupt us, enabling us to keep our attention where it has always meant to be: the real world.

A Community Approach to Innovation

The initial version of Runcible is intended to be a device which provokes delight, while serving as a platform for people to explore their ideas. Unlike today's smartphone, Runcible owners will not be locked out of the software and the hardware. Instead, Monohm actively encourages them to add to, expand, and experiment with the entirety of Runcible's capabilities, akin to the concept of a high design Raspberry Pi.

"We think some of the best experiences on the Runcible platform will come from the community, and when we begin shipping Runcible to a larger audience, everyone will benefit from this model of continued involvement and innovation," said Jason Proctor, co-founder and CTO, Monohm Inc. "We will also be able to directly support innovators with wholesale units which can be used to power their projects at scale."

The base pre-order model is available at $399 plus tax. To be among the first to experience Runcible, go to http://mono.hm to pre-order today. The full commercial model is expected to ship later this year.

About Monohm

Monohm creates innovative third wave electronics. Its mission is to enable people to elegantly and simply control versus be controlled by their digital lives, while allowing a sense of wonder in the real world. The company is headquartered in Berkeley, California. For more information please visit http://mono.hm.

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SOURCE Monohm Inc.

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MyTaskit, a leading web-based software platform for connecting service professionals to their technicians, subcontractors and customers, has officially closed a successful seed funding round and made a key Board addition. The company, which has raised $11.8 million in funding to date, is now planning a Series A round in the second half of 2016. The funding raised to date has fueled operations growth and the strategic acquisition of two companies.

MyTaskit also welcomes a new Board member: successful B2B entrepreneur and global leader in entrepreneurship education, Charles Horn. Horn is the Founder & Chairman of Arizona-based 5Lights and Pro Private Equity Group/PBMS. With Horn's debut, MyTaskit formalizes a deal with 5Lights to boost marketing management services for strategic growth planning, M&A and executive operational support.

Horn joins George Conrades, Managing Partner, Longfellow Venture Partners, and Chairman of Akamai, as an investor and MyTaskit Board member, along with MyTaskit Founder & CEO Kevin Hutchison, who was the founding CEO of Surescripts and former CEO of Prematics. Horn is an innovator in the healthcare and consumer benefits industry, having started ScriptSave and HealthTrans, both of which have made the Inc. 500 annual list of top 500 fastest-growing private companies in the United States.

"The expertise from Charlie and the 5Lights team will accelerate MyTaskit's growth and allow us to advance our innovation," said Kevin Hutchinson, Founder and CEO of MyTaskit. "We're looking forward to the Series A round later this year to support our strategic growth plans and to further build-out our world-class service coordination solution for small- and medium-sized businesses in the marine industry and beyond."

"The goal of every service mission and task is to solve customers' needs quickly and cost efficiently and to exceed their expectations, resulting in a very satisfied customer," added Horn. "MyTaskit's service coordination solution is the future of task management. Its thousands of users are a testament to the efficiencies created by the platform. We are thrilled to join Kevin Hutchinson and his excellent management team for an exciting future."

The MyTaskit Pro Coordination module, which is available for free or as a subscription service with enhanced features, enables service businesses to coordinate repair and maintenance tasks with technicians, subcontractors and customers. Likewise, if consumers have a service or maintenance need, they can "Taskit" assigning it to a service tech, uploading photos, videos and messages related to the needed work, and then easily coordinate with the Pro user and all interested parties on the tasks.

MyTaskit's Coordination module is closely integrated with the company's MyTaskit Pro Operations module (formerly DockMaster). The Operations module handles backend operations, such as work-order processing, invoicing and accounting. Key features can be added to MyTaskit to further enable service pros to improve operations and service. Full business management capabilities enable service organizations to automate work order processing, record keeping and invoicing, and service tech coordination. The tool's service coordination functionality helps these businesses streamline all service requests and repair/maintenance work with staff, subcontractors and customers.

MyTaskit also enables consumers to better manage their high-value possessions. Using MyTaskit, a free web app accessible via any desktop or mobile device, they can communicate with service technicians, subcontractors, and other interested parties about service, maintenance and repairs, and protect their boats, RVs or other valued property. While consumers have full capabilities today with the marine industry, the ability to manage other high-valued assets is coming later this year.

MyTaskit has experienced continual growth since launching last year. In the first quarter of 2016 alone, licenses of the MyTaskit Pro Coordination module were up 96 percent since December 2015. More than 7,000 consumers are registered users of MyTaskit, and hundreds of service professionals servicing more than 35,000 consumers across the country are using MyTaskit to coordinate service both internally and with their clients. MyTaskit has also acquired two companies: marine software company DockMaster and marine publishing company Mad Mariner, which included DIY Boat.

To learn more, and to create a free business profile on MyTaskit, visit www.mytaskit.com.

About MyTaskit

MyTaskit is the leading software platform for connecting service professionals to their technicians, subcontractors and customers. By simplifying coordination of tasks, MyTaskit vastly improves the availability, effectiveness and efficiency of service communications. It also allows companies to increase their consumer loyalty and profitability. Individual consumers use MyTaskit to better care for, manage and coordinate service for their valued possessions, such as boats, RVs or property. Learn more at www.mytaskit.com.

Media Contact:

Patricia Yeager

Fastlane Communications

(973) 670-1203

[email protected]

Company Contact:

Will Lee

MyTaskit

(646) 852-6452

[email protected]

SOURCE MyTaskit

Related Links

http://mytaskit.com


GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- National Bank Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NBHC) announced today that its Board of Directors appointed Art Zeile as a director of the Company, effective July 1, 2016. Mr. Zeile will also serve as a member of the Board's Audit & Risk Committee and Nominating & Governance Committee.

Mr. Zeile is a successful entrepreneur, most recently as the CEO and co-founder of HOSTING, a pioneer in the cloud hosting space. Mr. Zeile has extensive experience in telecommunications, internet, datacenter and security technologies, with a particular focus on cybersecurity. He currently serves as a member of the University of Delaware Cyber Security Initiative (UDCSI) Advisory Council. Mr. Zeile also served in the U.S. Air Force.

Tim Laney, the Company's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are very fortunate to have Art join our Board. Art's strong cybersecurity and entrepreneurial background brings an important and invaluable element to our Board and our entire organization, particularly given the ever-increasing focus on cybersecurity."

Ralph Clermont, Lead Director of the Company's Board of Directors, added, "In addition to his cybersecurity experience, Art's strong governance and M&A experience will add value to our Board."

"I am looking forward to joining the great group of people behind National Bank Holdings Corporation and helping it continue on its road to success," Zeile said.

About National Bank Holdings Corporation

National Bank Holdings Corporation is a bank holding company created to build a leading community bank franchise delivering high-quality client service and committed to shareholder results. National Bank Holdings Corporation operates a network of 90 banking centers located in Colorado, the greater Kansas City region and Texas. Through the Company's subsidiary, NBH Bank, it operates under the following brand names: Bank Midwest in Kansas and Missouri, Community Banks of Colorado in Colorado, and Hillcrest Bank in Texas. More information about National Bank Holdings Corporation can be found at www.nationalbankholdings.com.

For more information visit: bankmw.com, cobnks.com, hillcrestbank.com or nbhbank.com. Or, follow us on any of our social media sites:

Bank Midwest: facebook.com/bankmw, twitter.com/bank_mw, instagram.com/bankmw;

Community Banks of Colorado: facebook.com/cobnks, twitter.com/cobnks, instagram.com/cobnks;

Hillcrest Bank: facebook.com/hillcrestbank, twitter.com/hillcrest_bank;

NBH Bank: twitter.com/nbhbank;

or connect with any of our brands on LinkedIn.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141002/149998

SOURCE National Bank Holdings Corporation

Related Links

http://www.nationalbankholdings.com


WASHINGTON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Institute of Justice, the research, development, and evaluation component of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, today released, Down the Road: Testing Evidence in Sexual Assaults, a discussion of recent studies examining unsubmitted sexual assault kits (SAKS) and SAK evidence testing. It was released at the United State of Women Summit, convened by the White House Council on Women and Girls.

Today's publication is a follow-up to NIJ's 2011 special report, The Road Ahead: Unanalyzed Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases, which explored the issue of untested sexual assault kits stored in law enforcement evidence facilities around the nation. The new report builds on this work to provide the most recent scientific findings from NIJ-supported research about the role of evidence testing in sexual assaults, including results from NIJ-funded action research projects in Detroit and Houston.

"With the advent of DNA technology and the creation of the national DNA database, also referred to as CODIS, we understand the value of sexual assault evidence to help solve and prosecute cases, to exclude potential suspects during the course of an investigation, and to exonerate the wrongfully convicted. We have also gained greater understanding about the critical need for victim-centered approaches to sexual assault response and investigation," said NIJ Director Nancy Rodriguez. "Sexual assault is one of the most difficult and complex issues facing our nation's criminal justice system and the goal of NIJ's research is to help jurisdictions understand the problem and develop evidence-based solutions."

In 2011, NIJ awarded research grants to the Houston Police Department and the Wayne County (Detroit), Michigan Prosecutor's Office to form multidisciplinary teams to examine the issue of unsubmitted SAKs in their jurisdictions. The subsequent results and recommendations from those studies, including protocols for notifying victims in SAK cases, are included in the report.

More information on the programs of the National Institute of Justice is available at www.nij.gov.

Office of Justice Programs

The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at www.ojp.gov.

SOURCE Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs

Related Links

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov


"There's more to me than just being a race car driver," Earnhardt said. "And there's more to Nationwide than car insurance. Nationwide has helped me both on and off the track with all aspects of my small business, home, pet and auto insurance."

One lucky business will be randomly selected to have their company name featured on the TV panel (rear bumper) of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race in New Hampshire this September.

The winner and a guest will also receive a VIP experience to the featured race in New Hampshire. That includes flights, a hotel, the opportunity to see their business name fly around the track  and even a personal meeting with Earnhardt.

This contest is part of Nationwide's many sides of Dale Jr. campaign, which highlights the fact that he is a small-business owner, animal whisperer to dog Gus, and also a NASCAR driver protected by multiple Nationwide products.

"At Nationwide we know there's a lot more to Dale Jr. than meets the eye," said Terrance Williams, chief marketing officer at Nationwide. "There's the racer we all know and love. But he's also a business owner, an animal lover, a soon-to-be husband, and more. For every real part of Dale Jr., particularly the sides of him that most people might not know, there's a Nationwide product or policy to protect it. Nationwide is proud to protect Dale Jr.'s many sides."

As the No. 1 total small-business insurer1 in the country, Nationwide remains the carrier of choice for more than 500,000 small-business clients  including Earnhardt.

Nationwide is also the second largest domestic specialty commercial lines insurer2  and the No. 1 farm insurer3 and provider of pet health insurance as a voluntary benefit among U.S.-based businesses.

For more information and the official rules, visit the campaign page at www.watercoolerdalejr.com.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side, Join the Nation and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

1 Conning, 2014; Conning Strategic Study: The Small Business Sector for Property-Casualty Insurance: Market Shift Coming.

2 A.M. Best, 2014 DWP.

3 A.M. Best, 2014 DWP.

Contact:

Christopher Stollar

(614) 677-5711

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379556

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160106/319751LOGO

SOURCE Nationwide

Related Links

http://www.nationwide.com


SAN MATEO, Calif., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nav, the only free source for both personal and business credit scores, today announced the launch of the Nav Small Business Advisor Program, a new initiative that will give advisors who work with small business owners free tools and training so they can more effectively advise clients on ways to build strong business credit, and improve their chances of getting access to capital when they need it.

Advisors can play a key role in helping entrepreneurs understand the importance of building, monitoring and maintaining strong business and personal credit scores to help their businesses grow. Nav's research has found that most small business owners (82%) don't know how to interpret their business credit score. Yet, small business owners who understand their business credit scores are 41% more likely to be approved when they apply for a business loan, and 31% more likely to consider expanding their business.

"I know what it's like to launch and run a small business, and take on roles you've never been trained for," says Levi King, CEO and cofounder of Nav, and a serial entrepreneur. "I started Nav to ease the burden of figuring out credit and financing. It's too important to ignore, but most business owners don't have time to deal with it. Advisors can now use our tools to help shorten the learning curve and help entrepreneurs figure out how to take their business to the next level. We're thrilled to launch this initiative."

The Nav Small Business Advisor Program is designed for professional advisors, such as CPAs, Enrolled Agents and accountants, as well as the thousands of advisors who help entrepreneurs through agencies such as Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), SCORE offices, Women's Business Development Centers and Veteran Business Outreach Centers. There are over 1,000 SBDC offices nationwide, for example, and they provide valuable counseling and education to thousands of small business owners every year.

Lee Lambert, Director of the Alameda County SBDC, has been using Nav to assist with client engagements since 2014. "Clients who are potentially seeking loans are requested to sign up for the free version of Nav and download their credit information prior to the initial counseling session," he says. "The information and tools offered on the site are a good starting point to help the client understand some of the financing options and strategies likely available to them."

Advisors can sign up at Nav.com/advisors. Once enrolled, they will be able to schedule free training that will enable them to advise clients on ways to build strong business and personal credit. They will also get free articles and calculators to use on their websites or in their newsletters, along with additional training on credit and financing topics as it becomes available.

More than 100,000 small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs use Nav to monitor their business and personal credit scores, and to get insights into steps they can take to reach specific goals. Nav encourages its members to take advantage of the services offered by SBDCs and other advisors by prominently providing a locator link to the members' local agency with their account.

To learn more about what Nav can do for your small business, visit www.nav.com.

About Nav

Nav is a free way for business owners to manage their entire credit and financial life. It's the only site and mobile app giving access to personal and business credit reports, contextual advice, monitoring and marketplace all in one spot. Nav also provides simple tools to build business credit and shows business owners financing offers based on their credit profile and needs. This all helps business owners get more funding, lower their costs, and save time so they can run and grow their business the way they want. Nav has offices in Silicon Valley and Salt Lake City, and its investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Kickstart Seed Fund. For more information visit nav.com, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

CONTACT:

Adam Blacker

[email protected]

1-781-684-0770

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379534LOGO

SOURCE Nav, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.nav.com


Ms. Palm will be responsible for transforming the Representative experience. To accelerate these efforts, the company has put in place a new structure for its sales organization, aligned under Ms. Palm. She will oversee all aspects of recruiting, training and incentivizing Representatives, as well as providing Representatives the tools they need to drive a more contemporary, efficient and profitable experience.

Ms. Palm is a veteran executive of the direct-selling industry and is the founder of the strategic consulting firm, B. Palm Group, LLC specializing in the direct-selling industry. In this capacity, she has been consulting with New Avon for the last several months.

"Reinvigorating the Representative experience is the key to making New Avon the best social selling company and beauty brand in North America," said Mr. White. "By aligning the sales organization under a seasoned direct-selling expert like Betty, we will accelerate decision making and simplify processes. Betty has already had a tremendous impact on New Avon, and I look forward to working with her to empower our Representatives, enhance their ability to serve customers and improve their earnings opportunity."

"Since beginning my career at Avon over 30-years ago, I have long admired this iconic brand, and I'm honored to evolve my consulting role into a full time position leading the sales organization," said Ms. Palm. "Throughout the last few months, I've gotten to know many of the Representatives and I am excited about the enormous potential that exists at New Avon because of them. I am committed to driving the changes necessary to ensure that each and every Representative is best positioned to succeed at New Avon."

Over the course of her career, Ms. Palm has held executive leadership roles in several well-known global companies. She was President of North America at Tupperware Brands, Executive Vice President at The Pampered Chef, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at The Longaberger Company and was recruited by large public and privately-held brand companies, Mars, Inc., and Jones Apparel Group, as President to lead the development, launch and execution of newly created direct-selling business units. Ms. Palm is a past member of the Direct Selling Association's Board of Directors and currently sits on the Board of Advisors of Ruby Ribbon.

About New Avon LLC

New Avon LLC is the leading social selling beauty company in North America. The company generated over $1 billion in revenues during 2015, and has nearly 400,000 independent sales Representatives in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. New Avon's product portfolio includes award-winning skincare, color cosmetics, fragrance and personal care products, featuring iconic brands such as Anew, Avon Color, Mark, and Skin So Soft, as well as fashion and accessories. Avon has a 130-year history of empowering women through economic opportunity, and the company also proudly supports the Avon Foundation for Women in its efforts to end breast cancer and domestic violence. Learn more about New Avon and its products at www.avon.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379508

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160417/356238LOGO

SOURCE New Avon LLC

Related Links

http://www.avon.com


STOCKTON, N.J., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Eastern Environmental Law Center (EELC), on behalf of New Jersey Conservation Foundation (NJCF) and the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association (SBMWA), today announced it has filed a complaint and motion with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requesting an evidentiary hearing to assess public need for the proposed PennEast pipeline in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Members of Congress and New Jersey state legislators voiced their support for a hearing.

"FERC must have substantial evidence of significant public benefit to approve PennEast's application, but the company's existing record fails to meet that test. Before FERC proceeds, it needs to take a closer look at the application," said Jennifer Danis, senior lawyer, EELC.

"The proposed pipeline would have significant adverse impacts to existing ratepayers, landowners and the environment, and FERC must account for the serious questions that the public and industry experts have raised about the economics of this project," said Tom Gilbert, campaign director, NJCF. "To determine exactly what demand is purportedly being met by PennEast, we are taking legal action requesting that FERC hold an evidentiary hearing."

The complaint and motion filed today explains that PennEast is exercising a new form of market abuse that FERC can only assess by conducting an evidentiary hearing. The six owners of PennEast have contracted for 74 percent of the proposed pipeline's initial capacity. An analysis from national energy expert Skipping Stone concluded that PennEast can't rely on such non-arms-length contracts to demonstrate public need. Further, there is already 49.9 percent more firm pipeline capacity than is needed in New Jersey, even in the harsh winter that the state experienced in 2013. Because there is no need for and little interest in PennEast, after 10 years the owners would have to bear 88 percent of the pipeline's total capacity.

"National energy experts have provided credible evidence contradicting PennEast's claim that New Jersey needs its proposed pipeline. I call upon FERC not to move forward with this massive pipeline if it is not, in fact, needed," said Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12).

"The power of eminent domain must not be granted to a private company in the absence of compelling public need," said Congressman Leonard Lance (R-7). "I support the call for an evidentiary hearing."

EELC has requested that FERC issue an order to initiate a full discovery hearing before an administrative law judge, to create an opportunity to:

Test PennEast's underlying economic data and assumptions regarding public need;

Cross-examine PennEast's experts, models and economic claims to assess their credibility; and

Cross-examine PennEast Consortium's officers and directors to gauge the motives and intent of their companies in proposing this project.

"PennEast poses serious threats to New Jersey's land, water, open space and property rights," said Jim Waltman, executive director, SBMWA. "Before the review process moves one more step forward, the corporations advocating this private project must first demonstrate a public need for it  something they haven't even come close to doing."

U.S. Senate testimony delivered yesterday by the Environmental Defense Fund highlighted the lack of need for additional pipelines in the Northeast and cautioned against overbuilding unnecessary infrastructure. Click here to view the testimony transcript.

Several other federal and state legislators also expressed support for an evidentiary hearing:

Congressman Michael G. Fitzpatrick (R-PA) stated in a letter to FERC: "The pipeline could have significant impacts. FERC should not rely on self-dealing contracts between the owners of PennEast and their affiliates as a foundation for finding market need. I strongly support the call for a full evidentiary hearing to determine whether there is legitimate public need for the project."

stated in a letter to FERC: "The pipeline could have significant impacts. FERC should not rely on self-dealing contracts between the owners of PennEast and their affiliates as a foundation for finding market need. I strongly support the call for a full evidentiary hearing to determine whether there is legitimate public need for the project." Senator Shirley Turner (D-15), Assembly Members Reed Gusciora (D-15) and Elizabeth Maher Muoio (D-15) signed a joint letter to FERC in which they stated: "Based on the data released in the Skipping Stone report, we urge FERC to hold a full evidentiary hearing to determine if there is public need for the proposed pipeline and whether less disruptive and more cost effective alternatives exist to meet such demand."

signed a joint letter to FERC in which they stated: "Based on the data released in the Skipping Stone report, we urge FERC to hold a full evidentiary hearing to determine if there is public need for the proposed pipeline and whether less disruptive and more cost effective alternatives exist to meet such demand." Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D-16) wrote FERC, "I strongly support the call for a full evidentiary hearing. Given the lack of need, granting the power of eminent domain is not in the public interest."

wrote FERC, "I strongly support the call for a full evidentiary hearing. Given the lack of need, granting the power of eminent domain is not in the public interest." In his letter to FERC, Senator Jim Whelan (D-2) requested that FERC "hold an evidentiary hearing to determine if PennEast can prove public need. We should not be investing in inflexible expensive fossil fuels, but exploring more options for clean, renewable energy sources  funding the continued research and development of wind and solar energy initiatives."

About New Jersey Conservation Foundation (http://njconservation.org/aboutus.htm)

About Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association (http://thewatershed.org/about-us/)

About Eastern Environmental Law Clinic (http://www.easternenvironmental.org/about-us/)

SOURCE New Jersey Conservation Foundation; Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association

Related Links

http://www.thewatershed.org


PROVO, Utah, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: NUS) today announced it has entered into an agreement for a $210 million strategic investment from Ping An ZQ China Growth Opportunity Limited. The firm consists of a consortium of experienced Chinese investors led by Ping An of China Securities (Hong Kong) Company Ltd. and a group of additional investors affiliated with ZQ Capital Limited.

"We are honored to have the support of Ping An and ZQ Capital as we look to accelerate our growth and development in China," said Truman Hunt, chief executive officer. "Ping An and ZQ Capital bring significant local market knowledge and valuable expertise that we believe will positively impact our long-term growth opportunities in this important region."

Ping An of China Securities (Hong Kong) Company Ltd. Chairman Le Lin said, "We are excited to become a strategic investor of Nu Skin and believe in the company's global business opportunity and specific growth potential in the Chinese market. Our relationship brings together our collective strengths that we believe will generate positive long-term results."

ZQ Capital Founding Partner Simon Shen noted, "This investment represents a meaningful step in our firm's continued commitment to the consumer story in China. We firmly believe that our resources and knowledge in China can add to Nu Skin's existing franchise and look forward to working together with the company to unlock additional shareholder value."

Nu Skin Chief Financial Officer Ritch Wood said, "We expect this investment will be accretive for Nu Skin shareholders. We plan to use the proceeds for repurchasing common stock throughout the remainder of the year and investing in our China operations.

"Over the next two days we will be hosting approximately 20,000 sales leaders and customers from throughout the Greater China region at our convention in Hong Kong. In conjunction with this event, last week we completed a very successful introduction of ageLOC Me, an innovative customized skin care system, selling out of a limited supply in China. Based in part on this success, we currently anticipate delivering second-quarter revenue at the high end of, or slightly above, our previous guidance of $560 to $580 million," concluded Wood.

Under the terms of the investment, Ping An ZQ China Growth Limited is purchasing $210 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.75 percent, four-year convertible senior notes with an initial conversion price of $46.50 per share. The convertible notes will be general unsecured obligations of Nu Skin. Nu Skin expects to complete the sale of the notes within five business days, subject to customary closing conditions. Additional information relating to these securities can be found in a current report on Form 8-K that will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is acting as Nu Skin's legal counsel. Paul Hastings LLP is acting as legal counsel to Ping An ZQ China Growth Opportunity Limited and MagStone Law LLP is acting as legal counsel to ZQ Capital.

About Ping An of China Securities Hong Kong

Ping An of China Securities Hong Kong is owned by Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, one of China's largest and leading integrated financial services groups with more than US$700 billion in total assets and over 200 million customers. With its extensive resources and wide operations throughout China, the group offers a full range of financial products and services, including insurance, banking and investment.

About ZQ Capital Limited

ZQ Capital is an investment and advisory company with extensive relationships and local knowledge of China. ZQ Capital specializes in identifying, investing in, and working together with global companies to realize their growth potential in the Chinese market.

About Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Founded more than 30 years ago, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. develops and distributes innovative consumer products, offering a comprehensive line of premium-quality beauty and wellness solutions in more than 50 markets worldwide. The company builds upon its scientific expertise in both skin care and nutrition to continually develop innovative product brands that include the Nu Skin personal care brand, the Pharmanex nutrition brand, and most recently, the ageLOC anti-aging brand. Since its introduction in 2008, the ageLOC brand has generated more than $5 billion in sales, and built a loyal following for such products as the ageLOC Youth nutritional supplement, the ageLOC Me customized skin care system, as well as the ageLOC TR90 weight management and body shaping system. Nu Skin sells its products through a global network of sales leaders. As a long-standing member of direct selling associations globally, Nu Skin is committed to the industry's consumer guidelines that protect and support those who sell and purchase its products through the direct selling channel. Nu Skin is also traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NUS." More information is available at nuskin.com.

Please Note: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that represent the company's current expectations and beliefs. All statements other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of federal and state securities laws and include, but are not limited to, the investment by Ping An ZQ China Growth Opportunity Limited; the anticipated timing for the closing of this investment; statements regarding the company's opportunities, growth and performance in China; statements of expectations regarding the strategic investment, including its benefits and its impact on shareholder value;statements regarding the company's anticipated use of proceeds and the timing of such use; statements of expectations regarding the company's sales force,customers and new product introductions; and projections regarding revenue. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "project," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "targets," "likely," "will," "would," "could," "may," "might," the negative of these words and other similar words.

The forward-looking statements and related assumptions involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

any failure to meet the closing conditions or for the parties to consummate the investment;

any failure by the company to repurchase its common stock in the time frame or on the terms currently anticipated;

any failure of current or planned initiatives or products to generate interest among our sales force and customers and generate sponsoring and selling activities on a sustained basis;

risk of foreign currency fluctuations and the currency translation impact on the company's business associated with these fluctuations;

risk that direct selling laws and regulations in any of our markets, including the United States and China , may be modified, interpreted or enforced in a manner that results in negative changes to our business model or negatively impacts our revenue, sales force or business, including through the interruption of sales activities, loss of licenses, imposition of fines, or any other adverse actions or events;

risks related to accurately predicting, delivering or maintaining sufficient quantities of products to support our planned initiatives or launch strategies, and increased risk of inventory write-offs if we over-forecast demand for a product or change our planned initiatives or launch strategies;

regulatory risks associated with the company's products, which could require the company to modify its claims or inhibit the company's ability to import or continue selling a product in a market if it is determined to be a medical device or if it is unable to register the product in a timely manner under applicable regulatory requirements;

adverse publicity related to the company's business, products, industry or any legal actions or complaints by the company's sales force or others;

risk that litigation, investigations or other legal matters could result in settlements, assessments or damages that significantly affect financial results;

unpredictable economic conditions and events globally;

any prospective or retrospective increases in duties on the company's products imported into the company's markets outside of the United States and any adverse results of tax audits or unfavorable changes to tax laws in the company's various markets; and

continued competitive pressures in the company's markets.

The company's financial performance and the forward-looking statements contained herein are further qualified by a detailed discussion of associated risks set forth in the documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements set forth the company's beliefs as of the date that such information was first provided, and the company assumes no duty to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect any change except as required by law.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150316/182144LOGO

SOURCE Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.nuskinenterprises.com


CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) announced today guidance for its second quarter ending July 2, 2016. Nucor expects second quarter results to be in the range of $0.65 to $0.70 per diluted share. This range is an increase compared to the second quarter of 2015 earnings of $0.39 per diluted share and the first quarter of 2016 consolidated net earnings of $0.22 per diluted share.

Projected second quarter of 2016 results include an estimated LIFO expense of $19.0 million ($0.03 per diluted share), compared to an expense of $27.5 million ($0.05 per diluted share) in the first quarter of 2016 and a credit of $95.5 million ($0.19 per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2015. LIFO charges or credits for interim periods are based on management's current estimates of both inventory costs and quantities expected at year-end, and that full year estimate is incurred ratably over the remainder of the year. Also included in the first quarter of 2016 earnings are out-of-period non-cash gains totaling $13.4 million ($0.04 per diluted share) related to a noncontrolling interest adjustment and to tax adjustments. Included in the second quarter of 2015 earnings were a $9.3 million ($0.03 per diluted share) benefit related to state tax credits and a $10.0 million ($0.02 per diluted share) benefit related to a payment of warranty claims at Nucor Steel Louisiana.

Flat-rolled trade cases are having a positive impact as steel imports are down in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year and preliminary duties are in place and being collected. Affirmative final determinations in the antidumping duty and countervailing duty cases of corrosion-resistant steel products were announced by the Department of Commerce in May. Over the next few months, final determinations will be announced in all three flat-rolled trade cases. We are confident that once all the facts are known, final determinations by the Department of Commerce will fully address all dumping and subsidies associated with these cases. Our expectation is that the final determinations in these cases will result in higher duties than the preliminary duties currently being collected. Nucor and other domestic steel producers recently filed trade cases against cut-to-length steel plate imports from 12 countries because of injury that has occurred from unfairly traded imports in this market. We believe these cases should provide positive results as they work their way through the legal process over the next year.

The performance of the steel mills segment in the second quarter of 2016 is expected to be much improved compared to the first quarter of 2016 due to higher average selling prices and improved volumes. The profitability of our sheet, bar and plate mills for the second quarter of 2016 is expected to increase compared to the first quarter of 2016, with the largest improvement by the sheet mills. The sheet mills have benefited from lower inventory levels in the supply chain, mainly at service centers, and decreased levels of imports. Average sheet product pricing has increased significantly in the second quarter of 2016. However, since contract pricing represents over 50% of our sheet steel shipments, and a portion of our contract sales are priced on a lagging quarterly basis, we still have not realized the full benefit of the current improved pricing environment for sheet steel. We therefore expect a further improvement in sheet steel pricing and margins in the third quarter of 2016. Energy, heavy equipment and agricultural markets remain weak. The automotive markets remain strong.

The performance of our downstream products segment is expected to improve from the first quarter of 2016 due to seasonal factors and the gradual improvement in nonresidential construction markets. We believe that the performance of the downstream products segment for the full year 2016 will be improved compared to 2015, despite higher expected steel costs in the current year and minimal benefits from the 2015 highway bill, which we believe we will have a greater impact on future years' performance. The profitability of the raw materials segment in the second quarter of 2016 will be improved compared to the first quarter of 2016 due to increased pricing at both our scrap processing businesses and DRI facilities.

Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel products, with operating facilities primarily in the U.S. and Canada. Products produced include: carbon and alloy steel -- in bars, beams, sheet and plate; steel piling; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; steel fasteners; metal building systems; steel grating; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor, through The David J. Joseph Company, also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and HBI/DRI; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor is North America's largest recycler.

Certain statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. The words "believe," "expect," "project," "will," "should," "could" and similar expressions are intended to identify those forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) competitive pressure on sales and pricing, including competition from imports and substitute materials; (2) the sensitivity of the results of our operations to prevailing steel prices and the changes in the supply and cost of raw materials, including scrap steel; (3) market demand for steel products; and (4) energy costs and availability. These and other factors are discussed in Nucor's regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those in Nucor's fiscal 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K, Item 1A. Risk Factors. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of this date, and Nucor does not assume any obligation to update them.

SOURCE Nucor Corporation

Related Links

http://www.nucor.com


BEACHWOOD, Ohio, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- OMNOVA Solutions (NYSE: OMN) will hold its conference call to discuss second quarter 2016 results on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at 11:00am ET. The call will be hosted by OMNOVA Solutions' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kevin McMullen, and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Paul DeSantis. OMNOVA will release earnings before the market opens on June 29 for the quarter ending May 31, 2016.

The call will be webcast and participants may log on from the Investor Relations section of OMNOVA's website at www.omnova.com. OMNOVA will archive the call on its website until noon ET, July 19, 2016. Or, to listen to a digitized telephone replay (1:00pm ET, June 29 until 11:59pm ET, July 19, 2016), callers should dial:

(USA) 800-475-6701, Access Code 395503

(Int'l) 320-365-3844, Access Code 395503

OMNOVA Solutions Inc. is a global innovator of performance-enhancing chemistries and surfaces used in products for a variety of commercial, industrial and residential applications. As a strategic business-to-business supplier, OMNOVA provides The Science in Better Brands, with emulsion polymers, specialty chemicals, and functional and decorative surfaces that deliver critical performance attributes to top brand-name, end-use products sold around the world. OMNOVA's sales for the last 12 months ended February 29, 2016, were $806 million. The Company has a global workforce of approximately 1,950. Visit OMNOVA Solutions on the internet at www.omnova.com.

SOURCE OMNOVA Solutions Inc.

Related Links

http://www.omnova.com


NEWINGTON, Conn., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- PCX Aerostructures, LLC is pleased to announce that it has enhanced its extensive precision machining capability range with the addition of a WFL M65 Millturn machining center at the company's Newington, Connecticut headquarters. This latest capital investment provides unmatched integrated advanced aerospace manufacturing capabilities, acting as a combined CNC turning, boring and milling unit providing PCX's customers with even higher quality and faster production times.

Uniquely designed, the WFL serves as a lathe, 5-axis machining center, 3-D-coordinate measuring machine, gear shaper and deep hole drilling machine within a single unit. This advanced technology brings high precision functionality to a new level, allowing for complete machining of complex parts with turning diameters up to 830 mm and machining lengths extending to 4,500 mm.

Addressing heightened customer demand for complex shafts and spline shaping requirements, PCX acquired this advanced equipment with its all-in-one machining and measuring efficiencies in mind. As a leading supplier of Flight Critical Safety products and large structural airframe assemblies, the company remains focused on providing state of the art integrated manufacturing solutions to its OEM and Tier 1 customer base. Investing in the latest Millturn machine allows for added levels of quality and flexibility to the company's already advanced manufacturing processes.

"In response to customer needs for higher precision and integrated manufacturing of complex products, PCX is proud to add the WFL Millturn to our advanced production capabilities," said Alan Haase, President & CEO of PCX Aerostructures. "PCX continues to innovate and invest in our business to ensure that we are the best choice as a manufacturing partner for our customers."

PCX Aerostructures is a world class supplier of highly engineered, precision, flight critical and structural assemblies for rotorcraft and fixed wing aerospace platforms. The company serves defense and commercial markets as well as the power generation industry through facilities in Connecticut, New York and Texas. PCX is a leader in producing complex parts machined from hard alloys such as titanium, Inconel and steel - where tight tolerances and quality are imperative. The company is also a premier producer of large structural airframe assemblies providing direct delivery, as well as Blue streak manufacturing support, to production lines of to customers such as Airbus, Boeing, General Electric Aircraft Engines, Bell Helicopter, Sikorsky and Triumph Aerostructures. PCX Aerostructures is owned by RFE Investment Partners, 24/6 Capital Partners, and PCX Management.

RFE Investment Partners  based in New Canaan, CT - is a private equity investor with over 30 years of lower middle market buyout experience investing in growth companies in partnership with strong management teams.

To learn more please visit www.pcxaero.com.

For more information :

Trevor Hartman

Vice President  Sales & Marketing

(860)594-4388

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SOURCE PCX Aerostructures, LLC

Related Links

http://www.pcxaero.com


PHILADELPHIA, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Attorneys representing a Warrington, Pennsylvania family have sent an "intent to sue" notice to the U.S. Navy and federal government claiming they are responsible for water contamination endangering the family's health and the environment. They demand biomonitoring and a health assessment to evaluate the impact of this contamination on their community.

Mark Cuker, Esq., discusses PFC/PFOA/PFOS water contamination.

"The mission of the U.S. Navy is to protect the American people," says attorney Mark Cuker of Williams Cuker Berezofsky, the Philadelphia law firm representing the family. "We're calling on the Navy to provide blood testing and medical monitoring to protect these citizens from the dangers of this toxic exposure."

View video of Attorney Cuker describing the chemicals the family alleges have caused the contamination: https://youtu.be/2DujMwjx12M

In their notice, the Giovanni family, who live about 300 yards from the Navy's former Willow Grove Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NASJRB) facility, asserts the Navy's decades of improper disposal of toxic waste at the Willow Grove base and former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) Warminster has contaminated their water and that of their neighbors in Warrington, Warminster and Horsham Townships.

The family of five says they drank, cooked, and brushed their teeth with water from their private well for eleven years. In late 2014 following EPA testing, they learned it contained dangerous levels of PFCs (perfluorochemical compounds), specifically PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid), more than forty times the EPA's health advisory level. The family was provided bottled water for six months and then connected to the Warrington public water supply, only to discover two months later that Warrington's supply was also contaminated with unsafe levels of PFCs.

"The drinking water and health of nearly 70,000 current residents, and untold numbers of past residents, to say nothing of workers at the facilities themselves, has been jeopardized," says Cuker. "People have been exposed to PFCs from both private and public water supplies."

According to the EPA, "PFOA and PFOS pose potential adverse effects for the environment and human health, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, pregnancy induced hypertension, high cholesterol, among other diseases."

The intent to sue gives 60 days advance notice, requesting the government agree to conduct health monitoring. If no agreement is reached within 60 days, Cuker's law firm plans to file lawsuits on behalf of the Giovannis and residents of the other Bucks County/Montgomery County townships.

Lawsuits would be filed under the U.S. Resource Conservation Recovery Act for biomonitoring and health assessment, and under the Pennsylvania Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act for medical monitoring, a health effects study, and civil penalties for the public water contamination.

Residents sounding the alarm in the three townships are not alone. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has called for the Department of Defense "to take all necessary action to  fully evaluate the health consequences and provide ongoing biomonitoring to residents and military personnel who have been exposed to the water contamination."

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has also asked for biomonitoring and blood testing for persons exposed to the water "but the calls have been either rejected or ignored."

About Williams Cuker Berezofsky

Williams Cuker Berezofsky is committed to protecting citizens affected by environmental toxic contamination at home and work. The firm's additional litigation and practice areas: civil rights of individuals including those claiming police brutality and government abuse, consumer protection from defective products and harmful pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices, abusive lending practices and predatory or fraudulent mortgages, and workers in workplace safety accidents involving toxic and chemical exposure.

Founded in 1985 with offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, the firm represents clients locally and nationally. Contact the firm at 215-557-0099 and [email protected]. Visit and view video at www.wcblegal.com.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DujMwjx12M

SOURCE Williams Cuker Berezofsky

Related Links

http://www.wcblegal.com


Government leaders were joined by ocean advocate Sir Richard Branson, as well as by global shark experts and representatives from The Pew Charitable Trusts and other nongovernmental organizations, at a press conference in St. Maarten to champion the new protected areas.

"People from all over the world come to our island to dive and snorkel with our marine wildlife, including sharks and rays," said Irania Arrindell, St. Maarten's minister of tourism, economic affairs, transport, and telecommunications. "St. Maarten's shark sanctuary will help to ensure that our local shark populations exist for future generations and continue to benefit St. Maarten's marine ecosystem and ecotourism."

Together, the two new sanctuaries cover a total of 46,190 square miles (119,631 square kilometers), raising the total number of Caribbean sanctuaries to seven.

Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Unite founder, said: "We applaud the steps taken by Caribbean island governments to conserve sharks in their waters. To these governments, sharks are worth far more alive than dead. We are delighted and encouraged to see this bold action being taken to protect Caribbean ecosystems and bolster ecotourism industries."

"St. Maarten and the Cayman Islands have joined a progressive group of leaders in global shark conservation by choosing to fully protect the diverse but vulnerable shark and ray species found in their waters," said Luke Warwick, director of Pew's global shark conservation campaign. "We look forward to continued expansion of shark conservation in the Caribbean to secure the region as a safe haven for threatened shark species."

The announcement came during a three-day shark conservation symposium co-hosted by the government of St. Maarten, the St. Maarten Nature Foundation, the Bahamas National Trust, and The Pew Charitable Trusts. At the symposium, Caribbean leaders had the opportunity to learn from global shark experts, such as Boris Worm, professor in marine conservation biology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and discuss shark conservation and shark-related tourism in their jurisdictions.

Since 2009, Pew has worked with governments around the world to establish shark sanctuaries in their territorial waters. The creation of these sanctuaries in the Caribbean brings the total number of sanctuaries worldwide to 14, covering 6 million square miles (15.5 million square kilometers), an area bigger than Canada.

Worldwide, at least 100 million sharks are killed each year in commercial fisheries; nearly 30 percent of all known shark species assessed by scientists are threatened with extinction. Sharks play an important role in maintaining the health of the entire ocean, but they grow and reproduce slowly, which makes them particularly vulnerable to overfishing. Officials in many coastal and island nations recognize sharks' high value to the dive tourism industry.

"Establishing sanctuaries to protect all sharks makes clear that these top predators warrant the same status as other vulnerable marine wildlife that help attract ecotourism, such as turtles and whales," Warwick added.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Learn more at www.pewtrusts.org.

Barbara Cvrkel, +1 202-510-5670

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379765

SOURCE The Pew Charitable Trusts

Related Links

http://www.pewtrusts.org


AMSTERDAM, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHIA) today introduced CarePoint 5.0, a resident safety and wander management solution designed to provide residents within senior living communities with emergency assistance when they need it. Helping seniors lead safer and more independent lives, Philips is the only senior living solution provider whose help button contains AutoAlert technology, the most widely adopted fall-detection technology in the emergency response industry. Now UL2560 certified, CarePoint has been designed to abide by specific product safety standards that include providing seniors with audible and visual cues to confirm an alert has been sent, complying with UL standards and providing greater peace of mind for seniors in need of help.

CarePoint is a powerful, integrated, intuitive resident safety and wander management system used by thousands of senior living communities across the U.S. and Canada to help keep their residents safe. Offering an unparalleled combination of features and expansion capabilities, CarePoint 5.0 is a flexible and forward looking solution. The upgraded solution features a new sleek design of its wireless receivers and introduces the 7000 Series AutoAlert automatic fall detection technology for use within these communities.

Philips' CarePoint 5.0 is one of the first resident safety systems to comply with the distinct requirements for emergency call systems in assisted living and independent living communities, accredited by the American National Standards Institution (ANSI).

"CarePoint 5.0 is a truly unique system that allows senior living communities to support their best practices, protocols and management needs in an ever evolving market  showcasing Philips's all-encompassing approach to improve care," said Marcia Conrad-Miller, Senior Director of Product Management, Home Monitoring, Philips. "As communities change and grow, this solution allows for easy modification to help keep seniors safe and independent."

CarePoint is powered by SmartCare software that oversees and processes a multitude of functions with speed and precision. The system employs network support to provide emergency response coverage over an entire community, indoors and out, with multiple wireless receivers and links strategically placed throughout the facility. When a resident needs emergency assistance, the signal calling for help enters the system through a receiver close to the resident. This allows CarePoint to indicate the resident's general location, which is communicated via the system to staff so they can respond and provide assistance quickly.

When it comes to peace of mind for seniors, their families, and the staff providing care, Philips delivers across the health continuum  from independent and assisted living to care within the home- and community-based services. With comprehensive systems that address many aspects of a resident's physical health and safety, Philips' solutions allow seniors and caregivers the ability to go about their daily activities with greater peace of mind.

For more information on the full suite of Philips integrated software, solutions and services for Home Monitoring, and for details on CarePoint 5.0, please visit www.philipsseniorliving.com/carepoint.

For further information, please contact:

Kathy O'Reilly

Philips Group Press Office

(o) 978-659-2638 (mobile) 978-221-8919

[email protected]

Twitter: @kathyoreilly

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. The company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2015 sales of EUR 16.8 billion and employs approximately 69,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

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SOURCE Royal Philips

Related Links

http://www.usa.philips.com


For five years, Primrose Schools has exhibited at IFE, which attracts thousands of entrepreneurs and business owners each year. "Our research and local community insights continue to identify New York and New Jersey as a market in need of high-quality early education and care," said Chris Goethe, VP of Franchising for Primrose Schools. "At IFE, we want to meet entrepreneurs who don't necessarily have a background in education but have a heart for serving children and families and will embrace all of the opportunities this market has to offer."

Curt Van Emon, IFE panelist and Franchise Owner of the metro-Boston based Primrose School of Burlington, recognized the need for quality early education in the Northeast. In fact, he and his wife opened the first Primrose school in Massachusetts. "While Primrose was new to the region when we became Franchise Owners, we knew the company had a highly-respected reputation in the early education and care industry throughout the country," said Van Emon. "The Primrose Franchise Team made the decision easy for us and helped us throughout the entire process with extensive training and support so we had everything we needed to thrive in our new business."

Since opening in May 2014, Primrose School of Burlington has been extremely well-received by parents and the local community. Within the second year of operation, the school reached full capacity, and the Van Emons now plan to open a second school in the area. "With the demand for high-quality early education and care that we're seeing for the New York and New Jersey region, I encourage Expo attendees to speak with the Primrose Franchise Team about starting their own entrepreneurial journey in a new market. Our community has embraced Primrose and appreciates the enrichment we provide to their families. I believe families in the New York and New Jersey metro areas will also recognize and fall in love with the quality education that Primrose provides children across the country."

The child care franchising industry continues to expand as more and more Americans recognize the importance of a strong educational foundation for young children. According to the 2015 Franchise Grade Report, children's services franchises are considered one of the fastest growing franchise sectors in the country.

Primrose has identified 42 communities in the New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia metro areas that are ready for immediate expansion due to strong demand for high-quality early education and care, entrepreneurial interest and available real estate opportunities. These areas include: Ambler, Branchburg, Collegeville, Delran, Doylestown, Dresher, East Brunswick, Edison, Englewood, Exton, Flemington, Freehold, Forked River, Haddonfield, Hamilton, Hillsborough, Hoboken, Howell, Jamison, Jersey City, Kulpsville, Lionville, Lower Makefield, Middlesex, Middletown, Montgomeryville, Mount Olive, Pennington, Princeton, Ramsey, Red Bank, Rockaway, Sicklerville, South Plainfield, Tenafly, Toms River, Washington Township, Wall, West Windsor, Woodbridge, Woodcliff Lakes and Wyckoff.

This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only. Franchise offerings are made by Franchise Disclosure Document and are only made in states in which Primrose Schools is authorized to sell franchises.

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 offers Franchise Owners an industry-leading proprietary early education blueprint and delivery model, as well as financial security, autonomy and a sense of purpose. For more information, visit www.PrimroseFranchise.com, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube, and explore our news site.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/379178

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150128/172112LOGO

SOURCE Primrose Schools
NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Quinnipiac University honored Charlie Rose, anchor/executive editor of the PBS programs "Charlie Rose" and "Charlie Rose: This Week," and co-host of "CBS This Morning," on Wednesday at its 23rd annual Fred Friendly First Amendment Award luncheon at the Metropolitan Club in New York City.

"I'm proud to join so many people who I admire that have been recipients of this award," Rose said. "To be in the same place they are, and to be mentioned in the same sentence as Fred Friendly, is a big honor for me. There are so many people here who have believed in me, worked with me and shared the success."

Rose's diversity and his experience are unparalleled. In addition his reporting for CBS and PBS, he does long-form pieces for "60 Minutes" and "60 Minutes Sports." He also has filled in as anchor of the "CBS Evening News" and as moderator of "Face the Nation."

Rose has perfected the art of the interview.

"The interview is about engagement, context and analysis," he said. "It is about less is more. A lot of people spend too much time asking the questions and telling people what they know and not enough time simply pursuing what they don't know. That has taken me a very, very long way. If you are prepared to put in the time that is necessary you will find that it is extremely rewarding."

Since 1994, Quinnipiac has presented the Fred Friendly First Amendment Award to honor those who have shown courage and forthrightness in preserving the rights set forth in the First Amendment. The award bears the name of the former CBS News president and champion of freedom of speech.

Friendly's widow, Ruth, described Rose as, "someone with a passion, someone who has a fire in his belly just like Fred and someone who wants to make television a place to air, discuss and analyze thought-provoking subjects."

Previous recipients of the Fred Friendly First Amendment Award are: Dan Rather, Bill Moyers, Lesley Stahl, Ted Koppel, Tom Brokaw, Robert MacNeil, Jim Lehrer, Don Hewitt, Peter Jennings, Mike Wallace, Christiane Amanpour, Tom Bettag, Tim Russert, Bob Schieffer, Steve Kroft, Charles Gibson, Morley Safer, Gwen Ifill, David Fanning, Martha Raddatz, Scott Pelley and Richard Engel.

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SOURCE Quinnipiac University

Related Links

www.quinnipiac.edu


FORT WORTH, Texas, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RadioShack and Nick Cannon, the company's Chief Creative Officer, celebrate National Week of Making at National Maker Faire on June 18, further demonstrating the neighborhood electronics store's commitment to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and fostering empowerment and creativity among youth. To kick off National Maker Faire, RadioShack and Nick Cannon will host a soldering workshop for kids to experience Making first-hand, along with a speech on the importance of making and how it helped shape Cannon's career.

"Making is paramount for kids to help instill a sense of exploration  it creates an opportunity for entrepreneurship," said Nick Cannon, Chief Creative Officer of RadioShack. "Growing up with RadioShack equipment helped shape my career path and I'm thrilled to work with RadioShack and National Maker Faire to empower others."

RadioShack is back and Makers of all ages can visit RadioShack's booth to participate in a hands-on soldering workshop led by RadioShack staff as well as learn about the company's Maker Kits and products. Cannon's speech and workshop will take place on Saturday, June 18 at 11:30 a.m. at the University of the District of Columbia as part of the admission-free National Maker Faire that weekend. This event marks the first in a renewed partnership between RadioShack and Maker communities to promote and further STEM and Making initiatives nationwide.

With STEM jobs projected to grow twice as quickly in the next five years according to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, RadioShack is reestablishing its longstanding relationship with Maker communities. Through initiatives including National Week of Making and Maker Kit products, RadioShack provides the resources to inspire innovation in fun ways for kids.

"RadioShack is back and it's our commitment to the maker community to continue to provide access to technology and tools," said Dene Rogers, RadioShack's Chief Executive Officer. "At RadioShack, Making is in our DNA. Since 1921 our stores have been the go-to destination for DIYers. We continue to innovate so the nations' Makers can do the same and push creative boundaries."

For more information on RadioShack, visit your neighborhood RadioShack store or shop online at www.RadioShack.com. For information on The National Maker Faire, please visit www.MakerFaire.com.

About RadioShack

RadioShack is a leading national retailer of innovative technology products and services, as well as products related to personal and home technology and power supply needs. The neighborhood electronics store offers products and services from top national brands and exclusive private brands as well as mobile services through its wireless partner Sprint, all within a comfortable and convenient shopping environment. Founded in 1921, RadioShack is owned today by General Wireless, Inc., which acquired the storied brand in March 2015. The new RadioShack has over 1,700 company-owned stores, including 1,400 Sprint Stores at RadioShack, and nearly 500 independent dealers located nationwide. Instagram: @radioshack | Twitter: @radioshack | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RadioShack

SOURCE RadioShack

Related Links

http://www.radioshack.com


"We know from our own client base that there is tremendous interest in investing in real estate when saving for one's retirement. But it isn't always easy to know where to invest, in what type of property, and at what price range. This report is part of Entrust's commitment to educating investors and the professionals who advise them on how to take control of their retirement savings," said Jason Craig, president of The Entrust Group. "It gives investors, real estate professionals, and retirement advisers an overview of the market and insights into strategies used by many investors."

The report blends client data from The Entrust Group, whose self-directed IRA clients have made real estate their number one investment of choice with national statistics from the National Association of Realtors and Zillow. The report covers trends such as where IRA investors are buying property, the types of property purchased and the prices paid. This information is put into the context of overall real estate market trends, including buyer and seller profiles, why investors are buying, and how the booming rental market is affecting sales. Finally, the report summarizes the three reasons to invest in real estate with an IRA.

Download the report at: https://www.theentrustgroup.com/real-estate-ira-investment-trends

Learn more about real estate investing for retirement at the Entrust Real Estate Center: theentrustgroup.com/investments/real-estate-ira

About The Entrust Group, Inc.

For over 34 years, The Entrust Group has provided account administration services for self-directed retirement plans and has been an acknowledged authority in the field. With locations throughout the US, Entrust's team of professionals are regularly examined to ensure compliance with current state and federal banking requirements, and keep up-to-date by participating in ongoing educational programs to ensure that they share the most accurate information with clients. For more information on The Entrust Group, visit www.theentrustgroup.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379776

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SOURCE The Entrust Group

Related Links

http://www.theentrustgroup.com


The coaster series brings to life the rich history and lore of one of the most active and historically impactful communities in Washington, DC including:

Real History: The Northern Liberty Market, with an immense 85 foot central column free room, opened in 1875 and was one of Downtown DC's busiest commercial centers, with 284 merchants, tradespersons and vendors.

Real Life: City Vista at 5th & K opened in 2008 and was a catalyst for the redevelopment of Mount Vernon Triangle. Anchored by initial tenant Busboys & Poets, City Vista is home to numerous retailers and restaurants as well as three residential towers.

Real History: Gustav Hartig located his hardware store at 7th and K Streets in the late 19th century, where it was run by the family for 100 years.

Real Life: The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) building now fills the block, serving its nationwide academic medicine membership and bringing programs and a spirit of volunteerism to the local DC community. Five of the historic buildings from the block are adaptively incorporated into the project.

Real History: Prather's Alley, site of a blacksmith and famous milk bottling plant.

Real Life: The blacksmith shop building still stands, as it is prepared to be called home to a new generation of residents, integrated into an exciting residential project.

Thousands of Real History, Real Life coasters will be distributed throughout Mount Vernon Triangle's many restaurants and cafes through the month of June, including A Baked Joint, Busboys & Poets, Alba Osteria, Alta Strada, Le Pain Quotidien, L'Hommage Bistro Francais, Mandu, Ottoman Taverna, Philos, Shouk, Silo, Sixth Engine and Texas de Brazil.

Follow the campaign online with the #LifeinMVT hashtag. The coasters have a removable triangular center. The MVT CID invites users to open it, take a photo, and share their view on social media, putting their own perspective on history in the Triangle neighborhood. Residents, office workers and visitors are invited to participate in the social media campaign, posting their pictures to Twitter or Instagram with the tagline #LifeinMVT. Each week, the staff at the MVT CID will award a $25 restaurant gift card to the person with the best photo. Click here to view activity on our Tagboard.

MVT CID President and CEO, Kenyattah Robinson, commented on the importance of maintaining historical context even as the community experiences explosive growth in its office, residential and retail development, saying, "Mount Vernon Triangle today reflects not only one of the fastest growing downtown neighborhoods but also its years as one of the original downtown business and residential communities in Washington, DC. As a Mount Vernon Triangle resident, I am both proud and thrilled that we have found such a creative, fun and inclusive way to weave together the rich historical fabric and history of the community to the new and exciting developments to come."



The MVT CID extends its appreciation to Anne McDonough, Library & Collections Director at the Historical Society of Washington, DC for her tireless efforts to help the MVT CID with the location and identification of key images for the coaster project and to Executive Director, John Suau, of the Society for supporting this effort. Suau noted, "The interactive feature of the MVT CID coaster project really resonates with me, both as a Mount Vernon Triangle resident and as the Historical Society launches its Street Photography Series, which encourages Washingtonians to document and seek the historical context behind neighborhoods across the city. We are pleased the MVT CID is bringing to area patrons a sense of what once was, through historical photographs from our collections."

Brent Leggs, a historic preservationist and Senior Field Officer for the Washington DC Field Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, noted, "Recognition that people living and working in a community value the context, history and story behind a place is part of a broader narrative and a priority for the National Trust. We are pleased to be working with the MVT CID in celebrating the diversity, authenticity and cultural richness of the Mount Vernon Triangle community and preserving the stories, culture and life histories of the neighborhood."

Local design firm, Williams Whittle, was retained to design the coasters and the campaign through an RFP process in late 2015. Months of research and interviews elicited many historic facts  and fascinating tales  from a downtown Washington, DC community that has grown and thrived for hundreds of years, and that continues to evolve today.

About The Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District

The Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District is a private, nonprofit organization established to enhance the overall quality of life for all members of the community including residents, visitors, business owners, and property owners in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood in Downtown DC. The Mount Vernon Triangle is considered to be one of Washington DC's best examples of a mixed-use community, a vibrant neighborhood in the heart of the Cityboth geographically and culturally. Its boundaries include 17 blocks within the East End of downtown Washington, D.C., bordered by Seventh Street to the west, Massachusetts Avenue to the south, New York Avenue to the north and New Jersey Avenue to the east. The Mount Vernon Triangle is a welcoming, authentic, and centered neighborhood that mirrors the City's unique mix of historic and modern buildings, longtime and new residents, and diverse cultures, restaurants, and urban experiences. For more information, we invite you to explore our website at www.mvtcid.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MountVernonTriangleCID, Twitter @MVTCID, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mvtcid/ and Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/.

Media Contact: Karen Widmayer





KW Communications, LLC





[email protected]





301.661.1448





Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379818

SOURCE Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District

Related Links

http://www.mountvernontriangle.org


MOUNT BRYDGES, Ontario, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RedRick Technologies, a provider of ergonomic radiology furniture, monitor mounting solutions and reading room design guidance, is looking forward to continuing the conversation about the importance of good ergonomics in the radiology reading room at the upcoming Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) annual meeting in Portland, OR, June 29 - July 1. RedRick Technologies will be in booth #216-218.

RedRick Technologies can now address the need for a more compact and cost-effective radiologist workstation that still provides a high-quality, ergonomic, and fully adjustable, sit/stand workspace. These new workstations will enable more healthcare facilities to benefit from the link between good ergonomics, radiologist health and productivity. RedRick Technologies provides fully integrated and adjustable reading environments that reflect a consultative approach and high standards for product design, quality, and function.

Visitors to the RedRick Technologies booth at the SIIM 2016 annual meeting are also encouraged to pickup a copy of our latest customer case study about the challenges of balancing the demands of reading productivity and clinical collaboration. This case study reviews how the development of a new ergonomic reading room in the CIBC Breast Assessment Centre of the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Center in Hamilton, Ontario, helped their radiologists overcome such challenges to the benefit of their clinical and operational workflow. If you are unable to attend SIIM, this customer case study can be downloaded here.

"We believe every radiologist should deliver their services at an ergonomic sit/stand workstation," says Greg Patrick, president of RedRick Technologies. "Radiologists must understand that the best position to be in is the next position you move to." Greg notes, "Our goal is to foster education about how maintain a healthy lifestyle despite the seemingly sedentary world of the radiologist, as we find education to be broadly lacking."

Links to additional educational ergonomic reading room resources can be found here.

About RedRick Technologies

RedRick Technologies designs, develops, and optimizes reading room environments, and the ergonomic workstations they must synergistically incorporate. You know us best from our sturdy and carefully designed ergonomic workstations and monitor mounting solutions, however, our expertise encompasses space design, environmental control, lighting, and acoustics; all factors that must work together to optimize radiology reading room design. Over the last 13 years we have been helping our clients maximize department productivity, workflow, and space utilization, and ensure reading environments support the operational goals of both Radiology and the healthcare enterprise. Our four-step process ensures you maximize your department's productivity, workflow, and space utilization, through an optimized radiology reading room design. Let RedRick help you realize a reading environment that facilitates your transition from volume-based to value-based imaging. Learn more by contacting us at 1-800-340-9511 and at www.redricktechnologies.com

SOURCE RedRick Technologies

Related Links

http://www.redricktechnologies.com


HILLSDALE, Mich., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hillsdale College today opened registration for its latest hostel program, "Economic Theories and Controversies." At this interactive Hillsdale Hostel course, participants will learn about the theories of free market economics, theories that oppose the free market, and economic controversies of the twentieth century and of today.

"Economic Theories and Controversies" will be held July 10-16 on Hillsdale College's campus in Hillsdale, Michigan. Lodging, meals, lectures, and other activities are covered by a $950 per person registration fee. Commuter rates are available.

"The Hillsdale Hostel program offers an experience like no other on any college campus," said Peggy Youngs, director of the Hillsdale Hostel program. "Participants will learn from the same professors who teach our bright and ambitious students during the regular semester. These professors are riveting teachers, and know free market economics as deeply as anyone. Their insight and understanding illuminate today's economic issues as well."

Often referred to as "a vacation in the world of ideas," Hillsdale Hostel programs are multi-day seminars that give students of all ages an opportunity to study a variety of subjects, including economics, history, politics, and religion, with Hillsdale's nationally renowned facultythe same professors who teach undergraduate and graduate students during the academic year.

For more information or to register, go to hillsdalehostel.com, email [email protected], or call (888) 886-1174. Space is limited, and hostel programs regularly sell out, so early registration is encouraged.

About Hillsdale College

Hillsdale College, founded in 1844, has built a national reputation through its classical liberal arts core curriculum and its principled refusal to accept federal or state taxpayer subsidies, even indirectly in the form of student grants or loans. It also conducts an extensive educational outreach effort promoting civil and religious liberty, including a free monthly speech digest, Imprimis, with a circulation of more than 3.4 million.

SOURCE Hillsdale College

Related Links

http://www.hillsdale.edu


PHILADELPHIA, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Relay Network, the secure customer messaging company, today announced an additional $12 million in financing led by existing investors NewSpring Capital and supported by First Round Capital, as well as a new strategic investment through the Independence Health Group organization. Independence Health Group is the parent company of Independence Blue Cross. This latest investment brings the company's total funding to $28 million. The company will use the funding to continue scaling the platform and operations to help businesses better engage and service their customers, and drive adoption of their digital strategies.

Despite technical advancements in mobile and digital communications strategies, businesses still have a long way to go in improving their customer relationships. In 2015, bad customer service drove 52 percent of consumers to switch to other companies, costing businesses $1.6 trillion. Relay Network is addressing the problems of low digital adoption, poor customer service and lack of loyalty by offering a new mobile channel where companies can establish a personal, one-to-one connection with each user.

"Businesses are realizing a huge opportunity to improve customer relationships by making them feel more like personal interactions," said Matt Gillin, CEO and co-founder of Relay Network. "Social networks and messaging apps have changed consumer expectations for how they receive and absorb information. Customers want things to be easy, contextual and real time. Relay has developed a fundamentally different approach to solving the problem - we call it 'connected service.' Rather than dealing with service incidents as they happen, we establish a personal, one-to-one, known connection with every customer on their own communication network. We're the only one in the market doing it, and the payoff for both sides has been huge."

"This is a strategic opportunity for Independence that demonstrates how critical the member experience is for us," said Independence Blue Cross President and CEO Daniel J. Hilferty. "Our members want easy access to information and the ability to communicate on their terms through mobile devices. In today's business world, ease of communication is something that all consumers want and expect, which is why we decided to forge an alliance with Relay Network in addition to using their service."

Companies like Independence Blue Cross, Citizens Bank, and Direct Energy use Relay Network to bring their customers into their own private, secure and highly personalized messaging network. As evidence of increasing demand, Relay Network is forecasted to double its revenue in 2016, as it did in 2015, and triple the number of consumers served by its platform. The company has increased its clients by 100 percent, and has a client renewal rate of 99.96 percent year over year.

About Relay Network

Relay Network brings businesses and customers together on a private, secure communications network that enables more digital interactions by easily connecting customers to personalized information and support. Its connected service model establishes a direct, one-to-one connection with each user, eliminating the friction that gets in the way of great customer experiences. Companies such as Independence Blue Cross and Citizens Bank use Relay Network to connect with users and deliver information that is always relevant and personal, so they can create incredible customer experiences that last a lifetime. For more information, visit www.relaynetwork.com.

SOURCE Relay Network

Related Links

http://www.relaynetwork.com


WARRENTON, Va., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Chris Colgan, with RE/MAX Regency, has been presented with the RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors highly successful agents who have earned more than $3 million in commissions and have completed seven years of service with the company. Less than six percent of the RE/MAX network has achieved this prestigious award.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379545LOGO

Colgan has been working in the real estate industry for more than 12 years and has extensive experience in the Northern Virginia Real Estate Market. Chris is a member of the Re/Max Hall of Fame and is in the top 10 of sales in the state of Virginia for all RE/Max agents. He has been recognized as one of the United States' and Canada's Top 500 Real Estate Marketing Experts by the National Association of Expert Advisors.

Chris has been an integral member of our team and is more than deserving of this very prestigious award," said Charles Cornwell of RE/MAX Regency. "Winning this award is a tremendous accomplishment. Chris continues to raise the bar in real estate, making us, and this community, proud."

RE/MAX is the most productive real estate network with its Sales Associates averaging more sales than other real estate agents. Over 100,000 agents provide RE/MAX a global reach of nearly 100 countries. Nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX.

Chris Colgan has lived in the Northern Virginia area for his entire life. His grandfather, Senator Charles Colgan, sparked Chris' interest in real estate. At the age of 21, Chris was ready to give real estate a chance and in August 2003, became a full-time Realtor. Chris developed a passion for every aspect of real estate and yearned to educate himself as much as he could about the industry.

Contact:

Haley Mills Admin the Colgan Team  Re/Max Regency

[email protected]

www.ColganRealEstate.com

703-485-1435

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com

SOURCE Chris Colgan Team - Re/Max Regency

Related Links

http://www.colganrealestate.com


DAYTON, Ohio, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Reynolds and Reynolds Company today announced the release of the Reynolds LAW Idaho F&I Library, which is a suite of standardized, legally reviewed finance and insurance (F&I) documents for the franchised new vehicle dealers throughout the state of Idaho.

"Based on industry trends during the first half of 2016, we expect automotive retailers will continue to be challenged by the increased demands of regulation," said Jerry Kirwan, senior vice president and general manager of Reynolds Document Services. "Documents in the LAW Idaho F&I Library are regularly reviewed for compliance with the latest automotive regulations by Reynolds' industry-leading forms specialists alongside Reynolds' outside legal partners, helping dealers meet their compliance obligations and reduce their litigation risk."

Kirwan also noted that this library of standardized documents is written in consumer-friendly language, which helps create a clearer, more efficient F&I process for the consumer. By increasing the efficiency of the F&I process, the overall consumer experience with the dealership can be improved.

In addition, the LAW Idaho F&I library also can help facilitate the conversion to laser-printed transactions or e-contracting, since the documents are available in both paper-based and electronic formats. Reynolds Document Services maintains licensing agreements with all major providers of electronic F&I (e-F&I) solutions.

About Reynolds LAW Brand Documents

Reynolds' LAW brand is well established as one of the most trusted brands in the automotive industry. LAW documents are available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and have been endorsed by a number of state automobile dealers associations and leading automotive finance institutions.

The flagship product of the LAW brand is the Reynolds LAW 553 Universal Retail Installment Sale Contract, the most widely accepted document in auto finance. The Reynolds LAW 553 is available in a variety of languages and is regularly reviewed by industry experts to help keep pace with new legislative and regulatory developments.

Reynolds and Reynolds was founded in 1866 as a business forms printer. Since the 1920s, Reynolds has been known as the leader in serving automobile dealerships nationwide with standard and custom business and vehicle sales and service documents to help dealers manage their operations more efficiently and serve their customers more effectively.

About Reynolds

Reynolds and Reynolds is a leading provider of automobile dealership software, services, and forms to help dealerships deliver better business results and transform the customer experience. The company is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with major operations in Houston and College Station, Texas, and Celina, Ohio.

(www.reyrey.com)

SOURCE The Reynolds and Reynolds Company

Related Links

http://www.reyrey.com


Industry veteran to lead investment sales practice, help build local capital markets group

DENVER, CO, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Alec Wynne, Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the firm's Denver office, announced today the strategic hiring of commercial real estate industry veteran Rick Egitto.

Effective immediately, Egitto becomes a Principal of Avison Young and will lead the firm's investment sales practice in Denver. Working closely with Wynne, he will also help build the Denver office's investment sales and capital markets group. Egitto brings 35 years of commercial real estate experience to Avison Young, most recently as a brokerage leader with Inverness Properties in Denver.

"We are thrilled to have Rick join us in Denver," comments Wynne. "Rick has a very diverse background for an investment sales professional. He takes a hands-on approach to serving his clientele, and we look forward to having him grow our institutional client base. Additionally, we believe that Rick will add value beyond his core competency in investment sales. Due to his wide-ranging prior management and brokerage experience, we fully expect that Rick will contribute to our library of best practices in management and recruiting."

During his career, Egitto has completed more than $1 billion worth of acquisitions and dispositions of real estate equities on behalf of major institutional clients, including life insurance companies, pension fund advisors, banks, developers and other investors. His notable clients have included Grosvenor Investment Management U.S., Principal Capital Management, Alliance Commercial Partners, JP Morgan, Invesco, Anchor National Life (SunAmerica), Northstar Commercial Partners, KEW Realty, Northstar Bank and numerous private companies.

Egitto relocated to Denver from South Florida in 2001 to become the Western Region Managing Director for Crimson Services, LLC. While with Crimson, he grew the firm's revenue base from zero to more than $2 million by 2007. Before then, he led Trammell Crow Company's South Florida brokerage operation, after initially joining the firm as a principal and boosting its investment sales transaction value from less than $25 million to $100 million in his first year with the company. Egitto has also held senior real estate brokerage leadership positions with Faison & Associates in Boca Raton, The Galbreath Company in Fort Lauderdale, Lehrer & Company in Fort Lauderdale, LaSalle Partners Limited in Boca Raton, and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.

He has earned numerous industry accolades during his career, including multiple Denver Metro Commercial Association of Realtors (DMCAR) "Heavy Hitter" and "Small Office Broker" awards. He has also been recognized as one of the top investment brokers in all of metro Denver by DMCAR.

"I have known several of the top Avison Young brokers based along the East Coast for many years and am very impressed with the assembled team," says Egitto. "Not only did they give me assurance of the quality of the firm, but they also provided a great referral network of quality professionals for me to grow the investment sales business with. Locally, I am impressed with the young and diverse team on board, and look forward to helping further grow the Denver office while collaborating with my new colleagues across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe."

Egitto has been active in the commercial real estate industry as a member of NAIOP, the International Council of Shopping Centers, Castle Rock Economic Development Council, Denver South Economic Development Partnership and DMCAR. During his tenure in Florida, he served as the inaugural president of the Society of Commercial Realtors of the Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale.

In the community, Egitto has led the capital campaign for the initial construction of the Lone Tree Arts Center and, until recently, served on the Board of the Lone Tree Arts Center Foundation. He is also active with Leadership Douglas County, which is a program for established and emerging leaders. In Florida, he was active with Leadership Boca Raton, Leadership Broward, and New Directions, the young professionals group within the American Cancer Society (ACS). His other volunteer work for ACS has included serving as a Board member, chairing the Making Strides Against Cancer move-along-a-thon fundraiser, and co-founding Gilda's Club of South Florida, a cancer wellness facility.

Egitto holds a Bachelor of Science degree in risk management/insurance and real estate from Florida State University. He has also obtained a Certified Commercial Investment Member designation.

Over the past seven years, Avison Young has grown from 11 to 77 offices and from 300 to more than 2,200 real estate professionals in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Europe.

Avison Young is the world's fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Avison Young is a collaborative, global firm owned and operated by its principals. Founded in 1978, the company comprises 2,200 real estate professionals in 77 offices, providing value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management, financing and mortgage placement services to owners and occupiers of office, retail, industrial and multi-family properties.

 Editors/Reporters

Please click on link to view and download photo of Rick Egitto:

http://www.avisonyoung.com/sites/default/files/content-files/Media_Room/Temp/Rick%20Egitto%20Denver.jpg

For further information/comment/photos:

Sherry Quan , Principal, Global Director of Communications & Media Relations,

Avison Young : 604.647.5098; cell: 604.726.0959



, Principal, Global Director of Communications & Media Relations, : cell: Alec Wynne , Principal and Managing Director, Denver , Avison Young : 720.508.8112



, Principal and Managing Director, , : Rick Egitto Principal, Avison Young : 303.390.0955



Principal, : Earl Webb , President, U.S. Operations, Avison Young : 312.957.7610



, President, U.S. Operations, : Mark Rose , Chair and CEO, Avison Young : 416.673.4028

www.avisonyoung.com

Avison Young was a winner of Canada's Best Managed Companies program in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and requalified in 2015 to maintain its status as a Best Managed Gold company

Follow Avison Young on Twitter:

For industry news, press releases and market reports: www.twitter.com/avisonyoung

For Avison Young listings and deals: www.twitter.com/AYListingsDeals

Follow Avison Young Bloggers: http://blog.avisonyoung.com

Follow Avison Young on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/avison-young-commercial-real-estate

Follow Avison Young on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/AvisonYoungRE

SOURCE Avison Young Commercial Real Estate (BC)

Related Links

www.avisonyoung.com


LONDON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Report Details

Visiongain's new 282 page report assesses that the global rigid plastic packaging market will reach $188.45 billion in 2016.



Are you involved in the Rigid Plastic Packaging market or intend to be? If so, then you must read this report

It's vital that you keep your industry knowledge up to date. You need this report.



Market scope: This brand new report from visiongain is a completely fresh market assessment of the rigid plastic packaging sector based upon the latest information. Our new market study contains forecasts, original analysis, company profiles and, most crucially, fresh conclusions. The report not only gives detailed forecasts and analysis of the rigid plastic packaging markets by region, by end-use sectors, but also provides forecasts and analysis of the rigid plastic packaging market by type of resin.



The Rigid Plastic Packaging Market Report 2016-2026 responds to your need for definitive market data:



- Where are the Rigid Plastic Packaging market opportunities?

- 232 tables, charts, and graphs reveal market data allowing you to target your strategy more effectively



- When will the Rigid Plastic Packaging market grow?

- Global, regional and Rigid Plastic Packaging submarket forecasts and analysis from 2016-2026 illustrate the market progression



- Why will the Rigid Plastic Packaging market evolve?

- Two expert interviews with key opinion leaders reveal the factors.

- Anchor Packaging Company

- Saier Holding



- Which Rigid Plastic Packaging end use submarkets will flourish from 2016-2026?

- Rigid Plastic Packaging Market Forecast for Food 2016-2026

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- Rigid Plastic Packaging Market Forecast for Industrial 2016-2026

- Rigid Plastic Packaging Market Forecast for Other End-Use Sectors 2016-2026



- Which rigid plastic packaging submarkets by types of resins will thrive from 2016-2026?

- PET Rigid Plastic Packaging submarket forecast 2016-2026

- PE Rigid Plastic Packaging submarket forecast 2016-2026

- PVC Rigid Plastic Packaging submarket forecast 2016-2026

- PP Rigid Plastic Packaging submarket forecast 2016-2026

- Other Resins Rigid Plastic Packaging submarket forecast 2016-2026



- Where are the regional rigid plastic packaging market opportunities from 2016-2026?

- Focused regional forecasts and analysis explore the future opportunities

- US forecast 2016-2026

- Japan forecast 2016-2026

- China forecast 2016-2026

- Germany forecast 2016-2026

- France forecast 2016-2026

- UK forecast 2016-2026

- Russia forecast 2016-2026

- Italy forecast 2016-2026

- India forecast 2016-2026

- Canada forecast 2016-2026

- Spain forecast 2016-2026

- Mexico forecast 2016-2026

- Brazil forecast 2016-2026

- Turkey forecast 2016-2026

- Australia forecast 2016-2026

- South Korea forecast 2016-2026

- Indonesia forecast 2016-2026

- Holland forecast 2016-2026

- RoW forecast 2016-2026



- What are the factors influencing rigid plastic packaging market dynamics?

- SWOT analysis explores the factors.

- Research and development (R&D) strategy

- Technological issues and constraints.

- Supply and demand dynamics

- Increasing specialisation by leading players

- Advances in product quality

- Demographic changes



Who are the leading rigid plastic packaging companies?

- See analysis of competitive positioning, capabilities, product portfolios, R&D activity, services, focus, strategies, M&A activity, and future outlook.

- ALPLA

- Amcor

- Anchor Packaging Company

- Bemis

- Berry Plastics

- Greif

- Reynolds Group Holdings

- Sealed Air

- Saier Holding



Who should read this report?

- Anyone within the DFOS value chain, including

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Get our report today Rigid Plastic Packaging Market Report 2016-2026. Avoid missing out  order our report now.

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About Reportbuyer

Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers

http://www.reportbuyer.com

For more information:

Sarah Smith

Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +44 208 816 85 48

Website: www.reportbuyer.com

SOURCE ReportBuyer

Related Links

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Auctioneer invites the public to help those in need with food, water and blood drive at their site

PHOENIX, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - This month, hundreds of people from across Arizona and neighboring states will travel to Ritchie Bros.' Phoenix site to view and inspect the equipment available at its June 29 auction. To help give back to the community, Ritchie Bros. will host a charitable "Community Give Back" event at its Phoenix site the day before the auction, on June 28, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Working with the American Red Cross, St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the company will host a food, water and blood drive for those in need. Everyone who makes a donation will be entered into a raffle draw with a chance to win several prizes, including a two-night stay at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino in Chandler, AZ.

"Summer is the hardest time for food banksthe amount of food we distribute reaches its highest level with children being fed three times a day at home, while donations fall to their lowest levels with so many escaping the hot temperatures," said Jerry Brown, Director of Public Relations for St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance. "Events at this time of year are especially crucial. We thank Ritchie Bros. for giving back to those in need and encourage all who can to take advantage of the opportunity to help."

The event, which will be held at Ritchie Bros.' site at 5410 W Lower Buckeye Rd., is open to the public. Details below:

"Stuff the Truck" Food Drive  Arizona hunger rates are higher than national averages, with close to 18% of Arizonans being food insecure. The St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, the world's first food bank, needs our help. On June 28 , Ritchie Bros. hopes to fill an entire dump truck with non-perishable food items. The most needed items include: cereal, rice, beans, pasta, canned fruits & vegetables, juice, and peanut butter.





"From the Heart" Blood Drive June 28 , the Red Cross will be onsite at Ritchie Bros.' Phoenix auction site from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to collect blood donations. To schedule an appointment and make a blood donation, contact Jennifer Velitchkov at Ritchie Bros.:



 Every two seconds someone in America gets a blood transfusion. Unfortunately, fewer donors give blood than what patients need. On, the Red Cross will be onsite at Ritchie Bros.'auction site fromto collect blood donations. To schedule an appointment and make a blood donation, contactat Ritchie Bros.: [email protected]

"Quench the Thirst" Water Drive  As the heat rises in the summer months the need for clean potable water is greater than ever. To help get water to those in need, collection bins will be set up by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul onsite at Ritchie Bros.' Phoenix site on June 28 to accept donations of bottles and cases of water.

"We've been a part of the Phoenix and larger Arizona community for close to 30 years," said Chris Holmberg, Regional Sales Manager, Ritchie Bros. "We hope our customers and the general public will join us on June 28 to help give back."

For more information about Ritchie Bros.' "Community Give Back" event please contact Kim Collier-Heim at 602.269.5631 or [email protected].

1,100+ equipment items and trucks selling on June 29

On Wednesday, June 29, starting at 8 a.m., Ritchie Bros. will sell more than 1,100 heavy equipment items and trucks at its Phoenix, AZ auction site. All items will be sold without minimum bids or reserve prices. Bids can be made in person at the auction site, online in real time at rbauction.com or by proxy. For more information about the auction, visit rbauction.com/Phoenix.

About Ritchie Bros.

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is the world's largest seller of used equipment for the construction, transportation, agriculture, material handling, energy, mining, forestry, marine and other industries. Ritchie Bros. TM solutions make it easy for the world's builders to buy and sell equipment with confidence, including live unreserved public auctions with on-site and online bidding (rbauction.com), the EquipmentOneTM secure online marketplace (EquipmentOne.com), a professional corporate asset management program, and a range of value-added services, including equipment financing for customers through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services (rbauction.com/financing). Ritchie Bros. has operations in 19 countries, including 44 auction sites worldwide. Learn more at RitchieBros.com.

About the St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance

Now in its 49th year of serving Arizona, St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance is a non-sectarian, nonprofit organization that alleviates hunger by efficiently gathering and distributing food to 500 partner agencies at 600 locations that serve the hungry. Serving two-thirds of our 15 counties, the organization is a member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks, and is committed to volunteerism, building community relationships, and improving the quality of life for Arizonans in need. In Fiscal Year 2014-15, the Food Bank distributed 66 million pounds of food to families and individuals and garnered more than 300,000 volunteer service hours. Web site: wwwStMarysFoodBank.org | Phone: 602-242-FOOD.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

About the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Phoenix

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international non-profit organization dedicated to serving the poor and providing others with the opportunity to serve. The Phoenix Diocesan Council has been assisting central and northern Arizona families since 1946. Programs include services for the homeless, medical and dental care for the working poor, charity dining rooms, thrift stores, a transitional housing shelter and general assistance for individuals in need. For more information about St. Vincent de Paul, please visit www.stvincentdepaul.net.

SOURCE Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

Related Links

www.rbauction.com


LONDON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Masterbatch, a concentrated solid or liquid mix of pigments and/or additives encapsulated into a carrier polymer resin, is used to include pigments or performance-enhancing additives to natural polymers. Easy availability of raw material, surging demand from end use industries and growing trend towards green building solutions and plastics is driving demand for masterbatches in Saudi Arabia. Masterbatches are being used in a wide range of applications in building and construction sector, production of household appliances and automotive sector. Over the last five years, the masterbatch market in Saudi Arabia has been witnessing introduction of high-quality, standardized masterbatches for use in construction, plastic, fiber and agriculture industries.

According to "Saudi Arabia Masterbatch Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2020", the masterbatch market in Saudi Arabia is projected to surpass USD167 million by 2020. Rising government investments in downstream sector coupled with growing demand from end user industries such as packaging, building & construction and consumer appliances is forecast to propel the country's masterbatch market through 2020. Presently, the largest end user industry for masterbatch applications in Saudi Arabia is the packaging sector, and the segment is projected to dominate though 2020. Demand for masterbatches from plastic processing industries is predominantly being fueled by huge amount of money invested by the country's government in petrochemical and plastics sector. Clariant accounts for the largest share in the country's masterbatch market, followed by Astra Polymer, Ingenia Polymers and Cabot. "Saudi Arabia Masterbatch Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2020" report elaborates following aspects related to masterbatch market in Saudi Arabia:

- Saudi Arabia Market Size, Share & Forecast

- Segmental Analysis  (White, Black, Color & Additives)

- Policy & Regulatory Landscape

- Changing Market Trends & Emerging Opportunities

- Competitive Landscape & Strategic Recommendations

Why You Should Buy This Report?

- To gain an in-depth understanding of masterbatch market in Saudi Arabia

- To identify the on-going trends and anticipated growth in the next five years

- To help industry consultants, masterbatch manufacturers, vendors and dealers align their market-centric strategies

- To obtain research based business decisions and add weight to presentations and marketing material

- To gain competitive knowledge of leading market players

- To avail 10% customization in the report without any extra charges and get the research data or trends added in the report as per the buyer's specific needs

Report Methodology

The information contained in this report is based upon both primary and secondary sources. Primary research included interviews with masterbatch suppliers and industry experts. Secondary research included an exhaustive search of relevant publications like company annual reports, financial reports and other proprietary databases.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/2390862/

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

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The uniVERSE Case System outfits iPhone 6/6s and iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus with a slim, protective OtterBox case that offers virtually endless possibilities. 2 The uniVERSE Case System combines trusted OtterBox protection with the ability to expand iPhone's features with swappable modules from a variety of leading accessory makers. The Seek Compact Case attaches seamlessly to the OtterBox uniVERSE case using a slotted rail on the back of the case to turn one's iPhone into a high-powered thermal imager.

"We couldn't be more excited to be partnering with OtterBox and aligning the Seek Compact line of thermal image cameras with the revolutionary uniVERSE case system," said Tracy Benson, CMO/VP of Global Marketing for Seek Thermal. "Since we first introduced the Compact series, our customers have inquired about how they can further protect their camera and phone, especially while using it in the rugged environments. With the new Seek Case built for OtterBox, users get the peace of mind that they can use their thermal image camera in almost any work or play environment."

"The uniVERSE Case System brings the top mobile accessory innovators together to create a seamless iPhone ecosystem," said OtterBox CEO Jim Parke. "We're partnering with the best of the best to bring a completely new platform to the market."

Seek Thermal's award-winning Compact thermal image camera line plugs directly into your iOS device to instantly connect and detect temperatures from -40C to 330C. The Compact series offers a variety of lenses to meet your field of view and applications. It has a minimum focusable distance of six inches and several infrared detectable ranges maxing out at 1800 ft. By enclosing the Seek thermal imaging camera into the Seek Case built for Otterbox, users are guaranteed to have the best protection available.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

The Seek Compact for iOS sells for $249.00. The Seek CompactXR for iOS sells for $299.00 direct at thermal.com, otterbox.com, Best Buy stores, bestbuy.com and amazon.com. Users that already own a Compact thermal imaging camera from Seek Thermal can buy the Seek Case for their iPhone to use with the uniVERSE Case System for $29.00 at thermal.com.

The uniVERSE Case System, sold separately, is available now for iPhone 6/6s and iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus at otterbox.com, Best Buy stores, bestbuy.com and amazon.com. For more information, visit otterbox.com.

About Seek Thermal

Seek Thermal engineers, designs and manufacturers high quality thermal imaging products and core platforms for consumer, commercial, and heat sensing IoT data applications. With headquarters in Santa Barbara, California, the global hub of thermal imaging innovation, the company has developed breakthrough thermal imaging camera cores that will enable a range of affordable products for use at home, work and play. For more information visit thermal.com and follow #seekthermal on Instagram and @seekthermal on Twitter.

About OtterBox

About OtterBox: Starting in 1998 with a line of dry boxes, OtterBox has evolved into the No. 1-selling case for smartphones in the U.S. and a global leader in mobile device protection. Its diverse lineup of protective solutions for smartphone and tablet devices is the result of precision engineering, diligent testing and continual technological advancement, giving technology users the confidence to make the most of their mobile world. OtterBox is an eight-time honoree on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies in the U.S. and was named one of "America's Most Promising Companies" by Forbes Magazine. The company is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colo., with offices in San Diego; Cork, Ireland; and Hong Kong. For more information, visit otterbox.com.

Notes:

1 Source: The NPD Group/Consumer Tracking Service, 2012  2015

2 uniVERSE case is NOT protective against water. Will provide added protection against bumps, drops and shock.

3 The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service: Cell Phone Device Protection/Units Sold 2012  2015

2016 Otter Products, LLC. All rights reserved. OtterBox and all OtterBox logos, trademarks and symbols are the property of Otter Products, LLC. All other logos, trademarks and symbols are the property of their respective owners.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/379290

SOURCE Seek Thermal

Related Links

http://thermal.com


SIA currently operates from San Francisco twice-daily, with one flight via Hong Kong and the other via Seoul Incheon. With the launch of non-stop San Francisco-Singapore services, the San Francisco-Seoul-Singapore flight will be re-routed to operate as a Los Angeles-Seoul-Singapore service, also from October 23, 2016. This will result in a second daily service from Los Angeles, complementing existing flights that operate on a Los Angeles-Tokyo Narita-Singapore routing.1

Flying time for the new San Francisco-Singapore services will be between 14:35hrs and 17:45hrs depending on direction and time of year, over a journey of around 8,451 miles. They will be the longest flights in SIA's network until 2018, when a new variant of the A350-900 will enter service, enabling even longer flights between Singapore and both Los Angeles and New York. SIA is the launch customer for the new variant, the A350-900ULR, with seven of the type on order.

"Our customers have been asking us to offer more U.S. services and we are pleased to be able to do so. With new non-stop San Francisco flights and the increase in frequency to Los Angeles, customers will have two flights to choose from each day to both of these popular U.S. West Coast destinations," said Senior Vice President Marketing Planning, Ms. Lee Wen Fen.

SIA has at the same time taken the difficult decision to suspend services to Sao Paulo in Brazil as a result of the sustained weak performance of the route. SIA operates three weekly flights to Sao Paulo via Barcelona and the last flight will be operated on October 20, 2016. Services between Singapore and Barcelona will continue to be operated.

The A350-900 is able to operate non-stop San Francisco flights on a year-round basis, although depending on headwinds there will be some payload restrictions which will result in some seats not being offered for sale. The aircraft is configured with 253 seats in Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Economy Class.

Flights from San Francisco will depart in the morning, arriving in Singapore in the early evening. Non-stop SIN-SFO flights will also depart in the morning, with a morning arrival in the U.S. to enable onward connections to additional destinations.

Upgraded Cabins on All SIA Flights from LAX

The new LAX-Seoul-Singapore service will be operated with B777-300ER aircraft and will introduce SIA's upgraded, next generation aircraft interiors to the Los Angeles market for the first time, including First Class seats designed in conjunction with L.A.-based BMW Designworks. The aircraft is configured with 264 seats in First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class cabins. SIA will be the only carrier to offer a premium economy cabin on the LAX-Seoul route.

SIA's current LAX-Tokyo-Singapore route will also be served with B777-300ER aircraft from October 23, 2016, with an identical configuration in place of the existing A380, and will also offer passengers upgraded seating products in each cabin.

In addition to San Francisco and Los Angeles, SIA's U.S. network includes flights to Houston via Moscow and New York JFK via Frankfurt.

For full details and to book, visit http://www.singaporeair.com/. Follow Singapore Airlines on Facebook at www.facebook.com/singaporeair, Twitter at www.twitter.com/singaporeair and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/singaporeair.

Click to Tweet : [email protected] to expand U.S. operations with non-stop SFO-SIN flights and new LAX-Seoul service #SingaporeAir #FlySQ

1 All flights subject to regulatory approvals.

Media Contacts:

Miranda Zackowski James Boyd Weber Shandwick Singapore Airlines 212-537-8724 212-644-8801 x 242 [email protected] [email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379700

SOURCE Singapore Airlines

Related Links

http://www.singaporeair.com


"We are incredibly thankful to our customers, suppliers and employees for reaching this milestone, and we are tremendously proud of the S-92 helicopter's industry-leading safety record," said Sikorsky President Dan Schultz. "Sikorsky is committed to providing world-class customer support and technological advancements to our customers who select the S-92 helicopter for their most demanding missions in some of the world's toughest conditions."

With more than one million fleet flight hours of service, and an accident rate less than 1/10th the U.S. Civil Multi-Turbine engine helicopter rate, Sikorsky believes the S-92 helicopter sets the industry standard for safety and reliability. The S-92 was certified to FAA/EASA harmonized Part 29 requirements, as amended through Amendment 47. It led the way by being the first aircraft certified to this rigorous standard and by meeting or exceeding oil and gas industry requirements. The availability rate of the S-92 fleet averages more than 95% each month.

In this milestone year, the American Helicopter Society International honored the S-92 helicopter program with the Harry T. Jensen Award for its outstanding safety record. In 2002, the S-92 helicopter was honored with the prestigious Collier Trophy.

Since 2004, Sikorsky has delivered more than 275 S-92 helicopters, predominantly to operators serving the worldwide offshore oil and gas industry, and for civil search and rescue. Eleven nations fly the dual-engine S-92 helicopter for their head of state missions. In May 2014, Sikorsky was selected to build the next U.S. Presidential Helicopter Fleet, the world's most advanced executive transport helicopter, using the S-92 platform.

For additional information, visit our website: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/s-92-helicopter.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/20160615/379496

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141118/159313LOGO

SOURCE Lockheed Martin

Related Links

http://www.lockheedmartin.com


SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Silk Road Medical, Inc., a company dedicated to preventing the devastating burden of stroke through surgical innovation, announced that the 2016 Vascular Annual Meeting of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) held June 8-11 in National Harbor, MD featured six presentations on the company's ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection and Stent System, the first and only products specifically designed and indicated for TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR).

Christopher Kwolek, MD, Director of the Vascular and Endovascular training program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Chief of Vascular Surgery at Newton Wellesley Hospital, and National Co-Principal Investigator for the ROADSTER Trial, presented "TransCarotid Artery Revascularization with High-Rate Flow Reversal Embolic Protection Demonstrates Improved Stroke and Death Rate Following FDA Premarket Clearance." Dr. Kwolek presented a 30 day all stroke rate of 1.3% from the Continued Access cohort of patients from the ROADSTER trial, which consisted of an additional 78 high surgical risk patients enrolled beyond the Pivotal cohort of 141 patients while the Pre Market Clearance Application was under review by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). This compares to a 30 day all stroke rate of 1.4% in the Pivotal cohort, for a combined rate of 1.4% in 219 patients. The 30 day stroke and death rates were 2.8%, 1.3% and 2.3% in the Pivotal, Continued Access, and combined cohorts, respectively. Dr. Kwolek commented that "the combined outcomes in high surgical risk patients are remarkably better than high surgical risk patients treated with conventional carotid endarterectomy (CEA)."

Ignacio Leal, MD, PhD, of Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo in Spain, whose site was the leading enroller in the ROADSTER study, presented "1-Year Follow-up After Transcarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR) with Enroute Transcarotid Neuroprotection System." Dr. Leal presented a cohort of 50 consecutive patients, including patients enrolled before and within the ROADSTER trial, and reported no strokes or deaths at 30 days with a 12 month stent patency and stroke free survival rate of 100%. Dr. Leal concluded that "TCAR can be done with a high rate of technical success, an extremely low rate of major adverse events, and excellent 1-year stroke-free survival and stent patency."

Ann Kim, MD, of University Hospitals Case Medical Center presented a poster titled "Temporary Reversal of Blood Flow During Trans-Carotid Revascularization (TCAR) Does Not Change Brain Electrical Activity" on behalf of her colleagues at Case Medical Center, University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, and State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Kim reported that 28 patients enrolled in the ROADSTER trial underwent electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring during TCAR with nine patients having bilateral carotid artery disease including four of nine with contralateral occlusion. No EEG or somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) changes or adverse events occurred during the implementation of the ENROUTE NPS device in all patients. Furthermore, none of the patients exhibited changes in their pre- and post-intervention neurologic physical exam or their NIH stroke scale (NIHSS). Dr. Kim concluded "Reversal of flow did not elicit any change in brain electrical activity, even in patients with bilateral carotid disease. This finding, coupled with the unchanged post-operative neurologic exam, suggests that temporary reversal of flow is safe. Carotid stenting performed with carotid artery reversal of blood flow can mitigate carotid embolization without causing brain ischemia."

Vikram Kashyap, MD, Professor and Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio and Co-Principal National Investigator for the ongoing ROADSTER 2 study, led an SVS/ESVS (European Society of Vascular Surgery) joint debate session titled "During Carotid Artery Stenting, Retrograde Flow is better than Filter-based Embolic Protection Devices for the Prevention of Embolic Stroke." In his presentation Dr. Kashyap commented that "the very nature of TCAR and its direct carotid approach significantly reduces the risk of stroke, since it does not require embolegenic steps like traversing the aortic arch and the carotid lesion with wires and catheters before implementing neuroprotection. It is simply a more logical approach."

TCAR with the ENROUTE system was also featured in a Vascular Live presentation titled "TransCarotid Artery Revascularization (TCAR): The Way Forward in Treating Carotid Artery Disease and Stroke Prevention," featuring Dr. Kashyap, Raghu Motaganahalli, MD, Associate Professor, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Peter Schneider, MD, Chief, Division of Vascular Therapy at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii and Co-Principal National Investigator of the ongoing ROADSTER 2 post approval study. During the session Dr. Schneider commented that "ROADSTER 2 is enrolling faster than we anticipated in a broad group of centers including many sites where TCAR has just recently been adopted. There is a high level of enthusiasm for the procedure and this experience will build upon the compelling evidence base from ROADSTER 1." Dr. Schneider and Dr. Kashyap also led a pre-course education session titled "How to Make Carotid Stenting Competitive with CEA" that featured TCAR and the ENROUTE System.

Silk Road Medical's Chief Medical Officer Sumaira Macdonald, MD, PhD, commented that "the robust evidence base continues to build for TCAR as a compelling alternative to both carotid endarterectomy and transfemoral carotid artery stenting. With such low peri-procedural stroke rates and the benefit of a less invasive approach, TCAR has the clear potential to be standard of care in the treatment of carotid artery disease."

About Silk Road Medical

Silk Road Medical, Inc. is a private company located in Sunnyvale, CA, that develops and manufactures less-invasive medical devices intended to improve the treatment of carotid artery disease through proprietary transcarotid therapies. Detailed information can be found at www.silkroadmed.com.

About TCAR with the ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection and Stent System

TCAR is a clinically proven procedure combining surgical principles of neuroprotection with minimally invasive endovascular techniques to treat blockages in the carotid artery at risk of causing a stroke. The ENROUTE Transcarotid Stent is intended to be used in conjunction with the ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection System (NPS) during the TCAR procedure. The ENROUTE Transcarotid NPS is a first in class device used to directly access the common carotid artery and initiate high rate temporary blood flow reversal to protect the brain from stroke while delivering and implanting the ENROUTE Transcarotid Stent.

About Stroke and Carotid Artery Disease

Every year, 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke. Nearly six million die and another five million are left permanently disabled. Stroke is the second leading cause of disability globally.1 Ischemic strokes account for 80-90% of strokes and an estimated 20-30% of these are caused by disease in the carotid arteries which carry blood to the brain. If left untreated, these blockages can fragment, flow to the brain, and lead to a potentially disabling stroke, also known as a "brain attack."

ENROUTE is a registered trademark of Silk Road Medical, Inc.

1http://www.world-heart-federation.org/cardiovascular-health/stroke/

SOURCE Silk Road Medical, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.silkroadmed.com


PORTLAND, Ore., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Oregonians can now easily invest in the legal cannabis movement. Smuggle Portland (www.invest-smuggleportland.com) is raising $250,000 to transform their online store into a flagship location in Portland that sells high-end, cannabis-related accessories designed for women and Baby Boomers.

Community public offerings (CPO) give local businesses an option to avoid national banks and endorse alternative financing mechanisms. This approach is different from donation-based crowdfunding, like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. CPO investors get their money back plus interest. They also boost Oregon's makers community whose sophisticated and sustainable products are sold by Smuggle Portland.

Smuggle's co-founder, Renee Spears, said, "Baby Boomers and women are fast growing segments in cannabis. They don't want to visit a headshop with black lights and blacked-out windows. We're offering them a welcoming and elegant experience, both at our retail location and online. We want to help them stay healthy and conscious with products that epitomize the Pacific Northwest, cannabis lifestyle."

Based on sales recorded for the Seattle Metro area, Portland is likely to sell over $200 million in cannabis alone in 2016. The associated products market is valued at twice that amount. This estimates the local ancillary market to be worth $400 million this year. Smuggle co-founder, Stephen Cahill, said, "We're eager to meet our investors, share our business model, and demonstrate how we're making decisions in this rapidly changing culture. I see our investors as thought leaders who want to align their money with their values."

Any Oregon resident can invest until May 2017 at www.invest-smuggleportland.com.

resident can invest until at www.invest-smuggleportland.com. Oregon is one of 10 states to have this unique, intra-state offering.

is one of 10 states to have this unique, intra-state offering. Women are the fastest growing demographic in the cannabis industry, and are responsible for 70% of purchase decisions in America.

Baby Boomers are expected to account for 25% of market growth in cannabis over the next five years (Upstart Business Journal).

Smuggle Portland is co-founded by Renee Spears, owner of Rose City Mortgage and winner of numerous business awards in Oregon. Her co-founder is Stephen Cahill, a former MBA professor in business innovation at Pinchot University. Their staff includes a talented assortment of retail experts, product designers, videographers, system developers, and cannabis connoisseurs. They come from Nike, Banana Republic, and Liz Claiborne.

Renee Spears

Smuggle Portland

503-946-8490

[email protected]

SOURCE Smuggle Portland

Related Links

http://www.smuggleportland.com


SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Spiral Water Technologies, a developer of advanced filtration solutions for difficult-to-treat waters, has received the Innovation Award, presented by BlueTech Research at the BlueTech Forum held recently in San Francisco. This award honors the most disruptive technology presented at the event and also recognizes the business potential of Spiral Water's proprietary Automatic Self Cleaning Filter.

Spiral Water was one of 11 companies short-listed for the Forum's Innovation Awards, and was selected by market intelligence experts for its likelihood to "transform the shape of the water industry of the future." The annual BlueTech Forum is a gathering of the world's leading water technology companies, entrepreneurs, investors, executives and thought leaders.

Each finalist presented a case study to conference delegates and BlueTech panelists. Spiral Water demonstrated how its automatic filter delivered significant technological and business advantages for a food and beverage client. BlueTech Research's CEO Paul O'Callaghan cited Spiral Water for "outperforming its rivals while cutting both maintenance and energy costs."

This award marks a rewarding 12 months for Spiral Water, winner of last year's Technology Idol Award at the Global Water Awards in Athens, honoring innovative early-stage companies. At the BlueTech Forum, Spiral Water was competing head-to-head with established players in the water industry.

"We're especially proud to show how our technology is working right now to solve problems and return investments across a huge range of applications and industries for both filtration and solids concentration," said Spiral Water CEO Ashwin Gulati. "The BlueTech Award is a fantastic confirmation of that achievement."

As winner of BlueTech's Innovation Award, Spiral Water will be joining the Innovation Pavilion at the Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition & Conference (WEFTEC) in New Orleans this September.

About Spiral Water Technologies

Spiral Water Technologies (www.spiralwater.com) specializes in advanced filtration solutions for difficult-to-treat waters. The Spiral Water Automatic Self Cleaning Filter was specifically designed to address the issue of high and variable suspended solids removal across multiple industries, and has delivered breakthrough performance in some of today's most demanding applications, including frac flowback filtration, high TSS filters, pre-filter for RO/UF, and industrial water filtration. Founded in 2012, Spiral Water is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

SOURCE Spiral Water Technologies

Related Links

http://www.spiralwater.com


DENVER, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- StickyDocs today announced the launch of Hop Up, a new program aimed at providing aspiring students from traditionally underrepresented communities pathways towards thriving leadership and entrepreneurial careers in the creative and technology industries. Launched in partnership with workspace developer INDUSTRY Denver, the program is now accepting internship applications for its first cycle, which begins July 11 in Denver.

Hop Up's vision is to supplement mainstream science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs with a leadership, entrepreneurial and workplace skills development curriculum. Running twice per year (summer and winter), Hop Up is part of a larger diversity and inclusion-focused startup accelerator initiative, called HueCoLab.

"Where (STEM) based programs attract a much needed, but more analytically driven mind, we feel there is a gap in addressing those who are more creative and entrepreneurially motivated," said Frederick Davis, Chief Officer of Partnerships and Programming for Hop Up. "Hop Up will address the need for developing a more skilled workforce while also providing a clear path towards small business ownership, which is a win for participants, our partners, and the state of Colorado overall."

Hop Up will challenge interns to develop their own business ideas and structure those ideas into a working business plan based on four tenets: research & concept development; marketing & sales planning; operational planning & practice; financial planning & budgeting. Interns will spend half of their days working on their business ideas and plans and half working in collaboration with participating partner companies. Program milestones will focus on communications, presentation skills development and cultivating collaboration in a team setting, Interns will ultimately present their business plans to an audience of peers, mentors and corporate and public partners in early August.

Hop Up was conceived by StickyDocs founder Marcus Jimenez who himself benefited from mentorship on his journey from a disadvantaged background and up through the ranks of the design and advertising industries. Mr. Jimenez also sits on the ADCOLOR Industry Board of Directors and is the co-founder of the organization's Annual Diversity & Inclusion Conference.

"We're looking forward to launching Hop Up, which we feel can play a big part in accelerating the career paths of Denver's next generation of creative industrialists," said Jimenez. "Given Denver's rising position as a source of creative and technological capital, Hop Up can help fill a business community need in matching a focused talent pipeline to the growing need of a diverse workforce locally. Big picture, Hop Up is just phase one of a broader plan to position Denver as an advocate and leader in building a more talented, and inclusive, business community, while cultivating local cultural innovators and startups."

The inaugural class of Hop Up interns will be hosted at INDUSTRY, located at 3001 Brighton Boulevard in Denver's River North neighborhood. INDUSTRY is a creative and tech community that hosts nearly 70 companies and 500+ individuals in creative and shared workspace.

"Since our inception, INDUSTRY has been committed to companies and professionals working at the intersection of creativity and technology. As part of our commitment, we encourage individuals from all backgrounds, ethnicities and genders to become involved in the creative and tech spaces, whether it's through their own startups or as part of a larger team," said Jason Winkler, Partner of INDUSTRY. "Our involvement in the launch of Hop Up is part of this commitment and we're thrilled to be hosting the inaugural internship class this summer."

Students interested in applying for an internship can visit HueCoLab.com.

About StickyDocs

StickyDocs brings insights to life as meaningful content for the enterprise. StickyDocs provides a cloud-based, Insights-as-a-Service reporting platform, focused on making data desirable, digestible and fun to engage with. Simply put, StickyDocs makes insights matter. Founded in 2014, StickyDocs is based in Denver, Colo. For more information, visit www.stickydocs.com

About INDUSTRY

INDUSTRY is an office development that consists of over 152,000+ square feet of shared office space, amenities and three restaurants. The INDUSTRY development and community is the nexus of creativity and technology in downtown Denver and anchors the revitalization of the Brighton corridor in River North (RiNo). INDUSTRY is Denver's hub for business, recreation, modern living, dining, and offers a connected sense of community and network gathering focal points. For more information, visit www.industrydenver.com

SOURCE StickyDocs

Related Links

http://www.stickydocs.com


DALLAS, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Reflection Band, LLC announces their formal partnership with the Tennessee Department of Health through their adoption of reflectionband. The Tennessee Department of Health has officially become the first state level health department in the U.S. to adopt a custom manufactured reflectionband to complement and enhance their statewide seat belt use and injury prevention programming in FY 2016.

What is reflectionband?

TN Dept. of Health Custom reflectionband(R) Design

Reflectionband is a new automotive after-market accessory and messaging platform that is applied and affixed to the rear-view mirror frame of ANY year, make, and model of automobile or truck. Reflectionband is custom manufactured to the exact color, font, artwork, and messaging specifications of each customer.

"Increasing seat belt use and reducing distracted driving is a top priority for us," TN Dept. of Health Injury Prevention Manager Terrence Love said. "The Tennessee reflectionbands carry the message "Buckle Up & Stay Alert" and will serve to remind drivers to remain focused and belted. The reflectionbands will be used primarily as a tool to support teen safe driving education and evidence-based programs to reduce teen crashes."

"We are very honored and excited to partner with the Tennessee Department of Health," said Frank J. Rosello, Co-Founder and CEO of Reflection Band, LLC. "There is not a product or safety item that exists in the world today like reflectionband. Leveraging our innovation as a safety item, reflectionband provides our customers with an inexpensive and non technological means distribute their safety messages to their audience in a manner that allows them to safely display those messages inside of their vehicle. This constant visual reminder is designed to promote and inspire safe driving behaviors with the goal of reducing the number of unnecessary motor vehicle crashes and injuries and ultimately save lives, especially with teen and inexperienced drivers.

About Reflection Band, LLC

Reflection Band, LLC has developed an innovative automotive after-market accessory and messaging platform called reflectionband that is installed on the rear-view mirror of ANY year, make, and model of passenger automobile or truck. Our mission is to deliver to consumers, companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations THE product that safely displays custom messages, branding, or themes inside any passenger vehicle to reflect upon, Take It To The Road, and save lives! Reflectionband is patent and trademark protected in the U.S. and abroad.

To learn more, go to www.reflection-band.com.

About Tennessee Department of Health

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to Protect, Promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. The Division of Family Health and Wellness / Injury and Violence Prevention administers a wide array of programs, including Motor Vehicle Crashes, and are provided in all 95 Tennessee counties through a network of local and regional health departments.

To learn more, go to www.tn.gov/health.

Contact:

Frank J. Rosello

(469) 285-1054

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/379299

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/379300LOGO

SOURCE Reflection Band, LLC

Related Links

http://www.reflection-band.com/


PINEHURST, N.C., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Teri Marlene Prince, CEO of the Terida companies, is pleased to announce that the company has been chosen as one of the winners of the inaugural NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI) Defense Innovation Challenge.

"I am thrilled that Terida received this recognition by NATO. With vigilance in cyber security so important in our modern world, Terida is committed to providing the best supply chain and e-justice solutions available in the market," said Prince.

The NCI Defense Innovation Challenge was created to recognize companies that accelerate transformational, state-of-the-art technology solutions in support of NATO C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) and cyber capability requirements.

Terida's submission "Protecting information flow for the supply chain and contractor logistics support" was one of the ten international winners of the Innovation Challenge. "Being invited to demonstrate the benefits of Terida's Contractor Logistics Services (CLS) Framework, and be showcased at the 2016 NCI Agency Conference and AFCEA TechNet International (NITEC16), from June 7 to 9 in Tallinn, Estonia was a huge honor," said Prince.

"The large number of high quality proposals we received made selection difficult," said NCI Agency General Manager Koen Gijsbers. "However, it also signals the vast potential for small businesses and academia throughout the Alliance to contribute to NATO cyber defence, and we will be working hard in the coming months to create mechanisms for closer engagement with them."

The Terida CLS Framework identified by NATO's "High-Level Selection Board as a top ranked technology solution" addresses many of the challenges facing NATO and the international business community. It provides an auditable repository, deployed in multiple languages from a single installation, which enables NATO to directly engage, credential, train, and manage its large, diverse party and counter-party population, its supply chain, and its myriad of projects and operations.

On June 7th, MGEN (rtd) Gijsbers, together with Lt. Gen. Jeffrey "Jeff" Lofgren, Deputy Chief of Staff, Capability Development, Allied Command Transformation, and H.E. Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, Assistant Secretary General, Emerging Security Challenges, NATO HQ, were personally on hand at the Awards Ceremony to recognize Terida's achievement and present Ms. Prince with the award.

For further information please contact:

Teri Prince, CEO Terida, +1.910.692.4678

[email protected]

About Terida

Terida is a privately held information technology company.

From offices in Pinehurst, North Carolina and Toronto, Canada, Terida provides solutions and consultancy services to support all phases of web based justice systems ranging from class action claims and settlements to supply chain risk management and automatic document classification. These solutions cross jurisdictional, institutional, organizational and national boundaries, are deployed in multiple languages, and scale for global operations.

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SOURCE Terida

Related Links

http://www.terida.com


"We thank Ms. Evans for collaborating with organizations like AFSP, which has led to an important dialogue on how to advance suicide prevention," said Bob Gebbia, AFSP CEO .

Through her own work in the White House, Bess has tirelessly promoted suicide prevention and mental health policies throughout the federal government, including the Affordable Care Act and efforts to ensure that people across the nation have health coverage for mental health and substance use disorders.

Ms. Evans has been working at the White House for over four years and rose from being a Senior Policy Advisor for Public Engagement in the Office of Science and Technology Policy to her current role. Prior to joining the White House, Evans worked for the Justice Department and also worked on President Obama's campaign. Originally from Evanston, Illinois, Evans earned her bachelor's degree from DePauw University in sociology and communications.

** Photos of the award being presented available upon request. **

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

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SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Related Links

http://www.afsp.org


LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, nonprofit Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies ("TCRS") released a new report which offers an overview of retirement plan sponsorship, comparisons by company size, and worker insights. Catherine Collinson, president of TCRS and Transamerica Institute, has been invited to share the results of the report and other research before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging's hearing today, "Closing the Gap: Innovations to Promote Americans' Retirement Security."

The new report, part of TCRS' 16th Annual Retirement Survey, illustrates the importance of workplace retirement benefits in helping workers prepare for retirement, finding that the vast majority of workers (89 percent) value retirement benefits as an important workplace benefit. Moreover, the survey found that 90 percent of workers who are offered a 401(k) or similar plan are saving for retirement, either through the plan and/or outside of work, compared to just 48 percent of workers are not offered such a plan.

Expanding Retirement Plan Coverage Requires Extending Access to Part-Time Workers

"As policymakers and industry seek to expand retirement plan coverage among American workers, it should be acknowledged that plan sponsorship rates are relatively high with room to grow and that part-time workers should be a special area of focus and attention," Collinson said.

According to the survey, 74 percent of companies offer a 401(k) or similar employee-funded plan (e.g., SEP, SIMPLE). Large companies (500+ employees) (92 percent) and small non-micro companies (100 to 499 employees) (89 percent) are far more likely to offer such benefits than micro companies (10 to 99 employees) (72 percent).

Despite the high percentages of employers that indicate they are offering plans, the survey findings reveal a pervasive gap in plan coverage: part-time workers. Only 38 percent of employers that offer a plan extend eligibility to their part-time workers. "By addressing the coverage gap among part-time workers, policymakers can also help improve the retirement outlook of women and lower-income workers who are more likely than other demographic segments to work part-time," Collinson said.

Automatic Features in 401(k)s Can Increase Savings Rates

"Automatic enrollment, which automatically enrolls employees into the plan with the ability for them to opt out, is widely recognized as one of the most effective ways to increase plan participation rates; however, relatively few 401(k) plan sponsors offer it, despite its appeal to workers," Collinson said.

The survey found that 71 percent of workers find the idea of automatic enrollment to be appealing. However, only 21 percent of plan sponsors offer it. Large companies (41 percent) are more likely than small non-micro (28 percent) and micro (18 percent) companies to do so.

Automatic escalation is a feature that increases a participant's contributions to the plan, typically by one percent, annually or when he or she receives a pay raise. Only 28 percent of plan sponsors offer automatic escalation in stark contrast to the 67 percent of workers who find the idea appealing.

Opportunities Abound for Increasing Retirement Security of American Workers

"Our research has identified opportunities for increasing retirement security through workplace-oriented solutions, focused within the context of the existing retirement system. All are well within reach, yet some may require public policy reforms, assistance from employers, and industry innovations," Collinson said.

Reducing "leakage" from retirement accounts which can severely inhibit long-term savings. Among workers who are currently participating in a plan, 23 percent have taken a loan and/or early withdrawal from their 401(k) or IRA, with top-cited reasons indicating they may lack emergency savings or insurance coverage  or they are paying off consumer debt. While access to funds through loans and hardship withdrawals can encourage plan participation, greater education is needed in simple and clear terms of the risks and negative consequences. Limiting the number of loans allowable by the plan can help, too.

Implementing personalized retirement education, communication and planning tools. With two out of three workers agreeing they do not know as much as they should about retirement investing, the need for more education is clear. When asked what would motivate them to learn more, many said, "make it easier to understand." Personalizing retirement tools, education and resources  including the manner in which they are delivered  can engage more people in preparing for their long-term financial security. Case in point: the survey found that 20-somethings are almost twice as likely as 60-somethings to find mobile apps for managing their retirement accounts to be helpful.

Addressing a hidden threat to retirement security: caregiving responsibilities. Given increases in longevity and the high cost of assisted living and long-term care, many workers will be called upon to be an unpaid family caregiver for an aging parent or loved one at a time in which they are balancing their careers, raising children and saving for their own retirement. The resulting reduction of work hours or time off from the workforce for caregiving can negatively affect caregivers' future retirement security. TCRS' survey findings illustrate a tremendous opportunity for employers to help employees balance work with caregiving responsibilities. Just 58 percent of employers accommodate caregiving employees by offering flexible work schedules. Moreover, employers may not fully understand their legal obligations. Fewer than half (47 percent) say they allow their employees to take unpaid leave covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), thereby suggesting they are unfamiliar with the law.

Facilitating working longer and a phased transition into retirement. Most workers plan to work past age 65 or do not plan to retire, citing reasons related to income and benefits, or enjoying their job. Workers are envisioning a phased transition into retirement that includes both work and leisure. Unfortunately, few employers have business practices in place to support them. For example, only one in four employers offer pre-retirees the ability to shift from full-time to part-time work.

"In today's world, individuals are increasingly expected to self-fund a greater portion of their retirement income, but they need help in order to be successful," Collinson said. "Closing the gaps and improving the retirement outlook of Americans can best be achieved if approached as a shared responsibility among policymakers, employers, industry, and individuals in which each does their part."

Ms. Collinson's testimony before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, which contains a full set of recommendations, and related TCRS research reports can be found here. Visit www.transamericacenter.org for more information. Follow TCRS at @TCRStudies.

About Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies

The Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS) is a division of Transamerica Institute, a nonprofit, private foundation. The Transamerica Institute is funded by contributions from Transamerica Life Insurance Company and its affiliates and may receive funds from unaffiliated third parties. For more information please refer to www.transamericacenter.org and follow TCRS on Twitter at @TCRStudies.

About the Survey

The analysis contained in The Current State of 401(k)s: The Employer's Perspective was prepared internally by the research team at Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies (TCRS). The surveys were conducted within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of TCRS. Potential respondents were targeted based on company size. The 29-minute employer survey was conducted by telephone or online between September 15 and December 3, 2015 among a nationally representative sample of 1,022 employers who make decisions about employee benefits at his or her company, with appropriate job titles, and in a for-profit company that employs 10 or more employees across all locations. The 25-minute online worker survey was conducted between February 18 and March 17, 2015 among a nationally representative sample of 4,550 full-time and part-time workers. Respondents met the following criteria: U.S. residents, age 18 or older, full-time workers or part-time workers in for-profit companies of 10 or more employees. For both surveys, results were weighted to ensure that each quota group had a representative sample for their respective population. No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

TCRS 1326-0616

News

Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies

1150 South Olive Street

Los Angeles, CA 90015-2211

Contact: Katie Fitzpatrick

[email protected]

952-346-6011

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SOURCE Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies

Related Links

http://www.transamericacenter.org


NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Empire State Building (ESB) Observatory today announced the launch of its official Empire State Building Observatory Experience App, which guides visitors through the icon's extraordinary exhibits and views with additional in-depth information on the building's history. Created by industry leader Antenna International, the free app is available via the Apple Store and Google Play and will replace the device-dependent, self-guided multimedia tour previously given to each guest upon admittance to the World's Most Famous Building.

As guests travel through the building, the app is designed to ensure visitor engagement for the entirety of their experience, becoming an audio and visual companion for four specific areas: the Sustainability Exhibit, the "Dare to Dream" Exhibit about the history and construction of the building, and the world-famous 86th and 102nd floor Observatories. Additionally, videos, image galleries, quizzes, and an "Info" section with maps showing points of interest, give the user an all-access pass to ESB and its position in pop culture and the world. The app is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and German.

"We are expanding upon the already unforgettable experience of visiting our world-famous Observatory by offering our millions of visitors from around the world access to our audio tour through their personal devices and free Wi-Fi," said Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT).

Visitors can download the app before their visit, or connect to the free Wi-Fi at the beginning of their experience at the Empire State Building. To purchase tickets online in advance of visiting ESB, visit http://www.esbnyc.com/buy_tickets.asp.

About the Empire State Building

Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna), the Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., is the "World's Most Famous Building." With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper's robust broadcasting technology supports major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America's favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects, and the Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world's most beloved attractions as the region's #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.empirestatebuilding.com, www.facebook.com/empirestatebuilding, @EmpireStateBldg, www.instagram.com/empirestatebldg, http://weibo.com/empirestatebuilding, www.youtube.com/esbnyc or www.pinterest.com/empirestatebldg/.

About Empire State Realty Trust

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESRT), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the world's most famous building. Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company's office and retail portfolio covers 10.1 million rentable square feet, as of December 31, 2015, consisting of 9.4 million rentable square feet in 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut and two in Westchester County, New York; and approximately 723,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "estimates," "contemplates," "aims," "continues," "would" or "anticipates" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements: the factors included in (i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, including those set forth under the headings "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Business," and "Properties" and (ii) in future periodic reports filed by the Company under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. While forward-looking statements reflect the Company's good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, or new information, data or methods, future events or other changes after the date of this press release, except as required by applicable law. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could impact the Company's future results, performance or transactions, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and other risks described in documents subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to the Company (or to third parties making the forward-looking statements).

SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.empirestatebuilding.com


GLENDALE, Ariz., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fourth Annual West Valley Island Cultural Festival is a multi-cultural event celebrating island music and dance. There are contests, giveaways, dance and music workshops given by the performers, craft activities for all ages, and a singles corner for marriage minded individuals. Single women are encouraged to wear a flower behind their right ear (a Hawaiian tradition) to let men know that they are available. Some of the dances will be: Polynesian, Salsa, Belly, and more! The festival will feature talented musicians, teachers, and dance performers, offering attendees an enjoyable experience.

The festival will have its first Hawaiian and Tahitian dance competition. There will be different levels of competition, ranging from beginners to more experienced dancers.

There will be a presentation of awards! Lifetime Achievement Awards as well as Certificates of Achievement will be presented to individuals and groups for their contributions to island dance and music.

Businesses looking for entertainment for their events should attend this festival. There is new talent waiting to be discovered!

WHAT: West Valley Island Cultural Festival WHEN: Sunday, November 6, 2016 TIME: 12:00 Noon to 6:00 PM WHERE: Glendale Adult Center, 5970 W. Brown St., Glendale, AZ 85302 WEBSITE: www.wvislandculturalfest.com FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/WestValleyIslandCulturalFestival TWITTER: twitter.com/WVCulturalFest ADMISSION FEE: $10.00 per person, children 15 years and under free

(50% of the admission fee will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix)

(Admission fee is non-refundable) SINGLES CORNER: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM WORKSHOPS: $10.00 per person for adults

$5.00 per person for children 17 years and under

Pre-festival events will start in July and continue up to the day of the festival. Please, continue to check www.wvislandculturalfest.com for updates.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses that would like to connect their brand to the festival. For more information on sponsorship packages, please email [email protected].

For inquiries about volunteering, vendors, workshops, and performing, send email to: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].

Kumu Kalena is the founder of the West Valley Island Cultural Festival. Kalena teaches: Hawaiian (Ancient and Modern), Tahitian, Fijian, Tongan, Maori New Zealand, and Samoan. Kumu Kalena is Artistic Director of Tropical Polynesian Productions, www.tropicalpolynesianproductions.com. She also designs knitwear and beaded embroidery, www.sugarkdesigns.com.

SOURCE West Valley Island Cultural Festival
NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- "The Future of Africa LNG Markets to 2020" is a complete research and outlook report on Africa LNG infrastructure, trade, investments, capacity, planned projects, technology, contracts, companies and market outlook. The premier research from LNG Analysis provides complete information on Africa LNG trends, opportunities, challenges and key strategies opted by companies in the current market conditions.



The premium research report provides insights into Africa LNG market outlook through quantitative and qualitative analysis on annual supply- demand outlook, short and long term impact of oil price decline, new LNG projects, capex, contracts, trade, prices, FLNG and technology.



The Africa LNG market report provides details of country wise LNG infrastructure, trade outlook and terminal wise capacity outlook to 2020. It also details the country wise all operational and planned LNG projects, their status, feasibility of development, companies involved and their key strategies. LNG trade patterns in 2014 along with monthly LNG exports and imports are provided for 2015.



Africa Floating LNG market evolution and estimates of future shaping is included in detail, providing information on all assets, companies, projects and market outlook to 2020. Further, all LNG long and medium term contract details are provided in the report along with country wise contracted and available capacity outlook to 2020.



Africa LNG competition is analyzed in detail with information of leading companies across the region, major countries along with the companies' net weighted capacity outlook to 2020. Market structure for 2014 is also detailed to provide information on the market consolidation and fragmentation conditions. Profiles of five leading Africa LNG companies including their Business description, LNG operations, SWOT and financial analysis is provided. All latest Africa LNG industry developments along with their impact on LNG companies, traders, investors, equipment service providers and other companies involved in the industry.



Scope of the report:



- Key Africa LNG industry trends, challenges and opportunities to 2020

- Liquefaction and Regasification capacity outlook of LNG markets in Africa including Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Libya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of Benin

- Supply and Demand outlook from 2000 to 2020 for 9 countries across the region

- Complete details of 10 planned projects and 11 operational projects including current status (FID/FEED/Construction), operator, owners, capex, construction companies, technology, capacity and storage information

- Complete picture of Africa LNG trade pattern in 2014 detailing import and export volume flows between LNG producers and buyers

- Africa Floating LNG infrastructure, new projects, liquefaction and regasification capacity outlook, 2005- 2020

- Country wise LNG capacity and contracted volumes from 2005 to 2020

- Analysis of Africa LNG market structures and competitive scenario in each of the 9 countries across the region

- Operational and Planned LNG Project Details including Terminal Status, Operator/owner, Start Up, Capacity, Storage, capex for 21 projects

- Terminal wise annual liquefaction/ regasification capacity outlook from 2005- 2020 for 21 projects in 9 LNG markets

- Major LNG news and industry developments and their impact on Africa LNG markets

- Business and LNG profiles of leading LNG Companies including Sonatrach, Shell, Total, NNPC and ENI

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03807786-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

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NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Committed to working alongside dermatologists, La Roche-Posay's North American Fondation encourages residents, fellows and practitioners with at least two years beyond training to develop innovative programs. The brand and a board of certified dermatologists awards 2-3 winners with grants for ground-breaking projects in dermatology.

The winners include: Cory Simpson, MD, PhD, Resident Physician, Department of Dermatology of University of Pennsylvania; Karen Yan Kuo, MD, Resident in Dermatology, Stanford School of Medicine; and Michele Zerah, MD, Internal Medicine/Dermatology Resident, PGY2, Medstar Washington Hospital Center.

Dr. Simpson was granted $10,000 for his project aimed at Keratinocytes and understanding mechanisms regulating this process and how it may be altered in aging, skin cancer, and disorders. "I'll translate my findings to a 3D skin model that replicates the normal histology of the epidermis within two weeks. With this unique platform I can assess effects of drug treatments or genetic manipulation," shares Simpson.

Dr. Yan Kuo received $5,000 for her study on Genome-Wide Meta-Analysis to provide new genetic markers for patients based on skin cancer risk and prevention. She explains, "We believe the knowledge of an individual's susceptibility of skin cancer will change health behaviors. Our dream is to use personal genotype information in clinic to alter behaviors and lower risk."

Dr. Zerah, who was granted 5,000 for his study, discusses: "This will directly measure Vitamin D levels to compare different regimens of supplementation. The results may change primary care practices on prescriptions and facilitate avenues of further research."

Winners were awarded at La Roche-Posay's North American Fondation Awards dinner during the 74th Annual American Academy of Dermatology Meeting in Washington, D.C.

About LA ROCHE-POSAY

Recommended by more than 25,000 dermatologists worldwide, La Roche-Posay offers a unique range of daily skincare developed with dermatologists to meet their standards in efficacy, tolerance and elegant textures for increased compliance. The products, which are developed using a strict formulation charter, include a minimal number of ingredients to reduce side effects and reactivity and are formulated with active ingredients at optimal concentrations for increased efficacy. Additionally, La Roche-Posay products undergo stringent clinical testing to guarantee efficacy and safety, even on sensitive skin. For additional information about La Roche-Posay, visit www.laroche-posay.us and "like" the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LaRochePosayusa.

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SOURCE La Roche-Posay

Related Links

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NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Education refers to a process of facilitating learning through knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and certain habits. It is on its way to becoming a universal right and is likely to be available everywhere, to everyone without any hurdles. The U.S. education system follows a specific pattern where early childhood education is followed by primary school (Elementary school), middle school, secondary school (High school), and post-secondary (Tertiary) education. Education in the U.S. is provided both by public and private schools. Public education is universally required at the K-12 level, and is available at state colleges and universities for all students.



The education industry of the U.S. has undergone several changes over the past few years and continues to invite significant spending by the public. The overall growth of the industry will be driven by rising responsiveness of people towards the benefits of early education, rising awareness of the advantages of higher education and growing demand for online teaching methods. The major trends in the industry include growth of educational content and technology, rising demand for digital textbooks, high penetration rate for U.S. postsecondary education sector, students shift towards online education and students dependence on family for higher education funding.



The major growth drivers include increasing work participation of women in the U.S., rising postsecondary enrollment rates in the U.S and growing merger and acquisition activities in the industry. However, growth of the market is hindered by several factors including declining population of children under five years of age and legal and regulatory issues.



The report, "The U.S. Education Industry" analyzes the current prevailing condition of the industry along with its major segments including Pre-K, K-12, Post-Secondary and Corporate Training. The U.S. market along with specific dependence on other countries for growth including China, India, France and Germany is being discussed in the report. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are being presented in this report. The major players in the industry are being profiled, along with their key financials and strategies for growth.

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03571372-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

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With this newly booked and larger hall, all exhibits will be accommodated in the same hall, on the same level.

Therefore, please note the change in dates and hall:

Fieramilanocity, Hall 3 | 10-12 April 2017

The flagship event Tissue World, which started in Nice in 1993, is the only show exclusively dedicated to the tissue business. For the first time, Tissue World will be held in Milan, Italy and this move received a strong support from the entire industry.

For more details on Tissue World Milan, please visit www.tissueworld.com/milan/ or email [email protected].

About Tissue World

Tissue World is the leading global event series serving the tissue industry worldwide since 1993. With events in Istanbul, Milan, Miami and Sao Paulo, it offers an integrated and intertwined platform consisting of exhibitions, conferences and a magazine providing an unmatched offline and online meeting place to do business, exchange ideas and learn, all year round.

Contact:

Agnes Gehot

+65 6592 0888 ext 886

[email protected]

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SOURCE Tissue World - UBM

Related Links

http://www.tissueworld.com/


ATLANTA, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Triad Advisors, Inc. today announced that Dunham & Deitel Wealth Management Group ("Dunham & Deitel") has transitioned to Triad's broker-dealer and hybrid multi-custodial registered investment advisory (RIA) platform. Dunham & Deitel brings $155 million in commission- and fee-based advisory client assets, as of May 10, 2016. Triad Advisors is a leading independent broker-dealer supporting independent hybrid financial advisory practices and registered investment advisory (RIA) firms, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE MKT: LTS).

Dunham & Deitel will affiliate with Triad through Triad Hybrid Solutions, a specialized RIA entity serving independent financial advisors seeking the flexibility they would enjoy in having their own RIA while taking advantage of the benefits of Triad's extensive compliance and regulatory support, as well as support in areas such as technology, marketing and practice management. In addition, through Triad Hybrid Solutions they receive the benefits of affiliation with Triad's broker-dealer platform.

Based in Johnson City, Tennessee, Dunham & Deitel serves a diverse clientele, ranging from mass-affluent retail investors to high-net-worth families and individuals, primarily in Tennessee's Tri-Cities region of Johnson City, Kingsport and Bristol, as well as nation-wide. The firm has a total of three advisors, including its founders Bill Dunham and Barbara Deitel, along with Matthew Deitel, plus one additional support professional. The firm offers a wide range of wealth management and holistic financial planning services, from goals-based investment strategies to developing retirement plans for its retiree and pre-retiree clients.

Michael C. Bryan, CEO of Triad Hybrid Solutions and Senior Vice President, Advisory Services, for Triad Advisors, said, "We are very pleased that Dunham & Deitel has chosen to align with Triad Hybrid Solutions, which we believe is the perfect solution for a broad segment of hybrid fee- and commission-based independent financial advisory firms that want to maintain the advantages that come from having their own RIA yet seek relief from so many of the regulatory and administrative burdens that can accompany it. We look forward to helping them prosper, and to help them serve their clients in meeting their financial goals."

Barbara Deitel, co-founder of Dunham & Deitel, said, "We are excited to join with Triad Advisors and to be associated with Triad Hybrid Solutions. Joining Triad, with its open-architecture flexibility, will give us discretionary authority in managing client accounts, which was a major attraction for us. We are also thrilled to leverage the superior technology offerings available through Triad, in order to provide our clients with best-in-class service. Finally, we are pleased to have a multi-custodial advisory structure that will enable us to provide our clients with a full range of high quality investment choices that are most appropriate for helping them to achieve their financial planning goals."

About Dunham & Deitel Wealth Management Group

Based in Johnson City, Tennessee, Dunham & Deitel serves a diverse clientele, ranging from mass-affluent retail investors to high-net-worth families and individuals, primarily in Tennessee's Tri-Cities region of Johnson City, Kingsport and Bristol, as well as nation-wide. The firm has three advisors, including its founders Bill Dunham and Barbara Deitel, along with Matthew Deitel, and one additional support professional. The firm offers a wide range of wealth management and holistic financial planning services, from goals-based investment strategies to developing retirement plans for its retiree and pre-retiree clients.

About Triad Advisors

Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Triad Advisors, Inc. is a national, independent broker-dealer and multi-custodial SEC-Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) that is an early pioneer and continued leader in the Hybrid RIA marketplace. The company provides a comprehensive platform of products, trading and technology systems, as well as customized wealth management solutions. Recognized as one of the most successful and fastest-growing independent broker-dealers in the industry (including being named the leading broker-dealer for Hybrid RIAs five years in a row by Investment Advisor Magazine), Triad Advisors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE MKT: LTS). For more information, please visit www.triad-advisors.com.

Media Contact:

Matthew Griffes / Joseph Kuo

Haven Tower Group LLC

424 652 6520, ext. 103 / 424 652 6520, ext 101

[email protected] or [email protected]

SOURCE Triad Advisors, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.triad-advisors.com


UTICA, N.Y., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Utica College's economic crime investigation program (ECI) has been renamed fraud and financial crime investigation (FFCI) to better reflect the coursework and overall course content.

The first program of its kind in the nation, Utica College's economic crime program was designed to answer  and anticipate  law enforcement and industry needs. While that is still true today, the fraud and financial crime investigation program focuses on the study of the growing number of non-violent crimes that are committed for financial gain through methods of fraud and deception. The program gives students an understanding of the evolving problems associated with detecting crimes like embezzlement, identity theft, credit card fraud, insurance fraud, construction fraud, money laundering, political corruption and tax evasion. Students also learn about policies and procedures in cases of organized crime and terrorism.

"The Utica College FFCI program transforms the student into a 'new age' crime fighter blending computer skills, business skills and investigation skills. Graduates of the program have a very promising job outlook, as in some areas there, literally, are more job opportunities than there are skilled applicants," said Dr. Donald Rebovich, professor of criminal justice and chair of UC's economic crime and justice studies department. "Businesses today need workers with these financial investigative skills," he said, "and they frequently approach us to recruit our top students."

As characterized by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, employment opportunities fall into categories of investigation in both public and private sectors, auditing and risk management. Investigators in the public sector can work at the federal, state or local levels in positions ranging from local police detective to federal special agent. Investigators in the private sector work in loss prevention, independent or agency private investigations, and internal or external fraud analysis.

The FFCI major is an integral component of Utica College's complete suite of justice programs including a host of criminal justice, economic and financial crime and business programs. Utica College also offers online certificate programs in Financial Crime and Compliance Operations, Organizational Risk Assessment and Management, and Regulatory and Compliance Assurance.

For more information on the fraud and financial crime investigation program at Utica College, visit http://catalog.utica.edu/preview_program.php?.

About Utica College  Utica College, founded in 1946, is a comprehensive private institution offering bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. The College, located in upstate central New York, approximately 90 miles west of Albany and 50 miles east of Syracuse, currently enrolls over 4,400 students in 38 undergraduate majors, 31 minors, 21 graduate programs and a number of pre-professional and special programs.

Contact: Christine Leogrande, Director of Media Relations, (315) 223-2519 [email protected]

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SOURCE Utica College

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The appointment of Anne is timely because this year UN Women is driving hard to foster more positive mindsets and practical arrangements around workplaces that build and support equality for women, stated Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director. The motherhood penaltywhich means that when they become mothers, womens pay and opportunities at work sufferis a particularly insidious demonstration of gender inequality in the workplace. For too long it has been difficult or impossible to view raising a child as being truly an equal responsibility for both parents.

Stereotypes that make it hard for fathers to take time away from work to care for a child are outdated leftovers from the male breadwinner model and have no place in todays mixed workforce. Well-implemented parental leave is just one way for employers to demonstrate that they understand the value of their staffboth male and female, added Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka. To make the case for how this will increase opportunities for women we needed an advocate who had the intellect and passion to tackle this complex issue. Within moments of meeting Anne I realized that we had found our woman. We are truly honoured to have her onboard.

Childcare services and parental leave are two ways for employers and governments to demonstrate that they understand the value of their people. Just as they hinder womens equal participation in the workforce, rigid gender roles keep men stuck in harmful cultural stasis. Consumed by a culture of overwork that penalizes them for taking time off for family-care responsibilities, men too face dire consequences from our failure to value care. Failing to involve men in the conversation about care as a core component of gender equality only calcifies harmfully rigid social norms about gender overall.

When it comes to equality, Ms. Hathaway is a committed voice for change. She previously served as an advocate for Nike Foundation and travelled to Kenya and Ethiopia to raise awareness on child marriage. In 2013, Ms. Hathaway provided the narration on Girl Rising, a CNN documentary film, which focused on the power of female education as it followed seven girls around the world who sought to overcome obstacles and follow their dreams.

I feel honoured and inspired by this opportunity to aid in advancing gender equality. Significant progress has already been made but it is time that we collectively intensify our efforts and ensure that true equality is finally realized, said Ms. Hathaway.

Womens economic empowerment is one of UN Womens core strategic pillars, and a priority focus under Ms. Mlambo-Ngcukas leadership.

About UN Women

UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. For more information, visit www.unwomen.org. UN Women, 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017, New York. Tel: +1 646 781-4400. Fax: +1 646 781-4496.

Media Inquiries

Elizabeth Nyamayaro

elizabeth.nyamayaro(at)unwomen(dot)org

Stephen Huvane

Stephen(at)slate-pr(dot)com

Jennifer Plante

Jennifer(at)slate-pr(dot)com

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SOURCE UN Women

Related Links

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MADISON, N.J., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite four decades of public health efforts to minimize children's exposure to lead, high percentages of unsafe blood lead levels are still found in children in numerous regions of the United States, according to a new study by researchers at Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services.

Published online in the Journal of Pediatrics, the six-year study examined 5,266,408 blood lead levels (BLLs) test results of infants and children under age six in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Quest Diagnostics Health Trends study is believed to be the largest analysis of BLL test results in children in the United States.

While there is no safe blood lead level in children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified a blood lead level equal to or greater than five micrograms per deciliter as a threshold to identify children with elevated blood lead levels. The study found that greater than 3.0% of children nationally had blood lead levels at or above this level. High blood lead levels were greater for boys (3.1%) than girls (2.8%), a slight, but statistically significant difference. Despite an unexplained modest increase during the last 12-months of the study, blood lead levels overall declined in children during the six-year period ending in April 2015.

However, on a regional basis, high percentages of infants and children had blood lead levels equal to or greater than five micrograms per deciliter (high BLLs). In six regions categorized by ZIP code, more than 14 percent of specimens tested had high BLLs. These include three regions in New York (Syracuse, Buffalo and Poughkeepsie), two in Pennsylvania (York and Oil City) and one in Ohio (Cincinnati). The eleven regions with the largest proportions of specimens with very high BLLs (equal to or greater than ten micrograms of per deciliter), were also in New York (Syracuse, Buffalo, Poughkeepsie, Niagara Falls, Binghamton), Pennsylvania (York, Oil City, Reading, Erie), and Ohio (Cincinnati, Cleveland).

The analysis also examined rates by states, finding that those with the highest proportion of high BLLs were Minnesota (10.3%), Pennsylvania (7.8%), Kentucky (7.1%), Ohio (7.0%), and Connecticut (6.7%). California and Florida had the lowest rate of high BLLs (1.4% and 1.1%, respectively) and very high BLLs (0.2% and 0.1%).

From the first year of the study period to its final year, Mississippi had the largest absolute increase in high blood levels (from 3.1% to 6.3%), while New Hampshire demonstrated the largest absolute decline in high blood lead levels (from 9.7% to 2.6%).

In addition, the Quest investigators examined correlations between test results and pre-1950s housing construction, poverty income ratios (PIRs), and health plan enrollment. The study showed that living in an area with a high proportion of pre-1950 housing construction, when the use of lead-based paint was widespread, was strongly associated with having a high blood lead level, confirming prior findings from NHANES. The study also showed children living in ZIP codes with the highest poverty rate had a greater proportion of high BLL and very high BLL, while children living in ZIP codes with lower rates of poverty were much less likely to exhibit high BLL and very high BLL.

"These alarming findings show that while our nation has made progress in addressing lead exposure, our public health successes are neither complete nor demographically consistent," said Harvey W. Kaufman, senior medical director, Quest Diagnostics and a study author. "We have a long way to go, both in terms of contaminated water and residual lead-based paint, to reduce disparities that put some of our children at disproportionate risk of exposure to lead.

"This Quest Diagnostics study may offer value to healthcare policymakers considering policies to protect young children from long-lasting impacts of exposure, and to clinicians, who may use the geographic findings to guide screening determinations in high prevalence areas," added Dr. Kaufman.

The study, "Blood Lead Levels in Young Children: US, 2009-2015," is available here.

In May 2012, the CDC Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention (ACCLPP) advised that there is no safe blood lead level, and that even low levels of lead in blood affect IQ, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. A study funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Studies showed that high neonatal blood levels of lead in mothers can cause epigenetic changes in their unborn children. Research suggests the effects of lead exposure appear to be irreversible.

Study Strengths and Limitations

The study's strengths are its size and national scope; the ability to examine narrow sub-groupings of data based on three-digit ZIP codes; and the use of an objective laboratory method, versus surveys or polls, which may be subject to user misrepresentation or error. Study limitations include reliance on testing orders, rather than population sampling; varying volumes of test results in certain states; and the inability to determine values below the threshold of detection. Quest Diagnostics does not provide services to all clinicians in the U.S., so results are not broadly representative of all patients tested in the U.S. Based on analysis of de-identified test results, the study was performed in compliance with applicable privacy regulations and the company's strict privacy policies, and was determined to be exempt from Western Institutional Review Board.

About Quest Diagnostics Health Trends

Quest Diagnostics manages the largest database of de-identified clinical laboratory data, based on 20 billion data points from clinical lab testing. From this data, the company derives clinically significant insights that enable public health, policy makers and healthcare practitioners take actions to improve the health care of Americans. Developed in collaboration with top researchers and institutions that include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rockefeller University and UCSF, Quest Diagnostics Health Trends studies are published in peer-reviewed medical journals and by the company as a public service. Quest Diagnostics Health Trends reports have yielded novel insights to aid the management of allergies and asthma, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, influenza, prescription drug misuse and wellness. Visit QuestDiagnostics.com/HealthTrends

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our 44,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com

Quest, Quest Diagnostics, and all associated Quest Diagnostics registered or unregistered trademarks are the property of Quest Diagnostics. All third-party marks are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts:

Wendy Bost, Quest Diagnostics (Media): 973-520-2800

Shawn Bevec, Quest Diagnostics (Investors): 973-520-2900

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SOURCE Quest Diagnostics

Related Links

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The ceremony was attended by HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Danish Defense officials, the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, the Minister of Defense for Denmark, members of the Danish Parliament, and officials from U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). Also in attendance were executives from MH-60R Seahawk helicopter manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company.

"The delivery of these first three of nine MH-60R helicopters to Denmark is a great team accomplishment between our two governments and our industry partners," said Captain Craig D. Grubb, U.S. Navy Program Manager, H-60 Multi-Mission Helicopters with NAVAIR. "The aircraft have immediately entered service in Demark, and we look forward to operating, sustaining and advancing the MH-60R with Denmark for decades to come."

Representing the first FMS MH-60R Seahawk helicopters in Europe, the aircraft will be stationed at Air Squadron 723, Karup Air Base in Denmark. The helicopters' primary missions will be maritime surveillance, Anti Surface Warfare, force protection and utility transport operations, including providing support to NATO in anti-piracy operations. In the Arctic and North Atlantic region, the Danish MH-60R Seahawk helicopter will also provide support to austere regions, patrolling territorial boundaries, fisheries and perform search and rescue.

Danish Defense signed a Letter of Agreement in 2012 to procure nine MH-60R Seahawk helicopters through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program to replace its fleet of British Lynx helicopters. The ninth MH-60R Seahawk aircraft will be delivered in 2018.

Denmark is the second FMS procurement for the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, following the Royal Australian Navy, which will take delivery of its 24th MH-60R Seahawk aircraft later this year.

The MH-60R "Romeo" Seahawk helicopter is deployed as the primary U.S. Navy anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare system for open-ocean and littoral zones. U.S. naval forces have found the Romeo platform to be an operationally effective and reliable first responder for all missions and contingencies encountered at sea around the world.

In addition to its primary mission of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, the MH-60R Seahawk aircraft performs search and rescue, troop transport, medical evacuation, ship-to-ship replenishment, and humanitarian relief operations.

For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com .

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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SOURCE Lockheed Martin

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All Eleven Director Nominees Elected to the Board at Annual Meeting of Shareholders

LAVAL, Quebec, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE: VRX and TSX: VRX) today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Thomas W. Ross, Sr. as its lead independent director. Mr. Ross, who has been a member of Valeant's Board since March 8, 2016, serves on the Board's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and is Chairperson of its Conduct and Compliance Committee.

"I am delighted that Tom will serve Valeant in this important role," said Joseph C. Papa, chairman and chief executive officer. "Tom's contributions to the Board have been invaluable, and I believe the Company will continue to benefit greatly from his insights and expertise as we move Valeant forward."

"I am pleased to expand my service to Valeant as its lead independent director," said Mr. Ross. "The Board is very pleased with our new CEO and Chairman, Mr. Papa, and we all share with Joe and the management team, a deep commitment to working with Valeant's strong assets and personnel to launch a new chapter in the Company's history."

Following today's Annual Meeting of Shareholders, three new independent directors were elected to Valeant's Board, including: Dr. Argeris N. Karabelas, Russel C. Robertson and Dr. Amy B. Wechsler. Eight directors were re-elected -- Mr. Ross, William A. Ackman, Dr. Frederic Eshelman, Stephen Fraidin, D. Robert Hale, Robert A. Ingram, Robert N. Power and Joseph C. Papa. In the past year, Valeant has significantly refreshed its Board, adding nine new directors and expanding the number of independent directors to 10 out of 11. The detailed results of the vote for the election of directors are set out below:

Name

For

Withheld

Broker Non-Votes

















William A. Ackman

198,528,445

2,803,967

61,983,675

Dr. Frederic N. Eshelman

197,044,996

3,787,416

61,983,675

Stephen Fraidin

198,643,367

2,189,045

61,983,675

D. Robert Hale

196,991,641

3,840,771

61,983,675

Robert A. Ingram

185,459,606

15,372,806

61,983,675

Dr. Argeris (Jerry) N. Karabelas

198,470,956

2,361,456

61,983,675

Joseph C. Papa

195,388,625

5,443,787

61,983,675

Robert N. Power

187,463,060

13,369,352

61,983,675

Russel C. Robertson

198,700,104

2,132,308

61,983,675

Thomas W. Ross, Sr.

198,249,663

2,582,749

61,983,675

Amy B. Wechsler, M.D.

198,488,329

2,344,083

61,983,675



At the annual meeting, shareholders also approved the non-binding advisory vote on named executive officer compensation as disclosed in the proxy statement and appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm until the close of the Company's 2017 annual meeting of shareholders.

The final vote tabulation on all matters voted on at today's meeting will be reported to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on a current report on Form 8-K and such report will be made available on the Company's web site at www.valeant.com.

Thomas W. Ross, Sr. is President Emeritus of the 17-campus University of North Carolina having served as President from 2011-2016. He currently serves as the Sanford Distinguished Fellow in Public Policy at the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy and as a Professor of Public Law and Government at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Government. On July 1, 2016, Mr. Ross will assume the role of President of the Volker Alliance in New York. Prior to becoming President of the UNC System, Mr. Ross served as President of Davidson College, executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, director of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, a Superior Court judge, chief of staff to a U. S. Congressman, a member of a Greensboro, NC law firm and as an Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government at UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Government. Mr. Ross holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Davidson College and graduated with honors from the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law. Mr. Ross currently serves several boards and has received numerous awards and accolades for his public service and professional achievements.

About Valeant

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE/TSX:VRX) is a multinational specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of pharmaceutical products primarily in the areas of dermatology, gastrointestinal disorders, eye health, neurology and branded generics. More information about Valeant can be found at www.valeant.com.

Contact Information:

Laurie W. Little

[email protected]

or

Elif McDonald

[email protected]

514-856-3855

877-281-6642 (toll free)

Media:

Renee Soto

or

Chris Kittredge/Jared Levy

Sard Verbinnen & Co.

212-687-8080

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SOURCE Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.

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WASHINGTON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Wells Fargo employees are celebrating LGBT Pride month in a very special way: by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. (DC Habitat) on Thursday, June 16 as part of DC Habitat's annual Rainbow Build. Members of Wells Fargo's PRIDE Team Member Network, an employee affinity group, will be completing landscaping and small construction projects in the Ivy City neighborhood of Northeast DC, where DC Habitat has been building affordable homes since 2010.

Now in its third year, Rainbow Build celebrates D.C.'s diversity by bringing groups together to build a Habitat home and raising awareness for the cause of affordable housing, particularly as it related to LGBTQ and other social justice issues. Habitat for Humanity believes that everyone deserves a decent place to live, and that housing equality is an issue of social and economic justice for all people. Through Rainbow Build, DC Habitat aims to create a unified alliance between the LGBTQ organizations of D.C. in order to work together to build a more affordable city.

Community engagement isn't new for Wells Fargo; the company is a longtime supporter of DC Habitat that provides crucial financial support and rallies employees to get their hands dirty on DC Habitat build sites. Last June, team members participated in the second annual Rainbow Build, and Wells Fargo expanded this year's sponsorship to include three additional theme builds to be held throughout 2016. Wells Fargo was also a major sponsor of DC Habitat's 25th Anniversary Event in November of 2014 and helped to fund development of 11 recently completed homes in Ivy City through a Priority Markets Grant.

"Wells Fargo is a highly valued partner that cares deeply about supporting our affordable housing mission here in the District," said Susanne V. Slater, President and CEO of DC Habitat. "We're especially excited to be teaming up with them for this year's Rainbow Build and pleased to celebrate Pride Month with them by investing in the community!"

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. 27 on Fortune's 2016 rankings of America's largest corporations. Wells Fargo's 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.

Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. believes that everyone deserves a house they want to call home. That's why we work to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness in the nation's capital by building affordable, energy-efficient homes for working families.

CONTACT: Maria Mastorakos

Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.

(202) 882-4600, ext. 233

[email protected]

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C.

Related Links

http://www.dchabitat.org


FULTON, Mo., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Westminster College students will have a new and accelerated pathway to earn a Master's degree in Accounting from one of the top business schools in the country, thanks to an agreement between Westminster and Washington University's Olin Business School in St. Louis, MO.

The new accelerated "4+1" program allows students to earn a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Accounting in just five years.

Students participating in the program will spend four years at Westminster College, where they will complete their coursework, a portion of which will count toward their graduate credit at Washington University. Likewise, once at the Olin Business School, credits will be transferred back to fulfill remaining undergraduate requirements.

The result is an integrated program that allows students to save time and money in earning their Master's degree in Accounting, and to potentially start their careers with an advanced degree sooner.

"Washington University is pleased to enter this new partnership with Westminster College, which has a long tradition of academic excellence," said Joe Fox, Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Programs at Olin Business School. "We look forward to welcoming Westminster's best and brightest students to Olin as they pursue their Master of Accounting degrees."

Applicants are evaluated on the basis of grade point average, an interview, internship experience, statements of support by Westminster College and letters of recommendation.

Westminster College students accepted into the program enter Washington University's Master's program in the fall semester following their senior year, and need to complete 27 credit hours in the fall and spring semesters to graduate with both degrees in May of the fifth year.

The Olin Business School will accept up to six Westminster credit hours to apply to its Master of Accounting degree. Westminster College, in turn, will accept up to three credit hours from Washington University to apply toward its Bachelor's degree in Accounting.

"This partnership opens doors for our students to move right into graduate school at one of the top business schools in the nation," said Westminster College Associate Professor of Accounting Elise Bartley. "Combining Olin's Master's program with our undergraduate accounting program provides a big advantage and a great opportunity for our students."

Students who complete this accelerated program will be well prepared to sit for the CPA exam, Bartley said.

"Westminster continually looks for ways to better serve our students and provide a top education that is both challenging and inspiring," she added. "Our partnership with Washington University provides students with an efficient path to an advanced accounting degree, saving them time and money. Students will graduate with two degrees and a distinct edge in their accounting careers."

The Olin Business School is one of the country's leading research-oriented business schools with a large network of partners on campus in the St. Louis community and around the world. Its Master of Accounting degree prepares students for a career interest in public or corporate accounting and consulting or financial services.

The Weston Career Center at the Olin Business School also provides a wide range of employment resources to help students navigate the job market, another advantage of the new partnership.

Founded in 1851, Westminster College in Fulton, MO is one of the top liberal arts colleges in America, according to major educational ranking firms, including U.S. News & World Report, Forbes magazine, The Princeton Review and Washington Monthly. Westminster is a challenging academic environment where students are educated to lead and inspired to achieve. Ninety-six percent of Westminster graduates start their first job or enroll in graduate or professional schools within six months of graduation.

To learn more about the new degree program, click on http://www.westminster-mo.edu/academics/majorsminors/majors/Accounting/Wash-U.html. To find out more about Westminster College, go to www.westminster-mo.edu.

SOURCE Westminster College

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NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- xAd, the global leader in location intelligence that drives sales, today announced the launch of MarketPlace Discovery, the world's first public, real-time location intelligence platform that provides actionable visual insights into foot traffic behaviors in the physical world.

McDonald's vs. Wendy's Foot Traffic by Time-of-Day, Average for June -- Source: xAd MarketPlace Discovery Customer Origination to a Palo Alto Taco Bell -- Source: xAd MarketPlace Discovery

MarketPlace Discovery takes store visitation insights to the next level, enabling brands to not only understand the factors influencing their own store visitation, but those of their competitors. This enables marketers to uncover opportunities to impact their businesses in near real time.

Take, for example, the recent breakfast promotion trend amongst top quick-serve restaurant brands. Through MarketPlace Discovery, marketers can see which brands are winning the breakfast wars based on actual foot traffic. The tool revealed that in June (on average), morning foot traffic into McDonald's was on par with or exceeded competitors' morning foot traffic, while brands like Subway and Wendy's lagged behind, highlighting a key area of opportunity for these brands.

McDonald's vs. Wendy's Foot Traffic by Time-of-Day, Average for June

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/379226

"The vast majority (90 percent) 1 of retail commerce happens in traditional, physical stores, so brands need to understand what drives their customers to their own locations and those of competitors," said Shashi Seth, Chief Product Officer at xAd. "Unfortunately, assessing the connection of these complex variables with enough certainty to confidently act on them, has been nearly impossible given the available data. At xAd, our mission is to leverage the power of location to help marketers get to a better place by solving these types of industry issuesthis is why we created MarketPlace Discovery."

In addition to time-of-day and day-of-week trends, MarketPlace Discovery shows brands where their customers are coming from to visit specific store locations. These types of insights provide brands with a better understanding of their customers and are incredibly valuable, however, have been difficult to uncover in the past. Through leveraging the power of location intelligence, MarketPlace Discovery is changing this, enabling brands to make more strategic and informed marketing decisions.

Customer Origination to a Palo Alto Taco Bell

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/379225

"We're always looking for ways to stay relevant and connected with our consumers, so it's essential that we maintain a deep understanding of the habits and behaviors of the people who are visiting our restaurants," said Cheryl Gresham, Director of Media, Taco Bell Corp. "Through partnering with xAd, we're able to better understand their actual behaviors and can reach them with the right message in the right context. MarketPlace Discovery has the potential to be an essential tool in this process. We're intrigued with insights we've been able to gather thus far, and look forward to digging deeper as we evaluate how insights from the platform can be further leveraged."

MarketPlace Discovery is powered by xAd's proprietary Blueprints technology, which automates the creation of the most accurate place data based on physical boundaries of business locations. MarketPlace Discovery insights are derived directly from anonymized foot traffic data observed within the unique Blueprints (or physical geo-boundary) of each store location, collected from users across xAd's network of over 100k+ mobile apps. Through Blueprints, xAd sees a total of 325 million global unique users per month at nearly 100 million places and unique points of interest.

Today's initial release of MarketPlace Discovery, which is free and publicly available, features insights for top quick-service restaurants (QSR) and retail stores. A more comprehensive version will be available via customer login in the coming months. Through MarketPlace, xAd customers can leverage Discovery insights to create, execute and measure campaigns on one platform. Today, MarketPlace is still in beta with a full release expected later this year.

For more information about MarketPlace Discovery, visit: www.xad.com. The free and public version is available here (https://discovery.xad.com/) and can be accessed on both desktop and mobile.

----------------

1 Source: US Department of Commerce, Quarterly Retail e-Commerce Sales, Q1 2016



About xAd

xAd is the global leader in location intelligence that drives sales - unlocking opportunity in the 90% of retail transactions that are still completed offline. By leveraging a mobile device's current or past location data, xAd can provide in-store visitation insights by market, brand and even by specific competitors. It is through this first party data and intelligence that xAd can interpret the most relevant moments to introduce a brand's message, providing a more personalized and meaningful mobile ad experience to consumers while impacting the point of decision - driving in-store foot traffic and sales. Each month, xAd's patented location solutions help marketers reach unprecedented scale with access to over 500 billion meaningful mobile moments, 325 million people at nearly 100 million unique places and points of interest globally. With xAd, marketers can finally close the gap between online activities and offline sales. Learn more: www.xad.com.

xAd Press Contact:

Erin Lockhart

[email protected]

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SOURCE xAd

Related Links

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CALGARY, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Zenith Epigenetics Corp. ("Zenith" or the "Company") today announced that it has dosed the first patient in its Phase 1 clinical trial for ZEN-3694 in metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer ("mCRPC") patients. In the Phase 1 trial, Zenith will be evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of ZEN-3694 as a single agent and in combination with the current standard of care enzalutamide. Zenith has also implemented a rich translational program to measure target modulation and to identify potential biomarkers for selecting patient subsets most likely to benefit from BET inhibition.

"We are excited about reaching this important milestone for Zenith and the development of ZEN-3694 in mCRPC patients with significant unmet need. We are working with prominent clinical investigators and the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trial Consortium ("PCCTC") who collectively have been instrumental in developing the leading drugs for treating mCRPC. ZEN-3694 is well differentiated and has shown a superior safety and efficacy profile in pre-clinical studies. This puts Zenith at the forefront of development of BET Bromodomain inhibitors for the treatment of cancer" stated Mr. Donald McCaffrey, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Zenith has also developed strong pre-clinical rationale for developing ZEN-3694 in other oncology indications and intends to expand its clinical program in the near future.

Additional trial details and updates can be found at: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Corporate Update Webcast

Zenith announces it will be hosting a corporate update via webcast on Monday, June 20, 2016 at 11:00 am MT / 1:00 pm ET. Mr. Donald McCaffrey, President and Chief Executive Officer will provide a general corporate update and overview of recent activities.

Webcast Information:

To join the webcast, please visit: http://services.choruscall.ca/links/zenith20160620.html

Date: Monday, June 20, 2016

Time: 11:00 am MT/1:00 pm ET

Duration: 30 minutes

A presentation will accompany and be available via the webcast. Alternatively, the presentation will also be available immediately prior to the conference call start time of 11:00am MT on the Company's website at: http://www.zenithepigenetics.com/newsroom/presentations-&-publications

To call-in please dial:

Canada/USA: 1-800-319-4610

International: +1-604-638-5340

About mCRPC

mCRPC is a major unmet medical need due to its widespread occurrence and incurable status. Current standard of care for this disease is androgen receptor (AR) antagonists and/or androgen synthesis inhibitors (enzalutamide). While most patients display an initial response to these agents, eventually even responding patients develop drug resistance via various mechanisms. Recent evidence suggests that BET bromodomain inhibitors (BETi) can be efficacious in mCRPC patients that are resistant to current therapies.

About Zenith

Zenith Epigenetics Corp. is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics. Zenith's bromodomain (BET) inhibitors are being advanced for several oncology indications and have the potential to impact multiple additional non-oncology diseases as well. The lead compound, ZEN-3694, is in clinical development for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC).

To learn more, please visit: www.zenithepigenetics.com.

SOURCE Zenith Epigenetics Corp.

Related Links

www.zenithepigenetics.com


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Washington, June 11 : US Senator Bernie Sanders' refusal to quit the race even after Hillary Clinton won the Democratic nomination could hurt her efforts to unify the party to win the presidential election, experts said.

Clinton earlier this week finally grabbed the number of delegates needed to officially win. Still, Sanders on Thursday vowed to continue to compete and announced that he would run in the Washington DC primary next week, reports Xinhua news agency.

At a White House meeting with President Barack Obama, Sanders did not agree to drop out of the race.

He told the media he could continue in his fight against the wealth gap, in which upper income individuals and corporations continue to increase their wealth while the middle class and others struggle to make ends meet.

The firebrand senator from the state of Vermont said he wanted to prevent the country from becoming an oligarchy run by a few billionaires.

"Sanders wants to maintain his leverage over the platform, vice presidential selection, and future campaign rules," Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution, told Xinhua.

"He wants Democrats to take income inequality more seriously," West said.

Indeed, Sanders has run mainly on a platform that highlights the growing income inequality in the US where upper income people seem to be increasing their wealth while many middle-class people struggle to make ends meet.

"He feels that they provided an unfair advantage for Hillary Clinton and he wants to make sure that is not the case in 2020," West said.

While Clinton is a fellow Democrat, analysts noted that she represents everything that Sanders despises, as Clinton is a political insider whose celebrity has through the years allowed her to increase her personal wealth to the tune of millions of dollars.

Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, said that Sanders' campaign "had a message, it was a movement to tackle problems which in his mind neither party wants to address.

"By staying in the race he maintains the capacity to keep the media and the party focused on these questions," Zelizer told Xinhua.

Still, there is a point at which Sanders will have to exit or he will risk giving an advantage to Republican Party presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump, Zelizer said.

West added: "Many Sanders voters will support Clinton because they understand the threat posed by Donald Trump. But it is crucial that she brings the party together as soon as possible so that she can focus full time on her Republican opponen."
Bhubaneswar, June 11 : The BJP on Saturday demanded the arrest of film actor-turned-BJD leaders for alleged involvement with the Oscar chit fund company which has allegedly duped people of Rs 230 crore.

After the arrest of Oscar chit fund firm chairman Prabhas Rout from New Delhi on Thursday, the BJP sought the arrest of BJD MPs Siddhant Mahapatra and Anubhav Mohanty, MLA Akash Das Nayak besides Tatwa Prakash Satapathy (also known as Papu Pom Pom).

Bharatiya Janata Party's Odisha Vice President Samir Mohanty said the actors had cheated the people of the state in the guise of politics. Apparently, investors have also been duped in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

He said Mahapatra and Mohanty had promoted the Oscar Group at various programmes. The actors had also acted in several Odia films produced by Rout.

Responding to the allegations, Biju Janata Dal MLA and actor Akash Dasnayak said: "How does an actor know if dubious money is used to produce a film?"

He said action should be taken against those involved in the chit fund scam.

Satapathy said: "How would I know that a company has cheated people? I acted in his films when there was no allegation against the company."

Meanwhile, the Crime Branch has taken Rout on a five-day remand for further inquiry. Crime Branch sources said notice would be issued to some actors to know about their involvement with the chit fund company.
New Delhi, June 13 : It is "shameful" that Kamal Nath, an accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, has been made in-charge of the Congress party affairs in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said here on Monday.

"This is very shameful move by the Congress party. He (Kamal Nath) is one of the accused of 1984 anti-Sikh riots and Congress has rewarded him for following the orders of Rajiv Gandhi," AAP leader H.S. Phoolka told reporters.

Phoolka is a senior advocate who has spearheaded the legal battle against the riot accused.

Referring to the anti-Sikh riots in 1984, Phoolka alleged that a mob led by Congress leader Kamal Nath was behind the violence at Gurudwara Rakabganj in New Delhi.

He said Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh was "rubbing salt on the wounds" of riot victims by saying that he had asked for Kamal Nath to be made the in-charge of the state party unit.

"Amarinder Singh is saying that Nath was not involved in the riots. However, on November 1, 1984, a mob led by Kamal Nath was behind the violence which led to the killing of two Sikhs in Rakabganj," Phoolka said.

"Mukhtiyar Singh, the Manager of the Gurudwara, had also testified this before the Nanavati Commission. This is like rubbing salt on the wounds of riot victims."

Asked why the AAP was commenting on the internal matter of another political party, Phoolka said he was pointing out at the mentality of the Congress that would have a riot accused "rewarded".

"This cannot be an internal matter of the party. The 1984 anti-Sikh riots brought disrepute to the entire country... What message do they want to convey? He (Kamal Nath) would give tickets to people like himself," said Phoolka, referring to the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab.

He said the Congress must immediately revoke the appointment.

"It's been 32 years and the victims are still waiting for justice. We should convey the message that if you commit a crime, you would be punished, no matter how big a politician you are. But the Congress has not changed in all these years," Phoolka said.

The AAP also alleged that the central government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party was politicising the 1984 riots by reopening 75 cases related to it.

"An SIT was formed one and a half years ago by Delhi government. But the central government shelved it and formed its team. It didn't do anything. It was only after the intervention of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that the government decided to reopen the case," AAP leader Sanjay Singh said.

"However, the central government is politicising the issue since Punjab polls are due next year. It's a poll plank. Why did they not do anything for the last two years?" said Sanjay Singh.
Orlando, June 13 : Orlando police on Monday said that 49 persons lost their lives in the lone wolf mass shooting that took place on Sunday in a gay nightclub in Orlando city, Florida, while the shooter was also killed.

The police department tweeted on its official handle: "Official victim count: 49 shooting victims plus suspect. Total 50."

The shooter, Afghan-origin US national Omar Mateen, was killed by a SWAT team. According to officials, the incident can be classified as "a domestic terror incident", however the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the shooting.

They called Mateen "one of the Caliphate's soldiers in America".
Orlando, June 14 : Thousands of people rallied in the US city of Orlando on Monday night for the first official vigil to commemorate the victims in deadly mass shooting at a gay nightclub that left 50 people killed and 53 injured on Sunday.

People from all around the state of Florida gathered at the lawn in front of the Dr Phillips Centre for the Performing Arts, holding praying signs and candles. Some of them laid flowers and wrote encouraging words on the pavement with crayon, Xinhua reported.

"Tonight we remain a city of pain, we are mourning and we are angry," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer in a speech during the vigil.

Afghan-origin Omar Mateen, 29, opened fire at the Pulse gay nightclub around 2.00 a.m. on Sunday. It was the worst mass shooting in US history and the deadliest terror attack since the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, however, the extent of its involvement is still being probed.

Hospital officials said five people were still in "grave condition".

Orlando Regional Medical Centre said 29 people were still at the hospital and a number of patients remain critically ill and in shock.

Dyer applauded the effort made by police officers, first responders and people who lined up to donate blood in the aftermath of the incident.

"We will get through this because in our city's darkest hour, our residents have shown that they are the light," Dyer added.

Many people volunteered to bring flowers, signs, food and water for the people attending the vigil.

"It's so important to do something instead sitting at home paralysed," said Eileen Simoneau, a volunteer who hands out waters at the event.

Dyer also noted the city officials had identified all 49 victims and notified their relatives.
Islamabad, June 14 : At least five militants were killed during a search operation in Quetta city in Pakistan on Tuesday morning, a provincial minister said.

Police launched the operation on a tip-off over the presence of suspected militants in Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan, provincial Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti as saying.

The militants opened fire when the police raided their hideout. The police retaliated and all five militants were killed in the operation.

The militants, associated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, were involved in target killing of policemen and security forces in the province, the minister said.
Baghdad, June 15 : Iraqi security forces on Tuesday continued clashes with the Islamic State (IS) terrorists around the IS stronghold in the city of Fallujah and others areas in Anbar province.

The troops freed two villages from IS group in the country's northern province of Nineveh, Xinhua quoted security sources and a police chief as saying.

In Iraq's western province of Anbar, the federal police and allied Shia and Sunni Hashd Shaabi units carried out an operation to clear the areas adjacent to Euphrates River in south of the IS-held city of Fallujah, some 50 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, Lieutenant General Raid Shakir Jawdat said.

The troops managed to free a small dam on a branch of Euphrates River located some five km south of Fallujah, in addition to clearing the areas adjacent to the river in south of the city, Jawdat said without giving details about casualties among both sides.

The clearing operation came as the security forces have been battling IS terrorists after they made their first advance on Wednesday in the district and raised the Iraqi flag over some of its buildings, the source said.

The advance in southern Fallujah was slowed by IS terrorists resistance inside the city, with hundreds of hidden bombs believed to be planted by them.

The security forces are also avoiding heavy casualties among tens of thousands of civilians who are reportedly trapped inside Fallujah.
Canberra, June 15 : Australia's Parkes Observatory telescope has discovered a molecule which displays key attributes associated with life, in a breakthrough set to help scientists solve the mystery of biology in space.

Chirality, or "handedness" is a key attribute related closely with life, but homochirality, or being exclusively either "left or right handed", has never been discovered outside of Earth, until the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's (CSIRO's) Parkes telescope found the 'handed' molecule propylene oxide.

Dr John Reynolds, Director of Operations at CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science, said the discovery will give scientists the chance to further research how the Universe can contribute to sustaining life, Xinhua reported.

"This discovery gives us a window into how an incredibly important type of molecule is made in space, and gives us the chance to understand the impact that process may have on life in the universe," Reynolds said in a statement on Wednesday.

Typically, many molecules exist in forms that are mirror images of each other, but molecules associated with life, such as proteins, enzymes, amino acids and sugars are found to be made up of a single handedness.

Propylene oxide is a common homochiral compound used in making polyurethane plastics, and was discovered by the radio telescope in an interstellar cloud near the center of the Milky Way.

The cloud, known as Sagittarius B2, is actively forming stars, and Reynolds said scientists would follow the developments in the region to see if the Universe divulges any further secrets about the potential of life in outer space.

"Understanding how this came about is a major puzzle in biology, " he said.
Pennsylvania, June 15 : Eduardo Vargas (15 and 43 minute) and Alexis SAnchez (50 and 89 minute) hit two goals each to register a 4-2 win over Panama at the Lincoln Financial Field here.

Panama hit in the third minute as Miguel Elias Camargo CaAizalez fired an effort from 30 yards and Chile Claudio Bravo fumbles it into the goal.

But Chile hit back in the 15th minute when Eduardo JesAs Vargas Rojas levelled for them with a fine rebound by Sanchez's shot that was brilliantly kept out by Penedo.

The teams continued to mount pressure on each other. The attack paid Chile, who took lead in the 43rd minute with a powerful header by Vargas into the bottom corner from a delightful Beausejour cross.

On the other side of the first half, Alexis Sanchez hit a wonderful volley into the corner maing it 3-1 in favour of Chile. However, Abdiel Arroyo Molinar jumped on another mistake by Bravo.

Arroyo got on the end of a scramble in the area following a free-kick and sent a header straight at Bravo, who fumbles it into his own net at the near post in the 75th minute.

Alexis SAnchez hit his second for the night in the 89th minute to book Chile's place in the quarter-finals as he onto the end of Fuenzalida's cross to send a finish past Penedo.
Washington, June 15 : Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is projected to win the final presidential primary in Washington, D.C. ahead of her private meeting with rival Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Early results on Tuesday night with 41 per cent of votes counted showed Clinton notched up an easy win, leading Sanders by 57 percentage points, Xinhua news agency reported.

Last week, Clinton hit the 2,383-delegate threshold to clinch the nomination before the contest on Tuesday.

The result came moments ahead of a private meeting between Clinton and Sanders.

Despite his mathematical elimination from the race, it still remained unknown when and how Sanders would exit the race.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Sanders gave little indication of what his future plan would be, ignoring reporters's repeated questions as to whether he would drop out after meeting Clinton.

Instead, Sanders said he was going to "fight as hard as" he could to change the Democratic Party.

Sanders is scheduled to address his supporters on Thursday.
New York, June 15 : South Korean smartphone giant Samsung sold the most number of smartphones worldwide in the first quarter of the year and is expected to sell 320 million smartphones by the end of the year, a new report said on Wednesday.

According to US-based market research company IC Insights, buoyed by the strong sales growth of Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, Samsung sold 81.5 million smartphones, followed by Apple with 51.6 million smartphones -- in the first quarter.

Although the list of top 12 smartphone makers is dominated by China-based smartphone suppliers -- taking eight spots in the list -- Indian smartphone supplier Micromax broke into the list for the first time.

It sold five million devices in the first quarter of the year and is projected to sell 25 million smartphones by the end of the year -- 74 per cent increase from last year.

"Among the Chinese players, Huawei is at number three, OPPO at number four, Xiaomi at number five, Vivo at number six, ZTE at number eight, Lenovo at number nine and TCL and Meizu are at spots 10 and 11, respectively," androidheadlines.com said, quoting the report.

Sony, Microsoft and Coolpad who were in the top 12 list dropped out this year.

Lenovo, which was at fourth spot last year, dropped to ninth place this year - selling only 10.9 million smartphones in the first quarter of 2016. Their sales for the year are expected to drop 26 per cent from 2015.

According to IC Insights, total global smartphone sales will increase by 5 percent from 1.43 billions units in 2015 to 1.5 billion in 2016.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 device has also topped the 2016 American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) poll.

According to the annual poll comprising 12,710 people, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 phablet has a rating of 86 out of 100, 9to5mac.com reported recently.

iPhone 6 Plus is one notch behind at 85. In last year's satisfaction index, Apple and Samsung were neck-to-neck at 80.
Washington, June 15 : Hillary Clinton won the final Democratic primary on Tuesday night as voters in Washington, D.C., delivered a resounding win to the party's presumptive nominee, one week after she clinched the nomination.

The contest marked the close of one of the longest primary fights in American history, Politico reported.

Clinton's rival Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders contested the final primary, even while acknowledging the reality of the delegates maths.

However, Sanders is yet to officially concede, and on Sunday he said he would take his campaign to the Democratic convention in July.

He reiterated at a news conference Tuesday the need to change the Democratic Party, and said he would take "that fight" to the convention in Philadelphia.

Prior to the results, a meeting between the two candidates was held on Tuesday night. Clinton, accompanied by campaign manager Robby Mook and campaign chairman John Podesta, met Sanders, who was joined by his wife Jane and campaign manager Jeff Weaver.

"Sanders congratulated Secretary Clinton on the campaign she has run and said he appreciated her strong commitment to stopping Trump in the general election," said Sanders' spokesman Michael Briggs in a statement.

"The two discussed a variety of issues where they are seeking common ground: Substantially raising the minimum wage; real campaign finance reform; making health care universal and accessible; making college affordable and reducing student debt."

After clinching the nomination on June 7, Clinton also received the endorsements of President Barack Obama and Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Over the course of more than four months, Clinton captured 28 states compared to Sanders' 22, and she won 15.7 million votes in the primaries, compared to 12 million for Sanders.

The contests prior to Washington, D.C., yielded 2,203 pledged delegates for Clinton and 1,828 for Sanders.

A total of 2,383 delegates were needed to capture the party's nomination, and the 581 super delegates supporting Clinton were more than enough to put her over the top.

In 2008, Clinton lost the D.C. primary to then-Senator Obama, who captured 75 per cent of the vote. But the heavily African-American electorate, which proved a disadvantage to Clinton in that contest, helped to deliver victory for the former Secretary of State Tuesday night.

Clinton has dominated among African-American voters, dating back to South Carolina, where their votes made up 61 per cent of the February 27 Democratic primary electorate.

Clinton captured 86 per cent of the African-American vote there.

This final contest comes more than four months after voting began on February 1 with the Iowa caucuses.
Los Angeles, June 15 : Actor-comedian Richard Simmons shot down rumours on social media that he is "transitioning".

"Some tabloids have recently falsely reported that I am transitioning. In response, I feel compelled to set the record straight and refute these lies. Although I am not transitioning, I have and always will be supportive of those who are going through their journey," Simmons posted on his Facebook account, reports people.com.

"We should not lose focus on showing love, strength and compassion to all of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community during these tragic times. My broken heart and healing thoughts are with the people of Orlando and all other victims of prejudice, bigotry and hate," the 67-year-old added.

The post comes after Simmons was hospitalised for dehydration.
New Delhi, June 15 : Mother Teresa's planned sainthood is in an "uncharted" place as the miracle attributed to her was denied by the so-called cured person, says Britain-based author Aroup Chatterjee, whose work on the Albanian-born nun questions the very basis of her work in the City of Joy, for which she received the Nobel Peace Prize.

"Mother's sainthood is in an uncharted place as a retraction or denial of a 'miracle' by the 'cured' has never before happened in the history of the Catholic Church," Calcutta-born Chatterjee, who describes himself as a "militant atheist", writes in an updated version of "Mother Teresa - The Untold Story" that was released in the eastern metropolis earlier this week.

The reference is to Monica Besra, a tribal living in a remote village about 500 km from Calcutta (as the author consistently referes to the city rather than the renamed Kolkata). It was claimed that on September 6, 1998, a day after the first anniversary of Mother Teresa's death, she had been cured of a massive tumour after two nuns tied on her body an aluminium medal that had been in contact with the Mother's dead body, and prayed all night.

Soon after Mother Teresa's beatification on October 19, 2003, Besra challenged the miracle and said she was cured by medicine.

After the retraction, Chatterjee, a London-based physician writes, he sent messages to the postulator of Mother Teresa's cause, Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk, "asking how the Vatican would deal with this conundrum. I suggested that they should start afresh with a new 'miracle'."

But, says the author, "despite the unprecedented rejection of the miracle by the 'cured' and by every other quarter, including doctors and the government, the Vatican gave two fingers to Indian opinion and secretly proceeded with canonisation."

In December 2015, the Vatican announced that Mother Teresa was well on her way to becoming a saint in September 2016 as a second 'miracle' was proven -- a Brazilian man had been cured of brain tumour/abscess when his wife is said to have prayed to her.

"As I had expected, this time they chose a different hemisphere and a different continent. Also, the identity of the cured will be kept a secret till the last moment, though the 'cure' happened in 2008. The Vatican does not want to repeat the mistakes it made with Besra," Chaterjee writes.

He also says that the selection process for the Nobel Peace Prize is "deeply flawed" and being opaque and beyond criticism has made it even more susceptible to influences, .

"Although the Peace Prize has had some worthy recipients, especially the institutional ones...I believe the award is deeply flawed. Being opaque and beyond criticism has made it even more susceptible to influences. I am not convinced that it has an effective fact-checking machinery either, as its methods are somewhat quaint," Chatterjee says.

He notes in this context that Mother Teresa's year of birth is one the few things in her life "that is not shrouded in mythology, but the Nobel Committee has got that wrong".

"In one of their main official handouts, given to institutions about various peace laureates, it is given as 1914 when it should be 1910," Chatterjee writes.

"The Peace Committee is now on an over-correction drive and is desparately seeking out non-white and non-Christian recipients. The sentiment is well-meaning, but flawed. Some worthy people have got the prize (such as Malala Yousafzai and Shirin Ebadi) but mostly recipients have been non-worthy, such as Wangari Maathai and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf," he writes.

So, how did the book, first published in 2003, come about?

"If anything, I was positively inclined toward her. But, by 1988, three years after I went to the West, as soon as I mentioned Calcutta, people started talking about her and leprosy, beggers and destitutes, limbless people lying on the street, et cetera," Chatterjee told IANS in an interview.

"I was mystified and perturbed. So I wanted to look into it..still I thought she was a superb lady who was not faultless, but somehow, this image of Calcutta had permeated the world imagery," he said. "I thought it was probably a kind of offshoot or a corollary of her image and it was not her doing."

In 1994, Chatterjee approached the production company of Pakistani British writer Tariq Ali for making a documentary on Mother Teresa and the outcome was the BBC production, "Hell's Angel", presented by journalist and writer Christopher Hitchens. Chatterjee describes it as "the very first attempt to challenge the Teresa myth on television".

"I obviously thought I won't let go here...let's delve into the lady's activities and all that," Chatterjee said.

The result was an account The Times Higher Education Supplement described as "Necessary, Well-Documented".

"It's a historical document. If in 100 years someone wants to research this woman, they can come to my book, they will have to love her or hate her," Chatterjee said.

How did he anticipate the response to the book's re-release?

"I have to do what I have to do. People have taken so many risks for so many things, it would be cowardly of me to back out," Chatterjee responded.

(Vishnu Makhijani can be contacted at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
June 15 (IANS) A Bihar court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against Bihar School Examination Board's former chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, who has been untraceable and on the run since after his name figured in the Class 12 toppers' scam, police said.

A Patna civil court issued the arrest warrant against Singh, who is a key accused in the case and has gone underground after resigning from the board last week.

"Singh is still absconding after his name figured in the Class 12 toppers scam. Now the Special Investigation Team will send its team outside Bihar to arrest him," a police official said.

Meanwhile, police have arrested two persons, including Singh's private secretary, on Wednesday.

Singh resigned from the post last week after his name cropped up in the scam.

Earlier, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing into the scam sought an arrest warrant against Singh.

Singh's wife Usha Sinha, former Janata Dal-United legislator of Bihar, is also missing and on the run since her name too figured in the Class 12 toppers scam.

Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the mastermind behind the Class 12 Board merit list scam in Bihar, was arrested on Saturday after he surrendered before the police.

Both Singh and Rai are wanted by the SIT in the ongoing investigation into the alleged irregularities in the results of the toppers in the Class 12 Arts and Science examinations this year.

According to reports, the SIT has found evidences that suggest Singh's role in the racket. Evidence collected also indicates the board's complicity in the scam.

Last week five accused persons arrested in the case were remanded in 14 days' judicial custody by a local court in Patna.
Bhubaneswar, June 15 : Certain people connected with the Odia film industry are under the scanner of the Odisha Police's Crime Branch probing the money trail of the Oscar Chit Fund company, a senior police officer said on Wednesday.

Special Director General of Police Bijay Kumar Sharma said the money trail of Oscar Group's chairman Prabhas Rout and his association with the Odia film industry will be probed.

The Crime Branch has formed a team comprising five DSP-rank police officers to investigate the matter and is preparing a list of movie actors to be questioned, informed sources said.

The crime branch is interrogating Rout, who was arrested from New Delhi on June 10. The investigating agency on Tuesday night arrested three company directors as well.

The sources said Rout had collected over Rs 230 crore in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat by floating various schemes.

Rout had produced four Odia films -- 'To Akhire Mu' (2010), 'Most Wanted' (2011), 'Balunga Toka' (2011) and 'Rangeela Toka' (2012)-- by allegedly investing money collected from gullible people.

Actors-turned-politicians in the ruling Biju Janata Dal have acted in the movies produced by Rout, including party MPs Anubhav Mohanty and Siddhanta Mohapatra and comedian Papu Pompom alias Tatwa Prakash Satapathy.

Satapathy had unsuccessfully contested on a BJD ticket from Champua assembly segment in Keonjhar district.

Meanwhile, the crime branch has decided to seek further police remand of Rout since it will end on Wednesday.
Kabul, June 15 : At least 49 improvised bombs were defused by the Afghan army in two southern provinces of Afghanistan, a military statement said on Wednesday.

"The army defused 49 improvised explosive devices in Zabul and Uruzgan provinces over the past 24 hours," Xinhua news agenncy quoted the statement as saying.

"A terrorist named Mir Kalam was also detained during the raids," it said.

The statement blamed enemies of peace, a term referring to the Taliban militants, for planting the IEDs along main roads.

The Taliban militant group has been using IEDs as also lethal weapons to target security forces and also to inflict casualties on civilians, said military officials.

More than 3,540 civilians were killed and over 7,450 injured in 2015 as the violence spreads in different places of the country, according to a report released by UN mission in Afghanistan.

Of the casualties, 713 civilians were killed and more than 1,650 injured by IED attacks last year, the UN report found.
New Delhi, June 15 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday sarcastically urged Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung to act against one of his ministers for his government's new Solar Policy.

"The Delhi government has announced a Solar Policy. I request you to tell the ACB (Anti-Corruption Bureau) to file an FIR," Kejriwal said in an open letter to Jung.

He said the policy had been widely lauded by Resident Welfare Associations, Greenpeace and even the UN Climate Change.

"But please have the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) raid Power Minister Satyendra Jain for framing this admirable policy after informing Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Kejriwal wrote.

Delhi's Solar Policy makes installation of solar panels on government-owned, commercial and residential buildings mandatory.

Delhi aims to achieve 1 GW of solar power by 2020 and 2 GW by 2025, catering to 21 per cent of peak load demand.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader also said Modi appeared to be happy with Jung.

He said because of the Lt. Governor's intervention, two prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Delhi, including an MP, were not even questioned over the killing of an NDMC official.

"Modiji is now confident that no harm will come to any BJP person despite whatever goondaism they indulge in," he said.

"You will protect them. And you will keep trapping AAP members by hoisting false cases," he added.

Kejriwal's missive came a day after he hit out at Modi for trying to disqualify 21 AAP legislators for also holding the posts of Parliamentary Secretaries.

Under the power dispensation in Delhi, the police report to the Lt. Governor, who represents the central government, and not the Delhi Chief Minister.
Balaghat, June 15 : Forest officials were assaulted and five trucks carrying bamboo were burnt down by militants in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district, police said on Wednesday.

At least five trucks from Dhiri Murum area were stopped and set ablaze by militants late on Tuesday, Balaghat district Inspector General of Police D.C. Sagar told IANS.

According to the militants, the forest officials refused to provide food grain and ingredients demanded by them, which led to the confrontation and then the incident.

At least 15-17 militants first assaulted the forest officials and then set fire to the bamboo-laden trucks after breaking the diesel tanks of the vehicles, an eye-witness named Sona Bai told the reporters.

The incident took place in a forest area, Sagar said.

The police have stepped up search operations in the area after the incident to arrest the alleged attackers.

The state police has been trying to construct a police station in the Balaghat area, which is connected with Rajnand village of Chhattisgarh and Gondiya area of Maharashtra, so that action against militants can be taken on time.

Militant activities are on rise in Balaghat district of the state. Earlier, a man, suspected of passing information to the police, was killed by the militants in the area.

Also, recently a truck and two JCB machines were set on fire by the militants.
Aizawl, June 15 : The Mizoram government has handed over the Rs 14.5 crore gold robbery case to the CBI as the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the state government to probe the case, was facing problems, an official said here on Wednesday.

A private vehicle carrying 52 gold bars worth Rs 14.5 crore was intercepted on the outskirts of Aizawl capital city on December 14 last year by the troopers of Assam Rifles.

Mizoram Police last month arrested Colonel Jasjit Singh, Commandant of the 39th Battalion of Assam Rifles, eight other Assam Rifles troopers and four civilians, including a driver, in the sensational gold robbery case.

"After the approval of the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, a statutory notification was issued by the state home department on Tuesday evening handing over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation," a Mizoram home department official said.

Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana earlier said the SIT officials were facing problems to investigate the case as modern equipments were required to explore various details related to the case -- chiefly, whether army officials, para-military personnel and people from outside the state as also the country were involved in the crime.

"People from outside the country might be involved in the offence. We want a detailed and accurate inquiry into the case to unearth all relevant details," the minister told reporters.

The fate of the gold bars, which might have been smuggled from neighbouring Myanmar, was not yet known.

The owner and driver of the vehicle C. Lalnunfela lodged an FIR at Kulikawn police station in Aizawl on April 21 following which a case was registered leading to the probe by Mizoram Police.

Lalnunfela told police that he lodged the FIR after more than four months as the Assam Rifles personnel had threatened him with dire consequence if he complained to police.

Home Minister Lalzirliana said the SIT officials did a commendable job by arresting 13 accused, including Colonel Singh, in connection with the case.

"Apart from the problems being faced by the SIT in the investigation, there are unconfirmed report of highly-placed people getting involved in the case and also Col. Singh's refusal to cooperate with the SIT forced the state government to hand over the case to the CBI," the home minister added.

The army officer was suspended from the service by the authorities immediately after his arrest by Mizoram Police on May 5.

Mizoram shares an unfenced international border of 404 km with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh. This offers immense scope for smuggling animals, drugs, arms and ammunition and various other contraband across the border.
New Delhi, June 15 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the makers of upcoming Bollywood film "Udta Punjab" to remove from the movie's promos a scene ordered to be removed by the Bombay High Court.

A division bench of Justice Sunil Gaur and Justice P.S. Teji also directed the withdrawal of the said scene from online site YouTube.

The court directions came on a plea filed by a non-governmental organisation for the deletion of the scene from the promos as per the Bombay High Court order.

On June 13, the Bombay High Court overruled the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) suggestions for 13 cuts to the movie, slated for release on June 17.

"The court has set aside the 13 cuts demanded by the CBFCs' Revising Committee and cleared the film for release with one cut -- that of the hero shown urinating in public -- which we had already agreed to cut earlier," said lawyer Amit Naik for the film producers who had filed the case in the Bombay High Court.

The film has also to carry three disclaimers: "We do not promote the use of drugs", "We do not promote the use of cuss words", and "We are not attacking any particular state" -- and a reference to Pakistan, which the filmmakers have agreed to comply with.
Ankara, June 15 : At least 10 Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in shelling in northern Syria by the Turkish army and air operations from the US-led coalition, security sources said on Wednesday.

Turkish artillery units on Tuesday shelled 17 IS targets as coalition warplanes conducted air operations in the region, Xinhua news agency quoted the security sources as saying.

Since mid-January, the IS has been targeting towns and cities in southern Turkey with rocket fire, killing and injuring civilians.
Port-of-spain, June 15 : Yoga can be the antidote to violence. With that message, Rolston Nelson, the acting Chief Justice of the Caribbean Court of Justice, has urged the Trinidad Ministry of Education to introduce yoga in the school curriculum.

Delivering the keynote address at the launch of Yoga Day held at Trinidad Hilton Hotel, Nelson said yoga can curb violence and indiscipline in the schools.

Referring to incidents of crime, Nelson said: "If benefit of Yoga spreads among the population then we would be living in a much more humane and gentle society. I look forward to the Ministry of Education paying more to the science of Yoga."

The International Yoga Day will be observed on June 21. In Trinidad and Tobago, the second International Yoga Day will be observed between June 18 and 26 at 10 locations, including the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus and Divali Nagar.

Deoroop Teemal, Chairman of the International Day of Yoga Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (IDYCTT) said 12 yoga groups will participate in the International Yoga Day this year.

According to Indian High Commissioner Gauri Shankar Gupta, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is partnering with the Ministry of Health, the United Nations and the IDYCTT. About 60 schools will hold Yoga classes in September, he said.

Quoting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the High Commissioner said: "Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian traditions. It embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfilment, harmony between man and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us to deal with climate change".

"We would be happy to go into the high-risk schools and teach Yoga. At the end of the day, we would have healthier children. We are appealing to the government to come forward and cooperate with us."

Yvonne Lewis, Director of Health Education Division, Ministry of Health, said Yoga can keep one's body active.

Referring to the risks of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer and stroke faced by the people of Trinidad and Tobago, Lewis said: "These diseases account for over 60 per cent deaths every year. And 70 per cent of these diseases can be prevented."
Washington, June 15 : US State Department officials said the US is watching very closely the growing tensions between Afghan and Pakistani forces at Torkham border.

In response to a question regarding the tense situation in Torkham, State Department spokesperson John Kirby said: "We are all watching the tensions very closely, we are in touch with officials on both sides."

"We continue to urge a calm resolution to the tension. We obviously don't want to see clashes; we don't want to see violence; we don't want to see it get worse," Khamaa Press quoted Kirby as saying.

Clashes among the Afghan and Pakistani forces in Torkham erupted late on Sunday night after the Afghan border guards prevented the installation of a gate by Pakistani forces.

The Afghan government criticised Pakistan for taking unilateral steps by working on military installations along the zero point on Durand Line, calling it a move against the bilateral agreement.

Several people have lost their lives during the clashes in the past, including a senior Pakistani army officer who died due to wounds he sustained in the clash.
New Delhi, June 15 : Parliamentarians Jyotiraditya Scindia and Poonam Mahajan have been voted as the best dressed next-gen politicians in ethnic wear.

As a prelude to World Ethnic Day on Sunday, Craftsvilla.com reached out to its massive audience to poll the best dressed next-gen politicians in ethnic wear.

Among men, it was Congress all the way, as the suave 'Nehru Jacket' style of Jyotiraditya Scindia making 29.7 per cent people vote for him. Sachin Pilot (26.3 per cent) and Rahul Gandhi (25.4 percent) got the second and third highest votes.

Poonam Mahajan, often spotted in comfortable cotton kurtas, got the highest votes (31.3 per cent) amongst next-gen female politicians. Dimple Yadav who got 26.8 per cent votes and Divya Spananda with 17.2 per cent votes came second and third.

"This was a very exciting survey as India has a bunch of young politicians who are interested in ethnic wear," Monica Gupta, Co-founder, Craftsvilla.com, said in a statement.

"We celebrate World Ethnic Day because we all need to embrace ethnic, gift ethnic, donate ethnic and root for ethnic, and save India's dying art forms like Bhagalpur's Manjusha art, Bengal Pat, Pichwai paintings of Udaipur, Toda art of the Nilgiri hills."

"Nehru jackets are very popular with the youth. This is a political legacy, and not so much a Bollywood legacy. We also see a demand for Bandhgala, kolhapuris, cotton saris and kurtis which are some popular choices sported by the young politicians. Stylish, yet rooted, these products seem to blend style with comfort effortlessly," she added.
Islamabad, June 15 : Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Afghan Ambassador Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and lodged protest over the death of an army Major in shelling by the Afghan forces.

Major Ali Jawad Khan, who was injured in cross-border firing at Torkham border on Saturday, died of wounds in a military hospital in Peshawar on Tuesday.

Both sides started trading fire after the Afghan government raised objections to the construction of a gate by Pakistan inside its territory.

"Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary today called in Afghan Ambassador Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lodge Pakistan's strong protest over the shahadat (martyrdom) of Major Ali Jawad Khan, an officer of Pakistan Army, who was injured on 13 June due to unprovoked firing by Afghan security forces at Torkham border crossing," a foreign ministry statement said.

"The Afghan government was urged to take immediate steps to bring this unprovoked firing to an end," the statement stated.

The foreign secretary rejected allegations from Afghanistan that the construction of the gate by Pakistan was in violation of the agreements and understandings reached between the two countries.

"It was reiterated that these works are being undertaken on the Pakistani side and were started after the two sides had agreed on them during the meetings held last month."

The foreign secretary stressed that the Pakistani side was undertaking the gate construction on its side to regulate the movements of people as well as of vehicles with the prior agreement of the Afghan government.

He expressed concern over the continued firing by the Afghan forces in the last few days with a view to disrupt the gate construction aimed at strengthening effective border management.
New Delhi, June 15 : India on Wednesday unveiled its long-awaited civil aviation policy with a roadmap to support 300 million air travellers in five years and steps to make flying affordable and convenient. It also recasts the controversial norms on national carriers flying abroad.

Besides sops to make India a hub for aircraft maintenance, the policy proposes an all-inclusive tariff of Rs 2,500 per ticket for each flying hour to promote regional routes and facilitate more people to travel at lower costs with incentives for airport developers, operators and carriers.

One of the most contentious rules that had split the domestic airlines was the 5/20 norm of five-year operation and a 20-aircraft fleet to qualify to fly overseas. The five-year wait is now done away with, but airlines will need 20 aircraft or fly 20 per cent on domestic routes.

The new policy was approved at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after several years of discussions, following which a revised draft policy was last uploaded by the civil aviation ministry on October 30 last year for comments from stakeholders.

Prime Minister Modi said that the policy will "transform" the aviation sector, enhance "regional connectivity" and "greatly benefit passengers".

"#CivilAviationPolicy gives an impetus to affordability, regional connectivity, safety, infrastructure, which is vital for #TransformingIndia," the prime minister wrote on Twitter.

"The #CivilAviationPolicy approved today by the Cabinet will transform the sector & greatly benefit passengers," Modi added.

Civil Aviation Minister Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju said it was for the first time that India has an integrated civil aviation policy that has been crafted after some 450 responses and talks with all stakeholders -- airlines, airport operators and informal consultations among ministers.

The ambitious policy seeks to make India figure among the three largest aviation hubs in terms of passengers within the next decade from the ninth position now, while promoting the entire chain of aviation infrastructure: from cargo and maintenance to charter services and manufacturing.

Civil Aviation Secretary Rajeev Nayan Choubey said while India built more than 350 airports and airstrips during and after World War II, many of them are inoperational. A new scheme will seek to revive as many as possible as no-frills airports at an investment of Rs.50 crore each.

This will be a a part of the regional connectivity scheme that will kick-off from July, along with a cap in all-inclusive fare of Rs 2,500 per ticket per hour of flying, and viability gap funding for airline operators. Excise duty in such airports will be just 2 per cent on fuel.

"Apart from funding, there will not be any airport charges -- like for landing, parking as also navigation -- to the un-connected airport. The service tax will also be reduced by 90 per cent on the ticket which would make the effective rate come down to 1.2 per cent," Choubey said.

The government also intends to develop India as an MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) hub to attract business from foreign airlines with sops such as a service tax concession, customs duty exemption for tools, self-certification for parts and a longer, six-month stay for foreign aircraft to park in India.

"The maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business of Indian carriers is alone around Rs 5,000 crore, 90 per cent of which is currently spent outside India," said the policy document. It seeks to get India this share, than airlines going to Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and the UAE.

Broadly, the policy dwells on upgrade of airports, regional connectivity, easing of norms for flying abroad, liberalisation of open skies regime, development of cargo hubs, chopper services, attracting investments in maintenance and ground handling and security.

Officials said norms for choppers and how to utilise the excess manpower in terms of pilots will be announced separately. The ground handling policy, which has been criticised for jacking up operational coss has also been recast to allow airlines carry out self-handling.

There will also be three independent ground-handling agencies, including those associated with Air India, at every large airport. The number of such agencies in other airports will be decided by the operator.

As per the data furnished by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the country had seen 168.89 million domestic and over 54 million international air travellers in 2015-16.

The new norms on flying overseas are expected to benefit at least two new entrants -- Vistara and AirAsia. India currently has 15 scheduled carriers. Three international carriers have stakes in Indian carriers -- Singapore Airlines with the Tatas in Vistara, AirAsia again with the Tatas and Etihad in Jet Airways.

India Inc gave a thumbs up to the policy.

"It would help in stimulating growth and competitiveness of Indian aviation sector when implemented effectively; and would make flying more affordable for domestic flyers and India more accessible to international travellers," said Palash Roy Chowdhury, Co-Chairman of Civil Aviation Committee of Ficci ().

Another leading industry chamber the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) pointed out that the new policy is a turning point for India's civil aviation sector, as it frees the operators from the shackles of 5/20 rule for flying overseas.

"The step would surely attract more investment in the aviation which in any case had become quite viable after a sharp correction in the fuel prices," said D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, Assocham.

According to Sharat Dhall, President, Yatra.com elaborated that: "A cap of Rs 1,200 for 30 min flights and Rs 2,500 for 1 hour flights should really drive growth in a hugely under-penetrated domestic air market and catalyse economic growth in tier 2 and tier 3 markets."

Dhiraj Mathur, Partner - Aerospace and Defence, PwC said that the cap on FDI (foreign direct investment) is counter intuitive.

"In an environment in which there is an urgent need for infusing capital into the sector, limiting foreign capital through a cap on FDI is not consistent with the government's objective of expanding the sector in India," Mathur explained.

Amber Dubey, Partner and Head, Aerospace and Defence, KPMG in India said that the policy has been silent on issues like formation of an independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), privatisation of Air India, market-listing of AAI, hive-off of Air Navigation Services (ANS) from AAI.

"Making the first ever integrated aviation policy was tough. The road ahead will be tougher as we go for its implementation in letter and spirit," Dubey said.
New Delhi, June 15 : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved raising of the retirement age of central government doctors to 65 years, union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Wednesday.

The retirement age of non-teaching and public health specialists of the Central Government Health Services will also be 65 years.

"Keeping in mind the shortage of doctors, a decision has been taken to increase the retirement age of doctors from 62 years to 65 years," Prasad said.

An official statement later said: "The decision will help in better patient care, proper academic activities in government medical colleges and effective implementation of the National Health Programmes for delivery of healthcare services."

The government claimed there will be no financial implications of the increase in retirement age.

The Cabinet decision comes in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement in this regard at a rally in Uttar Pradesh last month.

A statement from the Health Ministry on May 31 said the proposal had been approved and would be applicable from May 31.

The retirement age with respect to all four sub-cadres of Central Health Services was 60 years prior to 2006.

In 2006, the age of retirement for three specialists sub-cadres (teaching, non-teaching and public health), except general duty medical officer sub-cadre, was enhanced from 60 to 62 years.

The retirement age of teaching sub-cadre was further increased to 65 years in 2008 in view of a huge shortfall of teaching specialists.

The approval was limited to teaching specialists engaged in teaching activities only and not occupying administrative positions.
Kolkata, June 15 : Air India on Wednesday said it will withdraw its operations on the Kolkata-Durgapur-Delhi route from June 17 due to operational reasons.

The national air carrier was the sole airlines operating a flight from the newly built Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport in Durgapur (Andal) of West Bengal's Burdwan since December. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee flew on its first trial flight from Durgapur to Delhi on December 7.

"Air India will withdraw its operations on the Kolkata-Durgapur-Delhi and return sector from June 17 due to operational reasons," said an airline spokesman.

With Air India stopping its flight, there will be no scheduled flights to and from the airport from Friday.

The spokesman said the passengers who booked tickets may either cancel and get the full refund or opt to fly Delhi from Kolkata with the same ticket.

The official declined to give the details of the operational reasons for which it suspended its operation. But it was learnt that the airlines withdrew its operations due to economic non-viability.

Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL), which developed the greenfield airport, said the cost of operations or the viability gap funding would have been almost half in case of a private airline compared to that of Air India.

BAPL said while traditionally, VGF is paid by state governments to the airlines, it was the only private airport operator in the country to offer VGF to an airline to operate scheduled flights.

"To bring in the first carrier through the viability gap funding model was not because of a dearth of demand but because of non-availability of any historical data, which is a primary requirement for any private airline operator to reach a conclusion, in terms of assessing the market potential.

"Had it been any other private airline operator, the cost of operations/VGF would be almost half of what Air India has been charging. In that event, the operations would not only be self sustainable but highly profitable," said airport developer's Managing Director Partha Ghosh.

"The high cost of operations by Air India, makes even a lucrative market like the Durgapur-Asansol region, unsustainable," he added.

BAPL said it was in advanced level of talks with some of the major private airline operators to operate flights from Durgapur to all other major metros, starting with New Delhi and Mumbai.
New Delhi, June 15 : Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was recently appointed party incharge of Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday said that he hoped party chief Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would campaign outside family bastions Amethi and Rae Bareli for the assembly polls next year.

Interacting with media persons ahead of his two-day visit to the state from Thursday to work out the party's action plan for the 2017 assembly elections, Azad, asked if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to be projected as a chief ministerial face of the Congress, said: "Priyanka ji is already playing a key role in Rae Bareli and Amethi.

"I hope she will definitely campaign in some other places as per time available to her. There have been such demands from our cadres in the state but the party will take a decision at the right time."

He said Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was taking key decisions regarding Uttar Pradesh after consulting all seniors party leaders.

Azad said he will meet office-bearers of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, and chiefs of its frontal organisations such as the Mahila Congress and the Youth Congress.

He will also meet All India Congress Committee members from the state, sitting and former MPs, legislators, district Congress chiefs, spokespersons and other prominent leaders at the Gandhi auditorium in Lucknow on Thursday.

"I will meet them collectively and in sessions to hear their views, take inputs to evolve an action plan for the assembly elections," Azad said.

"Our first preference is to strengthen the party structure in the state so that we can win maximum number of assembly seats," he said.

The former union minister also hinted at a reshuffle in the party's state unit.

Azad said he will have one-to-one session with party leaders on Friday to know their opinion on "what direction the party should take for its campaign".

Azad, who is also Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said the Bharatiya Janata Party is running a thoroughly divisive campaign in the run-up to the assembly elections.

"The British were (earlier) dividing us in the name of Hindu and Muslim; and now the BJP is doing it," Azad remarked while referring to alleged migration from the state's Kairana town finding a mention at the BJP's national executive meeting.
New Delhi, June 15 : There will no retrenchment of college professors based on their performance index and work load while the teaching workload has been restored to earlier levels, an official statement said on Wednesday.

"There will ne no retrenchment of college professors on account of their performance index and workload. Direct teaching workload of assistant professors has been restored to 16 hours, and associate professors and professors to 14 hours each," said the Ministry of Human Resource Development in the statement.

Secretary, Higher Education, Vinay Sheel Oberoi said: "Cap on performance index, brought in by the second amendment of the UGC Regulations, has been removed."

The Delhi University Teachers Association were protesting against these clauses, brought in the amendments made last month.

Oberoi also said that mentoring of students by professors and teachers will also be recognized while calculating direct teaching score. "Achieving of minimum scoring in direct teaching dimension of performance index will also be possible with these changes," he said.

The union government had linked the scores from these performance index and tests to the promotion and increment of the college professors.

"The UGC shall maintain a list of journals for the consideration of journals to consider the performance index score. Inclusion of journals to this list will be considered by the UGC on the basis of its Standing Committee recommendations on a list, furnished by a university, and within 60 days of its receipt by the Standing Committee," the statement added.

As per second amendment to the UGC (Minimum Qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges) Regulations, 2010, the number of teaching hours for assistant professors and associate professors had been increased to 24 hours and for professors to 20 hours a week.
Mumbai, June 15 : Actor Varun Dhawan will have to promote his next film "Dishoom" alone till July as his main co-stars John Abraham and Jacqueline Fernandez are busy shooting for their respective films till then.

Present on the sets of the reality show "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa" to launch the first song "Sau Tarah Ke" from the film, Varun, asked why he was promoting the film alone, said: "John is shooting for 'Force 2' and Jacqueline is shooting in Miami but she is coming back soon. The song was going to be launched.

"They are going to return in July but I could not hold myself, that is why I have already done the tattoo. My connection is with the audience and I have come here for it. And I can officially announce that the promotion of 'Dishoom' begins today."

Varun had also performed at the show, tattooing the film's name on his forearm for it. He also said that he was a big fan of the celebrities from the music industry on the show like Pritam, Sajid-wajid, Mika and even had favourites from set of contestants.

The song will be out on Thursday.

John's "Force 2" also starring Sonakshi Sinha and directed by Abhinay Deo, is set in China and Budapest while Jacqueline is shooting with actor Sidharth Malhotra for director duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K's film in Miami.

On his "Student Of The Year" co-star Alia Bhatt's film "Udta Punjab" managing to clear all obstacles after the filmmakers moving the court, Varun said: "It is a great thing that the verdict has been passed; I think it is great for the film industry. It's our belief in the judiciary system which has been upheld once again."

Varun will also be seen opposite Alia in "Badrinath Ki Dulhania".
New York, June 16 : A hedge fund manager of Indian origin has been charged with participating in a stock market insider trading scam involving generic drugs that allegedly netted him at least $25 million in profits, according to US authorities.

New York federal prosecutor Preet Bharara, who announced the charges on Wednesday, said that Sanjay Valvani made a deal with a former US drug regulatory official to get "highly confidential" information about pending approval of generic drug applications and used them to make trades, "reaping millions of dollars in illegal profits".

This is the latest instance of Wall Street fraud prosecutions involving Indians, several of whom have faced charges or sentenced to prison terms in recent years.

Valvani, who surrendered to authorities on Wednesday, was a partner at Investment Adviser-A and focused on health care portfolios.

As part of their deal, Gordon Johnston, a former deputy director at the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) dealing with generic drugs, gave Valvani inside information about the approval of the generic version of the drug enoxaparin that is used to treat deep vein thrombosis, authorities alleged.

Using that information, Valvani traded on the shares of two companies likely to profit from the USFDA approval and made $25 million in profits and also shared the information with Christopher Plaford, a former portfolio manager at Investment Adviser-A, authorities said.

Both Johnston, who is now a political intelligence consultant, and Plaford have pleaded guilty to the charges against them and are cooperating with the government investigation, officials said. The alleged scam ran from 2005 to 2011, according to them.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has separately filed civil charges against Valvani, Johnston and Plaford.

Enoxaparin was originally made by Sanofi-Aventis and marketed under the brand name Lovenox. By 2005, three groups of publicly traded pharmaceutical companies had sought USFDA and one of them was "by a publicly traded pharmaceutical company that had partnered with Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.," prosecutors said.

Momenta said on its website that it had collaborated with Sandoz to produce a generic version of Lovenox, which received USFDA approval in 2010.

Prosecutors said that Johnston was retained by Valvani to provide "political intelligence" about the timing of USFDA's approval of generic drugs and was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for his consulting work. Johnston used his contacts as a former USFDA official to get the information, officials said.

Valvani is the latest person of Indian origin to face insider trading charges. Rajat Gupta, former CEO of the consultancy company, McKinsey, is the best known of them and was convicted in 2012 on insider trading with Raj Rajaratnam, a hedge fund operator of Sri Lankan origin. Anil Kumar, a former McKinsey employee, pleaded guilty in the same case.
Property tax change had boosted Scottish home sales with a rise in transactions of 11% year on year but prices are down 7.8% compared to 12 months ago, the latest index shows.

The index report from estate agents Your Move suggests that prices are down due to a lack of higher value homes on the market with the average house price now 170,667.

Prices have increased in Edinburgh and Clackmannanshire but have fallen in the majority of areas throughout Scotland.

The index also shows that month on month prices are unchanged despite the new 3% surcharge on additional home sales.

After a year of the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT), its now possible to see its impact across the Scottish housing market. By cutting the cost of purchasing cheaper homes, LBTT has led to an 11% increase in sales over the last year, said Christine Campbell, Your Move managing director in Scotland.

She pointed out that with 104,344 home sales in the last 12 months, the market has outdone the previous years 93,601 sales. These figures confirm that lower purchase taxes for property can significantly boost activity in the housing market, while also making it more affordable for first time buyers to get a foot on the ladder, Campbell explained.

Indeed, she believes that the Scottish Government should consider lifting the LBTT bands higher, if they want to build on the foundations of this policy, in order to support Scotlands fragile property and construction sector.



She also pointed out that the drop in property values was caused by a spike in high value home sales last year, before the LBTT was introduced, but todays market hasnt regained those losses yet.

The facts show that since the introduction of LBTT, growth in house prices has been subdued. The average property value in Scotland has only grown 1.74% in the last six months, compared to 3.19% for England and Wales over the same period, Campbell explained.

The tax has particularly hit homes at the top of the market, as these properties have become more expensive to buy after the introduction of LBTT. So while there has been an upswing in sales, it has come at a cost for some, she added.

And she said that while sales in March were almost double those in February, sales in April are 66% down on the previous month. However, home sales for the first four months of the year are still well ahead on the same point in 2015, with 4,751 additional property purchases so far in 2016.



However, when you look at the local picture, the negative effects of the new surcharge are more obvious, as average house prices have dropped in 20 of Scotlands 32 local authority areas from the previous month.

Moray has felt the worst of the tax hike in April, with property values in the area declining by 4.6% month on month. Edinburgh has seen house prices rise by 3.7% from March, while Clackmannanshire has had the highest month on month growth in Scotland, with local property values increasing 5.9%. House prices here have been boosted by more high value home sales near Dollar.



A potential drop in demand from second home and buy to let buyers after the surcharge and the uncertainty surrounding the European Union referendum may continue to hinder the Scottish market, as they have done south of the border. But in Scotland these challenges add a new storm to an already rough sea, Campbell concluded.


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"The added functionality streamlines the entire post-acute patient care process so that providers can save time by eliminating manual tasks and improve patient care." -Paul O'Toole

Mediware Information Systems, Inc., a provider of comprehensive post-acute healthcare software, announces the next on-time release features of CareTend for the HME/DME and home infusion markets. CareTends added functionality enables providers to grow their retail operations, streamline credit card processing, save costs using drop-ship features, and increase output with customized workflow and reporting tools.

CareTend point-of-sale capabilities give providers the tools they need to quickly process transactions using their own hardware. POS is scalable for single and multi-site operations, so providers can clearly see all transactions, inventory items, and sales, regardless of current location. Transactions are processed quickly using barcode scanning for all items, and the systems accepts multiple forms of payment including cash, check, credit card, on-account, and insurance. The added credit card processing features provide flexible options for patient accounts, POS, and cash management activities with complete data security. Providers can also enjoy tremendous cost savings using direct shipping options, enabling suppliers to ship on the customers behalf without carrying every product on inventory.

We are thrilled to roll out the next release of CareTend, said Paul OToole, vice president and general manager of the Home Care Solutions Division of Mediware. The added functionality streamlines the entire post-acute patient care process so that providers can save time by eliminating manual tasks and improve patient care through fast order fulfillment and complete patient care tracking, added OToole.

About Mediware:

Mediware delivers interoperable best-of-breed software systems that improve efficiencies and address safety concerns, enabling healthcare organizations to improve care processes while decreasing costs. Core Mediware solutions include blood management technologies for hospitals and blood centers; cell therapy solutions for cord blood banks, cancer treatment centers and research facilities; medication management solutions for hospitals, behavioral health facilities, infusion and specialty pharmacy providers; business intelligence-based performance management solutions for clinical, regulatory and financial aspects of the broader healthcare market; and rehabilitation therapy and respiratory care solutions. For more information about Mediware products and services, visit our website at http://www.mediware.com.

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Exhibitus announced today that industry veteran Jeff Smith has joined the company as Executive Producer. In this role, Smith will oversee the design and integration of technology to enhance engagement and meet overall corporate objectives of clients exhibit programs.

The evolution of technology in the exhibit industry has changed how companies attract trade show attendees, distribute information and engage with customers and prospects during and after an event. Increasingly, successful experiential marketing programs include technology-driven interactive engagements that capture the imagination of show attendees and provide valuable metrics for success, even beyond the show floor.

Jeffs unique background of design training and experience, with his proven ability to integrate appropriate technology into the trade show environment, has made him an industry stand-out. said Brad Falberg, President of Exhibitus. He recognizes the inherent value of technologies and knows how to develop solutions that contribute to the overall success of a program. We are excited to add his engagement expertise and collaborative approach to Exhibitus creative team.

Prior to joining Exhibitus, Smith served for two years as Experiential Marketing Creative Lead for Exhibit Concepts, Inc. where he researched and developed interactive engagements for client projects. From 2002  2013, he was Director of Emergent Technologies and Exhibit Designer for Czarnowski.

Smith holds a B.A. in Visual Communications from Judson University in Elgin, Illinois.

Exhibitus

Exhibitus is an award-winning custom exhibit house specializing in 3-dimensional design for trade shows, corporate events, user conferences, permanent installations, museums and corporate interiors. Driven by the philosophy that "DESIGN MATTERS", the company builds jaw-dropping exhibits that capture brand, inspire action and assure business success.

Headquartered in Atlanta with offices in New York and Chicago, Exhibitus also features global service capabilities to support clients abroad. Exhibitus clients include Abbott, AGCO, Alcoa, Cessna, Cox Business, Kawneer, Lexus, Mack Trucks, Porsche, Purina, Toshiba, ViaSat, Verizon, Wells Fargo, and Yamaha.
Deputy Logo Deputy is advancing the workforce management process through a mobile-first solution that enables companies to manage employees from anywhere at anytime.

Deputy, a leading global workforce management solution, today announced it has grown its iOS user base by 45 percent in just nine months, highlighting the companys commitment to reinventing workforce management for small businesses and enterprises with mobile-first solutions. Much of this growth can be attributed to the enhanced Deputy app that includes new iOS optimized features and new user experience for iPad and iPhone. Deputy has also been successful in leveraging its standing as an Apple mobility partner to reach even more businesses with its innovative solution.

Todays news reveals how Deputy is advancing the workforce management process through a mobile-first solution that enables companies to manage employees from anywhere at anytime, said Jason Walker, president of The Americas, Deputy. Today, 95 percent of our customers use iPad and iPhone and weve gone all in on building the best apps to support the latest features, all the while leveraging our relationship with Apple as a mobility partner to get our solutions in front of more businesses."

Deputy + iOS = A Perfect Mobile Workforce Management Match

Launched in 2008, Deputy is an all-in-one workforce management solution for companies looking to improve employee scheduling, time and attendance, team communication and performance management. By leveraging the power of iOS, the worlds most advanced mobile operating system, Deputy creates intuitive workforce management solutions that allow business owners to manage and communicate with employees from any location via iPad, iPhone or Apple Watch.

With the Deputy app for iOS, businesses can:



Seamlessly create and update employee schedules based on individual availability

Easily share schedules via email, SMS or push notifications to an iPhone, iPad or other smartphone

Instantly offer and replace open shifts or allow employees to swap shifts base on their availability

Communicate, monitor and assign tasks to individual employees or a companys entire employee base

Create and approve timesheets in real time and instantly export finalized timesheets into a companys existing payroll software

The Ultimate Digital Business Management Platform

Because Deputy integrates with other business management tools that are also Apple mobility partners, such as Xero, Vend and Kounta, Deputy customers have direct access to a growing ecosystem of other digital solutions to run their businesses. Customers can pick and choose solutions and apps based on their needs and priorities, creating the ultimate mobile business management platform to operate entire workflows seamlessly in the cloud.

For example, by integrating Deputy with Xero, timesheets that are created and approved by small business owners via Deputy are automatically updated in Xero payroll, creating instant visibility into payroll processing.

This kind of automation is critical for business owners looking to improve workflow productivity and payroll accuracy," said Russ Fujioka, Xero's U.S. president. "As we work with unique partners like Deputy, we're able to provide small business owners a complete, real time view of their company's financial position."

Derek Belnap, owner of 3 Cups Cafe  in Utah, uses Deputy to manage his entire staff from his iPhone. By integrating Deputy with Xero, Derek can also obtain a more accurate view of his cafe's financial performance in real time, based on sales and payroll, as well as create employee schedules based on internal forecasts of peak business times, all via his iPad or iPhone.

Using Deputy and Xero together has streamlined processes that are often tedious and dreaded, from approving employee timesheets to providing accurate end-of-the-month reporting, said Belnap. The combination of the two platforms is the closest thing youll have to an office manager without the additional salary of one. Its truly a lifesaver.

Learn how business owners are managing their entire workforce from their iPad or iPhone. Try Deputy for free today at Deputy.com or call us at 18556DEPUTY (855-633-7889).

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About Deputy

Founded in 2008, Deputy is headquartered in Sydney, Australia and Atlanta, USA, with offices in Los Angeles, the United Kingdom and the Philippines. As the ultimate workforce manager, Deputy offers best-in-class technology in a cloud-based solution that simplifies scheduling, timesheets, tasking and other employee communication. This, coupled with brilliant mobile apps and one-click payroll integration, equips business managers with the tools they need to get out of the back office and into the action. More than 20,000 customers in 73 countries use Deputy to manage their employees. For more information, visit Deputy.com and follow @DeputyApp.
Texas Legal, the nonprofit that has been offering legal insurance to Texans for 40+ years, today announced its Producer Program to allow agents and brokers to easily offer TDI-regulated legal insurance plans to clients. Agents and brokers who enroll in the Texas Legal Producer Program have a new way to differentiate themselves, and an opportunity to earn healthy commissions ongoing, all by ensuring Texans have affordable legal support from approximately 500 Texas lawyers in the Texas Legal network. For more information and to sign up, please visit http://texaslegal.org/producers/

We are so proud of all we do to make sure Texans have access to quality and affordable legal support that protects themselves and their families from the massive costs that can accrue with legal issues, said Jim Buck, president, Texas Legal. Our new Producer Program will help our trusted services get into more hands more quickly. Our legal insurance connects Texans with a network of approximately 500 lawyers who can service specific legal needs whether wills or estate advice, identity theft or bankruptcy, family issues such as divorce or custody, or civil defense or misdemeanors.

For agents interested in offering Texas Legal insurance to their own clients, whether individuals or companies, they simply complete the form at http://texaslegal.org/producers/ and work with Texas Legal for approval and onboarding. Agents can quickly begin to offer legal insurance to clients and earn competitive commissions for their own business.

Financial Benefits Services, LLC, a Dallas area benefit consulting firm, has been working with Texas Legal to extend legal insurance offerings to its clients. Texas Legal is amazing to work with. The organization was set up by the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Legislature decades ago and is the trusted, preferred service to connect Texans to the lawyer they need, when they need. In fact, Texas Legal is the only legal insurance provider governed by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), which in our eyes - and yes of our clients too - is very powerful. The Producer Program is easy to activate, having legal insurance is a great value-add we can extend to our clients, and every plan we sell becomes a new revenue stream for us, said Richard Peace, State Manager, Financial Benefits Services, LLC.

Agents who are part of the Texas Legal Producer Program sign up individuals or group members for TDI-regulated legal insurance plans that deliver comprehensive legal protection at an affordable price. Subscribers to the plan gain access to the huge Texas Legal attorney network of lawyers across Texas who address a wide variety of legal challenges. Agents receive regular competitive commission checks and also benefit from thorough Texas Legal go-to-market support, from joint marketing to deal support.

There is only one preferred provider of legal insurance as selected by the State Bar of Texas, only one provider with a TDI-regulated legal insurance plan, said Scott Shapard, executive vice president of Employee Benefits, Higginbotham, a Fort Worth based insurance broker that services all of Texas. We guarantee our clients across Texas the very best insurance, and Texas Legal fits that bill. Now, theyve made it even easier  and more profitable  for us to extend these benefits to our customers.

About Texas Legal:

Texas Legal, a statewide, nonprofit legal insurance plan founded by the State Bar of Texas and the Texas Legislature in 1972 as an effort to better serve the legal needs of Texans. Texas Legal is the preferred provider of the State Bar of Texas. The nonprofit offers plans for companies, group and individuals.

Few people plan ahead for it, so when a legal matter arises, its usually a high stress, high cost event, a crisis. Texas Legal has 35,000 Texans trusting it to help if  and when  a legal matter arises. Over its 40 years, Texas Legal has serviced 100,000+ Texans who pay about $20 a month for plans that cover them for a wide variety of legal issues, and can include spouses and dependents (even college aged children). More at http://www.texaslegal.org.

About Financial Benefits Services, LLC:

Financial Benefit Services (FBS) was established in Richardson, Texas with one goal in mind - to guide clients through the challenges of employee benefit administration. As a licensed third party administrator and benefit consultant with over 20 years of experience in the State of Texas, FBS works with a multitude of carriers who honor its mission for client satisfaction. For more, see http://fbsbenefits.com/

About Higginbotham:

Higginbotham is comprised of offices and subsidiaries located across Texasall offering the same Single Source solutions that differentiate Higginbotham. Each operates as a Higginbotham company and has complete insurance, risk management and financial service capabilities, strong footholds in their local markets and excellent reputations for personal service. Together, it forms one of the largest independent insurance brokerage firms in the U.S. and the second largest in Texas. For more, see: http://www.higginbotham.net/
Recognizing the critical role individual companies play in protecting the environment, the Encina Wastewater Authority (EWA) honored local businesses that achieved 100 percent compliance with all wastewater discharge permit requirements for 2015 with its prestigious Gold Award. Earning this distinction requires that businesses meet stringent discharge limits and undergo unannounced inspections and sampling by EWA personnel to verify compliance.

The 2015 Gold Award recipients include: SeaSpine, Inc. (six years); Air Products & Chemicals (three years); Hollandia Dairy, Inc. (three years); Metal Etch Services (one year); Alphatec Spine, Inc. (one year); GE Osmonics, Inc. (one year); Cintas Inc. (one year); Natel Inc. (one year); and Primarch Manufacturing Inc. (one year). These industries play an important role in protecting the collection system, wastewater workers, and the Encina Water Pollution Control Facility. In addition, their pollution prevention efforts help protect the Pacific Ocean and ensure that EWA is able to beneficially reuse the plants treated water and biosolids.

The Gold Award Program provides EWA with an excellent opportunity to recognize the hard work and leadership of local companies. It is just one of a number of programs the agency has implemented to help achieve its goals of protecting the Pacific Ocean and being a model of excellence and innovation.

The Encina Wastewater Authority (EWA) is a joint powers authority owned by six member agencies: the Cities of Carlsbad, Vista, and Encinitas, and the Leucadia Wastewater District, the Vallecitos Water District, and the Buena Sanitation District. EWA owns and operates the Encina Water Pollution Control Facility (EWPCF), which provides wastewater treatment services to approximately 400,000 residential customers, as well as numerous industries, in an approximately 125 square mile service area in North San Diego County.
Chaa Creek's 400 acre private nature reserve is the classroom these Eco-Kids ride through to learn about nature Weve seen what a commitment to green practices and environmental sustainability can do

Once again, 24 budding young environmentalists are looking forward to attending an innovative, weeklong educational summer camp in the jungles of western Belize. And, according to The Lodge at Chaa Creek, sponsors of the annual Eco-Kids Summer Camp, the quality and quantity of this years applications continue to show how deeply young Belizeans care about their environment.

Chaa Creek owners Mick and Lucy Fleming said the innovative annual event gives Belizean youth an opportunity to learn about their natural world and cultural heritage through a mix of adventure, social interaction, fun and hands-on education aimed at instilling a sense of wonder and responsibility for the environment.

Weve always believed that education is an important part of ecotourism, and that inspiring and encouraging todays young people to become active in environmental issues translates into a better future, Ms Fleming said during the June 15th announcement of this years eco-kids participants.

Belize, the region and indeed the world will be facing a number of environmental challenges in the years to come, and investing in our young people is the best way to prepare for and meet those challenges, she added.

This year, from the 17th to the 24th of July, Chaa Creek will again host twenty-four Belizean students between the ages of nine and twelve at the eco-resorts Macal River Camp to learn about biodiversity, conservation, the ancient Maya, sustainable agriculture and other subjects through participation in structured learning activities, games, and teambuilding exercises; all designed to foster an awareness of Belizes natural world and the need to protect it.

With activities such as guided horseback expeditions along jungle trails to study Belizes flora and fauna and Maya medicinal plants, hikes to ancient Maya sites to assist in archaeological excavations, hands-on sustainable organic farming techniques at the onsite traditional Maya organic farm, and other learning adventures, as well as supervised water games, song writing sessions and talent shows, Ms Fleming said Chaa Creek hopes to assist young people in becoming effective and confident environmental ambassadors.

If, year after year, twenty-four enthusiastic young people return to their families, friends and schools with a deeper appreciation of Belizes natural world and cultural history and are eager to talk about environmental issues, we consider that to be a very worthwhile investment with long lasting benefits.

During the week, Chaa Creek provides bungalow accommodation in the camps pristine rainforest setting, healthy breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks, arts and craft materials, tee shirts, 24-hour camp counsellor supervision, and guided nature excursions and activities conducted by the eco-resorts licensed naturalist guides.

Weve found that being immersed in nature and having fun with a mixture of games and structured activities is the best way for kids that age to learn. Our councillors, staff and guides all have a genuine love for what theyre doing, and communicating that creates an atmosphere in which young students flourish.

Ms Fleming, a former teacher, said she thanks the educators, staff members, parents and others who continue to put time and effort into the Eco-Kids camp and numerous other projects under the eco-resorts Chaa Creek Cares initiative, which sees ten per cent of all room rate going directly into environmental and social projects.

Its quite an undertaking to stimulate, educate, entertain, feed and control twenty-four kids in a jungle setting, but just seeing the look on their faces during the week makes it all worth it. And the results speak for themselves, she said.

As do the children, such as former Eco Kid, 11-year-old Kieva, who wrote, As a kid I would want to help save our environment but I cant do it alone. It takes more than one person but it starts with me. I will be eco friendly to help save the planet and so I could live in a greener and safer world.

Thirteen-year-old Erick said, I believe that it needs lots of teamwork, acts of kindness and the right attitude to continue the work in rescuing our earth, our home. I feel we need to take care of this beautiful country our ancestors the Mayas left. I want to be among kids who are not afraid like me to continue working towards a cleaner environment, preserving wildlife and fresh air and oxygen to breathe.

Brianni, eleven, said I wish to come back from such an experience and share my new knowledge and ideas with family and friends around me about saving the earth.

Thirteen-year-old Jayronn mentioned his newfound maturity as a factor, As a small boy, I did not understand nature. Now that I have grown older, I understand that it is a life. It grows, lives and can die. It has feelings also!

Ms Fleming said children with that kind of enthusiasm who are given the tools to utilise their energy and creativity represent the best form of environmental protection.

Weve seen what a commitment to green practices and environmental sustainability can do. In many ways, Belize is a living example of green development and responsible travel. When you consider the ripple effect of twenty four enthusiastic kids talking to their friends and family, and putting the things they learn here in practice, you understand why we consider eco-kids a very sound investment in the future.

To be honest, its also a lot of fun, and something we look forward to each year, Ms Fleming added.

Ms Fleming said further information about the Eco Kids Summer Camp can be found on the Chaa Creek website and Travel Blog.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek is a multi award winning eco resort set within a 400-acre private nature reserve along the banks of the Macal River in Belize.

ENDS
Sampford Advisors announced today that it has continued to expand it's presence as the only boutique investment bank headquartered in Ottawa by hiring Boris Petkovic as a Financial Analyst. Boris joins Sampford from the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University where he recently received a Bachelor of Commerce with a Concentration in Finance.

"When I founded Sampford Advisors in 2014, I did so because I realized that many Ottawa-based technology companies were not getting the M&A and capital raising advisory services and expertise that they deserved" said Ed Bryant, Sampford's President and CEO. "Since then, we have built a team of four professionals with over 30 years of combined investment banking and corporate finance experience from New York, London, Hong Kong and Singapore. The team has raised over $20 billion in equity and debt capital and completed over $30 billion in M&A across hundreds of transactions. This level of M&A and capital raising experience is unparalleled in Ottawa."

"We are excited for Boris to join our team and help us continue to provide exemplary advisory services to our clients" Ed said.

About Sampford Advisors

Sampford Advisors is Ottawa's only boutique investment bank focused on advising clients in the technology sector across a wide range of financial services, including Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), equity and debt capital raising, strategic finance advisory and investor relations services.

Sampford is led by Ed Bryant who has over 20 years of experience including over 16 years in Investment Banking with Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong, Singapore and New York. In that time, Ed raised in excess of $20 billion in equity and debt capital and completed over $10 billion in M&A transactions. Prior to founding Sampford, Ed held the CFO and VP of Corporate Development positions for more than three years at Conversant in Ottawa.
SafeNet Assured Technologies, LLC, a U.S. based provider of government high assurance data security solutions, today announced that its Smart Card 650 v3.3c Token (SC650) has received certification from the National Security Agency (NSA) for use in defense networks when using an approved applet. The SC650 is a high assurance identification and authentication smart card that brings two-factor authentication to applications and networks where security is critical.

The SC650 is the only certified secure, certificate-based smart card available today. It enables strong two-factor authentication and proof-positive user identification in all SECRET level environments. The SC650 securely stores users credentials, such as digitally-signed certificates, private keys, and network login credentials and seamlessly supports secure key generation, secure key storage, encryption/decryption, and digital signature processing. The SC650 is capable of performing all private and public key cryptographic functions directly on the smart card, thus eliminating potential threats resulting from private key exposure. The SC650 contains a custom smart card ASIC developed by SafeNet Assured Technologies and produced at a U.S. based foundry. The SC650 is manufactured and supported exclusively in the United States to mitigate potential supply chain security risks.

SafeNet Assured Technologies was recently awarded a multi-year, single award, $65 million infinite-delivery/infinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for the purchase of SC650s. Weve designed the SC650 to meet the highest security standards, including FIPS 140-2, to ensure that access to the governments classified networks remains uncompromised says Kirk Spring, President, SafeNet Assured Technologies. SafeNet Assured Technologies solutions provide the federal government with the most efficient and secure ways to protect their high-value information says Spring.

For more information on the SC650 visit http://www.safenetAT.com.

About SafeNet Assured Technologies, LLC.

SafeNet Assured Technologies, LLC protects the U.S. Federal Governments most sensitive information systems. As a U.S. based company, SafeNet Assured Technologies mission is to provide high assurance data security products and technologies to the Federal Government. Defense, intelligence and civilian agencies trust SafeNet Assured Technologies to provide encryption-based identity and authentication solutions, secure sensitive data and networks, and enable assured information sharing. For more information, visit http://www.safenetAT.com.
Centric Software It will be a great benefit to the Japanese market to have access to PLM based on worldwide industry best practices and Silicon Valley driven innovations

Centric Software has opened its first office in Tokyo, Japan, bringing its market leading PLM solutions to local fashion, footwear, luxury and consumer goods companies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Centric has offices around the world including Barcelona, London, Hong Kong, Goteborg, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, Shanghai and Silicon Valley.

The opening of the Japan office confirms Centrics rapid penetration of the Asian market.

Eighteen months after opening an office in Shanghai, China, Centric has already signed 16 customers, becoming the PLM leader in the region.

With this new office, Centric aims to develop even closer bonds with leading Asian companies by supporting the market with intuitive, easy to use, mobile and cloud-based PLM software that provides a single actionable version of the truth for planning, design, development, sourcing, production and retail teams.

"It will be a great benefit to the Japanese market to have access to PLM based on worldwide industry best practices and Silicon Valley driven innovations. Traditional solutions take one year or more to implement; Centric, with its Agile Deployment methodology, can go live in less than six months, providing significant financial benefits, faster, says Shoji Nishimura, Sales Director, Centric Japan.

Building on the recent partnerships with several major Japanese brands, we are very excited to announce the opening of our operations in Japan, said Chris Groves, CEO of Centric Software. Our team will continue to build on innovations made with great companies in the region and we look forward to wide-spread adoption in this market.

To meet the Japanese team or request a demo please contact: Shoji Nishimura,

snishimura(at)centricsoftware(dot)com

Visit Centrics Office in Japan

Centric Software K.K.

Level 11 Aoyama Palacio Tower

3-6-7 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku

Tokyo 107-0061, Japan

Tel: +81-3-5778-7545

Visit our website: http://www.centricsoftware.com/ja/

Centric Software, Inc. (http://www.centricsoftware.com)

From its headquarters in Silicon Valley and offices in trend capitals around the world, Centric Software builds technologies for the most prestigious names in fashion, retail, footwear, luxury and consumer goods. Its flagship product lifecycle management (PLM) platform, Centric 8, delivers enterprise-class merchandise planning, product development, sourcing, business planning, quality and collection management functionality tailored for fast-moving consumer industries. Centric Small Business packages extended PLM including innovative technology and key industry learnings tailored for small businesses.

Centric Software has received multiple industry awards, including the Frost & Sullivan Global Product Differentiation Excellence Award in Retail, Fashion and Apparel PLM. Red Herring named Centric to its Top 100 Global list in 2013 and 2015.

Centric is a registered trademark of Centric Software. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Contacts:

Centric Software

Americas: Jennifer Forsythe, Centric Software, jforsythe(at)centricsoftware(dot)com

Europe: Maria Teresa Rubino, Simply MOD, +39 389 457 3163, mariateresarubino(at)simplymod(dot)it

Asia: Emilie Gao, Centric Software, +86 186 1651 9769, egao(at)centricsoftware(dot)com
mRELEVANCE, LLC announces the launch of the new user-friendly Harris Doyle website at http://www.HarrisDoyle.com. The site offers a great user experience to new home buyers as it features a mobile friendly, responsive design, as well as a fresh user experience.

Mitch Levinson, managing partner with mRELEVANCE states, First impressions really are everything, and your website must give the first impression every time a visitor comes to the site. The new Harris Doyle website gives home buyers a great first impression of this Birmingham, Ala. builder. He continues, The quality of the website directly affects a buyers perspective of the quality of Harris Doyle and the quality of their product. This is why the mRELEVANCE web development team gives so much attention to detail to demonstrate to home buyers the qualities Harris Doyle includes in its homes.

The new site focuses heavily on simplicity, functional based design and ease of use. A goal is for website users to come away with a positive experience having easily found any information they were looking for.

This websites mobile friendly, responsive design ensures that the user has a positive experience no matter which device they are browsing from -- desktop, tablet and mobile phone.

David Stiles, lead web developer for mRELEVANCE states, For those into the technical aspects of the site, here are a few of the specs. The new website uses the latest in CSS3 and HTML5, this provides the absolute best experience across multiple device and brings Harris Doyles web presence up-to-date for 2016. Additionally, the new rADMIN backend content management system allows Harris Doyle to easily manage home related data, including inventory homes, plans, community and all related media assets.

Brooks Harris, Chief Business Development Officer of Harris Doyle states,  We are very excited about the launch, and we love the simplicity and user-friendliness of the site, as well as the ease of using the back end system. These days our website is just as important as our model homes and this new design gives a striking first impression of the quality and style of our homes and really enhances our brand. We appreciate the relationship with mRELEVANCE and look forward to continued success.

Harris Doyle was founded by two second-generation homebuilders from Birmingham, Ala. Their mission is to provide their customers with high quality Birmingham new homes that exceed their expectations in terms of design, amenities and customer service. For more information on Harris Doyle, visit http://www.HarrisDoyle.com.

About Marketing RELEVANCE: mRELEVANCE, LLC creates relevant marketing and communications that reach audiences with focused and strategic messages. Through technology and creative content, messages are delivered to target markets to encourage customer action and interaction.

With offices in Atlanta and Chicago, mRELEVANCE can connect your company with buyers and build relevant relationships nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.MarketingRELEVANCE.com, Like us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/mRELEVANCE, Follow us on Twitter at @mRELEVANCE or call 770-383-3360 or 847-259-7312.
When considering potential acquisitions, it was important to find a firm that shared our values, philosophy and personalized approach to working with our clients.The belief that this was the right fit was a mutual one.

Everhart Advisors, a Dublin, Ohio, retirement plan advisory firm, has acquired the assets of McGohan Brabender Financial (MBF) of Dayton, Ohio. McGohan Brabender Financial was an affiliate company of McGohan Brabender, one of the largest independent health insurance brokers in Ohio. The acquisition is the first of its kind for Everhart Advisors and will result in a 25 percent increase in size. MBF has consulted on approximately $310 million of retirement plan assets, and managed nearly $35 million for individuals and families.

When considering potential acquisitions, it was important to find a firm that shared our values, philosophy and personalized approach to working with our clients, explained Scott Everhart, President of Everhart Advisors. The belief that this was the right fit was a mutual one. We are excited for the opportunity to expand our presence in the Dayton area.

MBFs five employees have all been retained and are now operating Everhart Advisors Dayton location. Lisa Block, the former President of MBF, is leading the Dayton team.

This is an important step for our clients and our firm. We will be able to offer our clients continuity of service with the added benefit of new areas of expertise, said Block. Among other enhancements, Everhart Advisors has a team of Accredited Investment Fiduciaries (AIF), Certified Financial Planners (CFP) and an in-house attorney.

Everhart Advisors is an independent consulting and advisory firm dedicated to enhancing employer-sponsored retirement plans. It delivers a comprehensive suite of services including fiduciary compliance and protection, investment selection and due diligence, vendor benchmarking and searches, and employee education and personalized advice. The firm currently employs 19 in its Dublin office in addition to the five employees in Dayton. This acquisition is the first step in the companys plans for growth. Everhart Advisors recently purchased a building in Metro Place in Dublin, and will move into the larger space this summer.

Everhart Advisors has been recognized as a PlanAdvisers 2016 Top 100 Retirement Plan Adviser, and was one of six finalists for the PlanSponsor Magazine Adviser Team of the Year in 2013. Most recently, Columbus Business First named the firm as a Fast 50 finalist for the fourth year in a row.

ABOUT EVERHART ADVISORS

Established in 1995, Everhart Advisors provides investment-consulting services to retirement plan sponsors, corporate executives and other individuals. The firms expertise, team approach, and independence allow it to deliver high-quality services with honesty, integrity, and world-class competence. Everharts team of Certified Financial Planner Professionals and Accredited Investment Fiduciaries develop customized plans and solutions to help corporations build and maintain successful retirement plans, and assist individuals with personal financial planning and wealth management. For more information, visit http://www.everhartadvisors.com.
Were excited to bring the best photography educators from across the U.S. to share their knowledge, experience and passion for photography, said President Alexander Sweetwood. Anyone who wants to improve their skills should attend Photo Expo 2016.

Photo Expo 2016 returns to Unique Photo in Fairfield, N.J., for the largest photography event ever held in New Jersey. The three-day expo will provide photo enthusiasts from beginners to professionals with the opportunity to demo and purchase the hottest new cameras and gear, take free photography classes, participate in exciting photo shoots and enjoy portfolio reviews.

Unique Photo, the largest camera store in the state, will transform its 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art superstore into the free public photo extravaganza on Friday, June 24, Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 at its flagship store located at Route 123 Route 46 in Fairfield.

Attendees will have the opportunity to sample and purchase the latest products at the lowest prices of the year through show-only sales from more than 30 of the industrys leading manufacturers. Free classes from basic level to advanced--and every level in between--will be taught by renowned photographers and industry professionals. Classes range from understanding camera basics and wedding, wildlife and nature photography to portraiture, lighting, video filmmaking, post-production photoshop and much more.

Were excited to bring the best photography educators from across the country to Fairfield, New Jersey to share their knowledge, experience and passion for photography, said President Alexander Sweetwood. Anyone who wants to take their photography skills to the next level should attend Photo Expo.

Manufacturers scheduled to attend include Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, Panasonic, Leica, Lexar and Fujifilm. Attendees will have the opportunity to trade in their old camera gear, enjoy discounted sensor cleanings, and have the chance to win prizes throughout the three days of the show.

This years Expo will feature some amazing breakthroughs in technology such as Nikons Bluetooth connectivity that uses less power than WiFi while allowing you to instantly upload images to smart devices such as a phone or tablet. Well be showing new Sony technology in point and shoot cameras that allow slow motion video captured in HD, continued Sweetwood.

Unique Photos summer Expo evolves and grows every year with over 3,000 people attending last year. This year is expected to attract more photo enthusiasts for its new opportunities to meet with manufacturers representatives, demo and purchase new equipment and accessories, and take advantage of new classes taught by industry luminaries such as Eddie Tapp, Stephen Wilkes and Vanessa Joy.

All are invited to attend the event and admission is free. To learn more or to register for a three-day pass, visit: http://www.uniquephoto.com/expo. Space is limited for all classes so pre-registration is encouraged.

ABOUT UNIQUE PHOTO

Unique Photo is New Jersey's largest camera and video superstore offering the latest in photographic products and imaging technology. Its 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in Fairfield, N.J. features a spacious photography retail store, multi-media learning center, professional photo lab, meeting space, gourmet coffee bar and WiFi lounge. Unique Photo is also the top destination for photography education in New Jersey, hosting more than 1,000 amateur and professional photographers monthly for its classes. Unique University instructors include world famous photographers, industry guest lecturers and Unique Photos professional staff. For more information, visit http://www.uniquephoto.com or call 973-377-2007.
We dont think its enough to just flip on the lights and open up the doors. We want to make sure San Bernardino knows that were here to be a part of their community."

A brand new store ushered in community leaders, local families and tire enthusiasts to the Discount Tire & Service Centers Grand Opening Weekend on May 21st in the heart of San Bernardino.

With meat on the grill for tacos, music playing from local radio station K Earth 101 and a shiny new tires on display, Discount Tire & Service Centers welcomed 100 guests from the San Bernardino community to food, fun, games and prizes.

We dont think its enough to just flip on the lights and open up the doors," said Director of Operations Robert Ortega. We want to make sure San Bernardino knows that were here to be a part of their community - that we care about them as well as the safety of their vehicles and quality of their tires.

The tire and service center delivered on their promise, giving away a 32 television to one lucky attendee and a $100 Ticketmaster gift card to another. In addition to several smaller prizes, all guests were encouraged to take advantage of a buy two, get two deal on four new tires. With 25 of the buy two, get two deals sold, Discount Tire & Service Centers reports that sales for the weekend topped $15,000, which the company considers to be a warm welcome from the people of San Bernardino.

Also contributing to the fanfare was Mayor Pro Tempore/3rd Ward Council Member John A. Valdivia, II, who joined Discount Tire & Service Centers management team to help cut the ribbon and officially welcome the store to San Bernardino.

It was an honor to have Mr. Valdivia join us for the ribbon cutting, said Ortega. Were happy that the City Council was eager to welcome us and we are equally eager to become a fixture in the community.

Discount Tire & Service Centers is best known for offering customers new tires and vehicle alignments at cant be beat prices, but they also boast oil change and brake service, fluid exchange, shocks and struts, cooling system service and battery service as well. The brand new store will be able to offer all of their services immediately, and encourages customers to take advantage of the convenience theyre offering.

The newest addition to Discount Tire & Service Centers more than 30 stores is now open and fully operational at 1144 South E Street, San Bernardino, CA 92408, where E Street meets Orange Show Road.

About Discount Tire and Service Centers

Discount Tire and Service Centers has 31 store locations within southern California. They offer a full lineup of auto service needs including tires and regular auto maintenance. With 41 years of excellence under their belt, Discount Tire and Service Centers is a sure win when it comes to tires. For more information, contact Info(at)DiscountTireCenters(dot)com
Construct-A-Lead is an online construction lead service that helps contractors, service providers, manufacturers and suppliers gain information on all large scale construction projects. The service features apartment construction, hotel construction, retail construction, medical construction, school renovations & more, including those hard-to-find private project leads, to help bid on construction, from planning stage- completion.

Construct-A-Lead, the Construction Industrys most comprehensive construction lead service, reported today that the following Ohio construction projects will have the necessary approvals and will go forward. Businesses will have ample opportunities to provide construction bids and other services relative to these projects.

Interested parties are invited to visit construct-a-lead.com and sign up for a test drive. This a no obligation, no credit card necessary sampling allowing customers 5 live construction reports over a 3 day period. Users are encouraged to view and track projects, online, an example of which is listed below. Reference the Project ID to utilize the new site features and to obtain direct contact information for each construction lead:

Reading, OH  Reading City Schools - K-12 School - Plans call for a new 215,560-square-foot school to house 1,715 pre-kindergarten to grade 12 students. Construction start: Summer, 2017, $42,000,000. Project ID: 11371342

Mount Auburn, OH - 111 Wellington Place  Plans call for the new construction of a 259 unit apartment complex with 400+ parking spaces, and the renovation of an adjacent apartment building. Construction start: Q3, Q4, 2016. $35,000,000 Project ID: 1371412

Springboro, OH  Victory Wholesale Group - Plans call for the construction of a 255,000 square foot addition to the existing headquarters distribution building. Construction start: Q3, Q4, 2016. $9,500,000 Project ID: 1370500

Akron, OH  Summa Akron City Hospital  Plans call for the new construction of a 6 story as well as house a womens health center and the renovation most of the hospitals inpatient rooms. Construction start: Spring, 2017. $248,000,000. Project ID: 1368936

Cincinnati, OH  32 W Sixth Lofts - Plans call to redevelop the Merchants Building into 62 apartments & retail space. Construction start: Summer, 2016, $8,000,000. Project ID: 1370375

Xenia, OH  Hampton Inn & Suites - Plans call for a new Hampton Inn & Suites. 81 rooms. Construction start: Fall, 2016. $6,000,000. Project ID: 1370035

Construct-A-Lead.com is an online construction projects database, helping contractors, service providers, manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and businesses in related industries gain information on all large scale commercial construction projects.

The service features hotel construction, office buildings, retail construction, medical facilities, school renovations and much more, to help bid on construction including those hard-to-find private project leads, from planning stage through completion. Construct-A-Leads daily updates of commercial construction project leads are an ideal solution for those who want to put their product or service into commercial, government and religious structures.

For more information, visit Construct-A-Lead.com online or call 855-874-1491.
Brunch Not everyone has the luxury of weekends off  why not offer our fun brunch option to the folks with days off in the middle of the week. Philip Marie cordially invites you to join them for some festive brunching" six days a week.

Philip Marie has been serving up New American fare to the historic West Village since 1998. Recipient of Diner's Choice Award from Open Table & the Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor, Philip Marie is excited to announce some new culinary delights this summer.

Over the past several years, Philip Marie has garnered a reputation for being one of the best brunch spots in NYC. Popular brunch items include Crab Cake Eggs Benedict, Croissant French Toast, Nuts & Berries Salad and an array of mouth-watering burgers featuring Pat La Frieda chopped beef. Every brunch entree has the option of being purchased with continual Mimosas & Bloody Marys for $24.95. Philip Marie is excited to announce that they are extending this brunch experience to 6 days a week and will now open at 10am each day with their popular brunch option. Says Owner & Executive Chef John P. Greco III, Not everyone has the luxury of weekends off  why not offer our fun brunch option to the folks with days off in the middle of the week. Philip Marie cordially invites you to join them for some festive brunching six days a week."

Every Thursday this summer, Philip Marie is going south-of-the-border with a Mexican Fiesta. Their Chef de Cuisines with Latin backgrounds are introducing light, fresh, and authentic appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Items served include Rib Eye Steak with Guajillo Chili Cream Sauce, Bistec Ranchero, and Tres Leches Cake. Sparkling sangria plus hand-crafted margaritas and Coronas complement the Latin experience. The weekly updated menu is available online at http://www.philipmarie.com

Philip Marie is open for brunch and dinner Tuesdays through Sundays at 569 Hudson Street @ West 11th Street. Brunch is served from 10am  4pm; Dinner is available nightly from 4pm  12am.

Romantic, private affairs for two are available in the intimate dining room for engagements and special events. A separate space for up to twenty is available as well.

Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling the restaurant at 212-242-6200 or via http://www.philipmarie.com.
Quick Tips to Turn Your EVENT Into An EXPERIENCE - InCharged cell phone charging stations One of the most important things any event planner can do is turn guests reliance on mobile devices from a distraction into an advantage.

InCharged, a mobile charging technology company with hundreds of events under its belt, has launched a new eBook entitled Quick Tips to Turn Your EVENT Into An EXPERIENCE

The focus of this publication is to outline simple and cost-effective steps to maximize the long-term impact of all types of events. As experts in both event production and mobile advertising, InCharged is uniquely qualified to provide sound advice for event planners looking to maximize event profitability. Readers will learn:



How your attendees smartphone usage can be an asset  not a handicap

What to do before the event to boost attendance

Tips to maximize engagement during the event

Fool-proof social media pointers

Increasing sales and attendance through online visibility

New technology to enhance the guest experience

Post-event follow-up to maximize conversions

Says InCharged CEO Jessica Gonzalez, In providing technology for hundreds of events, weve seen firsthand what works and what doesnt. Over 90% of American adults have a cell phone, and they are constantly being used. One of the most important things any event planner can do is turn guests reliance on mobile devices from a distraction into an advantage. This eBook is full of simple, cost-effective tips anyone can apply to an event to maximize ROI through strategic planning and earned media.

The eBook is available as a complimentary download from the InCharged website.

About InCharged

InCharged is the leading custom cell phone charging station manufacturer and distributor in the USA, providing solutions for associations, brands, event producers, experiential marketing agencies, and venues. InCharged has made it their mission to solve the connected consumers problem of short battery life while benefiting businesses and marketers in the process. InCharged turns consumers reliance on mobile devices into a valuable commodity by attaching unobtrusive marketing messages to a valuable service that customers genuinely appreciate.

For more information, email Michael(at)incharged(dot)com
Marketing and Sales Promotions and Additions

On May 30, Range Kleen Mfg. announced the promotion of April Miller to the position of Sales Account Administrator. Miller has been with the company for almost 15 years. She has shown a great desire to learn more about growing her value to the company and continues to show passion for success.

Miller started out in the packaging department in September of 2008. From the packaging department April joined the Quality Control team and made an immediate impact with her keen attention to detail. She quickly ascended to a leadership position in Operations as the head of QC. Millers hard work and determination provided great results in the department as she implemented efficient and effective procedures. Miller exudes great energy, stellar work ethic and strives to achieve company goals. Her positive attitude and great character combined with her overall Range Kleen product and systems knowledge will make her a great asset to the Sales team.

Range Kleen Mfg. is happy to announce that effective July 13 2016, Tori Vernik will be assuming the position of Independent Gourmet Sales Coordinator. Vernik has been with the company for 1 year. She has shown a great desire to learn more about growing her value to the company and continues to show passion for success.

Vernik started as an intern at Range in May 2015 in which she worked on various projects in the Accounting, Sales, and Operations Departments. Vernik then joined the accounting team as a part time Accounts Receivable Specialist and quality made an impact by improving process and creating results. Vernik will earn her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from The Ohio State University in Fall of 2017. Vernik now joins that sales team in a full time role that will focus on growing sales in the Independent Gourmet Retail Channel. Vernik is a quick learner with excellent problem solving skill. Her can do attitude and stellar work ethic will make her a great addition to the Sales Team.

Range Kleen announces a new position in the Marketing Department. Estefania (Steph) Perea will be working out of our Dallas location and report directly to the Director of Marketing. Perea started on June 6, 2016. Perea received her Graphics Arts degree from the University of Texas at El Paso. Her responsibilities will include website development, collateral materials, social media contest and consumer advertising, as well as photography, video and assisting in packaging design. The position of Graphic Design/Marketing Assistant is a new addition to the Marketing Department and was needed due to the growth and success of our three BrandsRange Kleen/Berndes and Moneta.

About Range Kleen Mfg., Inc.

Range Kleen Manufacturing, Inc. is a Lima, OH based company manufacturing household products sold to major retail chains globally and has been taking care of the customer (TCOTC) since 1971. Its product Divisions include: Original Equipment Manufacturing Quality (OEM) replacement drip pans for ranges & stoves; Non-stick Metal Bakeware; Kitchen Decorative products specializing in exclusive licensed designs; Storage, Organization, insulated food and beverage bottles and household cleaning supplies. Range Kleen Introduced their own line of cookware- Stainless Steel and Enameled Cast Iron as well as pot racks in 2007. Effective December 21, 2009, Range Kleen Manufacturing was pleased to announce the partnership with Berndes Cookware USA and has taken the lead of all sales, marketing and shipping of Berndes Cookware USA from their International Headquarters in Lima, Ohio. July of 2015, Range Kleen partnered with Moneta Cookware from Italy and has taken the lead of all sales, marketing and shipping of Moneta Cookware USA from their headquarters in Lima, Ohio.
Learn current guidance for UDI marking and verification during a live webinar on June 29, 10 AM PDT/1 PM EDT.

Microscan, a global technology leader in barcode, machine vision, verification, and lighting solutions, announces that it will host a live educational webinar titled Direct Marking for UDI Compliance  a review of the FDAs draft guidance and best practices for permanently marking and verifying UDI codes on medical devices sold in the United States. The presentation and live question-and-answer session with Microscan UDI expert Barbie LaBine are free to attend and will take place during a 30-minute web session on Wednesday June 29 at 10 A.M. PDT (Seattle) / 1 P.M. EDT (Boston).

A final Unique Device Identification (UDI) rule published by the FDA on September 24, 2013, began the countdown for medical device manufacturers who distribute and sell medical devices within the United States (regardless of manufacturing country) to meet strict deadlines for product marking and serialization. The next deadline in the FDAs regulation is September 24, 2016, and it requires that all class III medical devices (such as pacemakers, heart valves, implants, and other high risk devices) bear a UDI as a permanent marking on the device itself if the device is intended to be used more than once and intended to be reprocessed before each use. Since reprocessing (for example, sterilization or other processes) may cause devices to become separated from their original UDI-compliant labels and packages, direct marking is necessary to ensure that a UDI is permanently available throughout the devices distribution and use in case adverse events (such as a product recall) require devices to be identified in the field and traced back to their original manufacturers.

Direct part marking (DPM) is not a new concept in industrial manufacturing like automotive or electronics assembly, where parts may easily become separated from identifying information that is not permanently affixed due to excessive handling or harsh environmental factors (varying temperatures, vibrations, or exposure to liquid or debris). However, the process of marking devices with permanent codes may be relatively new territory for medical device manufacturers. For these companies regulated by UDI, not only do code generation and printing techniques need to be updated to incorporate UDI on packaging and labels, but an investment must also be made to add marking methodologies to the manufacturing process to implement permanent UDI marks. The FDA offers draft guidance on device marking, but without finalized requirements, even barcode standards organizations like GS1 and ISO do not have precise parameters for applying manufacturer codes or verifying UDI for accuracy in every marking condition.

As agencies and solution providers work to define best practices for UDI permanent marking and verification, manufacturers can best prepare for their compliance deadlines by arming themselves with knowledge from current documentation about UDI requirements and DPM solutions. Microscans experts have reviewed draft guidance for FDA UDI direct marking to understand existing parameters and how to define best practices and solutions for customers facing upcoming deadlines. This research, combined with over 30 years in the business of reading and verifying DPM, are the basis for Microscans latest webinar offering guidance on direct marking for UDI compliance, with answers to common questions.

Barbie LaBine, Training Coordinator at Microscan, leads this webinar on permanent marks, marking methods, and verification solutions, with a live Q&A session following the presentation to answer attendee questions regarding UDI direct marking and verification. A Certified GS1 Standards Professional, LaBine has provided training to global medical device manufacturers on UDI compliance and UDI code and label verification for the past two years. LaBine comes to Microscan from the industry-leading barcode verification systems manufacturer Label Vision Systems, Inc., (acquired by Microscan Systems, Inc., in August 2015), and now offers a range of training on Microscan technology and applications.

To learn more and to register for the live webinar on June 29, Direct Marking for UDI Compliance, visit the Microscan website at: http://bit.ly/22Kk2h2.

About Microscan

Microscan is a global leader in barcode reading, machine vision, and verification technology serving a wide range of automation and OEM applications. Founded in 1982, Microscan has a strong history of technology innovation that includes the invention of the first laser diode barcode scanner and the 2D symbology Data Matrix. Today, Microscan remains a leader in automatic identification and inspection with extensive solutions ranging from barcode reading, tracking, and traceability up to complex machine vision measurement, guidance, symbol verification, and print quality grading.

As an ISO 9001:2008 certified company recognized for quality leadership in the U.S., Microscan is known and trusted by customers worldwide as a provider of quality, high precision products. Microscan is a part of Spectris plc, the productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls company.
Ive seen the fear children can have prior to or during their swim lessons; making it more difficult and certainly less fun for them to learn.It is my hope that Pono and Lani will encourage and inspire children to swim."

Former swim instructor and Southern California native, Pattie McCann Tracy captures the fear, courage, thrill and joy young children experience when learning to swim in her first childrens picture book, Pono Finds his Flippers.

Pono and his BFF Lani, a Hawaiian monk seal, embark on joyous adventures by land and through friendship and love transition there frolics to the sea.

Teaching young children to swim for years, Ive seen the fear children can have prior to or during their swim lessons; making it more difficult and certainly less fun for them to learn, said McCann Tracy. It is my hope that Pono and Lani will encourage and inspire children so they build up courage and look forward to learning to swim.

Appropriate for children ages 3 to 8, Pono Finds his Flippers highlights how a delightful little boy named Pono enjoys every sun-filled day with his best friend. While sharing a true friendship of love, fun and adventure  they can only explore together on land. Not having flippers of his own, Pono longs to join Lani each time she heads out to sea. Learning of her sons unhappiness, Ponos mother helps him find his own flippers by teaching him to swim. With Lani cheering him on, triumphantly Pono learns to swim, and their lives are forever changed.

The authors concept was born from her experience teaching children to swim and her love of the wonderful animals that inhabit the ocean. She believes swimming is a gift that all children deserve and that learning to swim builds confidence and opens up an incredible world to explore  two extremely important aspects in every childs life.

Pono Finds His Flippers is available for purchase through Amazon. For more information visit http://www.ponofinds.com.

###

About the Author: McCann Tracy grew up in Simi Valley, CA and found her own flippers when she was 3-years old. She began teaching at the age of 18 and put herself through the University of Hawaii by teaching swim lessons. She lives in Thousand Oaks, CA with her wonderful husband Jon (a former adult student she taught) and their two special need pups, Rafa and Lulu.

About the Illustrator: McKeown was born in Ventura, CA, and earned her Bachelors of Art degree with a major in Art. Her passion started as a child when she picked up a crayon and has been creating ever since. She has done work in illustration and photography. Her experience working with young students as a professional photographer has allowed McKeown to translate expressions into her illustration work. Having parents from Hawai'i, she loves the islands and visits often.
70 South Gallery Spirit. exhibition copyright Beth Eanelli 70 South Gallery's interest in featuring the work of Peace Corps volunteers can be said to be personal. states Gina Cerbone, Gallery Curator.

The Spirit. exhibition highlights the photography work of current and returned Peace Corps volunteers from around the world. The goal of the exhibition is to showcase the spirit of the local people as photographed by those Peace Corps volunteers and to increase awareness of the Peace Corps.

70 South Gallery has selected 15 Peace Corps volunteers to be featured from approximately 100 submissions. One of the selected Peace Corps volunteers is Beth Eanelli whose picture is showcased here. Eanelli served in The Gambia from 2013 to 2015. In addition, in keeping with 70 South Galley's mission to support young talent, this exhibition will feature the work of a high school student that fits the theme of Spirit.

70 South Gallery's interest in featuring the work of Peace Corps volunteers can be said to be personal. Our owner, Ted Baldanzi, was in high school when President Kennedy signed the executive order to begin the Peace Corps. Ted always felt a strong connection to the Peace Corps and had friends that joined and served. We recognize that many of today's youth are not as familiar with the Peace Corps and were compelled to help increase the awareness of the Peace Corps with this exhibition. In the curation, I looked to have the stories of the volunteers come to life for today's generation...I believe the work we selected does that, states Gina Cerbone, Gallery Curator.

Glenn Blumhorst, President and CEO of the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA), says, For us, this exhibition is an opportunity to share the Peace Corps experience and ideals of promoting world peace and friendship. As a former Peace Corp Volunteer myself, I can say that you come back to the US with a new perspective and appreciation for humans around the globe. Today, Americas youth is less familiar with the Peace Corps, which has recently rebranded and is reaching out to the next-generation of service-minded Americans and this event helps us accomplish that. The images featured from past and present Volunteers bring their stories to life and will hopefully inspire people to join.

Ira L. Black, Gallery Director adds, We are so inspired by the outstanding service of Peace Corps Volunteers that we will donate a portion of the proceeds to sustainable, grassroots community development projects around the world. We ask that you come out and show your support to these extraordinary people.

About the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA)

Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is a nonprofit organization at the center of a vibrant and united community of 215,000 individuals who share the Peace Corps experience. The NPCA champions a lifelong commitment to Peace Corps ideals by connecting, engaging and promoting its members and member groups as they continue to make a difference in communities in the U.S. and around the world. NPCA is also dedicated to advocating for, contributing to, and supporting the betterment of the Peace Corps. To learn more, visit http://www.PeaceCorpsConnect.org. or contact Megan Patrick, Director of Communications at: 202-293-7728 or news(at)peacecorpsconnect(dot)org.

About 70 South Gallery

70 South Gallery is a unique photography gallery and service center. Their mission is to support photographers (both amateurs and professionals) by providing a central location and community where they can collaborate, admire and share their work with each other. You can also book the gallery for an event, own the featured art, create photography prints and gifts as well as learn about photographyall in one place. The 70 South Gallery is located at 70 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960. For more information, please visit http://www.70southgallery.com, reach out to 973-539-2112 or Gallery Director, Ira L. Black at IraL.Black(at)70southgallery(dot)com.
Ice Cream Tacos The world needs more tacos  ice cream tacos.

Stateside Treats, a locally owned cupcake and baked nostalgic treats company, is celebrating the launch of its Kickstarter campaign to bring the ice cream taco to the San Francisco Bay Area. It is hosting a party with the Cupkates Food Truck at Fieldwork Brewing on June 18 from 3 PM to 7 PM. 100% of the revenue will be donated to Le Conte, Peralta, and Ocean View Elementary Schools.

Stateside Treats is the synthesis of two tasty local businesses  Cupkates Food Truck and Stateside Bakery Shop  to create one company crafting delicious preservative-free cupcakes and nostalgic treats.

Angel Cruzado and Erica Land are the Co-Founders of Stateside Treats. They are launching a Kickstarter campaign to bring the ice cream taco to residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, check out icecreamtacos.com.

This local business is seeking the financial support of the community so it can make improvements to its food truck and retail location, develop its catering business, and create the ice cream taco  all while continuing to surprise and delight its customers with tasty nostalgic treats.

To start this business, Angel took his vision to Craigslist, where he was seeking a consultant pastry chef. Dreams collided when Erica responded to his post and resigned her employment and 401K. The two realized they shared a passion for nostalgic treats and decided to join forces: Angel with his savvy business sense, and Erica with her years of experience in the culinary scene and bean-to-bar chocolate world.

For over a year, they have been delighting the San Francisco Bay area with nostalgic treats. To thank the community for its contributions, the Kickstarter campaign will feature various early bird discounts on ice cream tacos, baked treats, limited-edition postcards, T-shirts, and more, as well as recognition on the statesidetreats.com website.

Running a company is not for the faint of heart, Angel, the business mind behind Stateside Treats, said. He is juggling running the Kickstarter campaign with his career in human resources and being a new dad. I have my fingers in a lot of pies at the moment, but its worth every moment. Stateside Treats is a combination of everything I am passionate about  bringing people together, promoting happiness, family, work, play, and of course  unbelievably delicious treats.

Meanwhile, Erica, the dessert mastermind behind Stateside Treats, has been developing a nostalgic menu. Alongside the classics, she has created health-conscious interpretations of American favorites: Twinkies, Oreos, Nutter Butters, and Ding Dongs, to name just a few. She also puts delightful twists on the classics, such as Smores cupcakes and PB&J macarons.

Were all about taking our customers on a sweet, guilt-free walk down memory lane with our nostalgic treats. In addition, our delightful menu features cookies, cupcakes, macarons, and of course, eventually the ice cream taco  all of which are lovingly made from locally-sourced ingredients and have neither additives nor preservatives, Erica said.

Stateside Treats will be raising funds for the elementary schools in the community with a selection of baked nostalgic delights and family-friendly fun at Fieldwork Brewing on June 18. To support the Kickstarter campaign, visit icecreamtacos.com to learn more. The campaign will run through July 20.

After all, the world needs more tacos  ice cream tacos.
Global Personalized Academics (GPA) has expanded business beyond its Pennsylvania roots to include new customers in eight additional states.

While business inside Pennsylvania is starting to recover after last years budget crisis, GPA remains committed to diversifying its business and bringing new opportunities to students across the United States and the world. The GPA sales team has been working closely with districts over the last few months and recently signed new contracts with schools in Alabama, New Jersey, Vermont, Texas, Tennessee, California, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. They have increased Academy enrollments by 48% and are currently enrolling students in an expanded summer school program.

We weren't looking for a vendor, said Dr. Chris M. Smallen, Chief Technology Officer, Lenoir City Schools. We were looking for a partner and that's exactly what we got from GPA.

Were excited by the impact were having on students, especially those in small and rural districts, stated Julie Young, GPA CEO. Thanks to our great partners in online and blended learning, students across the U.S will return to school in the fall and face a host of new learning opportunities.

GPA is also seeing sales traction in its international business with new distribution partners in Ghana, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and China. Expansion of the reseller network is helping to build a foundation for strong future growth internationally.

We are dedicated to providing students with a quality education, no matter where they come from, remarked Young. Online learning can be a great equalizer in many parts of the world and were continuing to pursue that dream.



The GPA team has also been busy improving their product line over the last eleven months. The curriculum team has upgraded all 250 online courses, including creating 56 new credit recovery courses and adding over 1,500 new teaching videos this year.

To learn more about the organizations efforts, please visit GPAed.com

For media inquiries, please contact john(dot)logan(at)gpaed(dot)com

About GPA

Global Personalized Academics (GPA) is an innovative education company that provides unique educational opportunities for students and teachers around the world. GPA supports schools and students through its online course licensing, U.S. online academy and International diploma program. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, GPA was formed from Sibling Group Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: SIBE) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Blended Schools Network. For more information, visit http://www.gpaed.com.



Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning the plans and expectations of Sibling Group Holdings, Inc., doing business as Global Personalized Academics. These statements are only predictions and actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are out of the companys control. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, that the companys expectations of future growth may not be realized. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the "Risk Factors" and other cautionary statements included in the companys annual, quarterly and current reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including, but not limited to, the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2015, as updated in the companys additional filings with the SEC.
OneDrive Customers can easily upload files from their Microsoft Accounts Mailforms approach to bringing the print and mail process from offline, to online will save valuable time for tons of Microsoft customers using OneDrive, Word, and other Microsoft products. said Reza Alizadeh, Director, Business Development at Microsof

Mailform (https://www.mailform.io/r/J9alNhK2) today released support for one click uploads from Microsoft OneDrive personal and business accounts to Mailforms flagship Quick Send and Bulk Mail products. Now, Microsoft OneDrive users can instantly and securely mail any letter-size documents in their OneDrive account storage using United States Postal Service (USPS) first-class mail.

Millions of individuals and businesses store and collaborate within OneDrive, and before, those customers had to take extra steps to get their content into Mailform, and make it available for printing and mailing. Now, those millions of documents are just a few clicks away from being physically sent to their recipients, with options including high-fidelity color printing and delivery assurance/document tracking using USPS certified mail.

Mailform, at its core, has always been about bringing more and more workflows online. We always want to be available where our customers are. Millions of individuals and businesses use Microsoft OneDrive every day to collaborate, and we want to be right there with them. With the rapid growth and incredible reach of the Office ecosystem, Mailforms OneDrive integration is just the first of many wonderful opportunities to enhance and build upon the power of Microsofts Office platform. - Femi Omojola, founder @Mailform.

Mailform has a long and deep product roadmap, bringing workflow and productivity tools to individuals and small businesses. To get involved, email team(at)mailform(dot)io.

Small businesses today have less and less time to devote to their processes said Reza Alizadeh, Director, Business Development at Microsoft OneDrive. Mailforms approach to bringing the print and mail process from offline, to online will save valuable time for tons of Microsoft customers using OneDrive, Word, and other Microsoft products.

About Mailform

Mailform is a business process automation provider, founded in Boston in 2015 and available worldwide at https://www.mailform.io. Mailform is focused on producing innovative solutions that help people all over the world spend less time on routine tasks and spend more time building better, bigger businesses.

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We want the community to have peace of mind knowing there is a place nearby to handle whatever emergencies may arise.

SignatureCare Emergency Center is very proud to announce its newest location in the Houston-area. SignatureCare Emergency Center  Memorial City will officially open its doors for patients on June 15th, 2016, servicing the Memorial, Spring Branch and Energy Corridor areas. The Memorial City location will replace the former OnCall Emergency Room and bring SignatureCares first-class emergency room services to the local community.

Our goal is always to make sure the people of Houston have access to the best emergency center near them, said SignatureCare Emergency Center Chief Medical Officer Aaron Braun. Were excited to meet the Memorial City community and share with them the great work weve been doing in Mission Bend, Montrose and the Heights.

Located at 1014 Wirt Rd, the facility will feature state-of-the-art medical equipment and board-certified doctors to treat a wide range of medical emergencies. The emergency room will be capable of handling trauma care, imaging services and laboratory testing with results. Most patients at SignatureCare Emergency Center have a wait time of ten minutes or less.

We cant wait to celebrate our Grand Opening with the local community of Memorial and hope everyone will come out to make SignatureCare Emergency Center  Memorial City a huge success, said Braun. We want the community to have peace of mind knowing there is a place nearby to handle whatever emergencies may arise.

SignatureCare Emergency Center  Memorial City will be open to the public on June 15th. For more information visit http://www.ercare24.com/memorial-city

About SignatureCare Emergency Center

Licensed by the Texas Department of Health Services, SignatureCare Emergency Centers are freestanding emergency rooms that are always open. This opening marks a fourth location currently in the Houston area with each offering state-of-the art medical imaging, and X-rays. All of our emergency rooms are fully staffed with medical professionals, including board-certified physicians, licensed nurses, radiology technicians, and emergency-trained ancillary staff. All SignatureCare Emergency Centers are open 24/7- 365 days a year.

For more information on SignatureCare Emergency Center and its other locations visit http://www.ercare24.com
Author L. Todd Wood has real-world experience and authority which translates into work which foretold geopolitical tensions, the rise of ISIS, and the creation of a Caliphate before they happened. An Islamic caliphate in the Middle East is slowly taking over the world.

In a world where the lines seem blurred between truth and fiction, L.Todd Wood is quickly becoming known as the thriller novelist who can see the future. Wood will release his timely new work, "Motherland," on Independence Day.

He provides expert analysis all over the globe, speaking to hot-button geopolitical issues affecting the world today. Wood has real-world experience and authority which translates into work which foretold geopolitical tensions, the rise of ISIS, and the creation of a caliphate before they happened. Americans are increasingly alarmed about homegrown terrorism with incidents like ones at Ft. Hood, San Bernardino, and Orlando.

An Islamic caliphate in the Middle East is slowly taking over the world," Wood said.

Woods protective streak runs deep. As a Special Operations pilot, he flew missions for Seal Team 6 and Delta Force. He's on a new mission now -- to rescue America from the destructive grip of socialist ideology that threatens its sovereignty and everything that makes this country great.

In "Motherland," Connor Murray returns to fight a ghost from his past that threatens his personal safety and world peace. Everything he once knew and believed is challenged as he strives to prevent world domination by the Motherland.

About L. Todd Wood: A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, flew special operations helicopters supporting SEAL Team 6, Delta Force and others. After leaving the military, he pursued his other passion, finance, spending 18 years on Wall Street trading emerging market debt, and later, writing. The first of his many thrillers is "Currency." Todd is a contributor to Fox Business, Newsmax TV, Moscow Times, the New York Post, National Review, and others. He can also be heard every Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. on the Steve Gruber Show. For more information about L. Todd Wood, visit LToddWood.com

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The factors we base our programs on are designed to bring the most benefit to our customers in the most ways possible.

TOC Logistics International (TOC), a globally networked logistics leader based in Indianapolis, announced today the launch of a major consolidation program in their Houston, Texas operation. The consolidation program will create direct, efficient, safe and timely shipping between numerous destinations in Mexico, Europe and the United States.

Our Houston operation has become a successful hub for our ocean import consolidation programs from Europe and China, said Greg Scheevel, Director of Global Development at TOC Logistics. TOC is always looking for innovative opportunities to streamline our logistics solutions, but the end goal is always to meet or exceed our customers needs. This consolidation hub in Houston will open new opportunities for exporting companies while still allowing them to benefit from our import programs, specifically in the oil industry which we havent yet targeted.

TOCs ocean consolidation model is an alternative to the traditional LCL or less than container load model, meaning customers only pay for the space they use. This positional model ensures that TOCs customers are getting the most value while spending less. Through this model TOC uses engineered load-mastering to optimize the containers ensuring maximum utilization of the space. There is less handling which reduces the risk of damages.

Key performance indicators of the Shared Consolidation Program include:



Simplified billing; fewer line items as opposed to traditional LCL billing

Consistent and weekly scheduled pick-ups and sailings, providing reliable plant deliveries

Where possible, consolidated bills of lading offer lower regulatory costs, i.e. Customs entries and ISF filings

The factors we base our programs on are designed to bring the most benefit to our customers in the most ways possible, continued Scheevel, Our program supports and focuses attention on spend rather than price since that is the true measurement of success in our industry.

TOCs import consolidations primarily serve the Automotive Maquila Operations along the border with Mexico and serves:



Brownsville/McAllen/Reynosa/Matamoros

Laredo/Nuevo Laredo/Monterrey/Saltillo/San Luis Potosi/Queretaro

El Paso/Juarez/Chihuahua/Torreon/Durango

Nogales, AZ/Nogales, MX/Hermosillo/Guaymas

Adding an export consolidation program to TOCs already popular programs from Europe and China continues to help bolster the companys credibility in their spend less approach to logistics.

For more information about TOC Logistics, please visit http://toclogistics.com.

About TOC Logistics:

TOC is a rapidly expanding, minority owned, global logistics management organization. They specialize in understanding their clients business to identify operational efficiency improvement and cost reduction opportunities; and then create unique solutions that address specific challenge areas and ultimately help meet supply chain goals.
International College Counselors If your child has a documented disability and can benefit from accommodations, applying for them on the ACT is definitely worth it.

The ACT has taken steps to make it easier for students with diagnosed disabilities to get accommodations on its college-entrance exam. The new user friendly system is active this month, according to the ACT.

The process will now be simplified and sped up. To accomplish this, the ACT will provide a single online request form that can be tracked as it moves through ACT's system. Eliminated will be the "unnecessary documentation," which was what made the process difficult in the past. Now, students will only need to submit the documentation needed for their particular diagnosis.

If your child has a documented disability and can benefit from accommodations, applying for them on the ACT is definitely worth it, said Mandee Heller Adler, CEO and founder of International College Counselors. And now the process is easier for families.

The ACT also plans to send answers on accommodations requests 10 days sooner than they do now, on average.

Students can register online for the test and work with their admission consultant from International College Counselors, their counselor, or someone else, to request accommodations online.

Before this change, long wait times, repeated requests for more documentation of disabilities, and denials of accommodations were a problem for many students. Without the accommodations they were used to, many students found themselves in a difficult position. In some states students needed to choose between taking the test without their usual accommodations, and risking a compromised performance, or insisting on their normal accommodations, and then being denied the right to have the scores certified for use in college admissions.

To note, while the new system will make the process easier, it will not likely result in more approvals of requested accommodations.

Parents should also know that colleges wont know that a student took the ACT with accommodations. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that this information is kept confidential. The colleges will only see the final score, said Adler.

For more information on getting special accommodations on the ACT or SAT, or registering for one of the tests, or for information on college admissions, visit http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com or call 954-414-9986.

About International College Counselors

The college advisors at International College Counselors help students from all over the world find, apply to, and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert educational consultants at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college admission process.

Additional Resources

From Public School to the Ivy League: How to Get Into a Top School Without Top Dollar Resources by Mandee Heller Adler and Aimee Heller, International College Counselors
Location intelligence company Cuebiq announced today that it has been accepted to become a member of the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), the leading self-regulatory industry association dedicated to responsible data collection and its use for digital advertising.

All NAI members must meet stringent privacy requirements to become members of the organization. In order to join, Cuebiq had to demonstrate that all the data it collects and manages meets specific privacy regulations and that the company keeps personally identifiable information out of its data collection pool.

The utilization of location data and location marketing is a growing part of digital advertising, said Leigh Freund, president and CEO of NAI Companies like Cuebiq demonstrate that it is possible to participate in this burgeoning space and still keep consumer privacy as a top priority. We look forward to continuing to work together, especially during this exciting time of rapid innovation in digital advertising.

The NAIs role is to help promote consumer privacy and trust by creating and enforcing high standards for responsible data collection and practices. Cuebiqs membership demonstrates its commitment to privacy and allows the company to work alongside the organization to advocate and push for responsible advertising standards and self-regulation.

Being selected as a member of NAI puts us in fantastic company, said Antonio Tomarchio, founder and CEO at Cuebiq. As a pioneer in location intelligence and insights, we have the opportunity to set an example when it comes to responsible data collection and privacy. We share the NAIs viewpoint on the critical importance of respecting consumers privacy and are honored to be a member of their organization.

About Cuebiq

Cuebiq is a next generation location intelligence company that allows businesses to glean actionable insights about real-world consumer behaviors and trends. Using its data intelligence platform, Cuebiq provides geo-behavioral insights and offline location analytics, geo-behavioral audiences for cross-platform ad targeting, and offline attribution analysis. Cuebiq is headquartered in New York with offices in Italy and China.
Bulldog Adjusters is currently seeking Outside Sales Representatives all over the state of Florida. Responsibilities include interfacing directly with clients to inspect and photograph damaged property, ensure all necessary documents are collected and processed, and provide customers support on an going basis throughout the claim process.

Due to the nature of these responsibilities, ideal candidates should have very strong communication and networking skills. Candidates with a strong eye for detail, construction knowledge, and the desire to help others are encouraged to apply. Representatives will be directly interacting with clients and property service companies in various capacities, so a professional demeanor is important.

Positions are available throughout the state of Florida; local travel is required. To apply, visit BulldogAdjusters.com and submit your resume. A general skills assessment is required in order for applications to be considered.

About Bulldog Adjusters

Bulldog Adjusters is a licensed public adjuster firm in Florida that has helped thousands of homeowners across the state settle property damage claims quickly and accurately. With local representatives throughout Florida, they are able to quickly assess damage, evaluate repairs costs, and ensure claims are settled in a timely manner.
Foundations Recovery Network (FRN), an innovative behavioral health treatment provider, is proud to announce that the Innovations in Behavioral Healthcare Conference (IIBH) will be returning to Nashville for the second year in a row. The conference will be held June 20-21 at the Hilton Hotel downtown.

During the welcome reception on the eve of the conference, Tennessee Titan Anthony Fasano will be in attendance for a meet and greet. Fasano was personally touched with disease of drug and alcohol addiction when he watched a family member fall prey. Witnessing his family members inspiring recovery led him to found Next Chapter Addiction Treatment in Florida.

The keynote presentation on Monday, June 20, will feature John Nance, a patient safety pioneer and well-known advocate for applying the lessons of aviation safety to healthcare providers. In May 2016, the Washington Post reported the third leading cause of death in the United States is medical errors. Nances speech is timely with the growing need for safe behavioral healthcare practices.

This years conference will feature 37 speakers and 88 exhibitors traveling to Nashville from all over the U.S. and internationally. Last years conference drew more than 600 attendees and is expected to grow this year. New for 2016 are educational lunches held at The Schermerhorn Symphony Center and Country Music Hall of Fame, giving attendees a chance to experience some Music City landmarks.

About IIBH

Innovations in Behavioral Healthcare is about exploring best methods of treating patients and helping them attain physical and mental health for the long-termbut its also about fostering the health businesses. With an emphasis on education for both medical and treatment professionals, Innovations in Behavioral Healthcare offers continuing education credits toward a Professionals Certificate from Belmont University. This conference appeals to providers on all sides of the industry  laboratory services, sober living centers, hospitals, clinicians, doctors, nurses, case managers and a variety of other treatment professionals in the therapeutic and business arenas of healthcare.

For more information about the conference and registration information, please visit FoundationsEvents.com.
The colonial-inspired Byron is one of two home designs that attendees will tour at Heritage at Neptunes model grand opening. Our homes are tucked in a quiet neighborhood just a few miles from the Jersey Shores best attractions."

This weekend, Roger Mumford Homes is offering Monmouth County homebuyers the chance to discover two of its most popular designs at Heritage at Neptune, a wooded cul-de-sac of nine single-family homes off Wayside Road in Neptune. The community will host a model grand opening for its new Weston and Byron homes on Saturday, June 18th and Sunday, June 19th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The ranch-style Weston and colonial-inspired Byron are two of our most requested home designs at Heritage at Neptune, said Roger Mumford, President of Roger Mumford Homes. Both offer premium features and floor plans that use space efficiently and provide all of the amenities homeowners desire for todays lifestyle.

With 1,665 sq. ft. of living space, the single-story Weston home offers three bedrooms, two baths and a two-car garage. A spacious kitchen and breakfast nook offers optional windows for added sunlight, and a great room with optional tray ceilings serves as an elegant gathering space.

The two-story Byron offers 2,055-2,280 sq. ft. of living space with 3-4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a two-car garage. A spacious floor plan incorporates a kitchen with breakfast nook and great room with optional fireplace for casual enjoyment as well as a dining room and living room for formal entertaining.

In both homes, deluxe interiors are designed to comfort and inspire with quality flooring, stainless steel appliances and 9-foot first-floor ceilings, said Mumford. Expertly detailed exteriors create curb appeal and a unified streetscape with square porch columns, gabled roofs, portico entrances and bronze-toned gutters.

The communitys Monmouth County location puts its homeowners within a short drive of several lifestyle amenities. Our homes are tucked in a quiet neighborhood just a few miles from the Jersey Shores best attractions, added Mumford. Within just a few minutes drive, youll find picturesque beaches, dining and cultural opportunities at Asbury Park and shopping at the Jersey Shore Premium Outlets.

Heritage at Neptune offers six unique home designs that appeal to a broad spectrum of homebuyers. Pricing begins at $393,900.

About Roger Mumford Homes

Heritage at Neptune is a community by Roger Mumford Homes, a builder of fine homes in New Jersey. Roger Mumford Homes creates functional homes that combine award-winning architecture with quality construction.

Prospective Heritage at Neptune homeowners are encouraged to contact Cindy Nelson, Broker Manager for Oliver Brothers Realty, at 732-774-5554 to schedule a personal tour. Information about the community is also available at HeritageAtNeptune.com or by calling 732-639-3515.
The exterior for this years Designer Show House at the Western Design Conference + Sale in Jackson Hole will be constructed in rustic contemporary style by B&B Builders. This year new and returning designers from across the country are collaborating on a cohesive flow for the Designer Show House.

A conference call connecting interior designers in six different states set the stage for the Western Design Conferences 2016 Designer Show House set to open in Jackson Hole, this September. Designers dialed in from Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, California, Massachusetts and North Carolina to announce their plans for the six-room life-size home environment to be constructed in the center of the Western Design Conference (WDC) exhibit floor at the Snow King Events Center in Jackson, Wyoming.

B&B Builders of Idaho is creating the rustic contemporary exterior of this years house, debuting Thursday night, Sept. 8, 2016, at the WDC Opening Preview Party + Fashion Show. The opportunity to visit the show house is included in regular admission throughout the Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale, Sept. 8-11.

The Show House comes alive with the individual vision and twist the designers bring to their rooms. This year new and returning designers from across the country are collaborating on a cohesive flow for the Designer Show House, says WDC Director Allison Merritt.

Part of what makes the experience so unique is the opportunity for the public to meet and talk with designers in the spaces theyve created  getting inspiration first hand on how to incorporate stunning one-of-a-kind pieces by our over 100 juried artists into a custom designed home environment.

B&B Builders of Rigby, Idaho, will construct the Designer Show House with Western-inspired contemporary flair. The commercial and residential general contracting firm has been designing and building custom homes in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Utah since 1993. And this year, the show house facades porch will double as an outdoor sanctuary, featuring furniture crafted by Brian Boggs Chairmakers of Asheville, North Carolina. Boggs starts from rough logs to create his exquisite handmade pieces that draw from the natural beauty and strength of their source trees.

Nationally recognized designer Agnes Bourne of Agnes Bourne Studio in Jackson Hole envisions the homes foyer with a deep connection to the rich local arts scene. Bourne has created TAG (the Teton Arts Group), gathering individual artists, the Art Association of Jackson Hole, the National Museum of Wildlife Art and Center of Wonder to collaborate on the design of the space. TAG members will join Bourne in welcoming guests as they enter the house.

Palm Springs-based interior designer and modern furniture designer Christopher Kennedy, has chosen a parlor as his contribution for the show house. Known for his unique brand of luxurious modernism combining vintage and contemporary sensibilities, Kennedy plans a California meets the mountains style for the room.

Terry and Claudia Winchell of Fighting Bear Antiques will return to design the great room as a historically inspired anchor for the show house featuring a recently acquired furniture collection from a lodge in Michigan. The Winchells, located in Jackson Hole, specialize in finding Western pieces including Molesworth, rustic furniture, American Indian beadwork and Navajo rugs and textiles.

Xssentials, a Jackson Hole firm known for home technology solutions and automated systems, will partner with Jackson firm Forsyth & Brown to design a state-of-the-art media room design imbued with comfort and style. Both firms participated in the 2015 Designer Show House and look forward to working together on the space.

New to the WDC but with 25 years of proven experience, Kibler & Kirch of Billings and Red Lodge, Montana, will bring timeless sensibility to Jackson by designing a bedroom with a library for the show house. The firms Montana roots will provide an authentic Western grounding for the uniquely livable space.

The WDC Designer Show House is presented by "Mountain Living" magazine and sponsored by Deanna Briggs of REMAX/Obsidian Real Estate.

The Western Design Conference Opening Preview Party and Ward + Blake Architects-sponsored Fashion Show take place Sept. 8, 2016, at the Snow King Center. The WDC continues Sept. 9 11 with the Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale, the Designer Show House, and Retail Row shopping. Tickets for the 3-day Exhibit + Sale are $15 per day; tickets for the Opening Preview Party, Live Auction and Fashion Show are $50/person; $125/person for limited reserved seating.

About the Western Design Conference:

The 24th annual Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale is a four-day, multimillion-dollar event that brings together craftspeople, collectors, interior designers, architects and fashion designers with a love of the West. The Western Design Conference was founded in Cody, Wyo., as a way to promote contemporary artists working in historical American craft methods and moved to Jackson in 2007. Allison Merritt, who purchased the WDC in 2014, after seven years acting as event manager, continues the strong commitment to Western arts in Wyoming while expanding the reach of the show. Additional information on the WDC, including schedules and tickets, is available at westerndesignconference.com.

Media Contacts: Amy Stark, WordenGroup Public Relations, amy(at)wordenpr(dot)com, 307.734.5335
Taza Agua, the worlds first to market bottled water company designed specifically for Americas $18 billion dollar annual coffee market, has confirmed today that it has been officially endorsed by international multi-award winning certified coffee judge, Kattia Barrantes Zuniga.

The stamp of approval from the world recognized coffee expert is a major boost for the new company highlighting the many benefits of Costa Ricas plentiful supply of natural volcanic spring water while guaranteeing that the highest environmental standards are upheld. Taza Agua volcanic spring water is the perfect choice for use in home espresso and drip coffee machines, asserted, Kattia Barrantes Zuniga. Not only does this company that I have thoroughly inspected ensure a quality brew, the water is absolutely coffee maker friendly too.

400 million cups of coffee are consumed in the United States each day, according to data released by the National Coffee Association USA non-profit and the Specialty Coffee Association of America. National coffee trends research from the Zagat Survey, established since 1979, revealed that people in America drink an average of 2.1 cups of coffee a day. The survey has also tracked an increase in coffee consumption as people get older.

Costa Rica has some of the highest quality water in the world, according to UNESCO. With its global headquarters in Flamingo and a brand new operational state of the art bottling plant located high in the mountains of Rio Cuarto, the unique Taza Agua family business has targeted the key global markets of the United States, Mexico, China and Qatar with international shipping expected to commence in the third quarter of 2016. This means taking full advantage of Costa Ricas strong existing international trade agreements and strict Food and Drug Administration, FDA labeling. Global luxury hotel groups have also been in discussions with the company.

Humans are made up of 60% water and coffee is 95% water. Taza Agua, which can be used for tea and coffee, offers a fine balance between quality taste and functionality. When you buy a car you dont put bad oil or fuel into it, explained, Francini Retana Rodriquez, Co-Founder, Taza Agua. Manufacturers are swift to point out the importance of using high-quality water for the making of all hot beverage varieties. The mineral content of every bottle of Taza Agua is completely machine friendly. This has the added benefit of extending the life of family kitchen investments in expensive espresso machines and coffee makers leaving zero harmful mineral deposits.

The Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health adjacent to Harvard Medical School states that 54% of American adults drink coffee every day of their lives. With specialty coffee sales increasing at a gigantic 20% per ammun, accounting for 8% of the $18 billion dollar industry in the United States alone, Taza Agua is keen to accelerate the companys potential in the marketplace.

About:

Taza Agua was established in 2016 to distribute the worlds first bottled water specifically designed for making tea and coffee. Taza is the Spanish word for cup. Visit: http://www.tazaagua.com/ and the new Social Media communities: https://www.facebook.com/Taza-Agua-211473865901589/ and https://www.instagram.com/taza_agua/ and https://www.pinterest.com/taza_agua/

Media Contact:

Francini Retana, Co-Founder, Taza Agua.

Email: BetterWater(at)TazaAgua.com

Tel: 506-8898-6537.

Ends.

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The membership of the National Association of Oil and Energy Service Professionals (OESP) has unanimously voted to hire Jaffe Communications of Newark, NJ to serve as the next executive director, following the retirement of Judy Garber on August 1.

The decision followed an extensive, year-long search for Garbers replacement, as OESP sought a multi-pronged firm that could provide all management services, as well as implementation of a comprehensive, ongoing public relations program and a strategic plan to engage and expand the membership base.

OESP plays a critical role in safeguarding and enhancing our industry, said OESP President Ralph Adams, Service Manager of Parker Fuel Co. in Ellicott City, MD. Judy has been the face of OESP for many years; it was important that we could maintain that continuity of personal service and focus on our members. Jaffe Communications is the perfect fit for that role.

Through the selection process, many of the members of OESP met with Jonathan Jaffe and Lisa Strug of Jaffe Communications, who will now be handling the day-to-day operations of OESP. Jaffe will focus on strengthening communications among the chapters and securing new revenue opportunities for the Association. Strug will focus on member services and management of the Association, as a one-stop resource for anyone with inquiries.

OESP also expressed interest in the many other in-house capabilities of the firm, such as graphic design, web services, social media, podcasting and other communication strategies that can build a strong bridge between the Association and the next generation of service professionals.

For OESP to build on the terrific momentum that Judy Garber has established over her many years of service to the association, it is critical that OESP focus on communicating with the younger generation of the industry, said Jonathan Jaffe, who founded Jaffe Communications in 2003. By providing that same personal service to each and every OESP member, as well as implementing new technologies and strategies to engage and build membership, we are excited about the enormous growth potential.

Strug said she was pleased with the feedback she received from the exhibitors at the recent Eastern Energy Expo at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, CT, where three trade organizations came together to create a mega-event for the industry. The five-day Expo was the first collaboration between OESP, Atlantic Region Energy Expo (AREE) and the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association, and featured a two-day trade show with nearly 250 exhibitors. Many expressed the appreciation of a larger conference where there is more opportunity to market programs and services to all of their clients in one place.

We are fortunate to begin our work with a winning conference that is considered the place to be, said Strug, adding she looks forward to meeting with many OESP members at the 11th annual Oil Heat Retreat at the Grand Hotel in Cape May, NJ, September 8-11. We look forward to discussing ways in which we can work together in the coming year to maximize all possibilities.

If you are not yet a member of OESP, visit http://www.thinkoesp.org to learn how membership can benefit your business. Learn more about Jaffe Communications at http://www.jaffecom.com.
Chart-topping DJ Robin Schulz will premier his all-new song More than a friend (feat. Nico Santos) recorded and especially mixed for Sennheiser using AMBEO technology. Its the difference between being in a room with the music and being in the music. Im really excited to be one of the first DJs to be able to make use of this incredible innovation.

Great art is born when human ingenuity and passion come together. This same combination is also the spark for the innovations in technology that redefine how we experience the world. At the Basel edition of Art Basel, which takes place from June 16 to 19, the premier art fair in Modern and contemporary art, Sennheiser will be celebrating this pioneering spirit by displaying its innovations  technologies that embody the leading audio companys vision to Shape the Future of Audio.

This vision will be brought to life in the Sennheiser Future Sound Cube, a unique space where visitors can experience Sennheisers latest innovations firsthand, including the immersive 3D audio technology AMBEO, and Sennheisers HE 1, the best headphones in the world. Fittingly, this exploration of sound and space will be expressed through culture as well as technology: A new sound sculpture by Swiss artist Zimoun will be revealed by Sennheiser as part of its Future Audio Artist Program. Meanwhile, the experience of immersive sound will be taken into yet another dimension when renowned producer and DJ Robin Schulz plays a live set at Sennheisers Shape the Future of Audio party, held the night before the public opening of Art Basel in Basel. The chart-topping DJ will debut his new song More than a friend (feat. Nico Santos) composed for Sennheiser, recorded and mixed in AMBEO.

Enabling great artists, inspired by great art

Sennheiser is Art Basels Official Audio Partner. The partnership builds on Sennheisers pursuit of perfect sound, a mission that finds a parallel in the everlasting search for insight and inspiration in the world of art. Arts continual challenge to the status quo redefines limits and boundaries  an ethos that also drives Sennheisers ambition to transform sound into something extraordinary. As Daniel Sennheiser, co-CEO of Sennheiser, explains: Sennheiser has a long history of supporting artists, and this is a rich and reciprocal relationship. The inspirational work we help make possible in turn inspires us to greater heights. Great artists have the vision to let us perceive our world anew. Our own vision is to Shape the Future of Audio, and we are excited to be showing new era-defining technologies and products that also help redefine perception and the limits of experience.

Dr. Andreas Sennheiser, co-CEO of Sennheiser, explains that beyond creating the technology that enables the artists, Sennheiser will itself be taking an active role in bringing new sound artwork to life during Art Basel: We are excited to be celebrating the pioneers of sound in art of every type. We invite our guests to journey from the show to a premiere performance by Robin Schulz. This is a journey that demonstrates the incredible breadth of immersive sound and creativity that we are proud to help bring to life.

Enter the Future Sound Cube

Sennheisers Future Sound Cube at Art Basel's Collectors Lounge is an entirely unique space for audio-visual artworks and sets the stage for two utterly unique sound experiences  a chance to listen to the Sennheiser HE 1 and to encounter a new dimension in audio with AMBEO. Sennheisers HE 1 is the epitome of the audio specialists art. As the successor to the legendary Orpheus from 1990/91, the HE 1 redraws the benchmark for audiophile sound. The HE 1 is crafted from carefully selected materials including the same Carrara marble that Michelangelo used in his sculptures.

The Future Sound Cube will also offer visitors the opportunity to engage with video installations from several of the visionary sound artists that Sennheiser has partnered with over recent years. Works from artists including Nigel Stanford and Nik Nowak will be presented in this unique environment and made all the more vivid thanks to the unprecedented immersive three-dimensional sound experience created by a 9.1 AMBEO speaker installation.

AMBEO offers listeners an improvement to their sound experience that is as dramatic as the evolution from mono to stereo, said Dr. Andreas Sennheiser. This year, we will be bringing this unique technology into new products and applications. Events such as Art Basel offer the first exciting opportunities for us to share this new listening experience.

The Future Audio Artist Program debuts immersive artwork from Zimoun

Also presented in the Future Sound Cube will be a film profiling Zimoun  the first artist to be commissioned to create a new work for Sennheisers Future Audio Artist Program, an initiative announced at the Art Basel show in Hong Kong in March 2016. Each of the three Art Basel fairs in Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong will present a platform to showcase the work of one artist and to choose the next artist to be supported by the program. The jury includes art-world luminaries Prof. Dr. h. c. Walter Smerling and Daniela Hinrichs, as well the involvement of Daniel Sennheiser.

We founded the Future Audio Artist Program to support some of the worlds most exciting artists working with sound, and to take on an active role in furthering the relationship between sound, art and innovations in technology, explained Daniel Sennheiser. At Art Basel in Basel, we are very excited to present the first work to be born of this project by Zimoun.

Swiss artist Zimoun is a rising star of the international art world. His work transforms industrial materials and locations into sound sculptures of intricate, organic beauty. In his new sound sculpture, the interior of an old shipping container has been lined with hundreds of tiny, erratic mechanisms, which shift and rustle to form lifelike waves of paper. With sound and movement created in real time by an apparently organic process, the work is both a visual and sonic experience that reflects his interpretation of the Future of Audio. While Zimouns creation is inherently analog in nature, he has utilized Sennheiser microphones to help precisely document the intricate and immersive nature of his new work, which can be experienced online at http://www.sennheiser.com/shapethefutureofaudio.

Robin Schulz to wow guests at first party featuring AMBEO

As the sun sets on June 15, Sennheiser will be revealing a very different side of AMBEO: The Shape the Future of Audio Party takes the experience of 3D immersive audio to the dance floor, with a performance by renowned producer and DJ Robin Schulz. Robin Schulz became a global star within short time and has strongly influenced the world of pop and club-music. The superstar has officially been announced as one of the international most successful German artists of the last two decades. Supporting him on the night will be Hugel, the rising star French DJ and producer who is currently making waves with new single Coming Home.

Robin Schulz will premier his all-new song More than a friend (feat. Nico Santos) composed especially for Sennheiser and recorded and mixed using AMBEO technology. The performance of this song will be a turning point in the set, when the sound will dramatically expand from stereo to 3D  letting the guests party while entirely immersed in the music.

As a DJ, you want the whole room come alive and with AMBEO this is actually true. The music surrounds you in all three dimensions with no sweet spot, so the experience is perfect everywhere on the dancefloor, said Robin Schulz. Its the difference between being in a room with the music and being in the music. Im really excited to be one of the first DJs to be able to make use of this incredible innovation.

About Art Basel

Art Basel stages the world's premier art shows for modern and contemporary works, sited in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. Defined by its host city and region, each show is unique, which is reflected in its participating galleries, artworks presented, and the content of parallel programming produced in collaboration with local institutions for each edition. In addition to ambitious stands featuring leading galleries from around the globe, each show's singular exhibition sectors spotlight the latest developments in the visual arts, offering visitors new ideas and new inspiration. For further information please visit: artbasel.com

About Sennheiser

Audio specialist Sennheiser is one of the world's leading manufacturers of headphones, microphones and wireless transmission systems. Based in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, Sennheiser operates its own production facilities in Germany, Ireland and the USA and is active in more than 50 countries. With 19 sales subsidiaries and long-established trading partners, the company supplies innovative products and cutting-edge audio solutions that are optimally tailored to its customers' needs. Sennheiser is a family owned company that was founded in 1945 and which today has 2,750 employees around the world that share a passion for audio technology. Since 2013, Sennheiser has been managed by Daniel Sennheiser and Dr. Andreas Sennheiser, the third generation of the family to run the company. In 2015, the Sennheiser Group had sales totaling 682 million. http://www.sennheiser.com
2016 Scheduling Complexity by Specialty Emergency medicine department schedulers are juggling more variables than there are atoms in the universe.

New research on physician shift scheduling trends shows that emergency medicine departments in the U.S. balance the most complex sets of staffing rules and monthly requests of any specialty in the medical sector. The report, 2016 Physician Scheduling Complexity by Specialty, analyzed rules and requests used in 5,547 department schedules across 57 medical specialties.

Physician schedules in emergency medicine departments apply an average of 62 repeating scheduling rules (i.e., physicians cant work two 12-hour shifts in a row) and 276 monthly schedule requests, which are not pattern-based like rules and can include vacation time or be used in staffing locum tenens or moonlighters with variable schedules. Compare emergency medicine to pulmonology, which has the most repeating scheduling rules (at 134, more than double emergency medicine) but far fewer monthly schedule requests. Schedules for office-based physician specialties, including primary care, pediatrics, and nephrology, were less complicated.

Emergency medicine department schedulers are juggling more variables than there are atoms in the universe, said Suvas Vajracharya, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Lightning Bolt Solutions. Keeping emergency rooms staffed with the right balance of physicians and locum tenens to meet patient demand 24/7 is essentially rocket science. Our technology platform, built out of operations research technology used in the airline industry, professional sports, and manufacturing industries, is helping to meet these needs while also promoting physician work-life balance and preventing burnout.

Top 11 Most Complex Physician Specialties to Schedule

1. Emergency medicine

2. Hospital medicine

3. OB-GYN

4. Pulmonology

5. Anesthesiology

6. Surgery

7. Radiology

8. Primary care

9. Cardiology

10. Pediatrics

11. Nephrology

Emergency department scheduling is complex for many reasons, beginning with patient demand and facility configuration, said Dr. Brian Lahmann, emergency medicine physician at Reading Hospital, part of Reading Health System, in West Reading, Pennsylvania. Emergency departments must be staffed 24 hours a day, every day, 365 days a year, and they must adapt to what Dr. Lahmann describes as typically cyclical patient volume patterns and variable patient acuity. To meet such demand, many emergency departments staff separate lower and higher acuity areas. Thus, he said, emergency departments have to schedule multiple providers who may have similar and different skills and abilities to care for all of these patients in various areas.

Full details on how the specialties compare can be accessed in the free 2016 Physician Scheduling Complexity by Specialty report online. This report includes analysis of rules and request trends as well as commentary from physician and department administrators on the factors involved. Efficiency in hospital department shift scheduling is becoming increasingly important as the medical sector faces physician shortages and burnout, increased patient demand, and the national shift to value-based care.

Methodology: The 2016 Physician Scheduling Complexity by Specialty report was conducted by analyzing rules and monthly requests in 5,547 real department schedules on the Lightning Bolt platform across 57 medical specialties. The results exclude outliers representing the top and bottom 10% of the mean.

About Lightning Bolt Solutions

Lightning Bolt Solutions is the leading provider of automated physician scheduling for hospitals and health systems around the world. The company manages over 3 million physician shift hours each month, helping to create schedules that promote work-life balance, productivity, and patient safety. Founded in 2002, Lightning Bolts web-based scheduling software is used across a variety of specialties and practices, including anesthesiology, cardiology, emergency medicine, hospital medicine, OB-GYN, and radiology in multidisciplinary clinics, hospitals, universities, and large integrated delivery networks.

Media Contact

Lightning Bolt Solutions

Rachel Worsham

650-401-8262 ext. 225

rachel(at)lightning-bolt(dot)com
The New England Brewfest, scheduled for June 24th -26th in Lincoln and Woodstock NH, is one of the summers most-anticipated events in the White Mountains As the longest-running beer festival in New Hampshire, this event draws beer aficionados from all over New England to sample more than 100 different beers - from tried and true fan favorites to limited releases  from over 30 breweries.

The New England Brewfest, scheduled for June 24th -26th in Lincoln and Woodstock NH, is one of the summers most-anticipated events in the White Mountains. Beer fans will enjoy events all weekend long, but the cant miss event of the weekend, with over 30 breweries, live music, vendors, and more, is Saturday Night: ON TAP at Loon Mountain. VIP Tickets are sold out, but general admission are still available at http://www.nebrewfest.com.

As the longest-running beer festival in New Hampshire, this event draws beer aficionados from all over New England to sample more than 100 different beers - from tried and true fan favorites to limited releases  from over 30 breweries.

General Admission tickets are on sale now and include entry into the event, commemorative tasting glass, beer samples, live music, and access to beer-related vendors and paraphernalia. For the ultimate experience, lodging and ticket packages can be booked at any number of participating properties, with many including complimentary shuttle bus transportation to and from Saturday Night: ON TAP at Loon Mountain Resort.

Although Saturday Night: ON TAP is the highlight event of the weekend, kick-off events take place Friday evening with two beer pairing dinner experiences at One Love Brewery and aboard the Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train. A limited number of tickets for the Friday evening dinner events are still available. Dont miss the opportunity for great food and great brews to kick off the weekend-long festival.

Attendees can also enjoy The Hop Talks, an educational tasting event on Saturday morning, presented by Hop Head United. The Hop Talks features five different breweries sampling some of their finest creations and providing an intimate presentation of who they are, where they came from, and why they brew the beer they brew. Sundays events cap off the weekend of craft beer indulgence with a Brewers Brunch at the Mountain Club on Loon, and Believing Brewers, a non-denominational service atop Loon Mountain Resort. Believing Brewers brings a twist to this years New England Brewfest, where Minister Marcus Corey and Rev. Jon Paul will discuss the connection between beer, history, and religion.

The New England Brewfest is a one-of-a-kind event to attend this summer in the basecamp of the White Mountains. Attendees at all events must be 21 years of age or older, and valid identification will be required for entry. All attendees are encouraged to enjoy weekend events responsibly with a designated driver, using local shuttle bus transportation or available taxi service.

New England Brewfest events are sponsored by Union Bank, New England Chevrolet, Waynes Market and Deli, the Nordic Inn, Harden Law Offices, Malone, Dirubbo, and Company, and the University of New Hampshire in partnership with Hop Head United and Brew NH. For more information, to book lodging and ticket packages and to purchase tickets to all events, visit http://www.nebrewfest.com.
On Wednesday, June 15, Fortis College will celebrate 50 years of academic excellence at their Cuyahoga Falls campus.

By welcoming Ohio State Senator Tom Sawyer to the campus, the 50th anniversary event will highlight the past successes at the college while setting the tone for the future.

The Cuyahoga Falls campus offers a multitude of programs and classes that make it easier for students to continue their education while balancing their daily lives. The campus is especially known for its medical programs, which trains aspiring registered nurses and practical nurses by helping them obtain their first line of training.

Fortis colleges Cuyahoga Falls campus offers value and opportunity to students, said Campus President Carson Burke. Our goal is to reach the future leaders of northern Ohio right here in their own backyard.

The event will be held at Riverfront Pavilion in Cuyahoga Falls (11 Riverfront Blvd.) and will feature the second round of inductees to the Hall of Fame as well as a champagne toast, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. 2016 inductees include Cuyahoga Falls Mayor Don Walters, an alumna of the campus.

About Fortis College

Fortis College is a leading network of post-secondary colleges geared at engaging students and empowering them for a lifetime of growth. Fortis College is proud to offer campuses in 15 states. Fortis provides career-based training and diploma and degree granting programs to students across 40 different campuses. Specializing in technology and business trades, Fortis also offers an impressive online classroom community to cater to students in every phase of their life. Each Fortis campus is accredited by a nationally recognized body. To learn more, or to find the campus nearest to you, please visit: http://www.fortis.edu.

About the Cuyahoga Falls Campus

Formerly known as the National Institute of Technology, Fortis Colleges Cuyahoga Falls campus offers a variety of programs specializing in nursing, medical, and skilled trades. Also offering courses in dental cleaning, medical assisting, and electrical systems technology, Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls seeks to empower students for a lifetime of learning at convenient locations and affordable prices. The Cuyahoga Falls location also offers a variety of continuing education topics. Fortis College Cuyahoga Falls is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and approved to award Associates of Applied Sciences degrees and diplomas.
mins Integrated Marketing Awards program is dedicated to honoring the campaigns, ongoing programs and innovative people whove raised the bar on magazine marketing. The entry deadline for this prestigious awards program is June 17, 2016, with a final entry deadline of June 24, 2016.

The annual awards program is open to any consumer and b2b publishing company and/or person or individual magazine title. Additionally, advertising agencies and corporations are welcome to enter on behalf of or with their magazine partner. Third-party partners serving the industry may also enter.

Campaign Categories:



App Integration

Client Promotion via Facebook

Contests/Sweepstakes

Custom Publishing Project

Custom Web Site/Microsite

Event

Lead Gen Initiative

Most Creative Use of New Technology

Multiple Magazine Title Program

New Event Program

Print/Mobile

Print/TV or Radio Bundle

Retail/Merchandising Tie-In

Social Media Initiative/s

Special Advertorial Section

Total Integrated Program

Total Integrated Program for Magazine Launch

WOW Award

People Categories



Marketer of the Year (VP level or above)

Marketer of the Year (Manager level)

Marketing Team of the Year

Magazine/Client Team of the Year

For more information on the min Integrated Marketing Awards, visit http://www.minmarketingawards.com.

Winners and honorable mentions will be recognized at a celebratory awards breakfast on September 15, 2016 in New York City and on minonline.com. Entries for the 2016 program can be submitted at http://www.minmarketingawards.com. International entries are welcomed. The early entry deadline is June 17, 2016.

For questions regarding the min Integrated Marketing Awards, contact Mary-Lou French atmfrench(at)accessintel(dot)com or (301) 354-1851. To sponsor the awards breakfast in September, contact Tania Babiuk at tbabiuk(at)accessintel(dot)com.

About min

The Integrated Marketing Awards program is presented by min, the industry's trusted source on the consumer and b2b magazine business, reaching thousands of media executives through print, online and in-person events. For more than 60 years, min has been serving the magazine and media community with unparalleled coverage of this ever-changing industry. For more information, visit minonline.com.
North American Title Insurance Co. adds Seabolt as Texas state agency manager Stephanie brings a wealth of experience to this position, as well as the ability to interact with agents and add value to any operation.

Stephanie Seabolt is a new state agency manager for North American Title Insurance Co. (NATIC) in Texas. With a 28-year background on both the agency and the underwriter side of the title industry, Seabolt will be working to grow NATICs independent agency network in the Texas market.

Stephanie brings a wealth of experience to this position, as well as the ability to interact with agents and add value to any operation, said Rich Griffin, vice president and national sales manager, NATIC. She also brings a genuine sense of caring to every relationship that comes across in every conversation. Because our business is based so strongly on relationships, Stephanie fits into the consultative salesperson model we are creating at NATIC  that of a trusted advisor who adds value to their customers business.

Seabolt most recently served as Texas office manager for a national title and closing company. Previously, she worked for 22 years for a large national financial services company, serving in several capacities and positions, including as director of best practices and as vice president, operations manager for its northwest agency division and centralized services group. She won the companys excellence award in 2011.

Working both as an agent and as an underwriter has given me unique insight into solutions and tools that will help meet the needs and challenges of our independent NATIC agents, said Seabolt. Being part of a great team at a company with an excellent reputation is what attracted me to take this new position.

Seabolt is located at 1707 Marketplace Blvd., Suite 100, Irving, TX 75063, telephone number (866) 596-2842.

About North American Title Insurance Co. (NATIC)

North American Title Insurance Co. (NATIC) is a seasoned title insurance underwriter, helping title agents to achieve the goal of true business success for over 50 years. NATIC conducts real estate settlement services in 39 states and the District of Columbia. NATIC earned the reputation as the underwriter next door, because their decision makers and associates are easy to reach and their processes are quick and straight forward. The NATIC agency application process is fast and transparent for qualified agents. NATIC has a one-hour underwriting response guarantee that is unparalleled in the industry.

NATIC is the largest capitalized company in Peer Group 1, which groups companies with total assets of greater than $100 million as determined by Kroll Bond Rating Agency, Inc. NATIC is ranked 6th by The Performance of the Title Insurance Underwriters in terms of cash or cash equivalents. NATIC maintains over $95 million* in cash and invested assets. This represents over 93 percent of the companys assets and is characteristic of the most important attribute to title protection, namely, financial responsibility. *As of 12/31/2015.

Demotech, Inc. awarded NATIC a rating of: A' (A Prime) Unsurpassed. A.M Best rated B++ (Good). NATIC is headquartered in Miami, Florida. To learn more, visit http://www.natic.com
Paul N. Greenwood, gooidev CEO and chairman: "We're stimulating and promoting economic growth for third world countries. The world is open for gooidev business."

Asia  Middle East  West Africa Part of Business Development

gooidev (http://www.gooidev.com), an American software development and marketing company, has launched M Connect, a merged social media platform and business incubator in the Northern Hemisphere. Gooidev is accelerating startup businesses and supporting existing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) in Asia, Middle East and West Africa.

Paul N. Greenwood, gooidev CEO and chairman, said, We are undertaking a global business renaissance for emerging markets, which impacts customers around the world, including the United States and Europe. Our SME incubation platform is a unique tool that drives B to B, to help exponentially grow the marketplace. Were stimulating and promoting economic growth for third world countries. The world is open for gooidev business.

Added gooidev Vice President of Business Development, Thobith Abraham, M Connect is going to serve the SMEs and Student Communities alike. Our team of experts is leveraging its creative abilities to open new windows of global opportunity for businesses as we increase their international presence through a critical platform for SME development. gooidevs technological innovations are providing support and guidance for entrepreneurial growth.

The international footing will be supported by a strategic marketing and public relations campaign, supported by gooidevs global team of digital specialists. Gooidev (http://www.gooidev.com) is co-headquartered in Chennai, India and Des Moines, Iowa.

About gooidev

gooidev is a global team of digital specialists who provide support for app and web development on both Android and iOS platforms. Its team's members apply global resources and expertise to seamlessly manage development and expedite results for small and midsized businesses that want to outsource this segment of their operations. Headquartered in Chennai, India, and Des Moines, Iowa, USA, gooidev uses an Agile working process. For more information, visit http://gooidev.com/index.php

Media Contacts:

Richard Greb

mygooi

847-651-1445 / Richardg(at)mygooi(dot)com

Mark Perlman

mygooi

312-315-0707 / Markp(at)mygooi(dot)com
Having to pay for schooling while raising a family is a huge sacrifice and this money will help immensely

SR Education Groups second-ever Graduate Scholarship for Teachers was awarded today to Scarlet Elkington of Las Vegas. The scholarship committee read through 85 deserving applications, but Scarlets application left a lasting impression. She is receiving $5,000 to put towards her Masters in Education at The University of Nevada Las Vegas. The scholarship committee also selected five standout finalists out of all the applications who will each be awarded $100.

Scarlets story starts many years ago when she spent a year and a half in Spain on a mission trip. While there, Scarlet learned how difficult and lonely it feels to be in a country where you dont understand the language. Therefore, she has decided to specialize in helping English Language Learners (ELL). Scarlet plans to work at the middle school level, to try to help ensure ELL students are equipped with everything they will need in order to finish high school. She hopes to increase graduation rates for ELL students in her school district. Becoming a teacher will also allow her to spend more time with her four kids.

When Scarlet learned she had won the SR Education Group Graduate Scholarship for Teachers, she said, "I am extremely excited and grateful to have received the scholarship for $5,000 to go toward my schooling. I appreciate SR Education Group helping me to reach my goal of becoming a teacher and being able to help support my family. I love working with the students in helping them grow and develop. Having to pay for schooling while raising a family is a huge sacrifice and this money will help immensely."

There were five deserving finalists for SR Education Groups Graduate Scholarship for Teachers June award: Jennifer Jordan, Rebecca Plumber, Amanda Fenske, Deborah Howells, and Zoraya Vazquez. To recognize that these students are also in need of financial assistance for their degrees, each outstanding finalist was awarded a consolation prize. Amanda Fenske wrote of receiving the finalist award, Words cannot express my gratitude enough, but thank you! I will be reapplying for the next scholarship round!

About SR Education Groups Scholarships

SR Education Group is awarding another $5,000 needs-based Graduate Scholarship for Teachers on October 23, 2016. SR Education Group is also offering two needs-based $2,500 scholarships for full-time students attending community college. The next deadline for the Community College Scholarships is July 16, 2016. Find out more at http://www.sreducationgroup.org/#scholarships

About SR Education Group

Headquartered in Kirkland, WA, SR Education Group was founded in 2004 by CEO Sung Rhee. The companys mission is to create authoritative online resources for students seeking an online education program that best suits their budget and career aspirations. SR Education Group is passionate about making quality education attainable for everyone and believes that objective information about education, careers, and educational financing should be free and easily accessible. For more information, please visit http://www.sreducationgroup.org.
Lean In Co-Founder Debi Hemmeter is Keynote Speaker at John F. Kennedy Universitys 2016 Commencement. Photo: courtesy of Debi Hemmeter.

Debi Hemmeter, one of the key leaders of the Lean In global community and a top business executive, will deliver the keynote address at John F. Kennedy Universitys 51st Commencement Ceremony on June 18, 2016 at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. As Co-Founder of the Lean In Foundation, Ms. Hemmeter has promoted equality issues and inspired individuals to pursue their career goals, all qualities that align with the non-profit Universitys emphasis on social justice, leadership and community service.

At JFK University, we are committed to a culture that respects and values all forms of diversity and sparks creativity, collaboration, and leadership. said Debra Bean, President of John F. Kennedy University. We are honored to have Ms. Debi Hemmeter share her inspirational message with our graduates. She has made such a positive impact here in the Bay Area that spans globally, and her story of overcoming obstacles to achieve career ambitions is one that will resonate well with our students, graduates and alumni.

Based on the vision and book written Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In has brought renewed focus on issues of gender equality and ways that both men and women can support achieving this goal. The organization, which was co-founded by Sandberg and others including Ms. Hemmeter, has developed collaborations with groups such as the NBA, whose star athletes are currently featured in public service announcements encouraging men and women to support each others careers by leaning in together.

Ms. Hemmeter was introduced to Ms. Sandberg after hearing her TED Talk regarding equality in the workplace. Together with two other co-founders, the group researched effective peer groups to identify best practices. From that research came the idea of forming Lean In Circles with all the tools delivered online and free. The circles are comprised of peers with like-minded ambitions and experiences to learn from each other via inspirational stories; education to teach leadership and communication skills; and a community network to stay connected. Today there are over 27,000 Lean In circles worldwide.

In addition to her public service contributions. Ms. Hemmeter has over 20 years of experience within the private sector with four Fortune 50 companies. She began her career at PepsiCo and Sara Lee in sales and marketing. After nearly 10 years in the consumer products segment she was recruited by Wells Fargo Bank where she specialized in retail banking strategy, marketing and business development. Debi then moved on to Bank of America and led one of their largest retail markets where she managed $3.4 billion in assets.

Along the way, Ms. Hemmeter learned first-hand many of the important Lean In Principles. When her role model Brenda Barnes, the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company, stepped down from her position in 1997, reflecting on the challenges of balancing career and family, this caused Hemmeter to lean back as she too was a working mother, and feared she wouldnt be able to achieve all of her goals. Ms. Hemmeter is pleased to share her message with JFK Universitys graduates, many of whom are adult learners juggling and other responsibilities pursuing dreams of furthering their education and advancing career ambitions.

I am excited to address JFK University graduates, who exemplify individual and team efforts of leaning in to achieve their goals, Ms. Hemmeter said. I have great respect for these students, many of whom maintain jobs and families while continuing their educational goals."

The 2016 Commencement Ceremony for JFK University graduates is set for 1:00 PM on Saturday, June 18 at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. It will be presided over by Ms. Debra Bean, President of John F. Kennedy University. Nearly 350 graduates are expected to attend the ceremony, which includes students completing their degree programs online and at the Universitys campuses in Pleasant Hill, Berkeley and San Jose.
Kanayo Nwanze, President of IFAD The remittances sent back to relatives provide a lifeline, particularly to tens of millions of families living in fragile or post-conflict societies,

On the International Day of Family Remittances, 16 June, Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), calls for greater recognition of the vital financial contribution migrants make to the economic stability of their families and countries.

The remittances sent back to relatives provide a lifeline, particularly to tens of millions of families living in fragile or post-conflict societies, Nwanze said. Remittances can help rebuild the fabric of societies, spark economic development, and bring the stability necessary for a hopeful future.

In 2015, some 250 million migrants living outside their countries of origin sent nearly US$450 billion back home in remittances. Over the same period, 60 million people were forcibly displaced due to violent conflict and political upheaval, including 20 million refugees who fled across international borders.

Although headlines and news reports often focus on the number of migrants and refugees on the move, Nwanze stressed that a fundamental reality is often overlooked.

No matter how many people leave their home countries to escape poverty or conflict, many more remain behind, he said. It is important to focus on those living in distressed regions where the positive impact of remittances can count the most.

Nwanze cited Lebanon, Sri Lanka, and El Salvador as examples of conflict societies that have been rebuilt with the help of remittances. More recently, IFAD-supported activities among the Somali diaspora in Europe and the United States have resulted in targeted investments that have had a positive impact on Somalias agriculture sector.

Over the last decade, IFAD has piloted remittance programs in more than 40 developing countries, helping to aid the flow of funds and giving families more options to invest their money and create opportunities for business development and employment.

As an indication of the transformative potential of remittances, Nwanze said that the new Sustainable Development Goals have set a target of 15 years to end extreme poverty. Within this time, migrants abroad will have sent an accumulated $7.5 trillion to their hometowns in developing countries.

On 19 September, the UN Plenary Session on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants will address the treatment and wellbeing of the millions of migrants and refugees and their families back home. Taken together, it is estimated that one out of every seven people on earth  more than one billion individuals  are directly impacted by remittances.

The International Day of Family Remittances was unanimously proclaimed by all 176 members states of IFAD's Governing Council held in February 2015.

IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, we have provided about US$17.7 billion in grants and low-interest loans to projects that have reached some 459 million people. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency based in Rome  the UNs food and agriculture hub.
Handloom textiles were such a key part of my childhood and they just disappeared when I moved to the US. Ive been looking for a way to bring these rich colors and intricate patterns into my modern fashion aesthetic."

FABRIQ, a brand new line of modern handbags made with authentic hand woven textiles from eastern India, is currently live on Kickstarter and raising funds to bring the project to life.

FABRIQ founder - Mitali Pattnaik and creative director  Bryna Hubbs come from very different backgrounds but met in San Francisco and connected over their shared love of sustainable fashion.

Mitali grew up in Orissa (also spelled Odisha), India - a state known for its beautiful handloom sarees. She came to the US for college and after graduating with a computer science degree and an MBA, Mitali has built a successful career as a technology executive, working for Microsoft, Google, and Twitter. Her love for the handloom textiles of her childhood stayed with her and she has longed for a way to see these beautiful woven patterns used in modern designs.

"As a child growing up in India I was surrounded by handloom textiles - all the sarees that my mother and aunts wore were Orissa handloom, our bedspreads, even table napkins!, says founder Mitali Pattnaik, Handloom textiles were such a key part of my childhood and they just disappeared when I moved to the US. Ive been looking for a way to bring these rich colors and intricate patterns into my modern fashion aesthetic. When I met Bryna and saw the line of handbags she had produced, I immediately knew that's what we needed to do."

Bryna Hubbs is a Bay Area native, artist, fashion designer, and creative director of FABRIQ. After earning her Bachelor of Arts at UCLA, and then attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising for a degree in Product Development, Bryna spent 7 years designing and producing her own line of handbags under the brand name Bryna Nicole. Her bags were sold nationwide, from Urban Outfitters to Nordstrom, and even made an appearance on Blake Livelys arm in Gossip Girl.

Together, Pattnaik and Hubbs have created FABRIQ, a brand dedicated to bringing authenticity and sustainability to fashion. Every product tells a story but much of the fast fashion today has lost its connection to the materials, places, and people that made it. FABRIQ hopes to change that.

To ensure a seamless campaign and brand launch, FABRIQ debut capsule collection is made up of 2 main styles - the Maya clutch and the Aruna cross-body - in multiple colorways. Both bags are trimmed with vegetable-tanned Italian leather, ethically sourced by vendors based in California. The body of each style uses hand-woven ikat fabric, sourced directly from weaver co-ops in Orissa, India. The selected fabrics are each original, and limited in quantity, as they are woven by hand in the traditional customary designs and patterns unique to this region of India.

"Authenticity and sustainability are key for us. We source all our materials and manufacture our bags with these values in mind. Our handloom textiles are sourced directly from weaver co-ops in Orissa, India, says Hubbs, All our leather is vegetable-tanned Italian leather, ethically sourced from a US-based supplier. And we directly oversee manufacturing of our bags at a small family-owned factory.

In addition, FABRIQ has decided to donate a portion of all future sales of FABRIQ bags, to a non-profit organization called Educate Girls. Educate Girls is based in India and works at the grassroots level  both in urban slums and in poor rural areas - to keep girl children enrolled in school.

FABRIQ is currently live and available to support on Kickstarter: http://kck.st/1Uh8tdW

About FABRIQ

FABRIQ, LLC, is a mission-driven fashion accessories company, founded in 2015. Launching in Summer 2016, FABRIQ's first product line consists of unique, modern handbags made with hand woven textiles from India. With this and future products, FABRIQ hopes to enable handloom artisans across India to find new demand for their craft. Founder Mitali Pattnaik is a technology executive and entrepreneur with many years of experience managing product lines at Twitter, Google, and Microsoft. Creative Director Bryna Hubbs is a successful fashion designer who previously designed and managed her own line of handbags, carried at major retailers across the country.

For more information on FABRIQ please visit http://www.shopfabriq.com

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MS Logo

What:

For all of the strides we have made in science and technology, with standards of living unimaginable a century ago, most human beings and the organizations to which they belong remain in search of purpose. Sadhguru, founder of ISHA Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating human potential, will share his fundamental vision on the science of inner wellbeing at Mu Sigmas annual customer event, Consciousness 2016. He will discuss the multitude of projects, programs and methods that stem from this vision, all towards the goal of raising human beings and their organizations to the peak of their potential and to be in harmony with themselves and the world.

To be held at the University of Chicago, Consciousness 2016 is an invitation-only event for select Mu Sigma customers and will gather more than 100 Fortune 500 executives from around the world.

When:

Monday, June 27, 2016, 1:10-2:10 p.m. ET

Where:

Mu Sigmas Consciousness 2016 Event at Gleacher Center, University of Chicago, Downtown Campus (450 N Cityfront Plaza Dr., Chicago, IL 60611)

Who:

Sadhguru is a yogi and a mystic  a man whose passion spills into everything he encounters. Named one of Indias 50 most influential people, Sadhgurus work has touched the lives of millions worldwide through his transformational programs. Sadhguru has a unique ability to make the ancient yogic sciences relevant to contemporary minds, acting as a bridge to the deeper dimensions of life. His approach does not ascribe to any belief system, but offers methods for self-transformation that are both proven and powerful.

An author, poet, visionary and internationally renowned speaker, Sadhguru has been an influential voice at major global forums including the United Nations, MIT, Harvard University, the World Economic Forum and TED Talks, addressing issues as diverse as socioeconomic development, leadership and spirituality. Dedicated to the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of humanity and gifted with utter clarity of perception, Sadhguru possesses a perspective on life and living that never fails to intrigue, challenge and surprise all those he encounters.

For media interested in covering the keynote, please contact Michi Morales at 1-571-455-9996 or michim(at)gabrielmarketing(dot)com.

About Mu Sigma:

Mu Sigma is a category-defining decision sciences and big data analytics company, helping enterprises systematize better data-driven decision making. The companys interdisciplinary approach and integrated ecosystem of platform, processes and people are redefining how companies approach problem solving in areas of marketing, risk and supply chain. With more than 3,500 decision scientists working across 10 industries, Mu Sigma is consistently validated as the preferred decision sciences and analytics partner for 140 of the Fortune 500. For more information, visit http://www.mu-sigma.com.

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June 15, 2016  Grand Rapids, MI  Emergency Care Specialists, P.C. (ECS) launched a telemedicine solution in May of 2016 called MiDirectCare that provides quick, convenient and affordable online urgent care to consumers in Michigan. Today we are excited to announce that ECS has partnered with Answer Health to form a joint venture, Answer Health Telemedicine, LLC, which will incorporate the new telemedicine service and greatly expand its capabilities. MiDirectCare will be renamed Answer Health Care On Demand and will expand to include primary care, behavioral health, specialty care such as orthopedics and pediatrics, and wellness programming. The name of the product, website, and mobile apps will change in August 2016.

Emergency Care Specialists has always been committed to providing compassionate acute care for communities 24/7/365. We created MiDirectCare to give community members access to high quality care and direction, along with improved convenience and affordability. We are pleased to partner with Answer Health because we can now expand and provide people online access to comprehensive health care services by a wide range of physicians and professionals.

Ken Johnson, MD, Chief Medical Officer

Emergency Care Specialists, P.C.

At Answer Health, we believe that a diverse community is a healthy community and we think this is true for our health care industry as well. Patients are best served by local, independent physicians who collaborate with each other and larger health systems. Partnering with Emergency Care Specialists allows us to extend telemedicine capabilities to all our physician-partners and gives us the ability to provide comprehensive and coordinated care to the patients we serve.

Khan Nedd, MD, Chief Executive Officer

Answer Health

MiDirectCare is available now and is an online urgent care solution where patients can immediately see a board certified doctor live via secure two-way video from a smartphone, tablet or pc. These visits are available 24/7 and patients can see a doctor from the convenience of their home, office or even on vacation. Visits are $45 and may be covered by health insurance. The MiDirectCare app is available for Apple and Android devices and can be downloaded for free in Google Play and Apple stores, or by accessing midirectcare.com.

MiDirectCare features:



Connect easily over the web via PC, tablet or smartphone  from anywhere

Live face to face visits when you need them

Immediate visits

Board certified physicians

Secure, HIPAA-compliant video

Intuitive, easy to use website and app

About Emergency Care Specialists

Emergency Care Specialists (ECS), headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the largest physician owned and physician governed emergency medicine practice in West Michigan. Established in 1984, ECS has been a leader and innovator in emergency medicine for over thirty years and is one of the largest providers of Emergency Medicine including observation, sedation, and toxicology services in the the Midwest. ECS physicians staff emergency departments throughout West Michigan and treat over 325,000 patients annually. ECS also participates in the education and training of Emergency Medicine residents in one of the oldest and most respected programs in the nation.

About Answer Health

Answer Health (AH) is a new Clinically Integrated Organization formed by independent physicians from across several existing physician organizations in West Michigan. It was formed to support the efforts of independent physician practices to provide exceptional care  enhanced quality at reduced cost with high patient and provider satisfaction  and greater value to purchasers and the community.

If you would like more information on Answer Health Care On Demand, or to schedule an appearance or interview, please contact Karen Bigelow at 720-237-7358 or KBigelow@midirectcare.com.

Please visit http://www.midirectcare.com for more information.
Nicole B. Thomas

Growing up in a Houston neighborhood challenged with poverty and crime, Nicole Thomas family was determined she would have a better life.

She was steered into a magnet high school focused on health professions laying the foundation for a secure path to college. Thomas was quickly drawn to the patients she met while working as a dental assistant with her high school program.

I have a heart for people. I wanted to find a career where I could use my business brain and my health care heart, Thomas said.

She found her place in health care administration where she has spent the past 20 years since graduating college. Her career goal was to become a vice president of operations of a health care organization, which she reached in 2011 at Baptist Health.

Now shes reaching another milestone as the first female at Baptist Health to hold the title of hospital president. She will replace Ron Robinson, who is retiring this fall after 11 years as hospital president of Baptist Medical Center South, Baptist Healths second-largest hospital with 269 beds. Baptist South opened in 2005 as the health systems first all-digital hospital.

It is a real honor to be part of the healing experience to improve the lives of patients and their families here in Jacksonville, Thomas said. What we do every day is a ministry and service to our neighbors. Im grateful for the opportunity to lead an organization that is going to be remembered by patients for touching their lives in a special way.

A fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, Thomas has a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was a Minority Merit Scholar and Institute for Diversity in Healthcare Management Scholarship recipient. She received a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Administration from Dillard University in New Orleans graduating magna cum laude.

Thomas joined Baptist Health in 2011 as vice president of operations and specialty services. She spent the five years prior with St. Lukes Episcopal Health System in Houston leading the surgical services line and developing its primary care network, including opening the first St. Lukes Medical Clinic. Prior to St. Lukes, she spent nine years at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville starting as an administrative fellow and rising to practice administrator.

At Baptist, she was promoted in 2014 to senior vice president of specialty services with oversight over neurosciences, orthopedics and oncology. Most recently, Thomas had primary executive responsibility for Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, a partnership with the nations leading cancer provider, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Baptist MD Anderson will open a new facility in 2018 with more than 330,000 square feet and become a destination cancer center for the region.

Also under her leadership, the neurosciences program for Baptist Health experienced significant growth including the creation of the Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville; primary stroke center certification at Baptists community hospitals; comprehensive stroke center designation for Baptist Jacksonville; and the launch of the Baptist Neurological Institute. In orthopedics, she led the program and introduction of robot-assisted partial knee replacement surgery.

In addition to being a strong, effective leader, Nicole Thomas is a special person with a deep commitment to health care, said Hugh Greene, president and CEO of Baptist Health. Her fit with our culture and ability to make an impact were evident from the beginning.

We are going from strength to strength as we transition leadership at Baptist South. We are confident that Nicole will do an extraordinary job of leading Baptist South to the next chapter, added John Wilbanks, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Baptist South has become the health care anchor of its surrounding community, Thomas said. I look forward to working with team members and physicians to ensure we continue to be the provider of choice for the residents who live in southern Duval and St. Johns counties.

In becoming the first female to hold the hospital president title, Thomas said she is grateful for the mentorship and encouragement of top executives at Baptist, including Hugh Greene, John Wilbanks and Audrey Moran.

I feel a great sense of responsibility to serve as a role model for girls and women to follow. I want them to know that anything is possible. You can still blaze trails even today in 2016, Thomas said.

Thomas is already serving as a role model as outgoing chair of Women in Local Leadership for the United Way of Northeast Florida and a teacher in the childrens ministry at Bethel Baptist Institutional Church.

She serves on The Salvation Army of Northeast Floridas Advisory Board and member of the 2013 Leadership Jacksonville Class. She also was the first chapter president and served on the board of directors of the North Florida Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She has been honored for her community advocacy and leadership work, being named a Woman of Influence by the Jacksonville Business Journal in 2014 and receiving a Women in Business Award from the Jacksonville Womens Network in 2015. She also received the National Women of Achievement Profiles of Prominence in 2008 and the 2003 American College of Healthcare Executives Regents Young Healthcare Executive Award.

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About Baptist Health

Baptist Health is a faith-based, mission-driven system in Northeast Florida comprised of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville; Baptist Medical Center Beaches; Baptist Medical Center Nassau; Baptist Medical Center South; Baptist Clay Medical Campus and Wolfson Childrens Hospital  the regions only childrens hospital. All Baptist Health hospitals, along with Baptist Home Health Care, have achieved Magnet status for excellence in patient care. Baptist Health is part of Coastal Community Health, a regional affiliation between Baptist Health, Flagler Hospital and Southeast Georgia Health System forming a highly integrated hospital network focused on significant initiatives designed to enhance the quality and value of care provided to our contiguous communities. Baptist Health has the areas only dedicated heart hospital; orthopedic institute; womens services; neurological institute, including comprehensive neurosurgical services, a comprehensive stroke center and three primary stroke centers; a Bariatric Center of Excellence; a full range of psychology and psychiatry services; urgent care services; and primary and specialty care physicians offices throughout Northeast Florida. The Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center is a regional destination for multidisciplinary cancer care which is clinically integrated with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the internationally renowned cancer treatment and research institution in Houston. For more details, visit baptistjax.com.
ServerMonkey, a leading distributor of new and refurbished IT hardware, was recently selected to join the Google Trusted Stores program. To help shoppers identify online merchants that offer a great shopping experience, the Google Trusted Store badge is awarded to e-commerce sites that demonstrate a track record of on-time shipping and excellent customer service. When visiting the ServerMonkey website, shoppers will see a Google Trusted Store badge and can click on it for more information.

CEO Layla Wright had this to say - Were very proud of our recent inclusion in the Google Trusted Store program. Our top priority has always been the customer and being a part of this program further highlights this priority.

As an added benefit, when a shopper makes a purchase at a Google Trusted Store, they have the option to select free purchase protection from Google. Then in the unlikely event of an issue with their purchase, they can request Googles help, and Google will work with ServerMonkey and the customer to address the issue. As part of this, Google offers up to $1,000 lifetime purchase protection for eligible purchases.

Google Trusted Stores is entirely free, both for shoppers and for online stores.

About ServerMonkey - ServerMonkey (http://www.servermonkey.com) provides new and pre-owned IT hardware including servers, networking equipment, workstations, laptops and desktops. Customers of all sizes, both small and large enterprise, utilize our trained engineers and technicians to conduct on-site services on a global scale.

Servermonkeys value-added datacenter services include IT Asset Decommission and Disposition, Asset Recovery and Spare Parts Harvesting, Kitting, and other customized programs designed to improve ROI on IT hardware. Our OHSAS 18001:2007, ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified headquarters is located in Houston, Texas, and we ship internationally through hubs in Amsterdam and Hong Kong.
Kevin Roy - Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Genetics, Stanford University

A large portion of the RNA transcribed in eukaryotic cells is rapidly degraded in the nucleus. A poly-adenylation complex that is separate from the canonical poly(A) machinery is involved in initiating 3-5 degradation of nuclear RNAs. This non-canonical poly(A) machinery, called the Trf4/5-Air1/2-Mtr4 or TRAMP complex, catalyzes the addition of 3-4 adenosines on target RNA 3-ends. This tags the transcript for 3-5 exonuclease digestion by the nuclear RNA exosome, which can either degrade or trim the RNA in a way that depends on the presence of RNA structures or RNA-binding proteins.

Inactivating the nuclear exosome stabilizes these RNAs, which would otherwise be short-lived. The cellular polyadenylation that follows lengthens the oligo(A) tails to >30 adenosines. Most of these poly(A)+ 3-ends occur from non-coding and pervasive RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcripts undergoing transcription termination by the Nrd1-Nab3-Sen1 (NNS) complex. Mapping the precise 3-ends of these unstable RNAs is made possible by 3-sequencing of RNAs from exosome-inactivated cellswhich yields a high-resolution view of NNS termination genome-wide. Researchers were surprised to discover that different NNS-dependent terminators exhibit substantial heterogeneity in the width of the termination window. Through further analysis of NNS-terminators with a narrow termination window, they found that a particular set of DNA-binding proteins cooperate with NNS by roadblocking Pol II to promote efficient transcription termination genome-wide.

The researchers used QuantSeq 3 mRNA-Seq Library Prep Kits from Lexogen to multiplex more than 40 samples per sequencing lane and obtain between two-million and five-million reads per sample. Analyzing many different strains with various exosome and roadblocking factors inactivated, they demonstrated that inactivating roadblocks shifted the window of NNS termination downstream. Remarkably, they found that disabling NNS enabled elongation of Pol II through the same roadblockswhich helps explain how RNA processing signals control the outcome of collisions between Pol II and DNA binding proteins.

Lexogen is sponsoring a new, free educational webinar, Mapping nuclear-exosome targeted poly(A) tails with 3-RNA seq, which will discuss practical considerations involved in preparing QuantSeq 3-poly(A)+ libraries and in processing, mapping, and analyzing reads. Attendees will also learn how to cluster poly(A) tags and perform differential expression analysis on clusters, and perform different types of meta-site/pileup analyses. Continuing education credits will be offered through the PACE system.

The speaker is Kevin Roy, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in the laboratory of Dr. Lars Steinmetz in the Department of Genetics at Stanford University. Dr. Roy received a PhD in molecular biology in the laboratory of Dr. Guillaume Chanfreau at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). At UCLA, he studied environment-dependent RNA degradation pathways in yeast, and developed high-throughput methods to map poly(A)+ 3-ends of short-lived RNA species. His interests include high-throughput systems genetics, with a focus on how genetic variation interacts with environment to produce phenotype. Dr. Roys complete bio is found on the LabRoots website.

The free webinar, hosted by LabRoots, will be presented on June 22, 2016, at 9 am Pacific Time/12 pm Eastern Time/6 pm Central European Time.

For full details about the event, continuing education credits, and free registration, click here.

About Lexogen:

Lexogen, Vienna, Austria, is a biotech company that offers proprietary expression profiling technologies that enable detailed analysis of the complete transcriptome and individual full-length RNAs of interest. The company was founded in 2007 with the support of private capital and public funds, and is supported by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG, the Austria Wirtschaftsservice AWS, INiTS, and the Wirtschaftsagentur Wien. Half of its employees work in research and development. The company has a US subsidiary based in New Hampshire.

About LabRoots:

LabRoots is the leading scientific social networking website and producer of educational virtual events and webinars. Contributing to the advancement of science through content sharing capabilities, LabRoots is a powerful advocate in amplifying global networks and communities. Founded in 2008, LabRoots emphasizes digital innovation in scientific collaboration and learning, and is a primary source for current scientific news, webinars, virtual conferences, and more. LabRoots has grown into the worlds largest series of virtual events within the Life Sciences and Clinical Diagnostics community.
We are very excited to work with these innovative consumer health companies and our partner, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, to create an immersive environment for these startups, providing mentoring and resources to level-up their businesses. - Jim Deters

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare (PCH) and Galvanize today announced the opening of the application process for a second cohort of startup companies interested in participating in their joint health and wellness innovation program. Interested companies are encouraged to apply beginning July 15 at http://www.galvanize.com/pfizer/. The program cohort will last six months and is expected to start on August 15.

Galvanize and PCH began working with its first cohort of 12 companies in March. The startups selected are specializing in the development of potential health and wellness solutions in areas such as improved sleep, stress management, energy, aging and nutrition. Through the program they are gaining access to Galvanize's campus and work space in San Francisco, along with Galvanizes network of technical talent and investors, as well as the opportunity to work with health and business leaders at PCH.

We are very excited to work with these innovative consumer health companies and our partner, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, to create an immersive environment for these startups, providing mentoring and resources to level-up their businesses, said Galvanize CEO Jim Deters.

The technologies being developed and the innovative applications of data by the startups participating in the initial cohort are quite remarkable, said Annie Guzek, vice president, strategy, portfolio and insights, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. Engaging with these entrepreneurs has been exciting and stimulating for us and supports our efforts to examine a broad array of potential consumer health and wellness solutions. Were looking forward to continuing this process as we seek a second cohort of companies, she said.

Resources, expert advice, and incredible support from the Galvanize and PCH teams has turned Pilates Metrics into a more intelligent and efficient company, said Joseph Quinn, Co-founder of Pilates Metrics. Since joining, we have exceeded our fundraising projections, signed a partner agreement with Fletcher Pilates, and accelerated our development timeline. By the close of the program, we will go-to-market with massive momentum thanks in part to Pfizer and Galvanize.

Were thrilled to participate in this program. Our access to resources is amazing, from the mentors at Galvanize to high-level executives at Pfizer, said Quinn Jacobson, CEO and co-founder of Vibrado Technologies. The consumerization of healthcare and Pfizers interest in wearables creates an environment favoring innovation. We are excited to engage with Pfizer around creative, patient-centric solutions.

This is the latest in a string of collaborations for Galvanize with a number of large partners such as IBM and Allstate to help founders and students reach their full potential by providing access to talent, resources, and a massive startup network. For more information or to apply to the Fall 2016 cohort please visit:

About Galvanize

Galvanize is dynamic tech learning community that that offers education, workspace and networking for students, startups and large companies. Galvanize teaches web development, data science and data engineering to students, offers support and space to member companies and provides over 200 networking events across 8 urban campuses throughout the nation. Galvanize campuses bring together entrepreneurs, students, investors, mentors, and great people and companies to develop the skills, mindset and networks necessary to thrive in a technology driven world. To learn more about Galvanize, visit galvanize.com or like us on Facebook: facebook.com/GalvanizeHQ or follow us on Twitter @Galvanize.

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare

Pfizer Consumer Healthcare helps consumers around the world take health and wellness into their own hands. Our trusted brands, such as Advil, Caltrate, Centrum, ChapStick, Dimetapp, Emergen-C, Nexium24 HR and Robitussin are used by consumers around the world to improve and maintain their health and wellbeing.

Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of healthcare products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the worlds best-known consumer healthcare products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the worlds premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. For more information, please visit us at http://www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer_News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

About the companies participating in the inaugural Health and Wellness Innovation Program:

Brite Health - Niousha Zadeh, Sanaz Motahari, Alireza Forouzan

San Francisco Bay Area

Brite Health is a leader in brain health improvement and its platform has the ability to monitor and prevent cognitive impairment in an effective, engaging, and scalable manner.

Cognilab - Jose Barrios

Vancouver, CA

Cognilab is an online assessment platform for psychologists and psychiatrist to remotely assess patients using clinical scales and cognitive tests. The platform provides unparalleled speed, scale and superior data accuracy compared to traditional methodologies.

First Aid Shot Therapy - Mary Page Platerink

Burlingame, CA

First Aid Shot Therapy (F.A.S.T.) is a range of single-dose, liquid, over-the-counter (OTC) medications formulated to reimagine the way that Millennials manage their health and is currently available in convenience stores around the country.

SmartPlate- Anthony Ortiz

Philadelphia, PA

SmartPlate is the only intelligent plate that instantly analyzes entire meals for the 100+ million Americans who are currently doing this manually.

Inteliclinic - Kamil Adamczyk, Tomasz Kolodziejak, Janusz Fraczek

San Francisco, CA

Inteliclinic is an engineering studio specializing in artificial intelligence technologies and biosignal processing systems, such as Neuroon - a revolutionary wearable mask that combines advanced brainwave and pulse measurement technology with a sleeping mask.

LifeAssist Technologies - Val Ornoy

San Francisco, CA

LifeAssist is an enterprise SaaS company that provides a care-management platform and a voice-controlled reminder device to homecare agencies and senior housing operators.

LIGHTHOUSE - Dave Vockell

San Francisco, CA

LIGHTHOUSE helps doctors translate great medical instruction into powerful patient action in support of living with multiple chronic conditions. We offer our chronic care management program in partnership with the American Diabetes Association and qualify doctors for CCM Medicare incentives.

Pacifica Labs Inc. - Dale Beermann and Chris Goettel

San Francisco, CA

Pacifica is the fastest growing stress and anxiety management application in the world. Based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and relaxation, over 760,000 people have signed up to use Pacifica since the public launch in January 2015.

Pilates Metrics - Joseph and Karinne Quinn

San Francisco, CA

Pilates Metrics builds apps that translate Pilates practice into anatomy-based digital fitness reports.

Predictably Well - Juliet Oberding and Terje Norderhaug

San Francisco

Predictably Well enables proactive health management by forecasting day-to-day wellness and symptoms.

ROOT- Nehal Gajjar

San Francisco, CA

ROOT is a mobile app that reduces depression by helping teenagers and adults process emotional pain using therapeutic tools.

Vibrado Technologies - Quinn Jacobson and Cynthia Kuo

Mountain View, CA

Vibrados wearable technology provides physical therapy patients with high-quality, personalized attention at any time, in any location. It guides patients through exercises, automatically measures and highlights progress, and corrects patients form when needed.

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Mike White, Western Environmental Corporation Division Manager of Sales/Engineering recently said, "We are very excited to have earned this accreditation, which enables us to enhance and expand our services to our customers."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Western Environmental Corporation announces its new laboratory accreditation, which demonstrates their organization's competence to manage and to perform technical calibrations with precise measurements when building environmental chambers, clean rooms and metrology labs. The accreditation agency WEC utilized is A2LA, and this accreditation covers a variety of technical measurements.

The calibrations included in this accreditation include measuring acoustics and vibration with environmental surveys of sound level pressure, fluid quantities of air flow and airborne particles, mechanical measurements of pressure, optical quantities of illuminance and thermodynamics measurements of temperature and humidity. Western Environmental Corporation has also met standards for approval of field calibration services at a customer's site. Field measurements require a special expertise due to environmental variances and potential differences.

Mike White, Western Environmental Corporation Division Manager of Sales/Engineering recently said, "We are very excited to have earned this accreditation, which enables us to enhance and expand our services to our customers. Clients in a variety of industries can turn to us for the accurate measurements they need."

A number of industries depend on accurate measurements. Western Environmental Corporation has the accreditation to assist companies in the automotive, aerospace, military, pharmaceutical, medical and research industries. Companies in these industries typically need highly technical measurements for creating and building specialized equipment and components.

For more information about Western Environmental Corporation or this recent accreditation, customers are invited to visit the company's website at http://www.westernenvironmental.com. Customers can also contact the office directly by phone at 513-422-4088 or in person at 6820 Roosevelt Avenue, Franklin, Ohio 45005.

Western Environmental Corporation has been in business for over 20 years, assisting customers with specialized industrial design and construction of professional equipment and components. The company builds environmental chambers, clean rooms and metrology labs. By working closely with each company, Western Environmental Corporation is able to meet every customer's unique needs.
Winning a 2016 min Magazine Media Award is an outstanding accomplishment for our CURE Connections team, as the awards honor accomplishments across a diverse, international universe of magazine media. Past News Releases RSS

CURE Media Group, the nations leading digital and print media organization focused on patients with cancer, has won a 2016 min Magazine Media Award in the category of Digital & Social: Best Video Series for 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.

The 2016 min Magazine Media Awards recognize excellence among consumer and b2b publishing companies, and/or person or individual magazine titles. Winners were chosen by a distinguished panel of outside media experts and internal judges from the min staff.

The evolving, high-quality CURE Connections video series explores challenging topics such as being diagnosed with cancer, talking to your doctor about the diagnosis and next steps, myths about cancer and treatment, learning about your care team, healthy nutrition in cancer care, financial assistance for cancer patients, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and taking on the caregiver role.

Winning a 2016 min Magazine Media Award is an outstanding accomplishment for our CURE Connections team, as the awards honor accomplishments across a diverse, international universe of magazine media, says Mike Hennessy Jr., president of CURE Media Group. The award ideally recognizes the teams focus on providing patients with cancer with an eclectic offering of videos aimed to help them on their personal cancer journeys.

Since acquiring CURE Media Group in 2014, Michael J. Hennessy Associates Inc. has significantly invested in new products, digital and live event media, and program enhancements, such as with CURE Connections, in support of the personal needs of its subscribers and readers.

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.

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Phil Lorenz (Personal Injury) David Guy Stevens (Owner / DUI and Criminal Defense) Kate Sharp (Divorce / Family Law) and David Haskins (Personal Injury / Civil Litigator) We are excited to have both David Haskins and Phil Lorenz as new members of the team. Both of these seasoned attorneys will be major assets to the firm and our clients. Past News Releases RSS

Attorney David Guy Stevens, founder of the Law Offices of David Guy Stevens, LLC, recently announced the firm has added two new attorneys. We are excited to have both David Haskins and Phil Lorenz as new members of the team, said Stevens. Both of these seasoned attorneys will be major assets to the firm and our clients.

Haskins has ten years of experience working as a litigator on a wide range of civil areas of practice, but mainly focuses on personal injury cases, workers compensation and medical malpractice. He attended the University of WisconsinMadison where he received a B.S. in History and Biological Aspects of Conservation. Haskins later attended Northern Illinois University College of Law where he received his Juris Doctorate, graduating Cum Laude.

Lorenz, a DePaul University graduate with a B.S. in Commerce with Honors who received his Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School, has been an attorney practicing in the area of personal injury for ten years. During the past decade, Lorenz has cultivated relationships with medical experts, dentists, insurance company personnel and highly respected medical doctors.

Phil has the resources and experience to handle all types of personal injury cases, such as vehicle accidents, dog bites, slip and falls, product liability, workers compensation or any other injury caused by the negligence of others, said Stevens, who will be handling cases with Lorenz and Haskins as a team. I feel privileged to work with both Phil and Dave. When it comes to personal injury cases, they have been in the trenches fighting the fight. They really know their stuff and have gotten great results.

About the Law Offices of David Guy Stevens, LLC

David Guy Stevens has a team of skilled attorneys who practice in the areas of criminal defense, DUI, divorce, child custody, child support and personal injury. For more information, please call (630) 486-1080, or visit http://www.davidstevenslawoffice.com. The law office is located at 75 Executive Drive, Suite 357, Aurora, IL 69504.

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.
Iron Edison Lithium Iron battery for solar "We have taken our experience and built a Lithium Iron battery that is designed from the ground up to be compatible with existing charge controllers and inverters that are used across the renewable energy industry.

Iron Edison Battery Company is introducing its new Lithium Iron battery, a cutting-edge solar battery designed to be fully compatible with off-grid solar, inverters and charge controllers.

The Lithium Iron battery will be unveiled at The Energy Fair in Custer, Wisconsin, June 17-19. The Energy Fair is the longest-running renewable energy and sustainable living event in the United States.

We are breaking new ground by offering this Lithium Iron battery, said Iron Edison CEO Brandon Williams. Iron Edison has always focused on offering alternative batteries, and we have a lot of experience in setting up all the supporting equipment to work great with our batteries. We have taken this experience and built a Lithium Iron battery that is designed from the ground up to be compatible with existing charge controllers and inverters which are used across the renewable energy industry.

Iron Edisons Lithium Iron battery uses Lithium Iron Phosphate cells, also known as LiFePO4, known to be the safest and most thermally stable type within the lithium-ion family. Iron Edisons battery includes an integrated Battery Management System and DC disconnect for maximum safety. The Lithium Iron battery is fully compatible with industry-leading inverters and charge controllers from Outback Power, Schneider Electric, SMA, MidNite Solar, Morningstar and Magnum Energy.

The Iron Edison Lithium Iron battery is designed and assembled at the companys headquarters located just outside Denver, Colorado. The Lithium Iron battery is available in standard 12 Volt, 24 Volt and 48 Volt configurations, with components housed inside a rugged, NEC-compliant steel enclosure. Capacities range from 2 kWh to 42 kWh, with custom high-capacity and high-voltage models available for commercial applications like peak load shaving and UPS.

The Iron Edison Lithium Iron battery is an ideal replacement for lead-acid batteries, with longer cycle life, smaller footprint, and maintenance-free operation. Residential applications include solar battery backup, grid-zero and off-grid energy storage. Commercial applications include high voltage battery backup, off-grid telecommunications power and peak load shaving.

The Lithium Iron battery is the next step in energy storage, Williams said. It offers extremely high power in a very small package. The maintenance-free operation of the Lithium Iron battery is a great fit for everyday homeowners. We are offering cutting-edge battery technology in a package thats easy to install and operate

Iron Edison will demonstrate a fully functional Lithium Iron battery system at Booth A33 at The Energy Fair on June 17-19, 2016 in Custer, Wisconsin. The Energy Fair brings over 15,000 attendees together to learn about clean energy and sustainability. Hosted by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, The Energy Fair is the longest-running event of its kind in the nation and features over 250 workshops and 200 exhibitors. The Iron Edison team will host a workshop on battery sizing and system design during the event.

The Iron Edison Lithium Iron battery will also be showcased at The Battery Show, September 13-15 in Novi, Michigan.

Founded in 2010, Iron Edison offers alternative battery chemistries for renewable energy applications along with system design services. Its team has designed hundreds of off-grid and battery backup systems around the world using Nickel Iron or Lithium Iron battery types. Iron Edison is dedicated to helping people learn about renewable energy, and is always happy to help. Iron Edison offers the longest warranty to back the best performing solar battery systems available.

For more information on the Iron Edison Lithium Iron battery, call 720-432-6433, email info(at)ironedison(dot)com, or visit IronEdison.com.
Kevin Brockmyre I was very impressed with National Nails company values and look forward to the challenge of such an important role for the company. National Nail has a great reputation in the industry and has an aggressive growth strategy.

Kevin Brockmyre has joined National Nail as Market Development Manager for New England. In his new position, Brockmyre will help develop business opportunities throughout New England for the companys proprietary brands that include CAMO, PRO-FIT, and STINGER.

We are excited to have Kevin join the National Nail family. He has extensive knowledge of the building products industry and the New England market, said W. Scott Baker, President and CEO. We look forward to his contributions to the success of our brands in his new role.

Prior to joining National Nail, Brockmyre was Regional Sales Manager - New England for the Pine River Group, where he helped introduce a new modified wood product called Kebony Wood to the market. He had also worked for Boston Cedar in sales for decking, railing and trim.

I was very impressed with National Nails company values and look forward to the challenge of such an important role for the company, said Brockmyre. National Nail has a great reputation in the industry and has an aggressive growth strategy.

Brockmyre and his wife Jean have three grown daughters and reside in Amesbury, Massachusetts.

About National Nail

National Nail Corp., headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., is an employee-owned manufacturer and distributor of high quality, innovative building products and service solutions for the residential and commercial construction industries. National Nail brands include PRO-FIT Fasteners, CAMO Edge Deck Fastening, and STINGER Roofing Systems.
We can bill employers directly, which frees law firms from endless and costly accounting overhead, Cathi Helm said. Online payment is also available, as well as credit card payment via fax, email, phone, or direct to employer billing so the law firm do Past News Releases RSS My Classified Ads-Russell Johns...

Advertising Media Specialist Alex...

Americas largest annual gathering on immigration law takes place this month at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Among the list of exclusive exhibitors are Labor Certification Specialists from MCA-Russell Johns (http://www.MCAads.com).

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) conference is scheduled for June 22-25 and includes nearly 100 exhibitors, more than 170 sessions, various open forums, a New Members reception and other special events. Delivering the keynote speech is Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF).

AILA, based in Washington, D.C., describes itself as an advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy. MCA-Russell Johns, with headquarters in Florida, assists its clients with a wide range of labor certification services, including Program Electronic Review Management (PERM), H1A, H2B and all Temporary Work Visas.

We have been assisting attorneys and employers with labor certification services for over 20 years, said MCAs Director of Financial Operations Steve Juanette, who attended last years AILAs conference in National Harbor, MD, and will be at booth # 339 this year, welcoming current clients and making new friends as well.

We are focused on a clients complete peace of mind and 100 percent satisfaction, he said, adding that MCAs labor certification services will be completed on schedule and in full compliance with Department of Labor (DOL) regulations while saving clients both time and money.

In addition, MCA-Russell Johns provides secure online access where documents can be delivered and retrieved throughout the entire process.

We quote, place, track, and verify ad placements while giving clients real-time access to their documents, Juanette said.

MCAs Labor Certification services include:

SWA,

Trade or professional organizations,

Private employment firms,

Campus placement offices,

Local and ethnic newspapers,

Radio and television ads,

Employer website postings.

We can bill employers directly, which frees law firms from endless and costly accounting overhead, Cathi Helm said. Online payment is also available, as well as credit card payment via fax, email, phone, or direct to employer billing so the law firm doesnt have to manage excess accounting.

Heres what makes MCA different:

DEDICATION: We are partners, not just order-takers. A clients success is our success.

INITIATIVE: Taking the initiative generates trust and reinforces our commitment to serve clients. Being proactive lets clients know that we are actively engaged, not just going through the motions.

PROMPTNESS: We identify problems quickly, own them and come up with solutions. Dealing with issues instead of making excuses adds value and speeds up the process. It shows MCA is a partnernot just a vendor.

AVAILABILITY: We are always available. Mornings. Evenings. Holidays. Weekends. We're ready to help.

For more information about MCA-Russell Johns and its various services, including the placement of ads in newspapers for immigration-related PERM cases, call Cathi Helm (813) 333-1063 or (813) 920-0197. The Fax is (813) 792-2630. The web address is http://myclassifiedads.net/laborcertification

ABOUT: MCA-Russell Johns is a multi-media agency based in Florida. It has offices at 5020 W. Linebaugh Ave., Suite # 102, in Tampa, 33626. The telephone number is (813) 920-0197; the Fax is (813) 792-2630. Its portfolio of services includes assisting attorneys and employers with labor certification.
Teen Suicide Expert Jeff Yalden Jeffs legacy will live on for quite some time in our community  Brett Boggs, Supt. of Schools, Tippecanoe Valley, IN

Teen Suicide Expert and Teen Mental Health Speaker Jeff Yalden has been hired to visit Woodstock, Ontario as they are concerned about a "Suicide Contagion", said the Canadian Mental Health Association. Police in Woodstock say that five people aged 19 and under have taken their own lives since the beginning of 2016 in what an official of the Canadian Mental Health Association is calling a "Suicide Contagion."

The chief of police, Chief William Renton, says in the same time frame that 36 people have expressed suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide in Oxford County, which includes Woodstock and seven neighboring communities. They declared Woodstock, Ontario, "A City in Crisis!"

Originally, a teenager reached out to Youth Motivational Speaker and Teen Suicide Prevention expert Jeff Yalden asking for his help. Shortly thereafter, community members started reaching out to Jeff for his help in their community. Jeff immediately sent a video on YouTube: A City in Crisis Video. Since that video, the community has decided to bring Jeff in.

On Thursday night, June 16, 2016 at 6:30 pm Jeff Yalden will be speaking at the Oxford Auditorium in Woodstock. The talk is FREE and open to the public. This event is prepared to bring over 3500 people to listen to Jeff speak. Jeff will talk about his own personal experiences, struggles, and how he overcomes major depression and PTSD to live a balanced life and inspires others to do so too. More importantly, Jeff will talk about his Theory on Teen Suicide and the two main components that cause a teenager to make that life ending decision. Jeff's talk will be inspirational and uplifting while speaking to the heart of his audience.

Jeff Yalden will also spend the following three days in Woodstock meeting with small groups and families. He will talk personally with classmates, families, and individuals needing support. There will also be mental health professionals with Jeff during his visit to Woodstock.

Any questions, please contact the office of Jeff Yalden at 800-948-9289 or his office at office(at)JeffYalden.com. You can also reach out to Ms. Rene McIntyre who is the coordinator of bringing Jeff to Woodstock. You can reach her at 226-228-5879 or email her at totcm(at)icloud.com.

Teen Suicide - STOP. WAIT. THINK!
Pasadena City College Portfolium Network The support and service our campus experienced with Portfolium exceeded our expectations."

After signing a partnership in January with the California Community Colleges system (CCC), Portfolium.coms CCC partners are off and running with the ePortfolio and Career Readiness platform. Heres what CCC faculty and administrators have to say about the experience so far:

"I've done lots of class workshops on various ePortfolio platforms over the years. Now that Portfolium is integrated with Canvas, my student orientation workshop success rate has become 100%. The hurdles typically faced by students no longer exist and students agree it is an easy system to use."

"The support which Portfolium provided me has been phenomenal! They return every email and phone call to answer every question. They have created flyers and marketing materials to assist in my journey to get the product adopted and accepted on my campus. They have been amazingly helpful!"

-Linda Delzeit, Online Program Coordinator at LA Trade Technical College

Portfolium was probably the easiest launch of my career. It was painless. In less than a week, we had the Cabrillo College site up and ready for students. Portfolium gave me template emails to introduce students to the product. Students have reacted very positively to this new opportunity to build a career portfolio. Faculty in CTE and STEM programs are embedding it in their curriculum. Alumni are telling former Cabrillo classmates that they are using it at the university and that it will transfer with them. Students began adopting it almost overnight.

-Dennis Bailey-Fougnier, VP Student Services, Cabrillo College

"The support and service our campus experienced with Portfolium exceeded our expectations. They answered every question promptly and thoroughly, supporting us completely through the entire process."

-Amanda Taintor, Faculty Coordinator Instructional Design, Reedley College

Portfolium is also partnered with the California State University System (CSUs) and the University of California System (UCs). The existing UC and CSU system partnerships added more value for the CCCs creating a powerful network and skills competency marketplace, as 51% of CCC students transfer to a CSU or UC.

"Every student in the CSU, UC and CCC now has a chance to connect and view each other's work. In addition, employers will be able to access this goldmine of talent, which has the potential to streamline California students school-to-work transition."

-Deone Zell, Associate Vice President of Academic Technology at California State Northridge

CCC Adoption of Portfolium

Thus far, the following CCC colleges have launched Portfolium to take advantage of the free service that students can take with them after graduating/transferring: Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Pasadena City College, Reedley College, Cabrillo College, Palo Verde College, Victor Valley College, and Gavilan College. Theyve joined the Cal State and UC Systems in creating an integrated academic and career advancement pathway for students across the state of California.

If you would like to activate Portfolium on your campus, contact Ashley Hyman at ashley(at)portfolium(dot)com.

About Portfolium

Portfolium partners with colleges & universities to help students connect learning with opportunity. The ePortfolio network helps 5M+ students from over 150 partner institutions manage their skills and launch their careers. Portfoliums cloud-based platform empowers students with lifelong opportunities to capture, curate, and convert skills into job offers, while giving learning institutions and employers the tools they need to assess competencies and recruit talent.

About The California Community Colleges System

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, serving over 2.1 million students attending 113 colleges in 72 community college districts.
For inexperienced attorneys, preparing QDROs can be a minefield of mistakes waiting to happen.

Dr. Robert Hetsler Jr., J.D., CPA, CVA, FCPA, CFF, MAFF, the founder of QDRONow.com which specializes in preparing QDROs for divorce attorneys in all 50 states, has released a new 5-part video series detailing mistakes that attorneys common make when preparing divorce settlement agreements for their clients. The videos are available for on-demand viewing via QDRONow.coms website and YouTube channel.

The videos, which were filmed during Dr. Hetslers presentation last month at the Financial Planning Association of Georgias 2016 Regional Symposium in Atlanta, warn attorneys that they put their clients financial well-being at risk  along with their own revenues and reputations  when they make QDRO preparation errors such as (but not limited to):



Misunderstanding their clients plan type

Failing to properly address all earnings and losses

Incorrectly equalizing multiple plans

Incorrectly naming the plan

Ignoring surviving spouse issues

Failing to establish a clear division date

Failing to consider all of the risks and implications before settling on a fixed amount

Ignoring loan balances

Failing to assign responsibility for preparing the QDRO

The videos also highlight how attorneys can avoid these common mistakes, while at the same time providing their clients with more value and support.

For inexperienced attorneys, preparing QDROs can be a minefield of mistakes waiting to happen, commented Dr. Hetsler, whose company recently entered into a referral relationship with LionsBridge Wealth Management, LLC, which utilizes Charles Schwab & Co. as their primary custodian to provide divorcing clients with access to timely financial management expertise regarding their qualified retirement accounts. However, many common errors can be avoided with the right education, and choosing the right expert partners.

During the presentation, Dr. Hetlser also spoke about the Transitional Support Advisor role that he introduced earlier this year in a widely acclaimed article published on QuickBuzzRead.com.

Many divorce attorneys are asked by their clients, or in some cases expected by their clients, to help them regain their financial footing during and after divorce, commented Dr. Hetsler. The Transitional Support Advisor provides this essential piece of the client service puzzle by answering financial planning-related questions, and making appropriate referrals based each clients specific needs. Its a relationship that clearly benefits everyone. Divorce attorneys can focus on serving their clients legal needs and not their financial requirements, while clients get the support and guidance they need and deserve.

As the worlds first Transitional Support Advisor, Dr. Hetslers unique skill set positions him to:

Value a business

Identify hidden assets

Determine the income of self-employed spouses

Offer expert witness testimony

Provide financial planning

Make referrals to insurance providers.

Provide direction on the purchase or liquidation of real estate (Dr. Hetlser is also a licensed real estate agent)

In addition, unless trial testimony is required, Dr. Hetsler can function as Transitional Support Advisor remotely, which ensures that all clients regardless of location receive the full benefit of personal relationships with insurance agents, realtors, money managers, insurance agents, auto insurance, tax professionals, and any other type of professional both during and after divorce.

For all other information, including media inquiries, contact Dr. Hetsler at 844-234-QDRO (7376) or email Robert(at)qdronow(dot)com.

About QDROnow.com

QDROnow.com is a wholly-owned division of Qualified Intermediary Capital Advisors. The company is led by Dr. Robert Hetsler Jr., J.D., CPA, CVA, FCPA, CFF, MAFF, CMAP, who has been preparing retirement division orders for over a decade. Dr. Hetsler is a financial specialist in the division of retirement and pension accounts in divorce cases. Because of his unique set of financial skills, Dr. Hetsler is often called upon during divorce proceedings by attorneys and mediators nationwide to provide expert assistance in the division of retirement accounts. He has testified as an expert witness in divorce cases involving the valuing of retirement and pension accounts. He has also been retained to provide pension valuations and prepare qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs) for 401(k) accounts, military retirement divisions, pensions, 403(b) accounts, FERS, non-qualified plans and many other types of retirement accounts in thousands of divorce cases.

Learn more at https://www.qdronow.com.
Shiver Hamilton recently negotiated a large settlement on behalf of the young man shot at a DeKalb County apartment complex. Because the settlement was confidential, the parties names are being withheld.

According to the Complaint filed in DeKalb County State Court, the victim was visiting friends at a DeKalb County apartment complex when he was approached by a stranger. The Complaint went on to allege that the young man was shot and ultimately lost his leg below the knee due to the gunshot wound.

When Shiver Hamilton became involved, they learned through discovery pleadings that a prior shooting had occurred in the same complex.

Shiver Hamilton filed a Complaint in DeKalb County State Court alleging that the apartment complex should have done more to prevent this crime, including hire security.

"This was an excellent result for a deserving young man," said Shiver Hamilton partner Jeff Shiver.

The case settled at a mediation at Henning Mediation Services in Atlanta, Georgia shortly before trial.

The settlement, $3,750,000, will help pay for the young man's medical needs as well as lost wages, said Jeff Shiver, one of the lawyers for the young man.

Sean Williams and Gary Andrews, lawyers with the Cochran Firm, in Atlanta, also represented the young man.

Shiver Hamilton focuses on personal injury trial work and handles cases throughout the Southeast. For more information, call (404) 593-0020 or visit http://www.shiverhamilton.com.
Toshiba International Corporation (TIC) today announced its newest G9000 Series uninterruptible power system (UPS) ratings. The G9000 Series is the largest three-phase UPS designed by Toshiba utilizing fifth-generation insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) technology configured in a 3-level pulse-width modulation (PWM) architecture enabling these UPSs to be 97% efficient while operating in double-conversion mode, minimizing cooling requirements. Additionally, the G9000 Series 1330 kW  2000 kW UPS units are field-upgradable, allowing critical power users to increase their capacity as needed.

The Toshiba G9000 Series UPS 1330 kW  2000 kW is a premier solution for datacenter and co-location applications which require high reliability, high efficiency, small footprint, and low power usage effectiveness, said Greg Mack, Vice President and General Manager of the TIC Power Electronics Division. The G9000 Series, with digital signal processing control provides instantaneous waveform and current response, enabling the highest power quality for all UPS users.

Jesus Penalver, Product Manager for the TIC Power Electronics Division, added, For system-redundant high-reliability UPS applications, the Toshiba G9000 Series excels with low system component count, higher efficiency and the ability to grow power system infrastructure along with customer load demands.
If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity.

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A New Mexico bookstore/art gallery preps for its grand opening; the Kickstarter for Queen's Bookshop winds down; a Minneapolis B&N could make way for a drug store; and more.

Grand Opening for Taos Book Gallery on June 18: Newly minted retirees Mike and Mary Jane Butler are getting back into the book business. Former owners of the Colorado's Avalanche Bookstore, the Butlers' New Mexico store will sell new and used titles, as well as sculptures created by Mary Jane and novels written by Mike (who has authored five titles in Arcadia Publishings Images of America series).

Final Week for Queens Bookshop Kickstarter: Three former Barnes & Noble booksellers are heading into the final stretch to raise $70,000 to open a bookstore in the Queens section of New York City. Theyre almost half way to their goal.

Cookbook Festival Launches in Boston: This weekend (June 17-18) Boston Public Market, the citys first year-round indoor market, will host the first of what organizers hope will be an annual event to celebrate cookbooks. The festival kicks off with an awards ceremony on Friday night, following by day-long presentations and cookbook signings on Saturday.

B&N to Close to Make Way for Drive-Thru Drug Store: The company slated to take over Calhoun Village Shopping Center in Southwest Minneapolis said that the Barnes & Noble would close and a drug store will replace it. The City Planning Commission will review the proposal later this month.

Womraths in Tenably Closing: At the end of June, Bob Kutik is shuttering the New Jersey bookstore founded by his father Harry 67 years ago. A closing sale has already begun, which includes discounts on books and all the stores furnishings.

Art Show Marks End of LAs Gay Circus of Books: Barry and Karen Mason are looking for new tenants for their bookstore in the Silver Lake section of Los Angeles. Within the next year they also plan to close the original Book Circus in West Hollywood, which opened in 1967. In honor of the stores closing the Masons are hosting an art exhibit called Art Must Go, curated by artist Billy Miller.
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MOLINE -- East Moline and its new city manager spent an equal amount of time looking for each other.

Darin W. Girdler has been searching for a new opportunity since leaving Pekin in January.

Meanwhile, East Moline has been looking for someone to replace former city administrator Cole O'Donnell, who resigned at the end of December to accept a similar job in Dixon.

Mayor John Thodos has filled in as city administrator since January, and is relieved to have someone else take it over.

Mr. Girdler couldn't wait to get started. The city council approved his appointment on June 6, and his first day was a week later.

"I'm getting my feet wet and getting to know the people who want to see East Moline get better," Mr. Girdler said during a Tuesday meeting with the newspaper's editorial board. "I'm happy to be here, working alongside the mayor and city council to promote East Moline as best we can to ensure efficient day-to-day operations."

It's too early to discuss specific goals, he said.

His previous experience as city manager in Pekin and Farmer City, along with about six years of commercial brokerage work at firms in Highland and Edwardsville, is promising in terms of economic development, Mayor Thodos said.

Mr. Girdler worked his way up the municipal government ladder, starting in the 1990s, mowing parks in Minier, while a student at Illinois State University.

"You could say I started at the bottom and worked my way up," he said. "I've always enjoyed municipal government work and wanted to stay in Illinois" where he understands state laws, rules and regulations.

He also is a licensed Illinois real estate broker and technology expert, and said he wants to keep the city's eastmoline.com website current.

Mr. Girdler came highly recommended by the Pekin mayor who hired him, and his departure from Pekin was politically motivated, Mayor Thodos said.

The most important thing Mr. Girdler said he learned in Pekin was that "you can never communicate too much."

While in Pekin, he faced some complaints about not communicating enough, according to Peoria-area media reports.

Mayor Thodos said he was familiar with the complaints, but they were offset by glowing recommendations.

Mr. Girdler plans to commute from Pekin to East Moline until he and his wife, Karen, find a new home in East Moline, which they hope is by the end of summer.

The couple has three sons, a 28-year-old, a 24-year-old and a 15-year-old who will be a sophomore at United Township High School.

"My wife and I are attracted to this good, diverse community," Mr. Girdler said. "The Quad-Cities has a lot to offer."

Darin Girdler

Birth date: 9/12/1970

Hometown: Danvers, Ill.

Hobbies: Golfing, traveling.

One thing I feel strongly about: "Being fair."

I wish I knew how to: Golf better.
ROCK ISLAND  Rock Island-Milan School board members on Tuesday debated the merits and process of implementing standards-based grading.

Board members on Tuesday heard from administrator Kathy Ruggeberg on the district's process to switch from traditional grading to standards-based grading, which she said emphasizes the actual measurement of academic performance. She said standards-based grading allows parents and teachers to zone in on exactly where students are succeeding and struggling and to approach those struggles with a plan for improvement.

Ms. Ruggeberg said the district has been working on implementing standards-based grading for a few years now. She said the State Board of Education is now recommending the entire state switch to standards-based grading. Furthermore, she said 100 percent of Illinois public universities are on board with standards-based grading and the majority of Illinois private universities are also on board, with 18 percent of private universities stating they are hesitant and in need of more information.

Ms. Ruggeberg said standards-based grading began in Rock Island with kindergarten through sixth grade students in 2013-14. The district now hopes to have standards-based grading fully implemented for the junior high level the 2016-17 school year. Standards-based grading may be phased in or fully implemented at the high school by the 2017-18 school year.

Several board members said they had concerns about the implementation of the system. Board member Tiffany Stoner-Harris said she was concerned that students may not be prepared to enter college because she said she believed standards-based grading did not emphasize homework or study habits. Ms. Ruggeberg said homework and participation is emphasized as key habits of success and that research shows students increase their participation under standards-based grading.

Board member Earl Strupp said he had several concerns about the system, including the lack of requirement for turning in homework.

Board president Linda Dothard said she has researched the system and found that some schools have returned to traditional grading. She said she needed more evidence that parents truly understand standards-based grading. Ms. Ruggeberg said the district has in the past held parent information sessions and collected feedback, and that process will continue.

In other business, board members:

 Recognized spring sports athletes

 Heard a report on Iowa Jobs for American Graduates, iJAG

 Heard an end-of year English Language Learner program, including information on the loss of several paraprofessionals due to state "highly qualified" requirements. Administrators said they are working with a team to help potential para-professionals to pass required testing.

For an extended story, view the online version ...
BRUSSELS (AP)  NATO has reinforced its defenses against Russia from the Baltic to the Black Sea, delivering what the alliance's chief called a clear message to Moscow that "if any of our allies is attacked the whole alliance will respond as one."

Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance's secretary-general, told a news conference Tuesday that NATO defense ministers agreed to deploy four multinational battalions on a rotational basis to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

He said the ministers also agreed on "tailored measures" to enhance "defense and deterrence" in the Black Sea region.

He said: "NATO is an alliance that delivers."

Earlier, as the defense ministers began the first of two days of meetings at NATO headquarters, he called "Defending our territory and protecting our people" NATO's primary task."
Meng Brings NASA Astronaut To Queens On October 17, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) brought NASA astronaut Dr. Jonny Kim to Queens where he met and spoke with students at Francis...

Celebrating Columbus The Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Queens (FIAO) held their annual Columbus Day parade in Astoria, on Saturday, October 8, during Italian Heritage Month. The...

Russo-Elling Mourned More than 300 first responders lined up on Thursday night to honor FDNY EMT Lt. Alison Russo-Elling, as her body was placed into a waiting...
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Rated 3.5 out of 5 by 148 reviewers.

Rated 5 out of 5 by ontherox LOVED EVERY BITE!!!!! I AM FIRST GENERATION ITALIAN-AMERICAN AND EMERIL'S SAUCE AND MEATBALLS ARE THE BEST WE HAVE TASTED SINCE MY DEAR GRANDMOTHER'S. THIS IS MY VERY FIRST REVIEW ON FOOD AND I'VE BEEN A MEMBER SINCE 1989. THAT'S HOW HIGHLY I THINK OF THIS PRODUCT. PLEASE CONTINUE TO OFFER THIS WONDERFUL, FLAVORFUL, SEASONED TO PERFECTION PRODUCT. JUST DELICIOUS ! MY COMPLIMENTS TO THE CHEF !!!!!! 12-02-16

Rated 5 out of 5 by Bunny50 Yum We love these. Have ordered numerous times and they are always great. We get the Turkey. Love them Emeril!! 11-03-16

Rated 1 out of 5 by LadyZee NOT GOOD!!! These meatballs were not good and the sauce was very oily!! I took the meatballs out and put them in my own sauce and they were a little better. 09-14-16

Rated 5 out of 5 by SusanI Exceptional Taste and Quality - Delicious! Our family very much enjoys these turkey meatballs. We have ordered several times and will continue. They are moist, tender, flavorful, just the right amount of spice and made with safe ingredients of the highest quality. I trust Emeril when it comes to providing wholesome enjoyable meals for my family. Delicious, convenient and proudly served to my family with peace of mind! Thank you Emeril and QVC! 09-14-16

Rated 4 out of 5 by ukcatfan Meatballs Good but I can't find my instructions on how long to cook them when they are thawed...... Can anyone help? 08-09-16

Rated 1 out of 5 by Lump Disappointing The beef meatballs were very disappointing. The texture was rubbery, the flavor too garlicy and way too spicy. I don't believe I saw that sausage and brioche were added when they were shown on air. The quality didn't warrant the price either. The packaging with 3 packs is too large. Once I had opened the 1st pack I had no desire to eat the other two. I wish I had thought of returning them but didn't realize food could be sent back. 08-08-16

Rated 1 out of 5 by ScarletDove Not impressed! Neither the meatballs nor the sauce was robust or flavorful enough for my taste...my meat sauce and marinara sauce is much richer and flavorful. I guess I also do not like large meatballs for they were too large and too bland. I added some jarred Bertolli sauce to make it better, but it was so so and I will not reorder. Thought from Emeril this dish would be something special--it was not! 07-20-16

Rated 5 out of 5 by KCalifornia International Foodie Gift....GREAT " I gave these to an international foodie. His response was THESE ARE AWESOME! ;) Emeril -- these are wonderful, flavorful and really nice meatballs..the beef was purchased. Try them for sure! " 06-29-16
G'day! It's Murray here. I've put together a little quiz to test your musical knowledge. Think you can score top marks in Murray's Magic Music Quiz? Give it a go now!
The federal government will provide 380m towards the enhancements, with the remaining 70m coming from the City of Vienna.

Two major projects are planned for the period up to 2025. The Hutteldorf - Meidling line will be upgraded at a cost of 265m to enable the operation of higher-frequency services on Line S80 with track-doubling on single-track sections and construction of three new stations. The project is due to be completed by 2025.

The second project involves extending Line S80 from its current northern terminus from Hirschstetten at present to Aspern North via an interchange with U-Bahn Line U2 at Hausfeldstrasse. The extension will provide an S-Bahn connection for a major urban regeneration project at Aspern.

The extension involves track-doubling on the section from Erzherzog-Karl-Strae to Aspern as part of a scheme to electrify the Stadlau  Marchegg line, which will also be at least partly doubled.

The project is due to be completed in 2023, providing a journey time of around 35 minutes between Aspern North and Hutteldorf.

https://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/obb-to-rebuild-vienna-meidling-hutteldorf-line.html
Half of the cost of the 35m order is being met by the German federal government through the Municipal Transport Financing Act (GVFG).

Assembly will be carried out at Skoda's plant in Plzen, Czech Republic, with deliveries scheduled for 2018-19.

Each 33m-long 2.65m-wide five-section LRV will accommodate 192 passengers, 62 of them seated, and the trams will be the first in Chemnitz to be equipped with passenger Wi-Fi.

The 600V dc bidirectional vehicles will supersede CVAG's fleet of 10 Tatra T3D-M high-floor trams, which date from 1988 and are now in urgent need of replacement.

CVAG tested a ForCity 15T vehicle from Prague in 2012.
Two vintage trolleys that once ran on the George Benson Waterfront Streetcar Line in Seattle have arrived in St. Louis for use by the Loop Trolley.

A third Seattle trolley was shipped to Iowa, where it will be renovated and refurbished along with two Portland trolleys. The three refurbished trolleys will be put into service on the Loop Trolley system in Spring 2017.

The vintage Seattle trolleys are in beautiful shape, with wood-panel interiors and brass hardware, said Joe Edwards, chairman of the Loop Trolley Transportation Development District and owner of Blueberry Hill in the Delmar Loop. King County Metro Transit did a wonderful job of maintaining and storing them.

The Seattle trolleys currently are stored in a Metro rail yard but later will be moved to the Loop Trolley maintenance and storage facility on Delmar Blvd.

The W-class electric trolley cars were originally brought to Seattle from Melbourne, Australia. The trams were built by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board between 1923 and 1956.

The two Portland trolley cars are Brill-replica streetcars that were used on the Portland Vintage Trolley service in Portland, Ore. Those two cars were designed to look like 1903 streetcars but were actually built in the early 1990s. All of the working trolleys will be modified to meet ADA regulations.

The Loop Trolley is a 2.2-mile fixed-track vintage electric trolley system currently under construction linking University City and Forest Park, with a turnaround at the Missouri History Museum.
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Early Sunday morning, 49 people were killed and more than 50 were injured as Omar Mateen opened fire at Pulse, a popular gay nightclub in Orlando. It was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

RAND experts have previously noted that America's gun violence problem is larger and much more complex than mass shootings and recommended more research to help inform rational gun policy.

The gunman reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS moments before the rampage. But there have been no signs that he was in contact with the group or that it somehow orchestrated the attack from overseas.

In this roundup of tweets, comments, and commentary, RAND experts provide perspective on last weekend's tragedy, what it likely means within the context of the campaign against ISIS, and more.

The shooting aligns with recent ISIS losses in Syria in Iraq. Homegrown attacks are almost a byproduct of military success against the group, said RAND's Colin Clarke:

#Orlando attack could provide propaganda boost to #ISIS which has suffered losses of territory, finances & recruits over past several months  Colin P. Clarke (@ColinPClarke) June 12, 2016

He also noted that this is exactly what ISIS was encouraging with its recent message from spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani:

PT: This is exactly the kind of morale boost the group hoped for when Adnani released his #Ramadan message urging #ISIS followers to attack  Colin P. Clarke (@ColinPClarke) June 12, 2016

The attack also highlights the nature of the threat facing America, which RAND's Brian Michael Jenkins described late last year as less one of infiltration and more one of inspiration. Homegrown attackers like Mateen are often called lone wolves, but Jenkins has argued that stray dogs is more accurate.

Speaking after the massacre in Orlando, FBI Director James Comey described identifying homegrown terrorists as looking for needles in a nationwide haystack and trying to figure out which pieces of hay will become needles.

Given the enormity of this challenge, the FBI, which handled an inquiry into Mateen three years ago, doesn't get enough credit for keeping Americans as safe as it has, Clarke told KPCC's AirTalk after the Orlando shooting:

There's a lot of targets to surveil, and these agencies don't have unlimited resources, so they need to figure out who's the most dangerous, and keep eyes on them. And it's a waiting game. If this is someone who's been under surveillance and is able to stay under law enforcement's radar for years, how long do you keep surveilling them? It's far more art than science. It's very, very difficult to figure out intent. Who's going to strike and who's not? Who's just mouthing off, who's a hothead, versus someone that's a little more serious.

As Jenkins observed after the March attacks in Brussels, America's lone wolf problem is different than the main threat facing Europe: foreign fighters. ISIS recruits returning from Iraq and Syria have been instrumental in executing the bombing in Brussels and the November assault in Paris. The United States must pay attention to both threats, said RAND's Patrick Johnston:

Homegrown terror is top threat to the US, but an attack by #ISIS returnees could be as devastating as #Orlando https://t.co/kNzYXd6XFR  Patrick Johnston (@J0HNST0N) June 14, 2016

In a recent commentary, Johnston, along with RAND colleagues Benjamin Bahney and Howard Shatz, outlined recommendations for plugging ISIS's foreign fighter pipeline.

RAND's Jonah Blank and Cortney Weinbaum noted that religion often has little to do with the motivations of attackers like Mateen. Rather, attackers may be prone to use ideology as an excuse to commit violence:

.@lrozen @SZarifi One thing seems clear: Whatever tie he had to Islamist ideology was VERY thin, very confused, & nothing FBI could identify  Jonah Blank (@JonahBlank) June 14, 2016

More often, those who murder on behalf of #ISIS are not religious, but rage-filled criminals who think they found an excuse to inflict pain.  Cortney Weinbaum (@cortney_dc) June 13, 2016

RAND's Radha Iyengar cautioned against rhetoric that paints all Muslims as terrorists or terrorist sympathizers:

Research suggests that anti-#Muslim rhetoric makes it harder to stop attacks like the #Orlando shooting. Important to keep that in mind.  Radha Iyengar (@RadhaKIyengar) June 14, 2016

In an April commentary, Iyengar explained why such rhetoric is dangerous and self-defeating at length:

It is likely that anti-Muslim rhetoric has already lessened the United States' ability to effectively collect intelligence, reduced the willingness of individuals to come forward with information, supported the Islamic State narrative, and increased the ease with which it can recruit new combatants. Americans should reject such destructive language in the interest of national security.

Jenkins, who recently explained why anti-Muslim demonstrations may pose a danger to America, concurred with Iyengar. In an interview with Wired magazine, Jenkins framed the aftermath of an attack like the Orlando shooting as a test of inclusiveness and other Western values:

Ultimately, the strength of [Western] society is going to emerge in how we deal with this. Our success is not going to come from how many concrete barriers we can plant in front of buildings; it's going to come from how we're able to let our fundamental values prevail.

Finally, Clarke warned about the divisive potential of terrorist acts:

Attacks like #Orlando are intended not just to terrorize populations but also to divide a country along political, social, religious lines.  Colin P. Clarke (@ColinPClarke) June 12, 2016

 Pete Wilmoth
The premiere of Investigation Discoverys (ID) first serialised docu-series, the Vanishing Women, was the networks best series debut ever.





The show garnered the networks records for delivery of persons 2+ (2.042 million) and households (1.679 million) on live plus three-day viewing.The premiere catapulted ID into the No 4 spot in all of ad-supported cable in both demos for the time slot that night  only behind fully distributed networks TNT, USA and MTV. The premiere was also IDs top primetime telecast ever for delivery of households.The show documents the past and present work of an active criminal investigation into six open cases of missing women in Chillicothe, Ohio. According to the Chillicothe Police Department, the series has generated at least ten new tips on the open cases since its premiere last week. While each of the victims are believed to have known each other in some way, four of the six women have been found dead while two remain missing, leaving some members of the local community to fear a serial killer. Per families of the missing and deceased women, the series has been instrumental in rejuvenating the publics interest in these cases.
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South Korean broadcaster MBC and the Korean Communications Agency (KCA) have teamed up with UK independent production company Zig Zag to co-produce a new TV documentary.



The project for a three part documentary titled Future Human: AI (Artificial Intelligence) will be part-funded by content agency KCA, which is part of the governments Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning. Zig Zag will produce an international version of the series to take to the international broadcast market, and acquire the global rights outside South Korea for the three hour-long shows.Future Human will include interviews with scientists, AI experts and futurists to explore the latest research, technological developments and future innovations in recognition technology.We have spent lots of time recently visiting Seoul and Busan to understand the South Korean TV industry. Having already experienced great success in China and Japan, were delighted to extend our relationships in Asia to this thriving market that embodies the best of the regions sensibilities, said Danny Fenton, CEO, Zig Zag Productions.Its exciting to start a co-production with such significant international appeal with such a talented production company such as Zig Zag, said Jinman Kim, executive producer MBC The deal was brokered by Paan Medias CS Lee, international liaising and development producer Gina McDonald and Zig Zags commercial director Matt Graff.This project is one of the most rewarding in my three years in international co-productions and one of the most fascinating, said Paan Medias CS Lee, who is also supervising executive on behalf of MBC.
Court supports antimonopoly watchdogs stance on misrepresentation in advertisements

MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI)  The Moscow Commercial Court has upheld a decision taken by the Moscow office of Russias Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) that company Proyektnye Innovatsii (Project Innovations) violated the law by dissimilating contextually targeted advertisements, according to the information presented by the watchdog agency on Wednesday.

Evidence at the disposal of the FAS Moscow office show that the law on advertising was infringed on by dissimilation of contextual advertisements via Google AdWords service, which offered to purchase formwork under PERI trademark from a building company having no right to sell these copyrighted goods.

The legal proceedings were instituted after PERI company, which holds the respective copyright, had lodged a claim with the antimonopoly agency.

A FAS Moscow office commission has established that the contextual advertisements dissimilated via Google service contained information misrepresenting the facts, i.e. that this competitor of PERI had no exclusive rights to the trademark in question.

The actions carried out by Proyektnye Innovatsii could misinform consumers and influence the choice of a seller when purchasing building materials, the antimonopoly watchdog noted adding that a court of first instance had supported FAS stance on the matter.
Russias patent agency dismisses Valio complaints on brand registration

MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI)  Russias patent agency Rospatent has dismissed a complaint on the unlawfulness of registration of brands Aura of Harmony and Aura of Light for a Cypriot company lodged by Finnish Valio Ltd, the patent agency informs.

Earlier, the disputed trademarks have been registered in the name of Tirassom Limited for cheeses, milk and milk products under the International Classifications of Goods and Services (ICGS).

According to the complaint, Valio is the owner of Aura trademark, which the Finnish company alleges to be confusingly similar to the trademark in question; moreover, the product line under the disputed trademark also corresponds to Valio goods. Therefore, the complaint maintains, consumers may perceive that similar goods under similar trademark are produced by Valio.

The Cypriot firm has countered these arguments insisting that the trademarks are not confusingly similar and that Valio has failed to present evidence with regard to the use of the said Aura trademark in Russia, what excludes confusion on the part of customers.

Rospatent has found no grounds to grant the complaint, since, according to the patent agency, the disputed trademark was different from that of the Finnish manufacturer and had no associative relation to the Valio trademark.
"Inflation is the primary question for our clients in conversation," says Nudo. "What we really want to do is understand how theyre accounting for it in their portfolios."
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Kate Chastain was arrested on Monday for domestic battery after police say she bit and choked her girlfriend.

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Chastain, the chief stew on Bravo's "Below Deck" reality yachting show was arrested in her hometown of Melbourne Beach, charged with battery by strangulation, a domestic violence charge, according to the Brevard County Clerk of Courts.

Chastain, 33, appeared on the second and third seasons of the reality show about luxury yachting and the lives of the crews that serve the yacht's million-dollar guests.

Melbourne Beach police say Chastain tried to kick her girlfriend out of their house, but when she refused to go, Chastain bit her in the arm, bicep and leg, then put a knee on her head and choked her, TMZ reported.

She was booked in to the Brevard County Jail for the felony domestic violence charge of battery by strangulation. She appeared in court Tuesday where she posted a $5,000 bail.

Chastain has been in the yachting industry since about 2007, after working her way up through the ranks from a laundry stewardess to chief stew, Florida Today reported.
Posted by Adam on at 12:15 AM CST

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Four exclusive Pop! vinyl bobblehead figures have been revealed by Funko, which will only be available atCelebration Europe 2016, and you can get all of the details below.
Standing for at least one-quarter of the day has been linked to a decreased risk for obesity in a newly released joint study by the American Cancer Society, Cooper Institute, University of Texas and University of Georgia.
When students from the University of Georgia pack their bags and travel to study abroad in Costa Rica, they are a long way from the comforts of home.
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By RUSSELL CONTRERAS, Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  Los Alamos, a once secret city where scientists participated in the nation's classified World War II nuclear development program, can now be experienced much like it was then with a new app.

The "Los Alamos: The Secret City of The Manhattan Project" iPhone app takes users through an "augmented-reality" while visiting the northern New Mexico city to see it in its 1940s character. The app was created by Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Packed with games, historical nuggets and role playing, the app allows users to feel what it was like to join a secret project in an unknown location where the future of the world was at stake, said Jennifer Payne, Resource Management Team leader in Los Alamos' Environmental Stewardship Group. Because Los Alamos has changed since the project and is now a modern city, Payne said the app takes users on a virtual tour of a Manhattan Project world that is gone.

"It took us more than a year to create," Payne said. "Almost all of the structures from that era don't exist anymore."

Once downloaded and opened, users will receive a "recruitment telegram" to begin the virtual journey from 109 E. Palace Ave., in Santa Fe. That's the same location where the original Project Y staff members joined the team. Users then will receive an initial "clearance" there, then board a bus into the mountains to explore "the Hill."

From there, Payne said users can choose how much information they want to know while they explore Los Alamos as the bomb is developed.

Of course, no actual nuclear secrets are shared, she said.

Officials said the project is a collaboration of Los Alamos National Laboratory's VISIBLE team, the Bradbury Science Museum, and staff history specialists.

Developers also are working on an Android app.

During World War II, Los Alamos scientists worked to develop the atomic bomb that was dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The secret program provided enriched uranium for the atomic bomb. It also involved facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Hanford, Washington.

July marks the 71st anniversary of the Trinity Test in southern New Mexico. The milestone comes amid renewed interest in the Manhattan Project thanks to new books, online video testimonies and the recently canceled TV drama series "Manhattan."
In this photo released by Jean Revillard/ SI2, solar-powered airplane Solar Impulse 2, piloted by Swiss adventurer Andre Borschberg, flies over the Statue of Liberty in New York Saturday, June 11, 2016, shortly before landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 has landed in New York City on the latest leg of its globe-circling voyage. It had left Lehigh Valley International Airport in Pennsylvania late Friday. (Jean Revillard/ SI2 via AP) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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By FRANK ELTMAN, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP)  The pilots of a solar-powered airplane on a globe-circling voyage that began more than a year ago said their flight over the Statue of Liberty before landing in New York inspired them on their mission to promote a world free from reliance on fossil fuels.

"Today, liberty is about finding and promoting renewable sources of power," said Bertrand Piccard, the initiator and one of the pilots of the Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2. "Our mission is to demonstrate that just the energy of the sun can give us enough power to fly day and night."

Piccard and Andre Borschberg, who flew the plane to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, arrived Saturday from Pennsylvania at 4 a.m. after a 4 hour-41-minute flight.

"It was really gorgeous," Borschberg said of the aerial view of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. "I felt like I was a young child in front of a Christmas tree."

Their trip across the U.S. mainland began April 24, when Solar Impulse landed in Mountain View, California, after flying over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on its way from Hawaii.

Piccard said the pair hoped to leave sometime next week on their journey across the Atlantic Ocean toward Europe. He said weather conditions will dictate when they embark and a decision will likely be made in flight as to where they land  either Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal or elsewhere.

Across the U.S., they stopped in Phoenix; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Dayton, Ohio, home of aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright; and Allentown, Pennsylvania.

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 trip began in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China and Japan. The plane had a five-day trip from Japan to Hawaii, where the crew was forced to stay in Oahu for nine months after the plane's battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan.
SHARE Courtesy of Redding police The suspect in the attack of an 83-year-old woman was caught on surveillance cameras at Turtle Bay. Courtesy of Redding police The suspect in the attack of an 83-year-old woman caught on surveillance cameras at Turtle Bay.

Video shows man suspected in attack

Police have released a video of the man they believe was involved in the attack on an 83-year-old woman on the Sacramento River Trail on Saturday morning.

The footage was obtained from security cameras at Turtle Bay Exploration Park. The suspect can be seen walking north on the Sundial Bridge about 30 minutes before the attack, police said.

Redding resident Bonnie Smith was beaten by the unknown man around 6:30 a.m. Saturday on the north end of the trail loop below Hilltop Drive.

The suspect was wearing what appear to be pack boots with rubber lowers and leather uppers with fur lining around the top of the boots. The pants appear to have a horizontal strip of reflective tape around the bottom of each leg.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of the man is asked to call the Redding Police Department at 225-4214.

Meanwhile, Secret Witness of Shasta County on Tuesday announced a reward in the attack. Up to $3,000 will be given for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the suspect.

Anyone with information can call 243-2319 to leave an anonymous tip with Secret Witness. Tips can also be submitted online at scsecretwitness.com.

Rider killed while on all-terrain vehicle

A person was killed while riding an all-terrain vehicle in Tehama County, the California Highway Patrol said.

The crash occurred on private property off Highway 99 West north of the Walmart distribution center and south of Red Bluff, according to a statement from the CHP.

The CHP did not have the victim's name, gender or age. The CHP also did not say when the incident occurred or how it happened.

Roadwork planned on three city streets

The city of Redding plans road construction at Canby Road on Wednesday and at Lancers Lane on Thursday.

From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, roadwork will take place on Canby Road from Browning Street to Tanglewood Drive. Residents on Canby will have access from the Churn Creek Road end.

Thursday's work on Lancers Lane will occur from Churn Creek Road to Burton Drive. Motorists can expect one-lane controlled traffic with some delays.

Meanwhile, the city of Shasta Lake will close Ashby Road to all traffic Wednesday between Shasta Dam Boulevard and San Gorgonio Avenue. Drivers will need to use alternate routes.

Police find $10,000, meth in traffic stop

Police discovered a pound of methamphetamine and $10,000 during a traffic stop in Redding.

Redding police officers pulled over Mark Luke, 43, of Redding around 4:25 p.m. Monday for using a cellphone while driving.

During a search of Luke's car officers allegedly found 1 pound of methamphetamine, packaging materials, a scale and $10,000 in cash, according to agent Tom Moon of the Shasta Interagency Narcotics Task Force.

Officers searched Luke's car because he is on probation for narcotics-related offenses, Moon said.

Due to the amount of methamphetamine and money, Redding police officers contacted SINTF to assist with the investigation.

Luke was interviewed and agents said they determined he was going to sell the drugs. The money was most likely from the sale of the drugs, Moon said.

Luke was booked into Shasta County Jail on suspicion of being in possession of a controlled substance for sale and transportation of a controlled substance, agents said.

Rain falls on 2,296-acre fire

The Pony Fire burning in the Klamath National Forest grew to 2,296 acres and was 20 percent contained Tuesday morning.

Firefighters got a break Tuesday morning when scattered rain fell on the area about 15 miles southwest of Happy Camp and west of Highway 96. More rain is forecast Wednesday with precipitation expected to linger through Friday.

The fire was holding at Swillup Creek and crews had planned to build a direct fire line along the creek to keep the flames from spreading, officials said.

More than 1,000 firefighters are assigned to the fire. One firefighter was taken to a hospital by helicopter Monday when he had difficulty breathing, but he is now recovering.

Trio arrested after drugs, guns found

Three people were arrested Tuesday after sheriff's officials found what they called a marijuana growing operation and honey oil lab in Shingletown.

Shasta County sheriff's officials said they found 186 growing marijuana plants, 30 pounds of processed marijuana bud, packaging material and scales. They also found and dismantled a butane honey oil lab, sheriff's officials said.

Officers with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office Marijuana Investigation Team and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Watershed Enforcement Team served a search warrant Tuesday at 29826 Riekes Ridge Road in Shingletown.

Agents also found 23 firearms and ballistic vests, according to the sheriff's office.

Three people were arrested: Carlon Aronson, 19, his father David Aronson, 62, and Daniel Koltzo, 26, officials said. They were arrested on suspicion of marijuana cultivation and sales, and manufacturing concentrated cannabis. They also face a charge of being armed while committing a felony. They were booked into Shasta County Jail, where they are being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Hayfork man gets prison in pot case

A U.S. District Court judge sentenced a 53-year-old Hayfork man to 13-and-a-half years in prison for his role as the manager of a marijuana-growing operation, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Bryan Schweder was indicted on charges of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and being a felon in possession of a firearm, prosecutors said.

Law enforcement officers searched Schweder's two properties in Trinity County and found nearly 500 marijuana plants, a large processing area with about 300 pounds of drying plants, 120 pounds of processed marijuana and eight guns.

Schweder's criminal history includes two felony convictions for possessing marijuana for sale, two felony convictions for being a felon in possession of firearms and a domestic violence conviction.

Fourteen other co-defendants in the case pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to prison, while a fifteenth will be sentenced next month, prosecutors said.

The case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the Trinity County Sheriff's Office and the California Department of Justice's North State Marijuana Investigative Team.
Record Searchlight file photo

Michael Carter is shown in March 2013 during his arraignment on a charge of attempted kidnapping. A jury found Carter innocent of the kidnapping, but found him guilty of possessing a billy club, according to court records. Carter was arrested Tuesday for investigation of a variety of charges stemming from a police chase.

SHARE Michael Carter in a booking mug from June 6, 2016.

By Joe Szydlowski of the Redding Record Searchlight

An apparently impaired driver led Redding police on an 18-mile chase that started with the man almost running over a police officer and firefighters and ended when he ran out of gas, police said.

"A felony probationer suspected of heroin overdose nearly ran over a police officer and several firefighters today in Redding," police Cpl. Levi Solada said in a press release. "He then crashed into a parked vehicle and led officers on a pursuit ending in the Whitmore area."

Michael Anthony Carter, 25, of Millville was arrested after the chase on suspicion of felony assault on a peace officer and emergency personnel, felony evasion, driving while under the influence, hit and run, possession of heroin, resisting arrest and probation violation. Carter was on probation in an attempted kidnapping case, Solada said.

The car that Carter hit belonged to anti-crime activist Anje Watson, whose auto was in the parking lot.

Carter led officers on a chase in his red 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit that ended on Whitmore Road near Cow Creek Ranch Road just outside Millville, Solada said.

The pursuit started just before 1 p.m. in Redding when police and firefighters went to the Starbucks at 1030 E. Cypress Ave. for a reported heroin overdose, he said. A man, later identified as Carter, seemed to be overdosing on heroin, Solada said.

Officer Nick Weaver and several firefighters responded and found Carter, who had brass knuckles, heroin and a pocket knife, Solada said.

A short time before, two men -- one later identified by law enforcement as Carter -- had gone into the Starbucks. One of the men appeared impaired when he asked for the security code to the bathroom door, said Watson, a founding member of the anti-crime Facebook group Take Back Redding.

"His eyes were literally rolled back in his head while he was asking for the code," said Watson, who was there for an interview, adding he was stumbling, dragging his foot and bent over.

He ordered a water then left, she said. After she went outside, she noticed firefighters out with a vehicle.

"I saw those guys and thought, 'Oh it's another overdose,'" she said.

Several minutes later she heard a commotion, looked up and saw at least one firefighter jump.

Weaver had been trying to pull an "uncooperative" Carter out of the vehicle, Solada said.

That's when he put the car into motion and nearly hit an officer and firefighters, Solada said.

"He tried to back up into them," Watson said.

He then booked it out of the parking lot, which had both other drivers and pedestrians, she said. He appeared to be going fast  including when he smashed into the front passenger's side of Watson's car, damaging the frame and making it undriveable, she said.

"Pretty much that whole corner of the car to the door," she said. "He punched it. ... We had one payment left."

Carter then allegedly took police through east Redding before heading east on Highway 44, reaching speeds of up to 90 mph and dodging a spike strip, police said. They used a California Highway Patrol helicopter to spot ahead for pursuing officers.

He then went on Old Forty-Four Drive and ended up on Whitmore Road, where his car ran out of gas, Solada said. He then surrendered to police, Solada said.

Officers found drugs in Carter's car and a 12-step book in the trunk.

Carter had been arrested about a week before on suspicion of heroin possession and violating his probation, Solada said. He allegedly had just gotten the car from impound two days before.

Carter was on probation in connection with an attempted kidnapping case from 2013. Though a jury found him not guilty of the kidnapping, they found him guilty of possessing a billy club, Shasta County Superior Court records show.

As for Watson, she's in a bind  she didn't have uninsured driver coverage because she planned to sell the car after she made one final payment.

"I want to thank Gov. Jerry Brown and the judges for the New California," she said, referencing Proposition 47, which made some low-level offenses misdemeanors, and AB 109, which transferred many former prison inmates to county custody.

However, she added she's thankful no one was hurt, especially with the fast driving in the parking lot.

"It was lucky he didn't kill anyone," she said.
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By Nathan Solis of the Redding Record Searchlight

Shasta County supervisors eased water restrictions for county residents after late spring rains brought some relief to the North State. But the relaxed ordinance adopted by the board still carries with it conservation goals and restrictions for county service area customers.

Under the new ordinance residents can water their lawns whenever they want.

Tuesday's easement comes after an executive order from the governor's office last month. That set in place a voluntary 20 percent reduction to 2013 water use for the entire state.

Public Works Director Pat Minturn said this could be a new standard for the entire state.

"Perhaps this is the new normal. Many legislators feel that California is a semiarid state and these sorts of conservation measures should be normal business practices," said Minturn.

Either way, the new ordinance and state mandate is a reminder to conserve water, Minturn added.

Supervisor Les Baugh called the mandate a bitter pill to swallow and unfair to force a one-size-fits-all approach to water conservation.

"This is only a piece of paper that nods to the governor of the state of California and doesn't accomplish a single thing," said Baugh, who still voted in support of the ordinance. The motion was approved unanimously.

Linda Ost from Crag View is impacted by the new ordinance and said it is a far cry from last summer's restrictions imposed on her and her neighbors.

Last August the residents of Crag View were placed on water rationing after the Board of Supervisors said the CSA was close to being insolvent and unable to pay for supplemental water. Residents faced civil and criminal penalties during the rationing, which was lifted at the end of September.

The county said residents delayed the purchase of water from the McConnell Foundation by protesting a rate increase and the water restriction not only extended to landscaping, but all water use for residents.

The relaxed ordinance will affect residents of all CSAs. The management and billing of those CSAs is the subject of a Shasta County Grand Jury report that calls for the audit of how the county bills these residents.

County Executive Officer Larry Lees said the board will address the grand jury report at a future board meeting.

Since 2014, all CSA customers could only water their lawns twice a week. Now that the ordinance has been relaxed, residents only have to worry about water runoff or having a shutoff nozzle on their water hoses.

"This new ordinance is reasonable at least," said Ost.

Meanwhile at the same meeting supervisors approved the hiring of Dr. Deirdre Amaro to fill the county's forensic pathologist position in the Sheriff-Coroner's Office.

Sheriff Tom Bosenko said Amaro would be traveling from San Diego to Northern California and would be introduced to the board at a future meeting.
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By Jenny Espino of the Redding Record Searchlight

Adam McElvain, Lea Tate and Julie Winter will have a financial boost when in July they make their candidacies official for the Redding City Council.

The three raised a combined $26,839, financial disclosure statements for 2015 reveal.

Half of that amount alone, or $13,789, was raised by Winter, who's been campaigning for more than a year.

Tate raised the second largest amount with $7,751 in contributions, followed by McElvain with $5,299.

The filings show the bulk of Winter's contributions came from an Oct. 30 fundraiser. Among donors who wrote the largest checks were Beni Johnson and Kris and Kathy Valloton, all senior pastors at Bethel Church who each contributed $1,000 to the campaign.

Winter said that fundraiser was a reflection of her connection to Bethel Church and Advance Redding, the Bethel nonprofit that runs the Redding Civic Auditorium and for which she is a board member.

The fundraiser held this cycle, though, was hosted by Black Bear Diner co-founder Bruce Dean and his wife, Michelle, and will reflect the business and medical community, she said. Those disclosures don't become public until later this summer. The filing deadline is July 31.

"We're close to $30,000 total at this point from the very beginning. That is both cash and noncash," Winter said last Friday. "It's a lot of work. It doesn't just happen naturally.

"You have to really make a case for why you are running," she added. "People want to feel like their money makes a difference."

Asking anyone to open their purse strings may not come easy, but it's necessary to have a chance to reach voters, they said.

"I know the next few months will get busier to get my message out," Tate said. A clinical psychologist, she described it as "greater awareness of how mental health and substance abuse impacts us on a daily basis and ways to improve those areas."

McElvain talked about introducing himself as new leadership ready to build a modern economy and position the city to compete. "My background in technology, business and military is a new type of leadership," he said.

Taking the advice of a supporter, Winter said she's set a goal of raising at least $50,000 to run an effective campaign that can afford advertising on television and in publications.

The contest for two seats on the council will be decided on Nov. 8. Councilman Gary Cadd intends to defend his seat for a second four-year term on the council. Mayor Missy McArthur, on the other hand, will retire at the end of her term in December. So far, the other people who have set their intent on running are Robert Hale and Don Kirk.

Winter was on record that she is behind Measure D, the November ballot measure asking voters to approve a half-cent sales tax increase to hire more firefighters and police officers, build more jail space and help operate a sobering center and mental health center.

She stressed getting at the root causes of what ails Redding. "If you can fix jobs, you can fix so much," she said.

Winter burned through the most cash last year. She loaned herself $3,200 and spent $6,342 to advertise online, build a website and pay for printing services, campaign brochures, buttons and office supplies.

Tate's fundraising efforts had parallels to those of Brent Weaver in 2014. The majority of her contributions were $250 and under. She also got some help from McArthur, who held a fundraiser for her, and she reported non-cash contributions from CR Gibbs through the use of a meeting room.

McElvain said he is not asking for contributions of $1,000 or more. The only $1,000 contribution in his report was a loan he made to his campaign.

The big money Tate reported came from her father, Dr. James Tate, and her brother, Dr. Randy Tate, who contributed a combined $1,000.

Tate counted Turtle Bay Exploration Park philanthropists Dick and Mary Stimpel and business owners Ryan and Alyssa Denham among supporters.

McElvain saw financial support from some of his early surrogates, including Bob Brennan, who served with him on the Redding Community Services Advisory Commission.

David H. Scott of the accounting firm, DH Scott & Co. and Michael Dacquisto, the bankruptcy trustee who ran for council in 2014, each contributed $500.

McElvain kept his expenses to a minimum, reporting only a table for $250 presumably at an event with the California Federation of Republican Women.

Tate, meanwhile, reported expenditures of $2,962.48, mostly related to development of her website and to a lesser extent, the announcement of her candidacy in November at Riverfront Park.

Related Links

Database: 2016 Redding City Council Contributions

Browse this interactive database to learn who's off to an early fundraising start for November's Redding City Council Race.
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Welcome to Redding, where you need a doctor's note to get your glutes massaged.

That is if you are going to a non-certified massage therapist and there are some exceptions.

The massage ordinance was opened for a first read this on June 7 at the Redding City Council meeting.

I was not able to attend but I watched the video cast online and have read the ordinance and the city attorney's written introduction.

According to the proposed massage ordinance, massage clients will have to have a written referral from their health care provider if they want their buttocks massaged. No kidding. A referral, in addition to written consent. Anyone know a doctor who is going to refer a patient to a non-certified massage therapist for a non-medical massage? Last time I checked, visits to my doctor were not free and I certainly do not feel I should have to have a doctor authorize a massage that is most likely not going to be covered by insurance.

I should be able to choose my massage therapist, and if this ordinance passes as is, my choices become limited. Certified massage therapists are a minority of the massage therapists in Redding. The massage ordinance is over-reaching in this regard. It is also anti-competitive.

The ordinance is also ambiguous about certain points. Any massage therapist place of business, either an office and or home, is subject to impromptu inspection visits from the Redding Police Department between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., seven days a week. Questions regarding the home inspection and fines for violations have been met with repeated assurances that the purpose of the ordinance is to fight illicit massage and human trafficking and "reasonable charges" will made. There is nothing concrete offered except what the maximum fines are for violations.

I encourage any massage therapist, certified or not, and any person who has ever had the thought to get a massage within the city of Redding, to read the ordinance and to notify Redding City Council with their constructive feedback. I did not cover everything here, I know.

According to the city attorney, the second reading of this ordinance is likely to occur on June 21. This presents another opportunity to practice civic responsibility. Elections do not happen only every four years. Elect to voice your educated opinion at the Redding City Council.

April George lives in Redding.
At a Donald Trump rally in North Carolina yesterday, which also happened to be on the 241st anniversary of the U.S. Army, the presumptive Republican nominee for President of the United States took time to mark the occasion by accusing American Iraq War veterans of thieving government funds. He said, "Iraq, crooked as hell. How about bringing baskets of money  millions and millions of dollars  and handing it out?," He continued, "I want to know who were the soldiers that had that job, because I think they're living very well right now, whoever they may be."

Corbin Reiff, a 28-year-old Chicago resident who's a writer covering music for outlets like Rolling Stone and the A.V. Club, is also a U.S. Army veteran who served as a sergeant from 2006-2011. During his service, he also served in Iraq, and during his 2009 deployment, he was a "Non Commissioned Officer in Charge of Foreign Claims" which in his words, "assess damage to Iraqi citizen's property, and person and compensate them monetarily." This morning, he tweeted his response to Trump's inflammatory comments. His words are reposted in full below.

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Just a small warning, Im about to go on a bit of a rant.  Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) June 15, 2016

I spent five years, from 2006-2011 as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army.  Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) June 15, 2016

Thats an area that covers roughly 5 million people. I was 21 years old and will admit, very much in over my head.  Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) June 15, 2016

So if a helicopter dropped a flare and burned a kid, or an MRAP ran into a generator or someone's goat while on patrol...  Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) June 15, 2016

Affected citizens would make the drive from as far as Lebanon on a weekly basis to see if their claims had been adjudicated.  Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) June 15, 2016

I basically spent a year of my life in an aluminum trailer, away from my friends and family enduring mortar attacks nearly every night.  Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) June 15, 2016

I had to look widows and orphans in the eye as tears ran down their cheeks telling me through an interpreter their heartbreaking stories.  Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) June 15, 2016

In the course of my job, I was entrusted with a lot of taxpayer money, all in American cash.  Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) June 15, 2016

Yesterday, @realDonaldTrump, a man who never served in any capacity said this about me and my brethren that served in Iraq.  Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) June 15, 2016

"I want to know who were the soldiers that had that job, because I think theyre living very well right now. https://t.co/DFZU5VEKhN  Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) June 15, 2016

In my time overseas, the procedures that were put in place to prevent that from happening were frustratingly thorough.  Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) June 15, 2016

For this reason, and many more, hes proven that hes someone with neither the temperament, nor the character, to be Commander in Chief.  Corbin Reiff (@CorbinReiff) June 15, 2016

As of press time, Reiff's comments have been widely-shared and retweeted on Twitter. A recent report from the Center for Public Integrity revealed that "at least 115 enlisted personnel and military officers [were] convicted since 2005 of committing theft, bribery, and contract-rigging crimes valued at $52 million during their deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq," However, that doesn't excuse the tenor or general weirdness of Donald Trump insinuating more soldiers were involved in that corruption, painting an entire division of soldiers with broad strokes and that some are "living well" due to illegal activity.

Frustratingly, this isn't the first time Donald Trump has been in hot water for statements he's made about members of the U.S. military. Last July, he said of Senator John McCain, who served in Vietnam and was a prisoner of war, "I like people who weren't captured." Earlier this year, questions also arose about the handling of funds from his highly-publicized donations to veterans groups. He made similar comments about veterans stealing money in October.

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In the meantime, you can donate to a list of veterans charities here.

@joshhterry | jterry@redeyechicago.com
A Lincoln Park restaurant crawl, a chance to win free pizza for a year and more things to do in Chicago on Thursday, June 16.

EAT

Cravings on Clark Restaurant Crawl

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2558 N. Clark St. 773-880-5200

Try sweet and savory dishes from more than 20 Lincoln Park restaurants and take free pedicab rides through the neighborhood at the third annual event, which benefits Lakeview Pantry. 6-9 p.m. $30-$40. Tickets: visitclarkstreet.com/cravings

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Grilled salmon at Lark

Grand Opening

Lark

3441 N. Halsted St. 773-799-8968

The first 50 people in the door receive a free pizza, and everyone who visits the Lakeview bar Thursday night will be entered to win free pizza for a year. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. No cover.



DRINK

Deschutes Brewing Tap Takeover

Franklin Tap

325 S. Franklin St. 312-212-3262

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

Try the new summer seasonal Hop Slice session IPA and other beers from the Oregon brewery, including Pinot Suave pinot noir barrel-aged Belgian ale and Armory XPA pale ale ($5-$9). 5-6:30 p.m. No cover.



Radler Ramble

Webster's Wine Bar

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2601 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-360-5129

Crawl to three Logan Square bars serving Burnt City Brewing's new Retrofit lime radler paired with shots. 8 p.m. No cover.



DO

Gibbons 5K and 3K Walk

Gibbons 5K and 3K Walk

Grant Park

Balbo Street and Columbus Drive 847-424-0600

ABC-7's Janet Davies emcees the 22nd annual benefit for the Leukemia Research Foundation, which includes a post-race party with food, beer and live music from Stellar Road. 4:30 p.m. Race starts at 6:25 p.m. $40-$45. Register: gibbons5k.com



HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAY

Pizzeria Serio (1708 W. Belmont Ave. 773-525-0600) offers a personal-sized pizza and a PBR for $10 from 5-8 p.m.
One in every four cars sold in the country over the past four years has been recalled to fix manufacturing snags

You may be surprised but one of every four cars sold in the country is being recalled to fix a manufacturing defect.

India, the fifth largest market for passenger vehicles (cars, vans and utility vehicles), does not have a mandatory vehicle recall policy, yet over 2.2 million vehicles were voluntarily recalled in the last four years.

To put that number in perspective, 2.78 million passenger vehicles were sold last financial year.

It is not that recalls were not happening before July 2012 when the Society for Indian Automobile Manufacturers, or Siam, introduced a voluntary recall code for its members.

But that opened the sluice gates: almost every car maker, big or small, has announced a recall since then.

The current financial year started with German car maker Volkswagen recalling over 3,800 units of the Vento to fix an emission issue on April 1.

Since then, recall of another 188,000 vehicles has been announced by companies like Ford and Maruti Suzuki.

What has changed? Why are the recall numbers on the rise?

BVR Subbu, former president of Hyundai Motor India, who now runs a strategy consulting company, says automobile companies have faced product related problems and resorted to fixing of the issue in the past as well.

Most such exercises were done through a service campaign. Car dealers would write to customers to visit for such campaigns.

"Now that the word recall has been tagged, it is getting noticed, he says.

Even if a company now tries to call it a service campaign, it gets reported as a recall in the media. Last month, the countrys largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki, had announced a service campaign for over 20,000 units of the S Cross, its first crossover that was launched last year.

But it was taken as a recall.

One can see the scale of recalls going up as the market expands and inconsistency in the quality of inputs shows up, especially at the lower level of the automobile value chain.

As car makers squeeze lower and lower prices out of component manufacturers, in order to make their price tags as competitive as possible, vendors look to cut costs by compromising on the quality.

Safety at risk

RC Bhargava, chairman of Maruti Suzuki, says a recall is not totally avoidable as thousands of components are used to manufacture a vehicle.

There are possibilities of error as several component makers are involved.

There are challenges in ensuring consistent quality supply from the Tier II component makers, he says.

Because of their small size and limited financial ability, these suppliers struggle to maintain quality in the event of rising production. We need to work towards upgrading the quality standards of small vendors.

Indeed, most of the recalls in India have happened due to quality issues from small component vendors.

It is these vendors which in most cases have to bear the cost of the free replacement of component during a recall.

The dealerships and service stations too are burdened when a recall is executed. It is an unnecessary headache, says Bhargava.

This is especially true for companies which have a limited sales and service network.

There is also a cost involved in executing the recall.

The auto industry has to gradually move towards zero defects, implying no recall as it inflicts a huge cost on the component sector.

Everybody in the value chain has to work towards zero defects and this also goes with the philosophy of making vehicles safer, says Vinnie Mehta, director general of Automotive Component Manufacturers Association.

The component industry has to be wary of the fact that the cost of recall can be very high.

"Tier I manufacturers will have to play a key role in handholding Tier II component makers.

A recall can indeed bring death for a component maker by impacting profitability and operations.

Take the case of Japanese company Takata, one of the worlds biggest airbag manufacturers.

Millions of cars from top car makers like Toyota have been recalled globally in the last couple of years after instances of explosion in air bags (supplied by Takata) and deaths were reported.

The consequence: millions of dollar in penalty and loss of top customers like Honda and Nissan as they decided against using the companys air bags.

Some see recall as negative publicity for the car makers brand. Recalls, however, do not impact future sales of vehicles.

Maruti Suzukis Swift and Dzire, for example, which were recalled in April 2014, have been the top selling models in the country for the past two years.

Greater scrutiny

Auto makers claim that there are quality issues with products in sectors like electronics and consumer durables in the country but no manufacturer recalls a product.

A customer should feel more comfortable that car makers are doing voluntary and free recalls, says an industry official.

What has driven manufacturers to this voluntary compliance even in the absence of a mandatory policy on recall from the government?

Recall is not a favour that the industry is doing for customers.

Subbu says if a car maker does not take care of its customers, it will lose market. They do a recall to protect their brand and market.

If manufacturing related fatalities happen in a vehicle, the brand will be pushed out.

Without taking names, Subbu says there have been instances where the management of companies did not respond to serious manufacturing defects and the vehicle eventually got wiped out from the market.

He also says that insurance companies should make public the names of vehicles where maximum fatalities related to manufacturing defect take place.

Recalls are a trouble for the car buyers too.

Even though the repair or replacement of defective part does not cost the owner, one has to make time to take the vehicle to the companys service station.

This is especially a task for owners in smaller towns where a service station usually does not exist and one may have to travel a long distance to get the defect resolved.

It is very clear that companies have stopped attaching any stigma to the word recall.

Currently, product recalls are largely a precautionary step towards ensuring desired stated quality.

"Customers are aware and take the recalls as corrective process towards ensuring a trouble-free product and thus most of them do not attach a stigma to it, rather many times it works in a positive way and their confidence in the brand goes up, says Rakesh Srivastava, senior vice-president (sales and marketing), Hyundai.

Image: Volkswagen Tiguan. Photograph: Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com
The Foreign Investment Promotion Board on Tuesday rejected French financial services major BNP Paribas proposed Rs 2,000-crore (Rs 20-billion) acquisition of retail-focused brokerage Sharekhan.

FIPB is a regulatory body under the Finance Ministry that monitors foreign investments in India.

The Sharekhan deal is among seven transactions rejected by the FIPB, according to a June 14 release on the department's website. The deal is based on the recommendations of FIPB at a meeting held on May 20, 2016.

The reasons for the rejection have not been disclosed.

Sources in the know said that the rejection could be on technical grounds.

So far we havent received any communication from the FIPB. It is likely that the rejection could be due to technical reasons.

"We will reapply for the approval once we obtain more information, a source said.

The gist of the Sharekhan acquisition proposal, according to FIPB, is Acquisition of up to 100 per cent of the share capital of Sharekhan Limited other than the shares held in Sharekhan Limited by Human Value Developers Private Limited by BNP Paribas SA France and/or one or more of BNP's French subsidiaries, and acquisition of 100 per cent capital of Human Value Developers Private Limited by BNP and/ or one or more of BNP'S French subsidiaries.

The French bank had agreed to acquire Mumbai-based Sharekhan in July last year from its shareholders, which included Baring Private Equity, Samara Capital, and IDFC. The deal was pegged at over Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 20 billion).

Private equity majors Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic were also in the fray to acquire Sharekhan.

Interestingly, BNP Paribas had obtained most of the regulatory approvals including from market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India, banking regulator Reserve Bank of India, and competition regulator Competition Commission of India.

BNP Paribas was aiming to up its presence in the domestic broking space through the acquisition of Sharekhan. The Sharekhan deal was BNPs second play in the retail broking space.

In 2007, the French bank had picked up 34 per cent stake in Kochi-based Geojit Securities.

Image: The building of the Credit Agricole (Suisse) SA and BNP Paribas are pictured in Geneva. Photograph: Denis Balibouse/Reuters
The development comes close on the heels of Uber planning to invest substantial part of $3.5 bn Saudi money in India.

ANI Technologies, the company that owns Indias largest taxi aggregator, Ola, is in talks to raise nearly $1 billion (Rs 6,700 crore) in fresh funding to compete with global rival Uber, which has a war chest for India, 'the only market that remains open globally.

Ola is expected to close the round before the end of July, said sources privy to the development on condition of anonymity.



Existing investors SoftBank, Sequoia Capital and DST Global are likely to participate in the round.



Two new US investors are expected to take part in the funding, but their names could not be independently confirmed.

Olas global collaborator and investor Didi will also take part in the round, potentially bringing India into the competition map between Google and Apple.



In May, Apple invested $1 billion in Didi, which dominates the Chinese market, while Uber raised funds in 2013 from Google Ventures, the investment arm of Google.

Ola did not respond to a mail seeking comments sent on June 8.

Ola, Didi, Indonesian taxi aggregator Grabtaxi and Lyft, the laggard in the US market, are part of a global alliance that allows users to use their home app in other countries.

The alliance stitched by Softbank, the common investor in these firms, shares best practices and resources to combat Uber, which dominates the app-based taxi aggregator market in the US.

Ola to raise $1 billion to fend off Uber Olas fresh fund-raising effort is seen as an attempt to stock ammunition against Uber, which plans to spend in India a substantial portion of the $3.5 billion it raised from Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund.

In the algorithm-driven taxi-hailing app business, the service that has the maximum number of drivers and users will emerge the ultimate winner.

Both Ola and Uber model follow a business model that has space for a sole winner.

Uber, during its three-year presence in India, has been able to gain half of the market share by offering incentives to drivers to make more trips while reducing fares to prod customers to use its platform more frequently.

Uber India President Amit Jain claimed recently that the company had a 50 per cent market share in the country in terms of trips completed.

Indias taxi aggregator market was in February 2016 estimated to be $1.2 billion in gross business value by Redseer Consulting.

So far, the two companies have made a combined investment of $2.25 billion (approx Rs 15,000 crore) in India, a country that has a weak transport infrastructure due to lack of public investment.

This is spurring both firms to splurge money to get more drivers and users on their platforms. The increased investment comes at a time when the taxi aggregator business is coming under increased scrutiny by the government.

Karnataka became the first state to introduce rules to regulate players like Uber and Ola.



It has asked them to cap pricing, which effectively ends surge pricing practices. Uber has moved court, describing the Karnataka rules as unconstitutional. The next hearing in the case will be on June 20.

Uber says its fleet has grown to 350,000 in the 26 cities it operates in, and Ola claims 450,000 vehicles and 550,000 drivers in 100-odd cities.



Both firms have invested in leasing arms that offer easy loans to drivers to buy cars.
A tourist visits a beer museum in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, June 14, 2016. Tourist volume of the city's beer industry tourism projects reached 4.5 million in 2015. (Xinhua/Li Xiaoguo)
The age of criminal responsibility will be lowered by one year from the current 14, the Ministry of Justice said Wednesday, announcing measures to cope with an increasing number of...

Police on Wednesday made an emergency apprehension of a man in his 40s on suspicion of killing his wife and their two teenage sons at their home in Gwangmyeong, just south of Seoul...
Draft law sets Rs 10 lakh annual turnover threshold; E-commerce firms to pay tax at source; All states on board, except Tamil Nadu

Individuals and entities with an annual turnover of Rs 10 lakh or more could soon be under goods and service tax laws, widening the tax base of the government, according to the draft central and integrated laws released on Tuesday.

According to the proposal of the draft laws, in the northeastern states the threshold is even lower at Rs 500,000.

The draft laws also propose collection of taxes at source for e-commerce companies, including aggregators, and simplify the definition of services to include intangibles such as software and work contracts.

These were released on the Union finance ministry website for public feedback, hours after a meeting of the Empowered Committee of Finance Ministers on GST.

All states except Tamil Nadu were on board, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters.

According to the draft laws, GST shall apply to all intra-state supply of goods and services. While the supplier of goods will have to bear the tax burden in most cases, the recipient might also have to bear it in some.

Experts said releasing the draft GST laws was a positive step, as these clearly define the contours of the tax regime.

The government releasing the draft GST laws in public domain is a positive step. It shows the intent of the Centre to implement it by April 1, 2017, said Rakesh Nangia, a senior partner at tax consultants Nangia and Co.

Including individuals and entities with turnover of Rs 10 lakh (Rs 1 million) -- Rs 500,000 in the Northeast -- in the GST purview has raised eyebrows.

The current threshold for excise is Rs 1.5 crore (Rs 15 million).

"Hence, many more businesses would come under the central tax net. Industry was hoping for a higher threshold of at least Rs 25 lakh, said Pratik Jain, a tax consultant with PwC India.

"The laws also state that e-commerce companies shall, out of the money owed to suppliers of goods, keep aside specified amounts in lieu of GST deducted at source, at rates recommended by the taxman.

This will mean significant compliance burden on e-commerce companies, as many of them deal with thousands of vendors.

Further, this may lead to refund situation for many suppliers who operate on thin margins, Jain said.

But the clarity of the draft laws has been appreciated.

Sachin Menon, chief operating officer (tax), KPMG, said: It is one step closer to GST and it puts to rest all the confusion around what the definition of goods or service under the law should consist of.

Schedule-II of the draft laws states transfer and transportation of goods in lieu of current or future payment, business assets and selling of assets to pay debt shall be treated as goods.

Services shall include leasing or renting of land or property, goods being sold for purposes apart from business, rent, real estate construction with the intention of sale or lease and transfer of intellectual property rights.

In Kolkata, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, who heads the empowered committee, said there was 'general consensus' on the contentious issue of dual control of the taxation structure between the states and the Centre.

We raised the issue of dual control. There was a consensus that for turnover above Rs 1.5 crore, states will have control on GST.

"Above Rs 1.5-crore (Rs 15-million) turnover, there will be dual control.

"This will be beneficial for small business, he said, adding the matter would again be discussed at the next meeting in July.

The two-day meeting in Kolkata is being attended by finance ministers of 22 states as well as chief ministers of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya and the deputy chief minister of Delhi, and senior officials.

At the end of the first day, Jaitley said: Virtually all the states have supported the idea of GST today barring Tamil Nadu which has expressed some reservations. It has offered a few a suggestions which have been noted by the committee.

The fact that the draft law was released shows that the states were on board for almost all the issues, said Menon of KPMG.

The draft laws were shared with the state finance ministers as well.

FM Jaitley said there was consensus among states that there would be no constitutional cap on GST rates.

Congress has been demanding that there should be a cap on the GST rate and it should be included in the Constitution Amendment Bill. The Bill has been stuck in the Rajya Sabha for some time.

Two other issues widely discussed in the meeting were the calculation of the revenue neutral rate and the management of taxation structure in the perspective of the dual control of the Centre and state.

Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian will also make a presentation on the revenue neutral rate calculation in July.

While the principal advisor to the FM has suggested 17 per cent revenue neutral rate, another research institute has suggested 26.5 per cent.

"Given the divergence in views, the empowered committee of the finance ministers will meet again in July to discuss the two issues, the dual management and the RNR, said Mitra.

In the meantime, the government will also form a committee and present a report on the acceptable RNR, he added.

Presentations would be made by the principal advisor to the finance minister and the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.

Jaitley said for five years, if there is any loss of revenue to the state, it would be the liability of the Centre to compensate for it. He added the Centre is flexible on the issue of additional one per cent tax for two years as a compensation to the manufacturing states.

WHAT NEXT?

With the empowered GST committee of state finance ministers making headway in Kolkata, the road ahead becomes clearer:

In the House: The Constitution Amendment Bill for the Goods and Services Tax will be taken up by the Rajya Sabha in the Monsoon session. The Lok Sabha has already cleared it

In the states: At least 50% of the state legislatures have to ratify the Bill. After Tuesdays meeting, all states expect Tamil Nadu are on board, claimed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

For the public: The draft GST law is in the public domain for feedback

To be a law: The Lok Sabha has to pass it. The states have to pass their own GST laws

Three hurdles: 1% per cent inter-state additional levy: Congress wants it abolished. BJP held out for sometime but Jaitley said on Tuesday the Centre would be flexible on this

Cap on GST rate in the Bill: Congress wants the cap to be a part of the Bill. Govt feels it should not be in the Bill, as the Constitution would need to be amended for any future change

Dispute resolution: States seeking authority to assess and resolve cases below Rs 1.5 crore, taking majority of the service tax cases from the Centre. Meeting in July to discuss this -- though the Centre might relent

Current rollout target: April 1, 2017

The image is used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Reuters
In the second of a five-part series, Business Standard captures the action in Bhubaneswar, which has emerged first in the Smart City Challenge competition earlier this year.

Part 1: How Surat wil get a grand makeover

After topping the Smart City Challenge competition, Bhubaneswar is striving to retain its position with a robust implementation plan.



The capital city of Odisha was also the first to constitute a special purpose vehicle (SPV) - Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL).

For BSCL, a 16-member board of directors has been set up with representatives from various departments of the state government, one representative of the central government, and five independent directors.



The SPV will have an authorised capital of Rs 500 crore (rs 5 billion), divided into 50 million shares of Rs 100 each. Of this, the state government and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation will have a share of Rs 112.50 crore each, while Bhubaneswar Development Authority will contribute a share capital of Rs 250 crore (rs 2.5 billion).

We are on track and going more systematically so that once work gets kicked off, there will be no stopping. We are striving to retain the numero uno position, said Krishan Kumar, vice-chairman of Bhubaneswar Development Authority and managing director, BSCL.



BSCL will soon have its office by the end of this month.

The smart city proposal of the city comprises two components - an area-based proposal for the development of Bhubaneswar Town Centre District (BTCD) and a pan-city proposal for Intelligent City Operations and Management Centre (ICOMC).



The BTCD plans to retrofit and redevelop 985 acres centred around the main railway station in the heart of the city to a vibrant 24x7 destination.

ICOMC will provide a digital platform for integrating multiple city sub-systems of traffic management, parking, bus operations, common fare card, emergency response, and city incident management along with seamless integration of BTCDs utility operation requirements.

MONEY MATTERS

The smart city proposal estimates total project costs at Rs 4,537 crore, including Rs 4,095 crore for BTCD and Rs 442 crore for ICOMC.

The SPV will take up 56 projects under area-based development and one project under pan-city solution.

The project funds will be sourced from Smart City Mission Fund (Rs 950 crore), convergence plan with state and central schemes (Rs 525 crore), public-private partnerships (Rs 2,563 crore), city infrastructure development funds (Rs 184 crore), public private community partnership (Rs 30 crore), through commercial borrowings (Rs 30 crore), and loan programme from Asian Development Bank (Rs 210 crore).

STEPS INITIATED

The SPV has already floated tenders for selecting the consultants for managing area development project reports and IT solutions for a period of four years.

The SPV is also taking steps, simultaneously, to float a tender for the city-wide traffic signalisation project and railway station redevelopment project.

INTERNATIONAL TIE-UPS

For the smart city project, Bhubaneswar is likely to have a long-term collaboration with the German environment ministry. German Development Bank (KfW) is likely to give financial assistance to Bhubaneswar in the form of soft loans in the range of 150-200 million.

Apart from financial assistance, technical collaboration will also be one component for the tie-up with Germany. Interestingly, the maiden town planning of the city was done by German architect Otto H Konigsberger.

The SPV will adopt the Swiss Challenge method for all high-cost project developments, according to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

As part of the child-friendly Smart City component, a tie-up might be forged with Singapore for training the officials of the state.

The Odisha government recently sent a proposal to the central government to enter into a partnership with International Finance Corporation.

IFC will act as a transaction advisor for the projects to be developed in the public-private partnership mode.

We are hopeful that all milestones set in the Smart City proposal will be achieved in the targeted period. As of now, all the financing sources are online, Kumar added.

Being independent Indias first planned capital city, Bhubaneswar has all the natural ingredients such as water bodies, river, canals, open space, and heritage to become a future smart city, according to Piyush Rout, a city-based urban planner.
The first and only set of tyres of this kind, the gold-plated tyres were developed by Z Tyres in Dubai.

IMAGE: Harjeev Kandhari designed the most expensive tyres.

Photograph, courtesy: Z Tyres/Facebook

Embedded with 24-carat gold and specially selected diamonds, a set of four tyres made by an NRI-owned firm in the United Arab Emirates was sold for more than Rs 4 crore, setting the Guinness world record for most expensive set of car tyres.

IMAGE: The tyres were included as "World's Most Expensive Set of Car Tyres" in the Guinness Book of Records. Photograph, courtesy: Z Tyres/Facebook

The first and only set of tyres of this kind, the gold-plated tyres were developed by Z Tyres in Dubai.

They were decorated by the world's most exclusive jewellers -- artisan jewellers in Italy -- and designed in Dubai, the company said in its website.

The application of gold leafing was done in the UAE by the same craftsmen who have worked on the new presidential palace in Abu Dhabi.

The tyres were included as "World's Most Expensive Set of Car Tyres" in the Guinness Book of Records, the company claimed.

They were sold for 2.2 million dirhams ($600,000 or Rs 4.01 crore) at REIFEN trade fair in Dubai, it said.

IMAGE: Z Tyres will donate all profits from the $600,000 sale to the Zenises Foundation. Photograph, courtesy: Z Tyres/Facebook

The company will donate the money to the Zenises Foundation.

"We've always treasured the outstanding skills and dedication involved in developing our Z Tyre range so we thought what better way to celebrate this achievement than with a record-breaking special set of tyres especially commissioned for a unique buyer," Harjeev Kandhari, Founder and CEO of Zenises which ownes Z Tyres said.

"In keeping with the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, Z Tyres will donate all profits from the $600,000 sale to the Zenises Foundation which focuses on improving access to education across the world," he added.
The government will impose a two per cent cess on domestic and international air travel, which is likely to make airfares costlier on longer routes.

The much-awaited national civil aviation policy was cleared by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday.

The policy has been finalised after nearly eight months since the Ministry came out with the revised draft in October 2015.

It followed many rounds of deliberations with stakeholders.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the policy is a 'game changer' and that the country's aviation sector is poised to become the world's third largest by 2022.

Here are the 10 key takeaways from the policy:

To boost regional connectivity, airfares are fixed at Rs 2,500 for one-hour long flights.

The policy aims at increasing connectivity to smaller towns and cities by offering incentives to airlines. The Centre will refund 80 per cent of the losses incurred by airlines due to the cap in fare on such routes.

To fund the subsidy element, government will be imposing a two per cent cess on domestic and international air travel, which is likely to make airfares costlier on longer routes.

Government scraps 5/20 norms to allow Indian carriers to fly abroad. An airline can fly abroad if it has a fleet of 20 planes. It doesn't need to have operated in the domestic sector for five years to fly in foreign skies.

Self-handling policy for airlines will now be allowed. The aviation policy has made refund policy stricter, which is good for customers. However, it will hit the airlines' profit.

The policy also proposes real time safety tracking.

New operators like Vistara, Air Asia will benefit tremendously from this policy.

The new policy will promote balanced regional growth, tourism, infrastructure and help improve the ease of doing business.

The new policy will focus on cargo, maintenance, repair and operations and skill development.

The government has liberalised code sharing so airlines can tie-up with foreign carriers for any destination within India on a reciprocal basis.

Image: An IndiGo Airlines aircraft prepares to land as a man paddles his cycle-rickshaw in Ahmedabad. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters
Kolkatas creme de la creme turned up at the launch of Bandhan, The Making of a Bank, but the evening nevertheless had an informal touch typical of the young bank with CMD Chandra Shekhar Ghosh personally welcoming the dignitaries, reports Indrani Roy/Rediff.com.

"I need high heels to be photographed with you," senior finance journalist-writer Tamal Bandyopadhyay told Bandhan founder and CMD Chandra Shekhar Ghosh.

But then I can never be as 'tall' as you. What you have achieved in life is far beyond anyones reach, he added.

We were at a Kolkata hotel a few minutes away from the inauguration of Bandyopadhyays third book -- Bandhan, The Making of a Bank.

A Penguin Random House Publication, the book, as the author said in an interview to Rediff.com earlier, doesnt depict Ghosh as a messiah for the poor but as an astute entrepreneur who dared to venture into areas where Indias banking system never could.

Though the creme de la creme of Kolkata was present, the event nevertheless had an informal touch a la Bandhan style, with the affable Ghosh personally greeting the dignitaries along with Bandyopadhyay.

Also read: Bandhan should not fall for corporate banking

"It is an evening to celebrate the achievements of Ghosh," said Amit Mitra, finance minister of West Bengal, who unveiled the book while Harun Rashid Khan, deputy governor, Reserve Bank of India, was the guest of honour. Ashok Banerjee, professor at the Indian Institute of Management-Kolkata, anchored the event.

Amit Mitra: "There is no science to what Bandhan has achieved. It is complete passion. The book is a celebration of entrepreneurship." Amit Mitra: "There is no science to what Bandhan has achieved. It is complete passion. The book is a celebration of entrepreneurship."

The tone of the launch was aptly set by the chanting of a sloka from the Rig Veda followed by an interesting short film on the writer.

Then it was the West Bengal finance minister's turn to take the mike.

Mitra lauded Ghosh's efforts and called him "an entrepreneur with passion, a skilled businessman who had entrepreneurship as the collateral".

Seeing the Presidency University Vice Chancellor Anuradha Lohia among the audience, Amit Mitra said, "As an ex-student of Presidency, I request you, madam, to produce more Chandra Shekhar Ghoshs."

To this came the VC's witty riposte: "Why only that, we can also produce more finance ministers."

Tamal Bandyopadhyay: "Like my previous books, this too is a journalistic work. This is not a definitive biography of Bandhan founder and chief executive officer-cum-managing director Chandra Shekhar Ghosh -- this is a book on entrepreneurship and the transformation of a microfinance entity into a bank, seen from a ringside seat." Tamal Bandyopadhyay: "Like my previous books, this too is a journalistic work. This is not a definitive biography of Bandhan founder and chief executive officer-cum-managing director Chandra Shekhar Ghosh -- this is a book on entrepreneurship and the transformation of a microfinance entity into a bank, seen from a ringside seat."

Explaining his motivation to pen the book, Tamal Bandyopadhyay said, "Bandhan's remarkable growth was an inspiration in itself.

"Like my other two books -- A Bank for the Buck and Sahara, The Untold Story -- here too I tried to tell a simple story, attempted to demystify the business of microfinance.

"All I wanted was to write a novel that would depict Bandhan's story in a simple and lucid manner.

"I told myself -- I have to write a book that every reader, including my wife and son, would understand."

RBI Deputy Governor H R Khan said he loves the city of Kolkata for its delicious cuisines but now the city is even more important to him for being the birthplace of Bandhan.

Harun Rashid Khan: "It is an exciting book. The author is known for high professional ethics and integrity. Bandhan has mastered the art of reducing poverty without compromising on profitability." Harun Rashid Khan: "It is an exciting book. The author is known for high professional ethics and integrity. Bandhan has mastered the art of reducing poverty without compromising on profitability."

"Bandhan has mastered the art of reducing poverty without compromising on profitability.

"And Tamalda has done an excellent job of capturing its magic," he said.

Also read: Bandhan should not fall for corporate banking

Replying to speakers showering praises on him, the Bandhan founder said, "The credit goes to the team for living the dream that I dreamt.

"The team worked round the clock with love, grit and determination.

"Not me, it's the Bandhan team members who are the real heroes."

Chandra Shekhar Ghosh: "More than a book on Bandhan, this is a history of Indian financial system and its evolution. Every finance professional will benefit reading this book. I congratulate the author for understanding the true spirit behind Bandhan and making it an inspirational story." Chandra Shekhar Ghosh: "More than a book on Bandhan, this is a history of Indian financial system and its evolution. Every finance professional will benefit reading this book. I congratulate the author for understanding the true spirit behind Bandhan and making it an inspirational story."

In his foreword to the book, Kaushik Basu, chief economist, World Bank, wrote: 'Tamal Bandyopadhyay is a gifted story teller, who combines the sharp vision of a finance expert with the journalist's skill for observation and narration. . . Bandyopodhyay does not go into statistical methods, but his keen eye for detail captures some of the . . . ideas of modern behavioural finance in the form of tales and narratives, and, as such, this book is a wonderful complement to the more formal methods of research economists.'

Among those who have endorsed the book are UK Sinha, chairman, Securities and Exchange Board of India; Dr D Subbarao, former governor, RBI; Vinod Rai, former CAG; and Deepak Parekh, chairman, HDFC Ltd.

Towards the end of the programme, Mousumi Ghosh of the healthcare/education firm Team Future suggested that a film be made on Bandhan's success story. Judging by the thunderous applause it was met with, the audience simply loved the idea.
'The original dream of people like Faiz was that Pakistan would be something different from the old India: Progressive, forward looking, democratic (if not socialist), tolerant, diverse and pluralistic.'

'I don't think anyone foresaw the catastrophe that Partition was to become.'

IMAGE: Faiz Ahmed Faiz's biography, penned by his grandson, delves into his heart and soul. Photograph: Kind courtesy Radio Pakistan/www.radio.gov.pk

It is difficult to explain what Faiz Ahmed Faiz means to the world -- was he a Communist, an atheist, a revolutionary, a poet, a prisoner, a journalist or a humanist?

It is not easy to define Faiz the greatest Urdu poet of the last century. In his 73 years, Faiz wrote some of the most beautiful couplets of Urdu poetry. His angst against the oppressive Pakistani establishment is widely quoted even today.

Faiz's grandson, Dr Ali Madeeh Hashmi has published a biography of his grandfather, Love and Revolution -- Faiz Ahmed Faiz, 32 years after the legendary poet's death in 1984,

Dr Hashmi tells Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com why Faiz and his poetry are still relevant. A two part e-mail interview.

What made you think of writing a biography on Faiz Ahmed Faiz? What message do you want to share through this book, Love and Revolution?

Here is a passage from the preface to the book which answers part of this question:

'The idea of writing a biography of my Nana (grandfather) actually materialised gradually over a number of years. He had been a towering (in some ways an overwhelming) presence in our lives. The Zia-ul Haq dictatorship of the 1970s and 1980s was a difficult time for people like my family (liberal, Left-leaning). I remember being teased and taunted in my schoolyard about being the grandson of a 'Communist' and an 'atheist' (and feeling mystified about what that meant!).'

At that time, my main concern was to distance myself from him as much as possible. Years later, living in the US, I could look at his life more objectively. I knew that in spite of all that had been written about him, there had never been a full length biography.

'I had access to close family members and friends as well as his personal papers and books. It also gave me a chance to get into his mind and understand him from the inside out (which, as a psychiatrist, I'm interested in.'

There is no specific 'message' that I want to share with the book. I love writing, he is a fascinating subject to write about and people seem to have an insatiable appetite for all things Faiz.

Other than that, Faiz, of course had a vision, of the way the world ought to be and I have tried to share that.

How difficult was it for you as an author to keep your distance from 'Faiz the human being,' and not get influenced by his personality, since you also happen to be his grandson?

Here is another excerpt from the preface:

'I made a deliberate effort while writing the book to avoid making a family connection and keep myself 'out of the action', so to speak, for several reasons.

I wanted the book judged on its own merit and not as a product of someone related to Faiz. I also wanted to avoid adding to the 'Faiz industry,' where people have turned a brief meeting with him into articles or whole books about him, mainly employing Faiz as a prop to project themselves -- which to me appeared distasteful (although Faiz probably wouldn't have minded).

I wanted to keep the focus where it belonged, on Faiz and his life."

Obviously there is no way to not be influenced by him, especially if you are part of his family, but that's OK. There were a lot of wonderful things about him and the way he lived his life.

The hardest part, probably, now that I know him a lot better than I used to, is trying to live up to his ideals and the way he lived his life.

So much love for humanity, so much forgiveness for those who wronged him, such indifference to all those things that we all long for: Money, power, fame. He was an amazing man.

How far did unrequited love influence Faiz's poetry when he was younger? You mention in the book that he was suffering from the pangs of his unrequited first love with an Afghan girl?

Well, he himself talked and wrote about it. He said that quite a bit of his earlier poetry was influenced by young love and he thought that was a reason it wasn't very good poetry since it did not include a love of humanity, just, call it selfish, kind of love that we all know about. He did not save much of that poetry since he did not think it was very good.

The turning point was, of course, his poem: Mujh se pehli si muhabbat mere mehboob na maang (Don't expect me to love you like I did before) where he acknowledged that love for a beloved was inferior to love for humanity as a whole.

Faiz and Allama Iqbal shared the same teacher, but why did Faiz, younger than Iqbal by 34 years, never get influenced by Iqbal's pan-Islamic political philosophy?

Mainly I think because by the time Faiz came of age, socialist ideas had begun to take hold all over the world, including in (undivided) India.

Faiz started his first job as a lecturer in Amritsar in 1935. Soon thereafter, the All India Progressive Writers Association was formed, influenced by socialist ideals. Faiz was also a sympathiser of the Communist Party of India (although he was never a formal member) and he had already started his trade union activities in Amritsar under the influence of his mentors Dr Rashid Jahan and Sahibzada Mahmuduzzafar and later Syed Sajjad Zaheer, the main force behind the formation of the AIPWA.

Faiz's family of origin was religiously devout, but starting with his years in college in Lahore, his associations were with people who were not overtly religious and once he discovered Communist ideology, there was no question of him reverting to a philosophy like pan-Islamism. He was quite sceptical of the whole idea in fact.

I have a personal memory of him explaining an Iqbal poem to me (I don't remember which one) and making a humorously sarcastic comment about pan-Islamism.

I think he was from a generation that had moved beyond the idea of a 'Muslim' nation (even a global one) to the concept of pan-humanity (if you want to call it that).

He understood that social and political conflict arose from class and economic differences and that there ought to be unity, and it should be among those who are oppressed, no matter which religion, nationality, ethnicity or language.

At what age did Faiz get influenced by Communist ideology? Why did he never get influenced by Islamic ideology even though he was living in Pakistan, a Muslim country?

He was in his twenties and working at his first job as a lecturer in English at MAO College Amritsar when he was introduced to Communist ideas. In his own words: 'One day, (Sahibzada Mahmooduzzafar) handed me a small book and said read this and next week, we will discuss it but it has been banned by the government so be careful. The book was (Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels') The Communist Manifesto and I read it in one sitting, in fact I read it two or three times.'

'Man and nature, the individual and society, society and classes, classes and the means of production, the means of production and the relations of production, the evolution of society, the many layers of human relations, values, beliefs, thoughts and actions, it felt as if someone had handed me the key to a treasure of the unknown. Thus I became interested in socialism and Marxism. Later I read the works of Lenin and felt a great longing to see the land of Lenin and the October Revolution.'

As far as 'Islamic ideology', he was a scholar of Arabic so he had a very deep understanding of Islam and religion but he was drawn more towards the Sufi version of Islam. You need to read the book, it's all in there.

Faiz wrote that more profound the pain for a poet, the greater will be his art. If that were the case, why don't we see great poets like Faiz coming out of Pakistan in today's time, when life surely doesn't seem easy?

I don't think it is as simple as that. While it is true that a poet (or writer or any kind of artist) feels more deeply than the average person, he or she is still ultimately a product of their times, their era, what Marx would have called 'their material conditions'.

Yes, there is a lot going on in Pakistan (and India and around the world) which should make an artist feel angry, infuriated, hurt and many other things; all progressive, forward looking feeling and desire to change things is being swept along in the mad rush of commercialism.

Leftist, socialist ideology has been in decline for over 25 years now since the fall of the Soviet Union and while there have been efforts (in Latin America, for example) to resurrect socialist thinking, they have, by and large been confined to specific regions and have ultimately been subservient to larger, global trends.

I think the momentum is building though for a worldwide eruption of class struggle and change. Faiz was born and raised in the ferment of the great depression, the struggle against the British Raj, the second World War and many other events which shaped his life.

Of course he was enormously gifted at birth, but like he himself said, nothing is possible without 'sweat and hard work' and we just have not seen that combination of qualities in anyone who can claim his mantle yet.

Why did Faiz join the British Army in 1942 and boycott Mahatma Gandhi's Quit India call? Why wasn't he inspired by the Quit India movement?

Faiz was not a member of the CPI, but he was certainly a sympathiser. The Independence struggle and then the demand for Pakistan posed some difficult questions for the party.

Initially, at the outbreak of World War II, the CPI declared it an inter-imperialist conflict and refused to support it. Then, when Nazi Germany violated their pact and attacked the Soviet Union, the CPI declared that the war was now a war against aggression and should be supported.

At the same time, the Imperial Japanese Army was advancing upon India and while some like Subhas Chandra Bose decided that an alliance with the Japanese was a reasonable strategy against Britain, Faiz understood that the Japanese imperialists were no better than the British and fiercely opposed this stance.

When the CPI declared their support for the War against Nazi Germany, that was when Faiz joined the army. Not only was he not inspired by Gandhi's Quit India movement, he considered it a betrayal of the struggle of Indian workers and peasants as he wrote in his poem Ek siyasi leader knaam.

In the book you mention in passing (on page 133) that the CPI threw its weight behind the demand for Pakistan, terming it a matter of national self-determination. Did Faiz support Partition which divided the Indian subcontinent on religious lines?

There is no record of Faiz expressing an opinion on whether Partition was 'right' or 'wrong'. The CPI went through some contortions on this issue, at first opposing the demand for Pakistan and later supporting it on the basis of 'national self-determination'.

Faiz agreed with the party's stance. It was the demand of the Muslim majority and it had to be respected.

I don't think anyone (including Nehru, Jinnah or any other Congress or Muslim League leader) foresaw the catastrophe that Partition was to become, the loss of life, the destruction and the enduring animosity between India and Pakistan.

Faiz was devastated by the riots, the killings and the wanton massacres at the time of Partition and all his life, he made it a point to try and reconcile the two countries he loved the most.

The original dream of the party and people like Faiz was that the new State of Pakistan would be something different from the old India: Progressive, forward looking, democratic (if not socialist), tolerant, diverse and pluralistic; where the rights of workers, peasants, women and the poor would be safeguarded and which would exist in peace with its neighbors including India.

Unfortunately, the reality, for a number of reasons that are mentioned in the book, turned out differently.

Faiz joined Pakistan Times as editor even before Pakistan had come into existence. Did he then always believe in the concept of Pakistan and Parition?

The Pakistan Times was formed in early 1947 when the demand for Pakistan was well advanced and Faiz was invited to become its chief editor by his old friend Mian Iftikharuddin. He had, by then, decided to leave the army (for a number of reasons mentioned in the book) and so was glad to have this new opportunity.

He worked hard at making the Pakistan Times a respected and widely read paper which (along with its sister Urdu publications Imroze and Lail o Nahar) spoke for those who had no voice in society: Workers, peasants, women, minorities etc.

He did this for four years until the government of Pakistan decided that they had had enough and arrested him in the Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case and took over the paper to turn it into a mouthpiece for the government.

Did Faiz really participate in a meeting with Pakistan army chief Akbar Khan in 1951 where it was decided that they would liberate Kashmir from India after overthrowing Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan?

Yes, the meeting happened, but the agenda was not really Kashmir's liberation etc, but rather a desire to right what the participants saw was the wrong course Pakistan was taking by establishing military pacts with the US etc. The participants wanted a change of government, specifically of a 'Left' variety.

I think it's important to understand this episode of Pakistan's history because in a way it was a turning point, which is why I have devoted two full chapters to it in the book.
The kidney transplant racket revealed an ugly side of healthcare in India.

Rashme Sehgal finds out how this racket is merely the one that didn't get away.

IMAGE: The magnitude of the racket is bewildering in that it covers a large part of the nation and allegedly several members of the larger medical fraternity. Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images

The kidney racket that was busted at the Apollo Hospital in New Delhi is only the tip of the iceberg of a multi-million dollar racket with Kolkata at its epicentre.

T Rajukumar Rao, the kingpin of the racket, was arrested by the police on June 7 in Rajarhat in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district.

Kolkata has over 48 government hospitals, some of which are alleged to be involved in this racket.

Kolkata also serves as a convenient hub because large numbers of people from Bangladesh and Nepal come to the city for kidney transplants. A kidney transplant at a private hospital can cost up to Rs 35 lakh (Rs 3.5 million) though the rates in government hospitals are a little less.

A senior nephrologist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences believes a kidney racket of such a magnitude cutting across several states cannot take place without the knowledge of managers at a hospital and senior doctors.

Rao confessed to the police that the racket spanned several countries including Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Singapore and involved middlemen, organ donors and their recipients and that he and his team of accomplices had ensured that over 100 recipients had received illegal kidney donations.

Rao travelled abroad looking for kidney recipients and had bought three houses for himself in Kolkata. One of these houses was bought for over Rs one crore (Rs 10 million) and was located close to the airport.

At the time of his arrest Rao told the police that he was in touch with 25 recipients and had taken advances from them.

The modus operandi is simple.

Kidney scouts roam around the labour markets in the poorest districts of Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Delhi in search of potential donors.

If the donor agrees to sell his kidney for between Rs 200,000 and Rs 300,000, he is taken to a nearby nursing home to see whether his kidney matches the needs of prospective patients.

If it does, the individual's kidney is harvested and the money paid to the donor.

A nephrologist working out of AIIMS says he has heard of several teams of criminals who travel across the country and would not hesitate to "kidnap and murder" in order to make money out of organ trafficking.

Children and adults are being kidnapped and killed and their organs then sold to nursing homes and hospitals. This happened with a four-and-a-half-year-old-girl who was operated at AIIMS. A month later, her father returned to the hospital to complain that one of his daughter's kidneys was missing.

An 18-year-old student in Noida who had gone to buy a notebook at a market in Ghaziabad never returned home. His anguished parents believe their son was kidnapped by the organ mafia.

"It took the police two months to lodge an FIR. The police kept insisting the boy must have run off to Mumbai. Our son remains untraced to this day and we believe he was kidnapped by criminals in the organ trade which is rampant in Ghaziabad," says the boy's mother.

Ram Chaurasia, chairperson, Bachpan Bachao Andolan, believes that when the NGO locates children who have gone missing, they often come across dead bodies of children whose organs are missing.

"We find children whose hearts and kidneys and other organs are missing. The police will close the case by saying some animals have eaten the organs of these children. It is much easier to file a case of kidnapping and murder or of death by attack from an animal," says Chaurasia.

"If the complaint talks about missing organs," he adds, "the situation becomes complex because then the police will have to conduct a more detailed investigation."

India currently confronts an epidemic of diabetes and high blood pressure with three out of five Indians known, according to recent studies, to be suffering from these ailments.

"One of the fallouts of both diabetes and high BP is kidney failure," says Dr Monik Mehta, a senior doctor at the Artemis Hospital in Gurgaon. "We have a huge population in our country on dialysis. They are desperate to have their kidneys changed and will go to any length to get a transplant."

"The government has set up an Indian Transplant Registry which shows that from the 100,000 to 200,000 people who require this organ every year, only about 5,000 get a transplant," Dr Mehta adds.

It is this shortage which is being filled in by racketeers who appear to have placed themselves in key positions at some hospitals and nursing homes.

In the Apollo Hospital case, a senior nephrologist's personal assistants were in contact with three middlemen who used to 'persuade' poor people in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, UP and Bihar to sell their kidneys for a measly Rs 200,000 to Rs 300,000. The middlemen are paid Rs 50,000 per patient.

The government has mandated that under the Transplant of Human Organ Rules 2014, only organs of immediate blood relatives including parents, siblings, children, grandparents and grandchildren can be accepted for transplant.

Evidence of this relationship has to be submitted to the hospital with all accompanying documents including a PAN card, bank accounts, family photographs etc. The nephrologist's personal assistants were found to have fake voter ID cards and Aadhar cards in order to substantiate fraudulent relationships.

Following this exposure, Apollo Hospital issued a statement pointing out that it had an independent transplant authorisation body consisting of five members including two external members, who would verify that all identification documents to ensure all requirements under the Act were being complied with.

"It seems difficult to believe that senior doctors would indulge in such practices especially when their personal reputation is at stake and when they know their medical licenses can get blacklisted," says Dr Mehta. "Everything is traceable these days."

Apollo Hospital has constituted a three-member committee to look into the existing system of granting approval for organ transplants at its hospital.

It has invited Justice Mukul Mudgal and forensic expert N C Sood to be members of this committee. The third member will be an eminent medical professional.

The racket came to the forefront in the most peculiar manner. Two residents of West Bengal who had supplied their kidneys were involved in a fierce quarrel outside the Apollo Hospital.

They were taken to the police station at Sarita Vihar where one of the kidney suppliers Maumita told the police that her husband Devashish Mauli had promised her Rs 300,000 if she sold her kidney. She had agreed to do so, but she received only Rs 150,000 from the middleman Sikdar.

Mauli informed the police that he had agreed to sell his kidney to Sikdar and had collected the money in advance. Unfortunately, his kidney did not match the recipient and so he had persuaded his wife to sell hers.

The police arrested the three middlemen. Personal assistants of other nephrologists at the hospital are under scrutiny. One PA was arrested June 10.

A Chennai-based survey conducted almost 15 years ago of 305 individuals who had sold their kidneys revealed that 96 per cent of the donors used the money to pay off debts with the rest spent on food and clothing.

India has been the centre of organ trafficking for over three decades. In 2008, an Interpol notice was served on Dr Amit Kumar and his brother who are reported to have conducted over 500 illegal kidney transplants.

Organ trafficking, according to the World Health Organisation, is commercial transplantation done for profit.

This kind of transplantation occurs outside the national medical systems. WHO estimated in 2007 that organ trafficking accounted for 5 to 10 per cent of kidney transplants performed annually across the globe.

In India WHO estimated that around 2,000 Indians sell a kidney every year. Nine years later, the figure has gone up to around 5,000. The figure will rise further as the demand for kidneys rises.
The Patna civil court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against former Bihar School Examination Board Chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, who has been absconding after his name figured in Class 12 examination scam, police said.

Meanwhile, the police has arrested three people including Singhs private secretary in this connection.

Singh had resigned from the post last week after his name cropped up in the scam.

Earlier this week, the Special Investigation Team of the Bihar police, probing the scam, had sought an arrest warrant against Singh.

Till date, eight people have been arrested in the case.

As the court has issued an arrest warrant, the SIT will visit Delhi where Singh is hiding after evading arrest in Bihar, the police said.

Singhs wife Usha Sinha, a former Janata Dal-United MLA, is also absconding after her name figured in the toppers scam.

Last week, Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the mastermind of the Class 12 merit list scam in Bihar, was arrested on Saturday after he surrendered before the police.

Both Singh and Rai are wanted by the SIT as their names had emerged in the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the results of the toppers in the Class 12 arts and science examinations this year.
China on Wednesday rejected allegations of incursion by its troops in Arunachal Pradesh, saying the Sino-India border has not yet been demarcated and the soldiers of the Peoples Liberation Army were conducting normal patrols on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control.

China and India border has not yet been demarcated, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang told media briefing in Beijing, answering a question of reports of 250 Chinese troops entering Yangste, East Kameng district on June 9.

It is learnt that Chinas border troops were conducting normal patrols on the Chinese side of the LAC, Lu said.

The big contingent of PLA soldiers stayed in the area for few hours and left for their base, the reports said.

The incursion into Arunachal Pradesh came at a time when China is opposing Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group on the ground that India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Beijing, which is reportedly backing Pakistans application into the 48-member nuclear club controlling the nuclear commerce, is calling for consensus about admission of the new members.

On the issue of incursions, China has been maintaining the same stand whenever its troops crossed into the Indian side of the LAC stating that both countries have difference perception about it.

While both sides in recent years managed to reduce tensions between the troops patrolling the disputed areas with various mechanismS, China has not responded positively to Indias proposal to demarcate the 3,488 km of the LAC to avoid border tensions.

The two countries have so far held 19 rounds of boundary talks by Special Representatives.

Image used for representational purposes only.
A Chinese navy spy ship on Wednesday entered Japans territorial waters for the first time in over a decade while tailing two Indian naval ships during trilateral Malabar naval exercise attended by the US, India and Japan.

Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft spotted the Dongdiao-class intelligence vessel sailing in territorial waters to the west of Kuchinoerabu Island around 3:30 am, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko told reporters.

The ship travelled on a southeasterly bearing and left Japans territorial waters south of the prefectures Yakushima Island around 5 am, Kyodo news agency quoted Seko as saying.

It was for the first time that a Chinese spy ship was detected in Japanese water since a submarine was spotted in 2004. The latest intrusion came less than a week after another Chinese naval vessel sailed near islands at the centre of a Tokyo-Beijing sovereignty dispute in the East China Sea.

The Chinese military vessel moved in after an Indian ship sailed into Japans territorial waters as it participated in a Japan-US-India joint exercise, Defence Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters.

A senior foreign ministry official lodged a protest with the Chinese embassy over its military activities in view of latest intrusion.

We are concerned about the Chinese militarys recent activities, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.

Japanese officials said they are analysing Chinas possible motives behind the two actions.

The government will continue to exert every effort in warning and surveillance activities in the waters and airspace surrounding the country, Seko said.

As to the spy vessels case on Wednesday, the defence ministry said it entered the waters while tracking two Indian naval ships that were participating in ongoing Malabar naval drills.

In Beijing, Chinese officials defended the naval vessels entry into the waters, saying the passage was in line with the principle of freedom of navigation and international rules.

Under international law, ships of all countries, including military ones, are entitled to the right of innocent passage through territorial waters as long as it would not undermine others security.

There is no need to provide notification or to get authorisation in advance, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in Beijing.

So if Japan insists on hyping up this issue in the media, we have to question its motives.

Image: An Indian, US and Japanese ship participating in the Malabar exercise. Photograph: @indiannavy/Twitter
On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister was locked in a war of words with the Centre and the prime minister after the President rejected an amendment by the Delhi government to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997.

In face of this confrontation, membership of 21 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs may be cancelled, dealing a huge blow to the Delhi chief minister.

Rediff.com explains how things came to this pass.

1) What is the latest confrontation with the Centre?

On Monday, the President rejected an amendment by the Delhi government to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997, which sought to make the position of Parliamentary Secretary in the Delhi Assembly exempt from the definition of Office of Profit. On March 13, 2015, Kejriwal had passed an order appointing the 21 party MLAs as Parliamentary Secretaries.

However, a complaint was filed to the President seeking disqualification of these 21 MLAs for holding an Office of Profit.

Now that the President has rejected the bill, the 21 AAP MLAs can potentially be disqualified should the Election Commission of India so decide.

2) Why do these MLAs face the risk of being disqualified?

According to the Constitution, a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of Parliament or of a Legislative Assembly/Council if he holds an Office of Profit under the central or any state government.

3) If the law is so clear, why is the AAP government fighting over it?

The AAPs argument is that the post of Parliamentary Secretary is not an Office of Profit as the MLAs are not receiving any financial benefit.

4) So what happens now?

Now, the Election Commission of India has to basically decide whether the terms and conditions of appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries constitutes an Office of Profit. The AAP government has claimed that the 21 Parliamentary Secretaries are not getting any salaries or perks for their work, and are working for free.

Though, the AAP government cannot contest the Presidents decision, it can approach the court if the EC decides to disqualify the MLAs.
While President Pranab Mukherjee has received number of honorary degrees, it is first such honour accorded to him by a country.

President Pranab Mukherjee has been accorded the highest honour of Cote D'Ivoirie by its President Alassane Ouattara on his maiden visit to the country.

After an elaborate reception accorded at the airport in capital Abidjan, Mukherjee attended a banquet on Tuesday evening hosted by Ouattara where he was accorded with Grand Cross National Order of the Republic of Cote D'Ivoirie in a simple ceremony in the President's Palace.

It is the first such honour accorded to Mukherjee, Press Secretary to the President Venu Rajamony said.

He said while Mukherjee has received number of honorary degrees, it is first such honour accorded to him by a country.

In his speech at the banquet, Mukherjee who is on the second leg of his three-nation visit to Africa, said it is rightly believed that the mutual goodwill between India and Cote D'Ivoirie is inversely proportional to the geographical distance separating the two countries, longstanding friendship and fruitful co-operation has made it irrelevant.

"I feel greatly honoured, Excellency, by your gesture of conferring on me the National Order of the Republic of Cote D'Ivoirie. I consider it to be emblematic of the long standing mutual friendship between the peoples of our two countries," he said.

Calling for UN reforms, Mukherjee said both countries share many commonalities as both are active participants in regional and international fora and have worked together in close cooperation on matters of shared interest and concern.

"We both recognise the imperatives of strengthening the UN system and other international organisations. We would like to see them reformed s that they remain relevant and effective in addressing the challenges that confront the world today. In this context, India stands ready to shoulder greater responsibilities in the specialised organs of the United Nations, particularly the UN Security Council," he said.

He also underlined "common concerns" of both countries in the fight against international terrorism.

"We have been co-ordinating closely in regional and multilateral fora on this and other key issues including disarmament, climate change and sustainable development," he said.

Mukherjee said India's commitment continued in the form of South-South Cooperation through developmental assistance and sharing resources for the development of her brother nations in Africa.

The President said India's public and private sector are keen to join Cote D'Ivoirie in setting up agro-based industries because of its fertile soil and agricultural and mineral resources.

"We would be happy to join your government in developing the infrastructure that you require in the different sectors of your growing economy. We have much to offer. At this time -- when both our nations are growing at a rate of 7-9 per cent, there are infinite opportunities that must be seized," Mukherjee said.

He appreciated the naming of an information technology park in Abidjan after Mahatma Gandhi calling him "a true son of India as well as Africa".

"During his initial struggles in South Africa, he espoused the principles of Ahimsa (Non-Violence) and Satyagraha as tools for emancipation of the people from the exploitative and oppressive colonial rule.

These principles later inspired independent India's efforts in support of the decolonisation of Africa in the 1950s and 1960s. It was also at the core of India's solidarity in the anti-apartheid movement," he said.

Mukherjee said India will remain a steadfast partner in assisting Cote D'Ivoirie in its economic development and growth. He said trade between the two nations is expected to touch $1 billion in the next few years.

"Given the relative size of our economies and our wide convergences in several sectors of common interests, we both agree that our trade and investment and economic co-operation does, indeed have a greater potential that is waiting to be fully realised," he said.
With a controversy surrounding his three-day-old appointment, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Wednesday night quit as party in-charge of poll-bound Punjab in view of a "canard" regarding the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

He wrote a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi who immediately accepted his resignation and relieved him of his charge as party General Secretary.

Nath, who was appointed as the General Secretary in-charge of Punjab as well as Haryana only three days back, said in his letter to Gandhi, ".. I request that I may be relieved of my charge (of Punjab) to ensure that the attention is not diverted from the real issues facing Punjab."

The former union minister said he was "hurt by the developments of the past few days wherein an unnecessary controversy has been created around the tragic 1984 riots in New Delhi."

His step came as the Akali Dal, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party had kept up attack on him and the Congress over his alleged role in the anti-Sikh riots which followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Describing his appointment as 'sprinkling of salt on wounds' of Sikhs, the three parties were set to rake up the issue in the run up to the Assembly polls slated next year.

Kamal Nath insisted that there was not even any public statement, complaint or FIR against him till 2005 in the riots case and that he had been absolved subsequently by the Nanavati Commission set up by the previous National Democratic Alliance government.

"This canard is therefore nothing but a cheap political ploy to gain traction ahead of the elections.... Certain elements are raking up these issues now only for political gains," he wrote to Gandhi.

Expressing gratitude to Gandhi for appointing him as General Secretary in-charge of Punjab, the Congress leader wrote, "I am practitioner of Nehruvian politics and maligning of the Congress party using false accusations is unacceptable to me."

"I wish the party to focus on the upcoming elections and highlight the issues of misgovernance, misery of the farmers and youth, break down of law and order and rampant drug trade that caused untold misery to the people of Punjab."

Soon after, party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said the Congress president had accepted Nath's resignation as All India Congress Committee General Secretary.

"Kamal Nath has tendered his resignation from the responsibilities assigned to him in AICC. On his request, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has accepted his resignation," Surjewala said.

In his letter, Kamal Nath said he has been blessed to have a long career with the Congress right from youth Congress to being general secretary to being a minister in the party's governments since 1991 and "never has there been any stigma attached to my name."

"It was not even an issue when I was general secretary in charge of Delhi, rather we won the MCD elections during my tenure," he said.

"Till 2005, not a single public statement, complaint or FIR was ever made against me and the first time my name was ever mentioned in any forum was 21 years after 1984," he wrote.

The Nanavati Commission set up by the previous NDA government "after proper investigation fully absolved me", he added.

"Even during a subsequent motion, to discuss the commission's report in Parliament, none of the AKali-BJP MPs including Sukhbir Singh Badal mentioned my name," he said.
The Special Task Force of Uttar Pradesh police has arrested an active member of the Munir gang wanted in the murder case of National Investigation Agency officer Tanzil Ahmed.

Atiullah (22), a native of Bihar, was arrested following an encounter near Barauli bridge under Banna Devi police station in Aligarh on Tuesday night, an STF release said.

Atiullah, who was carrying a cash reward of Rs 50,000, was wanted in 11 criminal cases. A .32 bore pistol and cartridges were recovered from his possession, the release added.

Atiullah, who had come into contact with Munir during the 2012 Aligarh Muslim University elections, has told the police that both had fled the city in September, 2015 following a murder on the Aligarh Muslim University campus, the release added.

Subsequently, he had met Munir in Nepal but was not aware of his whereabouts since then, the release said, adding that a case has been registered and further investigation was on.

Tanzil Ahmed was gunned down by armed assailants in Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh on the night of April 2 when he was returning home with his wife and two children from a wedding.

The post-mortem report said Ahmed had received 21 bullet injuries. His wife Farzana too succumbed to bullet injuries 10 days after the incident in AIIMS in New Delhi.

The main accused in the case, Munir, a resident of Sahaspur and a history-sheeter, is still on the run.

Ahmed had handled several cases related to the banned Indian Mujahideen outfit, including the arrest and probe of the outfit's India chief, Yasin Bhatkal.
Sidestepping Chinese opposition, United States President Barack Obama will meet the Dalai Lama at the White House on Wednesday, a move likely to infuriate China which considers the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader as a separatist.

"In the morning, the President will meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the White House," said the presidential schedule.

The meeting to be held in the Map Room of the White House is closed press. The Tibetan spiritual leader is currently on a visit of the US.

Normally, the US President meets the Tibetan spiritual leader when he is in the American Capital.

In the past, the White House has maintained that the US President meets the Dalai Lama in his capacity as religious and spiritual leader.

Despite the US believing that Tibet is an integral part of China, every meeting of the Dalai Lama with the American President angers Beijing.

"As a revered figure to Tibetans and people around the world, His Holiness reminds us of our great responsibility to act to safeguard human rights, promote equality and protect our environment," said top Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.

"Any attempt on the part of the Chinese to dilute the population of Tibetans in Tibet is something that would be just really wrong. Just plain and simple: wrong. Again, a challenge to the conscience," she said.

Welcoming Obama's decision to meet the Dalai Lama, Pelosi said Tibetan spiritual leader's friendship with the US and the respect commanded from leaders on both sides of the aisle serve "as a powerful tribute to the righteousness of the cause of Tibetan autonomy."

"If freedom-loving people do not speak out against oppression in Tibet, then we surrender all moral authority to speak on behalf of human rights anywhere in the world," Pelosi said.

Senators Bob Corker and Ben Cardin, the chairman and ranking member of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with the Dalai Lama and Lobsang Sangay, the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile.

"At a time when our country is grappling with an increasingly unstable and uncertain world, we are inspired by his universal message, which reflects many of our own deeply-held values," Corker said, adding that they discussed about issues important to the US and the people of Tibet.

"As I continue to underscore the importance of protecting and uplifting basic human rights in the foreign policy of the United States as well as in the work of our partners and allies abroad, the Dalai Lama remains a source of inspiration and guidance to me," Cardin said.

Speaking on the House floor, Democratic Minority leader Nancy Pelosi welcomed the decision of the US President to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader.

"I know that President [Obama] will be receiving His Holiness this week. Presidents have done that over time, which is a source of great pride for us in our country and in the relationship between His Holiness and our presidents," Pelosi said.

Pelosi said the relationship between an American President and His Holiness the Dalai Lama goes back to when he was a little boy and it persists into his 80s now, something that, again, "brings luster to us in our country that we have such a beautiful relationship" with such a spiritual figure in the world.

"Honoured to see the Dalai Lama today, who continually inspires us to choose love over hate," tweeted Congressman Tim Walz.

Congressman Suzan K Delbene said over the past several years, the Chinese government had constructed more obstacles to efforts by Tibetans to preserve their culture and religion.

"Sadly, we know that Tibetans have used self-immolations as a protest against the religious and political oversight of the Chinese government. It is difficult to fathom the despair and desperation felt by Tibetans who take this last act of defiance," she alleged.



"The Chinese government has blamed the Dalai Lama and "foreign forces" for self-immolations instead of looking at how their own policies created such deep grievances," she said.

"The Chinese government also expanded its efforts last year to transform Tibetan Buddhism into a state-managed institution. They sought to undermine the devotion of the Tibetan people to the Dalai Lama and control the process of selecting Buddhist leaders," Delbene said.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said that Omar Mateen, responsible for the killing of 49 people at a gay nightclub, did not appear to be part of any terrorist cell or group.

Americas deadliest ever shooting that killed 49 people and injured 53 others in Orlando was a case of self-radicalisation and was not a terrorist-directed attack, a top United States official said on Wednesday.

What we know at this point, it appears that this was a case of self-radicalisation, it was not a terrorist-directed attack, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson told Fox News in an interview.

As we say, it was more in the nature of a terrorist-inspired attack. He does not appear to have been part of any group or any cell, Johnson said in response to a question on the alleged suspect Omar Mateen.

Investigators say Afghan-origin Mateen, 29, was self-radicalised and pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

And the environment were in right now is reflected by this horrific attack where we have to be concerned about the homegrown violent extremism, he said.

For both the President and me, homeland security, the protection of the American people against this type of threat is our number one priority, Johnson said.

Johnson said theres some indication at this point that he self-radicalised based on things he was looking at on the Internet and on social media.

(This) is why one of the things that were focused on in homeland security is how do we encourage internet service providers to take down prohibited content, content that violates the terms of their own service, he said.

Theyre pretty good about doing this. But it becomes a more and more difficult task as the terrorists become smarter at this, he added.

Johnson said the US needs to be concerned about homegrown violent extremists.

We are taking the fight to the Islamic State pursuant to the Presidents direction. Were killing these guys where they rear their heads in places like Iraq and Syria, he noted.

But weve got to be concerned about those here in the United States who self-radicalise, which is why our entire government attempts to take them down with law enforcement, to build bridges with the American-Muslim community so that they help us help them has become all the more important, he said.

Earlier in the evening, US President Barack Obama at a meet with Democratic lawmakers said this has been a difficult week for the country.

Obviously this has been a difficult week for America, because all of us are still grieving for those who were lost in Orlando. All of us still have our thoughts and prayers for the families, those who were killed but also for those who are still recovering and for the city of Orlando, he said.

One of the things I said I emphasised this is something that could happen anywhere. These could be our kids or our brothers or our cousins or our nephews, nieces, Obama said.

And at moments like this its critically important for us to remind ourselves of what binds us together as a people. That regardless of race or ethnicity or religion or sexual orientation, were all Americans and we look out for each other. We celebrate those things we hold dear and have in common, like love of family and love of country, we mourn together when part of that family is hurt, he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to G4S Secure Solutions, the security company that employed Mateen seeking more information about him.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Wednesday told US President Barack Obama that he is not seeking independence of Tibet from China and hoped that talks with the Chinese government would resume soon, the White House said.

The Dalai Lama stated that he is not seeking independence for Tibet and hopes that dialogue between his representatives and the Chinese government will resume, the White House said.

The president and the Dalai Lama agreed on the importance of a constructive and productive relationship between the United States and China, said the statement issued after the two Noble laureates met at the Maple Room of the White House, which was described as a personal meeting.

During the meeting, the Dalai Lama condoled Obama over shooting in Orlando on Sunday. Obama commended the Dalai Lama for his efforts to promote compassion, empathy, and respect for others.

The two leaders discussed the situation for Tibetans in China, the White House said.

Obama expressed support for the preservation of Tibets unique religious, cultural, and linguistic traditions and the equal protection of human rights of Tibetans in China.

The president lauded the Dalai Lamas commitment to peace and nonviolence and expressed support for the Dalai Lamas Middle Way approach, the White House said.

Obama in his meeting encouraged meaningful and direct dialogue between the Dalai Lama and his representatives with Chinese authorities to lower tensions and resolve differences.

In this context, the president reiterated the longstanding US position that Tibet is a part of the Peoples Republic of China, and the US does not support Tibetan independence, it said, adding that the two agreed on the importance of a constructive and productive relationship between the US and China.

The president welcomed the Dalai Lamas leadership on climate change issues, and expressed support for the Dalai Lamas efforts to raise awareness of the importance of limiting global warming, including to protect the Himalayan glaciers and the environment on the Tibetan plateau, the White House said.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest described the Obama-Dalai Lama meeting as personal.

In this case, the Dalai Lama is not a head of state, and so this was handled differently. When theres as head of state typically there will be a meeting in the Oval Office, typically there will be some kind of joint statement to the media. But in this case the interaction was different, primarily because the Dalai Lama is not a head of state, he said in response to a question.

But the president does have a personal affection for the Dalai Lama and for his teachings. The president does support the preservation of Tibets unique, religious cultural linguistic traditions, so thats the president had the meeting, but the meeting was treated differently than his meetings with other heads of state, because the Dalai Lama is not a head of state, he said.

Responding to a question on Chinese opposition to the meeting, Earnest said that has not worked.

Based on the reaction from the Chinese government that somebody referred to earlier it sounds like if theyre hoping to have that kind of influence they are not succeeding, he said.

Meanwhile, China said that Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama has "violated" United States's promises on not supporting Tibetan independence and warned that it will hurt bilateral cooperation.

"Tibet affairs are China's domestic affairs and no foreign country has the right to interfere," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang.

"No matter in what way the US leader met with the Dalai Lama, the meeting violated the US promises of acknowledging Tibet as a part of China, not supporting Tibet independence and not supporting separatist activities," Lu said.

"Such a meeting will hurt China-US mutual trust and cooperation," he said.

On Wednesday, China lodged a strong diplomatic protest with the US over the meeting.

Lu said the 14th Dalai Lama was not a purely religious figure but a political exile who has long engaged in "anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion" and the essence of his "middle way" approach is "Tibet independence".

IMAGE: President Barack Obama greets His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the entrance of the Map Room of the White House. Photograph: Pete Souza/White House
Some incidents of stone-pelting were reported on Wednesday as Jammu city witnessed a near total bandh in protest against alleged desecration of a temple on Tuesday night, an issue which resonated in the state assembly as well.

Fearing a flare-up, the government suspended mobile Internet services and deployed police in strength to maintain law and order.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appealed for calm, saying, Jammu and Kashmir is the most secular place and it should not be hijacked (by the) extremist forces.

She said some elements were hell-bent on creating communal tension in the region but the people of Jammu, irrespective of their religion, must unite and fight the nefarious designs of such forces.

She warned that communal politics in Jammu region could have a disastrous effect as the state was already facing separatism in the Kashmir valley.

Separatism and communalism are the two faces of a same coin and they ultimately divide the society and the country, she said while addressing a function at Jammu University.

The city on Tuesday night saw protesters setting on fire three vehicles and resorting to stone pelting on police after the alleged desecration of an ancient temple situated in Roop Nagar area apparently by a mentally disturbed person.

On Wednesday, a few incidents of stone pelting were reported, barring which the situation across Jammu region remained by and large normal.

Even though no political or social organisation had called for a bandh, the businessmen and transporters decided to observe a shutdown in protest against the desecration of the temple.

Most of the shops and business establishments remained closed whereas traffic remained off the road.

The situation right now is normal barring a few incidents of protests by local residents. We have deployed adequate number of police personnel, Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh said.

He said that even as the mobile Internet services have been snapped, no curfew or Section 144 is in force in any part of the city.

The situation does not warrant the imposition of curfew or Section 144 as it would create problems for the masses. The situation is restricted to one place and that too is under control and we are regularly monitoring it, Singh said.

A huge posse of police personnel, geared with anti-riots equipment, were deployed in the area after protesters had last night set three vehicles on fire and resorted to stone pelting on police after the news of the desecration of the temple spread in the city.

Earlier in the day, people gathered at the Aap Shamboo temple and performed the shudi karan puja there.

Mehbooba said time and again the people of Jammu have showcased their secular credentials and it was evident from the fact that the region gave refuge to people who came there while fleeing from militancy-hit areas.

Police said the person accused of desecrating the temple was mentally unstable and that he had been arrested.

The issue also resonated in the state assembly where Bharatiya Janata Party members created ruckus as soon as the House assembled.

As soon as the House assembled, the BJP members took to their feet and demanded a statement from the government on the issue.

It is matter of serious concern...Some anti-social elements have carried out an anti-social act. Situation in Jammu is bad. The government should make a statement, BJP MLA Ravinder Raina said.

National Conferences Altaf Ahmad Kaloo and Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed also joined in, demanding the government to ensure safety of Kashmiris in Jammu region.

Four boys from Pahalgam area have been arrested in Jammu. What is their fault? Kaloo asked.

The BJP MLAs took offence to intervention from Rasheed and Kaloo and exchanged heated words.

Communist Party of India-Marxist MLA M Y Tarigami later intervened, saying the entire House should condemn the incident and appeal for maintaining calm and brotherhood.

Let us not divide this state along communal lines, he said.

Leader of Opposition Omar Abdullah supported Tarigami, saying, It would have been better if the suggestion had come from the Treasury Benches.

Usually, the chief minister comes here (assembly) and intervenes but today neither she nor the deputy chief minister is here when the situation in Jammu is on the brink, he said.

Abdullah said that instead of fighting over the issue, the legislators should set an example for the people to follow on ground. What we do here will be cue for the people in Jammu.

Earlier, Law Minister Abdul Haq Khan made a statement on the issue.

As per information received by Roopnagar police station, one mentally disturbed person, identified as Yasir of Doda, tried damaging and defiling a temple in Janipur area.

The accused was arrested by police but while he was being taken away, the temple priest and some local residents tried preventing police from discharging their duties, the minister said.

The residents then held protests outside the police station and resorted to violence, setting several vehicles, including two police buses, on fire, the minister said, adding three policemen, including the station house officer of the police station, were injured in the incident.

Khan said police resorted to use of mild lathi-charge and tear smoke shells to bring the situation under control.

The minister also informed the House that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh were not present in the assembly as they were in Jammu to personally monitor the situation.

A similar statement was made in the Legislative Council by Education Minister Naeem Akhtar after members of BJP, NC and Congress demanded answers from the government.

Akhtar said two cases have been registered at police station Janipur and investigation into the incident has been initiated. Some accused persons have been arrested so far.

The preliminary investigations suggest that the accused person who entered the temple is a lunatic patient, he said.

Mehbooba appealed to students to play a positive role and get involved in political activities, but at the same time cautioned them against politics of religion.

Jammu has always been a glaring example of secular harmony... In 1990, people of Jammu opened their doors for the people who escaped militancy and took refuge here, she said.

She said it was the people of Jammu who had voted her father Mufti Sayeed to the assembly for the first time in 1985. It was the secular character of Jammu that they elected my father, a Muslim from Kashmir, from R S Pura, she said.

IMAGE: Members of Bajrang Dal shouting slogans against state government in Jammu. Photograph: PTI Photo
US President Barack Obama said that he cried at the recent high school convocation ceremony of his elder daughter Malia, thinking about how she is graduating at this extraordinary time for women in America.

Some of you may know that on Friday, my elder daughter Malia graduated from high school. And I sat in the back and wore dark glasses, Obama told a gathering of women from across the county at the Women Summit held at the White House.

And only cried once, but it was -- I made this weird sound because I was choking back -- and people looked at me, people sitting in front of us turned back. And then I suppressed it, Obama said describing the incident.

I was thinking about how she is graduating at this extraordinary time for women in America, said the 54-year-old US president.

Malia Obama, 17, graduated from the prominent Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC, last Friday, which was attended by the US president.

She has taken admission at the prominent Harvard University, but she will be taking a year off from studies and will be joining Harvard next year.

In an interaction with Oprah Winfrey, US First Lady Michelle Obama recollected the childhood days of her two daughters -- Malia and Sasha, 15. It would take another two years for Sasha to graduate from high school.

As a result, the First Family has decided to live in Washington, DC after they leave the White House.

Malia and Sasha were little itty-bitties when we came into office. I mean, it still moves me to tears to think about the first day I put them in the car with their Secret Service agents to go to their first day of school, 52-year-old Michelle said.

And I saw them leaving and I thought, what on Earth am I doing to these babies? So I knew right then and there my first job was to make sure they were going to be whole and normal and cared for in the midst of all this craziness, Michelle said amidst applause from the audience.

And then I started to understand that if I was going to protect them, I had to, number one, protect myself and protect my time, she said and then recollected the graduation ceremony of Malia.

We just went to Malias high school graduation and we were watching Sasha move her way through high school. I am very proud of those two and how they have managed this situation and how they have continued to be themselves, regular little girls just trying to figure it out, she said.

As all mothers do, you breathe that sigh of relief that you didnt mess up your kids. Every day I cross my fingers and hope that Im doing right by them, and Im providing them with a good foundation so that they can be great people, she added.

Image: US President Barack Obama with his daughter Malia. Photograph: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Yuvaraj, who is accused of killing a Dalit youth in Tamil Nadu, has been externed to Tirunelveli where A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com met him.

In July 2015, Gokulraj, a Dalit, was murdered in Pallipalayam, Namakkal district, Tamil Nadu. His crime: Speaking to a woman from the dominant Gounder caste.

Some 17 people were arrested for the crime of who five were released on bail and seven were held under the Goondas Act. It is the 18th person to be arrested in the case, Yuvaraj, who has grabbed the headlines.

The founder of a Gounder youth group, Yuvaraj evaded arrest for three months before engineering a surrender along with hundreds of his supporters, thus embarrassing the police.

After his surrender, Yuvaraj was sent to police custody and from there to jail. He obtained conditional bail by which he has to sign in in the Town police station in Tirunelveli twice a day. The choice of the city in southern Tamil Nadu is a matter of irony given its history of caste clashes.

For the last two years, Yuvaraj has headed the Dheeran Chinnamalai Gounder Peravai which he describes as a social service organisation which preaches that all castes are equal.

At the hotel in Tirunelveli where he stayed till recently, there are more policemen guarding him than what a Tamil Nadu minister usually has.

The two-storeyed hotel has been sanitised by the police, and Yuvaraj is the lone person staying there.

Asked who pays for the considerable expenses incurred, Yuvaraj says all his expenses including the hotel bills are being taken care of by "friends."

He plans to be in Tirunelveli for a month after which he will seek a fresh order from the court.

Meeting Yuvaraj at the hotel is not easy, with the policemen refusing access till an order from the Tirunelveli police commissioner's office does the trick.

Yuvaraj has now moved out of the hotel and rented a house close to the police station where he has to sign in every day.

The move came after two youth from the Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi -- a Dalit political party -- were arrested for threatening him. Yuvaraj is nonchalant.

"They were planning to attack me," he says, "and the police arrested them as a preventive measure. This is not the first time that this has happened. Even when I was in jail there was an attempt to attack me, but I escaped."

The security cordon around him has been beefed up. While 20 policemen guarded him at the hotel, 70 policemen working in shifts keep a vigil over him now.

Apart from going to the police station twice a day, he spends the entire day indoors. "The police are worried about my safety," he says. "I know I am not in custody and after signing twice a day at the police station I am free to go where I please, but I am not doing that."

"I do not want to harass the police by going around just because I am getting bored. I have no work in this district and I am going to cooperate with the police who are doing a lot to keep me safe," he adds.

Anyone who attacks or harms him, says Yuvaraj, will become an instant hero for their caste members, and so there are people eager to score political points by attacking him.

He is visibly happy to meet an outsider, and seems to be enjoying all the attention. His manner is not of of someone facing a serious murder charge.

"They have implicated me in this case," he says, "because I was present at the temple when Gokulraj was talking to a girl from a higher caste. There were so many others in the temple at that time. Why have they only caught me?"

This, he adds, is not the first time the police have falsely implicated him in a case. It had happened earlier, too, in cases involving caste clashes.

Politicians don't like him, he says, by way of explanation. "I have tried to keep the peace between castes and this is not liked by politicians who like to divide and rule."

When he was in hiding, eluding the police who were trying to arrest him in the Gokulraj case, Yuvaraj was prolific on social media. He also granted interviews to television news channels.

Ask him if this was not a way of mocking the police for their inability to apprehend him, and he says, "I wanted people to know my side of the story. The police had put out their version, the public had to know my version or they would have thought me guilty."

"I was not mocking the police. I was simply telling people my side of the story."

Yuvaraj is emphatic that he has nothing to do with Gokulraj's murder and insists that he has the evidence to establish his innocence. "Gokulraj," he alleges, "committed suicide because he was involved with five girls, I had nothing to do with it."

Deputy Superintendent of Police Vishnupriya, who was investigating the case, committed suicide some weeks after Gokulraj's death. Yuvaraj says he told the DSP, "an honest police officer," that all the people she had arrested were not the real culprits.

"At that time the SP (superintendent of police) told her (Vishnupriya) to arrest five more persons under the Goondas Act. She refused, so the SP threatened to arrest her for earlier arresting the wrong people. That is why she committed suicide," alleges Yuvaraj.

The popular impression in Tamil Nadu about the Gounder community is that they work very hard, are very honest and very rich. More than money, what matters most to the Gounders is honour.

When Yuvraj surrendered he was treated as a hero by some Gounders. On the first day that he went to sign in at the Town police station in Tirunelveli, 10 cars accompanied him.

Now only two police cars accompany him.

Tirunelveli has a large presence of people belonging to the so-called scheduled castes and the VCK and Puthiya Tamizhagam, both Dalit political parties, are active. The sooner Yuvaraj gets out of their hair, the policemen say, the better.
A war of words has erupted in the Bharatiya Janata Party over projecting Varun Gandhi as the party's face in the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh after he skipped a meeting called by party chief Amit Shah of MPs from the state.

Gandhi, who was here to attend the BJP's national executive, was conspicuous by his absence at the meeting of Lok Sabha MPs, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi among others.

When asked about it, party's state unit president Keshav Prasad Maurya, who is himself an MP from Phulpur, said, "We have more than 70 MPs in the state and out of them at least 13 could not take part. This was not due to any resentment on their part but because of their personal reasons."

He said the meeting went off peacefully, without any tensions and was attended by Modi and also a number of Union ministers.

A second-term MP, Gandhi's absence at the meeting had given rise to speculation that he was miffed at the reluctance of the party's central leadership to grant him a prominent role in the UP assembly polls due in less than a year.

In 2013, the then party president had appointed Gandhi as one of the national general secretaries, making him the youngest person to hold the post.

However, when Shah took over and Singh moved to the Union cabinet, Gandhi was stripped off the post.

Meanwhile, firebrand MP from Bihar Shatrughan Sinha, who had reportedly voiced his support for Gandhi at the national executive, on Tuesday defended his stand when a number of party colleagues criticised him.

"I stand by what I had said at the national executive. And let me make it clear, I never said it should only be Gandhi. My point is, name anybody, be it Gandhi, or Yogi Adityanath, Rajnath Singh or even Keshav Maurya. But please give the people an idea of who could be the chief minister if the party came to power in UP," he told reporters.

He was replying to queries about the statement of Allahabad MP Shyama Charan Gupta, who had reacted strongly to reports about the former's vocal stance saying "he is an MP from Bihar. Who is he to comment on UP politics".

Claiming he was "not even aware" that Gupta was a BJP MP, Sinha said, "Everybody has a right to voice his or her opinion in a democracy. I exercised my democratic right. Now let others do the same."

Sinha has been particularly vocal about BJP's strategy in the Bihar assembly polls last year after the party suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Grand Alliance of JDU, RJD and Congress.
The bonhomie between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was once again in evidence on Tuesday, but the question remains if it will translate into supporting the BJP in the Rajya Sabha. Senior journalist R Rajagopalan reports.

IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on June 14, 2016. Photograph: PIB

Badhai ho, badhai ho, congratulations on your resounding victory, madam." This was how Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at 9 Race Course Road on Tuesday on her first, and most keenly watched, visit to New Delhi since winning a consecutive term as chief minister last month.

"Dhanyawad," replied Jayalalithaa with folded hands.

The first few minutes of the meeting saw the formalities being gone through. Jayalalithaa handed over a shawl and bouquet to Modi and introduced her chief secretary, advisor and planning secretary to him. She also presented him with a 92-page, 29-point memorandum covering all aspects of Tamil Nadu's infrastructural, industrial and agricultural development.

The prime minister, in Hindi, asked officials to explain the salient features of the memorandum. The chief secretary began with six key issues which also included the implementation of the goods and services tax and lifting the ban on Jallikattu, the state's bull taming sport which has fallen foul of the Supreme Court.

Modi listened to the explanation with rapt attention and said, again in Hindi, "I understood the basic issues and I assure you that a special task force will be constituted in the PMO to monitor the progress of the points contained in the memorandum."

Ten minutes into the meeting, the officials withdrew from the room and the two leaders met without any aides for around 35 minutes.

After the meeting was over, Jayalalithaa came out first followed by the prime minister who escorted her to the portico, and waited till her car pulled out. This gesture, according to observers in Race Course Road, is very rare.

Insiders disclosed that the meeting was held at 9 Race Course Road, at the prime minister's residential complex, as renovation work was going on at 7 Race Course Road.

"I would give it 8 out of 10," said a senior official in the Prime Minister's Office after the meeting.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar is likely to meet Jayalalithaa in Chennai before flying out to Colombo to sort out the Tamil Nadu fishermen issue.

The prime minister also assured Jayalalithaa that he would instruct senior Union ministers Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Radha Modhan Singh, Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkri to be in constant touch with her and her secretariat.

"What else do you need, it is a quick decision from the PMO," claimed a senior official dealing with Tamil Nadu matters.

Jayalalithaa also talked about forming a Cauvery Management Board and urged the PM to stop Karnataka from building a new dam across the river.

Out of the 29 issues raised by Jayalalithaa, a few of them are political hot potatos and the prime minister will need to tread carefully.

For instance, the Cauvery dispute where Modi needs to take a calibrated approach. If he is perceived to show a tilt towards Tamil Nadu, there will be a hue and cry in Karnataka where BS Yeddyurappa has just taken charge of the Bharatiya Janata Partys affairs and is being projected as its chief ministerial candidate for the 2018 assembly polls. The BJP will want to avoid a political crisis at all costs.

Another issue is the sale of defence lands for Chennai Metro. With the defence ministry seeking market prices even for lands lying unutilised, Tamil Nadu has raised the question why it cannot be sold at discounted prices, or even given gratis, since it is for development, a theme the prime minister has been harping on.

Given the rapport between the two leaders, the question also arises if Jayalalithaa will join the NDA. Time alone will answer this question, said a PMO official. "We are not privy to the discussion and they did not share their conversation with the political or bureaucratic level so far. Once it tickles down, in a day or two, we will know," said sources in the PMO.
Cambodia's Prey Sar prison inmates pay more than their debt to society

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 1 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Cambodia's Prey Sar prison inmates pay more than their debt to society, 1 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc1c13.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-01

People wait at an entrance to Prey Sar Prison in this undated file photo. RFA/Uon Chhin

Inside Cambodia's notorious Prey Sar Prison, inmates are subject to poor food, brutal punishment, crowded spaces and squalid conditions. They also face an institutionalized pay-to-play system where prisoners have to bribe the guards if they want to make even the most routine legal filings.

The prison, previously known as S24, is one of Cambodia's 27 prisons, which house nearly 18,800 inmates in facilities designed for 13,000. The overcapacity issue is compounded by the low priority the country places on prisoner welfare and the propensity of authorities to toss people into jail.

The London-based Institute for Criminal Policy Research's World Prison Brief reports that in 2014 Cambodia's prison population stood at slightly more than 15,000, up from just over 5,500 in 2000.

Those who break prison rules can be shackled, beaten, or kept in their cells for weeks on end. New prisoners are often subject to initiation beatings carried out by groups of inmates under the orders of the guards, the rights group said.

Everything has a price

And inmates can add extortion by guards to the long list of indignities they suffer, a former prisoner told RFA's Khmer Service.

Srey Chandara, 56, served 13 years and six months in Prey Sar on a robbery charge. He was recently released, and told RFA that inmates have to pay the guards if they want to make an appeal or seek an early release.

"They ask for money for doing everything," he told RFA. "From filing a request for reducing a sentence, to filing a complaint from the appeals court to the supreme court, to obtaining a judgment and verdict."

"For example, in my case, they did not release me when my time was up because I did not have money to give to them," he said. "First, they told me I did not have money to get the verdict. Second, they came and got me late. I was in jail for more than 10 extra days because I did not mention anything about giving them money."

Prison officials usually ask for $50 from inmates when they try to obtain a verdict or final judgment from the court so they can get out, and $20 when an inmate wants to file a complaint to an appeals court or the supreme court.

Filing more exotic legal documents, such as a letter seeking a reduced sentence, runs from $350 to $400, he said.

Prison officials hide behind the courts when they seek payments from prisoners, telling them they need to pay the guards who will pay the courts, he said.

"They said the court asks them for money, but they don't give money to the court," Srey Chandara said. "So, if we want to have those documents filed with the court, we must pay money to the prison officials."

It's not only the prisoners who are on the inside who get dunned by the guards and other officials. Inmates' family members also get charged cash, often for the same service for which the prisoners has already paid a bribe.

Paying to get legal filings done isn't the only way prison officials get money from their charges. According to a report by the rights group LICHADO, life inside Cambodia's prison walls is dominated by corruption.

There is a price tag attached to every amenity, from sleeping space to recreation time and, according to Srey Chandara, prisoners also have to pay for utilities.

Those who can't afford to pay are forced to endure the most squalid conditions, LICHADO said in a 2012 report on prison conditions in Cambodia.

Srey Chandara told RFA he was speaking out because he wants the government to make changes and stop the prison officials from asking for money from the inmates, saying the burden falls most heavily on the poor.

File a complaint

A spokesman for the Interior Ministry's Department of Prisons told RFA that if he wants to make changes, Srey Chandara needs to file a complaint with the ministry or the government's Anti-Corruption Unit.

"If those stories are true, then the citizen who files the complaints will receive protection from the authorities," prison department spokesman Nut Savna said. "If there are such cases, we can go down there and secretly conduct an informal investigation to find out if there are such issues or not."

While someone may have a complaint, Nut Savna said the claim has to be specific and concrete, because prisoners are always trying to get their jailers in trouble.

Regarding utilities, Nut Savna said that inmates' daily utilities usage is covered, but that if any inmate goes over the limited allowance, they have to pay for it.

LICADHO senior official Am Sam Ath said his NGO has received complaints from citizens and the inmates about the irregularities in the prisons.

"We should eliminate those actions," he said. "If there is any doubt, an investigation should be launched to re-examine those issues."

Reported for RFA's Khmer Service by Yeang Sothearin. Translated by Yanny Hin. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
China to probe police officers amid anger over death in custody

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 1 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China to probe police officers amid anger over death in custody, 1 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc1d15.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-01

Cao Jianming, procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, speaks in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 13, 2016. AFP

Authorities in the Chinese capital have launched an investigation into the conduct of five police officers amid a public outcry over the death of an environmental activist in police custody earlier this month, officials said on Wednesday.

Lei Yang died soon after being detained on May 7 by police during a raid on a foot massage parlor in Changping county, just north of Beijing, sparking public anger and raising questions about his death

His family questioned police claims that Lei was resisting arrest as a client of the foot-massage parlor, saying he was heading to the airport to meet a friend, while his former classmates at the prestigious Renmin University, where Yang graduated with a master's degree in environmental science in 2009, launched an online petition calling for a full inquiry into his death.

Now, state prosecutors are preparing to investigate five of the officers involved in Lei's case, the Beijing People's Procuratorate said in a statement on its Sina Weibo social media account.

The announcement follows an application lodged with the procuratorate by Lei's wife.

Suspicions sparked

Lei's death sparked suspicions after the news website Caixin.com cited eyewitnesses as saying that he was seen "screaming for help" as he was pursued in a residential compound by several plainclothes officers.

The Changping police department said Lei had "resisted and attempted to run away" when they tried to arrest him on suspicion of using the services of prostitutes.

Police took coercive measures against him, but then Lei "suddenly felt ill," police said in a statement. He died in a Beijing hospital little more than an hour after his arrest.

Video footage of the arrest was "unavailable," police said, blaming Lei for "knocking over the camera." Police then refused to allow Lei's family and friends to take photos of his body, which family members said showed bruises on his head and arms.

Independent current affairs commentator Chen Jieren said the prosecutors will have their work cut out to conduct a fair investigation.

"It's very sensitive, and no easy matter to supervise the work of the Beijing municipal police department, because it's one of the most powerful police forces in the whole of China," Chen said. "For the procuratorate to even take on this investigation shows that they are at least willing to proceed on the basis of finding out the facts."

Scant details

But he said there were scant details given in the official announcement, which didn't name any of the five police officers under investigation.

Neither does the probe automatically amount to a criminal prosecution, he said.

"The announcement doesn't specify whether this is a criminal investigation," Chen said. "If it is a criminal investigation, then the rules of the Supreme People's Procuratorate state that the suspects should be named."

"It should also be made clear whether they have been detained," he added. "So I think the prosecutors should make further announcements in more detail."

Anhui-based rights activist Shen Liangqing said it is hard to know exactly what power struggles are taking place behind the scenes, however.

"I don't think it's all about those five low-ranking police officers," Shen said. "The police have very clearly tried to cover up the truth ... including deleting online postings about it."

"So I think there's more at stake here in terms of who's responsible," he added. "Various officials at every level bear some responsibility."

Reported by Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
New Rakhine committee begins tour of western Myanmar's troubled state

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 1 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, New Rakhine committee begins tour of western Myanmar's troubled state, 1 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc1ee.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-01

Rohingya children attend a makeshift religious school at Thae Chaung camp near Sittwe in western Myanmar's Rakhine state, Nov. 29, 2015. DPA

The members of a new government committee created to put western Myanmar's impoverished and strife-torn Rakhine state on a path to peace and development arrived in the state capital Sittwe on Wednesday to begin an inspection tour.

President Htin Kyaw signed an order on Monday creating the Central Committee for Implementation of Peace and Development in Rakhine State, whose 27 members include all government ministers and Rakhine state officials.

Lieutenant General Ye Aung, minister of border affairs and a member of the committee, told residents that the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) government plans to spend more than 70 billion kyat (U.S. $5.9 million) to develop the impoverished state by financing goods and services that promote human resources.

"If necessary, we will add more financial resources in the future," he said.

Thein Swe, minister of labor, immigration and population, told residents that migrant resource centers would soon be opening in Rakhine to help workers.

Ye Aung also called on residents to have faith in and cooperate with the government's efforts, and asked them to respect members of different ethnic and religious communities and not foment tension.

He also said that the citizenship verification process will be carried out transparently in accordance with the country's 1982 Citizenship Law.

Last Friday, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who chairs the new committee, met with Rakhine Chief Minister Nyi Pu and various national government ministers to discuss the controversial process for internally displaced persons that reportedly resumed this month, The Irrawaddy reported.

The policy will affect the 120,000 stateless Rohingya Muslims that currently live in camps for in internally displaced people in Rakhine since 2012 when communal violence erupted between them and local Buddhists.

The government refers to the Rohingya as "Bengalis" and considers them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, although many have lived in Rakhine for generations.

Hostility towards the Rohingya is also palpable in other parts of majority-Buddhist Myanmar.

In May, the government advised the U.S. and other embassies to avoid using the term "Rohingya." The U.S. embassy's use of the word in a public letter of condolence to the families of 21 Rohingya who died in a boating accident provoked Buddhist monks and nationalists to stage protests in Yangon and Mandalay.

Four working groups

Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader, chairs the new committee which is supported by four working groups  the Security, Peace and Stability and the Rule of Law Working Committee, Immigration and Citizenship Scrutinizing Working Committee, Settlement and Socioeconomic Development Working Committee, and Working Committee on Cooperation with U.N. Agencies and International Organizations, according to the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar.

During a meeting last week with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Aung San Suu Kyi said the government was working on a solution that would allow the Rohingya to live peacefully and securely outside the camps.

Besides the Rohingya issue, Rakhine state has also been plagued by recent clashes between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, an armed ethnic group, which has forced thousands of residents to flee their homes.

Some members of the Arakan National Party  the state's most powerful political party which represents the interests of the predominantly Buddhist, ethnic Rakhine majority  were invited to attend a meeting on Wednesday with two government officials, both of whom are also on the new Rakhine committee, the Myanmar Times reported.

The previous government in late March revoked a state of emergency imposed on Rakhine after the 2012 violence just before the NLD administration took control, although measures restricting the movements of the Rohingya were left in place.

Reported by is Min Thein Aung for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Kyaw Min Htun. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Activists openly mark Tiananmen crackdown on China's streets

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 2 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Activists openly mark Tiananmen crackdown on China's streets, 2 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc1f25.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-02

Tiananmen Square victim Qi Zhiyong (center) flanked by Wang Fulei and Jiang Jianjun, wear T-shirts protesting the 1989 massacre near Tiananmen Square on June 1, 2016. Photo provided by an activist.

As the ruling Chinese Communist Party steps up security measures targeting dissidents ahead of the politically sensitive anniversary of the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, a handful of rights activists are traveling around the country displaying placards mourning those who died in the crackdown.

Beijing-based activist Qi Zhiyong, who was maimed when a tank ran over his legs on the night of June 3, 1989 in Beijing, along with Guangdong-based Li Xiaoling, Dalian-based Jiang Jianjun and Shandong-based Wang Fulei had taken photos of themselves as an act of protest.

All four activists wore T-shirts with the words "June 4th. Never Forget" printed on them. By Thursday, state security police had launched a probe into the photographs, Qi told RFA.

"I am now under surveillance, because my health isn't good enough to take a forced vacation," he said. "The state security police are investigating me."

Li Xiaoling said the group hadn't been able to get through a security cordon around the square, however, and had taken the photos nearby instead.

"The whole place was surrounded by police, although there weren't too many of them," Li said.

"State security police have ordered me to leave Beijing, but we didn't break any laws," she added. "I don't know what happened to the other two people."

T-shirt protest

The protest came as a group of activists posted photos of themselves online also wearing T-shirts commemorating the bloodshed, which came when People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops cleared Beijing of thousands of protesters calling for democracy who had camped for weeks in on Tiananmen Square.

Guangdong activist Bu Yongzhu said he fears younger people in China, who must get past the "Great Firewal" of Internet censorship to read about the events of 1989, will forget, or never learn, what really happened.

"It's a sensitive topic, but I wanted to commemorate it, because if we don't, maybe young people, or future generations, will forget about it altogether," Bu said.

"The state security police are always getting in touch for a 'chat,' lately, probably because it's a politically sensitive date," he said. "They keep asking me whether I plan to take part in any events."

The activists' protests come after authorities in Beijing detained three people out of seven who met to pray for those who died in the crackdown last weekend.

Chongqing-based activist Han Liang told RFA that he had been taken on forced "vacation" away from his home city by state security police.

"I managed successfully to commemorate June 4, 1989 twice, once when I unfurled a banner ... on a square where there were a lot of people around," Han said.

But he said it is common for the authorities to take him on "vacation," around politically sensitive dates linked to the 1989 democracy movement.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on China to end the ruling Chinese Communist Party's culture of denial around the 1989 massacre of civilians in Beijing.

"Beijing should ... immediately [end] its detention and harassment of individuals marking the occasion, meeting with survivors and their family members," the group said in a statement on its website ahead of Saturday's anniversary.

It also called for the release of Zhengzhou activist Yu Shiwen, an activist held since July 2014 for commemorating the massacre.

"Chinese authorities owe a debt of justice and accountability to survivors of the massacre and their family members," HRW China director Sophie Richardson said. "Political repression since 1989 has not eliminated yearnings for basic freedoms and an accountable government  instead it has only compounded the party's lack of legitimacy."

A 'vacation'

Bao Tong, former top aide to late ousted premier Zhao Ziyang, and veteran political journalist Gao Yu have both been forced to leave Beijing on "vacation" in the company of state security police.

Bao's wife Jiang Zhongcao confirmed the reports to RFA on Wednesday, saying she supposes he has been escorted back to his birth town in the eastern province of Zhejiang.

"They never said, but what can I do? It's the same every year," Jiang said. "If he didn't go, then they would cut off our phone line, and we wouldn't be able to call an ambulance if we needed one."

She said Bao, whose health is frail, will be watched over by the couple's granddaughter while on vacation.

"My granddaughter will tell me that he's OK, but they won't let her say exactly where they are," she said

Reform regression

The administration of President Xi Jinping has broadened government control over freedoms of expression, assembly, and association, and the right to political participation, continuing a trend set in place after the 1989 crackdown, HRW said.

"The government has drafted or promulgated new state security laws that put in place more restrictive controls over civil society [and] further curtailed expression on the Internet and media," it said, adding that hundreds of activists have been held in recent years.

Since 1989, former student leaders including Wu'er Kaixi and Xiong Yan have been unable to re-enter China, and were refused entry into Hong Kong in 2013 and 2014, it said.

The Tiananmen massacre was precipitated by the peaceful gatherings of students, workers, and others in Beijing's Tiananmen Square and other cities in April 1989 calling for freedom of expression, accountability, and an end to corruption, but the government responded by instituting martial law, HRW said.

The number of deaths in the violence remains unknown, although the victims' group the Tiananmen Mothers have compiled exact accounts of the deaths of 202 people across China, including Beijing.

HRW called on Beijing to reappraise its verdict that the protests were a "counterrevolutionary rebellion" that had to be suppressed with force.

It said officials should meet with and apologize to members of the Tiananmen Mothers and launch an independent public inquiry into the events of June 1989.

"Instead of advancing, China has stagnated, and even regressed, in terms of political reforms since 1989," Richardson said. "Beijing can only move forward by facing up to its painful past, as others have had the confidence to do, and as people across China clearly want."

Reported by Hai Nan for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Qiao Long for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
China: Tibetan homes, shops are torn down by police near Qinghai Lake

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 1 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: Tibetan homes, shops are torn down by police near Qinghai Lake, 1 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc1f6.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-01

Tibetan homes are shown destroyed along a highway in Chabcha county Qinghai, in an undated file photo. Photo courtesy of an RFA listener

Hundreds of police officers led by a county official and accompanied by heavy machinery descended on a lakeside Tibetan community in northwestern China's Qinghai province on Wednesday to tear down shops, restaurants, and private homes, sources in the region said.

The June 1 assault on Tanakma (in Chinese, Heimahe) township in Chabcha (Gonghe) county in the Tsolho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture was joined by a medical team brought along in case of injuries resulting from resistance to the demolition, a local resident told RFA's Tibetan Service.

"[The police] began demolishing all the structures built by the Tibetan residents of Tanakma on their own land," RFA's source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The owners were not allowed to retrieve their belongings from their houses before the demolition work began," he said.

The shops and houses built by nomads near the path circling scenic Qinghai Lake were financed by the sale of livestock and by loans from banks and wealthy individuals, the source said, adding that authorities had deemed the structures "illegal."

No information was immediately available regarding the number of structures torn down during Wednesday's raid, but an October 2015 assault against another Tibetan town in Chabcha county left over 900 homeless and living in tents, sources said in earlier reports.

Forced to sell

Tibetan landowners in Chabcha are often forced to sell their properties to wealthy businessmen who pay bribes to local authorities to force the sale, RFA's source said.

"And when Tibetans try to resist the taking of their land, county officials crack down on them," he said.

"It is extremely rare to find even one county leader who is fair and reasonable" in his dealings with Tibetans, he said.

"Both officials and business owners exploit the land owned by the nomadic community," he said.

Tibetans living in China frequently complain of political, economic, and religious discrimination as well as human rights abuses, and sporadic demonstrations challenging rule by Beijing have continued in Tibetan-populated areas since widespread protests swept the region in 2008.

Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Cambodia tells foreign states to butt out over Hun Sen's crackdown

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 2 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Cambodia tells foreign states to butt out over Hun Sen's crackdown, 2 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2015.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-02

Updated at 12:20 p.m. EST on 2016-06-03

Cambodian opposition party deputy leader Kem Sokha (C) greets supporters during a protest near the Phnom Penh municipal court, July 16, 2014. AFP

Prime Minister Hun Sen's government lashed out Thursday at other countries that have expressed concern about Cambodia's deepening political crisis, saying they are trying to meddle in the internal affairs of the Southeast Asian nation.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is surprised by such interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state that has only carried out the same rules of legal and judicial procedures [that are] also in effect in [those] states," the ministry wrote in a press release.

The ministry's release follows a call U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry placed to Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sakhon earlier this week, RFA's Khmer Service has learned. The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh declined to comment on the call and the State Department in Washington did not respond to RFA queries about the conversation.

Various foreign governments including the U.S. and the European Union, as well as the United Nations, have expressed varying degrees of concern and urged a peaceful end to the political crisis that has seen Hun Sen's government try to arrest the top leaders of opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), forcing one into exile and another effectively into hiding.

The ministry criticized those foreign governments, saying they don't understand Cambodia or its laws.

"These reactions reflect the lack of knowledge or the will to pretend not to know the rules of the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Kingdom of Cambodia," the press release reads.

The U.S., the EU, and the U.N. have all expressed concern over an extended crackdown on opponents of Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) that has featured a raid by heavily-armed police on the opposition party's headquarters in an attempt to arrest Kem Sokha, the CNRP's acting president.

New summons

On Thursday, a Phnom Penh court issued a new summons for Kem Sokha to appear in court on June 14 regarding to his refusal to appear in court as a witness in May.

Kem Sokha's defense team planned a meeting for Friday to examine legal procedures on the failure-to-appear charge and develop a strategy if the court continues to issue new summonses, sources tell RFA.

Sam Sokong, a member of the defense team, told RFA that a group of attorneys sent a letter to the court asking it to stop issuing new summonses to Kem Sokha.

"So far, the prosecutor has not responded to our group, but instead issued a new summons," he said. "If the judge has already decided, then we can file a complaint to the prosecutor regarding the decisions of the investigative judge."

Cambodian authorities have also jailed four members of the human rights group ADHOC and an election official, and have issued a warrant for the arrest of a U.N. employee as part of the government's wide-ranging probe into an alleged affair Kem Sokha had with a young woman named Khom Chandaraty.

The government has ordered Kem Sokha to appear before the court in connection with at least two complaints that have been filed related to his alleged affair, but he has refused as the CNRP and its supporters claim the charges are a trumped-up attempt to damage the CNRP ahead of elections slated for 2017 and 2018.

On May 30, the EU condemned the "dangerous political escalation" that is gripping the country as the Hun Sen government pursues members of the CNRP on various cases.

CNRP President Sam Rainsy has been staying in France or traveling since an arrest warrant was issued for him in November over a 2008 defamation case and he was removed from his office and stripped of his parliamentary immunity. After Sam Rainsy left the country, the CNRP named Kem Sokha its acting president.

The conflict with Kem Sokha is just one of the legal cases the government or the ruling CPP has brought against opposition party members.

Human rights workers say the entire scandal is an attempt by the ruling party to crack down on its political opponents and silence its critics ahead of the elections. Hun Sen has ruled the country for 31 years.

Attempt to free NEC member

In a related move, National Election Committee Vice Chairman Kuoy Bunroeun says the NEC is seeking a way to get committee Deputy Secretary-General Ny Chakrya released on bail so that he can help with the upcoming elections.

Ny Chakrya and ADHOC staffers Ny Sokha, Nay Vanda, Yi Soksan, and Lim Mony are in jail facing bribery or accessory charges, accused of attempting to pay Khom Chandaraty to keep quiet about the alleged affair with Kem Sokha.

A warrant was also issued for the arrest of U.N. staffer Sally Soen.

Kuoy Bunroeun told RFA that he and a group of lawyers visited Ny Sokha to examine "possible legal procedures, because the NEC is an independent institution which must implement the law."

Ny Chakrya is in poor health as he is suffering from high blood pressure and intestinal and respiratory problems.

Sam Sokong, an attorney for Ny Chkarya, told RFA that he is legally qualified for bail.

"We hope the investigative prosecutor and the appeals court will consider the conditions and will compare them with the law, and decide properly and fairly in accordance with the law to give him justice," he said.

Forensic analysis

Also on June 2, the Ministry of Interior formed a new commission to perform forensic analysis of 170,000 thumbprints affixed to a CNRP petition submitted to King Norodom Sihamoni on May 30 that seeks his intervention in the case of the Kem Sokha five.

While the CNRP welcomed the move, independent political observer Kem Ley said he considered it a threat to citizens' rights and an attempt to intimidate them.

"Thumb printing is a kind of expression of opinion," he said. "Citizens can express their opinion by words, by writing, open and secret, but sometimes the government acts with political anger without considering the impact on the people's rights."

Reported by Sokunthea Hong, Sarada Taing and Neang Ieng for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Yanny Hin. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
China's ruling party continues to tighten grip on internet content

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 2 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China's ruling party continues to tighten grip on internet content, 2 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2115.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-02

Screenshots of China's WeChat app and logo on a desktop computer and smartphone, June 1, 2016. RFA

The ruling Chinese Communist Party is continuing to tighten controls over what the country's 700 million internet users see and post online, issuing reporting forms to its officials who are expected to list content that could be seen as problematic by censors.

Party members and government officials across China have been issued with forms requiring them to list any content on popular chat apps like WeChat and QQ that could go against government guidelines.

The forms require the full details of any administrator of chatrooms on QQ or WeChat, as well as the group's identification numbers, according to a copy of a form seen by RFA.

A Beijing-based academic surnamed Jia said he had also seen the form posted in chatrooms.

"After they fill out these forms detailing the issues with these chatrooms, then this will form the basis of an investigation," Jia said. "Once they know which chatroom you are talking in and what you are saying, they can infiltrate it."

"It's just another tool in their bag of tricks," he said.

A journalist who gave only his surname Li said he saw the move as an attempt to further clamp down on any form of free expression online.

"I saw this; it's ridiculous," Li said. "They just want to shut down public opinion, or to control it very tightly."

"It remains to be seen whether they will succeed," he said.

Matter of concern

Smartphone-based chat apps have taken off in China in recent years, replacing Twitter-like services like Sina and Tencent Weibo in popularity, partly because they are not so publicly visible.

Beijing-based democracy activist Zha Jianguo said the growth of chatrooms or groups on WeChat and QQ is also a matter of concern to the government.

"I have a chat group with 400 people in it, and I'm the admin," Zha said. "They sometimes ask people if they're in that group, or they ask me the time and date that I sign in, and what I say."

"But they are the ones who decide when to listen in," he said.

Technically speaking, it's not hard to monitor chatrooms, but in reality, China has tens of millions of them, Zha said, making it difficult even for China's censors to keep up with all of them.

Stakes in content providers

The move comes amid reports that China's press regulator, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), may soon be able to buy mandatory stakes in online content providers, making it easier for the state to govern what gets posted on China's internet.

The SAPPRFT is recommending that each video website sells anywhere from 1 to 10 percent of its shares to state-owned enterprises, all of which are subject to local branches of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

Consultations are currently under way for the scheme, which is just one of many ways of consolidating government control over content providers, a recent report by the cutting-edge magazine Caixin said.

The aim of the plan is to exert stricter scrutiny over video content before publication, said the report, which has since been deleted.

Xiang Ligang, CEO of telecommunication industry portal cctime.com, said the "special management stake" proposal shows the government is exploring new ways to exert control over online content.

"For many years, there have been various problems on different media platforms," Xiang told the Global Times newspaper.

"In the past, the government has had little influence over the operations of video websites," the paper quoted him as saying. "The government cannot punish [the websites] on a daily basis or shut down [a website]."

Current regulations only allow for officials to sanction an organization after unwanted content has already appeared online, the paper said.

Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Chinese activists hit out at foreign minister's tirade at journalist

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 3 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Chinese activists hit out at foreign minister's tirade at journalist, 3 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2215.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-03

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at an international meeting aimed at trying to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in Paris, June 3, 2016. AFP

Activists in China on Friday hit out at the country's foreign minister Wang Yi over his attack on a journalist who asked an "irresponsible" question on Beijing's human rights record, saying that the government says one thing and does another when it comes to its citizens' rights and freedoms.

The exchange came during a joint news conference on Wednesday with Wang's Canadian counterpart Stephane Dion in Ottawa, where the Chinese foreign minister was on an official visit.

After Dion was asked about the disappearances in opaque circumstances of five Hong Kong booksellers, and the fate of Canadian national Kevin Garratt, detained by Chinese authorities after running a coffee shop near the border with North Korea, Wang stepped in to launch a tirade against the journalist, whose question was selected to represent several Canadian news organizations.

"Your question is full of prejudice and against China and arrogance," Wang said, scowling and wagging his finger at the reporter. "This is totally unacceptable."

According to Wang, human rights protection is enshrined in China's constitution, and the journalist's question revealed ignorance of his country's situation.

"Have you been to China?" he asked, using expressions worthy of a traditional opera performer. "China has pulled some 600 million people from poverty."

He told the journalist: "Please don't ask questions in such an irresponsible manner."

"Other people don't know better than the Chinese people about the human rights condition in China and it is the Chinese people who are in the best situation, in the best position to have a say about China's human rights situation," Wang said.

Wang has similarly lost his cool with counterparts from Australia and Japan.

Political theater

Activists in China brushed off Wang's reaction as a carefully staged piece of political theater.

"Wang Yi's angry behavior shows that [that question] got him on a sore point," online free speech activist Lai Rifu told RFA on Friday.

But he said the foreign minister's claims have little to do with the reality faced by Chinese activists.

"Wang Yi may say that protection of human rights is written into China's constitution, but that doesn't do us any good,"

"I'm very angry about this, because they are totally barbaric," Lai said. "Everything is kept behind closed doors, and the suppression continues."

"What they say and what they do are two different things."

And Guangxi-based author Qi Qinhong said rights activists and pro-democracy campaigners in China welcome supportive comments from overseas.

"We are trying to fight to gain some political power, because people with no political power are basically slaves," Qi said. "But who really has any power?"

"This government has nothing to do with ordinary people in the way it exercises power."

Qi said Wang's warning to non-Chinese people not to comment was "the voice of a dictatorship."

Top jailer of journalists

According to overseas rights activist and journalist Wang Yaqiu, Chinese journalists are subject to far more than theatrical posturing when they try to speak truth to power, however.

"Most of the journalists imprisoned in China reported or commented on issues that the Chinese government finds threatening to its rule," Wang wrote in a blog post for the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

"They were likely aware that their work could invoke the wrath of the Chinese Communist Party at any time, but still choose to go ahead for the sake of truth and the public interest," she said.

She said Chinese journalists may choose to stay away from politically sensitive topics, but even those are no longer safe from persecution under the administration of President Xi Jinping.

"Since Xi Jinping assumed the presidency in 2013, more and more journalists are vulnerable," Wang said.

According to the CPJ, China is the world's worst jailer of journalists, with 49 behind bars in 2015.

Reported by Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Chinese delegation visits Myanmar locals displaced by controversial dam project

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 3 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Chinese delegation visits Myanmar locals displaced by controversial dam project, 3 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc23c.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-03

A map showing the location of the Myitsone dam in Kachin state. RFA

China's ambassador to Myanmar met on Friday with residents forced to relocate for the construction of the controversial China-backed Myitsone Dam project in Kachin state in a bid to gain local support for the restart of the project, a local resident and state official said.

China wants to resume construction of the U.S. $3.6-billion hydropower project, which was temporarily halted by former President Thein Sein in 2011, Ambassador Hong Liang told Kachin Chief Minister Khent Aung and his cabinet during his first visit to the state.

Work on the project, which was first approved under the previous military-backed government, was stopped amid fervent opposition because of the environmental destruction it was predicted to cause, as well as the huge flooding area it would create.

Opponents also cited the dislocation of people living nearby, proximity to a geographical fault line, and unequal share of electricity output for Myanmar.

Under the investment deal, about 90 percent of the electricity produced by the dam would go to southern China's Yunnan province.

China Power Investment Corporation (CPI), which is building the dam, has provided new homes for the roughly 3,000 villagers who were forcibly relocated because of the dam project, although some have returned to their old dwellings after reporting leaks in the new structures when it rained.

Hong and members of CPI visited displaced residents  some of whom bore placards reading "No Myitsone Dam"  to talk to them about the hydropower construction project.

'Still against it'

"We heard the Chinese ambassador and about 40 CPI officials were coming to visit us," protestor Ja Gang told RFA's Myanmar Service. "We know they are about to resume the project. Now they are saying this is for the development of the area. We are very afraid of [those words]."

"We know they've come about the project," she said. "We were and still are against it."

China's official Xinhua news agency, however, ran a report in Burmese saying the purpose of the visit was to observe the development of areas in Kachin state, a region important in Sino-Myanmar relations.

Earlier on Friday, Hong and the delegation addressed the Kachin state legislature about plans to continue the project.

"He said he wants to resume the project if the people agree to it," said state environment minister H La Aung. "We replied that we would ask the people what they want before we resume it, since we are a democratic country. We think our government will answer after a careful survey of public opinion on the project."

'Important cooperation project'

Myanmar's new National League for Democracy (NLD) government has yet to decide whether to let CPI, one of China's largest state-owned electricity producers, continue building the 6,000-megawatt dam along the Irrawaddy River.

In March, China's Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told a news conference that the dam is an "important cooperation project" and that its contract terms are still in force, Reuters reported.

But State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has been one of the Myitsone Dam project's most vocal opponents.

Last November around the time of national elections which her NLD party won, she assured the Chinese that she wanted to continued friendly relations between the two nations and welcomed Chinese investment in Myanmar, as long as investors won the trust of the Myanmar people.

Chinese-backed companies are the largest foreign investors in Myanmar, but their heavy-handed tactics in exploiting Myanmar's natural resources and building large infrastructure projects have sparked vehement public opposition.

Reported by Kyaw Myo Min and Zin Mar Win for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Kyaw Min Htun. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Chinese police tear down more than 600 'illegal structures' at Qinghai Lake

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 3 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Chinese police tear down more than 600 'illegal structures' at Qinghai Lake, 3 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc24e.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-03

Chinese workers tear down 'illegal structures' near Qinghai Lake, June 3, 2016. Photo sent by an RFA listener

A campaign this week to demolish unapproved structures along a stretch of scenic Qinghai Lake has resulted so far in the destruction of over 600 homes and shops, with not only Tibetan but also Muslim and Han Chinese property owners affected, sources say.

The assault beginning June 1 on Tanakma (in Chinese, Heimahe) township in Chabcha (Gonghe) county in the Tsolho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture was carried out by hundreds of police officers led by a county official and accompanied by heavy machinery, sources in the region told RFA's Tibetan Service.

More than 600 structures, mostly shops and restaurants but including private dwellings, have been torn down so far, with demolition expected to continue after a weekend break, a local resident told RFA.

"A third of these belonged to Tibetans, with the rest belonging to Muslims and [Han] Chinese," RFA's source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The reason given for the buildings' destruction was they were "illegal structures," the source said.

"However, the owners said that they had applied to officials for permits to build but had failed to pay them bribes, and that authorities had then turned down their applications," he said.

Shackled, detained

Five property owners  three Tibetans and two Muslims  had protested the destruction of their properties and were put in shackles by police, but were released after being detained for a day, he said.

"We fear that neighboring areas like Chang Shikhuk, Hodon Yangtrang, and Chik Nga Chik may be the next targets of the government demolition plan," he added.

Tibetan landowners in Chabcha are often forced to sell their properties to wealthy businessmen who pay bribes to local authorities to force the sale, one source said in an earlier report.

"And when Tibetans try to resist the taking of their land, county officials crack down on them."

"It is extremely rare to find even one county leader who is fair and reasonable" in his dealings with Tibetans, he said.

"Both officials and business owners exploit the land owned by the nomadic community."

Tibetans living in China frequently complain of political, economic, and religious discrimination as well as human rights abuses, and sporadic demonstrations challenging rule by Beijing have continued in Tibetan-populated areas since widespread protests swept the region in 2008.

Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
North Korean fishing boats held in port over defection fears

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 3 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, North Korean fishing boats held in port over defection fears, 3 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2531.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-03

Disused fishing boats rest behind a wire fence separating North Korea from China in a file photo. AFP

At the start of North Korea's summer fishing season, most of the country's smaller fishing vessels remain anchored at dockside because of new regulations forbidding boats without wireless equipment from going to sea, North Korean sources say.

The tightened rules appear aimed both at preventing sinkings in bad weather and at reducing defections by crews of the smaller craft, one source in North Hamgyong province, bordering China, told RFA's North Korean Service.

"The rules have been tightened since last March, with authorities exercising strict control over fishermen's licenses and their possession of small radios," RFA's source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Wireless equipment is being installed only on medium and large-size fishing vessels so that State Security Department officers can travel with their crews and monitor the communications networks," he said.

"The authorities are refusing permission for this equipment to be given to ordinary fishermen and their small boats," he said.

Because wireless communications devices that receive weather alerts also operate like radios, "people are able to listen to broadcasts from South Korea and the outside world when they are far out at sea," another source from North Hamgyong said.

"[Security] officers sailing with the bigger vessels keep a tight rein on their crews so that they have no access to the equipment," he said.

Ghost ships

Storms and engine failure kept many smaller craft, some of whose captains paid bribes to be allowed to sail, from returning safely to port last year, the source said.

"Many people die at sea because of high winds and waves or due to engine malfunction, with some boats left drifting in the coastal waters of Japan."

Scores of so-called "ghost ships" carrying the decomposed remains of fishermen have been found floating off Japan's west coast in recent years.

North Korea's refusal to allow small fishing boats to leave port has resulted in widespread and severe hunger among the country's poorer fishermen, with growing numbers now trying to escape the country by sea, the sources said.

Reported by Jieun Kim for RFA's Korean Service. Translated by Dohyun Gwon. Written in English by Richard Finney.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Myanmar envoy reaches out to non-signatories of peace pact

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 3 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Myanmar envoy reaches out to non-signatories of peace pact, 3 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc25c.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-03

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has nominated her personal physician Tin Myo Win, shown here on Oct. 25, 2014, as the government's new peace envoy. AFP

A Myanmar government peace delegation met on Friday with a new group formed by an alliance of armed ethnic groups that did not sign last year's nationwide cease-fire agreement, the administration's peace envoy said.

The meeting was held in the run-up to a national peace conference the government has scheduled for July.

The Union Peace Conference Preparation Committee, led by Tin Myo Win, held a two-hour meeting with the United Nationalities Federal Council's (UNFC) Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to invite its members to participate a political dialogue framework meeting scheduled for next week, he said.

The rebel groups comprising the UNFC did not sign the government's nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA) last October because they objected to the exclusion of certain armed ethnic groups and disagreed with the political dialogue framework drafted by the signatories.

The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) government, however, sees their participation in its upcoming Panglong Conference as vital. It wants to get them on board by first getting them to collaborate on a political dialogue framework, and then having them sign the NCA, he said.

The outcome of the meeting was much better than was expected, with the rebel leaders agreeing to meet Aung San Suu Kyi soon, Tin Myo Win said.

"The good news is that I've got an answer that all will cooperate and attend the conference," he said. "That's the important point. Our invitation is for all to review the framework terms and the NCA. Then we will move on to signing the cease-fire pact."

Before the next step

Aung San Suu Kyi intends to include all rebel groups in what she says will be a 21st-century Panglong Conference before the next step in political dialogue, he said.

Aung San Suu Kyi's father, General Aung San, held talks known as the Panglong Conference in February 1947 to grant autonomy to the Shan, Kachin and Chin ethnic minorities.

But his assassination five months later prevented the agreements from reaching fruition, and many ethnic groups took up arms against the central government in wars that then went on for decades.

The armed ethnic leaders who attended Friday's meeting all expressed good faith in Aung San Suu Kyi's commitment to peace, Tin Myo Win said.

Major General Gwan Maw, the DPN's deputy leader and a high-ranking officer in the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), asked the government team about its stand on three specific rebel groups  the Arakan Army (AA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA)  excluded from the NCA by the previous government.

Tin Myo Win replied that the government peace team would try to include all the groups at the conference, even if they did not want to sign the NCA.

"They can attend and review the meeting without signing the NCA, and we will try to be flexible later on so they can sign it if they agree to do so," he said.

Under Thein Sein, the NCA non-signatories were invited as observers to the previous government-initiated peace conference, but were not allowed to participate in discussions.

Separate meetings

Tin Myo Win's peace team is also arranging a separate meeting next week with the MNDAA and the United Wa State Army (UWSA), which control semi-independent zones along Myanmar's border with China, the Myanmar Times reported.

Under the previous government, the two rebel groups, who are not UNFC members, called for separate autonomous states.

Ongoing conflict between the Myanmar military and various armed ethnic groups is seen as hindering economic development in the impoverished country. But the national army has insisted that the rebels disarm as a precondition for their participation in the peace process.

Reported by Aung Moe Myint and Khin Maung Soe for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Kyaw Min Htun. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Translator for Uyghur bombing suspects jailed in Thailand

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 3 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Translator for Uyghur bombing suspects jailed in Thailand, 3 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2615.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-03

Suspects in the Erawan shrine bombing in Bangkok in August 2015, identified by the ruling junta as Yusufu Mieraili (front left) and Adem Karadag (center), are escorted by police at a military court in Bangkok on April 20, 2016. AFP

A man who served as a courtroom interpreter for two Uyghurs accused in a deadly bombing in Bangkok last year is in jail for alleged possession of drugs, a Thai activist said Friday.

But Uzbekistan national Sirojiddin Bakhodirov claimed he had been framed for helping the two Uyghur men, and beaten by police.

Bakhodirov  also known as Sergy  was arrested on Wednesday in Bangkok's Sukhumvit area, according to Chalida Tajaroensuk, who received a phone call from him later that night from the Lumpini Police Station.

Chalida is director of People's Empowerment Foundation, which has been assisting Uyghurs in Thailand since 2014.

"We were worried whether he was framed. But the police had evidence. Then they asked to have his urine test and it was positive. I and two lawyers were there," she told BenarNews.

"According to the police, a black [market] drug pusher disappeared as Sergy boarded a taxi and they captured him. He was found with marijuana and ice," she added, using a slang term for crystal methamphetamine.

Chalida said she would have difficulty finding another person to serve as an interpreter for the two men accused of carrying out the Aug. 17, 2015 bombing at Bangkok's Erawan Shrine.

Adem Karadag and Yusufu Mieraili's next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 23 and 24, she said. On those days the court will hear more witness testimony in the bombing that killed 20 people and injured 125 at the popular Hindu shrine.

The two men, who have denied the charges against them, last appeared in court on May 17, shackled, barefoot, and distraught.

Adem Karadag shouted in English to reporters outside the court: "I'm human! I'm not an animal!"

"We're innocent, help us, help us, where are the human rights?" Reuters quoted Mieraili as saying.

'I am innocent'

Bakhodirov spoke by telephone late Friday to Radio Free Asia, a sister entity of BenarNews, from Bangkok South Court, where police brought him earlier in the day seeking to extend his custody.

"I am innocent. I've been jailed for translating for two Uyghurs who are Bangkok shrine bombing suspects," he said, adding that he had been beaten around the waist by police.

"If I am deported back to Uzbekistan I will face seven years' imprisonment for helping courts in a foreign nation. I have a daughter in Uzbekistan and my family is under stress," he said.

A reporter then heard him cry out in evident distress before the phone connection was abruptly cut.

Chalida said Bakhodirov could face charges of overstaying his visa as well as possession of drugs because immigration clemency extended while he served as court translator would automatically be revoked.

If convicted, he is likely to be sent back to Uzbekistan in three months' time, she added.

Contacted by BenarNews, Pisek Panupat, a press officer at the Thai Embassy in Washington, said he had no information about the arrest, or about 19 Uyghurs reportedly on a hunger strike since May 31 at immigration detention facilities in Thailand.

The Uyghurs were protesting their possible deportation to China, one detainee said.

Uyghurs have fled unrest in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where hundreds of people have been killed in spates of violence in recent years.

Uyghur exiles and rights groups have criticized Chinese authorities' heavy-handed rule in the region  including police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people  which, they say, has forced many to flee overseas, often through Southeast Asia.

Reported by BenarNews staff in Bangkok and Washington.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
China enters Ramadan with round-the-clock surveillance of mosques, Uyghurs

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 6 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China enters Ramadan with round-the-clock surveillance of mosques, Uyghurs, 6 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2825.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-06

An elderly Muslim talks to a younger man outside a mosque before Friday prayers in Urumqi, capital of western China's Xinjiang region, May 23, 2014. AFP

Authorities in northwestern China's troubled Xinjiang region have detained 17 people for encouraging the region's mostly Muslim Uyghurs to fast during the holy month of Ramadan, overseas rights groups said on Monday.

Five Uyghurs were taken away by plainclothes police in Qaghiliq county (in Chinese, Yecheng county) near the Silk Road city of Kasghar on Friday, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) said as Ramadan began.

And police in Kuqa county, Aksu (Akesu) prefecture, detained 12 people at the gates of a major mosque in the county town, taking them away in minivans, WUC spokesman Dilxat Raxit told RFA's Mandarin Service.

"According to our sources, the police said they were spreading propaganda at the gates of the mosque about observing Ramadan," he said.

Beijing has implemented strict rules in Xinjiang forbidding anyone under the age of 18 from following a religion, levying hefty fines against families whose children study the Quran or fast during Ramadan.

Parents and guardians of Uyghur children and teens are frequently pressured by local officials into signing pledges promising not to allow them to take part in any religious activity.

Muslim members of the ruling Chinese Communist Party are forbidden to openly follow their religion, while state-run organizations are routinely ordered to encourage everyone to eat during daylight hours, sources in the region have told RFA.

"The Chinese government has forbidden Uyghurs from leaving their places of residence during Ramadan, and if they do leave, they have to give the authorities details of their itinerary or destination," Raxit said.

Payouts to mosques

In the regional capital Urumqi, which saw 200 people die in ethnic violence in 2009, officials are handing out payouts to the city's mosques in return for their cooperation with security personnel during Ramadan.

"They want the mosque staff to assist the security personnel who are installed in the mosques 24 hours a day to carry out surveillance," Raxit said on Monday.

"They want to confirm the identities of every person who comes to pray at the mosque."

The texts of any sermons preached during Ramadan must also be passed by Beijing's censors before they can be delivered, Raxit said.

In Ili (Yili) prefecture in the north of Xinjiang, officials were being ordered to read guidelines issued to Communist Party members on party discipline and on the punishments meted out to officials who fast, before signing pledges not to observe Ramadan, he said.

Muslim officials caught observing the fast face expulsion from their jobs and from the party, according to the regulations.

Meanwhile, Uyghur-run restaurants are forbidden to shut their doors during fasting hours, according to a government directive.

A Han Chinese resident of Xinjiang surnamed Zhang said some will seek to evade the policy, however.

"I asked some Uyghurs about this, and they said they will use indirect methods, such as saying that there were no customers ... or they will prepare all of the food in advance," Zhang said.

"Anyone who takes a government salary or pension has been ordered not to observe Ramadan, so they have to comply, because the government is their source of income," he said.

'Effectively contained'

Zhang said the measures began to be implemented only following the July 5, 2009 riots in Urumqi, which exile groups said were sparked by police firing on an unarmed crowd of demonstrators.

"They never used to have these policies in all the decades before July 5," Zhang said. "But they are seldom written down in black at white. No official will actually say that they don't want people to fast."

China last Wednesday issued a white paper lauding "unprecedented" levels of religious freedom in Xinjiang, official media reported.

It said "the proliferation and spread of religious extremism is being effectively contained" in the region, while claiming that "no citizen suffers discrimination or unfair treatment for believing in, or not believing in, any religion."

"The government's capacity to administer religious affairs is constantly being strengthened," the document said.

Raxit said the white paper was "unacceptable."

"Uyghurs are subject to all manner of government bans and controls on their religious activity," he said. "Public anger will lead to more disturbances, and Beijing will bear the political responsibility."

Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Pan Jiaqing for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Cambodian authorities arrest seven 'Black Monday' protesters

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 6 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Cambodian authorities arrest seven 'Black Monday' protesters, 6 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc286.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-06

Cambodian Black Monday demonstrators hold a placard during a protest near Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh, May 9, 2016. AFP

Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh on Monday arrested seven women participating in the ongoing anti-government "Black Monday" protests, but later released them after they signed an agreement to stop demonstrating, a member of the group of activists said.

The protesters, who wear black clothing and hold protests on Mondays, were calling for the release of human rights workers and a national election official jailed on what many say are politically motivated charges.

Hundreds of security personnel armed with batons arrested the women and took them to a police station in the Dangkor district, said Chray Nim, a land activist from the SOS Community who was among those arrested.

Six were land activists from various communities, with the other a citizen journalist from the Phnom Penh-based Community Legal Education Center, she said.

Authorities released them after they agreed to sign a document pledging to stop participating in the protests, she said.

Speaking from the Dangkor district police station, Chray Nim told RFA's Khmer Service that authorities had pressured the seven women to stamp their thumbprints on a document promising they would not participate in any campaigns or in illegal activities that would cause "social instability."

She said authorities told them they would not allow such campaigns unless participants get permission from the Ministry of Interior.

RFA could not reach authorities in Phnom Penh for comment.

Suon Bunsak, secretary of the Cambodia Human Rights Action Coalition, strongly criticized the police move, calling it a human rights violation.

"On this point I think that the government should take positive steps so that people can have freedom of expression as they wish, and the government should listen to their intentions," he told RFA.

Third crackdown

The arrests marked the third time that authorities have cracked down on the Black Monday campaigners who planned to gather outside Prey Sar prison, Cambodia's largest detention facility where activists and opposition party members are routinely jailed.

On May 23, police stepped up a crackdown on the protests and clashed with villagers in the capital's Boeung Kak Lake area after ordering the previous weekend that Black Monday campaigners obtain government permission before posting their views online.

A week before, authorities arrested five land activists and sent them to Toul Kouk district police station for further questioning about their plans to meet every Monday until the government releases four imprisoned staff members from the domestic rights group Adhoc and the national election official.

The five have been incarcerated as part of the government's investigation of Kem Sokha, acting leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), for his involvement in an alleged affair with a young hairdresser.

The allegations emerged in March when supposed recordings of telephone conversations between the two were leaked online.

Last Tuesday, CNRP members and supporters rallied in front of the party headquarters in an effort to protect Kem Sokha, who has been living at the party's headquarters following attempts by police to arrest him.

The CNRP plans to hold a second mass gathering in front of its headquarters on June 14, the day on which Kem Sokha has been summoned to appear in court for questioning related to the sex scandal.

The conflict with Kem Sokha is just one of several legal cases the government or the ruling CPP has brought against opposition party members. Rights activists say the cases are attempts to crack down on the opposition and silence critics ahead of elections in 2017 and 2018.

So far, Kem Sokha has refused to adhere to a court order to testify in the case, citing parliamentary immunity from court questioning and arrest.

Movement against CPP

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan wrote on his Facebook page on Monday that the CNRP campaign is a movement against the legitimate leadership of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) under Prime Minister Hun Sen.

CNRP lawmakers have been collecting petitions signed with Cambodians' thumbprints urging King Norodom Sihamoni to press Hun Sen's government to release human rights activists, respect parliamentary immunity, and stop harassing Kem Sokha and the CNRP.

But the CNRP issued a statement Monday saying that it will stop collecting thumbprints from members of the public on June 13, and will employ another method to submit petitions to King Norodom Sihamoni, seeking his intervention in the tense political drama.

The party has yet to set a date to petition the king.

The party held its first mass rally on May 30, a day after hundreds of police temporarily blocked the road near CNRP headquarters as some CNRP lawmakers attempted to deliver another petition to the king.

That day, CPP lawmakers unanimously voted to allow the court to continue to prosecute the Kem Sokha case, using an exception written into the Cambodian constitution that allows a lawmaker's arrest for "flagrant offenses." CNRP deputies boycotted the vote.

CNRP President Sam Rainsy has been staying in France or traveling since an arrest warrant was issued for him in November over a 2008 defamation case and he was removed from his office and stripped of his parliamentary immunity.

Reported by Samnang Rann and Maly Leng for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Sarada Taing. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Detained Chinese lawyer wins award amid calls for pressure on human rights

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 6 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Detained Chinese lawyer wins award amid calls for pressure on human rights, 6 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2915.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-06

Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Yu poses during an interview in Hong Kong, March 20, 2014. AFP

As U.S. and Chinese officials met in Beijing to discuss human rights amid calls for greater pressure on the ruling Chinese Communist Party, detained lawyer Wang Yu was awarded a European prize for her work defending the rights of her clients.

Wang Yu, currently detained in the northern port city of Tianjin on suspicion of "subversion of state power," was awarded the prestigious Ludovic Trarieux Prize in Athens on Saturday.

The award comes as the families of dozens of rights lawyers detained on similar charges hit out at the government for denying the detainees access to their lawyers, and amid concerns that some detainees may have been tortured or sexually abused in police detention centers.

The prize jury said it wanted to "hail the courage" of a woman who "decided that she could no longer keep her mouth shut," founder Bernard Favreau said.

"She chose to expose herself to dangers in order to defend the rights of women, children and persecuted minorities," he told Agence France-Presse.

Wang's defense attorney Wen Donghai welcomed the award.

"They used a serious of objective criteria, for example, the fact that Wang Yu often gave legal assistance to clients from vulnerable groups," Wen said. "This has nothing to do with any government, nor with diplomacy."

But he said the award is unlikely to help Wang's case with the Chinese authorities.

"I don't hold out much hope of that, because our government has a very biased attitude to such prizes, and they see human rights groups as trying to interfere in China's internal affairs," Wen said.

"In reality, rights groups aren't targeting China, but trying to help victims and vulnerable people around the world."

Strategic and economic dialogue

The announcement came as officials met for the U.S.-China strategic and economic dialogue, which includes discussion of human rights issues.

"This is the Obama administration's last best chance to show it incorporates human rights across the scope of the bilateral relationship and demands change, from law enforcement cooperation to surveillance on ethnic minority regions, to Beijing's ferocious assault on civil society," Sophie Richardson, China director at the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement on Monday.

"U.S. human rights advocacy with China can succeed when it is unapologetic, public, and argued by diverse interests," Richardson said.

After the detention of top rights attorney Wang Yu, her husband Bao Longjun, and their colleagues at the Beijing Fengrui Law Firm on the night of July 9, 2015, police launched a nationwide operation targeting hundreds of rights lawyers, law firm staff and activists nationwide.

Wang is being charged with the more serious charge of "subversion of state power," while Bao's arrest is for the lesser charge of "incitement to subvert state power."

"Subversion of state power" carries a minimum jail term of 10 years in cases where the person is judged to have played a leading role. Jailed Nobel peace laureate Liu Xiaobo is currently serving a 13-year sentence for "incitement to subvert state power," which attracts a minimum penalty of five years' imprisonment in cases deemed "serious."

Hong Kong march

In Hong Kong, protesters marched to Beijing's Liaison Office in the former British colony on Monday, demanding an inquiry into the 2012 "suicide" death of Chinese labor rights activist Li Wangyang in police custody four years ago.

Democratic Party politician Cheung Man-kwong said the anniversary was a rare opportunity to focus minds on Li's death, which is still widely regarded as suspicious.

"This anniversary only comes around once a year," Cheung said. "By standing here, we are waging a battle against forgetting, and we hope to show that the people of Hong Kong haven't forgotten Li Wangyang."

Li was photographed hanged in his hospital room in Hunan province, but reports that his feet were touching the floor sparked suspicion around police claims of suicide. However, a government inquiry found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Rights activist Ou Biaofeng said Li's friends and relatives are under house arrest or close police surveillance on the anniversary of his death.

"They are all under surveillance by the state security police, and are cooperating," Ou said. "There are dozens of state security police mobilized in [Li's home city of] Shaoyang."

"All the dissidents or people close to Li Wangyang are under restrictions," Ou said.

Calls to Li's sister Li Wangling and her husband rang unanswered on Monday.

No online memorials

Hunan activist Tian Zhenglin said the activist community would remember Li in their own way, however.

"We're not allowed to post memorials online, because the state security police came to my house and warned me not to do this on June 3," Tian said.

"I'm not allowed to say anything against the government or [ruling Chinese Communist] Party," Tian said.

HRW and nine other organizations on Monday signed a joint letter calling on U.S. officials to make a point of calling for the release of peaceful activists and lawyers, as well as meeting with nongovernmental groups and taking Beijing to task for the government's persecution of religious groups.

"Chinese authorities have committed or tolerated gross human rights violations," the group said.

"Few members of the police or other security forces are held accountable for torture or other abuses, and there is no political or legal impulse for fundamental reforms necessary to curb their power," it said.

In February, United Nations rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein hit out at Beijing for its imprisonment of peaceful critics and activists who appeared to have committed no crime.

But Beijing rejected the comments as "irresponsible", adding in a statement that Zeid had a "biased, subjective and selective" view of the country.

Reported by Wong Lok-to and Wen Yuqing for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Yang Fan for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Myanmar government peace envoy to meet with Shan groups

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 6 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Myanmar government peace envoy to meet with Shan groups, 6 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2a15.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-06

United Wa State Army soldiers stop a truck at a checkpoint in the Wa region of Shan state in a file photo. AFP

Two armed ethnic groups from Myanmar's Shan state that did not sign a nationwide peace agreement with the Myanmar government last year agreed on Monday to meet a government committee working on an upcoming peace conference, an official involved in the process said.

The United Wa State Party (UWSP) and its political wing the United Wa State Army (UWSA), and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) have agreed to talk with the convening committee of the 21st-century Panglong Conference, said committee secretary Hla Maung Shwe.

Under the previous government, the two rebel groups, who are not members of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)  an alliance of armed ethnic groups that did not sign the nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA) last October  had called for separate autonomous states. The MNDAA, which had been fighting the Myanmar army in Shan state's Kokang self-administered zone, was excluded from the NCA talks.

Tin Myo Win, the new peace envoy of the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, met with leaders from the UWSA and MNDAA to get them to agree to a sit-down meeting in the run-up to the peace conference scheduled for late July.

"Our Chairman Tin Myo Win himself contacted them on the phone and made an agreement to sit down with them for a meeting," Hla Maung Shwe told RFA's Myanmar Service. "It's likely we will have it in a few days; we just need to find a suitable venue."

Tin Myo Win, who was appointed to his position by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, also plans to contact the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which was also excluded from the NCA.

But Hla Maung Shwe said representatives from the government's peace team had yet to meet TNLA leaders to clarify the government's position.

Committee members attempted last weekend to meet the armed ethnic groups that had not signed the NCA in Chiang Mai, Thailand, but the TNLA did not respond to a request for a sit-down.

Nevertheless, the TNLA has been invited to the commercial capital Yangon for further talks this month.

Last week, Tin Myo Win met in Thailand with representatives from the UNFC to invite them to the Panglong Conference.

Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader, has opened the door for all rebel groups to participate in what she has termed a 21st-century Panglong Conference, modeled on a similar meeting that her father, late General Aung San, held with ethnic groups in 1947.

Unity among Shan groups

Also on Monday, Khun Tun Oo, chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), called for unity among all ethnic groups at the Panglong Conference.

"This conference can only be a success if all individuals, groups and parties representing the Shan people, who deserve to be among the participants, are invited to take part in it with the spirit of preserving the Union and all work together," he said during a speech marking the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Shan State Joint Action Committee (SSJAC) in Lashio.

Members of the SNLD attended the anniversary celebration along with leaders from the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA), Hsinkyaut militia leaders, and 400 members from various local groups.

The SSJAC was formed jointly in 1996 by the SNLD and the two Shan armed groups in a bid to resolve the war-torn region's problems through political means.

The meeting participants also discussed the latest round of fighting between the Ta'ang and Shan groups in northern Shan state.

Support from former activists

Students and worker activists who participated in various demonstrations in the mid-1970s pledged on Monday to support the government's efforts to hold the new Panglong Conference.

The activists held a gathering in South Okkalapa township in Yangon to commemorate riots that took place during that time.

"We have new hope after seeing a new political scenario and the encouraging efforts of the new government, including the plan for a 21st-century Panglong Conference," said Kyaw Aung, a former student leader of the 1975 demonstrations.

"And so, to continue carrying out our historic tasks, we have decided to join hands with all political forces, ethnic forces and new student generations to support Aung San Suu Kyi's new government."

Authorities under former military commander and president Ne Win violently attacked laborers who demonstrated in mid-1974 for adequate rice supplies and workplace guarantees, shooting dead about 100 of them. Authorities also violently attacked student demonstrators in December 1974 and June 1976.

Reported by Tin Aung Khine, Kan Tha, Thiha Tun and Htet Arkar for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
China: Tibetan anti-mine protesters assaulted, beaten in Gansu

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 6 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: Tibetan anti-mine protesters assaulted, beaten in Gansu, 6 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2b12.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-06

Chinese paramilitary police deploy in Amchok township, Gansu, June 2, 2016. Photo sent by an RFA listener

Police in northwestern China's Gansu province attacked a group of Tibetan villagers at the beginning of June after the Tibetans, residents of a township near a sacred mountain, protested the mining of gold at the site, according to a Tibetan exile source.

The Tibetans had gathered at Khelpa village, Amchok township, in Gansu's Sangchu (in Chinese, Xiahe) county on June 1, Amchok Yonkyab, a resident of France, told RFA's Tibetan Service.

"But a large group of armed paramilitary police arrived in the town at around the same time, and there were arguments and clashes between the security forces and the Tibetans," Yonkyab said, citing local sources.

"Six of the protest leaders were beaten, one so severely that he was rushed to a hospital in the provincial capital Chengdu, while the other five were taken to a nearby military hospital," Yonkyab said, naming two of the five as Tsewang Kyab of Amchok's Angon village and Gogen of Pung village.

Residents of Amchok's eight villages later gathered on June 4 in an open area to burn incense and carry on their protest against the mining on Gong Ngon Lari mountain, Yonkyab said.

"Many armed police arrived at the site and surrounded the Tibetans, and tensions began to build. But on the advice of senior religious figures who were present, the Tibetans abandoned their protest."

The six protesters who were beaten were then released from hospital on June 5, he said.

Frustrated appeals

The protest in Amchok began on May 31 and followed 15 years of frustrated appeals to authorities to halt the mining on the mountain, which has been regarded for generations as a sacred site by the township's cluster of eight villages, one local source told RFA in an earlier report.

Two years ago, more than a hundred Tibetan residents of another Sangchu county township protested the seizure of farmland for the construction of roads tied to state-linked gold mining and industrial operations, sources said in earlier reports.

The April 2, 2014 protest by banner-carrying residents of Hortsang township came two weeks after other local demonstrations against government seizure of Tibetan land, and quickly drew police to the protest site.

Tibet has become an important sources of minerals needed for China's economic growth, and Chinese mining operations in Tibet have often led to widespread environmental damage, including the pollution of water sources for livestock and humans and the disruption of sacred sites, experts say.

Reported by Palden Gyal for RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Hong Kong democracy activists cleared of police obstruction during protest

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 7 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Hong Kong democracy activists cleared of police obstruction during protest, 7 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2cc.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-07

Student pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong speaks to reporters outside the Eastern district court in Kowloon, Hong Kong, June 7, 2016. RFA

A court in Hong Kong has acquitted student pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong and three others of obstructing police officers during a 2014 protest at which they burned a ruling Chinese Communist Party policy document on the city's political future.

Wong, 19, who now heads the fledgling political party Demosisto and former student federation head Nathan Law, 23, were accused of obstructing police when they burned Beijing's June 2014 white paper on Hong Kong.

They were acquitted on Tuesday by Kowloon's Eastern district court alongside League of Social Democrats vice chairman Raphael Wong, 27, and People Power lawmaker Albert Chan, 61.

"While [the defendants] tried to stop a policeman from putting out the fire, their action only made it difficult for the officer to extinguish the flames," presiding magistrate Lee Siu-ho told the court.

"Though [his] behavior was inappropriate, the court cannot be sure [Wong] intentionally obstructed the officers," Lee said, rejecting Wong's application for legal costs.

Lee said the prosecution had failed to prove the charge that the activists had deliberately sought to prevent the police moving forward, as they burned the document.

Video footage of the protest shot by the League of Social Democrats showed police constables trying to put out the fire caused by the burning copies of the white paper.

However, Raphael Wong was granted expenses of HK$68.90 (U.S. $8.87), a satirical reference to a Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying, who was voted in with just 689 votes from a 1,200 Beijing-backed election committee.

Politically motivated arrests

Speaking to journalists after the hearing, the four activists said the prosecution was politically motivated, citing their arrest and charging some 13 months after the protest, after Wong and Law played a key role in the 79-day Occupy Central pro-democracy movement that blocked key highways in a bid for universal suffrage.

Joshua Wong told reporters after the hearing: "The government should bear the responsibility for whole of the trial. [They] just wasted time and resources."

Joshua Wong has previously been prosecuted on a similar charge during the clearance of the last of the 79-day Umbrella Movement occupiers from Kowloon's Mong Kok district, but the case was later dismissed.

Raphael Wong said he welcomed the ruling, which was "fairly just," but said the four had little to celebrate.

"I think things are going to get a whole lot worse in the future, because I don't see how relations between the police and the public are going to improve," he said.

Beijing's June 10, 2014 white paper issued a strong reminder that it rules Hong Kong, and was published as political activists in the former British colony stepped up a campaign for fully democratic elections in 2017.

The city was promised a "high degree of autonomy" under the terms of its 1997 return to Chinese rule, within the "one country, two systems" framework agreed between British and Chinese officials and enshrined in its mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

However, China's cabinet, the State Council, said such autonomy was still subject to the will of Beijing.

"The high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong is not full autonomy, nor is it decentralized power," the State Council said in the white paper burned by Wong and the others.

"It is the power to run local affairs as authorized by the central leadership," it said, adding: "There is no such thing as 'residual power.'"

'Fake universal suffrage'

After the end of the Occupy movement, Hong Kong lawmakers dealt a death blow to Beijing's Aug. 31 electoral reform package in a humiliating defeat for Hong Kong's chief executive Leung Chun-ying and for Chinese officials.

Members of the city's Legislative Council (LegCo) voted against the bill by 28 votes to eight in June 2015, leaving the city with existing electoral arrangements still in place.

The bill would have allowed all of Hong Kong's five million eligible voters to cast a ballot in the 2017 race for the next chief executive, but would have limited the slate to candidates approved by Beijing.

Supporters of the 79-day Occupy Central movement had campaigned against it as "fake universal suffrage."

Reported by Wen Yuqing for RFA's Cantonese Service and by Xin Lin for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Kem Sokha urges 'nonviolent' solution to Cambodia's political crises

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 7 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Kem Sokha urges 'nonviolent' solution to Cambodia's political crises, 7 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2d6.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-07

Kem Sokha participates in a Buddhist ceremony at CNRP headquarters in Phnom Penh, June 7, 2016. RFA

Embattled opposition leader Kem Sokha appealed for a peaceful solution to Cambodia's political crises as he made his first public appearance since holing up in the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) headquarters for fear of arrest by Prime Minister Hun Sen's government.

Speaking at party headquarters in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, Kem Sokha urged supporters to adhere to the principles of nonviolence to resolve the political crises that appear to have no end in sight.

"We are resolving these issues through wisdom and nonviolent means," he said. "As leaders of the CNRP, we must implement this advice."

Kem Sokha's appeal came amid continuing reports that the Cambodian People's Party (CPP)-dominated government is still making it difficult for CNRP members to collect thumbprints on a petition asking King Norodom Sihamoni to seek the release of human rights and political activists arrested by the government.

Phnom Penh police detained a CNRP district councilor for three hours on Tuesday after she asked her constituents to place their thumbprints on the petition. Thumbprints take the place of signatures in Cambodia.

CNRP Veal Vong commune councilor Hem Han was detained after police stopped her from collecting thumbprints, she told RFA's Khmer Service. Her detention sparked a protest.

Treated like a prisoner

"I was forced to sign an agreement to stop collecting thumbprints," she said, adding that it is her right to collect thumbprints from her supporters as she did this in her own home.

"They treated me just like a prisoner," she said.

Cambodia's National Police Commissioner Neth Savoeun told RFA that a special committee has been established to examine the thumbprints to verify their authenticity.

While Kem Sokha was appealing for a nonviolent resolution and the authorities were worrying over the validity of the petitions, the National Assembly's permanent committee refused to protect the legislative immunity of CNRP President Sam Rainsy and other opposition lawmakers. The permanent committee is comprised of CPP members.

In a June 7 statement released to the media, the committee denounced CNRP lawmakers' attempts to get the government to protect opposition lawmakers' legislative immunity.

"With regard to any allegations that national institutions abused lawmakers' and senators' immunity, the National Assembly permanent committee would like to clarify that those lawmakers and senators committed obvious crimes," the committee's statement reads. "Legal measures have been taken against those individuals who commit crimes. Lawmakers who don't breach any laws shouldn't be worried."

'It doesn't trouble our heads'

While Kem Sokha was urging peace, Hun Sen appeared content to let his rival stay holed up in CNRP headquarters, at least for a while.

"It doesn't matter if you want to sleep in a place that's four meters square, [then] please sleep there," Hun Sen said, according to the Phnom Penh Post. "It doesn't trouble our heads."

According to the article, Hun Sen contends that Kem Sokha is abusing his position, saying the CNRP "has protected the bad man in order to challenge the law."

The CPP-controlled parliament voted last week to allow police to ignore Sokha's parliamentary immunity, saying that he committed a flagrant crime and that the court should move ahead with his prosecution.

Critics say the ruling party is manipulating Cambodia's judiciary to attack opponents ahead of coming elections.

The government has ordered Kem Sokha to appear before the court in connection with at least two complaints that have been filed related to an affair he is alleged to have had with a young hairdresser.

Kem Sokha has refused to appear, and the CNRP and its supporters claim the charges are a trumped-up attempt to damage the party ahead of elections slated for 2017 and 2018.

CNRP President Sam Rainsy has been staying in France or traveling since an arrest warrant was issued for him in November over a 2008 defamation case and he was removed from his office and stripped of his parliamentary immunity. After Sam Rainsy left the country, the CNRP named Kem Sokha its acting president.

The conflict with Kem Sokha is just one of several legal cases the government or the ruling CPP have brought against opposition party members.

A National Election Committee member and four staffers with the rights group ADHOC, along with a United Nations worker, are facing bribery or accessory charges after being accused of attempting to pay the hairdresser to keep quiet about her alleged affair with Kem Sokha.

Human rights workers say the scandal is being used by the ruling party to crack down on its political opponents and silence critics ahead of the elections. Hun Sen has ruled the country for 31 years.

Reported by Morm Moniroth for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
China: Massive cuts planned for Tibetan Buddhist center in Sichuan

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 7 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: Massive cuts planned for Tibetan Buddhist center in Sichuan, 7 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2e25.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-07

Monks' and nuns' houses are shown at Larung Gar in Sichuan in an undated photo. ImagineChina

Massive cuts are being planned for the number of monks and nuns allowed to live at a large Buddhist study center in southwestern China's Sichuan province, with some evictions of residents already taking place, Tibetan sources say.

The reductions at the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture's Serthar (Seda) county will see the center's population capped at 5,000 by September 30, 2017, according to an official document obtained by RFA's Tibetan Service.

Many thousands of Tibetans and Han Chinese study at Larung Gar, which comprises a sprawling settlement resting between two adjacent hills located more than 4,000 meters (13,000) feet above sea level and hundreds of miles from the nearest city.

The center was founded in 1980 by the late religious teacher Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok following China's turbulent Cultural Revolution, and is one of the world's largest and most important centers for the study of Tibetan Buddhism.

Following the demolition in 2001 of more than 1,000 dwellings at Larung Gar and the expulsion of hundreds of monks and nuns, Chinese authorities are again attempting to limit the numbers of students allowed to settle there, one local source told RFA's Tibetan Service.

"Last year, 600 members of this center were ordered to leave, and they returned to their hometowns," RFA's source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"About 400 members aged 60 and older were also asked to leave, and they left as well," the source said.

"This year, the authorities are talking about 1,200 members who will have to leave, and it is said that China has now issued a document saying that only 5,000 monks and nuns will be allowed to remain [at Larung Gar]," he said.

Marked for destruction

Government officials are now marking houses that block the passage of firefighting vehicles or the construction of roads, and dwellings targeted for demolition will be torn down by force if necessary, the source said.

"About 60 to 70 percent of the houses of monks and nuns are being marked for demolition," he said.

The order to reduce the number of residents at Larung Gar is not a Serthar county plan "but comes from higher authorities," with China's president Xi Jinping taking a personal interest in the matter, RFA's source said.

In January 2014, a massive blaze destroyed the houses of around 100 nuns living at Larung Gar, with some sources saying the fire could have been started by a butter lamp in a nun's residence or by a faulty power line.

Reported by Lhuboom for RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Lawyers' wives, attorneys released after street protest in China's Tianjin

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 7 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Lawyers' wives, attorneys released after street protest in China's Tianjin, 7 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2e6.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-07

A screen shot from the China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group's Facebook page showing detained family members and attorneys, June 7, 2016. RFA

Authorities in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin released the relatives and attorneys of several jailed human rights lawyers after police there held them overnight following a street demonstration protesting the human rights attorneys' continued detention.

Police detained eight family members and lawyers who held orange buckets printed with slogans outside the Guijiasi police station in Tianjin on Monday, in a protest over the detention of rights lawyers that began in Beijing on July 9, 2015, according to a Hong Kong-based rights group.

Wang Qiaoling, wife of detained lawyer Li Heping; Li Wenzu, wife of detained lawyer Wang Quanzhang; Lu Xiaoqing, wife of detained lawyer Huo Yanmin; and Fan Lili, wife of detained lawyer Ge Ping were then detained as they stood outside court buildings on Monday after their husbands were denied access to their defense attorneys.

'Waiting for you'

The women carried buckets painted with slogans like "Cui, I'm waiting for you!" "Quanzhang, I believe in you!" and "Heping, I'm on your side!"

Defense attorneys Cai Ying, Wen Donghai, Wang Lei and Ji Zhongjiu were with the women, and were also detained near the Tianjin municipal prosecutor's office and the Tianjing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court.

The group was held briefly before being released after repeated lobbying from fellow lawyers Li Yuhan, Lu Zhoubin, Liang Xiaojun, Cheng Hai, Lu Tingge and Huang Hanzhong, the Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group (CHRLCG) said on its Facebook page.

It said the four defense lawyers and three family members of the July 9 crackdown [detainees] and a photographer had all left the custody of Tianjin police by Tuesday morning.

The group said that the fate of the four lawyers and one of the protesters is currently uncertain, as they were handed over to state security police from their hometowns who were tasked with escorting them home.

Protesters and petitioners detained away from home often face surveillance, further detention or house arrest on their return, activists have told RFA.

Fan Lili said she had arrived late at the protest, and that the others had already been detained.

"[These lawyers have been detained] for nearly 11 months now, and yet their cases haven't been transferred to the prosecution office," Fan told RFA after arriving back home on Tuesday.

"They won't allow their lawyers to visit them, so we went there to show support for our loved ones, because we want them to come home," she said.

She said she hadn't witnessed the detentions first hand.

"I was stuck in traffic, and by the time I got there, I couldn't see any of the others," Fan said. "So I started calling them, but I couldn't get through."

"Later, I drove back to the courtroom, but I was stopped by the state security police, who told me to go home immediately, so I did."

Calls to the cell phones of Wang Qiaoling and Li Wenzu resulted in switched-off messages, while calls to the Guajiasi police station rang unanswered during office hours on Monday.

Growing concern

The protest came amid growing concern for Li Heping's detained legal assistant Zhao Wei, as unconfirmed reports circulated indicating that she may have been subjected to sexual abuse in the Tianjin No. 1 Detention Center, where she is being held on suspicion of "incitement to subvert state power."

Zhao's lawyer Ren Quanniu said he had made renewed attempts last Friday to arrange a meeting with his client, but to no avail.

"It was the same as last time; they said she has appointed another lawyer," Ren said, adding that he had filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office in Tianjin"My complaint called for an independent inquiry to find out the truth, and it called on them to set up a criminal investigation ... and to make the results public."

After the detention of top rights attorney Wang Yu, her husband Bao Longjun, and their colleagues at the Beijing Fengrui Law Firm on the night of July 9, 2015, police launched a nationwide operation targeting hundreds rights lawyers and activists nationwide.

Wang is being charged with the more serious charge of "subversion of state power," while Bao's arrest is for the lesser charge of "incitement to subvert state power."

Incitement to subvert state power carries a maximum jail term of five years in less serious cases, and a minimum jail term of five years in cases deemed more serious, or where the suspect is regarded as a "ringleader."

"Subversion of state power" carries a minimum jail term of 10 years in cases where the person is judged to have played a leading role. Jailed Nobel peace laureate Liu Xiaobo is currently serving a 13-year sentence for "incitement to subvert state power."

The activists arrested alongside the lawyers are typically people who participated in activities like staging small protests, complaining to the government about abuses, or helping human rights groups gather information, usually in their local community, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch.

Around 1,000 lawyers signed a statement this week condemning an attack on Guangxi lawyer Wu Liangshu, who says he was assaulted by police officers at a district court in Nanning after he refused to hand over his cell phone for inspection.

Qingxiu district court police demanded Wu give them the phone, accusing him of having used it to record a conversation during a dispute with court officials.

"The violent assault and search of this lawyer seriously damages the rights of attorneys," said the statement posted online on Sunday evening."If they treat a professional with violence and barbarism, imagine how they deal with civilians.

Wu, who denies having made any recordings, told RFA in an interview on Tuesday that China's public servants regularly act with impunity.

"Public servants are a law unto themselves, and fear nothing and nobody," he said. "That's why they are so afraid that details of their behavior will be made public."

"They basically have the attitude that everyone has to do as they say because they are officials, and that you have to obey their every command if you are on their turf," he said.

Reported by Yang Fan and Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Hai Nan for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Muslim villagers in Myanmar's Rakhine state refuse to participate in census

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 7 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Muslim villagers in Myanmar's Rakhine state refuse to participate in census, 7 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc2f15.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-07

A Rohingya man, woman and children gather in a shop in the Thel-Chaung displacement camp in Sittwe, eastern Myanmar's Rakhine state, Nov. 8, 2015. AFP

Authorities conducting a census of Muslim residents in three townships in western Myanmar's Rakhine state have encountered opposition from the inhabitants of one village who refuse to provide information because they are not allowed to mention their race and religion in order to qualify for national identification cards, a local official said.

Colonel Htein Lin, Rakhine's border affairs and security minister, and a state immigration officer told the Muslim residents of Kadi village in Ponenakyune township about the census, but the residents refused to provide the necessary information unless the cards listed their race and religion, said village administrator Maung Ni.

"We will not accept this census because our nationality and religion will not be shown on the card they are giving us," Maung Ni said.

The villagers will participate in the census once the cards include such information, he said.

Previously issued cards, which are referred to as "green cards" but are light blue in color, have contained an identification number, the name of the holder, their gender, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, and father's name, with visible identification marks in Burmese and English.

Those who possess green cards can apply for full Myanmar citizenship, but must first undergo a citizenship verification process.

Authorities are issuing Muslim residents older than 10 the cards while they conduct checks to see if they are eligible to become citizens.

Officials said that they have collected census data from about 90 Muslims in the town of Kyaukpyu and more than 120 in Myaypon township and will try again to collect information from those in Ponenakyune next week.

Stateless Roghingya

About 1.1 million stateless Muslims, also called Rohingya, live in Rakhine, with about 120,000 residing in internally displaced persons camps following communal violence with the majority Buddhists in 2012.

The government refers to the Rohingya as "Bengalis" and considers them illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh, though many have lived in Rakhine for generations.

Myanmar's President Htin Kyaw last week created a Central Committee for Implementation of Peace and Development in Rakhine State to put the impoverished, strife-torn region on a path to peace and development.

State Counselor and de facto national leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who chairs the new committee, recently met with Rakhine Chief Minister Nyi Pu and various national government ministers to discuss the controversial process of registering internally displaced persons that reportedly resumed in June, the online journal The Irrawaddy reported.

Lieutenant General Ye Aung, Myanmar's minister of border affairs and member of the committee, said last week that the citizenship verification process will be carried out transparently and in accordance with the country's 1982 Citizenship Law.

The government began issuing green cards to Muslims in 13 townships in Rakhine state a year ago to verify their identities, bringing them a step closer to applying for citizenship.

Myanmar's former military junta had issued temporary identification cards known as "white cards" to Muslims in Rakhine for the 2010 elections, which saw Thein Sein's quasi-civilian government take power from the army regime.

But in 2015, authorities began collecting the white cards and distributing green cards in their place so that holders could apply for citizenship.

By Min Thein Aung and Nay Rein Kyaw for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Myanmar Buddhist monk may have plans to build monastery near Anglican church

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 7 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Myanmar Buddhist monk may have plans to build monastery near Anglican church, 7 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc3015.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-07

An Anglican minister stands inside an Anglican church in Myanmar, July 24, 2013. AFP

An influential Buddhist monk who has been erecting Buddhist pagodas on the grounds of churches and mosques in eastern Myanmar's Karen State may begin building a monastery near an Anglican church, said the bishop who oversees Anglicanism in the state and neighboring regions on Tuesday.

Monk Myaing Kyee Ngu, also known as U Thuzana, has been building pagodas  also called stupas  near Christian churches and mosques in an act of defiance to supposedly reclaim ancient Buddhist lands.

Anglican Bishop Saw Stylo told RFA's Myanmar Service that the monk and his supporters arrived near St. Mark Anglican church in Kondawgyi village of Hlaingbwe township on Monday with eight trucks of bricks.

Another truck arrived near the church on Tuesday morning, although church officials do not know if workers intend to build a monastery or make a fence dividing the two properties, he told RFA's Myanmar Service.

"We called the state religious officer this morning [to inform him]," Saw Stylo said. "We will send an official letter to the state government tomorrow."

In the meantime, Myaing Kyee Ngu has been building two more stupas in front of the Anglican church and about 30 stupas in the village, including one close to the church's lavatory, he said.

"I think he is trying to create difficulties for the new government," Saw Stylo said, but added that Anglican church officials want to resolve this problem by talking with the national government, the state government, and the State Sangha Mahar Nayaka Committee, a government-appointed body of high-ranking Buddhist monks that oversees and regulates the Buddhist clergy in Myanmar.

So far, the committee has failed to stop Myaing Kyee Ngu's activities.

In early May, Myaing Kyee Ngu and 300 supporters erected a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine on the grounds of St. Mark Anglican church.

The monk, who is spiritual adviser to an armed ethnic Karen group, built his first pagoda on the church property on April 23 despite objections by religious authorities.

Senior monk quits Ma Ba Tha

In a related development, Parmaukkha, a member of the central committee of the powerful ultranationalist Buddhist monk organization Ma Ba Tha, has stepped down over political differences with the group.

The group, also known as the Organization for the Protection of Race and Religion, has led demonstrations against members of Myanmar's Muslim minority group and backed the passage of controversial laws on race and religion that are seen as discriminatory against Muslims and women.

The organization also advised citizens to vote for the incumbent, military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in last November's national elections.

The organization passed out pamphlets during a conference it held, telling people to vote for the USDP in the elections, Parmaukkha told RFA.

"I decided to quit Ma Ba Tha because I didn't like it when Ma Ba Tha was making speeches in many towns to vote for a certain party during the election campaign period," he said.

The pro-democracy National League for Democracy defeated the USDP by a landslide in the elections.

"I want Ma Ba Tha to stand free from party politics," he said. "Now people are looking down on us because they say we are working for the USDP. I am resigning from Ma Ba Tha because I don't agree with their attitudes."

Parmaukkha, who helped found the group in 2013, also said he has not been to Ma Ba Tha's offices in five months.

Reported by Tin Aung Khine and Khet Mar for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Thailand: Translator for Uyghur bombing suspects released from jail: Police

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 7 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Thailand: Translator for Uyghur bombing suspects released from jail: Police, 7 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc3131.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-07

Suspects in the Erawan shrine bombing in Bangkok last August, identified by the ruling junta as Adem Karadag (C) and Yusufu Mieraili (back L), arrive at a military court in Bangkok, Feb. 16, 2016. AFP

The courtroom interpreter for two Uyghurs accused in the 2015 Bangkok bombing was released on bail Friday afternoon after being held two days for alleged possession of drugs, sources said Monday.

Police Captain Pongsak Nonthachote, the officer in charge of Srojiddin Bakhadirov's case, told BenarNews that he brought the Uzbek national to Bangkok South Court on Friday to seek an extension of custody pending a court review of the case.

"He was given a bailout at 16:00 hours on June 3," an information official at Bangkok South Court told BenarNews by phone. The official did not disclose who had provided the bail money.

But Bakhadirov claimed he was still in police custody when he spoke to Radio Free Asia, a sister entity of BenarNews, at around 9 p.m. Friday.

"I am innocent. I've been jailed for translating for two Uyghurs who are Bangkok shrine bombing suspects," he said at the time, adding that he had been beaten around the waist by police.

A reporter heard him cry out in evident distress before the phone connection was abruptly cut. Repeated attempts to reach him again were not successful.

'Police work with transparency'

Pongsak denied that police had beaten Bakhadirov.

"The police work with transparency and never beat him up. We do our best," he said.

The Uzbek man was arrested June 1 after he allegedly purchased a small amount of crystal meth and marijuana from a drug dealer near Bangkok's Sukhumvit area. He initially faced a charge of possession of narcotics, but Pongsak said the case had not yet been wrapped up.

"I asked for custody and now I have 84 days to conclude the case and forward it to the attorney general. I cannot tell you which charges he is facing for now," he told BenarNews.

Bakhadirov could face charges of overstaying his visa as well because immigration clemency extended while he served as court translator would automatically be revoked, according to Chalida Tajaroensuk, director of the People's Empowerment Foundation, an NGO which has been assisting Uyghurs in Thailand since 2014.

Chuchart Kanpai, a lawyer for Adem Karadag and Yusufu Mieraili, the defendants in the Erawan Shrine bombing case, told BenarNews he could not locate Bakhadirov.

"Police sought his custody on Friday and I heard he got bail, but after that, we don't know where he is," he said.

The two men say they are innocent in the Aug. 17, 2015 bombing that killed 20 people and injured 125 at the popular Hindu shrine. Their lawyer alleged at court in February that Karadag had been tortured into confessing.

The next court hearing in the case is scheduled for Aug. 23 and 24.

Uyghurs have fled unrest in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where hundreds of people have been killed in spates of violence in recent years.

Uyghur exiles and rights groups have criticized Chinese authorities' heavy-handed rule in the region  including police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people  which, they say, has forced many to flee overseas, often through Southeast Asia.

Reported by Nontarat Phaicharoen for BenarNews.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Shan and Kachin ethnic groups show support for Myanmar's Panglong Conference

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 8 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Shan and Kachin ethnic groups show support for Myanmar's Panglong Conference, 8 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc3222.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-08

General Gwan Maw (C) speaks during a meeting between representatives of the previous Myanmar government and a delegation of the Kachin Independence Organization in Myitkyina, northern Myanmar's Kachin state, Oct. 8, 2013. AFP

Ethnic leaders in Shan and Kachin states announced their support on Wednesday for the Myanmar government's upcoming Panglong Conference, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi's ambitious plan to end multiple armed conflicts and bring peace to the Southeast Asian nation.

The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and Shan State Progress Party (SSPP) of eastern Myanmar's Shan state, and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) of northern Myanmar said they would support Aung San Suu Kyi's plans to hold the major peace conference slated for late July.

Leaders from the armed groups signed an agreement welcoming the peace conference, following a two-day consultation meeting on the Panglong Conference in Chaing Mai, Thailand, said KIO leader General Gwan Maw.

Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto national leader, intends to include all rebel groups in what she says will be a 21st-century Panglong Conference before the next steps in political dialogue are taken.

Her father, General Aung San, held talks known as the Panglong Conference in February 1947 to grant autonomy to the Shan, Kachin, and Chin ethnic minorities. But his assassination five months later prevented the agreements from reaching fruition, and many ethnic groups then took up arms against the central government in wars that went on for decades.

KIO vice chairman General N'Ban La, RCSS chairman General Yawd Serk, and SSPP spokesperson Sai Htoo led the discussion among ethnic group participants at the meeting, Gwan Maw said.

"We welcome the second Panglong Conference as the [original] ethnic groups that signed the first Panglong Agreement," he said.

"We reviewed and discussed how we can participate in upcoming meetings and how to approach people," he said. "We all welcome the second Panglong Conference and will hold it while trying not to lose the essence of the [original] Panglong Conference."

The Chin National Front (CNF), which was invited to the meeting but was unable to attend, indicated that it will accept the agreement as well, he said.

DPN must decide

The leaders of the armed ethnic groups must still hold talks with the other members of the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC)  an alliance of armed ethnic groups that did not sign a nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA) with the previous government last October.

The UNFC includes the KIO and SSPP, but not the RCSS and CNF.

The rebel groups comprising the UNFC did not sign the peace pact, because they objected to the exclusion of certain armed ethnic groups and disagreed with the political dialogue framework drafted by the signatories.

Government peace negotiators will hold a review meeting on the framework for political dialogue on Thursday, although the UNFC's Delegation for Political Negotiation (DPN) has yet to decide whether to attend.

The Union Peace Conference Preparation Committee, led by government peace envoy Tin Myo Win, held a meeting with the DPN last week to invite its members to the political dialogue framework meeting scheduled for Thursday.

The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) government sees the participation of the non-signatories to the NCA in the Panglong Conference as vital. It wants to get them on board by first getting them to collaborate on a political dialogue framework, and then having them sign the NCA.

Reported by Aung Moe Myint for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Thousands attend Tibetan Buddhist ceremony and teachings in China's Gansu

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 8 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Thousands attend Tibetan Buddhist ceremony and teachings in China's Gansu, 8 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc3315.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-08

Tibetan monks fill one of two large tents set up to hold ceremony participants in Gansu, June 7, 2016. Photo sent by an RFA listener

Thousands of Tibetan devotees converged this week in an open plain in northwestern China's Gansu province for the start of a four-day period of advanced Buddhist rituals and teachings, sources in the region said.

The ancient Kalachakra ceremony, conducted by the senior Tibetan religious leader Jigme Palden Gyatso, is being held in the Chukar Gyaltsen Thang area of Machu (in Chinese, Maqu) county in the Gannan (Kanlho) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, one local source told RFA's Tibetan Service.

"The preliminary teaching and instruction began on June 7, and the ceremony will go on for three days," RFA's source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Kalalchakra, which means "Wheel of Time," is a ritual that prepares devotees to be reborn in Shambhala, a celestial kingdom which, it is said, will vanquish the forces of evil in a future cosmic battle.

The ceremony is frequently conducted outside Tibet by exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, and government employees in Gansu were barred two years ago from taking part in a similarly large Kalachakra ritual, with warnings given of administrative punishment if they ignored the ban.

The organizers of this week's event have made "excellent arrangements," with large screens set up for participants to view and hear the proceedings from a distance, RFA's source said.

"The main teaching is going on inside two huge white tents with thousands of monks and nuns in each tent, seated separately," he said.

"Chinese devotees coming from other places have been given separate seating arrangements."

Medical clinics and bathroom facilities have also been set up to accommodate the crowd, he said.

Though Chinese security forces, fearful of sudden protests by Tibetans opposed to Beijing's rule, frequently monitor and sometimes close down events involving large crowds, the ritual and teachings are apparently proceeding with official approval, RFA's source said.

"Several hundred security officers have been deployed and are stationed at the edges of the crowd," the source said.

"They are watching closely, but are not interfering in the religious activities," he said.

Sporadic demonstrations challenging Chinese rule and calling for the Dalai Lama's return have continued in Tibetan-populated areas of China since widespread protests swept the region in 2008.

Reported by Kunsang Tenzin for RFA's Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Vietnamese police question Montagnards living in Phnom Penh

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 8 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Vietnamese police question Montagnards living in Phnom Penh, 8 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc3413.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-08

Montagnards, under UNHCR care in Phnom Penh, June 7th, 2016. RFA/Yeang Sothearin

Vietnamese police questioned a group of Montagnards living in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in what appears to be a failed attempt to get them to return to their native country, RFA's Khmer Service has learned.

The move by the Vietnamese authorities on Tuesday was condemned by civil society as intimidation of the Montagnards, who rights groups say have been victims of persecution and repression in Vietnam. Rights groups also questioned how foreign police were allowed to enter and operate in Cambodia.

"Those Montagnards fled their country due to racial, political and religious oppression, and threats," Suon Bunsak general secretary of the Cambodian Human Rights Action Coalition (CHRAC) told RFA's Khmer Service.

"If officials from their country of origin came to visit them, this is a threat to their personal safety," he added.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also questioned the meeting.

"No one who seeks asylum should be forced to meet the representative of the government they accused of tormenting them," UNHCR official Vivian Tan told RFA.

Among the Vietnamese authorities who interrogated the group of about 150 Montagnards was the chief of Gai Lai provincial police, the Montagnards told RFA.

Afraid to go back

While the Vietnamese police attempted to persuade the Montagnards to return to Vietnam, the asylum seekers refused for fear of what might happen if they returned, they told RFA. The Montagnards also expressed fear that Vietnamese would kidnap them or that the Cambodian government would send them back.

Tan Sokvichea, head of the Immigration Department's Refugee Division, told RFA he was unaware of the Vietnamese police visit.

"I did not receive any information because this is at the political level," he said. "The leaders discussed it, but we as the implementing officials did not know about that. The U.N. was not involved. They just said that Cambodia needs to implement legal principles in accordance with international law."

While immigration officials may have been unaware of the visit, the Montagnards told RFA that Cambodian police accompanied the Vietnamese.

Attempts to reach the ministry's spokesperson Khiev Sopheak were unsuccessful, but Suon Bunsak told RFA that the visit was a black eye for the Cambodian government.

"First, if we talk about foreigners, whether they are civilian or state officials, if they enter the territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia without our knowledge, that points out the weakness of our administrative system," he said. "Secondly, those who entered the country are illegal. Those who enter Cambodia without our knowledge are the subject of legal action."

Vietnam's Central Highlands are home to some 30 tribes of indigenous peoples, known collectively as Montagnards or the Degar. This group of Montagnards comes from the mountainous region of Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Kon Tum provinces in central Vietnam bordering Rattanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces of Cambodia.

They are among the more than 200 Montagnards who have fled their country and crossed the border into Cambodia seeking help from UNHCR, citing oppression by the Vietnam's government.

Among the 200, some were sent back to Vietnam by the Cambodian authorities, while 13 were recognized by the Cambodian government as legitimate refugees in early 2016. They were relocated to the Philippines by the U.N. in May.

Status unknown

The rest are undergoing the process of determining their status by the Cambodian authorities. The UNHCR's Tan said that some of them were already interviewed, but she does not know the result yet.

In 2015, at least four of three dozen Montagnards deported to Vietnam by Cambodian authorities after they were discovered hiding in the forest had disappeared from their home villages in Vietnam, other members of the group told RFA at the time of their disappearance.

The Montagnards have clashed with Vietnamese authorities before, and they were allies to the U.S. during the Vietnam War.

Early in the last decade, thousands of Montagnards staged violent protests against the confiscation of their ancestral lands and religious controls, prompting a brutal crackdown by Vietnamese security forces that saw hundreds of them charged with national security crimes.

Reported by Yeang Sothearin for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Yanny Hin. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
China: Xinjiang residents must give DNA, voice-print for passports

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 8 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: Xinjiang residents must give DNA, voice-print for passports, 8 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc35c.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-08

Updated at 6:10 p.m. EST on 2016-06-09

Map showing location of Ili prefecture in Xinjiang. RFA

Authorities in northwestern China's troubled Xinjiang region are now requiring residents of one northern prefecture to provide DNA samples and other biometric data before they can be issued with travel documents, sparking concerns over the possible ethnic profiling of the country's mostly Muslim Uyghur group.

The announcement was made by police in Xinjiang's Ili (in Chinese, Yili) prefecture, who ordered residents to hand in their passports last year, with officials saying no new ones would be issued.

"The requirements for travel document applications have changed, with effect from June 1," the Ili Daily, the regional mouthpiece of the ruling Chinese Communist Party, reported.

Applicants for passports, police-issued exit permits, and travel passes to Taiwan and Hong Kong will now have to supply a DNA sample, fingerprints, a voice-print sample, and a 3D body scan image to receive their documents, the paper said.

Nobody will be issued with a travel document in Ili without the new biometrics, it said.

Ili police officials contacted by RFA's Uyghur Service confirmed the new regulations require DNA samples and other biological data for any travel document. The passport office of the Public Security Department said it won't approve any application that does not include DNA samples, fingerprints and voice records, said an ethnic Kazakh police officer in Ili's Nilka County (Nilika Xian).

"We can take DNA samples here in the police station. We take blood samples, fingerprints, voice prints and photos. We take some blood samples from applicants for a DNA record. Then one can go to local passport office to apply," said the police officer.

The officer added that the requirement is a mandatory policy that applies to all ethnic groups, including the dominant Han Chinese.

"This requirement apply to all ethnic groups. It doesn't matter which group you belong to; if you don't follow this procedure, they won't issue a passport for you. It doesn't matter which country you plan to go to," said the officer.

A Uyghur police officer from Yarkand County (Shache Xian) said, however, that fingerprints are the only requirement for travel documents in his area.

"We take only fingerprints. We don't take blood simple. I don't know if there is any DNA requirement," he said, adding that he wasn't entirely clear about the newest regulations.

While the new rules are ostensibly universal, restrictions on passports have targeted ethnic minority groups in the past, making it harder for Uyghurs to book overseas vacations or go on the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, travel agents in the region have told RFA.

Sense of threat

Ilshat Hassan, Washington-based president of the Uyghur American Association, said the new move appears to be aimed at making it harder for Uyghurs to obtain passports or other travel documents.

"One of the aims of these measures is to put obstacles in the way of Uyghurs applying for passports, and another is to give Uyghurs a sense that they are under threat," Ilshat Hassan said.

Citing the requirement for a voice-print, he said Uyghurs would be less likely to speak anonymously to overseas media once they had left China, because their unique voice pattern was on Beijing's files.

"They would still be able to identify you by your voice-print, and they would be able to deal with you in the same way," he said.

But the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress, a Uyghur diaspora organization, said it feared the new rules will open the door for more violations of the privacy of citizens.

"Taking a fingerprint is understandable and it's a mandatory immigration policy for all countries under current circumstances. But taking DNA samples are a violation of human rights and privacy," said WUC Vice-Chairman Umit Hemit.

"Controlling resident's biological data through an inappropriate way is not matter of national security. We don't see it as a normal procedure. We are against it and see it as a violation of human rights," he told RFA.

An official who answered the phone at the Hanbing police station in Gulja, capital of the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture near the northern border with Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan, declined to comment, however.

"I have no way of giving out official information from here," the official said. "I can't comment on whether this regulation exists or not. It is outside office hours."

There was no reference to the new rules on the website of the Xinjiang police department on Tuesday.

Breach of privacy

New York-based rights activist Liu Qing said the rules are a breach of citizens' right to privacy, regardless of who they are aimed at.

"So an administrative department has decreed that they can collect DNA samples from their citizens. What happened to a citizen's right to privacy?" Liu said.

"If they want to collect citizens' DNA, then they should at least ask people for their opinions, and then pass legislation," he said.

"This isn't something that can just be ordered as part of administrative regulations."

He rejected the idea that the move is part of a bid by Beijing to stave off possible terrorist attacks.

"Collecting people's DNA has nothing to do with fighting terror," Liu said. "The government is doing this to step up the sense of fear among the general public."

Uyghurs make up 25.6 percent of Ili's three-million-strong population, while 36 percent of local residents are Han Chinese.

Reported by Gao Shan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Ho Shan for the Cantonese Service and Jilil Kashgari for RFA's Uyghur Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
China restricts Ramadan fast for Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 9 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China restricts Ramadan fast for Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, 9 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc369.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-09

A Uyghur man stands outside a mosque in Turpan, Xinjiang,in a file photo. AFP

In spite of assurances by Beijing that ethnic Uyghurs living in China's mostly Muslim Xinjiang region enjoy full religious freedom, government workers routinely block their right to fast during Islam's holy month of Ramadan, sources in the region say.

On June 2, China issued a white paper lauding "unprecedented" levels of religious freedom in Xinjiang, adding that "no citizen suffers discrimination or unfair treatment for believing in, or not believing in, any religion," according to official media.

However, several local government departments and middle or high schools in the Uyghur region have posted notices online in recent days ordering restrictions on the Muslim duty to fast during Ramadan, local sources told RFA's Uyghur Service.

"We have forbidden [ruling Chinese Communist] Party members, cadres, civil servants, and village officials, in fact anyone drawing a salary from the state, from praying or fasting during Ramadan," one local official in Aksu (in Chinese, Akesu) prefecture said.

"We also do not allow students or anyone under the age of 18 to enter the mosques to pray," the official  Alim Abdurahman, a "stability worker" in Yengieriq township in Aksu's Awat (Awati) county  said.

Stability cadres regularly undertake "focused inspections" of individuals and families regarded by local authorities as suspicious, sometimes including other cadres or local officials coming from a religious background, Abdurahman said.

"If we think that someone may be fasting, we will invite them to the village office to 'drink tea' with us to see if they are fasting or not," he said.

"We also use other methods to get information on villagers' religious activities through our 'secret eyes and ears' or through our 'neighbor watch' program," he said.

Forbidden to believe

Schoolchildren too are barred from religious observance, according to a letter posted online by administrators of High School 46 in the regional capital Urumqi and addressed to the parents of pupils at the school.

"[Children] are forbidden from any kind of religious belief," said the letter, which appeared on the social medial platforms WeChat and Facebook beginning June 4, the day before Ramadan began.

"Parents should follow the Party's rules of education and bar their children from illegal religious activities such as praying, fasting, going to mosques, wearing religious dress, studying religion, and so on," the letter read.

Speaking to RFA, school director Hao Jiangli denied all knowledge of the letter, claiming he no longer works in the office whose phone he had just picked up to take a reporter's call.

"I have already moved from my post at High School 46," Hao said.

"I can't tell you who posted this letter on the website. Actually, I have no information about it at all," he said.

"This information is incorrect," another school official, Rozi Abla, head of the high school's office of political and moral education, said. "We never sent any letter like that."

Students forced to eat

A young Uyghur studying at Kashgar University in western Xinjiang's Kashgar (Kashi) prefecture said that administrators at his school now "regularly check each classroom and force Uyghur students to drink water or eat something in front of them."

"Our university administration distributes a bottle of water for every Uyghur student during school hours," the student said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Students' bags are checked during the day to see if they contain meals meant to be eaten when the day's fast ends at sundown, and if any are found, the students must eat them right away, he said.

"The university administration always warns us that if students fast or pray, they will be expelled from the university or will not receive a diploma or certificate when they graduate."

Officials in southwestern Xinjiang's Hotan City have meanwhile ordered restaurants and stores selling food and drink to remain open during fasting hours, with fines imposed on owners who fail to comply, the owner of a traditional medicine store in Hotan named Obulqasim said.

"I have heard from friends working in government departments that water bottles are being distributed to civil servants and other cadres, and that they must drink these in front of others," Obulqasim said.

"These kinds of absurdities happen every year in Hotan during Ramadan," he said.

Reported and translated by Eset Sulaiman for RFA's Uyghur Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
China's Communist Party says its propaganda chiefs 'could do better'

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 9 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China's Communist Party says its propaganda chiefs 'could do better', 9 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc37a.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-09

Karl Marx and Vladmir Lenin flank a giant statue of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong, founder of communist China, which is again pushing to promote their ideas in social media and schools, in file photo. AFP

The discipline arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party has hit out at its powerful propaganda department for failing to exert enough control over public opinion, particularly online and in universities.

China's secretive propaganda masters haven't done enough to spread the "correct" ideological outlook in the country's higher education institutions and new media, the party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a report posted on its website.

"[The department must] extend the principle of party leadership to all new media, and effectively manage its use of the Internet," the report, which was billed as "feedback" following a lengthy inspection, said.

"[It should also] strengthen coordination of its ideological work in universities, firmly guiding the development of teaching materials and academic opinion and debate," said the report, which was based on a speech given by investigation spokesman Wang Huaichen.

Officials in the department also fell short of the mark when it came to Marxist ideology, the report said.

"The level of political awakening is low among some high-ranking officials, and there are shortcomings in their implementation of party propaganda work in ideology and culture," it said.

"There is a lack of targeting and effectiveness when it comes to news propaganda, and many officials lack an in-depth understanding of contemporary Chinese Marxism," it said.

The department had failed to enhance the attractiveness and appeal of state propaganda, the report said.

The report comes after President Xi Jinping launched an ideological campaign earlier this year, warning the media that they must toe the party line, and warning officials to be careful what they say in public.

Xi, who has hit out at "careerists and conspirators," "cabals and cliques" in party ranks who should be eliminated, told officials to make their loyalties clear in public and not to allow "western" ideas to seep into their thinking.

Press freedom an alien concept

The president wants all public debate to be shaped by the Communist Party and not by "hostile foreign forces" peddling values like democracy, human rights and the rule of law, state media has reported.

"China has never had freedom of the press, and I think it's pretty normal for an authoritarian regime to engage in control of the media," freelance journalist Lu Xinrong told RFA in a recent interview.

"It doesn't matter how much public anger there is against the government; people still don't really understand the harm that is done by a dictatorship," Lu said.

"The sad thing is, a lot of people are totally unaware of all this, and the government knows ... the threshold at which they are likely to revolt."

Meanwhile, others said China's centrally directed propaganda work has little to do with the attacks on citizens' rights by local governments.

"Any news story that is in the public interest has to be based on some failure to protect citizens' rights at some level," a journalist who gave only his surname Wang told RFA.

"It tears aside the veil over the activities of local governments, and of course the government doesn't want to see that happen," he said.

"So they think of some way of suppressing the people whose rights have been trampled."

Reported by Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
International community pushes Cambodia to resolve political crisis

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 9 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, International community pushes Cambodia to resolve political crisis, 9 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc382c.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-09

Villagers in Cambodia talk about their fears that the government might use their thumbprints on a political petition against them, June 5th, 2016. RFA/Saut Sokheng

At the urging of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the ruling Cambodian People's Party may start talks with the opposition aimed at ending a political crisis that has seen Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmakers, human rights workers, and an election official thrown in jail, as well as a police raid on the opposition party's headquarters.

In the Tuesday evening phone call, Ban Ki-moon urged Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhon to resume the "culture of dialogue between the Cambodia People's Party (CPP) and the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)," according to a U.N. summary of the call.

Ban also pushed the Cambodian government to "ensure full respect for human rights, including the freedoms of expression, association, and assembly."

There were hints this week that a rapprochement between the parties may be in the offing as CPP spokesperson Sok Eysan said party working groups may meet in the near future.

While representatives of the parties may begin discussions, he said they would not include CPP senior official and Minister of the Interior Sar Kheng and acting CNRP president Kem Sokha.

"The date has not been selected yet, and the subject was also not known," Sok Eysan said. "But this commission will discuss ways to promote the culture of dialogue."

He dismissed the importance of Ban's phone call, saying the U.N. leader "doesn't understand" Cambodia.

"All the issues that have resulted in some going to jail, and some being detained were all under court procedures because those individuals committed actions that are against the law," he said.

Confused about Cambodia

"I think that it could be that his Excellency Ban Ki-Moon manages 200 countries, so there may be some gaps in his knowledge, or maybe he is too busy with Middle East issues, with bombardments and massacres, so that he is confused about Cambodia's situation," Sok Eysan added.

The U.N. in fact closely monitors Cambodia and played a leading role in facilitating Cambodia's recovery from the more than a decade of war in the country that followed the 1975-79 rule of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights has maintained an office in the country since 1993.

While RFA could not reach CNRP officials for comment, CNRP senior official Eng Chhai Eang told a local newspaper that he understands Ban's concerns, adding that he lacked any concrete information on the meeting between the two parties' working groups.

So Chantha, a political science professor who lectures at several Cambodian universities, said the U.N. can exert some influence on Cambodia as the country is a member and is pledged to respect the legal procedures and democratic principles stated by the U.N.

"If Cambodia does not pay attention to such concerns, I think the U.N. with over 100 member countries can examine what are the wrong deeds of Cambodia," he said. "So that puts pressure on Cambodia"

Cham Bunthet, an international relations and leadership development researcher and Young Leadership Forum founder, disagreed, saying the U.N. appeal and civil society have little chance to influence the government or the ruling party.

"This political game is not going to end unless the people and the opposition party, who want changes in the society, have a clear picture of what their demands are," he said.

The U.N. is not the only governmental body outside of Cambodia that is expressing concern over the political crises in that country. The European Union approved a resolution on Thursday that "deplores the worsening climate for opposition politicians and human rights activists in Cambodia."

Thumbprinting fear

While the international community is pushing Hun Sen's government to respect human rights, Cambodians are intimidated by Phnom Penh's actions.

Some people in Kampong Siem district, Kampong Cham province, told RFA they are scared to provide thumbprints to the CNRP officials or activists because the authorities may conduct forensic examinations of all the thumbprints collected on petitions asking King Norodom Sihamoni to seek the release of human rights and political activists arrested by the government.

Chheng Phy, a villager in Srak commune, Kampong Siem district, told RFA that people are very afraid of providing their thumbprints. In Cambodia thumbprints are used instead of signatures on government petitions.

So far, several officials of the opposition party in the districts of Kampong Siem, Kang Meas, and Chamkar Leu, have been called in for questioning and detained by the authorities, and forced to sign an agreement to stop collecting the thumbprints.

Kampong Cham provincial police commissioner Pen Roth told RFA that the authorities took measures to "educate" people and thumbprints collectors, but did not seize their petitions or detain them. He said they received complaints from people that thumbprint collectors were using their thumbprints for other purposes.

"These were people's complaints, so we need to look into it, but we did not hold them accountable," he said.

In Ratanakiri, police officers in Bar Kaoe district on June 9th detained a CNRP commune council member while he was collecting people's thumbprints. Pouk Pyoeun was released after being detained for 2 hours.

He told RFA that he is afraid because the police threatened him, and he has instructed activists in villages to stop gathering thumbprints.

"The district council [of CNRP] asked me to collect the thumbprints supporting the petition," said Pouk Pyoeun.

"The Bar Kaoe district police officer took me [to the police station] at 8 a.m. and detained me."

Bar Kaoe district police officer Chuob Vannarak said Pouk Pyoeun was detained because the CNRP official had illegally collected the thumbprints.

In Mondulkiri province, police in Memang commune, Kaoe Seima district, also detained an opposition official who was collecting thumbprints. Chhark Lisa, who is deputy of the CNRP Executive Commission of Memang commune, was released after being detained for two hours and agreed to stop collecting the thumbprints.

Chhark Lisa told RFA that the people had provided their thumbprints voluntarily, but that the police considered the act against the law.

"They took everything," she said. "They checked all the documents in my bag. They also took my photo and my ID, and I signed the agreement and they also took a photo of it."

CNRP provincial council member Khum Kan said it is the police themselves who are violating the law.

"We regret that the authorities acted against the law and procedures," he said.

A series of actions

Hun Sen's government and the CPP have taken a number of actions that strike at the heart of the CNRP and other critics of the government and the party.

The government has ordered Kem Sokha to appear before the court in connection with at least two complaints that have been filed related to an affair he is alleged to have had with a young hairdresser.

Kem Sokha has refused to appear, and the CNRP and its supporters claim the charges are a trumped-up attempt to damage the party ahead of elections slated for 2017 and 2018.

He has been holed up in the CNRP's Phnom Penh headquarters since heavily armed police raided the office compound in May searching for him.

CNRP President Sam Rainsy has been staying in France or traveling since an arrest warrant was issued for him in November over a 2008 defamation case and he was removed from his office and stripped of his parliamentary immunity. After Sam Rainsy left the country, the CNRP named Kem Sokha its acting president.

The conflict with Kem Sokha is just one of several legal cases the government or the ruling CPP have brought against opposition party members.

A National Election Committee member and four staffers with the rights group ADHOC, along with a U.N. worker, are facing bribery or accessory charges after being accused of attempting to pay the hairdresser to keep quiet about her alleged affair with Kem Sokha.

Human rights workers say the scandal is being used by the ruling party to crack down on its political opponents and silence critics ahead of the elections. Hun Sen has ruled the country for 31 years.

CNRP lawmaker Um Sam An is currently in jail and has been denied bail because the court said releasing him would cause social unrest because he is a member of parliament and that the court has yet to finish his interrogation.

The charges arose from Um Sam An's accusations that the ruling CPP had failed to stop land encroachment by Vietnam and used improper maps to demarcate the border between the two former colonies of France.

Reported by Tha Thai, Sok Ratha and Saut Sokheng for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Yanny Hin. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
China/Thailand: Detained Tiananmen activist's wife, child seek political asylum in Bangkok

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 9 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China/Thailand: Detained Tiananmen activist's wife, child seek political asylum in Bangkok, 9 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc389.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-09

Chinese asylum-seekers in Thailand on the 27th anniversary of the June 4, 1989 crackdown in Bangkok's Chinatown, June 4, 2016. Photo provided by an activist.

The wife of a Chinese activist detained by police after marking the 27th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre has applied for political asylum in Thailand, activists said on Wednesday.

Liu Xiaodong and the couple's three-year-old son applied for asylum with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangkok on Tuesday, Thailand-based dissident Lin Dajun told RFA.

"Zhao Changqing is in police custody in China, and [Liu] has applied for political asylum here," Lin said. "I went with her when she made the application."

On June 1, police in the Chinese capital detained Zhao and a group of fellow activists after they met in private to mark the 27th anniversary of the 1989 military crackdown on the Tiananmen Square democracy movement.

Zhao, who is a veteran of the 1989 student-led pro-democracy movement, was detained alongside nine other activists who also held memorial events to mark the anniversary, according to the Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD) network, which compiles reports from rights groups and activists in China.

It listed the detained activists, who weren't all detained in the same raid, as Li Meiqing, Li Wei, Liang Taiping, Lu Fuhai, Luo Yaling, Ma Qing, Ma Xinli and Xu Caihong, Zhang Baocheng, Li Meiqing, Xu Caihong, Zhang Baocheng, and Zhao Changqing.

Nine activists, including Zhao, are being held on suspicion of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," while Lu Fuhai faces charges of "incitement to subvert state power," CHRD said in a statement on its website.

Zhao was among a group of seven detained in Beijing after they posted a group photo online, sitting in front of a slogan calling for the release of political prisoners Guo Feixiong and Yu Shiwen, and calling for a memorial for the victims of the June 4 military crackdown, which ended weeks of pro-democracy protests in Beijing.

The activists had gathered at Zhang Baocheng's home on May 28, when the photo was likely taken, CHRD said, adding that at least five of those detained are being held at the Fengtai District Detention Center in a southern suburb of Beijing.

It said three of the activists were detained in Sichuan, including two in Chengdu, after they shared photos online of a special edition liquor commemorating June 4, 1989, bearing the slogan "Never give up, never forget."

The detentions came amid tight security ahead of the June 4 anniversary, public commemoration of which is banned by the government, which styles the 1989 democracy protests a "counterrevolutionary rebellion."

U.S.-based rights activist Yang Jianli, who advised Liu Xiaodong on her application, said Zhao, 47, had been concerned for the safety of his pregnant wife and child before his detention, and had wanted them to leave China.

"It's pretty tough for her as a single woman in Thailand, both pregnant and with a small child to take care of," Yang said. "I hope that she will be able to leave Thailand soon, for her own peace of mind."

Abduction and torture

China has succeeded in repatriating asylum-seekers from Thailand in the past, with the help of Thai police, sparking widespread criticism from rights groups.

Two Chinese asylum seekers who were sent back by the Thai authorities at China's request in spite of being granted political refugee status by the United Nations are now at risk of torture, rights groups have warned.

Sichuan-based rights activist Jiang Yefei and Henan activist Dong Guangping were handed over by Thai police to Chinese authorities on Nov. 13.

Both men had been previously been persecuted for their rights activism, and were awaiting resettlement in Canada, but were sent back to China just days ahead of their planned resettlement as refugees, after last-minute talks broke down, rights groups said.

Thailand-based activists like Li Xiaolong have told RFA they live in constant fear of being detained or abducted by Chinese police, or by the Thai authorities acting on Beijing's request.

Li said on Wednesday that two Chinese-speaking men had come to his home on Saturday while he was out, asking to "take him to dinner."

"They were definitely sent by the Chinese government," Li said. "That same day, I was hosting an event to mark June 4, and there were some suspicious people there as well."

"They sat there watching us for a long time during dinner."

Zhao Changqing has already served two-and-a-half years in prison for "gathering a crowd to disrupt order of a public place" after being detained in April 2013 and released in October 2015.

A native of northern Shaanxi province, Zhao has served three jail terms in total, including after taking part as a student leader in the 1989 pro-democracy movement. Since his release in 2007, he has devoted himself to promoting civic activism and organizing advocacy campaigns on issues ranging from equal education rights to anti-corruption measures, CHRD said.

Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Hai Nan for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Team investigating missing gem funds submits report to Myanmar government

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 9 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Team investigating missing gem funds submits report to Myanmar government, 9 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc3915.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-09

Myanmar merchants browse jade stones at the Myanmar Jade and Gems Emporium in Naypyidaw, June 26, 2015. AFP

A team investigating the disappearance of nearly U.S. $100 million in funds belonging to a gem association submitted its findings on Wednesday to Myanmar's minister of natural resources and environmental conservation, the lead investigator said.

The team had investigated nine members of the gem association's central committee, authorities from the Ministry of Mines, gem association chairman Yone Mu, and three others who had been accused of misappropriating money, said Win Htein, director general of the Department of Mines under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and chairman of the investigative team.

"We investigated ministry staff, and the last investigation was done on June 6," he said about the unpublished internal report submitted to Minister Ohn Win. "What we found is that this fund does not belong to the Myanmar Gems and Jewellery Entrepreneurs Association."

"It is the central committee's fund," he said, in reference to the Myanmar Jade and Gems Emporium Central Committee, which consists of the chairman of the Myanmar Gems and Jewellery Entrepreneurs Association, 10 vice chairmen and secretaries.

The emporium is the country's largest gem marketplace where local retailers and producers of finished products purchase millions of dollars of precious stones. Myanmar's Ministry of Mines managed the central committee's funds under the previous government.

Thein Sein not investigated

Former president Thein Sein and former minister of the President's Office Soe Thein, who have been accused of taking money from the fund, were excluded from the investigation because the investigative team could not determine that they were involved in the scandal, Win Htein said.

"This [incident] occurred because there is no transparency in the association, such as holding monthly meetings to explain the latest situation," he said.

The three-member investigative team, which includes a managing director from the Ministry of Mines and the managing director of the state-owned Myanmar Pearl Enterprise under the Ministry of Mines, worked for two weeks, he said.

"While we investigated ministry staff and reviewed [relevant] documents, we didn't question every accused person because we didn't see anything that indicated their involvement in the scandal," Win Htein said.

Also on Wednesday, the gem association announced that it is forming a new investigative commission consisting of experts, complainants and defendants to further investigate the matter, said Yone Mu, according to a report in the online journal The Irrawaddy.

The commission will look at a transaction concerning the alleged misappropriation of funds transferred from the Myanmar Jade and Gems Emporium Central Committee to the Myanmar Gems and Jewellery Entrepreneurs Association, the report said.

Embezzlement scandal?

Eighty-six members of the Myanmar Gems and Jewellery Entrepreneurs Association called on authorities in May to look into the disappearance of the money, including U.S. $1.1 million that allegedly went to Thein Sein.

The trade group had demanded that Myanmar's new National League for Democracy (NLD) government take action against the previous administration for its role in the embezzlement scandal.

The fund, opened under the Ministry of Mines during Thein Sein's administration, contained about $104 million accumulated from an annual one-percent fee charged to those who work in the gem industry and sell their products at the emporium.

But the value of the fund had dwindled to less than U.S. $8 million, Win Htein said a week ago.

The same day, former Minister of Mines Myint Aung, who was appointed by Thein Sein in September 2012, said the allegations against his former boss were unfounded, and that the missing money had been properly spent and accounted for.

Of the U.S. $7.8 million in question, Thein Sein placed U.S. $1.1 million in the Ministry of Construction's bank account, he said. The remainder, which was raised separately from businessmen, also remained in the bank.

Myanmar's jade industry alone is worth U.S. $31 billion, according to a report issued last October by London-based anti-corruption and environmental advocacy group Global Witness.

Reported by Wai Mar Tun for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Hun Sen's government pushes back against EU threat to withhold funds from Cambodia

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 10 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Hun Sen's government pushes back against EU threat to withhold funds from Cambodia, 10 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc3a15.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-10

Cambodian People's Party spokesman Sok Eysan addresses the media, June 6th, 2016. RFA/Tha Vuthy

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's government dismissed the European Parliament's threat to withhold millions of Euros in development funding unless the government releases the Kem Sokha Five detained activists and rescinds an arrest warrant for opposition party leader Sam Rainsy.

On Friday Sok Eysan, a spokesman the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), dismissed the EU resolution saying the legal entanglements of the human rights workers and Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) officials were the fault of those involved and not the CPP or the Cambodian government.

"We cannot use the EU law," he told RFA's Khmer Service. "It is not right because Cambodia is an independent and sovereign state with its own constitution that was born from the United Nations Transitional Authority (UNTAC) in Cambodia that organized the election to establish the constitution, set up the royal government and recognized Cambodia as an independent and sovereign state."

Sok Eysan had a day earlier dismissed the head of the U.N. as having no knowledge of Cambodian affairs after Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also appealed for an end to Hun Sen's crackdown on the opposition. He did not explain the discrepancy in his views.

UNTAC ran from 1992-93. It was established in the aftermath of the Khmer Rouge and civil war to restore order and safeguard human rights. UNTAC also marked the first occasion in which the UN took over the administration of an independent state, ran an election instead of monitoring or supervising one and was responsible for promoting and safeguarding human rights at the national level.

The European Parliament's resolution approved on Thursday is the strongest condemnation to date of the political crisis inside Cambodia.

The resolution calls for the release of four employees of the human rights organization ADHOC and a National Election Committee member who were jailed on bribery or accessory charges after being accused of attempting to pay hush money to the alleged mistress of CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha. An arrest warrant has also been issued for a U.N. worker in connection with the case.

Kem Sokha is currently holed up inside CNRP headquarters after heavily armed police attempted to arrest him for refusing to appear in court as a witness in cases connected with his alleged affair with a young hairdresser named Khom Chandaraty.

Court battle resumes

On Wednesday, a Phnom Penh court summoned Khom Chandaraty to appear in court to testify on June 16, but it is unclear exactly why she is being ordered to appear.

Her summons follows a June 2 warrant ordering Kem Sokha to appear in court on June 14 for his refusal to appear in court to testify as a witness last month in a defamation lawsuit related to recordings of intimate phone conversations he allegedly had with Khom Chandaraty.

CNRP President Sam Rainsy has been staying in France or traveling since an arrest warrant was issued for him in November over a 2008 defamation case and he was removed from his office and stripped of his parliamentary immunity.After Sam Rainsy left the country, the CNRP named Kem Sokha its acting president.

In the European Parliament's resolution, it specifically ties funding supplied by the EU for development with an improvement in human rights.

"Given that the EU is Cambodia's largest development assistance partner, with a new allocation of 410 million (U.S. $462 million) for 2014-2020, Parliament calls on the European External Action Service (EEAS) to make the 'amount of EU financial assistance dependent on improvements in the human rights situation in the country,'" the resolution states.

"EU member states, foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, the EEAS and the EU Commission should also set out clear benchmarks for the forthcoming elections in Cambodia, consistent with international law on freedom of expression, association and assembly," it adds.

It also calls for the release of the Kem Sokha Five and revocation of the Sam Rainsy's warrant.

"The Cambodian authorities should revoke the arrest warrant for, and drop all charges against, Sam Rainsy, President of the leading opposition party, the CNRP, and also immediately release the five human rights defenders still in preventive custody, namely Ny Sokha, Nay Vanda, Yi Soksan, Lim Mony and Ny Chakra," the resolution reads.

Expression of opinion

A spokesperson for Hun Sen's cabinet, the Council of Ministers chief Phay Siphan, described the EU statement as a mere expression of opinion, saying Cambodia does not pay attention to the EU's aid conditions.

"What we see is that the pressure from the EU is caused by misleading information the CNRP produces for the U.S. Congress as well as the European Parliament," he said.

He expressed skepticism that the EU would follow through with the threat to withhold funding because the Europeans don't want to risk their investments in the country.

"It is increasing year after year because their goal is different from politics, it is for development, for good relations, and cooperation for mutual interests in business," he said.

Not everyone is as sanguine about the threat, however.

Noted Cambodian political scientist Ros Ravuth said the Cambodian government should consider the international community's concerns. If Cambodia continues to let the current situation drag on, it could make Cambodia lose face in the international arena and could affect foreign aid, he told RFA.

"The government should reconsider," he said. "First, it is related to EU aid for infrastructure construction in Cambodia, and it also has impact on Cambodia's marketplace, especially the market for rice, for which Cambodia's biggest market is the European Union."

Instead of confronting each other, the parties should restart the "culture of dialogue" rather than confronting each other and revealing the country's internal conflicts, said Ros Ravuth.

'It's a mess.'

In the provinces, the government continues to detain CNRP members and supporters attempting to collect thumbprints on a petition asking King Norodom Sihamoni to seek the release of human rights and political activists arrested by the government.

Three villagers in O' Yadav district, Rattanakiri province, were detained and questioned by the police on June 10th.

A relative of one of the detained villagers told RFA the three were traveling to attend a Christian religious meeting in Andong Meas district when they were stopped by police who suspected them of collecting thumbprints for the petition. In Cambodia thumbprints often take the place of signatures.

Rattanakiri Deputy Governor Nhem Sam Oeun told RFA that CNRP attempts to collect thumbprints alarmed the local people.

The authorities are concerned that the CNRP activists are forcing people to thumbprint the petition, so they took action for the sake of people's safety, but they did not arrest anyone, he said.

"It is a mess, and we are afraid there is pressure or people are being forced to thumbprint against their will, and it seems to cause chaos and insecurity," Nhem Sam Oeun said.

He did not offer evidence that the CNRP was pressuring people to support the petition. Villagers typically say the intimidation comes from the ruling party.

Leang Leat, a CNRP activist in Srae Sangkum commune, Koh Nheaek district, told RFA the commune chief warned him against collecting thumbprints and sent a letter summoning him for questioning in the commune office on June 10th.

"They asked me if I had requested permission to go around and collect thumbprints," he told RFA. "I told them 'No, I did not' and that I did not do it to get people to topple the government, or to cause chaos but just to ask the King to help release the human rights defenders."

Reported by Yeang Sothearin, Sok Ratha, Yeang Sothearin and Ieng Neang for RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Yanny Hin. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Jailed Chinese activist on hunger strike for more than a month

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 10 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, Jailed Chinese activist on hunger strike for more than a month, 10 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc3b13.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-10

Guangdong rights activist Guo Feixiong in an undated photo. Photo courtesy of activists

Jailed Chinese rights activist Guo Feixiong has now been on hunger strike in Guangdong's Yangchun prison for more than a month, sparking renewed fears for his deteriorating health, lawyers and relatives told RFA.

Guo's defense attorney Zhang Lei said he plans to apply for another meeting with his client after Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Guo's rapid weight loss.

"The most worrying thing right now is his physical health, which isn't good," he said. "Now that he has been on hunger strike for such a prolonged period of time, we are very worried indeed."

He said Guo had begun his hunger strike on May 9, linked to specific demands to prison authorities.

"We will be requesting another meeting soon, but the contents of every meeting are censored by the prison authorities, before they are approved," Zhang Lei said. "The past two visits have been like that."

The SCMP cited Guo's former lawyer Sui Muqing as saying that the jailed activist has lost one-third of his bodyweight since he began his hunger strike in protest at degrading treatment by prison guards.

"The hunger strike is ongoing but his weight dropped from about 75 kg (165 pounds) when he was first locked up to less than 52 kg (114 pounds) now," Sui told the paper.

"His collarbones are clearly visible, and the authorities have been threatening his brother and sister from speaking to the outside world about his condition," Sui added.

'Devastated'

Guo's sister, a physician named Yang Maoping who has already advised him to call off his hunger strike for health reasons, declined to comment when contacted by RFA.

"Sorry, I am just so devastated. My apologies. Goodbye," Yang said, apparently overcome with emotion.

In another phone call, Yang declined to comment, saying only that it was "inconvenient," a phrase often used by those under extreme pressure or police surveillance.

However, Guo's wife Zhang Qing, who was granted political asylum in the United States in November 2009 along with the couple's children, said she is "very worried" about her husband.

"He used to be a healthy, well-muscled guy, on the plump side, when we lived together back home," Zhang said. "He will be so weak, if his weight has really dropped to [114 pounds]."

Zhang, who has repeatedly written to China's leaders and campaigned in Washington for his release, said U.S. officials have been alerted to Guo's case.

"I hope that the U.S. side brought up Guo Feixiong's case during the strategic dialogues [earlier this week]," she said.

Abuse in jail

Guo began his hunger strike after being subjected to a forced rectal cavity search at the instigation of state security police, according to the Hong Kong-based Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group (CHRLCG).

Prison guards had filmed the procedure and threatened to post the video online, the group said via its Twitter account at the time.

Since May 18, 183 activists in China and overseas have been joining a relay fast calling for Guo's release, as well as calling up the prison where Guo is being held, and sending him postcards offering their support.

Campaigners are calling for Guo's unconditional release to seek medical treatment.

Guo was sentenced last November for "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble" and "gathering a crowd to disrupt social order" after a prolonged period in pretrial detention where he was held alone in a closet-size cell and denied access to the exercise yard for nearly two years.

During his sentencing hearing, Guo shouted in protest at his treatment while in police custody, where he was held in solitary confinement in a small, dark cell and denied permission to exercise outdoors since August 2013, a situation his wife has said amounted to torture.

Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wen Yuqing for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
China: Veteran democracy activist tracked down to Wuhan detention center

Publisher Radio Free Asia Publication Date 10 June 2016 Cite as Radio Free Asia, China: Veteran democracy activist tracked down to Wuhan detention center, 10 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5760fc3ce.html [accessed 26 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.

2016-06-10

Chinese activists call for the release of veteran democracy campaigner Qin Yongmin in an undated photo. Photo courtesy of an activist

'Disappeared' Chinese democracy activist Qin Yongmin is being secretly held at a police-run detention center in the central city of Wuhan, RFA has learned.

Qin's whereabouts were unknown since he went missing in Jan. 19, 2015, amid unconfirmed reports that he had been tried in secret on charges of "incitement to subvert state power."

But Qin's family and fellow activists have continued to hunt for him, and his lawyers have now tracked him down to an unnamed entry in a logbook at the Wuhan No. 2 Detention Center.

"There wasn't even a name logged there, just a number, 701," Qin's brother Qin Yongchang told RFA on Friday. "Now the lawyers can't get in to meet with him."

The family has received no official notification of Qin's detention, and only discovered where he is being held because a lawyer they hired made a speculative application to meet with him at the detention center, Qin Yongchang said.

Fellow activist Pan Lu, who works at the Rose China group founded by Qin, said the detention center is unlikely to be acting unilaterally, however.

"It is likely that they received a notification under the stability maintenance system that they mustn't give out any information regarding Qin Yongmin," Pan said.

"Two lawyers hired to represent him were making calls every day, and they happened to call the Wuhan No. 2 Detention Center, although the center wouldn't allow them to visit," he said. "They only admitted that he was still being held there, and that his was a special case."

Pan said the authorities' treatment of Qin was unacceptable.

"It doesn't matter how special he is; he's still entitled to due legal process," he said.

Wife's whereabouts unknown

Qin, 59, who has already served a lengthy jail term for helping to found the banned opposition China Democracy Party (CDP), was taken from his home by state security police officers on Jan. 21.

Qin's wife Zhao Suli was also taken to an unknown location in April 2015, prompting a nationwide "search for Qin Yongmin" by fellow rights activists, who collected hundreds of petition signatures.

Her whereabouts remain unknown, and activists have been unable to confirm whether Qin has been tried or not.

A contemporary of exiled dissident Wei Jingsheng, Qin was sentenced to eight years in prison for "counterrevolutionary propaganda and subversion" in the wake of China's Democracy Wall movement in 1981.

He served a further two years' "re-education through labor" in 1993 after he penned a controversial document titled the "Peace Charter."

Qin then served a 12-year jail term for subversion after he helped found the CDP in 1998 in spite of a ban on opposition political parties by the ruling Chinese Communist Party.

'Stability maintenance' regime

According to the Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch group, China detained or placed under surveillance more than 260 people last month, under its ongoing "stability maintenance" regime that seeks to clamp down on activists before they act.

Dozens of activists and high-profile figures, including veteran journalist Gao Yu, Tiananmen Mothers victims' group founder Ding Zilin, and former top government aide Bao Tong were detained or otherwise restricted ahead of the politically sensitive June 4 anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre, the group said.

"Large numbers of people were detained or otherwise placed under restrictions or surveillance," group founder Liu Feiyue said on Friday.

"In the case of Ding Zilin, they took away her cell phone and issued her with one of theirs, which was set to receive only calls from state security police and the hospital," he said. "The main thing is that this was all happening just before June 4."

A draconian new National Security Law passed last July allowed detainees to be held for up to six months at an unknown location with no contact with relatives or lawyers, in cases involving subversion or spying.

But rights groups say the definitions of such crimes are broad enough to allow police to use them against political dissidents and peaceful rights activists.

Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Link to original story on RFA website

Copyright notice: Copyright  2006, RFA. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.
Uzbekistan: Harshened Criminal and Administrative Code punishments

Publisher Forum 18 Author Mushfig Bayram Publication Date 15 June 2016 Cite as Forum 18, Uzbekistan: Harshened Criminal and Administrative Code punishments, 15 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57617da64.html [accessed 26 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.

Uzbekistan has harshened its Administrative and Criminal Codes' restrictions and punishments for exercising the freedoms of religion and belief, and expression. Human rights defenders and religious believers think the changes target Muslims exercising these fundamental human rights, and give more possibilities to prosecute non-Muslims.
Kazakhstan: Harsher Laws planned as 89-year-old fined

Publisher Forum 18 Author Felix Corley Publication Date 14 June 2016 Cite as Forum 18, Kazakhstan: Harsher Laws planned as 89-year-old fined, 14 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57617dfb4.html [accessed 26 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.

Kazakhstan's President orders harsher Religion Law drafted by mid-August, as fines for exercising freedom of religion or belief continue. 89-year-old Baptist Yegor Prokopenko was again fined for leading his community, while an Atyrau giftshop owner was fined for offering four Korans for sale.
UNICEF warns of growing exploitation risk for refugee and migrant children arriving in Europe

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 14 June 2016 Related Document(s) Danger every step of the way: A harrowing journey to Europe for refugee and migrant children Cite as UN News Service, UNICEF warns of growing exploitation risk for refugee and migrant children arriving in Europe, 14 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57617e8140b.html [accessed 26 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.

14 June 2016 - More than nine out of 10 refugee and migrant children arriving in Europe this year through Italy are unaccompanied, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported today, warning of the growing threats of abuse, exploitation and death that such children are facing.

In a report, Danger Every Step of the Way, released today, UNICEF found that 7,009 unaccompanied children made the crossing from North Africa to Italy in the first five months of the year, twice as many as this past year.

It is a silent and desperate situation  out of sight and out of mind. Yet tens of thousands of children face danger every day and hundreds of thousands more are prepared to risk everything, said Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant crisis in Europe. We urgently need to protect these children from all types of abuse and exploitation by those taking advantage of the situation to exploit their dreams.

The report documents the risks that adolescents take in their flight to escape conflict, despair and poverty. Unaccompanied children generally rely on human smugglers, often under a system of 'pay as you go', which opens them to exploitation, UNICEF said.

A total of 2,809 deaths were recorded in the Mediterranean between 1 January and 5 June 2016, as compared with 3,770 for the whole of 2015. The vast majority were on the Central Mediterranean route  and many were children, according to the report. From Somalia to Italy, Omar's miraculous story of survival

UNICEF noted that some adolescents are sexually abused and exploited. Italian social workers told the agency that both girls and boys were sexually assaulted and forced into prostitution while in Libya, and that some of the girls were pregnant when they arrived in Italy, having been raped.

However, because of the illicit nature of human smuggling operations, there are no reliable figures to show how many of the refugees and migrants die, disappear into forced labour or prostitution, or linger in detention, UNICEF said.

With summer upon the Mediterranean, the latest numbers of children on the Central Mediterranean route may well be just the tip of the iceberg, according to UNICEF. Another 235,000 migrants are currently in Libya, tens of thousands of them unaccompanied children.

Every country  those the children leave, those they cross and those in which they seek asylum  has an obligation to establish protection systems focused on the risks that unaccompanied children face, Ms. Poirier said.

In the European Union and other destination countries, there is an opportunity for policy and legislative reforms to lead to more opportunities for safe, legal and regular channels for these children, she added.
UNESCO and ICC join forces to end impunity for destruction of cultural heritage

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 14 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UNESCO and ICC join forces to end impunity for destruction of cultural heritage, 14 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57617f3d40d.html [accessed 26 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.

14 June 2016 - The United Nations cultural agency and International Criminal Court (ICC) are working together in the fight against impunity for deliberate destruction of cultural heritage, which could constitute a war crime.

Visiting the Court at its headquarters in The Hague today, Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESO), met with ICC President Silvia Fernandez de Gurmandi, and Deputy Prosecutor James Stewart, to explore ways to deepen cooperation on the protection of cultural heritage and the fight against impunity of war crimes.

UNESCO and ICC have come a long way together, to strengthen the rule of law, to change the mindset about the destruction of cultural heritage, and we are determined to go further, to end impunity for deliberate destruction of cultural heritage, said Ms. Bokova.

The destruction of culture is one element of a global strategy of hatred, and the fight against impunity and respect for the rule of law must be part and parcel in a broader vision for peace, she added.

This calls for a stronger coordination among all partners working in different fields and between the security, humanitarian, and cultural domains, and the cooperation between UNESCO and the ICC plays an important role in this regard, she stressed.

Immediately after the deliberate attacks on the people and heritage of Mali, UNESCO raised the issue of the destruction of the mausoleums to the attention of the Court.

On 1 July, 2012, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda declared that this destruction constituted a war crime under the Rome Statute and then launched a preliminary examination into the violence that had been engulfing the country since January 2012.

The first suspect, Ahmed al-Faqi al-Mahdi, was transferred by the authorities of Mali and Niger to The Hague on 26 September 2015.

The case of Mali made history in the fight against impunity  recognizing the restoration of justice and the rule of law as an essential step of any recovery process. This sets a historic precedent for similar cases in the future.

In this spirit, UNESCO and the ICC are sharing expertise and information about the importance of the sites, about why they were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and the reason why their deliberate destruction can be considered a war crime.

The case of Mali sends a very strong message that perpetrators must face the consequences of their acts, and that we are determined to create a pattern of accountability for such war crimes, said the ICC President.
UN rights office urges Libyan authorities to investigate death of 12 victims of torture

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 14 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, UN rights office urges Libyan authorities to investigate death of 12 victims of torture, 14 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57617f69411.html [accessed 26 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.

14 June 2016 - The UN human rights office today urged the Libyan authorities to undertake an effective, thorough and impartial investigation to bring perpetrators of torture to justice, after 12 people were found dead last Friday.

"A complete disregard for human life and breakdown in the rule of law continue to prevail in many parts of Libya," said a statement issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The twelve people killed were affiliated with the former Qaddafi regime, and had supposedly been released the previous day from Al-Baraka prison in Tripoli, in compliance with a court order.

According to family members who identified some of the bodies, the victims had apparently been severely tortured and beaten, and had been shot several times. Some also had burn marks and were found with their hands and feet tied.

"Torture and attacks against civilians are crimes under international law," OHCHR stressed, urging Libyan authorities to investigate promptly.
Prolonged political crisis could erode Guinea Bissau's development gains, UN envoy warns

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 14 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Prolonged political crisis could erode Guinea Bissau's development gains, UN envoy warns, 14 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57617f8e40b.html [accessed 26 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.

14 June 2016 - The longer the political crisis continues in Guinea Bissau, the more likely the country could see setbacks to its development and economic gains, warned the head of the United Nations peacebuilding office there, urging the Security Council to pay greater attention to the situation.

"The current situation calls for innovative strategies to deliver services and support the resilient population of Guinea-Bissau," Modibo Toure, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) said today in his first briefing to the 15-nation Council.

On 26 May 2016, President Josd Mfirio Vaz appointed Baciro Djfi as Prime Minister through a presidential decree. Mr. Djfi's Cabinet was sworn in on 2 June. However, the dismissed Cabinet led by Carlos Correia refused to leave the Government Palace.

In an attempt to defuse tensions, the Special Representative said that he had met with these key figures, appealing for restraint, political dialogue and respect for the rule of law.

Following intense overnight negotiations involving, representatives of the civil society, religious leaders, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB) and UNIOGBIS, the remaining members of the dismissed Cabinet and their supporters peacefully vacated the Government Palace, ending a 14-day stalemate on 9 June.

"The peaceful resolution of this standoff may have helped avert a potentially serious crisis, but further challenges loom ahead," Mr. Toure said.

The ruling PAIGC party has initiated legal proceedings challenging the President's recent appointments. Furthermore, the status of the 15 Members of Parliament (MPs) expelled by the PAIGC in January, as well as the ongoing impasse at the People's National Assembly, add to the legal confusion and institutional uncertainty facing the country.

"Regardless of the judicial outcomes, a sustainable solution to the ongoing political crisis can only be found through genuine political dialogue," Mr. Toure said. "Yet, one of the primary fora for such dialogue - the People's National Assembly - suspended its current session on 18 May as a result of disputes over the agenda and the status of the 15 MPs. Earlier today, that parliamentary session was closed; the next one is expected to open later this month."

Welcoming the decision of ECOWAS

He welcomed the decision of ECOWAS Heads of State on 4 June to extend the mandate of ECOMIB [ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau] for another year, with the understanding that the international community would provide funding.

While the primary focus is on finding a political and sustainable solution, it is also important to provide the required support to the people of Guinea-Bissau, whose lives and livelihoods have been adversely impacted by the country's recurrent instability, Mr. Toure said.

Strikes in the health and education sectors in March and April have seriously affected the school year and deprived citizens of key preventative and medical services, including maternal and child health.

"The longer the crisis continues, the more likely will we see a setback to the gains of the post-electoral period, including positive economic growth, increase in revenues and the commitment to key reforms in defence and security, justice and public services," he said.

In a country where the official development assistance (ODA) amounts to about 15 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and almost 80 per cent of the budget, the current suspension of disbursements and direct budget support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the European Union and the African Development Bank creates a financial pressure that could negatively affect the running of the State, including the payment of salaries, he warned.

"The attention given by the Security Council to the situation in Guinea Bissau, and its support to the search for a sustainable solution to the political and institutional challenges in the country are of utmost importance," he concluded.
South Sudan: UN relief wing reports increase in violence against aid workers

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 15 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, South Sudan: UN relief wing reports increase in violence against aid workers, 15 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57617fc8411.html [accessed 26 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.

15 June 2016 - While thousands of vulnerable people in South Sudan have been reached with assistance and protection in recent months, violent incidents against aid workers increased during the month of May, the United Nations humanitarian wing reported today.

According to a humanitarian update for South Sudan, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) found that 78 humanitarian access incidents were reported by partners in May, 73 per cent of which involved violence against aid personnel or their properties. The figure was higher than in April, when 48 incidents were reported, and also higher than the monthly average of 63 incidents reported from January to March.

"Road and river travel for humanitarians continues to be hazardous," OCHA said in the update.

The violent incidents - including shooting, ambushes, assaults, harassment and robberies - increased during May, and included the killing of three humanitarian workers, bringing the reported number of aid workers killed in South Sudan to 55 since the conflict began in December 2013.

Since January, there have been 29 incidents of robberies of vehicles while traveling to assess, deliver and pre-position vital supplies, 13 of them in the month of May. In Upper Nile, humanitarian partners were shot at while attempting to cross the River Nile to deliver humanitarian assistance between Malakal and Wau Shilluk on 26 and 30 May, OCHA said.

In the update, OCHA also reported that nearly 4,500 internally displaced people departed the Bentiu Protection of Civilians site in May, bringing the population in the site to about 95,000 at the end of the month.

Most of those departing - mainly adult men and women - reported that they planned on engaging in farming activities in Rubkona, Guit and Koch counties.

An internally displaced woman seeking refuge from the ongoing violence in the swamps of Unity state, cooks her last supply of sorghum. Photo: FAO South Sudan

In addition, OCHA said that thousands of people have received humanitarian assistance in Guit, Koch, Mayom and Rubkona counties in recent months, as partners based in Bentiu took advantage of the dry season to extend aid to parts of Unity previously inaccessible by road.

About 103,400 people have been reached with food rations distributed outside the Bentiu Protection of Civilians site - including in Bentiu Town, Ding Ding, Kuach, Nhialdiu, Nimni, Bil, Kadet and Jazeera - since February, while seeds and fishing kits have been provided to about 7,400 households in Guit County and 10,000 in Koch County, OCHA said.

Nutrition surveys have been conducted in Guit and Rubkona in May, and support for acutely malnourished children and pregnant and lactating mothers is ongoing.

OCHA also highlighted that more than one year following the start of the offensive in south and central Unity in April 2015, which displaced hundreds of thousands of people, more than 310,000 people - including displaced, returnees and vulnerable host community members - are receiving humanitarian assistance and protection in southern Unity.

However, humanitarian partners have reported that their activities are increasingly impeded by under-funding. Ganyiel hospital, the only functioning referral theatre in southern Unity, has shortages of regular primary health-care commodities due to logistical constraints and road insecurities. In mid-April, health cluster partners from Bentiu had to send surgical and anaesthetic kits to the hospital, OCHA said.

In addition, OCHA reported that since August 2015, ongoing insecurity and four major outbreaks of fighting have affected Yambio and Gangura. As a result, civilians were displaced multiple times, including to the surrounding jungle areas and other payams.

Moreover, health partners are investigating an outbreak of haemorrhagic fever syndrome that has affected Aweil North and West counties since December 2015. The latest case was detected on 3 June, although no new deaths have been reported since 28 February, OCHA said.

As the rainy season begins, humanitarian partners are also working closely with relevant authorities to avert an outbreak of cholera.
'Little progress' made on finding viable solution to Darfur conflict  UN peacekeeping chief

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 14 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, 'Little progress' made on finding viable solution to Darfur conflict  UN peacekeeping chief, 14 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5761800640b.html [accessed 26 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.

14 June 2016 - Given the unchanged nature of the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, the mandate of the African Union-United Nations mission there should be extended for another year, without changes to its priorities or its authorized troop and police ceiling, the top UN peacekeeping official said today.

Little progress has been made in finding a viable political solution to the conflict, said Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, as he briefed the Security Council on the outcome of a recent assessment of the situation in Darfur from 1 July 2015 to 15 May 2016.

The assessment was contained in the Special Report of the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the AU Commission on the African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

The report provides an analysis of military and police components, and presents recommendations on how to improve the operational effectiveness of UNAMID, as well as an update on the status of tripartite discussions on the exit strategy of UNAMID among the AU, UN and Sudan's Government.

Mr. Ladsous said the sectarian violence emanating from disputes over access to land, water and grazing areas remain a major cause of insecurity in Darfur. While direct clashes between the Government and armed movements have subsided, fighting with the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid (SLA/AW) in Jebel Marra, which rejects any negotiations with the Government, has continued.

As of today, 2.6 million people remain displaced across Darfur. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported 80,000 verified displaced persons since the resumption of fighting in Jebel Marra in mid-January. As many as 127,000 displaced persons were yet to be verified. Further, 1.6 million civilians continue to reside in some 60 camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region.

UNAMID continued to face considerable challenges in its relations with the Government, which impeded the implementation of its mandate, including denials of access and freedom of movement, particularly to conflict areas such as Jebel Marra, and denials and delays in the issuance of visas and the clearance of shipment containers at Port Sudan.

The UN and AU continued their discussions with the Government on the development of an exit strategy for UNAMID.

Given the current situation in Darfur, the assessment concluded that the strategic priorities of UNAMID and their corresponding benchmarks remain valid. Within this framework, the Chairperson and the Secretary-General therefore recommended for UNAMID to focus its activities on, first, protecting the displaced population and, second, addressing more comprehensively inter-communal violence, Mr. Ladsous said.

In a situation of continuing armed conflict, inter-communal violence and attacks against civilians, the current security conditions in Darfur are not conducive to a large-scale return of IDPs to their places of origin, he said.

A review of the effectiveness of the military and police components recommended for the current number of military and police personnel to be retained, he said, adding, however, that within the existing capabilities, the Mission should enhance their overall flexibility by reinforcing troops at sites of greater operational significance while reducing or closing others. The Mission could also create a highly mobile reserve military capability and an increased field presence of police officers.

He called upon all parties to continue efforts in good faith to achieve the much-needed cessation of hostilities in Darfur and work towards ensuring a credible and inclusive National Dialogue process.

Yesterday, the AU Peace and Security Council endorsed a recommendation to extend the mandate of UNAMID for 12 months until 30 June 2017, without modification to its priorities or its authorised troop and police ceiling, Mr. Ladsous said, urging the UN Security Council to similarly do so.
Security Council authorizes high seas inspections off Libya's coast, aiming to stem illegal arms flow

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 14 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Security Council authorizes high seas inspections off Libya's coast, aiming to stem illegal arms flow, 14 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5761802640c.html [accessed 26 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.

14 June 2016 - The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution today authorizing Member States, acting nationally or through regional organizations, to inspect vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya they believe are carrying illicit weapons.

Condemning the flow of arms and related materiel into the North African country, including to terrorist groups, the 15-member body said it made the decision to authorize such inspections in these exceptional and specific circumstances for a period of 12 months from today, and with Member States engaging in appropriate consultations with Libya's Government of National Accord.

The Council also said that the inspections would be authorized provided that those Member States make good-faith efforts to first obtain the consent of the vessel's flag State prior to any inspections, and called upon all flag States of the vessels to cooperate with such inspections.

In the resolution, the Council reiterated its grave concern at the growing threat of terrorist groups in Libya proclaiming allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh), the growing trend of groups associating themselves with it, as well as the continued presence of other Al-Qaida-linked terrorist groups and individuals operating in the country.

Expressing deep concern at the threat posed by unsecured arms and ammunition in Libya and their proliferation, including through their transfer to armed groups in violation of the arms embargo, the Council also underlined the importance of coordinated international support to Libya and the region to address such issues.

The Council also expressed concern that the situation in Libya is exacerbated by the smuggling of illegal arms and related material in violation of the arms embargo, underlining its concern at the allegations of violations of the arms embargo by sea, land, or air. Further, it expressed concern that such arms and related material are being used by terrorist groups operating in Libya, including by ISIL.

Further to the text of the resolution, the Council reaffirmed its determination that terrorism, in all forms and manifestations, constitutes one of the most serious threats to peace and security. In addition, the Council condemned the flows of arms and related material transferred to or from Libya in violation of the arms embargo, including to ISIL and other terrorist groups in Libya.
Community leaders discuss future of mental health services in Morgan County

A large crowd gathered at First Christian Church to learn about local efforts that are underway to manage growing mental health pressures facing the city and all of Morgan County.
Taylor County commissioners approve fireworks sales

An abridged Taylor County Commissioners Court breezed through its meeting Tuesday morning, which included clearing the way for a fireworks-filled 4th of July.

The court, minus Precinct 3 Commissioner Chuck Statler and Precinct 4 Commissioner Stan Egger, got through all 14 items on the agenda in less than an hour.

'It can be done,' joked County Judge Downing Bolls after the meeting.

Bolls, Precinct 1 Commissioner Randy Williams and Precinct 2 Commissioner Kyle Kendrick not only approved the sale of fireworks for the upcoming July Fourth holiday, but also extended the contract for the South Taylor EMS (STEMS) and approved the county applying for a risk management program from the Texas Association of Counties.

Bolls noted that the rains this spring had saturated the grounds in Taylor County and that he saw no need to limit the sale of fireworks in the county. He said that many people and nonprofit organizations depended upon the sale of fireworks for income. However, he warned people not to shoot fireworks on county roadways or to enter people's property without their consent.

'That can cause a whole lot of damage,' he said.

The decision to extend STEMS from a yearly contract to a five-year contract was made, said Kendrick, because of the work done since 2011 by STEMS.

'You've done a good job,' Kendrick told David Allman, executive director of STEMS, who made the presentation to the commissioners.

'We're feeling like we're providing a good service,' said Allman.

Williams said that the county would have the ability to opt out of the contract. The amount allocated to STEMS would be determined by the commissioners each year.

The risk management program, called the Firelite Mass Notification System, would allow the county to put its covered buildings on a system that would allow it to instantly notify its 289 employees in those buildings in case of a catastrophic situation, such as a tornado or an active shooter in one of its buildings.

The Texas Association of Counties, from whom Taylor County gets its insurance, will reimburse the county up to $27,624 for the system.

'That's if our application is approved,' said Tamra Lewis, the county administrative assistant. 'I don't know why they wouldn't.'

Lewis said the system would allow the county not only to instantly communicate with all of it employees in its buildings, but would also be able to communicate with specific parts of its facilities, such as employees on each floor of the courthouse building.

The commissioners also approved an interlocal agreement with Shackelford County that would allow the county to ship excess prisoners to Shackelford County for a price of $45 per day per prisoner. The county already has such an agreement with Nolan County.

In other business, the commissioners approved the treasurer's report, Antonio Ruiz as the alternate Infection Control Officer, the reappointment of Michael Whitehorn and Keith Dowell to the board of trustees for the Betty Hardwick Mental Health Mental Retardation Center as well as the roads report.

Williams said that the recent rains had put a strain on the budget, particularly in repairing potholes.

'We're trying to do the best we can with the little we've got,' he said. 'We don't have any horrible roads in my precinct.'

Bolls said after the meeting that the rains had strained the road budgets from filling potholes to having to spend more time maintaining barrow ditches and roadways.

'But it isn't anything they (the commissioners) don't plan for,' he said.
A trio of speakers asked the Abilene ISD school board Monday evening to create single-member districts as a way to bring racial diversity to the board.

Abilene ISD's largest student demographic is Hispanic, they said, but all seven school board trustees are Caucasian.

'We're not calling any of the school board members racist,' said Drew Bowen, community coordinator with the Abilene Neighborhood Initiative of the Connecting Caring Communities organization. Bowen was one of the three people to speak on the topic Monday.

'We're not angry at them. We're simply noting that the system that we currently have is set up in a way that rewards people connected to large institutions like universities and the larger churches in town and disproportionately leaves out people from low-income communities.'

Bowen was joined by retired Hardin-Simmons University professor Julian Bridges, a past City Council member, and Abilene Christian University professor Doug Mendenhall in addressing the issue of diversity among the decision-makers.

The three spoke during the public comment portion of the school board meeting during which speakers can bring up topics relating to education but no action can be taken.

According to information on the AISD website, about 43 percent of the district's student body is Hispanic, 39 percent is white and 12 percent is African-American.

Kelvin Kelley was the most recent minority race board member, though he resigned in December after moving to Cisco.

The last Hispanic on the board was Sammy Garcia, who served from 2008 to 2012 before he was defeated in a re-election bid by current board vice president Randy Piersall. Garcia has run unsuccessfully two more times, including in May when he was defeated by Daryl Zeller.

While there are no simple solutions, Bowen said, he and the other two speakers feel a decision by the trustees to go from at-large positions to single-member districts would empower individuals who don't have the political or financial connections to run for a citywide elected seat.

Single-member districts allow neighborhoods to choose their representative and would keep large organizations such as colleges and churches from influencing who wins an election, Bowen said. If a neighborhood that's currently underrepresented racially has the ability to select a trustee itself, he said, the result would change the makeup of the board.

'There are good people who can represent their communities well in these neighborhoods, and we believe their voices are integral in making Abilene a better place for all of our students,' Bowen said. 'Not just for students in low-income neighborhoods, but for students throughout Abilene. Their voices can make Abilene better for everyone.'

Single-member districts also can be mixed with at-large seats to offer both within the same board, a tactic some districts, such as Waco and Lubbock ISDs, have employed. Midland and Odessa ISDs have gone completely to single-member districts in recent years, Bowen said.

While racial diversity is lacking, there is gender diversity on the board. Two women, Cindy Earles and Angie Wiley, serve. Earles said she doesn't know how to fix the problem, but that the topic will be discussed.

'I don't know if (single-member districts) is the solution,' Earles said. 'I like the fact that you can mix them, that it's not an all-or-none thing. We really have not discussed it in depth. I know I've heard that phrase a lot through the years and I was real interested to hear at least two of the speakers talk about the fact that so many school districts have gone to single-member districts or a combination. I hadn't heard too much about it.

'We want our people to be represented.'
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.
I woke up, like everyone else, to tragedy Sunday morning. We use that word reflexively when something involving guns and innocent people and specific 'phobias' are involved. There's no other word, although the media might call it 'breaking news' and 'ratings bonanza.'

Five minutes into my bleary-eyed view of the CNN reports, I already saw how this would go. First, there would be a wringing of hands about guns. Then, or perhaps even simultaneously, there would be attempts to identify a motive. If a Muslim was somehow involved, a search for motives would cease. There would be moving disavowals of violence from Muslim-American leaders, and Facebook or Twitter would fill up with comments about how 'they' never do enough to disavow violence.

Even while they were doing it.

There would be gun-control advocates wondering why a civilian could get his hands on a military-style automatic weapon, and others who'd respond that the carnage could have been avoided if there were other civilians with military-style weapons allowed in that presumably gun-free zone.

There would be the obligatory attack on President Barack Obama if he didn't use the 'right' words to describe the carnage, meaning that he didn't call it an attack of Islamic terror.

When it came out that the target was a gay club, people who have a thing against Christianity would be bummed because, darn it, they couldn't blame evangelical or Catholic haters for the violence. They'd like to blame Islam, but they wouldn't want to offend the wrong people.

And, this being an election year, the candidates would try to figure out a way to pick up electoral support, all the while pretending not to care about the polls.

My parents should have named me Cassandra, not Christine. All of this came to pass. Not that it makes me happy to have the playbook for these tragedies imprinted on my mind.

When something like this happens, there is always the hope that something new will emerge, something better. One prays (in the secular sense) that cooler heads and voices will prevail. One prays (in the real sense) that this will be the last time anything similar happens (except for the media, who exist for just such moments).

But there is always disappointment because we are human beings and we want to blame 'the other.' That 'other' could be a responsible gun owner, if you think gun access is too easy and gun-control laws are too lax. That 'other' could be a native-born U.S. citizen whose parents immigrated from Pakistan, and you think all refugees fleeing ISIS are actually jihadists in sheep's clothing. That 'other' could be someone who opposes same-sex marriage if you think any criticism of gays amounts to bigotry (just ask me, I'm an expert on that one).

I've been to this dance too many times to believe we're capable of change. We are so hard-wired to believe that 'the other' is a threat that we don't want to listen to other views. I once thought that trying to use humor and sarcasm to make a point would at least open dialogue, but I've come to realize that humor is lost on in those whose opinions are steeped in absolutism and formed in anger. Gun-control advocates think those who defend gun ownership are natural enemies. They hate the NRA and blame all carnage on people who arm themselves, whether legally or not. Conversely, NRA members resent gun-control advocates for trying to eliminate their constitutional rights. They speak different languages, when they engage in conversation. Which is rare.

People who think a wall should be built blame jihad (or Mexicans) for mass murder, even when presented with the fact that killers are native born and bred. People who think any discussion of the intersection between violence and ethnicity or nationality is racist feel superior to those knuckle-dragging bigots and discount their concerns.

And people who, like Hillary Clinton recently noted, think we should be able to 'love who we love' and think that anyone who defends their religious freedom to dissent is at best spouting hate speech and at worst, apologists for mass murder.

I'm sick of them all. What happened to the days when deaths were mourned, and fingers pointed afterward when the heat of anger and despair had cooled to the equally painful but more manageable state of sad clarity? I think social media, including Facebook, Twitter and iPhones erased that possibility forever.

We are pathetic, my friends, because we are predictable in the roles we play. It's not a Greek tragedy, but a reality Cassandra would recognize.

Email Christine Flowers, a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News, at cflowers1961@gmail.com
Jeff Franklin, Abilene

John Oliver opened his weekly episode of 'Last Week Tonight' with an emotional statement about the Orlando shooting, which closed with him saying that we have the terrorists vastly outnumbered.

That much is true, we do have the terrorists vastly outnumbered; but we are also so polarized in our viewpoints that it does not matter.

All anyone has to do is turn on the tv and listen to Trump's opinions on Latinos or Muslims, any liberal about any conservative who disagrees with them, or 'Black Lives Matter,' etc.

And finally, Orlando was not the largest mass shooting in the U.S., neither was Virginia Tech. The largest mass shooting of unarmed people happened at Wounded Knee, and was carried out by the U.S. Army, and the victims were Lakota Sioux.

My point is that as long as we as a people look for reasons to hate, criticize or condemn another over religion, lack of religion, sexual orientation, skin color, or any other stupid reason some loud mouth or politician can come up with we can have the Muslim terrorists outnumbered a million to one, and it wont matter.

They will still win, simply because one act of terror will further divide us. Case in point, in this case, there are already Christian fundamentalists talking about how the dead were punished for being gay and sinning in the eyes of God.
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Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and U.S. President Obama met at the White House on Wednesday, speaking behind closed doors and away from the press in an apparent attempt to minimize offense to China.



Beijing routinely objects to high-level contacts between the exiled Dalai Lama and world leaders and had already warned against Wednesdays meeting, saying it would damage mutual trust and cooperation between the United States and China, wire services said.



Chinese leaders regularly vilify the Dalai Lama, now 81, as a separatist fighting for Tibetan independence from Chinese rule.



In what he calls a Middle Way Approach, though, the Dalai Lama himself says that he seeks only a meaningful autonomy for Tibet as a part of China, with protections for the regions language, religion, and culture.

Reaffirming the U.S. position that Tibet is a part of the Peoples Republic of China, the president in his meeting with the exiled spiritual leader also expressed his strong concern for the human rights of Tibetans living in China, the White House said in a statement released after the meeting.



The President encouraged meaningful and direct dialogue between the Dalai Lama and his representatives with Chinese authorities to lower tensions and resolve differences, the White House said.



Talks held on Tibets status between envoys of the Dalai Lama and Beijing stalled in January 2010 and have never resumed.



Wednesdays meeting followed talks on Tuesday between the Dalai Lama and members of Congress, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.




Defense Secretary Ash Carter has told NATO allies that the United States is reexamining plans to cut its troop numbers in Afghanistan next year, a British minister has said.

Speaking to reporters on June 15 following a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, U.K. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said, "Carter told us the troop numbers and the dispositions are being looked at again."

Carter later told a news conference that U.S. President Barack Obama remained willing to review security in Afghanistan and its impact on force levels.

He also said he expected Obama to do that "at the end of the year."

The current U.S. plan is to reduce the number of soldiers from 9,800 to 5,500 by the end of 2016.

NATO ministers agreed on June 15 to hold onto its broad geographic layout of bases in Afghanistan.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said several member states also committed to a troop presence next year in Afghanistan.

"With a regional presence, we will continue to advise, train, and assist the Afghan national forces," he said.

"We are now working on the final decision of our exact force number into 2017," he added. "So that is something we will decide on later this year."

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said at a meeting with a U.S. general that Dushanbe views security cooperation with the United States as a key element to strengthening regional peace and stability.

Rahmon made his comments in a June 15 meeting in the Tajik capital with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Joseph Votel.

Rahmon's presidential press service said Votel gave Tajikistan high marks for its role in antiterrorist efforts and stressed that the further development of U.S.-Tajik cooperation will contribute to security along the Tajik-Afghan border.

Votel came to Tajikistan from Uzbekistan, where he held talks with Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Uzbek Foreign Ministry officials.

The trip is Votel's first to Central Asia since his appointment as CENTCOM's combatant commander on March 30.

The four-star general previously served as the combatant commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command.

Based on reporting by Asia-Plus and Interfax








MOSCOW -- Several Russian opposition activists were temporarily detained in front of the Russian parliament's upper chamber as Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika was sworn in for another five-year term.

The activists held placards saying "Support For Chaika Is Support For The Tsapoks," a reference to the notorious Tsapok Gang that was blamed for extortion as well as numerous killings and robberies in Russia's Krasnodar Krai.

Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny has accused Chaika of having links to the infamous gang that made headlines in 2010 by killing 12 people in one evening.

Police released the detained activists hours later.

In December, Navalny's Anticorruption Foundation accused Chaika and his two sons of corruption and illegally amassing large sums of money.

Chaika -- who has been in his post since 2006 -- said after being reapproved for the post on June 15 that Hermitage Capital co-founder William Browder, an American-born British citizen, is one of those who is behind the "lies" about him and his family.

Browder has accused Russian tax officials of carrying out large-scale fraud that was uncovered by his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, who died in prison in 2009 after failing to receive proper medical care.

Browder was convicted in absentia in 2013 of tax evasion by a Moscow court and sentenced to nine years in prison.

With reporting by Interfax
Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has accused a British-Iranian woman arrested in April of seeking to "overthrow" the clerical establishment.

The IRGC made the accusation in a June 14 statement published by Iranian news sites.

The statement claimed that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, had been involved "in media and cyberprojects [focused on] the soft overthrow of the holy establishment of the Islamic republic."

Similar charges have been leveled in the past against other dual nationals and Iranian intellectuals and activists.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, was arrested with her daughter at a Tehran airport on April 3 after visiting family in Iran.

The passport of her 22-month-old daughter, who has only British citizenship, was confiscated.

The IRGC said she was arrested after "an extensive intelligence operation."

The statement said her case had been sent to Tehran for legal proceedings while an investigation by the IRGC continues.

In recent months several dual citizens have been either detained or faced pressure and interrogations by Iranian authorities.

Based on reporting by Fars and Metro.co.uk
Iran has filed a formal complaint with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to recover assets frozen in the United States.

The UN court in The Hague said on June 15 that the claim had been filed the day before.

In remarks broadcast on state television, President Hassan Rohani announced the government had "officially complained about America to the International Court of Justice for the confiscation and theft of $2 billion of the property of the central bank."

It was not immediately clear whether the ICJ would have jurisdiction over the case.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in April that the frozen assets must be turned over to American families of people killed in the 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut and other attacks blamed on Iran.

Tehran denies any role in the attacks.

Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters
Baghdad officials say Islamic State (IS) militants have killed a senior Iraqi commander near the IS-held northern city of Mosul.

The Iraqi Defense Ministry said Brigadier Ahmad Badr al-Luhaibi was killed by a sniper during an operation to retake a village south of Mosul.

In a statement issued late on June 14, the ministry praised Luhaibi as a "knight" and said his death would "increase our determination to clear" all IS forces from Nineveh Province, of which Mosul is the capital.

Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul, fell to IS fighters in June 2014 when the extremist group captured large parts of northern and western Iraq as well as eastern Syria.

Iraqi troops -- aided by Kurdish Peshmerga forces and with the support of U.S.-led coalition air strikes -- are fighting IS forces near Mosul in an attempt to encircle Mosul before invading the city.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has repeatedly pledged to recapture Mosul by the end of the year.

The fighting against IS in Iraq has forced 3.3 million people to flee their homes.

Based on reporting by AP and washingtonpost.com


NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has called on Russia to withdraw its forces and military equipment from Ukraine and to stop supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Stoltenberg made his comments on June 15 after a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels that was also attended by Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak.

Russian officials have repeatedly denied sending troops or military hardware to Ukraine, despite evidence to the contrary.

Stoltenberg said the alliance will continue to stand by the Ukrainian government and will never recognize Russia's 2014 "illegal and illegitimate annexation of [the Ukrainian peninsula of] Crimea."

He added that in response to Russian military actions in Ukraine, NATO has "stepped up its support for Ukraine."

Stoltenberg said that Russia continues to support separatists in southeastern Ukraine by supplying them with equipment and advisers.

He said that adherence to the Minsk accords is the only way to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine, which has killed more than 9,300 people since 2014.

Leaders from NATO's 28 member countries will meet for a July 8-9 summit in Warsaw where they are expected to approve plans to station military battalions in the three Baltic states and Poland.

Based on reporting by AFP and Interfax
Russia continues to strike targets across Ukraine, causing damage and killing civilians, as its forces are preparing for battle in the strategic southern region of Kherson, Ukrainian officials and the military said.

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.

Ukraine on October 26 reiterated its call for the development of an air-defense system to repel the Russian missile and drone attacks.

The immediate delivery of a sufficient number of air-defense systems is urgently needed to repel "Russian missile terror," the head of the president's office, Andriy Yermak, said after talks with the national-security advisers of the United States, Britain, and France in Kyiv on October 26.

On October 25, the head of U.S. aerospace and defense corporation Raytheon Technologies told CNBC television that Washington has already delivered to Ukraine the first two NASAMS medium-range antiaircraft missile systems.

We delivered two systems to the U.S. government a few weeks ago. They are currently being deployed in Ukraine," Greg Geis said.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said early on October 26 that more than 40 settlements were hit by Russian strikes during the previous day.



Russia used a combination of air strikes, rockets, and missiles to hit Ukrainian targets, the General Staff said in its morning report.



In the central city of Dnipro, at least two people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in the Russian bombardment, regional Governor Valentyn Reznichenlo said.

In the southern city of Kherson, Russian forces are digging in for the "heaviest of battles," said Oleksiy Arestovych, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

A Ukrainian counteroffensive has driven Russian forces back in the region, where the provincial capital of Kherson has been in Russian hands since the early days of the invasion eight months ago.

"With Kherson, everything is clear. The Russians are replenishing, strengthening their grouping there," Arestovych said in an online video late on October 25.

Russia-installed authorities are evacuating residents to the east bank of the Dnieper River as Russian forces prepare to defend the city, he said.

"It means that nobody is preparing to withdraw. On the contrary, the heaviest of battles is going to take place for Kherson," he said.

Zelenskiy on October 25 reiterated a pledge to retake the city of Kherson, the loss of which would be a big setback for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Of the four Ukrainian provinces partially occupied by Russia that Putin proclaimed to have seized last month, Kherson is arguably the most strategically important.

It controls the only land route to the Crimea region that Russia illegally annexed in 2014 and the mouth of the Dnieper River that that bisects Ukraine.



Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden warned Russia on October 25 that the use of a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine would be an "incredibly serious mistake."

Moscow over the weekend claimed Ukraine is preparing to use a so-called dirty bomb on its own territory, drawing immediate dismissal from the United States and other countries that have backed Ukraine.

Kyiv and its allies suspect Russia might have made the claim to set up a "false flag" attack in which it would use a dirty bomb itself but would blame the attack on Ukraine and use it to justify the use of conventional nuclear weapons by Moscow.



"Let me just say Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake were it to use a tactical nuclear weapon." Biden told reporters. "I cannot guarantee you that it is a false flag operation yet. We dont know. But it would be a serious mistake."

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu presented no evidence for the claim when he spoke on October 23 with his counterparts from several NATO countries, including Britain, France, and the United States, who dismissed the claim after the series of calls.

WATCH: Speaking to Current Time in Riga on October 22, Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks said Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot change the course of war in Ukraine by dropping nuclear bombs.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on October 26 that Russia would "vigorously" continue to make the case to the international community that it believed Ukraine intended to detonate a dirty bomb with radioactive contaminants.

Peskov told reporters Moscow wanted to prompt an active response from the international community.

A dirty bomb would use a conventional warhead to create an explosion that would spread radioactive, biological, or chemical materials over an area.

Moscow took its accusations against Ukraine to the UN Security Council on October 25, and the country's UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said afterward that Russia was "satisfied because we raised the awareness."

Speaking to reporters, he added: "I don't mind people saying that Russia is crying wolf if this doesn't happen because this is a terrible, terrible disaster that threatens potentially the whole of the Earth."



The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said earlier on October 25 that it is preparing to send inspectors to two Ukrainian sites in the coming days in reaction to Ukraine's request for an inspection following Russia's claims.



Enerhoatom, Ukraines nuclear energy operator, issued a statement on October 24 voicing its concern that Russias statements may indicate that Russia is preparing an act of nuclear terrorism.

Russian troops have occupied Ukraines Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, since March. It is still run by Ukrainian engineers though Russia claimed after its illegal annexation of the Zaporizhzhya region that it is on Russian territory.

Enerhoatom said that Russian forces have carried out unauthorized, secret construction work over the last week at the plant in the area of the spent nuclear fuel storage facility.

Russian officers controlling the area wont give access to Ukrainian staff or monitors from the IAEA that would allow them to see what they are doing, the operator said.

Enerhoatom added that it assumes the Russians are preparing a terrorist act using nuclear materials and radioactive waste stored at the plant.

With reporting by AFP, dpa, BBC, and Reuters
Pakistan is considering buying used F-16 fighter jets from Jordan after a deal to buy eight of the aircraft from the United States stalled because the U.S. Congress refused to finance the deal.

Sartaj Aziz, a top foreign affairs adviser for Pakistans government, told reporters in Islamabad on June 14 that Pakistan will likely cancel the deal with the United States, adding to growing tensions between the two countries.

Some of Pakistan's fleet of about 70 F-16 jets are due to be decommissioned, and the government says it needs the aircraft to fight Islamist militants in remote mountains near Afghanistan.

The military also sees the aircraft as vital in case of war against India. The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought three wars since they gained independence from Britain in 1947.

"We are now going for a third-party transfer of F-16s and have an offer from Jordan," Defense Secretary Alam Khattak told a joint hearing of the Senate defense and foreign affairs committees in Islamabad on June 13, Pakistani newspapers reported.

Jordan has offered to sell Pakistan 16 used F-16s of the Block-30 variant, an older version than the Block-52s that Pakistan would have obtained from the United States, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Pakistan has bought Jordanian F-16s before, procuring 13 of them in 2014, Dawn reported. The current batch on offer were manufactured between 1988 and 1990 and were upgraded in 2001 and 2002, Dawn said.

The U.S. deal, valued at $699 million, was thrown into question after the U.S. Congress refused to authorize using U.S. government funds to help pay for the aircraft through a U.S.-sponsored loan program for military sales.

Congress balked at the financing after Senator Bob Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, demanded that Pakistan stop harboring militant groups like the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network, which are leading an insurgency against a U.S.-backed government in Kabul.

Pakistan insists it is acting against the militants through repeated military operations in the lawless tribal lands that border Afghanistan.

Pakistan says the F-16s, in fact, with their precision strike ability and night-flying capability are essential for it to win that fight.

A senior government media official told Reuters that the trouble Pakistan encountered over the F-16s prompted Islamabad to consider hiring lobbyists in Washington to "sell Pakistani interests and improve its image in the United States."

"We are fighting this war on terror at great cost to lives and our economy. Yet we keep hearing that we have to do more. Clearly there is a public relations gap," the official said.

The tensions over the F-16 deal have added to the increasingly frayed ties between Pakistan and the United States.

Last month, a U.S. drone strike killed Mullah Akhtar Mansur, then chief of the Afghan Taliban, on Pakistani soil.

Pakistan condemned the strike as a violation of its sovereignty and said it would not encourage the Taliban to hold peace talks with the Afghan government.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal, Dawn, and Reuters
Russia is considering selling nearly one-fifth of the state oil company Rosneft to "strategic investors" in a private transaction rather than trying to raise the money through a public offering, Rosneft's chief executive said.

In an interview with the Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore on June 14, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said the oil giant is not fairly valued on global markets currently because of Russia's depressed economy, low oil prices, and Western economic sanctions.

Russia's Economic Ministry estimates it could raise about 700 billion rubles ($10.5 billion) to help close Russia's budget gap from privatization of a 19.5 percent stake at this time.

"Given the situation in the world oil market and the sanctions, the company's current price quotations hardly meet its fundamental value," Sechin said.

For that reason, before selling a stake to investors, the company will focus for a time on trying to increase the value of its stock, he said.

"Meeting this challenge will contribute to, among other things, maximizing state revenue from the possible sale of its stake," he said.

Based on reporting by TASS and Il Sole Ore Sechin
Russia's has accused NATO of fanning "Russophobic hysteria" before the alliance's summit in Poland next month.

Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on June 15 that the aim of anti-Russian statements by "individual representatives" of the alliance is to "deliberately whip up panic and maintain the image of a treacherous enemy in order to secure colossal military budgets."

Relations between NATO and Moscow have reached their lowest point since the Cold War over Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and its support for separatists in the country's east.

Speaking on June 15 following a meeting of the alliances defense ministers in Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to withdraw its forces and military equipment from Ukraine and to stop supporting separatists.

Russian officials have repeatedly denied sending troops or military hardware to Ukraine despite evidence to the contrary.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, Interfax, and TASS


Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura in St. Petersburg on June 16.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow on June 14 that the meetings would occur on the sidelines of Moscow's yearly economic forum.

Putin also plans an informal meeting with former French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the St. Petersburg forum on June 15.

The meetings with the UN leaders will focus on "the fight against global terrorism and the situation in Syria," Ushakov said.

Ban told TASS in an interview that Russia has played a key role along with the United States in efforts to forge peace in Syria.

"Increased cooperation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has had a positive impact," he said. "Only compromise, dialogue, and a collective effort by the international community, with Russia as a key member of this community, can be the way forward."

Ban added that "the talks in Geneva are by all accounts some of the most complex and difficult negotiations the United Nations is involved in."

Based on reporting by Reuters and TASS
Ishoq Tabarov was known for defending Tajiks who most needed defending. He was a rare lawyer for Tajikistan, one who would take cases representing opposition figures, people who some would say had already been marked for exclusion from society by the authorities.

Tabarov died during the evening of June 12, officially of a heart attack. But there is a big difference between a heart attack and a broken heart, and some feel it was the latter that actually led to Tabarov's death on his 61st birthday.

Tabarov defended many people who -- to put it mildly -- were not viewed kindly by the Tajik government. Tabarov's best-known client was Zayd Saidov, once a successful businessman and someone who enjoyed good connections with the government.

In April of 2013, the year of Tajikistan's last presidential election, Saidov declared his intention to create a new political party: Tojikistoni Nau, or New Tajikistan. The next month, Saidov faced a series of charges ranging from financial wrongdoing to sexual assault and polygamy. Government opponents had faced charges before, but in Saidov's case the charges were numerous and covered a wide array of violations.

His case was really hopeless from the start, but Tabarov and fellow defense lawyers Shukhrat Kudratov and Fakhriddin Zokirov agreed to defend Saidov. Saidov's defense team repeatedly pointed to procedural violations and flimsy evidence during the trial process. Tabarov even showed that evidence used by prosecutors to substantiate a rape charge was fake; but to no avail. In December 2013, Saidov was found guilty of financial fraud, polygamy, and sexual relations with a minor and sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Losing the case was only the start of the problems.

Anticorruption police arrested Zokirov in March 2014 and kept him in detention until November 2014, when he was amnestied. However, he was arrested again on extortion charges in August and released in November after paying an approximately $2,000 fine.

Fellow defense lawyer Kudratov, who is also the deputy leader of the opposition Social Democratic Party, was arrested on bribery charges in July 2014. He was found guilty of that charge and fraud at a trial in January 2015 and sentenced to nine years in jail, which was later reduced on appeal to three years and eight months.

Tabarov wondered if he was next to be arrested. In fact, he wasn't that lucky.

Instead, Tabarov's oldest son, 27-year-old Firuz, was arrested in July. Ishoq Tabarov said his son was tortured into making a confession in pretrial detention. Firuz Tabarov was found guilty on February 11 of serious crimes, including extremism and facilitating mercenary fighters, and sentenced to 13 1/2 years in prison.

In March, another son, Daler Tabarov, was arrested on charges of failing to report a crime. On June 2, just 10 days before his father died, Daler was convicted and sentenced to six months in jail.

'It Broke Him Completely'

Ishoq Tabarov's wife, Zuhro Sherova, told RFE/RL's Tajik Service, known locally as Ozodi, that in recent months her husband had trouble breathing and had lost about 20 kilograms. "He worried a lot about the arrest and imprisonment of our son Firuz, and when they sent our second son Daler to prison, it broke him [Ishoq] completely," Sherova said.

Members of Tabarov's family said the cause of his death is not clear, despite reports that he died of a heart attack.

Steve Swerdlow, Central Asian researcher for Human Rights Watch (HRW), has been tireless in trying to help and highlight the cases of opposition figures, activists, and others who have encountered legal and other entanglements, not only in Tajikistan but throughout Central Asia.

He has been keeping a close eye on the Tabarov family's problems. He told Qishloq Ovozi, "While the exact circumstances of Mr. Tabarov's death are not yet fully known, Human Rights Watch is aware of the terrible moral and psychological toll he had been under for many months due to the politically-motivated attacks on his family and the imprisonment of both of his sons in a matter of months."

Tabarov also lived long enough to see other attorneys put on trial who were known for defending government opponents and rights activists.

HRW, the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, and Amnesty International have released statements questioning the legal processes against Buzurgmehr Yorov, Nuriddin Makhamov, and others.

And before Tabarov died, he witnessed Tajik authorities starting work to disbar attorneys who defended perceived enemies and nuisances of the state through the introduction of a new mandatory test for all lawyers. Some Tajik attorneys and international rights organizations have noted the new test contains many questions that have nothing to do with the law but all the same can lead to a suspension of licenses to practice law if not answered correctly.

Based on material from RFE/RL's Tajik Service


WASHINGTON -- Two former U.S. ambassadors to Russia clashed over past and future assessments of relations between Washington and Moscow and which country bears the greater responsibility for deepening bilateral tensions.

Michael McFaul and Jack Matlock delivered their remarks at a June 14 hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where sharpened rhetoric from committee leaders reflected mounting antipathy toward the Russian government among many U.S. officials.

Both McFaul, who served as the U.S. envoy in Moscow from 2012-14, and Matlock, who served from 1987-91, seemed to agree that internal Russian politics were driving much of the Kremlins foreign policy in recent years.

This is all about domestic politics in Russia, and in Ukraine, and very little to do with American foreign policy, either strong or weak, McFaul testified.

Its a tragic moment in Russian relations, he added. I dont celebrate this at all, but we have to have a patient, comprehensive policy for deterring Russian aggression, working with the government when it is in our interest and working with Russian society.

Matlock, meanwhile, cautioned against U.S. policies that might be perceived as meddling in Russian internal affairs, something President Vladimir Putin has complained about repeatedly.

Yes, President Putin has made many mistakes, many that are not in Russias interests. But Putins government is a matter for Russians to decide. Their scandals are a matter for them to deal with, Matlock said.

The two diplomats disagreed when lawmakers asked about whether the West had provoked Russia in expanding NATO to former Soviet-bloc states like Poland and the Baltic nations or whether the military alliances should consider softening its commitments to allies.

Matlock said he did not support NATO expansion during his time as ambassador to Moscow, and he suggested NATO may sometimes be more of a liability to the United States. He also singled out the uncertain benefits that Turkeys membership provides.

Politics are driven by perceptions, and their perception is that we have been consistently moving against their interests, and trying to encircle them, and even trying to interfere in their internal politics, he said.

McFaul, who also served on the White Houses National Security Council prior to his tenure in Moscow, said the alliance needed to stand firm because weakness would invite further Russian aggression.

He rejected assertions that the Kremlins military seizure and annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula was a direct response to NATO expansion.

It all is a post facto rationalization for what Putin did in Ukraine, McFaul said.

I want to radically reject this moral equivalency. That were somehow all to blame here and that its blame on America, blame on the United States, he added.

McFaul said that if he had a top 10 commandments about how to be a good multilateralist, a good international citizen, one of the top three would be: Thou shall not annex the territory of your neighbor.

Im sorry. Thats what [Putin] did, he said. We didnt annex any territory. We didnt foment any revolution against him.

Both Matlock and McFaul told the committee that Washington needs to continue helping Ukraine to become stable and prosperous, though Matlock also insisted that a prosperous Ukraine must have good relations with Russia. And he suggested that the West might someday have to acquiesce to Russias annexation of the Black Sea peninsula.

Ukraine is better off without Crimea, Matlock said.
A citizen of Kosovo has pleaded guilty to hacking the personal data of hundreds of U.S. service members and officials on behalf of the Islamic State (IS) group.

At a June 15 plea hearing in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, Ardit Ferizi pleaded guilty to providing material support to the IS group and unauthorized access to a computer, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Prosecutors say the 20-year-old man hacked the records of a private company and provided names, e-mail passwords, and phone numbers of more than 1,300 service members and federal employees to IS militants last year.

IS then published the data on Twitter with a warning it would "strike at your necks in your own lands."

Ferizi was arrested in Malaysia in October and brought to the United States in January.

He faces up to 25 years in prison.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
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Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. says the deletion of a chapter on human sexuality from a psychology course is not evidence of a homophobic agenda but rather of a commitment to best practices in the classroom and beyond.

Falwell issued a statement Wednesday in response to a Richmond Times-Dispatch article about student objections to a custom-ordered Psychology 101 textbook that was missing the chapter on sexual motivation and orientation.

Student concerns that the deletion represented an anti-gay bias could not be further from the truth, Falwell said.

At Liberty we believe firmly in academic freedom for our faculty and a commitment to the free and open exchange of ideas, his statement said. This is in stark contrast to many major universities where students are often ridiculed in the classroom for expressing ideas that faculty deem to be politically incorrect and protests often result in speakers being disinvited from appearing because of their viewpoints.

Falwell said Liberty is likely the only university in America that provided both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump a platform on which to pitch their ideas to our students and faculty. To think that we would be afraid of leaving a few sections in a chapter of a book because we didnt like what they said is ludicrous.

The deleted material, he said, focused not on LBGTQ issues, but rather on the broader issue of sexual motivation  a topic that the faculty member concluded is sufficiently complex that it is better covered in a variety of other, more focused courses throughout the curriculum, rather than in this broad overview course to all of psychology.

The subject matter removed from the introductory textbook is included in other psychology courses at Liberty, and the deletion saved students significant amounts of money by eliminating unnecessary material, he said.

In this case, as in all cases, the faculty in charge of offering instruction in the course elected which modules to use and which to set aside as they reviewed the learning outcomes of the course and the process by which students develop over the course of their whole degree program, Falwell said.

In the article, a student who asked not to be identified said the deletion of the material undermined the value of the course, and the student expressed concern that it followed a pattern of anti-gay bias at the university.

A call by The Times-Dispatch to Falwells office for a response was referred to the universitys news office, which issued a general statement Tuesday that did not address a request for information on Libertys policy pertaining to teaching about LGBT issues.

The module in the chapter on sexual motivation is omitted in the 101 online course only, due not to ideological objections but to a desire to scaffold learning appropriately throughout the general education curriculum and beyond, an additional statement Wednesday said.
Chesterfield police are investigating after three occupied vehicles were shot at with BB or pellet guns over the weekend in Midlothian.

The shootings occurred within about 90 minutes Sunday. No one was injured, police said.

The first incident happened about 1:50 p.m., police said. A victim driving west on Genito Road near the intersection with Charter Colony Parkway heard what sounded like a small firecracker just before the middle drivers side window of his van broke. A small round hole consistent with a BB or a pellet was found in the window. The victim reported that an older model gold Toyota Camry was passing him when the damage occurred.

The second incident happened about an hour later, police said. While sitting at the traffic light at the intersection of Genito Road and Hull Street Road, the victim heard a pop noise just before his drivers side window shattered. The victim reported seeing a small round hole consistent with a BB or a pellet in the window.

The third incident happened about 3:30 p.m., police said. The victim was sitting on Arboretum Parkway waiting to turn onto Arch Road when she a pop sound and soon after saw a BB- or pellet-sized chip in her windshield. As she heard the noise, the victim saw a gold Toyota Camry drive by her vehicle.
There are a growing number of bike lanes in Richmond, and, recently, increasing complaints about cars left parked in them.

The police department responded this week, explaining officers are limited in their authority to address the problem.

Under the departments reading of city and state codes, while its illegal to drive into or out of the bike lane, once a driver is in one, there is no law that makes it illegal to leave the vehicle there.

I spoke to our traffic unit and they are not aware of any ordinance that makes parking in a bike lane a violation, said police spokesman James Mercante. They note, however, that it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in a bike lane and any motorist who crosses the solid white line into the bike lane can be cited as a violation.

Mercante said if officers see a driver as they enter a bike lane to park, they would issue a ticket, but thats the most they can do.

The issue received attention over the weekend after Doug Orleski, a local cartoonist who goes by RVA Coffee Stain, posted on Facebook and Twitter a photo of a line of cars parked in a Hermitage Road bike lane with the caption, What bike lane?

The image was widely shared, and on Tuesday, the Police Department incorporated it into posts on its own Facebook and Twitter pages in an effort to explain the situation: Popular RVA bike lanes are popping up faster than ordinances! Currently NOT illegal to park in bike lanes, but motorists are URGED to leave them open for cyclists, the departments caption said.

In fact, the City Council had just last month considered an ordinance that would have specifically prohibited parking in bike lanes. The ordinance also covered parking on curbs and in medians.

Ultimately, the council members agreed to strike the language about bike lanes after Councilwoman Kathy Graziano said residents in her district had only agreed to a bike lane on Forest Hill Avenue on the condition that parking be allowed. She said she didnt want it to look like the city was going back on its promise to residents.

Its not parked in very often, she said. But sometimes there are events where people park on the street.

Councilman Parker C. Agelasto, who sponsored the ordinance, agreed, but with the understanding that state code that prohibits vehicles from obstructing roadways already applied.

Jakob Helmboldt, the citys pedestrian, bicycle and trails coordinator, expressed a similar understanding in an email to Agelasto and others. It technically is enforceable currently under the existing code, he said, though he also noted that the issue was extremely rare.

Graziano, meanwhile, said she has always been under the impression that its legal to park in a bike lane as long as no-parking signs arent posted.

Asked about the difference of opinion on the issue, Agelasto said hed like to see the matter clarified in a subsequent ordinance.

It needs to be in clear language that everybody understands because you dont want mixed messages out there, he said.

According to the bicycling advocacy group Bike Walk RVA, the city has gone from 5.65 miles of road with bike lanes in 2013 to 12.6 this year.

The organizations director, Max Hepp-Buchanan, agreed with Agelasto that an ordinance specifically clarifying that it is illegal to park in bike lanes would be helpful. He said he was disappointed when the language addressing the issue was struck last month.
A man was sent to the hospital late Tuesday after he was shot in Richmond's East End.

Police were called about 9:45 p.m. to the 1700 block of Rogers Street, where they found a victim who had been shot. The victim was taken to a hospital with wounds that were not considered life-threatening.

The shooter was seen leaving the scene in a green four-door vehicle, police said.

Anyone with any information about the shooting is asked to call Detective Greg Russell at (804) 646-7715 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. Citizens can also text Crime Stoppers at 274637, using the keyword iTip followed by the tip, or submit a tip online at www.7801000.com.
Chesterfield had the most teacher resignations in the Richmond area, with 538 in the past five Junes, followed by 363 in Henrico, 333 in Richmond and 131 in Hanover.
Chesterfield County prosecutors rested their murder case Wednesday against Richmond police officer David L. Cobb after calling 18 witnesses over two days and ending their presentation by playing two recorded police interviews with Cobb the day of the killing.

Attorney David Baugh will begin his defense of Cobb, 47, when the jury returns today at 9 a.m. Baugh announced in court Monday that Cobb will testify in his defense and acknowledge fatally shooting Paterson Brown Jr., 18, in self-defense out of concern for his personal safety.

Cobb, who was off-duty at the time of the Oct. 17 shooting at Vision Detail & Car Spa on Midlothian Turnpike, faces charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the shooting of Brown.

In two taped interviews with Chesterfield police Detective Eric Hlava, Cobb said he absolutely feared for his life when Brown, who earlier had jumped into the officers vehicle and drove into a wash bay, suddenly reached across his body as the car began to move. Cobb said that occurred after he repeatedly told Brown not to move as he held the teen at gunpoint.

When he reached over, I thought he was going for a weapon, Cobb told Hlava.

Cobb fired one shot from a .357-caliber Glock 33, his backup weapon, as he stood 2 to 3 feet from the open door of his girlfriends Nissan Altima, which Cobb had driven to the car wash that Saturday morning to have cleaned. The shot struck Brown in the groin, severing a vital artery.

Cobb recounted in great detail the events leading to the fatal shooting and how he discovered Brown, who witnesses testified was extremely high and incoherent, ended up in the Altima.

Video surveillance footage played for jurors from the car wash and Sunoco gas station next door showed Brown getting out of a car occupied by two teenage friends and getting into Cobbs vehicle directly in front as the cars lined up for the car wash. At one point, Brown drives the vehicle into the car wash bay and stays inside as its being washed, then drives it just outside the bay door and stops, the video footage shows.

Cobb told Hlava that he didnt realize Brown was inside his vehicle until he saw a teenage girl, later identified as Jennifer Ingles, open the car door in an effort to get Brown out. Ingles, Brown and another teen boy had driven to the car wash after an all-night binge.

After Cobb said he noticed the young man later identified as Brown sitting in his car, he and Brown looked back at each other five or six times before locking eyes. Cobb said Brown then starting staring at him, and he asked one of the car wash attendants who he was.

The officer said he then walked over and opened the door, asking, Who are you? What are you doing in my car?

Brown replied, Its OK, its OK, before starting to mumble unintelligibly, Cobb said. The officer said he told Brown, No, its not OK, and ordered him to get out.

Cobb said he then drew his weapon but held it down to his side while identifying himself as a Richmond police officer.

I instantly thought that guy was trying to steal the car, Cobb said.

Cobb explained that he usually kept his gun in his car but had recently discussed with his girlfriend about the need to start carrying the weapon. Cobbs voice tearfully broke at that point in the interview, and hearing it again Wednesday in the courtroom caused Cobb to break down again and put his head on the defense table.

As the standoff continued, Cobb said, Brown expressed annoyance and reared back slightly in his seat when Cobb again announced he was a Richmond officer. I dont f--- with cops, Cobb quoted Brown as saying.

He kept flinching, Cobb said. I told him to stop moving, an order Cobb said he repeated a half-dozen times.

But Cobb said Brown moved his left hand to the right side of his body and Cobb couldnt see what he was doing. Do not move! Cobb said he told Brown.

Cobb said he called out for someone to dial 911 and have them advise Chesterfield police he was holding someone at gunpoint and immediately needed an officer to respond.

But before police could arrive, the car began to move as Brown started to reach across his body, Cobb said. Thats when Cobb fired.

The car rolled a short distance into the rear of an SUV parked ahead, video showed. A car wash employee jumped into the SUV and moved it, causing the Altima to roll an additional 20 feet before Cobb could reach in, pull the emergency brake and put the car into park.

Cobb can then be seen pulling Brown from the car and laying him facedown on the pavement with his hands behind him.

When Hlava asked Cobb to describe his mindset at the moment he fired, Cobb said he automatically thought Brown was reaching for a weapon. Cobb said the dozen warnings he gave Brown quickly transitioned into something more serious. I have my safety and everybodys around me in mind, Cobb told the detective.

In a second video-recorded interview later that day, Hlava asked Cobb if there was any other option to standing with his gun drawn 2 to 3 feet from Brown. It was my girlfriends car, and I didnt want him to drive off, Cobb said.

Brown had a history of school disciplinary problems resulting in multiple suspensions and brushes with the law, including his arrest a year before the shooting on a charge of robbing a fellow James River High School student at gunpoint. He also was charged as a juvenile with felony assault of two Chesterfield officers, reckless driving and hit-and-run, according to a defense motion that sought police reports of those incidents.

Earlier Wednesday, prosecutors played for jurors eight surveillance and cellphone videos taken of the car wash incident, but none of them seemed to capture the moment of the shooting or Browns movements in the car. One video, taken from a distance, showed Cobb clearly in a shooting stance at the open car door.

The issue of Browns degree of intoxication was raised strongly by Baugh, the defense attorney, during testimony from toxicology experts. Baugh repeatedly suggested that Brown was likely hallucinating from an LSD trip, based on his bizarre behavior and earlier testimony from Ingles that Brown had earlier used the drug.

However, toxicology experts said Browns blood contained THC, the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, and no other drugs. But the Virginia Department of Forensic Science does not test for LSD, the experts said. Paramedics found on Brown a bag of marijuana and a number of Alprazolam pills, used to treat anxiety.
Investigators have determined that a Halifax County teens Facebook post sympathetic to the shooter in the Orlando, Fla., massacre did not pose a credible threat to national security, the Halifax Sheriffs Office said Wednesday.

Well finish what you started, the post said in part.

The post was deleted, but not before outraged users shared it on social media and with law enforcement.

The Sheriffs Office said the county instigated a joint investigation with the Virginia State Police and federal officials.

Federal agents interviewed the subject and determined that the post made, although disrespectful and in poor taste, did not pose a credible threat to national security. The incident is still under investigation by joint law enforcement agencies, the Sheriffs Office said in a statement Wednesday.

The Sheriffs Office thanked citizens who alerted it to the post, adding that calls were received from people across the country.
A 64-year-old Mechanicsville woman was found not guilty of first-degree murder Tuesday, after testifying that she stabbed her longtime companion in the chest in self-defense.

Taking the stand Tuesday during her bench trial in Hanover County Circuit Court, Toni S. Gohagan testified that the stabbing came after years of violence from her companion, Thomas King, 58, with whom she had lived for 28 years.

Gohagan said King dragged her to their shared bedroom and began sexually assaulting and strangling her in the late-night hours of April 14, 2015, and that she pulled a knife from under the mattress and stabbed him once.

Gohagan claimed King was on top of her on their shared bed and had both hands around her neck while assaulting her.

She said he released one of his hands from her throat to close a window by the bed, and said: Nobody can hear you scream now.

It was about that time, she testified, that she reached for the knife, which she had long kept under her mattress.

I raised it up, and I meant to stick him in the arm, but I somehow missed, she said.

A wounded King went to the bathroom and collapsed, she said.

Police, called by Gohagan, arrived to their home on New Bethesda Road off Mechanicsville Turnpike shortly before midnight. King was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

King suffered a single blow to the chest from a knife with a 3-inch blade, according to experts, who said an autopsy showed damage to his heart and internal bleeding.

Prosecutors called numerous witnesses, who said they heard Gohagan say many times over the years that she would kill King, though some took the statement more seriously than others. The pair argued often, and King would make jokes at Gohagans expense and often called her the devil, witnesses said.

Gohagan said she drank about six beers and King had many more in the hours leading up to the stabbing.

Defense attorney G. Russell Stone Jr. shot down the notion that Gohagan planned to kill King.

Stone contended that Gohagan was in a tumultuous and sometimes abusive relationship with King and stabbed him to get him off him of her. He said it was merely dumb luck that the single stabbing wound killed him.

Just before finding Gohagan not guilty, Judge J. Overton Harris noted that violence, as well as the two talking down to each other, seemed to be the nature of their relationship.

Overton also noted key evidence in the case that showed Gohagan had bruises on both arms and two areas of her neck, consistent with her account that King grabbed her arms and then strangled her. Gohagans son also testified that he had previously witnessed King slap her in the face.

In audio recorded inside a Hanover Sheriffs Office vehicle shortly after police responded to the stabbing scene, a handcuffed Gohagan is heard crying for minutes at a time. She also expressed hope that King would survive.

Lord have mercy. When he wouldnt stop, I had to do it, Gohagan told a sheriffs deputy.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton brought her campaign to Hampton on Wednesday and chided GOP rival Donald Trump for what she termed his reckless statements about terrorism.

Clinton spoke with veterans, advocates for military families and Virginia first lady Dorothy McAuliffe at the Virginia Air and Space Center. Her appearance came three days after a gunman who proclaimed allegiance to ISIS killed 49 people and wounded dozens more at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

Clinton said veterans and military families know the next commander in chief must have the experience and temperament to keep the nation safe.

After all the Twitter rants and conspiracy theories weve been hearing recently, its time for substantive discussions about how we protect our country, how we respond to terrorist attacks like the one that tragically occurred in Orlando, she said.

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama and Clinton had unloaded on the presumptive Republican nominee, in separate speeches, as a threat to the U.S. In a number of interviews after the Orlando attack, Trump had seemed to question the presidents intentions.

Clinton said in Hampton on Wednesday that the terror attacks in Orlando and in San Bernardino, Calif. show that the U.S. is facing a twisted ideology that inspires lone wolves, radicalized individuals who may or may not have formal contact with terrorist organizations.

As president I will make identifying and stopping lone wolves a top priority, Clinton said.

She said the U.S. needs to stop terrorists from getting their hands on military-style assault weapons that have no place on our streets.

She also said that if the FBI is watching someone for suspected links to terrorism, the person should not be able to buy a gun with no questions asked.

She added: If you are too dangerous to get on a plane, you are too dangerous to buy a gun.

It is apparent that Donald Trump does not seem to grasp any of this, Clinton said.

Clinton said Trumps comments have become even more inflammatory in recent days. This approach isnt just wrong, it is dangerous, Clinton said.

A ban on Muslims would not have stopped this attack, Clinton said of the Orlando shootings. Neither would a wall. I dont know how one builds a wall to keep the internet out.

Given space constraints, Wednesdays event at the Virginia Air and Space Center was not open to the public.

Dorothy McAuliffe noted that Virginia is home to 30 major military installations and the worlds largest navy base. She said Virginia has more than 130,000 active-duty service members and that there are more than 70,000 military children in Virginia, which is home to about 800,000 military veterans.

Clinton noted that many of the first strikes against ISIS were conducted by fighter aircraft based in Hampton Roads.

You are literally on the front lines of these issues, Clinton said, Im aware of that and I know how much we owe you and your families.

Trump had addressed a rally last Friday night at the Richmond Coliseum. The stops by Clinton and Trump underscore that Virginia will again be a key battleground state in the Nov. 8 election.

Hillary Clinton will say anything, Sean Spicer, chief strategist and communications chief for the Republican National Committee, said in a statement released ahead of Clintons Hampton appearance.

Today she is bringing her campaign of hypocrisy to Virginia, where she is likely to continue her misguided calls to weaken Americans Second Amendment rights in the aftermath of the terror attack in Orlando.
In the wee hours Sunday, Virginia surrendered a grim distinction it has held for nine years. The massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., overtook the mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007 as the deadliest in U.S. history.

Forty-nine people died in Orlando; 32 in Blacksburg. Gun-control and gun-rights advocates would agree there is no pride in Virginia falling to No. 2.

Few issues spotlight the cultural and political divide in Virginia as firearms do. Though Virginia is a thoroughly suburban-dominated state  two-thirds of its residents live in metropolitan areas  its comparatively lax gun laws reflect an enduring rural outlook, most recently perpetuated by two cycles of largely Republican-controlled partisan redistricting.

On firearms, public opinion polling appears to favor Democrats, though the advantages vary widely depending on the question.

A poll released in February by Christopher Newport Universitys Judy Wason Center for Public Policy showed that 88 percent of voters favored requiring background checks for private gun sales and those made at firearms shows. By a margin of 55 percent to 41 percent, they believe it is more important to control who can purchase guns than to protect the rights of Virginians to own guns.

Fat lot a good its done Gov. Terry McAuliffe and his Democrats.

He cut a deal with General Assembly Republicans this year under which he traded voluntary checks on gun-show purchases and tougher restrictions on domestic abusers access to firearms for expanded conceal-carry rights, which Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, had sought to revoke. Instead, Virginia is opening its borders to armed visitors from nearly all states that issue concealed-handgun permits.

McAuliffe touts the deal as a triumph, though hes yet to convince outspoken gun-control proponents.

That Democrats arent getting more traction on guns may have more to do with the audience than the issue, says Dave Mudcat Saunders, a nationally prominent, Roanoke-based rural Democratic strategist who believes that firearms-rights voters cast their ballots on one issue and one issue only: theirs.

Every time the Democrats start talking about guns, it costs them votes, Saunders said. When somebody is anti-gun, usually theyre not a single-issue voter. There are other things theyre looking at  choice, education. But if you look at the gun issue, those who are pro-gun are single-issue voters.

The most significant victory for gun-control proponents was in 1993, achieved by then-Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, a Democrat who teamed with a Republican federal prosecutor, Richard Cullen  now head of legal-and-lobbying powerhouse McGuireWoods, the so-called Shadow Government  to choke off the stream of Virginia-purchased handguns to Northeast narcotics merchants.

The one-handgun-a-month law, secured by a coalition of liberal Democrats and moderate Republicans, represented a rare defeat for the gun-rights lobby. In succeeding years, it would became an almost-indistinguishable arm of an increasingly conservative GOP caucus that, with the votes of the few rural Democrats remaining in the legislature, repealed the law in 2012.

In Virginia, Democrats werent always hostile to guns and the National Rifle Association wasnt always hostile to Democrats.

When the General Assembly still was controlled by Democrats  even as Republicans were winning statewide from 1969 to 1977  the NRA looked to Democrats to vet Virginia candidates, helping determine who the group should support through its vast and speedily mobilized membership. For years, the go-to guy in Richmond for an NRA endorsement was a Democratic delegate from Roanoke, Vic Thomas.

Thomas, an affable grocer who kept a poster-sized photograph of President John F. Kennedy in his windowless office and annually organized an exotic game dinner for lawmakers and lobbyists, never joined the NRA because he didnt want to be accused of a conflict of interest. Thomas aide until 1977 was someone who would become the face of the NRA: Wayne LaPierre.

The gun-rights group would prepare report cards on legislators and candidates, often giving high grades to Democrats, including those from the gun-hostile suburbs. Among them: Dick Saslaw of Fairfax, now the state Senate minority leader, who recalled, The Democrats got grades like Bs because you didnt have these crazy issues, Sandy Hook and all that.

Tom Lisk, a veteran lobbyist who worked for Thomas and later for the NRA, recalled that Thomas would pester him if Democrats didnt get high marks, even if only because they had improperly completed the organizations questionnaire.

By the early 1980s, the relationship between gun advocates and Democrats began to change but not without the latter attempting to accommodate the former.

In 1983, then-Attorney General Gerald Baliles, readying to seek the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, retreated on legislation banning armor-piercing bullets that critics labeled cop-killers. Baliles about-face came after his office asked the NRA to review the bill. When the group expressed its dissatisfaction, he supported a weaker version.

Four years later, as governor, Baliles signed into law a Republican bill prohibiting local governments from adopting their own gun-control laws unless authorized by the General Assembly.

And in 1993, former Attorney General Mary Sue Terry, then the Democratic nominee for governor and still the only woman elected to statewide office in Virginia, built her candidacy around a proposal to ban assault weapons. It succeeded only in handing her rural base to Republican George Allen. From that point forward, the countryside became redder and redder and redder.

The Virginia Tech tragedy, attributed to a disturbed student with ready access to firearms, had a greater impact on the laws governing mental health than guns.

The state poured millions of dollars into the mental-health system, but glaring gaps emerged. In 2013, the son of state Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, unable to be placed in psychiatric care, attacked his father with a knife before killing himself with a shotgun.

The elder Deeds, for whom mental health reform has become a cause celebre, is  as a rural legislator  a strong supporter of gun rights. He ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in 2005 with the endorsement of the NRA.

The lines separating the political parties on firearms now are so bright that McAuliffe boasts about his F from the NRA. The No. 3 Republican in the House of Delegates, Todd Gilbert of Shenandoah, told Democrats in April hed write campaign mailers attacking them for supporting the governors veto of a bill allowing ex-cops working as private security guards at public schools to carry guns on campus.

Virginias grim impasse endures.
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Two companies plan to make multi-million dollar investments in Henry County, creating a total of more than 45 new jobs, according to the governors office.

North Carolina-based Performance Livestock and Feed Co. will invest $4.2 million to establish a new feed production operation within the next three years, adding about 32 new jobs, according to a news release.

The family-owned business has also agreed to purchase nearly $11 million in Virginia-sourced grains and other feed ingredients. Performance Livestock owners want to increase production by 50 percent with the expansion. The release said Virginia competed against North Carolina for the project.

The company services customers from Florida to Michigan with horse, cattle and livestock feed. One of the reasons cited for its move to Virginia was access to the railroad, allowing the company to make bulk purchases of feed ingredients.

In a separate announcement, the governors office said lightweight metals manufacturer Alcoa Titanium & Engineered Products will invest more than $8 million to expand its facility, which is at 101 RTI Way in Martinsville, creating 15 new jobs in the process. The investment will add to the companys aerospace forging capabilities.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year and offer jobs paying above the average wages in the area, according to the release.

The facility currently employs 30 people.
A grassroots alliance of 57 groups chided Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Wednesday for, in their view, turning a deaf ear to the concerns of communities facing impacts from natural gas pipelines, offshore drilling, coal ash, climate change and other potential threats to human health, property rights and the environment.

The allied groups and supporters plan to take their message directly to McAuliffe in Richmond during a March on the Mansion scheduled for July 23 and billed as the biggest rally for climate justice and clean energy Virginia has ever seen.

Alliance members include county-based groups opposed to the proposed Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast interstate natural gas pipeline projects. Each would be a 42-inch diameter, buried pipeline that would transport natural gas at high pressure.

During a news conference Wednesday, Roberta Bondurant, an active member of Preserve Roanoke County and Preserve Bent Mountain, was one of seven speakers.

Bondurant said that if the pipeline projects move forward, armed with the power to use eminent domain to acquire easements across private property, the projects could result in a massive land grab by industry.

On Wednesday, the coalition of national, state and local groups contended that McAuliffe has too often ignored the voices of citizens in favor of private corporations whose plans would pollute Virginians land, water and climate with new fracked-gas pipelines, oil rigs and more.

An open letter from the alliance cited Dominion and EQT Corp. as being among these favored corporations. Dominion is a partner in the 600-mile, $5 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline and also a source of coal ash pollution. EQT Corp. is a partner in the 301-mile, $3.5 billion Mountain Valley Pipeline and has been penalized in Pennsylvania for pollution related to hydraulic fracturing.

Christina Nuckols, a spokeswoman for McAuliffe, provided a different view.

Governor McAuliffe has made unprecedented progress on his environmental and economic goals, positioning Virginia to be a global leader in clean energy for generations, she said.

As a result of his aggressive push to accelerate the renewable energy sector, the commonwealth will see a 10-fold increase in solar generation by the end of this year, Nuckols said.

She cited a host of other environmental accomplishments and initiatives, including water quality initiatives, vetoes of two coal tax credits and efforts to address climate change.

He won a $120.5 million federal grant in the National Disaster Resilience Competition that will help the commonwealth address the challenges of climate change, she said.

Nuckols said McAuliffe recognizes that clean energy is the lifeblood of the new Virginia economy and that a majority of state residents support his work to both create jobs and protect natural resources.

The grassroots alliance that spoke out Wednesday includes regional coalitions like the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Alliance and Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights, as well as environmental and social justice-focused groups such as Appalachian Voices and Virginia Organizing.

The alliances letter to McAuliffe noted, We reject the notion that energy choices should be made by the powerful few, far removed from affected communities.

The governor has repeatedly voiced support for the two pipeline projects, emphasizing that they could support economic development and provide a cleaner fuel than coal for generating electricity.

During Wednesdays news conference, Sharon Ponton, an organizer for the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, said McAuliffe has dodged anti-pipeline activists at public events. Ernie Reed, president of Wild Virginia and Friends of Nelson, said the governor has not responded to invitations to come hear the concerns of Nelson County residents about the Atlantic Coast project.

Separately, on June 8, Wild Virginia and the Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition asked McAuliffe to form a citizens advisory panel to help review the pipeline projects. They said they never received a response.

On Wednesday, Nuckols said the regulatory process involved in reviewing the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast projects provides ample opportunity for public input.

The governor is committed to making sure that all views about the project receive a fair hearing, and the existing process ensures that all those who wish to share their opinions will have a chance to be heard, she said.

Both projects have applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the certificate required to begin construction. FERC staff and a consultant are working on draft environmental impact statements for each pipeline.

The Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition has challenged McAuliffe and the state Department of Environmental Quality to allocate the resources necessary to ensure an adequate environmental review of the pipelines and a vigorous watchdog role if the projects move forward.

Rick Webb, coordinator of the Dominion Pipeline Monitoring Coalition, was not comforted by Nuckols statement.

He said hed like to know what ample opportunity for public input actually means in relation to DEQs permitting process and length of comment period.

Webb said that if the DEQ allows the pipeline projects to proceed under a general Virginia Water Protection permit, there is no public input opportunity provided by the regulatory process.

The alliances letter notes that McAuliffe has the authority to challenge the pipelines under the Clean Water Act, to abandon his support for off-shore oil drilling and to protect communities from reckless coal-ash disposal plans.

Mike Tidwell, director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, said Wednesday that it took about two weeks and several lengthy conference calls to draft the three-page letter to McAuliffe.

More information about the March on the Mansion, is available online at marchonthemansion.org.
Historical diamonds have intrigued humans for centuries, especially those which are attached to dark, ominous stories of curse attributed to them. People have always got sold on sinister and doomy stories for centuriessurprisingly even to the present day. As part of our series on Historical Diamonds, we bring to you the story of Hope Diamond

Incidentally, has anyone in the world not read of or at least heard of Hope Diamond? Not many I would guess, as it is one of the most spectacular gems in the world. The awe and fascination for the stone is many times more than other historical diamonds that are associated to folklore and thrilling stories around them. Why? Because this beautiful, rare blue diamond, weighing about 45 carats, has many more stories that have baffled mankind till today.





The blue stone is estimated to be worth more than $0.25 billion as of today. But, are there any buyers? NO because, the gem is said to be cursed! History says that this gem, like Kohinoor, was also unearthed in the Kollur mines in South India. According to folklore, a Hindu Priest stole the gem which used to be studded on the Temple deity, but met a gory, slow and agonizing death for the evil deed. So, here began the story that the blue stone was cursed.

Like all other historical diamonds, the blue diamond had its European sojourn too when a rich French jeweler Tavernier purchased the uncut stone weighing about 112.5 carat but was soon mauled to death by wild dogs. Cursed stone?

Tavernier sold the cut and polished to the next owner, King Louis XIV who got it re-cut to 67 carats, valued at that time to Frs. 3 million, treasured as a French crown jewels. But, the King too died a shattered man after his empire fell to ruins. The diamond then passed on to his heir Princess de Lambelle, who was eventually beaten to death by street mobs. And, what happened to Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette who inherited the stone? They were beheaded. Victims of the curse?

It is said that the Blue diamond remained with the French royal family till 1792, and was stolen during the French Revolution. From here on, the Blue diamond was not heard of for a few decades; and was said to have been recut into a smaller gem, reducing to 45.52 carat by Wilhelm Fals, a Dutch diamond cutter. His own son stole the gem and finally committed suicide. Some historians even say that it belonged to Britain's King George IV who died penniless, and whose estate sold the diamond to pay off his enormous debts. Curse at play?

Whatever may be the case, in 1839, the blue diamond was acquired by Henry Thomas Hope, a rich banker from London, from whom it got the name. After Henry Hope's passing, the inheritor Lord Franci Hope led a wasted life and having become bankrupt, had to sell the gem.

No, theres morethe diamond is said to have passed through several owners like an East European Prince, who gifted it to an actress Folies Bergere, and later shot her. When a Greek man bought the diamond, his entire family supposedly perished in an automobile accident. Next, the Turkish Sultan Abdul-Hamid 11, who acquired it, was overthrown by his own army

Meanwhile, countless stories of misfortunes attributed to Hope Diamond owners made the rounds ranging from: committing suicide, bankruptcy, were murdered and many more misfortunes. Not with just owners, but stories that even those who came in contact with the diamond had to suffer major calamities like death of children, mental illness, broken marriages, drug addiction and probably every little mishap, spread far and wide.

In the year 1909, when the Hope Diamond was put up for auction, there were no takers no surprises there. But, the lure of the Blue gem was so great that finally a diamond merchant from Paris bought and later sold it after just two years. An American tycoons wife, Evelyn Mclean bought the gem for $180,000 and wore it as a pendant on her necklace, brushing aside the backgrounder of the Hope Diamond. Its here that the Hope diamond went on a rampage. Little did Evelyn know that soon her mother and two household servants would die in quick successions; her young son would die in an accident and her 25-year-old daughter would commit suicide. Finally, after being divorced by her husband (who died in a mental hospital), Evelyn too succumbed to pneumonia. Later her grand-daughter died at a young age as well. Hopes ravage or what?

Hope Diamond may be the most famous cursed diamond in the world but there are many more. So much so, that Eastern superstition dictates that simple possessing extremely large diamonds always brings misfortune. And with historical proof to support the superstition, the fact only strengthened the belief in the minds of people. Coincidence? Maybe

The Hope diamonds curse story is actually attributed to journalists in the late 1800s, sensationalizing the cursed diamond to sell their newspapers. Though, some of the disastrous stories attached to the stone were true, most of the others were just hearsay. But, the diamonds history and highlighting anything bad always created a sensation. People were quick enough to list anything bad or tragic events happening to an owner of the diamond, and attribute them to the Hope diamond.

In later years, Hope curse became more a morality story and said that only a person with a pure heart could escape a doomed fate. In other words, someone who was generous enough to gift it away and not sell it for profit would escape the curse. But, no one dared to come forward to buy Hope Diamond knowing its precedence. At least not until Harry Winston, an American jeweler came along to buy it, along with all the Mclean estate. He was one modern thinker and a non-believer in superstition. Curses nemesis?

Eventually, the curse apparently ended when jeweler Harry Winston bought the Hope Diamond in 1949. Not believing in all the superstition around the gem, Winston is reported to have travelled around the world with the Hope diamond for more than nine years. The Hope Diamonds journey carrying curses along finally came to an end in 1958 when Winston donated the Hope Diamond, valued then at $100 million, to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC. Today, the gem is on display at the National Museum of Natural History, Washington, USA.

Aruna Gaitonde, Editor-in-Chief of Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished





Courtesy: Data from Dr. T.M. Babus book GLORIOUS INDIAN DIAMONDS (published by D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd) with Dr. Babus permission.

Dr. Babu, who is an exploration geologist (babutm@hotmail.com), is associated with GSI and several international organizations. He wrote books on diamonds, platinum, tin and has also co-authored the book Mining and Metal Production Through Ages published by British Museum, London.


Botswana said more effort is required from all parties involved in the downstream diamond industry to address issues of operational inefficiencies.

Minerals minister Kitso Mokaila told the Botswana Resource Sector Conference in Gaborone Tuesday that government was closely monitoring the prolonged depressed commodity markets as well as volatile prices and was willing to assist on a case by case basis.

The [downstream diamond] industry is urged to participate and contribute towards global diamond marketing initiatives intended to convert this generation into long-term buyers of diamonds under the newly launched slogan Real is Rare, Real is a Diamond, he said.

The weak diamond market had seriously affected Botswanas economic performance.

Diamonds account for about a third of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP), 80 percent of exports and 40 percent of the entire governments revenues.

Mokaila said the recent slowdown in the economic growth of China was further exacerbating the poor profitability of operations coupled with the deepening of existing mines and the fact that new mine discoveries were made in remote areas.

He said despite the challenging period, the industry should, draw comfort from the fact that commodity markets have a history of being characterised by cycles of economic boom and recession.

The forecasts from some sources, such as Consensus, show that some commodity prices will remain depressed until 2017 and rise steadily between 2018 and 2022, said Mokaila.

We, therefore, need to focus more on process optimisation, increasing value and reducing risk as well as making mining operations more sustainable. One way of optimising can be through beneficiation of products to create a competitive advantage.



Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau from Gaborone, Botswana, Rough&Polished




PJSC ALROSA, the world leader in diamond mining, has announced that new motor vehicles were accepted into service in the run-up to the development of Verkhne-Munskoe deposit. The company distributed a press release to this effect on Wednesday.

Three new Scania road trains with up to 90t payload capacity each, and Tonar semitrailer with up to 130t payload capacity, proceeded to the delivery of diamond-bearing ore from the Zarnitsa pipe to Processing Plant No. 12 located 18 km from the deposit.

Motor vehicles are supplied in the scope of the investment project aimed at the replacement of Caterpillar heavy-duty open-pit dump trucks with Scania (Sweden) and Tonar (Russia) road trains. This August, one more Tonar road train with up to 130t payload capacity will arrive to the production site of Udachny Mining and Processing Division. During the year, ALROSA will also receive two Volvo with up to 90t payload capacity.

The implementation of the project with road trains is reducing dramatically the Companys investment costs for the transportation of mined rock from the Zarnitsa pipe. It increases the profitability of remote and low-grade deposits development by way of reducing technological transportation costs, explains Alexander Bondarenko, the head of ALROSAs internal investment projects.

Scania, Tonar and Volvo road trains will be used to deliver diamond-bearing ore at the development of the Verkhne-Munskoe ore field, which on-balance reserves of diamonds are estimated at 38.3 million carats.




Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been projected as the winner of the District of Columbia's Democratic primary in the final contest ahead of next month's nominating convention.

The outcome was viewed largely as anticlimactic, since Clinton had already locked up enough delegates to clinch her party's nomination.

Nevertheless, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has vowed to take his fight all the way to the convention - set for July 25 to 28 in Philadelphia.

The Republican convention, with mogul Donald Trump ensconced as the presumptive nominee, is set for July 18 to 21 in Cleveland.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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Switzerland's ALSO Holding AG Wednesday announced that it has agreed on a strategic partnership with Cyprus -based Logicom Public Ltd. The deal is to bring a wide range of local and global cloud-based software services to customers in Southern Europe and the Middle East starting in July 2016.

Both companies join forces to make the ALSO Cloud Marketplace platform available to over 10,000 Logicom partners in 13 countries, with a potential of 350,000 new seats on the platform.

This provides ALSO with the opportunity to offer services from its catalogue to Logicom's customers. Right from the start, well-known international cloud service providers and local ISVs will use the platform to provide a broad range of services.

Varnavas Irinarchos, CEO of Logicom, said, "Logicom is ramping up its cloud solutions offerings for serving its existing as well as new partners including ISVs, hosters and service providers. Our strategic partnership with ALSO provides us with an advanced cloud solutions environment that will cater for state-of-the art customer experience."

ALSO offers services at all levels of the ICT value chain from a single source. In the European B2B marketplace, ALSO bundles logistics services, financial services, supply services, solution services, digital services, and IT services.

Logicom's activities include the distribution of products and services, the provision of Integrated IT Networking, Telecom and Business Software solutions, and the execution of large infrastructure.

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Business News
Berkeley Group Holdings Plc.(BKG.L), which builds new homes, neighborhoods and communities, reported that preliminary profit before taxation for the year ended 30 April 2016 decreased to 530.9 million pounds from 539.7 million pounds in the previous year.

Profit after taxation for the year declined to 404.1 million pounds or 268.7 pence per share from 423.5 million pounds or 276.9 pence per share in the prior year.

Adjusted pre-tax earnings were 479.9 million pounds for the year, an increase of 5.6% on last year.

Annual revenue declined to 2.05 billion pounds from 2.12 billion pounds in the prior year.

The company noted that 3,776 new homes (2015: 3,355) were sold across London and the South of England at an average selling price of 515,000 (2015: 575,000). The changes to the average selling price are a result of mix with Berkeley completing two student developments in the current year, one in Bath and one in London which together comprise 638 units.

The company said it remains on target to deliver pre-tax profits in the region of 2.0 billion pounds over the three year period ending 30 April 2018, underpinned by 3.25 billion pounds of forward sales.

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Business News
Denmark's producer prices declined at a faster pace in May, figures from Statistics Denmark showed Wednesday.

The producer price index fell 3.9 percent year-over-year in May, which was worse than the 2.5 percent decrease in April. Prices have been falling since June 2014.

Producer prices in the domestic market slid 4.2 percent annually in May and foreign market prices went down by 3.5 percent.

On a monthly basis, producer prices dropped 0.4 percent in May, reversing a 1.2 percent rise in the preceding month.

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Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Greece's import prices continued to decline in April, data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority showed Wednesday.

The import price index dipped 7.9 percent year-over-year in April, slightly faster than the 7.8 percent decrease in the previous month. In February, the rate of fall was 9.5 percent.

Among the main industrial groups, energy prices plunged the most by 28.5 percent annually in April. Prices for intermediate goods slid 2.6 percent, while those of capital goods rose by 0.2 percent.

On a monthly basis, import prices went up 1.3 percent in April, following a 1.4 percent rise in March.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Economic News

What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Steinhoff International Holdings NV, noting the recent movement in the share price of Poundland Group Plc (PLND.L), confirmed Wednesday that it is considering a possible offer for the entire issued share capital of Poundland.

Responding to the announcement by Steinhoff, Poundland, a general merchandise retailer, urged its shareholders not to take any action regarding the offer. The company said will issue a further statement if and when appropriate.

Poundland stated that there can be no certainty that a firm offer will be made, nor as to the terms on which any firm offer might be made.

In London, Poundland shares are now trading at 199.50 pence, up 1.92 percent.

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Business News
Coca-Cola Co. (KO) announced a letter of intent to refranchise territories to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated (COKE).

Coca-Cola said it expects to refranchise most of the Memphis, Tennessee, market unit to Charlotte, North Carolina-based Coca-Cola Bottling Consolidated. This area includes portions of Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, including Little Rock. Consolidated also expects to acquire production facilities in Memphis, Tennessee, and West Memphis, Arkansas.

Separately, Consolidated has signed a letter of intent for a small territory owned by Coca-Cola that is centered on Louisa, Kentucky, with operations that span into West Virginia.

In addition, a number of facilities and territories in the Southeast will be exchanged under letters of intent involving Consolidated, fellow bottler Coca-Cola Bottling Company United and the Coca-Cola Refreshments unit of Coca-Cola Co.

On April 29, Coca-Cola and Consolidated also closed a previously announced agreement to refranchise territory centered on Baltimore. This deal included production facilities in Baltimore and Silver Spring, Maryland.

These agreements are part of a plan to refranchise all of Coca-Cola's North American territories by the end of 2017.

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Business News
Indian shares rose for the first time in five days on Wednesday on expectations that Fed Chair Janet Yellen would strike a dovish tone when the FOMC ends a two-day review later today.

Gains in rupee after four days of losses on hopes about passage of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in the next session of Parliament also buoyed investor sentiment.

NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya said today that he expects India's GDP growth to cross the 8 percent mark this fiscal on the back of a good monsoon and pick up in manufacturing.

Global cues remained supportive despite falling oil prices and MSCI's decision to keep mainland Chinese shares out of its key emerging index.

The benchmark BSE Sensex ended the session up 330.63 points or 1.25 percent at 26,726.34, snapping a four-day losing streak. The broader Nifty index gained 97.75 points or 1.21 percent to regain the psychological 8,200 level.

Among top gainers, ITC, Hero MotoCorp, Maruti Suzuki, Bharti Airtel, Larsen & Toubro, Power Grid, NTPC and SBI climbed 2-4 percent. InterGlobe Aviation and SpiceJet added 2-3 percent as the Cabinet approved the much-awaited Civil Aviation Policy.

State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, and State Bank of Mysore all jumped around 20 percent each on reports the Union Cabinet has given in-principle approval for the merger of SBI with five of its associate banks.

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Nucor Corp. (NUE) announced the company expects second-quarter results to be in the range of $0.65 to $0.70 per share. Projected second quarter of 2016 results include an estimated LIFO expense of $19.0 million or $0.03 per share. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report profit per share of $0.57. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Nucor said the performance of its steel mills segment in the second quarter of 2016 is expected to be much improved compared to the first quarter of 2016 due to higher average selling prices and improved volumes. The performance of downstream products segment is expected to improve from the first quarter of 2016 due to seasonal factors and the gradual improvement in nonresidential construction .

Nucor believes the performance of the downstream products segment for the full year 2016 will be improved compared to 2015, despite higher expected steel costs in the current year and minimal benefits from the 2015 highway bill, which the company believes will have a greater impact on future years' performance.

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Business News
Senate Democrats are pushing for an increase in funding for the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the heels of the weekend massacre at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., filed an amendment to an appropriations bill to fully fund the FBI and help prevent domestic terror attacks.

The amendment would provide an additional $190 million to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal 2017.

Of the amount, $175 million is dedicated to the FBI's counterterrorism efforts and $15 million to active shooter training.

The amendment would raise funding for the FBI to $73 million above President Barack Obama's request and $24 million above the amount provided by House Republicans.

"We need to get the FBI the tools it needs to keep up with those trying to recruit Americans to extremist ideologies or spread messages of hate to inspire others," Mikulski said.

"We also need our first responders on the front lines to be prepared to keep victims safe, get them out of danger, and get them the medical help if they need, should the unthinkable happens," she added. "That's what our amendment does."

Nelson introduced separate legislation Wednesday designed help the FBI detect and prevent attacks such as the Orlando shooting before they happen.

The legislation would ensure any individual who has been investigated for possible ties to terrorism is entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

Additionally, the bill would require the NICS system to automatically notify the FBI if a background check is conducted for a prospective gun buyer who has been investigated for potential ties to terrorism.

"We're not saying: don't sell guns to someone just because they were investigated," Nelson said. "But having a system in place that alerts the FBI if someone they once investigated is suddenly trying to purchase multiple assault weapons is just common sense."

Nelson introduced the legislation after it was revealed that the gunman responsible for the Orlando shooting was interviewed by the FBI at least three times.

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Political News
A majority of Americans disapprove of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's response to the weekend massacre at a nightclub in Orlando, according to the results of a new CBS News poll.

Fifty-one percent of Americans said they disapprove of Trump's response to the mass shooting, while just 25 percent approve. Another 24 percent said they don't know.

In posts to Twitter following the attack, Trump took credit for "being right on radical Islamic terrorism" and predicted that what happened in Orlando is "just the beginning."

Trump also reiterated his controversial call for a ban on Muslim immigration to the U.S. and suggested President Barack Obama should resign for not referring to the attack as "radical Islamic terrorism."

The real estate tycoon doubled-down on the proposal to ban Muslims in a speech on Monday and suggested the ban could be expanded to areas of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism.

However, the CBS News poll found that 62 percent of Americans oppose Trump's proposed Muslim ban, including 62 percent of independents. Fifty-six percent of Republicans think Muslims should be banned.

The survey showed a more divided reaction to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's response to the attack.

Thirty-six percent of Americans approve of Clinton's response, while 34 percent disapprove and 30 percent don't know.

CBS News noted 62 percent of Democrats approve of Clinton's response, while 50 percent of Republicans approve of Trump's. More independents are critical of Trump's response than Clinton's.

The survey of 1,001 adults was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS on June 13th and 14th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

(Photo: Gage Skidmore)

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Political News
Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. (NUS) announced after the close Wednesday that Ping An ZQ China Growth Opportunity Limited has agreed to invest $210 million in the company. The stock is now up 1.43 on 13K shares.

Nu Skin Enterprises rose until mid-morning Wednesday, before settling into a range. Shares finished with a gain of 0.57 at $40.69.

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Business News
There is a high possibility that Honda SUV RS which is teased for Indonesia, will make it to India as well
The Tata Tiago Aktiv, a near-production concept with rough road package, is likely to see the light of day as a niche product. The model was first showcased at the Auto Expo 2016 before heading to the Geneva Motor Show.

The regular version of the Tiago has started off strongly with over 20,000 bookings registered so far. Autocar India reports that demand for the Tiago accessories displayed by the Aktiv is good.

The fully accessorized Tiago Aktiv is expected to be built on order or in limited numbers at first.

So, instead only making the accessories available to the Tiago customers, Tata is exploring the business opportunity to sell the fully kitted up Tiago Aktiv as a premium and sportier derivative.

ACI reports that, according to its sources, Tata would be initially building the Aktiv on order or in limited numbers to test the waters. If it receives strong enough response, full-fledged production would commence at a later stage.

The Tiago Aktiv adds a lot of crossover bits that transform the budget hatchbacks appeal. The add-ons include special paint job, sportier black bumpers with silver skid plates, metallic scuff plates, dual-tone alloy wheels, roof rails, body decals and so on. Interior is left more or less untouched.

Interior enhancements are limited to new seat covers.

Also read  Tata Tiago Review

The Tata Tiago Aktiv is expected to be priced at a premium of around INR 50,000 over the regular version. It could be launched during this years festive season (September to November) to take advantage of the positive buyer sentiment.

Photos

Via  AutocarIndia.com
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 ...
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OLCC Approves Cannabis Tracking System 3rd Party Software Providers

Allows for Integration with Point of Sale, Inventory Systems Eliminates Need for Double Entry

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Oregon Liquor Control Commission and Metrc(TM) have approved four software solution providers whose products are compatible for integration with the Oregon Recreational Marijuana Program Cannabis Tracking System (CTS).

These products will allow OLCC recreational marijuana licensees to electronically transmit inventory and sales data into the CTS, a time-saving step that eliminates the need for additional updating by manual data entry.

The approved companies include: OMMPOS of Astoria, OR, Flowhub of Denver, CO, Greenbits of Portland, OR and Odava of Portland, OR. The four companies currently have clients using their software solutions in Oregons medical marijuana system.

Software solution providers can apply for certification in five inventory management categories: sales, packages, transfers, plants, and harvests; certification is also available for administrative functions: strains, items, and rooms/locations.

All licensees in Oregons Recreational Marijuana system are required to use the CTS. Licensees are not required to use POS or inventory management software and can enter their CTS data manually. The OLCC is not endorsing these software solutions.

More than 20 software providers are in the process of developing API solutions to enable their software to integrate with the CTS; the companies were required to prove their expertise and proficiency in this type of software development as a condition of their participation in the certification process.

Metrc is responsible for certifying software solutions. Companies that become certified will be added to the OLCC/Metrc Approved Integrator List. A link can be found on the OLCC Recreational Marijuana page under the section: Cannabis Tracking System.

Approved companies are required to sign data use agreements with the OLCC. It is the responsibility of a licensee to enter accurate information into the certified system in order to comply with OLCC Rules.

Source: https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/marijuana/Documents/mj_app_stats_by_county.pdf

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The Vailima-based Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (S.P.R.E.P.) has signed a Host Country Agreement, formalising the establishment of a S.P.R.E.P. office in Fiji.

The Director General of S.P.R.E.P., Leota Kosi Latu signed the agreement in Suva with Fijis Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola. This is a special occasion for S.P.R.E.P. and our members as we work with our Pacific islands to enhance their natural solutions to build resilience against the impacts of climate change, said Leota.

We are very grateful to the government of Fiji for their support and belief in our work by hosting our office and staff as we aim to provide quality based assistance to our island member countries, working together to help protect and conserve our unique Pacific environment and her people.

Minister Kubuabola said the signing marked a new chapter in the partnership between the Fijian government and S.P.R.E.P. He said the government of Fiji was committed to its obligations towards regional organisations such as S.P.R.E.P. He said the signing of the agreement was a testament to that.

This office hosts the Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change (P.E.B.A.C.C.) project which focuses on strengthening and protecting the role of natural ecosystem services to enhance resilience with activities in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The 5-year project which began last year is funded by the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (B.M.U.B.) and is implemented by S.P.R.E.P. in partnership with the governments of Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The office in Suva supports the three-country project, and complements the field offices in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Fiji-based staff includes the P.E.B.A.C.C. project manager, national project officer, communications officer, and finance and administration officer.

The Fiji component of the project is gearing up to conduct Ecosystem and Socio-economic Resilience Analysis and Mappings (E.S.R.A.M.) at the project sites of Macuata Province and Taveuni Island.

E.S.R.A.Ms will facilitate a deeper understanding of resilience and vulnerability by focusing on the inter-connectedness between social and ecological systems and how these are being impacted by climate and non-climate drivers. The results will inform the identification of options for using ecosystem-based adaptation (E.b.A.) approaches in building resilience to climate change. Options will be costed and prioritised using tools such as Cost Benefit Analysis.

The project will assist in the implementation of selected E.b.A. activities to demonstrate the value of E.b.A. approaches to adaptation. This will be complemented by awareness raising, capacity building and policy integration.

The E.S.R.A.Ms will be conducted by Watershed Professionals Network (W.P.N.)  a multidisciplinary team of scientists - who are teaming up with locally based cultural expert Simione Tuimalega. National government counterparts in Fiji include the Ministry of Finance, Climate Change Division and the Ministry of Local Government, Housing, Environment, Infrastructure and Transport.
A new Australian government project, which aims to support expanded fruit production in Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, held its first meeting on Monday at the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (S.R.O.S.).

Highlighting increasing horticultural regional collaboration, the workshop was attended by senior representatives from the Pacific countries.

According to Professor Steven Underhill, of the University of Queensland, who attended the workshop, the discussion was about finding ways to encourage fruit production.

Fruit production in the Pacific represents less than 10% of the overall horticultural output, despite favourable climates, increasing market opportunities, and important human health benefits, he said.

While there is a lot of research to be undertaken, we recognise the critical importance of the Samoa government and our partners at the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture and the Tonga Ministry of Agriculture.

This workshop agreed to a series of important steps to better support Pacific fruit farmers, with S.R.O.S. taking on a leadership role in developing and testing new postharvest technologies to better support emerging sea-freight export opportunities in Samoa.

This new A.C.I.A.R.-funded project will support the development of resilient tropical fruit value chains in Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga; based on the five regionally significant fruit crops: papaya, pineapple, mango, breadfruit, and citrus.

While S.R.O.S. will lead the development of new postharvest horticultural technologies, we anticipate a strong partnership with our Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, especially around targeted training and capacity building of local extension officers, and primary production activities on pineapples and papaya, said Tilafono David Hunter, Chief Executive Officer of S.R.O.S.

During the workshop, attendees were briefed on proposed research to increase production and postharvest efficiency of pineapple in Samoa, Fiji and Tonga; research to improve domestic mango production in Fiji, and effort to re-build the Tonga domestic citrus industry.

The workshop attendees were also advised on potentially groundbreaking research that seeks to develop low-grow breadfruit trees that could be more cyclone tolerant and easier to harvest.

Importantly, this initiative has been designed to further support parallel postharvest horticultural research currently funded by F.A.O. that aims to reduce food loss in Samoa and improve farmer profitability.

The training was attended by Losaline Maasi, Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries of Tonga, Shalendra Prasad, the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Siosiua Halavatau, Pacific Community (S.P.C.), Tim Martyn U.N.-F.A.O., Professor Steven Underhill, the University of the Sunshine Coast and The University of Queensland, Tilafono David Hunter and Tuimaseve Kuinimeri Finau-Asora, of S.R.O.S.
Its about time. And thank goodness. Finally.

The idea that the Ministry of Prison and Correction Services (M.P.C.S) is considering a ban on the weekend parole could not have come at a better time (see story Govt. considers ban)

According to the Ministrys Spokesperson, Sagaga Galu Frost, the proposed ban is part of a number of plans in the pipeline to keep Samoa safe from prisoners. It follows growing concerns by the Ministry  as well as the Police  about the number of crimes being committed by prisoners who are granted weekend parole.

Already, there are certain criminals who have become ineligible.

From our experience, we have seen that those who are convicted for theft, sexual crimes and other offences are likely to reoffend, said Sagaga.

So we have made a decision and since then, I have not heard any more complaints from the outside about problems caused by prisoners who are granted parole.

Of course they shouldnt. Thats because prisoners belong in jail and thats where they should stay. This ban is long overdue.

Not so long ago on the front page of your Sunday Samoan, a story titled Citizen living in fear was prominently featured. The story highlighted concerns about safety and security in Samoa expressed by 84-year- old businessman, Ken Newton. He had been attacked twice in as many months in his own home by an escaped prisoner.

Now tired of it and concerned that it could happen to others, Mr. Newton decided to speak out.

It saddens me greatly that after living peacefully in Samoa for 37 years, I am now forced every night to take extreme security measures to try and ensure the safety of myself and my wife, Mr. Newton said at the time.

They (the attacks) have changed our sense of peaceful living. We have to be alert all the time and its really affecting our lives. My wife is pretty nervous and we cant be relaxed with the fact that he (the prisoner) is in prison because he might break out again.

Mr. Newton added that he feels threatened all the time.

The windows are secured, the doors and everything is secured, he said. We even installed an alarm but he still managed to break in...hes a professional.

Mr. Newton is not the only one who has suffered though. Many innocent members of the public have also suffered which is truly worrying.

Whats alarming is that it feels as if it is optional for prisoners to stay in jail. Indeed, judging from the countless times prisoners have broken out at will over the years, it seems convicts in this country can do whatever they want.

The idea of jail, we believe, is not just to teach these folks a lesson. One of the most important elements of sending them to jail is to protect members of the public from them. Yes these people, as much as we want to reintegrate them into society, are not normal. They pose a great risk to you and me. They are criminals.

And thats why the Police and Prisons exist. They are there to protect us from these criminals. And yet that doesnt seem to be the case on these shores, looking at the growing number of times prisoners runaway from their cells.

Mr. Newton  and all other victims  do not deserve the treatment they have received. They should have been protected by the authorities making sure that criminals stay behind bars, where they belong.

We accept that there many challenges for the prison authorities  especially when it comes to the state of the Tafaigata Prison. One of them is the rapid rise in the number of prisoners.

There are nearly 700 prisoners at Tafaigata alone for a little over a hundred prison officers. Thats a ratio of nearly six prisoners per one officer - in the unlikely scenario that they are all working.

You dont need to be a rocket scientist to know that this is a disaster waiting to happen. One day, these prisoners will run away and kill someone.

But even before that extreme, how many families must continue to suffer when their homes are broken into and robbed every time these convicts are out?

When will we wake up and say enough is enough?

As long as prisoners continue to walk out at will and be given parole, no one is safe. Not even in our homes. This is why the decision by the M.P.C.S to consider a total ban on these weekend paroles is a welcome development. If prisoners want to see their families, change their ways, stop breaking the law and make themselves useful. What do you think?
A Chinese fishing company is interested in establishing a cannery in Samoa and it is looking at Satitoa wharf at Aleipata as the main base for its deep sea fishing vessels.

A report on Radio New Zealand International said representatives from the company would meet government officials this week to discuss the proposal.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and other government agencies are at the centre of preparations for the proposed business venture which government sources said would create many job opportunities for local people.

In 2014 the government revealed it was in talks with the firm Bumble Bee over establishing a cannery and fish loining plant on the main Apia wharf but that never came to fruition.
A businessman visiting Samoa for a week has had an experience he does not want to remember when he returns to Australia.

Kam Nasseri who works for John Batman Group has had some valuable belongings taken from him at a local hotel and he is not happy.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer yesterday, Mr. Nasseri said he was mostly unhappy with what he described as the unhelpful attitude of hotel workers.

On Saturday before I left the hotel there were two ladies cleaning my room, he said.

It was usually one lady who cleans the room in the past days but when I came out of the shower, there were two and one of them was holding on to my packet of cigarette. She asked me if she could have one and I said to her you have it on your hand so you might as well take it.

According to Mr. Nasseri, the ladies had asked him where he was going. He responded that he would be going to To Sua trench. Before I left, I took off my bracelet thinking that I dont want to lose it (at the Trench) and I also left my phone, he said.

I came back later on and got ready to go to dinner and when I checked where I put my jewelry, it wasnt there. I looked for my phone, it was the same thing.

I asked the hotel about it and they simply said they dont know anything.

The businessman said he had asked if he could speak to the lady that took his smoke but they kept telling him she has left. The days after that they continued to tell him that she hasnt come back to work.

That bracelet is 18KTgold and its a treasure to me, something that my mother bought for me on my 30th birthday, said Mr. Nasseri.

Even the phone I can get another one but it has all my childrens photos from when they were babies and other memories there. It just disappeared and there has been no support or whatsoever from the hotel.

Contacted for a comment, an official at the hotel who spoke on the condition of anonymity said they couldnt comment because the Police are investigating the complaint.

Another source at the Hotel confirmed that the Police are following up other leads  including the possibility that someone known to Mr. Naseri had stolen his stuff.

In the meantime, Mr. Nasseri said it would have been great if the hotel had at least acknowledged that it has a responsibility to protect the properties of their guests. Not a single note or word from the owners but just the workers who just tell me that they dont know what happened to my belongings, said the businessman.

This is really bad for tourism in Samoa and for their hotel. Personally theyve destroyed their reputation and by the looks of it  it seems to be something that is normal and it doesnt bother them.

Frustrated with the lack of support Mr. Nasseri reported the matter to Police and had posted on social media for any help from the locals about his missing belongings.
The long-serving Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Land Corporation (S.L.C), Afoa Arasi Tiotio, is bowing out with a smile.

The woman who has steered the Corporations ship through some very challenging times  including the controversy involving the Officers of Parliament Committee report - says she did her best with the role and as the Corporation prepares to welcome her successor, she is leaving contented.

Afoa, who joined the Corporation in 2002 as the Manager of the Land Division, has held the portfolio for three terms, a period spanning nearly 10 years.

I am thankful to God for the opportunity given to me to lead this office and I am also thankful that I have made my contribution to my country, she said.

Its a very challenging role but Im grateful for the support of the management and the staff that made the journey bearable.

I want to thank the management and staff of Samoa Land for believing in me and for putting up with me through hard times. I also want to acknowledge the Ministers I have worked with during the past nine years.

Afoa is especially grateful to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi for having faith in her for this many years.

Looking ahead, Afoa said she is happy that she will now have more time for her family as well as other plans she had to put on hold.

My plan for now is to take a break, she said. I want to spend some time working on my plantation. This is good timing as well because we have just started our work for our new church.

Afoas last day at work will be tomorrow when she will bid farewell during a staff function.

And with that, the S.L.C will welcome their new boss, Ulugia Petelo Kavesi.

Ulugia holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Arts in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Agriculture Degree majoring in Agricultural Economics from the University of the South Pacific.

Ulugia was the Accident Compensation Corporation Administration Manager, a post he has held since 1999.

He was also the Manager in charge of Research and Statistics for the Samoa Tourism Authority from 1998  1999 and previously worked as the Agricultural Economist in 1997 and as a graduate research assistant at the University of the South Pacific- EU Project from 1991  1994.

Hailing from the village of Vaiusu, he is married with four children.

As for Afoa, she said S.L.C is in good hands.

She said Ulugia is a very capable leader having served the government through several Ministries and she is confident he is well prepared for the job.

I wish him all the best.
The Ministry of Prison and Correction Services (M.P.C.S) is contemplating a blanket ban on weekend parole.

This is part of a move by the government to curb the sharp rise in the crime rate involving prisoners who are allowed back into the community.

The decision was confirmed by the Ministrys Spokesperson, Sagaga Galu Frost, who said this is part of a number of plans in the pipeline to keep Samoa safe from prisoners.

A final decision has yet to be made but I can confirm that it is being considered very carefully, he said. This parole is very rare. Only in Samoa where we allow prisoners on the weekend parole but if you look at other countries, prisoners there dont have that privilege.

There are some inmates who are using the opportunity wisely but others just seem like they dont really care.

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Sagaga said the Ministry  as well as the Police  are concerned about the rising number of crimes being committed by prisoners who are granted weekend paroles. This includes rape cases, robberies and other heinous offenses that have been reported in the media.

In one case, a notorious prison escapee broke into a hotel in the middle of the night, robbed a couple and raped a female while her partner looked on. In other cases, prisoners have been linked to multiple thefts, robberies and the harassment of innocent citizens.

Asked why the parole is necessary, Sagaga said the idea was initially to reward good behavior for prisoners every two weeks based on mutual trust.

But this trust has been abused and misused several times and now it is time to put a stop to it, he said.

The Spokesperson said M.P.C.S and the National Prosecution Office (N.P.O) are working to solve the problem.

Prisoner Lauititi was one of the problems because of what he did, said Sagaga. When he was on the loose, he attacked a businessman and these are the behaviors that we are trying to stop.

According to the official, since problems started surfacing, the Ministry has not been resting on its laurels in its efforts to find a solution. As part of this, a majority of inmates are no longer eligible for weekend parole, or any other form of special release.

And while a decision on the blanket ban is yet to be made, Sagaga said prisoners convicted for sexual matters, theft and burglary are no longer allowed on the weekend parole.

From our experience, we have seen that those who are convicted for theft, sexual crimes and other offences are likely to reoffend, said Sagaga. So we have made a decision and since then, I have not heard any more complaints from the outside about problems caused by prisoners who are granted parole.

Sagaga added that the parole is still being exercised but very few prisoners are now granted it, under very strict circumstances.

It was hard at first because we had some families complain but I think people are used to it now, he said.

Some prisoners also understand why we are doing this. We are also want to protect them from re-offending so that they can serve their time and go back to their families.

Speaking of families, Sagaga identified another problem.

What weve found is that those prisoners who keep on re-offending are the ones who are no longer accepted back to their families and their villages and they have no other place to go, he said.

Because they feel that they have no where else to go, the easiest thing for them to do is re-offend so that the prison becomes their home.

The Prison Spokesperson said this is a bigger problem that will require the community to work together to resolve.
Think a minuteOne of the most famous Italians in the 20th century was Benito Mussolini, known to his people as Il Duce, which simply means The Leader.

His charisma was almost like a movie star rather than a government leader, even though his charm was bathed in blood and violence.

The popularity of Mussolini was truly phenomenal. He transformed Italy into a spectacular show of national pride, parades, military power, and music. Mussolini regularly stood on his balcony with thousands of people below cheering and worshipping him at the height of his power.

Parents would hold their children up to see their mighty leader. To young men he seemed to be the perfect example of a real man, fearless and tough; and to young women he represented both seduction and security in one.

Italians, and even citizens of other countries, asked for the autograph of Mussolini the superstar. One of these fans sent Mussolini a photo hoping he would sign it, but he rejected his admirers request.

However, Mussolini would likely have signed it had he known who this fan would become. For this young man who worshipped Mussolini as his hero did follow in his steps, until one day these two terrible dictators stood side by side: Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, two of the most evil leaders in all of history.

We become, now and forever, like the people we admire and want to be like. The great British author C.S. Lewis wrote: Its a serious thing to live in a world of possible gods and goddesses...All day long, in one way or another, we are helping each other become a person of great goodness or horrible evilThere are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortalEvery person we meet, joke with, work with, marry, mistreat, and ignore will become either everlasting horrors of evil or everlasting heroes of godly nature and goodness.

So what kind of person do you want to become forever? Where do you want to live for all eternity: with God or without Him? In Heaven or in Hell? Remember, Jesus makes it crystal clear that we all live forever since God created us in His likeness as living, eternal souls. The only person worthy of being your hero, whom you worship and follow, is your Creator, Savior and Lord.

Wont you ask Jesus to forgive you for living your wrong, sinful way? You must also ask Him to take full charge of your heart and daily way of living. It is the only way you can start becoming more like Him in your character for the rest of this life, and your eternal life after you die. Just think a minute
IMF official warns China of corporate debt risk Updated: 2016-06-15 07:33 By Wang Yanfei(China Daily)

A jogger runs on the Bund after a rain with the skyline of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings in Shanghai. [Photo/IC]

China is making progress on its economic rebalancing, but rising corporate debt could pose risks to growth in the medium and long term if the debt problem isn't solved, a senior official at the International Monetary Fund suggested in Beijing on Tuesday.

"China is making progress in many dimensions on its transition to a sustainable growth path, and the near-term outlook has turned more buoyant due to recent policy support," said David Lipton, the IMF's first deputy managing director, after a discussion with top Chinese officials and regulators in the financial sector.

Lipton said the moderate slowdown in China's growth in the first quarter is a natural result of the country's necessary transition, and it's good enough compared with many other economies.

Addressing recent depreciation pressure on the renminbi that sparked concerns of global investors, Lipton said the exchange rate is becoming "more flexible and market-based" as there has been substantial liberalization of financial markets.

Lipton said the government should achieve an effective floating range within the next couple of years.

What it needs to be concerned about to ensure medium-to-high growth in the long run is the risk of rising debt, Lipton said.

"The corporate debt load, which is at 145 percent of GDP, though still manageable, is high and rising fast," Lipton said, adding that China needed a comprehensive plan and concrete actionespecially for State-owned enterprisesto avoid serious problems in the long run.

His observations were in line with those of Chinese authorities who have been aware of the challenges. An unidentified "authoritative figure" who published an article in People's Daily earlier in May said that soaring debt levels could trigger a "systemic" financial crisis if efforts are too weak.

China has since launched a series of initiatives to whittle back the bad debt sitting on bank balance sheets, including securitization and debt-for-equity swaps.

Facing possible vulnerabilities, officials have adopted plans designed to settle growth at a sustainable level.

Zhang Tao, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, speaking at a financial forum in Shanghai on Sunday, signaled a willingness to let zombie companies die and let the market decide which ones should be shut down.

Li Pumin, spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission, pledged on Tuesday to take more steps to address excess capacity in the coal and steel sectors in an effort to spur restructuring.
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Onus on EU to promote close ties with China Updated: 2016-06-14 08:41 By Fu Jing(China Daily)

State Councilor Yang Jiechi and his EU counterpart Federica Mogherini vow to deepen the bilateral relationship at press conference of the sixth round of high-level strategic dialogue held in Brussels on Friday. [Photo by Fu Jing/chinadaily.com.cn]

In the run-up to the G20 summit in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, in September, Chinese and European leaders will hold intensive talks to create more opportunities and space to boost their trade and other relations.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is on her ninth visit to China with the aim of taking Sino-German relations to new heights. But despite China's advanced manufacturing power, which helped Germany to reap benefits by investing in the country for decades, Berlin is still hesitant to acknowledge China as a market economy.

As for the overall relationship between China and the European Union, the two sides have decided to hold their annual summit in July. The decision was taken at a high-level strategic dialogue co-chaired by State Councilor Yang Jiechi and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Brussels on Friday. Besides, EU leaders, including European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, will meet with their Chinese counterparts at the Asia-Europe meeting in Mongolia in July and the G20 summit in September.

In addition to these meetings, the leaders of the United Kingdom and France are also expected to meet with their Chinese counterparts at bilateral and multilateral forums and meetings during the coming months.

It is notable that such meetings are being held so frequently despite the serious domestic challenges both sides face and the rising concerns over regional and global issues.

It is encouraging to see Chinese and European leaders adopting a pragmatic approach even though they have taken different stands on the serious issues of excess steel production and China's market economy status.

In 2012-13 Beijing and Brussels were locked in a dispute over exports of China-made solar panels to EU countries, following which high-level exchanges between the two sides were closed for almost one year. The resumption of the exchanges can thus be seen as a win-win compromise.

Some observers say the consultation approach adopted by the two sides should be used to resolve the steel trade dispute and determine how China can acquire market economy status.

For the EU and many of its member states, China has been their strategic partner. The essential elements of such a partnership are mutual trust, understanding and compromise. China has established such a relationship with the EU, which got a boost when Xi became the first Chinese president to visit the EU headquarters in 2014, in order to help restore global peace, and accelerate growth and reform.

China has offered to synergize Beijing-Brussels work on mega-projects by setting up joint funds to realize connectivity, and inject more capital into the EU's 315-billion ($350-billion) investment plan.

These commitments follow China's support to the EU during its deepest financial and sovereign debt crisis in 2008-09. Some EU member states, including the UK, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Greece, have responded positively to China's moves. But some others, especially the EU itself, have a lot of homework to do on how to further expand the strategic partnership.

The EU needs to meet the expectations of its member states, most of which are eager to deepen pragmatic relations with China. The EU should also expedite the decision-making process to realize mega-project synergy and facilitate connectivity in Eurasia.

Moreover, the EU should consider internal institutional reformsturning its institutions into facilitators of pragmatic partnership, instead of working as stumbling blocks.

The author is deputy editor of China Daily European Edition. fujing@chinadaily.com.cn
Lancashire, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/15/2016 -- Borne from a passion for enhancing the tourism and travel industries of Canada, Canadian eTA is designed to make the documentation and transit aspect of travel easier than ever before. The new website; https://canada-eta.co.uk allows everything to be done in one place and is a fast and easy way to apply for a Canadian travel visa.



A spokesman for the company said:



"We're incredibly excited to have launched our digital travel visa's platform so our comrades in the UK have an easier time of obtaining what they need to come explore all our amazing country has to offer," said Raul, Founder and Owner of Canada eTA. "Whether it's business reasons, tourism exploration, or transit requirements, our site can expedite the travel visa process."



Individuals needing to travel to Canada on business can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization through the new platform. Others looking for tourism exploration can obtain an online Travel Authorization for expediting the Visa requirement process. And, travels needing to transit through Canada can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before boarding their flight to make the whole ordeal seamless.



Requirements for obtaining an eTA include citizenship, a valid passport, and ample capital for the duration of traveler's stay.



"All platform visitors need to do is click the application button and get started completing one for eTA usage," said Raul. "We'll process the application and send it out so appliers don't have to worry about a thing. Spread the word on the opening of our new travel-friendly business, and head on over to our website to learn more about what we can offer travelers."



For more information, or to read about the process for obtaining an eTA, visit: https://canada-eta.co.uk/



Company: Canada Eta

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A dastardly act of terrorism and hatred Updated: 2016-06-15 08:26 By Shen Dingli(China Daily)

LI FENG/CHINA DAILY

Given the horrendous mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, it is natural for one to inquire why the shooter targeted so many innocent people.

Obviously, this massacre is an act of terrorism. Omar Mateen, the perpetrator, claimed the highest number of casualties in amass shooting in the United States. Thus far, the US government has been busy trying to find out if Mateen was associated with any terrorist group. The fact that intelligence officers again failed to foil such a terror attack may have an impact on the US presidential election.

The motive behind the attack will decide if it was merely an individual terror attack or an organized act of terrorism. Even though Mateen pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State group before gunning people down, his true motive is still under investigation. But no matter what the outcome of the investigation, the US government will not feel easy.

If the 29-year-old Mateen is proven to have launched the attack on instructions of the IS, it will expose a major loophole in the US' "war on terror", because American intelligence failed to intercept and prevent the dastardly act. And if his was a "lone wolf" attack, the US will still feel frustrated for not being able to prevent an individual from gunning down so many people out of hatred.

If Mateen was driven by the IS, his was not only a terrorist act; he was also a terrorist. Given his ethnic background(his father migrated from Afghanistan), presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has linked it to radical Islamic terrorism, which US President Barack Obama and presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton would be hesitant to echo.
Hartford, CT -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/15/2016 -- Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine's "natural" or un-paid ("organic") search results. In general, the earlier (or higher ranked on the search results page), and more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine's users. SEO may target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, video search, academic search, news search and industry-specific vertical search engines.



As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work, what people search for, the actual search terms or keywords typed into search engines and which search engines are preferred by their targeted audience. Optimizing a website may involve editing its content, HTML and associated coding to both increase its relevance to specific keywords and to remove barriers to the indexing activities of search engines. Promoting a site to increase the number of backlinks, or inbound links, is another SEO tactic.



Webmasters and content providers began optimizing sites for search engines in the mid-1990s, as the first search engines were cataloging the early Web. Initially, all webmasters needed to do was to submit the address of a page, or URL, to the various engines which would send a "spider" to "crawl" that page, extract links to other pages from it, and return information found on the page to be indexed. The process involves a search engine spider downloading a page and storing it on the search engine's own server, where a second program, known as an indexer, extracts various information about the page, such as the words it contains and where these are located, as well as any weight for specific words, and all links the page contains, which are then placed into a scheduler for crawling at a later date.



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Bangkok, Thailand -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/15/2016 -- KlaiKlai.com proudly announced the official launch of its free map application that helps locals and tourists find what's near them in Thailand. Available in both Thai and English languages, it consists of more than 14.6 million physical addresses, hundreds of categories and 1.2 million point of interests in 77 provinces within the Kingdom of Thailand.



In conjunction with the Thailand government's initiatives on promoting international and domestic tourism, KlaiKlai aims to provide quality mapping services for locals, expats and tourists while they reside or travel in Thailand.



Between January to April 2016, Thailand's international tourism has witnessed a growth of 14.12% over the same period of 2015. In addition, domestic tourism is estimated to increase by 6.5% reaching 146.5 million trips by year-end, said Pornkamol Chatchawanthanapak, Co-Founder of KlaiKlai.



"This steady growth has shown that it is important for the travel and tourism industry to continue developing quality applications that can assist both locals and tourists while they travel in Thailand," she said.



In Dec 2015, its mapping technology's proof of concept  YourSingaporeMap.com was first launched in Singapore and it has since served more than 3 million users over the past 6 months. Singapore's modern infrastructure, open data initiatives and geographical size help to serve as an ideal testing ground to further develop and adapt the technology for Thailand.



Ms Pornkamol said KlaiKlai currently has more than 1.2 million points of interests within 77 provinces of Thailand, including amenities, transportation, shopping, F&B establishments, healthcare, hotels, tourist attractions, financial and emergency services.



Developed with the ability to process natural language queries, KlaiKlai's Smart Location Search Technology combines knowledge graph, conversational search and artificial intelligence to better understand search queries and to deliver relevant location-based results.



Ms Pornkamol said she has plans to release KlaiKlai's dataset API for Thai developers to build useful applications that can help accelerate the tech ecosystem in Thailand. She also has plans to roll out additional language support for Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Japanese users.



KlaiKlai's mobile application can be downloaded for free on both Android and iOS platforms. It is also accessible via web browsers on laptop, desktop computers and mobile devices.



About KlaiKlai

KlaiKlai.com is a location-based map application that helps users find the exact position of any location in Thailand and discover what's near the location. It consists of more than 14.6 million addresses, hundreds of POI categories and more than 1.2 million point of interests across 77 provinces within the Kingdom of Thailand.



Media Contact:

KlaiKlai.com

Email: care@klaiklai.com

Company Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Website: https://en.klaiklai.com
A Nordic model for sharing energy between neighbouring countries could help increase energy access in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

A current ASEAN action plan for energy integration seeks to establish a regionwide electricity grid and energy market but the plan has suffered from long delays.

The Nordic power pool model recommends that national governments simplify their approach by allowing companies to sell electricity across the border at transparent prices set by the market. The exchange rate is separate from the price consumers have to pay, which each country will have to determine on their own.

This piggybacks on what Europe has done for the last 25 years, then Southern Africa for the last 10 years. So essentially, the technology is there, Hans-Arild Bredesen, CEO of Nord Pool Consulting in Norway, tells SciDev.Net on the sidelines of the Asia Clean Energy Forum 2016 held in Manila (6-10 June). We just need to adapt it to South-East Asia.

Bredesen says that the model could work even better in the ASEAN from the start because some countries or parts of countries in the region have a surplus of energy at certain times of the year. They would possibly be more inclined to sell it than the 12 Southern African countries that adopted the model almost all of which have electricity shortages.

Nawal Kamel, director of the ASEAN energy market integration initiative and a visiting economics professor at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, says the model could go a long way to increasing access to renewables across the region. For instance, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar have lots of renewable energy that could be dispersed throughout the region and possibly decrease overall reliance on coal.

Kamel says over 127 million people do not have access to electricity in the ASEAN so it is not a matter of affordable price, but of buying and accessing electricity. We have to look into the possibility of a transboundary grid in areas where it makes sense geographically and economically, she adds.

But moving from theory to practice presents obvious challenges. Southern Africa is a landlocked continent whereas South-East Asia is a sprawling archipelago, which creates infrastructure challenges.

Engineers will have to figure out how to cope with technological issues, such as how to connect countries that have different frequencies and voltages. But good examples show this has been overcome in other regions.

Philip Andrews-Speed, principal fellow at the Energy Studies Institute at the National University of Singapore, tells SciDev.Net that the Nordic model has received positive response from the ASEAN Power Grid Consultative Committee as well as from senior officials for energy. Advocates are now pushing for a feasibility study.

Andrews-Speed hopes the outcome will encourage at least some South-East Asian countries to sign up. Not everybody needs to join at the start. As long as a few people are prepared to start then youre in with a chance, he says.

This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets South-East Asia & Pacific desk.
[NAIROBI] Building capacity in science, technology and innovation (STI), and research and development (R&D) is critical for Africa in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a forum has heard.



During the 5th National Science Week held in Kenya last month (16-20 May) experts discussed that Africas capacity to compete in the global market depends on its peoples ability to innovate and apply the relevant technology for growth and development.

A well-coordinated partnership and  intra-African cooperation can provide security, build resilient infrastructure [and] foster innovation. Berhanu Abegaz, African Academy of Sciences

Kenyas Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST), the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) and other partners organised the meeting.



Moses Rugutt, director-general of NACOSTI, said that Africa is home to dynamic innovators and institutions poised to advance the continents research agenda and Africas future. But he noted that whereas Africa accounts for 15 per cent of the global population, it produces only about two per cent of the worlds research output.



Rugutt added that Africa should lay the foundation for sustained, scientific advocacy effort to increase international and local African investment in R&D.



Fred Matiangi, Kenyas cabinet secretary of MOEST, noted that in order for Africa to achieve the SDGs, a knowledge-based economy should be established.



He explained that more than half of African countries invest less than 0.5 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on research, which is inadequate.



According to Matiangi, Kenya, a major regional hub for emerging technologies that supporting overall socio-economic development, needs to allocate two per cent of its GDP to R&D instead of the current 0.3 per cent.



Matiangi adds that local universities and institutions should think smartly by encouraging students to take up technical courses and leadership in STI to support local innovations.



Berhanu Abegaz, executive director of the Kenya-based African Academy of Sciences, science and technology could make Africa achieve sustainable development.

He calls upon African governments to take action, prioritise, support and build capacity for local scientific research and innovation to shape the continents R&D agenda.A well-coordinated partnership and  intra-African cooperation can provide security, build resilient infrastructure [and] foster innovation notes Abegaz, citing a need for Africa to have a long-term funding strategy.This piece was produced by SciDev.Nets Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.
A complex asymmetric molecule similar to the organic molecular structure crucial to life on Earth has been discovered by scientists. A research team has recently found "propylene oxide" in a vast cloud of gas and dust close to the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

The asymmetric molecule propylene oxide has mirror-like versions of themselves called "chirality," which is comparable to a pair of human hands. This breakthrough gives support to the theory that chirality has cosmic origins. According to Brett McGuire, a chemist at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlottesville, Virginia, it is a huge leap to better understand the way prebiotic molecules are produced in the universe, as well as the effects that they bring on the origins of life.

This asymmetric molecule that is considered significant to biology, have been uncovered previously in the meteorites found on Earth and in comets in the solar system, but not in the massive belt of interstellar space, according to Daily Mail.

The findings give support to the idea that the chemical building blocks for life have been brought to Earth early in its history through celestial bodies such as comets and meteorites that included such molecules from space. For the first time, the researchers discovered the amino acid gycine that is needed by the living organisms in producing proteins on a comet.

With the use of radio telescopes the scientists actively searched for the chemical information of molecules in the far, star-forming cloud of gas and dust. Relevant vibrations that seemed like strange radio waves were emitted as the molecules move around in the space. However, the complex signals linked to propylene oxide were not accurate enough for the researchers to find out if the molecules were particularly aimed to the left or to the right. As explained by chemistry graduate student Brandon Carroll of the California Institute of Technology, it is difficult to determine if the right or left hand is casting the shadow. Nevertheless, further studies on how polarized light connects with the molecules may indicate if one version of propylene oxide is dominant in space.

The research on asymmetric molecule was published in the journal Science presented by the scientists during a meeting at the American Astronomical Society in San Diego, Reuters reported.
An alien planet that orbits a star 1,200 light years away from the Earth has been shown in a newly released photo. Based on reports, the possible planet looks like a brownish dot at the left of the bluish-white star CVSO 30, captured by the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory in Chile.

The CVSO 30c is yet to be confirmed as a planet following further observations and analysis. If the research finds it as such, the alien planet orbits the star at a distance of 660 astronomical units, therefore, completing an orbit per 27,000 years. Based on the study, one astronomical unit is the Earth-sun distance, or about 93 million miles, according to Daily Galaxy.

Meanwhile, astronomers have detected other potential planet, CVSO 30b orbiting around the same star in 2012 through "transit method" that probes the tiny brightness dips which happens when the orbiting planets cross the host stars. The two possible planets are gas giants, much like Saturn and Jupiter, but occupy different spaces. If found existing, CVSO 30b completes an orbit per 11 hours with only 0.008 astronomical units from the star.

Once confirmed that CVSO 30c is orbiting CVSO 30, it will the first star system to host short distance exoplanet that was discovered through the transit method as well as a strange exoplanet discovered by direct imaging.

The direct imaging method has been used to uncover a small number of alien planets, with the majority of the 3,300 confirmed alien planets being found through the transit method of NASA's Kepler space telescope. Nevertheless, some astronomers believe that direct imaging can become more beneficial in the future when technology improves, providing even the likelihood of any relevant proof of alien life.

The study about the discovery of the alien planet CVSO 30c that relied on the information gathered by the Calar Alto Observatory in Spain and Keck Observatory in Hawaii, aside from the Very Large Telescope, will be published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, Daily Galaxy reported.
Around-the-world atmospheric mission is believed to be the most challenging airborne research on the Earth's atmosphere. According to reports, NASA will be having a preview of their new project on Thursday, July 7 at the Armstrong Fligh Research Center in Palmdale, California.

The Atmospheric Tomography mission is set to analyze the greenhouse gases and other gases and particles in the atmosphere with the help of the NASA's DC-8 flying laboratory. The journey, which is expected to last for 26 days, will cover North Pole to New Zealand, over to the tip of South America, from north to the Arctic. This mission goes with the space agency's satellite observations of the important gases of Earth's atmosphere, like ozone and carbon dioxide.

This around-the-world atmospheric mission is going to zoom in to provide accurate calculation of the atmospheric chemistry which is not easily made from space. In line with this, the media will be given the chance to interview the mission managers and lead scientists, including a tour of NASA's DC-8 aircraft that is going to be in the process of being equipped with scientific instruments. According to NASA , the initial flight of the atmospheric mission will be in the last week of July.

Also, registration will be open for foreign and U.S. media, and interested American citizens should ask credentials at 2 pm PDT on Wednesday, June 29. The deadline for the foreign nationals is at 2 pm on June 21. For those who would request credentials, an email addressed to the Armstrong public affairs officer Kate Squires is required.

By gathering data from air, sea, land and space, NASA is able to advance the understanding of the Earth. It continues to build new methods to observe and study the planet's interconnected natural systems that have long-term data files. For this year, the space agency has started eight challenging new field programs that allow scientists to obtain deeper knowledge.

Around-the-world atmospheric mission ATom is going to measure over 200 airborne particles and gases in the atmosphere over the oceans. With a goal of understanding how these gases like ozone and methane change and later taken out of the atmosphere, these methods are crucial to better understanding the planet's present and future climate, according to Perf Science.
The current human-caused climate change has reared its ugly head: it caused the only endemic mammal species into extinction. The Bramble Cay melomys, a rodent that lives on an island i the eastern Torres Strait, has been completely wiped-out from its only known location.

Bramble Cay Rodent is First Mammal Species to Go Extinct due to Climate Change https://t.co/PknmsxVw7W pic.twitter.com/wpYXWiYyUi  Sheila Weeks (@sheilaweeks) June 14, 2016

According to The Guardian, it is the first recorded extinction of a mammal in the world that is due primarily to climate change. However, the melomys will not be the last of it.

Also called the mosaic-tailed rat, these species is known to live on Bramble Cay just 340 meters long and 150 meters wide off the north coast of Queensland, Australia. It was the most isolated and restricted range of any mammal. It is also considered as the only mammal species endemic to the Great Barrier Reef.

National Geographic stated that the rats were first seen by Europeans on the island in 1845, and several hundred was confirmed to still be living there by 1978. However, the part of the island that sits above the tide has shrunk from 9.8 acres to 6.2 acres by 1998, which means that the island's vegetation also shrunk, and the rodents lost about 97 percent of their habitat.

Ian Gynther of Queensland's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection said, "The key factor responsible for the extirpation of this population was almost certainly ocean inundation of the low-lying cay, very likely on multiple occasions, during the last decade, causing dramatic habitat loss and perhaps also direct mortality of individuals."

The melomys was considered "endangered" since 1992, when it has been included in the Queensland Nature Conservation Act. In 2008, ABC News

noted that the Australian Government introduced a recovery plan. However, a survey by researchers revealed that conservation efforts could not keep up -- climate change has affected the Great Barrier Reef too much. It was simply too late.
Gun lobby should take blame for massacre Updated: 2016-06-15 08:34 By Harvey Dzodin(China Daily)

JOSE HERNANDEZ (in gray) holds hands with friend VICTOR BAYEZ as they grieve the loss of close friends Amanda Alvear and Mercedez Flores at a vigil held in front of the Dr. P. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando. Honored were those killed in the mass shooting that left 50 dead and many more wounded at an Orlando gay nightclub early Sunday morning.[Photo/IC]

Once again it's mourning in Americathis time for the victims of the worst mass shooting in a country where multiple deaths from gunshots is a daily occurrence. More than 100 innocent souls lost their lives or were injured in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday.

The day might have been even more gruesome if Los Angeles police hadn't arrested a suspect who told them he was en route to the city's gay pride parade where he wanted to do "harm". He certainly could have as he had multiple weapons, including one assault rifle, abundant ammunition and ingredients to make bombs. The two events don't seem linkedor are they?

Reactions were predictable. Conservatives, led by presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, said the shooting was caused by "radical Islamic terrorism". Liberals, like US President Barack Obama, said that it was due to lax gun laws. He asked "God to watch over this country that we love". Well, God has been doing a lot of watching lately given that there are more guns than people in the US.

And foolish me who thought that "one-a-day" was a vitamin but it's the frequency of armed encounters in the US last year in which four or more people were killed or injured. And foolish me who thought the AR-15 semi-automatic weapon in Orlando was a weapon of war. I must be dead wrong because according to the National Rifle Association, the AR-15 is merely for hunting or home protection.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Florence Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman Sr. held off two challengers in Tuesdays primary to claim victory in the states 31st Senate district for a tenth straight time.

Leatherman, the 85-year-old Senate president pro tempore and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, won with 54.6 percent of the vote. He will not face Democratic opposition in November, making him a shoo-in for Senate District 31.

Richard Skipper, a former Florence County GOP chairman and local insurance agency owner, finished with 40.2 percent of the vote, while Dean Fowler, Florence Countys four term treasurer, held 5.2 percent.

Leatherman hosted a pre-planned victory party at the Florence Country Club on Tuesday night for supporters and friends. He said Florence County made the right choice, the choice that will get the most results, not a placeholder senator.

The winner this evening is the Florence area, Leatherman told the crowd of about 100. I want to publicly thank Gov. Haley. She started doing robocalls, talking about how terrible I was but the people of this county didnt hear that. That hurt our opponent more than it helped him. I hope she understands that she cant come into the Pee Dee and start meddling in our business and try to tell us who the senator should be.

The Senate 31 primary race became contentious at times, drawing divisive lines in state leadership and adding another chapter to Leatherman and Haleys power struggle.

Gov. Nikki Haley and State Treasurer Curtis Loftis backed Skipper, while Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster, House Speaker Jay Lucas, former Gov. David Beasley and State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman rallied around Leatherman.

Political action committees namely, A Great Day SC, SC Club for Growth and Americans for Prosperity  spent thousands of dollars targeting Leatherman in TV and radio ads over the past several weeks.

During his victory speech, Leatherman alluded to Haleys use of dark money to try to unseat him. He made light of the dozens of attack ads and mailers.

I thank all of my supporters for allowing my campaign to have enough money to compete well against the two Koch brothers money, Leatherman quipped. Maybe they spent some money here but it didnt work.

During a stop in Florence earlier this month, Haley accused Leatherman of preventing ethics reform for years so he could pad his pockets and give himself pension increases.

Leatherman, and his supporters, denied these accusations and said the 85-year-old senator has done more for the Pee Dee than any other politician before him.

What many supporters see as overdue attention to a long-ignored region of South Carolina, critics see as pork barrel spending that hurts other parts of the state.

Leatherman said economic development in Florence County  think Otis Elevator, Honda of South Carolina, QVC, McCall Farms, and others -- was made possible because of his leadership role in the Senate.
COLUMBIA, S.C.  South Carolina's primaries Tuesday could foretell the fate of Gov. Nikki Haley's proposals in her final two years in office.

The election represents the last chance for Haley, who's term limited, to change who runs the Republican-dominated Legislature while she's governor.

Her incumbent targets include South Carolina's most powerful lawmaker, Senate President Pro Tem Hugh Leatherman of Florence. Beyond being the top senator, Leatherman's various other leadership roles include crafting the budget as Senate Finance chairman and sitting on a financial oversight board Haley chairs.

Although Haley is backing Florence County GOP Party Chairman Richard Skipper, it's up to voters whether Leatherman returns for a 10th term.

Haley also has campaigned against Senate Ethics Chairman Luke Rankin of Myrtle Beach and the leading senator on K-12 issues, Wes Hayes of Rock Hill. Rankin first won his seat in 1992. Hayes was first elected to the House in 1984, then the Senate in 1991.

A Haley political group, financed mostly by out-of-state donors, has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars running ads backing her opposition campaigns. Meanwhile, GOP Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster and other Haley allies have worked to re-elect the incumbents.

Haley is also opposing state Rep. Stephen Goldfinch in his bid to replace retiring Sen. Ray Cleary of Murrells Inlet. In that four-way race, she's endorsed Reese Boyd, board chairman of the Palmetto Family Council.

Other leaders facing primary opposition include Senate Judiciary Chairman Larry Martin of Pickens, Haley's chief Senate ally. His three challengers include former state Rep. Rex Rice.

Goldfinch, Hayes, Leatherman and Martin are among the candidates supported by the state Chamber of Commerce's political committee.
Arbitration undermines peaceful resolution of South China Sea disputes: US expert Updated: 2016-06-13 14:55 (Xinhua)

An aerial photo taken on Sept 25, 2015 from a seaplane of Hainan Maritime Safety Administration shows cruise vessel Haixun 1103 heading to the Yacheng 13-1 drilling rig during a patrol in South China Sea. [Photo/Xinhua]

WASHINGTON - The Philippines' unilateral move to seek arbitration over the South China Sea disputes will hurt the prospect of resolving the issue peacefully through negotiations, a US expert told Xinhua in an interview.

China has wanted to resolve the issue through negotiations, but the Philippines, with US backing, felt it could "play hardball" on the issue by taking the disputes to the arbitration tribunal, said William Jones, Washington Bureau Chief of US publication Executive Intelligence Review.

"Arbitration normally is a case when two parties cannot successfully negotiate a problem. But that (Manila's action) is not the case at all, because there have been effectively no negotiations between the Philippines and China on this issue," Jones said.

China adheres to the position of non-acceptance of and non-participation in the arbitration, a stance that Jones said Beijing has "legitimate reasons" to take according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In his analysis of Manila's intentions behind the arbitration, Jones said the Philippines felt that whatever decision the court would make, the arbitration process itself would give the country a certain amount of leeway in asserting its claims in the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, he said, the United States could use the arbitration as a way to limit China's territorial claims and strengthen its allies, as "the growth of China, especially its maritime growth, is seen more, by at least a large section of the United States elites, as a threat."

"Both of them gain a certain advantage of that in trying to delimit the rightful claims, I think, of China in terms of its territorial demands," Jones said, adding that he believes China's historical claims to the South China Sea region "really cannot be refuted."

Moreover, the expert denounced US support to the arbitration, arguing that it contradicts Washington's position not to take sides on the South China Sea issue.

The United States has "in effect taken sides" by encouraging the Philippines to assert its claims "much more forcefully, making it more difficult to get successful negotiations," he said.

"The intervention, and really the role of the United States, has become the most aggravating part (of the South China Sea issue)," Jones said.

In the interview with Xinhua, Jones also refuted the allegation that China has militarized the South China Sea region with its reclamation and building projects.

"You want to count the number of ships and the number of cruises that have been made by the US and allied naval vessels in the vicinity, and I think the militarization is really all on the part of the United States," he said.

Jones added that the freedom of navigation in the region has never been threatened, "certainly not by the Chinese."

"Chinese trade is very dependent on freedom of navigation in the South China Sea to get what they need to support their population. So they have no reason to threaten that," he said.
Talks can help dispel doubts, experts say Updated: 2016-06-13 19:53 By ZHANG YUNBI and LI XINYIin Yuxi, Yunnan(chinadaily.com.cn)

A foreign ministers meeting on Tuesday between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will be a good opportunity to dispel doubts about China and ease tension in the South China Sea, experts said.

Beijing is ready for discussions on further promoting and upgrading China-ASEAN cooperation and "jointly ensuring peace and stability in the South China Sea", Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Monday during a briefing on the meeting, which will be held in Yunnan province.

Through the meeting, China hopes for an in-depth exchange of views on topics including China-ASEAN ties and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, Lu said.

The declaration is a key document, signed by China and the 10 ASEAN member countries in 2002, that endorses political settlement of maritime disputes.

The 11 countries held their 12th senior officials meeting on fully implementing the declaration on June 9 in Hanoi.

Jia Duqiang, a senior researcher on Southeast Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the meeting will be a good opportunity for China and the ASEAN countries to sit down for a productive and candid discussion. Jia said the discussions inevitably will consider the potential impact of the Philippines' arbitration case against China on the South China Sea issue.

"The ASEAN countries are worried that the peace and stability of the whole region will be at stake," Jia said.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of dialogue between China and ASEAN. A commemorative summit to mark the anniversary will be held in September, and Tuesday's meeting will help prepare for it, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu said.

The meeting is expected to show "emphasis and expectations by both sides on advancing China-ASEAN cooperation", Lu said.

Luo Yuan, a researcher at the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Academy of Military Science, said the South China Sea issue is "not between China and all the ASEAN countries".

He said some ASEAN members not directly involved in the issue "have displayed their willingness to downplay the disputes" at recent international events.
French president says killing of police officer 'incontestably terrorist act' Updated: 2016-06-15 00:46 (Xinhua)

Policemen stand guard near the site of the killing of a police officer in Magnanville in suburban Paris, France, on June 14, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

PARIS -- French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday called the killing of a senior police officer and his partner by a man who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) an "incontestably terrorist act."

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve also said earlier Tuesday that the killing was "an abject terrorist act."

"An abject terrorist act was committed yesterday in Magnanville," Cazeneuve told reporters after an emergency security meeting with President Hollande.

The minister said that 100 suspects have been arrested since January, reiterating the government's full mobilization to combat terrorism.

France has raised its terror alert after twin suicide bombings and shootings killed 130 people in November 2015.

Late on Monday, a 25-year-old man stabbed the senior police officer to death outside his home in Magnanville in suburban Paris, before hiding inside the house and taking the officer's partner and three-year-old son as hostages.

After failed negotiations to surrender, the police shot dead the assailant, who had also killed the woman. The boy was unharmed, the interior ministry said.

French intelligence services has identified the man as Larossi Abballa, a 25-year-old man who had been sentenced to three years in jail in 2013 for helping extremist militants to go to Pakistan.

An Islamic State-linked news agency report claimed that the attack was carried out by one of its fighters.
(Corrects minister comments in penultimate paragraph to show he said India is gradually shifting to a gas-based economy, not an oil-based economy)

By Promit Mukherjee

MUMBAI, June 14 (Reuters) - Energy-hungry India has restarted talks on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchasing alliance with Japan and South Korea and may also include China as Asian demand for the fuel grows.

"For the next two to three decades, gas is going to be a major part of the energy basket for Asian energy consumers," Dharmendra Pradhan, Indian minister of petroleum and natural gas told reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday.

"We want to bring together the countries and form a network which can together source reasonable, rational and affordable LNG," he said, adding that talks with Japan and South Korea have begun and China may also come onboard as a partner.

State-owned GAIL Ltd is spearheading the talks, which follow a similar attempt in 2013, on India's behalf.[http://reut.rs/1XUKy8C ]

Natural gas currently accounts for about 8 percent of India's overall energy mix. In the last decade, while India's domestic natural gas production has grown by 10 percent, imports of LNG have risen by 335 percent.

This is likely to grow further as India gradually shifts to a gas-based economy, the minister told Reuters in a recent interview.

India's gas demand stands at 120 million standard cubic meters per day (mscmd) whereas domestic supply is 80 mscmd, making imports imperative, government data showed.

(Editing by Alison Williams and Alexander Smith)
Many shipping companies have tried listing around the world over the years, but few remain over the long term. The value of being publicly listed and accessing the capital markets was a topic for debate among owners at the Tradewinds Shipowners Forum during Posidonia 2016 last week.

Robert Burke ceo of Ridgebury Tankers noted that among the US-listed shipping companies he could only think of one that remained from the 1980s, and similarly just one from the 1990s.

Coming down firmly against being public-listed as a shipping company was Philippe Louis-Dreyfus, president of Louis-Dreyfus. I would never ever go public in shipping. Not in todays market, not in 10 years ago market, and not in 10 years to come market, he stated.

I dont believe listing and public money is for shipping. Shipping needs a long term views, shipping needs patience from shareholders over the long term and thats something you might not get from public markets. I see the complications and the burdens of having a listing far in excess of the advantages.

Inbetween urging the audience to buy Euronav shares, disagreeing vehemently with Louis-Dreyfus was the tanker companys ceo Paddy Rodgers.

He said five years ago he would have agreed but highlighted how the banking market had changed in that period. Why would you go through the pain of being Frontline, OSG or Genmar in the public markets in 2006 and 2007 when people could go on a almost personal basis to a German banker and get 110% of the finance of a ship a just a few points above Libor. It just made no sense to be public.

However, Rodgers pointed to the huge deleveraging by banks over the last few years impacting the ability to access cash, with banks cutting anything with a high risk weighting such as shipping and offshore.

There will be no bank finance available. If you are bigger and you are public, and you can comply, you will have a competitive advantage for the first time in the history of shipping by being public through access to capital, Rodgers said.

However, Burke also was against being a public company, but reasons of the fact a shipping company can only access capital market funding when the market is high, which goes against the shipping strategy of investing when vessel prices are low.

The problem with the capital markets is the only times a public company can raise is when the market is very high, were such a small piece of the market cap in the States or anywhere else in the world we only attract attention when the market is high, he explained.

If public companies can only raise money when the market is high they can only buy when the market is high. So if its long term low return on equity eventually that has a high average price on vessels then it is doomed to sub-par returns and even failure.
CMA CGM  PSA Lion City Terminal will operate four mega-ship container berths in Pasir Panjang Terminal phases three and four from the second half of 2016.

The joint venture forms part of the French lines commitment to Singapore in its acquisition of national shipping line Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) which it took over last week. The move will come as a blow to Westports in Port Klang, which has served as CMA CGMs Southeast Asian transhipment hub for many years.

CMA CGM is pleased to announce this important partnership with PSA. It is a significant step, demonstrating the ongoing importance of Singapore to our strategy, and delivering on our commitment to making Singapore the Asian hub for the group, Rodolphe Saade, Vice Chairman of CMA CGM Group.

CMA CGM is also shifting its Asian regional headquarters to Singapore from Hong Kong and announced key executive appointments at NOL on Tuesday.

Tan Chong Meng ceo of PSA commented: PSA looks forward to working alongside CMA CGM to ensure that its hub operations flourish, and enhance Singapores premier status as the worlds busiest transhipment hub.
Mermaid Maritime entered into a one-year re-charter contract with MEO and the vessel, Mermaid Nusantara, is expected to be delivered in August. The contract also comes with a one year extension option, which if exercised, would extend the charter through to July 2018.

Mermaid Maritime had previously chartered-in the DSV and deployed the vessel to support various subsea projects in 2015.

Being Indonesian flagged, the vessel will be in prime position to secure any potential work in Indonesia, the company stated.

Mermaid Maritime has already secured subsea contracts worth approximately $10m that will utilise Mermaid Nusantara for a scheduled duration of about 70 days, and is actively bidding for more work in Southeast Asia.

The DSV Mermaid Nusantara, formerly named Windermere, was purchased by MEO from the now defunct Hallin Marine in late 2014, and the vessel was chartered to Mermaid Maritime.
Marenave which owns a fleet of 14 vessels  seven tankers, two containerships and four bulkers said it had received a letter of intent from the banks financing its fleet as part of ongoing discussions.

According to this letter of intent, the entire Marenave-fleet shall be sold for the best possible repayment of the ship financing loans which were granted by the banks to the single ship subsidiaries and guaranteed by the company, Marenave said.

It added that its banks would be willing to release it from any other liability pending undisclosed pre-requistes. The release from liability is an essential requirement for the entry of a potential investor.

Marenave said its company management board was optimistic the concept of the letter of intent could be implemented.
The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) said in a statement if need be they may review their earlier stance of not taking lives.

The militants have stepped on their attacks on oil pipelines in the Niger Delta in recent months and warned oil companies not repair pipelines or oil and gas facilities that they attack. In possible stepping up of action the group is now also threatening shipping in the region.

The NDA high command is restating our commitment to attack the interest of oil corporation and international refineries operators that bring in vessels to the Niger delta territory to buy our oil that every successive government have refused to used and reapply the proceeds towards any development in the region since 1958.

If they refuse be heed to our advice will result to sinking of two their mother vessel as an examples to others, it warned.
The newly rebranded conference will take place as part of Seatrade Maritime Middle East and Dubai Maritime Week.

Reaffirming the decision, Chris Hayman, chairman of Seatrade, said: In light of discussions that we have had with senior stakeholders in the industry and general market feedback, I am pleased that we can reintroduce this important theme to the overall programme in the knowledge that the tanker shipping market is continuing to perform well.

Seatrade Tanker Middle East, which takes place on 1 Tuesday November in the Forum area at Seatrade Maritime Middle East, will be moderated by Katharina Stanzel, managing director of Intertanko, bringing with her significant industry expertise. Speakers confirmed include: Stavroula Betaskou, head of tanker research, Howe Robinson Partners; Phrixos Papachristidis, ceo & md, Hellespont Ship Management; David Stockley, coo, Oman Shipping Company and Ahmed Al Falahi, ceo, Gulf Energy Maritime (GEM) PJS.

Asked why the tanker shipping market is performing better than other shipping sectors, Hayman commented: The low oil price has continued to benefit the tanker market in both both crude and product sectors.

Recent signs of increased demand for crude oil imports in India and China give grounds for optimism. Demand is being generated by the granting of import licences to China's privately owned 'teapot' refineries - a trend that is expected to continue in coming months. Growing near term Opec supply and declining US production will support tanker demand by increasing voyage distances.

New refinery development in the region also bodes well for the product tanker sector, and a tight market for finance will act as a constraint on new orders, despite low prices. Meanwhile the return of Iran to the market adds an interesting new dynamic.

Topics during the half-day conference will include a comprehensive discussion on the fundamentals of the crude oil tanker market and an analysis of the factors influencing the shape of product tanker demand and those driving it, including refining, and the composition of the orderbook. Delegates will be encouraged to enter discussion with the panel speakers and a networking luncheon will follow the morning session.

For further details, visit the event website: www.seatrade-middleeast.com
The mental illness explanation appeals in particular to politicians who use it to deflect calls for more restrictive gun laws. House Speaker Paul Ryan, for example, said in a December TV interview that the best way to prevent such horrific crimes is to change the mental health system and provide more access to care. "One common denominator in these tragedies is mental illness," Ryan said.

All that might seem to fit with an increasingly popular belief that the perpetrators of mass shootings aren't just driven by raw hatred or the urge to do evil, but instead are afflicted with some mental illness that drives them to unspeakable acts.

Mateen's former wife, for example, described him as unstable and prone to violent swings, while a former co-worker of his at a local security firm recalls that he was an "unhinged," obsessive stalker who sometimes left 20 to 30 harassing text messages and left as many as 15 voicemails in a single day. As a youth, he attended an alternative school for children with behavior problems. While some portrayed him as an ultra-conservative Muslim and intensely homophobic, others say he frequented the gay bar he eventually attacked, and used a phone app to hook up with other men.

In the wake of the June 12 attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando in which 49 people were killed, the jumble of details that have emerged about gunman Omar Mateen suggest that the self-proclaimed ISIS follower may have had some sort of mental illness.

Mental health authorities, however, disagree. They say there have been some mass shooters who clearly are mentally ill -- for example, Jared Lee Loughner, a diagnosed schizophrenic who killed six people in a Tucson shopping center in 2011 and severely injured 13 others, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, (D-Ariz). But they're in the minority. More often, experts say, the gunmen have less severe personality or emotional problems that are common in the population at large. Instead of mental illness, it's other factors -- such as a prior history of violence, extreme beliefs, and access to firearms -- that are better predictors of who will commit mass murder.

RELATED: Have We Stopped Caring About Mass Shootings?

"Mental illness is only weakly, weakly associated with gun violence," says forensic psychiatrist Dr. Liza H. Gold, a professor at Georgetown University.

Dr. Michael Stone, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, has amassed data on more than 300 mass killers, and he's come to a similar conclusion. Stone says only about 18 to 20 percent of mass killers have serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. More often, he says, they're simply men who are disgruntled. "They're paranoid, mistrustful, not very successful, not getting too far in life," he says. "They suffer a reverse, such as being rejected by a boss or a lover, and that usually is what sets them off."

That's not to say that mass killers are mentally healthy people. One study found that 60 percent experienced symptoms such as paranoia or depression. But Dr. Jonathan M. Metzel, a psychiatrist and sociologist who heads the Center for Medicine, Health and Society at Vanderbilt University and has co-authored a 2014 survey of scientific research and news media information on mass killers, explains that that such symptoms aren't necessarily proof that mental illness led them to engage in slaughter.

"When we get into a causal explanation, that's where we have problems," he said. "It's hard to predict who actually is going to shoot someone. Thousands of people might have those symptoms, but only one might commit such an act."

RELATED: Deadliest Mass Shootings in U.S. History

In the survey article, Dr. Metzel and co-author Kenneth T. MacLeish noted that fewer than 5 percent of the 120,000 gun-related killings between 2001 and 2010 were committed by people diagnosed with mental illness. A 2014 study by North Carolina State researchers found that adults with mental illness were more likely to become victims of violence than perpetrators.

Several experts cautioned against jumping to the conclusion that Orlando killer Mateen was mentally ill, based just upon the limited amount of information available about him so far. Dr. Gold says that it seemed more likely that Mateen's murderous behavior, in the absence of mental illness, was shaped by a propensity for anger and fanatical beliefs. If Mateen himself was secretly gay, as some reports now suggest, that could have thrown more fuel on the fire, she says.

"With a real mental disorder, you'd see other signs of deteriorating mental function," Dr. Gold says.

RELATED: 50 Feared Dead at Orlando Nightclub Shooting



If a killer is involved with like-minded fanatics, either in person on or the internet, that also is an indication that mental illness isn't the driving factor, she explains. "Mental illness usually isn't shared, but fanaticism requires other people," she says.

Experts also say that even if some killers turn out to be mentally ill, better mental healthcare isn't necessarily the most effective way to prevent more slaughter. "It makes more sense to limit the means of killing," such as restricting access to military-style weaponry, Dr. Metzel says.

A recent study by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, an advocacy group, found that when states submit mental health records to the FBI for use in background checks on gun purchases, the number of individuals prevented from getting firearms increased by 65 percent over a three-year period.
Martin Castonguay of Ottawa-based Fisheries and Oceans Canada told Discovery News, "As eels leave freshwaters, they sometimes have to pass hydropower dams and will often be killed going through the turbines."

Shark prey numbers are also a concern for researchers. A favorite meal of both the sharks and tuna are eels , which can become mincemeat in hydropower machinery.

Great whites are of particular concern because tidal energy monitoring programs have not properly accounted for these apex predators, according to a recent investigation conducted by The Chronicle Herald .

Desire for hydropower -- electricity produced from machines that are run by moving water -- is driving an unprecedented global boom in related dam and turbine construction, but some marine life experts believe that the projects could pose serious threats to sharks and other aquatic species.

The Minas Passage in Nova Scotia, where seawater flows into the Bay of Fundy, is the site of multiple planned hydropower projects. Research conducted by Richard Karsten of Acadia University suggests that there are more than 7,000 megawatts of power potential in the Minas Passage. That figure balloons to 50,000 megawatts within the entire Bay of Fundy, computer models indicate.

A "Pre-Turbine Baseline Studies" report concerning the Minas Passage involved acoustic tracking of fish movements, but did not include monitoring of great whites. Authors Anna Redden and Michael Stokesbury of Acadia University, however, explained that earlier tagging identified striped bass, Atlantic salmon, Atlantic sturgeon, spiny dogfish and great whites at the Minas Passage.

"Of particular interest are white sharks," they added. "The white shark is a listed endangered species under the Species at Risk Act ... As with all other species, tagged fish represent only a small portion of the animals in a population. Given that >10 percent of the tagged endangered white sharks moved through Minas Passage, it is highly likely that large numbers of non-tagged white sharks also use this area."

John Chisholm of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries expressed a slightly different opinion about the number of sharks in the area. He told Discovery News that "to date >10 percent of acoustic tagged white sharks visited Canadian waters (but) only three visited the Minas Passage."

RELATED: Hydropower May Be Huge Source of Methane Emissions

The Bay of Fundy is just one area where hydroelectric firms and wildlife authorities are at odds. Environmental experts are worried about hydropower projects in Cambodia that have already involved the construction of several dams.

Emmeline Johansen of Conservation International's Asia Pacific Field Division told Discovery News that hydropower dams can threaten not only fish, but also humans, by a domino effect. She explained that dams can adversely affect fish migration and block 90 percent of sediment flows that are important for delivering nutrients farming regions.

CI created a film, "Hydropower Impacts and Alternatives" to highlight these and other threats to Cambodia's fisheries and food security. The film can be watched in its entirety online.

RELATED: Hydropower May Be Huge Source of Methane Emissions

Many sharks potentially could be affected, as waters off of Cambodia are home to such species as blacktip reef sharks, bull sharks and whale sharks.

Ironically, a shark -- the filter feeding basking shark -- has inspired the design for an efficient hydroelectric turbine.

It remains to be seen if the risks associated with hydropower can be fully addressed. The benefits are certainly many.

Renewable energies account for 20 percent of worldwide electricity production today, with hydropower contributing 80 percent of the total share. An expected 3,700 major dams may more than double the total electricity capacity of hydropower to 1,700 gigawatts within the next two decades.

As Klement Tockner, the director of the Berlin-based Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries said, "When building new dams, it is important to follow a systematic management approach that considers the ecological, social, and economic consequences of multiple dams within a river basin."
In 2014, the UCL researchers debuted an equation designed to predict happiness under certain conditions. This week, they followed up with an improved equation published in the journal Nature Communications . The new equation takes into account additional social factors, and it looks like this:

Well, kind of: A cross-disciplinary team of researchers at University College London has developed a mathematical model for assessing and even predicting happiness, taking into account variables like expectations, risk, reward and guilt. They've actually been working on the issue for a few years now.

Interesting news out of London this week: Not only is there a recipe for happiness, there's an exact mathematical equation .

There you have it, an equation for happiness. If you speak math, you can get the full key to the equation on the journal page. But basically, the equation is a hard-number way to express the intriguing findings of several experiments.

For the study, 47 volunteers -- who did not know one another -- were asked to complete a series of tasks that involved splitting into small groups and making wagers. When test subjects won or lost a wager, they would be informed whether or not their partners also won or lost that particular wager.

In a separate task, subjects were asked how they would like to split up a small amount of money with another person they had just met. Throughout the experiment, participants were asked how happy they felt at various intervals.

RELATED: Is Happiness in Your Genes?

The researchers found some interesting correlations. People who lost a wager felt less happy when their partner won a wager, a difference that could be attributed to envy. Similarly, those that won their wager felt less happy when their partner lost, which could be attributed to guilt.

The wager results also impacted how generous people were in the subsequent divvying of money. In fact, the researchers could regularly predict how generous a person would be -- and how happy they felt -- by crunching the numbers from the wagers. The bottom line: Inequality reduces happiness.

"Our equation can predict exactly how happy people will be, based not only on what happens to them, but also what happens to the people around them," said co-lead author Robb Rutledge, on the UCL page. "On average we are less happy if others get more or less than us...."

RELATED: Can Money Buy Happiness?

The happiness equation might seem a little unwieldy, but it's the kind of thing that happens when scientists from different disciplines run into each other at the university cafeteria. The UCL team includes researchers from the Institute of Neurology and Max Planck Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research.
Hackers aligned with Russia's government breached US Democratic National Committee computers and stole data including a trove of opposition research on Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

The cyber-attack was so comprehensive, including one access to the DNC network that lasted the course of an entire year, that the intruders were able to read all email and chat traffic on the committee's system, DNC officials and security experts said, according to the daily.

RELATED: Are Hackers Good or Bad?

A computer cleanup operation this past weekend expelled the hackers from the system, the officials and experts said, and no financial, donor or personal information appeared to have been compromised, the Post said.

The security firm that conducted the cleanup, CrowdStrike, said Tuesday on its website that they received a call from the DNC to respond to a suspected breach uncovered in April.

The firm said it quickly identified "two sophisticated adversaries on the network" including COZY BEAR, which CrowdStrike said successfully hacked into unclassified networks of the White House and State Department.

WATCH VIDEO: What Hackers Really Want with Your Data
On May 13, 2013, Gunnar Garfors became the youngest person to travel to every country in the world -- all 198 of them. He was just 37 years old when he broke this record, Business Insider reported.

As a journalist for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), Garfors had already been to 85 countries by 2008. It took him five years to visit the remaining 113. He is also the Guinness Book of World Recorders holder for visiting five continents in 24 hours including Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America.

RELATED: Which Country is the Happiest?

Unlike many wanderlusters these days, Garfors actually kept his job with the NRK the entire time he was traveling. It was never his desire to quit and travel unattached, but rather combine the two things in life he's always been most passionate about: his job and traveling.

After his years of globetrotting, Garfors wrote a book called "198: How I Ran Out Of Countries" and started a website with photos from everywhere he's been.

His 198th and final country was Cape Verde off the northwest coast of Africa. Check out the slideshows below to see some of the highlights of Garfors' travels on the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania.
Danish and Greek archaeologists have discovered the remains of one of the largest building complexes of the ancient world -- a naval base that 2,500 years ago housed Athens's enormous fleet.

Featuring massive harbor fortifications and sheds designed to hold hundreds of war ships called triremes, the base played a key role in the most decisive naval battle of antiquity.

The remains lay hidden under the water of the Mounichia fishing and yachting harbor in the Piraeus.

RELATED: 22 Shipwrecks Found in Single Location in Greece

University of Copenhagen archaeologist Bjrn Loven, who led the expedition as part of the Zea Harbor Project, identified and excavated six ship-sheds that were used to protect the Greek ships from shipworm and from drying when they were not needed on the sea.

"The sheds were monumental," Loven said.

He noted the foundations under the columns were 4 foot by 6 inches and the sheds themselves were just over 19 feet wide, up to 26 feet tall and 164 feet long.

Based on pottery and carbon-14 dating from a worked piece of wood found inside the foundations of a colonnade dividing two ship-sheds, Loven and colleagues dated the structure to around 520-480 B.C. or shortly thereafter.

WATCH: Abalone Diving
Bam: Lowering age of criminal liability may result

in more criminals

Lowering the age of criminal liability may result in more criminals rather than reduce crime.

Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Youth, issued this warning in reaction to the incoming government's plan to lower the criminal liability to 12 years old.

"With the current state of our justice system and the poor condition of our prisons and detention centers, placing a child with incarcerated criminals will likely encourage criminal leanings instead of rehabilitation," he said.

Sen. Bam stressed that this proposal must be studied carefully because it may lead to more problems, rather than prevent crime.

Under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act or Republic Act 10630, children below 15 years old are exempted from criminal liability and can be released to the custody of his/her parents or may be referred to a youth care facility or "Bahay Pag-asa".

"Rather than meting out full criminal liability to children, we can look at reforms improving our juvenile delinquency facilities or even adding penalties to their parents," he added.

"These improvements and amendments are items the Committee can take up and study."
health workers masks scrubs street

Growth in the US is weak. Wages are stagnant, corporate earnings growth is anemic, and consumer spending is wobbly. The Great Recession has been over for years, but it certainly doesn't feel like it.

New research suggests that a specific feature of American corporations is to blame: an obsession with delivering short-term returns to shareholders while ignoring the future of the business.

"One factor contributing to sluggish economic growth is short-termism, a corporate philosophy that prioritizes immediate increases in share price and payouts at the expense of long-term business investment and growth," write researchers at The Roosevelt Institute (RI).

The way RI tells it, American companies have developed a disease that causes them to elevate one element of their business structure before any other: the shareholder.

After a few decades of shareholder primacy, during which companies neglected other parts of their businesses, like workers and R&D, the American economy is starting to show how badly it's been hurt. You see, shareholder primacy sucks money away from places where it could be a more productive engine of growth and throws it into the ocean of the market, where it mostly just jostles about in the ebb and flow of stock trading.

The thing is: The American corporation wasn't always this way. There was a time when it took on a more holistic approach to its function in society.

"The purpose of corporations used to be to innovate, creating universities, building railroads, designing self-driving cars, and looking into commercial space transport," Lynn Stout, a professor at Cornell Law School and the author of "The Shareholder Value Myth," said in a recent interview with Marketplace. "These are really big long-term projects ... and what corporations are supposed to do."

But ideas and practices have changed, and now we have a problem on our hands.

The stats

A few points from The Roosevelt Institute before we go on:

Story continues

From 2003 to 2012, S&P 500 companies used 54% ($2.4 trillion) of their earnings for stock buybacks.

From 2009 to the end of 2013, corporate investments rose by $400 billion.

But those investments were dwarfed by shareholder payouts, which increased by $740 billion.

During that same period, companies borrowed $900 billion. (It's worth noting that companies with the highest dividend payouts and share repurchases also tend to borrow the most.)

Since the 1980s, companies have invested less than 10 cents of each borrowed dollar.

"In other words, the financial system is no longer an instrument for getting money into productive businesses, but has instead become an instrument for getting money out of them," the RI researchers write. "The sector overall is now predicated largely on seeking rents through payouts rather than increasing profits through growth."

Parking money in the stock market can give you happy shareholders, yes. But what about your employees? What about the infrastructure of your business? What about innovating your product? What about crushing your competitors? All of that  all of what makes a company great  costs money, but that's not what corporate money is being used for.

"A comparison of similarly situated public and private firms shows that public firms invest substantially less and are also less responsive to changes in investment opportunities. Public firms are responsible for roughly two-thirds of all non-government R&D expenditures in the United States; however, research suggests almost half of managers would reject a profitable investment if it meant missing an earnings forecast," the RI researchers write.

RI's point is that money that could be spent on R&D or higher wages (which would encourage consumption) is just sitting in the stock market getting chomped on by high-frequency traders, tossed around in the slushy moves of big mutual funds, and waiting to be chum for hedge fund managers.

'But Linette, that's what companies are for.'

Now I know what you're thinking: Everything you've learned from watching CNBC's Joe Kernen bloviate about the merits of capitalism tells you that companies were only created to hand money back to shareholders. And you're sure of that.

Unfortunately for you, that isn't how it has always been.



In the first half of the last century, two professors, Adolph Berle of Columbia University and Merrick Dodd of Harvard Law, duked it out over whether companies lived for shareholders. Berle took the side of shareholders, and Dodd took a more holistic approach.

Wall Street Men 1929

"The business corporation," Dodd said in a 1932 issue of the Harvard Law Review, is "an economic institution which has a social service as well as a profit-making function."

In other words, Dodd argued that corporations are supposed to enrich the economy, provide workers with a decent wage and purchasing power, and create high-quality products. This was known as the "managerialist view," and it basically won out through the 1960s. Even Berle eventually capitulated.

Then in the 1970s, as the stock market was going through lean times, members of what we know as the Chicago school of free market economic theory dug up the old idea of shareholder primacy and put it back to work.

Noted economist Milton Friedman wrote in The New York Times Magazine in 1970 that a corporation's only "social responsibility of business ... [is] to increase its profits" for shareholders who "own" the corporation.

And that was that. We've been running with putting shareholders first ever since. Problem is, it seems we're running with it right off a cliff.

For your consideration

Michael Pearson, the former CEO of Valeant Pharmaceuticals, had a singular focus on showing growth in his company so that the market would reward it with a rising stock price. His pay, after all, was tied to that stock price.

And so he slashed R&D to single digits, instead spending money on acquisitions to grow the company. He once said that the unfortunate thing about curing cancer was that there was no money in it. And his philosophy on drug pricing was to charge as much as the market could bear. As a result, he drove the price of two lifesaving heart medications up hundreds of percentage points.

Carl Icahn

On this, Pearson was unapologetic. In 2014, he explained that when it came to Valeant's management, "there's only one metric that really counts, and it's total return to shareholders."

"We're just going to be focused on what's best for shareholders," he said.

Of course, this massive effort to only increase Valeant's stock price led the company down a dark path  and when reports surfaced that within its business it had a secret pharmacy that was bypassing insurers (and other poor governance), the outcome was the exact opposite.

The company's stock price lost 90% of its value. No one wins.

And there are less egregious cases all around us. Consider the differences between two incredibly well-known companies, Apple and Amazon.

Apple's stock has lost about a quarter of its value over the last year, despite a bunch of stock buybacks at the urging of former shareholder and billionaire investor Carl Icahn.

Analysts all over Wall Street will tell you it's an innovation issue. It needs another billion-dollar product, and no one sees one coming down the pipeline. Back in November, though, Bloomberg gave Apple a big pat on the back for spending 3.5% of its $233 billion revenue on R&D. Meanwhile, its peers spent far more; Google spent 15% of its $66 billion revenue on R&D, and Facebook spent 21% of its $12.5 billion revenue on it.

Apple's capability to spend was much greater, but it held off, and now it doesn't have a magic product to wow Wall Street or its customers.

On the other hand, you have Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who has consistently denied shareholders profits in order to reinvest in his business. Now, through that constant reinvestment, Amazon has found itself on the cutting edge of not just e-commerce, but also the cloud computing it developed. For that, analysts at Oppenheimer have slapped a $938 price target on its stock. It opened at $726 on Wednesday.

We don't have to take this

There are ways to solve the problems caused by an overemphasis on returning profits to shareholders, and RI lists several of them.



It suggests that we can break the link between stocks and CEO pay. We can make sure that companies don't pay out shareholders before they fill their pension coffers to ensure employees who've served them have retirement funds. We can lower the number of shares companies can repurchase at a time. We can limit the amount of debt companies can use to pay back shareholders. Those are just a few ideas.

And none of this should be taken to imply that shareholders don't have things to say. Activist hedge fund managers representing the voice of shareholders can be good for companies. Private equity, which can use leveraged buyouts to purchase companies that need to be reconstructed, can be a force of good, too.

But when any of this is taken too far, it sucks the life out of our economy and puts money where regular people can't touch it, keeping them from driving our economy forward. We have to realize we have a problem.

"The Price of Profits," our series with Marketplace, looks at what happens when profits become a company's product. For more, visit priceofprofits.org.

Disclosure: Jeff Bezos is an investor in Business Insider through his personal investment company Bezos Expeditions.

NOW WATCH: Why this Instagram star withdrew $1.2 million in cash  then deposited it the next day





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Bay Area residents may want to grab an umbrella on their way out the door Thursday morning, and maybe a parka if theyre headed to the northern Sierra as a storm is expected to make June feel kind of like January.

A weather system moving across Northern California is expected to dump small amounts of rain along the Peninsula and snow in the unusually cool Sierra.

It should be a wet commute, Steve Anderson, a forecaster at the National Weather Service in Monterey, said of the Thursday morning rush-hour storm.

Up to a quarter inch of rain is expected for parts of the North Bay, a tenth of an inch in San Francisco and about the same in the South Bay and East Bay, Anderson said.

The rain should move through early Thursday morning and clear up by the afternoon, he said.

The system will also be accompanied by wind gusts of up to 25 mph.

Thursdays precipitation will bring San Francisco to just three tenths of an inch below normal for the year, and put the South Bay a half-inch above normal. The North Bay is expected to remain about 3 inches below normal and the East Bay will stay about 4 inches below normal, Anderson said.

The weather system is also responsible for cooler than normal temperatures throughout the Bay Area and Northern California over the next few days, forecasters said.

Much of the Bay Area is expected to stay in the low-to-mid 60s on Thursday, with areas of the East Bay and South Bay making it into the 70s.

Meanwhile, foothill areas east of Sacramento are expected to remain up to 20 degrees below normal for this time of year. A winter storm watch was issued for the northern Sierra, including the Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Up to 2 inches of snow is forecast for elevations about 6,000 feet in the area and 3 to 5 inches above 7,000 feet, said Travis Wilson, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Sacramento.

Its nothing really compared to other winter storms, Wilson said. Its just a reminder because its been so warm out lately.

The winter storm watch will stay in effect through Thursday afternoon.

Wilson said this sort of late-season winter weather is rare, but not completely unheard of. He said it tends to happen about once every five years.

Forecasters expect temperatures to start to ramp back up to near normal, especially in the Bay Area, by this weekend. Anderson predicted clear conditions and temperatures up to 10 degrees warmer for most of the Bay Area by Saturday.
The tall, slender robot that roamed the aisles of a Lowes home improvement store in Sunnyvale Tuesday didnt have arms, legs or a head. But it represented an emerging face of the retail industry.

The robot prototype made by Bossa Nova Robotics, a San Francisco company, presages the automation that customers could start encountering soon in Lowes and other retail stores, even if their presence means fewer jobs for human employees.

In Lowes, the robots job is simple. It rolls up and down the aisles auditing the shelves to make sure theyre stocked with the correct products at the correct prices. If there are gaps on the shelves, the robot lets the human store workers know so they can restock the shelves.

Thats the kind of thankless, time-consuming job that is better left to automation than human workers, said Martin Hitch, CEO of the 10-year-old Bossa Nova, which spun out of robotics research at Pittsburghs Carnegie Mellon University. And he said his company is ready to start rolling out more robots for Lowes and other retailers in 2017. The one in the Sunnyvale Lowes is still a prototype and does not have a full-time job. But Hitch said after three years of testing at Lowes locations in Pennsylvania in addition to this weeks test in Sunnyvale, the company is now ready to build full-time working models that should be in stores by 2017.

What we drive is productivity on the store floor, Hitch said. For a stores employees, he said, going around looking for gaps is not a productive task.

Retailers like Amazon, which purchased robot maker Kiva for $775 million in 2012, are already incorporating robots and other automation in warehouses where customers arent present. But companies like Bossa Nova and Simbe Robotics, a San Francisco startup, are developing a new line of robots that audit inventory even as they share store aisles with customers.

Although Simbe executives declined to name stores they are working with, Target spokeswoman Jenna Reck confirmed that Simbes robot, called the Tally, is one of a few different robots the company has tested in a handful of San Francisco stores this year.

Potentially, weve shown retailers what the future of retail looks like, said Simbe CEO and co-founder Brad Bogolea.

Analysts from Gartner, a research group, agree. In a report released in December, they said, retailers must come to grips with the fact that smart machines will be the catalyst for one of the most disruptive eras in retail.

But robots that wander the aisles checking inventory, like the Tally and Bossa Novas model, could become more commonplace in the next few years as retailers seek ways to drive down rising labor costs, said David Marcotte, senior vice president for the research firm Kantar Retail.

They need to find some way to reduce labor costs by at least one person per store, and thats where robots come in, Marcotte said in an interview. In the next year or two, youre going to see more of that kind of robot spreading out to other retailers.

Bossa Nova and Simbe said they are designing their robots so as not to be intimidating to customers. They cant be too tall, and they are not supposed to move into someones personal space. They are designed to stay out of a customers way.

The Bossa Nova robot is now about 6 feet tall, 14 inches wide, and comes with 11 cameras and 22 LED lights that help it scan the shelves. Future models will be shorter, but slightly wider at the base, Hitch said.

The Tally is also tall and slim, with no limbs or face, although it does have a display that shows two green circles that flip on their sides, almost simulating eyes blinking.

Making it simple, approachable, cute, friendly are all major requirements in gaining the empathy of the shopper, said Simbe product designer and co-founder Jeff Gee. You have to avoid creepy.

Benny Evangelista is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: bevangelista@sfchronicle.com Twitter: ChronicleBenny
Residents in Rodeo expressed shock that a woman who once lived in the quiet East Bay community has become caught up in the FBIs investigation into the slaughter of 49 people at a gay club in Orlando  a massacre carried out by her husband.

Noor Zahi Salman grew up in a four-bedroom home on Donald Drive after she and her family immigrated from the Palestinian territories, several neighborhood residents said. After divorcing her first husband, she returned to Rodeo and lived there with her mother and sister before she married Omar Mateen around 2013 and moved with him to Fort Pierce, Fla., an Atlantic coast town 120 miles southeast of Orlando.

On Tuesday, the FBI was looking into whether Salman, 30, knew in advance that her husband was planning the shooting rampage at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando early Sunday, according to several reports.

Salman told the FBI that she had driven her husband to the Pulse at some point before the night of the attack and had been with him when he bought ammunition two days before he killed 49 club-goers and wounded 53, NBC News first reported, citing an unnamed senior law enforcement official.

Salman, however, told investigators that she had urged the 29-year-old Mateen not to commit the massacre, reports said. Police shot Mateen to death in the club about three hours after the killings began.

Mateens father, Sedique Mateen, asked by a reporter if he believed Salman helped your son commit this crime, replied, I dont think so.

Salman and Mateen have a 3-year-old son. She has not commented publicly since the killings.

She never made problems for anyone, Rajinder Chahal, who lives across the street from Salmans family in Rodeo, said about the gunmans wife. I was surprised. Nobody can imagine that.

Neighbors said Salman and Mateen met online about five years ago and later married  the second marriage for both of them.

Salman had been living in Chicago but moved back to Rodeo shortly before her 2009 divorce, according to Contra Costa County Superior Court records. She studied at the now-defunct Heald College, a for-profit business school, and later worked at Kmart in Pinole and a grocery store in Richmond until 2010, according to her online resume.

Another neighbor, Sarwan Kaur, said Salmans mother was upset that her daughter almost never visited after her marriage to Mateen. Mateens first wife, Sitora Yusifiy, has told reporters that he was abusive and mentally unstable.

Salmans mother wept after hearing about Sundays mass killing at the Orlando club, Kaur said.

The familys home is on a quiet hillside street on the east side of Rodeo. A Middle Eastern amulet called a hamsa, a talisman believed to ward off evil, hangs by the familys front door.

A woman inside the home declined to speak to a reporter, saying only, No comment, no comment, through the closed front door.

Its unclear whether authorities are seeking to build a criminal case against Salman. One legal expert and former federal prosecutor said that even if Salman knew that her husband posed a threat and didnt tell authorities, she may not have committed a crime.

The question is how much she knows and whether she joined in his purpose, said Laurie Levenson, a criminal law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Its not just what she knew. Its what she did to help.

Levenson added, If shes trying to convince him to not attack a place, it shows she does not join in the criminal activity. That would very much work in her favor  but that doesnt mean they wont question her.

Kimberly Veklerov and Evan Sernoffsky are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle, esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: KVeklerov @EvanSernoffsky
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Two weeks before a Los Angeles woman was charged with fatally stabbing a construction worker in San Francisco over the use of a portable toilet, she stabbed a parking lot attendant in a similar dispute, telling the bleeding victim, Die now, prosecutors said Tuesday.

At the first court appearance for Lizette Cauich, prosecutors described in detail the two grisly attacks allegedly done at the hands of the 23-year-old, who is facing murder charges in connection to last weeks killing of 58-year-old Mitzi Campbell in the South of Market neighborhood and assault charges in the May 29 stabbing in the Tenderloin.

Appearing alongside her was 42-year-old Oscar Mendez, who was arrested with her shortly after Fridays fatal stabbing of Campbell, and is accused of aiding her in the prior incident by stabbing the parking lot attendant in the back with a hunting knife.

Cauich stood next to her court-appointed attorney, shaking her head as Assistant District Attorney John Rowland described the two attacks. His telling of the two incidents brought Campbells family members to tears, with several questioning outside court why the beloved mother and sister was put in such a dangerous situation in the first place.

Cauich asked to use a portable toilet at a construction site at Fifth and Shipley streets just after 9 a.m. Friday, authorities said. She was denied, and Campbell, who was flagging traffic at the site, moved to escort her from the premises.

At that point, Cauich used a sharp-edged weapon to stab Campbell once in the upper right chest and twice in the lower left abdomen, Rowland said.

Cauich and Mendez, who is charged with being an accessory to Campbells murder, fled the scene, leaving Campbell bleeding on the street, but some of her co-workers followed them and called the police, who arrested them at Fifth and Folsom streets. Campbell died while being taken to a hospital.

The victim in the May 29 attack survived, but with serious injuries. He too was stabbed after refusing to allow Cauich to use the portable toilet in his lot, Rowland said.

The parking lot attendant was able to briefly fight her off with a trash can lid and began running for the Tenderloin Police Station, but she, Mendez and a third unidentified man caught him. He was stabbed at least three times, twice by Cauich and once by Mendez, Rowland said.

Attorneys for Cauich and Mendez left court without commenting. Cauichs attorney argued that she had no prior criminal record. Mendez was on probation and had a lengthy criminal history out of Los Angeles.

A judge ordered Cauich to be held in jail on $10 million bail and and set Mendezs bail at $5 million.

Campbells son, Les Walker, 37, described his mother as beautiful, charming, caring, loving. She was a devoted fan of the Golden State Warriors and a dedicated grandmother to Walkers 13-year-old daughter. She had planned to take her granddaughter to New York on vacation next month and had dreams of seeing her attend Stanford University, Walker said.

She was very down-to-earth, but most importantly, she loved to have fun, Walker said. She was the type that if she saw you on the freeway she would get out of her car and help you. She was always a helping, loving, caring, genuine person.

Though she was a comedian at times, Walker said his mother took her job seriously and was always on time. A graduate of Balboa High School and San Franciscos CityBuild job-training program, she worked for the San Carlos company Dees-Hennessey Inc. for roughly 2 years in a traffic-flagging position.

She always had a smile on her face, said Jason Myers, vice president and safety director at Dees-Hennessy. Our hearts go out to her family as they deal with this.

Walker said his mother mentioned feeling unsafe in recent weeks at some of the construction sites where she worked because of homeless people. Outside court, Campbells sister, Jacqueline Battle, questioned why her sister was put in the position of escorting Cauich off the site.

My sister wasnt a security guard  my sister was a flagger  and it was not her job to walk her out of there, she said.

Walker said after learning about the alleged earlier attack in the Tenderloin, he wants to see justice served, not only for my family but for the safety of the community of San Francisco. He said there was surveillance video of the attack.

Im going to really miss my mom, Walker said. Im going to miss her jokes and all the laughter we shared. The last thing we left on was her cracking a joke.

One of her last text messages to me was that she was so happy and felt so good and that she had never felt better in life, he said. And that God was just so good, so so good.

In addition to murder, Cauich was also charged with attempted robbery in connection with Campbells death  authorities said she had rifled through Campbells pockets before fleeing the scene. Mendez was charged with possession of a dirk or dagger, possession of methamphetamine, possession of stolen property and providing false information.

In the May 29 attack, both were charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and battery. They are scheduled to return to court on Thursday.

Vivian Ho and Kevin Schultz are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com, kschultz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: VivianHo, @KevinEdSchultz
By Maximiliano Rizzi

BUENOS AIRES, June 13 (Reuters) - Argentina's government is close to striking a deal with Monsanto Co over the inspection of shipments of genetically modified soybeans, an agriculture ministry official said on Monday.

Monsanto and President Mauricio Macri's government have been at loggerheads since March over the company's request to have exporting companies inspect soybean shipments to make sure farmers paid royalties on soybean seed technology.

Monsanto, the world's largest seed company, threatened to suspend launches of future soybean technologies in Argentina, a move that could limit output of the country's main cash crop.

Argentina, the world's No. 1 exporter of soymeal livestock feed, relies heavily on Monsanto's genetic technology to produce soybeans.

The government is now analyzing Monsanto's proposed method of inspection, said Guillermo Bernaudo, chief of Argentina's Ministry of Agri-industry.

"It's basically impossible not to have a deal. It's a matter of days," he told Reuters.

A Buenos Aires-based Monsanto spokeswoman said talks were ongoing but no deal was finalized.

The conflict is playing out just over six months into Macri's term, after he won the presidency on promises of freeing Argentina's economy from years of heavy-handed trade and currency controls.

Farmers have urged the government to make a deal with the company though they object to private exporters playing an enforcement role.

Monsanto struck deals with individual exporting companies to police royalty collection in neighboring Brazil.

(Additional reporting by Jorge Otaola; Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Suzan DelBene wants to get Russian fish sticks out of American school cafeterias.

In a new bill the Washington state representative introduced to Congress last month, school districts that get funding through the National School Lunch Program would be required to buy only American seafood, with the goal of supporting domestic fishers and providing better seafood to children. Sixty percent of the almost 3 million pounds of pollock  the flaky white fish often used for fish sticks  purchased through the program last year came from Russia; the other 40 percent from Alaska.

The fact that DelBene feels the need to put the requirement into law shows how difficult it is to get local food into school cafeterias.

While Berkeleys Edible Schoolyard Project laid the groundwork when it started in 1995, a wider movement is now taking hold, partly thanks to the Department of Agricultures Farm to School Grant Program, which started in 2012.

This year, Edible Schoolyard is one of four Bay Area nonprofits, school districts and counties that will receive one of those grants, which it will use to train educators. Sonoma County earned close to $100,000 to expand its farm-to-preschool programs serving low-income children.

Berkeleys Center for Ecoliteracy also will receive $100,000 to provide more training and resources in its California Thursdays project, which encourages schools to serve California-grown food once a week  or at least regularly. The program launched with Oakland Unified School District in 2013 and is now in 58 state school districts.

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But while California produce is making inroads, there are significant hurdles to getting local proteins to schools.

When the budget for a school entree is around just 65 cents, as it is in Oakland Unified, its not easy to afford local seafood, meat or chicken, although the districts menu planner, Amy Glodde, manages to buy some pasture-raised beef and organic chicken by using smaller portions and buying cheaper protein other days of the week.

Glodde already buys only American seafood, she says, including local seafood through a program with seafood purveyor Real Good Fish, which sources bycatch fish like grenadier from Bay Area fishermen for school districts.

We should be buying domestic when we can to support our local fishermen and processors, and if its more nutritious too, its a no-brainer, says Ramsey Cox, DelBenes communications director.

DelBene believes domestic seafood is better for children since imported seafood is usually frozen and defrosted multiple times in its journey to the United States, losing nutrients in the process.

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Imported fish generally is cheaper since a large portion of seafoods cost comes from filleting and handling. Most Russian pollack is processed in China, where labor costs are significantly lower than in Alaska.

The National School Lunch Program already has a provision that calls on school districts to buy domestic food products to the maximum extent practicable. DelBenes legislation would change the language to specifically require the purchase of American seafood, whether farmed or wild. Tuna, which is often caught in international waters, would have to come from an American vessel.

When it comes to other foods, if Congress approves, the Farm to School grant program is poised to increase from $5 million to $10 million a year, which means more school kids could be eating local food in years to come.

Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan.com
WASHINGTON  Plunging into the presidential race Tuesday, a visibly angry President Obama issued a scathing rebuke of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump for his proposal to suspend Muslim immigration in the wake of the Orlando massacre, tying Trumps ideas to shameful episodes of American history and mocking them as sloppy and dangerous.

Never uttering Trumps name, Obama ripped into politicians who tweet, and said those who lump all Muslims with terrorists are doing the terrorists work for them.

We hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests entire religious communities are complicit in violence, Obama said. Where does this stop?

Trump responded by suggesting that Obama is too solicitous of enemies.

President Obama claims to know our enemy, and yet he continues to prioritize our enemy over our allies, and for that matter, the American people, the candidate said in a statement. When I am president, it will always be America first.

Backs Feinstein bill

Flanked by top national security officials at the Treasury Department, Obama also called again for Congress to pass more restrictive gun legislation such as the bills by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, that would ban people on terrorist watch lists from buying firearms.

People with possible ties to terrorism who arent allowed on a plane shouldn't be allowed to buy a gun, Obama said, adding that Feinsteins ban on assault weapons should be reinstated.

Omar Mateen, the gunman in the nations latest mass shooting who claimed affiliation with the Islamic State terrorist group, was not on government watch lists at the time of his legal gun purchase. He had been removed by the FBI because there had not been enough evidence to warrant keeping him on a list.

Although Feinsteins legislation is dead, Democratic efforts to bring Thompsons similar bill to a vote was blocked by House Republicans on Tuesday.

Add to watch list

In an interview, Thompson conceded that banning gun purchases by people on terrorist watch lists would not have stopped Mateen. For that reason, he said, a list tickler should be added so that if somebodys on a terrorist watch list and they are taken off and if they then go out and buy assault weapons, or truckloads of fertilizer or dynamite, then maybe the FBI should revisit it.

In a clear departure from past calls for national unity in the wake of a terrorist attack, the Orlando massacre has put terrorism again at the forefront of presidential election politics.

Trumps oblique suggestions that Obama is complicit with terrorists and his warning that radical Islam is coming to our shores through Muslim immigration threw his own party on the defensive.

Not a war with Islam

Just hours before Obama spoke, House Speaker Paul Ryan, the nations highest-ranking Republican, denounced Trumps conflation of Islam with radical Islam, words Trump accused Obama and presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton of refusing to apply in relation to the Orlando massacre out of political correctness.

This is a war with radical Islam, said Ryan, who had endorsed Trump this month. Its not a war with Islam. Muslims are our partners. The vast, vast majority of Muslims in this country and around the world are moderate. Theyre peaceful. Theyre tolerant. And so theyre among our best allies, among our best resources in this fight against radical Islamic terrorism.

Trump, in a prepared speech Monday, said: If we dont get tough, and if we dont get smart, and fast, were not going to have our country anymore. There will be nothing, absolutely nothing, left. We cannot continue to allow thousands upon thousands of people to pour into our country many of whom have the same thought process as this savage killer. Many of the principles of radical Islam are incompatible with Western values and institutions.

At a campaign stop in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Clinton also lashed out at Trump, blasting him for suggesting that President Obama is on the side of the terrorists.

Just think about that for a second, Clinton said. Even in a time of divided politics, this is beyond anything that should be said by someone running for president of the United States. Clinton called on Republicans to denounce Trumps shameful talk, saying history will remember what we do in this moment.

Obama opened his news conference by systematically laying out his administrations military actions against the Islamic State before leveling a ferocious attack on Trump, mocking the Republican candidates insistence on using the words radical Islam. The term, Obama said is a political talking point, not a strategy.

Not once has an adviser said if we really use that phrase, were going to turn this thing around, Obama said.

Warning on loose talk

Obama castigated the presumptive Republican nominee of the United States for loose talk and sloppiness about who we are fighting, warning that such speech makes Muslim Americans feel their government is betraying them.

He warned of past times when Americans acted out of fear and we came to regret it, recounting how the country was founded on religious freedom.

If we ever abandon those values, we would not only make it a lot easier to radicalize people here and around the world, Obama said, we would have betrayed the very things we are trying to protect.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com
Seventy-four days after a dawn invasion, the conflict was over.

The Chronicles front page from June 15, 1982, covers the end of the Falklands War between Argentina and Great Britain.

The Falkland Islands are once more under the government desired by their inhabitants. God save the queen, read the message sent by British commander Maj. Gen. Jeremy Moore to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, quoted in The Chronicle.

There was no immediate reaction from Argentinas military junta, which earlier said an unofficial cease-fire was in force on the South Atlantic islands Argentina seized more than two months ago, the story read.

The photo on the front page shows Thatcher leaving 10 Downing Street to announce the wars end to the House of Commons. She was three years into her term as prime minister, and the victory would help her Conservative Party achieve election wins the following year.

Back in the waters off South America, the conflict was winding down.

White flags flew over Stanley, the islands capital, during the eerie hours of negotiation between the cease-fire, announced late yesterday, and the formal surrender, the story read.

In the end, 650 Argentine military personnel and 250 British troops would die in the fighting.

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 yearlong project highlighting one classic Chronicle newspaper page from our archive every day for 366 days. Library director Bill Van Niekerken, producer s Kimberly Chua and 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

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Lawyers for antiabortion clinics known as crisis pregnancy centers argued to a federal appeals court Tuesday that California is violating their free-speech rights by requiring them to notify patients that the state makes abortion and other reproductive services available at little or no cost.

The law says you have to speak the governments message, Matt Bowman, attorney for the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, told a three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

Not so, said state Deputy Attorney General Noreen Skelly. The law merely requires the clinics to present neutral, objectively factual information on the availability of abortion, and takes no position on whether carrying a baby to term is better than abortion.

The law took effect Jan. 1 after federal judges in Oakland and Sacramento refused to block it. It requires state-licensed reproductive health centers to notify clients in writing of the full range of low-cost or free reproductive health services available to low-income Californians, including contraception, prenatal care and abortion. The notice must list the phone number of the county social service agency.

The law requires clinics without a doctor to tell clients they are unlicensed by the state.

Crisis pregnancy centers, supported by religious organizations, offer free counseling and services to pregnant women, including pregnancy tests and ultrasound examinations, but steer them away from abortions. There are about 2,500 centers nationwide and at least 228 in California, according to a legislative staff analysis of the new law.

So far, federal judges have agreed with the states argument that the law respects free speech because its message is neutral and factually accurate, leaving the clinics free to argue against abortion. Lawyers for the clinics disputed that assessment Tuesday.

It would be little comfort to journalists in writing a piece that the governments allowed to draft the first paragraph before the writer has a chance to reply, said Kevin Snider, lawyer for several Northern California clinics.

Another clinic attorney, Francis Manion, said the state could distribute the information itself, through an advertising campaign, without conscripting those who oppose delivery of that message to express it.

But Skelly, defending the law, said statewide ads arent nearly as effective as notices from health care providers in offering information during the small window of time available to many pregnant women. Of the more than 700,000 pregnancies reported in California each year, she said, about half are unintended.

The court panel, all Democratic appointees, gave little indication of their intentions during the one-hour hearing.

Judge John Owens asked lawyers for the clinics why the requirement to notify patients of their abortion options is any more oppressive than the law requiring a local hamburger stand to disclose calorie contents. After the attorneys sought to distinguish the clinics from commercial enterprises, Owens asked Skelly whether the burger stand could be required to tell customers where they could see a healthier menu  a comparison the states lawyer, not surprisingly, rejected.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: egelko
In yet another battle in Californias water wars, politics is attempting to override science. This has proved disastrous for fisheries and water quality in the past. There is little reason to think it is a good idea now.

In this latest skirmish in the favored battleground  the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta  Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Republican members of the House are calling on the president to order more water pumped out of the delta to San Joaquin Valley farmers. Scientific indicators say federal water managers should reduce pumping to protect endangered fishes.

California water politics revolve around the delta smelt, the tiny fish that serves as one of the legal indicators of the deltas environmental health. But water diversions also threaten with extinction the fish we know and love as an icon of Pacific Coast human culture  the salmon.

Feinstein justifies increased delta exports as necessary for farmers struggling with drought. And she is rightly calling for more holistic ecosystem management. Yet she contradicts that when she says pumping is separate from water management activities in the Upper Sacramento River that have killed fish the past two years. Maybe separate as policies, but not to the fish.

Salmon have a three-year life cycle. Decisions one year affect the fish for the next two. Wipe out almost all of the baby salmon in the Upper Sacramento by failing to release cooling flows from dams, as happened in 2014, and there are few juveniles in the delta in 2015. Pump the delta to the max while storing more water upstream, as happened in 2014 and 2015, and the fish are harmed by the reversed flows and toxic algae. Then despair when weakened salmon fail to survive their arduous migration to the sea and back this year or next.

With the Pacific Coast salmon fishery at stake, water managers cant get it wrong again. More mistakes will destroy the fishery and with it the salmon fishing industry. Salmon bakes will be a memory, not an event.

In reviewing the letters from the senator and the House Republicans, President Obama might note this cautionary tale: In 2002, President George W. Bush ignored scientific data and ordered water diverted to Klamath River Basin farmers, resulting in high water temperatures that killed 34,000 chinook and endangered coho salmon.

Salmon belong to us all and must not be bargained away in a water deal.
Its not the final legal word, but its a powerful one: The Internet is a public highway that cant be turned into a toll road, according to an appeals court that sided with federal policymakers and against major cable and phone companies.

The upshot is a win for everyday smartphone users and Net-tethered TV watchers along with Silicon Valley content providers such as Netflix or music services. They were were up against broadband companies with the power to slow or speed up digital deliveries.
Suppose youre the sort of liberal who thinks America should accept and celebrate diverse peoples, traditions and cultures. But you also believe that homosexuals should enjoy the rights of other human beings, including the right to marry.

Or lets say youre the type of conservative who  like Donald Trump  thinks that we should close our doors to Muslims. But you also think gays are sinful and deviant, and that marriage should be reserved for straights.

Either way, the Orlando tragedy poses a big problem for you.

When Omar Mateen murdered 49 people at a gay nightclub early Sunday, he reminded us that some cultural groups in the world simply do not accept homosexuality. You cant unequivocally celebrate diversity  as the liberal bumper sticker urges  alongside gay rights, because some of the diverse people in our midst hate gays.

And the haters come in all colors and faiths, of course. Antigay white conservatives who want to keep out members of the Islamic faith might be surprised  and, I hope, embarrassed  about how many Muslims share their view of gays and lesbians. How can you condemn homosexuality, then demand the exclusion of people who do the same?

To be sure, Muslims are hardly united in their attitudes about gays. According to a 2015 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute, 42 percent of American Muslims favor same-sex marriage. Thats less than Jews (77 percent) and Catholics (60 percent) but more than white evangelical Protestants (28 percent).

And Muslim American leaders were quick to condemn Mateen, who declared his allegiance to the Islamic State group shortly before his rampage. They dont speak for our faith, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations declared, referring to Islamic State. They claim to, but 1.7 billion people are united in rejecting their extremism and their acts of senseless violence.

Not quite. A Turkish newspaper aligned with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called gays perverted in its headline reporting on the Orlando attacks. And the Al Jazeera Arabic-language Facebook page featured hundreds of comments praising Mateen and condemning his victims, whom one poster called homosexual filth.

Worldwide, majority-Muslim countries are overwhelmingly antigay. In a 2013 Pew Charitable Trust study, 97 percent of people in Jordan said that homosexuality should not be accepted by society; in Egypt, 95 percent agreed.

So we also need to make special efforts to assimilate Muslim newcomers and their families to basic American values, including the equal worth of sexual minorities. The son of Afghan immigrants, Mateen went to American schools. But we failed to teach him about the fundamental equality  and humanity  of his gay fellow citizens.

Of course, the wish to bar all Muslims from our country reflects its own failure of American civic education. Its every bit as odious as the rejection of gays. And its often supported by the same white conservatives, whose hypocrisy was on vivid display after the Orlando tragedy.

How many GOP leaders who denounced Mateen have engaged in their own brand of antigay bigotry, blocking same-sex marriage or even antidiscrimination measures? In Florida, site of the carnage, it is perfectly legal to deny someone a job or an apartment because of his or her perceived homosexuality. Yet there the conservatives stood, sounding off about Mateens hatred of gays.

When someone comes here from another nation, no matter what their faith, we have to teach them that religion and culture are never legitimate grounds for bigotry and hatred. Diversity is a hugely important value, but we can never let it trump civility.

And when homegrown bigots demand the exclusion of an entire religious group, we need to remind them about all of the diversities within such categories. All Muslims arent homophobes, any more than all Muslims are terrorists. And to the degree that they do disdain gays, they have more in common with white conservatives than most of us have recognized. Until now.

Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at New York University.
In the Bay Area, violations of the eat-and-drink-local imperative often feel sacrilegious. Especially in Wine Country, where drink menus often read like a Google search of nearby places.

Yet smack-dab in the heart of Healdsburg is Bergamot Alley, a wine bar and shop that serves no American wine.

Why bring sand to the beach? asks owner Kevin Wardell. When people come to Sonoma to taste wine, they go directly to the source. It didnt make sense for me to sell the same thing.

When Wardell and his wife, Sarah Johnson, opened Bergamot Alley in late 2011, there were, amazingly, no wine bars in downtown Healdsburg, and just three wine shops, all dealing mainly in California wine (and all now closed). Unsure of whether to open a bar or a bottle shop, the couple opened both: You can take bottles to go, or for $20 more, open them here.

A veteran sommelier of A16 and Flour + Water, Wardell has a penchant for Mediterranean wines, in particular Italian wines, in particular single-varietal wines. His selection revels in obscurity. For example, the bar takes its name from the aromatic profile of the Lacrima di Morro dAlba grape, of Italys Marche region. Its a super-aromatic red varietal, Wardell says. I always describe its aromas as rose petal and bergamot. The mans got Marche madness: He also adores the regions signature white grape, Verdicchio, and both varietals are always available by the glass.

Bergamot shares A16s fascination with underrated Italian wine regions, but Wardell seems more comfortable with all-out funkiness. In a recent iteration of the 20-glass list, a 2014 Grillo (thats the grape)  a white from Sicilian winemaker Arianna Occhipintis Tami label ($9.50/glass)  bore the copper-colored evidence of skin contact, simultaneously tropical (think peach compote) and chemical (think Febreze). The 2013 Derthona, a Piedmontese white from Vigneti Massa (grape, Timorasso; $12.50) had a sharp, pickled quality  I tasted pepperoncini  but then finished buttery.

Russian River Pinot this is not.

I loved discovering the 2011 Cupada, a Cava rose from Catalonias Pere Mata ($11), and the smoky, if reduced, 2013 Radoar Etza (Muller Thurgau; $11), from northern Italys Alto Adige region. Others proved harder endorsements: Domaine du Petit Aouts 2014 Le Memoire Neuve (Mollard; $10), from the French Alps, was tarry with tannins, lacking sufficient acid. Nearly as tannic was Envinates Alicante Bouschet (2014; $10.50), from Spains Extremadura region, recalling Bazooka Joe and baking soda.

John Storey/Special to the Chronicle

What drives the list is varietal correctness, Wardell explains. Sure, there are some blends, but mainly he aims to showcase grape varieties in pure form. Its not that he doesnt like blends  just as he doesnt dislike better-known regions. But the focus on unusual yet varietally typical wines serves Bergamots greater purpose: education.

That educational mission is what led Wardell and Johnson in 2013 to organize something they called the Seven Percent Solution  an annual tasting that unites California producers of uncommon grape varieties. (The name, while also a Sherlock Holmes allusion, refers to the fact that in 2012, 93 percent of all grape acreage in the Northern California appellations was planted to just eight grape varieties.) In its four years, Seven Percent has developed a meaningful voice, if still among a small audience: I love that people are now referring to wines as 7 percent wines, Wardell says.

Whether promoting weird wines from Sonoma or the Savoie, however, Wardell remains consistent. In that way, Bergamot Alley feels designed for the local wine industry, who surely tire of all that Zinfandel and Pinot. One time, he recalls, a winemaker turned to me and said, I know why I love it here: I can relax and not worry about whose wine we should drink as a favor.

When its busy, the bar is heaving. It hosts concerts ($5 to $15), cornhole and cribbage games, Cards Against Humanity tournaments and trivia nights. It hosts a wine class series (most recently, on Eastern European wines) and offers a wine club (three wines per month; $75), whose membership Wardell says is about half industry.

John Storey/Special to the Chronicle

All this fosters a real sense of community. Rather than a self-righteous rejection of its local wines, Bergamot Alley feels like a place where industry folks and laypeople alike can go off duty and relax. Unlike the conversational conventions of wine tasting on Westside Road (So how much new oak did you use on this Chardonnay?), at Bergamot the pressure is off. Chances are, even most seasoned wine professionals dont know much about the Mollard grape.

To that end, Wardell uses an enigmatic phrase  hippo sweat is red  as something of a motto. He and Johnson happened upon that fun fact in a meandering Google search while opening the bar, and during those hectic months it became their rally cry for learning something new every day. Wardell explains: If someone comes in and learns something about wine, weve done our job. If they walk out of here and didnt learn something about wine, they at least learned that hippo sweat is red.

And just as it wont cave to a conventional Cabernet craving, Bergamot also forsakes another wine bar mainstay: the cheese plate. Cheese plates at wine bars are so often disappointing, Wardell complains. Its rarely thoughtful. Theres only so much Marcona almonds and quince paste you can throw at me to make me feel like it justifies $24.

Instead, he has turned Bergamot into a grilled-cheese sanctuary. Though there are some accents  simple salads, popcorn, a cup of bacon  the menu basically consists of grilled cheese sandwiches. Theres a taleggio and mushroom option ($14), a Pimiento-based creation ($10), an obligatory burrata entry ($14). All are intensely buttery, with the possible exception of the vegan, wheat-free Hippie Points, $12, which nevertheless is plenty rich. Its the kind of menu that feels annoyingly decadent at first, but starts to appeal after a few drinks.

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Next month, Bergamot will undergo an identity shift. Wardell will significantly expand the retail shelves  after all, hes got the only wine shop left in town  and will, for the first time, include 7 percent California wines alongside his Old World foundation.

We want to be able to spread that word, he says. Surely the California varietals will benefit from context: Instead of drinking California Gruner Veltliner alongside California Arneis, drink them alongside Austrian Gruner and Italian Arneis.

Whether youll like every wine you try is a different story. But at least youll have learned that hippo sweat is red.

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine, beer and spirits writer. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob

What to order: Wines by the glass ($9 to $18.50), grilled cheese ($10 to $15)

Where: Bergamot Alley, 328 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. (707) 433-8720. www.bergamotalley.com

When: Tuesday-Sunday, noon-1 a.m.
The fight to save the delta smelt, the beleaguered fish at the center of an increasingly bitter tug-of-war over water rights in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, is as close to a lost cause as ever, but fisheries biologists vow to continue the struggle to protect the species.

There are only about 13,000 endangered delta smelt remaining in the estuary this year, the lowest number in recorded history, according to estimates released last week by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It means a fish that for thousands of years could be found only in the delta is perilously close to extinction.

Its a very small number of fish, said Steve Martarano, spokesman for the Bay-Delta office of the Fish and Wildlife Service. They have a life cycle of about a year, so to have that low of a number in a body of water as large as the bay delta is very alarming.

The population this year is well below last years estimate of 112,000 fish, the previous record low. Martarano said the yearly counts, which are extrapolations based on the states annual spring trawling surveys, go back to 2002, when there were 597,000 smelt.

Bad news in wet year

The fact that the recent drop-off happened during a relatively wet year, the kind that in previous years had prompted smelt populations to rebound, is troubling, said Peter Moyle, a professor of fish biology at UC Davis.

Gabrielle Lurie/Special to The Chronicle

Obviously, the drought hasnt helped. Its clearly made conditions worse, said Moyle, who has studied the tiny fish for more than 40 years and is the foremost expert on the species. But we had wet times this year and that should have delivered food and plankton. We would have expected delta smelt to do better in a year like this, but it doesnt seem to have happened.

The low numbers are particularly chilling, he said, given the cumulative decline over the past 30 years. The number of smelt, which were listed as endangered by the federal government in 2010, dipped below 500,000 for the first time in 2005 and remained below that 11 of the past 12 years. The exception was 2012, when the smelt population climbed to 623,000 following an extremely wet year, according to the department.

At stake is a 2- to 3-inch long fish that has adapted over eons to the shifting currents, brackish water and converging rivers in the vast 1,100-square-mile network of channels, islands and marshes known as the California Delta. There were once a million or more of the silver-colored fish in the delta and Suisun Marsh, by far the most plentiful fish in the region.

Year-long life span

Smelt swim only in bursts to get to locations where they can drift with the currents and feed, according to experts. They live for about a year, spawn and their larvae then drift down to Suisun Bay, where they grow and repeat the cycle.

The decline of delta smelt The year-by-year estimates by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were calculated for the first time this year. The numbers, which are based on state survey data, are subject to change upon further analysis: 2002: 597,000 2003: 519,000 2004: 527,000 2005: 385,000 2006: 151,000 2007: 235,000 2008: 262,000 2009: 295,000 2010: 134,000 2011: 234,000 2012: 623,000 2013: 171,000 2014: 167,000 2015: 112,000 2016: 13,000 See More Collapse

They are, said Moyle, an indicator species, like the proverbial canary in the coal mine  a crucial gauge of the ecological health of the region. Their population nosedive is a signal that the delta ecosystem is not doing well, he said. Their absence diminishes the food supply for larger fish and birds.

The entire delta has changed so much since they started diverting water that there has been a gradual change in the overall habitat, Moyle said.

The smelt problem is both complicated and controversial. Environmentalists blame the vast federal and state water distribution system, which sucks water out of the delta and provides drinking and irrigation water for some 30 million Californians from the Bay Area, throughout the San Joaquin Valley and in Southern California.

Problem pumps?

They say the huge Tracy-area pumps suck in and kill smelt and even cause portions of the San Joaquin River to flow backward, confusing the migrating fish. Experts on smelt have long pushed for restoration of the tidal marshes and increased freshwater flows down the river.

The problem is that the water flowing into the delta is used to irrigate some 3 million acres of farmland, and the agricultural industry is more concerned about their crops than the fish.

The federal government enacted rules in 2008 that curtailed water exports during times of the year when delta smelt are spawning and larvae and juveniles are present. Agriculture industry representatives and politicians have since complained that farms are being starved of water to protect a worthless minnow.

Gov. Jerry Brown hoped his twin-tunnels plan would resolve the issue by skirting the delta, but the pipeline bypass has itself been mired in controversy.

And the deltas signature minnow isnt the only fish suffering as politicians and interest groups jockey for position at the front of the trough. The decline of the smelt follows an announcement by the National Marine Fisheries Service that 95 percent of the winter-run chinook hatchlings died last year in the Sacramento River, which was too warm to support them.

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.

It was the second year in a row that millions of fish didnt make it out of the river, which was plagued by a lack of snowmelt after four years of drought. Other fish, including longfin smelt, threadfin shad and the historic runs of adult chinook salmon, also are struggling, according to biologists.

Moyle said invasive predators have further depleted smelt populations. The overbite clam, which eats the plankton that smelt need, and the Mississippi silverside, which is a voracious predator of small fish, are just two of the aliens that have smitten the smelt, he said.

Especially vulnerable

The slumping smelt numbers this year can only mean that the regulations curtailing water deliveries and other efforts to save the fish havent worked. The fear now is that a pesticide spill or oxygen-sucking algae bloom that in the past wouldnt have been a big deal could kill off all the remaining fish.

It is still possible to preserve the fish, Moyle said, but only if people stop bickering and come together to restore some of the ancient marsh habitat and develop water solutions that dont involve more dams and pumping. Smelt are now being raised at the UC Davis Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory, near Byron, where scientists hope to keep the species alive until the delta can be restored and the fish can be reintroduced.

The situation I cant say is completely hopeless. We do know that if you can create appropriate conditions in the delta they can survive, Moyle said. But with a downward trend like this, it is hard to be too optimistic about the long-term future.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: pfimrite
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Grasslands stretch for miles from the quiet, sun-drenched levee road north of Brentwood where Jaime Barajas supervises workers on the nearly 5,500-acre delta island known as Webb Tract.

Corn grown on the sunken, man-made island at the confluence of the San Joaquin and Mokelumne rivers has to be barged to the mainland on a small ferry, one semitruck load at a time. It is one of the Bay Areas most remote and challenging places to farm  and an unlikely fulcrum in an intense fight over the future of Californias water supply.

Barajas manages farming and duck hunting on the Webb and Holland tracts and lives in a ramshackle three-story house on Bouldin Island, just over the Contra Costa County border in San Joaquin County. Those are three of the five Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta islands that the powerful Metropolitan Water District of Southern California recently announced it is looking to buy.

While Metropolitans long-term plan is still somewhat murky, its clear to everyone that acquiring the islands  including Bacon Island in San Joaquin County, and a portion of Chipps Island in Solano County  would give the district more leverage in the bitter battle for delta water, especially if Californias four-year drought continues.

But many of the folks who make their living in the delta see the deal as a naked water grab by Los Angeles heavyweights who think they can hip-check local farmers out of the way. For Barajas, the deal would likely end farming on all of the land he manages, putting him out of work after 37 years on the job.

Its our water, Barajas, 59, said on a recent day as he wore a ball cap and striped railroad conductor overalls and held his faithful companion, a chihuahua mix named Peanuts, in one arm. Weve been farming this land for the last 100 years, as long as the islands have been here.

Leah Millis/The Chronicle

This isnt the water agencys only move to ensure a water supply for its customers. In July, Metropolitan paid $256 million to nearly double its land holdings near Blythe, a California city on the Arizona border in Riverside County.

The agricultural land in the area has the highest rights to water from the Colorado River, and Metropolitan pays farmers more than $700 an acre to allow their water to be shipped to the Los Angeles area.

In the delta, the move this month by the 37-member Metropolitan board of directors to buy 20,369 acres of land in three counties comes as Gov. Jerry Brown seeks approval of his controversial $17 billion twin tunnels project.

Like 3 little pigs

Two of the islands  Bouldin and Bacon  are directly in the proposed path of the tunnels, which would divert a portion of the Sacramento River to agencies south, including farms, urban areas in the Bay Area and some of the 19 million customers Metropolitan serves in the Los Angeles area.

Leah Millis/The Chronicle

The tunnels, which would bypass the delta, have created almost as much local outrage as the similarly conceived Peripheral Canal, which voters rejected in 1982.

Supporters say the proposed pipelines would kill fewer fish than existing pumps that take water south, while allowing for restoration of the delta ecosystem. Opponents say they would kill just as many fish and siphon so much more water out of the river that salt water from San Francisco Bay would back up and ruin the wetlands.

Its kind of like the story of the three little pigs, and were the pig in the brick house and somebody opens the door and lets the wolf in, said Rudy Mussi, 63, who has farmed his entire life on Union and Roberts islands, which are close to Bacon Island. If we thought Met was in it for the habitat or creating added (water) storage, we wouldnt be opposed to it, but they are clearly trying to ease the construction of the tunnels.

Local water advocates and environmentalists have gone as far as to compare Metropolitans gambit to Chinatown, the 1974 Roman Polanski film depicting deceptive and, in some cases criminal, tactics by Los Angeles interests to secure water rights to the Owens Valley, east of the Sierra.

Leah Millis/The Chronicle

Jeffrey Kightlinger, Metropolitans general manager, acknowledged the benefits of owning the islands, including the fact that they would come with some coveted historical rights to take water straight from the delta. Also, Kightlinger said, the state wouldnt have to use eminent domain proceedings to acquire the land to make way for the tunnel route.

Were particularly interested in a number of environmental benefits in owning these lands and working on them, he said, referring to the obligation to restore wetlands and wildlife habitat as mitigation for building a pipeline to slurp up delta water.

Water and habitat needs

The current owner of the land, Delta Wetlands Properties, a subsidiary of insurance giant Zurich, recently gained approval to flood Bacon Island and Webb Tract and convert them into reservoirs covering more than 11,000 acres, and to return heavily farmed Bouldin Island and Holland Tract to wildlife habitat.

Metropolitan officials have not committed to those plans, but they appear to meet the districts need for extra water storage and environmental mitigation.

The reservoir plan is possible because the islands are sinking, a result of oxidation of the heavily farmed peat soils. Barajas said Webb Tract is 12 feet below sea level  essentially a bowl protected by dirt levees. Some of the other islands are 20 feet below mean high tide.

Leah Millis/The Chronicle

The aging dirt levees protecting the islands have long been a topic of concern for geologists, who have warned that an earthquake, heavy storm or even a large gopher colony could cause a breach, resulting in a catastrophic flood.

Still, farmers and their advocates prefer crops to a water reserve for outsiders.

You would be losing a lot of very valuable farmland, said George Hartmann, a Stockton attorney who waged a legal battle on behalf of farmers on the McDonald Tract to stop the reservoir plan out of fear that the pressure created by the extra water would undermine neighboring levees and percolate up onto their land.

Politically, we believe the goal of the Southern California water interests is to destroy the delta as we know it and turn it back into a swamp, he said. All they are interested in is getting water out of it.

The stakes are high because the channels, islands and marshes that make up the delta are a catch basin for the vast majority of Californias drinking water. The 1,300-square-mile network, where the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers come together, was once a vast tule marsh teeming with salmon, grizzly bears and other wildlife, which provided ample food for American Indians.

Killing endangered fish

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.

American settlers began transforming the swamp land in the late 1800s and early 1900s, creating a levee system that formed many of the islands. The State Water Project and federal Central Valley Project later designed a system of pumps, aqueducts and concrete bypasses to both prevent flooding and funnel snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada to 25 million people in the Bay Area, Central Valley and Southern California.

The problem is, the huge Tracy-area pumps that suck up delta water also kill baby salmon and the tiny endemic fish known as the delta smelt, which are now on the verge of extinction.

Pumping restrictions have been issued since 2007 to protect the fish. The California Department of Water Resources and other state agencies are also obligated under a 2010 agreement to restore 8,000 acres of intertidal and subtidal habitat for salmon and smelt in the delta, the Suisun Marsh and the Yolo Bypass.

The 30-mile tunnels project, which would run north-south from Merritt Island in Yolo County to just south of Discovery Bay, in Contra Costa County, would bypass the problematic region and presumably take water where fewer fish congregate.

Leah Millis/The Chronicle

Ironically, the revelation that Metropolitan is interested in the islands may make it more difficult for the state to acquire right-of-way land by creating a mini-real-estate boom in the area. Property on the delta islands that could be had for about $5,000 an acre two years ago is already going for $15,000 an acre and up, according to land speculators.

Some anticipated the land rush several years ago and bought property on the islands, which they are now trying to sell for a tidy profit.

If what they say is true and they actually want to do something with these islands, like restoration, that would be great, said John Sweeney during a recent tour of the 734 acres of marshlands on Chipps Island.

He and his partners bought the land in 2011  and now hope to sell it to Metropolitan.

Most of the reasons why the value of land has gone up is because the delta has water rights, Mussi said. People appreciate that, in order to farm in California, you need water.

There are some Metropolitan supporters hidden among the deltas hissing masses. Ownership of the islands by such a rich and powerful district, they say, could be just what is needed to improve the environment and fix Californias rickety water distribution system.

Skeptical of promises

Dennis Gardemeyer, the co-owner of 6,200 acres on McDonald Island, said he would like to believe that but knows well the history of the struggle for Californias most precious liquid.

We here in the delta have been given many, many, many promises by government agencies and districts that take water from us that they have yet to keep, Gardemeyer said. Its disconcerting to me that the Met might be propagating more false promises, but Id like to be a good neighbor, and I hope the Met will be a good neighbor.

Barajas doesnt care who owns the land as long as he can still farm.

It would be cheaper just to build desalination plants than to build those tunnels, he said as he looked across the fields on the Webb Tract. But what do I know? Im just a farmer.

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite
This article originally appeared on KQED.org

As the school year was about to end, three friends gathered in the college counseling room at Foshay Learning Center, a K-12 public school near the University of Southern California. Dozens of college pennants hung from the ceiling and the walls were plastered with posters with tips on how to prepare for and apply for college.

The friends talked about one of the biggest headaches on the University of California undergraduate application: the personal statement essay.

Senior Jocelyn Sandoval took hers out of her backpack.

"I think it showed my leadership, and I think it showed how I react to certain situations and it kind of showed my potential, my ability to move on and work within certain circumstances," she said.

She must have nailed it: She'll be attending UCLA in the fall.

Her friend, 11th grader Ariana Reyes, looks up to Sandoval's accomplishments because she also wants to attend UCLA, to study biology. But Sandoval's tips on how to write her personal statement won't help Reyes much: This year, the UC system announced that it's completely overhauling the essay section of its application.

While Sandoval wrote two essays when she submitted her application last year, Reyes and the hundreds of thousands of other high school seniors preparing their applications for this fall must write four.

Read the full story via KPCC

This article originally appeared on KQED.org


David Grabill, a Bay Area attorney who spent the last several decades fighting for affordable housing in a region that badly needs it, died in Santa Rosa after a long illness. He was 74.

Mr. Grabill was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis last year and succumbed on Saturday to the lung disease after recent complications, family members said.

Over the years, his litigation with Sonoma County Housing Advocacy Group was behind the construction of scores of homes for low-income Bay Area families, and ushered in more housing policies that helped the homeless, colleagues said.

The Santa Rosa public interest attorney called himself retired, but those closest to Mr. Grabill said he never truly did. When his condition recently worsened, he worked on an iPad from his hospital bed  fighting to preserve a Santa Rosa rent control ordinance amid threats of appeals from developers, family said.

He was extremely passionate about his work and making housing affordable to all, said his daughter, Jane Battenfeld. He said at a dinner last year ... housing is a right, its a necessity. It shouldnt be a privilege.

At that dinner, Mr. Grabill received a career of distinction award from the Sonoma County Bar Association for his years of social justice work. In one instance, he joined a suit against the city of Santa Rosa and helped forge a settlement to build 3,000 affordable housing units and an 80-bed homeless shelter.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 9, 1942, Mr. Grabill was 5 years old when he moved with his parents to Washington D.C., where his father worked as an anesthesiologist.

As a student at the prestigious Sidwell Friends School, he and several classmates called for the schools desegregation, colleagues said. Although their initial efforts were unsuccessful, the school did eventually desegregate. Malia Obama graduated from the same high school on Friday.

Mr. Grabill spent his undergraduate years at Yale University, and received a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1967.

After school, he started working as a legal aid fellow at the federal Office of Economic Opportunity. He got involved in a slew of legal battles, including one in Southern California to secure territorial and water rights for Native Americans.

Mr. Grabill eventually moved to West Virginia in the 1970s, and soon scored a major legal victory. As a group of women struggled to start a womens health clinic, he argued the states restrictive policies ignored the Roe v. Wade decision on abortion, and an appeals court agreed.

He ended up marrying one of the women starting the clinic, Dorothy Battenfeld.

He just kept up this passion for wanting to help people who were less fortunate, his wife said. I think all of us want to continue doing that.

In 1981, Mr. Grabill began working with California Rural Legal Assistance and became managing attorney for the Santa Rosa office. His litigation forced government response to housing issues around Sonoma, Napa, Humboldt, and Mendocino counties.

One of his notable cases was a 1989 settlement with the city of Healdsburg that resulted in providing and zoning sites for 500 apartments.

After leaving the California Rural Legal Assistance group in 1995, he co-founded Sonoma County Housing Advocacy Group, where he acted as an attorney up until his death. He was fierce, argumentative, and sometimes a bull in a china shop as he took on city officials, colleagues said.

But Mr. Grabills resolve was just a reflection of his own zeal for the cause, said Stephen Harper, co-chair of the Housing Advocacy Group and longtime friend.

Unfortunately, our community lost a very compassionate, caring human being when it came to housing for those less fortunate, Harper said. I dont believe we can replace him. To do what he did, theres no money in it. You do it because you care. And thats hard to replace, if not impossible.

Mr. Grabill is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and daughter, Jane, both of Santa Rosa, along with daughters Holly Rhodes of San Francisco, Megan Rhodes of Santa Rosa and son, Christopher Grabill, of Santa Rosa.
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Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf abruptly fired interim Police Chief Ben Fairow on Wednesday, six days after hiring him to replace a chief who resigned amid a sexual misconduct scandal in the department.

Schaaf said she removed Fairow from the top post after she received information that has caused me to lose confidence in Ben Fairows ability to lead the Oakland Police Department at this particular moment in time. She said it was a mistake to install him.

I own the mistake I made, and the important thing is Im fixing it. Im fixing it quickly, and Im not trying to hide, the mayor said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

The sudden dismissal highlighted the chaos and uncertainty that has seized City Hall and the Police Department as officials grapple with a bizarre internal investigation that centers on an underage sex worker and her interactions with multiple Oakland police officers and sworn personnel from several other law enforcement agencies.

On Wednesday, the San Francisco Police Department became the latest agency to open an internal investigation into whether its officers had relations with the young woman at the center of the scandal. The Richmond Police Department is also conducting an internal inquiry. Also Wednesday, the Alameda County district attorneys office reported that one of its inspectors had been put on administrative leave in connection with the case.

Whent resigns

Schaaf had named Fairow as the interim chief late last Thursday night after announcing that Police Chief Sean Whent had resigned for personal reasons, and the mayor refused to comment on whether Whents resignation was connected to the sex scandal.

With the abrupt resignation of Sean Whent last week, we sought to have seamless leadership of the Oakland Police Department and selected an individual who understood the dynamics in Oakland and who, based on his previous employment with OPD, could hit the ground running, Schaaf said.

On Wednesday, Schaaf said Assistant Chief Paul Figueroa would assume the role of acting chief as the city searches for an outside candidate to lead the department.

Five Oakland police officers were placed on leave as the investigation into the sex workers dealings continues, and two of those officers resigned in May.

The mayor said Wednesday that her administration was doing a background check of Fairow on Monday when certain information was learned that prompted her decision to fire him. She wouldnt disclose what the information was, citing a state law that requires confidentiality for police personnel files.

But later Wednesday, BART Police Chief Kenton Rainey issued a public statement saying he welcomed Fairow back to his job, and that Fairow had informed him that he had an extramarital affair more than a decade ago  none of which precludes him from serving as a sworn law enforcement officer or as one of my deputy chiefs.

Fairow served for 21 years in Oaklands Police Department before moving to become deputy chief at BART police, where he came under fire last year for the death of Sgt. Tom Smith, who was inadvertently shot by a colleague.

In a federal lawsuit filed in May 2015, Smiths widow, Kellie Smith, who was a BART police officer at the time of the shooting, accused Fairow of denigrating his rank and file and even calling them pussies when they asked for additional training.

Fairow could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Schaaf and City Administrator Sabrina Landreth said at the news conference that they are trying to ensure stable leadership over a department that for years has cycled through police chiefs.

We will take our time to make sure that (whoever) is put in has the complete trust of the rank and file, Landreth said.

But critics say the mayor has concealed the reasons behind Whents departure and refused to discuss it even with other city officials.

Her silence has infuriated Councilwoman Desley Brooks, who roundly attacked the mayor during a Public Safety Committee meeting Tuesday at City Hall.

3,000 steps backward

Brooks said that Whents ouster, coupled with a sex workers explosive allegations that she had sex with several Oakland officers while she was underage, showed that its abundantly clear the administration is unable to look out for the best interests of this city.

Councilman Larry Reid on Wednesday expressed his disenchantment and frustration with the latest sudden leadership change.

You take 10 steps forward, and then you take 3,000 steps backward, Reid said. Were going backward, not forward.

The Public Safety Committee is now pondering whether to endorse a November ballot measure that would create a citizen police oversight commission and give it broad powers to discipline officers  and terminate the chief.

News of Fairows removal came just hours after civil rights attorneys John Burris and Jim Chanin held their own news conference, saying they may ask a federal judge to intervene in hiring and recruitment at the struggling department. The department has been operating under a Negotiated Settlement Agreement and federal oversight requiring it to make improvements since 2003. That year, the city settled a major lawsuit after findings that four officers beat West Oakland residents and planted evidence. Chanin and Burris were the plaintiffs attorneys in that case.

Officers should not be involved in consorting with prostitutes and passing a young girl around like shes a rag doll, Burris said at the news conference. Weve come to the conclusion that the supervisors have not done their jobs, that institutional checks and balances were not in place.

Rattled by a spate of disciplinary cases that all involved officers hired after 2013, the city is now conducting an official audit of its recruitment process. Chanin said he wants a non-redacted version of the audit for himself, Burris, the departments independent court monitor, and federal Judge Thelton Henderson, who has overseen the department ever since 2003  the year that Oakland settled the lawsuit

Change in culture

If Oaklands audit is not released soon or if it seems flimsy, then Burris and Chanin say they will push for a court order that would allow Henderson and his appointed monitor and compliance director to steer the hiring of new police.

There is undoubtedly a change in culture of Oakland Police Department which cannot be ignored, Burris said.

He and Chanin believe the departments problems stem at least partly from an aggressive effort to boost its ranks, which began under former Mayor Jean Quan, and picked up when Schaaf promised to have 800 police officers in Oakland by the time she leaves office.

I think theres been a general rush to fill up Oakland with more police officers, Chanin said.

Burris said that one new recruit had been pushed through the academy, even though supervisors knew he had a problem with alcohol abuse.

Schaaf, who has adamantly expressed her disgust over the scandal, said she is determined to weed out people not morally fit to serve as Oakland police officers.

The scandal spread to other departments after the teen, who uses the alias Celeste Guap, told several media outlets that she had sex with two dozen officers from various agencies..

Its not enough to say we are going to prosecute these people to the fullest, Burris said. The real question is how are we going to make sure this does not happen again.

Rachel Swan and Kimberly Veklerov are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com , kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: rachelswan @kveklerov
FBI phone

Sanjay Valvani, a portfolio manager who worked at Jacob Gottlieb's Visium Asset Management, turned himself in to the federal authorities Wednesday morning.

Valvani was charged with netting about $25 million for an unnamed investment firm using inside info on the pending approval of a generic drug.

Valvani and another former portfolio manager, Stefan Lumiere, face fraud charges in Manhattan federal court.

Visium told its investors in March that federal authorities were investigating the firm for the valuation of certain securities in a credit fund, which closed in 2013. Visium put Valvani on leave in April.

Lumiere and another portfolio manager, Christopher Plaford, are also listed in the federal complaint, but their respective firms are not named. There is a Stefan Lumiere who worked at Visium as a portfolio manager from 2007 to 2013 in the special situations and distressed investments group, according to a LinkedIn profile. Likewise, there is a Chris Plaford listed on LinkedIn as having worked at Visium from 2005 through 2013 as a portfolio manager.

Visium is one of the US's bigger hedge funds, managing $7.8 billion as of January 1. The firm focused on many different stock sectors but is known for its focus on healthcare; Gottlieb, its chief investment officer, holds a medical degree. The firm was founded in 2005 and employs 170 people in New York, London, and San Francisco.

I am deeply saddened by todays events, Gottlieb said in a statement.

Portfolio managers at Visium have been seeking new jobs since the firm came under federal investigation, three people familiar with the matter previously told Business Insider.

Here's a quick summary of the charges and other info from the US attorney's statement (full version available below):

Valvani is accused of committing securities and wire fraud with a former senior Food and Drug Administration official, Gordon Johnston, from about 2005 through 2011.

Valvani "unlawfully obtained[ed] highly confidential and material nonpublic information from the FDA about the agency's approval of pending generic drug applications," according to the US attorney's statement.

Valvani was also charged with passing material nonpublic info to Plaford, a former portfolio manager at an unnamed investment firm, who allegedly traded on that info.

Johnston and Plaford have pleaded guilty and admitted their participation in the scheme.

The complaint says Valvani instructed Johnston, the former FDA official, about the status and approval of a generic drug, and Johnston passed along that info back to Valvani. Valvani is accused of using that info to bet on two pharma companies that were likely to be affected by the inside tip, allegedly netting about $25 million in trading profits. Valvani is also accused of tipping off Plaford on this info.

Separately, Lumiere has been charged with committing securities and wire fraud with Plaford from 2011 through 2013. That's related to the mismarking of securities in an unnamed fixed-income fund.

Story continues

"Sanjay Valvani is an innocent man whose investment decisions were always based on rigorous and entirely appropriate research and analysis, consistent with his high integrity," Valvani's lawyer, Barry Berke, told Bloomberg in a statement. "It will be shown that the prosecution of Mr. Valvani is yet another example of this United States Attorney's office stretching the facts and law to try to transform entirely innocent trading decisions into a crime."

Here is the statement from the Southern District of New York:

Hedge Fund Portfolio Manager Sanjay Valvani And Former Portfolio Manager Stefan Lumiere Charged In Manhattan Federal Court

Gordon Johnston, a Political Intelligence Consultant, and Christopher Plaford, a Former Hedge Fund Portfolio Manager, Have Each Pled Guilty and Are Cooperating with the Government

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Diego Rodriguez, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Elton Malone, Special Agent in Charge, Special Investigations Branch, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), announced today charges against SANJAY VALVANI and STEFAN LUMIERE, a portfolio manager and former portfolio manager, respectively, at a healthcare-focused hedge fund in New York, New York (Investment Adviser-A).

VALVANI was charged with participating in a scheme, from in or about 2005 through in or about January 2011, to convert United States property, to defraud the United States, and to commit securities fraud and wire fraud relating to VALVANIs agreement with GORDON JOHNSTON, a political intelligence consultant and former senior official at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to unlawfully obtain highly confidential and material nonpublic information from the FDA about the agencys approval of pending generic drug applications and convert it to VALVANIs use, including by using the information to execute profitable securities transactions. VALVANI is also charged with passing certain highly confidential and material nonpublic information to CHRISTOPHER PLAFORD, a former portfolio manager at Investment Adviser-A, who also executed trades based on the information. In addition, Mr. Bharara announced today the unsealing of charges against JOHNSTON and PLAFORD, who both pled guilty and admitted to their participation in the scheme. As part of the scheme, for example, at VALVANIs direction, JOHNSTON obtained highly confidential and material nonpublic information from a senior FDA official about the status and approval of a generic drug called enoxaparin, which information JOHNSTON passed to VALVANI. VALVANI used this information to trade in the securities of two pharmaceutical companies likely to be affected by an approval of a generic enoxaparin application, earning approximately $25 million in trading profits when the FDA announced its first such approval. VALVANI also tipped PLAFORD with this information. VALVANI surrendered to authorities this morning.

Separately, LUMIERE was charged with participating in a scheme with PLAFORD, from in or about June 2011 through in or about September 2013, to commit securities and wire fraud relating to the mismarking of securities in a fixed-income fund for which PLAFORD was the portfolio manager at the time, which inflated the net asset value (NAV) of the fund and overstated the funds liquidity. LUMIERE surrendered to authorities this morning. PLAFORD also pled guilty to his participation in this scheme, as well as an additional scheme involving another political intelligence consultant.

VALVANI will be presented and arraigned later today before United States District Judge Sidney H Stein. LUMIERE will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James C. Francis IV. JOHNSTONs case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr., and PLAFORDs case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams.

In separate actions, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed civil charges against VALVANI, LUMIERE, JOHNSTON, and PLAFORD.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: As alleged, Valvani, Johnston, and Plaford conspired to extract highly confidential and tightly guarded information about pending applications for generic drug approvals from the FDA, and traded on such information, reaping millions of dollars in illegal profits. Lumiere and Plaford also allegedly conspired to mismark securities held by their fund, lying to their investors and unjustly enriching themselves in the process.

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriguez said: As alleged, the defendants conspired and schemed over six years to obtain insider information from the FDA on the status of approvals for generic drugs in order to take that information and use it to make securities trades. Additionally, some of those same defendants schemed to defraud investors from an fixed-income fund by deceptively mismarking the value of certain securities. Sadly these are schemes we see time and time again, where lies and use of nonpublic information profits those conducting the crimes and everyday investors lose out.

HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Elton Malone said: Trading on confidential, non-public FDA information corrupts the carefully guarded drug approval process and simply will not be tolerated. People hoping to profit from insider data will be aggressively prosecuted for their crimes.

According to the allegations in the charging documents unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, including the Indictment charging VALVANI and the Complaint charging LUMIERE, and statements made in court proceedings:

At all relevant times, Investment Adviser-A managed hedge funds specializing in healthcare-related investments. One such fund focused on long-short equity investments in healthcare companies (Fund-1). Another fund, which operated from in or about 2009 until in or about September 2013, invested primarily in debt instruments issued by healthcare companies (Fund-2).

VALVANI served as a partner in Investment Adviser-A and one of Fund-1s portfolio managers, managing the specialty pharmaceuticals portfolio within Fund-1. From in or about May 2009 through in or about September 2013, PLAFORD served as a partner in Investment Adviser-A and as Fund-2s portfolio manager. LUMIERE served under PLAFORD as the Fund-2 portfolio manager for special situations, which represented a portion of Fund-2s portfolio.

The Scheme to Convert and Use Confidential FDA Information

The Scheme

As alleged in the Indictment, from in or about 2005 through in or about January 2011, VALVANI, JOHNSTON, PLAFORD, and others participated in a scheme to convert to their own use confidential and material nonpublic information from the FDA concerning, among other things, the FDAs internal deliberations regarding the approval of generic drug applications for the purpose of making profitable securities transactions.

During this time period, Investment Adviser-A retained JOHNSTON as a consultant who provided political intelligence related to, among other things, the likelihood and timing of the FDAs approval of generic drugs. JOHNSTON primarily consulted for VALVANI, and Investment Adviser-A paid JOHNSTON hundreds of thousands of dollars in total for his consulting work. Before becoming a consultant, JOHNSTON had served as the Deputy Director of the FDAs Office of Generic Drugs (OGD), an office within the FDA charged with, among other things, approving generic drugs. In addition to serving as consultant to Investment Adviser-A, JOHNSTON worked for a trade association for manufacturers and distributors of generic drugs (the Trade Association). As a result of his long employment with the FDA, as well as his ongoing work with the Trade Association, JOHNSTON maintained close relationships with FDA insiders.

VALVANI tasked JOHNSTON with obtaining highly confidential and material nonpublic information from the FDA about pending generic drug ANDAs and related citizen petitions, information that FDA employees were not authorized to disclose to the public. An ANDA, or Abbreviated New Drug Application, is the process by which a pharmaceutical company can apply to the FDA for approval to sell a generic version of a brand name drug. In many cases, the brand name drug company files a citizen petition with the FDA challenging the generic drug companys ANDA and arguing that the FDA should deny it. The FDAs decision to approve a generic drug ANDA typically has a positive impact on the stock price of the company receiving approval, and a negative impact on the stock price of the company producing the brand name drug.

The Enoxaparin ANDA Approval

As alleged in the Indictment, at the direction of VALVANI, JOHNSTON improperly obtained confidential and material nonpublic information concerning the FDAs approval of a generic version of an anticoagulant drug called enoxaparin and passed this information to VALVANI, which VALVANI used to make profitable securities trades. Beginning in the mid-1990s, Sanofi-Aventis S.A. (Sanofi) manufactured and sold enoxaparin under the brand name Lovenox. By 2005, three groups of publicly traded pharmaceutical companies had filed ANDAs with the FDA seeking approval to sell a generic version of Lovenox, including one such application filed by a publicly traded pharmaceutical company that had partnered with Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Momenta) (the Momenta ANDA). After the first two ANDAs were filed, Sanofi filed a citizen petition with the FDA opposing the approval of a generic version of Lovenox. These three ANDAs were pending with the OGD for years, during which time it was unclear whether OGD would approve a generic version of Lovenox.

Beginning in or about 2005, VALVANI directed JOHNSTON to gather confidential and material nonpublic information from FDA employees about the FDAs consideration of the enoxaparin ANDAs. JOHNSTON, in turn, improperly obtained such information from a senior OGD official (Individual-1), who was close friends with and a former colleague of JOHNSTONs. Individual-1 participated in internal, confidential meetings regarding the Momenta ANDA. As part of the ANDA review and approval process, OGD maintained an internal document tracking the progress of ANDAs, including the Momenta ANDA, and estimating the likelihood and timing of their approval (the Tracking Document). The information contained in the Tracking Document was highly confidential and not intended to be disclosed to anyone outside the FDA. Nonetheless, Individual-1 disclosed confidential and material nonpublic information about the status of the approval of a generic Lovenox ANDA, including information from the highly confidential Tracking Document, to JOHNSTON. JOHNSTON breached a duty of trust to Individual-1 by passing the information to VALVANI, as JOHNSTON knew that Individual-1 expected him to keep the information confidential based on their history of sharing and keeping such confidences.

For example, in or about late December 2009 or early January 2010, JOHNSTON told VALVANI, in sum and substance, that he had learned that the Tracking Document reflected that OGD was moving toward approval of a generic Lovenox ANDA. This was information that was not known to the public and was not supposed to be known by anyone outside of the FDA. Based on his prior role at OGD, JOHNSTON understood this to mean that the ANDA approval was highly likely and could occur in a matter of months, which information JOHNSTON shared with VALVANI. VALVANI asked JOHNSTON to continue to contact his FDA sources to obtain additional updates about the agencys internal deliberations related to the approval of a generic Lovenox ANDA.

Beginning on or about January 4, 2010, after receiving the tip from JOHNSTON, VALVANI requested that Investment Adviser-A give JOHNSTON a raise. In a January 6, 2010, email to Investment Adviser-As chief financial officer, VALVANI sought to justify providing a raise to JOHNSTON by stressing how important JOHNSTON was to him: [JOHNSTON] is without question the most valuable consultant Ive ever worked with and Im pushing to reinforce the value of the relationship and encourage him to continue to go above and beyond for our team.

The next day, on or about January 7, 2010, VALVANI caused Fund-1 to begin to increase its long position in Momenta by four-fold. By on or about July 23, 2010, Fund-1 held an approximately 2,962,715-share long position in Momenta stock valued at approximately $35 million. Beginning on or about January 14, 2010, VALVANI caused Fund-1 to short Sanofi securities. By on or about July 23, 2010, Fund-1 held an approximately 1,320,454-share short position in Sanofis European-traded stock and an approximately 509,854-share short position in Sanofis American Depository Receipts (ADRs), together valued at approximately $78 million.

VALVANI also passed to PLAFORD the information that he had obtained from JOHNSTON, so that PLAFORD could execute securities trades in Fund-2, which he did. PLAFORD understood this information to be highly confidential and material nonpublic information of the most sensitive kind that had been obtained from JOHNSTONs source in the FDA.

On or about July 23, 2010  approximately seven years after the first ANDA was filed  the FDA approved the Momenta ANDA (and denied Sanofis related citizen petition). This approval was positive news for Momenta, as Momenta was the first company to receive generic Lovenox approval, and the companys stock price increased by nearly 100 percent in one day. The approval of the Momenta ANDA was negative news for Sanofi, which no longer had a monopoly on the drug, and the price of Sanofis stock and ADRs declined. Following the FDAs announcement, VALVANI caused Fund-1 to sell the Momenta shares it held and to close out its short positions in Sanofi ADRs and stock, yielding a total profit of approximately $25 million.

In or about early January 2011, VALVANI called JOHNSTON and stated, in sum and substance, that Investment Adviser-A had decided to end its relationship with JOHNSTON in the wake of news reports of insider trading investigations.

The Scheme to Mismark Securities

As alleged in the Complaint, from in or about June 2011 through in or about September 2013, LUMIERE, PLAFORD, and others participated in a scheme to defraud Fund-2s investors and potential investors by deceptively mismarking each month the value of certain securities held by Fund-2. The objective of the scheme was two-fold: (1) to inflate Fund-2s NAV; and (2) to mislead investors about the liquidity of Fund-2s holdings. Investment Adviser-A assessed performance fees to be paid by investors each year based on Fund-2s profits and losses. LUMIEREs mismarking was in violation of Investment Adviser-As internal valuation procedures and contrary to Investment Adviser-As representations to investors. The effect of the scheme was to overstate Fund-2s NAV, often by tens of millions of dollars as calculated at the end of each month, which resulted in higher payments to Investment Adviser-A and higher bonuses for LUMIERE, among other benefits. The effect of the scheme was also to deceive investors into believing that certain securities were properly categorized as Level II, or securities with a quoted price but in a more inactive market, when, in fact, these securities were highly illiquid Level III investments.

As to the first form of the scheme, LUMIERE, PLAFORD, and others solicited, obtained, and relied on false and fraudulent price quotes from employees of broker-dealers in order to improperly override prices calculated by Fund-2s administrator and artificially inflate Fund-2s NAV each month. For each month-end valuation, LUMIERE and/or PLAFORD would begin by reviewing an inventory of Fund-2s investments and proposed valuations for each prepared by Fund-2s administrator and Investment Adviser-As back office. LUMIERE and/or PLAFORD would then identify those relatively illiquid securities as to which they disagreed with or disliked the proposed price, and create a list reflecting the price at which they wanted each security to be marked for month-end valuation purposes. That price was often significantly higher or lower than the price available from public price data. LUMIERE, PLAFORD, and others would then contact one or two friendly brokers and dictate to the friendly brokers the price quotes that they needed. The brokers would then parrot back the price quotes from their Bloomberg email account, giving the price quotes the appearance that they had come from an independent broker, and thus were in compliance with Fund-2s pricing methodology. PLAFORD then submitted the friendly brokers sham quotes as purportedly independent bases for that securitys valuation to Investment Adviser-As accounting department, for the eventual submission to Fund-2s administrator.

By obtaining these sham quotes, LUMIERE and PLAFORD caused a number of Fund-2s securities to be misclassified in order to mislead investors about the liquidity of the securities (i.e., how actively traded the securities were). Specifically, for a number of illiquid bonds, LUMIERE and PLAFORD fraudulently caused Investment Adviser-A to assign a classification that led investors to believe that the bonds were relatively liquid, when in fact they were entirely illiquid. This was done contrary to disclosures to investors about Fund-2s percentage of illiquid investments, in order to induce investors to invest in or keep their money in Fund-2.

As to the second form of the scheme, LUMIERE and PLAFORD purchased additional quantities of certain securities  in which Fund-2 had an established position  at a deceptively inflated price, markedly higher than the prevailing market was offering that security, in a practice known as painting the tape. PLAFORD would then report that inflated price to Investment Adviser-As accounting department for NAV purposes. In both cases  the sham broker quotes and the inflated purchase prices  it was LUMIERE and PLAFORDs intent to increase the price of certain securities in order to inflate Fund-2s month-end valuation.

* * *

VALVANI, 44, of Brooklyn, New York, is charged with five counts: one count of conspiracy to convert United States property, to commit securities fraud and to defraud the United States; two counts of securities fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and one count of wire fraud. Count One carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Counts Two through Five each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The charges also carry a maximum fine of $5 million, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

LUMIERE, 45, of New York, New York, is charged with three counts: one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud; one count of securities fraud; and one count of wire fraud. Count One carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Counts Two and Three each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The charges also carry a maximum fine of $5 million, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

On June 9, 2016, PLAFORD, 38, of Bedford, New York, pled guilty before Judge Abrams to seven counts: one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud; one count of securities fraud; one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to convert United States property; one count of conversion of United States property; one count of conspiracy to convert United States property, to commit securities fraud, and to defraud the United States; one count of securities fraud; and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Counts One, Three, and Five each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Counts Two, Six, and Seven each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Count Four carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The charges also carry a maximum fine of $5 million, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

On June 13, 2016, JOHNSTON, 64, of Olney, Maryland, pled guilty before Magistrate Judge James C. Francis IV to four counts: one count of conspiracy to convert United States property, to commit securities fraud, and to defraud the United States; one count of securities fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; and one count of wire fraud. Count One carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Counts Two through Four each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The charges also carry a maximum fine of $5 million, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Bharara praised the work of the FBI and HHS-OIG, and thanked the SEC for its assistance.

The charges were brought in connection with the Presidents Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys offices, and state and local partners, it is the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov .

This case is being handled by the Offices Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ian McGinley, Damian Williams, and Joshua A. Naftalis are in charge of the prosecution.

The allegations contained in the Indictment and the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA)  A Sacramento pastor, who is receiving some backlash for remarks he made during a Sunday sermon at his church following the shooting massacre in Orlando, spoke with KCRA 3 on Tuesday about his controversial comments.

During a portion of his teaching, Pastor Roger Jimenez, of Verity Baptist Church on Northgate Boulevard, was talking about sodomites, saying that it is "unnatural to want to be with some of the same sex."

Jimenez then went on to make comments about the shooting at a gay nightclub that happened just hours before.

"People say, 'Well, aren't you sad that 50 sodomites died?' Here's the problem with that, it's like the equivalent of asking me, 'Well, aren't you sad that 50 pedophiles were killed today?'" Jimenez said. "No, I think that's great. I think that helps society. I think that Orlando, Florida is a little safer tonight."

Jimenez went on to say that it was a tragedy more didn't die.

"I'm kind of upset that he didn't finish the job because these people are predators," Jimenez said. "They are abusers, they take advantage of people."

KCRA's Kathy Park spoke with Jimenez on Tuesday about his sermon.

"I don't regret anything that I said, and I don't take back anything that I said," Jimenez said. "I do think that most people out there have not listened to the sermon in it's context and are basically just taking what the media is portraying, and the media, for the most part, is just flat out lying."

During the interview, Jimenez quoted a couple passages in the Bible that he says teach that "these people" deserve to die.

"The point that I was making is if God puts the death penalty on it, God says they deserve to die, and they die, this is not something that we, as Christians, need to be mourning," Jimenez said. "In the same way that this gunman who went in there and killed all these people, he violated scripture. God says that he deserves to die for taking their lives. We don't need to be mourning his death either."

Jimenez went onto say that the main focus of his sermon was about how the government and media is going to use this even to push their agenda, which is to take away gun rights and limit freedom of speech.

"In America, we are no longer allowed to have an opinion," Jimenez said. "In America, you are no longer allowed to say anything that doesn't follow what mainstream media tells you you're allowed to say or else they are going to take your sermon off You Tube or try to shut down your website or whatever."

Jimenez said he has been getting a lot of hateful comments, but he has also been getting a lot of messages and phone calls of people who say they support him and agree with what he is saying.

"I think it's time for normal people to step up and say enough is enough," Jimenez said. "I'm not saying, 'Let's go kill them.'"

Jimenez has been a pastor at Verity Baptist Church for more than 5 years and said his recent sermon will not change the way he preaches. He thinks he might lose some people from his church, but he also might gain some followers because of his comments.

Members of the City Pastors Fellowship of Sacramento released a statement Tuesday in response to Jimenez's comments:

"This past Sunday morning, there was a heartless and heartbreaking statement made by a Sacramento pastor to his congregation related to the shootings in Orlando. These comments, applauding the death of innocent people, are completely contrary to the Bible's teaching and God's heart. His statements do not represent Jesus nor hundreds of Sacramento pastors whose hearts have been broken and are praying for the loved ones so tragically affected by this cowardly act. As Sacramento pastors, we are united in our prayers and sadness for those who have lost loved ones and for those even now fighting for their lives. May God's love prevail in this tragedy."

At least two protests are planned for Sunday at Verity Baptist Church in response to Jimenez's sermon.

"I am not against people protesting. I think people have the right to say whatever they want, and people should be able to disagree with me," Jimenez said. "I don't have an issue with that. We are going to make sure people are safe and aren't harassed and are allowed to come into the church service if they wish to. We don't mind protesters being there. I will be preaching."

According to its website, Verity Baptist Church is "an independent, fundamental, soul winning, separated, King James Bible believing Baptist Church--and not ashamed to say so."
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CAPE CANAVERAL  After three successes, a leftover SpaceX rocket booster crashed Wednesday while trying to land on an ocean barge.

The attempt came minutes after the Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched two satellites from Cape Canaveral.
AMARILLO, Texas  Officers fatally shot an armed man inside a Walmart store in Amarillo, Texas, on Tuesday after he took two people hostage, including a manager with whom he had a work-related dispute, according to police.

Amarillo police identified the suspect as 54-year-old store employee Mohammad Moghaddam and said neither hostage was injured. Police said the incident began over a dispute related to a promotion and called the incident a workplace violence event.

This individual had an ongoing difference, dispute or feud with a manager at Walmart, said Amarillo Police Sgt. Brent Barbee. There is absolutely no information or reason to believe that this is a terrorist event.

Officers responded to an active shooter call at the store around 11 a.m., amid reports that an armed person was inside and may have had hostages.

According to investigators, Moghaddam entered the store and fired at least one shot toward the ceiling. Police dont believe the suspect, who was armed with a handgun, fired any other shots.

Authorities initially believed he took a hostage and went into an office in the back of the store, according to a police statement.

We knew there were hostages inside the business, so (SWAT) went in with the intent to free the hostages, Barbee said.

Around 12:20 p.m., SWAT officers watched what they had believed was the only hostage to come out of the office. The officers entered the room and discovered the second hostage.

The suspect was still armed with a handgun and was a threat to the hostage and the officers. Two SWAT officers fired shots which hit the suspect. Initial information is that the suspect died immediately, police said in a statement.

It was not immediately known if the other hostage was a store employee or how that person became a hostage, Barbee said.

No other injuries were reported.

Walmart spokesman Brian Nick released a statement earlier Tuesday saying all store associates and customers were safe. Nick thanked officers, saying, This was a very difficult situation and we are thankful for the quick response from law enforcement.

Authorities said the investigation was ongoing in Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle. Some nearby streets were closed as a precaution during the incident, including an off ramp to Interstate 27.
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Pacific Gas and Electric Co. goes on trial Thursday, on criminal charges of violating pipeline-safety laws, because one of its gas pipes exploded and burned in San Bruno nearly six years ago, killing eight people, destroying 38 homes and devastating a neighborhood.

And while a federal judge has ruled that this is not a trial about the San Bruno explosion, prosecutors will do everything they can to implant the events of Sept. 9, 2010, in the jurys hearts and minds over the next six weeks.

Historically, disasters linked to unsafe practices have not led to criminal prosecutions, but instead to damage suits by victims and their families and to regulatory actions by the government  like the $1.6 billion penalty levied against PG&E by California regulators.

But the Justice Department under President Obama has mounted some noteworthy prosecutions resulting from safety violations. Criminal charges against BP for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil-rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico that killed 11 workers led to corporate guilty pleas and $18 billion in fines and penalties. In April, Don Blankenship, former chief executive of Massey Energy Co., got a year in prison for conspiring to violate mine-safety laws in the 2010 explosion that killed 29 workers at the Upper Big Branch coal mine in West Virginia.

The Justice Departments second-ranking official, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, has encouraged the 93 U.S. attorneys offices that prosecute federal crimes to take up workplace safety cases and consider charges, like conspiracy, that can illuminate a corporate defendants disregard for the law.

In the PG&E case, that charge, added by a federal grand jury in July 2014 to the 12 pipeline-safety counts in the original indictment, is obstruction of justice.

Specifically, the company is accused of trying to interfere with the San Bruno investigation by hiding an alleged policy of testing older pipelines for welding problems only if the pipe pressure exceeded the federal maximum by 10 percent, leeway that federal law does not allow. That policy, which allegedly predated the explosion, was described in an internal memo that PG&E provided to the National Transportation Safety Board. In April 2011, however, the company told the same agency  falsely, prosecutors say  that the document was only a draft that had never been implemented.

Beyond the specifics, the obstruction charge brings the San Bruno explosion, the subject of the federal boards investigation, into the courtroom.

PG&E request denied

As U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson put it in a September 2014 ruling denying PG&Es request to remove all references to the explosion from the indictment, It would be exceedingly difficult for a jury to determine the (criminal intent) of PG&Es obstructive actions without knowing the nature of the investigation and its potential outcome, which would provide a strong motivation for obstruction.

As jury selection began Tuesday, Henderson rejected the utilitys motion to sever the obstruction charge and try it separately before another jury.

The government wants to talk about the explosion, said Kevin Collins, a Texas attorney and former federal prosecutor who has followed the case closely. The company doesnt want to talk about it. Obstruction gives (prosecutors) a way to talk about it.

PG&E argues that the case is about its compliance with pipeline-safety laws and that the explosion is irrelevant. Prosecutors, the company says, are trying to use what happened in San Bruno to prejudice the jury.

The governments intent to inject evidence of the San Bruno rupture whenever possible is clear, company lawyers said in a court filing last week. There is a significant risk that the jury will be misled into believing that this case is about the terrible accident.

The company also noted that the safety violations charged in the case took place after the explosion.

Henderson, in an April 18 ruling, agreed with PG&E that the trial would not be about the explosion, but said jurors could hear about San Bruno, within limits.

He said prosecutors could present evidence of the explosion to provide the context for the transportation safety boards investigation and PG&Es potential motives for obstructing it. But he barred evidence about the resulting deaths, injuries and property damage, or any photos or descriptions of the scene. He excluded any reference to findings by both the federal board and the state Public Utilities Commission that PG&E was at fault for the blast, an issue that he said was unrelated to the criminal case and potentially prejudicial to the utility.

Henderson also denied prosecutors request to haul the wrecked 28-foot-long, 3,000-pound pipeline from the San Bruno blast to the front of the courthouse for juror viewing.

Wont be forgotten

But judicial precautions may not be enough to dispel the events of September 2010 as the backdrop to everything the jury hears, said Robert Weisberg, a Stanford law professor and co-director of the law schools Criminal Justice Center.

Even if the jury gets an admonition not to let evidence from one charge (obstruction) bleed over to another, the government hopes it will all blend in the jurys mind, he said.

Much of the prosecution testimony will seek to show deliberate violations of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act, which requires operators of gas pipes to maintain accurate records, identify risks to lines, and inspect or test when pipe pressures exceed the legal maximum.

The 12 felony charges stem from the transportation safety boards investigation after the explosion. They carry potential fines of $562 million, twice the amount that prosecutors allege PG&E saved by flouting the safety rules.

To obtain convictions, prosecutors must prove not only that the rules were broken but that PG&E broke them knowingly and willfully. That standard may be difficult to meet, particularly since  unlike the BP and Blankenship prosecutions  the government has not accused any individual executives of criminally turning a blind eye to safety requirements.

Prosecutors will try to establish the companys mind-set with testimony from former employees, including Peter Darbee, PG&Es chief executive from 2005 to 2011. Leslie McNiece, hired by the utility in 2012 to improve its record keeping, will describe the resistance she encountered from high-ranking officials, prosecutors say. The prosecution will also try to show that PG&E cut costs on pipeline safety to increase its profits.

The company has argued that the federal safety standards were unclear. Henderson  who described the standards as complex and confusing in a pretrial ruling  will allow PG&E to present documents from the transportation safety board raising questions about interpretations of some of its regulations.

But even without any firsthand admissions, Stanfords Weisberg said, prosecutors may be able to show that PG&E must have known it was breaking the rules.

In a company that large and sophisticated, he said, its hard to believe that you werent aware that the right steps werent taken.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@egelko
It's not always easy to book a tour of Anchor Brewing's Potrero Hill facilities. They just fill up too fast.

Luckily, the brewery has heard your pleas, and in response, it has just unveiled its plans for a new Happy Hour Tour, which will run every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. for $25 per person.
Most people spend the entire winter and spring season getting their body beach-ready, but many hit a wall when summer arrives or just become bored with their workout routine. If not careful, pounds can quickly add on especially after attending a few barbecues or taking a couple trips to Mitchell's Ice Cream.

Soul Cycle, CrossFit, and running clubs are all popular options to get your workout back into gear. However, if you are lucky enough to call the Bay Area home you have the option to make your fitness routine a little, shall we say -- "SF Weird."
There doesnt seem to be much middle ground about Brian De Palma. Is he a brilliant innovator who brought hip, freewheeling funkiness to the American film renaissance (Michael Sragow)? Or a cynic who exhibits contempt for his characters and audience alike (David Thomson)?

You can hear the filmmakers own side of the story in the highly entertaining documentary De Palma, in which he affably discusses his extensive body of work and his thoughts about how to make movies. Plus, as you might guess, he tells good stories about many cinematic heavyweights.

The film is copiously illustrated with clips ranging from Greetings (1968, with an unbelievably young Robert De Niro) to Carrie (1976) to Dressed to Kill (1980) to The Untouchables (1987), all the way to The Black Dahlia (2006), with much in between.

De Palma has a reputation, at least partly justified, for leaning on bloodshed and intense violence. Hes also been labeled a misogynist, an amoral aesthete and someone who borrows heavily from other filmmakers.

Movie plagiarism is at least partly in the eye of the beholder, and in some instances what he has created are clearly homages to those he admires. One example is the baby carriage sequence toward the end of The Untouchables, a wonderful piece of filmmaking taken directly and openly from Eisensteins Battleship Potemkin.

Of course, De Palmas major professional ancestor is Alfred Hitchcock, whom he enthusiastically acknowledges as an influence, particularly citing Vertigo, Rear Window and Psycho as landmarks in his cinematic education.

De Palma directors Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow (Gwyneths brother) open their movie with a famous Hitchcock sequence  which I wont spoil by giving away the title. The whole Hitchcock thread in this documentary will be nothing but catnip to film lovers.

You get the idea that De Palma could go on for days about the luminaries hes known and worked with, including Al Pacino, Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, Orson Welles and De Niro. He even gives a shout-out to the late Pauline Kael, who famously championed him during his early career, when he was far from universally loved by critics.

De Palma offers the briefest of autobiographies  he started out as a math and science nerd, attended the Friends Central School near Philadelphia, then Columbia and Sarah Lawrence College, where he studied with film and drama professor Wilford Leach, who became a notable theater director.

You might wish for more of this background, though not at the expense of De Palmas talking about his work. Its easy to imagine Baumbach and Paltrow agonizing over what to leave out of the film, given De Palmas talents as a raconteur.

None of this will win over the De Palma haters, but they are clearly outside the intended audience here. Even if youve only liked a handful of De Palmas movies, this documentary is worth seeing  its a master class with a director who profoundly loves the movies, and, in his best work, has shown dazzling skill at making them.

Walter Addiego is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: waddiego@sfchronicle.com

De Palma

Documentary. Directed by Noah Baumbach, Jake Paltrow. (Not rated. 107 minutes.)

To see a trailer, go to http://imdb.to/1PkCDIO
Whether we knew it or not, the operatic world has been waiting all this time for Karita Mattila to sing the role of Kostelnicka, the imperious and morally conflicted stepmother in Janaceks fierce drama Jenufa. She finally did so at the San Francisco Opera on Tuesday night, June 14, and the results were even more intense and brilliant than we could have hoped.

In truth, everything about this production  the final offering of the companys summer season, and a fitting conclusion to outgoing General Director David Gockleys decadelong tenure  is a success of magnificent proportions. The cast is first-rate throughout, beginning with debuting soprano Malin Bystrom in the title role and proceeding down through the array of current and former Adler Fellows who traipse through in small but key cameos.

In the pit, conductor Jiri Belohlavek demonstrated yet again why he is the go-to man for Czech music, bringing rough-hewn urgency and lyrical suavity to a score that needs both qualities in equal measure. Director Olivier Tambosis production walked a fine line between subtlety and symbolic overstatement, skirting obvious dangers with wonderful aplomb.

And at its heart, Janaceks masterpiece itself  an explosive melodrama of love, sin and redemption in a 19th century Moravian village  unfolds with the kind of terse specificity that can hold an audience spellbound. More than once during Tuesdays opening at the War Memorial Opera House, I heard patrons suddenly catch their breath or exclaim in shock and sympathy at some turn of events.

Yet with everything going for this production, there was no mistaking that the focus of attention was on Mattila, in a performance of unforgettable theatrical intensity and vocal brilliance. Kostelnicka, whose air of steely, implacable authority makes her the terror of her extended family and indeed the entire village, is often sung by sopranos on the downward slope of a career, and audiences are sometimes called on to forgive vocal wear and tear for the sake of dramatic impact.

With Mattila, there are no compromises. More than a quarter century after her company debut in Idomeneo, her vocal endowments are, if anything, more opulent and finely honed than ever.

Throughout the opera, and especially during Kostelnickas climactic moral crisis at the heart of Act 2, Mattila unleashed great torrents of sound  now burnished to an extraordinary lyrical sheen for moments of introspection, now pouring forth in a practically unhinged expression of psychic anguish.

And as a singing actor, Mattila is nonpareil. The combination of provincial rectitude and maternal tenderness that make Kostelnicka such a tricky character to embody onstage shone through with telling clarity in her performance.

Best of all, perhaps, was Mattilas canny ability to share the stage with her colleagues in a way that never threatened the balance of the drama. She provided a splendid foil for Bystroms Jenufa, a figure of both poignancy and strong spirit whose swift evolution from ingenue to heroine is one of the operas key dramatic strands.

Bystrom took full advantage of the opportunity, bringing bright, silvery high notes and a wondrously throaty low register to the assignment and shaping the characters plight  beginning with an unmarried pregnancy and continuing through far more harrowing travails  with vigor and insight. Her performance in Act 2, both alone and opposite Mattila, was a breathtaking blend of tonal beauty and raw power.

Jenufas two cousins and suitors brought formidable contributions from a pair of tenors. William Burden, as the dangerously impetuous but noble Laca, added to his long roster of successes here with a performance that tracked the characters change of heart in musical terms, from acerbic growls in Act 1 to singing of melting rapture in Act 3.

Scott Quinn made a blunt but imposing company debut as his heedless rival, Steva. Of particular note among the various smaller roles were Matthew Stumps robust turn as the mill foreman and Jill Groves prickly, endearingly infirm Grandmother.

Tambosi has directed the opera with a firm hand that keeps that focus on the central emotional conflicts at all times, without obscuring the key element of rural life. The rhythms of the harvest and the nosy small-mindedness of the villagers are ever present in the background.

Also ever-present in Frank Philipp Schlossmanns sets are large rocks  a huge boulder that sits at the center of Kostelnickas house in Act 2, a scattering of smaller stones that fill the outdoor setting in Act 3. These correspond to the rocks that crop up frequently in Janaceks libretto  weighing on the characters souls, being thrown at adulterers, and so on  and by rights they should register as obstructive, too-obvious symbols.

Yet so focused is Tambosis staging, and so forthright and alluring are the efforts of the entire cast, that one glides right past any objections. One way or another, everything in this production works perfectly  and Mattilas exquisite performance most perfectly of all.

Joshua Kosman is The San Francisco Chronicles music critic. Email: jkosman@sfchronicle.com Twitter: JoshuaKosman

San Francisco Opera: Jenufa. Through July 1. $96-$384. War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., S.F. (415) 864-3330. www.sfopera.com
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I arrived at work, at 5th and Mission Tuesday morning. When I glanced out the third floor window, I saw that the Old Mint was spray painted with two large tags on the Mission Street side of the building. There are already faded tags from the past. I've been planning to contact someone about those faded tags, to find out of there was any way to remove them. The building is one of the few downtown survivors of the 1906 earthquake and fire, and deserves better.

The building still bears some of the scars from 1906. But, it earned those. The Mint building was saved from the ensuing fire by dedicated workers who stood in sulfuric acid while they hosed down the building.

In addition to the newest graffiti, layers of pigeon droppings are accumulating on ledges and sills. One day I saw someone hosing down the foundation of the building. I had hoped that he would have sprayed some of the pigeon dropping off, too. But, that didn't happen.

I reached out to Jon Lau, who heads up the Old Mint Restoration Project for the city. He said they're looking at ways to keep the pigeons away for good, but in the meantime they're working to maintain a level of tidiness that befits the national historical landmark.

"I do know that another round of full 'scrubbing' (of all facades in facades of the building) is scheduled for the near future, which will help with the current excrement that has built up," said Lau.

Fixing up the 140-year-old structure is a big job. Full restoration could run upwards of $100 million, according to an April report in the Chronicle.

"We remain committed to maintaining the property in an appropriate condition until such time as the long-term restoration project can begin in earnest," said Lau.

The city has partnered with the California Historical Society to hatch a plan for that. But the mint graffiti and pigeon leavings aren't the only blight on the street corner, which sits just across the street from our offices in the Chronicle Building.

There are also very busy bus stops, two on Mission, and one on 5th. They are frequently used like toilets, and regularly reek of urine. I recently looked out my window and saw a man defecating in broad daylight.

Much good has been done to the improve the corner in recent months. As we reported in February, the Mint was given a thorough face lift ahead of the Super Bowl. The trash on the grounds was cleaned up and the planting boxes landscaped. The cast iron fence was stripped of layers of paint and given a shiny coat.

A few months ago, the building hosted an event where several local historical societies set up tables and displays. It was a joy to get to wander the old cavernous abode and network with some of the folks in attendance. I hope we are able to return again soon to see the building as it should be.

Editor's note: the city began cleanup of the vandalism first thing Wednesday.
WASHINGTON  A Democratic senator on Wednesday launched a filibuster to force a vote on gun control legislation three days after 49 people were killed at a nightclub in Orlando in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy said he would remain on the Senate floor until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together, as he also evoked the Newton school shooting in his state in 2012.

For those of us that represent Connecticut, the failure of this body to do anything, anything at all in the face of that continued slaughter isnt just painful to us, its unconscionable, Murphy said.

Twenty children and six educators died in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012. Murphy said he cannot look into the eyes of those childrens relatives and tell them that Congress has done nothing since.

The election-year fight over gun control pits strong proponents of the Second Amendment right to bear arms against lawmakers arguing for greater restrictions on the ability to obtain weapons. Since the Sunday morning shooting in Orlando, Democrats have revived their push for legislation.

Its been nearly a decade since Congress made any significant changes to federal gun laws. In April 2007, a gunman at Virginia Tech was able to purchase his weapons because his mental health history was not in the instant background check database. Thirty-two people died in the shooting.

The law sought to strengthen the instant background check system by increasing the quantity and quality of records entered into the system, but the amount of money provided to help states improve their contributions has lagged well below what was originally envisioned.

Murphy is seeking a vote on legislation from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that would let the government bar sales of guns and explosives to people it suspects of being terrorists. Feinstein offered the amendment in December, a day after an extremist couple killed 14 people in San Bernardino, but the Republican-run Senate rejected the proposal on a near party-line vote. He also wants a vote to expand background checks.
SACRAMENTO  She didnt hear him come in. But there he was, standing in the doorway of her bedroom.

He had a ski mask on and a knife in his hand when he jumped on her bed, said the woman. Its believed she was the first victim of the East Area Rapist, a serial rapist and killer who has eluded authorities for four decades.

On Wednesday, the FBI released a newly recorded statement by the woman leading up to the 40th anniversary of that first attack, in the eastern Sacramento County city of Rancho Cordova.

There would be many more brutal crimes: The East Area Rapist is believed to have been responsible for 12 killings and 45 rapes over a decade starting in 1976.

In May 1986, he mysteriously stopped. FBI and local law enforcement officials dont know if hes still alive, but theyve never stopped trying to bring him to justice  and on Wednesday, they offered a $50,000 reward and issued a fresh appeal for the publics help in identifying him.

Obviously, with the 40th anniversary, this is a time we want to take to acknowledge this serial offender who was probably one of the most prolific, certainly in California, possibly in the United States, but also to let the victims know that well never give up, said Sgt. Paul Belli, the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department detective assigned to the case.

The first attack was on June 18, 1976, when the assailant broke into the home of the Rancho Cordova woman, tied her hands and raped her in her bed. In the recording, she said she had waited for what felt like forever before getting help, fearful he was still in her home.

She said the rape changed her to an outsider who always looks over her shoulder.

I dont want him to be dead, because I think that wouldve been the easy way out for him, and I dont want that, the woman said.

Police have given the East Area Rapist other names, including the Golden State Killer and the Original Night Stalker, to distinguish him from Richard Ramirez, a break-in specialist who murdered 13 people in the 1980s.

Distinctive method

DNA evidence links the East Area Rapist to many of the crimes, and his unusual method of toying with and torturing his victims connects him to the rest.

He often lingered in the homes of his victims for hours, sometimes eating their food. At first he targeted single women, but he then began breaking into homes where couples lived. He would tie up the man and place dishes on him, then rape the woman in another room. If the man tried to break free, the crash of dishes would give him away.

He used shoelaces to tie up his victims, in some cases with elaborate diamond knots. He was an unusual serial criminal in another respect: His rape victims spanned a fairly wide age range, from 13 to 41.

In addition to rapes and killings, he was a prolific burglar. Police say he is suspected of more than 150 residential break-ins and that those crimes often were followed by clusters of sexual assaults.

He was white, and if hes still alive, hed be 60 to 75 years old. Victims described him as about 5 foot 9, with blond to light brown hair.

At the time the crimes started, there were two military installations in the Sacramento area, McClellan and Mather air force bases. One theory is that he was affiliated with one of the bases: Some of his crimes revealed an interest or training in military or law enforcement techniques, authorities say. And he was clever enough to avoid being caught.

Detectives think the East Area Rapist lived in the Sacramento area until at least 1978, because thats where the sexual assaults began. They say in February 1978 he committed his first killings, shooting Mather Air Force Sgt. Brian Maggiore and his wife, Katie, as they were out walking their dog in Rancho Cordova.

Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert was 12 years old and living in the area when the crimes began. She remembers the atmosphere of fear.

It was a time when in essence a community was taken hostage, Schubert said. It was on the news every night. And all they knew at the time was it was a white male.

The rapes spread to Davis, Modesto and Stockton. Then, for about a year starting in October 1978, the rapist assaulted women in the Bay Area  in Danville, Walnut Creek, Fremont and San Jose. The fear lingered long after he moved on.

In December 1979, he showed up in Goleta, on the coast north of Santa Barbara, where he broke into a home and tied up a man and woman. The couple managed to escape, and the assailant fled.

The East Area Rapist went on to commit a string of especially savage attacks in Santa Barbara and Orange counties that left 10 people dead. His last known crime was May 5, 1986, when he bludgeoned 18-year-old Janelle Cruz to death in her parents Irvine home.

End of the trail

There, the trail stops. Maybe he moved to another state and resumed his attacks there  one of the reasons authorities went to the public Wednesday was to spread the word beyond California, to a place where someone might recognize one of the sketches of the attacker.

One hope is that the East Area Rapist held onto some of the items he stole from his victims homes  rings, earrings, even the womens drivers licenses. Anyone who comes across such a stash, they said, could hold the key to identifying the killer.

The answer is out there, Schubert said. We need a name. When we match that name to that (DNA) profile that journey for justice will come to an end.

People with information about the case are asked to call the FBI at (800) 225-5324, or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.

Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: MelodyGutierrez
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A Santa Clara County judge already under fire for the lenient sentence he gave to the former Stanford athlete convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a trash bin was kicked off the trial in an unrelated case.

District Attorney Jeff Rosen removed Judge Aaron Persky from the bench in a pending case involving a nurse accused of sexually assaulting a sedated patient.

Rosen said he had lost confidence in Persky after the judge dismissed a misdemeanor case mid-trial Monday, an unusual decision that essentially exonerates the defendant prior to a jury vote.

We are disappointed and puzzled at Judge Perskys unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate, Rosen said in a statement. After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient.

The misdemeanor case involved possession of stolen property  specifically stolen mail, said James Leonard, supervising deputy district attorney. After the prosecution had presented its case, including witness accounts regarding stolen credit card applications, the defense filed a motion to dismiss  something almost always denied.

Persky granted it.

The judge ... didnt think a jury could find the defendant knew this was stolen mail, Leonard said. The jury didnt get to hear the rest of the case or deliberate. This was dismaying to us.

Out of the last 150 cases or so, such a motion has been granted maybe twice, the deputy district attorney said.

Rosen said the decision to remove Persky from the case against the nurse was a carefully considered step.

The district attorney filed the motion to remove Persky, a rare action that implies a lack of faith in the judges impartiality in the case. It was unclear whether other pending cases before Persky would be subject to similar action.

In the future, we will evaluate each case on its own merits and decide if we should use our legal right to ask for another judge in order to protect public safety and pursue justice, Rosen said.

In the Stanford case, Persky sentenced Brock Allen Turner on June 2 to six months in county jail for the sexual assault of a woman who was drunk and unconscious. The unusually light sentence drew outrage from across the country, with protesters launching a campaign to recall the judge.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: jilltucker
"Do you really think that you're a champion of the gay community?"

On Monday, the day after Sundays mass shooting in an Orlando gay club, CNNs Anderson Cooper gave an emotional tribute to the victims. He read all 49 victims names aloud on the air. They are more than a list of names. They are people who loved and were loved, he said.

On Tuesday, in an emotionally charged live interview, he confronted Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi over her treatment of the LGBT community in Florida.

"I saw you the other day saying that anyone who attacks the LGBT community--our LGBT community, you said--will be gone after to the full extent of the law," said Cooper, who publicly announced he is gay in 2012. The anchor said he had spoken to a lot of gay and lesbian people here and that many felt the attorney general was being a hypocrite.

For years, he said, youve basically gone after gay people, said that in court that gay people simply by fighting for marriage equality were trying to do harm to the people of Florida. Do you really think that youre a champion of the gay community?

Florida voters had approved a same-sex marriage ban and added it to the state constitution in 2008. Bondi said that as the states attorney general, she was simply doing her job by engaging in a legal battle to uphold the ban. When I was sworn in as attorney general, I put my hand on a Bible and was sworn to uphold the constitution of the state of Florida. Thats not a law. That was voted into our state constitution by the voters of Florida, Bondi said. Ive never said I dont like gay people. Thats ridiculous.

Cooper noted that Bondi had argued in court that recognizing same-sex marriage would impose significant public harm.

Anderson, I dont believe gay people could do harm to the state of Florida, Bondi responded. "Those words never came out of my mouth.

Story continues

The Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, and Cooper noted, Had there been no same-sex marriage, you do realize that boyfriends and girlfriends of the dead [in Orlando] wouldnt be able to get information, and would not be able to visit in the hospital? Isnt there a sick irony in that?

Bondi denied that she ever believed gay marriage would cause "harm" to the citizens of her state. "Those words never came out of my mouth," she told Cooper. But as the anchor shot back, "That's what you argued in court."

See original article on Fortune.com

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SUNNYVALE, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 15, 2016) - In the news release, "RedSeal CEO to Present to Israel's Leading Cybersecurity Leaders and Innovators," issued earlier today by RedSeal, we are advised by the company that the WHEN and WHERE sections should read "Sunday, June 19, 2016, 13:00  15:15" and "GKH Law Office, Azrieli Center, Round Building, Floor 40, Tel Aviv 6701101, Israel" rather than what was originally issued. Complete corrected text follows.

RedSeal CEO to Present to Israel's Leading Cybersecurity Leaders and Innovators

Ray Rothrock Outlines the Path to Digital and Network Resilience at Cyber Together

SUNNYVALE, CA -- Jun 15, 2016 --

WHAT: State of the Cyber Union and Digital Resilience

The Cyber Together event will bring together 50 to 75 C-level executives from Israel's most innovative cybersecurity vendors for an open lecture on the market needs, trends and challenges in cybersecurity.

Past Cyber Together speakers have included former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, the CSO of Hertz, the CTO of Netflix and the CSOs of both the World Bank and Citibank. This event supports the mission of Cyber Together to accelerate the growth of Israeli cybersecurity innovation.

Cyber Together, a not-for-profit cybersecurity organization, fosters strategic initiatives in global cybersecurity.

WHY: Israel has led the cybersecurity industry in prevention and detection innovation, but the landscape for cyber defense has shifted. Digital and network resilience -- the ability to respond and rebound quickly once a network is compromised -- is now critical for organizations. Cybersecurity innovators, regulators and leaders alike must evolve -- and fast.

WHO: Ray Rothrock, CEO of RedSeal

WHEN: Sunday, June 19, 2016, 13:00 - 15:15

WHERE: GKH Law Office, Azrieli Center, Round Building, Floor 40, Tel Aviv 6701101, Israel

About RedSeal

RedSeal puts power in decision makers' hands with the essential cybersecurity analytics platform for building digitally resilient organizations. RedSeal's Digital Resilience Score, modeled after a creditworthiness score, measures how prepared an organization is to respond to an incident and quickly rebound. The company's platform adds value to existing network devices by working with them and building a network model. With this, customers can understand the state of their networks, measure resilience, verify compliance, and accelerate incident response. RedSeal's customers are Global 2000 corporations and government agencies that depend on the most sophisticated security. Founded in 2004, RedSeal is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and serves customers globally through a direct sales and channel partner network.

About Cyber Together: Established in 2014, Cyber Together is an independent organization formed to advance cybersecurity in a wide range of IT sectors. The organization's purpose is to provide the glue between security providers (OEMs, service companies), distributors (VARs, Integrators), key decision makers (CISOs, CxOs) and security staff workers. In addition, Cyber Together serves as an information source to the industry.
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - June 14, 2016) - East Africa Metals Inc. (TSX VENTURE: EAM) ("East Africa" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an updated independent mineral resource estimate for the Adyabo Project in Ethiopia. The recent 40 x 40 metre spaced infill drill program strategically targeted on the core areas of Inferred Resource gold mineralization at Da Tambuk and Mato Bula (Figure 1). A total of 4,029 metres of diamond drilling in 31 holes was completed during the infill campaign.

Key highlights of the updated Resource include;

The conversion of 446,000 gold equivalent ounces to the Indicated Resource classification.

The gold grade for the Indicated portion of the resource has increased to 3.92 grams per tonne gold, compared with the initial overall Inferred Resource grade of 2.26 grams per tonne gold, an increase of 73%.

In complement to this increased grade, over 95% of the Indicated equivalent gold ounces are recoverable via the near surface Pit Constrained model.

For the Indicated Resource, Pit Constrained gold and gold equivalent grades are 3.94 grams per tonne, and 4.30 grams per tonne respectively.

The mineral resources reported herein have been estimated using criteria consistent with the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy ("CIM") Definition Standards (2014) and in conformity with the CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practice" (2003) guidelines. The disclosure of this Mineral Resource is compliant with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

Adyabo Project Mineral Resource Estimate David Thomas, P. Geo. (Effective Date: May 31, 2016)

Gold Copper Silver Gold Equivalent Gold Metal Copper Metal Silver Metal Gold Equivalent Metal Category Tonnes (Au g/t) (Cu %) (Ag g/t) ( Au g/t) (Au Ozs) (Cu Mlbs) (Ag Ozs) (Ozs) Indicated 3,215,000 3.92 0.24 1.4 4.29 408,000 16.8 132,000 446,000 Inferred 5,930,000 1.43 0.50 2.9 2.27 273,000 65.7 559,000 434,000

Footnotes to mineral resource statement:

Fladgate Exploration Consulting Corporation ("Fladgate") reviewed East Africa's quality assurance and quality control programs on the mineral resources data. Fladgate concludes that the collar, survey, assay, and lithology data are adequate to support mineral resources estimation.

Domains were modelled in 3D to separate mineralised rock types from surrounding waste rock. The domains were modelled based on copper and gold grades.

Raw drill hole assays were composited to 2 metre lengths broken at domain boundaries.

Capping of high grades was considered necessary and was completed for each domain on assays prior to compositing.

Block grades for gold and silver were estimated from the composites using a combination of ordinary kriging and inverse distance weighted (power of three) interpolation method into 5 metre (along strike) x 2 metre (across strike) x 5 metre (vertical) blocks coded by domain.

Dry bulk density varied by deposit area. The dry bulk densities are based on 559 specific gravity measurements at Da Tambuk, 1,755 specific gravity measurements at Mato Bula and 231 specific gravity measurements at Mato Bula North.

Blocks were classified as Indicated and Inferred in accordance with CIM Definition Standards 2014.

Indicated resources are classified on the basis of blocks falling within a drill hole spacing of 40 metres x 40 metres. The results of comparison with the previous mineral resource model, a drill hole spacing study and conditional simulation of gold grades were used to support the classification of Indicated mineral resources.

Inferred resources are classified on the basis of blocks falling within the mineralised domain wireframes (i.e. reasonable assumption of grade/geological continuity) with a maximum distance of 100 metres to the closest composite.

The mineral resource estimate is constrained within an optimised pit with a maximum slope angle of 50 degrees. Metal prices of $1,400/oz, $3.20/lb and $20.0/oz were used for gold, copper and silver respectively. Metallurgical recoveries of 97% for gold, 72% for copper and 50% for silver were applied at Da Tambuk. Metallurgical recoveries of 88.5% for gold, 87.5% for copper and 50% for silver were applied at Mato Bula and Mato Bula North.

A pit constrained $/t cut-off was estimated based on a total process and G&A operating cost of $23.9/t of ore mined. An additional mining cost of $40/t was used to estimate a $/t cut-off of $63.9/t for reporting underground mineral resources.

The contained gold, copper and silver figures shown are in situ. No assurance can be given that the estimated quantities will be produced. All figures have been rounded to reflect accuracy and to comply with securities regulatory requirements. Summations within the tables may not agree due to rounding.

Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues.

The quantity and grade of reported inferred resources in this estimation are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these inferred resources as an indicated or measured mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an indicated or measured mineral resource category.

Story continues

Andrew Lee Smith, President and CEO, stated, "Moving 446,000 equivalent ounces of gold into an Indicated Resource category with just over 4,000 metres of drilling demonstrates both the predictable and consistent nature of the mineralization targeted, and the corporate focus on results-oriented project advancement. We look forward to further adding value and building on the potential at Adyabo, and also the Harvest Project in Ethiopia."

Forward Program

East Africa will continue to advance both its Harvest and Adyabo resource projects in Northern Ethiopia.

Identified resources at Adyabo will continue to be upgraded through further delineation and engineering work. Additional surface targets remain to be tested on the Mato Bula trend, and the development of targets to depth remains a key consideration. At Harvest, engineering and metallurgical testing is ongoing for the Terakimti Oxide deposit, and additional review is being conducted on the Supergene copper sulfide mineralization below the oxide.

Additional details on the Mineral Resource update

Adyabo Project Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate, David Thomas, P. Geo.

(Effective Date: May 31, 2016)

Pit Constrained Gold Copper Silver Gold Equivalent Gold Metal Copper Metal Silver Metal Gold Equivalent Metal Area Cut-Off ($/t) Tonnes (Au g/t) (Cu %) (Ag g/t) ( Au g/t) (Au Ozs) (Cu Mlbs) (Ag Ozs) (Ozs) Da Tambuk 23.9 775,000 4.51 0.11 2.4 4.65 112,000 1.9 59,000 116,000 Mato Bula 23.9 2,280,000 3.74 0.28 1.1 4.18 278,000 14.0 70,000 310,000 Sub-Total Pit 23.9 3,055,000 3.94 0.24 1.4 4.30 390,000 15.9 128,000 426,000 Underground Mineral Resource Gold Copper Silver Gold Equivalent Gold Metal Copper Metal Silver Metal Gold Equivalent Metal Area Cut-Off ($/t) Tonnes (Au g/t) (Cu %) (Ag g/t) ( Au g/t) (Au Ozs) (Cu Mlbs) (Ag Ozs) (Ozs) Mato Bula 63.9 160,000 3.57 0.25 1.0 3.96 18,000 0.9 3,000 20,000 Total PC + UG N/A 3,215,000 3.92 0.24 1.4 4.29 408,000 16.8 132,000 446,000

Adyabo Project Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate, David Thomas, P. Geo.

(Effective Date: May 31, 2016)

Pit Constrained Gold Copper Silver Gold Equivalent Gold Metal Copper Metal Silver Metal Gold Equivalent Metal Area Cut-Off ($/t) Tonnes (Au g/t) (Cu %) (Ag g/t) ( Au g/t) (Au Ozs) (Cu Mlbs) (Ag Ozs) (Ozs) Da Tambuk 23.9 35,000 4.30 0.08 3.0 4.42 5,000 0.1 3,000 5,000 Mato Bula 23.9 3,010,000 2.13 0.34 2.4 2.67 207,000 22.2 237,000 259,000 Mato Bula North 23.9 2,470,000 0.27 0.70 3.2 1.49 22,000 38.3 252,000 119,000 Sub-Total Pit Constrained 23.9 5,515,000 1.31 0.50 2.8 2.15 233,000 60.6 493,000 383,000 Underground Mineral Resource Gold Copper Silver Gold Equivalent Gold Metal Copper Metal Silver Metal Gold Equivalent Metal Area Cut-Off ($/t) Tonnes (Au g/t) (Cu %) (Ag g/t) ( Au g/t) (Au Ozs) (Cu Mlbs) (Ag Ozs) (Ozs) Da Tambuk 63.9 75,000 3.92 0.05 2.9 4.00 9,000 0.1 7,000 10,000 Mato Bula 63.9 330,000 2.77 0.65 5.4 3.82 30,000 4.7 58,000 41,000 Mato Bula North 63.9 15,000 0.75 0.79 2.6 2.10 400 0.3 1,000 1,000 Sub-Total Underground 63.9 420,000 2.91 0.55 4.8 3.80 39,000 5.1 66,000 51,000 Total PC + UG N/A 5,930,000 1.43 0.50 2.9 2.27 273,000 65.7 559,000 434,000

The initial Adyabo Resource was completed in 2015 and for comparative purposes is outlined below:

Initial Adyabo Project Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate, David Thomas, P. Geo. (Effective Date: April 27, 2015)

43-101 Technical Report Filed June 17, 2015

Gold Copper Silver Gold Equivalent Gold Metal Copper Metal Silver Metal Gold Equivalent Metal Category Tonnes (Au g/t) (Cu %) (Ag g/t) ( Au g/t) (Au Ozs) (Cu Mlbs) (Ag Ozs) (Ozs) Inferred 9,315,000 2.26 0.4 2.2 2.95 678,000 82.1 648,000 885,000

East Africa requested that Fladgate update the Adyabo initial mineral resource estimate utilizing the additional infill diamond drilling and trench information collected during the fall of 2015 and winter of 2016. This drilling was concentrated on the core areas of mineralization at the Mato Bula and Da Tambuk mineralized zones.

Fladgate undertook quality assurance and quality control studies on the mineral resource data for the Adyabo Project, including the comparison of 76.5% of original assays from this latest program, to original assay certificates. There are a total of 84 core diamond drill holes for 15,295.8 metres, and 2,808 trench metres within the database used to support mineral resource estimation. The drill database was provided by East Africa as a MS Access database and in MS Excel files. The database cut-off date for Mineral Resource estimate purposes was April 13, 2016.

Fladgate imported the collar, survey, lithology, alteration, and assay data into MineSight, a commercial mining software program. Topographic contour lines were based on a surface supplied by East Africa with contour lines spaced 2 metres apart. The topography is based upon GeoEye images collected at a resolution of 50centimetres.

Fladgate checked and compared that the drill hole collars matched the topographic surface and found only minor differences of < 1 metre in elevation between the surveyed drill hole collars and the topography. No corrections were made to the drill hole collar elevations. All data used the local grid coordinate system.

The gold-copper mineralization on the Da Tambuk, Mato Bula North, and Mato Bula areas on the Adyabo Project are hosted by intensely deformed and altered sericite-altered schists and mafic meta-volcanic rocks which form prominent northeast trending ridges. At Mato Bula, the mineralization is in contact with meta-sedimentary rocks.

At Da Tambuk, mineralization occurs in two sub-parallel zones with a strike length of 650 metres in a northeast-southwest direction, a vertical extent of 200 metres and horizontal widths up to 50 metres. Mineralization is enriched in gold relative to copper with a Au:Cu ratio (Au g/t to Cu %) of 24.7 to 1.

At Mato Bula, mineralization occurs in three sub-parallel zones with a strike length of 850 metres in a northeast-southwest direction, a vertical extent of up to 450 metres and a horizontal width of up to 80 metres. The southern part of Mato Bula has a higher copper content relative to gold. The overall Au:Cu ratio is 8.1 to 1.

Mineralization at Mato Bula North is hosted in two zones, with dimensions of 200 metres in a north-south direction, a vertical extent of 170 metres and a horizontal width of up to 60 metres. Mineralization is enriched in copper relative to gold with a Au:Cu ratio of 0.6.

East Africa provided Fladgate with sectional interpretations of the mineralization based on copper and gold grades. Fladgate created wireframe models of the mineralized zones using East Africa's drill hole intercepts with Minesight's implicit modeller. Fladgate reviewed the wireframe models and found the wireframe boundaries correctly honour the drill hole intercepts and inspected drill holes displaying gold and copper grades. No significant zones of mineralization fall outside of the wireframes.

Fladgate composited the assays into 2 metre composites. The length weighted mean gold and copper grades of 2 metre length composites are very similar to those of the assays; therefore Fladgate is confident that the compositing process worked as intended.

Where the coefficient of variation (CV) values of the capped assays are greater than 2, further domaining of the copper and gold grades is warranted. As a result of the multiple gold composite populations and high CV in a number of zones, probability indicator models were created.

At Da Tambuk, the CV of the low grade composites is highly affected by the misclassification of two high grade composites. This composite misclassification was not adjusted. Overall the indicator coding is successful in separating low grade mineralization from higher grade mineralization.

At Mato Bula, minor adjustments were made to the classification of composites to avoid high grade composites coded to the lower-grade subdomain and vice-versa. Overall the indicator coding is successful in separating low grade mineralization from higher grade mineralization.

Fladgate estimated grades from the 2 metre composites into regular blocks with a size of 5 metres along strike x 2 metres across strike x 5 metres vertically. At Da Tambuk and Mato Bula, Fladgate used an ordinary kriging (OK) grade interpolation method in two passes using Minesight's dynamic unfolding (DU) module to account for significant changes in the orientation of the mineralization wireframe.

Global and Local bias checks were performed and reviewed, as were grade smoothing checks.

Density sampling was performed at site using unsealed immersion technique to measure the weight of each sample in air and in water. Fladgate assigned Specific Gravity values ranging from 2.83 to 2.85 to blocks within the mineralized zones. The SG values have been used directly as the dry bulk density to report the tonnage estimates of the mineral resource. The rock types intercepted in the drill holes are generally not porous, therefore the amount of porosity is not expected to cause a large difference between the SG and bulk density.

Block models were validated to ensure appropriate honoring of the input data through a number of methods including; 1) nearest-neighbour (NN) grade model review to validate the OK grade models, 2) visual inspection of block grade vs composited data in section and plan, 3) comparison of metal removed by capping, 4) bias checks on OK and NN estimates, and 5) grade smoothing checks. Fladgate classified blocks with a maximum distance of 100 metres to the closest composite to the Inferred category.

A review was conducted of the geological model, data quality, geological continuity and metallurgical characteristics for classification of mineral resources. The mineralized zone wireframes are supported by drilling with a spacing of between 40 metres and 80 metres. This drill spacing is sufficient to assume that the mineralization is continuous between drill holes. A 100 metres maximum distance to the closest composite permits a reasonable local estimate of grades (as demonstrated by model validation).

Fladgate conducted an analysis of confidence limits using quarterly panels of production for a 4,500 t/day pit constrained mine operation. The accuracy of grade estimates was then scaled to annual production. Accuracy of 15% or better at a 90% confidence limit on annual production was used as the criteria to select a drill hole spacing to be used to classify Indicated mineral resources. The results show that a drill hole spacing of 40 metres (along the easting) x 40 metres (along the northing) is sufficient to classify Indicated mineral resources.

Fladgate completed an analysis of the classification categories using conditional simulation of grades for specific zones, and additionally conducted a comparison of the updated resource in the 40 metre x 40 metre spacing infill drill area.

Fladgate is of the opinion that the results support the classification of Indicated mineral resources to certain areas of the Adyabo resource. Fladgate classified blocks to the Indicated category using the following criteria:

A maximum distance to the closest hole of 40 metres.

A maximum average distance from two holes of 31 metres (approximately  the diagonal distance within a 40 metre x 40 metre grid with a 10% contingency).

Quality Control

The planning, execution, and monitoring of East Africa's drilling and quality control programs at the Adyabo Project has been conducted under the supervision of Jeff Heidema, P.Geo., East Africa's Vice President Exploration. Mr. Heidema is a "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the geological information contained in this news release. Diamond drilling and trenching was coordinated by East Africa's contract geologists who also managed the preparation, logging, and sampling of core and rock samples, in addition to carrying out bulk density measurements. During sampling, quality control standards and blanks were introduced at pre-determined intervals to monitor laboratory performance. A system of field, reject, and pulp sample duplicates was also incorporated, as were specific programs of re-assaying and umpire lab assaying to both monitor laboratory performance and also characterize potential mineralization; all consistent with industry best practice.

Drill core samples and trench sample have undergone preliminary preparation at the Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories facility in Ankara, Turkey, and are crushed to 80% passing 10 mesh, and pulverized to 85% passing 200 mesh (PRP70-1KG package). Analyses are conducted at Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories in Vancouver, Canada, with diamond drill core analyses utilizing Aqua Regia digestion and both ICP-ES (AQ370 package) and ICP-MS/ICP-ES (AQ270 package) for base metal and silver analyses. Gold analyses are conducted via Fire Assay Fusion with AA finish, and gravimetric analyses are completed for over-limit samples (FA430, FA530-Au packages).

Information recorded from diamond drill core assaying was integrated using industry standard data management software (Maxwell Datashed).

Mineral Resource Qualified Persons

David Thomas, P.Geo., of Fladgate Exploration Consulting Corporation has reviewed and approved the technical, non-metallurgical information contained in this news release. Mr. Thomas is independent of East Africa and is a "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101. Jeff Heidema, P.Geo., East Africa's Vice President Exploration, has reviewed and approved the geological information contained in this news release.

Mr. Thomas has consented to the disclosure of such information and his name in this news release.

About East Africa

The Company's principal assets and interests include both the 70%-owned Harvest polymetallic VMS exploration Project, which covers approximately 86 square kilometres in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, 600 kilometres northnorthwest of the capital city of Addis Ababa, and the Adyabo Project, covering 225 square kilometres immediately west of the Harvest Project. The Company owns 80% of the Adyabo Project, and upon execution of a NSR agreement the Company will own 100% of the Adyabo Project, subject to a 2% NSR. East Africa now has mineral resources defined at both projects in Ethiopia and continues to test priority targets. Additionally, the Company owns the 93 square kilometre Handeni Property located in north-eastern Tanzania. Handeni includes the Magambazi Project, a gold deposit discovered in 2009. East Africa has entered into a definitive agreement with an arm's length private exploration and development company to advance the project.

More information on the Company can be viewed at the Company's website: www.eastafricametals.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Andrew Lee Smith, P.Geo., CEO

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "budget", "schedule", "may", "will", "could", "might", "should", "indicate" or variations of such words or similar words or expressions. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by East Africa as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of East Africa to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: early exploration; the closing of the agreement with the exploration and development company to advance the Magambazi Project or identify any other corporate opportunities for the Company; mineral exploration and development; metal and mineral prices; availability of capital; accuracy of East Africa's projections and estimates, including the initial mineral resource for the Adyabo, Harvest and Magambazi Projects; interest and exchange rates; competition; stock price fluctuations; availability of drilling equipment and access; actual results of current exploration activities; government regulation; political or economic developments; foreign taxation risks; environmental risks; insurance risks; capital expenditures; operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities; personnel relations; the speculative nature of strategic metal exploration and development including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves; contests over title to properties; and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, as well as those risk factors set out in in East Africa's management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2016,East Africa's listing application dated July 8, 2013 and Tigray Resources Inc. Management Information Circular dated March 28, 2014. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the successful integration of Tigray Resources Inc.'s business with the Company; the price of gold, silver, copper and zinc; the demand for gold, silver, copper and zinc; the ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the timely receipt of any required approvals; the ability to obtain qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the ability to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner; and the regulatory framework regarding environmental matters, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although East Africa has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. The Company does not update or revise forward looking information even if new information becomes available unless legislation requires the Company do so. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
I dont know what Bernie Sanders is going to do from here on, and Im not going to presume to advise him on his next steps. Hes earned the right to figure out for himself whats next for his campaign and the movement he has launched.

But of this Im sure: He has already succeeded beyond anyones imagining.

I remember when Sanders launched his campaign in April 2015. The media labeled him a fringe candidate. Comedians made fun of his hair and his rumpled look.

Political junkies smirked. How could a seventysomething, Jewish, politically independent self-described democratic socialist take on the most powerful political machine in modern history? How dare he rail against the establishment, the mainstream media and the moneyed interests? They said he had a zero chance of getting anywhere.

Then he won 22 states.

And in almost every state  even in those he lost  Sanders won vast majorities of voters under 30, including a majority of young women and Latinos. By March, he had accumulated more votes among voters under 30 than had Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump combined. He also received the most votes from people under 45.

Avoiding influence of big money

Sanders has helped shape the next generation.

Even more remarkably, he did it without super PACs or big money from corporations, Wall Street and billionaires. He did it with small contributions from millions of average Americans.

Hes shown its possible to come within a stones throw of getting the Democratic nomination for president of the United States without selling your soul or compromising your conviction.

Thats a big deal. It gives lie to the often-repeated claim by candidates that, while they believe in reforming Americas campaign finance laws, they wont run with one hand tied behind their back and therefore must rely on big money in order to compete effectively.

Sanders has shown that with a powerful message delivered by a messenger with passion and conviction, small donations will pour in.

Hes also inspired millions of Americans to get involved in politics  and to fight the most important and basic of all fights on which all else depends: to reclaim our economy and democracy from the moneyed interests. Unless and until our democracy is reclaimed, nothing else thats important for America to do can be accomplished.

Its difficult to reverse climate change when big energy companies dominate politics. Its hard to achieve equal opportunity when big corporations and Wall Street pay for special privileges and corporate welfare.

We cant have a sane foreign policy when military contractors hold sway. Theres no way the nation can get health care costs under control when big pharmaceutical companies and giant insurance companies have so much influence in Washington.

Its impossible to enlarge the typical workers paycheck when more and more of it goes to pharmaceutical companies, Internet service providers, banks, food processors, airline carriers and health insurers  all of which raise prices because they have the market and political power to do so.

Sanders helped America see the vicious link between big money, political influence and the rigging of the American economy.

And he put before the public bold proposals that would not otherwise receive the attention they deserve: single-payer health care, free tuition at public universities, a $15 minimum wage, busting up the biggest Wall Street banks, taxing financial speculation, expanding Social Security, imposing a tax on carbon, and getting big money out of politics.

These proposals will shape the progressive agenda for years to come. Many will ultimately be enacted.

Shaping new progressivism

Just as progressive leaders at the turn of the last century  the prairie populist presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, Wisconsins fighting Bob La Follette and Californias Hiram Johnson  laid the foundation for Teddy Roosevelts era of progressivism  Sanders has laid the foundation for a new progressivism.

That new progressivism is as relevant to today as was the older progressivism a century ago, when America was similarly burdened with wide inequalities of income, wealth and political power that threatened our economy and democracy.

Finally, Sanders courage in taking on the political establishment has emboldened millions to stand up and demand that our voices be heard.

He has ignited a movement that will fight onward. It will fight to put more progressives into the House and Senate. It will fight at the state level. It will organize for the 2020 presidential election.

The millions who supported Bernie will not succumb to cynicism. They are in it for the long haul. They will never give up.

 2016 Robert Reich

Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich is Chancellors Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies. To comment, submit your letter to the editor at http://bit.ly/SFChronicleletters.
JERUSALEM  Jerusalems city hall on Wednesday said it approved the construction of a building for Jews in the heart of an Arab neighborhood of East Jerusalem, a move that quickly drew rebuke from the Palestinians, who say encouraging settlement in the area is an obstacle to peace.

The planned three-story building will be erected in Silwan, one of the Arab areas of the city that has drawn Jewish residents in recent years who say they hope their presence will block any future division of the city.
BRUSSELS  U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has told NATO allies America will take a new look at its plans to withdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year, a British official says, a fresh indication that U.S. involvement in the country is not waning in the final months of President Obamas tenure.

British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said Wednesday that Carter told us the troop numbers and the dispositions are being looked at again.

The American reassurance to NATO allies comes on the heels of Obamas decision last week to give the military wider latitude to support Afghan forces against the Taliban, both in the air and on the ground.

Far from ending the two wars he inherited from the Bush administration, Obama is wrestling with an expanded set of conflicts as his presidency nears an end, from Iraq and Afghanistan to Libya and Syria, with no end in sight. In Afghanistan, a Taliban resurgence has upset Washingtons exit strategy, which called for troop reductions from 9,800 to 5,500 by the end of 2016.

But Carter told reporters that Obama has indicated his willingness to re-examine force levels based on the intensified fight against the Taliban, and Carter expects Obama to do that as the year goes on.

The U.S. troop-cutting plan is facing renewed scrutiny in light of the Talibans resurgence. Former U.S. commanders have urged Obama to keep 9,800 troops in Afghanistan into next year.

The U.S. is now free to conduct air strikes against the Taliban when needed in critical operations, and American troops can accompany and advise Afghan conventional forces on the ground, much as they have with Afghan commandos.

Afghan forces are struggling against the stubborn Taliban, who have made gains this year, particularly in the south. Islamic State fighters also have tried to gain a foothold in the country.
1 Leave EU: Two new opinion polls on Tuesday put Britains Leave vote ahead by up to seven percentage points, as one of Britains most popular tabloid newspapers  the Sun  ran a front-page article urging the public to vote for a Brexit, or British EU exit, in next weeks referendum. Telephone and online polls by ICM found 53 percent of respondents support Leave and 47 percent back Remain, if undecided voters are excluded. A YouGov poll suggested that 46 percent of people planned to vote to Leave, with 39 percent supporting Remain and 11 percent undecided.

2 Violent strikes: A Paris police official says 26 people have been wounded, including 20 police officers, in violence during street protests against a contested French labor reform. Johanna Primevert added that 21 people were detained during Tuesdays action, which saw protesters in Paris throw projectiles at police officers, who responded with tear gas. Tens of thousands of people attended the demonstrations against the proposed law to loosen labor rules.
WASHINGTON  President Obama thanked the Dalai Lama on Wednesday for offering condolences after 49 people were killed in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, as the pair once again angered China by meeting at the White House.

It was Obamas fourth White House meeting with Tibetan spiritual leader, whom Beijing accuses of leading a campaign to split the region off from the rest of China. The Dalai Lama says he simply wants a higher degree of autonomy under Chinese rule.

China condemned the meeting after the White House listed it on Obamas public schedule. The meeting was closed to news media coverage, but the White House released on its Flickr account a photo by the presidents official photographer of the two men greeting each other.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama has warm personal feelings toward the 80-year-old Dalai Lama and fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Obama also appreciates his teachings and believes in preserving Tibets unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions, Earnest said.

The Dalai Lama led a minute of silent prayer for the shooting victims during a visit at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington on Monday, the day after a gunman opened fire at an Orlando nightclub, killing 49 people and wounding dozens more.

The president thanked the Dalai Lama for his expression of condolences about the terrorist attack in Orlando over the weekend, Earnest said.

China strongly disapproved of the meeting. Its Foreign Ministry said it had made solemn representations to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and expressed its firm opposition.

We need to emphasize that the Tibetan issue is Chinas internal affairs and other countries do not have any right to interfere with this, spokesman Lu Kang told a daily media briefing.

The 14th Dalai Lama is not simply a religious figure but a political figure in exile who has been conducting secessionist activities internationally under the pretext of religion, the statement said. If President Obama meets with Dalai Lama, it will send the wrong signal to Tibetan separatist forces, and it will undermine the mutual trust and cooperation between China and the U.S.

Lu urged Washington to stick by its promise of recognizing Tibet as part of China, and not support Tibetan independence or any separatist activities.

Earnest reiterated Wednesday that U.S. policy toward Tibet remained unchanged.
Cover, June 8: Music Issue

Kudos for Music

I really enjoyed the annual "Big Music Issue" of your paper and thought it a grand way to celebrate and support our local New Mexican music scene, musicians and bands.

Kudos to the SFR staff who wrote articles, to music writer Alex De Vore and the guest writers who reviewed 40 + recordings.

I read every one of them, and I learned a bunch about new music, teachers, the artists and the Santa Fe music scene.

Please give my thanks to Jonny Leather for the thoughtful and well-written review of my own recording The Whole Wide World.

Paz y amistad.

Fred Shumate

SFReporter.com



Expand Your Mind

Alex De Vore's belittling review of Busy McCarroll's "O Fair New Mexico" only serves to reveal his small-mindedness.

This 1915 state song has been freshly arranged by McCarroll to truly represent the state's multicultural sound. Using local musicians, this song represents everything that de Vore's review is not. You can't put a dollar amount on the generous heart and soul behind it.

As the state song, it should be promoted by the state in its advertising, freely given away at tourism visitor centers and to every NM schoolchild, and placed on all hotel front desks.

Cynicism just isn't appropriate for this review, Alex. You gotta feel the love.

Janet Persons

Cerrillos



7 Days, June 1: Nonorganic Produce

Cut the Snark

Shame. Your snarky analysis of the La Montanita protest prompted by their sale of herbicide-sprayed produce shows that SFR fails to make the connection between the use of these toxins and social and environmental justice. It's not that customers are anti-choicetainted, low-quality produce is available everywhere.

Co-op members rich and poor are willing to pay more not to have to pee glyphosate, also known as Roundup, designated as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization.

Further, kids, ag workers and vast natural environments are awash in the stuff. It's a mainstream issue in Europe, which is why the EU is deadlocked on reauthorizing Monsanto's profitable poison.

Marita Prandoni

Santa Fe



News, June 8: Options, Opposition

Welcome Competition

As an older resident in Santa Fe, I am happy to hear that we will have an option to Christus should I ever need hospitalization. Especially amid the rumors of poor after-care at Christus due to shortages and overworked staff as well as noncompetitive wages and large turnover of the nursing staff there.

Hopefully, the competition of another hospital in the area will encourage Christus to be more forthcoming in these areas.

Linda Paige

SFReporter.com



Calendar, June 8: Poetry Reading with Callback Books

We Comply, With Regret

I cannot say how offensive and disappointing your "listing" of our upcoming event is to us and our community. ... Called Back Books is an an avant garde press working ... at the intersection of contemporary film, visual art [and] philosophy. We ... relocated to Santa Fe (although one of our editors was born and raised here) in the hopes of invigorating the local contemporary poetic landscape and offering an alternative to the "audience-snapping" you so glibly reference.

Perhaps as so-called representatives of "arts and culture," you might want to do some background checkingas a simple visit to our website ... might have allayed your pedestrian fears. We constantly come across locals and visitors who are searching for places in which to locate the contemporary pulse of Santa Fe. Your posting is a disservice to them, as well as to us. 

We request not to be published in the next edition of SFR. We have no wish to be associated with your publication in any way.

LM Rivera and Sharon Zetter

Co-Editors, Called Back Books



Editor's note: As a service to our community, SFR provides free calendar listings every week for hundreds of events. We do this with one caveat: We present them with our own take. We're irreverent. We will keep doing that. Enter your own calendar listing online by clicking on "+ Add Event" in the upper right.

GoT, May 30: Blood of My Blood

Summing Up

That pretty much summed it all up. And. Made me laugh.

Karen Samuelson Hunt

via Facebook



A&C, June 1, Limiting Mobility

Keep on Truckin

We need less restrictions on mobile vending, not more. The practical effect of the downtown Plaza periphery restriction is that nobody currently uses the two spots because they are in the wrong part of downtown, can only be used from after 6 pm and require additional permitting.

This type of classic Santa Fe over-regulation is stifling to growth and opportunity, and preserves downtown's sky-high rents. Imagine if anyone could could park a mobile business downtown, it would challenge the status quo around rents that are too high for local businesses and unsustainable for all but the most successful tourist-focused businesses.

Any amendment to the ordinance should create new mobile vending locations (Galisteo and San Francisco, Washington and Nausbaum at the least) within the Plaza periphery, not restrict more areas of downtown.

Daniel Werwath

SFReporter.com



Online, June 7: Into the Night

Why Not Pony Express?

Why was it necessary to hand-deliver the memory card? There's this system today called the internet that moves data at the speed of electricity. Even so, this is not a large city. How long could it have taken to hand deliver the data? Twenty minutes? OK, 30.

JT Johnson

SFReporter.com

Santa Fe Reporter
A golden eagle crouched against a band of rocks that abuts a cattle pen in the Gila National Forest catches the eye first, causing a pause to look for whats brought the bird to the ground. The eagle doesnt linger, disappearing rapidly amid the tops of ponderosas. On the far side of the cowpie-strewn basin, a reddish brown hulk has been draped over a downed tree. Once close enough to see that the cows hindquarters have been severed and its bare hip socket writhes with insects, the stench hits. From uphill and upwind, a game trail threading off into the woods appears. Follow it, and the trap snapping shut is silent, even as it misses clipping a heel. The teeth are so close together that none of the dark, rain-wet soil is visible between the thin rubber padding that covers the edges of the steel leg trap.

The wolf being hunted is M1396, named "Guardian" in an annual contest run by Lobos of the Southwest for Albuquerque schoolchildren to name 17 wolf pups born in 2014. "Guardian" was suggested by a sixth grader who wrote that he chose it "because wolves need a guardian to keep them safe and to help their population rise." He hoped a wolf named Guardian would be "a good luck charm to all the other wolves out in the wild trying to survive" and a guardian of the species so it never goes extinct.

Last month, Guardian was caught in a leg trap, moved to a kennel and transported to a pen to live out his days.

Steel traps like these snapped onto the leg of Guardian, a Mexican gray wolf recently captured and sequestered to a life of captivity because managers say he killed too many cattle. (Elizabeth Miller)

He follows his brother, m1384, who the same contest had named "Century." The pair of sixth graders who suggested the name wrote, "About 100 years ago there was a big abundance of Mexican gray wolves, and now they're being reintroduced. This wolf species almost went extinct because of settlers that moved into their territory.  When the wolves had less territory to hunt, they would find it easy to hunt the settler's cattle." Those same settlers, the students' essay continues, then felt afraid for themselves and their livestock, and so began killing the wolves, while no one thought about protecting the species.



Guardian and Century were both born to the Fox Mountain Pack, one of 19 packs roaming southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona. Earlier this year, Guardian was spotted with the Luna Pack female and was soon considered her mate and the new alpha male of that pack.

The Fox Mountain Pack has a history of livestock depredations, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the species' recovery. The agency's field reports from this spring suggest that behavior moved to the Luna Pack with Guardian, fueling the agency's decision to trap him to prevent him from teaching those habits to the Luna Pack female. His removal left the female and her unknown number of pups without a partner in raising them; they depend on food the Fish and Wildlife Service now supplies her. Their hope is that she'll re-match with her former mate, a male still roaming near her den. But it's a gamble.

"Disturbing that pack at this point is risking the survival of the pups. It can even risk the survival of that female if she gets desperate and can't hunt on her own the deer and the elk; she may go places she's not supposed to go," says Regina Mossotti, director of animal care and conservation at the Endangered Wolf Center in Missouri, the source of some of the pups moved from captive-born dens into wild ones this spring in an effort to increase genetic diversity.

"When you're trying to increase the population of a critically endangered species, removal of any individual, especially when you're down to just about 100 in the wild, is the opposite of what you want to do," Mossotti says.

When a pair of wolves has whelped, the female stays with the puppies for the first few weeks before they're able to leave the den she's dug for them, and her mate and other pack members will bring her food.

Contrary to the snarling approach to first-dibs that might appear on Animal Planet, Mossotti says, "The pack eats together, and it's kind of the all-for-one, one-for-all mentality. The pack is only as strong as each individual, and each individual is only as strong as the pack, so if anybody is weak or hurt or hungry, they can't hunt, and if they can't hunt, the whole pack suffers."

"Alpha" is just a designation of leadership, like a mother and father lead a human family, she says. They protect and teach the next generation.

Disrupting that family by taking an alpha can mean the loss of the entire litter and force the female to leave her pups behind permanently so she can resume hunting for her own survival.

"It's devastating to the pack to lose an alphait's like it would be to your family. Imagine if you lost your mom or dad at a young age. That's what these guys go through," Mossotti says. "We think controlling wolf populations by shooting some of the members of the family will help reduce depredation on livestock or help them reduce their impact, but unfortunately ... especially if you lose an alpha, those alphas don't get to teach the pack how to hunt for elk and deer, and the pups will get desperate. Really trying to keep the pack intact and having those leaders teach them how to hunt the right food is important. It's vital to the success of the pack."

Success is not how anyone would characterize Mexican wolf recovery at the moment. The latest population count saw a significant drop, from 110 wolves and eight breeding pairs in 2014 to 97 and six breeding pairs this year. Then two wolves died in the capture-and-count process. Heavy-handed management, like removing one of the Mexican wolves from the wild, says Michael Robinson, with the Center for Biological Diversity, is why this species is trending toward extinction.

Albuquerques BioPark has a pair of captive Mexican gray wolves that the US Fish and Wildlife Service hopes to see adding puppies to the wild population that is sorely lackign in genetic diversity. (Courtesy Tallon Melton)

Mexican wolves are considered one of the most endangered land mammals in North America, yet their reintroduction to the wild has been clouded by cattle grazing that overlays the area where these wolves have been expected to re-establish footing. Ranchers are keen to preserve their way of life and are, at times, disinterested in adopting new tools or practices in the name of keeping wolves from attacking their cattle. Conservationists come down firmly on the side of wolves, saying that it was their forest long before it was ours, and they have a right to be there.

More than 100 grazing allotments have been issued in the Gila National Forest area, and each allotment can allow for thousands of cattle to pass through the forest each year. The greater Gila area is also home to roughly 21,000 elk, according to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. But drive into the Gila, and one of the two of these will be far more visible.

It raises the question: Can we ever really have both, wolves and cattle, in the same woods?

"The Fish and Wildlife Service has taken it as an article of faith that you can," says Robinson. The Center for Biological Diversity has repeatedly sued the federal government for mismanagement of Mexican wolf recovery, among other endangered species. "I've had ranchers tell me flat out that it's either the wolves or them, that coexistence is impossible. I don't think real coexistence has been tried."

While humans work to answer that question, the genetic pool in a wild population that stems from just a few wolves caught before the species went extinct and was rebuilt in captivity grows more shallow, and the chance that pups will thrive decreases.



The Mexican Wolf/Livestock Coexistence Council convened a group of ranchers, tribal members, conservation advocates and other stakeholders 16 years after Mexican wolves were reintroduced to the wild to search for common ground and plan for how to have both animals on the landscape without constant killingcattle killed and eaten, and wolves killed for having been hungry.



Wild Mexican wolves were eradicated by the early 1970s, then were listed as an endangered species in 1976, and formal reintroduction efforts began with 11 Mexican wolves in 1998.

"To say ranchers felt put upon by the arrival of the endangered Mexican gray wolf in Arizona and New Mexico is an understatement," reads the 2014 strategic plan from the Mexican Wolf/Livestock Coexistence Council. "Livestock producers were already dealing with mountain lions, bears, coyotes, broken gates, widely fluctuating cattle prices, prolonged drought, and growing government bureaucracy. Then the wolves, which previous generations had fought hard to get rid of, were back. Along with these predators came livestock losses, more governmental rules and regulations, and worry."

Signs in the Gila Wilderness warn of wolf trapping activity by federal officials. (Elizabeth Miller)

Since their reintroduction, population growth has been limited by, among other things, project-approved removals of wolves for depredating livestock or leaving the recovery area boundary, as well as "lawful and unlawful wolf mortalities," according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Poaching continues to be an issue for Mexican wolves, with the federal government offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to a conviction for shooting onea bounty nongovernmental organizations have boosted with an additional pledge of $46,000.

To balance the cattle industry's interests in the area, which date back centuries, the federal government compensates livestock producers by paying the current auction price for livestock and even paying for working dogs killed by wolves.



The Coexistence Council's strategic plan shifted the approach to compensation so that it factors in some of the additional costs to ranchers, like undetected depredations when the cause of death can't be determined or livestock has simply gone missing, as well as lost livestock weight and decreased reproductive rates that result from sharing their grazing acres with wolves. These "payments for presence" are calculated on a point system that accounts for whether the land or grazing lease is in wolf territory or a core area such as a den or rendezvous site, wolf pups born in the area that year have survived to Dec. 31, and the applicant has been using proactive measures to avoid conflict, as well as the number of livestock exposed.

About half of the council's $600,000 budget goes to payments for presence, and half to support ranchers in deploying new technology to prevent depredations. Those funds can pay for range riders, a human presence that deters wolves, and for turbo fladry, temporary electric fencing with flagging. They can also fund efforts to time calving and use alternative pastures to shift cows and calves away from territory where wolves hunt, and even for supplemental hay. If a cow dies in the wild, that carcass can be laced with chemicals to make a wolf sick, and like any experience with food poisoning, that wolf will then avoid that food source.

"There's so many tools in the tool box for conservationists to reduce conflicts between humans and wildlife that there's no excuse not to coexist at this point," Mossotti says.

A cow carcass lies near where leg traps were set during the hunt for Guardian in the Gila. (Elizabeth Miller)

Once depredations begin occurring, the end result for the wolf is often death or capture and a life in a pen.

"When it speaks to private property and private land, I get that.  I've been a longstanding supporter of relatively permissive management of wolves on private land. ... You should be able to protect your private property," says Mike Phillips, director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund, which uses Ladder Ranch in southern New Mexico near the Gila to assist the Fish and Wildlife Service in management activities. The New Mexico Game Commission initially denied Ladder Ranch a permit renewal for holding captive Mexican wolves, but it has since allowed the facility to resume those activities, convening an emergency meeting to speed an approval to house a wolf family from Washington state while they waited for the female to whelp before releasing parents and pups into Mexico.



"Similarly, you could argue for a less permissive approach on public land," Phillips says. "It is public grass, and you don't have to graze your livestock there. ... We should view public resources on public land differently than we view public resources on private land and at the end of the day a wolf or wolf population is a public resource."



Phillips has worked on every wolf recovery program in the countryMexican gray wolves as well as gray wolves in Yellowstone and red wolves in North Carolinaand says the Mexican wolf program is one of the most challenging. He left work with the federal government to see what private lands can achieve in the way of protecting imperiled species.

"It's just simply a truism that most wolves don't depredate on livestock. The depredations on livestock are consistently misrepresented and consistently overblown," Phillips says. "Wolf recovery has never been the burden on the livestock industry that it's made out to be."

That said, he adds, some individual producers may run on so narrow a profit margin that the loss of one or two cattle can make a big difference. Again, those losses are often covered by payments from the federal government.

Grazing allotments in the Gila National Forest area allow for tens of thousands of cattle to pass through the forest each year in the same territory where wolves are expected not to hunt them. (Elizabeth Miller)

"I don't think it's either wolves or livestock. That's a ridiculous choice. And it's not wolves and elk, that's another ridiculous choice," says Phillips. "There are problems, there are conflicts, and you need good people on the ground to work through the conflicts.  Here's the truth: Wolves do not represent a danger to human safety. They just don't. Wolves typically do not depredate on livestock. ... Wolves do not decimate game herds."

He runs the numberswolves need an average of seven to 10 pounds of sustenance a day, or about the equivalent of one adult cow elk per month. So one wolf will eat about 15 adult cow elk every year. And again, there are an estimated 21,000 elk in the Gila area. If more than 600 wolves lived in that area, they wouldn't consume half of the elk there.

"Gray wolves are an agenda problem," Phillips says. "They are not as hard to coexist with as people would have you think.  These myths that drive us as a collective, they really matter, but sometimes they're not right."

Yet those myths continue to guide management decisions, including the latest released from US district court, which sided with the state in their efforts to obtain a temporary restraining order to prevent the Fish and Wildlife Service from releasing additional wolves. Judge William P Johnson ruled on June 10 that the Endangered Species Act does not require the service to release Mexican wolves into the wild, that it was simply the service's choice to do so. As a result, the state's ability to "monitor, manage and otherwise regulate" New Mexico's wildlife suffered. Conservation advocates were stunned.

Though federal code permits the US secretary of the interior to pursue management activities to preserve the future of the species, that permission doesn't "constitute a statutory responsibility," Johnson wrote, and the federal government still needs to obtain permits from the state. Federal rules advise securing a permit from states, but in the event that can't be secured, they allow the secretary to move forward, and that's the basis by which the Fish and Wildlife Service has pursued releases despite protests from the state. That the federal agency has not updated the more-than-30-year-old plan for Mexican wolves and continues to operate that program as a "nonessential experimental population" also came back to bite, as the state was able to argue that a "nonessential experimental population," by definition, can't be necessary to the future of the species. Work has been underway on a formal Mexican wolf recovery plan since 1995, and the service only recently settled with conservation groups to commit to a timeline that dictates a November 2017 completion date.

"The service needs to put its foot down ... when the states are so willing to bully the service to get what they want," says Eva Sargent, senior Southwest representative for Defenders of Wildlife. They need to stand by the science, Sargent argues. And science says that the species will suffer if its genetic diversity is not increased by adding more wolves to the wild population.

Mexican wolves went through a very small bottleneck. The entire population we have nowmore than 250 in captivity and about 100 in the wildis descended from just seven wild wolves captured in northern Mexico and that may well have been related. So the pool was never very deep, and it grows shallower with each generation. By comparison, the red wolf recovery program started its captive breeding program from 400 canids. The Yellowstone wolf program, now considered so successful the gray wolf has been removed from the endangered species list in several northwestern states and wolf hunts have resumed, began with 14 wolves captured from a wild population across Canada, adding to that with two more releases of 17 and 10, respectively. On a landscape that was rich with prey and secured from human causes of mortalityshootingand that doesn't see year-round livestock grazing like the Gila does, Phillips speculates, Yellowstone's program might have succeeded with just the release of those initial 14 wolves. The Blue Range, where dozens of Mexican wolves have been released, just isn't as problem-free a habitat for recovering an endangered wolf.

In Yellowstone, research has documented a ripple effect of benefits to the ecosystem since wolves were reintroduced in the mid-'90s, affecting species from fish to birds to beavers to aspen trees. Healthier riparian areas appear where elk and deer are nudged on from over-grazing by the press of hunting predators, and the overall health of the forest increases in ways that startled ecologists.

A study conducted to see if Mexican wolves had a similar ability to restore the landscapes around them landed in uncertainty; there simply weren't enough wolves to know. But the stands of dead aspens and absence of aspen seedlings suggests an ecosystem in need of resuscitation. The Gila is one of the wildest places in the American West, a rarity for having been preserved to maintain its pristine character and known for its roadless areas, beloved by and adjacent to the wilderness area named for Aldo Leopold, legendary conservationist who once wrote, "There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot." Yet not even the Gila can escape being reshaped by men and their livestock.

The goal, according to the USFWS' "experimental population rule" for Mexican wolves, is a wild population of 300 to 325 Mexican wolves between I-40 and the Mexico borderand that's a firm cap. More than that, and the agency could move wolves back into captivity or across the border into Mexico, which is also trying to recover the species.

A panel of scientists convened years ago proposed three populations for a total of about 750 wolves living as far north as Utah and Colorado. Resistance from the states involved was so vehement that the service has instead looked farther and farther south, across the Mexican border.

But successful recovery programs in the US have depended on massive tracts of public lands, and the majority of Mexican land is privately owned. Additionally, while US states maintain careful counts of elk and deer, there's no similar data for potential prey in Mexico. Empirical evidence that Mexico won't work would take years to establish, and the Mexican wolf population just doesn't have that kind of time.



"The clock is not the Mexican wolf's friend. When you have passed through such a profound genetic bottleneck, every generation that passes, you lose genetic diversity," Phillips says. "There is no way, given these small numbers, that you ever gain any new diversity. All you can ever hope to do is slow the rate of loss. ... The rate of loss is notable, and we know, from countless studies, that eventually a genetically depauperate genome creates all kinds of problems for survival."

What happens if management doesn't move forward in a way that increases genetic diversity? For that visual, we have the now nearly nonexistent population of wolves on Isle Royale, Michigan. Climate change and shipping routes wiped out the ice bridge that once linked the island in Lake Superior to the mainland, stranding a population that once saw as many as 50 wolves. Just two wolves now remainand they're half-siblings as well as father and daughter. Their hopes of procreating are doomed. The island's moose population, in the meantime, has been booming, another ecosystem swinging out of balance.

This year's cross-fostering efforts saw unprecedented numbers, with six pups total added to three packs across Arizona and New Mexicoa very successful year, says Mossotti. The payoff for those successes is still years out, Robinson cautions, given that pups born this year won't reproduce for at least two years, meaning an additional delay in diversifying the genes in a population now largely as genetically similar as siblings. But releasing parents and older siblings with those pups was considered too politically volatile in a year when the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish had refused to sign off on permits.

A Humane Society of the United States survey of state game commissionsto which 18 states respondedfound that 73 percent of commissions are dominated by avid hunters, clearly unrepresentative of the state's public they speak for, but in line with their funding source. In New Mexico, hunters, trappers and anglers who pay for fishing and hunting licensesto the tune of some $20 million each yearsupport the state's Department of Game and Fish.

"Wolves do not purchase hunting licenses, and most state wildlife managers draw their pay from revenue derived from sale of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses. That, in brief, is what is wrong with wildlife management in America," Ted Williams wrote in 1986, years before formal wolf reintroduction programs were underway.

Would ranchers ever stop objecting to sharing the landscape with wolves? Sure, Phillips says, for a price. He points to two universal solvents: water and money.

"Water can dissolve about anything, and money can dissolve any problem, if you have enough," he says. "The problem is, you typically don't have sufficient funds to simply buy your way out of a bind."



Santa Fe Reporter
A2 Milk shares rose 14 percent after the milk marketing company raised its full-year guidance and said it is well placed to cope with changes to infant formula regulations in China

Revenue is now forecast to be in a range of $350 million to $360 million in the year ending June 30, from a previous forecast of $335 million to $350 million, the company said today. Operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation are projected to be $52 million to $54 million, up from the $45 million-to-$49 million range it gave with its first-half results in February.

Shares in A2 Milk hit a record high of $2.61 in trading on Feb. 17 but have since fallen back on worries about Chinese regulations. They reached $1.79 today, having soared 152 percent in the past 12 months.

Michael De Cesare, an analyst at Nikko Asset Management New Zealand, said investor concerns about the regulatory regime in China had weighed on the stock. "The market as a whole has been struggling with what seems to be a great long-term story caveated with quite complex and ever-changing regulation coming out of China in terms of food standard specifications and how that might impact on Australasian exporters of infant formula."

In its statement, A2 said it was "well placed to cope with changes to infant formula regulations in China announced in recent months including taxation of cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) traded commodities, publication of product lists for CBEC traded commodities through China free-trade zones and an infant formula registration rule for domestic and imported infant formula products in China."

De Cesare said A2 is well placed to benefit from the increased Chinese scrutiny of the infant formula market. "Companies with a quality product are going to benefit the most from the tightening up of this market, it will be the periphery, the lower-quality companies who will no longer be invited to the party."

A2 is due to join the S&P/ASX 200 Index at the close of trading on June 17 after a successful listing in Australia. De Cesare says the share register of A2 has broadened considerably in the last year and the inclusion in the ASX 200 will attract funds from around the world When you combine the ASX listing which makes it investable for Australian funds and the second tick, with the inclusion in the ASX 200, thats the cherry on the cake, now theyre in the flagship benchmark you get increasing interest from offshore, from North America, from the UK.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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Air New Zealand will take part in Virgin Australia's planned A$852 million rights issue, even though the national carrier plans to offload the bulk of its stake to China's Nanshan Group.

Melbourne-based Virgin Australia today said it will sell shares at 21 Australian cents apiece, a discount to the 29.5 cents trading price before the ASX opened, to shore up its balance sheet in a one-for-one non-renounceable pro rata entitlement. Australia's second-biggest airline had already announced plans to raise A$159 million selling shares to China's HNA Group and today's deal has the backing of its cornerstone airline shareholders.

Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, HNA, Virgin Group, and Nanshan have committed to take up the offer. If Air NZ hasn't completed the sale of its Virgin stake to Nanshan, it has agreed to pick up Nanshan's share of the entitlement offer. Singapore, HNA and Virgin Group will underwrite entitlements not taken up by other shareholders, and HNA can top up its holding to ensure it reaches its 19.99 percent target stake in the airline, subject to a maximum investment of US$300 million.

While Etihad Airways hasn't committed to the offer, it has told Virgin Australia it will approve the HNA top-up placement.

Virgin Australia shares fell 5.1 percent to 28 Australian cents, while Air NZ shares were up 1.7 percent to NZ$2.115.

Earlier this year Virgin Australia's cornerstone shareholders committed to providing A$425 million of one-year funding to allow the airline to review its mix of debt and equity and consider operational initiatives to boost Virgin's cashflow and profitability. Air NZ later said it was reviewing its stake and last month announced plans to sell 19.98 to Nanshan for A$268 million, or 33 cents a share.

Virgin Australia also said it plans to cut its fleet size over the next three years with a view to saving an annual A$300 million by the end of 2019. It expects to face restructuring costs of between A$200 million and A$250 million and impairments of A$150 million to A$200 million through that period.

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Foley Family Wines, the NZAX-listed company majority owned by US businessman Bill Foley, will bring forward the final payment to its grape growers for its 2016 vintage, reflecting the strength of its balance sheet.

The winemaker will pay growers the final instalment in May instead of July as it benefits from a 31 percent increase in the 2016 grape harvest to a record 6,954 tonnes, it said in a statement. The Blenheim-based company's Marlborough harvest rose 42 percent while its Martinborough harvest jumped 106 percent due to a strong growing season and improved viticulture practices.

Growers are integral to the success of our business and this year we wanted them to share in the results we are achieving," said chief executive Mark Turnbull. "The amount brought forward is approximately $2.3 million, so we are sure that our growers will have appreciated the payment a few months early.

Foley Family Wines is in the last month of its 2016 financial year which ends June 30. In its first half, profit jumped to $1.6 million from $400,000 a year earlier as sales rose 12 percent to $17.4 million.

The company has appointed Blair Robinson as its Australasian sales and marketing director. He is currently market manager New Zealand and Asia for Villa Maria Estate and starts the new role next month.

The winemaker also detailed new distribution arrangements for its wines in the UK and Australia. Negociants UK will distribute its Martinborough Vineyards, Grove Mill and Frog Haven brands in the UK, while Samuel Smith & Son was appointed exclusive distributor for Martinborough Vineyards from August. Both distributors are owned by Yalumba Wine Group.

Shares in Foley Family Wines slipped 1.9 percent to $1.57 and have gained 10 percent in the last year.

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VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - June 15, 2016) - GoldQuest Mining Corp. (TSX VENTURE: GQC) (M1W.F) (M1W.F) ("GoldQuest" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing exploration program over its 100% owned Tireo Project in the Dominican Republic. Recent ground induced polarization (IP) geophysics and mapping work has focused on the southern portion of the gold belt in preparation for an upcoming 10,000 metre exploration drilling program.

Drilling on IP chargeability high anomalies led to the discovery of the Romero deposit and thus is a key exploration tool in the region. As a result, GoldQuest has applied a systematic exploration program targeting prospective geological trends with mapping and ground geophysics, including IP, resistivity and magnetics.

To date, the IP program has confirmed five new chargeability high trends, all coincident with favorable alteration and geochemistry in outcropping rocks. These trends include a continuous 17 kilometer anomaly which extends south from the Romero deposit in the central portion of the belt as well as four new sub-parallel of anomalies in the southern portion of the gold belt.

A link to a map showing the new IP trends can be found here:

http://goldquestcorp.com/images/press_release/Tireo_IP_June_13_2016.jpg

"Over the past eighteen months we have built up a substantial inventory of exploration targets in the Tireo Gold Belt. With groundwork in advance of drilling now nearing completion, we eagerly anticipate commencing drilling in August," commented Bill Fisher, GoldQuest's Chairman. "Discovering the Romero deposit has uniquely positioned our team to carry out a comprehensive and detailed exploration program. The program has led to identification of numerous targets which will be ranked and systematically tested in our upcoming drilling program as we seek a new discovery in the belt."

In other news, the Company's Annual General Meeting will be held at 10am on 16th June at Blakes, Cassels & Graydon LLP at 199 Bay Street, Suite 4000 in Toronto, Ontario. The CEO and senior management will be present to update shareholders of the Company's developments, including the exploration outlined in this release, and on progress of the Pre-Feasiblity Study which is expected to be completed at the end of the summer.

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The information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Jeremy Niemi, P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration of GoldQuest and a Qualified Person for the technical information in this press release under NI 43-101 standards.

About GoldQuest

GoldQuest is a well-funded Canadian based mineral exploration company with projects in the Dominican Republic and trades on the TSX-V under the symbol GQC and in Frankfurt/Berlin with symbol M1W.

Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.goldquestcorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of GoldQuest Mining Corp.,

Bill Fisher, 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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release are "forward-looking" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to exploration on the Tireo Project, exploration results, the Company's future plans and exploration programs, including the timing of such plans and programs, and the merits of the Company's mineral properties. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "indicate" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon the current belief, opinions and expectations of management that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and other contingencies. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, the timeliness and success of regulatory approvals, market prices, metal prices, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, as well as other risk factors set out under the heading "Risk and Uncertainties" in the Management's Discussion and Analysis dated September 30, 2015, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/6/14/11G102846/Images/Tireo_IP_June_13_2016-d28caa646002a839bcb74f7140899987.jpg


* STMicro to scrap $5 bln India chip plant-govt officials

* STMicro's local partner says raised 40 pct of required funding

* India now seeks to attract low-tech component firms-officials

By Himank Sharma

MUMBAI, June 15 (Reuters) - India's ambitious plan to be a major player in semiconductors, taking on the Chinese and churning out locally-made chips for a new generation of smartphone users, has proved to be a little too ambitious.

The government boldly announced three years ago it would host two new $5 billion chip plants as part of a project to become a global manufacturing powerhouse, creating thousands of jobs, reducing its need for imports and taking on global rivals such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and GlobalFoundries.

But potential investors have not materialised, put off by India's wobbly infrastructure, unstable power supply, bureaucratic red tape and poor planning, according to analysts and industry insiders.

Just weeks after Jaypee Infratech, which was partnering IBM Corp and Israel's Tower Jazz, abandoned plans for one of the big chip plants, STMicroelectronics NV is set to scrap plans to build the other $5 billion plant as its main local partner failed to raise enough money from skeptical investors, government officials said.

"We've had a lot of issues with the original (semiconductor) plan," a top official at India's Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY) told Reuters. "The technology curve has moved ahead in the last three years, the global environment has changed and China has emerged as a big player."

Two other officials at the department said a consortium led by Indian start-up Hindustan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (HSMC) with STMicro and Malaysia's Silterra had not been able to raise the funding for the plant, and it might be scrapped.

Investors doubted the potential of the Indian government's plan to set up a 22 nanometer (nm) chip fabricator as the industry's cutting-edge manufacturing has already shifted to smaller 14 nm chips, and is expected to move to sub-10 nm in the next three years, the officials said.

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"Our original estimates for chip demand were incorrect, and we decided to postpone our plant until 2020 since there's no market for semiconductors in India yet," HSMC founder Deven Verma told Reuters.

Verma said the consortium had not yet closed financing for the plant, but had commitments for only 40 percent of the required funding. Operations had been expected to start this year.

STMicro declined to comment.

LOWERING AMBITIONS

India is now toning down its ambitions and setting its sights on low-end chip making, the government officials said.

DEITY plans to attract low-tech component companies including makers of printed circuit boards (PCBs), integrated circuits and analog chips.

"If we target manufacturers of electronic components to look at India for their global production, we can start by manufacturing components such as PCBs and ICs locally, and that will give a much-needed boost to manufacturing in India," said one of the two top government officials.

To that end, the government has courted foreign manufacturers including Apple Inc to set up plants in India, though analysts say the country needs first to bulk up its component making capabilities.

"It's crazy if India thinks it can compete with China on something like chip manufacturing when our electronics industry is a shambles," said Ganesh Ramamoorthy, an analyst at research firm Gartner.

India's ambitions in electronics manufacturing include cutting net imports to zero by 2020, from about $40 billion last year. It is the world's fastest growing smartphone market with over 100 million sold last year - but almost all of those phones' chips and circuits are imported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has attracted some phone makers, including Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, to set up assembly plants in India. Samsung Electronics also manufactures some smartphones locally.

(Reporting by Himank Sharma; Additional reporting by Mathieu Rosemain in PARIS; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Ian Geoghegan)
BENGALURU: Apples iPhone 7 is likely to sport Intels modem chips, replacing the standard Qualcomm chips in some versions of the latest smartphone, as reported by Bloomberg. The chips will be featured on those iPhones used on the AT&T's US network and also on some other versions of the smartphone in the global market. Whereas, the models sold in China will continue to use the chips from Qualcomm. Additionally, iPhones operating on the Verizon Communications network will not dump Qualcomm.

The after impact of the news had Intel's stocks increased by 0.3 percent, while Qualcomm's shares fell by 1.7 percent. Apple experienced a decline in shares by 0.5 percent. Steve Mollenkopf, Qualcomms Chief Executive Officer said he was expecting the possibility of a major client switching to multiple suppliers. Qualcomm and Apple executives were not available for any comments and an Intel spokesperson refused to comment on the matter.

Expected to be launched in September, the latest version of iPhone will reportedly feature a slightly modified design compared to iPhone 6S. The smartphone will include waterproof body and will ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack. Rumors also suggest that the phone is likely to come up with a 3GB RAM, an enhanced camera, wireless charging functionality and better battery life.

Removing the headphone jack will effectively give a thinner appearance to the phone. It will also encourage music lovers to use wireless Bluetooth headphones, an adaptor or headphones that connect via Lightning port. Other design modifications could include a flush camera and the removal of antenna bars.

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BANGALORE: In an announcement made by Lenovo at the Lenovo Tech World gathering in San Francisco, a market-ready PHAB2 Pro smart phone, and Moto Z smart-phone were launched by the Chinese multinational. PHAB2 Pro comes imbued with Google-created Tango augmented reality technology, and Moto Z can be customized with mods, a specialized piece of hardware that snap into place magnetically to give handsets added capabilities. This announcement by Lenovo comes just after its first modular smart-phone, G5 was revealed by LG as reported by Hindustan Times.

Holograms are enabled by PHAB2 by sensing and mapping its surroundings. The enabled holograms can be used for playing games to figuring out which size sofa would fit in a room by overlaying on real world settings. This latest smart-phone will be available at a price of $499 in September. It is a pretty incredible piece of technology for, really, a great price, added Tango engineering director Johnny Lee.

Another smart-phone which was launched at the event by Lenovo was Moto Z. Lenovo chief executive Yang Yuanqing termed this announcement as the most important of the event. The smart-phone comes with handsets-added capabilities due to its mods feature. This feature will enable Moto Z users to enable Moto Z project video on walls or ceilings at sizes as large as a 70-inch television screen and turn handsets into powerful speakers at the same time.

Ashton Kutcher, Hollywood star and Lenovo spokesman was present at the event and praised the new smart-phone by stating that the phone is actually a full-blown game-changer as it can transform itself according to the users will. A smart-phone mod program was launched by Lenovo in the event for the developers.

This program has a million-dollar prize for the developer who will integrate the best mod handset with all its services hosted in the Internet cloud. Now, this will entice the developers for sure!

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NEW DELHI: Renewable energy business is a high-growth area in India, though falling asset prices and competitive bidding for new power purchase agreements may lead to volatility in returns on investments, S&P Global Ratings said today.



"We believe the renewable energy business is a high-growth area in India, given the government's focus on increasing capacities for renewable energy and priority dispatch," it said in a statement.



However, falling asset prices and competitive bidding for new power purchase agreements (PPAs) can expose renewable energy assets to volatility of returns on investments, it said.



It added that such assets also face greater volatility of cash flows due to seasonality and inherent uncertainty of wind/hydro/solar patterns, resulting in resource risks.



The agency further said that Tata Power's business position is unlikely to materially change after theacquisition of Welspun Renewable Energy.



S&P Global Ratings further said that its corporate credit rating on Tata Power Ltd (B+/Stable) is not immediately affected by the company's acquisition of Welspun Renewable Energy for an enterprise value of Rs 92.49 billion.



Tata Power indicated that it intends to maintain leverage at the current improved levels post-acquisition through strategic measures.



If the acquisition is fully debt funded, Tata Power's debt will increase by about 25 per cent, and its financials and the rating will be pressured.



"We believe Tata Power will share further details on its capital structure in due course.



"Tata Power's operating performance in the fiscal year ended March 2016 was above our expectations. Cash flows were stronger due to stable earnings from the company's regulated distribution business and lower losses in the unregulated Mundra project," it said.



A sharp reduction in coal prices led to lower losses for the Mundra project, where the sale price for the PPA is fixed.



"The company's ratio of funds from operations to debt was stronger at about 12 per cent for the fiscal ended March 2016, against our expectation of about 9 per cent," it said.



The company will likely emerge as one of the larger renewable energy players in India but overall, renewable energy accounts for less than 30 per cent of the country's power generation.



"We believe Tata Power will need to manage its liquidity appropriately as the planned short-term bridge facility could accentuate the pressure from high short-term debt and continuing covenant breach at the Mundra project. However, Tata Power has satisfactory banking relationships and access to support from its promoters if required," it said.

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BENGALURU: Dell and Shiv Nadar University have joined hands to collaborate and drive research and innovation, a statement said here on Monday. Under this agreement, Dell will engage with faculty members at the university to mentor students and work in tandem on technology projects in areas such as big data, cloud computing and Internet of Things. Through this collaboration, Dell has set up two laboratories jointly with the university in their endeavor to incorporate theoretical concepts with practical experience. Dell is also planning to share best practices, introduce students to the latest technologies and in the process, help build a future-ready talent pool through continuous exchange of knowledge and information.

The labs for research provide us a platform to collaborate and work together with the faculty, and provide hands-on learning experiences for students. Businesses today are evolving at a startling pace and technology is acting as a catalyst in helping businesses move forward, said Hemal Shah, Executive Director and Chief Information Officer, Dell India. The Dell labs will enable and empower our students to undertake real research in focused industry-relevant projects at the university, said Rupamanjari Ghosh, Vice Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University.

Our association with Dell is solely based on academia-industry participation, and is already on its way to a major success. Education at the University is innately attuned with the business world. Our students get the opportunity to learn by doing, and inculcate the required skill of creative problem-solving. Starting with our Department of Computer Science and Engineering, and the Big Data Analytics Center, I am sure this partnership is meant to go a long way in further enhancing the research and training being undertaken at the University, she added.

Dell believes that industry-academia partnerships such as this are important, as this will encourage students to push the frontiers of research and technology. The company has been recruiting students from the University and looks to help them be prepared for the challenges of the future.

This news comes amidst reports of losses that Dell has incurred after the EMC merger. The revenues have dropped 3 percent in comparison to last year.

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BENGALURU: Beijing based DiDi Chuxing may be the largest mobile transportation platform in China, but the battle for dominance is not easy when the opponent is a global hotshot among online transportation platforms- the Uber. Backing the American player is the latest 10 digit figure funding ($3.5 billion) from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.

On the other side DiDi has $1 billion investment from Apple Inc., secured last month, and a whopping $6.3 billion raised from its earlier funding rounds. The Chinese giant looks in a mood of putting up the bloodiest battle Uber has seen during its global expansion. DiDis firepower got yet another upgrade when the company announced its latest funding of $600 million from China Life Insurance Co Ltd. The investment includes equity of $300 million and a long-term borrowing commitment of $305 million, the companies said in a statement.

Being a marketplace where mergers and acquisitions are frequent, the local media is speculating a possible team-up between the American and the Chinese giants in the future.

In a communication to Reuters, sources told that DiDi was working towards an initial public offering in the United States that would likely take place in 2018.

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WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama will meet the Dalai Lama at theWhite House today, in a move likely to enrage China, which sees the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader as a separatist.



Obama's official schedule indicated that the pair, who have met before several times, would talk behind closed doors in the Map Room at 10:15 a.m (local time). The president usually speaks with dignitaries in the Oval Office.



They last met in the same room in February 2014, though they have had encounters since.



Beijing has routinely accused Washington of meddling in its domestic affairs after such encounters.



China says the Dalai Lama is seeking to split Tibet from the rest of China and calls him a "wolf in sheep's clothing." But the spiritual leader has pressed more for Tibetan autonomy rather than outright independence.



Beijing vigorously lobbies against foreign leaders meeting the Dalai Lama "in any form."



Many Tibetans say China in turn is repressing their Buddhist religion and culture, and preventing them from benefiting from the region's economic development.



Since becoming president, Obama has made a "pivot to Asia" a cornerstone of his foreign policy.



Although the meeting will certainly draw China's ire, the concrete consequences remain unclear.



The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since 1959 after a failed uprising in Tibet.

Rea d Also:

Growing Indo-U.S. Relationship Facilitated By Modi-Obama

Clinton Wins Final Primary, Set For Poll Battle With Trump

Source: PTI
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When Julienne Verdi read about her alma mater's latest art project, she started to think that the culture around sex education had changed.

Two students at Wagner High School, Andrea Gonzalez and Meghan Callahan, were in the news for a powerful art project that had Gonzalez's back photographed with anti-rape messages.

The photograph was originally banned from the school's lobby before students were told to re-do the photograph, this time with their backs covered. It was a violation of the school's dress code, school officials said.

But Verdi no longer saw the school as a place that had changed for the better.

"The fact that they were drawing more attention to the nudity itself was missing whole intention of the piece," said Verdi, now an attorney in St. George. "I was outraged and disappointed."

Verdi viewed the school's actions as a damaging case of censorship that only worked to sexualize young women's bodies.

"The whole point of the project was: this is my body, and even if I'm wearing a short skirt, or my back is showing, that doesn't give you an excuse to violate my body in any way," Verdi said.

The change may seem subtle to many, but for Verdi, it was huge. And personal too. Growing up in a broken household, her mother was physically abused by her stepfather. "There was violence and that was normal," she said. Later, in college, Verdi was in an abusive relationship and was sexually assaulted.

"Unfortunately the reality is that my story of sexualized violence isn't unique and those same students at Wagner will soon be entering a world with high sexual assault and intimate partner violence rates," she said. "We need to be doing everything we can to prepare them for that world. And absolutely not by saying, put on a shirt because men can't control their thoughts or actions."

As a survivor and a mother to an 11-month-old son, she sees need for a change in the way women's bodies are talked about.

VERDI'S NOT THE ONLY ONE

Conversation around the way women's bodies are portrayed has consumed national interest in the wake of Brock Turner's rape conviction and his victim's moving letter. On Tuesday, President Barack Obama chimed in on the discussion during remarks at the White House Summit on the United State of Women.

"We need to change the attitude that punishes women for their sexuality," he said, "but gives men a pat on the back for theirs."

The remarks raised eyebrows among those who are hoping to raise the volume on gender equality conversations.

"It was an everyday expression of a longstanding, traditional gender ideology that tethered a woman's social value to her chastity," UCLA gender studies professor Juliet Williams told the Washington Post. "Things have changed."

Verdi wished that her sex education at Wagner included lessons on healthy relationships. But, like the message sent by the school's principal to Gonzalez and Callahan, the focus of the conversation was more on the women's bodies than their message of consent and healthy relationships, Verdi said.

"I still remember that sex ed lesson where you carried around an egg, and that was supposed to be a baby somehow," Verdi said. "And the only thing we learned about sex was exaggerated STD figures and that if you had it before you were married, you'd be depressed."

STARTING A CONVERSATION

The original project showed students with exposed backs, which school officials said violated the Wagner High School dress code. The code requires students to wear a shirt. Gonzalez and Callahan told the Advance they were okay with the change and were just glad it got people talking.

School officials also cited the Chancellor's regulation A-640, which requires that parents must consent to photograph, film, or videotape a student for non-profit use (e.g.: educational, public service or health awareness purposes), prior to any filming or photography project.

"Artistic expression is highly valued, encouraged and celebrated at Susan Wagner High School and schools across the city," said Department of Education spokeswoman Yuridia Pena. "The principal worked swiftly with students and teachers to ensure the recreation of the photo-illustration complied with the school's dress code and inspired important dialogue within the school community."

Verdi said the art project should have been an exception to the dress code -- which itself is an example of the double standards girls are held to that boys aren't, she added.

"The dress code is almost entirely directed at policing the bodies of its female students because those bodies might be 'distracting,'" she said. "Distracting to whom?"

She suggested that "maybe we should be focusing more attention on ensuring and teaching our male students and male teachers to treat women with dignity and respect and not become 'distracted.' It's insulting and dangerous to men and women alike to pretend men have no control over their sexual actions."

She maintained that the principal's decision to change the project was an act of censorship that brought her back to her high school days.

"I graduated 11 years ago and here we are 11 years later and we're still censoring young women's bodies."
orlando.JPG

A sign held to remember the victims of the nightclub shooting in Orlando during a memorial on the steps of Borough Hall. (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta)

RODEO, California -- She was a sweet, pretty California girl with Palestinian roots who left an arranged marriage only to find love with a man who committed the worst mass shooting in modern U.S history.

Little by little, details have begun to emerge about 30-year-old Noor Zahi Salman, who grew up in the small suburb of Rodeo, Calif., tucked in the dry hills near the oil refineries 25 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Her romance with Omar Mateen -- security guard, bodybuilder and devout Muslim -- began online, according to a neighbor, and they were married on Sept. 29, 2011, near her hometown, according to public records. The couple has a 3-year-old son.

Early Sunday, the 29-year-old Mateen opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded.

OFFICIAL: WIFE MAY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT PLOT

Authorities believe Mateen's wife knew about the plot ahead of time, said an official who was briefed on the progress of the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation. The official said investigators are reluctant to charge her only on the basis of possible advance knowledge of her husband's plans.

Three people identifying themselves as FBI agents visited Salman's childhood home in Rodeo on Tuesday and spoke with her mother, said Jessie Rojas, a next-door neighbor.

In Fort Pierce, Florida, where Salman and Mateen lived, Salman made a brief visit to their first-floor apartment late Monday, escorted by police and her brother-in-law. Her father-in-law said she came to retrieve clothing. She did not speak with reporters. She has otherwise been in seclusion.

According to marriage documents on file in the Contra Costa County Recorder's office, Salman was born in the United States while her parents' birthplaces were listed as "Palestine."

It's unclear when her parents, who served as witnesses for the wedding, came to the United States, but their naturalization papers allowing them to stay in the country were approved in 1984.

NEIGHBORS FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE

No one answered the door at the Salman home Tuesday, but neighbors who know the 2004 graduate of John Swett High School in nearby Crockett said they find it hard to believe she had anything to do with the massacre.

Jasbinder Chahal, who has lived across the street from Salman's childhood home for the last 15 years, said Salman is "very nice...not the smartest, but she was beautiful.

"You know, some kids after high school, they open up the box and the world is theirs. She was inside the box, just pack it up and get married," said Chahal.

"They had a small wedding and took lots of pictures here at the house," said Chahal. The marriage license says the ceremony took place in Hercules, California, and that an imam officiated.

Of Mateen, Chahal said, "He was shorter than her and did not seem very friendly."

Chahal said Salman's mother, Ekbal Salman, was deeply upset when she visited her Monday night and said she feared for the safety of her daughter and grandson.

Growing up, Salman's parents tried to shelter their four girls.

"Noor never played in the street, and the girls were never allowed to drive," Chahal said.

The neighbor quoted Salman's mother as saying Mateen also kept her daughter from driving, until he recently allowed her to take a test to get her drivers' license.

SECOND MARRIAGE

Salman's marriage to Mateen was her second, said Chahal. Mateen had previously been married as well.

Her first marriage had been arranged in the Palestinian Territories by her parents, said Chahal, adding that the union did not work out.

"He was in Chicago and they were living there, but they were not married long," Chahal said. "They had cultural differences since she grew up here and was American."

Mateen had met his first wife, Sitora Yusufiy, online, too. They married in 2009 after a whirlwind romance.

Yusufiy, who immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan, has told reporters that Mateen was mentally unstable and abusive during their brief relationship.

She said she knew quickly that the marriage had been a mistake and she left him a few months later. The couple didn't divorce, though, until June 21, 2011 -- just three months before Mateen married Salman.

On one of her sister's Facebook pages -- next to a family photo -- there is a box with the words: "Solidarity with Gaza."

Salman rarely came home to visit after she married because Mateen would not let her, Chahal said. She quoted Salman's mother telling her that Mateen even tried to keep the daughter from traveling home to see her father when he was sick.

The younger Salman managed to scrape together the money to visit before her father died in a local hospital, Chahal said.
NWS CHURCH

The audience that gathered in front of the First Central Baptist Church on Wednesday as a response to the to fire-bombed accidents that happened early last week. (Staten Island Advance/ Irene Spezzamonte)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Jewish, Islamic, Catholic and Christian leaders, public officials and several dozen community members gathered in front of First Central Baptist Church in Stapleton on Wednesday to call for peace and tolerance after two churches in that community were fire-bombed last week.

"We condemn any act of violence and terrorism," said Rev. Dr. Demetrius Carolina, the pastor of First Central Baptist, which was fire-bombed Thursday. "When good people say nothing evil thrives. When good people come together and speak up we tend to take away those forces that tend to destroy and divide us."

District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, among those at the prayer service, said "we must act as one people, one nation, and one community."

Deacon Paul Kosinski read a message prepared by Rev. John O' Hara, auxiliary bishop of New York and episcopal vicar of Staten Island, which described Staten Island as "an extraordinary community rich in ethnic, cultural and religious diversity."

"The love and goodness of the Island family rejects violence, bigotry and intolerance in all its ugliness," O'Hara's message continued.

Each statement was spaced out with a prayer.

Imam Zulqarnain Abdu-Shahid joined the prayers saying "your God is our God, there is no other. God please stop this violence with all of this ignorance that is going around."

During the service, Rev. Carolina thanked the NYPD for the job they did when St. Paul's Memorial Episcopal Church and First Central Baptist Church were fire-bombed, describing their job as "tremendous."

"I am looking forward to continuing partnership in bridge building across Staten Island," Rev. Carolina told the Advance.

Police continue to search for suspects in the church fire-bombings and have made no arrests at this time.
New study finds evidence for a 'fast' dinosaur extinction

Posted on 15 June 2016 by howardlee

Boring is beautiful when youre studying a calamity, especially one as spectacular as the mass extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs. Thats because exciting sediments, full of variations and gaps, make it hard to disentangle the extinction signal from the noise of natural variability.

So you could say that James Witts, of the University of Leeds in the UK, lucked-out with an especially boring batch of sediments in Seymour Island on the Antarctic Peninsula (the part on the map that points up to South America). His study, recently published in the journal Nature Communications, catches the extinction of marine life in one of the most detailed records ever published for the end-Cretaceous. As Witts describes it:



The sedimentology is consistently, remarkably boring. More than 1,000 meters of sandy silt and silty sand!

James Witts describes his new study

It took about 4 million years to deposit that sand in a sea bed over the crucial time before, during, and after the mass extinction. In all that time fossils accumulated steadily  mollusks, sharks, corals, crustaceans, marine reptiles  until suddenly they all stopped. The sediments continued steadily accumulating, but all the Cretaceous fossils disappeared within a few meters of each other. Rare fossils disappeared sooner, common fossils disappeared later, but theres a fossil-free gap right below the layer that marks the end of the Cretaceous.

It doesnt look like the environmental setting over the extinction itself changed significantly, so we can discount any rapid changes in water depth having an effect on the pattern of extinction we see from the fossil record.

Then there is a layer of dead fish.

Antarctic marine life in the late Cretaceous, including the paperclip-shaped ammonite Diplomoceras. Illustration: James McKay

The remarkable thing about these fish is that they are mostly whole and un-scavenged, either because the usual scavengers were extinct, or because of low oxygen conditions triggered by microbe blooms in an ocean whose food web was unbalanced by the extinction:

The anoxia story was a surprise to us. In such a shallow setting it appears unusual. I imagine a scenario like parts of the Gulf of Mexico today, with input of material from rivers driving changes in ocean oxygen on a rapid (maybe seasonal?) scale.

A final fossil find is very unlikely to be the last individual of that species that ever lived on Earth, so its likely that a species lived on for some time after its last fossil was preserved. Witts used statistics on how frequently fossils of a given species show up in the sediments, to predict the likely gap between fossils if the species was still alive. He found that, in all likelihood, all the last Cretaceous species continued to live until within about 30,000 to 70,000 years of the end of the Cretaceous, and plausibly even less than that. This shows that the mass extinction was geologically fast, rather than a drawn-out attrition of species over hundreds of thousands of years.

Ultimately, one of the problems with studies on the end-Cretaceous extinction is that we are pushing the limits of the resolution of many fossil records, as well as the proxies for environmental change.

Recent rock dating has put the Chicxulub asteroid impact at the same time as massive eruptions in India, and shows that the main eruptions were alsogeologically rapid. So even though Witts study used a combination of magnetic field reversals, strontium isotope values, and fossil population changes to tie down the dates for his sediments, each of those has an uncertainty too big for a precise match to either the impact or the eruptions.

Also, the iridium measurements at Seymour Island used to mark the time of the asteroid impact date back to 1994, and come from a different location than Witts study, which may add further date uncertainty.

But dates aside, Witts catalogue of over 6,000 fossils shows no hint of increasing environmental stress before the extinction, despite an episode of climate warming that lasted over a million years, before cooling at the end of the Cretaceous. This is in contrast to studies elsewhere, which found signs of adeteriorating environment for a few hundred thousand years before the extinction; in Antarctica, life seems to have been boringly oblivious until the end.

In the ongoing debate over the ultimate killer of Cretaceous life, these findings support a geologically rapid cause (anything from tens of millennia to instant), rather than slowly building environmental stress:

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EMMEN, SWITZERLAND--(Marketwired - Jun 15, 2016) - ALSO and Logicom have agreed on a strategic partnership to bring a wide range of local and global cloud-based software services to customers in Southern Europe and the Middle East starting in July 2016. Both companies join forces to make the ALSO Cloud Marketplace platform available to over 10,000 Logicom partners in 13 countries, with a potential of 350,000 new seats on the platform: Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Italy, Romania as well as Saudi-Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Qatar. This provides ALSO with the opportunity to offer services from its catalogue to Logicom's customers. Right from the start, well-known international cloud service providers and local ISVs will use the platform to provide a broad range of services.

"This cooperation is an important milestone for ALSO as we pursue promising business opportunities in exciting new regions of the world together with our partners. We already serve 15 markets mainly in Central as well as Northern and Eastern Europe on our own and we are constantly expanding our business," said Gustavo Moller-Hergt, CEO of ALSO Holding AG (ALSN.SW).

"Logicom is ramping up its cloud solutions offerings for serving its existing as well as new partners including ISVs, hosters and service providers. Our strategic partnership with ALSO provides us with an advanced cloud solutions environment that will cater for state-of-the art customer experience. Together with ALSO we are going to bring great value to our customers for their cloud journeys," said Varnavas Irinarchos, CEO of Logicom Public Ltd.

Direct link to the press release is http://www.also.com/goto/20160615en

ALSO Holding AG (Emmen/Switzerland) brings providers and buyers of the ICT industry together. The company offers services at all levels of the ICT value chain from a single source. In the European B2B marketplace, ALSO bundles logistics services, financial services, supply services, solution services, digital services, and IT services together into individual service packages. ALSO's portfolio contains more than 160 000 articles from some 350 vendors. The Group has around 3 600 employees throughout Europe. In fiscal year 2015 (closing on December 31), the company generated net sales of 7.8 billion euros. The majority shareholder of ALSO Holding AG is the Droege Group, Dusseldorf, Germany. Further information is available at www.also.com.

Story continues

Logicom Public Ltd. (Nicosia/Cyprus) is an international group of companies, listed on the Main Market of the Cyprus Stock Exchange and a member of the FTSE/CySE20 index. The Group's activities include the distribution of technology products and services, the provision of Integrated IT Networking, Telecom and Business Software solutions, and the execution of large infrastructure projects. Logicom has a physical presence in more than 16 countries, employs over 750 professionals, and services more than 10,000 customers in 30 countries in Europe, Middle East, Gulf, North Africa, and Asia. Further information is available at www.logicom.net.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current assumptions and forecasts of the ALSO management. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the forward-looking statements made here and the actual development, in particular the results, financial situation, and performance of our Group. The Group accepts no responsibility for updating these forward-looking statements or adapting them to future events or developments.
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Keeping with its efforts to transform itself in a contemporary burger company, McDonald's Corp. MCD has decided to relocate its headquarters to downtown Chicago by the spring of 2018. Notably, the company is currently based in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook, IL.



Details



Notably, the company has signed a lease at 1045 W. Randolph St in Chicago's West Loop, with plans to alter the space into a modern site that will promote group effort and connectivity.



Apart from the home office, the new headquarters will also house McDonalds training center, Hamburger University.

Interestingly, this marks the companys homecoming to Chicago as McDonalds was previously headquartered there from 1955 to 1971.

Rationale Behind



Of late, there has been a trend among several high-status U.S. corporations of moving out from their expansive suburban headquarters into urban centers in a bid to appeal to the younger, metropolitan workforce. In Jan 2016, General Electric Company GE announced its plan to shift its headquarters from Fairfield, CT, to Boston.



In recent years, Chicago has become an attractive hub for businesses. Notably, ConAgra Foods, Inc. CAG and Motorola Solutions, Inc. MSI are two of the many companies who have lately revealed plans of moving operations to the city.



Thus, with its latest move of relocating headquarters, McDonalds CEO Steve Easterbrook is aiming to draw in new and younger professionals.



We note that last May, Steve Easterbrook announced a turnaround plan related to restructuring of the companys worldwide operations and certain other financial updates.

Thus, since the announcement of this plan, the company has been engaged in a series of buyouts and layoffs in order to streamline operations and increase efficiency. The company has thus invigorated sales and profits by trimming costs, simplifying menus, offering value meals and rolling out all-day breakfast in the U.S.



At a time when the company is focusing on overhauling its operational structure, the shift of headquarters to an urban locale should bode well.



McDonald's currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



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A man brandishing a machete who randomly hacked at cars and struck at the throat and face of two strangers in a violent late-night rampage in Canberra's north has been sentenced to three years behind bars.

Imran Hakimi, 32, yelled and made threats as he attacked cars with the machete and a paring knife during the 40 minute ordeal that began at the corner of Cameron Avenue and Chandler Street in Belconnen before midnight on November 13 last year.

The machete used by Imran Hakimi during the rampage.

Hakimi ran towards the front passenger side of one woman's vehicle and hit at the window and door frame with the machete, court documents said.

He then opened the door and held the knife against the woman's throat, causing a shallow cut to her throat which drew blood.
Virgin Australia will raise $852 million and slash costs as part of a new plan to cut its debt load and improve earnings. Its shares fell 12 per cent in early trading as the market digested the deeply discounted rights issue .

The equity raising will be supported by shareholders Singapore Airlines, Nanshan Group, HNA and Richard Branson's Virgin Group, although shareholder Etihad Airways has yet to commit to taking up its rights under the offer, Virgin said on Wednesday.

On the earnings front, there are reports scheduled today from AGL Energy, AMP, Aventus Retail Property Fund, Orora and Virgin Australia. Credit:Edwina Pickles

Chief executive John Borghetti said Etihad was "still going through their internal processes and we haven't received the outcome of their processes as yet.

"Obviously they need to talk to their board," he told reporters. "They are evaluating it and going through their normal processes.
The board of GoCatch, the taxi booking app backed by James Packer, Alex "Son of Malcolm" Turnbull, and Seek co-founder Paul Bassat, is taking this whole "picking up and dropping off" thing very seriously.

Just months after picking up four board members, GoCatch co-founder Ned Moorfield has dropped himself off as chief executive.

He has also left the board, and is now exploring new opportunities in the US.

It was a "collective decision" by the GoCatch board, he told a local start-up site.
James Packer's global casino family is not getting along and he wants a divorce, Las Vegas style.

Like dysfunctional children, his various gambling assets around the globe are tripping each other up and he is bowing to the sharemarket's verdict in the hope it will revive his fortunes.

Last year's plan to privatise the whole operation was a bust so the plan now is to split the safe but underperforming Aussie casinos from the spectacular but volatile Macau market - along with Crown's other high growth international bets - including Las Vegas.

"We believe that Crown Resorts' extremely high quality Australian resorts are not being fully valued and the Crown Resorts share price has been highly correlated to the performance of its investment in Macau," said Packer's man in the Crown chair, Rob Rankin.
Television host Larry Emdur thought selling his car on consignment would take around four to six weeks.

Instead, it took around 48 hours. But it took four weeks before he learned about the sale.

The TV personality listed his white Audi TT for sale in May, with premium car dealer Gasoline Machine Pty Ltd, one of two companies trading as Gasoline Motor Co.

"At the start, they said the usual turnaround time was four to six weeks, so I didn't even worry about it the first four weeks," Emdur said.
A push by the founder and former boss of InterOil to take board control of the company has failed, with the outcome also pointing to the prospect that the Oil Search $US2 billion bid to buy the company may succeed.

Phil Mulacek, the former boss of InterOil, put forward a slate of board nominees at the company's shareholder meeting on Tuesday night, to be voted in, but all of his nominees failed.

Oil Search CEO Peter Botten is seeking to win over InterOil investors. Credit:Louie Douvis

"Each InterOil director nominee received at least 72 per cent of the votes submitted at the meeting or by proxy," InterOil said in a statement.

Additionally, as much as 70 per cent of the capital was represented at the meeting, it said.
Three decades after Greenland exited what is now the European Union, some of its politicians and business leaders say the vast Arctic territory should consider rejoining.

The move could entice investment in Greenland's economy that has been too slow to diversify away from fish, they say.

Britain's vote on June 23 whether to stay in or quit the EU has revived debate about the future of Greenland. Credit:Andrew Testa/The New York Times

Britain's referendum on June 23 about whether to stay in or quit the EU has revived debate about the future of Greenland, which in 1985 became the only member so far to leave after a 53-47 per cent referendum vote.

A collapse in global commodity prices has put on hold Greenland's hopes of enticing billions of dollars of foreign investment from China and other nations to bolster its economy with projects such as in gold, rare earths, iron ore and oil.
Thursday marks International Domestic Workers' Day. If it surprises you to hear that such a day exists or if you're wondering why it is even required, there's your reason. Domestic workers are an invisible part of our informal economy and because they enable other household members to participate in the mainstream workforce, their work is rarely recognised for its contribution to the global economy.

According to the International Labour Organization there are around 53 million domestic workers worldwide, of whom 83 per cent are women and nearly one fifth are international migrants. It is almost impossible to estimate how many are in Australia as there is no clear definition of domestic work in the jobs classification list, they are not captured in employment statistics, and a range of unmonitored visas are often used to bring in people for the purpose of live-in domestic work.

According to the International Labour Organization there are around 53 million domestic workers worldwide. Credit:Andrew Lee

What we do know is that because of the extreme power imbalance within the employment relationship and isolated working conditions not subject to standard labour inspection, domestic workers are among the most marginalised and exploited workers in the world today. This is particularly true for those working for diplomatic and foreign officials.

In fact, the Salvation Army's Freedom Partnership to end modern slavery has assisted 25 workers exploited and abused in embassies in Canberra. Yes, it's happening right here, and there is little being done about it.
AUSTRALIANS IN THE US ACADEMY

After living in New York for 25 years, Peter Carey has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters  "the highest formal recognition of artistic merit in the United States". Only 250 living artists are members at any time and Carey, who has dual-citizenship, is the second Australian-born writer to join after Shirley Hazzard, who has noted that she and her late husband, Francis Steegmuller, were the only married couple among the membership. Carey, who is known for his teaching at Hunter College as well as his writing, was inducted in May with 11 others including photographer Robert Frank, poet Billy Collins and The New Yorker editor and writer, David Remnick. British writer Julian Barnes is one of two new honorary foreign members. Carey told Undercover he "had a foreigner's pleasure in being accepted...I live with the daily social knowledge that these writers are my peers, but I have an equal and opposite sense that I belong to an alien race whose passions and experience are, of course, not American". He said he had conflicting emotions because a member had to die to make a seat available. "In my imagination I think that it was [poet] Phil Levine who gave me his place. I had enjoyed his company since I arrived in New York in 1990." But the only practical difference this made to his life was "they give you a little buttonhole medal, the same size and shape of the Order of Australia. Now you can have dual nationality, but you can't have dual buttonholes, so this New York contest the AO wins for being the rarer and cooler of the two". Other writers in the academy include Edward Albee, Paul Auster, Joan Didion, Don DeLillo, Rita Dove, Dave Eggers, Richard Ford, Jonathan Franzen, Janet Malcolm, Lorrie Moore, Tony Morrison, Philip Roth and Marilyn Robinson.

Australian author Peter Carey has been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Credit:Steven Siewert

OWN A LEIGH HOBBS ORIGINAL

Artist, author and children's laureate for 2016-17 Leigh Hobbs has a new range of original artworks, limited edition prints and hand-coloured etchings for sale at booksillustrated.com.au. Among his many award-winning picture books, Mr Chicken Goes to Paris was shortlisted for the 2010 Prime Minister's Literary Awards in 2010, adapted for the stage by NIDA, and is popular in the Louvre bookshop in Paris. Children (and adults) love his characters such as Mr Chicken, Old Tom, Horrible Harriet and Fiona the Pig, and these would make beautiful presents.
Finding Dory also extends the interest in psychology which came to the fore in Pixar's ambitious if laboured Inside Out. Dory is not the first cartoon character to suffer from a mental illness, but her issues with short-term memory loss are handled with rather more sensitivity than the Warner Brothers animators brought to whatever was ailing Daffy Duck. In a preachy but well-meaning manner, it's suggested that her scatterbrained nature is bound up with her capacity for creative problem-solving  in other words, that being different isn't all bad.

Of all the features produced by the Pixar studio, Finding Nemo was the most visually entrancing, setting glistening fish and coral against a calming blue-green backdrop that made you want to dive right in. In this sequel director Andrew Stanton and his team recreate the formula, taking advantage of a decade's worth of technical progress in digital animation and mildly revamping the plot. This is the third Pixar film  of a total of 17  to centre on a female protagonist: the absent-minded blue tang fish Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), introduced as a sidekick in Nemo, now gets to embark on a quest of her own.

As usual with Pixar, the "hero's journey" is both emotional and physical. With her friends Marlin (Albert Brooks) and Nemo (Hayden Rolence), Dory sets out to find her long-forgotten parents (Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton), travelling across the ocean from the Great Barrier Reef to the fictional Marine Life Institute in Monterey, California. Once they arrive, of course, not everything goes smoothly  and so we follow them as they leap, soar or flounder from one section of the institute to another, losing track of each other and reuniting again.

Finding Dory ... Pixar's sequel to Finding Nemo is swimming to box-office gold. Credit:Pixar

Design-wise, the film blends authenticity and imagination, borrowing from actual marine life with a cartoonist's freedom. The big scene-stealer is Hank the octopus, or "septopus" as Dory dubs him on noticing his missing leg: a cranky cuss voiced by Ed O'Neill, with heavy brows and suspicious googly eyes. He's a master of disguise, able to merge into the background like a chameleon  and when he scuttles down a corridor, it's like watching the hands of a virtuoso pianist moving along the keys.

As in Finding Nemo, the voice cast is excellent: DeGeneres in any medium is almost impossible not to like, and Brooks as Marlin  the kind of testy dad who expresses his devotion mostly by worrying  is as wonderful as he was the first time round. Yet the combination of "realistic" characterisation and cartoon fantasy yields some odd results. Physically, Dory is unambiguously an adult: she knows about sex, for instance, as the filmmakers take pains to inform us in an awkward gag aimed over the heads of younger viewers. At the same time, she retains a vulnerable, wide-eyed innocence, making it hard to tell how she and the other main characters fit together as a family unit. Is she a potential romantic partner for Marlin, or something closer to Nemo's big sister?

Perhaps it doesn't matter, given that the entire film unfolds basically in a safe child's world. The reality that big fish eat little fish is joked about but never faced head on, and even a whale shark named Destiny (Kaitlin Olson) is revealed as a long-lost friend. The Marine Life Institute proves a benign haven, both a theme park and a hospital where injured critters are repaired and returned to the wild  and while the imagery may well lead children to discover the wonders of the real-life ocean, the filmmakers steer clear of the emphasis on looming environmental destruction found in George Miller's much tougher Happy Feet.
Ivan Sen's Goldstone, which takes Indigenous detective Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen) into the outback on a missing persons case, was a deeply felt four-star drama, though maybe too conventionally told to fit the competition's criteria.

It stars Dev Patel, Rooney Mara and Nicole Kidman, who is now shooting the TV series Top of the Lake 2 in Sydney.

The front runner has to be Martin Zandvliet's Land of Mine, a wonderfully tense and compassionate four-and-a-half-star drama about German prisoners of war being forced to clear land mines from a Danish beach after five years of Nazi occupation at the end of World War II.

It turns on an impressive performance by Roland Moller as a harsh Danish sergeant who is assigned a team of mostly German teenagers for a supremely dangerous job. Captors feeling compassion for their wartime prisoners is a theme that goes at least as far back as the classic The Grand Illusion in the 1930s but Land of Mine feels like a fresh WWII story.

While it divided viewers - frequently along gender lines - Kleber Mendonca Filho's Brazilian drama Aquarius, about a retired music critic who is battling to keep her beloved apartment from a property developer, had many passionate fans. And with an audacious approach to its theme - the struggle against the indignities of ageing - it could come into calculations as well.

With one of three interconnected stories in Kelly Reichardt's quietly moving drama Uncertain Women much stronger than the other two, it was still a more effective film than Xavier Dolan's intense drama It's Only the End of the World, about a playwright returning home to tell his family he is dying, and Ivo M. Ferreira's Letters from War, an evocative but meandering drama about acclaimed author Antonio Lobo Antunes' missives to his beloved from the Angolan frontlines in the 1970s.

Fellowship winners named
Residents across an arc of eastern Australia stretching from Queensland to Tasmania should be on watch for more potentially severe weather this weekend as another winter storm looms, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Meteorological models are picking up the prospect of another east coast low forming off eastern Australia. However, forecasters say it is too early to tell where the impact from strong winds and heavy rain will be centred.

"There is still uncertainty about the timing and extent of the impacts, but we have increasing confidence in a widespread rainfall event developing over southern and eastern Queensland, and inland northern New South Wales," Andrew Tupper, director of the bureau's National Operations Centre, said in a statement.
Boats from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group and from the 'In' campaign join a flotilla along the Thames. Credit:Getty Images What a sight on the Thames. Pop star Bob Geldof and UKIP's Nigel Farage floated rival flotillas down the river, Geldof promoting IN and Farage of course promoting OUT. Pop star Bob Geldof joins the 'In' campaign on a very strange day in British politics. Credit:Getty Images Britain is only a week away from voting on whether or not to leave the European Union and the tension is showing. The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and his Labour predecessor Alistair Darling joined forces and campaigned in Ashford, Kent to warn of government spending cuts and an emergency austerity budget which could include higher income taxes. 57 Tory MPs promptly warned Mr Osborne, once considered David Cameron's natural successor, that his own position would become untenable and his emergency budget would likely be rejected.

Oscar Pistorius will be sentenced for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on July 6. This week his sentencing hearing has been taking place. During the proceedings on Wednesday he walked without his prosthetic legs to show how vulnerable he says he felt, when he feared an intruder was in his house. Oscar Pistorius walks across the courtroom without his prosthetic legs during the third day of his hearing. Credit:Getty Images A judge on the case has also ruled that pictures of Steenkamp's fatal injuries may be made public, following her father's tearful testimonial yesterday that he wanted the "world to see" what guns could do to a victim. 5. Russia warns France
Growing disruption to traditional forms of employment including the rise of portfolio careers means Australia should adopt a universal unemployment insurance scheme, a new report says.

Income support for the unemployed is so low it can be economically counterproductive and must be supplemented, a study commissioned by employment services peak body, Jobs Australia, has found.

"We have insured against old age, illness, workplace injury, and disability," the report says.

"It is logical that we now similarly insure against the periods of unemployment or intervals between particular paid jobs, and for the periods of reskilling, which will increasingly be part of our future economic disruption."
Liberal Party federal director Tony Nutt says the party will assist with any investigation into the controversial Liberal-owned software company, Parakeelia.

Following days of questions and Labor and Greens demands for a probe into the flow of money from the company to the party's coffers, the Liberal Party defended the arrangement on Wednesday night.

In a statement, Mr Nutt said Parakeelia had existed for many years and is "run on a professional basis, independently audited and complies with the law".
But Australian National University marketing expert Dr Andrew Hughes said it could be very hard to enforce any ruling on these kind of rogue campaign tactics and most authoritative bodies were loath to try.

"Are there laws for it? Supposedly yes but no one's ever done anything about it up until now because it's very, very hard to enforce," Dr Hughes said.

"The Australian Electoral Commission only really acts if you're telling people how to vote incorrectly. They're not going to do anything about it so no one's going to come after you really."

And because the hoaxers aren't telling people who to vote for, only who not to vote for, Dr Hughes said it's even more difficult to determine who's behind it.

"People will have their conspiracy theories. You could say it was done by Labor, or it was done by the Coalition to get people talking about Malcolm Turnbull. It could be someone in the campaign who's disgruntled and just wants to take their vengeance out on whoever it happens to be or it could be someone outside the major parties altogether."
For an hour or so he was just Mr Lucy Turnbull.

For once the spotlight was not trained on the Prime Minister but on his fierce and accomplished wife, as she was honoured for her work strengthening Australia's relationship with Germany.

Mr Turnbull raced back from the campaign trail in Perth to attend the event at the Art Gallery of NSW, where Ms Turnbull was awarded the Verdienstrkeuz am Bande  the German Cross of the Order of Merit.
A logo of Twitter is pictured next to the logo of Facebook in this September 23, 2014 illustration photo in Sarajevo. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

By Magdalena Mis

LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Social media has emerged as a leading source of news among online users who increasingly access it on their smartphones, a thinktank said on Wednesday, warning that the embrace of free news was becoming a challenge for publishers of quality news.

More than half of online users get their news from Facebook and other social media platforms, refusing to pay for news and using ad-blocking, which hurts publishers' revenue, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) said.

But although free news distributed through social platforms creates an opportunity to reach more readers, it also makes it more difficult for publishers to get recognized and connect with their audience, the RISJ said in its annual Digital News Report.

"These things are happening because of us," Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, Reuters Institute director of research, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a phone interview.

"We prefer news in the digital form because it's convenient but you get what you pay for. It takes money to do professional journalism."

Facebook is playing an increasingly significant role in the distribution of online news, with 44 percent of people using it as their source of news, followed by 19 percent of people using YouTube and 10 percent using Twitter, the report said.

Nielsen said that in developing countries, where access to independent and reliable news was limited, there were even more people who relied on social media for news.

"Many people in Asian and African countries are using mobile phones to get their online news and in those regions social media is even more important as source of news," he said.

Thirty-six percent of people preferred news to be selected for them by algorithms compared with 30 percent who relied on editors or journalists, although some feared missing key information or challenging viewpoints, the report said.

For the first time social media has overtaken television as the main source of news for 18 to 24-year-olds, with 28 percent of them citing social media as their main source of news compared with 24 percent who said they watched news on television.

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More than half of the respondents said they were using smartphones to access news, with highest levels in Sweden (69 percent), Korea (66 percent) and Switzerland (61 percent), the study said.

In Britain and the United States the use of smartphones to access the news has for the first time overtaken computers and laptops.

The survey was carried out online in 26 countries in Europe, Asia, North America and South America.

(Reporting by Magdalena Mis; Editing by Katie Nguyen; Please credit Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, womens rights, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org)
Both Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten have responded well to the Orlando massacre, yet inevitably there are right-wing commentators obsessing over how many times the leaders use the word "Islam", counting it up like they're playing bingo.

"PM does an Obama over Orlando", one headline barked this week. Doing an Obama means not thumping the word association game to the satisfaction of conservatives. The lead attacker on Obama's rhetorical restraint, remember, is Donald Trump.

All we need to know, these commentators say, is that Omar Mateen called emergency services and pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State at the height of his frenzied assault at the gay nightclub where he killed 49 people. But the FBI has also revealed that he has previously expressed support for both al-Qaeda and the Shiite group Hezbollah, both of which are at war with Islamic State.
Domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty has blasted the Family Court of Australia, accusing the system of often failing to recognise the impact of abuse.

Ms Batty called for a new domestic violence test in custody cases to determine whether it's safe for children to spend time with either parent.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, Ms Batty said all judges and magistrates involved in Family Court matters should undergo compulsory training in domestic violence to help them understand its impact.
Federal Labor would pump millions of dollars into the National Library of Australia to ensure the award-winning Trove website could continue to archive material.

The website, which stores more than 473 million records and is essential for research, has stopped aggregating content amid cuts caused by the federal government's efficiency dividend.

Federal Labor would pump millions of dollars into the National Library of Australia if elected. Credit:Katherine Griffiths

The dividend is tipped to strip $5.9 million from The National Library by 2019 in addition to a $1.5 million loss in the mid-year update. Budget papers reveal the library will lose 29 jobs by June 2017.

Labor arts spokesman Mark Dreyfus told Fairfax Media he would invest $3 million each year for four years if elected to secure the future of Trove.
A driver has escaped injury after a spectacular crash which left his bus wedged on top of a car in Sydney's west on Wednesday afternoon.

The man, in his 50s, had just left a nearby depot on Boundary Road in Northmead when his bus hit a parked car, smashing the back of it and pushing it into several other parked cars.

It appears the bus then veered onto the wrong side of the road, smashing into a parked four-wheel drive with such force that it was knocked over and the bus became stuck on top of it.

Five cars were damaged in the crash at 2.40pm, just before the school pick-up run.
Father and son bush fugitives Gino and Mark Stocco, who evaded police for eight years, have pleaded guilty to a raft of charges, including murder.

The pair had been on the run before police caught up with them on a rural property north-east of Dubbo in central western NSW last October.

Police surrounded the property and arrested the Stoccos in dramatic scenes before finding the decomposing body of the property caretaker, Rosario Cimone, 68.
Rogerson showed no emotion and put his left hand on a piece of paper he appeared to be reading. Roger Rogerson during Supreme Court hearings over the death of Jamie Gao. Credit:James Alcock However, as Justice Geoffrey Bellew formally read the convictions, McNamara stood blinking. Rogerson bowed his head and kept two clenched fists on the bench in front of him. Former detective and true-crime author Glen McNamara. Credit:James Alcock

McNamara's daughter Jessica turned up at the NSW Supreme Court after the jury had returned its verdict. Blamed each other Although Rogerson and McNamara killed together, by no means did they stick to the same story. Victim: Jamie Gao. Credit:Facebook They blamed each other for Mr Gao's death.

But the jury members did not need to determine who pulled the trigger as long as they were satisfied the pair acted as part of a joint criminal enterprise. Anne Melocco, Roger Rogerson's wife, leaves the Supreme Court during the trial. Credit:Ben Rushton Shortly after Mr Gao was murdered at Rent-A-Space in the south-western Sydney suburb of Padstow, his body was stuffed into a silver Ocean & Earth McNamara's Quintrex boat was then used to dump Mr Gao's body at sea. Six days later, a fisherman spotted the body floating 2.5 kilometres from the shore off Shelly Beach in Cronulla.

After they were arrested, the pair were forced to tailor their stories around the CCTV footage on which they had been caught. What they could not deny was that, at 1.46pm on May 20, security footage captured Mr Gao getting out of a white Ford station wagon and slipping into the storage shed with McNamara. A little more than three minutes later, Rogerson was seen hobbling towards the unit. Rogerson's fictitious account was that he opened the door to a "nightmare". "Well [McNamara] was as white as a ghost, he was shaking uncontrollably and sweating like a pig," he told the jury, gripping the witness stand with both hands.

"Then I looked down and I saw an Asian man lying on the floor with his head to my right  and he was dead." On Rogerson's version, McNamara told him there had been a struggle, and that Mr Gao had shot himself twice in the chest. "I said to him, 'Glen the only thing we'll be doing here is calling the cops,' " Rogerson's version went. He said McNamara explained that the two of them would be killed by Chinese Triad members with whom Mr Gao associated, unless they left the area quickly. McNamara painted a very different story.

He said he was in the shed for three minutes with Mr Gao by himself but could not explain why, or what they spoke about. The next thing he remembered was Rogerson opening the shed door and demanding Mr Gao hand over the "gear". Mr Gao pulled out a combat-style knife and simultaneously Rogerson produced a gun from the right pocket of his pants. "[The bullet] knocked him back in the chair and he dropped the knife," McNamara claimed. "[Rogerson] held aim and shot him again. Gao stopped moving, there was no noise  he just killed him."

He said Rogerson then aimed the gun at McNamara's head and threatened to kill him and his daughters if he did not help to dispose of the body. Private investigator McNamara met Mr Gao through his work as a private investigator in early January 2014. The pair met at least 27 times and exchanged hundreds of texts in the lead-up to Mr Gao's death. McNamara maintained throughout the trial that he formed a relationship with Mr Gao only to research his next true crime book on Asian triads and drug supply in Sydney.

Rogerson repeatedly told the trial he had never met Mr Gao and only learnt of his name after his death. But the Crown argued that Mr Gao's death was part of a well thought-out plan. McNamara had taken his boat out the day before the murder and Rogerson visited the shed to remove some office chairs. In further preparation, the pair bought the station wagon with the number plates BV67PX on April 27, which was later used to transport Mr Gao's body. Both denied having anything to do with the car's acquisition but police found a receipt for the car in McNamara's Cronulla apartment with Rogerson's fingerprint on it.
Six men have been charged with murdering a 35-year-old man who was stabbed to death in a "vicious" street attack in Sydney's south-west last year.

Tu Luong, of Cabramatta, was found fading in and out of consciousness on Belmore Street in Fairfield East on Sunday afternoon, December 6.

He tried to speak as he lay bleeding, one witness said, but died of his injuries in Liverpool Hospital about two hours after he was found.
The first trial of Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara was aborted in July last year after McNamara's then-barrister Charles Waterstreet made a reference to Rogerson "killing two or three people when he was in the police force".

Justice Geoffrey Bellew said he had no alternative but to discharge the jury just two days into the trial because of the potential prejudice caused.

The empanelling of a new jury was then delayed after Justice Bellew was informed of social media posts allegedly posted by Mr Waterstreet.
Mr Dick detailed the figures from 2005 - when eight terminations resulted in "live birth outcomes", to 2015, when the number reached 27.

"And will the Minister confirm whether these viable babies are provided pain relief or any other form of palliative care?"

With the Queensland Parliament being asked to decide on decriminalising abortion, following independent MP Rob Pyne's private member's bill , conservative MP Mark Robinson asked Health Minister Cameron Dick to detail "how many babies aged 20 weeks or more were born alive after a termination procedure".

The number of babies surviving late term abortions in Queensland has increased over the past decade, but the procedure is only carried out if the mother's life is in danger.

Mr Dick said he was advised that "these numbers represent less than 0.05 per cent of the total number of live births each year...and I am further advised that this percentage has remained relatively stable over time".

"Within Queensland, it is unlawful to administer a drug or to perform a surgical or other medical procedure intending to terminate a pregnancy unless such conduct is authorised, excused or justified by the law," Mr Dick responded.

"Section 282 of the Criminal Code provides a defence when the abortion was performed for the 'preservation of the mother's life'. This has been interpreted by the courts as applying where the termination is necessary to preserve a woman from serious danger to her life, physical health or mental health, which the continuation of her pregnancy would entail, and in the circumstances, the termination is not out of proportion to the danger to be averted.

"There are almost always severe circumstances leading to a small number of women who choose to terminate a pregnancy after 20 weeks gestation. The number of termination procedures where babies are born with signs of life at this stage is a very small proportion of the total live births each year in Queensland."

Mr Dick said Queensland followed Queensland Maternity and Neonatal Clinical: Therapeutic termination of pregnancy guidelines.
The maker of a popular brand of baby slings and carriers has collapsed into voluntarily administration under the weight of mounting debts.

Hug-a-Bub makes baby carriers, wraps and slings from organic materials, which it says bring out the best in babies and parents through physical closeness and increased mobility.

Hug-a-Bub owner Suzanne Shahar with a model of the popular baby sling.

The Byron Bay company, founded 15 years ago by childbirth educator Suzanne Shahar and designer Tania Palmer, has developed a cult following among some parents and is distributed through over a hundred stores across Australia.

But customers' accolades have not saved Hug-a-Bub from its debts, and the company called in administrators on Monday after becoming insolvent.
A molecule spotted in deep space by NSW's Parkes telescope may explain the origins of life on earth, and make it even more likely that alien life exists, say scientists.

The new finding could explain homochirality, or why all molecules are either lefties or righties but not both.

This phenomenon is one of the "deepest mysteries of life on earth", explained the journal Science, which published the new research on Wednesday.

For example, the amino acids that form proteins in our body are left handed.
The High Court has rejected an appeal against the Bendigo mosque, giving final approval to the project.

All legal avenues have now been exhausted, the Bendigo Advertiser reports

The mosque has already passed the City of Greater Bendigo, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Victoria Court of Appeal.

In their brief judgement on Wednesday morning, High Court judges Patrick Keane and Susan Kiefel found the appeal would be an exercise in futility.
The paedophile told authorities he 'couldn't cope' with life outside the Corella Place sex offender facility. Credit:Pat Scala Soon after, he offered a 15-year-old girl who lived with her mother in the same block of flats $10 an hour to clean his flat. The girl was soon attending the flat regularly, once visiting when the man and another convicted sex offender were present. Raechel Betts was murdered in 2009 by triple killer John Coombes. Over three months, from February to April 2013, the man gave the girl a key to his flat, touched her leg, tried to hug her and touch her hair and encouraged her to come over to play Xbox.

He was jailed for eight months in November 2014 for 13 charges of breaching his supervision order. Sandra Betts is suing the State of Victoria after her daughter was murdered by a parolee. Credit:Angela Wylie The girl's mother is suing the State of Victoria, claiming that the registered sex offender had not been properly monitored, despite being on a supervision order. The woman is also taking action against the accommodation provider for housing the offender in the same block of flats as herself and her daughter. Noelle Dickson, mother of Sarah Cafferkey, is taking part in the legal action against the state. Credit:Penny Stephens

The paedophile was jailed for four years in 2006 after a Scotland Yard tip-off led the Australian Federal Police to discover his involvement in a child-pornography ring. Under the code name "Dreaco", the man traded images of pre-pubescent children engaged in explicit sexual acts with a known paedophile in Britain. Sarah Cafferkey was murdered Bacchus Marsh in November 2012. He also admitted to having sex with two girls under 16. Shine Lawyers senior solicitor Paula Shelton, who is acting for the families, said the maximum amount that they could be paid for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, was about $525,000, if a breach under the Wrongs Act was proven.

This did not include separate costs, such as those incurred by being unable to work, which could also be significant. "Some of these people haven't got back to work at all," Ms Shelton said. The argument which underpins the claims is that the State, and other defendants, had a duty of care to the victims because of their unique knowledge of the offenders and their prospects of rehabilitation. They also had a responsibility to house them or monitor their lives in the community. While a person does not generally owe a duty of care to protect another individual from the criminal acts of a third party, Ms Shelton will argue on behalf of the families that as only the State had knowledge about these offenders, they breached a duty of care arising from a special category of relationship.

The duty of care is similar to that which can exist between a school and a student. The plaintiffs are taking action after a series of killings and rapes by violent offenders who had been given parole and then went on to commit horrific crimes. Helen Wicking, mother of murdered woman Joanne Wicking, is suing the state government and the Adult Parole Board after her daughter was stabbed to death by Sean Maraffko when he had been on parole for 18 days in 2010. Ms Wicking is also taking action against Telstra. In November 2011, Maraffko was jailed for 35 years for the murder.

The Supreme Court court heard that Joanne Wicking called triple-0 crying and screaming for help three times between 4.51pm and 4.57pm on the day she was murdered. Each time Maraffko informed the call-taker that it had been an accidental call. In her writ, Ms Wicking said Telstra and the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority were responsible for "responding to calls to police about the offender's behaviour". The other five victims are: Douglas Phillips: killed in 2009 by his parolee son Christopher Phillips, who had been jailed three times for bashing his father.

Evan Rudd: stabbed to death in a Moe car park by Richard Devries, who had 80 criminal convictions and was on parole over assaults he committed in jail while serving time for armed robbery.

Raechel Betts: strangled and dismembered in 2009 by John Leslie Coombes, who was on parole after two previous killings.

Sarah Cafferkey: killed in 2012 by Steven Hunter, who had already served jail time for murder. His parole for kidnapping and assault offences ended less than two weeks before he bashed and stabbed Ms Cafferkey.

Karen Harrison: violently raped at knifepoint by notorious offender Gary Collingwood, who had previously been imprisoned for multiple sex, violence and threat offences.

Corrections Minister Steve Herbert acknowledged the "tragic circumstances" for the seven families involved in the legal action. He said the parole system had been "comprehensively reformed" as part of a review by High Court Justice Ian Callinan in 2013. "One cannot begin to imagine their grief," he said in a statement. Premier Daniel Andrews said that what had happened to families was a "tragedy" but as the matter was before the courts he wouldn't comment any further. A Telstra spokesman said the death of Ms Wicking was a tragic situation, however they couldn't comment further due to the legal action.
"In light of the tragedy in Orlando, we must be vigilant to protect our safe spaces. As the Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality, I commit to continue working to create and protect safe spaces for LGBTI Victorians. Hatred of any kind, whether it be homophobia, biphobia or transphobia, is unacceptable and must be stamped out. My vision is for the whole of Victoria to be a safe space for our LGBTI communities.

"We are all hurting at this time. We stand in solidarity with our LGBTI brothers and sisters in Orlando and beyond. We are here for you, and here for each other."

Minister for Equality Martin Foley said: "Victoria stands with Orlando and the LGBTI community around the world. Love will always win over senseless, horrific hate."

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More than 200 people rallied in Melbourne on Monday to mourn the victims of the massacre.
In a statement, Premier Daniel Andrews said meeting the targets - 25 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025, up from 14 per cent today - would bring about $2.5 billion of clean energy investment into the state. A fifth of the promised new generation capacity in Victoria will be large-scale solar. Credit:Paul Rovere "The world is shifting to renewable energy. It creates jobs, drives growth and protects our environment, and Victorians want to be at the forefront," he said. The government estimates the policy will push up electricity bills $26-30 a year, averaged over the next two decades. The increase in bills is not expected to kick in until after 2020.

With Australia currently generating more electricity than it needs, in the short-term new wind farms will further increase competition and theoretically push prices down. But it means the yearly increase in bills next decade would be more than the average. The clean energy policy is the first explanation of how the government plans to meet its target of Victoria having no carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. That target, announced last week, would mean no more burning coal for power. The policy announced on Wednesday makes no mention of the future of the Latrobe Valley's four ageing brown coal plants, which deliver about 85 per cent of Victoria's electricity, emit half the state's greenhouse gas and employ thousands. It is widely assumed that at least one of the four - Hazelwood, sometimes described as Australia's "dirtiest" power plant - will not be operating into the next decade whatever the government does. Its majority French owner, ENGIE, recently said it was considering closing or selling the plant as it moves away from coal.

Opposition renewable energy spokesman David Southwick welcomed the investment in clean energy, but said the press release issued by the government had little substance and raised more questions than answers. Estimating it would cost households $65 million a year, he said the state needed to spell out the future for coal and the cost of moving to clean energy. "Signalling to the market that we need more renewable energy is fantastic, but something's got to give and coal is the obvious one," Mr Southwick said. "It's all very well to beat up on coal, but it's a key part of our energy mix at the moment. The government should be sitting down with the valley and working through a transition plan - we need timeframes, plans and to make sure it doesn't come at huge expense to households." The Victorian clean energy scheme is in part based on a model used in the ACT.

Companies bid at auctions for funding; the cheapest project wins. Victorians will be paying an extra cost on top of an existing incentive from the national renewable energy target to get stalled projects built. Most auctions will be "technology neutral", which means they will build wind farms  the cheapest clean electricity. Twenty per cent will be set aside for big solar plants only. In addition, an unspecified sum from the state budget will be dedicated to clean energy projects to power government operations. The government estimates the policy will cut Victoria's emissions from electricity by about 12 per cent by 2035.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Lily D'Ambrosio said it would also save the national renewable scheme. "Investors have lost faith in the national target, but we are restoring the confidence needed to invest," she said. The government said it would consult with the clean energy industry and consumer groups before holding the first auctions next year. A more detailed renewable energy action plan is promised later this year. Praise for jobs boost, concern over cost

Clean Energy Council chief Kane Thornton welcomed the announcement, saying it would particularly benefit regional areas. "The Victorian government has recognised the massive opportunity for renewable energy to transition the state," he said. But Australian Industry Group Victoria director Tim Piper said he was concerned the cost would hit existing businesses in Victoria while competitors in other states would not face the same increase. "The government must consider how it treats energy intensive industries," he said. Green group Friends of the Earth said the policy would make the state the national leader on renewable energy, providing a lifeline for manufacturing in Portland, Glen Waverley, Geelong and Melbourne's western suburbs.
Perth child psychiatrist Aaron Voon faces allegations he had more than 400 pictures and 12 videos on his computer, featuring young boys urinating in public toilets.

That is according to the 'statement of material facts' police prosecutors read aloud at Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where the 41-year-old was granted $50,000 bail and a similar amount in surety subject to a string of protective conditions.

Dr Aaron Voon was confronted by angry shoppers after an alleged incident in Canada.

The police prosecutor told the court Dr Voon had been a prominent child psychiatrist practising for more than 10 years, and for the past four years had been director of Cockburn Central's Successful Development and Therapy Centre.

He said police examinations of a computer and storage devices from Dr Voon's home office in Mt Pleasant revealed 409 pictures classified as Category 1 child exploitation images.
The manager of a Scarborough deli who slept on top of the shop to stop developers from tearing part of his business down, says workers have cut a sewerage pipe behind his store, which is causing waste to spew out everywhere.

Mal'z Deli manager Simon Mackenzie was holding the one-man protest because he claims he had a lease at the shop until late next year, which included a storeroom, coolroom, and rear wash area for his food business which were in the wrecking balls sights.

The Mal'z Deli in Scarborough. Credit:Facebook

Mr Mackenzie's rooftop vigil ended after four days when the State Administrative Tribunal resolved developer Psaros  who is planning to building high-rise apartments behind the deli  build him a coolroom at the back of the shop.

But Mr Mackenzie claims when the workers ripped up the house behind his deli, it cut a sewerage pipe.
Two new shark deterrent devices have hit the market in Perth with beachgoers still in shock from two recent fatal shark attacks.

Debate continues to rage in the community over the effectiveness of drum lines versus culling, while Premier Colin Barnett indicated last week the state government would look at recognition software, sonar, drones and real-time monitoring to help protect the public from shark attacks.

But new technology on offer to swimmers, surfers and divers have improved markedly in the past decade, with different versions of three types of repellents available - magnetic, eletrical and acoustic - while others look to change the colour of their wetsuit or surfboard to deter attacks.

One of the new products on the market, the Modom Shark Leash, uses a magnetic forcefield to deter sharks and has just landed at Vidlers surf shop in Cottesloe.
A 43-year-old man has admitted breaking into an 18-year-old woman's Perth home and raping her at knife point almost 20 years ago.

Darren Robert Atkinson pleaded guilty to a string of charges in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday including aggravated sexual penetration, deprivation of liberty and aggravated burglary.

He broke into the woman's Queens Park home wearing a balaclava in June 1997 and tied up the teenager before sexually assaulting her.

Atkinson also pleaded guilty to similar charges committed against a second woman in July 1999 in Tuart Hill.

He will face a sentencing hearing in the West Australian District Court on August 12.
Prohibited weapons and illicit drugs were seized after three properties were searched by the Gang Crime Squad and officers from the South West drug team on Tuesday.

Officers from the Gang Crime Squad in Perth joined local detectives to execute a warrant on theCoffin Cheaters motorcycle club headquarters in Zoe Street at about 8am.

The Bunbury Mail understands two other private residences were also searched and the raids came on the back of tip-offs from the public.

About 9.30am forensic police arrived at the clubhouse to join the search team.
A critical court ruling on Tuesday upheld long-contested rules that stop your internet provider from blocking or slowing sites  net neutrality, in fewer words.

The ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit upholding the Federal Communications Commissions net-neutrality rules is a weighty read, but for Big Telecom it boils down to eight words: You get nothing! You lose! Good day, sir!

This means the FCCs regulations stopping your internet provider and wireless carrier from blocking or slowing your access to a legal site, service, or app  or charging one for priority delivery  live on.

The argument over net neutrality does, too. But the odds of winning it got a lot worse for opponents of the FCCs regulations and the general idea of stopping your internet providers from tampering with your connection to the online world.

Your ISP can still charge more for faster downloads, impose data caps and maybe even exempt some services from those limits. But first it must give you the internet, the whole internet and nothing but the internet. And on the other end of the connection, some new online startup doesnt have to worry about being asked to pay extra to reach you.

Lowell McAdam, Verizon's chief executive officer (CEO), speaks at the closing first day keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas January 8, 2013. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

How we got here

The conclusion of the 115-page ruling by Judges David S. Tatel and Sri Srinivasan in United States Telecom Association, et al., v. Federal Communications Commission shouldnt have surprised anybody who read the same courts January 2014 opinion that rejected earlier, weaker net-neutrality rules.



In that case brought by Verizon (VZ), the court essentially said that if the commission wanted to regulate internet providers as common carriers  a legal status thats long governed telephone utilities but also railroads and taxis  it had to label them accordingly.

Which, in turn, would require the FCC to hit the Undo button on decisions a decade earlier to classify broadband providers as information services, not the simpler definition of telecommunications services that happens to match the usual understanding of what ISPs do  connect you to the internet.

Story continues

After a prolonged public outcry over the possibility of the FCC caving  remember comedian John Oliver comparing FCC chair Tom Wheeler to a dingo?  the commission took the courts hint. In February of 2015, it put wired and wireless broadband providers back in the utility-esque common-carrier bucket and then adopted net-neutrality rules.

Various telecom companies and organizations promptly sued to overturn those rules, and we now have the courts word.

(Disclosure: Ive spoken at events hosted by organizations on both sides of this argument; for about a year I wrote for a tech-policy blog, the Disruptive Competition Project, sponsored by the Computer & Communications Industry Association, which filed a brief backing the FCC.)



Two words: dumb pipes



This 2-1 ruling (Tatel and Srinivasans colleague Judge Stephen F. Williams filed a dissent) focuses on the difference between information and telecommunications services as defined in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

The former most closely describes AOL and other pioneering online services, which bundled not just a connection but software and services.



The latter matches todays internet access, where you pay for the connection and then go to other sites  like, perhaps, todays Aol, a division of Verizon that runs sites like Engadget and TechCrunch (and tends to a dwindling audience of dial-up users).

Internet providers may not appreciate being defined as dumb pipes, but the definition fits. They havent seriously tried to offer something like an information service since the 2001 demise of cable service Excite@Home.

How can the FCC make that call? Because, the judges wrote, the Supreme Court said so in a 2005 case. That might not matter had Congress since labeled ISPs as information services  but it hasnt. And a 1984 Supreme Court ruling lets regulatory agencies like the FCC make their own reasoned calls in the absence of Congressional direction.

Good luck overturning this

One party to the just-decided lawsuit, AT&T (T), is already vowing to appeal this case to the Supreme Court, while others have not gone beyond moping about its unfairness.

Continuing this strategy of relentless litigation might not be smart. The courts ruling stands on those two Supreme Court precedents  and Williams dissent accepts that the FCC worked within the outlines of the Telecommunications Act, while then faulting its logic.

Besides, appealing to the highest court in the land would mean a few more years of net-neutrality rules remaining intact.

While Congress could technically vote tomorrow to revise the Telecommunications Act, t hasnt been able to do any such rewrite in over 20 years.

To be sure, an anti-net-neutrality candidate  namely, Donald Trump  could win the 2016 presidential election and then appoint FCC commissioners who would axe the net-neutrality rules.

But while Trump opposes it  he called it a top down power grab in a 2014 tweet  hes also widely loathed outside his Republican primary base.

Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, applauded the ruling in a tweet that called it a big win for consumers, innovation, and freedom of expression on the internet.

But the larger problem here is that fighting net neutrality looks like a political loser.

It requires believing promises of future online media services that couldnt survive without paid prioritization over a documented history of large internet providers demanding that real online media services like Netflix pay for the data used by their own customers.

(Internet providers may yet all wind up giving up on improving their services because net neutrality eats into their profits, but the evidence for that remains thin.)

Net neutrality often comes with a side order of shrill extremism denouncing it as regulating the Internet  even though it doesnt limit what you do on the Internet  if not outright Marxism.



And it not only requires taking the side of giant corporations, it demands standing up for cable and phone companies in particular, some of the less-liked firms in America. Are 2016s candidates ready to nail their colors to the mast for all that? If so, I have two more words: good luck.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the Supreme Court decided Chevron USA Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council Inc. in 1977. The error has been corrected.



Email Rob at rob@robpegoraro.com; follow him on Twitter at @robpegoraro.

Read more:

Apple is doing something generous for developers  but it may cost you

The FCC's 'power grab' on net neutrality still hasn't burned your broadband provider

New customer service survey says Comcast is no longer the worst

Cable operators are trying to fix the single-biggest problem with their apps
Brasilia: Brazil's congressional ethics committee has voted to strip suspended Speaker Eduardo Cunha of his seat for allegedly lying about undeclared Swiss bank accounts, the latest in a series of political earthquakes to rock Latin America's largest country.

Mr Cunha insisted on his innocence and vowed to appeal the decision to another congressional committee. To remove him from office, a majority of the lower house of Congress still needs to affirm the decision.

A demonstrator from the Avaaz organization wears a mask photograph of suspended Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha, while holding up on Tuesday. Credit:Eraldo Peres

If he loses his seat, the architect of suspended President Dilma Rousseff's impeachment, will also lose the partial immunity enjoyed by elected politicians. He could then be arrested and prosecuted by lower courts in several corruption cases brought against him.
Australian businessman Matthew Ng, dubbed the country's first Chinese political prisoner by his supporters, has been granted early release from prison 18 months after his landmark prisoner transfer from the People's Republic.

In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Justice Minister Michael Keenan said Mr Ng was being released early based on "exception family circumstances". Within hours, he was stepping out of NSW's Silverwater correctional facility, ending a personal nightmare which began with his arrest in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou in late 2010.

"I'm a jumble of emotions," Mr Ng said, speaking to Fairfax Media via telephone shortly after his release. He was in a car, on his way home to see his three children, Megan, 17, Hugo, 13 and Alexandra, 10.
Gao, an army veteran, rose to fame taking on cases that pitted ordinary people against powerful interests, defending farmers from land seizures and suing the police for abuses. He became one of the best-known lawyers in the country, but his advocacy for practitioners of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement put him at odds with the government, which shut down his Beijing law firm in 2005.

Gao Zhisheng in north-western China's Shaanxi province in April. One of China's best-known dissident lawyers said his newly launched memoir is his latest act of resistance to show he has not been silenced by years of solitary confinement and torture. Credit:China Aid/AP

In the 446-page book, Gao describes his time as a prisoner from 2009 to 2014, when he was released and sent to his home in the north-western province of Shaanxi to live under round-the-clock police surveillance with his older brother, a farmer. The book was introduced in Hong Kong on Tuesday by his daughter, Grace Geng.

Hong Kong: A book written by Gao Zhisheng, a Chinese human rights lawyer who spent years in prison, has made it out of China and been published in Taiwan.

Gao, 52, became increasingly critical of the Communist Party and renounced his membership. Detained in 2006, he recanted his confession upon release and described the abuse he received from the police. In early 2009, he disappeared, with the government providing no explanation of his whereabouts for more than a year, prompting international condemnation. After being briefly released from prison in 2010, he disappeared into police custody again, only to be released again in 2014 and transferred to house arrest.

Gao's daugher, Grace Geng, at the book launch in Hong Kong. Credit:AP

Gao's imprisonment was a prelude to the far more extensive crackdown on Chinese human rights lawyers under President Xi Jinping. The widespread detentions of rights lawyers last year, with the police this month asking to charge one with the serious crime of "subverting state power", illustrates the gap in China between language promoting rule of law and its actual practice.

Gao devotes about half of the book, whose Chinese title translates to 'The Year 2017, Stand Up, China', to describing his treatment while he was detained and imprisoned. He writes extensively about how he was threatened, beaten and given electric shocks.

"He stepped on my shoulder, and the severe sound of an electric shocker burst out. He then placed it under my chin," Gao wrote of one of his torturers. "I heard another strange sound. Without a doubt, that was from me. I can't find a more apt description: It was like a sound a dog would make if stomped on its tail by its master, and other times it was as if the dog was being held upside down by its tail."
Comforted that she made an early escape from Mateen's bizarre world more than five years ago, his first wife Sitora Yusufiy does the media round  sharing intimate detail of nine miserable months in which she says she was physically abused and effectively, a prisoner in her own home.

Noor Zahi Salman, 30, is the second wife of Orlando mass murderer Omar Mateen; the mother of his three-year-old son; and, for now, the focus of intense investigations by the authorities; and the target of a relentless media scrum.

But Salman is a shadow. Making no public comment, she's been seen by the world only when a local TV crew captured footage of her, accompanied by a police escort, as she returned to their family home in Fort Pierce, to collect some of here things. But shrouded in a bulky, hooded top, very little could be seen of her apart from a wedding band on her finger.

Noor Zahi Salman, left, pictured with her husband, Orlando gunman Omar Mateen. Credit:Facebook

It seems she well knew her husband was up to no good  to what extent remains blurred.

Briefing reporters, officials say she was with her husband when he bought ammunition and cased alternate targets; and that on a couple of occasions, she drove him to his ultimate target  Pulse dance bar, a popular gay and Latino hangout near downtown Orlando. And that, apparently, she had tried to talk him out of embarking on what became America's worst mass shooting.

After being briefed on the investigation, Senator Angus King, who is a member of the Senate intelligence committee, told reporters it seemed Salman had "some knowledge" of what was afoot.
Geneva: A computer specialist for the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca has been taken into custody by Geneva authorities in a probe linked to the leak of a massive trove of data on offshore companies, a Swiss newspaper reported.

Daily Le Temps, citing an unidentified person close to the case, reports that Geneva prosecutors earlier this week placed the computer specialist for the firm's local office in temporary detention in connection with the recent release of "a very large volume of confidential data".

German activists wearing suits and Panama hats hold fake money while demanding greater transparency following the Panama Papers affair. Credit:Getty Images

The revelations could foment new speculation about the mysterious source of the so-called "Panama Papers" leak, in which a person gave a German newspaper a huge trove of data detailing the owners and clients of thousands of offshore entities.
On board HMAS Perth, Sunda Strait: Cats may have nine lives but Red Lead, the ship's cat on HMAS Perth, seemed to know that hers had come to an end 74 years ago.

Legend has it that Red Lead repeatedly tried to run away while the HMAS Perth was being refuelled at the port of Tanjung Priok, in what is now Jakarta, the night before the ship was torpedoed.

Red Lead, the ship's cat, on board HMAS Perth. She perished with the vessel.

"Sailors are superstitious ... They said afterwards the cat knew something was afoot," says Ivan Ingham, the captain of the current HMAS Perth, the third ship to bear that name.

Red Lead was named after the pawprints she trekked through the ship after walking through red paint, which annoyed the World War II sailors no end.
Bangkok: Thai police have arrested two men and seized seven kilograms of heroin bound for Australia in parcel post boxes following a joint operation by Australian and Thai investigators.

The arrests of 47-year-old Lao national Boulapha Simoukda and 54-year-old Thai national Khajornmart Amarttayakul took place at a car park in a shopping mall in Udon Thani, 560km northeast of Bangkok on June 11.

Cardboard boxes for sale at Suvarnabhumi International Airport Post Office, Thailand. Credit:Mattes/CC

Thai narcotics suppression police announced the arrests at a press conference on Tuesday.

Thai police said the arrests followed a joint operation between Australian and Thai investigators extending over several months.
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So I read Olivier Arrindells story in the media over the weekend and as late as Monday, June 13, 2016. In it, he announces that AVA Airways received a business economic permit. I checked, and found out that what he got was Government approval to establish an NV (or BV). Contrary to WINAIR and INSEL AIR, he does NOT have an Economic License, or an Airline Operators Certificate (AOC). Arrindell claims to have been in the airline business for almost 10 years and says he has the know-how on how to take commercial aviation in St. Maarten into a bold new direction and how to be innovative. I have a few questions: Where exactly was Arrindell in the aviation business? What was Arrindells function(s) in the airline business? Was he part of Management, or just an employee? What type of aircraft did the airline he was associated with utilize? What part of the Latin American market as it relates to destination St. Maarten/St. Martin does he think he has more (or better) knowledge of than some of the big airlines that presently fly in and out of South America, one of which is COPA AIRLINES that services St. Maarten? And then this: Why is it that whenever Arrindell wants to say something about his hallucination airline AVA Airways, does he always seem to have the need to bash WINAIR and/or INSEL AIR (with erroneous information, I might add)? Can he not just do his AVA thing and leave these two airlines (that actually fly, have airplanes, employees, routes and oh, yes, Airline Operators Certificates) alone? Arrindell is claiming to know how airlines need to expand borders, not be stuck in time and how to be innovative in order to survive. His AVA Airways however has yet to start up, let alone survive! When will we be able to see, touch and feel AVAs first A320 jetliner (NEO or not)? And can Arrindell tell us exactly what he means with AVAs proposed operations on an East West hub? Is AVA planning to fly East out of St. Maarten to the only destinations in that direction which after Antigua & Barbuda are countries like Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and other countries on the African continent and West out of St. Maarten to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Mexico, and other Central American countries? Since he seems not to be interested in the traditional North American market, is it his intention to fill his Airbuses with tourists from these destinations to the East and West of SXM? Or maybe offer the SXM Tourist great airfares TO the abovementioned destinations? Being a local businessman myself, I fully support the establishment of other local businesses. But I am very wary of smoke and mirrors and while I do not pretend to know much, I know enough about the airline business to confirm that to operate ANY Airbus aircraft, Jet Fuel is needed; hot air is only useful when one operates balloons.

Michael J. Ferrier
Building The Caribbean Internet Through Relationships.

WILLEMSTAD, CuracaoIt seems the regions tech community is on to something that has eluded our politicians. Human networks are key to our development. And there is an unique group dedicated to getting the right people in the same place at the same time, so that the right deals and partnerships can help strengthen and expand the Internet in the Caribbean.

Computer network engineers use the term Peering to describe the arrangement between two or more networks that exchange Internet traffic between their networks without cost, typically at an Internet exchange point. But peering is also an apt term to describe the human connections that make these arrangements possible.

Around the world, Peering Forums are held to promote regional Internet development and grow the global Internet economy. The Caribbean held its first Peering Forum, dubbed CarPIF, in May 2015 in Barbados.

Last week, more than 100 key decision makers from the Caribbean, Latin America, USA and Europe gathered in Curacao for the second edition of this unique regional forum. The event was held at the Renaissance Resort in the capital, Willemstad, from June 7 to 10.

Participants included senior officials from regional governments, Internet organisations, service providers, exchange points operators and telecommunications regulatorsalong with international content providers from companies like Facebook, Google and Akamai.

One of the things that makes CarPIF unique in the growing pantheon of Caribbean tech events is the opportunity it provides regional and international stakeholders to meet each other in an environment specifically designed for building relationship and raising awareness of development opportunities. Thats a big draw, and the two-day event did not disappoint.

Short sessions were punctuated by long breaks filled with coffee-fueled conversation among participants eager to shake hands, share knowledge and broker deals.

CarPIF is much more than just great technical presentations. Its about the interactions, human relationships and the shared experiences that help national, regional and international participants shape the future of development of the Internet in the Caribbean in a tangible and meaningful way, said Bevil Wooding, CarPIF founder and Caribbean Outreach Manager for the US-based non-profit Packet Clearing House (PCH).

CarPIF is an initiative of PCH and the Internet Society (ISOC), with the support of the Caribbean Network Operators Group and the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, an inter-governmental Caribbean organisation.

Given the growth of Internet usage and the increasing importance of Internet infrastructure to every facet of development today, the Caribbean has come to the point where a forum specifically to address issues of Peering and Interconnection is critical to the long-term growth and resilience of the regions telecommunication networks. And so, the purpose of CarPIF is to facilitate those kinds of interactions and the human relationships that underpin them, Wooding said.

Shernon Osepa, ISOC manager of Regional Affairs for Latin America and the Caribbean, agreed, describing CarPIF as a testament to the growth and maturity that continues to take place in the Caribbean Internet landscape.

The organisers received support from the Amsterdam Internet Exchange, the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Registry, the American Registry of Internet Numbers, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, and other organisations that have been working to increase awareness of what is required to grow the regions Internet ecosystem.

The big lesson from CarPIF: behind every good Internet connection is a good human relationship. In that sense, the real work of building the Caribbean internet is not technical but human. And that is key to a better connected Caribbean.
Minister of Economic Affairs delivers address at Shark Symposium

PHILIPSBURG:--- Honorable Dignitaries, Invited guest, Conference speakers and attendees, Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the beautiful Island St Maarten. I welcome you here to our island and thank you all for traveling here for the Caribbean Shark Conservation Symposium. I sincerely regret that I could not be here in person to welcome you. I would like to thank our co-hosts, The St. Maarten Nature Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and The Bahamas National Trust, for working with us to make this symposium a reality.

We have an exciting program in store for you over the next two days. We will hear from global shark experts including scientists, economists, and trade experts. You will have the opportunity to hear from keynote speaker Sir Richard Branson, fellow governments and NGOs about their respective efforts on shark conservation. They have traveled here from as far away as Canada and Hong Kong.

Why do sharks need protection ? Well, many people may not realize this, but many shark species are headed toward extinction. In fact, scientists tell us that 100 million are killed every year. But sharks are important to our oceans, and they are important to islands like St. Maarten. They balance our ecosystem and they are an important part of our tourism economy because divers from all over the world come here for the opportunity to see sharks in the wild.

Here on St. Maarten weve formally recognized the value of our sharks and as a result, they are fully protected. Thanks in large part to the work of the St. Maarten Nature Foundation, in 2012 the Government of St. Maarten placed a 10-year moratorium on shark fishing, thereby designating our waters a shark sanctuary. Tomorrow we will formally announce a long-term extension of our shark sanctuary. We want these magnificent creatures to be here for our children and grandchildren, and for all the future visitors to our island.

We understand that many in attendance have also taken bold strides in ocean conservation, or are currently working to do so. As the St. Maarten minister of Tourism Economic Affairs Transportation and Telecommunication, I truly hope that all stakeholders, businessmen and experts will find common ground for the sake of this formidable species.

Protecting and Saving our Shark population will have economic benefits for our island. Your efforts, followed by concrete proposals and agreements during this conference will yield invaluable information that will be translated into concrete policy actions from our government.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Health Emil Lee is yet to gather information and to order an investigation into what exactly transpired two weeks ago when Levi Webster was misdiagnosed and sent to the Dominican Republic for medical treatment through SZV while the patient was not even insured with the health insurance company. Webster, an ex-convict is an employee of Checkmate Security but at the time of the Sunday morning shooting two weeks ago at Westin Dawn Beach the employee was not registered by the security company at SZV.

Several persons in the community are now complaining that people that had serious injuries were denied treatment at the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) when they are not in possession of their SZV insurance card.

Some persons that spoke to SMN News said that when one enters SMMC emergency room there is a huge sign that states that if a person does not have medical insurance they must make a down payment of $100.00 before they could see a doctor.

One person was quoted as saying that they do understand that it was a shooting and everyone including criminals and or suspects have a right to medicare but they also believe that SMMC should be more considerate when it comes to denying hard working people treatment. As for the surgeon who misdiagnosed the suspect/victim they feel an investigation should be conducted while the SZV should have the company cover the full expenses of the patient that was air evacuated to the Dominican Republic for medical treatment.

SMN News also asked Minister Emil Lee for his take on the press release sent out by Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel on the layoff of workers at Maho. Minister Lee said that the labor mediator is busy with the case but based on what he knows is that workers are being transferred from one company to another. He said all the workers that are being transferred will get their full benefits and he also felt that he was clear when he stated that the labor mediator is still working with the employees and the employer.
30 ft Waves, Whales, and Sea Life Splashing Into Santa Monica Public Spaces

June 14, 2016- Evening visitors to Santa Monica will bear witness to hundreds of Walrus lounging in the parking lot. That's not all. Whales the size of a building, fish as big as cars, waves that reach three stories and video of marine life will be cast upon a 100 foot wall in Santa Monica for the next three weeks.

The ad-free endeavor is one in a series of immersive ocean experiences from explore.org, the philanthropic media organization and division of the Annenberg Foundation.

The captivating art installation will be anchored by "The Pacific", a Live Cam Production from explore.org, the 20-minute short film Executive Produced by Charles Annenberg Weingarten to celebrate the beauty and wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants. The projection will be on the wall of the Laemmle theatre for a three week period (2nd street and Santa Monica Blvd) from 7:30-10:30pm nightly.

"All of our efforts are aimed at inspiring people," said explore.org founder Charles Annenberg Weingarten. "People of all walks appreciate beauty, and when they take time to experience it, they are moved to do better things, be it protecting the oceans or simply helping a neighbor." Explore.org, which operates the world's largest network of live streaming nature cameras, is pioneering new ways for people to experience the ocean and its creatures using live cams, films, and interactive broadcasts in oceans around the world.

Explore.org Ocean Experiences:

Beluga Boat Cam: Travel underwater with the curious white whales as thousands migrate to the warmer waters of Hudson Bay Canada to feed on Salmon and socialize for the summer

Orcas: Watch Orcas in the wild and listen to the acoustics from underwater microphones placed throughout the British Columbian bays where hundreds of the mighty whales come every year

Cape Fear North Carolina Shark Cam: 30 miles off the coast, this deep water camera features a variety of different species of fish, sharks, and rays, and provides a glimpse into the habitat known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic."

Channel Islands Kelp Beds: One of the richest marine environments in the world, live dives from rangers & underwater cams show you where 1,000 unique underwater species call home.

Puffins and Sea Birds: Travel 20 miles off the shores of Maine to watch baby puffins in a burrow, Cormorants, Osprey and other sea bird families raise their young. Take pictures and help scientists develop a new understanding of birds and fish.

Seaside Sunsets: Join the community during golden hour, where the vibe is relaxing and welcoming all to a nice wind down-- from Hawaii to Santa Monica.

Walrus Cam: From the remote Alaskan Islands just 100 miles from Russia, watch thousands of walrus on the beach in the summer of Blubber

#BEARCAM: Bear & Salmon Cam: Watch the most epic event in nature this summer as Bears catch salmon trying to leap 6 ft waterfalls. Underwater cams show salmon gearing up for the upstream battle.

Beluga Boat Cam: Travel underwater with the curious white whales as thousands migrate to the warmer waters of Hudson Bay Canada to feed on Salmon and socialize for the summer

The non-profit, grant-giving organization is producing live feeds of amazing places across the globe. From the mighty Walrus on the islands between Alaska and Russia, to the kelp beds of the Channel Islands, and the deep shark-infested waters of Cape Fear North Carolina, explore.org offers advertsing-free content people can watch on any connected device, television or computer.

explore.org founder, Charles Annenberg Weingarten has been utilizing technology to bring "Pearls of the Planet" to people around the world via live cams in more than 50 locations around the world. From Brown Bears catching salmon on the iconic falls of Katmai National Park in Alaska to cams on Walrus, Puffins and island creatures scattered on desolate islands in the Atlantic and Pacific to underwater shark cams-- explore.org has streamed millions of hours of content to millions of people around the world.
NNU paid $1 million to support Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders

The National Nurses United union, the largest nurses union in the country, is threatening one- to seven-day walkouts in eight hospitals in three states at the end of June. Cited are understaffing issues and consequent reduction in patient care.

The states with scheduled walkouts are Minnesota, Massachusetts, and California. 1,300 registered nurses plan a four-day strike at Kaiser Permanente's flagship hospital, Los Angeles Medical Center. Short staffing and lack of adequate break time are the stated reasons for the walkout.

At another hospital under threat of a strike, Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, RNs complain of understaffing and a reduction in health coverage. BWH nurse Maureen Tapper says, "Many of our patients struggle to breathe. These patients and families need emotional as well as physical support. The reduction in nurse staffing severely impacts the care the patients so greatly need. Nurses are struggling to provide the best possible quality care in a safe environment. This decrease in staffing by the hospital places both patients and nurses at risk. Our patients deserve better."

Writing in The New York Times on January 28, 2016, Nicholas Confessore reported that, "According to Federal Election Commission records [NNU's] "super PAC" has spent close to $1 million on ads and other support for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. The NNU spending was classified as, "Expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate."
Found Sunday with guns and explosives in his car in Santa Monica, CA

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. - James Wesley Howell was charged with child molestation on Wednesday, officials with the Clark County prosecutor's office said.

Howell, 20, is accused of sexually penetrating an underage girl on May 31, just days before he was arrested in Santa Monica. He was found in possession of weapons and an explosive mixture called Tannerite. He told Santa Monica Police that he was on his way to the West Hollywood Gay Pride Parade.

Howell left Indiana because he was told that he was under investigation in the alleged molestation, Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull told IndyStar.

"I believe he left the state of Indiana and went to California because he understood that this child molesting investigation was ongoing and he was in imminent danger of being arrested," Mull said.

Weapons and explosives charges have been filed against Howell who was arrested in Santa Monica Sunday with rifles, ammunition and explosive chemicals in his car while headed to a gay pride event.

Howell was charged Tuesday with three felonies: possession of an assault weapon, possession of explosives on a public highway and possession of a high-capacity magazine. He was also charged with a misdemeanor, possession of a loaded weapon, according to L.A. County Deputy district attorney Sean Carney.

Howell's bail was increased from $500,000 to $2 million Tuesday because of his perceived danger to the community, Carney said. Howell's lawyer entered not guilty pleas during a Tuesday afternoon arraignment.
Update: Body of 2 year old Lane Grave's recovered the next day.

Tragedy has struck again Orlando, what can only be described as a week of hell. Breaking news that a two-year-old boy is missing after being violently dragged into the nearby water by an alligator near a Disney World hotel in Orlando, authorities said.

Update: 6/15, 4 p.m. EDT: Updated Breaking News: The 2-year-old boy, Lane Graves, whom witnesses said was pulled by an alligator into a lagoon near a Walt Disney World hotel last night has been found dead. The alligator drowned but did not eat the child.

Lane Graves was 2 years old, and was the child of Nat and Melissa Graves of Lincoln Nebraska. He had been dragged into the Seven Seas Lagoon, a manmade lake near the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa at around 9.30pm on Tuesday, Orange County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Rose Silva told theOrlando Sentinel. He had been playing along the shore when the gator grabbed him.

Father Nat Graves apparently wrestled with the alligator in order to save Lane, but could not pry its jaws open. Reports state that there was a 'movie night' on the beach on Tuesday night, which is where the alligator may have attacked the child before dragging him into the lagoon.

An alligator expert said that they take their prey underwater and drown it. This is the alligator mating season, he said, and they are more territorial and aggressive in June. The time of day, sunset, is feeding time for them. In Florida, one should assume that every body of water has gators in them, he said. They can move through land to any body of water. Their bite is 2200 foot pounds, which is like a ton, so getting free of their jaws is hard.

The Grand Floridian Resort is one of three luxury hotels located along the lagoon's edge. It is a stop away from Magic Kingdom Park on the monorail line.

The Graves family checked into the hotel on Sunday. The death occurred on the third day of their stay. The coroner's investigation is not complete, so the family remains at the hotel.

Orange County FL Sheriff's deputies searching the bayou around Disney Resort and Hotel in Orlando Florida, for remains of a missing Nebraska boy

Since 1948, there have been 383 documented alligator bites in the Florida. Of that number, 23 have been fatal attacks. Florida is a prime habitat for alligators. Wildlife officials believe there are more than a million of the animals in the state.

Most human bites are not the result of an alligator being aggressive, but rather of an alligator going after what they consider prey. Alligators are opportunistic feeders and will eat what is easy for them to get. Humans generally do not fall into that category, being too large to be easily overcome. But a 2 year old boy is much more vulnerable.

Update: The Orange County FL Sheriff, speaking at 1 a.m. EDT at Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel, said that fifty officers and 2 marine units, are searching for the child, on vacation with his family from Nebraska. He confirmed tht the facts above are essentially correct.
The benefits included in the Drive Kona Kai Summer Package include best available rates

To beachfront Kona Kai Resort & Spa  a Noble House Resort located on San Diego's historic Shelter Island  is offering a package for locals and nearby visitors. The Drive Kona Kai summer Package is an incredible deal for San Diego locals to partake on a luxurious staycation, or for L.A. and Southern California residents traveling by car to embark on a perfect beach getaway weekend.

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Kona Kai Resort & Spa just recently announced its new summer programming to celebrate the summer season and the resort's recent multimillion dollar revitalization of the iconic property. Last July, the boutique resort updated all guest rooms, refreshed the lobby, added the 7,020 square foot SpaTerre, renovated its waterfront restaurant Vessel, and built a new Tiki Bar adjacent to the revamped pool. This summer will be the first travel season where guests can experience all the resorts new offerings.

Hawaiian staycation in San Diego for so cal residents

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Located just ten minutes away from the San Diego Airport and the historic downtown Gaslamp Quarter, Kona Kai Resort & Spa is a prime destination for locals and visitors alike with its close proximity to many famous San Diego attractions making it a perfect choice for families and couples looking for an easy, convenient getaway. For more information and reservations, please call 619.221.8000 or visit http://www.resortkonakai.com.
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Orlando, June 13, 2016.

Memorials were held and tributes offered around the world last night (June 13) for the 49 people who were killed at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, over the weekend. Crowds gathered and politicians paid tribute in countries that support LGBT rights, as well as those that dont.

In Sydney, Australia, the town hall was lit up in pink on Monday night.

Sydney Town Hall (EPA/Paul Miller)

and citizens set up an impromptu candlelight memorial:

A memorial in Sydney. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

In Bangkok, where anti-gay rhetoric has been growing under a military junta government, a makeshift memorial was set up outside the US Embassy.

Bangkok, June 13. (EPA/Diego Azubel)

And in Hong Kong, citizens raised rainbow umbrellas and lit candles during a memorial in the central business district:

Hong Kong. (EPA/Jerome Favre)

Chinas LGBT groups issued a statement condemning the violence and expressing love. Depictions of homosexuality are banned in Chinese media and only 5% of Chinas LGBT populations are out of the closet.

In India, where homosexuality is illegal, students in Mumbai made a rangoli from colored powder to commemorate the victims:

Mumbai, June 13. (Reuters/Danish Siddiqui)

In Russia, where gay propaganda has been banned and the parliament recently considered a bill that would ban gay couples from holding hands, a small memorial was erected outside the US Embassy.

Moscow. (Reuters/Maxim Zmeyev)

One gay couple posted on Facebook that they were arrested for unauthorized action after the duo laid a placard there that said Love wins.

The AP photographed a man being detained at the memorial.



A Russian police officer detains a gay rights activist at the US Embassy in Moscow. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

And governments from countries where homosexuality is illegal or persecuted, including India, Egypt, Singapore, and Iran sent their condolences.

In countries where gay rights are supported, the memorials were larger and often state-sanctioned.

In Paris, the Eiffel Tower was lit up with rainbow lights.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

The London Gay Mens Chorus performed a Simon and Garfunkel classic in Soho:

While hundreds of people gathered outside the historic Stonewall bar in New Yorks Greenwich Village:

Story continues

The Stonewall Inn. (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton)

And in Boston, City Hall was lit with rainbow lights.

Stephen Flowers (L) and Nick Bazo, hold a photo of their friends Drew Leinonen and Juan Guerrero, both killed in the Orlandos Pulse nightclub attack. (Reuters/Gretchen Ertl)

Los Angeles held a candlelight vigil.

Los Angeles. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson)

Thousands gathered outside Orlandos performing arts center. Memorial services and vigils will be held in Orlando for the rest of the week.

Orlando, June 13. (Reuters/Carlo Allegri)

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Murray Huberfeld, the founder of Platinum Partners, exits the Manhattan federal court house in New York, U.S., June 8, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid - RTSGN6H

By Lawrence Delevingne

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. hedge fund Platinum Partners is returning the majority of its assets to clients following the arrest of a longtime associate on allegations he orchestrated a $60,000 cash bribe to secure an investment from a New York city union.

New York-based Platinum told investors on a conference call on Tuesday that recent negative media attention and requests for the return of capital had forced it to begin the liquidation of its more than $700 million Platinum Partners Value Arbitrage Fund, according to a person familiar with the situation who requested anonymity because the information is private.

The firm is also considering shutting its Platinum Partners Credit Opportunities Fund, the person said. That strategy recently controlled more than $500 million, the balance of Platinums about $1.35 billion in overall assets as of April.

The development comes after the arrest last week of Murray Huberfeld, who was accused of bribing Norman Seabrook, the president of the New York City prison officers' union.

Huberfeld is a longtime associate of Platinum head Mark Nordlicht. He was an early backer of Platinum and remains an investor in the firm. The Centurion Credit Management hedge funds he ran were also taken over by Nordlicht and Platinum in 2011.

According to a U.S. Department of Justice complaint against Huberfeld and Seabrook, an intermediary gave Seabrook a Salvatore Ferragamo bag filled with $60,000 in cash as the first of what was intended to be several kickbacks for ultimately steering $20 million of union money into Platinum's coffers.

Nordlicht said on the conference call that the charges against Huberfeld were unfounded, the person said.

Huberfeld, through an attorney, declined to comment on the charges against him and the Platinum news. An external spokesman for Platinum did not respond to requests for comment. News of the liquidation was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

Founded in 2003, Platinum has racked up profits that are the envy of the hedge fund industry. But its winning strategy of lending to troubled companies carries risks that many institutional investors would just as soon not take, according to a Reuters investigation earlier this year.

Story continues

The soon-to-shut Value Arbitrage fund gained nearly 8 percent in 2016 through April, according to a private HSBC Alternative Investment Group report seen by Reuters. The fund produced average annual returns of more than 17 percent since inception in 2003 with no negative years.

The still-open credit fund has also never lost over a calendar year since inception in 2005. It has averaged annual returns of more than 13 percent, according to the private fund data seen by Reuters.

Nordlicht told investors on the call Tuesday that a decision on whether to shut the credit fund would come in a matter of weeks, the source said.

For Reuters Special Report on Platinum, click http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-hedgefunds-platinum/
June 15, 2016

Babeu: Voters deserve political discourse, not supression





CASA GRANDE  Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu chastised the Arizona Democratic Party and one of his congressional challengers for considering an attempt to remove candidates from the Congressional District 1 field.



Democrats and their allies pulled the signatures of several CD1 Republican candidates, including Sen. Carlyle Begay, former Secretary of State Ken Bennett and Navajo businessman Shawn Redd. A supporter of Gary Kiehne also pulled the nomination signatures for several candidates.



I recognize and value the historic nature of Shawn Redd and Sen. Begay's candidacies, Babeu said. Challenging their ballot access and the chance for voters to cast ballots for them is wrong and would be a sad day. I value their contributions to this race and respect both as strong leaders.



While challenging the signatures is a classic political ploy, it deprives voters of the chance to have a vigorous debate and real choice in the August primary.



We should not limit the choices for voters. Instead we should have vigorous debate among the candidates so voters make the right choice, Babeu said.



The last day to challenge a candidates signatures is June 15. The list of candidates who may face a challenge is available from the Arizona Secretary of States office.



Babeu is a veteran of the Iraq War and spent 20 years in the Army National Guard, rising to the rank of major. In addition, Babeu commanded 700 troops on the Arizona-Mexico border as part of Operation Jump Start, which helped reduce illegal immigration and drug smuggling by 94 percent in the Yuma Sector. He was first elected Pinal County Sheriff in 2008, 2011 America's Sheriff of the year and won reelection in 2012.
By Linda Bentley | June 15, 2016

Oregonian celebrates gender dysphoria after judges ruling



I have effectively traded my white male privilege to become one of Americas most hated minorities



Amy Holmes Hehn



PORTLAND, Ore.  Last Friday, Multnomah County, Ore. Circuit Court Judge Amy Holmes Hehn ordered the sex of Portland resident Jamie Shupe to be changed from female to non-binary.



Shupe, 52, was born a male and served 18 years in the army, retiring as a sergeant in 2000.



Suffering from gender dysphoria, Shupe decided at the age of 49 to transition to becoming female via hormone therapy.



According to Wikia.com, non-binary gender describes any gender identity which does not fit within the binary of male and female and lists the following feelings of those who may identify as non-binary:



Have an androgynous (both masculine and feminine) gender identity, such as androgyne.

Have an identity between male and female, such as intergender.

Have a neutral or non-existant gender identity, such as agender or neutrois.

Have multiple gender identities, such as bigender or pangender.

Have a gender identity which varies over time, known as genderfluid.

Have a weak or partial connection to a gender identity, known as demigender.

Be intersex and identify as intersex, know as amalgagender

Have a culturally specific gender identity which exists only within the culture they or their ancestors belong to.



Otherwise feel that their gender is neither fully male nor fully female.

Wikia goes on to state:



Non-binary people may also identify as transgender and/or transsexual. The label genderqueer has a lot of overlap with non-binary, but non-binary is often seen as more politically correct, since queer is sometimes used as a transphobic insult.



Jamie Shupe



Non-binary people may wish to transition so that their gender expression more closely reflects their internal identity. Many non-binary people wish to appear androgynous and adopt unisex names, gender-neutral titles such as Mx. and/or gender-neutral pronouns, but others prefer to express themselves in ways which are traditionally seen as masculine or feminine, or to mix aspects of the two.



Non-binary people can have any sexual orientation, although if attracted primarily to a single gender they may prefer to use gender-terminology to express this, such as androsexual or gynosexual.



According to a Transgender Today story in the New York Times, Shupes transition to becoming a woman liberated himself from the misery of gender dysphoria only to trade that in for the abuse and wrath of an often unforgiving public that is only beginning to understand my plight.



Shupe stated, I have effectively traded my white male privilege to become one of Americas most hated minorities.



The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund assisted Shupe with changing his name to Jamie, but after transitioning to a woman, the Army didnt make it easy to change his records.

According to Shupe, if he wanted his Army records changed he would have to undergo unwanted sex reassignment surgery.



However, if he did that, his spouse of 27 years would be required to relinquish her military benefits.



After filing a complaint with the Pentagon Inspector General, Shupe was eventually able to obtain a new ID card, when the Army could not produce any regulation or letters prohibiting them from doing so.



Its not clear if Shupe received a decision yet from the Army Board for Correction of Military Records about changing his Defense Department Form DD-214 records, which indicates the type of release or discharge from active duty.



Shupe, who acknowledges he is stuck with being a biological male for life despite his gender identity being female, previously had his gender legally changed from male to female.



However, Shupe, who uses the gender-neutral alternative Mx. Instead of Mr. or Ms., never felt the female label was accurate and, on April 27, Attorney Lake J. Perriguey filed a petition with the court on Shupes behalf to change Shupes sex from female to non-binary.



Perriguey noted, while Oregon law allows residents to petition to have their gender changed, nothing in the law states the change must be to either male or female.



Although the form provided by the court clerk listed only male or female as options, Perriguey wrote in non-binary.



To justify her ruling, Hehn, whose daughter came out as gay when she was in high school in the October 2011 edition of Grant Magazine, simply stated, Based on the petition, and the court finding that proper notice to interested parties has been given; that the above-named person has undergone surgical, hormonal, or other treatment appropriate for this person for the purpose of gender transition; that sexual reassignment has been completed; and that no person has shown cause why the requested general judgment should not be granted.



Now that Shupe has been granted a precedent-setting change to a third sex by Hehn, its unclear what sex Shupe will be considered on various legal documents, such as a driver license or passport, which require the gender to be stated as only male or female.



Hehn worked as a prosecutor for the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office from 1988 until Jan. 17, 2013 when she was appointed by Gov. John Kitzhaber and was reelected in 2014 for a seven-year term.



Hehn penned a guest editorial for Oregonlive.com in 2014 about a domestic violence case she presided over in which Ian Elias shot his ex-wife Nicolette Elias to death before taking his own life in front of police.



In her bullet points about what can be done to fight domestic violence, Hehn wrote, We need to talk about guns. Women who are victims of domestic violence are six to eight times more likely to be killed by an intimate partner if there are firearms in the home.



Quoting Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., from a 1996 debate over federal regulation, Hehn wrote, All too often, the only difference between a battered woman and a dead woman is the presence of a gun.
About 1,200 Canadian companies are selling products that involves some aspect of production involving child labour, a new report said.

From tomatoes to textiles, almost anything that Canadians consume and use daily could be linked to child and forced labour. Todays products come to you as a courtesy of a string of contractors and subcontractors, each with different employment standards. Child and forced labour arent just international issues they are Canadian issues that need to be fought right here at home, said Cheryl Hotchkiss, manager of World Visions No Child for Sale campaign.

By tracking supply chains of goods that come into Canada, World Vision identified 1,264 companies that may be part of the problem.

Furthermore, it examines how transparent companies are being about their efforts to reduce the chances that children are toiling in fields, factories and fishing boats to produce their goods. It demands greater transparency from companies to publicly report these efforts.

Of the sample of Canadian companies that were shown to be importing high-risk goods, more than half have not publicly reported their efforts to reduce the risk of child or forced labour in their supply chains.

Canadas food industry was found to be the least transparent about their supply chains despite that the agricultural sector has the highest rates of child labour with 60 per cent of all child labourers working in jobs like farming and fishing.

Mid-size and private companies are particularly lacking in reporting and transparency.

Canadian imports of 50 high-risk products are worth nearly $35 billion, roughly equivalent to the GDP of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Given that last year Canada imported $34.3 billion goods that were at a high risk of being made by child or forced labour, no company can afford to turn a blind eye. Consumers, investors and business partners need to see Canadian supply chain legislation put in place that would require companies to publicly report on what they are doing to address child and forced labour in their supply chains, said Simon Lewchuk, World Visions Senior Policy Advisor for Sustainable Economic Development.

Today an estimated 85 million of the worlds children suffer in jobs that are dirty, dangerous and degrading, while another 21 million people are coerced or trapped in risky jobs, producing goods that may be imported and sold in Canada.

India is among the countries that stand out when it comes to exploitation of child labour.

According to Indias 2011 Census, out of 8.2 million child labourers under the age of 14 years, over two million are very young children between 5 and 9 years.

Millions of children have no access to basic food, shelter, education, medical care or security.

Bhagyashri Dengle, Executive Director of Plan India, says that As part of our vision for 2020, Plan India is committed to improving the lives of 2 million children and youth, through direct programme interventions and by working in close collaboration with the Government and other partners to ensure that no child is left behind.

Among those hoping to make a change in India, is Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor who is fronting a new campaign that will focus much needed attention on child labour in India.

The actor, who is the Goodwill Ambassador for child rights organisation Plan India, will campaign for the NGOs new initiative to raise awareness and inspire action to pull millions of children out of all forms of labour, said a statement.

Every morning over 8 million children in India go to work instead of going to school. Our economic progress loses a lot of meaning if hundreds of thousands of children have no hopes of a future, Anil shared while addressing the media, to mark the International Day Against Child Labour, which is commemorated on June 12.

The actor also announced that a National Conference on Children in Difficult Circumstances will be held in New Delhi in November 2016.

The Conference will be the first ever gathering on the issue where child rights organisations, development practitioners, researchers and policy makers from across India and the world will exchange ideas and best practices in tackling the root causes of inequality and injustice faced by children.

The Indian Express in a special series on child labour in India said millions of Indias children live and work in slave labour conditions  bonded labour, sex trafficking, child labour, domestic help servitude and many other forms.

According to the latest official public figures it quoted showed at least 14 million children living under slavery. If one did a more honest counting and reporting, this number would surely jump to twice that  perhaps closer to 30 million, the paper said,

The basic domestic laws outlawing children working in hazardous occupations and even as domestic help or in roadside establishments have been on the books for many years. But according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) millions of children continue to be employed as domestic labour including over a hundred thousand of them in capital of New Delhi itself.

Over 12 million children between the ages of five and 14 continue to work in dangerous occupations such as construction, manufacturing of beedis, bangles and fireworks.

India tops the list when it comes to the number of children still living and working in bonded labour and slave conditions. China is a distant second with a much better record than India. China and all other countries  with the exception of six including India  have signed the convention. India, as one of the six non-signatories, is in the company of the following world players: Cook Islands, Eritrea, Marshall Islands, Palau,Tuvalu.

It is a matter national shame that India hasnt been able to better deal with the scourge of not just child labour, the paper said.

Many middle class as well as rich Indians utilise child labour when it is illegal, immoral and unconscionable. Dont tell me they are doing a favour to the destitute who will starve without this slave labour. They must stop the inhuman, bonded and slave child labour and instead employ the parents and guardians of these helpless children, pay them decent wages for appropriate and regular working hours, overtime pay, statutory holidays and medical benefits. That will free the children to go to school and have decent lives, the Indian Express said in an opinion piece.

By the numbers

A new report by World Vision Canada says Canadian consumers are largely in the dark about what companies do to prevent child labour in their supply chains. Here are some figures from the report and about child labour worldwide:

52: Percentage of companies in the report that didn't provide any public reporting on their efforts to prevent child labours in their supply chains;

$34.3 billion: Value of imported goods reviewed as part of the World Vision Canada study;

1,264: Companies operating in Canada whose supply chains run through countries with high incidences of child labour;

828: Number of those companies that are headquartered in Canada;

87: Percentage of respondents in a 2015 Ipsos Reid survey, conducted for World Vision Canada, who supported supply chain transparency legislation;

168 million: Estimated number of child labourers worldwide;

85 million: Children worldwide who do hazardous work;

40: Percentage drop between 2000 and 2012 in the number of girls working around the world;

25: Percentage drop between 2000 and 2012 in the number of boys working.

(Source: World Vision Canada, International Labour Organization)
South Bend Human Rights Commission director fired amid workplace concerns

Yolanda Young-Smith, hired in December, oversaw the Human Rights Commission as it lost longtime workers with a combined half-century of tenure.
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The Saffire-1 hardware is shown strapped into the pressurized cargo module of Orbital ATK's robotic Cygnus spacecraft.

The biggest space-fire experiment ever conducted is now in the books.

NASA successfully ignited a piece of cotton-fiberglass cloth 1.3 feet wide by 3.3 feet long (0.4 by 1 meter) Tuesday afternoon (June 14) during the first stage of the Spacecraft Fire Experiment, or Saffire-1. Before Saffire-1, the largest fire set intentionally in space had burned a sample just the size of an index card, NASA officials have said.

Saffire-1 took place aboard the uncrewed Cygnus spacecraft, a cargo vessel built by Virginia-based company Orbital ATK, which had departed from the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday morning after a nearly three-month stay at the orbiting lab.

"Our #Saffire experiment traveled 1,000 miles in space while burning on #Cygnus," officials at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Ohio, where Saffire was conceived and developed, said via Twitter Tuesday.

#Saffire hardware worked as expected today. Researchers examine sensor data tonight and will share images tomorrow," Glenn officials added in another tweet.

More data and high-resolution photos from the experiment will continue to be relayed from Cygnus back to controllers on the ground over the next week, NASA officials said. The freighter is scheduled to burn up intentionally in Earth's atmosphere on June 22.

Saffire-1 was the first of three related experiments, all of which will be performed aboard Cygnus vehicles on their way back to Earth. The overall goal is to learn more about how fires spread in microgravity, so that future spacecraft can be designed as safely as possible.

"NASA's objective is to reduce the risk of long-duration exploration missions, and a spacecraft fire is one of the biggest concerns for NASA and the international space exploration community," Jason Crusan, director of NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems Division, said in a statement in March, before the Cygnus launched toward the ISS.

Like Saffire-1, Saffire-3 will ignite a large-scale fire in space. Saffire-2, on the other hand, will burn samples just 2 inches wide by 12 inches long (5 by 30 centimeters), to investigate oxygen-flammability limits, NASA officials have said. Both Saffire-2 and Saffire-3 are scheduled to fly this year.

Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com.
Chris Hadfield plays guitar while floating inside the Cupola on the International Space Station in 2012. Now, songs that he recorded using that guitar are being released on a new album.

Chris Hadfield is a Canadian astronaut who is best remembered for his last five-month trip to space in 2012-2013. The veteran space-flier not only commanded the International Space Station, but also charmed the world with his social media posts and humorous videos about life on the orbiting complex.

He came back to Earth world famous and in quick succession, published two popular books: "An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth (opens in new tab)" (Back Bay Books, 2015) and "You Are Here: Around The World In 92 Minutes (opens in new tab)" (Little, Brown, 2014). His skills also extend to playing the guitar, which he did on two space station missions. Aside from his public charm, Hadfield was praised for running a tight ship during his mission  which included repairing an ammonia leak just days before landing.

Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield, Expedition 34 flight engineer, watches a water bubble float freely between him and the camera, showing his image refracted, in the Unity node of the International Space Station. Image released Jan. 21, 2013. (Image credit: NASA)

Unlikely ascent

Hadfield grew up in a country without a space program, in a small town (Sarnia, Ontario). In the late 1960s, while the Americans and the Russians battled in a high-profile space race, Canada didn't have an astronaut at all. Hadfield grew up excited by these exploits and also by the science-fiction movie "2001: A Space Odyssey." But there was one seminal moment that changed his life.

"On July 20, 1969, like so many other people, I sat and looked at a bad, grainy little television and watched those first steps on the moon," Chris Hadfield recalled in a 2012 pre-flight interview with NASA. "[I] then went outside with my family, but really alone, looked up at the moon and thought, 'That's what I want to do when I grow up; I'm going to grow up to be something, why don't I grow up to be that.' "

As Hadfield recounted in "Astronaut's Guide," he then shaped his life by deciding to do things that interested him, but also could (if he was lucky) lead him to becoming an astronaut. He joined a Canadian quasi-military program called Air Cadets and while learning leadership and self-discipline skills, he also learned to fly airplanes by the time he was 16.

Hadfield knew his chances of being an astronaut were slim, so he focused on piloting as a career. He studied at what is now called the Royal Military College of Canada and picked up a master's degree. In his military career, he flew the then brand-new Canadian CF-18 (a version of the F-18) for NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command). He also did an exchange with the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.

Hadfield was barely out of school when in 1983, the first Canadian astronauts were selected through Canada's National Research Council. Marc Garneau became the first Canadian to fly in space in 1984. Fortunately for Hadfield, he was already well into his career when the new Canadian Space Agency recruited for astronauts again in 1992. He and three other people beat out the odds and were selected from 5,330 applicants.

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield conducts a spacewalk during the STS-100 space shuttle mission in April 2001. (Image credit: NASA)

Early astronaut career

The first Canadian astronauts in space were payload specialists assigned to specific tasks on the space shuttle. Shortly after Hadfield was selected, however, he and Garneau were invited to NASA's Johnson Space Center to undergo mission specialist training to become a crew member with more responsibilities and the chance to take on interesting tasks such as spacewalks or work with the Canadarm (Canada's robotic arm).

Hadfield's first flight, in November 1995, took him to the Russian Mir space station as part of mission STS-74. He was the only Canadian aboard Mir and the first Canadian to use Canadarm in orbit. His second flight, in April 2001, took him to the International Space Station as part of STS-100. Hadfield was the first Canadian to perform spacewalks; he installed the new Canadarm2 on station. He did two spacewalks for more than 14 hours "outside."

His ground responsibilities were similarly extensive. Early in his career, according to the Canadian Space Agency, he helped create the shuttle's new "glass cockpit." He also was NASA's chief CapCom (communicator with the space shuttle) for 25 missions. Hadfield's other responsibilities included chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency (1996-2000), director of operations for NASA at Russia's cosmonaut training center (2001-03), chief of robotics for the NASA astronaut office (2003-06), and chief of International Space Station operations (2006-2008).

Commanding the space station

Hadfield was also getting to know much about long-duration spaceflight, as he backed up fellow Canadian Bob Thirsk for the latter's half-year in space as part of Expedition 20/21. Hadfield was assigned to Expedition 34/35 for a 2012-2013 flight. During Expedition 35, he became the first Canadian to command the space station.

Among his many responsibilities, Hadfield decided to learn more about Twitter and other social media platforms to communicate the daily rituals of space to the public. With the help of his adult son Evan, Hadfield spent months learning to craft his posts and put up pictures in a way to appeal to the public. He also worked with the Canadian Space Agency to post videos showing items such as how to cook in space, or how to clip one's fingernails. (The latter video almost got him in trouble with a crewmate, who discovered the nails inside of a vent that Hadfield forgot to clean, he recounted in "Astronaut's Guide.")

Hadfield's early tweets from the space station in December caught the attention of fellow Canadian William Shatner, best known as James T. Kirk, captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise on "Star Trek." He also received public attention for his eloquent tweets showing the view from the station, and humorous videos. Besides which, Hadfield could play guitar  which he did often in orbit. Just before landing, Hadfield's swan song to space involved recording a new version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity"  which went viral.

While the astronaut is best remembered by the public for his social media savvy, fellow Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques said in 2013 that Hadfield's crew stood out in other ways. The crew had the lowest percentage of maintenance time on the space station at the time, despite successfully dealing with a last-minute ammonia leak that could have delayed the landing. (This metric means that more science could be performed on station.)

After 146 days on his last mission in space, Hadfield returned to Earth in May 2013 and quickly jumped into a new career of writing, public speaking, teaching and generally spreading the word about space. He still is a frequent commentator on space and occasionally makes guest appearances on shows that cover even unrelated topics, such as "Masterchef Canada."

Additional resources

Hadfield is known for his social media savvy. Here are some of his pages:
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United States of America, 15 June 2016 (SPS)  the newspaper the Daily Caller has published an article written by the Chairwoman Defense Forum Foundation, Ms. Suzanne Scholte about the death of the president of Republic, Secretary General of Polisario Front, Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz.

The world lost a great Muslim champion for democracy, human rights and the rule of law, with the untimely death of Mohamed Abdelaziz of Western Sahara on May 31st of this year. As the democratically elected President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Abdelaziz labored his entire life to see justice prevail for the people of Western Sahara, the only colony in Africa yet to be decolonized.

Abdelaziz led the POLISARIO, an organization he helped found initially to liberate Western Sahara from Spain, and the SADR, the Republic established by the Sahrawis. He first sought peaceful resolution to the conflict over Western Sahara through the International Court of Justice in1974. But, the brutal invasion of his homeland by Morocco in 1975 led to armed conflict until the United Nations brokered a cease fire in 1991 with the promise that the people of Western Sahara would have a referendum on self-determination. Twenty five years later that referendum still has not occurred.

Despite pressure to return to war, Abdelaziz remained steadfast to resolve this issue peacefully through the UN. UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon visited the refugee camps in March stating after his meeting with Abdelaziz: I have been heartened by the faith the Sahrawis people put in the UN, its principles and international law.

The delayed referendum has led to a new generation of Sahrawis to grow up in refugee camps, never seeing their homeland, and has given free rein to the King of Morocco to exploit the natural resources of Western Sahara and even worse commit atrocities against the Sahrawis living in Moroccan Occupied Western Sahara.

Hundreds of Sahrawis living in Moroccan Occupied Western Sahara have been killed for peacefully advocating for the right to vote, while others languish today in Moroccan prisons. What is called the Arab Spring started when Sahrawis erected a peaceful protest camp in Gdeim Izik simply demanding the same jobs and opportunities given to the Moroccans occupying their homeland.

Despite these ongoing atrocities, Abdelaziz directed his diplomats to seek redress peacefully relying on international law and the justness of their cause.

Under Abdelazizs leadership, the SADR was recognized as the legitimate government of Western Sahara by over 70 nations and is a full member of the African Union. Abdelaziz was elected several times to serve in the leadership of the African Union, a testament to the respect he had throughout Africa.

The SADR constitution guarantees the right to vote for all citizens 18 years of age; equal rights for women; a free market economy; and religious freedom. Sahrawi women are fully integrated in their society and serve in significant leadership positions in their government. The educational system they created has resulted in an over 90 percent literacy rate, making them the most educated African people group.

Abdelaziz tried repeatedly not to seek reelection for President because of his commitment to see democracy flourish and power transfer peacefully. However, the Sahrawi people continued to re-elect him. As someone who has worked in human rights issues for over twenty years, I have never found a more noble and honorable people than the Sahrawi people or a more remarkable leader than Mohamed Abdelaziz.

A most meaningful exchange I had with him was when my husband and I took our two oldest sons to the refugee camps when they were only 7 and 11 years of age. When we were preparing for this trip, I had been reluctant to use limited resources to take two children to the camps. In my typical Washingtonian mind-set I thought it would have been better to take an NGO leader, a journalist or a Congressional staffer or two, someone who could learn and benefit from visiting the camps. But what President Abdelaziz said to us when we first arrived in the camps with our two young sons made me realize how much it meant to him and the Sahrawi people. President Abdelaziz said: I will remember until the day I die that you brought your children to see us.

To honor Abdelaziz and the values he cherished the UN must hold that long promised referendum or call for Moroccos withdrawal from their illegal occupation of Western Sahara. That is the least we can do for Muslim leaders in this world facing enormous adversity who faithfully work for democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Otherwise, we send a terrible message that invasion, aggression and violence, as Morocco has employed, are the way to accomplish your objectives, while reliance on the rule of law, and trust in the United Nations, will only result in your children growing up in refugee camps, and your loved ones being beaten, tortured, and disappeared into Moroccos prisons.SPS

125/090/TRA
Subsisting on Doritos, Mountain Dew and solidarity, Chris Murphy refused to leave the U.S. Senate floor Wednesday until lawmakers take up gun-control legislation.

Not even to go to the bathroom or check his phone.

The filibuster by Murphy, D-Conn., is the latest act of defiance by the minority party on Capitol Hill over congressional inaction on the scourge of gun violence  from Newtown in 2012 to Sundays bloodshed in Orlando, the worst mass shooting in the nations history.

A group of Democratic senators led by Murphy spent most of the day clamoring for universal background checks on gun sales and a federal ban on assault-style weapons such as the AR-15 rifle used at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A similar weapon, a Sig Sauer MCX, was used at Pulse nightclub in Florida.

The senators also renewed the push for a measure restricting gun sales to people on the no-fly terrorist watch list.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal, of Connecticut, and Cory Booker, of New Jersey, also helped to organize the filibuster and both spoke in support of the gun-control legislation.

What were asking for is not revolutionary, Murphy said. It is not radical. It is simply common sense.

The filibuster  a stall tactic used by senators to block votes  started at 11:22 a.m. and was expected to go deep into the night Wednesday. Murphy had a long way to go to break the record for the longest filibuster, held by the late Strom Thurmond, who spent 24 hours and 18 minutes on the Senate floor trying to block a vote on the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

More Information Court cases The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to decide whether to hear a Connecticut gun-rights group's appeal of the state's assault-weapons ban. If the court hears Shew v. Malloy, the justices would hear oral arguments in the fall term and issue a ruling by June 2017. A motion by gun manufacturer Remington Outdoor Co. to have a lawsuit brought by Sandy Hook families partly or completely thrown out is scheduled to be heard in state Superior Court in Bridgeport on Monday. See More Collapse

Some fights are too important to stay silent. Preventing gun violence is one of them. Stand strong @ChrisMurphyCT, Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, tweeted at Murphy.

Gun-rights backlash

Second Amendment groups accused Murphy of grandstanding, and said that the heavily armed gunman who carried out the shooting at the gay nightclub had allegiances to the Islamic State terrorist group.

We look at the Boston (Marathon) bombing. We look at Timothy McVeigh in Oklahoma. Crazy will always find a way, said Scott Wilson, president of the 23,000-member Connecticut Citizens Defense League. Sen. Murphy should be ashamed of himself (for) trying to effectively take tools away from people that they use to protect themselves to suit his agenda.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Republicans control both the Senate and House.

On Monday, a walkout by U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., during a moment of silence for the Orlando victims on the House floor drew national attention in the emotionally charged gun debate.

I dont think theres any amount of blood that can be shed or atrocity so large that the House Republicans would be willing to consider any gun-safety measure, Himes said in an interview Wednesday.

Himes went to the Senate chamber Wednesday to show his solidarity for Murphy, who started filibustering when it was his turn to speak on a funding measure for the Commerce Department.

So did Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., whose district includes Newtown. She brought Murphy a care package that included his favorite soda, Mountain Dew, along with Doritos, Red Bull and hot dogs. Esty mounted her own silent protest in the House when she unsuccessfully attempted Wednesday to reintroduce a bill banning gun sales to individuals on the so-called no-fly list.

A test of endurance

Murphys filibuster is the first by Democrats since March 2015, when they used the tactic to block Republicans from undoing President Barack Obamas immigration policies. Filibustering senators are not allowed to leave the floor for bathroom breaks and must stand.

Victims of gun violence hailed the protest of Murphy, who was a member of the House when 20 first-graders and six educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. Among the supporters was Gabby Giffords, the former Arizona congresswoman and 2011 mass shooting survivor, as well as her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly.

In the face of our national gun violence crisis, Sen. Murphy has been a tireless and true champion for responsible change, Giffords and Kelly said in a joint statement to Hearst Connecticut Media. We applaud him for leading this important conversation about how our leaders in Congress can act to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans, keep guns out of the wrong hands and save lives.

Erica Smegielski, the daughter of the slain Sandy Hook principal Dawn Hochsprung, similarly applauded Murphy.

For too long, Congress has done nothing to prevent mass shootings and everyday gun violence  whether it was the murder of my mother, five of her colleagues and 20 first-graders at Sandy Hook School, the gun killings of nine worshipers at a black church in Charleston nearly a year ago or the massacre of 49 people at an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, Smegielski said. I will not rest until our whole Congress takes action to save American lives.

In response to the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut lawmakers expanded the definition of illegal assault weapons, banned gun magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition and mandated universal background checks for firearms and ammunition.

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to meet privately in conference Thursday to decide whether to take up a lawsuit brought by gun-rights activists challenging the law.

A request for comment was also left Wednesday for J.R. Romano, Connecticuts Republican Party chairman.

neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
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GREENWICH  Standing at the border of Greenwich and Port Chester, N.Y., at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Ray Rauth was poised to brave the most dangerous road in Connecticut on foot.

Rauth began a 12-day trek across the state to the Rhode Island border to alert residents to the dangers of Route 1 and advocate for non-motor vehicle rights.

A member Connecticut Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Rauth wants to make the heavily used road safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. His journey will include meetings with residents and officials.

I want to highlight just what an important issue this is, Rauth, of Weston, said Tuesday morning when he stopped briefly at the top of Greenwich Avenue to meet with some town residents. We need to make Route 1 safer. A study has found that Route 1 has been the site of the most pedestrian deaths over the last three years and thats the eighth time I believe that a three-year study cycle has found that.

Among the fatalities: a woman struck and killed while crossing Route 1 in Greenwich in 2010.

Among the solutions Rauth is advocating are improved signage and signaled crosswalks.

Were not asking for something thats impossible, Rauth said. Change can be done. But the towns need to talk to the state. They need to work on this problem. We need local advocates to get involved and the town needs to listen to their advocates. Theyre the ones who know whats happening.

While in Greenwich, Rauth met with Vince DiMarco, who has long campaigned for improved pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and Paul Settelmeyer, Greenwichs representative to the Southwest Regional Planning Agency before that agency was phased out.

DiMarco, a member of the Pemberwick-Glenville Association, has pushed for action on a Route 1 Corridor Study released in 2012 that recommended a sidewalk along the south side of Route 1, bike lanes, a double roundabout in Port Chester and new road divisions to improve safety.

Its pretty much been put on the shelf, DiMarco said. The process involved both Greenwich and Port Chester and there was not a lot of consensus about what would be the right solution. Unless everyone comes together to make that consensus then nothings going to push anything along.

Settelmeyer said local politicians and municipal planners need to step up.

The state and the town have seen the reports and know what needs to be done, Settelmeyer said. But it needs to be developed into an implementation schedule. Thats what will make a difference.

Greenwich receives money from the state each year for paving and other improvements. According to Rauth, 1 percent of that money is supposed to go toward pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvements.

Most of Rauths journey will be done along Route 1, with some detours around the most dangerous intersections, including Exit 23 off I-95 in Fairfield. For the first few days, hell be joined by his wife, Carolyn Arnold. Then hes on his own.

While this is the first time Rauth has walked through Connecticut border to border, he has walked Long Island Sound to Massachusetts.

kborsuk@scni.com
WASHINGTON  The Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved the Defense Department policy authorization bill for 2017, which contains billions for Connecticut-produced helicopters, submarines and jet engines.

The $602 billion National Defense Authorization Act is critical legislation that will enhance our national defense and support our state economy, said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who voted for it. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I was proud to help craft this bill, and to fight for provisions that would invest in Connecticut jobs and manufacturing.

The bill includes:

$929.3 million for 36 Black Hawk helicopters, as well as $437 million for two of the Marine Corps new heavy-lift CH-53K helicopters. Blumenthal claimed credit for an extra $302.3 million for eight additional Black Hawks to replace the Air Forces aging fleet of Vietnam-era UH-1N ``Huey helicopters, used to protect intercontinental ballistic missile fields in the West.

$8.5 billion for 63 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps. Pratt & Whitney, of East Hartford, is the exclusive manufacturer of engines for the F-35.

$5 billion for two Virginia Class attack submarines, used against potential enemy surface ships and surface ships. Also, $1.9 billion to start replacing Ohio Class ballistic missile submarines, which are part of the nuclear triad. Electric Boat has been contracted to build 12 Ohio Class replacements.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who worked to secure Connecticut defense funding as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted for the authorization bill.

The United States depends on Connecticut to build the subs, engines and helicopters that our military relies on to keep us safe, Murphy said in a statement. I supported todays bill, despite some real policy reservations, because its good for Connecticut working families.

A comparable version passed the House last month, with U.S. Reps. Jim Himes and Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., voting for it even though it contained language that would, in essence, permit defense contractors to discriminate against LGBT employees and job applicants because it contained relatively generous funding for Connecticut defense industries. Both pledged to fight to remove the LGBT part of it before the bill becomes law.

The Senate bill does not contain the same language, but both versions received White House veto threats. Among the issues: Republicans in control of both House and Senate want to keep the detention facility for radical Islamic fighters at Guantanamo Bay open, against President Barack Obamas pledge to close it.

Republicans and some Democrats oppose another round of military-installation closings, which the Obama administration says is necessary to save defense dollars.

The House version shifts money from war fighting to nuts-and-bolts Defense spending, injecting $18 billion more for troops and weapons the Pentagon didnt request, the Associated Press reported.

dan@hearstdc.com
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STAMFORD  Community leaders raised a rainbow flag then lowered it to half-mast Wednesday morning to honor the 49 people gunned down at an Orlando nightclub last weekend in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

Flags matter because theyre symbols, and when a community is under attack and marginalized, those symbols matter tremendously, Rev. Kate Heichler told a group gathered at the Stamford Government Center.

Hiechler, president of the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut and pastor at Church of Christ the Healer in Stamford, was joined by others who condemned 29-year-old Omar Mateens attack at the gay nightclub Pulse that also wounded 53.

This country has been fighting oppression since its founding, Stamford Mayor David Martin said. Weve come a long way and we still have a long way to go.

Martin said Stamford is a community that recognizes the importance of diversity.

Officials are still piecing together what drove Mateen to gun down club-goers at the popular Orlando nightspot early Sunday morning. The FBI investigated Mateen in 2013 and 2014 for terrorist ties but closed the investigation after 10 months, according to reports. Investigators believe a hatred of gays and lesbians was a factor in the attack, which killed Connecticut resident Kimberly Morris, 37, of Torrington.

Public safety director Ted Jankowski said he has been in contact with the FBI to assure there are no threats to Stamford in the wake of the massacre.

We are doing our best to make sure everyone is protected, regardless of race, religion or sexuality, he said.

Stamford police are still searching for the man who punched a woman outside a Spring Street bar last month after she identified herself as a lesbian, an attack that officials condemned as a hate crime.

The mayor appointed two LGBT liaisons last year and has proposed updates to city ordinances that strengthen non-discrimination protection. City officials have also forged a relationship with the Triangle Community Center in Norwalk, Fairfield Countys gathering spot and resource center for LGBT individuals.

Raising a rainbow flag in front of the government center sends a sign to the LGBTQ community that were supported by this city and the government is on our side, said Anthony Crisci, Triangle Community Center executive director.

About 20 citizens watched Crisci, Martin and Interim Schools Superintendent James Connelly raise the flag on Washington Boulevard.

I just feel so terribly sad about the people who lost their lives in Orlando and I felt it was the least I could do, said Ann Preston, who waved both the American and rainbow flags.

Preston was joined by another member of Stamfords Unitarian Universalist congregation saddened by the shooting.

What is the reason? Where did this hate come from? Helene Devin said. Im a mother of four kids and theyre all accepting and loving  you didnt even have to teach it to them.

eskalka@scni.com/Twitter @lizskalka
steven colbert donald Trump orlando shootings

Donald Trump was quick to point fingers and say "I told you so" after the deadly shootings in Orlando, Florida, over the weekend.

That led "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert to examine the Republican presidential candidate's statements on Tuesday night's episode.

As investigators were still unraveling the details surrounding the Orlando shooting, Trump delivered a speech suggesting that the shooter was born in Afghanistan and was a radical terrorist.

But in fact the gunman, Omar Mateen, was the child of Afghan immigrants and like Trump was born in New York City.

Trump also reiterated his desire to bar Muslims from entering the United States.

"This whole speech, with its nativism, its fearmongering, and especially its self-aggrandizing in the face of tragedy, feels like a new low," Colbert said. "It makes me long for the days when Trump was just bragging about the size of his penis."

Trump also said both President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the presumptive 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, were unable to deal with radical terrorism effectively.

"They have put political correctness above common sense, above your safety, and above all else," Trump said. "I refuse to be politically correct."

To which Colbert commented: "Donald Trump refuses to be politically correct. And just to be safe, he refuses to be correct."

But the comment that got most people talking was when Trump told Fox News that there might be "something else going on" in Obama's approach to dealing with terrorism, seeming to imply something more sinister about the president.

So when Trump challenged others to make sense of his statements, Colbert took him up on his offer. The late-night host brought in a chalkboard to chart Trump's statements. The first time he did it, he ended up with a giant swastika. He erased that quickly and started all over again.

See what he ends up with below:

NOW WATCH: 'When does this stop?': Obama slams Trump's Muslim ban





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I cant remember hearing Sir Philip Green sound so dejected. This is a sad place, this country, he said to me this morning as he prepared to face the parliamentarians.

There was none of the usual fusillade of F-words, no notching up of the dec ibels. Lets see what happens, he sighed. It sounded like nerves.

He has absolutely hated the past few weeks. Because, for all his bombast and braggadocio, his f**k you persona, Sir Philip is a peculiarly sensitive man. He hates criticism and relies on shouting and bullying to get his way. My phone ear is still ringing from the shellacking he was giving me only yesterday over a tip-off wed had.

Yet today we saw Reasonable Philip. Even, for a while, Boring Philip. The PG who, far from dimly charging into the MPs committee and shooting from the hip, had undergone detailed preparation and, I suspect, even professional training.

His answers were mostly calm, and  except when he bizarrely snapped at Richard Fuller MP for staring measured.

Not only that, but he totally dominated proceedings, dodging questions he didnt like, or sometimes demanding not to have to give certain answers at all. As a result, he got his messages across plain and clear: I invested 600 million into BHS; we made no profit providing back-office services to the company; there was nothing dodgy about the sale and leaseback deals I did on stores; were back in talks with the regulator to fix the pension deficit.

Despite their best efforts, the MPs were left flailing, unable to pin anything on him. Apart from the glass of water he spilled at one point, no damage was done.

He neednt have been so worried.

Bankings ugly side

Plentys been written about the Goldman Sachs banker who, the High Court was told yesterday, haggled for prostitutes as he pitched for lucrative investment mandates from Libyan officials. But more important were alleged details of how senior executives lobbied for the little brother of a key Libyan official to get a highly prized internship at the bank.

An email trail allegedly shows a senior partner first says the brother is not a suitable candidate for an internship, before another has a better idea  hiring him permanently: it would be a great chance to actually get to know him well and get closer to his country I think we would extract more value than having him in a rotation or the official internship program.

So the bank was hatching a plan to hire a princeling relative of an official in a poor, backward country so as to extract value.

Not pretty, is it?
T ONY Pidgleys Berkeley Group sank to the bottom of the FTSE 100 today after the developer underlined the impact of Brexit fears and soaring stamp duty with a 20% slump in sales over the past five months.

Berkeley has called a halt to London launches over the period, blaming referendum uncertainty as well as big stamp duty rises in December 2014 and a tax raid on buy-to-let investors by the Chancellor.

The offbeat comments drove shares down in Berkeley were down 61.6p, or 2%, to 2928p despite a 6% rise in pre-tax profits to 480 million in the year to April 30.

Berkeley chief executive Rob Perrins said: We are seeing no fall in underlying enquiry levels but what we are seeing is a lack of urgency. Thats across the board.

But he added that the capitals under-supply of homes could be exacerbated by Brexit: The real issue for London is the supply issue. Supply is already falling I would worry about builders not building, fundamentally.

Perrins hit out at the tax changes distorting the London market. He wants stamp duty mainly to be halved  but scrapped altogether for the over-sixties in a bid to improve the second-hand market and reduce the capitals 750,000 under-occupied homes.

Higher transaction tax lowers GDP, he added. Government policy has been deeply unhelpful, focusing on demand rather than supply Transaction taxes are a tax on London, a tax on supply and that has to be addressed by this Government.

The Berkeley boss also had early praise for new London Mayor, Sadiq Khan: Hes very pragmatic, very open and he wants a coalition of the willing. Conflicting policies is his issue because he wants more affordable housing while the Government wants home ownership.

The firm sold 3776 homes in the year to the end of April, up from 3355 a year earlier, although the average selling price dropped to 515,000 from 575,000 because of the type of properties sold.
I ve always enjoyed canvassing and been reassured by the polite and generally pleasant response of people, even those who were keen to assure me they certainly would not be voting for my party.

Canvassing for Remain has been a very different, and deeply depressing, experience. Attempting to hand out leaflets making the case for a Yes vote, Ive met with extraordinary hostility, ranging from surliness to tirades of abuse.

John Cleese provided a perfect example of this aggressive attitude when he declared himself an Outer and said Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, should be hanged. If it was meant as a joke, Cleese needs a refresher course in comedy.

Now it may be that those campaigning to leave have met with a similarly unpleasant response from their opponents but I doubt it  most of them lack the vehement determination that drives so many of those who want the UK to go it alone. They suspect that, on balance, staying in is the safer option but they are not great crusaders for EU membership. The Remain campaign has not engendered hugely positive sentiment.

The economic case for remaining in Europe has been resoundingly made. Virtually every respected economic analyst forecasts the alternative creating a downturn in the short and medium term. The markets have already signalled their nervousness about the potential ramifications of a No vote. Banks are openly talking about their plans to move jobs away from London if that happens, and private-equity firms say that many deals are now only being done if they contain contingency clauses allowing cancellation in the event of Brexit.

It is at least debatable how far the Government has needed to feed the Project Fear agenda beyond this, given the risk people might begin to take umbrage at such perceived bullying. When the Chancellor warns that the average mortgage could rise by 1500 a year, sceptical voters are apt to think that this is simply scaremongering guesswork.

Pulling out of a single market of 550 million consumers would be deeply damaging for the UK. For every maverick Lord Bamford or Sir James Dyson, who maintains that their business would continue to thrive, there are many more big British businesses that fear the consequences. Dyson, although it is an exciting company with a big brand name, is not a major employer in the UK, preferring to manufacture in Malaysia.

Brexiteers blithely suggest the EU will be generous in the terms of trade it offers a departing UK. But Germanys finance minister, Wolfgang Schauble, very publicly begged to differ last week, insisting: Out is out. Offering the UK an option that looked attractive to other potential exiters is unlikely to be a strategy the EU would be keen to adopt.

But those who hissed and snarled as I proffered my Remain leaflets did not mention the failings of the single market, of which there are undoubtedly some, nor did they launch into meaningless rhetoric about reclaiming sovereignty. They had just one reason why they would be voting out on June 23: immigration.

On Sunday, the Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledged that immigration was a concern for very many people. Since January 2014, it has consistently been top of the concerns highlighted in the Ipsos/Mori issues polls. What the Remain campaign has failed to get across is that this is not simply a British problem but a major issue for many other European countries and it will be best tackled together.

As refugees stream out of Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, it is Germany, Hungary and Sweden that are receiving many, many more requests for asylum than the UK. In Germany, the level is 587 per 100,000 people; in the UK, it is 60. Internal migration within the EU is greater to Germany than the UK but, despite the benefits it brings, it also puts strains on some communities and the UK is already a well-populated place.

The Prime Minister won some concessions on benefits in his renegotiation but there is scope for further controls on numbers and, should we vote to remain in Europe, the UK will be well placed to lead the reform that many other countries would like to see.

But that will not appease the many Outers, who see immigration as a proxy for their total discontent. They perceive themselves as the victims of a divided country in which the haves have looked after themselves and the have nots have less than ever. They are fed up and they want change.

Whatever the outcome of the vote, that issue will need to be tackled.
C AMBRIDGE-based tech group Aveva has ended talks about a possible takeover deal with Schneider Electric for a second time.

Shares in Aveva fell 16.7% this morning, down 308.5p to 1,546 at 8:20am.

The on-off saga kicked into life nearly a year ago when the two sides agreed to a complex 1.3 billion reverse takeover but talks ended abruptly in December due to integration challenges.

Aveva, which makes software for the oil and gas industry, said on Monday it was again discussing a potential deal with Schneider  but now those talks are off too, leaving investors spinning.

The deal would have seen Schneider receive new Aveva shares in an enlarged company listed on the London market.

In exchange, Aveva would have got cash from Schneider.

The deal would have brought Aveva together with Invensys, another Brit tech firm Schneider owns which was rebranded as Schneider Electric.

Its the latest blow for Aveva shareholders. Avevas stock price previously crashed 30% in December after talks were originally terminated.
D an Wagner, the controversial entrepreneur behind failed start-up Powa, has quit as chairman of AIM-listed Attraqt, another company he founded.

Wagner said he is leaving loss-making Attraqt, an e-commerce software firm behind the Freestyle Merchandising platform, to focus on his new technology start-up.

His new venture is thought to be Rezolve, which was known as Powa Commerce between February and March. The function of the new start-up is unknown.

Existing non-executive director Nick Habgood will be Attraqts interim chairman and will lead the search for a new independent chairman. Investors cheered Wagners departure as the shares jumped 3.25p, or 11%, to 31.75p. He retains a 13% stake.

Powa collapsed in February after burning through $220 million in a few years at the expense of 74 jobs.

It was one of the UKs few unicorn tech start-ups with a valuation of more than $1 billion and had been praised by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Wagner said today: It is companies like Attraqt that push the boundaries of technology innovation enabling their customers to be more efficient.

Attraqt made revenues of 2.9 million last year, up 40%, with a 700,000 loss.
S TEELWORK firm Severfield today boasted its biggest order book for six years, shrugging off a year of turmoil for Tata Steel.

The company  whose 270 million of UK work includes Wimbledons No 1 Courts roof, Tottenham Hotspurs new stadium and Goldman Sachss Farringdon headquarters  was forced to look elsewhere after Tata mothballed its two plate steel mills in Scotland last year.

The mills have been bought by steel products firm Liberty House. Hopefully well be buying from them again soon, Severfield chief executive Ian Lawson said.

Tatas steel sections business was bought by Greybull Capital, and renamed British Steel, removing another doubt for Severfield.

The company stressed only around 40% of steel used in UK construction is made in the UK although a Tata closure would have pushed up prices.

Pre-tax profits rose 59% to 13.2 million in the year to March 31.
I was waiting on my bike at the traffic lights and a man wandered across and looked me sorrowfully up and down. I knew what he was going to say. Boris, he said. I voted for you  but youve made the wrong call on this referendum. We dont want to be Little Englanders. Think of the geopolitics. Think of the world! he said, an d I understand at least the emotion behind his words.

London is the greatest urban economy in the world. We have 300 languages spoken on the streets. There are more Chinese students studying at London universities than there are in any city outside China. Of the London population, 38 per cent was born abroad.

It is this amazing cosmopolitan vibe that helps make London the most visited city on earth, and also the worlds financial capital, with an unbeatable concentration of talent that has seen the City massively lengthen its lead over EU rivals. London defied the Euro-enthusiasts 15 years ago when the UK stayed out of the single currency, and it will defy them again if we vote Leave  not just because French construction companies or German telecoms giants will continue to raise capital in London but also because if you are an Indian company buying an African mobile phone firm, there is simply nowhere better than London to do the deal. That is what we mean by a world city.

It is vital that we preserve this openness and dynamism  and that is one of the very reasons why we should vote Leave and take back control next week. This referendum is not about our relations with the world. It is about our membership of the European Union, a sclerotic and anti-democratic project that has caused economic misery in much of Europe; that pre-empts 350 million a week of UK cash, that generates about 60 per cent of our laws and that is holding us back in a modern globalised economy.

It was just about possible to argue in 1975 that the Common Market was an internationalist experiment, opening us up to the delights of the continent. Today it is the EU straitjacket that is actually preventing us from engaging with the rest of the world.

Locked in the EU, we cannot do free- trade deals with some of the fastest growing economies  in South-East Asia, China, India or the Americas  because our trade policy is entirely controlled by the EU Commission, where only 3.6 per cent of officials come from this country. According to the commissions own figures, such deals could generate 284,000 extra jobs in the UK alone. Or take UK representation in global bodies: the IMF, the UN, and all the global standards-setting bodies that increasingly decide the terms of world trade, whether it is the Codex Alimentarius (on food) or CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).

The Euro-ideology is to create one country out of many, to build a United States of Europe. So the EU Commission is gradually replacing member states at the global table  on the principle that the whole EU should be speaking as one.

The result is that Britains distinctive and humane voice  as the fifth biggest economy in the world  is being drowned out. There are inevitably times when the EU cannot agree a position, and says nothing  as sometimes happens in CITES  so that the British people end up with no one to represent them at all.

We spend huge amounts of energy trying to influence this EU position: just look at the vast numbers of Foreign Office staff devoted to this shrinking part of the world economy. This means that we have proportionally fewer resources to devote to the real growth economies: and I have met many superb UK trade and diplomatic representatives who are mystified and resentful at this short-sighted Eurocentrism.

As for the impact of our efforts in Brussels, we are outvoted more than any other country, an experience that will intensify as the eurozone countries go forward with their desperate plans to prop up the currency, using the single market to create a totally undemocratic single economic government.

What is it really producing, this vaunted membership of the single market  this Aladdins cave to which we are supposed to have such privileged access? If you look at exports of goods and services to the single market in the past 23 years (since the birth of the single market programme) there are 36 countries that have done better than us at exporting both goods and services to the EU  and they are outside the EU, with none of the regulatory burden.

And then there is one fundamental way in which the EU system is shutting us off from the 93 per cent of the world that is not in the EU, and that is in the movement of people. One of the reasons Sir James Dyson so passionately wants to leave the EU  to take back control of UK immigration policy  is that he cannot get the non-EU engineers he needs.

One of the most disreputable aspects of the Remain campaign  in addition to their increasingly bizarre and hysterical scaremongering  is to say that anyone who discusses immigration is racist. It is the EU system that is discriminatory  and it is the Leave campaigns proposal for an Australian-style points based system that is fair and balanced.

I am pro-immigration; but I also believe that it should be controlled, and done with democratic consent. It is that lack of control that has caused such public disquiet  as the Remain campaign is belatedly recognising. Indeed, it is only by taking back control that we can spike the guns of those political forces that are truly hostile to immigrants.

If you want our great capital to be genuinely open to the world  rather than locked in and diminished by a failing EU system  then go global, vote Leave, and take back control next week.
I magine your night out has turned into a three-hour hostage situation. Youre trapped in a toilet cubicle sending what you cant believe will be your last words to the people you love. Does it matter to you whether the mentally disturbed homophobe machine-gunning your friends next door is inspired by a faraway Islamist sect or by his own self-hatred?

I would imagine that in the moment, the fact that hes mad and has a gun would override these concerns. But in the aftermath of Orlando, the distinction matters.

The first reports from the Pulse nightclub classed Omar Mateens murders as an act of terror. Many made no mention of the fact that Pulse is a gay club, or that his 50 victims were LGBT men and women (many of them black and Hispanic). The gay writer Owen Jones walked off Sky News after presenter Mark Longhurst insisted that this was a crime against all human beings and Western values as opposed to one specifically targeted at the LGBT community. You can rush to call a murderer a terrorist, apparently, but be careful about calling his victims gay,

Its now undeniable that this was, among other things, a hate crime. Mateen pledged allegiance to Islamic State (which is, among other things, a homophobic, misogynist hate cult) but he also had a profile on a gay dating app and had visited the club before. He went on homophobic rants to co-workers and violently abused his ex-wife. But there is no hatred so destructive as self-hatred. Fanatics of all kinds want to cure others of what they feel to be their own sin.

There are no easy solutions, is the standard reporterly response to having taken in this confusing morass of ill-feeling. But at the risk of being logical, for once there is an easy solution. Dont allow people on an FBI watch list with documented mental health issues to buy a .223 calibre AR-15 assault rifle. And maybe, as a general rule, try and keep teenage misfits, lone wolf terrorists and homophobic wife-beaters away from machines of multiple homicide?

But then you remember that Ted Cruz released a campaign video in which he cooked bacon on the barrel of an AR-15, and the man who beat him to the Republican nomination, Donald Trump, feels building a wall to keep out immigrants would be a tremendous idea. (Could we trust Trump with a semi-automatic?)

Im aware that Americans dont take kindly to being lectured by the British; it was the need to form militias against us that prompted the much-abused Second Amendment in the first place.What we can do, in the borderless world of hope and reason, is stand alongside the LGBT community. You can recognise this as their tragedy without feeling that it is any less of a human tragedy. You can mourn the men and women who went to Pulse and feel that they represented the best of our civilisation.

Western values is a problematic term, but if anything gives it meaning, it is the existence of clubs such as Pulse and the rainbow flags weve seen flying in solidarity across Western cities. But certainly, when we talk about our best values  liberty, equality, respect, strength, creativity, diversity  no one has fought a better fight in recent times than the LGBT community.

The freedom that any society gives people to express the purest of human emotions  love  is as good a measure of its worth as any. But the means it gives people to vent their hatred will always underscore its fragility.

Freedom would be better for Fido and Tiddles

The number of pets in Britain is falling for the first time in decades  from nine million dogs and 7.9 million cats in 2014 to 8.5 million dogs and 7.4 million cats last year. Jilly Cooper calls this heartbreaking and it does seem alarming. Must be an awfully big fur coat.

You can point to any number of factors behind the decline. The population is ageing and the elderly are less able to look after dogs. Generation Rent (including those with children) lack secure housing. No doubt migrants are coming here, taking all our dogs too.

But overall, must we see this is a bad thing? If it means less excrement to steer my child around on the way to nursery and a few less potentially lethal animals menacing us in parks then I shall not weep. And a reduction in cats would do wonders for our native bird populations. We can still be a nation of animal-lovers without feeling the need to domesticate them, surely?

The Tate shows up Londons artless skyline

I write to you amid the brushed concrete of the Switch House, Herzog & de Meurons Tate Modern extension. Wandering around the neo-brutalist pyramid, which opens to the public on Friday, I remembered the excitement I felt when I first visited Tate Modern as a teenager. When it opened in 2000, apparently London was the only major city in the world with no dedicated contemporary art space.

There are the sepulchral Tanks in the basement; a handsome concrete staircase swirling around the ground floor; and a feeling of generosity and uplift throughout the new galleries. From the 10th-floor viewing platform you can take in a 360-degree panorama of 21st-century London.

What a mess theyve made of the skyline! Its a measure of how times have changed that the artworks in Tate Modern now seem quite civilised and reasonable while its the speculative concrete outside that prompts feelings of conceptual bewilderment. Call that a city? My two-year-old could build something better than that! And so on...

How to debase the EU debate

The EU referendum began as an argument between fear and anger. It is descending into an argument between exasperated nuance and wilful stupidity. Michael Gove declares that people in this country have had enough of experts. Boris Johnson knows full well the benefits of migration to the London economy  if public services are under strain, your argument is with austerity  but he pretends he doesnt, because he doesnt want to be on the side of experts.

Not content with leading us out of the EU, the long-term effect will be to debase debate to Donald Trump levels of ignorance, where every expert is so-called, insinuations beat fact and anyone pleading otherwise is elitist. It will be a toxic legacy.
A number of Arab countries have commendably joined the chorus of global outrage against the horrific Orlando massacre, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Indeed, the images of young partygoers corpses strewn across a dancefloor should shock anyone with any sense of humanity, regardless of their views on gay rights.

But while these countries have been quick to condemn this attack on LGBT people, they have often been reluctant to address persecution on their home turf.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE still maintain the death penalty for homosexual conduct and these countries all opposed recent resolutions at the UN Human Rights Council to combat anti-gay violence, while Egypt has challenged any discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN.

This month several Latin American countries will propose a new resolution to appoint a UN independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity. Governments that are sincere in their condemnation of the Orlando massacre should turn their sympathy into concrete action by supporting this resolution.

Neela Ghoshal, senior LGBT rights researcher, Human Rights Watch

What happened in Orlando demonstrates the hatred so many LGBT people around the world continue to face, simply because of who they are  not just in the 73 countries where being gay is illegal, or the 10 where it is punishable by death, but indeed all over the world.

In Britain many people believe that same-sex marriage marked the end of our campaign for LGBT equality. But 75,000 young people in our schools were bullied for being gay last year. Each week 100 hate crimes are reported by LGBT victims, and we would expect far more instances of this go unreported.

LGBT people around the world are facing a very dark time at the moment. We must continue to stand by one anothers side, along with our much-needed allies, and combat this hate with love, warmth and support. Only then can we continue to work for a world where all LGBT people are accepted without exception.

Ruth Hunt, chief executive, Stonewall

The attack in Orlando at the weekend was quite clearly a planned assault on the LGBT community. So for Sky News to portray it as an attack on the the freedom of people to enjoy a night out, as their presenters did during a debate on Sunday night, glosses over the true motivation behind this atrocity.

Anthony Lawless

Russia thugs should not have been let in

The outrageous violence from Russian fans in the stadium in Marseille was totally unacceptable. How are such gangs allowed entry at venues? Russia has had a huge problem with fan violence for some time and seeing English fans being attacked only highlights this. UEFA is not without blame either: the security inside the stadium was woefully inadequate and it should look at reviewing its arrangements. It has threatened both nations with possible expulsion, but surely Russia should be under threat, not England?

David Doe

The French authorities have launched a security operation to deal with violence during Euro 2016. Yet Russian fans were able to bring huge fireworks and flares into the stadium. I wonder what else could be smuggled in?

Luke Deacon

Remain has to be right for London

London will be stronger if the UK remains in the EU. It is the HQ for 40 per cent of Europes top companies, while 60 per cent of global non-European firms have chosen London as their base within the bloc.

Our capital will be safer inside the EU in an increasingly unstable world. Cross-border intelligence sharing expedites bringing criminals and terrorists to justice. Our domestic security is boosted by EU instruments like the European Arrest Warrant and Passenger Name Record databases.

The City is the worlds biggest global financial centre because international institutions choose London as an English-speaking city where they can sell financial services freely across the EU. This could change with a Brexit, with Paris and Frankfurt set to gain at our expense if banks based here lost euro clearing rights.

Stephen Greenhalgh, Londons first Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime; Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea and Fulham and chief secretary to the Treasury, and Dr Charles Tannock, MEP for London

The EU referendum campaign has been depressingly unedifying. We are entitled to a rational debate about whether the shared benefits of broader prosperity, security and rule of law afforded by membership of the EU outweigh its many institutional imperfections and serve our national interest. Instead, dominating the headlines is a fixation on immigration and a very parochial battle for the soul of the Conservative Party.

Misinformation and personal attacks from both camps typify the playground approach politicians love but leave us exasperated. We should look beyond those directly involved for a more objective perspective.

The need for collaboration and co-operation in tackling the complex challenges evident in the world today transcends national borders. It is telling that many leading figures on the international stage want to see the UK remain as an influential member of the EU, and so few advocate Brexit.

Andrew J Smith
Y ou dont need to queue for hours or reserve weeks in advance to try the hottest restaurants  hit the bar for a new generation of gourmet bites at a fraction of the price.

Zetter Townhouses deep-fried olives

No refrigerated over-brined olives at Zetter in Marylebone: in its cosy bar they come breadcrumbed, deep-fried and stuffed with anchovies. Perfect with a Koln II martini.

Info: 3.50, 28-30 Seymour Street, W1, thezettertownhouse.com

Som Saas Sai Krok

Thai-spiced, salty-sour fermented sausage wrapped in cabbage leaves is the perfect appetite-whetter when munched alongside a lime-heavy Muay Thai Kick cocktail.

Info: 4.50, 43A Commercial Street, E1, somsaa.com

The Dog Houses market fish crudo

Kick off dinner with this beautiful rainbow palette of raw fish and a Negroni at Italian restaurant Bernardis new underground bar, before moving upstairs for a huge plate of pasta.

Info: 8.50, 62 Seymour Street, W1, bernardis.co.uk

Brunswick Houses masala dosa

This revamped Indian snack is a cut above Bombay mix: spiced crispy roll, stuffed with vegetable curry and served with peach chutney, packs a flavour-texture punch  especially when accompanied by a smoked G&T.

Info: 7, 30 Wandsworth Road, SW8, brunswickhouse.co

Best bars for a date in London 1 /34 Best bars for a date in London Beaufort Bar at The Savoy Not one if you're hoping to keep things relaxed: the Beaufort is overwhelmingly, but marvellously, romantic. The room itself, with its palatial lavishings of gold on black, sets the tone. The bar sits, mirrors glimmering, on the old cabaret stage where Gershwin once performed. Naturally, theres live entertainment every evening now, too, so you can sit back quietly in your finery and avoid any conversation about who's paying for what. Drinks are as pricey as you'd expect, but if you're looking for something special, it's hard to beat. Piano Works All you really need to know about this bar is that it's a damned good laugh. It's not a quiet, intimate romantic joint at all: it's loud, brash, drinks go down quickly and everyone ends up getting silly and dancing until doors close. One for those dates that spiral gloriously out of control. It stays open late, it's tons of fun and you can quite happily get away with requesting your musical guilty pleasure. We love it, and so does the rest of London: booking is essential. Buddha Bar Buddha is a place of opulence and extravagance, and also a place of money, so be prepared to dig deep for this one. You drink Champagne here, not Processo. Cocktails here are first rate and, without exception, use top shelf ingredients, mixed carefully. Be sure to eat, too: sushi and sashimi are the menu's strong points, but if you're looking for something a little more substantial, the smoked duck and foie gras gyoza is a must, small delicious bites of brilliance, while the beef short rib with wasabi mash and veal teriyaki sauce is ideal for something more substantial. Though the wine list on the bar menu is short, ask for the sommelier, who's friendly, easy-going and knowledgeable: he'll make sure you drink well without imposing on the night. Buddha is in many ways a place of excess, but if you're in the mood for that, don't miss it. Bounce Shoreditch Fine cocktails and dressing up? Why so serious? Come and play ping pong instead. Bounce is filled with table tennis tables, walls are artfully covered in graffiti and drinks are decent enough. If youre not near Old Street, head to the Holborn branch: its a little more upmarket, and a little pricier, but the same excellent fun. Just make sure to book: both get extremely busy. Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London Settle in by the fire and Scarfes bar will do the romancing for you. It's like an oversize library in a grand old house, but thankfully easily gets busy enough to keep a buzz up. You come here to impress: the place is all art deco details, beautiful old books and live music throughout the week. The gentlemen's club vibe fortunately isn't taken too far, and the cocktail list is surprisingly fresh, and doesn't rely on straight classics. Beautifully luxurious, tremendous atmosphere and the live music is always first rate. The Gibson Date night favourite: The Gibson 69 Colebrooke Row Otherwise known as The Bar With No Name, this Islington favourite comes from the well regarded Tony Conigliaro. It has a terrific atmosphere, in the most part because its mostly always busy, but theres also a piano in one corner that often gets a hammering. Its a stylish place, with stylish drinks, but be warned it's small  cosy?  so you might not be able to squeeze in, or stay for ages. Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town Sometimes a date deserves nothing less than some East End quirkiness. The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town has been delivering this in spades for years: wander into the Breakfast Club, ask to see the Mayor and youll be led through a Smeg fridge  we kid you not  to a kitsch British riff on a speakeasy. Its a laugh here, they have a decent playlist, and the drinks slip down well enough. Still, you come for all the talking points: itll stop your date being awkward. Les Compagnie Des Vins Surnaturels If your date is big on wine, don't pass this place up. It's rightly popular within the industry for the choice available, which includes some rarities among the French-heavy list. They've upped their food game considerably, too. Would it matter if you were stood up? Mr Foggs Gin Parlour Both Mr Fogg's are worth a visit, but the Theatreland Gin Parlour nudges it for a more intimate setting, and because it gets less crowded than its Mayfair cousin. Hidden upstairs from the tavern below, this hideaway bar is dressed in curiosities of the late 19th century, with chaise longues and dark corners, the smell of cocktails lingering like perfume and operatic fare playing throughout. You won't be short of conversation starters and if you know a gin lover, they'll be heaven. All Star Lanes, Holborn A bowling alley has no right having a bar this good, but there we go, theyve done it. It has a strange Vegas vibe to it: low-lighting and pink all around, but the drinks are good and priced fairly. Just because bowling was your go-to date at 13 doesnt mean its not any good these days too, and now you can add plenty of tasty, tasty alcohol  maybe enough to get you in the karaoke booth? Ladies and Gentlemen Ladies and Gents has the novelty factor of having once been a public loo  romantic, eh?  but it's far from a novelty bar. The drinks are expertly mixed, the place makes its own gin, about 12 bottles a day. They've usually got some terrific music on, often with live acts too. Oh, and when you've run out of things to say, grab a book from the shelves and read to your beloved. Callooh Callay The best dates are fun and what better fun than heading to Narnia? Not really, of course, but there are plenty of hidden spots behind wardrobe doors at Callooh Callay. CC loves its gimmicks  the madcap interior gives this away  but they know how to mix a decent drink, and with the DJs dialled up, everyone has a good time. Midweek its a little quieter, which actually works in its favour if you fancy  the horror!  talking to your date. Jose Tapas Bar This tiny, tiny corner tapas bar is, for us, the highlight of everything Spanish chef Jose Pizarro has done in London. It's fantastically simple: you go for tapas and sherry, because that's pretty much all you'll get. Food changes daily, and is reliably gorgeous. It's very cosy here, but have a back-up plan because there's every chance you won't get a seat. Cahoots Chances are, you won't have been a bar quite like it: Cahoots is set in 1946, and the whole thing is underground themed. Yup: you can drink on the tube once again. Themed bars can be a bore but Cahoots charms and impresses from the off. Even heading down the stairs to find the place is fun  and should set the right tone for the evening from the off. Drinks  honestly, they're a mixed bag, so choose wisely  start at 8, so you needn't break the bank to treat a date. Booking essential. Radio Rooftop Bar The views do it all here  all you need to do is avoid messing it up. Ten floors up, the rooftop bar offers views of Tower Bridge, the Shard, the Tate Modern, Somerset House and the Houses of Parliament. There's usually a live DJ too. With the white sofas, the bar has a smart Ibiza vibe, which is a little fun and a little sexy. Cocktails are good, and have some tapas to go with. The K Bar K bar feels majestic  and there is no other word for it  because drinking here is a little like being in the captains quarters of the Titanic, albeit without the sinking feeling. The oak, the velvet, the brass, the marble tops: there is glamour here, luxury whiffs of Penhaligons perfume and the rest. It ticks over nicely, but you'll likely not get a table, so it's built for a last minute, upmarket date. 5CC Granted, its odd not to specify a particular bar, but the 5CC gang (found in Bethnal Green/Hoxton/the city) all have their charms. All are fond of classic cocktails, and offer very drinkable riffs on them. But why are they suited to a date? Besides the low lighting, quirky neon signs and sizeable spirits collection (something for everyone), theyre big on oysters, so lay yourself across their leather seats and indulge. They all offer champagne very reasonably, too. Perfect match, non? The Vaults at Milroy's The Vaults at Milroy's wins from the off, because to get to it, you enter through an bookcase, and that's the best way to get to anywhere. They play decent music, the drinks are reasonably priced and they make an excellent Old Fashioned. It's full of small tables which quickly fill up: come here for a relaxed, chatty, laughing date. The owner's adorable dog sometimes makes an appearance, too. Gordon's Wine Bar Gordon's will not fail: the terrace gets a little crowded when the weather is fine, but it's still a marvellous place to knock back some wine and talk. However, it's the caves indoors which are the real temptation: dark, intimate, it's a place to forget the rest of the world for a while. Wine is king here, but if you're eating, a paired cheese board always goes down well. They also serve some hot plates, but we prefer the cold bites. Bar Termini This tiny little spot in Soho seats barely a handful of people, which automatically gives it a sense of romantic intimacy. There's no standing room, either, so it never gets sweaty, horrible or crowded: finish an evening here either with a coffee or, better yet, a Negroni (make it two, they're small serves here). It'll add a little gentle Italian glamour to any date, just don't expect to spend the entire night here. OXO Tower Close by Blackfriars bridge, the Oxo is another spot with terrific views, including St Paul's and the Gherkin. Head out to the terrace, which is a showstopper: you won't really care what you're drinking, but the wine list is solid and the cocktails excellent. When it's cold, cosy up behind huge views: you'll get all of breathtaking beauty of London without giving in to frostbite. WC Wine and Charcuterie It's like they custom built this place for dates: the whole premise is  surely the name was a tip off  wine and charcuterie.Once inside, you'll be sat in candlelit surroundings. It's romantic, but not showy, and the wine is fairly priced, too. Head down on a Sunday and a Monday and you'll catch some live music. The sort of place that becomes "our place". Cork & Bottle This underground favourite couldn't be more central, living in Leicester Square, and despite having sat there since 1972, most Londoners wander past without realising it exists. The 300-long wine list covers just about everything, but doesn't go too heavy on the tasting notes: you're encouraged to find your own thing. You could never call the Cork & Bottle grand, but it charms immediately, and you'll want to find your own corner to come back to time over. Slim Jim's Liquor Store Dates are not about behaving appropriately, as Slim Jims well knows. This rock n roll dive bar has become all the more of a dive in recent years, but it still offers a damned good time. You come here for beer, bourbon and classic rock. The decor's main feature is bras on the ceiling, which makes sense, given they exchange drinks for them. Just make sure to dress down: suits and ties are turned away at the door. Party on. The Commercial Tavern Ok, ok: granted, this wonderful spot isnt technically a bar, although they do serve cocktails upstairs (sadly, not especially good ones...) The glory of the Commercial Tavern is its quirky decor, and the beautiful light upstairs that filters in through the windows. You come for a relaxed time, to chat, to laugh and sink a few drinks. It has its own feeling: nothing screams glamour, but something is quietly compelling about the place. Youll be back.

Pitt Cues pigs head scrumpet

This deep-fried lump of gooey brawn is so lush youll stay for another round of in-house-brewed Alphabeta beers.

Info: 4.50, 1 The Avenue, Devonshire Square, EC2, pittcue.co.uk

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T he restaurant which was named the second best in the world at this weeks Worlds 50 Best awards is coming to London.

El Celler de Can Roca in Girona fought off competition from across the globe to win the accolade, falling just one place from last year when it was declared the worlds best  a feat no London restaurant has yet managed.

The restaurant will come to London as part of a tour of a handful of cities around the world over the coming months and will reside in Piccadillys Hotel Cafe Royal for four days from August 2-5.

The Roca brothers who run the restaurant will lead the kitchen at the pop-up and are bringing almost the entire El Celler de Can Roca team with them, ensuring guests enjoy the same level of culinary experience they would at the Spanish restaurant.

However, there is a catch. The tour is part of a promotional initiative by Spanish financial services company BBVA and tickets are being offered only to invited guests. Keep your eyes peeled, though, as there are likely to be giveaways.

For those who can get in, the menu will include El Celler de Can Roca favourites as well as some new dishes inspired by London and made using local produce.

The dinners will take place in the hotels Domino restaurant. It follows a residency by Albert Adria of el Bulli  another Spanish restaurant which has previously been voted the best in the world  at the same location earlier this year.

For more information on the tour visit info.bbva.com.

Follow Ben Norum on Twitter @BenNorum

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T he strength of this years Evening Standard London Restaurant Awards finalists proves the capital is the worlds most diverse and exciting food centre, it was declared today.

Daniel Noake, events director of the Taste of London festival, said the citys openness to foods from different cultures and regions was the driving force behind its culinary success.

Mr Noake spoke ahead of this evenings awards ceremony, which is taking place on the festivals first day.

The London restaurant scene is now one of the most diverse and exciting in the world. In contrast to stereotypes of British adventurousness when it comes to dining, the openness of Londoners to food from different cultures and regions has driven its success, he said.

The mission of Taste of London is to celebrate not only the incredible quality of the scene but the extrordinary talent from home and abroad that make it up. The awards have highlighted just a few exceptional examples and were proud to support all of the winners.

At the festival in Regents Park, top chefs will host cooking demonstrations, interactive culinary features and masterclasses. It runs until Sunday.

Award categories are Best Breakfast, Worth the Queue, Good Drinking, Restaurateur of the Year, Best New London Restaurant, and the Champagne Laurent-Perrier London Restaurant of the Year.

Thousands of Standard readers have voted in the Restaurant of the Year category. In the running are Pimlico venue A Wong, Shoreditch restaurant Lyles, Ottos in Chancery Lane, Notting Hill venue The Ledbury, The Quality Chop House in Clerkenwell, and The Woodford in east London.

Judges this year  the second year of the awards  are restaurant writer and awards director Joe Warwick, Standard restaurant critics Fay Maschler and Grace Dent, London chef Rowley Leigh and Instagram star Clerkenwell Boy. Maschler, chairwoman of the judges, said: Reasoned debate  actually spirited argy-bargy  about the shortlists brings home how fertile, fruitful and fun the London restaurant scene is.

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.

To book tickets for Taste of London visit www.tasteoflondon.co.uk. Limited tickets are available on the door.

Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout
L ets face it  who runs the wedding world? Bloggers.

Wedding bloggers are the ones who tirelessly provide us with endless inspo to swoon over, give us tip-offs on the best venues and suppliers, and pick up on the biggest trends long before any of us could. They are the mavens of the wedding world, our knights in pearly armour.

So when we held Bridebook.co.uk Bloggers Summit earlier this year we were incredibly excited to get all of the UKs top wedding bloggers top trend predictions for the 2016 wedding season. Of course there is no right or wrong way to plan a wedding, and making your wedding feel right for you is the most important thing  however, like everything in this work, sometimes things are just plain trendy.

So, click on the gallery above to get an insight into what its like to be a trend setter  and keep your eyes peeled to see if you or a friends wedding are a la mode this season.

Groom-to-be Hamish Shephard is the founder of free online wedding planner Bridebook.co.uk. His ES column, Groom with a View, gives fuss-free, practical advice to make wedding planning as enjoyable as it should be.

Follow us on Twitter: @eslifeandstyle
H olding a tray of freshly made Amaretti biscuits in her sisters Kensington kitchen and wearing a white crochet dress that offsets her tan, chef Nina Parker looks the embodiment of her new book, Nina Capri. Through recipes, stories from Italians she met on a road trip along the Amalfi coast and photographs, the book is an escape to the Mediterranean and a welcome change from the glut of clean eating books that are out at the moment.

Parker, aged 30, is slim and healthy- looking but her focus is being creative with fresh ingredients rather than fetishising them in pursuit of a certain body shape. In fact, she is allergic to quinoa. Clean eating has gone nuts, she tells me. I dont think all that supposedly healthy stuff is necessarily that good for you. If you eat simple homemade food and good quality ingredients you will be OK. People are giving themselves intolerances by cutting out gluten when they dont need to.

She acknowledges that you have to move with the times, so she tried to make her recipes less gluten-heavy, but first and foremost you want to look at the dish and think it looks exciting.

Parker had had rigorous training in Londons best kitchens. After a degree in French and Spanish at Leeds University she persuaded LAnima restaurant in the City to take a chance and give her a job in its kitchen. I was the only woman in a team of 11 and had no culinary training, she smiles.

They threw me in at the deep end and called me posh girl. One of my first jobs was boiling these enormous live crabs. They teased me for feeling sad about them dying and called me a serial killer. But you have to get over that meanness.

She continues: The female chefs that make it to the top have to be tough. Its so labour-intensive standing on your feet for long days in a crazy rush. My hands would be red and swollen. When I burned myself Id ask for cream and the other chefs would look blank and be like: Get on with it. Thats the mentality.

Did they go out on ragers after service? You have to be quite mental to work in that atmosphere. They work hard and when they go out they go quite hard.

She went from LAnima to stints at The Dorchester  it was so amazing being behind the scenes of a hotel, like Maid in Manhattan  Locanda Locatelli and The Ledbury before going to the ice cream kitchen at Gelupo. They make it all from scratch there but I learned what goes in some other ice creams  its just sugary paste.

The discipline of the kitchen is important, especially at a time when lots of people with no professional training are becoming self-styled food gurus: I want to say substance wins. Theres only so long you can go on making up stuff. The early stage shaped how I work. It gives you backbone. She still worries about getting it right. When someone Instagrams your recipes and hasnt been left with a mess you are glad it worked.

Parker feels she has to make up for lost time with Instagram. I fell behind on social media. I was getting better at cooking when I should have been building a social media presence simultaneously.

She had always wanted to start her own business and decided to go it alone in 2012, selling ice cream at festivals from her vintage Citroen camper van. Her family were a huge support  her father is a lawyer and her mother a sculptor. Her Polish grandmother was also an influence, forcing her to try seafood from a young age.

She jokes about how fashionable food is now. Everyone I know is quitting their jobs in the city to work in food or be a yoga teacher. It feels like when the credit crunch hit people decided to do their own thing. My sister laughs about my friends wacky jobs. I can name about 10 people who all quit law. The founder of Patty & Bun is a university friend. We were going to make desserts together. I remember him telling me about his idea and I said Sorry buddy, nice try, we already have burgers. But now it is one of my favourites.

Gluten-free cookbooks - in pictures 1 /10 Gluten-free cookbooks - in pictures Scroll to see our pick of the best gluten-free cookbooks... Shutterstock / S_L Against the Grain by Nancy Cain Ideal for beginners, Nancy Cains colourful recipe book shows how theres nothing dull about going gluten-free. Her tasty meals include pizza, cookies, pies and sandwiches made with only natural ingredients such as brown rice flour and vegetables. 17.67, Wordery, Buy it now Gluten is My B**** by April Peveteaux Those who have recently been diagnosed with coeliac disease might feel disheartened. This humurous book not only provides you with 20 recipes for delicious everyday meals, but will also help you see funny side of the challenges ahead. 6.36, Wordery, Buy it now Seriously Good! Gluten-free Cooking by Phil Vickery With meals for every time of the day, Michelin-starred chef and Coeliac UK Food Ambassador Phil Vickery has covered the tricky parts of the GF diet in his helpful cooking guide. More than 150 recipes including wheat-free breads, scones and sponge cakes can be found inside. Panic over. 11.48, Wordery, Buy it now Cake Angels: Amazing Gluten, Wheat and Dairy Free Cakes by Julia Thomas Baking without gluten doesnt mean you need to settle for cakes that taste like cardboard. Gluten, wheat and dairy-free baker Julia Thomas has created a range of simple recipes for moreish treats like Chocolate and walnut brownies, Italian hazelnut cake and White chocolate blondies. 16.99, Waterstones, Buy it now Gluten-Free Girl Every Day by Shauna James Ahern This book is packed with ideas that make cooking gluten-free meals everyday a doddle. Whether its dinner for the family or food to freeze and cook later, theres a recipe for almost every occasion inside. Youll also learn how to stock a GF pantry and tips on baking to perfection. 23.18, Amazon, Buy it now Danielle Walker's Against All Grain: Meals Made Simple Food blogger Danielle Walker has recreated some of her favourite dishes from her pre-paleo days without grains, gluten or dairy. Thirty-minute dishes, an 8-week meal plan and recipes for leftovers make this book a perfect way to keep you organised and help you stick to a gluten-free diet with ease. 21.34, Amazon, Buy it now Gluten-Free on a Shoestring by Nicole Hunn A strict gluten-free diet can be quite costly. Nicole Hunn shows you how to save time and money with a collection of uncomplicated recipes for American classics such as Chicken Pot Pie, Cinnamon Rolls and Blueberry Muffins. 10.99, Amazon, Buy it now

Does she think making Jamie Oliver-style 15-minute meals is possible after a busy day? You have to be on the money to make them work. She is lazy healthy when shes tired and makes quick dishes such as broccoli with salmon. On hangovers she eats bowls of pasta.

She has recently bought a flat in Earls Court. Id like to live east  theres a buzz there  but my work is west. The Continental Pantry in Notting Hill has just started stocking her cakes and shes had to turn down offers to cook for private clients in their villas because she is so busy.

As an a chef inspired by Italy, what does she make of the looming EU referendum, and the leave poster in the window of the house opposite? I am so for staying in the EU. I dont think cutting yourself off is the way to progress. There are a lot of issues that need to be sorted but leaving is so negative and not how we will move forward.

Next shed like to do a book about another area, maybe California. I like the sense of escaping to another world through a book. It could be the depths of winter and you are there and it makes you happy. She doesnt think the avocado and chia seed takeover will last. People will move away from the whole clean eating thing and enjoy it more.

@susannahbutter

@antoninaparker

Nina Capri is out now (W&N, 20)
I f youre reading this in between checking your emails, or while your fingers autonomously fire off a CC-all to the office: bad news. Youre out of date. You might as well still be using Hotmail (emailing a millennial from a Microsoft address is akin to sending a fax).

Thats because email is over. Ploughing through an inbox of 93,324 missives when you return from holiday/each morning/every hour is seriously unproductive  not to mention unhealthy.

In France, new legislation gives employees the right to disconnect  sending work emails on the weekend is now illegal.

Even in more corporate-minded London, companies stretching from small start-ups to councils and international firms are hailing (via Twitter) the virtues of killing off  or at least restricting  email. When missives do need to be sent, its all about the brevity (and opt-in-or-out-ability) of social networking and new tech such as Slack and Hipchat.

So heres why its time to sign off email  without a passive aggressive out-of-office signature, please (see number 8).

1. Millennials have moved on

As Ted Nash, the 25-year-old chief executive of Farringdon-based mobile advertising start-up Tapdaq (and the first teenager to achieve more than a million downloads in the App Store), sees it, why email when there are better alternatives? He uses chat apps Slack, JIRA and Google Hangouts to communicate with colleagues. Though our HQ is in London, we often work from Calgary, San Francisco, the Czech Republic and elsewhere  right now we have a team member in Japan but we can communicate as a team, instantaneously, via Slack. It aids our ethos of being completely transparent as a team, and company, which you dont get with email.

2. Shorter is sweeter...

First the text, then Twitter, then the fact that no one has time to spend more than 20 seconds talking to anyone nowadays means were good at being succinct. So when we face the emails huge blank page we feel the need to fill it with extraneous dull words. Why else do people youve never met launch into an email, Frank! Howre you doing this morning? Its nearly halfway through hump-day!

This is obviously especially bad if youre not called Frank. But where email used to be a simple form of communication to get a point across, now it has become just another form of dull, blanket marketing where you can barely sift through the rot to find out when your important Amazon parcel (of three packs of Dairy Milk) is going to arrive.

3. ...and time is money

Tech firm Intel introduced no-email Fridays for its engineers to encourage them to solve problems by phone or in person; French IT firm Atos is on schedule to end all staff emailing by next year, and in the UK Halton Housing Trust has spent two years training staff to stop emailing (listing the most internal email-senders on a wall of shame, restricting the use of reply all and cc) and is set to switch off the capacity for any internal emails by next year.

Meanwhile, IT services firm Capgemini reported cutting internal email traffic by 40 per cent in 18 months after putting staff on Yammer, another social network for businesses. When the likes of the CBI start issuing press releases about reducing internal emails which absorb more days of productivity a year than bank holidays (which the business lobby group practically wants to ban), youll know the whole of corporate Britain is logging off email.

4. Email has become Londons natural home of bullsh*t

Im talking about the people whose email signature reads innovator. connector. collaborator. reach out to me anytime! Theyre the ones who took email and ruined it.

5. Bankers hate it

And while theyre not the trendiest people around, theyre actually usually ahead of the curve on office matters (possibly because they spend more time there than any other profession).

Weve always used an internal chat system for quick questions, says one City analyst. It flashed up on your screen and is more intrusive than email, so your colleague has to respond ASAP, and you work faster  thats massively important in bonus season.

But it used to be popular for a whole other reason. Colleagues sitting next to each other would use it all the time  to compare private stuff such as pay packets (always in weird code) or deals, because there was a perception that the conversations were not logged. But then the LIBOR trials suggested that in fact these chats were logged by compliance  and now its not used quite as much...

Email isnt either, though  the favoured form of communication among some in the City now is  the handwritten note.

6. The new kids on the block are more fun...

They let staff, wherever they are, dip in to find out what everyone else is up to, without the need to constantly send updates to all. Which is why almost the whole of the media runs off Slack now, explains a veteran journalist at one media tech start-up. Basically, it makes everything a bit too fun: rather than trudging through formal emails its a permanently flowing stream of work  bad jokes and gossipy links as well as things that really urgently need doing.

There are downsides: You send more messages because its so easy, but people also expect responses straight away. And then, before you know it, youve got Slack open at home and youre chatting away with your colleagues without realising its not work time. Still, its better than another load of emails.

7. ... because the cock-ups are funnier

Hipchat and Slack have their own version of oops, I CCd all into that email about throwing a sickie tomorrow and its funnier (perhaps only while theyre new). Theres the message that was meant to be sent privately but went in the public forum  I told everyone I was thinking of quitting my job but was waiting to hear back from a rival, admits one in sales. The whole office just turned towards me at once. I quit that day. But better still comes from the firms that use a gif add-on which turns typed words into pictures. I typed everyone welcome and along came a gif of f*ck the motherf***er..., one tech PR admits. Wow was one of the more polite responses.

Lightweight laptops - in pictures 1 /6 Lightweight laptops - in pictures Microsoft Surface Pro 4 The Surface Pro 4 has accessories such as the Surface Pen, which is designed to provide an authentic pen-to-paper experience, while the screen has in-built Palm Block technology so you wont accidentally make a bank transfer while writing. 749, Currys, Buy it now iPad Pro The newest 9.7in iPad claims to have the least reflective screen in the world and is equipped with ambient light sensors that automatically adapt the colour of the display to your environment. Faster and more powerful than a standard PC, it still has 10 hours of battery life. 499, John Lewis, Buy it now Lenovo Ideapad Miix 700 A watchband hinge means its easy to flip between laptop and tablet and this device comes in a good-value bundle with accompanying detachable keyboard and ActivePen stylus. 899.95, John Lewis, Buy it now Dell XPS 12 Keyboard and screen attach magnetically, which is automatically detected so the device can adjust its functionality. 849.95, John Lewis, Buy it now Acer Aspire Switch 10 E For a more affordable convertible, the Aspire Switch 10 has an Intel Atom x5 processor for greater power efficiency. It runs Windows 10 and the snap hinge lets it be used in tablet, notebook, tent or display modes. 229.99, PC World, Buy it now

8. No more insufferable OOO

The true signal of summer  once indicated by the availability of a Tube seat a whole three stations from the start of the line  is now the launch of that oh-so-fun sport, OOO ping-pong. As in, you email someone and get their out of office, it says to contact someone else but that triggers their OOO, someone is actually at their desk but oh-so-busy that theyve set up a FOOO (fake out of office: Im here, and working, but totally manic right now. Im reading messages every 47 minutes and will get back to you when I can be bothered). Eventually you get through to a working human but by then youre on holiday and their response meets your OOO. Time-sapping pointlessness.

9. Spam

Sure, gmail et al have vastly improved at diving in front of the viagra and you wan da loterie! spam emails but all those shops, websites and connectors who are reaching out with exciting news are still wasting your data allowance. And your time. Youre sick of spam.

10. Email = the ever present worry of hacking

Just ask Hillary.

11. Your inbox has more pointless abbreviations than Fifa

No, Ian from accounts, youre not saving anyone time writing rgds rather than regards, you just look illiterate. And wrt and iro? Just because youre living in a dull world of corporate obfuscation, forcing me to Google your invented acronyms for with regards to and in respect of is eating into my lunch break.

12. The return of productivity

You feel super-productive at reaching inbox zero, when really youve just pressed the delete button for a few hours and not got any actual work done. Some entrepreneurs employ email managers  but thats old-school.

MBA courses now are obsessed with the practices at Volkswagen  which turns off its server at 5.30pm  and Daimler, which stops staff receiving work emails when on holiday.

Follow Lucy Tobin on Twitter: @lucytobin
A n 80-year-old has been killed in a gun battle with police after he shot dead another elderly man in a cemetery.

Police said the pair had arranged to meet at the graveyard in Tiverton, Rhode Island, where one of them was known to go to read his bible.

Mourners visiting loved-ones graves heard gunshots ring out as Edward Acquisto, 80, opened fire and killed 81-year-old John Cloud, Tiverton police chief Tom Blakey told reporters.

He said: "This was not a random act. The victim and the suspect knew each other.

After police were called to the incident at about 7pm on Monday, Acquisto fled the scene but was later tracked down by police to residential neighbourhood.

He shot at police after they cornered him at a dead end, with officers killing the octogenarian gunmen  who had a criminal record for manslaughter and sexual assault - as they returned fire.

The three officers involved in the case have been placed on administrative leave as is routine in such cases, police said.
A gunman who tried to flee to Amsterdam after shooting dead a childhood friend in broad-daylight has been jailed for 18 years.

Christopher Erunse, 28, opened fire on young father Moses Fadairo, 25, in a confrontation outside a butchers shop in Hackney.

Customers at restaurants and cafes nearby ran for cover when Moses chased after and stabbed Erunse in the leg, and he retaliated by opening fire.

The Old Bailey heard Moses and his older brother Emmanuel had been hunting down Erunse in a taxi on September 26 last year over a drug dispute, leaping out to confront him in Chatsworth Road just after 1pm.

Emmanuel dodged the bullets as he hid in the Mighty Meat butcher's shop, but Moses, a new father of twins from Bow, was struck once in the chest and died at the scene.

Killed in broad daylight: Moses Fadairo / Metropolitan Police

Erunse, of Chalcombe Road, Greenwich, was cleared of murder and attempted murder by a jury but found guilty of manslaughter and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

His accomplice, Bradley Wynter, 28, admitted carrying the gun away from the scene of the shooting, and is due to be sentenced later.

He had been in Percy Ingle's bakery at the time of the shooting, but had been caught on CCTV dropping the weapon while carrying it away wrapped in his jacket.

Judge Wendy Joseph QC said the shooting was part of a spiral of "tit for tat revenge".

"The effect of it has rolled on and will roll on perhaps forever - the impact is huge and the damage irreparable", she said.

"A young man of 24 has lost his life and his children left fatherless. His mother has been left inconsolable and unable to come to terms with what's happened, and his siblings are bereft."

She said Erunse had chosen to live in "a world of violence and drugs", and chose to carry a loaded gun rather than go to the police for help when he got into the dispute with the Fadairo brothers.

"You armed yourself with a loaded weapon and went on to the high street at the busiest time of day on the busiest day of the week", she said.

"Frankly it's a miracle no innocent passerby was shot and badly injured in the scenes that unfolded."

Erunse was arrested three days after the shooting as he sat on a plane that was about to take off from Birmingham Airport.

As he was being led away by officers, he said into a mobile phone: "I've been nabbed."

Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC said Erunse had grown up with the Fadairo brothers in Hackney as friends, but their relationship soured over some missing drugs.

"The fatal incident took place at around lunchtime on that same Saturday in Chatsworth Road, a busy road in Hackney", he said.

"It was a sunny day. People were eating outside at cafes and restaurants, parents were out shopping with their children.

"What followed was, on any view, quite outrageous."

Wynter, who has spent most of his adult life in prison, claims he threw the gun into the Thames after the shooting.
S cotland Yard is examining the details of child sex allegations against Sir Clement Freud after two women claimed he had assaulted them, one when she was 10 years old.

Detectives are said to be looking into the possibility the former Liberal MP had associated with other alleged abusers at the time of the claims that stretch from the Forties to the Seventies.

Police are said to be unlikely to launch an inquiry but details of the claims will be examined.

Sir Clements widow issued an apology after the late broadcaster was accused of abusing the two girls at their London home.

Sylvia Woosley, who met Freud when she was 10 and later went to live with him and his wife when her mothers marriage broke down, claims in an ITV Exposure documentary that he molested her over several years.

A second woman, who wants to remain anonymous, alleged that the Liberal politician also abused her as a child and raped her when she was 18.

At least one of the women has now spoken to the Met about the claims.

Lady Freud, 89, said: I am shocked, deeply saddened and profoundly sorry for what happened to these women.

Freud also befriended Madeleine McCanns parents Gerry and Kate, because he had a home in Praia da Luiz, Portugal, where she vanished in 2007.

His family have said Freud was not in Portugal at the time of Madeleines disappearance and they have not been contacted by police. The McCanns are said to be horrified by the allegations that Freud was a paedophile.

Ms Woosley, now in her late seventies, said: You cant bury the truth forever, it needs to be heard.

Peter Saunders, of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, said he had been told of an allegation against Sir Clement many years ago saying: At the time, I never thought it would go anywhere because he was rich and powerful.
T wo men have been charged with murder after an innocent young man was gunned down in north-west London.

Oliver Tetlow, 27, suffered injuries to his chest and stomach after a hail of bullets was fired from a Skorpion machine gun on the Church End estate in Harlesden.

Neighbours tried to resuscitate him but he died from his injuries on March 9 just before 10pm.

A post-mortem examination at Northwick Park Hospital gave the cause of death as gunshot wounds.

Romarne Young, 22, from Kilburn, and Mohamed Siamino, 19, from Acton, were charged with murder yesterday.

They will appear in custody at Hendon Magistrates Court today.

Mr Tetlow's aunt, Kamilla Richards, told the Standard after the his death: "He had nothing to do with it, he was an innocent bystander. The situation has nothing to do with him."
A third woman has come forward with claims she was sexually assaulted by Sir Clement Freud as a teenage girl.

Vicky Hayes, 64, said the late broadcaster and politician should be posthumously stripped of his knighthood after she went public with allegations he raped her.

She told ITV News that Freud would frequently visit her father's Lincoln seafood restaurant, known as Syd's, in the mid-1960s and that she first met him when she was 14.

A fan of horses, Ms Hayes added that when she was 17, he returned to take her to Newmarket Races - assuring her parents that a housekeeper would also be present, and on the overnight trip plied her with champagne before taking her virginity.

She said: "I lay there naked he got in and I just lay there afraid, scared, and he forced himself on me and took my virginity."

Ms Hayes said she did not tell her parents, because her father would have "killed" Freud.

"You don't expect a friend of your parents to rape you," she continued, adding that his parting message to her was to call him if she was pregnant.

Ms Hayes said: "He should not be held up as a pillar of society, he is what I know him to be. He does not to deserve to keep his knighthood, I think he should be stripped of his knighthood."

She told Suffolk Police about the abuse in 2010.

A spokesman for the force said: "A historic allegation of rape occurring more than 40 years ago was made to Suffolk Police in 2014, against a man who was deceased.

"This was formally recorded but as the suspect was no longer alive, there were no further lines of inquiry."

Ms Hayes is the third woman to come forward with allegations against Freud, with earlier claims prompting his widow to apologise.

Sylvia Woosley, who first met Freud when she was 10 and later went to live with him when her mother's marriage broke down, claims in an ITV Exposure documentary that he molested her over several years.

A second woman, who wants to remain anonymous, alleged that the Liberal politician also abused her as a child and raped her when she was 18.

Freud was married to Jill, 89, for nearly 60 years. In a statement released in response to the programme, she said: "This is a very sad day for me. I was married to Clement for 58 years and loved him dearly. I am shocked, deeply saddened and profoundly sorry for what has happened to these women. I sincerely hope they will now have some peace."

ITV said two of Freud's children had viewed the documentary before broadcast on their mother's behalf.

In the programme, due to be screened tonight, Ms Woosley, now in her late 70s, said: "I just want to clear things up before I die ... I want to die clean."

Exposure: Abused And Betrayed - A Life Sentence will be broadcast on ITV at 11.05pm.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.
T hree major hospital trusts have warned NHS chiefs of the catastrophic consequences of allowing a crisis-hit north London A&E to close, it was claimed today.

The Royal Free, University College London Hospitals and Barts Health are understood to have outlined the chaos that would be caused to emergency admissions across north London if North Middlesexs failing casualty department was shut.

Today it was reported that North Middlesex, which sees up to 500 A&E patients a day, was at risk of having its junior doctors withdrawn by Health Education England because of the inadequacy of the training they were receiving.

This could force the department to close its doors.

Joan Ryan, Labour MP for Enfield North, said the three trusts had outlined their concerns at an emergency summit on May 25 to discuss the dire state of emergency care at North Middlesex, in Edmonton.

She told the Standard that neighbouring hospitals such as Barnet General, the Royal Free and Whipps Cross were already too busy to cope with patients unable to be treated at North Middlesex.

Ms Ryan, who was aiming to raise the issue in Parliament today, said: This is an absolute crisis for Enfield and Haringey, but it has national implications as well. This is the first hospital to arrive at this point, but there are quite a few others on the same path.

The countrys top emergency doctor also warned of the dire consequences of closing the department. Dr Clifford Mann, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: In London, if the North Middlesex were to close tThe implications for surrounding trusts would be overwhelming.

The college said the problems at North Middlesex were symptoms of systemic failure, not mismanagement at local level, with A&E performance at record low levels and most departments having unfilled doctor and nurse vacancies.

Last week the Care Quality Commission, after a snap inspection, told North Middlesex to significantly improve treatment of A&E patients.

A spokeswoman for NHS England (London) said: There is no plan to close the A&E. She added that measures were being taken to support the trust to make the improvements required by the CQC.

The Department of Health said patient safety is our absolute priority. The three trusts have not yet responded to requests for comment.
A coroner has issued a warning about a lack of neurologists after a woman whose severe headaches went undiagnosed for 13 days died from a rare brain disease.

Marina Fagan, a 51-year-old mother of four, was discharged following a two-day stay at Whipps Cross hospital, in Leytonstone, after investigations ruled out a brain haemorrhage.

She returned to A&E the same day as her headache persisted but was advised to get her GP to refer her to an outpatient clinic. Her condition was finally diagnosed 11 days after she was first admitted to hospital. She died six days later, on October 6 last year.

Following an inquest in April, Dr Richard Brittain, an assistant coroner for Inner North London, sent a prevention of future deaths report to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs Whipps Cross.

The inquest at St Pancras coroners court heard that Mrs Fagan, who had a family history of aneurism, died from a neurological condition, Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome.

A neurologist who eventually treated her said an MRI scan should been requested two days after she was admitted. He said a neurologist should also have been consulted. He said there were insufficient neurologists and none was on call at the time of her admission.

The coroner concluded that although Mrs Fagan died from PRES, a condition that would not have been treatable, it could have been diagnosed earlier.

Barts Health said: We are deeply sorry that Mrs Fagan was not seen by a neurologist sooner, although the coroner found that it is unlikely that an earlier diagnosis would have prevented her death. Along with the rest of the country we have a low number of neurologists.
T his is the moment a fisherman from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign sprayed Sir Bob Geldof's ship in a bizarre political clash on the Thames.

Groups led by Sir Bob and Nigel Farage faced off on the river today over the upcoming EU vote.

Mr Farage this morning led a flotilla of upto 35 fishing boats up the Thames to campaign for Brexit.

But the flotilla was greeted by a boat carrying remain supporters including Sir Bob Geldof, with a sounds system blaring out Chicago's hit 'If you leave me now.'

In response to this, some of the fishing boats have allegedly fired water at the remain vessels from hoses.

Mikey Smith, aboard the remain boat, tweeted: "Shots fired! A leave vessel just hit remain supporters with a hose."
C oncern is growing for a 45-year-old man who went for a walk at a south London park two days ago and never returned home.

Robert Gibson was last spotted on CCTV at a Co-op supermarket in Central Hill but has not been seen since.

According to police, Mr Gibson left his Gipsy Hill home at around 3pm on June 13 to go for a walk in Dulwich Park.

Police say they are growing "increasingly concerned for his safety and wellbeing" while family and friends have been handing out hundreds of flyers in a bid to find him.

Robert Gibson: The library campaigner left home to go for a walk in Dulwich Park / Met Police

Mr Gibson, who is well known in the area for campaigning to save his local library, frequents Dulwich and Sydenham.

He is described as white, around 6ft tall, with a slim build and grey hair.

Mr Gibson wears black-rimmed Prada glasses and is possibly dressed in a blue or grey t-shirt with green or brown khaki trousers.

Anyone with information should call police in Lambeth on 101 or the charity Missing People on 116000.
B illionaire businessman Sir Philip Green today faces MPs to account for the events that led to collapse of one of Britain's best known retail chains, BHS.

The tycoon had suggested he may not attend the hearing in front of two parliamentary committees, claiming it was a "process which has not even the pretence of fairness", but is expected to show up for when it begins at about 9.15am.

Sir Philip, who has faced calls to be stripped of his knighthood, owned the company until he sold it to ex-bankrupt Dominic Chappell a year ago.

The firm collapsed in April, leaving a huge black hole in the pension fund meaning former employees face having up to 30 per cent shaved off their pensions.

Follow live coverage below as MPs grill the businessman over his role in the events that led to the collapse.
G eorge Osborne was hit by a full-blown Tory revolt today as 57 MPs threatened to torpedo an emergency post-Brexit budget which could put 2p on the basic rate of income tax.

They bluntly told the Chancellor that his position would become untenable if he sought to ram a series of tax hikes through the Commons to deal with a predicted economic blow to Britain from quitting the EU.

The move plunged the Tory party into deeper civil war. It also raised further questions over whether David Cameron and Mr Osborne could survive a feared bloodbath at Westminster even if the country votes to remain in the EU.

The Chancellor infuriated Brexiters this morning by unveiling plans for an emergency budget after the June 23 referendum if the nations verdict is to Leave.

Warning of a 30 billion black hole in Britains finances from an economic maelstrom following an Out vote, he raised the prospect of the basic rate of income tax having to increase from 20p to 22p, the top rate by 3p to 43p, and inheritance tax by 5p to 45p in the pound.

Alcohol and fuel duties could jump five per cent.

Spending on the NHS, schools and defence may also be reduced by two per cent, with 2 billion chopped off pensions and a further 15 billion of cuts to services such as transport, police and local government.

But in a dramatic escalation of Tory infighting, 57 MPs backed a statement telling Mr Osborne that if he were to proceed with these proposals, the Chancellors position would become untenable. The rebels, led by former minister Iain Duncan Smith, who is MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, also included Romford MP Andrew Rosindell, Spelthornes Kwasi Kwarteng, Harrow Easts Bob Blackman, Enfield Southgate MP David Burrowes and Hendons Matthew Offord.

Boris Johnson, seen as a leadership rival to Mr Osborne, had not signed the statement as of this morning.

The statement stressed: We find it incredible that the Chancellor could seriously be threatening to renege on so many manifesto pledges.

Mr Duncan Smith said:Project Fear has really gone completely into hyperspace. But Mr Osborne insisted he would have no choice but to act to prevent chaos in the public finances and huge economic in-stability.

Meanwhile Vote Leave was unveiling proposed new laws, if Britain quits, to limit European courts powers and halt the free movement of migrants.
L uther star Idris Elba today said he is voting to Remain in the EU  and criticised campaigners highlighting immigration as an issue.

In a tweet the London-born actor, 43, said: My parents immigrated to the UK, worked hard and made a contribution ... ME.

He added: ...on that basis VOTE IN.

Other British stars backing EU membership include Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley and Jude Law.

Mr Elba  rumoured to be in the running for the James Bond role  hit back at Twitter users who claimed he lived in Hollywood and would not have to live with the consequences.

He told one he was a Brit who lives in Britain, who cares about our future, our economy and the state we will be in if we left.
S adiq Khan is to embark on a nationwide tour after being called to the rescue by the Remain camp to persuade Labour supporters to vote against Brexit.

The Mayor will start his eight-day dash around Britain by visiting Manchester, Oldham and Leeds, and possibly Bradford today.

He will distance himself from the Government, which has been accused of a Project Fear campaign, but will tell Labour supporters that voting In is the positive, proud and patriotic thing to do.

Mr Khan told The Standard: I am backing Remain because its by far the best option for protecting working peoples jobs, wages and rights...the world wont end if we leave Europe  but it wont be in Londoners interests or the interests of working people.

A YouGov poll for the Standard last week revealed that Mr Khan has overtaken both Boris Johnson and David Cameron as the most trusted voice on the EU in London. An ally of the new mayor claimed he had been called to the rescue by Remain, and added that both the Prime Minister and Chancellor George Osborne had urged him to get more involved as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was struggling to get through to the partys voters.

The Mayor is set to visit the Midlands on Saturday and return to London on Sunday, before a BBC referendum debate against Boris Johnson on Tuesday at Wembley Arena and then campaigning alongside Mr Corbyn on the eve of the poll on Wednesday.
R etail billionaire Sir Philip Green today apologised to BHS staff as he was grilled by MPs over how the high street chain collapsed.

Sir Philip said nothing is more sad than the way workers jobs had been put at risk, but was challenged over payments of millions of pounds made to his wife since he sold the firm.

In a tetchy session he denied he had allowed excessive dividends to drain from the BHS. He also defended himself against suggestions he is a tax avoider and failed to invest in the company.

It follows earlier hearings before the same Commons inquiry during which Dominic Chappell  to whom Sir Philip sold BHS for 1 last year  tried to shift blame onto the tycoon.

Sir Philip told MPs on the work and pensions committee: Nothing is more sad than how this has ended. I hope during the morning it will appear there is certainly no intent at all on my part for anything to be like this.

It didnt need to be like this. I just want to apologise to all the BHS people whove been involved in this.

However, he was asked about cash extraction from BHS, and in particular how much had been received by his wife. Asked to confirm whether Lady Green was still receiving a payment of 20 million a year following the acquisition of BHS, he said: If you say so.

The tycoon laced his answers with the terms with respect and respectfully, while suggesting MPs had not fully grasped the numbers, and advising when they should take notes.

At one point committee chairman Frank Field asked why Sir Philip had moved to Monaco, wanting to know if he was aware of the city-states low tax policies. The tycoon replied that he had not moved there with a business plan but to recuperate his health, and argued that BHS had a transparent tax structure compared to other firms.

Sir Philip denied allegations that he had only withdrawn money from BHS without investing in it, claiming he had pumped millions into the firm. He said: In the years [2004/05 to 2008/09] we invested 254 million of capital in the stores. He claimed the dividend scheme was conservative in the context of the cashflow of the company.

Sir Philip sold BHS to Mr Chappells Retail Acquisitions in 2015, only for it to fail 13 months later. Administrators announced this month that a last-ditch bid to save the firm had failed, with the closure of all 163 BHS shops, the potential loss of 11,000 jobs, and a 571 million shortfall in its pension pot.

Sir Philip has faced calls to pay hundreds of millions of pounds back into the pension pot.

Earlier this week he had said he might refuse to co-operate with the inquiry unless Mr Field stood down, accusing the MP of bias
V oters in Tooting will head to the polls tomorrow to elect their new MP following Sadiq Khans London mayoral victory.

A by-election was triggered in the south-west London constituency when Labour's Mr Khan was elected Mayor in May after he defeated Zac Goldsmith in an historic election.

The seat has remained a Labour stronghold since the 1974 General Election - though the Conservatives slashed Mr Khan's majority to just a few thousand in 2010 and 2015.

Mr Khan was elected in Tooting in 2005 after the previous Labour incumbent Tom Cox was succeeded by him after more than 30 years in the post.

Full list of candidates Rosena Allin-Khan, Labour Party Dan Watkins, Conservative Party Des Coke, Christian People's Party Alex Glassbrook, Liberal Democrats Howling Laud Hope, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party Zirwa Javaid, Independent Elizabeth Jones, UK Independence Party Ankit Love, One Love Party Dr Akbar Ali Malik, Immigrants Political Party Graham Moore, English Democrats Love England - Leave EU! Esther Obiri-Darko, Green Party Dr Zia Samadani, Independent Smiley Smillie, Independent Bobby Smith, Give Me Back Elmo

Labour will hope its candidate Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, who works at the A&E department at St Georges Hospital, can secure victory to keep Tooting red.

The Conservatives have put forward Tooting businessman Dan Watkins as its candidate following on from his unsuccessful bid to oust Sadiq Khan at last years election.

The Liberal Democrats have fielded Alex Grassbrook while Esther Obiri-Darko, who contested the seat for the Greens last year, returns on the ballot paper.

Ukip hopes rest on Elizabeth Jones, who stood in Dartford last year.

Three out of the list of 14 candidates are standing as Independents.

Former Labour firebrand George Galloway said he was preparing to stand in the by-election but later backed out of the race.

The outspoken politician withdrew because he said the dangers of a Tory victory are too great.

Polls open from 7am until 10pm with the winner to be announced on Friday.

For information about where to vote visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk.
D avid Cameron today pledged a huge oomph for Britain if voters choose to stay in the EU.

He said there would be a Remain dividend in which jobs, investment and confidence would flood back into London and the country.

His positive message in an exclusive Evening Standard interview contrasted with so-called Project Fear headlines.

Boris Johnson fired a broadside by saying it was actually the EU straitjacket holding the country back from doing deals with China and other surging giants.

Writing for the Standard, the former Mayor of London said the capital would trade more widely if it votes to go global and leave the EU on June 23.

The clash came as Tory tensions exploded following a threat by George Osborne to increase taxes and cut NHS spending in an emergency Budget if there was a Brexit.

However Boris Johnson says leaving the EU would be better for international deals / Daniel Hambury

Some 57 Conservative MPs  enough to provoke a leadership confidence vote  said they would block it, with ex-leader Iain Duncan Smith complaining that Project Fear has really gone completely into hyperspace.

But speaking to the Evening Standard, Mr Cameron gave a markedly upbeat assessment of how the economic mood in Britain could lift if the European question was settled with a vote to Remain.

Lets be clear, there is a real upside for London on June 24, he said. If we wake up on June 24 [the day of the result] and we are still in the EU, I think there will be a sense of excitement and investment from inward investors and wealth creators.

I mean a huge oomph and boost I think to London and to Londoners jobs and prospects. It came amid fresh evidence that firms were being held back by Brexit jitters.

Berkeley Homes revealed that reservations for new properties were down by a fifth, while Rolls-Royce and John Lewis both wrote to staff warning of up to five years of uncertainty if Britons vote to leave.

The Prime Minister went on: Of course people are holding back a bit because they want to know the decision, but I think theres a real Remain dividend on June 24 and beyond.

But in his article, Mr Johnson retaliated: Today, it is the EU straitjacket that is actually preventing us from engaging with the rest of the world. Locked in the EU, we cannot do free trade deals with some of the fastest growing economies  in south-east Asia, China, India or America.

He accused the Remain campaign of increasingly bizarre and hysterical scaremongering. By contrast, he claimed, the future was brighter outside Europe.

If you want our great capital to be genuinely open to the world  rather than locked in and diminished by a failing EU system  then go global, vote Leave, and take back control next week.

In a letter to workers, John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield said staff had been asking what would be best for the business. What we have said to them is if the UK votes to leave the European Union it would have an adverse impact on consumer confidence and activity.

A weaker pound, he added, would mean higher prices, while weaker investment would cost jobs.

Rolls-Royce chief executive Warren East, backing a Remain vote, told BBC Radio 4: The uncertainty and the putting decisions on hold is the problem. Our US competitors dont have to cope with that uncertainty.

Mr Cameron predicted the Conservatives would quickly reunite after the vote. He said yesterdays Cabinet meeting was perfectly civil.

The FTSE and the pound rallied slightly in early trading today, following a poll by YouGov in The Sun that showed Remain ahead by a 46-45 margin.

Unemployment has fallen to an eight-year low, figures revealed. The jobless total was cut by 20,000 in the quarter to April to 1.67 million, the lowest since the spring of 2008.
T hey are among the brightest and most promising young people in the country.

But students at Oxford University nevertheless share the gripes of those at higher education establishments the world over.

Undergraduates have complained that they are being given too many essays - with some saying they are expected to write three every week.

They say work loads at the university are unevenly spread as other students on the same courses submit just one essay in the timeframe.

Now, an external review team has recommended that the university puts together specific guidance setting out the number of contact hours and level of assessment students should expect.

Oxford undergraduates are taught using a tutorial style of teaching either individually or in twos or threes by academics who assign them pieces of work.

Students were generally positive about essays and support from tutors but complained of "difference in the workload patterns of students on the same programme in different colleges, a review team from the independent Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education found.

Oxford student union officer Cat Jones told Times Higher Education magazine that some students were set three essays a week.

She said: "At that point, you are an essay machine. You are meeting deadlines rather than having time to learn and reflect."

An Oxford University spokesman said: "We are already at work on the report's three recommendations, including the provision of more information about the teaching patterns students can expect on each course.

The QAA commends Oxford on the quality of its student representation on educational matters and we will use these strong links to discuss and respond to workload concerns."
T he Duke and Duchess of Cambridge brought the sunshine to day two at Royal Ascot after the events opening races yesterday were marred by torrential rain.

Kate joined Prince William at the prestigious meet for the first time ever, with the pair showing up in a horsedrawn carriage.

The Duke wore a dark suit and top hat while his wife donned a cream dress and headpiece, meeting the expectations of bookies who offered 2/1 odds on such an outfit.

Royal Ascot 2016 day 2 - in pictures 1 /34 Royal Ascot 2016 day 2 - in pictures The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wave as members of the Royal family swap cars for horse-drawn carriages on their journey from Windsor Castle to Ascot Racecourse Andrew Matthews/PA The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pull up for day two of Royal Ascot 2016 David Davies/PA Ahead of their arrival bookies gave 2/1 odds on Kate's headwear being cream Adam Davy/PA A race-goer poses for photographers before as the sun shines at day two of Ascot Adam Davy/PA A lady in high heels strolls around the grounds Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images A race-goer considers the odds on the colour of the Queen's hat David Davies/PA The Queen also turned up by horse-drawn carriage Adam Davy/PA A race-goer consults his odds David Davies/PA The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wave at race-goers from their carriage Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images Racegoers in matching dresses pose for photographers Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images Ladies in large headpieces pose for the cameras Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images Declan Donnelly of Ant and Dec with wife Ali Astall Adam Davy/PA The Duchess of Cambridge stands on the race course David Davies/PA Olympic medal-winner Victoria Pendleton Steve Parsons/PA One Direction Niall Horan was also spotted Steve Parsons/PA TV host Amy Willerton poses for photographers Steve Parsons/PA Race-goers escape the rain that marred yesterday's races Adam Davy/PA Interior designer Anouska Lancaster Chris Jackson/Getty Images Race-goer Hayley Palmer Steve Parsons/PA Eddie Jordan stands with his wife Marie Jordan Steve Parsons/PA Actress Olivia Grant was among celebrities at the star-studded race meet Steve Parsons/PA Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark (centre) and Sophie, Countess of Wessex (left) arrives on day two of Royal Ascot 2016 Adam Davy/PA Frankie Dettori celebrates on Lady Aurelia after winning the Queen Mary Stakes ridden by during day two of Royal Ascot 2016 Adam Davy/PA Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly present the trophy for the Jersey Stakes during day two of Royal Ascot 2016 David Davies/PA Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall wave from the Royal Box on the second day of Royal Ascot Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images Punters look on from the grandstand during Day Two of Royal Ascot 2016 Harry Trump/Getty Images

William is set to award The Duke of Cambridge stakes during a second day of racing, which his grandmother the Queen is also attending.

On day one, hordes of well-heeled race-goers braved torrential downpours which failed to clear until the Queens arrival late in the afternoon.

Other celebrities including Ant and Dec, who are presenting another prize, and One Direction star Niall Horan were also spotted at the star-studded event.
A n Argentinian former minister has been arrested after allegedly trying to hide millions of dollars in a monastery.

Police were called by nuns who spotted a man throwing bags onto the monastery grounds near Buenos Aires yesterday.

Officers arrived and arrested the man, who turned out to be former Public Works Secretary Jose Lopez, who served in the government of former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

They then discovered wads of cash as well as watches in more than 160 packages inside the bags.

Other money had been taken to the monastery kitchen and some was found in the boot of a car.

Arrest: Jose Lopez, centre, is led away by officials / EPA

Police initially detained Mr Lopez for possession of a .22 calibre rifle.

Security Minister Cristian Ritondo told a news conference that Lopez was in a state of shock when he was arrested and alleged that he tried to bribe police.

He later told the nuns that police had tried to steal the money that he was trying to donate, Mr Ritondo said. There are dollars, yen, euros and a currency from Qatar ... Its a lot of money.

Dario Kubar, the areas mayor, told reporters that authorities had found more than $7 million at the monastery.

Local TV stations showed images of the piles of cash, and later of Lopez being escorted by police wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest.

Its almost out of a movie, said Marcos Pena, President Mauricio Macris Cabinet chief.
A shortage of avocados has led to a crime wave in New Zealand thanks to a surge in fruit thefts, it has been claimed.

Increased demand and a lack of supply following a poor harvest last year has led to avocados changing hands for up to 3 each, fuelling a black market.

According to New Zealand Avocado, which represents the countrys growers, there have been around 40 large thefts of the fruit this year, with up to 350 taken at a time.

Thieves swipe the crops at night, load them into vehicles and making deliveries to small fruit shops, sushi outlets or pop-up stalls, it is claimed.

Sergeant Aaron Fraser from Waihi Police told the Guardian he had never seen anything like it.

He warned: These stolen avocados can carry risks.

They are unripe, some have been sprayed recently and they may still carry toxins on the skin.

But with the prices so high at the moment, the potential for profit is a strong inducement for certain individuals.

Avocado farmer Hugh Moore told Radio New Zealand: From a grower's point of view I'd love to be able to shoot them."

It is hoped that a bumper new season for avocados will lead to more fruit, falling prices and a calming of the crime wave.
T he FBI is investigating whether the Orlando gunman called his wife in the midst of the gay club shooting spree that left 49 people dead.

Noor Zahi Salmans phone records may provide vital evidence in a probe into whether she was an accomplice in the massacre.

Omar Mateens second wife has already admitted being at her husbands side as he bought ammunition and even drove him to the Pulse nightclub on a reconnaissance mission before the gun attack, according to reports.

Among the locations she allegedly scouted with her husband was Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World.

Law enforcement officials believe Mateen made at least one call to Salman while holding his victims hostage inside the club in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Mourners light candles in honour of the shooting victims / EPA

Florida prosecutors have convened a grand jury to investigate Salman, 30, seeking to charge her for failing to tell authorities what she knew.

The mother of Mateens three-year-old son has reportedly insisted she tried to persuade her husband to abandon his deadly plot.

However, if it emerges that she spoke to Mateen immediately before or during the rampage and still didnt sound the alarm that could prove crucial to deciding whether she is charged as an accessory.

FBI analysts are also checking Salmans computer accounts to examine her communications with Mateen, 29.

Atrocity: gunman Omar Mateen with his wife Noor Zahi Salman and their son

She was spotted yesterday for the first time since the massacre as she returned home to the apartment she shared with Mateen and their son in Fort Pierce, Florida. The couple had been married for at least three years.

Officers escorted her from a car to the front door. After collecting belongings she got back in the car.

Salmans family home in Rodeo, California, was also raided by the FBI yesterday and her mother, Zahi Salman, 50, was quizzed for more than one hour by three agents.

Salman was Mateens second wife. They wed after his 2011 divorce from first wife Sitora Yusifiy, 26, of Boulder, Colorado.

Mateens father, Seddique, claimed last night that he knew nothing about his daughter-in-laws alleged involvement in his sons terrorist plot.

I dont know anything. I will wait till law enforcement officials tell me, he told reporters at the front door of his four-bedroom home in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Orlando shooting victims 1 /65 Orlando shooting victims Stanley Almodovar III Facebook Edward Sotomayor Jr Facebook Luis S Vielma Amanda Alvear Facebook/AP Luis Daniel Conde Facebook/AP Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera Facebook/Reuters Juan Ramon Guerrero Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 Mercedez Marisol Flores Facebook/AP Peter O Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 Facebook Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez Facebook/AP Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez Facebook/AP Frank Hernandez Facebook/AP Angel L. Candelario-Padro Facebook/AP Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala Facebook/AP Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega Facebook/AP Tevin Eugene Crosby Facebook/AP Enrique L. Rios, Jr Facebook/AP Kimberly Morris Facebook/AP Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon Facebook/AP Jean Carlos Mendez Perez Facebook Jason Benjamin Josaphat Facebook/AP Antonio Davon Brown Facebook/AP Oscar A Aracena-Montero Facebook/AP Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosad Facebook/AP Leroy Valentin Fernandez Facebook Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez Facebook/AP Eddie Justice Facebook Christopher Andrew Leinonen Facebook/AP Shane Evan Tomlinson Facebook/AP Darryl Roman Burt II Facebook/AP Martin Benitez Torres Facebook/AP Juan P. Rivera Velazquez Facebook/AP Javier Jorge-Reyes Facebook/AP Miguel Angel Honorato Jose Honorato/AP Brenda Lee Marquez McCool Facebook Anthony Luis Laureano Disla Anthony Laureano/Reuters Deonka Drayton worked at Pulse Facebook Akyra Murray Facebook Jean C. Nives Rodriguez Facebook Joel Rayon Paniagua Facebook Alejandro Barrios Martinez Facebook Juan Chevez-Martinez Facebook Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan Facebook/AP Jerald Arthur Wright Facebook/AP Paul Terrell Henry Facebook/AP Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz Facebook Geraldo Ortiz-Jimenez Facebook Composite of Orlando shooting victims. AP

The FBI said Salman is cooperating fully with the investigation.

Mateen previously worked for security company G4S and footage emerged last night showing him working as a guard during the clean-up operation following the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

He is shown talking to a reporter in the 2012 award-winning documentary The Big Fix.'
H illary Clinton and Bernie Sanders today pledged to work together to unify the Democrats after the final primary in their bitter 14-month campaign for the partys presidential nomination.

The pair met to thrash out details under which Mr Sanders will bow out of the race, clearing the way for a battle between Mrs Clinton and Donald Trump to succeed Barack Obama. It follows last nights results from the Washington DC primary  Mrs Clinton won with 78.7 per cent of the vote.

In virtually identical statements released after a meeting of more than 90 minutes, the Clinton and Sanders campaigns said the pair discussed unifying the party and ... the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation.

They reportedly talked about possible concessions for Mr Sanders to secure his endorsement of the former secretary of state, such as commitments to elements of his agenda including a higher national minimum wage.

The Left-wing Vermont senator has softened his defiant tone since his rival passed the threshold for clinching the Democratic nomination.

Over the whole primary campaign he won 12 million votes and 1,877 delegates to the party convention. Mrs Clinton got nearly 16 million votes and 2,784 delegates.

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He said: Our goal must not be to allow Donald Trump or anyone else to divide us.
Jes Staley speaks during a panel discussion at the Institute of International Finance (IIF) annual meeting in Washington September 25, 2011. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

There's a new number by which to measure Wall Street banks: the amount of parental leave they offer employees.

On Wednesday, Barclays became the latest bank to adjust its policies, announcing that nonprimary caregivers would get six weeks of leave, up from one.

"We recognize the importance of our people in the continued success of Barclays and these enhancements support our culture of building a flexible work environment," Joe McGrath, CEO of Barclays Americas, said in a statement.

Under the new policy:

Nonprimary caregivers will get six weeks of paid leave after their child's birth, adoption, or foster-care placement. The leave may be taken in two segments in the year.

Primary caregivers will still get 16 weeks of paid leave but will be able to take the leave in two segments within one year of the event.

Employees who are called to active military duty will now get 100% of their Barclays pay, less any military pay offset, for up to five years while under an approved Military Leave.

Numerous banks have been changing their parental-leave policies lately. Goldman Sachs provides 16 weeks of fully paid maternity leave, according to its website, and last year it increased its paid parental leave for nonprimary parents to four weeks.

Morgan Stanley provides 16 weeks of paid parental leave to primary caregivers. JPMorgan in January upped fully paid parental leave for primary caregivers in the US to 16 weeks from 12. Citi offers 13 weeks of pregnancy leave and two weeks of parental leave for secondary caregivers.

And in March, Bank of America told its workers it would increase fully paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave in the US to 16 weeks from 12.

The changes are being made to try to help workers maintain a better work-life balance and to make the firms more attractive places to work.

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P resident Francois Hollande led a minutes silence today in memory of a senior police commander and his partner killed by a terrorist who pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

Larossi Abballa stabbed Jean-Baptiste Salvaing, 42, repeatedly in the throat and stomach outside his home in Magnanville, north-west of Paris, on Monday.

Abballa then took his partner, named by French media as Jessica Schneider, hostage in the house along with the couples three-year-old son. Her body was found when police stormed the property, but the child survived.

Abballa, 25, posted film taken during the attack on Facebook Live before being killed in the raid.

Anti-terror investigators were today questioning three suspects as they try to determine whether he was part of a wider network. In 2013 the Islamist extremist had been jailed for association with criminals preparing terrorist acts.

A memorial ceremony for Mr Salvaing and Ms Schneider, 36, was taking place in Magnanville today, while Mr Hollande was leading a silence at the interior ministry.
A n American criminal who won admirers around the world when his mugshot went viral has revealed his first modelling headshot weeks after being released from prison.

Jeremy Meeks gathered a huge fan base after his custody photograph was released online by police, with admirers around the world offering to pay his court costs.

His picture generated the hashtags #hotfelon and #handsomefelon on social media, and hundreds of fans donated to a GoFundMe page set up to help fight his case.

His image was 'liked' more than 95,000 times and he was even reportedly offered a six-figure sum to make an adult film.

Meeks, who was arrested by police in Stockton, California, on weapons and gang charges, was later signed by a talent agency on the back of the online storm his picture generated.

Some of Meeks' new-found followers even proposed to the long-time criminal.

However, he later revealed that he was married with a son - after his wife broke the news to him of his new-found fame.

Meeks, who was arrested in February 2014 and sentenced to 27 months in prison, was snapped up by LA-based talent agency White Cross Management upon his release.

The 32-year-old shared the new headshot on Instagram with his 240,000 followers on Tuesday.

After signing the contact, he said: I want to thank my family and everybody for all your love, support and prayers.

"I'm overwhelmed and grateful for what lies ahead.
T he summer heat of south-east Florida is ferociously unrelenting. Even by 7am the brutal and enveloping humidity is already hard to take.

The communities that sprang up around Port St Lucie, a two-hour drive south of the still grief-stricken and shocked city of Orlando, are very new.

There is still a very transitory feel about the place. As though people have settled here because land prices have been cheap and its the sort of place that one settles in before moving on. Perhaps thats why this tiny little corner of the vast country that is the United States has one extraordinary and unenviable legacy.

The area around Port St Lucie has been the birthplace of two of the largest acts of terrorism to have taken place in the US.

Its scarcely believable that such a nondescript, quiet backwater as this, covering no more than perhaps 80 or 90 square miles in a nation of nearly 4 million square miles, is where the hijackers of 9/11 trained to fly planes and it is also the place where Omar Mateen, the terrorist who carried out the largest mass shooting in US history in Orlando at the weekend, grew up.

I spoke to some of the people who knew Mateen best when growing up. I visited the large, comfortable and ornately decorated house of his father Seddique Mir Mateen.

He told me that he saw no obvious signs of his sons path to radicalisation.

Orlando shooting victims 1 /65 Orlando shooting victims Stanley Almodovar III Facebook Edward Sotomayor Jr Facebook Luis S Vielma Amanda Alvear Facebook/AP Luis Daniel Conde Facebook/AP Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera Facebook/Reuters Juan Ramon Guerrero Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 Mercedez Marisol Flores Facebook/AP Peter O Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 Facebook Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez Facebook/AP Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez Facebook/AP Frank Hernandez Facebook/AP Angel L. Candelario-Padro Facebook/AP Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala Facebook/AP Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega Facebook/AP Tevin Eugene Crosby Facebook/AP Enrique L. Rios, Jr Facebook/AP Kimberly Morris Facebook/AP Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon Facebook/AP Jean Carlos Mendez Perez Facebook Jason Benjamin Josaphat Facebook/AP Antonio Davon Brown Facebook/AP Oscar A Aracena-Montero Facebook/AP Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosad Facebook/AP Leroy Valentin Fernandez Facebook Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez Facebook/AP Eddie Justice Facebook Christopher Andrew Leinonen Facebook/AP Shane Evan Tomlinson Facebook/AP Darryl Roman Burt II Facebook/AP Martin Benitez Torres Facebook/AP Juan P. Rivera Velazquez Facebook/AP Javier Jorge-Reyes Facebook/AP Miguel Angel Honorato Jose Honorato/AP Brenda Lee Marquez McCool Facebook Anthony Luis Laureano Disla Anthony Laureano/Reuters Deonka Drayton worked at Pulse Facebook Akyra Murray Facebook Jean C. Nives Rodriguez Facebook Joel Rayon Paniagua Facebook Alejandro Barrios Martinez Facebook Juan Chevez-Martinez Facebook Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan Facebook/AP Jerald Arthur Wright Facebook/AP Paul Terrell Henry Facebook/AP Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz Facebook Geraldo Ortiz-Jimenez Facebook Composite of Orlando shooting victims. AP

I knew when he was being interviewed by the FBI, he told me, and they could find nothing. He didnt grow a long beard and he didnt start acting in a disrespectful way towards his family.

But late last night I spoke to those who knew him at school and who had confronted him only last week.

Christian Cave was a childhood friend of Omar Mateen in high school. He was so concerned about the roots of violent Islamist extremism in this area of Florida, even before the Orlando massacre, that he joined a local organisation that has trained schools and colleges about what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.

Yet despite this, he recalls Omar Mateen as a charming, sweet boy who was liked by everyone in high school. At lunchtime, Christian told me, all the different social groups in the school would sit with their peer group. Omar was the only kid who would be popular enough to sit with all of them.

There was no religious side to him. You would see him at all the local house parties and you knew that he had a nice family to go home to.

Jerome Kalenuik, part of the same grassroots organisation as Christian Cave, had a more eerie encounter with the Orlando killer.

Omar Mateen was an armed security guard at a gated community where Jeromes parents lived.

He says that whenever his wife visited his parents and she had to pass through the security gate manned by Mateen, he would be sexually threatening, breathing heavily as he examined her documents.

When Jerome went to confront Mateen about his behavior to his wife he acted differently. He was contrite, and rarely looked Jerome in the face.

When he did, Jerome said, he just looked at me with those piercing eyes that just seemed to go through you.

As the investigation into what or who inspired Omar Mateen continues and as President Obama prepares to come down to Orlando to pay his respects, one of the key questions that few are asking  but which they should  is: why is this little corner of Florida so inextricably linked with the two biggest acts of terrorism on American soil?

Rageh Omaar is International Affairs Editor at ITV News.
A US journalist has described the chilling moment he received an alleged phone call from the Orlando gunman who declared: I did it for ISIS.

TV news producer Matthew Gentili has told of how he answered a call from someone who confessed to being the shooter, who opened fire on crowds at the Pulse gay nightclub in the Florida city.

Mr Gentili, a producer at the News 13 television station just two miles from the club, had been taking calls from terrified viewers as security guard Omar Mateen, 29, carried out his mass killing spree, leaving 49 people dead.

I was receiving phone calls from viewers saying, Whats going on? Whats happening?' Gentili told a reporter at his own station.

"It was at 2.45am when I received the phone call of someone claiming to be the Orlando shooter.

"I answered the phone as I always do: 'News 13, this is Matt.' And on the other end, I heard, 'Do you know about the shooting?'

Mr Gentili began to explain that he had been taking calls about reports of a gun attack but the male caller cut him off by saying: Im the shooter. Its me.

The caller then said he had carried out the Pulse attack for the Islamic State and began speaking quickly in Arabic.

He was speaking so fast. But it was he was speaking fluently, Mr Gentili added.

Orlando shooting victims 1 /65 Orlando shooting victims Stanley Almodovar III Facebook Edward Sotomayor Jr Facebook Luis S Vielma Amanda Alvear Facebook/AP Luis Daniel Conde Facebook/AP Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera Facebook/Reuters Juan Ramon Guerrero Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 Mercedez Marisol Flores Facebook/AP Peter O Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 Facebook Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez Facebook/AP Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez Facebook/AP Frank Hernandez Facebook/AP Angel L. Candelario-Padro Facebook/AP Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala Facebook/AP Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega Facebook/AP Tevin Eugene Crosby Facebook/AP Enrique L. Rios, Jr Facebook/AP Kimberly Morris Facebook/AP Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon Facebook/AP Jean Carlos Mendez Perez Facebook Jason Benjamin Josaphat Facebook/AP Antonio Davon Brown Facebook/AP Oscar A Aracena-Montero Facebook/AP Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosad Facebook/AP Leroy Valentin Fernandez Facebook Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez Facebook/AP Eddie Justice Facebook Christopher Andrew Leinonen Facebook/AP Shane Evan Tomlinson Facebook/AP Darryl Roman Burt II Facebook/AP Martin Benitez Torres Facebook/AP Juan P. Rivera Velazquez Facebook/AP Javier Jorge-Reyes Facebook/AP Miguel Angel Honorato Jose Honorato/AP Brenda Lee Marquez McCool Facebook Anthony Luis Laureano Disla Anthony Laureano/Reuters Deonka Drayton worked at Pulse Facebook Akyra Murray Facebook Jean C. Nives Rodriguez Facebook Joel Rayon Paniagua Facebook Alejandro Barrios Martinez Facebook Juan Chevez-Martinez Facebook Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan Facebook/AP Jerald Arthur Wright Facebook/AP Paul Terrell Henry Facebook/AP Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz Facebook Geraldo Ortiz-Jimenez Facebook Composite of Orlando shooting victims. AP

Whatever language he was speaking, he knew it. And he was speaking it very quickly. And that is when I said to him, Sir. Please. Speak in English, please.'

I did it for ISIS, the caller said, according to Gentili, I did it for the Islamic State.

When the TV producer asked the callers location, the man replied that it was none of his business.

He hung up the phone after Gentili asked him if there was anything else he wanted to say.

At the end of his shift, the TV producer was interviewed about the call by FBI agents, who would not confirm whether it was the gunman on the phone.

News 13 reported that its managing editor matched the incoming phone number to that of Mateen.

The FBI is also investigating whether Mateen called his wife in the midst of the shooting spree.
O scar Pistorius removed his prostheses to walk on his stumps in a packed court room during the closing stages of his sentencing as his lawyer pleaded for a light sentence.

The South African runner was asked to take off his artificial legs by his defence attorney Barry Roux who said it will be embarrassing for his client.

The weeping athlete removed his prostheses and began to walk in court where he appeared to be in pain and struggled to maintain his balance.

Pistorius held onto a desk for support as Mr Roux pointed at him and said this was a man who was frightened by a noise at 3am.

Mr Roux said in court: I dont want to overplay vulnerability, thats not what I want to do. I dont want to overplay disability.

But the time has come that we must just look with different eyes, at least with unbiased eyes."

"Embarrassing": Oscar Pistorius removed his prostheses to walk on his stumps in a packed court room / Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

The defence lawyer argued the former Paralympian should be given a lighter sentence despite the Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that Pistorius is guilty of murder.

He shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentines Day in 2013.

Ms Steenkamp's cousin today described the enduring scars left by the models murder as she gave evidence at the hearing.

Kim Martin told the court in Pretoria how every celebration had become a funeral in the wake of the fatal shooting three years ago.

She said: "I am coping, getting on with my life, but the scars and the effects runs very, very deep. We will never get over it, but I am the mother of three children, I have to give them hope for the future.

The Paralympic gold medal winner is facing a minimum of 15 years behind bars for the murder of his 29-year-old girlfriend after an earlier manslaughter conviction was overturned.

The mother-of-three described the guilt of her uncle Barry  who gave moving testimony to the court yesterday  who had been left broken by his terrible loss.

He is a broken man, he lives day to day on his phone watching the posts about Reeva. He has the guilt of a father not being able to protect his daughter, it is very difficult for him, she told the packed court house.

During brief cross-examination, Mr Roux told the dead womans cousin that although he had not subjected her uncle to questioning, There comes a point when we have to draw a line.

He then proceeded to read from interviews close friends of the models had given in the days and months after her murder in which they had spoke positively about Pistorius and his relationship with Reeva.

Mrs Martin was the final state witness at the hearing. The hearing is scheduled to run until Friday.
A two-year-old boy has been dragged into a lake by an alligator near the flagship Disney World resort in Florida.

The childs parents apparently wrestled with the reptile, said to be up to seven feet long, after it snatched the boy at about 9.20pm last night.

Rescue teams were today frantically searching for the boy at the Seven Seas Lagoon near the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the parents and their three children had been relaxing on the beach when the alligator attacked.

The boy was pulled into the water at around 9.20pm last night / EPA

He said: The father entered the water and tried to grab the child but he was not successful in doing so. I'm told that at some point, the mother also entered the water.

The family had been attending a movie night on the beach and the child was playing by the water with his mother when he was snatched.

He added lifeguards were alerted but failed to get to the boy in time.

As a father, as a grandfather, we are going to hope for the best in these circumstances but based on my 35 years of experience, we know that we have some challenges ahead, he said.

A Disney spokeswoman told reporters at the conference: Everyone here at Walt Disney World is devastated by this tragic accident.

Our thoughts are with the family. We are doing everything we can to help law enforcement.

Photographs from the scene showed a large emergency services presence, including officials from the Orange County Sheriffs Office and the Reedy Creek Fire Rescue.

Local records show there have been 41 unprovoked alligator attacks in Florida since 2010.

In 2015 two people died in the state because of the animals, which are common in the area.

The tragedy comes after Orlando was the scene of the United States' deadliest ever gun massacre when shooter Omar Mateen killed 49 people during a rampage at the Pulse nighclub.

Last Friday the city also made the news after Voice star Christina Grimmie was shot dead as she signed autographs on Friday.

This page is being updated.
D aniel Radcliffe thinks that sitting with enthusiastic fans would not be a relaxing way to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Confirming that he has not bought tickets to see the London production, the British actor admitted that while he was intrigued he would not be seeing the play in person.

Speaking on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the 26-year-old said:

I feel like I want to see the show. I am genuinely intrigued and I've heard it's fantastic.

But I just feel sitting in an audience of what will for the most of the near future be very enthusiastic Harry Potter fans might be like not a relaxing way to see a show.

He added: So not for the time being, but I've heard it's fantastic.

Radcliffe also went on to give his seal of approval to actor Jamie Parker, who plays a grown-up Potter in the stage show.

Hes a wonderful actor. I'm very happy to see him play me. He can do all the Harry questions now.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Cast pictures 1 /12 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Cast pictures Ron, Hermione and their daughter, Rose Granger-Weasley Harry, Albus and Ginny Sam Clemmett as Albus Potter Jamie Parker as Harry Potter Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger Poppy Miller as Ginny Potter Cherrelle Skeete as Rose Granger-Weasley Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley Paul Thornley (Ron Weasley), Noma Dumezweni (Hermione Granger) and Jamie Parker (Harry Potter)

Radcliffe recently admitted that he was unsure about seeing the much-talked about play as he didnt want his presence to detract from the show.

Speaking to E! News, the British actor said: It would be a weird one. I could be completely wrong in this, but I feel like if I went to see it that night, there's going to be a lot of Harry Potter fans there in the audience obviously and would that then become a thing?

He added: Would it be more about them watching me watch the show or would it take away from the show?

I would never want to do anything that would distract or take away from the show."

The brand new play, which opened for previews last week, has already smashed records by selling a staggering 175,000 tickets in just 24 hours.


K elly Osbourne has been praised for getting a tattoo in tribute to the Orlando shooting victims.

Osbourne, 31, inked the word solidarity on the side of her head days after lone gunman Omar Mateen opened fire on revellers at Floridas LGBT Pulse nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The TV star shared a headshot featuring her new inking with her 2.1 million followers and told them that they are not alone.

Osbourne posted the definition of solidarity before writing: Together, we have strength and powerful harmony. I have wanted to get this tattoo for a long time.

"The tragedy in Orlando devastated me and reminded me that every moment of our lives is precious. Every human is precious.

Love hard. Live gracefully, authentically and with conviction, respect, purpose and compassion. Together we achieve what is impossible to those who stand alone.

She finished: Those of us who embrace and respect freedom stand together, progress together, celebrate together and grieve together. You are not alone.

Fans were quick to praise her tribute with one branding her awesome while another deemed her words beautiful.

One user posted: You are a woman with depth... Your words have moved me today! So very true...Love is strong!

Others took aim at the inking and accused the former Fashion Police host of self-publicity with one commenting: Most people turned their profile pic to a #RainbowFlag but you saw an opportunity for self publicity #Orlando #OrlandoShooting.

Another posted: Well I'm sure you've made everyone affected by this tragedy feel sooooo much better now you that you have a word tattooed on your head.

Stars including Adele, Madonna, Sir Paul McCartney and James Corden have all paid tribute following the massacre.

Follow @StandardShowbiz for more news.


P rince William has made history by appearing on the cover of gay lifestyle magazine Attitude.

The future monarch is the first member of the royal family to pose for an LGBT publication, appearing as their July cover star.

Showing his support for the LGBT community, the Duke of Cambridge has given an interview detailing his views on homophobic bullying and being the person that you are.

The magazine will hit newsstands on Thursday, just a few days after the mass shooting in gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando.

Cover star: The Duke of Cambridge on the cover of Attitude / Leigh Keily

In his interview, published in the magazine, the Prince said: No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives.

The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now.

Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it.

Orlando Shooting Rainbow Buildings Tribute 1 /21 Orlando Shooting Rainbow Buildings Tribute The Orlando Eye observation wheel lights up in rainbow color Joshua Lim/Orlando Sentinel via AP The Eiffel tower is illuminated in rainbow colors in honor to the victims Yoan Valat/EPA The Sydney Harbour Bridge is lit in the colors of a rainbow Rob Griffith/AP The spire of One World Trade Center is lit in rainbow colors Andrew Kelly/Reuters The city hall and the heritage buildings on the Brussels Grand Place/Grote Markt lit up in the colors of the LGBT rainbow flag Siska Gremmelprez/AFP/Getty Images Los Angeles Hall stands lit in the colors of the rainbow flag to honor the LGBT victims David McNew/Getty Images St Georges Hall in Liverpool Phil Noble Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, June in Orlando, Drew Angerer/Getty Images Adelaide Oval illuminated in colours of the rainbow Dean Martin/Newspix/Rex Madison Square Garden is lit in rainbow colors Andrew Kelly/Reuters The Helmsley Building in the Manhattan borough of New York is lit in rainbow colors to honor the victims of the Orlando shooting Andrew Kelly/Reuters Amsterdam's Royal Palace Peter Dejong/AP New York City Hall Mexico's Foreign Affairs building is illuminated in rainbow colours Edgard Garrido/Reuters The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, shines in the colors of a rainbow to honor victims of Sunday's mass shooting Harbour Bridge is lit in rainbow colours t Sam Mooy/EPA

The Duke of Cambridge invited Attitude and members of the LGBT community to Kensington Palace to hear their experiences with bulling and homophobia.

He continued: What I would say to any young person reading this whos being bullied for their sexuality: dont put up with it  speak to a trusted adult, a friend, a teacher, Childline, Diana Award or some other service and get the help you need.

You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

Attitude editor Matthew Todd had said: During my time as editor of Attitude I have met parents whose child has taken or lost their life after being bullied for being LGBT+ or just perceived to be LGBT.

"I am very happy that the future King of the United Kingdom agrees this must stop and I would urge parents in particular to raise their voices in their communities to ensure that every school protects  really protects  all children.

While the magazine went to press just a few days before the mass shootings in Orlando, Attitude has said that they send their most heartfelt condolences to those affected by this atrocity.
S ir Paul McCartney has paid tribute to the Orlando shooting victims on stage in Berlin.

The former Beatle showed his support and solidarity for the 49 men and women who were shot and killed at gay nightclub Pulse on Sunday during his concert on Tuesday night.

Met by a cheering crowd, the 73-year-old walked out on stage for his encore carrying a huge rainbow flag.

Holding it up for his fans to see, McCartney shouted: We stand together with Orlando.

The music icon later draped the flag around him as he performed for the audience at Berlins Waldbuhne.

McCartney is just one of a number of high profile stars who have spoken out in support of the victims following Sunday mornings horrific attack.

Lady Gaga paid tribute to those who lost their lives during a vigil in Los Angeles on Monday, while Adele broke down on stage during her concert in Antwerp.

McCartney also paid tribute to former Wings guitarist Henry McCullough, who passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 72.

In a statement, he said: I was very sad to hear that Henry McCullough, our great Wings guitarist, passed away today.

He was a pleasure to work with, a super-talented musician with a lovely sense of humour.

The solo he played on 'My Love' was a classic that he made up on the spot in front of a live orchestra. Our deepest sympathies from my family to his."


A lexander Vlahos is carving a stylish path through French history in drama Versailles as Monsieur Philippe dOrleans, younger brother of Louis XIV.

In conversation with Toby Earle, Vlahos explained why David Bowie is an inspiration for the character, why criticism of the show is outdated, and why he and Philippe are perfect for one another.

Toby Earle: Aside from keeping that centre parting flat and dead centre, what else is tricky about playing Philippe?

Alexander Vlahos: Philippe is probably the most physically and emotionally demanding role Ive ever had. It does take its toll, because Philippe never gets to win. Hes the classic younger brother; he always came up short and that takes its mental toll.

I dont believe in a process or a method, but when you lose arguments to Louis during filming for five days a week, bizarrely you do end up taking that home with you. It does enter your psyche that you dont get your own way. Season 2 is different, so thats good.

His brothers in the top job, so Philippe has no hereditary responsibility. He knows hes at a dead end and looks at peace with that.

A dead end, but he makes the most of it by enjoying other aspects of court life. He was the second wealthiest man in France, he doesnt have this overbearing responsibility to look after the country, though he still has some responsibility to his brother. Theres a weird dichotomy of being the guy with no responsibility, but wanting responsibility, wanting to have an effect on France.

We explore that later in the series; all Philippe wants to do is go to war and fight for France. Theres a battle with Louis over that desire; Louis doesnt want to send his younger brother to fight, but hes the best man for the job, so we play on that friction.

The one thing he wants to do is stand on his own and be his own person. In the episode where Philippe wears womens clothes, thats to have all the attention. He wants to be an icon and remembered; but he knows that Louis will have his way, so what better way than to show up your brother than by turning up in a dress?

Canal+/BBC

How was your experience in drag? What this a first?

This was the biggest challenge for me. We filmed it early on, maybe two or three weeks in, and I didnt have a handle on who this character was by that point. We did a couple of takes and you could tell by my face I was feeling insecure. I was walking into the room as Alex, in a dress and corset, looking at 100 extras.

Our director gave me a brilliant note, reminding me that Iggy Pop, David Bowie, and even Lady Gaga, all play or played characters. Philippe is playing another version of himself, so you can be even braver when exploring this side of his personality thats hiding behind this womans dress. Hes walking into that room to be the prettiest person there, even prettier the women. Ive never done the drag, so that was an experience.

Versailles - meet the cast 1 /10 Versailles - meet the cast George Blagden as King Louis XIV Thibault Grabherr/Canal+/BBC Alexander Vlahos as Philippe I Thibault Grabherr/Canal+/BBC Elisa Lasowski as Marie-Therese Thibault Grabherr/Canal+/BBC Evan Williams as Chevalier de Lorraine Thibault Grabherr/Canal+/BBC Stuart Bowman as Bontemps Thibault Grabherr/Canal+/BBC Anna Brewster as Madame de Montespan Thibault Grabherr/Canal+/BBC Noemie Schmidt as Henrietta of England Thibault Grabherr/Canal+/BBC Versailles Meet the cast of the historical drama Canal Plus/ BBC

What was the reaction from your female colleagues? Were they envious you had a good set of pins on show?

[laughs] That aspect of his personality is something that Philippe is something that our historians know of, so when I turned up and the cast were there, they were very complimentary and supportive. Its a big scene and it develops into something more than a man walking into a room in a dress.

When you play someone who is themselves playing a role, is that liberating or is it harder to restrain yourself from veering into ham territory?

Theres always a fine line you have to tread, so you dont end up scene-stealing for the wrong reasons. I genuinely believe that Philippe is such an out-there and confusing character. I gave him my all and kept pushing what I could do with him, and no-one ever told me stop. Thats either very brave of them or very silly. I am very extrovert; Im an only child and thats the reason why Im an actor. Philippe likes attention and for people to talk about him, so thats why he and I are a match made in Heaven.

Versailles: Trailer - BBC Two

What have you made of the reaction to the show? The criticisms seem outdated, dont they?

Yeah, it does. As someone whos so proud of this show, the fact that they focus on the tiniest aspect of the show is infuriating. Some outlets, particularly tabloid newspapers, had already made their mind up about the programme before they had seen anything. All those pictures with the little black bars over the nipples  it is ridiculous. Theyre highlighting what it is they detest. Dont show it then!

Why havent we left this prurient sniping behind?

What you have to understand is that [culture secretary John] Whittingdales white paper was around about a month ago, and I feel attacks on the show were more attacks on the BBC. Another show could have been attacked. What it does do is draw attention to the show and we beat BBC1 in that time slot, and its the best launch of a series on a Wednesday night.

Canal+/BBC

Do you feel, having starred in Merlin, that a show based in myth and total fantasy is given more leeway than one based in reality?

I guess so  you may be right. Also, I dont know how much we know in the UK of that period of Louis and French history. I remember being taught in school Charles II and the great Fire of London, and then anecdotal message about this French king called Louis who had loads of mistresses.

Were not so precious; in France, there was a lot of speculation and pre-criticism as to our historical accuracy. This isnt Wolf Hall. This isnt an adaptation of a best-selling novel. These are real people and we have a duty to tell a story, but also, its a drama. Its not a documentary.

BBC Two, 9.30pm
D ocumentary filmmaker Louis Theroux returned to the BBC earlier this year with a heart-breaking look at alcohol addiction in South London.

Titled Drinking to Oblivion, the film saw Theroux follow a series of recovering addicts who had found themselves in Kings College Hospital due to their continuing alcohol consumption.

One of those was 32 year-old Joe Walker, who battled with drink after missing out on a job and breaking up with his partner.

While he was cleaned up by the hospital and detoxed, Walker relapsed not long after, and found himself back at the hospital.

By the end the documentary, Walker had moved out of London, and was living a sober life in Brighton  and now Louis Theroux has posted a further update on Walkers progress.

Sharing a photo on Twitter, Theroux revealed that he met up with Joe, who has now been sober for eight months.

Walker responded to Theroux's tweet, saying: "cheers beardy ;) yours trumps mine however! Lovely to catch up again and see you soon #onedayatatime #rugged"

Theroux is expected to return to screens later this year as his feature film My Scientology Movie arrives in UK cinemas this autumn.
A 3D-printed logo for Twitter is seen in this picture illustration made in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina on January 26, 2016. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

(Reuters) - Twitter Inc has invested about $70 million in Berlin-based music service SoundCloud, technology website Re/code reported citing people familiar with the deal.

Twitter confirmed the investment, but did not provide any financial details.

"Earlier this year we made an investment in SoundCloud through Twitter Ventures to help support some of our efforts with creators," Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey said.

Soundcloud, a platform that enables people to upload and share music and other audio files, also confirmed that Twitter had made the investment.

Twitter's investment was part of a funding round expected to be in the range of $100 million, which would value SoundCloud at about $700 million, the Re/code report said.

The microblogging site has previously attempted to make a foray into music with the launch of Twitter Music in 2013, which was closed a year later. At the time, the company said that it would look for new ways to bring music based content to the service.

(Reporting by Narottam Medhora and Arathy S Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
(In June 10 story, corrects reference to AstraZeneca drug to PD-L1 instead of PD-1, paragraph 10)

By Deena Beasley

CHICAGO, June 10 (Reuters) - A new type of cancer drug that takes the brakes off the body's immune system has given drugmakers some remarkable wins against the deadly disease, but a top U.S. regulator says too many companies are focused on the same approach.

Dr. Richard Pazdur, head of the Food and Drug Administration's office of oncology products, was referring to therapies designed to disable the PD-1 protein that tumors use to evade the immune system.

The FDA has approved such treatments from Merck & Co , Bristol-Myers Squibb Co and Roche Holding AG , each of which have list prices of $150,000 per year. At least five other drugmakers are developing similar medicines.

"People should ask themselves ... would we be better off spending those resources into looking at more novel drugs?" Pazdur told Reuters during the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago this week.

Pazdur acknowledged that the success of a few drugmakers in the worldwide $110 billion market for cancer treatments makes it attractive for rivals to continue developing similar therapies rather than invest heavily in unproven approaches.

"As with everything in drug development, it is about reduction of risk," he said. But the number of similar drugs in development at the same time is a first in the oncology field, and latecomers to the PD-1 market will likely be relegated to "niche" indications, he added.

Drug company executives disputed Pazdur's critique. In interviews with Reuters, they argued that the science around cancer is advancing rapidly, with a focus on how to best combine therapies to attack multiple mechanisms of the disease, determine which patients are most likely to respond to them and how long patients will need to be treated.

Bristol-Myers and Merck are widely viewed as leaders in the immunotherapy race, with treatments defying the odds to help patients fight off some of the deadliest cancers. Merck's Keytruda was shown to help a significant number of patients with advanced melanoma live at least three years, while Bristol-Myers' Opdivo prolonged life for some lung cancer patients by two years, according to data presented at the ASCO meeting.

Story continues

In practice, doctors say, around 20 percent of advanced cancer patients respond to the new drugs and a subset of those patients can have lasting remissions.

AstraZeneca PLC's PD-L1 drug, which similarly prevents tumors from evading detection, received "breakthrough" status from the FDA to expedite review for treating a type of bladder cancer. Other companies in earlier stages of development include Pfizer Inc, in partnership with Germany's Merck KGaA, Novartis AG, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc and China's BeiGene.

"Our reason to go into PD-1s is not just to have a 'me too' drug," said Israel Lowy, head of translational science and oncology at Regeneron, which has a PD-1 in early-stage trials. "Most people think that the future is in combinations ... Having our own PD-1 that is active and useful gives us enormous flexibility in how we do clinical trials."

ENOUGH PROFIT FOR EVERYONE?

Industry executives say they are investing in additional, potentially complementary, approaches to PD-1 treatment that can eventually be used against many types and stages of cancer.

"We don't look at ourselves as 'latecomers.' We are leading in multiple areas with combination therapies," said Bahija Jallal, executive vice president at AstraZeneca's MedImmune unit, which is testing its PD-1 candidate with a range of other experimental drugs. "The question is, how can we really follow the science," Jallal said.

At the ASCO meeting, for example, Pfizer presented early-stage data from a trial showing that its experimental agent 4-1BB, which aims to increase T-cells, was safe when combined with Merck's Keytruda, but only two of 23 patients achieved complete remissions for a year.

"Somebody may emerge with a surprise new mechanism," said Leerink Partners pharmaceutical analyst Seamus Fernandez. He said drugs from Bristol-Myers and Merck will most likely become the standard of care for many patients.

Pazdur and other experts agreed that the biggest opportunity for cancer immunotherapies will be their use earlier on in treatment. Fernandez said Bristol-Myers could "win the war," if it succeeds with a combination of Opdivo and its other immunotherapy Yervoy as an initial treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Merck and Roche are testing their PD-1s combined with chemotherapy for the same purpose.

In the end, patients may benefit from lower costs if Merck and Bristol-Myers face more rivals in the marketplace. Both Keytruda and Opdivo have a U.S. list price of about $150,000 per year.

If combinations of expensive therapies become the norm, drugmakers could theoretically keep prices lower by mixing their own treatments rather than seeking permission from a rival.

"The profits on oncology drugs are so high that 'me-too' drugs will be developed," said Joel Hay, professor of pharmaceutical economics and policy at the University of Southern California. "They will ultimately reduce the profits in that class. That's how competition is supposed to work." (Editing by Michele Gershberg and David Gregorio)
By Idrees Ali and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy's Third Fleet will send more ships to East Asia to operate outside its normal theater alongside the Japan-based Seventh Fleet, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, a move that comes at a time of heightened tensions with China. The Third Fleet's Pacific Surface Action Group, which includes the guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance and USS Momsen, was deployed to East Asia in April. More Third Fleet vessels will be deployed in the region in the future, said a U.S. official who requested anonymity. He and a second official said the vessels would conduct a range of operations, but gave no details. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims, as well as close military ties with the United States. China has been angered by what it views as provocative U.S. military patrols close to islands that China controls in the South China Sea. The United States says the patrols are to protect freedom of navigation. The Third Fleet, based in San Diego, California, traditionally has confined its operations to the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean's international dateline. Japan's Nikkei Asian Review quoted the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Scott Swift, as saying on Tuesday that the move came in the "context of uncertainty and angst in the region," an apparent reference to China's behavior. Swift argued that the Navy should utilize the "total combined power" of the 140,000 sailors, over 200 ships and 1,200 aircraft that make up the Pacific Fleet. The Seventh Fleet consists of an aircraft carrier strike group, 80 other vessels and 140 aircraft. The Third Fleet has more than 100 vessels, including four aircraft carriers. Chinese officials have blamed the rising tensions on the United States. "I think before Americans' so-called rebalancing in Asia Pacific, the South China Sea was very quiet, very peaceful," Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to Britain, told Reuters in an interview last week. "China was talking to the neighboring countries. We had a Declaration of Conduct. And the Philippines was talking to us. Once the Americans came in, so-called `rebalancing,' things changed dramatically.""They want to find an excuse to have their strong military presence in the South China Sea and in the Asia Pacific. If it is so quiet, what is the reason for them to be there?" he asked. Greg Poling, director of Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said on Tuesday that the move appears to be part of President Barack Obama's plan to shift 60 percent of U.S. naval assets in Asia as part of his rebalance of resources to the region in the face of China's rise. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and David Brunnstrom; Editing by John Walcott and Leslie Adler)
The United States is the only developed nation that doesnt require employers to offer paid vacation time, according to a new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a left-leaning think tank. Even when offered vacation time, 42 percent of Americans didnt take a single vacation during 2014, a 2015 Skift survey found.

As you take time to read the Star-Herald today, youre probably thinking the same things many Americans think about vacations. According to CNN, we cite too much work to leave, the perception of being a slacker if we do leave, the pileup when we return, feeling trapped and not being productive as reasons why they dont take a vacation.

A 2014, Glassdoor survey found American workers only used half of their eligible vacation time during the past 12 months. The biggest reason cited in this survey was that no one else could do their job. While I somewhat agree with that position, I have two options, I can work ahead, as I usually do on vacation and I can look around the newsroom and see three reporters, a special project editor, a media editor and an intern who can actually step in and do my job temporarily. I might not like the angle they may take on my story, but they are all competent to do my job.

Most European have four to six weeks of vacation per year and their employers encourage them to take the time. In 2015, Sophie-Claire Hoeller wrote in 8 reasons why Americans should take their vacation days for Business Insider that people are literally throwing away money by not taking time off, ruining your health, risking promotion, stifling creativity and being less productive. The biggest problem is our own way of thinking.

Europeans see their vacation days as a hard-earned right. Americans see it as a luxury they cant afford. Therein lies the problem.

While I admit I sometimes do too much and then am too tired to do anything fun during the weekend, we all need to pay attention to our health and use those vacation days. Studies over the past two decades have found, the more you work, the more your productivity diminishes. We shouldnt be living for our job. When we do, other problems arise, including stress, burnout and a host of health issues.

In the past couple of weeks, I purposely doubled my workload to prepare for vacation. Four days before vacation, my productivity had fallen as I sputtered toward vacation day. When my productivity falls, it puts extra work on everyone else. Mistakes increase and someone else has to do extra work to try to find them. At least for me, the worst that would happen is ridicule for a misspelling. If I was a surgeon, nurse, engineer, cop, fireman or anyone else working in a dangerous field, someone elses life could be at risk.

A vacation allows you to step away from work and re-energize yourself. I use all the vacation time afforded me. It doesnt matter if I travel or stay home. I always feel better mentally when I return.

As I spend today at the Ataturk Museum in Thessaloniki, Im not thinking of work, deadlines or what I need to do when I return to work. Im not thinking of interviews scheduled for when I return or the questions Ill ask during those interviews. Im not even thinking about this column, which I wrote before I left. Im enjoying museums, ancient ruins and the company of old friends because my employer has provided me with the time to get away from my job to refresh and revitalize.

Many countries guarantee time off. Americans are guaranteed none. According to the BBC, Americans can thank the Fair Labor Standards Act for that. This relic from 1938 regulates maximum weekly working hours, overtime, minimum wage and child labour, but fails to mention paid time off. That means that decisions about payment for vacation, sick leave and federal holidays are up for negotiation between employer and employee.

If your employer provides you with time off, take it. Even if you can only use a couple of days at a time, youll be more refreshed and prepared to work when you return.
Andrew Caspersen (R) departs after a hearing at the U.S. Federal Court in New York March 28, 2016. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wall Street executive Andrew Caspersen will likely plead guilty next month to criminal charges over an alleged $150 million fraud scheme, after compulsive gambling drove him to make huge, failed bets against the U.S. stock market, his lawyer said on Tuesday.

At a hearing in Manhattan federal court, Caspersen agreed to let prosecutors file a criminal "information" accusing him of securities fraud and wire fraud, and entered a not guilty plea.

When asked by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff whether a guilty plea was forthcoming, Caspersen's lawyer Paul Shechtman said: "I think that's most likely, your honor, almost certain."

A hearing is set for July 6.

Caspersen, 39, a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School and son of late Wall Street financier Finn M.W. Caspersen, told Rakoff he was being treated for "compulsive gambling and related mental health" issues.

The defendant had worked at Park Hill Group, now a unit of investment banker Paul Taubman's PJT Partners Inc (PJT.N), prior to his March arrest and eventual firing.

Prosecutors said Caspersen ran a Ponzi-like scheme from November 2014 to March 2016 to defraud more than one dozen investors, including friends, family and classmates, of nearly $150 million.

They said he falsely claimed he would use the money to make secured loans to private equity firms, but instead traded it in his own accounts and made payments to earlier investors.

Prosecutors have also accused Caspersen of cheating a charity affiliated with hedge fund billionaire Louis Bacon's Moore Capital Management out of $24.6 million.

Prosecutors previously said Caspersen's alleged fraud scheme totaled up to $95 million.

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Shechtman said Caspersen suffered losses making "casino-like" wagers on volatile, one-week "put" options, betting that the Standard & Poor's 500 would fall.

By Feb. 11, Caspersen was up $113 million after the index had sunk 11 percent over six weeks - enough, prosecutors said, to repay $38.5 million he had raised from investors.

Story continues

But Shechtman said Caspersen immediately plowed most of the money back into S&P 500 put options.

Within a month, he said, it was gone.

"People say, it's Wall Street greed. There's no greed here," he said. "There is a pathological gambling addiction so that no matter what he thought at the end of the day, he bet it all."

Shechtman said Caspersen also lost his own inheritance, once worth some $20 million.

"There's nothing left of Andrew's money," he said. "Nothing."

The case is U.S. v. Caspersen, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 16-mj-02011.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Phil Berlowitz and Dan Grebler)
This page is archived. Data published after 5 April 2022 can be found on the renewed website. Go to the new statistics page

Published: 15 June 2016

Difference of exports and imports of services narrowed down in the first quarter of 2016

The fall in imports of services narrowed down the difference between imports and exports of services in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the corresponding figures of the previous year. Services were exported to the value of EUR 5.4 billion, while service imports amounted to EUR 5.6 billion. Imports of services went down by 1.4 per cent from EUR 5.7 billion in the first quarter of 2015. The data appear from Statistics Finland's statistics on international trade in goods and services.

Imports and exports of services

The levels of international trade in services returned in the first quarter of 2016 to the level of the corresponding period last year. However, the over one per cent decline in imports slightly narrowed down the difference between imports and exports. Data on international trade in services between the last quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016 are not comparable due to seasonal variation.

Exports of goods in balance of payment terms decreased by 7.8 per cent while exports of goods in customs terms went down by 7.3 per cent compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The difference in percentage changes is explained by the diminished net exports of goods trade related to goods sent abroad for processing and merchanting. The fall in total exports of goods and services was around EUR one billion over the year due to the effect of the decrease in exports of goods.

Imports of goods in balance of payment terms in turn went down by 6.2 per cent, which is less than the fall in imports of goods reported by Finnish Customs, 6.4 per cent. The difference was mainly due to the decline in the CIF-FOB decrease related to freight and insurance costs. In total, imports of goods and services went down by EUR 0.9 billion.

International trade by area

The regional structure of exports of goods and services has remained unchanged over 2015 and the first quarter of 2016. More than two-thirds of the value of exports of goods and services is directed to Europe. Over 80 per cent of the value of exports directed to Europe comes from the EU area. In addition, some growth could be seen in the share of Europe in exports of goods and services.

Exports of goods and services in balance of payment terms by area

The share of Europe was bigger in both goods and services in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the first quarter of 2015. In exports of services the increase in the share of Europe is explained by the growing share of the EU.

Imports of goods and services are more centred than exports. The shares by continent in imports have remained unchanged since the beginning of 2015. More than 80 per cent of the value of imports come from the area of Europe. However, the share of the EU in the value of imports from Europe has risen compared with Europe outside the EU.

International trade in services by service item

The majority of the value of exports of services comes from telecommunications, computer and information services*. However, their share has declined slightly in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the first quarter of 2015. Telecommunications, computer and information services cover around one-third of exports of services. In turn, the share of other business services grew by nearly four percentage points to 20 per cent in the corresponding period. Business and management consulting services grew in particular.

Exports of services by service item

The share of services in international trade stayed unchanged at around 30 per cent in both exports and imports. The structure of imports of services remained unchanged in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the corresponding quarter last year. The share of other business services grew by three percentage points as imports of construction and project deliveries went down by two percentage points.

The margin gained from items of goods related to goods sent abroad for processing and merchanting diminished by one-fifth to around EUR 350 million in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the first quarter of 2015. The CIF-FOB decrease influencing imports of goods went down by five per cent to EUR 850 million.

The statistics on international trade in goods and services are part of balance of payments . The statistics comprise breakdowns of goods and services on a more accurate level. The guidelines and recommendations of the Balance of Payments Manual (BPM6) applied to balance of payments are consistent with the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). National Accounts are published on the quarterly and annual levels. Finnish Customs publishes data on goods trade across borders. Goods trade published by Finnish Customs are used as source data for the statistics on international trade in goods and services. Removals and additions caused by definitions are made to them to achieve goods trade in balance of payments terms.

Source: International trade in goods and services 2016, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Risto Sippola 029 551 3383, Ari Knuuti 029 551 3344, globalisaatio.tilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mari Yla-Jarkko

Publication in pdf-format (242.4 kB)

Updated 15.6.2016

Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): International trade in goods and services [e-publication].

ISSN=2343-4244. 1st quarter 2016. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 26.10.2022].

Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tpulk/2016/01/tpulk_2016_01_2016-06-15_tie_001_en.html
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Billionaire distressed asset investor Wilbur Ross has explained his reasons for backing Donald Trump to be the next U.S. president, highlighting the presumptive Republican nominee's lack of political correctness and attention to middle-class America.

"Part of the reason why I'm supporting Trump is that I think we need a more radical, new approach to government  at least in the U.S.  from what we've had before," Ross told CNBC on Wednesday.



"I think the reason why the Trump phenomenon has become so important  is because middle class and lower middle class America has not really benefited by the last 10 to 15 years of economic activity and they're sick and tired of it and they want something different."



He also said that this demographic was "sick and tired of political correctness," something that the outspoken Trump could never be accused of, having polarized U.S. voters with his divisive comments on women and minorities.

Ross said that Trump's approach to politics was refreshing. "His direction will be a less politically-correct direction," he said. "There is nothing in the direction that he is pointing that is different from the Republican platforms."



"You only get to vote for who's on the ballot paper and your choices are between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and I find that an easy choice to make," he said.



Ross conceded that Trump's pledge to wipe out $19 trillion of American debt in two terms  a claim made during an interview with the Washington Post in April  was somewhat fantastical, saying that some of Trump's math when it came to this economic ambition "probably doesn't work."



"If you add up all the promises any politicians makes, the math doesn't work. Hillary Clinton's math doesn't work, Donald's math probably doesn't work. I think you have to listen to their campaign pitches more as symbolic, more as metaphors."

Ross, who is the chairman and chief executive of private equity firm WL Ross & Co and renowned for buying distressed assets, told CNBC in March that he would vote for Donald Trump.



Story continues

"Yeah, I believe in the two-party system," he replied in the CNBC "Squawk Box" interview. "And I think if you believe in [the] two-party system, you should vote for the nominee."



"I also think you're going to see a different Donald if and when he becomes the nominee," Ross said.

Trump and the Republican National Committee has previously announced that Wilbur Ross, among others, is on a list of "presidential trustees" overseeing a joint fundraising committee organized between Trump and the RNC.

Trump became the presumptive presidential nominee for the Republican Party after seeing off rivals during the U.S. Primaries but there are rumors circulating that many within the party are unhappy with the controversial business leader's nomination.



Trump has made a series of controversial comments throughout his campaign to become the GOP's nominee, from comparing Mexican immigrants to racists, to calling for a ban on all Muslims entering the U.S.



Most recently in early June, Trump caused a furor by saying that a federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel, an American of Mexican heritage who is overseeing a lawsuit against Trump University, had a "conflict of interest" in the case because of his heritage and in light of Trump's comments about Mexicans.

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Wednesday, 15 June 2016 00:06:39 (GMT+3) | Sao Paulo

Chile s steel institute (ICHA) said compliance of local steel norms are key to guaranteeing steel quality and the peoples safety.





Commenting on anomalies at some of the nations infrastructure projects that used steel, Juan Carlos Gutierrez, executive director at ICHA, mentioned as an example the Cau Cau bridge located in the southern city of Valdivia, which is expected to be partially demolished before it can start being used.





According to Gutierrez, those failures have produced some natural disturbance in the local population.





First, we should ask if these cases have to do with specific causes in some of these specific areas or if they represent a generalized trend in civil construction, the executive noted.





ICHA said it has suggested fundamental proposals to develop and support global policies that could boost the study and research of norms and regulation of projects in local civil construction.





Late in May, ICHA noted imported rebar didnt comply with the countrys steel norms. Anomalies included lack of tags in Spanish, lack of test reports in those steel products, despite their proper certificates, and wrong categorization of the steel following chemical analysis.





At the time of ICHAs evaluation, Gerdau said Chinese rebar couldnt be used in either buildings or construction in general for being low alloy rebar.








Italian plantmaker Danieli has announced that it has received the final acceptance certificate from Nigeria -based steel producer Western Metal Products Company Limited (WEMPCO) for the first modern wire rod mill installed in Nigeria

The new mill has an annual capacity of 300,000 mt of wire rod . Although the mill can produce wire rod in a diameter range of 5-16 mm at a maximum speed of 80 m/s, its production is currently focused on 5.5 mm smooth wire rod at the rolling speed of 74 m/s to feed the existing WEMPCO drawing lines for the local market. Full production capacity is expected within a couple of months.
Wednesday, 15 June 2016 16:42:16 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

South Korean steelmaker POSCO has announced that it has recently hosted the 17th Iron Day anniversary event of the Korea Iron & Steel Association (KOSA) at POSCOs central office located in Seoul, at which KOSA pledged its commitment to future competitiveness through development of the structure of the steel industry and technological innovation.

Speaking at the meeting, KOSA chairman Ohjoon Kwon stated that it is crucial to protect the domestic market from low-priced defective products and unfair imported products and to secure future competitiveness through technological innovation. According to Mr. Kwon, the steel industry must drastically reorganize its business through a choose and focus strategy and a establish stable and competitive basis for growth through strong structural reforms.

Meanwhile, the countrys Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Hyeong-whan Joo said that the government will also actively help the South Korean steel industry to spontaneously accelerate its business reorganization through simplifying administrative procedures, relaxing regulations and providing taxation support according to the Corporate Vitality Enhancement Act that will take effect from August this year.
Wednesday, 15 June 2016 15:24:36 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

According to a statement released by the Turkish Iron and Steel Producers' Association (TCUD), the upward trend in Turkey s crude steel output has continued.

Turkish crude steel output in May this year increased by 5.3 percent month on month and was up by 5.4 percent year on year to 3.04 million mt. In the given month, Turkey s crude steel output by electric arc furnaces rose by seven percent year on year to 2.04 million mt, while crude steel output by integrated plants increased by 2.2 percent year on year to 1.0 million mt.

Meanwhile, in the January-May period of this year, Turkey 's crude steel production increased by 3.4 percent year on year to 13.62 million metric tons. In the given period, Turkey 's crude steel output by electric arc furnaces rose by 2.1 percent to 8.91 million metric tons, while production by integrated plants increased by 5.9 percent to 4.72 million metric tons, both year on year.
Wednesday, 15 June 2016 00:05:47 (GMT+3) | Sao Paulo

Automaker Jaguar Land Rover started up its first automotive plant in the state of Rio de Janeiro, the company announced this week, adding the 240 million facility was launched along with an education business partnership center.





The plant opening is the companys first production center in Latin America, and also represents the first time a UK automotive group has started up a manufacturing facility in the region.





The plant is located in the city of Itatiaia, marking a further phase in its global expansion strategy following the opening of its Chinese joint venture factory in 2014.





The automaker explained the new facility will build both the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport models for the Brazilian customers. Sales to dealers across the country are expected to begin in June, the company said.


Wednesday, 15 June 2016 11:02:24 (GMT+3) | Shanghai

Beijing-based Chinese equity trading institution China Beijing Equity Exchange Group (CBEX) has announced that Hebei Province-based Chinese pipe producer Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipes Co. has decided to transfer its 48 percent stake in Xinjiang Autonomous Region-based company Xinjiang Kingtec Steel Co., Ltd, its 100 stake in Xinjiang-based Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipes Xinjiang Co., Ltd and its 55 percent stake in Xinjiang-based Xinjiang Kingtec International Trading Co., Ltd to its major shareholder Beijing-based Xinxing Cathay International Group Co., Ltd (XXCIG) for a total of RMB 2.723 billion ($0.41 billion).





In particular, the 100 percent stake in Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipes Xinjiang was valued at RMB 2.444 billion ($0.37 billion), the 48 percent stake in Xinjiang Kingtec Steel was valued at RMB 279 million ($42.34 million), while the 55 percent stake in Xinjiang Kingtec International Trading was valued at a symbolic RMB 1 ($0.15) due to its negative net assets.
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According to market sources, Chinese offers to the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) for 4"-20" seamless pipes of B grade are at $440-450/mt CFR, while ex-South Korea offers to the UAE for 2"-6" water and gas ERW pipes are at $605-610/mt CFR, both remaining unchanged week on week. Meanwhile, ex-Saudi Arabia seamless pipe offers to the UAE are still at $725-750/mt CFR.
Mackinac Island What a beautiful weekend on Mackinac. The trees are dressed in autumn blaze and on the way to the Grand...

Outdoors This Week in the Eastern U.P. OK, first, summer was over. Then, next thing you know, September was gone. Now, October is almost over. People, this...

Looking Back 130 YEARS AGO The St. Ignace News Saturday, October 29, 1892 Deer season closed on Tuesday last.  The Gospel...
ST. LOUIS  The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the country, gathers for just two days a year to refresh and make recommendations on the best course ahead to save souls.

Only this time, the thousands of Southern Baptists gathering in downtown St. Louis this week are coming off a series of wake-up calls.

Baptisms  their gold standard  are the lowest in decades.

Hundreds of foreign missionaries have been called home, only to see the implications of poor evangelism in the United States. If only the loving message of Christ had been shared, they wish, maybe there would be less societal decay and violence.

Indeed, mass shootings have been the bookends to the past two conventions. Last year, the convention ended with the massacre at a Charleston, S.C., prayer service that left nine African-Americans dead. This year, the convention started after 49 people were killed in Orlando, Fla., at a gay nightclub.

Since all human beings are made in the image of God, this attack against gay Americans in Orlando is an attack on each of us, the Rev. Ronnie Floyd told thousands of people Tuesday at Americas Center. As followers of Jesus Christ, we stand against any form of bigotry, hatred or violence against our nation.

In his final address as convention president, Floyd, of Arkansas, spoke at length about race in an attempt to rally political candidates and church leaders to face hard truths about the country and individual communities.

We are known more for being the Divided States of America than for being the United States of America, he said, adding: Regardless of the color of ones skin, God has put his divine imprint on each one of us. Where has this conversation been in our national political races for the highest office of the land? The silence of both parties has been deafening. This cannot be. Racism is a major sin and stronghold in America.

He also leveled the message directly at the Southern Baptist Convention, largely made up of rural congregations of less than 100 people in the South.

We are not black churches, he said. We are not white churches. We are not Latino churches. We are not Asian churches. We are the church of Jesus Christ.

That call for racial unity was followed by passage of a resolution that calls on Christians to stop displaying the Confederate battle flag.

Earlier, a diverse mix of faith leaders hosted a panel discussion on race.

Kenny Petty, pastor of the Gate Church in University City, spoke about Ferguson.

He said the shooting of Michael Brown exposed a historical, societal infection, like the incidents in Charleston and Florida. It exposed a wound, and that wound opened up and it reeked, he said. We had a pretty serious situation in our streets  there has been some healing, but there is a long way to go.

Bridges and flags

The Rev. Marshall Blalock, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Charleston, S.C., spoke about the shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church there last summer, when a young white man walked in on a Wednesday night and killed nine people. Blalock urged the audience to not wait for this to happen.

Are we willing to build a bridge? he asked. Are you willing to start this in your church? And are you willing to start it now?

Gregg Matte, senior pastor at Houstons First Baptist Church, said he insisted on having a diverse groups of pastors for its five campuses.

We want our leadership to look like the city of Houston, he said.

Larry Shuler, 67, listened to the presidents address and subsequent panel discussion from near the back row of the cavernous convention hall. An associate pastor, he recalled working in East Texas.

They didnt talk about racism, they just practiced it, he said. If you dont talk about it, its not going to change. Throwing rocks doesnt help a bit, it only increases anger.

The Confederate flag resolution was first proposed by an African-American pastor, the Rev. Dwight McKissic. The proposal presented was less strongly worded than the original. It added a paragraph that the flag serves for some not as a symbol of racism but as a memorial to loved ones who died in the Civil War.

It also called on Christians to consider prayerfully whether to limit, or even more so, discontinue the flags display.

But Tuesday, the convention approved a motion to remove the added paragraph and urge Christians to discontinue the flags use.

A call to evangelism

The denomination, based in Nashville, Tenn., was founded in a split with northern Baptists over slavery. It has a history of complicity with Jim Crow laws and is still 80 percent to 90 percent white. But with 15.3 million members, that translates to at least 1.5 million nonwhite members.

And while membership at white churches is decreasing, it is on the rise at churches identified as predominantly non-Anglo.

At a pastors conference leading up to the convention, which runs through Wednesday, Ed Stetzer, executive director of LifeWay Research, an analytical arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, challenged pastors to change. Reported baptisms are below 300,000 a year for the first time since 1947.

If you love the way you do church more than the people of your community, then you wont have a fulfilled ministry, Stetzer said.

He called on Southern Baptists to be evangelists.

I want to speak lovingly as my co-laborers in the gospel, but we need to quit praying for revival in this nation when we wont even go visit our unchurched neighbor, he said. Baptists love evangelism as long as somebody else is doing it. But the idea that its someone elses job has gotten us into the moment where we find ourselves today.

His message resonated with Lamar Chastain, who, at 50, recently finished seminary training.

We cant walk into church on Sunday and go into a time warp  to the 1970s or 1950s, said Chastain, of rural North Carolina. We must share Christs message in a culturally relevant way.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
ST. LOUIS  The Kirkwood-based Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, a conservative-leaning network of 6,000 churches and 2 million members, has re-elected the Rev. Matthew Harrison to serve a third term as president.

Harrison won 57 percent of the vote, according to the synod, which released election results Wednesday.

Harrison faced the Rev. Dale Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary in Clayton, who garnered 37 percent of the vote, and the Rev. David Maier, leader of one of the synods largest 35 districts, Michigan.

Voting was done by pastors and select members of the laity across the country; 84 percent of 7,348 eligible voters cast ballots.

The election, which started over the weekend, is held before the synods convention, which will be held in Milwaukee in July.

The convention is expected to weigh in on the use of lay deacons serving in pastoral roles, as well as many other issues.
CHICAGO  Illinois loses about $2.6 million each month in investment income because of the state budget impasse, Treasurer Michael Frerichs said Tuesday in describing how his office has changed investment strategies as the unprecedented impasse approaches the start of a second year.

The states chief investment officer said the more cautious strategy means shorter-term investments instead of more lucrative longer term ones, alterations made last summer when Democrats controlling the Legislature and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner failed to agree on a budget for the fiscal year that began last July. The impasse is approaching a year and there are few signs there will be an agreement anytime soon for the new fiscal year.

This uncertainty rips money out to the pockets of every resident in the state of Illinois, he said. What we need is a budget.

Despite the murky financial picture, Frerichs insisted Illinois was still a good investment, a sentiment Rauner echoed Tuesday days before his administration geared up to sell $550 million in bonds.

Last week, two major credit ratings agencies downgraded Illinois already worst-in-the-nation state rating, citing the impasse and Springfields political gridlock.

Rauner said he has talked with many bond buyers who say they support the pro-business agenda he is pushing and have confidence in what were trying to do in our administration.

He said money from Thursdays sale will fund infrastructure improvements, not day-to-day operations.

Investing in our roads and our bridges and our transportation infrastructure grows our economy, helps us recruit more businesses here and also creates construction jobs, Rauner said. Its all good.

Legislators are meeting in smaller groups to negotiate a budget solution.

House Speaker Michael Madigan, whod said his chamber would meet in continuous session in the summer, canceled a Wednesday session, citing the working groups.

The options on the table include short-term spending plans for schools and money for human services.

Meanwhile, most of the states spending is on autopilot because of court orders and state statutes, though at unsustainable rates.

The longer people hold out and delay, the more it costs the state, Frerichs said.

The Democrat in his first term as treasurer said an analysis from his office showed the state lost $7.8 million in investment income the first three months of the year when compared with the same time period last year. He predicted if nothing changes with the budget, Illinois could miss out on $31 million this calendar year.

The amount is a drop in the bucket considering previous state spending plans topped $35 billion and the states backlog of unpaid bills is over $7 billion.

But social service providers said the money could help them keep from scaling back services and closing their doors.
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Barely four days have elapsed since the horrific attack in Orlando in which 49 people were killed by a gunman spraying bullets from an assault rifle and threatening to blow things up. Meanwhile, a tone-deaf Missouri gubernatorial candidate insists on running an advertisement depicting himself spraying rounds from an assault rifle and sparking a big explosion.

GOP candidate Eric Greitens seems to think the civilian world will be blown away by his experience as a Navy SEAL officer. Its a constant in all campaign messages, debates and public comments, as if Greitens envisions the Governors Mansion in Jefferson City as some kind of bunkered outpost where he would personally direct armed commando missions. Recalcitrant legislators beware.

The ad message is out of whack with the reality of a governors responsibilities. Its particularly inappropriate, tasteless and tone-deaf in the wake of Americas most deadly mass shooting. SEALs are taught command judgment; Greitens should use it and take down the ad.

A campaign spokesman, Austin Chambers, suggested the ad will stay put. This election is about what kind of country were going to live in, and if it will be safe from radical Islamic terrorists, he said.

The Republican Party already is grappling with the absurd antics of presidential candidate Donald Trump, who goes out of his way to offend sensibilities and provoke controversy at every turn.

In a recent debate, Greitens was still reluctant to support Trumps candidacy, so why does he mimic Trumps undisciplined, shoot-from-the-hip style? He should be talking about the actual needs of this state, not some fantasy military mission.

Greitens actually did change his website after the Orlando attack. He added a page that opens with conservatives requisite radical Islamic terrorism wording, even though it now increasingly appears the attacker was a confused man who couldnt figure out what he stood for religiously.

The shooter, Omar Mateen, was not known as a particularly devout Muslim. He might have been a closeted gay man. He didnt know if he backed the Islamic State or its arch enemy, the al-Qaida offshoot al-Nusra Front, or Hezbollah, the Shiite militia that is at war with the hard-line Sunni Islamic State and al-Nusra.

Greitens website asserts that he knows this evil. He fought this evil. Technically, he didnt. Neither the Islamic State nor al-Nusra existed during his Navy service, and Greitens has made no claim to serving in Lebanon and Syria, where Hezbollah operates. Protecting gay nightclubs from attack isnt mentioned anywhere in his record.

But he does know about guns and explosions. And those do serve a purpose. They help distract GOP voters from the fact that Greitens has no experience in elective office and clearly no perspective on whats appropriate in the wake of a major national tragedy.
One-hundred years of Granite City High School yearbooks are now available free to the public online, courtesy of the Six Mile Regional Library District (SMRLD), according to a press release.

From the first yearbook in 1910 to the 2010 yearbook, with a few exceptions, those who attended high schools in Granite City can now find their yearbooks online at history.smrld.org/yearbooks. Hard copies of most yearbooks are available for in-house use at the downtown library, located at 2001 Delmar Avenue.

In 1910, the population of Granite City was 9,903 and 20 students had their senior class pictures in the Blue and Gold G.C.H.S. 1910 yearbook, which includes the following inscription. The class of nineteen hundred and ten present herewith the first annual year book of the Granite City High School. The purpose of this volume is to record the progress of our High School, and to reflect its life and happenings. The year has been a worthy addition to the Granite City High School; it marks a new epoch of growth, in outward influence, in inner strength and unity, and above all in loyalty to Granite City.

From 1911 through 1913, the yearbooks were titled The Sphinx. In 1914, the name changed to the Granois, when this years class decided to publish an Annual one of the many obstacles met with was the selection of a suitable name for the book. It was the intention of the class to adopt a name that would be a little out of the ordinary. A name that could be remembered because of its oddity. A name that would possibly be accepted by future Annual-publishing classes as good enough for their book.

Perhaps an explanation of the name would not be out of the way. Granois is a compound of the two words Granite and Illinois. The accent is on the last syllable. The pronunciation is Gran-oy. And so, Granois it remained, in one form or another, through the 1930 yearbook. By 1954, the yearbook was titled Warrior, which it has remained through today.

In the fall of 1973, a second high school opened and we then had Granite City High School North and Granite City High School South. The yearbooks from North high school were titled Ingot, while the yearbooks from South remained Warrior (except for 1980 Granite City High South and 1981 Granite City High School South). There are a total of 3,262 senior photos from North High School during its 10-year lifespan in these yearbooks. All 10 graduating classes yearbooks can be found at the website, history.smrld.org/yearbooks.

Over the years, Six Mile Regional Library District has collected the yearbooks of the Granite City High Schools, with only a few years missing. Physical yearbooks missing from the librarys collection include 1912, 1921-1924, 1926, 2005, 2006, and 2010. If you or someone you know has a copy of any missing yearbook, please consider donating it (or lending it for digitizing) to the library.

As far as they can tell, yearbooks were not published from 1931 to 1953; if you have a yearbook for one of these years, theyd really like to see it. To assist those who graduated during the missing years, SMRLD has borrowed from the Granite City High Schools media librarian, Paul Macios, the Granite High World student newspapers from the school years 1937-38 through 1955-56 for digitizing. These will be added to the website as soon as they are available.
LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: Sterling rebounds 10% to briefly top $1.16

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 - 12:41

The pound was continuing to enjoy its Rishi rise on Wednesday, shrugging off news of a delay to a costed budget statement to take advantage of a weaker dollar, as Rishi Sunak took part in his first Prime Minister's Questions.

Sterling was quoted at $1.1568 at midday, sharply higher from $1.1464 at the London equities close on Tuesday. The pound hit an intraday high of $1.1618 - up 10% from its post-mini-budget low of $1.0533 - before sliding back after news the UK has postponed its budget plan until November 17.

"Markets...see [Sunak] as a fairly steady pair of hands, particularly when it comes to stabilising the UK economy," said Matthew Ryan, head of market strategy at Ebury. "Sunak's leadership credentials are yet to really be tested, but investors seem to be of the view that his largely encouraging stint as chancellor should stand him in good stead."

Downing Street has said Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's planned Halloween budget to get the public finances back on track has been delayed until the middle of next month.

The medium-term fiscal plan now will be published on November 17 as an autumn statement, alongside a new set of economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Hunt informed ministers of the decision at the first meeting of Rishi Sunak's new cabinet in Downing Street on Wednesday morning.

Following the meeting, Hunt told broadcasters: "I want to confirm that it will demonstrate debt falling over the medium term, which is really important for people to understand. But it's also extremely important that that statement is based on the most accurate possible economic forecasts and forecasts of public finances."

Hunt said he discussed the move with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey on Tuesday night, saying the governor "understands the reasons for doing that and I'll continue to work very closely with him".

The FTSE 100 index was down 21.85 points, or 0.3%, at 6,991.66. The mid-cap FTSE 250 was up 125.41 points, or 0.7%, at 17,957.04, and the AIM All-Share was up 4.13 points at 803.57.

The Cboe UK 100 was down 0.3% at 698.46, the Cboe UK 250 up 1.0% at 15,374.95, and the Cboe Small Companies up 0.5% at 12,334.67

In European equities on Tuesday, the CAC 40 in Paris was 0.1% higher, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt was 0.5% higher.

In London, housebuilders were enjoying a bout of optimism on the hope Sunak's government can avoid the deep recession analysts feared was around the corner if Liz Truss's economic plans were carried out.

Barratt was 1.6% higher, Taylor Wimpey 1.3%, Berkeley 1.2% and Persimmon 1.0%.

WPP gave back 3.3% despite lifting its annual top-line guidance after a strong rise in third-quarter revenue.

The London-based advertising agency said its third-quarter revenue rose 10% to 3.57 billion from 3.24 billion a year earlier, with like-for-like revenue up 2.7%. Its revenue less pass-through costs increased 13% to 2.99 billion from 2.64 billion.

Looking ahead, WPP upgraded its 2022 guidance for growth in full-year like-for-like revenue less pass-through costs to 6.5% to 7.0%, compared to a previously expected range of 6.0% to 7.0%. Less positively, it said it expects headline operating margin growth of between 30 to 50 basis points. It had previously guided for growth of 50 bps.

Consumer goods firm Reckitt Benckiser lost 4.2%.

It reported strong quarterly revenue growth as prices and sales mix improved, despite a decline in volumes. In the third quarter, the Slough, Berkshire-based Reckitt said total revenue grew 14% year-on-year to 3.74 billion, or 7.4% on a like-for-like basis.

Price and mix improvements of 12% helped to offset a volume decline of 4.6%. Reckitt noted "continued broad-based growth and momentum" during the period.

With a strong performance in the year so far, Reckitt reiterated its annual targets. However, for like-for-like revenue growth, it tweaked the range upwards to between 6% and 8%, compared to 5% and 8% previously.

Standard Chartered fell 4.0%.

The Asia-focused bank recorded a substantial increase in profit as it benefited from rising interest rates across the world.

In the three months that ended September 30, Standard Chartered recorded a 40% increase in pretax profit to $1.39 billion from $996 million a year before. On an underlying basis, profit rose 32% to $1.42 billion from $1.08 billion.

StanChart's income rose 15% to $4.33 billion from $3.76 billion a year before. In constant currency terms, it recorded a 22% increase.

Standard Chartered said its performance has been strong and that the "pace of economic recovery" in many of its footprint markets is "encouraging". Despite increasing recessionary pressures in western markets, the company expects income to grow by around 13% in all of 2022, in line with year-to-date growth.

The bank expects its credit impairment to be slightly above the year-to-date annualised loan-loss rate of 18 basis points.

Standard Chartered expects net interest margin progression to average around 165 basis points in 2023, which combined with continued strong business momentum and positive jaws ratio, means it "remains on-track" to deliver its 10% return on target equity target in 2024, if not earlier.

Looking ahead to the open in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average is called down 0.1% and the S&P 500 down 0.7%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite is expected to open 1.6% lower.

The three indices had closed up as much as 2.3% on Tuesday, but the mood on Wall Street was hurt by disappointing tech earnings after the close. The figures from Alphabet and Microsoft appeared to confirm fears of a spending slowdown in the US.

AJ Bell head of investment analysis Laith Khalaf remarked: "All good things must come to an end, but it is still a jolt to see advertising revenue on Google-owner Alphabet's Youtube platform fall for the first time on record. While bad news for its parent company, the reversal in fortunes also says something less than encouraging about the state of the economy and is a negative omen for the wider digital advertising space.

"The results of the big technology firms were seen as a key determining factor in market sentiment going into the US third quarter reporting season and both Microsoft and Alphabet have given investors reason to worry."

Alphabet was down 6.0% in pre-market trading in New York, while Microsoft was 6.3% lower.

Similarly benefiting from the recent dollar weakness, the euro traded at $1.020 midday Wednesday, moving back above parity for the first time since the start of October, and up from $0.9963 late Tuesday. Against the yen, the dollar was quoted at JP147.14, down from JP147.77.

Gold was quoted at $1,669.20 an ounce midday Wednesday, higher than $1,655.96 on Tuesday evening in London. Brent oil was trading at $91.82 a barrel, soft from $91.91 late Tuesday.

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Telephone scams are a growing problem in China, with even financial experts falling prey to sophisticated schemes. For some victims, though, the consequences are far more severe than a simple monetary loss, as Zhang Yi reports.

Last month, Fan Yin-gui hanged himself in a residential building in Qin'an county, Gansu province. He left no suicide note, just a cryptic messages crawled in dust at the scene: "My death has nothing to do with my wife, it is about swindlers."

The day before Fan took his own life, the 44-year-old received a bogus phone call, supposedly from the police, which led him to transfer 230,000 yuan ($35,000) to a fake bank account set up under the name of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

The money represented all of Fan's savings. The member of the logistics department at Xichuan Middle School in Qin'an had planned to use the funds to buy an apartment for his family.

According to his wife, Feng Xiangxiang, Fan was told he was being targeted by the police in connection with a money-laundering case and he was threatened with arrest if he refused to cooperate with the investigation.

"On May 9, after a 60-minute discussion on the phone, he left home with his ID card and a bank card. He ignored me when I asked him where he was headed," Feng said. "When he returned home the next morning, he told me he had been swindled out of all our savings."

Fan's death was one of a series of suicides linked with telecom frauds that have attracted national attention since the beginning of the year.

Rich pickings

Last year, a series of telecom frauds nationwide netted 22.2 billion yuan. Half the money flowed into bank accounts in Taiwan, and so far only a fraction of the total amount has been recovered, leaving many families destitute.

Even financial professionals are not immune to the fraudsters' ploys, which have resulted in large losses of government funds.

In April, police in Guizhou province broke up China's biggest single case of telecom fraud, in which 117 million yuan of public money was taken from the construction bureau of the Economic Development Zone in Duyun city.

The bureau's finance supervisor, surnamed Yang, was contacted by several callers who claimed either to be officers at a police station in the Songjiang district of Shanghai or staff at the headquarters of the Agricultural Bank of China. Yang was told the bank account she managed needed to be reviewed, and she was instructed to download software from a website that would provide the callers with access to the bureau's finances.

Fake calls such as these are not a novelty, but many people remain ignorant about the serious consequences of revealing information to unidentified callers.

Overseas operations

Nearly 600,000 similar cases were cracked in China last year, but the problem is becoming more widespread. "The number of similar crimes has continued to rise since the beginning of this year," said Chen Shiqu, a deputy inspect or at the criminal investigation bureau at the Public Security Ministry.

According to Chen, a mere 200,000 yuan has been recovered in recent years. In most of the frauds, criminals from Taiwan set up bases in countries such as Malaysia, Uganda and Turkey and then hired mainlanders to play different roles in the deception.

Unlike the duplicitous methods employed by criminals in recent years, such as calling people and asking them to provide details that allow them to claim a "prize" in a false lottery, the procedure has become more complex and usually begins with a phone call: "The police department wishes to inform you that your bank account has been compromised. An officer will contact you shortly to assist you in freezing your account."

Initially, neither Fan nor Yang believed the phone calls, but when a check with the national registry system showed the numbers matched those of genuine police stations, they were convinced of their authenticity. Following the phone call, Fan was sent a document, purportedly from the top procuratorate, that showed his bank account had been frozen. The document included detailed information, including Fan's ID number, which added more credence to the story.

Likewise, Yang received a criminal investigation warrant and a freezing order, both of which carried red government stamps. The documents played crucial roles in convincing Fan and Yang of the authenticity of the calls, and they quickly began to worry about the money they had placed in banks.

Zhou Haihong, one of the officers in charge of Yang's case, said the police recovered the numbers of calls made to Yang's cellphone and traced them to automatic-dialing software on a computer server in Uganda, where the fraudsters were based.

After the software changed the caller ID, Yang's phone displayed a number selected by the swindlers.

The same server has been linked to bogus phone calls to other victims, including two people in Zhejiang province, who were swindled out of a combined 2.7 million yuan in January.

Police discovered that the gang was well-organized. One of the masterminds, surnamed Chen, from Taiwan rented computer servers from a mainland company and hired operators from the mainland, who were contracted on a basic wage, received bonuses on profits and received training before being sent overseas.

The police also detained dealers who sold private information to the gang. Officers recovered nearly 200 ID cards, 43 bank cards and disks containing personal information related to 155,000 senior managers of financial institutions and government employees. Personal driver details were also stolen from traffic bureaus.

In April, 62 alleged members of the ring that had been operating in Uganda, including 10 from Taiwan, were brought back to the Chinese mainland. The gang, which is alleged to have been involved in more than 180 cases targeting Chinese nationals in 26 provinces, is still being investigated.

In March, police from Malaysia and the Chinese mainland cooperated in an investigation into five cases of international telecom fraud. They arrested 117 suspects, 65 from the mainland and 52 from Taiwan. Twenty Taiwan residents were handed over to Taiwan authorities by Malaysian police on April 15, while the others were repatriated to the mainland at the end of April.

Also in April, Kenyan police deported 77 suspected telecom fraudsters, including 45 from Taiwan, from two other syndicates to the Chinese mainland. On May 31, 82 suspects, including 52 from Taiwan, were arrested in Izmir in western Turkey on fraud charges.

Legal differences

However, differences in judicial procedures between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan resulted in a number of suspects being released immediately upon arrival in Taiwan, while others were given lenient sentences.

In August 2013, a man called Lin Minghao and 20 other leading members of a gang detained in Cambodia by the Beijing police were sent back to Taiwan. Two years later, they were detained again for alleged involvement in telecom frauds in Indonesia, Cambodia and Australia.

However, while people convicted of telecom fraud in the Chinese mainland can face a life sentence, the maximum sentence in Taiwan is just five years, according to FanChongyi, a professor of law at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing.

At present, Taiwan's criminal law has no specific provisions to target telecom fraud, he said, adding that he hoped the legislation would soon be revised and strengthened.

Twenty of the suspects from Taiwan deported from Malaysia were handed over to the island's judicial authorities, but were released immediately. Officials in Taiwan defended the move, saying the evidence is not being held in Taiwan but is in the hands of the mainland police, and they will talk with their mainland counterparts about opening an investigation into the fraud.

Xu, a 37-year-old Taiwan resident who police only refer to by his surname, was repatriated from Kenya in April. He confessed that it is common knowledge among gang members that fraud suspects detained overseas are usually deported to Taiwan, where they will either be acquitted or given light sentences.

In 2010, Xu was sentenced to seven months in prison, but after his release he was recruited for the operation in Kenya in July 2014 while on a bogus business visit arranged by criminal gangs in Taiwan.

Xu, who is now being held in a detention center in the Haidian district of Beijing, said he would not have joined the gang in Kenya if he had known he would be deported to the mainland rather than Taiwan.

On May 13, Chen Wen-chi, head of a 12-strong delegation of senior officials from Taiwan's police and judiciary who visited suspects from Taiwan detained in the mainland, said officials in Taiwan will make concerted efforts with the mainland to recover the stolen funds.

Prosecutors and investigators with the delegation discussed the cases with their mainland counterparts in the hope of finding away to jointly examine the cases and guarantee the rights of the accused.

"Fifteen suspects have requested legal assistance and five have hired lawyers," said Li Hongping, deputy head of the Public Security Bureau in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, where 32 Taiwan residents are being detained.

Chen Shiqu, the Public Security Ministry inspector, said 77 suspected members of telecom fraud syndicates deported from Kenya will be tried on the mainland, and 32 suspects from Taiwan deported to the mainland from Malaysia have confessed to their crimes.

"The suspects specifically targeted people on the Chinese mainland. Their victims are from the mainland. They will be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the mainland," he said.

Contact the writer at zhang_yi@chinadaily.com.cn

Suspected telecom fraudsters are escorted from an aircraft by police at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on April 30. Ninety-seven suspects, including 32 people from Taiwan, were repatriated from Malaysia under the escort of Chinese police. The suspects were allegedly involved in more than 100 international telecom frauds in more than 20 areas of the Chinese mainland. Liang Xu / Xinhua Left: A delegation from Taiwan, led by Chen Wenchi(center), a crossStraits legal affairs official in the island, visits a house of detention in Beijing where 45 telecom fraud suspects from the island are being held. Chen Yehua / Xinhua Right: Police officers and student volunteers distribute publicity materials among residents of a community in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, to raise awareness of telecom fraud. Shi Yucheng / For China Daily

(China Daily 06/15/2016 page5)
Glued joint owner and director, David Wilson, and Helping Hands Community Project Manager, Lianne Kirkman, with the new logo. (Submitted photo)

A BRAND development agency based in Snitterfield has given a helping hand to a charity that supports vulnerable people in Warwickshire.

The Helping Hands Community Project has had its new logo designed free of charge by Glued. The charity works with the homeless, victims of domestic abuse and those with drug and alcohol addictions.

Volunteers collect donations of household goods, furniture, toiletries, clothing, toys and bedding to distribute to individuals and families in need.

The charity has now opened a new hub in Leamingtons Old Town called The Lighthouse, which will act as a charity shop, a drop-in centre and a space where courses will be delivered.

Glued offered their services to the cause after charity manager, Lianne Kirkman, gave a speech about Helping Hands at a business forum event in Leamington.

Glued joint owner and director, David Wilson, said: Lianne gave a compelling speech about Helping Hands and the work it does and also spoke about some of the things the charity needs going forwards, one of which was a new logo.

We see it as part of our corporate responsibility to give something back to the community and we were very happy to offer our help to the charity.

Their original logo was designed in-house when the charity was first established and they have now outgrown this and were in need of something more professional to help launch their new hub.

The new logo will make the charity more recognisable and will appeal to stakeholders. It will also give the charity a more professional look and a better platform in the public domain.

Glued, which has been a member of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce since 2014, is also a member of Supporting Stratford, which aims to assist charities in the Stratford area with discounted services or other support.
Former CBI chief Lord Digby jones, a Brexit supporter, during an appearance on the BBC's Daily Politics yesterday.

JUST days before the Herald's live EU debate in Stratford, Lord Digby Jones, who wants out of Europe, has been involved in a second heated exchange with panellists debating the referendum on television.

Lord Digby Jones will be taking part in the Herald EU debate at Stratford's ArtsHouse this Thursday evening but in the run-up to the event he's clashed with several panelists over the whole EU issue.

The former Director General of the Confederation of British Industry took part in a BBC Midlands Today Referendum debate last Sunday night where he verbally clashed repeatedly with Labour MP Tristram Hunt who supports the remain campaign. At times it became increasingly difficult to host the lively discussion because of Lord Digby Jones' repeated interruptions.

And on Tuesday there was a repeat performance when Lord Jones clashed with Labour MP Rachel Reeves who he had a live bust up over the EU on the BBC's Daily Politics programme. At one point she accused him of "loving to interrupt women."

With the EU referendum just over a week away, emotions are high and the stakes appear even higher.

Lord Digby will be among the panelists at tomorrow night's Herald EU debate which takes place in front of a live audience of 400 people and will also appear on the Herald website.
In a surprise move prominent Conservative member, Bob Dhillon, a former mayor of Warwick, has joined UKIP in protest at David Cameron's EU 'project fear' campaign.

Mr Dhillon, who served two terms as Tory councillor for Warwick West, has been involved with the Conservative Party since the age of 12 but now the father-of-three has decided to join the countrys leading Eurosceptic party.

He explained that has become disillusioned with the Prime Minister's project fear campaign in the EU referendum.

David Cameron is wrong, he is not standing up for the British people and the deal he negotiated is not worth the paper it is written on. How can he expect people to vote to remain in the EU with such a lousy deal? said Mr Dhillon.

He has lost the confidence of the general public on immigration, HS2, NHS privatisation through the controversial TTIP agreement between the USA and Europe and through destroying rural/urban areas with Conservative housing plans.

Welcoming Mr Dhillon to the party Midlands UKIP MEP James Carver said, The credit for the British people finally getting a say on the EU in the referendum is all down to the work UKIP has done over the years.

For those who oppose our EU membership, such as Bob Dhillon, joining UKIP is a logical decision.

Mr Dhillon, who was the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Washington & Sunderland West in the 2015 General Election, intends to go through UKIPs internal process for candidate approval with the view for selection as UKIPs Warwick & Leamington parliamentary candidate.

Alastair MacBrayne, Warwick & Leamington UKIP branch chairman, who fought the seat in the last General Election for UKIP, said: Having Bob Dhillon joining us is a great boost for us in the area.

We are all looking forward to working with him in the years to come, he has already been a great help by joining us on our referendum campaign days by informing people why it is to the benefit of our country to leave the EU.
Piper Jaffray analyst Erinn Murphy is positive on shares of PVH Corp. (NYSE: PVH)

following hosting her fireside chat with Chairman & CEO Manny Chirico, Dana Perlman (SVP, Treasurer, Business Development & IR), and Nicole Shevins (IR). The overall tone was positive and business in Q2 has improved QTD from Q1 and from the last call. There is still inventory in the channel but the climate in NA has improved marginally and management believes channel inventory will be more aligned during Fall. PVH indicated that while overall open-to-buy dollars are down domestically (5-10% Y/Y), its business has been taking share & is up. European trends are exceptional and the company is already seeing a strong start in pre-Spring 2017 orders.

No change to Overweight rating or price target of $109.00

For an analyst ratings summary and ratings history on PVH Corp click here. For more ratings news on PVH Corp click here.

Shares of PVH Corp closed at $94.38 yesterday.
Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: NUS) announced it has entered into an agreement for a $210 million strategic investment from Ping An ZQ China Growth Opportunity Limited. The firm consists of a consortium of experienced Chinese investors led by Ping An of China Securities (Hong Kong) Company Ltd. and a group of additional investors affiliated with ZQ Capital Limited.

"We are honored to have the support of Ping An and ZQ Capital as we look to accelerate our growth and development in China," said Truman Hunt, chief executive officer. "Ping An and ZQ Capital bring significant local market knowledge and valuable expertise that we believe will positively impact our long-term growth opportunities in this important region."

Ping An of China Securities (Hong Kong) Company Ltd. Chairman Le Lin said, "We are excited to become a strategic investor of Nu Skin and believe in the company's global business opportunity and specific growth potential in the Chinese market. Our relationship brings together our collective strengths that we believe will generate positive long-term results."

ZQ Capital Founding Partner Simon Shen noted, "This investment represents a meaningful step in our firm's continued commitment to the consumer story in China. We firmly believe that our resources and knowledge in China can add to Nu Skin's existing franchise and look forward to working together with the company to unlock additional shareholder value."

Nu Skin Chief Financial Officer Ritch Wood said, "We expect this investment will be accretive for Nu Skin shareholders. We plan to use the proceeds for repurchasing common stock throughout the remainder of the year and investing in our China operations.

"Over the next two days we will be hosting approximately 20,000 sales leaders and customers from throughout the Greater China region at our convention in Hong Kong. In conjunction with this event, last week we completed a very successful introduction of ageLOC Me, an innovative customized skin care system, selling out of a limited supply in China. Based in part on this success, we currently anticipate delivering second-quarter revenue at the high end of, or slightly above, our previous guidance of $560 to $580 million," concluded Wood.

Under the terms of the investment, Ping An ZQ China Growth Limited is purchasing $210 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.75 percent, four-year convertible senior notes with an initial conversion price of $46.50 per share. The convertible notes will be general unsecured obligations of Nu Skin. Nu Skin expects to complete the sale of the notes within five business days, subject to customary closing conditions. Additional information relating to these securities can be found in a current report on Form 8-K that will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is acting as Nu Skin's legal counsel. Paul Hastings LLP is acting as legal counsel to Ping An ZQ China Growth Opportunity Limited and MagStone Law LLP is acting as legal counsel to ZQ Capital.
AIG CEO Peter Hancock speaks during the White House summit on cybersecurity and consumer protection in Palo Alto, California February 13, 2015. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith

LONDON (Reuters) - Activist investors Carl Icahn and John Paulson are making American International Group (AIG) (NYSE: AIG) more transparent through their representation on its board, the U.S. insurer's president and chief executive Peter Hancock said on Wednesday.

Hedge fund manager Paulson and Samuel Merksamer, a managing director at Icahn Capital, joined the AIG board last month after a campaign last year by Icahn, the U.S. insurer's fourth largest investor, for AIG to break itself into three parts.

AIG rejected Icahn's proposal and outlined its own strategy in January, including spinning off its mortgage insurance unit and selling its broker-dealer network.

"Inclusion of the activists has forced us to be a little bit more transparent," Hancock said at a briefing in London, adding that after seeing the company from the inside, the investors were gaining a better understanding of the difficulties of simplifying the company.

"There is a lot of common ground," Hancock told Reuters on the sidelines of the briefing.

Hancock said part of the simplification would include cutting motor insurance business in some of the countries in which it operates, following a decision to pull out of motor insurance in China.

AIG's near-collapse in 2008 and its $182 billion bail-out by the U.S. government led to its inclusion in the Federal Reserve's list of "systemically important financial institutions" (SIFIs).

Icahn has argued a split would help AIG rid itself of the regulatory burden of being a SIFI, which requires higher capital cushions.

AIG also said in January it planned to cut $1.6 billion of costs and return at least $25 billion to shareholders over the next two years.

"The strategy is very much on track," Hancock said.

AIG's European headquarters are in London, and the firm may switch that head office status if Britain votes to leave the European Union in a referendum next week, Hancock said.

"If a Brexit should occur, I suspect we will need a hub within the EU and there are some excellent choices, some of which we have examined," he told the briefing, declining to give further details.

AIG's restructuring also involves job cuts. Around 100 jobs were recently cut in London, according to a source familiar with the matter.

(Reporting by Carolyn Cohn; Editing by Mark Potter)
LORRACH, Germany and SAINT LOUIS, France, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Allecra Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel antibiotics to combat drug-resistant bacterial infections, announced today the closing of its 22 Million Series B investment round. The round was led by new investor, Delos Capital. Existing investors Forbion Capital Partners, Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners, EMBL Ventures and Allecra's co-Founder Nicholas Benedict also participated.

The proceeds will fund Phase 2 development of AAI202, Allecra's proprietary, novel antibiotic combination designed to treat drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. AAI202 is a combination of a powerful -lactam antibiotic together with a proprietary, novel Extended Spectrum -Lactamase Inhibitor. A The combination is designed for use as broad-spectrum antibacterial therapy to treat hospitalized patients who contract infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria proven or suspected to express certain resistance mechanisms, particularly extended-spectrum -lactamases (ESBLs). A

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] have estimated[1] that in the USA alone at least 2 million people each year acquire serious infections due to drug-resistant bacteria.

"FDA has granted QIDP status [Qualified Infectious Disease Product] for AAI202, including eligibility for Fast-Track designation in the USA" commented Nicholas Benedict, Allecra's CEO. A

"QIDP facilitates getting a potentially life-saving new antibiotic to patients in the USA. A The FDA is not alone in recognizing that Gram-negative antibiotic resistance is a growing and a widespread epidemic, somewhat analogous to the situation with MRSA [methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus] during the last decade."

Holger Reithinger of Forbion Capital Partners and Allecra's Chairman, added, "This Series B investment into Allecra enables pursuit of the development program of AAI202, speeding the potential availability of AAI202 to patients who need it. A Forbion is confident that Allecra can build on the already positive results for AAI202 and has invested in excess of our pro-rata share by deploying capital from both our main fund and now also from our latest co-invest fund."

Henry Chen, Managing Partner of Delos Capital commented, "Delos finds Allecra's highly focused approach to combatting drug-resistant Gram-negative infections compelling. A The company is working on one of the most important public health issues of our time and brings a deeply experienced team to address the problem. A We are confident that Allecra can make a significant contribution to the fight against drug-resistant infections."

About Allecra Therapeutics A

Allecra is a biopharmaceutical company established in 2013 in the European BioValley Life Sciences cluster located in the Upper Rhine valley encompassing northwest Switzerland, southwest Germany and the Alsace Region of France. A Allecra is focused on the development of novel treatments to combat multi drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. Allecra's mission is to contribute towards the global effort to combat antibiotic resistance by developing new treatments which overcome emerging resistance mechanisms, thereby saving lives of patients whose infections may otherwise be inadequately treated. A Allecra's wholly-owned French subsidiary is a beneficiary of financial support from the French public bank Bpifrance and from the RAgion Alsace. A For more information on Allecra please visit http://www.allecra.com or email [email protected].

About Forbion Capital PartnersA

Forbion Capital Partners is a dedicated life sciences venture capital firm with offices in The Netherlands and Germany. Forbion invests in life sciences companies in the pharmaceutical, as well as the medical device space. Forbion's investment team has built an impressive performance track record since the late nineties with successful investments in multiple companies. With the new FCFIII fund, Forbion manages well over a700 Million across six funds, including the new fund FCF III. Its investors include the EIF through its European Recovery Programme (ERP), LfA and Dutch Venture Initiative (DVI) facilities and the KFW through the ERP - Venture Capital Fondsfinanzierung facility. Forbion also operates a joint venture with BioGeneration Ventures, who manages two separate seed and early stage funds focused on Benelux. For further information please visit http://www.forbion.com.

About Delos CapitalA

Delos Capital is a healthcare-focused fund that invests in growth platforms in Greater China and innovation in the US in the areas of therapeutics and medical technology. Delos Capital seeks to achieve returns through supporting these companies in their development and also helping to create additional value from collaboration between these companies. Founded in 2014, Delos Capital operates from its main office in Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.delos.capital.

About Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners A

Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners is a leading investor in minority investments into privately-owned companies. Affiliate of the Edmond de Rothschild Group, the fund management employs 41 employees and has approximately a1.3 Billion under management. Its Life Sciences team of nine professionals brings together over 60 years of experience in the Life Science industry and more than 100 years of private equity and venture capital experience. The team has raised more than a450 Million through its Biodiscovery franchise and is currently completing the investment of BioDiscovery 4 fund. Since their inception, BioDiscovery Funds have invested in 54 privately-held companies, of which 14 have been sold and 16 listed on public financial markets, while 23 are active in the portfolios. For more information, please visit http://www.edmond-de-rothschild.com.

About EMBL VenturesA

EMBL Ventures, based in Heidelberg, invests throughout Europe in life science companies with the aim to create significant commercial opportunities based on new therapeutic treatment modalities, next generation enabling technology platforms or innovations in the diagnostics and device area. EMBL Ventures manages more than a120 Million on behalf of major European institutional and private investors and typically invests a3 to 5 Million as lead or co-lead investor. For more information, please visit http://www.embl-ventures.com.

--------------------------------------------------

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013

SOURCE Allecra Therapeutics
STOCKHOLM--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

ASSA ABLOY (STO: ASSAB) has signed an agreement to acquire Nassau in Denmark, an important European supplier of industrial overhead sectional doors.

"I am very pleased that Nassau is joining the ASSA ABLOY Group. I welcome this addition that further reinforces the ASSA ABLOY Groups leadership in entrance automation, where our sales have grown from SEK 3 billion in 2008 to SEK 18 billion in 2015, says Johan Molin, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.

"Nassau has a good foothold in a number of European markets and brings additional competence in Sectional Doors and Service. I welcome the Nassau team to actively participate in our exciting journey, says Juan Vargues, Executive Vice President of ASSA ABLOY and Head of Division Entrance Systems.

Nassau was established in 1970 and has some 360 employees. The company is headquartered in Ringe, Denmark.

Sales for 2016 are expected to reach DKK 440 M (approx. SEK 540 million). The acquisition will be neutral to EPS from start.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close during Q3 2016.

About ASSA ABLOY

ASSA ABLOY is the global leader in door opening solutions, dedicated to satisfying end-user needs for security, safety and convenience. Since its formation in 1994, ASSA ABLOY has grown from a regional company into an international group with about 46,000 employees, operations in more than 70 countries and sales of SEK 68 billion. In the fast-growing electromechanical security segment, the Group has a leading position in areas such as access control, identification technology, entrance automation and hotel security.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160614006521/en/

ASSA ABLOY

Johan Molin

President and CEO

tel. no: +46 8 506 485 42

or

Carolina Dybeck Happe

CFO and Executive Vice President

tel. no: +46 8 506 485 72

Source: ASSA ABLOY
TORONTO, ON -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- The Board of Trustees of Brookfield Canada Office Properties (TSX: BOX.UN) (NYSE: BOXC) announced a distribution of $0.1092 per trust unit payable on July 15, 2016 to holders of Trust units of record at the close of business on June 30, 2016.

The distributions are declared in Canadian dollars. Registered unitholders resident in Canada will receive payment in Canadian dollars and registered unitholders resident in the United States will receive the U.S. dollar equivalent unless they request otherwise. The U.S. dollar equivalent of the distribution will be based on the Bank of Canada noon exchange rate on the record date or, if the record date falls on a weekend or holiday, on the Bank of Canada noon exchange rate of the preceding business day. Beneficial unitholders will receive payment in Canadian dollars unless they request to receive the U.S. dollar equivalent.

About Brookfield Canada Office Properties

Brookfield Canada Office Properties is Canada's preeminent Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Our portfolio is comprised of 26 premier office properties totaling 20 million square feet in the downtown cores of Toronto, Calgary, and Ottawa, in addition to a development site in Calgary. Our landmark assets include Brookfield Place and First Canadian Place in Toronto, and Bankers Hall in Calgary. Further information is available at www.brookfieldcanadareit.com. Important information may be disseminated exclusively via the website; investors should consult the site to access this information.

Brookfield Canada Office Properties is the flagship Canadian REIT of Brookfield Asset Management, a leading global alternative asset manager with approximately $240 billion in assets under management. For more information, go to www.brookfield.com.

Contact: Sherif El-Azzazi Manager, Investor Relations & Communications Tel: (416) 359-8593 Email: Email Contact

Source: Brookfield Canada Office Properties
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- INV Metals Inc. ("INV Metals" or "Company") (TSX: INV), is pleased to announce that the nominees listed in the Company's management information circular dated May 2, 2016 (the "Circular") for the 2016 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") were elected as directors of INV Metals. Detailed results of the vote for the election of directors held at the Meeting earlier today are set out below:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- James Clucas 44,122,479 99.996% 1,734 0.004% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parviz Farsangi 44,122,479 99.996% 1,734 0.004% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eric Klein 44,122,479 99.996% 1,734 0.004% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Terrance MacGibbon 44,122,479 99.996% 1,734 0.004% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Candace MacGibbon 44,022,479 99.769% 101,734 0.231% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Pollock 44,122,479 99.996% 1,734 0.004% ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In addition, the resolution with respect to the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's auditors was passed at the Meeting. For additional details on the voting results with respect to these matters please refer to the Report of Voting Results of the Company which is filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About INV" Metals

INV" Metals is an international mineral resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of base and precious metal projects in Ecuador and Namibia. Currently, INV" Metals' primary assets are: (1) its 100% interest in the Loma Larga (formerly Quimsacocha) gold property in Ecuador, and (2) its 35% interest in the Kaoko property, located in Namibia.

Contacts: INV Metals Inc. Candace MacGibbon (416) 703-8416 [email protected]

Source: INV Metals Inc.
NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Liliane A. Haub and John C. Byrne have been elected to the Pace University Board of Trustees.

Haub is a philanthropist who focuses on art and the environment. Byrne is a tenured Pace University professor and consultant. They join the Board at a time of great momentum for the university, with increased enrollment, innovative new degree programs, and expanding campuses in both Westchester and New York City.

"Both Liliane Haub and John Byrne are passionate advocates of the University's commitment to Opportunitas," said Board Chairman Mark Besca. "The opportunity to leverage their expertise and counsel at the Board level will strengthen our ability to help young men and women achieve their dreams," he added.

Liliane A. Haub carries on the Haub family's long-time commitment to the environment and sustainability. She serves on the boards of several nonprofits including the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Wyoming; the Advisory Board of the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; the College Board of Advisors at Georgetown University; the Tacoma Art Museum; and the American Prairie Reserve in Montana. Furthermore, she has been on the board of the Elizabeth Haub Foundation for Environmental Law and Diplomacy, USA and Canada, which was founded by the Haub family.

Haub has worked as a cataloger for Impressionist and Modern Art at Habsburg- Feldman in Geneva, Switzerland and New York. She attended the Sotheby's Works of Art Course in London and European Management Academy in Vienna, Austria. She has an extensive background and training in art and is a passionate art collector of Contemporary and American Western Art.

The Haub family recently presented the University with a significant gift and celebrated the renaming of its law school to the Elisabeth Haub School of Law. Elisabeth Haub was an environmental activist and the grandmother of Liliane's husband, Christian Haub.

John C. Byrne is a professor and the graduate program chair at Pace's Lubin School of Business in the department of Management and Management Science. He has been elected the Special Faculty Trustee of the Board of Trustees. He is an experienced senior leader with extensive expertise in managing business operations, sales and marketing.

Prior to his academic career, Byrne spent more than 30 years in several technology fields: biotechnology, electronic instrument manufacturing and precision optics. He managed capital projects for many of the world's leading biotechnology companies and acted as a corporate liaison with facilities in France, Switzerland and England. Byrne maintains a consulting practice addressing the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries and publishes on organizational and team learning, emotional intelligence and peer feedback.

Byrne earned his Ph.D. in Technology Management from Stevens Institute of Technology; MBA, Management, Executive Program, Pace University, Lubin School of Business; and BS, Marketing Management, Dominican College.

About Pace

Pace University is a comprehensive, independent University with campuses in New York City and Westchester County. Nearly 13,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the Lubin School of Business, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, School of Education, and College of Health Professions. www.pace.edu

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pace-board-of-trustees-elects-liliane-a-haub-and-john-c-byrne-300284657.html

SOURCE Pace University
AMARILLO, Texas, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Interest in new voting technologies from a trusted Texas company is spreading across the state, and Potter County officials will be among many to get a hands-on demonstration of Hart InterCivic's Verity Voting system.

"Across the country, election equipment is now 10 years old. We are excited to see the improvements that will come with this next generation of voting technology," said Melynn Huntley, Potter County Elections Administrator.

Hart and Potter County announced a hands-on demonstration of current and future functions and invited 26 area counties to participate June 21 at the Santa Fe Building in Amarillo from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

VERITY VOTING DEMONSTRATION WHEN: June 21  9 a.m. - 5 p.m. WHERE: Santa Fe Building 900 S. Polk Street 11th floor Amarillo, Texas REQUEST A DEMO 512.252.6409

Verity Voting has passed rigorous state and federal testing; the Texas Secretary of State certified Verity in February. June 21 participants will also get an early look at Verity's direct-recording electronic (DRE) features, federally certified in April and under review for Texas approval. Verity's electronic option allows poll workers to open and close polls on only one device, an efficiency feature popular for use in Voting Centers.

"Hart was born in Texas, and we have served Texas voters for more than 100 years," said Phillip Braithwaite, President and CEO of Austin-based Hart InterCivic. "Texas' election needs have helped shape Verity."

"Nearly half of Texas jurisdictions  110 counties  already use and appreciate Hart election technology. The advances we have built into Verity are secure, transparent and easy to use for voters and election staff. Multiple funding options, including financing, put Verity in reach for most budgets. The Panhandle officials will like what they see."

Assembled in Sugar Land, Texas, for national distribution, Verity supports electronic, paper and audio ballots and is fully accessible to all voters without assistance, in a variety of voting scenarios. Compact and lightweight, Verity's briefcase design along with collapsible voting booths and ballot boxes save storage space and are easy to transport on Election Day.

To give all Panhandle counties an opportunity to view Verity, the Potter County Elections Office has scheduled an additional demonstration for August 4.

Learn more about the Verity Voting system: www.hartintercivic.com/verityoverview.

About Hart InterCivic, Inc.

Austin-based Hart InterCivic is a full service election solutions innovator, partnering with state and local governments to deliver secure, accurate and reliable elections. Working side-by-side with election professionals for more than 100 years, Hart is committed to helping advance democracy one election at a time. The Hart mission fuels passionate customer focus and a continuous drive for technological innovation. The new Verity Voting system makes voting more straightforward, equitable and accessibleand ensures that managing elections is more transparent, more efficient and easier.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151020/278606

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150706/231005LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/potter-county-hosts-demonstration-of-new-voting-technology-300284667.html

SOURCE Hart InterCivic, Inc.
BOULDER, CO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- SAS Manufacturing LLC today unveiled a state-of-the-art precision manufacturing facility in Englewood, Colorado, to serve aerospace and a variety of industries worldwide. Equipped with advanced 3D printers and automated milling machines, the facility will soon offer clients a 24/7 online platform to view the status of manufacturing projects in real time.

"Advanced manufacturing in the 21st Century requires integrating the latest automated equipment into a production process that is open and transparent to the client," said Heather Bulk, President and CEO of SAS Manufacturing. "Our platform interface will give clients instant access to job status, material tracing and supplier certification data at every step of the process."

SAS Manufacturing purchased the existing Englewood facility in 2015 and immediately began upgrading the equipment and processes to meet the rigorous standards of clients in aerospace and aviation as well as energy, defense and U.S. government. In less than a year, the facility received AS9100 and ISO9000 certifications for strict quality management procedures.

In August 2016, SAS Manufacturing will take delivery of a monoBLOCK 5-axis milling machine from DMG MORI, one of the most precise computerized numerical control (CNC) metal fabrication devices in the world. Subtractive metal milling remains an essential manufacturing process in aerospace and other sectors where source material traceability is critical.

The Englewood facility also operates 3D printers for additive manufacturing with alloys, high-strength plastics and composites. By late summer, SAS Manufacturing will be able to handle projects related to:

Rapid Prototyping & 3D Printing,

Design & Precision Machining, and

Assembly & Component Testing.

SAS Manufacturing is a wholly owned subsidiary of Special Aerospace Services LLC (SAS), a tactical engineering firm based in Boulder, Colo. The integrated workflow between the two companies streamlines the manufacturing process, providing clients faster prototype development and more cost-effective production.

"The SAS team can take a client's concept from design and prototyping to testing and production in a few weeks," said Bulk. "That same process used to take months with a third-party manufacturing shop involved."

SAS Manufacturing LLC (www.sasprecisionmfg.com)

SAS Manufacturing, a Colorado-based precision manufacturing company, specializes in design, precision machining, prototyping, 3D printing, and additive manufacturing, and services the Aerospace, Defense, and Commercial Industries. Committed to ensuring the highest quality standards in manufacturing, the company has received AS9100C/ISO9001:2008 Certification. An 8(a) Certified and Woman-Owned Small Business, SAS Manufacturing is a wholly owned subsidiary of Special Aerospace Services LLC, an engineering firm with more than a decade of expertise in the aerospace and aviation industry. Together, the two companies offer a seamless workflow from concept and design to prototype and production.

About SAS (www.specialaerospaceservices.com)

Special Aerospace Services LLC (SAS), an 8(a) certified woman-owned small business, is a tactical engineering and precision manufacturing firm. Our team is comprised of experienced and dedicated visionaries, including engineers, scientists and space operation specialists. We provide innovative solutions to NASA, Department of Defense and emerging international and domestic commercial spaceflight organizations. Leading experts in propulsion, our team is sought from multiple agencies to provide our clients with smart and rapid solutions tailored to their needs. In-house tactical capabilities supported by broad and extensive experience, the SAS team helped clients to win over $4 billion worth of new work. Our expertise allows us to navigate through competitive environment and rapidly respond to our clients' evolving business challenges. With over 20 years of experience working with international partners in the Ukraine, Russian Federation, European Union and India, SAS is poised to face the challenges of an increasingly internationalized aerospace industry.

Source: Special Aerospace Services
VANCOUVER, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Coulson Flying Tankers  Owners of the Largest Flying Water Bombers in the world, the mighty Martin Mars, announced today the launch of the Ultimate Aviation Experience: A chance to fly the Martin Mars aircraft.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/379124)

"The Martin Mars aircraft, holders of numerous world records, are truly amazing pieces of WW2 history, as they are the largest aircraft ever built. Before the fleet is retired, Coulson Aviation is offering Aviation enthusiasts a chance to fly one of these incredible pieces of aviation history." says Wayne Coulson, CEO and President of Coulson Flying Tankers.

Coulson purchased the mighty Martin Mars water bombers in 2007 with the notion to modernize these aircraft and continue to use them for aerial fire suppression through-out North America. "There will never be an aircraft built that will have flown and dropped more water on wildfires over their five decade history. They were the anchor of the BC Government Firefighting program until released from service in 2015. We have been honored to be part of their wonderful history and are excited to be bringing one of the Martin Mars to the Oshkosh airshow this year." Wayne Coulson explained.

Coulson Flying Tankers is a subsidiary of the Coulson Group of Companies, which was founded in 1960. Through more than fifty years of innovation and diversification, the company has expanded into many global markets including aviation, timber harvesting, environmental cleaning technologies and gaming.

More information can be found on the company website: http://www.coulsongroup.com or visit the experience: www.Ultimateflyingexperience.com

SOURCE The Coulson Group of Companies
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

THRILL RIDES

Profile America  Wednesday, June 15th. With summer and school vacation almost here, children will be urging their parents to take them to the nearest amusement park. Long among the most popular features of these parks are ever more thrilling roller coasters, which trace their roots back to 17th century ice slides in Russia. In the U.S., the first roller coaster opened this month in 1884 at Coney Island, New York. It was built by LaMarcus Thompson and was called the "Gravity Pleasure Switchback Railway." The ride lasted a minute at a breakneck six miles per hour and cost a nickel. Now, there are 485 theme and amusement parks across the nation, and they do more than $12.5 billion worth of business  or pleasure  annually. You can find current data on the country's economy by downloading the 'America's Economy' mobile application at www.census.gov/mobile.

Sources: Kane's Famous First Facts, 3621Ice slides: http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/history/start/begin1.shtml Amusement and Theme Parks: http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2013/00A1//naics~713110 Receipts: http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ECN/2012_US/00A1//naics~713110

Profile America is produced by the Center for New Media and Promotion of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on the Internet at http://www.census.gov> (look for "Audio" in the "Library" pull-down menu).

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110428/DC91889LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-census-bureau-daily-feature-for-june-15-thrill-rides-300283073.html

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau
By Ruma Paul

DHAKA (Reuters) - Police in Bangladesh were hunting on Thursday for two of the three suspected Islamists who attacked and seriously injured a Hindu college teacher in the latest assault on minority groups and liberal activists in the mainly Muslim nation.

Bangladesh has arrested more than 11,000 people in a week-long crackdown on Islamists begun on Friday, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to halt a wave of targeted killings.

Mathematics teacher Ripon Chakraborty was attacked on Wednesday night by three knife-wielding assailants when he answered the doorbell at his home in Madaripur, 70 km (44 miles) south of the capital, Dhaka, police said.

"The 50-year-old teacher was hacked in his head and neck," said district police chief Sarwar Hossain. "He is now out of danger and doctors have kept him under close observation."

Police are questioning one of the attackers, a 22-year-old student of a college in Dhaka, Ghulam Faijullaha Fahim, who was caught by people who came to the rescue of the screaming teacher and his family, he added.

Under interrogation Fahim revealed the attack had been motivated by members of a banned militant group, the Hizb ut-Tahrir, Hossain said, adding, "He was told, 'This person is an enemy of Islam. He should be killed.'"

Militants have killed more than 30 people since early last year, ranging from atheist bloggers and liberal academics to gay rights campaigners, foreign aid workers, members of minority Muslim sects and other religious groups.

Islamic State or al Qaeda have claimed responsibility for most of the killings, but the government denies either group has a presence in Bangladesh. Police blame home-grown militants from groups such as Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and Ansarullah Bangla Team.

In the past week alone, an elderly Hindu priest, a Hindu monastery worker and a Christian shopkeeper were hacked to death, and the Muslim wife of a counter-terrorism police official was also killed.

Hindus constitute about 9 percent of Bangladesh's population of 160 million.

(Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Iran has filed a formal complaint with the International Court of Justice to recover nearly $2 billion in assets frozen in the United States, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in April that the assets must be turned over to American families of people killed in the 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut and other attacks blamed on Iran.

The Iranian complaint was filed on Tuesday, Rouhani said at an "iftar" evening gathering in Tehran to break the Islamic Ramadan fast, according to the website of Iranian state television.

The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran officially complained about America to the International Court of Justice for the confiscation and theft of two billion dollars of the property of the central bank, Rouhani said.

"And demanded the condemnation of Washington's anti-Iranian action and compensation for damages."

More than 1,000 plaintiffs in the case have accused Iran of providing material support to Hezbollah, the Shi'ite Islamist political and military group responsible for the 1983 truck bomb attack that killed 241 U.S. service personnel in Beirut.

They also sought compensation related to other attacks including the 1996 Khobar Towers truck bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 U.S. service personnel.

After the April Supreme Court ruling, Caragh Fay, a lawyer representing the victims of the Beirut attack, said it could take from three months to a year for the funds to be dispersed to plaintiffs.

Money will go to the estates of service members who were killed, their families and to those who survived the attacks. Payouts will range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, Fay said.

The assets held in New York were part of the Iranian bank's foreign currency reserves. They were traced to a Citibank account in New York held by Luxemburg-based Clearstream Banking, which acted as a intermediary for Banca UBAE, an Italian bank of which the Iranian central bank, Bank Markazi, is a customer.

It is unclear how Irans complaint to the International Court of Justice may affect the payments.

We shouldn't stay quiet in the face of this incident  and we will pursue this complaint until it reaches a result," Rouhani said.

(Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh in Beirut and Lawrence Hurley in Washington; editing by Andrew Roche)
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (R) arrives with her daughters Sasha (L) and Malia (top) at Malpensa airport in Milan, Italy, as part of her European trip June 17, 2015. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Michelle Obama will travel to Liberia, Morocco and Spain with her teen daughters Malia and Sasha at the end of June to promote education for girls, one of her signature issues as the first lady of the United States, the White House said on Wednesday.

In Liberia, Obama will visit a Peace Corps training center in Kakata and a school in Unification Town to talk to young women about barriers they face to staying in school. She will be joined by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the White House said.

Obama will be joined by actor Meryl Streep in Morocco on June 28 and 29 to talk about commitments made by the U.S. government and the Kingdom of Morocco to help girls go to school.

On June 30, Obama will wrap up the trip by giving a speech in Madrid about her "Let Girls Learn" global initiative, a push to harness government and private sector resources to promote education for girls, the White House said.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Tom Brown)
NIAMEY (Reuters) - Thirty-four migrants, including 20 children, have been found dead in Niger's vast desert after being abandoned by their smuggler, the government of the West African nation said in a statement read on national television on Wednesday.

Agadez in the landlocked country's arid north is a popular waystation for migrants attempting to traverse the Sahara Desert and reach Libya and eventually Europe.

Of the adult migrants, nine were women and five were men. They died between June 6-12, Interior Minister Bazoum Mohammed said, adding that President Mahamadou Issoufou expressed his condolences to their families.

Two victims had been identified as citizens of neighboring Nigeria, Mohammed said. It was not immediately clear what the nationalities of the other victims were.

The International Organisation for Migration estimates that 120,000 people crossed through Agadez last year. IOM recorded 37 migrants died in the desert last year.

(Reporting by Boureima Balima; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) carry their weapons as they walk in the western rural area of Manbij, in Aleppo Governorate, Syria, June 13, 2016. REUTERS/Rodi Said

By Rodi Said and Lisa Barrington

NEAR MANBIJ, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) - - U.S.-backed forces waging an offensive against the Islamic State-held city of Manbij in northern Syria appealed for international assistance for those fleeing the fighting on Tuesday as the forces tightened their encirclement of the city.

The SDF push comes at the same time as other enemies of Islamic State, including the governments of Syria and Iraq, also launched major offensives on other fronts, in what amounts to the most sustained pressure on the militants since they proclaimed their caliphate in 2014.

The Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance launched the advance two weeks ago to seize Islamic State's last territory on the Syria-Turkey border and cut the self-declared caliphate off from the world.

"In the areas we control we have tried to take care of the needs of the internally displaced persons. But we are not able to cover their needs," Sharfan Darwish of the SDF-allied Manbij Military Council told Reuters in Beirut by telephone.

"The international community must turn their attention to the people which have been liberated from Daesh (Islamic State)," he said, adding that there were no international humanitarian organizations working in the area.

Darwish said the Manbij civil council was bringing supplies from the northern, Syrian YPG militia-controlled city of Kobani to displaced persons, but this was not enough.

The SDF is a U.S.-backed group formed last year which includes the powerful Kurdish YPG militia and Arab fighters.

They are one of a number of sides fighting in Syria's complex civil war now in its sixth year. The conflict pits rebels against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian government forces and some rebel groups are also fighting separate battles against Islamic State. The SDF has largely avoided fighting against government forces and focuses on fighting Islamic State.

BRAVING SNIPER FIRE

Around 1,100 people have already fled Islamic State-held Manbij this week into SDF-held territory, braving Islamic State sniper fire on the city's edges, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Many who had fled the city told Reuters that Islamic State fighters were trying to prevent people leaving. One person told Reuters Islamic State was arresting people suspected of collaborating with the SDF.

Having seized control of the last route into Manbij on Friday, the SDF has yet to enter the town.

"We are closing in on Manbij," Darwish said, adding that fighting continues on the city's outskirts.

The Observatory said the SDF has taken about 105 villages and farms around Manbij since the start of the operation.

Since the start of the offensive on May 31, 49 civilians have died as a result of the U.S.-led coalition air strikes in and around Manbij and 19 civilians had been killed by Islamic State, the Observatory said.

It also said at least 246 Islamic State fighters and 29 SDF fighters have been killed.

Syrian government and allied forces are trying to advance against the Islamic State south-west of their de facto capital in Syria, Raqqa. Fighting on Monday between Ithriya and al Tabqa killed 11 government and 17 Islamic State, the Observatory said.

Syrian state media broadcast pictures of bloodied bodies lying in the desert sand which it said showed 16 Islamic State fighters killed by government and allied forces in the fighting.

Syrian government and allied forces have been supported by Russian air power since September last year, an intervention which helped turn the tide of the war in Assad's favor.

(Reporting by Lisa Barrington in Beirut and Rodi Said near Manbij, Syria, editing by Peter Millership)
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of June 2016

Commission File Number: 001-36737

NEURODERM LTD.

(Translation of Registrants name into English)

NeuroDerm Ltd.

Ruhrberg Science Building

3 Pekeris St.

Rehovot 7670212, Israel

+972 (8) 946-2729l

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F x Form 40-F o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): o

EXPLANATORY NOTE

On June 14, 2016, NeuroDerm Ltd. (NeuroDerm or the Company) held its 2016 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the Annual Meeting). At the Annual Meeting, the Companys shareholders voted on four proposals, which were described in the notice and proxy statement relating to the Annual Meeting (which was annexed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Companys Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on May 17, 2016). Each proposal voted on at the Annual Meeting and listed below was approved in accordance with the relevant majority requirements under the Israeli Companies Law, 5759-1999 (the Companies Law):

(1) Re-election of each of Dr. Shmuel Cabilly and Mr. Larry Ellberger as a Class II director of the Company, to serve as a director for a three-year term, until the Companys annual general meeting of shareholders in 2019, and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. (2) Ratification of the re-appointment of Kesselman & Kesselman, a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, as the Companys independent, external auditors for the year ending December 31, 2016 and for the period until the Companys next annual general meeting of shareholders, and authorization of the Companys board of directors, with power of delegation to its audit committee, to set the fees to be paid to such auditors. (3) Approval, in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Law, of an option grant to, and an increase in the salary of, Dr. Oded Lieberman, NeuroDerms Chief Executive Officer. (4) Approval, in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Law, of an increase in the annual director fees payable to NeuroDerms director, Mr. Larry Ellberger.

The content of this Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K is hereby incorporated by reference in the Companys registration statements on Form F-3, SEC file number 333-210496, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2016, and on Form S-8, SEC file numbers 333-210497, 333-205485 and 333-200331, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2016, July 2, 2015 and November 18, 2014, respectively.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report on Form 6-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

NEURODERM LTD. By: /s/ Roy Golan Name: Roy Golan Title: Chief Financial Officer

Dated: June 15, 2016
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): February 2, 2015 CGE ENERGY, INC. (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) DELAWARE 000-49690 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION) (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER) 51-0386871 (IRS EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.) 7627 PARK PLACE BRIGHTON, MICHIGAN (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) 48116 (ZIP CODE) REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (248) 446-1344 ====================================================================== Section 2 - Financial Information Item 2.01 - Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets Reference is made to the response to Item 8.01 of this Current Report. Section 8 - Other Events Item 8.01 - Other Events. CGE Energy, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release, dated February 2, 2015 entitled-"McKenzie Bay International and Clean Green Energy LLC Have Merged". The press release is in its entirety below: McKenzie Bay International and Clean Green Energy LLC Have Merged BRIGHTON, MI, Feb. 2 /Marketwired/ - Effective January 31st, 2015, McKenzie Bay International (MKBY) (OTC PINK: MKBY) has merged with Clean Green Energy LLC (CGE, dba CGE Energy). The newly merged renewable energy company will trade under the MKBY ticker symbol for the next several weeks. The company has announced the following individuals appointed as directors of the corporation: Mark Cecil, Kevin Cook, Craig Hancock, William Naubert, Michael Pollakowski, Paul Schneider, Derek Spangler and Gary Westerholm. Bryan Zaplitny has been appointed President/CEO. "We are excited to enter this new chapter of being a publicly traded company by way of our now effective merger with McKenzie Bay," said newly appointed President/CEO, Bryan Zaplitny, "I thank Kevin Cook and the board for all their efforts throughout these last years. Just as they were, we are committed to increasing value for our current and future shareholders." By the end of February, FINRA-related merger filings will conclude. Upon FINRA approving the merger, MKBY's name is changed to CGE Energy Inc., MKBY shares are reversed 1 for 25, and, FINRA will issue a new ticker symbol and CUSIP number. "This is a very exciting time for McKenzie Bay as the merger with Clean Green Energy LLC is finalized. MKBY is essentially a new company with a new vision," said former MKBY President Kevin Cook. "The point is, we are now becoming a full-fledged energy company rather than a niche wind energy company. Our future is brighter than it's ever been and the potential for MKBY is unlimited." With the two companies becoming one, they, along with their strategic partnerships with Cree and SolarWorld, will have the unified vision to supply "power to make a difference." Management has vocalized their commitment to build a strong, long-lasting energy company and making the world a better place. Zaplitny commented, "Our integrated solutions approach has a solid focus on climate change to bring positive results nationally and abroad." Interested readers who would like to receive email alerts of up-to- date CGE Energy news, press releases and company filings can sign up at: http://cgeenergy.com/investors About CGE Energy CGE Energy is a renewable energy and energy efficiency company headquartered in Brighton, Michigan. For more than 20 years, the company has provided energy solutions and is now offering Power Purchase Agreements. Today the company serves customers in the U.S. and abroad, using energy efficient technologies that include Cree LED lighting, their patented WIND-e20 wind turbine and SolarWorld solar generation. Now a publicly traded company, CGE will trade under the ticker symbol MKBY:OTCPink until FINRA approval. http://www.cgeenergy.com Certain statements made in this release constitute forward-looking statements and do not guarantee future performance. Actual results or developments may differ materially from the projections in the forward-looking statements. ----------- Source: CGE Energy, Inc. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. CGE ENERGY, INC. Date: February 2, 2015 By: /s/ Bryan J. Zaplitny --------------------------- Bryan J. Zaplitny President and CEO
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.

Farmers and Merchants Trust Company of Chambersburg (F&M), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Financial Services Corporation (FFSC), has entered into an agreement with William E. Snell, Jr., whereby Mr. Snell will provide advisory and consulting services to F&M. Mr. Snell, as an independent contractor, will provide such services from time to time as requested on various projects from July 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016. F&M will pay Mr. Snell $30,000.00 for his advisory and consulting services. Mr. Snell is currently the CEO and a Director of both F&M and FFSC and will retire from these positions effective June 30, 2016.

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:









Exhibit 99.1



June 15, 2016



INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT

THIS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT is made this 9th day of June , 2016, by and between Farmers and Merchants Trust Company of Chambersburg, hereinafter referred to as COMPANY, and William E. Snell, Jr. , hereinafter referred to as CONTRACTOR.

1. CONTRACTOR agrees to provide knowledge, expertise, and assistance to COMPANY, from time to time as requested on various projects, for a term beginning July 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2016. COMPANY may choose, in its sole discretion, to integrate CONTRACTORs services into its business operations. The parties agree, however, that COMPANYs success and/or the continuation of its business operations are not, in any way, dependent upon CONTRACTORs services.

2. COMPANY shall pay CONTRACTOR a fee of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) for the aforementioned services, payable in a lump sum on January 15, 2017 (in the event the fee is pro-rated in accordance with paragraph 5 below, the pro-rated fee shall nevertheless be paid on January 15, 2017). COMPANY shall not pay for or reimburse any expenses incurred by CONTRACTOR in connection with his provision of services.

3. CONTRACTOR shall work wherever and whenever he chooses, and independently and without instructions from COMPANY (other than what is contained herein). CONTRACTOR has the exclusive authority to control and direct the performance of his services, and COMPANY only requires that CONTRACTORs services be performed to the satisfaction of COMPANY and in a good, safe, efficient, professional, and businesslike manner. CONTRACTOR shall not be required to submit regular or written reports to COMPANY, and COMPANY will not hire, supervise, or pay any individual to support CONTRACTOR in connection with his provision of services. Because the services CONTRACTOR performs involves the performance of personal services, CONTRACTOR acknowledges that his obligations hereunder are not assignable to third parties. Notwithstanding the above, COMPANY may provide CONTRACTOR with a laptop computer and iPhone for his use while performing services pursuant to this Agreement. CONTRACTOR shall return said equipment to COMPANY no later than January 15, 2017.

4. It is agreed that CONTRACTOR shall at all times be an independent contractor. As an independent contractor, CONTRACTOR is not considered a COMPANY Employee or entitled to any of the rights, privileges, benefits, or protection provided to Employees under COMPANYs employment policies or under Federal or State laws or regulations. This means that, other than any benefits CONTRACTOR has or will receive as a former employee of COMPANY, CONTRACTOR is not eligible for benefits such as holiday pay; vacation pay; sick pay; medical, life, or disability insurance; overtime; unemployment compensation; or workers compensation coverage afforded to COMPANY Employees. Therefore, COMPANY will not withhold any income tax, Social Security contributions, or other typical payroll deductions from CONTRACTORs fee. CONTRACTOR shall receive an IRS Form 1099 which will reflect the fee paid by COMPANY to CONTRACTOR, and CONTRACTOR shall be responsible for the payment of his own income taxes.

5. COMPANY reserves the right to terminate this Agreement upon one (1) month written notice to

CONTRACTOR, which notice shall indicate the official date of termination. In the event that COMPANY terminates this Agreement prior to the expiration of the above-stated term, CONTRACTOR will be paid through the official date of termination. Similarly, CONTRACTOR may terminate this Agreement for any reason upon one (1) month written notice to COMPANY. Should CONTRACTOR fail to provide COMPANY with one (1) month written notice prior to termination, CONTRACTOR hereby acknowledges that COMPANY may bring an action at law or in equity against CONTRACTOR in order to prevent or recover any and all actual or consequential damages resulting therefrom.

6. CONTRACTOR shall not be deemed a representative or agent of COMPANY and shall make no representations to such effect. During the term of this Agreement, CONTRACTOR shall express no opinion on any political or legislative matters, shall not advocate any position on proposed or pending legislation, and shall not participate in any political campaign.

7. COMPANY shall indemnify, defend and save harmless CONTRACTOR against and from all costs, expenses, liabilities, losses, damages, injunctions, suits, actions, fines, penalties, claims and demands of every kind or nature, arising during the term of this Agreement, including reasonable attorneys fees and costs, to the extent caused by COMPANYs acceptance and utilization of CONTRACTORs knowledge, expertise, and assistance provided pursuant to this Agreement .

8. This Agreement may not be modified, including any extension of the above term, unless by mutual written agreement between CONTRACTOR and COMPANY.

9. CONTRACTOR shall not at any time, whether during or after his engagement by COMPANY, either directly or indirectly, divulge, disclose, or communicate to any person or entity any information relating to the business or affairs of COMPANY which is confidential or proprietary. The parties agree that since a remedy at law for any breach or attempted breach of this provision will be inadequate, COMPANY shall be entitled to seek and obtain injunctive relief or such other equitable relief in the event of such breach or attempted breach, in addition to whatever remedies may exist at law, together with costs and reasonable attorneys fees.

10. During the term of this Agreement, except on behalf of COMPANY and its affiliates, CONTRACTOR will not be engaged, directly or indirectly, for his own account or as agent, consultant, employee, partner, officer, director, proprietor, investor (except as an investor owning less than 5% of the stock of a publicly owned company) or otherwise of any person, firm, corporation or enterprise engaged in (1) the banking (including bank holding company) or financial services industry, (2) starting a new bank or (3) any other activity in which the Company or any of its affiliates is engaged.

11. Any and all disputes concerning this Agreement including, but not limited to, interpretation of its terms and conditions, shall be governed by the law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania .



[SIGNATURE BLOCK FOLLOWS]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and with the intent to be legally bound, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives the day and year first written above.

Farmers and Merchants Trust Company William E. Snell, Jr.

of Chambersburg



By: /s/ G. Warren Elliott By: _ /s/ William E. Snell, Jr._ ___________

G. Warren Elliott William E. Snell, Jr.



Title: Chairman Date: _ June 9, 2016 ___________________





Date: June 9, 2016
Fieldays brought just over 28,000 people to at Mystery Creek on the first day of the 2016 event.

The dairy downturn hasn't put much of a dent in Fieldays at Mystery Creek if day one is anything to go by.

Farmers are asking plenty of questions but are reportedly putting off parting with their money until they're in a better financial position.

Eager Fieldays folk started queueing by the gates from about 6am, ready to flood in to the agricultural event when it opened about two hours later.

GEORGE HEARD/FAIRFAX NZ Everything aligned for a strong start to Fieldays for 2016, chief exectuive Peter Nation said - including the weather.

Some of the earliest arrivals come with a thermos and sandwiches for a pre-event breakfast, NZ National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation said.

READ MORE:

* First person through the gate

* The hunt for the rural bachelor begins

* A popular pig at Fieldays impressing tots with special tricks

* Fieldays freebies: pupils show off their haul

"I looked out at about 9.30am and our northern carparks were chokka and people were already there," he said.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/FARIFAX NZ Farmers are coming to stalls with questions before chequebooks. Pictured is AgFirst Engineering environmental consultant Geoff Neilson.

By the end of Wednesday, just over 28,000 tickets had been scanned in to Fieldays.

Nation was pleased with the first day and said tough times in the dairy industry hadn't affected the mood or numbers at the event.

For example, the international business centre had a 10 per cent increase on registrations.

"Everyone's feeling pretty good. Yes, there will be some dairy farmers out there not spending the sort of capex (capital expenditure) that they have done in the past, but at the end of the day they've still got to keep a business operating and they've still got inputs to buy and put into it," he said.

The usual pattern was that Wednesday was for comparing prices and products, and Thursday was a more serious shopping day.

At the AgFirst Engineering site, farmers were keen to investigate new technology but weren't rushing to buy.

"They're asking a lot of questions," environmental consultant Geoff Neilson said.

"There's not the same keen-ness to spend money... I think they're just sitting on their hands at the moment."

Stalls which focused on selling product did seem emptier, director and engineering consultant Davieth Verheij said, but farmers were looking for information and new solutions.

"The people who are coming in and wanting to give you details, I feel that it's quality enquiry and we will get work out of it... It will be valuable for us, no doubt," Verheij said.

For AgFirst, Fieldays is also about catching up with former consultancy clients and access to industry influencers.

Car manufacturer Isuzu reported strong first day sales - up 35 per cent on 2015, general manager Murray Greenhalgh said.

"It's above any expectations. We weren't expecting it to be so big especially with the current dairy climate," he said.

"Those are actual sales we are counting. People who have paid for their vehicles already, we are not counting any leads that will eventuate into sales."



Sales were steady through the day with about an 80:20 ratio of rural to urban buyers.



In the agricultural sector, areas such as horticulture and sheep and beef were looking strong, ASB general manager of rural banking Mark Heer said.

"I think what dairy really needs if just for people to have belief and confidence to get through the cycle - and it is a cycle," he said.

"When you're at the bottom - which I think we are - and looking forward to improving, it always feels like a long time."

But not everyone at Fieldays had a farming focus.

Retired Aucklanders David Douglas-Brown and Brian Watson made a day trip to Fieldays for a bit of retail therapy.

Douglas-Brown had oilskin jackets for his dogs and Watson had stocked up on warm winter clothing.

Traffic issues on day one were few, although there were the familiar lines of cars at each end of the day.

NZ Transport Agency figures from 2015 showed Fieldays sparked a boost of around 80 per cent in terms of traffic on State Highway 1 past Cambridge.

It was about 40 per cent for State Highway 3 past Ohaupo and 25 per cent for State Highway 1 through Hamilton to Fieldays.

In 2016, bluetooth technology is being used to show drivers travel times, and can be found at DriveLive.

They can also sign up to On the Moveto get road information for a travel route, and social media lovers can follow #FieldaysTraffic to see how others are faring.
The Solicitor General has declined a request by a Taranaki crown prosecutor to challenge the sentencing of a violent offender.

A request to appeal the sentence of a violent Taranaki offender has been refused by the Solicitor General.

The Crown Law Office confirmed on Tuesday that no appeal will be made against the seven year jail term handed down to Mathew Hohipa, who stabbed a South Taranaki man multiple times last year, causing life-threatening injuries.

Last month, Crown prosecutor Cherie Clarke signalled her intention to refer the case to the Solicitor General after Judge Chris Sygrove jailed Hohipa but dismissed a request for a report to be prepared to consider preventive detention for the 30-year-old.

Preventive detention involves an indefinite prison term and is usually imposed on New Zealand's most dangerous offenders.

READ MORE: Crown's request for re-consideration of preventive detention dismissed by Taranaki judge

During the hearing, the court heard how Hohipa, who has bi-polar disorder, went to the victim's home on March 1, 2015 and launched an unprovoked attack on the 26-year-old victim.

The victim was stabbed 16 times, in the chest, thigh and leg and also suffered a punctured lung.

Clarke described Hohipa as being at "very high" risk of offending and his actions almost resulted in the death of the victim.

But her plea fell on deaf ears and Sygrove said there were enough measures in place to monitor both Hohipa's mental health and his offending risk. However, he did impose a minimum non-parole period of four years jail on the defendant.

A Crown Law Office spokeswoman said the case file had been completely reviewed before a written opinion was prepared. A second person also considered the opinion before a final decision was made, she said.

"This matter was extremely difficult," she said.

She said while the sentence handed down to Hohipa was viewed as "lenient" it was not considered to be "manifestly inadequate" so failed to meet the high legal threshold required to appeal.

She said the decision not to pursue the case had absolutely nothing to do with the cost.

Hohipa will be eligible for parole in 2020.
Education Minister Hekia Parata has congratulated students and schools on achieving the best-ever results in NCEA.

The hard work of our teachers, principals and kids is paying dividends, Ms Parata says. Every year more of our young people leave school with the tools they need for adulthood.

Final results for 2015 show roll-based Level 1, 2 and 3 NCEA achievement rates rose by between 1.5 and 3.2 percentage points last year to 74.4, 76.4 and 62.7 per cent respectively.

The proportion of students gaining University Entrance also increased, by 3.1 percentage points, to 48.6 per cent.

Since this Government took office in 2008 Level 2 achievement rates have risen 16.6 per cent. That means thousands more kids every year are gaining the skills and qualifications they need to undertake further training or education and enter the workforce, Ms Parata says.

The continuing rise in achievement is great news. However, we wont be satisfied till every kid is getting the educational start they need in life. That is why we have created Communities of Learning to encourage systematic collaboration between educators, and why we are updating the Education Act, reviewing education funding systems and strengthening the teaching profession.

We are refashioning the system into one which puts kids learning at the centre of everything we do.

A more detailed breakdown of the final NCEA results will be available when the New Zealand Qualification Authority issues its annual report on NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship at the end of the month.

SOURCE: Office of Hekia Parata
Right up until her last days, Kathryn Louise Wilson was a warrior. Diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2009, Kat battled through her illness - challenging the Government to give free or subsidised skin checks for all Kiwis.

But on June 11, Kats struggle with one of the most deadly forms of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, came to an end and she died surrounded by her family at Waipuna Hospice Tauranga. She was just 44.

In October 2009, Kat was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on her back and in lymph nodes under her right arm after finding blood on her bed sheets.

She had surgery to remove an 18cm long, 3cm wide section of skin and tissue on her back, and the affected lymph nodes.

When she was diagnosed, she was told she had a 47 per cent chance of being alive in five years.

Although there was no conclusive evidence, Kat strongly suspected her cancer was caused by a sunbed.



Craig and Kat with their two youngest children Myesha and Riley.

In 2002, Kat says she went through a bad experience on a sunbed in a hairdressing salon. She told SunLive she used a sunbed and received no advice about the amount of time she should spend on it for her skin type and ended up on the bed for 25 minutes.

Kat ended up receiving burns which ended up blistering. It took several days of treatment and creams before the burning lessened.

Kats husband Craig Wilson says her life wasnt just defined by what happen with the sunbed.

He says she also wanted to raise awareness of the risks of skin cancer and right up until her death, she was fighting and advocating for the Government to give free or subsidised skin checks for all New Zealanders.

Craig says he was lucky to be the man to share the last 15 years of her life and described her as the most beautiful person he had met.

She touched so many peoples lives and she was just a lovely person, the nicest person you could meet. She just lived for her kids.

She was trustworthy, respectful and thats why everybody loved her. I got her for 15 years. How lucky am I?

The loving husband, who is now helping his two youngest children Riley 10, and Myesha 8, through the pains of not having their mother, says the children have taken it in their stride.

Weve known for the last 18 months that she was terminally-ill and was going to die. In fact when she became terminal, she never denied it.

[Riley and Myesha] have been through this journey for 18 months and weve been up front with them and weve never hidden anything from them. Of course weve had fantastic support from Waipuna Hospice all the way through, says Craig.

Knowing its going to happen doesnt make it any less sad. Its just that the shock factor is gone. The sadness and the sense of loss is just the same and the kids will have to work through that, and Im there for them to work through that.

Kat is survived by her husband Craig, children Riley, 10, and Myesha 8, and stepchildren Michael 29, Bianca 27 and Diane 26.

In a funeral notice the Wilson family sincerely thanked Waipuna Hospice for their loving care and support of Kat and her family.

A service to celebrate Kats life will be held at Tauranga Park, Pyes Pa Road tomorrow at 1pm. The family have asked in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Waipuna Hospice.
The Reserve Bank is warning of what appears to be a scam email sent to businesses in the financial sector.

Reserve Bank spokesperson Naomi Mitchell says the scam email, purportedly from a Reserve Bank staff member, encourages recipients to click on a link to view New Transaction Guidelines.
Two new Rotorua police dogs are among the six four legged police staff who will graduate with their handlers at Trentham.

First time dog handler Constable Andrew Savage, from Rotorua, and police dog Kash graduate today.
ACT Leader David Seymour used Question Time today to call on the Government to scrap the charitable purpose tax loophole exploited by certain businesses at the expense of others.

Taxpaying businesses are at a competitive disadvantage due to certain companies tax-free status," said Mr Seymour. "This destroys the principle of a competitive marketplace.

Ngai Tahu businesses like Go Bus and Shotover Jet are tax-exempt due to the iwis charitable status. Even church-owned businesses like Sanitarium or Mission Estate Wines are exempt from company tax due to an archaic and outdated British law classing advancement of religion as a charitable purpose.

While a portion of these companies profits may go to charity, they still compete with private businesses and should not be given any unnatural advantage. They can already claim tax back on specific charitable activities, so why do they get a tax loophole for their entire business?

Lets support all companies instead of picking winners. We could start by eliminating tax loopholes and corporate welfare, and using the recovered funds to cut company tax for all businesses.

SOURCE: Office of David Seymour
NZ Police acknowledge todays apology and compensation announcement from the Crown for Mr Teina Pora. NZ Police also apologise to Mr Pora for the deficiencies found in the original Police investigation.

The report by Mr Rodney Hansen QC, along with the March 2015 judgement of the Privy Council, highlights how foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) was not identified by police or Mr Poras defence team in his 1994 and 2000 trials as a possible factor in Mr Poras confessions.

At that time FASD was a condition which was still being understood by science, and its relevance to criminal investigations was yet to be fully recognised.

Police accept Mr Hansens view that Mr Poras version of events regarding the rape and murder of Susan Burdett made in his confessions cannot stand up to critical scrutiny.

Police also acknowledge that there were deficiencies in the original investigation as identified by Mr Hansen, and we apologise to Mr Pora for this.

Police would like to state that both the investigation and prosecution of Mr Pora was conducted in good faith.

As the Privy Council noted in its March 2015 judgement regarding the police interviews with Mr Pora:

None of the police officers exerted pressure on Pora. Indeed, they were if anything, fastidiously correct in their treatment of him.

There are lessons to be learnt from this case but there is nothing to suggest that police staff involved acted in anything other than good faith.

Significant advancements have been made in police investigation practices since the convictions of Teina Pora in 1994 and 2004.

This includes far greater sophistication in interview practices, and an enhanced awareness of confessions and the risks they may create.

A greater understanding is also being gained on the impact of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), and the potential impacts this may have on the cognitive and behavioural functions of individuals who are being interviewed by Police.

Police staff strive to do their very best in every matter which is presented to them, particularly with major investigations such as this.

It is enshrined in modern investigative practice to ensure that we carry out thorough, robust and professional inquiries which meet the high standards rightly expected by the courts, victims, offenders and the public.

SOURCE: Acting Commissioner Glenn Dunbier of New Zealand Police
MYBA President, Fiona Maureso, commented on the decision to award the show to Barcelona; "We are excited to have this opportunity to discover Barcelona and are confident that OOPV will deliver an internationally-recognised show of the highest calibre".



The MYBA Charter Show will exhibit across OneOcean Port Vells four Quays, Spanish Quay and Barceloneta Quay, Deposit Quay and Sota Muralla Quay. Together the Quays are able to berth 68 yachts from 22m  190m.

The entire marinas 1,058 linear metres of Quay will be used to host exhibitor tents, with the majority located directly in front of where the yachts will be berthed. The shows conferences will be hosted in venues across Barcelona City.



General Manager of OneOcean Port Vell, Paul Cook, said: It is a great honour for OneOcean Port Vell to be appointed as host of the prestigious MYBA Charter Show from 2017 and we would like to thank MYBA for their confidence in us. Barcelona is one of the worlds leading cities and with OOPV, it is now a prominent superyacht destination with unrivalled marina facilities and infrastructure.

This, combined with the easing of legislation on Spanish charters, which has had a positive impact on the demand for chartering and cruising in the region, ensures that OOPV and MYBA are optimally positioned to deliver the next evolution of this event in 2017 and beyond.



Martin Bellamy, Chairman of OneOcean Ventures added: OneOcean Port Vell has been widely supported by local authorities, including the APB and Barcelona Nautical Cluster and their contribution has been instrumental in enabling the MYBA Charter Show to come to Barcelona. We are committed partners to MYBA and look forward to working together to support the growth and future development of this key industry event.


Oneida and Herkimer burglar.JPG

From the left: Richard M. Nellenbach Jr., Malik X. Jones and Betheny A. Nellenbach

(New York State Police)

UTICA, N.Y. -- A string of burglaries committed across two counties ended Friday with the arrests of three Oneida County residents.

Richard M. Nellenbach Jr., 27, and Malik X. Jones. 22, were arrested Friday and charged with burglarizing "numerous" businesses and a residence in Oneida and Herkimer counties, said the New York State Police. The burglaries were committed between June 1 and June 10, troopers said.

Nellenbach, of 7745 Ridge Road, Lowville faces 14 counts of burglary in Oneida County, troopers said.

Jones, of 1230 Court St., Utica, face six counts of burglary.

Betheny A. Nellenbach, 27, of 1230 Court St., Utica, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child after police searched her residence. Her two children were removed from the home and placed in family members' care, troopers said.

The two men arrested Friday after troopers investigating the burglary spree executed a search warrant at the Utica home and found proceeds from the crimes, troopers said. Nellenbach and Jones were arrested at 1230 Court St., Jones' residence, state police arrest logs show.

Richard Nellenbach is in the Oneida County Correctional Facility on $30,000 bail. Jones is in the jail on $25,000 bail.

Betheny Nellenbach was issued an appearance ticket. Child protective services workers in Oneida and Lewis county were notified about her case, troopers said.

The burglary spree investigation has been turned over to the Oneida County District Attorney's Office, troopers said.
SKANEATELES, N.Y. -- The driver of a dump truck was killed Wednesday when the vehicle went off the road and crashed into a pole, the Onondaga County Sheriff's Officer said.

At 12:06 p.m. deputies and Skaneateles and Mottville firefighters responded to a crash on New Seneca Turnpike between Lucinda Drive and Knightsbridge Road in the town of Skaneateles.

The sheriff's office said the dump truck had been traveling west on New Seneca Turnpike when the vehicle left the north side of the road, hit a culvert and became airborne. The dump truck then hit a utility pole before coming to rest.

The driver was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the dump truck, the sheriff's office said. The driver died at the scene.

The dump truck suffered heavy damage. The vehicle snapped the utility pole it hit and left several people without power. Both directions of New Seneca Turnpike between Lucinda Drive and Fisher Road remained closed to traffic Wednesday evening.

Detective Jon Seeber, a sheriff's office spokesman, said the name of the victim was not being released until family had been notified.

Deputies are continuing to investigate the crash.
WEEDSPORT, N.Y. -- Eleven people have been arrested in a prostitution sting in Cayuga County, and a man was charged with rape, the New York State Police said.

Jason M. Stein

State police said they arrested 11 people Thursday as part of their investigation. Authorities did not provide details or explain the circumstances of the arrests. Troopers worked with the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office and the FBI.

Jason M. Stein, 34, of Liverpool, faces the most serious charges. He was charged with first-degree rape and second-degree attempted patronizing a prostitute.

Stein is accused of offering money for sex with a person younger than 13 years old.

Troopers also charged the following people:



James E. Williams, 37, of Syracuse, charged with fourth-degree promoting prostitution.

Michaela A. Grant, 29, of Syracuse, charged with prostitution.



Angelique Trichilo, 24, of Syracuse, charged with prostitution.

Chad C. Phelps, 36, of Syracuse, charged with fourth-degree promoting prostitution.

Ashley S. Byrne, 29, of Syracuse, charged with fourth-degree promoting prostitution.

Nicole L. Longmuir, 30, of East Syracuse, charged with prostitution.

Maranda L Seeber, 32, of Kirkville, charged with fourth-degree promoting prostitution and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.



Joseph M. Judware, 35, of Syracuse, charged with fourth-degree promoting prostitution and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Nicole Delfinio, 29, of Syracuse, charged with prostitution.

Courtney N. Robinson, 21, of Syracuse, charged with fourth-degree promoting prostitution.

Williams, Grant, Trichilo, Phelps, Byrne, Longmuir, Seeber, Judware, Delfinio, and Robinson were all issued appearance tickets. Stein was arraigned in Weedsport Village Court and held at the Cayuga County jail in lieu of $5,000 bail or $10,000 bail bond.

State police said their investigation is continuing.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A man told police he was stabbed on the North Side of Syracuse after six people picked a fight.

The Syracuse Police Department responded to the 1800 block of Grant Boulevard at 3:44 a.m. When officers arrived, they found a wounded man who told police he had been stabbed during a struggle, said Sgt. Richard Helterline, a spokesman for the Syracuse Police Department.

The man, 27, told police six men started a fight with him, Helterline said. During the brawl, the man was stabbed in his left shoulder with an unknown object, he said.

American Medical Response Ambulance transported the man to Upstate University Hospital. The man is in serious condition, but is expected to live, Helterline said.

The man told investigators the suspects may have fled northbound toward Butternut Street in a vehicle, Helterline said.

Along with police and an ambulance crew, the Syracuse Police Department responded to the stabbing.

Police asked anyone with information about the stabbing to call (315) 442-5222 or submit an anonymous tip through the SPD Tips app.
Letchworth State Park. Lower Falls. Photo courtesy of Matt Champ

State police said Tuesday that they had recovered the bodies both children who died Saturday after being swept over Lower Falls on the Genesee River in Letchworth State Park.

(Courtesy Matt Champlin)

GENESEE FALLS, N.Y. -- The body of a second child who died this weekend after being swept into the Genesee River at Letchworth State Park has been recovered by divers, the New York State Police said.

Authorities were notified around 6:30 p.m. Saturday that seven people had gone over the Lower Falls of the Genesee River in Letchworth State Park in the state park, 45 miles southeast of Rochester.

Five people -- two adults and three children -- were rescued and taken to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester with injuries varying from serious to minor. State police said they had been playing in a restricted area near the Lower Falls when one person fell in the water. The commotion caused more to fall as they tried to help each other.

Two brothers were swept away. Their bodies have been recovered and authorities identified them as Preston Giangregorio, 6, and, Dylan Giangregorio, 9, both of Brockport.

The New York State Park Police were assisted in the search for the missing boys by the Wyoming County Sheriff's Office and state police helicopters and divers.

Searchers recovered Preston's body Sunday afternoon.

State police divers and the Livingston County Sheriff's Office continued searching below Lower Falls Monday with help from Adventure Calls Rafting, but did not find Dylan.

Late Tuesday afternoon divers from the state police and the Livingston County Sheriff's Office located Dylan's body in the Genesee River below Lower Falls. He was removed and transported to the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office.
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St. Lucie County School District records on Omar Mateen obtained by TCPalm.com.

By Andrew Atterbury of TCPalm

Omar Mateens elementary and middle school records paint the Orlando nightclub shooter as a disruptive student who struggled with English.

His behavior  marked by constant outbursts and classroom insubordination  greatly contributed to his academic struggles, according to the documents.

The main factor prohibiting Omar from success in school is not that the work is too hard but rather his difficulties in conforming to class/school rules, according to a letter sent to Mateens father shortly before he withdrew from St. Lucie Countys Southport Middle School in 1999.

Mateen, who on Sunday killed 49 people and injured 53 at an Orlando nightclub, bounced around St. Lucie County campuses from kindergarten until 1999, when he transferred to the Martin County School District in eighth grade.

MORE | Complete coverage of the Orlando shooting

He was disciplined 31 times between 1992 and 1999 for numerous disruptions, for striking a student and for disrespectful behavior during his time in St. Lucie County schools, according to documents obtained exclusively by TCPalm.com.

More than half of his discipline write-ups came during the 1996-1997 school year, when he was in fifth grade.

He already had attended two kindergartens  one in an Islamic school in Westbury, New York  before his family moved to Florida in 1991. One kindergarten teacher said in a grade report that Mateen was basically an intelligent student but does not always follow through with his responsibility, according to his record.

Enrolling in St. Lucie Elementary in December 1991, Mateen was sent to finish kindergarten at Frances K. Sweet Elementary because he was limited in reading, writing and speaking English, according to documents.

Mateens first language was Farsi, which was primarily spoken at home, according to records.

He attended Manatee Elementary School in first and second grade, then transferred to Mariposa Elementary School, where he finished second grade and stayed through fifth grade, according to documents.

As early as third grade, Mateen was verbally abusive, rude and aggressive, according to the documents obtained by TCPalm.com. He talked frequently of violence and obscenities, documents revealed.

Once, in third grade, instead of singing Mariposa, Mariposa in the school song, Mateen sang Marijuana, marijuana, according to records.

In December 1995, while in fourth grade, Mateen was referred to a student study team  comprising a teacher, psychologist, guidance counselor and parent  for continuing to hit students, talking out in class and screaming at teachers and fellow students, according to records.

Later that year, Mateens behavior in a computer lab was outlined by his teacher one day in late August: He consistently defied his teacher, dancing and mimicking the teacher as she addressed the class, according to documents.

When the teacher flicked off the lights to get the students attention, she initially couldnt find Mateen, finally locating him under his desk, documents state.

Omar needs to apply himself, his fifth-grade teacher said in a progress report. He is capable if he could just stay focused more than 5 minutes.

By fourth grade, Mateens grades in core subjects were almost all Cs and worsened to Ds and Fs in fifth grade. His Stanford Achievement Test scores, used to measure students from kindergarten to high school, were below average in fifth grade and particularly low in reading, where he scored in the bottom 6 percent, according to the records.

By seventh grade, at Southport Middle School in 1998-1999, Mateen was in danger of failing reading, language arts, math and science, according to reports.

His performance was hampered by a lack of motivation rather than an English deficiency, documents revealed. Following a Limited English Proficient committee meeting in May 1999, Mateen was scheduled to be monitored by daily progress reports and his schedule was changed to alleviate peer pressure, reports showed.

Omar does not suffer from an obvious language deficit ... rather it appears to be language interference in combination with a lack of motivation to perform academic work, the report said.

He was withdrawn from Southport in August 1999, as he began eighth grade, and transferred to the Martin County School District.
SHARE

By Elliott Jones of TCPalm

ST. LUCIE COUNTY  It was well known among law enforcement officers back in 2005 that Omar Mateen had an interest in a career as a deputy, Sheriff Ken Mascara said.

Mateen received an Associate of Science degree in criminal justice technology from what was then Indian River Community College in 2006. The college was renamed Indian River State College in 2008.

At Mateen's request, the Sheriff's Office allowed him to ride around in a patrol car with an on-duty deputy to see what real-life law enforcement work was like.

"He was vetted by us before the ride-along," Mascara said. "Participants undergo a background check through the Florida Crime Information Center and National Crime Information Center, and sign a release of liability agreement."

That ride led to Mateen being slightly injured.

While in the car, the deputy had to speed off at 60 mph to a rollover traffic accident with injuries. The patrol car had to swerve, lost control and struck a safety rail and tree at Kings Highway and Vinedale Lane.

Mateen was examined at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center in Fort Pierce.

The Sheriff's Office encounter with Mateen back then wasn't the only one.

In 2013, Mateen, then 26, was working as a private security guard for G4S Secure Solutions USA, Inc. at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce. The Sheriff's Office is responsible for hiring the company to provide security at the courthouse.

The sheriff first became concerned about Mateen when it was rumored that he voiced derogatory comments to his co-workers at G4S, the sheriff said.

"We could never substantiate those claims," Mascara said. "However, shortly after that rumor, (Mateen) made an offensive comment to one of my employees at the courthouse."

Mateen made many inflammatory comments at the courthouse in 2013, including that Fort Hood, Texas, shooter Nidal Hasen was justified in fatally shooting 13 people and injuring more than 30 others in 2009, Mascara said Wednesday.

That mass shooting took place Nov. 5, 2009. Hasan was an Army major and psychiatrist. Soon after the attack, it was reported that his colleagues were aware that Hasen had been increasingly radicalized for several years.

In addition to commenting about Fort Hood, Mateen made derogatory remarks about women and Jews, the sheriff said.

"That sent red flags to my staff and me and the FBI was immediately notified," he said.

The FBI investigated Mateen, but could not conclude he had leanings toward terrorism.

The sheriff's courthouse supervisor requested that G4S transfer Mateen out of the courthouse security guard rotation permanently.

"That was immediately granted," Mascara said.
Spectrum Junior-Senior High School in Stuart. (FILE PHOTO)

By Andrew Atterbury of TCPalm

MARTIN COUNTY  Watching the second plane fly into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 sent Omar Mateen, then 14, jumping up from his school desk in celebration, said his former science teacher at Spectrum Junior/Senior High School in Stuart.

More Orlando shooting coverage

The classroom was eerily quiet when Mateen, watching the tragedy unfold live on TV, shouted "Allahu akbar," or "God is great," as the plane struck, the former educator said during an exclusive interview Monday with TCPalm.com.

"We did it," his teacher vividly remembers Mateen shouting. "We did it!"

"He didn't have any filters on," said the teacher, who agreed to be interviewed without being named besides his former title because he is concerned about his family's safety. "This just came out of the blue."

TCPalm does not customarily use anonymous news sources. However, because of the importance of this story and the need for the source to remain anonymous, TCPalm has determined that in this case, protecting the source's anonymity is the only way to share this information with the community.

Police said Mateen early on Sunday opened fire in a crowded Orlando nightclub, killing 49 people and injuring 53.

In school, he continued to joke about Sept. 11 and infuriated his peers, according to Robert Zirkle, a former classmate.

Zirkle and his friends generally were on good terms with Mateen until Sept. 11, when, Zirkle said, Mateen made airplane and explosion sounds and appeared to be joking about the attacks.

"My group of friends told him it wasn't a joke, and if he didn't knock it off he was going to have problems," said, Zirkle, 29, who now lives in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Mateen proclaimed to the school class on Sept. 11 that his father knew Osama bin Laden, according to his teacher.

As the day's events unfolded, students were in shock, searching for some way to understand the attacks, the retired educator said. Mateen's outburst agitated his classmates and he was removed from the classroom, the teacher recalled clearly.

Mateen was a student in the St. Lucie County School District from kindergarten through eighth grade, according to school officials. He attended Martin County High School his freshman year.

Records show he attended Spectrum Junior/Senior High School  the district's disciplinary campus  at least in 2001.

Martin County students are assigned to Spectrum when they are deemed "chronically disruptive" or commit zero-tolerance offenses at school campuses, according to its mission statement. School officials declined to explain why Mateen had been sent to Spectrum.

Mateen received an associate degree in criminal justice technology in 2006, Indian River State College spokesman Robert Lane said.

According to the college's website, one required class is deviant behavior, where students study "sociological perspective and theories of deviance. Emphasis is placed on understanding basic behavior patterns that are not part of traditional and conventional society."

Lane declined to say if the course was a requirement when Mateen was a student at the college.

Indian River State College and the Martin and St. Lucie county school districts referred all questions to the FBI.

Mateen's former teacher on Monday called the Orlando mass shooting unbelievable and heartbreaking.

No one can truly know where his feelings of hate manifested, the former educator said.

"It's heartbreaking that something couldn't have been done," his former teacher said. "I don't think you can stop people like that."

Reporter Keona Gardner and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kevin Cascone (center), of Staten Island, N.Y., takes a moment to himself during the Interfaith Prayer Gathering and Vigil in honor of the victims of Sunday's shooting attack in Orlando, hosted by the Interfaith Clergy Alliance of St. Lucie County at Tradition's Town Hall in Port St. Lucie. "I feel bad for all the families and kids in the nightclub," said Cascone. "I just came out to show support." (HOBIE HILER/ SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

By Nicole Rodriguez of TCPalm

Editor's note: This article has been modified from an earlier version.

PORT ST. LUCIE  Area residents stood in solidarity at a Tradition prayer vigil Tuesday to mourn those killed in a barrage of bullets at an Orlando nightclub by a man who lived and worked among them on the Treasure Coast.

Those who attended the evening prayer service at Tradition Town Hall included 120 individuals of the Christian, Islamic and Jewish faiths. They prayed for the wounded city of Orlando, mourned the 49 people killed and 53 injured at Pulse nightclub, and asked God to heal the Treasure Coast, which is still shattered from news that shooter Omar Mateen, 29, lived in Fort Pierce.

Although he lived in the area, Mateen doesn't represent the Treasure Coast, said the Rev. Maryanne Kehlenbach of Living Faith Church, which meets at the Town Hall on Sundays.

"We're a community that loves each other  whether we know each other or we don't know each other  we still are a community that is just grounded in love, so it's particularly painful for us when it's someone from our community that has, for whatever reason, perpetrated such violence," Kehlenbach said.

The vigil was organized by Kehlenbach and other members of the Interfaith Clergy Alliance of St. Lucie County.

Among those in attendance was Imam Syed Rahman, who leads the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce, where Mateen worshipped two to three times a week for the past five years.

Rahman wept through his most of his remarks. He condemned the massacre, adding his often misunderstood religion does not promote violence.

"I feel like we are all one family  even though we speak different languages and even if our colors are different, we are all human brothers and sisters," Rahman said. "Whenever tragedies like this happen, those tragedies become a source to unite us."

The community must never forget the resolve to change the status quo and pain it felt in the shooting's wake, said Rabbi Shafir Lobb of the Congregation Eitz Chayim temple in Port St. Lucie.

"Take what we gather here today and take it out and be a little nicer to somebody this week, this month, this coming year," Lobb said. "Do a few more acts of random kindness."

Port St. Lucie resident Patricia Fuller, who is a Christian, attended to remember Mateen's victims.

"I felt I should come here and pay my respects," she said.

Lina Ramadan, a Muslim who lives in Port St. Lucie, showed up to stand next to her Christian and Jewish brothers and sisters to grieve and heal, she said.

"What happened is an act of betrayal," Ramadan said. "I really cannot even imagine what the people (in Orlando) are going through, but as a small community, it is good that we gathered to show our support."
SHARE James Burns, former superintendent of Indian River County schools

By James Kirley

Rumors, frustration, speculation: Ask about the unsolved murder in Columbus, Ga., of former Indian River County Schools Superintendent James Burns and these words continually crop up.

What will not crop up are reasons to believe that police in that town are any closer to solving the crime than they were more than five years ago, when the education leader was found stabbed to death in his home shortly after midnight.

No one has been arrested.

Law officers in this town of 179,000 - home of the U.S. Army Infantry Center at Fort Benning - are taciturn about the case.

The fifth anniversary of Burns' murder passed Oct. 19 with police still not talking about a possible motive.

"Not that we'll discuss, no," Lt. J.D. Hawk of major crimes division of the Columbus Police Department said in a recent phone interview. "It's still under investigation."

Police apparently have been no more informative with the widow, Stella Burns, who now lives near family in northeast Florida and works for the St. Johns County School District.

"They have assured me that if any new information comes to light, they would talk to me," said Mrs. Burns, who last spoke to Georgia authorities about six months ago.

"They tell me the case is open and there's no new information," she said.

Interest in solving the crime is not waning among friends of Burns, despite what seems like an official stalemate.

"We're all pretty frustrated," said Larry Zinke, retired superintendent of Duval County schools. He and Burns were classmates doing their doctoral work at the University of Florida.

"There's a lot of speculation that the police know who it is, but can't prove it," Zinke said.

Burns, 50, left Indian River County in 1989 after more than 10 years as top executive for this area's public schools.

He took a job as superintendent of schools in Pulaski County, Va., and stayed there one year.

Burns then moved to Columbus to become superintendent of Muscogee County schools.

"I get asked, probably every week, 'What happened? Did they ever find anybody?' " Indian River County School Board member Gary Lindsey recently said. "That's the questions being asked by the people who live in this county."

People in Muscogee County, Ga., are asking questions too.

The Ledger-Enquirer newspaper ran a package of stories on the recent fifth anniversary of the unsolved murder. It recalled the Columbus Police Department's official statement the morning of Burns' death, that it had no known suspects or motives.

"Five years later, a statement would say the same thing," the newspaper noted.

Early Morning Murder

Police reported that Burns was stabbed in the back with a knife shortly past midnight while he and Mrs. Burns were in the second-story bedroom of their Historic District home in Columbus.

Burns reportedly rose from bed to chase the assailant down a flight of stairs and out the door of his home before collapsing dead.

Burns' parents, visiting from Mobile, Ala., at the time, were asleep in an adjacent bedroom when the murder occurred.

Police picked up at least one suspect that night, a local high school student found driving a vehicle matching the description of one neighbors had reported leaving the scene.

Inside the vehicle they found an empty knife sheath and a stocking mask, Muscogee County Coroner Don Kilgore said.

The teen-age suspect was questioned and released, Kilgore said, without the precaution of police keeping the man's clothing for forensic examination.

"They went out there three days later and got his clothes," Kilgore said. "That's stupid."

If the Columbus police are close-mouthed with their knowledge of Burns' murder, it is probably fair to say that Kilgore is outspoken.

"It was a messed-up investigation," Kilgore said. "(Police) are not doing much of anything with it. I've stayed on it more than anybody."

Kilgore wanted to call a coroner's inquest shortly after the murder and subpoena Mrs. Burns to testify.

"She would have been the No. 1 witness," he said.

But Jim Wetherington, police chief of Columbus at the time, would not cooperate with his efforts, Kilgore said.

Kilgore has suggested that Burns might have stabbed himself in the back to stall the School Board from firing him.

"He was supposed to be fired that night," Kilgore said. "There was no way they could have fired him that night, with him in the hospital."

According to Kilgore's theory, Burns only meant to wound himself, but slipped up and cut through a main artery to his heart.

Mrs. Burns refused to talk about Kilgore's theories or any other aspect of the case.

"I have no comment on anything to do with my husband's death," she said. "It's been five years since my husband died, but it's still very upsetting."

The weapon, which Kilgore described as a double-bladed "boot dagger," was found at the foot of the stairs.

Kilgore said neither the knife nor a house key that had been left in an outside lock produced any fingerprints.

"He's quite outspoken on all cases," Columbus Police Chief Luther Miller said of Kilgore.

"As far as I know, at this time, there aren't any new developments in Mr. Burns' case," said Miller, who was at the murder scene five years ago as the city's deputy police chief. "I would love to say that we have a prime suspect and that we are ready to charge someone. But that's just not the case."

Few Answers

The air of mystery surrounding Burns' death is compounded by the demise of his predecessor. Braxton Nail was superintendent of Muscogee County schools for 16 years when he was found dead, hanging from a tree, in 1989.

Nail's death was officially ruled a suicide.

"To have two superintendents die under mysterious, or at least unusual, circumstances while they were in office is a very demoralizing situation," said Guy Sims, current superintendent of Muscogee County schools.

Two other men, Robert Bushong and Jim Buntin, held the superintendent's job between Burns' death and January 1997, when Sims was promoted to the post. Both have since retired from the school system.

Also, Muscogee County schools were being governed by a grand jury-appointed school board at the time of Burns' death. Sims said the law later changed in favor of an elected board and an entirely different group of citizens are now in office.
Port Salerno Elementary fifth-grade teacher Angie Roberts (left) gets help Thursday from her daughter, Brittany Roberts, 23, and her son, Collin Roberts, 15, (not pictured) while organizing her new room in preparation for the start of school. This is Angie Roberts' first year teaching fifth-grade, her 15th year at the school and 24th year in her career. "I'm very excited to teach new things," said Angie Roberts as she goes through books.

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By Kelly Tyko of TCPalm

MARTIN COUNTY ? The day after the primary election where voters will elect Martin County's chief educator, a new school year begins.

While public school students in St. Lucie and Indian River counties don't go back to school until Aug. 20, Martin County students start the new school year Wednesday.

Commuters might want to get an early start to work Wednesday because the start of a new school year means school zones, yellow buses and crossing guards will be back.

With the new school year comes changes, such as new principals for six schools: Crystal Lake Elementary, Felix A. Williams Elementary, Murray Middle, Dr. David L. Anderson Middle, Warfield Elementary and Indiantown Middle.

While the state Legislature mandates districts start the school year no earlier than two weeks before Labor Day, Martin County is able to start earlier because it's a high-performing district. High performing districts can request a waiver to begin classes earlier.

Students also will end the school year earlier than neighboring school districts. The last day of the school year for Martin County public schools is May 31.

Here is some helpful information for parents preparing to send their kids off to school:

BUS SCHEDULES

Bus routes for the 2012-2013 school year are posted school by school on the school district's website.

To find bus routes, go to www.martinschools.org and select the "Parents & Students" button, which will bring up a drop-down menu. Select "Bus Routes" from the menu and then follow the directions on the screen. Students are expected to be at the bus stop five minutes before the scheduled arrival time each day.

Bus routes are subject to change because of student enrollment and scheduled pick up times.

Parents should expect delays during the first five to 10 days of school, especially in the afternoon, which could be as much as 30 to 45 minutes later than the published drop-off time.

If you do not see a time for a morning or afternoon stop, check other bus routes serving the school your child attends. Because of scheduling, some students are picked up by one bus in the morning and dropped off by another in the afternoon, according to the district's transportation department website, transportation.martinschools.org.

For more information, call the transportation department at 772-219-1287.

SCHOOL MEALS

School menus are listed on the district's website atfns.martinschools.org.

The district encourages parents to set up an online prepayment account to pay for their child's school meals through MyPaymentsPlus, which is available atmypaymentsplus.com. The website allows parents to deposit money into their child's meal account with credit or debit cards or checks.

Free and reduced priced meal applications will be distributed to students on the first day of school and are available on the district's website. Applications are accepted all year and a student's status lasts the entire school year.

Free lunches are available to children in households with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty income level, or $29,965 for a family of four. Reduced-price meals are available to children in households with incomes less than 185 percent of the poverty rate or $42,643 for a family of four.

For more information, contact the cafeteria manager at your child's school or the Martin County School District's food service department at 772-223-2655, ext. 100. More information is available at fns.martinschools.org.

MEAL PRICES*

$1.75: Elementary lunch

$2: Middle and high school lunch

$3.25: Premium meals

$0.40: Reduced price lunch

$1.50: Breakfast for all students

$0.30: Reduced price breakfast

* Meal prices are higher for adults

EXTENDED DAY

The Martin County School District has an extended day program, an after-school program available for students who are enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grades.

Parents must pay a $32 registration fee and other fees.

Typically, parents can pick up their children by 6 p.m. at the latest and some schools also offer the program before school starts and on nonschool days.

For more information, contact your child's elementary school or go to www.extday.martinschools.org. Phone numbers of each schools' extended day program are available online.

MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL HOURS*

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Public elementary schools, except Warfield Elementary: 7:40 a.m. to 1:50 p.m.

Warfield Elementary: 7:40 a.m. to 2:05 p.m.

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Public middle schools, except Indiantown Middle: 9:10 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.

Indiantown Middle: 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOLS

All: 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS

Challenger: 7:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Spectrum Jr./Sr. High: 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

* Schools' front offices are open longer hours

2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

The following are the important dates on Martin County School District's 2012-2013 school calendar. In the case of a hurricane or emergency, nonschool days, such as holidays, may need to be used as makeup days if classes are canceled because of hurricanes or bad weather.

Aug. 15: First day of school

Sept. 3: Labor Day, no school

Sept. 17: Nonschool day, teachers/students off

Sept. 26: Nonschool day, teachers/students off

Oct. 12: End of first nine weeks

Oct. 15: Teacher work day, students off

Nov. 2: Parent-teacher conference day, students off

Nov. 22-23: Thanksgiving holiday, no school

Dec. 21: End of second nine weeks

Dec. 24-Jan. 4: Winter recess

Jan. 7: Classes resume

Jan. 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school

Feb. 18: Presidents Day, no school

Feb. 26-28: Writing section of Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test

March 7: End of third nine weeks

March 8: Teacher work day, students off

March 22: Parent-teacher conference day, students off

March 25-29: Spring recess

April 1: Spring recess, students off

April 2: Classes resume

April 22-May 17: End-of-course exams in biology, algebra, geometry and biology

April 15-26: FCAT reading, math and science

May 27: Memorial Day, no school day

May 31: Last day of school for students

Martin County School District martinschools.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For general questions, call Martin County School District headquarters at 772-219-1200 or contact your child's school. The school district's website is martinschools.org.
<p>Rendering of the proposed hotel and restaurant in Stuart, just north of the Old Roosevelt Bridge.(Provided byA Northpoint Ventures LLC website)</p>

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By Lidia Dinkova of TCPalm

STUART  Plans for a hotel, restaurant and boat slips on city-owned land north of the St. Lucie River could be in jeopardy, with the developer calling the city's new planning deadline "unrealistic."

The Northpoint property, about 2 acres on the river between the Old Roosevelt Bridge and the Florida East Coast Railway tracks, was bought by the city in 2002 with an eye toward development.

The city on May 23 gave developer Northpoint Ventures LLC until June 22 to submit its lease for the site or sign an existing lease.

At the same time, the City Commission moved toward finding a new developer for the site, a likely step if Northpoint Ventures and the city fail to agree on moving forward with the development.

Northpoint Ventures managing member Julian Mandody said Tuesday he turned in required materials, a contention the city disputes.

The June 22 deadline is "unrealistic," Mandody said in a June 6 email to City Attorney Michael Mortell.

It's insufficient time for the city to review the documents, Mandody said.

For his part, Mandody has said he is committed to the project. He's offered to pay the state for a submerged-lands lease if the city delays its search for a new developer.

This isn't the city's first deadline for Northpoint Ventures. Earlier this year, it set a May 19 deadline for a memo and progress in negotiations, according to an April 21 letter from Mortell to Mandody.

Northpoint failed to submit documents, Mortell told the City Commission on May 23.

Stuart's Community Redevelopment Agency bought the land from the Florida Department of Transportation. The price tag was $500,000, according to the Martin County Property Appraiser's Office.

The city initially picked the SDG Group to build boat storage and a restaurant, but the SDG deal fell through.

In 2014, the lease was reassigned to Northpoint Ventures LLC, which proposed a restaurant, hotel and boat slips for daytime parking.

Mandody on Tuesday declined to disclose the restaurant and hotel brands he is considering for the site.

However, a hotel there is not practical because of its proximity to the train tracks and a draw bridge, said City Commissioner Tom Campenni.

Freight traffic is expected to grow in coming years, and All Aboard Florida plans to run 16 Brightline passenger train round trips a day through the Treasure Coast beginning in late 2017.

"I personally think the delay has been that the hotel people wanted to wait and see what the final All Aboard Florida plans would look like," Mortell speculated. "I know I wouldn't want to do anything until I knew what they were doing."

That was an issue that created an initial delay, Mandody said.

"Right now," he said, "we are confident that we can come through regardless of the train."

Go here to see the map below in a browser window.
Ed Henson (center), owner of the St. Lucie Shooting Center in Port St. Lucie, makes a statement concerning guns purchased at his store by Omar Mateen, the suspect in the Orlando Pulse nightclub shootings. (ERIC HASERT/ TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

By Will Greenlee of TCPalm

PORT ST. LUCIE  Orlando nightclub mass shooter Omar Mateen held a security officer license and a statewide firearms license, according to Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services records.

Jenn Meale, communications director for the agriculture and consumer services department, stated via email that those are different from a concealed weapon license.

Mateen's security officer license is required for anyone who "performs the services of a security officer," according to the agency's website. Holders of this license are allowed to "bear a firearm" if they also have the statewide firearms license.

In his application for a security officer license, Mateen indicated he was born in Long Island, New York. He listed previous addresses in Port St. Lucie and Jensen Beach.

In prior employment history, he listed brief stints with Martin Correctional Institute in Indiantown, General Nutrition Center in Jensen Beach, Hollister (no city listed), Gold's Gym in Port St. Lucie and Nutrition World in Fort Pierce. He listed no military history.

As part of his statewide firearm license application, Mateen was reported in 2007 by The Wackenhut Corp. to have undergone a written psychological test or evaluation. Other information from the license files shows Mateen completed firearms proficiency requirements.

Mateen legally bought the guns within a week of the incident, according to information from the Orlando police sourced to Trevor Velinor, assistant special agent in charge at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Tampa Field Office.

On Monday, Ed Henson, owner of St. Lucie Shooting Center, said Mateen bought a handgun and long gun at his business in St. Lucie West about 10 days before Sunday's mass shooting, but he did not say whether those guns were used in the attack.

In a tweet, the ATF stated the guns traced in the shooting were a 9mm pistol and a .223-caliber AR-type rifle.

Henson, who largely did not take questions from reporters, stressed Mateen passed a full background check before he bought his guns in St. Lucie West.

Carlos Gonzalez, Miami field division public information officer for the ATF, said all states have various rules relating to firearms ownership.

Still, he said all residents who own a gun must fill out a document known as a form 4473, which records the transfer from a dealer to purchaser. The six-page form contains a series of inquiries that help the dealer determine whether you are a legal purchaser.

"There are yes and no questions that you have to answer and the dealer has to review and then he conducts the background check which takes anywhere from 15 minutes to five days," Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said the background check in Florida is conducted through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

He said completed 4473s are not public record, and that the forms stay in the possession of the gun shop. He said ATF can obtain them when needed.

"We don't receive a form for every single gun purchase in America," Gonzales said. "We're prohibited from Congress from establishing a national gun ownership list. We don't have that database."

They trace firearms, he said, by hand, through telephone calls and by fax.

As an example, they contact the manufacturer, who could indicate to what wholesaler the gun went. The wholesaler could relate the gun shop the firearm was sent to. The ATF would contact the gun shop and ask for the 4473 pertaining to the make, model, manufacturer and serial number and get the last purchaser.

"Then we conduct the trace that way and we provide that trace information to the requesting law enforcement agency," Gonzalez said.

If a person sells or transfers a gun to a person without going through a licensed dealer and using the 4473, the ownership information doesn't transfer.

According to information from the FDLE, a person can be denied the ability to buy a firearm for reasons including: having a felony conviction or active warrant; being an unlawful user or being addicted to a controlled substance; being "adjudicated mentally defective or involuntarily committed"; being dishonorably discharged from the military; or having a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.

There is no special permit needed in Florida to buy a gun, according to FDLE.

Concealed weapon permit holders are not exempt from the background check.
Images from the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce on Monday, June 13, 2016, on West Midway Road in Fort Pierce. (XAVIER MASCARENAS/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

We have a message to those who in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting posted hateful messages on the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce's Facebook page, or drove by the mosque, yelling epithets:

Knock it off.

Leave our Muslim neighbors alone.

Ever since Omar Mateen opened fire early Sunday morning, killing 49 in the worst mass shooting in the U.S. history, the St. Lucie County mosque where he attended services has been attracting a lot of unwanted attention  from the media, but also from area residents who appear convinced the mosque and its teachings might have inspired Mateen to commit his heinous act.

For the record, there is zero public evidence that this was the case.

MORE | Muslim-Americans stand in solidarity with LGBTQ community

Mosque leaders have condemned the act of terror, saying there's no room for hate or violence in their peaceful religion. On its Facebook page, the mosque posted a message that condemned "this monstrous attack" and asserted that "the Muslim community of Fort Pierce joins our fellow Americans in repudiating anyone or any group that would claim to justify or excuse such an appalling act of violence."

The Interfaith Clergy Alliance of St. Lucie County later chimed in, issuing a statement calling the shootings a crime of "unthinkable violence" and noting that "no faith teaches such action, including Islam." Signatories included Mohammad Malik, Muslim community coordinator, and Rabbi Shafir Lobb of the Port St. Lucie temple Congregation Eitz Chayim and the Jewish Federation of the Treasure Coast.

That wasn't enough for those who appear to believe there's no such thing as a peaceful Muslim. On the mosque's Facebook page, numerous commenters posted venomous messages, with some accusing the center of "breeding jihadis."

Mateen, unfortunately, is the second person to attend services at the mosque who committed an act of terror. In 2014, Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha left his car outside the mosque and flew to Syria, where he became the first American to carry out a suicide bombing, blowing himself up in an operation for an al-Qaida affiliate.

MORE | From childhood to the massacre, what happened to Omar Mateen?

In 2014, the FBI determined there were no "ties of consequence" between Abu-Salha and Mateen, who was then under surveillance. After Orlando, federal officials could deem those "ties" worthy of another look. But right now, this is simply an unfortunately coincidence.

Nonetheless, additional vigilance is warranted. As such we hope, and suspect, the shootings have prompted introspection in the local Muslim community.

Both Mateen and Abu-Salha might have been "lone wolves," but it's understandable that reasonable people might wonder how both emerged from such a small geographic area and a small Muslim community. Particularly now, in the wake of this tragedy and the scrutiny which inevitably accompanies it, that community must police itself more vigilantly than ever before.

But all of us must bear in mind that the people of that community are our neighbors. They are friends, classmates and co-workers. They wait in line at the same grocery stores and endure the same maddening traffic.

Treasure Coast residents must not give in to the easy, vile temptations of Islamophobia. Any time a horrific event like this occurs, some wish to paint with a broad brush. Perhaps that's human nature.

But just as this community cannot be defined by Mateen's acts, it must not be defined by the angry rhetoric of those who see Islam itself  and thus all Muslims  as responsible for what happened in Orlando.

MORE | Complete coverage on Omar Mateen and the Orlando shootings.
Photos by Stephanie LaBaff Volunteers, students, parents and teachers are ready to board the Gator Express!

SHARE Children head to the Gator Express to receive free books. Glendale student Miloura Barnard Danielle Bey, Barbara Presley, Luz Corchado with Erin and Delaney Chung Teachers Barbara Presley and Dani Bey volunteering on the Gator Express.

By Stephanie Labaff, The Newsweekly

The chimes of an ice cream truck driving through a neighborhood can turn a quiet street into one teeming with activity.

That sound recently heralded a sweet treat with a twist.

Jolene's Ice Cream Truck traveled through Gifford with another vehicle jam-packed with different delights.

To claim a cool, delicious treat, ice cream connoisseurs merely had to show Jolene a book they had received from the Gator Express, a school bus turned bookmobile where all the books are free.

For the past several years Glendale Elementary School staff, PTA members, and the School Advisory Committee have been making sojourns into the community on the Gator Express because research shows that access to books dramatically increases literacy. The majority of children who are able to read at or above grade level have books of their own at home.

Books galore

"The first Gator Express left the station in 2014. We have completed four Gator Express runs since then," says Glendale Elementary Principal Adam Faust. "We schedule a fall and spring Gator Express each year to help promote reading and good will in the community.

During their most recent trip, they partnered with Jolene.

"This made our last trip exciting as it brought out more people. When you hear the ice cream truck you always go outside," explains Faust.

Glendale's version of a bookmobile overflowed with donations: they had more than 500 books to give away to the nearly 400 children who boarded the Gator Express. Students are encouraged to take as many books as they can carry to help promote reading during the summer.

It takes as many as 30 students, teachers, administrators and volunteers to man the Express. They post flyers with the route and schedule; make announcements on bullhorns; knock on doors to get people outside; help with age-appropriate book selections; lug bags full of books and, of course, share an ice cream with their new friends.

Nonstop

The idea for the Gator Express was hatched during a School Advisory meeting in 2013.

"The committee wanted to find a way to reach out to our community. Working together we can do so much more for our students," says Faust. "The team took the idea and ran with it."

The proposal was so well received Glendale won the Diversity and Inclusion Award from the Florida PTA in 2015. The recognition prompted them to realize the importance of the project and continue their work.

The fall trip will include a raffle for Publix gift cards to help families during the Thanksgiving holiday, in addition to free books and ice cream.

They are currently collecting books for grades pre-K to grade 6 for the next Gator Express. Books may be dropped off at Glendale Elementary.

They are also looking for local business partners to set up donation boxes for books and fabric bags. The Gator Express is always looking for support. If you want to help, stop by Glendale Elementary School at 4940 8th St., Vero Bach, or call 772-978-8050.
Press-Journal, June 15, 1986

SHARE Press-Journal, June 15, 1986

Compiled By Cindy Schwarz

90 YEARS AGO: 1926

Low votes

VERO BEACHAt 3 o'clock just 53 people had voted out of the 220 who are qualified to vote on the $150,000 bond issue for light and water extensions. The polls close at sundown.

80 YEARS AGO: 1936

Cop-pro-tex roof

Indian River COUNTYCopper's tendency to expand and contract with changing temperatures and its high cost have kept this material out of reach for roofs. But Claude Smith is having a copper roof installed on his north Dixie highway home and many people are taking interest. The new material being used is called Cop-pro-tex. It is manufactured in Orlando. R. B. Brossier, deputy hotel commissioner, is vice-president and general manager of the company that manufactures the material. The thin copper sheet material is fastened to a felt base and then secured to the roof using patented cleats, not nails, making the roof virtually hurricane proof.

70 YEARS AGO: 1946

Health ordinance

VERO BEACHKeeping livestock within the city limits is being regulated through a new ordinance adopted by city council. Hogs, poultry, and livestock kept within city limits will now require that buildings be cleaned daily and that sanitary conditions be maintained so the public health is not endangered. Heavy penalties are provided for unsanitary conditions and those not corrected within 24 hours of an issued violation.

60 YEARS AGO: 1956

"Festival of Flags"

VERO BEACHA Flag Day observance will be held at Dodgertown under the nighttime lights with a mass of color and the Elks Flag Ritual. A 15-minute band performance by the Palm Beach Air Force Marching Band will accompany the Flag Day festivities as well as the National Guard, the Miami Naval Air Reserve Color Guard, Vero Beach American Legion and Auxiliary Color Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary Color Guard, the United States Marine Reserve, the Patrick Air Force Base Color Guard, Disabled American Veterans and Auxiliary Color Guards, and the Sebastian American Legion and Auxiliary Color Guards. The program will close with a fireworks display of the American Flag.

50 YEARS AGO: 1966

Medicare here

INDIAN RIVER COUNTYA utilization report's misconnection is keeping Indian River Memorial Hospital without approval for Medicare as the July 1 deadline looms. A special meeting involving the Hospital Board of Trustees' approval of the mandatory report was recently held. The Board's approved version can be described as a modification of a modification of a modification and still needs hospital medical staff approval.

30 YEARS AGO: 1986

Train whistle roars

INDIAN RIVER COUNTYThe County Commission is allowing the current train whistles argument to be heard at a special public hearing. The commission will consider adopting an ordinance to ban train whistles from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night. In emergency cases, train engineers could still blast whistles. This ordinance would be in effect throughout the county. Vero Beach and Sebastian, the only municipalities trains run through, would decide their own agenda.

10 YEARS AGO: 2006

Saving the flag

VERO BEACHVero Beach resident Rick Monday was playing for the Chicago Cubs in April 1976 when protestors ran onto the field at Dodger Stadium, during a game, with an American flag and began to burn it. Immediately, Monday rushed over and seized the flag from the two protestors. This Flag Day, June 14, Monday was in Washington D.C. and stood with a dozen senators urging the U. S. Senate to pass a controversial amendment that would help protect the Stars and Stripes and prohibit flag desecration as a form of free speech.
Facing growing pressure from labor unions and regulators across the U.S. and key overseas markets, Uber on Monday introduced a series of new apps and benefits for its core group of drivers. The goal is to make their working hours more productive and profitable.

Many drivers say they choose Uber because they want to be their own boss, set their own schedule and get work done at the touch of a button, wrote product managers Maya Choksi and Ryan Fujiu in a post introducing the features. Thats the beauty of the on demand economy, you define the work you do, it doesnt define you.

Uber has heard the message from drivers that there are many things it can do to make the job more empowering and worth your while, Choksi and Fujiu added.

Click and Drive

Among the new apps are Driver Destinations, which lets drivers input their destinations twice a day to restrict ride requests to their current routes. Uber has been testing the app in a few cities and will roll it out to at least a dozen more this week and worldwide in the future.

Uber later this month will begin testing a pause feature that lets drivers turn off the app to take a break.

A new Instant Pay feature allows passengers to send money to drivers instantly using a GoBank Uber Debit Card. Uber piloted the feature in San Francisco, and it is now available nationwide.

Drivers needing assistance from the company have access to Uber Greenlight Locations, which now are available in 250 locations worldwide.

Uber announced special perks and incentives for drivers, as a recent study showed 25 percent of Uber drivers use the service as a passenger. The company is offering 15 percent off an UberX ride to drivers for every 10 trips, or 50 percent off an UberBlack ride for every 20 trips in a week.

Uber recently began piloting in-app phone support for drivers in the Bay area. In addition, it currently is testing a fuel finder to help drivers locate cheap gasoline.

The company also launched a blog, called Behind the Wheel.

Uber has more than 1 million drivers, and it operates in more than 400 cities worldwide. Hundreds of its engineers, designers and product managers are dedicated to working on the drivers app, the company said.

Nationwide Movement

Uber likely will face additional pressure from drivers for better job security, pay and benefits as it expands to more cities and challenges taxis for the lions share of airport and nightlife business. Smaller services, such as Lyft, allow drivers to accept tips, which puts additional pressure on Ubers costs.

Uber realizes theyre not the only game in town, said Kelley Blue Book Managing Editor Matt DeLorenzo.

They might be the first, they might be the biggest  but theyre not the only one, he told the E-Commerce Times.

New York drivers last month won the right to organize as a guild affiliated with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. The company currently faces litigation in several major states and a federal class action case in Illinois to classify the workers as employees rather than contractors.

I think, generally, on-demand companies like Uber, Lyft or Postmates will not be able to avoid improving their driver/delivery person relations in the long run, said Gerrit Schneemann, senior analyst for mobile media and telecom at IHS.

The competition for drivers is only increasing, he told the E-Commerce Times. Perks will be a key differentiator.

While Uber has received the lions share of recognition for launching the ride-sharing business, it will have to mature as a company to maintain that success, suggested Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.

The company is fabulously valuable on paper, but hasnt turned a profit, he told the E-Commerce Times. It claims its success is due to disruptive technologies and abilities, but treats reasonable complaints with thuggish disdain.

Austin, Texas, effectively banned ride sharing after months of political wrangling and a referendum, King noted, and since then a handful of alternative ride-sharing firms have appeared on the scene.
The mother of a little girl with Down syndrome recently wrote a heartfelt open letter to her doctor who had advised her to abort her baby.

Courtney Baker, a resident of Sanford, Florida, sent the letter to the Parker Myles Facebook page, in the hopes of offering strength to others.

The Story Of Courtney Baker

Baker said her first two pregnancies were easy and that she expected her recent pregnancy to have been easy, too.

But a few weeks after knowing that she was pregnant, her baby was prenatally detected with Down syndrome.

The doctor told Baker how difficult life would be tending to a child with the condition. Baker said he made her feel unsupported.

But she knew she couldn't hold on to any feelings about that day any longer, so she wrote the letter. She said it was therapeutic for her to send it to him.

She told the doctor that her life has improved ever since she gave birth to Emersyn Faith, who is now 15 months old.

"Every action, from opening and closing the mailbox to raising the red flag, was closure for me," said Baker.

Baker said she does not have any idea how her doctor might have reacted, but that she has faith that "God can work any miracle and he can change any heart."

The Letter

In her letter, Baker said a friend of hers had told her about her own experience.

The friend's specialist would see her child during sonograms and would say, "He's perfect."

Her friend's child was also born with Down syndrome.

When her friend visited the doctor with her child, the doctor looked at the little boy and said, "I told you. He's perfect."

Baker said her friend's story tore her apart. Although she was grateful for her friend's experience, she was filled with such sorrow.

"I wish you would have been that doctor," Baker wrote.

During the time Baker came to her doctor, she was terrified, anxious and in complete despair.

She did not know yet the complete truth about her baby, but she said that was what she needed from her doctor.

She said that instead of encouragement and support, the doctor suggested that they terminate the child. He asked the Bakers if they fully understood how having a child with Down syndrome would decrease their quality of life.

Ever since that visit, Baker said they had dreaded appointments with the doctor. She said the most difficult time in her life was made even more unbearable because the doctor did not tell her the truth.

"My child was perfect," said Baker.

Moving On

Baker said she was not angry or bitter, but she was incredibly sad. She said it was because the doctor was very wrong to say a child with Down syndrome would decrease their life's quality.

Mostly, Baker said she was sad that the doctor will never have the privilege of knowing her daughter Emersyn.

Her daughter has indeed added to their quality of life, she said, and has even touched the lives of others. She said her daughter had given them a purpose and the kind of joy that is indescribable.

Baker summed up her feelings at the end, saying she hopes that when the doctor sees another baby with Down syndrome, he will look at the child's mother and finally tell her the truth.

Her full letter is posted at the Parker Myles Facebook page.

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A traditional Polynesian deep-sea canoe is sailing the world without a motor. The crew's goal is to increase awareness of the Native Hawaiian culture and to demonstrate how the seas connect all people of the world.

The 41-year old Hokulea is a double hull traditional canoe. It's a performance replica of the conventional canoes used by ancient Polynesians about 3,000 years ago to discover all of Polynesia.

In Hawaiian, Hokulea translates to "star of gladness." The canoe's name is also a combination of two words  "hoku," which means "star" and "lea," which means "gladness."

In 2014, the Hokulea and its Polynesian crew left Hawaii and went on its worldwide voyage. Without a motor, the crew depends on centuries-old navigational techniques that make use of cloud and wave movements. They also rely on the sun and the stars to help them navigate the traditional deep-sea canoe.

In the past 13 months, the Hawaii-based Polynesian Voyaging Society has sailed to several ports around the world and met several global leaders.

On June 8, they made it to New York for the World Oceans Day event. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the Polynesian crew. Several city officials and Native American tribes were also present during the event, along with thousands of spectators.

"We just want to build awareness about things that we value. Our major focus is the oceans," said the crew's master navigator Nainoa Thompson, who presented the society's message during the event. "Our job is not to prove we can sail without instruments but to learn how to do it."

Thompson added that taking care of the planet requires understanding it. He stressed that people can't protect something they don't understand, and if people don't care about it, they won't protect it.

Ban Ki-moon wished Captain Nainoa and the entire Polynesian crew a wonderful return journey to Hawaii.

"I count on your leadership and commitment as we carry out our plans to make this world safer and more sustainable for all. On World Oceans Day, let us renew our resolve to protect these marine treasures for generations to come," said Ban Ki-moon.

In 2014, the Hokulea visited the Cook Islands, French Polynesia and the Samoa and American Samoa. In 2015, the crew visited Indonesia, Australia, South Africa and Mozambique. This year, their itinerary includes New York, Washington, Cuba and Brazil. Next year, the crew plans to reach Costa Rica, Tahiti, Galapagos and Panama.

Over 200 people have volunteered to become Hokulea crewmembers, who often commit to 5-week shifts to man the 12-crew traditional canoe. Thompson added that while they mainly use nature to help them navigate the seas, the crew used instruments when they sailed into the Great Barrier Reef, New York, and "other places [they] don't know."

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Microsoft made a shocking announcement on Monday, June 13, revealing that it has made a definitive agreement to acquire LinkedIn for $26.2 billion.

While Microsoft will now own the social network for work professionals, LinkedIn will continue to be its own brand and keep its independence. However, CEO Jeff Weiner will now report to his new boss, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The two will work together, combining Microsoft's professional cloud with LinkedIn's professional network.

But did Microsoft really just strike gold with this acquisition or will it be courting disaster?

The Pros

There are a few reasons why Microsoft may have just made a really sweet deal. First of all, numbers don't lie and LinkedIn's numbers are pretty impressive. With enhancements like a better newsfeed for business insights and a new version of its mobile app, membership has continued to increase with 19 percent growth year over year to now include 433 million members globally. The platform has more than 7 million active job listings with more than 105 million unique visiting members each month.

While these numbers seem great, growth has been slow in 2015. With more members added, users were looking at fewer pages on the site, which also means that advertising has also been slow. In fact, LinkedIn's ad business only grew about 20 percent for Q4 year over year according to a report in February compared to the 56 percent growth during the same quarter the year before. The acquisition could fix this by getting more Microsoft users (it has over 1 billion) onto LinkedIn and thus seeing the ads, or ads appearing on Microsoft's Office products.

With slow growth, stocks were also down for the social network, which means Microsoft is able to buy the company for $196 a share compared to $270 a share early last year. So talk about a deal.

And when it comes down to it, both companies have the same end goal: to keep growing.

Although Microsoft has a bad history with acquisitions  ahem, Nokia and aQuantive  these deals were all under the former CEO Steve Ballmer. With Nadella in charge, the new CEO has a goal to sell its services and make partnerships along the way to do that.

Even still, the deal is one of the biggest acquisitions in the tech space, meaning it could be the riskiest. But since the companies are uniquely different and will remain separate, employees don't have to start panicking that their jobs are at risk of being cut.

It also doesn't mean that the two companies won't help each other out. Just think about it: LinkedIn is a space for professionals where hiring managers look to recruit, users look for jobs and co-workers connect and boost each other's profiles via endorsements, and Microsoft has the software and services like Office 365, Word, Office and Skype  which help make professionals more productive. Now imagine what these companies could do by merging their graphs.

In the future, these two could blend together to help users connect to be able to do things like Office suggesting a LinkedIn professional who can help on a specific task, Nadella said in an internal memo.

Microsoft also has tools like machine learning and a digital voice assistant in its arsenal, which could be integrated with LinkedIn to make the platform more attractive to new and current users. By acquiring LinkedIn, Microsoft can add more data to its machine learning, including a record of jobs that are available and skills needed for particular jobs. Cortana could also be used to provide users with info on their business client or employees, help easily share important documents with Office integration, pencil in a meeting and more.

The Cons

With many reasons why the acquisition makes sense and has the possibility of being beneficial for both companies, there's always the chance that it will be nothing more than a gigantic failure.

As mentioned above, LinkedIn hasn't been growing much over the last year. And with the price of its stock plummeting per share, many might argue that Microsoft overpaid for the company. There is always the chance that the company writes this acquisition down and then suddenly dismisses it, just like it did when it acquired Nokia for $7.2 billion three years ago and then wrote it off last summer.

While combining LinkedIn with Office 365, Dynamics and OneDrive may sound good in theory, Microsoft already has collaboration services at its fingertips. It acquired Skype for $8.5 billion in 2011 and the enterprise social network Yammer in 2012. So the deal may end up being one-sided, with Microsoft focused on selling its services and gaining info from LinkedIn's data while continuing to let the company do its own thing. After all, the company did say independence.

And if there is major integration, will LinkedIn users get annoyed that they keep seeing ads to join Microsoft services? Will this cause them to stop using the platform as much? Do LinkedIn users really want Cortana to be able to access all their information? There's always a chance they don't and they won't.

Even though LinkedIn is the social network for business professionals, that doesn't mean there isn't still a dark cloud hovering over the platform as of late. After a 2012 data breach has finally seen light on the internet after a hacker put 117 million accounts up for sale, many users may not feel safe signing up or sharing too much on the network.

It remains unseen whether or not this acquisition is a disaster in the making or one of the best things to happen to Microsoft. In the meantime, the technology company will have its hands full with its new company.

Source: LinkedIn

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Most of the infectious diseases that emerge as human epidemic originated from mammals.

The virus behind the Ebola outbreak that has killed thousands in West Africa is believed to have been carried by fruit bats. The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and HIV, which have also claimed lives, are also linked to camels and chimpanzees, respectively.

The transmission of deadly diseases from animals to humans poses concern but researchers know very little about the patterns of such pathogen transmission.

In an effort to improve prediction of future mammal-to-human disease transmissions, Barbara Han, from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York, and colleagues have come up with maps that show the current reservoirs of viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi that cause zoonotic diseases, or those that can spread between animals and humans.

Han and colleagues tracked the classes of animals that harbor known human pathogens and where these reservoirs tend to be found and had this reflected in maps, which were featured in Trends in Parasitology on June 14.

The maps showed hotspots of zoonotic animal hosts which include MERS-carrying camels, rabid bats, and more than 2,000 species of rodents.

The researchers expected and later confirmed hotspots to be in high biodiversity regions such as Central and South America, Central East Africa and Southeast Asia. Europe was also identified as a hotspot for zoonotic diseases.

"In general, these regions align with global geographic patterns of mammal biodiversity with the exception of the hotspot in the north temperate zone (Europe), which contains a higher diversity of mammal hosts than expected from global biodiversity patterns," Han and colleagues wrote.

"We postulate that this pattern may be driven in part by the high richness of rodents and insectivores found in this region."

While outbreak of diseases associated with pathogens that come from non-human hosts is not inherently predictable, the maps show understudied patterns. Knowing the hotspots and being able to study the diseases that animals carry may also possibly help researchers prepare for potential transmission of diseases from animals to humans.

Researchers noted the importance of shifting strategy from "putting out fires" to being preemptive: that is, to know where and what's carrying diseases and what's their distribution.

"Understanding where animals are distributed and why may not seem applicable to our day-to-day lives," Han said.

"But the big breakthroughs that we need as a society (e.g., forecasting where the next zoonotic disease may emerge) rely on exactly this kind of basic scientific knowledge."

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The United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed an agreement for a joint effort on space exploration. NASA enlisted the help of one of the newest space agencies in the world to help in its effort to send a manned mission to the Red Planet by 2030s.

The agreement was signed in Abu Dhabi last Sunday by UAE Space Agency (UAESA) chairman Dr. Khalifa Al Romaithi and NASA administrator Charles Bolden.

The partnership allows the two countries to collaborate in aeronautics research as well as in the exploration and usage of airspace and outer space for peaceful intents.

The agreement's first priority is the exploration of Mars. The UAESA aims to send an unmanned probe to the Red Planet by 2021.

Apart from sharing aeronautics research, the agreement also enables the two countries to share scientific instruments and, if possible, even spacecraft.

"I am confident this new framework agreement with the UAE Space Agency will help advance this journey, as well as other endeavors in the peaceful exploration of outer space," said Bolden.

The NASA administrator added that technical experts from both space agencies are already discussing several areas of shared interest. Bolden expressed confidence that the two agencies will continue to collaborate in the succeeding years through their shared interest in space exploration, discovery and aeronautics.

Al Romaithi explained that collaboration and cooperation are vital to the UAESA. This is because the young space agency believes that the best way to speed up space technology developments as well as the UAE space sector is to work together with international partners.

He added that the space sector inside the UAE is an economic development catalyst. It also promotes diversification and creates more job opportunities for the people.

The space sector within the UAE also enables the country's engineers and scientists to become industry leaders. All of these bring great benefits to the people's daily lives.

As for NASA, the recent partnership with the UAESA happened in the middle of a debate in Congress about the expenses for the manned mission to Mars. The debate also comes with questions whether Mars exploration should be NASA's first priority.

Representative Dana Rohrabacher of California raised in last month's hearing that the country has a lot of other things it could do in space such as the space debris cleanup and the development of a system that can protect the planet from the impact of asteroids.

Rohrabacher stressed the importance of ensuring that "we don't waste dollars on things that we don't accomplish anything with."

Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture | Flickr

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Google unveiled powerful new tools for enterprise customers, aiming to enhance its services for business.

The new Springboard is the most notable, arriving as a neat digital assistant powered by artificial intelligence, designed to help enterprises maximize the potential of Google's business services.

Google points out that it has extensive expertise in helping business customers organize their corporate information. The company has been a top player in Enterprise Search for more than a decade and forged partnerships with some of the world's largest companies.

"As we continue to invest in applying technologies like machine intelligence to power our web search engine, we're working on a new way to bring all of this power to the enterprise: Google Springboard," says the company.

Google has been testing the AI-powered Springboard assistant with "a small set of customers" and is now ready to roll it out to a larger audience. The tool is somewhat like Google Now for business, offering a single search interface that leverages the power of AI to deliver information within one's Google products suite such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Calendar and others such.

According to Google, Springboard is designed to help you find what you need when you need it, and it also assists the user by offering relevant and actionable information, as well as various recommendations. Instead of having to search and gather information, the user can simply rely on Springboard to do it for them.

The second announcement, meanwhile, refers to a new design for Google Sites. Google says the product is now "totally rebuilt" and it sounds better than ever, serving as a one-stop-shop for information such as newsletters, quarterly reports and other such internal company data.

Google Sites now boasts drag and drop functionality, real-time collaboration, creation features and better optimization so that the content now fits any type of screen regardless of size, whether it's a huge monitor, a tablet or a smartphone.

For now, the new tools for enterprise are rolling out to early adopter programs. Customers who are already on board with Google Apps for Work can join the programs and try out the tools already. If you're interested, join the Springboard program or try the Google Sites program and see how they fare. Google says it has "a lot more in store" for both tools, so it will be interesting to see what other features it will add in the future. If you decide to test the new Google Sites or Springboard AI-powered assistant, drop by our comment section below and let us know what you think of it.

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It was a major win for the Obama administration, streaming services and ultimately consumers in the U.S. Court of Appeals on Tuesday, June 14, in the case on net neutrality.

The federal court upheld the new rules recently established for cable and internet providers that prevent them from blocking or slowing down consumer access to web content.

While the 2-1 ruling is a victory for Google, Netflix and the like, opponents of net neutrality such as AT&T said they will appeal the decision. So even though streaming services have won, the saga is likely to continue.

To understand what the ruling means for both sides  and customers  it's important to know the basics in the case from the beginning.

Here's how the net neutrality has played out:

The net neutrality rules for an open internet that were backed by President Obama and passed by the FCC's Democratic majority were put into effect in February 2015 to make sure that there is a fair playing field when it comes to the web. The rules mean that cable and telecom companies cannot slow or block internet traffic to consumers, and cannot increase internet speeds for the sites that agree to pay for them to do so.

A victory for consumers & innovators! Court upholds Open Internet Order. No blocking, throttling or fast lanes online. #netneutrality  Tom Wheeler (@TomWheelerFCC) June 14, 2016

Obviously, companies like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon agree with the rules, which will prevent broadband internet providers from restricting customers from their content. And it's companies like Verizon, AT&T and Comcast who challenge the decision, with a group of companies suing the FCC to have the court overturned on Tuesday. The opponents of net neutrality argue that the FCC has no rights to attempt to regulate internet providers the same way as it does for telecommunication companies.

This means the case was also so much more than just the question of whether throttling is allowed or not. It also means the government can in fact regulate internet providers just like phone companies.

This was the third time the FCC went to court over the rules. Previously, internet providers were victorious since courts found they could not be regulated like telephone companies. This caused the FCC to write and then rewrite the rules to say that mobile and fixed broadband providers were common carriers that would now be regulated under the 1996 telecommunications act.

Broadband providers are used to being lightly regulated, but as internet continues to be part of consumers' everyday life, these services are more like public utility at this point. The FCC argued this again on Tuesday, citing that broadband companies should be viewed as telecommunication services. And if this is the case, bandwidth throttling or interfering with data between consumers and website and online services violated the federal law.

Two of the judges agreed.

"Given the tremendous impact third-party Internet content has had on our society, it would be hard to deny its dominance in the broadband experience," Judges David Tatel and Sri Srinivasan wrote. "Over the past two decades, this content has transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, from profound actions like choosing a leader, building a career, and falling in love to more quotidian ones like hailing a cab and watching a movie."

The ruling means streaming services can celebrate  for now.

"Today's appeals court decision underscores what's possible when millions of consumers unite to be heard and government officials listen," Netflix said in statement. "By upholding all parts of the FCC's net neutrality approach, the appeals court settled two decades of debate and legal uncertainty by ensuring the Internet remains open to all."

The battle is not over yet. Those companies who lost to the FCC will take the case to full appellate court or to the Supreme Court, whereas telecommunications groups said they will focus on getting Congress to reduce the amount of authority the FCC has.



Source: Washington Post

Photo: Joe Gratz | Flickr

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Humans are not the only creature capable of using science for real-life applications. Felines also have basic understanding of some elements of physics.

A new study provides evidence that cats also have rudimentary concept of the laws of physics and the principle of cause and effect. The animal's keen sense of hearing along with application of these concepts allows them to more easily hunt for prey.

Researchers in Japan wanted to know if cats can anticipate the presence of an invisible object in a box based on the sound produced by the container when it is shaken.

They also wanted to know if cats expect an object to fall from the box when the container is turned over so they conducted experiments involving 30 domestic cats.

Saho Takagi, from Kyoto University in Japan, and colleagues shook boxes in front of the cats with and without a rattling sound. They also flipped over the boxes, only some of which yielded a dropped object.

Of the scenarios the researchers employed in the experiment, the rattling boxes that yielded an object and the silent boxes that did not yield anything complied with physics. The rattling boxes that did not yield a falling object and silent boxes that yielded an object defied the laws of physics.

Takagi and colleagues observed that cats tend to stare longer at rattling boxes during the experiment, which suggest that they correctly anticipated the presence of an object based on the container's rattling sound.

The felines also stared longer when a turned over box yielded unexpected results that defy the laws of physics.

Takagi explained that these animals use a causal-logical understanding of noise or sounds when predicting the presence of invisible objects.

"The results suggest that cats used a causal-logical understanding of auditory stimuli to predict the appearance of invisible objects," the researchers wrote in their study, which was published in the journal Animal Cognition on June 14.

The researchers said that the species' environment likely affect their ability to find out information based on the sound that they hear, which means that the animal's natural hunting style may favor an ability to infere based on sounds.

Cats often hunt at night, which makes their vision limited, so they often need to infer the location of their prey based on sounds alone.

"The ecology of cats' natural hunting style may favor the ability for inference on the basis of sounds," Takagi and colleagues added.

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Scientists monitoring Earths atmosphere using data from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii delivers the much-feared news: the atmosphere now contains 400 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide (CO2), passing a symbolic threshold.

And theres likely no turning back now, they added, with the Mauna Loa record never again showing CO2 concentrations below that symbolic level within our lifetimes.

While the burning of fossil fuels and other man-made contributors are exacerbating greenhouse gas presence in the atmosphere, scientists pointed to the El Nino phenomenon as a crucial factor in the sharp CO2 rise this year.

Lead study author and University of Exeter professor Richard Betts said that atmospheric CO2 levels do rise year-on-year owing to human emissions, but sea-surface temperature changes in the Pacific Ocean due to El Nino are causing an extra boost.

This warms and dries tropical ecosystems, reducing their uptake of carbon, and exacerbating forest fires, he explained, adding that the human emissions that are 25 percent higher than in the 1997 to 1998 El Nino all led to a record CO2 increase this year.

In 1958, the rising CO2 trend was detected by scientist Charles David Keeling when he started to record it at Mauna Loa, with early measurements at about 315 ppm. Sixty years later, this demonstrated an increase of 2.1 ppm on average.

Through a seasonal climate forecast model as well as statistical links with sea temperatures, Betts team predicted the average concentration this year to be 404.45 + -0.53 ppm, dipping to 401.48 + -0.53 in September before they resume their current rise in 2017. Last month, the researchers forecasted the maximum concentration of 407 ppm this year.

Even without the El Nino pushing the values up, the team is skeptical that CO2 levels will stay below 400 ppm again for at least one human lifetime.

This 400 ppm level, however, is not deemed unprecedented in the planets history, as Earths atmosphere was believed to be stable at 360 to 400 ppm during the mid-Pliocene period some 3 million years ago. During that time, water levels were up to 80 feet higher than at present.

But will this grim scenario mark any substantial change in the climate change we are now experiencing? Hardly, but its an important opportunity to gauge the situation.

I do think that these numbers are important for awareness, really. It's a reminder of the long-term effects we're having on the system, Betts told Washington Post despite nothing special likely happening as we breach the 400 ppm mark.

The findings were detailed in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Photo: Simon Matzinger | Flickr

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Andy Rubin is not only the co-founder of Android, but also the man who ignited Google's robotics efforts.

He did leave Google in 2014, but that does not make him less of a presence in the field of cutting-edge technology.

Rubin recently gave a talk at Bloomberg's Tech Conference in San Francisco, where he pointed out the possibilities stemming from merging AI advancements and quantum computing. The biggest promise of such a marriage would be conscious intelligence capable of powering up every piece of technology.

"If you have computing that is as powerful as this could be, you might only need one," Rubin says.

He goes on to say that the entity "just has to be conscious." Not ominous at all, right?

Rubin controls the Playground Global investment fund, which bets on companies that put every effort into transforming this idea into a reality. One of the purposes of the fund is to offer support to companies that are testing new ways of how computing can interact with the real world.

The AI expert notes that there are quantum computing firms that are almost ready to build consumer-ready quantum devices. The big news is that such companies will use today's manufacturing processes.

By tapping into the probabilistic nature of atoms and molecules, quantum computing is able to deliver exponential boosts in processing power, something that traditional hardware evolution cannot provide. Moore's law, among other limitations, can be bypassed by dwelling in the potential of quantum computing.

Rubin estimates that the next big thing will be a melange of quantum computing, robotics and AI.

He mentions that the blooming growth of AI in the consumer sector will be data-dependent. This means that companies that will learn how to use robots to gather data from the real world will get an edge over their competitors. He makes clear that those who are foolish enough to rely on cloud data alone will get "trapped in the cloud."

"Robots ... can sense their environment and interact and learn from those interactions," Rubin affirms.

Another opportunity arises from the blending of AI and quantum computing because both are great pattern matching tools, with high ability to complement one another.

During the conference, Rubin addressed more ardent concerns, such as encryption. The technology veteran also pacified the audience, assuring them that the scenarios of Skynet coming online are farfetched.

"You should be worrying about what it means to compute at these magnitudes," Rubin notes.

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Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, one of the most active state legislators on the issue of cybersecurity, has echoed concerns about where California's chief information security officer (CISO) should be positioned in the state bureaucracy.Irwin, D-Thousand Oaks, discussed what qualities a CISO should have as the state looks to fill the job, and where that position should be located, in an interview forsummer 2016 magazine."There is some question whether the CISO should really be under the Technology Department. That was one of the questions we asked the administration to look at  should that be more of somebody functioning independently as opposed to reporting directly to the head of technology?" Irwin said.Two months ago Michele Robinson left her job as the chief information security officer of California in the wake of an unflattering state audit that examined the cyber readiness and compliance of state agencies and departments. A replacement for Robinson has not yet been appointed by the Brown administration."You dont necessarily have to have somebody with a deep software engineering or technical background, but they certainly should have a pretty broad, higher-level knowledge in that. They really need to be good managers, see the big picture on how to get things done, make sure that all departments are accountable for any breaches that take place and that they have emergency plans in place for how to recover when there are breaches. I think it has to be somebody with that type of broad knowledge and really good management experience," Irwin said.
A 40 anos de Malvinas

"Revisar el pasado es pensar el futuro". La frase de la presidenta de Telam, Bernarda Llorente, resume el espiritu del documental coproducido entre la agencia de noticias y el canal publico de TV sobre la cobertura que los medios de comunicacion hicieron del conflicto, plagada de censura y mentiras. Una autocritica necesaria para mirar hacia adelante en un (ya viejo) contexto de fake news y negocio informativo.
This event will take place on the eve of another encounter between foreign ministers of CELAC and the European Union. | Read More
Amid improving market sentiment and a weakening dollar, the World Bank is raising its 2016 forecast for crude oil prices to $41 per barrel from $37 per barrel in its latest Commodity Markets Outlook, as an oversupply in markets is expected to recede.

The crude oil market rebounded from a low of $25 per barrel in mid-January to $40 per barrel in April following production disruptions in Iraq and Nigeria and a decline in non-Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries production, mainly U.S. shale.

A proposed production freeze by major producers failed to materialize at a meeting in mid-April.

We expect slightly higher prices for energy commodities over the course of the year as markets rebalance after a period of oversupply,

said John Baffes, Senior Economist and lead author of the Commodities Markets Outlook.

Still, energy prices could fall further if OPEC increases production significantly and non-OPEC production does not fall as fast as expected.

All main commodity indexes tracked by the World Bank are expected to decline in 2016 from the year before due to persistently elevated supplies, and in the case of industrial commodities  which include energy, metals, and agricultural raw materials  weak growth prospects in emerging market and developing economies.

Energy prices, including oil, natural gas and coal, are due to fall 19.3 percent in 2016 from the previous year, a more gradual drop than the 24.7 percent slide forecast in January. Non-energy commodities, such as metals and minerals, agriculture, and fertilizers, are due to decline 5.1 percent this year, a downward revision from the 3.7 percent drop forecast in January. Read more.
An undated photo of stacks of US dollar notes at a bank in Hanoi. Photo: Anh Vu/Thanh Nien

Vietnam's foreign exchange reserves have risen 26.6 percent this year to around US$38 billion, the highest ever level, news website Saigon Times Online quoted the central bank governor as saying.

The State Bank of Vietnam has bought nearly $8 billion this year, Le Minh Hung said.

He expected a continued rise, and said gold reserves are also rising though still at a low level.

In late March a central bank source had said reserves including gold had reached $40 billion.

"Both gold and foreign exchange markets are well under the central bank's control," Hung said.

The bank would tighten control over imports and exports by foreign companies, he said.

Exports by foreign businesses increased by 7.7 percent year-on-year to $48.3 billion in the first five months, according to figures from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam. They accounted for 71.3 percent of Vietnam's total exports.
A ship of state-owned Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, formerly Vinashin. The company was restructured in 2013 amid corruption and debt scandals. Photo: Ngoc Thang/Thanh Nien

The Vietnamese government is considering setting up a new agency to manage state-owned enterprises more effectively, but some economists have questioned the necessity of such a plan.

If the plan goes through, this will be the second agency after the sovereign fund State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) to manage Vietnamese SOEs, whose combined assets were estimated at nearly US$250 billion.

The new agency will take over companies which are directly under the management of ministries and government agencies, while SCIC will manage the rest, according to the plan being prepared by the Central Institute for Economic Management. The institute reports to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The establishment and operation of the new agency will be discussed by the government before the final plan is submitted to the National Assembly next month for approval, Nguyen Dinh Cung, chief of the institute, told Thanh Nien.

The new agency is "urgently" needed, considering SOEs lack transparency and are not managed efficiently, with many costly but unsuccessful projects going bankrupt, Cung said.

However, the plan has drawn criticism from several economists who dismissed the plan for another manager of state holdings as "unnecessary."

Economist Ngo Tri Long urged the government to consider the plan thoroughly, arguing that a new agency means more resources for administration, which goes against the goal of reducing public spending.

Figures from the Ministry of Finance show that the government's expenses were VND376.62 trillion ($16.66 billion), or 44.2 percent of the total spending in 2010. The ratio jumped to over 70 percent last year when the expenditure was estimated at VND704.4 trillion ($31.16 billion).

Nguyen Hoang Hai, general secretary of the Vietnam Association of Financial Investors, said the government should focus on speeding up selling stakes in state-controlled businesses.

Or it can just give SCIC more power to save money and time involved in establishing a new agency, Hai said.

SCIC now has stakes in 197 companies which have a combined market value of nearly VND95.7 trillion ($4.22 billion), local media recently reported.

The fund reportedly earned around VND5.06 trillion ($223.42 million) in dividends last year, or nearly half of its revenue which also included proceeds from selling shares.
Food-poisoning affected workers of a local garment manufacturing company receive medical treatment at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City in 2002

The food company has been temporarily suspended from operations until the results are known

Hundreds of workers at a Hong Kong-owned garment factory in Vietnam which makes lingerie for labels like Victoria's Secret and Wacoal have been hospitalised with food-poisoning, state media reported Tuesday.

More than two-thirds of the 650 victims, mostly female workers at Regina Miracle International Vietnam Co. Ltd, were rushed on Monday to hospitals and clinics in Hai Phong City, 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Hanoi, Thanh Nien newspaper said.

Most of them suffered from dizziness, stomach pain and headaches after eating a lunch of rice, fish, meat, vegetables and yoghurt in the factory canteen.

"By Tuesday noon, 223 workers remained in hospital, but with minor symptoms (of food poisoning)," Pham Thu Xanh, director of Hai Phong's health care department said in an interview with state-run Vietnam Television.

The Thanh Nien report said authorities were investigating what had made the workers sick while the food company has been temporarily suspended from operations until the results are known.

Officials in Hai Phong and at the factory's Vietnam and Hong Kong offices could not be reached for comment.

On its website Regina Miracle says it employs between 15,000 to 20,000 workers "manufacturing a variety of lingerie, shoes and sporty apparel of well-known fashion branches such as Victoria's Secret, Wacoal, Under Armour".

Food poisoning outbreaks, especially in factory canteens, have become increasingly common in Vietnam which has seen record foreign investment in recent years and impressive factory growth.

The nation recorded a GDP growth rate of 6.68 percent this year according to official figures, the highest rate in five years, with strong exports, foreign investment and buoyant domestic consumption.

Foreign investment surged 17.4 percent compared to last year with a record-high of $14.5 billion.
Nguyen Huu Cuong (L) shown in a file photo taken in February 2013. Cuong has been rescued one day after a military jet carrying him and another officer crashed into the sea June 14, 2016. Photo: Mai Thanh Hai/Thanh Nien

Both pilots aboard a Vietnamese Air Force Sukhoi fighter jet that crashed into the sea Tuesday managed to eject safely, but only one has been rescued so far.

The Nghe An Province Border Guard told Thanh Nien that Nguyen Huu Cuong was found by fishermen with a life vest and in stable condition at 5 a.m. Wednesday.

The fishing boat is on its way back to shore with him.

Cuong told the Ministry of Defense by phone from the boat that he and Colonel Tran Quang Khai managed to jump and parachuted into the sea around four kilometers from each other. He could see Khais parachute before they drifted apart, he said.

Pham Van Ty, deputy head of the ministry's rescue department, said Cuong was found 60 nautical miles off the coast of Thanh Hoa Province.

A ministry rescue team is still looking for Khai.

An undated photo shows a Russian-made Sukhoi fighter jet. Photo: Ngoc Minh/Thanh Nien

Their Russian-made Su-30MK2 went off the radar at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday during a training flight off the north-central coast.

Rescuers noticed traces of oil in the area at around 10: 50 a.m.

Vietnam in 2009 signed a $500 million contract to buy eight Sukhoi jets from Russia, and has ordered another 32. The first four were delivered in 2011.
Rescuers continue to search for the two pilots and the black boxes. Photo: Mai Thanh Hai

The pilots of the two fighter jets in a crash off central Vietnam last week may have died as n ew evidence suggests that emergency parachutes were not deployed, a senior official says.

Rescuers found pieces of the ejection seats on the sea bed on Monday and a following examination suggested the seats had not been propelled out of the aircraft before the crash into the sea , said Lt. Gen. Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Peoples Army.

That means the pilots couldn't have parachuted safely before the crash, news website VnExpress quoted Tuan as saying.

The two Russian-made Sukhoi Su-22 took off from Phan Rang Airport at 11.24 a.m. on April 16 for an exercise in the East Sea, the Vietnamese name for the South China Sea. They lost contact at 11.35 a.m.

The crash site is about 10 to 15 kilometers southwest of Phu Quy Island in Binh Thuan Province, officials said.

Strong currents on the day the accident happened may have washed away the two pilots, Lieutenant-Colonel Le Van Nghia and Captain Nguyen Anh Tu, together with other parts of the jets, Tuan said.

In the next days, seeking the pilots continues to be our priority, and then the black boxes that would help identify the cause of the incident, said Tuan.

Last Sunday, fisherman Nguyen Phung, who witnessed the crash and helped rescuers narrow the search area, said he did not see anybody being ejected from the aircraft.

My son and I were fishing in our boat when we heard a whirr and saw an aircraft and then another crashing into the sea, Phung told Thanh Nien.

We didnt see anyone parachute from the jets, the 68-year-old man said, adding the jets fell 100-150 meters away from where they were.

Soon after the accident, rescuers suggested the pilots may have parachuted down to the sea after they thought they found pieces of a parachute. But they later said it's a mistake.

They said they found one of the tails on the sea bed on Friday and pieces of the wings and cockpits Sunday.

The crash is the latest in a series of setbacks for Vietnam's military, which also saw two fatal helicopter accidents in the past nine months in which 24 people died.
A baby red-shanked douc langur found on a street in the central city of Da Nang has been rescued and sent to its new home at the Saigon Zoo in Ho Chi Minh City.

The female monkey was spotted by a man on a sidewalk on June 9.

Forest rangers in the city said the undernourished animal weighed less than one kilogram. They said it could have been starved for days, possibly after getting lost from its group or being ill-treated by an owner.

The langur is the fourth young one from Da Nang received by the Saigon Zoo since 2010. The others are all healthy.

Red-shanked douc langur is an endangered species native to Cambodia, China, Laos and Vietnam. It is found most at Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang, with a population of around 600.
For Zheng Yi outside a courtroom in Ho Chi Minh City on June 15, 2016. Photo credit: Hai Duyen/VnExpress

A court in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday sentenced a Malaysian man to three years in jail for using fake credit cards.

The man, For Zheng Yi, 31, was arrested last October after he tried to buy a flight ticket to Taiwan at a travel agent in HCMC's District 1.

All of his cards were declined. T he staff became suspicious and called the police.

Investigation found he entered Vietnam with 30 fraudulent credit cards.

He has earlier used some of the cards to successfully buy phone cards and pay a hotel bill of more than VND5.5 million (US$246).
A file photo of tourists boarding a bus to Cambodia at Vietnam's Moc Bai border gate in the southern province of Tay Ninh. Photo: Duong Phan

The Vietnamese government is mulling over a plan to build 55-kilometer expressway linking Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia at an estimated cost of more than VND15.88 trillion (US$701 million), local media reported on Wednesday.

The road is part of a Japanese ODA-funded expressway linking the Vietnamese city and Cambodian capital city Phnom Penh, news website Dau Tu said, citing a proposal by the Ministry of Transport.

It will start at Ho Chi Minh City's Hoc Mon District and end at the border gate Moc Bai in the southern province of Tay Ninh with six lanes that allow vehicles to move at a speed limit of 120 kilometers per hour, according to the website.

A feasibility study for the project will be completed in first quarter next year, it said.

According to a report on Cambodia Daily, the expressway's section in Cambodia will stretch over 170 kilometers from Phnom Penh to Bavet City, which borders Vietnam's Tay Ninh Province.

The project was estimated to cost $2.2 billion in total, the newspaper said, citing Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

When it is fully opened in 2030, the expressway will halve travel time between Ho Chi Minh City and Phnom Penh to three hours, it said.
A group of young developers stand for a group photo on stage during the Apple World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, U.S., June 13, 2016.

Apple unveiled a series of improvements to its Siri digital assistant on Thursday, but the tech giant still trails rivals such as Google and Amazon in the red-hot field of artificial intelligence, experts say.

Apple's biggest move was to open up the talking iPhone assistant to third-party developers for inclusion in their apps, paving the way for users to hail a ride from Uber or send a message with Tencent's WeChat using voice commands.

Experts in artificial intelligence applauded the move as an important step forward, in part because the more people use an artificial intelligence system, the better it becomes.

But some wondered why Apple had not made Siri an open platform much sooner, noting that competing products including Amazon.com's Alexa, Microsoft's Cortana and the Google app are already open to developers.

Is it too little too late? asked Oren Etzioni, who is CEO of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence and a professor at the University of Washington. Siri is five years old and still trying to learn how to play well with others.

Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook waves as he opens the company's World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, June 13, 2016.

Artificial intelligence involves giving computers the ability to perform functions normally done by people such as speech recognition.

Voice-powered digital assistants could eventually perform many tasks that currently require a smartphone app or a keyboard and a mouse, and thus they are considered a key strategic battleground for all the major tech companies.

The winner of the assistant wars might able to take a cut of purchases made on its platform and also steer users toward its products and those of its allies.

This is a new platform war with huge stakes,said Gary Morgenthaler, a venture capitalist who invested in Siri when it was a startup. It ultimately challenges search and the market capitalization of Google.

Apple may have squandered some of its momentum. The tech giant essentially created the category by purchasing Siri, the startup behind the eponymous digital assistant, which quickly became a cultural touchstone after its release on the iPhone.

As a startup, Siri worked with a variety of popular apps, but Apple cut off third-party access to the service shortly after the acquisition. Apples move on Monday brings the assistant closer to the original vision for it, said Morgenthaler.

Its pretty sad for those of us who were part of the original team, he said. The rate of innovation has been less than what we would have imagined.

Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook speaks on stage at the company's World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, U.S., June 13, 2016.

Technology experts have other concerns about Apples aptitude for artificial intelligence: The company was slow to recruit talent relative to peers such as Google and Amazon, and its strict privacy stance limits data collection, which is critical for making assistants smarter. Mondays announcement did little to allay those fears, Etzioni said.

We see some policy shifts, we see some small changes, but there was no explosive announcement, he said.

But Apple took other steps to weave artificial intelligence more tightly into its operating system. The Photos app will soon study users images to help them organise shots of favourite trips and occasions. The company said it has also made progress in determining the context of a message, helping it serve up better replies for users.

Apple is in the hunt, working hard on this, Morgenthaler said. They are maybe a step behind Google, but I would say they are close enough that Google is not going to leave them in the dust.
Cruise ship Ovation of the Seas arrived in a port in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau for a one-day tour on Tuesday, bringing more than 4,300 visitors.

The 18-story cruise ship called at Phu My Port during its first trip to Vietnam.

The guests, mostly from the US, the UK, Canada and Singapore, were received by Vietnamese travel company Saigontourist for a one-day tour around Vung Tau Town and the neighboring Ho Chi Minh City.

Operated by US-based cruise line Royal Caribbean International, the vessel is one of the line's three Quantum class ships.

It is 348 meters long, weighs nearly 169,000 metric tons and has more than 2,000 cabins for 4,905 passengers.

Last year, another cruise ship of the line, Quantum of the Seas, also docked in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province for its nearly 6,000 passengers and crew to go on a day tour.

Saigontourist, Vietnams biggest tourism company, said it has brought onshore more than 120,000 cruise tourists this year.
The foreign ministers of Southeast Asia attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat held in Laos on February 26-27, 2016. Photo: VNA

Southeast Asian nations expressed serious concern on Saturday about growing international tension over disputed waters in the South China Sea.

China claims most of the sea but Southeast Asian countries Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam have rival claims. Friction has increased over China's recent deployment of missiles and fighter jets to the disputed Paracel island chain.

"Ministers remained seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments," the 10-members Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) said in a statement after a regular meeting of the group's foreign ministers in Laos.

Land reclamation and escalating activity has increased tensions and could undermine peace, security and stability in the region, ASEAN said in the statement.

The United States has criticized China's building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to disputed territory to assert the right to freedom of navigation.

On Friday, the United States urged China's President Xi Jinping to prevent the militarization of the region.

Vietnam, which accused China of violating its sovereignty with the missile deployment, echoed the U.S. call on Saturday.

"We call for non-militarization in the South China Sea," Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh told reporters after meeting his ASEAN colleagues.

"We have serious concerns about that," he said, when asked about China's increasing military activity in the region.

The group agreed to seek a meeting between China and ASEAN's foreign ministers to discuss the South China Sea and other issues, Cambodian Minister Hor Namhong said.

China's maritime claims are ASEAN's most contentious issue, as its members struggle to balance mutual support with their growing economic relations with Beijing. China is the biggest trade partner for many ASEAN nations.

Laos, which has no maritime claims but finds itself in the difficult position of dealing with neighbors at odds over the South China Sea, is tasked with finding common ground on the issue as the ASEAN chair in 2016.

"The South China Sea issue is a headache that Laos would really rather not have to deal with," said one Western diplomat in Vientiane.

Thongloun Sisoulith, Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, played down the challenge.

"We are a close friend of Vietnam and China, we try to solve the problems in a friendly way," he told Reuters on Saturday. "We are in the middle, but it's not a problem."

Barack Obama is set to become the first U.S. president to visit the country in September to attend an annual summit hosted by the ASEAN chair.
A meeting in China involving foreign ministers from Southeast Asian nations over the South China Sea has ended in confusion after Malaysia released and then retracted a joint statement that expressed serious concerns over developments in the disputed waterway.

The disarray raises fresh questions about unity within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over the issue, ahead of an international court ruling on a Philippine challenge to Chinas claims to more than 80 percent of the waterway. ASEAN operates on consensus, which means all members need to agree on a statement before it is released.

So far ASEAN has avoided citing China by name in prior statements calling for a lowering of tensions over the area. Chinas claims criss-cross those by nations including the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia, and it has reclaimed thousands of acres of land in the area in recent years while boosting its military presence. It has argued that the disputes in the waters that handle more than $5 trillion of trade a year have nothing to do with its relationship with ASEAN.

After noting progress in ties between China and ASEAN, the withdrawn statement added: But we also cannot ignore what is happening in the South China Sea as it is an important issue in the relations and cooperation between ASEAN and China.

That phrase in the statement is a direct rebuke to Chinas position that the dispute is not a matter between ASEAN and China, said Ian Storey, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

Court ruling

Chinas foreign ministry in April said after a meeting with Laos, Cambodia and Brunei that the countries agreed the disputes are not an issue between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and should not affect China-ASEAN relations.

ASEAN has a history of struggling to agree on joint communiques because of disagreement over wording regarding the South China Sea. China is the largest trading partner for the ASEAN grouping.

Defense ministers from the bloc were unable to agree on a final declaration after a meeting in Kuala Lumpur in November. In August foreign ministers struggled to reach consensus on the matter, releasing a statement hours after the end of a three-day meeting.

Cambodia meeting

In 2012, ASEAN failed to reach common ground on the South China Sea issue, ending a regional conference without a joint statement -- the first in its 45-year history. After the meeting collapsed, Cambodia denied it had fallen prey to pressure from China to avoid raising the issue in the statement. China had warned nations beforehand to not mention the territorial spats.

About three hours after the Kunming statement was released, Malaysia said it needed to be retracted to make urgent amendments. An amended statement has yet to be released.

Instead, Singapores foreign ministry said in a separate statement late Tuesday that Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan noted the serious concerns expressed by the ASEAN foreign ministers over the developments on the ground during the meeting over the South China Sea.

Timely, important

A ministry spokeswoman said Balakrishnan, who co-chaired the meeting, had left Kunming Tuesday. Thailands Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to questions on whether it planned its own statement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the meeting as "a timely and important strategic communication, according to a statement posted late Tuesday on the ministrys website.

"There is more cooperation than disagreement in the China-ASEAN relationship, and more opportunities than challenges, more unity than friction," Wang was quoted as saying.

Still, state-run tabloid the Global Times published an editorial Wednesday with the headline: "ASEAN slapped China in the face over South China Sea? Western medias crazy thoughts". It said there was no formal joint statement from the meeting, and any such communique would require all parties to approve it.
An image taken from a propaganda video released on March 17, 2014 by the Islamic State group's al-Furqan Media allegedly shows fighters raising their weapons as they stand on a vehicle mounted with the trademark jihadists flag

The Islamic State group, which claimed responsibility for an attack on a gay nightclub on Sunday that left 49 revellers dead, has a history of extreme violence against gays.

A bulletin from the group's Al-Bayan media outlet on Monday praised the shooter, Omar Mateen, for the attack in "a nightclub for followers of the people of Lot" -- a term it uses for gays.

While there is no indication IS coordinated the attack, the worst mass shooting in modern US history, the group has killed dozens of gays in the areas it controls in Syria and Iraq.

It has published videos of allegedly gay men being thrown from rooftops or stoned to death.

Terminology

Since it founded its self-proclaimed "caliphate" in 2014, IS has carried out dozens of execution-style killings for what it calls "sodomy" and "sexual deviance".

IS also refers to gays as "followers of the people of Lot" -- a reference to the biblical and Koranic prophet associated with Sodom and Gomorrah.

According to the Bible and the Koran, God destroyed the two cities after their people engaged in same-sex relations.

Theology

In a 2015 article in its online magazine, Dabiq, IS claimed that the early Islamic ruler, Abu Bakr, sentenced a man found "guilty of committing sodomy" to be burned alive.

It also claimed that Abu Bakr had a tradition of taking those who "committed this filthy deed" to the top of buildings and throwing them off.

IS says it is implementing "the rulings of Allah" against people who practise "any form of sexual deviancy or transgression". It carries out similar sentences against people accused of adultery and sorcery.

It blames western society for promoting gay and lesbian lives against the teachings of Allah.

Executions

In the same article, IS published pictures of a man it said was "guilty of engaging in sodomy" to the top of a building and him thrown off.

That is one dozens of killings IS has carried out against men it said were gays in both Syria and Iraq.

The LGBT rights group OutRight Action International has recorded more than 30 such acts since December 2014, backed by videos and pictures, although they could not be verified.

The most recent series of photos is dated 7 May. It shows a group of men and children attending the execution of a young man who is thrown from a four-storey building. His body is then apparently stoned.

Crimes against humanity

These executions are based on an IS penal code established in 2014, which the group claims is based on a the principles of Islamic law.

The United Nations has accused the jihadist group of crimes against humanity for its acts of beheading, crucifixions and slavery.

Gays face discrimination across the Islamic world. They risk being condemned to death in countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran and Yemen.
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A giant banner reads 'Narcotics threaten everyone, eradicate narcotics,' as seen on Indonesia's Nusakambangan prison island, where executions are usually carried out

Indonesia plans to put 16 convicts to death after next month's Muslim Eid holiday, an official said Tuesday, confirming executions were set to resume after a hiatus.

The death row convicts will be executed "immediately after" the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Mohammad Rum, a spokesman for the attorney-general's office, told AFP, but he did not give a precise date.

Ramadan ends with the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which falls in Indonesia on July 6 and 7.

Rum did not say who would face the firing squad, but Indonesia has been waging a campaign against narcotics and in 2015 executed 14 drug convicts, mostly foreigners, sparking international outrage.

There have been no executions since April last year, with Indonesia saying it was pausing capital punishment to focus on fixing its slowing economy.

"We could not do it earlier because the government was trying to improve our economy, but now we will take some action after Eid," Rum said.

Rum said the convicts would likely be put to death by firing squad on the prison island of Nusakambangan, off Java, where executions are usually carried out.

There are scores of drug convicts on death row in Indonesia, among them foreigners including Frenchman Serge Atlaoui and Filipina Mary Jane Veloso, who were both pulled from the last round of executions.

British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford is on death row in Bali after she was caught smuggling a huge stash of cocaine into the resort island.

President Joko Widodo declared a war on drugs when he took office in 2014, saying that the country was facing an emergency due to rising narcotics use and traffickers should be severely punished.

There were two rounds of executions last year. The second round in April, which saw two Australians, a Brazilian and four Nigerians put to death, caused the most serious diplomatic backlash.

Following the executions of the Australian drug smugglers, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, Canberra temporarily recalled its ambassador from Jakarta.
Britain, Germany and the United States advanced plans on Tuesday to spearhead a new NATO force on Russia's border from next year, and Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered snap checks on combat readiness across his armed forces.

Weeks before a critical NATO summit in Warsaw, three of NATO's biggest military powers said they would each command a battalion across the eastern flank to help deter any show of force such as that deployed by Moscow in Crimea in 2014.

"Britain will lead one of the battalions," British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said at a meeting of NATO defense ministers, adding London will send up to 700 troops to the Baltics and Poland.

"That should send a very strong signal of our determination to defend the Baltic states and Poland in the face of continued Russian aggression," he said.

In a reminder of Russia's efforts to bolster its military readiness, its armed forces started carrying out spot checks on its units, as well of weapon and equipment depots.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the goal of the June 14-22 drill was to ensure the ability of his military to "carry out planned activities, including mobilization."

NATO's battalions are part of a wider deterrent to be approved at the Warsaw summit on July 8. It will involve troops on rotation, warehoused equipment and a highly mobile force backed by NATO's 40,000-strong rapid reaction unit.

NATO hopes the complex plan can discourage Russia from orchestrating the kind of campaign used to annex Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in February 2014 and which has left eastern allies nervous of their former Soviet overlord.

Berlin and Washington also said that they would send troops to the new force, which is expected to total about 4,000 soldiers, with contributions from other allies. France is sending a company of about 250 troops to Britain's battalion.

Germany is likely to deploy to Lithuania, the United States to Poland and Britain to Estonia, on a six- to nine-month rotating basis. Other NATO nations will eventually take command responsibilities, diplomats told Reuters.

Canada announcement soon?

Western officials also acknowledged discussions in Canada to lead a fourth battalion, with a British official saying a decision could come as early as Wednesday. Reuters first reported on Canada's possible role last week.

Canada's battalion was expected to be based in Latvia, diplomats say, although Ottawa has yet to comment publicly.

The new deployments are apart from U.S. plans to provide an armored brigade, typically around 5,000 troops, plus extra equipment in Europe.

"There will be a continually present armored brigade combat team, which will bring in its own equipment with each rotation," said U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter. He said that on top of that, the United States would bring "a pre-positioned set of equipment for yet an additional armored brigade combat team which troops could fall in upon in a crisis."

While eastern allies welcome the deployments in NATO's biggest military build-up since the end of the Cold War, they want more support to defend against Russia's powerful arsenal.

With a warning last week from a senior U.S. commander that the alliance would have only 72 hours notice of a missile or ground attack, Baltic nations and Poland want a sophisticated anti-missile shield to deter Russia from gaining the upper hand.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said NATO was also considering a Romanian offer to command a multinational brigade which could coordinate alliance training and possibly play a deterrent role.

Russia sees NATO's deterrence plans as hostile. Moscow's envoy to the alliance has warned they threaten peace in central Europe. The Kremlin also says a U.S. ballistic missile shield, which Washington says is directed at protecting the alliance from Iran, is also escalating tensions.

The United States denies that. NATO says it is respecting a 1997 agreement with Moscow not to deploy substantial combat forces on Russia's borders.

"You don't invade with a few battalions, okay?" the U.S. envoy to NATO, Douglas Lute, told reporters. "But you can deter, and you can affect a potential aggressor's calculus in terms of cost, benefit and risks."
US President Barack Obama speaks during a press conference following a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the Sunnylands estate on February 16, 2016 in Rancho Mirage, California. Photo: AFP/Mandel Ngan

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he and leaders of Southeast Asian countries discussed the need to ease tensions in the South China Sea, and agreed that any territorial disputes there should be resolved peacefully and through legal means.

But a joint statement agreed on after a two-day summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the Sunnylands retreat in California did not include the specific mentions Washington had been seeking regarding China and its assertive pursuit of territory in the South China Sea.

Obama told a news conference that leaders at the meeting reaffirmed "our strong commitment to a regional order where international rules and norms and the rights of all nations, large and small, are upheld."

"We discussed the need for tangible steps in the South China Sea to lower tensions including a halt to further reclamation, new construction and militarization of disputed areas," Obama said. "When ASEAN speaks with a clear and unified voice, it can help advance security, opportunity and human dignity."

After a first day discussing trade and economic issues with the 10 ASEAN states, U.S. officials had been hoping to arrive at a common position on the South China Sea, where China and several ASEAN states have conflicting claims.

Not all ASEAN members agree, however, on how to handle the disputes, and some, such as current ASEAN chair Laos and its neighbor Cambodia, have close economic ties to China.

Rather than turning a spotlight on China, the joint statement reiterated broad key principles of U.S.-ASEAN cooperation, including "mutual respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality and political independence of all nations ... and a shared commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes."

It also reaffirmed "a shared commitment to maintain peace, security and stability in the region, ensuring maritime security and safety, including the rights of freedom of navigation and overflight."

Rival claims

China claims most of the South China Sea, but ASEAN members Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam have rival claims.

Fox News, citing civilian satellite imagery, reported on Tuesday that the Chinese military had deployed an advanced surface-to-air missile system to one of its contested islands in the South China Sea.

The United States has criticized China's building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to disputed territory to assert the right to freedom of navigation.

China accused Washington of seeking maritime hegemony through such patrols.

Obama said freedom of navigation "must be upheld, and lawful commerce should not be impeded," and added the United States would "continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, and ... support the right of all countries to do the same."

He also said that Washington would continue to help allies and partner countries strengthen their maritime capabilities.

Obama said the two sides made progress on trade and investment and had agreed to launch a new effort to help all ASEAN nations meet the criteria of the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal, of which four are so far members along with the United States.

At the news conference, Obama announced an initiative, dubbed U.S.-ASEAN Connect, which he said would involve a network of hubs across the region to better coordinate economic engagement.
U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Harry Harris (L) speaks to an officer outside USS Spruance, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, moored in Singapore January 22, 2014. Photo: Reuters/Edgar Su/File Photo

The U.S. Navy's Third Fleet will send more ships to East Asia to operate outside its normal theater alongside the Japan-based Seventh Fleet, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, a move that comes at a time of heightened tensions with China.

The Third Fleet's Pacific Surface Action Group, which includes the guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance and USS Momsen, was deployed to East Asia in April.

More Third Fleet vessels will be deployed in the region in the future, said a U.S. official who requested anonymity. He and a second official said the vessels would conduct a range of operations, but gave no details.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims, as well as close military ties with the United States.

China has been angered by what it views as provocative U.S. military patrols close to islands that China controls in the South China Sea. The United States says the patrols are to protect freedom of navigation.

The Third Fleet, based in San Diego, California, traditionally has confined its operations to the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean's international dateline.

Japan's Nikkei Asian Review quoted the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Scott Swift, as saying on Tuesday that the move came in the "context of uncertainty and angst in the region," an apparent reference to China's behavior.

Swift argued that the Navy should utilize the "total combined power" of the 140,000 sailors, over 200 ships and 1,200 aircraft that make up the Pacific Fleet.

The Seventh Fleet consists of an aircraft carrier strike group, 80 other vessels and 140 aircraft. The Third Fleet has more than 100 vessels, including four aircraft carriers.

Chinese officials have blamed the rising tensions on the United States. "I think before Americans' so-called rebalancing in Asia Pacific, the South China Sea was very quiet, very peaceful," Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to Britain, told Reuters in an interview last week.

"China was talking to the neighboring countries. We had a Declaration of Conduct. And the Philippines was talking to us. Once the Americans came in, so-called `rebalancing,' things changed dramatically.""They want to find an excuse to have their strong military presence in the South China Sea and in the Asia Pacific. If it is so quiet, what is the reason for them to be there?" he asked.

Greg Poling, director of Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said on Tuesday that the move appears to be part of President Barack Obama's plan to shift 60 percent of U.S. naval assets in Asia as part of his rebalance of resources to the region in the face of China's rise.
Canberra public schools have added room on their books for hundreds of extra students without gaining new classrooms, prompting claims the government has manipulated its statistics.

As more ACT schools suffer an enrolment crush, the Education Directorate has changed the definition of school capacity  allowing it to add hundreds of "new" places to schools that were previously quarantined for special education and non-mainstream classes.

Opposition education spokesman Steve Doszpot said it was an "outrageous manipulation of data" that allowed the government to evade criticism for letting schools enrol more students than their mainstream capacity.

The Australian Education Union said it would seek a briefing from Education Minister Shane Rattenbury while the ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations said changing the definition "appears to be a very cynical move".
And what she saw and has sent us is an obituary for the recently deceased Rosemary that includes the message that "As a final wish Rosemary would request you vote for Hillary."

She writes that "I read the death notices regularly in The Canberra Times and am often entertained by humorous comment therein. Whilst visiting family in USA recently I pursued my habit in The New York Times. For those feeling poorly and with elections forthcoming the attached notice may offer inspiration."

But now reader "Sue", of Stirling, has sent us an inspirational press clipping, inspirational for those who would like to still exert some political influence after they have gone to their Great Reward.

The federal elections loom. And yet, unfeelingly, inconsiderately, our society discriminates against the dead by not allowing them to vote in these vital contests.

If Rosemary was as popular in life as her obituary suggests, and if those who knew and loved her respect her last wish, then she may play a considerable role in defeating The Donald. The obituary notices that as well as leaving a vast family, Rosemary had careers "in advertising, political consulting and was later an advisor/guru/metaphysician to far too many to mention here".

Meanwhile and as reported here on Wednesday, living voters in electorates where there are koalas are being urged by the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF) http://www.bing.com/search?q=Australian+Koala+Foundation&src=IE-TopResult&FORM=IE10TR to think how their votes on July 2 might assist those dear creatures. If the AKF's estimates of koala numbers are correct (and they do differ, dramatically, from sanguine government figures that the AKF scoffs at) then the koala's extinction is a nightmarish possibility.

The AKF, perhaps in the hope of influencing government bean counters who have no compassionate koala room in their hearts, points to what it says will be the economic consequences of the creatures' demise. Tourists are funny, aren't they? The AKF says that 75 per cent of inbound tourists report that when making the decision to come to Australia their hopes of seeing a koala play a part in that decision to come here. The AKF says it has done a study that shows that "Australia currently earns approximately $3.2 billion per annum through koala tourism".

Can all this be true?

It may be that artist Ken Done has played some part in the high koala-meeting expectations of tourists. Koalas have loomed large (and furry) in his popular ultra-Australian works, including that design (on a zillion placemats) in which a welcoming koala waves an Australian flag.
Ceramics and prints at Beaver

Emerging artist Maria Chatzinikolaki creates finely detailed works with patterns informed by both nature and art history. Her new exhibition at Beaver Galleries explores the idea of 'humans as living vessels that choose what they want to carry throughout their lives'. With a rich Greek heritage and her Australian upbringing, Maria creates works that cross cultural boundaries using a very personal visual language." And David Frazer has used his woodcuts, linocuts, lithographs and etchings to explore "the themes of truth, despair and often the emotional and fragile state of the human condition. Although David's works are intrinsically Australian, his story is universal, drawing tensions between survival and hope, vitality and emptiness in images that are both poignant and mildly unsettling, yet entirely captivating". Essence of, by Maria Chatzinikolaki, and Drift, by David Frazer, are showing until July 3 at Beaver Galleries, 81 Denison Street, Deakin.

Shan Crosbie, Consume Me, 2015

Peoples and Brand at Bilk

No, that's really their names! Nellie Peoples and Zoe Brand are recent ANU Art School grads and emerging art jewellers, and have put together their first show together. Peoples examines the connections between objects and people  "the idea that every dent and scratch is evidence of each action taken by the beholder. Together, the culmination of these marks create a narrative". And Brand has constructed "a narrative around how we consume and understand signs. Using familiar language and forms often found in retail environments, she questions the conventions of commerce and of the ubiquitous and ambiguous language that surrounds it". Peoples + Brand opens June 24 at Bilk Gallery, Palmerston Lane, Manuka, and runs until July 29.
Hawthorn veteran Sam Mitchell is proud that his team has managed to be 9-3 after the first 12 rounds, but says they must get better if the Hawks are to complete a famous four-peat.

Despite their premiership chances being written off by several observers, the Hawks find themselves in a strong position going into Friday night's blockbuster against ladder leaders North Melbourne  a game Mitchell has confirmed he will return from injury for.

The former skipper said the club doesn't take notice of external commentary.

"Everyone just goes about their business in their own way, we just try to play the best footy we can," he said on Wednesday.
West Coast could be without star ruckman Nic Naitanui for the rest of the home-and-away season after revelations he has had surgery to both of his ankles.

Naitanui went under the surgeon's scalpel on Tuesday night in Perth to release inflammation and pain in plantaris tendons, as well as a clean-up to each Achilles tendons at the back of ankles.

It had initially been announced the big on-baller would only need an operation to his troublesome right Achilles after Naitanui carried the problem in recent weeks as West Coast confronted other finals contenders Western Bulldogs and Adelaide in successive engagements.

It is understood that recovery from treatment to just the one Achilles would require a recovery of up to eight weeks.
Goldman Sachs Group and an Australian hedge fund agreed to end a $US1 billion ($1.3 billion) lawsuit over the sale of mortgage-linked securities, including an investment known as "Timberwolf" that became a symbol of the financial crisis after it was cited in internal emails released by US lawmakers.

Terms of the agreement were not detailed in a June 10 court filing in state court in Manhattan.

'"Goldman was pressuring investors to take the risk of toxic securities off its books.' Credit:Richard Drew

Basis Capital's Basis Yield Alpha Fund sued Goldman Sachs in 2010 for allegedly making false and misleading statements in connection with the sale of Timberwolf and another investment known as "Point Pleasant." Both were collateralised debt obligations, or CDOs, a type of security stuffed with mortgages and their derivatives that caused billions in losses during the 2008 financial crisis.

The fund sought more than $US67 million it said it lost in the deal and $US1 billion in punitive damages.
Premier Investments chief executive Mark McInnes has dismissed fears Britain's exit from the European Union could trip up sales growth at its kids stationery star, Smiggle.

Mr McInnes said he didn't think Smiggle's customers were worried about the Brexit and it was those kids that were driving sales through its expanding UK network.

Premier Investments chairman Solomon Lew, right, and chief executive Mark McInnes aren't worried a Brexit will hurt Smiggle sales in the UK. Credit:Jesse Marlow

"I don't think five-year-olds really understand what the Brexit is," Mr McInnes said.

"I think pester power is stronger than consumer sentiment.
A manufacturing business that illegally exploited dozens of Chinese and Filipino workers for as little as $4 an hour is now allegedly refusing to back pay its staff.

Taiwanese company Chia Tung Development Corp brought over 43 temporary visa-holders two years ago to work as welders, metal fabricators and electricians installing animal feed mills across regional New South Wales.

The Fair Work Ombudsman says two Filipino visa-holders are owed $62,000. Credit:Erin Jonasson

They worked six days a week for nine to 11 hours each day, and were housed in overcrowded accommodation.

Australia's industrial watchdog, the Fair Work Ombudsman, has previously forced the company to hand over more than $870,000 to the exploited workers, but has launched a new case against the company and director Michael Chen-Fa Lin.
As an anaesthetist and a specialist in aeromedical retrieval, I regularly manage burns and co-ordinate the transfer of critically unwell patients from remote facilities to higher levels of care. I've also served as a medical officer in military field hospitals on operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Healthcare facilities in our offshore processing centres are desperately in need of scrutiny because what we're being told simply doesn't add up.

Transfield Services operates detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island (pictured).

Earlier this week, speaking on the ABC's Q&A, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten pledged to open Nauru and Manus Island to journalists were he to become Prime Minister on July 2. In response to a question from an audience member, he said: "It would have to be an amazing set of circumstances where we're not prepared to tell you what's going on."

This is a key point of difference between the major players in this election and an essential change to Australia's refugee policy.
Even before the Orlando shooting I would think about being gay everyday.

Who I should be open to, whether I was being "too gay" and when I should talk about footy instead of baking.

Mourners attend a candlelight vigil in Orlando the day after an attack on a gay nightclub left at least 50 people dead. Credit:AP

The shooting was shocking both because it was so random and because many of us were surprised LGBTI people hadn't been targeted sooner.

Homophobia is in every part of our community. The only place we didn't think we saw it was on the dance floor, where we don't think about anyone else.
The plan fits nicely with the need to bolster state coffers as health costs rise and the revenue base shrinks. At a pinch they even hint at the correct way of doing that: by shifting from reliance on activity-retarding stamp duty towards land tax. As for developers crying that the sky will fall in, Sydney's property prices are unsustainable in any case and due for a modest correction.

Premier Mike Baird and Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian will get $1 billion over four years from an easy rise in stamp duty and land tax for foreign investors in NSW property. Credit:Ben Rushton

The Baird government has made a transparent cash grab through its planned increases in stamp duty and land tax for foreign investors who, notably, do not vote in state elections.

Beyond that, the measures announced by Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian fall short of the comprehensive approach the Herald would expect from a government with a record of mostly reliable budget management.

Foreign buyers of residential property will be slugged with a 4 per cent stamp duty surcharge from next week and pay an extra 0.75 per cent land tax from 2017. The measures are expected to raise a much-needed $1 billion for the next four years. They will be announced in the budget next Tuesday.

We accept that NSW has been stymied in attempts to have the federal government recognise the need for changes to state-federal relations to tackle looming shortfalls in health and schools funding. But property taxes require a thorough reform process. Such a considered and staged approach would have justified the risk that the extra impost could deter Chinese investors in city apartments in particular just as a glut threatens to push down prices.

Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens voiced concerns last week that "considerable supply of apartments is scheduled to come on stream over the next couple of years, particularly in the eastern capital cities". Reports suggest developers are raising commissions for agents to encourage them to flog a backlog of apartments. Analysts fear some investors will not proceed with off-the-plan purchases when they are completed.

Yet in comments that looked like scapegoating, developer Harry Triguboff responded to the Baird government's tax hike with an overblown claim that "without the Chinese nothing would ever get built". In addition, Mr Triguboff said "sales volumes have already dropped and prices are coming down steadily. The Chinese buyers are already disappearing".
Greg Hunt's recent foray into the Twittersphere  in response to Ellen DeGeneres' appeals to Australia to protect the Great Barrier Reef  has all the hallmarks of the Environment Minister's signature style that we've come to know and love.

(After DeGeneres, a star in the Finding Nemo sequel Finding Dory, released a video message calling on humankind to protect the reef; Hunt tweeted her several times, saying "Aust govt is doing more than ever to protect it", "We're working to protect #GBR by tackling the short term problem of water quality & long term threat of climate change" and more.)

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority says three-quarters of the reef is alive.

Let's face it  it's not hard to see why this is the man tasked with defending the Australian government's seemingly indefensible climate change policy, the Emissions Reduction Fund, even to the point of contradicting the government's own consultants who say the program won't deliver. Anyone who can keep a straight face while insisting that Australia is an exemplar for its efforts to protect the reef can probably pull off anything.

And what a year it's been for Mr Hunt so far. In February, he collected the award for World's Best Minister, not missing a beat when the news agency responsible for the accolade denied all knowledge of the selection process.
Getting frisked for illegal items at music festivals just went up a level.

Organisers of the Glastonbury Festival have announced a ban on drones this year.

It seems festival-goers have been vastly raising the bar on filming sets with their phones by taking personal aerial footage via drones, and now festival organisers have taken action to stamp out the rising problem.

The festival, which is taking place June 22-26 and includes headliners Muse, Adele and Coldplay, announced earlier this week that drones are a no-go this year.
"The event organiser has not cooperated with us on a refund process as required by our terms and conditions, leading to us pursuing them via legal avenues," TryBooking CEO Jeff McAlister said in a statement. Maitreya Festival usually attracts up to 10,000 punters. Credit:Lenny Maddy In the months since Maitreya Festival was cancelled, disgruntled music festival fans have continued to flood the festival's Facebook page with angry messages relating to the cancelled event. In a series of Facebook posts, Maitreya organisers have declined to explain to affected punters their refusal to issue refunds. "We can't in any number of words express to you the ins and outs of the rabbit hole that the event ended in this year," a statement on the page reads.

"We can't turn back time and give you back what might have been  but we do hold a deep belief that everything happens for a reason, even if that reason is really hard to understand or uncover in the short term." Organisers, however, had plenty of time to realise that the festival was in trouble. As early as February, Buloke Shire Council refused to issue the necessary permits over concerns about safety and the environmental impact of the event, which is staged near Charlton in central Victoria. Festival organisers took the council to VCAT, but a hearing on February 29 upheld the council's decision. On March 4, VCAT told festival organisers to notify ticketholders that the event would not proceed and to clear the site within 14 days. Despite that, Maitreya posted on its Facebook page the following day that the event was "100 per cent go". Tickets were still on sale.

Organisers finally cancelled the event on March 10, citing bad weather as the reason. They promised a substitute event later in the year. Several international DJs, including Swiss artist Liquid Soul and and Serbian DJ Zyce, confirmed to Fairfax they had been paid their full performance fee by organisers, indicating some of the missing funds have been spent on maintaining relationships with headline acts. Many Maitreya fans, though, remain out of pocket. The festival's most recent Facebook post has more than 500 comments from punters, who call the fiasco "a disgrace". "Truly deplorable behaviour and absolute nonsense response," one festival goer wrote.

Dozens of disgruntled fans are considering launching legal action of their own, with calls for a class action lawsuit. Slater and Gordon refuted claims on Facebook they were launching a class action. Maitreya organisers and their legal representatives declined to speak to Fairfax Media for this story. Do you know more? Email ebonybowden@fairfaxmedia.com.au Maitreya: Timeline of a failed festival February 10, 2016

Buloke Shire Council refuses Maitreya planning permit. Organisers failed to provide information for planning permit, including traffic management, insurance policy, emergency and environmental plans. Festival promoters launch VCAT action against council ruling. February 15 Alan Getley, president of local business association the Charlton Forum, says cancellation is devastating for local economy. Wants to see festival go ahead. February 25 Louise Staley, member of parliament for Ripon, says she has been inundated by community groups calling for festival to go ahead.

February 29 VCAT rules in favour of the council that festival cannot go ahead as scheduled. Maitreya argued the problem was with how festival was categorised in the planning permit. Organisers had no consent from Parks Victoria and no cultural heritage site management plan. March 3 Alan Getley says council should do whatever it can to help festival go ahead. Announces he will run for council. March 4

Maitreya ordered by VCAT to notify ticket holders and to clear site within 14 days March 5 Promoters on Facebook say event is "100% go" with new venue. March 6 Promoters still advertising tickets on Facebook page.

March 7 Victoria Police urges organisers and attendees to stop their plans to attend festival. They warn that support agencies such as St Johns have withdrawn services. March 8/9 Maitreya Facebook post says stages are built and they will have medical, security and fire services. Headline acts Liquid Soul and Zyce arrive in Melbourne. CFA District 18 Operations Manager John Bigham says any businesses on the site would be breaking the law.

March 10 Swan Hill Local Area Commander Inspector Dan Davison says event is a "recipe for disaster" and potential fire risk. No water, toilets, medical care and emergency response. Maitreya organisers cancel festival, blaming poor weather and flooded site. March 11 -14 Around 1000 people still descend on the Charlton district and stage informal festival.
Labor is calling for the Auditor-General to investigate the flow of money from a Liberal-owned software company to the party's coffers, exposed by Fairfax Media last week.

Fairfax revealed last week Liberal MPs pay the company $2500 a year to use the Feedback voter-monitoring software, money originating from taxpayer allowances. Large amounts are also understood to pour into its accounts from state parliaments, totalling in excess of $100,000 a year.

The company has in turn transferred more than $1 million into Liberal accounts in the past three years, becoming its second-biggest single source of income in 2014-15.
What he did want a bite of was Merimbula's growing tourism industry.

In fact, with the exception of a few Kilpatrick style at Christmas, he doesn't eat them at all.

More than three decades ago, Mr Wheeler could see the potential of the coastal hamlet and the role the briny clams could play in bringing tourists to its pristine waters.

Hugh Wheeler, of Wheeler's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Farm, is hoping tourism will really take off. Credit:Jay Cronan

Lagging infrastructure has held up his grand plans for his oyster farm and adjoining restaurant just a couple of hundred metres up the road from the Merimbula Airport, but the announcement of a $50 million upgrade to its runway and to the port of Eden could finally bring hordes of tourists to his door.

"People aren't going to be bothered to drive to Merimbula from Melbourne for an event but if there's a really good event on and there's really cheap airfares they can be like 'oh we'll just fly in for the weekend and go home again'," he said.

"Who knows how much opportunity will be created by that. Those two infrastructure projects are absolutely critical to the future of this whole area in my view."
Labor has vowed to "save" Australia's steel industry by stumping up $100 million to bail out struggling South Australian steelmaker Arrium.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the rescue package would secure 3500 jobs and "lock in" the steel industry in the southern state for the foreseeable future.

The $100 million would be packaged as a $50 million grant and $50 million loan, to be bolstered by a further $50 million from the state Labor government.
"The Department of Communications and the Arts sought, and received, advice from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet that the publication of the article in that form was not consistent with the established practices associated with the caretaker conventions. I understand that view was strongly conveyed to NBN by the Department of Communications and the Arts, as was the view that the conventions apply to the chairman, as well as to the CEO and the company. Our understanding is that this view was passed to Dr Switkowski." Australia's top public servant, Dr Martin Parkinson, delivered a speech at the National Portrait Gallery on Tuesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Even Malcolm Turnbull's Cabinet Secretary Arthur Sinodinos said Dr Switkowski's decision to weigh in publicly was debatable: "I don't think he did anything wrong, but I think he should have realised he was probably walking into a political minefield". The furore was sparked after the Australian Federal Police raided the office of Victorian Labor senator Stephen Conroy and the home of an opposition staffer during the first week of the campaign. The raids, which touched off a major public debate about the government's role and knowledge in the raids and the AFP's particular behaviour in choosing the heat of an election campaign to conduct such unusual and high-profile actions, revealed the extreme sensitivity of both the government and the NBN management to criticism over the $50 billion-plus project.

They had followed a series of stories published by Fairfax Media in late 2015 and early 2016 revealing leaked confidential internal reports exposing blow-outs in time and cost within the giant operation. Letter from Martin Parkinson In his opinion piece, Dr Switkowski branded what Labor and others had cast as "whistle-blowing" by concerned NBN employees as theft. "If an employee has strong personal conviction unsupportive of a company's strategy, they can argue their case with management or resign," he wrote. "They cannot give voice to their preferred ideology by passing on stolen documents."

"When dozens of confidential company documents are stolen, this is theft. "When they are the basis of media headlines and partisan attacks, they wrongly tarnish our reputation, demoralise our work force, distract the executive, and raise doubts where there is little basis for concern." The NBN has become one of the flashpoints of the 2016 election. Labor released its NBN policy in recent days, promising to discontinue the hybrid-technology use of copper phone lines for the final loop to the premises, ordered by Malcolm Turnbull when he was communications minister, and complete the job using optical fibre where possible. But the government attacked Labor's claim that this could be done within the $57 billion envelope and the same time frame. The AFP is continuing to investigate the leaks, despite the fact that the documents seized from the opposition have been sealed after Senator Conroy claimed they were the subject of parliamentary privilege. The status of the documents will be determined by the Senate after the election.

Dr Parkinson concluded his letter to Mr Burke with the assurance that he takes the impartiality of the public service "as a matter of the highest priority". NBN Co spokeswoman Karina Keiser defended the opinion piece. "Any accusation that the company's staff, management, its board and (by implication) its shareholder departments, have conspired to keep large cost increases secret from the Australian people is not only plainly and demonstrably false, but is a serious accusation in light of the Corporations act (for example section 184)," she said. "This is obviously not acceptable and the opinion piece addressed the allegations in a manner commensurate with the mode in which they were made; that is, publicly in the national media." But Opposition Leader Bill Shorten branded Dr Switkowski's performance shameful. "I think for an otherwise respected businessman, Dr Switkowski, I think this is a shameful breach," he said. "Yet again NBN Co are doubling down on the cover-up, the denial." Loading
Richard Di Natale will not intervene in the NSW Greens' decision to preference Reverend Fred Nile above the Liberal Party's gay, Indigenous candidate for Sydney, saying the Greens were sending a message about the Coalition's "divisive and hateful plebiscite" on same sex marriage.

Greens supporters and many other left-leaning voters are outraged at the Greens' decision to place a party whose leader considers homosexuality a "mental disorder" higher on the party's how-to-vote card than Geoffrey Winters, the 27 year-old gay lawyer representing the Liberals.

Readers have contacted Fairfax Media saying they have complained directly to Senator Di Natale's office over the decision. But on Wednesday the Greens leader said preferences in the seat of Sydney were "a matter for the NSW Greens".
The nation's elite Group of Eight universities have proposed that the federal government reintroduce limits on how many students each university can enrol, a suggestion slammed by other vice-chancellors as "cancerous" and "selfish".

The Group of Eight, which includes the University of Sydney and Melbourne, on Wednesday released a paper calling for a "moderation" of the demand-driven system that allows universities to enrol as many students as they want.

The University of Sydney wants changes to the ATAR system. Credit:Fiona-Lee Quimby

Group of Eight chair Michael Spence said the uncapping of university places in 2012 had blown out the budget by billions of dollars while leaving important university research underfunded.
Are scandals at the banks' wealth management arms at least partly behind the poorer satisfaction levels of members of bank-run "retail" super funds than those of industry funds?

The latest Roy Morgan Research survey of members of industry funds and retail funds shows a surprisingly big gap in satisfaction levels among those with higher account balances.

Industry super funds out-do retail funds on satisfaction. Credit:Gabriele Charotte

While industry funds have out-done retail funds every month since 2002 in the Roy Morgan poll, they have increased their satisfaction levels over the last 12 months by 1.5 percentage points, while members' satisfaction with retail funds declined by 0.1 per cent.

"Our research shows that industry funds are viewed much more favourably by their members than retail funds when it comes to their performance," says Roy Morgan Research industry communications director, Norman Morris.
A Sydney teacher withdrew $1.9 million in cash from a Granville ATM and received $20 million in payments from Unique International College in less than six months, the Federal Court has heard.

The teacher, Mandy Kang, was employed at the Sydney college while it allegedly engaged in "unconscionable conduct" in signing up illiterate, disabled students in Aboriginal missions to tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt, according to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Unique International College - owned by Sydney businessman Amarjit Singh - is one of four providers the ACCC is taking to the Federal Court for alleged consumer law breaches. Credit:Janie Barrett

The ACCC is pursuing the college for the return of $57 million in taxpayer funding.

The college denies any wrongdoing and claims it was operating a legitimate business. Mrs Kang is not a party to the proceedings.
A man has been charged with three offences including attempted murder after he was shot by police at Hornsby in Sydney's north last Thursday.

Jerry Sourian, 23, was shot three times after police were called to the Westfield shopping centre with reports he allegedly had a knife.

Police said two officers tried to speak to Mr Sourian when they arrived, but a "confrontation" ensued and he was shot, eventually collapsing.
There was no doubt in his mind that another policeman was involved - Roger Rogerson. Roger Rogerson (left) and Glen McNamara during their trial for the murder of Jamie Gao during an "inept" drug rip-off. "Never in my wildest expectation would I have ever believed that a police officer would have been involved in that type of conspiracy - it was beyond belief for me. For everyone," Drury told Fairfax Media in an exclusive interview while the Jamie Gao trial was under way. In 1989, Rogerson was charged with conspiring with two criminals - Chris "Rent-a Kill" Flannery and Alan Williams - to murder Drury. Victim: Jamie Gao. Credit:Facebook

After one of the highest profile court cases in Sydney's history, Rogerson was acquitted. About 30 years later, it took Drury's breath away when he learnt that Rogerson had been charged with another serious crime - the murder of Gao, a university student. On Wednesday, a jury found Rogerson, 75, and his co-accused Glen McNamara, 57, guilty of the 20-year-old's murder and stealing the 2.78 kilograms of ice he had brought to sell them. Towards the end of the trial, Drury spoke about the sadness that the case had dredged up for him. "What saddens me greatly is that there is not one ounce of remorse that's been shown by Rogerson or McNamara for what they did to that boy," he said. "Not one ounce of remorse.

"It's the absence of the remorse that I really find so sad. "What they did to that boy, it really is so disturbing, so disturbing." Despite believing Rogerson orchestrated his attempted murder, Drury says he feels sorry for him and his family. "No one in this world could hurt Roger Rogerson as much as Roger Rogerson has hurt himself," he said. "There was a man who had the world at his feet with his vocation and he destroyed it all."

Reflecting on his own case, Drury talks about why he believed Rogerson was at the heart of his attempted assassination. "I always gave Rogerson the benefit of the doubt in the early hours but, as time went on, and I'm talking about two days or three, it became so sinister and so true in my mind that he was totally involved," he said. Drury was on what he thought was his deathbed when he told fellow police officers that he believed he had been shot because of the "Melbourne Job". He had been working undercover on an operation targeting heroin supply, which was partly conducted in Victoria. His work resulted in charges being laid against Willliams, a drug kingpin.

Williams would later testify in the NSW Supreme Court that he attempted to bribe Drury through Rogerson to get his charges dropped. Williams claimed that, when the repeated attempts at bribery were unsuccessful, he agreed to pay Flannery and Rogerson $50,000 each to kill Drury. "I knew 100 per cent it was the Melbourne Job," Drury said. "I knew that Rogerson knew Alan Williams, because he had fronted me about me trying to throw my evidence and I said, 'No, I rejected him.' " When Williams went before the NSW Supreme Court more than 25 years ago, the indictment that was read to him said he "conspired with Christopher Flannery and Roger Rogerson to murder Michael Drury".
We have always known it, but it seems the rest of Australia is really cottoning on - Queensland is the best.

Whether it is the fact our weather is better - or that we just aren't Sydney - more Aussies are visiting Queensland than ever before.

More Aussies are visiting Queensland than ever before. Credit:Alamy

Figures from Tourism Research Australia show overnight visitor expenditure has grown by 5.5 per cent to $14.6 billion.

That translates to 20.3 million domestic visitors making their way to Queensland in the 12 months to March this year.
In the new budget tradition of spreading problems out, Mr Pitt has based his budget on the forwards - setting fiscal principles he can't meet now, but plans to meet - if averaged out. Mr Pitt has denied his second budget is based on a "hope and prayer" Credit:Robert Shakespeare After taking $4.1 billion in general government debt and transferring it onto the government-owned corporations books last year, Mr Pitt has again leaned on the GOCs, taking any cash surpluses - a round $750 million - and placing them in general government accounts, on top of the dividends the government is also commandeering. In terms of the cash surpluses, the money is there if the GOCs - the electricity and water network businesses - need it, but in the meantime, it offsets general government debt, while doing nothing for the overall debt, which is still forecast to hit $78 billion over the forwards. It also means the GOCs interest repayments will increase - Mr Pitt was unable to give a figure for the interest repayments but he said they could still meet their responsibilities. The Premier and the Treasurer prepare to hand down the 2016 budget. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

"In the same way that the former government decided to change the metrics and talk about fiscal balances instead of net operating balances, they also started this conversation around gross debt, or non-financial public sector debt which had not been used as a measure in Queensland. And the reason why is because interest repayments are being made that actually affect taxpayers, on the general government sector," Mr Pitt said. "That is something we have reduced, since coming to office, by more than $10 billion. We had a commitment that we would attempt to get $12 billion over 10 years paid down, off-general government sector debt. We have achieved more than $10 billion over two years." Our room to move is based on our approach to growing the economy - as we have seen, we will be leading all the states. Qld Treasurer Curtis Pitt But while the overall debt cost has not reduced, Mr Pitt said the debt-to-revenue ratio was the "important metric" and the government was "tracking lower" under any debt measure, dropping from 91 per cent to just over 70 per cent this year. "By 2019-20, we expect it will be around 68 per cent," Mr Pitt said.

"That is a key metric that rating agencies will be looking at. Any business will be looking at that metric, as opposed to what the total quantum of debt is overall." After announcing last year that the government would explore utilising the surplus in the defined benefits scheme - a closed public servant superannuation scheme - while also taking a contribution "holiday", ie, no longer pay into the fund, Mr Pitt has decided to "repatriate" (or "raid" as the opposition refers to it) $4 billion from the fund, with half going to debt reduction and the other to infrastructure. That's $1 billion less than the State Actuary - the body that advises the government on the health of its Treasury - said could be used. It's the only buffer in the state budget, which has made no allowances for further drastic downturn in the global economy, outside of its estimates, or a natural disaster on the scale of Marcia or the 2011 floods. Instead, Mr Pitt said the government was relying on economic growth and its plans to create new industries within Queensland coming to fruition, as well as the success of its jobs plan, which includes $40 million to attract new business, $100 million to boost regional unemployment, and the resulting jobs from the billions of dollars it plans on spending on much-needed regional infrastructure.

But while trend unemployment is forecast to dip below 6 per cent over the forwards, and has dropped from 6.6 per cent to 6.2 per cent since the government took office, seasonally adjusted unemployment - which relies on the time of year among other indicators, is predicted to remain around the same levels as we have seen - where it has bounced between 5.9 per cent and 6.7 per cent. Mr Pitt says the government has created 52,000 jobs since coming to office, including 1200 full-time jobs a month.

Public service spending has increased, as full-time equivalent staff have been increased, with an additional 4100 public servants than were budgeted for in last year's budget. Mr Pitt said 86 per cent of the additional FTE workers have been frontline workers in education and health and have been necessary to "repair the damage" the Newman government public service cuts left. "When it comes to looking at our future years, with full-time equivalents in the public service, we have outlined a new fiscal principle which will be adhered to in Queensland," Mr Pitt said. "This will be looking at, on average, over the forward estimates, ensuring that we keep population growth in line ... FTE growth in line with population growth."

But while population growth is set at 1.5 per cent, public service employee numbers increased in the financial year by 2.4 per cent. "We can't meet it in the first year because the fiscal principle isn't applied in simply one year," Mr Pitt said. "It is on average across the forward estimates, we will see employee FTE growth in line with the population growth. It is an important challenge that we have set ourselves, because we know that employee expenses are one of the most significant expenses in government. "But what we also know is last year, and in the 16-17 year, we are still repairing the damage that was caused by Campbell Newman and Tim Nicholls when they savagely attacked the public service and government workers in Queensland.

"It wasn't just those families and individuals who lost their jobs. We know it had a significant impact, when combined to the cuts to services and the restriction to capital in regional Queensland. "That is one of the key reasons why regional Queensland is suffering even more, notwithstanding that we have had significant transition in the economy." Departments have been asked to find $450 million in savings, particularly from Education. That follows the $1.1 billion in savings from the year before, which the government calls "reprioritisation" and Mr Pitt says was all met. But the resulting budget, which does include "record" spends in health, education and $40 billion in roads and infrastructure - although Mr Pitt is keen to point out that revenue, at 3.2 per cent, "outstrips" expenses, at 2.9 per cent, when it comes to the general government sector - has no room to move. "Our room to move is based on our approach to growing the economy - as we have seen, we will be leading all the states," Mr Pitt said.

That metric - a prediction from Treasury - has dropped. What was 6 per cent is now 3 per cent, as outside factors continue to play havoc with Queensland's main industries. "There are a lot hypotheticals in budgets, we have forecasts and projections," Mr Pitt said. "So what we are talking about here is the best knowledge that we have about what will happen across the forward estimates. "We very clearly talked about the fact that we needed to further diversify our economy, we need to ensure that we play to our strengths at the moment, which clearly, are in agriculture and tourism, and with our innovation agenda under accelerating Advance Queensland, we will need to make sure that we bring some of those businesses and additional revenue streams to fruition. And we can do that. We have done that before. "When you look at what happened with the LNG industry, that was an opportunity for a game-changer in Queensland with new innovations. You have heard the Premier talk about just how important future arrangements could be with the US Navy and their great green fleet initiative.
Officially, settled down.

Well. That was an experience. Whether it was a good one or not.....we'll leave that up to you.

To the wash up

Theme of the day - settle down.

MVP - Kate Jones. You have to love a minister that gets excited about their portfolio. Even if it does lead to corny jokes. (Honourable mention to Tim Nicholls. Despite not following through on his promise for more zingers, the first one was pretty good.)

This afternoon the Parliament will debate the electricity merger bill.

There is also the LNP motion, which today is on

That this House:

1) notes that at the 2015 election, Labor promised to help young people develop practical skills to help them secure a job;

2) notes that 5500 less apprenticeships, traineeships and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships have been completed in 2015/16 under Labor;

3) notes that youth unemployment has increased under Labor; and

4) notes that 1800 fewer apprentices and trainees commenced in Labor's first 9 months as opposed to the same period in 2014; and

5) condemns the Palaszczuk Labor Government for its poor record on youth unemployment and apprenticeship and traineeship completions over the past year.
Extra blood tests are available to anyone who believes they may have been contaminated by toxins contained in firefighting foam, Environment Minister Greg Hunt told Fairfax Media on Tuesday.

The federal government announced $55 million to fund the extra blood tests and research health impacts in Defence communities where the specific firefighting foam had been used.

Fairfax Media first highlighted problems from the toxins within the firefighting foams at a Queensland Defence airport in 2015 (not pictured). Credit:Queensland Police Service

Fairfax Media first highlighted problems from the toxins within the firefighting foams used at Oakey defence airport in October 15, 2015 and more recent media attention has raised families' concerns.

That story showed Defence authorities were concerned after reports showed contaminants 44 times the acceptable level in their bloodstream.
A man charged over the brutal killing of Melbourne woman Rani Featherston allegedly made a "full admission" to the murder and another attempted murder.

Christian Bain-Singh, 22, from Clyde North, faced an out-of-sessions hearing at Cranbourne police station on Wednesday night, charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated burglary and trespass.

Rani Featherston.

Detective Senior Constable Matt Klova told the bail justice he interviewed Mr Bain-Singh in relation to an alleged aggravated burglary in Doveton, and he made a "full admission" to committing murder and the attempted murder.

Mr Bain-Singh, who has multiple face piercings and a tattoo on his right hand, looked straight ahead as his charges were read out to him.
Paid firefighters who are shifted to a new work location will be spared the financial pain of stamp duty when buying a new house, in a massive taxpayer-funded benefit buried in Daniel Andrews' controversial industrial deal.

An obscure clause, 99.18.1(e), in the 405 page agreement states that firefighters who are promoted, transferred or ordered from one location to another will be reimbursed the stamp duty bill for houses and land purchased within four years of the order taking effect.

That means a firefighter who purchases a median Melbourne house worth $713,000, will reap as much $37,850. For a median Melbourne house in the outer suburbs worth $557,500, the windfall would be $28,520, while for a median house in regional Victoria worth $347,500, the benefit would be $13,745.
A Bunbury family in the middle of a personal medical struggle have been left devastated by thieves who ransacked their home.

Kristy Hill and Barry Narkle senior were in Perth on June 1 so their three-year-old daughter Hannah could have an operation at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Kristy Hill and Barry Narkle have been left devastated after thieves ransacked their home while they were in Perth for Kristy to deliver her new daughter Aaliyah prematurely. Credit:Bunbury Mail

Hannah has been diagnosed with epilepsy, club feet, a cleft palate, grommets and has a brain trauma that requires 24 hour care and regular trips to Perth for specialist treatment.

That same week, Kristy visited King Edward Memorial Hospital for a regular checkup on her fourth pregnancy.
A woman has admitted possessing and supplying illegal drugs while she worked for a Perth organisation that aims to help substance abusers.

Former West Australian Substance Users Association board member Elizabeth Mary Dear was initially charged with 57 drug-related offences, including 47 counts of offering to sell or supply a prohibited drug.

She supplied small amounts of heroin to people who weren't clients of the association to pay for her own habit. Credit:Jason South

In the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Dear pleaded guilty to 49 charges while eight charges were dropped.

She will face the WA District Court for sentencing on 42 charges on August 12, while seven charges will remain in the magistrates court, with a mention scheduled for August 15.
The Brexit battle reached new levels of absurdity on Wednesday, in a naval face-off on the Thames between rival flotillas commanded by Nigel Farage and Bob Geldof.

With one week until Britain votes on its membership of the EU, tensions are high between the two camps, who have furiously accused each other of scare tactics, lies and misleading stunts.

But the Fishing For Leave armada of more than 30 fishing trawlers, countered by a smaller pro-Remain dinghy fleet armed with big speakers blaring Chicago's If You Leave Me Now and Dobie Gray's In With the In Crowd, marked a new high tide in the desperate push for votes.
Jakarta: The woman accused of murdering her friend with a cyanide-laced coffee was allegedly seeking "revenge" over comments made about her former boyfriend in Australia, prosecutors allege.

Jessica Kumala Wongso, 27, arrived at Jakarta Central District Court on Wednesday for the first day of her trial for the alleged murder of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin, whom she studied with at the design college Billy Blue in Sydney.

According to the indictment read out to the court, Wongso deliberately planned and set out to kill Salihin after the pair had a falling out during an argument about Wongso's then-boyfriend in Australia.

The details of the boyfriend are not yet known. But the court heard Salihinhad allegedly discovered Wongso was in a relationship with a man in mid-2015 and advised her to break it off, saying he was "rough" and a "drug user".
Mr Holt told the Tennessean that he remains convinced that the weapon used Orlando's mass shooting has no bearing on the massacre. The paper noted that Mr Holt has sponsored multiple gun bills, including one recently passed into law that gives full-time employees at Tennessee colleges and universities the ability to carry weapons on campus. "It has nothing to do with the style of weapon," he told the paper. "It has everything to do with who's behind the weapon." In a statement published by Fox affiliate WZTV, Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini called Mr Holt a "reckless" gun owner and blasted his timing, "we're furious that in the wake of this tragedy, state Rep. Andy Holt is being such a reckless and irresponsible gun owner," the statement said. "Responsible gun owners don't give away guns without background checks. Responsible gun owners make sure that guns are safely and securely stored to prevent access by children or irresponsible adults. Responsible gun owners don't put guns in the hands of strangers. Andy Holt doesn't know if he's putting the winning raffle ticket in the hands of the next mass shooter." "We're also furious that when 18% of all hate crimes are committed against the LGBTQ+ community, Andy Holt continues to fan the flames of hatred towards that community by making jokes that demean them and statements that blatantly define them as different, wrong, and scary," the statement added.

On Tuesday, Mr Holt posted a message on his website that says a man using a Memphis phone number called his office on Monday and threatened him and his legislative assistant. The message said that the caller - who did not identify himself - promised to "kick his a**" and that he would be coming to Nashville on Tuesday to "pay him a visit". In a recording of the exchange posted on Mr Holt's site, the caller makes no mention of why he's upset or whether it stems from the planned 's gun giveaway. The caller indicates that he has "plenty of guns, and a licence to carry". While the caller didn't speak of any political affiliation, Mr Holt referred to the individual as "a liberal activist" and called on Democratic politicians to condemn the individual's behaviour. Assault-style rifles, like the one used in the Orlando shooting and those being given away by Mr Holt, have been the weapon of choice for mass shooters in recent years, as The Washington Post's Christopher Ingraham recently reported: Six months ago, in San Bernardino, California, a man and woman armed with assault-style rifles killed 14 people and wounded 20 others at a holiday party. In 2012, in Aurora, Colorado, a man armed with an assault-style rifle killed 12 people and wounded 58 others in a crowded movie theatre.

Also in 2012, in Newtown, Connecticut, a man armed with an assault-style rifle killed 20 children and six adults at an elementary school. In the past 10 years, Ingraham noted, assault-style rifles have been used in 14 public mass shootings, half of which have occurred since last June. The weapon's potential for inflicting mass harm in a short time has even been noted by terrorists. In 2011, al-Qaeda encouraged its followers to take advantage of lax guns laws, purchase assault-style weapons and use them to shoot people, Ingraham reported. "America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms," American-born al-Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn said in a video. "You can go down to a gun show at the local convention centre and come away with a fully automatic assault rifle, without a background check, and most likely without having to show an identification card. So what are you waiting for?"
Beijing: Foreign ministers from Southeast Asia have retracted a joint statement voicing "serious concern" over rising tensions in the South China Sea just hours after its release, underlining the lack of unity from the ASEAN bloc under mounting diplomatic pressure from Beijing.

Following a summit at a lakeside resort in south-western Yunnan province, top diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries issued a statement on Tuesday warning the territorial disputes had the potential to "undermine peace, security and stability". They urged respect for international law in resolving disputes, in a thinly-veiled reference to Beijing's boycott and planned refusal of an imminent ruling from an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague.

"We emphasised the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities, including land reclamation, which may raise tensions in the South China Sea," the statement said.
Terrifying footage has emerged of giant waves crashing into tourist hot-spots in Bali as flooding and high tides continue to damage houses and buildings in coastal areas.

The tidal waves have left popular coastal restaurant The Rock Bar at Ayana Resort deserted and damaged, while Ku De Ta, the most popular hub for Australians partying in Seminyak, was repeatedly pounded with water during one afternoon onslaught this week.

Are you in Bali? Have you had any close calls from tidal waves? Email us here

Local newspaper Tribun Bali reported on Wednesday that two tourists from Hong Kong and Singapore died after being dragged out to sea at Padang Galak Beach in Sanur.
Washington: Hillary Clinton formally concluded the US Democratic presidential race with a win in the District of Columbia primary, then turned her focus to uniting the party during a 90-minute private meeting with defeated rival Bernie Sanders.

Mrs Clinton, who secured enough delegates to clinch the nomination last week, met with Senator Sanders in a downtown Washington hotel as the sometimes bitter primary combatants searched for common ground ahead of the November 8 election against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Senator Sanders has resisted pressure to bow out and endorse Mrs Clinton in a show of party unity, choosing to continue his campaign as leverage to win concessions from Mrs Clinton on his policy agenda and reforms to the Democratic Party nominating process.
First Track Drive: 2017 Jaguar F-Type SVR Review by Henny Hemmes +VIDEO







By Henny Hemmes

Senior European Editor







MOTORLAND ARAGON, Spain - June 14, 2016: Two years ago, I drove the new F-Type Coupe on the Cuidad del Motor de Aragon and was impressed with the excellent handling and great speed. Now, Jaguar returned to the 3.3 mile long racetrack with the super sporty F-Type SVR. Our audience will not find it hard to believe that we were up for a lot of fun.

Our event started with a road test of either the SVR Coupe or Convertible. I got into a Glacier White Convertible for the drive from the hotel near Lleida to Motorland. But as I realize that everybody is eager to learn more about the high speed driving with the SVR, I'll tell you about track capabilities first and put the road test on hold for a few days.

Jaguar SVO, Special Vehicle Opeartions, was established in 2014 to come up with parts for personalization and to develop high-performance variants under the SVR badge. After the lightweight F-Type Project 7, a lightweight roadster that was named after Jaguars seven wins at Le Mans and only built in a limited edition of 250 units, JaguarLandRover introduced the Range Rover Sport SVR. The F-Type SVR is the third performance model that will be on markets worldwide as Coupe and Convertible.

The F-Type SVR has 25 hp more and 55 pounds less weight compared to the F-Type R that is already very potent. With the CFRP (carbon fiber) roof and after recalibrating the 5.0-liter V8 supercharged engine for the SVR, it produces 575 hp and 516 pound-feet of torque (700 Nm), 14 lb-ft more than in the R. Therefore, it is no surprise that the SVR beats the R in the sprint from 0-60 mph. With 3.5 seconds, it is 0.4 sseconds faster than the F-Type model. The top speed of the Coupe is 200 mph (322 km/h). The Convertible reaches 195 mph (314 km/h) The R will bear the speed crown until the SVR hits the markets in the second half of this year.

The SVR features all wheel drive, an active electronic slip differential that is combined with torque vectoring by braking (TVbB), continuously variable damping, as well as super performance brakes.

Amazing

When we reach the Motorland race track, I feel already well at ease in the big cat and have soon gotten used to its power and nimble handling. The latter is amazing given the fact that the SVR weighs 3,791 pounds.

We all are sent out on the track with a Coupe and a Jaguar instructor, in my case chief instructor Chris Dredge. This is to prevent us drivers, even though we are experienced, from getting carried away and not go over the limit on the unfamiliar racetrack. I don't mind as I always realize that it is hard to get it all correct in just 4 laps!. Chris has made himself familiar with both during the week before the event and knows every stone of the curbs and points out where we can push the brake pedal to make optimum use of the Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) braking system (optional).

Wicked



After starting the engine, I use the switch to engage Dynamic Mode to prepare the SVR for fast laps. It means that the steering is heavier, the gearshift is faster, the suspension is firmer and the engine is a bit more tuned. We also go in S- mode to use the paddles for shifting.

As we take off and accelerate, the brute, wicked sound is nearly shocking and I like it when it goes pop-pop-pop as you lift off. It is amazing how the heavy car feels and seems to like cornering. Turn in is fabulous, immediately the SVR gets into the bend and if you are too early or too late, lets itself be corrected instantly. This F-Type is very forgiving and I bet that a lot of customers would feel at ease during track days with a cat that produces a mean growl but is not sticking out its claws too soon.

Impressive

Performance is top, makes you smile all along the laps thanks to the impressive amount of torque in the lower revs. That way you can drive through many of the shorter bends in 3rd gear, except for the hairpin and the cork screw  yes there is one at Motorland, but not as challenging as the original one at Laguna Seca.

The ZF Quickshift 8-speed transmission shifts really quick and butter-smooth, and is well-matched to the powerful V8. An electronic limited-slip differential helps put the power evenly to the tires, but there are situations that the torque vectoring system does something that you did not intend to do, especially when you need a little bit of under steer, but normally it is helping you. When the systems sensors detect that fast cornering may cause under steer, the system applies braking torque individually to the inner wheels via the ABS system.

By deliberately turning in the nose of the car into the bend too much, I could sense the system interfering. Of course, it is not so magical that it will always keep you out of trouble, but it will help when you are not exactly doing the right thing at the right time. The suspension is well-balanced and well-prepared for driving on the race track. The SVR uses 20-inch wheels. Our track car has Maelstrom wheels that go with the CCM braking systems. They are fitted with specially developed Pirelli PZero rubber: 265/35 up front and 305/30 in the rear.

The performance brakes are strong and can be precisely applied to do what they are expected to do. They obviously had no trouble with the warm temperatures that reached 95 degrees under the Spanish sun.

Track Experience Wrap Up

The F-Type SVR is confident at high speed thanks to its excellent stability, a result of some measures such as the use of the carbon fiber wing, which reduces lift by 15 per cent. By softening the front roll bar and applying a 5 per cent stiffer one in the rear, turn in is super quick and precise. The whole package of the F-Type SVR makes it a true super sports car.







Pricing for the 2017 Jaguar F-Type SVR Coupe starts at $125,950 and for the Convertible at $128,800. Customer deliveries will begin this summer.

The Jaguar F-Type SVR is up for a nomination for the 2017 World Performance Car of the Year
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One word was all Val Hiebert needed to describe what it was like to see some 200 people gathered in K.R. Barkman Park at a vigil honouring victims of mass shooting in Orlando, Florida at a gay nightclub.

Hope, said Hiebert simply.

Tuesdays vigil in Steinbach was an opportunity to pay tribute to the 49 victims of the Orlando attack and also show support to local LGBTQ community members feeling fearful after the targeted assault.

GRANT BURR | THE CARILLON Michelle McHale speaks at a Tuesday night vigil in Steinbach remembering the victims of a mass shooting targeting the LGBTQ community in Orlando this past weekend.

As speakers talked about acceptance and equality, they also delivered a message more needs to happen here at home as well. The backdrop of the recent conversations in the Hanover School Division regarding the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity discussion in the classroom were not to be forgotten.

Hiebert, a spokesperson for the Steinbach Neighbours for Community, said the strong turnout was a positive step.

That generates so much hope, so much energy and helps the rest of the community to see that theres actually lots of us who are allies, who want a different kind of voice, who want the community to behave differently.

I meet lots of them, Hiebert said. Theyre not sure what they think but they know they dont like the tone right now and they want more information, they want to understand and they want places to find that information.

For Michelle McHale, who has been a champion of sexual orientation and gender identity instruction, it was overwhelming to see the response.

I thought it was beautiful. I thought it was amazing, she told The Carillon.

In comments to the crowd, she said many people still dont feel safe enough to attend an event like this in Steinbach. While 200 people may have attended on Tuesday, she suggested another 200 more people need support.

The conversations are happening daily. People will tell me that their friends are telling them, I just cant do it, so the numbers are high.

It means the world to people who are looking for friendly faces, she told those in attendance.

Does the turnout mean a solution to their advocacy efforts is soon to come?

It gives me hope that change is coming, she told The Carillon. I dont know what kind of turnout we would have had five years ago for something like this, so, I already think it is coming. Is it coming quickly? Im not sure but every time something like this happens we can build upon it.

She hopes the signs of support will give more people courage to attend the Pride equality march event on July 9.

Among the speakers at the vigil, former SRSS student Evan Wiens drew applause as he spoke and challenged HSD to stand up for its students and change the way the division talks about sexual orientation, gender identity and same-gender families in the classroom.

It is the time now to take this moment, move into the 21 century, protect our kids and foster a safe school environment for every single student, Wiens said, who led the fight for a gay straight alliance at the local high school three years ago.

Current SRSS student Mika Schellenberg, who has become a new student face of LGBTQ advocacy, also spoke directly to the events of the weekend in the United States.

Prevent things like this from happening by staying strong and fighting for what we believe in. Remembering those that have been lost, not with fear, but with hope for the future, hope that someday we wont have fear at all. And, instead of hate, we need to preach love and acceptance, she told the crowd.

McHale acknowledged the difference between hosting a vigil in Steinbach and the one she attended in Winnipeg the previous night.

GRANT BURR | THE CARILLON The names of the 49 victims of a mass shooting in Orlando on Sunday are read out at a vigil in Steinbach on Tuesday night. The event offered a opportunity to reflect on the weekend's tragic events and also a chance to consider how a more welcoming community can be created for the LGBTQ community closer to home.

We have a different climate here right now, she said.

She expressed disappointment local leaders neither attended or provided any written statements of support.

The silence is deafening from our leaders, McHale said.

To them I would say take a look at whats happening in the community. People want change. Its important to move forward and as a leader you have a responsibility to do the things that are right and are in line with legislation not just perhaps what are the most popular.

NDP interim leader Flor Marcelino was on hand at Tuesdays vigil.

Marcelino told The Carillon she believes Education Minister Ian Wishart can do more to address issues with the local school division.

I think many Manitobans would also ask the minister to intervene in the Hanover School Division and give them the direction the LBGTQ communities need to a have a safe space in schools and in the community.

She noted the NDPs Bill 18 legislation laid that ground work three years ago.

I can see that some people are not ready yet but if it is a government policy, I think in due time it will be accepted.

While McHale wished for political leaders to step forward, they werent entirely absent either.

Cari Penner acknowledged her role as a city councillor but introduced herself as only a citizen of Steinbach as she shared during an open-mic near the end of the vigil. Though politicians could be faulted for their silence, citizen Penner could not be.

Silence is no response, she told the crowd as she reflected on the U.S. killings. We cannot remain silent when hate and intolerance are not only suppressing and segregating the gay community but are now seeking to eradicate our neighbours, family members and friends. We cannot be silent.

Apathy is another response we could have but ignoring injustice and intolerance help no one, she continued. Nothing gets better then and nothing changes. No, we must open our eyes and see each other as valued, loved and respected members of society.

Hanover trustees Cyndy Friesen and Ruby Wiens both attended the Tuesday vigil but suggested it was too early to offer any further comment on division policy. The two trustees have been the strongest supporters of the idea of expanding discussions of sexual orientation in the classroom. The board has not met since its contentious meeting last week. It will hold a closed door meeting next week before its next public meeting on June 29.
From Huffington Post:A lot of people have asked me for my opinion on how we can help support First Nations youth. There are many challenges facing our youth and there is no easy solution. Whether it's an ongoing suicide crisis across North America, a high rate of violence, abuse and poverty or the overrepresentation in the correctional system, these kids are dealing with some serious obstacles. And these continuing challenges demonstrate that though some approaches may have been beneficial, we are nowhere near yet to fully supporting the next generation to break the cycle and prepare for the future.Many reports over the years have documented the negative impact of various government policies of both the United States and Canada. In Canada, the release of the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) report has recorded in the voices of indigenous people the generation over generation impacts of colonialism and cultural genocide, including a lack of business, education stability options in First Nation communities.The response of the current Canadian federal government to the TRC has been encouraging, though I, like others, will look closely for actual ongoing solutions and attention other than around election times. I think it's important that there is shared responsibility for keeping kids from falling through the cracks in such small communities. No child should grow up feeling hopeless and left behind.Entrepreneurship, from my experience, could mean the difference between life and death for these kids. Although I grew up fairly privileged compared to others, I could have easily ended up in prison as many of my childhood friends have. I could have easily committed suicide, been murdered or passed away from addiction as others I knew did, but entrepreneurship saved me.It wasn't easy at all. With no real experience or support I was forced to learn things the hard way. I fell victim to predatory lenders who blocked and worked against me to sell off my first company and I have watched people get rich off my ideas while I got nothing. I have struggled to pay bills and I have failed and made more mistakes than I can count, but having been through the battles, headaches and sleepless nights I have learned more and came out stronger. I became more successful and involved in more businesses than I originally ever could have imagined because I learned from every mistake and kept wanting to do more and build bigger.I have gone through hell to succeed and it was anything but a smooth road, but, it kept me too busy and motivated to get into trouble for enough years to mature as a person and gave me something to look forward to. Entrepreneurship has opened many doors for me that would have never opened had I not gone through it all and I am now able to share these experiences to help others succeed.To establish independence and self worth in indigenous communities, it is important to listen to the community and provide support to what they identify, rather than rushing in with what we, with all good intentions, consider are the answers. The resilience that indigenous people possess is a powerful asset for achieving in the business world. There are so many bright, artistic, entrepreneurial-minded individuals in First Nation communities who only need a little help to put their vision into reality. What is missing is the help and encouragement.There are companies and investors eagerly awaiting the opportunity to do business in First Nation communities (although there are challenges to this) as we have a lot to offer. We have a workforce, resources, land, and in some cases tax advantages, creditor protections and opportunities not easily accessible to others.There are reservations in North America where people are thriving and serious revenues are being generated and that is because the reservations are home to entrepreneurs who create opportunities for others and inspire others to succeed. These communities are a far cry from the headlines of places like Attawapiskat and other communities with third-world living conditions where we can't seem to even get clean water, and drug dealers and deplorable sex traffickers often appear to be the ones with the most logistic and business experience. Bringing and supporting business experience to Band Councils and First Nation youth is one opportunity to shift the skill base to those who should be in charge.Supporting entrepreneurship could prove extremely profitable for First Nation communities and create new revenue streams, which is really in the best interest of the community as it uplifts everyone. It is not easy and there is no simple answer but investing in programs, resources, mentorship and tools for future entrepreneurs provides hope and opportunities for self-sufficiency rather than dependence on welfare-based approaches. So leaders of all sorts in First Nations, government and other services have an opportunity to declare if supports for entrepreneurship are a viable option.Original Article: First Nations Entrepreneurship Is Key To Ending The Cycle Of HardshipA*|A*Liam Massaubi
Three years before he killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Omar Mateen was under investigation for 10 months by the FBI, which suspected that he might have ties to terrorism. But agents found no evidence of a so-called nexus to any terrorist groups or planning.

It apparently wasnt for a lack of trying. The investigation was based on a reasonable suspicion that he might be connected to terrorism and used surveillance of Mateens movements, recordings of his conversations, inspection of his communications records, and even a confidential source. But the FBIs shadowing of the future mass-murderer was also restricted by a set of investigative rules and procedures meant to protect the privacy and civil liberties of U.S. citizens.

Now, in the wake of the worst mass-shooting in U.S. history, FBI officials are poring over the records of that 10-month investigation, to see whatif anyclues agents may have missed. And the administration is considering whether to loosen some of those rules, in order to make it easier to spot potential attackers even after theyre no longer on the governments radar.

The timeline of the Mateen investigation, based on interviews with six current and former U.S. officials and FBI agents, shows both the significant range and limits of investigative tools at the FBIs disposal when tracking potential terrorists, as well as the highly subjective nature of such investigations.

Mateen first came to the FBIs attention in May 2013, after making a series of boasts to co-workers about his various ties to terrorist groups, a U.S. official told The Daily Beast, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the particulars of the case. That triggered FBI to investigate.

FBI Director James Comey told reporters on Tuesday that Mateen had claimed to have family connections to al Qaeda, and that he was also a member of Hezbollah. (As Comey pointed out, these seemed to be contradictory claims since al Qaeda is a Sunni terrorist organization and Hezbollah is a Shiite organization.)

It remains unclear who reported Mateen, then 26 years old and working as a private security guard at a Florida courthouse. But based on the reports, the FBIs Miami field office opened a preliminary investigation, Comey said.

A preliminary investigation has a specific meaning and attendant set of rules under guidelines for domestic FBI operations. As compared to a full investigation, agents were restricted in the kinds of procedures and methods they could use.

Notably, in preliminary investigations the FBI cannot employ electronic surveillance under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the government to obtain warrants for intelligence-gathering that can be easier to get than a traditional criminal wiretap order. Physical searches, including opening a suspects mail, are also prohibited.

Thats not to say that the FBI has no tools at its disposalthere are at least 10 other authorized methodsor that intelligence-surveillance or a physical search would have yielded significant information tying Mateen to terrorist groups. Indeed, Comey said that the FBI introduced a confidential source to Mateen, recorded conversations with him, followed him, reviewed transactional records from his communications, and searched all government holdings for any possible connections

But if Mateen had been in communication with foreign terrorist groups, its possible that investigators might have missed that fact, current and former officials acknowledged.

And yet the FBI clearly found information that prompted some concern. A second U.S. official, likewise speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the case, told The Daily Beast that Mateens name was placed in two government databases: the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment (TIDE), a classified repository that is a kind of first stop for the names of suspected terrorists or their associates, as well as the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB), a more refined database that is also the main watchlist used by the FBI.

Exactly when the FBI asked for Mateens name to be placed in the two databases is unclear. But getting a name into TIDE is a pretty low bar compared to a name being placed in the TSDB, the official said. In that case, the FBI had to meet a higher standard and articulate a reasonable suspicion that someone might be planning terrorist activity or have ties to terrorist organizations. It cant be done solely on a hunch.

Individuals who merely may be members, associates or affiliates to a terrorist organization may not be accepted into the TSDB, unless the reasonable suspicion standard is met and particularized derogatory information accompanies the nomination, according to the governments watchlisting guidance, a copy of which was published by The Intercept.

The guidance describes examples of derogatory information, but it purposely avoids trying to list every potential category.

Watchlisting is not an exact science, the guidance states. There are inherent limitations in any primarily name based system and analytic judgments may differ regarding whether subjective criteria have been met.

Officials still havent said whether it was solely Mateens boasts about ties to rival terrorist groups or some other piece of information that got him put on the list. But the mere fact that he was in both databases suggests that the agents investigating him, at least initially, thought there might be something to his claims.

Listing Mateen was not a trivial exercise. There are stricter rules for putting U.S. civilians, as Mateen was, and permanent residents in either database than there are for foreigners.

The vast majority of records in TIDE are for known or suspected international terrorists, according to the watchlisting guidance. Only a small percentage of terrorist records in TIDE concern U.S. persons.

Furthermore, Special handling is warranted for U.S. persons, the guidance states, when names are suggested for the TSDB. Nominations of U.S. persons shall be made based on sources of information from sources of known reliability or where there exists additional corroboration or context supporting reasonable suspicion.

There were other restrictions on the FBIs work. The bureau cannot continue a preliminary investigation for more than six months without getting special approval from a special agent in charge. Mateens investigation lasted for 10 months, which suggests that agents believed there was information worth pursuing, or that they needed more time to track down leads.

Now, agents and FBI officials are question if they could have done anything differently after Mateen first came to the FBIs attention. So far, the honest answer is: I dont think so, Comey said. I dont see anything in reviewing our work that our agents should have done differently, but well look at in an open and honest way, and be transparent about it. Our work is very challenging. We are looking for needles in a nationwide haystack, but we are also called up to figure out which pieces of hay might someday become needles.

One gap that has already emerged between what the rules allow and what information might help investigators concerns Mateens purchase of a handgun and a rifle used in his deadly rampage. The store where he bought the gun was required by federal law to run Mateens name against an FBI system that checks that main watchlist, the TSDB.

But Mateen wasnt on it at the time of the purchase last week. In 2014, having found no nexus to terrorism, the government removed his name from both of the terrorism databases, the second U.S. official said.

Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates told reporters on Monday that the Obama administration would give a thoughtful look at new rules for notifying the FBI that someone who was once on the watchlist is buying a gun, even if hes no longer on the list.

Certainly in retrospect in this case we would have liked to have known about it, Yates said of Mateens weapons purchases, which occurred over a three-day period, adding that she was unaware if there was any legal obstacle to changing the policy.

Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, also said he wants to explore a system that would alert authorities when someone previously on a watchlist tries to buy a gun.

FBI agents eventually interviewed Mateen twice. But he seemed to have a credible explanation for why hed made the claims about his ties to terroristswhich the FBI, in any event, was unable to corroborate.

He admitted making the statements that his co-workers reported, but explained that he did it in anger because he thought his co-workers were discriminating against him and teasing him because he was Muslim, Comey said.

Those tasked with finding potential terrorists and stopping future attacks expressed empathy with the FBI agents who once tracked Mateen and decided to stop investigating him.

Remember you are dealing with an American. So you are dealing with a lot with a lot of oversight, Peter J. Ahearn Sr., a retired senior FBI agent who oversaw the investigation of the so-called Lackawanna Six, in which six Yemeni-American friends were convicted in 2003 of providing material support to al Qaeda, told the Daily Beast. How long are you going to go on investigating someone? You cant leave everything up and running until something happens because that could be a violation of an American citizen rights.

With no regular contact with suspected terrorists, Mateen was a good definition of a lone wolf. That is the most dangerous thing. You can prevent things when there is communication, Ahearn said.

A third U.S. official told The Daily Beast there often are not enough personnel to monitor every suspect for long period of times, and the decision to end an investigation can be subjective. How many times must a seemingly otherwise law-abiding suspected terrorist interact with someone in Syria or sympathetic imam at a radical American mosque for an investigation to remain open?

With limited resources and subjective criteria for monitoring U.S. citizens, the result is often that agents attempt to triage threats. In doing so, many live in a state of constant anxiety about people who once raised a red flag but yet have committed no clear crime.

The things that scared me more than anything was what I didnt know. You always wondered, Ahearn said.
LONDON  Scotland Yard detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have been alerted that Sigmund Freuds grandson was a serial pedophile who had a villa close to the complex where the British schoolgirl went missing.

The sickening double life of Sir Clement Freud, a celebrated British broadcaster and politician, will be exposed by an ITV documentary due to air in Britain on Wednesday. Two women have come forward to claim that Feud abused them from the ages of 10 and 11.

Freud died in 2009, leaving his wife of 58 years, Lady June Freud, to apologize for decades of abuse. I am shocked, deeply saddened, and profoundly sorry for what has happened to these women. I sincerely hope they will now have some peace, she said.

Officers from the Metropolitan Polices Operation Grange, which continues to investigate the McCann case, have been alerted to the revelations because Freud owned a villa in Praia de Luz at the time of the 3-year-old girls disappearance in 2007.

Freud befriended Madeleine McCanns parents while police hunted through the Portuguese town in search of evidence that might lead to her discovery. A spokesman for the McCann family said they had not been aware of Freuds criminal past. A source close to the McCanns told The Telegraph that they were horrified by the news.

The Freuds, who descend from Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, are one of Britains most famous families. Clements brother Lucian Freud was arguably the greatest British artist of his generation.

Clement Freuds son, Matthew, a PR guru, is married to Rupert Murdochs daughter Elisabeth. His daughter, a broadcaster, is the partner of Richard Curtis, the filmmaker behind Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and Love Actually.

Freud first attracted attention as a celebrity chef before being elected as a member of Parliament in 1973. He served as a Liberal MP for 14 years and shared an office with the notorious pedophile Cyril Smith, who was also unmasked after his death and implicated in the alleged cover-up of a VIP Westminster pedophile ring.

Sylvia Woosley, a close family friend of the Freuds, said she was 10 when she was first groomed by Freud. It was the first time, aged 10, that a father figure comes into my life Hed stroke me and hed kiss me at the back of the bus on the mouth It was horrible and I didnt like it. I was disgusted and upset, she told ITV.

The abuse escalated, she said, when she was 14 and she was sent to live with Freud, his new wife, June, and their baby, in London. She said he would sneak into her room at night and rape her. Woosley eventually escaped the house, but her torment continued for decades.

Its the child in me that is speaking, actually, and that would like to be freed. And so Im doing it for the girl in me that wants to be recognized having told the truth and for any others that have not got quite the courage but would like to, she said.

A second woman, who asked not to be named, said she was groomed from the age of 11 by Freud when he was an MP. She said he had invited her on trips to Parliament, and later raped her and attempted to lock her and a friend in a basement.
People in my line of work try to be careful about predictions, because, you know, the future comes eventually, and you might be wrong. When I do make predictions, Im always careful to add the conditionsif this, assuming that.

So lets not call this a prediction, but an observation: I hereby observe that it is entirely possible that this election couldcouldbe a blowout. A humiliation. A decapitation. A world-historical debacle for one party. And I bet you can guess which one.

This observation is occasioned by the appearance this week of the first full-blown general-election Electoral College forecast, from frontloadingHQ.com. The folks at FHQ looked at polls and recent electoral history and voting trends to take a stab at what the Electoral College might look like on the night of Nov. 8 if things dont change much from today. And if youre a fan of the candidate whos a person of colororangeit isnt pretty.

They have it at Clinton 358, Trump 180. And if anything, theyre being a little conservative.

How could the spread be that big, when in most polls shes still only a few points ahead? Or sometimes more than a fewa Bloomberg poll that dropped Tuesday evening has Clinton up 12 points, 49-37. A staggering 63 percent of women say that they could never vote for him. And whatever the popular margin ends up at, the college is remorseless, my friend. You just have to win a state. You win Ohio by 1 point or 20, you get the 18 electoral votes. And Clinton is projected to win nearly every big state.

Lets go back in time first for some context about how thorough a thumping this would be. In the 1980s, of course, Republicans thrashed Democrats, who were at sea. Ronald Reagans first election, for example, was 489-49. But then came the culture wars of the 1990s. We started dividing up into camps, and wins of that size werent possible anymore. But even so, Bill Clinton ran up huge Electoral College numbers, much bigger than his vote margins: In 1996, for example, he beat Bob Dole by eight points but clobbered him in the electoral vote by 379-159.

Then came the era of the red-blue divide. George W. Bush 271-with-an-asterisk, Al Gore 267. Bush 286, John Kerry 251. Thats how it looked things were going to stay for a while, but then the financial collapse happened, John McCain picked Sarah Palin to run with him, lots of people were feeling hopey-changey, and Barack Obama won big in 2008, 365-173. He retreated in 2012, but 332-206 was still a big win, and Mitt Romney showed the limits of the present-day Republican Party. He won only one of the seven main swing states (North Carolina) and flamed out in the states Republicans always talk big about, just like they do now (Pennsylvania and Michigan).

So here we sit. In my experience, its been thought by insiders that Obamas 2008 numbers arent replicable, that the Democratic advantage probably rests naturally around the 70 to 100 vote range.

But this could be epic.

FHQ gives Clinton all of Obamas 2012 states plus North Carolina (which he won in 2008) and drum roll Arizona. Now, Arizona last went Democratic in 1996, and that was the first time it had done so since 1948. But dont laugh. Clinton leads, by a point, in RCP average. Thats just two polls, so who knows. But Latino turnout will presumably be through the roof.

Lets have more fun. Heres where I think its possible the FHQ might be selling Clinton a little short. Think Georgia sounds crazy? Yeah, it kinda does. But Trump is up there by only four. I spoke Tuesday with a Democratic operative in the state who was spinning me to some extent, sure, but who sounded pretty bullish as he described the state GOPs internal divisions and the fact that about 40 percent of the electorate is going to be non-white. That 40 percent is mostly African American, and Clintons going to win 85 or 90 percent of that 40 percent, so do the mathshed need less than 30 percent of the white vote to win the state. Still sound crazy?

Lets climb farther out the limb. How about Utah? One earlier poll from Utah actually showed Clinton slightly ahead; another came out yesterday showing a tied race.

And if thats not crazy enough for you, contemplate Kansas. I said Kansas. Kansas hasnt gone Democratic since I think 1236 (okay, 1936). A poll last week showed Clinton ahead there. Not by one. By seven. And if these states fall, it will mean Trump has had a total meltdown, and who knows what else is falling.

Now I dont truly expect Clinton to win Utah or Kansas. But the mere existence of these polls is a joyous thing. And unless either Trump or events (i.e., the FBI) really change the direction of this thing, theyre going to keep coming. Tied in Missouri! Trump up only five in South Carolina! Gary Johnson pulls ahead of Trump in New Mexico, Colorado!

Okay, its all great fun, but what does it matter? Lord knows, as Dubya showed us, youre as much the president with his 271 electoral votes as you are with Reagans 489. But still, it does matter. Two points.

One: Its psychologically devastating for a party to lose a state its supposed to win. If, say, Clinton actually carried Georgia, it would wound the GOP badly and lead to loads of stories about how even the solid South is now slipping out of the ossified partys geriatric hands. It wouldnt be the same as, for example, Obamas winning Indiana in 2008, which everyone knew was a fluke. Clinton winning Georgia wouldnt be a fluke.

Two: Its what the man himself deserves. Theres one word Trump hates more than any other in the English language, and its not Mexican or Muslim. Its loser. How sweet it would be for him to have to live out his remaining years as a history-making loser. To a girl, no less! FHQ, from your spreadsheets to Gods ears.
No one would stand by and let dozens of people be killed, right? Wrong. Actually, it happens all the time and not just for gang related crimes, but with terrorist attacks.

In a study conducted a few years ago of 119 lone actor terrorists by Paul Gill and John Horgan, the authors (shockingly) discovered that in the vast majority of cases in the days and weeks leading up to the attacks, in 82.4% of the time, other people knew something about the terrorists grievances and/or intent. In 79% of the time people were aware of the terrorists commitment to an extremist ideology and in 64% of cases, family and friends were aware of the plot because the terrorist told them! Finally, in a majority (59%) of cases, the terrorist produced letters or made public statements outlining his beliefs. These statements include both letters sent to newspapers, self-printed and self-disseminated leaflets, and statements in virtual forums.

Orlando terrorist Omar Mateens wife, Noor Zahi Salman, admitted to the FBI she had been with him when he purchased the ammunition and a holster for the gun. In one instance, she even drove her husband to the gay nightclub, Pulse, because he wanted to scope it out.

Yet Noor did nothing to prevent the tragedy. Like in so many other cases described in the study above, she stood by and let her husband murder 50 people in cold blood.

While this is not a unique example of the so-called bystander effect, it certainly is among the more shocking ones that someone could have, but chose not to, lift a finger to prevent such an atrocity. In most cases, fear of the potential repercussions of what would happen to them if they reported a loved one that planned to commit a terrorist act is paramount. Williams, Horgan and Evans refer to this as hindering vicarious help-seeking in which friends and family can potentially intervene to help a radicalized individual seek help and prevent an attack.

Horgan explains further, People dont act because they convince themselves that what they see is not serious enough to report  or theyre just afraid of speaking to the police. Another reason might include that we are hesitant to infringe on other peoples privacy. Some politicians think this is political correctness yet the study of the 119 lone actors included terrorists of all shapes, sizes, colors, and ethnicities. This isnt political correctness; it is the assumption that someone else will take care of the problem. In other words, passing the buck.

Fear of the police has been a key factor in previous studies of the bystander effect. When crimes are committed, most people didnt see nuthin when questioned by the police, and that in many communities there is a veil of silence. Much of the bystander effect studied in different communities relates in part to existing (negative) relationships with the police or the authorities. This is exacerbated by concerns that anyone who alerts the authorities of an impending attack themselves becomes a person of interest or might be blamed if the attack is not prevented.

The bystander effect refers to the phenomenon that an individuals likelihood of helping decreases when passive bystanders are present in a critical situation. Psychologists Bibb Latane and John Darley coined the term after the infamous 1964 Kitty Genovese murder in New York City. Dr. Horgan admits, We need to first stop thinking that all terrorism can be prevented. It cannot. This is a fact of life today and we have to live with it. We do need to create better mechanisms for reporting events before they happen, like confidential hotlines. When I worked for the New Jersey Office of Counter Terrorism in the aftermath of 9/11, one of the first programs created by the then director Sidney Caspersen was an 800 tips line for New Jersey (1 866 4 SAFE NJ). Many people (especially members of the Muslim community) called the number and lots of bad things were prevented as a result. We need to encourage people to call the authorities, even when it is a friend or a family member because the failure to do so will result in the deaths of innocent people.

Is Noor responsible for her husbands actions? I would argue yes, if not as a co-conspirator or accomplice after the fact, she most certainly displayed criminal negligence and reckless disregard for 50 lost lives. She is responsible for her inaction and we need to send a powerful message that if you see something, say something and if you know something specific you must come forward.
In the aftermath of the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, images of two men kissing have been everywhere. Good. They should be hard to avoid.

As much as Americans pledge support for LGBT people and as frequently as we recite the love is love mantra, same-sex love still makes too many of us uncomfortable when we witness it firsthand. Until we believe in personand not just on paperthat love is love, the hatred that fuels attacks on LGBT people will be alive and well.

Social media first exploded with images of men locking lips under the #TwoMenKissing hashtag after Omar Mateens father claimed that his son had been infuriated by the sight of men kissing on a recent trip to Miami.

Look at that, the man who would go on to murder 49 clubgoers allegedly fumed. In front of my son, they are doing that.

After hearing this anecdote, first reported by NBC News, illustrator Shadi Petosky posted a collage of men kissing to Instagram. Shortly thereafter, writer and Her Story co-creator Jen Richards reblogged the collage, adding a stirring caption.

Look at #TwoMenKissing, Richards pleaded. Really look. Then look inside yourself and be honest about how it makes you feel. Find any discomfort there and look at it. Examine it. Sit with it for as long as it takes to overcome.

Her invitation to scroll through pictures of #TwoMenKissing wasnt just intended for the kind of openly homophobic bigots who would celebrate the mass murder of LGBT people. Discomfort with same-sex PDA is shockingly common, especially given current levels of support for same-sex marriage and LGBT rights.

More people than you might think would be upset by the very same sight the Orlando killer allegedly saw. You could be one of them.

At present, over 60 percent of Americans support same-sex marriage rights, according to Gallup data.

But nearly 30 percent of non-LGBT Americans still feel uncomfortable when they see a same-sex couple holding hands, according to a survey commissioned by GLAAD for its annual Accelerating Acceptance report. Twenty-six percent said they would be uncomfortable seeing a same-sex wedding photo on a co-workers desk.

The data for same-sex kissing is more disheartening still.

In 2014, when support for same-sex marriage was well past the halfway point, a study from Indiana University researchers published in the American Sociological Review found that heterosexual Americans were more supportive of inheritance rights for same-sex couples than they were of same-sex PDA, particularly between two men. Sixty-nine percent of heterosexual respondents to the nationally-representative study said that a gay male couple should have inheritance rights but only 55 percent said they approved of the couple kissing not even on the mouth, but on the cheek.

"Support for legal benefits for gays and lesbians should not be conflated with favorable attitudes toward same-sex couples in general, said lead author Long Doan in a press release. We come to the conclusion that although heterosexuals may be increasingly willing to grant legal benefits to gay and lesbian couples, entrenched prejudice that takes on subtler forms may remain.

In 2016, it should be horrifying that same-sex couples still cannot hold hands or kiss without fear of disapproval not just from outright bigots, but from straight people who ostensibly support their rights.

Some have speculated that Mateen himself was a closeted gay or bisexual man based on statements from Pulse clubgoers, a former classmate, and his ex-wifes new fiance. If thats true, his fathers story about the Miami incident would still make sense. The American Sociological Review study found that even gay and lesbian respondents were sometimes significantly less supportive of same-sex PDA than they were of heterosexual displays of public affection.

Doan largely attributed this counterintuitive finding to safety concerns in the press release but, in the full study, the authors noted that heteronormativity and internalized stigma could help explain the discrepancy.

Simply put, it is entirely possible that a man who was deeply conflicted about his own sexual identity and radicalized by a particularly homophobic element of a religion would react badly to two men kissing within his line of sight. Gay and bisexual menif Mateen was indeed among their numbercan be homophobic, too, even if that means they fear something inside themselves.

That same fear doesnt just lurk in the hearts of individuals; it permeates American culture as well. So pervasive is our phobia of same-sex kissing that CBS cameras conspicuously cut away from same-sex kisses during the 2014 Grammys when Queen Latifah married dozens of couples on stage. (CBS later denied that the many omissions were intentional.)And so extreme are the reactions to same-sex PDA that when ABCs Once Upon a Time television show showed a lesbian kiss, social conservatives said that Disney was purposefully pushing a gay agenda with a graphic gay scene targeting kids.

Rhetorically speaking, thats not a far cry from what Mateen allegedly said about two men kissing in Miami: In front of my son, they are doing that.

Meanwhile, it would be almost impossible for anyoneadult or childto go a full day without seeing an opposite-sex kiss whether in person, on a billboard, in a show, at a bar, or in ones home.

It would be as futile as it is irrational to oppose opposite-sex PDA. Its everywhere. Maybe now is a good time for same-sex PDA to become just as ubiquitous.

In the meantime, LGBT people will keep flocking to gay bars to feel safe. Clubs like Pulse are sanctuaries where same-sex couples can drink, dance, flirt, and kiss without fear, just like straight people do almost everywhere. They are havens where PDA is welcomed instead of edited, embraced rather than condemned as a danger to children. They are places where, as Sam sang in Casablanca, a kiss is just a kiss.

The search for absolute clarity on Mateens personal life will continue, as it always does in the wake of a mass shooting. The FBI investigation into his terrorist ties will go on, too. But nothing we can do now will bring those dozens of victims back to life, nor can we retroactively remove the hate from Mateens heart.

What we can do is try to prevent history from repeating itself by working to destigmatize same-sex behavior. For many of us, that will mean looking inward and, as Richards wrote, look[ing] at two men kissing until all [we] see is beauty and love, courage and pride.

Some of the victims of the Pulse massacre were indeed two men who kissed: couples like Jean Carlos Mendez Perez and his partner Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon who met over a perfume counter, or Juan Ramon Guerrero and Christopher Drew Leinonen who will receive a joint funeral in lieu of a wedding.

Their love for each other will be remembered always in death. The difficult question that Americans must ask each other and ourselves is how we would have reacted to their love had we witnessed it in life, in full motion, right before our eyes.
When Anderson Cooper betrays emotion, its in the service of something important.

CNNs soft-spoken, silver-haired uber-Wasp can be exquisitely composed yet relentless when grilling bloviating politicians, or indulgent yet gently sardonic with preening celebrities. He is never showy, unlike any number of his competitors in the television anchoring business. But he has been stripping his soul bare over the past two days as he covers the carnage in Orlando.

On Tuesday nights installment of AC360, his two-hour prime-time weeknight program, the 49-year-old Cooper, wearing a black sport shirt, held hands with Christine Leinonen, the mother of one of the Pulse Club victims, as he interviewed her about her dead son Christopher (aka Drew), who perished Sunday morning with his fiance, Juan Guerrero.

Drews mother was the lady on Sundays news reportsmere hours after the killer methodically gunned down 49 mostly gay and lesbian club patrons and wounded dozens of otherswho desperately, heartbreakingly, appealed to the news cameras to help her locate her missing Drew.

On Tuesday night, standing beside Cooper in front of the Orlando Regional Medical Center, where many of the wounded were given emergency treatment Sunday morning, she was smiling beatifically as she recounted her 32-year-old sons accomplishments, including winning the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award in high school for starting the Gay-Straight Alliance. Drews mom gripped Coopers hand, and he gripped hers right back, refusing to let go, as though he needed the comforting physical contact just as much as she did.

They were madly in love in a way that Ive never seen him, she told the anchor about Drew and Juan, noting that her son had had other serious relationships but that this was the big one.

Cooper asked how she could confront her raw grief with such a seemingly sunny disposition, and she replied: Because I loved him. I could be sad, and I have been, and I could be angry, and Ive been given license to be angry But the love is going to usurp the hate.

At the end of the interview, Cooper reached out and they encircled each other in a fierce and lingering hug. Looking drained, he threw to a commercial break.

If the scene bore little resemblance to a journalism-school model of detachment and objectivity, that was only fitting. Of all the human tragedies Cooper has coped with professionally over the past-quarter century of reporting on wars, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and other catastrophes, to say nothing of a high-society upbringing as the son of Gloria Vanderbilt in which his father died young and his brother committed suicideOrlando has perhaps cut closest to the bone.

Cooperwho came out publicly four years ago in The Daily Beast to his friend, blogger Andrew Sullivanis no longer simply an empathetic observer. The attack on Pulse was an atrocity he is bound to take personally as the TV newsbizs most prominent gay man.

Albeit shattered by the story it was his job to report, he was composed, although once during Tuesdays broadcast the camera caught him in a sharp intake of breath and an equally sharp exhalation, as though banishing a sob. (On Mondays program, when Cooper read out the names of the dead and provided thumbnail sketches of their lives, he was on the verge of breaking down and had to stop several times to collect himself.)

Yet, while Cooper has been gracefully sensitive and attentive in his on-camera talks with survivors and bereaved family members in the aftermath of American historys worst mass shooting, he has also shown a steely, no-nonsense impatience for bullshit.

His uncompromising interview earlier Tuesday with Floridas conservative Republican attorney general, Pam Bondiin which Cooper calmly but repeatedly called her out for the sick irony and hypocrisy of litigating against the legalization of same-sex marriage a few years ago and posing now as a champion of the LGBT communityquickly went viral.

It was a textbook example of how to hold a dissembling politician accountable, cutting through spin and prevarications with the incisive elegance of a surgeon, but without anesthetic.

Bondi looked shaken when her ordeal was overmuch like then-Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu looked after Cooper made short work of her bureaucratic rosy-scenario-ing during the Hurricane Katrina disaster; or addle-brained Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, whose demagogic shouting about nonexistent terror babies withered under Coopers unforgiving demands for evidence; or, for that matter, Donald Trump, whose explanation for attacking the looks of Sen. Ted Cruzs wife HeidiHe started itwas met with Coopers stern remark, With all due respect, sir, thats the argument of a 5-year-old.

Cooper ended Tuesdays showin which he explicitly refused to name the murdererwith a more comprehensive roll call of the victims, mostly men and women in their twenties and thirties, but with one girl only 18, accompanied by heart-wrenching photographs of vibrant, good-looking, happy people with a great deal to live for.

Cooper made no bones about his solidarity with them.

As gay people, we share strands that are common no matter where we were born, or how we grew up, or what we do for a living, we share those strands of a bond, he told his viewers, adding that the gay and lesbian survivors of Sundays mass shooting, and the community as a whole, will stand up and continue to love and show the world that they are not afraid.
Recent, inconclusive evidence suggests that Omar Mateen, who murdered 49 LGBT people and alliesmany of whom were Latinoearly Sunday morning, may himself have been a closeted, repressed gay man.

That evidence remains, at this time, patchy and unclear. But the clueless reaction to it among some conservatives illustrates a fundamental misunderstanding of homophobia and their own role in propagating it.

To be sure, the most we can say right now about Mateens sexuality is that we dont know. The evidence for his repressed homosexuality consists of three patrons of Pulse saying theyd seen him drinking there (to excess), a college acquaintance who says Mateen made a pass at him, a leading comment by his ex-wife, and one person who claims to have seen him on a gay dating app. Other than that quite thin evidence, all the rest is conjecture.

Moreover, rumors like this often circulate after mass shootings, most notoriously the wholly unsubstantiated claim that the Colombine shooters were a secret gay couple. Indeed, the very floating of such rumors can reek of homophobia. Then again, some gay rumors, such as those about the Roanoke shooter last August, turn out to be true.

None of this uncertainty, however, has stopped some conservative pundits from opining that if Mateen was gay, that proves the attack wasnt about homophobia after all. Oh, goodie, now we can all blame the Muslims.

Such remarks are offensive, of course, but lets focus first on their wrongheadedness.

If Mateen turns out to have been repressing his sexuality, that makes the attack more about homophobia, not less. Now what we have is not a gay-hating radical Islamist but a self-hating gay man who found in Islamist ideology a way to express his animus at everyone and everything.

Nor is this unique to Islam. When Christian fundamentalist Ted Haggard preached vitriolic sermons against homosexuality, it was because ofnot despitehis furtive sex dates with a drug-dealing gay masseur. When former senator Larry Craig inveighed against the evils of equality, it was because ofnot despitehis own shame around soliciting men for sex in public restrooms.

That is why study after study has shown that the more homophobic one is, the more likely one is to have repressed homosexual desires. If youre battling your demons in private, youre going to battle them in public too.

It is also why repressed gay people seek out fundamentalist religion in the first place. Religious fundamentalism sublimates the repressed sexual urge into religious zeal. In its Christian, Muslim, and Jewish forms, it insists that we are all struggling with evil urges that must be assiduously repressed. And its restrictions on sexual expression, coupled with often single sex male environments, work just fine for those who couldnt express their sexuality in an acceptable way anyway.

Once again, that is as true for celibate Catholic priests as it is for ultra-Orthodox Jews as it is for born-again evangelicals as it is for newly radicalized Muslims. The logic of fundamentalist religion is the logic of repression and sublimation, of projecting ones own inner struggles onto the screen of the theological.

I know this from personal experience. For 10 years, I lived my life as a closeted, Orthodox Jew. I wasnt closeted because I was Orthodox; I was Orthodox because I was closeted. Here was a world of spiritual (i.e., sublimated sexual) enthusiasm, of rich community, and of deferred expectations for sexuality. Along with many other misfits, I found a home among the newly religious.

Of course, that life was also one of self-hatred and self-denial. I dont think I could ever have shot up a gay bar, but I certainly harbored deeply homophobic feelings about those gays with their drag queens and pride parades. They were deviant, slutty, degraded. I was above all that.

Obviously, it would be absurd to project my experience onto that of Omar Mateen. Yet for the 12 years I ran an LGBT nonprofit, I counseled dozens, if not hundreds, of religious people struggling with their sexual identities, and the pattern was often similar. Self-hatred, religious devotion, and an ever present, frightening sense that it could all crack at any moment. Just last week, I received an email from an evangelical Christian struggling with exactly the same issues, in exactly the same way.

The more internalized homophobia, the more externalized homophobia. The more fear of ones own sexuality, the more condemnation of someone elses.

Now, I wonder, where did Mateen get all that homophobia from? Surely some was from his Muslim communityalthough reports indicate he was not that pious a Muslim. Surely, though, the American-born, NYPD shirt-wearing Mateen also absorbed some of the endless condemnations of LGBT people coming from religious conservatives, Republican politicians, and some of the same public figures now exploiting the murder of LGBT people to further their Islamophobic agenda.

Such exploitation knows no bounds of decency.

First, before the bodies were even identified, conservatives treated this as purely a Muslim terror attack, erasing us from the narrative and condemning Muslims with the same broad lies that they use to condemn gays. Hardly any Republican congressman to tweet concern about the attack even said the words gay or LGBT. Or Latino.

Then, as gays became convenient victims to be exploited, we were told gay people were merely symbols of Western civilization. Ted Cruz, who has fought against us at every turn and who would make my own marriage illegal, said that now gays ought to stand up and fight against Muslims. Donald Trump, who likewise has promised to appoint justices to void my marriage, said the attack proved him right.

And then we were treated to the likes of Erick Erickson telling us that even to talk about the deliberate targeting of an LGBT nightclub was to draw an unnecessary dividing line. I guess this was just a random nightclub, then. Like that random church in Charleston, I guess, which just happened to be filled with black folks. Or like that random supermarket in Paris, which just happened to be filled with Jews.

And now that rumors circulate that homophobia was the primary, rather than just one contributing, cause of this vicious act of murder, now were told that its not a factor at all. All the while, Im not even allowed to donate blood for the survivors. The only gays blood conservatives want is dead gays blood.

The obvious reason for all this silence, exploitation, ignorance, and obfuscation is that to the extent homophobia was a motive in the shooting, the ultimate blame lies on the same conservatives trying to exploit it. Ted Cruz, and thousands of people like him, are as responsible as the barbarians in Raqqa for what has happened to us.

So, no, Im not going to come together or unite with the very people who, just last week, were creating the conditions for this massacre to take placeand who, in the last 12 months, have introduced more than 100 anti-LGBT bills across the country. Maybe sometimebut not now. Because whatever we learn or dont learn about Omar Mateens sexuality, the Orlando attack was as much about homophobia (and guns) as it was about Islamism.

All of which makes the homophobes blame games seem all the more desperate.
When you are coming home with your family and you are accosted by a killer; not to rob you, or rape your wife, but simply because he hates white Christian people, is a colossal cause for alarm for everybody. The couple was in law enforcement, but nevertheless, this one is simply baffling, because there is not reason or realm. Being targeted in your driveway!!



I don't believe in hell, but in this case I wish it did and sicko's like this one, would be embraced and handed over to the darkest corner of hell, over to the most hideous things hell would have created. Hell, one can hope.
It was Donald Trumps 70th birthday on Tuesday, and as Trevor Noah reported on The Daily Show, he celebrated by framing President Barack Obama as a terrorist sympathizer.

During an appearance on Fox & Friends this week, Trump described Obama as not tough, not smart, or hes got something else in mind, reviving old conspiracy theories about the presidents faith.

Are you shitting me? Noah asked. Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, is saying the president of the United States is a secret agent for ISIS. Hes accusing Obama of treason! If ever there was a way you know that President Obama is not an African president, this is it, because if you pulled this shit in Africa, we would not know where Donald Trump is right now. Calling Trump deceitful and shameless, Noah said the 2016 race only had one sleeper agent and his name was Dr. Ben Carson.

With the presidential primaries now over, Noah noted that the stakes have been raised. America will either elect the she-wolf of Wall Street or an expired bottle of Sunny Delight. So he decided to compare Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump head-to-head via their respective speeches in response to the Orlando terror attack.

While Clinton exhibited signs of compassion, resolve and restraint, Trump went with pure paranoia and late-stage jaundice.

Lets cut the crap, this guy is fucking crazy dangerous, Noah said of Trump. Hes not trying to move America forward. He spent most of his speech lying and laying out his plan to turn America on itself. The host proceeded to call out Trumps various lies about Clintons supposed secret plan to abolish the Second Amendment and confiscate all the guns in the country.

Pushing back against Trumps assertion that loose immigration laws gave rise to the Orlando shooter, Noah told the GOP candidate, Theres no box on the immigration form that says, Do you plan to accidentally raise a child that could be a danger to America? That box doesnt exist. Because if that box did exist, what would have happened is when your mother immigrated to the U.S. from Scotland, she would have checked yes and yes!
After locating main parts of the wreckage of EgyptAir Flight 804, searchers have now found the airplanes cockpit voice recorder, Egyptian officials say. Recovering and downloading the recorders data should be a major step in learning what caused the disaster. Data recording the speech and actions of the pilots is not as crucial to the investigation as the far richer data on the flight data recorder, but it is of urgent interest in this case because there is no record of any distress calls from the pilots.

The swift success of the search means that, for once, the technology designed to locate an airplane lost over an ocean actually worked.

The breakthrough in this case was being able to establish where the airplane went down with an accuracy as close as five square miles.

Two devices were key: an emergency locator transmitter, ELT, attached to the rear of the airplane itself, and a beacon with a short battery life attached to the flight data recorder. Both failed to work in the two most recent instances of airplanes that disappeared over oceans: Air France Flight 447 in 2009 and Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in 2014.

The ELT is designed to automatically register impact with either water or land and then send half-second bursts every 50 seconds to a satellite. The information is then beamed from the satellite to a ground station where operators can establish the exact point where the transmitter isalthough experts say it can take as long as a 100 minutes to obtain a totally accurate fix.

The beacon on the flight data recorder is a bigger challenge. The range of its signals is limited by the conditions of the ocean, influenced by both the depth at which it lies and the effect of water temperature and currents. At best, its signals can be picked up only at a maximum range of around a mile and a half. The batteries powering the beacon have a life of around only 30 days.

In this case the crew of a French naval vessel, the Laplace, seem to have done an amazing job. Following the lead of the ELT, they arrived at the indicated location and detected the signals from the flight data recorders beacon while there were still two weeks left of battery lifealthough once the location of the beacon was fixed, the battery life did not matter any more.

The Laplace then had to wait in place for the arrival of the John Lethbridge, a ship equipped with a remotely operated underwater vehicle, ROV, that was able to go down to the extreme depths where the wreck is believed to be, as deep as 10,000 feet, and send back sonar images.

All these steps would appear to have been achieved with textbook speed. The next priority will be to establish where the rear fuselage of the Airbus A320 might be. That is where the flight data recorder, the black box, is located and recovering that recorderand the cockpit voice recordermechanically from the wreck will be a demanding test. It is highly probable that the data on the recorders will be retrievable. The recorders from Flight 447 were found at a depth of 13,000 feet after two years and French investigators were able to download a complete record of what happened.

Experts with long experience of similar searches have been puzzled by the absence of any floating wreckage of significant size. In the cases of Air France 447 and Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 identifiable pieces of the airplanes were found floatingalbeit in the case of the Malaysian Boeing 777, turning up only after more than two years as flotsam on beaches.

The absence of significant pieces of the Egyptian A320s structure turning up as floating debris suggests that most of the airplane is on the ocean bed. As the searchers now seek to retrieve the data recorders they will also be mapping the debris field, and that will give significant clues to the way the airplane broke upwhich, in turn, may help to establish what caused it to suddenly plunge to its destruction from 36,000 feet.

At the moment there is no reliable indication of whether the crash was caused by a technical failure or by an act of terrorism. It is to be hoped that the same expertise shown in locating the wreck will prevail in the following investigationthe French accident investigation branch, the BEA, fields one of the most proficient and trusted teams in the world. If they are allowed to lead the investigation it will be reassuring to the airlines and world aviation authorities who have so far been troubled by the erratic and contradictory statements coming from Egyptian authorities.

It has never been clear how the Egyptians themselves assign the responsibility of conducting an air crash investigation. Normal international standards that guarantee the independence of investigators have not so far been evident under the current authoritarian regime. These include leaving the examination of wreckage to professional accident investigators and making no statements that cannot be supported by evidence.
When we last saw Game of Thrones noblest ex-knight, Jorah Mormont, he had just declared his undying love for his khaleesiI will always love you, he said, cueing our tearsand rode off in search of a cure for greyscale, the usually fatal disease that threatens to turn him to stone. No one knows if or when the lovelorn son of Bear Island will ride back into Daeneryss army (and into our hearts) again, but happily for those in Jorah withdrawal, Scottish actor Iain Glen can still be found lighting up the small screen in Sundance TVs supernatural drama Cleverman.

The six-part series, being billed as the first Aboriginal superhero story told onscreen, takes place in a dystopian society where a humanoid race of people (derogatorily called hairies for their physical appearance) are restricted to a slum known as The Zone. The Subhumans, as theyre alternately called, possess superhuman strength and speedand in one of them, called the Cleverman, a connection to an alternate world.

Its a gritty and timely vision of a future not unlike our present, in which the majority still struggles with fear of a rising ethnic minority. Hysterical TV news reports chronicle jarringly familiar acts of violence, discrimination, and police brutality. Politicians bluster uselessly. Smugglers profit from hairies desperate desire to escape. And in the midst of it all, shadowy figures like media magnate Jarrod Slade (played by Glen) play both sides of the debate, in service of his own inscrutable ends.

Whether Slade is earnestly an ally in the hairies struggle for acceptance is left ambiguous. Hes wealthy, he wears sleek suits (goodbye to Jorahs sweat-stained yellow shirt!), and hes chummy with the media power players who exploit the publics fear. And yet, he funds a medical center within the Zone, where his wife works as a doctor. And, as he regularly reminds us, he was friends with the Indigenous communitys original Cleverman before he died and passed the mantle on to a younger, more reluctant successor.

Glen hopped on the phone with The Daily Beast to discuss his new character, the perks of traveling, Europes refugee crisis, and of course, Ser Jorahs fate on Game of Thrones.

Filming in Australia must have been a nice change of pace from Croatia, where most of Game of Thrones Meereen scenes are filmed.

You know, I filmed there many years ago for this series about Vietnam with Kevin Dillon called Frankies House and we had had a ball during that. Id been back there since Ive become good friends with Nicole Kidman, so I had a bit of a knowledge of Sydney and what great fun it is to live and work there. It was a dream offer.

Its one of the lovely bonuses of film and TV work, it takes you to lovely places. I honestly never take that for granted. Its a lovely aspect of the job. Theyre always fearful that youre gonna walk under a taxi or something. Once theyve got you there they look after you, mainly because they just dont want you to take lots of drugs or do a bungee jump or something. They tend to keep an eye on you and look after you. So youre always treated very well. That was true on [Cleverman.] But its lovely, I was right in the heart of Sydney, I was in a gorgeous hotel, and they were lovely people on it. Really, really good bunch of primarily Aboriginal actors, which was great.

The shows notable for its cast of 80 percent Indigenous actors, which makes it the new benchmark for diversity on Australian TV, as Sally Riley, head of Indigenous at ABC TV, has said.

Yeah, well I think thats right and thats the story. Its sad to say, but its almost unusual in itself to have an Aboriginal-inspired, six-part drama on television. Of course, there have been famously a number of films that have been done, but its too rare and there's such, such talent there in all areas. It was one of the attractions, definitely, of the job. I knew a bit about [the culture] but not enough, and I enjoyed researching.

Your character, Jarrod Slade, is inscrutable in a really fascinating way. Im four episodes in and still cant quite tell what his ultimate goal is and what his connection to the old Cleverman was like.

I think thats right, Im glad that you feel a duality within the role, that was always incorporated into methat I didnt fall too heavily on one side or the other, in the sense that if I describe Jarrod Slade, hes basically an inordinately wealthy media magnate who has a very big business empire in pharmaceuticals and real estate and right across the media. The kind of figure we talked about was Richard Branson, in the sense of a self-made man who is often quite anti-government, very independent-minded; more a man of the peoplenot an elite kind of wealth, but more fighting for the people. So thats kind of who he is and when the drama begins, theres this very malfunctioning society where theres this huge fear between different groups, as youve seen. And part of his instinct is to try and bring the two parties together. Hes funding medical help through a medical organization within the Zone that his wife is running. So there are good things and also theres a darker side to it. I think he has a great scientific knowledge, he's very interested in science. He starts to get rather too involved in experimentation and trying to work out what exactly the DNA difference is between the hairies and the rest of the modern populace. And again, these are all current metaphors for things that are going on in the world today, scientifically as well. People are a little suspicious of that and probably rightly so.

Another clear metaphor is the majoritys hatred of the hairies themselves. How do you read their internment as commentary on real-world oppression of minority groups?

Well I think, you know, certainly within Europe, the whole migrant crisis is probably the biggest thing, as well as terrorism. Its very, very difficult for all the governments of the European countries to know how to deal with the migrant crisis, which is genuine. In its most basic form, its people who on the whole are trying to escape dire circumstances, otherwise they wouldn't be doing what they're doing, risking their lives to try and seek a place to land, a peaceful place to exist. And its how those countries are in a safer place and have a safer society. How do they react to the others wanting to coexist? Thats kind of the most central theme of Cleverman.

And its very hard. Its really hard. Im fairly left-wing by nature. But my instinct is to try and help as much as possible. And on the whole, apart from the German government, there was a sort of kneejerk reaction of doing too little and not doing enough. Now the Germans have got their own issues and theyre backtracking slightly, but I was very glad that they took that position. I think its very easy to see migrants not as fully blooded human beings with children and in dire need. So its a very real issue and one that doesnt have simple answers, but I hope that the drama kind of looks at these issues and asks us how we should behave.

Those are questions America is dealing with as well, especially with the xenophobic rhetoric coming out of certain candidates in our presidential election.

(Laughs.) Yes. I think often, if you were doing okay in whatever it is, as a person or a nation or whatever, I think you have to be careful about saying [in a booming voice], Listen, we did it right, were all right, so just back off. You figure it out for yourselves and stay away from us cause weve got what were happy with and we want to keep it. I think we should be more sympathetic humans than that and more welcoming in sharing the good things that weve been lucky enough to gain.

In Game of Thrones, one of the last scenes we saw Ser Jorah in was the moment Daenerys burnt down the khals temple and emerged from the flames unscathed. In that moment, as the khalasar and Daario Naharis bowed down, only Jorah raised his head, with devotion and reaffirmation written all over his faceat least, thats how I saw it.

Yeah, I think thats absolutely right. For me, it really strongly echoed the culmination of the first season when, I dont know if you remember, she walked into the pyre of Khal Drogo and [the camera] went up with the flames into the night sky. And when we came back, we were at Ser Jorahs feet as he walked through these prone, bowing people toward this godlike woman who had shown herself in a completely different light.

Hes always adored her. Hes always hugely admired and known that she would be a benign leader of people. But then theres always been this other side to him that understands shes beyond his knowledge, she possesses things that are so extraordinary they cant really be spoken. So yes, in that moment I think probably he was reminded of why hes decided to dedicate his life to this woman and how right he is to do that.

Your role next to Emilia Clarke as Daenerys continues a great pattern over your career, in which youre often playing opposite iconic womenfrom Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft to Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil to the khaleesi herself.

I suppose I am! Yeah, Ive done quite a lot of things with strong, iconic women. I couldnt imagine better work, really. Im very happy to be a part of that. Theres rightly been a fair amount of complaint about drama, that there are not enough strong womens roles and not enough properly developed female roles for all ages, really. Part of the problem, certainly in the U.K., is that even when you go back to Shakespeares time when even the girls were played by boys, a lot of the best-written roles are for men, written by men. So its good to try and redress that balance a little bit, but its coincidence, its not my doing.

Jorah finds such fulfillment in service to Daenerys, which allows him to set aside his unrequited feelings for her. Hes really become one of the purest, most noble-hearted characters on the show.

Its one of the lovely things about Game of Thrones: You have such contrast in personality within it, dont you? But I certainly like that aspect. There are probably more people within the series with ill intentions or conflicted intentions than good intentions, but he has a pure line. And just, you know, my job is just to make it as deep or as believable as possible without being saccharine in the wrong way, but just to be a profoundly loyal man. But I also wanted him in some ways to be an ordinary man, because I think she is extra-ordinary and thats what fuels his huge passion for her.

I think in the hands of a different actor he absolutely could have come across as obsessed or saccharine or too good to be believed.

Yeah, I think thats right. But you know, that being said, Dan and David are wonderful writers and they grade these things very, very well for you. They do a lot of that work for you. You know, you have to play each scene for what it is, but they never overwrite them, they never give you too much of one thing. They always offer degrees of contrast. In some ways, Season 5 was about me traveling with Tyrion across the landscape again to try and get back to her, but you almost needed that breath away from our story, for us as actors, for the audience, between Daenerys and Ser Jorah, to see the separation, to sort of again understand his need, and perhaps her need, and the conflict of when they came back together again. Theyre such gifted writers. I think they measure everything very well, so if you play it moment by moment, I think youre pretty safe in their hands.

All right, now is that time when I ask you to speculate on Jorahs chances of survival and you come up with a really creative way of dodging my question.

(Laughs.) All I can say is its been a dream job from beginning to end. Its been nothing but a ball doing it. Its extraordinarily exciting to be part of such a successful and appreciated series. If you can count on one hand at the end of a long career things that have come close to resonating in the way that Game of Thrones has, then I think you should be a pretty happy bunny. Its been pretty transformative for most people on the show, certainly the principles of the show. Its sort of changed all our lives for the good. Im hugely grateful, really, for the experience of being on it. The show is bigger than any single person within it. It just fills me with excitement every year at the prospect of reading those next scripts and going back to work and getting into that costume again and hanging out with the same people. Its a ball.
New questions about the integrity of Donald Trumps income tax returns, and new indications that he does not pay income taxes, arise from rulings in two tax appeals that Trump filed in the 1990s. Trump lost both cases.

Trumps 1984 federal income tax return included a Schedule C, the form used by sole proprietors, the decision in the first case shows.

Trump listed no income on that form, yet he deducted $626,264 as expenses. His New York City tax return also showed no income, but listed slightly less in expenses: $619,227.

No receipts, invoices, or other documentation were provided when Trump was under audit or during his appeal from what he argued was an unfair demand for more tax.

The record does not explain how Petitioner [Trump] had significant expenses without any concomitant income from his consulting business, wrote H. Gregory Tillman, the city administrative law judge who heard the case on April 29 and May 28 of 1992.

Jack Mitnick, the lawyer and accountant who prepared Trumps tax returns for more than two decades, was Trumps only witness. Mitnick testified that he was thoroughly familiar with the Trump tax returns and all aspects of the finances of Trump Tower, which were central to the appeal.

But when shown a photocopy of Trumps 1984 tax return, Mitnick testified that we did not prepare that return, referring to himself and his firm, and he said did not know who did. However, Mitnick did not dispute that it was his signature on the photocopy.

The original tax return was never found, the judge noted.

Among the issues raised by Mitnicks 1992 testimony is whether Trump or someone acting on his behalf substituted a return that he or someone else prepared and then transferred Mitnicks signature using a photocopier.

Mitnick, now 71 and semi-retired, told me in a telephone interview Tuesday that he had no recollection of that case or a second appeal in which he represented Trump, whose returns he prepared until about 1995.

The second case was before the New York State Division of Tax Appeals in 1994 and concerned taxes on profits from selling units in an East 61st Street apartment building which was 90 percent owned by Trump, with his brother Robert and aide Louise Sunshine splitting the remaining share.

Again the issue was 1984 deductions Trump took without providing any documentation to auditors or when Frank W. Barrie, a state administrative law judge, heard his appeal.

It was in this appeal that the record shows Trump paid no income tax in 1984.

Mr. Mitnick has prepared Donald Trumps income tax returns for the last 20 years and testified that Mr. Trump had no income tax due against with the credit could have been applied, Judge Barrie wrote in his 23-page opinion.

In the city case, Judge Tillman noted that Trump complained of double taxation, but found that claim baseless. Using bold face to emphasize his point, Judge Tillman wrote, The problem at issue is not one of double taxation, but of no taxation.

The Trump campaign did not respond to an emailed list of detailed questions about the two cases. A second email was also ignored.

These two decisions should prompt new calls for Trump to release his tax returns. He claims, falsely, that he cannot release his returns since 2012 because they are being audited. But a tax return is filed under penalty of perjury and releasing a return has no effect on an audit, as many tax authorities (including a former IRS commissioner) have noted.

But even accepting Trumps specious claim, no reason exists for him to withhold his complete returns from 1980 through 2011 since by his account those audits are closed.

And to be clear, releasing just the summary of the tax return, the Form 1040, is not adequate. Trump, like all candidates as well as sitting presidents and vice presidents, should disclose his complete tax returns including every form, schedule, statement, and the worksheets so we see just how the tax liability was determined.

That Trump has no intention of ever releasing his tax returns became clear on May 13 when he snapped at an ABC anchor that his federal income tax rate is none of your business.

The tradition of presidential candidates disclosing their tax returns has an august purpose: making sure that another criminal is not a heartbeat from the presidency or in the Oval Office.

The disclosure tradition dates to when Spiro Agnew resigned as vice president in 1973 and then plead guilty to a tax crime. President Richard Nixon was an unindicted conspirator in a felony for which his tax lawyer Edward L. Morgan went to prison for creating a fraudulent $576,000 tax deduction on his behalfone of the specifications in the impeachment proceedings that never came to a vote because Nixon resigned in August 1974.

Hillary Clinton, Trumps expected opponent in the November election, and her husband have made public their complete tax returns going back more than three decades. Their returns since 1992 are available here.

Congressional Republicans who are distressed about Trumps fitness to run for president could make his tax returns public. Indeed, in the 1920s tax returns were public record and newspapers routinely reported the precise income and tax paid by prominent Americans.

Congress could simply add a one-line amendment to Section 6103 of the tax code, which makes returns confidential, providing that the nominee of any party whose name appears on the ballot in say 10 or more states will have his or her complete tax returns, for as many years as the IRS has copies, posted on the IRS website.

Such a rule would be based on an objective standardappearing on the ballots of many states as a presidential candidateand thus any federal court should dismiss a legal attack as unfounded with an expedited appeal to the Supreme Court.

The record in these two cases offers clear evidence that Trump, at least in these two instances, has played fast and loose with his obligations as a taxpayer. It could throw light on why hes offered so many different explanations about why he hasnt disclosed his complete tax returns at least through the year 2011.

The facts in the two appeals could arguably be construed as evidence of calculated tax fraud, a felony. They certainly cry out for disclosure because, as Richard Nixon told us, Americans should know to a certainty that their president is no crook.
Everyone knew Joshua Stand.

The 35-year-old Oklahoman was a construction worker and ranch hand, a beloved uncle and an avid hunter who preferred the outdoors.

Residents of Delawarea tiny town 55 miles north of Tulsaalso knew Stand struggled with mental illness.

In June 2014, Stand was released from jail, weeks after being charged with driving under the influence. It was a Friday, and a judge told Stands family hed be committed to a hospital after the weekend.

But before he could get help, Stand was gunned downshot nine times by the Oklahoma state trooper who originally arrested him.

Two witnesses to the shooting say Stand never charged at the officer during the June 16 encounter, according to a lawsuit filed by Stands family on Wednesday.

Rather, they say Stand was running from the officer just before his death, and that his only weapon was a closed pocket knife, the complaint says.

The lawsuit, filed against Trooper Jerrod Martin, alleges Stand died because of the cops excessive use of force.

We want to find out what happened, Stands mother, Peggy, told The Daily Beast. "Josh had problems and wouldnt take his medicine. But the cops knew, because they picked him up several times before. They were set to pick him up that day, that morning."

We were just worried he would run away. We werent thinking hed get shot or anything, she added.

Stand claims Martin only knew her son through his run-ins with the law. According to the lawsuit, Martin was angry that Mr. Stand had been released from jail.

All [Josh] had was a pocket knife, and it wasnt even open when [Martin] shot him, Peggy Stand added, citing neighborhood witnesses claims in the complaint. He was using that to clean the fish down by the river. He was an outdoorsy person  he knew how to live off the land.

For his part, Trooper Martin claimed he feared for his life when he confronted Joshua Stand, according to an August 2014 district attorneys report clearing him of wrongdoing. He was responding to a 911 call about a knife-wielding man behaving erratically in the street, authorities say.

Capt. Paul Timmons of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol told The Daily Beast he was reserving comment until he saw the lawsuit. E-mails sent to Martin and his family also went unanswered.

Local police havent released the 911 call, according to Daniel Smolen, an attorney for Stand family. Smolen said hes been requesting a recording of the call for months.

Even in the states own report on Stands death, Martins recounting of the episode appears to be at odds with witnesses, who say in the new lawsuit that Stand never attacked the trooper. Dashcam footageexclusively obtained by The Daily Beastappears to show Martin chasing after a shirtless and shoeless Stand, who demands to be left alone.

Peggy Stand says her family is still searching for answers.

Her lawsuit comes at a time when Oklahoma law enforcement is under increased scrutiny. In November 2014, the Tulsa World revealed the number of people fatally shot by Oklahoma cops has tripled since 2009. Of the 109 shootings since 2007, 108 were deemed justified by state and county agencies, the paper reported.

Last year, a Washington Post analysis of police shootings showed Oklahoma led the country in fatal police shootings per capita.

The last time Peggy Stand saw her son was in the courtroom, on the day a judge ordered him released from Nowata County jail.

Joshua Stand didnt go home. Instead, he camped out by the Verdigris River, surviving through fishing and a local grocers donations. He told his mom he was tired of civilization and wanted nothing to do with people.

The grocery store gave Stand a fishing pole and some worms, and Peggy Stands brother helped him catch some catfish. They just liked him, Peggy Stand said. They knew Josh wouldnt hurt anybody.

Peggy Stand said Joshua had schizophrenia. He was admitted to a local hospital in March 2014his fourth hospitalization for his illness.

The mother assumed her son would return to the hospital on Monday.

But that morning, Trooper Martin passed Stand walking on the side of the Highway 169, just south of the Kansas state line.

Dashcam footage from Martins car, released to Peggy Stands attorney, shows Martin pulling over on the side of the rural highway, exiting his vehicle and pointing a gun at Stand, who was walking away with his back facing the cop.

Hey, stop! Martin yells after exiting his patrol car, gun raised. Hey, I told you to stop! Stand, whose back is facing Martin, keeps walking. Hey! Put the knife down and stop! Martin orders. Hey. Im gonna talk to you! You better stop!

Stands voice is faintly heard on camera, saying, Leave me the fuck alone.

The two appear to be at a safe distance apart, then they drift out of view. Seconds later, neighbor Linda Koscelny is heard in the footage, pleading with Martin not to shoot Stand. The cop tells her to get out of the way. The audio on the remainder of the dashcam footage is spotty.

As it turns out, Koscelny wasnt the only witness. Another neighbor, Charles Hill, also witnessed the fatal foot chase, according to Peggy Stands lawsuit. (Descriptions of witnesses appearing to match Koscelny and Hill are mentioned in a district attorneys report absolving Martin of any crime. In the report, neither of the witnesses mentions anything about Stand waving a knife at Martin.)

Hill was on his porch and holding binoculars when saw Martin chasing Stand with his gun drawn, court papers say.

Stop, you son of a bitch, or Im going to shoot you! Martin allegedly screamed, according to Hills account in the new lawsuit. Hill claims he heard Martin threaten to fire on Stand several times, according to the complaint.

Then Hill says he saw the trooper chase Stand into Koscelnys backyard. Koscelny was outside when she saw Stand running without shirt and shoes. Get in the house, hes got a knife! Trooper Martin told her, according to the lawsuit.

Koscelny noted that Stand did not appear to have a knife, the complaint states. According to the lawsuit, Koscelny says she watched the trooper aim his weapon at Stand and pleaded, Please dont shoot him, please!

She later saw Stand brandish a closed pocket knife, but says he was motioning it toward his own chest. Stand was walking backwards, not toward Trooper Martin, Koscelny says in court documents. Leave me alone, Stand yelled to the cop, Koscelny recalled. Im not going to hurt anyone!

Hill was looking through his binoculars when he saw the officer fatally blast Stand in the chest, the complaint says.

Moments before, the complaint says, Stand was across the street from the cop, yelling, I aint done nothin. Leave me alone! Then the cop fired his gun, the lawsuit claims.

Hill says he never saw Stand charge at or threaten the officer, according to the lawsuit. After seeing Stand shot down, he drove his truck to the scene. When he arrived, the cop was continuing to aim his gun at Stand, who appeared to be dead, according to the complaint.

Stand had gunshot wounds in his chest. A closed pocket knife was next to him on the ground, Hill recalled in court papers.

Why did you shoot him? Why did you kill him? asked Koscelny, who rushed to the scene after hearing gunfire. Martin never responded, the lawsuit claims.

Stand was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hours after the fatal shooting, local TV station News on 6 spoke with Koscelny and other neighbors at the crime scene.

He comes from a very good family, Koscelny said that day, adding, It shouldnt of happened, should of had a different outcome.

I run through the house and I come out here  I begged [Martin] not to shoot him. I just begged him not to shoot him. He wasnt hurt, there were other alternatives, she added.

The medical examiner ruled Stands death a homicide.

According to the autopsy report, Stand died of multiple gunshot woundsincluding two that entered his back. One gunshot wound entered his left buttock, the report stated. There were also gunshot wounds in his upper chest, neck, left leg and arms.

The autopsy also indicated Stand had methamphetamine in his system.

Martin still works for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

On August 8, 2014, the district attorney Kevin Buchanan ruled the shooting was justified, and Martin immediately returned to active duty.

It is undisputed and well documented that Trooper Martin repeatedly requested and/or ordered Joshua Stand to drop the knife, Buchanan wrote in a letter to Oklahoma Highway Patrol chief Rick Adams.

Yet Buchanan noted one finding of concern: Three gunshot wounds  appear to have entered Joshua Stands body from behind. He continued, Trooper Martin does not recall firing any shots at Stands back.

Martin was familiar with Stand and his mental health issues, Buchanans letter confirmed.

The officer arrested Stand in April 2014 for driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and some traffic offenses. He also observed Stands erratic behavior at the county jail, the document states.

By the district attorneys account, Martin radioed Nowata County dispatch to see if Stand had outstanding warrants the day he was killed. But the dispatcher told Martin there was no reason to take Stand into custody.

Within minutes, Martin allegedly received a call from dispatch, stating multiple callers had reported a man walking down the centerline with a knife in hand.

Trooper Martin claimed that after a foot chase, Stand was making chopping or stabbing motions with the knife as the two faced each other, the letter states.

In this final encounter, Trooper Martin was again instructing Joshua Stand to drop the knife and talk to him, the district attorney wrote in his report, adding that Martin watched Stand relax and put his knife into his pocket.

Martin considered at this point physically engaging Joshua Stand but feared that Stand could remove his knife from his pocket quickly if this was attempted, the document says. Stand allegedly turned and revealed the knife, before taking a step toward the cop, according to the report.

Martin estimated he was less than 20 feet from Stand and feared that Joshua Stand would or was about to attack him, the DA wrote.

Seconds later, Martin shot Joshua Stand multiple times and he appears to have perished almost immediately, the report added.

Daniel Smolen, the attorney for the Stand family, questioned the details of Martins story about the shooting.

I think its awfully random that the same officer who arrested [Stand] a couple weeks before just happens to be patrolling when hes allegedly walking down the highway with a knife, Smolen told The Daily Beast.

Its heartbreaking to me, the attorney added. The family fought hard to get their kid out of custody because of mental health reasons, only to have him gunned down by the same trooper who locked him up.
Prince William has notably not been as visible as his mother was in the service of LGBT issues, challenges and awareness.

However, all that is set to change today, as William graces the cover of the celebrated British gay magazine, Attitude, as part of his campaign against bullying.

The historic issue marks the first time a member of the royal family has been photographed for the cover of a gay magazine.

The issue of Attitude magazine went to press on Wednesday 8th June, just days before the devastating shooting in an LGBT nightclub in Orlando.

In a statement issued today, referring to the atrocity, the magazine said: Around the world LGBT people experience hatred and violence every day. Such violence does not exist in a vacuum but snowballs from intolerance and bullying that begins in classrooms, too often comes from politicians, religious leaders and is often not treated with respect by the media.

The interview and photo shoot for the magazine was done shortly after William sat down with a group of LGBT+ teens and adults, at Kensington Palace, to listen to their experience of bullying and the mental health impacts it can have.

During the meeting, video snippets of which have also been released today, LGBT+ individuals explained how bullying had led to low self-esteem, suicide attempts, eating disorders, depression and drug addiction including, in one case, the death of a young man after an unintentional overdose.

William then posed for the cover of Attitude, photographed by Leigh Keily.

Speaking to Attitude, The Duke commented: No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives. The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now. Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it. What I would say to any young person reading this whos being bullied for their sexuality: dont put up with itspeak to a trusted adult, a friend, a teacher, Childline, Diana Award or some other service and get the help you need. You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

A recent report found that 33.9% of young LGB people had made at least one suicide attempt compared to 17.9% of young straight people. 48.1% of trans young people had attempted suicide. 57.1 % of LGB people had self-harmed at least once compared to 38.3% of heterosexual young people. 85.2% of trans young people had self-harmed as opposed to 47.4% of cisgender (born into the body you feel you are) young people.

Attitude Editor Matthew Todd said today in a statement, During my time as editor of Attitude I have met parents whose child has taken or lost their life after being bullied for being LGBT+ or even just perceived to be LGBT. I am very happy that the future king of the United Kingdom agrees this must stop, and I would urge parents in particular to raise their voices in their communities to ensure that every school protects  really protects  all children.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: "The Duke of Cambridge is working hard to support the fight against bullying and to help break the stigma around mental health. He has established a taskforce on the prevention of cyberbullying and along with The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry is leading the Heads Together campaign on mental health and well-being.

"He knows that LGBT young people suffer unacceptably high rates of bullying and he was grateful to Attitude for facilitating such a serious conversation on this topic. He was moved by the stories he heard and impressed by the positivity and courage of the people he met."
NEAR FALLUJAH  Twenty-three days after the Iraqi security forces started a major operation aiming to retake besieged Fallujah, the forces are still fighting to control the first neighborhood of the Anbar city.

Much of the murkiness surrounding the battle to expel ISIS from Fallujah, which lies 64 kilometers to the west of Baghdad and has long been a cynosure of the Sunni insurgency, has to do with who, exactly, is doing the fighting. And thats a question that touches on Iraqs ever-parlous sectarianism.

The United States insists that Shia militias, many of whom are avowedly Islamist and fighting for their own version of holy war, must not enter Fallujah and should instead confine their activities to the outskirts or suburbs of the city. The Pentagon has been providing air cover only on the south and western fronts where professional counterterrorism forces, the Iraqi army units, Sunni tribal forces and local police have operated. The northern front, where the militias and Iraqs Federal Police are located, have seen no U.S. air strikes.

Perhaps for that reason, the south has seen more progress. Al-Shuhada, a neighborhood at the southern doorstep of Fallujah, is still contested with fierce clashes between Iraqi Security Forces and ISIS jihadists. Although earlier statements by Iraqi commanders were claiming they have completely controlled al-Shuhada neighborhood, Sabah Numan, spokesperson of elite Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), told The Daily Beast, We are currently in the first al-Shuhada neighborhood and we have been able to liberate 90 percent of it.

Yet recent violations against Sunni civilians fleeing ISISs captivity in the north have complicated efforts to press on.

According to an official investigation carried out by the Anbar governorate, at least 49 people have been killed by Shia militias in two towns: Saqlawiyah, 8 kilometers northwest of Fallujah, and Al-Karmah, 16 kilometers northeast of the city. Additionally, 643 men have been declared missing between June 3 and June 5. The investigation records that have been signed by Sohaib al-Rawi, the governor of Anbar province, also state that all detainees have been subject to severe collective torture. Iraqs Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi tweeted, Harassment of IDPs is a betrayal of the sacrifices of our brave forces liberation operations to expel Daesh [ISIS] from Iraq.

Operations in the northern front stopped because of violations against civilians by Hashd al-Shabi and Federal Police, according to Esa al-Esawi, the mayor of Fallujah, using the Arabic term for the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), the umbrella organization under which the Shia militias are bundled. The Federal Police are not respecting human rights laws.

Human Rights Watch and the United Nations have largely corroborated these allegations.

The Iraqi government, which considers the Shia militias part of its anti-ISIS security forces, refuses to directly accuse them of war crimes or atrocities. Saad al-Hadithi, the spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told The Daily Beast, Security forces have arrested a number of suspects who tortured civilians near Fallujah. Al-Hadithi said they cannot specify number of the detainees and the parties they belong to.

The composition of forces arrayed in this operation are somewhat difficult to confirm independently.

According to a source from the CTS, around 3,000 soldiers from this elite military division are leading the offensive on Fallujah city. Long considered Iraqs only non-sectarian force, the CTS concedes that most of personnel are Shia from southern Iraq, although an Anbar tactical regiment and special operations team leading the operations alongside them are both primarily made up of Sunnis.

Additionally, there are thought to be 20,000 Federal Police officers, 5,000 army soldiers and hundreds of Sunni tribal forces and local police participate in the operations.

According to Karim Nouri, the spokesperson of the PMF, there are 14,000 fighters of PMF fighters participating in the Fallujah operation. Ten thousand, Nouri said, are in Saqlawiyah and 4,000 are in al-Karma, along with Iraqi Security Forces. The majority of these militia fighters is from Nouris own Badr Organization (which also controls Iraqs Interior Ministry and thus its Federal Police), Kataib Hezbollah (the Brigades of the Party of God) and Asaib Ahl al-Haq the (League of the Righteous). All three groups are widely known in Iraq for their direct links with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In a video uploaded to the internet on May 23, a commander from the Abu al-Fadhl al-Abbas, a subsidiary of the League of the Righteous, told his paramilitaries that there were neither any civilians nor any true Muslims left in Fallujahlanguage that suggested a categorical disregard for protecting civilians. Other videos show militias meeting out corporal punishment to accused collaborators with ISIS.

Another major obstacle in the forward advance on Fallujah has been the high number of civilians still trapped inside the city. According to Mayor al-Esawi, between 80,000 to 90,000 of them are being held as human shields by ISIS. Al-Esawis office said that protecting civilians and avoiding any danger [befalling] them was Iraqs top priority.

But the largest obstacle seems to be absence of a clear strategy as each party is pursuing its own agenda. The first is ideological, led by Iranian spymaster and the commander of the Revolutionary Guards Corpss foreign Quds Force, Qassem Suleimani and the aforementioned Shia militias he supports. Their objective, judging from their sectarian rhetoric and pro-Iranian iconography, is to export Tehrans Islamic Revolution to Mesopotamia, taking full advantage of the collapse in national security brought about by ISISs onslaught two years ago.

The second agenda is nationalist in intent and led by al-Abadi, who hews closer to the U.S. line, and does not want to alienate or marginalize Sunnis. But with militia and government atrocities mounting, that may prove a foregone conclusion.

With reporting by Salam Zaidan and Hussam al-Dulaimi
Hill Republicans despondent over TrumpMany senators are simply refusing to say anything about their presumptive nominee.Senate Republicans have tried to work with Donald Trump. Theyve offered gentle advice and firm guidance, hoping hell morph into a general election candidate who wont kill their chances of keeping the Senate, or better yet, will give Hillary Clinton a run for her money.None of it has worked. And now a palpable mix of despair and resignation has permeated the Senate Republican Conference. Many lawmakers are openly frustrated, and refusing to defend the comments and actions of their own standard-bearer, the man theyve endorsed for president.Story Continued BelowTrumps insinuation that President Barack Obama may be sympathetic to Islamic State terrorists was the final straw for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.Im not going to be commenting on the presidential candidates today, the Kentucky Republican said Tuesday, an abrupt reversal after several weeks of weighing in on Trumps performance, particularly the ways he believed the candidate needed to improve.McConnells No. 2, Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, declared he is done talking about Trump until after the election  nearly five months away.Wish me luck, he said.Cornyn, whose Capitol office is located just steps from the Senate chamber, has been among the most accessible GOP senators on matters involving the presidential race.Scene outside Philadelphia's City Hall as gatherers hold a candle light vigil for those killed and injured in the Orlando attacks.LGBT groups to Trump: No thanksBy BIANCA PADRO OCASIOThen there was Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, an oft-mentioned potential vice presidential pick for Trump. The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, who met with the presumptive nominee at Trump Tower in New York last month, seemed almost dejected as he was pressed Tuesday about how Trump has handled the aftermath of the mass shooting Sunday at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.I dont know that I really have a lot to say, the usually voluble Corker said twice. He eventually noted that he has offered advice to the businessman at key times but said he has been discouraged by the results, panning Trumps high-profile foreign policy speech in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Monday.It wasnt the type [of address] that one would expect a person who is wanting to lead the greatest nation in the world to make, Corker added. Fifty people have perished, and [53] more have been harmed. Trump continues to be discouraging.For Republicans grappling with the prospect that Trump could erase their Senate majority this November, the GOP standard-bearer has done little to pivot from the aggressive rhetoric and controversial policy stances that enthralled Republican primary voters.Once again, vulnerable GOP senators running for reelection in swing states found themselves seeking daylight from Trump.Listen, Im responsible for my own words and my own actions, said Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. On Trump repeating his call to bar Muslim immigrants from entering the United States, Johnson stressed: Again, Ive stated very clearly I disagree with that.Donald Trump renews call for Muslim banViewDonald Trump renews call for Muslim banDonald Trump talks about immigration policy on Monday.06/13/16 03:21 PM EDTYou know Ive previously disagreed with him on his viewpoint that we should have a religious-based test in terms of peoples admission to the United States, Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) said. She instead emphasized that lawmakers need to zero in on gaps in the U.S. intelligence system, adding: I think the focus really needs to be more based on the facts and the evidence.Even Republicans in influential national security positions had little to say about Trumps response to Orlando and his fitness to be commander in chief. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, who has found himself in an unexpectedly competitive reelection race in Arizona, declined to respond to questions about the presumptive nominee and how he has handled himself post-Orlando.Meanwhile, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.), who is also on the ballot in November, simply responded that he hadnt seen Trumps speech.Ill go read, Burr said as he ducked into an elevator at the Capitol.Trumps former opponents in the GOP presidential contest werent too keen, either, on Trumps latest remarks.Im happy to address the substantive challenges facing this country, said Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, the effective runner-up to Trump in the Republican primary. But I have no interest in providing play-by-play color commentary on the ongoing political battles in the presidential battle.While Republicans reluctantly endorsing Trump are delicately denouncing his proposals while supporting the nominee himself, the latest round of controversial positions aired by Trump has only emboldened the vocal faction of Republicans at the Capitol who have said they cant endorse the billionaire mogul.Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a rally, Friday, May 27.Russian government hackers broke into DNC servers, stole Trump oppoBy DANIEL STRAUSSTrump not only repeated his call to bar Muslim immigrants  a plan that would not have applied to Orlando shooter Omar Mateen, a U.S. citizen born in New York  but also said it should be broadened to countries with a proven history of terrorism against the United States or its allies. The presumptive GOP nominee called for Obamas resignation over the presidents reluctance to use the label radical Islam and accused Obama on Tuesday of continu[ing] to prioritize our enemy over our allies, and for that matter, the American people.Trump also tweeted a self-congratulatory note mere hours after the Orlando massacre, the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.Hes won 13 million votes total so far; hes got to get 65 million or so to win the general election, which includes a lot of independents and Republicans that dont feel as he does, said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who has long been dismayed by Trump. He cant win the general election talking the way he is.Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) deemed Trumps suggestion that Obama was sympathizing with Islamic terrorists highly offensive and again panned the moguls call to bar Muslims from the United States.Mr. Trumps reaction to declare war on the faith is the worst possible solution. Youll never win this war if you dont have partners in the faith, said Graham, a respected national security voice in the GOP. I have said over and over again, I dont think he has the judgment, the temperament or the experience to deal with what were facing.Added Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who isnt sure shell even vote for Trump: I think his comments are inappropriate when the nation is in mourning over the worst terrorism attack that weve had since 9/11.Other Republicans tried to make the best of it, pointing out what they saw as bright spots in Trumps remarks.Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma said he found Trumps post-Orlando comments very appropriate. But he quickly clarified that he wasnt talking about barring Muslims from the United States.Sooner or later, you have to say what the reality is. And radical Islam is responsible for destroying this country, and this is probably the most heinous of all their acts, Inhofe said. As long as we have an administration that doesnt recognize that, were at war, and everyone knows it except for Hillary and Obama.
It is hard to tell if letter writer was being serious or not

"We must come together once again as a united people" a June 9 letter said.

It is hard for me to determine if the letter writer was serious or making a failed attempt at satire. He recounts building a wall and seems to rail against the Chinese and Hispanics, yet touches on a favorite talking point of the left: guns. Claims are made the Constitution is as valid as it was in 1787, but with all of the judicial activism that has transpired over the years this is not exactly correct.

I am confused about the range of rhetoric, but one thing I am certain of, doing the same thing that has failed for the past 7-plus years is not a viable or workable option. Failure is exactly what we will get with Hillary Clinton as president.

The only thing on which I agree with the letter writer is we don't have good candidates to choose from.

JAMES CONNEALY

Bryan

Won't vote Republican until party rejects Donald Trump

I am a recently retired registered Republican. I earned a graduate degree, so consider myself intelligent. At least intelligent enough to know when the GOP has sold its soul to the devil.

As Thomas Friedman, three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, recently wrote, the Republican Party should "declare moral bankruptcy." He is on target when he said that our country needs a healthy two-party system. Key word is healthy; there is nothing healthy when elected Republicans are willing to vote for Donald Trump just to keep a Democrat out of the White House.

I have voted for a Republican president since I was old enough to vote. I am now embarrassed to say I am a Republican. I voted in the Republican Primary for Marco Rubio. He has "sold out" to the man he correctly pegged as a "con." Even my state and local elected officials say they will vote for Trump! So be it.

But I'm putting them on notice: In November, I will vote against every Republican who says he or she will vote for Trump. And I will continue to vote against Republican candidates until I see proof the party has disassociated from Trump and his racial bias and his egotistical, narcissistic, dangerous ideas!

At least I can continue to be proud of "41." It's nice to know one man willing to stand by his principles and values!

In November, I'll vote against Donald Trump by casting my vote for Hillary Clinton. My family is shocked I am saying that, but they know that I hold dear the principles and values our country was founded on. I treasure our freedom of religion.

I am thankful I live in America; I have friends all over the world who would love to have our freedom and lifestyle.

We need a New Republican Party!

JOY MILLER

College Station

Getting consequences of crossing borders illegally right

Think before you vote in all upcoming elections. Most of the idiots running this country say one thing and do the opposite, knowing that the people who voted them in do not pay attention.

Let's see if I got this right:

 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, a drivers license,

 A Social Security card and welfare,

 Food stamps and credit cards,

 Subsidized rent or a loan to buy a house,

 Free education and free health care,

 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.

GARY GRIFFIN

Bryan
Eight years later Major John Wesley Powell descended the Colorado River through its gorges, renamed the Big Canon as the Grand Canyon, and wrote a classic account of the view from the river. In 1882 Captain Clarence Dutton, in the first monograph published by the new US Geological Survey, wrote an equally classic account, this time from the rim.

A mental fusion of science and art

Something had changed. Mostly it was the advent of geology as a science with broad cultural appeal. The Grand Canyon might be valueless as a corridor of transport, but it was a 'wonderland' for the new science. It helped enormously that artists were drawn to landscapes, of which the canyon seemed both unique and operatic. Urged by Powell and Dutton, Thomas Moran and William Henry Holmes transformed a supremely visual scene into paint and ink.

Before Powell and Dutton, the Grand Canyon was a place to avoid. Now it was a marvel to admire. Twenty years later Teddy Roosevelt stepped off a train at the South Rim and added nationalism to the mix by declaring it "a natural wonder ... absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world."

It was an astonishing reversal of perception. The geologic mystery of the canyon is how the south-trending Colorado River made a sudden turn westward to carve its way, cross-grained, through four plateaus. This is also more or less what happened culturally. Intellectuals cut against existing aesthetics to make a place that looked nothing like pastorals or alpine mountains into a compelling spectacle.

Unlike most great features, the Grand Canyon is invisible until you stand on its rim. You aren't drawn to it as to a river's source or a mountain's peak. You have to seek it out, and then cope with its visual revelation. It simply and suddenly is.

So it appeared to Western civilization. As Dutton pointed out, the canyon, "while the sublimest thing on earth", was "a great innovation in our modern ideas of scenery", and appreciating a scene so alien to European sensibilities demanded the invention of a new aesthetic. It required its own unique canon of appreciation. The Grand Canyon stood alone.

Humans can only mar it

It still does, which makes its role as a portal to the national parks paradoxical. Yet in two ways the canyon has strengthened the national park system in recent decades.

First, it added an appreciation for exposed rock, gorges and earth colors to the traditional focus on the bucolic, the alpine and the green. It made it possible to value the larger setting of the Colorado Plateau, which contained the Grand Canyon but otherwise lay to the margins of American settlement and economy. This region now has the highest density of parks and monuments of any physiographic province in the country.

Second, the Grand Canyon contributed to the rise of postwar environmentalism through debates in the 1960s over proposed dams. The canyon had enough cultural cachet that advocates could argue successfully to preserve it. Slightly upriver, Glen Canyon by contrast lacked that heritage and got dammed.

Yet the Grand Canyon sits awkwardly in modern preservationist thinking. The larger thrust has been to expand beyond geologic monumentalism, typical of early parks, and incorporate living landscapes rich in biodiversity and unique habitats.

But the Grand Canyon is a geological monument. If it contained nothing alive within its immense bowl, it would still retain its cultural power. Its scale is so vast that, other than flooding it above the gorge, it's hard to imagine what people might do to permanently alter it.

Yet it is possible to spoil the canyon experience. What it takes is an obscured sky, or a visually confused viewpoint, or social noise that distracts from the quiet calm of individual vision. The Grand Canyon's great impact still derives from the sudden shock of seeing it all without filters or foreground. The rim just falls away. The canyon is there, instantly and insistently. That sensation is what must survive for the Grand Canyon to work its cultural alchemy.

Threats to parks are not new, but they have evolved from poaching and dams to the compounding insults of an Anthropocene era. Still, as Roosevelt understood, the Grand Canyon testifies to that most fundamental of all needs.

"Leave it as it is ... The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it." Keep it, he urged, "for your children, your children's children, and for all who come after you."

We can do that in spite of climate change, invasive species, a feckless global economy, dysfunctional politics and a national attention span for which sound bites take too long. We can leave it as it is.

Stephen Pyne is Regents Professor in the School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University .

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Photo caption: Eleanor Guerrero-Campbell discusses her debut novel, Stumbling Through Paradise: A Feast of Mercy for Manuel del Mundo, at the Creekside Community Recreation Centre in Vancouver. Photo credit: Melissa Shaw

By Melissa Shaw,

Special to The Post

A new novel reflects on the experiences of Filipino Canadians through the story of one family, and aims to inspire newcomers to achieve their dreams.

Eleanor Guerrero-Campbells novel, Stumbling Through Paradise: A Feast of Mercy for Manuel del Mundo, is a work of fiction inspired by the author's experiences working with immigrants.

Home  one's identity  is not geographic-based, it's not culture-based, it's not age-based. It's who you love and who loves you and who you care about and who cares about you, says Guerrero-Campbell, who co-founded the non-profit organization Multicultural Helping House Society to assist newcomers with settlement, education, housing and employment in Vancouver, British Columbia.

This is our home and we will never be torn when we think of home this way.

The story follows Josie and Manuel del Mundo's journey from the Philippines to Vancouver with their children.

Manuel is a proud engineer who has trouble adjusting to his new work environment in Canada. Josie has a teaching background, but finds work as a cook and eventually becomes the chief executive officer of a catering company.

Manuel later helps a caregiver in distress, which leads to an affair. His son Bobby discovers his father's secret, resulting in the family's separation.

After a confrontation between father and son, Manuel has a heart attack. The next section of the novel focuses on the lives of the older del Mundo children: Sonia, who faces racial discrimination, and Bobby, who becomes involved in a Filipino gang.

The third section of the book focuses on the youngest child, Manolita, who becomes involved in politics.

Familiar stories

When I was reading the book, I had to stop for a little bit and wipe my tears. It really resonated with me as a newcomer in Canada, says Irene Querubin, who was born in the Philippines and now hosts the Vancouver radio program The Filipino Edition.

Querubin was emcee at the books launch at the Creekside Community Centre in Vancouver. The event featured dramatic readings by members of Anyone Can Act Theatre, which sponsored the launch.

Vancouver-Kensington New Democratic Party member of legislative assembly (MLA), Mable Elmore, B.C.s first MLA of Filipino descent, read Manolita's political campaign speech from the book. Elmore says the novel captures the challenges and struggles immigrants face in Canada, including racial tensions and underemployment.

She says although the Filipino community in B.C. is relatively young, she has noticed increasing participation of Filipino immigrants in their community through literary work, council presentations and musical performances.

Challenges for Filipino youth

Among those using the arts to promote inter-cultural dialogue are members of DALOY-PUSO, a mentorship and arts program for Filipino newcomers in high school. The group, whose name means flowing from the heart in Tagalog, benefitted from proceeds collected at the launch.

The mom and the dad are working three jobs and they don't have a lot of supervision at home, Vancouver School Board youth settlement worker Adrian Bontuyan says of young newcomers.

He explains that many mothers come to Canada from the Philippines through the Caregiver Program, through which they provide childcare in Canadian homes. After working for 24 months or 3,900 hours, they can apply to become permanent residents and bring their family members to Canada if their application is approved.

Bontuyan says he will read Stumbling Through Paradise to learn about how he can further support immigrant youth and start discussions to help them understand their parents experiences.

The aspect of mentorship that [Guerrero-Campbell] mentioned is very important, because the youth need someone to look up to as an example of success and basically someone that the youth can be comfortable with sharing his or her struggles of being a newcomer, he says.

Guerrero-Campbell also explores the idea of home through her young characters. The del Mundos' daughter Sonia finds belonging through the satisfying relationships she builds with people in the Philippines and in Canada.

Empowering other newcomers

Guerrero-Campbell says she hopes people who have read her book will discuss it with others and start a dialogue about the challenges immigrants face.

The one message I really want to convey is empowerment  for our newcomers to feel empowered, she says. They came all the way to achieve something and I want them to know that they can achieve their dreams.

Guerrero-Campbell came to Canada in the late 1970s with a master's degree in urban planning and regional planning from the Philippines. She was a planner for the City of Edmonton, Alberta, and continued to work in planning in Surrey, B.C. and Richmond, B.C.

She helped author Hiring and Retaining Skilled Immigrants: A Cultural Competence Toolkit for B.C. human resources managers. Guerrero-Campbell was the CEO of the Minerva Foundation for BC Women and a co-convenor for the Vancouver Immigrant Partnerships Access to Services strategy group. Stumbling Through Paradise is her first novel.

This piece was originally appeared in New Canadian Media (newcanadianmedia.ca).

See http://newcanadianmedia.ca/item/36512-story-of-filipino-family-hits-home-for-immigrants-story-of-filipino-family-hits-home-for-immigrants
For luxury car lovers, Saturday was their day at Ferrum College with the Lincolns of the Blue Ridge show.

The show focused on Lincolns built between 1920 and 1948. The oldest one in the show, a 1922 Leland manufactured in late 1921, drew a lot of attention Saturday, as it was parked beside a 2017 model on the market today.

The 1922 Lincoln, owned by Bob Montague of Virginia, has been in the same family for 95 years.

Event organizer Roddy Moore said Gerald Duncan, owner of Duncan dealership in Rocky Mount, made arrangements to lend the 2017 model to L.D. Arrington of Rocky Mount for the show. Arrington owns three vintage Lincolns.

In addition to Arringtons three cars, Leo Scott and Paul Radford, both of Ferrum, displayed their vintage Lincolns. Radfords 1977 model had a For Sale sign on it.

Montague provided a brief history of his 1922 model. The car was sold in October 1921, he said. It was 5,206 of 7,000 produced by the Leland Car Company before Lincoln was sold to Ford Motor Company later in 1922. The car was titled in the District of Columbia.

Montague was given the car in 1954 while he was attending the University of Virginia. The car had been parked for 13 years when he received it. He had the vehicle towed to his home because the motor was stuck, but after soaking it for a week, it became free.

Montague had to replace the windshield and the original leather seats. The side leather was in good condition, he said. He later replaced the convertible top for $100 and had the car painted.

Saturdays car show included many vintage cars that were not Lincolns. Bob Most of Endicott and Florida had several on display, including a 1906 Maxwell, a 1909 Sears with a full page advertisement from one of the companys old catalogues showing the ordering price to be $395, and a 1912 T-Model Ford.

I spend a lot of time showing these cars, Most said. Ive traveled over 500,000 miles, showing my cars.

Most has shown them in 42 of 49 states in addition to Switzerland, Italy and Canada.

The car show was sponsored by Ferrum Colleges Blue Ridge Institute and Museum was made possible by members of the Eastern National Meet of the Lincoln-Zephyr Owners Club and the Early Lincoln Owners Club.
Tom Lovett / The Gleaner Workers from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet cut up a large pecan tree in Esther Daily's front yard in Geneva, Ky., after the tree fell across Kentucky 136 on Wednesday afternoon.

SHARE Tom Lovett / The Gleaner A large pecan tree in Esther Daily's front yard fell across Kentucky 136 in Geneva, Ky., on Wednesday afternoon, blocking traffic on 136 for hours and knocking out power to the community.

By Tom Lovett of The Gleaner

The storm that swept across the region Wednesday afternoon knocked down a large pecan tree in Geneva resident Esther Daily's front yard, blocking traffic through the community for hours.

Daily said she was working on her computer and heard what she thought was a large lightning strike "and my electricity went out. ... I saw my neighbor standing outside... and I thought 'What's going on out front?' because I thought it was just a bolt of lightning. I came out and this (tree) was across (Kentucky) 136."

The tree, one of 14 pecans in Daily's yard, had fallen across both lanes of Kentucky 136, just west of the Geneva Store. It also snagged a power line and pulled it down and snapped a power pole.

"The wind ... caught it just right and it was just down," Daily said, as she stood in her driveway, watching workers from Kenergy, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Time Warner Cable repairing the damage.

"Thank God nobody was coming by because it fell all the way across the road."

Keith Todd, a spokesman for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, estimated the damage would take four to six hours to repair.

Daily said her insurance company told her the damage was considered "an act of God."

The work crew from the Kentucky Transportation Department cut the tree into sections so the downed power line could be removed and the road could be cleared, but were not going to remove the lumber.

"If anybody would like to have some pecan wood for their smoker, I've got some," she said. Anyone interested in the wood can call her at 270-577-3810. All things considered it could have been a lot worse," she said. "My little doggies are OK. I got lucky."
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Actions of the Bevin administration to enforce the governor's order removing the chairman of the Kentucky Retirement Systems Board of Trustees caused the board to violate the Kentucky Open Meetings Act last month, Attorney General Andy Beshear's office said in an opinion released Tuesday.

In a 21-page opinion, Beshear stated that the retirement systems board violated the Open Meetings Act 'when a board member indicated that other Board members faced arrest and/or investigation if they participated in the meeting or stood for election as Board Chair.'

The opinion added, 'These indications and/or threats were supplemented by the presence of third parties from other state governmental entities, including the Governor's Chief of Staff, as well as the presence of multiple law enforcement officers prior to the meeting and during the meeting.'

Those actions, the opinion states, effectively placed an unnecessary restriction 'on the attendance of any member of the public' at the meeting.

A group called Kentucky Government Retirees sought the opinion, and it said later Tuesday it was pleased with Beshear's findings.

'We hope that this decision will ensure that future meetings will be conducted transparently and free of disruption from outside parties with no standing in the conduct of KRS meetings or any role in the board's deliberations,' the Kentucky Government Retirees' statement says. 'Today's ruling signaled a victory for fiduciary independence.'

In April, Gov. Matt Bevin issued an executive order removing Tommy Elliott, the former chairman of the board, as a member of the board. But Elliott and the systems' staff said Bevin had exceeded his authority because Elliott still had years remaining in his term by prior appointment of Gov. Steve Beshear, Andy Beshear's father.

But Kentucky State Police troopers attended the next meeting on May 19. And according to the opinion, both Elliott and Retirement Systems' Executive Director Bill Thielen said that Bevin administration officials threatened Elliott with arrest if he tried to participate in the meeting. And Elliott did not take part in the meeting.

Kentucky Government Retirees said that the unprecedented and heavy State Police presence had a 'chilling effect' that intimidated some from participating in the meeting.

Bevin's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Beshear's opinion.

This story will be updated.
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By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT, Ky.  Attorney General Andy Beshear says the Kentucky Retirement Systems board has violated the state Open Meetings Law.

Republican Gov. Matt Bevin removed Thomas Elliot, the board's chairman, from the board in April. But Elliott refused to leave. Last month, Bevin's office sent state troopers to a board meeting and threatened to arrest Elliott if he participated.

Beshear said the board, through its actions and the actions of other state agencies, violated the Open Meetings Law because the presence of state troopers before and during the meeting created an atmosphere that chilled or confined the public's right to freely attend the meeting.

Bevin spokeswoman Amanda Stamper said Beshear's ruling was politically motivated. She said the state troopers were present to prevent disruption in light of Elliott's refusal to obey Bevin's order.
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Gov. Matt Bevin took the state Learjet to fly out to Utah late Friday to attend an annual ideas festival hosted by 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney who is the GOP's most prominent opponent of the party's presumed presidential nominee Donald Trump.

The governor took the state's executive aircraft to an event called the Experts and Enthusiasts Summit, or E2. 'The governor was invited to speak this past Saturday at the E2 Summit in Utah with some of the most renowned business and public policy leaders in the country,' Bevin Press Secretary Amanda Stamper said.

'It was an official trip. It was an economic development opportunity to meet with business leaders who the commonwealth does business with and could potentially do business with,' Stamper said. Because of that, she said the state paid for the trip.

The governor returned to Kentucky late Saturday. The governor's office released no advance information about the trip, but responded on Tuesday to some questions posed to the office via email.

Some national news media reports - including one in The Washington Post - said Bevin was among the prominent Republicans who would attend the event. The newspaper reported that the E2 Summit in Park City, Utah, is a gathering of roughly 300 people 'mostly Republican business and political leaders' - at the five-star Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley for three days of seminars.

Those attending the summit, The Washington Post reported, included both people hostile to Trump as well as Trump allies. But at the summit numerous media outlets reported Romney repeated his sharp criticism of Trump

Bevin told Kentucky reporters in early May that he will wait until the Republican Party convention this summer before making any public statement on who he will support for president. He did say that he will surely not endorse presumptive Democratic party nominee Hillary Clinton.
JASON CLARK / THE GLEANER Kirstin Ethridge (right) hugs Grace Hunter both of Evansville as they attend a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando at Zion United Church of Christ in Henderson Tuesday.

SHARE JASON CLARK / THE GLEANER Guests walk through the front doors of Zion United Church of Christ to attend a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando in Henderson Tuesday. 49 people were gunned down in the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in Orlando. JASON CLARK / THE GLEANER Leo Garcia of Henderson (center) and Ryland Madden of Evansville light candles while attending a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando at Zion United Church of Christ in Henderson Tuesday. Tom Lovett / The Gleaner A lone candle sits on a rainbow-draped altar at Zion United Church of Christ in Henderson on Tuesday evening after a vigil for the victims of the Orlando shooting.

By Erin Schmitt of The Gleaner

It was standing room only as more than 300 people packed into Zion United Church of Christ Tuesday night to remember the 49 people killed at a gay club in Orlando over the weekend.

"All Americans want to think we are safe," said Tri-State Alliance President Wally Paynter. "There are no words to describe what this is  a tragedy, a hate crime, a terrorist event; we almost need a new language for something like this. But we want to think we're safe."

He said Henderson or Evansville or Owensboro aren't so different from Orlando.

"This could happen here," he said. "Think what would happen in our small communities if 49 people were killed just because someone doesn't like who they are."

Zion United Church of Christ opened its doors to provide a safe space for people to pay their respects to the victims.

"I think there is a whole community of people that want to grieve together and need a place where they can do that," said Pastor Bob Coons. "In particular the LGBTQ community has not been able to do that, not a lot of safe places," he added. "The one place that was safe for them, a gay bar, was found to be not so safe. We want to provide a safe space for people to grieve and comfort each other."

Coons was contacted by Paynter about hosting a candlight vigil on Sunday. Paynter made the call from Evansville's Gay Pride picnic, not long after learning about the shootings in Orlando.

Paynter thinks it's important for people to stop and remember. He hopes that vigils like the one in Henderson Tuesday night and the one scheduled at Temple Adath B'nai Israel in Evansville at 6 p.m. Thursday will increase civil discourse and encourage discussions.

"Even if we are a little different, we're all Americans and we all should have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," he said.

Kelley Coures, director of the Department of Metropolitan Development in Evansville and an openly gay man, gave a presentation about the history of LGBTQ people before the vigil. He was one of three people to give a remembrance, along with Paynter and Glenda Guess, whose son, the Rev. Ben Guess, was a former pastor at Zion United Church of Christ.

Guess spoke as a "PFLAG" mom. She said every mother fears for their child when they are born. That fear intensifies when they come out as gay.

Things had seemed better for the LGBTQ community the past few years. And then the Orlando tragedy happened to remind everyone that "our work is not done yet," she said.

"We must support each other," she said. "I urge you to support and love. Go to places where you feel you are not judged. Go to the bar, stay together. Go to churches where you aren't judged. ... Work to help to make the community a better place."

Heterosexual allies grieved with LGBTQ people during the vigil.

"I think we all need to support each other," said Evansville resident Paul Meford, a member of the church. "We need to look at the bigger issues, that it's not Islamic, its not Muslim, it's not that kind of stuff. It's about accepting each other."

The most profound moment to come out of the tragedy, according to Meford, was "Hamilton" star and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony Awards acceptance speech about "Love is love is love."

"We've all got to love each other," Meford said. "It's hard but that's the only way that we can get through this. If we keep feeding the fear, then we're just shooting each other randomly and it's just chaos."

Wearing a pink T-shirt that said "Love," Henderson resident Pam Johnson, another member of the church, said she was tired of all the violence.

"It's just one after another," Johnson said. "Like our president says, we're getting tired of having to pay our respects and mourn. I have grandchildren and my prayer is always that the world is a better place for them than it is now. This isn't something we can fight our way out of. I think we've got to love our way out of these things."

At the end of the vigil, Skylar Julian, an Evansville teen and member of the Tri-State Alliance youth group, rang the church bell 49 times  once for each dead Pulse shooting victim.

"I feel it's important because these are people in our community and we can't back down just because people want to instill fear in us," Julian said about the vigil. "We have to make sure these people didn't die in vain  that we keep making strides forward and that we show that everyone deserves to love who they want, be who they want and not live in fear."
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By Adam Beam, Associated Press

FRANKFORT, Ky.  Kelly Gunning and her husband were getting ready for work one morning in January when their son, whom she said has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, attacked them with a rock.

Gunning said her son, Nathan Donahue, was getting treatment at the time from the state's assertive community treatment program. But the program was voluntary and Gunning said Donahue would often refuse to take his medication or receive treatment. The result was a horrible scene in Gunning's home, where she said she had to stop her son from hitting her husband "until he looked like a piece of hamburger."

"He was there to kill us. He made no mistake about making that completely clear," Gunning said. "I am afraid of my own son now."

Gunning's emotional testimony before a panel of state lawmakers was part of mental health advocates' push Wednesday urging state lawmakers to allow judges to order some people to get outpatient mental health treatment if they have had at least two forced hospitalizations within a year. Advocates say it could help stop the "revolving door" of patients who are forcibly committed and get better with medication only to be released and fall back into dangerous behavior without supervision of doctors.

Lawmakers on the state House and Senate's health and welfare committees began meeting Wednesday to prepare for the 2017 legislative session, which begins in January. Republican Sen. Julie Raque Adams, the chairwoman of the panel, had to pause the hearing momentarily to wipe away tears. She declined to endorse the proposal Wednesday, but said that "this is one of those issues I think we can no longer stick our heads in the sand and ignore."

Donahue is now in the Fayette County Detention Center facing multiple assault charges. Gunning said while cleaning out his home, she found a year's worth of unopened medication.

"I need you to understand that people like my son are like Alzheimer's patients," Gunning said. "They don't believe they are sick."

At least 21 states have laws allowing some form of mandatory outpatient treatment, according to Michael Gray, advocacy coordinator for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Kentucky. Various versions of the idea have been proposed in Kentucky since at least 2013, with no success.

The latest proposal would be for a pilot program, limiting it to 30 people in the first year and 60 people in the second year. But advocates have struggled to come up with a cost for the program, and lawmakers have been unwilling to approve something without knowing how much they will have to pay for it.

Kentucky Public Advocate Ed Monahan also worried language in the proposal would force people into treatment based on what they might do if left untreated.

"Most of the ways we take people's liberty in this country is for behavior that they have committed for which has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that they deserve their incarceration. ... This is a dramatic, new lesser standard," he said, adding: "The best way to get long term change behavior is by the person choosing to do it through engagement."

Sheila Schuster, executive director of the Kentucky Mental Health Coalition, said she and other mental health advocates have offered to remove the language from the bill about predicting someone's future behavior. But the bill still did not have enough support to pass the state legislature.

Monahan's arguments were not enough to sway Gunning.

"You know what? You could be wrong, Ed," she said. "And I don't want to be dead wrong."
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By Laura Acchiardo, laura.acchiardo@thegleaner.com

Methodist Hospital is making leaps and bounds in terms of cancer treatment and research.

Methodist held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of their new Hematology, Oncology and Infusion services Wednesday morning, where Mayor Steve Austin and Judge-executive Brad Schneider spoke along with representatives of the hospital.

According to a hospital press release, the departments are housed in 5,800 square feet on the second floor of Methodist's Elm Street building, where the Pediatrics unit used to reside.

Hematology and Oncology practice was formerly located at North Water Street and Pediatrics now occupies part of the third floor of the Elm Street building

About five years ago infusion services was on the fourth floor of the same building in a single treatment room.

"We started outgrowing that," said Sabrena Fulkerson, RN Director of Oncology at Methodist. "We moved to a space on the second floor that had 10 chairs, and we have now outgrown that. It's important that we provide a comfortable space for these patients and their families."

The new space allows more room for the departments to expand and having all three services in the same location enhances the continuity of cancer care for patients.

New to the departments are two private infusion rooms for those who are either not able to sit in a recliner or are at risk of spreading infection. There has also been an increase of infusion chairs from 10 to 11. Due to the increased space, community groups including Chemo Buddies and Gilda's Club will be offering support services to patients.

"Cancer is not a disease that affects one person," said Fulkerson. "It affects that person and everyone in their family."

This move follows Methodist's affiliation with the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center in Sept. 2014. Through this affiliation, Methodist is able to offer advanced practices in diagnostics and treatments of cancers and blood disorders, including clinical trials. According to Paul Moore, MD Chair of the Methodist Cancer Center, Markey is the only national cancer institute designated hospital in the state of Kentucky. Methodist has applied to the Commission on Cancer accreditation for a community cancer center designation.
Juvenile arrested in connection with weekend shootings

A juvenile has been arrested in connection with a shooting that injured a 17-year-old and 21-year-old last weekend.
The clock is ticking for The 5 OClocks, but theres still time. The popular Fairfield County-based band is nearing the end of a crowd-funding campaign designed to raise money for its new CD, Not on Facebook.

Thus far, over 80 percent of a $2,500 target sum has been raised through an IndieGoGo campaign that ends on June 20. Wiltons Jon Saxon, an original member of the group, called the campaign a success, saying its going very well.

Saxon plays saxophone, mostly tenor sax in The 5 OClocks, a band that has been a staple on the areas music scene for decades. He describes the groups sound as a unique combination of rock, jazz, and funk elements. This is a very unique and fun band, said Saxon, not one of the many run-of-the-mill cover bands around the area. Even the instrumentation is different. Its an offbeat group, in a good way.

Other members include Westport vocalist Paula Gallo, guitarist Tim DeHuff, who is also from Westport, drummer Jim Syarto from Milford, and keyboard player John Lamb, who started the band, which was originally called The Clocks, in 1983.

The group has featured a number of talented musicians throughout its history, although there were times when the band was on hiatus. Lamb re-formed The 5 O'Clocks with its current line-up in 2014. Saxon recalled that the roots of the band go back to his teenage years.

Ive known John Lamb since we were both at Bedford Junior High School, he said. We got to know each other on the chess team in eighth-grade. I didnt start playing saxophone until 9th grade, though, and I wasnt aware John was playing piano until my junior year. One day we were in separate practice rooms, and he heard me playing and burst in to ask if I could read some music he had written. That got me in a small jazz group with him, and we played in many other original bands from that time until the mid 90s. We played off and on after that, but got back together on a regular basis when John put The 5 OClocks back together.

Lamb recorded six of the nine tracks on the new CD in his home studio in Bridgeport. Eight of the songs are originals. Plus, there is a remake of I Still Love You Anyway, written by former Westport resident Charlie Karp, who first recorded it with Buddy Miles on the Them Changes album. Karp, who played guitar on the original, also makes a cameo appearance on the bands Not on Facebook rendition.

The 5 OClocks play regularly in the area. They have a monthly gig at the Gray Goose in Southport and will be there on July 8. They also appear at charity events and will be part of The Bigelow Tea Community Challenge in Fairfield on Sept. 25. You might catch Saxon in a variety of other bands in the area, too.

I play with many other local groups, he said, including Mia & the Riff, The Butch Taylor Band, Jens Wendelboes 9th Note Orchestra, Steve Wexler & the Top Shelf, the Berkshire Jazz Orchestra, and the Sonny Carroll Orchestra. Im also called to sub regularly with many other bands when their sax players cant make a gig.

As for his influences, the Wilton resident notes that there are lots of jazz and fusion sax players, including John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon, Wilton Felder of The Crusaders, Grover Washington, Jr., Michael Brecker, Hank Mobley, Charlie Parker, Art Pepper. I could go on and on, he said. I have a lot of experience with jazz big bands as well as small jazz, funk, and rock groups. I try to be as versatile as I can and have my own voice on each of the different saxophones I play.

For information on The 5 OClocks, visit the5oclocks.com, where there is a link to the IndiGoGo campaign. For $5, you can download all nine tracks.

Other music happenings in the area include Dirt Simple blending bluegrass, folk and rock from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 22 as part of the Hello Summer free concert series presented by the Norwalk Public Library and MusicToChina. The music takes place on the Main Librarys front lawn, or indoors in case of rain. The library is located at 1 Belden Ave. in Norwalk.

Next Friday, June 24, the talented vocalist-musician Sarah Chesler, performs at "Cabaret Night" from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Calfe Mus Tiki Lounge at Calf Pasture Beach. Calfe Mu is located at 99 Calf Pasture Beach Road in Norwalk. The performance is free but theres a $10 parking fee for those without a Norwalk beach pass. For cancellation info, call (203) 854-7938.

Drummer John Cutrone hosts his Jazz at The Sono Seaport Seafood Restaurant series at 100 Water St. in South Norwalk, on Sun., June 19 with Andrew Beals on sax and Phil Bowler on bass. Music runs from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call (203) 854-9483.

Got music news? Send it to news2mh@gmail.com.
Faced with the monumental task of cutting $77 million in spending on Connecticuts court system, the state Judicial Branch announced Tuesday it will close juvenile divisions in three cities.

Juvenile cases from Stamford will be transferred to Bridgeport. The juvenile divisions in Danbury and Torrington and the entire Willimantic courthouse will also close.

It is unfortunate that these courthouse closings must occur, Chief Court Administrator Patrick L. Carroll III said in a statement. They will be disruptive and will impact many people.

Rhonda Stearley-Hebert, a judicial branch spokeswoman, said there will be no savings in building operations in Stamford because half of the fifth floor where juvenile cases are heard will remain open after the cases are transferred to Bridgeport.

Reassigning staff to fill other holes is where the savings will occur, she said.

Stearley-Hebert said a total of 18 employees from the Stamford juvenile court and juvenile probation office will be transferred to Bridgeport.

The delinquency (criminal) and child protection (abuse and neglect) dockets cover juvenile cases from Stamford, Greenwich and Darien. Since the Norwalk juvenile court closed in 2010, New Canaan and Wilton were assigned to Stamford and those cases will also be transferred to Bridgeport by the end of the year. Norwalk cases were sent to Bridgeport in 2010.

There were 932 new cases  most of which were criminal  in the Stamford juvenile court between July 1, 2015 and June 6, 2016. There were 308 pending cases as of June 6, Stearley-Hebert said.

Attorney David Marantz, who estimates he has about 25 juvenile cases, said many area teens will have difficulty traveling to Bridgeport.

How much are they saving? I dont see the financial gain in closing a court like Stamford, said Marantz, who has been involved with juvenile cases for 27 years.

Im most concerned about my clients on the delinquency side because these young teens will now need to travel to Bridgeport not just for their court hearings, but also to meet with their juvenile court probation officers.

Marantz, who called the juvenile court the first line of defense and rehabilitation, also feared probation supervision of local teens for drug treatment, urine screenings and other tools used to get them back on track will suffer.

You can make a difference there more than anywhere else, unlike adult court. It is really important, he said.

Stamford attorney Lisa Kouzoujian has been involved with juvenile cases since 1991  mostly on the child protection side  and estimates she has as many as 40 active cases still in the Stamford juvenile system.

I understand we need to save money, but if we are trying to build a community, taking court services away from children does not seem to be the answer for me, she said. My concern is that families in the court system are going to have significant challenges with a courthouse so remote from their home.

Melissa Farley, executive director of the External Affairs Division of the Judicial Branch, said the state Department of Children and Families will transport kids involved in child protection cases in Stamford to Bridgeport for free.

While the juvenile probation officers will be moved to Bridgeport, Farley hopes to have them supervise their local caseload in Stamford.

Our goal is that we want to ensure all the kids can be seen by their probation officers in Stamford, she said.

The $19.7 billion state budget passed last month, taking effect July 1, cut the Judicial Branch by $77 million  $35 million of which has to come from salaries, Carroll said. The cut represents a 13.3 percent reduction to the Judicial Branchs budget.

The closings, which are expected to be complete by the end of the calendar year, follow the recent layoffs of 239 full-time employees and 61 temporary workers. The Judicial Branch has also cut $14.5 million from programs that serve adult and juvenile offenders and will no longer operate the states two 24-hour lockup facilities in New Haven and Hartford.
NORWALK  Norwalk police detectives are investigating a purse snatching in a Main Avenue parking lot on Tuesday night.

Police were dispatched to Total Wine, 380 Main Ave., about 9:30 p.m. on a report that a woman was robbed of her purse while walking to her car.

The woman told police that as she was walking to her car she was approached by a male who grabbed her purse.

Police said that the woman held on to it initially and was dragged a short distance by her assailant, before the male was able to grab the purse.

Officers flooded the area in attempt to locate the suspect who had fled into an adjacent wooded area.

The woman was uninjured, police said.

The purse contained personal items and an undetermined amount of cash.

Seven police vehicles were at the scene, and what looked like a broken bottle of wine could be seen in the parking lot not far from the Total Wine doors.

The suspect was described as a thin black male wearing a white hooded sweatshirt. Because it was dark, the woman did not know the approximate age of the attacker.

Anyone with information is asked to contact any of the following:

Norwalk Police Tip Line at (203)354-3111

Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at: www.norwalkpd.com

Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing "NPD" into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to CRIMES (274637).
NORWALK  Though the Norwalk Housing Authoritys preschools generally end on June 30, this year, they close this week.

The two week shrink to the childrens school year is due to the Early Childhood Council's decision to not renew the housing authoritys school readiness grants, said Executive Director Curtis Law. The council is made up of members from organizations throughout the city.

Director of Educational Programs Patricia Marsden-Kish and Law requested an interview with local media to set the record straight.

I felt its important that no one thinks, first of all, that the housing authority backed away from this, said Law.

We didnt make this choice. We werent part of this decision. We werent even invited into the conversation, Marsden-Kish said. And I think its important for the community to know that.

Mary Oster, coordinator for the Early Childhood Council, who was involved with the decision to take away the Norwalk Housing Authoritys school readiness grant, did not immediately respond for comment.

The School Readiness program, a state grant that provides preschool slots to children from low-income families, has been running at the Norwalk Housing Authority since 2014. Marsden-Kish said the program serves 156 children, 56 of those toddlers.

The loss of its school readiness grant comes after the housing authority lost its Head Start program in November of last year  citing unattended children and inadequate staffing. The housing authority appealed the suspension, saying its deficiencies were corrected, but the Administration for Children and Families decision was upheld.

It came as a surprise

Law and Marsden-Kish said the loss of their school readiness program was as shocking to them as it was for the parents.

I dont recall getting bad reports, that theres something not getting done that we needed to do. And the things they did find, we always corrected, Law said. Youd think theyd let the CEO know, and let the board know, that we have these concerns and maybe give us a chance to correct them. It makes you wonder Why was this done? And for what reason?

Marsden-Kish said they simply dont buy what the council said the housing authority did wrong, but even more so, they dont know why the news had to come without any warning.

Nowhere did I hear We have grave concerns about your management, Law said.

They said the notification of the councils decision to not renew the housing authoritys school readiness slots came soon after their March budget meeting for the following year, during which no one indicated that the housing authoritys grant was in jeopardy.

It came as a surprise that they would all of a sudden decide that we could no longer do this, Law said.

The transition

Because about 30 staff members are leaving Norwalk Housing Authority as a result of the school readiness loss, Law said their accountants informed them that they could not afford to run the preschool all the way through June like they usually did.

Law said the difference was about $30,000  though theres a couple things in dispute now and are not resolved.

But the housing authority staff maintain a strong commitment to easing the transition for the families involved, Marsden-Kish said, in a way that is least disruptive.

Weve been crossing all the Ts and dotting all the Is for the legality, Law said.

They said theyve been giving the new providers, A Learning Odyssey Daycare and Growing Seeds Child Development Center, access to the 30 staff members who will be transitioning. Theyve also sent home pamphlets and helped parents access 2-1-1 for summer learning opportunities for their children.

Sometimes big people get so caught up in their own stuff they forget about the kids and we never want that to happen, Law said.
We are in the midst of a civil war in America.

The line dividing us is gun control. As the tide of blood keeps rising, each side scrambles to higher ground to defend their position. Those justifying the right to bear arms glare across the chasm at those desperate to reserve military weapons for war zones, instead of allowing them to turn American streets into battlefields

Our bruised nation continues to bear scabs from the horrors of Newtown. They will never heal as long as others cling fiercely to dangerous dogmatic beliefs they can easily express through several bullets fired per second.

We cannot become paralyzed as we weep for the victims of Orlando, Florida, of Aurora, Colorado, of San Bernardino, California, of Newtown, Connecticut. Yielding to those who dismiss demands to take the AR-15 out of public circulation will only result in more spilled blood.

U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy of Connecticut offered the expected responses to Sundays massacre in Orlando: They sought to shame Senate colleagues into supporting legislation that would curtail the proliferation of firearms.

The reaction across the trench was predictable as well. Scott Wilson, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, accused Blumenthal and Murphy of trying to score political points that will only impact persons who actually obey the laws of our society.

Wilson leans on the argument that gunman Omar Mateen ignored existing law by carrying a firearm into an establishment that serves alcohol. He ignores that Mateen could not have purchased his AR-15 in Connecticut, where gun laws became much stricter after 20 schoolchildren and six educators were slain on Dec. 14, 2012.

Mateen didnt need a license to carry an AR-15 in Florida. There was no waiting time to purchase it (there was for the Glock handgun he carried). Both guns were purchased legally within the last week in Florida.

The AR-15 is popular for several reasons. Its very easy to buy. Its simple to use. It fires quickly, with little recoil. In other words, the gun kills with efficiency. It has no business being in the hands of any civilian.

The dead deserve a richer public dialogue on the modern meaning of the right to keep and bear arms.

Maybe this is the perfect time for a Hillary Clinton to compete with a Donald Trump for the highest office in the land. Their discourse will get ugly, but could shove this civil war into the public square.

You are not unarmed in this showdown. You can raise your voice to join a chorus that cant be ignored. You can turn words into ammunition.

The six senators listed below  four Republicans and two Democrats  are potentially pivotal players in the overall effort on gun control.

This is not the time to just stew and fume and mourn. Let these men and women know how you feel. Visit their individual websites  theyre all listed at http://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/  or send them a letter.

The moment to act is now. For the moment, even the folks in Washington are paying attention. You can help transform this to the tipping point.

Susan M. Collins, D-Maine; 413 Dirksen Senate Office Building (SOB), Washington D.C., 20510

Patrick J. Toomey, R-Pa; 248 Russell SOB.

Mark Kirk, R-Ill., 524 Hart SOB.

Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.; 144 Russell SOB.

Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D.; 110 Hart SOB.

Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va.; 306 Hart SOB.

And write a letter to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the Senate majority leader, 317 Russell SOB, imploring him to at least let the Senate vote on reasonable safety precautions such as universal background checks.

Dont wait for the next bloody rallying cry. Its time to join the fight.
WILTON  Emotions boiled over when a road rage incident between drivers from two competing nail salons ended in a physical dispute, police said.

The incident began when two vans, which were transporting workers from New York to their jobs in Wilton, became embroiled in a traffic dispute of an unknown nature.

According to police, 33-year-old Longnan Ren of Queens, New York was shuttling his co-workers to their job at Good Morning Nail and Spa in Wilton when the van of a rival Wilton nail salon, Sun Spa Nails, reportedly cut him off on Danbury Road.

This maneuver perturbed Ren to the point where he raced ahead of the offender in the hopes that he could beat him to Sun Spa Nails and could inform the drivers employer about his employees reckless driving.

Ren arrived at Sun Spa Nails at roughly the same time as the offending driver, and an argument quickly ensued. The argument became heated, and at one point Ren actually kicked the other driver, police said.

At some point during the altercation, the other driver fell to the ground and suffered a laceration to his scalp. The driver, who went unnamed in the police report, was transported to Norwalk Hospital to have his injuries treated.

For his actions, Ren was charged with breach of peace. He is expected to appear in court on Wednesday, June 22.
UPDATE: The family of the toddler killed by an alligator at a Disney resort in Florida is from Elkhorn, Nebraska. The child's name is Lane Graves.

-----------

Authorities have recovered the body of a Nebraska toddler who was attacked by an alligator at a Disney World resort in Orlando Tuesday night, according to CNN.

The two-year-old boy was wading in the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa when an alligator dragged him into the water. His father attempted to rescue his child but was unable.

The Nebraska family had been lounging on the sandy shoreline Tuesday night where no swimming signs were posted, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings has said. A 4-year-old girl is also with the family.

The father entered the water and tried to pry the child from the gator but was unsuccessful, the Orlando Sentinel reported. He had scratches on his hands after the ordeal.

Authorities were hoping to rescue the boy until they announced at a midday press conference that the effort had turned into a recovery operation for the boy's body, in order to provide closure for the family.

Divers have found five alligators in the lagoon after looking for the boy since Tuesday night, officials have said.

The man-made lake stretches about 200 acres, reaches a depth of 14 feet and feeds into a series of canals that wind through the entire Disney property. Demings said at a midday press conference that the search proved difficult for workers because of the size.

This report uses material from the Associated Press.

UPDATE (2:19 p.m.)

The Orange County Sheriff's Office will hold another media briefing at 3 p.m. Central time.

Watch live here or follow World-Herald staff writer Reece Ristau on Twitter for live updates.

UPDATE (11:52 a.m.)

Nearly 15 hours after an alligator attacked a 2-year-old Nebraska boy at a Disney World resort in Orlando, officials still are searching for the boy's body.

"We know that this is a recovery effort at this point," Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said at a midday press conference.

The toddler had been wading in the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa when an alligator dragged him into the water Tuesday night.

The father attempted to rescue the child but was unable, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Demings said he hopes to bring solace to the grieving Nebraska family, whom he did not identify.

Our ultimate goal is to try to bring some closure to the family by recovering their loved one, Demings said. This is a tough situation.

Demings said he had more than 50 of his deputies searching for the boys body in the man-made lake, plus 12 workers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

[Several gators pulled from lagoon at Disney World]

The lake stretches about 200 acres, reaches a depth of 14 feet and feeds into a series of canals that wind through the entire Disney property. Authorities have deployed divers and are using sonar equipment and boats to search.

Demings said workers have had difficulty searching the lake because of its size.

The executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Nick Wiley, said experienced alligator trappers also are helping with the recovery effort.

Disney has closed nine other beachfront properties in an abundance of caution," Demings said, and to aid the investigation. The theme park has a full-time wildlife management staff that observes the lakes and responds to complaints.

Demings said an alligator had never attacked a patron at a Disney resort.

Five alligators have been found during the search and have been euthanized, Wiley said.

Officials said they would have another press conference at 5 p.m. Central time.

"The story here is this is a tragedy, but it's a rare occurrence," Wiley said.

Resort employee: Problems with guests feeding the alligators

The Orlando Sentinel reports that the Nebraska family whose boy was attacked by an alligator checked into the Disney resort on Sunday night. It's a family of four, not five, as other outlets have reported, and a 4-year-old girl also is with the family, the Sentinel said.

Authorities have not identified the boy. An 11 a.m. press conference is planned.

An employee at the resort who did not want to be identified said in an email to the newspaper that "There is such a problem on property with guests feeding the alligators thinking it's cool."

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the family was relaxing on the shoreline when the alligator attacked the boy. The father entered the water and tried to pry the child from the gator but was unsuccessful, the Sentinel reported. He had scratches on his hands after the ordeal.

Parents then alerted a nearby lifeguard that an alligator had attacked the boy. Officials estimated it was between four and seven feet long.

The initial report came in at 9:16 p.m. Tuesday, a Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said.

Gov. Pete Ricketts issued a statement Wednesday expressing concern for the child's family.

"Susanne and I are praying for the Nebraska family searching for their child in Orlando. No family should ever have to experience such horror. Our hearts go out to them."

***

More on the resort

The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is a luxe, Victorian-style waterfront hotel inside Walt Disney World Resort with rates that start at $569 per night. Guests can ferry across the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon to Magic Kingdom Park or take the amusement parks monorail system.

The resorts website touts access to a sandy beach, pools and boat rentals for cruising around the lagoon.

"Bask on the white-sand beach, indulge in a luxurious massage and watch the fireworks light up the sky over Cinderella Castle," the website's description reads.

Magic Kingdom and the iconic Cinderella castle sit just north of Seven Seas Lagoon, approximately a half mile from the main beach area at the Grand Floridian.

This report includes material from the Associated Press.
Monet rahapelien ystavat ovat viime vuosina loytaneet netticasinot ja olleet ihmeissaan. Verrattuna kotimaisen Veikkauksen kivijalkarahapeleihin puhutaan aivan eri tason palautusprosenteista ja lisaksi pelaaminen on aarimmaisen helppoa ja turvallista. Netticasinoiden maara on tana paivana todella suuri ja niita loytyy jokaiseen lahtoon, suurin ongelma aloittelevalla pelaajalla onkin tehda valinta siita, minka netticasinon valitsee. Kaikkien netticasinoiden mainospuheet naet lupaavat kauniita asioita ja niiden lapinakeminen on tietysti tarkeaa. Nyrkkisaantona voidaan kuitenkin jo kattelyssa todeta, etta jos valitsemasi netticasino on lisensoitu ETA-alueella, sen kanssa ei tule olemaan ongelmia, ellei niita itse jarjesta. Kay tutustumassa parhaisiin netticasinoihin osoitteessa www.ilmaiskierroksia.info!

Ensimmainen nyrkkisaanto on siis varmistaa, etta valitsemallasi netticasinolla on ETA-alueen lisenssi. Suurimmassa osassa tapauksista se on Maltan eli MGA:n lisenssi. Myos Viron, Englannin ja Gibraltarin lisensseja nakyy ja naissa valvonta on jopa Maltaa tiukempaa. Lopputulema on kuitenkin se, etta ETA-alueen lisenssi takaa suomalaisille verovapaat voitot seka sen, etta niita valvotaan kontrolloidusti. Maailmalla on iso nippu Curacaon lisenssilla toimivia netticasinoita ja niistakin suurin osa on laadukkaita. Ne eivat kuitenkaan ole suomalaisille asiakkaille verovapaita, joten emme suosittele niita.

Tana paivana markkinoille on ilmaantunut paljon ETA-alueella toimiva netticasinoita ilman rekisteroitymista. Jos tarkoitus on vain pelata yksittaisia pelikertoja, on varsin helppo suositella naita. Netticasinot ilman rekisteroitymista tarjoavat palvelun tunnistautumisen verkkopankin avainlukulistan avulla ja saman palvelun kautta tapahtuvat talletukset ja mahdolliset voittojen nostot silmanrapayksessa. Normaaleihin netticasinoihin pitaa asiakkaan rekisteroitya, tehda talletukset ja tunnistautua dokumenttien avulla. Tama on lisenssiehtojen mukainen kaytanto, eika kovinkaan monimutkainen, mutta silti monet asiakkaat haluavat yksinkertaista ja nopeaa palvelua. Toki normaalit netticasinot tarjoavat usein asiakkailleen laadukkaita talletusbonuksia ja erilaisia kampanjoita, joten kannattaa tarkkaan punnita, kumman ratkaisun valitsee. Kannattaa myos muistaa, etta tunnistautuminen tehdaan vain kerran, joten mikaan jatkuva riippakivi se ei ole.

Suomalaiset asiakkaat ovat netticasinoille tarkeita, joten kaikilla vahankin laadukkailla netticasinoilla on suomenkieliset sivut seka suomenkielinen asiakaspalvelu  suomenkielisyys kannattaakin ottaa netticasinoa valittaessa nyrkkisaannoksi. Vaikka tana paivana englanninkielisyys on harvoille ongelma, on suomenkielisten netticasinoiden maara niin valtava, etta suosittelemme niiden kayttoa. Rahansiirrot ovat tana paivana niin hyvassa mallissa, etta niiden kanssa tuskin tulee mitaan ongelmia. Kolme tarkeinta segmenttia: Suomalaiset verkkopankit, luottokortit (Visa, Mastercard) seka nettilompakot (Skrill, Neteller) loytyvat jokaisesta laadukkaasta netticasinosta. Viime vuosien trendiksi noussut verkkokauppa on kehittanyt rahansiirrot niin laadukkaiksi ja nopeiksi, etta niiden suhteen ei ole enaa vuosiin ollut ongelmia. Luonnollisesti netticasinot kayttavat naita samoja palveluita ja hyotyvat kehityksesta.

Naiden isojen linjojen jalkeen netticasinon valintaan vaikuttavat luonnollisesti tarjottavat tervetuliaisbonukset  uudet asiakkaat saavat tana paivana kovan kilpailun myota merkittavia etuja netticasinoilta ja niita kannattaa luonnollisesti vertailla. Erilaiset talletusbonukset, ilmaiskierrokset seka ilmaiset pelirahat tuovat suuriakin rahanarvoisia etuja ja niiden vertailu on ehdottomasti kannattavaa. Myoskaan useampien tilien avaaminen ja tervetuliaistarjousten kayttaminen ei missaan nimessa ole huono idea.

Kun edella mainitut asiat ovat mieleisia ja vaihtoehtoja on vielakin jaljella, mennaan jo nyansseihin. Toki pelivalikoima on yksi kriteeri, mutta taman paivan netticasinoissa tamakin asia on paasaantoisesti varsin samanlainen. Toki useamman samantasoisen netticasinon vertailussa kannattaa yleensa valita se, jossa on eniten peleja tarjolla. Vaikka omat suosikit loytyisivatkin useammasta, voi tulevaisuudessa mielenkiinto nousta joihinkin muihin peleihin ja silloin on tietysti mukavampaa, etta ne loytyvat valikoimista. Viimeisena voidaan nostaa esiin kaytettavyys  joidenkin netticasinoiden sivut ovat vilkkuvia, valkkyvia ja epakaytannollisia. Omaan silmaan ja kaytettavyyteen sopiva sivusto on luonnollisesti aina se paras valinta. Tarjonta netticasinoissa on tana paivana valtava ja jokaiselle loytyy varmasti se oma netticasino  onnea matkaan!
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Linkedin Yury Fedotov (The Jakarta Post) Vienna  Wed, June 15, 2016

The outcry over the so-called Panama Papers has again focused attention on the tides and currents of our global financial system.



Whether those named in the papers are breaking the law is not necessarily the point. What concerns is that there appears to be enough underwater caves beneath our financial high seas for vast amounts of treasure to be hidden from view.



Some of this money undoubtedly comes from illicit sources. Although now five years old, UNODCs Estimating Illicit Financial Flows publication showed that money laundered from criminal acts amounted to around US$1.5 trillion annually. Thats probably a conservative estimate.



But it is not just the illicit money that washes through our financial systems, corruption is also harming financial trust and government credibility.



Although this is probably enough to be going on with, this endemic crime does immeasurable harm to our societies, especially to the weak and the vulnerable.



Money diverted from governments, can prevent schools and hospitals from being built, as well as desperately needed infrastructure such as roads and bridges.



This should dispel the entirely false view that corruption is a victimless crime. Victims are legion and they include millions of vulnerable women, children and men; individuals who suffer most when corruption spirits away funds for essential services.



Corruption is modern proof of the old childrens nursery rhyme: For want of a nail.



In the poem, the lack of a nail led inescapably to the loss of a kingdom. Corruption pursues the same frightening logic.



But, corruption is not measured by lost kingdoms, or lost lives or even irreparably damaged communities, it is measured in generations of missed opportunities and hopes made barren.



Corruptions ability to undermine societies and hinder development is specifically recognized in the 2030 development agenda under Goal 16, which calls for substantial reductions in corruption and bribery.



Thankfully, there are also some signs that the tide is turning. One striking reason is the landmark UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).



It is the only universal, legal, anti-corruption instrument, and it is driven by innovative anti-corruption standards that are applicable to both the public and private sectors. The Convention is changing attitudes and changing lives at the same time.



The inclusion of the private sector is essential. Governments cannot undertake the heavy lifting on their own. There is a desperate need for close collaboration.



Fortunately, the private sector seems to be moving in the same direction. Businesses realize that the fight against corruption is a win-win situation: Business thrives where laws are clearly defined and fairly applied.



To help, I would suggest four key actions are needed.



First, countries need to create the laws necessary to give teeth to UNCAC at the local level.



Second, criminal justice institutions must be given the authority and independence to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate corruption offences.



Third, cooperation must drive everything that we do.



Finally, there is a need to promote asset recovery mechanisms to identify, seize and return the proceeds of crime.



Our goal must be the following: No funds stolen from any developing country are to be left behind in a foreign bank or tax haven. Everything must be returned.



But we cannot do this alone. The private sector can support this work. Their role is to continue turning the much desired level-playing field into the legislated playing field.



UNCAC can help. Its unique selling point is its reach and global credibility.



In the recent past, people accepted corruption and bribery as part of everyday life. Now they reject it. But it has not been tamed, it can come back with a vengeance if we let things slide.



The UN is seeking to help build better lives and greater equality, while businesses are seeking integrity, accountability and transparency.



Lets combine our work to ensure that there are fair markets in fair societies.

***

The writer is executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

---------------

We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin Ristian Atriandi Supriyanto (The Jakarta Post) Canberra  Wed, June 15, 2016

The publication of defense white papers serves to communicate the political agenda behind the defense policy adopted by a particular government and to act as a reference guide or guideline for the relevant government apparatus in implementing that policy.



Such were the reasons behind the 2015 Indonesian Defense White Paper (DWP). Published in November 2015 and released online last April, the 2015 DWP is a statement of national defense policy as a whole and as a guideline for the execution of the functions of national defense and it is disseminated to the public, both domestically and internationally.



Despite this claim, the 2015 DWP actually achieves very little on both counts. Apart from its poorly written and translated English version, the DWP has failed miserably to communicate President Joko Jokowi Widodos Global Maritime Fulcrum (Poros Maritim Dunia, PMD) concept in defense parlance. The Indonesian version mentions the terms PMD and maritime more than 17 and 24 times respectively, but their utterances lack substance as far as defense policy is concerned.



Although the 2015 DWP acknowledges that the strategic policies of China, the United States and the instability in the South China Sea will increasingly dominate Indonesias strategic environment, it scarcely describes how Indonesias defense policy is crafted in response to and in anticipation of that environment.



Anyone interested in understanding Indonesias defense policy toward the South China Sea disputes would thus be disappointed.



The 2015 DWP seemingly overlooks the emerging trend in which claimants are caught in action-reaction cycles to fortify and militarize their occupied features while they employ government vessels and offshore commercial activities to enforce maritime claims. In spite of this destabilizing trend, the 2015 DWP in its English version assumes uncritically that armed conflict will not happen because ASEAN member states have made commitments amongst of themselves in the settlement of the conflict without using armed violence.



While no DWPs can explain everything, they must adhere to the political agendas of the government in power. However, the 2015 DWP seems inconsistent and detached from PMD as President Jokowis main political agenda. Despite the PMDs central notion of Indonesia as an Indo-Pacific power  however it is defined  the 2015 DWP still retains the old Asia-Pacific geographical construct, interestingly with India included as one of the major regional powers.



Also missing is Jokowis campaign pledge for defense to get a 1.5 percent share of gross domestic product (GDP) within five years upon coming to office. The 2015 DWP  the Presidents first  instead only expects a 1 percent share within 10 years.



Instead of elaborating the maritime defense pillar of PMD, the DWP centers most of its attention on the Total Defense System (Sishanta) concept. Apart from the usual superficiality in emphasizing the ideal-normative aspect of the concept, the 2015 DWP fails to define and elaborate its maritime applicability. Indeed, the references to maritime defense are cosmetic and stop short of illuminating how the PMD would affect the implementation of concepts and programs associated with Sishanta, including active defense, layered defense and the future military posture under the minimum essential force (MEF) modernization plan.



Strangely, an entire chapter is devoted exclusively to the State Defense (bela negara) program to instil the stance and attitudes of citizens to love the country by creating 100 million state defense members in the next 10 years. While the previous two DWPs also made brief references to it, the 2015 DWP conceives the concept in a radically preposterous manner.



Given that the program entails paramilitary training and indoctrination classes to imbue the participants in jingoism that may suppress inquisitive and critical appraisals of Indonesias national values, it reminded many of the Army-sanctioned total peoples war narrative associated with former president Soehartos rule. It raises legitimate fears that the concept risks becoming a form of politico-security mobilization bent on creating a generation of yes-men uncritical of defense and military policies.



More than ever, Indonesias defense and military establishments of today require critical appraisals, especially since the defense budget has increased substantially over the past five years.



Although the defense share only averaged around 0.8 to 0.9 percent of GDP from 2010 to 2014, this period also witnessed an almost 40 percent increase in real terms.



As an institution, militaries will do everything to survive so that they remain ideologically, politically and structurally intact, notwithstanding shifts in the political leadership. In the name (or guise) of national interest, whatever the military wants is always presented as if its what the nation really needs. Rejecting or scrutinizing the militarys interest is construed as questioning the merit of, if not acting against, the national interest. When such conservatism is the rule, novel concepts and fresh initiatives for military transformation may consequently face institutional resistance, if not inertia.



Yet the militarys national interest is essentially parochial in nature. The conflation between the national interest and the militarys parochial interest constitutes the defense problem that strategists must grapple with.



While isolating defense completely from parochial interest is impossible, strategists must ascertain that whatever the political leadership defines as in the countrys best interest is substantially reflected in defense and military policies.



Meanwhile, the political leadership may have introduced policy agendas and objectives that are often too nebulous to be practicable.



In response, government apparatus will interpret and implement them in the most institutionally convenient way possible. This may be the reason behind the mismatch between the 2015 DWP and the much-vaunted PMD.



So, if the Jokowi government was really serious about making maritime defense a priority, then the 2015 DWP would be nothing more than a paper exercise.

***

The writer is an Indonesian presidential PhD scholar with the Strategic and Defense Studies Center at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.

---------------

We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to community@jakpost.com.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
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Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Journalist and writer of best-selling novel Pulang (Home), Leila S. Chudori, shares her list of books she has read and is currently reading with The Jakarta Post and her take on them.

Too Much Happiness

Author : Alice Munro

Too Much Happiness consists of 10 short stories written by Canadian author Alice Munro. Through the book, the 2013 Nobel Prize winner in literature captivates her readers in the world that she creates. Leila has never grown tired of Munros short stories. "Just like Runaway, Moons of Jupiter, The Beggar Maid and Life, Munro's Too Much Happiness almost always tells the story of men who are losers and women who are manipulative in order to deal with cruel, dominant men," she said.

Bastard of Istanbul

Author : Elif Shafak

Bastard of Istanbul is a best-selling novel by female author Elif Shafak. Set in both the US and Turkey, it follows two families and their secrets. The book starts with a bang: a woman desperately tries to have an abortion, said Leila. She likes the fact that the main characters point of view is represented in every chapter and the book eventually introduces readers to the genocide of Armenians. It explores many figures and historical events in Turkey; it's indeed quite ambitious, but Shafak describes them in an interesting way, she added.

(Read also: Six great biographies you should read)

My Name is Red

Author : Orhan Pamuk

On his website, Orhan Pamuk describes the book, published in 1998, as his most colorful and optimistic novel. It's one of the best literature works that I've ever read. It's rich in history as well as metaphors and in depth religious interpretation of the art world," praised Leila. Set in the late 16th century, the story begins with the murder of one of the palace artists during the Ottoman era. Following an investigation into the murder, there is a war of interpretation between Islam and Western artists.

Glass Palace

Author : Amitav Ghosh

This is one of my favorite novels that tells the story of Mandalay in the late 19th century during British colonialism, said Leila. Written by Indian author Amitav Ghosh, the book explores how a king, his queen and their entire family are exiled from the kingdom. The story is mostly narrated by a child named Rajkumar Raha, who falls in love with one of the princess' attendants. Ghosh is very detailed and did outstanding research on Burma [now Myanmar], India and the British colony at that time," said Leila.

Nine Short Stories

Author : J.D. Salinger

Nine Short Stories is an anthology by JD Salinger, whose novel Catcher in the Rye made him famous. Leila considers this particular book a masterpiece of short stories. The anthology has some masterpieces or the world's best short stories that I've ever read, such as A Perfect Day for Banana Fish," said Leila. (kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

With Jakartas traffic a constant demotivation to go on a food hunt around the city, we have a list of foodie Instagrammers to follow so that you can discover new restaurants, explore different cafe ambiances and indulge in different fusion cuisines.

@anakjajan

With 185,000 followers as of June, Julia and Marius are probably the king and queen of the Jakarta food blogger world. Five years ago, spurred on by their love for food and travel, this couple started their food blog to document their adventures. On top of top-notch photography skills, @anakjajan conveniently includes the restaurant name and location in the caption of their posts, and, if youre lucky, the promo deals offered by the restaurants.

(Read also: 10 local travelers to follow on Instagram)

@eatandtreats

Starting in October 2012, this foodie-photographer passionate young man has been a helpful source of daily food inspirations to his 134,000 followers. Stainislaus Hans Danial, or Hans as he is called, alternates his posts between mouthwatering one-line-quote food posts and longer feature posts on newly opened restaurants. Lucky for us, Hans often includes certain items from the menu to give us a pros suggestion on the foods we should try.

@myfunfoodiary

A photo posted by Mullie Marlina (@myfunfoodiary) on Jun 10, 2016 at 6:54pm PDT

For those who wish to explore new cuisines and try new restaurants, Mullie Marlines account is one not to miss. Aside from restaurant references and menu recommendations, she also includes occasional personal recipes and travel posts for her followers to keep updated with her food adventures.

(Read also: Seven Indonesian sketchers you should follow on Instagram)

@filipusverdi

A photo posted by Verdi D.Tanu | THEHUNGRYDOCTOR (@filipusverdi) on Jun 5, 2016 at 4:04am PDT

What happens when a medical student is in love with food? The Hungry Doctor. The alias of Verdi D. Tanu, this Instagrammer keeps his posts mostly local, featuring Jakarta-based restaurants or those in nearby areas. Believing that the best cure for anything is food, he is always active in posting pictures, sometimes the simplest ones that we might overlook.

@inijie

A photo posted by Jiewa Vieri, Kuliner Curator (@inijie) on Jun 13, 2016 at 3:20am PDT

His seemingly effortless aesthetic Instagram posts are sure to enchant your eyes and tickle your taste buds as you scroll through snapshots of Jiewa Vieris food adventures. His posts rarely mention recommendations at the restaurant but that just allows us to take a dive into what the place has to offer. Jiewa also takes his food journey abroad and always keeps his post captions short and simple. (sab/kes)
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Linkedin Asmara Wreksono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

In the wake of the Orlando shooting, which targeted the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, Britains famous gay magazine Attitude has released its newest edition, featuring Prince William on the cover.

Prince William met with nine LGBT people for the Attitude piece. The group consisted of people who had been abused because of their sexuality.

(Read also: TV personalities offer sympathies after Orlando shooting)

The prince told Attitude: No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives. The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now. Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it.

(Read also: FBI looking at whether Orlando gunman led a secret gay life)

What I would say to any young person reading this whos being bullied for their sexuality: dont put up with it  speak to a trusted adult, a friend, a teacher, Childline, Diana Award or some other service and get the help you need. You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of, he added.

Second in line to the throne, Prince William is known for his humanitarian work, following in the footsteps of his late mother, Princess Diana. The Duke of Cambridge has made history for being the first member of the royal family to pose for an LGBT publication. Other prominent figures who have featured on the cover of Attitude include David Beckham, Tony Blair and Madonna.
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Malaysia  Tue, June 14 2016

As part of the countrys culinary diplomacy, Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Herman Prayitno officiated the opening of popular Padang restaurant chain Sederhana in Seberang Perai, Penang, on Sunday.

Sederhana is the 14th Indonesian restaurant to operate in northern Malaysia. The restaurant is an important part of Indonesian diplomacy, Herman said during the opening of the restaurant, according to a press release published on Foreign Ministrys website on Monday.

Indonesian consul general in Penang, Taufiq Rodhy, said food played a strategic role in the countrys diplomacy in Malaysia, with the latest restaurant opening adding to the list of popular Indonesian cuisine offered by existing restaurants in northern Malaysia.

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Linkedin Agnes Anya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Tue, June 14 2016

Tundra Yoel Tampubolon, 23, had never thought that donating could be a form of protest until last Saturday when she clicked on a crowdfunding campaign that popped up on her Twitter feed.

The campaign, initiated by stand-up comedian and popular netizen Dwika Putra, was launched after the Serang Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) confiscated food from stalls open during the fasting month.

The Serang authorities claimed the food sellers had violated Serang Regulation No. 2/2010 on the prevention, eradication and control of social diseases, which stipulates that food stalls must not be open in the afternoon during Ramadhan.

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Linkedin Dandy Koswaraputra (The Jakarta Post) Sentani, Papua  Wed, June 15, 2016

More than 1,000 Papuan people have been detained in Jayapura police station after a self-determination rally on Wednesday demanding the Indonesian government hold a referendum for the easternmost provinces independence.

They are still in police custody, Veronica Koman, an activist from the Jakarta Legal Institute, told The Jakarta Post, adding that the police and military have also arrested 31 Papuans in Malang, East Java.

A police officer from Jayapura police headquarters confirmed the arrests but refused to comment.

Yes they are under examination, the officer said.

Apart from Jayapura and Malang, protests also took place in Baliem, Fakfak, Sentani, Sorong, Timika and Yalimo. Furthermore, two local journalists were intimidated and prohibited from taking photographs.

Demonstrators rejected the credibility of the human rights fact-finding team to Papua formed by Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Panjaitan, but the minister still visited Papua today despite the protests, Veronica said.

Papuans also showed their support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua to be recognized as a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. (dan)
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Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti confirmed on Tuesday that four suspected terrorists arrested in Surabaya, East Java, were connected with the Islamic State (IS) radical movement.

Of the four, he said IS had connections with two of the terrorist suspects, Abu Jandal and Bahrun Naim, who the latter was reportedly the mastermind of the terror attacks near Sarinah shopping mall on Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta, in January.

There is a direct link with Bahrun Naim, and one of them is the staff member of Abu Jandals foundation, said Badrodin as quoted by tempo.co at the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Ministry in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

He said the police were still tracing fund sources for the manufacture of homemade bombs confiscated by the National Polices counterterrorism squad, Densus 88, from a house on Jl. Lebak Timur in Tambak Sari, Surabaya, last Wednesday.

Badrodin did not deny that the flow of funds were coming from other terrorist groups, such as the East Indonesia Mujahiddin (MIT) led by the nations most-wanted man Santoso.

One of the four terror suspects is the owner of the house where bomb assembling took place, said Badrodin. The suspect, identified with initials PHP, had already been convicted twice.

Badrodin said the police were mapping out areas in the country prone to terrorism. He explained the polices investigation, which led to the raid and arrest of the four suspected terrorists in Surabaya, was conducted one month beforehand.

Once we see activity that arouses suspicion, we will investigate it, Badrodin asserted.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan earlier said PHP and three other suspected terrorists, identified with their initials BRN, FN and SN, were Porong graduates. Luhut was referring to the Porong Penitentiary, which is known to be a hub for spreading radicalism among its inmates.

The four terrorist suspects were reportedly planning bomb attacks next Wednesday in several areas across Surabaya. (ebf)
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Linkedin Araminta Setyawati (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

Pressure on the heavy equipment industry still lingers. The plummeting demand for heavy equipment has resulted in a steep decrease in sales. In the first quarter of 2016, sales in almost in all sectors recorded negative growth with the exception of the construction sector .



The decrease in demand is indicated by the sales performance of United Tractors, one of the biggest heavy-equipment players. As of March 2016, United Tractors, carrying Komatsu products, is the market share leader in the domestic market of heavy equipment with 34 percent, followed by Hitachi (20 percent), Caterpillar (16 percent), Kobelco (15 percent) and other brands (15 percent). From January to March 2016, Komatsu sold only 499 units, a 35 percent decrease from the same period of last year, which saw the sale of 763 units. The largest degree of negative growth took place in the forestry and mining sectors, suffering a 58 percent and 59 percent decrease, respectively.



We think that the mining sector will not improve in the near future. The low coal price is responsible for low coal production, and that in turn has affected the need for heavy equipment. This is reflected by decreasing sales of heavy equipment in the mining sector, from 33 percent as of January-March 2015 to 21 percent as of January-March in 2016. In the forestry sector, the sales also dropped, from 25 percent as of January-March 2015 to 16 percent as of January-March 2016.



The plantation sector was still suffering from low demand in 2015 but with the rebound of the crude palm oil (CPO) price, we predict that the sales performance in this sector will continuously improve. The data shows an increase in sales from the plantation sector of approximately 15 percent as of January-March 2016, from 12 percent in the same period the year before.



The data also shows that sales in the construction sector rose from 30 percent as of January-March 2015 to 48 percent as of January-March 2016. In the last few years, demand for heavy equipment in the construction sector has increased as the governments infrastructure projects have started to kick in. We predict that this trend in the construction sector can be maintained.



We expect that the increase in the CPO price will promote the demand for heavy equipment in the plantation sector. Apart from the plantation sector, the governments 2016 infrastructure projects are also expected to increase demand in the construction sector. Shifts in heavy-equipment demand from the mining sector to the construction and plantation sectors has also resulted in shifts in demand for excavators and bulldozers.



One critical factor that may still threaten the heavy equipment industry is the mining sector suffering even more due to the low price of coal that has consequently caused lower production. Still dominating demand for heavy equipment, this sector is the reason behind the slump in the heavy equipment industry.



In addition to that is the extreme weather that may threaten plantations. El Nino, expected in the dry season to the end of 2016, is a threat to the demand for heavy equipment in the plantation sector. Another important factor is the high import content, which is as much as 60 percent, in heavy equipment. Fluctuating exchange rates and the depreciated rupiah have a significant impact on imports and sales and the impact of the exchange rate will be felt in the quarters ahead.



According to law passed in 2009, heavy equipment is classified as a motor vehicle, which means that an owner of such equipment has the same obligation as that of the owner of a motor vehicle in vehicle tax, type tests and transfer tax. When classified as a motor vehicle, heavy equipment is barred from being modified by the law and this has put heavy equipment users in a difficult position as they have to customize the capability and dimension of the equipment according to the characteristics of a site or the location of a factory, mine or plantation.



With the issuance of a related decree in 2015, imposed since March 31 of this year, heavy equipment is now categorized as a non-motor vehicle. Various businesses in construction, plantations, and ports using heavy equipment are now relieved from the many taxes generally imposed on motor vehicles. Hope also arises from heavy equipment manufacturers. Jamaludin, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Industrial Heavy Equipment (Hinabi), has welcomed the decree and hopes that it will relieve consumers in Indonesia and drive demand.



The global economic slowdown has resulted in low demand in sectors with heavy equipment, weakening sales performance and decreasing company income. However, some companies have diversified their business strategies by moving into spare parts. This diversification is useful to compensate for decreases in heavy equipment sales to the mining sector. At the moment, sales of spare parts have helped to add to company revenues.



Furthermore, efficiency is also an important factor in a companys performance. To handle decreasing sales, companies take efficiency measures to lower production expenses.



We predict that business opportunities in the heavy equipment industry in 2016 will be slighty better than 2015, for two reasons. First, there will be higher demand from the plantation sector, in particular palm oil plantations, where the CPO price will significantly rebound from US$620 to $640 per ton. To date, the CPO price has increased by 30 percent. Though this condition does not immediately affect demand for heavy equipment, it can serve as good news for the heavy equipment industry.



Second, the infrastructure projects intiated by the government will add new demand for heavy equipment. This is indicated by first quarter data, which reveals that only demand from the construction sector recorded positive growth. We are convinced that this will be an important driver for the heavy equipment industry because the government builds a lot of infrastructure projects. In 2016 the government plans to spend Rp 313.5 trillion on infrastructure projects.

_____________



The writer is an industry analyst at Bank Mandiri

---------------

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Japan  Wed, June 15 2016

The Japanese Embassy in Indonesia is sending off as many as 265 prospective Indonesian nurses and caregivers to the land of the rising sun this year, as part of an ongoing bilateral initiative that Jakarta inked with Tokyo in July 2008.

This year we are sending 265 Indonesians to Japan, comprising 33 student nurses and 232 caregiver candidates, Kozo Honsei, the Japanese Embassys deputy chief of mission, said on Tuesday.

Caretakers from Indonesia have been a popular choice among the ill and aging population in Japan, due to the high level of hospitality and service they offer.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has warmly welcomed a plan by the 9th regional military command (Kodam IX Udayana) to train gang members and mass organizations as part of a state defense program.



"We have to be cognizant of defending the state [... given] its importance for us, as reminded in the Pancasila [state ideology] as well as the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika [state motto]," Pastika said as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.



The state defense program was important because its participants would learn about the nation's history, strengthen nationalism, and especially foster a sense of comradeship among citizens, he said.



The programs curriculum should also include a firearms introduction course, Pastika further added without providing much detail.



Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has asserted that the state-defense training curriculum did not include firearms, adding that weapons training could only occur if the nation was currently under threat and the countrys defense forces needed assistance in protecting the country.



Despite the controversy surrounding the plan, Kodam IX Udayana spokesman Col. Inf. J. Hotman Hutahaean has confirmed that Laskar Bali and Baladika, two rival local mass organizations that had in the past repeatedly clashed with one another, were joining the program. (afr)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

The Central Sulawesi Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) has disposed of 26 assembled bombs that were confiscated as evidence during the 2015 Operation Camar Maleo and the still ongoing Operation Tinombala, both of which were undertaken to pursue the most-wanted terrorist Santoso and his followers in the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) group in Poso.

Central Sulawesi Police spokesperson chief Hari Suprapto said that in addition to those confiscated as evidence, the police also received some of the bombs from locals.

The disposal of the explosives was carried out on Monday at the Brimob Headquarters Detachment B Landangan by specialist bomb squad personnel at around noon. The process was done gradually to avoid a massive explosion that could have disturbed the peace of the community and the surrounding areas. The police had previously warned locals of the upcoming disposal.

"If any residents are disturbed by the activities, we sincerely apologize," Hari said as quoted by Antara News.

The police, along with Indonesian Military personnel, are continuing with Operation Tinombala because Santoso and 23 of his followers are still hiding in the woods along the Poso coast and across the Lore Plains.

Officials say the 2,500 police and TNI personnel are determined to put a stop to the acts of terrorism of the group, which is known to be spreading radical ideologies throughout Poso. (liz/dan)
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Linkedin Farida Susanty and Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

As it scrambles to cut this years spending due to low tax revenues, the government has promised that proposed budget cuts will not affect major infrastructure projects.



In reality, however, it looks to be quite a different story.



Two-thirds of Indonesias territory is covered by ocean. It is the largest archipelago in the world. That is how President Joko Jokowi Widodo likes to describe the country that he leads during his overseas visits.



At the same time, he has long emphasized the need to establish a maritime highway  with ships, seaports and other facilities  to connect the country from its westernmost to easternmost tip in an attempt to boost competitiveness.



However, this plan may be stymied by the significant cuts proposed for the sea transportation directorate general at the Transportation Ministry, the agency tasked with helping realize the plan.



As much as Rp 1.2 trillion (US$90 million) will be cut from the sea transportation directorate generals budget, the largest spending reduction among all directorates general under the purview of the ministry.



The cuts will impact financing for port facilities in Tanjung Mocoh, Riau, and Labuhan Angin, Medan, Nort Sumatra, as well as a lighthouse in Ambon, Maluku.



Director general for sea transportation Antonius Tonny Budiono said the agency had made a priority scale to determine which projects would be postponed. There is no rush for [a planned] patrol ship as it is a multi-year project, he said.



Tonny claimed that the ministry would continue constructing new ships for pioneer routes and navigation vessels, adding that the ministry had just finished improving 91 ports across the archipelago.



The agency is only one of many that will be affected by the Rp 50.02 trillion cuts to be made across ministries, agencies and others as part of the austerity measures.



The second- and third-largest cuts in the Transportation Ministry will take place in the directorate general for railways with a Rp 996 billion reduction and the directorate general for air transportation with Rp 809 billion.



In the railway sector, funding allocations for several national strategic projects have not been given exemptions and may be affected.



For instance, the Madiun-Kedungbanteng double-track project in East Java, which is a part of the trans-Java railway project, will see Rp 25.54 billion temporarily removed from its budget.



The Makassar-Parepare railway construction in South Sulawesi, part of the trans-Sulawesi project, is facing the same fate with the postponement of its Rp 70.5 billion concrete pads work.



Prasetyo Boeditjahjono, the director general for railway transportation, said the reduced budget had prompted the ministry to prioritize project outside Java Island.



A strategic national air transportation project will also see spending trim, namely the revitalization of the HAS Hanandjoedin Airport in Bangka Belitung. The airport was initially set to receive a new Rp 1.1 billion cargo x-ray machine, but it will have to make do with existing facilities for now.



Director general for air transportation Suprasetyo was not immediately available for comments.



Meanwhile, the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, Jokowis other strategic ministerial post, will suffer from Rp 8.49 trillion of cuts.



The ministrys secretary general, Taufik Widjoyono said the ministry would focus on postponing some of the 1,000 projects worth Rp 4.9 trillion that had not yet been put to tender, as well as leftover projects from previous bidding and reducing unnecessary operational costs.



The directorate general of Bina Marga, which oversees road construction, will receive the biggest cut with Rp 4.6 trillion from its initial allocation of Rp 45.2 trillion.



Both Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro and Finance Ministry director general for budgeting Askolani said that so far no changes had been made to the austerity measures during deliberations at the House of Representatives. The government hopes to pass the state budget revision bill into law in early July.

________________________________

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Linkedin Farida Susanty and Prima Wirayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

As it scrambles to cut this years spending due to low tax revenues, the government has promised that proposed budget cuts will not affect major infrastructure projects.



In reality, however, it looks to be quite a different story.



Two-thirds of Indonesias territory is covered by ocean. It is the largest archipelago in the world. That is how President Joko Jokowi Widodo likes to describe the country that he leads during his overseas visits.



At the same time, he has long emphasized the need to establish a maritime highway  with ships, seaports and other facilities  to connect the country from its westernmost to easternmost tip in an attempt to boost competitiveness.



However, this plan may be stymied by the significant cuts proposed for the sea transportation directorate general at the Transportation Ministry, the agency tasked with helping realize the plan.



As much as Rp 1.2 trillion (US$90 million) will be cut from the sea transportation directorate generals budget, the largest spending reduction among all directorates general under the purview of the ministry.



The cuts will impact financing for port facilities in Tanjung Mocoh, Riau, and Labuhan Angin, Medan, Nort Sumatra, as well as a lighthouse in Ambon, Maluku.



Director general for sea transportation Antonius Tonny Budiono said the agency had made a priority scale to determine which projects would be postponed. There is no rush for [a planned] patrol ship as it is a multi-year project, he said.



Tonny claimed that the ministry would continue constructing new ships for pioneer routes and navigation vessels, adding that the ministry had just finished improving 91 ports across the archipelago.



The agency is only one of many that will be affected by the Rp 50.02 trillion cuts to be made across ministries, agencies and others as part of the austerity measures.



The second- and third-largest cuts in the Transportation Ministry will take place in the directorate general for railways with a Rp 996 billion reduction and the directorate general for air transportation with Rp 809 billion.



In the railway sector, funding allocations for several national strategic projects have not been given exemptions and may be affected.



For instance, the Madiun-Kedungbanteng double-track project in East Java, which is a part of the trans-Java railway project, will see Rp 25.54 billion temporarily removed from its budget.



The Makassar-Parepare railway construction in South Sulawesi, part of the trans-Sulawesi project, is facing the same fate with the postponement of its Rp 70.5 billion concrete pads work.



Prasetyo Boeditjahjono, the director general for railway transportation, said the reduced budget had prompted the ministry to prioritize project outside Java Island.



A strategic national air transportation project will also see spending trim, namely the revitalization of the HAS Hanandjoedin Airport in Bangka Belitung. The airport was initially set to receive a new Rp 1.1 billion cargo x-ray machine, but it will have to make do with existing facilities for now.



Director general for air transportation Suprasetyo was not immediately available for comments.



Meanwhile, the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry, Jokowis other strategic ministerial post, will suffer from Rp 8.49 trillion of cuts.



The ministrys secretary general, Taufik Widjoyono said the ministry would focus on postponing some of the 1,000 projects worth Rp 4.9 trillion that had not yet been put to tender, as well as leftover projects from previous bidding and reducing unnecessary operational costs.



The directorate general of Bina Marga, which oversees road construction, will receive the biggest cut with Rp 4.6 trillion from its initial allocation of Rp 45.2 trillion.



Both Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro and Finance Ministry director general for budgeting Askolani said that so far no changes had been made to the austerity measures during deliberations at the House of Representatives. The government hopes to pass the state budget revision bill into law in early July.

______________________________



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Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

State-run coal mining company Bukit Asam says it remains on track to meet its target of adding 5,000 megawatts (MW) to its power-generating capacity as part of its diversification strategy.



The steep fall in global coal prices has hit the mining industry and forced the publicly listed company to venture into the electricity business as an independent power producer (IPP) supplying electricity to state-owned power firm PLN.



By doing so, Bukit Asam is tapping the potential of rising demand for electricity in the country. The government has proclaimed a target of increasing nationwide electricity supply by 35,000 MW within the five-year period before 2020.



With huge coal reserves, we have the potential to supply 5,000 MW of electricity and it is not too difficult for us to meet the governments target, Bukit Asam president director Arviyan Arifin said on Monday evening.



Bukit Asam has coal deposits of 8 billion tons, 3.3 billion tons of which are mineable. The coal reserves are expected to support the companys long-term business plan to produce at least 50 million tons of coal annually by 2020.



The firm has broken ground on a 2x620 MW mine-mouth power plant project in South Sumatra called the Sumsel 8, with construction expected soon. The project belongs to a US$1.6 billion joint venture, in which Bukit Asam owns a 45 percent stake. China Huadian Hong Kong Company Ltd., a subsidiary of Chinese state-run power firm China Huadian Corporation, holds the rest.



Three other power plants in Sumatra will also be built soon, namely the 3x600 MW Sumsel 9 and 10, as well as the 800 to 1,200 MW power plant in Peranap, Riau, in a $2.4 billion partnership with PLN and Tenaga Malaysia Berhad (TNB).



Also in the pipeline is a 2x350 MW power plant project in Kuala Tanjung, North Sumatra, in partnership with state-owned aluminum producer Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum).



As of now, Bukit Asam owns a power purchase agreement with PLN through its power plant in Banjarsari, also in South Sumatra, which has a capacity of 2x100 MW. It also owns two more power plants in the same province.



The mine-mouth power plants are expected to support the companys ongoing efficiency program, as they are developed in close proximity to mining sites, meaning lower transportation costs to transfer the coal to power plants, while the electricity generated can directly be transmitted through a transmission line.



Ongoing efficiency measures with regard to operating and investment costs were helping the company survive with relatively good performance despite the coal prices slump, Arviyan said.



Our margin will certainly decrease with this efficiency, but were able to survive this way rather than by having a big budget, yet suffering huge losses, he said.



Last year, Bukit Asam posted a 9 percent year-on-year (yoy) increase in net profit to Rp 2.04 trillion ($152.5 million), while total revenues rose by 5 percent to Rp 13.72 trillion.



This year, the company was targeting 52 percent growth in sales volumes to 29 million tons, said corporate secretary Joko Pramono. In terms of production, Bukit Asam expected at least a 20 percent increase this year.



Shares in Bukit Asam traded at Rp 7,400 apiece on Tuesday, down 2.95 percent from the previous day. The stocks have soared almost 70 percent so far this year, easily outstripping the broader benchmark Jakarta Composite Indexs (JCI) 5 percent gain.

--------------

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Linkedin (Associated Press) Tokyo  Wed, June 15, 2016

A Chinese naval intelligence ship briefly entered Japan's territorial waters on Wednesday morning, a top official said.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko said a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force plane spotted the Chinese naval ship in Japanese territorial waters west of Kuchinoerabu Island in southern Japan before dawn. Seko said the ship sailed out of the territorial waters about 90 minutes later.

Seko said an official from the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau expressed concern to an assistant ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo about the Chinese naval activity. The incident comes after a Chinese naval ship sailed near the disputed Senkaku islands last week.
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Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Wed, June 15 2016

Past experience shows that every report published by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has been backed by solid information and only rarely people question its credibility.

But that did not prevent the Bandung Legal Aid Institute (LBH) and the Indonesian Council of Islamic Propagation (DDII) from demanding the rights body give clarification regarding its report on alleged extortion against churches in Bandung, West Java.

We asked it [Komnas HAM] to clarify its findings, said LBH Bandung lawyer Hardiansyah at the Buah Batu subdistrict office in Bandung on Tuesday. Hardiansyah is representing two East Bandung Karo Batak Protestant Church (GBKP) congregations.

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Linkedin Ken Thomas (Associated Press) Washington  Wed, June 15, 2016

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are ending the primary calendar with a face-to-face meeting on Tuesday that could set the tone for Democratic unity and next month's party convention in Philadelphia.

Clinton and Sanders plan to meet on the night of the final presidential primary in the District of Columbia, a contest that will have no bearing on Clinton's role as the presumptive nominee but marks a transition in the lengthy primary fight between the two rivals.

"We're going to have a wide-ranging conversation, because we share a lot of the same goals," Clinton said Tuesday night in an interview with Telemundo. "We both want to raise the minimum wage, we want to fight inequality of income, we want to make college affordable and we certainly want everybody to get health care."

She added, "I very much am looking forward to having his support in this campaign, because Donald Trump poses a serious threat to our nation."

Sanders vowed again Tuesday to do all he can to prevent the presumptive Republican presidential nominee from reaching the White House, but declined to endorse Clinton. The Vermont senator has said the private meeting will help him determine how committed Clinton will be to the policy issues he has staked out during his 13-month campaign.

"Our goal must not be to allow politicians, Donald Trump or anyone else, to divide us," Sanders said outside his Washington headquarters, telling reporters he will continue to "fight as hard as we can" to transform the Democratic Party.

Sanders said he would push for new leadership in the Democratic National Committee  his campaign has sparred with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the party's chair  a progressive platform in the summer convention and electoral changes such as primaries that allow independents to participate and the elimination of superdelegates.

"We need major, major changes in the Democratic Party," he said.

Earlier Tuesday, Sanders was warmly received by Senate Democrats at their weekly luncheon, where he offered an update about his campaign and some of the lessons he had learned during the past year. Lawmakers in attendance said Sanders did not indicate his future plans.

"He had an opportunity to talk to us about his campaign and how it has changed him and what he has learned," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. "I think we all listened intently because we are anxious to always do better and grow as a party and be more inclusive."

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who leads the Senate Democrats' campaign arm, said Sanders "absolutely will" support fellow Senate Democrats in the fall elections. "It was productive, it was good, it was vintage Bernie," Tester said.

Sanders met last week with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who both later endorsed Clinton, and signaled to Democrats that he hopes to play a constructive role in helping the party regain control of the Senate in the 2016 elections.

The self-described democratic socialist says he will take his campaign to the convention in July and advocate for his policy issues in the platform while urging Democrats to be more inclusive of independents, young people and working-class voters, all of whom were pivotal in his victories in 22 states. But what that will look like still remains unclear and Sanders has been soliciting advice from supporters on how he should take his campaign forward.

Clinton held a rally in Pittsburgh and was attending a private Washington fundraiser before her meeting with Sanders.

The mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, has commanded the attention of both campaigns and prompted Democrats to point to Trump's call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US, an issue they view as a key contrast in the general election.

Without mentioning Trump by name, Clinton warned during a speech in Cleveland on Monday that demonizing Muslims would only empower extremist groups. "We should be intensifying contacts in those communities, not scapegoating or isolating them," she said.

Sanders attended a vigil in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont, on Monday night to show solidarity with the victims. Pointing to Trump's comments about Muslims, Sanders said the shooting was conducted by "one hateful person" and not committed by the Muslim people.

Looking forward, Sanders has begun helping Democrats preparing for congressional races and the battle to regain control of the Senate.

An early test of his clout will come Tuesday in Nevada, where a Sanders-backed congressional candidate, Lucy Flores, competes in a three-way primary.

Sanders has opened up his campaign's massive email donor list to several Democratic candidates, hauling in more than $2.4 million for his allies. Flores has been the top recipient of those appeals, collecting about $390,000 from an email Sanders sent in April on behalf of her and two other candidates.

___

AP Congressional Correspondent Erica Werner and AP writer Wilson Ring in Burlington, Vermont, contributed to this report.

___

On Twitter follow Ken Thomas: https://twitter.com/KThomasDC (**)
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Linkedin Dylan Amirio (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

With the rise of cloud computing in business practices worldwide, Microsoft is encouraging Indonesian industries and businesses to take advantage of this technology in their day-to-day operations, mainly due to the cost-cutting advantages that it offers.



Microsoft Indonesias national technology officer Tony Seno Hartono explained that by using public cloud services, such as the ones Microsoft offers through its Azure service, Indonesias businesses could significantly increase their operational efficiency, by 25 to 50 percent.



This is due to the fact that cloud services provide many streamlined features such as server management, data storage and even the electricity to keep the data-storing servers alive. It can help businesses decrease their operational costs, because using cloud services is basically like outsourcing. Microsoft has a huge data center, capable of storing data and managing it for you. Why not utilize our services? he said on Monday.



Microsoft, he continued, is in talks with an unspecified telecom operator to build a data center in Indonesia, but says the negotiations are still ongoing. Indonesian users of Azure currently have their data stored in Microsofts data centers abroad, such as in Singapore and the US.



Adding to the virtues of cloud computing, Tony elaborated that the local creative industry could also harness the benefits of Microsofts multiple data centers for creating works of art. One example is in the animation industry, where higher quality animations require massive amounts of time and data to be rendered.



During the making of James Camerons blockbuster film Avatar, Cameron collaborated with Microsoft to render the CGI animations using their public cloud services, thus saving the film production time and costs.



Tony said that if Cameron had not utilized Microsofts multiple data centers, the animations from Avatar would have taken many years to render properly due to the films scale and size.



Within the film industry in Indonesia, many have expressed interest in using Microsoft servers but none have used them so far, because the industry still remains small, and large-scale animation jobs in Indonesia tend to be taken to foreign animation studios to be worked on, Tony added.



From the perspective of Winastwan Gora, chief operating officer of tech education start-up Kelase, the usage of Azure cloud services has benefitted his companys operations and has helped cut costs.



Kelase signed up for Microsofts BizSpark service, for three years of Azure usage with a usage cost limit of US$150 per month. The move guaranteed them space on Microsofts data centers abroad for storing and processing their information.



By utilizing the Azure cloud, we were able to improve our communications and marketing efforts and also, our analytical and source control mechanisms became easier to carry out compared with other means. In other words, its now easier for the company to be run digitally, Gora said.

--------------

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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

I left my family to take care of others. All to make a living. But the government has never paid even a little attention to me, to us domestic workers, said 36-year-old Ida Saadah.

In the last two years, she has worked as a housemaid for five different expatriate families, from Australia, India, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Sweden, who all live in the exclusive Pakubuwono condominiums in South Jakarta.

However, one thing all her employers have shared is a tendency to arbitrarily dismiss their workers, said the woman who has left her two kids and 53-year-old husband in her hometown of Semarang, Central Java.

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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Lawyers of murder suspect Jessica Kumala Wongso say any information obtained from the Australia Federal Police was irrelevant to her case, particularly as it concerned a traffic violation.

Jessica once crashed into a wall in her car in Australia. It was merely a traffic violation for which she paid a fine, Sordame Purba, one of Jessicas lawyer, said at Central Jakarta District Court during Jessicas first hearing on Wednesday.

Previously, the Jakarta Police said they had obtained a copy of Jessicas criminal record in Australia from the Australian Federal Police.

Sordame stressed that 27-year-old Jessica, who is standing trail for the premeditated murder of Wayan Mirna Salihin, had not been a criminal in Australia as no court had issued a verdict against her.

Another of Jessicas lawyers, Otto Hasibuan, said Jessica was a victim of misinformation because it had been assumed that she had been a criminal while living in Australia, while in fact she was only involved in a traffic violation.

Even if Jessica committed a crime in Australia, it could not be used to accuse Jessica of murder because it does not relate to the death of Mirna, Otto added.

Mirna died after drinking cyanide-laced iced coffee at Olivier restaurant in Central Jakarta on Jan. 6. She was with Jessica and another friend, Hani, at the time. (bbn)
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Linkedin Jay Reeves and Eric Tucker (Associated Press) Orlando, Fla.  Wed, June 15, 2016

The murky picture of Orlando gunman Omar Mateen grew more complex Tuesday with word that the FBI is investigating whether he had been a regular at the gay dance club he attacked and had been leading a secret life as a gay man.

As victims described the bloody horror of the massacre during a riveting hospital news conference, investigators continued to gather information on the 29-year-old American-born Muslim  and took a close look at his wife, too  for clues to the attack that left 49 victims dead.

An official who was briefed on the progress of the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation said authorities believe Mateen's wife knew about the plot ahead of time, but they are reluctant to charge her on that basis alone.

A number of possible explanations and motives for the bloodbath have emerged, with Mateen professing allegiance to the Islamic State group in a 911 call during the attack, his ex-wife saying he was mentally ill, and his father suggesting he was driven by hatred of gays.

On Tuesday, a US official said the FBI is looking into a flurry of news reports quoting patrons of the Pulse as saying that Mateen frequented the nightspot and reached out to men on gay dating apps. The official was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Some psychologists raised the possibility that Mateen was sexually conflicted and lashed out against gays, or that he was casing the nightclub for an attack and trying to find victims online.

Jim Van Horn, 71, told The Associated Press that he saw Mateen repeatedly at the bar and talked to him once.

"He was a homosexual and he was trying to pick up men," Van Horn said. "He would walk up to them and then he would maybe put his arm around 'em or something and maybe try to get them to dance a little bit or something."

The attack early Sunday ended with Mateen being shot to death by a SWAT team. Of the 53 people wounded, six were listed in critical condition Tuesday and five others were in guarded condition.

At a news conference at Orlando Regional Medical Center, shooting survivor Patience Carter described praying to die as she lay on a nightclub bathroom floor covered in water and blood. She said Mateen talked about wanting the U.S. to "stop bombing my country," a possible reference to his father's native Afghanistan.

"I really don't think I'm going to get out of there," Carter, 20, recalled. "I made peace with God. 'Just please take me. I don't want any more.' I was just begging God to take the soul out my body."

In Washington, President Barack Obama said investigators had no information to suggest a foreign terrorist group directed the attack. He said it was increasingly clear the killer "took in extremist information and propaganda over the internet. He appears to have been an angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalized."

The president also blasted Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric as dangerous and contrary to American values, challenged Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban, and lashed out at his Republican foes who have criticized him for not using the term "radical Islam."

"If someone seriously thinks we don't know who we're fighting, if there's anyone out there who thinks we're confused about who our enemies are," Obama said, "that would come as a surprise to the thousands of terrorists we've taken off the battlefield."

Gay dating app Jack'd said it has been unable to confirm so far that Mateen had a profile on the service. Grindr officials said they "will continue to cooperate with the authorities and do not comment on ongoing investigations." And Adam4Adam said the company is looking at conversations and profiles in the Orlando area for any activity by Mateen but hasn't found anything yet.

Mateen's father, Seddique Mateen, denied his son was gay and said that if he had been in the nightclub before, he may have been "scouting the place." The elder Mateen, who lives Port St. Lucie, Florida, said that apart from the time his son got angry a few months ago over seeing two men kissing, he never saw any anti-gay behavior from him.

Psychological studies have shown that some men with repressed same-sex desires may express anti-gay views, especially if they grew up in families that opposed homosexuality.

"People who are struggling to come to terms with their sexual identity do at times react to that by doing the exact opposite, which could be to become more masculine or more vocal about their ideals of a traditional family," said Michael Newcomb, a Northwestern University psychologist.

Mateen's ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, said earlier in the week that he was mentally ill, controlling and abusive. Amid the latest reports about his clubgoing, she told CNN: "Well, when we had gotten married, he confessed to me about his past that was recent at that time and that he very much enjoyed going to clubs and the nightlife and there was a lot of pictures of him."

"I feel like it's a side of him or a part of him that he lived but probably didn't want everybody to know about," she said.

The FBI has recovered Mateen's phone and will use location data to verify whether he previously visited the club, said a third official, who was not authorized to discuss the case and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Investigators working to determine whether anyone had advance knowledge of the attack have spoken extensively with Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, and are working to establish whether she and Mateen were recently at or inside the club, the official said. The official said investigators have not ruled out charging others, including the wife.

____

Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Allen G. Breed and Tamara Lush in Orlando; Holbrook Mohr in Port St. Lucie, Florida; and Lindsey Tanner in Chicago, contributed to this report. (**)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

The Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin to six years in prison and fined him Rp 1 billion (US$74,836) on Wednesday for money laundering and corrupt practices.

Presiding judge Ibnu Basuki Widodo declared Nazaruddin guilty of laundering nearly Rp 600 billion.

The sentence is lower than the prosecutions demand of seven years imprisonment and Rp 1 billion fine. The judges also ordered that Nazaruddin's wealth be seized, although several assets were to be returned to him.

After hearing the verdict, Nazaruddin said he accepted the verdict and would not appeal.

Nazaruddin was charged with accepting a Rp 23 billion bribe from construction firm PT Duta Graha Indah and Rp 17 billion from PT Nindya Karya for several projects for the education and health ministries during his time as party treasurer and legislator.

In April 2012, Nazaruddin was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison for accepting Rp 4.6 billion linked to the construction of the SEA Games athletes village in South Sumatra. (rin)
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Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

In a bid to expand its international flight network and tap the growing tourism sector, Garuda Indonesia has reactivated its route connecting Medan, North Sumatra, with neighboring Singapore.

The airline plans to operate daily flights to and from Singapore, utilizing a Boeing 737-800 NG with a capacity of 162 passengers.

"We hope that the flight will strengthen the position of Garuda Indonesia in the Singaporean market," Garuda Indonesia president director Arif Wibowo said on Tuesday.

The flight will be the second Garuda international flight operating from Medan, in addition to a flight route to Jeddah which began operating in December last year.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said that he applauded the move, suggesting that it would act as a support for tourism to Toba Lake in North Sumatra. Lake Toba was included in the top 10 emerging destinations to be developed by the government.

"This move will impact the number of visit to North Sumatra," he said. (dmr)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

The government and legislature have agreed to keep a controversial article on online defamation in the Electronic Information and Transaction (ITE) Law despite protests of free speech violation.

Article 27 of the 2008 law states that people could be criminalized if they deliberately distribute, transmit or create accessible electronic information or documents containing slanderous and defamatory language.

Henri Subiakto, an advisor to Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara, said the government refused to scrap the article because it did not contradict the 1945 Constitution, as stipulated by the Constitutional Court through its judicial reviews in 2008 and 2009.

"All factions in House of Representatives Commission I have agreed to keep the article, except the Gerindra Party faction," Henri said after a closed meeting in the legislative complex on Tuesday.

However, he said the government would add clearer definitions of "distribute", "transmit" and "make accessible" in the revised version of the law.
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Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung has said the government is set to establish a maritime policy as a reference for Indonesias maritime development. The policy is targeted to be completed in July.

In a limited Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office on Wednesday, he said, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo urged the Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister to immediately work on a simple but implementable maritime policy.

"The President has given until July to set the implementable policy," Pramono said. During the meeting, he further explained, President Jokowi also called for the promotion of fish.

Earlier, Jokowi said the maritime development policy should be able to consolidate existing maritime development programs, saying the policy would serve as a guideline for maritime development in the country.



"I also need to underline that this policy should be good not only on paper, but it should bring real positive impacts on the welfare of fishermen and Indonesian people overall," Jokowi said.



He said Indonesia's maritime sector currently contributed less than 30 percent to gross domestic product (GDP), lower than other maritime countries. Japans maritime sector, for instance, contributed 48.5 percent to GDP.



He further said the potential of the maritime sector in the country was worth $1.2 trillion a year and expected it to absorb 40 million workers. "This means there is still a lot of potential that has not yet been fully utilized," he said, adding that the development projects in Indonesias maritime sector must be well-targeted. (ebf)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

Prosecutors have asked the West Jakarta District Court to sentence Riki Agung Prasetyo, 24, to six years in prison for drunk driving that killed four people in February this year.

[We] demand the judges sentence the defendant to six years of imprisonment, minus his four month detention time, prosecutor Amril Abdi told the court, presided by judge Zuhardi, on Tuesday, as reported by kompas.com.

Besides imprisonment, the prosecutors also demanded the defendant pay a Rp 12 million (US$923) fine.

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

A pilot working for private airline Sriwijaya Air, identified as Sjaiful Salam, 48, was found dead in his apartment at Tamansari Skylounge in Tangerang, Banten, on Monday night.

His friend tried to wake him for sahur [predawn meal], but he didnt respond, Neglasari Police chief Comr. Sutrisno said on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com.

He added that police found some medicines in the room where Sjaiful died.Police found some medication in his room. We assume that he was suffering some illness before he died, Sutrisno said.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

The public complaints page of the Communications and Informatics Ministry's official website, dumas.kominfo.go.id, has apparently fallen victim to a hacking attack launched in retaliation against local calls for Google and YouTube to be blocked in Indonesia.

Images circulating in the media shows that a hacker inserted a message about the blocking issue on the webpage on Tuesday evening.

The internet is not negative. It is the user who made it negative. Blocking is never a solution, but fix the morality of the user, the message said.

On Wednesday afternoon, the webpage was not available for public access, leaving a 404 code suggesting that the page was not to be found. However, a search on Google using the keywords dumas kominfo produced a summary of the hackers message.

A screen capture of the results of a Google search using 'dumas kominfo' as keywords.(Google/.)

Last week, the official website of the Association of Indonesia Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) was similarly attacked by a hacker, presumably because of the associations call to ban Google and YouTube in Indonesia for promoting violent and pornographic content. The ICMI website, icmi.or.id, was not accessible until Wednesday. (dmr)


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Linkedin Ken Thomas (Associated) Washington  Wed, June 15, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP)  Hillary Clinton brought a close to the presidential primary season with a win in the nation's capital and a meeting with dispatched rival Bernie Sanders, hoping to set a tone of Democratic unity heading into next month's party convention in Philadelphia.

Clinton's victory Tuesday in the District of Columbia, the final primary of 2016, had no bearing on her role as the presumptive nominee, but it nevertheless marked a transition in the lengthy primary fight between the two rivals.

In virtually identical statements released after meeting for more than 90 minutes, the Clinton and Sanders campaigns said the two rivals discussed their primary campaign, "unifying the party and ... the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation." Neither spoke to reporters after the session at a Washington, D.C., hotel a few blocks from the White House.

Clinton told Sanders she appreciated his commitment to stopping Trump in the general election and the two discussed issues in which they share common goals, including "raising wages for working families, eliminating undisclosed money in politics and reducing the cost of college for students and their families." Both candidates agreed to work together on the development of the platform at the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

Before polls closed in Washington, where Clinton won with nearly 80 percent of the vote, Sanders vowed again to do all he can to prevent Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, from reaching the White House  but he declined to endorse Clinton.

The Vermont senator had said the private meeting would help him determine how committed Clinton will be to the policy issues he has staked out during his 13-month campaign.

"Our goal must not be to allow politicians, Donald Trump or anyone else, to divide us," Sanders said outside his Washington headquarters, telling reporters he will continue to "fight as hard as we can" to transform the Democratic Party.

Sanders said he would push for new leadership in the Democratic National Committee  his campaign has sparred with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the party's chair  along with a progressive platform in the summer convention and electoral changes, such as primaries that allow independents to participate and the elimination of superdelegates.

"We need major, major changes in the Democratic Party," he said.

Yet in Sanders' statement from spokesman Michael Briggs, the senator does not refer to Clinton as the presumptive nominee but instead congratulates her "on the campaign she has run."

Sanders was warmly received Tuesday by Senate Democrats at their weekly luncheon, where he offered an update about his campaign and some of the lessons he had learned during the past year. Lawmakers in attendance said Sanders did not indicate his future plans.

"He had an opportunity to talk to us about his campaign and how it has changed him and what he has learned," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. "I think we all listened intently because we are anxious to always do better and grow as a party and be more inclusive."

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who leads the Senate Democrats' campaign arm, said Sanders "absolutely will" support fellow Senate Democrats in the fall elections. "It was productive, it was good, it was vintage Bernie," Tester said.

Sanders met last week with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who both later endorsed Clinton, and signaled to Democrats that he hopes to play a constructive role in helping the party regain control of the Senate in the 2016 elections.

The self-described democratic socialist says he will take his campaign to the convention in July and advocate for his policy issues in the platform while urging Democrats to be more inclusive of independents, young people and working-class voters, all of whom were pivotal in his victories in 22 states. But what that will look like still remains unclear, and Sanders has been soliciting advice from supporters on how he should take his campaign forward.

The mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, has commanded the attention of both campaigns and prompted Democrats to point to Trump's call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US, an issue they view as a key contrast in the general election.

Without mentioning Trump by name, Clinton warned during a speech in Cleveland on Monday that demonizing Muslims would only empower extremist groups. "We should be intensifying contacts in those communities, not scapegoating or isolating them," she said.

Sanders attended a vigil in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont, on Monday night to show solidarity with the victims. Pointing to Trump's comments about Muslims, Sanders said the shooting was conducted by "one hateful person" and not committed by the Muslim people.

Looking forward, Sanders has begun helping Democrats preparing for congressional races and the battle to regain control of the Senate.

An early test of his clout came Tuesday in Nevada, where a Sanders-backed congressional candidate, Lucy Flores, was defeated in a three-way primary.

Sanders has opened up his campaign's massive email donor list to several Democratic candidates, hauling in more than US$2.4 million for his allies. Flores has been the top recipient of those appeals, collecting about $390,000 from an email Sanders sent in April on behalf of her and two other candidates.

___

AP Congressional Correspondent Erica Werner and AP writer Wilson Ring in Burlington, Vermont, contributed to this report.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama plans to construct a cancer and heart hospital on land purchased from Sumber Waras Hospital in West Jakarta . The construction will be funded by private companies.

The construction of the hospital is estimated to be complete within two years, Ahok said.

We will source contributions [from private companies. If we use private funds, it will not violate the regulation, said Ahok as reported by kompas.com, adding that the project requires investment of Rp 3 trillion (US$224.47 million).

He said that according to a decree issued by a home affair minister in 2011, a multi-year project could not be implemented by regional heads  governors, mayors and regents  if their term had less than two years remaining.

Ahok's statement was made after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced on Tuesday that its investigators had not found any case of corruption in the acquisition of the Sumber Waras land. According to the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) the purchase had caused state loss.

We will find [a developer] who wants to develop property projects, several floors higher than [the provision stipulated in city regulations], said the governor. Three or more companies would be required in order to sufficiently finance the hospital construction. (bbn)
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Linkedin Haryo Budi Nugroho (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

As we get closer to the decision in the arbitration on the South China Sea, we hear numerous arguments from all sides, including the article by Ambassador Xie Feng in The Jakarta Post on June 8. Now, it is important to view the arbitration from an objective standpoint.

First, regarding the formation of the arbitration, it is indeed the case that the Philippines initiated the arbitration unilaterally.

However there is no stipulation within UNCLOS that bans a country from unilaterally launching arbitration. For instance Malaysia did so in the case of land reclamation filed against Singapore.

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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Indonesian officials have warmly welcomed the nomination of National Counterterrorism Agency head Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian to helm the National Police, a senior minister said on Wednesday.

Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said senior police officials, including Suroyo Bimantoro and Bibit Samad Rianto, as well as political party leaders had reacted positively to Tito's candidacy.

"From all the messages that I have received, all have given their appreciation to the President regarding the nomination," Luhut told journalists.

Tito's reputation and good relations with senior police officials was the reason President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had nominated him to succeed current National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti, Luhut said.

Luhut added that he was also seen as someone who had the ability to carry out positive reform within the force.

Tito's name was among three candidates for the position proposed by the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), Luhut said, adding that Jokowi had also considered input from various parties and the public.

If he is approved by the House of Representatives Tito will officially take on the position. (dan)
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Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

Although crude prices seem have slowly picked up in recent days, the Indonesian government has remained pessimistic about the outlook of the energy sector and is expecting a significant drop in oil production next year due to a combination of aging fields and slow exploration.



For the last two years, global oil prices have been in free-fall from around US$110 per barrel of Brent crude in June 2014 to around $40 recently.



In anticipation of ongoing price fluctuations, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry proposed on Tuesday an oil production target of 740,000 to 760,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) in 2017, representing a decline of 8 to 10 percent from the 830,000 bopd targeted in the 2016 state budget.



The revised production target is also accompanied by a drastically lowered assumed crude price of $35-45 per barrel, down from an assumed price of $50 per barrel in this years state budget.



One of the challenges will be to revive [oil field] development programs to what they were before, Minister Sudirman Said told members of the House of Representatives Commission VII overseeing energy in a hearing.



Sudirman said many oil and gas blocks across the nation were aging and would experience a natural decline in production of 20 percent annually. However, he noted that Cepu, the second-largest oil producer in the country, was expected to reach peak production of 165,000 bopd next year.



The Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas) claimed that one of the main reasons for the production slump was a lack of exploration, specifically drilling activity, due to low oil prices.



Data from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry shows that from January to April this year, only 10 exploratory wells were drilled, yielding three discoveries. The same data shows that 52 exploratory wells were drilled last year, and 83 in 2014. The number of wells drilled has dropped significantly compared to the average of 104 wells drilled per year from 2011 to 2013.



Indonesias energy sector has a long history of upward and downward trends. An increase in exploration activity at the beginning of the New Order government resulted in the discovery of new oil reserves and increased oil production from about 600 thousand barrels per day in 1967 to 1.7 million in 1977. After reaching its peak in the late 1970s, upstream oil and gas activity in Indonesia showed a declining trend, as oil companies spending on exploration and production remained stagnant.



SKKMigas deputy chief Zikrullah said that currently many oil and gas companies had postponed all well-drilling as crude prices had dropped below $30 per barrel between January and February this year.



The benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price stood at $48.26 per barrel on Tuesday evening, representing a 19.5 percent year-on-year drop from $59.97 this time last year, according to Bloomberg. Fellow benchmark Brent Crude recorded a $49.68 per barrel price.



Despite the worrisome drop in oil production, the government is confident that gas production will remain stable. The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has proposed a target of 1.05 million to 1.15 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) next year, from 1.155 million boepd in this years state budget.



Meanwhile, state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina expressed optimism that their production would increase by approximately 8 percent next year due to the anticipated production increase in Cepu block, in which it has 45 percent share, and a predicted increase in production in its oil fields abroad.



Last year, Pertaminas crude production climbed 11 percent to 606,700 bopd.



However, some of our fields are old and we have not found any new viable fields, Pertamina president director Dwi Soetjipto told The Jakarta Post.

---------------

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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jambi  Wed, June 15 2016

The Batanghari health agency in the province of Jambi has recorded two cases of malnutrition this year. Meanwhile, the province saw 13 cases of malnutrition in 2015.

To cope, the local administration will provide nutritious food for the two people for three months. It will also ensure that their recovery is covered by regional health insurance (Jamkesda).

The cause of the malnutrition is not only poverty but also heart disease and neurological problems, the agencys head of public health protection, Asrofi, said on Tuesday.

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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Prosecutors have accused Jessica Kumala Wongso of the premeditated murder of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin. Mirna died in January after she consumed a cyanide-tainted coffee at Olivier Cafe in Jakarta.

Prosecutor Ardito Muwardi told judges at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday that Jessica had murdered Mirna in revenge, claiming that Jessica had been outraged at Mirna, whom is said to have repeatedly told Jessica to break up with her boyfriend.

Mirna advised Jessica to break up with boyfriend because her boyfriend was a drug abuser and violent. Mirna said that Jessicas boyfriend was not a good person and had a bad economic situation. Jessica was offended by Mirnas advice, Ardito said.

The murder trial proceedings commenced at 10:20 a.m. with Jessica, the sole suspect in the case, who has been detained for about 5 months, attending the trial wearing a red detainee vest. The court hearing was presided over by Kisyoro, accompanied by two other judges, Partahi and Binsar Panjaitan.

According to Ardito, Jessica had broken up with her boyfriend. He also alleged that, in Australia, she had become a troublemaker, citing that due to Jessicas behavior had led to police involvement on several occasions in Australia.

Jessica was accompanied at the trial by 15 lawyers . Sordame Purba, one of Jessicas lawyers, called the prosecutors indictment nonsense.

It is nonsense that Jessica flew from Sydney to Jakarta to murder Mirna. It is unfair that Jessica was the only suspect in the case, when some people, such as Mirnas husband Arief Soemarko, Mirnas friend Hani, and the staff who made the coffee were also involved at the time of the incident, Sordame said.

The judges have given prosecutors a week to provide an answer to the lawyers claims. The trial has been suspended until June 21, Kisyoro said.

Mirna died after she drank a cyanide-laced iced coffee at Olivier cafe in Central Jakarta during a meeting with Jessica and another friend, Hani, on Jan. 6. (bbn)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Jessica Kumala Wongso, the sole suspect in the Wayan Mirna Salihin murder case, is due appear for trial at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday. Jessicas lawyer, Andi Jusuf, said his client was ready to face the court and emphasized that Jessicas team of lawyers had thoroughly studied the prosecutors indictment.

We will face the case like a general criminal case. For the first day of trial, we will listen to the prosecutors indictment and decide whether we will file an exception, Andi told thejakartapost.com on Tuesday.

Prosecutors have accused Jessica of premeditated murder in the Mirna case. Mirna died after consuming a cyanide-tainted Vietnamese coffee beverage, which is alleged to have been ordered by Jessica at Olivier Cafe, in Grand Indonesia, a mall in Central Jakarta.

Despite Article 340 of the Criminal Code listing death as the maximum penalty for premeditated murder, on Monday, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly ensured that Jessica would not be sentenced to death based on an agreement made between the Indonesian and Australian governments in relation to the case.

Andi said the lawyer team had not found anything new in the prosecutors indictment, saying that the police had also accused Jessica of committing premeditated murder. The indictment was a copy-paste of the polices investigation report, the lawyer emphasized.

We will stick to our stance. Our client is innocent. She didnt murder Mirna, Andi said, adding that the lawyers plan to call relevant experts to testify before the judges.

Jessica is currently detained at the Pondok Bambu Women's Detention Center in East Jakarta. According to Andi, Jessicas condition is fine and she does not have any health problems. (ebf)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Prosecutors of the Central Jakarta District Court claim Jessica Kumala Wongso studied the cafe murder scene thoroughly just hours before her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin died after drinking cyanide-tainted coffee.

The prosecutors, lead by Ardito Muwandi, told the court on Wednesday that Jessica, the sole suspect in the premeditated murder case, apparently knew the locations of the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the Olivier Cafe as she allegedly tried to block the cameras with three paper bags strategically located on her table.

Jessica, Mirna and their friend Hani had agreed to meet at Olivier Cafe in Grand Indonesia in Central Jakarta on Jan. 6 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting place and time were chosen by Jessica and she had arrived early at around 3:30 p.m., long before her friends, Ardito said as he read the indictment out loud.

After entering the Olivier cafe, Jessica was recorded through CCTV to be examining the locale. After a short while, she left the cafe and went to a Bath and Body Works shop in the West Mall of the same shopping center to buy three types of bath salts.

"She ordered the shop worker to put those bath salts in three paper bags, Ardito said during the trial of the high profile murder case.

Prosecutors said Jessica returned to Olivier cafe at around 4:14 p.m. with the three paper bags. She directly headed to the non-smoking area and chose to sit at table number 54, which had a wall as a backing. She then ordered a Vietnamese coffee for Mirna and two cocktails for herself and Hani, Ardito said, adding that after ordering Jessica immediately paid the bill.

A coffeemaker named Rangga made the Vietnamese coffee based on the cafe's procedure. Waiter Agus Triono brought the coffee to the table and was followed by another employee named Marlon who served the cocktails.

After Marlon left the table, Jessica moved to the center of the couch. She arranged the three paper bags upon the table to block the views of other people. For about 15 minutes, Jessica put the cyanide into Mirnas glass, Ardito claimed as he read the indictment.

Mirna died instantly in the cafe after drinking the coffee. Doctors who performed an autopsy found that she died from a corrosive substance in her stomach. (rin)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

The lawyers of murder suspect Jessica Kumala Wongso rejected all charges against their client after the indictment was read out at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday.

Jessica, 27, stands accused of the premeditated murder of Wayan Mirna Salihin. The charge carries the death penalty.

Her lawyers said the prosecution had failed to find proof that Jessica had planned the murder and pointed out that was a third person called Hani who had initiated the meeting at Olivier restaurant on Jan. 6. They said that under such circumstances, the court should ensure that justice was served and Jessica pronounced not guilty.

Lawyer Otto Hasibuan said the prosecution had failed to prove that Jessica had spiked Mirnas iced coffee with cyanide or that Jessica had ever been in possession of cyanide.

He also criticized the prosecution for not mentioning in the indictment whether the cyanide was in powder or liquid form.

No one saw Jessica put cyanide in Mirnas coffee. Even if she did put something in it, the prosecution cant recklessly conclude that she put cyanide in Mirnas cup. It could have been sugar that she put in the coffee, couldnt it? Otto said.

Jessica only visited Olivier restaurant once, which was on the day of the incident. She didnt even know where the CCTVs were, Otto said.

The indictment had been haphazardly drafted and was incomplete, unclear and inaccurate, Otto claimed. (bbn)
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Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani, Agnes Anya and Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has refused to bow to pressure from the House of Representatives to continue its probe into the Sumber Waras Hospital land acquisition, emphasizing that it found no irregularities in the purchase by the Jakarta administration.

After a hearing with House Commission III overseeing security, human rights and legal affairs, KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo said his investigators had found no unlawful acts in the reported case after auditing and conducting a preliminary investigation into the Supreme Audit Agencys (BPK) report.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

The National Narcotics Agency on Tuesday arrested three suspects in a raid on a warehouse on Jl. Rawa Bebek in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, seizing nine steel pipes officers think contain crystal methamphetamine, locally known as shabu-shabu.

The agencys drug eradication deputy chief Insp. Gen. Arman Depari said the police had cut open one steel pipe that looks like the ones used for electricity poles and found five kilograms of shabu-shabu stuffed into it.

We have nine steel poles in total, Arman said as quoted by Warta Kota on Tuesday afternoon.

Arman said the steel poles weighed between 120 and 190 kilograms. Weve just opened the 120-kilogram one, he said, adding that the police needed at least 30 minutes to cut it open.

The police investigators are scheduled to continue to cutting open the eight remaining steel poles on Wednesday. (dmr)
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Linkedin Dewanti A. Wardhani, Ina Parlina and Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

President Joko Jokowi Widodos meeting with executives of Japanese oil giant Inpex on Tuesday opens a new chapter for both countries following stained business relations due to the Asian giants failed projects in the country.



The meeting agreed to support development of the multi-billion dollar Masela onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in South Maluku.



He [Jokowi] made it clear that he would fully support this project. This is a big project. This project is also a symbolic project between Japan and Indonesia, said Inpex Indonesia vice president for corporate services Nico Muhyiddin.



Inpex previously proposed to build a US$22 billion gas facility offshore, but the government opted for an onshore plant instead, forcing the company to redo its business plans and lose investment already put into the offshore scheme.



The hurdle emerged at a time when Japan, Indonesias biggest creditor and one of its biggest investors and export markets, faced uncertainty over a major seaport project and lost out to China in a contest to secure Indonesias first high-speed railway project.



All the while, Chinas investment in Indonesia is emerging. Apart from the high-speed railway, China pledged billions of dollars worth of financing for local banks and infrastructure projects, including the governments strategic Sumatra and Sulawesi railway projects.



But Indonesia and Japan can put those setbacks behind them as recent developments work in favor of Asias second-largest economy.



Apart from progress made on Inpexs Masela gas block, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) recently agreed to provide a $2.05 billion loan to develop the 2,000 megawatt (MW) Batang coal-fired power plant that is touted as the largest in Southeast Asia and part of Jokowis ambitious plan to boost power supply by 35,000 MW by 2020.



Also, the Patimban deep-sea port, which will serve as an alternative to the nations largest port Tanjung Priok, has recently been named as a strategic project, meaning the government will provide guarantees for the $3.09 billion project, which will be partly financed by Japan.



Although there was a four-to-six-months vacuum in Japanese investment, they were very enthusiastic and are highly interested in investing again, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Franky Sibarani told The Jakarta Post.



Despite recent setbacks in bilateral relations, Japanese investors continue to have a keen interest in the country, the BKPM concluded after recent meetings with potential investors.



For example, one investor is reportedly interested in developing fire-fighting technology worth Rp 600 billion (US$44.9 million) and is currently assessing potential production sites in industrial estates in Sumatra. It is set to cooperate with the local administration, so the technology can be dispatched during forest fires.



Other investors are keen to build camera lenses and car parts. We expect Japanese investment to increase significantly this year, Franky said.



The Japanese Embassy confirmed that the country had big plans to invest in Indonesia. Economic Minister counsellor Mari Takada said Japan was looking into several other projects in Indonesias oil and gas industry, apart from Inpexs Masela block.



Separately, Japanese Embassy counselor for information and culture Kenichi Takeyama said the country continued to consider Indonesia an important partner and its businesses would continue to invest in the country.



Japan has had relations with Indonesia for almost 60 years now, and we have established positive economic, political and social relations. One or two problems wont strain this relationship, Takeyama told the Post.

---------------

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

The Defense Ministry's plan to establish its own intelligence agency is unnecessary, Vice President Jusuf Kalla says on Tuesday.



Even though the government had yet to make comprehensive discussion about the realization of the plan, Kalla asserted that the newly spy agency was in-fact not an urgency in the present.



"[The government] haven't discussed anything, but I can assure that we don't need too much agencies in the meantime," Kalla said as quoted by kompas.com.



The officials should initially conduct in-depth assessment on the intelligence body planning since it is feared that the newly spy body would overlap with the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Kalla said.



Earlier, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu announced the plan to establish an intelligence body under the Defense Ministry, which aimed to dig deeper on information needed for the country's defense interests.



While the Indonesian Military (TNI) had its intelligence body for gathering information to make operational defense plan, the Ministry needed the spy body to make strategic defense plan, Ryamizard said.



However, the plan has drawn controversy from various parties, with rights watchdog Setara Institute criticizing the Defense Ministry for its lack of willingness to coordinate with the country's existing intelligence bodies. (afr/dmr)
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Linkedin Hotli Simanjuntak & Arientha Primanita (The Jakarta Post) Aceh/Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

An Aceh-based nongovernmental organization is calling for the government to allow dozens of Tamils from Sri Lanka who are stranded in Aceh to remain while they regain their strength before continuing on their trip to Australia.

A group of 44 Tamils, consisting of 20 men, 15 women -- one of whom is pregnant -- and nine children, needed to restore their physical and mental health in Aceh first, considering the impact the sea journey had made on them, Lilianne Fan, the international director of the Geutanyoe Foundation, an organization providing humanitarian assistance, said on Wednesday.

The local authorities must also allow survivors to be interview by the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, as well as by humanitarian organisations who can help to identify and address any protection needs the group might have.

Fan cited Indonesia's experience and achievements in handling influxes of asylum seekers in previous years, including the Rohingyas from Myanmar, as providing a good foundation for handling the Tamils refugees.

The group had been sailing for about 20 days, fleeing what appears to be a deteriorating security situation in Sri Lanka, before the Indian-flagged boat got stranded in the Lhoknga waters of Aceh Besar regency on June 11 and was found by local fishermen.

Local authorities helped the Tamils, who were heading for Australia, by repairing their broken motor and providing them with food and fuel for their boat. They group departed from Lhoknga on June 12 only to return the next day when they asked for more fuel to continue their journey.

Aceh immigration authorities, however, would not let them land in Aceh as they did not have passports and other relevant travel documents. Consequently, they stayed on their boat two kilometers from the shore as they refused to set sail unless they could get more assistance.

"The fact that they have still not left Acehs waters indicates that the group may indeed wish to temporarily disembark in Aceh and there are urgent needs that remain to be addressed," Fan said in a press statement.

The Geutanyoe Foundation wanted to remind the government of Indonesia and all stakeholders that the right to seek asylum is a fundamental right as stipulated in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The foundation also sent a letter to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday calling for the protection of the Tamil asylum seekers, Fan added. (rin)
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Linkedin Kathleen Hennessey (Associated Press) Washington  Wed, June 15, 2016

President Barack Obama angrily denounced Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric on Tuesday, blasting the views of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee as a threat to American security and a menacing echo of some of the most shameful moments in US history.

Obama's rebuke was his most searing yet of the man seeking to take his seat in the Oval Office. While the president has frequently dismissed Trump as a buffoon or a huckster, this time he challenged the former reality television star as a "dangerous" threat to the nation's safety, religious freedom and diversity.

"That's not the America we want. It does not reflect our democratic ideals," Obama declared in remarks that had been scheduled as simply updating the public on the counter-Islamic State campaign.

Obama walked listeners through a familiar litany of battlefield successes, but then came another message. Growing more animated as he spoke, Obama said Trump's "loose talk and sloppiness" could lead to discrimination and targeting of ethnic and religious minorities.

"We've gone through moments in our history before when we acted out of fear and we came to regret it," Obama said. "We've seen our government mistreat our fellow citizens and it has been a shameful part of our history."

Trump responded by suggesting that Obama is too solicitous of enemies.

"President Obama claims to know our enemy, and yet he continues to prioritize our enemy over our allies, and for that matter, the American people," the candidate said in a statement. "When I am president, it will always be America first."

Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, has set off a new round of debate over counterterrorism, gun control and immigration  one that has exposed the political parties' starkly different approaches to national security. The presumed gunman was an American-born citizen whose parents came to the US from Afghanistan more than 30 years ago.

Trump has used the carnage to renew his call to temporarily ban foreign Muslim from entering the country, and added a new element: a suspension of immigration from areas of the world with a proven history of terrorism against the US and its allies.

The Democrats' presumptive presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, also let out a full-throated response that Trump's speech should disqualify him.

"We don't need conspiracy theories and pathological self-congratulations," Clinton said Tuesday, in a speech that closely tracked Obama's. "We need leadership and concrete plans because we are facing a brutal enemy."

Both Clinton and Obama turned up the heat on Republicans, some of whom have squirmed with discomfort this week at the first glimpses of how their new leader handles national crises.

As Obama argued that Trump's ban on immigration would lead Muslim-Americans to believe their government had betrayed them, he urged Republicans to denounce the policy.

"Where does this stop?" Obama said. "Are we going to start treating all Muslim-Americans differently? Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance? Are we going to start discriminating against them because of their faith? ... Do Republican officials actually agree with this?"

For some, the answer was plainly no. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the highest-ranking elected GOP official, emphasized his opposition, saying he did not think such a ban was "in our country's interest" or "reflective of our principles not just as a party, but as a country."

Republicans have instead hoped to focus on a broader criticism of the president's counter-terrorism strategy as unfocused, ineffective and too soft of Islamic institutions and governments that support terrorism.

Obama directly addressed that argument, specifically taking on the Trump charge that his policies have been hampered by his refusal to use the phrase "radical Islam" when describing the forces urging attacks like the one in Orlando. Republicans have said the careful parsing is a sign of over-caution and political correctness that demonstrates denial about the groups responsible for the extremist view.

Trump said Sunday the president should resign if he does not use the phrase.

Obama dismissed the criticism as a "political talking point" and "not a strategy," and he pointed to his success in tracking Osama bin Laden and other leaders, as evidence of his success.

"There is no magic to the phrase 'radical Islam,'" he said. "Someone seriously thinks that we don't know who we are fighting? If there is anyone out there who thinks we are confused about who our enemies are  that would come as a surprise to the thousands of terrorists who we have taken off the battlefield."

Obama struck a more bipartisan tone in speaking to members of Congress and their families during a picnic Tuesday evening on the South Lawn.

"Obviously this has been a difficult week for America because all of us are still grieving for those who were lost in Orlando," he told the several hundred people in attendance.

Obama said he understood that it's a contentious time in the political life of the nation, but he said democracy has always been messy. In the end, he said, the "things that really matter in our lives, they can't be captured by a party label."

___

Associated Press writers Lisa Lerer in Cleveland and Donna Cassata in Washington contributed to this report. (**)
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Linkedin Dandy Koswaraputra (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

The police have denied claims that they detained over 1,000 Papuans who staged a rally today to demand Indonesia hold an independence referendum in the nations easternmost province.

Its ridiculous. We did not arrest them. We did not detain them at all. We only ordered them to disperse, Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpaw told thejakartapost.com on Wednesday.

Paulus said the government had instructed police to ensure security in Papua amid the ongoing activities of groups pushing for the provinces separation from Indonesia.

They are trying to resist the constitutional state. They are hiding on behalf of freedom of expression and trying to internationalize the issue, General Paulus asserted, adding that police have the responsibility to counter their propaganda.

Police said that an anti-Indonesia group called National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) was behind the mobilization of the Papuan people and had frequently tried to organize massive demonstrations.

We have never permitted them to do so because their ultimate goal is to separate Papua from Indonesia, he said.

According to the Legal Aid Institute (LBH), a series of demonstrations have taken place in Jayapura, Baliem, Fakfak, Sentani, Sorong, Timika and Yalimo as well as in Malang, East Java.

I welcome LBH to come to us and talk about the issue instead of releasing provocative material to the public, Paulus said.

There have also been actions in Papua to call for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua to be recognized as a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. (dan)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) will not support Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama as an independent candidate in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, according to PDI-P politician Djarot Saiful Hidayat.

Golkar Party, NasDem Party and Hanura Party have all voiced their support for Ahok. The party doesnt mind if Ahok chooses to run as an independent or through the political party mechanism, said Golkars Jakarta chapter acting chairman Yorrys Raweyai, whose party expressed its support for Ahok on Tuesday.

PDI-P deputy chairman Djarot Saiful Hidayat, who is currently the deputy governor of Jakarta, said that his party would only select a figure who was ready to be nominated through the political party mechanism.

PDI-P will nominate [a candidate]. We want to strengthen the political party system, said Djarot, who was initially to be paired with Ahok before the latter declared himself as an independent candidate in March, as reported by kompas.com.

PDI-P, however, has yet to decide its gubernatorial candidate as the selection process is still taking place, said Djarot, adding that the decision would be made next month, after the Idul Fitri celebration. Each party has its mechanism to decide a candidate. We also have our own, he added.

As the largest political party in the city, with 28 seats in the City Council, PDI-P has a ticket to propose its own candidate.

Ahok has appointed civil servant Heru Budi Hartono as his deputy gubernatorial candidate. A coalition between the Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) introduced former deputy defense minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and PKS politician Muhammad Idrus as a possible pairing. (bbn)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

The police collecting evidence against soap opera star Ferry Irawan, who reportedly took out a pistol and fired into the air to scare away two South Jakarta Building Supervision and Regulation Agency inspection officers who went to his house.

Pancoran Police chief Comr. Aswin said the police received a complaint from Alif Marsono, one of the officers who went to Ferrys house on Jl. Sarinah Utara in Pengadegan on Tuesday. Even though the construction of the two-story house has been completed, the officers suspected that the house lacked a building permit.

He [Ferry] drew a pistol and shot into the air, Aswin was quoted as saying by Antara news agency. The officers instantly fled the scene.

We are currently investigating the case, Aswin said, adding that detectives wanted to question Ferry. (dmr)
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post)  Wed, June 15 2016

Six police officers being detained for allegedly selling the answers to a written police recruitment test in Medan, North Sumatra, face dismissal. Meanwhile, students who bought the answers could be disbarred from the selection process.

North Sumatra Police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. Rina Sari Ginting said the local police were still questioning the six police personnel.

What the six police officers did was against the standard operational procedures. Their sanctions could be dismissal, Rina told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Central Jakarta District Court prosecutors have said they will call 67 witnesses to the stand in the trial of murder suspect Jessica Kumala Wongso.

The witnesses will be presented to the court on June 21, prosecution team leader Ardito Muwardi said on the first day of the trial on Wednesday, without giving further details about the witnesses' identities.

Prosecutors accuse Jessica of committing premeditated murder by spiking the coffee of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin with a lethal dose of cyanide at the Olivier Cafe in Grand Indonesia mall in January.

Ardito said that suspicion toward Jessica arose after police noticed her blank reaction when Mirna started convulsing and fainted after drinking her coffee in the cafe's closed circuit television (CCTV) recording.

This was odd, Ardito said, given that their other friend seemed panicky as she tried to help her dying friend.

Seeing Mirnas condition, Hani tried to revive Mirna and called her name. Meanwhile, Jessica just sat there without reacting. She didnt try to help Mirna as Hani did, he said in the prosecutions indictment.

During Hani's questioning by police investigators, she said the coffee had a yellowish turmeric color and tasted awful when she had a small sip after Mirna. Vietnamese coffee normally has a brownish color, Ardito added. (rin)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Rental firm PT Serasi Autoraya, also known as TRAC Astra Rent Car, has targeted 15,000 cars to be rented by homebound holiday revelers during the Idul Fitri exodus.

The firms director, Hadi Winarto, alluded to the target as better road infrastructure and new toll roads promises a convenient traveling experience using cars.

Nowadays, people need a car [for the exodus]. If they do not own a car, then renting one could be an option, Hadi said as quoted by Kontan on Tuesday.

Hadi was optimistic that the rental car service would see significant future growth following the governments plan to impose higher taxes on car ownership.

This year, Hadi added, the company aimed to see a revenue increase of between 5 to 10 percent from the realized revenue of Rp 7 trillion (US$522.9 million) last year.

Aside from being a rental car service, the companys used-car business under the name Mobil 88 predicts to enjoy a 20-percent sales increase during the fasting month of Ramadhan and Idul Fitri festivities, thanks partly to higher seasonal demand. (dmr)
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Linkedin (Associated Press) Tokyo  Wed, June 15, 2016

The embattled governor of Tokyo submitted his resignation Wednesday over a mounting political funds scandal, Japanese media reported.

In recent weeks, Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe had come under intense questioning in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly for allegedly spending political funds on private vacations and hobbies, and lawmakers had been preparing to introduce a no-confidence motion later Wednesday.

Japanese media reports said the resignation would take effect June 21.

The impact on planning for the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo is unclear. Masuzoe had been scheduled to attend the Rio Olympics opening ceremony in August, and he would have accepted the Olympic flag during a handover during the closing ceremony.

Masuzoe's predecessor, who was instrumental in securing the bid for the 2020 Olympics, also resigned over a money-related scandal.

The assembly's steering committee reportedly urged the governor to step down Tuesday, but he said he wanted to stay until September.
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Linkedin Juliana Harsianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

Local specialties: Rice (center right) and salt (center left) from Krayan village are arranged among a number of products that have Geographic Indication certification from the government during an event at Potato Head Jakarta restaurant in Pacific Place, South Jakarta.

In a place far, far away in North Kalimantan, farmers in Krayan village proudly produce rice and salt, which are well known in neighboring countries but sadly lesser known in their home country.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Police have strengthened security at the Central Jakarta District Court as the high profile Wayan Mirna Salihin murder trail begins on Wednesday with the sole suspect, Jessica Kumala Wongso, standing accused.

We have prepared a company of police officers, consisting of about 90 personnel to guard the trial, said Jakarta City Police spokesman Sr. Corm. Awi Setiyono as reported by kompas.com on Wednesday.

The prosecutors are scheduled to read the indictment against Jessica, who has been accused of committing premeditated murder.

According to Indonesian law premeditated murder carries a maximal penalty of death. However, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly has said that an agreement was made between Indonesia and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) that Jessica would not be handed the maximum sentence. According to Yasonna, the agreement was made when the Jakarta police sought information from AFP regarding Jessica and Mirna, who had both spent time studying in Australia.

Awi said he was informed by a relative of Mirna that a demonstration would be carried out. We are prepared to guard the demonstration, he added.

Mirna died after consuming an iced coffee at Olivier Cafe in Central Jakarta during a meeting with Jessica and another friend on Jan. 6. Police allege that laboratory tests confirm that the coffee consumed by Mirna during the meeting had been laced with cyanide.

The police have found it difficult to prove who placed the poison in the cup, leading to a lengthy process of investigation. Prosecutors accepted the case dossier two days before Jessicas 120-day detention period expired.

Jessicas lawyers insist that their client is innocent, claiming that the police have yet to show any evidence indicating that Jessica had poisoned the coffee.

Awi declined to comment on the results of the police investigation. The case has already been placed in the hands of the prosecutors, he said (bbn)
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Linkedin Cemara Dinda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15 2016

Delish dish : Good food photography can make people drool just by looking at the image.

All food has its own story and so does capturing it in images

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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Wed, June 15 2016

The Bukit Barisan Regional Military Command is investigating one of its soldiers for alleged involvement in an illegal meat smuggling syndicate.

The investigation follows the arrest of First Corp. Tomi Simangunsong, who was found to be hoarding smuggled meat in his house in the Gaperta military residential complex, Medan, North Sumatra.

The Commands chief of staff Brig. Gen. Widagdo H. Sukoco said the investigation, which would involve the police and the customs and excise office, was aimed at uncovering the illegal meat smuggling network allegedly involving Tomi.

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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian has won President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's favor to succeed Gen. Badrodin Haiti as National Police chief, leaping over his seniors to be considered for the top post.

On the back of his accomplishments in the force, 51-year-old Tito is the youngest member of the police to receive the rank of commissioner general after being inaugurated as BNPT chief in March. He was promoted to the BNPT post after serving in the prestigious position of Jakarta Police chief for almost a year, when he was lauded for maintaining security following a terrorist attack that struck the capital in January.

Graduating from the Police Academy in 1987 as the best student, Tito's nomination for the National Police chief position overlooked several of his seniors whose names were also proposed to Jokowi by the National Police Commission (Kompolnas). The senior police members included National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan, National Police general supervision inspectorate chief Cmr. Gen. Dwi Priyatno and National Narcotics Agency (BNN) chief Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso.

Should the House of Representatives approve Tito's nomination, the former Papua Police chief could serve as National Police chief until his retirement in 2022, the longest term among his seniors.

The Palembang-born nominees career took off following his role in the arrest of fugitive Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, the youngest son of the late dictator Soeharto, in 2001, over the murder of Supreme Court justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita.

Building his reputation as a counterterrorism specialist, Tito is widely known for his achievements in cracking down on top terrorist cells in Indonesia when he served as a team leader in the police's Densus 88 antiterror squad.

Tito's achievements include the killing of notorious terrorists Azahari Husin in 2005 and Noordin Mohammad Top in 2009. His accomplishments in counterterrorism landed him the position of Densus 88 chief in 2010, followed by another promotion to BNPT operations deputy in 2011 and 2012.

His other credentials include cracking down on terror cells that ignited a bloody sectarian conflict in Poso, Central Sulawesi, in the early 2000s.

Tito obtained a Master of Arts on police studies from the University of Exeter in England in 1993. He also earned a PhD on strategic studies with a focus on terrorism and Islamist radicalization from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, in 2013. (rin)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

The University of Indonesia (UI) climbed 12 places on Asia's top 100 university list to settle at 67th place, from last years 79th.

UI rector Muhammad Anis M Met lauded the improved rank, attributing the achievement to the worldwide recognition of the UIs  Indonesias top university  quality, as reflected in the fulfillment of parameters being used in the assessment.

The rating is not the main purpose we pursue as an educational institution. We aim to produce excellent graduates and improve our quality of education, research and service to society, Anis said in a statement on Wednesday.

Among the parameters fulfilled included significant increases in the publication of journals, improved human resource management and organizational management, as well as internationalization programs involving the community, students and lecturers.

The rating was based on the Quacquarelli Symonds University Ranking 2016, an international rating standard on tertiary institutions, which assessed more than 350 universities in Asia. The list was released Tuesday. (dmr)
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Linkedin Anton Aliabbas (The Jakarta Post) Shrivenham, UK  Wed, June 15 2016

The Defense Ministry recently launched the 2015 Defense White Paper (DWP), which succeeds the last paper published in 2014. As President Joko Jokowi Widodo clearly acknowledges Indonesia is a maritime nation, the need to assess the implications of this paper for national defense policy is undeniable.

Ideally, releasing the new DWP will offer new insights into Indonesias approach to rapidly changing strategic environments and to affirm the priority of military capability development under the global maritime fulcrum (GMF) vision.

In general, the Jokowi administration seems to have followed the path marked out in the 2014 DWP. This can be seen in the structure of the paper, as we can find many similarities between the two DWPs such as section titles and explanations. However, the new DWP fails to reflect the GMF vision and propose significant changes to the defense sector.

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Linkedin Teo Cheng Wee (The Straits Times/ANN) Yunnan, China  Wed, June 15, 2016

ASEAN's foreign ministers reiterated their "serious concerns" to China over South China Sea developments at a special meeting, as their Chinese counterpart urged them not to view the disputed waters as "the sum of China-ASEAN ties".

But in a hint of the challenges that remain between the two sides, a joint press conference Tuesday between the co-chairs of the meeting - Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi - was helmed at the last minute only by Wang.

Instead, separately in a statement issued by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Balakrishnan noted "the serious concerns expressed by the ASEAN foreign ministers over the developments on the ground and called on ASEAN and China to continue working together to maintain the peace and stability of the South China Sea".

Adding to the confusion, an ASEAN joint statement was released by the Malaysian Foreign Ministry to the media Tuesday evening, only to be retracted later.

The retracted communique had said that recent and ongoing developments have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may have the potential to undermine peace, security and stability in the South China Sea.

Singapore MFA's statement said the ASEAN ministers highlighted the need to intensify efforts to achieve further progress on the implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, as well as the substantive development of the Code of Conduct, to manage territorial disputes in the waters.

Singapore is the current country coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

The rare special meeting Tuesday, held at a lakeside resort in south-western Yunnan province, was organized partly to review and build on this 25th anniversary milestone.

The foreign ministers discussed the preparations for the ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit that will take place in September in Laos, the current ASEAN chair.

But it was the South China Sea - where China, Brunei, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines have overlapping territorial claims - that took center stage.

Tensions have recently been heightened by an impending United Nations tribunal ruling over an arbitration case on China's claim to the South China Sea, which the Philippines brought in 2013.

A decision is set to be announced in weeks, with many expecting the ruling to go against China. China, which has been building artificial islands on disputed reefs and placing military equipment on them, has refused to take part in the case and said it will not accept the ruling.

The Straits Times understands that the meeting, which lasted more than five hours, was cordial despite some exchanges between China and several ASEAN countries.

Wang Tuesday acknowledged that China and the Philippines "have their differences" and that both countries stated their stands at the meeting.

"But this is not a problem between China and ASEAN and should not affect the cooperation between China and ASEAN," he said. "China and ASEAN's cooperation far exceeds their differences, including the South China Sea issue."

Wang said the atmosphere at the meeting was "good" and played down Balakrishnan's absence at the press conference.
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Linkedin (Viet Nam News/ANN) Hanoi  Wed, June 15, 2016

ASEAN foreign ministers asked ASEAN and China to show political will and greater efforts to ensure peace and security in the East Sea and comply with basic principles of international law.

ASEAN-China relations and the East Sea (widely known as South China Sea) issue dominated a special meeting between foreign ministers from ASEAN and China in Kunming, in Chinas Yunnan Province, Tuesday.

Expressing concern over complicated developments in the East Sea and their obstacles, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh called on ASEAN and China to increase dialogues and co-operation to deal with the issue while complying with commitments through concrete actions and the peaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He urged parties to refrain from using force or threatening to use force, and also urged efforts to prevent other actions that could further complicate the dispute, particularly via non-militarization in the East Sea, the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early formulation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The Vietnamese leader also pushed forward progress in bilateral talks on sea boundary delimitation.

Participants expressed their delight at the outcomes of the implementation of the 2011-2015 Action Plan for the Joint Statement on the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership, including upgrades to the ASEAN-China free trade agreement.

China remains ASEANs biggest trade partner with two-way trade of US$470 billion, which is expected to soar to $1 trillion by 2020.

Ministers sought to further promote co-ordination across the fields of politics-security, economy, socio-culture and development. They committed to effectively materializing the 2016-20 Action Plan and preparing for the Commemorative Summit of ASEAN-China Relations in Vientiane, Laos, this September, including drafting the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on enhancing manufacturing capability and increasing collaboration via ASEAN mechanisms to deal with common challenges.

The ASEAN foreign ministers shared the view that the maintenance of peace, stability, overflight and navigation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea is a shared responsibility.

They expressed their concerns about recent issues in the East Sea, especially land reclamation, large-scale construction, militarization on man-made islands and actions affirming sovereignty not grounded in international law.

They asked ASEAN and China to show political will and greater efforts to ensure peace and security in the East Sea and comply with basic principles of international law.

Measures to build trust and preventive diplomacy need to be adopted, they said.

The two sides also hailed the outcomes of the ASEAN-China senior officials 12th meeting on DOC implementation recently held in the Vietnamese northern province of Quang Ninh.

They reaffirmed their commitment to manage disputes and prevent conflicts, as well as to finish drafting the Declaration on the implementation of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea to submit to the Commemorative Summit for approval. They also agreed to launch a hotline for diplomatic officials to deal with contingencies in the East Sea.
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Linkedin Wasamon Audjarint (The Nation/ANN)  Wed, June 15, 2016

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said that maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean would be put on the table for talks with his Indian counterpart Narenda Modi when he visits the country Wednesday.

The expected cooperation will include military exercises, information exchange and operations to eradicate terrorism and piracy, he said.



While not saying directly if the coming talks would also cover irregular migration, he pointed out that all countries are encouraged to restrain themselves and adopt a peaceful approach to problem-solving.



All parties also need to take fundamental international law into consideration, he said.



His first India visit as premier, covering various aspects of cooperation, will lay an "an expressway" between the two countries, which will open regional doors to welcome each other.

Prayut will pay an official visit to India starting Wednesday and lasting through Saturday.



He will start his Indian schedule with a discussion with the Thailand Team based in India on policy and assignments.



On Friday, he will meet with Modi, Indian Vice President and Acting President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.



The talks with India will also cover many other topics such as trade, support for Thai agricultural products and cooperation on education and tourism, said Maj-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak, a deputy government spokesman.



Prayut said to put all agenda items on high.The two leaders will issue a co-statement after their talks, expressing their expectations to increase maritime security, double trade in five years, push the India-Myanmar-Thai road project, cooperate in air traffic service, fight cybercrime and promote people-to-people cooperation.



The two countries are expected to sign three agreements after the Prayut-Modi talks - an action plan for cultural exchange, academic cooperation between Chiang Mai University and Nagaland University and cooperation between Kasikornbank and Axis Bank.



The statement will pave the way for closer Thai-India diplomatic relations to mark their 70th anniversary next year, Werachon added.
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Linkedin David Keyton (Associated Press) Oslo, Norway  Wed, June 15, 2016

The first day of peace talks between Philippine communist rebels and the incoming government of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has concluded Tuesday on an optimistic note.

Philippines Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza described the mood as "upbeat." Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison said he felt "elated."

"The ultimate goal for this meeting is maybe to come up with a consensus," Dureza told The Associated Press from the mountain-top hotel on the outskirts of Oslo where these preliminary talks are taking place.

President-elect Duterte takes office on June 30, so this delegation has no authority to commit to anything officially. But its mere presence signifies a change in Manila's approach to the rebels who have been fighting to establish a Marxist state since 1969 in one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies.

"There are no red flags yet," Sison told The AP. "We were engaged in some kind of opening moves, in what you might call a chess game."

The talks involve implementing a cease-fire and an amnesty on both sides. Duterte has offered several Cabinet posts to allies of the rebels, who in turn have freed some kidnapped policemen to encourage the resumption of talks.

The Norwegian-brokered peace talks stalled early in outgoing President Benigno Aquino III's six-year term because of a dispute over the release of several rebels. (**)
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Linkedin Aries Joseph Hegina (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) Manila  Wed, June 15, 2016

A United Nations official hit Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte for his recent pronouncements to offer bounties for killing of drug lords by vigilantes and to reintroduce death penalty in the country.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein warned that offering bounties and reinstating death penalty would lead to chaos.

The offer of bounties and other rewards for murder by vigilantes, and his encouragement of extrajudicial killings by security forces, are massive and damaging steps backwards which could lead to widespread violence and chaos.

I urge the government to reconsider such initiatives, and to refrain from its plans to reintroduce the death penalty, in a country which has been a leading force in the campaign to end the practice, Zeid said during the opening of the 32nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland last June 13.

The incoming president said recently that he would pay up to 5 million pesos (US$108,098) for the killing of drug lords in the country. In Cebu, he offered a slightly higher bounty of 5.5 million pesos for every slain drug lord.

Aside from asking Duterte to reconsider his plans, Zeid also reminded the firebrand mayor that he is bound by international law to protect the rights of all Filipinos, including journalists and critics.

I remind the incoming President of the Philippines that international law, which is binding on his administration, requires him to protect the rights of all his people, including journalists, civil society activists and human rights defenders who expose malfeasance, he said.

Criticism of people in power is not a crime. However, incitement to violence, and extra-judicial assassination, are crimes and are prohibited under multiple conventions to which the Philippines has acceded. The people of his country have a right to the rule of law, Zeid added.

The tough-talking mayor drew flak from local and international press groups after he seemingly justified the murder of corrupt journalists. He has since imposed a boycott against the media, coursing his official statements through state-run networks and his spokespersons.

Before Zeid, two UN rapporteurs have slammed Duterte for his irresponsible statements against journalists, saying that such pronouncements could incite violence against members of the press.

UN Special Rapporteur on summary executions Cristof Heyns and UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye said that Dutertes statements were unbecoming of any leader.

But the comments of the UN experts were just ignored by Duterte, saying that the statements were anchored on a wrong premise.

I never said that killing journalists is justified because they are involved in corruption. What I said is that you dont have to be a journalist to be the subject of an assassination, the incoming President maintained.
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Linkedin (Associated Press) Hanoi  Wed, June 15, 2016

Vietnam has rescued one of the two pilots who went missing on a training flight on a Russian-made jet fighter, state media and officials said Wednesday.

The state-run Nghe An newspaper said a fishing boat rescued Major Nguyen Huu Cuong early Wednesday morning, one day after his Sukhoi Su-30 MK2 with another pilot went down off the coast of the central province of Nghe An.

Cuong ejected from the plane before it crashed, the report said, adding he was in stable condition.

The Vietnamese Air Force operates 32 Su-30 MK2 planes, according to state media.

Nguyen Cong Luc, deputy commander of the coast guard in Nghe An province, confirmed the report when contacted by telephone, and said a coast guard vessel has been sent to reach the fishing boat to bring the pilot to shore.

Authorities were searching for the other pilot, he said.

The incident was the latest in a string of accidents to hit the military. At least two crashes of military helicopters in the past two years have killed 24 people.

Faced with China's increased assertiveness over rival territorial claims in the South China Sea, Vietnam has stepped up the modernization of its military with the purchase of six Russian-made submarines and a number of Russian fighter planes. It is also looking to acquire patrol boats from Japan and India.
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Linkedin (Viet Nam News/ANN) Hanoi  Wed, June 15, 2016

A group of children and youths from ASEAN member countries, ages 12 to 18, will gather at the fourth ASEAN Childrens Forum in Hanoi from June 20-23.

This years forum will be held following the establishment of the ASEAN Community in December 2015, with priorities given to the implementation of commitments to promoting and protecting the rights of children and enhancing their special status in society.

Heading towards a friendly ASEAN Community, where all children have the rights to share and enjoy common values, is one of the goals of ASEAN.

For these reasons, Vietnam has chosen the theme, One ASEAN, One Vision For Children for this years forum.

The forum is aimed at contributing to building a friendly ASEAN community that is close to all children in the region, along with enhancing the participation of children and listening to their voices, and promoting childrens rights.

During the event, children from the ten member countries of ASEAN will discuss issues affecting them, including preventing children trafficking within ASEAN, protecting children in the Internet environment, preventing violence against children, as well as the impact of climate change on ASEAN children.

A recommendation or a general declaration about ASEAN children will be put forward at the forum and submitted to ASEAN Ministers in charge of social welfare for consideration.

Also, Vietnam held a drawing competition from March 3 to May 10 under the theme ASEAN Vision 2025 to promote understanding of children in the region about ASEAN. The contest drew millions of children across ASEAN who expressed their viewpoints and wishes about the ASEAN Community through their works.

An award ceremony for the competition and an exhibition displaying their works will be held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Childrens Forum.

Since 2010, the biennial ASEAN Childrens Forum has become one of the main activities of member countries of ASEAN. Member countries will take turns sponsoring the forum, which gives ASEAN countries an opportunity to hear from children and youth, and creates opportunities for children to express their viewpoints and send messages to government officials of ASEAN countries
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Linkedin Intan Tanjung (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

People pack Jimbaran fish market every morning. Customers arrive early to hunt for the freshest catch unloaded just a few hours earlier. But for those who are late, the market still has lots of fresh seafood available throughout the day.

Many market sellers hail from the island of Madura. Fish are kept in boxes filled with water and ice to maintain freshness. From lobster to tuna, the market sells various types of seafood. For example, you can buy prawns of varying sizes at a starting price of Rp 70,000 (US$5.24). Tuna is another favorite type of seafood, but perhaps the most popular is snapper. The sellers will also clean the fish and cut it as you wish.

Despite the wetness and rather unpleasant odor, the market is one of the area's popular tourist attractions. Tourists, usually accompanied by local guides, regularly visit the market to learn about local culture and see various types of tropical fish. The activity is part of cooking classes organized by hotels in Nusa Dua and Jimbaran. At the market, cooking class participants choose their own fish to be cooked and enjoyed for lunch.

If you want to buy fresh fish, choose those that look alive. Their eyes are clear, and their body is still slimy. Look at their gills, see whether theyre still red and if you press the body, make sure that it bounces back, said Heinz von Holzen, a Belgian chef who has taken tourists to the market for 17 years.

(Read also: Five good reasons to shop at the market)

For squid, the freshest will change color if you pressed down on the skin. And dont worry about prawns; they are fresh, although most of them are sourced from farms instead of the ocean. Around the fish market, visitors can also shop for vegetables and spices in local wooden kiosks.

Those who want to savor fish in the market without having to cook it themselves can get their seafood grilled at a local stall just next to the market. Grilling service goes for only Rp 25,000 per kilogram and, on top of that, visitors can also get complimentary steamed rice and sit on the wooden bench overlooking the vibrant Jimbaran Beach.

(Read also: How to enjoy long weekend in Bali)

Those looking for a more intimate atmosphere can head to beachside restaurants on Muara Bay in Jimbaran, Four Seasons Resort Bali At Jimbaran Bay, or at Cafe Nine (also in Jimbaran, behind the Telkom office) to enjoy al fresco candle light dining by the beach and choose their fresh seafood at the restaurants. (kes)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, June 15, 2016

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (SHIA)s newest terminal, the Terminal 3 Ultimate (T3U), is slated to officially operate on June 20. The new terminal will cater to both domestic and international flights of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia.

Garuda Indonesia will be the first airline to operate at the new terminal; serving three routes to Yogyakarta, Solo and Semarang, state airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II president director Budi Karya Sumadi told kompas.com. He added that international flights of all airlines would move to T3U as well.

(Read also: New terminal to lure more international passengers)

The new terminal's concept highlights "art and culture", with several pieces of artwork by Indonesian artists set to be exhibited there.

Budi said the operation of the new terminal had been clarified by relevant government institutions, including the Transportation Ministry. (wir/kes)
MURRAY  Authorities responded to a pair of car accidents near Murray in a 37-minute span Tuesday night.

The first accident happened on Highway 75 south of Murray at 7:44 p.m. A witness reported a hit-and-run accident had taken place at the intersection of Highway 75 with Hobscheidt Road and Kenosha Road. The intersection leads to Hobscheidt Road to the west and Kenosha Road to the east.

Cass County Sheriffs Office deputies learned Bellevue resident Sarah Johnson, 27, was southbound on Highway 75 in a 1995 Honda Civic. Johnson attempted to pass two vehicles at the intersection with Hobscheidt Road and Kenosha Road. Her vehicle struck a southbound Ford F-150 while she was attempting to pass. The F-150 had been making a lefthand turn onto Kenosha Road.

A witness to the accident saw Johnson spin her vehicle around and leave on the easthand side of the road. The witness said Johnson fled the scene southbound on Highway 75 and then turned around and went northbound. The witness followed Johnsons car and provided regular updates to law enforcement on her location.

Johnson eventually pulled over on Highway 75 by East McKelvie Road. The witness stayed near Johnsons location until a CCSO deputy arrived and interviewed Johnson. She told the deputy she had left the scene in a panic.

No injuries resulted from the accident. CCSO deputies issued citations to Johnson for improper passing, no proof of insurance, reckless driving and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

The second accident took place at the intersection of Murray Road and 12th Avenue at 8:21 p.m. CCSO deputies and Murray Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a two-vehicle accident at the location.

Deputies said Omaha resident Linda Hill, 65, was eastbound on Murray Road in a GMC Yukon. Hill had slowed down to make a turn at 12th Avenue. Deputies said Union resident Caitlyn Nowicki, 18, was driving behind Hill in a Ford Focus. They said Nowicki rear-ended Hills vehicle at the intersection.

Murray Rescue transported Hill to Nebraska Medicine in Omaha with a possible neck injury. Deputies issued a citation to Nowicki for following too close.
Next week, The Journal will publish its 13th annual Cass County Information Guide called Live it Up.

Introduced in 2003, the guide originally provided information about county officials and government with short write ups about each community in the county.

Over the years, the guide has had transformations including being renamed Live it Up in 2010.

Gradually, information about each community expanded and highlighted the unique aspects of each town, rather than just list its village and city officials. It included parks and recreation, museums and sometimes even favorite restaurants within Cass County borders.

No matter what year it was published, the guides information and photos were updated. Staff at The Journal takes pride in the publication, because gives a positive outlook on living in the county, all in 48, sometimes more, pages.

Last year and in years past, the publication focuses also on what is new in each community whether that is business ventures, housings or park amenities.

Somewhat of a coffee table publication, the guide lasts a year, from June to June.

Unlike the previous 12 years, however, the guide will center on whats old about the communities rather than whats new.

With Nebraska celebrating its 150th year as a state, we thought it would be interesting to put into words and photos how the countys communities helped shape the states successes.

Each Cass County town has a rich history of the people who settled in it and shaped it into what it is today.

Many towns have celebrated their 125th anniversary such as Alvo in 2015. Others, like Oreapolis, are no longer on the map.

Learn how each of the countys townships came into being and why one grew and others struggled to remain.

Hopefully, the guide for 2016 and 2017 will answer a few questions for young residents or new residents such as, How did the county fair get started? or Why was Plattsmouth selected as the county seat?

It will shed light on the history of many of its historic businesses and days gone by such as when the Civilian Conservation Corps had a camp in Weeping Water.

Readers of the guide will learn the story of Eager Produce in Louisville and how its owners sold eggs and cream brought in by local farmers.

Of course, Plattsmouth Public Library, which turned 100 this year, will have an important place in the publication with such a milestone anniversary.

And we could not help but give our traditional nod to the countys beautiful courthouse built to last from 1881 or the former jail, replaced by the Cass County Law Enforcement Center, built from 2000-2002.

Or simply enjoy the historic photos in the publication we obtained from Cass County Historical Society, Weeping Water Memory Lane Museum and our own sources.

How much will the 2016 Live it Up Guide cost? Not a dime for subscribers, because it will come in their June 23 issue.

For others, buying a June 23 newspaper for a mere $1 will cover the cost.

You cant even buy a cup of coffee for less than that.

Find out the history of your community by looking at a copy.

As the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius said, Study the past if you would define the future.
New clips of the highly anticipated film The Colony have just been released, and we couldn't be more excited.

If you haven't heard, the movie stars Emma Watson and Daniel Bruhl as young lovers Lena and Daniel, who get arrested by Pinochet's secret police during the Chilean coup of 1973.

Daniel is taken to a secret interrogation camp under the real-life Colonia Dignidad, a cult led by Paul Schafer (played by Michael Myqvist). Lena makes her way into the cult in an effort to save Daniel and discovers all its atrocities along the way.

Here's the first new clip:

Ah, young love. Lena and Daniel run around the house in happier times, dressed only in a t-shirt and and apron, and flirtatiously fight over a camera. You almost forget this movie is a thriller.

And the second:

The camera is back, in a much darker setting. Lena and Daniel hastily leave home upon hearing the news that Pinochet is taking over. Their escape is stopped short when an argument with the police quickly turns violent and the cops see that Daniel is trying to capture photographs of the takeover.

here's the original trailer, If you haven't already seen it,bringing it all together.

The Colony arrives in cinemas and on demand on 1st July 2016.
A gay Russian couple have reportedly been arrested as they left a tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting outside Moscows US embassy.

Social media editor of the Russian newspaper RBK, Islam Abdullabeckov, and his boyfriend Felix Glyukman were trying to leave flowers and a banner that read Love wins  Stay with Orlando outside the embassy when they were arrested.

Glyukman told Buzzfeed News: We wanted to put a poster down there, put down some flowers, and light a candle. Instead, we were taken to local police department and accused of unsanctioned picketing.

Right now were just shocked. Soon well go to police station again and hope that this weird case wont make it to court.

Glyukman (left) and Abdullabeckov (right) (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

The couples lawyer said he hopes this ugly situation wont end up in court.

The guys just wanted to show their solidarity with people of the United States. They brought candles, flowers and a piece of card with love wins written on it with a simple ball pen, he said.

Thing is, policemen there tried not to let people use any LGBT symbolics and when the guys came to the embassy and put down their banner, they were immediately arrested and brought to Presnenskiy police station.

The pair were initially arrested for holding a rally or demonstration, but the reason was later changed to holding a public event without making prior notice.
No longer are girls required to wear skirts and boys wear trousers as their set school uniform; traditional school dress code has recently become far more flexible. Making a strong statement in support of equality and diversity, 80 state institutions in the UK, including 40 primaries, have now implemented gender neutral uniforms in their policies.

As part of a government-funded movement to support children who are either LGBT+ or questioning their sexual identity or gender, uniform standards are being rewritten or abolished all over the nation. Diversity campaigners have been protesting conventional school policies, saying they risk alienating LGBT+ children.

Julia Neal, chair of the ATL teaching unions equality and diversity committee, is very vocal in challenging gender identity prejudice in education, stating: Its about senior management teams and governing bodies understanding that there are a lot of facilities in schools that are separated  changing rooms and toilets and uniforms are very gender specific.

Allens Croft School in Birmingham is the first state primary believed to have introduced this concept into its guidelines. Implemented about a year ago, their website informs parents what items are acceptable and in accordance with the schools uniform standards, without pigeonholing clothing choice to a specific gender:

At Allens Croft we aim to promote each childs right to express their gender and personality in whichever way feels right for them.

To support this aim, our uniform policy is gender neutral.

This means that, while we expect all our children to wear school uniform, the rules for boys and girls are the same and we do not insist they wear specific items of clothing.

Another school that has taken it upon itself to defy standard institutional practices is Brighton College. In January, the Headmaster, Richard Cairns, stated that all of the uniform codes going back 170 years would be substituted for a trouser uniform and a skirt uniform instead.

His reasoning?

If some boys and girls are happier identifying with a different gender from that in which they were born, then my job is to make sure we accommodate that. My only interest as headmaster is their welfare and happiness.

I hate the idea of anyone being in my school who is miserable because theyre being asked to dress in a way they are uncomfortable with.

Educate and Celebrate, a charity that gives LGBT+ inclusive training to school staff have found that 53% of schools dont teach about LGBT+ relationships and 49% dont teach the definitions of LGBT+. However, more progressive primary and secondary schools such as Brighton and Allens Croft, have been designated best practice schools by the charity for their efforts in equality work for the LGBT+ community.

Paula Weaver, headmaster at Allens Crofts states: We believe that children have the right to express their own identity in a way that is most comfortable for them."
The EU referendum debate took to the waters today, with Nigel Farage for Brexit and Bob Geldof for Remain sending a flotilla down the Thames.

(Matt Dunham/AP)

UKIP leader Nigel Farage took part in the official flotilla organised by Fishing for Leave, but the Remainers were hardly going to stand by, and so rallied by rock star Bob Geldof they hopped aboard their own boats.

Awkwardly for former London mayor Boris Johnson, his own sister Rachel Johnson joined Geldof on a Remain boat.

Rather than engaging in a civilised debate, however, it soon descended into chaos with participants turning hoses on each other.

The fisherman are spraying Sir Bob Geldof and the Remain Raft with hoses: pic.twitter.com/HGpBQmEXfS  Harry Cole (@MrHarryCole) June 15, 2016





As expected, social media went into overdrive, with Twitter users getting #Flotilla trending and finding some amusing things to say about one of the biggest political decisions of our generation being reduced to a flotilla on the Thames.





UPDATED WITH THEME TUNE: The state of British politics summed up in a clip of a flotilla face-off pic.twitter.com/wK9PKylmJN  Kaya Burgess (@kayaburgess) June 15, 2016





Boats sailing for Fishing for Leave left the Kent port of Ramsgate, due to arrive at Westminster during Prime Ministers Questions.

The journey didn't quite go to plan, however, as the height of the boats meant Tower Bridge had to be opened, causing traffic delays for motorists.

(Stefan Wermuth/PA)

Farage said it was a serious political event, designed to highlight the plight of those working in the fishing industry.

He told the BBC : They are here today, they have taken  some of them  several days out of their working week to come and make their protest, to say look, we want to take back control of our seas, we want to get jobs back in this industry

Of course, most people on social media saw this simply as an opportunity to point out how ludicrous the debate has become.

"Bob Geldof under attack from Farage-led rebel fishermen on the Thames" pic.twitter.com/qdUlxrpRHF  Jim Waterson (@jimwaterson) June 15, 2016

Adam Hills from the Channel 4 satirical news programme The Last Leg, along with his co-hosts, also took to the waters in an attempt to interview Farage.

Attempted to interview Nigel Farage. From a boat. On The Thames. You'll see the result on Friday @TheLastLeg pic.twitter.com/JvKCsfBl5y  Adam Hills (@adamhillscomedy) June 15, 2016

But it's probably fair to say most of us are trying to pretend it isn't happening, out of sheer embarrassment.
The Duke of Cambridge has made history by appearing on the cover of Attitude magazine.

Attitude was invited to bring members of the LGBT+ community to Kensington Palace by Prince William.

The Duke listened to their experiences with bullying and the impact it has on individuals.

Prince William said: No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives.

The nine members of the LGBT+ community that went to the Palace talked about how bullying had resulted in various outcomes, from depression and low self esteem to drug addictions and in one case, the death of a young man from an unintentional overdose.

Matthew Todd, the editor of Attitude magazine, said: I have met parents whose child has taken or lost their life after being bullied for being LGBT+ or even just perceived to be LGBT+.

The PACE RARE report (2015) found that 33.9% of young LGB people have made at least one suicide attempt compared to 17.9% of young straight people. 48.1% of young trans people have attempted suicide.

As well as the above, 57.1% of LGB people have self harmed at least once compared to 38.3% of heterosexual young people, and 85.2% of young trans people have self harmed compared to 47.4% of cisgender young people (those born into the body they feel they are).

The Duke of Cambridge is working to do his part in aiding the fight against bullying and break the stigmas surrounding mental health. According to a Kensington Palace spokesman William has established a taskforce on the prevention of cyber bullying and along with The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry is leading the Heads Together campaign on mental health and well-being.

In speaking with Attitude magazine, Prince William said: What I would say to any young person reading this whos being bullied for their sexuality: dont put up with it  speak to a trusted adult, a friend, a teacher, Childline, Diana Award or some other service and get the help you need. You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

Todd said: I am very happy that the future King of the United Kingdom agrees this must stop and I would urge parents in particular to raise their voices in their communities to ensure that every school protects  really protects  all children.
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When a group of 16, 17 and 18 year old boys started the Stardusters Car Club in Mead in 1959, none of them likely thought that it would still be going strong 57 years later.

Now 45 members strong  including four of the founders  the Stardusters Car Club serves as a great outlet for members to share their passion about cars, while also paying respect to the armed services  most members are veterans of the Korean War, Vietnam War and War in Afghanistan, said Chuck Policky, Stardusters Car Club member and chairman of the Yutan Fathers Day Charity Car Show.

To pay respect to the brave men and women of the military and to honor the thousands of dads in the area, the organization has hosted the Charity Car Show for the past seven yearsOver the years, money raised through the car show  which routinely has nearly 200 cars on display  has gone to the Wounded Warrior Project and the Wounded Warrior Service, which is dedicated to building homes for veterans, he said.

Many of the clubs original members were affiliated with Boy Scouts of America. After receiving the Eagle Scout Badge  the highest recognition in Boy Scouts  Policky said that there wasnt too much for the young men to do in Mead, a town of about 600 people.

On Saturday, the Stardust Car Club is hosting its eighth-annual charity show with the majority of proceeds going to the Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home, located in Bellevue.

In addition, other funds will go toward sponsoring Yutan Post Prom, the Yutan Community Center, Yutan Volunteer Fire Department and the Saunders County Museum.

Most of the veterans at the home dont have a whole lot of money, Policky said. So we give a lot of the money directly to them  20 to 30 dollars in all of their accounts.

While the day revolves around the car show, there is far more being offered. The Fathers Day Charity Car show costs $15 per entry and runs from 9:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. There will be free prizes, goody bags, dash plaques, family-oriented activities and silent and live auctions.

The festivities are happening 10 miles west of Omaha on Highway 92 in Yutan, released information says.

Another event happening while the car show is going on is rather explosiveto say the least.

All fluids are being removed from a working vehicle and the motor will run until it blows out. For $2, people can guess how long it will take for the explosion to happen.

Whoever guesses closest will earn half of the pot and the rest of the money will go to Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home.

Policky said Fathers Day is the perfect time to host the event.

We have no competition on this day, he said. No one really does anything like this on Fathers Day except us.

Policky said that he is as excited as ever for Saturday.

We start working on this show in January, so Im just looking forward to another great turn out and to get a break from all the planning, he said.
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31, was quiet but knew how to treat guests at Walt Disney World, where he worked as a seasonal employee, a former co-worker said.

"He was one of the kindest people you could meet," co-worker Kenneth Berrios told the Orlando Sentinel. "We had students from the London program and Jerry was always willing to give rides to them and show them around town."

Wright "was a great guy to work with," former co-worker Scott Dickison said. "He was quiet but really wonderful with all the guests. He always had a smile on his face."

Dickison said Wright had worked most recently in merchandising on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, but also had worked in Tomorrowland and at Universal Studios in Orlando.
Cancer is a horrible word.

It shatters dreams and wrecks plans. Terminal cancer, the worst kind, robs us of the presence those we love. So often survivors are left with nothing but a hollow space and no plans on how to fill that space.

Not so with Gordon and Molly Coke.

They found out in 2010 that Mollys mother had been diagnosed with colon cancer.

Kathy Francis began the fight of her life. She fought back with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Then, Gordon Coke said, the killer moved to her abdomen and she again had surgery and chemotherapy. Then, in 2012, cancer in her spine appeared. She again was treated. After consultations with doctors, the cancer was deemed untreatable. No further treatment options existed.

Molly and Gordon are young, just beginning their family in 2010 when the diagnosis was received.

Gordon Coke graduated from Fremont High School in 1997, went to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he met Molly Francis. They married, found employment in Lincoln, bought a house and began to live their adult lives. Then cancer.

Kathy Francis was an energetic woman. In 1984, she founded her own business, a T-shirt printing business in Salina, Kan. She gained a wide reputation and occasionally did work for Lous Sporting Goods in Fremont. She was watching her children become successful adults and loving her grandchildren as each one arrived, when she received her cancer diagnosis.

In the summer of 2010, Kathy assembled a Relay for Life team of family and friends called Kathys Crusaders and participated in the Salina, Kansas event, Coke said. To raise money for the team, Molly and I organized a fundraising event at our home in Lincoln.

With Mollys keen marketing and creating skills and Gordons home-brewing hobby, the Kegs for the Cure fundraising event was born.

That first year Gordon brewed six varieties of home-brewed beer. Guests at the event sampled brews, ate snacks and enjoyed the company of others in a relaxed environment in Gordon and Mollys backyard, all while supporting the cause, The American Cancer Society. That first event raised $800 for Kathys Crusaders.

Building on the success of the event in 2010, a second event was held in the summer of 2011 with the help of four friends who donated their time and home-brewed products for the event. In the years since the first event, Keys for the Cure continues to grow, raising more than $16,000 in our six-year history, Gordon Coke said.

Since that modest beginning in their backyard, the Coke family has continued to hold the event at their central Lincoln home.

They relied on word of mouth from fellow brewers and friends to bring in home-brewed beer loving samplers and contributors to the event.

With too large a crowd to host in the backyard, the Cokes moved the event to the Zipline Brewing Company in northwest Lincoln.

This years event, held on June 4, had more than 20 beers available for tasting. These were brewed by 25 brewers and included both alcoholic and non-alcoholic samplings.We are fortunate enough to be surrounded by great friends and talented brewers willing to donate their barley manipulating skills, Coke said.

The Keg Fest attracted more than 250 people at the Zipline site.

C. Berrys restaurant helped underwrite the event by supplying all the food, Coke said.

People attending ate barbecue pork and the usual side dishes. T-shirts were supplied by Francis of Salina, Kan., the company founded by Kathy Francis and now run by her son.

Weve had so many connections to cancer with family and friends. We wanted the proceeds from this event to benefit all kinds of cancer, Molly Coke said.

It was important to both Molly and Gordon Coke that the money contributed be used directly for those affected by the disease. Money for research and family support systems are supported by the American Cancer Society are the areas of greatest interest to them.

We raised over $6,600 and are planning to do it again next year. It was strictly a word-of-mouth deal. You end up with a lot of home brewers, who want people to sample their product. They love to do it and gladly donate their product the cause, Coke said.

Gordon Cokes father, Dr. Richard Coke, a Fremont dentist, attended the event.

Except for a refreshing rainstorm about midway through the event, it was a great evening, he said. Everyone sought shelter in the beer tents at the Zipline warehouse.

It was promoted as an adult event. Everyone, according to Richard Coke, was courteous and well-behaved. Beer was served, food was eaten, a courageous woman was honored and money was raised to help others. They will do it again next year.
DSI raises heat on Dhammajayo

KANCHANABURI: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has decided to stop negotiating with embattled abbot Phra Dhammajayo of Wat Phra Dhammakaya and threatened to serve him with the arrest warrant.

crimepolicereligion

By Bangkok Post

Wednesday 15 June 2016, 09:24AM

Pathum Thani monastic administration chief Phra Theprattanasuthi says the clergy will end its role in talks to persuade Phra Dhammajayo to surrender. DSI deputy chief Somboon Sarasit, left, is also present. Photo: Apichit Jinakul

The move came after a provincial monastic administration chief withdrew from the joint panel negotiating with the abbot and the temple to turn himself over to investigators.

The negotiating team met yesterday (June 14) at Wat Khian Kate in Pathum Thanis Thanya Buri district to discuss ways to encourage the abbot to turn himself in after an arrest warrant was issued for him in connection with a money laundering case.

The team was made up of officials from the DSI, the National Office of Buddhism, the Sangha Supreme Councils secretariat, and the chief of the Pathum Thani monastic administration Phra Theprattanasuthi, who is also the abbot of Wat Khian Kate.

After a one-hour meeting, Phra Theprattanasuthi revealed that the negotiating team will end its role after the DSI decided to forward the indictment of the abbot along with four others, to the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG). However, the OAG has asked the DSI bring the abbot to court if the OAG issues an indictment.

The case now has nothing to do with the clergy and the authority to pursue the case against Phra Dhammajayo rests solely with state officials, as Phra Theprattanasuthi has withdrawn from the negotiating panel.

Somsak Tohraksa, a legal adviser to the Pathum Thani chief monk, said that the negotiating team will not interfere in the work of the prosecutors.

Deputy DSI chief Somboon Sarasit said the DSI will proceed with serving the arrest warrant following the failure of the negotiations.

From now on, the abbot has to contact prosecutors to surrender only to the court, and if he is arrested, he will not be granted bail, Lt Col Somboon said, adding that the arrest warrant against the abbot has a 15-year statute of limitations.

Meanwhile, DSI chief Paisit Wongmuang approved a request on Monday (June 13) to seek the indictment of former Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC) chairman Supachai Srisupa-aksorn; Saranya Manmhad, a former financial officer at the KCUC; Thongphin Kanlom, a former deputy chairman of the cooperative; Phra Dhammajayo; and Sasithon Chokprasit who has reportedly fled overseas.

Supachai, who admitted to siphoning money from KCUC accounts in 2013, is currently in prison after being sentenced by the Criminal Court to 16 years in jail.

The DSI now wants the five suspects to be indicted on charges of conspiring to launder money, laundering money and receiving stolen property in connection with 27 cheques totalling B1.4 billion paid from the KCUC.

DSI chief Col Paisit said yesterday he had not considered a request by Wat Phra Dhammakaya for the DSI to change the chief investigator handling the case.

He added that he interpreted the temples request as a delaying tactic, hoping that the DSI alter its investigative report on the money laundering case, particularly details regarding evidence of the money trail.

Evidence in the case comprises largely of documents, not witnesses, so any changes to the evidence will not be permitted, he said.

Col Paisit added the DSI is investigating more than 10 related cases of money laundering and is expected to wrap up two to three cases next month. If prosecutors decide to indict the suspects in court on July 13, the DSI is duty-bound to bring the suspects to court, Col Paisit said.

The temples lawyer acted on the DSIs suggestion and the temple waited for the results of the meeting of the negotiating team scheduled for yesterday, said Phra Sanitwongse Wuttiwangso, director of Wat Phra Dhammakayas communications office.

Read original story here.
Phuket Tourist Police officer slams car into roadside pylon

PHUKET: A Phuket Tourist Police officer is in hospital after he crashed his car into a light pylon on a wet road in Thalang early this morning (June 15).

transportpoliceaccidents

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Wednesday 15 June 2016, 04:38PM

Snr Sgt Maj Rong Nuankhawn of the Tourist Police was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town for a head injury. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

The accident occurred at about 3:20am on Thepkrasattri Rd northbound, several hundred metres north of the Heroines Monument, said Capt Kraisorn Boonprasop of the Thalang Police. Kusoldharm rescue workers recovered Snr Sgt Maj Rong Nuankhawn, 39, of the Tourist Police, from his mangled Toyota Vios and transported him to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town for a head injury. We have yet to question the victim, but we believe he lost control of his vehicle on the wet road since it was raining hard in the area at the time of the accident, said Capt Kraisorn. The wrecked Toyota Vios was impounded as evidence and taken to Thalang Police Station, he added. Capt Kraisorn made no mention of whether Snr Sgt Maj Rong would undergo any alcohol or drug tests, or face any charges for the accident.
Police looking for 'jealous boyfriend' for killing lover's ex after surprise room visit

PHUKET: Police have launched a manhunt for a male suspect who was accused by a woman of murdering her ex-lover in a jealous rage after catching the former couple alone in her room together early on Tuesday (June 14).

homicide

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Wednesday 15 June 2016, 07:34AM

Police in Phuket arrived at the room after they were notified of the killing by their counterparts in Kantang, Trang. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

At 5.30pm on Tuesday (June 14) Phuket police were informed by their counterparts in Trangs Kantang district that a 30-year-old woman had filed a report with them claiming that a violent death* had taken place in her room in Phuket.

The woman, named as Ms Watchaya Thepsingh, 30, reported to be a resident of Kantang, but resided at a room at the a residential complex in Kathu.

A team of investigators and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived at her room, on the second floor of Building B of the complex, and had to pry open the locked door to gain access.

Inside, was a man lying dead in a pool of blood on his back, shirtless and wearing only blue shorts.

Investigators noted that the victim had sustained stab wounds in the regions of his left ribcage, upper abdomen and midsection, while his head featured a large, open gash that police suspected had been inflicted by something hard.

The man was named as Metha Khaodee, 36, a resident of Rawai.

The room was in disarray suggesting that there had been a struggle.

Investigators estimated that the man had been dead for no less than 12 hours. The body was transported to Vachira Hospital for further examination.

Questioning of Ms Watchaya revealed that at 1am early Tuesday, Mr Metha, an old lover had come to see her at the room.

Some unclarified time later, the womans new boyfriend, who was named as Mr Suriya came to the room and upon discovering the two together, reacted in rage by grabbing a knife, which he then used to attack and kill Mr Metha.

Ms Watchaya reported that Mr Suriya then told her to lock the door before dragging her out of the building and forcing her to go with him on a red motorbike of an unknown make or registration.

The two then reportedly fled Phuket, and upon crossing Thao Srisoonthon bridge into Phang Nga, the woman claims the man parked and fled by foot, leaving her there.

She claimed that she then drove the motorbike back to her home town in Kantang district, Trang, where she reported to the police.

The investigation is ongoing.
THAI Phuket-Bangkok flight grounded for three hours after warning light scare

PHUKET: A THAI Airways flight from Phuket to Bangkok was grounded for three hours last night (June 14) after a warning light inspired the pilot to abort take-off at Phuket International Airport.

transporttourism

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Wednesday 15 June 2016, 11:52AM

The THAI Airways Airbus A333 was grounded for three hours while a systems check was carried out. Photo: Photo: byeangel (Tsingtao, China)

Flight TG218 was taxiing to the runway at about 7:30pm when the captain noticed a warning light malfunction in the cockpit, and decided to abort take-off in favour of a full systems check, The Phuket News was told.

The passengers were called on to disembark and wait in the departure lounge while the check was carried out. After the full inspection, passengers re-boarded the plane departed Phuket at 10:37pm, bound for Suvarnabhumi.

Staff at the THAI Airways office at Phuket Airport this morning (June 15) said they were aware of the incident, but were unable to offer any explanation of what the malfunction was.

Reports in the Thai-language press this morning reported that the aircraft, an Airbus A333, allegedly suffered an oil leak, and the call the disembark the plane evoked panic among some of the passengers.

However, the director of the Aerothai Phuket office, which operates the air traffic control centre at Phuket Airport, this morning told The Phuket News that the warning light was no cause for alarm.

A warning light came on and sometimes this happens when a plane is about to take off. There was no oil leak or anything like that, said Wichai Kasornchan.

All passengers were fine. No one panicked and they re-boarded the plane after the engine and the plane were inspected for safety, he added.
Tuesday night the Fremont City Council meeting, attendance and activity commenced under an atmosphere more composed, calm and sparsely populated than previous meetings where undertones rankled with talk of chickens, contracts, economic impacts and all other matters related to Costco Wholesale and Lincoln Premium Poultrys proposed poultry processing plant.

The subject of Costco arose only once during the meeting. During the Mayors Comments portion of the meeting. Mayor Scott Getzschman reminded council and the community members that, beginning next week, special meetings on Monday June 20 and Tuesday June 21 will be held at Christensen Field in Fremont. The meetings will offer a chance for open public discussion regarding the proposed Costco poultry operation. The following week on June 27 and 28 two more meetings are scheduled to address the same topics. Representatives from Costco Wholesale will be present to respond to questions.

When the official meeting convened, council members revisited the discussion of storm water drainage, a discussion that began earlier this spring after City Engineer Justin Zetterman received several complaints from Fremont residents. The complaints were in response to pooling water that occurred in areas of Fremont due to excess rain combined with the particulars of subdivision property development, such as uneven grading along adjoining property lots. More specifically, some of the water pooling resulted from the lack of an adequately defined storm water management ordinance for the areas of the city. Heavy rains earlier in May resulted in severe saturation of development sites along Luther Road.

On May 17, Fremont City staff met with local developers, contractors, engineers and surveyors to discuss an ordinance change to work towards some solutions.

As a group we discussed where the city was coming from; and developers and builders gave us their comments, said Fremont City Engineer Justin Zetterman.

Since then the city and the development community have examined and developed some various options and cost estimates that may help lead to solutions. Options include installation of plastic storm sewer systems along the backs of lots at a projected cost of $300 to $500 per lot. Additional grading may also be implemented to make sure the grade of the slopes remains adequate for the drainage system.

Zetterman said, the city is not looking to create an ordinance that regulates with absolution the way developers must perform their jobs. He said the ordinance will serve more as a way to provide developers with the tools and resources to prevent future problems

The proposed change provides better clarity of the options available to prevent water ponding and to meet the necessary goal of lot drainage.

Two more readings of the ordinance will be held.

IN OTHER NEWS

-The council received and filed the certified results of the May 10, 2016 primary election. Those results detail the tabulation of votes each candidate received and can be viewed at www.fremontne.gov , click on Agenda & Minutes on the left side of the page and go to the June 14, 2016 City Council agenda. Scroll to item number seven and click on staff report.

-A bike and pedestrian trail is currently under design for the City of Fremont called the Rawhide Creek Trail Project consists two trail segments. The city approved a supplemental agreement consisting of the contract for the preliminary engineering for the project. The contract, with HGM Associates, comes to $133,864.49. Total project costs are projected to $171,134.51.

- City Council awarded a contract for the Ridge Road Trail and Hormel Loop project to J&R Concrete and Construction, LLC. The project consists of an 8 foot wide trail from the entrance to the state park, just south of West Military Avenue to Hormel Park. J&R Concrete and Construction provided the low bid at $612,064.15 for the project. The project will be partially funded by the Nebraska Games and Parks Commission for an amount no greater than $271,514.00.
Many South Dakota farmers expect below-average yields this year

Dry fields in the southeastern part of South Dakota and wet fields in spring in northeastern South Dakota could mean lower crop yields.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Mostly cloudy this morning with showers developing this afternoon. High 73F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 47F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings speaks at a news conference about a 2-year-old boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator on the shores of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Tuesday night, June 14, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. The family of five from Nebraska was on vacation and wading in a lake Tuesday evening when the attack happened, Demings told a news conference. The father tried to rescue his son but was unsuccessful, Demings said. (Christal Hayes/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
In this photo taken June 14, 2016, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., left, confers with Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., emerge from a closed-door party caucus on Capitol Hill in Washington. Murphy is launching a filibuster and demanding a vote on gun control measures. The move comes three days after people were killed in a mass shooting in Orlando. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
With the government on Wednesday giving its in-principle approval to the mega merger proposal in the banking sectorthe merger of six banks with SBI, State Bank of India chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya hailed the move as a "win-win" for all.

The nod was given at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Finance Ministry spokesman said though there was no mention of the mega merger proposal at the media briefing of the cabinet decisions.

The six banks are SBI's five associate banksState Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBJJ), State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH), State Bank of Mysore (SBM), State Bank of Patiala (SBP) and State Bank of Travancore (SBT)as well as the Bharatiya Mahila Bank Limited (BMB).

In a statement issued by SBI, Bhattacharya said: "The merger of SBI and its associate banks is a win-win for both. While the network of SBI would stand to increase, its reach would multiply.

"One can expect efficiencies to be created from rationalisation of branches, common treasury pooling and proper deployment of a large skilled resource base. Currently, no Indian bank features in the top 50 banks of the world. With this merger, some visibility at global level is likely to increase."

On the talks of approval by the government to the merger, share prices of SBI, SBM, SBJJ and SBT flared up.

"The merger of six banks with SBI is the gateway for consolidation to happen in the banking sector. The decision shows that the government is serious about consolidation in the sector. In fact merger of banks is one of the aspects of Indradanush plan for the sector," Saswata Guha, director, Financial Institutions at global credit rating agency Fitch Ratings, said.

Indradanush is a seven-pronged plan to revamp the public sector banks announced by the central government last year.

According to Guha, the benefits of the merger will take around 18 months to accrue to SBI as integration of human resources and other aspects have to happen and going by the past mergers - of the State Bank of Saurashtra and State Bank of Indore.

"Post merger SBI will be around 24,000 branch strong and will have a market share of around 25 per cent. I am interested in seeing how the huge scale would benefit SBI," he added.

The merger will create a banking giant with assets worth around Rs.37 lakh crore.

On May 17, SBI had informed the bourses that it is seeking "in principle sanction" of the central government to enter into negotiation with the six banks to acquire their businesses including assets and liabilities.

Global credit rating agency, Moody's Investors Service had estimated it would cost SBI around Rs 16.6 billion ($250 million) for the merger and will have limited impact on its credit metrics, including its asset quality and capitalisation level.

It also said the opposition to the merger by the employee unions also poses considerable risk that potential synergies of the merger may not materialise.

Currently, the five associate banks operate as standalone banks with their own financials, board and management team, with oversight from SBI.

In addition, SBJJ, SBM and SBP are also listed with the presence of minority shareholders.

According to SBI, the net profit of the merged entity (SBI and five associate banks) for the year end March 31, 2016 would be Rs.11,590 crore, capital adequacy ratio 12.66, gross NPA Rs 121,969 crore, net NPA Rs.68,894 crore and restructured advances Rs.94,569 crore.

However the unions in the five SBI associate banks are opposed to the merger in this form.

The All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) has demanded the merger of five associate banks of SBI into one entity.

"It is unfortunate that despite opposition by unions and even political parties, the government has taken the decision to go ahead with the decision to close down the five associate banks and hand their business to SBI," its general secretary C.H.Venkatachalam said, adding that India needs banking expansion and not consolidation.

"Tomorrow (on Thursday) AIBEA office bearers are meeting in Chennai to take decisions in this regard," he added.
With the monsoon session of the Parliament is all set to start, the focus is back on the much-debated Goods and Service Tax Bill, which is awaiting the nod of Rajya Sabha. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, after meeting his state counterparts in Kolkata on Tuesday, said there was a consensus among the states in favour of the bill.

What is GST?

GST bill, considered to be the biggest indirect tax reform in independent India, aims to transform the country into a uniform market by replacing a slew of federal and state levies. Amalgamating several Central and state taxes into a single tax would mitigate cascading or double taxation. For consumers, the biggest advantage of GST will come in the form of a reduction in the overall tax burden on goods.

Structure of GST

GST will have two componentsCentral GST and state GST. Both Parliament and state legislatures will have concurrent powers to make laws on GST. Only the Centre may levy an integrated GST (IGST) on the interstate supply of goods and services, and imports.

GST council

A council will be set up to recommend rates of tax, period of levy of additional tax, principles of supply, special provisions to certain states etc. The GST council will consist of the union finance minister, union minister of state for revenue, and state finance ministers.

A brief timeline

 The discussion on GST was opened by previous UPA government in 2009. The Bill was first introduced by the UPA as a constitutional amendment bill in the Lok Sabha in 2011. However, it failed to get through as most of the BJP-ruling states stood against the bill.

 In 2014, the NDA government made slight changes in the bill and introduced it in Lok Sabha. The lower house passed the bill in May.

 In July 2015, a Rajya Sabha Select Committee ratified a report approving majority rulings of the GST Bill. While the Centre agreed to compensate the states for revenue loss for five years, Congress objected to the Bill.

 The government introduced the bill in Rajya Sabha in August, but the opposition parties led by Congress blocked the debate.

What are Congress objections

The Congress is pressing for three amendments in the fresh version of the legislation

1) Incorporating the GST rate in the Constitution amendment bill

2) A dispute resolution panel headed by a former SC judge

3) Doing away with the 1 per cent additional levy for 'manufacturing' states.

The government says it is willing to drop the additional levy, but has rejected the other two proposals.

Changed scenario

Though Congress remained adamant in its objections, the party seems to have been isolated in the parliament, with several other parties, including the RJD, the JDU and the Trinamool Congress, who were earlier opposed to the bill, coming in support of it. The Left parties also are expected to support the bill.

Apart from Congress, AIADMK is the only major party which has some reservations over the bill. Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said that all states except Tamil Nadu have virtually supported the Bill. However, the government hopes that it could rope in Jayalalithaa given the cordial equation between her and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Current Rajya Sabha status

The bill is to be passed by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting in the Rajya Sabha. The current round of Rajya Sabha elections to 57 seats have given the NDA an edge over UPA, but it still lacks the majority it needs to push the crucial legislation.

Members status

NDA 74, UPA 71, SP 19, JDU+RJD 12, BSP 6, CPI-M 8, BJD 7 and DMK 5.
His eyes filled with tears, Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius tottered on his stumps in a packed courtroom on Wednesday in a desperate last bid to convince the judge that he was too vulnerable to have killed his girlfriend intentionally three years ago.

The athlete, known as the Blade Runner, looked humiliated when he was asked to remove his prosthetic limbs to expose his stumps to the televised hearing which will decide his murder sentence.

His T-shirt wet with sweat and his red eyes filled with tears, Pistorius paused at the side of the court to remove his prosthetic limbs in full view of the packed court.

The spectacle of the one-time sporting superstar tottering across the court room prompted a number of family members, fans and members of the public to break down in tears.

Loud sobs echoed around the wood-pannelled room as all eyes watched Pistorius move unsteadily, and reduced in height, towards the front of the court.

As he struggled to stand still in front of the judge, and in the glare of live television coverage, a cameraman had to step forward to support him.

His therapist leapt to his aid, guiding him towards the front bench of the court which he clutched to maintain his balance.

Pistorius, 29, appeared so humiliated by the demonstration that he could only stare at the floor, tears flooding down his cheeks, as his lawyer told the court how he did not wish "to hide behind his fame".

When the strain of tottering became too much, he knelt down on a cushion before wiping his eyes with a tissue passed to him by one of his legal team.

Pistorius was born without fibulascalf bonesand at 11 months old, his parents made the difficult choice to have both of his legs amputated below the knee, enabling him to be fitted with prosthetic legs.

His sentencing hearing heard how his stumps became infected while in jail.

Pistorius is facing a minimum of 15 years behind bars for the murder of his 29-year-old girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, on Valentine's Day three years ago.

Arguing for reduction in the recommended 15 year sentence, Roux, a legal team member, told the judge that there was "substantial and compelling evidence allowing for deviation from minimum".
Hillary Clinton formally concluded the US Democratic presidential race on Tuesday with a win in the District of Columbia primary, then turned her focus to uniting the party during a 90-minute private meeting with defeated rival Bernie Sanders.

Clinton, who secured enough delegates to clinch the nomination last week, met with Sanders in a downtown Washington hotel as the sometimes bitter primary combatants searched for common ground ahead of the November 8 election against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Sanders has resisted pressure to bow out and endorse Clinton in a show of party unity, choosing to continue his campaign as leverage to win concessions from Clinton on his policy agenda and reforms to the Democratic Party nominating process.

Both camps described the meeting as "positive" and said the two noted their shared commitment to stopping Trump and pursuing issues such as raising the minimum wage, eliminating undisclosed money in politics, making college affordable and making healthcare coverage more accessible.

Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said the meeting was "a positive discussion about how best to bring more people into the political process and about the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation."

Also attending were Sanders' wife Jane, Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta and the two campaign managers, Jeff Weaver for Sanders and Robby Mook for Clinton.

Sanders had promised to stay in the Democratic race until the final vote was cast in the Washington, D.C., primary, although in the past week he has stopped talking about capturing the party's nomination and instead focused on ways to advance his policy goals.

He scheduled a national video address to supporters on Thursday night, telling them in an email message that "the political revolution continues."

At a news conference before the Washington meeting, Sanders said he would also demand changes to make the Democratic nominating process more equitable, including replacing the Democratic National Committee leadership, letting independents take part in the voting and eliminating superdelegates, who are unelected and are free to support any candidate.

"The time is long overdue for a fundamental transformation of the Democratic Party," Sanders said.

Clinton easily beat Sanders in the District of Columbia, winning 79 percent to his 21 percent in a primary that closed the more than four-month, state-by-state battle for the Democratic nomination that began on February 1 in Iowa.

During a visit to Capitol Hill earlier on Tuesday, Sanders told Democratic senators he would take his message of progressive values and party reform to the convention.

"I'm open to that, I think we should all be open to that, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois told reporters afterward. "Its not a surprise that the American people are skeptical of all of us in political life. And we ought to step back and reassess why, and what we can do about it."

Top Democrats have taken steps in the last week to begin rallying behind Clinton and ease Sanders out of the race without alienating his supporters.

President Barack Obama endorsed Clinton on Thursday, hours after meeting with Sanders at the White House. Clinton also secured the endorsement of Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a leader of the party's progressive wing.

Clinton already has turned her attention on the campaign trail to the race with Trump, rejecting the New York businessman's renewed calls for a ban of the entry of foreign-born Muslims into the United States after the mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, by an American man who claimed allegiance with Islamic State militants.

"I have clearly said that we faced terrorist enemies who use a perverted version of Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people. We have to stop them, and we will," Clinton said in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday. "But I will not demonize and declare war on an entire religion."
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps proposal for suspending immigration from parts of the world with a history of terrorism could have a legal basis, but his assertion that it be part of a broader ban on Muslim immigrants makes it constitutionally untenable, legal scholars say.

The new twist in Trumps anti-Muslim rhetoric came in the aftermath of a weekend shooting massacre at a Florida nightclub by the American-born son of Afghan immigrants.

In a fiery speech on Monday, he expanded on his proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, vowing if elected to halt immigration from any area of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against America or its allies.

He also accused the Muslim-American community of broad complicity in attacks such as the Orlando shooting, which was carried out by a gunman pledging allegiance to Islamic State, and threatened big consequences for those who fail to inform on their neighbours.

Many legal experts said Trumps proposal for a religion-based ban would be unlikely to pass the test of U.S. constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, due process and equal protection and would likely be struck down by the courts if he tried to implement them by presidential decree.

However, a ban on immigrants from certain countries has some precedent and might pass muster.

Some see that new proposal as reminiscent of the congressional Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which was used for years to halt the influx of Chinese labourers and has been widely considered a black mark on Americas immigration record.

But Trumps overall immigration plan would go beyond that, targeting not just a country or a region of the world but also a religion, something that no modern US president has done.

"This is an absurd proposal to build a Fortress America and pull up the drawbridges, said John Bellinger, former legal adviser to the Bush administration.

President Barack Obama took a veiled swipe at Trump on Tuesday, saying such ideas represented a dangerous mindset.

But U.S. presidents have wide latitude on immigration matters, and some conservative scholars said that the fate of any proposed ban would hinge on how narrowly Trump framed it.

They note, for instance, that Democratic President Jimmy Carter barred Iranian nationals from entering the United States during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

If a Trump administration cut off immigration from certain countries, rather than certain religions, it would not violate the Constitution, said John Yoo, a law professor at the University of California Berkeley and former Justice Department official who advised the George W. Bush administration on interrogation methods used on terrorism suspects.

Herman Schwartz, a law professor at American University in Washington, said if Trump stuck to his proposal for a temporary prohibition on Muslim immigrants, that raises significant constitutional questions and "shows his shaky command of the legal facts."

Muslim ban

In Mondays speech in New Hampshire, Trump showed little sign of scaling back his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States, which he first laid out in December after an Islamic State-linked deadly mass shooting in San Bernardino, California.

Debate over the legality of Trumps proposals was complicated by the vagueness of his pronouncement and questions on how broadly he would extend any immigration ban if elected.

While legal experts say presidents have the power to ban immigrants from specific countries, the United States does not currently ban immigration from any country. Officials do give extra scrutiny to people entering from countries such Syria and Iran.

Under the broadest interpretation of Trumps pronouncement, immigration could be barred not only from the Muslim world but from US-allied countries in Europe and Asia where militant attacks have taken place. This could include India, the source of many skilled engineers for the US technology sector.

Critics say this would be impractical and counterproductive.

Is Mr. Trump proposing to stop issuing visas even for business or tourism or education to nationals of certain countries?" said Bellinger. "Rather than increase economic growth, Mr. Trumps plan could cost the US economy billions of dollars.

Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, a Trump foreign policy adviser, justified the candidates pronouncement, saying it is perfectly appropriate for the country to refuse admission to those whose presence may be detrimental to the national interest.

But Orrin Hatch, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, when asked whether a president has the authority to ban immigrants based on religion, said: Im not sure he does.

Legal experts also raised doubts about the legality of Trumps demand that members of the American Muslim community cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad or else they will be brought to justice themselves. Critics have accused him of anti-Muslim fear-mongering to win votes.

Generally, the idea that knowledge in and of itself comes with criminal liability is antithetical to the way we talk about criminal law in the United States, said Daniel Richman, a Columbia University law professor and former federal prosecutor.

If Trump tried to implement such prosecutions as president, he said, potential defendants could simply invoke their constitutional right against self-incrimination and continue to remain silent.
Once again, a case of a lack of consideration for the a religious IDF soldier, who in this case was compelled to decide between davening or having his Shabbos meal. The soldier in question is a lone soldier who lives in Jerusalems Beit HaChaiyal.

The soldier in recent weeks asked to daven with a minyan on Friday night. He was compelled to decide if he wishes to attend minyan or eat a Shabbos meal because the personnel in the dining hall refused to accommodate him with a meal after shul, which was after the allocated dinner time.

With Shabbos beginning late this time of year, the soldier was not able to get back from minyan until 20:45. He was told that the kitchen operates from 20:00 to 20:45 so if he davens in shul, he will not be able to eat his Friday night seudas Shabbos. He asked if they would accommodate him since it is only a matter of a few additional minutes but his request was declined.

The soldier turned to the Srugim dati leumi website, which in turn took the matter to the IDF Spokesman, who contacted an organization which assists lone soldiers. The organization, which operates the dining room in the Beit HaChaiyal expressed a willingness to accommodate his request. Officials however added they probed the matter and were unaware of any request from the lone soldier to extend kitchen hours to permit him to attend minyan.

The hours of the kitchen have been extended to 21:15 to permit soldiers to attend minyan and still enjoy a meal in the Beit HaChaiyal upon their return.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Six years ago, one of Israels volunteer emergency medical services (EMS) organization, United Hatzalah, made waves in Rambam hospital when they began a program that significantly cut down waiting times in the emergency room (ER) and helped ER nurses treat patients faster. What has become known as the Hospital Liaison Program, involved volunteer EMTs and paramedics from United Hatzalah volunteering for a minimum of two shifts per month to help streamline basic procedural and medical tasks. The program was highly effective and significantly cut down the waiting time in the ER. Today, the program has expanded greatly and provides aid in 10 hospitals across Israel. Over the next year and a half, that number is expected to double.

The goal of the program is to help ER nurses treat patients faster while at the same time providing invaluable experience for our EMS personnel, explained Chani Levanon, Director of United Hatzalahs Hospital Liaison Project. The program allows the nurses to be able to better manage patient intake, provide treatment faster, and streamline basic procedures, while at the same time providing the EMTs and paramedics who participate with valuable hands on experience with trauma cases and patients suffering from shock. For EMTs who work in areas with a lower amount of traumatic cases, this experience can be invaluable. It is a win-win situation for everyone, Levanon continued.

We are currently running the project in ten hospitals and in the process of bringing the program to another four. In addition, we have been invited to start the program in four other ones who approached us and wanted us to send EMTs to their ERs as well. We have been very happy with the responses from the hospitals and the project seems to just keep growing, added Levanon. In the next year and a half the program is expected to double and be initiated at another 10 hospitals.

United Hatzalahs goal is to help the community provide better emergency medical responses, and this includes helping out in hospitals. The organization has set aside a good amount of resources in order to encourage its community of 3,000 EMS volunteers to participate in the hospital liaison project. In addition to having special meet-ups for the EMS volunteers who participate in the program, we also have a monthly award given out to the volunteer who helps out the most in each hospital. In addition, some of the hospitals have opened up special enrichment classes for the medics who come to volunteer. The classes can cost thousands of shekel per person and the volunteers receive it at a highly discounted rate. This is just one example of the gratitude shown to us by the hospital.

According to Levanon, United Hatzalah also offers discounts on its planned group or chapter activities to the medics who volunteer at hospitals, as well as covering all of the extra insurance costs that the volunteer will need when they are working at the hospital. We want to honor the volunteers who go this extra mile and volunteer extra time above and beyond what they already do for United Hatzalah. We want to make it as easy as possible for them to help out in the hospitals, and we are doing everything we can to make that happen.

In the past year, 174 United Hatzalah medics were active in the program, and together they worked 1,761 shifts as part of the liaison program. The difference felt in the emergency rooms was palpable. We really are making a difference, said Levanon, The hospitals know it, our volunteer medics know it, and most importantly the patients feel it.

(Photo captions: United Hatzalah volunteers get prepped on helping out at Wolfson Hospital in Holon as part of the hospital liaison program. 

2nd photo: United Hatzalah EMS volunteers help out at Rambam hospital in Haifa as part of the hospital liaison program 

3rd photo: United Hatzalah volunteer medics Gavriel Struck and Shmuel Dahuki take a moment out of helping nurses in Jerusalems Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital as part of the hospital liaison program.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos United Hatzalah spokespersons office)
Airlines are doing a better job of sticking to their schedules, and consumer complaints are falling.

The Department of Transportation said Monday that 84.5 percent of flights on the largest 12 U.S. airlines arrived on time during April, better than the previous month and up from 81.8 percent in April 2015.

Hawaiian Airlines and Delta Air Lines were the best at staying on schedule, while Spirit Airlines was last, arriving late more than one-fourth of the time.

Consumer complaints about U.S. airlines fell 20 percent to 870 from 1,083 in April 2015.

April flights on Hawaiian, which operates on routes that are usually blessed with good weather, arrived on time 94.1 percent of the time. Delta had a 90.3 percent on-time rating. Discount carrier Spirit arrived on time just 73.8 percent of the time.

The government counts flights as on-time if they arrive within 14 minutes of schedule.

Passengers on two domestic flights, one by American Airlines and another by Alaska Airlines, and two international flights operated by United Airlines were stuck on the ground longer than allowed by federal regulations. The Transportation Department said it was investigating; violations can bring fines.

The department said it received 870 consumer complaints about U.S. airlines, down from 1,083 in April 2015. That was a tiny fraction of the roughly 60 million people who boarded planes during the month, although many consumers who protest to airlines dont bother to file a complaint with the government.

Southwest Airlines had the lowest rate of complaints, while Spirit had the highest rate by a wide margin.

(AP)
New laws intended to reduce/eliminate money laundering have hit gemachs hard, and this is the subject of a controversy with the treasury in Israel. For many members of the frum community the gemachim are nothing less than oxygen, and without the gemachim, they would not be able to survive. A major portion of the machlokes surrounds the regulations from the US federal law known as FATCA.

As per the agreement signed between Israel and the United States, banks and financial institutions in Israel are compelled to report to the US tax officials regarding the accounts and holdings of US citizens with accounts in Israel.

The gemach issue was discussed in the Knesset Finance Committee on Monday, 7 Sivan, and it was decided heads of gemachs will have to complete a declaration that their organization is to serve the public and will comply with local laws governing such non-profits. This will permit recognize the gemachim as non-financial organizations, thereby removing them from FATCA regulations. The agreement for the new designation was reached between the committee chairman, MK Moshe Gafne and the treasury.

Gafne requested an extension for gemachim until mid-July to permit them to register as a non-profit without fear of closure of their bank accounts in Israel.

Deputy Chief Economist Frieda Yisraeli introduced the new arrangement for charitable funds (gemachim): They are defined as public institutions under the Income Tax Ordinance and not considered financial institutions but will be an active public institution. They will be recognized as an institution for public benefit and therefore, FATCA regulations will not apply.

Such organizations will operate as a non-profit and specify its purpose in the declaration and shall be run by at least seven members who are not relatives. They will be given an extension for submitting a report for fiscal 2016.

During the meeting it became clear that the FATCA regulations to not apply to small entities with a volume of deposits of up to $50,000 per person or by volume of assets of $50 million.

At present, the heads of gemachim are supposed to submit all of their paperwork by June 30th. Gafne asked to extend this a month, to the end of July.

From Wikipedia

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is a 2010 United States federal law to enforce the requirement for United States persons including those living outside the U.S. to file yearly reports on their non-U.S. financial accounts to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN). It requires all non-U.S. (foreign) financial institutions (FFIs) to search their records for indicia indicating U.S. person-status and to report the assets and identities of such persons to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The FATCA was the revenue-raising portion of the 2010 domestic jobs stimulus bill, the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, and was enacted as Subtitle A (sections 501 through 541) of Title V of that law.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
There was violence during the night when authorities arrived at the Givat Gal outpost near Kiryat Arba to raze a number of structures. Kiryat Arab Mayor Malachi Levinger was slightly injured and two people were taken into custody.

Area residents accuse police of using unjustifiable brutality during the operation, citing a number of people were injured as a result of police violence.

Honenu attorney Avi Kedar has been brought in to represent those persons taken into custody.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby was supported to arrive in the Mukata in Ramallah on Monday, 7 Sivan, but according to PA (Palestinian Authority) sources, scheduling problems prevented the visit with PA leaders.

The Arabic al-Quds newspaper on Tuesday reports the reason he did not and will not visit is Israels refusal to permit Elaraby to fly from Jordan to Ramallah in a chopper. Hence the cancelation.

Israel is criticized for preventing the meeting of the senior official, blaming Israel for preventing ongoing peace-making efforts with the PA.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Arab rock-throwing attacks against Jewish motorists continue, throughout areas of Yehuda and Shomron as well as inside so-called Green Line Israel. At least 9 attacks were reported on Monday, 7 Sivan. In all likelihood there were more but most drivers do not report them if there are no injuries or damage due to the frequency of such attacks.

In one such attack during the evening hours, a vehicle was hit by rocks in Chawarah, a hostile PA village north of Tapuach Junction in the Shomron on the way to area yishuvim including Har Bracha, Yitzhar and Itamar. One person reportedly was injured with glass shards in an eye.

Elsewhere, there were rock attacks near the tunnel on the old Jerusalem-Maale Adumim Road. While there was considerable damage to numerous vehicles, Bchasdei Hashem there are no reports of injuries.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Israels Chief Rabbinate of Israel batei din have the authority to send a recalcitrant husband to jail for refusing to give a bill of divorce. This being the case, there are some who prefer to remain in jail rather than giving a divorce and because of the law, they benefit from education in prison and for some, they are even placed in a Torah wing which is far less severe as well as receiving additional benefits.

The Knesset Ministerial Law Committee on Monday 7 Sivan expressed support for an initiative from MK (Bayit Yehudi) Shuli Muallem and the Emunah organization seeking to encourage recalcitrant husbands to release their wives, the agunos. The bill would revoke many of the privileges given to prisoners who maintain a religious lifestyle including being placed in the Torah wing, limud Torah, and having seforim in prison. Such a prisoner would be banned from attending shiurim, and using seforim. He would also be prohibited from receiving mehadrin food.

The initiative is based on recommendations from batei din which are seeking to compel the recalcitrant husbands to give a get. The batei din want them stripped of benefits until a get is given and they can be released.

Attorney Batya Kahana-Dror of the Mevo Satum organization explains while the bill is welcome, it will only be effective if and when a beis din sends a recalcitrant husband to jail and this does not happen often. She points out one such recent case is Dr. Oded Gaz. Kahana-Dror explains the beis din did not wish to send him to prison, opting to shame him instead and now he has vanished and his wife remains an agunah. She feels what is needed most of all is that the batei din send all of the recalcitrant husbands to jail.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The Movement for Quality Government is seeking to limit the tenure of the Rav of the Kosel and Holy Site Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz Shlita. The organization has begun its mission by sending a letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu requesting that he limit the rabbis tenure in the position.

They write In our view, the lack of determination of a limited period in office of the Kosel Rav adds incentive opportunistically for proper or improper conduct with the knowledge this will not lead to his replacement.

The organization adds that by not setting a defined tenure, it results in a greater incentive to attempt to bribe such a public employee towards biasing his judgement, particularly given the authority and the powerful influence of the control of an area unique to his position.

It is explained he has been serving as rav of holy sites for 21 years and of the Kosel for 16 years, adding the time already served is unreasonable and there is no parallel in public service. The organization calls on PM Netanyahu to act expeditiously in the matter.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
NATOs chief said Tuesday the alliance is reinforcing its defenses against Russia from the Baltic to the Black Sea, but keeping all possible contacts with Moscow open to avoid any unwarranted escalation of tension.

Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary-general, confirmed previous statements that alliance defense ministers gathered in Brussels for a two-day meeting will back a deployment plan to send four multinational battalions to the Baltic states and Poland. He also said decisions are expected on forming a new multinational unit of ground forces in Romania.

Defending our territory and protecting our people  that is NATOs primary responsibility, Stoltenberg said as he opened the ministers first working session Tuesday afternoon.

In a written statement, NATO deputy spokeswoman Carmen Romero said, We will decide to establish a framework brigade with a Romanian HQ and a Romanian and Bulgarian battalion  as a framework for training and exercises with other Allies units. The brigades strength is expected to be roughly 3,000-5,000.

The U.S., Britain and Germany have already committed to spearheading the development of three of the four battalions that would go to Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. A senior U.S. official said Canadian leaders are currently meeting to discuss the possibility that they would coordinate the development of the fourth battalion.

Canadian defense spokeswoman Ashley Lemire said that, Unfortunately, we are not in a position to provide any additional details at this time. As a committed NATO ally, Canada is actively considering options to effectively contribute to NATOs strengthened defense and deterrence posture.

U.S. officials said its not yet clear whether the Pentagon will use troops currently in Europe to form the battalion or bring in others. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told reporters Monday that the U.S. may well contribute most or all of the 800-1,000 troops needed for that battalion.

British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon told reporters that in early 2017 Britain will deploy one of the framework battalions designed to beef up the defenses of the Baltic republics and Poland.

Thats around 500 British personnel rotating on a continuous basis, Fallon said. He said other countries will contribute to the multinational unit, including France, which will chip in a company.

Additionally, he said, Britain will send a company of between 150 and 200 troops, plus vehicles and equipment, to train and operate alongside Polish soldiers.

Fallon called the British moves a very clear message that we are committed to defend the eastern flank. NATO is strong and united. We are ready to respond to any threat.

The new military plans, said one senior U.S. defense official, are key to putting some teeth behind talks with Russia, which have centered on concerns about Moscows military actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. NATO officials also predicted support for a Romanian proposal for a joint training initiative that focuses on specific operational requirements of the southeastern European region and promotes interoperability of NATO forces through training and exercises.

Additional proposals are also being considered to increase air and naval defenses in the Black Sea, where a Russian naval fleet based at Sevastopol in Crimea is a major player, NATO officials say.

Speaking to reporters before ministers met, Stoltenberg said that even as NATO reacts to what it sees as a potent security threat from a newly resurgent and unfriendly Moscow, at the same time we convey a very strong message that we dont seek a confrontation with Russia. We dont want the new Cold War.

He said it is important that we continue to keep channels for political dialogue open, but also military contacts.

Last month, NATO foreign ministers expressed broad support for convening a new meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, a forum that brings together ambassadors from NATOs 28 member states and Russia. So far, there has been no public response from the Kremlin.

The defense ministers wide-ranging agenda is designed to set the stage for NATOs summit taking place in roughly three weeks time, on July 8-9 in Warsaw. U.S. NATO Ambassador Douglas Lute on Monday called the meeting the final tuneup for the alliance before U.S. President Barack Obama and the other leaders meet in Poland.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, ministers are also expected to agree to cooperate more closely with the European Union in security affairs, discuss how to improve NATO cyberdefense, intelligence-sharing and decision-making to face current challenges, and meet with Ukraines defense minister.

Without disclosing details, Stoltenberg said we will establish a framework to deal with threats and challenges from the south  NATO speak for the Islamic extremist violence that has become widespread in the Middle East and North Africa.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and his counterparts from Canada and NATOs European members are also expected to consider providing AWACS surveillance planes to support the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State organization in Iraq and Syria, discuss how to support countries in the Middle East and North Africa threatened by extremist violence and assess what NATO can do to assist an EU operation attempting to stop people smuggling in the Mediterranean.

(AP)
The nations oldest Jewish congregation on Tuesday filed notice that it plans to appeal a decision that removed it as trustee of the nations oldest synagogue.

Congregation Shearith Israel, of New York, said in a filing that it would appeal to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in its fight over who controls the 250-year-old Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, and who owns a set of ceremonial bells worth millions.

Last month, U.S. District Court Judge Jack McConnell in Providence ruled that the Newport congregation owned the bells  called rimonim  and should control its own destiny. He removed the New York congregation as trustee, a position it had maintained since the 1820s.

McConnell said he was guided by the legacy of the people who established the synagogue in 1763, which was to make Newport a permanent haven for public Jewish worship. He also said the New Yorks congregation attempt to evict the Newport congregation had made it unfit to serve as trustee.

Congregation Shearith Israel on Tuesday issued a five-page statement about its plan to appeal. In it, it disputed McConnells findings.

Shearith Israels goal has been and remains to ensure that the Touro Synagogue, including the precious rimonim, remains intact, available for the continued use of Jews as an active place of worship and the continuous benefit of all people of faith as well as all those touched by its rich and inspiring history, the statement said.

A lawyer for the Newport congregation, Gary Naftalis, said the judge was completely correct on the facts and the law.

Theres no merit to any appeal here, Naftalis said.

In 1790, George Washington sent a letter to the Touro congregation pledging Americas commitment to religious liberty.

Disputes between the two congregations have been going on since the late 1800s. The latest one was sparked when Touros congregation sought to sell the rimonim  one of two sets of Colonial-era bells it owns  to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston for $7.4 million over the objections of Shearith Israel leaders.

(AP)
12:00PM IL: [PHOTOS & VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] As a result of a brush fire that began earlier spreading out of control, police announce the closure of the Jerusalem  Tel Aviv Highway towards Jerusalem (east). Vehicles are being rerouted to the Minheret Arazim.

Police announce the area is closed along with a number of Jerusalem Streets including Akiva Azoulai, Kanfei Nesharim, Menachem Cheftzadi, and Megani Yerushalayim. The exit from the capital to the highway heading towards Tel Aviv remains open.

BH there are no reports of injuries at this time.

12:12PM IL: The fire seems to be moving near Har Menuchos. That said, an Israel Police traffic spokesman confirms the Ginat Sakharov entrance/exit to the highway has been reopened.

12:20: The fire has reached the police firing range in Motza as well as the Israel Electric Company facility bordering Har Nof. Some evacuation is underway. Beit Shemesh firefighters are being called in to assist the Jerusalem and aerial units already battling the blaze.

12:31 PM IL: The Israel Electric Company facility has been evacuated by authorities as the fire continues to spread.

12:47PM IL: Thirty-five fire units are battling the blaze along with eight firefighting planes. Everything possible is being done to prevent the spread of the fire to the Israel Electric Company facility at the entrance to Har Nof as well as other public buildings in the area.

Fire cadets have been pulled out of officers training to assist as a general alarm has been issued for aid from nearby fire districts including Beit Shemesh.

Making efforts to bring the fire under control are being hampered by strong winds in the Givat Shaul area. Fire officials are calling on residents of Har Nof and Givat Shaul to remain indoors and shut windows and doors.

1:24PM IL: Sifrei Torah being removed from the beis medrash of HaGaon Rav Yosef Efrati Shlita located near the Israel Electric facility at the entrance to Har Nof.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photos: Media Resource Group)
The White House has announced its opposition to increasing the aid package to Israel by $455 million for the development of additional missile defense systems in 2017, Israel Radio reports.

While Congress has already given its approval, the outgoing US President has decided to oppose the increased aid, a move that signals the ongoing tensions between Jerusalem and Washington during the Obama administrations.

It is pointed out the Senate recently approved $600 million in aid for 2017, which represents a $113 million increase from 2016. AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) has released a statement expressing disappointment over the White Houses announcement, adding On a bipartisan basis, Congress has increased funding above administration requests this year, as it has done for well over a decade. These cooperative programs  including the Arrow, Davids Sling, and Iron Dome  are critical for Israels defense against a growing array of missile threats and make an important contribution to US missile defense programs. We applaud Congress for consistently supporting these key programs, and urge their full funding in both the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization and Appropriations Acts.

On a positive note, US National Security Advisor Susan Rice is signaling the new military aid package with Israel will be the single largest military assistance package given to any country in the US history.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
She was a California girl with Palestinian roots who left an arranged marriage only to marry a man who committed the worst mass shooting in modern U.S history.

Little by little, details have begun to emerge about 30-year-old Noor Zahi Salman, who grew up in the small suburb of Rodeo, California, tucked in the dry hills near the oil refineries 25 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Her relationship with Omar Mateen  security guard, bodybuilder and devout Muslim  began online, according to a neighbor, and they were married on Sept. 29, 2011, near her hometown, according to public records. The couple has a 3-year-old son.

Early Sunday, the 29-year-old Mateen opened fire at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded.

Authorities believe Mateens wife knew about the plot ahead of time, said an official who was briefed on the progress of the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation. The official said investigators are reluctant to charge her only on the basis of possible advance knowledge of her husbands plans.

Three people identifying themselves as FBI agents visited Salmans childhood home in Rodeo on Tuesday and spoke with her mother, said Jessie Rojas, a next-door neighbor.

In Fort Pierce, Florida, where Salman and Mateen lived, Salman made a brief visit to their first-floor apartment late Monday, escorted by police and her brother-in-law. Her father-in-law said she came to retrieve clothing. She did not speak with reporters. She has otherwise been in seclusion.

According to marriage documents on file in the Contra Costa County Recorders office, Salman was born in the United States while her parents birthplaces were listed as Palestine.

Its unclear when her parents, who served as witnesses for the wedding, came to the United States, but their naturalization papers allowing them to stay in the country were approved in 1984.

No one answered the door at the Salman home Tuesday, but neighbors who know the 2004 graduate of John Swett High School in nearby Crockett said they find it hard to believe she had anything to do with the massacre.

Jasbinder Chahal, who has lived across the street from Salmans childhood home for the last 15 years, said Salman is very nicenot the smartest, but she was beautiful.

You know, some kids after high school, they open up the box and the world is theirs. She was inside the box, just pack it up and get married, said Chahal.

They had a small wedding and took lots of pictures here at the house, said Chahal. The marriage license says the ceremony took place in Hercules, California, and that an imam officiated.

Of Mateen, Chahal said, He was shorter than her and did not seem very friendly.

Chahal said Salmans mother, Ekbal Salman, was deeply upset when she visited her Monday night and said she feared for the safety of her daughter and grandson.

Salmans parents tried to shelter their four girls as they grew up.

Noor never played in the street, and the girls were never allowed to drive, Chahal said.

The neighbor quoted Salmans mother as saying Mateen also kept her daughter from driving, until he recently allowed her to take a test to get her drivers license.

Salmans marriage to Mateen was her second, said Chahal. Mateen had previously been married as well.

Her first marriage had been arranged in the Palestinian Territories by her parents, said Chahal, adding that the union did not work out.

He was in Chicago and they were living there, but they were not married long, Chahal said. They had cultural differences since she grew up here and was American.

Mateen had met his first wife, Sitora Yusufiy, online, too. They married in 2009.

Yusufiy, who immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan, has told reporters that Mateen was mentally unstable and abusive during their brief relationship.

She said she knew quickly that the marriage had been a mistake and she left him a few months later. The couple didnt divorce, though, until June 21, 2011  just three months before Mateen married Salman.

On one of her sisters Facebook pages  next to a family photo  there is a box with the words: Solidarity with Gaza.

Salman rarely came home to visit after she married because Mateen would not let her, Chahal said. She quoted Salmans mother telling her that Mateen even tried to keep the daughter from traveling home to see her father when he was sick.

The younger Salman managed to scrape together the money to visit before her father died in a local hospital, Chahal said.

(AP)
The High Court of Justice has rejected an appeal against the Chief Rabbinate of Israel Supreme Beis Din and Rishon LTzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita, with the later serving as Av Beis Din.

High Court Justices Noam Solberg, Uri Shoham and Neil Hendel stated unanimously to the petitioners The court in its capacity as the High Court of Justice is not an appellate court against the Chief Rabbinate Supreme Beis Din and the grounds for intervention in the decisions are limited.

The petitioner requested an interim injunction and a permanent injunction to cancel two judgments rendered by the Supreme Rabbinical Court in Jerusalem, with one case dealing with the female petitioner compelled to accept a bill of divorce and losing [the payment of her] kesuva as per the original ruling by a Petach Tikvah Beis Din. The womans attorney argued the Supreme Rabbinical Court exceeded its authority as an appeals body.

The Petach Tikvah Beis Din ruled the woman loses her kesuva because the two are not loyal to one another and they betrayed halacha. The matter was then brought before the Rabbinical Supreme Beis Din as a court of appeal. The High Court explained the Rabbinical Supreme Beis Din discussed halachic and judicial matters at the discretion of the court and therefore, it feels there is no place for High Court intervention. The petitioner was also compelled to pay legal expenses incurred by the Rabbinate.

In a second case, the High Court backed the Chief Rabbinate Supreme Beis Din and a Jerusalem Beis Din ruling issuing a travel ban, prohibiting one from leaving the country. The attorney argued the beis din exceeded its authority and appealed to the Chief Rabbinate Supreme Beis Din and now the High Court. The appeal was rejected.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Amid reports the ban on Members of Knesset wishing to visit Har Habayis will be lifted, the Knesset Ethics Committee has voted to keep the ban in place.

Following a meeting attended by Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and senior police commanders, it was publicized Arab MKs would be able to visit Har Habayis during the third week of Ramadan if the situation remains quiet. Then Jewish MKs will also be able to resume visiting the holy site.

However, the Ethics Committee on Tuesday, 8 Sivan decided the ban would remain in place until such time police announce it has no objections to its removal. Jerusalem Police Chief Yoram Halevy attended the Ethics Committee session, explaining police have not changed the security assessment at this time and police remain opposed to Jewish MKs visiting at this time. Halevy did add that police are conserving permitting Arab MKs to visit the holy site for the end of Ramadan and the holiday of It el-Fitr.

Ethics Committee Chairman MK (Shas) Yitzchak Vaknin was angry at Edelstein for announcing the ban would be lifted. He stated we will not rubber stamp the decision, warning Har Habayis is a powder keg that can explode at any moment.

A day earlier, Deputy Minister of Finance (Shas) Yitzchak Cohen spoke out harshly against visiting Har Habayis, explaining doing so is contrary to halacha and the position of gedolei yisrael throughout the generations.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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By Patrick Donachie

The Arverne and Glen Oaks branches of the Queens Public Library were two of the five grand prize winners of the third annual New York City Neighborhood Library Awards. Each will receive a gift of $20,000.

These institutions are much more than just libraries, said Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton), whose district includes the Arverne branch. This is a place where people come to get everyday resources.

Richards was one of the more than 250 guests at the ceremony held Tuesday evening at the Hearst Tower in Manhattan. The Oscars of the Libraries were initiated by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the Charles H. Revson Foundation to honor public libraries doing exemplary work in their communities.

From ESOL classes for new immigrants, to after-school safe havens for at-risk youth, these institutions play a critical role in shaping the lives of New Yorkers all across the city, said Julie Sandorf, president of the Charles H. Revson Foundation. To keep up with the high demand for programs and services, we must continue to invest in our libraries.

Ten nominees were chosen after the foundation received nominations from over 19,000 people, an increase of more than 40 percent from the prior years awards. Branches in Inwood in Manhattan, Morrisania in the Bronx and Sunset Park in Brooklyn were the other grand prize winners. In addition to the Glen Oaks and Arverne branches, the Far Rockaway branch was in the list of 10 finalists and will receive an award of $10,000.

A panel of judges, including authors Stacy Schiff, Jelani Cobb and Angela Flournoy, selected the grand prize winners.

Nicole Gordon, the Arverne branch manager, said she hoped some of the funding would be used to purchase books on Judaism to service a large Jewish population in Arverne. She said the library offered classes in OSHA-certification, resume building and a multitude of other services.

We try to be a warm and inviting place, she said. We want customers to feel like theyre at home.

Richards lauded the work being done in the Far Rockaway and Arverne branches, and noted the essential role they played within the communities he served.

When you walk in the library, everybodys all the same, he said. No matter what your socioeconomic status is, your religion, your culture, youre accepted when you walk through those doors.
Times' Game of the Week Preview: Central Valley at Aliquippa

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New officers have been chosen by the Wichita Falls League of Women Voters. They include Kaye Holland, president; Tad Gose, vice president for programs; Rosemary Capps, vice president for organization; Nell Lister, meeting assistant, Terry Gilleland, secretary; Jane McGough, treasurer; and Ruby Ditto, Eldon Sund and Liz Vernon, board members.

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Rednecks with Paychecks organization has presented nine college scholarships to high school graduates in Montague and Cooke counties.

Montague County winners were:

Carli Jade Sappington, a graduate of Nocona High School, who will attend North Central Texas College to study occupational therapy;

Brandon Dunn, a graduate of Prairie Valley High School, who will attend NCTC to study welding and HVAC;

Cheyenne Banks, a graduate of Forestburg High School, who plans to study English at NCTC;

Juan Sanchez, a graduate of Saint Jo High School, who will attend Texas A&M University-Commerce to study biology;

Triston Moore, a graduate of Bowie High School, who will attend NCTC to study business;

Brett Reynolds, a graduate of Gold-Burg, who will study law enforcement at NCTC.

Candidates for the scholarship award were chosen from a pool of 74 applicants with one chosen from each of the participating school districts.

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Four students from Wichita Falls have qualified for the dean's academic honor roll for the spring 2016 semester at Baylor University. To qualify, full-time students must post a grade-point average of at least 3.7.

Qualifiers were Lauren Barnett and Kiersten Scott, students in the College of Arts and Sciences; Christi Robertson, in the School of Nursing; and Ethan Talley, studying in the School of Engineering and Computer Science.

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William Flowers, of Wichita Falls, has qualified for the honor roll at Texas State Technical College of Missouri. The list recognizes students who have posted a GPA of at least 3.0.

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Three offspring of Southern Sunrise, the stallion owned by Harry and Brenda Patterson, of Wichita Falls, were honored at the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association's Spring Show.

Two of the stallions, Sunrise's One-Eyed Pirate, and Sunrise's Masterpiece, are among the stallions who that received the 2015 Top 5 Breeding Sires of the Year Award for siring the highest number of registered foals born in 2015. A third stallion, Southern Playboy, received both the 2015 Top 5 Breeding Sires of the Year Award for being among the top five breeding stallions and the 2015 Top 5 Stallions of the Year Award for being among the stallions whose offspring accrued the most points in predesignated MFTHBA-sponsored horse show classes in 2015.

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The Texas Woman's University chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society has selected Taylor Beeman, of Wichita Falls, to receive its chapter service scholarship. Beeman has logged extensive volunteer hours both with TWU organizations and through the city of Denton and the city of Wichita Falls. She will complete her Bachelor of Science degree in child development and plans to work toward a master's degree in occupational therapy.

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Jamie R. Kowalick, of Wichita Falls, has been named to the dean's list at Rogers State University in Oklahoma. To qualify, full-time students must have 3.5 grade-point average with no grades lower than a B..

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Payton Clark Betts, of Bowie, has been named to the dean's list at Austin College in Sherman. The dean's list recognizes the top 20 percent of full-time students. Betts, a graduate of Bowie High School, is the son of Jacky and Alicia Betts.

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Three Wichitans have been named to the spring dean's list at Stephen F. Austin State University for the spring semester. The list recognizes full-time students maintain a grade-point average of 3.5.

Qualifiers were Morgan Giles, an interdisciplinary studies major; Katie McCann, a biology major; and Erin Pearce, who is studying communication disorders.

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Erica Quinton, of Wichita Falls has qualified for the spring dean's list at Valdosta State University. The list recognizes full-time students who post a semester grade-point average of 3.5 and have an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
TRN Archives City National Bank employees W.L. Robertson, L.P. Webb, Mr. Wheeler, P.P. Langford and O.E. Cannon work behind the bank counter in 1896, just a short time after a deadly bank robbery and public lynching in Wichita Falls.

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By Bridget Knight of the Times Record News

If the five employees of City National Bank look a bit apprehensive in this photo from 1896, they have good reason. Just a short time before, in February 1896, two armed men had robbed the bank, only hours after Texas Rangers, sent to protect it against a rumored heist, had left.

P.P. Langford, the bearded man wearing a suit in this picture, had been adding numbers when the robbers entered, and failed to respond quickly to their shouts. He was knocked to the floor when one impatient robber struck him in the head with the butt of his gun. He survived the blow, but was shot in the hip as he tried to crawl away for help. He survived.

Cashier Frank Dorsey was not so lucky. Too slow in reaching for a gun hidden in his drawer, Dorsey was shot dead by one of the robbers.

With the Texas Rangers quickly returning, and the people of Wichita Falls hot in pursuit, robbers Elmer "Kid" Lewis and Foster "Bill" Crawford, and their $410 in loot, were quickly apprehended in a thicket south of town. They spent just one night in the local jail before an angry mob of Wichitans battered down the jail door, dragged Lewis and Crawford into the street and hanged them from a utility pole. Their bodies were buried in a common grave at Riverside Cemetery.
Midwestern State University

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By Christopher Collins of the Times Record News

A contractor hired by Midwestern State University is expected to propose a plan Wednesday that would raise the salaries of some university employees.

Evergreen Solutions LLC, of Florida, has conducted a compensation study that found some employees are paid below market value. The company is expected to present its findings to the MSU Board of Regents on Wednesday.

To determine whether employees are being paid at market value, the contractor compared university salaries to pay earned at other employers, including Angelo State University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the city of Wichita Falls and the Wichita Falls Independent School District.

The survey found that MSU employees are paid 6.4 percent below the market minimum, 2 percent below the market midpoint and 0.6 percent above the market maximum. Evergreen Solutions will propose a revamp of the university's pay grades, which, in turn, would increase minimum pay for employees in those pay categories.

In collecting data from employees, the contractor noted that employees expressed concern with inequitable pay of employees in similar positions and salaries that are not comparable with those at other educational institutions.

Conversely, employees lauded MSU's work environment, mission, stability and benefits.

The Board of Regents is not expected to make any formal decisions regarding the proposal.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks during a meeting of the Alabama Democratic Conference in Hoover, Ala., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015. (AP Photo/ Mark Almond)

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Charles J. Herrmann, Burkburnett

In an editorial column by Eugene Robinson that appeared in the Times Record News recently, he identified Hillary Clinton as "  one candidate who is objectively qualified to be president." He was comparing her qualifications to those of Donald Trump.

Regardless of a voter's political leanings, Hillary Clinton's pursuit of the presidency falls something short of "objectively qualified." Among other things, she is currently under investigation for her use of emails to communicate information relative to national security. Additionally, she has a history of scandal, corruption and cronyism too lengthy to list here but includes:

1. Paying Sidney Blumenthal a salary to assist her presidential run with funds from the Clinton Foundation. This tax-exempt foundation is supposed to be used only for charitable purposes.

2. Using the IRS to intimidate political critics.

3. Using the FBI to conduct opposition research against critics of her and husband Bill Clinton.

4. While Secretary of State failing to provide adequate security for the consulate in Benghazi which contributed to the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. Then blaming the attack on a video.

There are many other examples of Hillary Clinton's actions that if viewed objectively and apolitically, hardly qualify her as "  objectively qualified to be president."
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Sampath Medepalli, MD, Wichita Falls

I am a second-year resident soon to be here for a third year and chief resident for the Wichita Falls Residency Program from July 1.

I was disheartened to hear that the administration of our hospital thinks of us as not exceptional.

Like any program, there is room for improvement, but we've had great success too.

Our graduates, who have been deemed worthy to work as hospitalists in URCHS, are a testament to this. Success should be measured by strides made to improve.

We are fulfilling our life's dream of becoming practicing physicians here. Over the past two years, I have worked hard, learned a lot and achieved significant accomplishments.

The greatest teacher is experience; this residency program with URCHS provides me with a confidence-building stockpile of clinical and life experience. I am ever grateful for this opportunity.

I have a store of endless memories from my time here. Joy after gratitude-filled hugs from patient's family after a lifesaving heart cash went well; tears we shared when we decided it was time to let go.

Pride to see my junior resident receive well-deserved praise. Endless jokes that turned colleagues into close friends.

This decision to sever ties with our program impacts residents and patients. Consider the financial and emotional security of my colleagues, who have children and families to support, including those who just signed new contracts.

I prevented the suicide of my 49-year-old patient because I was the only person in his life who cared, when the system and his family failed him. He came to the ER and refused to speak to anyone because he trusted no one except me.

I told him that my training will be over next year and promised to hand pick the resident who will take care of him; a strong tradition in our residency. It is a promise that I now have to break.

I don't know who will take care of my patients because I did not train along side them which leaves me with a sense of abandonment for my patients.

Through unity, let us preserve the hard work of this program, which is dedicated to this community. Please save our residency.
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WASHINGTON  One of the manifold tragedies of the Orlando mass murder is how difficult it is for us to experience it and mourn it together.

This killing lies at the intersection of so many deep emotions and personal equities: The war against terrorism. Resentment against Islam. Gay rights and pride. Gun control. Many Americans immediately claimed that the shooting justifies their pre-existing beliefs, not just about the threats to America, but about the nature of evil. It is totalitarian ideology. Or someone else's religion. Or religion itself. Or homophobia. Or gun lovers and their political defenders.

How can we possibly learn anything under these circumstances? But learning is needed. A friend refers to this type of attack as the price of living in a free society, comparing it to the situation in London during the years of IRA terror bombings. And there is truth to this. America  free and vast  is a massive soft target. But conceding that future attacks are likely is very different from viewing them as normal. In Orlando, we saw the horrifying failure of a valid expectation of security.

We should fight this. But everyone, it seems, has chosen different battlefields. It is as if, following Pearl Harbor, some had urged a campaign against Japan, others against Canada, still others against Paraguay. How can any society as polarized and politicized as our own diagnose and oppose a common threat?

This was once the role of political rhetoric  to find shared lessons and common purpose following the shattering of the peace. But it is difficult, at least in this case, to imagine the unity of Dec. 8, 1941, or even Sept. 12, 2001. President Obama's speech following the Orlando attack asserted a unity "in grief, in outrage and in resolve" but also touched on gun control themes that immediately angered many in the redder portion of his audience. The presumptive Republican nominee felt obliged to provide his own version of public grief. It was utterly typical for Donald Trump to seek shameless political advantage during a tragedy, and to take shameful credit for past anti-Muslim sentiments. But this involves more than Trump's classlessness. A significant portion of Americans now expects the equivalent of a rebuttal at a funeral.

"In some ways," Russell Moore of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission told me, "tragedies now have less the feel of the JFK assassination and more of the feel of the George Wallace attempted assassination in 1972. Nixon's first response is to plant McGovern literature in Arthur Bremer's apartment. We are all Nixon now, seeking to plant ideologies in the place of horror, for our political benefit."

At a time when we need to listen to and learn from others, our strong tendency is to employ events to reaffirm our convictions. I suspect I am as susceptible to it as others are. How do we remain open to listening, really listening, to people who have a different angle of vision? Isn't it possible for a single event to prove various points about law enforcement, national security and the terrible harvest of hatred against our LGBT neighbors and family members?

Our political leadership has lost the ability to focus on shared tasks and express the moral stakes. The president, it seems, is just one more voice in a chorus where everyone is singing a different piece of music. What Franklin Roosevelt called "the warm courage of national unity" seems remote.

Maybe silence is the best tribute  or the only one we can manage to offer together. But I hope we do not give up on language so easily. The Orlando slaughter caught  in a horrible lightning flash of violence  the human reality of death and loss. The answer, the alternative, is simple and difficult: Empathy, even across the widest differences. "When you visualized a man or woman carefully," concludes the Whiskey Priest in Graham Greene's "The Power and the Glory," "you could always begin to feel pity  that was a quality God's image carried with it. When you saw the lines at the corners of the eyes, the shape of the mouth, how the hair grew, it was impossible to hate. Hate was just a failure of imagination."

We are called to imagine both the last, terrible moments of unjustly shortened lives, and the pain  sudden, unearned, unending  of those they left behind. And to hope, not only in this life but beyond it, against all the evidence of our grief, that love wins.

Michael Gerson's email address is michaelgerson@washpost.com.
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Fort Edward

Residents here late this year could be doing their holiday food shopping at the brand new Market 32 now being built at 354 Broadway.

While Golub Corp. and local officials gathered Tuesday morning for the official groundbreaking, work on the foundation was already well under way behind them.

The 42,000-square-foot store should be completed before the end of the year, several store officials said, a holiday present for a community that for the past 13 years has had to drive to Queensbury or Wilton to find a supermarket.

Market 32 is the stylish new format that Golub first announced nearly two years ago. While a number of Price Choppers already have been converted to the format, the Fort Edward store is the first in New York state to be built from the ground up.

When it's completed, the new store will employ 140 people.

Market 32 is being built on the site of a former Grand Union supermarket, which operated from 1980 to 2003.

The site, a brownfield tainted with PCBs, was cleaned up before supermarket construction began. Golub also cleaned up a former brownfield in Schenectady for the new headquarters building it completed in 2010.

While the project will receive tax breaks over a 15-year period, it nevertheless is expected to produce nearly $1.3 million in taxes for local governments and the school district.

The company declined to say what the project will cost.

"This parcel was off the tax roll for 10 years," said Darlene DeVoe, a Fort Edward trustee who worked on the project for several years.

She thanked the Golubs and the developer, Bruce Ginsburg of IKON Realty, for their vision.

Bast Hatfield is heading up construction, said Golub Corp. spokeswoman Mona Golub.

eanderson@timesunion.com  518-454-5323
Malta

GlobalFoundries closed off some parking, a construction entrance and an access road at its Fab 8 computer chip factory in Saratoga County after dozens of steel cylinders were discovered last week buried on land nearby that used to be a government rocket and weapons test site.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which is investigating the site, recommended that GlobalFoundries take the precautionary measure, even though the buried canisters were found 500 feet from the GlobalFoundries parking lot and are not believed to contain any explosives. The site is a mile from the closest home.

The cylinders were discovered June 6 by a contractor, not related to GlobalFoundries, that was cleaning up land owned by the Luther Forest Technology Campus for redevelopment. The closures took place Tuesday.

"We were aware of the ongoing remediation activities on property owned by the Luther Forest Technology Campus, which is adjacent to our site," GlobalFoundries spokesman Steven Grasso said. "During the remediation, several metal cylinders were found that need to be removed. To accommodate the removal efforts and to satisfy EPA protocols, the EPA requested that we establish a perimeter for the safety of employees and construction workers until the work is complete."

Fab 8 is located within the Luther Forest Technology Campus, a 1,400-acre business campus off Route 9 in Malta that was once home to the so-called Malta Rocket Fuel Area opened in 1945 for rocket and weapons testing by the government and its contractors.

GlobalFoundries owns more than 200 acres that it purchased from Luther Forest in 2008 to build the factory. It employs about 3,000 people. It is the only company so far to move to Luther Forest, which has a network of roads, hiking trails and ball fields.

Malta Rocket Fuel Area, in the middle of the Luther Forest Technology Campus, was named a Superfund site in 1987. GlobalFoundries built on land that was not part of the original test site and had been used mostly for logging over the years. The cylinders were located in the northeast corner of the Malta Rocket Fuel Area, the EPA said, close to the farthest out parking lots at Fab 8.

Grasso said the parking lot and road closures did not impact chip production and no employees had to leave the campus because of the discovery. The closures included an access road called South Entrance Drive and the construction entrance on Cold Springs Road known as Wafer Way. Portions of the gravel parking lots were also closed.

The EPA said in a Wednesday flier that it believes that the cylinders are not explosives but were "vessels used to collect quality assurance samples" while the test site was in operation. An EPA spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.

The EPA flier said that while the EPA does not know what is contained in the 34 vessels, about 20 of which have holes, it does not believe that they "pose an imminent risk" if not disturbed. However, the agency is in the process of bringing a specialized locker to the site this weekend or next to place the containers in while a decision is made on what to do with them over the long term.

Malta Supervisor Vincent De Lucia said Wednesday he was assured that the EPA secured the site and that it did not pose a risk to local residents. He said that GlobalFoundries or the EPA would have alerted the town's emergency management officials had the situation required it.

"It's in the hands of the EPA," De Lucia said. "And they've closed off the road into the area while they complete their investigation. This is strictly a proactive security measure, and it's in a very small amount of space."

lrulison@timesunion.com  518-454-5504  @larryrulison
ALBANY  A public forum next week will discuss the Pilgrim Pipeline and its potential harmful impact in Albany.

The June 22 event will take place at the Albany Public Library on Washington Avenue at 5:30 p.m. Attendees will discuss environmental and health concerns that critics link to oil pipelines.
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Menands

Sue Kerber is creating an empire built on suds.

A soap-making business that started in her kitchen, as she was trying to make a lotion to ease her son's eczema, gathered steam at farmers' markets. Her products wound up at Whole Foods and other retailers, and now she is preparing to open her first store in Stuyvesant Plaza this fall.

But that's just the beginning. Her family-owned business has plans for 19 more stores throughout the country over the next three years.

That may sound RAD, and it is. The RAD Soap Co. is the name of the rapidly growing business, which makes 10,000 to 20,000 bars of soap each month.

"I used to do it in my home," Kerber said. "I was doing it as a hobby to share, mother to mother."

She had grown frustrated with doctors being unable to recommend a lotion to help son Zak. She did her own research and cooked it up on her stove using hemp, shea butter and borage oil.

They still sell it as both a lotion and a soap under the name Toke. It's one of 120 products now in their line, which also includes all-natural insect repellent, cleaning fluid and products made in conjunction with Death Wish Coffee in Round Lake and Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown.

The company formed in 2009. Her sons Zak, now 25, and Max, 22, now partners in the business, suggested she sell her soap at farmers' markets. Whole Foods found her at the Troy market. Kerber went to a trade show in Las Vegas and ended up with 200 more retailers selling her soaps.

Kerber said the products are all made of natural ingredients, do not contain animal products and are not tested on animals.

The Stuyvesant Plaza store will be designed by Adirondack Studios, based in Argyle, which has worked with The Walt Disney Co., Universal Studies and Six Flags. Customers will be able to try the soaps on the premises.

RAD moved to their manufacturing facility at 8 Wolfert Ave. in Menands in January. It has 15,000 square feet of space, almost four times that of their previous site on Fuller Road.

In the new location, four stovetops contain pots on each of 16 burners from a batch of freshly made soap. Twelve bars are made from the contents of each pot.

Originally, their plan was to open a store there, but then the space became available at Stuyvesant Plaza. They will occupy 1,200 square feet where the Sorelle Gallery had been.

Janet Kaplan, vice president of real estate for the plaza, said the company will attract new customers.

"It's something different that we don't have right now," she said. "Their soaps and body lotions are really unique. They just have a huge following. People love their products and just swear by them."

Plans call for locations in Brooklyn and Soho and they are also looking in Las Vegas, California and Colorado.

"We work 24/7. We don't go on vacation," Kerber said. "It's fun here, and the kids really want to bring it to the next level."

tobrien@timesunion.com  518-454-5092  @timobrientu
Colonie

South Korean medical researchers were in town Monday to learn about a tool used in New York to direct care at the end of life.

The state's Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or MOLST, is a form used by dying patients to instruct medical personnel on the procedures they would and, perhaps more important, would not like to receive: under what circumstances they want to be brought to a hospital, for instance, or to receive antibiotics.

Researchers from South Korea are interested in MOLST, and a state legislative proposal for an electronic MOLST registry, following passage in that country of a law regulating end-of-life decision-making. The South Koreans joined the developer of MOLST, a state Health Department official and others for a discussion on its uses and benefits at the Colonie office of LeadingAge New York, an association of long-term care providers.

End-of-life discussions are different in South Korea than in the United States, explained Ilhak Lee of Yonsei University in Seoul. Until recently, there were no pensions; parents relied on their adult children for support. While aging parents do not want to be a burden on their children, the children don't want to humiliate their parents by addressing decisions about the end of their lives, he said.

MOLST is different from advance directives like living wills in that it contains actual medical orders that can be acted upon in life-threatening situations, said Patricia Bomba, the medical director of Rochester-based Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Bomba is credited with leading the development of MOLST.

The forms are for patients who receive long-term care services and might die within the next year. Adapted by the state Health Department in 2008, they are in wide use in western New York, where they originated, Bomba said. Statewide, more than half of long-term care facilities use them.

While a MOLST limits the use of high-cost procedures at the end of life, saving money was a side benefit of developing them, not the primary reason, Bomba said.

"It's the right thing to do," Bomba said. "It's really touching human beings and people who are suffering."

The four-page, hot-pink forms are meant to drive thoughtful discussions among patients, their families and doctors and, for patients living at home, be kept in plain sight  on the refrigerator, for instance  so emergency personnel see them, Bomba said.

But the forms can be overlooked.

Bomba related the story of a 92-year-old woman who wanted to die at home in the Taconic Mountains. She was rushed to the hospital after being electrocuted (the cause was unknown). Extreme measures were taken to save her life, despite the wishes expressed on her MOLST form, which had been left at her home. After two days of suffering, she died at the hospital.

Bomba and others are pushing for the creation of a statewide registry for an electronic version of the forms, called eMOLST, that would enable hospitals and emergency medical technicians to check for web-based MOLST forms from anywhere.

chughes@timesunion.com  518-454-5417  @hughesclaire
A Washington County man is on the run after deputies said he pleaded guilty to violating an order of protection and then violated the same order of protection twice later that day.

Robert Carota, 51, pled guilty to felony criminal contempt Friday in Washington County Court for violating an order to stay away from an individual.
BROOME  A vehicle that hit a pole in the Schoharie County town of Broome was driven by a Queens man accused of his third DWI in 10 years, State Police said.

Troopers said William Cisneros, 67, of Bellerose was drunk as he traveled northwest on Route 145 Monday night.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this story misstated the size of the current church headquarters and the locations of its satellites. The Northway Church's Clifton Park headquarters is currently 27,000 square feet, and the church also has locations in White Plains, Pittsfield, Mass., and Delaware.

Clifton Park

Northway Church officials were receptive to initial suggestions for improvements to the 45,000-square-foot structure proposed by the nondenominational church at Tuesday's meeting of the town Planning Board.

"We're here to help the community and make people's lives better, and anything that can help with that we're open to," said Alyssa Paulsen, the church's communications director.

The building would accommodate about 1,000 churchgoers on 6.8 acres at the intersection of Ushers and Pierce roads. The plan also includes about 550 parking spaces and a 7,500-square-foot outdoor area to be used at the beginning and end of services and special events for church members, according to the site plan review application submitted to the town Planning Department on May 23.

Clifton Park resident James Ruhl, who formed the Ushers Road Group when an Exxon Mobil station was being proposed in the same area, expressed concern about traffic and suggested developing a pop-up park and area for bicyclists on the property for the general public to use.

"The traffic and trail amenities are important to the parishioners ... and the neighborhood," Ruhl said, adding he was encouraged by Northway's receptiveness.

Planning Board members stressed the need for more green space to break up the large parking area. Northway also will have to do a traffic study.

"This is a very early, conceptual stage here," board Chairman Rocco Ferraro said.

Northway Church, led by pastors Buddy and Debbie Cremeans, was established in 2002 and has held services since then in a space inside the North Country Commons shopping center on Route 146. The church also has locations in White Plains as well as in Pittsfield, Mass., and Delaware.

Paulsen said the three services held on Saturdays and Sundays draw 1,200 to 1,500 people, with an average service congregation of 400 to 500. The church's current location is 27,000 square feet and holds about 1,000 people, she said.

Northway is "under contract" in the process of acquiring the land for the building, Paulsen said.

The church also owns a parcel of land on Dunning Road in Malta, but Paulsen said church officials are unsure what they'll do with it. Northway officials will continue to fine-tune the plans as the project moves forward.

afries@timesunion.com  518-454-5353  @mandy_fries
Albany

New York school districts must conduct four lockdown drills a year and beef up emergency response training under new rules adopted this week by the state Board of Regents.

The requirements from the state education policy makers come just days after the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, the latest in a string of multiple killings across the U.S. in recent years.

The drills join a number of school safety changes implemented since the 2012 shooting deaths of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

The rules approved Tuesday by the Regents were recommended by the Safe Schools Task Force, a group of law enforcement and state agencies that was commissioned a month after the Sandy Hook shootings to examine and recommend ways to enhance school safety. Over the past two years, the board adopted recommendations ranging from the launch of school safety climate surveys to a makeover of the system for reporting violent and disruptive incidents.

The latest plan requires districts to conduct four lockdown drills a year to prepare students and staff for "the highest level of threat" by clearing hallways, locking doors and taking positions out of sight as quickly as possible. It also requires eight evacuation drills to ensure appropriate response in the event of a sudden emergency; policies and procedures for contacting parents in the event of an implied or direct threat of violence by a student; and the designation of a chief emergency officer who will be responsible for coordinating communication between staff and first responders.

Shenendehowa schools held a mass evacuation drill at Chango Elementary School in Malta on Monday with the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services and area first responders.

Schools, once considered an unthinkable place for mass shootings, are now as likely to be targets as any other public place. In the years since Sandy Hook, there have been more than 100 school shootings in the U.S. for an average of nearly one a week, according to Mass Shooting Tracker, a crowd-sourced database.

Historically, emergency planning in schools has centered on fire safety, with regular drills required each year to practice safe and orderly evacuation plans. But between good planning and the use of fire alarms and sprinklers, fire-related fatalities have become nearly nonexistent in U.S. schools, the Education Department said in a memo outlining the new requirements.

"However, it has become clear that for schools to be equally as prepared for a possible occurrence of violence, expanded emergency response drills, including lockdown drills, are essential," the department wrote.

Other safety recommendations to be implemented in the coming year include a streamlined process for reporting incidences of bullying and violence; expanded violence prevention training; and new policies around school bus security and safety equipment.

bbump@timesunion.com  @bethanybump
Gansevoort  South Glens Falls High School graduate Amber Lenon has been a part of a successful quest by researchers to prove the existence of cosmic gravitational waves, one of the predictions of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity.

And that quest has just gotten more interesting.

Lenon, 23, graduated from Syracuse University in May. But over the past three years, Lenon and other researchers in the physics department at Syracuse have been working on a nationwide project to capture gravitational waves in outer space, using data from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory run by MIT and Caltech. The observatory is actually made up of two massive detectors known as interferometers that are located in Livingston, La., and Hanford, Wash.

Lenon was assigned to analyze data, collecting and organizing large amounts of data from a supercomputer for hours on end.

"It was really exciting," Lenon said. "It was a lot of fun to be around a project like that. We had some really late nights."

All that hard work paid off for Lenon and others back in February. That's when officials from LIGO made the historic announcement that in September they had finally observed gravitational waves, which are like a ripple in the fabric of time and space, from the collision of two black holes 1.3 billion years ago.

And on Wednesday, officials at LIGO announced that in December they actually made a second recording of gravitational waves from a second collision of two black holes, helping to confirm that the first reading was not a fluke.

"This new detection confirms that the first discovery we announced in February was not just luck," said Stefan Ballmer, an associate professor of physics at Syracuse who was involved in making upgrades to LIGO's detector facility in Washington state. "By 2018, we could be seeing hundreds of black hole mergers a year."

Lenon was not always destined to help prove one of Einstein's theories. Although she had a love of physics in high school, the Gansevoort resident originally headed to Cazenovia College after graduating from high school in 2011 to pursue a degree in digital communications. She transferred two years later to Syracuse to study physics.

Lenon is now headed to West Virginia University, where she plans to get a doctorate in physics. She says she has an eye on working for companies like Google or SpaceX that are involved in space research.

"Google has hired a lot of LIGO people because of the type of research that we do," Lenon said.

lrulison@timesunion.com  518-454-5504  @larryrulison
Saratoga Springs

The last two times residents and elected officials tried to revise the city charter the effort failed.

But a Charter Review Commission could again propose a change in government structure, or it could simply update Saratoga Springs' current charter  the document that outlines how municipal government should operate.

"The form of government is just one element," said Pat Kane, 58, one of 15 residents appointed to the commission. "There are all kinds of things you could do and not change the form of government ... there is great flexibility given to a commission like this."

The commission met Tuesday night to set regular meeting times and discuss the tasks before them. They will meet at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesday of every month in City Council chambers. The next meeting is June 28.

Those appointed members also include Jeff Altamari, Gordon Boyd, Ann C. Bullock, Laura Chodos, Elio Del Sette, Matt Jones, BK Kermati, Robert Kuczynski, Mike Los, Minita Sanghvi, Barbara Thomas, Robert Turner and Beth Wurtmann.

Mayor Joanne Yepsen said she's still seeking one person to complete the 15-member commission.

Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan said the lack of a specific task could lead to gridlock.

"If you don't provide a mandate, I think this group is charged with whatever they want," she said, whether that be a new form of government or revisions only. If a new form of government is the goal, "so be it. I just wanted to know."

Yepsen said the charter requires the city update the document every 10 years. It hasn't been updated since 2001. At that time, a new form of government wasn't proposed.

"What we're talking about is the day-to-day operations that happen within City Hall, and how we can best serve the public," she said, adding that the commission will first tackle incorporating state and city laws into the charter.

The commission will interview residents and city officials to get opinions on the charter as well as the form of government, Yepsen said.

Under Saratoga Springs' commission form of government, services are divided among the mayor and four part-time commissioners, all of whom earn $14,500 a year. The commissioners separately supervise the finance, accounts, public safety and public works departments. Full-time deputies manage day-to-day operations.

Mechanicville is the only other municipality in the state that follows this form of government. Most municipalities use a mayor-council form of government with varying degrees of power distributed between the mayor and the council, said Peter Baynes, executive director of the New York Conference of Mayors.

Around 2006, a strong mayor-council form was proposed for Saratoga Springs. It would have made the elected mayor the administrative and executive head of the city government and the council the policy-making body. It was voted down.

In 2012, a manager-council form was proposed, which would give five elected City Council members power to hire a city manager to oversee municipal operations and appoint members to boards, but it failed, too.

Chodos, 89, who served on the citizens group that advocated for a manager-council style government in 2012, said she'd like to see a change in the form of government.

"I want to make sure that we end up with something that people continue to be involved in the community," she said of public participation in local government. "Things are pretty good out here. We have a pretty wonderful city. We'll be able to assess the charge and see where we go from here."

Del Sette, 83, who sat on the charter commission that passed the 2001 updates as well as another prior panel, said he's waiting to hear on more direction.

"I see this charter as a functioning charter," he said. "I don't hear of any concerted effort from the public" to change government forms.

afries@timesunion.com  518-454-5353  @mandy_fries
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Looking back over 30 years of choreographing for his company, Doug Varone says some of his favorite dances were the worst ones he ever made.

"Within each of them was the seed of something I couldn't form, but now I can look back and realize that it was the beginning of something," he said in a recent interview. "It's both sobering and thrilling to look back at the body of work you've created and understand the changes you've made as a dance-maker."

Each piece is a reflection of a particular moment in time, he said: "With every new dance and every year of your life, you look around you and, wherever you are, you put it into the work."

Friday evening at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Doug Varone and Dancers will present a program of three works that capture the choreographer in three different moods and stages.

More Information If you go Doug Varone When: 8 p.m. Friday Where: Saratoga Performing Arts Center, 108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs Tickets: $19.66; children under 12, $15 Info: 584-9330 or http://www.spac.org Also: As part of its Skidmore residency, the company performs repertory work on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and shows work in progress on June 23 at 7:30 p.m., both in the college's Dance Studio 1, 815 N. Broadway in Saratoga Springs. For info, call 580-5596 or visit http://www.skidmore.edu/summerdance See More Collapse

"Castles," from 2004, is set to a suite of waltzes by Sergei Prokofiev, including excerpts from "Cinderella" and "War and Peace""romantic, bombastic things I thought I would never choreograph to," Varone said. "In structure and form, it's a very different work than some of my recent pieces, with a more formal sense of design."

"Strict Love," back in the repertory for the first time since 1994, juxtaposes what Varone describes as "angular, almost militaristic movement, devoid of emotion" with pop songs from the 1970s"I Want You Back," "A-B-C" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," among others.

"It's the anti-dance to every Jackson 5 song you ever heard," Varone said.

The third work on the program, "Lux," is one the company has danced at every performance since the piece premiered in 2006. Set to music by Philip Glass, it pushes the dancers physically and challenged him as a choreographer, Varone said.

"I learned a great deal about how bodies move in space, [creating] immensely complicated staging at fast speeds," he said.

With two Bessie Awards, a Guggenheim Fellowship, an Obie Award and a hip replacement under his belt, Varone says these days he's as much a dance educator as a dance-maker. This month, his New York Citybased company is in residence at Skidmore College, offering a series of open rehearsals, lecture/demonstrations and performances over three weeks. The troupe has also taught biology, literature, arts and engineering concepts through dance, and offers workshops for teens, children, seniors and other populations, showing them how dance can relate to their real lives.

"We have them talk about themselves and then build movements around that, and, before you know it, they have a movement history of who they are," Varone said. "We find ways to open the door to this art form and how it lives in everybody's body and psyche, and how everyone can experience the beauty of movement."

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That's something Varone doesn't take for granted. He spent eight years off the stage, recovering from his hip replacement and the related pain and discomfort. In 2014, he returned to performing with the solo "The Fabulist," which explores memory, mortality and self-exposure.

"When I went back into the studio, it was very much about finding out about what my body could do, not pretending it could do what it used to do," he said. "I was stepping into the work from the inside. It's one thing to be the painter, and it's a whole 'nother thing to be inside the painting. It was a joy to do that again."

In recent years, Varone has found inspiration for dance in other mediums  theater, opera and film, which have given him new lenses through which to see and shape movement. He's staged multiple operas, including this spring's "Dido and Aeneas" for New York City Center, and his film credits include choreography for "One Last Dance" with Patrick Swayze. His site-specific work "The Bottomland," from 2000, integrated dance, theater, music and video, and was performed in a cavern in Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park.

Next up: a collaboration with the writer/director Eric Simonson and the projection designer Wendall K. Harrington, incorporating silent film footage from the 1920s.

"I'm constantly pushing myself to do something different, whether it's successful or not, not to settle for what I've already done," Varone said. "I tell my students that it's better to fail than to succeed nicely, and that's kind of my mantra right now. I'm excited to fail boldly."

Tresca Weinstein is a frequent contributor to the Times Union.
Having made a big splash with astonishing solo exhibitions from Nick Cave and El Anatsui the last two summers, The School in Kinderhook currently is offering up what it calls "four solo exhibitions."

The space is certainly big enough to house four distinct shows, and yet the artists exhibited here share enough underlying concepts to warrant being under one roof, with the title "A Change of Place." That's the premise the School puts forth in its exhibition statement, and it's not a stretch.

On the surface, the work couldn't be more different. Pierre Dorion makes monochromatic, photo-realistic paintings while Hayv Kahraman makes figure-based paintings on linen and sculptures out of wood. Richard Mosse photographs in war-torn countries, and Garnett Puett stays close to home, enlisting the help of nature. What links them is a delicate thread regarding environment and the way environments can change  either by natural or human-made forces.

Puett's work is a combination of the two. He collaborates with bees to make what he calls ''apisculptures.'' Motivated by the desire to avoid cluttering the environment with more man-made objects, he turned to bees for their particular skill at creating intricate geometric structures. A hive, after all, is a series hexagons built in beeswax. A graduate of Pratt Institute, Puett is no stranger to bees, having grown up in a family of beekeepers. As unique as it sounds, suddenly it seems bee-based art is all the rage. Artist Terence Koh just opened a show in Manhattan that includes a beehive and Pierre Huyghe showed a beehive sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art last summer. Puett, for his part, has been collaborating with bees since the '80s. He builds an armature, often out of discarded junk, such as an old garbage pail lid. He transfers the queen to the sculpture and lets some 90,000 bees do their work. He can control the color of the hive with the food he gives them, but he can't control the shape of the honeycomb they construct, though he may alter it a bit after the fact.

More Information If you go "A Change of Place: Four Solo Exhibitions" Where: The School, 25 Broad St., Kinderhook When: Through the summer. Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Free Info: theschool@jackshainman.com, 758-1628, http://www.jackshainman.com/school/ See More Collapse

The bees get transplanted to a new hive and he cleans the piece and freezes it to kill any lingering larvae. The gorgeous final forms vary and are built around or draped over Puett's creations. There's an inherent elegance in the honeycomb  so meticulously designed  that complements Puett's forms. Puett's finishing touch  displaying each piece under a glass vitrine  emphasizes the marriage of natural history and art.

At the School, the process is revealed to the viewer. Puett has set up a hive that's visible through a screen door, with a hole in the exterior wall so the bees come and go.

Richard Mosse's approach to revealing that which we can't always see is entirely different. Through the use of a special infrared film, now discontinued, called Kodak Aerochrome, he shoots in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a region ravaged by conflict and disease. Initially used in the Vietnam War to detect camouflage in the jungle, the film turns green areas into vivid pinks.

Mosse draws the viewer in with huge, surreal landscapes, which are at once beautiful and unsettling. In an accompanying documentary film, Mosse says that, unlike places where war leaves its mark on the architecture of a city, in the Congo, vegetation quickly covers up any battlefield. His goal is to expose the hidden marks of war on the landscape.

In another series, he documents palaces in Iraq that were bombed and occupied by American forces, who changed the places to fit their needs, illustrating a clash of civilizations. So much of his work is so poetic, almost painterly, it's easy to forget they're documentary photos.

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Hayv Kahraman's paintings and sculptures are rooted in her childhood in Iraq and her experience as an immigrant. Formally, she's influenced by a host of art historical traditions, from 13th-century Baghdadi illuminated manuscripts to Italian Renaissance paintings.

In the "Sonic Shield" series, striking portraits of women are marked by a pattern of cut or raised "X" marks. Even without knowing these are references to the sounds of war sirens she remembers from her childhood, it's clear that conflict around bodies, female in particular, is the subject. Through the lens of her memory and personal experience, Kahraman effectively explores gender politics, identity, personal history and displacement.

Pierre Dorion's work deals with the present  the space within which his work is shown. His photo-based compositions on the third floor will be immediately recognizable to anyone who has visited the lower level of The School. He renders corners of the building into almost minimalist abstractions. Dorion's work may lack the emotional power of others in the show, but his spare paintings can offer a respite from some of the heavier content.

These four solo shows could easily justify four separate reviews, as there's certainly plenty to discuss about each one. The connections between each of them is just a starting point.

Amy Griffin is a frequent contributor to the Times Union. 1amygriffin1@gmail.com.
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Cohoes

Sometimes a tragedy is just a tragedy. We can't prevent them all.

But when a pedestrian is killed by a car, bad road design is often a contributing factor, whether the street is Central Avenue through Albany and Colonie, Hoosick Street in Troy, Van Rensselaer Boulevard in Menands, or Cohoes Boulevard.

Cohoes Boulevard, otherwise known as Route 787, is where Brittany Knight, 16, was hit and killed Thursday evening as she made her way home. The precise cause of the collision at Bridge Avenue has yet to be determined, but this much is clear: The high-school sophomore died at an insanely dangerous intersection.

More Information Contact Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse

"It's a four-lane highway that kids are crossing," said Randy Koniowka, a Cohoes City Council member who described the road as a "nightmare" for residents of the city's Van Schaick Island.

Many towns and cities have a highway slicing through them, but few are regularly crossed by pedestrians, as is the case with 787 in Cohoes. Even worse, the highway divides densely populated Van Schaick from the city's downtown.

That means if kids from the island cross the highway if they walk to the city's high or middle school, library, and community center. (There are no school buses.) Koniowka, a 1996 graduate of Cohoes High School, grew up doing just that.

"We all did it," Koniowka told me Friday. "It's easy to say, 'Hey dad, I'm walking up to the center.' But who would want their kid crossing this?"

Koniowka and I were standing at the side of fast-moving 787 as he spoke. We then attempted to cross the road at the Bridge Avenue intersection, just as many island residents do daily. It was no easy task; even when we were signaled to walk, cars and trucks turned right into our path and just narrowly missed us.

"We've got the right of way," Koniowka said, "but they're still coming."

Some of that was driver rudeness, pure and simple. But Cohoes residents have been concerned about dangers of the state-managed road for years.

Bud Hallock was lobbying for a safer crossing way back in 2000, after a string of pedestrian deaths along the road. In the cruelest of ironies, his own son, 14-year-old Michael, was hit and killed by a cargo van at the intersection a short time later.

For Bud and his wife, Cathy, the tragedy on Thursday was a terrible echo of their own  and an infuriating reminder that not enough has changed along the highway, despite their years-long push for a pedestrian bridge. Late in 2014, 53-year-old Nyla Jordan was also killed as she crossed the roadway.

"Who is going to be next?" Bud Hallock asked. "It's a bad intersection, but everybody just sweeps it under the rug until the next thing happens."

Changes were made to the road after Michael Hallock's death. Most notably, the speed limit was lowered from 55 mph to 45 mph and the road was coined a "boulevard"  a name change that, somewhat ridiculously, was supposed to signal to drivers that they shouldn't treat the road like a highway.

Few get the message. The lower speed limit is routinely ignored.

"It was designed to be a highway, and it looks like a highway," Koniowka said. "It is a highway, no matter what they call it."

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Route 787 is an extension of Interstate 787, the highway now widely acknowledged as a colossal mistake, given the damage it does to the Hudson waterfront and the communities through which it passes.

The mistake should be fixed. From Albany to Cohoes, 787 should be reconstructed as a ground-level boulevard with slower traffic and frequent, safe pedestrian crossings. It's the infrastructure project the Capital Region needs most.

But that project won't happen soon, if ever, and Cohoes needs a quicker fix: A pedestrian bridge or a redesign that dramatically slows the river of cars.

"Running a highway through the middle of your city is dangerous," Cohoes Mayor Shawn Morse said at a press conference Friday. "787 is a problem and it's got to be addressed. We're not going to take any more excuses."

The Hallocks still live near the intersection where their son was killed. Bud Hallock said he drives through the intersection two or three times daily and never fails to think about his son.

That's hardly a cheerful thought for Father's Day, I know. But what if we use the occasion to acknowledge that this father was right about the intersection all those years ago?

We can't prevent all tragedies. We know that. But we can prevent some.

cchurchill@timesunion.com  518-454-5442  @chris_churchill
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Albany

Roger and Maria Markovics met in 1969 during a student rent strike when they were graduate students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

"How romantic," she deadpanned.

"Well, I only got roped into the rent strike action because I was late," he said.

More Information Contact Paul Grondahl at 518-454-5623 or email pgrondahl@timesunion.com See More Collapse

"You're still always late," she said with a chuckle.

Now both 71, the inseparable duo, the public face of tenant rights and a persistent force for social justice across four decades, has retired.

They were so joined in their mission that some clients jokingly called them by a single name, Rogermaria.

Co-directors of the United Tenants of Albany, which they founded in 1973, they will be honored at the advocacy group's annual meeting on Thursday. The couple, who stepped down June 1, will also welcome the group's new executive director, Erin Reale.

"They have lived their work," said Reale, who started working with the couple in 2006 as an intern while a College of Saint Rose student. "They are absolutely committed to helping tenants and community organizing. They humble themselves on a daily basis."

They are also unrepentant hippies. She goes barefoot around the office at 33 Clinton Ave., near the Palace Theatre, forever misplacing her sandals.

He speaks in mellow tones, strokes a silvery soul patch, and opines so softly one needs to lean in to hear his gentle persuasion.

They drive a 2002 Ford Focus with 95,000 miles on the odometer and live in the same Myrtle Avenue row house in the Mansion Neighborhood they bought for $7,000 in 1977. They raised two sons, Albany High School graduates, and have one grandchild with a second on the way.

"I don't know if we're hippies," she said. "I'd say we're '60s people who never grew up."

"We can't be hippies because we're not musical at all," he said. "And we didn't go to Woodstock."

Markovics graduated from Siena College in 1967 and became a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, which brought him back to Albany for his service requirement. Bishop Emeritus Howard Hubbard, then a street priest in the city's South End, hired the couple in 1971 at Providence House, a crisis center he ran. Both had master's degrees in social work and were enthusiastic community organizers. Hubbard and the couple have been friends and collaborators ever since.

"They remained committed to serving the poor and living a simple lifestyle for the long run, compared to others who came of age in the '60s and moved on to other things," Hubbard said. "They have always cared for the least among us."

The respect is mutual.

The couple said they were early on influenced by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez as well as the now-retired bishop.

"Bishop Hubbard is my hero," Maria Markovics said.

"Many people of my generation had a moment that helped define them and went onto other things, but Roger and Maria stuck with it," said Jack McEneny, a former Peace Corps volunteer and retired Albany Assemblyman. He graduated from Siena in 1965 and knew Markovics casually in college.

McEneny had a front-row seat when United Tenants battled his boss, Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd, over lax code enforcement that left low-income families, particularly blacks in the South End and Arbor Hill, living in deplorable conditions.

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"They clashed with the mayor on real, grass-roots issues and pushed landlords to do the right thing, but they always stayed away from political attacks," McEneny said. "They are true believers who stayed the course."

The couple started United Tenants of Albany 43 years ago with no money, a small cadre of volunteers and a mantra that they wanted to make the city "a better place to live" and "we can't do it alone."

Their community organizing skills helped build an organization that now has five employees and an annual budget of $350,000, which comes from federal, state and private foundation grants. The largest and most consistent financial supporter has been Catholic Charities. United Tenants of Albany helps thousands of clients each year, 60 percent of whom are working poor, while 30 percent are on disability or fixed incomes and 10 percent are homeless.

"Roger and Maria are dedicated, they care about people and they've never changed," said Cynthia Temple, a homeless prevention counselor who has worked with the couple for 26 years. "They have always stood up and fought for poor people. Unfortunately, the problem just keeps getting worse."

There is currently a waiting list of 5,000 households for federally subsidized Section 8 housing and 9,000 for public housing in the Capital Region, about half of them in Albany, Reale said.

"The problem is the economic disparity between the haves and have-notes is widening, the middle class is getting squeezed and the number of poor people is growing," Roger Markovics said.

The couple rented their first apartment in the South End of Albany in 1970 for $65 a month when their combined salary was $6,000, meaning their rent was less than 20 percent of their income. Today, a majority of their clients are paying more than 50 percent of their income  and up to 80 percent in some cases  for monthly rent.

"The rent is too damn high," she said, quoting the political party of the same name and its effusive perennial candidate Jimmy McMillan.

"Yeah, too damn high," her husband echoed.
The United States of America, known lovingly as the "land of opportunity," is not so if we deny our workers their basic rights. This is true for any profession, including farm work. As this year's legislative session comes to a close, it is essential that lawmakers enact the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act to right the gross injustices that linger in modern-day working laws.

Overtime pay, compensation for injury, a designated day of rest  all of these are rights that workers in other industries across New York tend to take for granted. In a physically laborious field like farm work, they are all the more important. But these seemingly basic rights  and numerous others  are denied to the more than 80,000 farmworkers in New York state.
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As usual, business wants business as usual. The Business Council of New York has come out against Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan for 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. They warn of dire consequences to "the people" of New York if this push for renewables goes forward while decrying environmentalists for using fear tactics.

People will move out, they say. Not to worry, people, New York is only No. 7 in residential solar. Our neighbors in Massachusetts and New Jersey are beating us handily.
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[June 15, 2016] Covalon Signs Distribution Agreement with Medline

Covalon Technologies Ltd. (the "Company" or "Covalon") (TSXV: COV), an advanced medical technologies company, today announced that it has signed a distribution agreement with Medline Industries Inc. ("Medline"), the largest privately held medical distributor in the United States, whereby Medline will be distributing Covalon-branded products, including IV Clear, SurgiClear, and ColActive Plus product lines into its extensive United States customer base. "Hospital and clinic demand for IV Clear and SurgiClear has largely been the driver behind this opportunity with Medline," said Brian Pedlar, Covalon's Chief Executive Officer. "We expect to see increased sales of our products through this channel in the United States, and fully expect to grow our customer base of leading cancer treatment centers, pediatric hospitals, and wound care clinics because of our products' improved availability." Products distributed by Medline can be found in most hospitals, extended-care facilities, surgery centers, physician offices, home care dealers, home health agencies, and retail outlets in the United States. Medline leads the market in more than a dozen major medical product categories, including skin care, operating room kits, surgical trays, and advanced wound care. As a result, many of the departments within healthcare institutions already have purchasing relationships with Medline which allows for a seamless procurement process for purchasing Covalon's products. "Our new distribution relationship with Medline significantly expands the reach of our products within the United States market," said John R. Hands, Executive Vice President at Covalon. "Medline's position of strength in categories that complement our products makes for an obvious fit, and we are very excited about the growth potential thatthis opportunity represents. We have been steadily building on the awareness and distribution capabilities of our products within the US market and we intend to take full advantage of Medline's specialized distribution programs to connect with their hospital, surgery center, nursing home, and home health agency customers."



Covalon offers infection management and advanced wound management dressings for both acute and chronic wounds, and is the only provider of a dual antimicrobial silicone adhesive technology used in its IV Clear and SurgiClear brands. Both of these product lines offer superior efficacy in helping to prevent infections and medical adhesive skin injuries, while providing total insertion or incision site visibility to the healthcare provider. About Covalon

Covalon Technologies Ltd. researches, develops and commercializes new healthcare technologies that help save lives around the world. Covalon's patented technologies, products and services address the advanced healthcare needs of medical device companies, healthcare providers and individual consumers. Covalon's technologies are used to prevent, detect and manage medical conditions in specialty areas such as wound care, tissue repair, infection control, disease management, medical device coatings and biocompatibility. To learn more about Covalon, visit our website at www.covalon.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan, "estimate", "expect", "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, including the difficulty in predicting product approvals, acceptance of and demands for new products, the impact of the products and pricing strategies of competitors, delays in developing and launching new products, the regulatory environment, fluctuations in operating results and other risks, any of which could cause results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Many risks are inherent in the industry; others are more specific to the Company. Investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly filings for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, further events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615005167/en/

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[June 15, 2016] Fitch Rates $234MM Virginia College Building Authority Ed Facilities Rev Rfdg Bonds 'AA+'

Fitch Ratings has assigned a 'AA+' rating to the Virginia College Building Authority (VCBA) Educational Facilities Revenue Refunding Bonds (Public Higher Education Financing Program) Series 2016A Bonds. The bonds are expected to sell competitively on or about June 21, 2016. In addition, Fitch has affirmed the 'AA+' rating on the VCBA's outstanding Public Higher Education Financing Program, educational facilities revenue and revenue refunding bonds. The Rating Outlook is Stable. SECURITY Public Higher Education Financing Program (pooled financing program) bonds are limited obligations of the VCBA, payable from a pledge of public higher education institutions' general revenues under institutional notes with VCBA. The VCBA assigns its rights to the notes to the trustee for the bonds. A statutory intercept enhances the credit quality of the bonds and is the basis for the rating. KEY RATING DRIVERS RATING BASED ON (News - Alert) COMMONWEALTH INTERCEPT: The 'AA+' rating, one notch below the Commonwealth of Virginia's 'AAA' Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR), reflects the statutory requirement to intercept available commonwealth appropriations to individual public higher education institutions. Virtually all revenues of the public higher education institutions are appropriated and therefore available for intercept, including commonwealth direct aid and student tuition and fees. STRONG COMMONWEALTH APPROPRIATIONS COVERAGE: For each public higher education institution participating in the pooled financing program, historical interceptable commonwealth appropriations covers maximum annual debt service (MADS) by no less than 10x. The scope of appropriations available for intercept is extremely broad. Intercepted appropriations for one institution are not available to satisfy obligations for another institution. STRUCTURAL TIMING PROTECTIONS FOR INTERCEPT: Under the indenture, the authority's rights in the notes are assigned to the trustee for the bonds. The due dates for the notes are set at least 15 days in advance of debt service. This provides sufficient time for the intercept mechanism to provide for debt service on the VCBA bonds. RATING SENSITIVITIES COMMONWEALTH CREDIT QUALITY: The rating is sensitive to changes in Virginia's IDR, to which this rating is linked. INTERCEPT PROGRAM MECHANICS: The rating is also sensitive to changes in the statutes or administrative procedures governing the commonwealth public higher education intercept program and trends in public higher education appropriations. Additionally, each institution's interceptable appropriations must continue to provide adequate coverage of its own note payments. CREDIT PROFILE Virginia Code section 23-30.29:3 establishes the intercept mechanism. Appropriations due to public higher education institutions must be redirected to bond paying agents or trustees to cover note payments used to pay debt service on pooled financing program bonds. The statute and interagency documents between the VCBA, the public higher education institutions, and the trustee require that the trustee notify the governor of any failure of an institution to make payments on its institutional notes. These payments are assigned to the trustee under the indenture and due no later than 15 days before the debt service payment dates. The governor shall immediately investigate whether there has been a default on the notes. If default is confirmed, the governor immediately shall order the state comptroller to intercept appropriations for that institution and remit them to the trustee to cover any missed institutional note payments. All institutional notes for any defaulting institutions are paid directly by the state comptroller from appropriations goin forward.



Virtually all of an institution's revenues are available for the intercept, including both state aid and tuition and fee charges. Only gift and endowment income are excluded from interceptable appropriations. Appropriations are either commonwealth general fund (direct aid) or non-general fund. General fund revenues are distributed on an equal semi-monthly basis for the largest institutions, while other institutions receive distributions based on historical spending patterns. Non-general fund revenue are either collected directly by the institutions, or transferred to institutions as collected by the commonwealth. Revenues collected directly by the institutions are not held by the commonwealth but still considered appropriations and therefore subject to the intercept mechanism until they are spent by the institutions. Historical state appropriations provide ample coverage of MADS for the bonds. Each institution's appropriations are available solely for its own debt service payments and provide robust coverage. Estimated pro-forma MADS coverage from the five year average of state appropriations (fiscal 2011 - 2016 [budgeted]) ranges from approximately 10x - 269x. Coverage will improve following the series 2016A financing which is a refunding for debt service savings and no maturity extension.

For local school district intercept enhancement programs, Fitch views 1.25x as the minimum MADS coverage to apply the enhancement. The commonwealth has significant responsibility for higher education, but has also occasionally cut its direct aid for higher education more drastically than local school aid. Accordingly, Fitch views 1.75x - 2x as the minimum level of pro-forma MADS coverage from historical appropriations for the credit enhancement to apply for pooled financing program bonds issued for Virginia public higher education institutions. Institution note and debt service dates are aligned to ensure sufficient available interceptable revenues. The August 15 note due date and September 1 principal and interest payment date is shortly after tuition and fees are due to public higher education institutions, providing a sizable coverage cushion from both general fund and non-general fund appropriations. The February 15 note due date and March 1 interest only payment date comes four months before the fiscal year end with generally one third of general fund appropriations still available for intercept, in addition to any unspent non-general fund appropriations. For background on the commonwealth's general credit, please see Fitch's press release 'Fitch Rates $300MM VA Commonwealth Transportation Board Revs 'AA+'; Affirms 'AAA' Commonwealth GOs,' dated April 21, 2016 and available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. In addition to the sources of information identified in the U.S. Tax-Supported Rating Criteria this action was additionally informed by information from CreditScope. Applicable Criteria U.S. Tax-Supported Rating Criteria (pub. 18 Apr 2016)

https://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=879478 Additional Disclosures Dodd-Frank Rating Information Disclosure Form

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https://www.fitchratings.com/jsp/creditdesk/PolicyRegulation.faces?context=2&detail=31 ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE 'WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM'. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615006500/en/

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Leaders Discuss "Shaping the New Continuum of Care" with Nashville Health Care Council

Today, the Nashville Health Care Council hosted a panel of experts from start-ups and established organizations to discuss how they are innovating care delivery as the industry shifts to create a new continuum of patient care. More than 350 members attended the event.

Guest speakers included Michael Burcham, founder and CEO, Narus Health; Paul Kusserow, president and CEO, Amedisys; Travis Messina, CEO, Contessa Health; and Wright Pinson, M.D., CEO, Vanderbilt Health System and Deputy CEO/Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The discussion was moderated by David Gruber, M.D., managing director and director of research, Alvarez & Marsal Health Care Industry Group.

View evnt photos on Flickr.









Central to the discussion was the use of technology and data to enable a more efficient system of care. As organizations innovate from within or partner with organizations to prepare for the future, there is great potential for companies who are able to collect and effectively interpret data within the health care system.

"When we do the right thing for the patient, the outcomes are better. To do this, we must collect good data and solve problems to achieve interoperability," Kusserow said. "Data is the key. In my experience, payers are in the best position to do this because they have the most data; but the translation into coordinated execution needs work. There is opportunity for outside players from the provider side to help in this execution."

"Contessa places tremendous emphasis on support services for providers, whether that be assisting with the interpretation of data or managing the patient's episode of care. By adding that level of support, providers can efficiently develop patient specific protocols and ultimately have more time to engage with the patient," said Messina, whose start-up company Contessa Health manages home hospitalization programs.

Vanderbilt has recently created an affiliated network to actively collaborate to provide patients with high-quality, coordinated and cost-effective health care services throughout Tennessee and seven surrounding states.

"Through our network partnerships, we are using big data to engage with patients and track results on a larger scale to provide better care," Pinson said. "There is also huge potential for medical breakthroughs as we create personalized care through genomics data."

Patient and caregiver engagement will be an increased focus as the industry faces caring for an aging population and meeting the needs of the millennial generation. Burcham, a serial entrepreneur and health care industry veteran, pointed out that Nashville's legacy is centered on delivery services, and to stay competitive, companies will need to become technology-enabled service providers.

"Engaging the consumer is about context and presence. We must pay attention to tidal wave trends, such as social media, mobile access and generational shifts that will shape the way people will receive care in the future," Burcham said.

"There is great opportunity for us as a community to affect culture and understanding for the betterment of the population's health," Pinson said.

"Innovations that are developed here in Nashville by startups and large companies alike will have an impact on patient care across the nation," said Hayley Hovious, Council president. "The Council is proud to host discussion such as these, in order to arm our members with information on the most current trends that are changing the industry."

The presenting sponsor for today's program was Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Supporting sponsors were Bass, Berry & Sims, National HealthCare Corporation, and North Highland.

About the Nashville Health Care Council

The Nashville Health Care Council is a premier association of health care industry leaders working together to further establish Nashville's position as the nation's health care industry capital. Supported by nearly 300 corporate members, the Council serves as a trusted source for information on trends that influence the health care industry. The organization provides members with one-of-a-kind networking opportunities and access to Nashville's elite health care business community.

Worldwide, Nashville's health care industry generates more than 500,000 jobs and $73 billion in annual revenue. The industry is Nashville's largest and fastest-growing employer. For more information on the Council, please visit www.healthcarecouncil.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160614006457/en/
[June 15, 2016] Rgenix Announces $33 Million Series B Financing to Develop First-in-Class Cancer Therapeutics

Rgenix, a cancer therapeutics company developing first-in-class drugs targeting novel cancer pathways, announced a $33 million Series B financing led by Novo A/S and Sofinnova Partners, with participation from existing investors including Partnership Fund for New York City, Alexandria Venture Investments, and Conegliano Ventures LP. The financing will support clinical development of Rgenix's lead drug candidates, RGX-104 and RGX-202, as well as further development of its therapeutics pipeline. "We are thrilled to have attracted top-tier investors to advance development of our novel cancer therapeutics," said Masoud Tavazoie, M.D. Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Rgenix. "This financing validates the potential of our lead immunotherapy RGX-104, which will be entering clinical trials this fall, and also demonstrates the strength of our discovery platform, developed in the laboratory of Rgenix co-founder Dr. Sohail Tavazoie at The Rockefeller University. The funding will enable our team to deliver an innovative therapy to cancer patients while simultaneously pushing forward our pipeline of other novel drug candidates." Antoine Papiernik, Managing Partner at Sofinnova Partners, commented: "We are very excited to back such a high quality team at Rgenix. We also believe that RGX-104 could revolutionize treatment to cancer patients that today lack effective therapies." Despite recent advances in cancer therapy, most patients will eventually succumb to their disease due to drug resistance and immune evasion. RGX-104 is a small molecule that reverses immune evasion and drug resistance by targeting immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment via a novel pathway, resulting in strong anti-tumor activity in several drug-resistant cancer types in pre-clinical models, both as a single agent and in combination with approved immunotherapies such as PD-1 inhibitors. The target of RGX-104 was discovered using Rgenix's miRNA platform that has yielded several new cancer targets across multiple prevalent cancer types. "We are excited to support Rgenix's novel approach to treating cancers of high unmet need," said Nilesh Kumar, Senior Principal of Novo entures*. "Rgenix has an exciting platform founded on strong science from The Rockefeller University; the lead program is a first in class opportunity addressing a key mechanism in tumor immunosuppression in various cancer types."



In connection with the financing, Nilesh Kumar of Novo Ventures and Antoine Papiernik of Sofinnova Partners will join the Rgenix Board of Directors together with existing members, including Executive Chairman Eric Rowinsky, M.D., Masoud Tavazoie, M.D. Ph.D., Nancy Chang, Ph.D., and Saeed Tavazoie, Ph.D. About Rgenix

Rgenix is a privately-held cancer therapeutics company focused on the discovery and development of novel cancer drugs that target key pathways in cancer progression. Using a miRNA based target discovery platform developed by Rgenix scientific co-founders at The Rockefeller University, the company is developing several first-in-class drug candidates to treat cancers of high unmet need. The company brings together distinguished scientific founders and a leadership team with a seasoned Board comprised of experienced drug developers. The company is funded by leading biotechnology investors, including Novo A/S, Sofinnova Partners, and Alexandria Venture Investments. For more information, please visit www.rgenix.com. About Novo A/S Novo A/S, a private Danish limited liability company fully owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, is the holding company in the Novo Group, a family of independent companies wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Novo A/S is responsible for managing the Foundation's assets, which are currently valued at more than $53 billion. Besides being the major shareholder in the Novo Group companies, Novo A/S provides seed and venture capital to development stage companies and takes significant ownership positions in well-established companies within life science, as well as manages a broad portfolio of financial assets. Their teams of scientific and commercial experts actively support their portfolio of projects and companies, and manage a range of financial investments. For further information, visit www.novo.dk. * Novo Ventures (US) Inc. is a separate legal entity that provides consultancy services to Novo A/S, mainly within the areas of identifying, analyzing and negotiating various investment opportunities among life science and biotech companies in the US as well as certain follow-up activities related thereto, such as board memberships, financial control and reporting efforts. About Sofinnova Partners Sofinnova Partners is a leading European venture capital firm specialized in Life Sciences. Based in Paris, France, the firm brings together 12 highly experienced investment professionals from all over Europe, the US and China. The firm focuses on paradigm shifting technologies alongside visionary entrepreneurs. Sofinnova Partners seeks to invest as a founding and lead investor in start-ups and corporate spin-offs, and has backed nearly 500 companies over more than 40 years, creating market leaders around the globe. Today, Sofinnova Partners has over 1.5 billion under management. For more information, please visit: www.sofinnova.fr. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615005338/en/

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[June 15, 2016] Notifications are More Likely to Bring Traffic Than E-mails: WebEngage

MUMBAI, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- E-commerce giants unanimously agree that more than 50% of their transactions happen on mobile devices and the figure is expected to reach more than 70% by 2019. Amid the advent of cheap data plans, increasing broadband connections and plummeting prices of mobile devices, the users' engagement on mobile is higher than yesterday. Reflecting on this latest trend and the rapid growth in the mobile sector, WebEngage recently hosted a panel discussion on 'Mobile Growth'. The panelists included Avlesh Singh - CEO of WebEngage, Zishaan Hayath - CEO of Toppr, Nischal Shetty - CEO of Crowdfire and Sidharth Verma - CEO of Beewise among others. They stressed on the need to not stop relying on organic channels who give 100% authentic users rather than pricey channels who may give unsustainable rocket growth. Avlesh Singh highlighted, "In this era, it is not only imperative to have mobile traffic but actually have the ability of traffic retention. It is easy to see big numbers in app downloads but due to lack of retention, some apps see 99% drops. Push notification have higher engagement rates than SMSs or e-mails because they lead to a consistent app experience where you can implement user-friendly forms, gather feedback or form other ways of interacting."



The event also engaged with the delegates to discuss on the lack of meaningful engagement that most entrepreneurs face. All engagement programs today revolve around reaching out to users and only a few are concerned about the right approach to reach out. Zishan Hayath said, "Essentially, today we are not communicating with our audience, but we are bombarding them with a monologue." Nischal Shetty agreed saying, "Keep the app experience as intuitive as possible such that there is absolutely no need of onboarding." Bringing together more than 100 entrepreneurs, marketers and techies from the Mumbai startup community, the event was held in association with Silicon Valley based firm Branchmetrics.

About WebEngage: WebEngage is a multi-channel user engagement platform which automates communication across users' life-cycle. It enables you to connect through channels namely web messages (notification, survey and feedback), In-App Messages, push notifications, emails and text messages. Going steady on the mission to humanize all of the world's websites and mobile apps, WebEngage is assisting thousands of customers in 50+ countries. From enterprises like eBay, Lynda, Sendgrid, Snapdeal, MakeMyTrip, Avaya, Souq, etc. to thousands of startups worldwide, WebEngage is helping them 'Engage, Retain and Grow'. It was launched in October 2011 by techie duo, Avlesh and Ankit, who had earlier worked together at Burrp - India's first restaurant discovery platform. For more information, visit: https://webengage.com/ Media Contact:

Safaque Afzal

[email protected]

+91-9833841840

Pressmate PR





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[June 15, 2016] Marketing Innovators Partners with American Express Serve to Simplify Corporate Disbursements for Clients

ROSEMONT, Ill., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- American Express Serve and Marketing Innovators, a leading global incentive company, today announced they will partner to enable clients of Marketing Innovators to easily disburse payments, commissions, incentives, rewards, and expense reimbursements. Through this new disbursement program, clients will now have an easy tool that allows participants in their programs to independently register to receive payments or awards in an American Express Serve Account. Subsequently, participants can spend their American Express Serve Account funds anywhere American Express Cards are accepted online and offline, withdraw funds from an ATM, pay bills online, or transfer funds. "We work with companies to help create a better experience for each touch point in the life-cycle of their employees from recruitment to retirement. Our new disbursements program allows our clients to reduce administration, control budgets and automate defined payouts for a variety of engagement and people initiatives." said Richard Blabolil, President of Marketing Innovators. Through our partnership with American Express Serve and using our new MIFunds platform, we're providing an easier and more seamless way for our clients to administer disbursements that will benefit internal workflows and boost brand experiences." "We're pleased to work with Marketing Innovators to help their clients distribute awards, incentives, and other types of payments," said Stefan Happ, executive vice president, Alternative Payments, American Express. "With American Express Serve, those on the receiving end of disbursements will be able to manage their Account online or via an app and will also enjoy a number of benefits from American Express, including special discounts and offers, Fraud Protection in the event the Card is lost or stolen, and 24/7 customer service." MIFunds Platform Marketing Innovators recently launched the MIFunds platform which allows program sponsors to pay out disbursements determined by client coordinators, approvers, and administrators. The technology allows for simple and quick disbursement options that support rapid payouts, eliminate manual management, and minimize financial mishaps. As a SaaS funds disbursement and management platform MIFunds simplifies payment processes for organizations. Aiming to revolutionize the traditional payments to channel partners, independentcontractors, and employees, MIFunds takes data collections, regulatory time and cost burdens off payers while providing recipients secure self-service options for receiving their money.



American Express Serve American Express Serve is a reloadable prepaid debit Account offering free early direct deposit1, free online bill pay, free ATM withdrawals at over 24,000 MoneyPassATM locations2, plus tools to help customers manage their money.

In addition to receiving incentives or awards in their Account, Account holders will be able move their funds in a number of ways. They can use Direct Deposit, add checks using a mobile phone,3 link a debit card or add money from a bank account4 and load cash at thousands of locations including CVS/pharmacy and Dollar General, Family Dollar, Rite Aid, Walmart and participating 7-ELEVEN locations. They can also pay bills, buy groceries, shop online, and send and receive money between family and friends with Serve Accounts. To learn more about serve, visit https://www.americanexpress.com/serve/. To learn more about Marketing Innovators and the MIFunds platform, visit http://www.marketinginnovators.com/mifunds-disbursement-platform. Marketing Innovators Marketing Innovators is an incentive house providing solutions and services to enhance employee experiences throughout the lifecycle of an employee. For more than 38 years, MI helps organizations develop and deploy effective people performance management strategies including: program consultation, fully integrated solutions that include award platform administration and fulfillment and flexible and scalable state-of-the-art technology. Marketing Innovators is one of Chicago's largest privately owned firms and is a trusted partner to Fortune 500 and private 2000 companies striving to inspire employees to outstanding performance. The company's founder and owner, Lois LeMenager, has been recognized for her leadership and commitment to mentoring women in the business world. As a result, Marketing Innovators has been recognized in Crain's Chicago Business as one of Chicago's largest woman-owned firms. Faster access compared to standard payday electronic deposit and subject to your employer submitting paycheck information to the bank before payday. Your employer may not submit paycheck information early. serve.com/atm Data rates may apply. You can add money to your Serve Account from your checking or savings account by initiating a transfer from your bank into your Serve Account. Consult with your bank for origination fees that may apply. MEDIA CONTACT

McKenzie Stephens

Solutions Strategist

Marketing Innovators International, Inc.

9701 W. Higgins Road, Suite 400

Rosemont, IL 60018-4717

847.692.0772 (direct)

847.696.3194 (fax)

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marketing-innovators-partners-with-american-express-serve-to-simplify-corporate-disbursements-for-clients-300285125.html SOURCE Marketing Innovators

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Genting Hong Kong to Provide Star Cruises Brand Guests with Industry Leading Fleet Connectivity from Harris CapRock

Genting Corporate Services (HK) Limited has selected Harris CapRock Communications (HCC) to transform communication services onboard the Star Cruises' fleet of six ships. Star Cruises is one of the largest cruise lines in the world and is the leading cruise line in the Asia Pacific region.

Harris CapRock (News - Alert) will use its advanced technologies and equipment to boost bandwidth nearly 300% onboard Star Cruises' Superstar Virgo, Superstar Gemini, Superstar Libra, Superstar Aquarius, Star Pisces and Taipan ships. The solution uses Harris CapRock's uncontended Time Divisional Multiple Access (TDMA) network. Unlike traditional TDMA networks, the uncontended network ensures access to committed bandwidth levels at all times, providing an innovation over conventional TDMA networks.

Star Cruises recognizes and caters to the unique needs of guests from the Asia Pacific region. For example, internet users in China spend five to six more hours online per week than Americans and an average of almost 90 minutes per day on social networks.* With this enterprising project, Star Cruises will satisfy guests' who desire premium connectivity and accompanying services.

*http://makeawebsitehub.com/chinese-social-media-statistics/







About Harris CapRock Communications (News - Alert)

Harris CapRock Communications is a premier global provider of managed satellite, terrestrial and wireless communications solutions for primarily the maritime and energy markets. Harris CapRock provides One Clear Path for its customers by utilizing a robust global infrastructure that includes teleports on six continents, five 24/7 customer support centers, a local presence in 24 countries and hundreds of global field service personnel supporting customer locations across North America, Central and South America, Europe, West Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific. Learn more at harriscaprock.com.

About Harris Corporation (News - Alert)

Harris Corporation is a leading technology innovator, solving our customers' toughest mission-critical challenges by providing solutions that connect, inform and protect. Harris supports customers in more than 125 countries, has approximately $8 billion in annual revenue and 22,000 employees worldwide. The company is organized into four business segments: Communication Systems, Space and Intelligence Systems, Electronic Systems, and Critical Networks. Learn more at harris.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615005945/en/
[June 15, 2016] Reynolds and Reynolds Announces New LAW Idaho F&I Library

DAYTON, Ohio, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Reynolds and Reynolds Company today announced the release of the Reynolds LAW Idaho F&I Library, which is a suite of standardized, legally reviewed finance and insurance (F&I) documents for the franchised new vehicle dealers throughout the state of Idaho. "Based on industry trends during the first half of 2016, we expect automotive retailers will continue to be challenged by the increased demands of regulation," said Jerry Kirwan, senior vice president and general manager of Reynolds Document Services. "Documents in the LAW Idaho F&I Library are regularly reviewed for compliance with the latest automotive regulations by Reynolds' industry-leading forms specialists alongside Reynolds' outside legal partners, helping dealers meet their compliance obligations and reduce their litigation risk." Kirwan also noted that this library of standardized documents is written in consumer-friendly language, which helps create a clearer, more efficient F&I process for the consumer. By increasing the efficiency of the F&I process, the overall consumer experience with the dealership can be improved. In addition, the LAW Idaho F&I libary also can help facilitate the conversion to laser-printed transactions or e-contracting, since the documents are available in both paper-based and electronic formats. Reynolds Document Services maintains licensing agreements with all major providers of electronic F&I (e-F&I) solutions.



About Reynolds LAW Brand Documents

Reynolds' LAW brand is well established as one of the most trusted brands in the automotive industry. LAW documents are available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and have been endorsed by a number of state automobile dealers associations and leading automotive finance institutions. The flagship product of the LAW brand is the Reynolds LAW 553 Universal Retail Installment Sale Contract, the most widely accepted document in auto finance. The Reynolds LAW 553 is available in a variety of languages and is regularly reviewed by industry experts to help keep pace with new legislative and regulatory developments.

Reynolds and Reynolds was founded in 1866 as a business forms printer. Since the 1920s, Reynolds has been known as the leader in serving automobile dealerships nationwide with standard and custom business and vehicle sales and service documents to help dealers manage their operations more efficiently and serve their customers more effectively. About Reynolds

Reynolds and Reynolds is a leading provider of automobile dealership software, services, and forms to help dealerships deliver better business results and transform the customer experience. The company is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with major operations in Houston and College Station, Texas, and Celina, Ohio.

(www.reyrey.com) To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reynolds-and-reynolds-announces-new-law-idaho-fi-library-300285269.html SOURCE The Reynolds and Reynolds Company

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[June 15, 2016] MagnaChip Announces Summary Notice Of Hearing And Proposed Derivative Settlement

SEOUL, South Korea and SAN JOSE, Calif., June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- MagnaChip Semiconductor Corporation ("MagnaChip" or the "Company") (NYSE: MX) today issued the following statement:







SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA

CURT HEMMINGSON and VIC

VANDEGRIFF, Derivatively on Behalf of

Nominal Defendant MAGNACHIP

SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION, Plaintiffs, v. MICHAEL ELKINS , TAE YOUNG HWANG,

RANDAL KLEIN , ILBOK LEE, BRIAN MULHERN, R. DOUGLAS NORBY,

SANG PARK, MARGARET SAKAI, NADER

TAVAKOLI and AVENUE CAPITAL

MANAGEMENT II, L.P., Defendants, and MAGNACHIP SEMICONDUCTOR

CORPORATION, Nominal Defendant. CASE NO.: 1-15-cv-278614



STEPHEN BUSHANSKY, Derivatively on Behalf of Nominal Defendant MAGNACHIP SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION, Plaintiff, v. R. DOUGLAS NORBY; MICHAEL ELKINS; RANDAL KLEIN; BRIAN MULHERN; NADER TAVAKOLI; ILBOK LEE; SANG PARK; MARGARET SAKAI, AVENUE CAPITAL GROUP; and DOES 1- 25, inclusive, Defendants, and MAGNACHIP SEMICONDUCTOR

CORPORATION, Nominal Defendant. CASE NO.: 1-15-cv-281284

SUMMARY NOTICE OF HEARING AND PROPOSED DERIVATIVE SETTLEMENT TO: ALL HOLDERS OF MAGNACHIP SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION ("MAGNACHIP" OR THE "COMPANY") COMMON STOCK AS OF JUNE 10, 2016, EXCLUDING THE INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANTS, THE AVENUE CAPITAL DEFENDANTS, AND EACH OF THEIR RELATED PERSONS ("CURRENT MAGNACHIP STOCKHOLDERS"). IF YOU HOLD MAGNACHIP COMMON STOCK FOR THE BENEFIT OF ANOTHER PERSON, PLEASE TRANSMIT THIS DOCUMENT TO SUCH BENEFICIAL OWNER. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ACTIONS ARE NOT "CLASS ACTIONS" AND NO INDIVIDUAL CURRENT MAGNACHIP STOCKHOLDER HAS THE RIGHT TO BE COMPENSATED AS A RESULT OF THIS SETTLEMENT. PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY. YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED. THIS NOTICE IS NOT AN EXPRESSION OF ANY OPINION BY THE COURT AS TO THE MERITS OF ANY CLAIMS OR DEFENSES IN THE ABOVE-CAPTIONED LAWSUITS. THE STATEMENTS IN THIS NOTICE ARE NOT FINDINGS OF THE COURT.

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that certain of the parties to the above-captioned actions (the "Actions") have entered into a Stipulation of Settlement (the "Stipulation") setting forth terms upon which the issues raised in the Actions will be fully and finally resolved (the "Settlement"). The Settlement will result in MagnaChip's directors' and officers' liability insurance carriers making a cash payment of three million dollars ($3,000,000.00) into an interest-bearing escrow account established for the purpose of satisfying the Settling Defendants' and MagnaChip's obligations. In addition, the Settlement will result in MagnaChip implementing and/or maintaining for a period of three (3) years certain corporate governance changes. The Settling Defendants have denied, and continue to deny, each and all of the claims and contentions alleged by Plaintiffs in the Actions. For a more detailed statement of the matters involved in the Action and the Settlement, the Stipulation may be inspected at the Clerk of the Court, Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, 191 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95113-1090, during regular business hours of each business day. In addition, the Stipulation is publicly available for viewing through the Company's website at http://investors.magnachip.com. PLEASE BE FURTHER ADVISED that pursuant to an Order of the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Santa Clara (the "Court"), a hearing (the "Settlement Hearing") will be held before the Honorable Peter H. Kirwan on October 7, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in Department 1 of the Court, located at 191 North First Street, San Jose, California 95113-1090, to: (i) determine whether the Settlement of the Actions on the terms and conditions provided for in the Stipulation is fair, reasonable and adequate, and should be finally approved by the Court; (ii) determine whether an Order and Final Judgment dismissing the Actions with prejudice should be entered pursuant to the Stipulation; (iii) consider Plaintiffs' Counsel's application for an award of attorneys' fees and expenses ("Fee and Expense Award"); and (iv) rule on such other matters as the Court may deem appropriate. At the Settlement Hearing, the Court will consider whether to grant final approval to the Settlement and the Fee and Expense Award. If any Current MagnaChip Stockholder wants to submit any papers, briefs or other documents objecting to the Settlement, not later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the Settlement Hearing, you must file with the Court: (i) a written notice of objection with your name, address, and telephone number, along with a representation as to whether you intend to appear at the Settlement Hearing; (ii) competent evidence that you held shares of MagnaChip common stock as of June 10, 2016, and that you continue to hold shares of MagnaChip common stock as of the date of the Settlement Hearing; (iii) a statement of your objections to any matters before the Court, the grounds therefor or the reasons for your desiring to appear and be heard, as well as all documents or writings you desire the Court to consider; and (iv) the identities of any witness you plan on calling at the Settlement Hearing, along with a summary description of their likely testimony. In addition, on or before the date of such filing, you must also serve the same documents via first class mail or overnight delivery upon each of the following: The Court Clerk of the Court

Superior Court of California

County of Santa Clara

191 North First Street

San Jose, CA 95113 Counsel for Plaintiffs Hemmingson and Vandegriff KESSLER, TOPAZ, MELTZER & CHECK, LLP

Attn: Eric L. Zagar

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087 Counsel for the Company and the Settling Defendants PAUL, WEISS, RIFKIND, WHARTON & GARRISON LLP

Attn: Daniel J. Kramer, Jacqueline P. Rubin & Meredith A. Arfa

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019-6064 JONES DAY

Attn: John C. Tang

555 California Street, 26th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94104 AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP

Attn: Douglass B. Maynard & Michael A. Asaro

One Bryant Park

Bank of America Tower

New York, NY 10036 KASOWITZ BENSON TORRES & FRIEDMAN LLP

Attn: Daniel J. Fetterman & Trevor J. Welch

1633 Broadway

New York, NY 10019 KOBRE & KIM LLP

Attn: Michael S. Kim & Kimberly Perrotta Cole

800 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10022 The Settling Parties shall have the right, but are not required to, submit a response to any objections to the Settlement not later than seven (7) calendar days prior to the Settlement Hearing. If you do not want to submit any papers, briefs or other documents objecting to the Settlement, you may nevertheless object to the Settlement by appearing in person at the Settlement Hearing and providing competent evidence that you held shares of MagnaChip common stock as of June 10, 2016, and that you continue to hold shares of MagnaChip common stock as of the date of the Settlement Hearing. If you fail to object in the manner prescribed above you shall be deemed to have waived your right to object (including the right to appeal) and shall forever be barred, in this proceeding or in any other proceeding, from raising such objection(s). PLEASE DO NOT TELEPHONE THE COURT OR MAGNACHIP REGARDING THIS NOTICE CONTACT:

Robert Pursel

Director of Investor Relations

Tel. +1-408-625-1262

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/magnachip-announces-summary-notice-of-hearing-and-proposed-derivative-settlement-300285143.html SOURCE MagnaChip Semiconductor Corporation

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How many times have you posted or shared a photo on social media that wasnt yours? Perhaps it was of a nice sunset, or an inspirational quote. Maybe you were even in the photo, but it was taken by someone else. In all of these instances you would not own copyright to the image and, if it were re-posted without proper credit or payment, it could get you in a lot of trouble. At times, crediting a photographer may not even be enough to bypass copyright infringement.

Header image: Danny Brown at Beyond the Valley 2014 by Brandon John

Copyright laws are becoming increasingly important to enforce, as technology is making it easier than ever to reproduce someone elses work. You might have infringed copyright laws without even knowing, and it can not only have legal implications, but also undermine a photographers job and the work they produce. I promise not to bore you with an in-depth factual account of the technicalities of copyright (although it does need to be mentioned at some point), but instead provide you with a guide to posting photos on social media and a reminder of the severe consequences of stealing intellectual property.

Melbourne photographer Michelle Grace Hunder recently had one of her images of Danny Brown posted by the US rapper himself, to an audience of 349 thousand Twitter followers.

An exciting moment for Michelle, right? Well, it should have been. Instead, Michelle was robbed of her euphoric moment and ownership of her image. Danny shared the photo without crediting her, meaning Michelle had no idea that her work had been stolen until Twitter users made her aware of the post. Luckily, Michelle is a well-known music photographer, so others were able to recognise her work immediately.

The image was receiving a great deal of exposure, but it all went to waste as none of that exposure was given to Michelle. Apart from a handful of her followers, no one knew who took the image.

Dealing with this on a weekly basis for over five years, Michelle was fed up with her work being stolen and took a stand. Lauren Ziegler, editor of Howl & Echoes (the publication Michelle shot that image for), engaged with Danny Brown via Twitter, asking for the image to be properly credited  not demanding compensation, simply requesting that Michelles name to be placed alongside her own work.

What happened next was something Michelle  a huge fan of Dannys  had never experienced before. Rather than simply adding a tag to the post and apologising, Brown began a fiery (and allegedly alcohol-fuelled) Twitter rant.

Danny Brown, who was in the country touring with regional festival Groovin the Moo, then deleted Michelles photo and followed with a series of harsh tweets, including the one below:

The point that Danny makes in this particular tweet is invalid, as artists PR and management teams approve photographers to shoot their shows. If an artist doesnt wish to be photographed, PR and management will simply not allow photographers. This means that while it may have been indirect, Danny ultimately did ask photographers to shoot him.

Usually they ignore you before they abuse you, Michelle laughs in disbelief as she retells the incident.

This isnt the first time Danny has posted one of my photos without crediting, she adds.

But its the photographers job. Havent they already been paid for their work?

[Music Photographers] arent in it for the money, Michelle says. Very few get paid for what they do, and she explains that this is due to a variety of reasons, the competitive nature of the industry being chief among them. Michelle is one of the very few who does get paid, but sometimes still shoots for free when working for a publication.

When Im not shooting for an artist directly, but still want to document the show for my own personal reasons, then Ill shoot for a publication, she explains.

This is exactly what happened for Dannys Melbourne show, meaning that Michelle was not paid. She admits this is rare for her, but that its the norm for the majority of music photographers.

Imagine yourself working for free. Putting hours of effort into your work, only to have it stolen from you, shared or reproduced with your name nowhere to be seen. This is the harsh reality many photographers are facing in a time where people believe that anything found on the internet is theirs to take and use however they please.

Its also a massive slap in the face when you see a photo of yours with 400,000 likes and nobody knows who took that photo. Thats one of the most frustrating things ever, and its happened to me so many times Ive lost count.

As a music photographer myself, this is an issue I also face. Combining my love of music and photography, I volunteer my time to photograph bands. Its what Im passionate about, but its incredibly disheartening when an image Ive taken has been shared and I havent been acknowledged.

I saved for months to buy my own basic camera gear and pay a monthly bill for photo editing software, but I have never been paid a cent to shoot live music. I knew to expect that starting out, thats not the problem; its that people dont even have the decency to tag you alongside a photo you took. It makes all the effort I put into shooting and editing suddenly seem worthless. How can people appreciate your work if they dont even know its yours? People need to consider the costs photographers pay before they steal their photos without a second thought.

As Michelle says, Youre told when you start [music photography] that the most flattering thing that can happen is to have your photo shared.

It is really flattering when a huge artist shares and appreciates your work  thats the biggest compliment that you can get  but its also a massive slap in the face when you see a photo of yours with 400,000 likes and nobody knows who took that photo. Thats one of the most frustrating things ever, and its happened to me so many times Ive lost count.

Tags mean everything, Michelle says. Its how Ive built my business, so for someone to say that a tag doesnt mean anything or that it doesnt have a quantifiable economic value is really wrong.

In a survey of 50 music photographers around Australia, 90% answered yes or sometimes to working for free, while 88% answered that theyve had at least one of their images posted on social media without permission or credit.

You may be thinking that a simple solution to this would be to add a watermark (usually a logo or name) to the image. However, Michelle advises against this.

Theres no professional I know who uses watermarks. They look ugly, and even if they are used, they end up just being cropped out. The other alternative is that people just wont use the photo.

Its actually not even the point; youre asking someone to do something to prevent the theft of their work. Lets actually educate people instead, rather than saying, Oh, Ill just put a watermark on it and its going to solve everything  because it doesnt.

Sydney-based musician Montaigne aka Jessica Cerro reflected on the issue from a historical point of view, saying that a painters watermark was their signature, written onto the work of art. The artist continued to get work if they were good because it was easy to find the source of the creation.

Nowadays, you can still have a watermark on things you do, but because our personality on the Internet is often indolent, we can rarely be bothered to pursue a watermark if there is no direct link provided that takes us to the artists page.

Montaigne is one of the many artists who used the Danny Brown incident as an opportunity to educate their followers on why crediting is important for photographers.

If you take the 15 seconds needed to credit the artist, you support the artist. You support the creative field, which means that it survives and thrives, and its survival is in your interest.

The arts suffer because of the popular notion that strangely only people who are not artists hold: art should only ever be free because it is done out of love and primal need. That is a very romantic notion, but sadly, it is not realistic.

Michelle agreed that sometimes people dont credit photographers due to laziness, but believes that most of the time it comes from a lack of understanding.

Where do the copyright laws come into this?

If youre a user of social media  specifically Instagram, Facebook or Twitter  you would have had to select that you agree to their Terms of Use and Community Guidelines upon signing up to the websites/applications.

Here are the main points relating to Copyright in Facebook and Instagrams Terms of Use:

Twitters User Agreement states that Twitter respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects users of the Services to do the same.

A lot of people go, Oh, its on the Internet, so you can steal it. Well actually no, you cant, and all of those platforms that were sharing on are really aware of our laws, and will remove something thats already copyright protected, Michelle says.

If you dont follow these rules (which are made in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968) you may end up having to pay a hefty fine or, in extreme cases, even face jail time. Australian rapper 360 aka Matt Colwell admitted via Twitter that he had been sued for $10,000 due to not understanding copyright laws as they relate to photography.

According to Michelle, who is also a good friend of Sixtys, the photo was a shot of lightning which he shared on Facebook, rather than anything music-related.

Photographers outside music are brutal  they know their rights, and theyre not used to their work being stolen like we are.

How do we fix this?

There are various resources available that explain in simple terms what copyright law is, and how to avoid infringing copyright, which is becoming increasingly important with the sharing tools that social media is providing. The Australian Copyright Council is a valuable resource for understanding copyright, as the information provided is based on the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), which sets out copyright law in Australia. Outlined in their Introduction to Copyright in Australia fact sheet are some key points:

Copyright provides creators with an incentive to create new works and a legal framework for the control of their creations.

Copyright protection is free and applies automatically when material is created.

There is no registration system for copyright in Australia.

Michelle suggested that copyright laws concerning photography should be enforced in school.

Everybody knows you cant plagiarise  you have to credit your source. Its exactly the same [with photography], so why isnt that really being drilled home through schools?

Everything is so visual now, so photography is very important, yet the value of our art has reduced so much, she adds.

Expanding on her solution, Michelle says that photography theft should be enforced just as strictly as plagiarism.

You can get in so much trouble. You can get kicked out of uni  people know how serious that is. There just needs to be a similar kind of respect given to the artists who are creating those images that are being used.

The more that photographers speak out about the troubles they deal with on a regular basis, the more exposure this issue will receive. Hopefully this can lead to a world more educated on the proper use of images, which is absolutely necessary in a digital age.

If you see a photo posted and its obvious that the person who shared it wasnt the creator, ask them who took the image. As Michelle says, Just because youre in a photo, it doesnt mean you have any rights to it. Educate yourself, and help to stop the theft of intellectual property. Before posting your next photo on social media, think of the consequences it could have  especially if you arent the owner of the image.
Today we have the pleasure of premiering the brand new video from local talent Emily Wurramara. Titled Black Smoke the single is the title track of Wurramaras upcoming EP set for release June 17th via Wantok Musik / MGM.

A follow on from her debut single Ngerraberrakernama (pronounced nehrah-berah-ker-nahma), Black Smoke is a stunning effort from the young songwriter who has already received serious radio accolades and made festival appearances in Sweden and France, Island Vibes, Woodford Folk Festival, Stylin UP and NAIDOC events.

Check out the gorgeous clip below and if you like what youre hearing stay locked to Emilys Facebook page for more info.

Black Smoke EP Launch

Melbourne | Thursday June 30th | Wesley Anne
Calling all vinyl junkies, your prayers have been answered. Next month will see the 2016 Australian Record Fair touch down in Melbourne, featuring more than 30 vendors and over 100,000 records.

Taking place across three days at the Pullman Mercure Hotel, vendors will be offering a huge selection of new and used vinyl, including collectible pieces, as well as music memorabilia and more.

Running in conjunction with the 2016 Melbourne International HiFi Show, more than 30 vendors will be offering rare and unique pressings, as well as plenty of bargains to keep crate-digger happy.

Entry to the 2016 Australian Record Fair is included in the entry to the 2016 Melbourne International HiFi Show, so you can head over to the official website and get your discounted tickets now.

If youre a vendor or an avid collector looking to unload a few choice cuts, stalls and tables are available now from just $450 across the whole three days. For bookings contact [email protected]

2016 Australian Record Fair

Friday, 1st July  Sunday, 3rd July 2016

Pullman Mercure Hotel, Melbourne

Tickets: International HiFi Show
Streetcar Extension Proposal. Court Presentation Date Set! Here come more taxes!!!

"The Jackson County Circuit Court has scheduled a hearing in September for people to weigh in on a proposal to extend the Kansas City streetcar south of downtown.





"The court will hold a public hearing on the question of creating and funding a proposed streetcar taxing district. The hearing is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 15."

A quick note from Kansas City tax fighters prepares their group for a show-down regarding the fate of theTake a look . . .If you are tired of more taxes being piled on top of an already above average tax base: If you are tired of your utility bills going up at alarming rates because city hall has elected to charge all the taxpayers for the utility work done on the streetcar line, rather than just those taxpayers in the TDD. These charges total millions of dollars and because they are not added into the cost the city quotes you for the streetcar, the streetcar cost is under estimated by these same millions of dollars.Its time to stand up and tell your councilperson NO MORE STREETCAR TAXES, we have more important things to fund. Remember, city hall will be back shortly with a city-wide bond proposal for infrastructure repairs this will add millions more in debt to the taxpayers and raise taxes throughout the city even more . . .Do not believe it when city hall tells you it doesnt cost the taxpayers living outside the TDD anything. Were not stupid, look at your utility bills. This eight mile extension could easily cost $700,000,000 - $800,000,000.See you in court on September 15th. Bring your sign! Lets put an end to this madness once and for all.##########Developing . . .
KANSAS CITY INSIDERS FEAR LOCAL CONNECTIONS TO RADICAL ISLAM AMID THE AFTERMATH OF THE ORLANDO MASSACRE!!!









Over and over and over again Kansas City mainstream media has worked to assure residents that. While no one should doubt their sincerity, it's also a fact that there also exists a small Kansas City faction of Islamic faithful who seem to have a documented connection to more strident interpretations of their faith and that has been so far unmentioned in most local media reports.To wit and because we've been inundated with a lot of perspectives and talk on this topic via e-mail . . .Whilst. It's important to consider associations closer to home . . .This one as sent our way with the terse command:So, we did a just a brief bit of research (10 minutes on Google) and noted a great deal of reporting onradical Islam right here in Kansas City.And so it's also worth considering thatis a free man after what one FBI agent called the "deal of the century" with the Feds and after another minor charge.Either way, whilst local Muslim leaders have been unified in the condemnation of the latest terrorist attack on American soil and Kansas City is home to a vibrant and peaceful Muslim community . . . The debate over gun control, immigration and radical Islam hits closer to home than most news watchers realize.You decide . . .
CHECK THIS TKC EXCLUSIVE DOCUMENT CIRCULATING AMONG DOZENS OF WESTSIDERS WHO OBJECT TO THIS TAX BREAK GENTRIFICATION SCHEME!!!

17th & Madison - HELP Needed

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE OUT OF SCALE PROJECTS ZONING WAS DESIGNED TO STOP.

Tax Abatement for this project makes no sense because THE WESTSIDE IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE NEIGHBORHOODS IN KC . Houses close to the proposed development are selling for over $600,000 and I understand there is a contract on a building for almost $1 Mil.

Here's an important bit of follow-up coverage thatlays out neighborhood objections to a controversial plan proposed right across from a neighborhood school.This one is important because coverage and consideration of this neighborhood fight was preceded by a 4-hour-debate over 18th & Vine.However . . .Here are the highlights of a letter going to City Council today . . .The City Council will vote this Thursday on whether or not to approve the developer's current proposal for 17th & Madison. (The proposal is for 48 apartments; the size is 50% larger than zoning allows; plus they ask for tax abatement.)This Project should be held tobecause that zoning best reflects the character of and best protects the Westside and is the result of an extraordinary effort which was supervised by City Planning Staff. It took over two years to complete; over 400 people participated in the process; with at least 8 large meetings; and small meetings on every block in the neighborhood. This process should be respected.The Westside underwent this downzoning because the development downtown began to overflow into the Westside and developers began proposing out of scale projects that put pressure on the single-family character of the Westside and threatened dislocation of the local Latino community.I oppose this project it because:Tax abatement on this project will easily lead to an expensive, and very public referendum, which seems like a bad thing for City government.I ask that you please deny this application so our zoning will be respected, our tax base will be increased and the Westside will be protected.Thanks for your time and consideration and I ask that you please vote against the proposed project at 17th & Madison.#############
Top international and regional experts will discuss the latest trends and developments in artificial lift at the third edition of the SPE Middle East Artificial Lift Conference and Exhibition, to be held in Bahrain, later this year.



The event will take place from November 30 to December 1.



The event received 130 papers from 46 companies and 27 countries, said a statement.



Building on the theme, Lift More for Less, the first executive plenary session will examine the key focus areas that are essential to achieve more efficient artificial lift at a lower cost.



The events speakers include Khaled Al-Buraik, vice president of petroleum engineering and development, Saudi Aramco; David Henderson, vice chairman, Alkhorayef Petroleum; and Hisham Zubari, deputy CEO, Tatweer Petroleum.



Game-changing technologies, improved and collaborative business models, developments in artificial lift maintenance, and innovative methodologies are topics that will be discussed in both the first and second executive plenary session, Lifting Out of the Box. The speakers at the second session include Nabeel Al Afaleg, chief petroleum engineer, Saudi Aramco; Darrell Johnson, CEO, Silverwell; and Maksim Perelman, CEO, Novomet.



Life cycle costs, designs, manufacturing, operational and maintenance options, performance management, and other areas, will be discussed by panelists in two panel sessions, namely, Artificial LiftWhich Business Model?Contracting Strategies, Buy versus Lease, Standard versus Fit-for-Purpose, Inventory Management, Life Cycle Cost and Artificial Lift Performance Management.



The seven technical sessions will see artificial lift and subject matter experts share the latest technologies, case studies, research, best practices, and more, during technical presentations and knowledge sharing ePoster sessions across the two-day event.



Leading oil and gas companies and specialist firms, including Alkhorayef Petroleum (Gold Sponsor), ESP Completion Technologies, Gulf Well Solutions, JHK Oilfield Products, Novomet, and Quick Connectors, will showcase their products, services, and expertise during a free-to-attend exhibition, at the event.



It will also provide attendees with several opportunities to network with experts, industry leaders, new suppliers, existing partners, researchers, and other artificial lift professionals, it added.  TradeArabia News Service


Italy and Qatar will sign an agreement this week in Rome that foresees the Gulf state ordering four corvette warships and a support vessel from state-controlled ship builder Fincantieri, a government source said on Tuesday.



The order, when completed, would be worth around 5 billion ($5.61 billion), the source said. Italy's defence company Leonardo-Finmeccanica would supply electronics and weapons systems, he added.



Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti is due to meet in Rome a delegation of the Qatar government on Thursday to sign the accord, the source said.



Fincantieri and Leonardo-Finmeccanica had no immediate comment. Shares in Fincantieri jumped as much as 4 percent on the news, and were up 2.4 percent at 1110 GMT.



The ships would be built in Italy, in the company's shipyards of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, both in the northern region of Liguria, the source said.



National media have reported that Italy had been vying with France to supply warships to Qatar. - Reuters


Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened on Tuesday to "set fire" to the nuclear deal sealed with world powers if US presidential candidates reneged on the agreement.



Presumptive Republican candidate Donald Trump said last August it would be hard to "rip up" the deal, but if elected president he would "police that contract so tough they don't have a chance".



Iran can expect a shift in relations with the United States to a more aggressive posture under a Republic president, a reversal of the warming trend nurtured by Democratic President Barack Obama.



"The Islamic Republic won't be the first to violate the nuclear deal. Staying faithful to a promise is a Koranic order," Khamenei said, according to state media. "But if the threat from the American presidential candidates to tear up the deal becomes operational then the Islamic Republic will set fire to the deal."



He did not identify any candidate and said he did not see a difference between Democrats and Republicans in the comments that state media said he made in a meeting with senior officials including President Hassan Rouhani, who championed the agreement.



Hillary Clinton, who Obama has endorsed to succeed him in the Nov. 8 election, said in March in a speech to a pro-Israel lobby group in Washington that Iran still posed a threat to Israel and needed to be closely watched.



She was secretary of state under Obama during his first term.



The United States and Europe lifted sanctions on Tehran in January under the deal that curbed Iran's nuclear programme. However, some restrictions remain, including on financial transactions, slowing Iranian hopes to reintegrate with world markets.



Khamenei noted that sanctions had not been completely lifted, issues with Iranian banks had not been resolved and that Iranian money that was being kept in other countries had not been returned.



"The nuclear deal has holes which, if they were closed, would reduce or cancel its disadvantages," he said.



He added: "Some think that we can get along with the Americans and solve our problems. This is an incorrect idea and a delusion."



The Supreme Leader also told the officials, who had gathered for a meeting to commemorate the holy month of Ramadan, that the issue of insurance for oil tankers had not been resolved.



Khamenei said Iran had met its obligations by halting the enrichment of uranium at 20 percent and shutting down nuclear facilities in Fordow and Arak.



Earlier, Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, urged the United States to do more to encourage banks to do business with Iran.  Reuters
Luxury automaker Infiniti is set to launch its brand new model, the Infiniti Q30 premium active compact, in the Middle East markets.

Since its launch in Europe, sales for the Infiniti Q30 have been phenomenal, with 5,415 vehicles sold since the start of the year, the company said.

With a strong performance in Europe so far, we are confident that the introduction of this vehicle will further help to drive the growth of the Infiniti brand here in the Middle East, commented Juergen Schmitz, managing director of Infiniti Middle East.

Infiniti interior designers have selected highest quality materials and processes to create a premium modern ambiance. One tactile detail is the Dinamica suede-like material from Italy. Used increasingly in the high-fashion industry, it now lines the roof and support pillars of the Q30 cabin.

Driver and passenger seating have been constructed for enhanced comfort and support with an elevated hip-point, aiding the in-control sense that combines well with Q30s sharp dynamics on city streets or country roads.

When we unveiled the Infiniti Q30 at the Dubai International Motor Show in 2015, it was to mass appeal from our existing and potential customers. As July draws nearer, I can only reiterate the excitement as we get ready to take the covers of this all-new vehicle for the Middle East region, added Schmitz.

The Infiniti Q30 will be available across all markets in the Middle East by the end of July, 2016. Customers looking to make early bookings on the vehicle can visit their local Infiniti showroom for inquiries. TradeArabia News Service
Global travel distributor GTA Middle East has announced a strategic collaboration with the Dubai Corporation of Tourism & Commerce Marketing for a new Destination Dubai Summer Campaign.



The campaign has been launched with an objective to rapidly boost regional tourist numbers into Dubai while simultaneously highlighting key facets of Dubai as a summer destination.



Building on GTA Middle East  Dubai Tourism partnership, the collaboration will also witness exclusive access to the g shop campaign. The loyalty programme g shop (www.gshop-mea.com) has been very popular among the Middle East and Africa clients.

Scheduled for the summer months, the GTA Middle East - Dubai Tourism campaign has been launched from June 1 until September 30, 2016. With a strong presence in the region, GTA Middle East through this campaign will showcase Dubai in all its splendor across six target GCC markets - UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.



GTA Middle East with its solid relationships across the regional travel trade aims to attract short-haul business from the GCC markets.



Highlighting the importance of Dubai as a destination, Rami Mashini, GTAs vice president of sales and marketing for Middle East, Africa & Turkey, said: We are delighted to partner with Dubai Tourism for this Summer Campaign. The Destination Dubai Summer Campaign will be great success for both parties given the growing attractiveness of Dubai as a major destination with its constant innovation. This collaboration will also showcase the strength of GTA Middle East in the Market as a key global distributor, offering varied content, rich concepts and activations of new services and products. Agents can look forward to gains and rewards point offered on booking their next trip to Dubai.



The joint GTA Middle East - Dubai Tourism Summer Campaign is simple; agents need to use the right communication resources provided by GTA Middle East to promote Dubai as key destination for GCC travellers. The rewards include gift cards, shopping vouchers and much more. Furthermore, members of g shop will stand to benefit (X3) points for all Dubai hotels and (X5) points for Strategic Partnership Program (SPP) Dubai hotels from June 1 until September 30, 2016.



GTA launched the g shop loyalty programme in 2015 across the Middle East and Africa region and current statistics show that the programme now has more than 3,000 members. G shop is a simple, straight forward bookers reward programme. Registered travel agents participating in the programme have the ability to earn points for every confirmation and departed bookings made through GTA. These points can be redeemed for shopping vouchers, products or personal travel arrangements. - TradeArabia News Service
CAMBODIA IS ELECTED 2016 WORLD BEST TOURISM DESTINATION Industry: Travel Awards

On 12 June 2016, representatives of 28 European countries members of General Assembly of European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT), has taken under consideration the list of candidates for WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION for 2016. The assembly of tourism experts unanimously, agreed to bestow the WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION STATUS FOR 2016 TO KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA and to declare CAMBODIA- THE FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION in 2016.



(TRAVPR.COM) BELGIUM - June 15th, 2016 - On June 11, 2016, the General Assembly of the European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT), has taken under consideration the list of candidates for WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION for 2016. Scrutinizing of the candidature files was made, in the initial stages, by the European Tourism Academy team, who drafted a preliminary report disseminated among the ECTT members. Academician Dr. Mircea Constantinescu, Director of European Tourism Academy, presented the list of candidates and the list of reports and accompanying evaluations for each of the 30 countries registered candidatures. Academician Mircea Constantinescu stressed the need for a strict observance of Chatham House roles of discretion, and also presented the report asking for a candidate country to be disbarred, for not being able to comply with the rules and regulation of World Institution-ECTT. The motion was adopted and the analysis of remaining 29 countries in competition for WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION continued. ECTT Chairman Mihai Prundianu stated for the audience the remarkable achievements of the 2015 award winner-The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia who capped 1 million tourists supplementary and derived tourism income in the margin of 2 billion dollars. Addis Ababa became the most rapidly growing city in Africa in the number of tourists. Ethiopia enjoyed also a large presence in the media with over 120.000 tourism related articles promoting the country as the FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION. Ethiopia has being, surpassing all the countries in the region in terms of tourism, appreciated Academician Mircea Constantinescu. ECTT President-Professor Dr. Anton Caragea marked also the world tourism institution determination to continue a special relation with Ethiopia that we come to know and love and who entered in our hearts forever, concluded Professor Dr. Anton Caragea. With the acceptance of the report by Chairman Mihai Prundianu on ETHIOPIA, the debate on the WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION FOR 2015 was declared opened according to the decision of ECTT President-Professor Dr. Anton Caragea. The second day (12 June 2016) of the debate for the WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION AWARD FOR 2016 saw Professor Dr. Anton Caragea, President of European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) presenting the main report, encompassing the decision that emerged as the victorious candidate. The report was titled: CAMBODIA: THE LAND OF MAGIC- THE PLACE WHERE GOD`S AND KINGS BUILD THE WORLD! He proposed the Kingdom of CAMBODIA as the winner of WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION FOR 2016 and as receiver of the FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION distinction for 2016. The report noted the reasons for awarding WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION FOR 2016 PRIZE to CAMBODIA: The excellent preservation of humanity landmarks such as: the Temple of Preah Vihear- the heart of ancient Indochina. The temple outstanding history can be traced to the 9th century, when the hermitage was founded. Today the site is particularly well-preserved and is offering to the visitors an outstanding vision of grandeur, thanks to his exceptional for the quality of its architecture, which is adapted to the natural environment and the religious function of the temple, as well as for the exceptional quality of its carved stone ornamentation. The Siem Reap province is home to the majestically and unique Angkor Archaeological Park  the residence of the Khmers Kings from 9th to 15th century. Today this incredible humanity legacy, stretching over some 400 sq.km, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. They include the famous Temple of Angkor Watt and Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations. All this sites were recognized as being of world significance and registered as UNESCO World heritage monuments. The rich cultural and historical legacy of Cambodia is not limited to the previous presented list. Rervations we must look at the potential of these regions designated in 1993 Royal Decree on the Protection of Natural Areas. They are encompassing 23 protected areas, which at the time covered more than 18% of the countrys total land area. The royal decree divides the areas into four distinct categories: natural parks (sometimes described as national parks), wildlife preserves, protected scenic view areas (sometimes described as protected landscapes) and multi-purpose areas. Cambodia is also home to rarely and valuable Ramsar sites rated accordingly to RAMSAR CONVENTION of June 1999: A stretch along the Mekong River approximately 37 km long and 14,600 hectares in Stung Treng Province Boeng Chhmar and associated river system and floodplain, 28,000 hectares in Kampong Thom and Siem Reap provinces (part of a designated multiple use area) Koh Kapik and associated islets, 12,000 hectares in Koh Kong province (part of a designated wildlife sanctuary). Giving tourists access to outstanding and pristine nature and the opportunity to explore nature, to contribute to ecological preservation, and the opportunity to visit extraordinary places. All these regions and national parks are a model of achieving ecological and green tourism that must be recognized throughout the world. New prominent landmarks are to be added to UNESCO list such as: Angkor Borei and Phnom Da, the former celebrated as the ancient capital of Kingdom of Cambodia under the name of Vyadhapura and pace at the confluence of Mekong and Stun Sla Ku. This is now home to perfect archaeological treasures like sculptures and stones star-shaped called stelae. Phnom Da is famous for his caves, the mud tower and the all sought Ashram Maha Rosei, made in long standing stone and celebrated as a model of architectural ingenuity made out of interior monk housing units blending in the exterior wall. Udong is the former capital of Royal Cambodia in 17th century from 1740 to 1746. Udong is now a perfect example of a sprawling royal city, but also a royal necropolis gathering the funerary temples of kings that offered to Cambodia a chance of survival in the country darkest times. Udong is the proof of the resilience and endurance of Khmer spirit in time of peril and dangers. The project ONE VILLAGE/ONE PRODUCT designed to promote social fair tourism, to sustain rural production and to bring about the rebirth of traditional craftsmanship created and promoted by H.E. Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of Cambodia , is a perfect way of sharing revenue, growing income and supporting marginal and rural communities development. The way in which social-tourism has become the base for local economic development, for empowerment of remote community and supporting educational and vocational projects benefiting the communities, makes social-fair tourism, the lesson that today-the KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA is offering to the world. The ongoing development and protection of cultural, religious and historical shrines of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the transformation of Angkor Region into a historical and spiritual center, offering to the visitors a glimpse into rich culture and heritage of peoples of Cambodia. Angkor must be the world center of religious pilgrimage and cultural tourism offering to world tourists the complex healing experience of cultural legacy, religious special atmosphere and faith imbued air. The preservation of outstanding historical and cultural heritage in the form of the former capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Angkor cultural complex, an ample palatial complex from the 9th Century, offering an incredible sense of magnificence of one of the Asia greatest empire.

Today, Cambodia offers tourists bound for the country a rich and perfect open air collection with a rare presence of historical and archaeological treasures that educate and enrich the world.

The KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA is also a perfect center for river cruises and adventure tourism, offering large areas suitable for this special kind of tourism, and the necessary infrastructure to welcome the adventure seeker, its safety and peace, makes the country, one of the worlds top adventure river destinations that make the KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA as a perfect cultural class destination. Mr. Pavel Avramoiu, Director for Hotel Management and Evaluation at European Council on Tourism and Trade, outlined the impressive potential for development that Kingdom of Cambodia is presenting. Cambodia, now proclaimed WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION, must transform this perfect opportunity and universal limelight in a base for attracting investors in the field of hotels and hospitality to cater for the millions that will find their ways to the KINGDOM OF WONDERS and LAND OF MAGIC! This is an incredible occasion for all ASEAN regions, an opportunity to place regions cultural and historical patrimony at the fore and to make Cambodia the center for medium and long-term trips that will bring travelers to the magic of Indochina. With open sky`s policies enacted by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia, the country has become the center of ASEAN future development, concluded his speech World Tourism Institution Director Pavel Avramoiu. It is appropriate for Europe to express its commitment to, and appreciation for Asia by crowning CAMBODIA as THE FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION AND WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION FOR 2016 stated the ECTT Director Ioan Matei. Senator Ionel Agrigoroaiei, Director of European Parliamentary Committee in the European Council on Tourism and Trade and Senator of Romanian Parliament stated the opinion of all present at ECTT conference and declared that the KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA is the unique candidate that is offering a perfect blend of cultural record, large historical patrimony and is offering a magisterial lesson to the world: the lesson of creativity and resilience of SROK KHMER-the land of Khmers. With an outstanding record of promoting social-fair tourism, ecological and poverty reduction strategy based on tourism Cambodia deserves a unanimous vote, appreciated the Senator I. Agrigoroaei. Taking the floor, President Dr. Anton Caragea asked for a final vote and European Council on Tourism and Trade Assembly unanimously, agreed to bestow the WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION STATUS FOR 2016 TO KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA and to declare CAMBODIA- THE FAVORITE CULTURAL DESTINATION in 2016. The meeting was also presented with the Official Letter, from the Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia. The world gathering (including ECTT members and accredited ambassadors and diplomats) was presented with a warm salute and invitation from acting Minister of Tourism Mr. Chea Bora, for a mission of high ranking officials of the European Council on Tourism and Trade, to present the WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION AWARD in Phnom Penh, in person, to His Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo HUN SEN, Prime Minister of Kingdom of Cambodia, European Academician and outstanding personality in world tourism, today. The final note of ECTT 2016 Assembly was stroke by Professor Anton Caragea, President of the European Council on Tourism and Trade who emphasize the importance of the moment: the most important WORLD TOURISM PRIZE was entrusted to peoples of CAMBODIA. CAMBODIA has arisen from ashes of nefarious time and is today a perfect destination crowned in the diamonds of Mekong, endowed with the beauties of Siem Reap and Battambang and made immortal by the works of Gods and Kings at Angkor. Leading by example, is always the motto of European Council and Tourism and Trade and the acceptance of the invitation for a familiarization visit of high ranking members of European Council on Tourism and Trade to CAMBODIA is a proof of this enduring truth. CAMBODIA is a perfectly safe and outstanding destination that will forever mark your heart! Today all world tourism experts expressed their confidence in the potential and future of tourism in CAMBODIA, let`s follow their example and discover THE WORLD BEST TOURISM DESTINATION in 2016- concluded Professor Anton Caragea, President of the European Council on Tourism and Trade. ### Please contact the person or company listed above for information regarding the content of this press release. TravPR.com are not the issuers of this press release and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content. Share Release :





CONTACT INFORMATION Name: Radu Alexandru Company: European Council on Tourism and Trade Phone: 00403157730 Email: office@eucir.com Web: PRESS RELEASE TAGS
It is really hard to make a new clear bottle out of old plastic. So the material is down-cycled into lower grade products rather than recycled.

For the bottled-water industry, the challenge has been to find a recycled product that meets regulatory standards for food-grade PET plastic, which is used in bottles. So far, the industry has relied on a recycling method that washes, chops and melts waste plastic to create resin. Most of it gets turned into clothes and carpets since plastic loses some of its structural properties and becomes discolored with each recycle, diminishing the appeal to bottled-water makers.



All the companies have tried to introduce recycled plastic into their bottles but barely get above 10 percent. PLA bio-based bottles have failed in the marketplace as well.

 Stuart Franklin/ Getty Images

Now Evian, the French bottled water owned by Danone, is trying to use a process from a Montreal company, Loop Industries, which apparently has "a revolutionary technology poised to transform the plastics industry. This ground-breaking technology decouples plastic from fossil fuels by depolymerizing waste polyester plastic to its base building blocks (monomers). The monomers are then repolymerized to create virgin-quality polyester plastic that meets FDA requirements for use in food-grade packaging."

If this actually works, if Loop actually has a process that can actually separate PET bottles back into their building blocks, then it certainly is a wonderful thing, a step in the direction of a truly circular economy where plastic bottles are actually turned into plastic bottles. Loop has also signed deals with Pepsi, who says "Loop's technology enables PepsiCo to be a leading force in ensuring plastic packaging need never become waste"  making real that dream of turning waste into what they can call a resource.

 Loop Industries

Too good to be true?

Is it too good to be true? Some think so. Aaron Chow recently wrote a long article for Seeking Alpha, and notes that it is not actually approved by the FDA as food-grade plastic. After he complained to the company, they changed their website, writing to him:

Looking at our website, we do see instances where it says Loop PETTM is FDA approved. Thank you for notifying us. We have updated the website so that it reads that our process and the LoopTM PET resulting from our process meets the FDA requirements for use in food grade plastics.



Aaron Chow also claims that their process really doesn't work as well as they say it does, that they are not getting anywhere near the recovery rates that they promised, and "after purifying the PTA (now DMT) and MEG, the company is left with only a fraction of the original material." He implies that it is not a leading technology innovator in sustainable plastic, but more likely a candidate for bankruptcy.

Back in the Wall Street Journal, Saabira Chaudhuri describes how people are kicking the bottled water habit and single use bottles are being banned. The importance of this now has sunk in, said Beverage Marketing Corp.s chairman Michael Bellas, who has followed the drinks industry for the past 46 years. Its the total broadened awareness of the environment, especially with millennials.

Or is it all just talk to assuage our guilt?

I can't help but think that Danone and Pepsi might be happy if the Loop process works, but really don't care all that much. They want to be seen to be doing the right thing, so the public will all say that this is fine, some day the bottles will be fully recycled, and so the cities being buried in plastic will leave them alone. It's like pretending to recycle Keurig pods; it makes no economic or environmental sense but it assuages guilt.

The talk about Loop is likely a mix of wishful thinking and clever marketing. After all, this industry is also being driven by the petrochemical industry that is investing billions in new facilities to make and sell new plastic. It also doesn't change the fact that it is still using a lot of energy and effort to move around plastic and water when most of us can get perfectly good water out of a tap.

Even in a fully recycled bottle it makes no sense.
Kazakhstan's top law enforcement official says authorities believe that suspects in deadly June 5 attacks in the northwestern city of Aqtobe were instructed or inspired by a militant Islamist leader based in Syria.

Interior Minister Qalmukhanbet Qasymov said on June 14 that some 45 people gathered in an Aqtobe apartment shortly before the attacks on two gun shops and a National Guard base.

"They heard an appeal from a so-called imam who told them to carry out a holy jihad and suggested that they act right now," the minister told reporters in Astana, adding that "the so-called imam apparently is from Syria."

Officials say the death toll in the attacks and subsequent police operations is 26, including suspected assailants.

The attacks raised concerns about the potential for further violence and added to the troubles of President Nursultan Nazarbaev's authoritarian government, which faced major protests in April and May against planned land reforms in the oil-rich, former Soviet Central Asian republic.

Qasymov said that the suspects had already been plotting the attacks and "knew the potential targets, and knew how and where to go" before hearing the audio message ahead of the attacks.

He did not say whether the "so-called imam" was believed to be affiliated with Islamic State or any other extremist group with a presence in Syria, or exactly how the message was delivered. The Reuters news agency described it as an audio address.

Nazarbaev has said the attackers -- whom he described as members of "pseudo-religious radical movements" -- had received instructions from abroad.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev's regime has looked less secure following widespread protests recently.

Reiterating previous official figures, Qasymov said that 45 people were initially involved in plotting the attacks but that 20 of them changed their minds at the last minute and refused to take part.

Kazakh officials say five civilians and three national guardsmen were killed in the attacks. The Committee for National Security has said that 18 suspected attackers have been killed by government forces and nine arrested.

There have been no credible claims of responsibility.

Qasymov said that in questioning suspects, the authorities have established that the aim of the Aqtobe attacks was to obtain sophisticated weapons and target government institutions.

He said seven of the suspected attackers had been known to the authorities because of previous criminal records, while Kazakh media said one suspect -- Alibek Berdybaev -- had been linked to a 2011 suicide attack in Aqtobe.

Tengrinews.kz reported that in December 2011, Berdybaev was found guilty of participating in a terrorist organization and was sentenced to three years in prison. He was sentenced along with 12 other defendants.

Kazakh authorities say the suicide attack on May 17, 2011, that targeted the headquarters of security services was carried out by local man linked to Islamic extremists. They say the bomber was killed in that attack, which wounded two other people.

With reporting by Tengrinews.kz and Reuters
Lt Gen RS Sujlana (retd)

The Jat Agitation in Haryana in February and the followup Prakash Singh report has brought to the fore key issues related to deployment of the Army in aid of the civil government. Both have received widespread coverage and discussion in the media, specially on the social media. The issue needs to be placed in perspective. It is necessary to understand the functioning and psyche of the Army in internal security operations; be it to aid civil authorities during natural calamities, rioting and unrest etc. or the more professional task in counter-terrorist operations.

The Army always means business and therefore terms these as operations, however by nature these are offensive only while countering armed terrorists/ insurgents. Otherwise they have nothing to do with muscle and firepower. On the contrary, these operations are extremely sensitive, where patience and deliberation rule and there is no scope of instigating the population or getting carried away by any provocation by nefarious elements. The conduct has to be rational, minimum force and minimum collateral at the risk of own casualties is the thumb rule.

The Army started its learning process in dealing with populations in a hostile environment in the North-East during the early years of countering insurgency in Nagaland (starting in late 1950s) and later in Mizoram. Lessons were there to learn from similar operations the world over but there were no copy-book solutions. One lesson was clear, that every insurgency had peculiarities and required ingenuity in handling. Strategy and tactics to be adopted also depended on whether operations were conducted in a foreign land against an alien people; or, within your country to handle misguided population. While in the former situation, strong-arm tactics to kill, collateral or imposing disliked measures like grouping of villages to isolate the insurgents were of no concern to the security forces but in the latter, strong-arm tactics are unacceptable and no contentious methods can be undertaken. Thus, over decades of operations in insurgency/terrorist-affected areas the Army evolved the concept of an iron fist in a velvet glove, while the iron fist is to counter the terrorists or other anti-national elements but more importantly was the velvet glove to deal with the majority peace-loving population. Collateral is a red herring and has immediate adverse affects; it is exploited by the terrorists/ insurgents/ rioters and their ilk to ignite the people which adversely affects operations.

A hostile populace is a sure recipe for unsuccessful operations. Therefore, winning the confidence and goodwill of the local population is a must. Towards this the Army evolved the concept of a velvet glove or Winning the Hearts and Minds (WHAM) of people.

WHAM is a well-articulated policy that has evolved and matured over years of experience and learning. It drives home the goodwill of the Army, and drives home that for a peaceful environment is conducive for progress and prosperity. Once the confidence of the majority population is won it becomes that much easier to initially isolate and finally bring back the hostile elements back to the mainstream. WHAM activities by their very nature are carried out in close liaison with the civil administration and the involvement of the population who identify their wants and join hands with the Army.

This policy has been successful in gaining the confidence of the locals; from initial small-scale projects like constructing playfields, minor water projects, road building, medical camps, veterinary camps etc. to major commercial, educational and technological spheres under Operation Samaritan in the North-East and Operation Sadhbhavna in the North. Cultural visits by schoolchildren and elders to places of interest have increased people-to-people contact countrywide, showcasing the progress of the nation and enhancing integration.

However, in this entire well-meaning and humanitarian effort, the goodwill gained can be lost in a matter of hours. Collateral damage of any dimension, true or false, is a flashpoint and erupts without warning. It is often is a figment of imagination, created by anti-national elements or rioters etc. to up the ante and place the security forces on the defensive. Despite best efforts and repeatedly taking avoidable casualties to minimise collateral, a spark can always be created. For example, take the recent alleged molestation case in Handwara, Kashmir, where a mountain was made even where there was no molehill. It is against this backdrop that the conduct of the Army has to be seen when involved in any internal security action; the last thing that one would want is a hostile population to handle.

The Army was called out during the Jat agitation. It was later construed that the presence of the Army had no effect. Did anyone rationalise the options available to the Army columns? Under no circumstance did the Army columns have the option of blasting their way through with tanks; infantry combat vehicles (which by the way are located in large numbers close at hand), heavy fire or even resorting to any violence. Despite incitement from the rioters, there was only one option to adopt a peaceful method and ensure no or minimal collateral and that is exactly what they did. To avoid any clashes or an adverse situation, troops were flown in by helicopters to begin with. As the situation improved, columns on foot moved forward to complete their allotted tasks.

The Prakash Singh report mainly concluded a long-known fact that the Army should be used in internal security only as a last resort; and that repeated exposure of the Army in such operations will only reduce its effectiveness in internal security situations. However, the question here is whether or not the deployment of the Army in the agitation was a right step to bring the violent situation under control? Taking that the civil administration, the state police and the Central Police Forces abdicated their respective duties, leading to an administrative paralysis, with clear indications of internecine communal riots erupting, calling the Army in was possibly the right decision. This saved the situation from developing into another anti-Sikh mayhem as it happened in Delhi, where the Army arrived only when the damage was done.

The report also goes on to add that the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) who evidently was sitting dormant at Chandigarh but had no hesitation in saying that the agitators were not daunted by the Army and that it is a matter of concern that the presence of the Army had limited effect. Strangely forgotten was the fact that 2,000 men of the Army effectively brought the situation under control where tens of thousands of the police/ CPOs failed.

The Prakash Singh report seems to have ruffled some feathers and may finally not achieve its aim as is gradually becoming evident. The bureaucrats named are shouting blue murder, comments on an MP have been withdrawn, the role of the state police / CPOs seems to have been softpedalled, it reeks of an anti-Army bias. But the complete silence on appropriating any blame on the political leadership is indeed jarring.

The writer is a former Commandant, IMA & ex-Chairman, PPSC.
G Parthasarathy

NEW Delhi appeared shocked by Chinas recent veto of action against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar, when there was widespread support in the UN Sanctions Committee to act against him for his role in the Pathankot attack. The UN declared the JeM a terrorist organisation in 2001. The former Director-General of the ISI, Lt-Gen Javed Ashraf Qazi, acknowledged in the Pakistan parliament in 2004 that the JeM was responsible for the attack on the Indian Parliament  an action that took the two countries on the brink of war. This veto was, however, not an isolated action by China which has long backed Pakistan-sponsored terrorism against India.

Chinas contacts with radical Islamic groups backed by the ISI is nothing new. It was one of the few countries that had contacts with high-level Taliban leaders, including Mullah Omar, during Taliban rule between 1996-2000. There was even a Chinese offer to establish a telephone network in Kabul during this period. Moreover, after the Taliban was ousted from power in 2001 and was hosted by the ISI in Quetta, the Chinese maintained clandestine contacts with the Mullah Omar-led Quetta Shura. China recently joined the ISI to sponsor the so-called Afghan-led peace process with the Kabul government. Beijing appears convinced of the need to have an ISI-friendly government in Kabul. The mandarins in Beijing evidently favour such a dispensation, in the belief that the ISI will rein in the Taliban support for Uighur Muslim militants in Xinjiang.

While India received overwhelming international sympathy and support during the 26/11 terrorist carnage, the Chinese reaction was one of almost unbridled glee, backing Pakistani protestations of innocence. The state-run China Institute of Contemporary International Relations claimed that the terrorists who carried out the attack came from India. Even as the terrorist strike was on, yet another Chinese scholar gleefully noted: The Mumbai attack exposed the internal weakness of India, a power that is otherwise raising its status both in the region and in the world.

Not to be outdone, the foreign ministry-run China Institute of Strategic Studies warned: China can firmly support Pakistan in the event of war... While Pakistan can benefit from its military cooperation with China while fighting India, the Peoples Republic of China may have the option of resorting to a strategic military action in southern Tibet (Arunachal Pradesh) to liberate the people there. Rather than condemning the terrorists and their supporters, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang urged India and Pakistan to maintain calm and investigate the cause of the terror attack jointly. The visiting chairman of Pakistans Joint Chiefs of Staff General, Tariq Majid, was received in Beijing like a state dignitary by Chinese leaders, with promises of support on weapons supplies ranging from fighter aircraft to frigates.

China has developed strong lobbies in Indian business. Political parties, journalists and academics act as apologists for its actions, even when such actions constituted what can only be described as unrelenting hostility towards Indias national security concerns. Even the Ayatollahs of non-proliferation in the US, who rant and rave against Indias nuclear and missile programmes, suddenly lose their speech when it comes to condemning Chinese actions. These worthies have documented evidence on how China initially provided nuclear weapons designs to Pakistan for its enriched uranium warheads and also upgraded Pakistans uranium enrichment capabilities. More ominously, China provided a range of designs and materials to enable Pakistan to develop plutonium reactors, heavy water plants and plutonium separation facilities in the Khushab-Fatehjang-Chashma nuclear complex. This has enabled Pakistan to make light plutonium warheads and embark on the production of tactical nuclear weapons.

This development has seriously enhanced the prospect of Pakistan triggering a nuclear conflict by the use of tactical nuclear weapons. Pakistan now no longer speaks of a credible minimum deterrent, but of possessing a full spectrum deterrent. There has been no other instance in the contemporary world of such large scale and unrestrained transfer of nuclear weapons capabilities, as what has transpired during the past four decades between China and Pakistan. Worse still, while China balks at backing our entry to the Missile Technology Control Regime, virtually every ballistic missile in Pakistans inventory today is of Chinese origin. The 750-900 km Shaheen 1 is a variant of the Chinese DF 15 missile. Shaheen 2 and Shaheen 3, with ranges of 1,700 km and 2,750 km, are evidently variants of the Chinese DF 21A. The vehicle that transports and launches Shaheen 3 reportedly has a design identical to that of a missile supplied by China to North Korea in 2011.

New Delhi should have no doubt that Beijings ties with Pakistan are primarily motivated by a burning desire for strategic containment of India. New Delhi appears to be still looking for a coherent strategy to pay back China in its own coin and raise the strategic costs for Beijings unrelenting hostility towards its security interests. India needs more proactive coordination of its policies with those of key regional powers, like Japan and Vietnam, to meet challenges China now poses. India, Vietnam and Japan should jointly seek to coordinate these efforts with the US. Washington, unfortunately, has a track record of striking its own deals with China, with scant regard for the interests of its partners. Moreover, while dealing with these maritime and strategic challenges, India has to simultaneously strengthen confidence-building measures on its borders with China. These CBMs have been useful, especially after President Xi Jinpings visit to India, in maintaining peace and tranquility along the Sino-Indian border. It is inevitably going to take a long time before the border issue is sorted out with China, in accordance with the Guiding Principles agreed to in 2005.

It is astonishing that in all these years, there has been no significant or sustained diplomatic effort by successive governments in India to focus attention on these developments. And the less said about our journalists and academics visiting the Middle Kingdom the better. They are generally busy singing paeans for the qualities of head and heart of their hosts, rather than bothering about such issues. While the invitation to Chinese dissidents for a meeting in Dharamsala could have been handled more professionally, China should be made to pay a price for meddling in developments in our northeastern states.
Though Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has claimed that virtually all states support GST except Tamil Nadu, the Congress has not yet indicated that it will compromise on its two objections: an 18% cap on the GST rate in the Bill and abolition of the 1% inter-state additional levy. The finance ministers from the Congress-ruled states may not have expressed their reservations at the empowered committees meeting in Kolkata, they are not expected to deviate from the party line at the national level. After being passed by the Lok Sabha, the GST Bill is stuck in the Rajya Sabha, where the BJP lacks majority even after the recent elections. Jaitley has based his assessment on what transpired at Tuesdays meeting. However, how non-Congress opposition parties vote in the Upper House in the coming monsoon session will decide the fate of GST.

There is no doubt that a single tax in place of existing multiple taxes is in everyones interest. Why is Mamata Banerjee supporting it and Jayalalithaa opposing it? After her resounding win, Mamata has ambitions beyond West Bengal. Backing GST fits in with her likely future role at the national level. Jayalalithaas GST objections relate to a possible erosion of autonomy of states on fiscal matters and a revenue loss to her state which is a manufacturing hub as the tax would shift from the point of origin to the point of destination. Media reports suggest other opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party, the BSP and the Biju Janata Dal, do not share the Congress stand over GST.

To garner support for a game-changer reform that GST promises to be, Jaitley has addressed concerns of states. He has agreed to allow state tax officials to administer GST for small traders whose revenue is less than Rs 1.5 crore. He has also lowered the threshold level of traders who would come under GST to as low as Rs10 lakh, which may increase revenue collection costs drastically. The monsoon session will show whether the Congress sticks to its stand or retreats under pressure.
Responsible sections within the Republican Party had hoped that once Donald Trump stitched up the partys presidential nomination he would begin acting presidential. That hope stands belied, after the presumptive nominee renewed his earlier call for a ban on allowing Muslims in the United States in the wake of Sundays terrorist attack in Orlando. A lone gunman had killed 49 people at a club, making it the most deadly terror attack in the United States since 9/11. The Orlando attack, inevitably, injected the fear sentiment in the American presidential campaign. It was promptly seized upon by Trump to reinforce his anti-immigrant rant. He boldly and unapologetically asserted that if elected President, he would suspend immigration from countries which have a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or its allies. A week earlier he had made disdainful comments about a respected judge of Mexican lineage.

Though Trump has still a long way to go before he would have the power to give deadly shape to his bigoted ideas, the rest of the American political opinion does realise the enormous damage this man is doing to American interests and image. His post-Orlando fulminations have even provoked the senior-most Republican, Paul Ryan, Speaker of the US House of Representative, to rebuke Trump. And, President Obama, too, has been constrained to castigate Trump for promoting ideas that betray American values. Expectedly, the Hillary Clinton campaign has used Trumps anti-Muslim comments to renew its argument that the Republican nominee lacks the temperament to be Americas commander-in-chief.

While very many Americans may share President Obamas rebuke for Trump, it is unlikely that the real estate billionaire would mend his ways or words. He has defied the Republican establishment by the simple device of tickling the (white) Americans fear and anger; he cannot be expected to pay these establishment figures any heed now when he did not listen to them when he was weak and vulnerable. His presidential campaign is anchored in old-fashioned racism, designed to exploit religious sentiments. In India we are familiar with this syndrome.
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, JUNE 15

Chief Minister ML Khattar today advocated the release of Haryanas legitimate share in Yamuna waters at Okha (Delhi) at the NCR Planning Board meeting.

He asked Delhi to cough up Rs 150 crore to Haryana on account of extra raw water supplied to it.

Delhis use of water from Haryanas share has resulted in reduction of the states legitimate water share from Yamuna, Khattar said.

Large dry and arid areas of Faridabad, Palwal and Mewat districts in south Haryana have been affected due Delhis negative stand , he added.

Haryana is a water-deficit state with respect to both surface and groundwater resources. Yamuna is the major source of surface water for more than half of the state, including Faridabad, Palwal and Mewat districts in south Haryana, he added.

Khattar said Haryana had been meeting the drinking water needs of Delhi from its own share against all odds, and also carried water share of Delhi from the Ravi, Beas and Yamuna through a canal network whose operation and maintenance costs were huge. He urged the board to intervene and get the pending payments to Haryana released by Delhi. It is neither paying charges for extra raw water nor the operation and maintenance cost . At present, Rs 94 crore is due from Delhi on account of extra raw water and about Rs 56 crore for operation and maintenance charges.

The state also demanded liberal financial assistance for developing Karnal and Jind, the new entrants in the NCR, fast-tracking of projects conceived to improve connectivity between Delhi and NCR towns of the state and a soft loan from the board for completion of Rs 44,000-crore mass rapid transit system (MRTS) from Gurgaon to Bawal.
Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 15

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes today asked the Haryana Government to regularise the services of chowkidars employed by it.

The commission asked the government to frame service rules relating to their jobs, incorporating the reservation policies for the members of the SCs.

The panel told this to Haryana Chief Secretary DC Deshi who was present before the commission for the hearing on a petition by the chowkidars belongings to the Scheduled Castes. The representatives of the chowkidars and the Chief Secretary had been asked by the commission to be present at the hearing.

This was the Chief Secretarys second appearance along with the chowkidars before the Commission. The first was on December 18 last year.

The commission has held four sittings on the issue. The state Home Secretary was also present during one of the sittings.

According to a commissions communique, during the hearing, the Chief Secretary today said the state government had raised the retirement age for the chowkidars from 60 to 64 years. A notification in this regard will be issued in two weeks.

Not satisfied, the commission asked the Chief Secretary when would the government regularise their services.

A member of the commission, Ishwar Singh, who presides over cases relating to Haryana, told The Tribune that the next date of hearing had been fixed for July 26.

The fate of about 7,500 families is linked to the case. 90 per cent of the families are SCs and the remaining are from Backward Classes.

The chowkidars had complained to the commission that they were being given a monthly honorarium of Rs 3,700. The amount was Rs 400 till 2006 and increased to Rs 3,500 by 2013. They had also petitioned regarding retirement age and pleaded for service rules taking into account the reservation policy.
Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

jalandhar, June 15

Perturbed over the failure of Haryana Police to track down 213 children reported missing in 2011, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) taking cognizance of a Tribune report- has raised concern over the state Police Department for not working to the full extent.

While closing the five-year-old case filed by former Rajya Sabha MP from Hoshiarpur Avinash Rai Khanna on May 23, the commission stated in its report that it was unfortunate that a large number of missing children still remained untraced in Haryana.

The NHRC further stated that the Supreme Court also took cognizance of this issue in a civil writ petition of Hori Lal v/s Commissioner of Police, Delhi, in 2012 and issued guidelines.

Even though the guidelines have been acted upon by the Haryana DGP as mentioned in his report, these still remain only on paper and are not adhered to on the ground. The NHRC can only hope that the Haryana Police strictly adheres to these guidelines and at least minimise the menace of missing children, stated the report.

However, KP Singh, DGP, Haryana, refused to accept the facts in the report. Though I do not have data of missing children currently in hand , I can only say that during the special drive Muskan carried out in two phases to track missing children in the state last year, Haryana was at number one in the country. We have implemented the guidelines in true spirit, said the DGP.

However, Shatrujeet Singh Kapur, ADGP Crime could not be contacted despite repeated attempts to seek the current data on missing children in the state. The Tribune in a report published in December, 2011, had reported that over 200 minors had gone missing from Haryana within six months, one fourth of them being children. Out of the 200 missing children, 72 were reported to be girls.
Several associates of the late Deputy Defense Minister Abduhalim Nazarzoda have been imprisoned after being found guilty of attempting to seize power.

Relatives of Sadriddin Nematov and Siroj Odinaev told RFE/RL on June 13 that the two men were sentenced to life in prison by Tajikistan's Supreme Court.

Another defendant, Amrullo Nurov, was sentenced to 23 years in jail by the court.

The sentences were pronounced last week, but since the case was declared classified, the verdicts were not made public.

It is not clear how many people in the case were sentenced last week. Media reports in Tajikistan quote sources in law enforcement structures as saying that nine of Nazarzoda's associates had been sentenced.

Authorities said Nazarzoda led attacks in September on a police station and an arsenal that killed at least 26 people.

Nazarzoda was reportedly killed in an operation by government forces last year.

In May, his son, Bahtiyor Nazarov, was found guilty of public calls for mass disorder in attempting to change the country's constitutional order and for intentionally failing to report a crime.

A Dushanbe court sentenced him to 22 years in jail.
Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 15

The Assam Regiment celebrated its 75th Raising Day with ceremonial fervour and gaiety. The day started with the wreath-laying ceremony by serving and retired officers and soldiers who paid respect to the martyrs and their gallant actions.

The highlight of the platinum jubilee celebrations was flagging in of a motorcycle rally led by brig Charandeep Singh by Lt Gen PM Hariz, GOC-in-C, Army Training Command (ARTRAC) and release of first day cover by Colonel of the Assam Regiment and Arunachal Scouts Lt Gen Subrata Saha.

The battalion was raised on June 15, 1941, and has an illustrious history to boast of as it is one of the only unit in the history of warfare to have been awarded six battle honours, including Jessami (Nagaland), Kohima (Nagaland), Ardura (Nagaland), Mawlaik (Burma), Kyaukmyaung (Burma) and Toungoo (Burma) and one theatre award Burma within three years of its raising.
Tribune News service

Shimla, June 15

HRTC buses were back on roads today as the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of HRTC employee unions called off the strike after the High Court took a serious view of the defiance of its order and asked the employees to resume duty.

The commuters heaved a sigh of relief as the employees joined duties this morning and local buses were seen running on roads in Shimla around 9 am and by the evening, the situation returned to normal in most parts of the state. A few Volvo and deluxe buses were operational from late last night.

The strong notice taken by the High Court regarding the wilful defiance of court orders by the Joint Coordination Committee and the tough stand taken by the government to reject the demands of the JCC to convert the HRTC into roadways compelled the leaders to soften their stand and call off the strike.

Transport Minister GS Bali said the number of employees whose names had been given to the court for defying the orders were 160. Apart from the financial loss of Rs 2.5 crore, it was a loss to reputation as the public was put to inconvenience.

Bali came down heavily on JCC leaders for going on a strike in spite of the High Court orders, causing hardships to commuters. He said all those who instigated, misguided or intimidated the employees to go on strike would face action as per the service rules. The matter is pending in the court and we will take action after the matter was disposed of, he added.

Rejecting the demand of the JCC to convert the HRTC into roadways, he said all employees had joined the HRTC and as such the demand was untenable. He said the HRTC had accepted most demands of the employees and some demands were being negotiated but the employees chose to go on strike, causing inconvenience to commuters.

There are 9,375 employees in the HRTC. The HRTC taxi service in Shimla was also resumed.
Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 15

The early periodic rain in the last week of May and in early June have proved boon for the farmers who have completed 70 per cent sowing while it is in progress in lower hills of Una, Hamirpur and Kangra. The rains proved a blessing for farmers in rainfed areas where they were able to sow the crops on time and frequent periodical rains provided much needed moisture for the crop.

A target of 9.03 lakh tonnes has been fixed for current Kharif season which included 7.50 lakh tonne of maize, 1.31 lakh tonne of paddy, 41.95 lakh tonnes of potato, 35,000 tonnes of ginger, 4,800 tonnes of pulses while the area under cultivation is 4.03 lakh ha, said Director Agriculture S R Kaliya.

The target for vegetable production for the year has been fixed at 15-lakh tonnes. All preparations are in place for facilitating the farmers to achieve the target and 25,600 quintals of hybrid seeds, 22,000 tonnes of fertilisers, 100 quintals of organic manure and 55,000 improved tools are being made available to farmers, he informed.

Besides, the farmers are being given subsidy on seeds of food grains, pulses, vegetables, oilseeds and insecticides and pesticides. To ensure that there was no compromise in quality of seeds and fertilizers,100 sample of fertilizers, 150 samples of pesticides and 400 samples of seeds would be taken and sent to lab for testing.

Further, a scheme has been launched to provide soil health cards under which soil samples would be taken on the bases of GPS and tests would be conducted in the labs to facilitate the farmers but good and timely monsoons is a major factor on which ups and downs of crop prospects hinge, Kaliya added.

Asking the farmers to take full precautions and abide by standard farm practices, Kaliya said that during the kharif crop season possibility of disease and insects attack was more and such more precautions were required.

Balanced use of fertilizers as per the demand of the soil is very important for good crop and the farmers should get the soil tested before starting sowing, he added.
Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 15

The issue of constitutional validity of the appointment of nine chief parliamentary secretaries (CPS) could once again come alive in the state with an RTI activist, Dev Ashish Bhattacharya, approaching the Election Commission of India (ECI) for their disqualification.

Terming the appointment of these nine CPS in Himachal illegal and unconstitutional, Bhattacharya requested the ECI to initiate action against them for holding office of profit. He has also raised the issue of the total number of ministers and the CPS exceeding the total permissible number as per the 2003 constitutional amendment in the state.

At present, there are nine CPS in the Virbhadra government with three attached to the CM and the other six with different Cabinet ministers. The appointment of the CPS and PS has been made under the Himachal Pradesh Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances, Power, Privileges and Amenities) Act, 2007.

A similar battle was fought in Himachal in 2005 when the BJP had challenged the appointment of 12 CPS and PS in the Cabinet, both in the High Court as well as before the Governor. The matter was referred to the Election Commission of India, which decided in favour of the MLAs and rejected plea to unseat them.

In his plea to the ECI, Bhattacharya has listed the emoluments and benefits that these nine CPS are drawing. They are drawing a monthly salary of Rs 65,000 along with Rs 1,800 daily allowance, constituency allowance of Rs 90,000, office allowance of Rs 30,000 along with other benefits like official residence and car, he has pointed out.

Citing the 2005 High Court order, Bhattacharya has also pointed out that the appointment of the CPS had been struck down as the Chief Minister had no authority to appoint them. A CPS in the state is entitled to use the National Flag on his car and a beacon, thus enjoying all facilities that the Cabinet ministers are entitled to.

The activist has pointed that the Supreme Court has kept pending since 2005 the governments appeal against the August 2005 HC order quashing the CPS appointment.
Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 15

A day after desecration at an ancient temple, situation remained tense in Jammu today with many parts of the region witnessing protests and complete blackout of mobile internet services in all 10 districts of the Jammu province since Tuesday evening.

The state government while ordering an inquiry into the incident claimed that situation was under control as no untoward incident had been

reported from any part from the region.

The government has suspended a police officer who had slapped a local priest of the temple, while it agreed to release 22 youths who were detained for violence on Tuesday evening. At least five vehicles, including two school buses, were torched by the angry mob following desecration at the temple by a person from a particular community.

The day also witnessed major blockades on the Jammu-Pathankot highway in Samba and Kathua where local people held demonstrations, bringing normal traffic to a grinding halt.

According to the police, situation, barring sporadic incidents of stone-throwing, was peaceful across the region while the top police and civil officers remained busy devising strategy to defuse the tension.

The administration and police are trying to shield the culprit by giving him a tag of lunatic. Our religious sentiments have been hurt and this will not be tolerated, said an angry protester at Janipur area which was hotbed of protests throughout the day.

Taking preventive measures, the state administration had cut mobile internet services in all 10 districts of Jammu while ordering closure of wine shops and bars to prevent situation from flare-up.

After a meeting with civil society members, the state government claimed that situation had been brought into control. Minister for Health Bali Bhagat along with Jammu Divisional Commissioner Pawan Kotwal and Inspector General of Police (IG) Danish Rana held meeting with civil society members, including leaders from Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other religious organisations. He said, All protesters have been released and an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) has been suspended for not performing his duties professionally. The culprit has been arrested and legal action will be taken against him after proper investigation into the matter.
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 15



A militant was killed in an ongoing gunfight close to Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmirs Kupwara district. One soldier who was injured in the exchange of fire on Tuesday succumbed to his injuries.

The operation was launched on Tuesday morning when soldiers along the LoC intercepted a heavily armed militant group at Katwara forest area in Machil sector, 140 km from here.

In the operation so far, one militant has been killed and the operation is underway, defence sources said. We have also lost one of our soldiers and four jawans have been injured, they said.

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The slain soldier has been identified as signalman Ajay Singh Choudhary of Rajasthan.

The militant group, sources said, was apparently trying to infiltrate into the valley when they were noticed by the Army along the LoC on Tuesday.

The gunfight had erupted the day when Army Chief General Dalbir Singh was in valley and visited the forward area in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, two civilians were injured in separate grenade attacks in south Kashmir's Shopian.
Manika Ahuja

It all started with a seemingly innocuous word. What followed was a barrage of venomous tweets. Only yesterday, Bihars Education Minister Ashok Choudhary, kindled a duel of words with HRD minister Smriti Irani when he wrote- Dear @smritiirani ji, when will we get New Education policy..?

When will year 2015 end in your calendar..? Irani, took offense to the salutation dear, and shot back- @AshokChoudhaary mahilaon ko dear keh ke kab se sambodhit karne lage Ashokji? Which translates to- When did you start addressing women as dear?

Though moments later, Choudhary donned an apologetic stance and observed- Dont know what did she find so offensive in Dear. But I still apologize to Smriti Irani ji if I have hurt her feelings in any way. The twitter battle kindled a debate nonetheless.

Focus on bigger picture

It is rightly said that a person who sleeps has got no problems with the world, until he is woken up. I think thats exactly the case with the recent twitter feud between HRD minister Smriti Irani and Bihar education minister, Ashok Choudhary. Irani clearly overreacted when questioned about the education policy by the latter. Ministers in power should rather concentrate on the bigger picture, rather than trivial issues like these.  Priya Sharma, student, Department of English and Cultural studies, PU

Victimising words

Words are always the victims when politics comes into play. Dear is a common salutation these days. The word respected is no longer used in any place. In this situation, the context and situation are dictating the behaviour. There is no ground for objection to the word dear.  Professor Deepti Gupta, Department of English and Cultural Studies, Panjab University

Maintain the formality

It would have been more prudent had Choudhary addressed Irani directly by her name or by her designation. Dear is way too informal for a formal piece of communication.  Vikas Singh Rajput, School of Communication Studies pass-out, PU

Cutting a sorry figure

Instead of focussing on the prudence of Bihars Education ministers dear usage, the focus needs to shift on Bihars dismal performance in the sphere of education. Besides, the fact that Choudhary was dumbfounded when Irani tossed a series of tweets at him, and turned apologetic moments later, goes a long way to show that he wanted to escape the trouble he invited for himself.  Ragini Daman, student, Masters degree in English Literature
Guwahati, June 15

At least 30 persons were killed and 11 others injured when a Guwahati-bound bus plunged into a river flowing about 250 feet below the hilly road at Sonapur near Jowai in Meghalaya last night.

The Meghalaya police informed that so far 26 bodies could be retrieved, while the injured were rushed to a hospital in Guwahati. The search and rescue operation was conducted by the Meghalaya Police with the help of locals. A team of National Disaster Response Force was rushed from Silchar to help in the operation. The search operation will continue tomorrow. TNS
New Delhi, June 15

The Enforcement Directorate has submitted another charge sheet accusing British national Christian Michel James, a suspected middleman of the deal  and his few Indian associates in connection with its money laundering investigations in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal.

The over 1,300 page prosecution complaint (the ED's equivalent of charge sheet) has been placed before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court early this week and it has said that agency's investigation into the case has found that Michel received Euro 30 million (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland, which it claims were "kickbacks" paid by the firm to execute the 12 helicopter deal in favour of the firm in the "guise of" of genuine transactions for performing multiple work contracts in the country.

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The court is expected to take cognisance of the supplementary charge sheet soon, agency sources said.

Michel is one of the three middlemen being probed in the case, apart from Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, by the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigations. Both agencies asked the Interpol for a red notice after court issued a non-bailable warrant against him.

A red notice, also known as 'Wanted notices', are issued for offenders wanted at international level. The notice may either ask that the subject be arrested or extradited to the country where he is wanted.

Michel was extensively interviewed by Indian media in Dubai recently.

This is the second charge sheet filed in the case by ED that goes into the detailed role of Michel in the deal, his multiple visits to India and his transactions. The first charge sheet was filed by the agency in the case in November 2014.

It is understood that filing a charge sheet against Michel was necessary as ED has sought his extradition from the UK and hence such a court complaint against an accused is necessary in order to execute the treaty between the two countries.

The agency has also brought on record, in the charge sheet, that the three middlemen "managed to" make inroads into the Indian Air Force in order to influence and subvert the stand of the air force regarding reducing the service ceiling of the helicopters from 6,000-meters to 4,500 meters in 2005 after which AgustaWestland became eligible to supply the dozen helicopters for VVIP flying duties.

ED investigations have found that remittances made by Michel through his Dubai-based firm Ms Global Services, FZE to a media firm he floated in Delhi, along with two Indians, were made from the funds that he got from AgustaWestland SpA through "criminal activity" and corruption being done in the chopper deal that led to the subsequent generation of proceeds of crime.

The PMLA probe found that AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini was paying "kickbacks" to Michel and the two other middlemen, which they are suspected to have passed off numerous "consultancy contracts". Michel is suspected of having received Euro 30 million in his Dubai company accounts and others under this arrangement.

Investiations into the deal have gathered steam after an Italian court Italian defence and aerospace major Finmeccanica's former chief Giuseppe Orsi and Spagnolini on corruption charges in the sale of these helicopters to India.

The Milan court order also mentions former IAF chief SP Tyagi several times.

On January 1, 2014, India cancelled a contract with Finmeccanica's British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF over suspected breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore for the deal.  PTI
Tribune News Service

Lucknow, June 15

A strong buzz is doing the rounds that former Mathura Rashtriya Lok Dal MP Jayant Chaudhary, son of RLD chief Chaudhary Ajit Singh, is set to join the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet in the coming days.

This development will result in a major caste realignment, bringing in possible Jat support for the Samajwadi Party ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.

It is likely to have an impact on SPs electoral prospects in western Uttar Pradesh where post-Muzaffarnagar riots, it can no longer depend on the support of the minority community.

The minority voters are angry with the Akhilesh Yadav government for not decisively addressing issues targeting them like the Muzaffarnagar riots, ghar vapsi, love jihad, Dadri and the dread of arrests in fake cow slaughter cases and now, the Kairana migration.
Kairana (UP), June 15

A nine-member BJP team on Wednesday visited this village in Uttar Pradesh to review the situation over alleged migration of Hindus that has set off a political slugfest even as Congress said the BJP leadership has been "totally exposed" after a party MP's U-turn on the issue.

The fact-finding team was announced by BJP president Amit Shah on Monday during the course of its National Executive meeting in Allahabad after BJP MP Hukum Singh alleged there was a communal angle to the 'migration' from Kairana village in Shamli district in UP where elections are due next year.

Singh, who had recently alleged that several Hindu families have been forced to migrate from Kairana following atrocities from "one particular community", did an about turn on Tuesday when he said it was "not communal" in nature but had more to do with the law and order situation.

The team met some families of Hindus who had allegedly migrated, said Suresh Rana a BJP MLA, adding it also had an interaction with officials of the district administration.

"We have been raising the same issue in Vidhan Sabha for three years now. We only talk about migration when the atmosphere of fear is at its peak. Had the CM of UP wanted, he could have controlled the situation long back," Rana said, adding a report will be sent to the party leadership.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should visit Kairana village and assess the situation rather than accusing BJP of lying on this "sensitive matter", he added. The team was led by Suresh Khanna, BJP's legislature party leader in UP assembly.

Besides Khanna, the other members of the delegation included Baghpat MP Satpal Singh, Saharanpur MP RLP Sharma, Bulandshahr MP Bhola Singh, Aligarh MP Satish Gautam, Aonla MP Dharmendra Kashyap and former UP DGP Brij Lal.

"There has been mass exodus (from Kairana) due to gunda raj of the SP government," Sharma alleged.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is in charge of the partys affairs in Uttar Pradesh, said the BJP leadership stood "totally exposed" on how they wanted to exploit the situation and tell the people that the alleged migration is on religious lines while it was for economic reasons.

"Exactly that is what we are afraid of because they(BJP) are having an eye on assembly elections. They might even turn small issues into big issues. They will try to polarise the situation. This is what people in UP should be cautious about," he added.

JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav cautioned against any attempts to foment communal tension ahead of the assembly polls.

"People from Kairana did come to me. They told me that what all they (BJP) are saying is a lie. It is nice that they (BJP) have taken a U-turn from what they have earlier said.

Soon there will be elections in UP, there should not be any tension on communal divide," he said.

Shamli District Magistrate Sujeet Kumar has already ruled out any communal and law and order issues behind some people leaving the area.

"Party president has set up a committee, which will go there and study the situation. Such a migration is not good for democracy. The party is sensitive about it and proper steps will be taken after the report comes, senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said on Monday, a Shah expressed serious concern over "migration" from Kairana area in Shamli district, which had witnessed communal riots in 2013.  PTI
Bangkok, June 15

India and Thailand are set to firm up cooperation to combat terrorism, and boost maritime security, defence ties and trade during Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha's maiden visit to India, officials said on Wednesday.

The Thai premier will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his three-day visit beginning on Thursday.

The two countries will issue a joint statement later, expressing their expectations to increase maritime security, double trade in five years, push the India-Myanmar-Thai road project, cooperate in civil aviation, fight cybercrime and promote people-to-people cooperation, said Maj-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak, a deputy Thai government spokesman.

Werachon said talks with India would focus on issues such as trade, support for Thai agricultural products and cooperation on education and tourism.

He said Gen Prayuth has said to put all items high on agenda. A high-level delegation will discuss boosting cultural exchanges between the two nations.

India and Thailand will also look for joint projects in solar energy, space applications and space technology sectors.

"Thailand is an extremely important partner and the two sides attach a lot of importance to this visit," India's Ambassador to Thailand Bhagwant Bishnoi said.

Bishnoi said that India's 'Act East' and Thailand's 'Look West' policies complemented each other and that India was looking forward to signing several agreements, MoUs on narcotics, cultural exchange with Thailand during the visit.

A Thailand-India Free Trade Agreement will be discussed.

"We are looking forward to a substantial joint statement which would talk of other agreements in the pipeline," Bishnoi said, and added that Thailand is also keen on India's 'Make in India' programme.

He said India appreciated the fact that Thailand was "very sensitive" to India's security concerns and ensured that Thai territory was not used by forces inimical to India.

Prayut will be accompanied by Thai foreign minister, Agriculture Minister, Industries minister, IT minister and Deputy Minister of Commerce.

The total trade between the two countries stands at USD 8.5 billion. In 2015, Thai exports to India were USD 5.30 billion while Thai imports from India were USD 2.63 billion.

At least 1.1 million Indian tourists visited Thailand last year.  PTI
New Delhi, June 15

An internal investigation by the Union Home Ministry has said that missing documents of the Ishrat Jahan case had been either removed or misplaced between September 18 and 28, 2009, when Congress leader P Chidambaram was Home Minister.

The panel, which submitted its report on Wednesday, also claimed that one missing file had been traced but two others still remained missing. The 52-page report says 11 officials were questioned regarding missing files.

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Following uproar in Parliament in March this year after some documents in the case were found missing, the Home Ministry had asked BK Prasad, Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry, to inquire into it.

Ishrat Jahan, 19 at the time, and three others were killed in an alleged fake encounter in Gujarat in 2004. The Gujarat Police had then said those killed were LeT terrorists and had come to Gujarat to assassinate Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat.

The probe panel recently found a copy of a letter written by the then Home Secretary G K Pillai to the then Attorney General late G E Vahanvati from the hard disk of a computer of the Home Ministry, official sources said.

Among the files that still remain missing is a copy of an affidavit vetted by then Attorney General and submitted in the Gujarat High Court in 2009 and the draft of the second affidavit vetted by the AG, which said there was no conclusive proof of Jahan being a militant.

Two letters written by Pillai to Vahanvati and the copy of the draft affidavit have also so far remained untraceable.

Prove your citizenship

An RTI activist seeking information on the investigation was asked to prove he was an Indian.

The activist sent a query to the Home Ministry for copies of reports submitted by the panel inquiring into the missing papers.

In this connection, it is requested that a proof of your Indian citizenship may please be provided, the Home Ministry said in its reply.

The Right to Information Act, 2005, mandates that only Indian citizens can seek information.  PTI/ TNS
Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 15

The Cabinet today cleared the Union Health Ministrys proposal to raise the age of retirement of Central government doctors and non-teaching staff from 62 to 65 years, paving the way for implementation of this rule from July 1.

The move was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his Saharanpur rally on May 26 to mark the second anniversary of the BJP Government.

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The decision will lead to an increase in the age of superannuation of three categories of personnel under the Central Health Services (CHS)  non-teaching staff, public health specialists and general duty medical officers. Those serving in teaching posts, the fourth sub-category under CHS, already retire at 65 years as per a decision taken by the Cabinet in 2008. That time, the other CHS categories were not covered by the move.

Todays decision corrects that old anomaly. Tribune inquiries reveal that the Cabinet approval will benefit around 3,000 personnel under the CHS wherein the sanctioned strength of public health specialists is 104, that of non-teaching staff is 593 and that of GDMOs is 2,198.

The Cabinet approval will cover medical specialists working for the Indian Railways Medical Service. They retire at 60 at present.

The enhanced retirement age will help streamline medical and other services in Central institutions but wont impact the continuing dearth of medical specialists at the level of states. Under the National Health Mission, the overall shortage of specialists is estimated at 85 per cent.

Overall in India, the shortage of medical specialists and doctors is mainly a rural phenomenon. MCI estimates the availability of one doctor per 2,000 persons in the country.
Our Correspondent

Jaipur, June 15

People of Rajasthan will be saved from travelling all the way to Delhi for boarding International flights as a number of flight operators are starting operations from Jaipur International Airport (JIA) from October.

JIA, named as one of the best airports in Asia Pacific Region, would soon have direct flights to Japan, Singapore and other countries as its runway has been upgraded to Category-E.

In April, Airport Council International (ACI) had awarded first rank to JIA for catering to two to five Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA).

The up-gradation of the runway from 2709 to 3410 metres, built at a cost of Rs189 crore, has been readied and it would accommodate planes with a capacity of 350 passengers from October this year.

Besides the runway, 150 metre strips on either side were cleared from dried grass and central inset lights have also been installed on the runway for planes to land or take off easily during foggy weather.

The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was holding a meeting in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss the Jaipur International Airports final proposal sent for clearance to operate direct flights to foreign countries, AAI Director in Jaipur, B K Tailang said here.

Frequent flyers had been demanding direct flight operations to Hong Kong from Jaipur, and many flight operators had also approached the AAI after the runway was upgraded, the director said.
Abidjan, June 15

President Pranab Mukherjee has been accorded the highest honour of Cote DIvoirie by its President Alassane Ouattara on his maiden visit here.

After an elaborate reception accorded at the airport, Mukherjee attended a banquet last evening hosted by Ouattara where he was accorded with Grand Cross National Order of the Republic of Cote DIvoirie in a simple ceremony in the Presidents Palace.

It is the first such honour accorded to Mukherjee, Press Secretary to the President Venu Rajamony said.

He said while Mukherjee has received number of honorary degrees, it is first such honour accorded to him by a country.

In his speech at the banquet, Mukherjee who is on the second leg of his three-nation visit to Africa, said it is rightly believed that the mutual goodwill between India and Cote DIvoirie is inversely proportional to the geographical distance separating the two countries, longstanding friendship and fruitful co-operation has made it irrelevant.

I feel greatly honoured, Excellency, by your gesture of conferring on me the National Order of the Republic of Cote DIvoirie. I consider it to be emblematic of the long standing mutual friendship between the peoples of our two countries, he said.

Calling for UN reforms, Mukherjee said both countries share many commonalities as both are active participants in regional and international fora and have worked together in close cooperation on matters of shared interest and concern.

We both recognise the imperatives of strengthening the UN system and other international organisations. We would like to see them reformed s that they remain relevant and effective in addressing the challenges that confront the world today. In this context, India stands ready to shoulder greater responsibilities in the specialised organs of the United Nations, particularly the UN Security Council, he said.

He also underlined common concerns of both countries in the fight against international terrorism.

We have been co-ordinating closely in regional and multilateral fora on this and other key issues including disarmament, climate change and sustainable development, he said.

Mukherjee said Indias commitment continued in the form of South-South Cooperation through developmental assistance and sharing resources for the development of her brother nations in Africa.

The President said Indias public and private sector are keen to join Cote DIvoirie in setting up agro-based industries because of its fertile soil and agricultural and mineral resources.  PTI
Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 15

As the Uttar Pradesh electoral game heats up, the Congress is all set to pull out its trump card, Priyanka Gandhi, in a bid to post a dream performance in the state.

For the first time in many months of speculation over Priyankas enhanced role in the party, Congress general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad today said he was hopeful Priyanka would campaign in the rest of the state besides Amethi and Rae Bareilly where she has now concentrated for a decade.

On the eve of his first official visit to Lucknow after being appointed general secretary, Azad said: Priyanka Gandhi has campaigned in two Lok Sabha segments of Uttar Pradesh for around a decade now. Congress workers and candidates want her to play a larger role in the state as we get closer to elections. They are demanding that she enlarges her base and presence in UP. I am hopeful she will steal some time off Amethi and Rae Bareilly and campaign in other parts of the state as well.

The statement comes at a time when the Congress is building its organisation in UP, where it presently has only 29 MLAs in a house of 403. Azad, who will interact with state party workers tomorrow in Lucknow, is expected to give a direction to the Congress ongoing strategy in the state.

The party is lagging behind in the launch of election campaign in UP, where BSP has finalized its candidates, SP is on track being in government and BJP is queering the pitch with polarization talk around Kairana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently kick started BJP campaign in UP bu holding the Governments second anniversary event in UPs Saharanpur. The party strategically held its national executive in Allahabad this time.

The Congress, meanwhile, is still figuring out what to do with the campaign and how to energize it, where Priyankas role comes in. She has so far only canvassed for Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her brother and party vice president Rahul Gandhi in the Rae Bareilley and Amethi constituencies respectively.

Partys strategist for UP Prashant Kishor has been insisting on the UP campaign to be led by a Brahmin leader and had suggested Priyanka as an option. A top Congress source today said Priyanka was expected to effectively lead the UP campaign but it was not clear whether she would do so under a formal or an informal role.

The Congress is further planning to revamp its UP unit by replacing the current state leadership. Many names are doing the rounds for the UP Congress leaders post but Azad said, Nothing is final yet.

Azad, an old warhorse, has been appointed UP general secretary in charge for a purpose. He is the only once who can forge tactical alliances in the state in case the Congress needs some.

Priyanka Gandhi has campaigned in two Lok Sabha segments of Uttar Pradesh for around a decade now. Congress workers and candidates want her to play a larger role in the state as we get closer to elections. They are demanding that she enlarges her base and presence in UP. I am hopeful she will steal some time off Amethi and Rae Bareilly and campaign in other parts of the state as well. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Cong general secretary in charge of UP.
R Sedhuraman

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, June 15

A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court for stopping the culling of monkeys in Himachal Pradesh, wild boars in Uttarakhand and nilgais in Bihar that has created a controversy involving central ministers Maneka Gandhi and Prakash Javadekar, besides others.

A vacation Bench comprising Justices AK Goel and LN Rao on Wednesday, however, refused to hear the plea on an urgent basis. The petition by animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi would be listed for hearing in a weeks time in normal course, the Bench told senior counsel Anand Grover who appeared for the petitioner.

The Ministry of Forests and Environment issued a notification on May 24, 2016, allowing hunting of monkeys in Himachal Pradesh on a request from the state government as part of the move to check the problem the rhesus macaque posed to the residents and tourists.

The central ministry has also accepted similar suggestions from Uttarakhand and Bihar for culling nilgais (blue bulls) and wild boars (pigs) in the two states, respectively.

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi publicly criticised her cabinet colleague Javadekar for the approval given by his ministry for hunting the animals by declaring them vermin for one year.

In her PIL, Maulekhi has challenged the validity of Section 62 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 that empowered the Centre to remove animals from the protected list and let their culling to curtail their population.

Under the legal provision, there was no mechanism to monitor the slaughter or assess the need on a scientific basis after taking into account the destruction of their natural habitats of the animals, the petitioner pleaded.

The indiscriminate killing of these animals will have a detrimental effect on the food chain and in turn lead to an ecological imbalance, the PIL said pleading for declaring Section 62 of the Act as unconstitutional and illegal.
Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Abidjan (Ivory Coast), June 15

The west-African state of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is seeking Indias support for election to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The issue figured during delegation level talks between President Pranab Mukherjee and his counterpart, Alassane Ouattara, during the formers ongoing state visit.

Cote d'Ivoire is contesting for a two-year UNSC term for 2018-19 from the African Block and we have told them that we would definitely consider their case for support, Indian diplomats said following deliberations between the two presidents.

The appeal for Indian support comes in the backdrop of Mukherjee asserting that in the next UN General Assembly, concerted efforts should be made to push for UN reforms to make the 70-year-old global body more democratic and representative.

Another area Cote d'Ivoire is keen to have Indian investments, both from the public as well as private sector, is in manufacturing of chocolates. The African nation leads the world in production and export of the cocoa beans used in the manufacture of, accounting for close to 35 per cent of the worlds cocoa production.

An agreement was also made on the Export Import Bank of India re-establishing its branch in Cote d'Ivoire, which was initially started in 1992. The branch, besides hosting various facilities for investment, will also look out for new business opportunities in the region.

Information technology, agro-industry and mining are other areas that are being explored for cooperation and investments. Bilateral trade, which stood at 841 million USD last year, is now set to touch one billion USD this year, making India the countrys fifth largest trading partner.

Construction of electricity grids in Mali and Cote d'Ivoire under lines of credit as well as establishing fishery processing plants are also on the agenda.
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 15

The local police have arrested BJP leader Kabir Sharma for the murderous assault on Dr Gurbilas P Singh on June 12. Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa, SHO, Civil Lines police station, said Kabir, who was produced in court today, had been sent to judicial custody.

Efforts were on to nab Youth Akali Dal leader Rajbir Singh Bhullar, the co-accused in the case.

Read more: Doctor fired at, thrashed for trying to overtake vehicle

Dr Gurbilas had told the police that he was chased, fired upon and mercilessly thrashed by the accused after he tried to overtook their SUV. The SHO said the SUV had been impounded.

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The police had booked Kabir and Bhullar for attempt to murder and under the Arms Act on the doctors complaint. Kabir is said to be close to Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi.
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 15

The SGPC today sacked one of its staff members and suspended another for allegedly assaulting a youth on the Golden Temple premises.

The victim, Gurpartap Singh (20), was beaten up allegedly by Yadwinder Singh Nihang, Satnam Singh and two other unidentified SGPC employees with sticks. They had accused him of stealing a mobile phone.

The victim was first admitted to the Civil Hospital from where he was taken to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.

Additional secretary of SGPC Diljit Singh Bedi said they had terminated Yadwinder Singh Nihang and suspended Satnam Singh. He also announced to bear the medical expenses of the victim.

Gurpartap alleged that he was thrashed by a group of SGPC sewadars with iron rods, sickle and sticks. I had disassociated myself from the company of Yadwinder Singh Nihang due to which he was nursing a grudge against me.

His father Rajesh Kumar alleged the SGPCs officials were not ready to listen to him and supported their staff members. Even the police refused to lodge a complaint, he said. I am still struggling to get the medico legal report of my son to get an FIR lodged, he added.

Belonging to a Hindu family, the victims original name was Gaurav Kumar. He was a regular volunteer at the Golden Temple langar hall who later became a baptised Sikh.
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, June 15

Chief Minister Harish Rawat has accused the Narendra Modi-led Central government of not sanctioning funds for development activities announced in the budget prepared by the state government before Presidents rule was imposed.

He was addressing people at Someshwar, Chaukhutia and Bhikiasain yesterday. He said he was not able to implement wide-ranging development schemes as the Central government had stopped funds to the state even though the court had restored the Harish Rawat government.

Despite all odds, we have in the last two years provided disability or old age pension to poor persons. Around 7 lakh persons have been enlisted in the last two years for pensions, said Rawat while addressing a gathering in Someshwar.

He said in the last two years, he had found that traditional crafts, organic agriculture and horticulture would make the hill state self sufficient economically. He would change the face of the hill state if voted to power for the next five years. Though the Modi government has hijacked the state budget, the state government will spare no efforts for the welfare of the poor and unemployed youths in the state, he added.

The Chief Minister said in line with his promise, he had so far given employment to over 15,000 unemployed persons in the state and would provide jobs to an equal number of youths.
Dhaka: A Hindu lecturer on Wednesday survived an assassination attempt in southwestern Bangladesh when suspected Islamists barged into his home and attacked him with lethal weapons, wounding him seriously, the latest in a series of attacks on minorities and secular activists. The attackers stormed the residence of Ripon Chakrabarty, a Mathematics lecturer at the Nazimuddin Government University College in Madaripur, and attacked him with lethal weapons, the police said. PTI

Pakistan raises US drone attacks issue at UNHRC

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday said it had raised at the UN Human Rights Council the issue of US drone strike in the country and asked the international community to take note of rights violations taking place as a result of such illegal attacks. The Foreign Office said Pakistan had taken the issue of drone attacks by the US to the UN Human Rights Council. Pakistan had been enraged at the May 21 US drone strike which killed Taliban chief Mullah Mansour in Balochistan. PTI

US patience on Syria running out, Kerry tells Russia

Oslo: US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russia and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday to respect a fragile ceasefire, warning that Washington's patience was running out. Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable," the Secretary of State said during a visit to Norway. AFP
Washington, June 15

US President Barack Obama met the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, at the White House on Wednesday in spite of a warning by China that this would damage diplomatic ties, a White House official said.

The meeting was due to take place in the White House Map Room, where diplomatic functions are often held, instead of the Oval Office where the president normally meets world leaders.

A White House official confirmed the meeting had taken place, but gave no other details.

China's Foreign Ministry said earlier it had lodged diplomatic representations with the United States over the planned meeting, saying it would damage Chinese-U.S. ties.

China considers the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader a dangerous separatist, and ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing the meeting would encourage "separatist forces".

The meeting comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and China over Beijing's assertive pursuit of territorial claims in East Asia.

Obama met the Dalai Lama at the White House when the latter visited Washington in 2014 and angered China then when he vowed "strong support" for Tibetans' human rights.

Lu said China urged the United States to abide by its promises to recognize that Tibet is part of China and cease any support for Tibet independence.

The Dalai Lama, who fled from Tibet into exile in India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, says he wants genuine autonomy for Tibet, not independence.

The Dalai Lama told Reuters on Monday that Obama was "a long-time friend" whom he admired for his work to normalize relations with Cuba, and on Iran, and for his recent visits to former U.S. foe Vietnam and the site of the Hiroshima atomic bombing in Japan.  Reuters
Washington, June 15

Hours after President Barack Obama blasted him for his anti-Muslim rhetoric, Donald Trump on Wednesday hit back calling him a lousy president who he said is more angry at the Republican presidential nominee than the Orlando shooter.

He (Obama) was more angry at me than he was at the shooter, and many people said that. One of the folks on television said, Boy, has Trump gotten under his skin, Trump told his cheering supporters at an election rally in Greensboro, North Carolina.

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The level of anger, thats the kind of anger he should have for the shooter and these killers that shouldnt be here. We have a radical Islamic terrorism problem, Trump said.

He was responding to Obamas strong statement earlier in the day in which he slammed the real estate tycoon for his anti-Muslim rhetoric, including temporary ban of entry of Muslims in the US, increase in surveillance and for describing it as radical Islamic terrorism.

There is no magic to the phrase radical Islam. It is a political talking point. It is not a strategy, Obama had said in his remarks at the Department of Treasury after he held a meeting with his national security council.

We now have proposals from the presumptive Republican nominee for president of the United States to bar all Muslims from immigrating into America. And you hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests entire religious communities are complacent in violence, he said.

Where does this stop? The Orlando killer, one of the San Bernardino killers, the Fort Hood killer -- they were all US citizens. Are we going to start treating all Muslim-Americans differently? Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance? Are we going to start discriminate them, because of their faith? Obama asked.

Obama said this makes Muslim-Americans feel like their government is betraying them.

It betrays the very values America stands for. We have gone through moments in our history before when we acted out of fear, and we came to regret it. We have seen our government mistreat our fellow citizens, and it has been a shameful part of our history, said the President.

However, Trump stood his ground. I would have been very happy had Obama been a great President. Hes been one hell of a lousy president. Hes done a terrible job. Whats happening to our country is devastating and embarrassing and our lives will never be the same, Trump said. PTI
WASHINGTON, June 15

Presidential hopeful Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will meet with the leading US gun rights group about preventing people on a government terrorism "watch list" from buying guns, a move that may put pressure on fellow Republicans to enact new gun restrictions following the Orlando massacre.

Another Republican, US Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, is already working on a bill that would keep guns from people on such terrorism "watch lists," a gun control group said.

Republicans have staunchly defended gun rights and fought off attempts during Democrat Barack Obama's presidency to implement new restrictions. But Republican opponents of gun control measures are again under pressure from Democrats after a gunman killed 49 people at an Orlando gay nightclub early on Sunday.

The National Rifle Association, a politically influential lobbying group that claims more than 4 million members and has played a key role in thwarting gun control legislation in the US Congress, on May 20 endorsed Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

"I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns," Trump wrote on Twitter.

Trump last month told an NRA convention that he would protect the constitutional right to bear arms. He accused the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, of wanting to abolish that right, which she says is false.

Trump said in a November television interview he would support gun restrictions for someone on a watch list who is "an enemy of state."

The FBI maintains two terrorism watch lists, a smaller no fly list barring people from flying to and from the United States and a larger one of more than a million people that subjects travelers to greater scrutiny. The Orlando gunman, Omar Mateen, the US-born son of Afghan immigrants, was on the broader list at one time.

On Tuesday, the NRA said on Twitter that barring people on watch lists from buying guns is "ineffective, unconstitutional, or both."

Lizzie Ulmer, a spokeswoman for Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun-control group backed by billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said the organization was in talks with Toomey on a bill that would curb gun sales to people on the watch lists.

Toomey previously joined forces with Democrats on gun-control legislation after a gunman in 2012 fatally shot 20 young children and six educators at a Connecticut elementary school. That legislation was opposed by the NRA and killed by congressional Republicans.

Clinton said on Monday she was "bewildered" that congressional Republicans had blocked a Democratic effort to restrict gun sales to people on the watch lists.

The Trump campaign declined to provide more information about the NRA meeting. "We will send details at the appropriate time," campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said.

The NRA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.  Reuters
Shelley Simpson. Photo courtesy Women in Trucking.

Shelley Simpson is executive vice president, chief marketing officer and president of integrated capacity solutions and truckload for J.B. Hunt. Earlier this year, she received the Women In Trucking Associations Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award for 2016 Her business unit is now in the top five of third party logistics companies in the trucking industry, according to WIT. We talked to her in May. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.



HDT: Congratulations on receiving the Women In Trucking Associations Distinguished Woman in Logistics Award. What does this award mean to you?

Simpson: Ive been with the organization for 22 years and have seen the industry change so much. Where before many of us females didnt know there could be a great career inside transportation and logistics, we now realize that there are opportunities for really anyone. So its always nice to show potential people that might be interested in this segment that you can have a great career in transportation and logistics, just as with other organizations. I think weve moved perception from this being just trucking into so much more.

HDT: How did you get into trucking?

Simpson: [Laughs] Well, thats an interesting story. I was graduating from college in marketing and was going to be your local State Farm agent. I had a gentleman in one of my classes tell me he got a job at J.B. Hunt in the marketing department. I was like, "What do you mean, marketing? Its trucking. I was working at a preschool in college making $5.25 an hour and I thought this would be a great transitional job  it paid $2 more an hour. I was just going to come there for the summer.

HDT: Obviously it ended up being much longer! What made you stay?

Simpson: I think its so important for so many people that great mentors come along in their career. Sometime that summer the VP called me in and asked me about my career ambitions and said he thought I could have a good career in sales. Thats the first time I thought, theres something more to this company. I had seen the corporate environment and loved the family atmosphere here inside J.B. Hunt.

So often when were young in your career, we lack vision. The sooner our leaders can help connect them to the vision, [the sooner] it can help connect them to a long term career.

HDT: Of course the company has grown and changed since then. What has that been like from your perspective?

Simpson: Were a very entrepreneurial organization, obviously founded by an entrepreneur, but the company has moved from product-focused, from moving loads from a to b, to really thinking about solutions for our customers. Weve become very solution-oriented to think about how the goods or services move all the way to final consumption this has really changed our view of the type of work that we do.

HDT: You have basically moved up though the ranks over the years.

Simpson: I have. I really believe a lot in mentoring. Ive had a lot of really great mentors along the way ... a lot of people that allowed me to think about how I integrate my priorities in life. I met my husband here, started a family here, all while trying to maintain a good career, and I had mentors professionally and personally. How do I think about being a new mom in the workplace, how do I balance. I stepped back and went part time from 2003 to 2005, and that probably glued me to the organization in a way most people cant understand, because I really saw the company understanding the value of me personally and not just professionally. It made me think that they really care that I am healthy across the board.

HDT: I know a lot of women, in fact a lot of people in general, would be afraid stepping back like that would affect their career.

Simpson: I felt so fortunate an organization would be willing to do that. When I came back to work  the team was happy to have me back on board. As ive gotten older I realize we all go through seasons in life where those competing priorities make it difficult, that's men and women, and any time you can be in an organization that realizes youre more than just what the company needs, that the company wants you in the company long term and wants you happy long term.... I don't think a lot of people would think that about a trucking company  although we are not just a trucking company anymore, we are a transportation and logistics company.

HDT: Although it started in trucking, I know today thats just part of what J.B. Hunt does.

Simpson: We do quite a bit of truckload business. When I started, the asset-based business was much larger, but today weve evolved into doing different services. We split into four different business segments. Moving on the rail is a big part of what we do; its better for customers and for the environment. But we still employ thousands of truck drivers. We do our own dray work on the intermodal side and have trucks and trailers in dedicated and trucking business. The irregular route business, we do less of that, but brokerage has become a large part of the business as well. Owning all the assets might not make sense for us. We want to do the right business for those assets and complement that with the right business [hauled by] other people.

HDT: Tell us a little bit about your current position: vice president, chief marketing officer and president of integrated capacity solutions and truckload.

Simpson: I love all of it. Im not unlike a lot of people here with a passion and love for our company, and long careers here. I am [one of the youngest on] our executive leadership team. So I think inside the organization people just understand who we are and how we do business.

I think the fun part is articulating our vision and strategy to our employees. Its really the sales and marketing for our organization, how we grow our organization.

We doubled our revenue from 2009 to 2014. We really want to triple our revenue. We spend a lot of time with our customers understanding what they need and how we can provide the right answers. Thats one component of what i do. I also lead the truckload  the asset-based part  and ICS, the non asset-based. When I started in ICS that became our fourth business segment. I was on the front end of starting our brokerage and logistics segment, in my first executive role. in 2011 I added the marketing role and two and a half years later truckload. It makes sense: The type of business we do between the truckload and ICS complement each other and how we manage that for our customers.

HDT: So if youre focusing on providing solutions rather than the equipment

Simpson: We really can give them the best answer. If our team brings in enough opportunities for us to look at, then figuring out what best fits our own assets along with other peoples assets becomes much easier. The other component is we  can look at what part of that business can move to dedicated or intermodal though other parts of our organization.

HDT: What are you proud of having accomplished there?

Simpson: I think that our model is a very diversified model. Thats not something I did; Im just proud to be part of the company. We constantly evolved, reinvented ourselves. How do we innovate more and more for our customers, allowing growth. Thats not something I uniquely did, but being part of that is exciting.

HDT: Overall, what do you see as the biggest challenges the transportation and logistics industry faces?

Simpson: Certainly we always are thinking about government regulations. [Mandatory electronic logging devices] are coming next year that I believe will have a pretty big impact on the industry. We have to think about how we prepare for that, but anytime governmental regulations come into play its something we have to think about.

"There are still millions of loads moving on the highway that really need to move into intermodal."

Certainly intermodal has changed the way we do business, and I believe it can continue to. There are still millions of loads moving on the highway that really need to move into intermodal. Thats one of the things we're focused on, is how we educate more of our shippers.

Industry wise, certainly the driver shortage is a constant discussion for us, how do we make this a better job, with more home time, better pay  and I would say more consistent pay is important as well. What do we need to do to attract new applicants?

HDT: In a 2014 article, you were characterized as having a passion for diversity. Tell me more about how you see a diversified team, the benefits, the challenges.

Simpson: I do have a passion for diversity  and the ideas and the culture and different backgrounds that we can bring into a team to create a great answer. Its really about how I build a team with different strengths, from different backgrounds, you get better ideas and thought leadership.

Diversity absolutely has a bottom line impact. We speak 23 languages; thats just one example of how we use diversity to push our business forward. Its not just gender or ethnicity; its really much broader than that.

HDT: Tell me about GROW, which the company introduced last year and which I understand was largely your brainchild.

Growing and Retaining Outstanding Women (GROW) is around 400 members today, and its not intended only for females. Its about growing women inside our organization. GROW has four pillars: Recruiting and retaining women, professional development, community involvement, and collaboration and connection.

HDT: Specifically looking at women, what challenges do they face in this industry?

I think a lot of it comes down to competing priorities. Ill speak from an office employee standpoint; obviously theres a different challenge in the driving part. Trying to balance out everything thats competing in your life.

But also you have to learn how, when youre one of very few women in a meeting, whether its a business meeting with a customer or in your own organization, how do you connect and create value. Im now the older woman that mentors and I find it interesting often that younger employees starting fresh in their careers have the same questions as someone whos been with he company 10 or 20 years. Theyre thinking about the family, about making the blend happen. and not give up too much along the way. Having a great career and having a great family  how do you make connections happen?
A high-profile truck crash in Georgia that led to increased calls for a collision-avoidance technology mandate has reportedly resulted in murder indictments for the truck driver and carrier involved.

Five Georgia Southern University nursing students were killed in April 2015 in a seven-vehicle crash on Interstate 16.

Truck driver John Wayne Johnson of Shreveport, Louisiana, failed to stop in time and crashed into traffic slowed on the interstate around 5:45 a.m. due to an earlier wreck. Seven vehicles, including two tractor-trailers and five passenger cars, were involved in the crash.

Four of the students died at the scene. Three other students were taken to the hospital, where one died. Three other people were also injured in the crash.

The crash led Road Safe America founder Stephen Owings to renew his call for Congress and the federal government to require collision-avoidance systems in all tractor-trailer trucks.

Now a grand jury has indicted Johnson and the trucking company he worked for, Total Transportation of Mississippi, on murder charges, according to WSB-TV 2 in Atlanta.

Johnson was indicted on multiple charges of homicide by vehicle, and one count of serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving, failure to exercise due care and following too closely. Total Transportation has been indicted on multiple charges of homicide by vehicle, along with one count of criminal responsibility of corporations and serious injury by vehicle.

At the time, Channel 2 found that over the previous two years, Total's drivers had reeived 266 unsafe driving violations.

Earlier this year, Total Transportation agreed to settle wrongful death lawsuits in the case, with at least one victim's family receiving $14 million, according to a report in the Chattanooga Times Free Press. (Total's parent company, U.S. Xpress, is based in Chattanooga.)

According to that report, depositions in the civil suits revealed that the company hired Johnson after he had disclosed being fired by a previous employer for falling asleep at the wheel. Johnson testified that the crash was his fault, but insisted he was awake.

Total Transportation of Mississippi operates 765 power units and has more than 900 drivers, according to its current SAFER record. Those records show that in the past 24 months, the company has had two fatal crashes, 31 injury crashes, and 51 crashes that required towing. Its current inspection out of service rate for vehicles and ddrivers is below the national average.
Shirley Faye (Roberts) Archer Shirley Faye (Roberts) Archer went to Heaven on June 2, 2016. Shirley was born on September 6, 1935 to Braden Roberts and Lena (Lenard) Roberts of Coweta, OK. Shirley was married to Joel Don Archer for 38 years until his death in 1991 and she never remarried. Shirley was a house wife, mother and caregiver for multiple individuals in her later years. Shirley enjoyed traveling, attending church and worshiping with her church family for many years at Woodcrest Freewill Baptist Church. One of her best positions was when she was a greeter at the church as she had been noted she "loved doing that!" Shirley was preceeded in death by both parents: Braden and Lena, one sister: Linda Flanagan, and two brothers: JC and Johnnie Roberts. Shirley is survived two sisters: Thelma Walker and Pernie Edminston, and one brother: Brady Roberts, two daughters: Rita Harvey and her husband Glenn, and Dawn Abdich and her husband Tim, one son: Joel Don Archer Jr and his wife Mary, eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren which she loved and enjoyed. Shirley will be missed. Her new life was celebrated by all who knew and loved her. Viewing was from 1-8PM Tuesday, June 7 with visitation from 6-8PM Tuesday, June 7; service was held 12PM Wednesday, June 8 at the Woodcrest Freewill Baptist Church in Catoosa. Kennedy-Kennard Funeral & Cremation, Broken Arrow, 918.251.5331, kennedycares.com.
FOREST CITY  Farmers Cooperative Association General Manager Randy Broesder got very specific orders from his board.

This is a one-time deal so the board said to do it up right, Broesder said of the cooperatives 100th anniversary.

The cooperative will celebrate Saturday, June 25.

One big part of that celebration will be train rides from 2 to 4 p.m. in an Iowa Northern Railway passenger train.

Iowa Northern Railway operates a rail line that passes through Forest City. The cooperative uses that rail line.

Ive been trying to get the train here for three years, Broesder said. Their passenger cars have been booked solid.

Broesder wasnt able to get the passenger train for Christmas these past years but he did secure it for the 100th anniversary.

As soon as we announced the train, the phones were ringing, Broesder said.

As of June 9, there were 400 tickets left. Those who want to ride should contact the cooperative. The tickets are available for a donation that will be given to Winnebago County Relay for Life, the Winnebago County Neighborhood Food Bank and the Forest City Education Foundation.

Broesder said the train fun starts June 21. The Winnebago Historical Society is sponsoring train historian Rudolph Daniels at 7 p.m. June 21, at the Waldorf University Atrium.

The celebration is geared toward Farmers Cooperative Association members and customers, but the cooperative has been part of the communitys landscape for 100 years.

The cooperative has sites in Forest City, Leland, Buffalo Center and Kiester and Winnebago, Minnesota. The cooperative has a cardtrol fuel station in Forest City. The cooperative annually donates a portion of the revenue from the cardtrol station to local charities.

In addition, cooperative customers annually donate grain proceeds to the Winnebago County Neighborhood Food Bank and county food pantries.

The cooperative also sponsors a scholarship at Forest City High School.
Memorial service for Beatrice "Bea" Vickery, 92, of Sperry, OK, will be held Saturday June 18, 2016 at The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in Sperry, Oklahoma, with Elbert Rogers officiating.

Cremation services will be under the direction of Peters-Stumpff Funeral Home. Beatrice passed away on June 6, 2016, at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa. She was born on October 15, 1923, in Skiatook, Oklahoma to Harbert Valentine and Iva Edith (Swift) Zahner.

Beatrice was a graduate of Skiatook High School. She married Lloyd Francis Vickery on April 7, 1941; he preceded her in death on December 16, 2007. During the war Bea's brothers and husband enlisted in the Navy. While they were gone Bea worked for Douglas Aircraft as a "Rosie Riveter" working on B-24 Bombers. They lived in Sperry and Skiatook until moving to Independence, MO in the late 80's. While living in Independence Bea and Lloyd worked to feed the homeless at "Lunch Partners".

She later moved back to Oklahoma making Sperry her home where she was a member of the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Bea spent many hours volunteering with the church. She loved and cared for her family.

Bea is survived by her son Jerry Vickery of the home, two grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lloyd, a son Francis Vickery Jr. and three brothers: Marvin, Elvin and Melvin Zahner.
Skinner Trace which is off the S.S. Erin Road is experiencing major land movement which has 
On Friday National Geographic will screen adventure series Riding Morocco: Chasing The Dakar, which follows racer Christophe Barriere-Varju and presenter Laura Csortan as they go on a unique biking tour across Africa.

MayYi Lee, Vice President of NGC Regional Production & Development for APAC and ME, said, Were pleased to have partnered with Honda on this pioneering television project that fulfils the human need for exploration and uncovers a fascinating side of Africa. Viewers must tune in to Riding Morocco: Chasing The Dakar to witness Barriere-Varju and Csortans ultimate biking expedition and learn what extremes true adventurers will endure for the sake of self-discovery and making history. NGC is committed to continue producing quality programming that promotes the values of knowing more about the world and driving it forward.

Co-presenters Barriere-Varju and Csortan will be taking the ultimate biking tour in Riding Morocco: Chasing The Dakar, seeing enigmatic parts of Africa that are off the well-worn tourist trails. They will take audiences to historical sites hidden deep in the desert as well as gorgeous, untouched oases towns, meeting a variety of personalities, from tribesmen and silver miners to astronauts preparing for a space mission. Bringing their own supplies, Barriere-Varju and Csortan will travel through every imaginable extremefreezing nights and blazing mid-day sun, large sand dunes, mountains and valleysto test their personal limits and experience all of Africas hidden terrain and cultures along the ride of a lifetime.

Barriere-Varju is the perfect presenter for Riding Morocco: Chasing The Dakar, having ridden both the African and South American versions of the Dakar Rally, an annual off-road endurance event that has tested the most experienced drivers in the world. He brings this racing experience to the fore in the show, calling on it to navigate and handle the various types of rugged terrain that Africa has in store for the riders.

Meanwhile, Csortan is an experienced presenter and model who is also a racing enthusiast, having been a panellist on Grand Prix TV. She became the face of The Australian Moto GP in 2008 and travelled the world for seven years presenting the Australian travel show The Great Outdoors. Its her love for adventure and racing that viewers will relate to upon seeing their journey unfold. Not only will Barriere-Varju and Csortan reveal the hidden stories of Africa and get to know themselves better in Riding Morocco: Chasing The Dakar, but their completion of the ride also spells a victory for the human spirit.

Friday June 17 at 10.30pm on Nat Geo.
On Monday Seven will screen a news special Seven News investigates: The Devil You Know.

Robert Ovadia looks closer at the murder of Jamie Gao, at the hands of former NSW detectives Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara.

Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders is now expected to air as a single episode at 9:45pm.

On May 20, 2014, 20-year-old university student Jamie Gao was shot dead inside a Padstow storage shed in Sydneys south west. Six days later his body would be found by fishermen, stuffed inside a surfboard bag floating off the Cronulla coastline.

Damning security footage put two men inside that shed with Gao  former NSW detectives Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara.

Both pleaded not guilty to the shooting murder and a separate charge of taking part in the supply of 2.7kg of ice.

During the four-month trial Rogerson and McNamara pointed the finger at each other for the murder. Today, a jury found both men guilty on all charges.

Now, in a powerful one-hour special investigation, Seven News will examine in forensic detail the full, extraordinary facts surrounding the case.

Featuring incredible CCTV vision of the 48 hours before, during and after the murder, senior reporter and Walkley Award-winning journalist Robert Ovadia pieces together the events that led to Gaos death and key evidence in the investigation.

We look back at the life and crimes of Rogerson, one of Australias most infamous detectives, and hear from the insiders who know him and McNamara best. And the shocking revelation from one of the most respected policemen in NSW history.

Monday 20 June at 8.45pm on Seven.
If theres anything Peggy Carter cant do then it isnt evident in the first action episode of Marvels Agent Carter.

Fire a weapon, throw a punch, dance, don a disguise, and display exemplary detective skills -this gal does it all. Agent Carter centres around Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), love interest of Steve Rogers (aka Captain America).

In 1946 New York Peggy works for the clandestine Strategic Scientific Research, a workplace that has no problem being more male-dominated than that of Mad Men. Pushing to be accepted by her colleagues, most of whom treat her like a secretary, Peggy knows she has what it takes -if only everybody else did.

Into her lap falls a major case when elusive industrialist Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) reaches out when he stands accused of being a traitor. But Stark insists his inventions were stolen, not sold on the black market to enemies of the state. If Carter can work in secret to clear his name both may get what they most need -but theres a catch: she effectively has to become a traitor at work in order to prove he isnt one.

You want a mission that matters? This is it, Stark tells her.

He assigns his butler Jarvis (James DArcy) to be at her beck and call, who amusingly advises he doesnt work after 9pm. And so begins a trail that leads to a society party, an oil refinery, a big band, a body count, explosions, and a healthy dose of knockout lipstick.

With its period backdrop, art deco sets and costumes, Agent Carter is Jessica Rabbit meets Dick Tracy. Theres even echoes of Inspector Gadget and Alias to boot. Amid the gum-shoe detectives and action sequences, there are strong feminist themes that help keep this contemporary.

Hayley Atwell shines in the title role, drawing upon action and humour in the script by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. James DArcy serves as a kind of younger Alfred to her Batgirl, while Chad Michael Murray heads up the SSR. Enver Gjokaj plays Carters empathetic colleague Daniel Sousa, who may yet prove to have romantic designs on her -hell be lucky if she can find the time amid all her crime-busting. Theres also a cameo by Chris Evans and Dominic Cooper in his aforementioned supporting role.

Agent Carter was voted by TV Tonight readers in January as the international show they most wanted to see on Australian TV. While the final product may not quite match the lengthy wait, its nevertheless a bright and confident addition to a genre that is increasingly the domain of Pay TV.

Agent Carter premieres with a double episode 8:30pm Monday on 7flix.


Minor Spoiler:

Upcoming Doctor Who spinoff Class creator will feature a lead LGBTQ character.

Creator Patrick Ness took to social media following the mass shooting in Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

Been asked if Class will have LGBT representation in it. Will a lead character with a boyfriend who he kisses & sleeps with & loves do? he wrote.

We were keeping that secret, but today that secret doesnt seem very important. #lovewins.

Theres way more than one character on the show, of course; lots of stories to be told. WITH ALIENS & TERROR & EMOTIONS & STUFF!!!

So I cant wait for you to meet the characters of Class, all of em, all their sorrows & joys & goofiness & loves & losses. Roll on Autumn

Class takes place at the Coal Hill Academy, the school where The Doctor and several of his past companions have had many adventures over the decades.

An Australian broadcaster is yet to be confirmed.

Source: Digital Spy
OSAGE | Osage business and production company My Town Pictures not only produces community movies but now produces a television series.

This past year, Scott Thompson, founder of My Town Pictures, added a new aspect to the company when he started the production of Iowa Journeys with Carsha Meyer as his assistant creative director and producer of the television series. Each episode is 23 minutes long plus commercials, making for a 30-minute episode.

Co-hosts for the show are Bob Jensen, longtime host of the popular show Fishing the Midwest, and Jessie Polley, an actress originally from Wapello.

Jensen and Thompson both had similar ideas for a television show and when they got together, by chance, they realized perhaps there was something to the idea. They decided to see if they could make it happen, said Meyer.

Nearly every state bordering Iowa has a version of this show but Iowa never has, she said. Both Scott and Bob love stories and wanted to set out to make something which was beyond just a mere where to eat, where to stay travel show.

Meyer said the show was considered an Iowa travel show. In fact, it is the Iowa travel show. With our show, we want to bring attention to the unique people, places and organizations which make our state great," she said.

We hope to stimulate pride and awareness which will encourage in-state travel (day and weekend trips) and economic development as well. Iowa has so many fantastic small towns with unique stories and we want to give them the opportunity to be showcased just as much as the large cities. Just because your town doesn't have a tourism department doesn't mean it doesn't have a great story to tell. We will help you tell it.

Meyer added, We keep saying we want to essentially create a half-hour commercial for what we feature. We want the town or county to be as involved as they want in order to make certain it is something they feel accurately represents them and they are proud of. Most travel shows just come in and tell the story the way they want. We don't want to do that.

Season One, in 2015, consisted of three episodes: Madison County/Winterset, West Bend Grotto and Burlington.

We film primarily in the summer and fall and then the episodes air on local channels, which vary depending on your location, starting in January, said Meyer. We are encouraging people if they didn't catch Season One when it aired or simply want to see the episodes again to please go to our Iowa Journeys YouTube channel where we have made all the episodes available. As of right now we do not have a DVD option for purchase but we are hoping to have that figured out in the upcoming weeks.

This past year, the show aired on KIMT in this area and Meyer expects it to air on KIMT on Sundays in January 2017. The showed aired throughout all of Iowa as well as southern Minnesota, eastern Nebraska and western Illinois. She hopes coverage will expand for Season Two.

Were in the process of lining up towns and would love to do an edition on Osage and Mitchell County, Meyer said.

Anyone wanting more information about how to be on the show can contact Meyer directly at mytownpictures5@gmail.com or by sending a message to their Facebook page.
On Monday Malcolm Turnbull will make his first appearance on Q&A since becoming Prime Minister. Possibly not wearing a leather jacket.

The one on one event will take place at Brisbane Powerhouse.

The Prime Minister will face questions directly from the Brisbane audience and viewers at home, live and unscripted.

Heading into the final fortnight of the election campaign with the polls showing this election is still too close to call, all eyes will be on the PM on Monday night as he takes the Q&A hot seat.

Monday, 20 June  9.35pm on ABC and News 24.
Production is underway onThe High Road, a sequel to the acclaimed 1995 miniseries Blue Murder, for the Seven Network.

Richard Roxburgh is recreating his role as Roger Rogerson, the former NSW detective who was yesterday found guilty of the 2014 murder of university student Jamie Gao, with ex-cop Glen McNamara.

Director Michael Jenkins is returning for the project, produced by John Edwards for Endemol Shine.

The sequel to the ABC series was first rumoured in 2014.

Producers declined to comment while court proceedings continue.

Meanwhile earlier this week The Australian reported John Edwards is signing with Roadshow Films.

Amended.
The Defense Ministry of Ukraine and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) have signed an agreement in Brussels on support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Defense Ministry's press service has reported this. "Ukrainian Defense Minister and Army General Stepan Poltorak took part in the ceremony of signing the Sales Agreement between the Defense Ministry of Ukraine and the NSPA," the statement reads. ish
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said on Tuesday that had the FBI "been on top of things," it could have arrested Omar Mateen before he went on his murderous rampage in Orlando, killing 49 people.

Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters he saw no need for an expansion of gun-control legislation, and he sent a letter to the Obama administration asking a series of questions about Mateen and his family.

Grassley's comments come as law enforcement and Congress are focusing on what led up to the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. The Obama administration and congressional Democrats have called for stronger gun laws.

On a conference call with radio reporters Tuesday, Grassley said, "We basically have to get over that this is about guns." Instead, when asked what could have been done to prevent what happened in Orlando, Grassley turned to the FBI.

"If the FBI had been on top of things, he could have been arrested based upon the suspicions that they had beforehand," Grassley said, according to Iowa Public Radio.

Authorities have said Mateen was on a federal watch list in 2013 and 2014 after questions were raised about him, including his acquaintance with a Florida man who launched a suicide attack in Syria. He was removed from the list in early 2014.

Grassley chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, and in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Secretary of State John Kerry, the Iowa Republican asked for law enforcement records related to Mateen as well as answers to whether his family members have refugee status or what types of visas they sought.

Mateen's parents came to the U.S. from Afghanistan.

Grassley cited a news report saying that Mateen's father, Seddique Mir Mateen, hosts a television program with a "pro-Taliban slant." He also asked for travel records for the family and whether the younger Mateen was ever a government contractor for Homeland Security or the State Department. Grassley's information request included Mateen's wife and ex-wife.

FBI Director James Comey has defended the bureau's handling of the case.

"I don't see anything in reviewing our work that our agents should have done differently," Comey said, according to an ABC News report Monday.

"Our investigation involved introducing confidential sources to him, recording conversations with him, following him, reviewing transactional records from his communications and searching all government holdings for any possible connections, any possible derogatory information. We then interviewed him twice," Comey said.

The cases were closed, officials said, because they did not have enough information to tie Mateen to terrorist activities.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine will become compatible with the NATO standards by 2020, according to Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak.

Im sure that after the implementation of all directions of reforms by 2020, Ukraines Armed Forces will operate jointly with NATO by almost all standards and criteria, the minister said following a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Commission in Brussels on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He also reminded that Ukraines Strategic Defense Bulletin was approved by Ukraines defense reform roadmap on June 6. The minister also noted that all strategic documents of Ukraine to reform the security and defense sector were developed jointly with high-ranking advisors of the Alliance.

iy
Defense Minister Army General of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak will attend a meeting of NATO-Ukraine Commission in Brussels, Belgium, the press service of Defense Ministry reports.

"June 14, a visit of Ukraines Defense Minister Army General Stepan Poltorak to NATO Headquarters has begun. He is to attend a meeting of NATO-Ukraine Commission on the level of defense ministers," the report.

Minister Poltorak is scheduled to hold a number of bilateral meetings with defense ministers of Georgia, Romania, Portugal, Bulgaria and Poland during his visit.

In particular, on Wednesday June 15 Ukrainian Minister of Defense will meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, and he will attend the meeting of NATO-Ukraine Commission.

tl
Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman started his visit to the United States where he met with heads of Ukrainian-American community organizations on Tuesday, June 14, according to the government site.

"You're doing a great job for Ukraine and Ukrainians. You are working in all spheres. Your international active position, which draws attention to Ukraine, your volunteer efforts to support our military, support for various programs  we are witnesses of your assistance. It is extremely important in these hard times," he said.

Prime Minister thanked the Ukrainian community in the United States for their efforts and support for Ukraine.

The Prime Minister informed them about the priorities of the Government, in particular to attain macroeconomic stability and create a favorable business climate. The government official spoke about the measures taken, including: setting sole market price for natural gas, decentralization, civil service reform, preparation for implementing electronic tax returns filed by civil servants and public privatization of the state-owned enterprises. In addition, the Government is working to create investment agency to be overseen by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, he noted.

The participants of the meeting also discussed the situation in Donbas, progress of reforms in the country and anti-corruption measures.

tl
| By Alex Likowski

University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Jay A. Perman, MD, joined Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and Baltimore education leaders June 14 to announce that two Baltimore City schools have been selected as new Pathways in Technology Early College (P-TECH) sites. The program will be up and running at Carver Vocational Technical High School and Dunbar High School this fall for the 2016-2017 school year.

The P-TECH education model is a nationally recognized approach that blends high school, college, and work experience. In six years or less, students graduate with a high school diploma and a two-year associate degree in a STEM career field at no additional cost. Students also benefit from career experience and mentorship in the workplace and will be first in line for skilled jobs upon graduation through partnerships with private sector participants. Each P-TECH school works with industry partners and a local community college to provide a curriculum that is academically rigorous and economically relevant.

"Our population of health scientists and professionals needs to better reflect the populations of people they serve, Perman said. "This is how you reduce the disparities we have in this country  and this city  in terms of health care delivery and health outcomes. We can improve the health of populations hardest hit by chronic disease by preparing students for health sciences jobs at UMB and at other allied health institutions, while at the same time offering economic opportunity to West Baltimore residents.

Standing left to right are Brooklyn, NY P-TECH graduate Radcliff Sadler, Maritha Gay of Kaiser Permanente, Baltimore City School Board Chair Marnell Cooper, Acting State Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon, Stanley Litow of IBM, Governor Larry Hogan, Johns Hopkins President Ronald Daniels, and UMB President Jay Perman.

Hogan praised the efforts of city school leaders, members of the Maryland General Assembly, and program co-developer IBM for working together to bring P-TECH to Baltimore.

"Our administration is committed to thinking outside the box, and advocating for innovative solutions to ensure that every single child has the opportunity to get a world-class education, regardless of what neighborhood they happen to grow up in," said Hogan. "With the announcement of Maryland's first two P-TECH sites, students in Baltimore City will have the chance to gain in-demand skills that employers need for the 21st-century workforce, and employers here in Maryland will gain a steady pipeline to skilled professionals."

IBM will partner with P-TECH Carver (with a degree focus in cybersecurity and information technology (IT), while UMB, Johns Hopkins University, and Kaiser Permanente will serve as the industry partners for P-TECH Dunbar (with a degree focus in health IT). Both sites were chosen by the Baltimore City school system, and each will receive $100,000 in grant funding from the state.

In urban centers like Baltimore, we know that growing technology companies are creating jobs and opportunities, but if our youth are not prepared with the necessary skills, these opportunities will not be accessible, said Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. The need for better training opportunities is particularly true for young people in some of our communities that are frequently overlooked as a source for tech hires.

Perman echoed those sentiments, calling P-TECH  which provides opportunities for high school students - a natural next step to UMBs CURE Scholars Program. The CURE Scholars Program, launched last fall, provides science and health care educational opportunities and mentoring for middle school students in UMB partner schools in West Baltimore.

The CURE Scholars Program is designed to put young students on a path to good-paying careers in the health sciences and to build a health care workforce in Baltimore that can capably address the chronic diseases that devastate our neighborhoods, Perman said. The point is to reach students early, to tap into their natural excitement and curiosity, to make them love science like so many of us do, and to pave this career path for them before it can grow steep and encumbered.

"I cant wait to see whats possible when this community unites around our students and transforms the way we prepare them for 21st-century work, Perman added. This is good for our students, good for our schools, and very, very good for Baltimore.

In addition to P-TECH Carver and P-TECH Dunbar, four P-TECH planning grants have been awarded to launch additional schools in other parts of the state. To learn more about P-TECH schools, visit www.ptech.org. For more information on Marylands Career and Technology Education programs, visit www.mdcteprograms.org.




CEDAR RAPIDS  Sen. Chuck Grassley will leave it up to Sen. Joni Ernst to decide whether she would accept an invitation to be Donald Trumps running mate.

However the six-term senator had some advice for his freshman colleague should she be offered the vice presidential slot by the presumptive Republican nominee.

I think she has a long, potential career in the United States Senate, Grassley said Wednesday. I dont know how to measure this, but if she would be a vice president nominee and that ticket would not win, she ought to take that into consideration.

Grassley said he hasnt talked to Ernst about the possibility of her being Trumps vice presidential running mate.

In fact, Ive tried to avoid it for the reason that I think its a very personal thing, he said during his weekly conference call with Iowa reporters.

Grassley believes Ernst could be an asset because of her demeanor and the leadership shes shown in her first 17 months as a senator. Having a woman on the ticket would be an asset because the more Republican voices we have of conservative women, or women in general, the better off the party is.

Her military experience  Ernst served 23 years in the Army Reserve and Iowa Army National Guard  is something that Trump could use some back-up on, he added.

Ernst isnt the only Iowan worthy of vice presidential consideration, according to Grassley. Former Gov. Tom Vilsack, now President Barack Obamas secretary of agriculture, is among the many Democrats mentioned as a Hillary Clinton running mate.

Like Ernst, Vilsack would bring something to his partys ticket the presumptive nominee lacks, Grassley said.

Hes as clean  ethically very clean, Grassley said. That sure would make Hillary Clinton look a lot better.

Picking Vilsack as a running mate would emphasize agriculture and, again, that would be a signal that Iowa is very important to carry if you are going to be president, Grassley said.

Grassley gives Vilsack good marks for his efforts as USDA chief and said he has been helpful on issues of mutual interest. One of them involved the USDAs discriminatory treatment of black farmers by denying them loans, disaster aid and representation on agricultural committees.

He fully kept his commitment to me, Grassley said.

Another issue theyve worked on is a payment cap of $250,000 from all federal farm programs.

We havent been too successful, but hes tried to help all he could, Grassley said.
ALTOONA  Iowas black youth are punished at school and arrested five times more often than white youth, and the racial disparity in arrests is widening, according to a state report.

That disparity was the subject of a day-long conference in Altoona on Wednesday attended by dozens of Iowa officials from the courts and law enforcement.

It is time for each one of us to confront and eliminate the implicit bias and disparity that exists in our criminal justice system, said Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady, who spoke at the event.

Iowa has the highest rate of black incarceration in the country. And, according to an early summary of a report from the state Department of Human Rights Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning that will be published in August, black Iowa youth are five times more likely than white youth to be suspended from school and are five times more likely to be arrested.

The arrest rate of black youth has increased 3.4 percent in nine of the states metropolitan areas, but the arrest rate of white youth has decreased nearly 31 percent during the same time period, the report summary said.

The over-representation of African-Americans in our criminal justice system is brought to life in our own data. It is visible, it is factual and its impact is felt in our communities, Cady said. Let us never forget that the data has a face.

A significant part of the problem is the countrys reliance upon incarceration, said James Bell, founder and executive of the Burns Institute for Juvenile Justice Fairness and Equity of Oakland, California, and another of Wednesdays featured speakers.

Our justice system is driven by an addiction. And that addiction has always been, from the 1600s and 1700s to today, our societal reliance on incarceration as a primary instrument of societal control, Bell said. When you have to put a child on a crate to fingerprint them to incarcerate them, thats an addiction.

Bell said states are not adequately funding services that would help prevent minority juveniles from running afoul of the law and the court system has become overly burdened by an issue it is not equipped to handle.

The justice system is the dumping ground for other failed systems, and the justice system, to its credit, keeps taking them, Bell said, using drug and family courts as examples that the court system is handling people it should not. Treatment courts are the tacit admission by the justice department that its dealing with societal problems. 

What that is is justice saying, We cant do this, but you keep asking us to.

Wednesdays event also featured a panel of four Iowa court and law enforcement officials who in recent years participated in conferences hosted by the Georgetown University Center for Juvenile Justice Reform.

What I learned in Georgetown was that what we were doing with children was not working, was not making my community safer and was hurting children. That undermined my two main goals as assistant county attorney, said Assistant Scott County Attorney Julie Walton. So we have to do something different.

The report summary also highlighted pilot projects throughout Iowa.

In Black Hawk County, a program diverting low-risk juvenile offenders has cut youth arrests for both blacks and whites roughly in half.

In Woodbury County, a program to reduce juvenile detention facility holds to only individuals who have a court appearance or are deemed a threat to public safety has reduced the facilitys black population by 57 percent.
DES MOINES -- There was applause and there were tears. There was boisterous singing and there were moments of somber silence. There were solemn prayers and there were impassioned calls to action.

And there was love.

Love is love, is love, is love, was pronounced by speakers, written on signs and chanted by the roughly 1,000 people who gathered at a park in downtown Des Moines on Tuesday evening to honor the 49 victims of a shooting at a gay club in Orlando over the weekend.

Tuesdays event was organized by One Iowa, a nonprofit advocacy group for lesbian, bisexual, transgender and gay (LGBT) Iowans.

Sobs could be heard in the crowd as speakers read aloud the names of all 49 victims in Sundays shooting.

Let us honor the memory of the victims by coming together for the common good, said Veronica Fowler of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, one of more than a dozen speakers to make brief remarks at the event.

Multiple speakers talked about the heightened fear that many LGBT individuals have felt in the shootings wake.

We are more afraid today than we were last week, said Donna Red Wing, executive director of One Iowa and a gay woman. At its essence (the shooting) was a hate crime and it was against us.  We were targeted because of who we were and who we love.

Bryan Smith, a gay man and part-owner of The Blazing Saddle, a gay bar in Des Moines East Village, spoke about that fear.

In March of 2015 Smiths bar received a threatening letter with a suspicious powder that later was determined by law enforcement to be harmless. The letter contained profane insults and calls for gay people to die.

Despite that, and despite the shooting in Orlando, Smith assured the crowd they can feel safe gathering together.

I never felt more safe in a workplace because they were my people, Smith said. Something like this has happened, but we still need to be brave enough to go wherever we want to go. Without being brave, there is no freedom. 

This should make us stand up taller, stand up prouder, for those who have fallen for us.

Addressing those who may be afraid, Sophia Stone, of the transgender support group Transformations Iowa, said Tuesday nights crowd is a signal of support.

Look at all of the people that came out. Look at all the people who are here today. We are all here to help you and to protect you, Stone said. There is no need to worry. We are here for you.

Red Wing gave the crowd what she called a call to action, for all to insist on the end of anti-gay language.

Red Wing said she did not mean only direct insults and threats, but also religious leaders who condemn what they call the gay lifestyle, or leaders and officials who require a transgender person to use a certain bathroom, or school officials who brush off bullying incidents.

They are all complicit, Red Wing said, suggesting that such things are a precursor to violence.

And we must demand it stops today.
UNICEF Executive Board

The Executive Board is the governing body of UNICEF, providing intergovernmental support and oversight to the organization, in accordance with the overall policy guidance of the United Nations General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.
Finally, scientists in Switzerland discovered a way to effectively clear out nuclear plants' radioactive wastes.

A group of scientists from Polytechnique FAdArale de Lausanne together with their American colleagues reported the discovery of a material abbreviated as SBMOF-1, a nanoporous crystal belonging to the group of materials used in cleaning out CO2 and dangerous pollutant emissions.

As global warming is becoming a bigger problem worldwide, and alternative to carbon-based fossil fuels with a much cheaper maintenance value will be a great leap. Yet, nuclear energy which is known to be the cheapest alternative to carbon poses a dangerous and expensive waste gas generation,EScience. reported.

Krypton and xenon are the two types nuclear waste gases emitted during reprocessing of the nuclear fuel. These two elements are escapes as by-products in the off-gas of the facility used in reprocessing.

The only way to clear out these waste elements is through a cryogenic method and distillation wherein the elements are brought to a temperature far lower than water freezing point. This process however is may cause the risk of explosion and is known to be expensive.

That is why scientists from Switzerland conducted a study to find a solution to this problem. They studied 125,000 MOF's to find an eliminating tool to clear nuclear waste. SBMOF-1 stood out having the pore size closest to that of xenon atom. This element contains the needed characteristics to separate krypton and xenon from other elements without having to use the cryogenic method.

They also tested the element under different temperature conditions. Humidity is a big hindrance with the cryogenic method to clear out nuclear waste gases. They were surprised to find that SBMOF-1 displayed the same performance both in dry and in humid conditions.

The last test they conducted was the repeated use of SBMOF-1 to clear out the xenon and the krypton, vacuuming the elements for safe storage. The element displayed a high degree of stability assuring its long-term performance, M.Phys Org reported.
Aaron Persky, the judge who ignited national outrage after handing convicted rapist ex-Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner a six-month sentence, has been barred from presiding over a new sexual assault case.

On June 16, Tuesday morning, Santa Clara County prosecutors charged Persky with a peremptory challenge, The Mercury News reported. The challenge effectively barred Persky from hearing over a rape case involving a sedated woman who was allegedly sexually assaulted by a Kaiser Permanente surgical nurse.

District Attorney Jeff Rosen, the lead prosecutor who filed the peremptory challenge, said they did so because they were "disappointed and puzzled" at Persky's decision to hand Turner a six-month sentence. Due to what he did, they have lost confidence in his ability to impartially preside over the case involving the nurse who sexually assaulted the sedated patient, he pointed out.

At the same time, Rosen also did not discount the possibility of having Persky removed from the bench. He said they will continue to monitor his handling of future cases and decide whether to let him stay or not, Raw Story reported.

Stacey Capps, the office's chief trial deputy, agreed and said Persky shouldn't handle another case involving another vulnerable victim. She added she has asked prosecutors to notify her should cases of a similar nature be assigned to Persky.

In the newest case, Cecil Webb-a 54-year-old surgical nurse-is facing charges of sexual battery for allegedly touching a sedated woman's genital and breasts at Kaiser Permanente's Santa Clara Medical Center in 2014.

Persky drew controversy after he gave Turner a six-month sentence for raping an unconscious woman on campus at Stanford University.

In the aftermath, he was accused of showing leniency on the swimmer due to his race and social standing. It also later emerged that Persky was also an alumnus of Stanford University himself.
MASON CITY | Two scholars with expertise in rural agriculture warned of the dangers of meat processing plants in unsuspecting communities at a forum Tuesday night.

John Ikerd, professor emeritus in agriculture economics at the University of Missouri, told of how industrial agriculture has taken over farming in the past 50 years, forsaking the love of the land for the love of money.

He congratulated Mason City for turning down the Prestage Foods development agreement.

He said there is one hope for overcoming the perils of corporate farming. "The hope is people will wake up and say, 'We're not going to take it anymore.'

"Local communities are the key to change  and there is no greater power than when communities take charge of their own destinies," said Ikerd, drawing huge applause from a crowd of nearly 100 at a public forum held at The Music Man Square.

Also on the program was Donald Stull, anthropology professor at the University of Kansas, who has conducted extensive studies on the meat processing industry's effects on rural America. Stull gave his presentation via a live video since he was unable to attend.

Both men minced no words in describing the negative impact of meat processing plants on the cities where they located.

Ikerd, who now lives in Fairfield, said Iowa thought it was going to lose its standing as a top producer "so they opened the doors to everyone."

He said historically, farmers were caretakers, stewards of the land they loved  and farming was a way taking care of it. After 1950, Ikerd said, mechanization began to take over agriculture.

"Farming changed from a way of life to a bottom-line industry," he said. "Standardize and mechanize. Consolidate and control."

Negative consequences were inevitable, he said. Farms became factories, soil erosion began and air and water became polluted.

"There were fewer people on farms because they were replaced by machines. And that meant fewer people on Main Street buying goods and services, fewer kids to support the school system, fewer volunteers for the fire departments.

"So communities started recruiting industries and that's where processing plants came in," said Ikerd. "If plants can find a place where people will work more and for less pay, they'll move every time."

And with the processing plants, come CAFOs (confinement animal feeding operations) and with CAFOs come problems, he said. Ikerd cited one study that showed 35,000 miles of waters in 22 states were polluted by CAFOs.

He said CAFOs create many public health risks, including respiratory problems.

"This isn't about production," said Ikerd. "This is about quality of life. This is about people."

Stull also stressed quality of life issues. "Communities have no control over the meat-processing production," he said.

"Many communities pursue economic development without considering community development. Jobs are like lunches. They're rarely free. They come with a host of hidden problems for the community," said Stull.

He said meat processing is one of the most dangerous industries in the country with a turnover rate 2 times higher than the national average. Local labor pools are depleted quickly, so the industry relies heavily on immigrants and refugees, said Stull.

He has studied and worked with meat processing communities in several states and Canada over the past few decades.

He told of Guymon, Oklahoma, a town of about 13,000 where a Seaboard hog processing plant opened, slaughtering 16,000 hogs a day. The company got generous incentives to locate there and the plant agreed to pay the school district $175,000 a year for 25 years.

But 90 percent of the employees made $25,000 a year or less  and the company had a 98 percent turnover rate the first year, said Stull. The company offered insurance after 90 days of employment, but many workers didn't last that long.

The result was that the public health and social service systems were flooded with new clients. The city wound up building a homeless shelter for displaced workers and their families.

Ikerd's closing remarks established the theme of the evening. "There are still possibilities for vibrant agricultural communities in Mason City, Iowa, or where ever rural people are willing to reject industrial agriculture," he said, "and create a new approach to agriculture that produces good food while contributing to a desirable quality of rural life.
Professor Patrick O'Shea, a UCC physics graduate is returning to the university that he once attended; but this time as the institute's next president.

This marks the first external appointment to the university's president role in 50 years. The University College Cork's governing body appointed O'Shea for the position with effect from February next year. Currently serving as Chief Research Officer and Vice President at the University of Maryland, which is considered one of the best research institutions in the world, Prof O'Shea manages the university's $500 million per-annum innovation and research unit.

Prof O'Shea takes over the university's senior most position from Dr Michael Murphy, and will now be eligible for a salary of over 200,000.

Most of Prof O'Shea's academic career has been at University of Maryland and in other places in the United States. However, that hasn't stopped him from staying connected with the Irish higher education system. He serves as a director of the Wild Geese Network of Irish Scientists and earlier this year, hosted Andrew Deeks, the president of University College Dublin, Irish Examiner reported.

At the time of appointment, Prof O'Shea attributed his successful academic career in the United States to his physics degree from University College Cork, which eventually culminated in his present leadership position at the University of Maryland.

Prof O'Shea who has played a vital role in a slew of monumental research programmes, is an expert in electromagnetics. University College Cork will be counting on his ability to help lever a boost in the institute's annual 92m research income. According to Catherine Day, chairperson of the UCC governing body, he is capable of leading the university into a challenging era, IrishTimes reported

Prof O'Shea, a PhD in Physics from the University of Maryland is also a member of several research and academic boards such as the Wild Geese Network of Irish Scientists. His wife, a University College Cork graduate and a scientist, Miriam Smyth PhD works in Washington, DC at the clinical and biomedical research administration. The couple has one son.
Muslim students studying at a Denmark school have been banned from praying during school hours by officials.

On her Facebook, Mia Victoria Lunderd Hansen -a student of SOPU Hillerrd-shared a picture of her fellow student holding a sign which read: "New from the director. May one pray at SOPU Hillerrd? The answer is NO!"

School director Inger Margrethe Jensen confirmed the ban. According to her, they had to implement the band due to "some incidents" that required them to take action, the Independent reported.

She said Muslim students have been using the hallways to pray and are clamoring for a prayer room to be built on school property. She pointed out that "religion and education don't' belong together" and that it was unfortunate because they're just adding "more fuel to the fire on Islamism".

According to Hansen however, students at the school don't believe what the officials are doing is right. She said everyone should be afforded equal treatment, and students right now are gathering signatures to make the school change its mind.

The Muslim woman' sister-in-law Maria Fischer Waldorf also disagreed with the ban. She said while religion is a private thing and should not be pushed on anybody against their will, it was also wrong for the school to prevent students from practicing their faith.

MP Alex Ahrendtsen, a member of the anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DF) was earlier reported to police for racist remarks he uttered against Muslims.

In his statement, Ahrendtsen said he was fully backing the school's move to ban prayer during school hours, The Local reported. According to him, converts "are worse than devout Muslims" and authorities should crack on them because they represent a threat to Danish society.

In May, another school prohibited female Muslim students from entering classes with their niqabs.
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 Message from UTSA President Ricardo Romo, June 2016 Ricardo Romo

President, The University of Texas at San Antonio Share this Story

(June 14, 2016) -- Dear Friends,

As youre reading this, Im headed to Mexico with a delegation of UTSA administrators and researchers to build some very important partnerships with our colleagues there.

Our first stop is in Guadalajara, where we are meeting up with 25 UTSA students who are participating in two health-related programs. Our cross-cultural medicine course, offered in partnership with Tecnologico de Monterrey, places UTSA students at an Instituto Mexicano del Seguro social clinic. The IMSS is one of Mexico's primary government health care providers. Likewise, we offer a fantastic public health and epidemiology course with the Universidad de Guadalajara and the Civil Hospital of Guadalajara. The work our students are doing is preparing them to address the complex challenges in careers in the global health field. I'm looking forward to visiting with them and seeing, firsthand, all that they have learned and all that they are contributing to our shared commitment to impactful public health initiatives.

From Guadalajara, we are traveling to Mexico City to formalize an exchange program between the UT System and CONACYT, Mexicos version of our National Science Foundation. Last fall, we signed an agreement with CONACYT to develop collaborative academic and research programs across the UT System. UTSA is serving as the lead institution in this important initiative.

This partnership will promote exchanges between students and researchers for joint research initiatives, primarily in the STEM fields. Beginning next fall, well welcome the first doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows, faculty researchers and students from Mexico.

While in Mexico City, we will also be signing an agreement with El Colegio de Mexico that will create yet another exchange program for researchers and students  this one in the social sciences and humanities. El Colegio de Mexico is one of the countrys most prestigious research institutions and its alumni include many of Mexicos most renowned scholars, analysts and public servants.

UTSA has 26 exchange agreements with universities throughout Mexico that promote the sharing of knowledge and the development of interdisciplinary solutions to the worlds most pressing challenges. These experiences are giving our researchers the opportunity to make new discoveries and scientific breakthroughs. Theyre also giving our students a chance to use their knowledge and skills in a real-world environment before they enter the global workforce.

Our exchange programs in Mexico are models of collaboration for the next generation. Todays students will become tomorrows leaders, and they will continue our collaborative work, making advances in nanotechnology, literacy, infectious diseases and many other important areas. I cant wait to see what the future holds.

Go Runners!

Ricardo Romo

President, The University of Texas at San Antonio

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VENTURA | Firefighters battled a hay fire in in rural Ventura on Tuesday. Officials were called at 5:05 p.m.

One of many round bales stored inside a large covered building began to smoke, said Cerro Gordo County Sheriff Kevin Pals.

The incident generated a large amount of smoke but it was not immediately clear if the hay caught fire or smoldered.

Bystanders used tractors and other equipment to pull as much hay out of the building as possible, Pals said.

Firefighters were still at the scene early Tuesday evening.

-- Molly Montag
MASON CITY | The investigation continued Wednesday into a crash that blocked Highway 65 near Mason City.

A 1992 Corvette driven by Michael Jeff Woolery, 65, went off the highway just south of County Road B20 about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, according to a Cerro Gordo County sheriff's statement.

Deputies say the car appeared to veer into the west ditch and then back onto the road.

Woolery was taken to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa for what deputies believed were non-life-threatening injuries.

A hospital spokeswoman said Wednesday afternoon she was unable to provide any information about Woolery.

The Corvette had significant damage.

The southbound lanes of Highway 65 were closed for about 30 minutes.

 Molly Montag
LAKE MILLS | A Lake Mills man police say assisted a female escort caught by undercover officers in Minnesota was ordered Monday to 15 years of probation.

Michael Alan Gardner, 40, received a 15-year stay of execution of a 48-month prison sentence for a felony conviction of promotion of prostitution.

He also received a five-year stay of adjudication for fifth-degree drug possession.

He pleaded guilty in April, according to Olmsted County District Court records.

Gardner was arrested Feb. 22 in the parking lot of a Rochester business.

Investigators believed he had assisted a female escort whose services were advertised on www.backpage.com.

Undercover Rochester police responded to the advertisement, which led to Gardner's arrest.

Officials considered the woman a victim a sex trafficking. She was referred to Olmsted County Victim's Services.

-- Mary Pieper
SHARE Contributed Photo William Hendricks, photography professor at Ventura College, will share his images and speak about life in Cuba based on his 62 trips there. "Cuba: Then and Now" is June 21 at Help of Ojai's Kent Hall.

Events/festivals

Ventura County

Father's Day Boat Show: The Channel Islands Maritime Museum will host "From the Tree to the Sea: Classic Wooden Boat Show," a Father's Day event featuring a series of classic wooden boats on display. Guests are also invited to climb aboard and tour the five boats, including Cheerio II and Rose of Sharon, that will be docked on the water behind the museum. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19, 3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard. 984-6260; cimmvc.org.

Literary Gathering: Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC) and Small Publishers, Artists & Writers Network (SPAWN) invite authors, indie publishers, writers and lovers of the literary arts to join the first meeting of their new Ventura County Satellite Group. Monthly meetings will cover topics on the craft of writing, book marketing, illustration and more. 6:30-8:30 p.m. June 23, Open Book Bookstore, The Oaks, 350 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. 494-5056; iwoscspawnvc.com.

UP NORTH

Live Oak Music Festival: Wynonna & The Big Noise will headline the family-friendly music festival, also featuring performances by the California Honeydrops, Jay Farrar Trio, Sarah Jarosz and James McMurtry, international food booths, local wine and beer, and activities for children and teens. June 17-19, Live Oak Camp, 4600 CA-154, Santa Barbara. $65 general admission, $25 children. 781-3030; liveoakfest.org.

DOWN SOUTH

Dance Camera West Film Festival: The 15th Annual Dance Camera West Film Festival features more than 35 films from around the globe, all promoting dance on film. Through June 18, Royce Hall, UCLA, 340 Royce Drive, Los Angeles and Fowler Museum, UCLA, 308 Charles E. Young Drive, Los Angeles. $15. 310-248-4944; dancecamerawest.org.

L.A. Zoo's Roaring Nights 2016: The Los Angeles Zoo kicks off its Roaring Nights summer music series with a '90s-themed evening featuring cover band Saved by the '90s performing hits from Backstreet Boys, Blink-182, Goo Goo Dolls, Weezer and more and pop, grunge and house tunes spun by DJ Johnny Hawkes. Other highlights of the 18-and-older event include food trucks, full-service bars, pop-up zookeeper talks and animal encounters. 7-11 p.m. June 24, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles. $25 general admission, $22 zoo members. 323-644-6001; lazoo.org/roaringnights.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

VENTURA COUNTY

"My Golden Days": Oxnard Film Society continues its Monday Night Foreign Film Series with the 2015 French drama about a middle-aged anthropologist as he reminisces about his family, school adventures and the love of his life. Rated R. 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. June 20, Plaza Cinemas 14, 255 West 5th St., Oxnard. $10 general admission, $6.75 seniors. 798-0830; oxnardfilmsociety.org.

"Minions": As part of its Summer Movie Series, the Village at Dos Vientos presents the 2015 computer animated film projected in 1080p high definition Blu Ray onto a 20-foot screen. Guests can purchase food and beverages from local merchants including The Local Table, Sushi Haru, BeanoVino and more. Blankets and/or beach chairs are recommended. Dusk, June 23, 350 Via Las Brisas, Newbury Park. For more information, visit thevillageatdosvientos.com.

UP NORTH

"Sant Tukaram": As part of its free film series, Santa Barbara Museum of Art presents a screening of the 1936 Marathi film based on the life of Tukaram, a 17th century poet and saint of the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra. The screening is preceded by opening remarks and followed by a Q&A session. 5:30 p.m. June 23, Mary Craig Auditorium, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Reserve tickets at tickets.sbma.net.

LECTURES AND APPEARANCES

Ventura County

Dr. Barry Kerzin: As part of California Lutheran University's Cultural Events series, Kerzin, physician to the Dalai Lama, will present a free talk entitled "Approaching Death Without Fear." Following the talk, Kerzin will lead two one-day meditation workshops at CLU on June 18-19 and two in Ojai on June 25-26. 7 p.m. June 17, Samuelson Chapel, CLU, 60 W. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks. Tickets for all events are available at altruismmedicine.org.

Art Talk: The Ojai Valley Museum will host a talk with featured artists Sylvia Raz, Marta Nelson and Joanne Pavlak. 11 a.m. to noon, June 18, 130 W. Ojai Ave., Ojai. 640-1390; ojaistudioartists.org.

"Cuba: Then and Now": The Ojai Photography Club presents William Hendricks, professor of photography at Ventura College, sharing and discussing his images of life in Cuba in "Cuba: Then and Now," a presentation chronicling his 62 trips to the island nation over the last 23 years. 7 p.m. June 21, Help of Ojai's Kent Hall, 111 Santa Ana St., Ojai. Free. For more information, visit ojaiphotoclub.com.

Camarillo Airport and Museum Lecture: The Pleasant Valley Historical Society presents a talk on the history of the Camarillo Airport and the Commemorative Air Force Museum. 6:30 p.m. June 23, 720 N. Las Posas Road, Camarillo. Free. 482-3660; pvhsonline.org.

DANCE CLUBS

Ventura County

Oxnard Ballroom Dance Club: The club will hold a weekly dance party featuring live music and ballroom, Latin, swing and line dancing. A dance lesson will be held at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments included. 7:30-10 p.m. Thursdays, Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard. $12 general admission, $9 club members. 340-5226 or 407-1709.

Poinsettia Ballroom Dancers: The group's weekly dance features ballroom and Latin music. 7:30-10 p.m. Mondays, Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Road, Ventura. $12 general, $10 members. 415-8842.

Channel Cities Jazz Club: The club hosts a public dance with live music performed by the house band and guest jammers on the third Sunday of every month. Food and beverages are available for purchase. 1-4:30 p.m., ongoing, Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club, 2600 S. Harbor Blvd., Oxnard. $10 general admission, $7 members. 487-3062.

Country Lovers Western Dance Club: The Country Lovers Western Dance Club holds a dance featuring a dance lesson and music by DJ Jammin' Country. 6:45-9 p.m. Tuesdays, Ventura Moose Family Center, 10269 Telephone Road, Ventura. $6 general. On the third Saturday of each month, the club hosts a social dance at House of Dance, 3007 Bunsen Ave., Ventura. 456-9067; countrylovers.com.
MASON CITY | The Iowa Court of Appeals Wednesday upheld a district court sentence prohibiting a Mason City man convicted of animal torture from having pets.

George Thomas Harrington, 63, was accused of striking his dog in the head twice with a five-pound metal wedge hammer in June 2015. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail with all but two days suspended after entering an Alford plea to one count of animal torture, an aggravated misdemeanor.

In an Alford plea a defendant doesn't admit to the crime but acknowledges prosecutors can likely prove guilt.

District Associate Judge Karen Kaufman Salic put Harrington on probation for one year and prohibited from having pets in his home during his probation and from being a caregiver for any animal.

In his appeal Harrington stated this ban was illegal, claiming it would force him to move out of his home because someone else in the home has a pet, or force that individual to leave the home or give up the pet.

The prohibition regarding animals is reasonable, according to the appeals court.

"Given Harrington's admittedly violent act toward his dog, we find it reasonable to remove all animals from his home," the ruling stated.

When police arrived at Harrington's residence on June 3, 2015, on a report of an injured dog, they found an injured boxer mix. The dog was taken to a local veterinarian where it was euthanized due to head injuries caused by a hammer.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Researchers began tracking an adult male mountain lion, known as P-45, last month in the Santa Monica Mountains.

SHARE Juan Carlo/ THE STAR Blue Dicks are blooming along Sycamore Trail. The wild flowers are blooming along this trail and the Santa Monica Mountains. 03/13/15 Newbury Park, CA

By Bartholomew Sullivan Usa Today

WASHINGTON  Bills to preserve 193,000 acres of the Rim of the Valley Corridor and add it to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area are being introduced in both the House and Senate, Sen. Barbara Boxer and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff announced Tuesday.

The bill would protect an area stretching from the Simi Hills through the Santa Susanas to the San Gabriel Mountains, which Schiff, a Burbank Democrat, called "the critical bridge between the urban city centers and suburbs of the Los Angeles basin and the spectacular wilderness beyond." Schiff said it's time to act before development limits the opportunity.

Schiff's legislation was introduced Tuesday and Boxer plans to file hers next week.

Schiff introduced and saw a bill passed asking the National Park Service to do a resource study of the Rim of the Valley in 2008. The park service released its final recommendations for preserving 170,000 acres that circle the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Simi and Conejo valleys in February. About 40 percent of that land is already protected for conservation or recreation.

"The Santa Monica Mountains are one of California's greatest treasures," Boxer said in a prepared statement.

The bill calls for capital improvements, such as trails and roads; monitoring wildlife and acquiring land through donation, exchange or purchase. The bill would not place any new restrictions on landowners and does not permit land acquisition through eminent domain.

U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village, applauded the measure which she said she will co-sponsor.

"Protecting the Rim of the Valley Corridor will preserve open space and access to the outdoors in our region and help threatened species, like the California mountain lion and bobcat, thrive," she said.

Others who have been behind the proposal for almost a decade were pleased that the bill seeks to protect more acreage than the park service recommended in February.

Dennis G. Arguelles, Los Angeles program manager of the National Parks Conservation Association, said the group backed a proposal for the maximum acreage  313,000 acres  but the bill's introduction is "quite a victory for us.  We'll take the 193."

Arguelles said the acreage includes the 4,000-acre Griffith Park, important wildlife corridors in the Santa Susana Mountains, historic settler routes and the first commercially viable oil well west of the Mississippi. The 193,000 acres would be added to the existing recreation area's 153,000 acres, more than doubling the protected area.

According to Schiff's office, the area to be protected also includes El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the birthplace of the city and one of the significant cultural treasures in the region.

"The Rim of the Valley will provide protection for historical resources, Native American sites, endangered species and wildlife corridors and connect greater Los Angeles and parts of Ventura County through multiuse trails," Dianne Erskine-Hellrigel, executive director of the Community Hiking Club, said in a prepared statement. "Kudos to the National Park Service for their long, in-depth study, and to Congressman Adam Schiff for gifting us with this brilliant piece of legislation."

Ramya Sivasubramanian, a staff attorney in the National Resource Development Council's environmental justice program, also praised the legislation.

"This proposal could be a transformative for Southern California  more than doubling the green space in the Santa Monica Mountains. It would provide access to nature that many urban communities have never had, while also providing critical habitat for local wildlife. It's a win-win," Sivasubramanian said.
CONTRIBUTED IMAGE This rendering shows the developer's vision for a residential and commercial development at Fisherman's Wharf at Channel Islands Harbor.

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By Kathleen Wilson of the Ventura County Star

County supervisors on Tuesday altered a plan for Channel Islands Harbor to allow a 390-unit, 55-foot-tall apartment complex in the hopes that developers can revitalize the deteriorating site known as Fisherman's Wharf.

About 100 neighbors thronged to a hearing Tuesday in Ventura, some so angry that they shouted during the developer's presentation and argued with board members during their deliberations. But supervisors voted 4-0 to amend the plan to rehabilitate the wharf site in Oxnard known for its Cape Cod-style buildings.

Supervisor Steve Bennett said he did not start out 12 years ago with the idea of approving high-income apartments to rehabilitate Fisherman's Wharf, but that he now sees it as a realistic way to get a park, promenade and other public amenities.

"After 12 years, if we don't give this a chance, I'm not sure we're going to have a chance," he said near the end of the four-hour hearing.

Developers Tom Tellefsen, Peter Mullin and Geoff Palmer are proposing to build the apartments and 37,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. Like other developers who have expressed interest in the 1970s-era complex, they say the apartments are needed to make the project profitable.

Tellefsen told the board Tuesday that he had met with community groups and made concessions, but objected to any more changes in the scope of the project at Victoria Avenue and Channel Islands Boulevard.

"We are at our limit," he told the board. "If you choose not to do this today, we will walk away."

Economic viability is sought not just by developers but by the board, which expects the county-owned harbor in Oxnard to be self-supporting. The board leases land along the harbor to developers and collects a percentage of the revenues, but generally does not invest tax dollars and is dependent on private investment.

The proposal goes now to the California Coastal Commission, possibly within a few months, Harbor Director Lyn Krieger said. That's the last remaining obstacle she sees for the project that would offer apartments, shops, outdoor cafes, a park, a deck and a waterfront promenade.

Dissatisfied neighbors from nearby beach communities already were talking about taking their fight to the Coastal Commission as they realized the board was prepared to approve the amendment. They wanted fewer if any apartments, which they fear would worsen already heavy traffic, threaten boaters' access, reduce parking and make it difficult to escape if a tsunami strikes.

Holding aloft signs that read "PUBLIC LAND FOR PUBLIC USE NOT APARTMENTS," critics sought a community park, affordable restaurants, new businesses and museums. More than 3,600 people had signed petitions objecting to the apartments, according to a document the board received.

"This will destroy the historic character of our waterfront," said Cheryl Hall, a Silver Strand Beach resident.

County officials said they had ample ways to get residents out of the area in a tsunami, including the opening of routes through Naval Base Ventura County. Other drawbacks could be minimized, officials said.
STOCK PHOTO Gavel.

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By Marjorie Hernandez of the Ventura County Star

A 64-year old Atwater Village man pleaded guilty to lewd acts on minors as his case was about to go to trial this week.

Jury selection began in the case of Luis Manuel Gonzalez when he decided to plead guilty on Monday to three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child, Prosecutor Melissa Suttner said.

The abuse involved three victims and took place between 1998 and 2013, Suttner said. The incidents occurred in homes in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, Suttner said.

Gonzalez was a Los Angeles County welfare eligibility case worker when he was arrested on March 20, 2014. He could face a maximum 75 years to life in prison when is sentenced Aug. 15.
JUAN CARLO/THE STAR Betty Weaver receives food and a hug from Aaron McMillan of FOOD Share in a meal-delivery program for seniors that recently received $20,000 from Gold Coast Health Plan.

SHARE JUAN CARLO/THE STAR Dan Levine walks to his home as Aaron McMillan, senior nutrition coordinator for FOOD Share, helps him carry his food. FOOD Share delivers meals to disabled seniors in a program boosted by funding from the Gold Coast Health Plan. JUAN CARLO/THE STAR Aaron McMillan, senior nutrition coordinator for FOOD Share, delivers food to Lora Robertson of Ventura. JUAN CARLO/THE STAR Lora Robertson of Ventura is happy to receive her favorite bread from Aaron McMillan, senior nutrition coordinator for FOOD Share. JUAN CARLO/THE STAR Aaron McMillan of FOOD Share delivers meals to seniors in Ventura.

By Tom Kisken of the Ventura County Star

Dan Levine's health relies not only on doctor's visits and medications but also on meals of meat loaf, mashed potatoes, carrots and peas.

The braces on both legs make it difficult for the 72-year-old survivor of bone marrow cancer to go grocery shopping. Buying food is limited too by a budget that leans on Social Security.

Every two weeks, the former real estate agent from Ventura receives 10 frozen meals along with bread, milk, snap peas, salads and other essentials. The food comes through a meal delivery service that received $20,000 from a new Gold Coast Health Plan program invented to broaden health care.

Levine parcels out the chicken, beef and fish meals, along with the occasional $5 meal he buys from Kentucky Fried Chicken, to last two weeks until another delivery arrives.

"It bridges the gap between being hungry and trying to figure out if I have enough money from Social Security to buy some food," he said.

The Gold Coast Health Plan, launched five years ago, provides Medi-Cal insurance to more than 200,000 low-income Ventura County residents. Once immersed in red, the publicly-funded plan has built reserves that allow it to spend about two cents from every dollar of revenue on a new program called Alternative Resources for Community Health.

That adds up to $12.1 million.

The spending program orbits around finding different ways to help people's health. One involves tackling addiction.

About $51,000 of ARCH's $12.1 million budget will be spent on kits that include nasal spray or syringes of the medication naloxone. It is used to help people breathe and reverse potentially fatal overdoses caused by opioids ranging from heroin to painkillers like Percocet.

Ventura County Behavioral Health Department leaders say their pilot program involving naloxone has brought proof of 32 overdoses that were reversed. They say the money from ARCH will bring 1,000 more naloxone kits.

"There is a crisis in this country of opioid use. We're not immune to that," said Dr. C. Albert Reeves, chief medical officer for the Gold Coast Health Plan. In Ventura County, 85 deaths in 2014 were linked to opiate overdose.

"If we can save some lives from overdoses, that money is well spent," he said.

Saving in the long term by spending now is the heartbeat of ARCH. Much of the $12 million will be spent on incentives to doctors and others. Still being formulated, the money will link financial rewards not to the number of services provided but to health outcomes.

"The goal is to provide better care at less cost," Reeves said.

Time to recuperate

Homeless people on Medi-Cal have nowhere to go when they're discharged from a hospital. They end up back on the streets, don't fully recuperate and often land back in an emergency room.

Or they never leave the hospital.

"We have members that are filling hospital beds that we are paying for ... because they don't have a place to go," Reeves said.

Some believe the answer is more time to recover. The nonprofit National Health Foundation is working on the launch of a program where hospitals would discharge homeless people to a recuperative care program based at Salvation Army in Ventura.

The $600,000 program still needs final approval from the Ventura County Board of Supervisors but, as planned, would be funded by hospitals across Ventura County. ARCH has committed to providing $38,700 in startup costs.

"We're hoping for it to open in the fall," said Kelly Bruno, CEO of the National Health Foundation.

The $20,000 from ARCH for meals delivered to people like Dan Levine goes through the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging. In Ventura and Oxnard, meals are delivered by FOOD Share.

The money is a small piece of the program's funding but it allows for 3,000 more meals, meaning a maxed-out program can expand.

If they're like Levine, they learn to budget the meals. He's a Mormon who plans on offering oranges from trees at his home to FOOD Share, envisioning the fruit delivered to shut-ins.

"We have to help each other," Levine said, trying to explain how he's aided by meals delivered twice a month.

"It's enough to sustain me," he said.
CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Angela Flores, donor care specialist, bottom, prepares a donor at United Blood Services in Ventura. The Orlando mass shootings are increasing the rate of blood donations.

SHARE CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Mark Erickson assists Harley Landi as she donates blood in Ventura on Tuesday. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Ken Capina squeezes a ball as he donates blood in Ventura. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Melissa Reyes, donor care specialist, works with blood donors Ken Capina, from right, Jorge Tapia and Joe Barraza at United Blood Services in Ventura. CHUCK KIRMAN/THE STAR Berta Lopez, donor care specialist, left, works with donor Julie Dugan in Ventura.

By Tom Kisken of the Ventura County Star

She felt helpless because of the 49 victims gunned down in a gay nightclub in Orlando. She felt angry because of federal rules restricting blood donations from sexually active gay men.

Harley Landi needed to do something.

On Tuesday, the 19-year-old Oxnard College student sat at a blood bank with a needle in her right arm, giving her red blood cells and plasma.

"I felt I should donate as soon as possible," said Landi, who made her appointment Monday.

The Pulse club, where the massacre happened, is more than 2,200 miles away. And while United Blood Services officials cited a local shortage in issuing an urgent appeal for donations, it's unlikely blood given here will be part of the front-line response to those wounded in the Orlando incident.

Still, people across Ventura County rolled up their sleeves and gave.

"It motivated me," Mary Moore said as a care specialist attended to her at a Ventura blood center. The 50-year-old Oxnard woman is O-negative, meaning her blood can be given in emergencies to people of any blood type.

"That's like the golden blood," she said.

About 140 people were scheduled to give blood Monday in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, said Scott Edward, district director for donor recruitment for United Blood Services. About 250 people filled bags, many of them citing Orlando. Dozens more gave platelets.

The outpouring continued Tuesday, recognized globally as World Blood Donor Day.

"Throughout Southern California, we've seen an increase," said Tony Briggs, biomedical spokesman for the American Red Cross. "It comes down to people want to help. They see a tragedy like this, and they're touched. A lot of people might not have money to donate, but they say, 'I can give blood.' "

Briggs said the Red Cross has not experienced a shortage in its Ventura County supplies. Edward said the call for blood in Orlando brought an assessment of United Blood Services' inventories across the Central Coast. It underscored a critical need for all blood types, especially O negative.

"We're down to a one-day supply," he said. "If we stopped collecting today, we would have enough O-negative to last a day."

The blood bank has extended its donation hours and put out calls to donors.

Edward blamed the shortage partly on summer, noting that the end of the school year affects drives at high schools and colleges. He also cited Zika. People who have traveled to Mexico, Brazil and other countries affected by the virus have been asked to wait four weeks before donating blood.

Some people may be waiting longer, he said.

But the restriction causing controversy in Orlando and across the nation is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's rule against donations from men who have had sex with another man in the past 12 months.

"To me, it makes it feels like there's a bias," Landi said.

Edward said he understands the concern but cited the federal regulations.

"We're following the FDA right now," he said.

It's possible that blood given in Ventura County could be used to backfill supplies in other regions that have directed blood to Orlando. The biggest need is to fill local inventories, according to blood bank officials.

Briggs cited the 56-day shelf life of a unit of blood. He urged people to make appointments today but to parse out their donations over weeks.

"A deluge doesn't help," he said. "What we'd like to see is a steady drumbeat."

Ken Iverson is the definition of a drumbeat. The 60-year-old Ventura man sat in a reclining chair donating platelets on Tuesday as he's done twice a month for about 20 years.

He's given about 580 times.

The Orlando tragedy didn't push him to the blood center, rather underscored why he goes. And it made him think.

"It brought up sadness," he said. "We haven't learned how to live with one another."

HOW TO HELP

Because of the need for blood, United Blood Services has extended its donation hours this week at 2223 Eastman Ave., Suite A, Ventura:

Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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By Don Thompson, The Associated Press

SACRAMENTO  Authorities announced a $50,000 reward Wednesday as they renewed their search for an elusive serial killer they say committed at least 12 homicides, 45 rapes and dozens of burglaries across California in the 1970s and 1980s.

The case has grown cold for the killer known by at least four nicknames over the decades.

He was dubbed the East Area Rapist after his start in Northern California. The Original Night Stalker after a series of Southern California slayings. The Diamond Knot Killer for using the elaborate knot to bind two of his victims. And most recently the Golden State Killer.

He's linked through DNA and other evidence to more than 175 crimes between 1976 and 1986, officials said.

* Click/tap to enlarge the maps below...

Among those believed to be victims of the Original Night Stalker in Southern California were a Ventura couple, Lyman and Charlene Smith, who were killed in their hillside High Point Drive home on March 13, 1980.

The couple were bludgeoned in their bed with a fireplace log and trussed with green drapery cords after they died.

Lyman Smith, 43, was a prominent attorney who was being considered by Gov. Jerry Brown for a seat on the Ventura County Superior Court at the time of his death. Charlene, his second wife, was 10 years younger and a former legal secretary who was pursuing a career as an interior decorator.

Over the years, police detectives questioned and cleared several suspects in the Smith killings.

In 1998 evidence preserved from their autopsies linked the killings of the Smiths to those of another couple Patrice and Keith Harrington of Niguel Shores in Orange County later that year. Those deaths would later be linked to killings in Irvine and Dana Point.

"This serial offender was probably one of the most prolific, certainly in California and possibly within the United States," Sacramento County Sheriff's Department Homicide Sgt. Paul Belli said at a news conference.

Authorities decided to publicize the case nationally in advance of June 18, the 40th anniversary of his first known assault in Sacramento County, he said. Aside from tips leading to his arrest, Belli said investigators are looking for clues that "there may be other crimes that have not been attributed to him ... if he matches something that they've had in their community throughout the United States."

Aside from the reward for his arrest and conviction, the FBI also has a new website with maps locating the murders and rapes, sketches created by three witnesses, video interviews with investigators and audio interviews with two survivors. It also made him the number one option on its major crimes tip line, 800-CALL-FBI.

The FBI is launching a nationwide social media campaign and releasing an online mini-documentary and podcast at https://www.fbi.gov/sacramento.

It's the latest of numerous attempts to identify the man who started in 1976 and 1977 by terrorizing suburban bedroom communities east of Sacramento and as far south as Stockton and Modesto in the Central Valley.

The masked rapist, armed with a gun, would break into homes while single women or couples were sleeping. He would tie up the man and pile dishes on his back. He would then rape the woman while threatening to kill them if the dishes tumbled.

Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert recalled growing up at a time when children rode their bikes through the neighborhoods unsupervised and families rarely locked their doors at night.

"It was a time of innocence. And then in June of 1976, that all changed," she said. "A community was taken hostage."

Investigators believe the rapes, and dozens of burglaries often used to case neighborhoods, escalated in 1978 when he fatally shot U.S. Air Force Sgt. Brian Maggiore and his wife Katie as they walked their dog.

They believe he soon moved on to commit several rapes in the San Francisco Bay Area before heading to Southern California.

It wasn't until 2001 that new DNA testing linked him to at least six Southern California homicides between 1979 and 1986. In each case, the killer broke into a house at night and raped the female victim first.

Investigators believe he also committed another four unsolved Southern California homicides because of similarities in evidence or his methods.

If he's still alive, the killer would likely be between 60 and 75 years old, Belli said. He was described at the time as white, about 5 foot-9 inches tall and weighing 150 to 175 pounds with blonde or light brown hair  a description so broad that it hasn't helped solve the crimes.

"This subject has eluded investigators for over 40 years and the victims and their families deserve justice," said Monica Miller, the special agent in charge of the FBI region that stretches from Bakersfield to the Oregon border. "The victims and families ... still bear emotional scars from this horrific experience."


What a night! How do you celebrate your bachelor party and your movie hitting over the billion dollar mark? By spending an amazing night downtown at the D Casino Hotel Las Vegas (Pictured: Nate Moore, Nicole Parthum, Derek Stevens and Josh Gallegos  Photo credit: the D Las Vegas).

Captain America: Civil War Executive Producer Nate Moore along with CrossFit Games MC Josh Gallegos enjoyed a delicious dinner with 10 other friends at Andiamo Italian Steakhouse.

Photo credit: the D Las Vegas.

The appetite of a Super Hero! Nate feasted on a Long Bone Rib-eye steak before the guys headed downstairs to the LONGBAR and posed for photos with the D Casino Owner Derek Stevens and his wife Nicole Parthum.

From a Marvel monster hit movie producer to a famous CrossFit MC, you never know who you will run into when enjoying a night out in Vegas at the D Casino Hotel!
MASON CITY | What was reported as a possible dead body in a Mason City pond turned out to be nothing suspicious, officials say.

Someone reported the floating blue object about 10 a.m. Wednesday in a private pond in the 1500 block of 12th Street Northeast.

Police, firefighters and sheriff's deputies responded to the scene.

Mason City firefighters drove a boat out to inspect the floating blue object.

Officials say it was an anchored float of some sort wrapped in a bright blue tarp.

-- Molly Montag
Airplanes park at Tan Son Nhat Airports in HCM City. The Airports Corporation of Viet Nam plans to spend $1.2 billion on aviation infrastructure development between now and 2018. - Photo chinhphu.vn

In an investment scheme recently sent to the Ministry of Transport, the company said it expects to use some VND7.8 trillion to upgrade facilities in "flight zones" and more than VND18.4 trillion to improve terminals and parking spaces.

The firm, which manages 22 of the country's international and domestic airports, said it will prioritise investments for terminals showing high passenger growth and special socio-economic importance.

The important airports include Noi Bai in the north, Dong Hoi, Phu Bai and Cam Ranh in the centre, and Tan Son Nhat, Con Dao and Phu Quoc in the south.

ACV also asked the ministry to consider adjusting the framework for some aviation service rates, which apply to domestic flight routes at airports, according to enternews.vn.

It said, while the number of passengers travelling on domestic routes represents two thirds of all aviation passengers in Viet Nam, the prices of landing and take-off services on domestic routes are around 2.5 times lower than those of similar services on international routes.

The firm suggested that such price gap should be narrowed within the next five years to ensure the efficiency of investments and asset exploitation.

Industry insiders said if the suggestion is accepted, the rates of domestic flight tickets are likely to increase in the future.

Meanwhile, relevant parties have reportedly made significant progress for the ACV to get closer to an agreement with French group Aeroports de Paris (ADP), which is a potential strategic investor of the ACV.

According to Dau tu (Vietnam Investment Review) online, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue last week gave finance and transport ministries a nod to let ACV designate contractors to accelerate the strategic partnering process.

The transport ministry has designated local brokerage company BIDV Securities, a consultant for ACV equitisation, to continue to advise it on selling stakes to investors. This contract is worth about VND2.9 billion.

This month, Vietnamese law firm YKVN also won a bid, with approval from the ministry, to become a legal advisor for negotiations related to the partnering deal. The contract is valued at VND6 billion.

"With these consulting tools getting in place soon, ACV will have necessary confidence to negotiate with ADP," Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Hong Truong said, and added that the two companies are expected to conclude their deal this year.

ADP expected the two sides to basically agree on investment provisions by September. Such an agreement would create one of the premises for French President Francois Hollande's September visit to Viet Nam, Truong said.

According to Dau tu, ADP planned to buy shares of ACV at a price no less than VN13,100 per share  the lowest winning rate when ACV auctioned its shares during an initial public offering on the HCM City Stock Exchange last December.

ADP has been operating 37 airports in the world through its subsidiary Airports de Paris Management (ADPM), including Charles de Gaulle and Orly in Paris.

ACV officially changed into a joint stock company in March, when its charter capital was recorded at more than VND21 trillion.

The State retained a capital ratio of 75 per cent of the company's equity and announced that a 20 per cent stake would be available to strategic investors.

Biz Hub reported earlier this year that Changi Airport International, a subsidiary of Singapore's Changi Airport Group, and the Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam was also eyeing a strategic partnership with ACV.

Brian Davis, vice president of US firm Honeywell Aerospace, told Biz Hub late last year that Viet Nam was one of the top 10 fastest growing aerospace markets in the world.

The country's aviation market had been growing by an average 7 per cent to 8 per cent per year in terms of passenger traffic, and this growth was expected to continue over the next 20 years, he said.
A Disney manager in Florida told AFP that Orlando gunman Omar Mateen had visited the park in April. (AFP/Gustavo Caballero)

LOS ANGELES: Security has been stepped up at Disney theme parks following reports that the gunman behind the massacre in Orlando may have scouted Disney World in Florida as a possible target.

"Unfortunately, we've all been living in a world of uncertainty, and during this time we have increased our security measures across our properties, adding such visible safeguards as magnetometers, additional canine units and law enforcement officers on site, as well as less visible systems that employ state-of-the-art security technologies," Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler said in a statement.

Authorities have said they were trying to confirm whether gunman Omar Mateen had scouted the park in Orlando, Florida, as well as other locations before his rampage at the Pulse nightclub on Sunday that left 49 people dead and 53 wounded.

Citing a law enforcement source, People Magazine reported earlier that Mateen's wife - Noor Zahi Salman - told investigators that the couple had recently visited Walt Disney World as a potential target.

"Salman told federal authorities on Sunday that her husband had more recently been 'scouting Downtown Disney and Pulse for attacks,'" the magazine said.

A Disney manager in Florida told AFP that Mateen had visited the park in April.

Disney has two theme parks in the United States, one in California and one in Florida.

The company in December had announced new security measures at the two parks following the terror attacks in San Bernardino, California, and in Paris.

Joined by several other popular theme parks, including Universal Studios, it said at the time that it was banning toy guns, adding metal detectors and bringing in specially trained dogs to patrol key areas.
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan deliver speech to open the 13th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee's 49th session in Ha Noi yesterday. - VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Hoa

Opening the session, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the three-day session will focus on the organisation and operation of the board of lay judges, the costumes and identification cards of the judges and lay judges, the salary and benefits for court staff, the number of supplementary high, middle and primary-level judges, and the benefits for procurators at the Supreme Peoples Procuracy.



The NA Standing Committees members will discuss the parliaments making of laws and ordinances in 2017, and the State budget balance in 2014. They will also mull over a report about the enforcement of the law on thrift practices and wastefulness prevention in 2015, along with the handling of the State budget spending the same year, she noted.



She added during the 49th session, the National Election Council will report on the results of the May election of deputies to the 14th NA and all-level Peoples Councils for 2016  21. Later, the participants are set to give opinions on the agenda of the first session of the 14th NA.



In the morning of the first working day, the NA Standing Committee looked into the draft regulations on the organisation and operation of the boards of lay judges, which were also under consideration at the Standing Committees 46th session on March 8.



Another matter up for debate yesterday was the agenda of the 14 th NAs first session, slated for July 20  30, with high-level State personnel in focus. The new parliament will also consider a resolution on its supervision programme in 2017 and another on the establishment of specialised supervision delegations.



The NA Standing Committee discussed issues pertaining to court and procuracy staff in the afternoon.
Agricultural officials and representatives from Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique visit the greenhouses in Liuqiao village, Heliu town of Anhui province, June 3, 2016. [Photo by Yan Dongjie/chinadaily.com.cn]

A delegation of agricultural officials and representatives from Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique went on a countryside field trip in east China's Anhui province in early June.

Touring the greenhouses, pig farms, research centers and local companies, the delegation consisted of more than 10 African officials and representatives. They're looking forward to learning developing experience from China, which they can apply accordingly back in their countries, as well as finding cooperation opportunities with Chinese companies.

"The governance structures and the infrastructures are what we find really helpful with the agricultural development but hard to apply in our countries," said Abdoulaye Balde, representative and country director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Mozambique.

It's Balde's first trip to China. He said he was surprised to see how villages and farmlands were well organized, not only by the farmers themselves, but also with help from the local government and companies, who provide financial, mechanical and technical support for the farmers to improve both the land use capacity and the land production.

Olegario Banze, national director of rural development with the Ministry of Land and Rural Development in Mozambique, expressed similar thoughts.

"From China's experience, I see a lot our government should process to take its role in agricultural development," said Banze, adding that practices such as transferring land into farming soil, teaching farmers how to grow crops more efficiently, putting subsistence farming people into business and constructing facilities were all part of efforts that African governments should make.

"However, it's too long a way to go. But we can start with the simple cooperation with Chinese companies, and small-scale mechanization," Banze said.

Banze welcomed Chinese companies to come to Mozambique.

"We have the land and labor, and we long for Chinese companies to bring over the techniques and investments, as well as efforts from Chinese government," he said.
MASON CITY | "Be still and know that I am God," the Scriptures teach.

The sanctuary was still Wednesday at First Congregational United Church of Christ as visitors took part in a silent vigil in remembrance of the victims of the mass shootings in Orlando, Florida, over the weekend.

More than a dozen people took part during the noon hour, quietly meditating in an atmosphere in which the only light was from candles at the front of the sanctuary and from a video screen which showed photos of the victims, rotating on the screen one by one as if to give each their due.

The Rev. Chuck Kelsey, church pastor, said the vigil was intended as "a time of silent prayer, meditation or reflection. No readings, no speakers, no music  simply a gathering in silent witness against all hate crimes directed at any of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters.

 John Skipper
Supermodel Trang Khieu

The newspaper said Trang Khieu has recently unveiled the signing of a contract with one of worlds leading modelling agencies  Why Not Models Management Agency  based in Milano, Italy.

Over the years, the Why Not Agency has represented model icons the likes of Agyness Deyn, Tao Okamoto, Robyn Lawley, Lindsay Ellingson, Romee Strijd, Valery Kaufman and Stella Maxwell.

Trang Khieu is no stranger to the world of fashion, and has often appeared on the glossy pages of leading fashion publications such as Elle, Mens Health, Inspire, and Diva E Donna.

"Im super thrilled about partnering with the Why Not Agency", said Trang Khieu.

She said she has always had a strong love for fashion, and is grateful for the opportunity to work with people who are the best at what they do in this industry. This partnership will give me an opportunity to grow and experiment as an artist.

"I truly look forward to all the amazing things we have planned ahead," Trang Khieu said.
The Viet Nam Asset Management Company (VAMC) this year will use cash, departing from the usual practice of using only special bonds, to buy non-performing loans (NPLs). - Photo sbvamc.com.vn

Online newspaper Infonet quoted the company's chairman Nguyen Quoc Hung as saying that the new measure was aimed at accelerating the bad debt resolution process and supporting commercial banks so they have enough capital to boost their lending.

Under current regulations, VAMC issues special bonds in exchange for bad debts, which banks may use as collateral to secure funding from the central bank.

As most of the NPLs purchased from commercial banks are still stuck at the VAMC, experts expected that the step would help resolve the bad debt instead of moving it around.

Despite praising the new measure, however, experts are still concerned about the application, saying the size of the bad debts is large while the VAMC's capital source is limited.

Banking expert Can Van Luc told Infonet that the use of cash to clear the bad debt was very good for boosting the bad debt resolution process, but it was unclear whether VAMC had sufficient funds to buy the bad debts or whether this was just the first step to creating the next catalyst.

According to VAMC, the company plans to settle roughly VND30-35 trillion (US$1.33-1.55 billion) of purchased bad debts this year through retrieving the debts and selling them and mortgaged assets. The amount is nearly double that of last year.

Besides cash, the company will also issue roughly VND40 trillion of special bonds to buy bad debts from credit institutions this year.

NPLs in HCM City

On Thursday, Director of the State Bank of Viet Nam's (SBV's) HCM City branch To Duy Lam said that NPLs in HCM City in the first five months this year rose 4.46 per cent against the end of last year, of which potentially irrecoverable debts accounted for 72.8 per cent.

Nguyen Van Dung, director of the Banking Supervision and Inspection Agency in HCM City, said the rise was due to better debt classification. Previously, the debt classification was inaccurate and the authorities are now trying to make the domestic classification meet international standards.

In a government-sponsored project to restructure the banking system in the 2011-15 period, Lam said only two out of 12 joint stock commercial banks and a financial leasing company had failed to complete the approved restructuring plans as they were restructuring in accordance with the central bank's requirements.

According to the SBV's HCM City branch, the city's capital mobilisation in the first five months rose 4.46 per cent, while credit increased by 5 per cent.
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Oscar Gates is one of the 700 faces from the condemned files of death row inmates at San Quentin State Prison. Gates has been diagnosed with delusional paranoid disorder. Federal judges in 2003 and again in 2014 ruled Gates unable to assist his lawyers. (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
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MASON CITY  The Mason City Aquatic Center on Tuesday relaxed its minimum-temperature policy by four degrees.

It will now open if the projected high temperature is at least 74 degrees, four degrees lower than the 78-degree minimum instituted earlier this year.

The Parks and Recreation Board on Tuesday unanimously approved the change to 74 degrees.

The pool policy was put on Tuesdays agenda after the 78-degree policy drew public criticism for being too high.

I know that from Facebook, the calls Ive got  I assume you have to be getting them, too, said board member Troy Levenhagen.

The backlash was particularly strong on social media sites.

Previously, the Aquatic Center opened for the day if the temperature was expected to hit 70 degrees.

Superintendent of Recreation Brian Pauly had instituted the 78-degree policy this year to save money.

The Parks and Recreation Department had been asked to cut $14,000 from its budget or increase revenue by $14,000.

In addition to the pool changes, it instituted a non-resident fee, increased shelter rental fees and increased the MacNider Campgrounds site revenue.

The 78-degree pool policy was expected to result in the loss of five to eight swimming days. The city would save money on those days by not having to staff the pool.

So far this season the pool had been open 11 days and closed three due to projected temperatures that didnt meet the 78-degree threshold.

Changing the minimum temperature to 74 degrees will mean less money saved, and other changes will likely have to be made, Pauly said.

If we need to, we can make this up, Pauly told the board. But once again, other programs show a profit, so how much am I going to charge someone in girls softball so someone else can swim?

It wasnt clear Tuesday night what changes will be made as a result of Tuesdays decision, although some board members said they specifically did not want to touch the youth scholarship program. Youths who receive government health care are eligible for reduced fees in some programs, such as swimming lessons.

I will have to assess in the next month where we are for a budget that starts in July and I will make recommendations to the board to figure out where the difference will be, Pauly said.
[Editors Note: Thirty-two-year-old French-Cambodian filmmaker Davy Chou grew up in France and moved back to Cambodia in 2009. Fascinated by the rapid development of the countrys capital, Chou set out to make a film about the modern lives of Cambodian youth. The result, Diamond Island, premiered at Frances Cannes Film Festival in May. A hit with critics, the film was awarded the French Screenwriter and Author Societys SACD prize. VOA Khmers Sopheak Hoeun spoke over the phone with Chou, who was in France. The conversation ranged from the inception and inspiration of the film to the state of Cambodias film industry. This interview has been edited for length and clarity]

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was born in 1983 in France. My parents are Cambodians, and they went to France in 1973. They were very lucky to escape from the Khmer Rouge and to arrive, two years before the Khmer Rouge regime, in France. So I grew up in France. Actually, my grandfather was a very important producer back then in Cambodia. His name was Van Chan. I didnt know much about him because he died even before the Khmer Rouge. And myself, even though my family wasnt into film, I wanted to film and started making [films] at a very young age. And, in 2010-11, I shot a documentary in Cambodia named Golden Slumbers, about the lost memory of Cambodian cinema before the Khmer Rouge. Since I was there in 2009, I have been back and forth between France and Cambodia, and I ended up making this first fiction feature film, Diamond Island, portraying the life of young people in Cambodia today, in modern Cambodia, and thats the film I was showing for the world premiere in Cannes Film Festival.

What inspired you to make this film?

After the documentary I made, I was so willing to try to do something about modern Cambodia, and especially about the youth. I just feel that Cambodia now is this country that is living all these changes, and going from these dark ages that the country has suffered from for a very long time to this kind of new time in which the country is really going into modernization in a very, very fast pace, and it looks like many people are very excited about it, and especially the youth is really excited about it. And, people are surrounded by this image, this advertisement for new and modern Cambodia. So, I was very excited to try to capture this very specific moment.

"I really wanted to do something very real, and that we could see when we watch the film that, 'Wow, this is like Cambodia today.'"

All the time that I went as a normal workerin [Phnom Penhs] Diamond Island, all these young people going around with their motos and cruising around looking at the unfinished buildings because its still an island under construction, I was totally fascinated to see, I would say, the relationship very strong between the young people of Cambodiaboth the young people who are building this area and the people who are just hanging out thereand the business of modernity of Cambodia. So, very quickly I decided that Diamond Island was the place where I wanted to tell that story.

In the film, the actors are actually ordinary people. What made you decide to you do that?

That was very, very soon in the project that I wanted to have first extremely natural acting. I feel like sometimes in Cambodia we are surrounded by films in which we can find a very typical acting which we could consider as a little overactingcoming from theatre or sometimes Lakhon [Cambodian traditional drama], and I really wanted to do something very real, and that we could see when we watch the film that, Wow, this is like Cambodia today. And I was believing that if I could take people who have the same background as the characters, that know who are the characters because they live in the same kind of story, they have the same kind of family story and stuff, maybe I could train them, and we could work together to bring them to be the character.

So that was the bet, and I didnt know if we would succeed because of course it was really hard to go with my team for four or five months in Phnom Penh, looking for the characters, meeting so many, like hundreds and hundreds of young people, texting them what I wanted to do, trying to convince them to come to the casting. Some of them never came because many of them never even dream to become an actor, so they would not really understand why I would be interviewing them. Of course, they dont have the classical beauty or physical [looks] that we would expect from the Cambodian actor, so they were very surprised. Sometimes they didnt believe me.

So, we had all these kinds of psychological approach to try to explain to them what I wanted to do, convince them to come. And then after we met hundreds of people during the casting. Many of them could not act because they were too shy or because, of course, it is very difficult to act. And, I found a bunch of amazing, young, talented natural-born actors, and it was amazing to meet them. And then after we trained them for three months before the shootingevery week just doing a small exercise, going step-by-step until they are feeling the emotion. And I really felt that on the day of the shooting, when they arrived, they are ready. And to see that transformation that just have in three months was really, really magic for me.



Are there any challenges in terms of the production and casting, culturally and financially?

Of course, producing and directing a feature film means facing challenges every day. You just need to be ready for it and to be eager to fight for it. Ive been writing the script for four years. Ive been through many different versions of the script. And to find the money for the film, you need to finalize your script, and then you submit your script to some different fundings. It could be like institutional funding from different film grants in Europe and in Asia, which we got. Or we can have TV funding by French TV or German TV, or private funding with distributors, but you will always need to convince people. The first version of the scripts were not really satisfying, and we didnt get money for it, so I needed to write many versions, and finally we got it. So it was like a full year writing and a full year of preparation.

It was a learning experience, but you need to fight every day. I would say the hardest moment is not the preparation, its the shooting. We shot for seven weeks in Cambodia, mainly in Diamond Island, Koh Pich, but also a little bit in the countryside, in Kampong Chhnang. And we had a mixed team of Cambodian crew and French crew, so it was so interesting to have this kind of cultural shock between them, having different ways of shooting and of working. It was all a learning experience for everybody to work together. But it was very exciting. And everything that is hard and challenging is also very exciting to go through, so it was a lot of joy as well to make this film.

What kind of impact do you think it will have for young Cambodians when they see this film?

I have no idea yet because the only Cambodians who watched the film in Cannes were the three main actors, who we brought from Cambodia, the artistic director and a few friends in Cambodia that worked on the film that I sent a link to. So, Im still very curious, actually. Ive been asked many times: What do I want to say to Cambodian news? or What do I expect? I have to say that I dont want to say anything. I dont expect anything. I just made this film because I saw something that I felt was interesting to make a film about and to be able to share with audience, both locally in Cambodia and internationally.

But now, the film doesnt belong to me anymore. So, I am myself very curious to see how the people will react, and especially, I am very curious to know how young people in Cambodia would react. Of course, Im eager to know if they will see themselves on screenif they feel that the portrayal that I do is faithful to the reality. But it doesnt belong to me anymore. Now Im back in France. Im gonna rest a little and work on the release in France, but what I really want to do is to organize very quickly how we could release and distribute the film in Cambodia, and at that time I will know.

What do you think about the current state of Cambodias film industry?

"You can know how to use a camera very quickly in two weeks, but what takes a life to acquire and really understand is the language of filmmaking, the language of cinema."

Well, Im still new in town, I would say. So, what I can say from my experience is that the first time I lived in Cambodia was in 2009, and in 2009 it was extremely hard to find filmmakers in town, and especially hard to find young filmmakers who would make their own films. And now, if I turn to 2016, its amazing when you go there to see a whole generation of young filmmakers making their own short films by themselves, training themselves through organizations, such as Cambodia Film Commission, or the BBC, or private companies like 802 AD created by filmmaker Sok Visal. So, all these kinds of organizations, collectives like Kon Khmer Koun Khmer collective or different groups who are trying to push to make films, to produce films, to show films. And I can really feel that for the last three or four years, there was something really changing in the mentality, in the desire.

Of course, Rithy Pan has been extremely instrumental in showing an example for the young people, and I really think that the recognition he got for The Missing Picture at the Oscars, Academy [Awards], really changed things for people that suddenly they were feeling that Oh, wow! Cambodia can be represented in the Oscars. And it was a dream come true for many people. So, all this together, plus the apparition of cinemas in town really changed many things. To be honest, its still the beginning, and recently we saw filmmakers like Kulikar Sotho, Chhay Bora, or Neang Kavich showing their films abroad, but thats still the beginning of something. But there are all the signs to be optimistic, in my perspective. And, I really think that in the next couple of years were going to have more and more Cambodian films locally produced, showing to international film festivals. Thats my bet.

Could you give a message for aspiring Cambodian filmmakers out there?

Yeah, I can try, although I dont love to give advice because I feel very young. But hanging out a lot with filmmakers in Cambodia, I would feel that sometimes the most important thing is not just about technique, not just about knowing how to use a camera and stuff because basically you can know how to use a camera very quickly in two weeks, but what takes a life to acquire and really understand is the language of filmmaking, the language of cinema, and my advice is very basicbut I think sometimes the very basic thing is very importantis to watch film and to really obsessively watch films, trying to understand, trying to take a leaf from important films in history, not just in America, but in India, Europe or whatever, watch the film, and try to understand, read about the films. There are so many things that we can access to on the internet, so we can read a lot about why this film has been considered as important for cinema history and try to understand, and watch it again and read the film like a precise book, shot by shot. And somehow thats the process where we can learn to be a filmmaker.

I dont believe that much in school because I didnt attend film school myself. Of course, school can be very important, but when we dont have a film school, which is the case now in Cambodia, except for the PSE [Pour un Sourire dEnfant] film school or some trainings in some organizations. When we dont have a school, we begin to rely on ourselves, to count on ourselves.

Do you have anything else to add?

"Ive been so happy for the last week what happened at Cannes because showing an image of modern Cambodia abroad was something very special to me because sometimes people dont really know what happens in Cambodia."

Ive been so happy for the last week what happened at Cannes because showing an image of modern Cambodia abroad was something very special to me because sometimes people dont really know what happens in Cambodia. They see other films and stuff, and there are not a lot of films traveling out of Cambodia, so somehow seeing that film, many audience came to me and they were very surprised like, Oh, wow! This doesnt look like the Cambodia I used to imagine. And for me, that was not the reason why I made the film, but to have this feedback was so interesting for me just because this is, of course, the face and an image of Cambodia that really exists, I didnt invent it.

So, it was very interesting to also participate in moving that image of Cambodia abroad in a festival like Cannes. That was really interesting to me, and if that can give some ideas to filmmakers, local filmmakers, to see that there are stories around them, that are maybe worth telling to put on screen, and not just imagining something very far from them because basically what I did was just being inspired by the kids that I met in Phnom Penh, in Cambodia. That for me was a victory and very interesting.
Female Cambodian entrepreneur Kimsrun Elida has been selected to take part in the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2016 at Stanford University in California next week.

This years summit, initiated in 2010 by US President Barack Obama, will be hosted by Obama and will see more than 700 entrepreneurs from over 170 countries participating.

The summit will serve as a forum for top entrepreneurs and executives from Silicon Valley to share their experiences and ideas with the emerging and aspiring entrepreneurs from around the world.

Selected by the US Embassy, Elida will be the only participant from Cambodia to attend the summit this year. Currently, this thirty-seven-year-old entrepreneur is a General Manager at Camcona Trading Cambodia.

In a phone interview, she told VOA that she hoped to get experience, innovative ideas from other companies that I will meet [at the summit], and hoped she would find potential partners for future business collaborations.

Elida added that, entrepreneurship contributes and plays an essential role in improving the countrys economy by creating jobs.

She said that in the past few years there has been an increasing number of entrepreneurs. Some have even formed an association... Cambodia also has a growing business sector, especially in the food industry and brand-named building materials.

Elida also plans to share what she learns from the summit with other young aspiring entrepreneurs upon her return to Cambodia.

The US Embassy has worked with the Asean Young Entrepreneurs Association and when I return I will bring back the experiences I have acquired to share with them.
The dancers behind two recent performances in Phnom Penh say they hope audiences can learn to appreciate a challenging new art form, contemporary dance.

Departure, choreographed by Chey Chankethay, the artistic director at the Amrita Performing Arts NGO, deals with issues of uncertainty and suffering through experiences of being a refugee, immigration and death.

Somewhere, by Chy Ratana, expresses the interactions between humans, and between humans and animals. It depicts the feeling of being inspired by a first encounter and the physical and emotional reaction one can have to a new environment.

The two creators spoke about their work during a discussion at the Java Arts cafe in Phnom Penh last week, giving an explanation of an art form unfamiliar to many in Cambodia.

Contemporary dance is a new form of dance. It is a dance performance where you need to find your own way to create dancing style, said Chy Lina, explaining that dance had allowed her to get to know herself, and express her own ideas.

The discussion followed performances of the two pieces at Department of Performing Arts. Both combine traditional Khmer movements with more unorthodox moves.

Contemporary dance is different to traditional dance, but there are some similar points, added Lina. As when we perform contemporary dance, we need [to know] the basic and we have to know ourselves. It is the same with traditional dance that we need foundation.

Chankethya, who graduated the Master of Fine Arts program in dance and choreography at the University of California, said people would benefit from seeing contemporary dance performed.

The benefit is, I think, people could see something new. If human beings do not see anything new, they wont develop, she said, emphasizing the thought-provoking aspect of the art form.

The audience will start questioning. I believe that a community, a society or a person cannot develop themselves, unless they question themselves, others and the environment.

Contemporary performers in Cambodia often struggle for funding, rehearsal spaces and performance venues. But some help is at hand from the Trojan Women Project, an offshoot of the La MaMa theater in New York, which works with performing artists around the world.

Kim Ima, one of five Cambodian members of the Trojan Women Project, explained that the group had begun collaborating with Amrita Performing Arts toward a production of the ancient Greek tragedy about the aftermath of a conflict.

Its a piece of theater where people who dance, people who sing, people who make music, everyone learns together and we take the audiences with us physically and we tell the story of the Trojan Women, Ima said, adding that the play would be performed in 2017.

Another challenge is getting Cambodians to appreciate challenging performances.

Many in the current generation of Phnom Penh residents were adverse to going out to see cultural events, Chankethya said, explaining that the organizers have made efforts to keep ticket prices low.

In order the to break that barrier, they should get out, she said. In Phnom Penh, there are many things for them to see. There are museums, exhibitions and concert, not only places to eat.

The other thing is that we are not used to the performance on a contemporary platform yet, so people are reluctant. As they think: What is the point of seeing it since they do not understand.

However, the point was to inspire new thoughts among the audience, she said. You go to see the performance, not to understand, but to ask yourself more questions, said Chankethya.
Tuy Sereivathana sits at his desk transfixed by the glow of his computer screen. On the walls of the environmentalists modest office are hung pictures of rare species of plants and animals found in the Cardamom Mountains, one of Cambodias few remaining wildernesses.

In 2010, Sereivathana became the first Cambodian to ever win the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize, known as the Oscars for grassroots environmental campaigners. He now works for Flora and Fauna International (FFI) as its Cambodia country director.

Known as Uncle Elephant for his tireless work reducing human-elephant conflict, he also won an Emergent Explorer award from National Geographic in 2011.

In April, Cambodia got its second Goldman Prize winner, Ouch Leng, a lawyer and illegal logging investigator who has spent years documenting the destruction of Cambodias once pristine forests at the hands of powerful interests, many with links to Prime Minister Hun Sens government.

Sereivathana now spends little time on the ground doing project work, his time consumed by the pressures of running the numerous environmental projects FFI runs in the country, which he says has broadened his perspective on conservation.

[This work] broadened my perspective, as I have to absorb more knowledge related to environmental works, not just elephants... especially in a leadership position, he said.

Sereivathana says the award has played an important role contributing to his success.

I want everyone to work from the heart, not just for the award. The award makes you famous, become an incredible person, but what is the most wonderful thing is if the environment in our country, our region in the Asia-Pacific or the world has been restored, and we live in harmony. That is the biggest award for all of us.

Since 2012, he has been an active member in the Green Asia Forum, and also chairman of the board of directors of the Cambodian Rural Development Team.

He hopes to share his knowledge, experience and vision with the next generation.

Since the Goldman Prize was established 27 years ago it has honored 169 activists from 83 countries.

Cambodia has proven to be a dangerous place for environmentalists and is regularly ranked low in terms of the safety of environmental defenders.

In 2012, forest campaigner Chut Wutty was gunned down while investigating illegal logging in Koh Kong province.

Leng, who won this years prize, had previously gone into hiding, fearing for his familys safety after exposing large-scale illegal logging by the Try Pheap Group, owned by a close associate of Hun Sen.

While acknowledging the risks, Sereivathana says he draws strength from his passion for the natural world.

The more you are active in your environmental work, the more challenges you face.

He now thinks that business owners and environmentalists need to understand each other better if Cambodias environment is to be rescued.

With my role, I want to be a [goodwill] ambassador that brings these two groups of people to talk to each other, understand each other, reduce confrontation and build trust.
Now you see it, now you dont.

The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conducted a clumsy variation of the magicians sleight of hand act by issuing a tough joint statement on the South China Sea and then trying to make it quickly disappear.

Incredible  and not in a good way is how former U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank Curtis Chin described it.

The retraction underscores both the high stakes involved in the South China Sea and how much further ASEAN has to go to come together to address some of the most important issues facing the region, Chin told VOA on Wednesday.

Theres something funny there. Its highly unusual, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University, of the quick retraction. I dont recall it ever happening.

The ASEAN ministers, meeting in Yuxi, in China's Yunnan province, on Monday and Tuesday, took a thinly veiled swipe at their hosts by expressing serious concern about rising tensions in the South China Sea.

The statement called for respect for international law amid a Chinese refusal to accept an upcoming Hague Tribunal ruling expected to favor Manilas challenge of Beijings claims to most of the South China Sea.

Diplomatic sources Wednesday indicated that Chinese officials in private quickly pressured ASEAN to rescind the document after Malaysias foreign ministry released a copy to the media.

This appears to be yet another instance of China using blunt diplomatic force to muzzle ASEAN on the South China Sea, a senior diplomat stationed in an ASEAN capital told VOA.

Laos, which this year holds the rotating leadership of ASEAN, has assured many stakeholders we wouldnt see a repeat of 2012, Thitinan told VOA.

Four years ago Cambodia, also seen as close to China, held the ASEAN chair and the main leaders summit ended with no communique  the first time that happened in its 45-year history.

However, the South China Sea dispute in the last four years has intensified to the point it has to be mentioned in any joint statement, said Thitinan. The ground is really shifting. Its becoming more frictional.

The issuance and retraction reveals further disorganization and discord among the foreign ministers of ASEAN, long criticized as a toothless body for its failure to address and solve key regional issues.

It would be a violation of diplomatic protocol to issue [a joint statement] unless its ready, Thitinan explained. There would be a deliberation and normally ASEAN members would have a read of the statement before it is issued.

ASEAN is based on consensus and any statement by the regional body must be agreed upon by all ten member states.

The foreign ministry of China, which like the United States is a full dialogue partner of ASEAN, denied any official statement had been issued by the regional body at the foreign ministers meeting it hosted.

The controversy is merely a delusion of foreign reporters, according to the state-run Global Times, in a Wednesday Chinese-language editorial titled: "Asean slapped China in the face over South China Sea? Western medias crazy thoughts."

The newspaper, however, on its English language website on Wednesday, also carried a staff-bylined article headlined: "ASEAN FMs retract sea dispute statement."

Cooperation between China and ASEAN is far greater than any specific discord, including the South China Sea, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a briefing for reporters.

A spokesperson for Malaysias foreign ministry tried to explain the surprise retraction by telling reporters urgent amendments were needed despite the ASEAN Secretariat having approved the statements release. However, no revised joint document was issued, while individual states were to release their own statements, according to ASEAN officials.

The foreign ministry of Singapore, which is the ASEAN-China coordinator, did issue a separate statement noting the serious concerns expressed by ASEAN foreign ministers over the developments concerning the disputed South China Sea.

Thailands foreign ministry, queried by correspondents in Bangkok for a statement, said it had noted the requests but hours later still had not issued any comment.

The debacle is a very bad omen and its going to ratchet up the tensions, between ASEAN and China, predicted professor Thitinan, the veteran ASEAN specialist at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
The weekly British TV program Sky Press Preview is supposed to be a relatively sedate look at the weeks top news as reflected in the nations newspapers, sprinkled with a bit of opinion.

But in the emotional wake of the mass shootings at Orlandos Pulse gay nightclub, opinion quickly boiled over into shouting and recriminations on this week's show.

Gay British columnist Owen Jones was trying to explain how many in the LGBT community saw the massacre as a direct assault specifically targeting them. It was an intentional attack on LGBT people, Jones said.

Host Mark Longhurst appeared unconvinced. On the freedom of all people to try and enjoy themselves, as [the Paris terrorist attack at] Bataclan was, the host replied.

Jones grew visibly angered. You dont understand this because youre not gay! he said, shortly before being interrupted by an equally roused Longhurst.

Whether Im gay or not, it has no reflection on the fact this person killed 50 people, Longhurst growled, as the discussion dissolved into overlapping, angry voices. It wasnt long before Jones took off his mic and stormed out of the studio.

The argument could be seen as just another televised spat among journalists. But a large number of lesbian and gay people have been left feeling vulnerable, afraid, and angered following the Orlando massacre.

To learn more about how the Orlando night club mass shooting has affected members of the LGBT community, VOA spoke with Christopher Garrison, Ed.D, director of Pine Tree Behavioral Health and licensed therapist specializing in trauma and LBGT issues. Our interview has been edited for length and clarity.

VOA: What are your patients, gay and straight, telling you after Orlando?

"A lot of my patients have been calling me, both straight and those in the LGBT community, enraged about what they were hearing on social media and on television. Theyre also angry at some of the politicians who were identifying the Orlando attack as simply a terrorist attack.

"This clearly was an act of homophobia and a hate crime, and what LGBT people are feeling is devalued as a community. They also believe that the media was basically undermining the reality they saw, as well as myself, that Orlando was a hate crime, while the media cast it as a terrorist attack. When they hear politicians just talking about terrorism, they feel devalued and undermined. Theyre saying Here is another way were being abused and no-one is listening to us.'"

VOA: It seems like many LGBT people dont feel theyre being represented in news reports. How important is it for them to hear those voices?

"I think its especially crucial. For example, my experience, personally and professionally, is that some LGBT people have become complacent. Many of the rights we enjoy today such as marriage equality or rights in employment or housing or what have you, are the direct result of work and struggle by earlier generations, like myself.

"I think sometimes when a tragedy like this happens, they can easily forget that homophobia is alive and well, and they need to continue to express their voice and not be complacent."

VOA: Are LGBT people who had no direct connection to Orlando experiencing some form of trauma?

"We call this vicarious traumatization: when people are exposed to acts of violence or life-taking trauma, which can result in a profound sense of sadness and loss. Even if someone hasnt directly experienced this tragedy ... Some of those very real symptoms are a sense of helplessness, feelings of fear and terror, and a sense that the world is unsafe."

VOA: Is there something special about the setting of the shooting thats left LGBT people feeling particularly vulnerable?

"Yes! In many cases lesbian and gay establishments and clubs have served as a safe haven over the decades. ... This kind of attack creates fear; the one place which created safety and a sense of belonging is now compromised and for some, fear will continue to linger."

VOA: Whats your counsel to people experiencing that fear and confusion?

"First of all, I would recommend watching or exposing yourself to these traumatic events in small doses. Its really important to reach out to family and friends for help and support. You must remember that we dont stop living. You can be sad, or angry, or experience a sense of injustice because the world is unsafe. But that means its crucial for each person to create a sense safety in their own lives.

"You do that by creating healthy, loving relationships, are pursuing activities that give you joy. Of course you have to allow yourself to grieve, but allow yourself to do it in small doses so that you dont become overwhelmed. For example, what we learned from September 11 [2001] is that many people who were not directly involved in the terror attacks had real PTSD symptoms or what we call acute stress disorder.

"For those folks we recommended therapy, because from a neurological perspective our human minds arent always able to process tragedy and trauma, so we need help to put it in its rightful place so we can let go and move on."
Authorities said Wednesday there is "no question" a 2-year-old boy was killed when he was dragged by an alligator into the water near a Disney World hotel in Florida.

The boy, who has not been identified, was with his parents and siblings on vacation from Nebraska. The boy was wading in just a third of a meter of water Tuesday night near the shore of a man-made lake used mostly for boating when the attack occurred, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said.

"There certainly are witnesses who saw the boy dragged into the water," Demings said.

Rescue workers searched through the night for the boy, but 15 hours later authorities said there was no hope the boy would be found alive.

Other alligators found

Disney officials closed beaches at the resort after finding four other alligators in the lake during their search for the boy and euthanized them. There was no sign that any of the four was involved in the attack.

The boy's father told authorities he tried to rescue his son, sustaining cuts as he unsuccessfully tried to fight off the alligator, which was estimated to be one to two meters long.

More than 50 law enforcement personnel searched the Seven Seas Lagoon, which reaches a depth of about four meters, outside Disney's Grand Floridian resort in Orlando.

Demings said there have been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks in the area.

Last October, a 61-year-old swimmer was the first victim killed by an alligator in Florida since 2007.
As NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels discuss efforts to deter Russian aggression, rising tensions not seen since the Cold War will be on the minds of central and eastern European foreign ministers gathering Thursday in the former Yugoslavia.

The agenda of the annual meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI) in Banja Luka aims to focus on Europes migration crisis as well as business, transportation, and energy issues.

But the 18-member state group is expected also to discuss plans by some Balkan nations to join NATO, the Euro-Atlantic military alliance whose expansion Russia has deemed a threat to its security.

NATO foreign ministers in May signed the Accession Protocol for CEI member Montenegro, paving the way for Podgorica to become the defense alliances 29th member as soon as July.



Bosnia and Herzegovina and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are also pursuing NATO membership, while Russias strongest ally in the region, Serbia, is so far remaining neutral. Albania and Croatia became NATO members in 2009.

Pushed towards NATO

NATO expansion in the region underscores Balkan security concerns but also Moscows waning influence in the former zone of Soviet influence.

For Russia it's something like a very telling signal... that it's losing it's traditional influence it had lost with many countries in eastern and central Europe, says Moscow State University's Institute of International Relations Viktor Mizin. And, now it's the turn of [the] Balkans, he adds.

While all the Balkan countries looking to join NATO began their efforts years ago, Russias aggression in Ukraine has only spurred the drive toward NATO, says Alexander Golts, a Moscow-based independent military analyst and visiting researcher at Uppsula University in Sweden. And, I think its a clear [example] of Russian successes in foreign policy when the most closest allies to Russia are trying to escape from it as soon as possible, he tells VOAs Moscow Bureau via Skype. Of course, its the result of Russias successes in Ukraine and Crimea, he adds.

Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean peninsula and ongoing military support for rebels in eastern Ukraine sparked calls for stronger deterrence in NATOs eastern European members.



NATO ministers Tuesday agreed to station four battalions on a rotational basis to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

Russia responded with snap, nationwide military exercises. Last May, Russia stationed three military divisions on its western border.

There is no doubt that the expansion of NATO in the Balkans will worsen already strained relations between Russia and the military alliance, says expert for the Russian International Affairs Council Ilya Kravchenko.

Montenegro, last straw?

Moscow has threatened economic and diplomatic retaliation if Montenegro joins the alliance and is likely to step up its media propaganda to the region as well.

In response to NATOs expansion in the Balkan region, the Kremlin will try to manipulate Serbian populations in Montenegro or Macedonia, reviving their discontent against the government, says Kravchenko. Economic punishment is quite likely, he says. In fact, Russian officials can impose measures that will result in tourism decrease in these former Yugoslav republics. We already know how it works in the cases of Egypt or Turkey, says Kravchenko.

But while Russian aggression is an expressed concern among some in the Balkans, it is not the main reason they want to join NATO.



Joining NATO is seen as a step toward eventual membership in the European Union, says Mizin. But I think, unlike for example Poland or the Baltic states where the political class, the elites really felt themselves threatened or just bullied by Moscow, I think in the Balkans it's more, if you wish, cynical because they are expecting probably more subsidies, more money from NATO. Pretty much like they are expecting on the economic dimension from the European Union, adds Mizin.

But, joining NATO is not just about money and economics for the Balkans, says Golts.

Joining NATO is very important step showing that these countries are ready to be robust members of [the] Euro-Atlantic community, that they understand and accept all rules, they accept the idea of superiority of the law, they accept the idea of division of powers within society, they accept the idea of elections without any limitations, he said.

The Central European Initiative was founded in 1989 to support European integration. Its 18 member states include a number of NATO and EU countries as well as Ukraine.
Kent D. Stricker

OSAGE  Kent David Stricker, 63, of Osage, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2016, after a brief illness at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Saturday, June 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at the American Legion in Osage.

Kent was born on March 10, 1953 to Harold and Mary Ann (Weitzel) Stricker in Mason City, Iowa. He was united in marriage to Candice Brummer on Aug. 15, 1977, in rural Osage. Kent was well known in the community for his outgoing personality and fun loving demeanor. Kent made friends wherever he went.

After working in the meat department at the local grocery store for several years, Kent bought S & S Locker in 1994 with partner Tom Smith. Not only did Kent excel in providing quality food to the community, he provided an atmosphere of laughter and camaraderie for his customers. In 2011 Kent returned to his original love, Stricker Farms, where he worked alongside his brother and parents.

He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Candice; their daughter Mandy (Matt) Freer; grandchildren Henry and Ellery Freer; his brother Michael (Marsha) Stricker; nephew Jerad (Amber) Stricker; niece Shannon (Dustin) Bieber; and many great-nieces and nephews.

Online condolences may be made at www.iowacremation.com.
China has voiced its objection and disappointment with a decision to not include Chinese shares in a prominent global benchmark index for emerging markets, arguing that without the worlds second largest economy, the index is incomplete.



But analysts and the New York-based index provider MSCI have noted that continued resistance by China to further open its markets and questions about whether it will press ahead with much needed reforms remains a key concern.



Unique emerging market



In a statement late Tuesday, which included a decision to return Pakistan to its Emerging Market index, MSCI said lingering concerns about limits on capital flows out of the country, trading suspension rules and broad restrictions that require pre-approval before any financial institution or stock exchange can release products linked to Chinese "A Shares" were some of the key reasons for the decision.



The statement called the pre-approval requirements unique in Emerging Markets and also noted that such regulations run the risk of disrupting trading if a Chinese exchange were to withhold approval.



"A Shares" are stocks of Chinese companies that are off limits to overseas investors and can only be purchased through a specially regulated program known as Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII). MSCI listing is expected to not just enlarge the scope of QFII program, but also lead to relaxation in controls on foreign investments.

Earlier, MSCI had estimated that inclusion in its Emerging Markets Index could draw $400 billion into Chinese shares in the next decade. But some analysts believe this kind of inflow is possible in five years because of the large number of Chinese companies are planning to list in exchanges in New York, London and Hong Kong in the coming years.



Either way, when the decision is finally approved the shift to "A Shares" by MSCI is likely to be gradual. Chang Liu, a China Economist with Capital Economics said that at the beginning it is likely to be limited to five percent of "A Shares".



"If [after inclusion] the weighting of Chinas stocks is increased over time [which is the plan according to the roadmap published by MSCI last year] it could have a significant impact on both Chinas equity markets and even on the renminbi exchange rate," Liu said.



Too important

The China Securities Regulatory Commission said the decision to not include Chinese "A Shares" would not have an impact on the countrys reform and opening process, adding that China needs to build long-term, stable and healthy capital markets. But it also questioned how any index could overlook Chinas "A Shares" index, whose international influence is growing, adding that without "A Shares" the index would be incomplete. The statement said nothing about the specific concerns raised by MSCI.



Instead of focusing on the size of its economy and benefits Beijings membership could bring, China should be using the decision as an opportunity for self-reflection, said Fraser Howie, co-author of the book Red Capitalism: The Fragile Financial Foundation of China's Extraordinary Rise.



They should be asking why is it these other emerging markets that are not as economically developed as us, are getting access? Howie said.



You can open up your markets in many ways without losing control. No one is expecting the Chinese to be perfect or of the full openness of lets say markets in Europe or in the states, there is much the Chinese can still do, Howie said.



What that doesnt include, he added is last minute decisions and rule changes, such as the one markets made shortly before the MSCI announcement.



Trading suspensions



In late May, Chinas two main indexes announced that trading suspensions for companies involved in major asset restructuring could last for three months and for more than one month for private placement. In its statement, the MSCI noted that the decision was a positive step, but added that a period of observation was needed to see just how the rules were used in practice.



Last year, when Chinas stock markets plunged about 40 percent, around half of Chinese listed shares voluntarily suspended their trading. Some extended that halt in trading for months to avoid the volatility of the market.





Control vs. reform



Analysts note the underlying problem is one of control versus market forces.



When people talk about the China model having run aground, having run its course, this is what they are talking about, Fraser Howie said, adding that if China wants to embrace next phase of market reforms and development, the government needs to step back some.



In its statement, MSCI listed two problematic areas in its rejection of China. It opposed a 20 percent limit China has imposed on foreign investors for repatriating their investments and profits during share sell-offs. The index maker also expressed concern over the Chinese system that allows local exchanges in Shanghai and Shenzhen to impose pre-approval restrictions on launching financial products.

China is unlikely to meet those requirements, said Oliver Rui, a professor at the China Europe International Business School.

"Removing the 20 percent monthly repatriation limit and the local exchanges pre-approval restrictions could increase the volatility of RMB and the stock market," he said adding that for China "the stability of the RMB and stock market is more important" than MSCI listing.
U.S. President Barack Obama has accepted personal condolences from the Dalai Lama on the Orlando shooting, despite warnings from China that the two leaders should not meet.

The Dalai Lama, a Buddhist spiritual leader revered by Tibetans, met with Obama behind closed doors Wednesday at the White House. The Obama administration said the president accepted the Dalai Lama's condolences for the shootings in Orlando and praised him for his efforts to promote compassion, empathy and respect for others.

Earlier, China warned Obama against meeting with the Dalai Lama, saying it could damage mutual trust. China sees the Dalai Lama as a dangerous separatist.

Obama has met with the Dalai Lama multiple times and refers to him as "a good friend." But China fears these meetings send the wrong message to Tibetans.

"If such meeting goes through, it will send a wrong signal to the separatist forces seeking Tibet independence, and it will damage mutual trust and cooperation," China's foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters Wednesday in Beijing.

Dialogue between the Dalai Lama and China's central government stopped in 2010.

Tibetans re-elected their prime minister in May, and they maintain hope that talks with China about a "middle way" that would give Tibet autonomy can continue.
The U.S. presidential primary election season officially ended Tuesday as Hillary Clinton defeated Bernie Sanders in the nation's capital, and the two candidates held what they called a "positive discussion" in Washington.

Clinton is the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee with her official selection expected at a convention in Philadelphia next month. Sanders has persisted in his campaign despite trailing in the race for months, which has allowed him to have some influence on the party's platform of policies.

The two campaigns issued very similar statements after the meeting that said Clinton and Sanders discussed shared priorities such as raising wages, reforming campaign finance laws and making college affordable.

They also cited the "dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation."

In the Washington, D.C. primary, Clinton won 78 percent of the vote to 21 percent for Sanders. That gave Clinton a final total of 2,219 delegates and Sanders 1,832. Clinton fell short of the majority 2,383 needed to officially clinch the nomination, but she has the support of hundreds of so-called superdelegates who will push her over the top at the convention.

Ahead of the meeting, Sanders said the Democrats should abolish the superdelegates, saying it is "absurd" that many had already settled on Clinton last year long before people began voting in primaries. He gave no sign of formally ending his bid for president.

"What has to happen and what this fight has always been about is transforming America," Sanders said. "It is standing up for working people, it is fighting for a progressive agenda which serves the needs of working people and not powerful corporate interests, and we are going to take that fight into the convention in Philadelphia."

The Democratic convention runs from July 25-28. The Republicans hold their convention in Cleveland from July 18-21.

A new poll by NBC News and SurveyMonkey released Tuesday shows Clinton leading Trump 49 to 42 percent.

Americans will vote on November 8 for their next leader, replacing Barack Obama who leaves office in January after serving the maximum of eight years as president.
A small regional Florida bank is making history.

Stonegate Bank is issuing the first credit card that can be used in Cuba since Washington and Havana normalized relations.

"In the past, everyone's had to use cash, which is difficult. ... It's dangerous. It doesn't really make a lot of sense," Stonegate CEO David Seleski said Tuesday in Havana. "By having a credit card now, people will be able to use corporate travel down here, just like any other country."

The card will be a limited-edition MasterCard. Stonegate will issue only 1,000 cards initially. Each card will feature artwork by celebrated Cuban painter Michel Mirabal.

The Cuban government will waive the usual 10 percent penalty on dollar exchanges for those using the Stonegate cards.

Seleski said he hopes more U.S. banks will issue cards that can be used in Cuba to ease the burden on the new wave of travelers expected to visit the island in the future.
Hong Kong's number two official made a good impression on some of America's most prominent think tanks last week during a rare visit to Washington.

Carrie Lam and her Hong Kong government colleagues have been facing increased scrutiny in the U.S. capital for their handling of recent political unrest in the autonomous Chinese territory.

Lam's visit to Washington from June 6 to 8 was her first since becoming Hong Kongs chief secretary in 2012  a visit that her boss, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, has yet to make since he took office that same year.

Lam had expressed some apprehension about the trip. Before flying to Washington, she told a luncheon in San Francisco that she expected to have discussions on human rights and political issues that "may not be very pleasant."

Touchy subjects

Those unpleasant issues appeared to be a reference to Hong Kong's mass pro-democracy protests that occupied major city streets for almost three months in 2014. Lam also appeared to be referring to the subsequent collapse of her government's electoral reform package in 2015  a collapse that has left the city's democratic development in limbo.

Hong Kong's government said Lam discussed the failure of those Beijing-backed reforms during her stay in Washington. But the Hong Kong economic and trade office in the U.S. capital released few other details of Lam's closed-door conversations with U.S. think tanks, diplomats, lawmakers and business leaders.

There also was no comment on the talks from either the Obama administration or several U.S. House and Senate members contacted by VOA.

But two analysts who attended Lam's meetings with Washington research institutes spoke to VOAs China 360 podcast and gave her positive reviews.

Impressing her audience

One of the analysts is Brookings Institution senior fellow Richard Bush. "Lam comes across as a very capable and articulate person, he said. She is in a really impressive command of the various issues that the Hong Kong government has to manage, and not at all naive about the problems that the territory faces."

The other analyst, The Heritage Foundation's research manager Anthony Kim, said his group discussion with Lam involved a lively back-and-forth.

"I think she was trying to convey the details as much as she could and I think those efforts were warmly received, Kim said. These kinds [of] remarks are not easy [for her] to make, but I think she conveyed a very balanced and nuanced, detailed message."

A Hong Kong press release said part of Lam's message was expressing "disappointment" that pro-democracy lawmakers vetoed the government's electoral reforms. Those lawmakers said the proposals did not give Hong Kong people what they call a "genuine" choice of candidates for chief executive.

The Hong Kong government countered by saying it was more important for its reforms to adhere to the city's constitution or Basic Law, which limits who can run for chief executive under a system of universal suffrage.

Under those Beijing-imposed limits, the only candidates who could stand for election would have to secure majority approval from a nominating committee resembling an existing body dominated by government loyalists.

Praising HKs response

Bush of Brookings credited Lam and her colleagues for working within those rules to create what he called a "rather creative" plan.

"It created a two stage process, and it made possible consideration by the nominating committee of a range of potential candidates, including people on the pan-democratic side, of a moderate persuasion, Bush said. And so this created a narrow pathway for a moderate pan-democrat to be nominated and conceivably to be elected chief executive."

Since the plan was vetoed, that pathway remains closed, meaning the next chief executive to take office in 2017 will be chosen once again by government loyalists who dominate the existing committee. It is a prospect that has continued to fuel street protests by pro-democracy activists.

But Heritage researcher Kim said Lam and the Hong Kong government have been effective in keeping the situation under control.

Hong Kong is a very dynamic economy whose rule of law is not near collapse or anything like that, Kim said. Despite all the downs and all the negative news we may have seen over the past months, the rule of law there - I think it has been well preserved."

US scrutiny increases

Bush said U.S. interest in the Hong Kong government's performance got a boost from media coverage of the 2014 Occupy protests. Kim said he expects that interest to grow further.

"A lot of observers in Washington will pay greater attention to the future of Hong Kong, especially getting into 2017, which will mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the mainland," Kim said.

Bush said another reason he and other U.S. scholars watch Hong Kong is because mainland China could draw inspiration from the way its autonomous region deals with challenges.

"In a way, what happens in Hong Kong is a leading indicator of what may happen politically in China in the long term future, Bush said. There are things that Beijing could learn from Hong Kong in how to govern an advanced metropolitan society. So whether there is progress in Hong Kong's political system and in maintaining its competitiveness in a globalized world is not a trivial matter."
Iraqi security forces are inside Fallujah three weeks after launching an offensive to retake the Islamic State-held city, according to a military spokesman for the coalition battling IS in Iraq and Syria.

They [Iraqis] have a foothold in the southern corner, the southern edge of the city, Colonel Chris Garver told Pentagon reporters Wednesday during a teleconference from Baghdad.

Garver said the Iraqi forces entered the city within the last couple of days. He said they were working to seize the center of Fallujah and then fight outward.

The attack inside the city came as other Iraqi Security Forces brigades, Iraqi police, Anbar tribal fighters and Popular Mobilization Units continued the encirclement of Fallujah, which is needed to prevent Islamic State fighters from reinforcing or resupplying their fighters there.

Multiple Iraqi brigades from four different Iraqi army divisions are involved in the fight to retake the city. The coalition estimates hundreds of Islamic State fighters remain in Fallujah.

Garver said the fight would become more difficult now that the Iraqi Security Forces were within the city. Islamic State fighters have held Fallujah for about two years, giving them time to plant several explosive belts and other traps.

The meters that you gain become tougher to gain, and they become more significant as you get them, he said.

Fallujah was the first Iraqi city to fall to Islamic State militants in 2014.

There are reports that as many as 40,000 citizens from in and around the city have fled the fighting in recent weeks.
Backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, Iraqi Kurdish fighters known as Peshmerga have been at the front lines of the war against Islamic State extremists.

But Peshmerga commanders all along the frontline of northern Iraq have one familiar refrain: they say they their weapons are just not good enough.



"Out of four heavy machine guns on the front line, usually just one of them is working, when one is broken, we fix it, then another one breaks down and we have to fix that, over and over. Even our light weapons are old," said Peshmerga General Saeed Hazhar.



As Kurdistan is part of Iraq, the Peshmerga should technically receive their materiel from the Iraqi government. But the fighters here say Baghdad is not sending them what they need.

They claim a lot of their better weapons have been captured from Islamic State fighters, who took the weapons from the U.S.-supplied Iraqi army when they fled the area in 2014.



The U.S. Defense Department denies there's a problem.



"We continue to work through the government of Iraq and Prime Minister [Haider al-] Abadi, and there's been no problem in getting materiel that has been approved and equipment to the Peshmerga forces through that format. And we think that is the appropriate way to continue," said Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook.

The United States, France, and Germany have provided the Peshmerga with weapons, including 40 MRAP armored vehicles, Milan anti-tank missiles, ammunition and money for salaries.



But as the push intensifies to retake Mosul the Peshmerga want more.

"They need to provide us with more modern equipment, night vision goggles, heavy machine guns, armored cars," Hazhar said.

The general said he had to buy his armored vehicle, which he uses to travel around the bomb-laden area just liberated from Islamic State, with his own money.

But there are concerns that in heavily arming the Peshmerga, what is now the frontline against Islamic State could become the front line of their fight for independence from Baghdad too.


Officials in Tokyo say a Chinese spy ship entered Japanese waters early Wednesday.

The intelligence ship was spotted around 3:30am local time Wednesday near Kuchinoerabu island in southern Japan. The ship reportedly left Japanese waters 90 minutes later.

China claims it was acting within its rights according to international law and freedom of navigation.

The area in question divides the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, and is not part of the heated territorial dispute over islands in the South China Sea.

Japan has previously warned that any foreign naval vessels entering its claimed waters for any reason other than innocent passage would be instructed to depart by Japanese patrols.

Last week Japan expressed a strong vow to protect its territory following the passage of a Chinese naval vessel close to islands claimed by both countries.

Japan's defense ministry says a Chinese ship was spotted entering a protected zone northeast of Kuba island, part of the islands known as Senkaku in Japanese, and Diaoyu in China.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters in Tokyo that Japan will protect the Senkaku islands by any means," and criticized China for "unilaterally escalating tensions."

But a spokesman for China's defense ministry says it has every right to sail through those waters.

The uninhabited islands are claimed by China and Taiwan, but controlled by Tokyo.

The islands and rocks are in a strategically significant position in shipping lanes, as well as desirable fishing grounds and are near potential oil and gas reserves.
A citizen of Kosovo pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court Wednesday of providing material support to terrorists by giving information obtained through identity theft, the FBI said.

In a case described as the first of its kind, Ardit Ferizi pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Virginia, admitting he stole identification data from more than 1,000 U.S. citizens' records and provided it to Islamic State.

He is expected to be sentenced in September. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for support of terrorism and five years for accessing a protected computer and obtaining information without authorization.

Ferizi agreed to return to Kosovo after completing his prison sentence.

In a statement, the FBI said Ferizi's victims were U.S. service members and federal employees.

John Carlin, assistant attorney general for national security, said the case was the first to mix terrorism and cybercrime, a combination that security officials have long feared was on the horizon.

U.S. Attorney Dana Boente said, "Cyberterrorism has become an increasingly prevalent and serious threat here in America, both to individuals and businesses."

Ferizi admitted that from June to August 2015, he had administrator-level access to the databases of a company in the United States, from which he mined identity information to turn over to Islamic State. He admitted that he committed the theft knowing that IS planned to use the information to inflict damage on U.S. citizens.
The United Nations warns at least 1.5 million people in Mozambique need international assistance to see them through a disastrous El Nino-induced drought.



In the central and southern parts of Mozambique, an estimated 1.5 million people are under the strain of a drought, which has been developing for months.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports a severe food shortage in Mozambique is taking a toll on children. OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke says some 95,000 children are acutely malnourished.

He tells VOA their condition could become life-threatening in the coming six months if they do not receive nutritional assistance.

We are afraid that many of these children may die as a result of this. Of course, El Nino is a natural phenomenon. It happens; however, it is preventable - not the phenomenon, but that it develops into a disaster with proper response, but also preparedness. So, there may be, of course, fatalities as a direct consequence of lack of funding, he said.

Change in rain patterns



El Nino is the warming of the western Pacific Ocean that changes normal rain patterns.

The United Nations has received only $13 million of the $203 million appeal it made for humanitarian operations in Mozambique this year.

Laerke says 423,000 people received food assistance in April and May. Because of the funding shortage, he says 100,000 fewer people will receive food in June.

He says farmers in rural communities are in particular trouble and that nearly one-half-million farmers who grow rain-fed crops have lost their harvest because of the drought. In Mozambique's southern region, he says almost all planted crops for the main growing season also have been lost to drought.

The U.N.s assistance program focuses on providing food, nutrition, water and sanitation services and early recovery to get people back on their feet once the drought is over.




Terry A. Elthon

FERTILE  Terry A. Elthon, 55, of Fertile, died Sunday, June 12, 2016, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, June 18, 2016, at Cataldo Schott Funeral Chapel, 505 N. Clark St., Forest City, with Father Jim Dubert of St. James Catholic Church officiating.

A gathering of friends and family will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday.

Inurnment of cremains will be held in Brush Point Cemetery in rural Fertile, Iowa.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa.
Ramadan is a time when Muslims fast, a time of reflection and, this year, a time when many Muslims believe there is a need to speak out against the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

"If you're a person of the faith and you have the love of our creator in your heart, and if your heart is full of love for your creator, there is no room for hate, there is no room for crime. These people are criminals. They use any reasons that they can give to achieve their goals," said Virginia resident Hussein Gul from his mosque in Falls Church.

Muslims across the nation condemn the act of Omar Saddiqui Mateen, who authorities say pledged loyalty to Islamic State during his attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando. From Los Angeles to Washington, and everywhere in between, Muslims say the actions of the gunman do not reflect their Muslim beliefs.

Ines Olevic Saleh, a Muslim American and refugee from Bosnia, says she hopes non-Muslim Americans understand the difference between the teachings of Islam and extremist beliefs.

"This is not someone who represents Muslim, she said from Las Vegas, Nevada. I mean, this is an individual and there are numerous individuals who commit terrible, terrible acts that are of different religions. So just because this person happens to be Muslim, that doesn't represent me in any way just because I'm Muslim.

Muslim American attorney Jesse Sbaih, who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Congress in Nevada, says people should not lump all Muslims together into one group.

"I speak for myself and an entire community of American Muslims in this country, we are as shocked and as disappointed and as hurt as everyone else in this country," Sbaih said.

In Orlando, Salaam Bhatti of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community encouraged Muslims to reach out to the community to fight Islamaphobia.

"We need to invite more people to our mosques. This is not a reason to lock our doors. The extremists want us to lock the doors to our mosques so we can drive people to their groups," Bhatti said.

At a vigil in Washington, there was a message reaching out to Muslims who are gay.

"The discourse needs to center [on] LGBT Muslims, give them a voice. As an ally, all I can do is provide that platform," said Abiha Bilgrami, coordinator of the vigil.

In Los Angeles, the Islamic Center of Southern California held a vigil on its front steps with a message to the violent extremists.

"If you believe in God, you have to believe in human equality and defend the human dignity of every human being. We stand for that religion, not your exploitation or religion. ISIS, you are an abomination," said Salam Al-Marayati of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, using an acronym for Islamic State.

He encouraged Muslim leaders to join leaders of other faiths in standing with the LGBT community and the belief in compassion and dignity of life for all people.
North Dakota voters overturned legislation Tuesday that loosened Depression-era regulations on corporate farming in the midwestern state.

A law colloquially known as the "ham and cheese law" was passed last year, exempting pork and dairy operations from the state's longtime ban on corporate farming.

Supporters of the law said that it would bring more money to the state by boosting the two dwindling industries.

But opponents spoke up for family farming, arguing that local farms would not be able to compete with corporations who would have no stake in the local communities in which they would operate. The North Dakota Farmers Union unanimously voted to bring the legislature to referendum, just one week after it was passed.

More than 70% of voters Tuesday voted to overturn the law, keeping North Dakota free of corporate farms.

"The citizens of North Dakota do not support corporate farming and we should respect that," Mark Watne, president of the North Dakota Farmers Union said Tuesday.

But those in favor of the law, including multiple republican senators, say that corporate farming would have helped the state's pork and dairy industries, which are struggling without many other prospective solutions.

"The opponents defended the status quo and offered no solutions to help the swine and dairy industries in our state," Senator Terry Wanzek, who farms himself, said Tuesday.
The top U.S. nonproliferation official is in Africa to try to align nations against North Koreas nuclear ambitions by urging them to cut ties with Pyongyang. The threat, he says, is not as far away as it seems.

The increasingly belligerent, mountainous hermit kingdom of North Korea feels like it is a world away from the broad savannas of Africa.

But it isn't, says Thomas Countryman, the assistant secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation.

What Ive said to friends all over the world, including those who are far away from Asia, whether its Africa or South America, is that the North Korean challenge is not something that is distant and that does not concern them," he said. "In fact, this is the place in the world where, thanks to both the actions and the rhetoric of the North Korean regime, there is the highest probability of serious conflict. There is the highest probability of the first use of nuclear weapons in more than 70 years. And every country in the world has to take that seriously.

Thomas Countryman spoke to VOA News from Pretoria, South Africas capital, as part of a visit to two African nations with strategic ties to the issue.

South Africa, the continents most developed nation, is the only African nation to have developed nuclear weapons, though it ended the program in 1989. And the oil-rich nation of Angola currently sits on the U.N. Security Council, which recently condemned what appeared to be a failed missile test by North Korea in April, and is seeking to impose more sanctions on the already isolated nation, estimated to have at least 10 nuclear weapons.

Angola is one of several African countries whose Cold War-era allegiances have left them with good relations with North Korea. And, like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe, it has recently bought arms and military equipment from North Korea.

Countryman says that if African nations want to diminish North Koreas nuclear threat, they need to cut the purse strings, as Uganda did in May.

He also told VOA he is speaking to African nations about other security threats, such as recent indications that terror groups may take up biological and chemical weapons.

But amid the talk of nuclear bombs, gas and large-scale weapons, Countryman said a depressing fact remains: on the African continent, the simple bullet remains the real weapon of mass destruction.

The multilateral Arms Trade Treaty has been signed by more than 80 countries, but too many weapons still pass effortlessly through African borders.
Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed late on Wednesday to observe a cease-fire after days of deadly border skirmishes that left four soldiers dead and wounded more than 40 people, including civilians, on both sides.

Afghan and Pakistani security forces from both sides are said to have raised white flags, a common means to show surrender. The clashes occurred at the busy Torkham border crossing.

It has been agreed but hope it holds, Hazrat Omer Zakhilwal, Afghan ambassador to Islamabad, told VOA when it was announced a cease-fire has been agreed to. He shared no other details.

Zakhilwal made the statement shortly after holding separating meetings with Pakistani military chief General Raheel Sharif and top foreign ministry officials.

Earlier, Pakistan military spokesman Lt. General Asim Bajaw told reporters that both sides had made contact on diplomatic, political and military levels to de-escalate the border clashes.

Trying to limit damages

Bajaw noted Pakistan does not want to prolong the conflict because it would only cause more devastation and hurt mutual interests of neighboring countries.

In Kabul Wednesday, the Afghan parliament also passed a resolution, calling for resolving the conflict with Pakistan through diplomatic and political means.

The most frequented Torkham crossing has remained closed since the conflict began, stranding thousands of travelers on both sides and halting trade conveys.

Afghanistan and Pakistan blame each other for starting the skirmishes.

Bajwa reiterated Afghan forces began unprovoked firing late last Sunday to disrupt construction of a gate by Pakistan at the Torkham crossing. He dismissed allegations the gate is located in the disputed territory and insisted the new facility being built 37 meters inside Pakistani territory would help prevent terrorist and other illegal movements on either side.

This border management system is going to benefit Afghans equally well. This is good for both the countries. This will check all kind of movement on either side of the border, so this blame game will eventually end. I think this is going to help all of us and we should get there, he told a news conference in Rawalpindi, where the military is headquartered.

Construction

Bajwa added that Pakistan plans to construct similar structures at all the eight established border crossings with Afghanistan to address mutual allegations and concerns that militants involved in subversive activities in both countries freely move across the nearly 2,600-kilometer-long so-called Durand Line.

He said that militant incursions from across the Torkham crossing led to some of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Pakistan in recent years.

The Afghan government, which denounced the construction of the gate, has defended military retaliation, saying no new facility could be erected at the border without mutual consent.

The objection stems from historic Afghan disagreement with a frontier that was drawn by former British rulers of the Indian subcontinent.
The Pentagon has launched a new cyber task force to counter the Islamic State group, and officials say it is creating advantages both in cyberspace and on the battlefield.

The task force, JTF-Ares, was developed in May and is in its initial operation phase, U.S. Cyber Command spokesman Joe Holstead said.

The military has carried out several cyber offensive operations against IS militants, which experts say have produced many coalition successes in the last few months.

Theres no bang, and theres no explosion, but it does give you a military advantage, said James Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

During a Pentagon news briefing earlier this year, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said the U.S. military was looking to accelerate the cyber war against IS in order to physically and virtually isolate the terror group.

Holstead said the new task force is a part of that acceleration effort, using both operations and intelligence professionals from all military branches to improve efficiencies and unify cyber efforts for a focused and sustained cyberspace campaign in support of the broader counter-ISIL [Islamic State] efforts in Syria and Iraq.

A defense official, speaking to VOA on the condition on anonymity, confirmed Wednesday that specific cyber tools were being developed and integrated into the coalition battle, but declined to give details because of operational sensitivities.

Disruptive effects

Carter has said the U.S. is using cyber attacks to interrupt IS command and control, to cause the militants to lose confidence in their networks and to overload their networks so that they can't function. Some penetrations have interrupted supply chains or sent enemy combatants to the wrong places, according to Lewis, who directs the CSIS Strategic Technologies Program.

Colonel Chris Garver, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria, told VOA on Tuesday that the coalition had reaped the benefits from this disruption of networks through both cyber attacks coming out of U.S. Cyber Command and kinetic attacks on the ground.

Just as when we attack a radio station, the disruption by cyber attacks fits into that, Garver said in a phone interview from Baghdad. Its harder to count than the bombs we drop, but it certainly has an effect.

Garver told reporters last week via teleconference that the coalition had seen changes in the terror groups communication structure as multiple attacks on its networks forced the use of other means of transferring information.

IS leaders communicate with their fighters by cellphones, push-to-talk radios, internet applications and emails. On the battlefield, the coalition has focused on bombing IS headquarters to destroy large amounts of communications devices at once, but strikes do not always happen immediately.

We may be listening, we may be watching, Garver told reporters, and we may not hit that right away because we want to keep using that to gather intelligence.

Eliminate or infiltrate

Speaking with VOA, Garver added that the same concept was true in cyber warfare against IS.

Say youve identified a jihadist website," he said. "You can zap it, or before you lay waste to it and let them know its been hacked, you may choose to infiltrate their networks without ever letting them know youre doing it.

Before launching an attack against IS or the Taliban  either a physical attack or a cyber raid  U.S. defense officials must follow a process that leads them to decide whether such action outweighs the intelligence benefit that could be gained by continuing to listen and watch the enemy, according to experts and an official inside the department.

It's a question every time, Lewis of CSIS told VOA.

Lewis said cyber attacks against IS are relatively new because U.S. Cyber Command previously lacked the capacity to launch these types of assaults.

He said the military had increased its expertise by putting a lot of resources into developing both the doctrine and the workforce that could carry out these attacks.

Its a matter of prioritizing, and if its a priority, you find a way to get the experts and tools you need, a defense official told VOA on the condition of anonymity.
Oscar Pistorius removed his prostheses and hobbled on his stumps in a South African courtroom Wednesday as part of his defense team's argument that the double-amputee athlete, convicted of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, is a vulnerable man who deserves leniency when he is sentenced.



Defense lawyer Barry Roux asked Pistorius to remove the prostheses and the former track star and Olympian, who had taken off his suit and put on a T-shirt and running shorts during a recess, then hobbled in front of Judge Thokozile Masipa. The demonstration drew gasps from some onlookers in the courtroom and Pistorius became tearful.



"I don't want to overplay disability,'' Roux said ahead of the demonstration, "but the time has come that we must just look [at Pistorius] with different eyes.''



Chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel, however, said Pistorius should get the minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for murder, arguing that he had not shown genuine remorse a well as noting the seriousness of the crime and the devastating impact on Steenkamp's family.



A judge can reduce the minimum sentence of 15 years for murder in some circumstances.



Masipa will deliver Pistorius' sentence after hearings end this week. Pistorius is currently under house arrest and awaiting a new sentence after an appeals court overturned an initial manslaughter conviction against him and changed that to murder for shooting Steenkamp at his home in 2013.



Walking in court on his stumps while dressed in sportswear emblazoned with the logos of his former sponsor Nike, Pistorius was unsteady at times, holding onto wooden desks and helped by a woman at one point. He then returned to a bench where he sat alone, head bowed, and wiped away tears.



When he had his chance to address the judge, Nel asked Masipa not to forget that Pistorius shot four times into a toilet cubicle from close range with no justification when he killed Steenkamp.



"He intended to shoot someone in the bathroom. He did,'' Nel said. "Pity will play no role in the sentence.''



The defense's argument is that Pistorius, a multiple Paralympic champion and a history-making amputee athlete who ran at the 2012 Olympics, was a scared disabled man when he shot Steenkamp through the toilet door. Pistorius was on his stumps when he fired the fatal shots; he testified at his murder trial that he felt vulnerable and thought an intruder was in the house.



Roux said Wednesday: "It was not the man winning gold medals that must be judged'' but rather "a man standing on his stumps at 3 o'clock in the morning in the dark that must be judged.''



Prosecutors charged that Pistorius intentionally killed Steenkamp after a fight.



Nel also addressed the argument that Pistorius is a "broken man'' because of the grief from killing Steenkamp and the trauma that followed as the world focused on his case. Nel referred to the emotional testimony a day earlier of Barry Steenkamp, father of the victim.



"If you ever want to talk about a broken man, we saw a broken man there,'' Nel said of Barry Steenkamp.



Nel repeated Barry Steenkamp's request that graphic photographs showing the fatal wounds Pistorius inflicted on his girlfriend  including a severe head injury  should be made public in the hope of deterring people from doing what Pistorius did.



Masipa initially acquitted Pistorius of murder at his trial in 2014, but her decision was overturned last year by South Africa's Supreme Court. The sentencing hearing is scheduled to run through Friday this week.



While prosecutors are seeking a long jail term for the 29-year-old Pistorius, his defense has argued that he should be spared prison and allowed to do community work with children.



Roux began his arguments by saying there are misconceptions over Pistorius' murder conviction. Roux said "substantial and compelling circumstances'' existed that would allow the judge to deviate from the minimum term of 15 years in prison.



One misconception, Roux said, was that people believed Pistorius was convicted of murder for intentionally killing Steenkamp. The Supreme Court found Pistorius guilty of murder in that he realized that someone might die as a result of his actions and went ahead anyway. The ruling didn't say that Pistorius knew it was Steenkamp  and not an intruder, as he claimed he thought it was  behind the door.
After more than three years of floor speeches imploring congressional action to combat rampant gun violence in America, Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Murphy took more drastic action Wednesday.

Im at my wits end. Ive had enough, Murphy said Wednesday at the start of what became a nearly 15-hour effort to hold the Senate floor. Early Thursday morning, he ended by urging his colleagues to ask themselves what they can do to make sure the country does not experience another mass shooting.

Murphy said there was an agreement to take up legislation barring those on the FBIs terror watch list from buying firearms and another bill to expand background checks for gun purchases.

Three days after the Orlando, Florida attack at a gay nightclub, Murphy had pledged to keep speaking until Democrats and Republicans agreed to take action on gun violence.

The failure of this body to do anything, anything at all, in the face of continued slaughter isnt just painful. Its unconscionable, Murphy said. Ive had enough of the ongoing slaughter of innocents, and Ive had enough of inaction in this body.

Im prepared to stand on this floor for, frankly, as long as I can, he added.

His effort caught the attention of Twitter users in the United States, where it was the top trending topic overnight.



Advocating stricter legislation

The mild-mannered, soft-spoken Democrat joined the Senate one month after a lone shooter killed 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in his home state of Connecticut in December 2012. Murphy has been the Senates most persistent advocate of gun control ever since.

Under Senate rules allowing unlimited deliberation, a senator can hold the floor and speak indefinitely. The tactic is called a talking filibuster when used to block or delay consideration of a bill. In this case, Murphy held the floor to demand legislative action, not to block it, and thus his protracted remarks technically did not constitute a filibuster.

About 40 Democrats joined Murphy in a carefully orchestrated maneuver to help him retain control of the chamber. Senators made remarks under the guise of asking a question of Murphy, giving him a break from speaking without having to yield the floor.

Were in a new world, a world where lone wolves can get hold of guns and do huge damage, said Democrat Charles Schumer of New York. We have to change and adapt to that world.



Seeking consensus

Most Republicans remain adamantly opposed to any new federal restrictions on Americans right to purchase and bear arms. Since the Orlando incident, however, a few have said they are willing to examine limited reforms.

What we need to do here is do everything we can to make sure that terrorists are not able to buy guns, at least not legally, said Republican Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, adding that those on the terror watch list need to be able to challenge the FBIs assessment if a law is passed that prevents them from buying firearms.

So theres an obvious opportunity here to work together and find a solution, Toomey added. Lets sit down together and figure out how we achieve this.

I take the gentlemans offer very sincerely, Murphy responded. Our hope is that, by holding the floor today  will provide the impetus for our sides to come together and find that common ground.
Moments of silence rarely become moments of conflict.

As Congress returned from a weekend break, however, to the sickening news of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, common rallying points  moments of silence, classified briefings  instead became opportunities for partisan bickering and dysfunction over gun control legislation.

Pass the bills, some House Democrats chanted on the House floor Monday night, following a moment of silence in honor of the victims in Orlando.

On the Senate side of the Capitol Tuesday, the Republican majority leader said he would oppose measures proposed by Democrats but seemed to leave the door open to some change.

"Nobody wants terrorists to have firearms," said Senator Mitch McConnell. "Were open to serious suggestions from the experts as to what we might be able to do to be helpful."

Back on the House side, during a sometimes rowdy session late Monday, other members fled the floor to avoid discussion of three pieces of legislation that House Democrats say would help prevent future attacks, including strengthening background checks and preventing individuals on the terrorist watch list from purchasing guns.

Rep. James Clyburn, a Democrat from South Carolina, asked for the opportunity to speak following the moment of silence observed by all members for the victims in Orlando.

Seeking a vote

Clyburn, who knew some of the victims of last year's Charleston church shooting personally, told reporters immediately after he wanted to ask the Republican leadership if gun control legislation could be brought up for a vote.

His effort reflected an increasing reluctance on the part of House Democrats to treat the death of 49 people in an Orlando nightclub as yet another addition to the list of mass shootings in the United States.

Some Republicans are trying to make this into a national security threat. Its a domestic threat here, its an act of terror, its an act of hatred, said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who stood with Clyburn briefing reporters. We prayerfully participate in the moment of silence, but that again is no license to be absent when it comes to taking up the bill.

Clyburns request followed a blistering attack on the House floor Monday from Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut, who criticized his colleagues for hypocritically observing moments of silence following mass shootings in the U.S.

"I will no longer stand here absorbing the faux concern, contrived gravity and tepid smugness of a House complicit in weekly bloodshed," Himes said of the planned moment of silence. "Sooner or later the country will hold us accountable for our inaction.

'Bloody tragedy'

He said the moments of silence were a cover for Congressional inability to react to "bloody tragedy."

House Democrat Minority Whip Steny Hoyer told reporters in a briefing Tuesday morning that moments of silence should be followed by action.

We believe it appropriate that these words and moments of silence would be followed by legislation, certainly to enhance background checks, to close loopholes, that if you're on the no-fly list, you can't buy guns  no fly, no buy  weapons, which are sold freely, which have the capacity to kill large numbers of people very quickly. ... We cannot and must not remain silent," said Hoyer, of Maryland.

He acknowledged the possibility that House Democrats could bring gun control legislation up for a vote by adding amendments to spending bills, but he said it had not yet been decided.

That could be a difficult process, though, following last months Congressional battle over several spending bills. Their passage is endangered by the addition of amendments and counter-amendments involving rights for LGBT federal contractors.

The fight prompted House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin to move away from an open-rule process that allows members to introduce amendments that can endanger bills.

'Not going to pass now'

Rep. Peter King, a Republican from New York, told VOA on Monday he did not think his bill preventing individuals on the terror watch list from purchasing guns could be revived, even in the wake of the Orlando shooting.

"No. I put the bill in. I support it. But the fact of the matter is it's not going to pass now, King said.

Divisions over gun control only continued Tuesday as House members received a classified security briefing from Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.

A members briefing that immediately turns to questions of partisanship is unfortunate, said Rep. David Jolly, a Republican from Florida, who said he left the briefing because of the tone.

This is a week that we are one nation, mourning together, and if we cant arrive at a consensus together and reject this Democrat, Republican divide, we all lose, Jolly said.

Other Republicans said the gun control issue distracted from the real problems revealed by the Orlando attack, showing the influence of ISIS and the need to confront the threat from radical Islam.

This president has essentially made an act of terrorism about gun control, said Republican Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona. I find it despicable that the President wants to use a terrorist act to promote his agenda on a completely different issue.

Senate side

The Orlando attack prompted Senate Republicans to demand a stepped-up campaign to defeat the Islamic State group, the group to which shooter Omar Mateen pledged allegiance during his rampage at the Pulse nightclub.

Its no longer an open question whether the followers of ISIL and other Islamic terrorist groups will attempt to strike us here in the West  they have, said Senate Majority Leader McConnell of Kentucky. And they are going to continue to do so. We need to do what we can to fight back so we can prevent more of these atrocities.

Democrats, meanwhile, are joining forces with their House colleagues to revive long-stalled legislation restricting gun sales and introduce new ones.

As in the House, Senate Democrats want to ban those on the FBIs terror watch list from purchasing firearms, a proposal Republicans blocked late last year. In addition, Democrat Bob Casey of Pennsylvania wants to bar those convicted of hate crimes from buying a gun.

I think we should make a determined effort to take steps to reduce the likelihood that these kinds of [mass-shooting] incidents will occur, and that means taking action, Casey told VOA. It doesnt mean just giving speeches.

Assault weapons

Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, who spent much of Sunday in Orlando after the attack, is among many Democrats who want to go a step further and reinstate a federal ban on assault weapons.

Im a hunter. I grew up on a ranch. I have always had guns, Nelson told VOA. But my guns are for hunting, not for killing [people]. These are military assault weapons, and personally I believe that they should not be allowed [to be sold].

But Nelson expressed skepticism that the Republican-led Congress will enact any gun control measures.

I think there is plenty of evidence from past behavior  the past is prologue  that we are going to see more gridlock, he said. And thats the exact opposite of what this nation needs, a nation that is grieving. What we need is unity, coming together instead of division.

Republicans insist their objection to gun laws is grounded in hard facts.

If gun control could protect the country from radical Islam, there would be no attacks in Paris or Brussels, said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Were not one-gun control measure away from destroying radical Islam. Our current policies are not working.
As terrorist attacks linked to radical Islam leave more and more families devastated, some are suggesting a separation of mosque and state in Middle Eastern nations.

Writer and humanist Faisal Saeed Al-Mutar spoke with HashtagVOA about the importance of supporting young Arabs who are fighting to take religion out of politics.

There is a growing number of Arab young millennials between 20 and 30 who are mostly advocating for human rights and secular liberal values," Faisal told VOA. "I think that the United States and the West should stand in solidarity with these people.

The recent shooting of 49 people at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, was very quickly politicized, as American presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump explored how to prevent future attacks with their respective agendas.

Faisal, though deeply saddened by the event, has openly politicized it  looking to politics in the Middle East as the root of the problem.

"Unfortunately the issue is political," Faisal said, citing the long list of Arab countries where homosexuality is punishable by death. "I lived in Iraq  I lost my brother, my cousin, and al-Qaida targeted many of my friends  and I would like to see less of these attacks.

Faisal does not seem optimistic that the Islamic faith will grow to accept the LGBT community, citing not only government punishments for homosexuality, but also both Islamic State and Al-Qaida, who use religion to claim that homosexuals should be thrown off of tall buildings.

"If religions don't modernize to accept LGBT & women's rights, then religions need to die, not people," Faisal said in a recent Facebook post.

A former Iraqi refugee now working in New York City, Faisal founded the Global Secular Humanist Movement, an organization promoting secular humanism, a worldview that emphasizes human interests, the inherent worth of nontheistic individuals, and the belief that human beings can be ethical and moral without religion or a god.

"The Global Secular Humanist Movement is a social movement that aims to promote public understanding and acknowledgment of the secular humanistic worldview, including economical freedom, equal individual rights and acceptance for people who hold it," the organization's Facebook page says.

The Facebook page, awarded Favorite Agnostic/Atheist Facebook Page of 2011 by Readers' Choice Awards, has over 300,000 likes.
Forty-year-old Ahmed has spent much of his life trying to become male. In his white taxi parked under a bridge in Cairo, he is despondent, saying that without the final operation that will transform him fully from a woman to a man, he expects his fiancee will break their engagement within a year.

Outwardly all male, Ahmed says for him, the idea of living as a woman is the same as the idea of not living at all.

"The day I had my first surgery, my family was all around me," he explained. "I was happy and laughing and I told them, I'm going into surgery so I can live.'"

As a transgender Egyptian, Ahmed lives in the only Arab country that offers free surgeries for people diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder, as it is known here. However, the government stopped issuing permits for the surgery in recent months.

After 15 years of hormones and surgical and psychological treatments, Ahmed is now stuck in limbo, almost entirely physically a man, but not quite. Meanwhile, the committee that decides who is eligible for gender reassignment surgery in Egypt is locked in a debate about the morality of the operations.

WATCH: One transgender man talks about his life in Egypt

Ahmed says the stalled permit process has left him desperate, as he tries to convince hospitals or private clinics to complete his transformation. After dozens of visits to one hospital to plead his case for an exception to the ban, one doctor promised to perform his third operation early last month.

"I thought in a few days this nightmare would be over," Ahmed said. "But at the hospital I ran into the doctor. He said, I forgot to tell you. We cannot do the surgery.'"

The committee

For the general public in Egypt, official reservations about gender reassignment operations are well-founded, with many people saying the practice is sinful.

"Certainly this will never work in our community," said Said Mohamed Mazen, a 52-year-old driver sipping a soda in the streets on a steamy Cairo afternoon. "God created us. A man is a man, and a woman is a woman."

When the subject is presented as a medical issue, Mazen softens his stance, saying it is possible doctors know best.

Some Western activists argue that saying transgender people have a mental disorder is demeaning, but doctors here say they believe it is a medical problem, with a medical solution. And it's for this reason that the formerly taboo practice is now state-sponsored, explains Dr. Mohammed Abdou Abdel-Rassoul, a surgeon who performs gender reassignment operations.

Both Muslim and Christian clerics in Egypt have, in the past, approved transgender operations as a medical necessity, yet many people still "falsely" believe it to be sacrilegious, he adds.

"Definitely, nobody wants to do this kind of heroic surgery except when there is a very big drive," he said.

Questions about the morality of gender reassignment operations were reintroduced to the permit committee a few months ago because renewed public debate on the issue was making religious authorities reluctant to hand out permits, according to committee chair Dr. Osama Abdelhay.

The committee is made up of mostly doctors and a representative from Al-Azhar, Egypt's most prestigious Islamic institution. Approval from Al-Azhar is important, he adds, because it helps transgender people convince their loved ones to support their choices and society at large to accept its small transgender population.

IDs and arrests

Ahmed, the taxi man waiting for his final operation, has an identification card that matches his appearance.

This, however, is often not the case, says Dalia Abd Elhameed of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Many transgender people cannot change their names and genders legally after their surgeries. Without gender-matching IDs, those people are forced to stay home or appear at work as if they were still the gender they were born to, she says.

"It's very indicative of the fact that different entities in Egypt don't talk to each other," she said. "It can't be that you are in a country where the government actually subsidizes these kinds of surgeries and then the police and the judiciary of the same government would refuse to change the papers of these people."

Ahmed is also not subject to many other social abuses commonly inflicted upon the transgender community in Egypt, because he looks like an ordinary man. Still, he asks that his real name and identifying features not be included in this article.

Ridicule and abuse are more commonly inflicted upon transgender women, Ahmed says, recalling a young man being mocked publicly before he transformed into a woman.

"They were laughing because of his feminine features and soft voice," he said. "Everyone else laughed, but I cried."

Transgender women are also more likely to get caught up in crackdowns on gays, adds Elhameed. Homosexuality is not explicitly illegal in Egypt as it is in much of the region, but laws forbidding debauchery have been used to arrest and imprison gay people.

In recent years, she adds, authorities have become adept at catching homosexual activity using social media, and transgender women are often mistakenly conflated with gay people.

"They arrest them," she said, "giving them prison sentences that might be as harsh as 11 or 12 years in prison, with the accusation of habitual debauchery."

Transgender restrooms

As the debate in the United States rages over whether transgender individuals should be allowed to use public restrooms of their choice, activists in Egypt say it is hardly an issue here.

For starters, says Elhameed, transgender men and women in Egypt take extreme care to appear as their gender of choice for their own safety.

And most of those in Egypt's small transgender population are a long way from claiming rights publicly, preferring to inform as few people as possible about their status, according to Abdelhay.

The U.S. debate, however, may eventually provide a solution for other countries, he adds, on what to do when human rights and community wishes clash  a complex issue in any nation.

"How [do we] respect our beliefs and our communities in Egypt," he asked, "and at the same time give these people the right to do anything. To go to school. To go to toilets."
MASON CITY  After initially seeking to terminate Superintendent Anita Micichs contract, the Mason City School Board took a different route for her exit after seeking advice from its attorney.

On March 23, board Vice President Lorrie Lala emailed board members asking for a special session to consider terminating Micichs contract.

The move was the culmination of growing concerns of some board members, in part because of the way Micich handled a proposed plan to bring Chinese students to North Iowa to attend and graduate from Mason City High School, according to emails sent between board members.

The strained relationship between Micich and the board developed over the course of several years and was detailed in messages sent between board members and received by the Globe Gazette as part of an open records request regarding Micichs contract buyout.

Less than two weeks after Lalas special session request, school attorney Jim Hanks responded to inquiries from School Board President Janna Arndt asking if the board had the legal justification to hold a closed meeting to gather legal advice, without Micich attending the meeting.

Hanks wrote to Arndt that if the board would move to fire Micich, the district would highly likely face a lawsuit, which Hanks said he felt gave the board justification to close the meeting under the exemption to the Iowa open meetings law for discussions with an attorney about matters that are in current or imminent litigation.

Hanks outlined the required procedures for termination and Micichs options to appeal. Her firing would require the board to justify her departure, he wrote.

The notice must state the specific reasons to be used by the board for considering termination which shall be for just cause, he wrote.

In July 2015, the board had awarded Micich a shortened contract  two years, non-rolling. Superintendents are generally given three-year rolling contracts, meaning after every year the contract is extended for an additional third year.

The contract contains no provision for termination that is not by mutual consent, Hanks wrote to Arndt.

Collectively, the value of the salary and benefits provided by the agreement is in excess of $300,000, Hanks wrote. Based on my years of experience in employment matters, it is my opinion that, if the board were to terminate the contract of Dr. Micich, litigation would follow.

When asked if the timeline was a fair representation of the boards actions, Arndt said she could not comment because of some of the things that are in the buyout contract.

Rather than terminate her contract, the School Board offered to buy out the second year of the contract, eventually agreeing with Micich on an offer that included salary and benefits worth at least $285,000.

The exit agreement Micich and Arndt signed on May 11 contains a provision that releases and discharges (the board) from any liability ... whatsoever including all claims, demands or causes of action which she has as of the date of this agreement as an employee or as the result of her severance.

When asked if she is concerned that Micich could still file a lawsuit, Arndt declined to comment.

Micich went on administrative leave on June 6 and her employment with the district officially ends June 29.

On June 6 the School Board appointed Mike Penca as interim superintendent, taking the position immediately.

Penca has been with the school district since 1996 and most recently has been executive director for learning supports and PK-4 programs.

After Micichs departure, there are still financial questions to consider.

The majority of her payout  totaling $231,000 out of her more than $285,000 total salary and benefits severance  is due by July 15. Business Manager John Berg previously told the Globe that legal counsel is still reviewing how it will be paid.

That $231,000 includes half of her 2016-17 salary at $93,910; half of her accumulated vacation pay at $44,535; her tax sheltered annuity contribution at $37,500 and an early retirement payment of $55,055.
The idea of the drifter is as old as America.

The mountain man, the gunslinger, and real life folk heroes like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett made a name for themselves by roaming and exploring this country when giant portions of it were blank spots on a map.

But these lonely adventurers weren't the only ones to brave the wilds of North America.

Protestant Christianity spread westward across the frontier, thanks in large measure to the tireless efforts of so-called circuit riding preachers. Lay pastors in many instances, they traveled by horseback to conduct church services in small towns and isolated pioneer outposts.

For rural Americans these days, living off the beaten path often means limited access to all kinds of needs: medical, financial, and spiritual.

God's Word on the road

And meeting spiritual needs is where Pastor Dan Sweet comes in.

Today, he is leading services at tiny Zions Hill United Methodist Church in Unionville, Tennessee. He is one of a growing number of lay pastors serving Methodist churches, primarily in small, rural congregations just like Zions Hill.

During the week, Sweet works as the director of contracts for a large engineering firm specializing in government projects. He says both of his jobs are full time positions.

I do this job seven days a week. The other job is five. The other job pays a whole lot better and it pays the bills. This is more a labor of love and a labor of what God has asked me to do, he said.

Barbara Waterson has been attending Zions Hill church most of the year since the 1960s. Shes now one of just about twenty or so people still attending the 150-year-old congregation.

Im just a small church person," she said. "I love big churches, but I just love the fellowship of the small churches. Everybodys just a loving, spiritual family. Everybody gets along.

As soon as services are over at Zions Hill, Pastor Sweet jumps into his jeep and rushes ten minutes cross-country to another small church where he conducts his second service of the morning.

Methodists have been worshipping at Hickory Hill United since before the American Civil War of the 1860s. Sweet is doing his best to help them keep the doors open, a calling that seems to surprise even him.

Early on in my life," Sweet said, "I did not attend regular worship services and actually it wasnt until about ten or twelve years ago that I started where God really impressed upon me that it was time. Hed let me goof-around, goof-off long enough and it was time now to start doing His will.

Fewer churches, fewer churchgoers

According to the Pew Research Center, the number of Americans who attend church services on a regular basis has been slowly declining for some time. The trend is especially pronounced in the nations older, more traditional, so-called mainline Protestant churches.

Duke University sociologist Mark Chaves researches faith trends in the U.S. He says other Christian denominations should be watching the Methodist experience for lessons on what theyll likely face in the years to come.

Lately, evangelical churches, denominations like Southern Baptists for example, have started to show signs of decline as well," he said. "So what will be interesting to watch in the next period of time is whether the Evangelical patterns start to look like what the Mainline patterns looked likejust delayed by a couple of decades.

Pastor Sweet acknowledges that unless his small churches can attract some new members, they may eventually be forced to close their doors, but he remains optimistic.

Ive only been facing it with them for about two years now. Theyve been facing it for quite a while, a longer while, and God always seems to bring in new people, he said.

Sweet is familiar with the Methodist history of circuit riding pioneer preachers. He says hes served more than two churches before, and would be willing to do so again, but hed really prefer to stick with four-wheeled transportation.

You wont find me on a horseback, riding around with a satchel," he admitted with a laugh, "but Ill get in the Jeep and Ill go to churches. I think its awesome. I really truly do.

The United Methodist Church, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, wasnt able to tell VOA just how many lay pastors currently serve its congregations, but does say the number is growing.
The National Rifle Association said it will be "happy" to meet with Donald Trump to discuss gun control in the aftermath of the most deadly shooting in U.S. history.

Earlier, Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, announced via Twitter he would meet with the gun rights organization.

"I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watchlist, or no fly list, to buy guns," he wrote.

NRA chief lobbyist Chris Cox said the group has consistently opposed allowing terrorists to lawfully buy guns in the United States.

He said, "Anyone on a terror watchlist who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing."

Cox said the government should be allowed to block the sale of guns and arrest individuals if evidence points to terrorist activity.

Trump did not say when or where he would meet with the NRA.

Trump's announcement comes as the Republican Party attempts to respond to Saturday's nightclub massacre of 49 people in the southeastern city of Orlando, Florida.

The gunman, Omar Mateen, had been investigated twice by the FBI and was on its terrorist watchlist for 10 months before being removed.

Two newly-released polls, meanwhile, show increased voter dissatisfaction with Trump.

A CBS News poll released Wednesday found a majority of Americans do not agree with the way he is responding to the mass killing. Fifty one percent disapproved of the way he is handling the matter, compared with 25 percent who approve and 24 percent who did not have an opinion.

A second poll, conducted by the Washington Post and ABC News, showed negative views of the real estate magnate-turned-politician have surged.

Seventy percent of Americans view Trump unfavorably, with 56 percent feeling "strongly" negative. This represents a 10 point spike in negative ratings in just the past month and the highest negative rating Trump has received since he launched his presidential campaign last summer.
The biggest problem facing the LGBT community in Uganda is not anti-gay laws, but rather homophobic public altitude against same sex relations, which local politicians are using to vilify gay people, a human rights lawyer said Tuesday.

Nicholas Opiyo of the human rights group Chapter Four Uganda said while anti-gay groups in Uganda could not have carried out the Orlando, Florida gay nightclub shooting, still gay people in Uganda cannot openly express themselves.

Opiyo told VOA while most Ugandans are horrified by the Orlando, Florida massacre, anti-gay government officials are using such violence to justify the ill-treatment of gays in Uganda.

Not so many people follow cable news to understand the extent of the horror at the Orlando club. But the few people who watch cable news are shocked at the utter brutality of some people in the U.S. And in terms of our leadership, they have used that type of violence to justify violence against our own people here in Uganda, he said.

Uganda is one of the few African countries, including Nigeria, Mauritania, Somalia and Sudan, where the general public does not accept same sex relations or behavior. In some of these countries homosexuality is even punishable by death.

While we may not take guns and shoot people the way people in Orlando have done, but here we do not see any possibility of gay people freely expressing themselves, even in private in disco halls, let alone walking in the middle of town holding hands. If that happens, they will be beaten, they will be chased; they would be stoned, Opiyo said.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed a draconian Anti-Homosexuality Bill in February 2015. The legislation stipulated repeat offenders should be sentenced to 14 years in prison.

But a constitutional court struck down the law, noting that the parliament speaker acted illegally by going ahead with a vote on the bill despite at least three lawmakers objecting to a lack of quorum.

Late last year, Museveni announced he would no longer pursue further anti-gay legislation in Uganda.

Opiyo said the Ugandan president probably backed down due to intense international criticism, including the United States announcing sanctions against Uganda.

Well, the president understood the foreign policy implications of enacting a law that targets gay people in Uganda. And I think that the foreign policy implications were suspension of funding from several development partners, more difficult relationship with the U.S. So the international pressure on President Museveni has come to bear on him, Opiyo said.
A heated debate over freedom of the press versus state security erupted in Ukraine after the pro-government hacker group Myrotvorets (Peacemaker) published a list containing the personal information of thousands of journalists who had received accreditation from the separatist, Russian-backed Donetsk Peoples Republic in eastern Ukraine.

The list, which was obtained by hackers and includes Ukrainian and foreign journalists as well as local interpreters, drivers, and camera operators, was published with an accusation that all those appearing on the list had cooperated with terrorists.

The backlash came soon after the leak was published. Foreign journalists and international organizations condemned the leak and the accusation of cooperation with terrorists. Some characterized the tactic as an attempt to intimidate and silence media.

The reaction in Ukraine was very mixed, however. The fact that the list became widely known after it was promoted by Ukrainian lawmaker Anton Gerashchenko gave it the appearance of having received government approval. And, despite criticism both inside and outside of Ukraine, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov defended the leak, dismissing what he called the opinions of liberals and latent separatists. Later, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko condemned the leak in a press conference, but urged journalists not to write negative articles about Ukraine.

Role of journalists

Poroshenkos comment might sound contradictory to Western ears, but it is not unusual to those who study media in post-Soviet states.

I think for many Ukrainians, especially for those who were born during Soviet times, there's this persistent idea that journalists are just service reporters, that all they do is take notes on what the government and elites say and then regurgitate it, said Tanya Lokot, a Ukrainian media researcher.

Certainly, a large part of Ukrainian news and media has been this for years, she added.

This negative view towards journalism helps explain why some Ukrainians did not see the leaking of thousands of journalists personal information by hackers as an attack on freedom of the press.

Another issue which I think is at play with Myrotvorets is this idea that during times of strife and war everyone must be a patriot - including journalists, Lokot explained.



So there's no room for objectivity: you must only protect Ukraine. Which obviously many journalists don't agree with, but the popular position seems to support this notion. And this is why I think the Myrotvorets thing received the reaction it did.

Defenders of the hacker collective point out that a large number of names on the list of journalists accused of cooperating with terrorists by receiving accreditation from the rebel authorities work for Russian state media and other pro-Russian outlets that have been accused of waging an information war against Ukraine. On the other hand, critics of Myrotvorets note that the list contained many international correspondents from reputable media outlets, as well as their local colleagues.

Propaganda concerns

Ukrainians have reason to be concerned about Kremlin propaganda. Since 2014 Ukraine has become the primary target for Russian information warfare, which played a major role in the annexation of the Crimea and the war in the eastern part of the country. Fabricated stories were so numerous that some activists founded StopFake.org, a website entirely dedicated to debunking phony stories about Ukraine.

Yevhen Fedchenko is the director of Kyivs Mohyla School of Journalism and a co-founder of StopFake.



We see our mission to raise the level of awareness about Russian propaganda, how systematic it is, how [the] Russian government is using it to influence [the] decision-making process in countries across the whole Europe, he told VOA. Second, [StopFake] became [an] enormous searchable archive of propaganda that can be used for research as well as for policy-making towards Russia. Third, this is a part of [a] larger campaign to strengthen fact-checking capacities of journalism and improve media literacy among audiences, Fedchenko said.

Defending values

While StopFake typically has its plate full with pro-Russian stories, it also finds time to debunk fake stories from the Ukrainian press, indicating that the problems with journalism in Ukraine are by no means limited to pro-Russian propaganda.

And that explains why myself and [the] Mohyla School of Journalism are behind this project - we really want to defend journalism against influences of propaganda that corrupt journalism, making people distrustful of media and alienated from active participation in the political process, Fedchenko said.

In addition to resources like StopFake, other grassroots alternative media projects have begun to appear as the topic of media awareness gains more traction in Ukraine. While some progress has been made, much work remains, according to Lokot.

I think what needs to be done is a strategy for these new kinds of public service media beyond 'fighting Russian propaganda' - that is important, but there is other stuff beyond it, she said. And they have to start thinking about it now. What is their mission, their strategy once Russian propaganda becomes irrelevant? Is it media literacy? Is it accountability of local officials? That, I think, needs to be made clearer.
In a bid to bolster the Libyan government and stop the spread of weapons into the hands of terrorists and militias there, the U.N. Security Council adopted a measure Tuesday authorizing a European Union naval force to stop and search ships, and seize illegal arms headed to or from Libya.

The measure would expand the work of the EU-run Operation Sophia, which for the past year has been trying to disrupt migrant smuggling from Libya in the Mediterranean.

"This text marks a turning point, a potential game changer for Libya, because it addresses an urgent need in terms of security," said French Ambassador Francois Delattre, who co-sponsored the draft. "We all know the violations of the arms embargo only serve to feed the instability of this country and benefit Daesh, our common enemy, and other terrorist groups," he added, using an Arabic acronym for the self-styled Islamic State.

The measure, adopted unanimously, authorizes the naval force to search suspected ships on the high seas off the coast of Libya. If arms and other related materials are found in violation of an international arms embargo, the EU may seize and dispose of the weapons and divert those ships and their crews to an appropriate port.

"The existing arms embargo has not fully stopped the flow of weapons," said British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, whose delegation drafted the resolution. "Illicit weapons are undermining the peace and security of the region."

Last week, the U.N.'s top diplomat in Libya, Martin Kobler, appealed for stronger enforcement of the arms embargo, saying the country is "awash with weapons  20 million pieces of weaponry in a land of 6 million people." He said they do not "fall from the sky, but come in increasingly through illegal shipments by sea and by land," fueling the conflict.

Under the resolution, the Libyan government can request exemptions to the embargo in order to arm and equip its own security forces. The Libyans had been asking for this amendment for some time.

IS threat

Libya has been struggling to get its government of national accord off the ground and to fight militias and terrorist groups, including Islamic State, which are trying to seize and hold part of the oil-rich country's territory.

Last week, the U.N.'s political chief, Jeffrey Feltman, warned that the threat posed by Islamic State and its associates in Libya "remains high" and that the group has not been "strategically or irreversibly weakened."

The United Nations estimates that there are between 3,000 and 5,000 foreign terrorist fighters working for Islamic State in Libya. As the group's territory diminishes in Iraq and Syria, it is seeking to take advantage of the political and security vacuum in Libya to establish an alternative stronghold there.

It has targeted the coastline east of Sirte and has cells in Darnah, Ajdabiya and Benghazi. The U.N. says the capital, Tripoli, also continues to be home to IS cells. The group also has a small presence in southern Libya.
Electoral crises and terrorism are undoing efforts to promote stability and development in Central Africa, the top U.N. diplomat for the area warned Wednesday.

There are political tensions of concern ... in Central Africa linked to recent or upcoming electoral processes, Abdoulaye Bathily, the head of the U.N. Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), told the Security Council. This undermines the ongoing work to consolidate stability, development and democracy."

Post-election crises have caused bloodshed in Burundi and the Republic of Congo, while there are fears the next presidential election in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could do the same.

Bathily said the Central African Republic, which held successful presidential and legislative elections this spring, is just beginning its long, difficult road to stability.

Armed groups still control large parts of the country," he said, "and the government is in need of the full political, programmatic and financial support of the international community to ensure the re-establishment of state authority throughout the country.

Threat of armed groups

But perhaps the biggest threats to peace and prosperity in this region are the ones posed by Boko Haram militants and the Lords Resistance Army (LRA).

Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Benin have formed a multinational task force to fight Boko Haram, which has killed, kidnapped or displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians in the Lake Chad Basin since 2009.

Bathily said the collective efforts have reduced Boko Haram's ability to attack at will, but the group continues to pose a serious threat to regional stability. He urged the international community to support the joint task force politically, logistically and financially.

The envoy also warned about a surge in attacks from the LRA, which has attacked towns in northeastern DRC and significantly stepped up its activities in the eastern CAR this year.

Bathily warned the LRA has reportedly been extending into areas that had previously seen little to no LRA movement." He noted the group is attacking larger and less isolated areas and kidnapping an increased number of children. The roving group is notorious for its use of child soldiers.

Uganda, which provides the bulk of an African Union regional force fighting the LRA, plans to draw down its 3,000 troops by the end of this year. Bathily warned that if the Ugandan soldiers are not replaced, it could create a vacuum for the LRA as well as other armed groups.

Humanitarian crises

The United Nations says Boko Haram-related violence in Cameroon's Far North Region has sparked a "grave" humanitarian crisis.

There are nearly 170,000 internally displaced persons, as well some 65,000 refugees from Nigeria who are also fleeing the terror group. Separately, eastern Cameroon is hosting more than 250,000 refugees from the CAR.

In the Central African Republic, more than half the countrys population, about 2.3 million people, require humanitarian assistance. There are also nearly a million people who are either internally displaced or refugees.

In Chad, hunger is the enemy. More than 1 million people are expected to be food insecure this year because of Boko Haram violence around Lake Chad and poor rainfall.
Russia announced a 48-hour cease-fire in Aleppo late Wednesday, hours after the United States called for for Russia and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to respect a nationwide truce agreed upon in February.

"On Russia's initiative, a 'regime of silence' has been introduced in Aleppo for 48 hours from 00:01 16 June (2101 GMT Wednesday) with the goal of lowering the level of armed violence and stabilizing the situation," the Russian defense ministry said in a statement.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is accusing Russia and the Syrian government of selectively enforcing the cease-fire, while Assads forces continue their campaign to retake Aleppo, the largest city in the country and a UNESCO world heritage site.

"It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place, Kerry said Wednesday in Oslo, Norway.

He added, "Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable."

"So we have made it very clear, that unless we get a better definition of how this cessation is going to work, how it will be enforced, who is applies to, how it is applied, we are not going to sit there while Assad continues to offensively assault in Aleppo and while Russia continues to support in that effort," he said.



Kerry said members of the Syrian opposition will also be held accountable for the continuance of fighting.

Cease-fire has largely collapsed

The February cease-fire has largely collapsed and little progress is being made to negotiate a political transition that is supposed to begin on August 1.

Syria's civil war has claimed more than 280,000 lives and has forced millions to seek refuge, mainly in Europe. The fighting started with the repression of anti-government protests in March 2011.

Kerry visited Norway for the annual Oslo Forum meeting that convenes senior conflict mediators and high-level decision-makers, as well as analysts and experts to share their experiences, identify challenges and reflect on mediation practice.

Kerry also met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for talks on Syria and the Iran nuclear deal.



The Oslo Forum is co-hosted by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Switzerland-based private diplomacy organization.
What is the Terrorist Watchlist?

The Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) is a consolidated database of information about people known or "reasonably suspected" of being involved in terrorist activity. Maintained by the FBI's Terrorist Screening Center, the list is a counterterrorism tool that helps government agencies identify known or suspected terrorists who are trying to get visas, enter the United States, board aircraft or engage in other suspicious activity. It connects law enforcement agencies, homeland security, intelligence communities and select international partners.

When was the list created and why?

The list was created in 2003 after the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaida executed four coordinated attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. The attacks claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people and have become commonly known as "9/11." A report by a congressionaly mandated independent panel, known as the 9/11 Commission Report, recommended the establishment of the list after finding government agencies neither shared terrorism information in a timely manner nor appropriately tracked terrorists.

How do people get placed on the Terrorist Watchlist?

Known or suspected terrorists are added to the list after being nominated and thoroughly screened by U.S. Government agencies. The nominations are based on credible information developed by homeland security, intelligence agencies, law enforcement operations, consulates and U.S. embassies. After several layers of review by multiple government agencies, a nominating agency is required to provide an "objective factual basis" to believe someone is a known or suspected terrorist, according to the FBI.

How many people are on the list?

In 2014, there were about 800,000 names on the list, according to congressional testimony provided in September by Terrorist Screening Center Director Christopher Piehota.

How are the privacy and the individual rights of people on the watchlist protected?

People are not added to the list based solely on ethnicity, national origin, race, religious affiliation or civilities related to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble and to petition the government to resolve grievances. People nominated for inclusion to the watchlist undergo several rounds of government quality assurance reviews and audits. Regular reviews are conducted to ensure compliance with standards across government agencies. The Terrorist Screening Center employs an attorney who is dedicated to the privacy and civil liberties of nominees.

How can people who are on the list buy guns in the U.S.?

Being on the terrorist watchlist list does not alone disqualify an individual from buying guns or explosives, according to a 2013 report by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. People purchasing guns from federally licensed firearm dealers must undergo background checks. They can be denied the purchase of guns if they fall into any one of 10 categories of people. The categories include convicted felons, drug abusers, people with mental illness and undocumented immigrants. Being a known or suspected terrorist is not on the list of prohibited categories of people, so it is possible for those on the watchlist to legally buy firearms or explosives.

Also, people who buy guns from unlicensed dealers online or at gun shows are not required to undergo background checks.

How many guns have been sold to people on the terrorist watchlist?

Senator Dianne Feinstein of the Western state of California received statistics in March from the Government Accountability Office, Congress' investigative arm. From February 2004 through 2015, 2,477 names of those who wished to buy guns or explosives were on the list. Of those, 2,265 - or 91 percent - successfully purchased guns.

The FBI conducted 23 million background checks for guns last year, the most ever.

Are there other watch lists?

The TDSB is a consolidation of multiple smaller subsets of the watchlist, including the Department of Homeland Security's No Fly and Selectee list, which allows the selection of passengers for additional inspection at airports. Other lists are the Department of Justice's Violent Gang and Terrorist Organization File and the Interpol Terrorism Watchlist.
Some Yemeni citizens are livid because the United Nations removed the Saudi-led coalition from a list of countries accused of violating childrens rights in Yemen. They say bombs continue to fall on civilian homes, hospitals and schools.

The cease-fire declared two months has not slowed the violence, according to Yemeni political analyst and journalist Nasser Arrabyee.

There was no cease-fire. The warplanes are hovering over us all the time, around the clock, Arrabyee said Wednesday from his home in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. And sometimes bombing here or there.

By removing the coalition from its list, adds Arrabyee, the U.N. is officially supporting war crimes.

All warring parties in Yemen have been accused of abusing the rights of children and other civilians, and Saudi Arabia says the U.N. report ignores their rivals' crimes.

The report did not show the figures provided by the legitimate Yemeni government that highlights the use of children by Houthi militias in combat, said Saudi-led coalition spokesman Brig. Gen. Ahmed Assiri last week in Riyadh, according to the Saudi Gazette. It did not highlight the number of children killed in combat, planting mines and transferring ammunition and explosives.

The coalition has been fighting Houthi militants and their allies in Yemen for over a year, supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government in an ongoing civil war. The Houthis are supported by former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh and Iran; they control much of the nation, including Sanaa.

Saudi Arabian authorities say an Iranian ally in power on their southern border is a threat to their sovereignty, and maintain they are also fighting to protect Yemeni people from their regional rival.

[Iran] is not stopping threatening Saudi Arabia or supporting the militias with weapons and trying to undermine our stability, said Hamdan al-Shehri, an adviser at Saudi Arabias foreign affairs ministry.



Since the cease-fire went into effect April 11, Doctors Without Borders says it has treated more than 1,500 people wounded in fighting in one city alone, Taiz.

None of the warring parties appear to be making an effort to prevent casualties among civilians, the organization said in a statement on Tuesday.

UN-Saudi row

The U.N. report on crimes against children says nearly 2,000 children were killed or injured in Yemen in 2015, and more than 750 young boys were recruited to fight. More than 100 schools and hospitals were attacked that year, it says, and all parties share the blame.

In a copy of the report on the U.N. website, the Saudi-led coalition is named as one of the parties that kill or maim children, and attack schools and hospitals, saying 60 percent of the child casualties were attributed to coalition airstrikes.

But last week, the United Nations announced it would remove the coalition from the report's annex, setting off a firestorm of criticism from human rights organizations.

We urge you to place the Saudi-led coalition back on the list annexed to your report, and state publicly that your office is committed to an impartial list, based on evidence, not politics, reads an open letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, signed by more than 35 human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Oxfam. Children whose lives are devastated by armed conflict deserve nothing less.

Last week, the secretary-general said the coalition was removed from the list due to undue pressure exerted by member states in the form of threatening to cut funding to humanitarian programs.

I also had to consider the very real prospect that millions of other children would suffer grievously if, as was suggested to me, countries would de-fund many U.N. programs, Ban said. Children already at risk in Palestine, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and so many other places would fall further into despair.
Taiwans China-suspicious government has barred former president Ma Ying-jeou from a visit to Hong Kong, citing security reasons and too little contact with authorities on the other side.



Current President Tsai Ing-wens office said Sunday six agencies had met twice during the past week to consider the travel plans of Ma, who stepped down May 20, and who planned to give a speech at a Hong Kong journalism awards ceremony of The Society of Publishers in Asia.



The agencies turned down the trip that would have taken place 27 days after Ma left office because the former leader knew state secrets and other high-level classified information the former leader knew about, the presidents office says in a statement. There is no precedent for this kind of request, the statement adds.



The rejection of Mas travel request marks the strongest statement Tsai has made as president against China and her islands chief opposition Nationalist Party, which backed Ma in office.



Evaluating this case is based on the importance of the former president on national security, the unusualness of the case and its sensitivity, presidential office spokesman Huang Chung-yen says. Ex-president Mas contact with state secrets was huge. These state secrets and other high-level confidential information are important because he stepped down less than a month ago.



Hong Kong is also a highly sensitive region, the statement adds. Its a territory of China, which has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s.



China insists that the two eventually unify, despite public opinion surveys in Taiwan indicating people on the Asian island prefer todays degree of autonomy.

Ma built a name, after taking office in 2008, on opening dialogue with Beijing and treating it as an economic partner. Tsai takes a more cautious view and unlike Ma rejects Beijings precondition for talks requiring that each side see itself as part of one China.



The ex-president's travel plan came too quickly for the current government to discuss the item with authorities in Hong Kong or mainland China, the government statement says.



Mas party accused Tsai government of a double standard in rejecting the travel plan. Tsais government let another former president, Chen Shui-bian, attend a political dinner earlier this month in Taipei while serving a graft sentence, the Nationalists noted. Both Tsai and Chen are backed by the Democratic Progressive Party.



The Democratic Progressive Party government to first let... former president Chen Shui-bian attend a dinner party, inciting some debate, then today to block a totally transparent trip by former president Ma creates a criminal can creep out, but a law abiders freedom is restricted situation, party spokesman Chou Chih-wei said in a statement.




MASON CITY  Adults registered for Mason City Public Library's summer Exercise Your Mind program are invited to attend an introductory Tai Chi class conducted by Glen Hepker at 2:30 p.m. Friday, June 17, in the Mason City Room.

Dress comfortably and bring a signed consent waiver. Extra forms will be available.

All registered patrons may also sign up to win a free Tai Chi, Zumba, yoga or Curves class or a Spiralizer to make healthy meals, and enter a drawing for the grand prizes of one-year YMCA memberships.

For information, call the library at 641-421-3668, visit www.mcpl.org or stop into the library at 225 Second St. S.E.
MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai speaks to Studio 7 about the deteriorating economic situation in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans take to the streets to express their dismay over the countrys deteriorating social and economic situation.

Some Zimbabweans say it is impossible to eradicate poverty in the country due to lack of sound economic policies and general poor governance, among several other issues.

In our Diaspora Forum, we will be talking with Pastor Rebecca Makayi, a Zimbabwean based in Minnesota, USA, who has launched an organization that caters for immigrant women and hopes to use it to assist women and girls affected by human trafficking.

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 Blessing Zulu and Gibbs Dube will be talking with listeners about protests by civic society organizations over Zimbabwes deteriorating economic situation. 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. Please note that we are livestreaming on all Studio 7 Facebook pages. Stay tuned!!!!!!
Zimbabwe Forcing Widows, Orphans to Work for Drought Relief Aid

Its unfair to see people living with disabilities and others working for food. Why should we work for the food when the government stipulates that we have to get the food freely?"

Widows, people living with disabilities, the elderly and orphans claim that they are being forced by state officials in Mutasa Central in Manicaland province, to work for food set aside for them by the Ministry of Social Welfare.

They also claim that at times state officials demand $5 payments for the food aid donated by non-governmental organizations or other countries to alleviate hunger in most parts of Zimbabwe.

The government has been receiving some food from non-governmental organizations and other nations following the declaration of a drought disaster in Zimbabwe a couple of months ago. At times it uses taxpayers money to source food from neighboring countries like Zambia.

However, some villagers, especially the targeted recipients that include widows, orphans, senior citizens and people living with disabilities, claim that they are not accessing the food aid.

One of the affected villagers is Tendai Samhemberes 72 year-old mother, who is almost bedridden.

Smhembere says state officials are demanding that she should work for 5 hours for 15 days a month under the food for work program or pay $5 for a 50 kilogram bag of mealie meal.

It is true they are required to work for at least 5 hours and for 15 days if they dream of getting the maize. The funny part of it is that she is almost bedridden and she is keeping orphans at the moment.

Like Samhembere, most villagers strongly believe that they are working or paying for food that is supposed to be distributed for free to the elderly, orphans, people living with disabilities and widows.

Watsomba villager, Elish Terera, says it is disheartening to see the less-privileged members of society working for food.

Its unfair to see people living with disabilities and others working for food. Why should we work for the food when the government stipulates that we have to get the food freely? We do not need to work for it?

Terera says the government of Zimbabwe should take care of the elderly, orphans, widows and people living with disabilities.

Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister, Mandi Chimene, and provincial administrator, Fungai Mbetsa, could not be reached for a comment as they were said to be busy attending various meetings.

But, Mutasa Central Member of the National Assembly, Trevor Saruwaka, says compelling such groups of people to work for food is unfortunate.

Food for work is meant for those that are active but it is now being turned upside down by those that are distributing it. It has just been made absurd to us, as we cannot allow our elderly, the handicapped and orphans to work for their food they have to get for free. We will approach the minister responsible to solve this anomaly.

At least four million people in Zimbabwe are facing hunger due to a devastating drought fueled by the El Nino phenomenon.
Movement for Democratic Change founding president Morgan Tsvangirai says President Robert Mugabe has no clue on fixing the ailing economy.

Tsvangirai, who is recovering from an undisclosed ailment, said President Mugabes Zanu PF party has run out of ideas on how to handle the current cash crisis, high unemployment and other issues.

The MDC-T leader says this has resulted in the president blaming everyone, including the chinese working in Zimbabwe, for causing the cash crisis in the country.

Mr. Mugabe recently said most chinese nationals, who dont have bank accounts, are suspected to be externalizing funds generating in Zimbabwe.

Tsvangirai told Mr. Mugabes remarks are far-fetched.

Meanwhile, Tsvangirais MDC says preparations for a public march on June 25th to express their views on the deteriorating economic situation are in top gear in manicaland province.

Meanwhile, Tsvangirais MDC says preparations for a public march on June 25th to express their views on the deteriorating economic situation are in top gear in Manicaland province.

The MDC-Ts Manicaland provincial spokesperson and Mutasa Central Member of the National Assembly, Trevor Saruwaka, told Studio 7 that at least 10,000 people are expected to participate in the public protest.

I would like to advice Zimbabweans at large and the people of Manicaland in particular that preparations are indeed in full steam for our demonstration on Saturday 25 June where we are going to march from Sakubva Beit Hall in Mutare towards Musika weHuku on our way to Meikles Park where we are going to be addressed by the partys top leadership. We are expecting a very big turn out on the protest march.

Saruwaka said they are not happy with the central banks proposal to introduce bond notes, rising unemployment, current cash shortages and the disappearance of $15 billion in diamond revenues in Manicaland province, among many other issues.

I think the livelihoods of ordinary citizens has deteriorated and we want to say it loudly that we are now tired of this suffering. There are specific issues that we are protesting over. You are aware that (President) Robert Mugabe doesnt know the whereabouts of $15 billion from Chiadzwa diamond fields  and that money was first and foremost going to help the people of Manicaland ...

Political analyst James Mupfumi of the Centre for Research and Development, said demonstrations against President Mugabes government could be useful now in this inflammatory economic environment where there is now a convergence of thoughts among all stakeholders towards social, economic and political change.

Another observer and former liberation war veteran, Irwine Mbengo, said Zimbabwean citizens have a democratic right to participate in public demonstrations and therefore MDC-T activists are doing the proper thing in engaging in public protests.
Some Zimbabweans say it is impossible to eradicate poverty in the country due to lack of sound economic policies and general poor governance, among several other issues.

These sentiments came out at a poverty reduction workshop convened by the government held in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West province, which was attended by villagers, state officials, civic society leaders and other stakeholders.

Ngonidzashe Masotsha, who travelled all the way from Kariba for the meeting, said bad governance and lack of sound economic policies were the main causes of poverty in the country.



Masotsha cited South Africa and Kenya as an example saying that it has been proved that good governance usually results in good management of the economy.

Masotsha said leaders will be accountable if the country's laws and sound policies are followed.



Masotshas sentiments were echoed by another participant, Benard Kapoya, who said Zimbabwean leaders should create opportunities and a conducive political and economic environment for people to realize their full potential.



Chinhoyi Council acting Town Clerk, Abel Gotora, also told the meeting that poverty alleviation in the city is being worsened by the government's failure to release funds for the needy supposed to be under some social welfare schemes.

Gotora said the government is even failing to pay local authorities for the services rendered.



Some of the participants also noted that poverty alleviation is also being affected by corruption and some politicians refusal to pay for water, electricity and other council levies.

Betty Biti was among participants who expressed such sentiments.

The participants further told the meeting that there is need for government to facilitate the funding of farmers, who play a critical role in boosting the capacity of households.

Provincial director of education, Sylvester Mashayamombe, said people should get good education in order for Zimbabwe to eradicate poverty.

Mashayamombe said the gains achieved after independence in 1980 are now being reversed as the education sector faces serious shortages of teachers and many schools are sub-standard.



He said there is a shortage one-thousand-two-hundred and forty Early Children Development teachers who are supposed to implement a new education system in Mashonaland West province alone.



Responding to participants remarks on poverty alleviation, Zvinechimwe Ruvinga Churu, acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Finance, said Zimbabweans should tighten their belts for difficult times ahead.



Residents resolved that there is need for strengthening governance and institutional capacity and to take environment and climate change seriously.
Oh boy, foot fetishists everywhere are going to cream the tiny pairs of jeans they Photoshop onto celebrities feet when they see Alison Bries Late Late Show With James Corden interview from last night. The actress came out hard in defense of foot fetishism as not hurting anyone (true), clean (depends), and cool (scientifically implausible). Brie went so far as to slip off her pump so that her foot-fetish fans could more easily send her a screengrab of her own feet, which really does not add a lot of points to the cool category.
Photo: Rhapsody

If youve been longing for those early aughts glory days of spending hours IM-ing your friends while downloading the latest Blink 182 release (actually a mislabeled Sum 41 song), then youre in luck: Rhapsody is re-branding itself under the Napster name and logo. The re-branding comes in the wake of years of slowed business for Rhapsody, thanks to the rise of services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. Indeed, Variety reports that Rhapsody recently laid off workers and is closing its San Francisco office. So, facing a slow march into the silent night, the company has announced its latest survival plan: Resurrect the Napster name.

Napster, the file-sharing service that turned us all into free-music-loving pirates, was bought by Rhapsody from Best Buy back in 2011, years after its peak popularity. While Rhapsody has been operating under the Napster name overseas since then, its only now making the shift in the U.S. The re-branding is a change in name only; subscribers will keep the same services, prices, and playlists, but the company is banking on Americas love of nostalgia. Remember how you convinced your parents the software wasnt going to give your computer a virus and they actually believed you? Good times.
Every week, Vulture highlights the best new music. If the song is worthy of your ears and attention, you will find it here. Read our picks below, share yours in the comments, and subscribe to the Vulture Playlist for a comprehensive guide to the years best music.

Usher ft. Young Thug, No Limit

A flawless new Usher song tends to come down the pipeline roughly every four years (2001s U Dont Have to Call, any old thing off 2004s Confessions, 2008s Love in This Club, 2012s Climax), but after the spirited pump fake of 2014s Good Kisser, I had started to worry that the glory days were gone, that Mr. Raymond was finally content to hang back from the biz and luxuriate in his money. Then came No Limit, a summer breeze that works references to Master Ps Louisiana record label into a bedroom setting without an ounce of shame. Its Usher at his most impishly sensual, and whats more, the guest verse in the back end is Young Thug at his most sentimental. If this doesnt run the hot months itll be a crime. Craig Jenkins (@CraigSJ)

Danny Brown, When It Rain

Danny Brown is back! Oh, its been too long. Three years ago, he gave us one of the most idiosyncratic, original rap albums of the decade with 2013s Old. Since then, weve only heard his spastic, squawking wordplay on a handful of features. Now everyones favorite Detroit rap weirdo has returned with the first new song from his next album. What a reintroduction. Somehow, Danny has turned his ear to even stranger, left-field production (this one from Paul White). How he even manages to rap on beat here is just one of the many mysteries of Danny Brown. Its an aural assault, pounding in both the skittering beat and Dannys vicious tales of life in the hellish D (living every day like its the end). Yeah, that rain hes alluding to is most definitely gunshots. Proceed with caution. Dee Lockett (@Dee_Lockett)

Little Big Town, Miracle

As a lover of musical experiments that sound bizarre on paper but persist through sheer force of craft, I am in love with the new Little Big Town and Pharrell album, Wanderlust. My favorite cut changes by the day, but after hearing they dedicated the prayerful Miracle to the victims of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting at CMA Fest this past weekend, I keep coming back to it. The lyric is about being tired and torn and in search of respite youre not even sure is coming, a sentiment a lot of us can relate to in a year thats brought more senseless tragedy and political division than any of us couldve imagined. For good measure, Miracle reunites Pharrell Williams with the other Neptune, Chad Hugo, and fits Little Big Town with a shimmering album rock shuffle equally indebted to 70s Fleetwood Mac and 80s Quincy Jones. The relief theyre asking for never comes; maybe the song itself was it after all. CJ

Disclosure ft. Al Green, Feel Like I Do

Call it a sample or a remix, whatever. The way in which Disclosure pick apart, update, and give new life to Al Greens Im Still in Love With You on this song from the duos new EP captures the spirit and ethos of dance music to a T. No doubt inspired by Jamie xx, this is maybe Disclosures best use of someone elses material since When a Fire Starts to Burn. DL

Tituss Burgess, Somewhere (West Side Story cover)

Theres a timeless Bob Marley quote: One good thing about music. When it hits you, you feel no pain. Im reminded of it in times of deep, unspeakable tragedy because, in those moments, all I have is music to carry me away. How do you make sense of a senseless massacre like the Orlando shooting? No one has the answers. All that makes sense and feels right to me is hearing the eternally joy-infused voice of Tituss Burgess belt out the heartbreaking ballad from West Side Story in front of the Stonewall Inn. I have to believe that, someday, we will find a new way of living. Maybe it just wont be here in the America so perfectly skewered in this very musical. DL

Clams Casino ft. Vince Staples, All Nite

Only Vince Staples can start a song with woke up in another mans main bitch and get away with it. If you sunk your teeth into Vinces debut album, then you already know hes at his best when rapping over a Clams Casino original. (Look no further than Norf Norf.) Hes now returned the favor for Clammys debut, on yet another day-in-the-life of Long Beach rap storytime over a deadly, clunky beat. This ones essentially a testament to no matter how far you remove yourself from the street, that life will haunt you forever. Vince calls himself anybody killer, describes the same angel dust that scarred Kendrick Lamar for life as his fathers go-to way to roll a Swisher, and references the Poppy Street hell never be able to leave. If Vinces sophomore album was produced solely by Clams, no one would complain.  DL

SG Lewis ft. Gallant, Holding Back

Its a real blessing when a talented vocalist like Gallant aligns himself with a producer who just gets it. SG Lewis is an electronica producer out of Liverpool at work on his debut EP, but thanks to the internet, he and Gallant found each other. The production is understated yet soaring enough to work as the perfect machine over which Gallant can do what he does best: emote the fuck out of a song. Its anything but holding back. DL
A cafe selling coffee created from a century-old roaster and a new home decor, furniture and gifts shop will open soon in the historic seven-story Praetorian Building in downtown Waco.

Developer Peter Ellis is renovating with a personal touch yet another part of the vintage building.

For the past four years, Ellis has worked to perfect his style of roasting coffee beans to create his brand, dubbed Bru. Customers will walk up to the old elevator inside the building to order coffee from baristas standing inside it, who will serve patrons.

Construction on the historic building itself began in 1913 and was completed two years later.

Were probably the smallest coffee shop in Waco, Ellis joked. Were excited to use it in a quirky, urban way.

Locked in place for safety, the elevator is a rare historical, intact and nondecommissioned elevator. With room for up to two baristas, customers cant expect the drive-thru efficiencies of a Starbucks with 10 people behind the bar, but the coffee quality is unmatched, he said.

I fully support Common Grounds and the new guys with Pinewood Roasters and Dichotomy for taking their effort and time and risk and producing a great product, he said. I think Waco has room for yet another quality coffee shop. With 10,000 people working downtown, three (college) campuses, I dont think weve met that saturation of coffee shops.

Ellis said he has sold his coffee at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market and has received great feedback. He said his roaster is not automated or high-tech, but more of an artisan roaster, and is set up in the basement of the Praetorian below the cafe. Ellis said the basement kitchen is being restored to its original look and is large enough to continue housing operations for the Pokey Os ice cream sandwich truck.

The older brewer uses flames as a heat source, he said. The design creates a whole different set of nuances to create different flavor profiles. Ellis said he focuses on ensuring his fair-trade coffee is made with organic ingredients for a more holistic product.

Constructing canopies

Ellis said he and his wife, Summer, have lived on three continents, including Europe and Africa, and time spent in cafes set in more dense urban environments helped spur ideas for this venture. Ellis is constructing canopies alongside the building on the Sixth Street and Franklin Avenue sides, which is a look original to the building. The shade will provide for covered seating, decked out in lights for those walking downtown in the evening hours.

Ellis said he thinks cafes should serve as connecting points for people, creating a communal location. He said he also is going to offer discounts for those who walk or ride a bicycle to the location versus driving.

The Praetorian in 1984 was added to the National Register of Historic Places as an exemplar of the Chicago School of modern architecture.

While one side of the first floor will host cafe patrons, a Waco couple are launching Interior Glow, a decorating and planning venture, on another side of the building, which features a three-story mural of Jesus Christ extending his arms, the work of a Russian artist.

Ellis said he is excited to bring in a more developed, mixed-market offering.

Interior Glow is owned by a fabulous couple here in town, he said. They have a lot of passion and heart in what they do. Its fresh and organic, yet very clean and on point with trends.

Bo and Alejandra Evans moved to Waco from Houston two years ago specifically to open Interior Glow. The couple closed on the building at 210 South Fifth St. in November, the original location where they planned to house Interior Glow.

But during that process, they met the Ellises and decided a joint venture in the Praetorian was the way to go. Bo Evans said they were eager to open the store, as the renovations needed on Fifth Street will take time.

Bo Evans said they were flipping houses in Houston when Alejandra discovered her love for planning and decorating. He said she has her own nature-centric style. Evans said they have always considered Waco a second home, as his parents live in the city and his brother attended Baylor University. During those visits, they fell in love with downtown.

Great destination

We believe its just going to be another great destination for downtown Waco, he said.

Evans said they have included a kids corner where children can watch Disney movies on TV while their parents browse items or sip on coffee in the cafe.

Alejandra Evans, who goes by Ally, said Interior Glow mixes wood with metal and presents more earthy home decor, featuring coral, and products from around the world. She said it also will feature contemporary and classier styles with a mix of modern.

A little different than what Ive seen in Waco so far, she said.

Meanwhile, in space facing Franklin Avenue, Summer Ellis jewelry also will be displayed.

Peter Ellis said his wife has faced a growing need to separate the wholesale from retail to serve Waco better.

We wanted to provide a better showroom and space for her designs, he said. Shes just elated and excited to have that space.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals lifted the gag order Wednesday initially issued by a McLennan County state district judge in the case of a biker arrested in the Twin Peaks shootout.

In a one-line opinion, written by Justice Cheryl Johnson, the court said, We deny mandamus relief and withdraw our order staying the proceedings.

The opinion lets stand an order by the Tenth Court of Appeals that overturned the gag order on Aug. 7, 2015, in the case of Matthew Clendennen, a member of the Scimitars Motorcycle Club who was arrested at Twin Peaks on May 17, 2015.

The intermediate appellate court held that 54th State District Judge Matt Johnson abused his discretion when he limited pretrial publicity in Clendennens case before the court issued a gag order on June 30, 2015, which remained in effect until Wednesday.

The Court of Criminal Appeals intervened at Reynas request on Aug. 13, 2015, ruling that the 10th Courts decision be stayed until it made a ruling.

This makes me feel somewhat vindicated, but I am sorry it took 10 months, said Clendennens attorney, Clint Broden. In some ways, the DAs office got what they wanted, but ultimately, I think the First Amendment prevailed.

McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna asked the Court of Criminal Appeals to rule that Johnsons decision to issue the gag order was proper, because he said defendants rights to fair trials are in jeopardy because of a danger of prejudice from pretrial publicity, in reference to the Twin Peaks melee that killed nine people, primarily members of the Bandidos and Cossacks motorcycle gangs.

Clendennen was one of 177 bikers arrested on the day of the shootings, which also left more than 20 others wounded. A total of 154 bikers have been indicted on the charge of engaging in organized criminal activity.

The gag order was requested by the state to help preserve and maintain everyones right to a fair trial. I want to commend the judge on his effort in doing so by issuing the gag order, Reyna said in a statement. While we may not agree with the Court of Criminal Appeals, we respect their decision.

With that said, the McLennan County District Attorneys Office will continue to make every effort to preserve everyones right to fair trial by not commenting any further on this matter. In short, we will leave our talking for the courtroom.

Phone calls to Waco Police Chief Brent Stroman were not returned.

Before the gag order was lifted, local authorities repeatedly declined to speak about any of the Twin Peaks shootout cases, citing the gag order, which was placed only on the Clendennen case.

Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton, the departments spokesman who spent hours speaking to media in the days following the shootout, said authorities have released all pertinent information, excluding information that might affect prosecution of the pending cases.

No real change

At this point, (the lifting of the gag order) doesnt really change anything for us, because there is not much more we could put out there at this point, Swanton said. Certainly, we would not want to do anything to hinder the prosecution of the case, but I dont know what else we could put out there.

Broden filed an emergency petition, arguing that the gag order violates Clendennens right to free speech and alleging that the finding to implement the gag order was insufficient to establish that any unidentified pretrial publicity in this case has risen to the level that it poses an imminent and severe harm to a fair and impartial trial.

It would have been one thing if they had sought the gag order from the very beginning, because then I would be hard-pressed to have any problems with it, but the real problem came when (Waco police) were holding press conference after press conference, Broden said. Then, when the media became aware of that most of these people are innocent, that is when they ran to court.

Broden said he was pleased with the ruling and said his focus remains on getting a speedy trial for his client.
At first thought, Lake Waco seems to beckon as a place for Central Texans to boat, fish, swim, hike and bike  especially compelling notions with the Fourth of July just around the corner and summer break in full swing. Yet, from the perspective of our city and county leaders, state officials and federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Waco is much more.

City leaders see it as a vital resource that ensures quality of life and economic growth for the Waco area, thanks not only to our forefathers visionary water planning decades ago but local taxpayers investments in recent years. And state and federal leaders see it as an integral component in ensuring flooding is smartly controlled  at least to the degree Mother Nature allows  both upstream and downstream.

And as many on the Brazos know, resources such as Bosque-fed Lake Waco also ensure much industry thrives in a state known for drought  a concern for all, given the increasing evidence of climate change. Some of us can stick our heads in the sand and deny all the data, but what most scientists now conclude is relevant if you care about the steep costs of flooding and drought.

We gratefully applaud Republican Congressman Bill Flores in his efforts to ensure federal money is available to repair and maintain Lake Waco Dam in the wake of significant flooding statewide. Heavy rainfall  yes, also a big part of climate-change scenarios  caused a section in the earthen dam several feet deep and 300 feet long to slide downhill last month.

Indeed, flooding amid heavy rainfall up and down the Brazos has caused major problems. A Corps spokesman told Trib staffer Phillip Ericksen last week that damage to recreational facilities at Lake Waco such as boat ramps and picnic tables are enough that its parks could be closed for months.

Given some of the bleak assessments from federal officials about funding available to make repairs and improvements  dam improvements could cost millions  its reassuring to hear Flores insist the Army Corps has the money it needs to maintain Lake Waco Dam and that it will be able to secure any extra money it needs to respond to flooding.

Theyve got the money to address issues like this, particularly the dam issue, Flores told the Trib. But to the extent they need extra money because of the flooding, it shouldnt be difficult to obtain. If you look at history weve had since Ive been in office, in an environment where we havent had earmarks, weve still been able to get tens of millions of dollars for McLennan County.

Our compliments to Flores for his resolve regarding Lake Waco Dam. But while we make major fixes after weeks of flooding, we must also take a second, longer look at what scientists say we should be doing to prepare for an eventuality that may already be here.
ASHLAND  When Kenny Danner returned from the Vietnam War 49 years ago, he was smuggled in the airport to avoid protestors.

When he returned to Nebraska with 500 veterans after a visit to the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. last week, he was greeted with open arms.

I think I lost my right arm from shaking so many hands, the Ashland man said.

Shaking hands with the number of family members that greeted Danner when he arrived in Omaha would have been exhausting in and of itself. There were nearly 20 relatives of all ages there to welcome him back. But he and the other veterans were greeted with a sea of smiling faces and outstretched hands from the moment they stepped off the plane to the front doors of the airport and beyond.

Danner was among a handful of veterans with Ashland ties who took part in the Honor Flight for Vietnam combat veterans on June 6. Bill and Evonne Williams of Patriotic Productions sent three planeloads of veterans to Washington, D.C. for a whirlwind day of sightseeing, ceremonies and personal reflection of a war that left its scars in many ways.

I think it helped me a bunch said Danner.

It took Danner nearly five decades to put closure on a war where the 19-year-old won a Purple Heart as an Army medic in the Fourth Infantry Division.

After 49 years you try to forget something and it all comes back to you, he said. But it made me feel better.

The trip also provided a chance to move on for Don Gilbert, an Ashland native who served with the Infantry in the Americal Division.

Gilbert was spat upon and pelted with garbage when he flew into Fort Lewis, Wash. after nearly 18 months in Vietnam.

I never felt more unwelcome in my life, said Gilbert, who lives in Elkhorn but remains a member of Ashland American Legion Post 129.

But the nearly 5,000 people who welcomed them back at Eppley Airfield in Omaha in the middle of the night proved that feelings about the war have changed.

Itll never happen again, Gilbert said. This country will never turn its back on soldiers like they did to us.

The airport reception was just one of the highlights of the trip, which included a pre-flight dinner the night before. Veterans and their spouses stayed overnight in Omaha. The 2 a.m. wake-up call came early.

Its a long day for a bunch of men who arent used to not going without some sleep, said Steve Johnson, an Ashland native who now lives in Lincoln, but is a member of the Ashland American Legion.

Johnson volunteered for the draft two years after graduating from Ashland High School in 1967.

I needed to get out of here and do something with my life, he said.

He spent about 10 months in an Army signal battalion, having trained as a pole lineman but put behind the steering wheel of a truck instead.

I never worked my MOS one minute while I was in the Army, he said.

Danner and Gilbert also volunteered for the draft. Danner knew he would eventually be drafted, so he signed up in 1966 at the age of 18 to get it over with. Gilbert was in Vietnam less than a year after graduating from Ashland High School in 1968.

In the Infantry, Danner and Gilbert saw combat on a regular basis. Danner shot during a firefight on May 20, 1967. After 90 days in the hospital, he was sent back to combat.

Gilbert doesnt talk about his experience much, like many veterans of this war. Johnson said he quit volunteering information when he realized there was a disconnect between Americans and Vietnam vets.

Because it didnt pay to say anything, he said.

Ron Garner, too, felt an absence of interest from the public.

It was very hard to visit with anybody about it if they hadnt been there, said Garner.

Garner was commissioned as an Army officer after college. He served two years active duty, followed by two years as a reserve officer and another two in the inactive reserve.

He was two months shy of finishing his reserve commitment when his unit in Hastings was called up for Vietnam. He served in Vietnam as an officer with the First Air Cavalry, overseeing helicopter supply runs. After returning from Vietnam, Garner moved to Ashland to become a school principal.

The Honor Flight provided Garner and the others with the opportunity to talk about the war with people who shared the common experience.

I really think it was good for all the vets, said Danner.

The Vietnam Wall provided an opportunity to reflect on friends lost in the war. Danner spent time finding the names of two Ashland area men who were among the 58,193 who died in Vietnam.

I was overwhelmed, said Gilbert. Fifty-eight thousand names sounds like a lot until you actually see them engraved on the wall itself.

Gilbert looked for his buddies, but they were young soldiers he knew only by nicknames.

A lot of times you didnt know their names, he said.

He found two names he did recognize  Eric Ohm from Wann and Michael Scott of Ashland.

Danner also found Ohm and Scott, and with the help of a park ranger, traced their names with pencil to create a permanent record. He plans to have them framed and hung at the Legion Club in Ashland.

Danner also traced the name of his best friend from high school, Garry Lihrig, who also died in Vietnam. Danner had moved to Kansas City his junior year of high school and graduated from Park Hill High School in 1965 with Lihrig.

Three kids in my graduating class were killed in Vietnam, Danner added.

Danner returned to Ashland after finishing out his time in the Army at Fort Riley, Kans. He carried mail in Ashland for 32 years, retiring from the U.S. Postal Service 14 years ago.

After the war, Gilbert went to work as a construction manager in Colorado. He moved to Elkhorn four years ago after he retired. Johnson retired in 2009 as a warehouse supervisor in Lincoln.

After spending 16 years in education, Garner went on to work for the U.S. Immigration Service for 12 years. He remained an Army reservist until retiring 10 years ago.

All of the veterans said they appreciated the effort and care Patriotic Productions took in organizing the Honor Flights.

The organization has sent 2,100 World War II and Korean War veterans to D.C. on nine Honor Flights since 2008. This was the first for Vietnam veterans.

It was just a terrific trip, said Gilbert. It was wonderful the way they took care of us.

Their gratitude extended to the treatment of the spouses. As their husbands flew to D.C. and back, the wives were treated to a day in Lincoln, called the Home Front, where they toured Memorial Stadium and attended a luncheon hosted by Nebraska First Lady Susanne Shore. Afternoon activities included tours, wine tasting and pizza. They were back in Omaha in plenty of time to greet the veterans at the airport.

Gilberts wife, Mary, was so impressed by the event that she plans to volunteer to help with future Home Front activities.

Mary said it was absolutely phenomenal the way they treated them, he said.

The Honor Flight gave Garner a chance to reconnect with other Vietnam veterans.

For me, it was the opportunity to meet some of the guys, said Garner, who serves as the commander of the Ashland American Legion.

The opportunity to see the Vietnam Wall and other war memorials in our nations capital was also a draw.

Id never seen the wall and Id always wanted to, said Gilbert. It was a great opportunity to see it with other Vietnam vets.

Johnson said the opportunity to see the changing of the guard and the laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery was also an emotional moment.

It was pretty awesome to watch that, he said.

Danner said going to see the memorial was something he was not likely to do on his own. Now that hes gone, he and the others would wholeheartedly recommend other Vietnam vets attend any future Honor Flights that are offered.

Theyre missing out on an opportunity if they dont, said Johnson.
WAHOO  The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) confirmation in neighboring Douglas County last week will have a direct affect on trees in Saunders County.

Thirty trees in Sunrise Cemetery will have to come down, said Wahoo Street Superintendent and Cemetery Sexton Dave Jansa.

The trees will not come down all at once, but the plan is to begin removal this fall, he said.

The three options for ash trees are treatment, removal or to simply let the invasive beetle species do its damage until death.

EAB has not been confirmed in Saunders County, but the Nebraska Forest Service is encouraging municipalities to take steps now to prepare for EAB.

According to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, EAB is a half-inch long metallic-green beetle.

The insects larvae tunnel under the bark of ash trees, disrupting the flow of water and nutrients, ultimately causing the tree to die.

While it is unfortunate that we have confirmation of the pest in Nebraska, it is not unexpected  considering the close proximity to confirmed pest infestations in Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach said.

It could be here already.

There was always a suspicion among the tree community that it might be in Wahoo, but just not found yet, Wahoo Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Stuhr said.

He said his department has already done an inventory of trees in the citys parks.

There are less than 10 Ash trees in our parks, Stuhr said.

Once identified, Stuhr said the ash trees were evaluated based on size, age and condition.

Of those trees identified in the citys parks, only one might receive treatment, but the rest will come down.

Three or four are some of the larger, more mature shade trees in Smith Park, Stuhr said.

Due to the ongoing cost and maintenance, treatment for Wahoos ash trees is not being pursued at this time.

The best candidates for treatments are healthy, high-value trees that are in a good location, said Mark Harrell, Forest Health Program Leader with the Nebraska Forest Service. Trees in poor condition or located under wires or too close to sidewalks or buildings generally should be removed rather than treated.

Ash trees in Wahoo will not all come down at once though, said Stuhr.

But when it hits, its a rapid descent, Stuhr said.

Eric Berg, Program Leader for Community Forestry and Sustainable Landscapes agreed.

Upwards of 80 percent of ash trees will die within eight years after EAB is found in a community if nothing is done to manage the pest, said Burg. This can put a strain on city budgets and staffa and create liability issues if dead trees are left standing. Nebraska municipalities need to be proactive in dealing with EAB.

Trees removed by the City of Wahoo will be burned, said Jansa.

Treatment includes professionally applied trunk injections and soil applications, according to the Nebraska Forest Service.

Treatments need to be applied every one to two years and must be done for the remaining life of the tree, Harrell said. For this reason, many trees will not be worth saving.

Stuhr likened the imminent invasion to Dutch elm disease that wiped out many elm trees nearly 30 years ago.

Since then, elm hybrids have been planted, as they are disease tolerant and resist Dutch elm, Stuhr said.

When considering replanting, diversity is the key to long-term health.

According to the Nebraska Forest Service, diversity will help to avoid significant loss of the urban tree canopy when the next serious pest arrives.

If homeowners feel they have located an EAB infestation, they are to contact the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at 402-471-2351, the Nebraska Forest Service at 402-472-2944 or the local USDA office at 402-434-2345.
Republican candidates have a model to emulate as they struggle with growing concerns that Donald Trump could drag down the party in November: the late Muhammad Ali and his famous "rope-a-dope."

Ali, who died June 3 and was laid to rest last week, perfected this technique in his 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" bout against George Foreman: He'd cling to the ropes, bobbing and weaving as his opponent would unleash a flurry of blows and tire himself out.

More and more Republicans are bobbing to avoid Trump after controversies such as his racially tinged charge that the Indiana-born judge overseeing a fraud case against Trump University is biased because his parents were from Mexico. A few, including Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, flatly declare that they won't vote for him. Others are waiting to see whether there will be more rants.

Most Republicans from solidly conservative regions -- the Deep South and some Western states -- have it easy. There's no price to pay for supporting the ticket, however they may view the nominee.

That's not the case for Republicans from blue, or Democratic-centric, places.

"The safest course for them is to denounce Trump, say they are completely opposed and won't support him," says Whit Ayers, a prominent Republican pollster. That's the case with Kirk, who faces an uphill re-election fight.

It's more complicated for those in purple, or swing, states and districts, where a winning coalition would include Trump champions and more independent-minded voters turned off by him.

"Their best strategy is to localize the race and say it has nothing to do with the presidential race," Ayers says. This is the real political rope-a-dope. Yet few politicians are as skillful as Ali.

Take Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, where Trump scored a huge victory in the February primary but where the general election features more centrist, independent voters. She said she would support Trump but not endorse him. Last week, she rejected his comments about the judge and demanded that he apologize. Trump tends not to do apologies.

Other challenged incumbent senators, such as Ohio's Rob Portman or Pennsylvania's Pat Toomey, offer lukewarm support along with criticism of specific Trump comments -- or they simply try to keep a distance. A few of their colleagues, such as North Carolina's Richard Burr or Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who earlier were joined at the hip with Trump, seem to be backing away.

No one is more tortured than Sen. John McCain, whose unassailable record of heroism as a prisoner of war was mocked by Trump and who has a solid pro-immigration record. But he's in a tight re-election battle and can't afford to alienate the Trump brigade in Arizona.

And House Republicans now worry about what had been considered impossible only a month ago: a loss of 30 seats and the party's control of the body. There are two distinctly different types of districts where they fear incumbents could get swamped by an anti-Trump tsunami.

One is upscale: politically moderate suburbs outside Philadelphia, Denver, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago or Washington. President Barack Obama carried most of these districts, where the political profile is hostile to Trump. The others are the heavily Hispanic districts, including several in California's Central Valley and one in the Florida Keys. These are represented by Republicans who support Hispanic interests, but these lawmakers could go down if Trump's rhetoric were to generate a huge turnout of Hispanic voters.

To be sure, there are places where Trump might help, including a few New York districts and the Iron Range in Minnesota, an economically distressed old mining district with a Democratic incumbent.

Perhaps Trump will change and become a more disciplined candidate. If not, and his polls slip, scores of additional Republican candidates won't be clinging to the ropes; They'll be jumping out of the ring.
PRESS RELEASE  Seventy-five years after making her first flight the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) B-24 Liberator Diamond Lil will lead the CAF AirPower History Tour and a squadron of historic aircraft to a landing at a patriotic celebration and veterans fundraiser at Branson Airport, Missouri, September 2-4, 2016. The CAF AirPower History Tour is a flying tribute to The Greatest Generation, the men and women who served in uniform during World War II. The Branson Veterans Task Force is proud to partner with the Commemorative Air Force and Branson Airport to help preserve and teach American history said Brenda Meadows, Branson Veterans Task Force Chairperson These aircraft are incredible machines, but more importantly they embody the service and sacrifice of the men and women who built and flew them.

Of the 16 million men and women who served in uniform during World War II, the Veterans Administration estimates less than 850,000 are alive today. The CAF AirPower History Tour brings the sights, sounds and stories of World War II aviation to communities across the country, providing powerful history lessons about Americas role in The Second World War. The weekend display will allow visitors to tour and inspect vintage aircraft, watch them fly and purchase rides. The Branson Airport is honored to host the Commemorative Air Force for the second year, offered Jeff Bourk, Executive Director of the Branson Airport. The CAF AirPower History Tour is a partnership we hope to continue in the future.

Built in San Diego, California in 1941, Diamond Lil is returning to the skies after an extensive year-long restoration by members of the Commemorative Air Force B-29/B-24 Squadron based at the groups national headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Diamond Lil is the worlds oldest flying World War four-engine bomber. Over 18,400 Liberators were manufactured by four companies in California, Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas, making the B-24 Liberator the most produced military aircraft in American history and an icon of the Arsenal of Democracy, the collective effort of American industry to arm and supply the Allied nations during the Second World War. The national undertaking transformed American society, opening doors for women, African-Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in factories across the United States. Women Army Service Pilots (WASP) flew B-24 Liberators and other warplanes at airbases throughout the United States.

Proceeds from the tour stop will be used to maintain the historic aircraft and support Branson Veterans Task Force community programs. World War II pilots, crews and mechanics didnt have the technology we have today concluded Meadows, they relied on their training and teamwork to get the job done! The CAF AirPower History Tour will be staged at Branson Jet Center, 4000 Branson Airport, Blvd, Hollister, MO, 65672. The event will be open to the public Friday, Sept 2nd 2:00 p.m .to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday, Sept 3rd and Sunday Sept 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Admission to the ramp is $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 11-17. Children age 10 and under are free. Admission fee includes free tour of Diamond Lil. For ride reservations and additional information about the AirPower History Tour visit www.AirpowerTour.org.
It would be far-fetched for most of us to say we could imagine the pain of those who lost loved ones and friends in the Orlando shootings.

Still, through watching hour after hour of coverage of the horrific event in which 49 people were slaughtered before police killed the shooter, many of us felt something.

We felt immense sadness for the dead and their families, many of whom went hours without knowing the fate of their loved ones. We felt relief that the total stopped at 49 when it could have been greater, that officers were able to move in and stop it when they did. And immensely grateful that people from all walks of life responded immediately to help however they could  from assisting at the scene to medical personnel rushing to hospitals and to people in long lines willing to give blood. Giving aid in times of dire need is what this country does best.

Unfortunately in recent years we have been called on too often to do so. When and if measures are taken to address such incidents rests in the hands of those in high office.

Until then we can only assume that there will be another tragedy. Because, sadly, we have learned another lesson from Orlando, a lesson so well-explained by Mason Citys Dean Genth, a board member of One Iowa and co-founder of One Iowa-North, an offshoot of the state organization that promotes the rights of the LGBTQ community.

He explained how past incidents have been just as shocking as Orlando has been  from the Connecticut elementary school where young lives were taken to the church where the gunman had prayed with those he slaughtered.

But, said Genth, the latest terrorism was at a place where gay people assumed they were safe and where they could support one another. It was, he said, a shocking example of people being targeted.

What this has done, said Genth, has erased the feeling of security. Nowhere can we be free from terrorism.

Sadly, he is right.

So, now we must ask ourselves: What next? What do we want our communities to be like? What can we do to protect each other better?

The answers will unfold in weeks and months to come, and they will require a great deal of involvement by people from all walks of life. Who realize that complacency is no longer acceptable.

We can begin to answer those questions by taking a good look at ourselves as we grieve for those fallen in Orlando and elsewhere. A good place to start will be today from noon to 1 p.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 100 First St. N.E., which is opening its sanctuary for people to gather in silence to honor the victims of Sundays shooting.

There will be no readings, no speakers, no music, says the Rev. Chuck Kelsey, church pastor. It will be, he said, simply a gathering in silent witness against all hate crimes directed at any of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters.

Hopefully, from that silence will grow a dialogue on how we make Mason City and North Iowa a welcoming, loving community. How we can better watch over and care for each other, how we can show that hate will not be tolerated, that we are better than that.

And in the meantime, may those who are suffering in Orlando and in our country receive some measure of comfort from knowing that there are many of us who care very deeply and pray that they fine peace.
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SAN DIEGO, June 14, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MVP REIT, Inc. and MVP REIT II, Inc. announced today that the companies and their affiliated entities have engaged investment banking firm Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. to act as financial advisor in connection with investment banking matters, including the exploration of various courses of action to enhance stockholder liquidity and value.



Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., a subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE MKT:LTS), will advise the REITs on the possible listing of one or both of the companys common stock on a national securities exchange, strategic alliances and acquisitions, potential borrowings and future capital raises. MVP REIT II also announced that it anticipates it will close its current public offering of its common stock on or about October 1, 2016. The board of directors of MVP REIT II may extend the closing date at its sole discretion.

The MVP REITs are unique in that they invest solely in parking structures and facilities around the country, a compelling asset class that we believe provides us and our stockholders with tremendous upside opportunities, said Mike Shustek, chairman and chief executive officer of MVP REIT, and president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board of MVP REIT II. The engagement of Ladenburg Thalmann as our strategic advisor validates our pioneering investment strategy and may allow us to unlock additional stockholder value as we pursue further avenues to expand our portfolio and reach.

About MVP REIT, Inc.

MVP REIT is a publicly registered, non-traded hybrid real estate investment trust. MVP REIT, which closed to new subscriptions on September 15, 2015, intends to use the proceeds from its offering to invest in a diversified portfolio of income producing commercial real estate properties and loans secured by income-producing commercial real estate as well as to pay expenses and fees associated with the offering.

About MVP REIT II, Inc.

MVP REIT II, Inc. intends to operate as a publicly registered, non-traded real estate investment trust. It is currently conducting a public offering of up to 20,000,000 shares of its common stock at $25.00 per share and up to an additional 2,000,000 shares of its common stock for issuance under its distribution reinvestment plan at $25.00 per share. MVP REIT II intends to invest in a portfolio of parking facilities located throughout the United States and Canada. For more information regarding MVP REIT II, please visit TheParkingREIT.com.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of 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, 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. These risks include, but are not limited to: volatility in the debt or equity markets affecting our ability to acquire or sell real estate assets; national and local economic, business and real estate market conditions, including the likelihood of a prolonged economic slowdown or recession; the ability to maintain sufficient liquidity and our access to capital markets; our ability to identify, successfully compete for and complete acquisitions and loans; and the performance of real estate assets and loans after they are acquired. Although MVP believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. MVP does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained herein to conform the statement to actual results or changes in expectations. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.
A small and elusive group of Australian-based, Chinese-speaking shoppers holds the key to an untapped 50 million overseas customers for Australian companies.

Known as Daigou, these shoppers each buy Australian products for up to 1200 friends and family back in China and have already helped a handful of Australian companies like Swisse, Bellamy's, and Blackmores grow to billion-dollar valuations.

Australian-grown and made consumables are highly coveted in China, where consumers fear their food or medicine could be fake or poisonous.
- Woolworths will have staff within the liquor store to provide advice and assistance to customers and will provide sampling of products; (Presto says: sampling of products is a redundant reason, and while having specific liquor store staff on hand to provide advice is helpful, the commission itself recognises that almost half of liquor purchases in stores are impulse buys).

- Woolworths will provide a greater variety of products at various price points, whereas the majority of Aldi products are at the lower price point; (Presto says: this is good reason alone to have two competitors in the shopping centre; one that provides primarily cheaper alcohol options, another offering high-end products).

- it's considerably larger and provides a greater range of services to the local community. Aldi will offer 95 different liquor products, Woolworths will offer 1,623, including refrigerated products; (Presto says: this is silly, especially given the commission weighs the cumulative risk of health impacts on the community when making these decisions. Providing a licence to an outlet because it can provide MORE liquor is not in the public interest. Plus the commission granted a licence to Aldi's Butler store on the proviso it did NOT have refrigerated products).

Liquor Licensing considered the applications of Aldi and Woolworths for the Harrisdale shopping centre together but gave the nod to only Woolworths for, in our opinion, rather dubious and redundant reasons, including:

- the Woolworths liquor store will provide a one-stop shopping convenience for people using the shopping centre, whereas Aldi is essentially only catering to customers who use the Aldi supermarket; (Presto says: this presumes that Aldi customers only shop at Aldi and nowhere else. This argument makes no sense and has not been proven).

- the Woolworths store is purposively separated and delineated from the general supermarket area. Although there is a degree of segregation between the liquor area and grocery items in the Aldi store, their proposal does introduce a greater level of integration of alcohol within general grocery items. (Presto says; this implies West Australians are so obsessed and addicted to booze, that we can't possibly walk past an aisle of VB without getting a sudden impulse to buy. Walk through any supermarket overseas and alcohol products are integrated, not separate).

- there is evidence concerning the link between the availability of liquor in a supermarket environment and increased alcohol-related harm in the community and the availability of low-priced liquor and increased harm. (Presto says: this reason seems based more on convenience than common sense... while 48 per cent of wine products at Aldi are priced below $10, similarly-priced products are advertised front and centre at BWS and other Woolworths-owned stores).

The issue on the surface seems more about protecting the status quo of our two supermarket conglomerates dominating alcohol sales. We live in a country where Coles and Woolworths run almost 80 per cent of alcohol retail in Australia (up from 32 per cent in 2004).

A Winemakers Federation of Australia report in 2014 also estimated they distributed and sold 77 per cent of all wine sold in Australia. If our liquor authorities were really concerned about the integration of alcohol into supermarkets, it would would never have let the situation get to this. Banning one more supermarket from selling alcohol (albeit only a measly 95 products) won't change the trend.
The Wilderness Society of WA has described water exploration undertaken as part of the state government's flagship Water for Food program as 'unsustainable.'

Drilling for groundwater started this week in the West Kimberley under the $4.5 million program, designed to develop new irrigation sources across the State.

The Kimberley will only get wetter, according to the CSIRO. Credit:Frances Andrijich

Water Minister Mia Davies said the aim of the project was to find new, sustainable groundwater resources.

"If the aquifers are found to be prospective, further studies will need to be undertaken to determine potential impacts," Ms Davies said.
A Kimberley man has appealed what he has described as an "eviction" from a campsite at the entrance of the proposed Buru Energy gas well.

The Shire of Broome has ordered Yawuru man Micklo Corpus to remove the structure that makes up his campsite, which has been in situ for two years.

Traditional Micklo Corpus has appealed to keep his campsite.

Mr Corpus said he was determined to stay, and engaged the Environmental Defenders Office to help him keep his campsite.

"I'm determined to stay here on my country, exercise my Native Title Rights, and look after the land and water for future generations," he said.
The parents of a two-year-old boy tried desperately to pull their son from the jaws of an alligator that dragged him into a lagoon at a Disney hotel in Orlando, Florida.

The boy, whose name was not released by authorities, was attacked by the reptile at the Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista near Orlando, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

There are no-swimming signs at the lagoon but the alligator grabbed the boy as he played at the edge of the water on Tuesday evening while his family, on holiday from Nebraska, relaxed on the shore nearby, sheriff's spokesman Jeff Williamson said at a news conference.

The boy's father rushed into the water after the alligator struck and struggled to release his child from the alligator's grip, Mr Williamson said.
English Finnish

Sanoma Corporation, Press Release, 15 June 2016 at 13:00 CET+1

Marcus Wiklund, SVP for Sanoma Media Finlands Corporate Relations will also be Director of Sanoma Oyj Group Communications and Public Affairs. Marcus Wiklund will report in that role to Sanomas CEO and President Susan Duinhoven.

Sanoma has streamlined its Group Communication Function which will be centred in Sanoma Headquarter in Helsinki. Group Communications will work closely together with the country Communication Directors, Kristel Thijssen for Belgium and the Netherlands and Hanna Johde for Finland as well as with Investor Relations Manager Pekka Rouhiainen.

Marcus Wiklund has since 2011 acted as SVP of Sanomas Corporate Relations in Finland. Before that he has had several positions within the company during his extensive career in Sanoma.

Additional information

Sanomas Human Resources, Gieta Veersma, tel. +31 651 999 879

About Sanoma

Sanoma is an inspiring, relevant and trusted consumer media and learning company. Ever since its formation in 1889, the company has held creativity and independent thinking at its core in order to deliver high-quality content in new and different ways.

Sanomas consumer media business provides consumers with engaging and personalised content through cross-media brands that touch their lives. Sanomas close relationships with its consumers enable the company to offer unique value-added marketing solutions to its business partners.

Sanoma Learnings learning solutions enable teachers to excel at developing the talents of every child, creating opportunities for children to advance their prospects in life.

With operating companies in Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and Sweden, Sanoma realised net sales of more than EUR 1.7 billion in 2015. The company employed over 6,000 employees.
A doctor who treated victims from the US gay nightclub shooting has written a poignant message that he will "never forget" his experience.

Joshua Corsa, a senior surgical resident at Orlando Regional Medical Centre, was working overnight when dozens of people who had been partying at the Pulse nightclub were brought in with gunshot wounds.

When he returned to work the next day, he posted a photo of his blood-stained shoes to Facebook and said the blood would stain him forever, in a post that was shared more than 300,000 times.
Jakarta: A 53-year-old woman who tearfully begged officials not to confiscate food from her roadside stall as punishment for trading during the fasting month of Ramadan has become the unlikely face of a push for greater religious tolerance in Indonesia.

TV footage of Saeni pitifully pleading "please sir, help, please" as her warung (food stall) was raided by civil service police in Serang, west of Jakarta, on June 10 went viral in Indonesia, prompting an outpouring of public sympathy.

Saeni, a mother of four known as Ibu Eni, was in breach of a local bylaw that stipulates food stalls must not open in daylight hours during Ramadan.
English Finnish

Stock Exchange Release

Talvivaara Mining Company Plc

15 June 2016

Resolutions of Talvivaara Mining Company Plc Annual General Meeting

Talvivaara Mining Company Plc ("Talvivaara" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held at 11:00 am (Finnish time) today on 15 June 2015, all the resolutions proposed by the Board of Directors and the Shareholders' Nomination Panel of the Company as set out in the notice of the meeting dated 24 may 2016, were duly passed.

Talvivaara's Annual General Meeting approved the financial statements and discharged the members of the Board of Directors and the CEO from liability for the financial year 2015. Annual General Meeting resolved that no dividend is paid for 2015 and that the loss for the financial period is entered into the Company's profit/loss account on the balance sheet.

The Board of Directors and the Auditor

As proposed by the Shareholders' Nomination Panel, the Annual General Meeting decided that the annual fee payable to the members of the Board of Directors for the term until the close of the Annual General Meeting in 2017 will not be amended and therefore be as follows: Chairman of the Board of Directors: EUR 84,000/year and other Non-Executive Directors: EUR 48,000/year. The remuneration of the Executive Director is included in his base salary, and it is not paid out separately. No additional fees shall be paid for the Board Committee work, and there will be no separate meeting fees payable for the Board and Board Committee meetings. The traveling expenses shall be reimbursed in accordance with the Company's travel policy.

The Annual General Meeting decided that the number of Board members be four (4). Mr. Tapani Jarvinen, Mr. Pekka Pera, Mr. Stuart Murray and Ms. Solveig Tornroos-Huhtamaki were re-elected to the Board in accordance with the proposal by the Nomination Panel.

It was resolved that the auditor will be reimbursed according to the auditor's approved invoice. The authorised public accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy was elected as the auditor of the Company. PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy has confirmed that the auditor with principal responsibility will be APA, Mr. Juha Wahlroos.

Resolution to amend the Articles of Association

The Annual General Meeting resolved to amend article 2 of the Articles of Association of the Company concerning the line of business in accordance with the proposal by the Board of Directors.

The amended article 2 of the Articles of Association concerning the line of business reads as follows:

"The line of business of the Company is to engage in ore exploration, exploitation, excavation and other mining activities and in metals, machine, chemical and construction industries and any business activities supporting them. The Company may also engage in the business operations based on know-how acquired in aforementioned sectors or related to or compatible with them. The Company may operate either directly or through subsidiaries, associated companies or joint ventures."

Enquiries

Talvivaara Mining Company Plc Tel +358 20 7129 800

Pekka Pera, CEO

Pekka Erkinheimo Deputy CEO

HUG#2020845
10 June 2016, Kashiwa, Japan

The WCO, in cooperation with the WTO, ROCB A/P and Japan Customs, organized the WCO Asia/Pacific Regional Workshop on the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) from 6 to 10 June 2016 at the Regional Training Center in Japan (Japan Customs Training Institute) in Kashiwa, Japan. A total of 29 delegates from 23 WCO Member administrations in the A/P region participated in this important regional capacity event. This Workshop was initiated under the WCO Mercator Programme, following the one held in Jakarta, Indonesia, in March 2015.

The Workshop was opened with the remarks by Mr. Hiroshi Kishimoto, Deputy Director General of Japan Customs and Tariff Bureau, Ministry of Finance, in which he stressed the significant economic implications that could be accrued from the early and full implementation of the WTO TFA. As of 6 June 2016, when the Workshop started, 81 WTO Members had accepted the TFA and thus he anticipated that this instrument may enter into force by the end of 2016. Therefore, the Workshop was a very timely event.

The Workshop featured experience sharing among the Member administrations on least implemented provisions of the TFA, such as National Committees on Trade Facilitation, Authorized Operators, separation of the release of goods from determination of duties and taxes, risk management and post clearance audit, transit, advance rulings, establishment and publication of Time Release Studies. TFA provisions were linked to the WCO instruments and tools that would support Members in implementing the TFA with a view to deepening the Members understanding on these facilitation measures.

Participants actively contributed by sharing their national practices and experiences in their implementation, followed by interactive questions and answers sessions. In the context of the cooperation among relevant border agencies and private sector, the regional representative from the International Organization of Animal Health (OiE) for the Asia Pacific Region and Japans export industries association (JMC) joined the Workshop and contributed to the panel discussions.
Albany, NY, June 15, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MarketResearchReports.biz has added a report, Global Online Home Decor Market 2016-2020, to its offering. This report encapsulates the growth prospects as well as the current scenario of the market. In order to calculate the size of the market, the report takes into account the revenue being generated from the sales of online home decor across different regions worldwide. An analysis has also been presented on the materials needed to manufacture home decor products. A discussion on the consumption of these products in forthcoming years forms a part of the report. The report also entails a quantitative as well as qualitative assessment of the market. Also a key part of the report are the governing factors, key trends, market attractiveness, and macroeconomic indicators within the market for online home decor.

The global home decor market is predicted to expand at a remarkable 19.0% CAGR between 2016 and 2020. The report starts by presenting the market overview section under which the definition and the segmentation of the market have been presented. Home furnishings, household furniture, and other decorative items utilized in houses, such as, artifacts, candles, clay ports, and lamps fall under the category of home decor in the online retail industry. Online home decor refers to the purchase of home decor products online from a variety of different vendors. The online sale of home decor is growing at a staggering rate. This is due to the fact that customers can look for products and buy the same while they are on the move. In addition, the home delivery options of home decor products provided by a number of online vendors have also fuelled the overall growth of the market.

View Press Release at http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/pressrelease/1764

On the basis of product, the report segments the global online home decor market into home furnishing and home furniture. Amongst these, the segment of home furniture led the market in 2015 and represented a share of over 47% on the basis of revenue. This is owing to the increasing convenience of online purchasing and the availability of all-inclusive product catalogs featuring well-defined product categories provided by numerous online vendors.

Geographically, the report segments the market into Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East and Africa. Amongst these, Europe led the global home decor market in 2015 and constituted a share of over 44%. The presence of top vendors such as IKEA and the growing sale of customized and premium-priced home decor products within Germany, the UK, Italy, and France are amongst the key reasons for the dominance of this region.

For Sample Copy, click here: http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/711543

In the next section of the report, the growth drivers, inhibitors, and trends in the market for online home decor have been presented. The increasing penetration of smartphones, the increasing online shopping, and the expanding real estate industry are the chief factors fuelling the growth of the market. In addition, the rising demand for eco-friendly home decor products by customers is a prevalent trend and this will further augment the growth of this market. On the other hand, consumers apprehensiveness about the quality of products resulting in difficulty in choosing products online may restrain the growth of the market in the coming years.

IKEA, Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Wayfair, Ashley Furniture, ATG Stores, Cabela's, Costco Wholesale, and Carrefour, among others are the chief players dominant in the online home decor market.

Related Reports

Global Home Decorative Materials Market 2015-2019: http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/354303



http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/354303 Online Home Decor Market In India 2015-2019: http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/284738



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Marketresearchreports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports, supporting clients' market intelligence needs with over 100,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market profits in its repository. We also offer consulting support for custom market research needs.
Danish English

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, June 15, 2016 - Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA, OTC: BVNRY) announced today that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has exercised an option for the supply of 171,000 doses of IMVAMUNE smallpox vaccine to the national stockpile at a total value of USD 7.7 million.

This option builds upon an initial order of 189,000 doses, comprising a total of 360,000 doses ordered by PHAC, to date. Deliveries from the initial order are taking place throughout 2016, and the new order will be delivered in 2017 and 2018. The Company also has an ongoing contract with the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND), under which additional options for IMVAMUNE remain exercisable. Approved in Canada in 2013, IMVAMUNE is a non-replicating smallpox vaccine, which is being stockpiled for use in both the general population as well as individuals who are contraindicated to traditional smallpox vaccines, such as HIV-infected and people suffering from skin disorders.

Paul Chaplin, President & Chief Executive Officer of Bavarian Nordic, said: "We are pleased to continue our collaboration with the Canadian government in their efforts to secure protection for its citizens. This collaboration dates back to 2008 when we started deliveries to the Canadian Department of National Defence, and was since broadened to include the Public Health Agency of Canada, who also recognized the need for establishing a smallpox vaccine stockpile for the general population. We look forward to continuing and expanding our partnership engagement on various bio preparedness matters, including smallpox."

The contents of this announcement do not affect the Company's expectations for the financial results for 2016.

About IMVAMUNE Smallpox Vaccine

IMVAMUNE is being developed as a smallpox vaccine for individuals for whom traditional replicating vaccines are contraindicated, such as people with atopic dermatitis (AD) and HIV. IMVAMUNE is the Company's most advanced commercial program. Studies comprising more than 7,600 subjects, including people diagnosed with AD or infected with HIV, demonstrate that IMVAMUNE has a favorable safety profile. In 2013, the vaccine was approved in Canada under the trade name IMVAMUNE and in the European Union under the trade name IMVANEX.

About Bavarian Nordic

Bavarian Nordic is a fully integrated biotechnology company focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of cancer immunotherapies and vaccines for infectious diseases, based on the Company's live virus vaccine platform. Through long-standing collaborations, including a collaboration with the U.S. government, Bavarian Nordic has developed a portfolio of vaccines for infectious diseases, including the non-replicating smallpox vaccine, IMVAMUNE, which is stockpiled for emergency use by the United States and other governments. The vaccine is approved in the European Union (under the trade name IMVANEX) and in Canada. Bavarian Nordic and its partner Janssen are developing an Ebola vaccine regimen, which has been fast-tracked, with the backing of worldwide health authorities, and a vaccine for the prevention and treatment of HPV. Additionally, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, Bavarian Nordic has developed a portfolio of active cancer immunotherapies, including PROSTVAC, which is currently in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The company has partnered with Bristol-Myers Squibb for the potential commercialization of PROSTVAC. For more information visit www.bavarian-nordic.com or follow us on Twitter @bavariannordic.

Forward-looking statements

This announcement includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, future events, performance and/or other information that is not historical information. All such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made, except as required by law.

Contacts

Rolf Sass Srensen

Vice President Investor Relations (EU)

Tel: +45 61 77 47 43

Seth Lewis

Vice President Investor Relations (US)

Tel: +1 978 341 5271

Company Announcement no. 21 / 2016
The Minister of Financial Services Hope Strachans recent posturing that the government is committed to the establishment of The Bahamas as a trading hub for Chinese currency, which would lead among other things to the establishment of the first Chinese bank in The Bahamas, and would  the minister contended  eliminate reliance on the U.S. dollar and the transacting of business through the United States is intriguing to say the least.

F.A. Hayek saw that it was crucial to bring the forces of competition to bear in currency markets, not just between countries but within them as well in his 1976 essay, Choice in Currency.

Its worth considering that in 1976 the Chinese Yuan (Renminbi) was not even mentioned as a remote possibility in his essay. He mentions trading in francs, pounds, dollars, D-marks or ounces of gold.

While he saw dangers of a monopoly currency he also thought that money is certainly too dangerous an instrument to leave to the fortuitous expediency of politicians

This danger should make the government wary of the Renminbi on this basis alone. Few currency, from what I can glean, are manipulated as much as the Renminbi. Even the Financial Times cautioned renminbi bears to beware earlier this year. More

But I would suggest this is about more borrowing for the cash strapped Bahamian Government than much else at this point. Well maybe they think its useful policy to poke the US in the eye in this manner, but that would be cutting off their nose to spite every Bahamian.

As Mrs. Pam Burnside asks How will this situation affect our financial sovereignty? More

It seems like yesterday that the Bahamas Government was defending a debt to GDP ratio of 54%. So as this ratio approaches 80% can the conjecture that this is no more than an attempt to borrow more money from the eager Chinese be too far off the mark? More

In these unstable economic times this seems a retrograde move for The Bahamas that could damage relations with the countrys most important trading partner.
NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greystone, a real estate lending, investment and advisory company, today announced it has provided a $14,018,000 Fannie Mae Delegated Underwriting and Servicing (DUS) loan to finance the acquisition of a 184-unit apartment community in Orlando, FL. The loan was originated by Andrew Ellis of Greystones Rockville, MD office on behalf of Mahesh Desai and Hiren Patel, Key Principals of Atlantic Multifamily 12.



The 15-year fixed rate loan for Cadence Crossing includes a 30-year amortization and is interest-only for the first five years of the term. Cadence Crossing comprises 19 two-story apartment buildings with one-, two- and three-bedroom units and multiple amenities. The East Orlando property is located in close proximity to Disney World, Universal Studios, Downtown Orlando and Orlando International Airport.

"Market fundamentals in Orlando remain strong for multifamily acquisitions, and we are thrilled to have closed our sixth loan with our loyal borrowers as they continue to expand their portfolio," said Joe Mosley, Executive Managing Director and head of Agency lending at Greystone.

My group has completed many acquisitions across multiple states during the past few years and Greystone has never failed to impress us. Greystone consistently offers us innovative long-term financing alternatives, which often include fantastic interest-only features, and then meets our demanding timelines for accelerated closings, said Mahesh Desai, a Key Principal of Atlantic Multifamily 12.

He added, Andrew Ellis is an important contributor to the Atlantic Multifamily team. His personal involvement typically starts at the earliest stages of identifying and evaluating acquisition targets and continues through to post-closing mortgage servicing. Andrew and his team always work tirelessly to meet our aggressive financing needs.

Greystone provides mortgage finance solutions across multiple platforms, including FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, USDA, CMBS, bridge, mezzanine and other proprietary loan programs.

About Greystone

Greystone is a real estate lending, investment and advisory company with an established reputation as a leader in multifamily and healthcare finance, having ranked as a top FHA and Fannie Mae lender in these sectors. Our range of services includes commercial lending across a variety of platforms such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, CMBS, FHA, USDA, bridge and proprietary loan products. Loans are offered through Greystone Servicing Corporation, Inc., Greystone Funding Corporation and/or other Greystone affiliates. For more information, visit www.greyco.com.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Jun. 14, 2016 | KEVIL, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 14, 2016 | 05:52 PM | KEVIL, KY

A search of a Kevil home Tuesday afternoon led to the arrest of two men on drug charges.



Detectives with the McCracken County Sheriffs Department began an investigation into the trafficking of heroin after receiving information that heroin was being sold from a home on Childress Road in the Kevil area. During the investigation detectives identified the man who was allegedly selling the heroin as 33-year-old Aaron Jenkins, of Kevil.



Deputies executed a search warrant at the home Tuesday afternoon. Jenkins and 32-year-old Brent Brown, also of Kevil were in the home, and Jenkins was reportedly attempting to flush plastic baggies of heroin down the toilet.



Deputies said they found 15 bags of heroin during the search. Five of the bags were located in the toilet where Jenkins had allegedly tried to flush them. Marijuana, syringes, and other drug paraphernalia and evidence of drug trafficking were also reportedly found. Deputies said Brown had marijuana and heroin in his possession as well. Detectives said they learned that Jenkins was traveling to Tennessee to purchase heroin, then traveling back to McCracken County to sell it.



Jenkins is charged with trafficking heroin over two grams, importing heroin, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and tampering with physical evidence. Brown was charged with Possession of Heroin and Possession of Marijuana.



This is the first time the McCracken County Sheriffs Department has charged someone with importing heroin, which carries harsher penalties than trafficking heroin.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz., June 15, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Second Chance Center for Animals announced today the first ever Cat-a-palooza month-long celebration of cats and kittens at its animal shelter, 11665 N. US Hwy. 89, Flagstaff, AZ 86004. During Cat-a-palooza, all cat adoptions are $10 and all kitten adoptions are $50. The adoption fee includes a veterinary exam, vaccinations, spaying or neutering, plus permanent identification with a microchip. Every cat and kitten adopted from Second Chance Center for Animals will also go home with a free 16lb. bag of Purina Pro Plan Savor Cat Food, courtesy of Nestle Purina. The shelter is open from 11 am to 6 pm Wednesday through Sunday. Additional cats from Second Chance Center for Animals are available for adoption at Petco in Flagstaff, 5047 E Marketplace Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86004, seven days a week. All adoptable cats and kittens can be viewed at www.secondchancecenter.org.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e1b30c22-77d6-429e-9dd8-75895a5405cc

As the weather warms up, cats begin to breed and area animal shelters are filled to capacity with homeless cats and kittens, says Sean Hawkins, Executive Director for Second Chance Center for Animals. We decided to put extra effort into finding every homeless cat and kitten in our shelter a loving home by lowering our adoption prices during the entire month of June, which is National Adopt-a-Cat month, says Hawkins.



We think cats are fantastic every day, says Amy Kerr, Nestle Purina Plant Manager in Flagstaff, Arizona. During the Cat-a-palooza partnership with Second Chance Center for Animals, we not only want as many cats and kittens as possible to find new homes by being adopted, we want them to start off on the right foot nutritionally to keep them healthy. We hope the community takes advantage of the very generous gift of free cat food with every adoption.

On average, Second Chance Center for Animals invests $200 to $300 in every adoptable cat and kitten. We hope the community will take advantage of the Cat-a-palooza special and welcome a new feline family member into their homes in June, Hawkins added.

About Second Chance Center for Animals

We believe the safest place for every dog and cat is in a home. Part of Second Chance Center for Animals' unique mission is to "rescue from the rescues." We partner with 38 organizations across Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah who transfer homeless dogs and cats to us for adoption. Since 2004, more than 10,000 dogs and cats have found forever homes through Second Chance. Our state-of-the-art facility, knowledgeable staff, and passionate volunteers make our 100% placement guarantee possible.
By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 14, 2016 | 09:39 PM | PADUCAH, KY

Paducah Police report that Ms. Phillips has been located in good health and returned to her father.Police need the public's help finding a missing Paducah girl. According to the Paducah Police Department, 17-year-old Akeyia Phillips was last seen Thursday afternoon at her home at 4010 Pecan Drive.

Phillips is black, 5' 6 tall and 140 lbs. She has brown eyes and black collar-length hair. She has a tattoo of a rose on her left forearm.

Phillips was last seen wearing a maroon crop-top shirt, blue jeans with cutouts, brown and gold sandals and sunglasses.

Anyone with information on Phillips' whereabouts is asked to contact the Paducah Police Department.
Three juveniles charged with robbing same Paducah store twice in one day
By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 14, 2016 | 05:38 PM | MARSHALL COUNTY, KY





A Benton man was arrested Monday on drug and other charges.On Monday a Marshall County Sheriff's Deputy got a complaint about a driver on the Purchase Parkway who had struck a stop sign and another road sign when he exited onto US 68. The witness followed the driver and reportedly saw the driver run several red lights. The vehicle then pulled into the Briensburg Church of Christ parking lot around the back of the church at a high rate of speed. Deputies said the driver then struck a parked vehicle. When deputies arrived, they noticed significant damage to the vehicle's body and windshield.When deputies asked the driver, 22-year-old Robert T. Mack, of Benton what had happened, he reportedly told them that he had struck the rear end of a semi truck on the ramp to Draffenville and struck a stop sign and another road sign. Mack told them that he had taken medication prior to driving. He was given a field sobriety test, which deputies said he failed.During a search of Mack's vehicle, deputies reportedly found a small bag of marijuana, along with a bag of 10 prescription muscle relaxers and some electronic scales.Mack was arrested and charged with DUI, 3rd degree trafficking in a controlled substance, trafficking in marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and leaving the scene of an accident.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Jun. 15, 2016 | HICKMAN, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 15, 2016 | 03:32 PM | HICKMAN, KY

A tractor accident Monday injured one person in Fulton County.



The Fulton County Sheriff's Department responded to the intersection of KY Highway 309 and 94 just outside of Hickman, and found a tractor on its side in a 15-foot-deep ditch. They determined that William Fred Pierson was operating the tractor, which was being towed by a pickup truck because it was out of fuel. Since the tractor was not running, Deputies say it had no brakes, hydraulics or power steering, and as the two vehicles turned a corner, Pierson was not able to avoid running off the road and into the ditch.



Pierson was out of the tractor and being helped by two women when deputies arrived. He was able to walk, and was helped up the bank of the ditch and taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital in Union City for treatment of his injuries.
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By West Kentucky Star Staff Jun. 15, 2016 | 06:29 AM | GRAVES COUNTY, KY

A two-vehicle collision Tuesday afternoon in Graves County left one person injured.

According to the Graves County Sheriff's Office, the crash happened around 4:30 pm on US 45 North. Deputies said 41-year-old Madonna Pitts of Mayfield was traveling north when she came upon a vehicle that was slowing or stopped in the right lane.

Deputies said Pitts told them she tried to avoid the collision but did not have time. Pitts rear-ended the vehicle, driven by 57-year-old Jimmy Thurston. Thurston told deputies he was slowing down to make a right turn onto Parrot Street when he was struck in the rear by Pitts.

Pitts was taken to Jackson Purchase Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. Thurston was not injured in the crash.
TORONTO, June 15, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electrovaya Inc. (TSX:EFL) today announced that it signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with a Global Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for the delivery of battery modules for Residential Energy Storage with volume quantity deliveries starting early Q1 CY2017. Electrovaya will provide its battery modules with integrated cells and battery management systems (iBMS). Electrovaya's battery modules have unparalleled safety and cycle life performance which is the critical performance required by the OEM.



The demand for Electrovaya's battery modules by this OEM, is estimated to be up to Euro 199 million (Cdn $ 288 million or US $ 223 million) over a period of 3 years. High volume deliveries are scheduled to start in early Q1 CY2017 with smaller quantities with delivery in CY2016.



Electrovaya's technology and products are uniquely suited to the Residential Energy Storage market as two of the critical performance parameters are highest cycle life and safety, both uniquely available from Electrovaya.



This LOI was signed after intensive testing of the Electrovaya cells and modules by the OEM, who is one of the largest and fastest growing Residential Energy Storage companies in the world.



"We are very excited with this LOI, as this was achieved against intense global competition", said Dr. Rajshekar DasGupta, VP of Business Development at Electrovaya. "Our multi-cell modules with laser welded tabs, built in sensors and iBMS are an attractive product for Residential Energy Storage. Our flexible ceramic separator SEPARION TM imparts outstanding safety to lithium ion batteries. This LOI further defines our path to becoming the leading supplier of lithium ion cells and batteries to this fast growing industrial sector of Residential Energy Storage."



About Electrovaya Inc.



Electrovaya Inc. (TSX:EFL) designs, develops and manufactures proprietary Lithium Ion Super Polymer batteries, battery systems, and battery-related products for energy storage, clean electric transportation and other specialized applications. Electrovaya, through its fully owned subsidiary, Litarion GmbH, also produces cells, electrodes and SEPARION ceramic separators and has manufacturing capacity of about 500MWh/annum. Electrovaya is a technology focused company with extensive patents and other Intellectual Property. Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, Electrovaya has production facilities in Canada and Germany with customers around the globe. To learn more about how Electrovaya and Litarion is powering mobility and energy storage, please explore www.electrovaya.com, www.litarion.com and www.separion.com



Forward-Looking Statements



This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements that relate to, among other things, revenue forecasts, technology development progress, plans for shipment using the Company's technology, production plans, the Company's markets, objectives, goals, strategies, intentions, beliefs, expectations and estimates, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "likely", "possible", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "objective" and "continue" (or the negative thereof) and words and expressions of similar import. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include but are not limited to: general business and economic conditions (including but not limited to currency rates and creditworthiness of customers); Company liquidity and capital resources, including the availability of additional capital resources to fund its activities; level of competition; changes in laws and regulations; legal and regulatory proceedings; the ability to adapt products and services to the changing market; the ability to attract and retain key executives; and the ability to execute strategic plans. Additional information about material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in the Company's most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis under "Risk and Uncertainties" as well as in other public disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Rita Redmond was a true lady who felt that every pupil had something to gift to the world
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Performance artist Victoria Melody turns her own life into art. In her show Major Tom she went on a pilgrimage, accompanied by her massive Basset Hound, to become a beauty queen. Her most recent piece, arriving at Battersea Arts Centre after a UK tour, follows on from Major Tom. It was inspired by the fact that her hairdresser, tasked with making Melody's hair competition-ready, had absolutely no idea who originally owned the hair in the lengthy, lusty extensions she was in the process of gluing to Melody's bonce.

Melody, driven by the idea that hair is actually a body part, rather than an hair accessory as it is currently classed for trading, decided to find the real people behind the hair she had had weaved into her own mop. In this short, sweet piece, she gives a kind of dramatised lecture on how she discovered who might have sold their hair and why.

Her extensions came in three pony tails, one from Russia, one from India and the third's origins were unknown. We see video footage of her flying off to India, where she meets Neeharika, a young woman who shows Melody the practise of Tonsuring  shaving your head for religious reasons. She then heads to Russia to meet a hair salesman and uncovers a little of the underworld of hair buying and selling. At one point a woman turns up with her dead mother's hair and is offered 5 for it. In the UK, hairdressers buy Russian extensions for a lot more than that.

Though Melody makes Hair Peace engrossing and engaging  and frequently very funny  there's not a huge amount of drama here. There are some poignant moments, not least the scene where Melody's extension obsessed cousin meets Neeharika over Skype. Melody's cousin hadn't ever considered who her lovely new locks had originally belonged to.

And that is the simple, delicately made point of Hair Peace. Rather than shine a light on any questionable practises in the hair trade (which Melody points to, but doesn't fully expose), Melody's main focus is to make us think a little more about what we are buying, where it came from and how it got to us. It's a point carefully made at the end, but it felt like a vague way of addressing an important issue. I wanted a little more guts from the piece which had some lovely highlights, but needed a bit more work at its roots.

Hair Peace runs at Battersea Arts Centre until 25 June.
CAMP HILL, Pa., June 15, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harsco Corporation (NYSE:HSC) announced today that its proprietary road surfacing material known as STEELSTOP has been named Slag Product of the Year at the 11th Annual Global Slag Conference held recently in London.

STEELSTOP is a formulated High Friction Surfacing material (HFS), meaning that it carries proven road safety advantages for situations where there is a high risk of skidding, such as approaches to traffic lights, pedestrian crossing or intersections. The material is applied as a surface treatment to increase the skid resistance of existing road surfaces. STEELSTOP has been assessed for use through the British Board of Agrement, in line with the testing requirements of the Highway Authorities Product Approval Scheme. HAPAS maintains nationally-recognized approval criteria for innovative products and systems used in highway works in the UK, consistent with similar standards in the United States.

Harscos SteelPhalt business, a unit of the Companys Metals & Minerals division, has been producing slag-based asphalt products in the UK for more than 50 years, leading the drive for sustainable asphalt materials produced almost entirely from recycled content. Steel slags inherent properties make it ideally suited for use as a surface course for roadmaking:

Exceptional strength and durability, which extends the life of the road and lengthens road maintenance intervals



High skid resistance maintained throughout the life of the road, based on slags capacity to regenerate its surface roughness over time



Avoids the depletion of quarried natural resources, and avoids the landfill of by-products through effective and responsible recycling

Harscos Metals & Minerals division is the largest and most comprehensive provider of onsite material processing and environmental services to the worldwide metals industry, with operations at approximately 140 customer sites across more than 30 countries. The division is a technology partner to cleaner, more efficient metal production, providing customers with economically and environmentally viable solutions for the treatment and reuse of production waste streams.

About Harsco Corporation

Harsco Corporation is a diversified industrial company providing a range of onsite services and engineered products to the global steel, energy and railway sectors. Harscos common stock is a component of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and the Russell 2000 Index. Additional information can be found at www.harsco.com.
SITE WORK UNDERWAY FOR NEW $217 MILLION GF LINAMAR FACILITY IN MILLS RIVER's FERNCLIFF PARK

WITH THE AIRPORT ON ONE SIDE...AND SIERRA NEVADA ON THE OTHER

Site work is currently underway at the top of the hill, adjacent to the Asheville regional Airport, in Ferncliff Industrial Park in Mills River on a $217 million investment that will be known as GF Linamar LLC,

GF Linamar is a joint venture between Swiss-based GF Automotive and the Canada-based Linamar Corporation...and the Mills River facility will be constructed in two phases over the next seven years.

The company expects to ultimately create 350 manufacturing jobs in Henderson County...most of those jobs will be developed within the next five years. They will be making light weight powertrain, driveline,and structural components to the entire North American automotive industry.

The announcement was made back in February that this major industrial enterprise had settled on Mills River, and Governor Pat McCrory was on hand for the announcement. "Two major industrial manufacturers are coming together and they've selected North Carolina as the destination for their innovative joint venture."

GF Linamaqr's Mills River facility is being made possible, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant; by a grant from the One North Carolina fund, with the held of the Golden Leaf Foundation, Henderson County's Partnership for Economic Development, and with tax incentives from the Town of Mills River and from Henderson County.

NC Works, Blue Ridge Community College, and others will all be involved in securing and training the workforce that will fill the 350 good paying manufacturing jobs that GF Linamar will create.

By WHKP News Director Larry Freeman


From today onwards we will be publishing articles from our MBA guide on every Monday and Wednesday to have fresh discussion. The first article of this series on BSchool research written by EssaySnark is presented here. You can also read this article in GMATClub MBA guide which is available From today onwards we will be publishing articles from our MBA guide on every Monday and Wednesday to have fresh discussion. The first article of this series on BSchool research written byis presented here. You can also read this article in GMATClub MBA guide which is available to download here.

How to Start Researching Business Schools

GMAT Club

Much of the admissions process is incredibly subjective.

You decided to get an MBA. Great! But from where? There's a lot of amazing business schools out there. How do you know which one is a good fit for you? Besides the well-recognized names, which ones should you apply to? Where do you start your search? essaysnark is here with some advice to get you started.Obviously you foundand so half your battle is done! There are some remarkable resources here that will help you learn about these schools. The school-specific forums are incredibly helpful for discussions about a particular program.A note of caution when reading things on the Internet:One person may dislike a school for the same reasons that you would find it appealing, and misinformation and strong opinions abound. Keep an open mind, and do a lot of follow-up on anything you hear. You must rely on your own instincts  trust but verify.

How many schools should you be targeting?

don't limit yourself.

Aim to identify eight to ten MBA programs that you're interested in over the next few weeks.

EssaySnark recommends applying to six or so MBA programs throughout the entirety of the admissions season. If you do a good job on that many, you're going to end up with a couple offers to choose from. If you're starting early enough to get some Round 1 apps in, then three or four applications per round is ideal. If Round 2 will be your first submissions, then you need to apply to more schools. Be reasonable though. If you try to do more than four or five schools at once, you'll get totally burned out. The quality will suffer and your chances of admission go down drastically.However, at this early stage,Your job right now is to explore all your options and identify the best schools for you. Your list can be fairly long here at the beginning. Keep adding to it as you hear about schools that you like. Stay open minded. The schools that end up on your short list may be ones you hadn't even heardof at the beginning!In addition, you shouldn't be afraid to cross schools off your list, for any reason. Over time you should be whittling the list of targets down.

Here's how to start your school research project

Figure out why you want an MBA.

Tap your network.

TIP: Here's a great article on Here's a great article on How to Make Phone Calls in Business from Mark Suster, a well-respected VC in California.

Study the schools' websites.

You may feel that a lot of the schools' websites sound the same. They are all trying to market to you using similar language, and sometimes it gets overwhelming. At this stage of your research, pay more attention to the parts of the site focused on students. Don't worry about the application instructions just yet. Look at the class profile, and see if they have biographies of current students and recent alum. Check out their academic offerings and student clubs. There's a core set of common features that all schools share  all of them have a Corporate Finance class and a Consulting Club  but there's also a lot of differences. You'll start to understand what each school is about as you have more and more interactions with them.

TIP:

Sign up for all the schools' emails.

Take notes!

TIP: You might want to create a spreadsheet

Finally: Timebox the process.





This article was written for our MBA Guide by -

This may sound a little silly, but a lot of people don't put enough thought into the whole reason behind their interest in the MBA. A useful tool to begin with is this GMAT Club article from Accepted.com: Where should you apply? (with case studies). Answering some of those questions for yourself and knowing why you want an MBA can take you far in understanding which schools are good targets for you. Do some preliminary work to identify your interests and goals at the outset and you'll be in a stronger position for all the important decisions to come in the application process.Do you know anyone with an MBA? If people at work already know that you're interested in bschool, then ask around at the office (obviously you won't want to do so if it will put your job in jeopardy). If you work at a big company, you could even look on the corporate website to see which executives have MBAs, and set up informational interviews with them. Or if you need to be more lowkey about the MBA at work, then leverage your social circle. Maybe a friend of a friend went to a school that you're interested in, or your college roommate was just accepted. Look on LinkedIn. Find people to talk to. Break out of your shell, make some phone calls, send a few emails.Get any school guides available for the programs you're interested in, and see what different advice and insights others have to offer.Most schools let you register your interest with them before you even start an application. While you're on their website, one of the first things you should do is to sign up for their email announcements. Many schools track candidates by geography and you'll get advance news about information sessions in your area.At this stage you're a sponge, absorbing information  but it can be overwhelming. Keep tabs on the insights you learn. When you add a school to your list, make notes on WHY you're interested in them. You need to have reasons for choosing a school (not just the fact that they're highly ranked). You might also want to note the reason for eliminating a school for consideration, so you can remember your thought process later on. Also, keep track of who you've spoken to and what you talked about. These notes can not only help you organize all this information you're collecting, they'll also be a huge asset to you later on, when you're writing essays and you're telling the adcom why you are interested in their program.to record the important attributes that you care about and which schools offer them.While the research phase never really ends  you'll still be discovering new things about your programs of interest all the way through, including the interview experience andAdmit Weekend  it's also a phase that can get away from you if you let it. It's important to set an initial strategy and move on within a reasonable amount of time. Give yourself a few weeks  or a month  but set yourself a deadline by which you'll at least have a shortlist of eight-ish schools identified.Talking to people about their experiences in business school is invaluable in helping you learn about schools and discovering what to focus on in your selection process. The bestpeople to speak with are current students and recent graduates. Not only can they share their experiences with you, they can often give you input about the other schools they considered when they were applying. Just keep in mind that schools change; the policies and programs that may have been in effect when someone else went through the admissions process a year or two ago may not apply any longer. Take in all the information you can and be sure to verify it before proceeding.Remember too that interacting with the school itself is the best way to get reliable information and insights about their program. You really can only figure out if a schoolis right for you by interacting with the school community directly. This means, if possible, taking a trip to visit. Or, attend a local info session. That talk to people stepis critically important. Bschool is a tremendous investment of time, energy, and money. You want to be an informed consumer when you choose which schools to apply to.To wrap things up, we have to mention the obvious: We didn't mention anything about your profile and choosing schools. Yes, GPA and GMAT scores matter  but youshouldn't be deciding which schools to apply to based solely on those statistics. If your GMAT score is very low, then it may limit your options, and of course you need to berealistic, based on what you'll be presenting to the adcom. To be more confident of your chances, you'll want to find schools whose accepted students' GMAT scores are in linewith yours. If you fall outside the 80% range (usually published on the schools' websites) then you're going to have a tougher time getting in. Not impossible, but definitely not the easy route.At this early stage, you're deciding which schools are interesting to you. It's kind of like going on an online dating site and looking at profiles of people who are available.Any of them might be The One... but who knows which it will be? Lots of them seem very attractive. You need to get to know them a little bit more before you will be able to decide._________________
Profile Evaluation Request- THANK YOU! [ #permalink

Hello!



Thanks in advance for your response, it is greatly appreciated.



Profile:

- Age: 25 (27 @ matriculation)

- Male

- U.S. Resident

- GMAT 710 (Q47, V42)

- Undergraduate Institution: Ouachita Baptist University (liberal arts school in Arkansas)

- Undergraduate Degree: Biblical Studies, 3.35 GPA. Graduated in 3.5 years.

- Business coursework outside of major: Microeconomics (B), Accounting I (A), Accounting II (A), College Algebra (B), Personal Finance(A)

- Extracurricular in college: president of fraternity which grew from 12 members to over 80 while I was a member. Various community service leadership opportunities.

- W/E:

o 2 years at one of the top 5 Health Insurance companies in the U.S. I was a Disability Analyst. Various leadership opportunities.

o (Current) 2 years at a Insurance Brokerage and Consulting Firm as a Consultant (boutique firm likely never head of by admissions committee). Work with company executives to customize benefit program that will make them an employer of choice. Consult regarding Affordable Care Act compliance, as well as be the liaison between various other vendors. Various leadership opportunities, etc. Company size- around 20 employees.

o Both positions held in a major metroplex. Would likely have great recommendations from management.

- Community Involvement: Served as Associate Pastor for organization my wife and I started called Grassroots Christianity. Organization is focused on changing peoples perception of Church structure and function. Various community service events held.

- Target Schools (I will likely declare a Healthcare concentration if available):

o UT McCombs (in-state tuition. #1 choice)

o UNC

o Vanderbilt

- Stretch Schools

o Duke- Fuqua

o Cornell- Johnson

o Virginia Darden

- Less Competitive Target Schools

o SMU

o Rice

o A&M

- Timeline: I will apply in the fall of 2017 in order to matriculate in the fall of 2018 (class of 2020)

- Career Aspirations: Healthcare Consulting (not on the insurance brokerage side), but to be honest it is a bit undecided. Im not completely aware of the paths available to me given my background.



Concerns:

- Undergraduate Degree: Will having a religious degree be the diversity that schools are NOT looking for? I know diversity is a big focus of MBA programs. The degree was from a Liberal Arts institution, thus I studied in multiple areas which allowed me to truly foster a passion for learning.

- Work Experience: Ive definitely shown progression in both positions (both in salary and promotions), but Insurance is often seen as an industry anyone can walk in to. Not sure how my experience will be viewed by ADCOM at the programs I mentioned.

Questions:

- Given my somewhat low quant score (Q47), would you recommend I take a few business/math course prior to my application? Im thinking maybe Calc. for Business, Stats. for Business, and/or some other finance course.

- My current company is somewhat small and the advancement opps are limited because of that. Im considering looking for another company to work for during the two years leading up to matriculation.

o If Im right at 2 years before switching companies, would that look negatively to ADCOM(job hopping)?

o I have a relatively large network, and my first thought is I would try to work for one of the big 4 consulting firms in an analyst type role. I think this would be a good opportunity for me personally, but would me taking a role like this hurt my diversity factor, since so many MBA applicants come from that background?

- Are there other schools that you feel like my profile fits? My family (wife and 1 year old daughter) is flexible on location. Outside of the obvious stats(GMAT, GPA), do you feel like I would be a competitive applicant at the schools I listed?



Thank you for your time.
A man's life was saved in the subway last week after a group of good Samaritans pulled him out of the trackbed at the City Hall R Station. Neither the victim nor folks who jumped in to help him were immediately identified, but today we were able to speak with one subway hero about what happened.

David Tirado, a security officer at a Lower Manhattan security firm, was on his way back to his home in Bay Ridge at around 2:30 p.m. on Friday when he heard a woman screaming across the platform. "I heard a girl just scream out, 'Oh my God! A man just fell over on the tracks!' Tirado told us. "And basically I just jumped straight in."

Tirado and two other men pulled the victim, who was in his 50s, out of the tracks, while another woman contacted an MTA worker and police. Luckily, the team effort meant they were able to alert the operator of the oncoming R train in time. "[The MTA worker] went to the toll booth and hit the panic button so they could relay the train conductor to stop," Tirado said. "We had the transit police, FDNY, and the paramedics there within minutes." You can watch the rescue below:

As an army veteran, Tirado had some experience in lifesaving, and he checked the unconscious man's pulse after they pulled him onto the platform. "He was completely out of it," Tirado said. "And when we got him on the top he started going through a seizure so we had to let him play it out." Eventually, the man came to, and paramedics took him to Bellevue; Tirado visited him on Sunday and was informed by nurses that he had a heart ailment. "He doesnt even remember anything about the train station, so I showed him the video," Tirado said. "And once he saw the video, he was mesmerized, and was like, 'Im thankful to be alive.'"

Even though the MTA advises against jumping down onto the tracks to rescue fallen individuals, Tirado says he didn't have a moment of hesitation. "I just went for it. I looked into the tunnel and as soon as I didnt see the train coming, I was going for it," he said. Tirado insists he wasn't scared, explaining, "I just wanted to make sure he was okay. If someone is down and out, you have to help the person, because you have to remember that could be you lying down there and youre going to need the help."

Tirado hopes the others who helped that day come forward to get the recognition they're due. And as a Brooklyn native, he says he hopes the video shows how New Yorkers look out for each other. "People talk about New York. Were tough. Were a tough city, yes we are," he said. "But when someone needs help, were going to help. Thats the bottom line."
The man who was found guilty of fatally shooting a 32-year-old gay man in Greenwich Village has been sentenced to 40 years-to-life in state prison. Elliot Morales, 36, was convicted in March of killing 32-year-old Mark Carson in May 2013; he was found guilty of murder as a hate crime, menacing a police officer and possession of weapon.

"I cant help but perceive or observe the parallel to the tragedy in Orlando," Justice A. Kirke Bartley said to Morales at his sentencing today. "That parallel is revealed in hatred, self-loathing, fear and death...Mr. Morales, yours is a legacy of death and fear, nothing more, nothing less."

Im really, really, really, truly sorry for what happened, Morales said during sentencing, calling the incident a "tragic accident." He went on to rant about how the EMTs at the scene were really to blame: "You can see these EMT workers allowed him (to) and let him die," he said.

"It is beyond my comprehension how someone like myself who happens to be bisexual and part of the L.G.B.T. community can be falsely accused and then convicted of a hate crime," he added.

Morales had been acting as his own attorney during the trial for the May 18th, 2013 incident. Carson and his friend Danny Robinson, whom Morales cross-examined on the stand, were walking on West 8th Street that evening when a drunken Morales allegedly initiated hostilities by saying to them, "What are you, gay wrestlers?" and calling them "fag**ts" and "queers."

After a heated exchange, Morales walked around the corner onto West 8th Street and the two men followed. Seconds later, Morales took out a Taurus .38-caliber gun and shot Carson in the head. An officer saw Morales running and was able to tackle him on West 3rd Street.

Witnesses testified that Morales had been running amok earlier that evening before the fatal confrontation, with one local restaurant manager testifying that Morales had urinated on the front window of his restaurant, yelled homophobic slurs at his staff, and threatened a bartender with his gun.

Jurors were shown footage of Morales in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, in which Morales allegedly confessed to fatally shooting Carson on camera and laughed gleefully about it. "I fucking shot him dead!" Morales can be heard saying to cops in the clip while laughing to himself. "Diagnosis dead, doctor!...They don't teach you that in the academy, right?"

During the trial, Morales also called his transgender ex-lover to the stand to testify on his behalf that he is not homophobic. The woman testified that she and Morales had a sexual relationship on and off for 10 years after meeting Morales on the web. "I was looking online. My heading was clearly'transsexual woman looking for a man,'" she told the jury.

"He got what he deserved," Carson's aunt Florine Bumpars, told reporters after the sentencing. "He just had to say something and that's what he said. If he was sorry he would have never did it."

Any life lost to gun violence is a tragedy for our City, said District Attorney Vance. But homophobic, hate-fueled incidents like this one are particularly unconscionable. As we mourn the lives lost in Orlando, we remain committed to doing everything we can to combat and prevent crimes against LGBT New Yorkers. We must never allow violence and hate to undermine the progress we have made as a city, a state, and a nation. New Yorkers of all sexual orientations and gender expressions have an inviolable right to walk safely through our communities without being taunted, shot, or killed. I hope that this sentence provides some measure of comfort to the victims loved ones."
Puerto Rican and LGBT activists say a Queens car shop refused to drive them along the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade route on Sunday bearing rainbow versions of their national flag.

"One of them saw my rainbow flag, and they said that they didn't want their vehicles associated," LGBT and human rights activist Pedro Julio Serrano told DNAInfo this week. Astoria-based The Custom Shop reportedly told Serrano and the others that they could ride without the flags. The group refused, choosing to walk the parade's Fifth Avenue route instead.

Ululy Martinez, vice chair of operations for the parade, told the news outlet that he believed the owner of the company took issue. According to Martinez, the man said that rainbow flags would "undermine the image of his business." The company had initially volunteered five of its Jeeps to participate in the parade.

Reached by phone, an employee of The Custom Shop referred us to his attorney, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Posting on the company's Yelp page this week, one person who claims to know The Custom Shop's owner, Brett, alleged that he didn't want the rainbow flags to cover his shop logo, and "accepts everybody for who they are":

Addressing the whole Puerto Rican day parade incident ; I know the owner of the shop is NOT a homophobe at all . He accepts everybody for who they are ! Brett, the owner of TheCustomShop , just didn't want your logo on top of their logo because they wanted to represent THECUSTOMSHOP. Why would you want to put your logo over theirs ?! Like that doesn't make any sense . If I was Brett , I wouldn't want nobody to put their logos over my logos neither . He never once said that he didn't want you guys in the car because your LGBT , he just didn't want the flags over their logo - that was all . This whole thing about them being gay has nothing to do with it . This Serrano guy is doing the most & blowing everything out of proportion honestly . I love the LGBT family , I respect them as well since I have a few in my family . But when it's like when you don't get something you want , the first thing that comes to mind is , " because I'm gay " - when in Brett's case , that wasn't it . All Brett wanted to do was represent his Company & he even wanted to donate 5 jeeps. He didn't deny them a car ride , he just wanted to represent THE CUSTOM SHOP & Serrano just wanted drape the whole car with their flags , which I don't think is fair to the custom shop.

Serrano, who is openly HIV+ and directs the social justice group Puerto Rico Para Tod@s, has since posted an impassioned video to Facebook, denouncing the alleged homophobic act in the wake of such staggering tragedy.

"Do you see this flag?" he says. "This flag represents the Boricua LGBT people. And the people who were supposed to honor me, and the other honorees of the LGBT community, they decided to get out of here because they didn't want to carry gay people."

"This is homophobia when on the day before... 48 people were killed in a club in Orlando. Where 45 people were injured because they are gay. They are discriminating against us in our own parade when this parade is being dedicated to the LGBT community."

He did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations outlined in the Yelp review.

Parade organizers posted a tribute to the Pulse victims on Facebook this week, noting the size and strength of the Puerto Rican community in Orlando:

In #Orlando, a city with over 600,000 Puerto Ricans and a community that we also paid tribute in 2016, we lost many members of our own community because of an act of hatred. Now, more than ever, these acts of hate will fuel the Parade Board to continue spreading the message that #FamiliaEsFamilia ( #FamilyIsFamily) and #AmorEsAmor ( #LoveIsLove).



LGBT activists marching in the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday (via Facebook).

Towards the end of his video, Serrano reiterates his commitment to the rainbow Puerto Rican flag. "You know what, this flag and what I stand for will always be here and we are not going to be silenced, we are not going to be shunned, we are not going to ostracized," he says. "We are part of this community. We are human beings. We are Puerto Ricans. And we are not going to let this go."
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/06/2016 (2325 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Finance Minister Bill Morneau is warning Britain that tens of thousands of jobs at Canadian firms in the United Kingdom are vulnerable because of the debate around the countrys potential exit from the European Union.

Speaking to reporters in London, Morneau says Canadian companies with investments in the U.K. are anxious about the uncertainty caused by the so-called Brexit vote later this month.

He says Canadian businesses that invested in the U.K. to access the European market may be forced to rethink their strategies.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau speaks at the 'Canada Summit: Disrupting the Status Quo', in Toronto, Wednesday, June 8, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Eduardo Lima

Morneau says Ottawa believes the U.K. is stronger as part of a united Europe  which he adds is also better for the Canadian economy and the still-to-be-signed Canada-EU free trade deal.

He says he hopes Britons will consider this as they make their decision in what is expected to be a close referendum.

Last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested in an interview with Reuters news agency that it would be difficult for Britain to replicate its own version of the Canada-EU free trade deal, known as CETA.

Morneau said Ottawa estimates CETA will create about a 20 per cent increase in trade and will deliver a 0.77 per cent annual boost to Canadas gross domestic product.

Were watching in Canada and were anxious, Morneau said Tuesday.

(Canadian businesses) see that the decision they took to invest in the United Kingdom in order to have the opportunity for the European market is now at risk, based on this decision.

So, tens of thousands of employees  people that are employed by Canadian businesses in the United Kingdom  those people are more vulnerable as a result of this discussion.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY  A Calgary man has apologized for spewing hatred towards Muslims and Syrian refugees.

Kyle MacKenzie, who is 29, spray-painted racist words on an LRT station and on vehicles at a C-train parking lot on Dec. 3.

He pleaded guilty in March to mischief and inciting hatred.

MacKenzie told his sentencing hearing Wednesday that what he did was ignorant, hurtful, and reckless behaviour.

He told police after his arrest that the Paris terrorist attacks in November and his hate for ISIL spurred his crime.

MacKenzie will be sentenced on July 15; the prosecution wants 18 months in jail, while the defence is arguing for time served, plus three months for a breach of probation charge.

(CHQR)
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/06/2016 (2325 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG  Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, a Progressive Conservative long accused by his NDP opponents of being homophobic, said Tuesday he is considering a request to have a gender-neutral public washroom in the legislature.

Pallister said he received the request while attending Winnipegs annual Pride rally outside the historic building earlier this month. He is only the second Manitoba premier to have attended the event.

Theres lots of space in this beautiful legislature, and if thats an important issue, then it should be addressed, Pallister said.

If we can do a better job of accommodating individual needs within the construct of what we have here, we should take a look at it.

While the number of gender-neutral public washrooms is growing at universities and other public buildings, many legislatures across the country have not adopted them, including those in Ontario and Quebec.

The New Democrats said Tuesday they were looking for Pallister to follow through on this and other statements he has made since being elected April 19.

Ones words should be substantiated by actions, interim NDP leader Flor Marcelino said.

Pallister has faced accusations of being opposed to gay and lesbian rights since he took over the Tory leadership in 2012, focusing mainly on his time as a member of Parliament for the Canadian Alliance and the Conservatives.

In a 2005 House of Commons debate on same-sex marriage, Pallister called the idea a social experiment that would abolish the societal norm of children being loved by a mother and father. He also said it was good that gays and lesbians were coming out of the closet  a term for going public  because Christians would need the closets.

During this years election campaign, then NDP leader Greg Selinger accused Pallister of being homophobic. Another New Democrat accused Pallister in 2014 of having an anti-women, anti-gay agenda, partly because the Conservatives had nominated a candidate who had been a director of a lobby group opposed to abortion and same-sex marriage.

Pallister has said his position on same-sex marriage evolved over the years. On Tuesday, he said while he is a fiscal conservative, he is not ideological on most matters.

The beauty of politics is over the years you get more in touch with what your values are because you have to deal with a myriad number of issues, he said.

Ideologies dont really work for me. I tend to be an outcomes person.

The New Democrats introduced a petition in the legislature calling for at least one gender-neutral bathroom in all government buildings. Pallister said that idea would need more study, given the variety of buildings the government operates.
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This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Finance ministers in Canadas two most populous provinces are sending mixed signals about whether they expect to hammer out a deal with the federal government next week on how best to enhance the Canada Pension Plan.

Quebec Finance Minister Carlos Leitao said Wednesday that he expects Mondays meeting in Vancouver to boil down to one or two options, but that a final deal is unlikely since theyve already agreed to study those proposals until December.

However, Leitaos Ontario counterpart, Charles Sousa, is sounding much more optimistic  as well as a little conciliatory.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne talks to media at her first press conference after the announcement of a cabinet shuffle at Queen's Park in Toronto, on Monday June 13 , 2016. Wynne says she is willing to agree to an expansion of the Canada Pension Plan if the value of benefits almost equal the amount of her proposed provincial pension plan. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Eduardo Lima

Im hoping that we can actually have a deal by next week, Sousa said in an interview.

Im very encouraged and hopeful that we will have an agreement around the table about the degree of CPP enhancement, the timing of CPP and the ability to move forward with substantive benefit, as weve outlined here in our province.

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau has said he wants to see a deal to expand CPP completed by the end of the year, but talks are now in high gear in the hopes of a preliminary agreement much sooner.

The governing Liberals made CPP reform a marquee promise during last years election campaign, but since winning the October vote they have refused to provide specific details about their own vision for how it should happen.

Leitao said there is a willingness among provincial and territorial finance ministers to create a national program, but cited disagreement that he said still persists about how best to proceed.

He said the scenarios still on the table include one that would beef up the CPP program across the board and another that would target middle-income earners.

For example, Leitao said, contributions could be increased on income levels between $25,000 and $80,000 to strengthen retirement security for middle earners.

Quebec, however, has concerns that a broad-based increase to CPP contributions would have considerable impact on workers and employers because they would be called upon to fund the change through payroll taxes.

We think that there is no crisis regarding public pensions in Canada, Leitao said Wednesday in an interview.

But yes, we are willing to look at ways to improve the current system. But any such improvement  targeted to a certain income group should be relatively modest and put in place gradually.

Quebecs support for CPP enhancement is crucial for the federal government as it tries to get enough provinces to back a change to the system.

For the last six months, provincial and federal officials have reviewed and analyzed potential changes to the federal plan, to see what is palatable in terms of an increase in benefits, an increase in premiums and where to set the bar on the income cut-off for paying CPP premiums.

But reaching an agreement is not easy.

Making changes to CPP requires the consent of seven provinces representing at least two-thirds of the countrys population, a higher bar than the amending formula for the Constitution.

That math also makes Ontarios consent a necessity for any changes to occur  and ensures it, Quebec and B.C. are central to the talks reaching any sort of consensus. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and B.C. Premier Christy Clark were scheduled to meet Thursday in Burnaby.

I want us to be more prescriptive, Sousa said.

Im hopeful of that and Im working with Carlos as well to foster something more substantive by way of an agreement as to where we need to go. And the timing of that will be part of the agreement, frankly.

Earlier Wednesday, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said she is willing to agree to an expansion of the Canada Pension Plan if the value of benefits almost equals the amount of her proposed provincial pension plan.

Wynne said she wants to see CPP benefits increase to be about two-thirds of what has been promised under her governments proposed pension scheme, the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan.

She didnt put a firm dollar figure to her request, but signalled that Ontario wanted to see the maximum yearly CPP payouts almost double to about $21,000 from approximately $13,000.

Weve said if we can get to, sort of, two-thirds of the value of what we have  what weve worked up with the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan, thats one of the metrics that we would look at for a CPP enhancement, Wynne said in Windsor, Ont.

Thats the order of discussion that were having with the federal government.

Wynne has said her province is willing to go ahead with the ORPP in the absence of any agreement on CPP expansion.

Sousa also suggested Wednesday that Ontario might be willing to back away from its earlier focus on provincial workers who lack a sufficient workplace pension plan.

Ontario has put forward the ORPP and has put forward a targeted system with exemptions, but that doesnt mean that were not prepared to find compromise, he said.

If were able to achieve a portable plan, a universal plan, a plan thats cost-effective and covers many more people across the country  thats important. So, its important to Ontario to have the country at its best.
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This article was published 14/06/2016 (2325 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with President Barack Obama on Tuesday to offer condolences for the loss of life in the mass shooting in Orlando on the weekend.

The Prime Ministers Office said Trudeau reaffirmed Canadas solidarity with the people of Orlando, families and friends of the victims and the LGBTQ community.

He and Obama agreed on the importance of fighting hate and intolerance, and the need to promote and protect pluralism and diversity.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau embraces Ambassador of the United States to Canada Bruce Heyman at the United States embassy, in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 14, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Obama said he was grateful to the people of Canada for their support.

He also expressed condolences for the killing of Robert Hall by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group in the Philippines.

The two men said they will continue working together in the fight against terrorism.

On Tuesday evening, Trudeau paid a visit to the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa to pay his condolences for the victims of the Orlando shooting.

Once inside the ambassadors office, Trudeau sat at a glass-topped table and leafed slowly through a book of condolence with Sophie Gregoire Trudeau standing to his right and U.S. Ambassador Bruce Heyman seated to his left.

Being friends is about celebrating in the good times, but even more about being able to lean on each other during the toughest times. Des grands amis, toujours, Trudeau wrote in the book.
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This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A test drive became a dangerous police chase Tuesday when the driver refused to stop, even after police had blown two of the vehicles tires with a spike belt.

It began when an Infiniti G35 was stolen from a car dealership in Winnipeg on Tuesday, Winnipeg police Const. Jason Michalyshen said on Wednesday.

Its alleged that he attended to a car dealership on Nairn earlier that day, had contact with a salesperson there, Michalyshen said. While arrangements were being made to test drive a particular vehicle, my understanding, he had access to keys and away he went.

Police spotted the car, which was without license plates, around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday near Main Street and Stella Avenue. Officers tried to pull the vehicle over, but the driver sped away.

A few minutes later, police saw the car and tried to stop it near Main and Jefferson Avenue, but it continued speeding north along Main. Police in ground vehicles, along with the Air1 police helicopter, chased the car as it raced through red lights.

Police used a Stop Stick spike belt on Henderson Highway near the Perimeter but, instead of hitting the device, the car slowed and began heading toward the officers trying to deploy the tire deflation device. The driver barely missed them and started heading toward Lockport, about 20 kilometres north of the Perimeter.

When the driver got to Lockport, he turned around, heading back to Winnipeg with officers trailing behind. There, police successfully blew two of the G35s tires with a deflation device, but the driver kept going south on Henderson.

Police were finally able to stop him near Talbot Avenue and Watt Street around midnight. They arrested the driver immediately.

Michalyshen said the drivers actions threatened both the public and officers. Police are going to evaluate how they handle pursuit situations.

We sometimes have to make decisions to fully disengage, sometimes we will continue to pursue, like in this case for 30 to 35 minutes, Michalyshen said. With respect to this pursuit, we dont take this matter lightly in any way, shape or form. We are constantly evaluating whats being presented to us with respect to the manner of driving of the suspect and were certainly going to adjust, readjust our action to ensure that our members are safe and members of the public are safe.

Peter Jordan Giesbrecht, 21, faces criminal charges in connection to the theft and pursuit. Hes also been charged with failing to comply with a probation order. Michalyshen said Giesbrecht was previously involved in a vehicle theft in Alberta. He remains in custody.
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This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg police seized guns in two seperate incidents on Tuesday.

Just before 5 a.m., the police canine unit was patrolling the citys Centennial neighbourhood near Logan Avenue and Ellen Street when they stopped a man who appeared suspicious. When approached, the man ran through residential yards until police caught him on Laura Street. He was intoxicated and had a .22-calibre rifle and ammunition.

Police later said the gun was stolen in a residential break and enter in April, 2014.

Enrique George Courchene, 22, of Winnipeg faces numerous gun-related charges and remains in custody.

Later Tuesday, just after 5:30 p.m., police cadets encountered a 36-year-old man suffering a medical emergency in the 300 block of Portage Avenue. While helping him, they realized he had gun ammunition. Then, they found a handgun.

The man was taken to hospital and, after he was cleared, police charged him with gun-related offences. He remains in custody.
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This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dont expect to read a news story June 30 reporting that Education Minister Ian Wishart has fired the Winnipeg School Division board of trustees.

Theres no threat of firing the board  at least, not right now  but Wishart is demanding that the WSD board meet the former NDP governments deadline of cleaning up its tumultuous act.

We still expect WSD to submit, prior to end of June, a final report indicating the status of progress made on the recommendations contained in the Wiens Report. Once this has been provided, it will be reviewed by the department to determine whether next steps will be taken, Wishart said in an email.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Minister of Education and Training Ian Wishart

The WSD trustees issued their own email through a division official: The WSD board is aware of its obligation to submit a report by the end of June to the administration of Manitoba Education and is in the process of preparing that report.

Former NDP education minister James Allum had threatened to fire the WSD board by Dec. 31, 2015, which he later extended to a new deadline of June 30.

Wishart said the firing threat is not hanging over the heads of the nine trustees this month.

Not at this time. Next steps, if any, will be determined after the final report has been reviewed, Wishart said through his aide.

The WSD board has been in frequent turmoil internally in recent years, while there were growing complaints of business being conducted behind closed doors.

The NDP finally sent in respected educator Prof. John Wiens to investigate.

Wiens scathing report condemned the trustees as an out-of-control board plagued by secrecy and reckless dysfunction. He documented a climate of fear among WSD employees, harassment of staff and interference with staff, which eventually led to trustee Mike Babinsky  already censured four times in his career  being suspended for a month.

Wiens called on then-education minister Allum to fire the board unless trustees cleaned up their act.

The board has proclaimed a new era of openness and transparency, and has vowed to conduct as much business as possible in open session. It now livestreams board and committee meetings, and there has been less public bickering in recent months, although some committees are conducting considerable business behind closed doors.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
It's been over a year since a huge gas explosion destroyed three buildings in the East Village, killed two people, and injured dozens of others, and the lawsuits just keep on coming. Yesterday, 36 people who lost their homes in the explosion sued the city, Con Edison, the buildings' owner and facilities manager, and the sushi restaurant where the two victims of the explosion were killed, among others, alleging negligence, recklessness, and carelessness, and accusing them of "relying upon an illogical and antiquated system of enforcement, inspections, and unreliable self-certification."

The lead plaintiff on the case is actress Drea de Matteo, best known for her recurring role as Adriana La Cerva on The Sopranos, who lost her apartment at 123 Second Avenue following the blast. That building, along with 119 and 121 Second Avenue, was destroyed in the explosion, which also severely damaged 125 Second Avenue. Like de Matteo, all of the plaintiffs were residents of the buildings that were either destroyed or damaged so much they were rendered unlivable.

"For 22 years that was my home, my children's home," de Matteo told the Daily News. "We lost every memory, photograph, hard drive...We lost everything from my childhood through my adulthood. And my kids still don't understand they can never go back there."

In the aftermath of the explosion, many of the plaintiffs on this suit set up crowdfunding pages to help them recover from the loss of their homes and belongings. Many of them had been longtime tenants of rent-controlled or rent-stabilized apartments, like Diane McLean, who'd lived in her apartment at 119 Second Avenue for 36 years, and was suddenly left homeless, with her three young children. Her GoFundMe page raised over $100,000, and she was eventually able to relocate to Bushwick.

The 356-page lawsuit names as a defendant every person who was indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney earlier this year, and states that "each and every defendant had actual and constructive notice of a dangerous and defective condition at the premises which resulted in the incident." It's also accusing the city of "failing to observe significant and dangerous 'red flags' and malfeasance on the part of the owners, managers, and contractors, at the building."

As the DA alleged in that indictment, building owner Maria Hrynenko and her son Michael were so eager to rent their newly renovated apartments at 121 and 119 Second Avenue that they illegally installed four flexible rubber hoses running from the gas meter in 121's basement up to the apartments, rather than waiting on ConEd's approval of gas meters. ConEd discovered the unsafe setup in 2014 and shut it down, but according to the DA, the Hrynenkos set up yet another unsafe system, this time tapping gas lines at 119 Second Avenue.

In advance of a ConEd inspection scheduled for March 26, 2015, they allegedly shut off the gas line to avoid catching inspectors' attention, and opened gas valves in the basement of 121 in the hope of passing the inspection, prosecutors said. After the visit, Michael Hrynenko and Dilber Kukic, the general contractor, allegedly turned the illegal gas line back onbut they didn't re-close the valves they'd opened. About 25 minutes after they turned the gas back on, a worker at Sushi Park smelled gas and notified the building owner, but at that point it was too late: the explosion occurred minutes later, and claimed the lives of Nicholas Figueroa, 23, and Moises Locon, 26, who were inside the sushi restaurant at the time.

No one affiliated with Sushi Park was indicted by the DA, but this lawsuit alleges that the restaurant and its owner used "certain gas lines for the operation of its business," and was therefore aware of the sketchy gas line hookup before the explosion.

Scott Agulnick, one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs, said that "this was a tragic occurrence, and those responsible, by way of their actions or inactions, will be held accountable. Our mission is to obtain justice for our clients so that they can rebuild their lives and move forward, while always remembering those innocent lives that were forever lost that day."

Con Edison said that it will handle the suit in court, and a spokesperson said that the city's Law Department will review the complaint. The myriad other defendants in the case couldn't be reached for comment.
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This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Gang killings inside Canadas prisons will continue unless there are more guards, more cameras and listening devices, notes a Winnipeg judge who presided over an inquest earlier this year into a pair of deaths at Stony Mountain Institution.

In his report released Wednesday morning into the deaths of inmates Sheldon Anthony McKay and David Tavares, provincial court Judge Brent Stewart said little of consequence can be recommended to thwart the next gang killing because inmates who are committed to a gang lifestyle will operate within the prison according to gang rules, not societys rules.

Tavares, 40, of Thunder Bay, Ont., died in the institution on March 20, 2005. Staff at the prison found him unconscious in a washroom near the gym and he died soon after.

The cause was determined to be blunt force trauma. Four individuals were later charged in his death and three were convicted.

McKay, 30, was found dead in his cell on May 3, 2006. Guards testified at the inquest in April that the man looked like he was sleeping when they counted inmates the morning of his slaying.

The cause of death was later determined to be asphyxia due to neck and chest compression.

Four other inmates were later charged and convicted in McKays death.

Without substantial resources being invested in added manpower and technology (such as many more cameras and listening devices throughout the ranges which would infringe on Charter rights of inmates) little can be recommended to avert the next gang internal killing.

In his report, Stewart noted the men were killed by their own gang members, and no hint of the deadly plans made their way to the prisons security intelligence office.

There is no way in my opinion that such information can be garnered ahead of such an incident. Like the street, the acts of gangs and their leadership are unto themselves and no societal rules will prevent similar incidents, the judge stated.

Stewart said the only way to guarantee these incidents dont happen again is to hold every prisoner in solitary confinement with no interaction with each other.

The judge recommended inmates be ordered to stand during cell checks, instead of just a visual confirmation of inmates who might still be sleeping. Whatever inconvenience it causes the inmates, it is offset by the assurance that all inmates have made it through the night and are not in need of medical assistance, Steward said.

But, he noted such a change needs to be approved by senior management in Ottawa, and would not be implemented quickly, if at all.

He said proper maintenance of cell lighting must be enforced to ensure lights and windows are not obstructed nor covered over, for a clear view for correctional officers doing their mandatory daily checks.

In the case of the Tavares death, Stewart said inmates knew the camera coverages blind spots in 2005 when Tavares was killed in the gym. Since the Tavares death, new and more flexible cameras were installed and most areas of the gym have camera coverage. The judge recommended two permanent guards with proper communication devices be placed in a secure viewing station so that all aspects of the facility can be viewed and policed.

Finally, the judge called for the Fatality Inquiries Act to be amended so Manitobas chief medical examiner can use discretion in calling one instead of being required to call one.

Stewart said that, because an inquest can only be called once a case has wound its way through the courts, it comes far too late and basically accomplishes nothing.

If inquests are not immediate, the recommendations which flow from them are often stale dated and hold little sway in the making of meaningful changes to the operation of the institutions or personnel in question. In addition, the resources invested in an inquest are wasted 10 years after events such as these, he said.
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This article was published 14/06/2016 (2325 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The province has offered awareness training on sexual identity issues and other assistance to Hanover School Division, Education Minister Ian Wishart said Tuesday.

But its up to the Steinbach-based school division whether to accept, Wishart told the legislature.

We believe strongly that local school boards have a place in this process, and not all possibilities have been exhausted, Wishart said. We will be working together with them.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Minister of Education and Training Ian Wishart

Wishart has repeatedly rejected NDP demands that he intervene in Hanover over that school boards refusal to allow students and teachers to discuss issues of sexual identity in their classrooms. An openly gay Grade 12 student in the school division had brought the request to trustees.

This is about human rights, education critic Wab Kinew said again on Tuesday.

Kinew demanded Wishart make Hanover officials undergo LGBTTQ awareness training  this after a school division meeting in Steinbach last week in which Hanover trustees debated a students request to allow for LGBTTQ issues to be discussed in schools. Most trustees expressed their disagreement with the proposal, and one of them linked sex education to higher rates of cancer.

The province has made that training available, said Wishart, and the Manitoba School Boards Association has also offered resources to Hanover.

Hanover S.D. superintendent Randy Dueck could not be reached Tuesday.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hanover School Division trustees could decide as early as next Tuesday whether theyll accept Education Minister Ian Wisharts offer of help in addressing sexual identity issues in the classroom.

Hanover superintendent Randy Dueck said Wednesday that the deputy minister of education has told him a letter is indeed on the way from the minister.

I have not seen the letter yet, he said. It will be offering us support, in any way the Hanover school board sees fit.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Hanover School Division superintendent Randy Dueck.

Dueck said the deputy minister had made no specific reference to LGBTTQ* awareness training, and hes waiting to see what assistance the province is offering.

At this point, I would need direction from the board before responding to Wishart, Dueck said.

Dueck said that board meets next Tuesday in closed session. The next public meeting is June 29.

The board has rejected a request from a Grade 12 student with same-sex parents that students and teachers be allowed to discuss sexual identity issues in their classrooms.

Dueck said that Hanover has not mandated LGBTTQ* awareness training, but some staff members have taken it.

A good chunk of our guidance counsellors and principals has taken it. A range of our staff has had training with Southern Health  theyve brought in the Rainbow Resource Centre, he said.

Dueck said he is not aware if there has been any discussion of the division or any school within Hanover taking part as an institution in Steinbachs inaugural Pride parade on July 9.

We have no delegations listed at this time for the June 29 meeting, Dueck said.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 14/06/2016 (2325 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At the end of June, Winnipeg will welcome some members of one of the oldest and most persecuted religious minorities in the world.

Nine privately sponsored Yazidis are set to arrive June 29, said Nafiya Naso. Her uncle, Khudher Naso, and his family and her 19-year-old cousin, Salih Elias Naso, have been in Midyat refugee camp in southern Turkey since fleeing the Islamic State in Iraq in 2014.

It was an amazing feeling to finally hear some good news, said Naso, who arrived in Winnipeg as a Yazidi refugee more than a decade ago. She and her relatives here wanted to rescue their loved ones who were on the run from IS after the August 2014 massacre of Yazidis on Mt. Sinjar.

SUPPLIED The Naso family will arrive in Winnipeg this month: Saood (from left), Aida, Roz, Munifa, Ahmed, Khalid, Khudher and Abdullah. A ninth family member, Salih, will join them. They have been in a refugee camp in Turkey since fleeing Islamic State in 2014.

We felt so useless here, said Naso. There was nothing we could do. Nobody seemed to be interested. Last year, Naso was given hope by Winnipegs Jewish community and other faith groups that formed Operation Ezra (Ezra is Hebrew for help) to privately sponsor seven Yazidi families.

They want to come and live in peace. They want to go to school and learn the language, Naso said.

They want to work  something they werent able to do back home because they were running from IS.

They want to help others (left behind) in the camps, she said.

The spokesman for Operation Ezra said theyve stepped up to help because they dont want to turn their backs on the Yazidis. The world is ignoring another genocide just like they did with Rwanda, just like they did with Jewish people in the Second World War, Michel Aziza said.

Its estimated there are fewer than 700,000 Yazidis left, with IS targeting them for genocide, he said.

Earlier this month, 19 Yazidi women were burned alive in cages by the Islamic State in Mosul, Iraq, local activists reported. The Kurdish ARA News Agency reported the Yazidi women were publicly executed because they refused to have sex with IS fighters. Aziza said the Yazidis have endured atrocities over the centuries.

We want to bring as many as we can to Canada, Aziza said. Were only going to have seven Yazidi families  thats not going to save the Yazidi people. Were hoping the Canadian government will consider government sponsorship like they did with the Syrians.

Last winter, Canada welcomed 25,000 Syrian refugees  most of whom were government-assisted.

We felt so useless here. There was nothing we could do. Nobody seemed to be interested Winnipegger Nafiya Naso, of the August 2014 massacre of Yazidis

Its a unique opportunity to right history for the Yazidi people  for Canada to take a leadership role, Aziza said. Prime Minister (Justin) Trudeau has a unique opportunity to be a saviour, and the Yazidis need a champion. He can be their man.

The Yazidis arriving in Winnipeg will get a warm welcome thanks to volunteers and individual and corporate donors, he said. We have everything we need for seven homes, Aziza said.

We hope to welcome the other five families in near future, said Naso, who is planning a big welcome.

We definitely want people whove been involved to come and welcome them at the airport, Naso said. Were not going to bring them home quietly.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Union members jeered and shouted shame in a packed public gallery at the Manitoba legislature after the Progressive Conservatives introduced a bill that would require a secret ballot vote in all instances where a workplace is unionized.

Moments after Bill 7 was introduced, several dozen union members, most wearing Unifor T-shirts, shouted at government MLAs, breaking a rule forbidding any demonstration in the chamber.

This bill ends labour peace in Manitoba, one shouted as he stormed out of the visitors gallery.

NICK MARTIN / WINNIPeG FREE PRESS NDP MLAs Tom Lindsey and Nahanni Fontaine address union protesters on the steps of the legislature Wednesday.

Shame. Shame on the Conservative government, another said as he left.

Respect is a two-way street, still another yelled. Not given. Not given back.

The demonstration interrupted a statement by Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen as he introduced the amendment to the provinces Labour Relations Act.

The proposed legislation, promised by the PCs during the provincial election campaign, would end a practice of automatic certification if 65 per cent of the workforce signs union cards. Now a secret ballot will be held in all cases in which at least 40 per cent of employees in a unit indicate they wish to have a union represent them as their bargaining agent.

Speaker Myrna Driedger threatened to clear the galleries, and the protesters cleared out without further prompting. Their shouts could still be heard inside the chamber after they left. It was the first demonstration and disruption in the chamber for the fledgling Conservative government.

Security guards walked alongside the union protesters after they left, but did not take action.

This is the beginning of solidarity, New Democrat MLA Tom Lindsey, a former Steelworkers union organizer in Flin Flon, told the union members outside the building.

Meegwetch! Meegwetch! Meegwetch! New Democrat MLA Nahanni Fontaine told the crowd.

This bill is all about union-busting, Manitoba Federation of Labour president Kevin Rebeck told the protesters. Its labours fight together  labour is here to stay.

The proposed labour amendment was one of five bills introduced by the Conservatives on Wednesday, the last day, by party agreement, that legislation could be introduced before the summer recess.

Premier Brian Pallister, reacting to the protest afterwards, said he is not someone who is easily intimidated. He also suggested the demonstration served as justification for the proposed legislation.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen introduced the Labour Relations Amendment Act to force a secret ballot for union certification.

I think it provides evidence of the types of tactics that are used (in organizing workplaces)Sometimes tactics are used to influence the outcomes of votes that I dont think are acceptable in society.

Pallister said requiring secret ballot certification votes will give workers confidence, security and privacy in deciding whether to join a union.

The purpose of our legislation is to secure the right for Manitoba workers to have a secret ballot, something that many other Canadian workers have and have enjoyed, he told reporters.

Rebeck said in an interview that going to a secret ballot and a longer certification period gives employers an opportunity to intimidate employees and to interfere with the certification process. Now, he said, workers sign cards indicating they want to form a union, and the union takes those cards to the labour board.

Rebeck said a secret ballot and an extended time before conducting that ballot allows employers to threaten to fire workers or even to threaten to close the business if the union is certified.

Some of the protesters said they also showed up outside a Tory fundraiser Tuesday evening in anticipation of the bills introduction.

Whatever hes (Premier Brian Pallister) going to do, we want him to know well be there, said Frank Wright, Unifor national representative.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.calarry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

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This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Frankly, I wasnt sure what to say after the homophobic massacre in Orlando, Fla. The obvious is always banal, the angry is usually regrettable and then there is the gross danger of appearing to either diminish or exploit the suffering. So I merely tweeted, We are all LGBTQ today. Every church, every politician, every public figure say it loud. The response was moving and profound, at least from most people. But then there were the others, and by others I mean almost without exception my co-religionists who are Christian.

Nuance is vital here and there were and are, of course, many Christians who fully accept openly gay people and genuinely acknowledged the victims of the attack died because of where and who they were. But then there were the others; a handful spoke disgustingly of sodomites and one leading Catholic blogger wrote that, Satan eats his own and of Muslims and gays that, Both are curses upon the Earth. Many more, however, were less obvious in their disdain. They loudly announced they were praying for the dead and sent their sympathies to all concerned.

Really? I mean, really? The conservative Christian approach  that of the Roman Catholic, evangelical, eastern Orthodox and even some mainline Protestant churches  is that we are to hate the sin but love the sinner and that homosexuality is most certainly a sin. The Roman Catholic Catechism calls for respect for gay people but describes homosexuality as intrinsically disordered and a grave depravity and in spite of a sparkling media campaign and one or two gestures, Pope Francis has never wavered from, and even emphasized this.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS People comfort each other at a vigil for Orlando shooting victims at the Manitoba legislature Monday evening.

More than this, the Vatican recently refused the credentials of the French ambassador, a gay man, and has made it virtually impossible for those with a same-sex attraction, even when totally committed to celibacy, to enter seminaries. While there are numerous gay Roman Catholic priests, some of them in relationships, they live in constant fear of being outed from the clerical closet.

Evangelicals have a similar position, and many of their leaders emphasized after the Orlando slaughter that one may condemn a persons actions but still care for that person. Its an incredibly facile approach. What might work with criminals or addicts is one thing because a crime or an addiction is never admirable; but love for another person is something entirely different and to compare it to theft, murder or a crack habit is as repugnant as it is archaic.

Someones sexuality is an integral part of them and its a colossal misunderstanding of human nature, and of humanity itself, to think otherwise. Nobody is gay just on weekends or gay just when they are in a romance. My heterosexuality, for example, forms me all of the time and in every situation and the same applies to any LGBTQ person. To assume otherwise is childish or dishonest.

So conservative Christians simply cant have it both ways, cant separate someone from their conscience, genetics, being or sexuality. If you care for someone, pray indeed for them but pray for them as good, moral, kind, gay people and not  God forgive us  as sinners.

Obviously, we cannot and must not forget the killer was Muslim, even though countless Islamic groups have condemned the attack and seem viscerally outraged. That doesnt preclude an entire conversation concerning Islams teachings about homosexuality and, for that matter, the place of various minorities. To pretend the attack has no connection to Islam is as absurd as claiming it has nothing to do with gays.

But North America is not Muslim, it is overwhelmingly Christian and power is still in the hands of those who claim to follow Jesus, especially in the United States. There were dozens of American and even a few Canadian Christian politicians who have routinely opposed gay equality and even made horrendous statements about the LGBTQ community suddenly offering their support. It was not only difficult to believe them but it stank of sheer opportunism and desperation.

A final comment. For some time now Christian activists in North America have shouted hysterically about the dangers of trans people in bathrooms. Orlando proved bitterly and obscenely that the only people who have to hide in fear, and sometimes die, in bathrooms are innocent gay men and women. God must be weeping.

Michael Corens latest book is Epiphany: A Christians Change of Heart and Mind over Same-Sex Marriage.

mcoren@sympatico.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Drinking-water distribution systems on First Nations may be endangering the health of residents even in communities with a proper treatment plant. That was our conclusion after finding bacteria resistant to antibiotics in household drinking water from a Manitoba community with a perfectly good water-treatment plant.

Water is one of the most important factors contributing to the spread of infectious diseases. It is well-known communities that do not have access to clean drinking water tend to be more prone to various infectious diseases, including stomach and skin infections. It is also well-known rates of infectious diseases among Canadians living on reserves are much higher than those living off them.

Poor water quality is certainly one of the factors behind this.

With more than 100 reserves under a drinking-water advisory, one wonders how and why some Canadians dont have the basic human right of access to safe and clean water. Many of these advisories are due to bacteria in the water, with fecal contamination the most common cause.

For water to be safe for drinking, it should have zero coliforms  bacteria commonly found in the human gut. However, in our recently published study, we found that water samples from a reserve in Manitoba contained coliforms, including E. coli. This communitys water-treatment plant is producing water free from bacteria, but once the water got into the distribution system, we started detecting coliforms.

Results were similar for samples collected from tap water, cisterns or community fountains, albeit the number of bacteria found in tap water was considerably lower than in cisterns or buckets. This suggests a problem with the distribution system.

We went a step further and tested the water samples for the presence of antibiotic-resistant genes. Antibiotic resistance of bacteria is one of the most pressing problems confronting health care. This is a phenomenon by which bacteria resist the action of antibiotics, which makes the treatment of infections challenging.

We were able to detect a number of antibiotic-resistant genes in the reserves water samples, including some that impart resistance to carbapenem antibiotics. Carbapenems are generally used as antibiotics of last resort to treat infections caused by resistant bacteria.

Based on the methodology we used, it can be assumed that at least some of the bacteria present in the water samples we tested have resistant genes, and therefore they are likely to be resistant to antibiotics. This is an alarming finding, which suggests rates of antibiotic-resistant infections are likely to be high in this community. Considering that many other First Nations reserves are struggling with bacteria in their drinking water, it is worth investigating the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in more communities.

As alarming as the presence of resistance genes in water samples is, the solution to the problem is ensuring that water consumed by community members is free of coliforms. There has been a lot of discussion recently on the need to ensure that reserves have access to water-treatment plants, but our study shows proper design and maintenance of the distribution system is equally important.

In the meantime, people living outside cities who are concerned about their drinking water should find out the last time the water in their home was tested and ask for the results. If there are any coliform bacteria in the water, families need to boil it or drink bottled water instead. Almost all water from lakes and streams  even deep in the wilderness  contains germs that make it unsafe to drink without proper treatment.

Microbiologist Ayush Kumar and soil scientist Annemieke Farenhorst are University of Manitoba professors involved with the H2O program for water and sanitation security in First Nations.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/06/2016 (2325 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was the very definition of an inauspicious beginning.

Last November, a group of prominent businessmen led by Mark and Steve Chipman announced plans to open an independent Jesuit school in the inner city. The plan would see as many as 60 children from surrounding neighbourhoods attend Grades 6 to 8 at the new school, with agreements to move those students to St. Pauls High School and St. Marys Academy to attend secondary school. No tuition would be charged to the families of the students.

It appeared for all intents and purposes to be a wonderful and generous commitment from some of the citys most powerful and successful business people to help improve the lives of the less fortunate. Or so it seemed.

PHIL HOSSACK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS From left, Mark Chipman, Tom Lussier (front) and Larry Morrissette pose inside the new gym being renovated as part of the new Gonzaga independent school in Point Douglas. They are working together to ensure the new school positively enhances aboriginal culture.

Two months later, the Gonzaga Middle School was embroiled in a bitter and dangerous public relations battle with aboriginal activists. They accused Gonzaga of representing the second coming of the residential school system. Those activists saw the involvement of a church, and the relationship with two established private schools, as the most recent attempt by non-aboriginals to suppress indigenous culture and identity.

School representatives called the allegations odious.

This was a skirmish that had the potential to derail a promising initiative while galvanizing skepticism and fear in the aboriginal community. So, it was not surprising that following the initial news reports about the dispute, hardly a word had been spoken publicly about the school.

That is, until this week.

School officials are now standing arm in arm with the activists who assailed the project to launch a public art project that  rather than perpetuating the mistakes of the past  will ensure Gonzaga school stands as a memorial to the ravages of the residential school experience.

Gonzaga principal Tom Lussier said the school is inviting children within its catchment area (Portage Avenue to the south; Arlington Street to the west, Redwood Avenue to the north and to the east, the Red River) to submit artwork that explores the history of the residential school experience and the spirit of reconciliation.

Submissions can be delivered to the recently renovated school Aug. 20, where a special feast will be held.

Artists selected to be included in the mural will receive a $25 honorarium. The artwork will be digitally reproduced and assembled into a giant mural that will cover an outside wall of the school, located on Maple Street east of Main Street.

We have made a commitment to reconciliation, and this mural will demonstrate that, Lussier said.

The mural is, however, just the most visible sign of an intensive process of community consultation that began before controversy erupted, and continued well after.

Lussier said school officials had made major inroads to the indigenous community and other communities represented in the inner city and North End, to ensure no one would fear the presence of an institution that has ties to the Catholic Church.

When concerns were raised, efforts were redoubled, Lussier said.

Mark Chipman, (University of Manitoba Prof.) Niigaan Sinclair, and (NDP MLA) Kevin Chief took it upon themselves to follow up with community members that we hadnt got to before the original announcement.

They wanted everyone to know that we are so totally different than the residential school environment. We always knew there was going to be some response from the people who were residential school survivors but we were concerned about the magnitude of that response.

Larry Morrissette, a teacher and community activist, was among the most outspoken. Initially, he and other aboriginal activists argued it was an insult to the survivors of the residential school system for a church-based private school to try to inject itself into inner-city and North End communities.

One activist told the Catholic Register it was like giving the middle finger to all aboriginal people.

In an interview, Morrissette said his view of the school, and the people behind it, have changed dramatically.

Weve come a long way, Morrissette said. Getting a chance to listen to their side of the story, there is a lot of sincerity there. What can I say? I was really pleasantly surprised. We were expecting a lot of resistance because thats what we usually get, but they really wanted to work with us.

Morrissette said he is convinced the school will make no attempt to suppress indigenous culture and may, in fact, become a positive force for the enhancement of efforts to teach aboriginal youth more about their language, culture and spiritual traditions. Our concerns have been addressed.

Gonzaga, expected to open for its first school year this fall, will occupy buildings that were formerly part of the St. Andrews Ukrainian Catholic Church. The buildings were erected in the late 1960s to be used as a school that never came to fruition. Since then, it was used as a community hall and youth drop-in centre.

Gonzaga has invested $1 million to bring the buildings up to code, Lussier said.

Renovations are almost finished.

For its first full school year, Gonzaga will only accept 20 students, but that number will increase to 60 in subsequent school years, Lussier said.

The students accepted into the program will not have to pay any tuition or other school fees. Their enrolment includes participation in after-school and summer programs, he added.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
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On May 21, nearly 200 guests gathered at the Union League Club in Chicago to celebrate and advance the sciences at Saint Marys University of Minnesota. Attendees of the Celebration of Excellence fundraising event were given the opportunity to revisit the universitys longstanding legacy of excellence in the sciences, hear Saint Marys vision for the future, and talk with current faculty and students and view their research.

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Presidential Awards of Outstanding Merit to two alumni, including Anthony Tony Piscitiello, AFSC 69, M82.

Piscitiello has held many valuable roles at Saint Marys University including admissions counselor, admissions director, senior development director, vice president for admissions, and executive vice president. He has served on numerous committees and task forces and has been, for generations of Saint Marys graduates, the welcoming face of the university.

In addition, Piscitiello has served on the boards of directors of Cotter High School, Saint Marys Elementary Catholic School, and the Winona Area Catholic Schools Foundations, and on the board of advisers of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary.

In recognition of his lifelong support of the mission of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Piscitiello was named an affiliate member of the international teaching order (AFSC). He also has received the Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award at Saint Marys.

He served as president of a regional admissions and guidance counseling organization; co-founded the consortium Mid-American Catholic Colleges; and created the Program for Advanced College Credit (PACC) that serves dozens of Catholic high schools in Chicago, as well as schools in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
County regulations for dog-breeding facilities are back under review, following the Winona County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday.

Commissioners voted to direct planning department staff to examine, with the potential for later revision, county ordinances regarding dog kennels and dog breeding. The discussion comes in the wake of a controversy when the board in January approved applications for six Amish-owned dog kennels.

Commissioners Greg Olson and Marie Kovecsi opposed the move; both have advocated for a more stringent moratorium on any further applications for dog breeding operations while the issue was studied.

Commissioner Steve Jacobs motion gave staff the goal of creating a yet-undefined higher standard for regulating breeding facilities.

We have the opportunity to have the best facilities and dogs treated the best of anywhere, Jacob said. I do support the best interest of the animals, and I think the best interest is for us to be involved.

Jacob did not support the idea of the moratorium or of a ban on dog breeding operations in the future.

The board granted six conditional-use permits to applicants in January for dog breeding and kennel operations, with the permit applications only becoming necessary at the county level after changes in Minnesota law required the permit before commercial dog kennel operators could be licensed by the state. Several others had been granted in 2015.

Olson, who had supported bringing the discussion of a dog kennels back to the board, was questioned by Ward on why prior to the six applicants this year, he hadnt expressed public concern about dog breeding operations in the county.

Olson said he has done research on animal breeding issues and worked with the Winona Area Humane Society since the debate over the facilities arose, which has made him more attuned to the issue.

My votes before ... were ignorant in nature, Olson said. I dont think its right, what has transpired. Its not in the welfare of the animals.

Ward said shes concerned that the board is attempting to wielding zoning ordinances lately to prevent things, rather than a way to facilitate industry while regulating it for the good of the county.

We are becoming known as the county of no, Ward said. This board has become the no board. We dont want this, we dont want that.

Further study by county staff could include topics such as clarification of the definition of animal units in regards to dogs, a set number of dogs for different-sized kennels instead of a subjective number set by the board, and additional county requirements for receiving a permit for a dog-breeding operation.

We are becoming known as the county of no. This board has become the no board. We dont want this, we dont want that. Commissioner Marcia Ward
America was struck again by tragedy this past Sunday. The specifics are well-known at this point. Terrorist. Gay club. Lives lost. It's too painfully obvious that everything that divided us as a nation tragically collided in Florida.

It was the first time I noticeably wept from a terrorist attack. Oklahoma City I was too young, 9/11 I was angry, Sandy Hook I was shocked, Paris I was scared. I am not sure what made this situation different. I am a straight male who does not have any close LGBT friends and is relatively safe from terrorism in the heart of the Midwest. I was as detached as one could be, but this rocked me to my core.

As the dust began to settle, I began to make sense of it all. While cellphones still rang without answer in the nightclub, far, far too many of our supposed leaders jumped over the grieving process and straight to their political talking points. Understandably, President Barack Obama looked dejected from giving the same speech over a dozen times, but what did Republicans do?

Republicans did one of the most reprehensible acts I have ever seen: They continued business as usual.

They attacked the president, renewed their calls for war, and completely overlooked the fact that they never politically supported the LGBT community. They were quick to dish out talking points, but they never stopped to understand what they had just said. Their words felt as if the terrorist had done them a favor.

I do not fear ISIS. I do not tolerate their heinous acts. But I cannot tolerate politicians who are quick to hold up a terrorist and proclaim this is what we are fighting against, but wouldnt be caught uttering this is what we are fighting for for these victims.

What I discovered was bigotry and hate are more powerful than any one religion. The terrorist held those beliefs, and these same beliefs inch closer and closer to the core of the GOP. I wept because I tolerated the GOP far too long.
On June 12, at 2 a.m. in Orlando, Florida, the JV Team struck on American soil. Within hours of the deaths of 49 people inside a gay nightclub, ISIS took credit for the attack that left another 53 people wounded. Our president blamed the gun.

Immediately President Barack Obama took to the national airways and called this an act of terror and an act of hate. He continued, So this is a sobering reminder that attacks on any American  regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation  is an attack on all of us and on the fundamental values of equality and dignity that define us as a country. And no act of hate or terror will ever change who we are or the values that make us Americans. He was right on message up until this point.

Obama continued by using this tragic moment to remind us all how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school, or in a house of worship, or a movie theater, or in a nightclub. Once again, this president has failed to keep America safe and wants to put the blame on the Second Amendment.

I would like to take this moment to remind the president that this is only the JV team he so famously diminished while distancing himself from the failed policies he, and then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, developed when it comes to national security. The JV team, ISIS, just scored against the Varsity team we call America.

The shooter was on the governments radar. He had close ties to a radical gang-leader who was known to assist his followers on how to obtain terrorism training. According to a report on www.FOXNews.com, a wiretap caught the gang-leader advising one follower to file fraudulent tax returns so he could obtain the money necessary to pay for travel to Mauritania to attend a terrorist training camp.

In the same article, the Washington Post was credited for reporting, The gunman was at the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce with Imam Shafiq Rahman two days before the nightclub attack, according to The Washington Post. That mosque was frequented by American-born suicide bomber Monar abu Salha, who blew himself up in Syria in 2014, and the two knew each other, according to officials.

So here are the questions 102 victims and their families should be asking: During the federal background check to buy multiple guns this guy didnt ping in your system? No one thought to follow up on this guy before approving the sale? What is the point of a federal background check?

The system is rigged to keep the good guys in check while the bad guys work in the shadows. Despite this demand for continuing federal background checks, our government didnt bother to think a guy they had interviewed twice for having ties to known terrorists was someone this system should have caught?

When buying guns, millions of folks like you and I submit ourselves to federal background checks with the reasonable assumption the process will keep legal guns out of the hands of criminals. Weve even come to accept the fact that, on occasion, some people fall through the cracks. But terrorist affiliates? It seems this should have been a red flag.

In many ways, ISIS is a JV team. If the White House cannot provide the tools to protect Americans from these guys on American soil, what confidence should we have that they are capable of dealing with the threats of the big players like Iran, Syria, or even North Korea?

Our law enforcement officials most certainly dont mean for these things to happen, but the president has failed to give them the tools necessary to do the job right. He has failed to create an environment where it is even safe for cops to work.

We need to get serious in this war on terror by recognizing certain behaviors are suspect and certain suspects are potentially dangerous. Our technology systems should at least be proficient enough to put an ATF agent on a suspected terrorists front door steps before approving the sale of a gun to ask a few follow-up questions.

If the president wants to be serious, he needs to recognize our systems are yesterdays tools doing tomorrows work. We need technology that keeps up with evolving threats like this guy in Orlando. The gun is not the issue.
JUNEAU  A 48-year-old Randolph man charged with the possession of child pornography pleaded not guilty to all counts on Wednesday.

Sean E. Robillard is charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography. He faces up to 250 years in prison and $1 million in fines if convicted of all charges.

Robillard pleaded not guilty to the charges before Judge Brian Pfitzinger. Robillard was previously being held on a $10,000 cash bond, which he posted on May 13. Defense attorney Andrew Martinez requested that the bond be reduced. Despite objections by prosecuting attorney Yolanda Tienstra, Pfitzinger reduced the bond by $2,000, setting it at $8,000 cash.

The conditions of bond remain unchanged and Robillard is not allowed to leave the state of Wisconsin.

According to the criminal complaint, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, in conjunction with the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, conducted a search warrant at a residence in Randolph May 3.

Officers interviewed a man who identified Robillard as his stepfather. The man told officers that Robillard possessed a laptop computer that he took to work with him daily. Officers also learned that Robillard had left for work that morning. Robillard was employed as a technical engineer for the Wisconsin Circuit Court Automation Program at the time of his arrest.

Officers conducted a traffic stop on Robillards vehicle in the city of Eau Claire. Two laptop computers and two USB drives with approximately six terabytes of storage capacity were confiscated as a part of the search warrant. During the search Robillard told officers that they would find child pornography on the devices.

Officers located multiple files containing child pornography with prepubescent victims including photos and videos. Officers believe that at least one of the children depicted in the files is under the age of 13.

Robillard will appear in court on Aug. 30 at 8:15 a.m. for a telephone scheduling conference.
I want to take a moment to recognize Marine Corps League Detachment 359 out of Beaver Dam, and the impact they are having in the community.

These Marines are devoted to assisting and serving other fellow veterans, especially in a time when the need is so great. One of the ways they do this is by raising funds and awareness to support programs benefiting local veterans. That includes programs such as Badger Honor Flight, Semper Fi for wounded warriors, Wisconsin homeless veterans, and veterans assisted living home.

Last year alone they raised more than $40,000 for these programs. The league raises money by holding brat fries and through the Rose program, where members hand out silk roses at the entrance of supermarkets and convenience stores for donations.

They have collected clothing and personal hygiene products for homeless veterans who are trying to get back on their feet and recently delivered supplies to the Veterans Nursing Home in King, Wis.

Thank you to all the people who give so generously to support the men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line protecting our country and freedoms. Every little bit helps as it all adds up.

Thank you to the men and women of Marine Corps League Detachment 359 for your past service to our country and for your continued efforts to support our veterans.

Brenda Simonis Monona
After 92 years, former Mauston resident Oscar A. Peck is no longer lost to time.

After Pecks death on Christmas Day in 1923, he was buried alongside fellow family members in block 7 of the Mauston Cemetery. But, Peck never received a gravestone until this spring. Thanks to the diligent work of great-grandson Darrell Peck and the City of Mauston, a stone was placed at Pecks gravesite May 18.

On Friday, Darrell Peck, along with a few family members, held a memorial and officially unveiled Oscar Pecks gravestone at the Mauston Cemetery. Darrell Peck became intrigued with his great-grandfathers burial several years ago after exploring the Peck family genealogy.

I learned the (Juneau County) Veterans Office in Mauston kept 3x5 cards with the location of veterans graves so flags could be placed there on special days to honor them, Peck said.

The small cards provided a tip for Peck and he began investigating to see where his ancestor was buried. Peck and Ellis family members are buried around Oscars grave, but his was never marked. Through the years, as family members died off, relatives forgot where Peck was buried.

Peck, who died at age 77, was born in western New York in 1846. According to Darrell Peck, his great-grandfather came from a long line of wealthy Englishmen who settled the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638. His father, Hezekiah Peck Jr., started traveling to Wisconsin to log in the winters and eventually moved to what is now the Town of Kildare in 1850.

Pecks father died in a tragic accident, leaving his mother to care for four children and one on the way. In the 1860s, Pecks mother moved to Mauston, buying a house on West Avenue. Based on Darrell Pecks research, Oscar worked several occupations during his time in Juneau County.

According to the 1870 census, two years before he was married, he was a laborer, probably in logging, Peck said.

After marrying his wife, Etta, the couple had four children and settled in the Town of Fountain, where Peck worked as a tenant farmer. Eventually, Peck secured a job as a custodian at the Juneau County Courthouse and moved his family back to Mauston. The couple resided on Maine Street. Etta succumbed to tuberculosis around 1896. Ten years later Oscar moved in with his son in the Town of Armenia, north of Necedah.

After living briefly with his oldest son, Fred, in Waukesha County, Peck returned to Mauston and lived with a sister until his death in 1923. His obituary was listed in the Mauston Star. While Darrell Peck found his ancestors veterans card, theres speculation whether Oscar served in the military.

Oscar turned 18 a few months before the Civil War ended, but I have never been able to verify that he served in the military, Peck said.

Peck believes his great-grandfather would have received a hefty stipend for serving in the war, thus it was likely he enlisted before it officially ended in April, 1865.

Darrell Peck also has a distinguished military background. He is a retired colonel from the U.S. Army and a Vietnam War veteran. He lives with his wife, Jane, in Massanutten, Virginia. Peck is currently writing a book, tracing his family history back 500 years.

Its rather strange because my father never once mentioned any of his relatives, but mother told me he could trace his family back to when they came over on the Mayflower, Peck said. It was really my mother who got me interested in this.

While it took nine decades for Peck to properly be honored, his bloodline remains strong. Darrell Peck believes his great-grandfather has about 500 descendants. Five generations of Pecks have lived in Juneau County for the past 145 years. Relative Lutrelle (Peck) Manna, who attended Fridays dedication, lives in Lyndon Station. Other attendees included Lois (Peck) Green, and her husband, Casper Green, who live in Milwaukee.
Gov. Scott Walker on Wednesday attributed his low job approval rating to the medias focus on negative news.

The latest Marquette Law School Poll found those who viewed his job performance favorably dipped below 40 percent again after it had climbed above that threshold in March.

Respondents also viewed the states direction and budget situation more negatively than positively, though the trend is moving in a positive direction.

Asked about why that might be during a phone call with reporters from Mexico where he is leading a trade mission, Walker blamed the media.

The headlines are always about negative and bad things so its no wonder that people feel that way in the polls, Walker said.

The latest poll found 39 percent approve of Walkers job performance, returning that rating to where it was for most of the past year during his short-lived run for president before it bumped up to 43 percent in March.

Half of respondents said the state was headed in the wrong direction while 46 percent said it was headed in the right direction, a slight improvement from February when 52 percent said it was headed in the wrong direction.

About 37 percent said the state budget is in worse shape than a few years ago, compared with 31 percent who said its in better shape and 25 percent who said its about the same. Thats almost identical to the average of polls over the past year.

Walker has been traveling around the state extensively since dropping out of the presidential race in September, conducting dozens of private, invite-only meetings with local elected officials and members of the public.

Generally we hear good things (about the direction of the state) at the listening sessions, Walker said.

The media have not been allowed to attend the private meetings.

Poll director Charles Franklin said more polling data over the next several months will better indicate whether the March approval bump for Walker was an anomaly.
A 29-year-old man has been arrested in the Caribbean in connection with the 2006 cold case murder of Chanel Petro Nixon. Veron Primus, a former Brooklyn resident who had long been a suspect in the case and knew Nixon through her school and church, has been indicted by a grand jury following two interviews conducted by NYPD detectives in St. Vincent earlier this spring.

Nixon had left her Bed-Stuy home and was on her way to a job interview when she disappeared in June 2006. Four days later, her strangled body was found in a garbage bag on Kingston Avenue. Pix 11 reports Nixon told her mother and friend that she also had plans to meet Primus, who then lived in Crown Heights, while she was out. At the time, Primus told authorities that Nixon never showed up for their meeting.

In 2015 Primus was deported to the Caribbean after serving prison time for violating an Order of Protection from an-ex girlfriend. He has been in St. Vincent police custody since April 21st on suspicion of murder and kidnapping. At that time, Primus was labeled as a person of interest in Nixon's murder.

Sources on St. Vincent told Pix 11 that Primus talked openly about Nixon's murder case, and new forensic evidence along with inconsistencies in conversations with detectives led to the NYPD arrest and indictment.

NYPD chief Robert K. Boyce and Brooklyn DA Ken Thompson are expected to announce Primus's arrest and charges at a noon press conference today.


About half a dozen Wisconsin prison inmates have begun refusing food as part of a protest against long-term isolation known as administrative confinement, backers of the protest said Monday.

At least one inmate participating in the hunger strike, LaRon McKinley Bey, has sued the state Department of Corrections, alleging that his more than 25 years in administrative confinement  with a least 23 hours a day spent in a cell alone  constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. About 115 Wisconsin prisoners are being held in this form of indefinite solitary confinement, according to the DOC.

Five prisoners at Waupun Correctional Institution, including McKinley Bey, are participating in the food refusal campaign, according to inmate advocate Peg Swan. Also participating in the Dying to Live campaign is Norman C. Green, who calls himself Prince Aturn-Ra Uhuru Mutawakkil and recently was transferred from Waupun to Columbia Correctional Institution, Swan said. Although organizers had said the hunger strike was set to begin Friday, some of the inmates began as early as June 5, she said.

Swan provided a letter she got Monday from McKinley Bey in which the prisoner alleges Waupun officials have transferred several inmates listed in his lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee from administrative confinement to the general population or a step-down unit designed to ease transition back to the general population. In the letter, dated Thursday, McKinley Bey said he was doing alright, and urged Swan to keep the pressure on.

Department of Corrections spokesman Tristan Cook confirmed Monday that several prisoners had begun turning away food, but he declined to offer specifics. Cook also did not address statements from McKinley Bey and other backers of the hunger strike that the agency had moved some inmates from solitary confinement to defuse the protest.

Hunger strikers are asking that Wisconsin eliminate administrative confinement, a status in which prisoners can be held indefinitely in solitary confinement conditions for prison safety reasons; that anyone held in solitary for more than a year be released into the general prison population; and that mental health services for prisoners in solitary  also known as restrictive housing  be improved.

The prisoners also are asking for independent oversight of Wisconsins use of solitary confinement, a call previously made by the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin.

Cook said Wisconsin already has begun reducing the use of solitary confinement by cutting the maximum term for disciplinary infractions from 360 days to 90 days. He said other steps the agency has taken include:

Developing step-down programs to help inmates return to the general prison population;

Reviewing the placement of any mentally ill inmate in restrictive housing and changing that placement if an alternative option is more appropriate; and

Creating a pilot diversion unit for inmates who would otherwise be placed in solitary where they can receive intensive programming.

If the hunger strike continues, the state DOC could seek court approval to force-feed prisoners who are likely to die or suffer severe bodily harm, said Larry Dupuis, legal director for the ACLU of Wisconsin. He said the group opposes force-feeding of any competent prisoners, which he said is consistent with international law.
A Madison mans nearly three-year legal battle over a number of charges including first-degree attempted homicide ended Tuesday in Columbia County Circuit Court.

Russell Troka, 34, was arrested early in the morning on July 22, 2013, when according to court documents, officers with the Columbia County Sheriffs Office arrived at Crystal Lake Campground in the town of West Point, where a woman said that Troka had tried to kill her.

She told officers she had woken up at 3 a.m. that day to Troka hitting her and choking her, before she got away and locked herself in a car and called 911 while Troka threatened her from outside the car.

Troka was charged with first-degree attempted homicide, strangulation and suffocation, substantial battery and disorderly conduct, all as domestic abuse, and a fifth count of misdemeanor bail jumping. Troka was jailed in lieu of a $10,000 cash bond with a potential 40-year prison sentence if convicted on all charges.

The case went to trial in June 2014. Over the first day, there was jury selection, opening arguments, and testimony by the alleged victim. On the second day, five law enforcement officers testified and two medical witnesses called by the state as well as two medical witnesses called by Trokas defense attorney, and the beginning of testimony by a third medical expert for Troka.

The third medical witness for Troka, Dr. Richard Tovar, had not examined the woman, but testified on the plausible causes of the womans injuries according to his own analysis of the medical records.

District Attorney Jane Kohlwey objected to the witness, given that her office had not been provided with any summary of the planned testimony and hence would be at a disadvantage in cross-examination.

After discussion, defense attorney Ruby Cole agreed to withdraw Tovars testimony, saying that it was a non-essential part of the defenses argument.

Kohlwey then requested a mistrial, arguing that proceeding without Tovar would give an appearance of prejudice against the defense and lend the trial to reversal in a later appeal, based on ineffective counsel.

Judge Daniel George granted a mistrial.

On Oct. 9, 2014, Troka was freed on bond and on Oct. 29, before a second trial could begin, filed an appeal, arguing that it would be tantamount to double jeopardy and therefore unconstitutional.

On April 22, a three-judge Appeals Court panel ruled that there was a lack of manifest necessity to call for a mistrial, dismissing four of the five counts against Troka.

Troka returned to Columbia County Circuit Court on Tuesday for a sentencing hearing on the misdemeanor bail jumping charge.

Kohlwey briefly reviewed the situation for Judge Todd Hepler, explaining an agreement in which Troka entered a plea of no contest based on records that he had acknowledged violation of a no-drink (alcohol) bond requirement.

Hepler sentenced Troka on Tuesday to nine months in jail, though having spent 434 days in jail, he was cleared with time served and sufficient bond received to cover court costs, with the rest of the bond to be returned to the party who posted it for his release.
A Rio couple are being held on cash bonds after an arrest Sunday night, following an incident in which a man was shot in the face with an air gun.

Erik Hedberg, 42, of Rio, is charged with first-degree reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct with use of a dangerous weapon, while Patricia Copus, 43, of Rio, is charged with strangulation, domestic abuse, and first-degree reckless endangerment as a party to the crime.

This defendant, according to the information provided, has no known ties to the state of Wisconsin, said District Attorney Jane Kohlwey, requesting a $5,000 cash bond, as Hedberg appeared by video from Columbia County Jail.

I have many ties to the state of Wisconsin, said Hedberg, before defense attorney Jennifer Cunha muted the microphone.

On Sunday around 10 p.m. Portage police were called to an incident at a home on Wauona Trail in Portage, where Copus was accused of grabbing a man by the throat and pulling him to the ground.

The man told police that he had been at a neighbors house and had heard Copus banging on the door and went to see what she wanted, at which point she asked for his help with a court case. He declined and she grabbed him by the throat and he shoved her and tried to get away.

Hedberg then got out of the vehicle where he had been sitting and the man said he heard Copus say, If you dont testify, I will shoot you.

The man said that he saw Hedberg come toward him with what looked like a .45 caliber pistol, and point it at his head and fire several times, with BBs hitting him twice in the head and once in the hand. The BBs were later removed at Divine Savior Healthcare, one taken from his lip and another from his jaw.

Immediately before the incident Hedberg was involved in an argument outside the Portage Pizza Hut in which he also brandished his gun and used it to smash the glass of a passenger side window in another mans vehicle, police say.

He has a huge amount of criminal history in other states including failure to appear with bench warrants issued for, battery, issuance of worthless checks, disturbing the peace, obstructing and resisting, self-mutilation by a prisoner, said Kohlwey at the hearing. He has harassment charges in the state of Montana, failures to appear in Dane County, Wisconsin, and Lafayette, Louisiana. This virtually goes on and on and on, with criminal entries against this defendant in several states. Im seeing Texas as well. So he seems to be a high-risk defendant by his transient nature and his previous history.

Skylar was beating his mother, thats why , Hedberg interjected.

Ms. Cunha maybe you could suggest to your client that you speak during this hearing and he is not going to help himself as far as this court hearing goes, said Judge Alan J. White.

I think what Mr. Hedberg is responding to is surprise at what the district attorney listed off, said Cunha. Hes not transient  well, hes not transient in the negative sense that the district attorney implied. He is a sales trainer. He does travel for his work, but he does have a house here; he does have family here.

All that the court can do is go on the information that has been given, said White. And as of this time the court is inclined to agree with what the district attorney said in that $5,000 is appropriate.

Hedberg is scheduled to appear in court next for a June 23 preliminary hearing.

When Copus appeared before the court, Kohlwey again emphasized it was an extremely serious matter.

The court has reviewed the complaint and she said she was on her way to Lake Geneva, Illinois, said White, and I dont believe there is a Lake Geneva, Illinois, maybe a Geneva, Illinois. There is a Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. So Im not sure where she was headed.

Copus and Hedberg were arrested when Portage police received a call from a Wisconsin State trooper, explaining that the two were found stuck in the median on Interstate 90, north of Stoughton. As he was about to perform a field sobriety test on Hedberg, the trooper reported seeing an air gun designed to look like a loaded .357 revolver.

Copus was ordered to be held on a $2,000 cash bond and to appear in court for an Aug. 31 hearing.
Portage Public Library found its leader.

The library board on Tuesday unanimously approved the hiring of Kansas resident Jessica Bergin as new director, a position shes expected to begin July 11. Bergin would come to Portage from the Delaware Township Library in Valley Falls, Kansas, where shes served as library director for two years.

The Daily Register could not reach Bergin to confirm her acceptance of the position before deadline.

Bergin will replace Lynn Harthorne, who has served as interim director since April after Shannon Schultz left for a public library administration consultant position with the state Department of Public Instruction. Harthorne will return to her role as adult services librarian, a position she was hired for in January.

The library board, which received eight applicants for library director, was impressed with Bergins collaborative style of leadership, board president Eleanor Voigt said.

She was asking a lot of good questions, wanting to know how the library worked in the community and in schools, Voigt said. The board also cited Bergins budgeting experience as a reason for her hire, as Voigt noted Bergins expertise working with a board to reach decisions.

Bergin also worked as adult services librarian at Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in Kansas and at the University of Kansas Library, Voigt said.

Shes very professional, very personable, and were excited about her coming to Portage, said City Administrator Shawn Murphy, who negotiated the terms of Bergins employment on behalf of the library board.

Harthorne gave Bergin a tour when she was in Portage for her interview and said shes excited to work with her and looks forward to picking her brain.

I was impressed with her ideas for our teen space, Harthorne used as an example. She talked about how we might change it, physically, to make it more conducive to programming.

Bergin tried to get a Friends group started in Valley Falls, a volunteer group that offers monetary assistance for programming, especially children, so Voigt noted Bergin will be very happy to work with Friends of the Portage Public Library, a group that started in 1988.

Bergin also possesses an excellent background in technology, Voigt said. Bergin recently started a tablets for children program in Valley Falls, where children can check out tablets pre-programmed with educational activities for each grade level. Thats something Portage is exploring, Voigt said, the details of which will be determined later.

The library board in Tuesdays meeting also discussed due compensation for Harthorne for her role as interim library director, deciding she will receive two weeks of vacation, reimbursement for a phone and a raise to be determined once budgeting has been fine-tuned, Voigt said.
The Rock N Rope Warrior is familiar to Reedsburg area students who compete each year for a chance to attend the statewide finals in Bloomer. Students and their families will have the opportunity to witness the jump roping prowess of the Rock N Rope Warrior at no charge at 6 p.m. June 20 in the librarys Community Room. Registration is not required.

The Rock N Rope Warrior, also known as David Fisher, had his start in rope jumping as a student at Emory University, using the exercise as training for AA volleyball. Rope jumping became his passion, and in 1993 Fisher began performing for school groups. His skills have led him to be featured by Ripleys Believe-It Or Not, and he is currently listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most rump jumps in one minute.

The Rock N Rope Warrior gives as many as 15 presentations a week to school and community groups. Fisher amazes his audiences with such stunts as power jumping, where the rope passes underneath his feet up to four times per jump, and rump jumping, or jumping while sitting. Fisher also demonstrates dribbling a ball with his feet while jumping rope, and jumps inside a human-sized balloon. All of this is accompanied by high energy contemporary music.

Fisher has originated the Ropenastics fitness routine, which, according to his website, is an exciting program that incorporates rope jumping, rhythmic gymnastics, dance, martial arts and aerobics into a fun, creative and beneficial cardiovascular activity. He has produced two Ropenastic videos, one of which is a workout regimen, and the other an introduction to rope tricks.

The Rock N Rope Warrior is an author of fiction titles as well, having written two science fiction books for children Adventures of the Rope Warrior: A Legend is Launched and The Adventures of a Rope Warrior: Survival of the Fit. These books, as well as the Ropenastics DVDs, and other rope jumping gear will be available for purchase after the show.

The program is sponsored by Lands End and is funded, in part, by a grant from the Sauk County University of Wisconsin-Extension, Arts & Culture Committee, the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, call 768-READ (7323) or visit www.reedsburglibrary.org.
From tragedy to triumph

A confluence of happenstance, luck, skill and science allowed vet to get embryos from a beloved show Guernsey after having to euthanize her.
Police are searching for a pair of brazen ATM robbers who strolled into a Queens convenience store and rolled the ATM away over the weekend.

According to the NYPD, it happened on Sunday, June 12th, at 1:38 p.m. at the Ozone Howard Smoke Shop at 137-20 Cross Bay Boulevard: "[T]he two suspects placed the store's ATM on a hand truck, wheeled it outside and loaded it onto their vehicle. When the store's 53 year-old male employee tried to intervene, one of the males displayed a handgun. The suspects fled in the vehicle, westbound on 149 Avenue." Now they just have to figure out how to open it.

The police released images of the suspectsone is a male, 25-35 years old, who was last seen wearing a black sweater, blue jeans, sunglasses, a black t-shirt and multi-colored sneakers; and the other is male, 25-35 years old, who was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, a white bandanna on his head, black gloves, sunglasses and dark colored pantsas well as an image of their car, an older model Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.


(Photo via mariaspix' flickr)

While it's not a done deal yet, the owners of the Waldorf-Astoria, the China-based Anbang Insurance Group, are looking to take 1,000 of their 1,420 hotel rooms and convert the square-footage into luxury condos. As of last year it is illegal for hotels with 150+ units to dedicate 20% of their property for residences, but according to Crain's "the legislation exempted recent transactions, including the Waldorf Astoria." The site also points out that during the purchase process in 2015, Anbang filed to subdivide "the building into different sections for condos, a hotel and retail... [setting] aside 1.2 million square feetapproximately 75% of the buildingfor residential use."

The NY Post notes that "the remainder of the space [would be turned] into a smaller five-star hotel," if plans move forward.

Should they move ahead, however, they would still need to get their plans past the state attorney general's office.

The Waldorf has always had some residential unitsMarilyn Monroe would stay there, Frank Sinatra kept a suite there, and Roz Cole lived there for nearly 50 years, whether they liked it or not. The hotel has a 181-room boutique hotel within it, called the Waldorf Towers, which is also where these rentable residential apartments are located. Transforming around 75% of the iconic hotel into luxury residences, however, would be a huge move.
Up in the wild blue yonder, Maine locals might say their home is best described as a way of life. It's a place where the ills of city-living fizzle like fog lifting on a hot day, and peace is found among the town's lobstermen trading sea-swept tales at the corner pub. Behold ripe blueberries and hearty lupines as they grow wild in the fields, and stay awhile in a place where a good lobster roll (on a toasted hotdog bun, please) is never far away.

In true Maine-centric fashion, consider the phrase Down East. It refers to the upper coastal region of Maine, but if you ask a true down-easter, it's more about where you're going as opposed to where you're standing. Local author, John Gould, once pegged it as "a never-never land always east of where you are," but the term is actually driven by maritime windsnot geography, per se. In warmer months, New England gusts blow from the southwest, so old-time ships sailed downwind to head eastcolloquially Down East. Thus, Mainers could say they were sailing up to Boston (though we all know Boston is south of the great Pine Tree State), but alaswhen in Maine!

If you're looking to get out of town, the locals at Poland Spring might point you toward Maine's Down East magnum opus, which sits just off the mainland on Mount Desert Island (or MDI for short), and was named by French explorer Samuel de Champlain as he regarded the island's bare and craggy peaks from his vista at sea. Acadia National Park is the nation's oldest National Park east of the Mississippi, and it celebrates its centennial birthday this yearit's a great time to jaunt north for an upstate adventure and toast to the park's enduring and timeless beauty.



Acadia National Park (istockphoto)

To say Acadia boasts something for everyone is the understatement of the centuryit's a place that visitors return to, time and time again, always discovering something new along Maine's rocky coast. The park is a hiker's dream, with over 120 miles of trails that draw intrepid adventures from across the globe. If you're up for a quick ascent and want to show off your skills while hopping between iron rungs and ladders, check out the Beehive Trail along the open cliffs above the park's popular Sand Beach. You've got less than a mile to scuttle up nearly vertical ascents, so watch your footing! Or for those looking for an all-day affair, test your limits on Cadillac Mountain, the park's tallest peak, and behold the panoramic island views as the choppy Atlantic curls around the evergreen-topped Porcupine Islands. (You can also drive up Cadillac, but come on, where's your sense of adventure?)

If you want to stay closer to the ground, try a casual walk or bike ride along the park's Carriage Roads, 57-miles worth of broken-stone pathways that wind through lush boreal and deciduous forests and loop beneath historic granite bridges, each with their own unique architectural flair. And of course, for the waterbirds out there, you can get your kayaking kicks on one of the park's several lakeskeep an eye out for the local blue herons!



Acadia National Park (istockphoto)

You're bound to get a little hungry on your adventuresso pack a picnic lunch or trot on over to the Jordan Pond House for a helping of their world-famous popovers. Pro tip: smear on the house-made strawberry jam and order extrayou won't be able to eat only one. Or, if you feel like straying from the pack in search of food, take a jaunt to MDI's quieter shorelines in Southwest Harbor and order up a few steamed lobsters from Beal's, all under the approving gaze of the local seagulls.

As Acadia's proud Maine neighbors, Poland Spring Brand 100% Natural Spring Water celebrates all of its home state's natural beauties and delivers the fresh taste that those in the Northeast have cherished since 1845. So while you're out there conquering the wilderness, make sure to stay hydrated. To learn more about their commitment to sustainably sourced water and their Maine heritage, visit the Poland Spring website today.



This post is a sponsored collaboration between Poland Spring and Gothamist staff.




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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
Last year's Finnish Junior Champion, Juuso Nordgren, has been named 'Future Rally Star of Finland 2016' after the latest talent spotting contest organised by AKK Sports, the promotional arm of Finlands motorsport federation.

The 19-year-old [above right] wins a fully-funded drive in July's Neste Rally Finland after a two-day assessment where his reconnaissance and pacenote-making skills, mental strength, physical fitness and communications skills were put to the test under the watchful eye of industry experts and a five-person jury.



It was a big relief when I heard that I had won, because I felt quite a big pressure on me! said Nordgren, who hails from Markku Alen's home town of Karkkila.



I have been rallying for only two years, so I did not have so much experience but I just tried to do my best all the time. Even if I had not won, it would still have been a fantastic experience as we learned so much and had to push ourselves very hard.



It will be Nordgrens debut in the WRC and he will be following previous Future Rally Star of Finland winners, including 2014 winner Teemu Suninen, and Jari Huttunen, who triumphed last year.



This is a really fantastic opportunity for me now and I want to make the most of it, added Nordgren, who will drive a Citroen DS3 R3T car and be eligible for the JWRC category.



In readiness for his WRC debut, Nordgren will get a one-day test in the Citroen and driver training from Jukka Korhonen and Matti Rantanen, both of whom have showed plenty of speed in Finland in the past.



Jani Backman, [above left] the Neste Rally Finland promoter who was involved in deciding both previous award winners, said: In the end, it wasnt such a difficult decision. Juuso impressed all the judges with his performance in each one of the tests.

"Of course, there was a very high level, which is always the case with this award. But I think we knew that Juuso was looking strong from quite an early point, so of course we have high hopes for him.

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Wrexham Flies The Flag For Armed Forces Day 2016

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jun 15th, 2016

The Armed Forces Flag was raised in Wrexham this week in preparation this weekends Armed Forces Day commemorations.

The flag was raised at Llwyn Isaf on Monday afternoon by senior councillor officials and civic representatives in preparation for Armed Forces Day, which will take place between 11am and 4pm on Saturday, June 18 at Bodelwyddan Castle, Bodelwyddan.

The flag-raising event marked the coming eighth annual Armed Forces Day, a UK-wide event which invites the nation to show their support for all Armed Forces, serving and retired both home and abroad.

Taking part in the event were Cllr David Griffiths, Armed Forces Champion for Wrexham Council; Cllr John Pritchard, the Mayor of Wrexham, and Wrexham Council Chief Executive Dr Helen Paterson.

Speaking about the commemorations, Cllr David Griffiths said: Im very pleased to mark the eighth annual Armed Forces Day. We have a strong and proud military tradition here in Wrexham  many of our young people from generation to generation have gone on to join the Armed Forces.

We are proud to join other towns and cities across the United Kingdom in paying our deepest and fondest respects to all Armed Forces personnel.

Cllr John Pritchard, Mayor of Wrexham, said: Its wonderful to be a part of so prestigious an event, and as Mayor of Wrexham I want to put forward the thanks and respect of all the people of Wrexham to Armed Forces servicemen and women at home and abroad.

Dr Helen Paterson, Chief Executive of Wrexham Council, added: Honouring our servicemen and women is something we do every year in Wrexham, and we are confident that many of the people of Wrexham will attend the event on Saturday to show their support.
Wrexham Sheep Are Baaaack and Grazing on Pastures New

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jun 15th, 2016

Theres been some sheepish activity across Wrexham recently, with some rambunctious characters rearing their faces around Wrexham.

Those visiting the town centre, the train station and some of Wrexhams most popular tourist attractions, may have noticed some familiar, sheepish looking faces.

Wrexhams shepherd has been hard at work over the past few days and weeks installing the infamous Wrexham Sheep at their new locations across the town centre and county borough.

Yes, ewe herd correctly the Wrexham Sheep are now baaaaack and their flock has expanded, with over twenty brightly coloured and wonderfully decorated sheep now on display across Wrexham.

The popular fibreglass flock*, which were designed by local schools and the Oriel Gallery were introduced to the town centre in August to coincide with the Tour of Britains visit to Wrexham.

However earlier this Spring the sheep were removed from the town following the theft of two sheep and the damage of a third. Perhaps more notably was Champion, who was found grazing on a new pasture at the top of Dinas Bran.

All sheep have since been returned and given some TLC to prepare them for the launch of the Wrexham Sheep Trail, which will take place across the county borough.

Preempting the inevitable question on the funding of the sheep  earlier this year generous sponsorship from businesses across the county borough allowed for the expansion of the baaaarmy flock.

Despite their woolly ways, the flock has expanded and once again the artwork of the sheep has been created by local school children and artists at the Oriel Wrecsam.

Last week Paul Wynn sent us this photo of Angelina, who was designed by pupils at St Giles School. She is now safely grazing in the grounds of St Giles Church!

Many businesses across Wrexham have sponsored a sheep to join Wrexhams famous flock, including Erddig, Chirk Castle, Holt Lodge, Jolly Good Van Hire, Moneypenny and Glyndwr Eweiversity

Leaflets and maps for the Wrexham Sheep Trail will be available from the Tourist Information Centre and the Oriel Wrecsam from June 15th.

You can also follow @WrexhamSheep on Twitter for some top quality baaaarmy updates about the locations / pictures of the new sheep!

(* Yes they are fibreglass, but we are told are filled with something so they are impossibly heavy to lift. So anyone who is three sheeps to the wind after a night out and wishes to kidnap one again should think twice!)


Over the past several days, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) has called a series of grievance strikes against AT&T West facilities in California as some 16,000 CWA members in California and Nevada continue to work without a contract.

The walkouts are an evident attempt by the CWA to allow workers to vent anger and frustration about the refusal of the union to call a strike over the stalled contract negotiations. AT&T has proposed a long list of cuts and an insulting 1 percent annual wage increase. Its demands reportedly include an 8 percent annual increase in out-of-pocket health care costs.

Some 4,000 AT&T West workers, members of CWA Local 9510 and 9400, went on strike Thursday in cities up and down the length of California including Anaheim, Santa Rosa, Fort Bragg, Petaluma, and Ukiah. Most workers were ordered back on the job Saturday. The strike involved wireline workers.

The work stoppages have been almost completely blacked out by the news media. None of the major West Coast papers, including the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle, carried any report of the strikes.

According to a post Thursday on the CWA Local 9400 Facebook page, the walkouts involved a dispute over the transfer of employees within work units. The CWA said it had filed a grievance with the National Labor Relations Board over the issue. A later post indicated the dispute had been resolved and ordered an end to the walkouts. No further details were provided. Calls to Local 9510 and 9400 by this reporter were not returned.

In comments to the Lost Coast Outlook, a CWA official said the dispute involved service and repair work on landline circuitry used for 911 emergency calls. Management had reportedly made a unilateral decision to shift that work from one class of employees to another class.

AT&T West workers have been without a contract since April 9. The company is demanding a host of concessions, including changes to health care and overtime rules. Management wants to drop a contract provision that entitles workers to double-time pay after 49 hours on the job in any given week. It also wants to be able to impose mandatory overtime virtually at will. Currently, management can only designate a four-month period during which they can force overtime. Among other changes, management wants to drop Kaiser Permanente from its list of approved health care providers.

The latest grievance strikes follow a walkout by some 1,700 AT&T West Workers in San Diego in late May. The strike came in the midst of the strike by 40,000 Verizon workers on the East Coast. CWA Local 9509 said the strike was over the refusal of AT&T to share information over calls it monitors between call center workers and customers. The CWA moved quickly to shut down the strike before it sparked a broader struggle by telecom and other workers. Few details of the reported settlement were made available to members.

One angry worker posted on the CWA Local 9400 Facebook page, What r we waiting for(?) all California should go on strike at the same time. (T)hese walk outs aint doing no change, its only hurting our pockets.

An AT&T West worker from Northern California told the WSWS, They are not accomplishing anything by dong these stupid maneuvers. They are picking the wrong tactics. It is getting everybody angry. We are as angry with the union as with the company.

There was one [strike] down south where they had been doing quality operations and someone failed the quality inspection. He had had issues before, and they suspended him for 15 days.

They are not keeping us informed. If you go to the [CWA] District 9 website, you wont find anything. During the strike in San Diego, there was nothing either. I got all my information off the news.

Quite a few people feel there should be no more negotiations. Everything the company has come up with from the start has been draconian. When they came out with their initial proposal, it was just a laundry list of everything you can imagine.

We should just give them a list of our demands and after 48 hours go on strike.

Everything considered, I am making less than I did 10 years ago. I am not doing that again. Whatever comes down the pike, I am voting against it if there is even one concession.

The CWA is following the same reactionary and bankrupt strategy at AT&T West as it employed during the Verizon strike. Workers at Verizon were forced to work eight months past their contract expiration deadline before the union called a strike. The delay of the strike was a deliberate effort to keep Verizon workers isolated from auto and steel workers whose contracts expired in the late summer and fall.

Instead of coordinating a united struggle of AT&T West workers and workers at Verizon, the CWA kept the two sections of workers separated, even though both faced draconian concession demands. The CWA kept AT&T West workers on the job past their contract deadline, then called a strike at Verizon. When AT&T West workers struck in San Diego, the CWA ended the walkout after a few days when it threatened to spark a broader action.

The CWA then shut down the Verizon strike based on an agreement in principle, forcing workers to vote on the sellout deal imposing higher health care costs based on union-supplied highlights, not the full contract document. The CWA is now maneuvering to undermine the determination of AT&T West workers with diversionary and ineffective grievance strikes while the company stands fast in its concession demands.
On June 4, the Saturday before the California primary, the International Socialist Organization (ISO) hosted a public meeting in San Francisco for Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. The introduction by Bay Area leaders of the ISO, and the speech given by Stein, highlighted their joint efforts to channel growing social anger back into support for the capitalist system.

Both the ISO and the Greens are responding to the shift to the left among youth and workers expressed in the support of millions for the presidential campaign of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, who has focused on issues of economic inequality and the domination of American politics by corporate wealth.

With the Sanders campaign winding down, and as Sanders moves to endorse the campaign of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, many of the workers and youth who supported him will be looking for an alternative. The ISO and the Greens are working together to prevent the movement of these layers in the direction of independent working class politics and a genuine struggle for socialism.

Jill Steins speech was neither an indictment of capitalism nor a call for socialism, despite the nominal socialism of the audience to which she was speaking. She presented foreign wars, budget cuts and the Wall Street bailout as simple policy errors that a Green president could correct without any change in the economic system.

Instead of bailing out the banks, Stein would pay them to forgive student loans; instead of tax cuts for corporations, she would provide subsidies for a Green New Deal; instead of wars for oil, she would make use of the US military only for humanitarian missions.

The policies outlined by Stein in her speech were only slightly more left than those of Sanders and well within the framework of capitalist politics. In any country but the United States, her speech would not even have been considered particularly left-wing. She could easily have delivered her remarks as a German Greena well-established right-wing, pro-war faction in German politicsor as a British or Australian Laborite.

For their part, the ISO speakers called for a Red-Green alliance between what they called the socialist left (i.e., themselves and similar groups like Socialist Alternative and Socialist Action) and the independent left (openly pro-capitalist groups like Stein and the Greens). The main ISO speaker criticized rival pseudo-left groups that actually participated in the Democratic Party primary campaign in support of Sanders, claiming that the only way to make the Democratic Party progressive was through an independent campaign outside of it.

The ISO has a relationship with the Green Party going back nearly two decades, to the 2000 presidential campaign of Ralph Nader, a nationalist and opponent of socialism. Todd Chretien, a leading ISO member, signed on as a full-time organizer for Nader in 2000, worked for him again as a California state-wide coordinator in 2004, and in 2006 ran for Senate on the Green Party ticket. Although the ISO promoted Naders independent campaigns in 2004 and 2008, when he did not receive the Green Party nomination, they never quit their participation in the Green Party. With Jill Stein's 2012 campaign, they resumed formally endorsing the Green presidential ticket.

Like Sanders, the Green Party criticizes economic inequality without presenting any alternative to the capitalist economy which inevitably generates such inequality. While Sanders claims to be a democratic socialist, he does not call for public ownership and democratic control of economic life. Similarly, the Greens are an explicitly capitalist party and defend the private ownership of major banks and corporations.

The partys 2014 platform called for a regulated market economy, stated that Greens defend responsible stakeholder capitalism and that they seek to limit fossil fuels by incentivizing the free market. The single mention of the word socialism in their platform comes in order to disavow it. Rather than capitalism, they denounce overconsumption as the main evil, a program that if implemented would require a significant lowering of the living standards of the working class.

The Green program defines their perspective as a pressure group on the Democrats and Republicans. They write, It has become increasingly clear that the 'bipartisan' political duopoly will drift further rightward at an increasing pace without a true opposition party as a counterweight.

In her presentation in San Francisco, Stein praised the ISO and said, quite accurately, that she may use different ideological terms [from the ISO] but in terms of our agenda its really identical. And what is this capitalist agenda that the ISO supports as progressive? The three main proposals outlined in Stein's speech, as noted above, were student loan forgiveness, opposition to some wars and a Green New Deal jobs program.

Stein proposes that the $1.2 trillion of outstanding student debt be resolved by appointing a Green Party member to head the Federal Reserve and carry out quantitative easing. A Green government would print roughly $1.2 trillion and give it to the banks in exchange for the student loans. In short she would oversee an enormous transfer of wealth from the working class to the financial aristocracy.

On the question of war, Stein claims that imperialism is caused by the oil industry and the arms manufacturers, and that if corporate contributions were taken out of politics, US foreign interventions would end. This is US foreign policy, she said creating enemies so that we can sell lots of weapons and apply flamethrower [sic] all over the world. She proposed that instead of militarizing, the US, Russia and China should all agree to disarm and use the money currently going to war to make capitalism environmentally friendly.

This is a criminally light-minded approach to the danger of war. The threat of war comes from the fundamental contradictions of capitalism, between world economy and the nation-state system, and between private ownership and the social character of the productive process. American capitalism resorts increasingly to militarism to offset its global decline in relation to its many rivals.

Stein's call to redirect money from current wars to a Green New Deal is pacifist rubbish that would politically disarm any youth and workers who might take it seriously. One might as well preach that the capitalist bosses should end exploitation, give all their wealth to the people, and put an end to all forms of oppression, simply out of the goodness of their hearts.

The phrase Green New Deal was actually popularized by Thomas Friedman in his 2008 book Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution, long before Jill Stein first ran for president with that slogan in 2012. Friedman, a leading foreign affairs commentator for the New York Times, is notorious for his full-throated support for the invasion of Iraq.

In his book, Friedman described green as the new red, white and blue. He explained in a 2008 interview with Scientific American: Clean power is going to be a source of power generally in the worldevery bit as much as tanks, planes and nuclear missiles have been during the cold war. The country that takes the lead in clean power and clean tech is going to be an economic and strategic leader in the 21st century.

Far from ending national rivalries, the Green New Deal, is a proposal to lay a more secure foundation for American dominance. Stein adopted Friedman's program but claims the same nationalist methods will serve world peace instead of American imperialism.

The ISO's support for Stein is of a piece with their international politics, where they have endorsed one capitalist party after another, such as Syriza in Greece, which has enacted the country's worst austerity measures and brutalized refugees. The ISO represents a section of the affluent middle class that seeks well-paid academic, government and union positions through small adjustments among the richest 10 percent of society. In the current election they seek to channel those disillusioned in the Democrats behind another candidate who is no threat to the American ruling class.
It took barely 48 hours for the initial official narrative about the massacre in Orlando, Floridathat it was an ISIS-directed attack on the US homelandto unravel. Whatever role Omar Mateens sympathies for Islamic terrorism may have played in his decision to carry out a mass killing at the Pulse gay bar with a military-style assault rifle, it is now acknowledged by the government that there is no evidence that his actions were directed by ISIS or any similar organization.

Moreover, it has emerged that Mateen was largely driven by a combination of personal emotional and psychological demons, including a conflicted sexual identity, and backward, reactionary and racist views that have much in common with home-grown right-wing and white supremacist groups.

These revelations have not prevented the president of the United States, the presumptive presidential nominees of both major political parties and the corporate-controlled media from continuing to exploit the deaths of 49 victims, the injuries, some life-threatening, of another 53, and the grieving of thousands of family members and friends to push a preexisting agenda of war abroad and repression within the US.

Without seriously attempting to align their prescriptions with the facts that have thus far emerged about the killer and his crime, they continue to seize on this latest in an endless series of mass shootings in America to push the so-called war on terror, which has played such a sinister role in creating the social environment that breeds these types of horrific events.

It is now known that Mateens evident homophobia coexisted with frequent visits to the Pulse bar and an active presence on social media used by homosexuals. Former coworkers have come forward to describe the killers far-right and racist views. Daniel Gilroy, who worked alongside Mateen between March 2014 and March 2015, can be seen in an interview posted on the New York Times web site describing his encounter with the future mass murderer.

Gilroy stated that he was not surprised when he heard that Mateen had carried out the Orlando massacre. He was very racist, very sexist, anti-Jew, anti-homosexual and he made it known by derogatory statements as much as he could. Gilroy has added that Mateen often talked about killing blacks. When his employer failed to heed his complaints about Mateen, Gilroy quit the firm.

The homicidal eruption of Omar Mateen, while the worst mass shooting in modern American history, is anything but an aberration. Thus far in June, according to the Gun Violence Archive web site, there have been 18 mass shootings in the US. Gunshot homicides totaled 8,124 in 2014, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Gun homicides in America kill about as many people as car crashes. They occur at an almost exponentially greater rate than in all other advanced industrialized countries. In the US, the death rate from gun homicides is about 31 per million people per year. In Germany, the figure is two per million; in England, only one. In Japan, the likelihood of dying from a gunshot is roughly the same as an Americans chance of being killed by lightningone in 10 million.

The question that is imperiously raised by such facts is: What is it about American society that so frequently leads mentally unstable individuals to resort to mass murder, often combined with suicide? This is a question that the political and media establishment does not care toor dare toaddress. The reason is that it leads rapidly to an exposure of the malignant state of American capitalist society.

Instead, what is offered is a cynical and dishonest rehash of past cover-ups for the system that generates such levels of social dysfunction and violence. The official response to each new incident of mass killing is a stereotypical combination of war mongering and demands for further surveillance on the population and other police-state measures. From the Democrats, the recipe also includes demands for gun control, as though the prevalence of guns is the cause, rather than a symptom, of the disease.

From the Republicans, and especially their current likely presidential candidate, the fascistic billionaire Donald Trump, the response features new and even more savage attacks on immigrants in general, and Muslims in particular.

This was fully on display Tuesday when President Obama gave a speech following a meeting of his National Security Council. Flanked by his secretary of defense, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the head of the Homeland Security Department, the director of national intelligence and other security officials, Obama declared the central priority arising from the Orlando massacre to be the intensification of the war to destroy ISIS.

He touted his recent actions escalating US military violence in both Iraq and Syria, including the deployment of additional Special Forces troops and additional assets such as attack helicopters. He boasted of having taken out more than 120 top ISIS leaders, and alluded to plans to escalate the US military intervention in Libya.

He then moved to demands that Congress, meaning the Republicans, pass legislation restricting gun ownership, and concluded with a denunciation of Trump for calling for a ban on Muslim immigration and other discriminatory measures against immigrants, primarily from the standpoint of the exigencies of the war on terror and US neocolonial operations in Muslim countries.

Of course, as always, nothing was said about the direct responsibility of his own policies and the wars of the past quarter-century in Central Asia and the Middle East for the rise of ISIS, both in the sense of its roots in the catastrophe unleashed by US mass killing and destruction and Washingtons deliberate stoking of sectarian conflict, and in the more immediate sense of CIA backing for ISIS and its forebears and their arming and financing by Washingtons despotic regional allies.

All of this is an attempt to conceal the real causes of mass violence in America, which lie in the decay and malignant crisis of American capitalism. Obama presides over the latest chapter in 25 years of unceasing war abroad, beginning with the first Persian Gulf War in 1991, and relentless attacks on the social conditions and democratic rights of the working class at home, carried out alike by Democratic and Republican administrations.

Never-ending war has been accompanied by the militarization of social life and politics within the US. It is almost impossible to exaggerate the impact of this daily reality within the borders of the United States, especially on the most unstable social elements. Political reaction, national chauvinism, anti-immigrant racismthe most backward sentiments have been systematically cultivated in order to pursue an agenda of imperialist war and the impoverishment of the working class.

To prepare for the inevitable growth of social resistance, the police have been turned into a militarized occupation force in working-class communities, using terror, brutality and outright murder.

The betrayal and collapse of the unions, their alliance with the ruling elite against the workers and suppression of class struggle, have added to the social malaise.

Now, however, we are seeing both in the US and internationally the beginnings of a new upsurge of class struggle, driven by immense anger over the colossal growth of social inequality and the brazen criminality of the ruling elite. This prefigures the inevitable revival of social revolution.

For the American ruling classall the more reason to seek to deflect internal social tensions outward by means of nationalism and war.

For the working classthere is only one answer to the sickeningly routine eruption of homicidal violence in America, the path of socialist revolution to put an end to the diseased system that produces such horrors.
Leading representatives of the Maoist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) met in Oslo on Tuesday with a negotiating team appointed by newly-elected Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to begin talks to end the CPPs 47-year armed struggle.

Duterte, who takes office on June 30, is a fascistic political figure who promises the violent suppression and extra-judicial murder of suspected criminals. Since his election on May 10, vigilantes and the police have murdered more than 20 alleged drug dealers and petty criminals. Cardboard signs left on the corpses identified the murders as part of the campaign solicited by the incoming president.

Duterte has long-standing ties to the CPP, having been part of its youth organization in the 1960s and, according to CPP head Joma Sison, a long-time member of [CPP front organization] BAYAN. The CPP and its front organizations supported Duterte throughout his career as mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao, where he was the notorious head of the citys death squads, which he publicly claimed were responsible for over 1,000 murders during his terms as mayor.

In the immediate wake of Dutertes election, Sison, who has been living in exile in the Dutch city of Utrecht since 1987, announced the CPP would open peace negotiations with the new government. Fidel Agcaoili, who has functioned as Sisons right-hand man since the early 1970s, when he attempted unsuccessfully on multiple occasions to lead the smuggling of arms from China to the Philippines, traveled to Davao to meet with Duterte.

Agcaoili carried with him Sisons list of CPP representatives who could serve in Dutertes cabinet. Duterte appointed Sisons selections to serve as secretaries of social welfare and agrarian reform and undersecretary of labor.

Congressional representatives of the CPPs party-list organizations, Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis and Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna, signed a public pledge of full support for Duterte and for Pantaleon Alvarez, the likely speaker of the house, who is a member of Dutertes party. Casilao has joined the peace negotiations in Oslo, while Zarate is holding joint press conferences with the Davao police chief.

The CPPs front organizations are working to depict Dutertes fascistic policies as progressive. Carol Araullo, the chair of BAYAN, published an editorial in the countrys leading business daily, Business World, arguing that Dutertes commitment to wage a violent campaign against petty criminality and street-level lawlessness would benefit the poorwhom she said are victimized by anarchy, violence and rough-and-tumble of the mean streetsand not the upper and elite classes.

Dutertes negotiating team is composed of Jesus Dureza, who headed peace talks under former Presidents Ramos and Arroyo; Sylvestre Bello, who is incoming secretary of labor; and Hernani Braganza, who was secretary of agrarian reform under Arroyo. Sison described the meeting on Tuesday as a reunion of old friends. Bello had been the secretary general of BAYAN in Mindanao in the 1980s. Braganza is a former member of the CPP.

Among the items that the initial peace talks will negotiate is a ceasefire in the armed conflict, the release of political prisoners and Sisons safe return to the Philippines.

The CPPs publication Ang Bayan on May 15, five days after Dutertes election, called for an alliance between the CPP and the new government. The publication maintained, however, that the party stood firm that basic changes could only be affected through armed struggle.

In a range of interviews with the Philippine press, Sison asserted that the goal of the peace talks was to form a coalition government of the CPP and Duterte administration. This coalition would need to carry out democratic reforms that would lead to national industrialization and genuine land reform, but we are not asking for a switch to socialism.

On June 10, Sison delivered an address via Skype to an All Leaders Forum on the Peace Talks, which was staged by a number of the CPPs youth front organizations. In the speech, which was entitled Prospects under the Duterte Administration and the tasks of the Filipino youth, he clarified and developed his ideas on a coalition government.

Sison told his audience: What is in sight is a kind of coalition government that involves the participation of the Communist Party amidst other patriotic and progressive forces. It is a government of national unity, peace and development. Sison stated: The question therefore arises whether the national democratic revolution can be completed in the absence of a peoples war.

Sison called for getting an interim ceasefire in place, and further negotiations on the end of hostilities and redisposition of the armed forces of both sides. What precisely did Sison propose would happen to the estimated four to five thousand members of the CPPs New Peoples Army (NPA)? He told his audience: Revolutionary armed units can become guards of the environment and the industries under conditions of peace and development. Integration of armed forces is permissible.

Sison made explicit that he is not calling for state-owned industries, but for national industrialization to be carried out largely under private Filipino ownership, with state sponsorship and protection.

With his proposal to redeploy the NPA to serve as guards of industry and as members of an integrated Armed Forces of the Philippines, Sison is proposing to make NPA forces the suppressive arm of the capitalist state. The guards would be directly responsible for breaking strikes, and disciplining the workforce. The NPA would serve as the shock troops of the fascistic Duterte regime.

Sison told the CPPs youth front organizations they must support the patriotic and progressive initiatives and measures undertaken [by the CPP] in an alliance with an otherwise fully reactionary government.

The CPPs call for a coalition government with the bourgeoisie is not a new development; it is the partys programmatic core. In the CPPs central document, Philippine Society and Revolution, first published in 1970, basing himself on the Stalinist two-stage theory of revolution, Sison stated that the goal of the revolution was national democracy, not socialism. National democracy would function under a united front dictatorship of the proletariat, peasantry, petty bourgeoisie, national bourgeoisie and all other patriots. He described this as a joint dictatorship of all revolutionary classes.

The Stalinist two-stage revolution is fundamentally anti-Marxist. Lenin in his seminal work, The State and Revolution, wrote: The essence of Marxs theory of the state has been mastered only by those who realize that the dictatorship of a single class is necessary not only for every class society in general, not only for the proletariat which has overthrown the bourgeoisie, but also for the entire historical period which separates capitalism from classless society, from communism. Bourgeois states are most varied in form, but their essence is the same: all these states, whatever their form, in the final analysis are inevitably the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. The transition from capitalism to communism is certainly bound to yield a tremendous abundance and variety of political forms, but the essence will inevitably be the same: the dictatorship of the proletariat.

No joint class dictatorship is possible. The choice is either capitalism and the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, on the one hand, or socialism and the dictatorship of the proletariat, on the other.

The CPP is a bourgeois political party and has always been hostile to the interests of the working class. At every political turn of the past half-century the CPP has labored, with lies and betrayals, to subordinate the working class to its enemy, the bourgeoisie.

What is being prepared now is a qualitative development in the class politics of the CPP. As the Duterte government is openly looking to recruit a mass base in the petty bourgeoisie and lumpen elements for its fascistic policies, the CPP is positioning itself to serve as the shock troops in the suppression of the working class on behalf of capitalism.
Amid sharply deteriorating relations between Washington and Islamabad, a high-level US delegation that included the commander of US forces in Afghanistan visited Pakistan late last week for talks with the countrys political and military leadership.

Escalating tensions between Pakistan, its neighbours, India and Afghanistan, and Washington, its long-time strategic partner, are rooted in US imperialisms promotion of India as its principal South Asian ally in its incendiary military-strategic offensive against China.

Two recent developments have further inflamed the situation.

On May 21, the Pentagon summarily executed the political leader of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, through a drone strike in the Pakistani province of Balochistan. Not only was the US drone strike a flagrant violation of Pakistani sovereignty, it was aimed at blowing up Islamabads efforts to draw the Taliban into peace talks.

Last weeks visit of Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi to Washington marked a further strengthening of the Indo-US military-strategic alliance. India agreed to allow the Pentagon to routinely use Indian military bases for resupply and repairs, while the US proclaimed India a Major Defense Partner, giving it access to sophisticated US weaponry on a par with Washingtons closest allies.

Through their comments and actions, the US political and military-security establishment have made clear that India has entrenched its position as Washingtons preferred regional ally. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter recently contrasted Washingtons attitude toward Islamabad and New Delhi, saying that while the US has important business in respect to the Afghan War and terrorism to transact with the former, we have much more, a whole global agenda with India.

Recently Pakistans plan to purchase eight F-16 fighter aircraft collapsed after the US reneged on an offer of financial support. Meanwhile, Washington has given the green light for the most advanced version of the F-16 to be manufactured in India as part of its pledge to co-develop and co-produce advanced weapons with India.

Frustrated and angered by the downgrading of its alliance with the US and increasing marginalization, Pakistans ruling elite have issued alarmed warnings.

Speaking on the eve of the US delegations visit, Sartaj Aziz, the Pakistan prime ministers foreign affairs adviser, said that in light of the USs actions, Relations between Pakistan and the US need to be reassessed.

He accused Washington of treating the country like a mercenary. It approaches Pakistan whenever it needs our help, said Aziz, and abandons us when its objectives are achieved.

He said that Mansours assassination had damaged the level of trust with the United States and warned that the USs alliance with India will disturb the regional balance, both conventional and strategic (i.e. nuclear). He threatened a further build-up of Pakistans nuclear arsenal, saying that Islamabad has firmly conveyed  to the US that maintaining effective nuclear deterrence is critical for Pakistans security and only Pakistan itself can determine how it should respond to (the) growing strategic imbalance in South Asia.

Fearing the growing economic and conventional military gap between India and Pakistan, Islamabad has been rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, including through the development of tactical or battlefield nuclear weapons.

Washington has repeatedly brushed aside Pakistans warnings about how its alliance with India has overturned the regional balance of power and is fueling a nuclear arms race. While taking Pakistan to task over lowering the nuclear threshold by developing tactical weapons, the US has taken steps to help India trade for advanced civilian nuclear technology and fuel, which will enable New Delhi to concentrate Indias indigenous nuclear program on weapons development.

The Obama administration is currently mounting a push for India to be included in the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), even though it has failed to meet the criteria for membership by signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The US delegation for last Fridays talks in Islamabad included: Richard Olson, Obamas Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan; the Senior Adviser and Director for South Asian Affairs at the National Security Council Peter Lavoy; and General John Nicholson, the top US commander in Afghanistan.

This dispatch of such a top level delegation is part of Washingtons carrot and stick approach towards Islamabad. Having ratcheted up the pressure on Islamabad by strengthening its military alliance with India and by killing Mansour and derailing prospects for Afghan peace talks, the Obama administration sent envoys to Pakistan to demand it bear more of the burden in the Afghan War. No matter that the 15 year war has already resulted in large parts of Pakistans tribal areas being transformed into killing fields.

In particular, Washington is adamant Islamabad take the war to the Haqqani Network, a Taliban allied militia that has ties to Pakistani intelligence dating back to the days when the CIA and ISI were jointly funding and organizing Islamacist opposition to the Soviet-backed government in Kabul.

Little has been said about the outcome of Fridays talks. Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed the discussions were centred on the assassination of Mansour, which has been quickly followed by an intensification of the US war in Afghanistan.

Predictably none of the US plenipotentiaries expressed any apology or regret for the blatant violation of Pakistans sovereignty and international law, or for the US having strung Islamabad on about drawing the Taliban into a peace dialogue even as it prepared Mansours murder.

The Pakistan Foreign Ministry said Aziz had conveyed a strong message that the drone attack was not only a violation of Pakistans sovereignty and breach of the principles of the United Nations Charter, but has also vitiated bilateral ties. Any future drone strike in Pakistan, the statement emphasized, will be detrimental to our common desire to strengthen relations.

Islamabads growing tensions with Washingtons puppet regime in Afghanistan were also evident during the discussions.

Aziz, said the Foreign Ministry statement, highlighted the need for better border management with Afghanistan and early repatriation of Afghan refugees to safeguard [Pakistans] own security. He also called for Afghan military action against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the so-called Pakistani Taliban, which Islamabad charges is being given safe-have by Kabul.

In his discussions with General Nicholson, General Raheel Sharif, the head of Pakistans military, reportedly accused Indias intelligence agency, RAW, and its Afghan counterpart, the NDS, of fomenting terrorism in Pakistan.

Just two days later, on Sunday evening, a clash erupted between Pakistan and Afghan security forces at the Torkham border crossing, one of the most important border crossing between the two countries. The following day the clashes resumed on a far bigger scale, leaving more than 20 people injured and an Afghan soldier and a Pakistani major dead.

Both sides are now reported to be rushing troops to the area.

The immediate trigger for the clashes is Pakistans building a fence and gate on the Pakistan side at the Torkham crossing, ignoring Afghanistans vociferous opposition. Kabul has long refused to accept the current border with Pakistan. It follows the Durand Line, a border dictated by the British when they were South Asias colonial overlords.

The souring of US-Pakistan ties and the growing economic and military-security support Afghanistan is receiving from New Delhi are no doubt encouraging Kabul in challenging Islamabad.

Bolstered by the Obama administrations decision to anoint it Washingtons principal regional ally, New Delhi has, for its part, adopted an increasingly bellicose policy towards Pakistan, aimed at forcing Islamabad to accept its regional hegemony. New Delhis rapidly expanding role in in Afghanistan is intended to counter and ultimately eclipse Islamabads influence, denying it strategic depth in its reactionary geopolitical rivalry with India.

The Indo-US alliance has led Pakistan and China to enhance their ties. India has vehemently protested against Beijings plans to invest $46 billion in a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (COPEC), stretching from western China to the Pakistani Arabian seaport of Gwadar. New Delhi has denounced the CPEC on the grounds that it goes through parts of the disputed Kashmir region India claims as its own territory. But its real objection is the shot-in-the arm the CPEC represents for Pakistans economy.

Publicly the USs response to the CPEC has been muted, but there is no question it views it is a major threat. Were the plans to develop rail, road and pipeline links from Gwadar to China to be realized they would to a large degree circumvent the US strategy to impose an economic blockade on China by seizing Indian Ocean/South China sea chokepoints in the event of a war or war crisis.

Pakistans corporate media has responded cautiously to the growing crisis in US-Pakistani relations. Commenting on Islamabads response to the NSG controversy, The News declared, Pakistan cannot afford to strain ties with the US at the moment. Dawn columnist Cyril Almaida complained, Weve gone so all-in with the China card.

Meanwhile, M. K. Bhadrakumar, a former Indian diplomat, has expressed alarm at the extent to which Washington has ratcheted up tensions in the region between India and Pakistan and India and China and helped transform Afghanistan into an arena of strategic competition between New Delhi and Islamabad. In a blog entitled The US unleashes the Dogs of War in Afghanistan, he warned last week,  Beijing will understand that the shift in the US policy in Afghanistanand towards Pakistanand the newfound alliance with India is in reality aimed at encircling and preparing for war against China.  The danger is real that the major regional powers may be drifting toward a general war.
The Labour Party is playing an indispensable role in helping the Conservative government pass into law the Investigatory Powers Bill (IPB), designed to legalise government spying on millions of innocent people. The IPB is known, for good reason, as the Snoopers Charter.

With virtually no media coverage, MP s in the House of Commons voted last week by 444 to 69 in favour of the bill. Most Labour MPs who had previously been critical of the bill voted in its favour, while the Scottish National Party (SNP) voted against. The bill is now set to be discussed in the House of Lords and is likely to come into effect in January 2017.

The IPB is a far-reaching attack on privacy and democratic rights, bringing together the current diverse rules governing state surveillance in a single piece of legislation.

It enshrines in law the previously hidden and illegal mass gather ing of internet data by the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) spying agency, as exposed by US National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden in 2013. Snowden was forced to become a hunted fugitive and seek asylum in Moscow after informing the worlds population of the existence of massive state surveillance systems being operated by the US, UK and the other imperialist powers.

The bill goes even further than legalising the spying revealed by Snowdengiving the security services unprecedented new powers to track the web history of ordinary people. This will be achieved by compelling Internet Service Providers to keep internet connection records for a period of 12 months for access by the police and state security services. This will enable them to see every web site a person has visited, every comment made and every search term used. The IPB will also allow the hacking of peoples mobile phones as part of the government surveillance network, so that having a smartphone will be like carrying around a bug with you in the words of Ben Jaffey QC, lawyer for Privacy International (PI).

The introduction to the all-embracing bill states that its purpose is to: Make provision about the interception of communications, equipment interference and the acquisition and retention of communications data, bulk personal datasets and other information; to make provision about the treatment of material held as a result of such interception, equipment interference or acquisition or retention to make further provision about investigatory powers and national security

In the face of widespread opposition, the government relied on Labour to help make a few minor changes to ensure it passed unimpeded. Once Labour had suggested its changesnearly all of which were rejectedit voted with the government in favour of one of the most widely hated laws since the passing of the bedroom tax. Labours main concern was to ensure that state surveillance of the population could continue, but with full legal sanction. Labours Keir Starmer stated only that, [I]t is important that the powers being exercised are avowed, its important they are placed on the statute.

The SNP while claiming to oppose the IPB, merely put forward a different set of proposed changes and then cast their votes against itknowing it would still get passed into law by a significant majority.

The nominally liberal Guardian, hailed the governments concessions while minimizing the significance of the new powers.

The concessionsmade to meet the concerns of parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs and backbench critics within the Conservative Party itself  include protections for MPs and journalists, and the addition of a privacy clause that advises the use of new mass surveillance powers should not be authorised in situations where less intrusive means could be used. As with all matters affecting the interests of the elite, the decision on which method of surveillance to use will be made behind the scenes.

Former Conservative attorney general and Member of the Privy Council, Dominic Grieve, chairs the ISC. The former Labour cabinet minister Harriet Harman chairs parliaments joint human rights committee. Both Grieve and Harman are tried and trusted guardians of the interests of the ruling class. Harman was part of the cabinet of former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The penalties against those who deliberately misuse the new powers will never be aimed at those acting on behalf of the ruling elite; otherwise many of those in charge of running the security services would be facing long prison sentences.

Just as the banks have been rewarded for their criminal activities that led to the global financial crash of 2008 by being given almost unlimited amounts of cash and cheap credit, the security and spying agencies are being rewarded for their criminality with new and almost unlimited powers.

The ruling elite throughout Europe are using the threat of terrorism to create a climate of fear, and push through draconian attacks on democratic rights to strengthen the state for use against the working class. The French government of Socialist Party President Francois Hollande has imposed a near-permanent state of emergency and placed tens of thousands of soldiers and gendarmes on the streets.

The passage of the IPB was carried out in the middle of the referendum campaign over the UKs membership of the European Union. Labour, under new left leader Jeremy Corbyn, is backing the Tory government as part of the Remain campaign and will do nothing to destabilise the plans of the dominant sections of the ruling elite whose interests are bound up with EU membership.

The majority of the trade unions affiliated to the Trades Union Congress also support Remain and likewise did not utter a word of opposition as the Snoopers Charter passed. The media was largely silent as well, with the referendum campaign utilised to bury the bad news of increased state surveillance.

A recent release by Privacy International (PI) of previously secret correspondence between the UKs spying agencies, MI5, GCHQ and the Interception of Communications Commissioner reveals how they conspired to interpret existing laws as widely as possible to minimise any accountability.

PI states that GCHQ and MI5 circumvented the will of Parliament by ignoring the specific powers that RIPA [Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000] gave them and the safeguards that RIPA provided against accessing of our personal data. Instead they used the vague powers in The Telecommunications Act 1984which provide minimal safeguards and were never intended to be used for the purposes of bulk communications data acquisition.

This misuse of previous laws shows that the concessions claimed by Labour are not worth the paper they are written on.

Those who criticise the IPB mainly on questions of oversight (or the lack of it), however, miss the fundamental pointthat the state machine as a whole is being strengthened for use against the working class. The level of inequality in society is such that it is no longer possible to sustain even the pretence of democracy. This cannot be resolved by putting one part of the state machine under the oversight of another part.
The Sydney siege on December 1516, 2014 has entered the international lexicon, along with the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, the 2005 bombings in London and the latest attacks in Paris, as a justification for the bogus war on terror.

The standard account of events is based on a series of lies designed to justify the extraordinary mobilisation of police and military personnel that took place in central Sydney in response to hostage-taking by a lone gunman, Man Haron Monis, in the Lindt cafe. More than 16 hours later, heavily-armed police stormed the cafe after Monis shot a hostage. Monis and another hostage were killed by police bullets.

As the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) warned at the time, the standoff was used as a dress rehearsal for the lock down of a major city in a time of crisis.

The coronial inquiry into the Sydney siege has now been running for more than a year. Despite its circumscribed remit, it has significantly undermined the official story. Monis was not a member or supporter of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), but a highly unstable individual, given to grandstanding, who was well known to authorities.

The internal intelligence agencythe Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)received at least 18 emails and hotline calls, in December 2014 alone, warning about Moniss Facebook statements, but concluded the posts did not indicate a desire or intent to engage in terrorism or politically motivated violence. No explanation was given. However, the heavily-censored evidence to the coronial inquiry confirmed that Monis had directly offered to provide assistance to ASIO.

The latest revelations from the coronial inquiry dealing with the actions of the police during the siege punch more holes in the official version of events. The SEP raised the critical question at the time: why did no serious negotiations take place with Monis? Having transformed the siege into a major terrorist attack for their own propaganda purposes, state and federal governments had a vested interest in ensuring that it was not defused peacefully.

While top police officials claimed that world class negotiators had been in talks, Moniss limited demandsfor an ISIS flag, recognition that the siege was an ISIS terrorist attack and an on-air conversation with Prime Minister Tony Abbottwere not granted and indeed were publicly suppressed.

Police evidence makes absolutely clear that no serious negotiations were undertaken in the 16 hours of the siege.

* The New South Wales (NSW) police unit handling the negotiations comprised only two full-time staff, along with negotiators employed on a part-time or irregular basis. The unit commander was on duty for 21 hours on the day of the siege and had to deal with four other crisis situations.

* The unit lacked basic equipment such as computers. A specialised communications truck was out of action. As a result, negotiators operated in makeshift conditions in the gaming managers office at the NSW Leagues Club. The team had only one dedicated mobile phone. Vital telephone calls from hostages in the cafe went unanswered.

* Significantly, police negotiators never spoke directly to Monis. Moreover, police rejected offers by several Muslim leaders to intervene and try to talk Monis down. No explanation has been provided as to why none of Moniss demands were met. Conveniently, hours of recordings of conversations between negotiators and hostages have inexplicably been lost.

Inside the cafe, hostages became frantic as time dragged on, a number of people escaped and Moniss behaviour became increasingly erratic as his demands were not met. The Daily Telegraph reported a call by one hostage, Selina Win Pe: He [Abbott] clearly doesnt give a shit because he hasnt called us since 9.45 this morning... Help us. Help to get Tony Abbott to call this gentleman... to send the fricking Islamic flag.

The media has focussed attention almost exclusively on the use of more violent police measures to end the siege. Why were police snipers not given the green light to kill Monis? Why wasnt the cafe stormed earlier, rather than waiting for Monis to kill a hostage? Why, when Monis had cafe manager Tori Johnson on his knees, was forced entry delayed for critical minutes?

However, none of the various commentators has asked why were negotiations such a shambles and why were Moniss demands ignored. There are only two alternatives: either the NSW police negotiators were simply under-resourced and overwhelmed, or conscious decisions were made to ensure that no serious negotiations took place. The former is highly unlikely given that under conditions of a national emergency, the NSW police could have called on substantial resources and expertise nationally during the lengthy siege.

A lot was at stake for the federal and state governments. Efforts to whip up a terror scare campaign just months earlier, in September 2014, had largely failed. A huge police dragnet in Sydney involving hundreds of police and ASIO officers resulted in just one individual being charged on terrorist-related offenses. Lurid claims of a planned beheading turned out to be based on the seizure of a plastic sword.

The Liberal-National Coalition government, backed by the opposition Labor Party and the Greens, exploited the Sydney siege to justify Australian involvement in the new US-led war in the Middle East and to ram through further anti-democratic legislation, supposedly to counter terrorism. None of these parties has raised any criticisms of the handling of events by state and federal governments, the police and other authorities.

The huge mobilisation of police, military and intelligence resources in response to a lone gunman is a sharp warning to workers and youth of the methods that will be used in the future to suppress opposition to war and austeritythe agenda of all the major parties in the July 2 election. The SEP was the only party to warn at the time of the dangers of such police state measures and is fighting in the present election campaign to defend basic democratic rights.

To contact the SEP and get involved, visit our website or Facebook page.

Authorised by James Cogan, Shop 6, 212 South Terrace, Bankstown Plaza, Bankstown, NSW 2200.
Germany needs new tanks! This was the demand of Jorg Vollmer, inspector of the German Army, on June 9 in Berlin. Referring to the supposed changed threat situation in the east, the lieutenant general concluded that the German military needs 31 Iguana bridge-laying armoured vehicles next year as well as additional materials costing several billion euros. All troops would also have to be equipped with new radios.

The army must be capable of building stable bridges and laying anti-tank mines, Vollmer said. A brigade that is fully equipped with combat tanks and armoured personnel carriers but has no Iguanas to carry them over water is clearly handicapped. According to the general, the army must again provide everything we once sized down for good reasons.

Seventy-five years after Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, the German military is again arming itself against Russia. Vollmer confirmed that the military will participate in the permanent deployment of NATO combat troops in Eastern Europe. At the NATO summit to be held in Warsaw at the beginning of July, Germany will propose taking leadership of one of the four planned robust, multi-national NATO battalions in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland. To this end, the military wants to send an additional 600 soldiers to Lithuania.

The German military is already playing a leading role in NATO deployments in Eastern Europe, which are an increasingly direct preparation for a war against Russia. It is currently involved in Operation Anaconda, the largest NATO manoeuvre since the end of the Cold War. On June 8, German combat engineers worked with British, Dutch and American soldiers to build a more than 300-meter-long amphibious bridge across the Vistula at Chelmno, over which heavy tanks can drive in the direction of Russia. At the same time, the German military is taking part in sea manoeuvres in the Baltic Sea and exercises in the Baltic states.

The return of German militarism to Eastern Europe is part of the foreign policy turn that President Joachim Gauck, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced at the beginning of 2014. At that time, Steinmeier declared that Germany would now have to intervene earlier, more decisively and more substantially in world politics.

A new interview with von der Leyen in Welt am Sonntag underscores the consequences of this foreign policy turn. According to the minister, the previously approved 10 billion euros for upgrades to the military will not last through 2020. In addition to the increase of 10.2 billion euros by 2020, we need a further gradual increase over the next 15 years in order to fill the gaps. The entire investment volume through 2013 came to 130 billion euros.

In the same breath, von der Leyen announced that German soldiers would also be used domestically. She was asked, Should the military be used within the country in the case of a terrorist threat? Von der Leyen explained that the constitution already allows the military to operate within the country, not only with regards to natural disasters or refugee aid, but also in the event of a catastrophic terrorist attack.

Such a scenario could occur quite suddenly, she added. That was shown in the attacks in Brussels and Paris. It was therefore necessary to prepare for the use of troops within the country now. Soldiers under the command of the police could then provide support with military means. For example, to protect important buildings or to secure the entrances to subway stations. That would be a new kind of collaboration for everyone involved. So that everyone knows what to do, the police and military must train for such a collaboration. The paths of communication and the division of responsibilities should be tested and made clear.

The government had already dealt with these questions in detail in its forthcoming White Paper, the minister added.

This is a turning point in the rearmament of Germany. The separation of the police and army and the ban on troop deployments within the country are closely bound up with the experiences of war and dictatorship in Germany, above all with the period of National Socialism.

These traumatic experiences with the Nazi dictatorship and the Second World War are precisely the reason why the return of German militarism is met with such widespread opposition within the population. The rearmament of the German armed forces is accompanied by a large-scale propaganda offensive by the Ministry of Defence. For months the German military has carried out a costly 11 million euro nation-wide campaign with posters and films. Under the slogan Do something that really matters, the military is attempting to present itself as an attractive place to get an education.

Last Saturday the second so-called German Armed Forces Day took place. The German army opened its doors in 16 locations to acquaint residents and young people with uniforms, military technology and heavy equipment. At the cathedral square in Erfurt, there were protests at a childrens festival which the military targeted with the provocative motto, Tanks not Ferris Wheels.

Opponents of war unfurled several banners in front of the tanks on which children climbed which read, Lay down your weapons!, What are 1,000 dead compared to an Iron Cross? and Death is a master from Germany.
One hundred and twenty delegates to the Unifor Auto Council representing the union bargaining committees at the Canadian plants of the Detroit Three automakersGeneral Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler (FCA)voted unanimously earlier this month to make new investments in Canada, including new product allocations, the top priority of the [upcoming contract] talks.

When we get into bargaining, the number one priority will be maintaining and expanding the footprint of the industry in Canada, stated Auto Council Chair Chris Taylor.

Canadian autoworkers should take the pronouncements coming from the meeting of assorted national and local union bureaucrats as a threat. Declarations that job security is the top priority is simply coded language intended to convey to the auto bosses that Unifor is ready to push through further sweeping cuts in wages, benefits and working conditions. Faced with company threats of continued downsizing of auto assembly in Canada, union officials are signaling that they are once again open to negotiating miserable concession-filled contracts to fatten the profits of corporate shareholders.

Clearly, eight months after the United Auto Workers (UAW) rammed through concessions contracts at the Detroit Threes US operations, senior Unifor officials have begun preparing their own membership for a Made in Canada sell-out.

The contracts covering the 23,000 FCA, GM, and Ford workers come up for renewal in September 2016.

The upcoming negotiations are really going to be about the future of the industry in Canada, no question in my mind, said union president Jerry Dias. Ford has to come up with a solution for our Windsor plant, GM needs to come up with a solution for Oshawa and Chrysler needs to make a commitment to Brampton. ... For us our priorities clearly are going to be jobs.

Twenty-seven hundred jobs are manifestly at risk at two GM assembly plants in Oshawa, Ontario and at a St. Catharines, Ontario engine plant, to which no new products have been allocated. Terms of the 2010 $10 billion auto bailout agreement with GM stipulated that 16 percent of the companys North American production remain in Canada until 2016. GM Canada President Stephen Carlisle has been quick to point out that the company has fulfilled that obligation and is no longer bound by the stipulation.

GMs Oshawa Consolidated plant has no new work after 2017, whilst the Flex plant is threatened with closure before the end of the decade should no new models be assigned it. Last year the Camaro line in Oshawa was shut down and work transferred to a GM facility in Lansing, Michigan.

Carlisle has stated that no decisions on the future of GMs Canadian plants will be taken until after the negotiation of the 2016 contract. GMs failure to renew a parts contract last week with a supplier in nearby Whitby that provides door and floor panels to Oshawa has further stoked doubts about GMs plans for the area.

Corporate spokesmen have similarly refused to discuss investment plans for Fords Windsor engine plant, which employs about 500 workers, and FCAs Brampton assembly facility, which has 3,300 workers.

The automakers transparent aim is to use the threat of massive job losses to extort concessions, pitting workers in Canada against their class brothers and sisters in the US and Mexico in a race to the bottom.

Further influencing the Detroit Threes investment decisions are the terms of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal which, if ratified by the Canadian parliament and US Congress, will, after five years, end the current 6.1 percent tariff on Japanese auto imports.

While Detroit Three rake in record profits, Dias touts opportunity for billions more

Analyses of Detroit Three profits in Canada show that they continue to make money hand over fist. All three companies reported record sales for 2015. Profits increased by 79 percent to almost $2.5 billion, with the pre-tax profit margin the highest recorded since 2000. Despite slower economic growth, profits for 2016 are still projected to come in at over $2 billion.

Auto analysts have concluded that the $15.8 billion (US) in new investment in American plants promised by the Detroit Three during their 2015 negotiations with the UAW, in concert with rapidly increasing investments in their Mexican operations, leave little room for new monies to be dispensed in Canada.

Unifor President Dias is clinging to the recent devaluation of the Canadian dollar (currently worth about 78 cents compared to the American greenback) as a bargaining chip to convince the Detroit Three to invest in their Canadian facilities. Rejecting Dias entreaties, global GM CEO Mary Barra curtly stated that GM does not make decisions based on short-term swings in currency values.

Unifor officials are already bending over backwards to convince the auto executives that the union will do whatever it takes to reduce autoworkers wages, benefits and working conditions to a level below those of workers south of the border. For example, union leaders have signaled that they are open to surrendering the last remnants of a watered-down defined-benefits pension plan for newly-hired workers by extending concessions granted in 2013 at the GM CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario to all other facilities.

The CAMI deal pushed all new employees into a wholly defined-contribution pension scheme. Currently, new hires in all other plants have a hybrid pension plan that relies heavily but not entirely on volatile investment schemes.

In addition, Unifor officials consistently tout to their corporate masters the efficacy of previous all-industry contract concessions that provide permanently inferior benefits, and pay newly hired workers $20.50 per hourfourteen dollars less than veteran workerswith a lengthy 10-year grow-in period to full wage.

Speaking like a labour contractor, Dias bragged last year that about two-thirds of unionized workers at the Oshawa plants are eligible to retire under the provisions of the [current] Unifor contract with GM. This will save General Motors billions. Of course, the billions saved would be on the backs of the thousands of new hires who would enter the plants with not only massively compromised pension benefits, but significantly lower wage and benefit packages.

As Dias went on to excitedly explain, If those workers retire, they can be replaced by newly hired employees who start at $20.50 per hour and whose wages wont rise to the full seniority level of $34 an hour until they have been there for 10 years. For Unifor, what is paramount in their calculations is not the well-being of the members they claim to represent, but the maintenance of a lucrative dues base that funds their six figure salaries, perks and expense accounts.

A portent of what is in store regarding the already brutal pace of work comes from recent events at the CAMI plant. GM is producing more truck frames than they can assemble and is seeking to ship some product to Oshawa for final assembly. However, the company has demanded 20 minutes more production without cost as a condition for doing this, which would be achieved by having some Oshawa workers go 3.5 hours without a break. The pace on the shop floor is already intense. Currently, workers get only two 10 minute breaks a day (after two hours of work) along with a 20 minute lunch.

Workers denounce two-tier wages and benefits

The World Socialist Web Site and its Autoworker Newsletter have received comments from their readership in the Canadian assembly plants that shed further light on the plans of the various Unifor bargaining committees. An Oakville Ford worker writes that trust in union representatives is at an all-time low, with workers discussing withdrawing from Unifor and establishing a smaller auto industry-based organization.

He writes, Here in Canada Jerry Dias is pushing investment too. What a bunch of horse shit. Our retirees gave up PCOLA [cost of living allowance] because the national union pushed on us the need to be competitive against other plants. With the Canadian dollar sitting at 75 cents and record profits being made it is time to get back some of the concessions like PCOLA and wage parity.

Another Oakville worker writes, No concessions! Definitely our turn to reap some of the rewards of record profits Ford is getting. Enough is enough.

A worker from GM Oshawa reports that recent information leads him to believe that we can kiss our efforts of getting PCOLA back. Dias has decided to not even put our demands on the table. After we were told by the auto council that the leadership was behind our efforts, we have now been thrown under the bus. So much for democracy and solidarity. Sad day for trade unionism.

Workers from Windsor FCA have written to describe how older workers are being pressured to leave and given the most onerous jobs to drive them from the plant to be replaced by poorly paid new hires. Two-tier arrangements continue to undermine worker solidarity. A veteran worker at FCA said, The differences between older and newly hired workers are numerous and deep. Resentment is felt over it. There are 10 years before full pay is reached. Benefits are deeply compromised. Guys do the same job on different pay. In retirement it is also uncertain what the exact terms of the new hire benefits plan are, as some of it is tied to things beyond their control. But they are certainly worse than for those hired before 2012. If a worker transfers to another plant, they dont lose corporate seniority, but they start as the lowest seniority in the next plant.

A Brampton FCA worker reported: The problem is that the corporation wants to slash wages further and what theyve done is make the jobs, especially in assembly, a lot more difficult. The jobs are quicker and production has increasedtheyre doing about 450 cars a shift. The jobs have changed since I started. Theres been a lot of cutbacks and so on. Theyve tried to save money.

Unquestionably, Canadian auto workers will seek to resist Unifors collaboration with the auto bosses to impose further concessions and job cuts. But workers need to draw the lessons of the recent US contract struggle, and more generally of the transformation of the unions into corporatist appendages of big business.

A fight to defend jobs and living standards requires the formation of rank-and-file factory committees to unite autoworkers, not only across auto plants in Canada, but also in the US and internationally in a common struggle against the corporations and the unions, which function as junior partners of the auto bosses. We encourage readers of the World Socialist Web Site and the Autoworker Newsletter in the plants to step up their efforts to build resistance and to share information and their comments with us for dissemination among autoworkers throughout North America.
An estimated half dozen or more prisoners locked away in solitary confinement at Wisconsins maximum security facility in Waupun, Wisconsin announced last week they would begin a hunger strike in opposition to what one inmate has described as a living hell in the institutions hole.

Waupun, Wisconsin, population 11,340 at the 2010 census, is located 55 miles northeast of Madison. It is notoriously known as the Prison City, with three state prisons inside the city limits, all but bordering one another. The state prisons constitute the small citys chief employer, dwarfing other small businesses, including a modest-sized cheese factory.

Waupun Correctional Institution (WCI), today designated as a maximum-security facility, was built in 1851 and as of this month houses 1,236 men in a physical setup planned for no more than 882. Three blocks away sits the Dodge Correctional Institution (DCI), also a maximum-security prison, converted in 1977 from the State Hospital for the Criminally Insane. The DCI incarcerates 1,625 men this month at a site designed for 1,165. The John C. Burke Correctional Center (JBCC), also designated as a minimum-security unit and built in 1989, houses up to 250 male inmates and abuts the south end of the DCI.

Of the approximately 2 million human beings imprisoned in the United States, Wisconsin incarcerates 22,415 as of May 31, with another 66,439 men and women tethered to probation and parole. Needless to say, the vast majority of these people, on the state and national level, grew up in poor and working class families and neighborhoods of America. A very significant number of them entered the prison system as youth.

LaRon Mckinley Bey, one of the hunger strikers, reported to WisconsinWatch.org that he has been held in solitary confinement at Waupun prison for a quarter century. This April he filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (WDC), pointing to the worsening of mental illnesses for himself and the other some 116 persons in the hole at WCI, constituting torture and cruel and unusual punishment.

Bey reported in the lawsuit that his only human contact consists of prison guards who shackle his arms and legs while taking him to and from a shower, or to a small dog-kennel-like run to walk back and forth for what exercise he obtains.

Any visits he might receive are done by remote video. He and the other solitary inmates report they are never allowed outside. In his own handwritten complaint, he reported, Many mentally ill prisoners cry and act out because theyve been broken by the effects of isolation.

Another Waupun inmate named Norman C. Green, who also calls himself Prince Aturn-Ra Uhuru Mutawakkil, reports he has been in solitary for approximately 18 years, and in a 2012 blog described the isolation as a holocaust (that) leaves the body static but alive (and) incinerates the mind and spoils the soul.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, in his career as a Republican state legislator, led the passage of the truth-in-sentencing law, enacted in 1999, which dramatically lengthened prison sentences, entirely doing away with early release for compliant prison behavior. As governor, Walker has declined all requests for pardon. President Bill Clinton signed and Hillary Clinton supported the 1994 federal crime bill that financed $8.7 billion in prison building for states that enacted these draconian statutes and that so dramatically swelled the American gulag with hundreds of thousands of working class youth and the poor.

The solitary confinement cells are constructed of pale cinder block and concrete and admit minimal natural light, equipped with a small bed, a water basin and a toilet. Inmates are allowed scant personal items, and for hours and days, according to WisconsinWatch, have been left without bedding and clothes, except perhaps a paper gown.

Inmates are very often punished by longer stays in solitary for complaining about their conditions, or for writing letters to authorities and prison advocacy groups. In 2015, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism documented 40 instances of inmate psychological and physical abuse by prison guards, some of which were committed while prisoners were in chains. Two thirds of the complaints were directed against an apparent sadist who has been allowed, apparently at his own request, to continue working in the hole at Waupun since 2005, despite multiple lawsuits by inmates and their families, all of which have been dismissed by the courts.

In June of last year, the state of Wisconsin ostensibly mandated the abolishment of 360-day sentences to confinement, including for complaints about treatment, talking back to guards or possession of tobacco. For serious infractions, the maximum time in solitary initially was to be no more than 90 days. Any extensions of time in the hole of 120 days or more were to be reviewed by the secretary of the Department of Corrections. Subsequently, prison officials were discovered withholding information from the inmates as to the requirement for reduced time in solitary, and instead imposing lengthy terms in isolation in violation of the law.

As has been widely disclosed in the United States prison industry, in public and privately owned facilities, the administrations and staffs are a law unto themselves.

In 2013, the Association of State Correctional Administrators revealed that in one 12-month period there were 4,327 male prisoners held in solitary during the year, about 20 percent of the Wisconsin prison population. Fourteen inmates were kept in solitary for over ten years apiece.

Early in the last decade, the American Civil Liberties Union filed lawsuits complaining about inhumane conditions at Wisconsins supermax prison in the tiny southwestern village of Boscobel, where inmates where kept under bright lights 24 hours a day and in chilled, cold cells with scant clothing. Talib Akbar was put in solitary for a year, part of it at Boscobel, for complaining about neglect of medical needs by a prison nurse.

The 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2014 that John Townsends imprisonment, while mentally ill and held in solitary at the Correctional Institution in Green Bay, Wisconsin did not meet the Eighth Amendments standard for the minimal civilized measures of life necessities. In testimony, Townsend, who is suicidal and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, told the court that his sole possessions in solitary were a blanket, a smock and a book. For most of 259 days in the hole, he had no sheets or pillow, and that he was so cold in the tiny cell most of his days that he had to pace nonstop in an attempt to warm himself.

The court disclosed that Townsend was often denied toilet paper, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, and was compelled to live for weeks entirely naked in his cell without bedding, linen, mattress or shoes.

Another mentally ill inmate named Jiles was moved from one solitary pen to another in Green Bay, Waupun, and Columbia prisons, receiving no treatment of his illness at any the facilities, instead being administered ramped-up punishment at all of the facilities. Jiles was placed naked in empty cold cells for weeks with nothing to read, no contacts or visits or phone calls, and food limited to dirty sacks of oatmeal and jello he had to eat with his fingers.

Adding to the inmates desperation that has led to the hunger strike is the futility of the multiple lawsuits filed by the prisoners against these Dickensian hell holes. The Waupun maximum security unit has been the target of more litigation by inmates and their families than any other Wisconsin prison, and the suits go nowhere. William Pollard, the Waupun warden, and his guards have been sued hundreds of times for mental and physical abuse, and the state of Wisconsin court officials have consistently protected the gulags overseers.

In 2013, Marcus Childs filed a lawsuit against Waupuns notoriously sadistic guard after being placed naked in a cold solitary cell and being refused a blanket. The case was dismissed in March of that year because Childs missed the deadline of filing a court-ordered document. He failed the timely filing because he had hung himself in his cell on February 21, 2013.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say a Tampa Bay area teen was shot and wounded at a welcome-home party for a man who had just been released from prison.

St. Petersburg police report in a news release that several dozen people were gathered at a home early Tuesday morning when two men with their faces covered approached on foot and began firing shots. The release says a bullet struck 16-year-old Javarious Rashard Martin in the head.

By the time officers reached the scene, Martin had been placed in a private vehicle to be driven to the hospital. Other responding officers stopped that vehicle, and St. Petersburg Fire-Rescue paramedics began treatment while taking the teen to a nearby hospital.

The release says Martin was in very critical condition.

No suspects were immediately arrested or charged.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - As the rest of the nation debates gun control in the wake of the Orlando massacre, the City of Tallahassee is caught up in a debate of its own.

In 2014, City Commissioners including now Mayor Andrew Gillum, refused remove an ordinance that bans people from firing a gun in public parks within city limits.

That lawsuit resulted in a judge finding no wrong on the Mayor and City Commissioner's part, however this decision is being appealed by opponents. Since then, city officials filed a cross-claim saying the statute that attempted to prevent them from keeping guns from firing in city parks was unconstitutional.

Mayor Gillum says the measure was symbolic of the city's belief that it should be able to regulate how and where firearms are used in the Tallahassee community.

The National Rifle Association joined the city's opponents last week, saying commissioners are acting out of their jurisdiction. The city believes though that the state overstepped limits set forth in the constitution.

"We're fighting for our local rights, to create ordinances and laws related to guns that protect the public safety, gets these weapons out of the hands of criminals, and people who intend to do us harm," said Gillum. "And we think that we at the local level know best how to do that, and we're asking the state to back on and let us do what we've been elected to do."

The Florida League of Cities, six Florida Mayors, and a handful of other organizations are backing Gillum and City Commissioners.

And more than the state of firearms in Tallahassee parks is at stake; this suit could set a precedent that will affect how communities state-wide make future ordinances of their own. The city leaders named in the suit could also potentially be removed from office pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

WTXL has reached out to the NRA for a comment on their involvement.
ORLANDO, FL - Florida Governor Rick Scott has issued an update from different state agencies on their response to the Orlando nightclub shooting.

You can read the report on the different state agencies from the Governor's office below:

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

All victims have been identified and FDLE has notified all of the victims families.

The FBI is leading the investigation but FDLE will continue to provide assistance with regional assets and coordinate with all involved law enforcement agencies throughout the ongoing investigation.

FDLE is assisting the FBI investigating links to terrorism, and the Florida Fusion Center continues to share resources, expertise and information to better identify, detect, prevent, apprehend and respond to criminal and terrorist activity utilizing an all crimes/all hazards approach.

FDLE is also leading the officer involved shooting investigation. All involved officers have been relieved of duties per normal officer-involved shooting procedure.

FDLE encourages all Floridians and visitors to report suspicious activity. If You See Something, Say Something by calling 1-855-FLA-SAFE or report online at FDLE.State.FL.US.

FDLE has set aside more than $520,000 in residual Justice Assistance Grant funds for the City of Orlando and Orange County to be used for overtime pay for law enforcement and equipment associated with the terror attack. FDLE also requested $2 million in emergency Justice Assistance Grant funds from the Department of Justice to help with similar costs.

Florida Division of Emergency Management

The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Tallahassee is now at a Level 2 activation. The SEOC continues to coordinate efforts with federal, state and local partners to monitor and respond as needed.

The State Emergency Response Team has also been coordinating with private sector partners to provide families and survivors with important services such as free flights (Jet Blue), lodging (Airbnb), and transportation (Uber).

FEMA granted FDEMs request to allow the Orange County Sheriff Department to re-purpose existing funds to help cover operational overtime costs in response to terror attack.

Florida Department of Children and Families

The Florida Department of Children and Families is directing $500,000 in funding to local providers for crisis counseling services which include grief counseling, trauma support, and emotional support for victims and their families and loved ones.

Three crisis centers established on Sunday provided basic support, water, food, information, and counseling. Therapists were made available throughout the region to work with those affected by the tragedy, and assisted first responders and clergy.

Aspire Health Partners, a local provider contracted through the regional behavioral health managing entity contracted by DCF, Central Florida Cares Health System, continues to provide free crisis counseling to anyone in need. Services will be made available in the community as long as needed. Aspires counselors are available for crisis and grief counseling from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Aspires Princeton Plaza at 1800 Mercy Drive in Orlando. For more information, visit www.myflfamilies.com.

Local government requested DCF's assistance at a Family Assistance Center that opened today at the Citrus Bowl. This operation will provide a single source of resources for the victims and families impacted by the terrorist attack. The operation will run from 10-8 today, Thursday, and Friday, and this weekend from 8-2 pm Saturday, and 12-8 on Sunday. Contact [cityoforlando.net/FamilyAssistanceCenter]cityoforlando.net/FamilyAssistanceCenter or 407-246-4357 for more information.

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is working with businesses in Florida and across the nation that are interested in supporting the victims and families of the Orlando shooting. If your business is interested in providing assistance, please visit the City of Orlandos volunteer coordination page HERE.

DEO is also working with businesses that have been impacted by the shooting. If your business needs assistance, including emergency business loans, please email ESF18@em.myflorida.com or call 850-410-1403. Businesses impacted by the shooting, including those in the restricted access area, can fill out a [flvbeoc.org/index.php?action=bda]Business Damage Assessment Survey. (Select Orlando Emergency Event in the drop-down menu.

DEO is coordinating with CareerSource Florida to provide dislocated worker funding to the local workforce board to assist affected workers.

DEOs mobile unit is prepared to deploy to the area in order to provide access to services available through Floridas workforce system, including job search assistance, career counseling, training assistance, direct services to the local business community, and help affected employees apply for reemployment assistance benefits.

Volunteer Florida

Volunteer Florida has worked closely with the Governors Office to support the activation of the Florida Disaster Fund, the State of Floridas official private fund established to assist Floridas communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency or disaster. The Florida Disaster Fund will help provide financial support to organizations that serve survivors, their families, and all those in need. To make a contribution, please visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org.

Volunteer Florida is also currently compiling partner resources and determining unmet needs as well as assessing case management capabilities.

Florida Department of Health

The Florida Department of Health has waived the fee for death certificates for the families of the victims.

The department is closely monitoring the supply of blood in the area and is in regular contact with OneBlood and other Orlando area blood banks. Residents who are interested in donating blood should schedule an appointment via www.oneblood.org.

DOH has established contact with the Florida Crisis Consortia and proactively alerted Disaster Behavioral Health Teams to be on stand-by for future deployments.

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles continues to stand ready to assist with traffic and road closure support if needed.

FHP is providing scene security and patrol in the immediate area of the incident. Motorists should plan their routes accordingly and try to avoid the area.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles urges all Floridians to register or update their Emergency Contact Information (ECI). By registering emergency contact information, an individuals family and loved ones can have peace of mind that law enforcement can reach them in the event of an emergency. Individuals can register or update their ECI here: www.flhsmv.gov/ECI.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The FWC Critical Incident Stress Management Team is available in the Orlando region to provide emotional and psychological support to first responders if needed.

FWC has additional officers available to provide relief support to Orange County law enforcement agencies if requested.

Florida Department of Education

Florida College System

Seminole State College has grief counselors available for students and staff at all of its campuses. The college is also encouraging students and staff to use the crisis hotlines as needed; students should call (407) 416-9976 and staff should call (800) 272-7252.

Valencia College has grief counselors available for students and staff, as well as reflection spaces, on all campuses. The college has also increased the number of security officers and law enforcement present and encouraged students and staff to use the crisis hotlines as needed; students should call (800) 878-5470 and staff should call (866)-248-4094.

The Department of Educations Division of Florida Colleges will continue to watch for updates and ensure counselors are available where needed.

K-12 Public School System

Orange County Public Schools began summer school today, June 15, and crisis teams are in place at all secondary schools to provide grief counseling to students and staff. The district is monitoring elementary schools and will provide assistance as needed.

District employees have been given information on assistance options for trauma and grief.

The Department of Education will remain in contact with Orange County Public Schools leadership to ensure its students need are met.

Florida Department of Transportation

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) remains in constant contact with all local and district partners and stands ready to offer traffic and road closure support.

FDOT urges all Orlando resident and visitors to monitor local traffic advisories through FL511.com.

Florida Department of Elder Affairs

The Department of Elder Affairs is gathering information on organizations that have mental health services and call center services available to assist or supplement existing resources or personnel if needed.

Florida Department of Management Services

DMS continues to monitor both commercial, cellular and public safety land mobile radio to ensure first responders, residents and visitors are able to communicate response and recovery needs.

DMS staff continue to remain on stand-by to deploy staged emergency communications resources (wire-line/ wireless/ radio services, equipment and personnel) if needed.
John B. Reed, 53, right, was captured in Mexico where he allegedly fled after killing two people in Snohomish County. Tony Reed, left, pleaded guilty to helping his brother hide the bodies. (Snohomish County Sheriff Office)
By its very nature, the Affordable Care Act will increase demand for doctors. An estimated 3
YAKIMA, Wash. -- A homeless encampment along East Chestnut Avenue now has basic hygiene facilities, which should help address public health concerns.

On Tuesday morning, three portable toilets and a hand-washing station were placed at a vacant lot adjacent to the makeshift campsite.

Having portable facilities should address concerns raised by neighbors and downtown businesses since the encampment was erected in March, when temporary winter shelters closed, said homeless camper Mike Wilson.

That should help, he said outside his tent Tuesday morning.

Encampment brings Yakima's homeless situation into sharp focus Sitting shirtless in sweltering temperatures at a homeless encampment in East Yakima, Dee carved small melons into chunks that he handed to nearby friends. Were just out here doing what we do: take care of each other  survive, said the 37-year-old.

The encampment is sandwiched on a narrow strip of public property between a sidewalk and Chestnut Avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets.

Business owners say the encampment has brought more homeless people to the downtown area. The increased homeless are disrupting business and urinating and defecating in parking lots, business owners have previously said.

Last week the City Council approved placing the toilets and hand-washing station at the site to immediately address health concerns while city officials and homeless advocates grapple with possible solutions that include possibly relocating the encampment.

Meanwhile, the camp has caused tension between the business community and Yakima Neighborhood Health, which provides services to the homeless.

Some business owners complain Neighborhood Health has fostered the East Chestnut encampment by offering campers services at the old Greyhound bus depot a block away on East Yakima Avenue.

Although there hasnt been an increase in the overall number of homeless people in recent years in the county, they have become more visible downtown because Neighborhood Health uses the depot as a station to transport the homeless to temporary winter shelters, Chief Operating Officer Rhonda Hauff said.

Last winter Neighborhood Health was asked by the city and Yakima Valley Conference of Governments  which administers the countys homeless program  to use the depot as a transport station, she said.

Disputing accusations from the business community, Neighborhood Health administrators say the same services offered at the depot had previously been offered for seven years at an office a block away on Sixth Street without any complaints.

Now business owners want a voice in finding a solution. The Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce will host a noon meeting June 28 at the Fourth Street Theatre, 14 S. Fourth St. Homeless advocates, city and county officials are invited.
A 25-year-old convicted murderer who fled a state work release facility in Yakima just months before his sentence was to expire was captured i
TORONTO- The family of a Canadian hostage who was executed by an Islamist militant group in the Philippines said on Tuesday they supported the Canadian government's policy of not paying ransom in kidnapping cases.

The Philippines on Tuesday confirmed the death of Robert Hall, who had been held hostage by al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf on a remote southern island with three other people since September 2015.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday condemned the killing, but also said the Canadian government cannot and will not pay ransom in such cases because it could encourage additional kidnappings.
The White House announced that it is against giving Israel an additional $455 million in anti-missile defense aid on Tuesday. The declaration came in a letter to congress dealing with an Israeli request to increase funding for anti-missile defense systems in the Jewish state.

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The letter to congress was six pages long and was sent following a congressional decision to increase Israeli military aid, and against the backdrop of tensions between the Obama administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a new and multi-year aid package.

The letter said that Obama's advisors may recommend that the president use his veto power if Congress passes the aid package increase.

In the section dealing specifically with Israel, the White House said that " furthermore, the Administration opposes the addition of $455 million above the FY 2017 Budget request for Israeli missile defense procurement and cooperative development programs "

Irone Dome missile defense system (Photo: Hertzel Yoseph)

The American Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC) expressed its concerns with the White House opposition to the increase in aid to Israel.

"We are disappointed in the White House's decision and criticism of Congress for funding US-Israel missile defense cooperation. These cooperative programs  including the Arrow, Davids Sling, and Iron Dome  are critical for Israels defense against a growing array of missile threats and make an important contribution to US missile defense programs."

The Israeli request for funding anti-missile defense systems is an integral part of the multi-year aid request. It would mean the addition of several million dollars in aid every year, and would be incorporated into the $40 billion in aid Israel would like to receive from the US over the course of the next decade.





Obama and Netanyahu (Photo: Reuters)

Israel has received several hundred million dollars worth of aid in order to fund the Iron Dome, Magic Wand, and Arrow 3 missile defense systems from the US congress. In fact, Congress approved an additional $600 million for these systems in 2015, a figure much higher than the initial $150 million which the Obama administration initially wanted to give.

This aid is not part of the MOU framework between the two countries which is due to end in two years, and Israel is requesting that this aid become part of that framework.

Officials noted that the US offered Israel between $3.4 and $3.7 billion in aid a year, as opposed to the $3.1 billion Israel receives today. However, the Administration says that if Israel doesn't go to Congress, the Administration will give Israel close to $4 billion a year.

This $4 billion aid package is conditional on Israel will only using the money to purchase US made military equipment, and that Israel using the aid money to buy Israeli made military equipment.
A senior Hamas member involved in building tunnel infrastructure, Bassam Mahmoud Baraka, turned himself and his family in to Israel during the first week of June, according to Gazan sources.

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Baraka, a son of a senior member of Hamas in Gaza, crossed the border into Israel with his wife and children and with valuable equipment, namely his laptop and secret maps apparently showing part of the tunnel infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. According to sources, on the day of his disappearance he arrived at the home of his wife's parents and said he was going out to run errands and would return in the evening. He then went with his family towards the border and there gave himself up with his equipment to Israeli security forces. The Red Cross officially informed his family in Gaza that Baraka is in Israel.

Hamas tunnel discovered by the IDF in Gaza Strip (Photo: IDF spokesperson)

Sources in Gaza reported that an explosion heard in central Gaza Strip near the border fence with Israel on Tuesday. The sources in Gaza said that the Israeli Air Force attacked the area, and the IDF spokesman said, "The IDF carried out a trial run on the Gaza border." No injuries were reported in the incident.

Israel has worked extensively on the Gaza border in an attempt to expose Hamas attack tunnels and has already discovered two of them over the last few months.

Hamas activist Mohammad Atuna, 29, was arrested after crossing the border fence and in possession of two knives. He crossed with the intent of attacking Israeli forces on the border with Gaza last month .

The arrest of Mohammed Atawnah was revealed hours after locating the second tunnel discovered on the Gaza border. According to the Shin Bet, Atawnah, age 29, from Jabaliya, provided information during his interrogation.

A former tunnel digger, Atawnah was arrested after crossing the border from Gaza into Israel. He was found to be in possesion of two knives, and told interrogators that he meant to attack any Israelis he came across.
Dozens of regional council heads from the periphery regions of Israel marched on Tuesday in protest of the Israeli government's education and welfare budget allocation policies. Leaders from Yeruham and Rahat in the south all the way to Akko and Sakhnin in the north joined the march to Jerusalem.

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According to these council heads and mayors, the way the government appropriates funding only perpetuates the inequality between the periphery areas of Israel and the center of the country.

They are calling for a different way to calculate the allocation of funds so that poorer cities and will regions receive more funding than wealthier cities and regions with larger tax bases.

As it stands now, there is only a higher amount of funding for middle and high schools in the periphery. I high schools, the funding is conditioned on the number of students enrolled at each school.

Periphery mayors march for educational equality (Photo Yaniv Afuta)

"A child who grows up in a poorer community will receive less (government) support than a child who grows up in a wealthier community. This is because the (wealthy) municipalities are able to add on to what the Ministry of Education allocates to the city, and the parents (in wealthier areas) are more likely to be able to financially support their child's education," said Hili Truper, Head of the Education Administration for the city of Yeruham and one of the leaders of the protest march.

She continued, saying that "the regions and cities which are more impoverished are unable to this, despite the fact that they would love to be able to add to the Ministries' budgets, and despite the fact that the parents would love to be able to help as well. The government must close this gap."

The "Equality March" set off from Yeruham at 7:00am with both regional council and municipal leaders alongside private citizens. They passed through Segev Shalom on their way to Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Malachi, Beit Shemesh, and will eventually end up in Jerusalem next week to set up a protest tent outside the Ministry of Finance.

"It's unacceptable that half of the citizens of Israel are systematically discriminated against," explained Yeruham Regional Council Head Michael Biton, who came up with the idea for the march. "Equal opportunities for education and equal treatment when it comes to welfare arent privileges. It's the government's job and the job of the government ministers to fulfill their basic obligations."

Several municipal heads have joined the march including Mayor of Bat Yam Yossi Bachar, Akko Mayor Shimon Lankri, Netivot Mayor Yehiel Zohar, Sakhnin Mayor Muazen Ghanim, Emek Hama'ayanot Regional Council Head Talal al-Karnawi, and Rahat Mayor Dr. Mohammed A-Nbari, amongst others.

Periphery mayors march for educational equality (Photo Yaniv Afuta)

"The divide between the periphery and the center is giant, and the country must bridge this divide so that every child in the periphery will have the same chance (as a child in the center) to succeed," the mayor of Akko said.

He continued, saying "the strength of the country won't be measured in Tel Aviv or Hertzeliya, but in Yeruham, Akko, and Shlomi. As soon as the country begins to understand this, we will be able to create a stronger and healthier society."

"This divide is an existential threat," said Ofakim Mayor Zvika Greengold. "Dealing with this threat requires a dramatic shift to help the poorest municipalities and regional councils with various shortfalls in their budgets, in education in particular."
The first deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Homam Hamoudi, announced that Iraq plans to sue Israel for monetary compensation for carrying out Operation Opera, Israeli attack on the Osirak nuclear reactor in southeastern Baghdad which occured on June 7, 1981 .

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A statement published by Turkish news agency Anatolia said that "the Iraqi Foreign Ministry and the Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament has to raise the issue in the international arena and give it special attention, especially as it is the 35th anniversary of the Israeli attack against the nuclear reactor.

The Osirak nuclear reactor before its destruction (Photo: Yedioth Achronoth archives)

At the same time, Hamoudi called on the UN to implement Security Council Resolution 487 from1981 which gives Iraq the right to ask for compensation for the operation against the reactor, which he claims affected the countrys development. In the resolution the UN Security Council demanded that Israel, in view of its international responsibility for its act of aggression, pay prompt and adequate compensation for the material damage and loss of life suffered as a result of the said act.

Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in the Iraqi parliament, Abdel Bari Zibari, explained that there are several obstacles which stand in the way of filing the suit, especially the fact that so far Iraq has not received the required international assistance needed to sue Israeli regarding its attack. According to Zibari, such action requires international assistance, particularly from Security Council member countries, so that they will guarantee Iraq's right to file the lawsuit.

In the past there were voices raised in the Iraqi parliament regarding compensation from Israel due to the attack, but these never led to any concrete action. It seems that this time as well, in light of the issue having been dropped from the Iraqi agenda and Iraq's involvement in internal crises, the plans to sue will not come to fruition.
A large forest fire is raging in the Jerusalem forest next to Givat Shaul. The fire is being carried by the wind in an easterly direction.

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Jerusalem District Firefighter Spokesman Sergeant First Class Udi Gal said that eight firefighting planes have been dispatched, and that "firefighters are fighting huge flames and are trying to prevent them from getting close to houses and critical infrastructure. Additional forces from Beit Shemesh and the West Bank have been called up to help," he said. There are currently 35 firefighting teams fighting the blaze.

Forest Fire in Givat Shaul (Photo: Tal Cohen)

Forest fire in Givat Shaul (Photo: Esti Skoner)

(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

He also stressed that the flames are being fanned by the wind, and that the fire still is not under control. A seminary and Israel Electric Corporation offices have been evacuated.

Gal added that "the fire has rapidly progressed due to strong winds, and is spreading towards the Israel Electric Corporation offices. There are 35 firefighting teams on the ground. We call on the residents of Givat Shaul and the surrounding areas to shutter your homes and close your windows.

Firefighting plane outside of Givat Shaul (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

(Photo: Firefighter and rescue service)

Arik Abulof from the Jerusalem firefighters said that "the fire is spreading towards the Har Nof neighborhood. We are sending teams to the neighborhoods and to the (Jerusalem) forest to try and keep the flames from getting to the houses, which would require us to evacuate the residents. This is a persistent fire. We are expecting to be battling this fire for several more hours."

The Jerusalem Police said that traffic has been closed in the Har Nof area, but that route 1 to Tel Aviv remains open.
The next war with Hezbollah will "not be easy," warns the head of IDF Military Intelligence General Herzi Halevi at the 16th Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center Conference.

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He said that "the home front's experience in the next conflagration will be a lot more difficult."

"On the one hand, the (overall) situation is improving," the general said. "we are stronger than the other actors which surround us. But on the other hand, we are in a complicated environment  one might say explosive. The situation has both improved and become more complicated."

IDF Military Intelligence Chief General Herzi Halevi (Photo: Moti Kimchi)

The head of military intelligence discussed the processes which have been occurring in the Middle East over the past several years, and noted that "the Middle East is in a constant state of instability. We need to get used to the idea that the region is unstable."

He continued, adding that "Israel is the strongest player in the region. The largest armies have become weak, have changed, or are gone. New threats are developing around us - the threat of fire, the threat of infiltrations by different means... Perhaps it is because of our experience in the holocaust and our revival that we continue to feel weak."



In marking a decade since the Second Lebanon War, the IDF Intelligence Chief said that "it seems that the two sides are not against another decade of quiet. We don't want a war, but we are ready for one, and we are improving our capabilities. I don't think that the next war will be easy."

He then spoke about Hezbollah in Syria, saying that "Hezbollah has 1,500 dead from the fighting in Syria, and it has really affected the organization. (Hezbollah) is being challenged in Syria, is going through tough experiences, but is also achieving some successes."

Halevi further went on to say that "what we do has a large impact on the Middle East, and I will allow myself to say that it is even bigger than in the past. The wars have changed, and we need to also note that the war experience on the home front and the front lines has also changed.

Regarding Syria, the general stressed that "Israel's strategy of non-intervention in this conflict is the right strategy. We got involved twice; in protecting out border (with Syria) and humanitarianly. Anyone who comes to the border gets medical treatment. That's how we operate."
Jun 14, 2016 5:00 AM

Author: Peta Owens-Liston

Its World Blood Donor Day, yet not everybody can donate blood. For those in the LGBT community, this was highlighted in the aftermath of the Orlando massacre when thousands of gay and bisexual men responded to an urgent call for blood donors.

They were only allowed to donate if they had abstained from having sex with another man within the last 12 months. It used to be a lifetime ban, but last year the Food and Drug Administration switched it to a year ban. The original policy came at the height of the AIDS epidemic in 1983, when scientists knew little about the new virus and fear was high. Since then, HIV testing has become much more routine.

Who else cant donate blood? Although it may vary a bit from state to state, a one-year ban may also apply to those who have received tattoos or body piercing, acupuncture, an accidental needle stick or have come in contact with someone else's blood. If youve traveled to an area that may put you at risk for malaria (or have had it), or been treated for syphilis or gonorrhea you must wait a year. The American Red Cross has a long criteria listing what determines whether someone is eligible or not for donating blood.

When you add it all up less than 40 percent of the U.S. population can donate blood when you consider all the restrictions, says Lance Bandley, Community Relations Supervisor for ARUP Blood Services. He cites bans associated with travel and medications. Restrictions include common scenarios such as not feeling well on the day of donation (flu or cold-like symptoms), taking oral antibiotics within the last seven days (though antibiotics for acne are okay), and pregnancy.

If youve had cancer, a five to ten year ban on donating may exist. Individuals engaged in sex work or injection drug use are subject to a lifetime ban. While blood drives are done at high schools targeting a younger population, the rules dictate that these younger donors ages 16-18 must meet certain weight and height requirements. For example, girls who are 4 ft. 8 inches must weigh at least 156 lbs.

New epidemics can impact blood donations. Currently, because of the Zika virus, if you travel outside the United States, Canada, or Europe, you must wait four weeks before donating. Before Zika, it was the Ebola virus. Dengue fever also currently prohibits travelers and donors for four weeks if they have been to Hawaii. The rules on who can donate are constantly changing because of new diseases and medications, says Bandley.

Nationwide, there is a shortage of blood and patient populations continue to grow. There are more reasons than ever to defer someone from donating, so if someone has a chance to give blood they will be helping someone who is likely going through the worst time of their life.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday he had discussed ways to revive a "frayed" Syrian truce and get aid into besieged communities with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who had indicated "how this can be achieved".

Addressing a seminar in Norway on conflict resolution, Kerry said he was working to put in place a "genuine" ceasefire agreement among warring factions, despite repeated violations of the Feb. 27 truce.

The 70-minute meeting with Zarif took place soon after Kerry's arrival in Norway from the Dominican Republic. The two also discussed the implementation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and related sanctions relief for Tehran, the US State Department said.
Belgian police have received an anti-terror alert warning that a group of Islamic State fighters recently left Syria en route for Europe planning attacks in Belgium and France, a Belgian security source said on Wednesday.

The Belgian crisis centre in charge of coordinating security responses said an alert had been circulated to all police forces in the country but there were no immediate plans to raise the security level to the maximum that would indicate an imminent threat of an attack.

A source at France's Interior Ministry said Belgian authorities had transmitted a note to their French counterparts, who were currently reviewing the information in the alert. "We know the threat is very high," the source said. "We're reviewing all the elements (in the alert)."
Wednesday marks the beginning of the 55th annual Hebrew Book Week, which is actually to last ten days until Saturday, the 25th.

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The outdoor festivals of Book Week will become the largest bookstores in the country and will enable reading enthusiasts to peruse and purchase thousands of titles, new and old, hundreds of stalls, and plenty of cultural activities for all ages, such as children's shows, activities, crafts, musical performances, a mobile library, and storytelling.

The main events will take place in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, in Jerusalem's First Station, and in Beit Sapir in Kfar Saba. Additional events will take place in some 40 cities across the country, and, of course, in bookstores and local libraries.

Hebrew Book Week 2015 (Photo: Dana Kopel)

In Rabin Square, additional events will accompany the publishers' stalls, from an open-air reading enclosure containing thousands of books for children, youth and adults to a stand for creating bags for books, musical activities for children, storytelling, and a comics corner.

A major part of Hebrew Book Week is the consumerist component: a significant number of deals will be offered to the public to encourage purchasing. Readers will be able to meet many popular authors in the publishers' stalls and will be offered a wide variety of discounts and promotions during the only time during the year when book prices may be priced less than is usually permitted by law.

The publisher Yedioth Books, which shares an owner with Ynetnews, will give a gift book with the purchase of two others. A discount of 20 percent will also be given for every additional purchase. Steimatzky and Tzomet Hasefarim are both offering the deal of two adult books or three children's books for 99 shekels. Kinneret Zmora Bitan will charge NIS 100 for the same deal. Am Oved will offer a one-plus-one deal on a range of adult books and the same deal as Kinneret Zmora for children's.

The past year was a productive one for Hebrew publishing; according to a the annual book report published by the National Library for Book Week, 8,537 new books have been published this year, 225 of those electronically. According to the report, over 120 of those books examine relationships between men and women, some 75 deal with intrafamilial relations, about 30 are about the Holocaust, and 13 are about soldiers during and after their military service. In addition, 959 children's and young-adult books have been published, with the popular subjects being fantasy and science fiction. The multitude of new titles is not deterring new creators. In fact, a slight increase was noted in the books debuting in Hebrew: 388, compared to 372 last year.

Miri Regev (Photo: Getty Images)

This 55th Hebrew Book Week has hovering over it the fresh cancellation of the Law for the Protection of Literature and Authors from 2013 that implemented a fixed price for Israeli books during their first six months on the shelves and also set minimum royalties for Israeli authors. Although the law's cancellation will not take place for another month and a half, dissatisfaction has been noted amongst the various publishers with Minister of Culture Miri Regev.

The Publishers' Association even noted that the Ministry of Culture has not contacted them regarding a visit to Rabin Square during Book Week. "This is the first time that a minister will visit the square and does not do so in cooperation with the association," sources from the organization said. "Moreover, when Minister Regev took office, people from the association asked to meet with her, but they were refused, and this indicates the continuation of such behavior.

The Ministry of Culture replied, "Minister Regev opened Book Week in a municipal library in Lod. In the past, the Publishers' Association had indeed requested a meeting with the minister, but it was not at the time when the committee examining the book law was working, and the minister refused because she did not want to damage the committee's work. The minister would be happy to meet with representatives of the association, and she does not bear any resentment towards them."
US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro spoke at the 2016 Herzliya Conference on Wednesday, expressing the US government's opposition to boycotts of Israel. The ambassador quoted President Obama, who said in Febbruary, I have directed my administration to strongly oppose boycotts, divestment campaigns, and sanctions targeting the State of Israel. As long as I am President, we will continue to do so.

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"These are our marching orders, plain and simple, and we carry them out every day," said Shapiro.

BDS activists. The ambassador expressed his government's opposition to the boycott movement. (Photo: Citizenside.com)

He emphasized the importance of the peace process in fighting the boycott movement, saying, "Progress toward peace would also help the fight against BDS and would further weaken those who advocate isolation. True supporters of BDS have an anti-Israel, and in some cases even anti-Semitic, agenda, independent of efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But we must also reach those who support a two-state solution, but who might be tempted by the misguided arguments of the BDS movement."

Ambassador Shapiro. "Rather than buckle to blackmail, we increased our support for Israel." (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

The ambassador gave an historical perspective to the US's anti-boycott activities, reminding the audience of his own nation's experience at the end of such measures. "Boycotts are not an abstract notion for the United States," he said. "We were targets of an Arab oil embargo in the 1970s. We faced a choice of oil or Israel, and we refused to surrender. Rather than buckle to blackmail, we increased our support for Israel, outlawed compliance with Arab boycotts, and doubled-down on our diplomatic efforts at Arab-Israeli peacemaking, decisions that proved momentous and hugely beneficial to both our countries."

Shapiro expressed his country's solidarity with the victims of the terror attack at Tel Aviv's Sarona Market, saying, "Not long before the tragedy in Orlando, I visited the Sarona market. I went as a friend and as an ally. I was drawn there to express my countrys solidarity as Israel struggles with yet another deplorable, unjustifiable act of terror. We condemn this terrible attack without reservation. It can never be justified or explained away. May the memories of the fallen be a blessing and source of comfort to their families and communities, and may the wounded find refuah shlemah ('full recovery'). Our common sense of grief, friendship, and resolve unites us in these dark days and reinforces our commitment and our cooperation to fight hate, to defend our peoples, and to secure peace. "
Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman will fly on Saturday night to the United States to work on reaching an agreement on the military aid deal between the two countries that has experienced recent difficulty.

He will meet there with his American counterpart, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.
Authorities searched for the body of a 2-year-old boy on Wednesday after the toddler was dragged into a lagoon by an alligator in front of his family during a vacation at Walt Disney World resort in Florida.

The boy was snatched as he played at the water's edge on Tuesday night, despite his parents' effort to save him, by an alligator believed to be between 4 and 7 feet (1.2 and 2 meters) long.
The Knesset approved 5716 on Wednesday the second and third reading of the Terrorism Law, which has been Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked's flagship bill since she received the portfolio. It will thus enter the Israeli criminal code.

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The bill began under Tzipi Livni when she was the minister of justice. It expands the tools used to handle terrorism via criminal and legal mechanisms, extends the maximum sentence for carrying out various terrorism-related crimes to 30 years, anchors in law administrative detentions, and sets sanctions for multiple kinds of terrorism-related offenses.

According to the new law, anyone who heads a terrorist organization, directly or indirectly, will be sentenced to 25 years' imprisonment. However, if that group carries out attacks, its leader will be sentenced to life in prison. The same sentence is fixed for those who carry out an act of terrorism with chemical, biological or radioactive weapons. Those who receive life sentences will not be able to apply for parole for the first 15 years of their term.

3 years' imprisonment for incitement (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

In addition, every person who carries out an arms transaction for terrorist purposes is to be sentenced to 20 years in prison or a fine in an amount ten times the regular fine as set by law. Those in administrative roles in terrorist organizations can expect a punishment of ten years' imprisonment with a possible extension of a further five years if their actions were criminal. Anyone who commits a property related to terrorism will be subject to penalty of 10 years' imprisonment or a fine of 20 times the regular fine set by law.

Anyone who trains terrorists will be subject to a prison term of nine years; if they recruited new members to the terrorist organization during their training, or if they carry out operations for the organization, including threatening to carry out an act of terrorism, then they will be liable for a penalty of a further seven years,

A significant part of the new law is the sentence requirements for anyone who aids terrorists. Those who do will be subject to penalty of five years' imprisonment. The same sanction applies to those who provide services or means to terrorists, unless it is proved that they were not aware that the organization was in fact a terrorist one.

Ayelet Shaked (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Three years' imprisonment will be imposed on anyone who makes a public act of solidarity with a terrorist organization, including publishing praise, support or sympathy, waving a flag, displaying or playing posts with slogans or anthems. A similar punishment will apply to those who do not prevent an act of terrorism. Two years have been laid out as the prison term for those who advertise or provide advertising services for material demonstrating solidarity with a terrorist organization.

The new law will also allow the minster of defense or the government to declare an organization to be a terrorist organization by an order on the basis of a pre-application from the head of the Shin Bet and after receiving the attorney general's recommendation. The Security Cabinet will also be able to make such a declaration if a qualified organization or the UN Security Council declares the organization in question to be terrorist.

After the law was approved, Shaked said, "The terrorist attacks in Orlando and Tel Aviv show more than ever that there is no reason for terrorism. There are excuses. Only by comprehensive punishment and deterrence will it be possible to beat it. Today, the Knesset and the State of Israel became the world spearhead of the war on terrorism. Terrorism in its 2016 form is receiving a 2016 response. I am grateful to the Constitution Committee, headed by MK Nissan Slomiansky for pushing the law through. I thank the deputy attorney general, Raz Nazari, and Naama Feuchtwanger from the (Criminal) Legislative Advice Department for the work in preparing the law.

Tzipi Livni (Photo: Gil Yohanan) (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

The chairman of the Constitution Committee, Nissan Slomiansky, said, "Today the Terrorism Law was approved that has been delayed for more than six years. The law adds to and strengthens the authority of security services to fight terrorism. It also cancels some 60 emergency directives from the British Mandate error, and it is drafted with immense expensive, which the State of Israel unfortunately has in the war on terrorism."

Livni welcomed the law's passing, saying, "The law will provide new and better tools to Israel in the fight against terrorism, tools that haven't changed since 1948, and it is especially necessary in light of the continued wave of terrorism during the past year."
Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman is to fly on Saturday night to Washington, DC, to meet with his American counterpart, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. The following Wednesday, Lieberman is to participate in a rollout ceremony for the advanced F-35 warplane that has been purchased by the Israeli Air Force.

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Unrelated to the minister's trip, the White House announced on Tuesday night that it was opposed to an Israeli request for an additional $455 million to be used for anti-missile defense systems. The declaration came in a letter to Congress dealing with an Israeli request to increase funding for anti-missile defense systems in the Jewish State.

The letter to Congress was six pages long and was sent following a congressional decision to increase Israeli military aid, and against the backdrop of tensions between the Obama administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a new and multi-year aid package.

Ashton Carter and Avigdor Lieberman (Photos: EPA, AP)

In the section dealing specifically with Israel, the White House said, "Furthermore, the Administration opposes the addition of $455 million above the FY 2017 Budget request for Israeli missile defense procurement and cooperative development programs."

The Prime Minister's Office responded to this development , writing, "There has been no cut in American assistance. There is an internal debate between Congress and the White House on the size of the annual supplement to the missile defense program.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu is working to anchor this supplement as part of the discussions on the assistance agreement for the next ten years.

"Not only will security assistance for missile defense not be cut, it will be increased."

Futuristic F-35 (Photo: AFP)

National Security Council Acting Chairman Yaakov Nagal said on Wednesday evening in a briefing to political correspondents that Israel is interested in signing the new defense aid package with the US before Obama finishes his term. However, he specified that this was "not at any price."

Nagal noted that there is no connection between the White House's letter and the Israeli-American negotiations on defense aid. "The White House announced that it was opposed to adding $455 million for missile defense. They think that adding 455 (million) is too much and want to make it smaller. There's no crisis here and no reason to worry. We are in negotiations to reach the best deal possible for the people of Israel, and we are almost at the end of the process.

Nagal said that a strategic dialogue will take place between Israel and the US on Thursday morning on a number of subjects. A large American delegation, headed by Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken, will come to Israel. Those talks will not encompass military aid, which is being handled on the American side by American National Security Advisor Susan Rice and by Nagal on the Israeli side.
Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski arrived in Israel for an official visit on Tuesday. While the continent at large is in the midst of several crises, Waszczykowski's young conservative government has drawn internal criticism by taking several steps seen as attempts to seize control of the country's legal system and media.

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Tens of thousands took to the streets of Poland's largest cities to protest the government's actions, and the European Union threatened to sanction Warsaw. But the continent at large is dealing with its own problems on a larger scale: mass immigration waves, the threat of ISIS, the crumbling Greek economy, and the upcoming British vote that will decide whether or not it will continue to be a member of the EU.

Above all, there's the ongoing tensions with Russia, with increasing pressure in EU and NATO circles to prepare for an approaching conflict with Moscow. Poland is at the forefront of efforts to convince NATO to increase its preparedness in Russia-adjacent areas, just in case.

Waszczykowski, who met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, is a professional diplomat. His academic degrees are in history and philosophy, but he also has expertise in matters of security. Waszczykowski's diplomatic career started after his country was freed from communist rule. Amongst his previous roles are Polish ambassador to Iran, head of the Polish negotiation team participating in placement planning for an array of American missiles in Poland, and head of the Polish communication bureau to NATO (before the country joined the treaty organization).

Witold Waszczykowski. "The existence of (ISIS) is a very difficult problem." (Photo: AP)

During their meeting, Netanyahu told Waszczykowski, "We have a growing friendship, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss in concrete ways to make it even stronger," later adding, "This is a worldwide problem, obviously, of rampant barbarism that attacks all of our societies. And I think the civilized nations must band together. I said this yesterday at the meeting with the NATO ambassadors, and I say it again to you. And I also say that we should not only cooperate on matters of fighting terror, but to cooperate in other mattersof technology, of trade. You have a robust economy. We have a robust economy. And I think the more we cooperate, the better it will be for both our peoples."

Waszczykowski replied, "We have a chance today to discuss the situation in our regionsin your region, in my region. Both our countries face difficult problems, conflicts and sub-conflicts around, but at the beginning let me convey to you condolences because again there was a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. So please accept my condolences and please let me convey the condolence to the victims of the attack." He added: "There is a great opportunity, a great chance to develop a bilateral relationship, and you know, the Israeli technology can help us improve our situation, economic situation, and to develop our country further."

Waszczykowski is known for his uninhibited speech. He has proposed recruiting young refugees into an ISIS-fighting force, said that Russia is more of a danger than ISIS, and was even quoted uttering a possible race-based pun when speaking about US President Obama.

As an historian, do you think that the EU has reached its limits and might not survive the current problems it is facing now?

"I do not think that in the foreseeable future we shall experience the demise of the EU. The benefits of integration by far outweigh the costs. The level of interconnectedness of our economies is so high that any problem in the functioning of the single market might entail very negative consequences for the Member states. As a matter of fact, I believe that we should invest our energies in completing the single market. But we should not try to be excessively ambitious by creating false impression that we are in the business of creating an European superstate. There is little demand for it and nation-states remain the backbone of our identities."

What is the biggest threat to the EU as we speak?

"There are several threats, not a single one. The first one is the risk of wrong answer to the challenge of immigration. Second, it is the threat of Brexit, with negative consequences of losing a key EU member state. Third, it is the threat of still unanswered question about economic disparities among the EU members as well as sources of future economic growth and competitiveness. Last but definitely not least, there is a threat of insufficient awareness in some quarters of the EU of the seriousness of the geopolitical challenge posed to our cohesion by a resurgent and nationalist Russia."

Was Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, wrong in her decision to allow so many refugees and immigrants in?

"Undoubtedly migration crisis dominated the European agenda in the recent months. At the beginning of 2015 neither Poland, nor Germany and the EU as the whole, expected the crisis would expand to such dimensions. It would be futile to concentrate on our original assumptions. Now, we should focus on finding the universal solution to overcome the crisis as it concerns, with different intensity, all of the EU Member States."

"The dynamics of this crisis is unpredictable and it depends on figures and directions of the migration routes. Currently we are facing redirection from Balkan route towards Adriatic Sea and Italy. As a European community we are obliged to react to the crisis in the spirit of solidarity and from this point of view we understand the initial intensions standing behind Germanys approach to migration. Poland sees the necessity to help people in need of international protection. At the same time we stand on the position that the migration crisis can be solved by effectively dealing with the genuine  i.e. external - causes of migration. While it is not possible to cope with them for the time being, in my opinion the EU should focus on solutions such as tightening external border controls, maintenance of the integrity of the Schengen zone and closer cooperation with third countries."

"Poland, like other countries from our region, perceives the need for a broad European involvement in the external dimension of migration. We are ready for an extraordinary commitment aiming at the protection of the EU external borders, also through provision of relevant technical assistance. We are reinforcing our commitment to development of assistance and humanitarian aid, as well as to cooperation with the third countries in the area of counter-terrorism. At the same time, due to the very limited experience of social and political interaction with the Middle East, we cannot afford to fully participate in the redistribution mechanisms or other forms of central management of the migration flow inside the EU."

Waszczykowski with EU Foreign Affairs Representative Federica Mogherini. (Photo: EPA)

Can you imagine an EU without Great Britain?

"Without Great Britain the European Union would be a different and worse Union than the one we have at the moment. The UK was not among the Founding Fathers of the European integration but its contribution has been vital. By losing UK as a Member, the EU would be in a worse position to exert influence on the international scene. We would lose an important force for making our economies more competitive. Poland would lose an important ally in an attempt to reform the EU. And Brexit might pave the way for centrifugal forces elsewhere in Europe. Furthermore, although legal and political dynamics of negotiation between the EU and the UK after the leave vote are difficult to predict one thing is clear- the process would be cumbersome and time consuming."

The EU criticizes the Polish government for decisions it took, mainly regarding the constitutional court, that are considered as "autocratic". Mass demonstrations are being held in Poland's big cities against the policies of the conservative government. Is a conflict with the EU avoidable?

"Speaking about a conflict is misleading and it does not reflect the dynamics of our contacts with the European Commission. Our Government continues a constructive dialogue with the Commission in a cooperative spirit. Our aim is to explain where there is a political problem to be solved internally by the Polish government and opposition and where we have to deal with a serious divergence of legal opinions. A dialogue with the Commission is natural for us: we are a EU Member State and the European Commission is our institution. Institutions can ask questions, but our dialogue has to be based on crucial principles such as objectivity and respect for sovereignty. We are pleased that the ECs First Vice President Frans Timmermans admitted that the crisis should be resolved in Poland and that the Commission didnt want to intervene in Polish internal affairs."

Are you fearing a new Russian attack in the Ukraine this summer?

"Russia continues to develop its military capabilities on Alliances Eastern flank. It is very important to notice that Russian militarization programme started long before the aggression on Ukraine: this process has been going on at least since 2008. We are witnessing a growing militarisation of the Kaliningrad oblast and an increase of forces deployed in Pskov and Saint Petersburg oblasts. Russia develops capabilities which can restrict NATOs manoeuvre field in Eastern Europe. It enhances its conventional forces, also of offensive nature. Plans of creating new military units in the Russian Western Military District have already been announced. We can also observe numerous Russian provocative actions (dangerous military incidents), confrontational political statements towards particular states of the Baltic region and other activities undermining regional security, like creative interpretation of the confidence building measures and arms control regimes. That is why Russian threat to European security architecture, including Baltic Sea region, has to be taken seriously."

What can the EU and NATO do in order to contain Russian activism outsides the national borders of the federation?

"The European Council agreed in March 2015 that the duration of the restrictive measures against the Russian Federation should be clearly linked to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements. This position was repeated by Ministers of Foreign Affairs of all EU Member States in March this year when they reaffirmed the EU's unity based on existing policies and principles. Ministers supported five principles guiding the EU's policy towards Russia, in particular implementation of the Minsk agreement as the key condition for any substantial change in the EU's stance towards Russia. We agree with the following logic of the implementation of the Minsk agreements: first we need to address security issues, reaching a long-lasting ceasefire, full exchange of prisoners, the OSCE Special Monitoring Missions full access to the entire conflict territory, including to the Ukraine-Russia border. It is clear that security provisions must be met in the first place and Russia as a key role to play with this regard. It is difficult to implement political commitments while clashes occur at the line of contact on daily basis and other provisions on military issues are not fulfilled."

You have served in Tehran. Do you see a positive evolution in Iran and how do you analyze the agreement signed on the nuclear issue with the Iranians?

"Polish-Iranian cooperation is especially close to me. In the course of my career I had the pleasure to serve as the Polish ambassador in Iran. I remember this period with great fondness. We recognize the desirability of active involvement of Iran in the peaceful settlement of regional conflicts, on the basis of the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, dialogue and seek peaceful solutions. I would like to emphasize that we welcome positive changes in Iran's foreign policy, initiated by President Hassan Rouhani. They were intensified after the conclusion of the Agreement on Iran's nuclear program (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) on the Iranian nuclear program."

Having dealt with security issues, how big a threat do you think ISIS is and would should be done against it?

"The existence of Daesh is a very difficult problem for our civilization, and we have to commonly find a solution how to fight it. We have to find a solution how to stabilize Middle East, how to stabilize North Africa, and these are the problems we are just discussing together."

The issue of Jewish property in Poland has shed a heavy shadow on the good relations between Poland and Israel. Is the current government ready to work for a Juarez solution of this matter?

"The difficulty and complexity of the matter lies in the fact that Poland was severely ravaged during World War Two. Its borders changed dramatically, which, in turn, resulted in a mass resettlement of populations living on Polands territory. That also affected the question of property and ownership. Nevertheless, property restitution has been underway in Poland for well over two decades now.

Restitution should not be regarded as an element of international politics. Nor should it be seen as a problem in Polish-Jewish relations. This is because only approx. 15% of those potentially interested in restitution are Jews now living outside of Poland. The remaining 85% are current non-Jewish Polish citizens. Property restitution is a process in which claimants ethnic or religious background is irrelevant: the Polish law treats everyone in the same manner. As far as private property is concerned, the existing legal system in Poland makes it perfectly clear that any legal or natural person (or their heir) is entitled to recover prewar property unlawfully seized by either the Nazi German or the Soviet occupation authorities, or by the postwar communist regime. Claimants may use administrative and/or court procedure to demonstrate that their property was unlawfully seized and to recover it. "

Protests in Warsaw against the conservative government's actions. (Photo: AP)

What are the main objectives of your visit to Israel?

"The objective of the visit is to confirm the very good state of our bi-lateral relations as well as to emphasize Polands efforts directed at creating peaceful solutions to the conflicts in the EUs southern neighbourhood. A tangible expression of this was our delegations participation in the Paris Conference, dedicated to discussing opportunities to restart the Middle East Peace Process. The visit also follows an intensification in recent months of our bi-lateral contacts on the highest level with Israel and other partners in the Middle East, including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon as well as the Palestinians. It also serves as a preparatory element for the G2G intergovernmental meeting in November as well as the Polish presidents upcoming visit to Israel, Palestine and Jordan. Our talks covered several regional and security issues, including the Syria conflict, the flow of refugees, fighting the Islamic State and other forms of terrorism as well as Polands engagement in the Middle East. We also exchanged views on relations with Russia and its involvement in the Middle East. Within this context, I presented our views regarding Moscows policies towards Ukraine and countries within the EUs eastern neighbourhood. We also discussed ways to break the impasse within the Middle East Peace Process."

How and in what domains would it be possible to strengthen relations between both countries?

"We are looking to deepen bi-lateral relations and increase contact between the citizens of our two countries, in particular with regards to the younger generation.

We want young Jews to not only associate Poland with the Holocaust, for them to discover Poland for what it is  a modern and dynamically developing country in the European Union. We want to continue our economic co-operation, above all in the field of modern and green technologies. We are interested in Israels experiences in promoting these sectors of the economy. Our very good political relations have the potential to translate into economic gains, including for the defence industry. With this in mind, we are interested in the exchange of experiences regarding know-how and the promotion of direct investments."

As a person who grew under the communist regime, have you ever thought that such good relations between your country and Israel would ever be possible?

I have always believed that Poland would regain full independence and would be able to once again lead a fully sovereign foreign policy, within which it strengthens ties with key partners around the world. Polish-Israel relations have a special, privileged character. Poland was one of the first countries to back the idea of dividing Palestine and recognizing the state of Israel. Jews from Poland made a significant contribution to building the economic and military-defence potential of Israel. At the same time, we remember that over centuries Jews helped shape Polands economy, culture and science. The shared history of our nations is very long and complicated. We are not afraid of talking about it openly. But we are also focused on the future and are looking for new opportunities for our Polish-Israeli partnership."
A few hours before her flagship Terrorism Law was approved in the Knesset on Wednesday, Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked submitted a new bill seeking to expand the president's pardoning powers to include the sanctions of disciplinary tribunals. The Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs will debate the bill on Sunday.

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As it currently stands, the president of the state can grant clemency to those who have been criminally convicted. He can overturn a conviction or shorten the prison term of someone who has been convicted by a court of law. Shaked's bill would add those convicted by disciplinary tribunals to the president's purview.

If the bill is approved, the president would be able to wield his power of clemency to shorten the sanctions sentenced by the various professional disciplinary tribunals established for different professionslawyers, doctors, etc.and which are entitled to regulate their professions and grant or revoke professional licenses.

The minister of justice and president of the state (Photos: Motti Kimchi, Mark Nieman, GPO)

An additional bill to be debated by the Ministerial Committee on Legislative Affairs would allow a court of appeal to impose prison sentences, even if another type of punishment has already been applied.

For instance, if someone found guilty of a crime were to begin performing community service as sentenced and an appeal were filed regarding his case asking to sentence him to prison, the appeals court would be entitled to do so while taking into consideration the time that he had performed community service.

This is in contrast to the current system by which, once a sentence has begun to be performed as set down by the court of first instance, the appeals court cannot change the type of sanction.

In the field of appeals regarding closing cases, a complainant who files an appeal against closing a case more than 30 days later as prescribed by law, shall be entitled to ask for leave to appeal from the Appeals Department at the Ministry of Justice, in addition to from the attorney general and the state's attorney, who currently deal with many hundreds of appeals each year, which leads to a delay in examining applications.
In an important election year, such as this one, good journalism is vitally important. We need the press to be working hard, digging into details, and holding our candidates, and elected officials accountable. We also need reporters who understand the importance of fairness and accuracy and can discern good sources of information from bad.

Ive noticed a trend recently from Lee Newspapers whereby attacks against gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte show up on the anonymous Democrat attack blog Montana Cowgirl and then, in the next day or two, show up in Lee Newspapers. Now, given that the authors of this blog are not even brave enough put their own names on their work, one would think that newspapers would be a little more careful before publishing pieces based on anonymous blog posts.

Unfortuntately, Lee Newspapers seems more interested catchy headlines than delving into the real issues of the gubernatorial campaign.

Greg Gianforte, a strong supporter of stream access, was attacked by the blog last month over what amounted to a minor boundary issue with FWP that was resolved to everyones satisfaction without public access ever being in danger. Instead of carefully examining the claims made by the blog and looking to the other sides of the story, Lee Newspapers ran a factually challenged piece the very next day that played into a false narrative.

In a similar vein, the Cowgirl published a piece about a Gianforte campaign phone-caller who mispronounced Helena a few times before she was corrected. Not exactly worthy of an article in a major newspaper, you would think. However, that was a headline in the Missoulian two days later. Despite the fact that the reporter had been at an event with both Gianforte and his running mate Lesley Robinson finishing up a five-day tour of the state. What information is more newsworthy to Montanans? The fact that campaign staffers had to tell a phone caller how to pronounce the name of a city? Or the fact that Gianforte and Robinson spent five days touring the state and pitching substantive ideas about the future of our state?

It seems to me that either Lee reporters arent doing their jobs, or there is a bias against Gianforte. Interestingly, Gianforte seems to be quite available to the media for interviews. He even voluntarily released 10 years worth of tax returns to the Associated Press in an unprecedented act of transparency. This in contrast to the current governor, who rarely makes himself available to the press for interviews or direct comment and regularly stonewalls open records requests from media.

Gianforte is engaging the press and everyday Montanans on the issues. Hes traveled all across the state holding public meetings. Why wont the press demand the same of Governor Bullock?

Now, I understand the desire for flashy headlines and headline clicks, but Montanans need and deserve better than gotcha journalism right now. We need our newspapers to be covering the real issues faced by Montanans. We need to hear about jobs and the economy, energy policy, education, not the latest gossip on a liberal blog.

Joe Dooling is the Lewis and Clark County GOP chair.
Released yesterday, figures from SQM Research show the national vacancy rate remained at 2.4% in May, unchanged from the mark recorded in April.

Conditions are also similar on a year-on-year basis, with a vacancy rate of 2.4% also being recorded in May 2015.

In May 2016 Perth was the only Market to see an increase in its vacancy rate, with it rising 0.2% over the month to 4.7%.

Over the month Darwin saw the biggest fall, with a 0.5% fall to 2.9% during May.

Canberras vacancy rate fell 0.3% over the month to 1.1%, while falls of 0.1% were recorded in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Hobart.

Adelaide remained steady at 2%.

Source: SQM Research

Hobarts small fall over the month bought its vacancy rate to 0.8% and is the fifth straight month it has been recorded at below 1%.

In the year to May, Hobarts vacancy rate has fallen by 0.7% and Louis Christopher, head of SQM Research, said conditions in the Tasmanian capital could soon become even better for land lords.

National rents were slightly weaker this month with a 12 month average change that is mirroring the CPI index, Christopher said.

Going forward we do not expect any resurgence in rents for the foreseeable future, barring some cities such as Hobart, which we do expect higher rental growth rates due to a falling trend in vacancies, he said.

Other notable decreases since May 2015 include a year-on-year fall of 0.8% in Canberra, 0.6% in Darwin and 0.5% in Melbourne

On the other side of the coin, Perth was home to the largest year-on-year vacancy rate increase with an alarming 1.3% increase since May 2015.
As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More
Newspaper headlines over the past several months have linked Montana State Rep. Art Wittich with the word corruption as a result of baseless allegations made by Commissioner of Political Practices Jon Motl. Now that the trial is finished, I find it hypocritical that Motl never offered any evidence, or even charged Mr. Wittich with corruption in the case. In fact, Motl has now admitted that a corruption claim was never part of his case against Mr. Wittich. HOWEVER, Mr. Motl threatens to charge Mr. Wittich with corruption if he seeks to pursue his constitutional defenses.

One has to wonder why Mr. Motl is so determined to proclaim corruption, yet did not present evidence or argue his case to the jury. Why was Rep. Wittich prevented from offering a defense against the corruption charge smear attack propagated by Mr. Motl in Montanas newspapers? Why is the media so quick to recognize any legitimacy with Motl given his liberal bias, while tarnishing the character and reputation of an accomplished legislator with no evidence?

Art Wittich is the smartest strategist and tactician in the Montana Legislature bar none. Mr. Motls attack on Mr. Wittichs character and reputation as well as his attempt to remove him from office has delivered a major blow to Repr. Wittich, his family and Montanas conservative faction within the Republican Party. I am not sure if this was the Commissioner of Political Practices' intent when he started his own personal investigation against Mr. Wittich without a public complaint. I am certain there is now the perception that it is political hunting season on all conservatives running for public office.

Albert D. Olszewski, MD

Representative for House District 11
Border News

Yuma, Arizona - Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents working at the Interstate 8 immigration checkpoint thwarted two smuggling attempts resulting in arrests for alien and narcotics smuggling this past weekend.

Agents arrested a male U.S. citizen who attempted to smuggle four illegal aliens. The man tried to avoid inspection by circumventing the checkpoint through Dome Valley on Friday morning.

On Saturday afternoon, a male Mexican national was arrested at the checkpoint for narcotics smuggling. The driver, in possession of an I-94 and a Border Crossing card, was referred for a secondary inspection after a canine detection team alerted to the vehicle he was driving. Agents discovered nearly 17 pounds of methamphetamine, valued at an estimated $51,000, hidden in the vehicles engine compartment.

The suspects, narcotics, and vehicles were processed per Yuma Sector guidelines in both incidents.

Federal law allows agents 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 or until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents effectively combat smuggling organizations attempting to illegally transport people and contraband through southwestern Arizona and California. Citizens can help the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling 1-866-999-8727 toll-free to report suspicious activity. Callers can remain anonymous.
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - Last night at 9:19 P.M., the Yuma Police Department responded to a call for shots fired in the 800 Block W. 11th Street.

The initial investigation revealed shots were fired striking a vehicle in the area. There are no reports and no indications anyone was injured.

Oscar ESTRELLA and Nathalie ESTRELLA are being sought as possible witnesses and to check their welfare.

The case remains under investigation.

The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call Detective Gawler at (928) 373-4708 and/or Detective Pino at (928) 373-4727 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous. Remember if your information leads to an arrest you may receive up to a $1,000 cash reward.
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - The City of Yuma signed a statement of support for the Guard and Reserve at a ceremony at City Hall on Tuesday, reinforcing those called up to serve their country will not need to worry about their civilian jobs.

The statement of support confirms the City joins other employers in fully recognizing the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act (USERRA), and that City managers and supervisors will have the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve, among other points.

The people who are in the military are a reflection of our country, of the best that our country has to offer. A city is the same thing: we are a reflection of our community and the best the community has to offer, said City Administrator Greg Wilkinson. I want to thank everyone who has given part of their time and part of their life back to this country. Although I believe weve always supported our military, this is really a good program to formalize.

Each City department will be furnished with copies of the signed statement of support, which will be placed in various places, including fire stations, police headquarters, and elsewhere.

The agreement does not change any practice or procedure the City currently follows. It does, however, denote a higher level of enthusiasm for supporting employees who also serve in the Guard or Reserve.

This statement of support is, you want the world to know, and youre not embarrassed to say, the City of Yuma supports the Guard and Reserves, said John Chernoski, Southern Arizona Chair, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Its a visible demonstrationthat you care.

Chernoski indicated he would continue to look for more area employers to sign their own statements of support. Yuma is one of the most military-friendly towns I have ever experienced in my life.
Spanish Health

Somerton, Arizona - On Tuesday, June 28th, Alzheimer Grupo de Apoyo (Alzheimers Caregiver Support Group) will meet at 10:30 a.m. at the Somerton Library. Caring for someone with Alzheimer's can be challenging, but a support group can give you the reassurance you need. Connect with other caregivers and share tips, advice, and support. There is no charge to attend.

Please note, this is a Spanish-language group.



The Somerton Library is located at 240 Canal Street in Somerton, AZ. For more information, call (928) 627-2149.
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Patna: Under scanner over the toppers scandal, the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) on Wednesday suspended 22 people for their role in the alleged irregularities in the results of the toppers in the Class 12 Arts and Science examinations this year.

According to ANI, the BSEb also sent showcause notices to three others in connection with the case.

Earlier today, a Bihar court issued an arrest warrant against Bihar School Examination Board's former chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, who has been untraceable and on the run since after his name figured in the Class 12 toppers' scam, police said.

A Patna civil court issued the arrest warrant against Singh, who is a key accused in the case and has gone underground after resigning from the board last week.

"Singh is still absconding after his name figured in the Class 12 toppers scam. Now the Special Investigation Team will send its team outside Bihar to arrest him," a police official said.

Meanwhile, police have arrested two persons, including Singh's private secretary, on Wednesday.

Singh resigned from the post last week after his name cropped up in the scam.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing into the scam sought an arrest warrant against Singh.

Singh's wife Usha Sinha, former Janata Dal-United legislator of Bihar, is also missing and on the run since her name too figured in the Class 12 toppers scam.

Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the mastermind behind the Class 12 Board merit list scam in Bihar, was arrested on Saturday after he surrendered before the police.

Both Singh and Rai are wanted by the SIT in the ongoing investigation into the alleged irregularities in the results of the toppers in the Class 12 Arts and Science examinations this year.

According to reports, the SIT has found evidences that suggest Singh's role in the racket. Evidence collected also indicates the board's complicity in the scam.

Last week five accused persons arrested in the case were remanded in 14 days' judicial custody by a local court in Patna.
Patna: A court here on Wednesday issued arrest warrants against former Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife, former JD(U) MLA Usha Sinha, in connection with +2 toppers scandal in the state.

Patna Chief Judicial Magistrate Om Prakash issued the arrest warrants against the couple on a plea by police.

Sinha was yesterday replaced as principal of Ganga Devi College here by senior professor of the institution Kanchan Chakhaiyar.

Sinha had appointed junior professor Dilip Kumar Verma as principal of the college before proceeding on leave after her name cropped up in the +2 examination scandal in which her husband and ex-board chairman was a prime player.

Investigation in the scam had highlighted her role and the police made her a co-accused in the case.

Smelling trouble, Sinha went underground last week and appointed Verma as principal of the college.

Sinha, who did not contest the 2015 Assembly elections as her seat Hilsa in Nalanda district had gone to RJD quota, had joined the college and was made the principal.

"Prima facie there are ample evidences against Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh. Proof of tampering in the exam copies and evaluation have been found which was in the knowledge of the ex-BSEB chairman (Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh)," senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj, who heads the SIT to probe the scam, had said.

Police had on June 11 arrested Bacha Rai, the kingpin of the toppers scandal, from Bhagwanpur police station in Vaishali district. Rai is the secretary-cum principal of controversial Bishun Rai College.

The scandal was brought to the fore by media by conducting interviews of arts and science toppers Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shreshta for their answers to simple questions.
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing 'garbage politics' in Delhi.

Addressing a press conference, Aam Aadmi Party leader Dilip Pandey alleged that only one private company has been awarded the contract for cleaning garbage at Kasturba Hospital and Hindu Rao Hospital.

No open tender procedure was followed for awarding the contract, added Pandey.

The AAP leader further mentioned that the company, which has been working at Kasturba Hospital, gets paid around Rs 8 lakh every month for the job. This means, around Rs 70 crore has been paid to the company till date, said Pandey.

Hindu Rao Hospital pays around Rs 10-10.25 lakhs every month to the company.

Recalling that the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government in Delhi has slapped Rs 700 crore fine on five private hospitals for denying free treatment to poor patients, Pandey called it as the AAP's pro-people governance model. Ridiculing the MCD, the AAP leader said the BJP believes in pro-corrupt governance model.
News Delhi: Trouble seems to be mounting for the Delhi restaurant, accused of refusing to serve a group of economically deprived children, as a fact-finding team in its report revealed that the restaurant, 'Shiv Sagar', turned away the street kids.

The Delhi government had launched an inquiry into a woman, Sonali Shetty's complaint that some underprivileged children were denied service at a restaurant where she had taken them to celebrate her husband's birthday.

"I went to the restaurant along with eight street children who sell flowers and hand-fans near the restaurant. The owner discriminated against the kids and refused to serve them, saying they were not well dressed and looking dirty. Police did not register any FIR in the matter, Sonali had told media.

The incident prompted the Delhi government to launch an enquiry into it.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia ordered the district magistrate of New Delhi to conduct an inquiry into the incident and submit a report in next 24 hours.

While terming the incident as 'typical colonial mindset and intolerable', Sisodia added that the Delhi government might cancel the license of the restaurant if charges were found true.

The restaurant, on the other hand, had refuted charges of discrimination and claimed that the children were creating trouble and disturbing other customers and thus were asked to vacate the place.
New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday said that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley praised the Delhi government`s proposed bus aggregator service and many other states too have shown their interest to adopt the scheme.

"I met Arun Jaitley yesterday (Tuesday) during Finance Ministers meeting in Kolkata. He praised Delhi`s bus aggregator scheme in strong words," Sisodia tweeted.

"Many state Finance Ministers have shown keen interest to have similar scheme. They have asked me details of the scheme," he wrote in another tweet.

Registration for the proposed premium bus aggregator service was supposed to start in the national capital from June 1. However, it did not start as it did get approval from Lt. Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung.

Even Delhi`s Anti-Corruption Branch initiated a probe following allegations from the BJP MLA Vijender Gupta.

In his complaint, Gupta alleged that the bill did not get approval from the LG`s office and it only favoured a particular aggregator.

The premium bus service was announced by former Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai during the second phase of the odd-even scheme in the city between April 15 and April 30, to encourage private car owners to switch to public transport.

The Delhi government had also announced a policy for app-based premium bus service which was to be made operational from mid-June.
New Delhi: A new, unique mating position called the 'dorsal straddle' has been discovered in a species of frog - Bombay night frogs (Nyctibatrachus humayuni) - endemic to the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India.

Till date, nearly 7000 species of frogs and toads found worldwide mate in one of the six mating positions (amplexus), which involve mostly the male grabbing the female around the waist or under the armpits.

However, the new mating behavior, which scientists described as the seventh type, enables the male and female get close enough so that his sperm fertilizes as many of her eggs as possible.

The rare reproductive behavior was discovered by professor SD Biju and his team from Delhi University.

According to Professor Bihu said, unlike other fro species, the male does not embrace the female but straddles over her back with his hands holding or resting on substrates such as a leaf, branch or tree trunk.

Another strange thing about the Bombay night frog is that the male releases his sperm over the female's back instead of releasing near the female's cloaca. After that, the female lays her eggs, which are then fertilised by the sperm trickling down her back.

Interestingly, females of the Bombay night frog give mating calls during rainy season.

Bombay night frogs mate only during monsoon season nights, and only in the vegetation overhanging flooded forest streams in the Western Ghats. This made fieldwork a 'very challenging experience,' Biju said.

Check out the team's video below -

Before coming out with these findings, the team spent 8 hours a night for about 40 nights between 2010 and 2012 during the monsoon season in the Western Ghats, documenting the Bombay night frog nightlife.

The findings have been published in the journal PeerJ on June 14, 2016 by a team of scientists from University of Delhi, NCBS, Bangalore and the University of Minnesota, USA.
New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) will on Wednesday discuss the issues related to the revised Academic Performance Index (API) scores.

Notably, a number of teachers' bodies have been protesting on the issue of the new criteria for API scores, saying that it is not academic friendly and may lead to an increase in their workload.

Earlier sources had told PTI that the UGC is likely to accommodate several of their demands including not to increase workload.

It is learnt that after internal review and external consultations have led the University Grants Commission to consider possible revisions including restoring the direct-teaching hours of Assistant Professors, Associate Professors and Professors to 16, 14 and 14 respectively.

(With PTI inputs)
Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: The World Health Organisation has ridiculed the possible link between coffee and cancer saying that the existing proof is not enough to claim that coffee is a possible carcinogen.

Experts at the the International agency for Research on Cancer have said that there is inadequate evidence to suggest that coffee causes cancer and it can't be ascertained on possible assumptions.

"I'm not really sure why coffee was in a higher category in the first place," said Owen Yang, an epidemiologist at Oxford University who has previously studied the possible link between coffee and cancer. He was not part of the IARC expert group. "The best evidence available suggests that coffee does not raise the cancer risk," he said.

Health experts say that they began to look out for a possible link between the two after witnessing high rates of esophageal cancer in many countries.

However, latest report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, or IARC, suggested that drinking "very hot" beverages of any kind could potentially raise the cancer risk.
New Delhi: In a major development in AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against Christian Michel James and two other middlemen.

Christian Michel James is allegedly the key middleman in the controversial AgustaWestland chopper deal.

Michel, has been accused by the CBI and the ED of working at the behest of AgustaWestland and its parent Italian major Finmeccanica.

He has been accused of routing funds to India meant to bribe officials.

He had asserted that he never met Congress President Sonia Gandhi, and that he is ready to be questioned by Indian investigators, as he wants to clear his name.

Earlier this month, the ED reportedly conducted searches on the premises in the city of Suraj Prakash Mehra, a businessman who was allegedly in contact with Christian Michel.

Earlier, ED had summoned some Indian contacts of British national Christian Mitchel in connection with its money laundering probe in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP choppers deal.

Officials said few people involved in creating an overseas firm with Mitchel have been called by the agency to record their statements under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) this week.

The agency, sources said, wants to understand the "financial relationship" of at least three people who had created an offshore entity with Mitchel, approximately around the same time when the 12 choppers deal was being finalised and was in final stages of execution.

They said prima facie there are no allegations of wrong doing against the individuals, who live in the United Kingdom, but it is important for it to ascertain their role with Mitchel against whom an Interpol arrest warrant is pending.

He is amongst the three alleged middle men being probed in the case by the ED and CBI both.

ED had registered a PMLA case in this regard in 2014 and named 21 people including former Indian Air Force Chief S P Tyagi in its money laundering FIR.

It had also arrested Delhi-based businessman Gautam Khaitan and had also filed a charge sheet last year.

On January 1, 2014, India scrapped the contract with Finmeccanicas British subsidiary AgustaWestland for supplying 12 AW101 VVIP choppers to IAF over alleged breach of contractual obligations and charges of paying kickbacks to the tune of Rs 423 crore by it for securing the deal.
Mumbai: Home Minister Rajnath Singh will hold a meeting with top officials of nine coastal states and four Union Territories here on Friday to review coastal security, an official said on Wednesday.

Singh will be accompanied at the meet by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Inter-State Council Secretariat, the Registrar General of India, defence, Indian Coast Guard, shipping, animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries besides state home ministers, chief secretaries and directors-general of police from these states.

The nine coastal states are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, and UTs are Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep.

The meet will discuss expeditious implementation of coastal security schemes, institutional set-up in the participating states and UTs to review coastal security, constitution of state maritime boards, security of non-major ports and single-point mooring, coastal mapping, and islands` security.

The issues to be deliberated upon also include distributing Biometric Identity Cards and Card Readers among the fisherfolk, colour coding of fishing and other boats, monitoring of fish landing points and crossing of International Maritime Boundary Line by the fishermen.

There will be presentations by the Coast Guard, coastal states and Union Territories highlighting the measures initiated by them for ensuring coastal security and their additional requirements to strengthen it.
Patna: A Bihar court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against Bihar School Examination Board's former chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, who has been untraceable and on the run since after his name figured in the Class 12 toppers' scam, police said.

A Patna civil court issued the arrest warrant against Singh, who is a key accused in the case and has gone underground after resigning from the board last week.

"Singh is still absconding after his name figured in the Class 12 toppers scam. Now the Special Investigation Team will send its team outside Bihar to arrest him," a police official said.

Meanwhile, police have arrested two persons, including Singh's private secretary, on Wednesday.

Singh resigned from the post last week after his name cropped up in the scam.

Earlier, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing into the scam sought an arrest warrant against Singh.

Singh's wife Usha Sinha, former Janata Dal-United legislator of Bihar, is also missing and on the run since her name too figured in the Class 12 toppers scam.

Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the mastermind behind the Class 12 Board merit list scam in Bihar, was arrested on Saturday after he surrendered before the police.

Both Singh and Rai are wanted by the SIT in the ongoing investigation into the alleged irregularities in the results of the toppers in the Class 12 Arts and Science examinations this year.

According to reports, the SIT has found evidences that suggest Singh's role in the racket. Evidence collected also indicates the board's complicity in the scam.

Last week five accused persons arrested in the case were remanded in 14 days' judicial custody by a local court in Patna.
Panaji: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal often claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is obsessed about him. It seems he may be right!

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has disclosed that the Prime Minister had recently enquired about a public meeting which Kejriwal had held in the state.

Parsekar said Modi specifically asked if the meeting would have an impact on the state's electorate.

Prime Minister asked me about (the) recent Kejriwal meeting and if (it will have) any future impact(and) I saidno, Parsekar told reporters on Tuesday.

The Goa CM was in the national capital recently where he met PM Modi.

Kejriwal had sounded the Aam Aadmi Party's poll bugle in Goa on May 22 by holding a public meeting ahead of next year's Assembly polls.

The party is planning to contest all 40 seats in the state.

(The) Prime Minister is fully appraised about state affairs. He asked me two-three points and I replied to it, Parsekar said further.
Srinagar: BJP members on Wednesday created a ruckus in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over the violence in Jammu city, which witnessed alleged desecration of a temple.

As soon as the House assembled, the BJP members took to their feet and demanded a statement from the government on the issue.

"It is matter of serious concern...Some anti-social elements have carried out an anti-social act. Situation in Jammu bad. The government should make a statement," BJP MLA Ravinder Raina said.

National Conference's Altaf Ahmad Kaloo and Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed also joined in, demanding the government ensure safety of Kashmiris in Jammu region.

"Four boys from Pahalgam area have been arrested in Jammu. What is their fault?" Kaloo asked.

The BJP MLAs took offence to intervention from Rasheed and Kaloo and exchanged heated words.

CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami later intervened, saying the entire House should condemn the incident and appeal for maintaining calm and brotherhood. "Let us not divide this state along communal lines," he said.

Leader of Opposition Omar Abdullah supported Tarigami, saying, "It would have been better if the suggestion had come from the Treasury Benches."

"Usually, the Chief Minister comes here (assembly) and intervenes but today neither she nor the Deputy Chief Minister is here when the situation in Jammu is on the brink," he said.

Omar said that instead of fighting over the issue, the legislators "should set an example for the people to follow on ground. What we do here will be cue for the people in Jammu".

Earlier, Law Minister Abdul Haq Khan made a statement on the issue.

"As per information received by Roopnagar police station, one mentally disturbed person, identified as Yasir of Doda, tried damaging and defiling a temple in Janipur area.

"The accused was arrested by police but while he was being taken away, the temple priest and some local residents tried preventing police from discharging their duties," the minister said.

"The residents then held protests outside the police station and resorted to violence, setting several vehicles, including two police buses, on fire," the minister said, adding three policemen including the SHO of the police station were injured in the incident.

Khan said police resorted to use of "mild lathicharge" and tear smoke shells to bring the situation under control.

The minister also informed the House that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh were not present in the Assembly as they were in Jammu to personally monitor the situation
Jammu: Mobile Internet services were today suspended in Jammu following protests in parts of the city after an ancient temple was allegedly desecrated by a "mentally disturbed" person.

According to police officials, an ancient temple situated in Roop Nagar area of Jammu was vandalised yesterday which led to protests across the city.

"As a precautionary measure, we have decided to suspend mobile Internet services till the situation returns to normal", Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jammu, Simrandeep Singh told PTI.

Singh said top police and civil officials have been monitoring the situation since last night and the decision to suspend the mobile Internet services was taken to stop any further flare-up of the situation.

He said if the situation remains normal, the suspension of mobile Internet services would be revoked in the evening.

Adequate police deployment has been made to thwart any untoward incident.

Protestors had last night set three vehicles on fire and had resorted to stone pelting on police after the news of the desecration of the temple spread in the city.

Police have arrested the man who allegedly vandalised the temple and have started the investigations.
Srinagar: Three civilians have been injured in the twin grenade blasts at a police station and in Batpora Chowk in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday.

The two grenade blasts occurred at two places separated by a distance of less than 200 metres, police said.

Two shopkeepers were among the wounded in the blasts.

The police have cordoned off the area and are probing into the attacks, while the injured have been shifted to hospital

Last Monday, a group of militants on attacked a CRPF camp on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Kud area of Udhampur district.

The terrorists reportedly got-off a bus that was travelling from Srinagar to Jammu and opened fire, when they were stopped for frisking.
Bengaluru: Did Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah change his official car recently because a crow sat on the one, which he had been using for the past three years, for a good 20 minutes.

While the Chief Minister has denied it, the incident has become the talk of the town, more so of the political circles.

Recently, a picture of a crow sitting on Siddaramaiah's Toyota Fortuner emerged and the incident was soon linked with the move to change the official car of the CM.

Since many believe crows bring bad luck, the two development set off speculation that the CM became jittery after the stubborn bird decided to take rest on the government vehicle and defied moves to be removed.

However, Siddaramaiah denied this and debunked the crow-car connection. He said he had been using the car for three years and had recently asked it to be replaced.

Generally, Siddaramaiah is known to be a rationalist who doesn't believe in superstition. In fact, he had once taken a pledge to purge superstition from Karnataka and ban astrology shows on Kannada radio.

So, is there really a connection or not? We believe, only the crow knows.
Columbia: After the mega-deal for LinkedIn, Twitter`s future has come into focus as the industry ponders the outlook for social networks.

Microsoft`s $26 billion acquisition of LinkedIn announced Monday, the biggest-ever deal for a social media company, sent Twitter shares surging nearly 10 percent over the past two days.

Even though Twitter has a vastly different model from the professional social network, the shakeup in the sector has drawn attention to Twitter`s large user base and data capabilities.

With LinkedIn off the table, Twitter becomes the largest independent, non-Chinese social network which could be an acquisition target.

"At the margin, this makes all the remaining players more valuable due to the scarcity of those that have achieved scale," said Lou Kerner, founder of the Social Internet Fund, which invests in the sector.

But Kerner said that while LinkedIn is an "ascendant" company, Twitter is still struggling to grow beyond its current base of just over 300 million active users worldwide.

Kerner said potential Twitter acquirers "are looking for products that can help drive their growth and don`t need to be fixed."

He added that "Twitter has scale, but what it doesn`t have is growth, so its a far less attractive asset than LinkedIn.

Still, talk has been swirling for months about a takeover of Twitter. Last week, venture capitalist and blogger Paul Kedrosky said in a tweet, "I`m not optimistic that Twitter makes it out of 2016 as a standalone company, which is sad."

Despite the bump in Twitter shares, it has lost some 75 percent of its value from highs in 2013 after its public share offering.Other analysts said Twitter`s value as an acquisition target had not changed.

Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy said the rise in Twitter was based on "investor sympathy" following the LinkedIn deal, but added: "I`m not buying into the notion of some sort of impending acquisition or if this even makes more strategic sense for an Apple or Google to make a social acquisition."

Michael Pachter at Wedbush Securities said he sees no real connection.

"LinkedIn is really a job searching tool, nothing like Twitter at all," he told AFP. "I don`t think it signals a rush to buy social media at all."

Trip Chowdhry, analyst at Global Equities Research, said the Microsoft deal could signal the top of a bubble in social media companies.

"What the acquisition of LinkedIn means is that we are at the tail end of social media hype," Chowdhry said. "The growth rates are going to dramatically slow."

Chowdhry said Microsoft is seeking a distraction from its declining software business and LinkedIn`s growth has been faltering as well.

Although it has an estimated 433 million users, LinkedIn reported a loss of $46 million in the past quarter and a $166 million loss for 2015. Microsoft agreed to pay a 50 percent premium for the company.

"When you have a marriage between two struggling companies, it`s a wakeup call for the industry," he said.

"If anybody is believing that the best is yet to come for social media stocks they will be disillusioned."

Chowdhry said he believes other social networks which are not publicly traded but have high valuations such as Snapchat and Pinterest "are going to get a dose of reality."

"The bubble in social media is going to burst," he said.

Most social media firms have been able to grow their user base but have failed to come up with a solid business model, said Chowdhry.

"Twitter is a very strong platform for celebrities and politicians, and there`s a value to Twitter," he said. "But Twitter does not have mass appeal."

Chowdhry said he does not rule out a bid for Twitter because "there are still many foolish companies who want to divert investor attention away from their own fundamental problems."
Kolkata: Amid reports of a Chinese incursion in Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi has reviewed security situation in the northeastern border state, officials said on Wednesday.

During his three-day tour of Assam and Arunachal, Bakshi visited different units and formations at Tezpur, where Gajraj Corps is based, and held discussion on a wide range of issues, officials said.

The army commander also undertook forward area visit at Missamari in Assam and Tenga in Arunachal Pradesh where he was briefed on all operational and training exercises undertaken by the units.

He also interacted with a number of commanders and troops deployed in forward areas before returning to Kolkata today.

On June 9, about 250 China's Peoples Liberation Army soldiers had entered East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh for about three hours.

The "temporary transgression" by the Chinese patrolling party was the first known transgression this year in the region, which China claims is part of its territory.
Jaipur: Jiyaram Jat, popularly known as 'Jamai Raja' in Rajasthan police records, accused of sleeping with 55 brides, died on June 11.

Jat, 54, died in Nimbalkot village of Sindhar in western Rajasthans Barmer district. He was arrested in 2004 and by that time 55 girls had fallen prey to his lust for money and sex, according to Hindustan Times report.

Jat never married and stayed alone throughout his life.

The report stated that Jat used to target girls, belonging to single family and were ready for 'gauna' (the practice of sending female child brides to their husbands when they become adults).

How girls fell into his trap

The 'Jamai Raja', as he was commonly known, he used to target girls by visiting them at their homes while the other family members had gone out for some work.

Apparently, Jat used to introduce himself as the girl's husband knowing well that marriages in most of the cases had taken place in childhood, the girl would fail to recognise him.

Thereafter, Jat would flee away with the jewellery and cash after spending the night with his victim.

According to police, in many cases, families didn't file report fearing defamation in society.

What led to his arrest

Jiyaram Jat was trying to pounce on his 56th prey in 2013 when he was arrested by the Patodi police. According to 'HT' report, Jat kept low after his 2004 arrest.
Islamabad: As investigators probe connections between the Orlando killer and the Islamic State group, analysts say the jihadists are struggling to gain a foothold in one country repeatedly linked to their high-profile attacks - Pakistan.

White House hopeful Donald Trump mentioned Pakistan in a speech this week in New Hampshire as he doubled down on anti-immigration threats in the wake of the bloody rampage in Orlando.

Trump cited an attack in California last November, when a Pakistani woman and her US-born husband were praised by IS as "soldiers" of the caliphate after killing 14 people.

Other murky links between Pakistan and IS attacks have also emerged.

Two people were killed in France on Monday by a man claiming allegiance to IS - and known to French intelligence for his role in a Pakistan-linked jihadist group.

In April, Austrian prosecutors said they are investigating a Pakistani held in connection with last November's deadly assault on Paris, also claimed by IS.

Washington earlier this year designated an IS affiliate - the 'Khorsan Province' - as a Afghanistan - and Pakistan-based terrorist organisation.

But Islamabad officially denies IS has a formal presence in the country.

Analysts say that while the group's ultra-violent ideology has seen some success as a recruitment tool, IS is still scrabbling for purchase in Pakistan largely due to competition from well-established extremist groups already there.

"My sense is that it has had limited success mainly because it has to compete for recruits with indigenous jihadi organisations," said Marvin G Weinbaum, director of the Pakistan Center at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC.

"I don't see it as having the potential to make large-scale territorial gains and existentially threatening Pakistan as a nation," said Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, a research fellow at the US-based Middle East Forum.

"I am also somewhat sceptical of the potential to supplant al Qaeda and the Taliban," he wrote in an email to AFP.

Attacks claimed by IS in Pakistan are rare, the most significant being a 2015 gun assault on a bus in Karachi that killed 44 people.

However, Pakistani officials told AFP that hundreds of suspects have been rounded up as authorities try to break domestic IS recruitment network.

"Educated, motivated and unemployed youth are an IS recruitment base in Pakistan. We have busted several recruitment cells here," a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
DECATUR  Cristobal Valdez credits his wife, Robin, with a lot of patience for following him around the country as he has sought administrative positions in academia.

Now, he said, they are looking for a home, and both would like to return to the Midwest.

I think Richland (Community College) could be that, Valdez said at a public forum on Tuesday at the Decatur Club, where community members could meet him and ask questions.

Valdez is one of two finalists for the position of president at Richland, filling the shoes of Gayle Saunders, who retired on Feb. 29. The other finalist, Melissa D. Denardo, will be at the Decatur Club today beginning at 4:30 p.m. for a similar forum, after spending the day at the college meeting staff and faculty. The third candidate withdrew.

The Board of Trustees will meet early morning on Friday to discuss the candidates and possibly come to a decision, said board Chairman Bruce Campbell. If they decide on one of the candidates at that meeting, and if that candidate accepts, the trustees will begin contract negotiations in the hope that they'll have a final product to present at the July meeting.

A native of Montana, Valdez has served as president of Central Wyoming College since July 2014 and prior to that was president of Edison Community College in Ohio. He and his wife have four children, the eldest in college, the rest in middle and high school.

One thing about community colleges is their ability to provide an outlet for people to realize their dreams, he said.

Community colleges always say 'we're the best kept secret in town,' Valdez said. It shouldn't be a secret.

Richland has many of the initiatives and programs that were successful in his Ohio college, he said, such as working with area businesses to ensure they have a well-trained workforce. He has been involved with dual-credit programs in Ohio and Wyoming, and has experience with the agribusiness industry.

Central Wyoming College has seen substantial growth in philanthropic giving under his leadership, with a $5.25 million gift to fund an Agricultural and Animal Science Center, a grant funding increase of $2.5 million, and the college's foundation assets have risen to $20 million, the highest in the college's history.

Several times on Tuesday, he mentioned transparency, something he said should be practiced internally and externally to provide employees and the community with confidence in and information on college operations.

Too many times, folks just don't feel they've been heard, he said.

While he acknowledged the challenges Richland and other Illinois colleges face due to the budget impasse in Springfield, he said the college's goals and needs are a good fit for his skills.
Islamabad/Kabul: Tension remained high at a Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing as firing between forces of the two countries claimed the lives of five Afghans, including three soldiers, since Sunday, while a Pakistani Army major wounded in the clashes died on Wednesday.

The clashes erupted at Torkham, the main crossing point between the two sides, after Pakistani forces on Sunday attempted to construct a gate on No Man's Land without informing the Afghan government, triggering a gun battle between the two sides.

"Since eruption of conflict and fire exchange at Torkham border, three Afghan Border Police personnel and two children have been killed," Attaullah Khogiani, a provincial Afghan government spokesperson told Xinhua. He also confirmed that 23 others including a civilian sustained injuries.

The official said that no firing had taken place since early Wednesday and those who have shops and business at the Torkham border town have begun shifting their establishments to safer places, and added that the situation is tense.

A spokesman for the Afghan foreign Ministry Shukib Mustaghni described the incident as "unpleasant", and said that Afghanistan adheres to its previous accords with Pakistan and stresses on peaceful methods and expects the Pakistani side to tackle the problem through diplomatic channels.

Although Afghan ranking officials are tight lipped, Afghan media has reported the clash at Torkham, and according to media reports, both sides have suffered casualties.

Afghans in different provinces including eastern Nangarhar, southern Helmand and northern Takhar provinces organised rallies and announced their support to Afghan security forces at Torkham. Afghan Mushrano Jirga or upper house of Parliament has condemned the alleged incursion of Pakistani troops in Torkham and called upon the government to solve the problem through diplomatic channels.

In Islamabad, Pakistan summoned the Afghan envoy Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and lodged a protest over the death of an army Major in shelling by Afghan forces.

Major Ali Jawad Khan, who was injured in cross-border firing at Torkham on Saturday, died of wounds in a military hospital in Peshawar on Tuesday.

"Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary today called in Afghan Ambassador Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lodge Pakistan's strong protest over the shahadat (martyrdom) of Major Ali Jawad Khan, an officer of Pakistan Army, who was injured on 13 June due to unprovoked firing by Afghan security forces at Torkham border crossing," a foreign ministry statement said.

"The Afghan government was urged to take immediate steps to bring this unprovoked firing to an end," the statement stated.

The foreign secretary rejected allegations from Afghanistan that the construction of a gate by Pakistan was in violation of the agreements and understandings reached between the two countries.

The foreign secretary stressed that Pakistan was undertaking the gate construction on its side to regulate the movements of people as well as of vehicles with the prior agreement of the Afghan government.

He expressed concern over the continued firing by the Afghan forces in the last few days with a view to disrupt the gate construction.

Pakistan military also said that the country wants to peacefully resolve the border issue with Afghanistan.


Washington: The US has appealed Pakistan and Afghanistan to reduce the ongoing tension following recent cross-border firing gunfire over the contentious fencing issue at north-western Torkham border crossing which resulted in casualties on both sides.

"I could tell you we are all watching the tensions very closely, that we are in touch with officials on both sides," State Department Spokesman John Kirby told reporters yesterday.

He was responding to questions on tensions between the two South Asian neighbours in aftermath of the cross firing across the border. In the firing, an Afghan border guard was killed while three Pakistani soldiers, including a senior army official and and nine civilians were injured.

"We continue to urge a calm resolution to the tension. We obviously don't want to see clashes; we don't want to see violence; we don't want to see it get worse," he said.

The Special US Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Olson, was in the two countries over the weekend.

In Islamabad, Olson met with government officials, including Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif, to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues.

In Kabul, he met with Afghan government officials to include President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, and National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar.

He also met with Resolute Support Commander, General John Nicholson, Kirby said.
Canberra: In a breakthrough that could help scientists solve one of the greatest mysteries in space biology, research with CSIROs Parkes telescope has discovered a molecule which displays key attributes associated with life - 'handedness' or 'chirality'.

'Chirality', or 'handedness' is a key attribute related closely with life, but homochirality, or being exclusively either "left or right handed", has never been discovered outside of Earth, until the Australia's Parkes telescope found the 'handed' molecule propylene oxide.

Typically, like your two hands, many molecules can exist in forms that are mirror images of each other.

But molecules associated with life, such as amino acids, proteins, enzymes and sugars, are found in nature in only one form.

Dr John Reynolds, Director of Operations at CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science, said the discovery will give scientists the chance to further research how the Universe can contribute to sustaining life, Xinhua reported.

"This discovery gives us a window into how an incredibly important type of molecule is made in space, and gives us the chance to understand the impact that process may have on life in the universe," Reynolds said in a statement on Wednesday.

Propylene oxide is a common homochiral compound used in making polyurethane plastics, and was discovered by the radio telescope in an interstellar cloud near the center of the Milky Way.

The cloud, known as Sagittarius B2, is actively forming stars, and Reynolds said scientists would follow the developments in the region to see if the Universe divulges any further secrets about the potential of life in outer space.

"Understanding how this came about is a major puzzle in biology, " he said.

Parkes discovered its first interstellar molecule, HCHS (thioformaldehyde), in 1971, and went on to find others.

The finding is being announced at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society on Tuesday June 14 and will appear in the journal Science.

(With Agency inputs)
Washington: The US space agency NASA on Tuesday set off the largest fire aboard a space cargo ship as it orbited the Earth.

The experiment took place inside a special enclosure within the spacecraft that was about four feet long, 1.5 feet wide and three feet deep. And, it was by far bigger than what had previously been the largest space-based fire experiment, as reported in US News & World Report.

The US space agency said that understanding how fire spreads in a microgravity environment is critical to the safety of astronauts who live and work in space.

And while NASA has conducted studies aboard the space shuttle and International Space Station, risks to the crew have forced these experiments to be limited in size and scope.

Fire safety will be a critical element as NASA progresses on the journey to Mars and begins to investigate deep space habitats for long duration missions.

The Spacecraft Fire Experiment (Saffire) is a three-part experiment that is being conducted over the course of three flights of American aerospace manufacturer Orbital ATKs Cygnus vehicle to investigate large-scale flame spread and material flammability limits in long duration microgravity.

After releasing the capsule into the Earth orbit on Tuesday morning and ensuring it was a safe distance from the International Space Station, Saffire ground controllers operating from Dulles, Virginia, triggered the fire by remotely igniting a cotton and fiberglass material inside the Cygnus, using a hot wire.

NASA said in a statement that Saffire-I has been ignited inside the Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo spacecraft and telemetry indicates a burn of the cotton-fiberglass material blend.

"The largest fire started in space is now burning successfully, it added.

After the experiment has been ignited, the Cygnus will continue to orbit the Earth for up to eight days as it transmits high-resolution imagery and data from the Saffire experiment.

Following complete data transmission, the Cygnus spacecraft will complete its destructive entry into the Earths atmosphere, NASA said.

"A spacecraft fire is one of the greatest crew safety concerns for NASA and the international space exploration community," Saffire Project Manager Gary Ruff said.

The Saffire experiments were developed at NASA Glenn Research Center by the Spacecraft Fire Safety Demonstration Project.

(With IANS inputs)
New Delhi: Days after being appointed the Uttar Pradesh incharge, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad will visit the state for two days from Thursday to work out the party's action plan for the 2017 assembly elections.

Azad said he will meet office-bearers of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee, chiefs of its frontal organisations such as the Mahila Congress and the Youth Congress.

He will also meet All India Congress Committee members from the state, sitting and former MPs, MLAs, district Congress chiefs, spokespersons and other prominent leaders at the Gandhi auditorium in state capital Lucknow on Thursday.

"I will meet them collectively and in sessions to hear their views, take inputs to evolve an action plan for the assembly elections," Azad said here.

"Our first preference is to strengthen the party structure in the state so that we can win maximum number of assembly seats," he said.

The former union minister also hinted at a reshuffle in the party's state unit.

Azad said he will have one-to-one session with party leaders on Friday to know their opinion on "what direction the party should take for its campaign".

Asked if Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to be projected as a chief ministerial face of the Congress, Azad said: "Priyanka ji is already playing a key role in Rae Bareli and Amethi. There have been such demands from our cadres in the state but the party will take a decision at the right time."

He said Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi was taking key decisions regarding Uttar Pradesh after consulting all seniors party leaders.

Azad, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said the Bharatiya Janata Party is running a thoroughly divisive campaign in the run-up to the assembly elections.

"The British were (earlier) dividing us in the name of Hindu and Muslim; and now the BJP is doing it," Azad remarked while referring to alleged migration from Kairana town finding a mention at the BJP's national executive meeting.


SPRINGFIELD  Even before a gunman opened fire over the weekend at a gay nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 people before being fatally shot by police, efforts were under way in the Illinois General Assembly to strengthen the states gun laws.

The Illinois House is considering a bill that would require gun dealers to be licensed by the state and another that would create a lethal violence order of protection, allowing family members, roommates or law enforcement officers to seek court orders barring individuals from possessing firearms if theres evidence showing that they pose a danger to themselves or others. Both measures are sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, who didnt respond to requests for comment.

Colleen Daley, executive director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, said mass shootings like the one in Orlando, the deadliest in U.S. history, underscore the need for stricter controls on the sale and possession of guns.

We see this time and time again, primarily in Congress, Daley said. These things happen and everyone says thoughts and prayers, and then it leads to inaction.  Inaction is no longer an option. We have to do absolutely everything we possibly can to help save lives in our country."

The need for stronger gun laws should already be clear in Illinois, Daley said, noting that 42 people were shot, seven of them fatally, this past weekend in Chicago.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was able to purchase the semi-automatic handgun and rifle he used in the attack despite reportedly having previously been on the FBIs terrorist watch list. Changing that would require congressional action, but Daley said measures like those under consideration in Illinois could help stem the tide of gun violence.

Congress refuses to act, so we need to do things here in Illinois that are going to save lives, she said.

Allowing family members to go to court for lethal violence orders of protection could potentially prevent a mass shooting, Daley said.

Since the Orlando shooting, Mateens ex-wife has said publicly that he was mentally unstable and mentally ill. Under the proposed Illinois law, however, only a relative by blood or present marriage, a roommate or a law enforcement officer would be able to seek such a court order.

State licensing of firearm dealers, meanwhile, would help prevent guns from reaching the streets to be used in crimes, Daley said.

A 2014 report from the Chicago Police Department notes that four stores  three in suburban Cook County and one in Gary, Ind.  accounted for nearly 20 percent of the guns recovered in Chicago crimes from 2009 to 2013.

More scrutiny from state regulators and local law enforcement would help keep guns out of criminals hands, the report says.

But Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said both measures under consideration in the General Assembly are examples of unnecessary overreach.

The organization posted an announcement on its website Monday saying that the gun-grabbers in the Illinois House are still waiting for their opportunity to call for a vote on the dangerous legislation on state licensing.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives already tightly regulates gun sales, making additional state oversight unnecessary, Pearson said.

If the bill were to become law, he said, it would be used by Chicago and Cook County to harass gun sellers.

Likewise, allowing family members to seek court orders barring people from possessing guns could be used for harassment of people, of relatives you didnt like, Pearson said.

Somebody can complain against you, and your rights are immediately wiped out without any hearing, he said.

The bill provides for a hearing within 14 days of an emergency order being granted.

Pearson said his organization isnt against laws that will help put people who use guns illegally in jail. For example, the Illinois State Rifle Association supported a bill the legislature approved this spring that would create a felony charge for firearm trafficking.

The General Assembly also approved a bill that would require the Illinois State Police to notify local law enforcement agencies when someones firearm owners identification card is revoked due to a court-issued order of protection.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Bruce Rauner said he will carefully review these bills to ensure they protect public safety and the rights of lawful gun owners.
Kairana: The eight-member Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation which went to review the situation in controversial Kairana village on Wednesday targeted the Uttar Pradesh government over the deteriorating law and order condition and said that apart the 346 families who have already migrated from the village, many more are willing to do the same.

While addressing a press conference Suresh Kumar spokesperson BJP Uttar Pradesh said that people in the village are living in constant fear and the Akhilesh government is unable to provide them assistance.

"The common man is not feeling safe and is helpless as he has no options but to live in an unsafe environment and the Uttar Pradesh government is fully responsible for this. Today I spoke with many people. The list which was released by Hukum Singh ji only included 346 families from Kairana and 83 of Kandla whwre as in real there are more people who have left the village and there are many more you are willing to do the same," said Kumar.

"The reason behind people migrating is that people are living in atmosphere of fear. People are not getting justice, as when a victim goes to lodge a complaint the police says to combat the matter mutually and this behaviour of the police is saddening and unfortunate," he added.

Kumar further accused the Samajwadi Party government of being a castiest and said the Akhilesh dispensation helps people according to their religious beliefs.

"Uttar Pradesh government looks at peoples religious beliefs and then accordingly offers help or assistance. I believe that all people should be treated equally irrespective of caste according to the constitution. Ever since this government has come people of this village have started leaving this village," said Kumar.

An eight-member BJP team arrived in Kairana earlier in the day to review the situation in the village.

Hukum Singh, who had earlier reportedly said that the Hindus were being forced to leave their homes in the Muslim-majority town in Kairana, has now backtracked from his claims.

He has said that the "migration" of Hindus from Kairana was "not communal" in nature, adding that people are leaving the region due to law and order problems and threats by goons.

According to reports, the police have ordered a probe into the alleged migration after Singh presented a list of 346 families from the Muslim-majority village while claiming that they had to leave their homes after attacks and extortion attempts. (ANI)
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday arrested the prime accused and his wife from a village in Parsurampur area in Basti district of the state in connection with the recent Mathura violence.

The accused, Chandan Bose, 45, and his wife were arrested this morning by a police team of Mathura from Caithwalia village, Superintendent of Police Kripa Shankar Singh said. Chandan is believed to the prime accused in the Mathura violence that left at least 29 people and two police officers dead on June 2.



Ram Vriksh Yadav, the alleged leader of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi, which was said to be behind the violence, had died in the clashes with police. The police officer said both Chandan and his wife will be sent to Mathura for questioning.

Bose was being pursued by the police for inciting the violence and also shooting dead police officer Santhosh Yadav.

A report stated that police had form special teams to trace Bose and few others suspects in the violence.

During an initial investigation, the police had found that Bose had played a major role in inciting the violence that later took an ugly turn.



Additional Director General (law and order) of Uttar Pradesh Police Daljeet Singh had earlier said that Ram Vriksh Yadav, Chandan Bose, Girish Yadav and Rakesh Gupta are the main culprits in the case.

Twenty-nine people including City Superintendent of Police Mukul Dwivedi and Farah police station officer, Santosh Yadav were killed in clashes during a drive to evict illegal occupants of Jawahar Bagh in Mathura by activists, believed to be of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik on June 2.

Political parties had been demanding a judicial inquiry into the violence. BJP Member of Parliament from Mathura, Hema Malini had demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday arrested the prime accused and his wife from a village in Parsurampur area in Basti district of the state in connection with the recent Mathura violence.

The accused, Chandan Bose, 45, and his wife were arrested this morning by a police team of Mathura from Caithwalia village, Superintendent of Police Kripa Shankar Singh said. Chandan is believed to the prime accused in the Mathura violence that left at least 29 people and two police officers dead on June 2.

Ram Vriksh Yadav, the alleged leader of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi, which was said to be behind the violence, had died in the clashes with police. The police officer said both Chandan and his wife will be sent to Mathura for questioning.

Bose was being pursued by the police for inciting the violence and also shooting dead police officer Santhosh Yadav.

A report stated that police had form special teams to trace Bose and few others suspects in the violence.

During an initial investigation, the police had found that Bose had played a major role in inciting the violence that later took an ugly turn.

Additional Director General (law and order) of Uttar Pradesh Police Daljeet Singh had earlier said that Ram Vriksh Yadav, Chandan Bose, Girish Yadav and Rakesh Gupta are the main culprits in the case.

Twenty-nine people including City Superintendent of Police Mukul Dwivedi and Farah police station officer, Santosh Yadav were killed in clashes during a drive to evict illegal occupants of Jawahar Bagh in Mathura by activists, believed to be of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik on June 2.

Political parties had been demanding a judicial inquiry into the violence. BJP Member of Parliament from Mathura, Hema Malini had demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident.
Beijing: At least 13 people were killed and 13 remained missing after heavy rains caused flash floods, mud-slides and landslides in south China's Hunan, Guizhou, Guangdong provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

In Hunan, continuous rain resulted in swollen rivers, landslides and mud-rock flows.

Three people died in Hengshan county, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters.

Three residents of Xiangtan County have been reported missing after their home was buried by a landslide today, while in Longhui county one person was reported missing.

About 530 houses collapsed, and 11,900 people were evacuated, said the headquarters.

In Guangxi, one person was killed by collapsing house in torrential rain, said the regional civil affairs department.

The rains and ensuing disasters also destroyed 754 houses, seriously damaged another 408, ruined 20,200 hectares of crops, forced the evacuation of 5,900 people.

In Jinping County in Guizhou, five people have died and four are still missing, according to the county's information office.

Heavy rain pounded the county from last night until early today, with 202 millimeters of precipitation recorded in some areas.

Traffic, power and telecommunications were all affected and homes destroyed.

Around 10,000 residents of 24 counties in Guizhou have been displaced.

The homes of 125 families have been destroyed and 300 more have been seriously damaged, said a statement from the provincial civil affairs department.

In Guangdong one woman died and three of her group were swept away by a flash flood on Tianchi Mountain, according to the information office of Qujiang District, Shaoguan city.

Nearly 300 rescuers are searching for the missing around the mountain, which experienced heavy torrential rain. PTI KJV?SUA AKJ

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Maiduguri: Nearly 700 people, most of them children, are receiving treatment in hospital in northeast Nigeria for severe malnutrition after being rescued from Boko Haram, the Borno state government said.

Sixty-one "critically malnourished" young children and babies were among 478 children, 196 women and 23 men brought to the state capital Maiduguri from the town of Bama on Monday, it said in a statement.

The infants were "undergoing medical care arising from extreme deprivation of food", Tuesday`s statement said, adding that all the people were rescued after two years in captivity by the Islamist insurgents.

It was not immediately clear whether those taken to a special care unit had been brought from camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Bama.

But last week a civilian vigilante and a soldier based in the remote town of Banki, 60 kilometres (38 miles) from Bama, told AFP at least 10 people were "starving to death" every day.

Nigerian and international relief agencies were working with IDPs in Bama but none appeared to be in Banki, which was recaptured from Boko

Haram in September last year.The vigilante said 376 people had been buried in the last three months and those still alive were like "walking corpses".

The Borno state governor Kashim Shettima and aid agencies have warned about acute food shortages for IDPs in northeast Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad region.

Nearly 6,500 children were found to be severely malnourished at camps in Borno state last year, while more than 25,000 others had "mild to moderate symptoms", health officials said in February.

Nigeria`s government has been encouraging people to return to their homes as the military counter-insurgency regains captured territory from the Islamic State group affiliate.

Last week, it signed an agreement with Cameroon for the return of 80,000 Nigerian refugees.

But farmlands in the mainly agricultural region have been devastated by the fighting, while homes and infrastructure have been destroyed.

Shettima said on Tuesday he had ordered a new IDP camp to be opened in Maiduguri for more than 10,000 people rescued from the countryside around the towns of Marte and Mafa in recent days.

The IDPs, who had been unable to return home because of insurgent activity near their villages, had been camped out under trees by the road from Maiduguri to Dikwa.

The Boko Haram conflict has killed at least 20,000 people since it started in 2009 and forced more than 2.6 million people from their homes
Beirut: At least 70 fighters have been killed in less than 24 hours of fierce clashes between pro-regime forces, jihadists and rebels in Syria's Aleppo province, a monitor said on Wednesday.

Pro-regime fighters - backed by regime and Russian air strikes - retook the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa to the southwest of Aleppo city after losing control of them hours earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

But Al-Nusra Front, Syria's Al-Qaeda affiliate, launched a counterattack to retake Khalasa this morning, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.

"Khalasa is on a high hill overlooking large parts of the south of Aleppo province," he said.

The area overlooks the regime's supply road around the south of Aleppo city, linking the government-held Nayrab airport to the city's southeast and areas controlled by regime troops to its west, he said.

Rebel- and jihadist-held areas in the south of Aleppo province faced heavy strikes and shelling overnight, said the Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria to gather its information.

The regime also pounded a key supply route and areas north of Aleppo city overnight, the Observatory said.

The Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the regime, reported Russian air strikes on the province today.

"Russian fighter jets resumed their missions in Aleppo with force, targeting positions of Al-Nusra Front and allied militias," it said.

Moscow launched air strikes in support of the Damascus regime in September.

Aleppo was once Syria's commercial powerhouse, but it has been a battleground since 2012 when rebels seized the east of the city confining the army to the west.

In western Aleppo, rebel shelling killed two people and injured another three today, official news agency SANA reported.

Syria's war has killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.
Kabul: At least 21 ISIS loyalists were killed in the latest military operations in East of Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the operations were conducted jointly by the Afghan ground and Air Forces in Nangarhar province, reports the Khamma Press.

The MoD further said that the loyalists of the terror group were targeted in the restive Achin district, once a stronghold of the terror group in Nangarhar.

So far, the loyalists of the terror group have not commented regarding the report.

The operation comes as at least 15 loyalists of the terror group were targeted in separate airstrikes carried out in Achin district earlier.

Provincial governor's spokesman Ataullah Khogyani said at least 10 ISIS loyalists were killed in a drone strike in Achin district late on Monday night.

Both Afghan and the U.S. forces are regularly targeting the loyalists of the terror group in this province in a bid to curb their activities.

The U.S. forces have stepped up airstrikes against the ISIS loyalists after they were granted more authorities by President Barack Obama.

The increased raids against the militants followed amid concerns that they were making attempts to expand foothold in the country.
Sydney: A teenager was Wednesday charged in Australia with preparing for or planning a terrorist attack after authorities were alerted by social media posts.

The 17-year-old boy was detained at his home in Sydney`s south late Tuesday, the latest in a string of arrests by police investigating people suspected of being involved in domestic acts of terrorism.

"After being alerted to a number of social media posts, police arrested the youth at his home," the New South Wales state police said.

"He`s been charged with one count of acts in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act... He was also charged with using a telecommunications network with intention to commit a serious offence."

The youth was refused bail and is due to appear in a children`s court later Wednesday.

Police stressed there was no threat to the community, with the arrest unrelated to any previous investigation carried out by counter-terrorism teams.

A handful of terror-related attacks have been foiled on home soil over the past 18 months, authorities have said, but several have taken place, including the murder of a Sydney police employee in October.

Counter-terror police have made a series of arrests since late 2014, including a 16-year-old boy charged with preparing an attack linked to Anzac Day services honouring Australian soldiers in Sydney in April.

Other arrests saw a 17-year-old boy picked up in a raid in Melbourne a year ago, allegedly with "improvised explosive devices" in his family home.

More recently, a Sydney-based man was charged last month with planning a terrorist attack, which reportedly involved targeting a naval base close to the capital`s landmark opera house.

The government has become increasingly concerned about homegrown extremism and the terror threat level was raised to high in September 2014.

Australia is also worried about its citizens fighting with jihadist organisations such as Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, with some 110 citizens already having left to join such groups.
Washington: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday challenged the Republican-controlled Congress to reinstate the ban on assault weapons in the wake of the shooting in a gay bar in Orlando in which 50 people, including shooter, were killed and 53 were injured on Sunday.

The gunman, identified by authorities as Omar Mateen of Port St. Lucie, Florida, used an AR-15 assault rifle and a handgun to carry out the attack. Both guns were purchased legally, Xinhua reported.

"Reinstate the assault weapons ban (and) make it harder for terrorists to use these weapons to kill us," Obama was quoted as saying at a press conference, warning that without such a ban, "these kinds of events are going to keep on happening."

The manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automatic firearms was banned in 1994. However, when the ban expired in 2004, the US Congress refused to renew the ban.

"We have to work hard as a nation, to reconsider our gun laws that allow such massacres to take place," Iman Muhammad Musri, an Islam leader told a rally to commemorate the victims in the mass shooting in Orlando Monday.

As the attack occurred in the leadup to the 2016 race for the White House, two competing narratives are already emerging, with the left touting what they say is a need for more gun control and the right calling for more action against "Islamic radicalism."

In a speech from her campaign trail on Monday, Democratic presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton talked about the need to tackle terrorism, but emphasised what she billed as a need for more gun control.

While noting that the shooter had pledged allegiance to IS, she added that his motives remain unknown.

Meanwhile, Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump spoke from his campaign trail in the state of New Hampshire, saying he would "suspend immigration" from parts of the world where there is a proven link between that country and terrorism.
Columbia: President Barack Obama will meet the Dalai Lama at the White House on Wednesday, in a move likely to enrage China, which sees the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader as a separatist.

Obama`s official schedule indicated that the pair would meet in the Map Room at 10:15 am
Sydney: A British Muslim cleric who once preached that gays should be put to death has left Australia after his visa was cancelled, with authorities Wednesday saying it is unlikely he will ever be allowed back.

Farrokh Sekaleshfar was in Sydney as the guest speaker of an Islamic centre for the holy month of Ramadan.

But it emerged this week that in a 2013 lecture he suggested that death was a "compassionate" sentence for homosexuals, sparking an outcry in the wake of the Orlando gay nightclub killings.

Sekaleshfar flew out on Tuesday evening, coinciding with his visa being revoked.

"I made the decision last night to cancel his visa," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told Sky News.

"It will be very difficult, if not impossible, for him to return back to our country.

"We`re not going to tolerate people who want to come here to preach hate and we will cancel visas, we will act as quickly as humanly possibly where we`re made aware of radical views," he added.

The Australian newspaper revealed Sekaleshfar`s presence in Sydney as the world reeled in shock after 49 people were killed by Omar Mateen when he opened fire in a popular gay Florida club on Sunday.

US President Barack Obama branded it an act of terror and hate.

The paper reported that during a lecture at the University of Michigan in 2013, which is available online, Sekaleshfar said "death is the sentence" when asked about homosexuality, adding: "Out of compassion, let`s get rid of them now."In a rambling interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation before leaving Sydney, Sekaleshfar denied his comments could be connected to the Florida massacre, and called Mateen "an animal".

"No speech, especially when you`re not inciting any hatred and it was given three years ago, that would never lead to such a massacre," he said.

"That animal, they are connecting me to him (Omar Mateen). Not at all. He was an ISIS sympathiser, a follower of Baghdadi, these people are criminals," he added, referring to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The cleric also said he respected any action taken by the Australian government.

"But I just want to give that assurance that it`s not a theme, my themes don`t revolve around this area," he said, referring to punishing homosexuals.

Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten said Sekaleshfar should never have received a visa in the first place.

"Let`s be clear -- this government has allowed a visa to be issued to someone with despicable and abhorrent views of gay hate ... homophobia of the most violent and vile nature," he told reporters.

"The government needs to explain how the fellow got in here to begin with."

Dutton defended the cleric`s arrival, saying it was "difficult for the department to go through the Facebook or social media postings of millions of millions of people each year who seek visas".

"In relation to this matter when the particular information was brought to our attention, we acted quickly," he said.

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Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who this month picked up no less than the 44th honorary doctorate of his political career, likes nothing more than to give one of his trademark political speeches in full academic regalia.

But does the Turkish strongman, who served as premier from 2003-2014 before moving to the presidency, actually have a university degree?

Despite unequivocal denials by the President and his office, the Turkish opposition has seized on a new spate of recurring claims that he does not.

The argument is not merely an idle amusement -- the Turkish President must have completed and passed a full four-year university degree course in order to hold the office.

Erdogan`s fulsome array of honorary degrees -- with his latest such award coming from Makerere University in the Ugandan capital Kampala -- has provoked mockery from opponents, who point out that US President Barack Obama can only boast of six honorary doctorates. According to his official biography, Erdogan received his university degree in 1981 after four years of study at the faculty of economic and administrative sciences of the Marmara University in Istanbul.

But Turkey`s association of university professors UNIVDER claimed last week that Erdogan did not have a full university degree, but the equivalent of a college diploma.

It said he studied at an institution that only became part of Marmara University in 1983, two years after the President says he graduated.

A former prosecutor who now heads a magistrates` association, Omer Faruk Eminagaoglu, filed a complaint with Ankara prosecutors and Turkey`s election council saying Erdogan should be disqualified from his position with immediate effect, as this made him ineligible.

The issue has become a new rallying cause for opponents seeking chinks in the president`s armour, inspiring Twitter hashtags #diplomasidasahte (your diploma is also false) and #yadiplomayaistifa (either the diploma or resignation).

A deputy from the opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP), with heavy irony, proposed submitting a bill to parliament to remove the requirement for the president to have a university education and save Turkey further embarrassment.

"Despite all the discussions, President Erdogan has yet to give a clear explanation on this issue," Murat Emir was quoted as saying by Turkish media.

"We have made such a proposal to stop further damage to our country`s reputation being made by the person of Erdogan."

The pro-Kurdish Peoples` Democratic Party (HDP) was sent a notarised copy of Erdogan`s diploma after a request to Turkey`s election committee, but said it would continue a legal battle to find the real diploma.Erdogan is deeply proud of his humble roots in a working class Istanbul suburb, and that he attended a so-called Imam Hatip school whose main task was to give a religious education.

His political image is built on the story of the pious boy from a poor background who took on the well-educated secular elite -- and won.

The controversy has erupted as Erdogan has blasted opposition academics at universities as traitors for not supporting the military`s offensive against Kurdish militants, indicating he would like to see a purge of disloyal lecturers.

But the president also has no intention of downplaying his academic achievements, and both he and his administration have moved to rubbish the claims.

"What do you want, that we find 10 million copies of these degrees and send them to the whole world?" presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said angrily.

The university -- whose rector Mehmet Emin Arat is a close ally of Erdogan -- rejected the claims that the degree was falsified as "unfair" and "baseless".

Arat published on the university website a lengthy document outlining the university`s history going back to Ottoman times and Erdogan`s academic career, including his graduation on April 4, 1981.

Erdogan has portrayed the issue as a tired tactic by his opponents who have exhausted all other forms of attack, saying his record of transforming Turkey while in office speaks for itself.

"Despite all the explanations and declarations that have been made on this subject, some people want to revive the debate," Erdogan said last week.

"Whatever you want to do, our works speak for themselves."
Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump signalled Wednesday he could support banning people on terror watch lists from purchasing guns, a move that would place him in opposition to members of his own party.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, regularly touts his support for the constitutionally enshrined right to bear arms.

He has said several times after terrorist attacks, including the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida Sunday, that death tolls would have been lower if private citizens had been armed and able to shoot back.

But he suggested he is prepared to consider restrictions on gun purchases, after it was revealed the Orlando shooter legally bought a rifle and handgun in Florida despite having been investigated and interviewed by the FBI for possible extremist ties.

"I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns," Trump tweeted Wednesday.

Trump`s startling announcement may have placed him on a collision course with the National Rifle Association, one of the most powerful lobby groups in the nation.

On Tuesday the NRA tweeted: "Restrictions like bans on gun purchases by people on `watch lists` are ineffective, unconstitutional, or both."

According to Senate Democrat Bill Nelson of Florida, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Omar Mateen, the gunman who killed 49 people at an Orlando gay nightclub, was placed on a terrorism watch list from 2013 until 2014.

Republican lawmakers and the National Rifle Association have refused to support legislation that would deny weapons to people on such lists, arguing that such a bill would infringe on the Second Amendment rights of everyday Americans, including those who may have been placed unfairly on watch lists or no-fly lists.

A Senate measure that would have prevented FBI terror suspects from purchasing firearms and explosives failed last December, with every Senate Republican but one voting in opposition.

President Barack Obama, speaking Tuesday on the Orlando tragedy, reiterated his backing for so-called "no-fly, no-buy" legislation.

"People with possible ties to terrorism who are not allowed on a plane shouldn`t be allowed to buy a gun," Obama said.

A US government report shows that known or suspected terrorists have passed background checks to purchase guns or explosives more than 90 percent of the time.

Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced a bill that would deny weapons to people on the watch lists, as well as to anybody the US attorney general suspects of terrorist ties.

Nelson filed legislation Wednesday that would require the FBI to be automatically notified of background checks for anyone who has been investigated for possible terrorism and attempts to buy a gun.
New York: Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said today that he will be meeting with the National Rifle Association to discuss ways to block people on terrorism watch lists or no fly lists from buying guns as his party scrambles to respond in the aftermath of the worst mass shooting in modern US history.

Trump announced the meeting with a tweet, writing "I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns." He did not provide any details on the time or place of the meeting and his campaign did not immediately respond to requests for further information.

The NRA, one of the nation's most powerful lobbying groups, responded in a statement.

"The NRA's position on this issue has not changed. The NRA believes that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms, period," said Chris Cox, the executive director of group's Institute for Legislative Action, in the statement.

"Anyone on a terror watch list who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing.

"At the same time, due process protections should be put in place that allow law-abiding Americans who are wrongly put on a watchlist to be removed," Cox said.

Trump's declaration comes days after a mass shooting in Orlando in which the gunman, Omar Mateen, invested twice by the FBI, had been on the government's terrorist watch list for 10 months before being removed.

The shooting, which left 49 dead, has renewed the debate over gun control regulations, with several leading Democrats including Trump's likely general election foe, Hillary Clinton calling for people on the federal lists to be barred from purchasing firearms.
Beijing: For those who don't believe in destiny here is an interesting real story about a much-in love Chinese couple who got the biggest shock of their lives when they got to know how the universe conspired to unite them years ahead.

As reported by Independent, a Chinese couple were busy selecting from a bunch of old photos to be included in their upcoming nuptials, when they came across a childhood picture of husband Hedong Zhang on holiday.

Zhang had visited the Giant Buddha statue at Ling Shan Mountain in the year 2000, when he was 14.

Intrigued by noticing a lady in a red coat in the background, the bride Yiqin Lu took a closer look her husband's picture and realised that it was none other but her mother.

Filled with excitement, the bride then asked her mother Lu to confirm if she was the lady visible in the photo.

The old lady, after going through some old holiday snap of her family, confirmed that the lady in the red coat was she herself.

Interestingly, the photos were taken some 15 years before the couple met.

Shocked with what they have found, the two got to know that their families had then used the same bus company and travelled in the same bus to the historical Buddha site.

The flabbergasted husband was quoted as saying, ''Although we didnt know each other then, the skies mustve planned this for us 16 years ahead of time.''
Columbia: Democrats voted Tuesday in the US capital in the final primary of the 2016 presidential race, as the race shifts to the bruising showdown between Hillary Clinton and Republican rival Donald Trump.

With the most controversial primary season in decades drawing to a close, the attention of the nation is elsewhere as it grapples with the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001.

Instead of hailing the end of a historic primary season, Clinton and Trump were trading explosive verbal blows and laying out dramatically different approaches for fighting terrorism in the wake of the gay club massacre in Florida.

While thousands gathered for vigils in US cities in memory of the 49 people killed, the White House hopefuls scrambled to present their proposals for keeping Americans safe.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, on Monday proposed stark changes to existing immigration policy, saying that if elected he would "suspend" immigration from areas with a "proven history of terrorism."

He also suggested American Muslims were complicit in domestic attacks because they failed to "turn in the people who they know are bad."

Clinton, a former secretary of state, maintained a more statesmanlike demeanor, calling on Americans to "stand together" to defeat terrorism.

But after Trump suggested in a TV interview that Obama sympathized with terrorists, Clinton unleashed a blistering anti-Trump broadside and called her rival`s approach "dangerous" and "un-American."

"Even in a time of divided politics, this is way beyond anything that should be said by someone running for president of the United States," she told supporters in Pittsburgh.

"What Donald Trump is saying is shameful," she added. "It is yet more evidence that he is temperamentally unfit and totally unqualified to be commander in chief."Democratic voters in Washington were choosing between Clinton -- who last week reached the magic number of delegates needed to lock up the nomination -- and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

While Clinton has called for uniting the party quickly in order to focus on the looming Trump battle, Sanders has refused to concede the race.

But he has steadily softened in recent days. The self-declared democratic socialist is due to meet with Clinton later Tuesday to discuss the Democratic Party platform ahead of the national convention next month in Philadelphia.

Sanders told reporters that he wanted to see "the most progressive platform ever passed" at a convention, one which "makes it crystal clear that the Democratic Party is in fact on the side of working people."

"We`re going to take that fight into the convention in Philadelphia," Sanders added.

He met with President Barack Obama last week in a public show of respect for Sanders`s insurgent campaign.

Sanders emerged from the White House declaring his intent to work together with Clinton to defeat Trump in November, a move that should go far to quell concerns of divisions within the party.

Obama endorsed Clinton later that day.

Republicans in Washington held their party convention in March, with Senator Marco Rubio emerging as the top vote-getter.

Tuesday`s vote wraps up a spectacular primary season that saw conservatives flock to a celebrity billionaire and political novice in Trump, as liberals energized little-known Sanders to mount a surprisingly strong challenge against one of the nation`s best-known political figures.

Sanders managed to tap into a deep well of anger among young voters disillusioned by the current political system and eager to see action taken to reduce income inequality, one of Sanders`s main goals.

Clinton ultimately prevailed, becoming the first female presumptive presidential nominee of any major US political party.

The District of Columbia has a large population of African Americans, a constituency that has voted overwhelmingly for her this year.

Sanders is scheduled to address supporters live via webcast late Thursday.
Washington: Michelle Obama plans to promote her year-old global girls' education initiative during upcoming stops in Liberia, Morocco and Spain on what could be her final solo overseas excursion as first lady.

The White House announced yesterday that the three-country trip is booked for June 27-July 1.

Her travelling companions are daughters Malia and Sasha, and her mother, Marian Robinson.

Actresses Freida Pinto and Meryl Streep are lending their star-power to the first lady's Africa appearances.

In Liberia, Obama is scheduled to visit a Peace Corps training facility in Kakata to meet with girls and young women participating in an empowerment camp.

The stop is meant to highlight the Peace Corps' role in the Let Girls Learn initiative, along with support from the US Agency for International Development.

The first lady also plans to visit a school in Unification Town, Liberia, to speak with adolescent girls about their obstacles to getting an education. Pinto, an advocate for girls' education, will moderate the discussion.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will join Obama during the visit.

Streep, also a girls' education advocate, is scheduled to accompany Obama in Marrakech, Morocco, for another conversation with adolescent girls that is to be moderated by CNN's Isha Sesay.

The visit will also highlight US commitments through the Millennium Challenge Corporation, an independent US foreign aid agency, and USAID to help Moroccan girls attend and stay in school.

In Madrid, the first lady plans a speech on the Let Girls Learn initiative, launched in March 2015 to encourage developing nations to educate the more than 62 million girls worldwide who currently don't attend school.

Mrs Obama also plans to meet with Queen Letizia while she is in Spain.

With seven months left on the president's term, the upcoming visits to Africa and Europe could be the final foreign trip Obama takes without him.

August typically is reserved for family vacation, and her fall schedule is likely to fill up with campaign appearances on behalf of Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee whom the Obamas endorsed last week, as well as other Democratic political candidates.

Malia graduated from high school last week and is taking a "gap" year before enrolling in Harvard in the fall of 2017.

Students who take gap years typically travel and pursue other projects. Sasha will be on summer break before entering 10th grade this fall.

The first lady has promoted Let Girls Learn during stops in the partner countries of Japan, Cambodia, the United Kingdom and Qatar.
Kano: Boko Haram killed four people and abducted four women from a village in northeast Nigeria, the military said today, dismissing the Islamists as weakened and increasingly desperate.

Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman told AFP the attack happened on Tuesday morning in Kutuva, in the Damboa local government area of Borno state, which has been hardest hit by seven years of fighting.

"Boko Haram terrorists riding on six motorcycles attacked the village. They killed four residents and abducted four women," he said.

"Residents of neighbouring Kaya village mobilised and pursued the terrorists. They traced them to Sabon Garin Baale but unfortunately they lost track of the gunmen."

Such hit-and-run attacks were a regular feature of the Islamic State group affiliate's tactics in the remote region but have become increasingly rare since the beginning of 2015.

Thousands of women have also been seized in the conflict, including more than 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok, which is some 70 kilometres (44 miles) away by road.

A military counter-insurgency has recaptured swathes of territory seized and controlled by the militants in 2014, pushing them out into border areas around Lake Chad.

The army has since April been mounting a push against Boko Haram's stronghold in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno, which is near Damboa local government area.

Usman said soldiers and civilian militia had been deployed to the area of the kidnapping but it was unclear whether the gunmen were heading for the Sambisa Forest or elsewhere.

"They are doing their best to track them down and rescue the women," he added.

"Boko Haram have been severely weakened. But they are trying to save face. That's why they're trying to launch attacks on soft targets.

"They're now facing lots of challenges. Our troops are mounting pressure on them, which has cut off most of their supply routes.

"Just a few days ago 17 Boko Haram terrorists surrendered to the civilian JTF in the Damboa area. They were forced to surrender out of starvation."
Paris: President Francois Hollande on Wednesday finalised ratification of the Paris climate accord reached in December 2015, making France the first industrialised country to do so.

"Signing is good, ratifying is better," Hollande quipped at the Elysee Palace ceremony, flanked by Environment Minister Segolene Royal, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and other top officials.

He noted that the deal will not come into force unless at least 55 countries responsible for at least 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions ratify it.

So far 17 states -- mainly small island and low-lying coastal countries that are especially vulnerable to the sea-level rise -- have ratified the deal.

Hollande called on other European countries to follow France`s lead by the end of the year.

The United States, the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases after China, will ratify the accord soon, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday during a visit to Oslo.

Norway`s ratification is also imminent following a green light by its parliament on Tuesday.

"The United States will join soon, this year and together we are going to work to bring this agreement into force as quickly as possible," Kerry told a news conference in Oslo.

Kerry was to overfly the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, north of the Arctic Circle, on Thursday "to see first hand the impacts of climate change on the Arctic".

At the December COP21 gathering in Paris, 195 governments agreed to a target of limiting global warming to "well below" 2.0 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) compared with pre-industrial levels.

To achieve even the two-degree target, additional investment of $5.3 trillion (4.7 trillion euros) in zero-carbon power -- on top of an already projected $7.8 trillion -- would be needed by 2040, a key energy report said Monday.

The French hosts of the meeting, held just weeks after the devastating November terror attacks on Paris, were showered with praise for its success, notably Hollande and then foreign minister Laurent Fabius.

The 32-page deal also calls on rich nations to muster at least $100 billion a year in climate aid from 2020. Just how that will happen has yet to be worked out.

COP21 is the acronym for the 21st conference of parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the arena set up under the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio.
District of Columbia: Hillary Clinton captured the mostly symbolic Democratic primary Tuesday in the US capital, the final vote of the 2016 presidential primaries, as the race shifts to her showdown with Republican rival Donald Trump.

Hillary won nearly 79 percent of the vote, compared with just 21 percent for Bernie Sanders, with nearly all votes counted, according to US networks.

It marked a deflating finish for the Vermont senator, who captivated liberals and independents with his grassroots campaign that challenged Hillary more than just about everyone expected.

But as the most controversial primary season in decades drew to a close, the attention of the candidates -- and the nation -- was elsewhere: grappling with the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001.

Instead of hailing the end of a historic primary season, Hillary and Trump were trading explosive verbal blows and laying out dramatically different approaches towards fighting terrorism in the wake of the massacre at a gay nightclub in Florida.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, on Monday proposed stark changes to existing immigration policy, saying that if elected he would "suspend" immigration from areas with a "proven history of terrorism."

He also suggested American Muslims were complicit in domestic attacks because they failed to "turn in the people who they know are bad."

Hillary, a former secretary of state, maintained a more statesmanlike demeanour, calling on Americans to "stand together" to defeat terrorism.

But after Trump suggested in a TV interview that Obama sympathized with terrorists, Hillary unleashed a blistering anti-Trump broadside on Tuesday and called her rival`s approach "dangerous" and "un-American."

"Even in a time of divided politics, this is way beyond anything that should be said by someone running for president of the United States," she told supporters in Pittsburgh.

"What Donald Trump is saying is shameful," she added. "It is yet more evidence that he is temperamentally unfit and totally unqualified to be commander in chief."Washington`s primary was an afterthought, as Hillary last week reached the magic number of delegates needed to lock up the nomination.

While she has called for uniting the party quickly in order to focus on the looming Trump battle, Sanders has refused to concede the race.

But he has steadily softened in recent days. And Sanders and Hillary met to discuss the Democratic Party platform ahead of the national convention next month in Philadelphia.

Sanders told reporters that he wanted to see "the most progressive platform ever passed" at a convention, one which "makes it crystal clear that the Democratic Party is in fact on the side of working people."

He met with President Barack Obama last week, and emerged from the White House declaring his intent to work together with Hillary to defeat Trump in November. The move could go far to quell concerns of divisions within the party.

Obama endorsed Hillary later that day.

Republicans in Washington held their party convention in March, with Senator Marco Rubio emerging as the top vote-getter.

Tuesday`s vote wraps up a spectacular primary season that saw conservatives flock to a celebrity billionaire and political novice in Trump, and liberals propel a self-described democratic socialist into the national spotlight for a heavyweight bout against one of the nation`s best-known political figures.

Sanders managed to tap into a deep well of anger among young voters disillusioned by the current political system and eager to see action taken to reduce income inequality, one of Sanders`s main goals.

Hillary ultimately prevailed, becoming the first female presumptive presidential nominee of any major US political party.

Congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz congratulated both candidates for having "energised voters across the country."

"Now that our 2016 primaries are officially at their end, Democrats are ready to unify and take on both Trump and the Republican Party that he represents," Wasserman Schultz said in a statement.

"At our convention in July, we`re going to nominate a qualified, capable candidate who will build on the hard-won progress of the last seven years."

Sanders is scheduled to address supporters live via webcast Thursday.
While grape production in Armenia is growing annually, wine exports are decreasing.

311,000 tons of grapes were grown in 2015, the highest amount when compared to the prior four years.

Most of the grapes go towards winemaking. Due to a lack of a local market for purchasing all the grapes produced, some growers make their own wine.

Despite the growth in grape production, wine production has dropped in the last two years according to Armenias National Statistical Service.

In 2013, 6.6 million liters of wine was produced in Armenia. This dropped to 6.176 million liters in 2014 and 5.9 million liters in 2015.

The drop can be linked to the devaluation of the Russian ruble and Armenias accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Aside from Russia, Armenia doesnt trade much with other EEU member states.

Armenian wine exports have been wavering ever since 2010 according to Armenias Customs Service.

In 2010, Armenia exported 924,100 liters of wine valued at US$4.1 million.

2011  733,400 liters ($2.4 million)

2012  1,186 million liters ($4.1 million)

2013  1,398.5 million liters ($4.2 million)

2014  2,120.7 million liters ($6.3 million)

2015  1,451.6 million liters ($4.1 million)

Experts tie the drop in exports to the financial crisis in Russia, the largest importer of Armenian wines.

Grape growers in Kaghtsrashen, a village in Armenia, are feeling the pinch. They say that they have only received a small portion of what they are owed for the grapes they have supplied to a local wine factory. Producers argue that since exports are done they are cash short.

Avag Haroutyunyan, who heads the Armenian Winegrowers Union, also points a finger at the devaluation of the Russian ruble for the drop in grape production and wine exports.

He says the picture will change once the ruble returns to its former value. If the ruble remains where it is, Haroutyunyan says wine producers will have to start exporting cheaper wines.

He believes its incumbent for wine exporters to tap other international markets since there is a demand for Armenian wines.

Haroutyunyan doesnt believe that Armenias accession to the EEU has anything to do with the drop in wine exports since 80-92% of exports had been going to Russia before this.

The 5-10% of wines exported to Europe before Armenia joined the EEU has remained the same.

Haroutyunyan sounds a positive note however regarding future exports.

I believe that starting in November and December of this year, export numbers will increase given that active work being taken, with government support, to break into the Indian and Chinese markets, he says.
Washington: Hillary Clinton on Wednesday crushed her rival Bernie Sanders in the Democratic party's last presidential primary here in the US capital, setting the stage for an epic race against controversial Republican opponent Donald Trump in November.

Clinton, 68, a former Secretary of State and a former Senator from New York, is the first women to become a presidential candidate of a major political party in US electoral history.

Clinton received 78.9 per cent of the votes while Sanders could garner only 21.1 per cent.

The result heralds the start of an epic race to the White House between Clinton and brash real estate tycoon Trump who celebrated his 70th birthday today.

"We just won Washington, DC ! Grateful to everyone who voted," Clinton tweeted though Sanders is yet to drop out of the race as the two met today.

Clinton secured enough delegates to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination last week, but Sanders declined to drop out and pledged to give every voter a chance to decide between the two candidates.

Sanders privately met Clinton at the Capital Hilton, just after she won the final contest on the Democratic calendar.

The meeting came as the Vermont senator has begun signalling that his campaign is soon to close, though Sanders' aides say he is not expected to immediately endorse Clinton.

"Sanders and Secretary Clinton met in Washington...And had a positive discussion about how best to bring more people into the political process and about the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation," said Michael Briggs, Sanders' spokesman, in a statement.

"Sanders congratulated Secretary Clinton on the campaign she has run and said he appreciated her strong commitment to stopping Trump in the general election," it said.

It added that the two discussed a variety of issues where they are seeking common ground: substantially raising minimum wage; real campaign finance reform; making health care universal and accessible and making college affordable and reducing student debt.

"Sanders and Clinton agreed to continue working to develop a progressive agenda that addresses the needs of working families and the middle class and adopting a progressive platform for the Democratic National Convention," the statement said.

Clinton now has 2,800 delegates out of 4,763 delegates. Sanders has 1,832 delegates in his kitty.

Ending the primary elections on a winning note puts the former first lady on a sound footing ahead of the general election in November and the Democratic Party's convention in Philadelphia in July.

"We congratulate both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders

for finishing strong today in the District of Columbia after energising voters across the country with smart, substantive primary campaigns worthy of the American people," said Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

"Now that our 2016 primaries are officially at their end, Democrats are ready to unify and take on both Trump and the Republican Party that he represents. At our convention in July, we're going to nominate a qualified, capable candidate who will build on the hard-won progress of the last seven years," she said.

Nearly 28 million people cast their ballots for Clinton and Sanders in Democratic primaries ? 2.7 million more than the top three Republican candidates combined.

"The reason we're driving more people to the polls is simple: our candidates have shown throughout this campaign that they're committed to fighting for the hopes, dreams and aspirations of hardworking families across the country," she said.
Brussels: A note received in several Belgian police stations indicates "imminent" terrorist attacks in France and Belgium, according to Belgian media on Wednesday.

This detailed note of information indicates that some jihadists would have left Syria 10 days ago to reach Europe via Turkey and Greece to carry out attacks in France and Belgium, Xinhua news agency reported.

In Belgium, the shopping centre City 2 in Brussels, a McDonald's restaurant and a police station were cited as possible targets.

"They would separate into two groups, one for Belgium and one for France, to commit attacks in different places," said the note.

These groups are armed and would aim to commit an act classified as "imminent", it said.

The implications of the note on safety measures, however, are not yet clear.


The Hague: Iran has appealed to the UN's top court against a US Supreme Court ruling that USD 2 billion in frozen Iranian assets must be paid to American victims of terror attacks blamed on Tehran, the tribunal said Wednesday.

In its filing to the International Court of Justice based in The Hague yesterday, Tehran argues that "Iran and Iranian state-owned companies are entitled to immunity from the jurisdiction of the US courts", the tribunal said in a statement.

The US Supreme Court ruled in April that Iran must hand over nearly USD 2 billion in frozen assets to survivors and relatives of those killed in attacks blamed on the Islamic republic.

These included the 1983 bombing of a US Marine barracks in Beirut and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia.

The decision affects more than 1,000 Americans.

But Tehran, which signed a landmark nuclear deal last year with world powers leading to the unblocking of other frozen funds, has reacted angrily to the Supreme Court ruling.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced late Wednesday that "Iran has officially lodged a complaint with the international court and we will pursue our case until we get a result."

"The American courts have illegally decided that these funds must be given to Americans and the families of victims killed in Lebanon," he said, quoted by Iranian media.

"It remains unclear what these Americans were doing in Lebanon, and how this affair concerns Iran."

In the filing to the ICJ, Iran argues that the legal proceedings underway in the US breach the terms of a 1955 bilateral treaty of amity, economic relations, and consular rights signed with the United States.

It further calls for the United States "to make full reparations to Iran for the violation of its international legal obligations in an amount to be determined by the Court at a subsequent stage of the proceedings."
Magnanville: A convicted radical who killed a French police couple in an IS-inspired stabbing was carrying a "hit list" of VIPs and urged followers to turn Euro 2016 into a "graveyard", officials said.

Monday`s assault in the Paris suburb of Magnanville was the first deadly strike in France since the coordinated attacks in the capital by an Islamic State cell in November, which killed 130 people.

The killings also took place barely 36 hours after the massacre at a gay club in Orlando by an IS-inspired gunman, and French President Francois Hollande spoke by telephone with his US counterpart Barack Obama to discuss the terror threat.

"Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to degrading and destroying ISIL and standing against the broader scourge of terrorism," the White House said in a statement Tuesday, using another name for the group.

In a separate incident in France on Tuesday, a man with known psychiatric problems stabbed a teenage girl in the western city of Rennes, saying he heard voices telling him to make a "sacrifice" for Ramadan.

The 32-year-old man was sent to a psychiatric hospital after stabbing the girl twice in the wrist and once in the abdomen, leaving her in serious condition, prosecutor Nicolas Jacquet told AFP.

In Monday night`s assault, Larossi Abballa, who was under surveillance after serving time for links to jihadist networks, stabbed 42-year-old police commander Jean-Baptiste Salvaing outside his home.

He took Salvaing`s 36-year-old partner Jessica Schneider and the couple`s three-year-old son hostage in the house and killed the woman by slitting her throat.

Before he was killed in a police raid, Abballa posted a live Facebook video of himself with the child in which he admitted the murders and urged fellow jihadists to carry out more bloodshed.

He referenced Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, an IS spokesman who had called in an audio message for attacks on Europe and the United States during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said Abballa, a 25-year-old from the nearby suburb of Mantes-la-Jolie, told police negotiators before his death that he had sworn loyalty to IS three weeks earlier.

The jihadist group claimed the attack in a statement issued by the Amaq news agency, a regular conduit for IS announcements.Molins said police had found a hit list at the scene naming police and VIPS including journalists and rappers to be targeted.

They also found three knives, one of them covered in blood.

Three associates of Abballa have been arrested over the attack, Molins said, one of them among a group convicted alongside him in 2013 over their involvement in a network recruiting jihadists for Pakistan.

Monday`s stabbings come with France on high alert during the Euro tournament, with up to 90,000 police and security guards deployed to ensure the safety of local and visiting fans.

In his Facebook video, which was seen by AFP, Abballa called on supporters to attack police, journalists, public figures, prison guards and rappers and to "turn the Euro into a graveyard".

The video was later removed from the social network, with Facebook adding in a statement: "We are working closely with the French authorities as they deal with this terrible crime".

"A new horror threshold has been breached," Prime Minister Manuel Valls told parliament, which observed a minute`s silence for the victims of both the Orlando and the Magnanville attacks. Hollande was set to visit the interior ministry for a further minute`s silence Wednesday.

A further minute`s silence was planned at France`s interior ministry on Wednesday. The couple`s deaths are the first police fatalities in a jihadist attack since January 2015 when gunmen attacked the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper, a Jewish supermarket and the police, killing 17 people including three officers.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said Monday`s killings showed the gravity of the threat to security forces "who are paying a heavy price to ensure the safety of the French".

Police unions announced they had secured the right for officers to remain armed while off duty, which has until now only been allowed under the state of emergency declared after November`s Paris attacks.
Rome/New Delhi: The US has not yet confirmed the death of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was on Tuesday reported to have been killed in an American airstrike.

Italian news agency AKI cited a report by Islamic State-run Al-Amaq as saying that Baghdadi was killed in an air raid in Syria by the US-led coalition forces on Friday. The report about Baghdadi`s death was also corroborated by Iranian state media and pro-government Turkish daily Yenis Safak.

However, there was no confirmation from US officials about the death of the most wanted terrorist, nicknamed "the invisible sheikh", with a USD 25-million bounty on his head.

AKI said the air strike was launched on the Islamic State-controlled territory`s capital Raqqa in northern Syria.

It said the statement in Arabic published by Amaq announced that "the commander of the faithful and caliph Baghdadi was killed by alliance airstrikes on Raqqa on the fifth day of Ramadan (Friday)".

Mirror.co.uk citing a statement from Iraqi security forces said Baghdadi`s convoy was hit "as it was moving towards Karbala (in Iraq) to attend a meeting of the Daesh terrorist leaders". But the British newspaper website citing a spokesman for the coalition said the terrorist leader`s death was not confirmed.

Colonel Chris Garver, of the coalition forces, said in an e-mail that he had seen the reports but had "nothing to confirm this at this time".

This is not the first time that Baghdadi has been reported to have died in a coalition strike. Such reports have emerged earlier as well.

On Monday, Iraqi TV channel `Al-Sumaria` said that Baghdadi had been wounded in a coalition airstrike on a location 65 kilometres west of the Islamic State-held city of Mosul.

CNN citing US defence officials said that they had received credible intelligence that Baghdadi has been on the move in the past six months and had travelled to Mosul recently.

Baghdadi, 45, has not released any audio or video statement in the last six months. An audio message was released in December 2015 from the dreaded terrorist leader who has orchestrated major attacks in Europe and massacres in the territory he governs. Since then he has maintained a stony silence with some reports saying he may have been dead since long.

Very little is known about the earlier life of Baghdadi and when he began his terrorist activities.

He is said to have been arrested from Baghdad in 2004 as a "civilian internee" with terrorists in Iraq. He was released later as a "low-level prisoner".

He joined the Mujahideen Shura Council, serving on its "sharia committee" in 2006. That is when the group was renamed the Islamic State of Iraq, with Baghdadi promoted as a general. He was named the head of the Islamic State of Iraq in 2010.

Baghdadi oversaw the expansion of the Islamic State into Syria, naming the group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

(With IANS inputs)
Oslo: US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Russia on Wednesday that US patience on the Syria conflict and the issue of President Bashar al-Assad`s fate is running out.

"Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable," Kerry said during a visit to Norway.

"We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition" who have been involved in continuing violence, he said after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Peace talks aimed at ending the five-year conflict have stalled and Damascus has stepped up its military campaign against the Islamic State group and rebels in the second city of Aleppo.

"It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place. We know that, we have no illusion," Kerry said.

"This is a critical moment and we are working very. very hard to see if we can in the next week or two come to an agreement that has a capacity to more fully implement a ceasefire across the country and deliver humanitarian access in a way that then provides for a genuine opportunity to bring people to the table and start talking about a transition."

Syria`s war has killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in March 2011.
California: A US judge facing seething criticism for handing a light sentence to a former Stanford University student convicted of sexual assault has been removed from a similar case on grounds he may be biased.

Prosecutors in Santa Clara County, in northern California, on Tuesday filed a challenge against Aaron Persky in a case involving a male nurse accused of sexually assaulting a sedated woman.

Persky has been at the center of a firestorm over a six-month jail sentence he handed down earlier this month against Brock Turner, who had been convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on the campus of the prestigious university.

The request to have him removed from the new case came after he suddenly dismissed a misdemeanor theft case before deliberations started, arguing prosecutors had not made their case.

"We are disappointed and puzzled at judge Persky`s unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate," Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement to AFP, confirming Persky`s removal from the new sex assault case.

"After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient.

"This is a rare and carefully considered step for our office. In the future, we will evaluate each case on its own merits and decide if we should use our legal right to ask for another judge in order to protect public safety and pursue justice."

The judge could not immediately be reached for comment.

Rosen had disagreed with Persky`s ruling in the Turner case, stating at the time that the lenient sentence did not "factor in the true seriousness of this sexual assault, or the victim`s ongoing trauma."

"Campus rape is no different than off-campus rape," he said. "Rape is rape."

The sentence, which gained international attention after publication of the victim`s powerful statement to the court in which she described the assault`s impact on her life, has prompted widespread outrage and calls for Persky to be recalled.
Washington: The US has a "massive" trade deficit with countries like India, China and Mexico, presumptive presidential nominee of Republican party Donald Trump today said, alleging that practically every country in the world who do business with the US tries to "rip it off"

"People are tired. They want to have strength. They don't want to have trade deals where China has got a trade deficit, of USD 505 billion a year; where we have trade deficits, massive trade deficits with Mexico, with Japan, with Vietnam, with India, with everybody, folks, with everybody," Trump told a crowded election rally in Atlanta, Georgia.

"I mean, practically every country in the world when they do business with the US, it's called let's rip them off. It's like we're all the big, bad dummies. Those days are over if I win. Those days are over. They're over," Trump said.

The Republican presidential nominee continued with his campaign against his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

"If you look at what Hillary Clinton has done with women, No 1 from certain countries, her foundation has taken millions, tens of millions of dollars from countries that want to enslave women," he alleged.

"As far as the gay community, they kill gays. And she's taking money in. And now, she wants to allow them to come into our country, pretty much un-vetted, because every law enforcement person that I've spoken to and that you watch and that you read is saying it's very hard, if not impossible, to check out people. There's just no papers. There are no papers," he said.

The migration, he said, is a horrible thing to watch.

"I have a heart as big as anybody else. We have to build safe zones over there. And we have to take care of people. Let's build safe zones, but bill them over there. Build them in Syria. Build them in places over there,? he said.

Trump reiterated his call for temporary ban of entry of Muslims into the US.

"We have to stop on a temporary basis, at least, but we have to stop people from pouring into our country. We have to stop it until we find out what the hell is going on. And we can do that, but we have to have people come in that cherish us, that love us, that want to love us, that want to do things, that don't want to destroy us, that don't want to go to a club where you have innocent people and where you had no guns on the other side," he said.
Brussels: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday demanded that Russia withdraw its forces and military hardware from Ukraine and halt its support for pro-Moscow separatists battling Kiev.

"Russia needs to stop supporting the militants and withdraw its forces and military equipment from Ukrainian territory," Stoltenberg said after a meeting of NATO defence ministers with their Ukrainian counterpart in Brussels.

He said the US-led alliance will continue to stand by the government in Kiev and would never recognise Russia`s "illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea".

"In response to Russia`s actions, NATO has stepped up its support for Ukraine. Our level of political and practical engagement since 2014 is unprecedented," he said.

Stoltenberg said Moscow continued to support the rebels in many ways, supplying equipment and advisors while it massed troops along the border with Ukraine and built up its military presence in Crimea, home base for its key Black Sea fleet.
Washington: US President Barack Obama has not taken any decision on the reduction of American troops in Afghanistan even as the situation in the war-torn country has improved but is far from ideal, the White House said today.

"The situation in Afghanistan has profoundly changed, not just if you quantify it based on troop levels, but what's also true is we have succeeded in decimating core Al Qaida that previously operated with virtual impunity in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.

"I don't think there's anybody that would describe the situation in Afghanistan right now as ideal. So the President has acknowledged for some time that there is continued work and a sustained commitment to Afghanistan will be required after his presidency. There is no denying that," he said.

Noting that there has been a "remarkable progress" in Afghanistan to decimate core Al Qaida, Earnest said there is a need to build up the governing institutions in the country and to reduce the military commitment and military sacrifices that the US was making before President Obama took office.

"I don't have a specific timetable to share, but once the President has been presented a recommendation then he will make a decision. But I don't have a timeframe to share in terms of when that recommendation will be presented or when the President would make a decision based on it," he said.

The United States, he observed, values the important contribution that our NATO allies are making to that effort.

"We would not have make the kind of progress that we have seen in Afghanistan without the substantial contribution, and in some cases sacrifices, that our NATO allies have made in pursuit of our interest in Afghanistan," he added.

"At one point earlier in President Obama's tenure in office, there were more than 100,000 US troops on the ground in Afghanistan. And now, the question is are we going to reduce the number of our troops from 9,800 to 5,500? That, of course, is more than a 90 per cent reduction of our military personnel in Afghanistan," Earnest said.

So that also, I think, is an indication of the important progress that we've made in Afghanistan," he said.
The Reporters Without Borders 2016 World Press Freedom Index came out in May and Armenia ranks 74th out of 180 countries surveyed.

This is four spots up the ladder when compared to its 78th ranking in 2015.

Georgia ranked 64th, Azerbaijan 163rd, and Russia 148th.

In the Index, Armenia is described as a country with mixed success in terms of media freedom.

The print media are diverse and polarized, investigative journalism prospers on the Internet, but pluralism lags behind in the broadcast media. In the crucial transition to digital TV, a future space for critical broadcasters will depend on the impartiality of the frequency bidding process. Police violence against journalists still goes unpunished but the Ilur.am news website and the Hraparak newspaper won an important legal victory in October 2015 when the constitutional court issued a ruling upholding the confidentiality of journalists sources.

The Index ranks 180 countries according to the level of freedom available to journalists. It is a snapshot of the media freedom situation based on an evaluation of pluralism, independence of the media, quality of legislative framework and safety of journalists in each country. It does not rank public policies even if governments obviously have a major impact on their countrys ranking. Nor is it an indicator of the quality of journalism in each country.

Photo: posttraditionalbuddhism.com
Seoul: North Korea may have produced an additional six or more nuclear weapons over the past 18 months, possibly bringing its total arsenal to more than 21 bombs, a US think tank said Tuesday.

The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) based the estimates on the amounts of weapons-grade plutonium and highly enriched uranium the North is believed to have produced at its Yongbyon nuclear complex.

The report came after International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Yukiya Amano said last week that North Korea might have reactivated a plant at Yongbyon for reprocessing plutonium for use in nuclear weapons.

In late 2014, ISIS estimated the North`s nuclear arsenal at 10 to 16 weapons.

Since then, the North has added another four to six weapons to the stockpile for a total of 13 to 21 or more today, ISIS said.

The 13-21 estimate did not take into account the additional contribution of a possible second centrifuge plant the North may have built to produce weapons-grade uranium, it said.

"Nonetheless, this exercise, despite not being comprehensive, shows that North Korea could be significantly increasing its nuclear weapons capabilities", the Washington-based think tank said.

Most of this increase since 2014 can be attributed to the production of weapons-grade uranium, it added.

Amano, citing satellite imagery, said last week in Vienna: "The indications that we have obtained... (are of) activities related to the five-megawatt reactor, expansion of enrichment facilities and activities related to (plutonium) reprocessing."

The type of plutonium suitable for a nuclear bomb typically needs to be extracted from spent nuclear reactor fuel.

North Korea mothballed the Yongbyon reactor in 2007 under an aid-for-disarmament accord, but began renovating it after its third nuclear test in 2013. It carried out out a fourth test on January 6.

The director of US National Intelligence, James Clapper, warned in February that the North could begin recovering plutonium from the reactor`s spent fuel "within a matter of weeks to months".

IAEA inspectors were kicked out of North Korea in 2009. Amano did not say when the activities spotted by satellite took place.
Washington: Omar Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, knew of her husband's plans to kill people at an Orlando gay nightclub, a report said on Tuesday.

News agency Reuters quoted a law enforcement source as saying Noor could soon be charged in connection with the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

The source added that a federal grand jury had been convened and could charge Noor as early as Wednesday.

In a horrific act, Mateen killed 49 people at the Pulse club early on Sunday.

"It appears she had some knowledge of what was going on," said US Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which received a briefing on the attack on Tuesday.

"She definitely is, I guess you would say, a person of interest right now and appears to be cooperating and can provide us with some important information," King told CNN.

Mateen, who was shot dead by police after a three-hour standoff at the Pulse club, called 911 during his shooting spree to profess allegiance to various militant Islamist groups.

Federal investigators have said he was likely self-radicalised and there was no evidence that he received any instruction or aid from outside groups such as Islamic State. Mateen, 29, was a US citizen, born in New York of Afghan immigrant parents.

"He appears to have been an angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalised," President Barack Obama told reporters after a meeting of the White House National Security Council.

FoxNews.com, citing an FBI source, said prosecutors were seeking to charge Mateen's wife as an accessory to 49 counts of murder and 53 counts of attempted murder and failure to notify law enforcement about the pending attack and lying to federal agents.

NBC News said Noor told federal agents she tried to talk her husband out of carrying out the attack. But she also told the FBI she once drove him to the Pulse nightclub because he wanted to scope it out, the network said.

A former wife of Mateen, who was a security guard, has said he was mentally unstable and beat her. The ex-spouse, Sitora Yusufiy, said she fled their home after four months of marriage.

Noor's mother, Ekbal Zahi Salman, lives in a middle-class neighbourhood of the suburban town of Rodeo, California. A neighbour said Noor Salman only visited her mother once after she married Mateen.

Noor Salmans mother didn't like him very much. He didn't allow her (Noor) to come here," said neighbor Rajinder Chahal. He said he had spoken to Noor Salman's mother after the Orlando attack. "She was crying, weeping."

(With Reuters inputs)
Panama City: Panama's health minister resigned today, the government said, amid a swine flu outbreak that has claimed 22 lives and sparked a panicked rush for vaccinations.

Francisco Javier Terrientes "today presented his resignation from his post for professional reasons," the government said in a statement.

It added that President Juan Carlos Varela had appointed the deputy health minister, Miguel Mayo, to take Terrientes' place.

Panama's hospitals and clinics are overrun by people wanting vaccinations against the A(H1N1) flu virus which has proved particularly dangerous this year in Panama.

Since early May, 22 people have died of the virus and 671 were hospitalized, of whom nearly half remain admitted and 38 are in intensive care.

Panama's government has announced it would make nearly one million more doses of A(H1N1) vaccines available by next week.

A(H1N1), or swine flu, was first detected in 2009, spreading from the United States to Mexico and prompting the World Health Organization to declare a pandemic that year.

This subtype of the flu virus causes a respiratory infection whose symptoms can be mild or fatal.

In tropical zones such as Panama, it can occur year round, especially during the rainy season, which has now begun in the Central American country.
Manila: Philippine President Benigno Aquino insisted Wednesday a Norwegian man and other hostages being held by Islamic extremists on a remote southern island could be rescued, after the militants beheaded a second Canadian captive.

Aquino flew on Wednesday to Jolo island, where the Abu Sayyaf group is based and believed to be holding Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, to meet with troops tasked with tracking the militants through hostile jungle terrain.

"We are getting a clearer picture of what is happening here. We saw today how to refine our operations so we can successfully rescue the remaining hostages," Aquino told reporters travelling with him.

Aquino also said he apologised to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the murders of the two Canadian men, who were abducted along with Sekkingstad and Filipina Marites Flor from aboard yachts at an exclusive southern marina nine months ago.

Retiree Robert Hall was beheaded on Monday after the Abu Sayyaf`s demands for a ransom of 300 million pesos ($6.5 million) were not met. His friend, John Ridsdel, was beheaded in April after a similar ransom demand was not paid.

The Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of a few hundred Islamic militants formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden`s Al-Qaeda network that has earned millions of dollars from kidnappings-for-ransom.

It is a radical offshoot of a decades-long Muslim separatist insurgency in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines that has claimed more than 100,000 lives. The main Muslim rebel groups do not generally engage in kidnappings-for-ransom.

The Abu Sayyaf`s strongholds are Jolo and nearby Basilan, small but mountainous islands roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) from Manila with mainly Muslim populations.

Aquino, who is due to step down on June 30, said he had found it difficult to end the Abu Sayyaf threat during his six years in office.

Among the problems, he cited the Abu Sayyaf`s support of the local Muslim communities, many of whom have received money from the militants, he said.

"They (the militants) have many resources. They can buy sympathy and we are in their place of origin. They have knowledge of the terrain. All of the advantages are theirs," Aquino said.

He also said the military and police were understaffed, not having increased in size since 1986 despite the huge rise in population since.

The Abu Sayyaf is believed to be holding at least eight hostages, according to Pacific Strategies and Assessments, a regional security analysis firm.

These include a Japanese treasure hunter kidnapped in 2010 and a Dutch bird watcher abducted in 2012.
Tripoli: Forces allied with Libya`s unity government said Wednesday they had repelled a counter-attack by the Islamic State group in the jihadists` coastal stronghold of Sirte.

IS jihadists hit positions controlled by fighters loyal to Libya`s UN-backed Government of National Accord west of the city with tank, mortar and sniper fire on Tuesday, according to a statement from the pro-GNA forces.

Five pro-government fighters were killed in the clashes and 37 wounded, it said.

Loyalist forces have battled since mid-May to oust IS from Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, and the mix of militias and army units have seized control of its port and airport.

But their advance slowed at the end of last week as they reached central and northern parts of the city where IS fighters are holed up in residential areas.

The operation to retake Sirte has so far left 145 pro-GNA fighters dead and 500 injured, according to medical officials.

Pro-government forces said they had also opened a new front around the east of the city, hitting targets in the vicinity of the city`s vast former conference centre, now used by IS as a battlefield headquarters.

Jihadist groups took root in Libya in late 2014, taking advantage of the chaos and power struggles that followed the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011.

Established in Tripoli more than two months ago, Libya`s unity government has been struggling to unify violence-ridden Libya and exert its control over the North African country.

The operation against IS in Sirte enjoys wide support in western Libya, where many welcomed the GNA`s installation in the capital Tripoli on March 30.
Kuwait City: Yemen`s warring parties have discussed forming military and security committees to oversee a transition period aimed at ending 14 months of fighting, the UN special envoy said Wednesday.

"Discussions continued on security and military issues, including the details of military and security committees," Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said in a statement.

Peace talks in Kuwait between Iran-backed rebels and the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi have completed their eighth week without any major breakthrough other than the release of some prisoners.

Shiite Huthi rebels have announced the release of 187 prisoners and Saudi Arabia, which backs Hadi`s administration, said last week it freed 52 children.

The UN envoy had tried to push the two sides to release half of all their prisoners before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began on June 6.

Yemen`s foreign minister and the head of the government delegation Abdulmalek al-Mikhlafi threatened to pull out of the talks in a week`s time if the "Huthis continue to reject peace".

"I think we still have another week... I believe we will reach the end," Mikhlafi told Sky News Arabia overnight when asked how long will they stay in Kuwait.

"Not only the government delegation, but also the ambassadors of countries (supporting the peace process) and the UN special envoy will leave," he said.

Mikhlafi said nothing has been achieved since the talks began on April 21 and "we have been revolving in a vacuum".

The main sticking point in talks remains the form of the government that would oversee a transition back to normality once a peace deal is reached.

The rebels and their allies have held out against demands contained in a UN Security Council resolution for their surrender of heavy weaponry and withdrawal from areas, including the capital, which they seized in September 2014.

The head of the Huthi delegation Mohammed Abdulsalam said late Tuesday that they would reject any deal that excludes their input on the make-up of the transitional body.

"Any deal that does not meet our demands of forming a consensual authority... will be rejected," he told Yemeni media.

This should include Huthi agreement on the president, the national unity government and military and security committees, he said.

The government has resisted proposals for a unity administration with the rebels, fearing it would undermine the international legitimacy of Hadi.

The war in Yemen has killed about 6,400 people, with more than 80 percent of the population in desperate need of humanitarian aid, according to the UN.

On ground, nine rebels were killed in a late Tuesday air raid by the Saudi-led coalition on the northern Jawf province, a Huthi stronghold, military sources said.

Meanwhile, eight other rebels and six pro-government soldiers were killed in 24 hours of fighting in the southern province of Daleh, controlled by loyalists, the sources said.
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. An event called Window to Greece was held in Yerevan. The event was meant for introducing the Greek culture and history to the Armenian people and foster Armenian-Greek relations.

Head of the Tourism Department of the Ministry of Economy of Armenia Mekhak Apresyan mentioned that the event aims at fostering cooperation in the sphere of tourism between Armenia and Greece. There are a lot of key factors for developing tourism between Armenia and Greece. This does not pursue only economic goals, Armenpress reports Apresyan said, adding that in addition to boosting economies in both countries, it will also reinforce friendship between the two peoples.

He added that there are positive tendencies regarding visits to Armenia from Greece, but it is not so significant considering absolute numbers.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to Armenia Ioannis Taghis mentioned that the event is dedicated to the touristic attractions of Greece. Greece is a very popular touristic country and is accepts visitors from various countries. I am glad to mention that Armenians have started to visit Greece quite often. Armenia and Greece are very beautiful countries and I have no doubts that Armenia will soon turn into a touristic state as well. Armenia and Greece have very close and friendly relations and I am convinced that Armenians will enjoy their visit to Greece, the Ambassador said.

Ioannis Taghis believes that Armenian monasteries will be of great interest for Greek tourists.

Director of Hot Tours tourist agency Mkhitar Melik-Shahnazaryan told the reporters that the event is initiated by the Greek embassy in Armenia and a number of Armenian organizations.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS.House Bill 4493, Genocide Education: Governor's Advisory Council & Curriculum and Assessment, was signed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder on June 13, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).

"Our next generation of leaders needs to have the wherewithal to recognize and help prevent widespread harm to their fellow men and women," Snyder stated. "Teaching the students of Michigan about genocide is important because we should remember and learn about these terrible events in our past while continuing to work toward creating a more tolerant society."

Thanks to the leadership and efforts of the Armenian Genocide Education Committee (AEGC), Assembly Michigan Director John Jamian, and the entire community, HB 4493 Genocide Education bill is now law. Jamian, an active member of the AEGC, was also a former Representative in the Michigan legislature as well as past Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly. Jamian, upon reflecting on this achievement, recalled his colleague and former Assembly Board Member Edgar Hagopian's tireless advocacy in championing genocide affirmation both at the state and federal level. Hagopian, who passed away in 2011, served as a Board Member from 1998 to 2003.

"I am elated we finally accomplished making this important genocide educational program into Michigan law," Jamian said. "This success demonstrates that when our community leaders all work together we can accomplish great things. I give special credit to our AEGC Chairman Edward Haratounian for his leadership and all of the members in getting to this important milestone," he added.

HB 4493, sponsored by Representative Klint Kesto, amends the Revised School Code and requires that the Michigan's social studies curriculum in high school and state-wide assessment program include instruction and testing about genocides, including the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. In addition, the bill establishes the Governor's Council on Genocide and Holocaust Education as a temporary commission. The 15-member council, set up by Governor Snyder, would be advisory and privately funded.

"The Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust cannot be forgotten," said State Senator Marty Knollenberg (R-MI), son of former Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chair Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI). "I'm proud to stand with both Democrats and Republicans to ensure they are remembered by Michigan's next generations."

The official legislation states: "Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, the board of a school district or board of directors of a public school academy shall ensure that the school district's or public school academy's social studies curriculum for grades 8 to 12 includes age- and grade-appropriate instruction about genocide." The state assessment for social studies will "include questions related to the learning objectives in the state board recommended model core academic curriculum standards concerning genocide, including, but not limited to, the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide." According to this bill, a combined total of 6 hours of genocide instruction will be mandatory during grades 8 to 12.

Furthermore, the Michigan school board will promote "engendering and coordinating events, activities, and education that will appropriately memorialize the victims of the Armenian Genocide, such as observance of the Michigan Days of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide."

In addition to the legislation in Michigan, this year the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) included the Armenian Genocide in its planned curriculum as part of its mission to develop materials and lesson plans for genocide education in elementary, middle, and high schools. The Assembly reached out to ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt in appreciation of the background material regarding the Armenian Genocide and the resources provided in the ADL's Spring 2016 high school lesson plan entitled "The Struggle to Prevent Genocide: Genocide and the Global Response."

For other curricula, see the Armenian National Institute's page, "Armenian Genocide and Human Rights Curricula."

Michigan follows six other U.S. states that have approved genocide curriculum mandates, including Illinois, California, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
In the last five years, Armenias mining exports have amounted to approximately USD $500 million annually, making it the countrys top sector in terms of export and inflow of foreign exchange.

This is just one highlight of a new World Bank report entitled Armenia Strategic Mineral Sector Sustainability Assessment regarding the mining sector in Armenia.

It was the Armenian government that went to World Banks, requesting that it evaluate pivotal social and environmental challenges and future opportunities for the countrys mining sector.

The assessment, produced by a consortium of international experts, recommends that the Armenian government embark on a process of elaboration of a national mining policy to ensure sound regulation of the sector. The policy would also provide an opportunity to build consensus among stakeholders, which is crucial to promoting a sustainable, transparent and successful industry.

At the launch of the Assessment in Yerevan on June 8, World Bank Senior Mining Specialist Kirsten Hund sounded an optimistic note regarding Armenias mining sector.

The mining sector in Armenia could contribute to sustainable development. For this, the sector needs to be advanced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner and the benefits have to be equitably shared, Hund said.

In the last five years, Armenias mining exports have amounted to approximately USD $500 million annually, making it the countrys top sector in terms of export and inflow of foreign exchange. Mining companies are also significant job providers, especially in rural areas. In 2014, over 7,000 people were employed in the metallic mining sector, which is around 10 percent of those employed in the industrial branch of the economy.

For further DETAILS
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. On the occasion of the national holiday of the UK  Queen Elizabeths birthday - President Serzh Sargsyan sent a congratulatory telegram to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister David Cameron.

The President congratulated and extended his best wishes to the Queen, the Royal family and the friendly British people on the occasion of the national holiday.

Armenia highly values the relations with the UK. A continuous political dialogue has been formed, works have been done for promoting trade and investments, our contacts have developed in the areas of culture and education, we have effectively cooperated within the frameworks of various projects aimed at reforms in Armenia. I am sure we can add new achievements to the abovementioned.

I am grateful for Your and the Royal Familys contribution in the development of cooperation between Armenia and the UK. I am sure, Her Majesty will continue keeping the development of relations with Armenia under focus, reads the message of Serzh Sargsyan addressed to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

In the message addressed to PM David Cameron, President Sargsyan expressed certitude that the Armenian-British relations will deepen by joint efforts  for the benefit of the two peoples.

On the occasion of the national holiday of Great Britain, President Serzh Sargsyan also visited the residence of Her Majestys Ambassador in Yerevan, congratulated Ambassador Judith Farnworth and the embassys staff, wished well-being and prosperity to the friendly people of Great Britain.

The President expressed certitude that this holiday is a unique symbol for the people of UK, because in the face of Her Majesty the Queen, the people of UK see not only the longest reigning Monarch, but also a wise and caring leader, whose reign has contributed to the image and authority of Great Britain for many decades.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament of South Ossetia is going to discuss the issue of the 1915 Armenian Genocide recognition in the upcoming session, reports Armenpress.

The Armenian Genocide recognition has been discussed in the Parliament of South Ossetia last year, however, the Parliament received the official application by the Armenian community on June 14, press service of the Parliament informed Interfax on June 15.

Some MPs said Armenia must also recognize the genocide of the Ossetian people, however, it is not principled. The important thing is that the representatives of the Armenian community are full members of the South Ossetian society, many of their representatives fought for the freedom and independence of our republic, shared with us all the difficulties during the war, and some of them are descendants of Armenians who survived the Genocide, the press service informs.

According to MPs, in case of the adoption of the application, the historical and human justice will be restored towards the brotherly people who, as well as the South Ossetian people survived the horror of the genocide.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Parliament Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov on June 15 held a meeting with newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Armenia Timur Urazayev and his consultant Zh. Adilbayev.

Issues related to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenian-Turkish relations were discussed.

Referring to the issue of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Sharmazanov once again confirmed that Armenia supports only the peaceful settlement of the conflict. We do not want war, we are in favor of the peaceful solution to the conflict, but we are ready to protect the security of the Nagorno Karabakh people, he stated. He emphasized that Azerbaijans statements are absurd and not serious, and do not derive from the negotiation logic.

Concerning the Armenian-Turkish relations, Sharmazanov informed the Ambassador that Turkey keeps Armenia in a blockade over 23 years which is unacceptable in the 21st century and especially in the normalization process of the relations.

He also stressed the necessity of the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide in the civilized world and said denying the genocide, there is a danger of new genocides to be repeated.

Sharmazanov also stressed the importance of the further development of relations with Kazakhstan and the active and productive cooperation of the Parliamentary friendship groups between the two states.

He highlighted the necessity of the partnership cooperation and the existence of non-contradicting stances during the voting in the inter-parliamentary assemblies.

Ambassador Timur Urazayev highlighted the importance of establishing balanced and constructive relations with the partner countries, the development of mutual cooperation with Armenia in the inter-parliamentary level and the trade-economic fields.

Ambassador gave priority to the discussion of issues of mutual interest.

He said Kazakhstan is especially interested in the legislation of Armenia and the exchange of experience in that field.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan took part in the CIS Defense Ministers Council session on June 15 in Moscow.

Dozens of issues related to multilateral military cooperation were discussed during the session.

The Council approved the main directions and events on the military cooperations concept until 2020.

2017 joint activities of the Armed Forces of the CIS member states were defined, including organizing competitions for the improvement of servicemens field, aerial and marine skills.

On the same day, Defense Minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan held a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu.

The ministers discussed issues of strengthening cooperation in the defense sector, expanding military cooperation aimed at deepening of strategic allied relations.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Despite the Electoral Code has already been adopted, the Government continues discussions with different political forces aimed at reaching a broader consensus, Minister-Chief of the Government Staff of Armenia Davit Harutyunyan said during a discussion. We believe the new Electoral Code was adopted by the National Assembly with a broad consensus, but on the other hand we believe that the broader the consensus is, the better will be, and that is why we continued the discussions, Armenpress reports Harutyunyan mentioning.

Davit Harutyunyan clarified that the suggested amendment is about including electronic fingerprint registration system into the Electoral Code. We will organize an electronic fingerprint pre-registration prior to the elections so that during the elections one can register without any documents, but by fingerprints. In order to be able to easily organize that pre-registration, we will do that with the precondition that the citizens will get a free of charge ID card after the pre-registration. The pre-registration will be over 20 days before the elections Harutyunyan said.

Referring to the demand of opposition of promulgating the voter lists, Harutyunyan noted that the newly adopted Elevtoral Code defines a mechanism which allows to get acquainted with the lists without breaching the Venice Commission principles.

The authorities also agree with the demand of the opposition of live broadcasting the entire electoral process. Harutyunyan clarified that the authorities are ready to include this proposal of the opposition in the Electoral Code. This means that cameras will be installed in all the polling stations of the republic. Harutyunyan concluding saying that in this case it is necessary to apply to international donor organizations jointly, since it is impossible to solve those issues without serious financial means.

The political forces and civil society representatives present at the discussion expressed satisfaction over the proposals, stating that the proposals can serve as firm basis for relaunching discussions over amendments in the Electoral Code.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan received the participants of the 15th conference of young leaders organized by Blobal Bridges. The meeting was attended also by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Armenia Matthias Kiesler, the chairman of Global Bridges Hans Albrecht and vice chairman Beate Lindemann.

As Armenpress was informed by the press service of Republic of Armenia Presidents Office, Serzh Sargsyan highlighted the fact that the participants of the conference got an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Armenian history to some extent and see the places of interest in Armenia and recommended them to visit Nagorno Karabakh in the future in case of possibility. I am informed that during your discussion you also touched upon Nagorno Karabakh conflict. I am convinced that visiting a country is the best way to form an opinion about a country, its people and leadership, since Azerbaijan spares no efforts to keep the Nagorno Karabakh theme closed, tries to prevent the entry of political or cultural figures of other countries to Artsakh so as to be able to conduct its propaganda easily, the Armenian President said.

The President of Armenia expressed readiness to answer the questions of the participants referring to both Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement phases and integration within the EAEU.

The President of the Republic wished success to the conference organized by the Global Bridges at the end of the meeting.
Signed up for the national do-not-call list and wondering why you're still being bombarded with telemarketing calls?

Toronto resident Larry McLean sure is.

"The last couple of years, they're coming even more," he said.

He recalls adding his phone number to the do-not-call list years ago. But McLean says he usually gets a telemarketing call every day, often from real estate agents hoping to sell his home or contractors offering renovation deals.

"'We've got guys on your street, we can give you a discount, blah, blah, blah,'" McLean said of the renovation offers. "It's a pain."

Telemarketers ignore the rules

A new CRTC survey may help shed some light on why the calls just won't stop.

Most telemarketers polled in the survey revealed they weren't following the list's rules. And 22 per cent admitted they were "not at all familiar" with the regulations.

The CRTC introduced the list in 2008 for Canadians who don't want to be disturbed by sales pitches at home. So far, people have added 2.5 million phone numbers that are supposed to be off limits to telemarketers.

On behalf of the CRTC, Environics Research polled 1,202 Canadian businesses by phone between Feb. 12 and March 15 and found 12 per cent of the companies do telemarketing.

Of that number, only two per cent said they had subscribed to the list, giving them access to the numbers they shouldn't call.

The two main reasons given for not subscribing were not being aware it was necessary or being exempt from the rules.

Telemarketers who solicit other businesses or customers with whom they have a business relationship don't have to consult the list.

But they still must register with the system and keep a record of current customers who don't wish to be contacted. The only companies exempt from registering are those hired to push products or services for other businesses.

Yet only six per cent of all telemarketers polled had registered with the list  even though almost all of them were making calls on behalf of their own business.

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Of the rule-breakers, 31 per cent blamed a "lack of awareness."

CRTC says no big deal

The CRTC said it's still analyzing the survey results, which could affect future outreach campaigns for telemarketers.

However, spokeswoman Patricia Valladao stressed that due to the small survey size and the fact that some businesses are exempt, it would be inappropriate to draw conclusions about compliance rates.

The survey cost Canadian taxpayers $46,000.

Valladao said 952 telemarketers are registered with the list. CBC News asked how that number compares with the total number of telemarketers in Canada.

Valladao didn't say, responding that "the steadily and noticeable increase in registrants year over year suggests that our compliance and outreach efforts have been successful."

Marketing expert Lindsay Meredith said 952 registrants sounds "disproportionately small" considering the number of Canadian businesses that do telemarketing.

Is the list a dud?

He also believes that, while the CRTC survey is small, it does provide further proof the list isn't working.

"We see enough evidence on the table already," said Meredith, a professor at Simon Fraser University. "It's an inconvenient truth."

He said even though he's on the list, he still gets about three unsolicited sales calls a day.

The Consumers' Association of Canada reports it continues to get a few calls a week from people complaining they signed up but are still being pestered by telemarketers.

President Bruce Cran believes telemarketers don't take the list seriously. "They treat it with contempt," he said.

Meredith believes the commission needs to launch a major advertising campaign and give stern warnings to all companies not following the rules.

CRTC claims it's on it

The CRTC says it conducts both educational and crackdown campaigns. Just yesterday, the commission announced it has teamed up with 10 international enforcement agencies to combat spam and unsolicited sales calls.

And last year, the CRTC handed out nearly three dozen violation notices totalling more than $2 million in penalties to telemarketers.

The culprits included four air duct cleaning companies, which paid a total of $55,000 for making unsolicited sales calls. The companies contacted people using foreign call centres.

But that doesn't mean Canadians on the do-not-call list will no longer hear from duct cleaners. Len Dvorkin in Thornhill, Ont., said he got a call just the other day.

"It was our friendly duct-cleaning guys."

Dvorkin signed up with the list in 2014 and is still bombarded with unsolicited calls.

The CRTC says it recognizes it needs to continue its efforts to ensure telemarketers play by the rules.

'Fact of life'

But Canadians who believe the list doesn't work have already resorted to alternative solutions.

Toronto resident McLean says if he sees a 1-800 or 1-888 number on his call display, he doesn't answer the phone.

Dvorkin avoids calls from numbers he doesn't recognize. If a telemarketer manages to get him on the phone, he quickly ends the call.

Dvorkin believes the unwanted calls will never stop and that avoidance will continue to be the best remedy.

"It's like complaining about snow in Canada, it's just a fact of life. I deal with it quickly and move on."
By Lesley Wroughton SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced high-level talks to ease tensions with Venezuela's socialist government on Tuesday, just hours after he backed calls for a referendum that could force President Nicolas Maduro from office. Kerry said the talks would start immediately in Caracas and be led by Thomas Shannon, a veteran of U.S. diplomacy in the region. Attempts last year at dialogue between the ideological foes were stalled by Venezuela's deepening crisis. The two countries have been embroiled in diplomatic hostilities since the administrations of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and U.S. President George W. Bush. Kerry said the goal was to go beyond "the old rhetoric." "I've committed to see if this can work so let's see if we can improve the relationship," he told reporters, after huddling with his Venezuelan counterpart on the sidelines of an Organization of American States (OAS) meeting in the Dominican Republic. The talks would also be aimed at fostering dialogue between Venezuela's government and opposition, Kerry said. Maduro welcomed the proposed talks and repeated his suggestion that the two sides restore ambassadors in each other's capitals after an eight-year hiatus that began when Chavez expelled the U.S. envoy to Venezuela. "I propose to John Kerry 'let's designate ambassadors', I am ready. They have ambassadors in Beijing, Vietnam and Havana, and they don't have one in Caracas," he said in a speech to teachers. Maduro proposed an ambassador in 2014 but U.S. President Barack Obama has not yet accepted his credentials. FIREWORKS AT ASSEMBLY Once one of Latin America's most prosperous nations, Venezuela has plunged into unrest and a harsh economic slowdown. Long lines for food and medicines have led to protests and opposition calls for a recall referendum to remove Maduro. That measure is allowed under the constitution, a point made by Kerry to reporters after he met Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez. Earlier in the day, in a speech to OAS delegates, Kerry gave his backing to the referendum push and called on Chavez's political heirs to release political prisoners and respect fundamental rights. His comments to the 34 members of the main diplomatic body of the Americas marked the strongest show of support yet from the United States for the disputed referendum process. Venezuelas opposition accuses the election council of stalling the recall at the behest of Maduro by arbitrarily changing criteria for requesting a recall vote. Maduro has said any recall against him would be in 2017 at the earliest, pushing back against opposition pressure. Several opposition politicians are in jail, notably hardline leader Leopoldo Lopez, who has a 14-year sentence for inciting 2014 anti-government protests that spiraled into violence killing more than 40 people. The government denies it holds political prisoners. Kerry's comments drew a furious response from Rodriguez, who accused Washington and OAS chief Luis Almagro of "international bullying." "Every day we have evidence of the secretary general's bias in favor of sectors of the opposition who are seeking a coup in Venezuela," she said. I see now this is ordered by Washington. I know they are on Washingtons payroll to meddle in the domestic affairs of Venezuela, she said, speaking through a translator. Kerry was more conciliatory after his first ever bilateral meeting with Rodriguez, saying the United States did not support a push by Almagro to suspend Venezuela from the OAS for alleged violations of the regional group's "democratic charter." "The United States is not taking that position, we are not pushing for a suspension. I don't think that would be constructive," he said. At Almagro's behest, the OAS will hold a meeting later this month to initiate the process that could end in Venezuela's suspension. But the former Uruguayan foreign minister appears isolated in the group, with even right-wing governments opposed to Maduro in the region balking at throwing Venezuela out. Venezuela and the United States have repeatedly gone through periods of diplomatic fighting followed by generally short-lived eras of reconciliation. Following Washington's 2014 rapprochement with Cuba, Shannon met with a top Venezuelan Socialist Party official to improve ties with Caracas. The good mood soured within months when the United States criticized the sentence handed to opposition leader Lopez. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Additional reporting by Brian Ellsworth in Caracas and Jorge Pineda in Santo Domingo; Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Tom Brown)
Open Educational Resources

38 Colleges to Drop Traditional Textbooks in Favor of OER in New Degree Programs

The OER Degree Initiative will create degree programs that utilize openly licensed learning materials, eliminating the purchase of expensive textbooks and saving community college students thousands of dollars.

Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national reform network of community colleges, announced a major national initiative to develop degree programs using open educational resources (OER). The newly launched OER Degree Initiative will involve 38 community colleges in 13 states and result in a library of high-quality, digital, open courses available to other colleges and the public at large.

Currently, the annual cost of textbooks is about $1,300 for a full-time community college student. For the 4 million students in more than 200 community colleges across the United States, the cost of textbooks is a significant barrier that prevents students from completing coursework. According to a study by the research firm Public Agenda, students who have not completed college are 50 percent more likely than students who finish college to cite textbook costs as a major obstacle to completing their education.

The OER Degree Initiative seeks to save students money and improve degree and certification completion. Today, there are enough open educational materials to replace textbooks in required courses in four two-year programs: business administration, general education, natural or general science, and social science. But only a few colleges are using those resources. There is also a significant body of OER in computer science, according a news release.

Through the OER Degree Initiative, these community colleges are simultaneously addressing two important challenges faced by educators and students: Not only will they provide their faculty the flexibility and academic freedom to align their open educational resources to curriculum objectives, but also, by lowering textbook costs, they will make it far more likely that their students will achieve the goal of attaining a degree, said Barbara Chow, education program director at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, in a prepared statement.

For the initiative, ATD is in charge of assisting colleges in making OER degrees a critical component of their student success efforts. Acting as the initiative intermediary, ATD will manage grants to all the institutions, oversee implementation and ensure programmatic fidelity. Lumen Learning will offer technical assistance and SRI International will evaluate the initiative and conduct research. The Community College Consortium of Open Educational Resources is tasked with facilitating a community of practice.

Following the initial implementation, the OER courses will be available on an online platform.

The OER Degree Initiative is backed by grants from foundations totaling $9.8 million. Participating colleges and systems were selected through a competitive grant process based on their ability and capacity to implement OER degree programs, offer the full complement of degree courses quickly, or quickly scale the number of selections offered, according to a news release.

For more information, including the full list of institutions participating in the OER Degree Initiative, visit the Achieving the Dream site.
Crowdfunding

AngelScholars Launches Crowdfunding Scholarship System

Students and the people who want to help fund their education can now find each other through a new online crowdfunding platform.

AngelScholars, which launched its beta program on June 14, lets individuals create or contribute to scholarships and helps students find existing scholarships or create crowdfunding campaigns to fund their education.

"For as little as $50 dollars AngelScholars makes it possible for people to get involved, have a personalized impact and have control over their donations...," said Peter Hazlehurst, founder and CEO of AngelScholars, director of product management for Google Wallet and COO of Postmates.

Individuals who want to set up a scholarship can make the qualifications as general or specific as they want. "Scholarships can be as specific as a coding camp for African-American high school students based in Oakland with a 3.0 GPA who are studying STEM, or as general as school uniforms for kids whose parents make less than $25,000 and live in Atlanta," stated a news release from the company. The minimum contribution to create a scholarship is $50.

Students who want to fund their education can find and apply for scholarships through the site, or they can create their own crowdfunding campaigns and share them on social media to enlist the help of friends and family. Students must be aged 13-25 to use AngelScholars to fund their education.

Further information about the crowdfunding scholarship platform can be found on the AngelScholars site.
Learning Spaces

Behind the Scenes of a Makerspace

The Rutgers University Makerspace has become a hub of creativity on campus. Heres how it manages operations, equipment, projects and more.

Four years ago, Rutgers University in New Jersey opened the Rutgers Makerspace  a place where students, faculty, staff and other members of the community can learn to use equipment such as 3D scanners and printers, laser cutters, cutting and milling machines, electronics, and power and hand tools, for both university-related and personal projects. Heres how the space has evolved into a bustling hub of creativity on campus.

How the Makerspace Operates

Rick Anderson, co-director of the Rutgers Makerspace, had previously co-founded the community hackerspace Fubar Labs before the university recruited him to help launch its own makerspace. "We started out on a shoestring budget. I would take a big chunk of my time and be there in person, and then I had student workers who started taking over stations and learning the various areas, and we started developing certification processes," said Anderson.

The makerspace is open Monday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. During those hours, there are two or three student staff members working at a time. They provide basic training, offer guidance on projects and manage the space. Once users receive the initial training, they become "certified" on a particular piece of equipment and can drop in to use it independently.

One of the student staff members is Mohit Chaudhary, who started working at the Rutgers Makerspace as an undergraduate student. He's now a graduate student and the manager of the facility. "We show them how to [use the equipment], and then we help walk them through it the first couple of times, but after that, they're certified," said Chaudhary. "If somebody asks how to use the machine, I'll say, 'You know how to use the machine. You do it yourself, and if you really have a question, then we'll help you.' We don't want to do the work for students when this empowers them to learn a new set of skills that can drive their creativity."



Types of Equipment in the Makerspace

Because virtually anyone on campus can come in and get certified on the equipment, things do get broken from time to time. "Our goal is to have the types of machines that students can use themselves, rather than expensive machines that require an engineer to run them," said Anderson. "We try to pick tools and equipment that are approachable, touchable and breakable."

Those machines and tools include two LulzBot Mini 3D printers, a SeeMeCNC Orion Delta printer, a FormLabs 1+ resin printer, a ShopBot CNC machine (computer-controlled machining tool), a laser cutter and a variety of power and hand tools. The makerspace is approximately 2,000 square feet with an open community room surrounded by smaller rooms that house the various types of equipment. There's a 3D printing room, a laser cutting room, a CNC room, a form labs and casting room, a tool room and an electronics room. The electronics room offers a variety of motors, sensors, microcontrollers and related electronics, including Teensy, Arduino and Adafruit Trinket microcontroller boards, and Raspberry Pi single-board computers.
China launched a landmark "stock connect" between the bourses of Shanghai and its special administrative region of Hong Kong in late 2014 (AFP Photo/) (AFP)

China on Wednesday brushed off stock index firm MSCI's decision to exclude the country's A shares from its influential global equities index, saying that the gauge cannot be complete without the Chinese stocks.

The country's markets were up by the close despite the rejection, leading to speculation that Beijing had intervened in an effort to prop up confidence.

It was the third year in a row that the global equity index provider left China out of its Emerging Markets Index, which guides the allocation of billions of dollars of investments.

Inclusion could have helped steer more foreign portfolio investment into China at a time when the country is fighting off capital flight and a downturn in foreign direct investment.

But Beijing appeared to be unfazed by the MSCI decision, claiming that the "A" shares were anyway becoming "more influential" in the world.

"Any international indexes without China's 'A' shares are incomplete," Deng Ge, spokesman of industry watchdog the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said in a statement.

Chinese markets had fallen for several consecutive days on anticipation of MSCI's move but received the announcement with apparent calm on Wednesday.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index closed up 1.58 percent to 2,887.21 while the Shenzhen Composite Index jumped 3.12 percent to 1,889.87, after both dropped in early morning trading.

"It's a sharp reversal so there has to be some government intervention," said Francis Lun, Hong Kong-based chief executive officer at Geo Securities, according to Bloomberg News.

"The Chinese government never wants to see the market falling too much."

- 'Hurdle for investors' -

China has provided greater access to its domestic, renminbi-based capital markets in the past year, MSCI said, including last week offering US investors a $38 billion investment quota to buy Chinese assets.

But MSCI said China still maintains problematic restrictions including a 20 percent monthly repatriation limit, which it called "a significant hurdle for investors," and too many restrictions on new financial product offerings.

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"International institutional investors clearly indicated that they would like to see further improvements in the accessibility of the China A shares market before its inclusion in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index," said Remy Briand, MSCI Managing Director.

At the same time, Briand credited Chinese authorities with having cleared up other deterrents to foreign investors, including issues on beneficial ownership of shares and regulations on trading suspension.

"They demonstrate a clear commitment by the Chinese authorities to bring the accessibility of the China A shares market closer to international standards," he said.

Deng insisted that China's capital market reform agenda will not be influenced by MSCI's decision.

"Building a long-term stable and healthy capital market is our own need," he said in the statement.

"MSCI's decision to put off the inclusion will not affect the progress of China's capital market reform and opening up or its market-oriented and law-based direction."

Foreigners wanting to buy Chinese shares have been mostly restricted to "B" shares denominated in US or Hong Kong dollars and traded in Shanghai and Shenzhen, or "H" shares traded in Hong Kong.

Those restrictions have kept international money out of what are now some of the world's largest markets by capitalisation.
English Latvian

Riga, 2016-06-15 08:28 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On June 14, 2016 AS Latvenergo organized its Investor Conference Webinar. During the webinar Guntars Balcuns, AS Latvenergo Chief Financial Officer, analyzed Latvenergo Group financial results of 3 months 2016, informed about Groups latest activities and provided answers to webinar participants questions.

The recorded AS Latvenergo webinar is available online: http://ej.uz/Latvenergo_Q1_2016_rec, and the presentation, demonstrated during the webinar, can be found in the previously published AS Latvenergo announcement: https://cns.omxgroup.com/cdsPublic/viewDisclosure.action?disclosureId=715873&messageId=897045.

Latvenergo thanks all participants, who joined the webinar, and encourages everybody to follow companys announcements to get information about the next webinar!

Additional information:

Janis Irbe

Group Treasurer

Phone: +371 67 728 239

E-mail: investor.relations@latvenergo.lv

www.latvenergo.lv

About Latvenergo

Latvenergo Group is a pan-Baltic energy company, engaging in electricity and thermal energy generation and supply, electricity distribution services and management of transmission system assets. Latvenergo Group holds one-third of the entire Baltic electricity market, thus ensuring its leadership in the Baltic electricity supply. Latvenergo AS has been acknowledged as the most valuable company in Latvia for several years in a row. International credit rating agency Moodys has assigned Latvenergo AS an investment-grade credit rating of Baa2/stable.

Latvenergo Group includes the parent company Latvenergo AS (electricity and thermal energy generation and supply) and its subsidiaries Latvijas elektriskie tikli AS (lease of transmission system assets), Sadales tikls AS (electricity distribution), Elektrum Eesti OU (electricity supply in Estonia), Elektrum Lietuva UAB (electricity supply in Lithuania), Energijas publiskais tirgotajs AS (administration of electricity mandatory procurement process) and Liepajas energija SIA (electricity and thermal energy generation and supply).
Estonian English

The decision concerns the Republic of Estonias request to redact key references and documents from information published on the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) website. In addition, the Tribunal rejected the Republic of Estonias claim, stating that AS Tallinna Vesi had conducted a media campaign against the Republic of Estonia.

On 9th of June 2016, the Tribunal of the ICSID, notified the parties of its position on the publication of Annexes A and B to the Tribunals 3rd of May 2016, Procedural Order No. 3.

Procedural Order No. 3 set out the parties arguments on document production and the Tribunals rulings on the same. Annexes A and B to the Procedural Order No. 3 contained Claimants and Respondents Document Requests with Tribunals decisions regarding the requests.

The Republic of Estonia had previously objected to the publication of Annexes A and B to the Procedural Order No. 3, and requested extensive redactions to the published versions of the Annexes. The redactions included any reference to the Estonian Ministries and Ministers, the Estonian Parliament and its members, the Estonian Competition Authority, the State Audit Office, the Legal Chancellor, the City of Tallinn, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Commission. In contrast, AS Tallinna Vesi supported the publication of the Annexes in full without redaction, but as a compromise was prepared to accept redactions related to; direct quotations from the parties submissions, witness statements and expert reports and the names of witnesses and experts.

On 9th of June 2016, the Tribunal notified the parties, that it considered only limited redactions to be reasonable and instructed ICSID to publish the Annexes with only the following information redacted: (i) direct quotations from the parties' submissions, witness statements and expert reports, and exhibits; and (ii) the names of witnesses and experts, as well as third parties other than those which (or who) plainly exercise public functions.

The Tribunal did not redact its rulings in Annex B to the Procedural Order No. 3. Among others, the Government of Estonia claimed that AS Tallinna Vesi has been engaged in a media campaign against the Government of Estonia and sought to require AS Tallinna Vesi to disclose various documents on this basis. The Tribunal rejected this request, stating following: The Tribunal is not persuaded of the relevance and/or the materiality of the parties so-called media campaigns.

Procedural Order No. 3, attaching the annexes, is available on the ICSID website here. Other procedural orders and decisions issued during the arbitration proceedings, subject to the redaction of confidential information, are available on the ICSID website. The final hearing remains scheduled for November 2016.



Background:

In October 2014, AS Tallinna Vesi and its shareholder United Utilities (Tallinn) B.V., registered in the Kingdom of The Netherlands, commenced international arbitration proceedings against the Republic of Estonia for breach of the Agreement on the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between the Kingdom of The Netherlands and the Republic of Estonia.
LINTHICUM, Md., June 15, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has announced the 24 winners of its 14th annual Engineering Scholars program, which will provide $240,000 in college scholarships to high school seniors across Maryland interested in studying engineering, computer science, physics or math.

"Northrop Grumman is pleased to sponsor this scholarship competition, which supports the pursuit of an engineering education by some of the state's best-qualified math and science students," said Kathy Warden, corporate vice president and president of the company's Linthicum-based Mission Systems sector. "These talented young men and women can be among the future technology and innovation leaders of our country."

The Northrop Grumman Engineering Scholars program is aimed at supporting promising high school seniors who intend to pursue a career in an engineering-related field. Candidates must plan to attend an accredited college or university school of engineering as a full-time student in an approved engineering program. The funds can be used for tuition, books, room and board, and lab fees.

A committee of Northrop Grumman employees selected the Engineering Scholars winners. To be eligible, each scholarship applicant had to be a resident of Maryland and a graduating senior this spring from a public or accredited private high school in the state. Applicants also needed a minimum composite SAT score of 1,700 or ACT score of 27 and a minimum GPA of 3.5. Recipients of any other Northrop Grumman-sponsored scholarship were not eligible. The committee also took into consideration work experience, community involvement and extracurricular activities.

Following are the names of the students from 23 Maryland counties and the city of Baltimore who will each be receiving merit-based scholarships of $10,000  payable in four yearly $2,500 installments  during an awards reception and dinner hosted by Northrop Grumman at the Marriott Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, June 15.

Allegany County, Hayden Lindsey, Mountain Ridge High School

Anne Arundel County, Sandra Sandeep, North County High School

Baltimore City, Benjamin Grove, Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

Baltimore County, Kayla Moore, Western School of Technology

Calvert County, John Hoerauf, Saint Mary's Ryken High School

Caroline County, Helen Wiley, North Caroline High School

Carroll County, Michael Williams, Liberty High School

Cecil County, Abraham Lee, North East High School

Charles County, Abigail Payne, North Point High School

Dorchester County, Patrick Geleta, Cambridge-South Dorchester High School

Frederick County, Matthew Beveridge, Oakdale High School

Garrett County, Alexandra Miller, Northern Garrett High School

Harford County, Edward Salvatierra, Fallston High School

Howard County, Nathan Palmer, Hammond High School

Kent County, Zachary Kirby, Kent County High School

Montgomery County, Suriya Kandaswamy, Poolesville High School

Prince George's County, Andrew Latchman, Charles Herbert Flowers High School

Queen Anne's County, Ryan Domogauer, Kent Island High School

Somerset County, Chandler Heller, Washington High School

St. Mary's County, Mary Wise, Saint Mary's Ryken High School

Talbot County, Christopher Hogan II, Easton High School

Washington County, Emily Gross, North Hagerstown High School

Wicomico County, Arthur Carlton-Jones, James M. Bennett High School

Worcester County, Ethan Taylor, Pocomoke High School

One of the state's largest private employers, Northrop Grumman is a significant financial and in-kind contributor to educational outreach programs aimed at encouraging young people to consider engineering and science-related career fields. The Mission Systems sector supports multiple High School Involvement Partnership programs to excite student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Northrop Grumman is also a major corporate sponsor of the Maryland Teacher of the Year competition.

Further information about the Northrop Grumman Engineering Scholars program is available at: http://www.northropgrumman.com/CorporateResponsibility/Community/Pages/EngineeringScholars.aspx.

Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation are committed to expanding and enhancing the pipeline of diverse, talented STEM students globally. They provide funding to sustainable STEM programs that span from preschool to high school and through collegiate levels, with a major emphasis on middle school students and teachers. In 2015, Northrop Grumman and the Northrop Grumman Foundation continued education outreach efforts by contributing more than $17 million to diverse STEM-related groups such as the Air Force Association (CyberPatriot), Conservation International (ECO Classroom), the REC Foundation (VEX Robotics), National Science Teachers Association and the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering. For more information, please visit www.northropgrumman.com/foundation.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.
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I asked last week why no one (Obama, Clinton, Trump, some other world leader) won't call for a summit on how to get Islamic Radicals to stop terrorizing the world to include world leaders, religious leaders, Imams, scholars, etc. You responded asking if I didn't think world leaders were trying to do this already. My answer is no, I don't think they are doing everything they can. We have an Attorney General who doesn't appear to want to offend anyone by redacting references to the Orlando shooter's pledge to ISIS on his 911 call. We must step up and state what the problem is and figure out a way to address it. Killing people with drone strikes is not the full answer. We must reach out to the reasonable people of Islam and get them to help in our outreach to the radicals and figure out a way to stop this violence. We can keep killing them, but this could go on for 1,000 years. How do we get them to stop randomly killing innocent people? That is why we need leaders are not afraid to admit they don't have all of the answers and aren't afraid to offend some in a religion that has a radical sect. Obama should've been that leader considering his race and his family background, but he doesn't appear to want to solve the problem, just wants to make sure he doesn't offend the larger people of Islam who are not terrorists. How do we stop this terrorist violence? (And let's not discuss gun control or homophobia, let's talk Islamic radicalism that is killing people around the world on almost a daily basis.)
Turkey must still do more to meet the EU's conditions to win visa-free travel for Turks under a migrant crisis deal, for which the deadline is July 1, the European Commission said on Wednesday. The Commission said there had been only "fragile" success of the deal under which the European Union agreed in March to offer Turkey visa-free access, increased aid and speeded up accession talks in return for Ankara controlling the flood of migrants crossing into Greece. Turkey has yet to fulfil all of the conditions laid down by the European Commission for the visa agreement, including changes to Ankara's anti-terrorism laws to meet EU concerns over human rights. "On visa liberalisation, Turkey still needs to fulfil the remaining benchmarks of the roadmap so that visa requirements for Turkey citizens can be lifted soon," said Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos. He was unveiling the latest report by the commission, the executive arm of the 28-nation EU, on the progress of the migrant deal agreed at a summit in Brussels. Avramopoulos insisted Turkey had made "spectacular" progress by so far fulfilling 65 of the 72 benchmarks set by Brussels "and our people work together with the Turkish authorities to accomplish this goal". "Turkey has committed to meeting the rest of the benchmarks to allow for visa-free travel for Turkish citizens and we expect them to come to this commitment," he added. "We are moving ahead." Turkey's Europe minister has admitted there is no chance of completing the deal on visa-free travel to the EU by the July 1 deadline. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last month that the visa exemption must be introduced by October at the latest. Ankara has threatened to scrap the migrant deal with the EU altogether if visa-free travel is not forthcoming. "There are some problems today, there are some ups and downs," a senior Turkish official told reporters just ahead of the commission report's publication. The Commission's report said that "success achieved so far remains fragile" since the deal was signed. The commission said migrant arrivals had dramatically dropped because of the deal, to just 47 a day during May compared to a massive 1,740 a day before the deal. Under the deal 462 irregular migrants who had not applied for asylum had been returned from Turkey to Greece, it added. Meanwhile, the EU had resettled 511 Syrians from Turkey under a "one for one" clause in the deal, under with the EU takes in one Syrian from camps in Turkey for every Syrian that Turkey takes back from the Greek islands. More than one million refugees and migrants have flooded into Europe since the start of 2015 in the biggest such crisis to hit the continent since World War II.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday demanded that Russia withdraw its forces and military hardware from Ukraine, and halt its support for pro-Moscow separatists battling Kiev. "Russia needs to stop supporting the militants and withdraw its forces and military equipment from Ukrainian territory," Stoltenberg said after a meeting of NATO defence ministers with their Ukrainian counterpart in Brussels. He said the US-led alliance would continue to stand by the government in Kiev and would never recognise Russia's "illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea" two years ago. "In response to Russia's actions, NATO has stepped up its support for Ukraine. Our level of political and practical engagement since 2014 is unprecedented," he said. Stoltenberg said Moscow continued to support the rebels in many ways, supplying equipment and advisors while it massed troops along the border with Ukraine to intimidate Kiev and built up its military presence in Crimea, home base for its key Black Sea fleet. He also called on Moscow to respect and help implement the Minsk ceasefire accords it signed up to between the rebels and Kiev but which were being violated "over and over again." The Minsk accords -- named after the Belarus capital where they were signed -- were the only way forward to a peaceful solution to the conflict, he added. - End to complacency? - Stoltenberg was speaking as defence ministers from the 28 NATO member states finalised the details of the biggest alliance revamp since the end of the Cold War, largely in response to the Ukraine crisis and what it sees as a more aggressive Russia. Many in NATO felt the alliance had become complacent in the years after the fall of Communism and was caught napping by the speed and effectiveness of Russia's intervention in Ukraine. To counter this new threat, NATO has agreed to boost its readiness and increase resources so that it is better able to respond in case of any repeat. The defence ministers earlier approved deployment of battalions to the three Baltic states and Poland to deter Russia and reassure allies once ruled from Moscow that NATO will stand by them come what may. NATO leaders will formally endorse the alliance overhaul at a July 8-9 summit in Warsaw, Poland, which has been amongst those pushing hardest for a tough line with Russia. The Warsaw summit will be hugely symbolic as the Polish capital gave its name to the Soviet-era Warsaw Pact, NATO's military adversary for nearly 50 years up until the fall of the USSR.
NASS have just announced the list of skateboarders who will be competing in NASS 2016, which takes place 8th-10th July. Check the flyer and press release below to see wholl be smashing it (despite not being mentioned, we also assume that Ben Grove will be there, topless) and check more info about whats going on over at their website

The list of top skaters who will be taking on each other and the superb Pro Park and Vert ramp at NASS in July has been announced.

For three days only, some the best skaters on the planet will be tearing it up on a purpose-built course while 15,000 fans enjoy the action. Course builders Four One Four have once again excelled themselves and put together an amazing pro park which is sure to test the best and Kings Ramps will return with their prized asset, the 14ft high Vert ramp built to Tony Hawks specification.

The list of pro athletes is a real united nations of skateboarding led by the likes of Spanish star Danny Leon, last years Pro Park champion who will be returning to defend his crown.

Germanys Jurgen Horwath is sure to be catching some serious air and veteran Korean/Swedish star Jocke Olsson is still going strong in his forties. At the other end of the age scale teenager Alex DeCunha started when he was just six years old and aged twelve smashed the world record for the number of no comply flips. A trick specialist from an early age, hes now a serious contender.

Edouard Damestoy will be flying the flag for France while Vans Europe pro Kris Vile and all-terrain star Jak Tonge are among a strong UK contingent, which includes Brightons Isaac Miller and Baths James Threlfall.

Danish star Dannie Carlsen, a real skate wizard, is coming to NASS along with class act Kollin Schanley and Clay Kreiner, who comes to the festival on a hot streak after landing first place in the Vert Attack Pro Finals in April.

The skate stars are coming to NASS to tear it up on one of the best vert ramps in Europe. Inspired by Tony Hawk and Sam Beckett last year and standing an impressive 14ft high, awesome action is guaranteed.

Alongside the pro contests NASS organisers have, for the first time ever, introduced an amateur contest to the Pro Park. 70 challengers will battle it out on the park used by the worlds leading athletes and the top three will go onto compete at the Dew Tour AM Series in Amsterdam.

Those lucky enough to have tickets should prepare to be amazed as the team from Moonshine Skateboards rip up the vert on Friday night with legends such as Jocke Olson and Sean Goff skating alongside young guns like Clay Kreiner and Jesse Thomas for the late night Moonshine Sessions.

As well as the privilege of skating in front of such a huge crowd, the top pro skaters will, along with the cream of the BMX crop, be fighting for their share of a prize purse totaling more than $50,000, the largest BMX and skate purse prize in the UK.
The human gut is a complex and amazing system, and the more we learn about it, the more amazed we are. It turns out
Ed Tech Trends

Augmented and Virtual Reality: Where Is the Educational Value?

K-12 schools are beginning to see the educational value of virtual and augmented reality and are investing in these technologies even though price points are still aimed at higher-end markets.

In the Methacton School District in a Philadelphia suburb, a high school oceanography class recently visited the Great Barrier Reef, while a Spanish class traveled to cities in Spain and Mexico. The students and their teachers were taking part in the Google Expeditions Pioneer Program to test out a virtual reality (VR) platform built for the classroom using Google Cardboard, which requires only a smartphone, an inexpensive cardboard phone holder and an accompanying app.

Chris Lloyd and Layla Lyons, teachers who work as technology integration specialists in the district, said the expeditions were a nice complement to topics that certain classes were working on and the technology itself was fairly straightforward to deploy. "The teachers were excited once we introduced the concept to them at a faculty meeting," Lyons said. "When it came time to schedule it, everyone wanted to do it."

Based on their early experience, Lloyd said the district would definitely pursue implementing Google Expeditions in the future. "From the second they finished their expeditions, the teachers were asking how we could get these."

Methacton District students on Google Expedition

Looking back through the archives of THE Journal, you can find articles about the potential of VR dating all the way back to 1999. So why have previous VR technologies failed to catch on in public schools? And are the consumer technologies being introduced today, such as the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, more likely to find a home in classrooms?

"Back in the 1990s, there was cheap VR, but it was very low quality," said Jeff Jacobson executive director of Boston-based PublicVR, a nonprofit organization involved in research and software development related to virtual reality in education. "Now you can get the Google Cardboard, which is about the price point you need for most K-12 schools, although you still need a good smartphone."

Jacobson said other recent developments in the VR space, including the head-mounted displays such as the Oculus Rift and its competitors are exciting, but so far they are all priced between $500 and $1,000. "Those are aimed at the high-end gamer audience. It might make sense for a school to have a few of those, but they are not really aimed at K-12."

Venture capitalists and tech giants clearly see a future in VR. Facebook paid $2 billion for Oculus VR in 2014. This year a secretive Florida-based company called Magic Leap received $793 million in a Series c venture funding round to work on some type of wearable device that enable a virtual reality immersive experience.

Whether future price drops make their offerings more viable for schools or whether these vendors develop a K-12 focus, the larger question is why is VR potentially valuable to schools? A virtual field trip is the easiest idea, but there is so much more, Jacobson said. "Anytime you want to have an inside view of something  an atom, a magnetic field, the human body, or a building  VR is really going to help you. For anything having to do with simulation of active things like physics problems or climate change patterns, if being in the middle of the simulation is helpful, then VR helps you."

Jennifer Holland, program manager at Google Apps for Education, said the Expeditions concept grew out of a Google hackathon.

"We were trying to find a way to enable teaches to bring to life concepts and lessons they were teaching in class. We have a new VR platform called Cardboard that had just launched and that required only a simple piece of cardboard, stereoscopic lenses and a mobile phone, and we have this 360-degree imagery from Google Streetview," she said. "So we created an app that allows the teacher to take students to places a school bus could never go, with panaromas and points of interest to make it easy for them to integrate it into existing curriculum and bring lessons to life."

Making the Investment

While higher-end VR systems can be expensive, some districts are making the investment. Liberty County Schools, a 10,000-student district in Hinesville, GA, has spent almost $500,000 on VR system labs for six schools using technology and curriculum from a Sunnyvale, CA-based company called zSpace. Its technology allows students to interact with simulated objects in virtual environments. The zSpace lab in a typical school includes a virtual reality station for every two students and a teacher station, each outfitted with tracking eyewear and an interactive stylus. Virtual-holographic images can be "lifted" from the screen and manipulated with the stylus. Students working with a virtual heart can see it pumping, hear it, and feel it beating.

Students using zSpace (image provided by zSpace; students are not from Liberty County Schools.)

Liberty Superintendent Valya Lee said, "We already had 3D printers in our district, so when I heard 3D, my antenna went up. We thought this would be one aspect in broadening students' horizons beyond what they would be typically exposed to." She said the VR system comes with a plethora of lesson plans and learning support built in and is aligned with the district's initiative on personalized learning.

Beyond the obvious excitement about something new and enhanced student engagement, Lee is convinced that the systems will have an impact on student performance. "Any time you try to measure direct impact, you have to allow for other variables. That is what we are trying to do  build a comprehensive framework for digital learning experiences including zSpace." She added that although the price tag may sound hefty, "once we get it into our other schools, we think it will more than pay for itself over time."

Augmented Reality Takes Off

If high-end virtual reality headsets seem too futuristic or unrealistically expensive, there are other options for bringing two-dimensional material to life.
Gaming

Zaniac Debuts 3D Game Design Program

Zaniac, a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) franchise with locations in eight states, has introduced a new course designed to teach students in grades 4-8 how to develop their own video games.

The course, called 3D Game Design, teaches video game design and programming, including game mechanics, three-dimensional animation and character models. Students will use modeling software, Gimp image editing software, the Unity game engine and the C# programming language. The 90-minute classes meet weekly for six weeks or daily for one week during summer vacation and other school breaks. The 3D Game Design course launches on June 20, 2016.

Zaniac offers a Mastery Progression Program for students who want to learn more about 3D game design. To earn a certificate of mastery, students must complete three courses:

3D Character Design, which teaches game design concepts such as rule implementation, game flow and paper prototyping, as well as 3D character modeling using Blender software;

3D Environment Design, which teaches concepts such as genre, random generation, character and world interaction and sound design, as well as the Unity game engine and Gimp image editing software; and

C# Fundamentals, which teaches object-oriented programming concepts such as classes, methods and strings, and 3D gaming concepts such as lighting effects, gravity and other physics, movement, transformations and artificial intelligence (AI).

Other STEM courses available through Zaniac include Zaniac Robotics: LEGO, App Creation, 3D Printing, Fashion Design and Game-Based Learning: Minecraft.

Zaniac campuses currently operate in California, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Utah. The company hopes to expand to 50 campuses by 2017.

Further information about the company's STEM courses can be found on Zaniac's site.
Dave Zweifel is editor emeritus of The Capital Times. dzweifel@madison.com and on Twitter @DaveZweifel
sad unhappy shocked scared facepalm germans germany football supporters

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

If Britain votes to leave the European Union in a so-called Brexit, the economic impacts will reach far beyond British shores and have a direct impact on German economic growth in the next two years, according to new research from one of Germany's best-respected economic institutes.

According to the latest analysis by the German Institute for Economic Research, or DIW Berlin, a Brexit would have a materially negative effect on the biggest economy in Europe and reduce German gross-domestic-product growth by as much as half a percentage point in 2017, with GDP growth losing one-tenth of a percentage point this year as a result of the vote.

Here's what the institute had to say on Wednesday (translated from the original German release):

Brexit "could dampen growth of German exports. According to the DIW calculations ... this would in itself reduce the growth of GDP by 0.5 percentage points next year and by 0.1 percentage points this year. It should be noted that this is only the direct effects that are reflected in the German exports to the UK. Indirect effects, such as financial market turmoil, declining FDI and price effects are difficult to estimate accurately and therefore not considered in the calculations."

Ferdinand Fichtner, the head of economic policy at DIW, added (also translated from the original German): "In addition, the Brexit referendum discussion is responsible for a lot of uncertainty. Should Britain's population decide to leave EU, it could slash Germany's economic growth already this year."

Those hoping Britain stays in the EU have already released numerous doom-laden predictions about what could happen in a Brexit, with the International Monetary Fund, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Bank of England, and US President Barack Obama all warning that Britain leaving the EU would crush growth in the UK and have a knock-on effect for the rest of the world. Wednesday's data, however, is one of the first times a deep-dive analysis of the actual impact of Brexit on another individual nation has been published.

Story continues

The big driver of the drop in German GDP growth following Brexit would be the impact on trade. Here's more from the DIW (again translated from the original German):

Since the United Kingdom is the third largest trading partner of the German economy, the effects are likely to be acutely felt, especially in export-oriented industries such as the automotive, chemical and pharmaceutical industries as well as mechanical engineering. Overall, Germany exported goods and services worth about 120 billion euros to the UK, or about eight percent of all German exports.

A Brexit is generally disliked as an idea in Germany, with many of the country's biggest and most influential media organisations backing the Remain campaign in recent weeks. According to the BBC, the influential news magazine Der Spiegel said in this week's edition that: "The only internationally known politician in favour of a Brexit, is Donald Trump  and, if nothing else does, that alone should make the British worry." The magazine goes on to say that Brexit would be "a threefold catastrophe: bad for Germany, bad for Britain and cataclysmic for Europe."

Britain will vote on whether to leave the European Union on June 23.

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YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. At a press conference in ARMENPRESS, Honorary Journalist of Armenia, attorney Hasan Tamoyan said the Yazidi community of Armenia has always felt the support of Armenian people and expects the Armenian Parliament to recognize the Yazidi Genocide.

The Yazidis welcome the fact that the Draft decision on condemning the Genocide of Yazidis in Northern Iraq by IS is being circulated in the Parliament.

To say that the draft is the beginning of the process would be wrong. Back in 2014 the President of Armenia was the first leader in the world to deliver a speech in the UN for the protection of the Yazidis. Then he delivered a speech in the 2015 CIS conference. I dont know what fate the draft will have, but the fact that the sympathy of the Armenian people is on the side of the Yazidis is indisputable, Hasan Tamoyan said.

Tamoyan also said it would be preferable if representatives of the Yazidi community would be involved in the process of finalizing the draft.
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs that on June 14 the USD exchange rate was 478.82 AMD which is an increase of 0.53 drams compared to the previous day.

Armenpress reports that the Euro decreased by 1.65 drams forming 536.90 drams. British pound dropped by 0.06 drams forming 676.96 drams, Russian ruble decreased by 0.03 drams reaching to 7.24 drams on June 14.

The prices for precious metals are as follows: the price for silver per gram is 266.63 AMD, gold-19,717.17 AMD, and platinum-15,286.66 AMD.
YEREVAN, JUNE 14, ARMENPRESS. Vice President of Armenian National Assembly hopes for the resumption of peace talks of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement after the meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents at the end of June. Sharmazanov told Armenpress that Armenian position on Nagorno Karabakh conflict remain unchanged and are in conformity with the announcements of the Foreign Ministers of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries. Look through the Vienna announcements and you will see that they are in line with the Presidents ideas brought forward in April, Sharmazanov said.

To the question what changes can occur after the meeting, the National Assembly Vice President answered, I think if there is any change, it must be the resumption of talks. Anyway, the worst meeting is better than shooting each other.

Russia expects that RF President Vladimir Putin will discuss Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement with the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev, on June 20 in St. Petersburg, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov announced.

A trilateral meeting between the Presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan is planned on June 20. The meeting will focus on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, he told the reporters.

According to Ushakov, it is expected that Putin will hold private meetings with both presidents before a joint one.

Naturally, we will make vigorous efforts to support the sides in the process of reaching a conflict settlement, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said.
In human medicine, generic drugs accounted for 88 percent of prescriptions dispensed in the United States as of 2014. Currently, generic animal drugs account for only a small percentage of the drugs that the Food and Drug Administration has approved for cats and dogs.

For the most part, veterinarians rely on costlier brand-name animal drugs and on extralabel use of brand-name and generic human drugs to treat cats and dogs. But the number of generic animal drugs for cats and dogs is slowly on the rise, with the FDA approving 22 between 2013 and 2015.

In the time that Ive been practicing, a lot of the drugs that were brand-name when I first came out are now available in generics, said Dr. Bruce Coston, who earned his veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota in 1987.

Weve made a lot of changes in our prescribing practices, especially with our in-house pharmacy, because of the availability of generic drugs. It really dramatically decreases the costs to the clients when we can provide a generic product that in almost every case performs the same. Dr. Bruce Coston, founder, Seven Bends Veterinary Hospital, Woodstock, Virginia

In 1992, Dr. Coston founded Seven Bends Veterinary Hospital in Woodstock, Virginia. He said, Weve made a lot of changes in our prescribing practices, especially with our in-house pharmacy, because of the availability of generic drugs. It really dramatically decreases the costs to the clients when we can provide a generic product that in almost every case performs the same.

Dr. Coston, who is a member of the AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, said his practice uses generic animal drugs in categories such as antimicrobials and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as well as cardiac drugs such as furosemide. The practice manager recently brought to his attention that a 500-count bottle of 20 mg furosemide tablets cost $93 for a brand-name product and $9 for a generic.

The availability is sometimes spotty for generic animal drugs, Dr. Coston noted. He said, Theyll be available at one time, and then the next time that we go to order them, theyre either unavailable or the price has changed dramatically. But that is kind of the run of the mill for all of the drugs that we stock.

Slowly growing market

Dr. David B. Goodnight, a senior consultant at Brakke Consulting Inc., practices at Kerrville Veterinary Clinic in Kerrville, Texas, two to 10 days a month.

They are filling their shelves with generics for just about everything that they can, Dr. Goodnight said. Examples of generic animal drugs are carprofen and meloxicam. What I see driving them is the ability to save money for the client.

Brakke and Trone Brand Energy Inc. released the Pet Pharmaceutical Market Study in April 2015. Part of the study addressed generic drugs. In a survey of 785 pharmacists in human medicine, 88 percent who received a prescription for a brand-name pet medication would recommend a generic for the pet owners consideration, if a generic equivalent were available.

In a survey of 520 veterinarians, 80 percent reported that they were adding generic drugs to their pharmacy to save clients money. More than half were adding generics to increase margins. All expected to offer more generics in the future.

The laws have changed to make it a little easier now to get approval of generics, Dr. Goodnight said. Its a quicker process now, but its still a process to go through the FDA and get your drug approved as a generic. You still have to meet certain requirements, and theres a cost associated with it.

Among other barriers, generic drugs have lower profit margins for manufacturers than brand-name products do. Health insurance drives the market for generic drugs in human medicine, but few pet owners have pet health insurance. Plus, there is much more money to be made in human medicine than in veterinary medicine, contributing to the overall lack of animal drugs.

Nevertheless, a number of companies manufacture generic animal drugs for the U.S. market, such as Putney Inc. of Maine and Norbrook Laboratories Ltd. of Northern Ireland. Some national distributors make generic animal drugs under a private label.

Dr. Goodnight said, As a rule, some veterinarians prefer brand names only. He believes these veterinarians trust companies with which they have a history.

Flea and tick products are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency but also have generic versions. Dr. Goodnight said the brand-name versions still dominate the U.S. market because of new technologies, such as new delivery methods. A company might lose a patent on a molecule but not the method of delivery.

Dr. Goodnight expects the market for generic animal drugs to grow. He said, There is absolute demand for it from the practitioner, and ultimately thats what drives it.

All about savings

In human medicine, prescriptions for generic drugs accounted for only 28 percent of U.S. drug spending in 2014, even while accounting for 88 percent of prescriptions dispensed. Both figures come from the 2015 edition of Generic Drug Savings in the United States, compiled on behalf of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association by the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics.

The Federal Trade Commission explored the topic of generic animal drugs for cats and dogs in the 2015 report Competition in the Pet Medications Industry: Prescription Portability and Distribution Practices.

The report cites distribution practices as one of the factors affecting development of generic animal drugs. According to the report, Some generic manufacturers claim that at least some pioneer drug manufacturers are impeding competition from generic entrants by entering into exclusive dealing agreements with distributors that prohibit them from also distributing generic drugs that might be substituted for their own branded products.

According to the executive summary: Compared to the human drug industry, there are relatively few animal drugs that have generic substitutes. Furthermore, the generic animal drugs that do exist have not achieved the same degree of market penetration as human generic drugs. There appear to be several factors that may have deterred the development and marketing of generic animal drugs. Some stakeholders suggest that changes in restrictive distribution practices, as well as legislative and regulatory measures that would allow for the automatic substitution of generic animal drugs, could facilitate the development and use of these products. Greater availability of generic animal drugs would likely benefit consumers.

Back at Seven Bends Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Coston hasnt had any clients object to a generic drug, because they are very aware of the savings. And clients do ask about a generic when one isnt available.
In a response to recent gun violence and homicides in the city and town of Madison, people pray in small groups May 12 at Fountain of Life Covenant Church.
Modified On Feb 22, 2017 05:08 PM By Khan Mohd. for Tata Nano

A fully electric version of the Tata Nano has been spied testing for the very first time in Maharashtra. First showcased at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the Nano prototype boasted a power socket on its left rear fender, indicating its electric nature.

Tata Motors has been working on the Nano electric for quite some time, and now with the electric car sighted, the automaker seems to have accelerated its efforts. At a time when vehicle emissions have taken centre stage the introduction of the Nano EV is expected to garner some popularity.

However, the present infrastructure of the country is not yet ready to absorb such vehicles in high volumes though there might be some charging stations by the time the Nano EV is launched. Nevertheless, Tata is a global brand and its efforts in alternate fuel technology will help it to maximise its reach among global audiences.

The spied vehicle, interestingly, had its suspension going way deeper than the stock Nano. The gap between the fenders and the wheel was pretty less compared to its petrol counterpart. This hints towards the extra load of batteries the Nano was carrying. Its too early to speculate on the technical specifications of the Nano EV.

As far as its launch date is concerned, the pure electric Nano might take a couple of years before making its global debut. Up till now, only Mahindra has shown interest in electric fuel technology among the other homegrown automakers. It added yet another vehicle to its EV portfolio, the e-Verito besides the existing e2o.

Updated Tata Nano Spied Again

Tata Nano: Revival Required

Source: Rushlane

Read More on : Tata Nano
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Singapore's beaten down home prices may find hopes of a recovery from an unusual source: car loans.

In May, Singapore's central bank unexpectedly eased restrictions on car loans, both by raising the maximum permitted loan-to-value ratios and extending the maximum loan tenure from five years to seven. It was a significant change in a country where cars are rationed and buying one requires not only purchasing the vehicle, but also buying at auction the permission to own it. That permission, called a certificate of entitlement (COE), is pricey, with the June auction coming in around 53,000-56,000 Singapore dollars ($39,100-$41,300), down from levels over 90,000 Singapore dollars in 2013. Some analysts pointed to the eased car loan restrictions as a sign that the central bank may also soon ease measures that were aimed at slowing the flow of credit to the property sector. Those measures included limits on the total amount of debt a borrower could take on as a percentage as income, as well as additional stamp duties on property buyers. Credit Suisse said in June that it expected the market would begin pricing in rising chances that the cooling measures' days were numbered. The bank predicted a change by the end of 2016 and pointed to stamp duty as likely to be the first cooling measure to go.



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The Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) adds as much as 15 percent to a property's purchase price for foreign buyers and Singaporeans with more than one property.

However, analysts at DBS said speculation that the cooling measures were on the way out was "still premature," noting that the Property Price Index had only fallen 9.4 percent from its peak, leaving prices still about 40 percent above 2009 lows. DBS said in June that it would likely take another 13-15 percent decline in property prices for authorities to ditch cooling measures. But DBS analysts did come to roughly the same conclusion as Credit Suisse, predicting the measures' removal at the end of this year, or possibly in the first half of next year. Real estate agents said they believed that the ABSD was holding back buyers and that its removal was the catalyst needed to unleash pent-up demand. Property investor Alexander Karolik Shlaen, an economist and CEO of Panache Management, a luxury brands and real estate investment adviser, said that demand never completely evaporated, even in the market downturn.

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Shlaen called the declines in Singapore home prices a "self-inflicted wound," citing both the ABSD and the introduction in mid-2013 of a total debt servicing ratio (TDSR) to limit how much debt households could take on. Even if authorities stand pat on the property cooling measures, there are signs that the downturn's days may be limited. For one, while new supply in the market is still climbing, it is expected to taper off in coming years. About 20,000 private residential units are set to be completed in the last three quarters of 2016, with about another 15,000 each in 2017 and 2018. But by 2019, that number will more than halve to about 7,500, before falling again in 2020 to just under 4,000 expected completions. Indeed, one developer appears to be counting on that drop: In an April sales preview presentation for media, Cheung Kong Property included the falling supply and lack of competition from other developers as a positive feature to market its "British-themed" Stars of Kovan project, which is slated for completion in 2020. The project has nearly 400 units, with expected pricing ranging from 800,000 Singapore dollars to 3.5 million Singapore dollars.

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Due to a quirk of Singapore's land policy, the developer won't have to worry about overhang from other finished, but unsold projects. Developers aren't allowed to sit on unsold units while waiting for buyers to return: Any units unsold two years after a project's completion face an "extension charge" of 8 percent of the proportional land cost for the first year, rising to 16 percent in the second year and 24 percent in the third. The measure was aimed at preventing property hoarding by "foreign" developers in the land-starved city-state. The only way to avoid the charges was if the developer was Singaporean or the company had only Singaporean shareholders and board members. In a note last week, analysts at CIMB said it expected home prices to fall around 5-8 percent this year as looming penalties were expected to intensify from 2017 and developers would start clearing unsold inventory. With many developers running out of time before the charges kick in, more discounts may be afoot in the near term, but projects further out will face less competition for potential buyers.

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More than 1,200 credit union leaders are in Nashville, TN to attend the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU) 49th Annual Conference and Solutions Expo. The conference is one of the credit union industrys largest annual events and runs through Friday.

NAFCU President and CEO Dan Bergers Four Lessons for Credit Union Success

Dare to stand out: Credit union staff are getting out from behind their desks, away from the branch and out into the community, said Berger. Theyre visiting their select employee groups or becoming involved with their single-sponsor memberships. They know the value of creating and fostering relationships. Theyve learned to tell the credit union story through community involvement. Innovate: Credit unions that are leaders in innovation understand that improving the member experience is always the end goal, said Berger. It is better to be member-centric than number-centric. In todays market, products and services are not competitive advantages. Relationships are. Give your members something to talk about: With online reviews, social networks and mobile web access, its easy for your members to know as much about your products and services as you do, Berger said. Member experience correlates to loyalty. Hustle: Hustle is the art of making things happen  Hustle, like innovation, is not an accident. Its intentional, Berger noted. The message we learned from our visits is clear: If we stop growing, if we sit on our capital, if we dont innovate, if we lose touch with members and forget our mission, were inviting trouble.

NCUA Board Chairman Rick Metsger at NAFCU Annual: NCUA will hold a public budget briefing this October and will release details of the agencys 2017-2018 budget plans in advance of that briefing.

Keynote David Horsager author of The Trust Edge @DavidHorsage Companies with high trust outperform companies with low trust levels by 186%

Make sure you are following along all week on the conference twitter hashtag #NAFCUAnnual for live updates.
Mosquitoes are one of the most common pests people experience during the summer months. The Ohio Department of Health says that while most mosquitoes are just nuisances, several species transmit diseases locally: West Nile Virus, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV), La Crosse virus (LACV) and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV).

Travel-acquired diseases are transmitted via mosquitoes, too. Recently, Zika virus has been in the news headlines as cases have been detected in South, Central and North America.

With the scare of the Zika Virus this year, in addition to West Nile Virus worries, youre likely looking for ways to both reduce the number of mosquitoes on your property as well as ways to deter them from hanging around exposed skin, especially during the summer months. Aside from burning Citronella candles, there are other strategies you can employ.

Here are some plants you can include in your landscape to keep mosquitoes away, as well as some tips for choosing mosquito repellent for your family.

Which plants repel mosquitoes?

North Carolina State University Extension says that the following herbs may help to reduce the number of mosquitoes on your property:

Basil

Lemongrass

Rosemary

Garlic

Citronella plant/grass (inedible)

Catnip

Colorado State University Extension recommends placing the scented geranium Pelargonium citrosum Vanieenii, which contains Citronella oil, by windows and outside doors to keep mosquitoes away.

Choosing and using a mosquito repellent

According to North Carolina State University Extension, mosquitoes are most attracted to women and children; people who consume a lot of sweet foods and drinks; and the colors blue and yellow.

The Ohio Department of Health cautions that long sleeves, long pants and socks should be worn when outside, especially between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

Mosquito repellents will not kill mosquitoes, but they do keep mosquitoes away from parts of the body that have been sprayed with the repellent. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a mosquito repellent for you and your family, adapted from the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Only choose repellents that are approved by the EPA.

Choose repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, and IR3535. Also consider using repellents that contain lemon eucalyptus oil and para-menthane-diol, which give longer protection.

Dont apply repellents that contain permethrin to skin. Products containing permethrin are recommended for clothing, shoes, camping gear and bed nets only, not for skin.

Read labels carefully. Refer to application recommendations as well as what types of insects the repellents can be successfully used for. When you notice youre getting bit, reapply.

Apply to exposed skin and clothing, but dont apply repellents to skin under clothing. Dont overdo it; heavy application doesnt better guard you against mosquitoes.

To apply repellent to your face, spray on hands first and apply to your face. Avoid contact with eyes and mouth, and use sparingly around ears.

Apply repellent to children for them. Do not allow children to apply it themselves.

Once youve returned inside, bathe or at least wash the repellent off with water and soap.

How to treat mosquito bites

When youre bit by a mosquito, Colorado State University Extension explains that you should wash the insect bites. Use a small amount of tea tree oil (or a tea tree oil-based soap) to dab on the bite, then wash the bite with witch hazel. Dab lemon juice or cider vinegar next, then rub lavender oil or cinnamon oil on the bite.

Other tips to keep your home mosquito-free

Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Mosquito eggs hatch when they are in water, so reduce or eliminate the amount of standing water around your property. The following advice is adapted from the Ohio Department of Health.

Change water in birdbaths and baby pools 1-2 times weekly.

Place tight-fitting covers over any containers that hold standing water, like barrels, tubs, cisterns and septic tanks.

Check and clean out gutters periodically to clear out stagnant water.

Get rid of any water-holding objects: old tires, buckets, jars, toys, etc.

To prevent mosquitoes from getting inside your home, consider the following:

Make sure all screens on doors and windows are fitted properly. Screens should be made with 1414 or 1418 mesh.

Make sure screen doors open out, not in, and make sure they shut automatically. Repair doors that dont shut automatically.
If you believe neither hawkish Hillary nor Torturing Trump should be president, you have options. The antiwar Green, Libertarian and Socialist parties are some options to Clinton and Trump. Libertarian Gary Johnson, twice governor of blue state New Mexico, has picked former Massachusetts governor William Weld as his running mate.

Not fit to lead are those who in service to the thieves of billions,cause death, injury and pain to millionsObama and Clinton are both pawns of international bankers, war profiteers, and religious haters. They have through illegal acts of war such as bombing, invasion, assassination squads, arranged plane crashes, coups, and destabilization violated the sovereignty of many nations. Some are Afghanistan, Central African Republic,Congo, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, and Venezuela. While violatingother nations, they have violated our citizens, creating ever more poor as they divert money for war. We don'tfight fires well because our planes are used to cause fires elsewhere. We don't have free education, good healthprograms, sound infrastructure, because our government is run by traitors. Corporate media, owned by warmongers,are not reporting your third party alternatives, such as the Green Party's Jill Stein or LibertarianGary Johnson who is in double digits in the polls.If you believe that neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump should be president. here are some alternatives:GREEN PARTY JILL STEINAntiwar Jill Stein, MD is the presidential candidate of the Green Party. In 2012 she received nearly 1/2 million votes.The Green Party platform includesopposition to war, racism, sexismand class exploitationecological conversioneconomic and grass roots democracyfair electionslabor law reformfree diverse and uncensored mediaLIBERTARIAN PARTY GOVERNORS GARY JOHNSON AND BILL WELDAntiwar Gary Johnson is the presidential candidate of the Libertarian Party. In 2012 he received 1.2 million votes. He was twice elected governor of New Mexico. He may be on the ballot in all 50 states. He is currently polling in double digits, taking votes away from both Clinton and Trump. In Utah he is polling at 16%.He has picked two term former governor of Massachusetts Bill Weld as his running mate. Both were very successful as Republicans in blue states.Besides being antiwar, Johnson is a fiscal conservative and socially liberal, advocating women's right to choose, gay marriage, and the right to smoke marijuana,."In a three-way contest, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton was at 42 percent, GOP front-runner Donald Trump was at 34 percent, and Mr. Johnson, nominee of the Librtarian Party,, was at 11 percent, according to the Monmouth University poll." quote from washingtontimes.comEli Watkins of CNN deceptively described Johnson as 'skeptical of military intervention'. In reality, Johnson is courageously and continually antiwar. https://garyjohnson2016.com/ official websiteJohnson polling at 16% in UtahSOCIALIST PARTY USThe Socialist Party US
From IWU Magazine, Spring 2016

With alumni as their guides, students experience the career potential of one of Americas largest cities.

Thousands of Illinois Wesleyan alumni have chosen Chicago as the launch pad for their post-graduation lives and careers. But navigating and succeeding in Americas third biggest city can be a daunting challenge.

Some 30 alumni joined forces to help ease that transition for 21 current students during a visit to Chicago during spring break. Over four days, students and alumni met at downtown offices, including Googles Chicago headquarters, and in small social gatherings  exchanging ideas, information and experiences with the common bond of being Titans.

At Google's Chicago office in the West Loop, students saw some of the company's legendary perks, from pinball machines to massage therapy rooms, but also learned about the company's "work hard, play hard" ethic from alumni employed there.

The Universitys Hart Career Center staff collaborated with alumni to organize the trip, and Career Center staff also accompanied the students during their Chicago visit, along with two faculty members from the Business Administration Department. Dubbed the Career Immersion Excursion (CIE), the program is supported by the family of Cathy Carswell 65, an Illinois Wesleyan trustee. Students contributed only $200 each toward program costs, which include hotel accommodations, meals, programs and transportation.

That investment had already yielded dividends for four student participants who have been offered internships as a result of their meetings with alumni.

Current funding for the program extends to 2020. Next years career excursion  this time to be held in Washington, D.C.  is in the early planning stages.

Tara Adams, a junior business marketing and art major, said the CIE experience gave her the knowledge and resources to be confident and successful when searching for internships and careers.

Business marketing major John Shipman 17 delivered an even more emphatic endorsement: If you are a business student at IWU, the only reason you wouldnt want to attend the CIE is because you dont want to better yourself, plain and simple.

The inaugural CIE focused on entrepreneurship and the fields of marketing and public relations. While the majority of the 21 student participants were business majors, other majors such as psychology, biology and mathematics were represented.

English-writing major Jasmine Wright 17 was struck by how many of the alumni she spoke to during the excursion had changed their career paths several times, networked and found new interests in a different field. Wright took away a valuable lesson: Networking is probably the most important and helpful thing you can do in your college career, and attending the CIE strengthened and helped me gain confidence in that skill.

Financial services major Spencer Seibring 17 agreed that the chance to interact with successful IWU alumni was the trips biggest highlight: It gives you an overall outlook on how alumni became successful and what it took for them to get to that spot.

Recent graduates shared their experiences in a panel discussion.

Among alumni who took leadership roles to make the CIE a success were Chris Bisaillon 93, co-owner of Bottleneck Management; Chad Maxwell 02, senior vice president at Starcom Mediavest Group; Susan Powalowski 11, account manager at Google; Marc Talluto 94, CEO of Fruition Partners, and Joni Williams 82, president of the Chicago media agency Kelly, Scott and Madison.

Williams was impressed by IWU students who visited her East Loop offices: They showed interest, curiosity, intelligence and passion, she said. Many of them definitely have the traits that any employer would want. And, yes, they made me proud to be a part of IWU again.

After the trip, all 21 student participants filled out evaluations of the experience, which were tabulated by Laurie Diekhoff, associate director for career engagement at the Hart Career Center. We were thrilled with the outcomes of our first CIE, Diekhoff said. Students all reported that the trip met or exceeded their expectations, and 100 percent of the participants said they would recommend it to their peers. It was rewarding to watch them gain confidence and know that their career trajectory was being positively impacted.

Career Center Director Warren Kistner 83 emphasized that alumni will remain essential to the CIE experience. Students benefit tremendously from alumni engagement, and it also connects our alumni back to the University in a meaningful way. Programs like the Career Immersion Excursion provide a structured opportunity for this type of engagement.
Illinois Wesleyan Community Reading The Underground Girls of Kabul





June 14, 2016

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. The Underground Girls of Kabul , journalist Jenny Nordbergs book about the practice of bacha posh  disguising young girls as boys in gender-segregated Afghanistan  is Illinois Wesleyan Universitys Summer Reading Program selection.

The book was selected in response to the Universitys 2016-2017 intellectual theme Womens Power, Womens Justice. Incoming first-year students are expected to read the book and complete reading questions for discussion during Turning Titan: New Student Orientation in August. IWU faculty, staff and alumni are also invited to read the book.

A New York-based foreign correspondent and columnist for the Swedish national newspaper Svenska Dagbladet, Nordberg broke the story of bacha posh in 2010 in The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune. Bacha posh is the term for a girl who is dressed up like a boy. The practice dates back more than a century in parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, in which some families without sons will pick a daughter to live and behave as a boy.

Its a creative, some would say desperate, way to buck the system in a suppressive, gender-segregated society, Nordberg writes on the books website. In Afghanistan, men make most of the decisions and women and girls hold very little value. From the moment she is born, an Afghan girl has very few rights and little control over her own lifeFor Afghan girls, posing as a boy opens up a whole new world. It affords a girl freedom of movement.

Author Jenny Nordberg will speak at Illinois Wesleyan's President's Convocation on Sept. 14. (Photo by Magnus Forsberg)

At adolescence, however, most are switched back to young women, entering into marriage and bearing children of their own. It is a traumatic transformation for many; a few maintain their bacha posh status.

In a review of the book in The Washington Post, scholar and author Rachel Newcomb writes: If bacha posh are made and not born, what explains the desire some of them have to remain in a male identity, risking not only cultural stigma but also potential violence? Nordberg raises a number of intriguing questions about the processes of gender-identity formation in other cultures, using a range of historical and anthropological sources to describe similar practices elsewhere.

The book also raises new and profound questions about gender in children and adolescents, nurture vs. nature, religion, sexuality, and of what roles women play in war. Five years in the making, Nordbergs cross-border investigation was described by Publishers Weekly as one of the most convincing portraits of Afghan culture in print.

Receiving wide critical acclaim, The Underground Girls of Kabul is the winner of the 2015 J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize, and was also recognized as a Salon Authors Favorite Book, Publishers Weekly Best Book, one of Buzzfeeds Best Nonfiction Books of 2014, and a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Award in nonfiction.

Nordberg will talk about her book at the Presidents Convocation on Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. in Westbrook Auditorium.
A would-be burglar inside a Belmont home Tuesday night apologized to the homeowner when he came home, telling him he must be in the wrong house.

The intruder was discovered by the homeowner at about 11:50 p.m., Belmont police said.

"The subject was extremely apologetic and state he was supposed to be picking up a Sarah Rosenthal, and that he must be in the wrong place," the police report said.

There was no report of anything missing from the house.

The suspect is white, mid-30s, 5 feet, 7 inches to 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 160 to 170 pounds, short hair, driving a small two-door vehicle, silver/gray in color, with Illinois license plates.

"Everyone should keep doors locked and be vigilant of any suspicious activity in your neighborhood," police said. "Write down license plate numbers of suspicious vehicles and report anyone coming to your door with a strange story, or looking for directions."
A gas powered pressure washer running for hours in a basement produced high levels of carbon monoxide in an eight-unit apartment building on Madison's North Side Tuesday night, forcing the evacuation of the building.

Detectors going off in the building in the 2500 block of Calypso Road prompted a resident to call 911 at about 10 p.m., with firefighters from Engine 10 finding the gas powered power washer running in the basement of the building.

"It reportedly had been running for more than six hours, causing exhaust smoke accumulation and a buildup of carbon monoxide," said Marta Darrow of the Madison Fire Department.

The building was evacuated by firefighters and ventilated when high levels of CO were found throughout the structure.

Metro Transit brought a bus to the scene so residents had a place to stay while the building was ventilated.

Nobody was hurt but a 10-month-old infant was evaluated and released by paramedics at the scene.

Residents were allowed back into the apartment building when CO levels dropped.
A fire in a farm shed used to store straw, hay and farm equipment brought almost a dozen fire departments to an Evansville farm on Tuesday, with firefighters taking eight hours to put out the fire.

The fire was reported at 2:30 p.m. at the Alvin Francis farm, 17226 W. Highway C.

Nobody was reported injured.

"Upon arrival, firefighters found a shed full of hay and straw, with smoke emitting from the building," said Capt. Bob Fahey.

Because of the amount of hay and straw, and the hot and muggy weather conditions, mutual aid was requested from surrounding fire departments, with units responding from Brooklyn, Edgerton, the town of Beloit, Milton, Albany, Footville, Stoughton, Oregon, Janesville and Monticello.

"Excavating equipment was brought to the scene to assist in removing the hay and straw," Fahey said. "Firefighters were on the scene until about 10:30 p.m., extinguishing the fire within the hay and straw."

No cause of the fire or damage estimate was given.
Four months after a heroin overdose killed a Waupun man whose body was found in a van near Stoughton, the man who police said supplied the heroin is on trial for reckless homicide.

Prosecutors said during opening statements Tuesday that on Feb. 10, Christopher T. Jenkins, 36, of Monona, sold the heroin to Wyatt Staff, 20, who divided it between himself and two other men.

One of them, Joshua M. Strate, 32, died from a heroin overdose, while David J. Beloungy, 21, also of Waupun, survived an overdose, but had to be revived by police and paramedics.

Jenkins is charged with first-degree reckless homicide, delivery of heroin and second-degree reckless endangerment. He also faces three other heroin-related charges.

His trial is expected to last through Thursday.

Speaking before a jury Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Adrienne Blais described how Beloungy had moved to Waupun to get away from heroin in the Madison area, and lived there with no phone and no car.

But on Feb. 9, Beloungy decided to come to Madison with his neighbor, Strate, to look for heroin. Not knowing any dealers themselves, they called Staff, a friend of Beloungy, who was a heroin addict and knew where to find the drug.

They picked up Staff at his parents home in the town of Pleasant Springs, who directed them to the Microtel motel on Madisons Far East Side. Staff went inside with $140 of Strates money to buy a gram of heroin from Jenkins.

They immediately split and used it in the van, still parked in the motel parking lot. Strate shot up first, and Staff testified Tuesday that within moments, he had passed out. Beloungy used his heroin next, and also passed out. Staff said he also injected his heroin, but being a habitual user, unlike the other two, he remained conscious.

But Staff was scared, he testified, and didnt know what to do. He didnt call 911, he said, because without the call, there would be no evidence tying him to the deal. So he drove the van back to Pleasant Springs and left it on Kong Road, within walking distance of his parents home, and went home.

The van was found by a passerby a few hours later.

Although Staff saw police at the van that morning, he testified, he didnt learn that Strate was dead until he read it in the newspaper. He said he felt horrible.

I knew what to do and I didnt do it, he said. It eats at me every day.

But the police quickly learned of Staffs involvement, and Feb. 11 he agreed to make a police-controlled purchase of another half-gram of heroin from Jenkins. The transaction was recorded on a microphone Staff was wearing.

On cross-examination, Jenkins lawyer, John Smerlinski, accused Staff of helping police nail the person that police wanted to nail, all so that Staff would get a favorable outcome to criminal charges now pending against him.

Staff is also charged with first-degree reckless homicide, second-degree reckless endangerment and delivery of heroin. His trial has not been scheduled.

But while Staff acknowledged that he hoped his testimony would help his case, he maintained that there is no deal in place, and that he is telling the truth now and testifying because it is the right thing to do.
- A British family has discovered the name Allah written in Arabic inside a watermelon

- Now their house has become a pilgrimage destination for all Muslims in the neighbourhood

- The revelation allegedly came in the middle of the Holy Month of Ramadan

Asif Iqbal, from Leicester, England, was left speechless when he cut open a watermelon bought at a local shop only to find something extraordinary inside.

Asif Iqbal finds Allah written in Arabic in watermelon

A father-of-four gathered his whole family to make sure they see the same lettering -- 'Allah' name was written in Arabic script inside the fruit. Soon bizarre news spread to their friends and neighbours who made their family house a pilgrimage destination.

READ ALSO: Spectacular photos: Jesus Christ appears in Northern lights

Asif said: "People have been coming round to see the name  and weve given pieces of it away too. Id love to tell you how many people have been here but I honestly lost count, its been non-stop.

Asif Iqbal said it was like a blessing

"I have spoken to a scholar and he said this is just one of those things that reminds the world that Allah does exist. I was shocked when we found the name, it was like a blessing  and to have something like that come during Ramadan, too, that makes it even more special."

READ ALSO: Mother spots face of Jesus Christ on Easter buns (photos)

The divine discovery came to light in 2016, midway through the Holy Month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad according to Islamic belief.

The Arabic for Allah

This is not the first time the word Allah appears on various objects. It was spotted on fish, egg plants, cacti, melons and even on human hands and ears. However, the scholars believe that all these inscriptions are simply flukes.

People have been coming round to see the name  and weve given pieces of it away too

Arabic letters, unlike Latin characters, are very graceful in form, meaning with a little bit of imagination one can find them naturally occurring everywhere.

Source: Legit.ng
A family living in an East Side apartment had no idea why their residence would be shot at, but that's what happened early Wednesday morning.

Nobody was hurt in the incident reported at about 1:50 a.m. in the 3100 block of Webb Avenue, Madison police said.

At least five shots were fired at the apartment building, with one round going through a window frame, just missing a 52-year-old man who was in bed.

"Many members of the extended family were home during the gunfire, including several young children," said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. "They have lived in the neighborhood for 20 years and never had trouble like this before."

Police interviewed the frightened residents, with none believing that had any enemies, or why anyone would shoot at their home.

"A witness saw a young man running from the scene, briefly hiding behind a tree in a nearby park," DeSpain said.

No description of a suspect was given.

Police recovered five shell casings outside the building.
Members of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources policy-making board were surprised and disappointed by an audit that cited serious shortcomings in state enforcement of water pollution laws, chairman Terry Hilgenberg said Tuesday in his first public comments on the study.

Hilgenberg said he has asked DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp to respond at the next Natural Resources Board meeting.

We want to have a dialog with the secretary to say, What are we going to do about all this stuff to make sure its not going to happen in the future? Hilgenberg said.

Hilgenberg said the board understands the DNR must balance many competing demands while working with limited staff, but all possible efforts must be made to protect the states water supply and other natural resources.

Over the last 10 years the DNR failed 94 percent of the time to take enforcement action against sewage plants and industries that exceeded water pollution limits, violating its own internal policies, the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau said in its report.

DNR employees didnt have time to adequately review annual reports submitted by concentrated animal feeding operations or plans describing how millions of gallons of manure they generate annually would be kept out of lakes, streams and groundwater.

The DNR didnt meet its goals for inspections and failed to document that it took any action for months or even years in five incidents where monitoring wells showed feedlots were contaminating groundwater with substances harmful to human health, auditors said.

State Sen. Rob Cowles, a Green Bay Republican and co-chairman of the Legislatures audit committee, said last week that the Legislature should act as soon as possible to allow the DNR to keep more of the fee revenue it collects from polluters so it can hire enough employees to enforce the law.

I can tell you the DNR board is steaming mad, Cowles said last week. This was a surprise to them. Three of them called me, and a lot of my constituents did, too.

Leaders of the Legislature, which cut more than 90 positions from the DNRs budget last year, havent publicly commented on the audit.

A spokesman for Gov. Scott Walker said any changes in DNR funding will wait until a new budget is enacted next summer.

Walker spokesman Tom Evenson said the DNR had already addressed some audit findings and was working on others.

In a letter to the audit bureau, Stepp said proposals were being formulated to provide tighter controls on manure in regions of the state that are especially susceptible to ground water pollution.

But a public interest law firm that has frequently challenged the DNR for lax enforcement said the agency has announced no plans for increased groundwater monitoring, and it is moving too slowly on changing regulations and practices to protect places like Kewaunee County where its been known for years that one-third of tested drinking water wells are polluted.

DNR has authority to move faster to get people money for clean drinking water whose wells are contaminated with manure, said Sarah Geers, an attorney for Midwest Environmental Advocates. In addition to the well compensation program, there is a spills program provision that allows DNR to distribute funds to get people clean drinking water.

The DNR has been under fire for the way it protects the states waters at least since 2011 when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency listed 75 deficiencies in laws, rules and policies. Four of the problems have been cleared up. The state audit provided new details about the shortcomings.

Hilgenberg said board members were told several months ago that the audit was being performed, but Stepp and her staff didnt update them about the seriousness of the findings before the report was released to the public June 3.

Board members were being contacted by the media and by other individuals, Hilgenberg said. Theyre at Rotary and theyre getting asked What the hell is all that about with that audit? and they hadnt been apprised about all of it. That could create a little angst.

DNR spokesman Jim Dick said the Natural Resources Board will be briefed on the audit when it meets June 22 in Richland Center.

We look forward to reporting to the NRB at next weeks meeting on the LAB report, Dick said. We were planning to make such a report even before the chairs (press) release came out (on Monday).

Its wasnt clear Tuesday if Stepp would appear at the meeting.

The seven NRB members are appointed by the governor to six-year terms. Walker appointed six of the current members, including Hilgenberg. Walker also appointed Stepp to her post.

Hilgenberg said he believes Stepp is doing a very good job in difficult circumstances. The agency is still trying to hire and train new employees after losing large numbers of experienced people to retirement, he said.

An aging workforce and trepidation about Walkers rollbacks of state employee union rights, take-home pay and benefits contributed to record numbers of retirements across state government in 2011. Walker said changes were needed to close a large budget gap.

I can tell you the DNR board is steaming mad. This was a surprise to them. Three of them called me, and a lot of my constituents did, too. SEN. rob cowles

R-Green Bay, co-chairman of Legislatures audit committee
Are individual feelings and Americas democratic model, at their base, incompatible? Given what we are seeing this election, its certainly a question worth asking.

As Molly Wharthon recently wrote of young people in a New York Times Op-ed:

These people dont think, believe or reckon. They feel like. Listen for this phrase and youll hear it everywhere, inside and outside politics. This reflex to hedge every statement as a feeling or a hunch is most common among millennials. But I hear it almost as often among Generation Xers and my own colleagues in academia. As in so many things, the young are early carriers of a broad cultural contagion.

At its heart, a feeling cannot be contradicted or contested by argument because it is a personal experience, experienced wholly and solely by the person possessing it. It is an unassailable pathos that is valued above all else. This is a problem.

In many ways, it makes sense that we are seeing feelings further and further ingrained in political debate and conversation. America has long been a country that considers itself, correctly or not, exceptional. Many people have been told that they are unique, they are special, that if they work hard and are smart, kind, and honest, they can get ahead and live a good life.

The reality of a large number of people is something that falls far short of that bar though. There are things such as prison, drug addiction, student loans, police violence, and various other endemic characteristics of the US that seem to get in the way. No matter how unique someone is, they cannot escape the grasps of systemic racism in the US or the capitalist cultural undercurrent that drives so many people to forsake ideals they long believed in. Is it any wonder then that we talk more and more about feeling than actual policy? Is it a way to hold onto our uniqueness, in spite of all evidence to the contrary  that we are just people, like many people that have come before and after us?

In and of itself a reliance on feelings in political arguments may not seem like a problem, merely a natural extension of the human experience. That being said, democracy, as it is ideally envisioned, is supposed to be a platform by which we can reason through things objectively, arguing with facts and information around a topic or area.

Yes, today, we have moved far away from this ideal. Given the influence of money in politics, lobbying, pandering, and other issues, it is almost impossible to remember the last time something or someone was voted into law or office based on objective merits. Therefore, we argue based not on reason, but on rhetoric and emotion, something that is all too evident in the bombastic world of campaign politics, which are a different beast from governing politics.

We can see this play out in real time all around us today. People supporting Trump cannot seemingly be in dialogue with Black Lives Matter activists. Environmental advocates cannot communicate with climate change deniers. There is a real argument to be made that nothing can ever be truly objective, but if we continue to just scream at others, not talk to them, not debate on the merit of reason, then what can be done?

I was speaking with a friend and talking about Donald Trump and his rise to political prominence when she called him, as many have, racist. To argue about and assert this though does not actually change the opinions of those who support him. Lobbing emotionally charged words such as this at a man who is willing to cross lines that other politicians are not doesnt turn away his supporters, but merely further entrenches them. Indeed, given his self-cultivated narrative as a counter culture icon whos consistently smeared by the mainstream media, this plays right into his hand.

We can see something similar happening on the Democratic side as the primary season wears on. Sanders and Clintons supporters have devolved into a debate of feelings, not one of policy. To an extent, this has also happened amongst the candidates themselves. During earlier debates, where we saw them sparring on the merits of various policy differences, nowadays we see veiled insults, accusations, and a dearth of policy debate. This is played out on a much grander scale by their supports (largely on the ever accurate Internet). From the ever present insult of $hillary and accusations of corruption, to people not believing Sanders could accomplish his policy goals, feelings have come to dominate our recent political conversations.

Democracy is based on reason argument, and the need for a separation between emotion and logic, which, when conflated, can lead us down dangerous paths (perhaps the Trump candidacy being the most recent).

As Wharthon later notes:

The phrase [I feel like] cripples our range of expression and flattens the complex role that emotions do play in our reasoning. It turns emotion into a cudgel that smashes the distinction  and even in our relativistic age, there remains a distinction  between evidence out in the world and internal sentiments known only to each of us.

We cant allow sentiments to dominate a democracy that wasnt constructed for such. To recognize this may be one small step towards aligning ourselves with a political process we could be proud of.
IPCC to manage electoral fraud investigation into PCC

Devon and Cornwall representative was referred to watchdog after taking office.

Alison Hernandez is the subject of an investigation managed by the IPCC

Date - 15th June 2016

By - Ian Weinfass - Police Oracle - 15th June 2016

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The Independent Police Complaints Commission is to manage an investigation into alleged electoral fraud claims against a police and crime commissioner. Alison Hernandez, who was elected PCC of Devon and Cornwall just over a month ago, is being...
Researchers at Durham University, UK and the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland, said their findings could have implications for how music therapy and rehabilitation could help people's moods.

The musicologists looked at the emotional experiences associated with sad music of 2,436 people across three large-scale surveys in the UK and Finland.

They identified the reasons for listening to sad music, and emotions involved in memorable experiences related to listening to sad music.

Writing in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, the researchers said that the majority of people surveyed highlighted the enjoyable nature of such experiences, which in general lead to clear improvement of mood.

The researchers said that listening to sad music led to feelings of pleasure related to enjoyment of the music in some people, or feelings of comfort where sad music evoked memories in others.

However, a significant portion of people also reported painful experiences associated with listening to sad music, which invariably related to personal loss such as the death of a loved one, divorce, breakup, or other significant adversity in life.

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The research was funded by the Academy of Finland.

Lead researcher Professor Tuomas Eerola, Professor of Music Cognition in the Department of Music, Durham University, said: "Previous research in music psychology and film studies has emphasised the puzzling pleasure that people experience when engaging with tragic art.

"However, there are people who absolutely hate sad-sounding music and avoid listening to it. In our research, we wanted to investigate this wide spectrum of experiences that people have with sad music, and find reasons for both listening to and avoiding that kind of music.

"The results help us to pinpoint the ways people regulate their mood with the help of music, as well as how music rehabilitation and music therapy might tap into these processes of comfort, relief, and enjoyment.

"The findings also have implications for understanding the paradoxical nature of enjoyment of negative emotions within the arts and fiction."

Study co-author Dr Henna-Riikka Peltola from the University of Jyvaskyla, in Finland said sad music led to mixed emotions.

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Dr Peltola added: "There seem to be two types of enjoyable experiences evoked by sad music listening.

"In these instances, music is typically the central source of these experiences, and aesthetic qualities were very much involved in the experienced pleasure.

"Alternatively, sad music is also associated with a set of emotions that give comfort to the listener, and where memories and associations play a strong part of making the experience pleasant. These experiences were often mentioned to confer relief and companionship in difficult situations of life.

"However, a large number of people also associated sad music with painful experiences. Such intense experiences seemed to be mentally and even physically straining, and thus far from pleasurable."

The three types of experience associated with listening to sad music (pleasure, comfort and pain) were found across the different surveys.

The researchers added that experiences of enjoyable sadness were not affected by gender or age, although musical expertise and interest in music seemed to amplify these feelings.

Older people reported stronger experiences of comforting sadness, while strong negative feelings when listening to sad music were more pronounced for younger people and women.

Each type of emotional experience associated with sad music could be connected to a distinct profile of reasons, psychological mechanisms, and reactions, the researchers added.

Professor Eerola added: "We think that this demonstrates well the functional nature of these experiences.

"Although the positive experiences seemed to be the most frequently associated with sad music, truly negative experiences are not uncommon in any of the samples in our research."

Commenting on the study Professor Jorg Fachner, Professor of Music, Health and the Brain, at Anglia Ruskin University, who was not part of the research team, said: "This study confirms that music therapists can work with authentic experiences when using music representing the sorrowful and painful content of sad life events such as the death of a spouse or child.

"Some people enjoy sad music and derive a lot of comfort out of such music in certain situations but when a particular piece of music becomes a container for a negative emotion related to a personal or environmental challenge, a music therapist would carefully start working on its representations.

"A skilful, trained music therapist can sense and adapt to the individual meaning of the sad music representing negative experiences and memories as described in this study."
Fungal infections can be devastating to human health, killing approximately 150 people every hour, resulting in over a million deaths every year, more than malaria and tuberculosis combined.

Unfortunately the antifungal drug arsenal is limited, with many of the best drugs more than 50 years old.

The search for new antifungals has recently alighted on a simple biological pathway, the production of trehalose, a chemical cousin to table sugar that pathogenic fungi need to survive in their human hosts. A team of Duke researchers has solved the structure of an enzyme that is required to synthesize this fungal factor.

When the enzyme is blocked, pathogenic fungi are unable to endure the stressful leap from the outside world into the human body.

The research, appearing this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, paves the way for designing new antifungal drugs against an enzyme that is essential to the three most deadly fungi: Cryptococcus, Candida, and Aspergillus.

"We found that the active site of this enzyme is identical in each of these pathogenic fungi, so they all use the same mechanism and have the same residues that are necessary for the production of trehalose," said senior study author Richard G. Brennan, Ph.D., professor and chair of biochemistry at Duke University School of Medicine.

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"By targeting those active sites, we hope to create a drug with broad-spectrum effects," Brennan said. "If you could kill one fungus, you're going to kill them all; at least if you can get the drug inside."

The development of antifungal drugs has lagged far behind that of other antimicrobials. Because fungi are eukaryotic multicellular organisms like humans, they share a lot of the same genes, proteins, and pathways. As a result, drugs that go after a fungal protein can also harm the human, triggering devastating side effects. These drug toxicities are one of the main reasons that antifungal therapies ultimately fail, either in the clinic or earlier in development. Luckily, the enzymes for synthesizing the trehalose sugar aren't present in people, so scientists can target them with less concern for collateral damage.

Pathogenic fungi use trehalose as a kind of molecular heat shield. Organisms like Cryptococcus, Candida, and Aspergillus spend most of their time either down in the dirt or out on the laboratory bench, where the temperature is a comfortable 30 degrees Celsius. But when they move into an unlucky host, they are suddenly exposed to a steamy 37 degrees. Trehalose protects the fungi's delicate proteins and membranes from falling apart in all that heat.

Brennan and his colleagues, including John R. Perfect, M.D., Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Duke University Medical Center, figured that if they could stop trehalose from being made, they could eliminate the pathogen's protection, such that every time the fungi jump into a host they are sending themselves to a fiery death.

Trehalose is a disaccharide or a double sugar, two sugar molecules that are made and linked together by two enzymes called Tps1 and Tps2, which do their jobs one after the other. Before the scientists could target either of the biosynthetic enzymes, they needed to know its structure.

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Yi Miao, PhD, a graduate student in Brennan's lab, followed the instructions written in the genetic sequence of Cryptococcus, Candida, and Aspergillus to build Tps2 (the latter of the two biosynthetic enzymes) from scratch. Then he used a technique called x-ray crystallography to produce an atomic-level three-dimensional structure of the essential molecule.

Mao took several pictures of Tps2 to produce a kind of time-lapse video of the molecule in action: first, as it sat idle; next, as it bound a precursor molecule called trehalose-6-phosphate, popping off its phosphate group to create trehalose; and finally, its job done, as it released trehalose and was alone again.

Afterwards the researchers generated a series of mutations in Tps2 to see if they could impair its ability to produce trehalose, and as a result render pathogenic fungi susceptible to heat shock. They showed that a wide variety of mutations could inactivate the enzyme and create fungi unable to survive the jump from 30 to 37 degrees.

"It appears that this enzyme has become so specific that it has basically evolved itself into a corner." Brennan said. "That's good for us, because if it tries to evolve resistance to an antifungal drug, it will likely lose its activity in the process, so the drug might not be able to destroy it but it will be a lousy enzyme, and the pathogen will die anyway."

Brennan says he and his colleagues are now using their structures of Tps2 to conduct "rational" drug design to create new antifungals that can kill a broad spectrum of pathogenic fungi. They are also performing high-throughput screening for small molecules or other pharmaceuticals that can generate the same effect.
DEFOREST  American Packaging Corp., maker of flexible packaging for a variety of food, health care, hygiene and household products, plans to build a plant in DeForest and add as many as 300 employees there over the next decade.

Company officials joined Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and Village President Judd Blau in announcing a $50 million first phase of the plant at a Wednesday morning press conference in the DeForest Northern Business Park.

The project will be helped by an incentive package that includes up to $750,000 in Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. tax credits and nearly $1.9 million in land subsidies from the village.

American Packaging has more than 600 employees across three plants in Columbus; Rochester, New York, where it has its headquarters; and Story City, Iowa. It manufactures packaging for major consumer product companies such as Unilever, Mars, Nestle and ConAgra Foods.

The privately-held company has seen its annual sales grow from about $100 million to more than $500 million in a little more than a decade as more American companies have switched from rigid packaging to the cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative.

American Packaging planned to put a new Italian-made rotogravure printing press it ordered into its Columbus plant, but rapid growth would have required the company to order another right away, and executive vice president Jeff Koch said adding two presses at that plant would have been a challenge.

When we talked about expansion, we could have made this work, but we know that our longer-term strategic goals are not just two machines, Koch said. Two machines can produce $70 million. Thats not the end game for American Packaging. Were going to be much larger.

Instead of forcing that machine in there, we said, Lets just start greenfield, lets bring both of those presses to that greenfield site and well build from there.

Construction is already underway on the first, 170,000-square-foot phase, just west of Highway 51 on the villages northern edge. It is expected to open by February with about 60 employees.

Three subsequent phases are expected to increase the buildings footprint to at least 400,000 square feet by the end of 2026. The additions are expected to accommodate between 250 and 300 jobs.

Kleefisch and Koch credited WEDCs Certified in Wisconsin sites program for helping meet American Packagings tight timeline. State-certified sites have been pre-reviewed, ensuring that all critical stumbling blocks to development have been cleared so that companies can begin building quickly.

We know this is a program that will continue to attract interest around this country and, frankly, around the globe, especially when we have friends like American Packaging Corp. taking advantage of it. They are on top of global trends, Kleefisch said.

WEDC also authorized up to $750,000 in tax credits for the project over five years. The total amount of tax credits American Packaging can earn is tied to job creationquotas, wage level requirements and capital investments.

Under the agreement, the company must maintain at least 48 new full-time employees at the site through May 31, 2021. It can earn up to $250,000 in job creation tax credits through May 30, 2019. The credits will be calculated at 10 percent of the wages of employees at the site.

The agreement makes American Packaging eligible for up to $500,000 in capital investment tax credits, calculated at 3 percent for company property and 5 percent for real estate property investments.

American Packaging is building on two parcels in the DeForest Northern Business Park. The company paid $86,249 for a 1.3-acre parcel and the village is subsidizing the adjacent 25-acre parcel for a value of $1.9 million.

Of the $1.9 million loan for the land, the initial $673,002 payment is forgivable if the company completes at least a 165,000-square-foot building by the end of the year, according to a development agreement approved unanimously by the Village Board on May 3.

The company is also eligible for credits against the remainder of the loan balance based on construction quotas to be performed by the end of 2020, 2024 and 2026.

Because of the training involved, some of the roughly 300 employees at the Columbus plant will be tapped to help open the DeForest plant; however, the Columbus plants eight presses will remain in operation, Koch said.

The DeForest facility will be the first of two or three satellite plants, Koch said. The company does a different kind of printing at its Iowa plant and is in negotiations to buy land for a second plant in Altoona, a suburb of Des Moines.
In tropical climes, animals and plants aren't adapted to surviving freezing temperatures -- and why would they be? It's never all that cold near the Equator, even at altitude. But in places like the Rocky Mountains, where temperatures can climb into the 100s and dip below freezing, species are hardier and more equipped to deal with such fluctuations.

These divergent climate tolerances play crucial roles in how species evolve. Colorado State University research offers new insight into this long-held understanding of species diversity.

A study led by CSU biologists shows that insect populations in the tropics exhibit a higher number of distinct species than in the Rockies. But the distinctions between those species consist of subtle, genetic differences that aren't readily visible. These are called cryptic species -- by the looks of things identical, but actually genetically distinct.

The study supports a classic theory dating back to the 1960s. The saying goes that "mountain passes are higher in the tropics" -- that is, tropical mountain passes are stronger barriers to the dispersal of organisms than temperate-zone passes of equivalent altitudes. That's indeed true, and the CSU researchers have now found that that species differentiation is more subtle -- cryptic -- than previously understood.

The study, published online June 15 in Proceedings of the Royal Society London B -- Biological Sciences will be featured on the journal's printed cover. The lead author is Brian Gill, a graduate student co-advised by Chris Funk in the College of Natural Sciences' Department of Biology and Boris Kondratieff in the College of Agricultural Sciences' Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management. Gill led a field team that traversed watersheds in the wilds of Colorado's Rocky Mountains and in the remote Ecuadorean Andes to collect and analyze thousands of mayflies at comparable elevations. Mayflies are common aquatic insects that play key roles in stream food webs and other ecological processes.

Comparing mayfly specimens between the Rockies and the Andes, the researchers identified higher species richness in Ecuador than in Colorado -- a disparity rooted in high levels of cryptic tropical diversity. They used a genetic analysis called DNA barcoding to parse out these subtle species differences, which would not be apparent using standard taxonomy.

In fact, by standard taxonomic methods, it would appear that Colorado had a greater abundance of mayfly species. But the subtle, molecular-level differences unveiled by the DNA analyses tipped the scale well in favor of species richness for tropical mayflies.

"Since there is this high climatic zonation in the tropics and narrow thermal tolerances, there are more opportunities for populations to become divergent and isolated, which is what you need for speciation to happen," Gill explained. By comparison, temperate species and their tolerance to a wider range of conditions leads to more gene flow, which limits the number of distinct species that can evolve.

"We think our results can contribute to the discussion about species vulnerability and how it varies across the planet," Gill said.

The next step is to provide better support for latitudinal differences in physiology, and more insight into how species disperse. For those follow-up studies, the researchers will continue to work with collaborators at CSU, Cornell University, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, and Universidad Tecnologica Indoamerica.
Plants are more vulnerable to toxic nanoparticles if their parents were grown in contaminated soil, according to the first multi-generational study on the safety of cerium oxide nanoparticles in agriculture, published in NanoImpact. The results highlight the importance of improving and increasing research on the impact of nanomaterials on plants.

In another NanoImpact paper, scientists warn that our knowledge of the risks to agriculture associated with using nanotechnology is not sufficient. They say it's time to rethink the way we investigate the risks posed by nanomaterials to plants, specifically to food crops.

Already a trillion dollar industry, nanotechnology is still growing rapidly. It is based on the engineering of tiny particles, at a scale of one-billionth the size of a meter, for use in a wide variety of technological applications, from sunscreen to batteries.

Nanoparticles are used in thousands of commercial products, and it is therefore impossible to stop them from accumulating in the environment. However, unlike many other materials, they may be very reactive and are thought to have unique health and safety impacts on people and the environment.

One important final destination for engineered nanoparticles is agricultural soil. Nanoparticles are carried to the soil through irrigation and by applying fertilisers from wastewater treatment plants. Because of this, crops can be exposed to heightened levels of nanoparticles in the environment in which they grow.

What's more, nanotechnology could potentially revolutionize agriculture in the same way it has changed medicine and communications, so researchers need to understand the impact it has -- not just on the plants that are growing, but also on future generations of crops.

"We need to explore the impact of nanoparticles on plant growth now, so we can expand our agricultural toolbox and meet the demands of a growing global population in a changing climate," said Dr. Jason C. White of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in the US, who is one of the scientists calling for more research. "Any technology has both risks and benefits and even in instances where the benefits could be tremendous, the risks must be thoroughly understood prior to deployment."

More research looking at the effect of nanoparticles on several generations of plants is needed, says Dr. White. This was the focus for Dr. Samuel Ma and his colleagues at Texas A&M University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in the US.

Dr. Ma and the team studied the effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles on plant health and yield on three generations of plants -- the first time such a comprehensive study had been done. They grew three generations of the plant Brassica rapa, a plant related to turnips, canola and bok choy, in soil contaminated with cerium oxide. They studied the effect of the nanoparticles on the growth and reproduction of the plants.

Their results showed that exposure lowered the quality of the seeds and affected subsequent generations of the plants, reducing yield. The offspring generations also displayed more signs of stress than their parent plants in the same growing conditions.

"Our study is pioneering in that it significantly extended the horizon for the study of plant nanoparticle interactions and provided an important new perspective in the study of nanoparticle effects on agricultural crops than most short term studies in the literature," said Dr. Ma.
The use of Camelid antibodies has important implications for future development of reagents for diagnosis and therapeutics in diseases involving a group of enzymes called serine proteases.

Antibodies have many applications, in areas ranging from basic molecular biology and biochemistry to clinical medicine. Recently, much interest has been focused on a special group of antibodies from Camelids (camels, dromedaries, llamas). Due to their small size and unique structures, these Camelid antibodies are ideal building blocks for the generation of novel biological drugs, with multiple competitive advantages over other therapeutic molecules. Moreover, Camelid antibodies offer many technical applications in basic biochemistry and structural biology.

Now, a group of Danish, Belgian, and Chinese researchers have used the Camelid antibody technology to explore basic principles of catalysis and inhibition of a group of enzymes called serine proteases, using X-ray crystal structure analysis. Serine proteases catalyse important processes in blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, tissue remodeling, and other physiological functions.

The research team has developed Camelid antibodies against serine proteases, thereby allowing a structural characterization of a long standing problem concerning whether a certain peptide segment will behave as an inhibitor or a substrate for a serine protease. The results also have important implications for future development of reagents for diagnosis and therapeutics in diseases involving serine proteases.

The results have been obtained in a collaboration between researchers from Aarhus (Denmark), Leuven and Brussels (Belgium) and Hong Kong (China). In particular, Serge Muyldermans, Vrijes Universiteit Brussels, who originally pioneered the development of the Camelid antibody technology, has contributed with his expertise. Tobias-Kromann-Hansen, as part of his Ph.D.-study, spent four months in his laboratory. Tobias Kromann-Hansen is currently developing these studies further as a Carlsberg Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of California San Diego, USA. The results are being published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The publication is one of the achievements of the Danish-Chinese Centre for Proteases and Cancer, headed by Peter A. Andreasen.
Women who go to college intending to become engineers stay in the profession less often than men. Why is this? While multiple reasons have been offered in the past, a new study co-authored by an MIT sociologist develops a novel explanation: The negative group dynamics women tend to experience during team-based work projects makes the profession less appealing.

More specifically, the study finds, women often feel marginalized, especially during internships, other summer work opportunities, or team-based educational activities. In those situations, gender dynamics seem to generate more opportunities for men to work on the most challenging problems, while women tend to be assigned routine tasks or simple managerial duties.

In such settings, "It turns out gender makes a big difference," says Susan Silbey, the Leon and Anne Goldberg Professor of Humanities, Sociology, and Anthropology at MIT, and co-author of a newly-published paper detailing the study.

As a result of their experiences at these moments, women who have developed high expectations for their profession -- expecting to make a positive social impact as engineers -- can become disillusioned with their career prospects.

"It's a cultural phenomenon," adds Silbey, regarding the way this group-dynamics problem crops up at a variety of key points during students' training.

The paper, titled "Persistence is Cultural: Professional Socialization and the Reproduction of Sex Segregation," appears in the latest print issue of the journal Work and Occupations. The co-authors are Silbey, who is the corresponding author; Carroll Seron, a professor at the University of California at Irvine; Erin Cech, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan; and Brian Rubineau, an associate professor at McGill University.

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"Menial tasks" instead of "all the fun"

Overall, about 20 percent of undergraduate engineering degrees are awarded to women, but only 13 percent of the engineering workforce is female. Numerous explanations have been offered for this discrepancy, including a lack of mentorship for women in the field; a variety of factors that produce less confidence for female engineers; and the demands for women of maintaining a balance between work and family life.

The current study does not necessarily preclude some of those other explanations, but it adds an additional element to the larger discussion.

To conduct the study, the researchers asked more than 40 undergraduate engineering students to keep twice-monthly diaries. The students attended four institutions in Massachusetts: MIT, the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. That generated more than 3,000 individual diary entries that the scholars systematically examined.

What emerges is a picture in which female engineering students are negatively affected at particular moments of their educational terms -- especially when they engage in team-based activities outside the classroom, where, in a less structured environment, older gender roles re-emerge.

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This crops up frequently in the diary entries. To take an example, one student named Kimberly described an episode in a design class in which "two girls in a group had been working on the robot we were building in that class for hours, and the guys in their group came in and within minutes had sentenced them to doing menial tasks while the guys went and had all the fun in the machine shop. We heard the girls complaining about it. ... "

Or, as the paper puts it, "Informal interactions with peers and everyday sexism in teams and internships are particularly salient building blocks of [gender] segregation." The researchers add: "For many women, their first encounter with collaboration is to be treated in gender stereotypical ways." And by contrast, as the researchers note in the paper, "Almost without exception, we find that the men interpret the experience of internships and summer jobs as a positive experience."

Such experiences lead to a problem involving what the researchers call "anticipatory socialization." The women in the study, Silbey and her colleagues observed, are more likely than men to say they are entering the field of engineering with the explicit idea that it will be a "socially responsible" profession that will "make a difference in people's lives." But group dynamics seem to affect this specific expectation in two ways: by leading women to question whether other professions could be a better vehicle for affecting positive social change, and by leading them to question if their field has a "commitment to a socially conscious agenda that ... was a key motivator for them in the first place."

Changes beyond the classroom

As Silbey observes, the findings suggest that engineering's gender gap is not precisely rooted in the engineering curriculum or the classroom, which have often been the focus of past scrutiny in this area.

"We think engineering education is quite successful by its own standards," Silbey says. Moreover, she adds, "The teaching environment is for the most part very successful."

That means some new kinds of remedies could be explored, which might have a positive impact on women's experiences as engineers in training. For instance, as Silbey has previously recommended, institutions could develop "directed internship seminars," in which student internship experiences could be dissected to help many people grasp and learn from the problems women face.

In this vein, Silbey adds, whatever other components education may have, it is useful to remember that "education is a process of socialization."
Officer David Gomez was responding to the same complaint he'd heard countless times before: A couple of "vicious" dogs were loose in a residential neighborhood. "I've done that a hundred times," Gomez tells The Dodo. "Someone calls and says, 'They're vicious. They're vicious.'" He expected the usual outcome that night: "They're just going to come up and be friendly." But the two dogs he met on a dark, residential street in Meridian, Idaho, were not those dogs. "Their initial attack was a little bit scary," the 44-year-old recalls.

Edith Williams

One of them circled the officer, snarling and foaming at the mouth. The other bit into his baton. "I have no doubt, if I didn't have a baton, he would have taken bites," he recalls. But his gun never left the holster. "As soon as I fended off that, then I was good. I was like, 'OK, my tricks worked. I have a couple other tools ready to go.'" Gomez waved his baton to keep the agitated dogs distracted.

Dodo Shows Odd Couples Kitten Isn't Sure About His Pittie Brother  At First

Edith Williams

As neighbors emerged from their homes, the officer calmly told them to go back inside. "Had they gotten ahold of a bystander, my actions would have had to change," he explains.

Edith Williams

And then Gomez, whose encounter was captured on his body camera, went into a mode most animal lovers will recognize: dog daddy. After all, Gomez has plenty of experience at home with his tiny Havanese dog, Banjo - or "ankle biter," as he calls him. "Shhhh ... shhhh ... settle down. Sit. Siiiiiit," he urges the dogs in the video. "That's not very nice, is it?" He opens the door of the police cruiser. "You want to go for a ride? Come on, let's go for a ride!" Moments later, not one but both dogs leap into the backseat.

This browser does not support the video tag. Edith Williams

They would ultimately be returned to their owners, along with a citation for "vicious dogs at large," for which Idaho requires a court date. Although it's been nearly a year since Gomez met those dogs, he's only recently begun to talk about them. Since footage of the encounter was made public this month, it has gone viral. He's been celebrated in headlines across the country. "Officer Gomez isn't a dog whisperer, he's a dog commander," the New York Post proclaimed.

David Gomez
<p>Tanya Jones</p>

Whenever a baby kangaroo suddenly finds himself without the comfort of a mother's pouch, Tanya Jones, an Australian wildlife rehabilitator based in Alice Springs, is more than happy to swaddle the young kangaroo in a blanket and have him join her in bed - along with all the other kangaroos she tends to.

Tanya Jones

Recently, one person drove six hours just to get an orphaned kangaroo, now named Derv after her rescuer, into Jones' care

Derv | Tanya Jones

Jones' shelter is a solo operation, and cares for birds, reptiles and other Australian wildlife in addition to rescued kangaroo joeys.

Dodo Shows Soulmates Pig Loves To Launch Himself Onto His Dad's Lap

Rarda and Missy enjoying the morning sun | Tanya Jones

She said that most of the kangaroos currently in her care lost their mothers to hunters, who kill the mothers for their meat.

Rarda keeping warm in Jones' bed | Tanya Jones

"In the days of old, [members of the Aboriginal community] would only shoot the boys for food," Jones explained. "Now, it does not seem to matter to them anymore. It is so tragic."

Erin | Tanya Jones

Jones is currently playing mother to eight orphaned babies, all between 3 and 6 months old. Watching over every single one is a full-time job.

Baxter, Liana and Isabella | Tanya Jones

"I am with them constantly, 24/7, as this is what is required to make them feel safe and secure in their now-changed world," Jones said. Her days start at 5 a.m., and the joeys, depending on age, have to be fed every two to four hours. But Jones is a pro - after all, she's been running and funding her own shelter for 10 years now. "I have been looking after wildlife since I was a little girl," she said. "My mom got me into it at a young age, as she has always saved animals." The sweetest thing about Jones' rescued kangaroos is that they don't only thrive from the comfort she gives him, but also from each other's company as an adopted family.

Baxter, Liana, Isabella and Missy | Tanya Jones

Such was the case with Liana, a young kangaroo who arrived sick at Jones' shelter in early May. She grew stronger in the company of her fellow orphaned "sisters," Rarda and Isabella, and she slowly regained her health, as well as a hearty appetite.

Liana with Rarda and Isabella | Tanya Jones

And Isabella in particular took to Jacob, one of the male joeys, and loves adorning him with kisses.

Isabella giving Jacob a smooch | Tanya Jones

"All of the joeys get along and love each other very much," Jones said. "They take comfort from each other." Jones said she cares for each joey until they're about 2 years old before releasing them back into the wild. As much as Jones adores her "babies," she said, she fully understands that they'll only be able to live their best lives in the bush.

Tanya Jones

"The best part for me about caring for native Australian wildlife is setting them free," Jones said. "This is my greatest joy. Real love is free love, and free love is real love."
Gold held near its highest level in more than five weeks as risk aversion weighed on financial markets ahead of Britains vote on whether to leave the European Union, sending investors to haven assets. The sterling price of bullion traded near the highest close since 2013.

Bullion for immediate delivery was little changed at $1,286.30 (U.S.) an ounce by 2:32 p.m. in Singapore, according to Bloomberg generic pricing. The metal touched $1,289.97 on Tuesday, the highest intraday level since May 6, capping five straight days of gains. Prices have climbed 21 per cent this year.

Gold is benefiting from mounting investor concern before Britains June 23 referendum, which has sparked a slump in global stocks. The metal may hit $1,350 in the days and weeks following an exit vote, Georgette Boele, an analyst at ABN Amro Group NV, said in a report. Central bankers in the U.S. and Japan are meeting on monetary policy this week. Futures traders ruled out any chance of a rate hike when the Federal Reserve ends its meeting Wednesday, with odds of a December increase at less than 50 per cent.

Poll Angst

Gold has been stepping up on a combination of lower Fed hike odds and increased haven demand, Bernard Aw, a strategist at IG Asia Pte, said by email. Investors are becoming more fearful of Brexit risk as recent polls showed the Leave camp is commanding a lead, and the increased uncertainty is driving them to allocate more to safe haven assets, including gold.

Five polls put the Leave campaign ahead, and the Sun, Britains bestselling newspaper, backed a Brexit on its front page. Gold priced in sterling fell 0.4 per cent to 907.63 pounds ($1,286.43 U.S.) after touching 912.99 pounds Tuesday, the highest since August 2013. In China, bullion of 99.99 per cent purity climbed 0.6 per cent to 273.09 yuan a gram ($1,288.34 an ounce) on the Shanghai Gold Exchange. Holdings in gold-backed exchange-traded funds added 3.6 metric tons to 1,880.3 tons as of Tuesday, the highest since October 2013, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Theyve risen for an 11th straight day. Assets in silver ETFs have increased for 12 straight days and are just short of the record 20,182 tons set in October 2014. Spot silver is up 26 per cent this year. Palladium rose 1.2 per cent and platinum added 0.6 per cent.

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Among those who manage gobs of money, the possibility that Britain might actually disavow the European Union seemed until recently like a remote and even outlandish possibility.

But about a week before voters go to the polls to determine their future, masters of finance are suddenly absorbing the prospect that Britain might really walk, unleashing anxiety and uncertainty throughout the global economy.

Like local responders readying sandbags as a hurricane menaces their shores, financial industry overseers have been quietly drawing up contingency plans while surveying the expensive havoc a Brexit is already wreaking. Central bankers from London to Washington have been monitoring the tempest while making preparations to unleash credit should markets seize with fear.

As investors digest the possibility that the largest marketplace on earth may be days away from a messy alteration, they have been yanking money out of riskier storehouses like stocks and putting it into safer instruments like bonds. The British pound and London stocks have been falling in frenzied trading.

The conversation is now focused on managing the risks of Brexit. The trouble is that the worries are so diffuse and rife with unknowns that any attack plan amounts to an exercise in guesswork and hope.

Executives, bankers and bureaucrats are grappling with something that could be minor or momentous and has never happened before.

Maybe the Brexit  for British exit  would merely lop value from the pound before traders turned their attention to a more consequential plot twist elsewhere. Perhaps it would inspire separatist movements from Scotland to Spain, embolden anti-trade populists across the continent and reinvigorate existential questions gnawing at the common euro currency. That could sow fear across world markets.

A Brexit might spook investors into entrusting their money only to the safest repositories like U.S. Treasuries. That could strengthen the U.S. dollar and weaken U.S. exports, while starving riskier emerging markets of investment.

Whatever stories policy-makers and businesspeople tell themselves, the only certainty is a surplus of uncertainty. Whatever provisional plans they sketch, they will find themselves mostly just wishing that nothing terrible happens.

On the financial markets, there is nothing they can do; it will just hit them, said Adam S. Posen, a former member of the rate-setting committee at the Bank of England and now president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. If my house is going to catch on fire, I can plan to have some water on hand, but theres only so much you can do.

If you run a central bank, water comes in the form of liquidity. Most experts assume the Bank of England and its counterparts have readied plans to lend to financial institutions that could face cash shortages.

In recent days, European Central Bank officials have signalled readiness to inject money into the financial sphere.

Much of the business world once shrugged off the Brexit vote as noisy political theatre that would eventually be muted by economic common sense. But recent polls have showed the leave camp slightly ahead.

That kind of threw the cat among the pigeons and panicked everyone, said Jeremy Cook, chief economist at World First, a London company that manages foreign exchange for multinationals. Weve seen a pickup in client hedging.

A company that, say, imports goods from China to sell in Britain fears that the pound is about to drop, making those Chinese goods more expensive. So it buys contracts that essentially lock in todays exchange rate for the future.

The most nettlesome variable may be trade. Britain sells nearly half its exports within the European Union. Multinational corporations have set up headquarters in Britain, using those bases to serve customers across the Continent.

Those campaigning for a Brexit assure that a vote to leave would change nothing right away. Britain would remain a fully fledged member of Europes marketplace for two years as it negotiated a new arrangement with the 27 remaining members of the union.

But if Britain failed to secure a deal, commerce with Europe could be governed by the terms of the World Trade Organization, which gives member nations the authority to impose potentially steep tariffs on imports.

Those urging a Brexit insist Britain can negotiate a tailor-made deal. Many economists describe that notion as somewhere between fanciful and delusional. Eager to discourage other members from considering an exit, Europe would seek to ensure that Britain paid a price.

If Britain dumps Europe, they are not going to say, Well, OK, heres a good deal, said Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, an independent research institution in London.

As the referendum approaches, financiers are now consumed by a jigsaw puzzle of diabolical complexity: They are mapping out what assets they hold and where, seeking to anticipate what jurisdictions and rules might apply post-Brexit.

In the end, contingency plans may be devised more as salves for frayed nerves than bona fide operational blueprints.

All plans will be subject to change.

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GREENSBORO, N.C.In his first campaign rally since the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Donald Trump again attempted to portray himself as a better friend of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans than Hillary Clinton, in part because of his opposition to immigration from Middle Eastern countries.

We want to live in a country where gay and lesbian Americans and all Americans are safe from radical Islam, Trump said, which, by the way, wants to murder and has murdered gays and they enslave women.

As he did Monday, Trump claimed Clintons immigration policies would open the floodgates to jihadis, pointing to her plan to increase the number of Syrian refugees admitted to the country by 550 per cent over President Barack Obamas plan.

We dont know who they are, where theyre coming from, theres no documentation, Trump said. (Clintons plan does call for more refugees from Syria, but also intense vetting processes, of which one is already in place.)

Crooked Hillary wants to increase these immigration numbers very, very substantially, he said. Shes no friend of women. And shes no friend of LGBT Americans. No friend, believe me.

Trump has been seen as more liberal on gay rights than many Republican leaders, though he says he opposes same-sex marriage. But his particular emphasis on LGBT communities and calls to embrace them  even shrouded in caustic comments toward Middle Eastern immigrants  was notable here in North Carolina, which is the epicentre of the debate over transgender access to public bathrooms.

Trump said in April that transgender people should use the bathroom they feel is appropriate, but later said the issue should be left up to the states.

Later during Tuesdays rally, Trump recalled a story accusing soldiers of skimming money in Iraq, also notable in North Carolina, a state home to Fort Bragg.

Iraq, crooked as hell, Trump said, at the tail end of remarks about the Islamic State controlling some of the highest grades of oil in the world. How about bringing baskets of money, millions and millions of dollars and handing it out. I want to know who are the soldiers that had that job because I think theyre living very well right now, whoever they may be.

His campaign said he was referring to Iraqi soldiers, although previous reports had found that some U.S. soldiers were convicted of bribery and fraud. It was an accusation Trump, who has made support for veterans a key part of his campaign, has levied before, but never as the presumptive Republican nominee.

But as he sought to shore up support in the wake of the tragedy in Orlando, Trump continually emphasized his anti-immigration proposals.

Every year we bring in more than 100,000 lifetime immigrants from the Middle East, and many more from Muslim countries outside of the Middle East, he said. A number of these immigrants have hostile attitudes.

He said that his stand was a major reason for the support he has received.

Weve admitted four times more immigrants than any other country in the world, Trump said. We cant do this. Not surprisingly, wages for people working in our country, real wages, real numbers, havent increased for 18 years.

He added: And then they wonder why I have packed houses all over the place.

Those in the crowd were mixed on Trumps plan on immigration. Nancy Alford, 51, from Greensboro, said that it was a very sensitive issue but that she wanted everyone to be treated and vetted equally.

Others thought Trump didnt go far enough.

They need to round them up and let them get out of the country, said Lance Shafley, 61, of Liberty, N.C. This country is at war against ISIS and the hostile Muslims.

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There arent many travel destinations on the planet more popular than Peru right now. Its one of the most visually stunning places on the planet, with natural beauty all around, and it delivers some of the best views in the world. Here are a few of my favourite destinations.

Huacachina oasis:

Many people associate Peru with mountains and greenery, but a massive portion of the country is extremely dry desert. The highest sand dunes on the planet are in Peru near the city of Nazca. Also near Nazca is the oasis town of Huacachina. This quiet village, surrounding an equally small body of water, is tucked within impressive dunes. For me, one of the best places in the world to watch the sun setting is from atop one of the dunes, looking down at the cool little town at the heart of it all.

Lake Titicaca:

The centre of folklore in the Andes of South America, Lake Titicaca is more than just storied  it is absolutely beautiful. At 3,812 metres above sea level, Lake Titicaca takes your breath away, both physically and figuratively. And beyond its altitude, size  its also the largest lake in all of South America  and history, its the visuals here that will leave you wanting more. The interesting characters on Amantani Island, the views from the top of Taquile Island, the amazing craftsmanship of the Uros people who live on islands made of reeds  its just all kinds of incredible.

The Altiplano:

One of the most amazing things about Peru is the diversity of the landscapes. One minute youre at the coast, the next the desert, and then soon, youre cruising along flat bits of prairie that look more like Saskatchewan than what youd imagine from Peru. And like the edge of the prairies in Eastern Alberta, there are even badlands-like regions and impressive raw canyons that seem to fall away out of nowhere. The difference, however, is that much of the Peruvian Altiplano is situated over 4,000 metres above sea level.

The Colca Canyon:

Surrounded by both the Altiplano and some of the worlds highest volcanoes, the Colca Canyon is certainly no slouch in either the views or the record books. In fact, up until fairly recently, many people thought the Colca Canyon was the deepest in the world. However, it has been found that the Colca Canyon isnt even the deepest in Peru, with the parallel Cotahuasi Canyon now carrying that title. Still, at over 3,400 metres in the deepest section, the Colca Canyon is almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and an absolute marvel to see. Moreover, this is the best place in the world to see the worlds largest flying bird, the Andean Condor, which can be spotted here.

Machu Picchu:

You didnt think that there would be a list of the best views in Peru without Machu Picchu, did you? Of course, this is a wonder. And, Id be hard pressed to think of many other places in the world Id rather sit and enjoy the view. In the morning, mist often hangs over the ruins and surrounding mountains, leaving it hidden away. But then, as the sun starts to warm the scene, the fog lifts and dramatically reveals the beauty of Machu Picchu. Its one of those places where you could sit for an entire morning and never bore, taking the same photo over and over again.

Brendan van Son is a Canadian digital nomad.

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Gov. Scott Walker is blocking the state Department of Public Instruction from seeking outside counsel in a lawsuit filed in federal court  a move that comes after the state Department of Justice dropped the education agency as a client in the suit.

DOJ attorneys at the end of May dropped their representation of state Superintendent Tony Evers in a lawsuit brought by a private religious school and the parents of students there against a Washington County school district and DPI over a decision to refuse to provide the students transportation to the school.

DPI subsequently asked Walkers office to allow the agency to seek outside counsel, but that request was denied, Walker spokesman Tom Evenson said late Wednesday.

At issue is how DPI officials determine the religious denomination of a private school in applying a state law that requires public school districts to provide transportation for private school students. The law only requires districts to offer free transportation to one private school per religious denomination in a given attendance area.

DPI attorneys were relying on DOJ attorneys because the lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, in which DPI attorneys initially were not allowed to argue cases, according to DPI spokesman Tom McCarthy. One DPI lawyer has since been qualified in the district, he said.

McCarthy said he was not aware of the governors decision until the Wisconsin State Journal notified him late Wednesday.

Evers in an interview Tuesday said DOJ lawyers dropped his agency as a client with little explanation. DOJ lawyers withdrew from the case on May 31. It was originally filed in Washington County Circuit Court on April 12, and later moved to federal court.

I think this is the first time in my history that the attorney general decided not to support us in a case, said Evers. When the former attorney general (J.B. Van Hollen) was here, I know he took cases that politically didnt work well for him, but he always took them, he always represented us. This kind of treatment is beyond the pale, frankly.

Van Hollen and Attorney General Brad Schimel are Republicans. Evers holds an officially nonpartisan office, but is backed by Democrats.

DOJ spokesman Johnny Koremenos said Tuesday state attorneys are not representing DPI because the DOJ believes that DPI does not have a legally defensible position in the case.

Evenson said late Wednesday. Walkers office denied DPIs request for outside counsel following DOJs decision to deny representation.

Koremenos said last week that based on the agencys legal analysis of DPIs position in the lawsuit, DOJ believes different representation was appropriate.

Koremenos denied a State Journal request for DOJs legal analysis, saying conversations between DOJ and DPI are protected under attorney-client privilege.

Evers said his agency is always in litigation, and is concerned the decision to not represent the agency may begin a trend.

Former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager, a Democrat, said DOJ choosing not to represent a state agency in a lawsuit happens occasionally, at most, but only when the AG either believes the agencys action or challenged statute to be unconstitutional  that no case can be made in defense  or when there is a legitimate conflict of interest, which is very rare.

St. Augustine School in Hartford and parents of students who attend the school are suing DPI and the Freiss Lake School District.

The parents, who are represented by conservative legal group Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, allege in their suit that the Freiss Lake School District and DPI are denying the parents First Amendment rights and are violating their right to exercise religion by not providing transportation for their children to school.

State law requires public school districts to provide transportation to private school students, but only to one school per religious denomination in an attendance area.

Friess Lake school officials denied the children transportation because they live in the attendance area of another Catholic school that already receives state transportation, and is affiliated with the Milwaukee Roman Catholic Archdiocese. Under state law, a school district isnt obligated to provide transportation to children who attend a school within the same attendance area as another school of the same religious denomination.

After the parents appealed to DPI to challenge the districts decision, DPI sided with the school district in March.

CJ Szafir, an attorney representing the parents, said based on a former Supreme Court decision, the law requires the DPI to only look at a schools articles of incorporation to determine a schools affiliation. Those articles describe the school as a private school governed independently of any denomination. He said its against the law for DPI to define Catholic because the articles of incorporation do not describe the school that way.

This case will come down to what kind of inquiry the government can use to determine whether two private schools are affiliated with one another, said Szafir.

The schools website offers a more precise description of the school  an independent and private traditional Roman Catholic School.

DPI contends the same Supreme Court decision does not prohibit DPI or the school from looking beyond the articles of incorporation to determine whether attendance area of schools within the same religious denomination overlap.

In essence, legal precedent asks DPI in these situations to determine whether a school is Catholic, Lutheran or based in other religions, which is what the department did, said McCarthy.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that a Department of Public Instruction lawyer has qualified to work in the Eastern District of federal court.
VANCOUVERSimon Fraser University says it acted swiftly on sexual-assault allegations against a male student, but a professor is accusing the school of mishandling the case and causing two young women to drop out.

Officials at the Vancouver-area university said Tuesday that RCMP are investigating after three allegations of sexual assault were made last semester by three female students against a male student.

Jon Driver, vice-president of academic and provost, said the male student who is the subject of the allegations is not on campus, but he did not say if he was suspended or expelled.

As soon as university personnel became aware of these allegations, the university took action to support the students concerned without interfering with the police investigation, he said in a statement.

In addition, both the RCMP and the university conducted safety assessments. Measures were taken to ensure the safety of the campus community.

But Marjorie Griffin Cohen, a professor emeritus of political science and gender, sexuality and womens studies, said not nearly enough was done.

She said she knows one of the complainants. The young woman reported her alleged assault to campus security and police, but the university did not remove the male student from campus at that time, said Cohen.

Everywhere she went, she was seeing him, which was quite terrifying to her, Cohen said.

Later, Cohen learned that another young woman had earlier reported being sexually assaulted by the same student. That woman dropped out of university, Cohen said.

After the second complaint, she said representatives of the faculty association, its equity committee and a group of female professors called Academic Women met with senior administration to discuss the issue and were told they had determined the male student was not a problem.

A meeting was subsequently held with the complainants mother and some of her friends, and the university ultimately moved the male student to another residence, Cohen said.

The young woman dropped out of university as well, Cohen said. The professor is calling on the university to do something to restore the two complainants academic years.

She also said recent legislation passed by the B.C. government doesnt go far enough. The law requires universities to develop policies to prevent and respond to sexual assaults, but doesnt stipulate what those policies should look like.

Cohen said universities should be under similar legislation to that of employers, who have been mandated by the Supreme Court of Canada since 1985 to protect their employees from sexual harassment and abuse.

I think that kind of compulsion has to be put on universities. These are very young girls, she said. This is horrific.

Kurt Heinrich, director of university communications, said he could not comment on Cohens allegations. He said privacy legislation and the ongoing RCMP investigation prevent the university from discussing specifics of the cases.

Driver said in the statement the universitys priority was to protect the safety and privacy of students, and as a result of these concerns, he was limited in his ability to address the specifics of the cases.

Sgt. Derek Thibodeau confirmed the RCMP are investigating the allegations of sexual assault at the school and encouraged the public to contact police with any information.

In any investigation of this nature the Burnaby RCMP would look at partner police agencies to determine if there are any connections to other crimes, he said in a statement.

Thibodeau said RCMP have no information to suggest that the alleged assaults were committed randomly by a stranger.

Leah Horlick, co-ordinator of the SFU Womens Centre operated by the universitys student society, said questions are being raised about the schools handling of the case.

I think what all young people and survivors are seeing right now is that they have no reason to trust the university, and unfortunately I think thats what weve had confirmed through this case.

Simon Fraser is developing a stand-alone sexual assault policy to comply with the new B.C. law, and Horlick said she hopes the policy makes the consequences for sexual violence clear.

Its my hope that that stand-alone policy will require the university community to acknowledge the gravity of sexual assault on our campuses, she said.

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OAKLAND, CALIF.Police were searching for suspects Wednesday after gunfire erupted in downtown Oakland near a vigil for two drowning victims, leaving a 17-year-old girl dead and sending mourners and pedestrians running for cover.

Three other people ranging from their mid-teens to early 20s were treated at a hospital and released after the shooting Tuesday evening, police said. Regginna Jefferies, 17, whom police initially said was 16, died at a hospital.

White-clad mourners had gathered to remember two teenage boys who drowned over Memorial Day weekend at a reservoir in Stanislaus County, media outlets reported.

Witnesses told investigators that several suspects opened fire toward the group, police said in a statement. It was not known if the shooting was connected to the memorial, and police did not release suspect descriptions.

Samantha Youngman said she heard the gunshots from her 13th-floor office and wondered if they could be firecrackers. She raced to the window, looked out and saw people running. Five or six people were racing down and across the street, stopping traffic. They were dressed all in white, so she didnt think it was gang-related.

From her ninth floor office nearby, Diana Haven said she heard what she thought were firecrackers and then screaming. The scene on the street below was chaotic and loud, she said.

Im sad, Im really sad, because Oakland downtown is safe, Haven said. I really enjoy and love the city, and it just makes me sad.

It was the 24th homicide in Oakland this year, according to the police departments latest statistics. Police reported 93 homicides last year and 86 in 2014.

The shooting came after an attack early Sunday at a gay nightclub in Florida left 49 people dead.

The really scary thing, coming on the heels of the shooting in Orlando, you wonder is it gang-related or is it a crazy gunman, Mason Stone, who was walking when he heard the gunshots and ducked behind a car, told The San Francisco Chronicle. I guess you figure sooner or later if you live in a city like that you ... realize anything can happen at any time.

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As authorities investigate the carnage unleashed by an American-born Muslim in a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, the horror of the attack is being felt particularly keenly by LGBT Muslims.

For some who identify with both Islam and the LGBT community, the attack and its aftermath appears to have underscored the confluence of homophobia and Islamophobia.

The fact that this was perpetrated by someone with a Muslim name, that Islam is drawn into it and considering the stigmatization and marginalization of Muslims in America, in media and certain political spheres . . . it leaves LGBTIQ Muslims sometimes in a precarious place, said El-Farouk Khaki, a gay activist and co-founder of the Toronto Unity Mosque.

Khakis mosque, which welcomes people of all sexualities, plans to hold prayers Friday for the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting, but the location of the service is not posted publicly to ensure the physical and spiritual safety of the congregation, he said.

Anyone wishing to attend can email the mosque ahead of time or go along with a member of the congregation, Khaki said.

We know that a lot of people are not very friendly to us and so we need to be aware of that.

A motive has yet to be established in the Florida attack by Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old son of Afghan immigrants who was also said to have been a regular at the club where he opened fire.

Forty-nine people died in the shooting that took place early Sunday, and dozens more were wounded.

As the victims were mourned in the U.S., Canada and around the world, Khaki said he also noticed a negative backlash in some quarters.

Ive seen a real outpouring of solidarity and love from the larger LGBTIQ community, but Ive also seen the opposite, he said. Its very hateful towards Muslims.

Such a tragedy, Khaki said, highlights some of the difficulties faced by LGBT Muslims.

Theres this notion that Islam is a monolith and Muslims are a monolith and theres no such thing as a LGBTIQ Muslim. So sometimes we are made invisible, he said. Were invisible in the larger LGBT community, were invisible in the Muslim community.

For Rasheed, a Syrian refugee who recently came to Canada after being threatened due to his sexuality, the Orlando attack sparked fear of further persecution.

I felt very bad and I was really afraid at the beginning, said the Toronto resident who asked to be identified only by his first name fearing for the safety of his family back in Syria. I was afraid of people, how they would react. Some ignorant people will just generalize and think all Muslims are like this.

Rasheed attended a vigil for the victims of the shooting with Lebanese friends who are also part of the LGBT community. He said the show of support he witnessed, particularly the recitation of certain prayers from the Quran for victims of the shooting, made him feel better.

It was just to show how everybody is sympathizing with whats happening.

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OTTAWARomanias visiting prime minister says Justin Trudeau has offered political support for his countrys proposal to host a NATO brigade that would help deter Russian aggression along Europes southeastern border.

Dacian Ciolos and his Canadian counterpart didnt discuss specific troop numbers during their meeting Wednesday in Ottawa, but he did say he got a positive reception for his plan for a Romanian-led multinational brigade.

I was very happy to discuss this and to have a political commitment from Prime Minister Trudeau to be proactively present in this project, Ciolos said in an interview Wednesday.

I also asked for a Canadian presence in this proposal.

Details of the proposed Romanian-led unit emerged this week at the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, setting the table for the July leaders summit in Warsaw that Trudeau is expected to attend. The brigades strength is estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000 troops.

NATO foreign ministers agreed to bolster its defences against Russia by deploying four multinational battalions to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. They also approved an expanded package of assistance for Ukraine to help strengthen its defence and security forces, and its ability to fight a so-called hybrid war against Russia.

Trudeaus office had no immediate comment on the Romanian proposal, while military officials in Ottawa were non-committal, saying they were actively considering options for a Canadian contribution to the battalions for the three Baltic countries and Poland on NATOs northeastern flank.

Ciolos said the Romanian-based deployment is needed to shore up NATOs southeastern flank with Russia.

Even if Romania does not have a direct border with Russia, when we look at the current situation, all the conflict provoked these last years were in southeastern part, around the Black Sea, and the not the northeastern part.

Romania is also proposing naval exercises in the Black Sea, and we already have a commitment of Bulgaria and Turkey to work together, said Ciolos.

Ciolos said the military build-up is a necessary deterrent to Russian moves in the region, but he said it is not intended to be provocative.

Ukraines ambassador to Canada offered a much less diplomatic assessment of the threat posed by Russia.

Envoy Andriy Shevchenko accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of laying a propaganda foundation to wage a broader war against the West  one he warns will be far more serious than Russias aggression against his own country.

Shevchenko said Russia is waging a hybrid war that involves undermining the sovereignty of various countries through an information war, and financing radical and nationalist parties in Europe, which can be destabilizing.

To the free world, its important to understand that through the propaganda machine, through other actions, Russia is preparing itself for a major war against the West and against the free world, with a possible front line from Syria to the Arctic, Shevchenko said in an interview.

It is in Canadas interest to make sure that Russia plays under international rules. Russia is your neighbour, just like ours.

The Ukraine conflict may not be dominating headlines as it once did, but Shevchenko said it is still simmering, with clashes claiming lives regularly and attacks on the infrastructure of OSCE monitors who are trying to enforce a shaky ceasefire.

The ceasefire is being violated again and again, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday.

This of great concern because  there are also many casualties. Ukrainian soldiers have lost their lives and this is just underlining the dangers and also the instability related to the situation in Eastern Ukraine.

Canada has already deployed about 200 military trainers to Ukraine, and supplied protective equipment and other non-lethal aid to help its ally cope with the ongoing threat from Russia. It also has sent 200 Canadian Forces personnel to Poland to participate in the NATO reassurance mission for Eastern Europe.

Shevchenko said the new Liberal government remains a steadfast ally and supporter of his country, and theres an opportunity for Canada to play a larger role in helping find a solution to the two-year-old Russian annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and Moscows ongoing backing of separatist rebels in his countrys east.

Were dealing with a regime that is obsessed with challenging the West, he said. Through their propaganda machine, theyre making sure their whole nation is supportive of that.

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Warning: contains graphic language and descriptions.

Three Toronto police officers are accused of sexually assaulting a female colleague in a downtown hotel room while she was too intoxicated to consent and slipping in and out of consciousness, according to new details in a court document released Tuesday.

The statements of the complainant and others to investigators are summarized in a September 2015 police document used to obtain warrants for DNA samples of the three officers, known as an Information to Obtain (ITO). None of the allegations in the ITO has been proven in court.

The ITO was placed under a temporary publication ban that was lifted Tuesday by Superior Court Justice Faye McWatt.

Leslie Nyznik, Sameer Kara and Joshua Cabero, all officers at 51 Division, were charged with sexual assault and gang sexual assault on Feb. 19, 2015. They will be pleading not guilty, according to their lawyers.

The DNA samples of two men were found in the processing of a rape kit, according to the ITO. The warrants were obtained after the officers declined to provide voluntary DNA samples. The results of the DNA analysis cannot be reported due to a publication ban.

The following account of the night is based on allegations in the ITO:

The complainant, a parking officer whose identity is protected by a publication ban, and another female parking officer were invited to a rookie night on Jan. 16, 2015. The complainant said Kara was the one who invited her and told her a hotel room had been rented for the night so no one would have to drink and drive.

There were eight or 10 officers present when the complainant arrived at a downtown bar at 9:30 p.m.  deliberately late to avoid any pre-drinking, she said. She knew only the three accused officers  in particular Kara, who met her outside the bar and bought her a rum and coke.

She told investigators she spent most of her time socializing with Kara and at one point they kissed while ordering tequila shots. Kara said he couldnt drink his shot, and went outside to throw up. Another 51 Division officer took Kara to the hotel room that had been booked.

The complainant told Nyznik and Cabero that Kara was ill and had gone to the hotel. She said she told them they would have to take care of her, meaning she was the only woman at the party and they needed to protect her. She said she felt comfortable with them.

After they went to the last bar, the Brass Rail strip club, the complainant, Cabero and Nyznik got into a cab to go to the Westin Harbour Castle hotel to get Kara and continue to other bars, she said.

At this point, she said, she had really begun to feel the effects of the alcohol, and from then on her memory becomes hazy.

She recalls going into the hotel room, taking off her jacket and trying to wake up Kara. The next thing she remembers is being on her back and Nyznik holding her head to make her perform oral sex, the ITO states. She was unable to move, she said.

At one point, she believes, Cabero switched with Nyznik.

She doesnt remember her boots being taken off, but vaguely remembers her jeans being removed.

As one of the men penetrated her, she said, she heard Kara say: Josh, stop she is out.

The penetration stopped after a little bit more coaxing from Kara, she said.

She next recalls Kara talking to her, asking her to wake up and kiss him. She remembers being penetrated a second time.

She does not recall anal penetration but said the nurse who performed her rape kit had said it was a possibility. She recalled one of the men saying should I f--- her in the ass.

When she woke up she was in a bed with Kara. She believes the other two officers were in the other bed. She gathered up her clothes and quickly left the hotel room and took a taxi home, where she was physically ill and passed out on the bathroom floor.

When she woke up she called a friend and told her what had happened, that she could not have consented and would not have consented to have sex with multiple people. She told investigators she had been drunk before, but had never felt unable to move or speak or had a similar loss of memory.

The complainant was hesitant to report the sexual assault  concerned both that the men were police officers and that they worked for the same employer  but went to the hospital with a friend and had a rape kit performed. She reported the sexual assault to police on Jan. 26, 2015, when, after calling in sick for four days, she went to work and had a panic attack.

The parking enforcement officer who introduced the complainant to the three officers told investigators the complainant told her she had been raped.

Nyznik and Kara both asked the officer if shed heard from the complainant and said everything that happened was consensual, she told police.

She said they told her Kara and Cabero had sex with the complainant using condoms and Nyznik had received oral sex. Throughout, they kept asking the complainant if she was OK and said they would stop if she wanted them to, the officer said they told her.

They told her the complainant had been coming on to them the whole night, the officer said.

They said they would apologize if the complainant thought shed been taken advantage of because they did not want there to be any hard feelings and they could not believe the encounter had snowballed, the officer said.

One of the officers present at the bar-hopping that night gave two statements to police. In the second, he said Nyznik may have said something to Cabero to the effect that the complainant wanted to have sex with the two of them.

All women want these two guys, the officer proffered. He did not hear the complainant say she wanted to have sex with either of the men.

A bartender at the second bar, who is also an ex-girlfriend of Nyznik, told investigators the complainant was extremely drunk  a disaster. At the same bar, another officer heard her say: Im too drunk, Im buzzed.

A publication ban on the ITO containing these details, requested by the defence, was denied after a challenge by the Star and other media outlets.

A preliminary hearing remains scheduled for July, though the Crown has requested a direct indictment to allow the case to proceed directly to trial.

The three officers were released on bail.

Alyshah Hasham can be reached at ahasham@thestar.ca

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The detection of an alarming amount of toxic emissions in a recent test has councillors and staff in Durham Region calling for more frequent testing of the controversial Clarington incinerator.

Among those pushing for more vigilance is the regions chief medical officer of health, who told staff in an email obtained by the Star that the sustained excessive emissions of dioxins and furans are a potential human health hazard, primarily by entering the food chain.

Last month, Covanta, the company running the $289-million Durham York Energy Centre in Clarington, reported to the region that emissions from one of the two boilers at the plant exceeded the limits set by the Ministry of Environment for dioxins and furans by almost 12 times. Dioxins and furans are toxic byproducts that can result from burning waste.

The test triggered the process of informing the region and the ministry, said Paul Gilman, chief sustainability officer for Covanta. We also decided to (shut) the unit down and start analyzing what had caused that exceedance during the test.

Last week, Covanta provided both the region and the province with a detailed plan to determine the root cause of the toxic emissions and prevent it from happening again.

Mirka Januszkiewicz, director of waste management, said the region is waiting for Environmental Ministry approval of the plan.

While Covanta has been conducting a thorough investigation of the equipment, it wont be able to draw any conclusions about the root of the problem . . . until the boiler is back up, she said.

Januszkiewicz said modelling of how the emissions disperse in the air showed there was no risk to humans. We are very confident that . . . there was no impact to human health, she said.

But in an email discussion between staff and Dr. Robert Kyle, the chief medical officer of health, Kyle called the test results alarming and expressed concern that the risk to humans was not through inhalation but through ingestion of dioxins and furans.

With respect to human health, although the modelling results are reassuring, the main human health pathway of concern is ingestion, not inhalation, said Kyle. To this end, it is important for the local food chain to be protected by lowering dioxin and furan stack emissions and more frequent independent stack testing.

A test of emissions last fall yielded similar results. At the time, both Covanta and the ministry said there was interference that led to the skewed results. The ministry accepted a retest in its place.

Januszkiewicz said that, this time around, the sample was tested in a different lab and the region had a peer reviewer check the test to give us additional comfort that it was done properly.

Earlier this year, York and Durham regions issued a certificate of acceptance that gave Covanta approval to operate the incinerator commercially and process up to 140,000 tonnes of household waste each year.

Clarington Councillor Joe Neal said his community is largely rural, and many fruit and vegetable farms are in the vicinity of the incinerator. I dont think the things should have been approved in the first place, given these outstanding concerns, he said.

Linda Gasser, a Durham resident and long-time critic of the incinerator, said this test captures only a moment in time and may not provide a complete picture. We dont know the duration of this exceedance, and we dont know how much has been emitted over the last six or seven months, Gasser said.

The region said other testing, such as ambient air monitoring, continues to check emissions.

Januszkiewicz said her objective now is to regain confidence of the public.

I will be recommending more dioxins and furans testing, she said. But I am not the regulator, the Ministry of Environment is . . . and they are of the opinion that one test a year is meeting the regulatory requirement. The region conducts one additional test, but had planned to do so only for the next three years. Clarington councillors want that period extended.

The Environment Ministry didnt respond to questions from the Star.

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The Peel police board, signaling again that its new members want radical change, has called for an independent audit of the forces diversity and equity practices following Tuesdays blistering critique of Chief Jennifer Evans by a local anti-discrimination group.

We feel that Peel police has to acknowledge that there is racism before theyre willing to do anything about it, Ranjit Khatkur, chair of the Peel Coalition Against Racialized Discrimination (P-CARD), told the board during her delegation at its meeting.

She said her groups report outlining numerous examples of misconduct and inequity in the force was meant to highlight the lack of faith in the Peel chiefs leadership She (Evans) has failed us.

Khatkurs searing 10-minute speech cited Evans refusal last year to suspend carding despite the boards request that she do so and characterized Evans efforts to address complaints about inequity as lip service that only added to the communitys mounting frustration.

The chief, asked by the board if she would like to respond, appeared shocked and replied: No, Ive actually got no comments.

But while Evans sat silently, Amrik Ahluwalia, who was elected chair of the board in a February vote, quickly jumped to her defence.

I have had the privilege of working with the chief for the last four or five months, he stated. I have a lot of trust and faith in Chief Jennifer Evans.

Despite the supportive words, ultimately Ahluwalia, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and other board members present agreed with Khatkurs recommendation to conduct an independent, third-party audit to examine the forces hiring and promotion practices, as well as gender and sexual harassment issues and its entire equity performance.

With the strength of support from a diverse range of community groups across the GTA, such as the Association of Black Law Enforcers, the Law Union of Ontario, Black Lives Matter and the South Asian Lawyers Association, we are all coming together, Khatkur said after the meeting.

P-CARD and all these other groups do not have anything against the police personally or senior officers such as Chief Evans. But when the data and the evidence, provided largely by the Star, is so overwhelming, we have to force them to act. Theyre just not doing it on their own.

In September, the Star reported on its analysis of five years of data, obtained through freedom of information laws, which showed that black residents of Brampton and Mississauga were three times more likely to be carded by Peel police than white residents.

In October, more data obtained by the Star showed that while 60 per cent of the cities population were visible minorities in 2010, only 13 per cent of the forces uniform officers were visible minorities. And at the time, only five per cent of senior officers were visible minorities.

The Star subsequently reported that 60 Peel officers had been disciplined for serious misconduct since 2010, including sexual harassment, and that about 30 per cent of the force  640 officers  had been disciplined over a five-year period for less serious misconduct.

In her presentation, Khatkur highlighted what she described as Evans refusal to co-operate in releasing the information.

She said officers have approached her group to complain about "nepotism and cronyism" in the force's hiring and promotions practices.

A case before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal is dealing with a systemic racism allegation against Peel police and the board prior to its current leadership. Staff Sgt. B.J. Sandhu, of South Asian heritage, alleges he was denied promotion because of an institutionalized culture of discrimination within the force.

The force has denied the allegations. A decision in the case is expected this summer.

Crombie said an independent audit will help the board get a clearer picture of how the force operates. She said she wants to ensure officers charged with misconduct arent promoted ahead of those with clean records.

Peel police are reporting that they are undertaking a number of measures with respect to diversity and equity within the force, Crombie, who led the motion for the independent audit, told the Star later.

While I respect their efforts, it is our job as Peel Police Services Board members to ensure that these measures are having the desired effect Weve heard from some in the community, including P-CARD, that they do not feel their voice is being heard within Peel Police and that these programs may not be having the desired effect.

Ahluwalia promised a change in direction after he became chair, and in April the board fired its longtime executive director, Fred Biro, a close ally of Evans who supported her pro-carding stance.

The community has lost faith in the chief, said La Tanya Grant, who works with Black Lives Matter and attended the meeting. The police are like a band of brothers; thats no secret. If we want to really find out why black and brown people arent being hired or promoted by Peel police and why so many in the community feel routinely discriminated against and targeted by Peel police, how can we ask the police department to review themselves?

Grant said she will ask the board to probe, through the audit, why the force appears to hire so many people who live outside Brampton in places such as Barrie.

Almost three-quarters of Brampton are visible minorities. They cant get jobs with Peel police. We need people who reflect and understand the community.

Grant said she would even consider applying, if the force makes a commitment to really work with the community.

This independent audit is what we really need to really get some changes.

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Jean-Yves Duclos was used to running his own show as director of the economics department for Laval University in Quebec City.

But since accepting Justin Trudeaus invitation to run for the Liberals last year and his appointment to cabinet as minister for families, children and social development, the renowned economist and co-founder of the Poverty and Economic Policy Research Network has embraced teamwork.

Duclos knows he will need all the help he can get to fulfill an ambitious mandate handed to him by Trudeau, including introducing the child benefit, delivering a national child-care framework and crafting national strategies on affordable housing and poverty reduction.

In a wide-ranging interview before the introduction of the Canada Child Benefit on July 1, the 51-year-old father of three, spoke to the Star about the challenges ahead and some of the surprises that have come with the job.

What has the transition from academics to politics been like?

It has been a great privilege. At the university, most people work alone. But in government it is all about teamwork. I have a great appreciation of the incredible commitment and ability of the public servants I work with. They are incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable and committed to the work they do. Its very humbling.

There was no mention of Ottawas poverty-reduction strategy in the budget. What is happening on that score?

We have started work. All the provinces and territories already have poverty-reduction strategies except British Columbia. A large number of municipalities also have strategies. For a national poverty-reduction strategy, we want to take advantage of the work that has already been done. My department acts on many fronts in terms of poverty reduction. The Canada Child Benefit, housing, homelessness, Old Age Security, the social transfer and grants . . . We want to make sure this is complementary and not adversely affecting the efforts of our partners. We are still in the listening mode.

When will you be ready to act?

To be honest, my biggest priority now is the child-care and early-learning framework and a national housing strategy. Those two things will form the ingredients to the broader poverty-reduction strategy.

Child care is a huge issue for Toronto parents. Wait lists for licensed care are long. And many pay monthly fees as high as mortgages or rent. What are you going to do about this?

It is a common concern for all Canadians. Provinces want to be partners. They dont want to be told what to do. They also said they are very happy that Ottawa is back and there to assist them. We are going to use fairly limited dollars. We are going to invest $500 million next year in 2017-18. Thats a drop in the ocean. In Quebec they spend $2 billion for their $7-a-day program. And another $2 billion for the child-care tax credit. So overall as we see very clearly, $500 million for the federal government is modest. Flexibility, innovation, inclusiveness and quality will be a key. We want to have the greatest impact for the resources. We will be looking for demonstrations on how such investments will have an impact on our society.

Do you think Canada will ever have a universally available, affordable, quality child-care system?

Well see. We are at the very beginning. Sometimes were surprised.

You have children, how old are they?

They are too old to go to child-care services, 12, 15 and 18. But all three were in child care. My eldest just missed the beginning of (Quebecs) $5-a-day system so we have seen both the before and after.

What work is being done on the national housing strategy?

I have a meeting with provincial and territorial counterparts on June 28 in Victoria. We hope at that time to be able to make an announcement to say how we are going to engage over the next few months. We hope to have the strategy by the end of 2016. People are ready. They are both ready and willing to contribute.

What skill has helped you the most since you entered politics?

The ability to listen. If someone wants to do something useful in politics he or she has to be a very good listener. Regardless of ambition, intelligence, preparation, listening is a key condition.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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A man in his 60s is dead after being struck by a taxi near Scarborough General Hospital early Wednesday.

Emergency crews arrived at the scene near Lawrence Ave. E. and McCowan Rd. at 12:30 a.m.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have blocked off the intersection. No charges have been laid so far.

This death comes not 12 hours after another pedestrian was killed in downtown Toronto. A 38-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene after a SUV mounted the sidewalk near the Roger Centre at 2:18 p.m. on Tuesday.

In 2015, Toronto saw a 10-year high of 65-traffic related fatalities.

Last Friday, the citys transportation services department released a road safety plan to help reduce the number of fatal collisions and solve problems in 15 pedestrian safety corridors that are considered dangerous.

Recommendations from the plan are set to be discussed at a public works committee on Monday.

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Marijuana dispensary owners, clerks and landlords got their first day in court Wednesday, with some calling it a waste of time and money as Canada moves toward full pot legalization.

More than a dozen people appeared at Old City Hall on charges of contravening Torontos zoning bylaw that states only federal licensed marijuana distributors, who mail or courier pot, can operate  and only in industrial parts of Toronto.

Most of the accused received disclosure of the case against them and a date to return for trial in August on the charges, which carry a maximum fine of $25,000 for individuals and $50,000 for corporations.

In the May 26 raids by Toronto police and city licensing staff, many of the 90 people arrested were also hit with more serious Criminal Code drug trafficking charges.

I think its kind of ridiculous and funny, actually, Mercedes Carter, 26, who works at a Danforth Ave. dispensary, said of the zoning charges after appearing in court.

We dont know where its going to go from here, if the dispensaries are going to be allowed to stay open or (pot sales) will be monopolized by the (federally) licensed producers.

Carter said she and a colleague are not facing criminal trafficking charges  and possible jail time  because they suspected a raid was coming and stopped stocking actual marijuana a week before police swooped in.

The landlord of a shop near Roncesvalles Ave. and Queen St. W. told Justice of the Peace Felicitas Campasano she would return for trial Aug. 10.

Outside court the landlord, who gave her name as Nancy, said she is hoping uncertainty over the legality of the federal governments medical marijuana program will result in her not being convicted of the zoning charge.

Theres no foot traffic around the building she owns, she said, adding that one past tenant went bankrupt.

These (marijuana) guys pay. Its very difficult to rent in that area. I thought it (storefront medical marijuana distribution) was legal.

Kendra Stanyon, a lawyer representing several of the people charged, said she was surprised city licensing went after some minimum-wage clerks with zoning charges.

You have employees caught in the crosshairs here; it's not just owners, and theyre facing summonses with potential $25,000 fines, she said.

Those facing criminal charges will have their first appearances in court next month.

Marijuana shops, some demanding a prescription and others not, started spreading across Toronto months ago.

They flourished as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to legalize marijuana, with strict regulations, in 2017. Adding to the legal haze, a federal court judge in B.C. struck down a ban on medical-marijuana patients growing their own plants, giving Ottawa until August to bring its medical-marijuana law in line with the Charter.

The raids came after some residents and politicians voiced concern over the concentration of pot shops in some areas.

Some marijuana dispensaries continue to operate in Toronto. The citys licensing department says its crackdown is not over and more businesses could be charged.

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Donald Trump's presidential campaign has hired its first paid staff in Wisconsin, a state that's expected to be a key target for the Republican in the race against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Vince Trovato confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that he will be leading Trump's efforts in Wisconsin, though his official title won't be announced for a couple weeks. Wisconsin Republican Party spokesman Pat Garrett identified Trovato as Trump's state director.

Trovato referred all questions about his hiring to Trump's national campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks, who did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Clinton has had paid staff in Wisconsin since early May, led by Jacob Hajdu, who previously served as political director and executive director of the Democratic Party Of Wisconsin. Clinton currently has five paid staff members in her Madison-based office, and more field offices are expected to open in coming weeks.

No Republican presidential candidate has won Wisconsin since 1984. Trump lost Wisconsin's April 5 presidential primary by 13 points to Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. It was Trump's last primary defeat before he went on to become the presumptive nominee.

There was a strong anti-Trump push in Wisconsin that helped fuel his defeat, with influential conservative talk radio hosts in Milwaukee and other major media markets at the forefront. Gov. Scott Walker campaigned heavily for Cruz and many other Republican office holders opposed Trump.

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, of Janesville, endorsed Trump earlier this month, but has since decried remarks the candidate made about a Latino judge as the "textbook definition of a racist comment." And this week, Ryan emphasized his opposition to Trump's call for a temporary ban on Muslims coming to the U.S. saying that wasn't "in our country's interest" or "reflective of our principles not just as a party, but as a country."

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who is in a tough re-election fight with Democrat Russ Feingold, has said he supports Trump but doesn't endorse him. Johnson this week also said he disagreed with Trump's proposed ban on Muslims.

Walker previously said he would endorse Trump as the GOP nominee, but last week hedged by saying he wanted to see how Trump conducted himself between now and the national convention next month in Cleveland.

Trovato has spent years behind the scenes in Republican politics. When he was a student at the UW-Madison, Trovato worked as an intern for Walker, who was in the state Assembly at the time. According to an online biography, Trovato also served on the executive board of the Waukesha County Republican Party and the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee, and worked as a policy adviser for the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Trovato ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the state Assembly in 2014 for a seat in heavily conservative Waukesha County, coming in third place in the GOP primary.

Thiensville village president Van Mobley, one of the most vocal Trump supporters before Wisconsin's primary, said Trovato had worked for Trump's campaign during the primary.

"From my experience Vince is a nice guy," Mobley said. "And a good pick."
Deputy Premier Deb Matthews wants government services to be easier for people to access and cheaper for Queens Park to deliver.

And the new minister responsible for digital government is hiring a guru to help show the way.

Appointed by Premier Kathleen Wynne in Mondays cabinet shuffle to better use information technology (IT) to improve government, Matthews is now looking for Ontarios first chief digital officer.

We will do an international search to find the right person who can lead this across-government digital strategy, she said Tuesday of the deputy-minister-level post that will pay more than $200,000 a year.

Ultimately, Matthews said the digital strategy will save money and improve services for Ontarians.

Mindful of past government digital controversies like eHealth Ontario and SAMS (Social Assistance Management System), the minister does not mince words.

This is not about a new IT project. This is in fact about doing what were already doing in a much more efficient way, she said firmly.

Matthews, who as Treasury Board president spent the past two years looking for cost-savings, acknowledges there is work to do.

There are some initiatives that are under way and already accomplished when it comes to a digital strategy, she said.

But its time to take an all-of-government approach to make sure all of us across government are using the tools available to make government work better for people.

Matthews noted the government has already embraced digital technology drivers licence renewals.

Thats done digitally and its front office and back office so that its easy for consumers but its also easier on our end. Thats one example of whats done, she said.

As head of the rebranded ministry of advanced education and skills development, she is especially eager to make it simpler for students to take advantage of the governments free university and college tuition and grant program.

Its really, really hard to figure out what your net tuition is going to be, she said of the current form-filling and applications that appear to be designed to discourage would-be post-secondary students from participating.

So our goal is to really remove the financial barrier, but also that psychological barrier because a lot of people think they cant afford to go when they could go if they could figure out the student assistance.

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OTTAWAThe Senate has sent the federal governments controversial bill on assisted dying back to the House of Commons with a major amendment that guts the central premise of the proposed law: that only those who are near death should qualify for medical help to end their lives.

The bill, as amended over the past two weeks of lengthy debate in the upper house, passed late Wednesday by a vote of 64-12 with one abstention.

Support for the amended bill was not as overwhelming as the raw numbers suggest. Some senators, including government representative Peter Harder, voted for it rather than risk having the bill defeated altogether.

Harder told senators that defeat of the amended bill would bring the whole law down and result in a situation that would be intolerable and Canadians would find unacceptable. He made it clear that he expects the House of Commons will not accept all of the Senate amendments and will send the bill back to the upper house for further consideration.

Still, the vote sets appointed senators on a potential collision course with elected MPs. The Trudeau government has signalled it wont accept deletion of the near-death proviso, although it may agree to one or more of six other relatively minor amendments approved by the Senate.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appears to be counting on senators to eventually back down on the issue. Liberal backbenchers privately say Trudeau told MPs during their weekly, closed-door caucus meeting earlier Wednesday that it would be appropriate for appointed senators to defer to the will of the elected House of Commons on the matter and he seemed confident they would do so.

Even before Wednesdays vote, senators were anticipating that the amended bill will be rejected and were wrestling with whether they should stand firm on deleting the near-death provision or bow to the will of the elected parliamentary chamber.

If it is rejected, senators could agree to pass the bill unchanged. Or they could insist upon their amendment and send it back to the Commons, repeatedly if necessary, until one side or the other gives in. Or they could defeat the bill outright.

Independent Sen. Murray Sinclair argued that the Senate has no business defying the Commons.

We are not an elected body, he said during final debate on the amended bill.

We must therefore recognize that it is those upon whom we impose our will (in the Commons) who are going to be held accountable for what we do in this house and therefore we need to use that power very carefully.

Andre Pratte, another independent senator, admitted hes torn over whether to defer or stand our ground. He expressed concern over how Canadians would view a deadlock between the two houses of Parliament.

But independent Liberal Sen. Dennis Dawson contended that Trudeau kicked senators out of the Liberal caucus and created a new process for appointing non-partisan senators precisely because he wanted the Senate to become an independent chamber of sober second thought.

It is clear to me that the role of the Senate is to improve legislation when necessary, which it is with this bill, Dawson, who is being treated for throat cancer, said in a statement read during the debate by a fellow senator.

This Senate cannot and must not allow itself to be intimidated. That is the exercise of sober second thought, the essential function of the Senate.

Independent Liberal Sen. Serge Joyal, author of the amendment to delete the near-death proviso, cited several examples where the Senate has in the past defied the will of the Commons on a matter of principle. He argued that the Senate has a duty to uphold the Constitution and charter of rights and to protect minority rights.

(If) we come to the conclusion that the bill doesnt meet that threshold, well, we have the independence to maintain our position, he said.

Many legal and constitutional experts have argued that Bill C-14 does not comply with the charter or with last years landmark Supreme Court ruling, which struck down the ban on assisted dying.

Joyals amendment would replace C-14s restrictive eligibility criteria with the more permissive parameters set down by the top court, which directed that medical assistance in dying should be available to clearly consenting, competent adults with grievous and irremediable medical conditions that are causing enduring suffering that they find intolerable.

C-14 would allow assisted dying only for consenting adults in an advanced stage of irreversible decline from a serious and incurable disease, illness or disability and for whom natural death is reasonably foreseeable.

Bill C-14 took away a right from our most vulnerable, those who have perhaps years to endure intolerable suffering from an irremediable medical condition, said Conservative Sen. Kelvin Ogilvie. Our amended bill restores that right.

Whether the Senate will ultimately pass the bill if the amendments are rejected is uncertain. While some senators are indicating that theyll defer to the Commons, others are wrestling with other considerations.

A number of senators who are morally opposed to the notion of assisted dying indicated Wednesday that theyll never support the bill, no matter how it is, or is not, amended.

Killing remains a grave evil, colleagues, even if its disguised as medical assistance in dying, said Conservative Sen. Norman Doyle.

I cannot support this legislation, said Conservative Sen. Betty Unger, saying she was speaking on behalf of the many who weep that Canadas moral fabric is being destroyed, who beg us not to underestimate the harm that will follow when our hitherto and dearly held values are being shredded.

Still others said they too believe in the sanctity of human life but are worried that voting against the bill could result in its defeat.

Having no law governing assisted dying would be worse than C-14, said Conservative Sen. Don Plett, sounding on the verge of tears as he told fellow senators, I will struggle and I will pray about how to cast his vote.

In the wake of Wednesdays vote, a message will be sent to the Commons informing MPs of the changes senators have made. The government will then introduce a motion accepting or rejecting some or all of the changes, which must be debated and put to a vote in the Commons.

Harder told senators their amendments ought to be respectfully considered and appropriately accommodated, with some level of engagement between the two chambers.

However, Liberal backbenchers say they were told earlier Wednesday that the government hopes the back-and-forth procedure between chambers can be wrapped up and the bill formally adopted as early as Tuesday.

Related:

Assisted dying bill wont cause Parliament crisis: Hebert

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OTTAWATax officials say they are concerned former media baron Conrad Black could skip town before paying more than $12.3 million in disputed taxes.

But Blacks lawyer said in an interview the idea Black would leave Canada is nonsense, and said his client intends to stay in the country for the foreseeable future.

Documents filed by the Canada Revenue Agency in Federal Court last month show Black is disputing $12,319,514.30 in taxes.

The CRA successfully sought court permission to put liens on Blacks Bridle Path mansion at 26 Park Lane, which court documents said sold for $14 million last month. There is just over $13 million in outstanding mortgages on the property, the document said.

The agency argued there are reasonable grounds to believe Black will not pay his outstanding tax debt, given that he sold his last remaining Canadian property, the depreciation of his assets over time, and his apparent intentions towards his tax obligations.

The agency notes in the documents that Black, who renounced his Canadian citizenship in 2001 to sit in the British House of Lords, has significant international connections that would make it easy for him to move himself or his assets away from the long arm of the Canadian taxman.

It is open to Black, and would be relatively easy for him, to move his funds, including his liquidated equity from Park Lane, offshore or to relocate abroad at any time, thereby jeopardizing the collection of his tax debt, the documents said.

But his lawyer, David Nathanson, told the Star Black has no intention to leave the country and will renew his temporary Canadian visa before it expires this September.

Nathanson said the dispute over Blacks taxes has dragged on for approximately a decade. Separate court filings from Blacks lawyers suggest CRAs application to put a lien on his mansion contained inaccuracies and conjecture.

The affidavit, from our point of view, is highly conjecturable and contains insinuations as opposed to statements of fact, Nathanson said.

The chief one is the conclusion or the inference that the CRA has drawn that Mr. Black intends to flee the jurisdiction. That is simply false.

In February, Black revealed he was selling his posh 6.6-acre property at 26 Park Lane Circle in North York. Before the nine bedroom mansion went up for auction, however, Black reached a deal with an unnamed buyer to sell it for $14 million  well below the CRAs $19.9 million appraisal of the propertys value and the $21.8 estimated auction value.

Black told the Star that the deal was a sale and lease-back with a possible buy-back. The court documents show Black is renting the mansion for an annual base rent of $155,000 for two years, with an option to renew.

Blacks reported income in 2014 totaled almost $8 million, according to CRA, with $7.7 million coming from interest from loans to Hollinger Inc., Blacks former holding company. His taxable income was $0, however, largely because of claimed carrying charges for bad debt to Hollinger Inc. in the amount of $7,703,345.00.

His net business income was $179,393, with the former media mogul listing freelance writer as his occupation. Black occasionally writes for the National Post, the paper he founded in 1998, and listed deposits totaling $33,448 from the newspaper between July 2014 and July 2015.

Blacks lawyer told the CRA that he has other assets the value of which he expects to appreciate substantially, and that Blacks wife, Barbara Amiel-Black, has substantial commercial assets that can assist Black in paying off liabilities if necessary.

The court documents said that the United States government has asked Canadian officials to assist them in collecting more than $19 million in taxes Black is alleged to owe in that country.

U.S. tax officials state that Black has not responded to any correspondence about the outstanding tax bill, which dates back to 1998, the court document said.

Black recently sold off a number of properties in the U.S. and the United Kingdom, including a U.K. property for 13,110,000 in May 2005, a New York apartment on Park Ave. for $10.5 million (U.S.) in October 2005, and a Palm Beach mansion for $2.35 million (U.S.) in May 2004.

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A deal could be in the works to enhance the Canada Pension Plan so that the new Ontario Retirement Pension Plan will not need to be implemented.

As Canadas finance ministers gather for a summit in Vancouver on Monday, Premier Kathleen Wynne is hinting the retirement scheme she developed to complement CPP could be redundant if the other provinces agree to come closer to Ontarios proposed payouts.

We are very eager and have been from the beginning to see a CPP enhancement. That was our starting point, Wynne told reporters Wednesday in Windsor.

Weve developed the ORPP plan because we had a previous federal government that wasnt interested in having this discussion about a retirement security crisis across the country, she said, referring to former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harpers administration.

The Ontario scheme is supposed to launch in 2018 with workers at companies with 500 employees or more that do not have pension plans contributing 0.8 per cent of their pay to the ORPP.

That will eventually rise to 1.9 per cent in 2020 and be matched by employers. By 2020, all companies without registered plans would be affected.

But since Harper was defeated by Prime Minister Justin TrudeauSEND Liberals last October, Ottawa has signalled it would like to work with the provinces to improve CPP benefits that currently pay out a maximum of $13,110 a year.

Updating the CPP requires approval of seven provinces with two-thirds of the population.

Wynne said there may be enough movement for her to accept a beefed-up CPP even if it doesnt pay out benefits as great as the ORPP.

The Ontario government has calculated workers and their employers will each pay in the equivalent of between $2.16 and $4.50 a day with annual benefits upon retirement of ranging from $6,410 to $12,815.

Now we have a federal government that is interested, the premier said.

And, so, weve said if we can get to, sort of, two-thirds of the value of what weve worked up with the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan, thats one of the metrics that we would look at for a CPP enhancement, she said.

So thats the order of discussion that were having with the federal government.

Because federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau was a former pension adviser to Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa, officials at Queens Park believe they have a powerful CPP ally in Ottawa.

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ORLANDO, FLA.There is satisfaction in even a grim job done well. Yesterday doctors at the Orlando Regional Medical Centre described for reporters the onslaught of patients from Pulse Nightclub, only a few blocks away, who filled the hospitals trauma bay to overflowing in the early hours of Sunday morning. Their deadpan tone, their language purged of hyperbole, did nothing to hide how harrowing the night had been. But neither were they much good at hiding their solemn pride.

Like literally any large American city, Orlando has been bracing for mayhem for years. The arrival of multiple gunshot wounds is something we practice frequently, Gary Parrish, the director of the hospitals medical department, told a news conference.

In the event, it was surreal, Will Havron, one of the surgeons, said. We were just getting patient after patient after patient. The staff stepped up to the challenge. Surgeons and nurses rushed in from home. Triage and co-ordination were superb.

Angel Colon had been a patron in the club. He described how he lay still on the floor, playing dead, while the gunman shot him in the hand and hip to make sure. He was effusive in his praise for the hospitals staff.

Chadwick Smith had been the attending surgeon on call that night. It was singularly the worst day of my career and the best day of my career, he said gravely.

But there could be no resting on laurels. Eight more surgeries were scheduled for Tuesday alone. Six patients remained near death. Doctors were not sure all will survive. The punishing weight of the hospitals burden was evident.

A few miles away, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida was busy with other burdens. On Sunday, the regions largest gay community drop-in office moved next door to a larger commercial space in a hurry, to handle its vastly expanded mandate. When I visited, a uniformed security guard was letting visitors through the door in ones and twos. Volunteers were in a separate area at the back of the office, where they would not have to speak to reporters unless they wanted.

Corey Lyons is the president of Impulse Orlando, which promotes safe sex practices. Impulse was at Pulse Nightclub three weeks ago, offering vacation packages for patients who underwent HIV testing. When he woke up at 6 a.m. Sunday in his apartment two blocks from Pulse, his phone kind of blew up with messages from friends, and his partner was crying uncontrollably.

Since then its been non-stop for a large volunteer team: counselling survivors and victims families, raising and disbursing money for flights, funerals, car service, temporary housing. The weekend massacre was overwhelming, very heartbreaking, Lyons said. But it was the work of one man who decided to hate and whom to hate, he said. Orlando is replying, from the people most directly affected on out. Were just trying to bring people together.

The good work of good people to comfort the bereaved and bind up a communitys wounds was inspiring to see. But I kept being distracted by the larger debate this tragedy is feeding. Including Donald Trumps astonishing remarks on Monday, when he accused U.S. President Barack Obama of hiding something on terrorism, or pulling his punches, or screwing up, or wanting to screw up. On Tuesday Trump was still at it, calling for extraordinary screening against immigrants.

Obama gave his answer on Tuesday. At the Treasury Department in Washington the president left a meeting of his National Security Council on the fight against Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL. But fully half his remarks were about Trump.

The Orlando killer, one of the San Bernardino killers, the Fort Hood killer  they were all U.S. citizens, Obama said. Are we going to start treating all Muslim Americans differently?  Are we going to start discriminating against them because of their faith?

Why doesnt he talk about radical Islam when fighting terrorists? Groups like ISIL and Al Qaeda want to make this war a war between Islam and America, or between Islam and the West, he said. If we fall into the trap of painting all Muslims with a broad brush and imply that we are at war with an entire religion then were doing the terrorists work for them.

Obama has been reluctant to engage Trump directly. Even now, he indulged a bizarre tenet of campaign rhetoric which holds that its somehow more proper or high-flown to refrain from calling an opponent by his name. He never once pronounced Trumps, referring only to the presumptive Republican nominee and politicians who tweet and appear on cable news shows. And of course Obama is not the Democratic nominee this year. To some extent the race will come down to whether Hillary Clinton can fight her own fights.

But it is now clearer than ever that this election will come down to a candidate who rejects, condemns, marginalizes and denigrates, and one who advertises a preference for reaching out, reconciling and embracing. Canadas 2015 federal election and the Quebec provincial election a year earlier suggest the less confrontational candidate, Hillary Clinton, should stand a good chance. Itll be a nasty fight all the same.

More on thestar.com:

Faces of the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting

Im next, Im dead, Orlando nightclub shooting survivor relives terror as gunman fired at him

Omar Mateens homophobic hate is all around us: DiManno

MAP: Orlando slaughter was 139th mass shooting in U.S. this year

Obama to visit Orlando in wake of nightclub shooting, blasts Trump for anti-Muslim rhetoric

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WASHINGTONHillary Clinton brought a close to the presidential primary season with a win Tuesday in the nations capital and a meeting with dispatched rival Bernie Sanders, hoping to set a tone of Democratic unity heading into next months party convention in Philadelphia.

Clintons win in the District of Columbia, the final primary of 2016, had no bearing on her role as the presumptive nominee, but it nevertheless marked a transition in the lengthy primary fight between the two rivals.

Were going to have a wide-ranging conversation, because we share a lot of the same goals, Clinton said Tuesday night in an interview with Telemundo. We both want to raise the minimum wage, we want to fight inequality of income, we want to make college affordable and we certainly want everybody to get health care.

She added, I very much am looking forward to having his support in this campaign, because Donald Trump poses a serious threat to our nation.

Before polls closed in Washington, Sanders vowed again to do all he can to prevent the presumptive Republican presidential nominee from reaching the White House  but he declined to endorse Clinton.

The Vermont senator has said the private meeting will help him determine how committed Clinton will be to the policy issues he has staked out during his 13-month campaign.

Our goal must not be to allow politicians, Donald Trump or anyone else, to divide us, Sanders said outside his Washington headquarters, telling reporters he will continue to fight as hard as we can to transform the Democratic Party.

Sanders said he would push for new leadership in the Democratic National Committee  his campaign has sparred with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the partys chair  along with a progressive platform in the summer convention and electoral changes, such as primaries that allow independents to participate and the elimination of superdelegates.

We need major, major changes in the Democratic Party, he said.

Sanders was warmly received Tuesday by Senate Democrats at their weekly luncheon, where he offered an update about his campaign and some of the lessons he had learned during the past year. Lawmakers in attendance said Sanders did not indicate his future plans.

He had an opportunity to talk to us about his campaign and how it has changed him and what he has learned, said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. I think we all listened intently because we are anxious to always do better and grow as a party and be more inclusive.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who leads the Senate Democrats campaign arm, said Sanders absolutely will support fellow Senate Democrats in the fall elections. It was productive, it was good, it was vintage Bernie, Tester said.

Sanders met last week with President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden, who both later endorsed Clinton, and signalled to Democrats that he hopes to play a constructive role in helping the party regain control of the Senate in the 2016 elections.

The self-described democratic socialist says he will take his campaign to the convention in July and advocate for his policy issues in the platform while urging Democrats to be more inclusive of independents, young people and working-class voters, all of whom were pivotal in his victories in 22 states. But what that will look like still remains unclear, and Sanders has been soliciting advice from supporters on how he should take his campaign forward.

The mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, has commanded the attention of both campaigns and prompted Democrats to point to Trumps call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S., an issue they view as a key contrast in the general election.

Without mentioning Trump by name, Clinton warned during a speech in Cleveland on Monday that demonizing Muslims would only empower extremist groups. We should be intensifying contacts in those communities, not scapegoating or isolating them, she said.

Sanders attended a vigil in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont, on Monday night to show solidarity with the victims. Pointing to Trumps comments about Muslims, Sanders said the shooting was conducted by one hateful person and not committed by the Muslim people.

Looking forward, Sanders has begun helping Democrats preparing for congressional races and the battle to regain control of the Senate.

An early test of his clout will come Tuesday in Nevada, where a Sanders-backed congressional candidate, Lucy Flores, competes in a three-way primary.

Sanders has opened up his campaigns massive email donor list to several Democratic candidates, hauling in more than $2.4 million for his allies. Flores has been the top recipient of those appeals, collecting about $390,000 from an email Sanders sent in April on behalf of her and two other candidates.

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When Daesh attacked their homeland in Iraqs Sinjar region in August 2014, thousands of Yazidi women and girls were kidnapped, beaten, raped, tortured and sold as sex slaves. Many of their male relatives were killed.

The terrorist group  also known as ISIS and ISIL  boasts of its conquests on its website, Dabiq. It calls the Yazidis, who belong to a small ancient religious sect, apostates who should be exterminated if they refuse to convert to their extreme version of Islam. Earlier this month they reportedly burned 19 Yazidi women alive in a cage for refusing sex with their fighters.

Tuesday in Ottawa, Liberal MPs defeated a Conservative parliamentary motion to recognize the assault on the Yazidis and other minorities as genocide, by 166-139. It was supported by the NDP and Bloc Quebecois, and three Liberals broke ranks to vote for it.

The motion, tabled by interim Tory leader Rona Ambrose, called for the atrocities targeting Yazidis, Christians, Shia Muslims and other ethnic and religious groups  as well as gays and lesbians  to be defined as genocide.

We are very disappointed with this new government, and we can only think that they are not interested in minorities, said Mirza Ismail, a Yazidi activist who lobbies for recognition of genocide, and for aid to the surviving Yazidis, who are living in miserable conditions in Kurdistan. They include hundreds of girls and women who escaped or were smuggled out of captivity.

Every MP must have seen videos and reports of what has happened to the Yazidis, said Ismail. The terrorists make no secret of it. But we have had no response from the Liberals. Efforts to get the governments approval for acceptance of Daesh survivors as refugees have so far failed, he added. Nor has Immigration Minister John McCallum met with Yazidi advocates.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion has dismissed the genocide motion as crass politics, and said in an earlier debate that however revolted we may be by the massacre, that is not sufficient to call them genocide.

But in a strongly-worded letter to the UN Security Council he called for the international community to take steps to ensure the accountability of members of ISIL for the atrocious crimes perpetrated against the victims.

Dion urged the council to set up an investigation of reported human rights violations by the terrorist group to determine whether (they) constitute acts of genocide or other serious international crimes, and to take action including a possible referral to the International Criminal Court.

A UN referral would need support from the five veto-bearing permanent council members, some of whom have blocked referrals to the court in the past. Even if the case did get to the court, there would be a lengthy investigation and it has no force for arresting those suspected of heinous crimes.

UN human rights investigators have accused Daesh of genocide, saying its aim was to destroy the Yazidis as a group. The U.S. Congress, British House of Commons and European Parliament have also recognized the attacks as genocide.

Last week high-profile international lawyer Amal Clooney agreed to represent Yazidi survivors of Daesh atrocities, including Nadia Murad, a kidnap victim nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

We know that thousands of Yazidi women have been enslaved by a terrorist organization, (Daesh) that has publicly proclaimed its genocidal intent, Clooney said in a statement, adding that she would press for accountability in the dock in The Hague.

But Payam Akhavan, a McGill law professor and former UN prosecutor at The Hague, said that the question of whether the extermination and enslavement of the Yazidi qualifies as possible genocide is not news. The question is, will it change anything for the survivors who are sitting in the refugee camps traumatized and despondent?

I would prefer that Canada does something meaningful for them; something that will make a difference. The immediate needs, he said, are exhumation of mass graves and therapy for the survivors.

Akhavan is working with the Kurdistan government to set up a truth commission for the Yazidi survivors, and is helping to collect their testimonies, asking what they most need to achieve justice. Everybody condemns Daesh and feels sorry for the victims, he says. But nobody listens to their voices.

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LOS ANGELESAn Indiana man was charged Tuesday with three felony weapons violations after authorities say they found three assault rifles and explosive chemicals in his car before a major Los Angeles gay pride parade.

James Wesley Howell, 20, made his first appearance in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where a lawyer entered not guilty pleas on his behalf to charges of possessing an assault weapon, possessing a destructive device on a public street, and importing or manufacturing a large magazine.

He also was charged with a misdemeanour count of possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle.

A judge set bail at $2 million, saying Howell poses a significant public safety danger.

A federal investigation of Howell was ongoing, said Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman in Los Angeles.

Howell was arrested Sunday in Santa Monica, when police say the weapons and explosives were found in a car he apparently drove from Indiana. Howell told police he was headed to a gay pride event in West Hollywood that attracts hundreds of thousands of people.

Its unclear whether Howell intended any violence at the LA Pride event, but the timing of the arrest  hours after the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.  put police and event organizers on heightened alert.

Not too much can be inferred at this point simply because Howell only faces state charges, said Rebecca Lonergan, a former federal prosecutor who teaches national security law at the University of Southern California,

If no charges had been filed by Tuesday, authorities would have had to release Howell. The state charges allow him to be held while federal investigators continue their probe, Lonergan said.

In the atmosphere we have where there is such great concern about active shooters, about terrorism, about hate crimes, both the state and federal investigators are going to want to thoroughly look at this guy, she said.

Federal agents searched Howells Jeffersonville, Ind., home on Monday but declined to release any details.

On Tuesday, the sheriffs office in Clark County, Ind., said Howell also is the subject of a sexual assault investigation. The incident occurred on May 31, about two weeks before Howells arrest in California.

Bobby Boyd, a Kentucky attorney who represented Howell in a local case, did not return a message seeking comment.

In October, Howell was accused twice within four days of pulling a gun and making threats. The first incident involved Howells then-boyfriend and the second a neighbour.

Both men told The Associated Press that Howell was hot-headed.

Hes got a lot of anger problems, said Richard Hambrick, Howells ex-boyfriend.

Grace Logsdon, Howells former roommate, said Howell owned five guns and had a bad temper. During one trip to a gun range, she said Howell told her:  I wish I could kill a lot of people. 

Howell was convicted in April of misdemeanour intimidation stemming from the incident involving his neighbour and was sentenced to a year of probation. Under terms of his probation, Howell was not allowed to have weapons or leave Indiana.

Charlestown police Detective Capt. Chuck Ledbetter said the handgun Howell used in the intimidation case was the only one the department seized from him. A rifle that ex-boyfriend Hambrick said Howell pointed at him wasnt seized because no arrest was made at the time, Ledbetter said.

If convicted of all the charges, prosecutors say Howell could face up to nine years and eight months in prison.

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WASHINGTONTerrorist. Murderer. Homophobe.

Gay man?

It is far too soon to know for sure. But anecdotes related to journalists this week raise the possibility that the killer who slaughtered 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Omar Mateen, was attracted to men himself.

The stories add a complicated wrinkle to the early narrative of an unstable loner and Daesh loyalist drawn to his target by the unadulterated homophobia typical of Islamic extremists. Terror experts, though, said there would be nothing shocking about a closeted man devoting himself to a group that conducts gruesome executions of gays and lesbians.

Its rare, but he certainly wouldnt be the first, said Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Its entirely possible that he would be gay and also believe in this fundamentalist, extremist interpretation of Islam.

A British teenager who joined Daesh in Syria engaged in flirtatious texting with the young man who helped him make the trip. A gay British Muslim, now an agnostic, once contemplated a bomb attack in London while he was an extremist drawn to radical Islam in an attempt to cure his sexuality.

In another case in the States, the individuals who engaged in terrorist activities were actually engaging at the same time in homosexual activities, said Lorenzo Vidino, director of the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, who has detailed knowledge of the case but said he could not provide details because they are not public.

Learn more about the victims

One gay couple told The Canadian Press that Mateen, 29, had visited the Pulse Orlando nightclub on numerous occasions for up to three years. A man in Mateens 2006 police academy class told the Palm Beach Post that the killer had asked him out on a date. Other men told MSNBC and the Los Angeles Times that Mateen had used gay dating apps.

Recruiters and propagandists for extremist groups promise salvation through fundamentalist Islam and violence in its name. Their claims might be attractive, the experts said, to troubled Muslims who feel shame or fear afterlife punishment over their sexual desires.

In the radicalization process . . . one of the common things that they say is repent. This is sort of a recurring thing: If you do this, you would have washed away your sins of the past. Seek salvation. This is your salvation,  said Kamran Bokhari, senior fellow at the Center for Global Policy.

Gartenstein-Ross said guilt about ones shortcomings is a frequent theme in extremist recruitment. The recruiter for the Lackawanna Six, a group that went to Afghanistan soon before 9/11, made them feel they fell short as Muslims and that going over to Afghanistan and going over to Al Qaeda was the only way they wouldnt be doomed.

Obviously not all routes to Islamic terrorism are highly ideological, he said.

When you fall short of your ideals, he said, and you belong to a militant group that promises you salvation for killing others, the fact that you fall short of your ideals can in fact be an impetus to act, as opposed to being a deterrent.

It is common for jihadists personal lives to be at odds with their ideology. Bokhari noted that the radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki visited prostitutes and that one of the 9/11 hijackers had a girlfriend. Vidino said many jihadists have been found with pornography on their computers.

Without generalizing, Vidino said, I think you do have a lot of people who have jihadist sympathies who have a very conflicted relationship with sex.

The picture of Mateens life gleaned so far is incomplete. The New York-born security guard married to a woman and divorced from another, is alleged to have abused his ex-wife and uttered frequent anti-gay and racist slurs. His father, a native of Afghanistan, had expressed online support for the Taliban.

Bokharisaid Mateen may have visited Pulse to conduct reconnaissance for the attack. Corey Lyons, president of the Orlando branch of a gay-focused sexual health organization, said he was skeptical of claims that Mateen was a frequent Pulse presence, urging people to wait for more information.

Im not saying it is inaccurate. But Im saying that none of us has heard that. None of us from the Pulse family has said that, Lyons said at the LGBT Center of Central Florida.

With files from Paul Wells

More on thestar.com:

Im next, Im dead, Orlando nightclub shooting survivor relives terror as gunman fired at him

Omar Mateens homophobic hate is all around us: DiManno

MAP: Orlando slaughter was 139th mass shooting in U.S. this year

Obama to visit Orlando in wake of nightclub shooting, blasts Trump for anti-Muslim rhetoric

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LONDONTo gauge whether Britain will vote to leave the European Union, the smart money is looking to the bookies.

After polls missed badly in measuring sentiment before some of Britains most recent votes, bookies odds have become the point of reference for anyone trying to guess the outcome of the June 23 referendum on the countrys EU membership.

And its not just your average Joe plunking down a bill at the local betting shop. Big investors including Morgan Stanley, BlackRock and UBS have all turned to the gamblers for guidance on this seismic vote.

Pollsters failed to see the defeat of Scotlands independence referendum coming in 2014 and said last years general election was too close to call  when in fact the Conservative Party won a clear victory. Even so, predictions were never going to be simple: Much of the vote hinges on the undecided and on whether the wavering will feel strongly enough about the outcome to go to the polls.

There is no version of dont know with the bookies, said Bill ONeill, head of wealth management in Britain for the Swiss banking giant UBS. Its a clear either/or choice.

In todays world, bookmakers like Ladbrokes, Paddy Power and William Hill take wagers on everything from local elections in the London borough of Tooting to the U.S. presidential vote, as well as the latest sporting events. Similarly, investment firms such as IG Group offer spread betting on political issues in addition to movements in financial markets.

The bookies and investors agree: based on the flow of money into these bets there is about a 60 per cent chance that U.K. voters will cast their ballots in favour of staying in the EU. By contrast, the latest aggregate of public opinion polls by the respected pollster John Curtices WhatUKthinks.org site, shows the electorate split 51-49 for leave  too close to call.

Our political binaries have shown a high success rate in predicting the correct outcome in previous elections and referendums, said Matt Brief, head of dealing at IG Group, referring to trades that let investors bet on either side in a political contest. The pattern we are seeing is similar to the Scottish Referendum when markets remained solidly for a no victory throughout the campaign.

Investors argue that betting markets are a more accurate predictor of results because the odds are based on where people put their money, not simply on how they answer questions from a pollster.

Experts say the main problem with polls is that they ask samples of people how they would vote  a question that can shift quickly depending on which campaign lands a good punch in any given week. Gamblers, on the other hand, analyze all the information available, incorporating polling data, and place bets on the eventual outcome. Betting is particularly popular in Britain, meaning the odds are the result of a high number of individuals views.

In an information age where the cost of trading is very low and so much information is available, the betting markets are going to be very efficient predictors, said Leighton Vaughan Williams, director of the political forecasting and betting research units at Nottingham Business School.

If the polls say one thing and the betting markets another, you should trust the betting markets, Vaughan Williams said. In a study published in the Journal of Forecasting, Vaughan Williams studied data related to U.S. elections going back to 2004, and found that the bookies outperformed the polls in every case.

Nobody can step directly into the future, Vaughan Williams said. But your best guess as to what that future will be is given by the betting markets.

Even without their recent stumbles, pollsters would have had a tough time dealing with the EU referendum.

Britain has held very few plebiscites, and that makes it difficult for pollsters who generally look at past elections to provide clues about how people will vote in the future. In the EU referendum, for example, there are no safe districts that can be used as bellwethers of opinion as there are in parliamentary elections.

Pollsters have to keep tweaking their survey groups and making adjustments. Their main problem is whether people who dont really care will take part. Those who feel strongly are more likely to want to vote leave, said Ben Page, chief executive of the respected polling firm Ipsos MORI. So getting the balance right in the sample is a challenge when things are close.

Polling is a mix of science and art, Page said. There isnt much of a track record to determine how these things are going to go.

Fogging the picture further is the number of undecided, which Page estimated at between 5 per cent and 10 per cent of those questioned. The wavering tend to go with the status quo  in this case, remain in the EU.

I cant tell you what theyre going to do in the voting booth because Im not there with them, he said. Theyre making up their minds while theyre there.

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U.S. Rep. Ron Kind has issued a plan to boost Wisconsin's flagging dairy industry that highlights his stances on two highly charged issues: immigration policy and global trade.

The plan calls for opening international markets to Wisconsin dairy products and overhauling the U.S. immigration system. It also calls for boosting dairy research, streamlining federal dairy programs and encouraging more young people to become dairy farmers.

Kind, D-La Crosse, represents Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District in the state's western and central regions, where the dairy industry is an economic pillar. A release from his office announcing the plan says it comes in response to problems plaguing the industry, including low milk prices and rising input costs.

The 10-term Kind is a longstanding supporter of creating a path to legal status for those living in the U.S. illegally. That position is shared by most of Kind's fellow Democrats but not by all Republicans, some of whom -- such as the party's presumptive presidential nominee, Donald Trump -- have made their fierce opposition to it a signature issue.

An estimate provided by Kind's office said more than 40 percent of Wisconsin dairy labor is provided by immigrants. It does not say what share of those immigrants are living in the U.S. illegally.

"The loss of immigrant labor would have a devastating impact on the industry, creating job loss beyond the dairy farm that would harm local communities," a summary of Kind's plan reads.

Broadening global trade for Wisconsin dairy farmers also is part of Kind's plan. It says "the United States needs to be working to open new markets for our dairy farmers to sell their products."

Kind has been a staunch supporter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, a proposed global trade deal between the U.S. and other Pacific Rim nations. Although it was crafted by President Barack Obama's administration, the partnership is deeply contentious among Democrats. Kind's support for the measure is being touted by his Democratic opponent in the Aug. 9 primary election.

Kind spokeswoman Amanda Sherman, in a statement to the Wisconsin State Journal, noted the plan does not specifically reference TPP.

"We're generally referring to a number of different ways we could expand access to more markets, including reducing barriers like the Indian dairy import ban and Canadian pricing changes," Sherman wrote.

The summary notes that, while many federal programs exist to aid dairy farmers,"they frequently do not reach the right audience and are inefficient." It calls for expanding loan programs for small farmers, increasing access to nutrient and energy management programs and reducing fees and other "bureaucratic excesses" connected with the programs.
Islam Abdullabeckov and his boyfriend Felix Glyukman were in their Moscow apartment Sunday afternoon when they saw reports of the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. They were shocked and saddened.

The next day, the young couple went to the American embassy in Moscow with a candle and a sign that said LOVE WINS.

The instant they laid the sign down on the pavement, however, a policeman scooped it up.

Then they were arrested.

Police accused them of holding an unauthorized demonstration, a charge that can bring serious fines and even imprisonment in Russia.

We werent going to hold a political (protest), Abdullabeckov told The Washington Post on Wednesday morning via Facebook messages. We just wanted to put a poster and light candles.

He said he and Glyukman were taken to a police station and questioned for three hours before being released. If convicted, they each face up to 10 days in prison or a fine of 60,000 rubles ($900), he said.

Their arrests are a stark reminder that, even as the world comes together to mourn the Orlando massacre victims, LGBT rights are also under everyday threat in countries across the globe.

Homophobia is the official policy of the Putin state, Abdullabeckov said.

Although homosexuality is not illegal in Russia, gay men and women face broad discrimination. In 2013, the country passed a controversial law that banned gay propaganda, public speech or demonstrations equating gay lifestyles to straight ones, saying it may influence children.

In January, lawmakers debated a bill that would have banned public displays of affection among gays and punished couples for kissing or even holding hands on the street with a fine or a two-week jail sentence.

It was in this climate that Abdullabeckov and Glyukman met a year ago.

In March of 2015, Glyukman, an art student, posted a powerful video to YouTube in which he came out as gay.

Abdullabeckov, who works for a media group that includes Russian newspaper RBK Daily, saw the video and was overwhelmed.

I watched and wrote him, Abdullabeckov told The Post. We met on the Internet.

Monday was their one year anniversary.

They spent it together  under interrogation.

Abdullabeckov said he and Glyukman felt terrible about the Orlando shooting. They were stunned that even in the U.S. because of their sexual orientation (people) could be killed.

The day after the massacre, the couple went to the American embassy, where people had begun laying flowers and signs in an impromptu memorial to the Orlando victims.

There were many people and many flowers and candles, Glyukman told Australian broadcaster SBS. The policeman grabbed the poster and told us we have to leave, but Islam said we didnt want to and (the officer) grabbed him, and put us in the car.

A video of the arrest shows the officer pulling Abdullabeckov by the arm as the young man says Nyet, nyet, nyet. When Abdullabeckov is put into the police cruiser, Glyukman joins him.

Glyukman posted photos to Facebook showing them sitting in the cop car, next to a baby-faced officer.

We tried to leave flowers and a sign at the embassy, Glyukman wrote in the caption. We did not succeed.

Why arrested? a friend commented.

My poster, he answered. They didnt like it.

Give them the Anglo-Russian dictionary, the friend said, implying the police officers didnt know what the sign said.

This is completely surreal, Abdullabeckov wrote.

He told The Post he and Glyukman did nothing wrong.

What have we done to get us arrested? he said. We are now crushed and feel not the best way.

Initially, they two were accused of holding an unauthorized rally or demonstration, a serious offence that, under recently passed laws, can result in several years in prison or fines of tens of thousands of dollars  a crippling amount in a country where the average yearly salary is about $8,500.

Their lawyer, however, told BuzzFeed that they were eventually charged with the lesser offence of holding a public event without making prior notice.

Policemen there tried not to let people use any LGBT symbolics and when the guys came to the embassy and put down their banner they were immediately arrested and brought to Presnenskiy police station, attorney Sergey Panchenko said. I think police itself is not really interested in taking it to court, by the way. We have video evidence with us to prove the guys didnt hold any rally or demonstration.

Neither Russian police nor the Department of Interior Affairs for Moscow responded to a request for comment, BuzzFeed reported.

Despite their arrest, Abdullabeckov said they intend to go back to the embassy again this week to leave their poster and candle honouring the Orlando victims.

We are not afraid, he said. This is our country.

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TOKYOA Chinese intelligence ship entered Japans territorial waters early Wednesday morning, the first report of a Chinese navy vessel doing so in more than a decade.

A Japanese surveillance plane spotted the ship in waters west of Kuchinoerabu island before dawn, deputy chief cabinet secretary Hiroshige Seko told reporters. It sailed out of Japans waters about 90 minutes later, he said.

A U.N. agreement allows what is known as innocent passage by foreign ships through another countrys waters, but Japan nonetheless expressed concern to China that this incident and other recent Chinese military activity is escalating tensions between the two countries.

Chinas Defence Ministry said in a brief statement that the ship sailed through a territorial strait open to international navigation in accordance with freedom of navigation under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Japan reacted more harshly last week after a Chinese navy ship sailed near a group of remote islands that are administered by Japan but also claimed by China. Though the ship didnt enter territorial waters around the islands, known as the Senkaku in Japanese and the Diaoyu in Chinese, the dispute makes the situation there much more charged.

The Chinese Defence Ministry responded that the islands are Chinas inherent territory, and it is rational and legal for Chinese warships to sail in waters under (Chinese) jurisdiction.

The latest incident took place much closer to Japans main islands, in waters south of Kyushu. The only previous time Japan had reported a Chinese naval vessel in its territorial waters was a submarine detected in 2004.

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WASHINGTONPresident Barack Obama thanked the Dalai Lama on Wednesday for offering condolences after 49 people were killed in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, as the pair once again angered China by meeting at the White House.

It was Obamas fourth White House meeting with Tibetan spiritual leader, whom Beijing accuses of leading a campaign to split the region off from the rest of China. The Dalai Lama says he simply wants a higher degree of autonomy under Chinese rule.

China condemned the meeting after the White House listed it on Obamas public schedule. The meeting was closed to news media coverage, but the White House released on its Flickr account a photo by the presidents official photographer of the two men greeting each other.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama has warm personal feelings toward the 80-year-old Dalai Lama and fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Obama also appreciates his teachings and believes in preserving Tibets unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions, Earnest said.

The Dalai Lama led a minute of silent prayer for the shooting victims during a visit at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington on Monday, the day after a gunman opened fire at an Orlando, Fla., nightclub, killing 49 people and wounding dozens more.

The president thanked the Dalai Lama for his expression of condolences about the terrorist attack in Orlando over the weekend, Earnest said.

China strongly disapproved of the meeting. Its Foreign Ministry said it had made solemn representations to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and expressed its firm opposition.

We need to emphasize that the Tibetan issue is Chinas internal affairs and other countries do not have any right to interfere with this, spokesman Lu Kang told a daily media briefing.

The 14th Dalai Lama is not simply a religious figure but a political figure in exile who has been conducting secessionist activities internationally under the pretext of religion, the statement said. If President Obama meets with Dalai Lama, it will send the wrong signal to Tibetan separatist forces, and it will undermine the mutual trust and co-operation between China and the U.S.

Lu urged Washington to stick by its promise of recognizing Tibet as part of China, and not support Tibetan independence or any separatist activities.

Earnest reiterated Wednesday that U.S. policy toward Tibet remained unchanged.

Tibet, per U.S. policy, is considered part of the Peoples Republic of China, and the United States has not articulated our support for Tibetan independence, he said. Both the Dalai Lama and President Obama value the importance of a constructive and productive relationship between the United States and China. All of those were policy positions of the United States before the meeting occurred. Our policy hasnt changed after the meeting.

China also blames the Dalai Lama and others for inciting a wave of self-immolations among Tibetans in recent years. Dozens have set themselves on fire while calling for the return of the Dalai Lama or for Tibetan independence.

Obama held the meeting in the Map Room, instead of the Oval Office, because the Dalai Lama is not a head of state.

The president had been scheduled to travel to Wisconsin on Wednesday for his first campaign appearance with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton following his formal endorsement of her last week. But the event was postponed after the Orlando shooting, creating room on Obamas schedule to meet with the Dalai Lama, who was already visiting Washington.

Obama planned to visit Orlando on Thursday to pay tribute to the victims and meet with their loved ones.

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I study terrorism and counterterrorism. I am also gay. Following the Orlando attack on Sunday morning, in which Omar Mateen killed 49 people and injured many more, I offer some professional and personal advice. Focus on the homophobia, at least until the attackers motives are better known.

When an attack happens, a few facts come to mind. Perpetrators may have a wide range of possible reasons  ideology matters, but so do a whole host of other factors, from family ties to personal aspirations. Means and ideology are linked: the high body-counts of terrorist spree-shootings, from the Paris attacks last November to those in Mumbai in 2008, show the terrible combined power of suicidal determination and small arms. This matters a great deal for counterterrorism, as protecting vulnerable targets depends not just on securing buildings, but also on weapons control. In the U.S., it is clear that easy access to rapid-firing, large-magazine guns aids terrorists of both the far-right and radical Islamist varieties.

Yet counterterrorism is not just a matter of policing and intelligence collection. In the acute aftermath of an attack, the potency of terrorism largely depends on the reaction it provokes; the terrorist tries to induce fear in a target community, but also alienation, internal strife, and clumsy rage. Combating terrorism means dealing with its psychological effects. Here it gets personal for me.

As a Jew, Im used to examining anti-Semitic violence and hearing a voice in the back of my head shouting, Theyre coming for you! When youre part of a vulnerable minority that has been specifically targeted, that voice is loud and insistent. When a kosher supermarket was attacked in Paris, in January 2015, along with the staff of Charlie Hebdo, some commentators barely mentioned the ethno-religious dimension, framing the incident only as an attack on France, or on liberty and secularism. Yet by and large, non-Jews came together in solidarity and acknowledged the hatred of Jews. It was an attack on us all, but on some of us in particular.

As a gay man, I hear the voice again, and it gains in volume as the distinctly homophobic nature of the Orlando attack is ignored in favour of other factors and other frames. See U.S. commentary focusing on Islamist extremism or on gun control, in which the LGBTQ status of the victims, or of the target as a safe space for a vulnerable minority, simply drops out of the narrative.

Usual cautions on public commentary apply in discussing Mateen and his actions. First, just because he committed a mass shooting doesnt mean hes a madman. Psychologically normal people can become terrorists, and it is unwise to call people mentally ill until theyve been professionally diagnosed. Sometimes mentally ill people do become terrorists  and so-called lone wolves are more frequently psychologically disturbed compared to other kinds. Even so, their illness is still only one cause among many, and ideology is still important.

Second, religion often matters in complex ways. Someone can be irreligious in lifestyle but still have religious motives, because religiosity exists in diverse ways.

Third, just because he declared allegiance to ISIS does not mean ISIS had much of a role in guiding his actions, because ISIS often is a brand or a symbol, rather than coherent ideology, for many would-be terrorists.

We need to know a lot more before we can make confident claims about Mateens motives. We dont even know yet if he acted alone. We dont need to rush this, either; police and security services will investigate carefully, and a fuller picture will soon emerge.

We can, however, already confidently state and discuss one of Mateens motives. He hated LGBTQ persons so much he came and killed us en masse. Homophobia can feature in a range of ideological orientations, and it clearly featured prominently in his. Even with our current, limited understanding of Mateens reasons, we can therefore vocally and confidently confront his hatred. We must confront it.

Terrorism works not only by striking fear into the targeted community but also by prying communities apart, alienating the most vulnerable from their broader sources of support and security. Every time the homophobic character of Mateens attack is elided, the attack gains in efficacy; by denying the existing vulnerability of his victims, you make them feel even more alone and at risk.

Conversely, effective counterterrorism means reassuring victims that they enjoy the support and recognition of their communities. To do otherwise here gives Mateen greater power and his actions greater potency.

See you at Pride.

Simon Frankel Pratt is a PhD candidate in political science at the University of Toronto.

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If Barack Obama seemed a little weary as he responded to the massacre in Orlando on Sunday, he can be forgiven. It was the 15th time he had addressed the American people in the wake of a mass shooting. None of those previous tragedies convinced Americas gun-crazy Congress to curb the easy access to firearms that has allowed mass shootings to become a weekly occurrence in the United States. Nor, likely, will this one.

But on Tuesday, Obama abandoned his usual professorial cool and showed uncharacteristic emotion in his response to another existential threat facing America: Republican presidential aspirant Donald Trump.

Trumps despicable speech on the tragedy in Orlando required a rebuttal. A friend of the powerful National Rifle Association, the candidate did not touch on gun control in his remarks (he has since said he would talk to the NRA about keeping firearms out of the hands of enemies of the state, as if the government has to ask permission). He did not denounce the homophobia that seems to have prompted Omar Mateen to kill 49 people and injure many more at the Pulse nightclub. He did not call for calm or unity. Instead, he spread fear.

Trump exploited every partisan opportunity without regard for the consequences. He said Obama and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton had put political correctness over security by refusing to call Mateens murder spree an act of radical Islamic terrorism. And he reiterated his desire, immoral and impossible though it is, to ban Muslims from entering the U.S.

Trumps irresponsible embrace of divisive, often racist rhetoric isnt just ignorant, its also dangerous. He says he wants the U.S. to be more militarily aggressive in fighting Daesh. But he has shown no understanding of the complexities of waging a war against a force that regularly uses civilians as human shields. He wants his countrys leaders to start calling lone-wolf attacks like the one in Orlando Islamic terrorism. But he seems to have no appreciation that such talk perversely conflates threats of varying kinds and degrees. Or that it plays into the hands of groups like Daesh that seek to project a war between Islam and the West as a means to radicalize and recruit.

The president, without ever saying his targets famous name, cut deeply into Trumps vile reliance on divisive rhetoric. Not once had the president not been able to pursue a strategy because we didnt use the label radical Islam, he said. Not once has an adviser of mine said, Man, if we really use that phrase, were going to turn this whole thing around. Not once.

Obamas dismantling made Trumps fallacies look almost comical, which is why it was important that he then laid out the grave stakes: Weve gone through moments in our history before when we acted out of fear, and we came to regret it. Weve seen our government mistreat our fellow citizens, and it has been a shameful part of our history.

Here he was likely referring to the internment of more than 100,000 Japanese-Americans amid the climate of fear that prevailed in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. These actions were eventually acknowledged in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 as the outcome of race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership. When asked about the internment last year, Trump said, I certainly hate the concept of it. But, he qualified, war is tough. And winning is tough.

Trump is asking voters to embrace their worst selves. He has made clear that a vote for him in November is a vote for fear, division and violence. Obama and others have articulated the high cost of that choice. Americans cant say they havent been warned.

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06/15/2016

By Edwin L. Aguirre



A team of 16 undergraduate students from the Francis College of Engineering and Manning School of Business scored second place in this years national Collegiate Wind Competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. This is the best showing so far for the university, which garnered third place during the inaugural competition in 2014.



The contest challenges students to identify a unique problem and to design, build and test small-scale wind turbines that can provide electrical power off the grid to address that problem. The students also have to develop and present a business plan on how to market the wind-power system to prospective clients. Photo by NREL Photo by NREL Members of the WindHawk team pose with the contest organizers after winning second place overall at the 2016 Collegiate Wind Competition in New Orleans.





A total of 12 teams from across the country, including Puerto Rico, faced off in the competition, which was held in New Orleans. Pennsylvania State University took home the top honors while Boise State University placed third. UMass Amhersts wind turbine won in the technical design category.



Im really impressed by how our team came together and surmounted all challenges, says Dana Pierce, a UMass Lowell mechanical engineering senior from Londonderry, N.H. From day one, our goal was to get our wind turbine going, and we never let up. The teams can-do attitude and interdisciplinary collaboration is really amazing. From left, student team members Seth Dabney, William Hallissey and Zachary Anderson prepare the WindHawk turbine for testing in the wind tunnel, seen here in the background.





Christian Bain, a Reading senior majoring in business administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship, agrees. At first, I was nervous about going against other prominent schools, but I knew hands-down that we have the hardest-working team in the field  a gritty, talented group with lots of drive and determination.



Pierce and Bain both graduated in May. The wind competition was the best experience of my college years, notes Bain, who plans to pursue a career in the renewable energy sector. It taught us the importance of teamwork, communication and meeting quality standards and deadlines, things you dont normally get to do inside a classroom.



Asst. Prof. Christopher Hansen (mechanical engineering) and Lecturer Michael Darish (electrical and computer engineering) served as advisers for the project, along with Assoc. Prof. David Willis (mechanical engineering), Assoc. Prof. Stephen Johnston (plastics engineering), Mechanical Engineering Department Chair and Prof. Christopher Niezrecki and UMass Lowell Innovation Hub Director and Visiting Prof. Tom ODonnell (management and entrepreneurship).



A Mobile, Sustainable Energy Source for Soldiers



The goal of the student-designed wind turbine, called WindHawk, is to provide the teams client  the U.S. Army  with innovative electricity production to meet the needs of combat soldiers stationed in remote, hostile regions like Afghanistan. The idea for this project stemmed from the students engaging with researchers at the universitys HEROES lab and the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center. The WindHawk team watches the results of the wind-tunnel testing displayed in real-time. The test tracked both the turbines power output and tunnel wind speed over time.





Right now, a big challenge for the Army is delivering diesel fuel for generators efficiently and economically, with minimal risk to the American troops protecting the fuel convoys. The students business plan calls for providing the Army camps with a network of ground turbines with a combined output of 4 kilowatts (kW) of electricity per day. Each turbine will be mounted on a lightweight, portable truss tower erected along the camps perimeter.



For forward-operating bases, an inflatable kite with dual turbines  called the Crosswind Aerial Wind System  is designed to produce 6 kW per day. The kite, which spans 13 feet wide and is tethered to the ground using a 1,640-foot-long cable, can be deployed or stowed in less than half an hour.



Our students as a team really excelled in integrating the technical aspects of the project with the business plan and presenting them successfully to the panel of judges, says Hansen. Photo by NREL Photo by NREL Team member Linda Pratto presents the project to a panel of judges as Seth Dabney and Christian Bain look on.





WindHawk represents a great example of students working together in an interdisciplinary fashion toward a shared goal, says ODonnell. Its a credit to the universitys academic programs. Our students totally nailed the wind-tunnel testing part of the competition, and their overall final score speaks volumes to the quality of the students project development and execution.



Adds Willis: The students made a lot of important network connections and interfaces with companies and organizations during the course of the project, which are important in the real world. These included the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center and Fort Belvoir in Virginia, which gave technical advice to the team, as well as the Federal-Fabrics-Fibers company in Lowell, next to the universitys South Campus, which provided material and guidance for the inflatable kite. We are grateful to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Department of Energy, through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL], for providing funds for the project, and to Dean Hartman of the Francis College of Engineering for letting us use the MakerSpace.

To see more photos of the 2016 Collegiate Wind Competition, visit the NREL Flickr page.


Lonnie Bunch, founding director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture, which will open Sept. 24. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

The National Museum of African American History and Culture expects to draw tens of thousands visitors to its September celebration that will include lavish dinners, a White House reception and a star-studded performance at the Kennedy Center.

And those events happen before the actual Sept. 24 opening, when President Obama will cut the ribbon before an estimated crowd of 20,000, Founding Director Lonnie Bunch said Wednesday.

Dignitaries from around the country and the world are expected, as are church groups, museum members, and those who donated objects and money.

We expect that to be a miniinauguration, Bunch said. It will be seen as a pilgrimage for many people.

Meanwhile, the museum has blazed past its $270 million goal in private donations. As of last month, it had raised $273.6 million from corporations, foundations and individuals, including more than $20 million from Oprah Winfrey, its largest single donor. Bunch believes they will raise close to $300 million by the opening.

With four months to go before its grand opening, step inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture as the galleries start to take form. (McKenna Ewen/The Washington Post)

Some 7,000 VIPs will be seated for the ceremony, and viewing areas and Jumbotrons will be set up near the museum, adjacent to the Washington Monument between 14th and 15th streets NW.

The museum will open to the public about 1 p.m. that day, after the speeches have ended. (Were trying to do the impossible, limit the number of speeches, Bunch said with a smile.

A mini-Folklife Festival is planned for the Mall, with tents for music and food. It will all be free, Bunch said, noting that he has raised $8 million so far to cover the costs of the celebration.

The Kennedy Center will host an invitation-only performance on Friday, Sept. 23. Produced by Quincy Jones, the event will feature Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and other top performers, although Bunch was mum on names. There will be a lottery for Washington schoolchildren who want to attend, and some tickets made available to supporters of all kinds.

Earlier that evening, Obama will host a reception at the White House.

Other private receptions are planned, including a dinner in the museum on Sept. 23 for donors who gave at least a halfmillion dollars. Events will be held for construction workers and Smithsonian staff. The evening of the opening, a gala will start at the Arts and Industries Building and conclude at the museum with dessert and dancing.

It might be harder to open a museum than it is to build it, Bunch said.

1 of 28 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Take a peek inside the Smithsonians new African American museum View Photos The stunning building, situated near the Washington Monument, is set to open in September. Caption The stunning building, situated near the Washington Monument, is set to open Sept. 24. Aug. 9, 2016 The Smithsonian Institutionss National Museum of African American History and Culture sits on a site near the Washington Monument. Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post Wait 1 second to continue.

The museum has invited the living presidents and many national and international dignitaries to the ribbon-cutting. Bunch said he had yet to decide whether presidential nominees would be invited.

Bunch described the flurry of work to be finished in the 100 or so days until the opening. Several thousand objects that will be on display in the 11 exhibitions must still be installed, as well as thousands of images and 134 videos.

The videos bring nuance and complexity to the galleries and are part of the museums effort to integrate technology. There will be many immersive experiences woven into a more traditional approach. We are finding the [balance] between tradition and innovation, he said.

As of May 31, the museum had raised $273.6 million from private donors, but some of those gifts are for programs and endowment. It still needs more donations to cover its half of the $540 million in construction costs, Bunch said. Congress already provided its share of $270 million.

The capital campaign is the largest in the Smithsonians history. It will continue right up to the opening weekend.

You want to be $20 or $30 million over, to be perfectly honest, Bunch said. He expects they will.

Public hours for the museum during the first few days are still being determined and will depend on anticipated demand. Capacity is about 10,000 visitors a day, he said, so they are discussing keeping the museum open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. or perhaps 24 hours straight, as the National Museum of the American Indian did in 2004.

The museum also is working with African American museums and other institutions across the country to host viewing parties of the celebration for those unable to attend what he called the coda to the Obama administration.

A lot of people have been waiting for this, to share their objects and their stories, he said.
Dear readers:

In a May 25 letter to the editor published in The Washington Post, Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies, who is ostensibly concerned about the well-being of cats and in protecting them from suffering, decried my suggestion of communities developing humane sanctuaries for unadopted cats as an alternative to euthanasia. Robinson would rather have them released back outdoors, where they never belonged in the first place.

Robinson asserts, on the basis of one instance, Cats stacked in cramped spaces suffer from disease and mental anguish. Sanctuaries are expensive and cruel.

Actually, sanctuaries can mean safe, humane group housing in enriched environments, and the frequent recovery and rehabilitation of cats so they can be adopted to loving homes.

Robinson refuses to acknowledge the article Releasing Cats to Live Outdoors on my website, drfoxvet.net, which concludes that well-run sanctuaries and well-run trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs can both help reduce cat suffering and overpopulation.

But for some, there is no middle ground, and it is regrettable that ideology should trump the greater good  in this instance, the ultimate well-being of cats.

CAT CANT BE CAUGHT

Dear Dr. Fox:

I have had many cats in my 70 years, but never one like this.

Her owner died, and she was put in a shelter, where she was not doing well. Shes very shy, so a vet had her moved to a sanctuary, where she stayed for seven months, until I brought her home.

Shes been here for six months and seems comfortable, unless someone else comes into the house, and then she hides. Shes still shy, but she has settled in and is getting along with the older male cat. They are both indoor only.

The problem is that she has mats on her back that are really dense, and I cannot trim her. Im sure they are tight and uncomfortable. I managed to get her to the vet once in the beginning to make sure she was healthy.

One day I finally caught her, but I couldnt get her into the carrier because she was so hysterical. I got sedatives from my vet, but I cant get a whole one down her. Shes taken half twice, but they seem to have no effect.

Something has to be done about the mats, but Ive never had a cat who was so uncontrollable. She likes to be petted, but she wont let me pick her up or even get too close. Ive left out a carrier, and shell go inside to eat, but only when Im not around. It feels like Im letting her suffer, but I dont know how to fix it.

S.B., Talent, Ore.

DF: I am sure that you are not the only person with a cat that is impossible to get into a crate or carrier to get to the veterinary clinic for much-needed professional care.

My advice is to call your local animal shelter or humane society and ask them to send one or two experienced cat handlers to net and cage your cat. After all, this is a serious animal welfare issue. You could also call veterinary clinics in your area to find out what they might do.

SEPARATION ANXIETY

Dear Dr. Fox:

I have a rescued beagle with separation anxiety. He chewed my curtains, woodwork around the windows (Plexiglas solved that) and the sofa skirt. Each time I left for short periods, I petted him and said, Ill be right back. Upon returning, I said, Right back, right back. Although the words probably didnt mean anything, hed hear them every time.

After three weeks, he was fine. I still say the words as a habit. He had a companion beagle, but that didnt calm him down. The routine I mentioned did.

J.M., Fairfield, Conn.

DF: Thanks for confirming how many dogs can overcome separation anxiety following your common sense  and intuitive  approach.

Far too many dogs and other animals are over-medicated for their separation anxiety. I appreciate the way you have managed your dogs.

A CARING CAT

Dear Dr. Fox:

A few weeks ago, I was very sick with food poisoning. At times I was moaning in pain, moving from place to place. My cat Cleo followed me everywhere, much like the stories you hear about pet cats in hospitals. My cat looked as though she felt sympathy for me.

Is it just speculation or scientific that she can feel emotions for me? Am I being too anthropomorphic? I think she really felt for me.

C.O.D., Alexandria

DF: Many people have written to me expressing their surprise, appreciation and amazement that some cats seem to know when to become attentive and caring when their human companions are clearly suffering, be it from abdominal pain, a broken leg, or grief or depression.

Many cats will lie right against a painful part of the persons body, and their purring may be both relaxing and healing. Just as with humans, some cats seem self-involved and lacking empathy, while others are highly empathetic, which can make them more vulnerable to others emotional distress.

No, you are not anthropomorphizing so much as zoo-morphizing. Cats and humans (like other animals) have similar brain centers and neuro-endocrine systems mediating emotional responses that enable us to understand one another at an intuitive level.

Such interspecies communication is limited for those who are instrumental rationalists and doubt even that animals share with us similar emotional states and, therefore, cognitive processing.

For details on the topic of empathy, see my books Cat Body, Cat Mind and Animals and Nature First.

EXPLOSIVE SITUATION

Dear readers:

Setting off loud fireworks is an unquestioned cultural tradition, but for animals sakes, it is an abomination and should be strictly limited, if not prohibited.

For several days, before and after Fourth of July celebrations and New Years Eve, there are sporadic bursts in many neighborhoods, causing injury to unsupervised children and wildlife, especially roosting birds, which fly in the dark and injure or kill themselves.

People with cats and dogs should not leave them unattended during the peak time for fireworks. Draw the blinds and put animals in a quiet room with the radio or television on at high volume to act as a sound barrier.

For dogs that are scared and might try to go through a window or screen door in terror, a tight T-shirt or ThunderShirt can have a calming effect, as can melatonin given 30 minutes before the expected explosions.

Michael W. Fox, author of a newsletter and books on animal care, welfare and rights, is a veterinarian with doctoral degrees in medicine and animal behavior. Send letters to animaldocfox@gmail.com or write to him at United Feature Syndicate, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo. 64106.


Once you make rye bread, use it for New Jersey Sloppy Joes. . . (Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post)

. . . or for Spiced Chickpeas and Haricots Verts on Grilled Bread. (Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post)

Dads cook! So in honor of Fathers Day this Sunday, we present five fond reminiscences: Dianne Jacob cherishes a dented old egg poacher and memories of her dads love of eggs; Matthew Vitas father nodded to his heritage with simple but memorable Italian food; Dudley Brookss career-military dad approached the grill and stove with soldierly precision; Matt Rennies father didnt enjoy cooking but chose to make breakfast for his kids every single morning; and Tim Carman learned a thing or two by watching his perfectionist dad obsess over cinnamon toast.

[More Chat Leftovers: Saving scraps for broth; keep an open mind about closed oysters]

Theres a lot more in Food this week  you do have washingtonpost.com/food bookmarked, right?  but lets move along to todays main event: the weekly Free Range chat. Got culinary questions or concerns? All topics are on the table, and if you have a food memory about your own father, feel free to share it. It all starts here at noon. Ill kick things off with a leftover question from a previous chat:

My favorite bakery just betrayed me by starting to put caraway seeds into their formerly wonderful scalded rye bread, so I am looking for a good recipe to make my own. Theirs is dark and hearty, so I assume its rye and whole wheat. Googling hasnt brought up much. Is there a cookbook I should look for?

Ive made some bread in my time, but I have to admit that Id never heard of scalded rye bread. So I hurried over to Google land and discovered that Scandinavia, Russia and some other places have a tradition of baking with scalded flour. Its basically what it sounds like: Boiling, or nearly boiling, water is poured over flour; the flour is allowed to cool and then is used to make bread. The UK website Virtuous Bread explains the process very clearly here.

Now, why would anyone do such a thing? According to that site, it turns out gorgeous bread. The crumb is soft and chewy as if there was a lot of fat in it and the flavour is sensational.

I also turned to local author and bread baker Sam Fromartz, and he has a cookbook recommendation for you. But youll have to wait until September, when The Rye Baker, by Stanley Ginsberg, will hit the shelves. Meanwhile, you can peruse Ginsbergs excellent blog at theryebaker.com, where he and others post recipes. I found three breads there that involve a scald: Deconstructed Saison Rye, Black Rye Bread and Moscow Rye.

Our own Recipe Finder doesnt have a scalded rye recipe (yet). But we do have plenty of uses for rye bread, which will be to your advantage once you start making your own. Check out Smorgastarta; New Jersey Sloppy Joe; Asparagus and Aged Gouda Dip; Baltic Sprat, Roasted Cherry Tomato and Vodka Bruschetta; Spiced Chickpeas and Haricots Verts on Grilled Bread; Roasted Garlic Soup; Beet-Walnut Pate; Quick Gravlax.
The BFG

By Roald Dahl.

Ages 8 to 12. 208 pages.

Sophie is dreading the moment the giant who carried her off in the night opens his mouth. The girl is certain he will pop her inside as a snack. But this giant isnt interested in munching on children.

(Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

I is a nice and jumbly Giant, he announces. I is the Big Friendly Giant!

The BFG isnt nearly as scary as his appearance would suggest. The 24-foot-tall, big-eared creature is actually a silly-talking softie. He feels bad about kidnapping Sophie, saying he did so only because humans arent supposed to see giants. Once she spotted him from her bedroom window, he had no choice but to take her. Otherwise, the BFG says, people would be putting me into the zoo or the bunkumhouse with all those squiggling hippodumplings and crocadowndillies.

Squiggling hippodumplings?

This, Sophie discovers, is the BFGs odd and amusing way of talking.

Words is oh such a twitch-tickling problem to me all my life, the giant confesses.

Sophie likes his funny expressions and his favorite drink: frobscottle, a soda that bubbles down instead of up. Not only does the drink taste good, it also produces an entertaining effect called a whizzpopper.

Sophie might not mind staying with the BFG if not for his neighbors: nine others giants. They are even bigger than he is, and theyre not friendly in the least. They have names such as Gizzardgulper and Bonecruncher, and they eat people.

When Sophie hears that the giants are set to gobble up schoolchildren, she wants to stop them. Her oversize friend doubts that he and Sophie can do anything, mostly because people will not believe that the nasty giants even exist.

Human beans is thinking they is very clever, but they is not, the BFG says. They is absolutely refusing to believe in anything unless they is actually seeing it right in front of their own schnozzles.

Sophie thinks she knows one human bean who could be convinced. But carrying out her plan may bring an end to her new friendship.

 Christina Barron

You might also like . . . Humans are the giants in Mary Nortons The Borrowers, the story of a tiny family that lives under the floorboards of a British home. A dad encounters aliens, pirates and wumpires while on a trip to the store in Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman. Younger readers might enjoy Roald Dahls The Enormous Crocodile, the story of a sneaky reptile that aims to eat children.

Next week El Deafo By Cece Bell. Ages 8 to 12. Cece, a rabbit-girl, feels shy about her deafness. Then she discovers an amazing superpower: Her hearing device allows her to hear whatever the teacher says and does at school  even in the bathroom! Pretending to be the superhero El Deafo, Cece learns to deal with the situations that embarrass her  and she becomes a real hero.


Michelle Obama arrives in Siem Reap, Cambodia, during a goodwill tour in March 2015. (Wong Maye-E/AP)

Michelle Obama will travel to Liberia, Morocco and Spain later this month to speak to girls and young women about the importance of education and promote the federal governments work to help girls stay in school. Obamas daughters, Malia and Sasha, and her mother, Marian Robinson, will join her.

The trip, which will begin June 27 and end July 1, is part of the White Houses Let Girls Learn initiative and the latest in a series of overseas goodwill tours Obama has made.

In Liberia, the first lady will visit a Peace Corps training facility and meet with girls at a leadership camp. She will also meet with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman elected to lead an African nation.

The following day, Obama will make a two-day swing through Morocco, where she will be joined by actresses Meryl Streep and Freida Pinto, who are advocates for issues affecting women and girls. There, the first lady will participate in a panel discussion with the stars, moderated by CNNs Isha Sesay, about the educational challenges girls face in the region.

On the final leg of the trip, Obama will deliver a speech in Madrid and meet with the queen of Spain, Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano.

The White House said in a statement that the first lady will announce new commitments by organizations to support Let Girls Learn, which was launched to help the 62 million girls around the world who are not enrolled in school.


Former House majority leader Eric Cantor. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)

Eric Cantor has just flown in from Saudi Arabia to give a 10-minute speech in Washington. In a few hours, hell dash off to Helsinki for a week-long business trip.

But first, a few carefully considered words. I dont know who said this, but theres a great quote: Vision without execution is a hallucination,  the former congressman tells the audience at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Somehow, in this town, weve gotten all hung up on, weve got to do these grandiose things, and weve got to get it done tomorrow.

This is the new Eric Cantor, the measured private-sector sage with long-term ideas and international reach. As vice chairman of Wall Street investment bank Moelis and Co., he circles the globe  Dubai, Beijing, New York  advising companies on how to position themselves in the global marketplace.

Two years ago, he was the rising star of the Republican Party, the presumptive heir to the speakership of the House, until he was humiliated in a primary election by a political novice. Cantor was the first sitting House majority leader in history to lose his congressional seat, a defeat so unexpected that it shocked the unshockable political establishment, which called it one of the greatest political upsets of modern times.

It was also, as it turns out, a cautionary tale.

In hindsight, that contest wasnt just a GOP primary election, Cantor says. It was a referendum on establishment politics, broken promises and angry voters growing distrust of Washington. He was at the epicenter of a populist uprising, the target of every disenfranchised voter in America.

It turned into an anyone-but-Cantor vote, he says in an interview at his downtown office, during another rare touchdown between international trips. But it was also a little bit of canary in the coal mine.

[Two years later, Cantors shocking loss reverberates]

Some politicians might have crawled home and grown a beard, turned self-pitying and bitter. Was he depressed? Im sure, if I got into analysis, I was, Cantor says with a grin. But I dont sit still much. Instead, the loss propelled him into a new life  lots of money, influence, powerful friends  among the 1 percent.

So the question before us: Was Eric Cantor unfairly run out of town? Or did he get out of Washington just in time?



Cantor, with his wife, Diana, beside him, delivers his concession speech on June 10, 2014. (Steve Helber/AP)

What in the world happened?

On Tuesday, June 10, 2014, Cantor was so confident about his primary race that he spent most of the day in Washington. A poll taken two weeks earlier showed him leading his tea party challenger by 34 points. It wasnt until he was driving home to Richmond that he realized something might be wrong. I remember getting a call from my consultant saying, Its going to be a long night, and I was like, What?, he recalls.

First elected to Congress in 2000, Cantor had always breezed to victory in Virginias 7th District, a conservative stronghold that runs from Richmond to the Shenandoah Valley. In 2012, he got 79 percent of the primary vote and won the general election by 17 points. Now he was facing an unknown economics professor named David Brat, who had the support of conservative radio hosts. But Cantor had outspent him, outpolled him, and had every reason to believe that he was headed for an eighth term.

As it turned out, it was not a long night. The returns came in early with the devastating news that Brat had won by 11 points, capturing 55 percent of the vote.

Cantor remembers every detail of that night. Its still very vivid, indelibly etched, he recalls. When it became clear that he was beaten, he turned to his wife and told her, Diana, were going up onstage. Youre not going to cry. Were going to get through this. Its going to be fine.

He was most worried about his three kids  now all in their 20s  who had never seen their father lose an election. Here, all of a sudden, boom! In the most public way imaginable, he says. That, to me, was the hardest thing. I didnt want them to get hurt. In hindsight, it was a valuable lesson: It did draw us closer, but it also showed them that life doesnt always go your way.

Pundits scrambled for an explanation: Cantor was uncompromising or too compromising. He supported too much immigration reform, or not enough. He raised too much money for other Republicans and didnt spend enough time in his own district. He was too cozy with Wall Street. He was too ambitious. The list went on and on.

There were a lot of people very focused on what in the world happened, Cantor says. Personally, he believes that crossover Democrats voting in Virginias open primary sealed his fate.

[What went wrong for Eric Cantor]

The next day, the National Journals Ron Fournier penned a warning with this headline: Elites Beware: Eric Cantors Defeat May Signal a Populist Revolution.

It was the opening shot in an undeclared war: Voters were fed up and believed that Washington politicians such as Cantor were unable or unwilling to do anything to change that. Time to blow it up and start over.



Cantor with former Florida governor Jeb Bush, whom he endorsed for president, in August 2015. (Jay Westcott/Reuters)

A culture of distrust

Now 53, Cantor has barely aged since leaving Congress. Theres the same restless energy, the same Southern lilt, but not a trace of recrimination.

Hes happy, says longtime friend Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute. Hes a grown-up. He understands that you win and you lose. Hes not weird in any way, like so many politicians.

But two years is a long time to reflect. As someone who was unceremoniously dumped after 22 years in elected office, Cantor has a few thoughts.

There is such a loss of faith in the institution of Washington, in the government itself, he explains, that voters cant listen to any politician at this point and believe them.

Millions are still suffering from the 2008 recession and dont feel that any politician has their backs. Theyre scared and mad as hell. And they seem to think they dont have any help out there in a very real way, he says.

In this culture of distrust, theres no patience for long-term vision or execution, a mind-set Cantor calls short-termism. And therein lies the problem that every politician in 2016 has to wrestle with: Angry people want solutions now! They want quick fixes and bold moves. They want Hail Mary passes, says Cantor, when the real business of governing is grinding out a first down on the field, making incremental progress, getting sacked and fighting back until you finally cross the goal line. Its slow, its messy and its how the game is played.

Which brings us to Donald Trump.

Establishment Republicans thought that Cantors loss was an aberration, a unique set of circumstances that wouldnt apply to, say, Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio or any other traditional candidate in 2016. In August, Cantor endorsed Bush, who shares his moderate Republican views. It looked like a positive for Bush: Cantor has a broad network of political donors nationwide and is still well-liked in GOP circles.

Trump responded with a tweet: Who wants the endorsement of a guy (@EricCantor) who lost in perhaps the greatest upset in the history of Congress?

Flash-forward to this summer, when Bush and all the other presidential hopefuls were swept aside by the tsunami that is Trump.

[Jeb Bush drops out of 2016 presidential campaign]

I dont like that hes our nominee, but he is, says Cantor. I have reservations because hes changed his position on so many issues, and Im still offended that he makes fun of people with disabilities and minorities. Frankly, I dont think hes a role model for our children.

But Cantor just cant bring himself to vote for Hillary Clinton. He knows what shell do as president and doesnt like it. Trump is a wild card, but, like so many in his party, Cantor is choosing the devil he doesnt know.

This is his Hobsons choice, and yet he doesnt believe that what worked in the primaries will propel the GOP to victory in November: Negativity, attack and anger will not be a sustainable campaign narrative in the general election, he says. It will not.

Then again, hes been wrong before.



Cantor, center, with House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy and Speaker John A. Boehner in June 2011, after a meeting with President Obama on the national debt ceiling. (Alex Wong/GETTY IMAGES)

A Republican rarity

In his 13 years in Congress, Cantor was a strategic pragmatist and prodigious fundraiser. He rose quickly through the Republican ranks, becoming whip in 2009, majority leader in 2011, and was expected to inherit the speakership when John A. Boehner retired. In 2010, he co-authored the bestseller Young Guns: A New Generation of Conservative Leaders with Paul Ryan and Kevin McCarthy. He was a very big deal.

He was also a rarity among Republicans: the grandson of Russian Jews who came to Richmond a century ago, the son of a real estate developer. Cantor joined the family business after attending George Washington University, William and Mary Law School and Columbia University, where he met his wife on a blind date.

He married into an outspoken Democratic family, which gave him a knack, some say, for listening to opposing viewpoints. He bonded with Vice President Biden during the 2011 debt-ceiling talks, and the two have remained close. Eric is one of the brightest members Ive ever dealt with  a man of enormous integrity whom I trusted completely, says the vice president. He and I had strong disagreements, but we knew we had to arrive at a consensus.

He remains friends with former colleagues on both sides of the aisle who say he was one of the few members who could bring together different factions. Hes operational, says Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), who serves as House minority whip. He doesnt simply take ideological positions and stick with them. Hes prepared to enter into discussions.

Critics on the left  and there were many, including President Obama  accused Cantor of playing hardball and enabling the stalemate between Congress and the White House. Hes one of the reasons the system is broken today, says a senior Democratic aide who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak for his congressional boss. Cantor, he says, was disrespectful to Obama at every negotiation, aggressive and confrontational, and deeply disliked by many Democratic members.

Critics on the right, meanwhile, accused him of being soft on immigration, too compromising and too beholden to Wall Street.

Cantor concedes that liberals and conservatives got mad at him. Despite all the talk, the House leadership had not managed to pass legislation that improved American lives in tangible ways  and his constituents decided that he was making Congress worse, not better.

Its been years and years of promises, he admits. Voters want to see progress. But I dont think anger is a sustainable solution to the problem.

Now his name is a verb and a threat. I think Paul Ryan is soon to be Cantored, Sarah Palin told CNN last month, predicting that the speaker would lose to his tea party opponent in Wisconsins August primary unless he endorsed Donald Trump.

Life is about balance

Cantors primary loss was the first major blow in a golden life. Both his parents were still alive then (his father died in 2015) and he was blessed with a happy marriage, healthy children and a successful career. Now he faced an uncertain future.

He resigned as majority leader six weeks after the primary and his congressional seat a month later, which allowed Brat to assume office after a special election.

[Eric Cantor to leave Congress on Aug. 18]

By that time, Cantor was meeting with friends, former colleagues, anyone who would take his call: Ive always had this adage: If you want something, ask for advice. Thats how he ended up at lunch with Ken Moelis, founder of Moelis and Co.

Cantor earned $193,400 as majority leader; his wife, a lawyer and investment banker, was the real moneymaker. One of the reasons he took the Moelis job, he says, was because it was his turn to support the family. Life is about balance. For 14 years, she had been basically the breadwinner, he says. I felt that I needed to do this for her.

His annual salary at Moelis is $400,000, and he received $1 million in stock (vested over five years) and a $400,000 signing bonus in cash in 2014, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings. In 2015, he was slated to make another $1.2 million and $400,000 in stock. The $3.4 million payday drew accusations of selling out; at the very least, Cantor jumped into Americas other least-trusted institution: Wall Street.

He says that both politics and Wall Street rely too much on short-term results over long-term success; he gets the cynicism toward and distrust of the 1 percent. But he explains that Moelis, which specializes in mergers and acquisitions, is not like the too-big-to-fail investment banks that were bailed out in 2008. We are not one of those firms that has any kind of taxpayer backing, he says.

Cantor was hired for his expertise in global markets and government regulation. He opened the banks Washington office in early 2015 but says hes not a lobbyist: I certainly know a lot of people, but I operate at the intersection of political risk, where public policy meets business-making decisions.

Objectively, even Cantor could argue that he got out of Washington just in time: Now he enjoys a globe-hopping job, more money, the occasional TV interview, lunch or dinner with friends on the Hill. He was looking forward to helping elect a Republican president in 2016.

Then Trump happened. Its very frustrating to me to see whats going on with the party and to see whats going on with the country, says Cantor.

So the $3.4 million question: Would he ever jump back into politics?

Life, Cantor has learned, can be unpredictable: I never say never.
Brightwood native Robert White defeated long-time D.C. Council member Vincent Orange in the Democratic primary for an at-large seat. He's on the Kennedy Street corridor, one of the struggling commercial strips he'd like to see revitalized. (Fenit Nirappil/The Washington Post)

Political neophyte Robert White had a plan: Take on a well-known D.C. politician, clear the field of spoilers and appeal to new residents flooding into the District.

It worked.

In the biggest upset of Tuesdays Democratic primaries, White, 34, defeated 12-year-incumbent Vincent B. Orange, 59, in the race for an at-large seat on the D.C. Council. The victory established White as a giant-slayer and  as the Democratic nominee in November  a likely fresh new face on a legislative body that grows increasingly younger and more progressive.

Orange had never lost a race as an incumbent in 11 campaigns since 1990, and he entered the latest election with a fundraising edge and a notable legislative achievement: He negotiated a deal for a $15 minimum wage that drew national attention.

Sheer longevity and name recognition had always given him an edge in crowded fields, despite being seen as vulnerable because he barely held on to his seat in 2012 and his reputation was marred by a recent ethics charge.

The third candidate in Tuesdays race, newcomer David Garber, attacked Orange for ethics failures and used mailings that included a large image of a rat.

[Vincent Gray makes comeback, incumbents lose in District primary]

Political observers attribute the upset to a mix of Oranges unpopularity, Whites persistent and focused campaign, and an anti-incumbent wave that felled three of four incumbents.

Vincent Orange was never a super-popular elected official, said Michael Fauntroy, an associate professor of political science at Howard University. When presented with a viable alternative, the voters took it.

Whites victory means that in just two years, voters will have replaced a majority of the 13-member council, usually with political novices, and, often, ousting long-serving incumbents.

White, a former aide to D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), lost his first race, in 2014, for an open at-large seat.

[Fewer oranges, more minimum-wage talk in Vincent Oranges 11th D.C. campaign]

Soon after that loss, he was hired by newly elected Attorney General Karl A. Racine as director of community outreach, boosting his visibility for nearly a year before he decided to take on Orange.

Heeding the lessons of his failed 2014 bid, White hired the same consultants who ran Racines campaign. He worked to clear the field of potential spoiler candidates, though Garber stayed in and drew 15 percent of the vote.

White had pledged to increase oversight of city agencies and address the displacement of people priced out of their homes. He supports a legislative proposal to require employers in the District to provide 12 weeks of paid sick leave.

He was endorsed by council member Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3), tenants rights groups, the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, a Latino caucus, and other progressive organizations. He also received support from former mayor Vincent C. Gray and Trayon White as they campaigned for council seats east of the Anacostia River, a stronghold for Orange.

We started out with a much greater aim: We were going to work the city, not just some wards, said Sean Rankin, Whites campaign manager.

White won his largest number of votes in Ward 3, in the citys affluent upper Northwest, where voters turned out at the highest rate in the city, even though the only competitive contest for those voters was the at-large seat.

He prevailed in a block  Wards 1, 2 and 6  stretching from Georgetown to Capitol Hill, which have all seen increasing property values and an influx of younger voters in the last five years.

White cut into Oranges usual base of support, drawing 36 percent of the vote in Oranges home Ward 5. And he pulled in more than a quarter of the vote in Wards 7 and 8, where low turnout also depressed Oranges vote haul.

Certainly, I think Robert caught fire with younger voters  part of his appeal is his relative youth and his awareness of both D.C.s  the old D.C. and the newly developing District of Columbia, Racine said. Robert is one who can serve as a bridge between those two.

On the campaign trail, White had also aggressively attacked Orange, accusing him of pay-to-play politics and dismissing his ideas as outlandish, including Oranges plan to address the housing crunch with 1,000 tiny homes for millennials and seniors.

For this campaign, Orange retired some of his past campaign gimmicks  like giving away oranges while riding a Segway  and presented himself as a more serious candidate. He tried to highlight his work on the minimum wage and other labor achievements.

Its very difficult to make a second first impression, and the first impression to Vincent Orange was that he was a bit of a clown, said Chuck Thies, a campaign aide to Gray, who considered taking on Orange.

A lot of voters were suffering from what I call Orange fatigue,  said Dorothy Brizill, a longtime city activist and election monitor. Every time you turned around, he was on the ballot.

Rosa Lee, a 68-year-old retiree in Brightwood Park, voted for White because she thought the longtime council member was getting too combative, too stale and too odd.

He reminds me of the late Marion Barry on some facets, and I am interested in bringing in new perspectives, Lee said.

On Wednesday, Orange said he wouldnt rule out trying to keep his seat by running as an independent in Novembers general election, but he acknowledged that White was likely to take his seat. Its time for the city to get behind the new leadership, Orange said. Who knows  my public service may continue, but right now, it looks like its going to be paused.

In an interview Wednesday, White said hes not going to take the November election for granted, although hell need to take a campaign pause for his first child, due in three weeks.

He also insisted that he wouldnt be a puppet of Racine, who has clashed with Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, or at loggerheads with the mayor. I dont know that I have an ideology, said White. Im very focused on outcomes  really not so much labels that come up with other peoples baggage.

Aaron Davis contributed to this report.
View of the original house of Col. Francis Newman in Port Tobacco, Md., and the site believed to house his slaves. Anthropologists say it could have been the birthplace of author, abolitionist and minister Josiah Henson. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

The archaeological finds seem ordinary at first. A rusted belt buckle, shards of broken pottery and glass, remnants of an old clay pipe.

But in this detritus of lives lived more than 200 years ago on a southern Maryland farm known as La Grange, researchers in Charles County believe they have uncovered the birthplace of a key figure in African American history.

Josiah Henson is not a household name, but the autobiography the former slave published in 1849 provided integral source material  and some say inspired the title character  for Harriet Beecher Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin, published three years later. Stowes book, the most popular novel of the 19th century and one that has been translated into more languages than any other book besides the Bible, is credited with helping anti-slavery forces gain support for their cause in the years leading to the Civil War.

[Virginia university expresses regret for actions in civil rights era, apologizes]

In his telling, Henson describes being born on a farm belonging to Francis N near Port Tobacco, Md., and he later relates the story of his mother being brutally attacked by an overseer. When his father sought revenge for the attack, he was punished with 100 lashes and had his right ear cut off. His father was then sold to another slave owner.

An engraving of the Rev. Josiah Henson taken from the 1881 edition of his autobiography, An Autobiography of the Rev. Josiah Henson (Uncle Tom). (An Autobiography of the Rev. Josiah Henson ("Uncle Tom")/Montgomery Parks)

Julia King, a professor of anthropology at nearby St. Marys College of Maryland, said it took months of scrutinizing old documents and several weeks of digs at the seven-acre property to determine that this was indeed where Henson was born and lived for the first eight or nine years of his life.

She admits that the evidence is not definitive.

Were not going to find a piece of ceramic that says Josiah Henson was born here,  King said Wednesday as she led a tour of the excavation site. But she and others have discovered plenty of convincing clues, more than enough, she says, to make the case that this is Hensons birthplace.

[For a family whose ancestors were slaves at the Sweet Briar plantation, a loss]

Located on the winding road between Port Tobacco and La Plata, the grand house built in the late 18th century by Francis Newman still stands on the property. The slave quarters are long gone, but after mapping out the land and taking shovel samples every 25 feet or so, King and her team believe they have located the site of the former structures. It is there, with just a few sample digs, that they have uncovered a trove of items dating to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They expect to find many more in the weeks ahead as the project continues.

King has spent her career as an anthropologist and says she doesnt often get emotional about artifacts that she and her team unearth. This time, however, was different. She had just watched the remake of Roots when the digging portion of the project began. The realization that the miniseries was set at about the same time that Henson would have been enslaved hit her hard.

I was really just overwhelmed with emotion, King said. And I was really just grateful that I had the opportunity to get this bigger story out.

Some of the artifacts discovered at the site. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

In his book, Henson tells of how his family was separated and he and his mother were then sold to an owner in Montgomery County, where a park now bears his name. He later tried to buy his way out of slavery but was cheated out of money by his former owner. Finally, in 1830, he escaped from a slave owner in Kentucky and made his way to freedom in Canada, where he founded a settlement for former slaves.

Hensons story also is an inspiration for Janice Wilson, president of the Charles County NAACP, who says she wants to make sure others in the community learn more about him.

Hes very much a part of American history, and we know that our history over the years has been denied or not really taught in history books, she said. Its a proud moment here for African Americans in Charles County to know that someone with the same blood running through our veins was born here and was such a significant figure.

What happens next to this site is unclear. The area believed to be the location of the former slave quarters is in a rolling hayfield lined by giant pine trees. King says that a great first step would be a historical marker to alert passersby to its importance. Perhaps more ambitiously, shes trying to persuade the local high school to create a Hamilton-like musical based on Hensons life.

I just want to make sure everyone knows who he is and where he lived, King says.
Madison Essig danced at two proms her senior year. There was her high schools traditional senior prom, where she asked a junior as a date in a cupcake-filled promposal. She wore a sleeveless black dress and heels that gave her 4-foot-6 frame a few extra inches.

Before that prom, there was the Best Buddies Capital Region Prom  a prom hosted by the international nonprofit group aimed at connecting teens with developmental and intellectual disabilities with other teens throughout the Washington region.

Essig, 19, has Down syndrome and attended Woodrow Wilson Senior High in Northwest Washington. She had already become an advocate for people with disabilities in her schools hallways, and many of her friends have become involved in the nonprofit since getting to know her. About 50 classmates took a bus from their high school one May evening to attend the prom together at the Carnegie Library near downtown  a night she and some of her classmates say was more fun than the D.C. schools own prom.

Essig graduated from high school Tuesday with more than 400 classmates, including her 17-year-old brother. She is believed to be among the first with Down syndrome to graduate from a D.C. high school with a standard diploma since D.C. Public Schools started keeping digital records in 1996, according to school system officials.

It was a feat Essig accomplished by taking the majority of her courses in mainstream classrooms without an aide. Other courses  including geometry  she took in a class with a special education teacher but followed the standard curriculum and workload.

Madison Essig graduates from Wilson High school with the Class of 2016 at American University's Bender Arena as one of the first students with Down Syndrome to graduate from a D.C. Public School with a regular diploma, not a certificate. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

She graduated with an A-minus grade-point average and is now ready for her next challenge: college. She will attend George Mason Universitys Learning Into Future Environments (LIFE) program, which is tailored to postsecondary students with intellectual disabilities.

Her disability has been no impediment to Essigs success in or out of the classroom. In addition to her stellar academic record, Essig managed to build a robust social life.

Shes a lot more popular than me, said her brother, Zach, adding that Madison would often arrive home talking about a new friend she had made that day. Her happiness is contagious.

Yeah, I have a lot more friends than my brother, she said.

When Essig was born, doctors told her parents that she would be able to walk but might never learn to read or write. They were determined, though, to provide her with the same opportunities as all other children. They quickly learned that Madison had the work ethic to make the most of those opportunities.

She just doesnt give up, said her mother, Kimberly Templeton.

Essig has been in mainstream classes since she was in grade school in Roanoke. In third grade, Templeton held her back a year because she was struggling socially, and she wanted her daughter to be in the same grade as Zach and his twin sister. The family moved to the District when the children were sophomores in high school, and Templeton was able to get Madison into mainstream classes at Wilson.

People with Down syndrome typically learn slower, and they can struggle to learn conceptual and abstract concepts. Essig is vocal in class when she doesnt understand something and needs extra help. She wants to earn a four-year college degree and become a professional advocate for people with disabilities.

It opened our mind to what is possible, said Wilson High Schools principal, Kimberly Martin. We shouldnt just reach to the minimum status. We should push all students, regardless of their labels, to their best.

Erin Doherty, a graduating Wilson senior, said she had never met someone her own age with an intellectual disability before meeting Essig. The two quickly became close friends, and now Doherty is president of the schools Best Buddies chapter.

As soon as I met her, she was so fun to be around, Doherty said. Not every high school student gets to meet someone like Madison.

Zach, who will attend Tufts University in the fall, and other students led an educational campaign at school to stop students from using offensive terms to describe those with intellectual disabilities. The students had an assembly, at which Essig spoke about why insults are so hurtful.

I've seen the most popular kids in this school change over three years by just being exposed to Madison, Templeton said. I guarantee that they are better people  they are more empathetic, they are more understanding, they are more patient.

Essig says her favorite part of high school has been attending with her brother.

Its been amazing, she said. Hes helped me a lot.

And her brother marveled at how his sister was able to go to prom and graduate high school alongside him.

She might have Down syndrome, but she can still go to dances, go to school and graduate, he said. Shes shown so many people that having a disability doesnt have to hold you back.
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Fairfax County

These were among incidents reported by the Fairfax County Police Department. For information, call 703-246-2253.

Fair Oaks District

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Blueberry Lane, 13200 block, June 6. A bicycle was stolen from a residence.

Chain Bridge Rd., 2900 block, June 6. Merchandise was stolen from a business.

Fairfax Towne Ctr., 12100 block, June 7. A purse was stolen from a business.

James Swart Cir., 11200 block, June 6. A phone was stolen from a residence.

James Swart Cir., 11200 block, June 6. A purse was stolen from a residence.

Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy., 12900 block, June 6. An electronic device was stolen from a residence.

Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy., 13300 block, June 6. Cash was stolen from a business.

Lee Hwy., 11100 block, June 6. Merchandise was stolen from a business.

Franconia District

SEXUAL ASSAULT

Richmond Hwy. near Cherwek Dr. June 3 about 4:55 p.m. A woman was walking in the area when a man approached her from behind, grabbed her dress and sexually assaulted her. The man fled on foot.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Cassel Glen Ct., 5700 block, June 6. Sunglasses were stolen from a vehicle.

Cinder Bed Rd., 7800 block, June 7. Wheels were stolen from a vehicle.

Gunston Plaza, 7700 block, June 6. Merchandise was stolen from a business.

Hansford Ct., 7200 block, June 6. A wallet was stolen from a residence.

Kingstowne Towne Ctr., 5900 block, June 6. Cigarettes were stolen from a business.

Old Keene Mill Rd., 7000 block, June 6. Snacks were stolen from a business.

South Van Dorn St., 5700 block, June 7. A license plate was stolen from a vehicle.

Telegraph Rd., 5700 block, June 6. Snacks were stolen from a business.

Mason District

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Arlington Blvd., 6100 block, June 6. A wallet was stolen from a business.

Arlington Blvd., 6100 block, June 7. Merchandise was stolen from a business.

Arlington Blvd., 6400 block, 10:20 p.m. June 4. Property was stolen from a business.

Arlington Blvd., 7600 block, June 6. Merchandise was stolen from a business.

Little River Tpk., 6200 block, June 6. Groceries were stolen from a business.

Little River Tpk., 6200 block, June 7. Items were stolen from a business.

Lothian Rd., 3200 block, June 6. Clothing was stolen from a residence.

Oliver Ave., 3800 block, June 6. Items were stolen from a vehicle.

Pinecrest Heights Dr., 4500 block, June 6. A wallet was stolen from a vehicle.

Prince William Dr., 3900 block, June 6. A phone was stolen from a residence.

South Jefferson St., 3400 block, June 6. Bags were stolen from a vehicle.

VEHICLE THEFT

Leesburg Pike, 6100 block, June 6. A 1999 Honda Civic.

McLean District

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Anderson Rd., 1600 block, June 6. A beer was stolen from a business.

Bellforest Ct., 2700 block, June 6. A phone was stolen from a vehicle.

Chain Bridge Rd., 1900 block, June 6. Sunglasses were stolen from a business.

Chain Bridge Rd., 1900 block, June 6. Merchandise was stolen from a business.

Dawson St., 1700 block, June 6. Cash was stolen from a vehicle.

Gallows Rd., 2700 block, June 6. Property was stolen from a residence.

International Dr., 2000 block, June 7. A purse was stolen from a business.

Inversham Dr., 7700 block, June 6. A license plate was stolen from a vehicle.

Lee Hwy., 7300 block, June 6. An electronic device was stolen from a business.

Merrilee Dr., 2800 block, June 6. A lawn mower was stolen from a business.

Nelway Dr., 6200 block, June 6. An electronic device was stolen from a business.

Tysons Corner Ctr., 7900 block, June 7. A phone was stolen from a business.

Tysons Corner Ctr., 8100 block, June 6. Cash was stolen from a business.

VEHICLE THEFT

Lee Oaks, 2800 block, June 6. A 2013 Toyota Prius.

Mount Vernon District

ROBBERY

Fairhaven Ave., 2400 block, 2:26 a.m. June 7. Commercial robbery.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Arlington Dr., 2900 block, June 6. A beer was stolen from a business.

Huntington Ave., 2500 block, June 6. Merchandise was stolen from a business.

Inversham Dr., 7700 block, June 6. A license plate was stolen from a vehicle.

Richmond Hwy., 6000 block, June 6. A radio was stolen from a vehicle.

Richmond Hwy., 6300 block, June 6. Merchandise was stolen from a business.

Richmond Hwy., 6300 block, June 7. A phone was stolen from a business.

Richmond Hwy., 6700 block, June 6. Merchandise was stolen from a business.

Richmond Hwy., 7700 block, June 6. A license plate was stolen from a vehicle.

Richmond Hwy., 8000 block, June 7. A phone was stolen from a business.

Richmond Hwy., 8200 block, June 7. Items were stolen from a vehicle.

Tower Dr., 6500 block, June 6. Jewelry was stolen from a residence.

VEHICLE THEFTS

Cameron Run., 5800 block, June 7. A 2004 Honda CBR 1000 motorcycle.

Dorset Dr., 6500 block, June 7. A 2005 Nissan Frontier.

Reston District

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Boathouse Ct., 11100 block, June 6. Property was stolen from a residence.

Business Center Dr., 1700 block, June 6. A bag was stolen from a business.

Cameron Glen Dr., 1800 block, June 7. A laptop was stolen from a business.

Hunter Gate Way, 10900 block, June 6. A phone was stolen from a park.

Hunters Woods Plaza, 2300 block, June 7. Cash was stolen from a business.

Sully District

ASSAULT

Meadowland Ct., 4100 block, 10:22 p.m. June 5. Shooting in an occupied dwelling.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Lee Hwy., 15900 block, June 7. A license plate was stolen from a vehicle.

Sullyfield Cir., 14200 block, June 7. A purse was stolen from a vehicle.

West Springfield District

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Dampier Ct., 8400 block, June 6. Cash was stolen from a vehicle.

Demille Ct., 7400 block, June 6. Cash was stolen from a vehicle.

Langport Dr., 8600 block, June 7. A bicycle was stolen from a residence.

Moline Pl., 8300 block, June 6. A GPS device, a phone charger and a hat were stolen from vehicle.

Moline Pl., 8300 block, June 7. Items were stolen from a vehicle.

Old Keene Mill Rd., 9200 block, June 6. Merchandise was stolen from a business.

VEHICLE THEFT

Malone Ridge St., 5500 block, June 6. A 2014 Suzuki Colt GSXR 1000.

Fairfax City

These were among incidents reported by the Fairfax City Police Department. For information, call 703-273-2889.

INDECENT EXPOSURE

Old Lee Hwy., 3200 block, 1:52 p.m. June 3. Arrest made.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Ford Rd., 10300 block, 7:33 a.m. June 6. From vehicle.

Old Lee Hwy., 3200 block, 11:52 a.m. June 8. Shoplifting; arrest made.

Wood Rd., 10300 block, 10:10 a.m. June 7. Larceny.

FRAUD

Main St., 9500 block, 4:14 p.m. June 4. Counterfeiting.

VANDALISM

Fairfax Blvd., 9900 block, 1:27 a.m. June 4.

University Dr., 3900 block, 6:09 p.m. June 4.

Falls Church

These were among incidents reported by the Falls Church Police Department. For information, call 703-248-5056.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Gibson St., 200 block, midnight May 31. From vehicle.

Maple Ave. N., 400 block, midnight May 30. From building.

Washington St. N., 100 block, midnight May 30. From building.

Wilson Blvd., 6700 block, midnight May 31. Trespassing.

Wilson Blvd., 6700 block, midnight June 1. From vehicle.

Wilson Blvd., 6700 block, midnight June 3. Trespassing.

Wilson Blvd., 6700 block, midnight June 4. Trespassing.

Wilson Blvd., 65700 block, midnight June 2. Theft reported.

VANDALISM

Maple Ave. N., 200 block, midnight June 2. Destruction of property.

Maple Ave. S., 400 block, midnight June 1. Destruction of property.

Park Ave., 300 block, midnight June 2. Destruction of property.

Herndon

These were among incidents reported by the Herndon Police Department. For information, call 703-435-6846.

SEXUAL ASSAULT

Early Fall Ct., 500 block, 8:43 p.m. June 1. A sexual assault was reported.

ASSAULTS

Elden St., 300 block, 5:20 a.m. June 2. Simple assault.

Elden St., 600 block, 1:05 p.m. June 5. Simple assault.

Elden St., 700 block, 10:07 p.m. May 30. Simple assault.

Elden St., 700 block, 11:28 p.m. June 4. Simple assault.

Elden St., 700 block, 12:52 a.m. June 5. Simple assault.

Lisa Ct., 1100 block, 11:26 a.m. June 1. Simple assault.

Madison Manor Ct., 400 block, 2:54 p.m. June 5. Harassing or obscene phone calls.

Saber Lane, 1000 block, 8:26 p.m. May 31. Simple assault.

Trevino Lane, 1000 block, 7:46 p.m. June 5. Simple assault.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Alabama Dr., 1000 block, 11:46 p.m. May 30. Trespassing.

Arkansas Ave., 400 block, 8:24 a.m. June 1. From vehicle.

Elden St., 1200 block, 6:51 p.m. June 4. Shoplifting.

Florida Ave., 500 block, 8:39 p.m. May 31.

Florida Ave., 500 block, 11:16 a.m. June 5.

Legacy Pride Dr., 600 block, 7:53 a.m. May 31. Tampering with a vehicle.

Worldgate Dr., 12000 block, 2:43 p.m. May 31.

Worldgate Dr., 13000 block, 1:38 a.m. May 30. Tampering with a vehicle.

VANDALISM

April Way, 1300 block, 1:09 p.m. May 30. Destruction of property.

Vienna

These were among incidents reported by the Vienna Police Department. For information, call 703-255-6396.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

Cedar Lane SE, 200 block, 12:03 p.m. June 7. Petty theft.

Locust St. SE, 200 block, June 10. Petty theft.

Ware St. SW, 900 block, 10:49 a.m. June 5. Grand larceny.

Maple Avenue West, 300 block, 2:29 p.m. June 3. Petty theft.

Oak Vale Court NW, 10 p.m. June 1. Tampering with a vehicle.

Oakvale Court NW, 11:30 a.m. June 9. Tampering with a vehicle.

VANDALISM

Valley Dr. SE, 500 block, 2:05 p.m. June 3.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan greets workers at the MGM National Harbor Employment Center as they are trained on table games in Oxon Hill. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) called it a homecoming as he returned Wednesday to Prince Georges County, the place where he was raised and got his first taste of politics working on his fathers campaigns for office.

The governor officially went to the Democratic stronghold to announce funding for numerous road projects near National Harbor. But he couldnt escape politics  both at the presidential and state level  in a county where he won just 14.9 percent of the vote in 2014, far less than he did in any other jurisdiction.

During the first stop of his half-day visit, Hogan was asked whether he planned to vote for Donald Trump, his partys presumptive  and divisive  presidential nominee. And after months of refusing to directly answer the question, the popular Republican said, No, I dont plan to.

I guess when I get behind the curtain Ill have to figure it out, Hogan said. Maybe write someone in. Im not sure.

[Hogan says Trump wont get his vote in November]

Gov. Larry Hogan, center, talks with Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince George's), right, and others before a news conference to announce a $115.4 million project for an interchange at the intersection along MD 210 . (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Hogan was joined at various stops by state and local Democratic lawmakers from Prince Georges, including Del. Dereck E. Davis, Sen. C. Anthony Muse and County Council Chairman Derrick L. Davis.

Missing was County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D), who has tangled with Hogan over the past year over hospital, transportation and education funding and is widely considered a potential Democratic challenger to the governor in 2018.

Mr. Baker was previously scheduled to host one of his routine citizen days where he held nine separate meetings with residents who requested to meet with him on various issues, said Scott Peterson, a spokesman for the county executive.

There was also no sign of Hogans 2014 Democratic opponent, former lieutenant governor Anthony G. Brown, who lives in Prince Georges and won 84.2 percent of the vote there when he ran for governor. In April, Brown beat out a crowded field to win the Democratic primary to succeed departing Rep. Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.) in Congress. In the overwhelmingly Democratic 4th Congressional District, he is widely expected to win the general election in November.

[Why Rushern Baker is going after Larry Hogan]

Hogan mostly focused on nostalgia and on what he said were bright aspects of the countys future, including a total of $115.4 million in planned road improvements near the National Harbor riverfront resort, and the planned opening of an MGM casino there later this year.

Its going to be a beautiful facility, a world-class facility, Hogan said before a tour of the casino that was closed to reporters. Its going to have a tremendous impact on Prince Georges County and the state.

The transportation project will affect a congested roadway near National Harbor and involves building an interchange to alleviate some of the traffic. Residents have pushed for improvements for years.

This is a needed project for the region, Peterson said. We encourage the governor to fund the remaining projects along the MD-210 corridor to alleviate congestion.

Hogan also visited a couple of dual-enrollment classes at Prince Georges County Community College, where high school students take a combined high school and college curriculum.

The governor, who on Tuesday announced the launch of two six-year high schools in Baltimore, said he hopes to provide more educational options that blend high school and college courses.

Its old home week being back in Prince Georges, Hogan said as he emerged from his black SUV to tour the campus. You know, I took some real estate courses here.

Here and there, the governor ran into old friends, offering a bear hug to a longtime county government employee and sharing a memory about his dad with a local real estate agent.

At one point, he told a staffer: This lady says she remembers when my dad was county executive, but I told her shes too young for that.

Lawrence Hogan Sr. (R) served as county executive from 1978 until 1982.
This case was received by the Montgomery County Animal Services Division. For information, call 240-773-5900. This number provides recorded information on topics such as the new animal services and adoption centers hours and location in Derwood, adoption and licensing procedures, and lost-and-found and field services.

Delivery man vs. dog: 7900 block, Coriander Dr., Gaithersburg, June 1. A food delivery man said a light brown dog bit his left leg at an apartment. The owner, however, said the delivery man kicked the animal when he saw it, provoking the incident. The dog was placed under a 10-day home quarantine. The man suffered a minor bite and did not receive treatment.

Workshop for dog owners: A Montgomery County Humane Society professional will give a talk, What Owning a Pet Is All About, and answer questions on how to choose a pet for your family, how to adopt a pet and animal behavior. Leave your furry friend at home. Sunday at 2 p.m., Germantown Library, 19840 Century Blvd., Germantown. 240-777-0110. montgomerycountymd.gov/library. Free; register online at the library website.

Rabies vaccinations: The county adoption center will hold its next rabies vaccination clinic from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday. The vaccinations are free with the purchase of a county pet license. Maryland law requires dogs, cats, and ferrets over 4 months old to be vaccinated against rabies. Also, all dogs and cats must have a county pet license. Failure to vaccinate an animal results in a $500 fine. Failure to have a license results in a $500 fine. Rabies clinics will be held monthly through September at 7315 Muncaster Mill Rd., Derwood. Take proof of previous rabies vaccinations. Dogs must be leashed. Cats and ferrets must be in carriers or otherwise contained. At the clinics, a rabies vaccination will be administered by a participating veterinarian at no charge for dogs and cats owned by county residents. For a $10 fee, a microchip implantation for dogs and cats will be offered. Visit montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices.

Adopt dogs and cats at MCHS no-kill rescue: The Montgomery County Humane Societys private rescue shelter has dogs, puppies, cats and kittens available for adoption. Call 240-252-2555 or visit mchumane.org.

Rockville

MCHS Adoptions & Education Center

601 S. Stonestreet Ave.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except holidays

Reduced fees for cat adoption: Cats and kittens will be available for adoption at the next open house of Friends of Montgomery County Animals at the following location. Call 301-977-4833 or visit fmca.org or facebook.com/fmcainfo.

Germantown

PetSmart at Milestone Center

20924 Frederick Rd.

2 to 5 p.m. Saturday

Adoptable cats at no-kill shelter: Cats and kittens will be available for adoption through the Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County no-kill shelter at the following location. For information, call 301-740-2511 or visit awlmc.org.

Gaithersburg

Animal Welfare League

of Montgomery County no-kill shelter

12 Park Ave.

6 to 8 p.m. Friday, noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday

 Compiled by Lisa M. Bolton
THE DISTRICT

Police make arrest

in Feb. homicide

D.C. police said they have arrested a man in connection with a homicide in February.

About 9:40 p.m. Feb. 19, officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 1800 block of Benning Road NE, police said in a statement. Dante Kinard, 21, of Northeast Washington was found suffering from a gunshot wound, the statement said. Kinard died at a hospital.

On Wednesday, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Kenneth Adams, 18, of Northeast on a warrant charging him with first-degree murder while armed in Kinards killing, police said.

 Justin Wm. Moyer

MARYLAND

U.S. agencies review

discrimination claim

Two federal agencies are investigating whether Maryland regulators discriminated against a majority-black community by issuing a permit for a natural-gas-fueled power plant in southern Prince Georges County.

Residents of rural Brandywine, working with the environmental advocacy group Earthjustice, filed a civil rights complaint last month alleging that air pollution from the proposed Panda Mattawoman power plant would disproportionately affect their unincorporated community.

Two power plants are in the area. Two more, including Panda Mattawoman, are proposed to be built within 15 miles.

Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Transportation Department, which provide funds for Maryland regulatory agencies and oversee their compliance with civil rights laws, said in a letter to Earthjustice that they will investigate the claim.

 Josh Hicks

VIRGINIA

Probe of mineral oil leak continues

The waters of a wildlife refuge near Reagan National Airport may turn a bright peach color Thursday as Dominion Virginia Power tries to determine how mineral oil leaked from its Arlington County substation into the Potomac River in January.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality ordered the testing with dye that does not threaten animal or aquatic life, Dominion said, and is approved for this use by state and federal environmentalagencies.

A Jan. 24 transformer failure resulted in the leak of 13,500 gallons of mineral oil from the Crystal City substation. An unknown amount spread into the Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary and the Potomac River. Twenty-one birds, mostly Canada geese, died after the oil coated their feathers.

 Patricia Sullivan

Lawyer to receive revenge-plot sentence

A lawyer who was found guilty of carrying out a brutal and carefully orchestrated revenge plot against a law firm partner and his wife will be sentenced Thursday in Fairfax County Circuit Court.

Jury members could send Andrew Schmuhl, 33, of Springfield to prison for the rest of his life if they give him the maximum 108-year sentence. Schmuhl took the couple hostage in their home, slashing their throats and leaving them for dead in 2014.

The same jury Tuesday convicted Schmuhl of all seven counts related to the case. The verdict followed a four-week trial during which the victims, Leo Fisher and Susan Duncan, described the harrowing three-hour ordeal that nearly claimed their lives.

 Justin Jouvenal
A hacker arrested in Malaysia last year pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing the personal data of U.S. service members and passing it to the Islamic State terrorist group.

Ardit Ferizi used the Twitter handle Th3Dir3ctorY last June when he hacked into a server used by a U.S. online retail company and obtained the data of about 100,000 people.

Later in the summer, he sent the names, email addresses, passwords and locations of about 1,351 federal employees and military members to the Islamic State as part of a collective of hackers from his home country of Kosovo.

The case is a milestone  the first brought by federal prosecutors for both computer hacking and material support to terrorism. It comes as the Islamic State is becoming increasingly effective at inspiring and inciting attacks by lone wolves in the West. The group is using social-media platforms to call on sympathizers to take Sundays massacre in Orlando as an example and kill disbelievers.

Ferizi, a 21-year-old citizen of Kosovo who was living in Kuala Lumpur, offered little explanation for his actions.

I dont know myself why I did this, he said in court. I still ask myself why I committed this crime.

Ferizi said he found his way into the retail companys server simply while surfing the Internet.

He passed on the personal military information he uncovered to Junaid Hussain, a British citizen and key figure within the Islamic State. Last August, Hussain, who was both a hacker and a recruiter, posted links to the personal information on Twitter with a warning that Islamic State soldiers . . . will strike at your necks in your own lands!

Later that month, Hussain, who went by the nom de guerre Abu Hussain al-Britani, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Syria.

Ferizis case represents a troubling convergence of terrorism and cyberattacks. Were going to see more and more of these blended threats, Assistant Attorney General John Carlin said in an interview, where people carry out actions or attacks for criminal purposes and for terrorist groups.

In Ferizis case, the hacked company, located in Phoenix, cooperated with law enforcement, Carlin said. But many companies that are hacked think they can handle the intrusion on their own and may not realize that they are dealing with criminals who might be linked to a terrorist group. He called on firms to report what to them might seem to be a relatively small hack in the event that it turns out to be something else.

Terrorist groups are saying that they want to use cyberattacks and are looking to acquire greater capability to use them, he said. Were definitely seeing signs of that  both by recruiting people with cyber skills and inspiring hackers to carry out attacks on their own.

The case is also unusual because U.S. officials brought Ferizi from Malaysia to Virginia for prosecution. Ferizi was detained last year on a U.S. provisional arrest warrant and was transferred to the United States in January.

Ferizi faces up to 25 years in prison. He has agreed to be deported to Kosovo after serving his prison sentence and will not be allowed to return.

No matter how a person supports a terrorist group like ISIL, whether on the battlefield or in the cyber world, the FBI will identify, disrupt and bring them to justice for placing lives at risk, said Paul M. Abbate of the FBIs Washington Field Office, using an acronym for the Islamic State.
Prosecutors said the $1.3 million federal government contracting scheme was a family affair.

Over five years, investigators claim a high-level General Services Administration official helped her husband submit more than 100 fake employment applications to federal agencies and doctored his resume to try to get him hired by the government.

At one point, investigators contend, Helen Renee Ballard attempted to hire her husband for a GSA position that she oversaw as a contracting office director and tried to conceal their marriage by changing her home address in the agencys online personnel system.

At another point in the years-long scheme, the husband, Robert Steve Ballard, was hired for $140,000 a year by a GSA contractor and became the person with the highest salary on the contract, according to a federal indictment.

Prosecutors said Renee Ballard, a former GSA contracting office director, and her husband, a former employee of the Arlington-based federal contractor, CACI, also used their positions to place Ballards brother, sister-in-law and father on a contract that Ballard supervised.

The office of Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, announced the indictment Tuesday of a Maryland couple in a government contracting scheme. (Courtesy of Department of Justice/Courtesy of Department of Justice)

A federal grand jury indicted the Brandywine, Md., couple Tuesday on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and false statements. Attorneys for the Ballards were not immediately available Wednesday for comment.

A CACI spokesman did not reply to messages seeking comment Wednesday. Neither CACI nor any of its employees are charged in the case.

During her tenure as director of the agencys Central Office Contracting Division from 2006 through 2011, Ballard, 51, and her husband, 55, fraudulently induced CACI to hire the relatives and the daughter of one of Ballards subordinates, prosecutors said.

Steve Ballard, who also worked for CACI, and the family members were assigned to an acquisition-support contract awarded by GSA that was supervised by Renee Ballard, prosecutors said. The GSA provides centralized procurement for the federal government, and is supposed to deliver the best value in real estate, acquisition and technology services.

In 2008, prosecutors said Renee Ballard emailed a CACI supervisor about hiring her brother, who was unemployed. I really need him to start on this date, she wrote, according to the indictment.

Ballards brother submitted false and misleading information about his prior salary and education, and lied about whether any of his relatives had worked for CACI, according to the court filing. From December 2008 through 2011, prosecutors said Ballards brother was paid about $247,000 from the GSA contract.

At least one of Renee Ballards relatives apparently expressed concern, according to the court filing. This is nepotism and a no, no that would violate government policy, her father reportedly told his daughter in a phone call, according to the indictment.

Even so, Renee Ballards father was hired in 2010 as a finance consultant and earned about $79,000 from the contract, despite having no experience as an acquisition analyst, negotiating or maintaining contracts, the court filing states.

When it came to CACIs hiring Ballards husband, prosecutors said Renee Ballard concealed her role by falsely claiming to have recused herself from the contract.

Steve Ballards application misrepresented his education, experience and government contracting qualifications, according to the indictment. Prosecutors said the couple also forged professional certifications.

He was hired to join the CACI contract at an initial salary of $140,000, according to the indictment. Later that year, CACI paid Steve Ballards brother-in-law a $2,000 referral bonus related to his hiring.

In 2011, according to the court filing, Renee Ballard lied on her financial disclosure report, failing to report her husbands employment with CACI.

GSAs inspector general opened an investigation in 2011 in response to allegations of nepotism.

Prosecutors said Renee Ballard removed resumes related to the hiring of her relatives from the official GSA contract file. She is also accused of encouraging others to lie to investigators.

All you have to do is say, Renee didnt have nothing to do with it; I didnt have nothing to do,  she told a subordinate, according to the court filing.

The family members, who are not named in the indictment, are considered un-indicted co-conspirators, according to a spokesman for the office of the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Dana J. Boente.

Both Ballards face a mandatory sentence of two years in prison if convicted of aggravated identity theft and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted of wire fraud.
A doctor whose license was suspended after seven women said he inappropriately touched them faces disciplinary charges in Maryland and a civil suit in Prince Georges County.

Bryan S. Williams was certified by the Maryland State Board of Physicians in anesthesiology and pain medicine. He was employed from 2010 to 2014 at Kaiser but was fired in 2014, after two women claimed he inappropriately touched them.

After a third woman complained to the Maryland board when its charging document was made public, four additional women came forward with similar stories.

Although their claims varied, the women alleged that Williams inappropriately touched them during examinations for treatment of lower back, hip or leg pain. The doctor touched their buttocks and genitals, some alleged.

One woman said Williams inappropriately touched her while her 5-year-old daughter was in the examination room. Another reported he had an erection during an examination. And another, a Kaiser administrative employee, told the Maryland board she was reluctant to come forward.

You dont want to say that about a doctor and tarnish his name, the patient, who had previously submitted written compliments about the doctor and invited him to the wedding of her daughter  who was also treated by Williams  told the board.  . . . I just figured it was me and my situation so I never just said anything.

Williams denied some of the claims in writing.

My standard examination includes palpation of the lumbar spine, but does not and has not included touching a patients private area or the buttock, he wrote in a letter about one claim to the board.

In a civil lawsuit against Williams and Kaiser filed in Prince Georges County, Linda D. Johnson, whose claims were similar to those of an unnamed patient heard by the Maryland board, said Kaiser had conducted an inadequate inquiry into her complaint.

Kaiser conducted an investigation in which it questioned the Plaintiffs veracity and falsely and maliciously accused [her] of manufacturing a story, Johnsons lawsuit read.  . . . Kaiser also suggested to [her] that she was emotionally upset due to her sisters death and not with Williamss conduct.

Johnsons counsel declined to comment. Williamss counsel didnt reply to a request for comment.

The safety of our patients is our highest priority, and we have no tolerance for behavior that puts our patients at risk, Kaiser wrote in an emailed statement. We take all allegations of misconduct seriously and acted to terminate the physician in question and report him to the Maryland State Board of Physicians.
Open Government 101 is now in session. UW System officials  including the Board of Regents  please be seated.

Thank you for attending this remedial course in respecting the publics right to know how its money is spent.

We all know why you are here. Your System president, Ray Cross, seated here in the front row, and his staff hid its budget from the public until 90 minutes before the Regents voted on the $6.2 billion spending plan for the coming year.

That was a big mistake that violated the spirit if not the letter of Wisconsins open records law. When a public record  especially of this magnitude  is created and shared with the same public officials who will vote on it, the public gets to see it, too. Transparency encourages an informed public and healthy democracy.

Springing your budget on the public also broke from UW Systems previous and reasonable practice of releasing it days before any vote. That way, the public has time to digest and comment on the proposal before a final decision is made.

Most of you are not elected officials. You are appointed by the governor to the Regents, or hired by the Regents to work for UW System. But the money you spend comes from tax dollars and student tuition. So the public has a keen interest in knowing how you plan to use its resources.

By refusing requests to see your budget leading up to last Thursdays vote, you needlessly provoked suspicion and distrust. Whose decision was this, anyway? Please raise your hand.

OK, nobody is going to take clear responsibility. Thats disappointing, too. Your UW System spokesman, Alex Hummel, seated near the back of the room  Alex, pay attention please  initially said the Regents president, Regina Millner, was behind this foolish game of hide the budget. We spoke to her before class, and she denied it was her decision.

We also have learned the Regents received the budget proposal six days in advance, and five days before your spokesman claimed it wasnt finished. The computer file of the budget indicates it was last changed six days before the Regents adopted it without alteration.

So any suggestion that this document was an early draft lacks credibility. So does your spokesmans contention that hiding the budget was in the interest of presenting and sharing the most accurate information.

You didnt share any budget numbers with the public until just before the vote. Thats why youre here today. Why all the secrecy? Were you afraid a public backlash would jeopardize passage? Anybody?

This is a very quiet class.

The budget, when it was finally released, appeared fairly straightforward, with a fee increase some will oppose. That hardly justified shrouding it in secrecy.

This isnt the first time UW System has flouted transparency. The System had obscured its large reserves, which upset lawmakers and led them to cut UW funding by $250 million.

The latest flap over the budget is another unforced error. You need to do better.

To help encourage more commitment to open government, we have invited a guest lecturer for your next class: Attorney General Brad Schimel. Weve asked him for his legal opinion on when the budget should become public.

For now, class is dismissed. But dont forget to complete your assignment: In the future, quickly respond to and comply with all open government requests, as state law demands.
Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., center, one of six Baltimore city police officers charged in connection to the death of Freddie Gray, leaves the courthouse after the second day of his trial, on June 10 in Baltimore. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

The states expert on police policy and practices testified that he could not say definitively that Freddie Gray got a rough ride the day he suffered a fatal spinal injury in the back of a van on the way to jail.

Former Baltimore City police commander Stanford Franklin struggled to clearly define rough ride during his two hours on the stand Wednesday and said most of his expertise on the matter is rooted in anecdotal stories he heard from citizens during his time in law enforcement.

Franklins testimony came shortly before prosecutors rested their case on the fifth day of proceedings in the trial of Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., the only one of six officers in the Gray case to face a murder charge.

Prosecutors are attempting to convince a judge that Goodson is responsible for Grays death by failing to put Gray in a seat belt and ignoring his requests to go to a hospital. They say Gray got a rough ride, bouncing around in the back of the van with his hands and feet shackled, as Goodson drove recklessly.

Defense lawyers contend that there is no evidence of a rough ride. They said that detainees were rarely seat-belted and that it would have been unreasonable for officers to have entered the narrow van compartment to buckle Gray, because he had been combative.

Six Baltimore police officers were charged after Freddie Grays death and arrest. Heres who they are. (Claritza Jimenez,Erin Patrick O'Connor/The Washington Post)

Goodson, 46, is charged with second-degree depraved-heart murder, manslaughter, assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office. He has waived a jury trial, opting instead to have his case heard by Judge Barry G. Williams.

[What is depraved-heart murder in Maryland?]

Goodsons attorneys are expected to launch their defense Thursday after Williams considers their written motion for acquittal.

Franklins testimony Wednesday could be a blow to prosecutors, who have yet to secure a conviction in the Gray case. Franklin initially defined a rough ride as a term used to describe a ride given to someone transported in one of our vehicles.

When later pressed, he said that a rough ride also included sudden accelerations, sudden stops, quick turns, but testified he saw none of those things based on the tapes and evidence he reviewed in the Gray case.

Is it not your contention that officer Goodson engaged in a rough ride? Goodsons attorney Matthew Fraling asked Franklin during a sharp cross-examination.

I cant say, Franklin responded.

Franklin said there would have been no risk to Goodson by putting Gray in a seat belt. And buckling Gray could have prevented his injury, Franklin said.

Your ability to prevent yourself from being a projectile in that van is very limited without a seat belt while your hands and feet are shackled, Franklin testified.

Also on Wednesday, Williams found prosecutors again violated discovery rules by failing to submit notes from a detective who met with medical examiner Carol H. Allan.

Allan had testified last week that she never believed Grays death was an accident, saying, The word accident never crossed my lips other than to say, This was not an accident.  But notes the detective took during a meeting with Allan say she indicated at one point that Grays death may have been an accident, Williams said.

As a remedy for the most recent discovery violation, Williams said he would allow Goodsons attorneys to call the detective as a witness and submit her notes as evidence.

Prosecutors produced the detectives notes after Williams last week ordered the state to reexamine their evidence to see whether any remaining material had not been turned over to the defense. The judge ordered the review after he found that the prosecution had withheld other evidence that could benefit Goodson.

Whether Grays death in police custody was an accident is an important part of determining whether officers charged in the case are criminally responsible.

Police arrested Gray the morning of April 12, 2015, after he made eye contact with officers and fled. He was loaded into a police van to be taken to central booking. The medical examiners report suggests Grays spine injury probably occurred when the van made an abrupt stop or turn and Gray, unable to brace himself, fell and struck his head.

Allowing the defense to call on the detective is out of the ordinary but appropriate, Williams said, because of the failure of the state to turn over information in a timely manner.

Goodson is the third officer to go to trial, following Officers William Porter and Edward M. Nero. Porter stood trial in the same court last year, but a jury failed to reach a verdict. He is scheduled to be retried in September. Nero was acquitted in May of assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.
Thursday, June 16

JobSource mobile career center Age 18 and older. Help with employment and reemployment. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Charles County Public Library, P.D. Brown Branch, 50 Village St., Waldorf. 301-645-2864. Free.

Calvert National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) meeting Chapter 1466. Bring a salad, side dish, vegetable or dessert to share. Reservations requested. Noon, Cove Point Park, 750 Cove Point Rd., Lusby. 410-326-9024. 410-326-2833.

Waldorf NARFE meeting Chapter 1972. 12:30 p.m., Hibachi Sushi and Supreme Buffet, 1290 Smallwood Dr., Waldorf. 301-645-3077. 301-932-3440.

Solomons Island farmers market Local vendors with fresh produce, baked goods, wines, meat, seafood and flowers. Thursdays, 3-6:30 p.m. Solomons Island Riverwalk, Solomons Island Road, Solomons. 410-535-4583.

Healthy Mommy and Me postpartum support group For new parents. Includes information from health professionals, a weekly check of the babys weight and tips on feeding. Topics also include stress reduction, depression, healthy weight loss, exercise and sleep habits. Thursdays 5:30 p.m. through June 30, St. Marys County Health Department, 21580 Peabody St., Leonardtown. 301-475-6854, 301-475-4300 or smchd.org.

British and U.S. Naval history lecture Chuck Fithian will discuss his 28-year long research on and conservation of an 18th-century sloop of war discovered in 1984. 7 p.m. Historic St. Marys City, 18751 Hogaboom Lane, St. Mary's City. info@hsmcdigshistory.org, 240-895-4990 or hsmcdigshistory.org. Free.

St. Marys County Camp DARE registration Open to students in grades 5 and 6 who are residents of St. Marys County. Arts and crafts,public safety-related events and recreation. The camp will be July 11-14 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at Leonardtown High School. 301-475-4200, Ext. 1900, or firstsheriff.com. Free.

Friday, June 17

St. Marys County NARFE meeting Chapter 969. Includes searing in of new officers a discussion. 11:30 a.m. Olde Breton Bay Inn, 21890 Society Hill Rd., Leonardtown. 301-872-0064 or narfe.org/site/chapter969.

American Legion roast beef dinner Includes green beans, Southwest corn, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, coffee and tea. 5-8 p.m. American Legion Post-La Plata, 6330 Crain Hwy., La Plata. 301-934-8221. $11.

North Beach farmers market Local vendors with fresh produce, baked goods, wines, meat, seafood and flowers. Fridays, 6-9 p.m., North Beach Boardwalk, Bay Avenue and Fifth Street, North Beach. 410-535-4583 or 301-855-6681.

Much Ado About Nothing opening performance The Twin Beach Players youth troupe will perform Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. through June 26. Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. North Beach Boys and Girls Club, 9021 Dayton Ave., North Beach. 410-286-1890, twinbeachplayers2009@gmail.com or twinbeachplayers.com. $10, seniors, members, military and students $7.

Saturday, June 18

Barstow farmers market Local vendors with fresh produce, baked goods, wines, meat, seafood and flowers. Saturdays, 7:30 a.m.-noon, Calvert County Fairgrounds, 140 Calvert Fair Dr., Barstow. 410-535-4583 or 410-535-0026.

Boardwalk yoga Age 16 and older. Meet at the library and walk to the boardwalk at ODonnell Lake. Bring a towel, water and a mat. Weather permitting. 9:20-10:30 a.m. Waldorf West Library, 10405 O'Donnell Pl. , Waldorf. 301-645-1395. Free.

Comic Con event To kick off Charles County Public Librarys summer reading program. Get free comic books, Skype with professional artists and trade your old books. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Waldorf West Library, 10405 O'Donnell Pl. , Waldorf. 301-645-1395. Free.

Knights of Columbus Bingo Refreshments sold. 5:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus Council 2065, 16441 Three Notch Rd., Ridge. 301-872-4641. $20.

Year-round open skate For all ages. Saturdays at 6-9 p.m. Leonard Hall Recreation Center, 23145 Leonard Hall Dr., Leonardtown. 301-475-4200, Ext. 1800. $5, skate rental $2.50.

Sunday, June 19

American Legion Fathers Day breakfast Includes waffles with strawberries and cream, sausage, ham and chipped beef. Hosted by American Legion Auxiliary. 8-11 a.m. American Legion Post 206, 3330 North Chesapeake Beach Rd., Chesapeake Beach. 301-855-6466, 410-257-9878 or alpost206.org. $12, ages 6-12 $6, ages 5 and younger free.

Fathers Day brunch cruise Aboard the Wm. B. Tennsion. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Rd., Solomons. 410-326-2042 or calvertmarinemuseum.com. $25, ages 12 and younger $15. Registration required.

Nature scavenger hunt Join a ranger on an exploration of park woods. 2-3 p.m. Calvert Cliffs State Park, 9500 H.G. Truman Pkwy., Lusby. 443-975-4360, 301-743-7613 or dnr2.maryland.gov. Donations accepted.

Monday, June 20

All-you-can-eat breakfast Includes scrambled eggs, home fries, pancakes, French toast, ham, cream and chipped beef. 8-11 a.m. 2nd District Fire Department and Rescue Squad, 45245 Drayden Rd., Valley Lee. 301-994-9999. $8, ages 6-12 $4, ages 5 and younger free.

Mobile digital theater The Dome Theater will offer museum-quality shows on a range of topics, including dinosaurs, outer space and the environment. Tickets are required and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Waldorf West Library, 10405 O'Donnell Pl. , Waldorf. 301-645-1395. Free.

Summer kick-off movie matinee For all ages. The Good Dinosaur. 2-4 p.m. Charles County Public Library, La Plata Branch, 2 Garrett Ave., La Plata. 301-934-9001. Free.

Summer movie day program Phineas and Ferb: Across the Second Dimension. 2-3:30 p.m. Charles County Public Library, P.D. Brown Branch, 50 Village St., Waldorf. 301-645-2864. Free.

Tuesday, June 21

Family yoga Ages 4-9. A fun introduction for children and their parents, grandparents or caregivers. 11-11:45 a.m. Charles County Public Library, La Plata Branch, 2 Garrett Ave., La Plata. 301-934-9001. Free.

Prince Frederick farmers market Local vendors with fresh produce, baked goods, wines, meat, seafood and flowers. Tuesdays through Nov. 22. 3-7 p.m. through June 28. Calvert Memorial Hospital, 130 Hospital Dr., Prince Frederick. 410-535-4583 or 410-535-4000.

Transforming Conflict with Conversation A workshop recommended for those entering grades 6 through 12. Discuss conflict styles, managing anger, listening and speaking skills. 4-6 p.m. Lexington Park Library, 21677 FDR Blvd., Lexington Park. 301-863-8188 or stmalib.org. Free; registration required.

E-reader drop-in program For all ages. Learn how to download e-books at the library. 5:15-7:15 p.m. Charles County Public Library, La Plata Branch, 2 Garrett Ave., La Plata. 301-934-9001. Free.

Patuxent Partnership forum The Third Offset, Integrated Fires and Re-Platforming Weapon Systems. Retired Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright will discuss increasing threats in the Far East and Russia. 5:30 p.m. Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, 22156 Three Notch Rd., Lexington Park. Call 301-866-1739, Ext. 303, or 301-863-7418, or go to paxpartnership.org. $15. Registration required.

Wednesday, June 22

Indian Head book club for seniors Everything I Never Told You, by Celeste Ng. 11 a.m.-noon, Indian Head Senior Center, 100 Cornwallis Sq., Indian Head. 301-375-7375 or 301-743-2125. Free.

How to buy and sell Learn tips on how to buy and sell items online safely. Basic computer skills needed. 2-4 p.m. Leonardtown Library, 23250 Hollywood Rd., Leonardtown. 301-475-2846 or stmalib.org. Free; registration required.

Spring Serendipity concert Presented by Patuxent Voices, an all-female a capella group. 3 p.m. Christ Church, 3100 Broomes Island Rd., Port Republic. 410-586-0565 or patuxentvoices.org. Donations accepted.

Recipe swap program Age 18 and older. Bring three easy dinner recipes to share and make a recipe book to take home. 6-7:30 p.m. Charles County Public Library, La Plata Branch, 2 Garrett Ave., La Plata. 301-934-9001. Free.

St. Marys County town hall meeting Key findings will be presented from the 2014 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Hosted by the St. Marys County Health Department and the St. Marys County public schools. 6-7:30 p.m. School Administrative Office, 23160 Moakley St., Leonardtown. 301-475-4200, 301-475-4461 or smchd.org. Free.

Capoeira martial arts program Ages 16 and older. Includes a basic warm-up, stretching and workout to develop technique. Bring a towel and water. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Waldorf West Library, 10405 O'Donnell Pl. , Waldorf. 301-645-1395. Free.

Thursday, June 23

Little Minnows program A Pirates Life for Me, for ages 3-5. 10-11 a.m. Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Rd., Solomons. 410-326-2042 or calvertmarinemuseum.com. $5.

Craftsravaganza For all ages. Make crafts with supplies provided by the library. 6-7 p.m. Charlotte Hall Library, 37600 New Market Rd., Charlotte Hall. 301-884-2211. Free.

Acoustic eclectic jam program Ages 18 and older. Bring your musical instrument for an impromptu jam session with other musicians. 6-7:30 p.m. Charles County Public Library, La Plata Branch, 2 Garrett Ave., La Plata. 301-934-9001. Free.

 Compiled by Bonnie Smith

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A federal judge said Wednesday that it would make common sense for the Maryland Transit Administration to consider Metros extraordinary maintenance problems and declining ridership before it builds a light-rail Purple Line that would connect to it.

In hearing oral arguments in a lawsuit opposing the light-rail project, U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon floated the idea  in apparent agreement with the plaintiffs  of requiring the state to analyze the potential impact Metros safety lapses and falling ridership could have on Purple Line ridership. The ridership forecasts were part of the cost-benefit analysis that the state did before deciding in 2013 to build a 16-mile light-rail line instead of a less-expensive bus option.

[Metro will shut down sections of lines for year-long subway repair work]

Weve experienced here in the District of Columbia, in this metro area, in the last month and a half, safety issues that appear to be of epic proportion in the entire system that appear to have shown a long-term impact on ridership, Leon said. I would think these recent major developments, with all the possible impacts they could have on [Purple Line] ridership, would be something that might really be valuable to know and think through . . . especially before $900 million in [federal] taxpayer dollars are committed, dont you think?

Metros recent decline is one of four major arguments that the Purple Line opponents  two Chevy Chase residents and a trail advocacy group  raised in their 2014 lawsuit against the Federal Transit Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Transportation and Interior departments. The MTA joined the suit as a co-defendant in 2015.

Most of the lawsuit alleges that the state ignored or gave short shrift to the lines potential environmental impacts, including storm-water runoff, endangered species, and noise for pedestrians and cyclists on an adjacent recreational trail. However, it was their argument regarding Metro that seemed to resonate most with the judge during the two-hour hearing.

The Purple Line, expected to break ground in November and open to passengers in 2022, will be owned by MTA and operated separately from Metro. However, Maryland officials have long touted the Purple Line as a vital east-west connection between the states three Metro lines and have estimated that 27 percent of Purple Line riders will use it to reach a Metro station. The line will run between Bethesda in Montgomery County and New Carrollton in Prince Georges County.

[Purple Line foes add Metro woes to legal case]

The judges apparent skepticism of government agencies arguments that Metros problems will have no effect on the Purple Line came two days before Maryland officials and a team of companies are set to financially close on a $5.6 billion contract to build, operate and maintain the line over 36 years. Pre-construction work, such as soil borings, began this spring, and state officials have said they expect major construction to begin this fall.

The judge called Metros safety and ridership issues a dramatic change . . . of considerable proportion that would seem to have a likely correlation with potential Purple Line ridership. He raised the idea of a hypothetical judicial order that would give the state up to six months to examine whether Metros safety problems and loss of passengers would have a corrosive effect on the states Purple Line ridership forecasts.

It would be a critical piece of the analysis, Leon said. Its kind of common sense, right?"

The judge said he will consider briefs that both sides may file in the next two weeks before making any decisions. He also floated the idea of requiring the state to make data used in its ridership forecast more available to opponents to allow their experts to independently review the projections.

Attorneys for the MTA and the Federal Transit Administration immediately objected to the idea of delaying the project by six months to do more ridership analysis. They stressed that a light-rail Purple Line will use different technology than Metros 40-year-old, heavy-rail subway system and will be operated and funded separately from it. The opponents are raising the issue, they said, as a way to try to stop a project they dont like.

Linda Strozyk DeVuono, a lawyer for the MTA, said a six-month delay could jeopardize the states $5.6 billion public-private partnership on the project and allow the consortium of companies that won the contract to build and operate the line to back out of the deal. The state, she said, could then be forced to cover whatever costs the companies have incurred in designing the project.

Tyler L. Burgess, a lawyer for the Federal Transit Administration, said both federal and state transit officials have determined that any short-term issues with Metro would have no impact on Purple Line ridership. Three-fourths of the lines ridership wont depend on Metro, she said, and its way too speculative to suggest that Metros problems today will affect Purple Line ridership in 2040, the forecast year targeted in the environmental study.

[Metro sank into crisis despite decades of warnings]

Moreover, Burgess told the judge, Metro is making a significant investment in maintenance, referring to the nearly year-long SafeTrack program it recently began to speed repairs by closing sections of tracks and single-tracking trains around-the-clock in different areas.

Any short-term problems the Washington Metro is experiencing, its demonstrating right now its committed to fixing, Burgess said.

Burgesss legal arguments didnt include a key detail of the states 36-year contract, which requires the state to take the financial risk for how many people ride the line. To keep the lines construction debt off the state books, the MTA has pledged to repay the private companies financing using only transit revenue rather than money out of the tax-supported transportation trust fund.

Because the Purple Lines own fare revenues are expected to fall short of those payment obligations for the first 15 years, MTA officials have said theyll make up the difference with fare revenue from the states MARC commuter rail system. That could leave less money for expanding MARC, which carries commuters between Washington and Baltimore, Frederick and West Virginia.

The plaintiffs  John M. Fitzgerald, Christine Real de Azua and Friends of the Capital Crescent Trail  argued that the U.S. Department of Transportation should not have approved the states Purple Line environmental review because federal law requires that a local transportation network have enough funding to operate and be maintained before federal money can be used to expand it.

MTA officials have said they expect to secure $900 million in recommended federal funding via a signed agreement with the FTA this summer. The FTA announced Wednesday that it had granted a $874.6 million low-interest TIFIA loan to Purple Line Transit Partners, the consortium of companies contracted to build, operate and maintain the line.

The rest of the line will be paid for with state money, contributions from Montgomery and Prince Georges counties, and private financing that the state will repay after the line opens.
Former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, right, and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta join People For the American Way to launch an anti-Donald Trump campaign. (Astrid Riecken/For The Washington Post)

Alicia Machado, who won Donald Trumps Miss Universe pageant in 1996, is just days or weeks away from becoming a U.S. citizen. The former Venezuelan beauty queen says the presumptive Republican nominee should not expect her vote this fall.

Machado alleged last month that Trump insulted her looks and language skills after she won the pageant, calling her Miss Piggy after she gained weight and Miss Housekeeping because she was not fully fluent in English.

On Wednesday, she joined two pro-immigrant advocacy groups in Arlington to encourage other Latinos to join her in registering to vote and casting their ballots for Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee.

[Republicans join Obama in rebuking Trump]

I hope my testimonial will help everyone to make a good decision in November, Machado said.

The progressive non-profit organization People for the American Way released an ad in Spanish on June 15 attacking presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The Post translated the ad, in which the narrator says Trump wants to take the U.S. into a "dark place" of "intolerance, racism and hate." (People for the American Way)

The event was organized by People for the American Way and Casa in Action, which are launching a Spanish-language anti-Trump ad in eight states Thursday.

The ad describes Donald Trumps Year of Hate since he announced his presidential campaign on June 16, 2015, and reviews some of his more controversial statements about immigrants: that some Mexican immigrants are criminals and rapists, that undocumented immigrants should be deported en masse, and that a U.S.-born judge has treated Trump unfairly because of the judges Mexican heritage.

[Poll: Trumps negatives among Hispanics rise]

It will air on television in Virginia and Nevada and on digital outlets in Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

In Virginia, expected to be a key battleground state, Latinos make up 8.7 percent of the population and 4.6 percent of eligible voters, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. Nationwide, Latinos account for 17 percent of the population but only about 11 percent of eligible voters, according to a 2014 study by Pew.

In a tight election, the Latino community can decide who wins, J. Walter Tejada, a former Arlington County Board member and the chairman of the Virginia Latino Advisory Commission, said at the news conference. To Mr. Trump, we want to declare a message that hate will not win.

Del. Alfonso H. Lopez (D-Arlington), the first Latino elected to Virginias House of Delegates, added A career built on boorish behavior, xenophobia and division is not worthy of Virginia or the United States.

[Transcript of Donald Trumps presidential candidacy announcement]

At the news conference, a coalition of speakers whose families came from Mexico, Venezuela and El Salvador urged Latinos to unite against Trump.

During his journey, he has attacked everyone: Muslims, women, disabled people and immigrants, said Dolores Huerta, 86, who is co-founder with Cesar Chavez of the United Farm Workers and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.

This person is very dangerous to the United States of America, Huerta said. Ive never seen any candidate for president who has so overtly attacked people with such gusto . . . and a portion of the people who follow him are really unstable.

She made a connection between Trumps statements about undocumented immigrants and Latinos and the massacre of 49 people  including many gay Latinos  at an Orlando nightclub Sunday morning. Trumps rhetoric, she speculated, could inflame other acts of violence.

According to a poll released Wednesday by the Center for American Progress, the top concern of both Latinas and African American women in the United States remains economic security for their families. Among Latinas, 21 percent of those queried said immigration and deportation worries were the second-most important concern.

Machado, who has two daughters and works as an actress, said she loves the United States but still remembers how insulted she felt 20 years ago when, she says, Trump mocked her appearance and background.

Trump has confirmed pressing Machado to lose weight, and according to Business Insider, he called her an eating machine in an interview with radio personality Howard Stern.

Referring to the Miss Housekeeping moniker, Machado said, Thats how he called me in front of his friends, to make fun of me.

Then, I thought it was an insult, she said. Now, I think its an honor because of the hard work of immigrant housekeepers and nannies.

Everybody in America needs to open their eyes, Machado said. We dont need more divisions in this country.
Virginias own Eric Cantor is Speaker of the House. Two Virginia congressmen sit on the appropriations committee. Another heads Armed Services. The commonwealth overflows with defense spending and military assets.

This was the future that many political observers envisioned for Virginia two years ago.

Instead, voters ousted Cantor, foretelling a wave of retirements that left the delegation flush with backbenchers but no seasoned leaders.

And U.S. Rep J. Randy Forbess double-digit defeat Tuesday at the hands of Del. Scott W. Taylor (Virginia Beach) in the states Republican primary intensifies Virginias declining cachet in Washington. A 15-year incumbent and subcommittee chairman, Forbes had the seniority to bring home funding and projects that a freshman lacks.

The 11-member House delegation, which includes three Democrats, could find itself further adrift with Rep. Rob Wittman (R) planning to run for governor next year and Rep. Barbara Comstock (R) facing a competitive reelection fight.

If some of these things had not happened, think about where wed be, said Bill Bolling, a Republican and former lieutenant governor. The inescapable truth is that because of the defeat of people like Forbes and Cantor . . . Virginias influence in the House of Representatives is tremendously diminished.

Cantor was ousted two years ago this month after voters complained he was unresponsive to his suburban Richmond constituents and preoccupied with his national responsibilities as majority leader.

Forbes lost for a different set of reasons. Voters in the Virginia Beach district didnt buy Forbess argument that his expertise and seniority were crucial to the regional economy, observers said.

The experience that helped Forbes clinch reelection year after year in Virginia became a liability at a time when presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders have amplified voter frustration with the status quo and political insiders.

Taylor, a former Navy SEAL and Iraq War veteran, embraced that message in the military-heavy district, even adopting a Trump-like slogan in radio ads: Lets all make American great again.

In the March 1 presidential primary, the celebrity billionaire made a strong showing in the coastal district, which is home to the largest naval base in the world, and surrogates say Hampton Roads will be key to his general election campaign in the swing state.

There is in the 2nd District a sense of anxiety and apprehension about the direction of the country, and Scotts message captured that emotion, and our opponent never acknowledged it at all, said Rob Catron, Taylors general consultant.

Taylor also painted Forbes as a carpetbagger  a label that resonated in Virginia Beach, where homegrown credibility is important. The endorsement of the powerful Stolle family also helped Taylor there.

In contrast, Forbes opted to run in the 2nd instead of the district he has represented for eight terms, the 4th, after a court-imposed elections map made the district much more favorable to a Democrat.

At the same time, Forbes was one of the congressmen who tried to challenge the map in Supreme Court, getting no sympathy from the justices.

Given this letter, we do not see how any injury that Forbes might have suffered is likely to be redressed by a favorable judicial decision, Justice Stephen G. Breyer wrote for the court in dismissing the appeal.

[Supreme Court leaves in place Va. redistricting decision, rejects GOP lawmakers challenge]

Again the move was fodder for Taylor: Coward. Deserter. Quitter. These are the words people use to describe Randy Forbes abandoning his own people to save himself. He doesnt live in our district, and he cant even vote for himself, he said in a radio ad.

Forbes fought back with negative ads that highlighted his judgment but attacked Taylors history of traffic citations, albeit earning a half-true from PolitiFact in the process.

Scott Taylor, he has judgments, too, the kind of judgments you get in court, intoned a TV ad. In the end Forbes outraised Taylor 10 to 1 but still lost by 12 points.

For the delegation, the loss is compounded by a string of recent retirements starting with Democrat James P. Moran and Republican Frank R. Wolf. Reps. Scott Rigell and Robert Hurt followed suit, opting to leave public office rather than seek reelection this year.

Taylor may be appointed to armed services, but he wont chair the committees panel on seapower and protection forces, as Forbes did, supporters noted.

With all due respect, when you lose people like Eric Cantor and Randy Forbes, you replace them with people who will be backbenchers for a long time, Bolling said.

Virginia also faces competition for military assets from Florida, Texas, California and North Carolina  all states with bigger delegations than Virginia.

I dont think people understand what Washington means, especially for Virginia, said Dan Scandling, who was chief of staff to Wolf while the congressman sat on the appropriations committee. The amount of federal dollars spent in Virginia is enormous, from building ships to federal contractors to the federal workforce to the ancillary businesses that support all that.

But Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) noted that Republican losses dont necessarily hurt Democratic causes, from the Chesapeake Bay to transportation infrastructure and research and development investment.

It depends on how that seniority is used and where, he said. When we lost Eric Cantor, I dont know that that was a loss in Northern Virginia.

On Tuesday, Democrats made gains toward turning Forbess old district blue when state Sen. A. Donald McEachin (D-Henrico) won his primary.

And Taylors win over Forbes could put the 2nd District within reach for Democrats for the first time since 2008.

In this political cycle, a lot may be possible that otherwise wouldnt be, Connolly said. The dynamic is very much in turmoil.
Bob Paine was an ecologist who conducted experiments along the coast of Washington state during the 1960s. (Courtesy of Robert Paine/University of Washington)

Bob Paine, an ecologist who conducted seminal experiments along the coast of Washington state in the 1960s, pulling starfish from the rocks and tossing them back into the ocean to demonstrate the consequences of disrupting an ecosystem with the removal of a single keystone species, died June 13 at a hospital in Seattle. He was 83.

The cause was acute myeloid leukemia, according to Jennifer Ruesink, a biology professor at the University of Washington, where Dr. Paine trained younger ecologists from 1962 until, and well beyond, his official retirement in 1998.

Dr. Paine was regarded as one of the most significant ecologists of his era, a scientific adventurer who trekked across wave-battered shores of the Pacific Northwest to observe, document and explain the forces that govern and sometimes upset the complex network of creatures in an ecosystem.

His concept of keystone species, named after the stone at the apex of an arch that supports the other blocks in the structure, refers most strictly to predators such as sea otters, wolves and lions with outsize influence on their communities. A groundbreaking idea when Dr. Paine introduced it in the late 1960s, the keystone species is today a fundamental of ecology textbooks.

He was a naturalist in the tradition of Charles Darwin, Simon Levin, a Princeton University ecologist and recipient of the National Medal of Science, said in an interview.

Dr. Paine identified the existence of "keystone species. (Courtesy of Robert Paine/University of Washington)

Dr. Paines fieldwork in Washington  first in Makah Bay, on the outer reaches of the Olympic Peninsula, and later on the nearby uninhabited Tatoosh Island  was one of the most famous experiments in all of ecology, Levin said.

In a defined swath of rock, Dr. Paine manually removed each starfish of the species Pisaster ochraceus and tossed it to sea. He repeated the process several times a year, clearing the rock of all ochre sea stars, as the animals are commonly known.

The result was astonishing: In short order, the rock scarcely resembled its former self. The population of mussels, on which the starfish feed, skyrocketed. Mussels took over the rock, eventually crowding out other species that competed for space, including barnacles, the aquatic snails known as limpets and chitons, a type of marine mollusk. Anemones and sponges also became less populous.

In all, seven of 15 original species disappeared, according to an account in the publication Nautilus. By a description in the journal Nature, a diverse tidal wonderland became a black monoculture of mussels.

Dr. Paine published his findings of the event, which he called a trophic cascade, in a now-classic article in the journal the American Naturalist, Food Web Complexity and Species Diversity (1966). Three years later, he introduced keystone species as an ecological term.

These individual populations are the keystone of the communitys structure, he observed, and the integrity of the community and its unaltered persistence through time, that is, stability, are determined by their activities and abundances.

Along with competition between species, the notion of keystone predators helped shape modern understanding of ecology and was later revised to describe any species, not necessarily a predator, with disproportionate influence on its environment.

Its importance, Dr. Paine explained, is that it convinced managers and conservationists alike that the ecological impact of single species matters.

Besides the impact of his findings, Dr. Paines work was notable, Levin said, because nobody had done this level of experimental manipulation of a natural system. Dr. Paine was credited with helping push ecology from natural observation to experimentation such as could be found in a laboratory.

Dr. Paine spent years conducting research on Tatoosh Island, a small piece of land off Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point of the continental United States. It belonged to the Makah Indian tribe and was home of a universe of creatures, including dozens of species of algae, peregrine falcons, eagles, puffins and sea lions.

To conduct his work, Dr. Paine received financial support from the National Science Foundation and permission from the tribe, whose only request was that he not mess with the graves, the Seattle Times reported.

Working on a remote island was not easy, Ruesink, who conducted research with Dr. Paine on Tatoosh Island, wrote in a tribute to him, recalling the leaps of faith across surge channels, slippery algae that could take down the most sure-footed, boats overturned and scientists bodily moved by rogue waves, all supplies hefted from the beach to the top of the island via a hundred home-made steps.

As each tide rose and chased ecologists from their intertidal studies, she wrote, Bob doled out a measure of box wine into a mug and sat down with his current scientific family to talk about what each had seen and learned.

Robert Treat Paine was born April 13, 1933, in Cambridge, Mass.

All my early childhood memories involve biology, he told an interviewer with the University of Washington. I remember sitting in the dirt driveway when I was around 21 / 2 years old and watching ants  I was utterly fascinated with nature from a very young age.

He received a bachelors degree from Harvard University in 1954. At the University of Michigan, he began his graduate career studying fossils but was lured into the study of living animals by an inspiring class on freshwater invertebrates. He received a masters degree in 1959 and a PhD in zoology in 1961.

A complete list of survivors could not be confirmed.

Dr. Paine received honors that included induction into the National Academy of Sciences. His research took him to habitats around the world, from Mexico to New Zealand. But he was best known for his work on Tatoosh Island, whose riches have been compared to those of the Galapagos Islands, where Darwin made his laboratory in the 19th century.

I never tire of it, Dr. Paine told the Seattle Times. Its always changing.
Young people from the Husseini Islamic Center in Sanford, Fla., lay flowers Tuesday at a makeshift memorial in Orlando for the victims of the nightclub massacre. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The Council on American-Islamic Relations had planned to hold a news conference Tuesday unveiling a report on Islamophobia, including the rise of Muslim-free businesses, anti-Muslim rallies by armed protesters, direct attacks on Muslims and the vandalism of mosques.

Then Orlando happened  an American Muslim slaughtered 49 people in a gay nightclub. CAIR officials realized they needed to hold off on their report and postpone the news conference, in part because the country should be focusing on homophobia and not Islamophobia.

But then came Donald Trump. In an incendiary speech Monday in New Hampshire, Trump described American Muslims in sweeping, harsh terms, depicting them as a kind of enemy within, prone to radical ideology and guilty of harboring terrorists.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee said the terrorist attack in Orlando would never have happened if the gunmans parents had not been allowed to emigrate from Afghanistan: The bottom line is that the only reason the killer was in America in the first place was because we allowed his family to come here.

Trumps speech had a recurring theme: The enemy is already inside the gates, and current U.S. leaders are too fixated on political correctness to do anything about it, or dont really want to stop it, and cant even say the words radical Islam. Syrian refugees, allegedly fleeing war, may be terrorists in disguise  a better, bigger, more horrible version than the legendary Trojan horse ever was, Trump said.

CAIR officials and other American Muslim leaders were beside themselves Tuesday.

Its an effort to demonize, stigmatize a particular minority faith thats already under siege to gain some political advantage over his opponent. Its really despicable, said CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper.

Corey Saylor, another CAIR spokesman, said Trump is spreading false information when he says Muslims dont report suspicious people in their midst. Saylor said he personally gave the FBI the identity of someone who possibly had become radicalized and that the person was later arrested.

Saylors wife was born in Afghanistan  like the Orlando killers parents  and used to throw rocks at Soviet tanks during the Soviet occupation of her country.

There are a lot of Afghans in this country; many of them fought the communists back during the Soviet invasion era, he said. I think its a tremendous disservice to all of them, that we have converted them from the anti-communist fighters that they were to being a threat to this nation.

Yasir Qadhi, dean of al-Maghrib Institute and a professor at Rhodes College in Memphis, did not mince words: Trump is a racist demagogue rallying hatred to win an election. Hes taking advantage of a tragedy for his own political gains.

Tayyib Rashid, a U.S. military veteran who tweets under the handle @MuslimMarine, said the candidates divisive rhetoric is a form of hate speech and ultimately serves the purposes of radical Islamists. He said he wished more people understood the contributions that Muslims make to the United States. Its unfortunate that the first time many people were introduced to Islam was 9/11. The first impression is the last impression, he said.

President Obama also reacted vociferously Tuesday to Trumps remarks on Muslims and defended his reluctance to use the term radical Islam. He said there is no magic to those words and that everyone knows whom the nation is fighting. He rejected Trumps implicit demand to scrutinize American Muslims more closely than other citizens.

Where does this stop? The Orlando killer, one of the San Bernardino killers, the Fort Hood killer  they were all U.S. citizens. Are we going to start treating all Muslim Americans differently? Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance? Obama asked .

In his speech Monday, Trump suggested that Muslims in Southern California had had information about the husband-and-wife terrorist team that attacked an office party in December, killing 14 people: They knew the people in San Bernardino were bad. But you know what? They didnt turn them in. And you know what? We had death and destruction.

Trump did not say who they were. The FBI has produced no evidence that anyone in the San Bernardino terrorists family  including the gunmans mother, who lived with the couple  had advance knowledge of the attack. Only one person faces charges in the case, a man named Enrique Marquez, a convert to Islam who authorities say plotted in 2011 with gunman Syed Rizwan Farook to conduct a terrorist attack.

In Florida, meanwhile, attention turned Tuesday to the Orlando gunmans wife, Noor Z. Salman. The FBI is trying to determine whether she had advance knowledge of the attack. A law enforcement source said she accompanied attacker Omar Mateen on one trip that appeared to be a reconnaissance of the Orlando nightclub.

Muslim cooperation with law enforcement has increased in recent years, said Charles Kurzman, a sociology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and co-director of the Center for the Study of the Middle East and Muslim Civilizations.

But, Kurzman added, extremists are typically isolated and hard to detect. They do not attend mosque regularly. They are usually estranged from their communities and often have mental illnesses.

Radicalization happens online, and the Muslim community should not be blamed for the most marginal numbers of their community, he said.

Kurzman published a study in February that counted 81 American Muslims being involved in extremists plots in 2015, the highest number in any year since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. A majority of those individuals either traveled to Syria, or sought to travel there, to join militant groups. Since 9/11, the study found, a total of 344 American Muslims had been involved in extremist plots, half of them involving targets overseas, and 40 percent here at home.

The Orlando gunman did not appear to have been devout. He did not dress conservatively or let his beard grow out. He attended a local mosque only sporadically. Some acquaintances have described him as gay and as a regular patron of the Pulse nightclub that he chose for his rampage.

Although Trump in his speech spoke of Muslims as a kind of monolithic community, they are in fact an extremely diverse demographic, coming from many ethnicities and ancestral countries. The precise number of Muslims in the United States is difficult to estimate, but CAIR goes with a figure of 6 million to 7 million, which equates to about 2 percent of the U.S. population. An estimate by the Pew Research Center is about 3.3 million U.S. Muslims.

A Pew national survey in 2011 showed that 61 percent of U.S. Muslims were very or somewhat worried about the rise of Islamic extremism across the country  a figure only modestly lower than the general publics 73 percent response to that question.

About half the Muslims in the Pew survey said they thought Muslim leaders had not been sufficiently outspoken in denouncing extremists. More than 2 in 5 respondents said they had experienced discrimination of some kind, including being viewed with suspicion (28 percent), called offensive names (22 percent) or singled out for airport screening (21 percent). Six percent said they had been physically threatened or attacked.

CAIRs research has documented a spike in anti-Muslim incidents at mosques after the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino last fall, with 17 incidents in November and another 17 in December.

After the Orlando massacre, some Muslim communities are reportedly preparing for a backlash.

The Islamic Community Center of Phoenix said it has received hateful emails since Sundays attack, according to Reuters. And in Orlando, police have patrolled the neighborhood surrounding the Islamic Center, and the center plans to hire extra security at night.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley walks to the Lee County Justice Center to testify in Alabama Speaker Mike Hubbard trial last week in Opelika, Ala. (Todd J. Van Emst/AP)

ALABAMA

Impeachment hearings begin against governor

A committee of lawmakers opened impeachment hearings against Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, beginning a probe on whether there are grounds to remove the two-term Republican from office.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Mike Jones opened the hearings Wednesday by noting the seriousness of the committees task.

Twenty-three representatives in April signed impeachment article accusing Bentley of corruption and neglect of duty. The articles were filed after Bentley admitted making sexually charged remarks to a top aide.

The committee will make a recommendation to the full House on whether impeachment grounds exist.

The impeachment hearings come in a season of political upheaval for GOP officeholders.

Mike Hubbard was removed as House speaker after being convicted of ethics violations. Chief Justice Roy Moore faces possible removal after being accused of violating judicial ethics.

 Associated Press

CALIFORNIA

Teen dies, others hurt in Oakland shooting

Police were searching Wednesday for suspects who opened fire in downtown Oakland, killing a 17-year-old girl and wounding three other people.

Gunfire erupted Tuesday evening near a vigil for two drowning victims, sending mourners and pedestrians running for cover. It is not known if the shooting is connected to the vigil. Three other people, ranging from their mid-teens to early 20s, were treated at a hospital and released. Reggina Jefferies, 17, died at a hospital.

 Associated Press

PENNSYLVANIA

Governor orders removal of Rebel flag

Pennsylvanias governor had a Confederate flag removed from a Flag Day exhibit in the state capitol Wednesday after the chairwoman of the black legislators caucus took it down and it was subsequently restored to the display.

Gov. Tom Wolf (D) acted after learning of the dispute over a Confederate battle flag reproduction that is part of a historical society collection in Hanover.

State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown, who heads the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, said she was astonished to see the reproduction of an 1863 Rebel battle flag as she walked through the Capitols east wing Tuesday, and she took it down. She carried it into the House chambers and gave it to Speaker Mike Turzai.

When organizers and volunteers with the exhibit, sponsored by the Hanover Area Historical Society, realized it was missing, they summoned Capitol police, who recovered it from Turzais office. The exhibit organizers returned it to the display by indoor fountains before Wolf ordered its removal.

 Associated Press
After the Islamic State began releasing videos of American citizens being beheaded, White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett reportedly told President Obama that Americans were worried that they would soon bring this violence here to the United States. Obama was unfazed.

Theyre not coming here to chop our heads off, the president promised.

Now a terrorist pledging allegiance to the Islamic State has murdered 49 Americans in Orlando. What inspired him? CNN reports that analysis of Mateens electronic devices showed searches for jihadist propaganda, including . . . ISIS beheading videos.

Obama dismissed Omar Mateen as a homegrown terrorist who had announced his allegiance to the Islamic State at the last minute and declared that there is no evidence so far that he was in fact directed by ISIL. That distinction (if it turns out to be true) is irrelevant. Last month, the Islamic State commander responsible for external attack plotting, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, gave a speech calling on supporters to carry out killings in the United States during the holy month of Ramadan. The smallest action you do in the heart of their land is dearer to us than the largest action by us, and more effective and more damaging to them, he said.

Mateen answered al-Adnanis call, Orlando is awash in blood, and the Islamic State claimed credit for the attack and declared Mateen one of the soldiers of the caliphate.

He was an Islamic State terrorist. This was an Islamic State attack. And Obamas stubborn refusal to see this is part of a larger pattern of downplaying or dismissing terrorist dangers.

According to the Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg, who spent hours interviewing Obama about his foreign policy doctrine, the president has never believed that terrorism poses a threat to America commensurate with the fear it generates and frequently reminds his staff that terrorism takes far fewer lives in America than handguns, car accidents, and falls in bathtubs do.

Thats right, our commander in chief sees the mass shooting of 49 people in Orlando as akin to a slip in the tub.

In his 2016 State of the Union address, Obama blithely dismissed the Islamic State as fighters on the back of pickup trucks who he said, in typical strawman fashion, do not threaten our national existence. In a 2015 BBC interview, he said , If you look at the number of Americans killed since 9/11 by terrorism, its less than 100. In other words, no big deal.

After his anti-Islamic State strategy came under withering criticism following the Brussels terror attacks in March, Obama said my top priority is to defeat ISIL. But he has admitted elsewhere that is untrue. Obama has openly declared that climate change is a much higher priority for him than terrorism because ISIS is not an existential threat to the United States. Climate change is a potential existential threat to the entire world if we dont do something about it. Indeed, Goldberg writes, Obama gets frustrated that terrorism keeps swamping his larger agenda and his advisers are fighting a constant rearguard action to keep Obama from placing terrorism in what he considers its proper perspective, out of concern that he will seem insensitive to the fears of the American people.

The proper perspective. No wonder the president keeps getting the terrorist threat wrong. No wonder, just before the Islamic State took over large swaths of Iraq, Obama said stopping them was not something that we have to wade into because they did not pose a direct threat to us. No wonder, the day before the Islamic State carried out its massacre Paris, Obama boasted we have contained them. No wonder, the day before the San Bernardino, Calif., massacre, Obama assured[cnn.com] Americans they were safe from a Paris-style attack, declaring The American people should feel confident that, you know, we are going to be able to defend ourselves and make sure that, you know, we have a good holiday and go about our lives.

Well, 49 Americans in Orlando were busy going about their lives when an Islamic State terrorist murdered them in cold blood. As my American Enterprise Institute colleague Danielle Pletka points out, contrary to the favored trope  we win by living our lives  the short answer is that were not winning.

The truth is that for Obama, winning the battle against terrorism is not really his top priority but a distraction from his top priorities. He did not come to office to be a war president. He came to office to end George W. Bushs wars, and turn the page on more than a decade in which so much of our foreign policy was focused on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

But, as we just saw in Orlando, the page has refused to turn. The tide of war is not receding, as Obama promised. The wave of terror is growing stronger and is now reaching our shores. And to the commander in chief, thats no more worrisome than a car accident.

Read more from Marc Thiessens archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
Donald Trump has now been so widely and scorchingly criticized by editorialists and commentators for so many reasons that Im almost inclined to leave him alone. Writers are a perverse lot, and we become uncomfortable when we find ourselves agreeing with too many people too often. If only Trump would go a few days without indulging in ostentatious buffoonery and mendacity, I might have time to expatiate on topics I care about more, among them my deep and long-standing dislike of Hillary Clinton.

But no. Its not to be.

Trumps latest disgrace, of course  unless he utters another one before these words are posted  is his nasty and craven remarks about President Obama.

Look, he said on Fox News, were led by a man that either is not tough, not smart, or hes got something else in mind. And the something else in mind  you know, people cant believe it. People cannot, they cannot believe that President Obama is acting the way he acts and cant even mention the words radical Islamic terrorism. Theres something going on. Its inconceivable. Theres something going on.

Asked to explain his call on Twitter for Obama to resign, Trump remarked, He doesnt get it or he gets it better than anybody understands  its one or the other, and either one is unacceptable.

Clearly, the repeated theres something going on, together with the claim that maybe Obama has got something else in mind and maybe gets it better than anybody understands, is intended to suggest that Obama is a closet Muslim, or that he sympathizes with radical Islamic terrorists.

Rather than saying it straightforwardly, though, Trump swaggered up to the line without crossing it. He wouldnt own it, as we say these days. Asked what he meant by the comment, he responded to Bloomberg Politics, I was referring to the fact that at times President Obama seems more in support of Muslims than Israel.

That is not what he was referring to, and he knows it. He was talking about what Obama is, not what he seems to be. Trump is the kid on the playground who asks if your mom is a slut, and when you get angry he says he wasnt calling your mom a slut, he was just saying some moms are sluts, come on, whats wrong with you anyway?

Trump made the same sort of innuendo on the Today show, alleging in that instance that there are a lot of people that think maybe he doesnt want to get it. A lot of people think maybe he doesnt want to know about it, and so on. This, as The Posts Jenna Johnson pointed out, is often how Trump makes his accusations  not boldly but cautiously: Trump frequently couches his most controversial comments this way, which allows him to share a controversial idea, piece of tabloid gossip or conspiracy theory without technically embracing it. If the comment turns out to be popular, Trump will often drop the distancing qualifier  people think or some say. If the opposite happens, Trump can claim that he never said the thing he is accused of saying, equating it to retweeting someone elses thoughts on Twitter.

Thats very astutely observed. Yet I wonder if Trumps behavior isnt as much nurture as nature, or as much learned as innate. In an age in which memories are short and reputations can be ruined and reinvented in six months, American political discourse has become rife with unflattering suggestions meant to wound and discredit in the absence of evidence or straightforward explanation. These suggestions rarely approach the reprehensibility of Trumps remarks, but they are nasty even so.

I have a clear memory, for instance, of hearing President Obama making the case for his economic proposals in the summer of 2011 and saying, The only thing preventing these bills from being passed is the refusal of some folks in Congress to put the country ahead of party. There are some in Congress right now who would rather see their opponents lose than see America win. And that has to stop. Its got to stop. Were supposed to all be on the same team, especially when were going through tough times.

So some folks in Congress werent on the American team? Which folks, exactly? And what, other than disagreement with Obamas economic policies, was the evidence for it? The president was accusing his adversaries of bad faith and contempt for their country, but his language remained just vague enough to avoid slander.

Many similar insinuations come to mind, and they come from both sides of the ideological field. Think of former New York mayor Rudolph Giulianis suggestion that Obama doesnt love America, not because hes a traitor or disaffected but because  as if this made it somehow less slanderous  the president wasnt brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up through love of this country. Or, going further back, recall Howard Deans remark in 2003 that it was an interesting theory that President George W. Bush knew about the 9/11 attacks before they happened. He obviously doesnt believe its true, Deans spokesman dutifully explained later.

Or consider the tired accusation that the other side is playing politics with some important matter. On one level, the accusation sounds as if it might be fair  politics isnt necessarily a bad thing, as long as you dont play it when you should be doing other things. What the accuser means to say without quite saying it, however, is that members of the other party value their own political careers and the perquisites of office more than they care about matters of national importance  the death and injury to innocents in a terrorist attack, say, or the spread of a deadly virus. But since that more straightforward accusation would sound nasty, the accuser adopts the metaphorical and vaguer playing politics instead. We all know what was intended, though.

On the journalists side, many a story has raised questions because the reporter wanted, in essence, to accuse without producing evidence. Theres nothing necessarily wrong with the phrase, but in many cases its sufficiently clear that the reporter wanted to attribute guilt but couldnt because the evidence wasnt there. So instead of doing more work on the story and arriving at a firmer conclusion, he or she claimed  arbitrarily  that various circumstances raise questions about the willful wrongdoing or neglect that must surely be there.

So yes: Donald Trump is a malicious insinuator. But in many ways hes an extreme and ugly outgrowth of our political culture, not an aberration from it.
Sebastian Mallaby is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a Washington Post Global Opinions contributing columnist. He is an editor at InFacts.org, a website campaigning to keep Britain in the European Union.

For the first time since the start of Britains referendum fight over Europe, the polls predict Brexit. The four most recent national surveys put the Leave side ahead with margins of between one and 10 percentage points. Most people, including many disaffected Britons who want to shake up the system by backing a Brexit, understand that this would mean a political and economic shock. But they underestimate its severity.

The morning after a Leave vote, Britain would find itself in a political, legal and constitutional limbo. Having staked his credibility on a Remain victory, Prime Minister David Cameron would probably be forced out, despite his recent protestations to the contrary  his senior Conservative colleague, Ken Clarke, says he wouldnt last 30 seconds. Choosing a new Conservative Party leader is a two-stage process, with the second stage involving party members voting by mail. It could drag on for three months or so.

Britons  and British businesses, especially  would confront a nightmare of legal uncertainty. Large swaths of British regulation derive from E.U. rules and would have to be rewritten. Britains commercial relationship with its main trading partners would be up in the air, with no clarity about whether, or on what terms, Britain would retain membership in the E.U. single market. Global businesses with London headquarters would be scrambling to figure out if they should move. Fully 40 percent of Europes top companies and 60 percent of non-European multinationals have chosen London as their E.U. base. Their departure could trigger a real estate bust, clobbering consumer spending.

The United Kingdom would find itself considerably less united. A majority of Scots want to stay in the E.U. and might seek to do so by demanding a referendum on independence from Britain. The last Scottish independence vote, in 2014, went in favor of the union because Scots were persuaded that the economic price of breakup was too high. But if Britain quits the E.U. and succumbs to a recession, the economic case may become too weak to trump Scottish nationalism.

Northern Ireland would also be destabilized. The Catholic half of the population wants to stay in the E.U., alongside the Irish Republic. If Northern Ireland were dragged out of the E.U. by voters in England, Catholics would be resentful. Meanwhile, the basis for Northern Irelands economy  a porous border with the south  would take a whack. A business on the north side of the border would face greater hassles in recruiting workers and customers in the south, because the inter-Irish frontier would have to be subjected to passport and customs checks.

This uncertainty could last anywhere from a couple of years to, say, seven  the number plucked out of the air this week by a senior E.U. leader. The only precedent for Brexit was set by Greenland in 1985. But Greenlands population came to a grand total of 53,000, the only issue Greenland cared about was fish, and even then the divorce proceedings took three years to settle. Britain is Europes second-largest economy. A breakup would be altogether messier.

Whats more, Britains E.U. partners would not make the exit easy. Governments in Germany, France and elsewhere fear anti-E.U. populists at home; they would need to punish Britain to send a message to their own electorates. They would also want to profit from the mess  for example, France hopes to lure French bankers and their money from London back to Paris. And even if, through some miracle of generosity, the leading E.U. members wanted to make divorce easy, they would not be able to do so. The terms of the exit would have to be agreed upon by 27 fractious member states that face distractions ranging from refugees to Vladimir Putin. Brexiteers may soon discover that, if there is one thing more frustrating than being in the E.U., it is trying to get out of it.

Facing a political vacuum, legal and constitutional uncertainty, and the prospect of a nightmarish negotiation with the E.U., the British economy would probably suffer a deeper recession than the mild one foreseen by some forecasters. There is a Lehman quality to this: Fear and uncertainty are hard to quantify in a model, but they can be devastating to flesh-and-blood economies. And Britains vulnerability is especially acute because its trade deficit as a share of gross domestic product is by far the largest among the worlds advanced economies. To pay for its imports, it relies on daily infusions of capital from abroad. If the voters go for Brexit on June 23, the infusions will sputter and the pound will probably collapse, cutting the spending power of workers.

A week is a long time in politics, and Britain may yet step back from the abyss. But it is good to be clear now that the abyss is a deep one.
From Shanghai to Paris to Moscow, the world has been watching to see how the U.S. election is affected by the latest terrorist bloodbath on our soil, this time in the shadow of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

Newspapers in those cities and in many others focused attention on the murder of 49 revelers in a gay nightclub in Orlando and what might be expected from either a President Donald Trump or a President Hillary Clinton. It escaped no one that the latest horror would become a factor in the campaign. Nothing, not even the sorrows of the bereaved, takes a back seat to political opportunity.

While Clinton spoke against anti-Muslim rhetoric, Trump leapt into the darkness with all four feet, snarling at President Obamas lack of passion in addressing the Orlando slaughter and condemning him for refusing to use the words radical Islamic terrorism in identifying the enemy.

These charges are familiar enough, but this time Trump went a step further, suggesting that Obama resign from office and, conspiratorially, that theres more going on than we know. Defaulting to his customary template, Trump shifted responsibility for these thoughts to people.

Look, were led by a man that either is not tough, not smart, or hes got something else in mind, Trump said Monday on Fox News.

And the something else in mind  you know, people cant believe it. People cannot, they cannot believe that President Obama is acting the way he acts and cant even mention the words radical Islamic terrorism. Theres something going on. Its inconceivable. Theres something going on.

And who are these people who cant believe it? Trumps Twitter followers? The tiny voices in his head? For certain, theyre not the Post journalists whom Trump now has barred from his campaign events.

Why? Because The Post accurately reported Trumps words, noting the obvious implication that the president of the United States was somehow in league with the terrorists. Maybe its only the people thinking this, but Trumps modus operandi is well-known by now. His book, tedious even to Dick and Jane, is wide-open.

In a normal world, Trump would be booed off the stage. Instead, he is applauded (by some) for adding The Post to his list of journalistic organs denied access to his campaign.

The applause is disheartening, and is evidence that newspapers are little understood or appreciated. This is owing in part to a few notorious fabricators, who were duly punished, as well as a vast array of alternative news sources. But mostly to blame for the demonization of the media broadly are faux news media outlets, Republicans and their cohorts.

For decades now, conservative news sources, many of which are aggregators dependent upon the mainstream media for their bread and butter, have joined radio hosts in blasting traditional news sources. Kill the messenger is their operating principle. Republicans who benefit from this portrayal of the media tender their silence in errant gratitude.

The fact is, Trump hasnt needed any help in exposing his prevarications, exaggerations and just plain awful behavior. His words and deeds speak for themselves. Thus, the idea that theres some sort of anti-Trump cabal in the Post newsroom is nonsense. And picking a side between a bombastic fabulist such as Trump and one of the most respected editors in the country, Martin Baron, shouldnt cut any fresh furrows in anyones brow.

That is, not if one values the First Amendment, because you can be sure that Trump does not.

Already, he has said he wants to open up libel laws so that people like him can more easily sue newspapers. This is not only unlikely to happen but would prove otherwise problematic for Trump. Among other criteria, libel law requires evidence of defamation of character, the implicit presumption of which would seem to inoculate the accused in Trumps case.

More troubling in the long term is Trumps apparent assumption that he can block a free press  much as tyrants, potentates and dictators throughout history have done. Undoubtedly, a state news agency would suit him fine  all the news Good Citizens are fit to read.

Our allies and enemies, meanwhile, will have noted that a possible President Trump, who used the deaths of innocents to essentially indict Obama of colluding with terrorists, would do all in his power to undermine the oldest democracy in the world.

It is hard to sell freedom when at least a sizable portion of the country promoting it seems no longer to understand what it means.

Read more from Kathleen Parkers archive, follow her on Twitter or find her on Facebook.
Regarding the June 13 front-page article  Mateen called erratic, abusive, filled with hate :

In the aftermath of yet another mass shooting, we have learned that the FBI had met with the shooter but did not connect the dots. So much for predicting which folks on or not on the watch list will take up arms. To the extent that the killers acts were born of psychosis rather than politics, the thought that a sociopaths violent behavior can be predicted is of course folly; millions of people walk around with aggression and anger in their heads, but only an unknowable subset will actually seek to kill strangers.

Applying Occams razor, the answer  a point at which the rest of the civilized world long ago arrived  is common-sense gun control. This means, at a minimum, denying ordinary citizens access to weapons created for the battlefield. Until we realize this and pass meaningful restrictions on the availability of military-style hardware, we are doomed to relive these catastrophic scenarios again and again.

Kenneth M. Trombly, Bethesda

In coverage of the tragic shooting in Orlando, the media repeatedly called it the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. Sadly, my thought was that this phrase should end with so far.

Regardless of the reason, without major changes to our countrys gun laws, these tragedies will continue  and get only worse.

Alyssa Roberts, Fairfax Station

As usual with gun control proponents, in his June 13 op-ed, A tragedy beyond category, E.J. Dionne Jr. failed to note that most mass shootings occur in gun-free zones by people who have no interest in obeying the law. Orlando was a case in point; Florida does not allow guns in any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcohol, so the patrons were defenseless.

Mr. Dionne and his allies should propose specific actions that target the shooters rather than make life more difficult for the huge number of law-abiding citizens who do not use their guns to commit crimes.

Julius Sanks, Ashburn

The latest horrific events on U.S. soil, in which a single gunman killed 49 people and wounded many more, brought about the usual responses from our more cool-headed political leaders, namely compassionate thoughts and offers of our nations prayers for the victims and their families and friends. There is nothing wrong with such thoughts, of course. With the exception of the most loathsome people, including those political figures seeking to gain from the carnage, all Americans feel genuine pain and offer their sympathy and comfort to those harmed by the latest vicious person with a gun. That alone, however, is not a sufficient response from our elected leaders.

The United States needs concrete action to limit access to high-powered weapons, such as the assault-style rifle that was used to kill so many in Orlando and other places, and a sane approach to guns. There are professionals for those seeking healing through prayer, but offering prayer is not the job for which political leaders are elected.

The United States needs its leaders to do more than continue to indulge and implicitly support the absurd and vile suggestion that our Constitution guarantees mass killers the right to bear arms.

John Warshawsky, Bethesda

E.J. Dionne Jr. referred to ideological cul-de-sacs in his Monday op-ed. It is easy to see the hatred that fueled the horrific mass shootings in Orlando; perhaps it is harder to see the fear. Yet if we look at three key elements of the attack  the Islamic State, anti-gay sentiment and the use of a semiautomatic weapon  we find the underlying common factor of fear.

The Islamic State and other fanatics fear education, modernity, religious pluralism and womens rights. Anti-gay sentiments are fed by the irrational fear that gay people pose a threat to conventional marriage and morality. And extreme opponents of sensible firearm regulation are driven mostly by the fear of a totalitarian government takeover that will confiscate all firearms  the grabbers fantasy.

Until we confront and resolve these fears, we are unlikely to break the cycle of hatred and violence in this country.

Ronald Pies, Lexington, Mass.
Here are five GOP lawmakers who have taken issue with the ways their party's presidential candidate has reacted to the massacre in Orlando. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Here are five GOP lawmakers who have taken issue with the ways their party's presidential candidate has reacted to the massacre in Orlando. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and some vulnerable GOP lawmakers signaled Wednesday that they are open to changing the nations gun laws, raising the possibility that the political tide might be shifting on an issue that has sharply divided Americans for years.

This isnt the first time a mass shooting, in this case the massacre in Orlando that killed 49 people this week, has sparked a national cry for congressional action on gun availability. In past instances, such calls to action have been followed by intense pressure campaigns from gun rights supporters urging lawmakers to focus elsewhere.

But the debate launched this week could be different, mostly because of Trump. And it could further divide Republicans, many of whom were already distancing themselves from the presumptive nominees anti-Muslim rhetoric in the wake of Orlando.

Trumps renewed focus on gun laws goes against GOP orthodoxy, which generally considers Second Amendment issues to be settled. It also complicates the Republican response to the Orlando shootings, which had focused mostly on national security and concerns about home-grown terrorism.

And Trumps attention to the issue has the potential to strain lawmakers in tough reelection battles: those from moderate swing states with constituents who favor tougher gun laws; and those who feel pressure to defend against Trumps critique that nothing gets done in Washington.

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On Wednesday, Trump said he would schedule a meeting soon with the National Rifle Association to discuss proposals to ban people on certain federal watch lists from buying firearms. Trump was renewing a position he first expressed last year after a mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif. But on Wednesday he took it to a new level, via Twitter, by calling for a meeting with the NRA.

Three Republican senators took similar stands. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who is locked in a closely watched reelection battle, told Ohio reporters that he is ready to back a federal ban on weapons sales to anyone on a terrorist watch list if a compromise can be reached. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said much the same. And Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who has worked on bipartisan gun-control legislation in the past and is also facing a tough reelection challenge, announced plans late Wednesday to introduce new legislation after a day of talks with members of both parties as well as gun-control groups.

After the San Bernardino shooting in December, Trump told CBSs Face the Nation that he is very strongly into the whole thing with the Second Amendment. But if you cant fly, and if you have got some really bad  I would certainly look at that very hard.

We have to be looking at a lot of different things, Trump added in the interview. But we cant do anything to hurt the Second Amendment. People need their weapons to protect themselves. And you see that now more than ever before.

[Orlando gunmans wife warned him not to carry out attack, official says]

Trumps position was buoyed this week by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who said that he is open to new laws to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists but not through existing proposals authored mostly by Democrats. Republicans have objected to those proposals because of the risk, they say, that innocent Americans improperly listed might be denied the right to purchase a weapon. Their counter-proposals have included provisions that would require the FBI to prove that someone has engaged in terrorist activity before banning a gun purchase.

Nobody wants terrorists to have firearms, McConnell told reporters on Tuesday.

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is in talks with a leading gun-control group about banning terrorism suspects from purchasing firearms. (Larry Downing/Reuters)

The NRA expressed general support for the idea  but it also made clear that a ban on sales to all people on watch lists would be unfair. Only after an investigation by the FBI proving terrorist activity should such sales be blocked, the group said. Our position is no guns for terrorists  period. Due process & right to self-defense for law-abiding Americans, the group tweeted.

More ardent gun rights activists warned that Trump and GOP lawmakers could be jeopardizing conservative support by pushing for changes.

This is the first true character test for Donald Trump, undoubtedly. As of right now, it sure looks like hes failed it miserably, said Dudley Brown, president of the National Association for Gun Rights, an NRA rival.

Brown said it should scare every American that federal officials could place them on a secret list that would block their constitutional rights. He will be attending the Republican National Convention in Cleveland next month as a delegate and said that he and others are hoping to rewrite the party platform with tougher gun rights language.

But were not waiting for Cleveland, Brown said, noting that NAGR members were already calling and emailing GOP lawmakers in Washington to forestall a fresh debate.

Meanwhile, Democrats on both sides of Congress were launching a full-court press aimed at forcing Republicans to act.

On the Senate floor, Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.) launched a filibuster with other Democrats amid debate on a Justice Department spending bill that they want to amend with gun-control proposals.

I am prepared to stand on the Senate floor and talk about the need to prevent gun violence for as long as I can, Murphy tweeted at the start of the filibuster.

House Democrats also said Wednesday that they would push again to expand background checks on gun purchases and renew the lapsed ban on assault weapons  but would focus first on stopping terrorism suspects from buying firearms.

The federal terrorism watch list included some 800,000 people as of September 2014, the most recent data available. The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was on a list until 2014, when the FBI removed him on the grounds that he did not pose a credible threat. The lead shooter in the San Bernardino massacre also had been investigated by the FBI.

[Top Republicans join Obama in condemning Trumps words]

That revelation sparked a quick but fruitless attempt to revamp gun laws last year. Democrats introduced legislation by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) that would have granted the attorney general power to prevent suspected terrorists from buying weapons, irrespective of whether their names appear on the governments official lists. Republicans responded with a bill by Sen. John Cornyn (Tex.) that would have given authorities three days after a suspected terrorist tried to purchase a gun to prove there was probable cause to reject the sale.

Neither plan passed. Only two Democrats voted for Cornyns plan, with most believing that federal authorities could never clear a potential suspect within three days. Collins supported Cornyns bill at the time, but on Wednesday she said it did not go far enough.

Cornyn and Feinstein said Wednesday they were in talks about a potential compromise  but Feinstein said later in the day that those talks had broken down.

Sen. Mark Kirk (Ill.), another embattled incumbent up for reelection, was the only Republican to back Feinsteins bill in December. But other GOP senators voted against the measure, citing the concerns of gun rights advocates including Richard Feldman, head of the Independent Firearm Owners Association. He worried that everyday Americans mistakenly placed on government watch lists might struggle for years to clear their names and restore their Second Amendment rights.

Once in America, we used to be considered not guilty until proven guilty. Now were guilty until proven innocent. And its very hard to prove innocence, Feldman said Wednesday.

Given that divide, Toomeys discussions with former New York mayor Michael Bloombergs group, Everytown for Gun Safety, were seen as a promising development for gun-control advocates and members of both parties eager for a compromise.

This is not rocket science to figure this out, Toomey said on the Senate floor Wednesday, adding that he had been speaking to several senators about a new bill. He didnt mention any talks with Bloombergs group, but spokesmen for both sides confirmed that the group was in touch with the senator.

In 2013, Toomey partnered with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) in the wake of the 2012 Newtown, Conn., school shooting in a push to expand criminal and mental-health background checks at gun shows and for online sales. Their proposal earned 54 votes  six shy of the 60 needed to advance. Only four Republicans supported the bill.

Portman, who voted against Toomeys bill in 2013 and Feinsteins proposal in December, told reporters Tuesday: I hope that the entire Senate votes to say that if youre on the terrorist watch list  not just the no-fly list, which is a much more targeted list, but the terrorist watch list  you should not be able to buy a weapon.

Other lawmakers also took steps Wednesday to revive the debate.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who was on the scene of the Orlando shooting shortly after it occurred, proposed requiring the FBI to be alerted if a terrorism suspect buys a gun. The alert would not bar the suspect from purchasing the weapon but would notify the agency and allow it to take action, he said.

Other Democratic senators introduced a plan to funnel $190 million to counterterrorism efforts and active-shooter training at the FBI. The bill would also create 36 new positions to track terrorist threats.

Feldman, the gun rights advocate, speculated that real legislative action is not likely.

The problem is that when the emotionalism of this moment fades, as it will  it may be two weeks or two months, but it always does fade  the people who care about this issue are the gun owners of this country, Feldman said. They will vote for or against people on the basis of this issue.

Mike DeBonis, Catherine Ho and David Weigel contributed to this report.
President Obama sought Tuesday to turn a bitter election-season fight over the threat posed by violent Islamist extremists into a rejection of Donald Trumps vision of what it means to be an American.

Obamas remarks amplified those of the presumptive Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, and came two days after the largest mass shooting in the countrys history. Both Clinton and Obama were eager to shift the focus away from terrorism and the battle against the Islamic State, an area of relative weakness for Democrats.

They were also driven by moral revulsion at what they described as Trumps conspiracy-fueled, nativist proposals to fight terrorism by blocking Muslims seeking to immigrate to the United States and stepping up surveillance on those already here.

Where does this stop? Obama asked after a meeting with his top national security advisers. He noted the calls from Trump and other Republicans to subject Muslim Americans to special surveillance. Without mentioning the GOP candidate by name, the president cast Trump as a demagogue who is playing on Americas deepest fears and anxieties for personal political advantage.

We have gone through moments in our history before when we acted out of fear, and we came to regret it, Obama said. We have seen our government mistreat our fellow citizens, and it has been a shameful part of our history.

Clinton, meanwhile, took direct aim at Trump, using a campaign stop in Pittsburgh to cast the businessman as someone given to conspiracy theories and bizarre rants.

For both the Democrats and Trump, the past few days have amounted to a preview of a larger argument that will continue until the election in November.

The slaying of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday, by a shooter who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, has quickly become a political flash point. The massacre has thrust issues of terrorism, gun control, immigration and national security to the forefront of the nations political debate just as the campaign has begun to shift to the general-election contest between Trump and Clinton.

In the past, mass shootings, such as the attack in Newtown, Conn., that killed 20 first-graders and six school staffers in December 2012, have led to a national period of mourning before a political debate over a policy response. But the reaction to the Orlando killings, like the aftermath of the attacks in Paris last November that killed 130, has rapidly escalated into a scathing, personal fight over the fundamental question of how the nation views itself and whether its current incarnation matches the ideals of its founding.

Trump, in particular, has seemed eager to take on Obama and Clinton on the question of the countrys ethos and identity. In his first speech after the Florida attack, Trump cast his temporary ban on Muslim immigrants as a proposal designed to protect women, gay people and, more broadly, the United States pluralistic ideals.

What I want is common sense. I want a mainstream immigration policy that promotes American values, he said. . . . Weve got to get smart and tough and vigilant, and weve got to do it now, because later is going to be too late for our country.

On Tuesday, Trump repeated that message in an emailed response to questions from the Associated Press. He said that Obama continues to prioritize our enemy over our allies, and for that matter, the American people.

When I am president, it will always be America first, he added.

That message seems to have gained some traction with voters. Although Clinton holds a 12-point lead over Trump in a national survey of likely voters released by Bloomberg News on Tuesday, the real estate mogul bests her slightly  45 to 41 percent  on the question of who inspired more confidence to handle an attack like the one in Orlando.

For both Obama and Clinton, speeches on the fight against the Islamic State can quickly devolve into discussions of minute, and not particularly impressive, details.

In the wake of the Orlando attack, Clinton called for an intelligence surge to deal with the problem of terrorists who become radicalized through the Internet, and she made a case for better intelligence sharing between state, local and federal officials.

Weve had successes, and weve also had failures, she said in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. But one things for sure: The fight against terrorism has never been simple.

Obama, in an appearance at the Treasury Department on Tuesday, read off a list of cities, such as Rutbah, Hit and Haditha, that have been wrested from the control of the Islamic State, as well as the names of several Islamic State leaders who have been killed in recent months.

He said there is an urgent need to confirm his choice for treasury undersecretary of terrorism and financial intelligence, whose nomination has been languishing in the Senate, and he mocked Trump and other Republicans who have criticized his unwillingness to refer to the Islamic State and other terrorist groups as radical Islamists.

What exactly would using this label accomplish? Obama asked, his voice rising in anger. What exactly would it change? . . . This is a political distraction.

Although Obama and Clinton have differed on the particulars of some military and counterterrorism policies, they are in vigorous agreement that Trumps impulses on issues including immigration, civil rights and national security are not only dangerous but a betrayal of Americas values.

Both seemed to relish a fight with Trump over the countrys identity. Obama in his remarks Tuesday aimed high in attacking the mogul, saying that the words of the Founding Fathers, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights all explicitly reject religious tests for immigrants. He noted that the terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Calif., Fort Hood, Tex., and Orlando were all committed by U.S. citizens.

Are we going to start treating all Muslim Americans differently? he said. Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance?

Sensing that members of Trumps own party are uneasy with the businessmans ideas, Obama asked, Do Republican officials actually agree with this?

Republicans, meanwhile, struggled to answer that question. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.) reiterated his criticism of Trumps proposed Muslim ban Tuesday, saying it was not reflective of our principles  neither the GOPs nor the countrys.

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) expressed frustration with Trumps speech after the Orlando shooting. In an effort to be constructive, I have offered public encouragement at important times, but I must admit that I am personally discouraged by the results, he said.

Clinton, meanwhile, sought to pound Trumps perceived area of weakness, saying again and again that he is temperamentally unfit to be president.

Trumps immigration ban and heated rhetoric would make it harder to work with Muslim partners at home and abroad, she said, adding, We need to build trust in Muslim communities.

Clinton directly confronted Trumps suggestion that Obama had been complicit in allowing the Orlando attack or had some ulterior motive. Theres something going on, Trump said Monday.

Just think about that, Clinton responded. Even in a time of divided politics, this is way beyond anything that should be said by someone running for president.
Patience Carter feels pain from the gunshot wounds in her legs. And for that, she feels guilt so strong that she has been trying to process it through poetry.

I can feel nothing like the other 49 who werent so lucky to feel this pain of mine, Carter said Tuesday, surrounded by the doctors who saved her life, reading a poem about the emotional toll that comes from surviving when others dont.

For 53 people, this past Sunday started in a popular Orlando nightclub and ended in a hospital room. Forty-nine others at the club ended up in the morgue.

As mourners from Sydney to Moscow remembered the dead with candles and flowers, those who survived were confronted with competing torrents of emotion: elation at being able to wake up in the morning, and a gnawing survivors guilt that a weeping Carter described as an almost unbearable burden.

The guilt of being alive is heavy, Carter said, reading from a hospital chair wheeled into a news conference at Florida Hospital, just north of downtown Orlando. Its like the weight of the oceans walls, crushing uncontrolled by levees.

Angel Santiago, 32, speaks about his experience of being shot in the left foot and right knee at Pulse nightclub as his brother Samuel Santiago and mother Gloria Santiago listen Tuesday. (Melissa Lyttle/For The Washington Post)

Across town at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where the majority of victims were treated, a surgeon said the number of fatalities could yet rise. All told, 33 shooting victims remained hospitalized Tuesday, hospital officials said: Six were still critically ill, and five others were in guarded condition.

Orlando Regional Medical Center is just half a mile from the scene of the murderous rampage at Pulse, a vibrant and popular gay nightclub. On Tuesday, doctors there recalled patients arriving by the truckload. They described people riddled with bullets, gunshot wounds in their chests, abdomens and pelvic areas.

This was somewhat of a surreal experience, one doctor said. We were just given patient after patient after patient.

For Carter, 20, Saturday night was the start of a Florida vacation with two friends from Philadelphia: Akyra Murray, 18, and Tiara Parker, 20. Looking for fun, they Googled most popular clubs in Orlando, and the cold logic of a search engines algorithm led them to Pulse.

Parker, an intern at a Fox News TV station in Philly, took to Instagram with a selfie captioned: Headed to downtown Orlando!!

A few hours later, the three women lay on a bathroom floor, in a heavy, wet pile of the bleeding and the dead. All three of them had been shot, and Murray was dying.

Carter could see the shooters feet as he paced back and forth on the bloody floor just outside the handicapped stall where she and her friends tried to keep quiet. He spoke in a language she could not identify. When his rifle jammed, he killed a couple of people point blank with his handgun. Pop. Pop.

Angel Colon, a survivor shot by gunman Omar Mateen, is surrounded by friends, family and medical personnel Tuesday at Orlando Regional Medical Center. (Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

In that moment, Carter said: I was begging for God to take the soul out of my body because I didnt want to feel any more pain.

On Tuesday, barely two days later, with her friend among the dead, Carter described survival as a weight, a gift to be handled warily.

The guilt of feeling lucky, she said.

For Jeannette McCoy, the past 36 hours have brought trepidation and uncertainty. McCoy, 37, escaped the club amid a hail of gunfire, stepping over the dead and injured and, once outside, tending to the wounds of others.

She was not injured. After checking on her friends, who all survived, she was able to return to her small ranch house near a strip mall around 6 a.m. Sunday.

But at that point, she found herself alone. And, after all she had seen, McCoy could not stand to be alone.

Im not a scared person. I dont live in fear, said McCoy, a personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder. But for me to come home . . . and theres no one here.

Her voice trailed off.

On Monday night, McCoy was sheltering in her home, her closest friends and relatives gathered by her side. Her windows were locked. Her curtains were rolled down. A group of muscular men  many friends from the gym where McCoy works and exercises  guarded the door, scouting out potential visitors and making sure McCoy was okay with having them in the house.

McCoy is tough. In an interview in her home, she said she is originally from Long Island and that she doesnt take any crap. Her body ripples with muscles. But since the shooting, she said she is wary of others and doesnt feel safe. She is afraid that people around her could erupt in violence at any time.

Im so uneasy. Im looking over my shoulders, she said. I saw people walking down the street, and they looked like suspects to me.

As friends chatted in the kitchen, McCoy retreated to her bedroom to call loved ones and let them know she was okay. She said she has always been a person who protected others. Now she fears for her own safety.

She has a Taser. And shes planning to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon. The shooting, she said, made her feel as if she has no time to waste.

I have to protect my home, she said. I have to protect my domain.

For Angel Santiago, the shooting destroyed the sense of security he once felt at Pulse, a joyous place he described as a refuge.

Santiago, 32, was hanging out with friends when the gunman entered the club. The group took shelter in a restroom, but the gunman followed. They smelled the acrid scent of gunpowder as he moved closer.

Santiago said prayers for protection. The gunman opened fire. Santiago was hit in his left foot and his right knee. For hours, he lay on the bathroom floor thinking he was going to die.

On Tuesday, he said he was still processing the fact that he did not.

Im just grateful to be alive because after seeing what occurred, I dont even know how Im alive today, he said from his bed at Florida Hospital. His legs were covered with a white sheet, and a blood-stained piece of gauze was affixed to the inside of his elbow on his right arm.

The shooting forever changed his life and the life of his relatives, many of whom stood at his side. His brother cried as Santiago spoke.

To Santiago and many others in Orlando, Pulse was more than a club. It was a place where Santiago and other gay men and women were permitted to unabashedly be themselves, without judgment or fear.

For me, being a gay man, going to a club like Pulse, its kind of like a safe haven. Because you cant go to just any old bar and be who you are because theres hate everywhere, Santiago said. When you go to a place like Pulse, its not so you can be promiscuous or anything like that. Its because this is your safe zone.

Santiago said it will be difficult to feel safe anywhere now. I cant say whats going to happen, he said. But whether or not Im looking forward to going to another club? No. Not at least for now.

In the meantime, Santiago said he is viewing life through a different lens.

Coming face to face with death, he said, makes you think twice about what youre going to do with your life.

Mark Berman in Washington contributed to this report.
Donald Trump said Wednesday that top Republicans need to toughen up and that he may have to lead the GOP alone, heightening tensions with his partys leaders at a time when they have stepped up their criticism of his controversial statements.

Speaking at an afternoon rally here, Trump let loose a scathing attack on his fellow Republicans. He did not name anyone in particular.

You know the Republicans, honestly, folks, our leaders, our leaders have to get tougher, he said. This is too tough to do it alone, but you know what? I think Im going to be forced to. I think Im going to be forced to. Our leaders have to get a lot tougher.

He added: And be quiet. Just please be quiet. Dont talk. Please be quiet. Just be quiet to the leaders because they have to get tougher, they have to get sharper, they have to get smarter.

The remarks came a day after many congressional Republicans, including House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.), denounced his response to the deadly mass shooting in Orlando. Ryan took issue with Trumps proposed ban on Muslim immigrants. And many shook their heads at his suggestion that President Obama may be sympathetic to terrorists.

Here are five GOP lawmakers who have taken issue with the ways their party's presidential candidate has reacted to the massacre in Orlando. (Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

The period of unease comes on top of a nearly two-week stretch during which Trumps repeated attacks on a judge of Hispanic descent were widely condemned, forcing him to clarify his stance and vow to move past the episode.

Trump suggested more than once Wednesday that he might be on his own  a posture that threatens to further erode his fragile relationship with the Republican establishment.

We have to have our Republicans either stick together or let me just do it by myself, he said. Ill do very well. Im going to do very well. Okay? Im going to do very well. A lot of people thought I should do that anyway, but Ill just do it very nicely by myself.

At his rally, Trump also went after Obama and Hillary Clinton, claiming they have not fought against the threat of terrorism vigorously enough. And he argued that if patrons of the Orlando nightclub where at least 49 people were massacred had been armed, the shooting would not have been as bad.

In Hampton, Va., on Wednesday, Clinton reiterated her critique of the ideas that Trump has presented to combat terrorism, which she described as inflammatory, wrong and dangerous.

Days after she delivered two speeches in which she sharply criticized Donald Trump over his approach to national security, Clintons five-person panel discussion in one of the nations most concentrated hubs of service members and military families took a different approach to drawing a contrast with Trump.

Clinton had come, she told the small room of invited guests, to do a lot more listening than talking.

The Fix breaks down the 10 Republicans who have been most vocally opposed to Trump's nomination. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

[Clinton goes full policy wonk to draw contrast with Trumps reckless ideas]

After all the Twitter rants and conspiracy theories weve been hearing recently, its time for a substantive discussion about how we protect our country, Clinton said, characterizing Trumps response to the Orlando massacre that left 49 dead on Sunday.

Joined by a former military officer, a military spouse, former enlisted service members and Virginias first lady, Dorothy McAuliffe, Clinton delved deep into policy for over an hour. The conversation shifted from sequestration cuts to military programs to health care to the availability of jobs near military bases.

There was no doubt, however, that Clinton was focused squarely on Trump.

In particular, Clinton said his proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States demonstrated that he did not grasp what was necessary to combat terrorism.

She noted that the attacker in Orlando was born in the United States, specifically in Queens  just miles from where Trump was born.

A ban on Muslims would not have stopped this attack. Neither would a wall. I dont know how one builds a wall to keep the Internet out, Clinton said. Not one of Donald Trumps reckless ideas would have saved a single life in Orlando.

Its just more evidence that he is temperamentally unfit and totally unqualified to be commander in chief, she added.

[In wake of Orlando shootings, gun control getting a fresh look from GOP]

Trump spoke at the historic and cavernous Fox Theatre. Unlike many of his rallies, which are often held in big open spaces where supporters stand up, many in the crowd were seated.

Some supporters munched on popcorn from the concession stand as they filed in to hear Trump speak.

As a parade of speakers warmed up the audience before Trump took the stage, supporters broke into periodic chants of USA! and blurted out conservative catchphrases.

Impeach Obama! one man yelled out.

Build that wall! bellowed another, referring to Trumps proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

One of Trumps introductory speakers was Herman Cain, who ran for president in 2012. Cain, who is black, said Trump is not a racist.

The Manhattan real estate mogul said during his speech that he would save the Second Amendment. Then he reflected on Sundays deadly mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

If some of those great people that were in that club that night had guns . . . you would have had a situation, folks, which would have been always horrible but nothing like the carnage that ensued.

Trump has increasingly framed his proposed ban on Muslim immigration as a pro-LGBT, pro-woman policy that would protect vulnerable groups.

When I say make America great again, its for everybody. We have to say for everybody, Trump said.

Rather than letting in Syrian refugees, whom Trump says could be entering the country with terrorist aims, the mogul said that the United States should aim to build safe zones abroad where the refugees can be held.

Build them over there. Build them in Syria, build them in places over there, he said.

Trump riffed for several minutes about the term radical Islamic terrorism, chastising Obama and Clinton for their reluctance to use the phrase. The two have described the phrase as imprecise, though Clinton has recently begun using the more accepted term radical Islamism.

Unless youre willing to discuss and talk about the real nature of the problem, and the name of the problem, radical Islamic terrorism, youre never going to solve the problem, Trump said.

Trump said that the United States should be more aggressive in its surveillance of domestic Muslim populations.,

We arent vigilant and we arent smart. And we have to go and we have to check, respectfully, the mosques, he said.

Trump was interrupted several times by protesters as he spoke. One yelled out that presumptive Republican nominee was lying. The protests picked up in frequency and intensity as the rally went on, reaching a peak about a half hour in, then tailing off.

Be nice to our protesters, Trump said during one episode.

He added: By the way, is there any better place to be than in a Trump rally?

DelReal reported from Washington. Phillip reported from Hampton, Va.
There are so many brands and models; you dont necessarily need the one that you want. They are right about that, I suppose.

You could use a different weapon. There are many. Some are heavier, some are lighter. Some more or less expensive, some better at longer or shorter distances. Some fire less expensive ammunition so theyre more affordable for target practice; some fire more expensive ammunition to ensure a quick, clean kill when hunting deer, moose, or elk. Some are more comfortable for tall shooters or for short ones; some are more suited to women, some to men.

Or a Sig-Sauer, or an AK-47, or whatever weapon was used in whatever shooting was in the news.

You dont need an AR-15. After every shooting, we hear the presidents and governors and mayors repeat their call for assault weapons bans because, as they say, you dont need an AR-15.

You dont need that church you go to every Sunday (or every other Sunday, or whatever your attendance schedule may be)

Perhaps youre used to going to the local Catholic church, or the Greek Orthodox church, or the Lutheran church (Missouri synod), or the Lutheran church (Wisconsin synod), or a Reform Jewish synagogue or an Orthodox temple, or any of a hundred other denominations, with churches and temples, big and small, old and new, rich and poor, that dot the landscape and take so much land off the property tax rolls in the process. You dont NEED that church.

Wouldnt it be easier if we just had one church, say, the Anglican Church? Then it would save money, and end all these arguments and theological disputes and it could be funded by the state, through tax dollars. No more pesky Sunday collections. Win-Win!

And while were talking about things we dont need

Why do we print all these newspapers and magazines? Every day, all over the country, tens of thousands of trees are killed  as the environmentalists would say  in order to print paper for these periodical publications. Newspapers and magazines, dailies and weeklies, all using tons of paper and barrels of ink, and for what? To tell you information that you probably dont really need in the first place.

So theres a murder, a robbery, a mugging. How does that affect you? A domestic assault, a house fire, a crooked politician. So the federal government is bankrupt, the state is more so, the city is even more so. Theres nothing new, from day to day, who needs it?

You can learn everything you really need about history in the public schools; as a taxpayer, you already fund these, so you dont need to pay more for more knowledge. And the president, governor and mayor hold press conferences, so theyll keep you up to date on current events. Why bother with newspapers at all? Better to just leave it all in the hands of Big Brother, and let him decide what information you should have. One source, nice and neat, instead of hundreds.

The Slippery Slope

This is one of the dangers when flippantly agreeing to surrender our rights. If we agree to give up black guns, or long guns, or guns that hold more ammunition, or guns that look especially spooky to namby-pamby liberals then all we do is pave the road to giving up even more.

If we allow our government to curtail our God-given rights  these rights that have always existed but were specifically identified in the Constitution to ensure that there was no question  then there is no end to their continuation of such curtailment.

Let them take away the AR-15, and they can take away the AK-47, the FN, then all carbines, all hunting rifles, all FNs, all CZs Once the precedent is granted, how can they be made to stop grabbing? We have ten amendments guaranteed in the Bill of Rights  a right to firearms, a right to a free press, a right to the free exercise of religion, and so many more. Let the governments jack boot wedge itself in the door, and AR-15s wont be the only thing they take away from you.

The modern American Left acts as if murder is a new problem, so all we need to do is to take away the guns that killers use, and the problems will disappear. But they are wrong on both counts. Murder has been around since the dawn of time; since Romulus and Remus in Rome, since Hammurabi and Moses wrote their codes, since Cain and Abel at the very beginning.

Killings in those long-ago days certainly didnt require guns and killing today doesnt require a gun either.

Guns have always been better as a defensive weapon than as an assault weapon anyway. People can kill, after all, with a fertilizer bomb in a truck, or by taking command of an airplane, or by using a simple rock, or sword, or axe.

In recent years, we have seen islamofascist terrorists kill their victims by running them over with cars or trucks, by flying planes into buildings, by setting off bombs in shopping malls, by drowning people in cages, and by beheading them with swords.

If the terrorists had no guns, they could, and would, still kill.

But none of these other methods are equally valid as defensive tools in the hands of a victim!

If attacked by an islamofascist terrorist, we cannot as easily drown him in a cage, or behead him with a sword, or fly a plane into him, or carry him up to the roof to toss him off a building. These other improvised weapons, so favored by the homicidal maniacs in the service of global jihad, are of no value to their potential victims.

Rather, it is the firearm  especially the handgun  that thwarts millions of crimes every year. It is the firearm, in the hands of an intended target, that kills the attacker, or drives him away, or convinces him to leave his life of crime and take up a more honorable profession.

There is a reason that the handgun has, for over a century, been known as the great equalizer. Only a handgun can render a 52 woman the equal of a 62 man. Only a handgun can render a 170 pound policeman the equal of a 270 pound thug.

As long as there are villains in this world, the firearm is our main line of defense against them.

The Leftist goal of reducing or eliminating the guns in our society, therefore, doesnt serve the goal of the innocent potential victims at all; in fact, it serves the criminals, the gangs, the muggers, and the terrorists.

The Economic Benefit of Diversity

Early in the 2016 presidential primary season, the ridiculous socialist senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, whined that We dont need 23 choices of deodorant, and 18 choices of sneakers.

His quote served as great cannon fodder for comedians and his fellow politicians, but it served the purpose of showing how errant is the economic understanding of the Left.

In a nation of 330 million people, in a world of some six billion, we need jobs for them.

And that means we need employers, manufacturers, wholesale and retail outlets, distribution networks, advertising companies and venues all of which increase geometrically with additional products in the marketplace.

In a world of monopolies, there is little need for advertising to win market share, research and development to make products better, or lean engineering to make products more cost-competitive. The greater the competition, the more jobs are created in all these and other areas competing stores selling competing store brands, competing advertising agencies fighting to place the best commercial in the Super Bowl, or the best magazine ad on the back cover of National Review, or Vogue, or GQ.

All these diverse companies, each making slightly different versions of the same class of product, are what make our society work. We need even more companies, more options, not fewer, in order to bring down our horrible unemployment figures (an unsustainable 95 million outside the workforce, at present).

The same goes for firearms. As the Left desperately tries to remove options from the marketplace, the Right knows that we should be increasing them. We have Smith and Wesson, Colt, Ruger, Browning, so many companies manufacturing so many fine and varied weapons but we could have more. More for the self-defense of an ever-endangered citizenry, more options to employ an underemployed workforce, more options to make self-defense more affordable and effective.

As long as there are terrorists and other criminals in this country, we need the potential victims to be armed and ready to stop them.

Avoiding the Real Causes

But arguably the most important reason to be furious at the modern American Left  at Barack Obama, and presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, and all their fellow Democratic officeholders and mouthpieces in the press  is that they seek to blame guns for one principle reason:

By demonizing the guns, Democrats avoid admitting the real causes of violence in the world today.

One of the reasons that law-abiding Americans need firearms is that there are so many violent homegrown American criminals on the loose. These criminals are on the loose specifically because of Democrat policies: a welfare state that breeds irresponsibility a popular culture that disrespects honor and glorifies thuggery, short jail time  if any at all  even when criminals are successfully caught and convicted.

And another of the reasons that law-abiding Americans need firearms is that the nation is importing so many violent foreign criminals as well. These criminals are here because of a refusal to enforce our borders, a catch-and-release system of immigration, the toleration of a massive influx of thousands of members of MS-13, the Trinitarios, the Mexican Mafia, and so many other gangs. The trainloads of so-called unaccompanied minors that dominated headlines from our southern border throughout much of the Obama administration have largely been a vessel to transport Central and South American gang members into the United States. The American Left owns this crisis; having gone so far as to invite them in and even use tax dollars to pay settlement costs for the criminals!

And yes, one of the reasons that law-abiding Americans need firearms is that the nation is importing terrorists. This administration is knowingly, intentionally importing thousands of islamists directly from the middle east. Posing as refugees, these radical advocates of jihad are here to settle amongst us and prepare for the expansion of the caliphate that their philosophy has always foretold. Some are already members of ISIS, Al Qaeda, and other terrorist rings, but far more are not associated with any terror group; they just believe in the violent teachings of their book, and therefore serve as prime candidates when their radical imams and mullahs excite and command them to action.

Once upon a time, the Democratic Party understood matters of defense; for all their faults, at least FDR and Truman fought the Nazis, Fascists and North Korean communists; at least JFK and LBJ fought the North Vietnamese communists

But Democrat politicians have changed; todays Democrats no longer fight the enemy. Today, they welcome in the enemy with open arms, happily paying $20,000 per refugee to settle them in our neighborhoods, happily releasing murderous illegal aliens like Francisco Sanchez (the killer of Kate Steinle), endangering law-abiding citizens again and again and again.

In light of all this, we return to our original question:

Do we really need an AR-15?

Well, come to think of it, yes, we do. We do need that AR-15. And we sure do need that Second Amendment. And we need to make sure we never let the Second Amendment get watered down.

And you know what else we need?

A much more honorable crew of politicians than the irresponsible leftists in there today.

November, 2016 cant come soon enough.

Copyright 2016 John F. Di Leo

John F. Di Leo is a Chicago-based international trade compliance manager and writer. His columns are frequently found in Illinois Review.

Permission is hereby granted to forward freely, provided it is uncut and the IR URL and byline are included. Follow John F. Di Leo on Facebook or LinkedIn, or on Twitter at @johnfdileo.


A woman walks through the heat at a camp for the internally displaced from Fallujah. (Ali Arkady/VII for The Washington Post)

The family thought they had safely escaped Islamic State-held Fallujah, letting out cries of joy when they reached the outskirts of the city. But moments later, horror struck when someone accidentally triggered a roadside bomb placed by militants now barricaded in the city.

It was a terrifying scene, said Ayman Farouk, 17, who was injured on the back of his head by flying shrapnel. People were lying on the floor in their blood. They were crying for help.

Four of his cousins died  all children. Others lost limbs and had to be carried for half an hour before they reached territory held by the Iraqi army.

As Iraqi forces attempt to recapture Fallujah, held by Islamic State militants for more than two years, civilians face a gamut of dangers as they flee the city. In addition to the explosives planted on Fallujahs streets, the Islamic State has tried to prevent residents from escaping in order to keep them as human shields. One man described how militants on motorbikes chased his relatives as they tried to leave, shooting three of them dead.

[After more than $1.6 billion in U.S. aid, Iraqs army still struggles]

Aye Farooq Jaffar, 10, from Al Nassafarea-Fallujah, recives medical care after she survived an IED explosion while evacuating Fallujah. (Ali Arkady/VII for The Washington Post)

For those who make it to safety, the hardship continues, with aid agencies and the Iraqi government so stretched that even drinking water is in short supply. More than 3.4 million Iraqis were displaced by the conflict with the Islamic State even before the operation to retake Fallujah began, and that number is expected to grow when Iraqi forces move on to attack the larger city of Mosul.

The way out is riddled with snipers and explosives, said Karl Schembri from the Norwegian Refugee Council, which works in camps for the displaced. They come to find safety at great risk, but we are struggling to get them even the most basic assistance. We are completely overstretched.

Iraqs government is in the midst of a severe economic crisis caused by a global crash in oil prices, while the United Nations $861 million appeal for humanitarian work in Iraq this year is only 30 percent funded. Much of the international assistance provided in the country is focused on more-secure areas in the northern region of Kurdistan.

In the desert surrounding the town of Amiriyat Fallujah, just 15 miles south of Fallujah, camps for the displaced are being hastily constructed. Dust storms whip through the rows of sand-laden tents. Latrines and cooking facilities are still being built, and there is no electricity.

We dont have stoves to give them, food is running out, drinking water is running out, Schembri said. We are just days away from running out of everything.



Children cover their eyes from dust. (Ali Arkady/VII for The Washington Post)

International standards stipulate that refugee camps provide 10 liters of drinking water a day per person. The camps south of Fallujah are providing just three or four liters a day, Schembri said, even as temperatures climb above 100 degrees. Some of the displaced complained that the water they are getting is salty.

Adding to their plight, men who have fled have been detained en masse by Shiite militias and security forces, leaving many families wondering whether they will see loved ones again.

[A desperate womans email from Iraq reveals the high toll of Obamas low-cost wars]

Dowlat Abed Farhan, 40, who arrived 11 days earlier from the Azrakiyah neighborhood west of Fallujah, said she wouldnt mind the conditions if her male relatives were with her.

She said the 13 male members of the group she fled with, including her four brothers, were detained by a Shiite militia after they escaped Fallujah.

What kind of life will we have? she said. We want to know where they are, if they have been beheaded or are alive. We dont know anything.

Next to her, Asia Radhi, 38, said 70 members of her tribe were missing.

Fallujah is a Sunni-majority city, and residents have been accused of being sympathetic to the Sunni Islamic State militants. Shiite militias have been excluded from the operation to retake Fallujah because of fears of sectarian revenge attacks if they were to enter the city.

But militia forces are still present on the outskirts.

About 643 civilians fleeing Saqlawiyah, west of Fallujah, have gone missing at the hands of militia forces, according to Sohaib al-Rawi, the governor of Anbar province. Some 49 have been killed, he said. He called for an in-depth investigation and for the armed groups responsible to be removed from the area.



A family from al-Husay, southwest of Fallujah. (Ali Arkady/VII for The Washington Post)

Men from Fallujah who reach Iraqi army lines are screened by Iraqi intelligence officials. A total of 7,181 men have been detained, said Falah al-Issawi, chairman of the screening committee. Of those, 4,100 have been released and 1,030 have been referred to the judiciary for suspected ties to the Islamic State, he said. About 2,000 remain in a makeshift screening center, waiting to hear their fate.

They are held in a warehouse near Amiriyat Fallujah. Issawi said conditions are difficult but have improved.

We are trying to make it as good as possible, but the infrastructure is not good. It wasnt built to be a detention center, he said.

Journalists are restricted from accessing the center, but Salim al-Jabouri, speaker of Iraqs parliament, posted a video online of a recent visit.

I heard some of you have been tortured, he said to the men sitting crowded on the floor.

All of us, some responded.

Nisreen Lefteh, 27, said three of her relatives were released after screening, but her husband is still being held.

We fled from the injustice of Daesh, and now hes facing injustice here, she said, using a name for the Islamic State derived from its Arabic acronym. She said hes a wood seller and has nothing to do with the militants.

She said her family was shot at by the militants during the journey out of the Naymiyah neighborhood of southern Fallujah as they took a boat along the river. In recent months, food had become so scarce that they were eating little more than dates and crudely made bread.

Lefteh said she lost a baby in the last month of her pregnancy when an airstrike hit a building while she was in a nearby market.

Families are now under that destruction until this moment in Fallujah, she said.



Children inside the medical center near Fallujah look out through a fence. (Ali Arkady/VII for The Washington Post)

There are no accurate estimates of how many civilians remain trapped in the city. Last week, the United Nations revised its figures to say that as many as 90,000 could be stuck inside.

More than 32,000 people have fled, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. More arrive each day, with an additional 880 making it out by the early hours of the afternoon on Tuesday, the group said.

For the most part, those who escape are not allowed to leave Anbar province. Checkpoints to the majority-Sunni province have started to resemble border crossings, where hundreds line up for permission to exit.

Medical assistance is scarce, and many who have fled need treatment for conditions related to malnutrition such as anaemia, aid agencies say.

Farouks head wound was treated at a medical center run by Dary, a local Iraqi charity, in coordination with the World Health Organization. His younger sister, Aya, 10, winced as a doctor cleaned a shrapnel wound on her foot.

When we left, we were celebrating, she said. But then the bomb exploded, and it was tragedy.

Mustafa Salim contributed to this report.

Read more:

Iraqi troops face booby traps, tunnels packed with explosives as they advance on Fallujah

Iraqis trapped in Fallujah face twin peril of Islamic State and militia fighters

American troops edge closer to the front lines in Iraq

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Ron Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge of the Tampa Division, speaks during a news conference on the shooting investigation at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

On the day of his rampage at a gay nightclub, the Orlando shooter posted messages on Facebook pledging allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State and vowing that there would be more attacks in the coming days by the group in the United States, according to a letter sent to Facebook on Wednesday by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

America and Russia stop bombing the Islamic state..I pledge my alliance to [Islamic State leader] abu bakr al Baghdadi ..may Allah accept me, Omar Mateen wrote, according to the letter, which requested Facebooks assistance in the investigation into the shooting that resulted in 49 deaths.

Mateen then posted, according to the letter: The real muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the west and You kill innocent women and children by doing us airstrikes..now taste the Islamic state vengeance.

At some point on Sunday, Mateen also searched on Facebook for Pulse Orlando and Shooting, according to Johnson.

The social media postings corroborate accounts that Mateen was motivated in part by a perceived connection to the Islamic State. The shooter made 911 phone calls during the shooting in which he pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State, although he also apparently mentioned the Boston Marathon bombers.

The FBI investigated Omar Mateen twice before he killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. (Jason Aldag/The Washington Post)

[After Orlando, gun control getting a fresh look from GOP]

FBI Director James B. Comey said earlier this week that there were no signs that Mateen was directly tied to any kind of network, and he added that it remained unclear exactly which extremist group he supported. Mateens references to terrorist groups have at times been muddled. Officials say he made comments in recent years to co-workers claiming he had family connections to al-Qaeda and was a member of Hezbollah, two opposing terrorist groups that have clashed repeatedly in Syria.

Mateen also apparently used Facebook in May to look for information on the terrorists behind the 2015 San Bernardino attack. On June 4, 2016, he searched Baghdadi Speech, according to Johnsons letter.

Authorities continued Wednesday to seek answers about the gunman who carried out the shooting rampage here, expanding the investigation to include interviews with his relatives, friends and anyone else who may have had contact with him in the months before the attack.

[FBI under scrutiny after dropping past investigation of Orlando shooter]

Mateen had smoked marijuana, used steroids and been expelled from high school in the ninth grade for fighting, according to records dating to last year obtained by The Washington Post.

He said he had been convicted of a crime, placed on probation and had a criminal conviction sealed or expunged. He did not specify the offense.

1 of 25 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  What the investigation into the Orlando mass shooting looks like View Photos Officials are scouring the site and others in the area for information about the June 12 massacre. Caption Officials are scouring the site and others in the area for information about the June 12 massacre. June 15, 2016 Law enforcement officials gather outside Pulse nightclub in Orlando during the shooting investigation. David Goldman/AP Wait 1 second to continue.

He said he spoke excellent Farsi and good Arabic. The email address he listed using: niceguy43212001@yahoo.com.

Asked why he had never served in the U.S. military, Mateen said that he wanted to stay close to family.

Reached by telephone Wednesday evening, Mateens mother, Shahla Mateen, said she knew nothing of her sons plans.

No. Nothing. Nothing, she said.

[Orlando shooters wife facing intense scrutiny from the FBI]

Mateen said we  she didnt specify who else  were out of town and got back late last week.

Friday I didnt see him and just Saturday, she said, before she stopped talking and hung up the phone.

A man later answered Shahla Mateens phone. He did not identify himself.

We want to have our own life back again, the man said. We have a loss, and there are a lot of disasters and a lot of bad news and because of it and we dont have a life.

While the FBI said it views the shooting as a hate crime as well as an act of terrorism, officials said there were no impending charges in the case and declined to discuss whether any were forthcoming.

The FBI confirmed that it had interviewed the wife of Mateen, who was 29. Noor Z. Salman urged her husband not to do anything the night of the attack, said one U.S. law enforcement official. But the bureau also tried to play down this element of the investigation, saying it was part of the larger work of piecing together the gunmans movements and motivations.

[Orlando gunmans wife warned him not to carry out attack, official says]

With respect to the wife, Ronald Hopper, an FBI assistant special agent in charge, said Wednesday, that is only one of many interviews were doing.

Salman has not publicly commented on the attack, and she has not been seen since Monday night, when the Miami-based television station WSVN recorded video of the 30-year-old being escorted from her home in Fort Pierce, Fla. Her face was shrouded by the hood of her sweatshirt, and her left hand had what appeared to be a silver wedding band.

Former neighbors in Salmans home town of Rodeo, Calif., an area of oil refineries about 25 miles northeast of San Francisco, have described her as a shy and sheltered woman.

Jesus Torres, who attended middle school and high school with Salman, described her as quiet and smart, someone who hung out with the smart kids. He has remained in touch with her family since graduating from high school in 2004, and said he believed they were worried about her but did not want to pry. A neighbor told the Mercury News that Salmans mother would always complain that Mateen never let his wife visit her family.

Salmans romance with Mateen began online, and they were married on Sept. 29, 2011, in an Islamic ceremony in Hercules, Calif., a town near Rodeo, according to friends and public records. The couple have a 3-year-old son.

Jasbinder Chahal, who has lived across the street from Salmans childhood home for the past 15 years, told the Associated Press that Salman did not appear to have lofty ambitions beyond marriage after graduating from high school in 2004.

You know, some kids after high school, they open up the box and the world is theirs, Chahal said. She was inside the box  just pack it up and get married.

She added: Noor never played in the street, and the girls were never allowed to drive.

The family lives in a beige split-level home with rose bushes out front in a neighborhood that is ethnically diverse and middle class. Many of the immediate neighbors are of Indian descent.

[After Orlando attack, prevailing view is there are not any gays in Afghanistan]

Mohamed Diouf, 23, went to the same high school with Salmans cousins Sana and Salam. Diouf described them as straight-A students  a couple of the smartest ladies Ive ever met.

Diouf added about their mother: She raised two successful, intelligent daughters that I got to grow up with, and I kind of respect that. I feel shes someone to respect. The family is someone to respect.

Diouf describes them as mainstream in their Muslim faith. He also grew up in a Muslim household.

Theyre like my parents  my mother and father, devout Muslims. Its Ramadan right now. They would be fasting, they would be praying. They would wear their hijabs sometimes. But they were just regular people.

On Wednesday, the family was holed up inside their home all day, with the shades drawn. Multiple visitors came and brought food and other household goods.

Salman accompanied Mateen at one point to buy ammunition and went with him on at least one trip to Pulse described as reconnaissance not long before the shooting, according to officials familiar with the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing probe.

Whether she knew the purpose of that trip remains unclear.

Investigators are still working to corroborate what Salman told them during interviews, according to authorities, and will also try to determine if she suffered any abuse at the gunmans hands. His first wife  Sitora Yusifiy, to whom he was briefly married in 2009  said he beat her repeatedly while they were married. How authorities ultimately view Salmans role and actions could change if she was a victim of abuse or feared for her life, officials say.

As investigators continue probing Mateens life, they are also scouring digital forensics and are trying to reconstruct his actions dating back months. Meanwhile, evidence technicians were methodically tracing the path of the barrage of bullets that flew inside Pulse as they attempted to diagram precisely what happened.

[The gun the Orlando shooter used was a Sig Sauer MCX, not an AR-15. That doesnt change much.]

Were looking at everything, Hopper said.

He also said authorities had found no evidence yet that Mateen intended to target any other locations, and officials said they had no information about any possible surveillance at Disney or any knowledge of Mateen patronizing clubs besides Pulse.

At least two witnesses at Pulse said Mateen had previously visited the club. President Obama, who is traveling to Orlando on Thursday, has called the shooting an act of terror and an act of hate, while FBI Director James B. Comey said authorities were working to see if anti-gay sentiment played into the decision to attack the club.

Mateen appeared to be a very skilled shooter, according to documents released Wednesday, repeatedly scoring high marks on tests needed to obtain firearms licenses.

After opening fire on scores of people inside the nightclub here early Sunday, Mateen then threatened to strap explosives to his hostages and left police fearing possible booby traps even after the attacker was killed, the citys mayor said Wednesday.

No explosives or bomb vests were found, but suspicions of possible devices forced authorities to wait a significant time before entering the club and fully assessing the mayhem after a commando-style raid freed survivors and killed the gunman, said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

Since Sundays attack, authorities have confronted a jumble of potential leads and loose ends. Among the unanswered questions were why an earlier FBI investigation into the gunman was closed two years before the shooting and whether Sundays slaughter at the popular gay club was an act of politically driven rage or triggered by personal demons  or even a mix of both.

Meanwhile, German investigators examined a Dusseldorf bank account held by Mateens father, who has claimed that his son visited him at his home in Port St. Lucie, Fla., the day before the attack and showed no hints of anger or anxiety. Germanys Rheinischen Post reported that Mateens Afghanistan-born father, Seddique Mateen, posted the bank account details in a 2013 video soliciting donations  receiving only two payments totaling the equivalent of about $200.

There was no immediate indication of how the money was used, but the elder Mateen has been active in the Afghan expatriate community in the United States and elsewhere as a self-proclaimed political figure and analyst.

Survivors of the attack have relayed some of Mateens comments during the standoff with police officers, offering clues to his motivation.

One witness said that during the hostage standoff that followed the shooting spree, Mateen claimed he carried out the attack because he wanted Americans to stop bombing his country. While Mateens parents are from Afghanistan, he was born in the United States. Another witness said Wednesday that Mateen said, America needs to stop bombing ISIS in Syria.

The FBI said Wednesday that Mateen made phone calls during the standoff, but it has not publicly released any additional information on these calls.

Mateen made at least one phone call to an acquaintance he knew from Florida, two U.S. law enforcement officials said, but it is unknown what Mateen told this person.

Mateens phone has been recovered, and forensic experts were about to access the data, an official said.

Berman and Nakashima reported from Washington. Adam Goldman, Jennifer Jenkins, Sarah Larimer, Brian Murphy and Julie Tate in Washington; Emily Badger in Rodeo, Calif.; and Zachary Fagenson in Port St. Lucie, Fla., contributed to this report.

Read more:

How a heroic Marines military training helped him save dozens from Orlando gunman

For many victims, a freedom their parents couldnt have imagined

Gunman who killed 49 in Orlando nightclub had pledged allegiance to ISIS
As Venezuela teeters on the brink of economic collapse, its problems are roiling the Organization of American States, an institution that faces its own dire financial crisis under a new leader who is pushing it to focus more on human rights and democracy.

The Washington-based OAS convened its general assembly here this week amid a spiraling economic and political crisis in Venezuela that has brought the transformation to the forefront.

Secretary General Luis Almagro has accused the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of violating the organizations Democratic Charter requiring members to uphold democracy, and OAS member states are deeply divided between those that support Almagro and those that see his charge as an unwarranted intervention in Venezuelas domestic affairs.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro greets supporters as he arrives at a rally at Miraflores Palace, next to his wife and deputy of Venezuela's United Socialist Party, Cilia Flores, in Caracas, Venezuela Wednesday. (Marco Bello/Reuters)

As Almagro, a former Uruguayan foreign minister, has set in motion a procedure that could lead to the suspension of Venezuela from the OAS, he and Maduro have hurled insults at each other on Twitter and in a series of open letters. In a broadside Wednesday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Darcy Rodriguez told the OAS General Assembly that Almagro was leading a lynching of her government, and she received a noticeable round of applause when she urged the members to limit his actions.

[Venezuela accuses Washington of fostering a coup]

Almagro confidants say his efforts to push back against growing authoritarianism in Venezuela reflect both principle and the financial realities of the OAS. With many member states in arrears in contributions, the organizations $82 million budget may have to bear further cuts of $12 million or more. That has forced Almagro to start trimming some extraneous programs so he can train needed money on what he considers the core competencies of human rights and democracy.

Hes saying, If were not going to do this, what are we going to do? said Daniel Restrepo, a former Obama administration adviser on Latin America who now advises Almagro. Hes not going to shy away from the problems. He didnt pick this forum. Circumstances dictated it. If the OAS is serious about defending democracy, it has to be done where democracy is going off the rails.

[Venezuela hovers near the brink of collapse]

Few governments in the OAS hope it comes to a suspension of Venezuelas membership. Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Tuesday that the United States prefers a resolution through a dialogue mediated by three former Latin American presidents, and he backed calls for a referendum to recall Maduro. So far, however, Maduro has said there will be no referendum before next year, a critical date because, under Venezuelan law, any recall after January would result in his vice president assuming the job.

While Almagros stance has won him kudos in some quarters, it also has undercut his position among some member countries that are allied with Venezuelas socialist government. Rodriguez, the foreign minister, pointedly called out Almagros salary of $8,000 a month, saying the princely sum by Latin American standards is payment to act against Venezuela.

In some ways, Venezuela may not be his biggest worry.

When Almagro became secretary general last year, he took over the helm of an organization that has been running in the red for decades. Although democracy was one of its founding principles, over time the OAS had taken on other popular missions, such as economic development and a scholarship program. Now, Almagro wants to pare back some of those programs and launch new initiatives such as a school of governance to teach ethics and accountability to young Latin American politicians.

[A revitalized voice for the Americas]

To do that, he needs to get the budget on a sustainable course. Today, many of the 34 OAS member countries in good standing have not paid their dues for many years. Venezuela is one of the biggest debtor nations. So is Brazil, although it recently paid its $4 million share for 2014. The United States contributes 60 percent of the total OAS budget and is by far the largest contributor to related organizations such as the autonomous Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The tiny commission, with just 78 employees charged with investigating human rights abuses in more than three dozen countries, is a top priority for Almagro, an adviser said. Among the high-profile cases the commission has investigated over the years are the mass abduction and disappearance of 43 students in Mexico in 2014, the disappearances of civilians during Argentinas military dictatorship in the 1970s, and conditions for detainees at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Every year, the human rights commission receives 2,000 new petitions for help.

James Cavallaro, one of its seven commissioners, said 40 percent of the small staff will have to be laid off by the end of July if the organization does not get guarantees of contributions to fund its $9 million budget. He said he had secured some commitments, but not enough, during the OAS meeting in Santo Domingo.

As Almagro shifts the organizations focus to human rights and democracy, however, he risks alienating some member states that find the spotlight uncomfortable. He so far has sloughed off the critics.

The secretary general is basically positioning himself as the standard bearer, the watchdog, for democracy and human rights, said an adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the controversy. Theres a large gap between principle and the reality of everyday life in Latin America. Maybe other things will have to go.

Read more

[Luis Amagro, a courageous voice on Venezuela]

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
New Zealands opposition Labour and Green Parties signed a one-page Memorandum of Understanding on May 31, agreeing to work co-operatively to change the government in the 2017 election.

The agreement describes the Labour-Greens alliance as a stable, credible, and progressive alternative to the conservative National Party, which has been in power since 2008. Commentators such as the trade union funded Daily Blog and former Greens MP and blogger Keith Locke presented the MoU as a shift to the left by the Labour Party.

In reality, the agreement is an attempt to trap workers and youth, who are moving to the left under the impact of the economic crisis, behind capitalist parties that have no substantial differences with Nationals agenda of austerity and militarism.

The 2011 and 2014 elections were marked by record levels of abstention, particularly among young people, reflecting widespread hostility towards the entire political establishment. Labour, which is widely recognised as no alternative to National, received its lowest vote in 80 and 92 years respectively. Over the past eight years the party has languished in the polls with 30 percent support or lower, and has had four different leaders.

Underscoring the collapse in support for the Labour Party, well-informed political blogger Richard Harman recently wrote that its membership might have sunk below 5,000, that is, lower than the Greens. Tens of thousands of workers left Labour in disgust following the Labour governments wave of pro-market restructuring, mass sackings and privatisations in the 1980s, which led to soaring social inequality.

The MoU, which aims to prop up this despised party of big business, demonstrates once again the reactionary politics of the Green Party. Like its sister parties in Germany and Australia, the NZ Greens are not a left alternative but a party of nationalism, militarism and big business. James Shaw, elected Green Party co-leader last year based on his experience as a business consultant for HSBC bank and PricewaterhouseCoopers, has described himself as a huge fan of the market and promoted Margaret Thatcher as a model environmentalist.

The Greens supported the 1999-2008 Labour government, including its decision to send troops to join the US occupation of Afghanistan, and the Australian interventions in East Timor and the Solomon Islands. Now the party has signalled its willingness to formally enter a Labour-led coalition government.

Labour leader Andrew Little addressed the Greens annual conference on June 4 to promote the agreement. He declared that a Labour-Green government would deliver a better, fairer New Zealand that would lift people out of homelessness. He made vague promises to reduce child poverty and increase funding for health and education. Littles speech was greeted with a standing ovation.

Neither party, however, has announced a policy that would lift the estimated 300,000 children out of poverty. Labours housing policy, if implemented, would result in 10,000 new homes per year, to be sold at unaffordable market prices, while the Greens have called for the construction of only a handful more state-owned houses. More than 40,000 people are homeless. In the 2014 election both parties pledged to keep a tight lid on spending and ruled out reversing Nationals corporate tax cuts and its increase to the Goods and Services Tax.

In line with its previous tacit support for US-led wars, the Greens made no criticism of Labours support for US militarism, including Littles recent demand for a major escalation of the war in Iraq, Syria, Libya and other parts of the Middle East.

Foreign policy was not publicly discussed at the Greens conference because the entire political establishment supports the military-intelligence alliance with Washington, in exchange for US backing of New Zealands neo-colonial operations in the Pacific. Labour has openly endorsed the aggressive US pivot to Asia, a strategy to encircle and prepare for war against China.

Shaw told Newshub on June 8 that the Greens support the governments plan, outlined in its Defence White Paper, to spend $20 billion over the next 15 years on new military hardware, including frigates, aircraft and drones. Labours defence spokesman Phil Goff demanded that the government go even further in recruiting more personnel for the armed forces. The purpose of the increased military spending is to integrate New Zealand into US war preparations against China.

Shaw declared in his conference speech that the Greens and Labour wanted a future where children of Syrian refugees will play with those of Chinese migrants, Pasifika [Pacific Islanders] and Tangata Whenua [Maori] and seventh generation Pakeha [Europeans].

In reality, both parties have joined the right-wing, anti-immigrant New Zealand First Party in whipping up anti-Chinese xenophobia. Labour has blamed immigrants, particularly Chinese people, for taking New Zealanders jobs and driving up house prices.

The Labour and Green leaders have stressed that their Memorandum is not an exclusive deal and have invited NZ First to join them. The three parties contested the 2014 election in a de facto alliance, and last year Labour and the Greens helped NZ First leader Winston Peters win a by-election in the Northland electorate.

The Greens embrace of NZ First is a measure of their sharp shift to the right. NZ First was founded in the 1990s on a platform of opposing what it called an invasion of Asian immigrants. In June 2005, the Greens then-co-leader Rod Donald denounced Winston Peters as the ugly face of New Zealand politics and said his proposal for a dedicated squad to snatch and deport undesirable immigrants echoes Hitlers Germany.

In May 2013, after Peters gave a speech scapegoating Chinese people for gambling, prostitution, crime and social inequality in Auckland, current Greens co-leader Metiria Turei told TV3 that Peters was a racist, but did not rule out going into coalition with NZ First.

On June 1, 2016, Turei told Radio NZ: I have no concerns at all about working with Winston Peters and New Zealand First in future, if thats what theyre interested in.

Shaw went further, telling TVNZ on June 5: Our relationship with New Zealand First has improved markedly over the course of the last few years. Metiria [Turei] has quite a close personal relationship with [Peters]. He pointed out that the Greens recently-appointed chief of staff, Deborah Morris-Travers, is a former NZ First member who served as minister for youth affairs in the 1996-1999 National Party-NZ First coalition government.

The Green Party leaders have built their close personal relationship with NZ First as the latter has made constant xenophobic attacks on foreign students, Pacific Islanders, Muslims and Chinese immigrants. Like Labour, NZ First supports the military build-up against China. It has called for greater military spending and proposed that unemployed teenagers undergo army training.

The Labour-Greens-NZ First bloc is not a progressive alternative to the National government. If elected next year, it will intensify the assault on the working class at home, attack immigrants, and continue the countrys war preparations against China.

The author also recommends:

New Zealand Greens: A party of big business and militarism

[11 September 2014]

Australian Greens offer to enter future coalition with Labor

[12 May 2016]
One of the many people held hostage in the bathroom of Orlando's Pulse nightclub during Sunday morning's mass shooting is sharing her harrowing account of survival.



Tiara Parker, was shot and wounded by the gunman, Omar Mateen, while hiding in a single bathroom stall with approximately 20 others, she tells PEOPLE. In order to survive, she pretended she was dead in the hopes that the shooter wouldn't shoot her again.



But Tiara's cousin, 18-year-old Akyra Murray, who was celebrating her recent high school graduation with Tiara, was shot and killed inside the stall. Overall, 49 innocent people were killed and 53 were injured in the shooting, making it the deadliest mass shooting in United States history.



Tiara tells PEOPLE she and her friends ran for cover in the club's bathroom. But the shooter found the large group packed inside the stall, and Tiara and Akyra were among the first people to be shot.



"There was blood all over the floor," Tiara remembers. "We were so scared. Everybody was so injured and so hurt and in so much pain."



Tiara says people inside the stall began texting and calling their loved ones.



Although she herself was suffering from her gunshot wounds, Tiara says she was more concerned with her younger cousin and best friend, both of whom were bleeding heavily and crying for help.



 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.





I Said 'Don't Give Up, You're Getting Out of Here'

According to Tiara, the shooter began talking to the hostages about race, religion and violence against his people.



"[This] is nothing personal," she remembers him saying. "I'm just trying to send a message to my country."



Tiara says time passed excruciatingly slowly in the bathroom. During this time, she says she was cognizant of her cousin losing blood.



"I said, 'Donat give up, you ain't going nowhere. You're getting out of here," Tiara recalls.



Tiara tried to play dead so the shooter wouldn't fire on her more.



"I just laid flat, my face in blood and all. I just laid there," she says.





'I Was Going to Have to Accept Death Because There Is No Way I Was Getting Out of There'

While Tiara lay face down, the shooter knelt down beside her and made eye contact with her to make sure she was dead. Tiara didnat move, hoping that he believed she had died with her eyes open.



"Right then and there I knew my life was over. I wasnat accepting [death] but I was going to have to. It was like a forced thing. I was going to have to accept it because there is no way I was getting out of there."



Tiara could tell that people around her were dying, and everyone stayed silent. Tiara says she and her friends used a system similar to Morse code to communicate with each other that they were alive, tapping each other lightly on the leg, arm or back every few minutes.



When police finally entered the building hours later, Tiara heard the blasts of explosions. Moments before she and the rest of the hostages were evacuated, Akyra died in her lap, she says.



"[Akyra] was trying to stay [awake] but I think she took her last breath in my lap. I was trying to get her out of there but she didnat make it. I had her in my lap, I couldnat carry her fully but I was trying," Tiara says tearfully.



The subsequent hours were a blur for Tiara. She was taken and treated at a local hospital where she reconnected with her family. She was finally able to take a shower Monday morning, washing the blood out of her hair.



"It was a nightmare," she says. "I just want to go back to sleep and wake up and be like, 'Oh, okay everything is good."



She adds, "It feels like a nightmare but then I realize its reality."
Texas police fatally shot a gunman who held people hostage in an Amarillo Walmart Tuesday, police announced.



Officers responded to reports of gunfire around 11:30 a.m. and arrived at the Walmart on I-27 and Georgia where a gunman had taken at least one hostage in the building, police said.



Less than two hours later, the gunman had been shot by SWAT officials and the hostages had been freed, according to a statement from the Amarillo Police Department.



 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.





Suspect has been shot by APD SWAT and is apparently dead. Hostages inside are safe https://t.co/gY8nVkbTml a Amarillo Police Dept (@AmarilloPD) June 14, 2016





Police noted in the statement that the suspect is "apparently dead" and no one else was injured. Authorities confirmed the death to ABC 7 News.



In an earlier statement, police called the incident a "workplace violence type event."



Just before the situation came to a close, a law enforcement official on the scene said the gunman was "barricaded" inside.



Authorities are currently interviewing employees of the Walmart.
Dansk Tegnefilm, the Danish prodco behind TV series Rita & Krokodrille, winner of an Annecy 2015 Special Jury Award, is joining forces with Frances Miyu Productions to co-produce Uri Kranots transmedia project Nothing Happens.

Selected to be pitched at Annecy 2016s Mifa market on June 15, Nothing Happens is an animated short film and also a cinematic VR experience, aimed at questioning the role of the spectator by inviting him to participate in an event.

Targeting adults and young adults, the project explores an unusual kind of narrative, a unique way of being in a painting. It is about spectatorship, about watching and being watched, explains Kranot, an Israel-born indie filmmaker and inter-disciplinary artist.

Produced by Marie Bro at Dansk Tegnefilm, the short film starts production in July and will be finished by early 2017. Both the short-pic and the development of the VR are being supported by Denmarks Danish Film Institute and West Danish Film Fund, plus Frances CNC national film board.

Project is also backed by Viborg-based animation training center The Animation Workshop, where Kranot and partner Michelle Kranot teach and guide the undergraduate projects at the school.

VR technology attracts many people to experiment with new opportunities of the medium, but the artistic quality in most cases is far behind the technology. I think we bring our knowledge in independent animation filmmaking and push it to a higher level of experience, Kranot said.

Techniques used by the project include drawing on paper, 2D and 3D computer and rotoscope.

In Annecy, beyond looking for partners, distributors and exhibition platforms, Nothing Happens team wants to create an awareness for the need of high quality projects in VR, that really mean something, Kranot added.

Alongside Michelle Kranot, author of Nothing Happens script and graphic design, Uri Kranot has co-directed short film How Long, Not Long, which is competing this year in Annecys Official Selection.

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Their 2013 stop-motion short film Hollow Land, a Denmark-France-Canada co-production, was included by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on its short list for the 86th Academy Awards.

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Matt Charman, Steven Spielberg and Marc Platt - the writer-director-producer team behind last year's Oscar contender Bridge of Spies - are moving from the Cold War to the Vietnam War.

Charman has sold a pitch to Spielberg's Amblin Partners for a film centering on legendary CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite's time reporting on Vietnam and the role that he played in the proxy war.

Cronkite was already America's most trusted news anchor when he traveled to Vietnam in 1968 to cover the aftermath of the Tet Offensive and, upon his return, very publicly denounced America's involvement in the Cold War-era proxy war, shifting public sentiment about the conflict. After Cronkite's report, President Lyndon B. Johnson was rumored to have said, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America."

Platt is attached to produce the project, as are Charman and Spielberg. It is unclear at this early stage whether Spielberg would direct.

The filmmaker already has a busy dance card: Spielberg is readying the release of the Roald Dahl adaptation BFG, due out July 1, then will move on to helm the video game adaptation Ready Player One. He has signaled that one of his priorities is to direct the period drama The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara and is committed to getting back behind the camera to direct Harrison Ford in the fifth Indiana Jones installment.

Read More: Steven Spielberg to Tackle 'The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara' as Next Film
When I decided to take the leap across the Atlantic to attend the University of St Andrews in Scotland, I knew it would be an adjustment.

Aside from taking on the responsibility of college life, I had to settle into the culture of a whole new country.

Born and raised on Long Island in New York, I had only been to Europe once before starting at St Andrews, and had never visited Scotland until I showed up for my first day.

Needless to say, I was quickly confronted with a slew of major differences between the US and Scotland  some that I expected, some that completely surprised me, and some that seemed downright weird.

Here is a list of 15 that have stood out the most in my three years there so far.

1. A prevalence of kilts

kilts4

Kilts may seem like one of the most stereotypical things about Scotland, but trust me, it's for good reason. People DO wear them, especially to formal affairs! It's not uncommon to see men wearing kilts to weddings or other black-tie events, and the specific pattern of Tartan (or plaid) on the kilts may go hundreds of years back in a Scottish family's history. As for what the guys wear under the kilts? That's undisclosed information.

2. There are more sheep than people

scottishsheep2

According to the Scottish Government, there were 6.7 million sheep in the country as of June 2015. In June of the same year, the census counted 5.37 million people. That would explain why you may drive miles without seeing a single person, but sheep-- they're everywhere.

3. Haggis

haggis2

Even the name sounds unappealing, and once you find out what it actually is, you'll understand why. Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish that is a mixture of sheep insides, oats and spices, all stuffed into a sheep's stomach as casing. Being an adventurous eater, I wanted to try Haggis on Burns night, when Scottish poet Robert Burns' "Address to a Haggis" is read aloud while the lovely loaf is held up for all to admire. Let's just say I wasn't the biggest fan.

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4. Grocery bags cost extra

tescobags2

A law recently enacted placed a charge of 5 pence on plastic grocery bags. While not a bank-breaker, the charge does encourage people to bring reusable shopping bags from home when they go to the supermarket, which is much better for the environment.

5. The " Eeyore effect"

stantsrainbowgood

Scotland is famous for bad weather, but also for the fact that a whole four seasons can happen in one day: sun can change to rain, wind, or snow in a matter of minutes. It's also home to what I call the "Eeyore effect:" a phenomenon where a rain cloud can actually be small enough and quick enough to follow one person as they walk down the street, just like the one that follows Eeyore, the perpetually depressed donkey from Winnie the Pooh. It's definitely depressing to be followed by your own personal raincloud. The incredible rainbows that follow, however, are totally worth it.

6. The Mexican food is terrible

mexfood

Unripe, imported avocados and a general lack of Mexican immigrants means that Mexican food in Scotland leaves a lot to be desired. I will always remember the sad day when I tried to make my own Guacamole, and the avocados I had bought were so hard that I couldn't mash them up. The two Mexican restaurants in St Andrews aren't great, and students from Texas usually don't even step foot in them for fear of horrible disappointment.

7. Trousers are pants, and pants are underwear

underwear

This is an important one. Terms for basic items often change when you cross the Atlantic, and you might not know until it's too late. In Scotland, pants are referred to as trousers, and the word pants actually means underwear. When an American friend of mine responded to a compliment on a dress she was wearing by saying "thanks, I just didn't feel like wearing pants today," it was no wonder that the surrounding Brits gave her disgusted looks.

8. Hard liquor is sold in your everyday supermarket

tesco liquor

It's definitely convenient. You can come out of your local Tesco with toothpaste, Vodka and tomatoes: no separate trip to the liquor store is required. And you probably won't be judged, either.

9. Many houses don't have clothing dryers

Washers and dryers are seen on display at a store in New York July 28, 2010. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

This infuriates me. Why, in one of the dampest and coldest countries in the world, would you build houses without clothing dryers? No dryer and lots of humidity in the air means that you can't expect to wear that sweatshirt you washed until 5 days later. And when you do put it on, it will be stiff, prickly, and will probably smell like mold.

10. Tea often means dinner

London Dinner restaurant

You can imagine my confusion when some friends said that they were going to have Chinese food for their "tea." Then I realized that "tea" often means dinner, while actual tea is consumed during "teatime."

11. Teatime is a real thing

teatime

If they're not meeting for pints at the pub, people will often get together to drink tea in the afternoon. And crumpets are real too.

12. Roundabouts can have multiple lanes

roundabout

Besides the fact that Scots drive on the left side of the road just like their English counterparts, they also love to have giant roundabouts with 3 or 4 separate lanes. They look horrible and confusing, and that's one of the reasons that I never want to drive over there.

13. It gets dark at 3 p.m. in the winter

sunsetscotland

In the dead of Scottish winter, the sun rises at around 9 a.m. and sets about 6 hours later. The short, dark days certainly take some getting used to: when it's rainy (which is often) it sometimes feels like the sun hasn't risen at all. But long days in the spring and summer--when the sun rises around 4 a.m. and sets around 10 p.m.  make up for the winter's lack of light.

14. Highland "Coos"

highlandcoo

It's a water buffalo, it's a woolly mammoth, it's a...cow? The Highland Cow (or "Coo," as the Scots pronounce it) is one of Scotland's friendliest creatures. They can often be seen grazing in the fields that line highways and country roads alike, and, despite those giant horns, they're said to be very gentle.

15. "It's a braw bricht moonlit nicht the nicht"

welcometoscot

No, they aren't choking on Haggis. Scottish people have lots of their own words and expressions that originate from the old languages of Scots and Gaelic. These terms tend to vary regionally, and, peppered throughout general conversation, can make the Scottish especially hard to understand for the rest of the English-speaking world. The translation for this particular phrase: "It's a good (or brilliant) bright moonlit night tonight." Other points of confusion: "Aye" means yes, "nae" means no, and "ah dinnae ken" means I don't know.

Despite occasional difficulties in understanding them, Scots are generally some of the kindest and most welcoming people I have ever encountered. Unlike New Yorkers, they will not hesitate to say hello to you on the street, and are always eager to help a lost foreigner find her way. So, even though you might miss simple things like sunlight and good Mexican food, Scotland is a beautiful country and highly worth a visit.

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Right now you can earn big, double-digit "Instant Yields" from some of the safest stocks in the world.

For example, we've found yields as high as 9.9% from Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO)... 12.4% from AT&T (NYSE: T)... and even as much as 17.5% from software giant Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT).

This isn't some investment gimmick, either. The payouts I'm talking about are settled in cash. That is, every time you get one of these payments, the money is added to your brokerage account immediately.

Here's how it works...

At first glance, these payouts may seem impossible. After all, a quick look at Yahoo Finance tells us that all of the stocks listed above pay dividend yields of only 2% to 5%.

So how are investors earning so much income from giant brand name stocks like Coca-Cola, AT&T and Microsoft?

It's easy. They're selling covered calls.

On the surface, selling covered calls seems like a complex concept. It involves options, an investing tool most investors don't know much about to begin with.

[More from StreetAuthority.com: Here's How To Make Money When The Market Tanks...]

But used properly, selling covered calls can be one of the market's most lucrative investment strategies -- especially for income investors. That's because covered calls allow market investors to take advantage of the dividends from their holdings -- while also collecting extra "instant income" checks on the side.

Profitable Trading's resident options expert, Amber Hestla, explains how in her newsletter, Maximum Income:

"When we write a call option contract, we create a contract that says we will sell the underlying shares to the option owner at the specified price (called the "strike price"), if it is met. In return, we receive a cash payment upfront from the option buyer. Depending on how many of these contracts you sell, the payments you receive can reach well into thousands of dollars. A "covered" call is when you personally own the underlying shares for the option you write. This helps reduce your risk, while making it easier to access the huge payments available from writing call options. Best of all, if the stock stays below the "strike price" you specify in the option contract (you get to choose the strike price), then the option is said to expire worthless. That's good for us.

To see how covered calls work, let's take Microsoft as an example.

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How To Earn A 17.5% Yield From This Software Giant

Almost every person on the planet has heard of Microsoft. The company's flagship product line, its Windows operating system, is installed on nearly 90% of computers around the globe.

As such a powerful player in the tech industry, you wouldn't expect Microsoft to offer investors much of an opportunity to snag big yields. And in fact, by itself, the company only pays $1.44 a year in dividends -- giving the stock a 2.8% annual yield.

But while 2.8% isn't bad (especially considering the S&P 500 pays only 1.9%), we can do even better with covered calls. In fact, I'll show you how to collect as much as $904 in cash -- equal to a 17.5% yield -- by selling covered calls on it.

[More from StreetAuthority.com: This Genius Idea Could Change The Way You Invest Forever]

Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how that trade would look...

The first step to executing any covered call strategy is to make sure you first own the underlying shares of the security (that's what the "covered" means). For Microsoft, that would include going out and buying 100 shares (more on that in a second) of the stock at today's share price of $51.50.

Once you've bought the shares, now you're ready to write one call option on your position. While that may sound like a difficult process, it's really not. Just tell your broker that you would like to sell a covered call, and they'll be happy to execute the trade for you. A lot of online discount brokerages offer this service, too. You can even use this strategy with most retirement accounts.

The amount of money you receive in "instant income" from selling the option depends on how high you set the strike price away from the stock's current price. The closer the strike price is to its current price, the more money you receive in premiums.

At the time of this writing, you can sell July 22 calls on Microsoft with a $53 strike price for $1.13 a share. Since each contract represents 100 shares, we would collect roughly a $113 premium upfront on the day we sell the option ($1.13 x 100 shares). Think of this as "instant income" you receive for agreeing to enter the contract.

If on July 22 (the day the option expires) Microsoft is trading below $53 a share, then you would retain the shares, and the money you collected from selling the option is yours to keep as pure profit.

[More from StreetAuthority.com: An 18.5% Gain In One Day? This Strategy Makes It Possible...]

If the reverse happens, and Microsoft is trading above $53 the day the option expires, then you would still get to keep the $113 in instant income, but would also be required to sell the shares for $53 -- almost $1.50 above where we purchased them (at the time of this writing).

It's something of a win-win strategy: Regardless of whether the option you sold expires worthless or not, you're still going to make money in the trade.

But the best part about this approach as that as long you own the underlying stock, you can continue to sell covered calls on it -- capturing big "instant income" payments every time.

To see how this works, let's stay with the Microsoft example.

If you continue to write covered calls on a rolling six-week basis, we could potentially sell eight covered calls on the stock over the course of a year alone. Assuming we receive a similar amount for each contract, the options would generate $904 (8 x $113) in additional income each year. Considering your initial investment of $5,150 (what we paid to buy 100 shares in the first place), by selling the covered calls you would generate a 17.5% annual yield on your investment.

And that's from a big, well-known company like Microsoft. The returns get even bigger if you're willing to travel off the beaten path.

Bottom line, if you think traditional investments alone are going to pay for your retirement... think again. But strategies like selling covered calls can help you close the gap. If you're even remotely concerned about your retirement and want to know more about this strategy, you can check out this link.

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UPDATE: An overnight search for the 2-year-old boy who was dragged into a lagoon at Walt Disney World's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Bay Lake, Florida, on Tuesday, June 14, was unsuccessful. The search began on Tuesday and lasted until the early hours of Wednesday morning. While the child has yet to be found, local law enforcement remain optimistic as they continue their search.

"This is still a search and rescue operation," Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jeff Williamson said, according to CNN. "We are very hopeful. We are hoping for the best."



Original story below.

A 2-year-old child is missing after being dragged into the water by an alligator at Walt Disney World's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Bay Lake, Florida, on Tuesday, June 14.

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The boy, who has not been identified, was pulled into the Seven Seas Lagoon at about 9:16 p.m., Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told reporters in a press conference at about 1 a.m. on Wednesday morning.



Demings said that the family of five, who arrived at the resort on Sunday, June 12, from Nebraska, were out on the sand at the lagoon, "just simply relaxing out in the area and wading in the water along the lake's edge at the time the alligator attacked the child."

More than 50 law enforcement officers have teamed up with staff from Florida Fish & Wildlife to search the lagoon with the help of a helicopter and boats. An alligator trapper is also at the scene.

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The sheriff said "the father entered the water and tried to grab his son from the alligator but was unsuccessful" and suffered minor scratches to his hands. The mother also went into the water and they alerted a nearby lifeguard who also tried to help.



Demings said several eyewitnesses spoke to police and gave a description of what happened, adding that the alligator is "anywhere from four feet to six or seven feet" in length. He told reporters that there are signs near the lagoon that warn guests against swimming in the water.



Story continues

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Deputies put up yellow crime-scene tape around the water outside the resort, which is located adjacent to the Magic Kingdom near Orlando, Florida.



The search is set to continue through the night. "As a father, as a grandfather, we're going to hope for the best in these circumstances but based on my 35 years of law enforcement experience, we know we have some challenges at this time," Demings said.




(credit: angela n.)

(credit: angela n.)

Editors Note: This commentary is part of a series presented in conjunction with the Centers feature exhibition, Headed to the White House.

Insulation from the winds of political change. Protection of minorities from the majoritys tyranny. Such is the jargon describing the United States Supreme Courts role in government. Once a judge ascends to our highest court, firmly seated to exercise life-long power, the judge is expected to embrace a duty of impartiality, rendering decisions reflecting neutral legal principles, not partisan politics.

The reality of judging presents something quite different from this pristine vision. Even in uneventful presidential elections, entanglements emerge between the Supreme Court and politics. But the current election season has produced an alchemy that promises the presidential election extraordinary influence on the Courts membership and decisions. What makes for special circumstances? Answer: a particularly polarized electorate, the presumptive selection of an outsider candidate for the Republican Party, Justice Antonin Scalias death, an aging Court, and the Republican Senates unusual success in avoiding confirmation hearings to fill the Scalia vacancy.

Assuming, as appears most likely, that the general election will present Donald vs. Hillary, lets consider how these candidates will approach judicial appointments. We should also evaluate the likely fate of President Barack Obamas pick for Scalias replacement, Judge Merrick Garland. To process all this properly, lets begin by studying what the Framers intended for our Constitutions judicial appointment process.

The bottom line about judicial appointments in our constitutional scheme: politics are baked into the cake! Our Framers envisioned that the Presidents nomination of a particular candidate might encounter a shove-back from the Senate, which has power to reject nominees. This is not new news: even in the early 1800s, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall propelled the Court into bitter political disputes, particularly those concerning the reach of federal power. Since then, the Court has dealt with issues touching an array of controversies: continental expansion, Native American rights, slavery, segregation, abortion, homosexual rights. As Alexis de Tocqueville observed, political issues often become legal issues in the United States. And it is the Supreme Courts job to settle the hardest ones.

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Highly politicized confirmation battles are therefore an integral part of the constitutional design. Significantly, this political quality to a judges job does not end upon confirmation. Although federal judges hold a duty of impartiality, our governmental processes send a different message. For years after confirmation, a judge carries the baggage of the confirmation ordeal. Why else do newspaper reports describe judges with a modifier: Judge X, a Bill Clinton appointee, Judge Y, a George H.W. Bush appointee, Judge Z, an Obama appointee? These media reports suggest that that the President will be getting something during the judges tenure. That something is presumably ideological loyalty, which the President might expect in return for the precious gift granted to the judge: a life-long, prestigious judicial appointment. Ordinary rules of human interaction suggest that the candidates duty of loyalty and gratitude to the President will linger after the judges initial oath in office. Whoever wins the upcoming presidential election hopes to enjoy this reward from his or her judicial picks. Sometimes justices disappoint their nominating President, but usually not.

What then would be the effect of Trump and Clinton on the Supreme Court? Considering Trump first: in an unusual maneuver, Trump listed eleven potential nominees to the Court. All are conservative; all are white; all are (roughly speaking) a Scalia clone. The net result would be a similar Court to Scalias Court: four reliable liberals, four reliable conservatives, and middle-of-the-road Justice Anthony Kennedy controlling many case results.

Trumps move is intriguing. Is he asking the American people to vote to elect or endorse this slate of potential justices? Surely thats inconsistent with the Constitutions view that the Supreme Court should be above politics and majority preference. Ormore likelyis he simply telling voters that he favors a conservative Court? A look at his list sends a clear message that he intends to nominate deeply conservative, white people to fill vacancies.

If Clintonnot Trumpwins, several scenarios might unfold. Immediately after the election, the lame-duck Republican leadership may fear that Clinton would choose a younger, more left-leaning nominee than Merrick Garland. If the Democrats win the Senate, this Clinton nominee might sail through to confirmation after everyone takes office. The safer route for the lame-duck Senate might be to proceed on Garland, a potentially more consensus nominee than a Clinton pick. This scenario could also play out before the election if Republican leadership concludes that Trump lacks sufficient popular support to defeat Clinton.

A Supreme Court with Garland would be more left-leaning than with Scalia. That said, Garland has tended to support law enforcement in criminal cases, and his views may not be far from Scalias. Justice Scalia had a mixed record on criminal matters, including votes supporting criminal defendants on search and seizure rights, sentencing, and statutory interpretation. In terms of work product, Garland would likely write fewer dissents than Scalia. Scalias dissents were numerous and forceful, representing his most compelling contribution to our national jurisprudence. Garland tends more toward calm consensus.

If the lame-duck Senate refuses to proceed on Garlands nomination, then Clinton could either embrace Garlands nomination or nominate someone else. So far, Clinton has been cryptic, saying only that she supports President Obamas chosen course. This approach contrasts with Bernie Sanders more strident declaration that he would nominate only a candidate promising to overrule the campaign finance decision, Citizens United.

Whatever the elections outcome, the next President surely will have a significant, long-lasting impact on the Supreme Court. The current Court contains several elderly justices whose tenure may be ending soon. The oldest justices include two liberals (Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg (83) and Stephen Breyer (77)) and the centrist Justice Kennedy (79). An ideological shift in the Courts membership will alter constitutional law on our most vital issues, affirmative action, abortion rights, immigration, health care, and regulation of corporate money in political elections  just to name a few.

Laura E. Little is the Charles Klein Professor of Law at Temple Universitys Beasley Law School, where she specializes in federal courts, conflict of laws, and humor and the law. Her writings on these topics can be found here. Professor Littles new book on humor and the law is expected from Oxford University Press in 2017.

Editors Note: Commentaries appearing on Constitution Daily reflect the opinions of their authors, and not those of the National Constitution Center.

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Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton captured a massive victory in Washington, D.C., Tuesday night, increasing her delegate lead over Sen. Bernie Sanders in the final contest of the 2016 primary.

The Associated Press called the race at 8:45 p.m. for Clinton, when she led Sanders 79% to 21%.

The outcome ensures Clinton will receive the majority of D.C.'s 45 pledged delegates, with her her total pledged delegate haul at more than 2,200.

Sanders had vowed to contest every primary contest on the map in 2016. Now, with her win, all eyes now shift to Sanders and his plans going forward.

Bernie Sanders, by vowing to contest every primary, will end the season by getting blown out in D.C. by Clinton.

Sanders has yet to suspend his campaign, a week after Clinton clinched the nomination with big wins in California and New Jersey.

But his tone has mellowed since his loss in those states, changing from a defiant vow to bring his candidacy to the Democratic National Convention in July to a promise to bring his issues to the DNC.

Sanders speaks outside the White House after a conversation with President Barack Obama about his post-primary plans.

It's a notable switch from a candidate who had plans to attempt to flip superdelegates  or party leaders and insiders who get a vote on the convention floor  from Clinton's campaign, despite being far behind in both the popular vote and pledged delegate count.

Sanders arrived for a meeting with Clinton Tuesday night in Washington, D.C., shortly before the race was called for Clinton, to discuss his plans moving forward.

Press waiting outside the Bernie-Hillary summit.pic.twitter.com/7Bkz1Pb2at https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ck87yCeWgAAWaUp.jpg:large

The Vermont Senator will reportedly seek promises from Clinton to adopt some or all of his platform  including raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and making public colleges and universities tuition free, the New York Times reported.

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How much leverage do you have after losing last 8 of 11 races, after Obama/Warren have endorsed, and after HRC's natl poll lead increases?

Democrats are hoping Sanders will unite behind Clinton's campaign, as the party now shifts a the general election fight against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

A number of Sanders voters have launched the "Bernie or Bust" movement  saying they'll never vote for Clinton in November. And Democrats worry those voters could jeopardize the party's chances at defeating Trump.

Still, polls show the unification process has begun, as Clinton widened her lead over Trump in polls released the week following her clinching of the nomination. That came after President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren all threw their support behind Clinton's candidacy.

"New poll: Clinton 49%, Trump 42% - Clinton's biggest lead in NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll since April"

And Sanders, for his part, has said he will do everything he can to defeat Trump.
The slaughter in Orlando marked the 136th shooting in the U.S. this year involving at least four victims killed or wounded. Aside from the sheer scale of the horror, Orlando also stands out for touching on so many hot-button issues at once: immigration, terrorism, gay rights and gun control. Here are five facts to put this tragedy in context.

(CNN)

1. Growing Radicalization Threat

At the moment, it appears that Orlando shooter Omar Mateen had no direct contact with ISIS. Its reassuring that ISIS did not orchestrate this attack, but its worrying because ISIS was again able to partially inspire someone thousands of miles away to commit mass murder, boosting its international brand even as the terror continues to lose ground in its home territory.

Read More: The Tale of Two Killers in Orlando and France Shows How ISIS Operates Today

ISIS has been linked to at least 90 attacks around the world since its rise in 2014, killing more than 1,200 people. By my calculation, about a quarter of these assaults have been ISIS-inspiredlike Orlandorather than ISIS-directed, like the November attacks in Parks. These lone-wolf attacks may well become more popular because ISIS has refocused its propaganda campaign. As Turkey and other combatants in Syria have made it more difficult for ISIS recruits to reach the battlefield, the group has begun calling on supporters to stay home and commit terror acts in their own communities.

(New York Times)

2. Muslim Immigration

ISIS recognizes that one of its tactical strengths is the ability to use terrorism to implicate entire Muslim communities. Weve seen this in Europe, where a fake Syrian passport was likely planted on one of the Paris attackers last November. The discovery helped anti-immigration Europeans score political points in the battle over the resettlement of Muslim Syrian refugees on the continent. This plays into the hands of ISIS, whose Islam vs. the West narrative is an essential propaganda and recruiting tool.

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The trend is now obvious in the United States. A day after the Orlando attack, Donald Trump tried to use Mateenwho was born in the same New York City borough Trump wasas justification for temporarily banning Muslims from the country. But Muslim immigrants account for just 10% of all legal immigrants coming to the U.S.. That percentage is much smaller if we include illegal immigrants (surely Trump would). About 2,800 Syrian refugees have so far been resettled in the United States. The number of those Syrian refugees implicated in terror attacks? Zero.

(Pew Research Center, New York Times)

Read More: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Trump and ISIS Depend on Irrationality

3. LGBT Rights

The Orlando attack must be the most brutal act of anti-gay violence in American history. Given the strides made by the LGBT community in recent years, an entire generation of millennials have grown up in a society where, for many Americans, sexual orientation is no more a defining characteristic than skin color or religion.

Yet the Orlando shooting is a cruel reminder that homophobia remains a big problem. In a 2011 analysis, the Poverty Law Center found that LGBT people accounted for 2.1 percent of the U.S. population but were the target of 17.4 percent of violent hate crimes. That means LGBT people are 2.6 times more likely to be violently attacked than black people, and 41.5 times more likely than whites. Unfortunately, the terrorism angle will make it much more difficult to use the Orlando murders to open a debate on this subject.

(Southern Poverty Law Center)

4. Gun Violence

The Orlando shooting has shown again how divided the country is on gun control. While the U.S. makes up just 4.4 percent of the global population, its home to 42 percent of the worlds civilian-owned guns. The American Journal of Medicine recently published a report comparing the U.S. to fellow high-income OECD members; the U.S. has a gun homicide rate thats 25 times higher, on average.

Gun ownership is part of Americas culture, but the use of a powerful assault weapon has again raised questions about which guns are simply too dangerous to be sold to the general publicto say nothing of sales to people, like Mateen, who have appeared on terrorist watch lists. Unfortunately, its not clear that this debate will advance, even though a new poll from News finds that the percentage of Americans who favor a ban on assault weapons has jumped from 44 percent in December to 57 percent today. Republican Senator Rob Portman, up for re-election in Ohio, has said hes open to debate on a ban. But weve seen these gun control movements lose momentum many times before, and here again, the terrorism angle will make it more difficult to focus the debate on guns.

(Vox, American Journal of Medicine, CBS News)

Read More: Everything We Know About the Paris Knife Attacker Inspired By ISIS

5. Growing Polarization

All of these debates reflect the increased political entrenchment in American society. For the past half decade or so, individual instances of mass shootings havent brought the country closer to reaching a consensus on gun control. Given the current status quo and frequency of these mass shootings, thats untenable.

And yet its not likely to change soon. From 1994 to 2014, the number of Republicans who have very unfavorable views of Democrats has increased from 17 percent to 43 percent. That figure for Democrats has gone from 16 percent to 38 percent over the same 20-year span. 36 percent of Republicans and Republican-inclined voters say Democratic policies threaten the well-being of the nation; 27 percent of Democrats and Democratic-inclined voters say the same thing about their GOP counterparts. At a time when the country needs an honest and open debate on the very real threats of Islamic radicalization, mass violence and homophobia, more than 80 percent of the country has little interest in better understanding the other sides point of view. That just further compounds tragedies like Orlando.

(Pew Research Center)
The profitability of a company primarily indicates its ability to generate surplus sales revenue to not only meet all its expenses but also create stable returns for its investors. However, it is not necessary that a profitable company will succeed in generating favorable returns. Thats because such a company might have certain fundamental weaknesses, which may hamper its stock price.

But, several studies indicate that a company with high profitability generally produces attractive returns.

Here, we have used profitability ratios to arrive at a detailed understanding of a companys profitability position. From a variety of profitability ratios we have selected net income ratio, as it is the simplest and most effective profitability metric.

Net Income Ratio

Net income ratio shows the bottom line of a company. It reflects the percentage of net income to total sales revenue. Using net income ratio one can measure a companys effectiveness to pay all its operating and non-operating expenses from its sales revenue. A higher net income ratio normally implies a companys ability to generate ample sales revenue and successfully manage all its business functions.

Screening Parameters

Net income ratio is not the only indicator of future winners. As such, we have added a few additional criteria to arrive at a winning strategy.

Zacks Rank equal to #1: Only Strong Buy stocks are allowed. With the Zacks Rank proving itself to be one of the best rating systems out there, this is a great way to start things off.

12-Month Trailing Sales and Net Income Growth Higher than X Industry: Stocks that possess higher sales and net income growth in the last 12 months showcase better financial performance.

12-Month Trailing Net Income Ratio Higher than X Industry: High net income ratio indicates a companys solid profitability.

% Rating Strong Buy greater than 70%: This indicates that 70% of the analysts covering these stocks are optimistic.

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Here are 5 of the 12 stocks that qualified the screen:

Dycom Industries Inc.DY is a leading provider of specialty contracting services throughout the United States. This Zacks Rank #1 company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.08 last quarter, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 75 cents. Dycom Industries also has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 19.6%.

QVC Group QVCA markets and sells various consumer products primarily through live televised shopping programs, websites and other interactive media. This Zacks Rank #1 company reported EPS of 36 cents last quarter, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 18 cents. QVC Group also has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of more than 40.3%.

Retrophin, Inc. RTRX is a pharmaceutical company that focuses on the development and commercialization of drugs in order to treat serious diseases. This Zacks Rank #1 company reported EPS of 14 cents last quarter, in contrast to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 25 cents. Retrophin also has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of more than 100%.

Facebook, Inc. FB operates a social networking website worldwide, where users connect, share and communicate with each other. This Zacks Rank #1 company reported EPS of 57 cents last quarter, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 44 cents. Facebook also has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.8%.

Gener8 Maritime Inc.GNRT offers marine transportation services. It is involved in the transportation of crude oil and petroleum products. This Zacks Rank #1 company reported EPS of 76 cents last quarter, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 69 cents. Gener8 Maritime also has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.4%.

While backtesting over a two-year timeframe (June 06, 2014 to June 03, 2016), a portfolio following this strategy provided a total return of 20.3% compared with the S&P 500s return of 6.8%. Thus, this strategy may prove profitable for those looking to beat the markets.

Get the rest of the stocks on the list and start putting this and other ideas to the test. It can all be done with the Research Wizard stock picking and back-testing software.

The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.

Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.

Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.

Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.

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Dr. Seuss once famously said: Why fit in when you were born to stand out? For those of you who live by this motto, this is the perfect place for you to be; for we have compiled a list of bold fashion brands that will certainly keep heads turning when you walk down the streets of Singapore.

1. Skinny Dip London (Only available in London, U.K.)

Your outfit will never be dull if you include Skinny Dip accessories into the mix! Every Skinny Dip product seems to scream the words LOOK AT ME!, and will definitely make you stand out on the streets of Singapore. The best part is, Skinny Dip makes sure that there is something for every girl! The hipsters will squeal at the brands Unicorn Coin Purse and Glitter Unicorn Phone Case; The feminine ladies will definitely love the Googly Pineapple Case and the Pink Glitter Clutch Bag; while the edgy and cool girls can opt for the Croc Zip Backpack, and the Rebel Midi Tote Bag. My personal favorite Skinny Dip product is the Iridescent Shell Coin Purse! This will officially fulfil my childhood dream to be a mermaid. Well sorta.

bold fashion brands skinny dip london

Googly Pineapple Case (SGD$30) and Unicorn Coin Purse (SGD$27)

Croc Zip Backpack (SGD$75) and Pink Glitter Clutch Bag (SGD$75)

Image source: SkinnyDip London

2. Banc (Only available in Korea)

Banc is a youthful Korean brand that sells apparels with adorable lego inspired characters. For those that are obsessed over lego, this is certainly your heaven on earth. Truth be told, you dont even have to be a die-hard lego fan to love the apparels created by Banc. Just look at the Banc Superman T Shirt and the Banc Mario T Shirt! The best part is, hardly anyone in Singapore would be wearing these one-of-a-kind apparels since Banc is currently still not available in Singapore!

Scroll to view. Image source: Kaewta

3. Play No More (Only available in Korea)

If youre looking to stand out from the crowd, Play No Mores demure, top handle bags should be your staple wardrobe piece. These adorable bags have been spotted on many Korean celebrities and are extremely popular among the Korean population. The iconic symbol of Play No More bags would be the big cheeky eyes and long eyelashes. It sounds creepy, but it is actually really cute. Let the pictures do the talking!

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bold fashion brands playnomore

Image source: Instagram/PlayNoMore

PNM2

Play No More Tote Bag Sky Blue

Screen Shot 2016-06-01 at 5.23.24 pm

Play No More Red Lipmark

Image source: Lazada

Fell in love? Ask travellers to help you bring back these

Playnomore bags from Korea to Singapore!

4. Aristotle (Only available in Bangkok) Approx SGD$191  SGD$384.81

With an Aristotle bags clung to your shoulders, you would definitely stand out from everyone else! The rose or bow shaped bags are truly chic and eyecatching; It will look so unique compared to the plain and dull handbag everyone carries. I can already foresee all my friends asking me about this dainty and feminine bag!

Image source: Aristotle Bags

5. Limecrime Cosmetics (Only available in U.S.)

Limecrime has been gaining popularity for its intensely pigmented, and unique lipstick colours. Even blogging queen Xiaxue fell in love with Limecrime! (No, she was not sponsored to talk about Limecrime). These pigmented and long lasting lip colours would make your kissable lips the center of attention! My personal favourite shades would be Pumpkin and Suedeberry. However, if, unlike me, youre extremely adventurous, maybe youd like Squash, Perlees Denim or Rave. Have we mentioned the Limecrimes lippies are also surprisingly affordable!?





bold fashion brands limecrime

Limecrime Perlees Denim (SGD$24) | Velvetines Squash (SGD$22) | Velvetines Pumpkin (SGD$22)

Image source: Limecrime

6. MCM

Singaporeans should not be a stranger towards leather luxury brand, MCM. MCM is known for its menacing spikes, and trendy designs; and the unique designs that MCM has to offer would make you stand out from the norm! It is no wonder that even Hollywood celebrities like Beyonce are turning to MCM as their go-to bags! While we do have MCM outlets in Singapore, there is no point in denying that MCM bags are so much more expensive here. In Korea, however, you can shop at MCM without burning a gigantic hole in your pockets.

Scroll to view. Image source: MCM

7. Hood By Air HBA

The edgy HBA took the Kpop world by storm with its bold prints, oversized garments and hip hop elements. Even though HBA started off as a menswear label, the seemingly genderless style appeals to both men and women. With the cool and distinctive style of HBA apparel, dont be surprised when you become the center of attraction amongst your peers. Weve featured a few of our favorite HBA apparels to share with you guys!

Scroll to view. Image source: HBA

8. SJYP (Only available in Korea)

SJYP features many nineties-style apparels that are trendy! Many Koreans turn to SJYP for wardrobe pieces that are not too over-the-top, but also not overly boring and dull. My personal favourite SJYP apparels are its denim pieces! Denim is definitely the new black



Scroll to view. Image source: SJYP

If you are as excited as I am to get these bold and beautiful items, ask our travellers to bring them back for you!

The post 8 Fashion & Beauty brands for the Bold & Adventurous appeared first on Airfrov Blog.
As Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy took to the Senate floor to filibuster in favor of gun control legislation on Wednesday, he cast a light on the shifting strategies of both sides in the debate.

Time was when that debate was national. In 1994 Congress voted to prohibit the sale of certain assault weapons anywhere in the United States. Then, in 2004, Congress voted not to extend that ban and allowed it to expire.

For the past 3 1/2 years, since the mass shooting that killed 26 at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., there has been no new national legislation and only two bills that got as far as congressional votes. Four months after Newtown, legislation that would have reinstated the assault weapons ban was defeated, in spite of emotional pleas from victims families. And last December there was a vote that would have closed the terror gap by keeping people on the terrorist watch list from buying guns.

Because there is little chance that this Republican Congress will ever approve gun control legislation  or even allow such legislation to come to the floor lest a vote provide a record for gun control advocates to campaign against  the fight has migrated away from Washington and back out to the states, says Richard Aborn, president of the Citizens Crime Committee of New York, who has been a gun-control advocate since the 1980s.

In that way, the new blueprint of the gun control movement is the fight for gay marriage, which was also taken to the states after disappointment in Congress. My daughter thinks marriage equality happened overnight, says Shannon Watts, who founded Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America after the Newtown killings. The group has since merged with Everytown for Gun Safety, and together they have 3.5 million members. It took years of activism on the ground, incremental change, never letting up, drip-drips on a rock.

So far, the strategy has been far more successful in beating back laws that would expand gun rights than in promoting laws that would restrict those rights, but its a start, advocates say. In the first months of this year alone, legislation that would have allowed guns on college campuses was approved in just one state and defeated in 16 others. Bills that would have allowed guns in K-12 schools were defeated in 12 states, though legislation is pending in two states. Laws allowing concealed carry without a permit were also defeated in 13 states, passed in three, and pending in six. And not a single state has passed new Stand Your Ground legislation since Trayvon Martins death in 2012; introduced in six states this year, it was defeated in five and passed in just one, Missouri, where Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon has said he is still deciding whether to veto it.

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The goal, advocates agree, is to lay a foundation and create a critical mass that will eventually cause Congress to feel pressure to act. This is not an unknown strategy by any means, Aborn says. The more states you can get to embrace the kind of change youre supporting, the better your chances in Washington.

More states help, yes. But, in a grim irony, so do more shootings. Each high-profile massacre creates an increase in calls for gun safety. The elusive trick, says Gloria Pan, the national campaign director for gun safety at Moms Rising, is to harness that into action. With every shooting there is more momentum, she says, but not quite enough.

Slideshow: U.S. mass shootings: The dark side of American exceptionalism >>>

In the past few days, however, advocates wonder whether now might be the tipping point they have been waiting for. In their corner is the fact that the 49 killed and 53 wounded in Orlando was the worst mass shooting ever in the United States. Also, closing the terror gap resonates with the part of the electorate that has become increasingly fearful of terrorism. And most surprisingly, there is an unexpected ally in Donald Trump, who says he plans to urge the National Rifle Association, which enthusiastically endorsed him last month, to back restrictions on gun sales to suspected terrorists.

Those who have long fought for such legislation say they are not getting their hopes up. Even if Murphy succeeds in forcing a vote on his amendments to a spending bill, thereby requiring universal background checks for gun purchases and preventing firearms sales to suspected terrorists, gun control advocates doubt that this current Congress would actually pass such a measure.

Still, they say, the very ability to force a vote would be a victory. It would provide a documented record of where senators stand, says Po Murray, chairwoman of the Newtown Action Alliance. They dont want a record. We want them to have one.

As Murphy keeps speaking, gun control advocates are trying to temper their optimism. But, Watts says, I always have hope. After each one of these tragedies, obviously we hope Congress will do something. But this is the same Congress we had after Charleston, after Oregon. Still, one can always hope.
Former vice president Aaron Burr usually isnt credited as a Founding Father, but there is one instance where Burr directly helped to change the Constitution by forcing the passage of the 12th amendment.

On June 15, 1804, New Hampshire became the 13th state to approve a 12th amendment approved by Congress late in 1803. The new amendment specifically addressed a problem that popped up in the 1796 presidential election and then caused a constitutional crisis in the 1800 election.

The original Constitution allowed for presidential electors to cast two votes. The candidate with the most votes became President and the second-place finisher was the Vice President. That wasnt a big issue when George Washington was elected by unanimous consent.

However, when bitter rivals John Adams and Thomas Jefferson finished first and second in the 1796 election, Adams was left with his biggest opponent as his Vice President.

The situation went from awkward to much worse in 1800, when Adams and Jefferson faced off in a rematch. Jeffersons campaign included New York deal-making politician Aaron Burr as his intended Vice Presidential running mate, with the idea that the Jefferson-Burr electors would cast one less vote for Burr, ensuring the Jefferson was the President and Burr the Vice President.

However, no one coordinated the voting and the two running mates tied for first place in the election. After the electoral votes were counted, Jefferson and Burr each had 73 votes, and tied as the winner. Worse yet, Article II sent the tie election to the House, which was controlled by Adams Federalist Party.

The House members could only vote for Jefferson or Burr, and not Adams, and then Burr made the controversial move to try to take the election from his own running mate, Jefferson.

The contingent runoff election between Jefferson and Burr was a true constitutional crisis. Jefferson ultimately won the House election on the 36th ballot after a week of voting. Alexander Hamilton, Jeffersons long-time enemy, supported Jefferson instead of his old rival from New York, Burr.

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Vowing to clean up what was clearly a flawed presidential election system, Congress made the 12th amendment its first order of business in October 1803. After two months of debate, the House approved the 12th amendment by a two-thirds margin, followed by the Senate.

During the state ratification process, the amendment was rejected by Delaware and Connecticut. The newly minted 12th Amendment was certified by Secretary of State James Madison in September 1804 in time for the next election, which Jefferson easily won.

The 12th amendment made sure that separate electoral votes were counted for Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates

The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate, the first part of the amendment read.

Burr wouldnt run for elected office again and the intervention of Hamilton in the 1800 election was one of many issues between the two men. On July 11, 1804, Burr killed Hamilton in a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey.
From Cosmopolitan

Warning: This post contains spoilers for previous seasons of Game of Thrones.

When little Tommen Baratheon took the Iron Throne on Game of Thrones after Joffrey's untimely demise, you'd be forgiven for thinking, Where have I seen this guy before? It turns out, you've seen him on Game of Thrones before-but as another character.

Dean-Charles Chapman, the actor who plays King Tommen, started in the role during season four. Previously, the role was played by Callum Wharry, who was much younger, and Chapman replaced him once the character became more prominent.

But it turns out that Chapman, now 18, had been around Westeros before. HelloGiggles points out that he previously played Martyn Lannister, in Season 3, for two episodes. Martyn was a squire in the Lannister army who was held prisoner by the Tullys, then killed off, along with his brother Willem. This means that Chapman has played his own first cousin, once removed. Here's Martyn interacting with Talisa, starting at 2:30:

And his brutal death scene:

And how here's Chapman as Tommen:

Leave it to a Lannister to keep it in the family.

Follow Megan on Twitter.
ProFootball Talk on NBC Sports

Sam Ehlinger officially becomes the starting quarterback of the Colts. If he fails or gets injured, Nick Foles will take over. And if Foles gets injured, the quarterback will be anyone but Matt Ryan. Ryan is done. Hes out. He wont play again, for reasons rooted in his contract. Put simply, once the team decided [more]
There were quite a few developments in the airline industry that grabbed headlines last week. However, all the positives were overshadowed by the widespread sell-off that followed the mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando and the explosion at the Shanghai Pudong airport on Jun 12. Moreover, the possibility of a decline in business travel, as uncertainty looms large over the outcome of the Brexit vote on Jun 23, weighed on airline stocks.

To add to the adversities, Long Island City, NY-based JetBlue Airways Corporation JBLU issued a disappointing operating revenue per average seat mile (RASM: a measure of unit revenue) and capacity growth guidance along with its May traffic release. Carriers like United Continental Holdings UAL too unveiled a bearish unit revenue guidance while reporting May traffic numbers.

On a more cheerful note, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) authorized six U.S.-based carriers including American Airlines Group AAL, Southwest Airlines Co. LUV and JetBlue to operate scheduled flights to nine second-tier Cuban cities, thereby taking a step toward restoration of diplomatic ties with the island nation after more than 50 years.

Overall, it was a gloomy week for the sector. Major airline stocks plummeted in the wake of the sell-offs. The upward movement in oil prices added to the woes. In view of this bearish sentiment, the NYSE ARCA Airline index declined 5.71% to $82.31 in the past week.

TRANSPORTATION-AIRLINE Industry Price Index

TRANSPORTATION-AIRLINE Industry Price Index

Read the last Airline Stock Roundup for June 8, 2016.

Recap of the Past Weeks Most Important Stories

1. Shares of major airlines stocks nosedived following the mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando and an explosion at the Shanghai Pudong airport on Jun 12. The timing of the attacks could not have been worse as the three-month period between June and August has been predicted to be the busiest one for U.S. carriers in terms of air travel (read more: US Carriers Sell Off in Wake of Orlando & Shanghai Attacks).

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2. Amid the gloom prevailing following the mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, some positive news flowed in for U.S. airlines as the carriers will soon be operating commercial flights to Cuba. However, the DOT did not announce its decision on Havana routes and is expected to do so later this summer (read more: Some US Carriers Gain Approval to Fly to Cuba).

3. JetBlue saw its May air traffic move up 10.7% year over year on a 12.1% rise in capacity. Despite growth in traffic, JetBlue lowered its performance guidance for this year due to expected decrease in demand. RASM is now expected to decline by 7.5% to 8.5% for the second quarter of 2016 as compared to a decline of 7% expected earlier. The company has also lowered its capacity guidance for the year. Projected ASM growth has been lowered to a range of 89.5% from 8.510.5% expected earlier (read more: JetBlue Lowers View Despite Higher May Traffic, Stock Down).

4. United Airlines, the wholly owned subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, posted a 1.2% decrease in revenue passenger miles or RPMs (a measure of air traffic) for May 2016, while consolidated capacity (measured in average seat miles or ASMs) inched up 0.5%. The carrier also launched a new business traveler focused service, United Polaris to improve the flying experience of fliers (read more: United Airlines to Redefine Business Travel with New Service).

5 Delta Air Lines DAL chief financial officer, Paul Jacobson stated at the Deutsche Bank Annual Global Industrials & Materials Summit that the company expects passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM: a measure of unit revenue) to decline around 4.5% in the second quarter of 2016. The earlier projection had called for a decline in the band of 2.5% to 4.5% (read more: Delta Air Lines Stock Dips on Dull Q2 Guidance).

6. American Airlines Group posted modest air traffic growth in the month of May. Traffic  measured in revenue passenger miles (RPMs)  was 19.4 billion, up 0.5% from 19.3 billion recorded last May. The carrier reiterated its forecast of a 68% decline in PRASM (for the second quarter of 2016. The company also continues to expect a pre-tax margin of 14% to 16% for the second quarter (read more: American Airlines' May Traffic Displays Moderate Growth).

Performance

The following table shows the price movement of the major airline players over the past week and during the last 6 months.

Company Past Week Last 6 months HA -10.80% -3.36% UAL -8.70% -27.31% GOL -3.37% -12.91% DAL -5.30% -23.54% JBLU -6.43% -27.72% AAL -6.28% -28.73% SAVE -3.06% -0.79% LUV -6.69% -9.81% VA -0.04% 52.71% ALK -7.84% -25.09%

The table shows that all airline stocks traded in the red over the past week mainly due to the twin acts of terror. Shares of Hawaiian Holdings HA depreciated the most (10.80%).

Over the past six months all airline stocks, barring Virgin America, lost value with the NYSE ARCA Airline index declining 7.19%. Shares of American Airlines have shed the maximum (28.73%) over the same period.

What's Next in the Airline Space?

We expect May traffic updates from the likes of GOL Linhas GOL over the coming days. Moreover, passenger airline employment data for April is expected to be released by the U.S. Department of Transportations Bureau of Transportation Statistic over the next few days.

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A prehistoric seabird that was the size of a small airplane and had a mouthful of sharp teeth once soared over ancient Antarctica, occasionally stopping to snag fish and squid, a new study finds.

Researchers found a broken 3.3-inch-long (8.5 centimeters) piece of the bird's humerus (upper arm bone) on Seymour Island in West Antarctica. Though small, the tiny specimen was all the researchers needed to determine that the find was record-breaking; the fossil belongs to the oldest-known Antarctic bird with so-called "pseudo teeth," or teeth made out of bone from the jaw that were covered with a beak-like material, the researchers said.

They dated the bird's humerus to the Lower Eocene, between 53 million and 49 million years ago, said study lead author Marcos Cenizo, the director of the Provincial Museum of Natural History in La Pampa, Argentina. [Photos of the World's Largest Flying Bird]

The bird belongs to a group of seabirds known as pelagornithids, the relatives of Galloanseres, a group that includes geese and ducks. The fossil record shows that pelagornithids lived for about 60 million years, Cenizo told Live Science in Spanish. However, pelagornithids went extinct between 2 million and 3 million years ago, and it's not clear why, he said.

Pelagornithids were enormous birds, with wingspans that could exceed 20 feet (6 meters). Their lightweight bones and anatomy suggest that they could fly for miles over the open sea, much like the albatross does today, Cenizo said.

The largest known pelagornithid is Pelagornis sandersi, discovered in 1983 in Charleston, South Carolina, during construction for a new airport terminal. P. sandersi had a wingspan of between 20 and 24 feet (6.1 and 7.3 m) and weighed between 48.5 and 88 lbs. (22 and 40 kilograms).

The researchers also discussed the remains of a younger pelagornithid found in the Antarctic, which date to 41 million to 39 million years ago. These remains include fossils of a skull, lower leg bone and a humerus that could be even larger than the South Carolina one, meaning that it may "represent one of the largest known pseudo-toothed birds," the researchers wrote in the study.

Story continues

These two bony-toothed birds, and perhaps others, likely coexisted in Antarctica between 50 million and 40 million years ago, Cenizo said.

The study was published online on March 21 in the Journal of Paleontology.

Original article on Live Science.

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Algiers (AFP) - An Algerian court on Wednesday halted a bid by billionaire Issad Rebrab, the country's richest entrepreneur, to buy a media group that has been critical of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Rebrab's $45 million (40 million euro) purchase of the El Khabar group would have added an influential daily newspaper and a TV channel to his estimated $3.3 billion portfolio.

But after the sale was agreed in April between El Khabar and Ness-Prod, a subsidiary of Rebrab's Cevital conglomerate, the government went to court to stop the deal.

An administrative court on Wednesday froze the sale pending a final decision, giving the defendants until June 22 to present their case.

The government has cited an article in the law that prevents a single legal entity owning more than one Algerian daily newspaper. Rebrab already owns the French-language daily Liberte.

El Khabar chief Cherif Rezki condemned what he called Algeria's "trend towards authoritarianism" and intolerance.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the court's ruling was "extremely worrying".

Rebrab has frequently accused the government of blocking his attempts to invest both in Algeria and overseas.

The El Khabar sale would have included the KBC television channel and one of Algeria's flagship dailies, also called El Khabar (The News) -- with a circulation of 300,000.

The group had strongly opposed Bouteflika standing for a fourth term as president during 2014 elections, supporting his rival, former prime minister Ali Benflis.

It is facing financial difficulties after losing advertising business from the state.

"You don't win a case of this size against the state," Khaled Bourayou, an expert on Algerian media law, told AFP.

"We face a justice system subservient to the executive," he said.

The state's efforts to block the sale of El Khabar, which also includes a printing press and a distribution firm, caused an outcry from Algeria's independent press and the political opposition.

Story continues

Dozens of journalists and El Khabar employees gathered outside the court in the Algiers suburb of Birmandreis, holding copies of the newspaper and chanting "El Khabar won't die", despite a heavy police presence.

Rebrab was Algeria's richest man and the ninth-richest in Africa in 2015, according to Forbes magazine.

He founded Algeria's biggest privately held conglomerate, Cevital, which employs 12,000 people and is active in electronics, steel, and food and has recently acquired businesses in France and Italy.

Forbes says the Algerian industrialist also owns one of the largest sugar refineries in the world, producing around 1.5 million tonnes a year.
He lost it all on "put" options, and now he could very well be put in prison soon.

Accused financial fraudster Andrew Caspersen lost a staggering $123 million by compulsively gambling on put options in the S&P 500 index from February until his arrest in March for swindling investors out of what allegedly totaled more than $38 million, it was revealed Tuesday in Manhattan federal court.

Caspersen also tried to solicit another $110 million or so more from investors by misrepresenting the nature of several "fake funds," prosecutors claim.

Caspersen's defense lawyer Paul Shechtman also told reporters that a desperate Caspersen, who was a partner in Paul Taubman's PJT Partners, had already burned through all of his $20 million personal fortune in the decade between when he graduated from Harvard Law School and 2013 due to his pathological gambling.

A new charging document filed Tuesday against Caspersen accuses him of making false representations to about a dozen relatives and friends and classmates to solicit their investments in a series of "fake" funds.

The family and friends he begged for money to finance his spiraling losses included the family of his former fiancee, Catherine "Cat" McRae, an employee of Fred Alger Management who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the World Trade Center, said Shechtman.

Caspersen cajoled $1 million out of McRae's family, and also hit up classmates from Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

His degenerate speculating on the S&P put options  which he focused on exclusively  led to such big losses that one of two brokers who had handled his trades ended up telling Caspersen "no more," according to the lawyer.

The stunning revelations came after a court hearing in federal court, where Shechtman told Judge Jed Rakoff that Caspersen likely will plead guilty under an agreement with prosecutors on July 6. Caspersen is charged with securities and wire fraud.

Story continues

Caspersen, 39, is the son of the late Wall Street moneyman Finn M.W. Caspersen, the former chairman of Beneficial Corp., who committed suicide in 2009.

The younger Caspersen was busted in March on charges of defrauding a charitable foundation run by billionaire Louis Bacon out of almost $25 million, and an investor in Bacon's Moore Capital Management out of another $400,000.

Prosecutors, in a criminal information document released Tuesday, said that in all Caspersen ended up receiving 18 payments, in a total amount of about $38.5 million, from more than 10 people as part of his scheme to induce them to place the money in several fake funds.

"In addition, Caspersen attempted to solicit approximately $110 million more in the Fake funds using similar misrepresentations," the document said.

For Caspersen, his arrest had the beneficial effect of ending the enormous amount of stress he was under, according to his lawyer.

"When you're caught like this, there's a certain sigh of relief, because your life doesn't revolve around the S&P anymore," Shechtman said Tuesday.

Caspersen's life had indeed revolved around that key index of stocks, which he tracked compulsively each day on an app on his smartphone, according to the lawyer.

Shechtman said that Caspersen  who told Rakoff he suffers from compulsive gambling and alcohol abuse and is under psychiatric care  traded in nothing other than put options for the index.

Puts give their holder the right to sell securities, or indexes, at a certain price by a certain date. A trader can either buy a put, or sell a put, with each form of the trade effectively acting as a bet on which direction the stock or index is headed.

Caspersen would make huge bets on S&P put options twice a day: at 9:30 a.m., and then again at 5 p.m., according to his lawyer.

In mid-February, Caspersen started one day with as much as $113 million in his trading account, but by the end of that day, the account had increased in value to $123 million, his lawyer said.

In March, after almost all of that money was gone, Caspersen was arrested after trying to make up for the losses by scrambling to scratch up cash from family and friends, according to the attorney.

Caspersen showed up alone for his court appearance in lower Manhattan Tuesday, without his wife Christina.

He looked thinner than the chunky, bloated man who showed up for his arraignment several months ago. Caspersen had been hospitalized in Manhattan until he got several people to sign his $5 million release bond.

He was dressed in a black suit, which was baggy on his leaner frame, a white shirt, and a nice red tie.

When he shook a reporter's hand, he smiled, but his grin was strained.

Shane D'Agostino reported from Manhattan federal court

Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the first name of Louis Bacon, and also incorrectly identified the Bacon-related entity that was a target of Andrew Caspersen's alleged fraud. The story also has been updated to include details of a criminal information that prosecutors filed Tuesday, which breaks down how much Caspersen is alleged to have swindled, and an additional amount he allegedly tried to dupe investors into giving him.





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(Updates with comment from sheriff and Walt Disney World spokeswoman, father's injury)

June 15 (Reuters) - An alligator dragged a two-year-boy into a lagoon at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida late on Tuesday, defeating the father's efforts to wrestle his son away, police said.

Officers were still hunting for the child, grabbed at the Seven Seas Lagoon at about 9:15 p.m. at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Lake Buena Vista, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

The boy was playing in the water while his family, vacationing from Nebraska, relaxed on the edge of the lagoon, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told a news conference.

"The father entered the water and tried to grab the child and was not successful," Demings said.

The mother also tried to resue the boy and the father suffered hand injuries, he added. The family has not been named.

"As a father, as a grandfather we are going to hope for the best in these circumstances but, based on my 35 years of law enforcement experience, we know we have some challenges ahead of us," Demings told reporters.

He said the animal was thought to be between 4 and 7 feet (1.2 and 2 meters) long.

Wildlife and marine officials were drafted into the search, which ran through the night.

"Everyone here at Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with the family and we are helping the family," a spokeswoman said.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Fiona Ortiz and Andrew Heavens)
(Adds quote, adds Cincinnati Zoo incident)

June 15 (Reuters) - Police in Florida hunted on Wednesday for a 2-year-old boy who was dragged by an alligator into a lagoon at Walt Disney World in front of his family hours earlier, despite the parents' efforts to rescue their child.

The boy was attacked by the reptile about 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday at the Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista near Orlando, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

The boy was playing in the water while his family, vacationing from Nebraska, relaxed on the shore nearby, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told a news conference.

"The father entered the water and tried to grab the child and was not successful," Demings said.

The mother also tried to rescue the boy and the father suffered hand injuries, he added. The family has not been named.

"As a father, as a grandfather we are going to hope for the best in these circumstances but, based on my 35 years of law enforcement experience, we know we have some challenges ahead of us," Demings told reporters.

He said the animal was thought to be between 4 and 7 feet (1.2 and 2 meters) long.

Wildlife and marine officials were drafted into the search, which ran through the night.

"We're putting every effort into locating the child and trapping this alligator," Florida Fish and Wildlife Officer Chad Weber told reporters.

A spokeswoman for Walt Disney World Resort said everyone there was devastated by the tragic accident. "Our thoughts are with the family and we are helping the family," she said.

On May 28, a 3-year-old boy fell into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo, causing zookeepers to kill a gorilla to protect the child.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee and Laila Kearney in New York; Editing by Fiona Ortiz, Andrew Heavens and W Simon)
An alligator attacked and dragged a 2-year-old boy into the water Tuesday night while he was playing on a beach near a resort in Orlando, police said.

A massive search was still under way Wednesday morning, with more than 50 law-enforcement officers and wildlife officials scouring the lake for the boy, reports NBC.

Jeff Williamson, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriffs Department, described it as a search and rescue operation during a Wednesday morning press conference. We are very hopeful, he said at a morning news conference. Sometimes you get the worst, but we are hoping for the best.

The child was playing in the shallows of the lake with his father near Disneys Grand Floridian Resort & Spa when the alligator  described as being between 4 ft. and 7 ft. long  attacked.

The child was playing in the water, just a foot or so into the water, and the alligator came up and attacked, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said. The father at some point struggled to try to get his son and was not successful.

The boy and his family, who live in Nebraska, were on holiday at the resort.

Were not leaving until we recover the child, Demings said, adding that a dive team, search helicopters, sonar equipment and an alligator trapper were all being deployed to help find the boy.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission records, at least 41 unprovoked major alligator attacks have occurred in the state since 2010, with at least two deaths in 2015.

[NBC]
Orlando (AFP) - An American family's Disney vacation turned into a nightmare when an alligator snatched their two-year-old boy at the shore of a resort lake and the father was unable to pry the toddler from the animal's jaws, officials said Wednesday.

A search and rescue operation launched after the attack Tuesday night at the Grand Floridian hotel not far from the Magic Kingdom was ongoing, but police said they held out little hope the boy would be found alive.

Walt Disney World said it has shut down all of its Florida resort beaches and marinas out of precaution after the incident.

"We are keeping some hope alive, but it is looking more grave every moment, every hour," Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jeff Williamson told AFP.

The mauling was yet more terrible news for a vacation town still reeling from the weekend shooting massacre of 49 people at a gay nightclub in downtown Orlando -- the worst mass shooting in American history. Another 53 were wounded.

"We determined this two-year-old child was playing at the edge of the water, a foot or so into the water, when this alligator came up and attacked the child," Sheriff Jerry Demings told a sunrise news conference.

"The father did his best, tried to rescue the child -- however, to no avail."

The child belonged to a family of five from the Midwestern state of Nebraska that was relaxing on the shore of the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon at the hotel, Demings said.

The alligator emerged and snatched the boy around 9:00 pm Tuesday (0100 GMT Wednesday).

The Grand Floridian is part of the massive Disney resort complex that includes several theme parks, water parks, hotels and golf courses.

"Everyone here at the Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by this tragic accident," Disney communications executive Jacquee Wahler said.

"We are helping the family and doing everything we can to assist law enforcement."

- All-out search -

Story continues

Rescuers used sonar and floodlights overnight to pursue their search, as a helicopter hovered overhead. Firefighters stood on the water's edge with infrared cameras scanning the water for the child.

Four gators have been captured and are being analyzed but there was no sign of the child, the Orlando Sentinel reported. A professional gator trapper has been brought in to help, it added.

"We are very hopeful, hoping for the best," Demings said early Wednesday.

"Sometimes you get the worst, but we're certainly hoping for the best."

Alligators are common in Florida, where they can be found in bodies of fresh water across the state, Nick Wiley from the Florida fish and wildlife service told reporters.

However, it is very rare for an alligator to attack a human, Wiley said. There have only been 22 deaths from unprovoked alligator bites documented in Florida since 1948, according to the fish and wildlife service.

There was a no swimming sign at the lake, but no warning about alligators, he added.

- 'Horrendous' few days for Orlando -

Two days before the nightclub massacre, singer Christina Grimmie, a former contestant on the popular TV show "The Voice," was shot and killed by a gunman at Orlando's Plaza Live Theater during a meet and greet event with fans. The gunman later killed himself.

"The past three or four days have been horrendous for our community," Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Wednesday as she addressed the town's latest crisis, the missing boy.

"I can't comprehend, I can't comprehend what any of this would be like as a parent," said Jacobs, who has a 20-year-old son.
On Jun 14, 2016, we initiated coverage on fresh water and wastewater service provider American States Water Company AWR. An expanding customer base, extensive water rights and strong credit ratings are the companys current strength. However, dependence on a single state for the majority of its earnings and highly regulated operations could adversely impact results.



American States Waters earnings per share and total revenues in the first quarter of 2016 were lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The lower-than-expected performance was primarily due to disappointing contribution from its Water and Contracted Services segments.



However, the company is increasing its electricity and water utility customer base at a slow but steady pace. The steady expansion of the customer base through organic means bodes well for the long-term growth prospects of the company.



American State Water is not so active like some of its peers on the acquisition front, particularly with respect to its water utility operations. So, there is a lot of room for growth, both in customer expansion and infrastructure development, through inorganic means.



American States Water Company has been a steady dividend payer. The company's steady performance allows it to maintain its shareholder friendly moves. The Jul 2015 increase in the quarterly dividend rate marked 61 years of consecutive dividend hikes from the company.



The company is primarily focused on a single state, California, precisely in Southern California. So, the financial performance of the company to a large extent is dependent on the political, water supply, labor, utility cost and regulatory risks, economic conditions, natural disasters and other risks affecting the state.



American States Water Company operates in a highly regulated environment. In addition, fluctuating weather conditions have an adverse impact on utility demand. Despite safety measure, the company also runs the risk of groundwater contamination in its service territories. The occurrence of such events, which cannot be absolutely ruled out, increases the companys operating costs.



American States Water Company currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the water space are Consolidated Water Co. Ltd. CWCO, Connecticut Water Service Inc. CTWS and Artesian Resources Corp. ARTNA, all three currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).



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Anderson Cooper got tough with Floridia's Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday during an interview about Sunday's massacre at a gay club in Orlando.



During the one-on-one, Cooper grilled the politician, asking her numerous times if she believed her recent championing of the LGBT community was hypocritical considering her past comments about gays and lesbians in the state.



Starting by referencing a quote from Bondi, in which she said that "anyone who attacks our LGBT community will be gone after to the fullest extent of the law," Cooper quickly followed up by confronting Bondi with the fact that many members of the Florida LGBT community that he spoke to did not have flattering views of the attorney general.



"I talked to a lot gay and lesbian people here yesterday who are not fans of yours and who said they thought you were being a hypocrite," he said. "That you, for years, basically have gone after gay people. That you said in court that gay people, simply for fighting for marriage equality, were trying to do harm to the people of Florida."







Cooper's million dollar question was, "Do you really think you're a champion of the gay community?"



Bondi defends herself, saying that as the state's attorney general, her job is to defend the Constitution of Florida, adding that at the time there was a ban on same-sex marriage, passed by state voters.



"That's what I was defending. I've never said I don't like gay people. That's ridiculous," she said.



The two then went back and forth about her rhetoric in court, with Cooper stating that she used language harmful to the gay community, and Bondi retorting with the fact that she was arguing a case that defended the voters' decision.



Bondi then said that she actually does not believe gay marriage would do harm to Florida.



"Of course not. I've never said that," Bondi added. "Those words have never come out of my mouth. What we argued [in court] was it was in the constitution of the state of Florida."



Cooper continued, pointing out that the current hotline in place for partners and family members to access information about the 49 who died in the attack would not be as useful without gay marriage  which, Cooper again pointed out, Bondi fought against  because there would be no spouses. Bondi argued that people who are not legally married yet, but are partners, are still being assisted in receiving information after the shooting.



Finally, Bondi put an end to the questions, telling Cooper that it's about the "victims," as the CNN correspondent reminded her that it's about "gay and lesbian victims" before asking again if she believed what she's doing is hypocritical.



"I'm not portraying myself as anything other than trying to help human beings who have lost their lives, who are right behind us right now in hospital beds, who have family members who aren't getting the services they need," Bondi responded. "I'm not championing anything other than Floridians. That's what this is about. We're about human beings."



Still, Cooper pointed out that Bondi has never made it a point to discuss the LGBT community in a positive light, as he referenced the past year of her Twitter history in which she tweeted about National Dog Month and adopting pets from shelters.



"You know, it is Gay Pride Month. You've never even tweeted about Gay Pride Month," he added.



Bondi's rebuttal was that her website currently features an image of "hands clasped together, all different color rainbow hands," which Cooper pointed out only just went up. Bondi then confirmed that the image did go up after the tragedy.



Although the pair ends on cordial terms, their spat didn't exactly seem resolved, with Cooper telling Bondi that he was just relaying the message of gay and lesbian Floridians who he's spoken to that feel they're not represented.



Bondi reiterated that she is championing "human beings whose lives have been lost" and Florida residents.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Oscar winner Anne Hathaway has been named a goodwill ambassador for UN Women to help shine a spotlight on the unequal burden shouldered by working mothers, the UN said Wednesday.

"The 'motherhood penalty' -- which means that when they become mothers, women's pay and opportunities at work suffer -- is a particularly insidious demonstration of gender inequality in the workplace," said the director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

"For too long it has been difficult or impossible to view raising a child as being truly an equal responsibility for both parents."

Hathaway, who won an Academy Award for her role as Fantine in "Les Miserables," recently gave birth to a boy, Jonathan.

UN Women enlisted Hathaway to help promote parental leave equally for men and women and develop child care services in the 193 countries at the United Nations.

"To make the case for how this will increase opportunities for women we needed an advocate who had the intellect and passion to tackle this complex issue," said Mlambo-Ngcuka.

"Within moments of meeting Anne, I realized that we had found our woman. We are truly honored to have her onboard."

The 33-year-old actress served as an advocate for the Nike Foundation, traveling to Kenya and Ethiopia to raise awareness about child marriage.

In 2013, she narrated "Girl Rising," a documentary on the power of education for girls worldwide.

Hathaway said she felt "honored and inspired" to help advance gender equality.

"Significant progress has already been made but it is time that we collectively intensify our efforts and ensure that true equality is finally realized," Hathaway said in a statement.
Its been nearly a year since an American hunter killed Cecil, an iconic lion in Zimbabwe. House Democrats are using the anniversary to question the premise that trophy hunting benefits Africas endangered wildlife.

In a new report called Missing the Mark, the Democratic staff of the House Committee on Natural Resources charges that Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Namibia, and South Africa are providing U.S. officials with little evidence that taxes and fees raised from trophy hunts targeting lions, leopards, elephants, and rhinoceroses provide conservation benefits and have an overall net-positive impact on imperiled species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has the authority to grant a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to American trophy hunters wishing to bring animal trophies into the country, has too often supported nations claims that the hunts enhance the survival of the species, the report charged.

You cant make the assumption that these countries are using the funds for conservation. You have to have the proof, said Matt Strickland, a member of the committees Democratic staff. U.S. hunters are responsible for taking a lot of animal trophies from Africa, and we want to make sure the Fish and Wildlife Service is doing its job in permitting trophy imports, and Americans arent contributing to the decline of certain species.

American hunters wanting to import the heads, horns, pelts, or any other parts of animals they have killed overseas must request a permit from the Fish and Wildlife Service.

If the animal has threatened or endangered species protections under the Endangered Species Act, the agency requires that the hunt enhance the survival of the species. The agency is also responsible for managing U.S. compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which regulates and permits the hunting of endangered species as well.

RELATED: Congress Moves to Treat Poachers Like Drug Traffickers

On paper, all four countries examined have equally strong frameworks for ensuring that trophy hunts benefit species conservation, the authors wrote. Unfortunately, the implementation of these frameworks has in many cases been marred by corruption and has not produced the advertised and desired results.

Story continues

The Fish and Wildlife Service has sometimes turned a blind eye to these shortfalls and granted import permits for animals killed in these countries, said Strickland. They accepted at face value that trophy hunting benefits wildlife conservation without drilling down and actually checking on individual cases, he said.

An agency spokesperson stated in an email that the agency is reviewing the report, adding, By law, we cannot and will not allow trophies of certain protected species into the United States that were hunted in any nation whose conservation program fails to meet high standards for transparency, scientific management and effectiveness. If we have concerns about a countrys management program or a species population status, we will not issue permits.

One such case occurred in 2014, when the agency shut down imports of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Tanzania because of the species marked population decline. They also werent providing any evidence that the hunts were benefiting conservation, so Fish and Wildlife stopped allowing it, Strickland said. Wed like to see more of that type of decision making regularly.

Thats the exception, not the norm, according to the report, which noted thousands of cases in which the Fish and Wildlife Service used special rules and loopholes to exempt hunters from permitting requirements for many species listed as endangered. The report authors found that between 2010 and 2014, the agency could have required permits for more than 2,700 hunting trophies imported to the county yet only required one, for a critically endangered black rhinoceros. Of 1,469 leopard trophies that could have mandated an import permit, the agency required none.

In other instances, such as the controversial baiting tactics that lured Cecil out of a protected area and led to his death at the hands of Walter Palmer, the trophy hunting industry isnt playing by the rules, the report stated, and needs to be regulated and held accountable for there to be any hope of a consistent conservation benefit.

To help rein in the negative impacts of trophy hunting on wildlife, the report recommends that the Fish and Wildlife Service deny import requests from hunters convicted of wildlife violations, close loopholes that allow some trophies to be imported without permits, collect more data on trophy hunting through the permitting process, and increase permit fees to fund science and conservation.

Take the Pledge: Help Protect Endangered Species Around the World

Related stories on TakePart:





 Airline Takes On Big Game Hunters to Protect Rhinos, Lions, and Elephants

 Rare Rhino Dies Just Weeks After Being Rediscovered

 How Cecil Changed Wildlife Policy

Original article from TakePart
After a man who pledged allegiance to ISIS killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, jihadi fighters took to Twitter to send messages of pride, love and solidarity with the LGBTQ community.

Not because they wanted to. Because they had been hacked.

Another #DaeshBag in #Jordan. @hddgfgds1. Remembering the Innocent lives lost. #Orlando #Anonymous #GhostOfNoNationpic.twitter.com/bgBEVy5yBC https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ck8ywaLWgAAGAzm.jpg:large

Keeping the thoughts and prayers going. #Daesh In #Jordan. @0Jdkshey #Orlando. #OpDaesh #Anonymous #GhostOfNoNationpic.twitter.com/UCrBTFcBMD https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ck8b6eoUgAE0GjZ.jpg:large

DaeshBag in #Saudi @zxmgklb #RxpectUs #OpDaesh #Anonymous #GhostOfNONationpic.twitter.com/lQQv1VLkxh https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ck9OGKwVEAAip55.jpg:large

Who did it? The hacker behind the account seizures is WauchulaGhost, a hacker with Anonymous who has been working on anti-ISIS operations since early 2015. Wauchula was an original member of GhostSec, a hacking team that fought to expose jihadi activity on hidden forums and shut down ISIS twitter accounts.

By his count, he's vandalized about 245 accounts belonging to jihadis.

"Twitter saw my list and suspended all but a few," Wauchula said in a private message.

Of course, not all of the vandalism features pride flags and messages of love. Some of the memes Wauchula is using to deface the accounts are the typical anti-Muslim fare Anonymous has used in its propaganda war against ISIS.

Was headed to bed....Then saw this #DaeshBag. Took him just because. #Iraq #OpDaesh #Anonymous #GhostOfNoNationpic.twitter.com/IKpx4Z4vcr https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ck94K6EWEAEdlcd.jpg:large

But most of the accounts were defaced with LGBTQ-positive messaging. Wauchula's campaign is, after all, retaliation for a massacre against the gay community.

"Innocent lives were lost," Wauchula said. "I thought it was a good tribute to them and also to bring confusion and anger to [the] Islamic State. Fighting fear with love and laughter."
The massacre in Orlando spurred the American Medical Association on Tuesday to formally call gun violence "a very public health crisis," and say the organization will "actively lobby" Congress to end a funding ban on federal health research into the problem.



The move by the largest group of doctors in the United States, during a meeting in Chicago, came days after a gunman slaughtered 49 people and wounded 53 others at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday morning with a legally purchased .223-caliber Sig Sauer MCX semi-automatic rifle.

"With approximately 30,000 men, women and children dying each year at the barrel of a gun in elementary schools, movie theaters, workplaces, houses of worship and on live television, the United States faces a public health crisis of gun violence," said the AMA's president, Dr. Steven Stack.

"Even as America faces a crisis unrivaled in any other developed country, the Congress prohibits the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] from conducting the very research that would help us understand the problems associated with gun violence and determine how to reduce the high rate of firearm-related deaths and injuries."

A congressional ban on CDC research of gun violence actually was lifted by an executive order from President Barack Obama in early 2013, after the massacre of 20 children and six adults in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. But Congress has since blocked funding for such research.



Stack said that "an epidemiological analysis of gun violence is vital so physicians and other health providers, law enforcement and society at large may be able to prevent injury, death and other harms to society resulting from firearms."

The AMA noted it has "numerous, long-standing policies that support increasing the safety of firearms and their use, and reducing and preventing firearm violence."

The group said it "recognizes that uncontrolled ownership and use of firearms, especially handguns, is a serious threat to the public's health inasmuch as the weapons are one of the main causes of intentional and unintentional injuries and deaths." The AMA has also supported legislation calling for a waiting period before purchasing any form of firearm in the U.S. and requiring background checks for all handgun purchasers.

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Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the type of rifle used in the Orlando mass shooting.





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(AMARILLO, Texas)  Officers fatally shot an armed man inside a Walmart store in Amarillo, Texas, on Tuesday after he took two people hostage, including a manager with whom he had a work-related dispute, according to police.

Amarillo police identified the suspect as 54-year-old store employee Mohammad Moghaddam and said neither hostage was injured. Police said the incident began over a dispute related to a promotion and called the incident a workplace violence event.

This individual had an ongoing difference, dispute or feud with a manager at , said Amarillo Police Sgt. Brent Barbee. There is absolutely no information or reason to believe that this is a terrorist event.

Officers responded to an active shooter call at the store around 11 a.m., amid reports that an armed person was inside and may have had hostages.

According to investigators, Moghaddam entered the store and fired at least one shot toward the ceiling. Police dont believe the suspect, who was armed with a handgun, fired any other shots.

Authorities initially believed he took a hostage and went into an office in the back of the store, according to a police statement.

We knew there were hostages inside the business, so (SWAT) went in with the intent to free the hostages, Barbee said.

Around 12:20 p.m., SWAT officers watched what they had believed was the only hostage come out of the office. The officers entered the room and discovered the second hostage.

The suspect was still armed with a handgun and was a threat to the hostage and the officers. Two SWAT officers fired shots which hit the suspect. Initial information is that the suspect died immediately, police said in a statement.

It was not immediately known if the other hostage was a store employee or how that person became a hostage, Barbee said.

No other injuries were reported.

Walmart spokesman Brian Nick released a statement earlier Tuesday saying all store associates and customers were safe. Nick thanked officers, saying, This was a very difficult situation and we are thankful for the quick response from law enforcement.

Authorities said the investigation was ongoing in Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle. Some nearby streets were closed as a precaution during the incident, including an off ramp to Interstate 27.

The Randall County Sheriffs Office said later Tuesday afternoon that all roads around the store at Interstate 27 had been reopened to traffic. The area around the Walmart was still closed but officers were letting people retrieve their cars from the parking lot.
By Sandor Peto and Bartosz Lada

BUDAPEST/WARSAW (Reuters) - Central European assets mostly firmed on Wednesday, rebounding after a plunge the previous day prompted by concerns over the outcome of Britain's June 23 referendum on whether to stay in the European Union or leave.

Equities were helped by MSCI's overnight decision not to add Chinese shares to its emerging market indices, a move that could have led to the selling of equities elsewhere to make way for Chinese names, analysts said.

But regional markets are likely to remain on a roller-coaster in the coming days amid concerns about slower economic growth if British voters decide to quit the EU, a scenario known as "Brexit".

The zloty (EURPLN=) and the forint (EURHUF=) rebounded from three-week lows against the euro, firming 0.4 and 0.3 percent, respectively, by 1259 GMT.

But implied volatilities on the zloty (EURPLN1MO=) stayed near Tuesday's four-year high and near 8-1/2-month highs on the forint, indicating expectations for further swings.

The crown (EURCZK=) touched its weakest levels against the euro since October, even though trading at 27.072 it remains near the Czech central bank's cap at levels next to 27.

"This seems to be all about Brexit and players on the market found the crown again," one player said, adding that euro selling interest would prevent a further weakening.

The leu (EURRON=) also underperformed, trading near Tuesday's 4-1/2-month lows against the euro, due to worries triggered by the Romanian upper house of parliament's vote to cut social security contributions in 2017.

The vote adds to worries over the budget and domestic demand, fuelled by tax cuts and wage hikes ahead of Romania's parliamentary elections late this year. The lower house has yet to vote on the issue.

The 2017 budget deficit may swell to 5 percent of economic output if the measure is passed, analysts at ING's Romanian unit said in a note.

"While we would still expect economic logic to prevail and talk of easing to be scaled down, we underscore that implementing such decisions would be materially negative for RON assets and Romania's macro fundamentals over the medium term," they added.

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Worries about fiscal loosening and a growing burden on banks have also kept Polish assets under pressure since last year, boosting the risk of credit rating downgrades.

Poland's 10-year bond yield dropped 4 basis points to 3.26 percent after testing January highs, while Hungary's corresponding yield rose 4 basis points to 3.38 percent.

Budapest's main equities index (.BUX) led gains in the region, firming 1.7 percent, after hitting 3-month lows on Tuesday.

CEE SNAPSHO AT 1459 CET

MARKETS T

CURRENCIES

Latest Previous Daily Change

bid close chang in 2016

e

Czech (EURCZK=) 27.0720 27.0660 -0.02 -0.27%

crown %

Hungary (EURHUF=) 313.450 314.4500 +0.3 0.38%

forint 0 2%

Polish (EURPLN=) 4.4162 4.4320 +0.3 -3.58%

zloty 6%

Romanian (EURRON=) 4.5325 4.5247 -0.17 -0.30%

leu %

Croatian (EURHRK=) 7.5289 7.5245 -0.06 1.46%

kuna %

Serbian (EURRSD=) 123.340 123.4500 +0.0 -1.52%

dinar 0 9%

Note: calculate previou close at 1800

daily d from s CET

change

STOCKS

Latest Previous Daily Change

close chang in 2016

e

Prague (.PX) 817.17 808.20 +1.1 -14.55%

1%

Budapest (.BUX) 26278.0 25831.00 +1.7 +9.86%

6 3%

Warsaw 1771.73 1762.61 +0.5 -4.70%

2%

Buchares (.BETI) 6497.70 6422.45 +1.1 -7.23%

t 7%

Ljubljan (.SBITOP) 685.28 683.63 +0.2 -1.56%

a 4%

Zagreb (.CRBEX) 1687.38 1690.80 -0.20 -0.13%

%
Washington, D.C. and Chicago, IL (June 14, 2016)This fall, The Atlantic will convene WHATS NEXT?, a summit in Chicago that will look towards the future at the most transformative ideas and innovations on the horizon. The event, which will take place October 4 & 5 at Venue SIX10 in Chicago, will feature the people and organizations leading the science and technology industries that are changing the way we live.

Speakers representing a broad cross-section of industries are connected by their stake in shaping the future. Participants include Margaret Gould Stewart, VP of Product Design at Facebook; Randall Stephenson, chairman and CEO of AT&T; Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing chairman, president, and CEO; Jean-Lou Chameau, president of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, in Saudi Arabia; Gregory Hayes, CEO of United Technologies; and Ellen Williams, director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), a U.S. government agency tasked with advancing high-potential, high-impact energy technologies. The Atlantics Steve Clemons and James Fallows will serve as moderators.

Recommended: Samantha Bee Asks the Right Questions About Orlando

Further details, including updates on additional speakers, moderators, and topics will be shared in the coming weeks.

With the concepts of velocity, size, intelligence, and connectivity serving as guiding themes for one-on-one interviews, panel discussions, and interactive demonstrations, The Atlantic will explore how advancements in technology are shaping our understanding of the world around us, and how todays developments will guide the next century of discovery.

WHATS NEXT? will also feature interactive exhibits. Student attendees from universities around the world will participate on stage and as audience members. This is the second iteration of this event, presented with Boeing. The first, WHATS NEXT? Navigating Global Challenges with the Innovation Generation, was held in Abu Dhabi in November 2014.

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WHATS NEXT? is a key component of Boeings year-long centennial programming and celebration. For more information on Boeings centennial activities including events, educational exhibits, and inspirational and historic activities, visit: www.boeing.com/100

Early media registration is now open. To RSVP, or for more information, contact The Atlantics Sydney Simon (ssimon@theatlantic.com) and Anna Bross (abross@theatlantic.com).

###

About The Atlantic

Founded in 1857 and today one of the fastest growing media platforms in the industry, The Atlantic has throughout its history championed the power of big ideas and continues to shape global debate across print, digital, event, and video platforms. With its award-winning presence TheAtlantic.com and CityLab.com on cities around the world, The Atlantic is a multimedia forum on the most critical issues of our timesfrom politics, business, urban affairs, and the economy, to technology, arts, and culture. The Atlantic is the 2016 Magazine of the Year.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian lawmaker Bob Katter drew online complaints on Wednesday after posting a campaign video in which he shoots dead political opponents just days after a gunman killed 49 people at an Orlando gay nightclub. The video, uploaded to his social media channels, features two men wearing shirts for Australia's major political parties, the conservative Liberal Party and center-left Labor Party, putting up an "Australia for sale" placard. Seconds later the video cuts to a smiling Katter, blowing smoke from the barrel of a gun as the camera pans down to the two men apparently lying dead on the ground. But the timing of the ad, just three days after gunman Omar Mateen shot dead 49 people in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, drew sharp rebukes on social media. Katter, whose minor Katter's Australia Party focuses on issues related to rural Australia, denied that he was attempting to be deliberately controversial with the video. Australia is set to hold national elections on July 2. "I'm not giving an explanation. You can go and watch the advertisement because it's an anti-selling off Australia advertisement," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "It was just for humor value. But it was humor getting a message across." That argument did not seem to gain much traction on Twitter, where users savaged Katter. "Wouldn't be a real election without Katter doing something weird or borderline insane," Twitter user Samuel McAuliffe wrote. "So Bob Katter decides that now would be a really good time to release a video showing him shooting people dead," tweeted @GordonlKnight. (Reporting by Matt Siegel; Editing by Nick Macfie)
What would you do for a Klondike bar an avocado?

An avocado shortage in New Zealand has led some enterprising thieves to steal avocados from farms, the Guardian reported.

In New Zealand, avocados currently retail for quite a pretty penny  roughly $2.80 to $4.20, due to a poor crop last season and a skyrocketing demand. That's much more expensive than U.S. prices. Avocados sold for an average of $1.10 in New York in 2016, according to the Hass Avocado Board.

Avo-robbers are snatching up to 350 fruit (yes, avocados are fruit) at a time; there have been 40 large-scale avocado orchard robberies since January. It's likely other thefts have gone unreported, the Guardian reported.

How might one swipe avocados from an orchard? It's not quite an Ocean's Eleven-style operation.

Source: Giphy

In the darkness of night, burglars "rake" the fruits from trees into a blanket spread out on the ground. They then pick up the blanket and hightail it out of there.

"It's an easy way to make a quick buck, but I don't think we are dealing with a sophisticated or highly [organized] operation here, more opportunistic," Jen Scoular, New Zealand Avocado CEO, told the Guardian.

But buyer beware when it comes to black market avocados: Illegally obtained avocados are unripe and might have toxins on the skin still, Sgt. Aaron Fraser of Waihi, with

Is toxic guacamole better than no guacamole at all? Guess it all depends on how much illegal activity you can stomach.



Read more:

 Avocado Ice Cream Is the Answer to Your Almost-Too-Ripe Avocado Prayers

 Avocado Can Be Substituted for Butter to Make the Most Delicious Cake Ever

 Hellman's Told People to Put Mayo in Their Guacamole  And the Internet Is Freaking Out
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If you're in love with anything avocado-related, spare a thought for New Zealanders.

The country has been at the behest of unprecedented price rises on the much-loved fruit, which has resulted in the mass theft of them around the country.

SEE ALSO: Food chain shuts down lying customer trying to get free avocados

That's according to Avocado New Zealand CEO Jen Scoular, who told Radio New Zealand there have been "30 or 40 incidences" this year reported in the areas of Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

"They'll put a cloth out or a duvet cover out, they literally rake them from the trees and throw them in the back of a ute and drive off," she said.

Prices of the fruit have risen to NZ$4.68 (US$3.29) on average in May, compared to NZ$1.64 (US$1.15) the same time last year, according to stuff.co.nz.

In the latest incident, 350 avocados were stolen last weekend from an orchard in Athenree, Bay of Plenty. Police believe that they are being sold illegally, with a Waikato man suspected of targeting smaller fruit shops and sushi outlets with offers of the forbidden fruit.

"There is someone making a living of stealing avocados and selling them on to the black market," Waihi police Sergeant Aaron Fraser told the publication. "He turns up with a few crate loads of avocados, they probably think he's an orchardist."

These stolen avocados are actually under ripe, as they are not ready until September or October. They could also carry a risk to people, as some have been sprayed recently and may carry toxins on the skin, according to The Guardian.

The danger to people and themselves is what some thieves are willing to take, as local growers can't keep up with soaring demand. Neighbouring Australia also had a shortage earlier this year, in which a fruit shop declared they didn't carry cash, or the fruit, on premises.

Remember to kiss your avocados at night, because one day they could be gone.
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Singapore's Night Safari zoo welcomed its first baby elephant in six years on May 12, and everyone is still celebrating the good news.

Weighing in at 192kg, the still-unnamed calf celebrated its first-month birthday on Sunday by splashing around happily in the zoo's ponds with its mum, Sri Nandong, and aunts.

Carers at the zoo have said that both baby and mum are in good health and will be ready to meet the public real soon.

For now, we'll just ward off those midweek blues with another video of this happy little camper who obviously enjoys taking baths and being the centre of attention.

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Donald Trump and Chef Geoffrey Zakarian (Photos: John Moore/Getty Images, Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

Already fighting lawsuits against his defunct university, Donald Trump is facing a grilling Thursday in another case  one against celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian in which the candidates insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants will be a central issue.

A Washington, D.C., judge has ordered Trump to be deposed  over the strenuous objections of Trumps lawyers  in a lawsuit brought by Trump last year against Zakarian after the chef pulled out of a deal to open a restaurant in the Trump International Hotel, Washington, D.C. Zakarian and another celebrity chef, Jose Andres, withdrew from separate deals, claiming that Trumps disparaging comments about Mexicans would hurt their own reputations and business brands.

Rebecca Woods, Trumps lead lawyer in the case, did not respond to questions from Yahoo News Wednesday about whether she would file a last-minute motion seeking to block the deposition, which has been ordered for Thursday at 10 a.m. ET at the downtown Washington offices of Zakarians law firm, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. If it takes place as scheduled, it would be the latest example of how Trumps multiple ongoing lawsuits  as both plaintiff and defendant  are intruding on his campaign for the presidency.

Since declaring his candidacy last June, Trump has already been secretly deposed twice in a lawsuit accusing him of fraud in his operations of Trump University. His lawyers in that case in San Diego are currently seeking to block the release of videotaped excerpts from those depositions. The motion is before U.S. Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who Trump has accused of bias against him because of the judges Mexican ancestry. (Curiel was born in the United States.)

Trumps lawyers in the Zakarian dispute have also sought to block his deposition in that case, arguing in a motion that it is unnecessary because his son Donald Trump Jr. and daughter Ivanka Trump have handled most of the dealings relating to the Trump International Hotel. They also say that it would be an inconvenient and burdensome intrusion on the schedule of the presumptive Republican nominee.

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But the judge in the case, Brian F. Holeman, rejected those arguments, ruling that Trump has personal knowledge of events and information relating to the case and noting pointedly that it was Trump  not Zakarian  who initiated the litigation. Moreover, he wrote in his ruling, there are no exceptions under court rules for individuals that may have a busy schedule as a result of seeking public office. (Trumps public schedule shows nothing for Thursday morning, but he is scheduled to be at a rally in Dallas that evening.)

Based on previous filings by Zakarians lawyers, the deposition appears to be likely to focus on the controversial comments about Mexican immigrants that Trump made in announcing his campaign on June 16, 2015. Trump said: When Mexico sends its people, theyre not sending their best Theyre sending people that have lots of problems, and theyre bringing those problems with [them]. Theyre bringing drugs. Theyre bringing crime. Theyre rapists.

Those comments caused Zakarian and Andres to pull out of their contracts with Trump, prompting the real estate tycoon to sue them in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for breach of contract. But Zakarians lawyers argue that Trumps inflammatory comments were deal breakers. The two chefs signed their contracts with Trump because of his brand name and public reputation, the lawyers argued, and Trumps own remarks undercut that name and reputation, making it impossible to do business with him.

This lawsuit involves CZ-Nationals [Zakarians company] contentions that it never bargained for  and certainly never imagined  that Mr. Trump would frustrate completely its legitimate expectations regarding the prospects of opening and operating The National restaurant in the new Trump International Hotel, the lawyers stated in one motion last February. Trump needs to be deposed, they wrote, because only Mr. Trump is able to explain what he meant by those statements and whether he considered the impact of those statements on CZ-National and its ability to  open and [operate] a restaurant in the new hotel.

The deposition is only one front in Trumps multiple legal wars this week. In a separate suit involving Andres, Trumps lawyers argued that the candidate had merely made political statements about federal immigration unrelated to the restaurant business and such statements are insufficient grounds for the chef to pull out of his contract. Besides, Woods told Washington, D.C., Judge Jennifer Di Toro, Trump has since qualified his statements about Mexican immigrants. He has said many nice things about Hispanics, she said.

But Andres lawyer, Brigida Benitez, argued that Trumps statements had directly affected the ability of her client, a native of Spain, to profitably operate a restaurant at Trumps hotel. The planned restaurant, she said, would be run by a Spanish owner, serve Spanish food and employ Hispanic workers in the kitchen. And Trumps comments were not about federal immigration policy, she said, they were about Hispanic immigrants, thereby directly cutting into the restaurants customer base.

Di Toro said she would rule in the next two weeks on whether to permit the case to go forward.
The British may be about to shock the world and upend the long-standing institutions of the West. Polling shows a sudden surge in support for Brexit, even as political and military leaders  including President Obama - argue forcefully for the UK staying in the European Union. Why should Americans care? Because as in 1979 when Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister, only to be followed in the U.S. by the Reagan revolution, the Brits may be showing us the way.

Wresting power back from bureaucrats, putting common sense ahead of political correctness, revolting against regulation  Americans may hope to choose a similar path in November if they elect Donald Trump. Like the Brits, they would do so in utter defiance of establishment" voices, and some say, at their peril.

Related: Oil Slides As Rising Chance Of Brexit Spooks Investors

As is so often the case, a momentous decision may be triggered by something quite small. Indeed, the future of the western world may come down to this: a squabble over tea kettles. The Brits are riled up by the imminent threat that the EU, driven by its aggressive climate agenda, will outlaw the electric tea pots that the English have relied upon for generations to produce their daily fix of Earl Grey and toast.

New eco-design regulations governing small appliances have been on the EU shelf for months, delayed by officials correctly worried they might ignite a firestorm of protest just as Brits prepared to vote on their European alliance. Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission president, finally decided at an April 20 meeting to plow ahead with the new rules.

The issue grabbed headlines when David Coburn, EU skeptic and UKIP Member of the European Parliament, tweeted in February, My toaster takes 4 attempts before bread goes brown and can put My Dundee marmalade on many thanks to EU. Americans forced to flush twice because newly required water-saving toilets dont get the job done can sympathize.

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The ban on tea kettles is not the only issue that will decide the EU vote, of course. But it is a symbol, just as the proposed ban of 100-watt bulbs in the U.S. became a symbol of an over-reaching federal government.

Related: Brexit and Fed Fears Weigh On World Stocks; Yen Firms

Most of the arguments for staying in the EU concern the economic fall-out, the possible collapse of exports and likely damage to the UK pound. But, it may well be the most powerful issues in the campaign are not those visible at 40,000 feet, but rather those that impact everyday life.

People are worried that jobs will be snapped up by what Brexit supporters call uncontrolled immigration. Others fear that the unchecked flow of migrants from Turkey and the Middle East will take coveted places at schools. The same voices warn that public services like the National Health will be simply overwhelmed.

As in the U.S., many in the U.K. are disappointed in their political leaders, who fail to deliver on campaign promises. In the U.S. voters see power increasingly assumed by a bloated federal government, diminishing the authority and role of local politicians. In the U.K., voters view their representatives in Parliament as increasingly hostage to the dictates of EU officials.

In 2014 the Daily Express, crusading for Brexit, revealed 158 laws impacting British lives that were passed the year before by what they call EU meddlers. The list contained mind-numbing rules governing food labeling, ferret imports, cross border healthcare, safety at sea, packaging and so much more. As UKIP leader Nigel Farage said at the time, Virtually nothing is decided by the British government; it is not debated on the floor of the House of Commons, it is not voted on because we have to a very large extent given away the running of our lives to a set of institutions in Brussels.

Related: Britains Likely to Remain in the EUBut Then What?

The loss of sovereignty and the micro-managing of their lives riles the Brits  complaints that might resonate with Americans. Directives prohibiting diabetics from driving (currently not being enforced in the U.K.) or forbidding bottled water producers from claiming their product hydrates humans appear stupid and unproductive. Moreover, the constant flow of new regulations, like the one allowing consumption of horse meat, but banning the eating of your pet horse (you cannot make this stuff up) stifles growth and entrepreneurship.

Estimates suggest that as many as 80 percent of British laws being passed derive from EU mandates. The price tag is significant; a think tank called Open Europe reported in 2014 that compliance with EU regulations, including environmental and labor rules, cost the U.K. 27.4 billion a year, or nearly $40 billion. The cost of regulations adopted in the U.S. between 1980 and 2012 have cumulatively cost the country $4 trillion  more than the entire GDP of Germany  according to estimates from the Mercatus Center. That is not to argue that all those regulations were pointless; but, they are not free and studies show they impede growth.

Prime Minister David Cameron has warned that leaving the EU could significantly harm Great Britains economy; military leaders have cautioned that Brexit would affect the whole balance of power and equilibrium in the Western World. UK voters may bow to such fears on June 23, and decide that the status quo is good enough, or they may decide to shake things up.

U.S. voters will face a similar choice on November 8.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
A worker at a Hindu monastery. A Hindu priest. A Christian. The wife of an anti-terrorism police official. All murdered in Bangladesh within a space of five days last week.

The killings, which are only the latest in a list that now numbers at least 20 victims since 2013, are part of a surge in violence against religious minorities, and atheists, in the predominantly Muslim nation over the past three years. What began with a targeting of atheist bloggers involved in the Shahbag movement  a protest to demand death sentences for Islamist leaders convicted of war crimes in Bangladeshs 1971 war of liberation from Pakistan  soon expanded to others, including an LGBT magazine editor, a Buddhist monk and two foreigners, one Italian and one Japanese.

This is really one of the most chilling developments that Ive seen, Alyssa Ayres, a senior fellow for India, Pakistan and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, tells TIME. Bangladesh was a poster-case for the effects of great economic growth, of moderate society on countering violent extremism, only just a few years ago.

Another disconcerting fact is that a majority of the murders  most of them carried out by stabbing and hacking the victims to death in broad daylight  have been claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS), while several others have been claimed by the AQIS, the South Asian arm of Al-Qaeda. The Bangladeshi government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, strongly denies that these international terrorist organizations have any presence in the country. It blames homegrown fundamentalist groups affiliated with its main political opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP  a view that experts say is misguided and may even exacerbate the growth of radical Islam.

Read next: Fatal Speech

The state remains focused upon political culprits rather than those who conduct violence. In this environment, ISIS and AQIS operate with impunity, says C. Christine Fair, a South Asia analyst and professor at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. The government ignores this at the peril of the state and its liberal elites.

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Ali Riaz, a Bangladeshi-American political scientist and professor at the Illinois State University, says the countrys Islamic fundamentalists have often had external linkages and affiliations since the 1990s. To say the militant groups are acting in complete isolation is erroneous and counterproductive, he tells TIME. In this day and age, ISIS or AQIS wont have to be physically present. Ideologically speaking, they have made inroads. The widening of targets and increased frequency might be indications that they are getting closer.

The government has reacted to the most recent wave of killings with a sweeping crackdown  since last weeks murder of the Hindu monastery worker, thousands have been arrested by Bangladeshi authorities. However, reports say only around 145 out of the more than 11,000 detainees are suspected Islamist militants.

The crackdown is a bit of a red herring, says Zafar Sobhan, editor of the Dhaka Tribune newspaper, adding that the government must radically rethink its approach and tactics to ensure no more targeted killings take place.

The mass arrests also risk potentially alienating the Bangladeshi public further. By arresting thousands of people youre not sending a message that its helpful to include communities against militants, Riaz adds. Im sure of all these people there is at least one individual who is completely innocent. What happens to his family? What happens to his mindset?

Read more: Heres What You Need to Know About Growing Extremist Violence in Bangladesh

In a broader sense, experts say, the governments own lackluster defense of free expression and democratic values is a significant factor that has created a breeding ground for religious fundamentalism in the officially secular nation. While Hasina has condemned the killings, she also said in an interview with TIME last September that free speech should not hurt anybodys feelings and that people have no right to write or speak against any religion.

The governments idea of protecting its citizens is to get them to shut up, says Tejshree Thapa, a senior researcher for South Asia at Human Rights Watch, decrying the Bangladeshi leaderships appalling statements. You cannot say that youre concerned about these killings and in the same breath say: You shouldnt be saying this, she adds.

For a country created from the erstwhile East Pakistan through the 1971 war, fueled by a desire to establish a separate Bengali nation rather than have its governance primarily dictated by religion, the last few years represent an ominous shift towards intolerance.

This is a country thats in many ways founded on the idea of wanting expression for its own language, and wanting the ability to be free culturally, says Ayres. To have all these constraints on freedom and expression is a very sad thing.

Bangladeshs potential as a fertile ground for groups like ISIS to establish a foothold in South Asia  not unlike the Philippines and Indonesia further east  portends alarming implications for the region. Dozens of Bangladeshis have been arrested and deported from Singapore over the past year, with the government there alleging that they were planning acts of terror in their home country.

A big part of what is going on is that you have two home-grown groups, one affilated with AQIS and one with ISIS, and they are fighting a proxy war to establish their dominance, says Sobhan. They are rivals, not allies, and the attacks are ways to demonstrate their power, both to the outside world as well as to those they wish to recruit.

And according to Riaz, that recruitment will only get easier unless the government works to create a conducive environment for democratic expression. Bangladeshi civil society is a very powerful, vibrant one and can be harnessed for combating the growing militant groups, but they need to have the space to speak out, he says.

As of now, the perpetrators have very little support among Bangladeshis, but given the rapidly shrinking space for dissent and enabling environment for extremism there is a fear that militants might find sympathetic ears.
15 Jun - Bellatrix Tan, Zamboanga's bet to the recently concluded Miss Philippines Earth, admitted that she was hurt over the comments made by Netizens over her blunder during the pageant.



As reported on Chisms, the 20-year-old Miss Zamboanga previously made headlines for all the wrong reasons, after she bombed at the pageant with her incoherent answer in the Q&A segment.



When asked to share her views on weather-related phenomena El Nino and La Nina, she responded, "El Nino, La Nina. El Nino is what we are facing right now. If we do simple things like planting trees... we will not experience drought, right? If we start now, we will achieve La Nina."



In her interview after the incident, Tan stressed that she really knows what El Nino and La Nina are, but her nervousness got the best of her.



"El Nino is drought. La Nina is heavy rain. But when I realised that I have the wrong answer, I reacted right away," she said.



Tan stated that she was hurt by the comments made by Netizens who watched the segment, which has now turned viral, and stated that people who had never joined a beauty pageant would never understand the stress and the situation they were in.



Nonetheless, she said that the incident did not stop her from continuing to pursue her dream of becoming a beauty queen, and that she will show her critics that they were wrong about her.



The Miss Philippine Earth crown was won by Filipino-German model, Imelda Schweighart.



(Photo source: instagram.com/tanbellatrix)
Reality TV personality Kate Chastain was arrested on domestic violence charges on Monday in her home town of Melbourne Beach, Florida.

Chastain, who stars as the Chief Stewardess on Bravo's Below Deck, is alleged to have bitten and choked her girlfriend while trying to kick her out of their house, according to TMZ.

MORE: The 12 Biggest Celebrity Arrests of 2015

TMZ also reports that police launched a potential domestic violence investigation after Chastain's girlfriend allegedly showed up to work with bruising on her arms.

Chastain was arrested and booked Monday afternoon on felony charges of battery by strangulation.

Melbourne Beach Police Department

PHOTOS: Busted! Hollywood's Most Memorable Mugshots

She spent the night in the Brevard County Jail Complex and appeared in court on Tuesday, where she posted the $5,000 bond.

Chastain has appeared on the last two seasons of Below Deck, which follows the personal and professional lives of the crew that work and live aboard a mega-yacht during charter season.

WATCH: 'Pawn Stars' Personality Austin 'Chumlee' Russell Arrested on Weapon and Drug Charges

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Bernie Sanders lost the Democratic primary to Hillary Clinton by well over 3 million votes and hundreds of pledged delegates to the Democratic convention. But the upstart Senator from Vermont gave Hillary Clintons campaign a shock during the heady peak of his campaign in early February, when he beat her in a landslide victory in New Hampshire.

Much of Sanders success in New Hampshire and beyond, says his senior advisor Tad Devine, can be attributed to his advertising team.

Speaking in a Washington hotel, Devine, an advertising guru and veteran strategist with experience on dozens of campaigns, laid out his ad strategy throughout the course of Sanders 2015-2016 primary campaign. Devines firm produced the majority of the campaigns advertising.

For us, the paid media campaign was essential, I believe, for establishing Bernie Sanders as a credible, serious candidate for president against a well-known, well-liked frontrunner, Devine told attendees the AdAge and Time Inc.-hosted Campaign 2016 Summit on Wednesday, a day after Sanders lost the last primary in Washington D.C. We were able to establish Bernie through a series of ads. (Time Inc. is the parent company of TIME magazine.)

The Sanders campaign outspent Clintons campaign in advertising spending, pouring around $74 million into television ad spots in the primary states by mid May, according to a study by the Wesleyan Media Project, compared with $63 million in spending by Clinton and her allies. (The two campaigns spent about equally in both Iowa and New Hampshire.)

Some of Sanders campaign staff, particularly field organizers, have told TIME they were deeply unhappy with the level of advertising spending directed by the top tiers of the campaign and wanted more to spent on direct voter contacts like canvassing and phone banking. The Washington Post reported that Devines firm was among three consulting firms that earned payments of seven figures by May.

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Some critics on the campaign said that Sanders had become widely popular before the advertising blitz began. By late October, Sanders was at 34% in Iowa polls compared with 51% for Clinton, according to a Huffington Post average, and was already leading Clinton in New Hampshire.

Devine insisted that much of Sanders success was due to paid media, explaining that it helped boost his profile from a virtual unknown nationwide into a popular figure. Sanders barely registered in state polls before early 2016; he went on to win New Hampshire in a landslide and bring Clinton to a virtual draw in Iowa. Indeed, Sanders performed best by the time voting began and after several months of advertising.

Devine said that he and other top aides planned out ads in Iowa and New Hampshire five stages, explained below:

The campaign began putting ads on the air in November with biographical ads, Devine said, in which the campaign introduced Sanders to voters in the early states with a series of ads explaining Sanders history in Brooklyn and attending the March on Washington in 1963. Now hes taking on Wall Street and a corrupt political system, says a narrator in one of the ads.

In the second phase of advertising, Devine said, the campaign laid out Sanders core campaign message: that he was fighting against income inequality, the political establishment and political corruption. One of the ads, called Rigged Economy, told voters just that. Bernie Sanders: husband, father, grandfather. Hes taking on Wall Street and a corrupt political system that keeps in place a rigged economy, says a narrator.

The campaign then moved to a series of testimonial and issue-specific ads on topics ranging from free public college to single-payer healthcare.

Devine said that the campaign also played an advertisement about Sanders congressional record. We also heavily rotated an ad about Bernies effectiveness, which was a concern of many voters we found in our research, particularly in Iowa and also to an extent in New Hampshire, Devine said.

Devine said that the campaign then moved to advertisements about the role of Wall Street and politicians who receive speaking fees. The Clinton campaign aides cried foul, believing these ads were implicitly targeted at Hillary Clinton and broke Sanders promise never to run a negative campaign. The one called Two Visions had Sanders speaking to camera explaining that there are two Democratic visions for regulating Wall Street: one says its okay to take millions from big banks and then tell them what to do.

Then came the advertisement that was widely considered the tour de force of the Sanders campaign ads, America. It was released a little over a week before the Iowa caucus and simply included images of a wide array of people from all around the country, with the sound of Simon & Garfunkels America. The song was played over and over again at rallies; the ad came to reflect what many Sanders supporters saw was best in the campaign.

In my mind the America ad, was if youve got great relief pitching, youve got a starter that was seven innings, somebody comes in in the eighth and they get three outs, okay? Devine said. In my mind the America ad was the eighth inning pitcher who set it up. Every time you put it up you get three outs.

It was a positive look at both he campaign and what the campaign represented and the future, he added.
A House candidate backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders lost a congressional primary Tuesday night in Nevada, dealing the first blow to Sanders' plans for a post-primary revolution.

Lucy Flores  whom Sanders endorsed in Nevada's crowded 4th District primary and helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars  came in second by a 14-point margin. She lost to Ruben Kihuen, who was backed by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, an establishment figure in the Democratic Party.

A second Democrat, Jesse Sbaih, who endorsed Sanders' primary bid and ran as a so-called "Berniecrat," lost by an even wider 49-point margin in Nevada's neighboring 3rd District.

Not only did @BernieSanders lose the D.C. primary, but with @JesseSbaih and @LucyFlores losses, it seems he also lost the Nevada primary.

The losses highlight the challenges Sanders will face to keep his "political revolution" alive after the bright lights of the presidential primary shut off.

As Clinton's lead in the primary over Sanders grew this spring, the Vermont senator began endorsing progressive Democrats who shared his policy agenda in an attempt to alter the make-up of Congress. It's a game plan the senator could continue, as he's unlikely to be the Democratic nominee after Clinton clinched the nomination last week.

But simply put, motivating supporters to head to the polls for down-ballot races  from congressional seats to positions in state legislatures  is much more challenging than high-profile presidential contests.

And it's a bad sign for his upcoming proxy battle against Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Florida.

Sanders endorsed Wasserman Schultz's primary opponent, Tim Canova, helping the upstart challenger raise more than $1 million as he attempts to unseat the chair of the Democratic National Committee in an August primary.

Story continues

Bernie Sanders' Revolution Just Failed Its First Post-Primary Test

Yet Canova will face off with Wasserman Schultz in a House district located in a county that voted for Clinton with nearly 70% of the vote.

That spells trouble for Canova's chances at unseating Wasserman Schultz.
From Esquire

Lately, there has been study after study praising the health benefits of coffee. Coffee can allegedly counteract the damage from a night of heavy drinking, and it can help your erections, too. A panel of scientists even asked the federal government to recommend drinking moderate amounts of the stuff.

But for decades, the conventional wisdom was the opposite: that coffee actually caused cancer. Now, the World Health Organization, 25 years after declaring coffee as a possible carcinogen, has reversed its course, joining the conventional scientific wisdom that coffee is good for you.

A panel of 23 scientists reviewed more than 1,000 studies and found "no conclusive evidence for a carcinogenic effect of drinking coffee," according to a WHO press release. Coffee was previously classified as "possibly carcinogenic to humans," but is now "not classifiable as to its carcinogenity to humans." In fact, some studies they reviewed showed that cancer was linked to reduce risks of liver and endometrial cancer. The scientists published their findings in The Lancet Oncology

To be clear, the New York Times points out, much of these studies are based on observational evidence, not a lab study, so it's hard to exactly pinpoint any cause and effect. But there are just so many studies out there with the same results that major bodies of researchers tend to agree that a cup of joe can do you some good.

But the WHO researchers did find drinking very hot beverages, above 65 degrees Celsius/149 degrees Fahrenheit, "probably causes" esophageal cancer. So it's not the coffee itself that causes cancer, but the temperature of it. Studies in countries like China and Iran, where drinks are served extra hot, found that the risk of esophageal cancer went up the hotter drinks were consumed.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the National Coffee Association recommends brewers keep their water between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, then let the coffee reach a "comfortable temperature" before serving. So let your drink cool off a little bit before you sip, and it'll likely taste better and be better for you.
Beyonce paid tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting with her most iconic song

Beyonce paid tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting with her most iconic song

Beyonce ends every show on her Formation World Tour by singing an emotional rendition of Halo. But during last nights show in Detroit  which happened to be the final show of the North American leg of her tour  things got especially emotional when she beautifully paid tribute to the victims who lost their lives in Sundays mass shooting in Orlando.

She introduced her final song by saying:

This next song is about love, and Id like to dedicate it to all the family members of those who lost their lives in Florida.

VIDEO: Beyonce dedicates Halo during #FormationWorldTour last night to people killed in Orlando #PrayForOrlando pic.twitter.com/6zH56QsFZO  BEYONCE COLOMBIA (@beyoncColombia) June 15, 2016

Many fans believe Beys dedication was also meant for Christina Grimmie, who was shot and killed just days before and only four miles away from Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

Beyonce, along with countless other celebrities and non celebrities, also showed her support on Instagram.

Condolences and prayers to Orlando, she wrote.

Condolences and prayers to Orlando A photo posted by Beyonce (@beyonce) on Jun 12, 2016 at 2:17pm PDT

The post Beyonce paid tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting with her most iconic song appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Beyonce closed the first leg of her Formation World Tour not by declaring triumph for filling stadiums around North America during the past seven weeks but by paying her respects for last weekend's murder victims in Florida.

Introducing the closing number, "Halo," as "a song about love" on Tuesday night at Detroit's Ford Field, Beyonce dedicated it "to all of the family members who lost family members in Florida" -- indicating she may have meant the victims from Sunday morning's Pulse nightclub shootings in Orlando and former The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie, who was fatally shot after a concert Friday night, also in Orlando, by Kevin James Loibl, who then killed himself.

Best Instagram Moments From Beyonce's Formation World Tour & Rihanna's Anti World Tour (So Far)

Beyonce and company now take two weeks over before starting the European leg of the tour on June 28 in Sunderland, England. She'll also play another nine shows in the U.S., beginning Sept. 7 in East Rutherford, N.J.

VIDEO: Beyonce dedicates Halo during #FormationWorldTour last night to people killed in Orlando #PrayForOrlando pic.twitter.com/6zH56QsFZO

- BEYONCE COLOMBIA (@beyoncColombia) June 15, 2016

On a more jovial note, the Detroit show was a special one for opening act DJ Khaled and some special guests. He brought Detroit rapper Dej Loaf on stage for her singles "Try Me" and "Back Up," then introduced Young Jeezy for renditions of "Who Dat" and "Out Here Grindin'."

Shooting At Orlando Nightclub Leaves 50 Dead in Largest Mass Shooting in U.S. History | Patrons on Orlando's Pulse Before the Tragedy: 'We Could Be Our Authentic Selves' | President Obama Calls Orlando Nightclub Mass Shooting Act of Terror and Hate | Orlando Gay Nightclub Shooting Casts a Shadow on Tony Awards | Orlando Shooting: Trump Sees Backlash Over 'Congrats' Tweet; Clinton Calls Attack an 'Act of Terror' | Orlando Nightclub Mass Shooting: Hollywood Reacts | 'This Is the New Reality': Artists & Concert Execs Weigh In on Security Challenges After Orlando | Skrillex, Chainsmokers & More Dance Music Stars React to Orlando Nightclub Massacre | Orlando Pride Radio Host Talks Pulse's Place in LGBT Community, Why It's Hard Not to Be Scared | James Corden Gives Touching Orlando Speech at 2016 Tony Awards: 'Hate Will Never Win'
VIDEO: Beyonce dedicates Halo during #FormationWorldTour last night to people killed in Orlando #PrayForOrlando pic.twitter.com/6zH56QsFZO  BEYONCE COLOMBIA (@beyoncColombia) June 15, 2016

Beyonce joined the ranks of musicians sending their condolences to the victims of the Orlando shooting and their families last night. At her Formation World Tour stop in Detroit on June 14 , Bey dedicated the song Halo to the grieving city.

She pointed out that the song was about love before dedicating the song to the victims of the worst mass shooting in recent American history and their families.

Bey seems to be moving away from her long-held tendency to stay out of the political spotlight. Through the imagery she chooses to use in her videos, the songs that she creates and the rare interview, Beyonce has marked herself as a clear supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement (even if it was kept under wraps that she and Jay Z were donating money to the cause). Beyonce also donated over $82,000 to help in the Flint water crisis.

As for her dedication to Orlando, Bey is one of many artists who have taken the time to speak out about the tragedy. Adele recently dedicated her entire concert to the victims and Lady Gaga couldnt make it through her own tribute to the victims without crying. A less star-studded (but just as heart-wrenching) tribute came via the London Gay Mens Choir, who sang Bridge Over Troubled Water at a vigil for the victims in London.

(Via MTV)
Bill O'Reilly

Bill O'Reilly stunned many viewers Tuesday night when he called for some measures of gun control to be implemented after the terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida, that claimed the lives at least 49 people  the deadliest mass shooting in US history.

After criticizing liberal politicians for not being aggressive enough on the fight against the Islamic State terrorist group, the Fox News host addressed the "right-wing responsibility" after the attack carried out by 29-year-old Omar Mateen using an assault weapon and a handgun.

"There is too much gun crime in the USA, and high-powered weaponry is too easy to get," he said. "That's the fact. So let's deal with it. We all have the right to bear arms, but we don't have the right to buy and maintain mortars. Even if you feel threatened by gangsters or a New World Order. No bazookas, no Sherman tanks, no hand grenades."

"That's because the Second Amendment clearly states the government has a right to regulate militias, made up of individuals," he continued. "They have that right in the name of public safety. Therefore, Congress should debate what kind of weapons should be available for public sale. And the states, the individual states, should decide what kind of carry laws are good for their own people."

O'Reilly said new laws were "definitely needed" in the face of new terrorist threats and mass murders.

"The FBI and other federal agencies need the power to stop suspected terrorists or other evildoers from buying weapons," he said. "That law needs to be very precise."

"Also, gun dealers all across America should be required to report the sale of certain kinds of guns, heavy weapons, directly to the FBI," he continued. "Not handguns, not talking about that, but other weapons that would be defined by Congress. That is a sane approach and would make it a lot tougher for the Omar Mateens of the world to get the weaponry to kill."

Watch O'Reilly's remarks below:

The remarks represented a shift to the political left from where O'Reilly stood on the issue in January, when President Barack Obama announced executive actions aimed at gun control after the San Bernardino, California, terrorist attack.

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Back then, the news personality advocated tougher criminal sentences for those who commit gun crimes but no laws limiting the purchasing of weapons.

"The truth is, terrorists are not going to submit themselves to background checks  neither are dangerous felons or insane people," he said during his January 6 program. "They are not going to sign any paper when they buy a gun. Do we all get that? They will buy their guns on the black market. And no registration law will prevent that."

Orlando shooting

On Tuesday, Fox News host Gretchen Carlson also expressed similar newfound gun-control sentiment.

"Every time we have a mass shooting we talk about guns. Right? Yes," she said. "The Orlando massacre was terror. But there's no doubt that Omar Mateen was able to kill so many people because he was firing an AR-15, a military-style assault weapon, a weapon easier to buy in the state of Florida than buying a handgun."

"Do we need AR-15s to hunt and kill deer?" Carlson asked. "Do we need them to protect our families? Yes, I'm in favor of people being able to carry. I think some of these mass shootings would have been less deadly if that were the case. But I'm also with the majority today taking a stand. Can't we hold true the sanctity of the Second Amendment while still having common sense?"

Senate Democrats are making a renewed push to pass a bill barring people on the terror watch list from buying weapons. That bill was shot down late last year on a virtual party-line vote.

During a Monday conference call, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York said that if the bill were passed when first brought before the Senate in December, the Orlando terrorist attack would have been avoided.

Chuck Schumer

In December, just one day after the San Bernardino attack, Senate Republicans rejected the bill stopping suspected terrorists from buying weapons. The counterargument to the bill is that, since people can be placed on a terror watch list  such as the no-fly list  without due process, then a citizen could be wrongly stripped of his or her Second Amendment right.

The bill failed on a 54-45 vote.

Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump expressed openness to discussing such legislation in a Wednesday tweet.

"I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no-fly list, to buy guns," he wrote.

NOW WATCH: MICHAEL MOORE: 'I think theres an excellent chance' Trump will be president





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katia beauchamp

Birchbox, a startup which offers subscriptions to boxes of beauty products, is changing course.

The New York City-based company is laying off employees and putting expansion plans on hold as it faces a lack of new funding and competition from other beauty box companies, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Birchbox was previously planning to open three more physical stores in the U.S.  it has one brick-and-mortar location in SoHo  and had planned to expand into other markets, like China. Those plans are now on hold. Birchbox previously occupied two floors in its New York headquarters and has moved on just one floor after cutting 50 of its 300 employees, according to the Journal.

Birchbox is short on cash after recent negotiations with investors fell through, plus investors are more hesitant to invest in private companies unless they can show they're operating profitably, according to the Journal.

The company was valued at $484 million in 2014, but hasn't raised money since then.

Birchbox launched what has since become a craze in the beauty industry: boxes that contain curated samples of beauty products are shipped to your home every month for $10.

But over the past few years, Birchbox's competition has heated up. YouTube star Michelle Phan has created her own line of subscription boxes, beauty retailer Sephora just started its own service for $10 a month, and California-based ipsy has more monthly subscribers  1.5 million to Birchbox's 1 million, according to the Journal.

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U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump delivers a campaign speech about national security in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. June 13, 2016 in response to the mass shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

In a strangely worded tweet, Donald Trump on Wednesday promoted a conspiracy theory that the Obama administration supported the Iraqi terrorist group that eventually morphed into the Islamic State, the group also known as ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh.

In reference to the recent terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee suggested this week that Obama either "doesn't get it, or he gets it better than anybody understands," which many interpreted as implying that President Barack Obama was sympathetic to ISIS.

Trump took it up a notch on Wednesday, sharing a Breitbart story with the headline "Hillary Clinton Received Secret Memo Stating Obama Admin 'Support' for ISIS."

"An: Media fell all over themselves criticizing what DonaldTrump 'may have insinuated about @POTUS.'" Trump tweeted, apparently referring to himself in the third person. "But he's right."

He followed it up with a tweet saying, "The press is so totally biased that we have no choice but to take our tough but fair and smart message directly to the people!"

The Breitbart story said that Clinton, now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, "received a classified intelligence report stating that the Obama administration was actively supporting Al Qaeda in Iraq, the terrorist group that became the Islamic State."

Breitbart quoted a source as saying the 2012 memo came from someone within the Defense Intelligence Agency and included "reporting from the field by an intelligence agent." The news outlet also said "the report identifies Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) as being one of the principal elements of the Syrian opposition, which the West was choosing to 'support.'"

The "secret memo" Breitbart referred to is an intelligence information report.

Michael Pregent, a former US Army intelligence officer who served as an embedded military adviser in Iraq, explained what this is.

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"I wrote [intelligence information reports] as an intelligence officer in Iraq  they were based on interviews with sources," Pregent, who is now an adjunct fellow at the Hudson Institute, told Business Insider in an email. "This IIR is based on an interview with a source. This is not someone putting their career on the line."

Intelligence information reports are the "lowest weighted" type of intelligence report in the intelligence community, Pregent said.

"The NSA and CIA reports are weighted higher," Pregent said. "I doubt this IIR was read by anyone at the Obama or Clinton level."

Breitbart is a right-wing website that often shares outlandish stories with little to no basis in fact. One reason the Breitbart story doesn't make much sense is that Al Qaeda in Iraq was absorbed into the umbrella group called the Islamic State of Iraq before Obama took office in 2009.

A representative for House Speaker Paul Ryan did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Neither did a representative for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

While the US has supported some rebel groups in Syria, Obama administration support has largely been limited to rebel groups that are fighting ISIS and Al Qaeda.

There have been conspiracy theories going around about the US supporting or creating ISIS, but these are unsubstantiated. The US did not support Al Qaeda in Iraq, a group that, before its evolution into ISIS, targeted US troops during the Iraq War.

Nevertheless, many in the Middle East believe that the US created or supports ISIS, and it's fueling anti-American sentiment in the region.

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No one rocks a maternity jumpsuit like Blac Chyna! Rob Kardashian's pregnant sported two jumpsuits that showed off her growing belly on Tuesday.

"You guys, so I'm definitely feeling myself," the new redhead said on Snapchat while fluffing her curls. "Do you see this red curly hair? I feel cute!"

WATCH: Blac Chyna Says Her Goal Is to 'Gain 100 Pounds This Pregnancy,' Reveals Current Weight

Chyna then slipped into a black halter jumpsuit with a plunging neckline that exposed part of her bare bump. She posed for several photos in her front yard in the sexy getup.

In fact, it was hard to tell the reality star was even pregnant until she turned to the side! Her son, King Cairo, was also featured in one Instagram, which Chyna captioned, "This guy."

Later, she kept the red curly locks but changed into an all-gray, long-sleeve jumpsuit. The model posed on top of several boxes from the company 4Moms.

MORE: Blac Chyna Opens Up About Her 'Really Good Pregnancy': 'No Morning Sickness, No Cravings!'

As she continues to film her new six-episode docuseries, Rob & Chyna, Tyga's ex has been having an easy pregnancy.

"If you guys were wondering, I'm actually having a really good pregnancy, similar to King's," she said in a recent Snapchat. "No morning sickness, no cravings, just baby!"

And Chyna isn't worried about packing on the pregnancy pounds. In another Snapchat, she declared, "My goal is to gain, like, 100 pounds this pregnancy. Imma tear it up, then Imma snap back."

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Boston Scientific Corporations BSX GreenLight XPS Laser Therapy System recently obtained positive treatment recommendation from U.K.s renowned healthcare advisor, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Notably, the GreenLight XPS Laser Therapy System is used to treat low-risk benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients or in simple terms enlarged prostate gland.

BPH and GreenLight Technology

Extremely common in older men, BPH causes difficult and frequent urination and can have a significant impact on the quality of life. If left untreated, BPH can lead to severe infections, kidney stones as well as renal failure. Currently, over 110 million men have been diagnosed with BPH globally.

In the U.K., the standard treatment for BPH is transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which is a surgical procedure. However, those who are not fit for the conventional surgery can opt for the GreenLight therapy, which is performed on an outpatient day-care basis.

Specifically, this GreenLight therapy has been there in the European market since 2010, has so far delivered excellent patient outcome along with fewer complications.

NICE Recommendation

NICE recommended Boston Scientifics GreenLight therapy for the treatment of low-risk BPH patients based on favorable clinical evidence from Goliath study, which compared the efficacy of GreenLight XPS system to TURP in 291 patients. The study demonstrated the effectiveness of the laser therapy as it was found to have fewer initial serious post-procedure complications, with lower hospital re-admissions and outcome that are equally effective as the current standard surgical treatment.

Cost Effectiveness

In terms of cost benefit analysis, as per NICEs estimates, broad adoption of the GreenLight therapy over TURP can lead to savings of up to 3.2 million annually for the National Health Service (NHS). This is because the GreenLight XPS System therapy is typically done on an outpatient day-case basis, while TURP requires an overnight stay in hospitals.

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Our Take

No doubt the cost benefit analysis discussed above highlights the GreenLight therapy as a cheap as well as time saving treatment option when compared to the traditional surgical procedures currently in practice.

Moreover, the British Association for Day Case Surgery (BADS 2013) believes that more than 90% of urological surgery should be done as day-case procedures within the next five years. We believe the NICE recommendation for the GreenLight system will rake in higher profits for Boston Scientifics urology business as other minimally invasive urology treatments are still awaiting the same.

In its last reported quarter, Boston Scientifics urology and pelvic health business witnessed double-digit growth on account of last years acquisition of the American Medical Systems Male Urology portfolio as well as acceleration of its legacy urology business in the overseas. We believe that the recent NICE recommendation will boost sales at this business division.

Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks

The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other favorably ranked medical stocks are Baxter International Inc. BAX, NuVasive, Inc. NUVA and LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. LMAT. While Baxter holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), NuVasive and LeMaitre carry a Zacks Rank #2.

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Doualy Xaykaothao, a journalist based on Minnesota, recently gave us a look at what its like to be Hmong American in the Midwest, and his piece got a good amount of response from Atlantic readers. If youre unfamiliar with the Hmong, theyre an ethic group native to the mountainous regions of Southeast Asia and China. About 260,000 of them are living in the U.S., and a huge influx of Hmong came to America following the Vietnam War. (The video above is the first part of a documentary about that refugee experience.) My father, a Vietnam vet and Wisconsin native, talked about the Hmong with great admiration while I was growing up. Heres a poignant passage on Nou Vang Thao, a Hmong American who risked his life to help the CIA in his native country but faced bigotry after relocating to Wisconsin:

Despite being a war veteran, many people confused him with the enemyassuming he was Vietnamese or, worse, Viet Cong. Thao says he sometimes had to remind people he fought for freedom, not communism. Even today, he said. People dont know why the Hmong are in Wisconsin, and coworkers, they dont care to know why we are here. We couldnt stay in our country because of our involvement with the white man. Weve given Americans 100 percent of our heart, but theyve only given us 20 percent.

A reader is struck by stories such as Thaos:

It sucks that these heroes who saved so many American lives could be treated poorly. Hmong are good people. I have known many, and they are great Americans. What is so terrible is that the leftist propaganda against the Vietnam War clouded too many peoples minds. The Communists in Southeast Asia were genocidal maniacs. They committed ethnic cleansing everywhere they went. (Note that all the refugee camps were in safe, capitalist countries like the Kingdom of Thailand, Philippines, and British Hong Kong.) The U.S. should have brought more of our allies back to safety in the U.S.

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Xaykaothaos piece features two other stories from Hmong Americans. Nou Vang was out fishing on a lake with his two young sons near their home in Wisconsin when a speedboat full of men intentionally tipped Vangs boat over. Later, on shore, the men intimated the family with clubs. The other story is about a Hmong American teenager named Dylan Yang, whose friends got into an altercation with another group of adolescents resulting in Yang stabbing and killing a boy who had fired a BB gun. A reader challenges Xaykaothaos narrative of that fatal incident:

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Bradley Whitford and Courtney B. Vance are headed to TNT.

The two actors have signed on for the Turner network's modern-day civil war drama pilot Civil, it was announced Wednesday.

Toby Jones has also joined the project, with Brian d'Arcy James (Spotlight) attached as a guest star.

Civil takes place in the wake of a hotly contested Presidential election, as America finds itself plunging uncontrollably into a modern-day Civil War. The series weaves together the personal stories of citizens from all walks of life, whose actions - amplified in an age of instant media - add fuel to the conflict and affect the fate of the entire country.

Whitford has been cast as Grant Taylor, the Democratic candidate for President. Taylor is a career politician who spent the past eight years trying to appear subservient in his role as Vice President, cutting against his reflex to approach every relationship from a position of domineering aggression. He comes from a background of great privilege, but he works hard to mask this behind a facade of relatability and good humor.

Vance will play New York City Police Commissioner John Thorne, an old-school, law-and-order cop who's unabashedly tough, with one newspaper dubbing him "Iron John." As the nation's unrest spreads to New York City, Thorne reacts with increasingly extreme measures, gradually assuming near-dictatorial power over the city he's sworn to serve and protect.

Jones will take the role of shock-jock host Otis O'Dell, host of The Otis O'Dell Show. A Brit who has taken American citizenship, Otis prides himself on being more red-white-and-blue than most "native born" Americans. He's smart, verbally dexterous and charmingly abrasive, with a reflexive sense of outrage. He'll serve as both a Greek chorus for the series and, when it suits him, a political provocateur. As the national crisis he helps foment deepens, Otis will be forced to deal with his role in the unraveling of the Republic.

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D'Arcy James will appear as Graham Beller, a very capable, reasonable but long-suffering news producer and sometimes wrangler. Graham is constantly towing the line between support and tough love for his anchor.

The four actors join the previously announced Enrique Murciano, who is set to play Speaker of the House Juan Reyes, the Republican candidate for President.

Civil hails from writer and executive producer Scott Smith (A Simple Plan), who will exec-produce with Lloyd Braun and Thomas Kelly (Copper), who will also serve as showrunner. Allen Coulter (Nurse Jackie, Ray Donovan) is on board to direct the project, which will be produced by TNT Originals in association with MGM Television and Whalerock.

For Whitford, the casting comes after his Emmy-winning guest turn on Amazon's Transparent, on which he recurs. He also won an Emmy for his work on The West Wing. His other recent TV credits include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Happyish and the HBO movie All the Way.

Vance is coming off of a celebrated turn on The People v. O.J. Simpson, in which he portrayed defense attorney Johnnie Cochran. His many other TV credits include ER and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and he is next to appear in The Mummy reboot.

Jones is known for his roles in Wayward Pines, The Hunger Games films and the Captain America films.

D'Arcy James' credits include Smash, The Big C and Game Change.
(Adds economist comments)

By Alonso Soto and Maria Carolina Marcello

BRASILIA, June 15 (Reuters) - Brazil's interim President Michel Temer on Wednesday proposed a constitutional amendment to limit public spending growth for up to 20 years, one of the most far-reaching fiscal reforms in decades designed to curb a runaway rise in public debt.

The government, including the legislative and judiciary branches, will be obliged to limit annual spending growth to the inflation rate of the prior year if the flagship reform is approved in Congress, according to a Finance Ministry statement.

The move signaled a victory for economic hardliners in the cabinet, led by Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles, who overcame calls from a faction pushing for a shorter cap.

Meirelles told a news conference a decisive move was necessary to restore investor confidence and the period would be long enough to have an impact on public debt levels.

"It is a great step forward, a change of concept," Meirelles said. "We are confident it will be approved."

Brazil posted a fiscal deficit of more than 10 percent of gross domestic product last year as its economy slid into the worst recession in decades. The rapid deterioration of public accounts has cost the country its coveted investment-grade credit ratings.

Bonds and stocks were little changed after the announcement, as investors focused on a rate-setting meeting in the United States.

"Brazil finds itself in a particularly acute fiscal position at the moment, but from a macroeconomic standpoint it's never a good idea to have too much rigidity on spending in either direction," said Neil Shearing, chief emerging markets economist with London-based research firm Capital Economics.

Temer's government has abruptly steered Latin America's largest economy to the right after 13 years of rule by the leftist Workers Party, in a trend towards market-friendly policies also seen in neighboring Argentina.

Temer could serve out the remainder of suspended President Dilma Rousseff's term, through the end of 2018, if she is found guilty of breaking budget laws. Her trial by the Senate is expected to last until at least August.

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The interim administration will work on other measures to curb spending in the meantime, Meirelles said, mentioning pension reform. He added that the government has no plans to raise taxes at the moment.

The spending cap could be relaxed after 10 years, by which time the government hopes Brazil's finances will have improved. Federal institutions that do not comply with the cap will be barred from hiring new employees, Meirelles added.

The leader of Temer's ruling coalition in the lower house, Andre Moura, told Reuters the constitutional amendment was well received by Congressional leaders and would be presented to the lower house floor within at least 60 days. He voiced confidence it would be approved by legislators this year.

The head of the Senate, Renan Calheiros, nonetheless said on Tuesday that tough measures such as a debt ceiling should only be examined by Congress after Temer is confirmed in the presidency, according to the Senate news agency.

A source close to the discussions, which went on until early on Wednesday, told Reuters Temer was considering a shorter time limit for the spending ceiling, until the end of the next presidential term at the start of 2023.

Temer rejected the idea of making the ceiling permanent to facilitate the approval of the constitutional amendment, seen as unpopular with ordinary Brazilians.

The amendment requires three-fifths approval from the legislature. A web of laws and constitutional requirements has made most of government spending mandatory, including payrolls and investments in education and healthcare.

Failure to control spending growth could send Brazil's public debt to nearly 80 percent of gross domestic product by next year, from 67.5 percent currently, ratings agency Fitch said in May as it downgraded Brazil further into junk territory.

(Writing by Silvio Cascione; Editing by Daniel Flynn and James Dalgleish)
(Recasts with Rousseff comments on restrictions)

By Anthony Boadle and Lisandra Paraguassu

BRASILIA, June 14 (Reuters) - Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff said on Tuesday that the country's interim government has suspended her use of Air Force planes and will no longer pay her hotel bills.

The leftist leader, who was suspended one month ago to stand trial in the Senate for allegedly breaking budget laws, said the moves are meant to limit her ability to move around the country and get out her message that her impeachment was illegal.

"I have no right to use an Air Force plane to travel," she told foreign reporters, criticizing interim President Michel Temer's decision to only allow her on a government plane to fly to her hometown of Porto Alegre.

She said the government had refused to pay her hotel bill in Sao Paulo during a recent visit.

And it gets worse.

When an employee of the cavernous modernistic presidential residence where she lives with her mother went to buy food supplies 10 days ago he found the credit card had been blocked, a Rousseff aide said.

The card was restored a few days later, along with the presidential news clipping service that had been stopped, after Brazilian media reported on it.

A flower supply to decorate the residence to receive visitors has been dropped, the aide said. He said Rousseff's security staff had not been reduced, but the Temer government has moved to cut her staff of 30, and she lost her closest aide, Giles Azevedo, this week.

"They are petty-minded things," said Rousseff, who accuses her former vice president Temer of plotting to replace her with a conservative government intent on rolling back social advances made during the 13 years her Workers Party was in power.

She criticized Brazilian media for biased coverage of her ouster. "I have been taken off the air by some TV channels."

Rousseff's impeachment was fueled by the sprawling corruption scandal surrounding state-run oil company Petrobras and Brazil's worst recession in decades, both of which undermined her popularity.

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If the Senate convicts her in a final vote expected in mid-August, Rousseff will be definitively removed from office and Temer will serve out her term through 2018.

Political risk analysts such as the Eurasia consultancy give Rousseff only a 20 percent chance of holding onto office, but the former urban guerrilla member when Brazil was under a military dictatorship has not given up the fight.

Rousseff said she is preparing a letter to Brazilians that will offer a new political pact that could include a referendum on calling early elections if she survives the impeachment trial. She hopes the letter could sway undecided senators.

She will tour states in the poor Northeast of Brazil this week, but by charter plane paid for by the Workers Party.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Andrew Hay)
By Anthony Boadle and Lisandra Paraguassu BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff said on Tuesday that the country's interim government has suspended her use of Air Force planes and will no longer pay her hotel bills. The leftist leader, who was suspended one month ago to stand trial in the Senate for allegedly breaking budget laws, said the moves are meant to limit her ability to move around the country and get out her message that her impeachment was illegal. "I have no right to use an Air Force plane to travel," she told foreign reporters, criticizing interim President Michel Temer's decision to only allow her on a government plane to fly to her hometown of Porto Alegre. She said the government had refused to pay her hotel bill in Sao Paulo during a recent visit. And it gets worse. When an employee of the cavernous modernistic presidential residence where she lives with her mother went to buy food supplies 10 days ago he found the credit card had been blocked, a Rousseff aide said. The card was restored a few days later, along with the presidential news clipping service that had been stopped, after Brazilian media reported on it. A flower supply to decorate the residence to receive visitors has been dropped, the aide said. He said Rousseff's security staff had not been reduced, but the Temer government has moved to cut her staff of 30, and she lost her closest aide, Giles Azevedo, this week. "They are petty-minded things," said Rousseff, who accuses her former vice president Temer of plotting to replace her with a conservative government intent on rolling back social advances made during the 13 years her Workers Party was in power. She criticized Brazilian media for biased coverage of her ouster. "I have been taken off the air by some TV channels." Rousseff's impeachment was fueled by the sprawling corruption scandal surrounding state-run oil company Petrobras and Brazil's worst recession in decades, both of which undermined her popularity. If the Senate convicts her in a final vote expected in mid-August, Rousseff will be definitively removed from office and Temer will serve out her term through 2018. Political risk analysts such as the Eurasia consultancy give Rousseff only a 20 percent chance of holding onto office, but the former urban guerrilla member when Brazil was under a military dictatorship has not given up the fight. Rousseff said she is preparing a letter to Brazilians that will offer a new political pact that could include a referendum on calling early elections if she survives the impeachment trial. She hopes the letter could sway undecided senators. She will tour states in the poor Northeast of Brazil this week, but by charter plane paid for by the Workers Party. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Editing by Andrew Hay)
Shark Week begins June 26 on Discovery, and, once again, film director Eli Roth will host the networks nightly aftershow, Shark After Dark. But first, hell emcee June 19s official countdown special, Sharktacular, which serves as both a preview of the 2016 lineup and a retrospective of the programming event, now in its 28th year.



We asked Roth to tease five dont-miss moments from Sharktacular. His picks:

 A great white breaching photobomb (watch it above)



 Footage of Deep Blue, possibly the largest white shark ever filmed

 A spinner shark knocking a paddleboarder off his board and into the ocean

 A tiger shark mistaking a camera for food, carrying the camera and cameraman away

 The top five greatest sharks from Shark Week history!



Sharktacular premieres June 19 at 10 p.m. on Discovery.



Here is the lineup of new Shark Week specials for 2016, with plot summaries from the Discovery Channel:



Tiger Beach  airing Sunday, June 26, at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Dr. Neil Hammerschlag is the worlds leading tiger shark expert. Now, hes on a quest to answer what he calls the trifecta of tiger shark science: where do these giant sharks mate, where do the pregnant females gestate, and where do they give birth? He hopes to find answers by tagging and tracking 40 individuals across a shallow area off the Bahamas called Tiger Beach. Second only to great whites, the tiger sharks killing power and voracious appetite is legendary  and Neil has to deal with some aggressive sharks while on expedition.

The Return of Monster Mako  airing Sunday, June 26, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Professional shark tagger Keith Poe, and marine biologists Greg Stuntz, Matt Ajemain and their team use state-of-the-art technology to try to document a live-predation of a thousand-pound mako shark  what fishermen call a grander. Granders are enormous makos that make a kind of transformation when they reach 10 feet and 1000 pounds  they become more secretive and begin to hunt bigger prey, like seals. And theyre hard to find on the East Coast  until Joe Romeiro and team jump in the water after dark and come face to face with them.

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Isle of Jaws  airing Sunday, June 26, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

In 2016, award-winning shark cinematographer Andy Casagrande discovered that great white sharks had strangely and completely disappeared from the Neptune Islands off South Australia. Where did the sharks go? Searching west along the known great white migration route, he stumbles upon an incredible discovery  a concentration of all male great white sharks off an uncharted island. Andy calls in marine biologist Dr. Jonathan Werry, and together they get up close and personal with a dozen large great whites in the hopes of solving two of the most closely guarded of all the great whites secrets where they mate and where they have their young. Within this program, viewers will be able to immerse themselves into the adventure with virtual reality by using the DiscoveryVR app.

Shallow Water Invasion  airing Monday, June 27, at 8 p.m. ET/PT

Using a self-propelled shark cage called The Explorer, marine biologists Mauricio Hoyos and Grant Johnson will investigate a recent discovery at Guadalupe Island  great whites moving into shallow waters at night. This movement shows that sharks entering shallow water are normal behavior  which would account for some of the shark encounters happening with greater frequency in the shallows along coastlines.

Jaws of the Deep  airing Monday, June 27, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Marine biologist Greg Skomal and the REMUS SharkCam team return to Guadalupe to find the worlds largest great white shark, Deep Blue. This time, they deploy two robot subs: one that dives to 300 feet, and another that goes to 2000. Together, they build a profile of how the great white uses the entire water column. The team uncovers hunting techniques and strategies great whites use to ambush their prey  and film a great whites attack on the sub!

Sharks Among Us  airing Monday, June 27, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Shark encounters are increasing around the globe. The solutions to deal with the publics growing anxiety range from culling to using nets and drumlins  all of which kill sharks. Dr. Craig OConnell believes he has developed a system that will prove once and for all that sharks and people can peacefully coexist  and live!

Wrath of a Great White Serial Killer  airing Tuesday, June 28, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

A newcomer has taken residence in the waters of the Pacific Northwest the great white shark. Shark expert Ralph Collier and Brandon McMillan seek answers to the main questions in this case  why are great white sharks traveling so far north and why are these encounters focused on this one particular place?

Air Jaws: Night Stalker  airing Tuesday, June 28, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Famed shark photographer Chris Fallows embarks on his 8th Air Jaws adventure with shark expert Jeff Kurr and shark biologist Neil Hammerschlag as they discover how great white sharks hunt in total darkness. Narrated by Lena Headey (Game of Thrones), it turns out that great whites can hunt effectively with or without any sun or moonlight  but how do they do that?

Deadliest Shark  airing Wednesday, June 29, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Using cutting-edge research and thrilling historical evidence, Dr. Michael Domeier and Dr. Barry Bruce go looking for rare oceanic white tip sharks, to see if the species deserve the reputation as the Worlds Deadliest Shark. History says they are  and when the scientists dive in the Bahamas and off Hawaii, theyre spooked by this very dangerous shark.

Sharks Vs. Dolphins: Face Off  airing Wednesday, June 29, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Sharks and dolphins have shared the ocean for ages, but only recently, scientists have begun to understand the true nature of the relationship between these two masters of the sea. Its hostile, and dangerous, mainly for dolphins. Dolphins would rather eat fish and swim with humans; sharks would rather eat dolphins and anything they can sink their teeth into. Dr. Mike Heithaus and his team bring new research that may solve why sharks attack dolphins far more than we ever knew.

Nuclear Sharks  airing Thursday, June 30, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Grandson to legendary underwater explorer and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau, Philippe Cousteau, and his wife Ashlan Gorse Cousteau travel with marine biologist Luke Tipple to Bikini Atoll to explore a marine environment once destroyed by nuclear testing during the Cold War. The nuclear devices detonated across the atoll vaporized two islands and destroyed everything living. Today, nature has proved resilient and restored the marine ecosystem, re-populating the atoll with reef sharks. But since reef sharks are considered non-migratory, where did they come from?

Jungle Shark  airing Thursday, June 30, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Marine biologist Dr. Craig OConnell and Andy Casagrande travel up the Serena River in the rainforests of Costa Rica to try and find out why young bull sharks swim up the river, and how they avoid the 12-14 American crocodiles living there. OConnell deduces the sharks smell the crocs and creates a first-of-its-kind croc scent-based bull shark repellant  and SHARK WEEK reveals a possible important discovery that could save human lives.

Shark Bait  airing Friday, July 1, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Theres been a war going on between seal and great whites for millions of years. Now theres a new battleground on the map called Cape Cod. Its different in every way from the usual rocky islands where sharks and seals usually face off in other parts of the world. The great whites have had to learn new ways to hunt seals here. Dr. Greg Skomal and his team wonder, what are the sharks doing here, how do they get here, and how do more sharks learn of Cape Cods bounty of seals? And more importantly: if the number of seals and sharks continue to increase at the present rate, whats the future?

Sharktopia  airing Friday, July 1, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Famed marine biologist and shark expert Barbara Block has been studying the white sharks off of California for more than 27 years. Now, with breakthrough camera technology and tracking technology, shes giving scientists and viewers a portrait of a formerly unseen domain. She calls it the Blue Serengeti  its a vast, rich, and hidden world, now more visible thanks to new camera tags deployed on both predator and prey.

Sharksanity  airing Saturday, July 2, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

We scour the seas to bring you the greatest moments from Shark Week 2016! Only the closest calls, biggest bites, and greatest gadgets made the cut! Then, were revealing your top picks for the best of Shark Week history.

The Killing Games  airing Sunday, July 3, at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Dr. Jonathan Werry and shark cinematographer Andy Casagrande travel to a special location in South Australia to research a new great white hunting strategy, where they no longer wait for seals to enter the ocean  they come out of the water and snatch them from the shore! But is this unique to Australia? It isnt; sharks are smarter than we thought and can learn new things when theres food involved.
London (AFP) - A vote to leave the European Union in a referendum next week would trigger an emergency "Brexit budget" of tax hikes and spending cuts, Britain's finance minister warned Wednesday.

George Osborne, who is campaigning to remain within the 28-member bloc, announced that schools, hospitals and the army would all have their funding slashed if the pro-Brexit side prevails.

The intervention comes as polls indicate an uptick in support for the "Leave" side days ahead of the June 23 vote.

"Quitting the EU would hit investment, hurt families and harm the British economy," the Chancellor said in released remarks.

"I would have a responsibility to try to restore stability to the public finances and that would mean an emergency Budget where we would have to increase taxes and cut spending."

Osborne warned that leaving the EU would create a 30 billion hole in national finances.

In response, the basic rate of income tax would be raised 10 percent, inheritance tax would be hiked, and the education, defence, and National Health Service (NHS) budgets would all be cut, he said.

Osborne, a member of the ruling Conservative party of Prime Minister David Cameron, was backed up in his announcement by Alistair Darling, a former Chancellor from the rival Labour party who managed Britain's finances during the global economic crisis.

"I am even more worried now than I was in 2008," Darling said in released remarks.

As the campaign enters its final stretch, a poll by ComRes showed the race on a knife edge, with support for remaining at 46 percent and the pro-Brexit side on 45 percent.

This contrasts with a result from the same pollster just one month earlier in which the pro-remain side had an 11 point lead.

But Osborne's warning was dismissed by a pro-Leave Labour lawmaker, John Mann.

"This is more scare tactics from the Remain side," Mann said.

"If we vote to Leave and take control of our money we will have more to spend on the priorities that matter to us like the NHS."
LONDON (Reuters) - Prince William will appear on the July cover of Attitude speaking out against homophobia, the first time a British royal has been photographed for the front of a gay publication, the magazine said on Wednesday. William is seen grinning next to the headline "Making History", and his quote "No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason". The magazine - which usually features athletes, models and other stars under its main logo - said the prince had posed for the shot after meeting its editor and a group of gay and transgender people at Kensington Palace. William, whose brother Harry won praise in 2013 for saving a soldier in his regiment from a gay hate attack, is quoted telling anyone being bullied for their sexuality to report it and get support. "Don't put up with it - speak to a trusted adult, a friend, a teacher, Childline ... or some other service and get the help you need. You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of," he said. Attitude, which calls itself "the UK's best-selling gay magazine", said William had invited it last month "to bring members of the LGBT+ community to Kensington Palace to listen to their experience of bullying". Attitude editor Matthew Todd said he had regularly met the parents of children who had taken their lives after being bullied over their sexuality. "I am very happy that the future King of the United Kingdom agrees this must stop and I would urge parents in particular to raise their voices in their communities to ensure that every school protects  really protects  all children," Todd said. William, the queen's grandson, said in April that he wanted to foster a more modern and relevant monarchy. The magazine, whose print edition goes on sale on June 22, went to press before Sunday's shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, where 49 people were killed. (Reporting By Marie-Louise Gumuchian; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
A British Muslim cleric who once preached that gays should be put to death has left Australia after his visa was cancelled, with authorities Wednesday saying it is unlikely he will ever be allowed back.

Farrokh Sekaleshfar was in Sydney as the guest speaker of an Islamic centre for the holy month of Ramadan.

But it emerged this week that in a 2013 lecture he suggested that death was a "compassionate" sentence for homosexuals, sparking an outcry in the wake of the Orlando gay nightclub killings.

Sekaleshfar flew out on Tuesday evening, coinciding with his visa being revoked.

"I made the decision last night to cancel his visa," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told Sky News.

"It will be very difficult, if not impossible, for him to return back to our country.

"We're not going to tolerate people who want to come here to preach hate and we will cancel visas, we will act as quickly as humanly possibly where we're made aware of radical views," he added.

The Australian newspaper revealed Sekaleshfar's presence in Sydney as the world reeled in shock after 49 people were killed by Omar Mateen when he opened fire in a popular gay Florida club on Sunday.

US President Barack Obama branded it an act of terror and hate.

The paper reported that during a lecture at the University of Michigan in 2013, which is available online, Sekaleshfar said "death is the sentence" when asked about homosexuality, adding: "Out of compassion, let's get rid of them now."

- No connection -

In a rambling interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation before leaving Sydney, Sekaleshfar denied his comments could be connected to the Florida massacre, and called Mateen "an animal".

"No speech, especially when you're not inciting any hatred and it was given three years ago, that would never lead to such a massacre," he said.

"That animal, they are connecting me to him (Omar Mateen). Not at all. He was an ISIS sympathiser, a follower of Baghdadi, these people are criminals," he added, referring to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

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The cleric also said he respected any action taken by the Australian government.

"But I just want to give that assurance that it's not a theme, my themes don't revolve around this area," he said, referring to punishing homosexuals.

Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten said Sekaleshfar should never have received a visa in the first place.

"Let's be clear -- this government has allowed a visa to be issued to someone with despicable and abhorrent views of gay hate ... homophobia of the most violent and vile nature," he told reporters.

"The government needs to explain how the fellow got in here to begin with."

Dutton defended the cleric's arrival, saying it was "difficult for the department to go through the Facebook or social media postings of millions of millions of people each year who seek visas".

"In relation to this matter when the particular information was brought to our attention, we acted quickly," he said.
Tehran (AFP) - Iran on Wednesday accused a British-Iranian woman arrested in April of seeking to overthrow the Tehran government, an allegation dismissed by her husband as "complete nonsense".

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an employee of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was accused of being "involved in the soft overthrow of the Islamic republic through... her membership in foreign companies and institutions," Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said, quoted by the Mizan news agency.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, was arrested at Tehran airport on April 3 as she prepared to return to Britain with her daughter after visiting family in Iran, her husband Richard Ratcliffe said last week.

Iran does not recognise dual citizenship and, if put on trial, she will be considered an Iranian.

According to a Guards statement, Zaghari-Ratcliffe was "identified and arrested after massive intelligence operations" as one of "the heads of foreign-linked hostile networks".

She was alleged to have conducted "various missions... leading her criminal activities under the direction of media and intelligence services of foreign governments".

"Further investigations are being done and her case has been sent to Tehran for legal proceedings," the statement added.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe is being held in a furnished room in a prison in the southeastern city of Kerman, it added.

Her husband, who last spoke to his wife on May 30 and has said she was held in solitary confinement for 45 days, on Wednesday scoffed at the charges levelled against her.

- Raised at 'highest levels' -

"It's complete nonsense. It's taken them 70 days to come up with this, and it's still not clear what it means anyway," he told AFP.

"Her father has appointed a lawyer. The next step is to discuss with her father what the lawyer knows. And I'll probably go to the Iranian embassy," he added.

Their two-year-old daughter, whose British passport was taken away, has stayed in Iran under the care of her grandparents.

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Britain's Foreign Office said it has raised the case of Zaghari-Ratcliffe "repeatedly and at the highest levels" and will continue to do so at "every available opportunity".

"We have also been supporting Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family since we were first made aware of her arrest. Minister for the Middle East, Tobias Ellwood, has met personally with the family to reassure them that we will continue to do all we can on this case."

The husband, who said Zaghari-Ratcliffe was initially told a "passport problem" was the cause of her being detained at Tehran airport, organised a rally outside the Iranian embassy in London on Friday calling for her release.

Her employer, the charitable arm of financial information and news giant Thomson Reuters, coordinates training programmes for journalists around the world.

Chief executive Monique Villa said Wednesday that Zaghari-Ratcliffe had travelled to Iran on a family holiday.

"Nazanin has been working at the Thomson Reuters Foundation for the past four years as a project coordinator in charge of grants applications and training, and had no dealing with Iran in her professional capacity," she said.

"The Thomson Reuters Foundation has no dealings with Iran whatsoever, does not operate and does not plan to operate in the country.

"We remain in close contact with Nazanin's family and her husband Richard, as well as with the British Foreign Office. We are assessing the situation as it evolves and hope the matter will be resolved as soon as possible."

In 2012, an Iranian court found the Reuters news agency guilty of "propaganda against the regime", and "publishing false information in an effort to disturb public opinion" in a report portraying female ninja students as assassins.

Iran withdrew the press credentials of all staff at Reuters' Tehran bureau over the story and suspended the work of the news agency, part of the New York-based Thomson Reuters group.

Reuters was given permission to reopen the bureau the following year but it has yet to do so.
Broadway's biggest stars are rallying together to support the LGBT community in wake of the Orlando gay nightclub shooting.



A slew of theater and Hollywood stars  dubbed Broadway for Orlando  will record a cover of Jackie DeShannon's 1965 hit "What the World Needs Now Is Love," and the track will be available for download on Monday. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from sales of the song  available to preorder for $1.99 on BroadwayRecords.com  will go to benefit the LGBT Center of Central Florida.



Sara Bareilles, Roger Bart, Kristen Bell, Wayne Brady, Matthew Broderick, Michael Cerveris, Fran Drescher, Gloria Estefan, Sutton Foster, Whoopi Goldberg, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Joel Grey, Sean Hayes, Heather Headley, Megan Hilty, Bill Irwin, Carole King, Jane Krakowski, Nathan Lane, Zachary Levi, Andrea Martin, Audra McDonald, Idina Menzel, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jessie Mueller, Rosie OaDonnell, Kelli O'Hara, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosie Perez, Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Chita Rivera, Lillias White, Marissa Jaret Winokur, BD Wong and more stars will join their voices together in New York, Los Angeles and Miami on Wednesday.





Broadway Stars to Unite to Record 'What the World Needs Now Is Love' to Raise Money for LGBT Community in Wake of Orlando Massacre| Tony Awards, Audra McDonald, Bernadette Peters, Billy Porter, Carole King, Gloria Estefan, Idina Menzel, Jane Krakowski, Jessie Mueller, Joel Grey, Kristen Bell, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Matthew Broderick, Megan Hilty, Nathan Lane, Rosie O'Donnell, Rosie Perez, Sara Bareilles, Sarah Jessica Parker, Seth Rudetsky, Sutton Foster, Wayne Brady, Whoopi Goldberg, Zachary Levi









SiriusXM Radio host Seth Rudetsky and his husband, producer James Wesley, decided to organize the benefit single  which was inspired by the 1985 charity track "We Are the World"  on Monday morning and moved quickly.



"The Broadway community was so terribly shaken and devastated by the horrific tragedy in Orlando. Everyone wanted to do something as quickly as possible that would truly make a difference," said Rudetsky. "On Monday, my husband James woke me up at 7:30 a.m. and suggested we rally our friends and colleagues to do a 'We Are the World'-type recording and raise money for the victims and their families. We started making calls, and suddenly we had tons of theater actors along with an orchestra and the services of a fully-staffed recording studio, all willing to donating their time and talent.



"Our community of artists has banded together as we always do to show we can end this cycle of violence and intolerance. Love WILL prevail!a



The formation and release of Broadway for Orlando comes just days after the shooter, Omar Mateen, entered the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, opening fire, killing 49 and injuring 53 on Sunday morning.



Sunday night, theater stars honored the victims and their families at the 70th annual Tony Awards in New York City.









Host James Corden addressed the tragedy  the deadliest mass shooting in United States history  when he opened the show, saying: "All we can say is you are not on your own right now, your tragedy is our tragedy. Theater is a place where every race, creed, sexuality and gender is equal, is embraced and is loved. Hate will never win. Together we have to make sure of that ... Tonight's show stands as a symbol and a celebration of that principle."



And the night's biggest winner, Hamilton writer-lyricist-star Lin-Manuel Miranda, used his tear-jerking speech as a platform to promote love and acceptance.



"When senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised, not one day, the show is proof that history remembers we lived through times that hate and fear seem stronger," he said. "We rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer and love is love is love is love is love is cannot be killed or swept aside."
Burning Man Festival is heading to Europe reports Billboard.

The news was first announced by the Dutch edition of Esquire, which reports that the famous festival will be heading to Amsterdam in 2017.

If the reports are true, it will be the first time the festival has headed over to Europe from its home in the US.

Tickets for the event, titled "Where The Sheep Sleep" and due to take place July 29 to July 31 2017, will only be available for those who are registered in the Burning Man Netherlands Facebook group.

Burning Man organizers have not commented on the news.
By Curtis Skinner

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The California judge facing criticism over his sentencing of a former Stanford University swimmer convicted of sexual assault was removed on Tuesday from a new sexual assault case after complaints by prosecutors, officials said.

"We lack confidence that Judge (Aaron) Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient," Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. He called the move "rare and carefully considered."

Rosen cited the six-month jail sentence Persky handed down to Brock Turner, 20, earlier this month following the former swimmer's conviction for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman after a party in January 2015. Prosecutors sought a six-year prison term.

Turner was convicted of assault with intent to commit rape, penetration of an intoxicated and unconscious person. Under California law, those charges are not considered rape because they did not involve penile penetration.

Stacey Capps, chief trial deputy for the District Attorney's office, said the new case was reassigned to another judge and a hearing was held on Tuesday afternoon. She said that the victim was "particularly vulnerable" factored into the move.

Capps said in the new case, Cecil Webb stands accused of touching the vagina and breast of a woman who was anesthetized ahead of a surgery at a Santa Clara hospital in November 2014.

Webb has pleaded not guilty and his attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.

A juror in the Stanford University sexual assault case wrote to Judge Persky saying he was disappointed and "vehemently" disagreed with the June 2 sentence, according to the letter, which was posted online late on Monday by the Palo Alto Weekly newspaper.

"I expected that this case would serve as a very strong deterrent to on-campus assaults but with the ridiculously lenient sentence, I am afraid that it makes a mockery of the whole trial," the juror wrote, concluding the letter with "shame on you."

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Persky is prohibited from commenting on the case because Turner is appealing his conviction, a spokesman for Santa Clara County Superior Court has said.

Turner's sentencing drew criticism after the publication of a letter the victim read in court, detailing the devastation she felt from the assault. A Stanford law professor is leading a drive to gather signatures for a petition to remove Persky.

(Reporting by Laila Kearney in New York and Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Bill Trott and Cynthia Osterman)
Is it hot in here or is it just us? (Photo: Getty Images)

Looking hot, Jen!



Yesterday afternoon, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux were photographed while out and about in New York City on a picture-perfect day  sunny and somewhat breezy with temperatures in the low- to mid- 80s. The couple, who just returned from vacationing in the Bahamas, were dressed comfortably and causally during their stroll. Theroux was wearing a sleeveless T-shirt with skinny jeans, while Aniston opted for a long-sleeved trench coat and a scarf (or two) wrapped around her neck.

Yes, a coat and scarf in 80-degree weather.

Mrs. Theroux is not the only person who doesnt appear to be fazed by extra layers in the heat. In fact, researchers from Tel Aviv University and Harvard University investigated the possible reason that the Bedouins  people who live in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt  drape themselves in black robes while spending their days in the sweltering desert sun. As it turns out, the study authors discovered, wearing a black robe wasnt any hotter than donning a white one, and any additional solar heat was absorbed by the robe before it had a chance to reach the skin.

A bundled-up Jennifer Aniston seems unfazed by the 80-degree weather in New York City. (Photo: FameFlynet)

So, do we have different internal thermostats?



In general, were supposed to have similar temperatures, so people shouldnt be running extra cold or hot, Kristine Arthur, MD, an internist at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif., tells Yahoo Beauty. But it certainly doesnt mean theres a problem if someone tends to wear a little more clothing or a little less  its really more of an issue if its affecting a persons quality of life.

However, if an individual feels chilly most of the time, it may be signaling a possible health issue. For example, he or she may be too thin or underweight, have poor circulation, have hormonal issues, or be dealing with a thyroid problem. If you have an underactive or sluggish thyroid  which is a lot more common than an overactive thyroid  those people usually complain about feeling cold, adds Arthur.

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In the most severe cases, someone could be suffering from Raynauds disease, a rare autoimmune disorder that causes blood vessels to narrow, leaving certain areas of the body (usually fingers and toes) cold or numb.



But chances are, ones perceived body temperature is connected with Mother Nature. People really acclimate to their surroundings after a certain time period, concludes Arthur. If you are living in Southern California, like where I live, we get used to hot weather. If it gets into the 60s, were going to put a sweater on. Maybe in Jennifer Anistons situation, shes used to the weather in Southern California, so when she visits New York City, she just bundles up a little bit.

Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.


Vancouver will see the biggest growth in overnight tourist visits this year, according to a new outlook report that predicts a strong overall year for tourism in Canada.

A favorable exchange rate coupled with low gas prices are expected to drive up domestic tourism as well as attract more visits from the US and overseas compared to the year previous, predicts the Conference Board of Canada's Canadian Tourism Research Institute.

Overnight visits to Canada from the US and overseas are expected to spike by 5.1 and 5.2 percent respectively in 2016, while domestic tourism is projected to increase 2 percent.

The report also offers a detailed forecast on tourism stats for nine major Canadian cities and predicts that Vancouver will enjoy the biggest boost in visits this year at 4 percent compared to last year, followed by Montreal (3.4 percent) and Toronto (3.3 percent).
Ottawa (AFP) - Nearly half of the Afghans captured by Canadian troops in 2010 and 2011 had no links to the Taliban and were illegally held far longer than Ottawa has publicly acknowledged, military police said Wednesday.

In an open letter published by La Presse newspaper, the police officers called for accountability for the wrongful detention and mistreatment of Afghan farmers and others who "found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time in the middle of urban warfare."

A military police complaints commission launched an investigation last November into the allegations first raised by an interpreter and Canada's former ambassador to Afghanistan. It continues.

The police officers said they want the true version of events to be made public and for senior officials to testify in front of the complaints commission.

The police officers who offered corroborating evidence said they witnessed "reprehensible acts" committed against prisoners at the Canadian base at Kandahar province.

Military police were ordered to "terrorize" the detainees to make them more amenable to interrogation, they said.

Detainees, they said, would be awakened in the middle of the night, visibly "frightened and in a panic" to find up to 50 soldiers in their cell.

Almost half would turn out to be villagers or farmers with no ties to the Taliban insurgency, and were released.

But this came only after being held for up to two months, they said, far longer than the average 48-96 hours of detention claimed by the Canadian government of the day.

Canada also had a secret deal with Afghan forces who would claim to have the detainees in their custody, they added.

"Almost 50 percent of the prisoners held by military police were just people like you and me, husbands, fathers, farmers, who had nothing to apologize for. Why and how could this contempt for our laws and Canadian values have occurred," the police officers said in the letter.

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The mass roundups, they concluded, were motivated by a desire to kill or incarcerate the largest possible number of Taliban and bring a swift end to the conflict in which 162 Canadians died and more than 2,000 were wounded.

The wrongful imprisonment, however, just aggravated tensions with local villagers, causing bitter resentment against the Canadian troops, they said.

In parliament, Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said: "We take this very seriously. Our government stays committed to upholding our Canadian and international law obligations.

"My officials will be looking into these allegations," said Sajjan, who deployed to Afghanistan in 2006, 2009 and 2010.

The opposition New Democratic Party called for a public inquiry.

"What we have here is a potential stain on Canada's international reputation through possible violations of international law and also a stain on the reputation of all those Canadians who went there and served in good faith. So we need a full independent public inquiry to determine what actually happened," NDP MP Randall Garrison told reporters.
Cannabis Investor Magazine June 2016 Issue Available

ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2016 / CANNAINVESTOR Magazine is pleased to announce its June Top 20 Cannabis Stocks and Cannabis Stocks to Watch lists are now available! Please visit www.cannainvestormag.com to view the lists at no charge.

CANNAINVESTOR Magazine is also pleased to announce that its June magazine issue is now available! We invite all cannabis investors, analysts, entrepreneurs, and the media to subscribe at no cost at www.cannainvestormag.com. The June issue is the sophomore issue of our monthly magazine and will be available in digital and print forms.

The CANNAINVESTOR Magazine June issue will highlight these industry companies: CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (OTCQB:CLSH), OWC Pharmaceutical Research Corp. (OWCP), Indoor Harvest, Corp. (INQD), FutureLand Corp. (FUTL), and MyDx, Inc. (MYDX).

Contact:

Gracie Moreno, Editor-In-Chief

graciela@cannainvestormag.com

1-888-575-1254, Ext. 3

SOURCE: CANNAINVESTOR Magazine
OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2016 / Carube Copper Corp. (CUC.V) (the "Company") announced today that, subject to TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval, it intends to raise an aggregate of $500,000 by way of a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of up to 5,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.10 per Unit. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole such warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall be exercisable into one Common Share at a price of $0.15 per Common Share for a period of two years from the closing date of the Offering.

The proceeds of the Offering will be used for gold and copper exploration and for general working capital purposes. The actual allocation of net proceeds may vary depending on future operations or unforeseen events or opportunities. The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or before June 30, 2016 or such other date as the Company may determine (the "Closing Date").

Finders who source funds may earn a cash commission of up to 7% of the gross proceeds raised by such finder and warrants ("Finder Warrants") entitling the finder to purchase that number of Common Shares equal to 7% of the number of Units sold by such finder.

Existing Shareholder Exemption

Depending on demand and regulatory requirements, a portion of the Offering may be made in accordance with the provisions of the existing shareholder exemption (the "Existing Shareholder Exemption") contained in Multilateral CSA Notice 45-313 and the various corresponding blanket orders and rules of participating jurisdictions, as well as the amendments to Rule 45-501- Ontario Prospectus and Registration Exemptions in Ontario. In addition to conducting the Offering pursuant to the Existing Shareholder Exemption, it will also be conducted pursuant to the "Accredited Investor" and other available prospectus exemptions.

The Company has set June 14, 2016 as the record date (the "Record Date") for the purpose of determining existing shareholders entitled to purchase the Units pursuant to the Existing Shareholder Exemption. Subscribers using the Existing Shareholder Exemption will need to complete a subscription agreement and represent in writing that they meet certain requirements of the Existing Shareholder Exemption, including that they were, on the Record Date, a shareholder of the Company, and will continue to be a shareholder of the Company until the closing of the Offering. The aggregate acquisition cost to a subscriber under the Existing Shareholder Exemption cannot exceed $15,000 in a twelve month period unless the subscriber has obtained advice from a registered investment dealer in their jurisdiction regarding the suitability of the investment. Subscribers relying on the Existing Shareholder Exemption will make a representation to the Company of this in writing. In the event that subscriptions received for the Offerings based on available exemptions exceed the maximum Offering of $500,000, the Company may seek to increase the size of the Offering and obtain Exchange approval for such an increase. In the alternative, should the Company not seek to increase the size of the Offering the Units will be allocated pro rata amongst all subscribers.

The Company also reminds investors interested in participating under the Existing Shareholder Exemption that in order to participate under that exemption, expressions of interest must be received by the Company by the close of business on June 21, 2016. If you are an existing shareholder of the Company who held Common Shares as of June 14, 2016 and are interested in participating in the Offering, you should contact Darrell Munro by email at dmunro@carubecopper.com. Orders will be processed by the Company on a first-come first-served basis, such that it is possible that a subscription received from a shareholder may not be accepted by the Company if the Offering is over-subscribed. Any person who becomes a shareholder of the Company after the Record Date shall not be entitled to participate in the Offering under the Existing Security Holder Exemption. It is anticipated that officers and directors of the Company may participate in the Offering.

In other corporate developments; pursuant to the Company's Restricted Share Unit Compensation Plan, the Company has granted 315,948 Restricted Share Units (RSUs) to certain officers and consultants at $0.10 per RSU. These RSUs will vest on June 14, 2017 and can then be exchanged for common shares of the Company on a one for one basis.

Contacts

Jeff Ackert, President and CEO  1-613-839-3258  jackert@carubecopper.com

Vern Rampton, VP of Corporate Development  1-613-839-3258  vrampton@carubecopper.com

Alar Soever, Chairman  1-705-682-9297  asoever@carubecopper.com

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Carube Copper Corp. (CUC.V) is a Canadian exploration company focused on the exploration and development of copper and gold projects in Jamaica and Canada. In Jamaica, two projects, totalling 188 square kilometres in area, are the subject of separate joint venture agreements with OZ Minerals Limited, an Australian copper-gold producer with a market capitalization of approximately $1.5B. Carube Copper holds a 100% interest in two other nearby projects, totalling 80 square kilometres. In Canada, Carube Copper holds a 100% interest in three porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum properties, totalling 593 square kilometres within the Tertiary-aged Cascade Magmatic Arc in southwestern British Columbia. Exploration continues on these properties with the goal of joint-venturing them to larger exploration and mining companies. Carube Copper continues to seek opportunities in Canada and the Caribbean for acquisition and development.

DISCLAIMER & FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, and by their very nature involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on currently available information, Carube Copper Corp. provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Factors which cause results to differ materially are set out in the Company's documents filed on SEDAR. Undue reliance should not be placed on "forward looking statements."

IMPORTANT NOTICE: By reference herewith, Carube Copper incorporates into this release the entire disclaimer set forth on its website at http://carubecopper.com/disclaimer.htm.

SOURCE: Carube Copper Corp.
* Assets rebound, Brexit worries seen causing more swings * MSCI decision on China improves equities market sentiment * New tax cut weighs on Romanian asset prices * Czech crown hits weakest level vs euro since October (Adds Czech crown hitting low) By Sandor Peto and Bartosz Lada BUDAPEST/WARSAW, June 15 (Reuters) - Central European assets mostly firmed on Wednesday, rebounding after a plunge the previous day prompted by concerns over the outcome of Britain's June 23 referendum on whether to stay in the European Union or leave.

Equities were helped by MSCI's overnight decision not to add Chinese shares to its emerging market indices, a move that could have led to the selling of equities elsewhere to make way for Chinese names, analysts said.

But regional markets are likely to remain on a roller-coaster in the coming days amid concerns about slower economic growth if British voters decide to quit the EU, a scenario known as "Brexit".

The zloty and the forint rebounded from three-week lows against the euro, firming 0.4 and 0.3 percent, respectively, by 1259 GMT.

But implied volatilities on the zloty stayed near Tuesday's four-year high and near 8-1/2-month highs on the forint, indicating expectations for further swings.

The crown touched its weakest levels against the euro since October, even though trading at 27.072 it remains near the Czech central bank's cap at levels next to 27.

"This seems to be all about Brexit and players on the market found the crown again," one player said, adding that euro selling interest would prevent a further weakening.

The leu also underperformed, trading near Tuesday's 4-1/2-month lows against the euro, due to worries triggered by the Romanian upper house of parliament's vote to cut social security contributions in 2017.

The vote adds to worries over the budget and domestic demand, fuelled by tax cuts and wage hikes ahead of Romania's parliamentary elections late this year. The lower house has yet to vote on the issue.

Story continues

The 2017 budget deficit may swell to 5 percent of economic output if the measure is passed, analysts at ING's Romanian unit said in a note.

"While we would still expect economic logic to prevail and talk of easing to be scaled down, we underscore that implementing such decisions would be materially negative for RON assets and Romania's macro fundamentals over the medium term," they added.

Worries about fiscal loosening and a growing burden on banks have also kept Polish assets under pressure since last year, boosting the risk of credit rating downgrades.

Poland's 10-year bond yield dropped 4 basis points to 3.26 percent after testing January highs, while Hungary's corresponding yield rose 4 basis points to 3.38 percent.

Budapest's main equities index led gains in the region, firming 1.7 percent, after hitting 3-month lows on Tuesday.

CEE SNAPSHO AT 1459 CET MARKETS T CURRENCIES Latest Previous Daily Change bid close chang in 2016 e Czech 27.0720 27.0660 -0.02 -0.27% crown % Hungary 313.450 314.4500 +0.3 0.38% forint 0 2% Polish 4.4162 4.4320 +0.3 -3.58% zloty 6% Romanian 4.5325 4.5247 -0.17 -0.30% leu % Croatian 7.5289 7.5245 -0.06 1.46% kuna % Serbian 123.340 123.4500 +0.0 -1.52% dinar 0 9% Note: calculate previou close at 1800 daily d from s CET change STOCKS Latest Previous Daily Change close chang in 2016 e Prague 817.17 808.20 +1.1 -14.55% 1% Budapest 26278.0 25831.00 +1.7 +9.86% 6 3% Warsaw 1771.73 1762.61 +0.5 -4.70% 2% Buchares 6497.70 6422.45 +1.1 -7.23% t 7% Ljubljan 685.28 683.63 +0.2 -1.56% a 4% Zagreb 1687.38 1690.80 -0.20 -0.13% % Belgrade % Sofia 454.19 445.92 +1.8 -1.46% 5% BONDS Yield Yield Sprea Daily d (bid) change vs change in Bund Czech spread Republic 2-year bps 5-year bps bps Poland 2-year bps 5-year bps bps FORWARD RATE AGREEMENT 3x6 6x9 9x12 3M interbank Czech < 0.27 0.22 0.17 0 Rep PRIBOR=> Hungary < 0.96 0.89 0.905 0.99 BUBOR=> Poland < 1.71 1.69 1.69 1.68 WIBOR=> Note: are for FRA ask quotes prices ********************************************************* ***** (Additional reporting by Luiza Ilie in Bucharest/Jason Hovet in Prague; Editing by Gareth Jones)
* Assets rebound, Brexit worries seen causing more swings * MSCI decision on China improves equities market sentiment * New tax cut weighs on Romanian asset prices By Sandor Peto and Bartosz Lada BUDAPEST/WARSAW, June 15 (Reuters) - Central European assets mostly firmed up on Wednesday, rebounding after a plunge the previous day on concerns over the outcome of Britain's June 23 referendum on whether to stay in the European Union or leave.

Equities were helped by MSCI's overnight decision not to add Chinese shares to its emerging market indices, a move that could have led to selling of equities elsewhere to make way for Chinese names, analysts said.

Regional markets may remain on a roller-coaster on concerns that economic growth could slow if British voters decide to quit the EU.

The zloty and the forint rebounded from three-week lows against the euro, firming 0.4 and 0.2 percent, respectively, by 0908 GMT.

But implied volatilities on the zloty stayed near Tuesday's four-year high, and near 8-1/2-month highs on the forint, indicating expectations for further swings.

The leu underperformed, trading near Tuesday's 4-1/2-month lows against the euro, due to worries triggered by the Romanian upper house of parliament's vote to cut social security contributions in 2017.

The vote adds to worries over the budget and domestic demand, fuelled by tax cuts and wage hikes ahead of elections late this year. The lower house has yet to vote on the issue.

The 2017 budget deficit may swell to 5 percent of economic output if the measure is passed, analysts at ING's Romanian unit said in a note.

"While we would still expect economic logic to prevail and talk of easing to be scaled down, we underscore that implementing such decisions would be materially negative for RON assets and Romania's macro fundamentals over the medium term," they added.

Worries about fiscal loosening and a growing burden on banks have also kept Polish assets under pressure since last year, boosting the risk of credit rating downgrades.

Story continues

Poland's 10-year bond yield dropped 4 basis points to 3.26 percent after testing January highs.

Hungary's bond yields dropped by a few basis points, with the 10-year paper trading at around 3.38 percent.

Hungary's 10-year yield may fall below Polish levels soon, Raiffeisen analyst Stephan Imre said in a note.

"The Polish credit story remains adversely affected mainly due to local political risks in contrast to Hungary, where the sovereign received a rating upgrade recently," he said.

Prague's stock index led gains in the region, rebounding from seven-year lows to climb 1.6 percent.

Budapest's main index firmed up 0.8 percent, after hitting 3-month lows on Tuesday.

The stocks of OTP, the region's biggest independent lender, rose by 1 percent. Erste said in a note that the stock had become "drastically oversold".

CEE SNAPSHOT AT 1108 CET MARKETS CURRENCIES Latest Previous Daily Change bid close chang in e 2016 Czech 0% Hungary 9% Polish 5% Romanian % Croatian % Serbian 1% Note: calcula previous close at 1800 daily ted CET change from STOCKS Latest Previous Daily Change close chang in e 2016 Prague 821.12 808.20 +1.6 -14.14 0% % Budapest 26046.30 25831.00 +0.8 +8.89 3% % Warsaw 0% Buchares 6467.21 6422.45 +0.7 -7.67% t 0% Ljubljan % Zagreb % Belgrade 0% Sofia 3% BONDS Yield Yield Sprea Daily d (bid) change vs change Bund in Czech spread Republic 2-year bps 5-year bps bps Poland 2-year bps 5-year bps bps FORWARD RATE AGREEMENT 3x6 6x9 9x12 3M interb ank Czech (PRIBO R=) Hungary (BUBOR =) Poland (WIBOR =) Note: are for FRA ask quotes prices **************************************************** ********** (Additional reporting by Luiza Ilie in Bucharest; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
The Center for Public Integrity and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists won seven journalism awards on Tuesday night from the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Reporting on the secretive world of Swiss banking, the criminalization of minor school crimes, the proliferation of dark money in U.S. elections, the fate of American workers exposed to toxic substances and the failure of the Environmental Protection Agencys civil rights efforts was honored.

SPJ DC judges praised the Environmental Justice, Denied project in particular  which highlighted the EPAs inaction  for being thoroughly investigated and written in a compelling way that brings a human face to the issue, as well as for bringing attention to a serious problem in a government agency.

Its great to have this recognition from the Washington press corps of the importance of investigative journalism and the work of the Center for Public Integrity and the ICIJ in U.S. and international reporting, said Peter Bale, chief executive officer of the Center for Public Integrity.

The awards also came as the Society of Professional Journalists DC chapter honored Center for Public Integrity founder Chuck Lewis with its Distinguished Service Award.

This story is part of Inside Publici. Stories were working on, the impact of our investigations, news about our fundraising efforts, and other issues that shape our work. Click here to read more stories in this topic.

Don't miss another Inside Publici investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email.

In his acceptance speech, Lewis  now the founding executive editor of the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University, where he is also a professor  praised the Center for Public Integrity for doing a lot of the heavy lifting that others cant do, and he encouraged all journalists to keep investigating the bastards.

Lewis also praised the recent transnational collaboration of journalists in the Panama Papers investigation spearheaded by the ICIJ and Suddeutsche Zeitung. Can you imagine that happening 10, 20, 30 years ago? Lewis said.

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The specific Center for Public Integrity and ICIJ projects that won Dateline Awards from the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists on Tuesday night included the following:

Criminalizing Kids won in the online non-breaking news category, as well as winning the Correspondent Award for distinguished coverage of the Washington area published outside of the Washington, D.C., area



Unequal Risk  the series on toxic substances  won in the category for an online series, as well as the category for YouTube content



Environmental Justice, Denied won in the category for online investigative journalism



Swiss Leaks won in the online business reporting category



A package from the team focused on state and federal politics entitled Dark Money in America won in the online beat reporting category

Related story: Massive leak reveals offshore accounts of world leaders

Five other projects from the Center for Public Integrity and the ICIJ were honored as finalists.

Nuclear Risks was named a finalist in the online investigative journalism category



Evicted and Abandoned was named a finalist in the online business category



A package from the team focused on state and federal politics entitled Business and Politics was named a finalist in the online non-breaking news category



And both Medical Advantage Overcharges and Big Telecom and the People were named as finalists in the online beat reporting category

Center for Public Integrity reporter Michael Mishak was also named a finalist in the non-breaking news category for magazines for a story he wrote last year at the National Journal about labor unions relationship with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

The Washington, D.C., chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists honored print, TV, radio and online journalism at its annual Dateline Awards banquet at the National Press Club on Tuesday night.

The groups top prize  the Robert D.G. Lewis Watchdog Award  was awarded to John Solomon and Kelly Riddell of the Washington Times for their investigation entitled The Clintons Swedish Jackpot, which examined how former President Bill Clintons charitable fundraising and speechmaking intertwined with Hillary Clintons official government work overseas.

During the event, CBS News Senior White House correspondent Bill Plante, longtime New Yorker magazine Washington reporter Elizabeth Drew and Washington Post columnist Jonetta Rose Barras were also inducted in the SPJ DCs Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals for producing strong Washington journalism for at least 25 years.

Related story: Environmental racism persists, and the EPA is one reason why

This story is part of Inside Publici. Stories were working on, the impact of our investigations, news about our fundraising efforts, and other issues that shape our work. Click here to read more stories in this topic.

Related stories

Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
Kevin Hart is the victim of a major break-in at his mansion outside Los Angeles, after a brazen thief made off with $500,000 worth of jewelry and clothing.

View: Before They Were Stars - The Best Celeb Baby Pictures

The actor wasn't home because he has been around the country promoting his new film, Central Intelligence, with Dwayne The Rock Johnson.

Hart posted to Instagram: Always put things in perspective people....material items can be taken away at anytime but a positive outlook & understanding of life & what's really important can never be compromised in the "Hart Household"....I have what I value the most which is my family & my health.

Read: On-Stage Kisses, No Pants and Digs at The Oscars: The MTV Music Awards' Craziest Moments

Officer Mike Lopez of the LAPD told Complex magazine: A burglary investigation was conducted. About half a million dollars of Mr. Hart's belongings were taken during the burglary."

Lopez said the department is on an active search for evidence in the case, including surveillance cameras.

"The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating, and we will try and obtain any video footage if there's any available," Lopez told Complex.

Watch: Store Clerk Returns to Work Just Hours After Getting Shot During Robbery

Related Articles:
The Chemours Company CC has cut a definitive deal to divest its Sulfur Products business, which is part of its Chemical Solutions segment, to Veolia North America for $325 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close within the second half of 2016, provided it meets the customary closing conditions and receives the requisite regulatory approvals.



Sulfur Products, is a leading provider of spent acid regeneration (SAR) and sulfur gas recovery (SGR) services, non-fuming sulfuric acid and higher value sulfur derivatives (HVSDs). There are about 240 employees supporting Sulfur Products mainly located at 7 production sites in North America.



Chemours implemented a five-point transformation plan for the Chemical Solutions portfolio and the deal marks an end of the Chemical Solutions portfolio review. Within a year, the company sold its aniline facility in Beaumont, TX to The Dow Chemical Company DOW for roughly $140 million in cash.

As part of this deal, Chemours has also cut an agreement to meet Dow's additional aniline requirements with supply from its Pascagoula, MS plant. It will also continue to cater other aniline customers from its Pascagoula unit. The divestment reflects another step in the companys five-point transformation plan which will allow it to focus more on businesses that have robust market opportunities.



Chemours also started cost-improvement efforts in its Methylamines business in Belle, WV, initiated closure of its Reactive Metals Business in Niagara Falls, NY, and announced the divestiture of its Clean and Disinfect and Sulfur businesses. All these will result in gross proceeds of about $700 million, providing strategic flexibility as the company completes its transformation plan.



Chemours is a leading producer of the widely-used white pigment  titanium dioxide (TiO2). It started "regular-way" trading on the NYSE as an independent company on Jul 1, 2015 after being spun off from DuPont DD.



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CHEMOURS COMPNY Price

CHEMOURS COMPNY Price | CHEMOURS COMPNY Quote

Chemours is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock.



Another Better-ranked stock in the chemical space includes Albemarle ALB sporting a Zacks Rank#1 (Strong Buy).



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BEIJING (Reuters) - China has lodged diplomatic representations with the United States over a planned meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama at the White House on Wednesday saying it would damage Chinese-U.S. ties, the Foreign Ministry said. China considers the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader a dangerous separatist, and ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing the meeting would encourage "separatist forces". "If the United States plans this meeting, it will send the wrong signal to Tibet independence and separatist forces and harm China-U.S. mutual trust and cooperation," Lu said. Any attempt to take advantage of the Tibet issue and undermine stability would not succeed, Lu said, saying China "resolutely opposed" the plan. China urged the United States to abide by its promises to recognize that Tibet is part of China and cease any support for Tibet independence, Lu said. Obama met the Dalai Lama when the latter visited Washington in 2014 and angered China then when he vowed "strong support" for Tibetans' human rights. China describes the incorporation of Tibet into its territory in 1951 as a "peaceful liberation", and says it has brought development to what was a backward region. The Dalai Lama, who fled from Tibet into exile in India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, says he wants genuine autonomy for Tibet, not independence. China says Tibet already has genuine autonomy, and exile groups seek to split the country. Tibetans accuse China of eroding their Buddhist culture and flooding the region with ethnic Han Chinese. The Dalai Lama told Reuters on Monday that Obama was a "a long-time friend" whom he admired for his work to normalize relations with Cuba, and on Iran, and for his recent visits to former U.S. foe Vietnam and the site of the Hiroshima atomic bombing in Japan. Lu said the Dalai Lama was not a purely religious figure, but a political exile who has long used religion to conduct separatist and anti-China activities. (Reporting By Michael Martina; Writing By Megha Rajagopalan; Editing by Robert Birsel)
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Talk about relationship goals. For their 64th wedding anniversary, a 95-year-old man in China put together a chic photoshoot with his wife to celebrate.

Even better, all of the suits he wore in the pictures were made for him by his seamstress wife over the years.

SEE ALSO: Grandmothers pose for impromptu fashion shoot, totally slay it

The husband, Wang Lijin, hails from Handan in Hebei, China, and met Huang Caozhen in 1952, when he engaged her to make him a suit and fell in love with her after, reports Hebei Daily.

During a speech that Wang gave at the family event, he tearfully thanked his "wife, mother of their children and grandmother of their grandchildren" for all the years of love they shared through thick and thin.

Image: weibo

Image: WEIBO

Image: WEIBO

Their love story was documented in a stylish photoshoot, where Wang and Huang were photographed doing the things they loved doing together, while dressed to the nines.

Image: WEIBO

Image: WEIBO

Image: weibo

Naturally, the elderly Chinese couple have become overnight Internet sensations after their touching love story went viral.



According to Chinese media outlets, the couple's pictures were later placed on billboards on shopping malls across cities in Hebei, with a tagline hailing them as models for everlasting love.

Image: weibo

It remains unclear who exactly was behind the billboards.

Image: weibo
By Dustin Volz WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said on Monday that if elected, she would pressure U.S. technology companies to help intelligence agencies disrupt violent plots after a gunman inspired by radical Islamist groups killed 49 people in an Orlando nightclub. In a speech in Cleveland, she articulated plans for expanded online surveillance of potential extremist attackers. She is campaigning against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump ahead of the November presidential election. "We already know we need more resources for this fight. The professionals who keep us safe would be the first to say we need better intelligence to discover and disrupt terrorist plots before they can be carried out," Clinton said. "Thats why Ive proposed an intelligence surge to bolster our capabilities across the board, with appropriate safeguards here at home." While Clinton did not detail what her effort would entail, she said she wants technology companies to be more cooperative to government requests for help in countering online propaganda, tracking patterns in social media and intercepting communications. Clinton's comments will likely further stoke an international debate over digital privacy, which has flared after attacks in Paris, Brussels and San Bernardino, California. Omar Mateen, the 29-year-old Orlando shooter and a U.S. citizen, was likely inspired by jihadist content online, but there is not yet evidence that he was part of any plot directed by others outside the United States, FBI Director James Comey said Monday. Facebook , Alphabet's Google and Twitter have all dedicated more resources to combating online propaganda and recruiting by Islamic militants within the past year. But they do so quietly to avoid the perception that they are overly cozy with authorities. The companies rely heavily on users to flag problematic content, which is impossible to eliminate completely without creating a highly censored Internet, according to technologists. Counterterrorism experts have also long said so-called lone wolf attackers are difficult to track and stop because they often do not communicate their plans to others. Twitter and Facebook had no immediate response to questions about Clintons comments. Google declined comment. The Center for Democracy and Technology and Electronic Frontier Foundation, both digital advocacy groups, said they were waiting for more specifics from Clinton before commenting. Unlike Trump, Clinton did not call for blocking online content. She did not reiterate her previous push for a massive effort to break encryption, and she ruled out targeted surveillance of Muslim Americans as "dangerous." (Reporting by Dustin Volz in Washington; additional reporting by Julia Edwards in Washington and Joseph Menn in San Francisco; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
While the final impact that Sundays shooting in Orlando will have on US public policy toward firearms is far from clear, a couple of events on Wednesday looks as though the murder of 49 people in a gay nightclub by a man claiming allegiance to the terror group ISIS night might actually have a substantial impact on the public dialogue over guns.

Late Wednesday morning, business in the US Senate ground to a halt as a group of Democratic senators led by Christopher Murphy, of Connecticut, began a filibuster that, they promised, would not end until their fellow lawmakers began to take decisive action to curtail access to the sorts of weapons used in multiple massacres including the attack in Orlando and the assault on Sandy Hook Elementary School in Murphys home state of Connecticut in 2012.

Related: Top Advisor Says Trump Might Support New Gun Restrictions

There is a fundamental disconnect with the American people when these tragedies continue to occur and we just move forward with business as usual, Murphy said. So Im going to remain on this floor until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together on these two measures, that we can get a path forward on addressing this epidemic in a meaningful bipartisan way.

The likelihood of any sort of legislating specifically focused on the availability of weapons -- like the civilian versions of military rifles used in many recent shootings including both Orlando and Sandy Hook -- remains very low.

However, one unusual aspect of the current state of play is that for all their differences on virtually everything else, the presumptive presidential nominees of both major political parties appear to be in rough agreement on at least one possible response: That individuals suspected of having connections to terrorism or who are not allowed to fly on commercial airlines should also be barred from purchasing guns.

Hillary Clinton, in a speech after the shootings, called on Congress to take up legislation that would block people suspected of links to terrorism from being allowed to purchase firearms with no questions asked.

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Related: Trump Says Thousands of Shooters Like Orlando Terrorist Are in US Already

Speaking in Ohio, she said, And yes, if you're too dangerous to get on a plane, you're too dangerous to buy a gun in America," she added. Even as we make sure our security officials get the tools they need to prevent attacks, it's essential we stop terrorists from getting the tools they need to carry out attacks."

Similar legislation has failed in Congress before, with Republican lawmakers siding with the powerful National Rifle Association to block it. However, at the time, it didnt have the backing of the GOPs likely presidential nominee. On Wednesday, Donald Trump signaled that this time, it does.

I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2016

That will likely be an interesting conversation, because of the NRAs active opposition an effort to enact a similar measure in 2015.

Related: Clinton Slams Trumps Anti-Muslim Rhetoric in Wake of Orlando Attack

Among other things, opponents of the proposal point to the fact that the terror watch list and no-fly list kept by federal authorities are opaque and unreliable. Multiple examples exist of people being placed on them in error or with little evidence who later find it is virtually impossible to have their names removed. The NRA argues, plausibly, that using the lists to restrict gun sales could result in the violation of some peoples Second Amendment rights.

Trump, who was endorsed by the NRA in May and delivered a speech that blasted terrorism but didnt touch on the frequency of gun massacres in the US, did not indicate when he expected to confront the issue with the powerful gun lobby.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
By John Whitesides WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton formally concluded the U.S. Democratic presidential race on Tuesday with a win in the District of Columbia primary, then turned her focus to uniting the party during a 90-minute private meeting with defeated rival Bernie Sanders. Clinton, who secured enough delegates to clinch the nomination last week, met with Sanders in a downtown Washington hotel as the sometimes bitter primary combatants searched for common ground ahead of the Nov. 8 election against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. Sanders has resisted pressure to bow out and endorse Clinton in a show of party unity, choosing to continue his campaign as leverage to win concessions from Clinton on his policy agenda and reforms to the Democratic Party nominating process. Both camps described the meeting as "positive" and said the two noted their shared commitment to stopping Trump and pursuing issues such as raising the minimum wage, eliminating undisclosed money in politics, making college affordable and making healthcare coverage more accessible. Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said the meeting was "a positive discussion about how best to bring more people into the political process and about the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation." Also attending were Sanders' wife Jane, Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta and the two campaign managers, Jeff Weaver for Sanders and Robby Mook for Clinton. Sanders had promised to stay in the Democratic race until the final vote was cast in the Washington, D.C., primary, although in the past week he has stopped talking about capturing the party's nomination and instead focused on ways to advance his policy goals. He scheduled a national video address to supporters on Thursday night, telling them in an email message that "the political revolution continues." At a news conference before the Washington meeting, Sanders said he would also demand changes to make the Democratic nominating process more equitable, including replacing the Democratic National Committee leadership, letting independents take part in the voting and eliminating superdelegates, who are unelected and are free to support any candidate. "The time is long overdue for a fundamental transformation of the Democratic Party," Sanders said. Clinton easily beat Sanders in the District of Columbia, winning 79 percent to his 21 percent in a primary that closed the more than four-month, state-by-state battle for the Democratic nomination that began on Feb. 1 in Iowa. During a visit to Capitol Hill earlier on Tuesday, Sanders told Democratic senators he would take his message of progressive values and party reform to the convention. "I'm open to that, I think we should all be open to that, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois told reporters afterward. "Its not a surprise that the American people are skeptical of all of us in political life. And we ought to step back and reassess why, and what we can do about it." Top Democrats have taken steps in the last week to begin rallying behind Clinton and ease Sanders out of the race without alienating his supporters. President Barack Obama endorsed Clinton on Thursday, hours after meeting with Sanders at the White House. Clinton also secured the endorsement of Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a leader of the party's progressive wing. Clinton already has turned her attention on the campaign trail to the race with Trump, rejecting the New York businessman's renewed calls for a ban of the entry of foreign-born Muslims into the United States after the mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, by an American man who claimed allegiance with Islamic State militants. "I have clearly said that we faced terrorist enemies who use a perverted version of Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people. We have to stop them, and we will," Clinton said in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday. "But I will not demonize and declare war on an entire religion." (Additional reporting by Alana Wise, Amanda Becker and James Oliphant; Editing by Leslie Adler and Nick Macfie)
Washington (AFP) - Hillary Clinton captured the mostly symbolic Democratic primary in the US capital, the final vote of the 2016 presidential primaries, as the race shifts to her showdown with Republican rival Donald Trump.

Clinton won nearly 79 percent of the vote against 21 percent for Bernie Sanders, with nearly all votes counted, according to US networks.

It marked a deflating finish for the Vermont senator, who captivated liberals and independents with a grassroots campaign that mounted a surprisingly strong challenge to Clinton.

The attention of the candidates -- and the nation -- however has shifted to the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001.

Clinton and Trump traded verbal blows and presented dramatically different approaches for fighting terrorism following the massacre at the Florida gay nightclub.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, on Monday said that if elected he would "suspend" immigration from areas with a "proven history of terrorism."

He also suggested that US Muslims were complicit in domestic attacks because they failed to "turn in the people who they know are bad."

In contrast, former secretary of state Clinton called on Americans to "stand together" to defeat terrorism.

But after Trump suggested in a TV interview that Obama sympathized with terrorists, Clinton on Tuesday slammed her rival's approach "dangerous" and "un-American."

"Even in a time of divided politics, this is way beyond anything that should be said by someone running for president of the United States," she told supporters in Pittsburgh.

"What Donald Trump is saying is shameful ... more evidence that he is temperamentally unfit and totally unqualified to be commander in chief," she said.

- Healing party divisions -

Washington's primary was an afterthought as Clinton reached number of delegates needed to lock up the nomination last week.

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Sanders however refused to concede, though he steadily softened his tone in recent days.

Sanders and Clinton met at a Washington hotel "and had a positive discussion about their primary campaign, about unifying the party and about the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation," a Clinton campaign official said after the meeting.

Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said the two "had a positive discussion about how best to bring more people into the political process" and about the threat posed by Trump.

Clinton and Sanders also discussed what would be on the Democratic Party platform ahead of the national convention next month in Philadelphia.

Sanders told reporters ahead of the meeting that he wanted to see "the most progressive platform ever passed" at a convention, one which "makes it crystal clear that the Democratic Party is in fact on the side of working people."

Sanders met with President Barack Obama last week and emerged from the White House declaring his intent to work with Clinton to defeat Trump in November.

Obama endorsed Clinton later that day.

Republicans in Washington held their party convention in March, with Senator Marco Rubio emerging as the top vote-getter.

Tuesday's vote wraps up a spectacular primary season that saw conservatives flock to Trump, a celebrity billionaire and political novice, and liberals propel Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, into the national spotlight.

Sanders tapped into a deep well of anger among voters disillusioned with the current political system and eager to see action on issues such as reducing income inequality and campaign finance reform.

Clinton ultimately prevailed, becoming the first female presumptive presidential nominee of any major US political party.

Congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz congratulated both candidates for having "energized voters across the country."

"Now that our 2016 primaries are officially at their end, Democrats are ready to unify and take on both Trump and the Republican Party that he represents," Wasserman Schultz said in a statement.

Sanders is scheduled to address supporters live via webcast Thursday.
By Liz Hampton

June 15 (Reuters) - An Enbridge Inc pipeline connected to Suncor Energy Inc's MacKay River oil sands facility near Fort McMurray, Alberta, has clogged after heavy oil cooled in the system, prolonging a shutdown of the site, three sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

The pipeline clogged after last month's massive Alberta wildfire shut more than 1 million barrels a day of oil production and forced oil sands producers to shut facilities, including thermal projects that require ongoing heat to operate effectively.

It was not immediately clear how long repairs would take, but the sources estimated about 20 days. One source close to the matter said the roughly 32-km (20-mile) line would be excavated every 2 km (1.2 miles) and injected with diesel.

It represents a setback for Suncor, the largest crude producer in Canada, as it had said last week it expected all its operations in the area to be at normal rates by the end of June. MacKay River has a capacity of 38,000 barrels per day, so it is the smallest of three main properties in the Fort McMurray region, where the fire was concentrated.

Bitumen is the primary product extracted from Alberta's vast oil sands, but its asphalt-like consistency means it will not flow through pipes by itself. Rather, it needs to be heated or diluted with lighter hydrocarbons to flow. This pipeline was insulated to pump heated bitumen.

A representative for Enbridge said the company could not provide information because the pipeline was a client-specific line. Suncor said it did not provide real-time status updates or "this level of granular detail on our operations."

"It sounds like they are running into problems along the road," said FirstEnergy analyst Martin King, referring to oil sands producers in general.

King could not comment specifically on Enbridge and Suncor, but added: "The bitumen is cooling in the pipes as the flow has slowed or stopped, so the bitumen has solidified inside the pipes. They will have to open up the pipe and reheat it to get it flowing."

Suncor has told employees the wildfire will cost the company nearly C$1 billion ($778 million).

(Reporting by Liz Hampton in Houston; Additional reporting by Eric M. Johnson and Nia Williams in Calgary, Alberta, and Catherine Ngai in New York; Editing by Peter Cooney)
You thought we were done with political town halls? Not so fast.

CNN announced Wednesday that Chris Cuomo will host the Libertarian Party's presidential candidate Gary Johnson and vice presidential candidate William Weld one week from tonight, at 9 p.m. ET.

Johnson and Weld, once both popular Republican governors of New Mexico and Massachusetts, respectively, will take questions from voters at CNN's New York headquarters at Time Warner Center.

In a new Bloomberg poll among likely voters, Johnson is at 9 percent to Hillary Clinton's 49 percent and Donald Trump's 37 percent.

This will be CNN's 11th town hall during the 2016 election season.

This article first appeared on Adweek.com.

More from TVNewser: MSNBC Celebrates 20th Anniversary at the Newseum
Cobie Smulders is showing audiences a side of her they haven't seen before in the Jack Reacher follow-up, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, and ET has a sneak peek at scenes from the movie!

The sequel, based on author Lee Child's 18th book in the bestselling Jack Reacher series, finds Jack back at the headquarters of his old unit, only to discover he's now accused of a homicide from 16 years ago.

WATCH: How to Drive & Fight Like Jack Reacher!

Smulders plays Major Susan Turner, who has taken Jack's place commanding the military police in his absence.

"He's alone and he's sort of in his element and then he couples up with me and all hell breaks loose," Smulders says of Cruise's character. "We're on the run for this entire movie."

Real-life danger struck the set while filming last fall in Louisiana when one of the wardrobe trailers went up in flames. The blaze erupted spontaneously when Cruise was in his own trailer getting makeup done for the next scene just yards away.

WATCH: Tom Cruise's Best Action Movies

At the time, an eyewitness told ET that the crew was able to partially put out the fire, which helped contain it before four firetrucks arrived to the scene and finished the job.

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back opens Oct. 21.

Related Articles
(Adds comment from expert in risk communication)

By Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent

LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - There is no conclusive evidence that drinking coffee causes cancer, the World Health Organization's cancer agency said on Wednesday in a reverse of its previous warning, but it also said all "very hot" drinks are probably carcinogenic.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had previously rated coffee as "possibly carcinogenic" but has changed its mind.

It now says its latest review found "no conclusive evidence for a carcinogenic effect" of coffee drinking and pointed to some studies showing coffee may actually reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

"(This) does not show that coffee is certainly safe ... but there is less reason for concern today than there was before," Dana Loomis, the deputy head of IARC's Monograph classification department told a news conference.

At the same time, however, IARC presented other scientific evidence which suggests that drinking anything very hot - around 65 degrees Celsius or above - including water, coffee, tea and other beverages, probably does cause cancer of the oesophagus.

Lyon-based IARC, which last year prompted headlines worldwide by saying processed meat can cause cancer, reached its conclusions after reviewing more than 1,000 scientific studies in humans and animals. There was inadequate evidence for coffee to be classified as either carcinogenic or not carcinogenic.

IARC had previously put coffee as a "possible carcinogen" in its 2B category alongside chloroform, lead and many other substances.

The U.S. National Coffee Association welcomed the change in IARC's classification as "great news for coffee drinkers".

The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee, whose members are six of the major European coffee companies - illycaffe, Jacobs Douwe Egberts, Lavazza, Nestle , Paulig, and Tchibo - said IARC had found "no negative relationship between coffee consumption and cancer".

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LET IT COOL

In its evaluation of very hot drinks, IARC said animal studies suggest carcinogenic effects probably occur with drinking temperatures of 65 Celsius or above. Some experiments with rats and mice found "very hot" liquids, including water, could promote the development of tumours, it said.

The agency said studies of hot drinks such as mate, an infusion consumed mainly in South America, tea and other drinks in several countries including China, Iran, Japan and Turkey, found the risk of oesophageal cancer "may increase with the temperature of the drink" above 65 Celsius.

"These results suggest that drinking very hot beverages is one probable cause of oesophageal cancer and that it is the temperature, rather than the drinks themselves, that appears to be responsible," said IARC's director, Christopher Wild.

Oesophageal cancer is the eighth most common cause of cancer worldwide and one of the main causes of cancer death, with around 400,000 deaths recorded in 2012.

The WHO's official spokesman in Geneva, Gregory Hartl, stressed that smoking and drinking alcohol were among the most serious risk factors for oesophageal cancer and urged people to focus on reducing these as a priority. He said IARC's evaluation of hot drinks was based on limited available evidence in humans and animals and more research is needed.

"We say: be prudent, let hot drinks cool down," he told Reuters, adding that the WHO's advice was to "not consume foods or drinks when they are at a very hot - scalding hot - temperature".

Drinking very hot beverages is now classified as probably carcinogenic in IARC's group 2A category, alongside red meat and nitrogen mustard.

But David Spiegelhalter, a professor of the Public Understanding of Risk at Britain's University of Cambridge, said he was concerned that IARC's review would confuse people.

"Last year the IARC said that bacon is carcinogenic, but it became clear that when eaten in moderation it is not very risky. In the case of very hot drinks, the IARC concludes they are probably hazardous, but can't say how big the risk might be," he said in an emailed comment. "This may be interesting science, but makes it difficult to construct a sensible response." (Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Pravin Char)
Caffeine is known for its effects as a stimulant, boosting levels of alertness and concentration. However, new American research suggests that caffeine may no longer be beneficial after three nights of just five hours' sleep. The study was presented June 14 at the 30th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Denver, Colorado, USA.

Grabbing a coffee is a familiar reflex for many people when they feel sleep deprived, tired or overrun. And, the more tired we feel, the more likely we are to up our consumption.

New research, published June 14 in the journal of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, could call into question coffee's famous reputation as an effective pick-me-up in certain situations.

In fact, the scientists found that after three nights of just five hours' sleep, continuing to drink coffee had little or no benefit.

The researchers were surprised to find that the benefits brought by two 200mg doses of caffeine per day were lost after three nights of restricted sleep.

They studied a group of 48 healthy individuals, restricting their sleep to five hours per night for a total of five days. Some were given 200mg of caffeine per day and others were given a placebo.

While awake, the participants were given a series of cognitive tasks every hour to monitor their alertness and mood.

The scientists found that caffeine significantly improved participants' performance during the first two days, but not during the last three days of sleep restriction.

The research was presented Tuesday, June 14, at SLEEP 2016, the 30th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Denver, USA.

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) guidelines recommend a daily caffeine intake of no more than 400 milligrams for adults, which is equivalent to just over four espressos.

For more information on the study: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-06-caffeine-benefit-nights-restriction.html
On Jun 14, 2016, we issued an updated research report on Comcast Corporation CMCSA. The company reported impressive results in the first quarter of 2016, wherein both the top and the bottom line beat the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate. Importantly, the company witnessed impressive subscriber gain for video, high-speed data and voice during the quarter.

Comcast started deploying fiber-based 2 gigabits per second (2 Gbps) residential broadband Internet services across certain regions. Known as Gigabit Pro, this new service runs on the fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology. Moreover, the company is planning to launch its DOCSIS 3.1 compliant Gigabit Internet service later this year. We believe Comcasts DOCSIS 3.1 and Gigabit Pro rollout will successfully drive growth at the company.

The company remains focused on enhancing its offerings through strategic initiatives such as the nationwide rollout of X1 services, various home security services and the introduction of new content for multi-platform on-demand services. Notably, Comcast is particularly making great progress in rolling out X1 to new and existing customers. Thus, the company plans to continue deploying X1 aggressively throughout 2016, as this has significantly restricted customer churn. Also, Business Services has been witnessing strong momentum and continues to represent an attractive growth opportunity for the company. Having tasting considerable success in this segment, Comcast is now expanding its Business Services division to cater to large enterprises.

On the flip side, the U.S. pay-TV industry is currently witnessing massive consolidation. Last July, AT&T Inc. T attained the leading position in the U.S. pay-TV market with the acquisition of DIRECTV. Moreover, Charter Communications Inc.s CHTR takeover of Time Warner Cable may generate significant financial fluctuations for Comcast.

To make matters worse, increasing competition from Over-the-Top video streaming providers such as Netflix Inc. NFLX as well as escalating programming expenses for content creation may hurt the companys business, results of operations and financial condition, going forward.

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By Remy Choo Zheng Xi



The 2016 Pink Dot event in support of the LGBT community held at the Speakers Corner on 4 June. (Photo: Yahoo Singapore/Vernon Lee)



When I worked on the Constitutional challenge to repeal Section 377A two years ago, one of the news stories we came across was of a young man who had reported many years before a same sex sexual assault to the police. He was shocked when he ended up being investigated for an offence under S377A. Less than a year later, he received a stern warning for it.

Separately, in the course of our legal research, our team came across a case of a failed gay relationship, where one partner sued the other for the return of monies he had advanced. In his defence, the other party responded that the debt was unenforceable by reason of the illegality of the relationship.

Fortunately, the defence was rejected, but no heterosexual couple would ever face this issue in Court. It made me wonder how many gay men and women in similar situations may have shied away from pursuing their full legal rights against a former same sex partner for fear of the stigma of having the intimate details of a failed gay relationship being mentioned in Court.

For the Constitutional challenge, one of the affidavits we tendered in Court was sworn by Prof Roy Chan, a senior doctor active in HIV prevention with the NGO Action for Aids. He attested to how stigmatisation and criminalisation faced by the LGBT community were hampering efforts to raise awareness of HIV prevention.

Recently, I read the news of a male teacher who was blackmailed to the amount of $197,000 by a man he had a brief sexual encounter with before he mustered the courage to tell the authorities.

Recalling these cases tempered my enthusiasm when I read the statement by Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam on Tuesday (14 June) that all Singaporeans will be protected regardless of race, religion or sexual orientation. The minister was responding to the mass shooting in Orlando on Sunday (12 June), which saw 50 people killed, most of whom were from the gay community.

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Dont get me wrong, his statement was important and brave. But while the physical protection Shanmugam spoke of is important, such protection is the bare minimum that has to be accorded to all Singaporeans.

We need to ask a more fundamental question: how can we speak, with a straight face, of the equal protection of the law guaranteed under Article 12 of our Constitution when members of an entire community among us continue to be considered criminals?

In the words of Attorney-General V K Rajah, when he was a judge in the Court of Appeal, the continued existence of S377A in our statute books causes (gay men) to be unapprehended felons in the privacy of their homes. Having the statute affects the lives of a not insignificant portion of our community in a very real and intimate way.

Protecting the LGBT community means creating an environment where sexuality doesnt have to be hidden for fear of stigma, of blackmail, of stunted career advancements. If Singapore wants to be serious about protecting the LGBT community, we need to decriminalise the community and repeal S377A.

Thats the least we can do.

Remy Choo Zheng Xi is a lawyer with Peter Low LLC. The views expressed are his own.
2-Year Schools That Attract International Students

International students might decide to attend a U.S. community college for a variety of reasons, such as more affordable tuition and the availability of support for English language learners.

These 10 community colleges and community college systems reported the largest numbers of international students in the 2014-2015 academic year, according to the Institute of International Education's 2015 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange.

10. Green River Community College

Number of international students in 2014-2015: 1,736

Location: Auburn, Washington

Fun fact: Green River offers on-campus housing. The school's Campus Corner Apartments can house more than 300 students, according to the college's website.

More about Green River Community College.

9. Northern Virginia Community College

Number of international students in 2014-2015: 1,801

Location: Annandale, Virginia

Fun fact: The college's Annandale campus is located just 14 miles southwest of the nation's capital.

More about Northern Virginia Community College.

8. Johnson County Community College

Number of international students in 2014-2015: 1,834

Location: Overland Park, Kansas

Fun fact: There are more than a dozen general areas of study offered at JCCC, such as agriculture, computers and industrial technology, according to its website.

More about Johnson County Community College.

7. Montgomery College

Number of international students in 2014-2015: 1,877

Location: Rockville, Maryland

Fun fact: The college offers honors programs for both part- and full-time students, according to its website.

More about Montgomery College.

6. Diablo Valley College

Number of international students in 2014-2015: 1,954

Location: Pleasant Hill, California

Fun fact: More than 1.5 million students have enrolled at the college since it was established in 1949, according to the institution's website.

More about Diablo Valley College.

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5. Lone Star College System

Number of international students in 2014-2015: 1,998

Location: The Woodlands, Texas

Fun fact: The Lone Star College System has six full campuses, eight satellite campuses and additional facilities located in the North Houston metro area.

More about Lone Star College System.

4. Seattle Central College

Number of international students in 2014-2015: 2,171

Location: Seattle, Washington

Fun fact: Seattle Central has more than 50 student clubs and organizations, including ones focused on badminton, calligraphy and tai chi, according to the school's website.

More about Seattle Central College.

3. De Anza College

Number of international students in 2014-2015: 2,915

Location: Cupertino, California

Fun fact: Popular majors at De Anza College, according to its website, include accounting, computer information systems, manufacturing and design technology, nursing and paralegal studies.

More about De Anza College.

2. Santa Monica College

Number of international students in 2014-2015: 3,562

Location: Santa Monica, California

Fun fact: The college offers a support program for students interested in STEM majors and careers, its website says. The Science Research Initiative program includes counseling, STEM workshops and peer mentoring for students.

More about Santa Monica College.

1. Houston Community College System

Number of international students in 2014-2015: 5,441

Location: Houston, Texas

Fun fact: According to its website, the top public universities in Texas that HCC students transferred to between fall 2010 and 2014 include the University of Houston, the University of Houston--Downtown and the University of Texas--Austin.

More about Houston Community College.

Learn More About Community Colleges

Get answers to frequently asked questions about different parts of the community college experience, including the application process, financial aid and more.

And join the conversation by following U.S. News Education on Facebook and Twitter.

Kelly Mae Ross is an education staff writer at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at kross@usnews.com.


Connecticuts two Senators tag-teamed on a filibuster Wednesday to push for votes on two gun control measures. A representative made national news when he boycotted a moment of silence over the Orlando shooting, arguing it was a time for action and not prayers. And the states governor has said hell try to use his executive authority to bar people on the terrorist watch list from buying guns.

Its no coincidence that Connecticuts politicians, all Democrats, are leading the fight for gun control in the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. The third-worst shooting took place in their state in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

But the way they are making their arguments is also notable. Connecticuts pro-gun control lawmakers tend to use strong, visceral language, framing their cause as a moral fight.

Sen. Chris Murphy issued a widely quoted statement after the Orlando shooting saying that Congress has become complicit in these murders by its total, unconscionable deafening silence. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said he didnt know how someone can vote against taking guns away from people on the terror watch list and look at themselves in the mirror. And Rep. Jim Himes wrote in the Washington Post that if the House of Representatives had a solitary moral fiber, even a wisp of human empathy, it would pass legislation instead of holding a moment of silence.

Were clearly not going to win on the facts of the case, Himes told TIME. So I think we need to start calling people out in more moral language.

That emotional tone could help break through a lot of the noise, said Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a pro-gun control group based in Connecticut.

(Murphy) is always saying things like, Congress is culpable for murder, Watts said. Those things are so incredibly powerful that they help with the national conversation.

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Watts founded Moms Demand Action in the wake of Sandy Hook, and the organization now has 3 million members in 50 states, working as the grassroots arm of Everytown for Gun Safety. She said Connecticut was the first state to see a sweep in its grassroots on the issue.

Ron Pinciaro saw it too. The executive director of Connecticut Against Gun Violence said his membership grew from 8,000 to 30,000 in a few months following the Newtown shooting. He believes that grassroots organic, visceral response continues to resonate with Connecticuts leaders today.

To be sure, some Connecticut residents oppose further gun control efforts. In 2014, nearly 40 percent of Connecticut residents did not support the states tighter gun control laws. And last year, state media found residents owned nearly 52,000 assault rifles. But political leaders pushing these measures said they feel obligated to act in the wake of Sandy Hook.

To have moments of silence for victims and not to protect future victims makes no sense at all, Gov. Dan Malloy told TIME. Failure of gun control measures in Washington, D.C. is discouraging, but Connecticut will continue to play a lead role in trying to make people safer.

Following the legislative success in Connecticut, gun control advocates have consistently pushed a simple message at the national level: gun reform that succeeded in this small blue state can work nationally.

In the meantime, the frequent moral attack on pro-gun politicians by Connecticuts congressional delegation and state leaders will continue. And yesterday, Blumenthal told TIME his moral argument is for not just Connecticut voters, but residents of other states whose elected officials oppose gun control legislation.

It evokes deep moral outrage that Congress has been so complicit by its inaction in the continuing violence, Blumenthal said. The condemnation of Congress is very personal and moral.
Connecticuts junior senator led a filibuster about the need for gun control on Wednesday, June 15. Chris Murphy, a Democrat, was quickly joined by fellow Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

Both senators represent the state where the Sandy Hook shooting took place, killing 20 children at an elementary school in 2012. Blumenthal said in a tweet the Orlando nightclub shooting evoked images from the Sandy Hook shooting. Cory Booker, New Jerseys senator, also quickly came to back up Murphy.

The Senates Democrats are seeking a measure to ban suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms and also requiring universal background checks.

Murphy said the Orlando shooting was a breaking point. We couldnt proceed with business as usual this week, Murphy said as he opened the filibuster. He also said one change in the law wouldnt impact Sandy Hook, but perhaps it would have affected Orlando.

Im going to remain on this floor until we get some signal, some sign, that we can come together on these two measures, he said. Credit: YouTube/Senator Chris Murphy
By Igor Ilic ZAGREB (Reuters) - Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Karamarko resigned on Wednesday and said his HDZ party, the biggest in the ruling center-right coalition, aimed to form a new government after a scheduled vote of no-confidence set for Thursday. His resignation brings to a head a political crisis that has dogged the five-month-old administration of technocrat Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic and has hampered plans to improve Croatia's business climate and revive a moribund economy. Parliament is expected to back the motion of no-confidence filed by the conservative HDZ in Thursday's vote. Earlier on Wednesday a state monitoring body accused Karamarko of a conflict of interest due to his wife's business ties with a consultant of Hungary's energy group MOL. Karamarko said his resignation had nothing to do with that ruling and that he would seek redress in court. "Tomorrow we will hold a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Oreskovic as this government is dysfunctional," Karamarko told reporters. If Oreskovic loses the vote the government must resign. "I hope Croatia will get a government aware of the (economic) difficulties Croatia is facing at the moment," Karamarko said. Croatia has one of the weakest economies in the European Union, with high unemployment and public debt. The Most ("Bridge") party, a junior coalition partner, has been pressing Karamarko to leave the government over the MOL affair. MOL and Croatia jointly run the country's energy firm INA but are at odds over management rights and investment policy. They are involved in two separate international arbitrations. Karamarko has previously said he fears Croatia could suffer financially if it loses the arbitration cases. "By expressing his personal views and suggestions on Croatia's withdrawal from arbitration with MOL, we found that Karamarko was in a conflict of interest," said Dalija Oreskovic who heads the state commission that handles such cases. The HDZ has voiced confidence it can build a new parliamentary majority, but analysts believe this will be difficult to achieve without Most. The HDZ wants to nominate Finance Minister Zdravko Maric as prime minister-designate. The main opposition party, the Social Democrats, have said they will support Thursday's no-confidence motion as they want a snap election as soon as possible. If the government is voted out and no one can secure the support of a majority of deputies for the formation of a new cabinet within 30 days, President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic must call a snap election. (Reporting by Igor Ilic; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Zagreb (AFP) - Croatia's ruling HDZ party head Tomislav Karamarko resigned as deputy prime minister on Wednesday, leaving the rightwing coalition government teetering on the brink of collapse.

Karamarko, a key figure within the government, stepped down on the eve of a no-confidence vote against technocrat Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic, which could lead to snap elections.

The no-confidence motion, which was filed by HDZ, the biggest party in the ruling coalition, was to be put to a vote on Thursday, less than five months after the former pharmaceutical executive took over as head of a government cobbled together following indecisive November polls.

The government's "disfunction is unsustainable... that is why I am resigning," Karamarko told reporters on Wednesday.

The move came just hours after Croatia's ethics watchdog ruled he had a conflict of interest with respect to an oil dispute with Hungary, deepening a political crisis which has inflicted a serious blow on the fragile coalition.

A special state commission found there was a conflict of interest due to a business deal between Karamarko's wife and a lobbyist for Hungary's oil group MOL. MOL is currently locked in a dispute with Croatia over its national oil group INA, where it is a major shareholder.

Karamarko denied his resignation was linked to the ruling.

His resignation was largely seen as a bid to boost his party's chances of forming a new majority if the government collapses, which is seen as a likely scenario.

He has also avoided facing a no confidence vote against him over the oil affair that was to have taken place by Saturday.

- Coalition squabbles -

The coalition's work has been marred by disputes between HDZ and its junior coalition partner, Most, ever since it took over.

The crisis escalated last month after the Most party called for Karamarko to quit over the affair.

The spat prompted Oreskovic to call for the resignation of both Karamarko and Most leader Bozo Petrov, who is also a deputy premier.

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Oreskovic also rejected a call by HDZ that he himself stand down, saying he wanted to defend himself against the party's accusations in the assembly. Shortly after, HDZ filed the no confidence motion.

On Wednesday, Oreskovic told reporters he believed the "coalition will overcome this (crisis) ... and the government will continue to implement (reform) changes."

HDZ, whose ratings have been affected by the affair, has expressed confidence that it would be able to form a new parliamentary majority, although analysts were sceptical it would work.

If the government collapses and there is no replacement within 30 days, the parliament will be dissolved and the president will call new elections.

Early elections would delay implementation of reforms in the European Union's newest member whose economy remains one of the 28-nation bloc's weakest.
A crowdfunding campaign set up for the victims of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history has reach more than $4.4 million.

More than 94,000 people from around the globe have donated to the Pulse Victim Fund, according to the campaign's page.

"The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming. We are working with the city of Orlando, our local partners and national organizations to get our community the help that is desperately needed," reads the latest update."The solidarity from all corners of the world has helped in the slow healing process."

The donation page was created by Equality Florida on Sunday afternoon, hours after a gunman opened fire in a packed gay nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 people and injuring more than 50 others. The gunman was killed by police.

The Pulse Victim Fund received $1 million faster than any GoFundMe campaign in the company's history, Dan Pfeiffer, GoFundMe's spokesman said through Twitter. The page has also raised more funds than any previous campaign, he added.

Numerous celebrities, including Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda and Big Bang Theory's Melissa Rauch shared a campaign link to their social media followers.

The current goal of the fund is $5 million.

Donations have poured in from others, including Disney, which donated a million dollars to the OneOrlando Fund, a nonprofit created to aid victims. The Orlando Magic also donated $100,000 to OneOrlando.

"We are heartbroken by this tragedy and hope our commitment will help those in the community affected by this senseless act," Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said in a previous statement. "With 74,000 cast members who call Orlando home, we mourn the loss of the victims and offer our condolences to their families, friends and loved ones."

The campaign for the victims of the #PulseNightclub shooting reached $1 million faster than any in @gofundme history https://t.co/45RxYJXdDH

Story continues

- Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) June 13, 2016

The @gofundme campaign for the victims of the #PulseNighClubShooting has raised $3M and is now $1M more than the 2nd largest campaign ever

- Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) June 14, 2016

Thank you @WaltDisneyCo for donating $1 million to #OneOrlando. Support the needs of our community at https://t.co/7sytxd9UhS #OrlandoUnited

- Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) June 14, 2016

A GoFundMe page has been set up by Equality Florida to help the victims https://t.co/8xwkzrZ0Ru

- Melissa Rauch (@MelissaRauch) June 12, 2016

Here's where you can support Orlando. Every little bit helps. Thanks to our friends at @BCEFA for pointing us there: https://t.co/LcfZahrdQU

- Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) June 15, 2016

Read More: Disney Donates $1 Million to Help Orlando Shooting Victims
Larry David delighted fans on Tuesday with his announcement that Curb Your Enthusiasm will be returning for a ninth season.

Since the show went off the air five years ago, HBO and its executives have received no shortage of questions about whether or not the star would make a return, continually toeing the line and putting the ball in David's court. Though the official announcement was thin on details, David, who has been keeping busy between his Broadway show Fish in the Dark and numerous Saturday Night Live appearances, did explain his decision (in a very Larry David way): "In the immortal words of Julius Caesar, 'I left, I did nothing, I returned.'"

David Mandel, who served as an executive producer on Curb and who has kept in touch with David since the show wrapped, told The Hollywood Reporter he had been keeping his fingers crossed for a return for years. Now, one day after the news, the Curb alum, who is currently the showrunner of HBO's Veep, talks to THR about what it means and what's next.

And it won't just be Mandel returning. He says between himself, Jeff Schaffer (The League) and Alec Berg (Silicon Valley, Barry), who all wrote, executive produced and took turns directing Curb during its run from 2000 to 2011, "at least one of us will be able to be there full time and the other two of us are hoping to help in any way we can."

Mandel also talked to THR about why David was always destined to come back, the other logistical issues still ahead and why everyone can expect "a whole new Larry" this time around.

Read More: Longtime 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' EP Talks "Getting the Band Back Together" for Season 9: "It Won't Be Long"

How are you reacting to the news?

I'm thrilled that he decided to do it. Take out any of my involvement, I'm thrilled as a fan that there's going to be more Curb Your Enthusiasm. We'll get to see at least one new episode - he's going to make somewhere between one and 10 episodes, so I'm really excited about that.

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Did you get the call from HBO or Larry?

I talked to Larry. I talked to him and to Jeff Schaffer and also with Alec Berg, the three of us who have worked on it with Larry.

So Larry gathered the troops.

He reached out, as they say. He reached out.

But you have Veep, and Alec is an executive producer on Silicon Valley -

Read More: 'Veep': New Showrunner Vows to Honor Its Roots, Take Show to a New Place

Is Larry looking at other showrunners or waiting to see what you guys will be able to do?

I have no idea - and you know, it's Curb Your Enthusiasm, we don't use a lot of words like "showrunners." That's a show that sort of existed before showrunner became such a term that we all like to throw around. (Laughs.) It's Larry's show and we kind of help where we can. I know Jeff's going in already and I'm going to try to pop by when I can here and there. The nice thing about Veep and Curb is that there's not a lot of idea crossover. There are shows I could be doing where, if I had an idea, I'd want it for my show. But the good news is: My Veep ideas don't work for Larry and my Larry ideas don't work for Veep. So that's a good thing. It's less of a conflict of interest.

Did Larry just go in to HBO and say, "I'm ready," and they said, "Great! We've been waiting for you to say that"?

I don't know if he ever actually goes in to HBO ... but yes, I do believe they've been hoping and waiting - I believe he could have said anything and they would have said, "Yes, great." If I may tell you, I'm shocked he released a formal, actual statement. It's like a new Larry. In the past, we've worked like a year on it before anyone ever knew or suspected. It was less of when there was a question of Curb, but he'd work on it for a while before he'd let anybody know he was close to anything. This is a whole new Larry. This is a very open and media-friendly Larry David.

What do you attribute this to - Saturday Night Live and being Bernie Sanders so frequently?

Exactly. (Laughs.)

Do you think all of his recent TV appearances pushed him back into it?

Did he talk at all about what made him finally say yes?

I visited him in New York when he was doing his show last year. It's like a joke but, he's always carried his little notebook. It was just a matter of being away from it just enough to miss it. I know it sounds silly, and I look very right and I look very correct now, but I always thought he would do it again.

You did say that to THR weeks ago.

But I would have said it a year ago, too. I couldn't tell you when, I just always thought.

Read More: Larry David Tells 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Co-Star He's "Thinking About Coming Back"

Do you know if he approached any of the cast? J.B. Smoove said last week that he got the call from Larry.

I didn't ask, but I would assume he sort of reached out to everybody. And again, him saying he's ready, that means he's going to start writing. They're not ready for production tomorrow. So I'm sure there will be a lot to figure out. Jeff [Garlin]'s schedule, Susie [Essman]'s schedule, J.B.'s schedule, Larry's schedule, and besides, people like myself who have gone on to other things, a lot of his favorite crew people are probably working on other things, and I'm sure it will become a little bit of, how can the people who want to work on the show figure out how to work on the show? That will be a little bit of a thing. So, I don't think it will be tomorrow.

I believe Jeff has in his Goldbergs contract that if Curb comes back he can do it.

I have no doubt about that, and that's one of the many reasons Jeff Garlin is so great.

What about Cheryl Hines, do you think she'll come back?

In the previous season I think we saw her a couple of times. I think that's a creative decision to be figured out, but obviously, Larry loves her and Larry loves working with her and she brings out a certain side of him in a great way. So, hopefully.

Did Larry say if it would be taking place or shooting in L.A.?

We did not get into any of this! I don't have a lot of answers, I want to be very clear about that. (Laughs.)

Were there any discussions with HBO programming president Casey Bloys?

I had a brief conversation with Casey at some point where he was making sure I knew and I was like, "Oh yeah, I kind of knew." So that was about it.

What does Julia Louis-Dreyfus think?

I assume she's heard about it like everybody else. But I've made it clear, Larry knows what my day job is. He's part of the reason I have the job that I have, so I will try everything I can to help but, one way or another, we're going to start shooting Veep by the start of October. That's my chief concern.

Read More: 'SNL' Reunites 'Seinfeld's' Larry David and Julia Louis-Dreyfus

How do you envision your role then - writing and directing episodes whenever you can?

It would probably be the kind of thing where, if I had to guess, I'll be whatever help I can on the writing side, whether it's a couple of ideas or whatever, and then maybe with any luck, the timing will work out where I could direct a couple. That'd be the dream for me, to be able to do Veep and be able to keep a foot at Curb, I'd be thrilled. In terms of things I want to work on, it couldn't get much better than that, unless the year got longer and there was some way to be in both places at the same time. But barring that, that would be incredible.

So Jeff and Larry are starting to write, pretty much right now?

Oh yeah.

Did he have any guess as to when it would go into production?

Zero. And [it] doesn't concern him. The beautiful thing about Curb Your Enthusiasm, both in the way that Larry does it and in the way HBO lets him do it, is production starts when he feels comfortable with the outlines.

It's been five years, so it will be interesting to see where he picks up with the show.

He could still be in Paris. That's where we left off!

Read More: 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Season Finale: What the Viewers Are Saying

Any ideas or storylines you'd want to see happen?

I have a whole long list of stuff. The great Curb episodes are: Something happens in my life, like I get into a fight with somebody at a bank or something or whatever, and you write it down. Or something happens and you go, "Oh, I wish I said something." And you write that down. So that's how Curb works. I have a long list and I'm sure so does Jeff, so does Larry, it'll be great!

So you've been writing for a while too.

I add to my list.

here.
The Hello Kitty x Line Friends collaboration has ventured into so many different products, it seems natural that backpacks and tote bags would eventually be part of the equation. Today, we are introducing these adorable Hello Kitty x Line Friends Bags to add to your collection!

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Rucksacks

Looking beyond the appealing exterior design of these rucksacks, the functional design of these products are also well taken care of. The back and the shoulder straps of the haversack are thick and padded, providing comfort for everyday use. Additionally, the numerous compartments around the bag really allows for easy storage! Also, the mini compartments in the backpacks interior helps you slot smaller items (i.e. makeup, in different places.

Also, these rucksacks come in three different colours, red, blue and yellow. My personal favourite would probably be the backpack in blue! How can I resist it when Mr. brown is on the cover! Get these backpacks in your favourite colour and design right here!

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Bags

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Bags

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Bags

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Bags

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Bags

(Approx SGD$28.86)

Source: TW mall

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Canvas Bag

Like its haversack line, the Hello Kitty x Line Friends Canvas bags are functional and adorable. The canvas bags come with inner compartments as well, so that the ladies can safe-keep their valuables properly. In addition, with its detachable long straps, you can even carry this canvas bags with different styles! I personally like the blue Canvas Bag as much as the blue backpack, it seems to be able to match most of my everyday outfits!

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Bags

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Bags

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Bags

(Approx SGD$33.04)

Source: TW Mall

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Pouch

This pouch would go so perfectly with my canvas bag! It is definitely convenient to have a small pouch to contain all my daily essentials.

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Bags

Hello Kitty x Line Friends Bags

Source: TW mall

Post a request on Airfrov so that you can strut down the streets of Singapore in these lovable bags! Just click the + button to copy a request, and our friendly travellers going to Taiwan will offer to help you almost immediately! You would probably be the first few in Singapore to carry these must-have bags!

Screen Shot 2016-06-15 at 12.37.48 pm

The post Cute & Roomy Bags featuring Hello Kitty & Line Friends appeared first on Airfrov Blog.
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f11735%2fcolbert-radcliffe

In the run up to the release of Swiss Army Man  an extremely unique movie starring Daniel Radcliffe as a gassy, talking corpse  the actor attempted to describe the film to a confused Stephen Colbert.

Radcliffe gave a very comprehensive explanation of his new, "super fun" and one-of-a-kind movie, which co-stars Paul Dano.

He enlightened Colbert on the plot, sharing that, even though his character is technically dead, he farts, talks and gets erections that act as a literal compass....you know, normal corpse things.

If that's not something you think you'd be into, this video will probably convince you otherwise.

Jude Law plays a smoldering, badass pope in new series

This baby elephant splashing around on its birthday will make your day

Gleeful football fans discover world's tiniest elevator in France

Matt LeBlanc and James Corden race each other on teeny, tiny children's scooters
Police officials investigate the back of the Pulse nightclub in Orlando on Tuesday after Sundays mass shooting. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)

Some survivors of the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando are joining critics who say the three hours police spent negotiating with the gunman before storming the building was too long.

I was yelling at the cops, Angel Colon, who was shot five times during Sundays attack inside the Pulse nightclub before he was dragged to safety, told Foxs Good Day New York. I didnt understand why they didnt go in. There is no reason why they should be standing there with all these gunshots going off. I have videos of me yelling at the cops to go in there.

Jeannette McCoy, who was with Colon at the club and able to escape before the standoff, also questioned how the police handled the situation.

Why couldnt we have taken care of this much earlier? There were people in there bleeding to death, McCoy told the New York affiliate. A part of me puts a sense of blame on them. Im sorry, but I was there. They could have done something.

The gunman, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, opened fire inside the club shortly after 2 a.m., authorities and witnesses say. An off-duty police officer who was working as a security guard just outside Pulses entrance confronted Mateen and exchanged gunfire, and the shooter ran back inside, holing up in a bathroom, where police say he was holding several hostages.

Shooting at Pulse Nightclub on S Orange. Multiple injuries. Stay away from area. pic.twitter.com/5Di2mc6XUY  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 12, 2016

But more than three hours passed before a SWAT team successfully breached the wall of the club with an armored vehicle, engaged Mateen in a shootout as he tried to flee and killed him, putting an end to a massacre that left 49 dead and 53 wounded  the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

Several experts said the delay may have contributed to the death toll.

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Action beats inaction 100 percent of the time, Chris Grollnek, an active-shooter expert and a retired police officer and SWAT team member, told the Associated Press. When we see SWAT teams respond and not making entry [it] creates victims. Period. End of story.

Grollnek told the New York Daily News that the police response in Orlando was a catastrophic failure.

Police are trained that if theres an active shooter in progress, you go in and confront the shooter at any risk, he said. When an active shooter is shooting, you go in and shoot the shooter.

On Monday, Orlando Police Chief John Mina defended the decision to wait, saying they believed Mateen  who called 911 several times during the standoff  had explosives inside.

Scott Reitz, a retired Los Angeles police SWAT team firearms and tactics instructor, told LA Weekly that Mina made the right call.

If an individual goes in and rigs the place with explosives and you breach it, everybody gets blown to bits, Reitz told LA Weekly. You inadvertently set off an IED.

The train of thought is, If hes calling, maybe we can negotiate. Maybe we can get him to surrender,' Reitz continued.

Crisis negotiators said Mateen was calm when they spoke with him, but when he asserted his intent to kill more people, Mina decided to go in.

We believed further loss of life was imminent, Mina said. It was a hard decision to make, but it was the right decision. Our No. 1 priority is on saving lives, and it was the right decision to make.

Ed Allen, training program manager at the National Tactical Officers Association, said it was a textbook case.

If there is a window of opportunity for us to resolve the situation peacefully, well take advantage of it, Allen told the New York Times. But when the suspect escalates the level of violence, we are forced to intervene.

But Louis R. Anemone, a former chief of department for the NYPD, told the newspaper the situation in Orlando wasnt so clear.

Is it an active shooting case or a hostage case? Its a very fine line, Anemone said. What are the facts initially? If there were shots being fired inside when the police arrived, they had a moral obligation to go in.

Orlando police first tried to breach an exterior wall with an explosive device, but the hole wasnt big enough, Mina said. So a BearCat was used to punch a 2-by-3-foot hole in the wall about 2 feet off the ground.

We were able to rescue dozens and dozens of people who came out of that wall, Mina said. The suspect came out of that hole himself with a handgun and a long gun and engaged in a gun battle with officers where he was ultimately killed.

If you waited and he didnt kill more people, it was the right call, Reitz said.

Mina, though, said it was possible that some victims may have been killed by officers during the shootout with Mateen.

Thats all part of the investigation, Mina said. But I will say when our SWAT officers, about eight or nine officers, opened fire, the backdrop was a concrete wall and they were being fired upon.

Related slideshows:

Slideshow: Victims of the Florida nightclub shooting >>>



Slideshow: Front page coverage of the Orlando mass shooting >>>

Slideshow: World reacts to Orlando mass shooting >>>

Slideshow: Shooting rampage at Florida nightclub >>>
Washington (AFP) - The grim news for newspapers: digital is doing little to rescue them from their deepening woes.

Reeling from weak circulation and ad revenue, the traditional newspaper world faces an ugly picture while social media and tech firms benefit from the shift to digital, a Pew Research Center study released on Wednesday found.

Average weekday newspaper circulation -- print and digital combined -- fell seven percent in 2015, the greatest decline since 2010, Pew's annual "State of the News Media" report found.

Although digital circulation gained a slight two percent, that amounted to just 22 percent of total circulation, and online subscriptions have done little for the overall revenue picture, Pew said.

It found that total 2015 advertising revenue among publicly traded newspaper companies declined almost eight percent, reflecting weakness in digital as well as print.

To make matters worse, newspaper newsroom employment fell 10 percent last year, the biggest drop since 2009, the researchers found.

"Newspapers had a near recession-level year," Pew researcher Jesse Holcomb said.

- Tech firms reap gains -

Major tech companies are reaping most of the revenues from online news, Pew found.

"There is money being made on the web, but news organizations have not been the primary beneficiaries," the report said.

Total digital advertising spending grew 20 percent last year to around $60 billion, a higher growth rate than in 2013 and 2014, Pew said.

"But compared with a year ago, even more of the digital ad revenue pie -- 65 percent -- is now swallowed up by just five tech companies," the report said, naming Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Twitter.

"Increasingly, the data suggest that the impact these technology companies are having on the business of journalism goes far beyond the financial side to the very core elements of the news industry itself."

Facebook took in some 30 percent of digital display ad revenue last year, or $8 billion, according to Pew. Google accounted for 16 percent.

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Some news publishers still make profits "but it's a mixed picture," while a handful of digital companies "are sucking up the oxygen," Holcomb said.

Part of the reason for the revenue shift is due to how people discover news -- often by happenstance on social networks or by searching online -- the researcher added.

"Our relationship with news is in a state of change," he said.

"Most people who say they get news on a platform like Facebook are not necessarily looking for news, news is just one of the things they stumble across."

Since the Newspaper Association of America stopped reporting revenue figures for the newspaper industry as a whole in 2013, Pew tracked data from the seven publicly traded newspaper groups, which owned some 300 dailies at the end of last year.

The data accurately tracks the sector even though a majority of newspapers are privately held, the research firm said.

- Mixed news -

The picture was more nuanced elsewhere in the media industry.

Some digital news startups appear to be generating revenues and profits, although data has been spotty, Holcomb said.

"Even among these promising digital news startups, there is a feeling of uncertainty," he said.

"The market hasn't become clear nor has the business model," he added.

"These companies are still experimenting, they are still pivoting. There are some superstars, but it's not entirely clear if there is a wider path to profitability."

Those digital news operators include BuzzFeed, Vox Media and Business Insider. Although several have raised capital from investors, as private firms they are not required to report financial results.

In television, network broadcasters increased ad revenue by six percent in the evening and 14 percent in the morning. Cable news channels were projected to increase their revenues by 10 percent and experience profit gains, Pew said.

It also found radio remains an important news source for around 25 percent of Americans, and is getting some help from digital technologies and podcasts.

But overall radio revenues were flat in 2015, with a three percent decline in traditional AM/FM spot advertising offset by gains in digital and off-air advertising, the report said.
Disney World is closing its beaches, ferry boats and marinas out of an abundance of caution the company said Wednesday after an alligator attacked a 2-year-old last night near the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

The alligator dragged a child who was wading in a no swimming area at the Seven Seas Lagoon into the water. This is a man-made lake that connects to the parks canals.

The Orange County Sheriffs Department has deemed this a search and rescue operation.

We are very hopeful, a spokesman said at a news conference this morning. Sometimes you get the worst, but we are hoping for the best.

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Dolce & Gabbana is bringing its fashion to the streets.

The Italian fashion house has released the images for its Autumn/Winter 2016 campaign, with the everyday citizens of Naples taking on a starring role.

The brand called in photojournalist Franco Pagetti to shoot the campaign in the historical center of the bustling Italian city, with the starring model Bianca Balti mixing with the town's residents as well as passers-by for a series of fascinating portraits.

The cobbled streets of the Spaccanapoli neighbourhood and the city's famous Via dei Tribunali, San Gregorio Armeno, piazza San Domenico Maggiore and via San Paolo provide the setting for the images, which see designer-clad models dancing around busking musicians and laughing with an elderly woman at the market. One picture sees the female models walk bashfully though a cheering crowd, but all feature locals going about their daily business, exiting restaurants, selling chocolate and admiring pretty girls.

The brief was certainly a change for Pagetti, whose previous photojournalism work has seen him cover conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Libya. A statement from designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana stated: "He's one of the best in the business thanks to his bravery, his ingenuity and his skill. He is a tough operator. He will find the right shot for sure."

The campaign is the latest in a long list of love letters to Italy from Dolce & Gabbana, with the most recent example seeing the pair recruit silver screen legend Sophia Loren to play the mother of five sons who set about restoring their ancient Sicilian family property in a mini trilogy to launch the fragrance "Dolce Rosa Excelsa."
Presidential hopeful Donald Trump is taking a rhetorical beating after accusing United States troops of lining their pockets with funds meant for rebuilding Iraq after military operations there.

"Iraq, crooked as hell. How about bringing baskets of money  millions and millions of dollars  and handing it out?" Trump said at a Tuesday rally, Politico reported. "I want to know who were the soldiers that had that job, because I think they're living very well right now, whoever they may be."



Read more: Donald Trump Says Orlando Victims Could Have Saved Themselves if They Were Armed

There are indeed many accounts of graft among members of the U.S. military assigned to oversee the reconstruction of war-torn Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2015, the Center for Public Integrity reported that over the prior decade, "115 U.S. service members [had] been convicted of crimes valued at more than $50 million in Iraq and Afghanistan, including stealing, rigging contracts, and taking bribes."

Trump suggested tonight that American soldiers in Iraq stole cash intended for reconstruction of Iraq, are "living very well" now

Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks later walked back the candidate's comments, saying the presumptive Republican nominee had been referring to Iraqi, not American troops.

But Trump's accusations sat poorly with critics, particularly in light of his heavy boosterism of the American military and veterans. The Manhattanite himself never served, having received multiple draft deferments during the Vietnam era.

Among the candidate's most vocal critics Wednesday: Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, a Democrat whose name has been floated as a potential running mate for presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

".@timkaine: When I hear Trump say, 'The American military is a disaster,' I want to... shake the guy"

"Yesterday was the birthday of the Army," Kaine said during an appearance on MSNBC.

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"He insinuated that American soldiers were stealing money in Iraq. He said that. Trump has been going around saying repeatedly 'the American military is a disaster,'" added Kaine, saying that he's not only a member of the Armed Services Committee but the father of a child in military service. "I want to go through the screen and shake the guy. We do not need a commander-in-chief who is going to talk about our troops with disrespect and contempt."

The Army's 241st birthday did not escape Trump's notice.
donald trump north korea

Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he would welcome North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un to the US for negotiations if he were elected president.

Speaking to supporters at a rally in Atlanta, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said that while he would not meet with the dictator in North Korea, Trump would host Kim for talks in the US, albeit without the fanfare of a traditional meeting.

"If he came here, I would accept him," Trump said.

"But I wouldn't give him a state dinner like China or all these other nations who are ripping us off."

Trump first floated the meeting in an interview with Reuters in May, saying that he would "absolutely" meet with the leader of North Korea.

The real-estate mogul doubled down on the claim on Wednesday, suggesting that it could help end the "little fits" the North Korea dictator was subject to over perceived military aggression from adversaries.

"Who the hell cares? I'll speak to anybody," Trump said on Wednesday. "There's a 10% or 20% chance I could talk him out of having his damn nukes, because who the hell wants him to have nukes?"

The former reality-TV star has repeatedly claimed that the US should renegotiate defense treaties with Japan and South Korea, which allow the US to maintain bases in their territories in exchange for protection in the event that either country is attacked. Trump has also advocated for China to assert pressure on North Korea to back off its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

"It's something I've been talking about for a long time. You have this madman over there who probably would use [nuclear weapons]," Trump said of the North Korean dictator during an interview in January.

"And nobody talks to him, other than, of course, Dennis Rodman. That's about it."

North Korea was not so keen on Trump's proposed meeting.

A North Korean senior state official told Reuters that it was "nonsense."

"It's for utilization of the presidential election, that's all. A kind of a propaganda or advertisement," said So Se Pyong, North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations. "This is useless, just a gesture for the presidential election."

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For her part, Hillary Clinton criticized Trump's suggestions as naive.

In a broad national security speech last week, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said that Trump's insistence that other nations pay the US more for protections ignored America's national security interests.

"Its no small thing when he suggests that America should withdraw our military support for Japan, encourage them to get nuclear weapons, and he said this about a war between Japan and North Korea  and I quote  'If they do, they do. Good luck, enjoy yourself, folks,'" Clinton said.

"I wonder if he even realizes hes talking about nuclear war."

NOW WATCH: Watch the Secret Service jump to protect Sanders after 5 protesters rushed the stage





More From Business Insider


For those who have somehow managed to erase the man with the piercing blue eyes in the image below from their short-term memory, first of all, how dare you, but second of all, allow us to re-educate you on the beauty that is Jeremy Meeks.

Hot Mugshot Guy Jeremy Meeks





Back in 2014, Meeks caused mass hysteria after the Stockton Police Department posted his mugshot to their Facebook page. Women from all over the world flocked to the page to leave their own lascivious opinions in the comment section about the newly incarcerated gentleman in the photo, and the rest will go down in meme history. The photo, which is undoubtedly the most popular in the history of Stocktons precinct, currently has around 101,000 likes, 12,757 shares, and 26,377 comments.

Although its been quite awhile since we last saw Meeks, the convict-turned-model just made his first official foray into modeling, three months after his release from a two year jail sentence in California and a little over one year since he signed with modeling agency White Cross Management. And the latest headshots posted to the Instagram account of the most lusted-over man to ever go viral do not disappoint.

#warriors #dubnation #hometeam A photo posted by JEREMY MEEKS (@jmeeksofficial) on Jun 13, 2016 at 4:51pm PDT

RELATED VIDEO: Would Chrissy Teigen Give Up Modeling for Fried Chicken?



RELATED PHOTOS: Elle Macphersons 6 Beauty Rules for Feeling Like a Supermodel Every Day

Turns out it wasnt just the lighting or the magical photography skills of the police officer at central booking. That headshot was no fluke and Meeks proves it yet again with eyes that could get him mistaken for a White Walker from Game of Thrones and cheekbones that could julienne your vegetables better than any Michelin-star chef.

Count down #housearrest #bayarea A photo posted by JEREMY MEEKS (@jmeeksofficial) on Jun 14, 2016 at 4:59pm PDT

Did we mention he also threw in a topless shot just for good measure? Well leave you now to collect yourself and wipe up the drool thats inevitably swamped your keyboard. What a time to be alive.

What do you think of Hot Mugshot Guys first foray into modeling? What campaigns would you like to see him star in?

Emily Kirkpatrick


A woman in Northern Ireland was given a three-month sentence (the same length of time Brock Turner will serve for sexual assault) suspended for one year for buying pills online to induce her own abortion. That's because abortion is still illegal in Northern Ireland.

So on Tuesday, June 21, a drone will fly from Ireland to the region to deliver abortion pills to spotlight the lengths to which people in Northern Ireland must go to for a safe abortion.

The Abortion Drone is a joint effort between Alliance for Choice, Rosa, Labour Alternative and Women on Waves. It aims to symbolize the obstacles of Irish people living in a region where abortion is illegal.

"It is an all-island act of solidarity between women in the north and the south to highlight the violation of human rights caused by the existing laws that criminalize abortion in both the north and south of Ireland except in very limited circumstances," the Women on Waves press release says.

As stands, having an abortion in Northern Ireland is considered a felony with very limited exceptions  abortion is only permitted for the "purpose only of preserving the life of the mother."

The abortion drone

Following the Abortion Drone's journey next week, there will be a protest in front of the Court of Appeal in Belfast during which the appeal will be heard for the High Court's decision that Northern Ireland's abortion laws "breaches the European Convention on Human Rights," according to the press release.

On June 9th, the UN Human Rights Committee ruled that Ireland's abortion laws violated the human rights of Amanda Mellet  a dual citizen of Ireland and the US who was denied an abortion following a diagnosis of fatal fetal anomaly in 2011, Amnesty USA reported. The UN Committee said Ireland put Mullet through "intense physical and mental suffering" and called on the country to "amend its law on voluntary termination of pregnancy."

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The Abortion Drone flight echoes this message that people have a right to sexual and reproductive health.

"Research has shown that abortion pills are safe to use at home until 10 weeks of pregnancy and even if countries restrict access to abortion, women will obtain abortion pills by mail or by drone," Women on Waves said in an email.

And this isn't Women on Waves' first flight  in 2015, it flew an Abortion Drone into Poland, another country with restrictive abortion laws.
By Steve Keating (Reuters) - Russian athletes continue to fail drug tests and obstruct doping control officers, the World Anti-Doping Agency said on Wednesday in a damning report that paints a gloomy picture of efforts to enact doping reforms. The WADA report, which covers a six-month period from last November following the suspension of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, comes two days before athletics' governing body rules on whether Russian competitors can compete in the Rio Olympics. According to the report, Russian athletes returned 52 adverse findings, including 49 for meldonium. It also said there were 23 missed tests, which the report called "significant," 111 whereabouts failures and 736 tests were declined or canceled. Testers were also routinely obstructed from gaining access to athletes who used military cities as the location for their whereabouts knowing doping control officers would need special permission to gain access. "The report today outlines some of the serious challenges faced in implementing an effective testing program in Russia, and it indicates that much work still needs to be done," WADA said in a statement. "It is clear that cultural change is required to embrace clean sport. There is clearly still a long road ahead to ensure all athletes, national federations and support personnel understand the importance of a robust anti-doping program." According to WADA, drug testers were reportedly intimidated when accessing military cities by armed agents threatening them with expulsion from the country. Once allowed to enter, security staff created significant delays for testers entering venues and were closely monitored once inside, the report said. The update arrived ahead of the International Association of Athletics Federations key vote on Friday on whether to allow Russian track and field athletes to compete at the Aug. 5-21 Rio Olympics. Russia was suspended from all athletics competitions in November after an independent report from the WADA revealed widespread state-sponsored doping. The latest update on testing from WADA certainly will not help the Russian cause. The update revealed several examples of widespread efforts to avoid testing, including one detailed instance where an athlete tried to use a container inserted inside her body that presumably contained clean urine. But according to WADA, when the athlete tried to use the container it leaked onto the floor and not into the collection vessel. The athlete then threw the container into the trash and tried to bribe the doping control officer. She eventually provided a sample which WADA said returned an adverse analytical finding. One athlete was seen running away from the mixed zone after competing in an athletics event as a chaperone was coming to notify of a drug test while another left the stadium during her a race and could not be located. The report said some Russian athletes did not complete events or withdrew from start lists in an effort to elude doping control officers. WADA also received reports of a laboratory with centrifuge and other analytical equipment had been setup during the Russian national freestyle wrestling championships that athletes could freely visit. (Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Frank Pingue)
A server in Colorado thought he'd done a great job when a man left a shocking $1,000 tip.

But the customer wasn't a generous high-roller  he was just drunk.

The server at Thailicious, located outside Denver in Edgewater, took the tip to proprietor Bee Anantatho immediately.

"We heard about people giving 100-dollar tips but not 1,000 so we were surprised," Anantatho said.

Watch: Man Writes Offensive Note to Waitress Instead of Leaving A Tip

But the Bangkok-style Thai joint has been steadily growing a loyal following since Anantatho and her husband immigrated to Denver five years ago.

"We were happy because at first we want to give our best service to our customers," Anantatho told InsideEdition.com.

But sensing something might not be what it appeared to be, the restaurateur took the tip  totaling $1,088  and held onto it in case the customer returned.

Watch: Teen Waiter Shocked To Find Bible Pamphlet Disguised As $20 Tip

Some part of me believed it was a mistake because it was too much for a tip." she said.

Turns out, she was right.

The next day, the man returned and asked for his money back. He was "a little drunk," he said, and left all the money he had instead of the $40 cost of the bill.

While it wasn't even close to what he left originally, the server was given an impressive $60 tip.

Watch: Woman Surprised with $1,000 Tip for Pizza Delivery

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The Durban Intl. Film Festival returns to South Africas sun-spangled coast June 16-26, with a broad slate of programming from across the continent offering what is arguably the worlds premier showcase for African cinema.

The 37th edition will again boast strong local roots, with nearly half of the 100 feature-length films screening in 15 venues across the city showcasing the works of African filmmakers. The host nation, too, will have a strong presence, with 10 fiction features and 14 docs slated to screen, including a number of world premieres.

Acting festival director Peter Machen says this years program really tackles the kind of intersectional issues that are coming out of South Africa, and the world, at the moment. Its a really eclectic program, and I hope that it captures the zeitgeist.

Among the South African highlights will be arthouse helmer Oliver Hermanus The Endless River, a brutal portrait of small-town violence which premiered in Venice last year; South African comic Kagiso Ledigas star turn in director John Barkers political mockumentary Wonder Boy for President; and Tess, a searing drama about a street-savvy Cape Town prostitute, which marks the fiction feature debut for Meg Rickards, whose doc 1994: The Bloody Miracle, won an audience award in Durban in 2014.

Key selections from around the continent include The Revolution Wont Be Televised, a hard-hitting doc about rap music and political resistance in Senegal, which scooped the international critics Fipresci prize for helmer Rama Thiaw when it premiered in Berlin; Naked Reality, the latest from Cameroonian provocateur Jean-Pierre Bekolo; and Nawara, Egyptian filmmaker Hala Khalils biting social commentary about the aftermath of her countrys 2011 revolution.

Alongside the festival is an industry program that looks to boost capacity inside the continent while building bridges with the global film community. In addition to a series of workshops and panel discussions, the seventh annual Durban FilmMart will offer 19 projects from across Africa a chance to meet with potential financiers, co-producers and distributors. And the ninth edition of Talents Durban, in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, brings together 20 African filmmakers for a series of workshops, master classes, and networking opportunities with industry professionals.

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This years edition unfolds against a stormy backdrop in Durban, where local bizzers will hope to drive off the clouds that have gathered around the festival in recent weeks.

Last month fest manager Sarah Dawson abruptly resigned after a row with DIFF management over the selection process for the opening film, threatening to throw the festival into turmoil.

Dawson alleged interference by South African super-producer Anant Singh and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, whose Center for Creative Arts manages DIFF, when Singhs Shepherds and Butchers was selected to bow the festival without consultation from its advisory panel.

Singh and university officials insisted the apartheid-era drama, directed by South African helmer Oliver Schmitz and starring British thesp Steve Coogan, was selected purely on merit. After organizers bowed to public pressure and replaced Shepherds with local doc The Journeymen on opening night, Singh pulled his pic from the festival.

Machen expressed his regret over the way the spat spilled over into the press, but hes been heartened by the support and concern from people around the world, adding, I think the worst is behind us.

The uncertainty has bruised the reputation of a fest thats been a vital part of the countrys cultural landscape since the apartheid era, when provocative and politically charged movies  many facing censorship from the apartheid government  were able to find a rare platform to reach South African audiences.

Durban has been no stranger to controversy in recent years, with 2013 opener Of Good Report getting banned by the South Africa Film and Publication Board on the eve of its premiere, prompting the filmmakers to take to the stage on opening night in protest.

Throughout the ups and downs, though, DIFF has soldiered on, according to Toni Monty, head of the Durban Film Office. Its like a marriage, really, she says, while stressing how vital it is that the festival and its partners have stuck together through the good times and the bad times.

Its a very important platform for Durban. Its a very important platform for the country. And its a very important platform for the continent, she says.

Related stories

Durban FilmMart Opens Screen Doors to African Talent

Durban Festival Spotlights Strong Slate of African Films

Durban: Rookie Helmer Bass Wins Top South African Film Prize
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Dutch Safety Board said on Wednesday it would examine the country's preparedness for a cross-border accident involving radioactive material. In a statement, the agency charged with protecting public safety said it would look in particular at how the Dutch and Belgian authorities collaborate on supervising their aging nuclear plants. The investigation will focus primarily on the Netherlands' only commercial plant in Borssele, and Belgium's two commercial plants in Doel and Tihange, which were both taken off-line temporarily in 2012 due to safety concerns. (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Catherine Evans)
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch marine ship in the EU border agency Frontex rescued nearly 200 migrants on a sinking ship in the Mediterranean, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday. Among those onboard were 16 children and two pregnant women, the ministry said in a statement. The Dutch responded to a distress signal from the vessel, which was on the verge of capsizing. It was a week into a crossing from Egypt to Sicily. The migrants were given food, water and medical care, it said. The Netherlands has contributed a ship, aircraft and marines to Frontex, which is responding to an unprecedented number of migrants arriving in southern Europe. Between Jan. 1 and June 5 this year, more than 2,800 deaths were recorded in the whole of the Mediterranean, the vast majority on the central Mediterranean route from North Africa, compared with 3,770 in 2015, said UNICEF. (Reporting By Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
Today in One Paragraph

Washington, D.C., holds its Democratic primary. President Obama denounced Donald Trumps rhetoric in light of the Orlando nightclub attack, and House Speaker Paul Ryan stood by his criticism of Trumps proposed Muslim ban. Hackers connected to the Russian government stole opposition research on Trump from the Democratic National Committee, according to security experts. The U.S. Senate passed the annual defense bill, which includes a provision requiring women to register for the draft. And in a win for net neutrality, the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled to define broadband internet as a utility.

Top News

Primary Season Draws to a Close. Democrats in Washington, D.C., head to the polls for the final nominating contest of the primary season. While Hillary Clinton is the presumptive Democratic nominee, voters will also cast their ballots for local races. Were following it live here. (The Atlantic)

Recommended: What Obama Actually Thinks About Radical Islam

Obama Rebukes Trump. During remarks at the U.S. Treasury Department, an angry President Obama slammed Donald Trumpwithout naming himfor repeating his dangerous proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country, suggesting such proposals ultimately threaten national security, and House Speaker Paul Ryan said a ban was not reflective of our principles. The president also fired back at critics pushing him to use the term radical Islamic terrorism, dubbing it a political distraction. Donald Trump responded in a statement to the AP, saying Obama continues to prioritize our enemy over our allies. The president is scheduled to visit Orlando, Florida, on Thursday. (CNN; ABC News; AP; USA Today)

Hacked. Russian government hackers accessed the Democratic National Committees database of opposition research on presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump, according to committee officials, and were also able to read all emails and chat records of DNC employees. The intrusion is fairly traditional espionage, rather than a criminal attack, experts say. No personal or donor information appears to have been taken. (Ellen Nakashima, The Washington Post)

Story continues

Defense Bill Passed. The Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act by a 85-13 vote, eliminating the risk of a possible veto from the White House. Among the contentious provisions in the $602 billion bill is language that would require Americas young women to sign up for the draft for the first time ever. (Politico; The Washington Post)

Recommended: Donald Trump Takes on the NRA

A Complete Win for Net Neutrality. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected challenges to the Obama administration's net neutrality rules, which prohibits broadband companies from selectively slowing the delivery of internet content to consumers. FCC chairman Tom Wheeler called the ruling a victory for consumers and innovators. Critics of net neutrality say the ruling gives the FCC unmitigated power over the internet. (Andrew M. Harris and Todd Shields, Bloomberg)

Tomorrow in One Paragraph. Donald Trump will hold a rally in Georgia, and Hillary Clinton will host a conversation on national security in Virginia.

Follow stories throughout the day with our new Politics & Policy page. And keep on top of the campaign with our 2016 Distilled election dashboard.

Top Read

Well-compensated, highly intelligent, and very publicly defeated, each one of them is still angry, both at Trump and at the media. Each one of them has theories about how we got to this very disconcerting place in American political history. And not one of them is prepared to vote for Trump. The Huffington Posts Sam Stein on how Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubios campaign managers feel about the presumptive GOP nominee.

Top Lines

Step One. It is important to distinguish between Islam and Islamism, Maajid Nawaz writes for The Daily Beast, but insisting that Muslim terrorists are not Muslim just scores points for Islamophobes.

Recommended: The Narcissist

#SorryNotSorry. Hillary Clinton has never apologized for the now unpopular welfare reform she pushed in the 1990s because she sees no reason to about-face on the issue that helped her evolve from an idealistic advocate to a pragmatic politician. (Bryce Covert, The Atlantic)

Meet Michele Fiore. The two-term Nevada assemblywoman has the reputation of being the most radical, pro-gun candidate running for Congress in 2016. (Nick R. Martin, BuzzFeed)

Top View

The Party Lexicon. Heres a side-by-side comparison of the words Democrats and Republicans used to describe and discuss the attack in Orlando. (Wilson Andrews and Larry Buchanan, The New York Times)

We want to hear from you! Were reimagining what The Edge can be, and would love to receive your complaints, compliments, and suggestions. Tell us what youd like to find in your inbox by sending a message to newsletters@theatlantic.com.

-Written by Elaine Godfrey (@elainejgodfrey)

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Just one day after graduating from high school, Elle Fanning had yet another reason to celebrate as she made her way down the purple carpet at Tuesdays premiere of her new film The Neon Demon. Fanning sparkled in a sequin gown at the ArcLight Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, where she was joined by co-stars Jena Malone, Keanu Reeves, Bella Heathcote and Christina Hendricks, as well as director Nicolas Winding Refn and composer Cliff Martinez.

Fanning said she was drawn to the film  which centers on her character, Jesse, as she breaks into the modeling industry in L.A. and becomes the envy of other beauty-obsessed models  because of its horror-like aspects and the chance to delve into a different type of role.

I think everyone has a side to them that is a little darker, Fanning explained to Variety, Going to that place was actually very, very fun and we made her a little bit darker than the script was initially.

After writing and directing his last film, Only God Forgives, Refn said he knew the concept that he wanted to pursue in this female-centric project.

I wanted to make a horror film about beauty, Refn said. Ive always been interested in beauty as a concept, and in a way its very shallow, but its also very complex and its a great backdrop for a horror film.

Martinez said Refn called him before he had even written the script, and told him that this new film would be all about women. The Neon Demon marks the third collaboration between Refn and Martinez, who also composed the music for Drive and Only God Forgives.

Because many of the scenes contain very little dialogue, Martinezs music plays a key role in setting the tone and building suspense.

Some of the most adventurous contemporary music is in horror movies, Martinez said. Nicolas films are always a little bit more challenging because nobody talks a lot in his films and he gives the music a big, fat, juicy role, so thats kind of a flattering challenge.

Story continues

As guests made their way into the theater, Amazon Studios head Roy Price introduced Refn, who called up his cast and told the audience, I want to encourage everyone here to take out their cell phones and get ready because tonight we celebrate narcissism as a quality.

I would recommend selfies, he added, prompting many audience members to snap photos of themselves with the cast in the background before the screening began.

Following the premiere, guests made their way to the after-party at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery where the world of The Neon Demon came to life. The outdoor soiree featured decorations and lighting reminiscent of scenes from the movie, as well as a photo booth and vanities where makeup artists created runway-ready looks, complete with glitter eye shadow and rhinestones. In keeping with the horror aspects of the film, the nights culinary offerings even included eyeball cake pops.

The Neon Demon bows June 24.

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The murder of 49 people at Pulse in Orlando has spurred an outpouring of grief, anger, love and calls for change across the globe. At his concert in Liverpool on Tuesday night Elton John took a moment to talk about all those emotions, but also about how he sees a glimpse of hope out of the horrible tragedy, which experts speculate could have been both an act of terrorism and homophobia.

Lady Gaga Shares Story of Strength After Meeting With Orlando Victim's Friend

"When a horror like this massacre in Orlando comes along, great agony crashes across the world like a tsunami. And great grief. We feel shocked, angry and feel devastated inside for the victims and the loved ones who are mourning them," John said, according to a statement issued by a spokesperson.

John told the crowd at ECHO Arena that he's been busy in recent months working with Lady Gaga on the Love and Bravery project that's about "having love to accept everyone for who they are. Especially people who are different from you and the bravery to show it." And while the reportedly self-radicalized madman behind the spree that also injured 53 appeared unable to accept the patrons at Pulse, John said he was able to find a sliver of light in the darkness.

Paul McCartney, Demi Lovato Pay Tribute to Orlando Pulse Victims

"What I find extraordinary and what really gives me strength and hope is that immediately behind that devastation came a different wave. A rainbow colored wave of love, from Istanbul to Tel Aviv, from Sydney Opera House to the Eiffel Tower to the Empire State Building and the White House," he said of the many international landmarks that lit up in rainbow colors in honor of the victims and their families.

Lady Gaga and Elton John Partner for Macy's Clothing Line

John, a longtime LGBTQ rights supporter who has raised more than $349 million for HIV prevention and education via his Elton John AIDS Foundation since 1992, added, "so tonight, while I would like to honor and mourn the LGBT community's loss in Orlando and the loss of everyone who has been a victim of hate and stigma and dogma, I would like to say tonight we are winning the fight against prejudice. The rainbow around the world tells me we can and we will win against these people."
(Empire of the Sun perform at the Doritos #MixArcade at E3 2016. Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images)

Luke Steele, frontman of Australian space-rockers Empire of the Sun, jokes that hes slowly becoming an American after living in Los Angeles for several years. L.A., they say, is the storytelling capital of the world, he says, chatting with Yahoo Music backstage before Empires concert at the Doritos Mix Arcade event at Los Angeless E3 Gaming Expo this week. Its an imaginative playground for all ages. I think its the gateway to the world, really. Thats whats exciting for me. The opportunities are endless.

However, after the tragic massacre at gay nightclub Pulse last weekend (along with the gunning down of Voice star Christina Grimmie in the same city, Orlando), one has to ask what the Perth-born Steele thinks of America these days. After strict gun-control laws were instated in his native country 20 years ago, the chances of being murdered by a gun in Australia plunged by 72 percent, according to Reuters  and the country has had no mass shootings since. Many gun-control activists cite Australias policies when criticizing the more lenient gun laws in America.

No one has guns in Australia  except for the police, or farmers. That just seems to make sense, Steele says. Why does everyone need a gun? Thats just what I do not understand. Its kind of scary, the way the world is going I just dont understand why they dont just ban guns [in the United States]. Like, if someone wants to be President, why dont they make that one of the things theyll do?

For now, though, Steele is still living the American dream: His groups fittingly titled debut single, Walking on a Dream, has surprisingly become their first U.S. radio hit a full eight years after its original release, thanks to its inclusion in a Honda commercial. The unexpected revival of the title track off Empires debut LP hasnt derailed the groups plans to release their yet-untitled third album, which they just completed last week  but, Steele admits, it certainly has turned up the stakes a bit.

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Steele describes the forthcoming album, which was partially recorded at two iconic American studios (Jim Henson Studios in Hollywood, and Island Studios in Hawaii, where Kanye West recorded 808s & Heartbreak), as a warm summer breeze, a warm record, a record that feels good. Everyone says its our best record  but I suppose people always say that!

Most exciting, however, is that the album will feature two American rock icons, one of which is Fleetwood Macs Lindsey Buckingham. Considering that Ill Be Around, from Empires 2013 sophomore effort Ice on the Dune, basically sounded like an outtake from Fleetwood Macs Mirage album, this new collaboration makes perfect sense.

One of my favorite things to do is sit with my wife, drink white wine, and just listen to records once the kids have gone to bed. And I always end up emailing my manager and saying, I wanna work with this person, Steele chuckles. Nine times out of 10, they never get back to me. But Lindsey got back to us and said, I love the band; I wanna come down to the studio. We jammed for about six hours, and then he came back the next day and we wrote this amazing song, To Her Door.

The other collaboration on the third album, recorded just two weeks ago, is with Wendy Melvoin from Princes Revolution. We were in Jim Henson Studio and she was there; we just happened to be in the same building and we said, Do you want to play on this song? She loved the song, but she said, Theres a certain part of the song that should go to your heart, like a post-chorus. This is the part Im missing. So she added a bass part that goes to that deeper kind of level. Its pretty amazing.

Buckingham wasnt the only collaborator on Steeles late-night email wishlist. Hed love to work one day with Brian Wilson, but most of all, Steeles dream duet would be with another American legend. Ive always loved Carole King since I was a kid. Ive had so many adventures and experiences with Carole King, starting with my mother and father playing [her albums], Steele reveals. Or like, my first girlfriend was a Norwegian girl and then she left and I was heartbroken, and I just listened to Tapestry over and over. And the other day, my daughter had a music day at her school and the first song they sang was Youve Got a Friend. I kind of cant escape it!

Steele jokes that hes still waiting to hear back from King, so perhaps that hoped-for collaboration wont happen until album number four. In the meantime, Empire of the Suns Buckingham/Melvoin-assisted third album is slated for a September or October release, and fans can still hear Walking on a Dream pratically every time they switch on their TV sets.



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Brussels (AFP) - Turkey must still do more to meet the EU's conditions to win visa-free travel for Turks under a migrant crisis deal, for which the deadline is July 1, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

The Commission said there had been only "fragile" success of the deal under which the European Union agreed in March to offer Turkey visa-free access, increased aid and speeded up accession talks in return for Ankara controlling the flood of migrants crossing into Greece.

Turkey has yet to fulfil all of the conditions laid down by the European Commission for the visa agreement, including changes to Ankara's anti-terrorism laws to meet EU concerns over human rights.

"On visa liberalisation, Turkey still needs to fulfil the remaining benchmarks of the roadmap so that visa requirements for Turkey citizens can be lifted soon," said Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.

He was unveiling the latest report by the commission, the executive arm of the 28-nation EU, on the progress of the migrant deal agreed at a summit in Brussels.

Avramopoulos insisted Turkey had made "spectacular" progress by so far fulfilling 65 of the 72 benchmarks set by Brussels "and our people work together with the Turkish authorities to accomplish this goal".

"Turkey has committed to meeting the rest of the benchmarks to allow for visa-free travel for Turkish citizens and we expect them to come to this commitment," he added.

"We are moving ahead."

Turkey's Europe minister has admitted there is no chance of completing the deal on visa-free travel to the EU by the July 1 deadline.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last month that the visa exemption must be introduced by October at the latest. Ankara has threatened to scrap the migrant deal with the EU altogether if visa-free travel is not forthcoming.

"There are some problems today, there are some ups and downs," a senior Turkish official told reporters just ahead of the commission report's publication.

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The Commission's report said that "success achieved so far remains fragile" since the deal was signed.

The commission said migrant arrivals had dramatically dropped because of the deal, to just 47 a day during May compared to a massive 1,740 a day before the deal.

Under the deal 462 irregular migrants who had not applied for asylum had been returned from Turkey to Greece, it added.

Meanwhile, the EU had resettled 511 Syrians from Turkey under a "one for one" clause in the deal, under with the EU takes in one Syrian from camps in Turkey for every Syrian that Turkey takes back from the Greek islands.

More than one million refugees and migrants have flooded into Europe since the start of 2015 in the biggest such crisis to hit the continent since World War II.
Brussels (AFP) - European Union regulators on Wednesday set criteria for identifying harmful chemicals used in everyday products, but more than two years late after a fierce debate with lobbyists and activists.

The issue is highly sensitive one as EU law states that any product judged to contain these chemicals, known as endocrine disruptors, will have to be withdrawn from the market.

These chemicals are potentially found in a huge variety of everyday products, including disinfectants, pesticides and toiletries.

"The Commission is committed to ensuring the highest level of protection of both human health and the environment, which is why we are today putting forward strict criteria for endocrine disrupters  based on science," European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said in a statement.

In 2012, the World Health Organization sounded an alarm over endocrine disruptors, linking them to cancerous tumours, birth defects, and other developmental disorders.

EU rules in 2013 targeted suspected disruptors and the commission, the bloc's executive, agreed to define the criteria for identifying them that year.

But the sensitive decision was delayed by demands by worried chemicals companies for more research.

The delay became so long that in December, Europe's second-highest court found the commission had broken EU law by still failing to set out the criteria.

European health and environment groups said the Commission's criteria contained dangerous loopholes and that the EU had bowed to pressure from the chemical industry.

But a group representing chemicals giants such as Germany's Bayer and US group Dow Chemical also slammed the decision.

"We are extremely disappointed with this proposal from the European Commission," the European Crop Protection Association said in an email to AFP.

The group has warned that if too strict, the EU could encourage the spread of crop diseases and reduce yields by as much as 50 percent.

The commission's proposal will now be negotiated by the European Parliament and with ministers from the EU's 28 member states.
* Passport system allows UK-based banks to sell services across EU

* French minister says "No passport" if Britons vote to leave

* Partners would demand high price for "crown jewel" EU benefit

* Loss would hit UK-based foreign banks, including U.S., Japanese

By Paul Taylor and Francesco Guarascio

BRUSSELS, June 15 (Reuters) - Britain's partners are stepping up warnings that if it votes next week to leave the European Union, banks and financial firms based in London could lose their money-spinning EU "passports".

The City of London vies with New York as the world's biggest financial centre in part thanks to the automatic right to sell services across the 28-nation bloc with low costs and a single set of rules under a system known as passporting, industry and European officials said.

Asked by Reuters what would happen in case of a Brexit after the June 23 referendum, French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said: "There will be no passport, or that would have to be negotiated against a lot of reciprocal concessions."

Sapin said aloud what many EU officials and diplomats are saying privately. Unfettered access for financial services is widely seen as the "crown jewels" of British membership benefits, and London's partners would charge a high price for keeping it, if they were willing to do so at all.

Germany, France, Luxembourg and Ireland would all be vying to pick up business from London in areas such as investment banking, clearing and settlement and fund management.

EU membership gives Britain access to what effectively is a "financial Schengen zone" - a single set of rules that allows banks, including many U.S. and other non-European institutions, to operate freely across the bloc's borders.

Just as the 26-nation Schengen area, which Britain has never joined, permits citizens to travel without border formalities, the single market allows lenders, fund managers and investment firms to operate EU-wide without different national rules and controls.

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Britain is the biggest beneficiary as UK-based banks and investment firms play a key role in European financial markets for derivatives, foreign exchange, cross-border bank lending, asset management and insurance services.

A passporting system allows British-regulated banks to open branches in EU countries simply with a notice to the British supervisory authorities.

Financial services account for 8 percent of British national income, according to the Bank of England. The sector accounts for almost a quarter of all EU financial services income and 40 percent of EU financial services exports. Eighty of 358 banks operating in Britain are headquartered elsewhere in Europe.

"A key concern of many UK banks and investment firms is that the exit of the UK from the EU would mean that they would no longer benefit from the passport and would be subject to similar restrictions as non-EU firms," banking lobby AFME said in a report that raised doubts about the future of London as a hub for continental financial services.

The impact would be as severe on American, Japanese and other non-European banks that have their European headquarters in London. Many are already considering giving up parts of their business in Europe, or moving them to inside the euro zone, in the event of a Brexit.

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Banks would still be able to set up subsidiaries, as opposed to branches, in European countries where they seek to operate, but a banking industry official said "this implies bigger commitments and higher costs". Subsidiaries have to be capitalised separately and are subject to national regulation and potentially to national ring-fencing of liquidity.

The EU treaty provides for two years to negotiate a divorce once a country decides to leave. That period could only be extended by unanimous agreement. When exactly the countdown starts would depend on when a British government formally notified EU partners of its intention to leave.

EU officials say it is unlikely that Britain would give notice at a summit on June 28-29 if next week's referendum vote produces an "Out" result, but they want the process started by the end of the year.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said Britain would have to negotiate withdrawal terms first and become a "third country" before it could reach agreement on any new relationship.

Britain could theoretically keep the passport system if it became part of the European Economic Area of which Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein are members.

But this would mean applying all EU rules automatically without its existing power to influence the legislation. It would also mean paying a contribution to EU coffers for market access and fully implementing the so-called "four freedoms" or movement for capital, goods, services and people.

Since putting an end to the automatic right of EU citizens to work in Britain and stopping net transfers to Brussels are two of the key goals of the Leave campaign, it seems hard to imagine a post-Brexit government accepting such terms.

Yet German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said last week Britain would not be able to continue benefiting from the single market unless it did.

"For that, the country would need to stick to the rules of the club that it now want to quit," Schaeuble told Germany's Der Spiegel magazine. "In is in, out is out."

Alternatively, Britain could try to negotiate bespoke deals with the EU, as Switzerland has done. But this would take much longer than two years, even if the two parties were in full accord, EU financial services commissioner Jonathan Hill told the European Parliament on Tuesday, citing past examples.

(Additional reporting by Emmanuel Jarry in Paris; Editing by Pravin Char)
Liverpool (AFP) - New manager Ronald Koeman says unity and not the bumper transfer kitty he has been promised will be key to turning Everton into English Premier League title contenders.

The 53-year-old Dutchman, who left Southampton on Tuesday, has reportedly been handed A100 million ($141m, 126m euros) as he attempts to make up for two years of underachievement under former Everton boss Roberto Martinez.

"Of course we have a budget to make the team strong but we will do this with all the people who are at Everton," Koeman told everton.tv.

"You can't do it by yourself, you need everybody pulling in the same direction -- the fans, the players, the board, the staff -- to get a very good family feeling and to reach something special."

Koeman, who guided Southampton to seventh and then sixth -- their highest finish in the Premier League -- faces a sizeable task to turn Everton into title challengers, even with the huge funds promised by the club's major shareholder, the billionaire Farhad Moshiri.

Their last silverware was the 1995 FA Cup and the last league title in 1987 in the old First Division, as the Premier League was known then.

"It's a competition, which as we saw last year, is very unpredictable," Koeman said.

"We will do everything to have a really good season and if there is a really good understanding between the players and the fans then we can do something really nice for next season."
Everyone needs to take some time to read Roxane Gays important essay on Stanford rapist Brock Turner and race

Everyone needs to take some time to read Roxane Gays important essay on Stanford rapist Brock Turner and race

In the recent issue of Lenny Letter (a free newsletter by Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner you should definitely sign up for), feminist author and Associate Professor of English at Purdue University Roxane Gay wrote a powerful essay about the role race plays in the Brock Turner sexual assault case. She brings to light many issues in the criminal justice system that have been happening for years, but many of us have simply been trained to overlook them.

Gay recognizes how upsetting it was to hear of Turners short sentencing, but she also reminds us that it was to be expected. Its reported that black men receive sentences that are 20 percent longer than the ones white men receive. For the same crime, however violent or heinous, the America Civil Liberties Union states that black men will always be more likely to do more prison time than whites.

The discrimination doesnt end in the courtroom, though. Gay writes about how we tend to look at and treat black men differently in our society, particularly in the media. She writes:

When black men commit crimes or are alleged to have committed crimes, we immediately learn of their every misdeed from the womb forward. We see their mug shots. We are treated to a recitation of statistics on race, criminality, and incarceration rates.

Black men who are convicted of an offense are quickly reduced to being called criminals and offenders, when Brock Turner has the luxury of being dubbed a successful swimmer and a good young man. Gay points out that Turner is allowed to have a history  one that all but excuses him for raping a woman  while black men have their humanity stripped away from them in the public eye. She continues,

Rarely are these men seen as human, treated as human. They are not sons, fathers, brothers, or friends. They are not men. Instead, they are criminals, and worse, there is no hope for their redemption, there is no possibility that they are anything more than their misdeeds, their mistakes.

I have an essay about Brock Turner and the shelter of whiteness in today's @lennyletter. Subscribe. It's free. https://t.co/oP2askCMrO  roxane gay (@rgay) June 14, 2016

On the other hand, Turner has a multitude of people who are coming forward and insisting that he be granted leniency because of his good character. Gay prompts us to think about how Turners grandparents responded: Brock is the only person being held accountable for the actions of other irresponsible adults.

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His father wrote a now infamous letter to the judge presiding over the sexual assault case, pleading with him to be reduce the sentencing for 20 minutes of action. Leslie Rasmussen, a friend of Turners, says the decision of a girl who doesnt remember anything but the amount she drank shouldnt affect his life so severely. The judge himself, Aaron Persky, pathetically said, A prison sentence would have a severe impact on him. I think he will not be a danger to others.

And lets not forget which of Turners mugshots was released for the world to see. Gay writes:

The most prominent image of Turner was a school photo in a suit jacket and tie, his hair cut neatly, his smile wide. He wasnt referred to as a violent criminal but as a Stanford student, a talented swimmer with ambitions of reaching the Olympics.

The other side of the coin is that black men and teenagers are shown as the villain, even after theyre dead and proven innocent. Trayvon Martin and Tamir Rice were victims of crimes who ended up being unfairly scrutinized and treated as criminals in waiting. Gay even highlights the young boy who fell into the Gorilla World exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo. Speculation began about why he entered the enclosure, as if there could be a reason beyond a childs curiosity and naivete, she says.

Turner is seen as human, as a victim in the crime he committed, Gay says. She also walks us through exactly what Turner did, in order to give us a solid sense of how horrendous it was. She finishes with, Brock Turners crime is revolting. His crime is deliberate. Yet the criminal justice system doesnt see it that way.

The post Everyone needs to take some time to read Roxane Gays important essay on Stanford rapist Brock Turner and race appeared first on HelloGiggles.
In what is understood to be the first order of its kind from a U.S. state court, an Oregon judge has granted a petition allowing a person to legally be classified as non-binary, a gender identity which does not traditionally fit within the male or female dichotomy.



The petition was filed on April 27 by 52-year-old Jamie Shupe, a retired Army sergeant.



"This is the greatest victory of my life," Shupe tells PEOPLE. "I have won the right to legally and accurately define my sense of self and who I exist as. The judge has simply made me whole and corrected the injustices that were done to me by the medical and grossly inadequate government classification systems that I was forced to live under. Hopefully I have freed all of those like me to exist not only authentically, but legally."



"I thought it was a reasonable classification for all the people like me who don't fit under this male or female umbrella," Shupe says of the non-binary gender, which is also sometimes referred to as "genderqueer."







Judge Amy Holmes Hehn, of Multnomah County Circuit Court, granted the petition last Friday, which reads "The sex of Jamie Shupe is hereby changed from female to non-binary. Notice of this legal change shall be posted in a public place in Multnomah County as required by law."



Shupe's lawyer Lake J. Perriguey said that while Oregon law has long allowed one to petition the court for a gender change, it didn't specify male or female.



"The law just says, 'change,' " Perriguey described to CNN. "Historically, people have asked for a gender change from male to female and the other way around, but Jamie is the first to ask for the gender of 'non-binary.' "





Ex-Army Sergeant Granted First Legal Non-Binary Gender Identity in Historic Move: 'This Is the Greatest Victory of My Life'| Gay and Lesbian, Bodywatch, Real People Stories, Transgender

The move is said to be an important development for transgender Americans, which make up approximately 0.3 percent of the U.S. population according to the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles.



Kris Hayashi, the executive director of Oakland, California's Transgender Law Center, told PEOPLE that "a growing number of countries already recognize non-binary genders" and that this was "a historic step towards our government recognizing non-binary members of our community and ensuring they have access to identity documents that reflect who they are, just like everyone else."



"This is incredibly humbling to be the first person to accomplish this," Shupe told the Daily Dot, who first reported the news. "I hope the impact will be that it opened the legal doorway for all that choose to do so to follow me through. We don't deserve to be classified improperly against our will."





Ex-Army Sergeant Granted First Legal Non-Binary Gender Identity in Historic Move: 'This Is the Greatest Victory of My Life'| Gay and Lesbian, Bodywatch, Real People Stories, Transgender

The The New York Times said that Shupe, who was born with male anatomy, was discharged from the Army after 18-years with papers that reflected the female sex. Shupe had previously undergone hormone treatments to transition to a woman, but felt "neither sex fit."



Shupe reportedly explained to Judge Hern that the envelope wasn't being pushed by the petition, but that "the envelope just needs to get bigger."



Since Friday's ruling, Shupe has heard messages of thanks and support from members of the LGBTQ community, of which non-binary individuals are represented under the "Q." "There are all these people," Shupe explains, "They've been able to exist but they never had a legal existence."



Shupe tells PEOPLE about a local Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder support group meeting on Tuesday night, where one person broke down in tears telling Shupe, " 'I've been trying to get my therapist to understand my identity and you made it legal.' "



Others who wish to change their genders to non-binary will still have to petition local courts individually, as the Oregon court's decision only affects Shupe. "I'm hoping every one of the people will have their identities confirmed," Shupe says.



Next, Shupe will attempt to get the state agency that issues state identification cards to including a non-binary choice on its forms. "That will further authenticate my existence," Shupe explains.
By Justin Madden (Reuters) - A Michigan judge on Tuesday dismissed charges against a former state representative, while ruling another lawmaker should stand trial after he tried to hide their extramarital affair, according to a prosecutor's office spokeswoman. Ingham County District Judge Hugh Clarke ruled that former State Representative Todd Courser should stand trial for perjury and one count of misconduct for his attempted cover-up of the affair with fellow lawmaker Cindy Gamrat, said Andrea Bitely, a spokeswoman for the Michigan attorney general's office. Prosecutors originally charged Courser with three counts of misconduct while in office and perjury, but the judge dismissed two of the misconduct charges. Clarke also dismissed the two criminal misconduct-in-office charges against Gamrat due to insufficient evidence that she knowingly lied to House investigators about an email that Courser sent to distract from their affair, Bitely said. Prosecutors will not appeal the dismissed charges against Gamrat, but they are reviewing their options regarding the charges against Courser that were not sent to trial, Bitely said. An attorney for Courser, Matthew DePerno, maintained his client is not guilty, and said he believed there was not enough evidence to support the perjury or misconduct charge. Courser is due back in court in late June. A lawyer for Gamrat, Mike Nichols, said the charges against his client stem from a house investigation that arose from a political dispute. The former legislators faced charges of misconduct related to Courser's failed attempt to cover up their affair. He had devised a plan to distribute an email falsely claiming he had sex with a male prostitute in a move meant to blunt the political impact of the actual affair if it was ever revealed, according to the Detroit News. The two former lawmakers also were charged with misconduct for allowing their employees to forge their signature on proposed legislation. (Reporting by Justin Madden; Editing by Bill Rigby)
Omar Mateens sexuality was the least of Sitora Yusufiys worries.

Their five-month marriage was abusive from the start. He was controlling. He kept her from seeing her family. He beat her, pulled her hair, dug his fingernails into the soft flesh of her wrists when she wandered away from him in the supermarket.

But when she thinks back on the brief marriage seven years ago, there are other recollections that come to mind. There were things he would do in his daily life that most straight men dont do, she said in a phone interview with TIME on Tuesday.

He would take a long time in front of the mirror, he would often take pictures of himself, and he made little movements with his body that definitely made me question things, she recalled, It definitely popped up in my head whether he was totally straight.

Mateen and Yusufiy met on Myspace and were married from April to August 2009, until her parents sensed she was unhappy and came down to Florida from New Jersey to check on her. When they realized she was in an abusive situation, Yusufiys parents took her back to New Jersey with them, and the marriage abruptly ended.

Yusufiy said she never noticed anything in their sex life that would lead her to believe Mateen was gay. But she noted that any kind of sexual exploration would have been totally forbidden by Mateens strict Afghan family.

In his family structure, homosexuality was really not tolerated, she said. And one of the directions of his life was to be a perfect son.

That pressure to be live up to his fathers strict expectations often led Mateen to lash out with violence, she says. Once, she recalled, she fell asleep on the floor while watching TV and he started beating her as she slept. He yanked the pillow out from under her, pulled her by her hair, and then started to choke her. Hours later, when she asked him what happened, at first he claimed he was angry that she hadnt finished the laundry. Then he revealed that hed had a fight with his father.

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As the only son of Afghan immigrants, Mateen was subject to high expectations from his parents. Its pretty pressured. You have to be perfect in every way, you have to have a high education, you have to be totally respectful, Yusufiy said. And not be in any way homosexual, thats for sure.

Mateens sexuality has been in question since he was revealed as the killer. Various media outlets have reported that that users on the gay dating app Jackd say they have exchanged messages with Mateen, but the CEO of Jackd says they have not yet found any proof that Mateen had an account. A former classmate at Indian River Community College told the Palm Beach Post that Mateen went to gay bars with classmates and once tried to pick him up. Four regulars at Pulse, the nightclub where the shooting occurred, told the Orlando Sentinel they had seen Mateen there before.

But Pulse is about a two hour drive from Mateens home in Fort Pierce, FL, and it would take four hours of driving to go there and back in one night. Nobody recalled ever seeing him at TattleTails, a gay bar just a few miles from his apartment. In three gay bars in West Palm Beach, an hour from Mateens home, none of the bartenders or customers told TIME they remembered ever seeing him.

Yusufiy recalls once hearing Mateens father Seddique Mateen call his son gay in Farsi, but Mateen laughed it off. They had this relationship where Omar was always trying to impress him and be the perfect son for his father and live up to his approval, because his father is such a prominent political figure, she said.

The elder Mateen repeatedly rebuffed questions about homosexuality in an interview, including multiple queries about whether his son might have been motivated by homophobia and whether could have been gay. At one point, he said Let me tell you: my son is not gay. Hes not.

Yusufiy isnt so sure. Its just making more sense in my head from my personal experience that this was probably it, she said. He might have been homosexual himself and lived that lifestyle but could never ever come clean about it because of the standards of his father, because of the obligation to be a perfect son, she added.

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J.J. Abrams. Steven Spielberg. George Lucas.

No, we're not just randomly listing renowned directors -- this regal trio stepped out to honor legendary composer John Williams, who received the AFI Life Achievement Award on Thursday night. The televised event will air on TNT June 15 at 10:00 p.m.

"Watching him talk to the orchestra is a lesson in expression. It's a lesson in communication," said Abrams of working with Williams. "I was amazed by how gentle and kind and humble he is. He was like that every day we worked together."



EXCLUSIVE: Steven Spielberg Confirms That John Williams Will Return to Score the Fifth 'Indiana Jones'

Abrams and Williams, of course, collaborated on the most recent installment of the Star Wars franchise  Episode VII, The Force Awakens. And while it felt slightly mad to ask Abrams to choose his favorite piece from the film's soundtrack, he definitely had some standouts.

"The two cues I love the most are 'Rey's Theme,' and he did a theme for the Resistance that was justan incredible thing," said Abrams, who got to take a piece of the Resistance home.

"He actually gave me [the Resistance] score, bound, in this leather-bound book," revealed Abrams.

The emotion Williams is able to insert in the films he scores is unmatched -- many of us have cried while listening to his music. We asked Abrams to reveal the first piece that required tissues.

"There are so many. I mean, I guess the first one that made me cry was the Force theme, when Luke is looking over the Binary Sunset," he shared, referring to the Stars Wars flick that started it all, 1977's A New Hope, directed by Lucas.

WATCH: 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Actor John Boyega Says It's 'Crazy' to Have Your Own Theme



Williams has certainly made his mark in cinematic history, having also collaborated with director Steven Spielberg on films like E.T., Jurassic Park, Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark -- just to name a few. But surprisingly, when asked which film Spielberg would choose to score his life, he went rogue! (Pun intended.)

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"Star Wars!" Spielberg said confidently.

Well Spielberg is a Star Wars fan. He even had a part in discovering our new Han Solo, Alden Ehrenreich. Spielberg tells us why he thought the young actor had a future in comedy in the video below:

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Actors Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani were recently in Paris where they shot for a musical single that is going to release soon. The song, which is composed by Meet Bros and produced by T-Series, is titled Befikra and is a romantic number.

Both Tiger and Disha collaborated for the number and had a fun schedule for the same in Paris. They shot at the iconic Eiffel tower. A source informed us, The single is directed by Sam Ahmed and we shot at various locations in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower. Tiger and Disha rehearsed a lot and have put in immense hardwork and dedication. Befikra should release by this month end or may be in July first week.

Recommended Read: I do believe Ill be a superstar one day! says Tiger Shroff

Last week, Tiger had revealed a small glimpse from the rehearsals of his single and it surely looks impressive. He had posted, Happy feet rehearsals! Coming soon faster than we can dance @sambombay.

Well, we cannot wait to watch the rumoured lovers romance on-screen. How about you?
Although many people may only associate Chimney Rock State Park with an image of the Chimney itself  a 315-foot rock that juts out over the Hickory Nut Gorge affording a spectacular view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Lake Lure  theres so much more for visitors to take in than this one spot.

The park is home to 550 species of native plants, six hiking trails, and steep cliffs perfect for rock climbing. Then, of course, theres the 404-foot waterfall.

One of North Carolinas 41 state parks, the picturesque and Chimney Rock State Park spreads out into four counties in Western North Carolina and covers 6,806 non-contiguous acres in Hickory Nut Gorge. Its a 45-minute drive from Asheville along the Drovers Road scenic byway on Highway 74A.

At this time, only two areas are open to the public: Chimney Rock and Rumbling Bald, located off Boys Camp Road. Entrance through the Chimney Rock access requires a fee, while admission through Rumbling Bald is free and offers climbing opportunities (youre on your own) and a trail. Climbers must, however, acquire a state activity permit for a nominal fee. For a cost (beginning at $60), Fox Mountain Guides offers instruction for novice to advanced climbers at the Chimney Rock section. Trails range from easy to strenuous, and from half a mile to 1.5 miles round-trip.

An elevator to the top of the Rock was installed in 1949, but due to power issues and undependable service, it was closed in August of last year. While it is due to eventually reopen, theres no set-in-stone date. You can hike the Outcroppings trail to the top, up 499 steps past some incredible scenic overlooks, said Mary Jaeger-Gale, general manager of Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park. Thats the equivalent of climbing 6 stories (or 258 feet). In the meantime, entrance fees have been reduced to $6 for a one-day pass for youth and $13 for adults. Annual passes cost $28 for adults and $12 for children.

The Park accommodates visitors of all ages (check its website for upcoming events), and there are many attractions for children, including the Great Woodland Adventure Trail (with 12 stations displaying sculptures of native animals) and Gradys Animal Discovery Den.

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If youre looking for something a bit off the beaten path, take the advice of Clint Calhoun, a biologist in the Gorge who worked for the Park from 1992 to 2003.

As far as secret spots, the Four Seasons Trail is generally a nice quiet walk through some old growth forest and gets the least amount of traffic, he says.

The landscapeswhich, by the way, can be seen in films like The Last of the Mohicans, Firestarter, and A Breed Apartwerent officially part of North Carolinas parks system until 2007, when the Morse family, who had owned the land since the turn of the century, decided to sell it.

The story goes that Dr. Lucius B. Morse, a physician from Missouri, was looking for a more favorable climate for his tuberculosis when he fell in love with the Rocks views. With the financial backing of his brothers, he purchased 64 acres of Chimney Rock Mountain in 1902.

Through November 5, Chimney Rock Park hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and the Park remains open 90 minutes after the ticket plaza closes. For more information, including directions and the status of the elevator, visit chimneyrockpark.com, call (800) 277-9611, or email visit@chimneyrockpark.com. For GPS, use the address 431 Main Street in Chimney Rock.
(Adds comments from Exxon, Massachusetts)

By Terry Wade

HOUSTON, June 15 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp asked a federal court on Wednesday to throw out a subpoena that would force the oil company to hand over decades of documents as part of a wide-ranging inquiry into whether it misled investors about climate change risks.

In its filing in a U.S. district court, Exxon said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey overreached with her April subpoena and that it violated constitutional amendments on free speech, unreasonable search and seizure and equal protection.

The Massachusetts attorney general's office said it was reviewing the motion.

The move by the world's largest publicly traded oil company is the latest in its high-stakes battle with a coalition of state attorneys general who said in March they would go after Exxon and try to force Congress to tackle climate change.

Exxon also pushed back against a raft of shareholder proposals last month asking it to show how it will react to the Paris agreement among 195 governments that aims to limit the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) by curbing carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

The subpoena from Healey comes amid claims by prosecutors that Exxon executives contradicted papers published by company scientists about the threats of climate change. The subpoena also seeks any Exxon communications with free-market business groups that doubt the efficacy of clamping down on emissions or climate science itself.

Exxon said in its filing the subpoena seeks documents outside of the statute of limitations and that activist groups encouraged opening inquiries.

"The great irony here is that we've acknowledged the risks of climate change for more than a decade, have supported a carbon tax as the better policy option and spent more than $7 billion on research and technologies to reduce emissions," said Exxon spokesman Alan Jeffers. "It should make people question what this is really all about."

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The attorneys general have based their inquiries on whether Exxon's alleged soft-pedaling of climate risks or carbon regulation amounted to securities fraud.

In the past, current or former Exxon chief executives have said climate models are not entirely perfect, that curbing emissions could condemn the world's poor to darkness, and that humans may need to adapt to changing weather and rising sea levels.

At a seminar in May on climate change law, Columbia Law School professor Merritt B. Fox said Exxon's comments might not be material for investors.

That is because investors get information on climate change from many sources and Exxon would probably not be able to alter the "total mix" of publicly available information.

"The market was well supplied with information about climate change from a variety of sources," said Fox, who acknowledged the importance of climate change but expressed skepticism about the legal strategy of prosecutors.

On Monday, five Republican congressmen told U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch in a letter the states' inquiries were wrongly treating a policy issue as a law enforcement matter.

The case is 4:16-cv-00469-A in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth division.

(Reporting by Terry Wade; Editing by Tom Brown and Meredith Mazzilli)
From ELLE

The deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history killed 49 people early Sunday morning, and left Americans shaken, wondering what they can do to help. That has led to record-breaking charitable donations-but sadly, also a lot of scammers preying on people's good nature.

Give.org, the charity arm of the Better Business Bureau, released a warning to people who want to give a charitable donation to those affected by the shooting. "The best way to help the victims, their families, and the people of Orlando is to make sure that donations end up where they belong," H. Art Taylor, president & CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, said in a statement. "We are already hearing about click-bait schemes and questionable solicitations, and we expect there will be numerous scams and frauds. We urge those generous donors to give wisely so their gifts can do the most good."

How can you avoid getting scammed? Make sure you thoroughly research the charity before you donate your money. Most U.S. states require charitable groups register with the government, so check to see if an organization is registered. According to the Orlando Sentinel, you can check out Florida-based charities by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA to see if it's registered. The Better Business Bureau also says you should be a little suspicious of start-up-type organizations, because they might not have the experience or management to get funds where they need.

Once you've checked out the charity, make sure it's behaving in a respectful and transparent way. Check that they have received permission to use the photos of victims and their families, ensure that they are extremely clear and specific about how the funds will be used, and if tax deductions are important to you, search this IRS website to find out if your donation will be deductible. And of course, avoid clicking on unfamiliar links sent to you in text messages or emails.

Looking for a place to start? Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer has set up the OneOrlando fund, which will end up distributing donations to more than 400 charities. The Walt Disney Company has already contributed $1 million to that cause. A GoFundMe campaign by Equality Florida has raised a record $4.2 million dollars, and will go to the National Compassion Fund, which has also worked with victims of the Chattanooga and Aurora shootings.
TORONTO (Reuters) - The family of a Canadian hostage who was executed by an Islamist militant group in the Philippines said on Tuesday they supported the Canadian government's policy of not paying ransom in kidnapping cases. The Philippines on Tuesday confirmed the death of Robert Hall, who had been held hostage by al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf on a remote southern island with three other people since September 2015. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday condemned the killing, but also said the Canadian government cannot and will not pay ransom in such cases because it could encourage additional kidnappings. "Our family, even in our darkest hour, agrees wholeheartedly with Canada's policy of not paying ransom," the Hall family said in a statement. "We stand with the ideals that built this country; strength of character, resilience of spirit, and refusal to succumb to the demands of the wretched." Hall was taken captive by the militants with three others from an upscale resort on Samal island, hundreds of miles (km) east of Jolo. Another Canadian who was held captive, former mining executive John Ridsdel, was executed by the group in April. A Norwegian man and a Filipina are still being held. (Reporting by Jeffrey Hodgson; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Fashion mogul Pierre Berge said Wednesday he will put the second part of his famed library -- one of the most valuable in private hands -- up for auction in November.

The French philanthropist, who co-founded the Yves Saint Laurent fashion empire with his lover the late designer, raised 11.7 million euros ($12.8 million) from the sale of the first part of his collection last year.

He now intends to put 380 works that include some of the cream of 19th-century European literature under the hammer, a statement said.

They include the manuscripts of the Marquis de Sade's last novel, "The Secret History of Isabella of Bavaria" and Gustave Flaubert's "Over the Fields and over the Shores" -- an account of his tour of France's Loire and Brittany regions in 1886.

Although the full catalogue of the Paris sales will not be released until September, it will also include signed books exchanged between such greats as Balzac, Hugo, Stendhal and Baudelaire.

English-language, German and Russian classics will also feature strongly with rare editions of work by the poets Byron, Shelley and Wordsworth, Oscar Wilde, Tolstoy, Turgenev, Kleist and Goethe.

"You have to know how to get rid of things," Berge, 85, told AFP before the last sale.

The proceeds of the auction on November 8 and 9 run by Sotheby's in Paris will go to a foundation Berge set up with Saint Laurent which helps support AIDS research.
Things are finally looking up on Wall Street. All three major averages (^DJI, ^GSPC, ^IXIC) were slightly higher in early trading after a four-day losing streak as investors brace for the Fed statement and Fed Chair Janet Yellen's press conference later this afternoon.

Mizuho USA's Chief Economist Steven Ricchiuto explains to Yahoo Finance's Alexis Christoforous in the video above why the risk is on now for the Fed to raise insterest rates in July.

Stocks to watch

Twitter (TWTR) is investing $70 million in Berlin-based music service SoundCloud, according to Re/code. Twitter shares have risen more than 7% over the past two days on speculation that it could be a potential takeover target following Microsoft's buyout of LinkedIn.

Best Buy (BBY) shares fell in early trading after Credit Suisse downgraded the consumer electronics retailer to "neutral" from "outperform" and cut its price target on the stock to $31 a share from $36.50. The investment firm cited concerns over slowing sales during the second half of the year.

Get the Latest Market Data and News with the Yahoo Finance App

Cisco Systems (CSCO) shares slipped this morning after Goldman Sachs lowered its rating on the stock to "neutral" from "buy" and cut the price target by $3 to $32 a share. The analyst expects earnings growth to slow over the next couple of years.



Bob Evans Farms (BOBE) shares were sharply lower in early trading. The restaurant chain slashed its outlook for the year after reporting a sharp drop in profit in its fiscal fourth quarter as well as a 3% decline in same-store sales.

MSCI rejects Chinese stocks

The MSCI is rejecting Chinas stocks for the third time. The index company says China needs to do more to make its markets accessible to foreign investors.The MSCI could help raise $400 billion into Chinas stocks  over a decade  if it was included The MSCI says it will reconsider China in a 2017 review.

Story continues

Disneys potential in China



Shanghai Disneyland opens its doors today. Disney (DIS) CEO Bob Iger says the theme parks debut in China will help the company boost its brand in across the country. Analysts feel Shanghai Disneyland will be the worlds most visited theme park  with up to 50 million guests visiting a year.

Online news source

More and more people are getting their news from social media. Over half of online users get the latest updates from sites like Facebook (FB), YouTube or Twitter (TWTR)  thats according to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism.
For investors anxiously awaiting Wednesday's Fed announcement, Peter Boockvar has a clear message: Your fears are misplaced.

The managing director and chief market analyst at The Lindsey Group explained that a rate hike in June or in July is unlikely. Furthermore, he reasoned that traders should look across the pond to the U.K. if they're in need of reasons to worry.

"The market has tossed the Fed aside," said Boockvar. "They've been mugged by the reality of the global economy continuing to shrink."

The Brexit vote is just eight days away and favorable sentiment toward leaving the European Union continues to grow within the U.K. As it stands, Boockvar described a British departure from the EU as an occurrence that would create a dangerous ripple effect across global markets in the near term.



"If the Brits vote to leave, it can take two years for it to physically happen and so much can happen within that time frame," said Boockvar, who predicted that Italy, Spain and Portugal could also follow the U.K.'s example. From here, he fears that a mass exodus from the EU could trigger a global recession. This belief stems from the notion that the bloc has established rules that do not entice member countries to want to stay.



"Think about the euro. It actually was a great idea. If I'm Italy and you're Spain we can do business," noted Boockvar, who says that ease of conducting commerce in Europe no longer exists because of bureaucracy. "They need to decentralize power out of Brussels and give it more to the individual countries."



He also blamed the European Central Bank for "mucking things up" and racking up serious debt in efforts to establish a one-size-fits-all monetary policy in Europe.



"To me, the ECB is the biggest threat to this whole experiment," said Boockvar, who added that it's near impossible to find a common financial platform for countries like Germany, France, Italy and Greece to operate across.



Story continues

Additionally, Boockvar remains skeptical of Europe's ability to ease the potential panic on a "leave" vote as he feels that the general public has become repulsed with today's leadership.



"What we're seeing with central banks, our own presidential election, in the U.K., potential in the vote in Spain is disgust with the establishment," said Boockvar, referring to the general election in Spain. Now, with people losing their faith in central banks, he sees monetary policies losing a grip on their ability to maintain calm in the marketplace.







More From CNBC


Analysts at UBS, in a recent report, said that they believe fertilizer markets are bottoming on the back of improved agriculture market fundamentals and the recent run-up in crop prices.



The firms view is based on the data provided by Agrium AGU  one of the major fertilizer makers  at the companys investor day last week. UBS noted that Agriums data could be seen as a proxy for the state of the broader fertilizer industry given that the company is a top player in nitrogen, phosphate and potash markets. The firm added that improved crop prices could augur well for growers income and willingness to spend on nutrients moving forward.



While UBSs view paints an optimistic picture, the question is whether the industry will rebound or there will be further pain ahead. Lets dig into some of the key issues that are still weighing on the stocks in the fertilizer space.



Supply Glut Hurting Nutrient Prices



Fertilizer makers remain exposed to a difficult pricing environment for nutrients they sale. Potash prices, which are already at their lowest levels since 2007, remain under pressure due to elevated supply. The potash market is expected to remain oversupplied in the near future, thereby hurting prices. Moreover, depressed global energy prices and higher supply have also contributed to a softer nitrogen pricing environment.



Global capacity expansion continues to exert pressure on urea and other nitrogen fertilizer prices. Elevated supply in the global nitrogen market is hurting prices, causing farmers to delay buying activities. Urea prices are expected to remain under pressure in the near term, partly due to high levels of Chinese export supplies.



Weak nutrient prices dragged down profits of major fertilizer makers such as Potash Corp. POT, Agrium, Mosaic MOS, CF Industries CF and CVR Partners UAN in the first quarter of 2016 and are expected to remain a major headwind in the near to medium term. As such, margins of these producers will remain squeezed given a weak fertilizer pricing environment.



Low Farm Income: A Drag on Buying Decision



The agriculture market is not out of the woods yet and there is a continuous negative sentiment among agriculture investors that can create uncertainty in the near term. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. farm income is expected to slip 3% to $54.8 billion in 2016 to the lowest level since 2002. This would also mark the third straight year of decline.



The outlook reflects depressed prices resulting from excess supply of crops and livestock. While prices of major crops (such as corn and soybeans) have recovered of late, they remain at their multi-year lows. CHS Inc., the nations largest farmer-owned cooperative, also said earlier this year that net farm income is falling faster than cash receipts and the U.S. farm economy is not at the bottom yet. Lower farm income unfavorably impacts growers nutrient purchasing decisions.



Uncertainty in Key Consumer Markets



The general outlook for the fertilizer industry remains cloudy due to insipid economic growth in certain developing markets. A challenging currency environment coupled with economic weakness has contributed to a sluggish demand environment for potash across certain emerging markets.



Moreover, the crop protection market remains under pressure, in part, due to a slowdown in Brazil. Agricultural market conditions remain weak in Brazil impacted by cautious buying by farmers and the uncertain political and economic situation in that country. Tighter profit margins and credit are making growers in Brazil more cautious in their spending. Lower insect pressure and reduced seed volumes are also contributing to a weakening demand for crop protection products.



China (the worlds biggest potash importer) is also yet to sign potash supply agreements for 2016, leading to uncertainty in the global potash market and downward pressure on potash prices. This has also led to cautious buying patterns in other major consumer markets including India.



Moreover, lower government subsidies coupled with local currency devaluation may lead to depressed demand for potash from farmers in India which has been in the grip of severe drought this year. Drought conditions will hurt demand in India which in turn would put pressure on prices. High inventory levels in India and cautious buying in Brazil have also contributed to a depressed market environment for phosphate.



End Note



Based on the above-mentioned factors, it could be surmised that the broader fertilizer industry is still in a rut and remains buffeted by a slew of headwinds that could continue to weigh on the performance of the companies in the space moving ahead. Nevertheless, long-term fundamental for the fertilizer industry remains intact given the continued growth of global population and concurrent rise in food consumption.



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California remains the worlds top film locale for a third year in a row, though in 2015 for the first time on record the state did not host any of the 25 top-grossing live-action films. The latest production reports released today on film and also TV from FilmLA, the citys film office, are filled with similar good-news, bad-news scenarios.

California led the world last year with 19 of the 109 top-grossing films having been shot here. The UK was second with 15; followed by Georgia and Louisiana, which had 12 each; and Canada with 11. New York, which ranked second in 2014 with 13 feature films, fell out of the top five production centers in 2015 with seven.

But the only films with budgets over $100 million that were produced in California last year were animated projects; none of the large-budget live-action films were produced primarily in California. The state was also a distant second to the UK in terms of production spending, according to FilmLA: The 15 films shot in the UK generated $1.63 billion in production spending there, while the 19 in California generated less than half that amount at $720 million. On average, each of the California-made films pumped $37.9 million back into the local economy, compared to the $108 million generated by each film shot in the UK.

Of the more than $7 billion in direct production spending by the 109 top-grossing films last year, less than 10.2% was put back into Californias economy. By contrast, the UK got 23% of the worldwide production spending.

As measured in shooting days, on-location feature film production decreased 4.2% last year to 4,344 days, down from 4,535 in 2014, which was down from 4,678 the year before.

Local on-location feature production peaked in 1996, just as Canada was introducing its first film incentives program (thanks to the cultural exemption contained in the NAFTA trade agreement that allowed Canada to subsidize its film and TV industry while undermining ours). Several U.S. states then jumped on the incentives bandwagon, sending on-location feature film production in Los Angeles into a tailspin. A total of 36 U.S. states and two dozen countries now have programs in place to lure feature projects away from California.

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Californias 2009 incentives program helped stem the flow of runaway production. Were it not for the programs existence, FilmLA says, 2010 would have surpassed 2009 as the categorys worst year on record. The original program, however, was hamstrung by a $100 million annual cap. By the end of the original incentive program in 2014-2015, roughly 90% of film tax credits were dedicated to ongoing TV series under the program.

Under the new program, which took effect last year, the annual cap of available film tax credits was increased to $330 million, with $115.5 million dedicated to feature film projects each year.

The TV production side offered better news. Los Angeles-based on-location TV production increased 9.5% last year to 15,706 shoot days, and is up 39% since 2011. Production spending on TV pilots  the incubator of series television  has been in sharp decline in recent years, however. In 2012, 46% of all production spending on pilots was spent in Los Angeles; last year, it was only 31%, though that was a slight improvement from 2014, when it fell to only 30%.

During the 2014-2015 development cycle, 91 television pilots were filmed on Los Angeles streets and stages. New York was a distant second, with 25 pilots; followed by Vancouver, with 16; Atlanta and Toronto, with nine each; and Louisiana, with eight. No other location hosted more than five pilots.

The number of one-hour scripted drama series shooting in the state stands at 53  the best showing in five years, up from 48 last year and 45 the year before. The increase is from network drama production, while cable drama production is holding steady.

Last year, 90 coveted one-hour drama projects were shot outside the state, where the availability of incentives and production infrastructure are key factors influencing where pilot producers choose to film. As in prior years, some form of film production incentive was available in every one of the non-California locations used during the 2014-2015 development cycle. With the exception of Toronto and Louisiana, Californias top competitors saw a decline in the number of pilots produced last year. New York and Georgia, which had seen remarkable growth in recent years, saw declines of 29% and 33%, respectively.

On the comedy side, L.A. remains the king. In 2015, local on-location television comedy production increased 100.5% compared to the previous year  to 2,268 shooting days from 1,131. L.A. accounted for 77% of all comedy pilots produced in the U.S. last year  up from 76% the previous year. Seventy comedy pilots were shot here, and until recently, generous film incentives in other locations have not been successful at siphoning comedy production from L.A. An exception to that rule was New York, but after four straight years of growth, New York declined for the first time in five years, with eight comedy pilots in 2014-2015 compared to a record high of 11 the prior cycle. The remaining 13 comedy pilots that filmed outside of L.A. or New York shot in seven other locations, with Vancouver and Atlanta leading the pack with four apiece.

This report highlights both the aggressiveness of our competitors for feature film projects and the effectiveness of Californias Film & Television Tax Credit Program, said FilmLA president Paul Audley. Compared to its competitors, California is attracting big production investment with modest incentive outlays.

Related stories

'Veep', 'This Is Us', 'Rosewood' & 'American Crime' Among 11 TV Projects Awarded California Tax Credits

Indie Producers Say They're Getting Shortchanged By California's Tax Incentives Program

'Preacher' Ratings Debut OK, 'Fear The Walking Dead' Midseason Finale Steady
(Reuters) - FireEye Inc hired Morgan Stanley to explore a sale but has since rejected at least two takeover offers this year - including one from Symantec Corp - as they were below its expectations, Bloomberg reported. The cyber security company was looking for offers of $30 per share or more, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Milpitas, California-based FireEye shares closed 4 percent higher at $16.05 on Wednesday, valuing the company at about $2.66 billion. FireEye's discussions with Symantec, the maker of Norton antivirus software, stopped in early February and its talks with another buyer stalled in late March, Bloomberg reported. FireEye was not immediately available for comment. A Symantec spokeswoman said the company did not comment on speculation or rumors. Symantec said on Sunday that it would buy privately held cyber security company Blue Coat for $4.65 billion to ramp up its enterprise security business. FireEye, which appointed Kevin Mandia its chief executive last month, is no longer actively looking to sell itself, Bloomberg reported. Up to Wednesday's close, FireEye shares had fallen nearly 23 percent this year. (Reporting by Narottam Medhora in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Kirti Pandey)
- By Christopher Malcolm





Qpagos (QPAG) is in the business of providing digital payment services to Mexican consumers who donat have a bank account. For Qpagos that means that it is targeting a market where 60% of the adult population doesnat have a bank account and where 80% of transactions are made in cash.





The business: Digital payment services

Qpagos provides these digital payment services through a network of self-service kiosks, point-of-sale terminals and mobile apps. This makes paying bills more convenient for consumers and more efficient for service providers.

The company isnat just in start-up phase; it has 160 service providers already accepting payments through its network. This list includes every mobile network (TELCEL and MOVISTAR), cable operators like SKY and DISH, national housing lender Infoavit and government bureaus like Queretaro, Mexico and Mexico City.

The network allows consumers to deposit cash and easily pay bills, add mobile minutes, purchase transportation tickets, shop online, pay taxes, pay insurance premiums, transfer funds to friends, pay credit installments plus a host of other services.

You can see where this would be hugely convenient for the 60% of Mexicans who donat have a bank account.

The mobile phone opportunity for Qpagos is especially interesting considering that there are 107 million mobile phone subscribers in the country and 88% of them are under prepaid plans that require regular cash payments.

Qpagos is a young business having only introduced its next generation physical and virtual payment services to the Mexican market in the third quarter of 2014. The company has a 10-year renewable exclusive license agreement for the use of technology that it has deployed so there is a bit of a barrier to competition.

The primary sources of revenue for the company are fees received for processing payments made by consumers to service providers. The company also generates some revenue from nonpayment services such as kiosk rentals and sales. As of December Qpagos A deployed over 270 kiosks and terminals. These kiosks and terminals can be found at convenience stores, next to metro stations, retail stores, airport terminals, education centers and malls in major urban centers, as well as many small and rural towns.

Story continues

If you are in Mexico you can check them out for yourself.

In the first quarter, Qpagos launched a mobile app. Through the app smart phone users can now access the exact same menu of services available in the Qpagos kiosks and then make payments from the convenience of their phones. Cash to make payments is uploaded to the mobile phone app at any of the Qpagos kiosks.

The financials

You can find all of the Qpagos SEC filings here. The company doesnat have much of a history given that it has just recently completed a reverse-takeover of an existing listed company.

From the detail in the filings Qpagos reports the following financial detail.

Net revenues

Net revenues in Qpagos were $1,510,369 and $137,250 for the years ended Dec. 31, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2014, an increase of $1,373,119 or 1,000.5%.

Qpagos operates in Mexico and its functional currency is the Mexican peso. Qpagosa revenue in Mexican pesos increased to MXN 23,965,826 from MXN 1,825,991 for the years ended Dec. 31, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2014, an increase of MXN 22,139,835 or 1,212.5%.

The increase in revenue in MXN terms during 2015 was primarily due to an increase in the volume of prepaid airtime sold and directly attributable to the increased deployment of kiosks during the current year.

Gross (loss) profit

Gross (loss) in Qpagos was $(10,759) and gross profit in Qpagos was $4,262 for the years ended Dec. 31, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2014, an increase in loss of $15,021. This increase in loss is primarily attributable to the once off charge for retrofitting the cash and coin acceptors and printers into our existing kiosk, discussed under cost of sales above.

Expenses

Total expenses in Qpagos were $2,038,524 and $1,295,135 for the years ended Dec. 31, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2014, an increase of $743,389 or 57.4%.

Total expenses consisted primarily of the following:

General and administrative expenditure was $2,000,714 and $1,264,535 for the years ended Dec. 31, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2014, an increase of $736,119 or 58.2%. The increase is primarily due to:

Payroll expenses increased due to an increase in Mexican headcount from 18 to 31 contractors.

An increase in foreign employees' expenses to assist with the software development.

An increase in importation costs due the importation of a higher volume of kiosks.

An increase in logistic expenditure as our market penetrationA increasedA by deploying and installing kiosks nationwide.







Net loss

Qpagos incurred a net loss of $2,529,513 and $1,489,318, for the years ended Dec. 31, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2014, an increase of $1,040,195 or approximately 69.8%, and which consist of the various items discussed above.

Liquidity and capital resources

To date, Qpagosa primary sources of cash have been funds raised from the sale of its securities and the issuance of debt as well as revenue derived from operations. During the year ended Dec. 31, 2015 Qpagos raised gross proceeds of $2,990,000 from the issuance of 2,392,000 common units at a price of $1.25 per unit.

Qpagos also issued debt securities in the principal amount $685,001 to several private investors during the current year to fund the operations of the business through its development stage. The majority of these loans together with loan funds raised in the prior year of $2,324,422 were exchanged for common shares in Qpagos upon consummation of the reverse merger between the newly formed U.S. corporation and the two Mexican operating companies.

At Dec. 31, 2015, Qpagos had cash of $832,159 and a working capital of $1,849,829.

The risks

Like any micro-cap company Qpagos is at the upper end of the risk spectrum. Investors should be aware of the following risks in particular:

This is a young company not yet generating positive cash flows.

Future dilution is a distinct possibility.

Micro-cap stocks are volatile.

This company operates exclusively in Mexico which is a riskier jurisdiction.

There isnat a clear track record from which we can judge management or the board of directors.







Turning over micro-cap rocks





aIf I was running $1 million today, or $10 million for that matter, Iad be fully invested. Anyone who says that size does not hurt investment performance is selling. The highest rates of return Iave ever achieved were in the 1950s. I killed the Dow. You ought to see the numbers. But I was investing peanuts then. Itas a huge structural advantage not to have a lot of money. I think I could make you 50% a year on $1 million. No, I know I could. I guarantee that.aA aA Warren Buffett







It doesnat make a lot of sense for a small investor to be trying to compete with the professionals. Our advantage is that we can make money in the dark corners of the market where no one else is looking.

If you arenat out there actively turning over rocks, you arenat ever going to find that special overlooked gem that you are looking for. This article seeks to add another company to our rolodex and we can circle back at some point down the road and see how the business is progressing.

Disclosure: No position in any companies discussed in this article.

Start a free seven-day trial of Premium Membership to GuruFocus.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






Khartoum (AFP) - More than five million people in Sudan need urgent assistance after new displacements in Darfur and a surge of refugees arriving from South Sudan, a top European Commission official said Wednesday.

The comments by Jean-Louis De Brouwer, operations director at the EC's Humanitarian and Civil Protection Department, came after the commission offered 12.5 million euros ($14 million) to the UN World Food Programme for supporting relief operations in Sudan.

"The humanitarian situation in many parts of Sudan is critical, as recent population displacements in Darfur and a surge of arrivals from South Sudan illustrate," De Brouwer said in a WFP statement.

"More than five million people are in need of urgent assistance."

In late April, the WFP said it was facing a shortfall of $181 million for the next 12 months, which was hampering its work in Sudan, particularly with South Sudanese refugees.

WFP said it plans to use the bulk of the 12.5 million euro to provide sorghum, a food staple in Sudan, to 137,000 displaced people in Darfur for three months, and pulses for more than 180,000 South Sudanese refugees for six months.

The UN agency said it would also use part of the aid to support 88,200 displaced people across Darfur with cash-based transfers in the form of food vouchers for three months.

More than 70,000 South Sudanese have arrived in Sudan since January, fleeing conflict and food shortages in their war-torn country, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said last week.

OCHA said majority of these have arrived in East Darfur, which is hosting close to 47,000 people.

South Sudan won independence from Sudan in 2011 but two years later it fell into a brutal civil war that has killed tens of thousands of civilians.

Fighting erupted in South Sudan with the falling out between President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, who served as vice president when South Sudan won independence until his dismissal in 2013.

But in April rebel leader Machar returned to Juba and was sworn in as vice president, raising hopes of implementing a peace accord that was signed in August but has yet to take hold.

Meanwhile, an upsurge in fighting this year between the army and rebels in the thickly forested rocky mountain range of Jebel Marra has displaced many who have taken refuge in North Darfur, aid officials say.
By Steve Holland and Ginger Gibson MANCHESTER, N.H./WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Donald Trump on Monday placed responsibility for a mass shooting in Florida squarely at the feet of radical Muslims, who he said were entering the country amidst a flood of refugees and "trying to take over our children." The presumptive Republican presidential nominee drew on the country's deadliest mass shooting to sharpen his vow to ban Muslim immigrants, proposing that the United States suspend immigration from areas of the world where there is "a proven history of terrorism." In his national security speech, Trump said it was time to "tell the truth about radical Islam," the day after 49 people were killed at a gay nightclub in Orlando by a gunman, likely self-radicalized, who had sworn allegiance to the rebel group Islamic State. His comments contrasted sharply to those of Hillary Clinton, the wealthy businessman's likely Democratic rival in the Nov. 8 election, who urged increased intelligence gathering and more airstrikes on Islamic State territory, and cautioned against "demonizing" American Muslims. "If we want to protect the quality of life for all Americans - women and children, gay and straight, Jews and Christians and all people - then we need to tell the truth about radical Islam and we need to do it now," Trump told the crowd in New Hampshire. He went on to lambaste Clinton's policies, saying they would allow "hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Middle East" to enter the United States without adequate security measures. There would be "no system to vet them, or to prevent the radicalization of... their children," he said. "Not only their children, by the way. They're trying to take over our children and convince them how wonderful ISIS is and how wonderful Islam is, and we don't know what's happening." Trump said that, if elected, he would use the executive authority of the presidency to impose stronger controls on immigration to protect Americans from attacks, fine-tuning his earlier campaign promise to temporarily ban the entry of foreign Muslims to shore up national security. "When Im elected, I will suspend immigration from areas of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies until we fully understand how to end these threats," he said. He noted that the parents of the Florida gunman, Omar Mateen, 29, were born in Afghanistan. Pointing to specific incidents such as the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Trump said threats were posed by people with roots in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Somalia. The immigration ban, he said would last until "we are in a position to properly screen these people coming into our country. They're pouring in, and we dont know what were doing." Trump's hard-line proposals on immigration have helped fuel his surge in popularity among some conservative voters. But they have also triggered heavy condemnation from minority and human rights activists, and his political opponents - many of whom have called his rhetoric racist. Trump has rejected the criticism, and has said he is often misunderstood by the media and his opponents. 'ANTI-WOMAN, ANTI-GAY' In her response to the Florida massacre, Clinton, warned against demonizing Muslim Americans and called for increased efforts to remove Islamic State propaganda from the internet, more air strikes in areas held by the group and better coordination with allies in the region. "The Orlando terrorist may be dead, but the virus that poisoned his mind remains very strong, and we must attack it," she said in a speech in Cleveland. She specifically criticized three U.S. allies - Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait - for allowing its citizens to fund mosques and schools that train jihadists. She also proposed stricter gun control laws, reiterating previous calls to prohibit people on terrorism watch lists from buying firearms. She pointed out that while the Federal Bureau of Investigation was aware of Mateen as a possible threat, he was still able to purchase a gun legally. "Its important that we stop the terrorists from getting the tools they need to carry out the attacks, and that is especially true when it comes to assault weapons like those used in Orlando and San Bernardino," California, Clinton said, drawing a standing ovation from the crowd. Trump challenged Clinton to explain why she favored letting Syrian civil war refugees into the United States. He said his policies would better protect American women, gays and lesbians, Jews and Christians. Trump's support among women and gay voters lags far behind that of Clinton. "Radical Islam is anti-woman, anti-gay and anti-American," said Trump. He accused her of having ties to Saudi Arabia. "Saudi Arabia and many of the countries that gave vast amounts of money to the Clinton Foundation want women as slaves and to kill gays," he said in a Facebook post. "Hillary must return all money from such countries!" (Additional reporting by Susan Heavey and Alana Wise in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Mary Milliken)
CARACAS (Reuters) - A man was shot dead on Tuesday during looting and food riots proliferating round crisis-hit Venezuela, an opposition legislator said, bringing to at least four the number of fatalities from this month's wave of unrest. Milagros Paz said that as well as the fatality, another 27 people had been injured during a day of chaos and violence in the eastern Caribbean coastal town of Cumana that she represents for the Justice First party. "It was all very confusing. There were simultaneous lootings in different parts of Cumana. They looted more than 100 establishments," she told Reuters from the National Assembly in Caracas, basing her information on contacts with constituents. There was no confirmation from President Nicolas Maduro's government, though videos and photos on social media purporting to be from Cumana showed National Guard troops confronting crowds swarming round damaged shops. With crowds baying "We want food!" and security forces struggling to keep order, protests and melees at shops have been spreading around the recession-hit South American oil-producing nation in recent weeks, fueled by shortages of basic foods. Three other people were shot dead in the past week. A policeman and a soldier have been arrested. According to a local monitoring group, the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, more than 10 incidents of looting are occurring daily across the nation of 30 million people. Venezuela's political opposition says Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez are to blame for failed socialist economic policies. They are seeking a recall referendum this year to try to remove him from office. But Maduro, 53, says his foes are waging an "economic war" against him and seeking a coup. Government officials say there is not time this year to organize a referendum. Should there be such a vote in 2017 and Maduro loses, his vice-president would take over - rather than there being a new presidential election - meaning the ruling "Chavismo" movement would stay in power. (Reporting by Corina Pons and Andrew Cawthorne; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Bill Rigby)
By Jonathan Stempel

June 14 (Reuters) - A federal judge refused to dismiss a criminal indictment against two former allies of New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie over their alleged roles in the 2013 George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal, known as Bridgegate.

In a decision made public on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Susan Wigenton, in Newark, New Jersey, rejected arguments by William Baroni and Bridget Anne Kelly that the laws under which they were charged were too vague and that they had no reason to know some of their activities might have been illegal.

Kelly, a former Christie deputy chief of staff, and Baroni, a former deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, were charged with wire fraud, civil rights deprivation and conspiracy for allegedly arranging the September 2013 shutdown of bridge access lanes in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

The closure led to several days of gridlock affecting the bridge, the world's busiest, which spans the Hudson River to connect New Jersey to Manhattan. Prosecutors said it was intended to punish Fort Lee's Democratic mayor for not endorsing Christie's successful reelection bid.

In her 23-page decision, Wigenton said reasonable public officials would understand that wrongdoing attributed to the defendants would violate drivers' right to travel.

"Political payback is not a significant government interest," she wrote.

Wigenton also said it was for jurors to decide whether to hold the defendants criminally responsible for their alleged dealings with former Port Authority executive David Wildstein, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and is cooperating with prosecutors.

Michael Baldassare and Michael Critchley, lawyers who represent Baroni and Kelly respectively, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A trial is scheduled for Sept. 12, court records show.

Christie has not been charged and has denied involvement in wrongdoing, but the scandal hurt his popularity within New Jersey and weighed on his unsuccessful 2016 presidential run.

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Both defendants are also seeking records from Christie's cellphone through subpoenas to a law firm that previously generated a taxpayer-funded report absolving the governor of wrongdoing. Critics of Christie have called that report biased.

Separately, a federal appeals court in Philadelphia is weighing requests by media to publicly release a list of unindicted co-conspirators. Oral arguments were heard on June 6.

The case is U.S. v. Baroni et al, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, No. 15-cr-00193.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)
By Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Andrew R.C. Marshall PHRAE/BANGKOK, Thailand (Reuters) - When former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrived in this sleepy corner of northern Thailand and flashed her familiar smile, waiting supporters gasped and spoke of a political revival. But as she cradled babies, hugged grannies and posed for selfies in Phrae province, Yingluck was also thinking of political survival, say aides. In the two years since the military overthrew her government, Yingluck has been on trial for corruption over a multi-million-dollar rice subsidy scheme. She denies wrongdoing and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Phrae was one stop in a series of provincial trips aimed at keeping Yingluck, Thailand's first female prime minister, in the public eye and making the junta think twice about jailing her. "It's a fight for survival," Chayika Wongnapachant, her niece and aide, told Reuters. The trips take place in the run-up to an August referendum on a new draft constitution that critics say will stymie party politics and enshrine military power. The junta has threatened to jail anyone campaigning against the constitution, which is meant to pave the way for a general election in 2017. Yingluck cannot run because the junta banned her from politics for five years, but her star appeal would boost any campaign by her Puea Thai Party. THAILAND'S WIDER DYSFUNCTION However, many Thais despise Yingluck almost as much as her billionaire brother Thaksin, who was prime minister until deposed in a previous military coup in 2006. Both his supporters and opponents have taken to the streets in a decade of often-violent protests. Thailand remains broadly divided, with the Shinawatra clan enjoying heavy support in the mostly poorer north and northeast. Yingluck's resilience and popularity is a symptom of Thailand's wider dysfunction, says Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political analyst at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "She can't run in the next election yet remains a leading newsmaker among politicians because her opponents have failed to provide a viable electoral alternative," he said. "The military government would like Yingluck to go away and the Thaksin era to be extinguished." The opposite Democrat Party remains weak and the junta still struggles for legitimacy after two years in power, he said. "So Thailand really is in this prolonged limbo." POPULARITY CONTEST Ostensibly, Yingluck's tour of the countryside came after she asked her five million Facebook followers to name tourist attractions in their home provinces, and to cast votes for the five she should visit. But the trips are also an attempt to "test the waters", Chayika said. The junta, which banned gatherings of five or more people after the 2014 coup, has made no public objection to what look and feel like political rallies. "The junta cannot stop her from doing so because when she goes there are no problems," government spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said of Yingluck's trips. "But every time she goes, one of our officials will follow her and send reports back to us." The government was also being cautious, said Suranand Vejjajiva, Yingluck's former chief of staff. "The public might rebel if they think she is being treated unfairly," he said. Yingluck's trips have become part of an intensifying popularity contest with the army general who deposed her: Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. Yingluck's relaxed style in Phrae contrasts with Prayuth's tetchy public appearances. He has lashed out at reporters, vowing in 2015 to "execute" those who didn't report the truth. At a recent event promoting fitness, Prayuth wrapped a scarf around a gym instructor's neck and pretended to hang him. LETHAL BEAUTY August's referendum on the draft constitution will also be the first real test of the junta's popularity since the coup. Both Yingluck's Puea Thai Party and the Democrat Party say the draft constitution is undemocratic and will do little to soothe Thailand's political instability. Despite the junta's threat to jail critics of the charter, Yingluck used her trip to Phrae to inject a note of doubt. "I'm worried about the constitution and that it will lead us nowhere," she said after a tour of two picturesque Buddhist temples. "I would like a constitution that ... gives maximum rights to the people." Critics have accused Yingluck of playing on a "soft" feminine side and turning on the tears to elicit sympathy. In private, however, she is forceful and eloquent. "Do you know the Thai phrase suay prahan?" asked her niece Chayika. "It means 'lethal beauty'." Then she drew her finger across her throat. (Additional reporting by Aukkarapon Niyomyat; Editing by Bill Tarrant)
blake mycoskie toms

Ten years ago, a young entrepreneur named Blake Mycoskie launched TOMS Shoes.

The business model was unorthodox but simple: For every pair of shoes a customer bought, TOMS would donate a pair to a child in need. At the time, the company was one of the first to employ the one-for-one system.

Today, dozens of other companies have followed in TOMS' footsteps with one-for-one models. TOMS has given away over 60 million pairs of shoes, and they've expanded into bags, eyewear, and coffee.

Business Insider recently caught up with Mycoskie to ask him about the future of TOMS and to get his thoughts on the way social entrepreneurship is evolving.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Shana Lebowitz: How do you describe TOMS and what exactly do you sell? Is it a shoe company or something else?

Blake Mycoskie: It's something that we've thought a lot about. It's our 10-year anniversary this year. One thing that I think has become really clear is we didn't start a company with a mission, but we had a mission that turned into a company.

And I think that's a really important distinction because I started TOMS basically to fund the giving that I wanted to do to the children I met in South America. I didn't want to start a charity to be dependent on donations.

A lot of people now call it social enterprise, conscious capitalism, and there's a lot of labels for what we are. But I think the phrase that we are a mission with a company is probably the best way to describe it as opposed to a company that has a mission.

Lebowitz: Why did you step down from the position of CEO and what's your current role at the company?

Mycoskie: I was CEO by default, but I never was a CEO. I mean I'm a founder, I love the beginning of things. I love working with the creative team, but running a business, dealing a lot with HR, dealing a lot with processes, that's never really been my strength. Once I was in a position where I could bring on and attract world-class CEO talent, like Jim, our CEO, I was super excited to do so.

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Success in business is about playing to your strengths as a company and as individuals. And my strengths are definitely in telling our stories, getting people excited about our mission, working with the marketing and creative teams to create the product and the messages we want to share, and now I can focus all of my time on that because now I don't have the responsibilities of being a CEO. So it's a really great partnership with Jim, business has never been stronger, and our employees are a lot happier, too because they have someone day-to-day that they can go to.

Blake Mycoskie

Lebowitz: What about the decision to sell half the company to Bain?

Mycoskie: That decision was always kind of a necessary one in order to attract a great CEO. When the company is 100% owned by the founder  no investors, no board  it's very hard to attract amazing executive talent because the founder could wake up one day and be like, "I don't like your shirt color; I want you to change." And that's a real risk to an executive. By having a 50/50 partner I was able to create that security and stability that would attract world-class talent.

The other thing is our business is growing a lot, in different new ways. The global expansion is one of our biggest focus areas. We're getting into all different types of shoes, not just the main shoe that we originally started with. There's a lot of complexities around supply chain, retail growth. We were entering a phase where there were a lot of new challenges that frankly, I never dealt with.

So I wanted to have a partner who had helped other consumer-products businesses grow during that time of change and find ways to create the right systems and stuff that would help them.

Lebowitz: How sustainable do you think a buy-one-give-one company really is?

Mycoskie: I think it's incredibly sustainable. Built into our cost structure is the intention to provide great benefit to our customers because they feel like they're getting to be part of something more than just a transaction.

More and more understand what the impact of their purchases are on the rest of the world. By doing that, we're able to form more loyal customers; we're attracting new customers. While we spend a ton of money on giving, we also feel that there's a real return on that investment.

Lebowitz: Do you think most customers are aware of and motivated by the giving element when they buy TOMS shoes?

We did some research with the Boston Consulting Group last year and we actually found that only 50% are. That was really surprising to us.

But then when you ask those people, when you tell them about the mission, you say, Are you more likely to buy more products? The answer is resoundingly yes. So one of our big challenges as a business is how do we share our story, how do we share our mission in more ways?

We're really investing a lot in telling that story more in store displays. Weve installed virtual reality headsets in all of our stores so people can go on a virtual giving trip and see the children that they're helping in countries like Peru, in Colombia. That's one of our big areas of focus right now, is telling our story more, not taking it for granted that people already know it.

Lebowitz: How do you feel about other companies employing a similar buy-one-give-one model, since TOMS was one of the first to do it?

Mycoskie: I love it. I think it's a testimony to the influence that we're having on business. My goal is very simple for TOMS. I want to build the most inspirational and influential company in the world.

We want our business model to influence how other people are doing business. Because if we can influence other businesses to incorporate giving or one-for-one into their business it will help far more people than whatever we do on our own.

Blake Mycoskie Jennifer Garner

Lebowitz: In what ways do you think social entrepreneurship has changed since you founded TOMS?

Mycoskie: If you look at the majority of entrepreneurship, it's really happening for people in their 20s, before they have families and all different types of responsibilities. They're able to take more risks in their 20s.

That is also the demographic that wants to make purchases that count more, wants to make purchases that are conscious. So it's not surprising that the same patterns and changes in consumer behavior is being seen in the types of companies that these entrepreneurs are creating.

That's also one of the reasons why I'm investing heavily into social entrepreneurs of the future, because I want to make sure that the movement that we have helped has long-term sustainability. And that more and more companies are getting funded and getting an opportunity to become the next TOMS.

Lebowitz: How do you decide which funds to invest in? What makes you feel like it will be sustainable, and how do you balance their purpose with their ability to earn a profit?

Mycoskie: We always look first at: Is the company's purpose and mission in the DNA of the product or service or company? It can't be something that they're adding on. It has to be the reason they exist.

If it is at the core, then we just look at them like any other business. Is this profitable? Does this have a good business plan? Is the management team experienced? Do they have a special niche in the market?

But first we want to make sure that the purpose is really sound.

Lebowitz: Do you think TOMS could do what it does if it were a publicly traded company?

Mycoskie: I do. Bain did not invest in us because they thought it was charity. They invested in us out of a fund, and they expect to get the same returns that they promised their partners. They see our giving and our purpose as a competitive advantage.

Blake Mycoskie family

Lebowitz: Why did you get into social entrepreneurship as opposed to a nonprofit?

Mycoskie: I'm an entrepreneur. I started my first company at 19; I started five companies before TOMS. I love using business as a way to solve problems.

I think that there's a lot of important need for charity and nonprofit work in the world, but I felt like if I could use business  something I was really good at  to solve problems like kids needing shoes or people needing eye care surgeries or prescription glasses, that was a better match.

Lebowitz: So you feel like you can make a bigger impact on the problems that you're trying to solve as a business?

Mycoskie: For sure, I think that's a lot more sustainable than asking people for money. Because you can ask people for money, say once or twice, and theyll support you because they believe in your mission and what you're doing, but ultimately they might feel a need to give their charity dollars to someone else.

Whereas if you create a long-term customer of your brand and every time they're buying something they're getting something that they want and they need, then thats a much longer-term revenue style than just asking for money or donations.

Lebowitz: Can you speak to some of the criticisms that TOMS has received  that TOMS doesn't alleviate poverty for more than say a few months, or that the buy-one-give-one model can hurt local people who are trying to sell their shoes and their products?

Mycoskie: To alleviate poverty you need education, jobs, and basic health needs. We use our shoes to protect childrens feet from foot disease; we use our shoes to help complete the school uniform where some families can't afford the shoes for the uniform. So thats the education piece.

And then the job creation were trying to do more and more. Since some of that early criticism, we have responded and we moved 40% of our supply chain for giving shoes to countries that we give in. Today we make shoes in Kenya, we make shoes in India, Ethiopia, Haiti, and all of this is a way to create more jobs.

But even with all those things that we're doing, by no means is TOMS a single-stop solution to alleviation of poverty. It's a very complex thing to take someone who is living in poverty and help them progress their life to a different economic status.

In terms of the criticism towards disrupting local markets, that's one where we 100% agree. We are incredibly diligent to make sure that our shoes are being given in very, very rural areas where families are having to choose between shoes for the uniform or food on the table, and theyre choosing food on the table. By no means do we ever want to disrupt a local market.

TOMS itself does not put the shoes on people's feet. We work with charities and nonprofits. Our giving partners, they're all leaders of nonprofits and charities and they're really focused on improving the quality of life in the people that they serve. So they have the utmost interest in making sure that we're not disrupting anyone in the market.

Lebowitz: How are those shoe plants in Haiti, Kenya, India, and Ethiopia doing?

Mycoskie: Each of them has their own challenges, but we're making millions of shoes in these countries now. We went from 0% in 2013 to now 40% of our new shoes are being made in these given countries. And we're finding that from a business perspective, it actually financially is beneficial because we're saving money on the cost of shipping the shoes all over the world when we can make them and give them in the same country.

Blake Mycoskie eyewear launch

Lebowitz: Youve mentioned that you took a sabbatical a few years ago because the company at that point was more focused on process than purpose. Could you could elaborate on that?

Mycoskie: As soon as you're growing so fast, you're having to think about hiring people who have the right resume and right technical experience. And I think we hired a lot of great people during that time frame that had the technical experience that helped us and allowed us to scale and grow. But a lot of the people who were making big decisions for the company and technically running the business I don't think were as aligned to our original purpose as I would have liked them to be.

I just had a moment where I really needed to question like, is this the right way for me personally, and for the business? Do we have the right people on the bus?

After taking almost a year off, I recognized I was as passionate about TOMS as I was in the early days, but we needed to make some changes, we needed to get everyone refocused back on our mission and purpose, which would also require making some executive changes as well. That's a big part of why I partnered with Bain.

Lebowitz: Since then youve expanded into the coffee business. Why?

Mycoskie: That connects to this goal and desire to create more jobs in the countries that we serve. I wanted to continue to create more jobs and I also wanted to find a way to enter a business that would be very disruptive and different than our shoe business.

Coffee I felt would be a great one to do it in, because the coffee industry is going through kind of a radical transformation with all these new-wave coffee shops like Stumptown, Intelligentsia, Blue Bottle. I think we can source coffee of the same quality as them, and at the same time use coffee as a way to create more of a community in our stores, and allow TOMS to be experienced in people's homes in a different way and our giving model to be experienced in a different way.

Lebowitz: If you fell on very hard times, would you give up the buy-one-give-one model or is it core to the business?

Mycoskie: It's not only core to the business or brand, but now we have protected it forever. Part of the transaction with Bain was that even if its Bain or another potential partner down the road, that model will always be done. Good times or bad times, one-for-one will always be a part of Toms.

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Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - Boko Haram killed four people and abducted four women from a village in northeast Nigeria, the military said on Wednesday, dismissing the Islamists as weakened and increasingly desperate.

Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman told AFP the attack happened on Tuesday morning in Kutuva, in the Damboa local government area of Borno state, which has been hardest hit by seven years of fighting.

"Boko Haram terrorists riding on six motorcycles attacked the village. They killed four residents and abducted four women," he said.

"Residents of neighbouring Kaya village mobilised and pursued the terrorists. They traced them to Sabon Garin Baale but unfortunately they lost track of the gunmen."

Such hit-and-run attacks were a regular feature of the Islamic State group affiliate's tactics in the remote region but have become increasingly rare since the beginning of 2015.

Thousands of women have also been seized in the conflict, including more than 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok, which is some 70 kilometres (44 miles) away by road.

A military counter-insurgency has recaptured swathes of territory seized and controlled by the militants in 2014, pushing them out into border areas around Lake Chad.

The army has since April been mounting a push against Boko Haram's stronghold in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno, which is near Damboa local government area.

Usman said soldiers and civilian militia had been deployed to the area of the kidnapping but it was unclear whether the gunmen were heading for the Sambisa Forest or elsewhere.

"They are doing their best to track them down and rescue the women," he added.

"Boko Haram have been severely weakened. But they are trying to save face. That's why they're trying to launch attacks on soft targets.

"They're now facing lots of challenges. Our troops are mounting pressure on them, which has cut off most of their supply routes.

"Just a few days ago 17 Boko Haram terrorists surrendered to the civilian JTF in the Damboa area. They were forced to surrender out of starvation."
Versailles (France) (AFP) - French rogue trader Jerome Kerviel, whose actions almost bankrupted one of Europe's biggest banks, headed back to court Wednesday as Societe Generale seeks to recover 4.9 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in losses and interest.

The trader was sentenced to three years in prison in 2010 but was released in September 2014 after spending less than five months behind bars.

He was convicted of breach of trust, forgery and entering false data, but claimed his bosses had turned a blind eye as long as the profits kept rolling in.

Kerviel was also initially ordered to compensate Societe Generale for the full amount of the money he lost.

But an appeal court overturned the order, arguing that the bank's internal oversight mechanisms had failed.

The new case will look at this aspect alone -- Societe Generale's role in its own losses.

Kerviel's defence lawyer David Koubbi argues that the bank made mistakes and that its system was dysfunctional.

"We will get to the bottom of this issue by revealing the evidence in our possession. It is up to the court to decide whether or not they are relevant," he said ahead of the hearing.

Kerviel has never denied taking risks -- at one point staking 50 billion euros ($69 billion) of the bank's money -- but maintains that his bosses were just as much at fault as he was.

On June 7, a Paris labour tribunal ordered Societe Generale to pay 450,000 euros in damages to Kerviel, saying he had been fired "without genuine or serious cause." The bank has appealed.
For one week in June, much of the worlds animation business gathers at the Annecy Animation Festival in the French Alps.

Beyond the U.S., no animation presence is as important as Frances. This isnt just a case of France playing host. The French TV animation sector is the worlds third largest, after the U.S. and Japan, generating 45 million ($51.3 million) in total exports in 2014, according to data disclosed by French state film agency, the CNC.

French TV animation repped 29.3% of total French TV programming sales in 2014  the biggest single category.

TV animation is also the most internationally-oriented segment of the French film and TV industry  73.1% of shows were co-produced with foreign partners in 2014, compared to 39% for TV fiction and 15.9% for TV documentaries.

International sales of French TV animation recorded five consecutive years of growth between 2009 and 2013, then dipped by 3.9% in 2014 primarily due to a reduction in the volume of programming in that year.

Sales data for 2015 is not yet available, but Mathieu Bejot, executive director of French export promotion org TV France International states that the underlying sales trend is positive, especially in kids programming platforms where there are buoyant sales. He says that TVFI members have also stated that the proportion of deals with VOD platforms, including U.S. platforms, has increased.

Western Europe is the main source of foreign sales of French TV animation  contributing 59.6% of total sales in 2015, with a further 5% from Central and Eastern Europe. Licensing deals to North America repped 24.8% of total sales in 2005 but fell to 12.8% in 2014, now surpassed by sales to the Asia/Pacific regions, at 13.8%.

France is the second biggest foreign supplier of animation programming to U.S. kids channels, after Canada, according to data disclosed by the French animation producers union, SPFA, and TV France International. Top selling French series in the U.S. include: Pyjamasques, produced by Frog Box, on Disney Junior; Miraculous: The Tale of Ladybug and Cat Noir (Zag Toon, Method Animation), airing on Nickelodeon; Alvin and the Chimpmunks (Ouido) on Nick Junior; and Garfield (Mediatoon) on Boomerang.

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On SVOD platforms, such as Netflix and Hulu, top shows take in Super 4 (Method Animation), Zou (Cyber Group Studios), Vic the Viking (Studio 100), Foot2Rue (Zodiak Kids), F is For Family (Gaumont Animation), Mouk (Millimages), and Sam Sam (Mediatoon).

In terms of volume of first-run originated animation hours, France is dwarfed by the U.K.  1,446 hours in the U.K. compared to 260 hours in France in 2014, per data disclosed by the European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO).

But according to the EAO, French TV animation ranks above the U.K., in terms of animation programs listed in MIPJuniors Top 30 lists of most-requested shows, by country, for 2010-2014.

Gallic animation skeins encompass a large spectrum of production, ranging from pre-school to animation projects for adult audiences, and including 2D and 3D animation.

Nonetheless, the main demographic target continues to be from pre-school to 6-12 year-olds, with pronounced narratives, well-known characters, slick visuals and physical comedy. Many French series are based on high-profile or existing properties, linked to Frances strong comic book market, which makes it possible to launch characters who have many followers, not just in France but also abroad.

Marc du Pontavice, prexy of Xilam (Oggy and the Cockroaches) comments: In French live action film and TV, most of the comedy is either with culturally-driven dialog or situation comedy, which is obviously culturally ingrained, he suggests. In animation, the language we are using is physical comedy, in the tradition of Chaplin and silent cinema, something that everyone can relate to very easily.

Recent series featuring characters based on books, include Simon (produced by G-N) from books by Stephanie Blake, PJ Masks (TeamTO), Buddy and Bill (Mediatoon), and Will (produced by Cross River, distributed by Superights).

Foreign sales of French TV animation is more concentrated than in other segments  with 58.7% of sales contributed by the top five companies and 78.7% by the top ten companies in 2014.

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[Warning: This story contains spoilers through season six, episode eight of HBO's Game of Thrones.]

Heavy lies the crown, especially when possessed by an overstressed adolescent.

King Tommen Baratheon (Dean-Charles Chapman) reigns supreme over the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, at least in name and title. In actuality, it's the various parties whispering in his ear pulling the strings and pushing their agendas forward. The voices are many, including the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce), commander of the Faith Militant; Queen Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer), Tommen's wife with schemes of her own; and even Tommen's own mother Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), who once served as Tommen's closest confidant - but not anymore.

In recent episodes, Tommen forged an alliance between the Crown and the Faith in order to rescue his wife and settle peace with the High Sparrow, but these terms come at the expense of his mother's safety. Cersei's best shot at beating the Sparrow was ripped away from her in the latest episode, "No One," as Tommen outlawed the practice of Trial by Combat in Westeros. The distance between Tommen and Cersei is greater than ever, even if she's far from finished trying to keep her son safe. It's just one more stressor on an already stressed-out king's shoulders.

With the situation in King's Landing growing more and more tense with each passing episode, The Hollywood Reporter consulted with the king himself, actor Dean-Charles Chapman, for a rundown on where things stand with Tommen and his place in the great capital city of Westeros.

Read More: 'Game of Thrones' Director on Arya's Great Escape, the Hound's Return and More

It's been a complicated year for King Tommen. How would you characterize his journey this season?

It's been difficult. From the start of season six, when you see Tommen, he's in a difficult position. In season five, his wife was arrested, and his mother went through all that stuff with the High Sparrow. At the start of season six, his sister's dead body has just been brought back on a boat to King's Landing. He hadn't seen his sister in probably three or four years - or seasons, at least. He's in a very depressed state, really. I think it's more guilt with him. Technically, he's the most powerful person in Westeros. He's the king. He can do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, but he sees that he can't actually stand up in his own boots. Throughout this season, he's been trying to solve his problems, and every single time, he falls on his bum. (Laughs.) It's unfortunate. He doesn't have the right people backing him up. He always has someone manipulating him or using him for the power they want from him. It just sucks for Tommen. I feel bad for him. He doesn't deserve this.

Story continues

Where's Ser Pounce in all of this? With so many untrustworthy advisors whispering in his ear, at least the royal cat would provide reliable counsel.

Good question. Ser Pounce must be lying about somewhere. He's a bit of a diva. (Laughs.) He's probably drinking some cocktails somewhere, laying out in the sun.

What do you think seeing Myrcella did for Tommen? Did the sight of his dead sister, and now knowing that he's the last of these three children, light a fire under him, for better or for worse?

At first, I think it spooked him. I think it made him feel even more alone in the world, now that he's lost his sister. But he was alone to start out with. He's never had the right people supporting him to begin with. But seeing his sister's dead body in the flesh definitely would have lit a fire to get him thinking, "You know what? I have to actually do something now." Unfortunately, it led to him joining the Faith.

Why do you think Tommen made that choice, ultimately? He was torn between following the High Sparrow and following his mother. Why did he choose the Faith?

Well, his number one objective since season five was to get his wife back. He tried. He did try in season five, and he took a small army with him to march up the Sept of Baelor to get his wife free, and they turned him away. He was scared. He saw that the only way to get his wife back was through violence, and he didn't want to do that. Although Tommen is a Lannister, he hates seeing people in pain. He's the complete opposite of a Lannister. He's technically a Baratheon, but he's really nothing like his mother. When he gets manipulated by the High Sparrow, it's all through religion. "Pay for your sins and you'll get a better gift; you'll become a better person." If you can't beat them, you have to join them. That's his thing. He just wants his wife back and make his mother happy without shedding any blood, and that was the only way he could see - joining the Faith.

Was it a pragmatic decision, then, or does he actually believe in the High Sparrow's teachings?

I think he does. He definitely sees it from his family's point of view, but I think he understands the Faith, also. That's often what you're taught as a kid in this world, also. I think he thinks this is the right move he should make at this time.

What does Tommen think of the High Sparrow? He's a charismatic figure, obviously, and someone who has emerged with great power in such a short period of time.

Tommen would believe anyone, honestly, even if he spoke to the world's worst con man. He'd still believe that guy. (Laughs.) I'm not dissing Tommen. I genuinely love Tommen. But he's truly a little boy. He's not very I don't know. What's the word I'm thinking

He's gullible.

Yeah, exactly. He's very gullible. The High Sparrow talks a lot of rubbish to him, and he believes it. I think he definitely likes the High Sparrow. At the start of their relationship, and at the start of season six, he definitely disliked the High Sparrow for what he had done to his wife and his mom, but as he got to talking to him, Tommen started to understand the Faith - but he doesn't understand him. If Tommen truly understood the High Sparrow, I don't think he would be involved with it.

Read More: 'Game of Thrones': How Cersei Lannister Might Set Season 6 on Fire

Cersei has always been very protective of her children, now even more so since Tommen is the only one left. In the past few episodes, Tommen has put a great distance between himself and Cersei. Has he decided he can't even think about her at this point?

He's definitely cut his mom off more than he ever has. With Myrcella's funeral, even. Tommen wouldn't even let Cersei come to her own daughter's funeral. I think by the end of season five, he realized that his mother was digging in her claws just as much as Margaery was manipulating him, and I think he needed some time by himself to think about what he needs to do, and not what other people tell him. But he's definitely cut off his mom a lot this year. I mean, he still loves her, but I think he thinks it's for the best to keep his distance.

When Tommen makes the choice to outlaw Trial by Combat, does he realize how much this is damaging his mother's chances of survival?

Definitely. He definitely knows the consequences this will have for Cersei. But I don't think it was mainly Tommen's idea. I think it was the High Sparrow's idea. I believe the High Sparrow was behind him, whispering things in his ear. So was Kevan Lannister and old Pycelle. I think they've all been talking nonsense into his ear, manipulating him in their own way. I think Tommen believes in what he's doing right now. He just wants what's best for everyone. He wants no bloodshed, and so he's playing by the High Sparrow's rules.

Tommen is a good kid with a kind heart. He doesn't want bloodshed, as you've said. But he's also gullible, as you've said. What would it take for Tommen to effectively rule the Seven Kingdoms? Is there a good leader in there somewhere?

I think so. Maybe if Tyrion was back, that would take him down the right road. Honestly, even Tywin. I think if Tywin was alive or was magically brought back, it would all be fine. But Cersei just thinks about her own back. She loves that kid, but she's not thinking enough about Tommen. If she was thinking more of Tommen, none of this would have happened. None of it. I think Tywin or Tyrion could have put Tommen in the right place.

Tommen and Tyrion would be a great team-up.

Oh yeah. Hell yeah. (Laughs.) That would be awesome.

Let's talk about Margaery. Tommen has been desperate to free his wife from captivity. How does he feel now that she's back?

I think Tommen's a little bit disappointed. He wanted to jump back in bed. (Laughs.) But I think he's happy that she's back in the castle. I think he's happy she's safe - or at least safer. As long as he knows she's not trapped in a dungeon, chained up or starving, and she's well-fed, dressed properly and in the same area, I think he's fine. That puts him at rest at least a tiny little bit. It relieves some pressure.

Speaking of pressure, the entire situation in King's Landing is incredibly tense right now, and feels like it's finally about to boil over

I don't want to give anything away - no spoilers at all - but this whole season is building up to these last two episodes. It's been teasing the fans every second. Something's going to kick off, and no one is quite sure when or how. But it's been building up tension and getting more and more frustrating. Even the fans are getting frustrated! "Come on, do something!" Lately, I've been getting a lot of Tommen hate, and it sucks!

What are people saying?

Well, people are referring to me as Tommen. I'm not Tommen! My name's Dean, and I happen to play this dude called Tommen. There are some lovers of Tommen, and I love Tommen, but some people want him to grab a sword and kill everyone and have a happy ending. But this is Game of Thrones. I get where the fans are coming from, though, so it's good news for me. Hopefully it means I'm doing my job the way I should.

Watch the video for more on Tommen's mother's plans:

Follow THR's Game of Thrones coverage for more interviews, news and analysis.
By Gina Cherelus

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Qais Munhazim woke up on Sunday to reports that an Afghan-American gunman had rampaged through a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in an attack apparently motivated by support for militant Islamist groups.

Tearful and disconsolate, Munhazim, a gay Muslim man who is originally from Afghanistan, made plans to attend the University of Minnesota's vigil the following day for the victims.

The Orlando shooter killed 49 people and injured 53: the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history and also the worst attack in America on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

"The moment I introduced myself to someone who is also part of the (LGBT) community, she asked me what my nationality is and I said I am Afghan," said Munhazim, a doctoral political science student at the university, on Tuesday.

"Immediately her answer was, 'this is not the right time or place for you.' I went there trying to be among my own community, to grieve together with them. Even my grieving was questioned because of my identity."

Munhazim's experience illustrates the isolation some Muslims in the LGBT community in the United States are feeling.

"Coming (to America) I found that freedom but at the same time I definitely always found myself marginalized and discriminated because of my faith, because Islamophobia has been propagated by a lot of politicians in the U.S.," Munhazim said.

This referred to remarks by some politicians, most prominently Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, following the Orlando shootings and previous such attacks, that have cast a shadow of suspicion on Muslims in America.

While Islam has a wide variety of laws and customs across the world's more than 1.6 billion Muslims, gay sex is illegal in many Muslim-majority countries. In some countries such as Iran, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, homosexual acts can be punishable by death.

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According to Hussain Turk, a Pakistani-American Muslim lawyer from Los Angeles, what makes it difficult for Muslims to be both gay and religious is the idea that Islam is a monolithic faith with a single set of rules stemming from the Koran, the religion's holy book.

But he argues, "What Ive learned is that Islam is a dynamic religion at its core. Islam wasnt meant to be this anti-progressive monolith."

Nonetheless, Turk, a gay Muslim man who also served as editor-in-chief of the University of California, Los Angeles' Journal of Islamic and Near Eastern Law, said there are Muslims, gay and non-gay, who say Islam's resistance to change is what gives it its appeal as a religion.

There are about 3.3 million Muslims of all ages living in America, according to a Pew Research Center study in 2015. There are no statistics on how many LGBT Muslims are in the country.

Mona Siam, a Jordanian Muslim woman who is also lesbian, was granted asylum in the United States in 2011 after she said she was hit by a stray bullet fired by police who were attempting to scare off guests at a gay-friendly bar in Beirut, Lebanon.

Despite coming to the United States, Siam said that she still feels some animosity from Americans because of her religion and her sexual orientation.

"I feel conflicted in the U.S. because I came here for safety and I feel like every part of my identity is being attacked," Siam said on Tuesday.

"We are afraid of being Muslim in public or queer in public in a country where that shouldnt be happening. Its open-minded; you have thousand of cultures and identities. Its America."

Seeking to help Americans conflicted about their religion and sexuality, the Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity has hosted the Retreat for LGBTQ Muslims and Partners annually since 2011, attracting nearly 100 guests for a weekend of spiritual building.

Tynan Power, a representative for MASGD, said that gender identity and diverse sexual orientation have had substantial support in both the Sunni and Shi'ite branches of Islam.

"There are Muslims who believe that the Koran forbids homosexuality, just as there are Christians who believe the Bible does," said Power.

"There are also Muslims who believe that honoring their God-given capacity to love is a form of worship. Ultimately, no one perspective can define a religion for all other people of that faith."

Garrett Fugate, a Greek Muslim man who identifies as queer - a multi-faceted word that describes Fugate as someone who dates people of various sexual orientations - said that the MASGD Retreat allowed him to find his home as a Muslim.

"When I was coming out I went from being very accepted to being very ostracized from the Muslim community," said Fugate, a graduate student at Boston University in Boston. "When I think of community I think of that retreat."

(Story refiles to correct typographical "and" to "a" in last paragraph.)

(Reporting by Gina Cherelus; Editing by Frances Kerry)
Oil prices (CLN16.NYM) have been kept at low levels largely due to the glut in global supply.

While low prices have been bad news for the industry (OIL) and the oil-driven economies, producers have been reluctant to cut back for fear of losing market share.

In the absence of voluntary production cuts, Goldman Sachs analysts say unplanned outages and disruptions may be necessary for prices to rise.

"The rise in production disruptions  which led us last month to bring forward our expected price recovery to 2Q16  has continued, with a later restart in Canada and more attacks in Nigeria," Goldman Sachs' Damien Courvalin said. "However, we also continue to see further evidence that outside of these disruptions, the rationalization of the oil markets surplus remains nascent at best."

In other words, without these disruptions, the excess supply won't correct.

"This leaves additional significant disruptions in Nigeria or Venezuela, for example as necessary catalysts to bring prices sustainably above our 3-mo $49/bbl WTI forecast," he said.

To be clear, this is not a celebration of disasters like the wildfires in the Canadian oil sands. Rather, it's recognition that unfortunate events like violence in Nigeria have a real and quantifiable impact on supply.

"Rebel attacks in Nigeria have intensified and we now estimate that 610 kb/d of production will be impacted in June vs. 500 kb/d previously," Courvalin said. "The outlook for the Nigerian disruptions remains highly uncertain: some negotiations with the government started on June 6, the same day a new rebel group surfaced. With oil majors evacuating personnel and no timeline for repairs, we assume that the loss of production will persist although an agreement could lead to a sharp recovery."

Unplanned oil production outages take millions of barrels of oil out of the world's daily supply. (Image: Goldman Sachs)

Venezuela faces a whole different set of circumstances that could bring supply off the market.

"Production in Venezuela has been disrupted as well, although official and third party data point to only slight declines of 85 kb/d year-to-date through May," Courvalin noted. "Production declines are likely larger given logistical disruptions, weather issues and a lack of funds. For now, we expect that declines will moderate later this year although production will still be down 175 kb/d yoy. The recent drought has curtailed power generation but higher rains and the prioritization of oil assets will limit the impact on production. Further, while the lack of funds has led several service providers to consider leaving the country, higher oil prices, reports of bond issuance to pay them, and a sharply lower import budget will likely delay such a pull back. A further deterioration in the countrys finances or political instability present risks of larger production declines than we assume which would be a catalyst for higher prices."

Story continues

Be it wildfires in Canada, rebel attacks in Nigeria, or poor finances in Venezuela, bad news is unfortunately goods for those seeking higher oil prices.



Sam Ro is managing editor at Yahoo Finance.

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The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. GS recently settled a $1 billion lawsuit concerning the sale of mortgage-linked securities with an Australian hedge fund. The case, related to the sale of the companys collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) also known as Timberwolf and Point Pleasant, was filed by the Australian hedge fund Basis Capital Funds Management Ltd. in New York State Supreme Court.



CDOs typically repackage bonds and other assets into new securities. These are not traded on public exchange, allowing firms like Goldman to generate fees through brokering deals between buyers and sellers. However, CDOs have performed miserably since these were invested in securities comprising sub-prime mortgages, which are known to have larger-than-average risk of defaulting in the market. Eventually, the market downturn dimmed hopes for the investment bankers, resulting in huge losses for the common investors.



However, terms of the agreement were undisclosed in the Jun 10 court filing in a state court in Manhattan.



Goldmans spokesman Michael Duvally refrained from commenting on the matter while Bruce Grace, a lawyer for Basis Yield Alpha Fund, was not available for comments.



Background



Basis Yield Alpha Fund (Master) (BYAFM), the Australian hedge-fund, filed a securities fraud lawsuit against Goldman accusing the latter of deceptively selling the financial instrument -- Timberwolf collateralized debt obligation (CDO). It accused Goldman of selling the sub-prime mortgage-linked security that gradually failed and also misrepresented the value of the instrument by providing materially misleading statements.



Basis Capital Funds Management has claimed $67 million to compensate for the losses incurred. Moreover, it seeks an additional $1 billion for punitive damages. Goldman, in a vain attempt to defend itself, tried to relate the collapse of the housing market as the cause of the incurred loss.



The case was dismissed by a federal judge in 2010 but the fund sued Goldman in a state court. Moreover, the bank faced denial by the judge for dismissing the case in Oct 2012, a ruling which was defended by an appeals court in Jan 2014.



Conclusion



The overall crisis as well as housing market turmoil no doubt resulted in huge losses for the investors. However, the actual cause stemmed from the unfair practices of the Wall Street biggies in the pre-crisis period to maximize their profits. Therefore, Goldmans securities, like many others, did not fail because of an unstable market. Instead, it contributed to the economic turbulence.



After the financial crisis, Wall Street banks reputations have been badly bruised. Further, current litigations on civil frauds have augmented the risk on the financials as well. Nevertheless, fundamentally, Goldman is poised to grow significantly with its well-diversified business model and a more favorable operating environment. In all, we think Goldmans strong capital and liquidity will lead to increased profitability from newer opportunities, once the economy starts recovering.



Currently, Goldman carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Apart from Goldman, other major U.S. banks that continue to face legal disputes related to the sale of risky mortgage-linked securities include Morgan Stanley MS, JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM and Bank of America Corp. BAC .



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Robert White and his wife Christy (White campaign)

Yes, there is such a thing. And I dont just mean that with todays Washington D.C. primaries, weve officially reached the end of the presidential primary season.

For reasons introduced by but not limited to the themes in this section, over the past year my wife Deb and I have been much more actively engaged in local D.C. politics than before. I was wearing an I voted! sticker in this afternoons Facebook conversation with Yoni Appelbaum and Molly Ball; and the vote I really cared about casting was in the race for an at-large seat on the D.C. City Council.

Vincent Orangemulti-era incumbent, runaway leader in name recognition, presumed winner, and a man known by supporters and critics alike for a transactional pay-to-play style of politics (you help me, I help you)was the person whose name I assumed I would see at the top of the heap tonight.

Instead, Robert White pulled it out! White, who grew up in the District and based his campaign on bridging the Gilded Age divides that affect this city as they do so many others, ran a flat-out good-government campaign. I wont bother you with the details, which you can read about on his site. But here is a bit from an interview with Greater Greater Washington this spring:

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Donald Trump

In a Bloomberg poll released on Wednesday, the Republican Party's favorability rating hit a new low.

Just 32% of Americans viewed the GOP favorably  the lowest that rating has been since the poll's inception in 2009.

The Democratic Party's favorability rating was notably higher, at 49%.

Pollster J. Ann Selzer linked the low GOP rating to Donald Trump, the party's presumptive nominee for president.

"This is obviously related to perceptions of Trump," Selzer told Bloomberg. "This bleeds out into perceptions of the party and to other GOP politicians."

While nearly 33% of Republicans said that they viewed Trump unfavorably, only 17% of Democrats had an unfavorable view of Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

Negative feelings about the GOP are also increasingly coming from within the party's own membership. In December 2014, 9% of Republicans viewed the party unfavorably. That number has now climbed to 28%.

But Trump still has significant support from party members. The Bloomberg poll found that 69% of likely Republican voters think that Trump will be good for the party.

Bloomberg's poll was conducted Friday through Monday. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1%.

Another Bloomberg poll released on Tuesday showed Trump trailing Clinton by a whopping 12 points in a general-election matchup.

And an overwhelming 55% of total respondents said that they could never support Trump. In comparison, 43% of those polled said that they could never support Clinton.

The Bloomberg poll was the third such survey this week to show Clinton with a commanding lead.

An NBC/SurveyMonkey weekly tracking poll released on Tuesday morning showed Clinton with a seven-point lead over Trump, a four-point bump over NBC's tracking poll two weeks ago.

And a Washington Post/ABC poll released on Tuesday found Trump's negative rating at its highest level of any time since he entered the presidential campaign almost exactly one year ago. That poll found that 70% of Americans hold a negative view of Trump, compared to 55% who hold a negative view of Clinton.

Story continues

Allan Smith and Maxwell Tani contributed to this report.

NOW WATCH: FORMER CIA DIRECTOR: If Trump gave this order the military wouldn't listen





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From Delish

The Food and Drug Administration has levied some pretty awful claims about the sanitary conditions at Whole Foods. The government organization inspected a facility that prepares food for 74 stores across the Northeast, and issued a warning letter about what they found to Whole Foods CEOs John Mackey and Walter Robb.

Back in February, FDA officials inspected one of its food manufacturing facilities, Whole Foods Market North Atlantic Kitchen, located in Massachusetts, and found "serious violations" of standard food packaging and preparing practices. "[Items] were prepared, packaged, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been contaminated with filth or rendered injurious to health," the letter reads.

The allegations are pretty gross. According to the letter, they found workers mixing, chopping, transporting, and storing ready-to-eat foods under a ceiling that was dripping "condensate." They also found workers letting water from a hand-washing station splash onto vegetables, utensils, and food containers. Employees were also caught switching tasks without washing their hands, and spraying ammonium-based sanitizer-and dragging unsanitized sleeves-onto leafy greens.

And that's not all. Inspectors found indicators of possible Listeria contamination, or at least an environment that would foster it, on a vegetable chopping machine that has direct contact with food. Plus, one of the hand-washing sinks did not have hot water on a day of inspection, but workers still used it while preparing food.

According to the New York Post, Whole Foods told the FDA what they did to address these issues, but they apparently weren't enough because the chain didn't provide proof. Whole Foods executives say they did not see this warning letter coming. "We've been in close contact with the FDA, opened our doors to inspectors regularly since February and worked with them to address every issue brought to our attention," Ken Meyer, the company's executive vice president of operations, said in a statement. Whole Foods says the company has already corrected all the issues in the FDA's letter; the FDA says the company has to address their claims by the end of June.

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Granite Construction Incorporateds GVA wholly-owned subsidiary, Kenny Construction Company has been awarded four sewer renewal contracts worth $119 million, by the City of Chicago.



Chicago has over 4,600 miles of sewer. Every year, the city renews approximately 50 miles of 8-inch to 48-inch diameter sewer pipes and 5,000 sewer structures. The scope of work of the contracts is to renew the aging brick sewers.



Per the contract, Kenny Construction will be responsible for the cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining and CIPP structure lining for two years. There is a scope of extension of one year. The benefit of CIPP lining and structure lining is that it helps extend the life of hydraulically adequate sewers at lower cost than excavating and replacing sewers in the streets. Moreover, the process is less disruptive to traffic during construction.



The contracts, part of a multi-year program, will be booked into backlog as individual task orders are issued. The project is funded by the City of Chicago and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The construction, which is slated to begin in the second quarter of 2016, is expected to be completed by May 2019.

GRANITE CONSTRU Price

GRANITE CONSTRU Price | GRANITE CONSTRU Quote

At the end of first-quarter 2016, Granite Constructions total contract backlog was at a record $3.4 billion, up 15.3% year over year. Solid backlog trends and a relentless focus on execution will continue to provide the company opportunities for both top and bottom line growth.



The current economic environment bodes well for the companys planned growth in 2016 and additional opportunities in 2017. With strong committed volumes across geographies at the Construction Materials segment, the business will improve in 2016.



In general, Granite Constructions vertically integrated business remains on track to drive growth in 2016, while large project teams continue to focus on improving project execution to deliver better financial results. Moreover, the company intends to focus on the execution of its large project backlog, apart from bidding for and winning new deals and contracts.



Granite Construction currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



Some better-ranked stocks in the sector include Dycom Industries Inc. DY, Tutor Perini Corp. TPC and TopBuild Corp. BLD. All these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).



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Portland Passive House

Portland, OR, land of the eco-conscious hipsters spoofed in Portlandia, has one-upped itself: This energy-efficient passive house is on the market for $699,000.

The 1,800-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bathroom home was built by architect (and owner) Scott Kosmecki of Hinge Build Group, who would like passive houses to become more well-known and desired and see the market develop, says listing agent David Todd.

The market seems to be off to a good start: Todd says he already has two offers on the listing.

Built-in with Chalk Board Doors

So what exactly is a passive house? If Patagonia, Pendleton, and Tesla joined forces with a Portland native architect to design a home, this is what they would create, according to the listing. More specifically, it is so green, it is well beyond code- and LEED-certified, Todd says. The baseline is extremely well-insulated and way more airtight than the typical construction.

Living Room

The walls are a whopping 16 inches thick and the roof is 24 inches thick, so the insulation value is more than double, Todd says. Electric bills are cut in half, if not more, and theres no gas bill.

The homes construction, which began last year, was completed within the past two weeks. Built on the site of a former 1949 Cape Codstyle home, the original structure was carefully dismantled board by board, so the Douglas fir wood could be reused in the new home.

Pre-Fab Ikea Cabinets

Kosmecki first came across passive house design while studying architecture at the University of Oregon. (Passive homes, which originated in Europe, are rare in the United States.)

It kind of blew my mind, he says. I realized quickly that there was a relationship between controlling heating and cooling passively (designing the building to shelter people more efficiently) and creating really great architectural spaces.

The design of this home is quite unique. For example, the exterior edge extends beyond the frame of the home. This was done to highlight the thick walls, Todd notes.

Story continues

Inside, window placement brings in as much natural light as possible from the often gray skies of the city.

Master Bedroom

Other architectural details include locally sourced white oak flooring, a built-in cabinet with chalkboard doors, quartz counters and prefab cabinets in the kitchen, and custom cabinetry in the bathrooms.

The northeast Portland neighborhood is also a draw because of its proximity to picturesque Alberta Park.

In short, this home allows you to enjoy all the perks of living in a cool new home with none of the big billsor any of the guilt.

The post So Green It Hurts: Meet the Passive House in Portland appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.





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Iganovo (Bulgaria) (AFP) - Spiralling conflicts in Syria and the Middle East have sparked a flurry of activity in Bulgarian arms factories not seen since the collapse of communism.

The small EU member specialises in the production of affordable, lightweight Soviet-style weapons.

While main customers include governments in Afghanistan and Iraq, the arms have also found their way into the hands of opposition fighters in Syria's bloody civil war.

At one of the country's factories, hundreds of kilometres (miles) from Damascus, in a region known for its cultivation of roses, workers expertly assemble grenades for RPG-7 rocket-propelled launchers on a conveyor belt.

"The orders are exceeding our capacity," Ivan Getsov, director of the VMZ Sopot plant in the south-central village of Iganovo, told AFP.

"We produced as much in the first quarter of 2016 as in an entire year and a half previously," he said.

The boom, which started a year and a half ago, "is driven by the conflicts in Syria and Iraq," Bulgarian security expert Tihomir Bezlov said.

More specifically, it coincided with an escalation in the Syrian conflict in 2014 when major world powers became involved, either supporting or opposing President Bashar al-Assad in his fight against rebel groups.

Last June, the United States was forced to admit that it was equipping Syrian rebels, after an American defence contractor died in a blast at an arms testing range in Bulgaria.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia -- another big Bulgarian customer -- has also acknowledged supplying weapons to anti-Assad groups.

Riyadh signed a big Bulgarian arms deal in 2014. Analysts say it is unlikely that Saudi Arabia would buy these weapons for its own military, which uses modern arms.

"The Saudi military generally, but not exclusively, uses Western, rather than Eastern bloc weapons," said Jeremy Binnie, the Middle East editor of Jane's Defence Weekly magazine.

In addition, evidence retrieved on the ground shows that large quantities of Bulgarian weaponry have ended up in the possession of the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

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Of 161 cartridges used by the jihadists, 47 had been made in Bulgaria, according to Conflict Armament Research, a British non-governmental group monitoring the movement of weapons and ammunition globally.

- Guns versus roses -

At VMZ, two workers wearing protective gear carefully handle gunpowder cartridges inside a special armoured booth.

It is a dangerous job: earlier this year, three people died in two separate explosions at its Arsenal factory in the neighbouring town of Kazanlak.

Some of the employees sport face masks against the acrid chemical smell filling the factory, nestled at the foot of the Balkan mountains.

VMZ, Bulgaria's only remaining state-owned arms firm, recently expanded its premises and has gone on a massive recruitment drive for the first time in three decades.

Once severely indebted, VMZ is now one of the impoverished region's biggest employers along with the larger, privately run Arsenal plant. Together, they provide around 15,000 jobs.

In fact, local growers of roses -- the other major industry in the area -- worry that they will not find enough seasonal workers to help them during the summer harvest, according to media reports.

While it cannot compete with large-scale exporters like the US, China and Russia, Bulgaria has become one of the leading medium-sized producers of small arms, according to several independent international research groups, including the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey.

- Ageing technology -

Its military expertise harks back to the communist era.

Under the Soviet Union's defence treaty known as the Warsaw Pact, Bulgaria developed a powerful arms industry with some 115,000 workers.

It exported around $800 million -- its Soviet-era value -- worth of weapons per year to other Soviet bloc nations, but also to pro-communist groups in Africa and the Middle East.

The downfall of communism in 1989 plunged Bulgaria's industry into disarray, stripping the workforce to a tenth of its original size.

However, the escalating violence in the Middle East in recent years has helped fire up sales again.

Exports jumped from 80 million euros ($90 million) in 2008 to 400 million euros in 2014, further soaring to 640 million euros last year.

Sofia insists that it respects all international arms embargoes.

"The goods have a clear certificate for end destinations. Bulgaria cannot be held responsible for what happens from there on," said Economy Minister Bozhidar Lukarski last week.

But analysts warn that the industry could soon face a major hurdle because of its rapidly ageing technology purchased during Soviet times.

"There's a chronic lack of investment and cooperation with Western firms, which keeps Bulgaria from modernising its production infrastructure," said Bezlov.

Bulgarian arms producers hope their booming trade will enable them to now modernise their equipment.
- By James Li





The All-in-One Screener listed Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) and International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) as two high dividend yield computer hardware stocks. Due to these high dividend yields, many gurus have very large positions in these stocks.





Screening for big dividends

GuruFocus provides at least two ways that users can screen for high dividend yield stocks. One simple method is to use the high dividend yield screener, which automatically provides a list of high guru ownership stocks with at least a 4% dividend yield.

Alternatively, users can implement the All-in-One Guru Screener and customize their stock filters. For example, the sample screener below lists stocks that have high dividend yields and high returns on equity.

According to the high dividend yield article, stocks that qualify as high dividend yield stocks must have a dividend yield of at least 3%, a three-year average dividend growth rate of at least 10% and a dividend payout ratio less than 0.6. The sample screener also requires stocks to have at least a 20% ROE and a 50% Greenblatt return on capital. This eliminates the high dividend yield stocks that may be potential value traps. Hewlett-Packard and IBM are among the seven stocks that meet all of the above criteria.

Guru makes large investment in HP despite decreasing net revenues

With a volatile stock price, amateur investors should probably avoid investing in Hewlett-Packard .

However, Chris Davis (Trades, Portfolio) increased his Hewlett-Packard position by 2,259.05% in the past quarter after constantly trimming the position since 2012. The Davis Selected Advisors investor currently has about 6.62 million shares of HP, which is almost equal to the number of shares he owned at the end of June 2013. With this transaction, Davis increased his portfolio by 0.34%.

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Since 2015, Hewlett-Packard as stock price has declined quarter over quarter, probably due to decreasing net revenues. In its June 10-Q, the management of Hewlett-Packard discusses some likely reasons why the company experienced negative changes in revenues: unfavorable currency impacts, weak customer demand and competition in price and economics. Additionally, restructuring costs during early 2016 were significantly higher than those during early 2015.

Promising returns keep Hewlett-Packard from going into distress

Despite the decreasing revenues, Hewlett-Packard still has good financial strength ratings, suggesting that the computer hardware company is not very likely to go bankrupt. With an Altman Z-score of 3.67, Hewlett-Packard has a strong financial outlook and is unlikely to go bankrupt in the next two years. Additionally, the company has healthy interest coverage, and its return on invested capital is significantly higher than its WACC.

Hewlett-Packard as current Greenblatt return on capital is higher than 92% of companies in the global computer systems industry. As of April, the company had a high ROC of 216.96%, suggesting that Hewlett-Packard A has the potential to make high returns. Furthermore, Hewlett-Packard as current Yacktman forward rate of return of 25.63% is higher than 84% of companies in its sector.

With strong financials, IBM attracts a high number of gurus, including Buffett

Although IBM has a lower dividend yield than Hewlett-Packard does, the New York-based information technology company has a slightly stronger financial outlook. During the past 10 years, IBM had higher operating margins than Hewlett-Packard did. Additionally, IBMas operating margins are steadily expanding while HPas operating margins are trending downward.

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Historically, IBMas Altman Z-scores have been at least 3, suggesting that the New York IT company seldom experienced financial distress. On the other hand, Hewlett-Packard has fallen into distress zones during the past five years with Z-scores as low as 1.16. This suggests that IBM has a stronger financial outlook and has a higher upside potential.

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As the companyas financial outlook strengthens, Warren Buffett (Trades, Portfolio) constantly increases his stake in IBM. Since June 2011, IBM has been one of Buffettas top 10 holdings, usually no worse than No. 4 on Buffettas list. Despite having a very high stake in IBM, Buffett currently does not have the largest percentage of total assets managed in IBM. Prem Watsa (Trades, Portfolio) of Fairfax Financial Holdings has 18.33% of his capital in IBM while Buffett only has 9.57%. Additionally, Watsa and Jerome Dodson (Trades, Portfolio) currently have IBM as their second-highest holding. In the aggregate, IBM has the sixth-highest combined weighting. Other gurus who have recently bought or increased their positions in IBM include Arnold Van Den Berg (Trades, Portfolio), Joel Greenblatt (Trades, Portfolio) and David Dreman (Trades, Portfolio).

See also

For more stocks in the IT sector with high dividends, users can implement the All-in-One Screener. One good feature on the website is the Score Board, which allows users to see which gurus are performing better than others.

Start a free seven-day trial of Premium Membership to GuruFocus.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






A photo posted by Azealia Banks (@azealiabanks) on Jun 12, 2016 at 7:56pm PDT

Azealia Banks has always been known for her message to women of be yourself. Its why recent claims that the rappers been lightening her skin have ignited a firestorm on social media, along with some interpretations that Banks has all but admitted to the bleaching.

The controversial star has previously gone on record to say shes pro-black, has slammed what she perceives as the music industrys preference for light-skinned artists, and has railed against what shes called Cultural Erasure, or a white artist taking credit for the black artists hard work and passion.

Related: Emma Watson Isnt the Only Celeb to Endorse a Skin-Bleaching Cream

Shes also notorious for her self-destructive behavior on Twitter, most recently slamming Beyonce after the debut of her visual album Lemonade, saying Beyonce spent her entire career purposefully avoiding blackness but now that its a trend shes trying to capitalize on it, and attacking former One Direction star Zayn Malik in a racist and homophobic rant that resulted in having her Twitter account suspended in May.

A photo posted by Azealia Banks (@azealiabanks) on Jun 12, 2016 at 12:57pm PDT

D

But Banks alleged skin-bleaching stunt would not just be a contradiction, as its also a potentially dangerous practice. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns against using skin-lightening creams, many of which contain mercury, which the FDA prohibits. Exposure to mercurycan damage the kidneys and the nervous system, and interfere with the development of the brain in unborn children and very young children, notes Charles Lee, M.D., a senior medical advisor at FDA, on the organizations website.

Related: The Inspiring Movement That Has Women of Color Opening Up About Unfair Beauty Standards

The Chicago Tribune conducted laboratory testing on 50 skin-lightening creams and found that many of them contained high levels of mercury  with five containing amounts that are banned by federal law.



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Skin-bleaching creams use ingredients that reduce the concentration and production of melanin in the skin, but creams arent the only route to a lighter complexion. Chemical peels and laser treatments can also reduce pigment, and according to the UKs National Health Service, these other skin-lightening treatments also present a host of dangerous potential complications, including bruising, blistering, scarring, and infection.

But that doesnt seem to be deterring Banks. Responding to a tweet that asked how she could lighten her skin and still be pro-black, Banks retorted  in true Banks style  Because my [privates are] still purple.

Lets keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Beauty on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.




Q: How do you attract talent when you are pre-revenue and don't have funding?

A: Im not going to sugar coat this response. When youre pre-revenue and dont have funding, you shouldnt be trying to build out a big team. Instead, you need to focus on advancing your startup to the point where you can either start generating revenue, get funded, or both.

With this in mind, its time to get very clear on exactly what needs to happen in order for your startup to get to that funding or revenue milestone. For instance, do you have a business background with a great idea for a product, but lack the expertise to make a working prototype? Or, maybe youve developed an app, but lack the business experience to turn your product into a viable company. Whatever the case might be, write down the tasks that need to happen to move your business forward to the stage of revenue or funding. This stage varies depending on the industry youre in, but at a base level, youll likely want to have a working prototype, and be able to demonstrate that theres a market for the product or service you want to provide.

Related: Why Talent Alone Will Never Be Enough

Once youve identified exactly what needs to happen, cross off any items that you know you can complete yourself. Now that you have a lean list of what you need help with, you can start looking for the talent that can help achieve these tasks. Heres some advice on how to do this:

Take advantage of free startup resources

Before thinking about how you can attract talent to work for your company full-time, Id look for ways to access advisors and other resources for free.

For students, many universities have some type of innovation or entrepreneurship center with staff that can either give you specific advice how to move your business forward, or put you in touch with mentors in your industry who can offer this guidance. If youre not a student, similar resources could be available in your community. For instance, in Boston we have Score Boston, which offers free and low-cost mentoring to help people start and grow businesses.

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Also, a quick online search for free startups resources will yield numerous well-organized lists of hundreds of tools that can help you develop, market and sell a variety of products and services.

Related: How to Speed up Your Hiring to Find Valuable Talent Now

Find a co-founder

Bringing on a co-founder with complementary skills can be an incredible asset in moving your business forward, and is also something you can do before your startup is making money or has funding. Last week I went into the details on how to find a co-founder, as well as what qualities you should look for beyond possessing the right skill-set.

When you do bring on a co-founder, make sure the equity split and corporate structure is ironed out very early on. Too often startups that dont have revenue or funding think they can leave these conversations and contracts for a later date. Really, waiting does nothing but leave you open to potentially messy situations involving compensation when you get to the funding or revenue stage.

Consider bringing on part-time talent

If you find that you still need extra help to complete tasks after bringing on a co-founder and taking advantage of free resources, you can start looking into low-cost ways of finding the right people to complete specific projects on a part-time or contractor basis.

Gig marketplaces are one place to start this search. HourlyNerd, one of the startups out of the Harvard Innovation Lab that focuses on MBAs for contract hire, could be helpful. For a site that offers a broad range of contractors, theres always Fiverr.

Another option is partnering with universities that offer co-ops to bring on talented students. In Boston, some universities even offer grants to go along with their co-op programs, where the university will pay for part of a students salary to work at your startup.

In terms of how youll afford these contract or part-time workers without funding or revenue, you might have to dip into your personal savings, take some contract work yourself, or even consider selling items you own. Its always worth noting that Steve Jobs sold his Volkswagen to start Apple.

Related: 4 Creative Tactics to Find and Recruit the Best Talent
federal reserve janet yellen traders

Via Dave Lutz at JonesTrading, here's a quick guide to what traders are talking about ahead of the Fed statement:

Good Morning! US Futures are rebounding slightly as some Brexit angst subsides, with the S&P up 20bp early. Its a sea of green over in Europe, with the DAX up 90bp - Banks rebounding across Europe after a 10% smack in the last 3 sessions, while those Bond Proxies of Utilities, Staples and Telecom outperform. Miners leading FTSE higher with Angle and Glencore up 2%+. Volumes are strong across Europe, with most exchanges trading 30-40% above normal averages. Over in Asia, Chinese stocks rebound despite MSCI's decision to deny, with Shanghai reversing a 1% loss to close 1.6% higher  chatter the national team was behind the buying - Nikkei breaks a 4-day losing streak, bouncing 40bp, while Aussie was hit for 1% to a 2month low in heavy volume as materials sank.

Ahead of the Fed today (Non-event, focus on dot Plot and Yellen Presser), German 10s are back above the zero bound for now, helping the US 10YY rebound slightly, despite JGBs hitting another record low yield overnight. Sterling is showing a rebound as unemployment came in low  and all commodity currencies are showing a bid, led by Aussie. With the weaker $, Metals acting well, led by a bounce back in Copper, gaining over 2% despite another pullback of rebar in China, while Gold is seeing a reversal of recent haven buying. Oil slides to two-week lows as API showed big builds across the board, hitting gasoline for 2%. WTI is having its 5thdown day in a row, the longest streak since February. Softs are showing a slight bid.

Catalysts ahead of us today start with PPI and Empire Manufacturing at 8:30, just before Industrial Production hits at 9:15. ECB's Weidmann Speaks at 10, and we get DoE data at 10:30 for Crude (API last night showed a 1.1M build overall, with 660k in Cushing  Big builds also in Gasoline of 2.2M and Distillates 3.7M). The main event hits at 2 with the FOMC Rate Decision and Dot Plot, followed by the Yellen presser at 2:30. VIX contracts roll at 2:30, and at 4pm we get the Net Long-term TIC Flows. Throughout the day we get Master Trust Data from the Credit Cards  and the BOJ decision is overnight.

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NOW WATCH: NASA released the sharpest photos of Pluto in history  and they're spectacular





More From Business Insider


Credit card companies were among the worst performing stocks on Tuesday following Synchrony Financials SYF revelations relating to credit quality and reserves. The private-credit card issuer, which spun off from General Electric Company GE in 2014, disclosed that net charge-offs (NCOs) will increase 1020 basis points (bps) over the next 12 months.



Considering this increase in NCOs, Synchrony Financial now expects rise in reserves, beginning second quarter of 2016. Further, allowance coverage ratio (allowance for loan losses as a percent of end of period loan receivables) will likely increase 2030 bps sequentially.



Though NCOs were showing a rising trend in the first quarter, the new guidance was a bolt from the blue for analysts and investors alike. Synchrony Financials stock, thus plunged more than 13%, to close yesterdays session at $26.45 per share.



Synchrony Financials management red flag regarding asset quality affected the credibility of other credit card companies as well. Hence, shares of companies like Capital One Financial Corporation COF, Discover Financial Services DFS and American Express Company AXP also tanked.









Later, speaking at the Morgan Stanley Financials Conference in New York, Chief Financial Officer of Synchrony Financial, Brian Doubles said, There doesnt appear to be anything that pertains to how were underwriting -- it appears to be a general softening in the consumers ability to pay. Were coming off historic lows; we wouldnt view this as a step change in consumer behavior necessarily.



The above comments by Brain Doubles show that the overall ability of the consumers to repay debt has deteriorated in the recent times. The primary reason for this seems that consumers have taken on more auto and student loans.



As these companies issue branded credit cards with retailers, these tend to be slightly more risky than other bank-issued cards. Lets take a look at certain asset quality metrics to better understand these companies credit card loan position.



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Company %age of Credit Card Loan with FICO Score of Less than 660 (As of Mar 31, 2016) Capital One 35 Synchrony Financial 28 Discover Financial 18



As seen in the table, Capital One has the largest credit card loan portfolio with FICO score of 660 or less. Notably, the company expects domestic credit card charge-off rate in 2016 to be around 4% with quarterly seasonal variability driven by growth in loans, while in 2017 it is projected to be in the low 4% range. Moreover, the expectations for higher charge-offs, combined with anticipated loan growth, will result in elevated allowance additions, going forward.



Additionally, Discover Financials management, which also spoke at the Morgan Stanley conference, stated that they are not seeing any deterioration in asset quality. Further, the company expressed satisfaction about its loan book performance.



However, with Synchrony Financials disappointing outlook, other credit card financial companies are likely to witness a similar trend.



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(Adds Hess comment)

June 15 (Reuters) - A Hess Corp storage facility in North Dakota leaked about 32,000 gallons of saltwater on Tuesday, although the liquid has been recovered on site, state regulators said.

A transfer pump failed at a tank battery in Mountrail County in the state's northwest corner, causing storage tanks to overflow, the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources said on Wednesday.

A state inspector has been sent to the scene to monitor remediation, the department said.

Hess said it was working with state officials. The facility services legacy wells in North Dakota, not those in the state's prolific Bakken shale formation.

"All liquids have been recovered and contained on site," Hess spokesman John Roper said.

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Lisa Von Ahn)
From Seventeen

A banner spelling out the phrase "TOO GAY" was hung from a New Jersey high school on Monday, spurring controversy in the wake of the Orlando shooting that claimed at least 49 lives over the weekend.

John Bell, a sophomore at Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey, created the banner over the course of several months as part of a project for his AP Art History class.

"In society, a lot of straight people may view people as 'too gay' or too flamboyant," John explained to NBC 4 New York. "And when we are open about our gayness, are we perceived as 'too gay?'"

He explained the banner is intended to ask a question, not make a statement, and is not related to Sunday's mass shooting.

In a letter sent to his classmates, he offered, "As an artist, I am basically challenging how people may view gay people, and also celebrating Pride month... In light of the Orlando shooting, the flag is here to remind us of the work we have to do and to celebrate LGBT people."

The banner isn't universally beloved by his classmates.

Student Bianca Bristol told NBC 4 New York that she was afraid the banner makes Columbia High School a target for homophobic hate crimes like the one in Orlando.

But another student supported the project, saying, "I think it shows how Columbia is leading the forefront of our generation." A third student praised the banner as a sign of Columbia's diversity.

"I was really proud to hear what he wanted to do weeks or moments ago whenever it was first proposed and I think it came out beautifully," Principal Elizabeth Aaron told FiOS 1 News. "I think the response speaks very much to the fact that this is something we care about very deeply making sure we are all safe and all loved and all secure."
EDINBURGH, June 15 (Reuters) - Britain's June 23 referendum on European Union membership is on a knife edge and, if England dragged Scotland out of the 28-country bloc against its will, Scotland could call another independence vote, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in an interview with Reuters.

Below are highlights of the interview.

THE "REMAIN" CAMPAIGN

"Clearly the referendum is on a knife edge across the UK and if you look at the polls they suggest that, which is why I and the SNP (Scottish National Party) will be trying to make the positive case for the 'Remain'" camp.

"I think we will be better off being in the European Union, being in the single market. That's good for jobs and businesses and it also brings with it the protection of workers' rights and social protections and I think it's good for our society, for our culture, it gives us freedom to travel, the right to live to work and to study, our students get the opportunity to travel to other European countries, and it broadens our understanding of the world."

WOULD A BREXIT LEAD TO A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS IN THE UK?

"I think it would be a very serious mistake for the UK to vote to leave the EU and I think it would be democratically indefensible for Scotland, if we had voted to stay in, to face the prospect of being taken out.

"In the circumstance where Scotland was faced with the prospect of being taken out of the EU against the democratic will that had been expressed, then the Scottish parliament should have the right to hold a second referendum [on independence] if it thought that was necessary in order to protect our EU membership.

"I think people -- you know even people who don't support Scotland becoming independent -- in all fairness could understand the sense of disquiet that there would be in Scotland over that."

"That scenario only arises if we don't get a 'Remain' vote across the EU, and I am absolutely determined that I do my part -- and it is only a part -- in securing that 'Remain' vote.

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WHAT WOULD A BREXIT MEAN FOR BRITISH POLITICS?

"My message to Scotland is that if we want to keep the gains of EU membership (...) and we don't want to see Scotland in a UK that is heading to the right, in the way that I think it inevitably will if there is a Brexit, then we have got to vote in big numbers to stay in."

"I worry about the direction of the UK ... in the event of a Brexit. If there is a "Leave" vote in England and across the UK as a whole, then we see the reins of power being seized by politicians who are on the right of the Conservative party, politicians who actually believe that (Prime Minister) David Cameron and (finance minister) George Osborne are moderates."

WILL THERE BE A NEW SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM? WHEN?

"I hope there will be another independence referendum -- I hope it will be sooner rather than later -- because I desperately want Scotland to be an independent country.

"I cannot, though, sit here and tell you definitively that it will happen and that it will happen on this timescale, because I have to respect the opinion of the people of Scotland.

"It's not just a case of 'If I desperately want it to happen then I can make it happen'. I don't want to have another referendum that will result in the same outcome as the last one -- I hope if there is another referendum it will be an outcome of independence.

"Our manifesto was very clear about this - if there is demonstration of majority support for Scotland moving to being independent then I think those would be the circumstances that nobody should stand in the way.

"I recognise that we have work to do to build that majority support."

"I want Scotland to be independent. If it was entirely down to me, that would be tomorrow or yesterday, in fact, or, to be more precise, it would have been 2014 and we would have been independent this year."

WHAT DOES STURGEON THINK OF DONALD TRUMP?

"There is an election in the U.S. in the coming months and it's their democratic right to choose their president and to do that ... for themselves without interference.

"But I don't think it's any secret that I hope and believe that the good sense of the good people of the United States will prevail here.

"But it's their decision and the world will have to live with that decision. But some of Donald Trump's comments in the last couple of days, I think, should make everyone pause for serious thought.

WILL STURGEON TAKE 'PRESIDENT TRUMP'S' CALLS?

"I'm really hoping that doesn't arise but it's really not the done thing to be commenting on a election process in another country. But I really don't think I would be surprising anyone if I were to say that I would rather be found to be in the position of congratulating President (Hillary) Clinton." (Reporting By Elisabeth O'Leary and Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Hillary Clinton soundly defeated Bernie Sanders in the District of Columbias primary, the last contest in the Democratic nomination.

Clinton was declared the projected winner in Washington D.C. by a number of news outlets, but she last week passed the delegate benchmark to clinch the nomination.

Her victory came just as Clinton and Sanders were meeting in Washington.

Sanders has not dropped out of the race, and on Tuesday he called for a fundamental transformation of the Democratic party. He has vowed to go all the way to the convention, but its unclear if that means he would contest the results or seek leverage on the party platform and party rules. He has called for the end of the system of superdelegates, the hundreds of elected officials and activists who are given delegate votes.

Earlier on Tuesday, his campaign sent a message to supporters announcing that he would take part in a live online video message on Thursday, with the cryptic line, The political revolution continues.

Related stories

Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump Offer Contrasting Responses to Orlando Attack

Elizabeth Warren to Endorse Hillary Clinton on 'Rachel Maddow'

Obama Endorses Hillary Clinton for President: 'I'm With Her'
Lens (France) (AFP) - England manager Roy Hodgson has called on supporters of both teams to respect the national anthems when his side tackle Wales on Thursday.

The build-up to the Euro 2016 group game in Lens has been dogged by concerns about violence, after England fans clashed with their Russian counterparts in Marseille at the weekend.

England's supporters jeered the Russian anthem when it was played prior to the 1-1 draw at Stade Velodrome, but Hodgson is hopeful Welsh and English fans will show each other respect.

"I would like to see both national anthems totally and utterly respected," he told reporters.

"I'd like to see total silence from England during the Welsh national anthem and total silence from them during our national anthem.

"Whether we'll see that or not, I don't know."

Thursday's Group B match was one of five classed as high risk by French authorities due to concerns about potential clashes between rival fans.

In response to the incidents in Marseille, police numbers in Lens and nearby Lille, where England and Wales fans gathered, have been bolstered and an alcohol ban has been imposed.
A high demand and short supply of the green superfood have triggered an avocado-related crime wave in New Zealand.

As local prices for just one avocado have risen to as much as 6 New Zealand dollars ($4.20), organized gangs are targeting orchards in the fruit-producing North Island.

Local media report that there have been as many as 30 to 40 incidents this year as poachers use the cover of night to load up carloads of the fruit.

"Our season's been very short, last year we had a low supply, we're just starting the new season, we only eat avocados from New Zealand in New Zealand, so that real demand has created this very negative story and very negative activity," Avocado New Zealand chief executive Jen Scoular told Radio NZ.

Scouler said the stolen fruit would be unripe and it was likely sold at farmers markets and to small sushi shops.

Stuff.co.nz reports that the thieves' methods are now being discovered.

"We have reports of people driving utes [pickup trucks] into orchards and filling up the entire back tray, growers are finding blankets and duvets in their orchards with piles of avocados in them - thieves have picked and been interrupted."

"There is certainly a large-scale theft going on and the large numbers of it going on," said NZ Avocado Market Manager Bevan Jelley.





New Zealand appears to have a growing love affair with the 'Alligator Pear'.

In a statement published last month, NZ Avocado Growers Association said domestic sales of in the 2015 -2016 season had risen 25 percent to top 41 million New Zealand dollars of sales.

The association says when you include exports, the figure rises to 134 million New Zealand dollars.





More From CNBC


As Americans gain awareness about the financial and environmental cost of non-renewable energy sources, residential solar installations are increasing across the country. The Solar Energy Industries Association reports that the U.S. now has enough solar installations to power 5.7 million homes, with more than 1 million individual solar installations across the country. While solar installations were once common in high-end homes, the decreasing cost of these systems means they're showing up on moderately priced homes, too.

As homeowners with solar panels sell those homes, it presents an opportunity for new homeowners to reap the benefits of lower electric bills and a smaller environmental footprint. Still, new owners won't qualify for the solar rebates and tax credits that the original installer could get. "The single most effective thing that any one individual can do [to combat climate change] is to go solar," says Raina Russo, founder of Women4Solar, and advisor for CREW: Own the Switch Advisor for Integrity & Mission Council Team Builder. "A homeowner that buys a solar powered house should feel very proud," she adds.

[See: 7 Homebuying Mistakes to Avoid.]

Of course, the decision to install solar panels goes beyond the potential energy savings and environmental impact. The original owners have the opportunity to thoroughly research their purchase, choose between different manufacturers and installers and make other choices. Meanwhile, homebuyers searching for a residence with existing solar panels can avoid this legwork, but they should still do their homework since the purchase has more complexities than a conventional home purchase. Solar is essentially a "25-year marriage," Russo says.

In general, buyers are willing to pay more for a home with solar features since they know they'll be rewarded with low (or no) electric bills. A 2015 Berkeley Laboratory study found that buyers are willing to pay an average of $4 per watt of solar photovoltaic energy system installed, which equates to about $15,000 for the average system.

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However, home appraisers don't always factor solar panels into their assessment of the home's value, especially if there aren't other comparable homes in the area that have solar. "The awareness about the value of solar varies widely across the country," says John Livermore, executive director of the nonprofit Healthy Home Healthy Planet. When the sellers price a home based on the value of solar features but the appraiser doesn't, that can create a gap between what the buyer offers to pay and the amount the mortgage lender is willing to loan on the home. "That's a conversation that the agent should be having with the appraiser," says Shane Herbert, a real estate agent at Summit Sotheby's International Realty in Park City, Utah.

With that in mind, here are some questions to consider before buying a home with existing solar panels.

Are the panels leased or owned? Ideally, you'd buy a home from someone who owns the solar panels affixed to the home rather than assuming their solar lease. Because solar leases are an ongoing liability (often with escalating payments), assuming a lease can raise your debt-to-income ratio and hinder your ability to qualify for a mortgage on the home. Leasing solar may also give you fewer certainties than owning them, adds Christina Mathieson, vice president of marketing at the New York-based SUNation Solar Systems and a LEED Green Associate. "What we're seeing is that many leasing companies retain the right to change their production guarantee," she says. "They retain the right to every year or two lower the amount that they say their system is going to produce," she adds. Plus, there's no guarantee that the leasing company will approve you as the new lessee either.

[See: 12 Ways to Save More in the Springtime.]

Who is the manufacturer? Even if you haven't chosen the solar manufacturer, you should still research its reputation. In the best-case scenario, the solar system is from a U.S. company, according to Mathieson. "That doesn't necessarily mean that the panels are exclusively manufactured here, but you want them to be a U.S. corporation so you're protected by the Magnuson--Moss Warranty Act [a law that protects U.S. consumers from shady warranty practices]," she says.

Who installed the panels? Mathieson suggests researching the reputation of the person who originally installed the solar system. "The roof is one of the most important structures of your home," she explains. "Check out the installer that put the system in and make sure that that installer has a warranty," she suggests, pointing out that the installer or the company that sold the system may be willing to inspect it for you to provide peace of mind. Herbert also suggests getting an independent professional to inspect the system before you commit to buying a new home with existing panels.

Can I see past electric bills? Ask to see the current owner's utility bills from the past year, so you'll know what to expect. Most parts of the U.S. operate under net metering where your electricity bill can be zeroed out by solar, but not reduced further. Still, you could roll over credits from a sunny month into a less sunny month, according to Livermore. In a few areas, you can actually get paid for excess electricity your solar panels generate as allowed by your state and your utility provider. Not all solar systems are created equal. "The age of the solar does make a drastic difference, also how many panels and how much energy usage the house is seeing," Herbert adds.

[See: 12 Home Improvement Shortcuts That Are a Bad Idea.]

What's the warranty? Ask about the warranty terms. You likely have two separate warranties: one for the panels and another for the inverter, which converts the energy produced by your panels into alternating current that actually powers your house. "Usually the warranty for the inverter is shorter and the expected life is shorter," Livermore says. "Sometimes when a solar system is sold, the buyer will purchase an option for the replacement of the inverter. Sometimes they don't," he adds. The typical solar panel warranty might run 25 to 30 years, while inverters might be warrantied for 10 years, according to Livermore. "They need that documentation to be passed on to them [in case] there were any issues down the road," Russo adds.





More From US News & World Report


It will process 200,000 cbm of water per day when finished.

The utilities companys arm, Qurayyat Desalination, has achieved financing for its Qurayyat Independent Water Project (IWP) in Oman.

According to a press release by Hyflux, the US$185 million facility is provided by Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Standard Chartered Bank, Dubai International Financial Centre Branch and Singapore based Clifford Capital Pte. Ltd.

A noteworthy feature of this facility is an innovative fixed-to-floating rate term loan provided by Clifford Capital Pte. Ltd. Qurayyat IWP is a seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant located in Qurayyat in the Muscat governorate and the Groups largest desalination project in the Sultanate of Oman, the press release noted.

Under the agreement, Hyflux said desalinated water will be supplied to Oman Power and Water Procurement Company SAOC for a period of 20 years, from 2017 to 2037.

This will add another 200,000 cubic metres per day of drinking water to the countrys water supply, the press release said.





More From Singapore Business Review


Contract research organization (CRO), ICON Plc ICLR, recently signed a three-year service agreement with its existing customer Pfizer Inc. PFE. The drug giant has the scope to extend this agreement by another two years.



Last month, ICON along with Pfizer won the Clinical Research Team of the Year award at the inaugural Clinical and Research Excellence (CARE) Awards. The team won the award for its achievements in 2015 on two parallel cardiovascular studies, which involved approximately 26,000 patients at 3,000 sites across 35 countries.



The parallel studies are investigating the ability of bococizumab (an investigational compound) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in a broad range of high-risk primary and secondary prevention patients.



CRO Services in Demand



The renewal of the Pfizer contract is definitely a major positive for ICON. However, the growing demand for the companys services from mid-sized pharma and biotech companies is more encouraging. ICONs expanding footprint in this particular market diversifies its revenue source and reduces dependence on larger customers, which are now at a maturing stage.



ICON PLC Revenue (TTM)

ICON PLC Revenue (TTM) | ICON PLC Quote

ICONs backlog increased 9% in the first quarter of 2016 from the year-ago quarter, while net book to bill was 1.1 times. Strong funds flow from mid-sized companies offset lower bookings from some of the companys larger clients who were slow to confirm orders in the quarter.



Focus on Technology Platforms



The customer wins are primarily driven by ICONs differentiated technology platforms. We believe the company is poised to gain market due to its continuing investments in ICONIK, ADDPLAN and Firecrest platforms.



Moreover, strategic partnerships with the likes of International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM), IBM Watson and Genomics England are key catalysts. Additionally, acquisitions of Inclinix-PMG Holdings, MediMedia Pharma Solutions and Aptiv are key growth drivers.



Finally, tactical capital deployment and a strategic policy of increasing shareholders value through buybacks are key positives.



Zacks Rank & Key Picks



ICON has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Air Methods AIRM and AMN Healthcare AHS are better-ranked stocks in the medical services industry. Both the stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

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PFIZER INC (PFE): Free Stock Analysis Report



AMN HLTHCR SVCS (AHS): Free Stock Analysis Report



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Tiger in 4K

An iconic investment firm just switched up its head of compliance.

Tiger Global Management, which manages about $24 billion across mostly venture capital and hedge funds, has promoted Greg Seidell to its chief compliance officer post, effective June 6.

Seidell previously held a more junior compliance role at Tiger, which was backed by hedge fund icon Julian Robertson.

Seidell replaces Neil Schwartz, who worked at the firm since 2011, according to a LinkedIn profile.

Tiger announced the change in a regulatory filing, which was tracked by platform AltX.

Schwartz is no longer working at Tiger, and his plans could not immediately be confirmed. Schwartz did not respond to a request for comment, and a spokesperson for Tiger declined to comment.

Tiger Global's hedge fund has had a rough time of it this year, plunging 22% in the first quarter, losing at least $1 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported in April. Other senior employees left last year, including Feroz Dewan, who looked after the hedge fund business "on a day-to-day basis," the Journal reported.

Billionaire Chase Coleman founded Tiger in 2001 to focus on tech investments after he worked for hedge fund icon Julian Robertson.

NOW WATCH: The most important question you should ask before hiring a financial adviser





More From Business Insider


By Rajendra Jadhav and David Brough

MUMBAI/LONDON (Reuters) - India's planned sugar export tax of 25 percent, intended to maintain local supplies, could boost opportunities for Indian refiners who unlike mills will not be subject to the tax, enabling them to sell to places such as Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

Global sugar refining margins have fallen after the latest ICE raw sugar rally, driven by a shift of the global market into deficit. Margins could recover, however, as Indian low quality white sugar exports from mills would halt after the planned imposition of the tax, traders said.

Sugar output in India, the worlds number 2 producer behind Brazil, is expected to decline this year due to drought in major growing regions.

The rally in ICE raw sugar futures meant that white sugar futures struggled to keep up, eroding global refining, or whites-over-raws, margins, the so-called white premium.

ICE raw sugar futures hit a 2-1/2-year peak of 19.92 cents a lb on June 9.

The white premium, a measure of refining profitability, dropped below $100 per tonne as the raw sugar rally gathered momentum, after trading above $100 in recent months.

Trade sources said the white premium could rise again as Indian exports slow, tightening global availability of white sugar. That would boost margins for India's coastal refineries, which would not pay the export tax as they are import-export businesses.

The export duty will be applicable only for domestic output (mills). For refiners, the duty will not be applicable, said an official at E.I.D-Parry (India), which operates a refinery on the east coast of India.

If locally produced sugar exports halt, those markets can be catered to by refiners. Myanmar and Sri Lanka would be some destinations where refiners can raise their exports, he said.

Myanmar is believed to be a gateway for smuggled white sugar into China, traders say.

Tom McNeill, Australia-based director of Green Pool Commodities, said, "Many in the market were expecting the export of 150-ICUMSA (low quality) white sugar from India to dry up in any case.

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"So the government's export tax just makes sure that is the case, just in case the rallying global market suddenly made it attractive. So I'd guess it's neutral to mildly supportive to the whites premium."

India has so far exported 1.7 million tonnes in the marketing year that began on Oct. 1.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav and David Brough; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
(LOS ANGELES)  An Indiana man who said he was headed to a gay pride event in California had a loaded assault rifle with magazines rigged to allow 60 shots to be fired in quick succession, plus 15 pounds of chemicals mixed and ready to explode, authorities said.

James Wesley Howell, 20, also had two other loaded rifles, ammunition, a stun gun, a buck knife and a security badge when he was arrested in Santa Monica early Sunday, hours after an attack at a gay nightclub in Florida left 49 people dead, police said.

The timing led to increased security at the LA Pride event in West Hollywood, which attracts hundreds of thousands of people. Authorities have not disclosed evidence that Howell planned violence at the event.

Alone, each item found in the car might not indicate anything sinister, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz said at Howells first court appearance Tuesday. But together, they just dont pass the common sense test.

I cannot in good conscience think of any reasonable reason that somebody would be traveling across the country with all of these things, he said, setting bail at $2 million.

Howell pleaded not guilty to three felony weapons and ammunition charges. He has told police he recently drove from Indiana to Los Angeles because of pending charges against him in his home state.

Friends in Indiana described Howell as a gun enthusiast with a short temper. In October, he twice was accused of pulling a gun and making threats, once against his then-boyfriend and once against a neighbor.

Howell was convicted in April of misdemeanor intimidation for the incident with his neighbor. Under the terms of his probation, Howell was not allowed to have weapons or leave Indiana.

When he was picked up in Santa Monica, there was an assault rifle in his cars passenger seat and 15 pounds of Shoc-Shot, two chemicals that explode when mixed and shot. The assault rifle was loaded with a 30-round magazine, which had another inverted 30-round magazine taped to it, police said.

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Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney said gun enthusiasts dont mix Shoc-Shot until its ready to be used, as federal regulations require, and the amount that Howell had far exceeds any amount that would reasonably be used.

Howells attorney, Pamela Jones, told the judge there was no evidence Howell planned to detonate the chemicals. She said a black hood found in his car was just a clothing item, and nothing indicated Howell planned to use it as a mask, as police contended was a possibility.

James Wedick, a former longtime FBI agent, said the manipulation of the gun magazines would allow someone to reload 30 rounds in less than 2 seconds.

It doubles your killing capacity by 100 percent, he said. For a civilian to have a weapon rigged as such, it suggests his purposes are deadly.

Federal agents searched Howells home in Jeffersonville, Indiana, on Monday but declined to release any details.

Rebecca Lonergan, a former federal prosecutor who teaches national security law at the University of California, said filing the state charges keeps Howell in custody while the FBI builds a possible case.

In the atmosphere we have where there is such great concern about active shooters, about terrorism, about hate crimes, both the state and federal investigators are going to want to thoroughly look at this guy, she said.

The sheriffs office in Clark County, Indiana, said Tuesday that Howell also is the subject of a sexual assault investigation. The office says the incident occurred May 31.
ABIDJAN (Reuters) - India's Export-Import Bank (Eximbank) will issue a $176.3 million loan to Ivory Coast for public works initiatives, including projects in construction and information technology, Ivorian Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan said on Wednesday.

The loan was announced during a visit by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee to the world's top cocoa and cashew producer, which issued two Eurobonds totalling $1.75 billion in 2014 and 2015.

India is also expecting to open an Eximbank office in Ivory Coast this year, Duncan said.

"The return of Eximbank India constitutes a significant advantage for the consolidation of this already excellent partnership," said Duncan, who added that the bank had left during his West African country's decade-long political crisis that ended in 2011.

Trade between India and Ivory Coast rose from 221 billion CFA francs ($378.66 million) in 2010 to 513 billion CFA francs ($878.97 million) last year, an increase of 132 percent in five years, according to Duncan.

French-speaking West Africa's largest economy is one of its fastest growing, with GDP growth expected to be 8.5 percent this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.

($1 = 583.6400 CFA francs)

(Reporting by Loucoumane Coulibaly; Writing by Makini Brice; Editing by Nellie Peyton and Mark Heinrich)
From ELLE DECOR

From avoiding the swarms of whining kiddies to finding the best themed cocktails, there's a deluge of travel guides and vacation itineraries dedicated to helping nostalgic adults enjoy their time at Disney parks.

The latest in adult-friendly offerings: A swanky new 700-room resort on the grounds of the amusement park in Anaheim, CA.

Concept painting of the lobby of the new luxury resort.

According to the OC Register, the Walt Disney Company recently proposed plans to build the new accommodations, which would be given a four-diamond rating by AAA, and will occupy nearly 10 acres of the downtown Disney parking lot when it opens in 2021. Though this isn't Disney's first foray into the 5-star hotel scene, it's been 20 years since they've opened a resort of this magnitude.

Two other Disney properties - the Disneyland Hotel and the Disney Grand Californian Hotel & Spa - are the only hotels in Anaheim that uphold AAA's strict guidelines for the luxury four-diamond rating, which requires that "These establishments are upscale in all areas. Accommodations are progressively more refined and stylish. The physical attributes reflect an obvious enhanced level of quality throughout." According to AAA, the fundamental hallmarks of a hotel at this level include "an extensive array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, service, and attention to detail."

In other words: Top notch.

Concept painting of the resort's swimming pool.

Amenities at Disney's latest luxury digs are set to include a fitness facility, concierge service, two pools and a rooftop restaurant that will offer a perfect view of the fireworks over the Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Concept painting of the rooftop restaurant and bar with views of fireworks over Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Rooms are estimated to go for $450 a night. While steep, other Disney resorts have been known to include perks such as VIP tours, FastPass ride access and extra hours to enjoy the park. We're willing to hedge out bets that the newest hotel addition will come with some splurge-worthy bonuses as well.

Check out a video of the new resort below.
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People on the Internet aren't exactly known for their British politeness  that is until Grandma May came along.

Her grandson, Ben John, shared his sweet nan's antics with the world on Thursday and people bowed down to her perfect manners.

SEE ALSO: Nope, Google isn't filtering search results to shield Hillary Clinton

You see, 85-year-old May Ashworth likes to treat her Google search bar with the respect it deserves  that includes asking for what you need politely.

In a screenshot, shared on Twitter, Nanna May wrote: "Please translate these roman numerals mcmxviii thank you."

Young John from England was blown away by his nan's adorableness. He exclaimed in his tweet: "Omg opened my Nan's laptop and when she's googled something she's put 'please' and 'thank you'. I can't."

We can't either. We love you Nanna May.

[h/t Metro]
Growth at a reasonable price, or GARP, is an effective investment strategy for investors interested in building up a portfolio that offers characteristics of both value and growth investing. Investors following GARP seek to acquire stocks that have solid growth prospects, but are available at discounted prices. Unlike a blend strategy, a portfolio, which is using GARP investing, is expected to have stocks that offer the best of both value and growth investing rather than investing in both value and growth stocks.

GARP Metrics  Mix of Growth & Value Metrics

Growth Metrics

Both strong earnings growth history and impressive earnings growth prospects in the coming years are the main concepts that GARP investors borrow from the growth investing strategy. However, they choose stocks with a more stable and reasonable growth rate instead of choosing those with extremely high growth rates. Growth rates between 10% and 20% are considered ideal in GARP strategy.

Another growth metric that is considered by both growth and GARP investors is return on equity (ROE). GARP investors look for strong and higher ROE compared to the industry average to identify superior stocks. Moreover, stocks with positive cash flows get precedence in GARP investing.

Value Metrics

GARP investing gives precedence to one of the popular value metrics  price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. Though this investing style chooses stocks with higher P/E ratios compared to value investors, they avoid picking companies with extremely high P/E ratios.

Moreover, price-to-book value (P/B) ratio is another value metric that is considered in GARP investing.

Using GARP principles, we have run a screen to identify stocks that should offer good returns in the near term.

Screening Parameters

 Zacks Rank less than or equal to #2

(Only Strong Buy and Buy rated stocks can get through.)

 Last 5-year EPS & projected 35 year EPS growth rates between 10% and 20%

(Strong EPS growth history and prospects ensure improving business.)

Story continues

 ROE (over the past 12 months) greater than the industry average

(Higher ROE compared to the industry average indicates superior stocks.)

 P/E and P/B ratios less than X-industry average

(P/E and P/B ratios less than that of the industry indicate that the stocks are undervalued.)

Using these criteria weve narrowed down the universe of over 7,700 stocks to only seven.

Here are five of the seven stocks that met these criteria:

Lear Corp. LEA is a leading global supplier of automotive seating systems, electrical distribution systems and electronics. This Zacks Rank #1 company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $3.40 last quarter, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.83. LEA also has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of more than 13.1%.

Air Methods Corp. AIRM provides air medical emergency transport services and systems throughout North America. This Zacks Rank #1 company reported EPS of 50 cents last quarter, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 42 cents. AIRM also has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of more than 11.3%.

DST Systems Inc. DST provides sophisticated information processing and computer software services and products. This Zacks Rank #2 company reported EPS of $1.61 last quarter, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.46. DST also has an average four-quarter earnings surprise of more than 3.2%.

Express Scripts Holding Company ESRX is one of the largest pharmacy benefit management companies in North America. This Zacks Rank #2 company has a last five-year average EPS growth rate of 17.8% and expected next five-year growth rate of 11.6%.

Whirlpool Corp. WHR provides sophisticated information processing and computer software services and products. This Zacks Rank #2 company has a last five-year average EPS growth rate of 10.4% and expected next five-year growth rate of 17%.

The Research Wizard is a great place to begin. It's easy to use. Everything is in plain language. And it's very intuitive. Start your Research Wizard trial today. And the next time you read an economic report, open up the Research Wizard, plug your finds in, and see what gems come out.

Click here to sign up for a free trial to the Research Wizard today.

Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.

Disclosure: Performance information for Zacks portfolios and strategies are available at: https://www.zacks.com/performance.

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By Babak Dehghanpisheh (Reuters) - The Iranian Revolutionary Guard accused a British-Iranian aid worker who has been detained since early April of trying to "overthrow" the government in a statement published on Wednesday. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a 37-year-old program coordinator with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a London-based charity. Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials detained Zaghari-Ratcliffe on April 3 when she arrived at an airport to fly back to Britain, according to her husband Richard Ratcliffe. "This person had membership in foreign companies and organizations and planned and carried out media and cyber projects with the intent of a soft overthrow of the holy Islamic Republic government," the statement said. It was published by a Guard office in Kerman province, where Zaghari-Ratcliffe is being held. Zaghari-Ratcliffe "carried out criminal activities with the guidance and protection of media and spy services of foreign governments," according to the statement. She was arrested after "massive intelligence operations" by the Guard. Richard Ratcliffe dismissed the accusation that Nazanin was trying to bring down the government as "preposterous." "To my understanding there are still no formal charges. It seems like this is a political case," he said. Ratcliffe said the family had contact with Nazanin earlier this week and she'd been moved to Evin prison in Tehran. Monique Villa, the Chief Executive of the Foundation, said that Nazanin has been employed for four years as a project coordinator in charge of grant applications and training, and had no dealing with Iran in her professional capacity. "The Thomson Reuters Foundation has no dealings with Iran whatsoever," she said, and has no plans to. Villa said that Nazanin "had traveled to Iran in a personal capacity. She was on a family holiday with her two-year-old-daughter Gabriella." The Foundation, Villa said, was in close contact with Nazanin's family as well as with the British Foreign Office. The Foundation operates independently from Reuters News. Britain's Foreign Office said it is following up the allegations made in the statement. "We are urgently seeking information from the Iranian authorities on the reported accusations being made against Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe," a spokesperson for the Foreign Office told Reuters. "We have raised this case repeatedly and at the highest levels and will continue to do so at every available opportunity." 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 last month. Zaghari-Ratcliffe's file has been sent to Tehran to begin judicial proceedings but officials from the intelligence wing of the Revolutionary Guard are still interrogating her, according to the statement. Iran does not recognize dual-citizenship and if Zaghari-Ratcliffe is charged she will be tried as an Iranian citizen. The Guard statement said that Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested by the intelligence wing of the Revolutionary Guard at the Imam Khomeini international airport in Tehran and subsequently transferred to Kerman in southeast Iran. (Edited by Simon Robinson)
The Hague (AFP) - Iran has appealed to the UN's highest court against a US Supreme Court ruling that $2 billion in frozen Iranian assets must be paid to American victims of terror attacks blamed on Tehran, the tribunal said Wednesday.

In its filing to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) based in The Hague on Tuesday, Tehran argues that "Iran and Iranian state-owned companies are entitled to immunity from the jurisdiction of the US courts", the tribunal said in a statement.

The US Supreme Court ruled in April that Iran must hand over nearly $2 billion (1.7 billion euros) in frozen assets to survivors and relatives of those killed in attacks blamed on the Islamic republic.

These included the 1983 bombing of a US Marine barracks in Beirut and the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia.

The decision affects more than 1,000 Americans.

Tehran, which signed a landmark nuclear deal last year with world powers leading to the unblocking of other frozen funds, has reacted angrily to the Supreme Court ruling.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced late Wednesday that "Iran has officially lodged a complaint with the international court and we will pursue our case until we get a result."

"The American courts have illegally decided that these funds must be given to Americans and the families of victims killed in Lebanon," he said, quoted by Iranian media.

"It remains unclear what these Americans were doing in Lebanon, and how this affair concerns Iran."

In its filing to the ICJ, the Islamic Republic argues that the legal proceedings underway in the US breach the terms of a 1955 bilateral treaty of amity, economic relations, and consular rights signed with the United States.

It further calls for the United States "to make full reparations to Iran for the violation of its international legal obligations in an amount to be determined by the court at a subsequent stage of the proceedings."

Story continues

- Sanctions relief 'too slow' -

After more than a decade as an international pariah, Iran took a step back onto the world stage in July 2015 when after years of tough and protracted negotiations it struck a landmark deal in Vienna to rein in its suspect nuclear programme.

In return for the scaling down of its nuclear activities, painful UN and Western sanctions were lifted on the Islamic republic, including on its lifeblood oil exports.

Iran however has complained that major powers have been slow to implement their side of the bargain, with badly needed foreign investment into the country proving slower than hoped.

The United States has also maintained its sanctions targeting Tehran's alleged sponsorship of armed movements in the Middle East, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and its ballistic missile programme.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on May 21 called on Washington to take "more serious and concrete actions" to alleviate the situation.

In Tuesday's filing, Iran says that because the US has maintained its designation of the country as a major state sponsor of terrorism its assets including the Central Bank, also known as the Bank Markazi, have been "subjected to enforcement proceedings in the United States" even if they should benefit from immunity under the 1955 treaty.

To date US courts have "awarded total damages of over US$ 56 billion... against Iran in respect of its alleged involvement in various terrorist acts mainly outside the USA," Iran says, according to the ICJ statement.

The UN court, which recently marked its 70th anniversary, will now have to decide whether it has jurisdiction to rule in the case.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has meanwhile warned candidates in the US presidential election against questioning the Islamic republic's nuclear deal.

"We do not violate the nuclear accord... candidates in the American presidential election are threatening to tear up the nuclear deal. If they do so, we will burn it," he told visiting dignitaries, his website said Tuesday.
BEIRUT, June 15 (Reuters) - Iran has filed a formal complaint with the International Court of Justice to recover nearly $2 billion in assets frozen in the United States, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in April that the assets must be turned over to American families of people killed in the 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut and other attacks blamed on Iran.

The Iranian complaint was filed on Tuesday, Rouhani said at an "iftar" evening gathering in Tehran to break the Islamic Ramadan fast, according to the website of Iranian state television.

"The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran officially complained about America to the International Court of Justice for the confiscation and theft of two billion dollars of the property of the central bank," Rouhani said.

"And demanded the condemnation of Washington's anti-Iranian action and compensation for damages."

More than 1,000 plaintiffs in the case have accused Iran of providing material support to Hezbollah, the Shi'ite Islamist political and military group responsible for the 1983 truck bomb attack that killed 241 U.S. service personnel in Beirut.

They also sought compensation related to other attacks including the 1996 Khobar Towers truck bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 U.S. service personnel.

After the April Supreme Court ruling, Caragh Fay, a lawyer representing the victims of the Beirut attack, said it could take from three months to a year for the funds to be dispersed to plaintiffs.

Money will go to the estates of service members who were killed, their families and to those who survived the attacks. Payouts will range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, Fay said.

The assets held in New York were part of the Iranian bank's foreign currency reserves. They were traced to a Citibank account in New York held by Luxemburg-based Clearstream Banking, which acted as a intermediary for Banca UBAE, an Italian bank of which the Iranian central bank, Bank Markazi, is a customer.

Story continues

It is unclear how Iran's complaint to the International Court of Justice may affect the payments.

"We shouldn't stay quiet in the face of this incident  and we will pursue this complaint until it reaches a result," Rouhani said.

(Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh in Beirut and Lawrence Hurley in Washington; editing by Andrew Roche)
BERLIN (Reuters) - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on Wednesday for closer business ties with Germany after talks with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "The presence of German companies and banks in Iran, and more economic cooperation will help both countries," Zarif told reporters before a dinner to break the Ramadan fast with Steinmeier. He said closer ties between the two countries would also promote peace and stability in the region. "No country will be hurt. Iran will be an advanced country and a very good partner for Germany," he said. Earlier this week, Zarif said the United States should do more to encourage banks to do business with Iran following the lifting of sanctions. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
Yesterday, Iranian oil minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said that the countrys oil output has now gone above 3.8 million barrels per day, of which about 2 million barrels are exported.

Production Up Significantly from Sanction Days

The current production marks a considerable jump from an average of around 2.8 million barrels per day in 2013 when Tehran was under international sanctions for its nuclear program. Exports languished at about 980,000 barrels per day.

On November 24, 2015, Iran reached a temporary accord with six world powers  the U.S., Great Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany  to restrict its nuclear activities in return for the Persian nations relief from international sanctions on oil, auto parts, gold and precious metals. Ultimately, the embargo was lifted in January this year after certification from the UN nuclear watchdog.

Is Iran the Next Big Oil Destination?

Despite oils massive recovery since February, its still under $50 and far below the breakeven price for many energy companies. The commoditys collapse has threatened the industrys creditworthiness by hurting cash flows, drying up liquidity and pummeling producers profit margins.

Consequently, multinational oil producers have been looking at opportunities to explore/produce oil in a way that is less capital intensive and requires low operational cost. With an estimate saying that a barrel of crude in Iran can be produced by shelling out just $12 as compared to around $36 in the U.S., the country is a prime candidate to become the next big destination for oil biggies.

Oils-Energy Sector Price Index

Oils-Energy Sector Price Index

A Head Start for European Companies

With the U.S. still maintaining certain bilateral sanctions, domestic companies cant enter into physical partnerships with their Iranian counterparts. However, some U.S. firms have been trying to bypass this by approaching the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)  the Treasury Departments sanctions administrator  for licenses in specific sectors including oil and gas, provided these do not hurt U.S. policy interests.

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However, there is no such problem for European and Asian companies, who have already started negotiating with local players to expand and fortify their presence in the Iranian market. Biggies from across the pond like Royal Dutch Shell plc RDS.A), BP plc BP, Eni SpA E, Statoil ASA STO and TOTAL SA TOT are currently in talks with the OPEC members policy makers regarding investment of as much as $25 billion in the countrys upstream sector till 2020.

Upcoming Oilfield Tenders Eyed

In order to restore the health of its energy industry following years of crippling sanctions, the Iranian government plans to solicit bids for oilfield development rights from foreign operators starting June 21. If reports are to be believed, as many as 70 different fields could be on offer for joint venture with foreign partners.

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Three weeks after loudly announcing the start of the Iraqi armys assault on the Islamic State-held city of Fallujah, government troops have finally managed to push into the city, though the breach is small, and theres no word on when it might widen.

The offensive had ground to a halt almost as soon as it began thanks to a lack of coordination within the Iraqi army, hundreds of concealed roadside bombs, and the flow of thousands of refugees from the city. But over the past several days, the army has managed to secure a stronghold in the southwestern part of town, a U.S. military spokesman told reporters at the Pentagon Wednesday.

The spokesman, Col. Chris Garver, said that Iraqi forces were likely to use that stronghold as a base for launching a new push directly to the center of town. Like in the Ramadi offensive in December, he said, the Iraqis like to push toward the center [of the city] and then push outward, he said. In Ramadi, once they got into the center of the city things sped up, Garver added.

The campaign for Fallujah kicked off after a week of deadly ISIS suicide bombings in Baghdad that left over 150 dead and rattled the capital, which sits just 35 miles east of Fallujah. The city was the first in Iraq to be captured by ISIS fighters in January 2014, and has remained a militant stronhold even as other ISIS-held towns like Ramadi, Tikrit, and Baiji, have been retaken by government forces.

The decision to assault the city was a controversial one, as U.S. military advisors have long believed that retaking Mosul in the north is the real prize and that Fallujah could be dealt with later. But with mounting political pressure from within his Shiite-dominated government to clear Fallujah, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi donned a military uniform and rushed to the armys command center outside of Fallujah to announce the start of the battle last month.

Since then, things have not gone according to plan. There have been multiple, credible reports of human rights abuses by the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces, the Shiite militias that have surrounded the Sunni city while the army has fought to get inside.

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Sohaib al-Rawi, governor of Anbar province, claimed over the weekend that 49 Sunni men had been executed after surrendering to Shiite militias, and more than 600 have gone missing after fleeing the city.

On Tuesday, Iraqi Interior Minister Mohammed al-Ghabban  a senior member of the powerful Iranian-backed Badr Organization  said abuses would be hard to prevent since some ISIS fighters disguise themselves as civilians, making it very difficult to distinguish between actual civilians and those who are pretending.

Bruno Geddo, the chief of the U.N. refugee agencys mission in Iraq, recently told Foreign Policy that the behavior of the militias was completely unacceptable, and allegations of abuses were corroborated by several sourcesfrom reports we have received, the torture has been perpetuated by the militias.

The Iraqi government has said it has launched an investigation into the charges.

Photo Credit: AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images
By Jane Wardell SYDNEY (Reuters) - A British Islamic scholar who toured Orlando this year and had preached in 2013 that "death is the sentence" for homosexual acts left Australia on Tuesday after the government launched an "urgent" review of his visa because of his comments. Farrokh Sekaleshfar, a senior Shi'ite Muslim scholar, was in Australia to give a series of lectures at an Islamic center in Sydney on the topic of spirituality. Sekaleshfar said in a lecture in Michigan in 2013 that in an Islamic society, the death penalty should be carried out for homosexuals who engaged in sodomy. "Out of compassion, lets get rid of him now, because hes contaminating society," Sekaleshfar said in a talk at that time, according to a recording available online. There is no evidence of any link between his comments and the American Muslim man who killed 49 people in a gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday, the deadliest mass shooting in the United States. Asked by the Australian Broadcasting Corp about a connection with the gunman, Omar Mateen, Sekaleshfar said: "Nothing. I swear by Allah: nothing at all." Sekaleshfar said his decision to leave was voluntary and that he had not been asked to go by the government. The network showed footage of him entering Sydney airport, and said he was flying to Dubai. "It's a decision which IHIC thought it was in my best interests and for the best interests of the community. And I didn't want to go against the committee's decision," he said, referring to the Imam Husain Islamic Centre, where he had been giving talks on religion. Sekaleshfar told Reuters on Monday he condemned the Orlando shooting as a "barbaric act of terror that was in no way justified". Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters on Tuesday he has "zero tolerance for people to come to Australia who preach hatred" and his government was reviewing Sekaleshfar's visa "as we speak". SECOND VISIT Sekaleshfar could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. He arrived at the IHIC just after nightfall to give his scheduled lecture, and declined to speak to media. Calls and emails to the center were not returned. Sekaleshfar said on Monday that his comments in 2013 were made in the context of a lecture on Islamic law and homosexuality and should "not have been interpreted as a call for any Tom, Dick, or Harry to carry out a sentence wherever, whenever they like". "In the context it was right," he said of the Michigan speech. "It wasnt inciting, nor saying to everyone to kill homosexuals, that its open to everyone to do that, thats not the case." He also said that in the speech he was referring to homosexual acts in public. "Even in an Islamic country, what they do in the privacy of their house, no one can say anything about," he said. In his 2013 lecture, Sekaleshfar said: "There is nothing to be embarrassed about this. Death is the sentence." "Islam doesnt accept peoples faith to be compromised, to be threatened and it has to be taken seriously," he said. "With homosexuals it is the same." Sekaleshfar, who gave a different lecture in Orlando in March, was on his second visit to Australia in as many years. He had said he had no plans to talk about homosexuality in this lecture series. "I dont want the community in Australia to feel disappointed and thinking that Im here to incite evil," he said before Turnbull's statement. (Additional reporting by Jason Reed and Matt Siegel in SYDNEY; Edited by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Jerusalem (AFP) - Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman has revoked a senior Palestinian official's permit to enter Israel over alleged attempts to destabilise society, sources said Wednesday.

Mohammad Madani, head of the Committee for Interaction with the Israeli Society, told AFP the decision to cancel his VIP card was proof of the "racist policy" of the newly appointed Lieberman.

The card enabled Madani to travel freely between Israel and the Palestinian territories in his role to cultivate ties.

Lieberman was widely reported to have said that Madani tried to form a joint Israeli-Arab party as a means of destabilising local politics.

Madani, member of the ruling Fatah party's Central Committee, rejected Lieberman's claims.

"If partnership between the Israelis, Arabs and Jews, in political life in Israel cause such misery and anger within Lieberman, it reflects how far Israel of today is from any attempt to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region," said Madani.

"It also confirms that the current cabinet in Israel is a government of war, not peace," he said in a statement.

A spokesman for Lieberman confirmed the details of the report, but added no further comment.
From Esquire

Let's talk about something else now.

Regulars here at the shebeen are familiar with the Two Worst Ideas In American Politics. The Worst Idea In American Politics is the Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution. The Second Worst Idea In American Politics is the concept of an elected judiciary. And now, the good people doing god's good work at the Brennan Center have given us the detailed reasons why.

In a handful of states, retention campaigns have become intense, high-prole,and expensive -frequently in response to a decision in a controversial case or when there is an opportunity to change the ideological composition of a court. Average per seat spending in retention elections in 2009-14 reects a ten-fold increase from the average over the previous eight years. Overall, nearly $6.5million was spent on retention races in three states in 2013-14. Multi-million-dollar elections in Illinois and Tennessee were some of the most expensive and contentious races this cycle. The trend puts new pressures on judges who had previously been largely insulated from politicized judicial elections.

Put simply, the money power in our politics is now so omnipresent, and so overwhelming, that our elections are almost inevitably corrupt at one level or another. Throwing an independent judiciary into this cesspool should be so self-evidently wrongheaded that this report ought to be as unnecessary as a report explaining why drinking raw sewage is bad for your health.

Nonetheless, with a big assist from the usual suspects in the dark money community, the entire concept of independent courts is losing ground in the public mind. This was not what the Founders had in mind, as the report's author, John Kowal, points out. This was particularly true of the Founder who won 11 Tony Awards on Sunday night.

In Federalist No. 78, Alexander Hamilton saw the federal courts as "bulwarks of a limited Constitution against legislative encroachments." Under the new federal model, the judiciary would be a co-equal branch of branch of government. The president would appoint judges subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. To protect judicial independence, judges would be appointed for life and their salaries protected. And they could only be removed from office for high crimes and misdemeanors.

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Kowal explains in the detail why, as is the case in so many things, the states have made a complete hash of this issue down through the years. The reformers in the mid-19th century turned against appointed judges and in favor of an elected judiciary because they thought that was the best way to maintain the independence of the courts. By the beginning of the 20th century, after several decades of watching judges produced by state party machines, the Progressives went back to an appointed judiciary as a good government measure, adding a new twist-what they called the Missouri Plan, a merit-based system for appointing judges.

So in 1913, a distinctly 20th century method of judicial selection was proposed: merit selection. Attributed to Albert M. Kales, one of the founders of the American Judicature Society, it took a while for this idea to percolate. In 1934, California's voters agreed to end judicial elections and have a commission approve gubernatorial appointments to the bench, followed by periodic retention elections. Missouri adopted the rst true merit selection system in1940. Under what came to be known as "the Missouri Plan," an independent commission recruits and vets candidates based on qualications, not party aliation or connection.

That's what's under assault now in our corrupt political system. Prompted by the defeat in the courts of several of its beloved "tort reform" laws, the money power now determined on a course that would remove that stubborn obstacle to its devouring every institution of government. The results were predictable.

One hotly-contested race in 2004, for a seat on the Illinois Supreme Court, shattered the national record for a two-candidate race. Supreme Court justices in Illinois are elected from districts, not statewide. Special interests zeroed in on the Fifth District, in the mostly rural southern part of the state, because it was home to Madison County, considered a mecca for class actions and large jury verdicts. The American Tort Reform Association, a pro-business lobby, called the county's court a "judicial hellhole." Although the ideological balance of the high court was not in play, business trade associations, insurance companies and medical groups made large contributions to support the Republican candidate, Lloyd Karmeier. Plaintis' lawyers largely funded Democrat Gordon Maag's candidacy. Altogether, the two campaigns raised and spent an astounding $15.1 million. The winner, Karmeier, reected after his victory: "That's obscene for a judicial race. What does it gain people? How can people have faith in the system?" Karmeier later courted controversy when he voted to overturn billion-dollar class action judgments against large corporations which backed him in his 2004 campaign.

Read the whole thing, as the kidz say. This should be a much bigger issue than it is.

Click here to respond to this post on the official Esquire Politics Facebook page.
Rome (AFP) - An Italian public prosecutor has rejected a request to release from custody an Eritrean man who says he was mistakenly arrested on suspicion of heading a major people smuggling network.

The prosecutor in Palermo, Sicily, ruled late Tuesday that there was sufficient evidence against the man, who was extradited from Sudan to Italy on June 6, to warrant his continued detention, according to media reports Wednesday.

Authorities identified the man as Medhanie Yehdego Mered, thought to be a 35-year-old trafficking kingpin known as "the general" accused of sending thousands of migrants to Europe and hundreds to their deaths at sea.

But people claiming to be family and friends of the arrested man have come forward to say that he is Mered Tesfamariam, a carpenter who was trying to get to the United States and had nothing to do with trafficking.

His lawyer told a judge last week that his client did not even speak Arabic, unlike the alleged smuggling mastermind.

Mered has been on an international wanted list since last year after being identified as the man who organised the packing of migrants onto a boat that sank in 2013 off the Italian island of Lampedusa, claiming at least 360 lives in one of the worst disasters in the Mediterranean.

He is accused of smuggling up to 8,000 migrants a year into Europe and his arrest had been hailed by Italy, Sudan and Britain had hailed his capture as a significant blow to the people smuggling business.

Some 50,000 migrants and asylum seekers have reached Italy from Africa so far this year and more than 10,000 have perished in the Mediterranean since 2014 while trying to reach Europe.
Little Andy Osbourne has turned one, and from the looks of it, the tot celebrated with a sweet new ride.

Andy's proud papa, Jack Osbourne, took to Instagram on Monday to give a sweet birthday shout-out to his youngest daughter, along with an adorable shot of Andy, dressed in head to toe pink, posing on a My Little Pony scooter.

WATCH: Princess Charlotte Turns 1! Check Out the Awesome Presents She Received

"Happy Birthday to my beautiful littlest lady Andy. One year went by too quickly, can you just stay like this for a little longer?" Osbourne wrote, adding the hashtags #happybirthday and #1yearold.

Jack wasn't the only Osbourne who can't believe where the time has gone. "I can't believe it was 1 year ago today that my beautiful niece Andy Rose Osbourne was born! I held her for the first time & cried over her perfection. Happy birthday I love you soooooooo much my little Wandy woo," Andy's Aunt Kelly posted to her Instagram on Monday.

Andy has grown up before our very eyes -- and we have Jack to thank for it. The 30-year-old Osbournes star frequently shows off his adorable family on Instagram.

Just last month, he posted this cute snap of his youngest. "Love my little pickle," Osbourne captioned the pic.

And then of course there was this cute family photo. "Behind every great man is an even greater lady. Or 3, in my case," Osbourne captioned the snap of Andy with big sister Pearl and mom Lisa.

But perhaps nothing will top Osbourne's sweet Mother's Day post to his wife, Lisa. "Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful baby mama. I love you more then you realize and our little chickens thinks you're pretty freakin' cool to boot. Thanks for being the best mother/wife I could have ever asked for," Osbourne posted, along with a photo of his girls enjoying a stroll outside.

RELATED: Kelly Osbourne Brings Her Adorable Dog, Polly, to AmfAR Gala

While Andy Osbourne turned 1 on Sunday, another celeb tot, North West, will celebrate the big 0-3 on June 15. Little Nori seems to have perfected the art of the side-eye ahead of her 3rd birthday, sassing Kim Kardashian in a hilarious snap. See more in the video below.

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The Japanese-Canadian sushi chef who is said to have invented the California roll will be honored Thursday by the Japanese government for his role in promoting Japanese cuisine.

It sounds like a paradox given that the California roll -- the inside-out maki filled with avocado, imitation crab meat and cucumber -- is not a Japanese culinary tradition, but a relatively recent creation that became popularized in Vancouver, circa 1970s.

But there's no denying the worldwide popularity of the ubiquitous starter sushi, which can be found alongisde tuna sandwiches and salads in supermarket and convenience store shelves.

The chef who popularized the inside-out roll? Chef Hidekazu Tojo, of Tojo's Restaurant in Vancouver.

It was the 1970s. Tojo had moved to Canada from Japan and realized Canadian consumers weren't ready for raw fish or seaweed.

To initiate squeamish diners, Tojo hid the seaweed in an inside-out roll, replaced raw fish with imitation crab meat, and added slices of avocado, and the California roll was born.

Why the name California roll?' Because the invention proved particularly popular among diners from Los Angeles, he told The Globe and Mail in 2012.

In recognition of his influence, Japan's ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries will name Tojo a goodwill ambassador for Japanese cuisine, one of 13 overseas ambassadors, reports the Canadian Press.

Aside from the California roll, Tojo is also known for his omakase menu, the Japanese version of a tasting menu where diners relinquish control to the chef.

Meanwhile, earlier this year the Japanese government announced plans to launch a sushi certification program in a bid to school foreign sushi chefs on how to handle, slice and serve sushi in accordance with Japanese customs.

Diners will be able to recognize certified chefs by gold, silver and bronze distinctions, which indicate the length of their training.
TOKYO (Reuters) - A Chinese navy reconnaissance vessel briefly entered Japan's territorial waters early Wednesday off the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima, a Japanese government spokesman said. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko said the vessel had been spotted by a Japanese patrol plane around 3:30 a.m. local time and that it had left around 5 a.m. "The government will continue to take all possible measures for warning and surveillance activity for our territorial waters and airspace," Seko told a news conference. Last week, Japan summoned the Chinese ambassador to express concern after a Chinese navy ship sailed close to what Japan considers its territorial waters in the East China Sea for the first time, increasing tensions over the disputed area. (Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Michael Perry)
A Japanese man lost his little finger after being attacked by a bear in western Japan on Wednesday, police and reports said, the latest attack by the animals on humans.

It came two days after human flesh and hair were found inside the stomach of a bear suspected of attacking at least one of four people in northern Japan who apparently died from such assaults.

On Wednesday morning, a bear believed to be 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) tall, attacked a 63-year-old man who was at a river in Shimane prefecture, area police told AFP.

"His face and left hand were injured," police spokesman Masuhiko Ito said, without giving details of the injury.

But the Asahi Shimbun daily reported that the man had his little finger severed in the attack. He was conscious and sent to hospital, it added.

"The injury isn't life-threatening," Ito said, adding the bear ran away after attacking the man.

Bear sightings in rural Shimane in April and May reached 139, up from 115 in the same period last year, according to the local government.

"There have been no fatal attacks these past few years," prefectural official Michiko Kamoto said.

But according to Kamoto, people tend to see bears especially in spring and summer as the animals become active after hibernation.

On Saturday, a tourist was slightly injured by a bear in central Gifu prefecture, while a woman was bitten on the face by one in northern Iwate prefecture last week while she was picking edible wild plants.

Last month, three men -- two in their seventies and one in his sixties -- died in apparent attacks while harvesting bamboo shoots in three separate incidents in a mountain forest of Akita prefecture.

The body of a fourth victim, a badly mauled 74-year-old woman, was discovered Friday. The woman had reportedly been picking wild plants.

Hunters killed a bear just 10 metres from the spot where her remains were discovered. Human flesh and hair were found in the bear's stomach but it remains unclear if it was responsible for her death.

Following the four deaths, Akita officials issued warnings to avoid the mountain forest but some are ignoring them to seek popular seasonal bamboo shoots and wild plants.

Bamboo shoots are a staple food for bears at this time of year.
All the Way director Jay Roach admits to a "possible irrational optimism" that Donald Trump is going to lose the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

"People are going to wake up in time. The spell will be broken in time," Roach told the Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday at the Banff World Media Festival.

Stand-up comedian Russell Peters also got serious Tuesday when he ripped Trump ahead of receiving the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award in Banff. "People need to wake up," said Peters. "Sure, he's saying some crazy stuff, and you think it's entertaining right now. But it's not how you want your country run."

Roach, who directed All the Way, HBO's Lyndon B. Johnson biopic starring Bryan Cranston, predicted a happier ending to the 2016 presidential election, compared to the increasingly bitterly divisive campaigning now underway.

At the same time, the helmer warned that the issues that deeply concern Trump supporters need to be tackled. "I do think that the issues that have emerged are real," said Roach. "The people who are drawn to his [Trump's] movement, to be part of those crowds, they have real concerns and they are to be taken very seriously.

"They are not to be dismissed," he continued regarding Trump supporters. "So many people have been pushed out of how things go in our country, and he's found a way to organize that into, in my opinion, an emotional response that's fear-based."

Roach also slammed the "us-versus-them" divisiveness that he sees behind Trump's support.

"Tribalism in its worst form is a kind of human curse," the filmmaker argued. "We do best when we cooperate." Roach pointed to LBJ's can-do attitude to government and improving peoples' lives during the 1960s, in contrast to Trump's current disdain for Washington and political experience.

Canadian-born Peters also later compared Trump to Osama Bin Laden. "If you put Osama Bin Laden and Donald Trump together, they're both the same people - both spoiled brat sons of rich developers who were angry at their own country," he said.

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The comic, who was recently a judge on NBC's Last Comic Standing and is starting work this week opposite Amanda Seyfried and Leah Remini in the indie comedy The Clapper, accepted that Trump doesn't want to be politically correct. But anyone running to be the U.S. president has to be politically correct, he argued. "You have to think about what you're saying, and how you answer people," said Peters.

Read More: Bryan Cranston, Jay Roach on 'All the Way's' Move From Broadway to HBO
A surprised, but moved Jeffrey Katzenberg became the recipient of the Annecy Festivals first Golden Ticket Award on June 15, in recognition of his services to animation. The Award had been kept secret from Katzenberg, at Annecy to support a strong DreamWorks Animation presence.

A lifelong supporter of Annecy, Katzenbergs Golden Ticket now gives him a lifelong pass to the Festival. The surprise prize presentation took place at the end of a Guillermo del Toro keynote masterclass, who spent much of its second part talking with Katzenberg about DreamWorks Animations upcoming family series Trollhunters, addressing a standing-room-only audience of 1,000 attendees at Annecys central theater, the 1,000-seat Grande Salle Bonnie.

This is a set-up, Katzenberg joked, as Annecy Fest artistic director Marcel Jean came on stage to ask what his career highlights had been so far and a show-reel featuring DreamWorks animation and Disney animation films and talking heads such as Steven Spielberg began to play on a big screen behind Katzenberg.

After the audience rose to give Katzenberg a standing ovation, he told an anecdote about how, in 1984, on his first day at Disney as head of Walt Disney Studios, he had a meeting with Disney CEO Michael Eisner in the office once occupied by Walt Disney. At its end, Eisner motioned him over to the window, and pointed to a building across the street. Thats where they make the animated movies, Eisner said, Katzenberg recalled. Its also your problem, Eisner added.

But rather than a problem, Katzenberg continued, animation over the next 30 years became my passion and love, yielding 30-something years of incredible happiness and joy.

Not only has Jeffrey been a long-time collaborator and supporter of all of us here in Annecy, his track-record in animation is nothing short of legendary, said Annecy Film Festival artistic director Marcel Jean in a statement.

He added: From reviving the industry with such critically acclaimed films like Beauty and The Beast and The Lion King, to launching DreamWorks Animation and giving us such memorable characters in films like Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and How to Train Your Dragon, there is no one more deserving of lifetime pass to our festival.

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Annecys special honour for Katzenberg also comes less than two months after Comcasts NBCUniversal confirmed its purchase of DreamWorks Animation, the company Katzenberg launched in 1994 and has built to a scale where it is often mentioned in the same breath as Disney or Pixar. Before that, at Disney  though he entered, Katezenberg claimed in a short acceptance speech after being given the award, as neither a student nor particular fan of animation  he rebooted its animation business, generating hits such as The Lion King.

Under the Comcast purchase terms, Katzenberg will now segue from his position as head of DreamWorks Animation to head up a newly created division, DreamWorks New Media, made up of Awesomeness TV and Nova.

Its an open question, however, if Katzenberg will ever sever completely his connections with the animation world.

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TOKYO, June 15 (Reuters) - The yields on benchmark and superlong Japanese government bonds fell to record lows on Wednesday, as risk-averse investors continued to seek the perceived safety of sovereign debt.

The 10-year JGB yield skidded 1 basis point to minus 0.180 percent.

The 20-year yield fell 1 basis point to 0.150 percent , while the 30-year yield fell 1 basis point to 0.220 percent.

Asian shares wallowed around three-week lows as investors worried about the possible impact of a "Leave" outcome if British voters decide to exit the European Union at next week's referendum.

(Reporting by Tokyo markets team; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
John Legend is not one to shy away from vocalizing his opinion about Donald Trump.

The Grammy and Oscar-winning musician and Underground executive producer has lashed out at the GOP nominee on social media, previously engaging in a Twitter feud with Trumps son  and today, Legend slammed the presidential hopeful again.

We are in a moment now where we have a major candidate for office that is being very racist and divisive. I feel the need to call that out all the time because I dont want us to feel like its impossible for our nation to go back to another dark place, Legend said Tuesday afternoon at Varietys TV Summit at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, Calif., where he discussed his WGN America series Underground, a period drama about the Underground Railroad.

We, as a nation, cant go back to a dark place, and it could happen if we let the wrong person into office and impose the wrong regime on this country, Legend said. Referring to the time of slavery, as covered in Underground, he added, Im sure people in 1800s didnt think they were evil people, but they allowed an evil institution to last for quite a long time.

Legends continued, We, as people who believe in equality and diversity and believe that every human being in this life matters, we need to be vigilant in making sure that we dont elect leaders who are contradicting that belief.

During the keynote discussion, Legend was asked by moderator Varietys Debra Birnbaum about being so vocal on Twitter.

Some people want me to shut up and singI cant just sit by and watch, he said about his haters. Referring to Twitter users with no profile photo, Legend cracked, Most of them are eggs on Twitter. Or they have a Trump icon on Twitter.

I cant sit by and let this stuff happen without trying to influence people, Legend said. Its worth it to me. 

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- With such a big cushion on the scoreboard, this might have been just a time for Johnny Cueto to start that spontaneous wiggling, dancing and having fun on the mound.

All that movement earned him a costly, debated balk his last time out.

Cueto stuck to his delivery and did just fine. He struck out nine over seven innings for his team-leading 10th victory, and the San Francisco Giants completed a sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers with a 10-1 win Wednesday.

''Today was a good day to do it, winning by a lot of runs,'' he said with a smile about celebrating some from the mound. ''It didn't come out.''

Buster Posey hit a bases-loaded, two-run single in the third to get things going on a big offensive day, and Matt Duffy followed with an RBI single against Jimmy Nelson (5-6) as the Giants used a balanced hitting attack on the way to their fifth straight win.

''I gain confidence when my teammates are scoring runs for me,'' Cueto said. ''I hope we continue doing that.''

Four Giants had three hits to help NL West-leading San Francisco (41-26) move a season-high 15 games over .500.

Cueto (10-1) won his eighth straight against the Brewers, seventh consecutive decision overall and the Giants improved to 12-2 in his outings, including April 5 at Milwaukee. Cueto, who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central, is 11-3 in 20 career starts against Milwaukee.

''It was nice to get some runs and make it a little easier,'' manager Bruce Bochy said. ''We've been playing a lot of tight games so it was nice to be able to take him out after seven and give him a breather.''

After a season-best four-hit night in Tuesday's 3-2 win, Posey had two more singles and finished the series 8 for 12 to raise his average from .251 to .274.

In the third, Duffy later scored on Milwaukee's second throwing error of the inning to make it 4-0. The Giants added on a four-run fourth, too, highlighted by Angel Pagan's run-scoring double and RBI singles from Joe Panik and Jarrett Parker.

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Gregor Blanco, Duffy, Pagan and Panik all had three hits as the Giants wrapped up their homestand with an 11th victory in the last 13 games at AT&T Park.

''We didn't do ourselves any favors,'' Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of a four-error day. ''We didn't play a good defensive game.''

After a leadoff single to Jonathan Villar, Cueto still faced the minimum through three with Villar getting caught stealing. Cueto became the 13th pitcher to win as many as eight straight against Milwaukee in the club's history and the Giants earned their fifth sweep this season.

''It's definitely big for us to get going like that,'' Duffy said.

Alex Presley hit an RBI single in the fifth as Milwaukee avoided a shutout, ending a 21-game stretch without an RBI since he drove in a run May 18 against the Cubs.

Nelson, who lost to the Giants on April 5, allowed eight runs to match a career high. The right-hander failed to pitch past the fourth inning for the first time this season.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Brewers: RHP Michael Blazek (elbow impingement) came out fine from his Tuesday rehab appearance with Triple-A Colorado Springs and will pitch one more outing in the minors before rejoining the Brewers on Friday in Los Angeles. He might not be immediately activated.

Giants: CF Denard Span had a day off. ... 1B Brandon Belt underwent treatment on his tender right ankle after being hit by a pitch Tuesday and didn't play. Bochy figures with Thursday's day off Belt could be back in the lineup Friday at Tampa Bay. ... San Francisco is TBA for Sunday's pitcher at Tampa after RHP Matt Cain went back on the 15-day DL with more right hamstring trouble. The Giants might stick with Albert Suarez or could still push RHP Jake Peavy back a day from his Saturday outing given he has been dealing with an injured neck. He had an MRI exam Tuesday and played catch Wednesday, and said he thinks he will stay on schedule. ... Posey will be the designated hitter in at least one of the weekend games in an AL ballpark, while Belt could also be an option depending on how his ankle responds.

UP NEXT

Brewers: RHP Junior Guerra (3-1, 3.31 ERA) will face the Dodgers for the first time in his career Thursday night at Dodger Stadium.

Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (7-4, 3.36) looks to improve on his 2-8 career interleague record over 19 starts with a Friday start at Tampa Bay. He has allowed 20 earned runs in 22 2-3 innings over his last four outings vs. the American League.
Per a Houston Business Journal report, JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM is planning to transfer certain Houston jobs in order to streamline its operations related to auto loans. The company communicated its intent to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) last week.



The move comes on the heels of the companys plan to shut its Chase Auto Finance operations in Houston. The closure will impact around 90 local jobs, while the company will move some other jobs related to auto loans to Houston.



Chase Auto Finance operations in Houston will close in August. The employees were notified beginning Jun 8 and the job eliminations are effective from Aug 7.



JPMorgans spokesman Greg Hassell told the Houston Business Journal that the layoffs were related to collections and the operations will be consolidated in other markets.



The company is shifting 52 jobs related to consumer auto loans to Houston and those have already been filled by a few of the 90 affected employees. Notably, JPMorgan is trying to relocate the remaining affected employees.



According to the companys Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act letter to the TWC, relocation support will be provided for certain positions. Also, outplacement assistance and other severance-related benefits will be available for eligible employees.



The job cuts come on the back of the companys efforts to streamline operations and concentrate similar jobs to create efficiencies. It is a lot less about market conditions, Hassell said.



According to the Houston Business Journal report, JPMorgan has around 6,900 workers in the Houston area and it currently is looking to fill about 200 positions locally.



With stringent regulatory requirement and uncertain global economic growth, banks are facing increasing difficulty in boosting top-line growth. Hence, to maintain profitability, big banks including Bank of America Corporation BAC, HSBC Holdings plc HSBC and Barclays PLC BCS have also taken defensive measures like trimming jobs as well as closing/divesting non-core and unprofitable businesses.



Currently, JPMorgan carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



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Santa Clara, California, Judge Aaron Persky  the same judge who has received backlash for sentencing ex-Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to just six months in jail (of which only three will actually be served) for three felony sexual assault counts  was removed Tuesday from another case involving sexual assault under suspicions of unfairness.

In the new case, a male nurse is facing allegations for sexually assaulting an anesthetized woman, according to KNTV.

"We are disappointed and puzzled at Judge Persky's unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate," the district attorney's office said in a statement, according to KNTV. "We lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing."

Aaron Persky

The request to remove Persky occurred after he dismissed a misdemeanor stolen mail case pre-jury Monday, ruling the prosecutors couldn't prove the theft.

The new case would have been Persky's first case since the infamous Turner one, in which he admitted to letting the letters of those supporting Turner influence the controversially lenient sentencing.
Los Angeles (AFP) - A US judge facing seething criticism for handing a light sentence to a former Stanford University student convicted of sexual assault has been removed from a similar case on grounds he may be biased.

Prosecutors in Santa Clara County, in northern California, on Tuesday filed a challenge against Aaron Persky in a case involving a male nurse accused of sexually assaulting a sedated woman.

Persky has been at the center of a firestorm over a six-month jail sentence he handed down earlier this month against Brock Turner, who had been convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on the campus of the prestigious university.

The request to have him removed from the new case came after he suddenly dismissed a misdemeanor theft case before deliberations started, arguing prosecutors had not made their case.

"We are disappointed and puzzled at judge Persky's unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate," Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement to AFP, confirming Persky's removal from the new sex assault case.

"After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient.

"This is a rare and carefully considered step for our office. In the future, we will evaluate each case on its own merits and decide if we should use our legal right to ask for another judge in order to protect public safety and pursue justice."

The judge could not immediately be reached for comment.

Rosen had disagreed with Persky's ruling in the Turner case, stating at the time that the lenient sentence did not "factor in the true seriousness of this sexual assault, or the victim's ongoing trauma."

"Campus rape is no different than off-campus rape," he said. "Rape is rape."

The sentence, which gained international attention after publication of the victim's powerful statement to the court in which she described the assault's impact on her life, has prompted widespread outrage and calls for Persky to be recalled.
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Hollywood Life is a premiere destination if you want to find out whether or not Julianne Hough is flaunting her "insane abs" these days (she is).

But if you ask Justin Bieber, it is a den of lies where truth, beauty and humanity crumble before our very eyes. Biebs issued a call to arms for the Beliebers to shut the website down and his loyal fans are doing their damnedest to make his wish come true. Take notes, Peter Thiel.

What's the Purpose of the First Amendment, anyway?

SEE ALSO: Justin Bieber's latest cry for help is wearing khaki shorts over his jeans

Beliebers are now flooding the website's Instagram account with comments demanding it immediately convert to Hollywood Death.

Here they are sharing their opinions on a post wishing a 3-year-old a happy birthday.

Image: hollywoodlife/instagram

The use of the knife emoji in the comments of this photo of Selena Gomez is legitimately disturbing.

Image: hollywoodlife/instagram

Of course, in posting this Instagram, Bieber inadvertently brought a lot of attention to everything Hollywood Life has written about him recently. This includes:

A video of Biebs joking about his latest fist fight while listening to Selena Gomez.

A rundown of his current rumored squeeze's previous relationships. Nicola Peltz, actress and daughter of billionaire Nelson Peltz, is allegedly a nightmare human, by the way.

A quiz to determine which Canadian cutie is your perfect cuddle buddy. (Author's note: Hollywood Life says I belong with Drake, so they seem like a publication devoted to my views.)

Tales of a "nice sized" hickey Bieber gave a cheerleader.

Maybe Biebs is worried the hickey is compromising his new relationship with Peltz. Maybe he hates that the website pitted him against his bros and fellow Canadian hunks Drake and Ryan Gosling. Maybe, and this is likely the case, Bieber simply disagrees with their bold claim that Kendall Jenner's body chain is the must-have accessory of the summer.

Bonus: Black Holes Colliding Remixed to Justin Bieber's "Sorry"
Justin Bieber has etched his name in the history books by becoming the first act to hit 100 million streams for a song in the U.K.

"Sorry" spent two weeks at the summit of the Official U.K. Albums Chart in October and has gone on to become the most-streamed song in Britain since records began.

Produced by Skrillex and Blood and co-written by Bieber, "Sorry" is the second of three No. 1 singles lifted from Bieber's album Purpose.

Justin Bieber Is First Artist to Occupy Top 3 Slots on U.K. Singles Chart

"For Sorry to become the first track in Official Chart history to pass the 100 million mark is a record which can never be taken away from Justin," notes Official Charts Company CEO Martin Talbot. "It is, perhaps, the four-minute mile of music streaming. A remarkable feat, a first which will be Justin's record forever."

"What Do You Mean" and "Love Yourself" are also closing in on the 100 million streams milestone. The Purpose singles have clocked-up 98.6 million and 94.3 million streams, respectively, and they're expected to hit the magical mark in the weeks ahead.

Footage of Justin Bieber Fist Fight in Cleveland Hits the Internet: Watch

The U.K. has been a happy hunting ground for Bieber. Earlier this year, he become the first artist ever to occupy the entire top three on the U.K. singles chart, a feat that earned him the inaugural Official Chart Record Breaker Award. "Sorry" is currently No. 6 on the U.K.'s Top 40 Biggest Songs of 2016 survey, which is based on combined digital, physical and streaming equivalent sales.
The Bihar topper scam has yet again taken a new turn with reports coming in of fake Class 12 certificates being sold to students.

By India Today Web Desk: The Bihar topper scam has yet again taken a new turn with reports coming in of fake Class 12 certificates being sold to students.

The Chief Minister of Bihar, on Tuesday, June 14, said that an investigation has been initiated to check the authenticity of the degrees awarded by B.Ed colleges in order to improve the reputation of the state amidst the Bihar Board topper's fiasco.

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(Read: Stunned by video, Bihar Board orders probe into the result of Class 12 toppers)



As per a recent PTI report, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said, "All B.Ed colleges are being probed to ascertain if classes are held in these colleges or degrees are distributed illegally."

In a fresh move, the special investigation team who was directed to probe into the Bihar topper scam raided the Ganga Devi Mahila College (GNMC) in the city.

(Read: Bihar Board Class 12 results fiasco: Toppers take re-exam, Ruby (Arts) absent)



Details of the raid:

As per TOI report, a person has been detained who was caught charging Rs 5 lakh per fake Class 12 certificate

But, according to reports, the investigating team failed in arresting the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife and former JD (U) MLA Usha Sinha, GDMC

While speaking on this issue, a SIT source said, "The man revealed that the scamsters would charge Rs 5 lakh from each candidate for an intermediate certificate without taking the exam or even enrolling with any college. A police team is now in Aurangabad district following his tip-off."

Also, an application for scrutiny was found from Usha Sinha's chamber

"Apart from the manipulation of evaluation and examination centres, those involved in the scam used to charge huge sums of money for scrutiny of answer-sheets," added an SIT official.

(Read: Bihar Board row: Education department initiates 'Operation Clean Up')



Recently, the state's education department also launched an initiative called 'Operation Clean Up'. This initiative has been taken as a part of the grand secular alliance government's agenda to provide "quality education" in the state.

Following the media reports on 'toppers scandal', there have been reports of affiliated colleges and schools misusing government funds.

Moreover, during the raid, it also came into notice that SIT has not yet got arrest warrants from court against the convicts even after one week of FIR in the Bihar topper case.

(Read: Aftermath of Bihar toppers fiasco: Govt orders probe to check authenticity of degrees awarded by B.Ed colleges)



Check out exclusive video on fake degree case:

Read: UGC ruling: Male students can now file sexual harassment complaints

Click here for more education related news

To get more updates on education related news, send in your query by mail to education.intoday@gmail.com



--- ENDS ---
By Maher Chmaytelli and Isabel Coles ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq's Kurds said they are ready to strike an agreement with the central government in Baghdad on a deal to increase oil exports if it guarantees them monthly revenue of $1 billion, more than double what they make currently from selling oil. The Iraqi central government in March stopped oil exports through a Kurdish pipeline to pressure the local authorities to resume talks about an oil revenue-sharing agreement. Iraq's state-run North Oil Company normally exported 150,000 barrels a day through the pipeline that comes out at the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, in Turkey. The pipeline also carries oil produced in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq and sold independently from the central government. Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) spokesman Safeen Dizayee said in an interview in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Erbil on Tuesday that the Kurdish authorities would be willing to sell the oil through Baghdad if they received a share from the federal budget amounting to $1 billion a month. "If Baghdad comes and says OK, give me all the oil that you have and I'll give you the 17 percent as per the budget, which equals to 1 billion, I think, logically it should be the thing to accept," he told Reuters, specifying later that the amount referred to a monthly payment in dollars. "Whether this oil goes to the international market or first to Baghdad and then to the market, it doesn't make any difference," he said. "We are ready to enter dialogue with Baghdad." A government spokesman in Baghdad did not return telephone calls seeking comment. The KRG stopped delivering crude oil to the central government a year ago, a decision taken when Baghdad's payment fell under $400 million a month, Dizayee said. "The Kurds are offering a win-lose deal for Baghdad: a win for them and a loss for Baghdad," said Baghdad-based oil analyst Hamza al-Jawahiri. "Whats the point of asking the central government to pay double the value of the regions oil?" The Kurdish region exported an average of 513,041 barrels in May through the pipeline to Turkey, generating about $391 million, of which about $75 million was paid to oil companies that produce the crude, according to KRG official estimates. "The companies have been assured that certain amounts will be made on a monthly basis," said Dizayee, referring to the three foreign oil producers in the KRG region - DNO, Gulf Keystone and Genel. "We have started to pay some of it, at least it has rebuilt that confidence between the government and the IPCs (oil companies)," he said, referring to arrears owed to the companies. The KRG in February said it would pay international oil companies in 2016 according to the terms of their contracts, after making ad-hoc payments last year. The foreign operators have been reluctant to invest without the promise of regular payment, while the cash-strapped KRG needs production to increase to avert an economic collapse caused by a sharp decline in oil prices since 2014. The KRG is also in a dispute with the central government over Kirkuk, where the North Oil Company produces its crude and which the Kurds claim as part of their territory. (Additional reporting by Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad; Editing by Ed Davies and Dale Hudson)
Santo Domingo (AFP) - Venezuela has asked its regional neighbors to meet next week with international mediators trying to help settle the country's economic and political crisis, officials said Wednesday.

The Organization of American States (OAS) scheduled a session of its permanent council for June 21 in Washington to meet with the mediators at Venezuela's request, according to an OAS document.

The council will talk with three ex-leaders seeking to mediate between Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and opponents seeking to remove him from office.

The three mediators are former Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and former presidents Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic and Martin Torrijos of Panama.

The document was shown to AFP during the OAS general assembly in the Dominican Republic.

OAS General Secretary Luis Almagro of Uruguay has called for the 34-country organization to meet on June 23 to discuss possibly suspending Venezuela over Maduro's human rights record.

The mediation led by Zapatero has been proposed as a possible alternative.

- Venezuela-US talks -

On Tuesday, Venezuela and the United States agreed to launch new high-level talks after years of tension.

The announcement came after US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Venezuela's Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez on the sidelines of the OAS gathering.

Rodriguez said in televised comments on Tuesday that she had asked for the June 21 meeting.

Panama's current president, Juan Carlos Varela, on Wednesday issued a call for dialogue between Venezuela's government and opposition after meeting with opposition leader Henrique Capriles.

Capriles has in recent days also met with the presidents of Argentina and Paraguay to ask them to pressure Maduro.

Maduro's opponents are pushing to hold a referendum on whether to cut short his term to ease mounting humanitarian concerns.

The opposition blame him for an economic crisis that has led to food shortages and prompted riots and looting.

Maduro blames the crisis on an "economic war" against him by the business elite.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA  Diana Serrano woke up before dawn on Sunday to eat breakfast and say her morning prayers in Arabic. It was the seventh day of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

A native of New York City and the daughter of Puerto Rican and Mexican parents, Serrano, 43, relocated to Orlando ten years ago and converted to Islam in 2009.

After logging onto Facebook that morning, Serrano spotted a status update from a niece. Her nephew, whom she declined to identify by name out of respect for his privacy, had "made it out alive" from Pulse nightclub the night before. After a moment of confusion, Serrano turned on the news and saw reports of massacre there, now known as the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

"The fact that they were Latinos hurt me because these are my people."

"These were innocent people that were killed," Serrano said. "The fact that they were Latinos hurt me because these are my people."

"Forget that I'm Muslim  I put my Latina hat on," she added.

Serrano manages the offices of the Islamic Society of Central Florida, housed in an unassuming brick building surrounded by more than a dozen parking spots, flanked on one side by a carpet depot and an open lot on the other.

Before I could figure out how to ring the bell, Serrano, wearing a hijab and a long black dress, swung open the door.

Serrano clocked me as Puerto Rican and offered me a bottle of water in Spanish. She handed it to me along with a paper napkin, and apologized that it wasn't colder. Although it's Ramadan and she can't drink during the day, Serrano said she can't stand to see someone go thirsty.

Serrano said that many people are often surprised to learn that she is Latina and Muslim. But with an estimated 250,000 Latino Muslims in the U.S. in 2014, the demographic is one of the fastest-growing Islamic populations in the United States. When Latinas call the center interested in converting, they are comforted to hear her accent. "I guess I was meant to have this job to be a bridge, to be a connection to people," she said.

Story continues

Serrano fought back tears through much of the interview. "It hurts. It hurts. It hurts beyond words. It's hard," she said, her eyes welling up.

Three Muslim Orlando citizens share a moment of solidarity with vigil goers

The pain Serrano and Imam Muhammad Musri, the President of American Islam and the Islamic Society of Central Florida, felt in the wake of the tragic Pulse shooting is the same pain that attendees at a June 13 vigil on the lawn of Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts gathered to express the pain of knowing that, on that night, gunman Omar Mateen took the lives of Orlando's youngest Latino and LGBTQ people.

As thousands of attendees filtered onto the green lawn outside the performing arts center, two women wearing hijabs and walked through the crowd and posed for a picture with two others  a woman holding a poster bearing Pulse's name and a man with a rainbow sign that said "#OrlandoStrong." As media gathered to take pictures, one of the women removed her glasses to wipe away tears.

D , Musri expressed grief and solidarity with the LGBTQ community.

"We are deeply hurt. Our lives are broken," Musri said to the crowd. "We condemn the ideology of hate."

Three Muslim people, one teary-eyed, share a moment of solidarity with vigil goers at Orlando's Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center

Speakers at the vigil represented Orlando's diversity  LGBTQ, Muslim, Latino, black and transgender communities all mattered.

Source: Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

Earlier in the day, blocks away from Pulse nightclub on Orlando's South Orange Avenue, I spoke to Rasha Mubarak, the regional coordinator for the Florida chapter of the Council on Islamic-American Relations, about Orlando's Muslim community and its relationship with the LGBTQ community.

"The LGBTQ community is my movement family," Mubarak said. "These are people that we roamed the legislative halls together [with] fighting anti-bigot bills. These are people that were on the ground and mobilizing together."

Rasha Mubarak, on South Orange Ave in Orlando, near Pulse Nightclub

Mubarak emphasized the tight-knit nature of Orlando's community, noting that Muslims are a thread in its fabric.

"As Floridians, our peace here in Orlando, Florida has been disturbed," Mubarak said.

Muslims in the area have responded to the tragedy by helping to organize blood drives and starting online fundraisers. Latino Muslims have helped to translate between Spanish and English for victims' families, Mubarak said.

"As Floridians, our peace here in Orlando, Florida has been disturbed."

"We stand united and that's how we're going to fight any kind of bigotry or hate," she said. "There's zero tolerance for it."

27-year-old Orlando resident Saleena Beharry, who identifies as Muslim and a lesbian, said in a phone interview that she feels she has to explain to her friends that the massacre is not about Islam. As an LGBTQ Muslim, Beharry said she has wrestled with being a member of two communities: one receiving an outpouring of support and another being scapegoated.

Beharry mentioned North Carolina's controversial HB2 bathroom bill, noting that many religious faiths hold antagonistic views toward LGBT people.

"People are blaming Islam, but people have to understand that everyone is responsible for what is happening, as far as LGBT people," Beharry said. "It's all people targeting us."

"Everyone is responsible for what is happening, as far as LGBT people."

Beharry said the shooter's religious beliefs did not represent an authentic interpretation of her faith. No fact underscores that more than Meetan's decision to carry out the massacre during the holy month of Ramadan.

"It just shows that this person is not doing it in the name of Allah  he is doing it for his own agenda," Beharry said. "You just don't do this."

Source: A.M. Ahad/AP

Serrano echoed Beharry's sentiment.

"We're suppose to be empathizing with people who are suffering around the world [during Ramadan]," she said. "How can you want to kill someone if you're supposed to feel that compassion on a higher level? It doesn't make sense."

"He's not Muslim. I'm Muslim. I would never do anything like that," she continued. "If you kill one person, it's like you wipe out an entire generation of humanity. Look at Adam, Adam fathered the world. Between Adam and Eve, they were the first humans on earth populated. If Adam was killed, there would be no people. It's the same concept for us."

"To kill all these people, he just wiped away generations of people that could've been on this earth," she said.
Lausanne (AFP) - France's Pierre-Roger Latour claimed the Tour of Switzerland lead -- surprising even himself -- after Wednesday's testing fifth stage won by Darwin Atapuma.

Latour, riding for AG2R, snatched the yellow jersey from Peter Sagan with a third-place finish behind BMC's Colombian rider Atapuma and Warren Barguil (Giant).

The 126km run from Brig-Glis to Cari was the first of three mountain stages and featured three tough climbs, two of which were hors category.

And it proved a testing time for Sagan, Slovakia's 26-year-old world champion, who lost over 19 minutes to Latour, trailing in 70th.

Latour, 22, crossed the line seven seconds behind Atapuma at the end of the second of two hors category climbs up to the ski station at Cari.

Renowned climber Atapuma relished the mountainous terrain. He made his ultimately successful bid for stage glory six kilometres from the end.

In the overall standings Latour leads by a whisker from Lotto NL's Dutch rider Wilco Kelderman. Sky's Geraint Thomas is placed third, five seconds behind, with Barguil fourth, 16sec away.

"This jersey is unexpected," said Latour.

"I came to the Tour of Switzerland without any real goals. To win a stage, to try to do something in the GC (general classification), to test myself for the future and now I find myself leader of a UCI WorldTour race.

"It's hard to take on board."

Thursday's sixth stage is a 162.8km ride once again suiting the climbers in the peloton with the col du Klausen the day's toughest ascent with another climb to the finish at Amden.

"There are still two big days in the mountains, and a time trial," added Latour.

"It's going to be very tough, but we've got a great team and I'll be fighting right to the end."
Beirut (AFP) - At least 70 fighters have been killed in less than 24 hours of fierce clashes between pro-regime forces, jihadists and rebels in Syria's Aleppo province, a monitor said Wednesday.

Pro-regime fighters -- backed by regime and Russian air strikes -- retook the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa to the southwest of Aleppo city after losing control of them hours earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

But Al-Nusra Front, Syria's Al-Qaeda affiliate, launched a counterattack to retake Khalasa on Wednesday morning, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.

"Khalasa is on a high hill overlooking large parts of the south of Aleppo province," he said.

The area overlooks the regime's supply road around the south of Aleppo city, linking the government-held Nayrab airport to the city's southeast and areas controlled by regime troops to its west, he said.

Rebel- and jihadist-held areas in the south of Aleppo province faced heavy strikes and shelling overnight, said the Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria to gather its information.

The regime also pounded a key supply route and areas north of Aleppo city overnight, the Observatory said.

The Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the regime, reported Russian air strikes on the province on Wednesday.

"Russian fighter jets resumed their missions in Aleppo with force, targeting positions of Al-Nusra Front and allied militias," it said.

Moscow launched air strikes in support of the Damascus regime in September.

Aleppo was once Syria's commercial powerhouse, but it has been a battleground since 2012 when rebels seized the east of the city confining the army to the west.

In western Aleppo, rebel shelling killed two people and injured another three on Wednesday, official news agency SANA reported.

Syria's war has killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.
(Reuters) - Champions Leicester City will begin their Premier League title defence with a trip to newly-promoted Hull City and Jose Mourinho's Manchester United reign kicks off at Bournemouth. The release of the fixtures on Wednesday threw up some meaty first-day tussles with last season's runners-up Arsenal hosting Juergen Klopp's Liverpool. The 2016-17 season kicks off earlier than usual on Aug. 13. Claudio Ranieri's Leicester, who stunned the football world by claiming the Premier League title last season at pre-season odds of 5000-1, have a testing opening six weeks with Arsenal visiting them before away trips to Liverpool and Manchester United. Leicester are listed as 25-1 seventh favourites to retain the title. Pep Guardiola will make his league debut as Manchester City manager when his team, already marked out as favourites for the title, host Sunderland. Mourinho, who replaced Louis van Gaal as United manager last month, will be aiming to maintain his record of never having lost any of his seven opening-day fixtures in England. He will not have to wait long to renew his old rivalry with Guardiola either, with the first Manchester derby being held at Old Trafford on Sept. 10. The drastic managerial shake-up in the Premier League means Chelsea also venture into a new era with Antonio Conte, currently in charge of Italy at Euro 2016, at the helm. His first assignment in English football will be a feisty London derby against West Ham United at Stamford Bridge. West Ham's first match at their new Olympic Stadium home is against Bournemouth on Aug. 20. Mourinho will return to his old stomping ground when Chelsea host Manchester United on Oct. 22, a week after the Portuguese's former club host Leicester City. Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham Hotspur, who pushed Leicester for the title before finishing third, begin at Everton, who named Ronald Koeman as their manager on Tuesday. Arsenal will host Tottenham in the first north London derby on Nov. 5 while the other eagerly anticipated derby clash, between Merseyside clubs Liverpool and Everton, takes place at Goodison Park on Dec. 17. Burnley mark their return to England's top-flight by welcoming Swansea City, while Middlesbrough, who were also promoted, host Stoke City. Full list of opening day fixtures on Aug. 13: Arsenal v Liverpool Bournemouth v Manchester United Burnley v Swansea City Chelsea v West Ham United Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion Everton v Tottenham Hotspur Hull City v Leicester City Manchester City v Sunderland Middlesbrough v Stoke City Southampton v Watford (Writing by Martyn Herman; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty and Toby Chopra)
omar mateen

A local TV station in Orlando says the man who killed 49 people at a LGBTQ nightclub early Sunday called the station to claim responsibility for the attack before he died in a shootout with police.

The caller, who claimed to be the gunman, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, told the producer he spoke to that he committed the attack in the name of the terrorist group ISIS.

News 13 producer Matthew Gentili said he took the call about 45 minutes after the shooting started.

"It was at 2:45 a.m. when I had just received the phone call of someone claiming to be the Orlando shooter," Gentili told News 13. "I answered the phone as I always do: 'News 13, this is Matt.' And on the other end, I heard, 'Do you know about the shooting?'"

The caller then told Gentili: "I'm the shooter. It's me. I am the shooter."

He said he attacked the nightclub for ISIS. He then reportedly started speaking in a foreign language, thought to be Arabic, in which he sounded fluent, according to Gentili.

Gentili asked the caller to speak in English. The man then said, "I did it for ISIS. I did it for the Islamic State."

When Gentili asked the caller who he was, the man replied that it was "none of [Gentili's] [expletive] business."

Gentili asked if there was anything else the caller wanted to say, and the man responded "no," and then hung up.

After his shift ended, Gentili was interviewed by the FBI, he said. News 13's managing editor reportedly traced the phone number the call came from back to Mateen.

Mateen also reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS (also known as the Islamic State, ISIL, or Daesh) in a 911 call placed during the attack. He reportedly expressed support for terrorists with Al Qaeda affiliations as well.

While Mateen claims he carried out the attack in ISIS's name, it's unclear whether he actually had communicated with the terrorist group. But it still fits in with ISIS's strategy of inspiring its supporters to mount attacks in Western countries without any support from the group's leadership.

Story continues

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Stella McCartney has signed up to The Equal Pay Pledge which aims to address gender inequality in the workplace [Photo: Rex Features]

In todays really rather excellent news of the day, 28 International brands have pledged their commitment to addressing gender inequality in the workplace.

GAP, Stella McCartney, L'Oreal and Amazon are among the businesses vowing to redress the gender imbalance within their workforces.



According to the White House website by taking The Equal Pay Pledge, the companies have committed to regularly reviewing their strategies to reduce the pay gap, assessing whether practices of hiring and promotion are fair for both sexes and ensuring gender parity exists within their organisations.



In a statement to the White House, a representative of Gap explained why the company were so committed to the gender equality fight: When we pay our employees fairly and treat them with dignity and respect, they are inspired to be their best, which in turn helps us deliver better products and experiences to our customers.



And when our business succeeds and grows, we can become a stronger voice for equality and inclusion around the world. We believe pay equality should not be an accomplishment; its the way the world should work and its time to get it done."



Jennifer Lawrence has recently spoken out about gender inequality in Hollywood [Photo: Rex Features]

Stella McCartney also issued a statement about the cause.



"At Stella McCartney, we are proud of our gender diversity and are dedicated to continuing to foster a gender-balanced workplace. Women occupy 67% of our leadership team and we have an even higher number of women across the brand. We place gender equality as a strategic imperative across our talent pipeline. Stella McCartney was recently awarded the EDGE certification, the global standard for gender equality in the work place, across three of our core business centers in the USA, United Kingdom and Italy. Having attained the EDGE certification, we are already committed to continually reviewing hiring and promotion processes and to conducting annual company-wide analysis, including fairness and equal pay for all.



Story continues

Barack Obama spoke at the White Houses first United State of Women Summit [Photo: Rex Features]

At the White House's first United State Of Women Summit yesterday Barack Obama spoke to the audience about the importance of the gender equality fight: "I may be a little greyer than I was eight years ago, but this is what a feminist looks like. He continued, "Our workplace policies still look like theyre straight out of Mad Men. We need equal pay for equal work.



What do you think of the move? Let us know @YahooStyleUK



British Fashion Thinks Brexit Is A Bad Fit

Helena Bonham Carter Joins Hollywood Sexism Debate: Because We Have Boobs Were Not Treated The Same As Someone With A Penis
The attorney general of the United States praised the response of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans in the wake of the Sunday terrorist attack on an Orlando nightclub.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch also offered a powerful message, addressed to a community whose sense of safety was devastated by the massacre: We support you.

We stand with you and, in the aftermath of this horrific attack, we have been inspired by you. We have been inspired by your coming together in resilience, coming together in strength, coming together in love, she said, explicitly directing her remarks to the LGBT community during an unexpected appearance Tuesday afternoon at the White House United State of Women Summit in Washington, D.C., which had not listed her as a scheduled speaker.

You are giving all of us the example that we need to rebuild our sense of safety, to rebuild our sense of community, to vow to never to let fear to take hold. And we honor you for that, Lynch said.

Now this is not an easy task, particularly in light of such pain and such loss, particularly in the aftermath of an attack like this that shakes our sense of self, that shakes our understanding of our own safety, that has the potential to make us doubt who we are and can make us wonder what we can truly accomplish, she continued.

Lynch at once counseled against despair and sought to provide reassurance. It can be so tempting to give in to cynicism and despair. It can be so easy to believe that our progress has been an illusion. That one step forward can always be met with two steps back, she said.

But I want us to remember, to remember and hold onto this: The victims of this attack were living in an America that had newly recognized their fundamental right to marry. They were living in a country that had draped the White House in a rainbow flag. They were living in a world where the highest court in our land had declared that love is love. And remember this, and know this, and hold onto this: We are still that country. That is still us.

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Attorney General Loretta Lynch addresses the White House Summit on the United State of Women in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

She also insisted that the LGBT community that was attacked had a right to be remembered in coverage of the attack and the United States response. As we focus on our response to this terrorist attack  and we will respond  let us never lose sight of who the victims were. Let us never lose sight of them. Because it is for them that we fight, and that we move, and that we investigate.  As President Obama has said, this it was an act of terror and it was an act of hate, Lynch said.

As we all try, as we always do, to make some sense, to find some reason in an inherently senseless act, I want our LGBT friends and neighbors and family members to know this: that we support you, she continued.

Movements for progress are never without opposition, she reminded. Every movement indeed has faced opposition, has faced threats, has faced violence and fear. But we will persevere, she said.

And let us declare, she said, that far from dividing us as terrorism aims to do, let us show the world that this attack, this attack has brought us together in support. It has brought us together in solidarity. It has brought us together in love.

Lynch also pledged the full resources at her command to the investigation of the attack, which left 49 victims dead. I want you to know that the Department of Justice  I and all of my colleagues the FBI, the ATF, our national security division, our U.S. attorneys office in Florida, our state and local partners  are doing everything that we can to investigate this appalling crime. And we will bring all resources to bear  everything we have  to this investigation.

And she emphasized that even as the United States in the weeks ahead has to have hard discussions about gun laws that allow an individual to legally purchase weapons that facilitate vast killings, people will need to push back on the voices that prey on fear and that sow division.

Most of all, we have to stand up, she said. We have to stand up against hate. We have to stand up for love.

Related slideshows:

Slideshow: Victims of the Florida nightclub shooting >>>



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Slideshow: World reacts to Orlando mass shooting >>>

Slideshow: Shooting rampage at Florida nightclub >>>

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By PTI: New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) Bhiku Prasad, a labourer from Uttar Pradesh who was in coma in Oman has passed away, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today.

His body is being brought back to his family in Kushmahi village of Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh, the minister said.

"I am sorry Shri Bhiku Prasad is no more. He was in a state of coma in a hospital in Oman. His mortal remains will be sent to his family in Village Kusmahi PO Ramkola Distt Kushinagar UP. @yadavakhilesh," she wrote on Twitter today.

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Swaraj had on Monday tweeted about a media report in Oman on Prasad. She had said that the Indian government will bear all his medical expenses.

According to reports, Prasad was on a visit visa to Oman for three months to find a job. He had collapsed just three days after getting a job but his papers were under processing.

Had he gone to Oman through proper channels, his hospital treatment would have been covered. Instead, he went on a visit visa and then found a job. He had not received his labour card when he collapsed at work, the reports added. PTI SAP SRY RG SRY

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McFlurry

Mars is trying to change its junk food image  and it could mean the end of the McFlurry as we know it.

Mars is in talks regarding cutting the company's sweets from super-sugary products, like the M&M McFlurry and Burger King's Snickers pie, an industry source told Reuters.

The company is worried that the desserts contain more sugar than the total amount recommended daily by the US government.

The potential change is just part of an increasing focus on health at the Mars Company.

Mars Foods, a subgroup of chocolate giant Mars Company and maker of brands including Uncle Ben's rice and Dolmio pasta sauce, announced in April that it would provide customers with guidance on which products should be eaten every day and which should only be consumed occasionally.

With the guidance, the company has begun actively discouraging consumers from eating some of its products too often  like pasta sauces that are high in sugar  an idea that, at first, seems to run counterintuitive to any business's best interests.

m&m's

Nestle and Mars Foods both recently announced plans to cut sodium from their foods, in addition to coming out in support of the FDA's efforts to release new voluntary sodium targets.

While the changes at first seem altruistic, they may be rooted in the cold, hard reality of sales. Many companies known for sugary and high-calorie foods, from Nestle to Hershey, have struggled as consumers have grown more health-savvy.

"Better-for-you" options have already proven to be bright spots in the portfolios of companies like Hershey and PepsiCo. And, publicly encouraging consumers to eat less of products perceived as unhealthy (something Americans are already doing) allows the company to reclaim the narrative and hopefully win back lost customers.

Mars' move to take a public stand when it comes to health provides a chance for the company to win consumers trust  and grow sales.

NOW WATCH: We got our hands on 'Kinder Surprise Eggs'  the global candy favorite that's still illegal in the US





More From Business Insider


Senior woman police officer Anupama Shenoy, who has been in the news over the last two months for her unceremonious transfer and subsequent reinstatement following public outrage, had resigned from her post as deputy superintendent of police, Kudligi sub-division of Ballari district on June 5.

By Pratiba Raman: A week after the government accepted the resignation of Kudligi Deputy Superintendent of Police Anupama Shenoy, another resignation letter, purportedly written by her and reportedly rejected by the Bellary SP, was leaked on Tuesday (June 14).

'Resigned and jobless': The Karnataka cop who was transferred for putting a minister's call on hold

The resignation letter, which is believed to be written before the one that was accepted, throws light on the developments that led to Shenoy's resignation.

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As the letter has a mention about Ballary district in-charge and Labour Minister Parameshwar Naik and the liquor lobby in the district.



HERE'S WHAT THE LETTER READS

I have taken stringent action to curb liquor mafia in the region. But the liquor lobby is so powerful in Kudligi that even the police staff, including the Circle Inspector and Sub Inspector, have bowed to it.

Today (June 4), there were protests against me and it was done at the behest of some politically influential persons and the district in-charge minister. I was completely unable to stop the protest. I am ready to face any disciplinary action by the department. I am resigning upset over these developments.

Karnataka DSP Anupama Shenoy resigns, threatens to expose minister on Facebook



RESIGNS IN DISGUST

Senior woman police officer Anupama Shenoy, who has been in the news over the last two months for her unceremonious transfer and subsequent reinstatement following public outrage, had resigned from her post as deputy superintendent of police, Kudligi sub-division of Ballari district on June 5.

Also Read:

Karnataka minister gets cop transferred for putting his call on hold for 42 seconds



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marco rubio

Sen. Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that he is seriously considering a bid for reelection following the deadly terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida.

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, the Florida senator said that he was considering mounting a last-minute reelection bid for his seat. He previously said that he would not run for reelection.

"I'll go home later this week and I'll have time with my family. If there's a change in status, I'll be sure let everyone know," Rubio said.

A representative for Rubio did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rubio said on Monday that he was thinking about his "service to country" in the wake of the deadly Orlando attack, but declined to speculate at the time on whether it would change his decision not to seek reelection.

Since dropping out of the presidential race following a loss in the Florida primary, many Republicans have urged the senator to reconsider his decision not to seek reelection.

In an interview with Business Insider in May, Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Rubio to seek reelection, noting that he had "ample time" before the state's June 24 filing deadline and its Senate primary election in August.

"It will be good for him, good for the Senate, and he can win," McConnell said. "Therefore, it'd make it much more likely that we'll have a Senate majority this year."

"I hope he will decide to run again," McConnell said.

Indeed, on Wednesday, Rubio confirmed a Politico report that Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera asked the senator to run in the wake of the Orlando attack. Lopez-Cantera is a top contender for the seat.

Senator @MarcoRubio answers a question on whether he's reconsidering his decision to not run for reelection.https://t.co/qcNzGn3C71  CSPAN (@cspan) June 15, 2016

NOW WATCH: Sen. Mitch McConnell on why Rubio should run again for Senate: 'He can win'





More From Business Insider


Marine veteran Imran Yousuf saved dozens of lives during the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., early Sunday morning, CBS News reported.

Yousuf, a 24-year-old bouncer at Pulse, heard the first gunshots as he was making rounds and preparing to close the bar just after last call, he said.

That was a shock. Three or four shots go off and you could tell it was a high-caliber, Yousuf told CBS Mark Strassman. Everyone froze. Im here in the back, and I saw people start pouring into the back hallway and they just sardine-pack everyone.

Yousuf, a Hindu who served as a Marine in Afghanistan, did not come face to face with the gunman, identified as Omar Mateen, during the shooting.

Yousuf told CBS that as he stood in the back hallway, sandwiched between clubgoers, he realized there was only one way to make it out of the club alive: a lone door in the back hallway.

Screen grab of Imran Yousuf. (Inside Edition CBS video)

There was one problem: The door, which was beyond Yousufs reach, was latched shut at the time and no one dared open it, he told CBS. And, suddenly, in Orlando, Fla., the veteran found himself in an entirely different combat zone.

Im screaming, Open the door! Open the door! And no one is moving because they are scared, he explained. There was only one choice. Either we all stay there and we all die, or I could take the chance. And I jumped over to open that latch, and we got everyone that we can out of there.

Yousuf estimated that about 60 or 70 people were able to escape through the door. Once he opened the door, people came flooding out of the popular Orlando nightclub.

Prior to his interview with CBS, Yousuf said, he had not fully processed the events that occurred early Sunday morning. However, he became emotional as he spoke about the act of terror to CBS.

I wish I could have saved more [people] to be honest, he said, tears spilling out of his eyes. There are a lot of people that are dead  There are a lot of people that are dead.

Mateens massacre claimed the lives of 49 victims and injured 53 before he was also killed.
Mark Cuban

Getty Image

The Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando over the weekend has sent shockwaves across the United States, and responses to the tragedy have been both swift and significant.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is doing his part to pitch in, as it was announced that Cuban would be donating $1 million to the Dallas police department to aid in its response to the act of domestic terrorism.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban today informed Mayor Mike Rawlings that he plans to donate $1 million in support of the Dallas Police Departments response to the Orlando nightclub shooting Im proud to be able to help the City of Dallas, Cuban said. The Dallas Police Department thanks Mark Cuban, said Dallas Police Chief David Brown. These funds will be used primarily to protect the LGBT community. We will earmark and track the expenditure of these funds to ensure its effective use in creating a safe environment.

The donation comes just days after a gunman killed 49 people at the LGBT hotspot in Florida, a tragedy that has caused police in major cities across the country to increase security. Cuban has previously spoken out in support of gay rights (as well as LGBT inclusion in pro sports), so good on him for putting his money where his mouth is.
(AP)

Early Sunday morning, gunman Omar Mateen opened fire in Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. With 49 dead and 53 injured, it was the deadliest mass shooting in American history. As the victims are mourned, these are the stories of the heroes who helped save lives during and after the shooting.

Imran Yousuf

(Inside Edition CBS video)

Yousuf, a 24-year-old bouncer at Pulse and U.S. Marine who served in Afghanistan, saved between 60 and 70 lives early Sunday morning. When he heard the initial gunshots, he found himself in an entirely different combat zone. The veteran told CBS News that he was able to lead the shocked, catatonic clubgoers to safety through a door he unlatched in the back hallway of the nightclub.

Either we all stay there and we all die, or I could take the chance, he said. I jumped over to open that latch [and] we got everyone that we can out of there.

Yousuf, a Hindu, told CBS through tears that he wished he could have saved more.

Brenda McCool

An undated photo of Brenda Marquez McCool, one of the people killed in the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. (Farrell Marshall via Facebook, gofundme.com/pulsemom)

The mother of 12 was at Pulse with her 21-year-old son Isaiah Henderson; the nightclub was a spot the pair frequented. When McCool saw Mateen brandishing a weapon, she told her son to get down, the New York Daily News reported. McCool died in the attack after taking a bullet for her son.

McCool twice beat cancer and moved around the country, eventually settling in Florida. She lived there with six of her children, according to the NBC story.

She was a fighter, childhood friend Noreen Vaquer told the Orlando Sentinel. She doesnt take nothing from nobody.

Ray Rivera

RayRivera2

Rivera, known in some circles as DJ Infinite, knew it was closing time for Pulse and started to play mellow reggae music around 2 a.m. on Sunday. Rivera, who had been DJing on the patio that night, told CNNs Erin Burnett that he turned the music down when he heard a suspicious noise. Upon hearing the noise a second time and watching frantic crowds rush out of the club, he realized that he was hearing the sound of gunshots.

Rivera stopped the music and allowed a young man and woman to hide under his DJ booth, CNN reported. The man escaped to the parking lot, leaving the panic-stricken woman behind. Rivera told CNN that he calmed the woman down but knew they couldnt stay hidden for long.

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As soon as there was a break in the shots, I kind of just pushed her and said, Come on, lets go. And we ran out the door and the cops were having us go around the corner where there were no bullets or anything, Rivera said.

Christopher Hansen

ChrisHansen

The Ohio native visited Pulse for the first time early Sunday morning. He recounted the gruesome scene to ABC News: The wounded were abundant, and Hansen just wanted to help.

Im not going to leave these victims behind [sic], he told CNNs New Day.

Hansen told ABC that he tried to help a man who was shot in the back. He does not know if the man, who did not speak English, survived.

Hansen, who had been at the club by himself, was making his way outside when he came across another victim who had been shot in the arm.

I was with her trying to help her to control her breathing, Its OK, stay calm, just breathe,  Hansen told ABC.

Samuel Maldonado

Maldonado and his partner were selling fritters at Pulse early Sunday morning when the shooting began. Upon hearing gunshots, the couple quickly hid under the table where they were shielded by a black linen tablecloth.

We literally saw people just running, and then we saw this young lady in blood and she just collapsed, he told HLNs Mike Galanos.

Maldonado pulled the woman under the table with them when Mateen moved to the courtyard. She was still screaming when Mateen returned to shoot the wounded but she escaped to safety with Maldonados help when Mateen turned his back.

Josh McGill

McGill, a 26-year-old Orlando native, went to Pulse with co-workers from the nightclubs sister bar, Southern Nights Orlando, according to the Los Angeles Times. Two hours after he arrived, gunshots broke out. Although McGill escaped unscathed, he encountered a man in the parking lot who had been shot three times and was losing blood at an alarming rate.

McGill, a nursing student, peeled off his shirt and, with the help of an unnamed bystander, tried to stop the bleeding and get the man to paramedics. But the wounded mans state was deteriorating so quickly that the police officer who drove them to the hospital instructed McGill to lie on top of the man to slow the bleeding.

I dont know if youre religious or not, but Ill say a prayer with you, McGill told the bleeding man, who said his name was Rodney.

The pair made it to the hospital and doctors began treating Rodney. His family told McGill that he would survive.

Words cannot and will not describe the feeling of that. Being covered in blood, McGill said in a Facebook post. Trying to save a [guys] life that I dont even know.

The people who stood in line to give blood

Although there was a significant amount of anger directed at a decadeslong federal ban on sexually active gay men giving blood, Orlando-area residents flooded local blood banks on Sunday. OneBlood, which operates blood banks in Central Florida, said it had to turn away people for the time being.

Ive been here 13 years and never seen a response like this, Pat Michaels, a spokesman for OneBlood, told the Orlando Sentinel.

You want to do something to help, Frank Tiffany, one of the many in line to give blood, told the Sentinel. Its hard to believe.  You have to do something to help. You cant stay home.

A OneBlood employee, Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, was killed in Sundays attack. Ayala-Ayala, a biologics assistant who had been recently promoted, was praised by co-workers as a vibrant person.

He was very dedicated to his work and had very high expectations for his team because what we do is in service to patients, and he was very proud of that, co-worker Kelly Gollert told People magazine. But he was also a very supportive and loving person.

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Slideshow: Victims of the Florida nightclub shooting >>>



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Slideshow: World reacts to Orlando mass shooting >>>

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Being paid by Netflix to watch movies and TV series might seem like a dream come true, but not for some folks in a secretive program at the company known as "Project Beetlejuice." These individuals, known as "juicers," are paid $10 a film or show to pick the best still images and videos from the thousands of titles in Netflix's library to help its users figure out what they want to watch. They are paid as independent contractors but now are demanding overtime, paid vacation and holidays, health insurance and a 401(k) plan.

Netflix refuses to reveal how many people work in the program, the rationale behind its name or much at all about this line of work. That's because there are two putative class action lawsuits pending in L.A. Superior Court - one filed in November by Long Beach resident Lawrence Moss and the second filed in May by L.A. resident Cigdem Akbay - that claim the hundreds of people paid to watch Netflix deserve higher pay after being allegedly misclassified as contractors instead of employees. Netflix argues in court papers the employees signed agreements that require the dispute be handled privately in arbitration.

Read More: Hollywood Studios File Suit Against Service Streaming $1 Movies

Famous for its use of algorithms to help make programming decisions, Netflix apparently requires at least a bit of grunt work computers are incapable of handling. Although the company never has publicly acknowledged "juicers" - who can work from home - it has spoken before about "taggers," who are paid to watch a movie and label it as, for instance, "thriller with strong female lead" to better serve users. In 2014, Netflix even advertised its need for "taggers" in Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Both Moss and Akbay allege they worked closely with Netflix management and sometimes labored more than 40 hours a week. "Theoretically, [Akbay] could set her own hours, but Netflix imposed deadlines for assignments that in effect imposed a rigid work schedule," states her complaint (damages being sought are not specified). Watching Netflix became her primary source of income, and after she told the company this in 2014, she says she was terminated.

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One labor attorney says it's not surprising to hear about "juicer" class actions because there has been a rash of lawsuits of late - including from Uber drivers and Grubhub delivery people - testing whether their work fits the definition of an employment relationship. "There is a perfect storm of events, which includes the proliferation of 'gig economy' jobs and the advent of legislation with strict penalties for misclassification," says Kate Gold at Drinker Biddle & Reath. "The employment laws have not kept pace with the new realities of the labor economy."

This story first appeared in the June 24 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
After 23 years of marriage, Michelle Obama still finds her husband, President Barack Obama, pretty attractive.

The first lady sat down with Oprah Winfrey at the United State of Women summit in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, where she admitted that she still checks out her hubby to this day.

"Good lord. Watching my husband walk off of Marine One and go to the Oval Office, it's like, mmm!" she smiled, as Oprah openly laughed. "And you know he's got that walk, right? Mmm, mmm, mmm."

WATCH: President Barack Obama Talks Emotional Final Months in Office, Slow Jams the News With Jimmy Fallon

When asked if the president always had so much swag or if he's "gotten swaggier" over the years, Michelle made it clear that he's always had charisma.

"No, he was very swagalicious," she joked. "Look, I told people this from the very start, when I -- started running -- Barack Obama is exactly who he says he is. We both are. That's what I've been trying to tell people. Ain't no surprises. We're telling you who we are, and no tricks up our sleeves."

This isn't the first time the Obamas have inspired some serious relationship goals. Whether it's dancing with stormtroopers in the White House or tangoing in Argentina, their chemistry has been pretty undeniable these last past eight years.

WATCH: See Barack and Michelle Obama Go on Their Romantic First Date

But earlier this month, the president attempted to just be a normal dad when he attended his 17-year-old daughter Malia's high school graduation in Washington, D.C. Obama took a seat with the other proud family members of the private school graduates, and later sweetly presented her with a bouquet of white roses and a giant hug.

Watch below:

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Miley Cyrus deleted SNL sketch will make you laugh and feel empowered

Miley Cyrus deleted SNL sketch will make you laugh and feel empowered

When Miley Cyrus hosted SNL in October 2015, she and the hilarious Aidy Bryant starred in a sketch where they played two passive secretaries who transformed into office workplace warriors. Unfortunately, the sketch was cut from the final airing of the show  apparently for timing reasons  so the world was never given the opportunity to watch the ladies turn into badass office superheroes.

But thanks to the SNL YouTube channel, everyone can now watch Cyrus and Bryant do their boss lady thing.

Heres the premise: The two mild-mannered secretaries were sick and tired of being belittled by their sexist co-workers and their boss Mr. Dildorf, so they drank a vial of ancient potion they found while sightseeing in Egypt, which was made from Cleopatras tears and blessed by the Goddess Linda. The potion bestowed on them mighty leadership and communication powers to bring equality to the corporate world.

The results? Thanks to that battle, women will be getting equal pay from now on, Cyruss character said. Yes! Now we just need women workplace warriors in all work environments everywhere!

Check it out:

The post Miley Cyrus deleted SNL sketch will make you laugh and feel empowered appeared first on HelloGiggles.
As speculation about their possible rekindled engagement continues, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth hit the town in New York City on Tuesday, holding hands during a date night.

The lovebirds were snapped outside exclusive members-only hot spot Soho House.

The 23-year-old Australian star was in town promoting his new flick, Independence Day: Resurgence, which hits theaters on June 23.

WATCH: Billy Ray Cyrus Hints He Might Officiate Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth's Wedding

While Hemsworth was casually dressed in black pants, a black top and a maroon jacket, 23-year-old Cyrus' colorful attire couldn't distract from the glittering bling that she continues to wear on her left-hand ring finger.

Splash News

With engagement talk shadowing the pair, the actor recently told GQ Australia that people will "figure out" the status of their relationship on their own.

WATCH: Liam Hemsworth Says People Will Figure Out His Relationship With Miley Cyrus

In an interview with ET last month, the Hunger Games hunk also said that "everyone's happy," when asked about his romance with Cyrus.

Splash News

Find out more about Hemsworth  including his secret farming skills!  in the video below.

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Fixed-income investors dismayed by skimpy earnings on bonds and bank savings might be wise to look further afield -- maybe as far as the Permian Basin of Texas or Marcellus Shale country in Pennsylvania, where one can buy into an oil or gas processing plant, storage field or pipeline.

If that sounds like a game for just the big boys, think again.

Ordinary investors with a stomach for risk can play too, with master limited partnerships, or MLPs, a kind of fund traded in "units" like a stock.

Focus on oil and gas. While MLPs can be set up in various industries, the vast majority of the nearly 150 in business today specialize in oil and gas.

[See: 9 Ways to Harness the Growth of Latin America.]

"The typical MLP yield today is between 6 percent and 8 percent, but there are some good companies that are yielding as much as 11 percent and are poised for growth," says Jimmy Vallee, an MLP specialist and head partner at the Paul Hastings law firm in Houston.

MLPs can be kind at tax season, too.

Among the 10 largest MLPs, four offer yields exceeding 8 percent, according to MLP Data. They are Enviva Partners (ticker: EVA), Ciner Resources (CINR), DCP Midstream Partners (DPM) and Oneok Partners (OKS).

Many experts think MLPs are especially attractive today. Energy prices have recovered somewhat from recent lows but are still well below their peaks.

"Midstream (MLP) valuations remain attractive and we feel investors will be rewarded in the long-term as fundamentals strengthen throughout 2016 and 2017," says Matt Sallee, portfolio manager for Tortoise Capital in Leawood, Kansas, referring to MLPs that specialize in gathering, processing and transporting oil and gas. Tortoise operates a number of closed-end mutual funds focused on MLPs.

Not shares of stock. Though they are bought and sold on the stock market, or through mutual funds or exchange-traded funds, MLPs are not the same as shares of ordinary public corporations. In fact, they are not corporations but limited partnerships, Vallee says.

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"Therefore, instead of two levels of tax, as is the case with a corporation, there is only one level of tax -- that at the level of the unit holder," he says. "Moreover, deductions like depreciation are also passed through to the unit holders, thereby offsetting some or all of the unit holders share of the income, and resulting in the actual taxable income to the unit holder being very low."

The low taxes and allowance for depreciation and other deductions help explain MLPs' relatively high yields. Depreciation, however, does add to the tax cost when units are sold.

The MLP investor. "MLPs are appropriate for long-term investors interested in attractive total returns, including a high level of current income," says Jay Hatfield, president of Infrastructure Capital Advisors, a New York-based investment advisor that manages exchange-traded funds and hedge funds.

"They need to, however, be prepared to accept price volatility, as MLPs tend to trade (in price alongside) more risky energy shares, even though the underlying businesses are less volatile than energy exploration companies."

MLPs are appealing because pipelines, processing and storage are used regardless of whether energy prices are up or down, so investors hope to continue receiving income even in lean times. Still, that hope can be dashed if low prices cause oil producers to stop using fields that feed the pipes, tanks and processors the MLP owns.

For the long haul. MLPs, Hatfield says, should be considered long-term holdings. "Longer term, the yield and growth in distributions are likely to offset the short-term volatility related to commodity prices," he says.

[See: 8 Soaring Stocks That Suffered the Big Bounce.]

Vallee agrees. "Investors looking strictly for capital appreciation -- the old buy low, sell high type of investor -- should stay away from investing in MLPs, which are designed to be held for the long term to realize the full cash-flowing benefits of the investment," he says.

As a long-term holding, an MLP can also help diversify a portfolio, Hatfield adds, because they are driven by factors different from those affecting other fixed-income holdings, such as bonds.

Because of the favorable tax treatment, MLPs should be held in taxable accounts, Vallee says. Putting them in a tax-deferred account, where withdrawals are taxed as income, could actually increase the tax burden.

MLPs are best for investors seeking current income rather than long-term growth, says Matthew Spiegel, professor of finance and director of graduate studies at the Yale School of Management. This is because an investor who reinvests the dividends would be taxed on them every year, he says. That investor would be better off with a holding whose returns came through capital appreciation, which is not taxed until the investment is sold.

What should the investor look for? "The prudent MLP investor will look for stability of cash flow and creditworthiness in seeking out good MLP investments," Vallee says.

"MLPs that have multiple long-term contracts with creditworthy counterparties like super-major oil companies and large independent oil companies, that have a history of steady cash flow and distributions, are ideal for the MLP investor," he says.

Also, watch out for firms with too much debt, he says.

Currently, Vallee recommends "midstream" MLPs which specialize in gathering, processing and piping oil and gas.

[Read: Why Stock Buybacks Are Often a Lousy Idea.]

MLPs which focus on exploration and production, on the other hand, "are experiencing a significant amount of distress in the extended period of low commodity prices," he says.

Jeff Brown spent nearly 40 years as a newspaper reporter, columnist and editor, including 20 years writing about investing, personal finance, the economy and financial markets. He spent 20 years at The Philadelphia Inquirer and has been freelancing since 2007.
By PTI: Panaji, Jun 15 (PTI) After missing its normal arrival date of June 6, the setting of southwest monsoon over Goa has been delayed by another four to five days, a senior MeT department official said today.

"The monsoon has been delayed by another four to five days. It has advanced over north but will take four to five more days to set over Goa and Konkan," V K Mini, Goa Director of India Meteorological Department (IMD) told PTI.

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"The actual date of arrival of monsoon in the coastal state is June 6. We are waiting for further communication from the (IMD) headquarters to know the exact date when monsoon will set over Goa and Konkan," she said.

Meanwhile, the pre-monsoon showers have stopped in the state, leading to rise in temperatures again.

"The maximum temperatures rose markedly above normal in North Goa district and rose appreciably in South Goa district. The highest maximum temperature of 32.6 degrees Celsius was recorded at Mormugao (South Goa)," the MeT department said.

Moderate rains is very likely to occur at most places in Goa in the next five days, while heavy showers are expected at isolated places in the state tomorrow, it said. PTI RPS RSY NSD SSB

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By Katy Migiro NAIROBI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Kenya must relax its November deadline for sending some 350,000 Somalis home from the world's largest refugee complex as parts of their war-torn nation are unsafe, the United Nations refugee chief said on Monday. He called on donors to provide funding to create jobs and build infrastructure in Somalia to allow refugees in the Dabaab camp who wish to return home to nine areas regarded as safe by the U.N. to do so. "The places of origin of many of the refugees in Dadaab are still very insecure," the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, told a news conference in Nairobi on Monday. "I think everybody understands that we need to be gradual in respect of those who come from those areas." Kenya announced in May that it planned to close Dadaab camp in the east of the country, home to 350,000 mainly Somali refugees, due to fears the sprawling complex had been infiltrated by militants. The east African nation has been hit by a series of attacks by the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militant group, including on a Nairobi shopping mall and a university in the northeast. Grandi said he will meet with the Kenyan and Somali governments in Nairobi later in June, after lobbying donors to step up investment to improve conditions in Somalia. "President Kenyatta is quite determined to get through this in a relatively short period of time," he said. "I told the president that in order to mobilize these resources, we need a little bit more (time)." Only 14,000 Somalis have voluntarily returned home since December 2014, Grandi said, and another 8,000 are on a waiting list to do so. The U.N. provides returnees with transport and basic household items, as well as three months food rations, which Grandi said he hopes to increase to six or 12 months supplies. Returnees that Grandi met in Somalia also asked for schools, health centers and help reconstructing their homes, he said. "We don't want to help people go back and then they become internally displaced," said the Italian diplomat who took office in January. "It is just transferring the problem from one place to another where ... it's even more difficult to help them." Almost 1 million of Somalia's 9 million people are internally displaced, mostly in the capital, Mogadishu. In October, UNHCR appealed for $500 million to improve conditions for voluntary return to Somalia. It received pledges of $110 million, only $7.2 million of which have been received, spokesman Andreas Needham told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Kenya's government has reversed a decision to close Kakuma, a second camp on its northern border hosting almost 200,000 refugees, mainly from South Sudan, Grandi said. "The situation in South Sudan is far too fragile and dangerous for people to go back," he said. (This story has been refiled to correct figures pledged and received in paragraph 15) (Reporting by Katy Migiro; Editing by Ros Russell; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, womens rights, trafficking, property rights and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org to see more stories.)
Morgan Stanleys MS Chief Executive James Gorman disclosed at an investor conference that the company is targeting $4 billion in annual revenue from its fixed-income, currencies and commodities (FICC) unit despite downsizing of the unit in recent years.



The quarterly revenue goal of around $1 billion seems difficult given the industry wide weakness in the FICC business. However, Gorman at the bank's U.S. Financials Conference in New York said that Morgan Stanley is witnessing growth in bond trading revenues despite a lower headcount.



Last year, Morgan Stanley announced its plan to slash nearly 25% workforce at its fixed income division, including 470 traders and salespeople. Currently, the Wall Street giant projects to save $100 million by deploying 1,250 support staff to lower-cost locations.



Notably, Morgan Stanley reported a 42% drop in bond trading during the third quarter of 2015 (its worst performance since the 2008 financial crisis). Though fixed income results were strong in the first half of 2015, the third-quarter slump more than offset this positive.



Though the bank has managed to earn $4 billion in annual revenue in each of the last two years, majority of that revenue was generated in the first quarter. However, the first quarter of 2016 fell short of the trend. The bank witnessed more than 50% year-over-year decline in FICC revenue in the first quarter of 2016.



However, according to Gorman, weakness seen in the first quarter of 2016 started to reverse by the end of February. This indicates that the company may see improvement in trading revenue in the second quarter of 2016.



This depicts optimism for Wall Street, which has been facing revenue challenges in fixed-income business amid stringent regulations, declining liquidity and maintenance of higher capital against risky assets.



In the wake of muted profits, several banks have reduced staff in this business. While Morgan Stanley has been very aggressive in axing jobs and slashing the capital allocated to fixed income operations, banks like JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. GS have been bidding their time by holding on to most of their fixed-income operations despite cutting costs.



Simultaneously, Morgan Stanley is focusing on stable areas such as wealth management as wealthy clients usually generate steady revenues as fees are based on a percentage of assets under management rather than transactions. Also, new regulations designed to limit riskier activities have hit investment banking and trading businesses harder than wealth management and private banking, inclining banks toward wealth management.



At the Reuters Wealth Management Summit, Morgan Stanleys wealth management unit stated its target to focus on high net worth clients with wealth management co-head Shelley OConnor saying, We are very interested in capturing more wallet from clients where we dont have the entire wallet, with additional services we will provide.



Other major banks like JPMorgan and Bank of America Corp. BAC are also taking efforts to grow their wealth management businesses.



Morgan Stanleys attempts to expand its wealth management team and shift focus on the same will help improve revenue generation as wealth management contributes to a major part of the banks profits. Also, if the company succeeds in achieving its $4 billion yearly FICC revenue target, it will give a further boost to the companys top-line growth.



Currently, Morgan Stanley carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



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Netflix's Orange is the New Black has one of the most diverse ensembles in television history. The women of Litchfield come in different shapes and sizes and from all walks of life. What brings them together may be the upstate New York prison they share, but their backstories, told largely via flashbacks throughout the series, show us the breadth of fascinating and wildly divergent tales these women carry with them.

Using its affluent white "Trojan horse" of a protagonist, Jenji Kohan's series, which drops its fourth season Friday, has offered us the most complex women of color characters in television, something which is most evident in the way it's depicted and explored the Latinas on the show.

As a corrective to long years of being portrayed as maids and sex workers (not to mention being disproportionately sexualized), Latinas have seen a rise in a decidedly different model of Latina character over the past two decades.

Consider the two most recognizable Latina-led shows of the past decade: Ugly Betty and Jane the Virgin. Both center on smart, grounded, goal-oriented women with a moral backbone surrounded by a supportive family network who adhere to strong family values. These are characters who offer young Latinas positive role models.

It's a testament to stars America Ferrera and Gina Rodriguez that they were able to mine Betty and Jane into fully fleshed out characters. But once you notice this newly improved Latina character, you begin to see how much it's been deployed as a welcome respite from the endless negative stereotypes that preceded it. You see it in the short-lived ABC sitcom Cristela, which centered on an aspiring Mexican-American lawyer, as well as supporting characters like no-nonsense capable nurse Carla Espinoza (Judy Reyes) on Scrubs and Brooklyn Nine-Nine's rule-driven Detective Amy Santiago (Melissa Fumero), the latter paired wonderfully with the deadpan but wildly capable Detective Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) on the Fox comedy.

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'Superstore' star America Ferrera and 'Telenovela' star Eva Longoria

The list of powerful, career-driven Latina characters whom audiences can identify with and root for is ever-growing and speaks to the giant leaps that minority representation has taken in recent times. That this past year alone a single network boasted shows fronted by Jennifer Lopez (Shades of Blue), Ferrera (Superstore) and Eva Longoria (Telenovela) pointed to a television landscape that has begun seeing the potential of telling diverse stories about Latinas.

In the middle of this is Orange Is the New Black, a show that by design focuses on women with flaws. On the surface  even in a casting notice  "Latina inmates" who are lumped together by other characters as "Spanish Harlem" would give any aspiring Latina actress pause. Jessica Pimentel, who plays Maria on the show, has been vocal about her reservations about even considering yet another role that would pit her into yet another seemingly stereotypical role.

"Of course I had my reservations," she said at the time. "Here I am, a conservatory-trained actress, and half of my resume is hookers. Old hookers, young hooker, hooker against your will, hooker with the heart of gold, hooker retiring, hooker starting out. I have them all."

'Orange Is the New Black' star Jessica Pimentel

Three seasons in, the streaming giant's show has proven it's always had quite ambitious ideas for its inmates and has become one of the most acutely observed narratives about Latin womanhood around. It has plumbed what would have been throwaway roles like "drug dealer's girlfriend" and "unwed pregnant inmate" with fervor. With characters like Daya (Dascha Polanco), Aleida (Elizabeth Rodriguez) and Gloria (Selenis Leyva), OItNB has sought to unpack the Latina mother figure, never glorifying it or reducing it to mere caricature.

These women are tender and tough, nurturing and cruel. Far from being picture-perfect mothers, they are shown constantly navigating what it means to take up that mantle, especially within a culture that so reveres them.

This is particularly the case with the relationship the show has established between Aleida and Daya. Viewers saw the two's first encounter at Litchfield  mother Aleida greeting her daughter by slapping her face. It's a complicated moment: Aleida may have been a jealous and careless mother outside the prison, suspicious that her teenage daughter was having an affair with her drug-dealing boyfriend (she was, eventually), but she still values her role. "You're not her mother," she tells Gloria at one point when she sees Daya being taken care of by her close friend. "I didn't get a belly full of stretch marks to be no fucking tia."

In turn, that is what Daya, who gave birth while incarcerated, has had to cope with. In giving up her baby, she's suffered an unspeakable loss, one she knows is rooted in the futile vision of her being the mother she always wished she could've had growing up. Knowing this is what motivated Aleida to arrange for Daya's child to be taken back to her own family home, rather than to the father's mother. It's a quiet moment of tenderness that she hides from Daya, but it shows how much Aleida understands her daughter, and how much of what she's ill-advisedly done was motivated by a desire to keep her daughter safe.

Source: Bustle/Netflix

Just as we celebrate the "strong" female characters that actresses like Sara Ramirez (Grey's Anatomy), Gina Torres (Suits), Emily Rios (The Bridge) and Lauren Velez (Dexter) have played on the small screen, the rather transgressive aspect of OItNB is that it not only reclaims the gritty strength of its incarcerated characters but balances it out with a deeply empathetic engagement with their vulnerabilities. Gloria may sass her workmates in the kitchen, but the pain of her past domestic abuse looms over her every movement within the prison  as does the knowledge that she'll be unable to mother a child who's already getting in trouble outside.

Ahead of the show's second season, Leyva put it more simply: "I don't think we've ever had five, six Latinas in a show this huge worldwide. We haven't." That in itself was revolutionary, and made it possible for us to meet a skinny goth Latina chick who loves the Smiths, a curvy first-generation pregnant girl who cannot speak Spanish and even a clearly troubled but darkly funny inmate who has raunchy exchanges with her boyfriend Diablo  all in the same show.

No longer mere whores or virgins, mere mothers or girlfriends, Flaca, Gloria, Daya, Maritza, Aleida, Blanca and Maria show us the breadth of the Latina experience on screen, in all its complicated and unapologetic glory. That, more than anything, is Orange Is the New Black's lasting legacy.
A mother who lost her 6-year-old daughter was murdered in 2012s Newtown school shooting has sent love and support to the families of those lost in the Orlando massacre in an emotional letter lamenting that the losses at Sandy Hook Elementary were not enough to prevent another tragedy.

I am sorry. I am so, so sorry, Nelba Marquez-Greene, whose daughter Ana Grace was killed at Sandy Hook, wrote. I am sorry that our tragedy here in Sandy Hook wasn't enough to save your loved ones.

Marquez-Greene had come home from a walk when she was flooded with calls from loved ones concerned to see how she was after news broke that 49 people were killed after gunman Omar Mateen opened fire in the packed Pulse nightclub, a gay hotspot in central Florida.

My first reaction was visceral. I know the horror of waiting to hear. A helicopter flew overhead. It made everything too real. Too familiar. I panicked. I called my friend. I cried.  I am reliving being one of the family members in wait, Marquez-Greene wrote on her daughters memorial Facebook page.

Ana Grace was one of 20 first-graders shot and killed by gunman Adam Lanza, who also murdered six adult school staffers and his own mother, before turning the gun on himself.

Read: Orlando Nightclub Massacre Is Country's Latest Mass Shooting in a Series of Deadly Attacks

I want to crawl up in a fetal position on the sofa and watch Harry Potter movies with my son," Marquez-Greene wrote. "Perhaps I will build a bullet proof barrier around my house and just order groceries from Peapod all summer. Or for the rest of our lives.

"But my message was and is and always will be 'love wins.'"

She also urged families to refuse to believe any critics who "may insinuate that somehow this is your loved ones fault because they were gay or any other reason. Nor is it God's wrath.

Story continues

"They did that to us on Sandy Hook too. And it broke my heart. You will receive love from a million places. Embrace it. Take good care of yourself. This will be a forever journey. Some ugly will come your way too. Delete. Ignore. Let it go."

Other parents who lost their children in the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School offered their support to those in Orlando, holding a vigil Sunday night in honor of the victims.

"It should be unbelieveable, but of course you think, 'oh my gosh it's happening again,'" Mark Barden, whose 7-year-old son Daniel was killed by Lanza, told News 12 Connecticut.

His organization, Sandy Hook Promise, works to educate people to recognize at risk individuals and speak out to prevent gun violence.

"Thoughts and prayers are wonderful, they're not enough," Barden said.

Michele Gay's 7-year-old daughter, Josephine, was also killed in the attack on the elementary school.

"The pain is similar incident to incident, but each of these is so very unique," she told WCVB-TV. "We are not involved in the gun debate, and we're not involved in the terror watch. As people who have suffered tragic loss, we can't help but reach out to them with our thoughts and prayers."

The devastation, though disheartening, only served to spur Marquez-Greene on in her mission to continue speaking out about education, mental health and gun violence, she wrote.

Read: Tributes Pour in For Heroic Mom Who Died Shielding Her Son From Orlando Gunman

"I am going to Wisconsin to spread the message that love wins. In honor of your loved ones. Because hate, ugly, evil and prejudice cannot silence love, courage, good," she noted. "I don't know what to tell my son. But know I will commit to learning about each and every one of your loved ones.

"And we will commit as a family to learning about their lives and the legacies you build in their memory. But I am so sorry. Because you shouldn't have to be doing this. You should be planning summer outings to the beach and barbecues and birthdays and graduations. And I know it will never be the same.

My son will learn about your loved ones. And we will not forget. We will say their names out loud. We will remember your children. As you remembered and learned about ours."

She urged loved ones of those personally affected by Sundays mass shooting to also speak out.

"Friends- you are either a part of the problem or a part of the solution," she wrote. "Victims cannot bear the burden of this alone. Please help.

"Bring up gun violence in your house of worship and/or community group," Marquez-Greene continued. "If you know someone who shows extreme hate of a group or individual, has access to weapons and you feel there is inherent risk of harm- please call your local police immediately. Let's be more than bystanders. Let's save lives."

Watch: Lady Gaga and Anderson Cooper Break Down Reading Names of Orlando Victims

Related Articles:
From ELLE

After a gunman killed 49 people in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, he left families, friends, and loved ones of those 49 people dealing with unimaginable grief. But one group of people can tragically relate: the families of the children who were killed in a 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

One such parent wrote a moving letter to those grieving in Orlando. Nelba Marquez-Greene signed the open letter, which was posted on her late daughter Ana's memorial Facebook page, along with father Jimmy Greene and brother Isaiah Marquez-Greene. Together, the family has started the Ana Grace Project in her memory, with the goal of spreading a message of acceptance and compassion to schools across the country.

When Nelba heard about the mass shooting in Orlando, it brought her right back to the traumatic moment of the massacre at Sandy Hook. "My first reaction was visceral. I know the horror of waiting to hear," she wrote. "How do I tell my son that fifty people all died the way his sister did? And in one of our favorite places: Orlando, Florida."

But as a parent of a mass-shooting victim, she comes from a unique place of being able to relate to what the families of 49 innocent people now have to deal with. She gave some poignant advice in the letter:

"I have one message for those families in Florida: I am sorry. I am so, so sorry. I am sorry that our tragedy here in Sandy Hook wasn't enough to save your loved ones. I tried and I won't stop trying. Don't you dare even listen to even ONE person who may insinuate that somehow this is your loved ones' fault because they were gay or any other reason. Nor is it God's wrath. They did that to us on Sandy Hook too. And it broke my heart. You will receive love from a million places. Embrace it. Take good care of yourself. This will be a forever journey. Some ugly will come your way too. Delete. Ignore. Let it go."

She also urged well-wishers to wait before they donate to any victims' funds to make sure they are legitimate, seek resources if they are being bullied because they are gay, and to bring up gun violence within their communities. Read the full post below:
(Adds Warburg Pincus, Bank ABC, Fitch Ratings, ECI Partners, LGIM)

June 15 (Reuters) - The following financial services industry appointments were announced on Wednesday. To inform us of other job changes, email moves@thomsonreuters.com.

WARBURG PINCUS LLC

The New York-based private-equity firm Warburg Pincus LLC said it appointed Stefan Krause, former chief financial officer of Deutsche Bank AG DBKGn.DE, as senior adviser.

BANK ABC

Bahrain's Bank ABC has hired several senior bankers as part of its plan to expand its network, build up a full capital markets platform and improve its risk management.

FITCH RATINGS

The ratings firm said it appointed Gautam Mitra to the newly created role of head of internal audit, effective June 30.

ECI PARTNERS

The UK-based private equity firm appointed Chris Watt to its investment committee, and John Hayhurst to head of the firm's Northern office.

LEGAL & GENERAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT (LGIM)

The asset management arm of UK-based financial services company Legal & General Group Plc said it named Ali Toutounchi as a trustee of the Legal & General mastertrust and a member of the Legal & General independent governance committee.

GUY CARPENTER & CO LLC

The risk and reinsurance unit of Marsh & Mclennan Co Inc appointed Tobias Andersson as chief executive of its Stockholm division, effective April 1, 2017.

WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PLC

The UK-based insurance broker appointed Steve Hardwick director, as it continues to expand its UK Life business.

DEUTSCHE ASSET MANAGEMENT

Deutsche Bank's fund management business, said it named Christopher Kimm managing director and head of real estate, Korea.

PINEBRIDGE INVESTMENTS

The U.S. asset manager said it appointed two senior executives to its Asia headquarters in Hong Kong to further expand in key markets in the region.

AMUNDI

Amundi has appointed Nesreen Srouji as its chief executive officer for the Middle East, Europe's largest asset management firm said in a statement on Wednesday.

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MUBADALA

Abu Dhabi state-owned investment fund Mubadala on Wednesday said it appointed Ahmed Saeed al-Calily as chief executive of the group's energy platform.

(Compiled by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru)
In a much anticipated announcement, the widely-followed global index provider MSCI Inc. MSCI said Tuesday that it will not be adding Chinas local-currency shares to its benchmark emerging markets index. The inclusion of Chinas local currency shares, known as A-shares, had been widely anticipated by both Wall Street and investors across the globe.

The decision against the inclusion of these shares presents another setback to Chinas efforts to join international markets. At a time of slowing economic growth and capital leaving the country, the move was expected to bring tens of billions of dollars into Chinas stock market. The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is massive, as it is followed by money managers across the globe with upwards of $1.5 trillion in assets. The move is also a blow to Chinese authorities, who were hoping to see more foreign capital come into their stock market.

The MSCI said that due to investor concern over the openness, transparency, and capital mobility caused them to believe the A shares were not ready for addition. In a statement, global head of research at MSCI Remy Briand said the following:

International institutional investors clearly indicated that they would like to see further in the accessibility of the China A shares market before its inclusion in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

Though Chinese regulators have stepped up their reform efforts in the time from last year when the MSCI also decided to not include the A shares, it seems as though they will need to do more. So far steps these regulators have taken include creating new rules that limit how long companies could suspend trading in their shares and allowing foreign money management funds to take bigger stakes in the market, but investors are not quite yet convinced about the effectiveness of these actions. Other issues investors have include a fear that the government may impose new controls in the next market selloff, and issues such as not being able to remove more than 20% of their investments each month.

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As mentioned, MSCI made the same decision last year, as it has been following the Chinese market for several years. At that time, the decision to not include the A shares caused Chinese stocks to fall approximately 40%, and $600 billion of market value was knocked out in the course of just a few weeks. A major sell off like the one last year isnt expected to occur again though, as share prices are already at relatively low levels.

Many investors have smaller holdings in China at this point, trimming the amount invested in the countrys markets due to the extreme prop-up measures taken Chinese market regulators in the last year, which included government-backed agencies buying large amounts of stocks and devaluing the countrys currency.

Without the inclusion of the A shares in the MSCI Emerging Market Index, most global investors will continue to exclude Chinas $7 trillion Yuan-dominated market, the second largest stock market in the world behind the U.S. MSCI still said it could add the A shares to their emerging markets index this year though, but only if they saw significant, positive developments from Chinese regulators that would access some of the issues global investors currently have with the Chinese markets.

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According to the police, Saddam Sardar, Bilkis Gaji and Niloufa Kharton Sardar, all from Kolkata, would recruit girls from various small towns in West Bengal under the pretext of offering them better jobs in Bengaluru.

By Mail Today: The Bengaluru police arrested five people, including a woman, all from West Bengal, for running a call girl racket in the city. Three girls, who were part of the racket, have been rescued and sent to government-run hostel.

FALSE JOB PROMISE

According to the police, Saddam Sardar, Bilkis Gaji and Niloufa Kharton Sardar, all from Kolkata, would recruit girls from various small towns in West Bengal under the pretext of offering them better jobs in Bengaluru. They would accompany the girls in train to the city. Once they reached Bengaluru, the girls would be sent to the residence of Jayanth Singh whose associate Alam Mandal would identify clients for the racket.

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FIVE PEOPLE NABBED

Based on the credible information, the police arrested Sardar, Bilkis and Niloufa at the city central railway station on June 10. On the basis of information provided by the trio, the police raided Jayanth's home in Cubbonpet in city centre. All the five are now behind the bars and the police have filed multiple cases against them.

The police have recovered 5 mobiles phones from the accused and interrogating Alam for information.

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Heres how much it would cost to buy the Father of Bride house

Heres how much it would cost to buy the Father of Bride house

If youre an 90s baby, chances are one of your lowkey favorite films is Father of the Bride, the heartwarming film that starred Steve Martin as a stressed-out dad trying to plan the wedding of his only daughter. If you ever swooned over the gorgeous family home in which the ceremony takes place  and have about $2M to spare  it just went up for sale!

According to Zillow, the 4,400-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath home, which is located in Alhambra, California, just went on the market for $1,998,000.

Father of the bride house





Father of the bride house

Father of the bride house

If youre like, Wait, this house kind of looks like the one in the movie, but the front of it looks different, this is actually only ONE of the homes used in the flick. While this house was used for the wedding as well as the cute scene where the Steve and his daughter (played by Kimberly Williams) shoot hoops in the backyard, a different house was used for the front of the home. That one is located in Pasadena, and is currently not for sale. You can see it in this clip:

In a past interview with HGTV Magazine, the owners of the Pasadena home said that the house gets plenty of people wanting to take photos of the famous house and has also been the setting for real-life marriage proposals. And just like in the film, the homeowners chose to host their own wedding reception at their home! No word on whether Steve Martin was one of the wedding guests.

The post Heres how much it would cost to buy the Father of Bride house appeared first on HelloGiggles.
This mums bump picture went viral for all the wrong reasons [Photo: Facebook/The Shutup Meg Blog]

When she was pregnant with her youngest child, Meg Ireland shared occasional pictures of her growing bump to social media. So far, so normal for an excited mum-to-be.

But what the 25-year-old parenting blogger didnt realise was that sharing her bumpies was about to expose her to a dark side of the Internet shed never even heard about, the disturbing world of preggophilia porn.



Now, the Shut Up Meg blogger is speaking out about her experiences in a bid to warn other women and encourage people to think carefully about what they share online.



The mum-of-two wants to warn other women about the dark side of social media [Photo: Instagram/shutupmeg91]

Taking to her Facebook and Instagram channels, Meg re-shared the original image alongside a detailed post about her experiences.



That time my bump went viral in a not so good way. This bump pic along with around 15 other pictures of mine ended up on an online preggophilia site, she wrote.



I see so many people upload their bump pics and now I just gasp and hope to god they dont get into the hands of someone they shouldnt.



We shouldnt have to worry about people stealing our photos, but unfortunately it happens ALL THE TIME!



The parenting blogger was shocked to find her bump pictures on a preggophilia website [Photo: Instagram/shutupmeg91]

For those in the dark about preggophilia (thatll be most of us then!) the site claims to be for people who have a fetish about pregnant women. Meg claims she came across some pretty disturbing images when scrolling through the site.



People who were uploading pictures of their wife to other users, brother in laws uploading pictures of their sister in laws and women uploading pictures of their work colleagues!!! I literally couldnt believe what I was seeing, the now mum-of-two wrote.



Posing the question of blame, the shocked parenting blogger went on to acknowledge that some would blame her for sharing the bump pictures in the first place.

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People would say I should only blame myself for uploading personal pictures and that it was my own fault (even though my profile was then private), she wrote.



I see it differently. I didnt care that someone had screen shot my photo to show someone, its was what they did with my photo that made me physically sick to my stomach.



Meg has a message for other mums-to-be [Photo: Instagram/shutupmeg91]

Talking to Daily Mail Australia, the mum explained that she suspected the pictures had been stolen from a regular online mothers group.



One person in the group was a fake and was using my picture to encourage other ladies to post pictures of their bellies so they could steal them and post them on these bizarre sites, she said.



After threatening legal action the site eventually removed her photos and now the mum-of-two has some words of warning for other pregnant women.



Please be cautious about who follows/adds you. Block them if they look like a creepy MF.



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They are terrorist savages and mongrels, part of the rubbish from the desperate and criminal populations of the Third World who have backfilled America.

We are talking, of course, about Muslims.

Its the kind of name-calling and innuendo we have grown accustomed to hearing from Donald Trump, who now seems to view Americas Muslim community as a better, bigger version of the legendary Trojan Horse. But the men who portend to be our leaders arent the only people out there who pride themselves on wearing intolerance on their sleeves.

The alleged author of the comments in the first paragraph is no politician; hes the owner of an aerospace manufacturing company in Washington state who, according to the Seattle Times, makes fiery emails about Muslims part of the workday. Such attitudes among ordinary Americans are the tinder that can so easily be set alight by inflammatory accusations from Trump and his allies.

Emblematic was the accusation from Trump advisor Roger Stone on Sunday that top Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin could be a Saudi spy or terrorist agent. Stone went on to revive claims that the Clinton State Department was permeated at the highest levels by Saudi intelligence and others who are not loyal Americans.

Its not just Huma, Stone said in an interview with right-wing talk show host Andrew Breitbart. Its her mother and her father who are, who are hardcore Islamic ideologues, her brothers.

But anti-Muslim xenophobia is nothing new. Americas fear of Islam is older than the republic itself. Even before Paul Revere rode through Massachusetts warning, The British are coming! his compatriots were effectively saying the same thing about Muslims.

In the 1600s, Cotton Mather, minister of Bostons Old North Church, fulminated against Mahometan Turks and Moors, and Devils when news trickled back to the colonies that Americans were being taken hostage in northern Africa, a precursor to todays Middle East kidnappings. Mather reassured his congregants that we are afar off, in a Land, which never had (that I ever heard of) one Mahometan breathing in it.

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But Mather was deluded. It is believed the first Muslim arrived in the New World around 1527 with the Conquistadors; the first documented Muslim settler arrived in the Dutch province of New Netherland  we now know it as the mid-Atlantic states  around 1630. In fact, according to historian Kambiz GhaneaBassiris A History of Islam in America, you could almost say that the United States owes its existence to Muslims, since Europeans were, in part, looking for a trading route that avoided the Muslim empires of North Africa and the Middle East. Meanwhile, many of the slaves being dragged ashore in irons were Muslims, prisoners captured by rival tribes who waged jihad against those who did not adhere to their fundamentalist interpretation of Islam  not unlike todays Islamic State extremists.

Copies of the Quran arrived with early European settlers and would soon be printed in America. Mather himself is said to have read the Muslim holy book regularly; know thine enemy and all that.

But Mather was far from being a lone voice of intolerance. As historian Thomas Kidd documented in his book American Christians and Islam, gentle Roger Williams, the Quaker founder of a refuge for religious minorities in what became Providence, Rhode Island, prayed that the Pope and Mahomet would be flung in to the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone, while Aaron Burr wrote of the Rise of that false Prophet and great Impostor Mahomet.

President Obama may laugh off claims that he is a Muslim, but from the earliest days, Islam has been an epithet in American politics. In his 1798 edition of The True Nature of Imposture Fully Displayed in the Life of Mahomet, James Lyon, the son of a congressman jailed under the Sedition Act, labeled John Adams the new Muhammad for his supposed religious zeal in stifling dissent; not to be outdone, John Quincy Adams compared Thomas Jefferson to the Arabian prophet, because he had referred to John Quincys father, John Adams, as a heretic, as Robert Allison reported in The Crescent Obscured.

The U.S. Navy, deployed today in the Persian Gulf and off Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, was actually formed to fight Muslims. In the years after independence, the Barbary Pirates were ravaging American shipping along the North African coast, prompting Thomas Jefferson to mount the first U.S. military intervention in the Middle East. In a 19th-century version of shock and awe, the Navy and Marines brought the Pasha of Tripoli to his knees. Thats the shores of Tripoli part of the Marines Corps hymn.

Francis Scott Keys 1805 song, When the Warrior Returns from the Battle Afar, sung to the tune later reused in The Star-Spangled Banner, celebrated the U.S. defeat of the Barbary Pirates, when the turbaned heads bowed and the Islamic crescent flag was obscured by the light of the star-spangled flag of our nation. Like todays anti-Muslim conspiracy theorists, early Americans feared more than just the swords of Muslim marauders. The Ottoman Caliphate had pioneered the use of vaccinations to fight smallpox, and because Muslims were involved, some colonialists considered them the work of the Devil (though Mather, in this case, disagreed).

That fear was no surprise, since many early Americans equated Muhammad with the Antichrist and believed the war against Islam would bring about Armageddon. Which brings us right back to the present, with both Christian and Islamic anti-vaccine zealots using that same work of the Devil line, while born-again preachers like Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham are still tying Muslims to the End Times. And as my old friend Jack Shaheen so effectively documented in his books Reel Bad Arabs and The TV Arab, Hollywood has fed the anti-Muslim/Arab (cue the generic brown guy with a rag on his head) narrative for decades.

But the GOP primary has legitimized anti-Muslim rhetoric in ways we have never seen before.

I think Islam hates us, Donald Trump told CNN earlier this year. His sermons, and those of his vanquished opponents Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, have been no less incendiary than those of clergy who preached religious hatred 350 years ago.

You rely on the promotion of fear and internet lies to fuel the flames of hate and divisiveness across our country, the Muslim Public Affairs Council said in a February letter to Trump, challenging him to a debate. Well, we have news for you: We will no longer be bullied. We will no longer be your punching bag.

But they are. And it has the potential to shape Americas relationship with the worlds 1.6 billion Muslims for decades to come.

On a recent Emirates airlines flight from Washington, D.C. to Dubai, one of my fellow passengers, a Kenyan-American Muslim, asked permission to use the exit space in front of me to perform his prayers. If this was a U.S. carrier, I wondered, would he have still felt comfortable about such a public profession of faith? And after five more months of harsh election rhetoric, will he and his co-religionists think twice before even going to a mosque in America?

Between now and Election Day, Ill explore the intersection of Islam and American politics. What happens when foreign policy becomes domestic policy on Main Street USA? Well look at how the rhetoric of the campaign trail is impacting Muslim communities in the United States, as in my recent piece on Portland, Oregon.

In Pakistan, I found that the prospect of a Trump presidency is being met with a mixture of fear and bemusement; well visit places like Indonesia and the Persian Gulf to examine how the campaign is shaping their long-term policies toward the United States. How are American Muslims and U.S. allies in the Islamic world confronting the movement that calls itself the Islamic State? What is being done to prevent the rise of homegrown radical extremism? And how do we create rational policy in this increasingly polarized environment?

Just as we are doomed to repeat history, we are also sometimes blessed. Across the political spectrum  from Nikki Haley and Paul Ryan to Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders  plenty of todays political leaders have raised their voices against anti-Muslim bigotry. So, too, in American history. Thomas Jefferson tried to learn Arabic; he and John Adams owned Qurans. Jeffersons was the very copy on which Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) took the oath of office, incensing modern-day Islamophobes. And, in the 18th-century equivalent of a Daily Show shtick, Benjamin Franklins Poor Richard sarcastically wondered aloud, Is it worse to follow Mahomet than the Devil?

But its worth remembering that much the same was being said about the pope. Anti-Catholic sentiment  particularly against the Irish and Italians  flourished from the late 1800s through the election of JFK. Xenophobia has always had a home in America. Jews, Russians, Chinese, and Japanese have all been the targets of Anglo-Saxon wrath. The assassination of President William McKinley in 1901 by the U.S.-born anarchist son of Polish immigrants led to a backlash against Poles and the Immigration Act of 1903 banning anarchists, which marked the first time the United States prohibited immigration based on political beliefs.

But ultimately each new wave of immigrants has been absorbed into the American mosaic. As Mitch McConnell put it in a recent episode of Meet the Press, All of us came here from somewhere else. Which brings us back to Donald Trump, who thinks that whole idea of taking in the huddled masses yearning to breathe free is exactly the problem.

The bottom line is that the only reason the killer was in America in the first place was because we allowed his family to come here. That is a fact, and its a fact we need to talk about, Trump said after the Orlando massacre, adding, referring to Muslim immigrants, Theyre trying to take over our children and convince them how wonderful ISIS is and how wonderful Islam is.

Given that, its worth remembering: Religious tolerance was a bedrock ideal that the Founding Fathers sought to enshrine in the new nation. The targets of Americas first military adventure abroad may have been practitioners of Islam, but it was their piracy, not their religion, that drove us to war. As the 1797 treaty ending the conflict with the Barbary Pirates stated, the United States had no character of enmity against the Laws, Religion and Tranquility of Mussulmen.

Two centuries later, thats a claim many around the world have reason to doubt.

Image credit: Foreign Policy Illustration
Luke gazes at the settingsuns (Lucasfilm)

With all due respect to Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, Rey, Finn and their Force-wielding Jedi brethren, no one ever accused the Star Wars franchise of being scientifically accurate. Yet a recent discovery by NASA again proves that, at least in one regard, George Lucass sci-fi fantasy was rooted in out-there reality.

On June 13, NASA announced that, via the Kepler Space Telescope, it had identified a new planet, dubbed Kepler-1647b, that exists around a double-star system. In other words, this planet boasts two suns, just like Luke Skywalkers home planet of Tatooine  whose name has come to be synonymous with such intergalactic worlds.

Located by a team of astronomers from NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and San Diego State University in California, Kepler-1647b is the largest such Tatooine planet (and yes, thats exactly how the official NASA report refers to it) known to mankind, and it cant be spotted by the naked eye, given that its located 3,700 light-years away. The approximately 4.4 billion-years-old planets suns are similar in size to our own  one is slightly bigger, one a bit smaller. And it takes 1,107 days (i.e. just over three years) to orbit its stars, the longest such duration of any known Tatooine planet.

While its unlikely any human will ever visit Kepler-1647b  which in terms of mass, radius and gas composition most closely resembles Jupiter  its existence does suggest that Lucass far, far away space opera had at least some passing relation to our own universe. No word yet, however, on whether NASA has determined the exact whereabouts of the Rebel Alliances base.

You can read all the scientific details about Kepler-1647b here.

Watch a video about the Irish town thats been taken over by the Episode VIII shoot:
Brussels (AFP) - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday demanded that Russia withdraw its forces and military hardware from Ukraine, and halt its support for pro-Moscow separatists battling Kiev.

"Russia needs to stop supporting the militants and withdraw its forces and military equipment from Ukrainian territory," Stoltenberg said after a meeting of NATO defence ministers with their Ukrainian counterpart in Brussels.

He said the US-led alliance would continue to stand by the government in Kiev and would never recognise Russia's "illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea" two years ago.

"In response to Russia's actions, NATO has stepped up its support for Ukraine. Our level of political and practical engagement since 2014 is unprecedented," he said.

Stoltenberg said Moscow continued to support the rebels in many ways, supplying equipment and advisors while it massed troops along the border with Ukraine to intimidate Kiev and built up its military presence in Crimea, home base for its key Black Sea fleet.

He also called on Moscow to respect and help implement the Minsk ceasefire accords it signed up to between the rebels and Kiev but which were being violated "over and over again."

The Minsk accords -- named after the Belarus capital where they were signed -- were the only way forward to a peaceful solution to the conflict, he added.

- End to complacency? -

Stoltenberg was speaking as defence ministers from the 28 NATO member states finalised the details of the biggest alliance revamp since the end of the Cold War, largely in response to the Ukraine crisis and what it sees as a more aggressive Russia.

Many in NATO felt the alliance had become complacent in the years after the fall of Communism and was caught napping by the speed and effectiveness of Russia's intervention in Ukraine.

To counter this new threat, NATO has agreed to boost its readiness and increase resources so that it is better able to respond in case of any repeat.

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The defence ministers earlier approved deployment of battalions to the three Baltic states and Poland to deter Russia and reassure allies once ruled from Moscow that NATO will stand by them come what may.

NATO leaders will formally endorse the alliance overhaul at a July 8-9 summit in Warsaw, Poland, which has been amongst those pushing hardest for a tough line with Russia.

The Warsaw summit will be hugely symbolic as the Polish capital gave its name to the Soviet-era Warsaw Pact, NATO's military adversary for nearly 50 years up until the fall of the USSR.
A look at the admission form of Baccha Rai's college shows how this admission form was basically a rate card to top exams.

After being on the run ever since the merit scam was exposed, Bachcha Rai, principal of Bishun Rai College, surrendered near his college on Saturday.

By Rohit Kumar Singh: Nobody came second in toppers scam mastermind Baccha Rai's college. Students from various states came to seek admission at Baccha Rai's Bishun Rai College with dreams of topping exams and Baccha used them to print money.

ADMISSION FORM OR RATE CARD?



India Today examined an admission form for year 2010-12 of Bishun Rai College which turned out to be a rate card more than an admission form.

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There were three groups A, B & C on the main form and the student had to select a group during admission time. If a student selected 'A' category means that he or she wanted to get 80 per cent + marks in the exams. If a student selected 'B' category then he or she wanted marks between 70 and 80 per cent. To get between 60 and 70 per cent, students chose category 'C'.

TOPPING EXAMS IS A COSTLY AFFAIR



The Rate card of 2010-12 shows that for Science stream, a student had to shell out Rs 10,000 in three installments if they selected 'A' category. For 'B' and 'C' categories, students would have to pay Rs. 8,000 and Rs 7,000 in three installments respectively.

"As Baccha Rai got success, rates also increased." Amrendra Singh, teacher who worked for 20 years at Baccha Rai's college said.

The college later started charging Rs. 25000-40000 for securing first division to students and Rs 1 lakh to top the exam.



NO COLLEGE FOR SECOND PLACE



In Bihar Board, a student needs 60% or above to secure a First Division. Therefore it means that there was no provision for coming second in this college.

"Nobody came second in Bishun Rai College. Money was taken from students for providing first division only. How could anyone get second division when everything from examination centre to evaluation centre to Bihar School Board was managed by Baccha Rai," Amrendra Singh added.

Also read:

Bihar toppers fiasco: Arrest Baccha Rai instead of acting against fake toppers, says Sushil Modi

Bihar toppersgate kingpin Bachcha Rai caught in Twitter war



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On Wednesday, celebrity astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson honored the victims of Sunday's mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, which left at least 50 dead, including the gunman and 53 more wounded.

Tyson added his voice to the outpouring of LGBTQ-support on social media by tweeting out a scientific explanation of rainbows and how we've come to understand them throughout history.

The exact Rainbow any of us sees in the sky is entirely our own -- a personal, yet communal gift from the laws of optics.

A Rainbow forms only broadside to your line of sight. That's why the pot of Gold at its base remains eternally out of reach.

If we had vision like @StarTrek's Giordi, Rainbows would look twice as thick, and include parts of ultraviolet & infrared.

Most people can take or leave Indigo as a Rainbow color, but Newton was mystically fascinated with 7, so we're stuck with it.

He ended the science lesson with a powerful tweet showing the rainbow-colored LGBTQ pride flag next to the Orlando city seal.
Colombias Caracol TV and Netflix have inked an exclusive licensing pact for a couple of new series produced by Caracol. In this landmark deal, Netflix has the exclusive first window and SVOD rights to the Colombian broadcasters series Surviving Pablo Escobar (aka Popeye) and La Nina.

La Nina is currently a primetime ratings hit on Caracol in Colombia while Surviving Pablo is still in development. Both skeins will start streaming exclusively on Netflix in Latin America, the United States, Canada, Spain, Portugal and Andorra in the next few months.

Its a big deal for the Hispanic market; Netflix continues to give more importance to local content, said Caracols international sales VP Lisette Osorio.

The streaming giant is also in talks with Caracol to acquire the SVOD rights to Caracols epic telenovela The White Slave, which has aired on NBCUs Telemundo and sold across the world. Caracols 2006 telenovela hit Sin Tetas no hay Paraiso and its mega-production Pablo Escobar, el Patron del Mal have been streaming on Netflix for some time.

Surviving Pablo Escobar is based on the autobiography of John Jairo Velasquez, alias Popeye, who was the leader and commander of Escobars squadron of hitmen and gave himself up to prevent the murder of the woman he loved. Escobars death changes the dynamics within the prison where Popeye is forced to readjust his alliances.

La Nina, based on real life events, tracks a young girl who was abducted by guerrilla fighters and experienced the horrors of Colombias decades-long insurrection first-hand.

Touting cinematic production values, the 60-episode period telenovela The White Slave traces the life of a white woman raised by slaves, who years after being separated from her family, comes back to America to avenge the death of her biological parents, free her adoptive family and reunite with the love of her life.

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Netflix VR

Netflix hires people to watch its programs and choose the best still images and videos to represent its many offerings. Two of its hires for the process, known as "Project Beetlejuice," are now suing the streaming company, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

There are two putative class action lawsuits filed against Netflix in California. One was filed in November by Long Beach resident Lawrence Moss, and the other was filed in May by Los Angeles resident Cigdem Akbay.

They argue that members of the secret "Project Beetlejuice," who often worked more than 40 hours per week, should be making more money than the $10-a-program fee, and have been miscategorized as contractors instead of employees. They're also asking for overtime, paid vacation, and holidays, health insurance, and a 401(k) plan.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Moss and Akbay said they had worked closely with company management as part of "Project Beetlejuice" and had worked more than 40 hours per week.

Akbay said she would regularly work more than 40 hours a week with a "rigid work schedule" dictated by company deadlines. She alleges that she was fired in 2014 after telling management that "Project Beetlejuice" had become her primary source of income.

A Netflix representative told Business Insider that the company doesn't comment on active litigation.

NOW WATCH: How to find Netflixs secret categories





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The upcoming drama Queen of Katwe has the potential to inspire some serious tears, at least from the looks of the first trailer Disney released in May. The inspirational tale follows the real-life journey of Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan girl who beat incredible odds on her way to becoming a world chess champion.

Now in an exclusive new TV spot above, we get a better look at what that journey entailed. Phiona (Madina Nalwanga in her screen debut) is part of a team of kids from the slums of Katwe who go on to compete against far more privileged teens.

Katwe looks to follow in the steps of other hit underdog stories like Rudy, Searching for Bobby Fischer, and Stand and Deliver. Every underdog needs a motivational mentor and taking up that mantle in Katwe is David Oyelowo (Selma) as chess instructor Robert Katende. In one choice moment from the TV spot, Katende drives home Phiona and the teams underdog status with a fittingly pet-friendly metaphor.

Directed by Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake), Queen of Katwe also stars Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) as Phionas mother Harriet. The film opens Sept. 23. Watch the full trailer below:
From Esquire

Of all the predictable political responses to the mass murder in Orlando, the immediate impulse of non-Trumpian Republicans to dive for the handiest authoritarian solution is the most predictable of all.

Here, among the Fox News electric teevee machine mannequins, is He, Trump's future Attorney General, explaining why the Bill of Rights now has to stop at only two amendments, and the first one doesn't count. Via Mediate:

"There's no minister, there's no rabbi in this city - nor are there some imams - that object to having police officers in their congregation," he argued. "In fact, they want them there, they want them to learn the message. It's enlightening for them." "So if you've got nothing going on there but a beautiful religious service, why in His name would you not want to have police officers there?" he asked.

Here, with an opposing view, and dropping in from 1761, is Mr. James Otis, of Boston.

Everyone with this writ may be a tyrant; if this commission be legal, a tyrant in a legal manner, also, may control, imprison, or murder anyone within the realm. In the next place, it is perpetual; there is no return. A man is accountable to no person for his doings. Every man may reign secure in his petty tyranny, and spread terror and desolation around him, until the trump of the Archangel shall excite different emotions in his soul. In the third place, a person with this writ, in the daytime, may enter all houses, shops, etc., at will, and command all to assist him. Fourthly, by this writ not only deputies, etc., but even their menial servants, are allowed to lord it over us. What is this but to have the curse of Canaan with a witness on us: to be the servants of servants, the most despicable of God's creation?

Meanwhile, elsewhere on the Fox platforms, He, Trump's future vice-president had another good idea. Via Mediamatters:

NEWT GINGRICH: Let me go a step further, because remember, San Bernardino, Fort Hood, and Orlando involve American citizens. We're going to ultimately declare a war on Islamic supremacists and we're going to say, if you pledge allegiance to ISIS, you are a traitor and you have lost your citizenship. And we're going take much tougher positions. In the late 1930s, President Franklin Roosevelt was faced with Nazi penetration in the United States. We originally created the House Un-American Activities Committee to go after Nazis. We passed several laws in 1938 and 1939 to go after Nazis and we made it illegal to help the Nazis. We're going to presently have to go take the similar steps here.

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First of all, as a former assistant professor of history and substitute metal-shop teacher at Bugtussle Regional State College And Live Bait Barge, Gingrich has to know that HUAC was not created as a standing committee of the House until 1945, and that its primary aim was chasing shadows and the rancid butterflies flittering over the garbage dumps that were the minds of its members.

Before that, it was merely a special investigation committee. It ransacked, among other things, the Federal Theater Program, but it declined to investigate the Ku Klux Klan because, as John Rankin of Mississippi put it, the Klan was nothing more than an old American institution. However, by the late 1960s, it had become a joke; Abbie Hoffman once was subpoenaed and showed up dressed as Santa Claus.

But is there any doubt that the Definer of civilization's rules and Leader (perhaps) of the civilizing forces would like to be the guy oiling the thumbscrews and apply a fresh coat of tar to the blacklist? And that's not even to mention that these two guys were as thoroughly rejected as national leaders by most of the country.

Gingrich, Giuliani, and He, Trump all deserve each other. The rest of us don't deserve them. I hope.

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Nick Jonas is busier than ever. Out with his third solo album, Last Year Was Complicated, Jonas is also building an acting career, with appearances on the Audience Networks mixed martial arts drama Kingdom and in the recent film-festival sensation Goat, about fraternity hazing. On top of it all, Jonas recently appeared at a vigil for the victims of the Orlando shooting at the Stonewall Inn, in keeping with his image as a nascent gay icon (though Jonas himself is not gay, leading to some controversy). In an interview last week, Jonas addressed the line between being an ally and pandering, as well as the presidential race, his researching how to be a college student, and his decision (with tourmate Demi Lovato) to cancel tour stops in North Carolina.

TIME: Your album is called Last Year was Complicated. Has this year been less complicated?

Jonas: It has been. Which is a good thing. I feel like being able to create and pour my heart into the music really helps. And more than anything, I think that the focus this year has been on the art. There was a need in the beginning of the relaunch to speak about the past and give some perspective to the journey that I was on and the journey that Im on now, and to be transparent about that and educate people about who I am and where I am today. And the physical transformation was a conversation piece, because it was new for people. Theyre so used to seeing me one way, and obviously, you grow and your life and physicality changes.

Youve moved past your Channel image, but did that experience help you?

Its easy for a lot of people to try to put the words in my mouth that it was a horrible experience and that there was exploitation of young people. There can be that. But I think that what I took away, along with trying to break that mold, is the work ethic.

These songs get personal. Do you mind when people try to piece together whom theyre about?

I think its great. I choose to be more tight-lipped in interviews, but I can be more free to speak in music and even have some fun with it. Im a fan of Drakes new record. Im sitting there listening, trying to figure out what song is about what person!

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Youre touring with Demi Lovato this summer. Besides your mutual starts on the Disney Channel, what else do you have in common?

We come from a very similar place, obviously, thats where our friendship was built. Our fanbases have both evolved in a major way. And Id say that over the last two years, Ive seen a lot of new fans at shows, which has been very exciting. Demis been through a lot and come out the other side stronger than ever. Were both inspired by soul music at the core. Demis continuing to evolve as an artist, shes pushing herself to go deeper on the soul and R&B side of things, pull some different sounds out. I think that, naturally, just being friends and sharing music, thats going to happen.

You and your tourmate Demi Lovato made news when you announced you were cancelling two shows in North Carolina to protest the HB2 law. A lot of other artists are continuing to tour there. What went into making your decision, and what do you make of other artists continuing their tours?

I think everyone goes about these things their own different way. I dont think any version of making a stand for something you believe in is wrong. For Demi and I, we felt that the right move was to make a really bold statement and cancel the shows. We love our fans in the LGBT community, and theyre so supportive of us. This is one of those moments where we saw something unjust, and you stand your ground and do what you can to effect positive change. We were very disappointed to cancel the shows, and we love to play for our fans. They were disappointed as well. Its a tough thing to deal with. Seeing our fans stand with us and the change were hoping to see is a great thing.

Over and above this particular decision, youve consistently made an effort to appeal to gay male fans, and you are not gay. Is there a line for you between being inclusive and pandering?

You have to just understand that there is ignorance everywhere and people are trying to be negative. My heart is very pure, and I work with people who are creative, and if photo shoots are sexual in some way or have a sexy edge, its just fun to get in a room and create. Its no more complicated than that.

Whos your role model for your career going forward?

I dont know that its one person in particular. Acting is a huge part of my world now. Looking at people that have been able to successfully manage and juggle acting and music are big inspirations. People that have made big transitions careerwiseMatthew McConaughey, Mark Wahlberg types. Or on a musical level, Justin Timberlake is a great example of someone whos set the bar so high for young male pop artists.

How do you balance your varying interests?

I was in Goat, which was a breakout moment at Sundance and the Berlin Film Festival, and a lot of great scripts came in after that, and obviously I want to make the best one or two of those happen, but touring a record is important. Making sure theres room for all of it is a process.

I was making this record while shooting Kingdom seasons 2 and 3. Living in the heavy space that I do while shooting that show, just because it is so dramatic and intense, there are moments when you need that release, you need to step outside the Kingdom world for a minute. I would encourage people to watch the show, because it gives you more perspective on where I was at that moment.

In 2009, you had a band, Nick Jonas and the Administration named for your interest in the presidency. Does that interest continue?

Im kind of fascinated by the whole idea of the presidency and how leadership comes to be, and I think all of us who watch House of Cards feel the same way. Its an obsession on some level, and obviously as an American and a voter, its important to be aware of.

Have you been watching this election with interest?

I try to be as aware as possible, while not getting absorbed in the madness. Historically, I like to keep my political views to myself, because its a personal thingI dont want people to feel alienated or judged by my views, or vice versa.

What research went into Goat?

Our director, Andrew Neel, has really got an eye for keeping things extremely real. That was the whole approach. I was on a college tour last year where I decided to do the college bar experience and maybe have one or two more drinks than I shouldve. I kind of just owned it and had fun with it.
By Kylie MacLellan LONDON (Reuters) - The north of England would be hit hardest by a vote for Brexit, the campaign to keep Britain in the European Union will say on Thursday, as it steps up its push to win over opposition Labour supporters seen as key to securing an 'In' vote. With opinion polls showing momentum swinging towards 'Out' ahead of next week's referendum, the In camp has embarked on an appeal to Labour voters it fears have been turned off by media coverage dominated by splits within Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives over the EU. England's north, a traditional Labour stronghold where many working-class voters have been hit by the demise of much of the region's coal and steel industries, has seen a rise in support for the anti-EU UK Independence Party. Presenting research by the In campaign that says 10 percent of jobs, more than 700,000, in the north are linked to EU exports, former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown will say European Union funds have helped regenerate the region. Many in the north blame former Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher, in office from 1979 to 1990, for the collapse of industry in the region. "In the 1980s the Tories (Conservatives) turned our industrial heartlands into industrial wastelands ... What stood between our communities and further devastation was the European structural funds, regional funds and social funds," Brown will say at a speech in Manchester. Jobs in key sectors, such as car manufacturing, will be at risk if Britain leaves the bloc and high tariffs are imposed on exports, he will say. "I ask everyone who works in the car industry, the aviation industry, the pharmaceutical industry and the food and drink industry in the North, to tell their fellow citizens of the importance they attach to the jobs that come from their exports to Europe and the risks of losing these jobs to Brexit." The north of England has also been allocated 2.1 billion pounds of EU funds to support infrastructure, higher education, agriculture and small business between 2014 and 2020 which would be lost if Britain votes to leave the bloc on June 23, the In campaign will say. (Editing by Stephen Addison)
By PTI: Los Angeles, Jun 15 (PTI) "Winnie the Pooh" author AA Milne is getting a biopic.

The title of the film is "Goodbye Christopher Robin" and its about the difficult relationship between Milne and his son Robin, who inspired the character of Christopher and whose teddy bears provided the names for Winnie, Tigger, Piglet and Eyeore, reported Deadline.

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"Star Wars" and "The Revenant" actor Domhnall Gleeson is to play Milne, while his About Time co-star Margot Robbie - also of the upcoming "Suicide Squad" - will portray his wife Daphne.

Director Simon Curtis is behind the camera. "24 Hour Party People" screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce and Simon Vaughan - who worked on 2004s TV movie "A Bear Called Winnie"- have written the script.

"Goodbye Christopher Robin" will follow Christopher, his nanny Olive and his parents as theyre swept up in the international success of the Pooh books in the aftermath of the First World War.

Director Curtis said: "I am delighted to be collaborating with Frank Cottrell Boyce to tell the remarkable and poignant story of the family behind the creation of Winnie the Pooh.

"We are assembling a wonderful cast, headed by two actors I am longing to work with - Domhnall Gleeson and Margot Robbie." PTI JCH JCH

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Three years have passed since North West was born, and she is somehow yet to be corrupted by the craziness that surrounds her.

Despite being half-Kim and half-Kanye, North West has displayed her own unique perspectives toward paparazzi, cameras, Snapchat and iPads.

SEE ALSO: North West proves she is not a teen by rejecting Snapchat

In honor of her third birthday, lets take a look at the moments in which she stood out and developed her awesome personal brand.

She's a very private person, yelling "no pictures!" at the paparazzi when she was just trying to go to ballet class.

She yelled "no pictures" again, this time at her mom Kim Kardashian, from beneath a fabulous coat.

She is also not a fan of Snapchat, distancing herself from other youngs.

"I'm scared of Snapchat," North pleaded with her mother, who continued to film the interaction on Snapchat.





She figured out her parents are millionaires and innocently tried to use this to her advantage, because she loves video games.

And Nori's technology hacks got more complicated when she used mom's phone to send out a tweet. She's more of a verbal person.





Even though the three-year-old has apparently been trying to distance herself from the reality TV and hip hop lifestyle, the birthday video Kim shared of her daughter this morning proves they have an adorable bond.





Happy birthday, North! We hope Kanye lets you download all the iPad games you want today.
The transgender community of Pakistan came together on Tuesday, June 14, to celebrate the allocation of a welfare budget by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the first of its kind there. The budget is a fund of 200 million Indian Rupees, or just under $3 million for welfare of the provinces transgender community.

The community has been struck by a wave of violence in recent weeks. On June 12, a transgender woman was killed, shot multiple times by three men at her home in Mansehra for her refusal to have sex with them. Another transgender woman was killed in the region on May 22. She was shot eight times and denied treatment in hospital until her death four days later.

Between January 1, 2008 and April 30, 2016, a reported 35 murders of transgender people have been recorded in Pakistan.

This video shows members of the transgender community in Pakistan enjoying cake, celebrating the introduction of the new welfare fund, and parliamentarians discussing the budget in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. Credit: YouTube/Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty
Oslo (AFP) - Lawmakers have voted for Norway, a major energy-producing nation, to become carbon-neutral by 2030, two decades ahead of schedule, as a result of the UN's December 2015 climate accord.

A resolution was approved by MPs late Tuesday in a 54-47 vote despite opposition from the conservative minority government.

To achieve its goal of being a zero net contributor to carbon, Norway will have to purchase so-called carbon offsets abroad.

Offsets are investments in projects that reduce carbon in the atmosphere, such as reforestation or afforestation, or improving energy efficiency or a switch to cleaner power in poor countries.

Climate and Environment Minister Vidar Helgesen, in a letter to parliament, branded the initiative premature and costly, saying the price could be as much as 20 billion kroner (3.2 billion euros) per year in 2030.

The opposition however defended the move.

"Would it be less costly and would the consequences for society be diminished if we postpone this measure?" asked Terje Aasland of the Labour Party.

As western Europe's main oil producer, Norway is a big indirect contributor to heat-trapping fossil fuel gases, but it is also vocal in the fight against climate change.

Its greenhouse gas emissions rose 1.5 percent in 2015 than the previous year, mainly after a new oil field went into operation.

Emissions are now higher than in 1990, a benchmark year in calculating efforts to reduce global-warming gases.

Its electricity is already mostly produced by hydro.

In 2008, Norway had set a date of 2030 for carbon neutrality but said this was dependent on an international climate agreement.

After the failure of the UN's Copenhagen climate summit in 2009, the deadline was pushed back to 2050.

However, the 2015 climate deal reached in Paris reactivated the 2030 objective.

The MPs also voted in favour of a recommendation to ratify the agreement.

Under the so-called COP21 gathering in Paris, 177 governments set a target of limiting global warming to "well below" 2.0 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) compared with pre-industrial levels.

Scientists warn that Earth is on track for much higher and potentially catastrophic warming, and reaching the 2 C target will require unprecedented effort.
Twitter was horrified when news broke that a 2 year-old boy was dragged by an alligator into a lake at one of Disney World's resorts on Wednesday.

Couldn't imagine my 2 year old being dragged into a pond by an alligator while we were at Disney world. Jesus Christ

A child getting eaten by an alligator is tragic no matter where it happens, but people were particularly sensitive to the location.

how'd a toddler get snatched away by an alligator.....AT DISNEY WORLD?

Kinda scared to go to disneyworld again , after I found out an alligator ate a 2 year old ://

Many reactions on social media suggest that people are under the impression that bad things don't happen at the happiest place on Earth.

But since Disney World opened in 1971, it's been a hotbed for fatal accidents. Several people have died in the sort of bizarre ways you only hear about on Spike's TV series 1000 Ways to Die.

Source: Giphy

In 2010, 9-year-old Chase Brubaker was crushed by a Disney World shuttle bus near the park's Fort Wilderness Resort. "This is the best day ever," his mother, Kelly Brubaker, told the Palm Beach Post her son had said when they arrived at Disney World. "This is my best vacation."

Source: Handout/Getty Images

In 2004, Disney World employee Javier Cruz, whose job it was to dress up as Pluto, got his foot caught on the Beauty and the Beast float during a parade, causing him to trip in front of it  he was unable to move out of the way before another float struck and killed him.

Three Disney World employees were killed within three weeks in 2009 due to a series of malfunctions during the "Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular" show.

Even the iconic "It's a Small World" ride isn't free of fatalities.

Source: Giphy

In 2010, an employee was cleaning one of the boats on the "It's a Small World" ride when the boat suddenly turned on and dragged him under.

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A woman also died on the ride in 2015 after she lost consciousness due to the motion, the Orlando Sentinel reported  during Christmas.

Park visitor Marcelo Torres was killed on the "Big Thunder Railroad" ride in 2003 when a train cart derailed and hit him.

DJ Pauly D riding Big Thunder Railroad.

In 1974, 18-year-old Disneyland employee Deborah Stone was killed when she walked into a moving wall of a rotating stage while escorting park visitors to the park's America Sings attraction. The attraction closed for two days.
A Virginia nurse was faced with a community of support when she overheard her coworker say she needed baby supplies, and wanted to lend a hand.

Read: Newborn Smiles as She's Placed in Late Father's Gloves: 'He Will Always Be With Us'

Nurse Pam Medina, 48, told InsideEdition.com that she was just finishing up her night shift at 7:15 a.m. when she spotted a colleague looking through a donation bin in the break room.

She then found out that nurse Sara Putman, 47, was just granted custody of her 7-month-old granddaughter and was scrambling to find supplies.

The court-ordered decision came as a surprise, and between Putman's upcoming shift and the baby on the way, she didn't have time to collect the items baby Isabella needed.

Enthusiastically, Medina responded, "What do you need? I can find you everything you need."

True to her word, Medina began her search for gently used baby items after her 12-hour night shift that Friday morning. She reached out to various Facebook groups in the area that she likened to an online yard sale, with a message saying: "Folks, just send me what you have. I'll be more than happy to pay for it. Tell me where to meet you, and I'll pick it up."

"Hundreds of moms responded," said Medina, a mom of 5 children herself. "Either it was very low cost, or [they said], 'Pick this up, you can have it."

By 5:30 p.m. that same day, Medina collected hundreds of items from moms all over the area and brought it back to the hospital with her husband's help.

Medina grabbed Putman as she was completing her day shift, and took her to her car, where she told her she had gotten her a stroller.

But when Medina opens her trunk, Putman's jaw dropped.

"Oh my god! What have you done?" Putman exclaimed, tearing up. Putman stares at the trunk in shock, before she can be seen looking through the pile, which included a stroller, a bouncy seat, a tub, and baby clothes.

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"I haven't had any sleep!" Medina can be heard in her video. "I've been running around picking stuff up all day long. And I've got more to pick up, I just ran out of time!"

Read: Woman Becomes Nurse at Hospital That Treated Her Cancer When She Was a Baby: 'I've Had My Heart Set on It'

Medina told InsideEdition.com that she was inspired to help a coworker, who's last name she didn't even know until that day, because she was touched at Putman's decision to take custody of her 20-year-old son's daughter, Isabella.

"[The] baby would have ended up in foster care for sure," Medina said.

But the community's support continues. Medina said that she was scheduled to pick up more supplies from people around town on Thursday, but has told them, "Let her go through what she has and figure out what she needs," she said.

Watch: Girl, 5, Gets Happily Ever After When Disney Princesses Surprise Her at Adoption Court Hearing

Related Articles:
By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will meet the Dalai Lama at the White House on Wednesday, a move certain to anger China which considers the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader a dangerous separatist. Obama and the Dalai Lama will meet privately at 10:15 a.m. (1415 GMT), a White House statement said. Earlier on Tuesday, China warned the United States to stick by its promises not to support any separatist activities. In an interview with Reuters on Monday, the Dalai Lama had said it was possible he would meet Obama and on Tuesday Taiwan announced that its new president would make a transit stop in the United States next week. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said both issues touched on the "one China" policy, a basic diplomatic tenet referring to both Taiwan and Tibet being part of China that Beijing insists foreign governments recognize. Lu said the United States had said it opposed Taiwan's independence and recognized that Tibet was an inseparable part of China. "We demand the U.S. government earnestly stands by its promises, conscientiously handle the relevant issue in accordance with the one China principle and not give any space to any individual or behavior which tries to create two Chinas, one China one Taiwan, or to split China," he said. Obama met the Dalai Lama when the latter visited Washington in 2014 and angered China then when he vowed "strong support" for Tibetans' human rights. The Dalai Lama says he wants genuine autonomy for Tibet rather than independence. He told Reuters Obama was a "a long-time friend" whom he admired for his work to normalize relations with Cuba, on Iran and for his recent visits to former U.S. foe Vietnam and the site of the Hiroshima atomic bombing in Japan. Asked how Beijing (Peking) might respond to a meeting, the Dalai Lama said: "I don't know - you should ask them. I think in Peking, we cannot as of now ... generalize. In Peking there are different views. Some people there have a more realistic view. Some are more hardline, which is more narrow-minded." Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will transit in Miami on her way to Panama, one of the island's few diplomatic allies, and stop over in Los Angeles on her return, Taiwan's deputy foreign minister, Javier Ching-shan Hou, said. China is suspicious of Tsai, who assumed office last month, as she is also head of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party. Travel abroad is sensitive for Taiwanese leaders who have angered China as it is seen as exerting sovereignty. Tsai's trip will run from June 24 to July 2 and include Paraguay. (Additional reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Bill Rigby)
Police said Yogesh Gowda was attacked this morning with a machete when he was on his way to the gymnasium.

By India Today Web Desk: A senior member of the BJP's Dharwad district panchayat in Karnataka was hacked to death by unidentified men today.

Police said Yogesh Gowda was attacked this morning with a machete when he was on his way to the gymnasium.

Though the reason for the attack is not yet known, police have not ruled out rivalry within the local BJP as a possible cause.

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The CCTV footage from the area has been retrieved and the police is investigating the matter.

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(Reuters) - Office Depot Inc, whose merger with larger rival Staples Inc was scrapped due to antitrust concerns, said it planned to hire 8,000 temporary and full-time workers during the busy back-to-school season.

Office Depot said temporary staffing will rise by a third as it prepares for the increased customer traffic from July through September.

Some of the new hires will help fulfill the "buy online, pick up in store" service that the company offers, Lynn Gross, Office Depot's vice president of human resources for retail, told Reuters.

Traditional retailers are trying to hold on to their customers by launching new web services as more customers prefer to shop online.

Staples said on Monday that it will launch "Staples Rush," its same-day delivery service to Staples.com customers in major metropolitan areas across the United States.

Staples is overhauling its business by cutting $300 million in costs and exploring strategic alternatives for its European operations.

Up to Monday's close, Office Depot stock had fallen about 42 percent this year, while Staples shares had fallen nearly 10 percent.

(Reporting by Subrat Patnaik and Siddharth Cavale in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
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STUART, Fla.  Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen switched high schools at least once before graduating in 2003, a spokesperson for the district said. Mateen had left a school he attended in his freshman year where one former administrator has claimed the gunman was a regular in the deans office.

Martin County School District spokeswoman Jamie Penn Adcock confirmed to Yahoo News that Mateen graduated in 2003 from Stuart Adult Community High School. During his freshman year, Mateen attended Martin County High School, which is also in the district.

According to its website, Stuart Adult Community High School offers an alternative to the large traditional high school that is ideal for students who feel uncomfortable in large high school settings or those who need a more flexible schedule. Adcock described the school as a place for students who are there not necessarily for extra curriculars and the traditional high school experience.

Theyre just there to get the diploma, Adcock said.

Adcock said transferring into Stuart Adult Community High School would not necessarily be related to discipline. However, the Miami Herald reported the former dean of students at the first school Mateen attended, Marty Bielicki, claimed that the shooter had issues. Bielicki, who retired from the Martin County School board in 2014, detailed his experiences with Mateen in a Facebook note.

He had issues. All the records were discarded by the school system, per statute. Clearly, if his employer had access to his juvenile record, he would be the last person to own a weapon, Bielicki reportedly wrote of Mateens time at Martin County High School.

Bielicki did not respond to a request for comment from Yahoo News.

Early Sunday morning, Mateen entered the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., where he killed 49 people and injured more than 50 in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. Authorities are currently investigating the attack.

Related slideshows:

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Slideshow: Victims of the Florida nightclub shooting >>>



Slideshow: Front page coverage of the Orlando mass shooting >>>

Slideshow: World reacts to Orlando mass shooting >>>

Slideshow: Shooting rampage at Florida nightclub >>>
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - One Chinese tourist was killed and 15 people were injured on Tuesday when a shuttle-bus overturned on a highway in Northern Virginia, near Washington, D.C., the Washington Post reported.

A car traveling on the highway collided with the bus, which was carrying 19 Chinese tourists, the newspaper reported, citing U.S. Park Police.

The bus overturned and landed on its left side, and afterward some 20 people helped push the bus right-side up and free those who were trapped underneath, according to the Washington Post.

Park Police said that one passenger on the bus was killed, according to the newspaper and local broadcasters.

Among the 15 hospitalized were the bus driver and a passenger of the car. Three people were in critical condition, according to local media.

(Reporting by Eric Beech in Washington and Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Eric Walsh)
In the of a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando that left at least 49 victims dead and dozens more wounded, Christian pastor Roger Jiminez brazenly argued that the lives tragically lost in the massacre

"Absolutely I think they are safer now because of these deaths, and the reason I think that is because I believe all of these homosexuals are pedophiles, and the Biblesee our culture and our society puts them in these categoriesgay, lesbian, whatever, but that's not found in scripture. And I understand the world does not want to accept that, that's fine. I'm saying as a Christian, the Bible puts people in two categories: normal/natural, unnatural," said the pastor.

As troubling as his words may be, they shouldn't be surprising: Jiminez's argument reflects a among the religious right:

Homophobes citing the Bible as definitive proof that their anti-gay bigotry is legitimized by holy decree.

There's just one problem: a holy mountain of hypocrisy.

In an epic Twitter rant, user @CertifiedFool_ (whose handle belies his godly wisdom) just ripped through everyone who cites the Bible to discriminate against gay people.

He called them out for the number of "sins" they probably commit every single day if they live out the rest of their lives adhering to every word of the Bible:

"According to the bible..."pic.twitter.com/b3EeNmQyBA

Like lying:

If you turn to Proverbs chapter 6, verse 17 you will see that lying is an abomination, yet y'all on here lying about y'all dusty lives daily

Eating pork:

Leviticus chapter 11 verse 12 states that we shouldn't eat shell fish. It's an abomination. Put that crab leg down.

Or any :

For all you wine and liquor drinkers, you should probably check out Proverbs chapter 20. You might just be an abomination.

Drinking :

One Epic Twitter Thread Exposes How Hypocritical Christians Who Hate Gays Really Are

D :

How can you, a defiled divorced woman judge someone for being gay when your Lord considers you unclean?pic.twitter.com/CroABw4UbQ

Cheating:

And don't get me started on all you dusty cheaters out here because y'all are abominations in several different wayspic.twitter.com/J3yyCdWeGo

Masturbating:

95% of you niggas have beat your meat enough times to send your whole family to hell. First Corinthians chapter 6 will explain.

Watching porn:

You straight dudes ever watched porn or looked at a woman and thought about how sexy she was? Matthew chapter 5...pic.twitter.com/j2bF2mMcx9

Having nice things:

I know you love your rolexes and your pearls and your chains etc, but unfortunately you may just go to hell. Go read Timothy chapter 2.

Getting tattoos:

You got tattoos on your body coming for the gay community when your God said you shall "not print any marks upon you: I am the LORD."

...Basically everything that makes life bearable.

If you know a Christian who is still using the Bible to justify their anti-gay bigotry, remind them of Jesus' words on the matter: "Let he among us without sin be the first to condemn the 49 lives lost in the deadliest mass shooting ."
A veteran of the Iraq War lashed out at Donald Trump on Wednesday, excoriating the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for suggesting veterans of the war embezzled money during their service.

Corbin Reiff  a music reporter who served in Iraq as a sergeant and paralegal in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2011, according to his LinkedIn page  went on a 25-tweet rant about Trump's attack on Iraq War veterans, saying Trump's comments are not only "repellant" but also prove he has "neither the temperament, nor the character, to be commander in chief."

A very very young me with my interpreter out in Baghdad around 2010.pic.twitter.com/q21cQwETD0 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ClAHzi0W0AQhRJu.jpg:large

Reiff's rant came in response to comments Trump made at a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Tuesday, accusing American troops in Iraq of embezzling money that was intended to be doled out to Iraqis harmed by the war.

"Iraq, crooked as hell. How about bringing baskets of money  millions and millions of dollars  and handing it out?" Trump said at the rally, Politico reported. "I want to know who were the soldiers that had that job, because I think they're living very well right now, whoever they may be."

Trump's spokeswoman later walked back the attack, saying the businessman was referring to the Iraqis.

But for Reiff, the damage is done.

I rarely discuss politics on this platform, but yesterday, the Republican nominee for President said something that compels me to speak out.

Reiff said at the age of 21, he was entrusted to "assess damage to Iraqi citizen's property and person and compensate them monetarily."

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Or we killed someone in the line of fire, it was my job to make it right.

He said the job was both physically and emotionally taxing.

I basically spent a year of my life in an aluminum trailer, away from my friends and family enduring mortar attacks nearly every night.

"I had to look widows and orphans in the eye as tears ran down their cheeks telling me through an interpreter their heartbreaking stories," Reiff wrote.

Every mission out into the city carried with it tremendous risk, but we had a job to do, and forcibly put that out of our minds.

And he said it put him and his fellow troops in near constant danger.

As a result, we instantly became a high value target for insurgents who wanted to relieve us of said cash at one of our weekly gatherings.

Reiff went on to link to the comments Trump made that seemed to accuse soldiers of embezzling the money meant for Iraqis and vehemently pushed back on the allegations, saying not only did he not embezzle funds, but there were "procedures that were put in place to prevent that from happening."

The idea that Trump would call out the integrity of those who answered the call of service and deployed to a war zone is repellant.

H

For this reason, and many more, he's proven that he's someone with neither the temperament, nor the character, to be Commander in Chief.

And he charged that Trump's claim that he is a support of veterans is "lip sevice entirely."

Don't believe him when he says he's for Veterans. It's lip service entirely.

Twitter users  including members of Congress  praised Reiff's Trump tirade, calling it a "must-read."

@CorbinReiff thank you for your service and for speaking out!

The flap is just the latest in a series of missteps Trump has made over the past few weeks  including suggesting that President Barack Obama is a terrorist sympathizer, and calling for an even stricter ban on Muslim immigrants in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Orlando.

And the unforced errors have begun to take their toll on Trump's popularity and poll numbers.

Bloomberg poll: Clinton leads Trump by 12 points, 55% say they could never support Trump. Just 33% of Trump backers enthusiastic about him.

A Bloomberg survey released Tuesday afternoon showed Trump losing to presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by 12 percentage points.
The morning after a gunman killed at least 49 people at Pulse  a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida  President Obama ordered the American flag to be flown at half-mast on public buildings across the country.

In a White House statement, the president described his decision as "a mark of respect for the victims of the act of hatred and terror perpetrated on ... June 12, 2016."

But officials in Cole County, Missouri, had other ideas.

According to the News Tribune, Commissioners Jeff Hoelscher and Kris Scheperle  who "have control over how the flags are displayed" in most of the county  outvoted Commissioner Sam Bushman to keep the flags flying exactly as they were before Sunday's massacre.

Kris Scheperle

Their reasoning was ... strange.

"I want to honor those who have served our country, but we can't lower it for every event like this that occurs," Scheperle told the Tribune.

"Lowering it too much takes away from the honor," Hoelscher added. "I feel for these victims and for their families, but I don't feel this was a time for the flag to be lowered."

Jeff Hoelscher

The flag is typically lowered to honor U.S. soldiers who have died, and on days like Memorial Day and Pearl Harbor Day.

By these standards, Obama's proclamation deviated from standard procedure in Cole County, but Bushman said an exception should be made regardless.

"I agree we don't need to lower the flag for everything, but something like this, I think it's appropriate," he told the Tribune.

Flags flying at half-mast in Orlando, Fla.

At least one U.S. service member  a Marine named Imran Yousuf, who served in Afghanistan and was a bouncer at the Pulse nightclub  is credited with saving dozens of lives during Sunday's shooting.

On Tuesday, responding to popular outrage, the commission reversed its decision.

Both Hoelscher and Scheperle are Republicans, and Scheperle's Cole County Staff page touts his pride in the region's "strong Christian values."

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Neither men immediately responded to Mic's request for comment.

Correction: June 15, 2016

A previous version of this article did not include that the decision to keep the flag at full mast in Cole County was later reversed.
O nation woke to the news that the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history had taken place while most of us were still asleep. 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened fire on patrons of Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, taking 49 innocent lives and seriously wounding 53 more.

Hours after the tragedy, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer declared a state of emergency in the city, telling the press, "We're dealing with something that we never imagined and is unimaginable. There's blood everywhere."

With those words, Dyer managed to capture the severity of the moment, a horrific scene for which nearly every harrowing descriptor associated with tragedy is justified.

But there's one word we can no longer use to describe tragedies like the massacre at Pulse: unimaginable.

There is nothing unimaginable about this tragedy when there are more guns than people in the United States, and Americans are 25 times more likely to be murdered with a gun than people in other developed countries.

There is nothing unimaginable about this tragedy when the United States has 5% of the world's population and 31% of the world's mass shootings  including 139 mass shootings to date in 2016 alone (nearly one per day this year).

There is nothing unimaginable about this tragedy when there have been 6,037 deaths from gun violence in 2016 alone, more than double the number people killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

There is nothing unimaginable about this tragedy when President Obama has been forced to stand in front of the nation 14 other times after a mass shooting, yet Congress has passed exactly 0 new gun control laws since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.

There is nothing unimaginable about this tragedy when it is easier to buy a semi-automatic AR-15 assault-style rifle in Florida  the same gun used in the San Bernardino, California, and Sandy Hook mass shootings  than a pistol.

There is nothing unimaginable about this tragedy when it is still legal to discriminate against LGBTQ people in 33  28 states with no protection and 5 states with incomplete protection  and people in various LGBTQ communities are still banned from giving blood by the Food and Drug Administration.

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There is nothing unimaginable about this tragedy when one in five hate crimes is based on sexual orientation, and, though the bill ultimately passed, 146 members of the House v hate crime protection to LGBTQ people.

There is nothing unimaginable about this tragedy when more than half of transgender youth attempt suicide, and 30% of all teen suicides each year are committed by LGBTQ people.

There is nothing unimaginable about this tragedy when LGBTQ students will hear on average at school and 18.3% report being assaulted because of their sexual orientation.

There is nothing unimaginable about this tragedy when Islamophobic rhetoric and hate crimes against Muslims are on the rise in the U.S., which the Islamic State terrorist group uses in turn to recruit new fighters.

There is nothing unimaginable about this tragedy when ISIS propaganda encourages lone wolf actors to commit mass murder, and the ease of buying a weapon in the United States allows them to do so.

None of these factors, alone, explain why a man who pledged his allegiance to ISIS used an AR-15 assault-style weapon to gun down 49 innocent people at a gay club. But they do underscore the extent to which Sunday's mass shooting was the result of a series of interconnected factors  the prevalence of guns and the regularity of anti-LGBTQ violence  all of which could indeed be by lawmakers.

Simply put, the time for Congress' thoughts and prayers has long passed; we need concerted action. Future attacks like Sunday's mass shooting will continue to be the norm unless we agitate, organize and hold our elected officials accountable.

Opinion: With Our Gun Laws, Mass Shootings Aren't

E , daughter of slain Sandy Hook principal Dawn Hochsprung who now works for Everytown for Gun Safety, recently told me that despite the circumstances, she remains hopeful for the future, because gun control is now at the forefront of our political debate. Indeed, hard as it is to believe, we are beginning to see change at the state level. Meanwhile, domestic violence from getting their hands on guns, and 23 states prevent subjects of restraining orders from buying guns.

None of these changes have happened by accident. If Sunday was the day to mourn, now is the time to get angry and demand change. Tragedies like the one that transpired at Pulse are not inevitable unless we make them so.
BRAZZAVILE (Reuters) - A former army chief and candidate in Congo Republic's presidential election earlier this year was arrested overnight, his opposition party said on Wednesday. Authorities did not immediately comment on why they had detained General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko, 69, a power broker in the former French colony's 1990s civil war. The government of President Denis Sassou Nguesso has accused Mokoko, a one-time security advisor to the president, of involvement in an alleged coup attempt in 2007. Mokoko's supporters say the president is trying to stifle dissent. "This is clearly a desire to harm the general, who stood up to Sassou during the last presidential election," spokesman for the l'IDC-FROCAD party Guy Romain Kinfouissia said. "It is just another demonstration of force to muzzle the opposition," he said. Sassou Nguesso has ruled the oil producing central African nation for all but five of the past 37 years and won a disputed election in March. Most opposition parties boycotted the vote, although Mokoko ran and came third. Last year he held a referendum on constitutional changes allowing him to seek a third term in power, as several other African leaders have done, leading to protests in which at least 18 people were killed by security forces. (Reporting by Philon Bondenga; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
As Oprah Winfrey paged through a script for the soapy drama Greenleaf, she knew something was off. For the saga of a scandal-plagued Memphis megachurch, creator Craig Wright had written the role of Lady Mae  steely wife of a powerful bishop (Keith David)  with Winfrey in mind. But the instant I read it, I said, No, the person who should play this is Lynn Whitfield, says the 62-year-old OWN mogul.

She recalls asking Wright for another role: I can be a sister or something. Winfrey spoke; Wright listened. He cast her as Maes straight-shooting estranged sibling, Mavis. (And, yes, Whitfield signed on as Mae.) On June 6, Weight Watchers spokeswoman Winfrey, calling from her home in Santa Barbara, revealed more to Us while, she says, watching the fog coming in.

Us: Why was Mavis the right role to bring you back to scripted TV?



OW: It wasnt about the role, it was about the story. I love hearing stories, telling stories, sharing stories. Ive shared 37,000 on the Oprah show! Every day I was like the town crier. Now I can still tell stories but use the platform of drama.

Us: Mavis runs a jazz and blues bar. Are you a fan of those genres?

OW: Ive never listened to jazz. Its just not something I ever paid attention to. But I thought, If Im gonna run a jazz club, if Ive got Miles Davis posters in my bar, I should at least know what his horn sounds like. So thats what I listened to on my iPhone in my trailer.

PHOTOS: Oprah Winfrey's Hair Evolution

Us: And are you hooked now?

OW: No, I cannot say that! [Laughs.]

Us: Greenleaf is filled with sex! Will Aunt Mavis get some action?

OW: Whoo! You wouldnt go there! Aunt Mavis dont want that kind of action! But there was possibly some action between her and the bishop long ago. That is part of the tension between Mavis and Lady Mae. That will be revealed at some point.

PHOTOS: Celebrity Weight Loss: Stars Who Have Been Spokespeople for Diet Programs

Us: Youve lost 30 pounds since October with Weight Watchers. Are you in the best shape of your life?

OW: Yesterday, I was in the gym working on my triceps, and I was thinking, just as I did the 50-pound pulldown, I am going to be in better shape by the end of the year than Ive ever been in my life. I really just smiled at the notion: Wow, what a thing.

Story continues

Us: Youve said that bread is your weakness. What kind?

OW: There is a seeded bread that I bring from South Africa. I bring home 10, 20 loaves. I am so bad with this bread. Ive literally been in hotels and brought my own: Please, can you toast this? I have my own bread. Theyre like, You have your own bread? And Ill pull it out!

Us: What else do you save your splurge points for?

OW: Tequila shots or a glass of wine.

For more of Winfrey's interview, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands now!






By PTI: New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) Leading bourse BSE will conduct a mock trading session from its disaster recovery site on Saturday to test system performance.

In three separate circulars, BSE said it will conduct a mock trading session from its disaster recovery site in currency derivatives, equity and equity derivatives segment on Saturday, June 18, 2016.

As per the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) guidelines, the exchanges are required to conduct mock as well as live trading from disaster recovery sites to check the robustness of their systems.

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Trading members using third party trading platforms can also use this opportunity to test their respective trading application during mock trading session for various functionalities (including exceptional market conditions), BSE said.

The session will be conducted from its disaster recovery site in Hyderabad. PTI PRJ SP PRB MR

--- ENDS ---
Omar Mateens wife, Noor, is in the crosshairs of an FBI investigation and could face criminal charges, as she reportedly accompanyied her husband as he purchased guns and ammo.

Read: Orlando Gunman Called Newstation During Attack

The surveillance video shows Noor Zahi Salman, who has a 3-year-old child with Mateen, by her husband's side as he bought weapons prior to the attack.

The footage, which has not been released, may prove that she knew about Mateen's heinous plans to massacre innocent people.

Mateen killed 49 people and wounded 53 others in the attack at Orlando nightclub Pulse, a gay hotspot, early Sunday morning.

Noor did tell the FBI that she drove him to Pulse because he wanted to survey the area, NBC News reported.

Authorities are mulling criminal charges against Salman, 30, for not alerting officials about the attack. No decision has been made, but she she has been cooperating with authorities in the meantime.

Read: Newtown Victim's Mom Writes to Orlando Families

Salman was seen returning to her apartment in Fort Pierce, Florida, Monday night for the first time since the massacre.

She was asked if she knew about the attacks but shielded her face from reporters and did not say a word. She was escorted by police as she filled a duffle bag with items from the apartment.

FBI agents also raided the home of Noor's mother near San Francisco. Noor is reportedly staying with her father-in-law for the time being.

Watch: Father of Orlando Gunman: 'I Wish My Son Was Never Born'

Related Articles:
Fort Pierce (United States) (AFP) - Since the Orlando massacre, the small Muslim community of Fort Pierce, Florida -- the killer's hometown -- has found itself the target of hate-filled insults and abuse.

"Scumbags!" -- the phrase is hurled from a pickup truck rolling by the Fort Pierce Islamic Center, housed in what was once a church.

As the faithful arrive at the center, passing cars honk and their occupants fling out profanity-laced slurs against Islam and the prophet Mohammed -- including not-so-veiled death threats.

Fort Pierce's only other mosque, located along a highway, is in a totally anonymous building behind an auto dealership.

But anyone who didn't know of the Islamic Center's existence before Sunday's bloodbath at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, can't miss it now.

Journalists and TV crews are camped outside for several hours a day, drawing attention to the center where the killer, Omar Mateen, attended mosque as recently as last Friday.

"We're scared," said Bedar Bakht, a taciturn Pakistani in his 50s who prepares the evening Iftar dinner at which the faithful break their daylong fast during this Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Many stay until nearly midnight for what is normally a time of celebration, but now they leave the building in groups when it is time to go home -- as a precaution, Bakht said.

"A couple of weeks down the line, things will be back to normal. But right now it's new. People are calling, leaving stupid messages," he said.

- 'Ashamed' -

This is the second time this house of worship has received unwelcomed publicity.

Moner Muhammad Abusalha, the first American suicide bomber in Syria's civil war, used to frequent the center before leaving for Syria where he was killed in May 2014.

Mateen, who apparently knew Abusalha, claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group after opening fire in Pulse, a popular Orlando gay club, early Sunday.

Story continues

The bodies of 49 people were recovered after police stormed the club and shot and killed Mateen.

"We're cool people. We never had any problems. But because of what that guy did, we're ashamed," said a man in his 50s as he left the building.

"It used to be a night where everybody would celebrate. Now look, there's nobody. Only three people," said the man.

In the end, several dozen people turned out for the Iftar dinner, well shy of the hundred or so people who normally attend.

"I think I cooked too much," said Bakht.

Yussef Thorne, one of only a few black Muslims in the Fort Pierce community, alluded to Mateen as he arrived: "I'm a Muslim and I'm one of no fear. I come to pray. (...) And I pray for him, too."

- 'Destroyed almost the whole family' -

Not even Mateen's father, Seddique Mateen, is so forgiving.

"If he hadn't done this horrible act probably I would, but right now I don't forgive him," Mateen, dressed in a coat and tie, told reporters.

"I don't know what, why he did it, but it's unforgiven to hurt their own family, we live in the United States as a family," he said.

Mateen said his thoughts are with the victims, and also with his three-year-old grandson.

"He destroyed almost the whole family," he said.

Omar Mateen's wife, Noor Zahi Salman, went to the family's apartment late Monday to retrieve some belongings.

In this low-rent apartment complex, brightened by the glittering sun and palm trees, few knew Mateen, except by sight.

"He didn't talk to anybody, to my knowledge. He was just passing," said Herbert Johnson, a resident of the Woodlawn Condominium.

Mateen's psychological state remains a mystery, as was the nature of his connection to homosexuality.

Several witnesses have described him as a young man who used gay dating aps, who had made advances to another man and was a regular at Pulse.

But he was totally unknown at Tattle Tails, one of the few gay bars in the St Lucie and Fort Pierce area, adjoining cities on the Florida's Atlantic coast.

Patrick, a bartender at Tattle Tails who did not want to give his full name, said he had never seen Mateen in his 10 years as a patron and employee of the bar.

The bar's owner and other servers didn't remember having crossed paths with Mateen either, he said.

In fact, Patrick said he could not remember a customer who had said they were Muslim.

The Orlando massacre exposed, tragically for families who were learning for the first time the sexual orientation of their deceased loved ones, that gays are not always accepted in the Hispanic community.

But among Muslims, the taboo is often even more pronounced.

While he expressed solidarity with the victims, Seddique Mateen publicly condemned homosexuality.

At the Islamic Center, Bakht considered the question. "Gay Muslims? I haven't met any. Maybe they're hiding."
The wife of the gunman behind the Orlando nightclub shooting that left 49 people dead potentially faces criminal charges in connection with the massacre, several media outlets are reporting.

Citing an unnamed law enforcement official, Reuters says that 30-year-old Noor Salman, the wife of gunman Omar Mateen, may have been aware of her husbands plan to open fire at the gay nightclub Pulse early Sunday morning.

It appears she had some knowledge of what was going on, alleged U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, on CNN. She definitely is, I guess you would say, a person of interest right now and appears to be cooperating.



Salman reportedly told investigators that she tried to talk her husband out of the attack and told FBI agents that she had driven her husband to Pulse on at least one occasion. (The FBI is currently investigating claims that Mateen was a regular patron of the gay club.)

According to Fox News, federal prosecutors have convened a grand jury to investigate her alleged involvement, and are seeking to charge her with being an accessory to 49 counts of murder and 53 counts of attempted murder, as well as failing to notify law enforcement officials about the attack.
Seddique Mateen

In an unusual press conference Wednesday, the father of the gunman who killed 49 people at an Orlando nightclub railed against the terrorist group ISIS, saying he, too, was a victim of the group.

Omar Mateen, 29, pledged allegiance to the group  which is also known as the Islamic State, ISIL, or Daesh  during the attack at the LGBTQ nightclub early Sunday morning.

Mateen's father, Seddique, told reporters at the press conference that he had no idea his son had fallen under the sway of radical Islamism.

"I just want to repeat to the whole nation my apologies," Seddique said. "But I did my job to send him to school ... to send him to college, get him a job. He had a steady job for the past seven years."

He continued: "But unfortunately I wasn't aware of that he went under, what I learned from the media, under the effect of this horrible, terrible killer group of ISIS. I don't know who created ISIS, but it's bad news for humanity."

Seddique, who emigrated to the US from Afghanistan, implored the US government to destroy ISIS.

"My suggestion to the nation, especially to President Obama, US Congress, NATO, that they shouldn't allow the terrorism regime or government to breathe," Seddique said. "Because not only did we lose our loved ones, it affects our daily life, and we are running deeper and deeper in debt fighting terrorism. So the best thing to do ... and it's the job of the Congress, that they should eliminate and should find the solution to get rid of this ISIS idea."

He also mourned the loss of his son.

"I am a victim of terrorism," Seddique said. "I lost my son. This is a nightmare for a father or mother to lose a son. And lose another 50 family members. You're all my family. Another 52 got injured. As a family philosophy, American philosophy, we are one family helping each other. We all get affected."

The press conference was the latest stop in a media spree from Seddique, who has been seemingly ever-present since the massacre last weekend.

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Seddique has his own strange history.

He has said Pakistan's military-run intelligence agency is the "creator and father of the world's terrorism." He is also heavily critical of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, and he has his own YouTube channel on which he has expressed support for the Afghan Taliban. He recently declared his candidacy for the Afghan presidency.

Natasha Bertrand contributed to this report.

NOW WATCH: 'Youre a sleaze!': Here are all the insults Trump hurled at the press during a bizarre press conference





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Gay and bisexual men who want to donate blood after the shooting in Orlando, Florida, are largely unable to do so, because of a federal rule that prohibits men who are currently sexually active with other men from donating blood. Now, some are suggesting that it's time for the Food and Drug Administration to reconsider the policy.

Unfortunately the Gay blood ban is still in place. Pls encourage friends & family to donate: https://t.co/kL3zvstExk pic.twitter.com/4ZjFT2kmN2  Logo (@LogoTV) June 12, 2016

The FDA's blood donation guidelines  which all blood donation centers in the U.S. must follow  mandate that men who are sexually active with other men wait at least 12 months following their most recent sexual encounter before donating blood. The rule is aimed at reducing the risk of transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through blood transfusions.

The 12-month waiting period was introduced in December 2015, replacing an earlier FDA policy established in 1985 that prohibited men who had sex with men (MSM) from ever giving blood.

Gay and bisexual men in the U.S. are more severely affected by HIV than any other group of people in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For example, in 2010, MSM accounted for 63 percent of estimated new HIV infections in the United States, but the group represents about 2 percent of the U.S. population.

The reason for the change to the 12-month waiting period (also called a deferral period), according to FDA officials, was that recent research determined that the risk of HIV transmission from blood donations from MSM was comparable to that of donations from people who had accidentally been exposed to another person's blood, or had recently received a blood transfusion themselves. Both of these groups must wait 12 months before donating blood. [The 9 Deadliest Viruses on Earth]

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And data from other nations with 12-month blood donation deferral periods for MSM  including Australia and the U.K.  showed that a 12-month window did not increase the risk of HIV transmission from blood supplies, according to an FDA statement.

In the statement, released Dec. 2, 2015, Stephen Ostroff, acting commissioner of the FDA, said, "We have taken great care to ensure this policy revision is backed by sound science and continues to protect our blood supply."

But many are suggesting that it's time for the FDA to reconsider the MSM deferral.

On June 13, California Rep. Barbara Lee tweeted her support for lifting the ban, an action she had already proposed to the FDA.

"Low-risk MSM who wish to donate blood and help saves lives should not be exclusively and categorically excluded because of outdated stereotypes," Lee said in the tweet.

Last year I asked @US_FDA to end prejudiced gay blood ban. Tragedy in #Orlando shows danger of this outdated policy. pic.twitter.com/KdGBCxLRJM  Rep. Barbara Lee (@RepBarbaraLee) June 13, 2016

R.T. Winston Berkman, a law and public policy graduate student at New York University, told Live Science, "As a public health measure, it's overly broad and casts a discriminatory net." Berkman co-authored a study published May 2015 in the Columbia Medical Review, analyzing the FDA's blood donation ban from a cultural as well as a scientific perspective.

"The ban takes someone's sexual identity and associates it de facto with serious infection and risk," Berkman said. By deferring all MSM, the FDA "maintains a categorical association between gay sex, risky sex and HIV," Berkman and co-author Li Zhou wrote in the study.

"Following this attack, we're seeing gay men come forward who have lost friends and loved ones or know someone who's a survivor, and they're unable to stand in line and donate," Berkman said.

In Italy, blood donation centers review prospective MSM donors on a case-by-case basis, Berkman said. By identifying specific sexual behaviors, such as the number of sex partners a man has and whether he uses protection, officials get a much more accurate picture of whether a donor should be considered a high risk for HIV transmission.

"So far, Italy has not had an increase in transfusion-based transmission  a sign that the policy is effective," Berkman added.

An FDA representative told Live Science in an email that there is currently enough donated blood to meet the needs of the Orlando shooting victims. "We empathize with those who might wish to donate, but reiterate that at this time no one who needs blood is doing without it," the FDA representative said.

For now at least, the current deferral policy will stand, although the FDA will re-evaluate its policies as new scientific information becomes available, the representative said.

But even if the current blood emergency is covered, removing the 12-month deferral period could greatly expand the donor pool in the U.S., Berkman wrote in his study. Based on the number of HIV-negative adult men who are eligible to give blood and who are likely to donate, the change could allow an additional 130,150 men to donate blood, bringing in an estimated 219,200 additional pints of blood per year.

Original article on Live Science.

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From Cosmopolitan

As more information about the 49 victims of the horrific Orlando nightclub shooting last Sunday emerges, survivors from that night are also telling their own stories. A 52-year-old man told the New York Times what it was like to be in the bathroom where gunman Omar Mateen held hostages for hours and how he escaped.

The man, who asked to be identified simply as Orlando for fear of terrorist retaliation, told the Times he and a friend hid in a bathroom stall on top of the toilet (so as not to be seen from outside the stall) when they first heard gunshots inside Pulse. Mateen then came into the bathroom, went to the stall next to theirs, and shot the people hiding inside without saying a word. He then left the bathroom while Orlando and his friend stayed hidden. Orlando said, "People were screaming, begging for their lives," at that point.

They heard Mateen shooting outside and telling his hostages not to text anyone. They heard the "cool and calm" phone call Mateen made to police and how he threatened to kill more people if law enforcement tried to intervene.

At some point, Orlando and his friend switched positions to play dead. When Mateen came back into the bathroom, he checked the other bodies in the bathroom, played with his weapon, and washed and dried his hands. Eventually, Orlando "felt something poking him," the Times explains: "He believed it was the gunman, checking to see if he was dead." Hours later, police broke into the club's bathroom from the outside (pictured below right), allowing Orlando and some other hostages to escape.

A GoFundMe for both the survivors of the attack and the victims' families has already raised more than $3.2 million. You can donate here.

Follow Tess on Twitter.
She died as she lived: Caring for one of her children.

Brenda Marquez McCool lost her life in the barrage of gunfire unleashed Sunday at the Pulse Nightclub  but not before urging her son to save himself in her final moments.

In a harrowing account, a niece described how McCool, the mother of 11 children, went out for a fun night of clubbing only to end up among the fallen in what turned out to be the deadliest shooting in modern American history. McCool's 21-year-old son, Isaiah Henderson, recounted the agonizing tale to the niece.

McCool, 49, and her son Isaiah had stepped up to the club's bar just before the slaughter began, McCool's niece, Nelia Rodriguez of Edison, N.J., said in an interview.

"She used to love having fun with her kids  enjoying life with her children," Nelia said.

Brenda Marquez McCool.

Nelia warmly recalled her aunt, employed at a military base, as an upbeat woman with a fondness for Mickey Mouse and Coca-Cola and a deep dedication to her brood of seven girls and four boys. Brooklyn-born to Puerto Rican parents, McCool lived in California and New Jersey before settling in the Sunshine State.

"Not anybody could raise 11 children on your own, but she did," she said.

Partying with her son at a gay club was no big deal, McCool's niece said, to a woman who accepted everyone as they were: "She always believed that there's no gender ... She was that kind of woman  she just didn't care if you were gay, if you were lesbian, you were heterosexual. She didn't care. She just loved everybody the same," Nelia said.

McCool supported her son's sexual identity: "She always said, 'I don't want him to feel less than the other people around him because of what he is. He's my son [and] that's how he chose to be and I support him that way.' ... She was a good mom, and she was also a good friend to her children."

Story continues

Brenda Marquez McCool and son Isaiah Henderson.

Shortly before the shooting, McCool posted a brief Facebook video showing dancers whirling under Pulse's multicolored lights.

When shooting began moments later, "They were at the bar. They were ordering drinks and she heard the gunshots," Nelia said. "[She] grabbed her phone and she said to her son, 'Run!'"

"Just go, run! Save your life  just go!"

McCool intended to dial 911, "but she didn't realize the shooter was by her  and when he saw her, he shot her two times in the back," she added.

Isaiah, according to Nelia, then ran back. He was "going to run back to get his mother," she said.

"Just go, run! Save your life  just go!" McCool continued to scream as she collapsed on the floor.

The storm of bullets unleashed by shooter Omar Mateen, who has been reported as not only a suspected ISIS sympathizer but a regular at the gay nightspot, ended the life of a woman who had cheated death before: McCool had twice survived cancer at the time of her murder, her niece said.

The massacre left McCool's family to navigate a riptide of conflicting emotions: "They're angry. They're upset. They're confused," Nelia said.

Another of her sons, Farrell Marshall, spoke about his love for his late mother on a GoFundMe page seeking support for McCool's funeral arrangements and her bereft family:

"One Decision changed the lives of many. All I ask is for prayers and whatever you can to help me and brothers sisters to be able to pick up the pieces where she left off. You will forever be in our hearts. Always. I truly love you so much MOM!"

McCool divorced two years ago after 17 years of marriage, but her niece said, but she and her ex-husband were planning to wed again this year. A short three months ago, McCool and her sister had attended their own father's funeral in Puerto Rico. The latest tragedy has only compounded the family's grief.

"It's kind of devastating," Nelia explained. Isaiah, she said, is "taking it very hard, because he just saw his mother die in front of him."

As for the family as a whole, "They can't understand why things happen  but, I mean, we never know when our destination is going to end, either," she added.
By PTI: New Delhi, Jun 14 (PTI) On World Blood Donor Day today, the Health Ministry signed a pact with the Tamil Nadu government to set up a state-of-the-art centre of excellence in transfusion medicine.

With the average blood donation rate in India being 0.8, which is lower than those in many high-income countries leading to a shortfall in quantum and access to safe blood, these centres will procure blood through 100 per cent voluntary blood donation.

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It is part of the Metro Blood Bank Project, a central scheme under the ministry in which such centres will come up in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata also.

These centres will have state-of-the-art technology in transfusion medicine for component separation, processing of blood and quality systems.

The MoU was signed between J Radhakrishnan, Health Secretary Tamil Nadu and C V Dharma Rao, Joint Secretary, NACO under Health Ministry in the pressence of Union Secretary B P Sharma and Additional Secretary N S Kang.

The agreement formalises central government support to set up and run these centres in the state of Tamil Nadu, for which land has been provided free-of-cost by the state.

The centre has approved an outlay of approximately Rs 200 crore per centre for this.

"The excess of plasma generated will be sent for fractionation and help to produce life-saving costly plasma- derived medicines like albumin, clotting factors etc, for which the country presently relies on imports.

"In addition, this will also set up a revenue generation model to offset the operating costs," Sharma said.

Health Ministry has accorded approval for the first phase, wherein these facilities will come up in Chennai and Delhi.

India collects about 10 million blood donations every year and nearly 70 per cent of these donations are collected through voluntary non-remunerated donors.

The theme of this years World Blood Donor Day is blood connects us all and the slogan share life, give blood, also draws attention to the unparalleled role of non-remunerated voluntary blood donation in promoting community cohesion.

"These centres will procure blood through 100 per cent voluntary blood donation", Kang said.

Voluntary, unpaid blood donations must be increased rapidly in more than half the worlds countries in order to ensure a reliable supply of safe blood for patients whose lives depend on it, WHO had said yesterday. PTI TDS KND RG KND

--- ENDS ---
From Cosmopolitan

One of the 49 victims of the Orlando nightclub massacre was Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, a 49-year-old woman, who, according to the New York Daily News, was at Pulse to dance with her son Isaiah Henderson and stepped in front of the 21-year-old when she saw Omar Mateen's weapon.

McCool loved to dance with Henderson and did so often. She'd actually moved to Orlando to be with Henderson and her youngest children (she has 11) and was dancing that night in celebration of the Puerto Rican Day Parade happening in New York. In fact, McCool posted a Facebook video of her and another friend dancing at Pulse late Saturday night just before the shooting.

"Every year she comes to New York to celebrate the Puerto Rican Day Parade," McCool's sister-in-law Ada Pressley, who was also inside the club during the attack, told the Daily News: "If she'd come to New York, she'd be alive."

Ada Pressley witnessed McCool save her son's life that night: "Brenda saw him point the gun. She said, 'Get down,' to Isaiah and she got in front of him. She was shot dead. That's how much she loved her kids." She was shot twice and confirmed dead late Monday evening.

Khalisha Pressley, McCool's oldest daughter, told NBC News her little brother called her screaming after the shooting. "He had to watch his mother die," Khalisha said. "He saw everybody getting killed. He feels it was his fault."

Khalisha also told NBC that McCool beat cancer twice and was "always really cool, but really a mom at the end of the day" to her and her 10 siblings. She was "the sweetest, lovingest person in the world," Khalisha said.McCool's fifth-oldest son Farrell Marshall started a GoFundMe to fund his mother's funeral and help care for her other children. Henderson has deleted everything from his Facebook aside from tributes to his mother and a post asking people to share the GoFundMe link.

Follow Tess on Twitter.
Bianca Dawkins flaunts her natural tresses. (Photo: Facebook)

For many women with kinky or tightly coiled hair, walking into a random salon and finding that the hairdressers are unable to execute a simple style on your texture is not an uncommon occurrence. Its the reason women do their research, sometimes calling ahead to confirm that an apt hairstylist is on staff when theyre looking to get their hair professionally done. But as Bianca Dawkins found out, sometimes you wind up with an inept person even when you do the extra work.

According to City Pages, Dawkins made an appointment at the Denny Kemp Salon and Spa in Minneapolis, informing the receptionist that because of her texture, which includes really curly, tight curls, she would likely need two hours to achieve the style she was looking for  a standard wash, blowout, and flatiron. But when she got into the hairstylists chair, she learned that not only was the person doing her hair lacking the basic skills to achieve the style on her hair texture, but also that because of it, she would be subjected to insults.

According to Dawkins, the stylist, named Justin, blamed her for his inability to work on her texture, saying her tresses were like an animal that cant be tamed. None of the stylists in the salon had the skill set required for her hair. Dawkins asked, Black girls cant come in here and get their hair done? The stylist replied, Well, it isnt the 1950s or 60s, where we can just put up a sign in the window. A rep for the salon claims that Justins comments were misconstrued and taken out of context.

Dawkins took to Facebook to tell her story. Im so sick of not being able to get my hair done when we have all these people scared of textures, she wrote. What hurts my feelings the most is that today my hair was called a animal by a white man who knows nothing about black girl curls. In another post, she elaborated: My hair has been natural for over a year now and it has been a journey. Ive experienced the toughest part of my journey yesterday when my hair was referred to [as] an animal. I thought for a second should I get a perm, but I didnt want this incident to get the best of me. I want to be a part of the movement that is creating awareness that All People should be made to feel beautiful. I want everyone to receive great experiences when they are getting pampered. No one should feel like their hair should be tamed or they are not to be accommodated or supported when trying to find and receive treatment. I dont want the incident that happened to blow over and just be a thing that happened, because many people have experienced this and it is just pure ignorance.

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Its no secret that that many stylists dont know or bother to learn how to deal with hair textures that many black women have. Any black high-fashion model can tell you the struggle, including Leomie Anderson, who took to Twitter a few months ago to air her frustrations. Why is there only ever one black hairdresser backstage yet they need four hairdressers to inspect my weave? she tweeted. Why can a white model confidentially sit in anyones chair and feel confident theyll look okay but black models have to worry? WE NEED MORE MAKEUP ARTISTS AND HAIR WHO ARE COMPETENT WITH ALL RACES BACKSTAGE AT SHOWS.

Clearly, the issue permeates all levels of the beauty industry. Denny Kemp Salon management responded by posting an image to Facebook reading black hair matters, saying, We agree completely, after finding themselves in the middle of the social media firestorm.

Yesterday, the salon took to Facebook to issue an apology. Our salon is going through a major learning curve, it read. First, we extend our heartfelt apology to Bianca and to anyone else who has been hurt by this incident. Bianca was serviced by this stylist in the past without issue and we are working to ensure that nothing similar to what happened on Friday, June 10, happens in the future. Several of you have demanded that Justin be fired. We discussed this with Bianca and this was not her goal; we are moving forward with education, awareness, and a renewed commitment to serving all people in our diverse community. While we are taking immediate action on this particular incident, we are also grateful for the door this opens to entering into a holistic dialogue about the gaps in skills and training that exist in our salon and the industry. As both a salon with strong ties to Minnesotas communities of color and also as an industry leader, we affirm that every person who enters our doors deserves to feel welcome, included, and beautiful. We failed to do that for one of our clients, and we hope that she gives us a chance to make good on our promise. We also ask that you do the same.

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Jhon Velasquez Popeye Pablo Escobar hit man

Jhon Jairo Velasquez Vasquez was Pablo Escobar's top hit man in the late 1980s and early 1990s, killing 300 people and orchestrating the deaths of hundreds more.

But now, after more than 20 years in prison, "Popeye" has become a YouTube star, broadcasting his remorse and offering advice to more than 100,000 subscribers.

"I decided to create this channel to be in contact with the people and to recount the true history of the Medellin cartel honestly, without made-up truths or ill-intentioned lies," Velasquez told El Pais. "I did it to show that committing crime is not worth it."

Despite the many killings to which he is linked, including his confession to the Avianca Flight 203 bombing that killed more than 100 people, Velasquez was convicted for just one  the assassination of Luis Carlos Galan, a Colombian presidential candidate, in 1989.

He was paroled from prison in 2014 and posted his first video in August 2015. Since then he's posted more than 80 videos, garnering nearly 120,000 subscribers and almost 10 million views.

"My channel is called Repentant Popeye because the truth is I am repentant, I'm going to fight for a new life," he told El Pais. "I regret having done such damage to innocent people. At the time I did it for some ideals, for a cause that never merited such barbarism."

la catedral escobar popeye

In his interactions with viewers, Velasquez has taken responsibility for his crimes and expressed remorse for the damage they did.

"It was the war that killed your brother, but I am not going to justify that. I am going to assume responsibility because your brother was defending a country, an institution, and we were murderers paid by the cartels," he told the relative of one of his victims, according to The New York Times.

Its important that we could meet so I can ask for your forgiveness face to face and accept my responsibility, he said to the brother of a slain police officer, The Guardian notes.

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The content Velasquez posts would seem to belie his pronouncements of remorse, however.

Popeye Velasquez YouTube channel

Videos often begin or end with a bullet cutting across the screen, and bullet holes appearing in the black background.

His following  not as large as some YouTube stars  is enough to earn him "modest income," and he is often greeted with enthusiasm by some viewers.

"You have the personality to be able to tell the truth to the Colombian society." one commenter wrote, according to The New York Times.

"I love all of your statements because they are full of honesty and courage. Hugs," said another.

At times, he seems pleased with his new, legitimate notoriety. "We are conquering the world!" Velasquez wrote in a Facebook post that linked to a Washington Post story about his new YouTube channel.

"Its not about monetizing my life story but about telling the stories, the things that happened, he told The New York Times in an interview. Ive been famous for 30 years. I only want to have an opinion because I am an activist," he added, stating his opposition to the Colombian and Venezuelan governments and to Donald Trump for Trump's campaign against Latinos.

A family member of an Avianca Flight 2013 victim called Velasquez's new campaign "a slap in the face" to his victims. One expert who spoke with The Times called him "an astute self-promoter," and Velasquez  who has published two books about his time in Escobar's service  has often shared his input about goings-on in the criminal underworld.

Last year he said that Mexican kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman would not be caught alive (he was recaptured in January), compared Guzman's damage to Mexico to that of Escobar to Colombia, and described what drug lords like Guzman and Escobar feared the most.

He has also claimed that famed Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez worked for Escobar, and that Guzman paid as much as $50 million for his escape in July 2015.

escobar chapo

Despite his stated regret for his crimes and his desire to steer people away from a life of crime, Velasquez has offered mixed assessments of Escobar, whose ill-gotten wealth and megalomania led him to wage a vicious war against Colombian society.

"Before I start I want to say that everything Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria did was bad. Its important that new generations dont get fixated on the figure of Pablo Escobar and even less on mine. We should not be a model for anyone. We are bandits," he said in a video released in December 2015 for the 22nd anniversary of Escobar's death.

"For me, Escobar was a terrorist, a drug dealer, a kidnapper  but he was also my friend; he treated me with kindness and respect," Velasquez said in a video posted in October. He was the kind of man that would look you in the eyes and do what he says. Everyone knows what he was, but with me he was good.

NOW WATCH: The weird economic reason drug cartel members get head-to-toe tattoos





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By Peter Eisler, Yara Bayoumy and Letitia Stein ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - Patience Carter had been on the floor of the bathroom stall for hours, her right femur shattered by a bullet, pinned beneath friends and strangers. They all had reached the same dead end in a frantic rush to escape the gunfire at Orlandos Pulse Nightclub. The 20-year-old had watched Omar Mateens feet as he paced about; shed listened to his rants to hostage negotiators about U.S. bombings in Afghanistan and his allegiance to militant Islamic groups. Now, she could hear the police shouting outside. Move away from the walls! Move away from the walls! And she saw Mateens feet backing towards the stall. He said, Hey you! to someone on the floor inside the bathroom and shot them, shot another person and then shot another person, Carter recalled, imitating the sound of the gun. Bow! Bow! Bow! It was near dawn on Sunday, three hours after Mateen had begun his savage assault on the popular gay dancing spot. Within moments, police were breaking through the wall. They told him, Put your weapon down! Put your weapon down! He didnt, so they engaged in gunfire. They got him. They shot him dead, Carter said. In the days following the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, survivors' tales have begun to emerge, recounting the horror of a siege that killed 49 people, as well as the attacker. Their stories reveal a scene of fear, desperation and sometimes methodical carnage, as well as a fraught, prolonged rescue. (Graphic showing progression of massacre: http://tmsnrt.rs/1Uzxm1V) In the moments after Mateen was shot, water poured from broken pipes in the demolished wall, a bloody tide filling the bathroom floor where bodies and wounded lay. Carter called out to her friends - theyd come down as a trio from Philadelphia, dancing and laughing through the first night of her first Florida vacation. They chose the club after searching the Internet for fun dance spots. One of Carters companions, another 20-year-old named Tiara Parker, responded to her calls, saying shed been shot in the side. The other, Akyra Murray, just 18 and the life of the party, was slumped over Parkers lap, silent and motionless. A man whod been trapped in the stall with them took Murrays pulse and said she was still breathing. Moments later, a SWAT team member pulled Carter out of the room, dragging her to safety by her arms. As she slid across the bloody floor, she saw Murrays phone and grabbed it. I truly believed that after I was told she was breathing, that her pulse was still going, that I would be able to get that phone back to her, Carter said. In the ambulance, rescuers cut away Carters bloody clothing. They told her the bullet that shattered her right leg had also passed through her left leg. Later, Carter would learn that Murray didnt make it. Lying in the hospital, among dozens of wounded, she wrote a poem. The guilt of being alive is heavy, it concluded. MAKING SURE THEY'RE DEAD" It was just after last call and many of Pulses 300 patrons were finishing their last drink when Mateen, 29, entered around 2 a.m. with what one law enforcement official has described as a Sig Sauer MCX military-style rifle and Glock 9 mm handgun. Angel Colon, 26, was hugging friends and saying goodbye when he heard "a big shotgun. Everyone froze as the gunfire continued, he said. Then everyone ran. Three bullets ripped into his leg, knocking him down. People trampled over him. "All I could hear was the shotgun, one after another, and people screaming, people yelling for help. Mateen moved through the club, spraying bullets into a crowd that had been heaving to salsa and merengue dance music. Many of victims appear to have been killed in those first frantic minutes. For five to 10 minutes, he was "just shooting all over the place," Colon said. Investigators later reported that victims wounds suggested Mateen used both guns. Some patrons fled through a door to a patio area at the side of the building, scrambling to take cover as they made it outside. Others escaped through a side door. And some headed toward a rear area walled off from the main part of the club. Mateen shot many people multiple times, making sure they're dead, said Colon. He aimed his gun toward Colon's head but the bullet struck his hand. Another grazed his hip. An off-duty police officer, in uniform and working security at the club, heard the gunfire from his unmarked car outside. He called immediately for backup and headed for the entrance, where he exchanged fire with Mateen, police said. Within minutes, other officers had joined him, and the firefight continued. Across town, Christopher Hunter, associate medical director of Orange County Emergency Medical Services System, got an emergency text around 2:15 a.m. Up to 20 patients, it said, multiple gunshot wounds. He wasnt sure it was real, so he called dispatchers to confirm. He placed Orlando Regional Medical Center, the city's main trauma facility, under status black". The rarely used emergency code redirected all patients to other hospitals unless they were shooting victims or in the throes of a heart attack. At the hospital, Chadwick Smith, a trauma surgeon, called for backup, waking up other doctors. I said, this is not a drill, this is not a joke, he said. I need you here as fast as I can. TERROR IN BATHROOMS After exchanging fire with police, first with the lone officer, then with the others who joined him, Mateen retreated to the clubs walled-off back room, where dozens of patrons had taken cover. Many crammed into a pair of bathrooms along the rear wall. Carter and her two friends were in one, crammed with others in a single stall. Angel Santiago, 32, was in the other, also jammed in a stall full of people. We just kept hearing gunfire over and over and over again, he said. And it just kept getting louder, closer, and I actually could start to smell what I guess was gunpowder. Mateen burst into Santiagos bathroom, spraying gunfire. Santiago was hit twice, in his left foot and right knee. There were a lot of people hit; there was a lot of blood, Santiago said. The gunman then moved to the other bathroom, where Carter and her friends were hiding. More gunfire rang out, and more screams. As bullets pierced the stall, Carter and her friends all were hit. None of the survivors seemed certain about how long the shooting lasted. But at some point, Mateen paused, hunkered down in the back room. Police used the opportunity to rescue some of the wounded in the main room. One officer dragged Colon out of the club and across the street to a Wendys restaurant. "I look over and there's just bodies everywhere. We're all in pain, he said. Police decided not to pursue Mateen into the back of the club, fearing for the safety of the people trapped with him. We did not want to risk their lives, and so we then contained that scene until SWAT operators go there, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said in an interview, referring to Special Weapons and Tactics officers. A SEA OF WOUNDED The firefighters at Station 5, just steps from the club, heard the shots before the emergency calls came in. People still were rushing out of the club as they arrived. The firefighters pulled some of the wounded back to safety behind the firehouse. Ambulances loaded the wounded up -- three at a time in some cases -- and turned around immediately for the minute or two drive back to Orlando Regional. Others were transported in police cars, in trucks, in any available vehicle, officials said. Some of the victims were shot at close range in the chest, head, stomach and even the pelvis, said Joseph Ibrahim, a trauma medical director at Orlando Regional, where most of the 53 wounded were treated. Inside the club, the hostages remained in the bathrooms, waiting. We lay there for hours, Santiago said, hoping that police would come through at that point in time and save us all. Police were waiting, too, trying to figure out a safe way to end the siege. Mateen had called 911 after his initial assaults in the bathrooms, first hanging up at about 2:30 a.m., then calling again and speaking briefly with a dispatcher, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The dispatcher called him back. Mateen made his claims of loyalty to militant Islamic groups. When he was off the phone, he kept talking, sometimes to himself, and sometimes addressing the hostages directly. He telephoned a TV station. A producer picked up the 2:45 a.m. call. "I will never forget the words he said to me," Matthew Gentili of News 13 said. "I'm the shooter. It's me. I am the shooter," Gentili said in a post on the stations website. He said he did it for Islamic State, Gentili said. At one point, Mateen, who was born in New York to Afghan parents, began speaking a language Gentili believed to be Arabic. "At the time, I didn't know what he was saying. He was speaking so fast. In his conversations with police, Mateen suggested he had explosives with him, so the SWAT team decided on a plan to breach the rear wall of the bathrooms. At 5 a.m., they detonated explosive charges along the back of the building, then finished breaking through the wall with an armored vehicle. Within minutes, Mateen was dead. (Additional reporting by Bernie Woodall in Orlando and John Walcott in Washington. Editing by Jason Szep and Stuart Grudgings.)
The Pakistan country-specific exchange traded fund surged Wednesday, with Pakistani markets touching a record high, after Morgan Stanley Capital International upgraded the former frontier economy to emerging status.

The Global X MSCI Pakistan ETF (PAK) rose 5.6% Wednesday on over three times its average daily volume.

Meanwhile, the benchmark Pakistan Stock Exchange rose gained 1,003 points, or 2.7%, to hit a high of 38,520 by the close.

Related: A Better Way for ETF Investors to Access Emerging Markets

After a long time, Pakistan has been classified as an emerging market and that boosted investor sentiment, Rehan Atiq, the chief operating officer of brokerage house Shajar Capital, told The News.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. said the market could attract about $220 million in inflows following MSCIs decision, Bloomberg reports. BMA Capital Management Ltd., though, projects Pakistan to attract $300 million to $400 million in the first year while EFG Hermes Holding SAE said last month that an upgrade could attract around $475 million by mid-2017.

When there is an upgrade, a lot of investors see passive inflows as an opportunity to basically reposition and benefit from the outperformance of the market, Mohamed Al Hajj, an equity strategist at EFG Hermes, told Bloomberg. The market tends to perform strongly until implementation. You should expect outperformance from Pakistan as well.

Pakistan was previously downgraded to frontier status by MSCI in 2008 when the Karachi Stock Exchange set an index floor to halt a sell-off in the wake of then ruler Pervez Musharraf leaving office to avoid impeachment.

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Since Musharrafs departure, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has supported economic growth and achieved relative stability through an International Monetary Fund loan program that helped avoid an external payments crisis in 2013.

Story continues

This achievement is the result of macroeconomic stability, economic reforms and good governance by the incumbent government, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said in a statement. The new status of emerging market will help Pakistan to attract maximum foreign investment.

Following previous MSCI upgrades, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar saw their benchmarks jump by at least a third in the 12 months following June 2013. Muhammad Asim, chief investment officer at MCB-Arif Habib Savings & Investments Ltd., argued that the impact of the MSCIs move has not been priced into Pakistan yet.

Related: China A-Shares ETFs Wait on MSCI Decision

The indexer said the MSCI Pakistan Index will be reclassified from frontier at its May 2017 semi-annual index review and the country will receive a 0.14% tilt in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.

For more information on Pakistan, visit our Pakistan category.

Global X MSCI Pakistan ETF
Photo: Instagram

At just 18, Paris Jackson boasts an eye-popping 23 tattoos  but shes not about to apologize for her love of ink. On June 15, the teenager posted a sunny snap to her Instagram in which she flashed a sampling of the tats on her inner arms.



The craftsmanship of tattoos will always be a controversy, she wrote. Some people like them, some people absolutely hate them. I appreciate art, I always have. Especially when that art means something to me. She then spoke specifically about how these particular tattoos have changed her perspective. Today I can look at my inner forearms and see art that has meaning for me, I dont see a dark past anymore. My scars and past of self-hatred have been covered by loving marks, creativity, ingenuity.. and depth.

While Paris acknowledged she would always carry her past with her, she argued that she sees ink as a way of changing for the better, always improving. [The tattoos] represent strength for me. She went on to detail how her self-image has morphed since she got the ink.

I look back at my old self and then I look in the mirror, and I see a fighter looking back at me. Ill always keep fighting, and encouraging others to stay strong. We all go through hell every now and then but it makes us the warriors of love we were meant to be. So to anyone struggling, it gets better. Youre not alone.

Just one hour before this thoughtful post, Paris paid tribute to another love: Omer Bhatti. In honor of Bhattis 30th birthday, Paris shared a collage of pictures of the twosome over the years beside a sweet message.

DIRTAY THIRTAYY!!!! I cant say enough about this guy right here. I can honestly say hes the one person that has always been there for me, through thick and thin, from the day I was born, she began. She went on to call Bhatti  whom many speculate is Michael Jacksons biological son  the one constant in her life and her "f***in brother. (To be clear, that was a term of endearment.)

I love you so much, dude, Paris gushed. Youve impacted my life in more ways than you realize and Im so thankful for the friendship, siblingship, and spiritual connection weve had for the past 18 years. Youre such a focused and hardworking hustler and you inspire me every day. Theres no one on this planet like you. She finished her message with a smattering of emojis, ranging from an alien head to hands raised in the air.

ICYMI, seven years ago, Joe Jackson said, point-blank during a TV One interview, that Bhatti was, indeed, Michael Jacksons estranged fourth child. Yes, I knew he had another son, yes I did, Joe confirmed at the time. He looks like a Jackson. He can dance like a Jackson. This boy is a fantastic dancer  matter of fact, he teaches dance. Dance skills as proof of paternity, anyone?
The outpouring of support for the victims of the deadly mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando continued on Tuesday with moving dedications from Paul McCartney and Demi Lovato.

Playing in Berlin, McCartney took the stage holding a rainbow flag and told the crowd, "we stand together with Orlando."

We stand together with Orlando #OneOnOne @WaldbuhneBerlin pic.twitter.com/d3oE5xaU8U

- Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) June 14, 2016

We stand together with Orlando #OneOnOne pic.twitter.com/dRNa8Fo2I1

- Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) June 14, 2016

How NYC Pride & LGBT Clubs Are Approaching Security After Orlando Nightclub Shooting

Lovato, a longtime supporter of the LGBTQ community, posted a moving note expressing her support and love for the the victims and families of the 49 killed and 53 injured in the attack on the popular nightclub. "There are no words for how upset I've been since Orlando," Lovato wrote. "I cry for the victims, ache for the families, and have immense admiration for the LGBTQ community and their resolve in absorbing this horror and uniting with strength and fearlessness."

pic.twitter.com/kJDZZZhODK

- Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) June 14, 2016

Beyonce Dedicates 'Halo' to Victims of Orlando Shooting

Lovato -- whose current tour with Nick Jonas is skipping planned dates in North Carolina in protest of that state's anti-trans bathroom bill -- followed the initial tweet with a second one urging concrete action to stop the cycle of violence.

We hurt.

We mourn.

We argue.

We settle.

We need to stop the cycle.#Orlando #PulseShooting- Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) June 14, 2016
By PTI: From K J M Varma

Beijing, Jun 15 (PTI) China today banned the export of several critical "dual use" items and technologies to North Korea that could be used for development of nuclear weapons, the latest in a series of efforts to deter Pyongyangs aggressive nuclear and missile programme.

The ban, with immediate effect, follows UN Security Council resolutions, a Commerce Ministry statement said.

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The list of banned items, referred as "dual use" items include ring magnets, high strength aluminas alloys, laser welding equipment, and an array of compounds that can be used to produce nuclear and chemical weapons.

It also includes metal hydrides, laser-welding equipment and plasma cutting equipment.

It also bans the exports of a dozen chemicals that could be used in the production of "chemical warfare agents", the statement added.

China and North Korea, officially referred to as Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, (DPRK) continue to have close relations.

China is North Koreas largest trading partner and its only influential international protector for decades. However, relations between the two countries have soured over differences over Pyongyang aggressively pursing nuclear weapons and missile programme.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in March in response to the DPRKs nuclear test in January and attempted satellite launch in February this year.

North Korea, which held its first party congress last month after nearly four decades, has formally endorsed leader Kim Jong-Uns policy of expanding the countrys nuclear arsenal. PTI KJV SUA AKJ SUA

--- ENDS ---
BERLIN - - Paul McCartney paid tribute to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting at a concert in Berlin on Tuesday. The former Beatle walked on stage holding up a rainbow flag and speaking in German said: "We stand together with Orlando". McCartney posted a photo and video of the moment on his Twitter account. Forty-nine people were killed in the attack on gay nightclub Pulse on Sunday, in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.
Paul Ryan may be on board with Donald Trumps presidential candidacy, but the House speaker is not getting behind his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States.

I stand by my remarks. I do not think a Muslim ban is in our countrys interests, Ryan told reporters on Tuesday morning, again rebuking Trump a day after the presumptive Republican nominee renewed his proposal in the wake of the terrorist attack in Orlando.

The speaker had spoken out against the Muslim ban in December, saying it was not conservatism and an affront to Americas constitutional values. But with Trump now his partys standard-bearer, Ryans statement on Tuesday carried more significance, and it reflects a broader discomfort among GOP congressional leaders with Trumps America first vision for national-security and foreign policy. House Republicans last week released their own plan for protecting the homeland, and it was notable for how little it overlapped with Trumps call for a temporary Muslim ban, a border wall paid for by Mexico, and a policy of mass deportation of immigrants.

Michael McCaul, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, last week suggested Trumps rhetoric against Muslims could inflame or help the recruiting efforts of terrorists. Like Ryan, he flatly rejected the idea of a religious test for entering the country.

In responding to Sundays massacre in Orlando, Ryan summoned the post-9/11 language of former President George W. Bush to further distance himself from Trumpalbeit without mentioning his name. Theres a really important distinction that every American needs to keep in mind, Ryan said.

This is a war with radical Islam. Its not a war with Islam. Muslims are our partners. The vast, vast majority of Muslims in this country and around the world are moderate. Theyre peaceful. Theyre tolerant. And so theyre among our best allies, among our best resources in this fight against radical Islamic terrorism.

Story continues

Ryan and other House GOP leaders criticized President Obamas handling of the war against ISIS, and they said they would be repackaging anti-terror bills the House passed last year to again send to the Senate. Right now, the president doesnt have a plan to get the job done, Ryan said. Yet for all of his complaints about Obama, the speakers bigger challenge seems, once again, to be Trump.

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Read more from The Atlantic:

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From ELLE DECOR

Say what you will: The Kardashian/Jenner ladies have exceptional taste in interiors.

Case in point: Celebrity designer Jeff Andrews redecorated Kris Jenner's L.A. mansion last fall, and every detail is dreamy  from the crystal chandeliers down to the magnificent pool house.

So when the Kardashian matriarch buys a piece of art, it's worth talking about. Especially when that piece is by Hunt Slonem  you know, the American artist whose clients range from Julianne Moore to Bill and Hillary Clinton, according to CNBC's "Squawk Box."

According to Slonem, "Three Wishes," the piece Jenner bought after attending his exhibit at Madison Gallery in La Jolla, California, is about "the lucky aspect of rabbits."

The artist has been painting the creatures since the late '70s in his portraits of saints of the new world. What is relatively new, however, is his use of diamond dust  a fine glass  over oil paints with resin in his works. The shiny medium was often used by Andy Warhol, and it's fair to say that the diamond dust series is a hit with celebrities: Giuliana Rancic displays a similar painting to Jenner's featuring indigo-colored diamond dust  in her Chicago dining room, which was featured in Traditional Home.

Expect to be hearing the artist's name a LOT this summer  Jason Wu collaborated with Slonem on his inaugural Grey collection, according to Vogue.com, while the LSU Museum of Art in Baton Rouge is holding the first major museum exhibition to display Slonem's Pop art through August.
contagious

Ever since a gunman carried out the deadliest mass shooting in US history on Sunday, fears of a copycat have emerged.

"Sometime within the next two weeks, we're going to have another one of these incidents," Pete Klismet, a former hostage negotiator with the FBI, told a local Colorado news site.

It's a "statistical reality," he added.

The Orlando shooter targeted Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing at least 49 people.

Later that day, police arrested a man headed to the Los Angeles gay-pride parade with guns and explosives in his car. Several days later, police arrested another man who threatened to "come back Orlando-style" during a fight with bouncers at a Brooklyn bar, the New York Daily News reported.

Recent research, using data from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the FBI, suggests that mass shootings can lead to copycats and further perpetuate violence.

Within 13 days, on average, the original incident is "contagious" and incites at least 30% of subsequent shootings, according to a study published in 2015 in the journal PLOS One. The effects apply to subsequent incidents within that time frame as well, spider-webbing the effects.

"The copycat phenomenon is real," Andre Simons of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, told NBC in regard to a 2014 FBI report about the prevalence of mass shootings. "As more and more notable and tragic events occur, we think we're seeing more compromised, marginalized individuals who are seeking inspiration from those past attacks."

The lead author of the study in PLOS One, Arizona State University professor Sherry Towers, said that she sees a connection between copycats and the media's extensive coverage of gun violence.

"What we believe may be happening is national news media attention is like a 'vector' that reaches people who are vulnerable," she told CNN.

When coverage remains local, usually in cases when less than four people are killed, researchers didn't see the same contagious effects. Oppositely, when national media grabs onto the story, people  who may already have access to weapons  use the original shooting as inspiration.

Story continues

NOW WATCH: A beautiful animation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's emotional tribute to the Orlando shooting victims





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The first thing you notice about Ashok Ferrey are his biceps. That, or his mop of white hair, which sets off his brown skin, or his surprisingly light eyes. Or his Oxford accent. Then come his three professions, which, when strung together, are unique: builder, personal trainer, writer. Oh, and former mathematician.

Ferrey is the kind of person whod probably catch your attention at a party because of this unusual mishmash of interests and occupations. He is a Sri Lankan fiction writer who will not explain the tiny island to you in postcolonial fashion by spinning tales of impoverished dark-skinned people. What he will do is make you laugh, and occasionally blush. Ferrey is known for satirizing Sri Lankan society: In one book, a mother calls an exorcist on her son; in another, a motley crew of typical national figures, from a tuk-tuk driver to an NGO director, assemble. His most recent work is The Professional, a novel set largely in London, in which a young, Oxford-educated Sri Lankan takes a job as a male escort (yes, including the night work) when hes unable to get a visa.

Ferreys work is increasingly read in India, and hes well-known in his homeland, having been shortlisted twice for Sri Lankas Gratiaen Prize  instituted by countryman and fellow author Michael Ondaatje  and for the State Literary Award. There are those in the region who say Ferrey has a kind of Tom Wolfe appeal, an ability to get it and spit back the countrys goings-on. His satire can serve a social function, says Maryse Jayasuriya, a professor of literature at the University of Texas at El Paso. Given Sri Lankas ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese and Tamil populations, satire is a good way of critiquing a society in order to inspire reform, she says.

Still, Jayasuriya says, its always been extremely difficult for creative writers in Sri Lanka to become known, especially in English. And though Ferrey replies to politics in his work  he wrote the novel Serendipity during the final years of the last bout of conflict  he has the gall to write about the kinds of things English novelists write about, houses and everyday life, rather than penning a Hotel Rwanda-esque explanation for Sri Lanka 101. One hopes that would work in his favor; the literary marketplace, though, may not oblige.

The ideas that mathematics taught him infuse his work in quiet ways.

Despite the fact that he works out two hours every day, training clients in Colombo, Ferrey says, Im basically a lazy bugger. He writes a book every three to four years, letting stuff stew until it emerges essentially fully formed. His first story collection, Colpetty People, had been in the works for 44 years, he says, and came out when his father got cancer. Ferreys sister and doctor brother both live abroad, which left him, a bookish mathematician, in charge of life-changing decisions. After each visit to the hospital, he returned home to write. Three months later: a book.

The question of artistic fame doesnt seem to concern Ferrey. Hes grounded, perhaps because he faced career questions at a younger age. At 23, fresh out of Oxford, Ferrey found himself working bum jobs, because he, like his protagonist Chamath in The Professional, couldnt get a visa. (Parallels, however, end there.) With the help of 5,000 pounds from his father, who was something of a gambler, Ferrey bought a house in then-ghettoized Brixton. The flipping began.

It was not a literary life, and Ferrey says he didnt put pen to paper until his 40s. Between 22 and 32, Im telling you, I did not read a single book, he says. Every night after manually laboring all day, he fell asleep in front of the TV, a roasted chicken in front of him. At Oxford, things had been different; math was poetic and mental, and for Ferrey, it still remains the only truth in the world. He says the ideas that mathematics taught him infuse his work in quiet ways.

Ashokferrey facebook1

Ashok Ferrey and Jools reading The Professional.

Source: Ashok Ferrey

Ferrey has lived plenty himself: Born in Sri Lanka, at age 8 he moved to Somalia, where his father worked for the U.N. He headed to England to attend a Benedictine school, then, after a year of living illegally post-Oxford, he got his visa and, in a useless, histrionic gesture, bought an old, run-down house in Sri Lanka. His place is stunning now; Stefanie Wege-Aluwihare, one of Ferreys trainees and friends, describes their workout sessions on the terrace of his 150-year-old colonial home, where they look out at palm trees and green parrots while doing 250 situps and talking politics. Its a piece of sanity, Wege-Aluwihare says of Ferreys home.

Today, Ferrey is coasting a little, having just packed another book off to his publisher. He is thinking about houses: His mother had to demolish a family home, and he is rebuilding something with the remnants. Listen to him talk about it, and he might be getting misty-eyed about his literary craft. Its very Proustian. The thing is, he says of assembling the stuff of his ancestry into something new, you can never really rebuild the same thing.

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MANILA (Reuters) - A senior Philippine army general on Wednesday resumed a push for martial law to be imposed on a troubled southern island where Islamist militants beheaded a Canadian captive, despite a recent decision by President Benigno Aquino not to adopt such curbs. On Monday, militants of Abu Sayyaf, a small but brutal group linked to al Qaeda, executed Robert Hall on the remote island of Jolo, the second Canadian captive to be killed following John Ridsdel, after their ransom demand went unheeded. "Declare martial law, that is a right move," said a senior Philippine army general, who declined to be identified as he was not authorized to speak to the media. "If you want to immediately solve the problem, there should be a total control by the military in the area." Emergency powers were needed because the Abu Sayyaf was using its ransom proceeds to buy the loyalties of the surrounding community, he added. Aquino said he considered declaring martial law on Jolo three weeks ago but decided against it because there was no guarantee it would work. "You would need a large force to implement martial law and there is no guarantee it will produce positive results," he told reporters on a visit to Jolo to inspect troops pursuing Abu Sayyaf militants. "It might generate more sympathy for the Abu Sayyaf." Aquino said he spoke with the prime ministers of Canada and Norway by telephone, thanking them for their understanding and support of his government's no-ransom policy. He said he apologized to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the death of Robert Hall and John Ridsdel, who was executed in April. Trudeau has condemned Hall's execution, but said Canada cannot, and will not, pay ransom in such cases because it could encourage additional kidnappings. Abu Sayyaf had initially demanded one billion pesos ($21.7 million) for each of the detainees, but cut that to 300 million early this year. Hall's family backed the Canadian government's policy. "Our family, even in our darkest hour, agrees wholeheartedly with Canada's policy of not paying ransom," it said in a statement. Abu Sayyaf, based in the south of the mainly Roman Catholic Philippines, is known for kidnapping, beheadings and extortion. Security is precarious in the southern Philippines despite a 2014 peace pact between the government and the largest Muslim rebel group that ended 45 years of conflict. In 2009, the Philippines imposed martial law on the southern Muslim-dominated province of Maguindanao after 58 people were murdered in political violence there. (Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by clarence Fernandez)
Manila (AFP) - Philippine's outgoing President Benigno Aquino insisted Wednesday a Norwegian man and other hostages being held by Islamic extremists on a remote southern island could be rescued, after the militants beheaded a second Canadian captive.

Aquino flew on Wednesday to Jolo island, where the Abu Sayyaf group is based and believed to be holding Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, to meet with troops tasked with tracking the militants through hostile jungle terrain.

"We are getting a clearer picture of what is happening here. We saw today how to refine our operations so we can successfully rescue the remaining hostages," Aquino told reporters travelling with him.

Aquino also said he apologised to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the murders of the two Canadian men, who were abducted along with Sekkingstad and Filipina Marites Flor from aboard yachts at an exclusive southern marina nine months ago.

Retiree Robert Hall was beheaded on Monday after the Abu Sayyaf's demands for a ransom of 300 million pesos ($6.5 million) were not met. His friend, John Ridsdel, was beheaded in April after a similar ransom demand was not paid.

The Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of a few hundred Islamic militants formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network that has earned millions of dollars from kidnappings-for-ransom.

It is a radical offshoot of a decades-long Muslim separatist insurgency in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines that has claimed more than 100,000 lives. The main Muslim rebel groups do not generally engage in kidnappings-for-ransom.

The Abu Sayyaf's strongholds are Jolo and nearby Basilan, small but mountainous islands roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) from Manila with mainly Muslim populations.

Aquino, who is due to step down on June 30, said he had found it difficult to end the Abu Sayyaf threat during his six years in office.

Among the problems, he cited the Abu Sayyaf's support of the local Muslim communities, many of whom have received money from the militants, he said.

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"They (the militants) have many resources. They can buy sympathy and we are in their place of origin. They have knowledge of the terrain. All of the advantages are theirs," Aquino said.

He also said the military and police were understaffed, not having increased in size since 1986 despite the huge rise in population since.

The Abu Sayyaf is believed to be holding at least eight hostages, according to Pacific Strategies and Assessments, a regional security analysis firm.

These include a Japanese treasure hunter kidnapped in 2010 and a Dutch bird watcher abducted in 2012.
New York (AFP) - An international custody battle for a Picasso sculpture worth more than $100 million has been settled in favor of a New York billionaire, forcing the artist's family to pay agents of the Qatari royal family.

The out-of-court deal required Pablo Picasso's heirs to make an undisclosed payment to London-based agents Pelham Europe, who initially negotiated to buy the sculpture for $47 million on behalf of their Qatari clients.

A family dispute prompted the Picassos to renege on the deal and sell the sculpture to New York art dealer Larry Gagosian for more than $100 million instead. The Gagosian Gallery then sold it to billionaire Leon Black for an undisclosed sum.

The sculpture in question, the 1931 "Buste de Femme (Marie-Therese)," was last seen in public at New York's Museum of Modern Art earlier this year.

The tortured legal dispute involved courts in France, Switzerland and the United States, exposing a damaging breakdown in communications and bitter rivalry among the descendants of one of the 20th century's greatest artists.

The parties said in a joint statement on Wednesday that they were "pleased" to have reached "a good faith global settlement" resolving the dispute in all courts for good.

The Gagosian Gallery said the settlement was "a complete vindication" of its position and that Black would now receive his sculpture.

"The Gagosian Gallery purchased and sold this sculpture in good faith and without any knowledge of Picasso and Pelham's prior dealings, as we have said all along," it said in a statement.

Pelham Europe had gone to court seeking damages from Gagosian and Picasso's granddaughter Diana Widmaier-Picasso.

The agents' lawyers confirmed Wednesday that Maya Widmaier-Ruiz Picasso, Picasso's daughter whose mother is depicted in the sculpture, had settled.

"The amount of the payment is confidential, but Pelham and its client are very happy with the settlement," they said in a statement.

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They had claimed that Maya agreed to sell the sculpture to Pelham in November 2014 for $47 million to go on public display in a Qatar museum.

But she pulled out of the deal days before the final payment was due.

Pelham alleged that her daughter, Diana, had objected to the deal and negotiated the Gagosian sale in May 2015.

The settlement heads off a trial scheduled for September.

Forbes magazine estimates Black, a private equity magnate, to be worth $4.7 billion.

He reportedly bought Edvard Munch's "The Scream," which fetched $120 million at auction in 2012, a world record at the time.
By PTI: Tokyo, Jun 15 (PTI) A Chinese navy spy ship today entered Japans territorial waters for the first time in over a decade while tailing two Indian naval ships during trilateral Malabar naval exercise attended by the US, India and Japan.

Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft spotted the Dongdiao-class intelligence vessel sailing in territorial waters to the west of Kuchinoerabu Island at around 3:30 AM (1830 GMT Tuesday), Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko told reporters.

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The ship travelled on a southeasterly bearing and left Japans territorial waters south of the prefectures Yakushima Island around 5 AM, Kyodo news agency quoted Seko as saying.

It was for the first time that a Chinese spy ship was detected in Japanese water since a submarine was spotted in 2004. The latest intrusion came less than a week after another Chinese naval vessel sailed near islands at the centre of a Tokyo-Beijing sovereignty dispute in the East China Sea.

"The Chinese military vessel moved in after an Indian ship sailed into Japans territorial waters as it participated in a Japan-US-India joint exercise," Defence Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters.

A senior Foreign Ministry official lodged a protest with the Chinese Embassy here over its military activities in view of latest intrusion.

"We are concerned about the Chinese militarys recent activities," Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.

Japanese officials said they are analysing Chinas possible motives behind the two actions.

"The government will continue to exert every effort in warning and surveillance activities in the waters and airspace surrounding the country," Seko said.

As to the spy vessels case today, the Defense Ministry said it entered the waters while tracking two Indian naval ships that were participating in ongoing Malabar naval drills.

In Beijing, Chinese officials defended the naval vessels entry into the waters, saying the passage was in line with the principle of freedom of navigation and international rules.

Under international law, ships of all countries, including military ones, are entitled to the right of "innocent passage" through territorial waters as long as it would not undermine others security.

"There is no need to provide notification or to get authorisation in advance," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in Beijing.

"So if Japan insists on hyping up this issue in the media, we have to question its motives." PTI ZH AKJ ZH

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Cairo (AFP) - A search team on Thursday recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the EgyptAir plane that crashed into the Mediterranean last month, in a major step towards establishing the cause of the tragedy.

The device was found broken into pieces but the salvage experts managed to retrieve the recorder's crucial memory unit, Egypt's civil aviation authority said.

Officials are preparing to transfer the recorder from a search vessel to the city of Alexandria on Egypt's Mediterranean coast for analysis, a statement said.

The cockpit voice recorder keeps track of up to two hours of conversations and other sounds in the pilots' cabin.

Upon arriving in Egypt, the prosecutors would receive the device and hand it over to the investigators to access and analyse the recordings, the authority said in the statement.

The breakthrough came hours after a deep-sea robot located pieces of the main body of the Airbus A320 at the bottom of the Mediterranean.

An investigator from France's BEA air safety agency is to travel to Cairo on Friday to offer "technical expertise on taking readings from the recorder," the agency said.

Airbus said the flight recorders held the key to unlocking the mystery of why the plane went down with 66 people on board en route from Paris to Cairo nearly a month ago.

"The first photos of the wreckage do not allow to establish any scenario of the accident," an Airbus statement said.

"Only the black boxes could contribute to a full understanding of the chain of events which led to this tragic accident."

Investigators have said it is too soon to determine what caused the plane operating flight MS804 to crash on May 19, although a terror attack has not been ruled out.

The search vessel John Lethbridge, equipped with an underwater robot, arrived in Egypt last week to begin searching an area about 290 kilometres (180 miles) north of the Egyptian coast.

The robot discovered pieces of the fuselage at "several sites", the Egyptian board of inquiry said.

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A source close to the investigation told AFP the robot, operated by Mauritius-based Deep Ocean Search, had found "small fragments" of the plane.

Some wreckage had already been pulled out of the Mediterranean by search teams last month, along with belongings of passengers.

- Limited battery life -

Search teams are still looking for the flight data recorder, which gathers information about the speed, altitude and direction of the plane.

The area where the plane crashed is believed to be about 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) deep and the black boxes should have had enough battery power to emit signals for four to five weeks.

France's aviation safety agency has said the EgyptAir plane transmitted automated messages indicating smoke in the cabin and a fault in the flight control unit minutes before disappearing from radar screens.

On Monday, Egyptian investigators confirmed the aircraft had made a 90-degree left turn followed by a 360-degree turn to the right before hitting the sea.

Investigators were able to narrow down the search site thanks to an emergency signal sent via satellite by the plane's locator transmitter when it hit the Mediterranean.

The passengers on the plane were 30 Egyptians, 15 French citizens, two Iraqis, two Canadians, and citizens from Algeria, Belgium, Britain, Chad, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. They included a boy and two babies.

Seven crew and three security personnel were also on board.

The crash came after the bombing of a Russian airliner over Egypt's restive Sinai Peninsula last October that killed all 224 people on board.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for that attack within hours, but there has been no such claim linked to the EgyptAir crash.

IS has been waging a deadly insurgency against Egyptian security forces and has claimed attacks in both France and Egypt.

In October, foreign governments issued travel warnings for Egypt and demanded a review of security at its airports after IS said it downed the Russian airliner over the Sinai with a bomb concealed in a soda can that had been smuggled onboard.
By TJ Strydom PRETORIA (Reuters) - Oscar Pistorius shuffled through a Pretoria court without his prosthetic legs on Wednesday to show how vulnerable he is as the Paralympian seeks to avoid prison for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The 29-year-old faces a minimum 15-year jail term for the Valentine's Day killing in 2013 in a case that has attracted worldwide interest and divided South Africa. He will be sentenced on July 6. Pistorius has always said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired four shots through a locked toilet door in his Pretoria home, killing her almost instantly. During his closing arguments, defence lawyer Barry Roux asked the gold medallist, known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, to walk on his stumps to show the difficulty he faced dealing with the threat of an intruder. The lower part of his legs were amputated when he was a baby. His body shaking with emotion, Pistorius removed his prosthetics and stood on his stumps for about five minutes in front of the court television camera, wiping tears with a tissue. "The accused was vulnerable because of his disability," Roux said. "His failure to conduct a rational thought process does not negate his vulnerability." The defence says Pistorius did not deliberately kill model and law graduate Steenkamp and was "a broken man", calling for a non-custodial sentence that includes community service. A state prosecutor argued that Pistorius - who did not take the stand himself - had shown no remorse or told the court why he fired the shots, and asked the court jail the athlete for the prescribed minimum sentence of 15-years. RACE DEBATE The athlete originally received a five-year sentence for a manslaughter conviction, that was upgraded to murder on appeal. The original trial judge, Thokozile Masipa, who presided at the hearings at the Pretoria High Court, on Wednesday set July 6 as the date for the sentencing. Roux asked the judge to consider that his client was vulnerable because of his disability and that the prescribed 15-year minimum sentence should give the court "unease". "The fact is that a disabled person in jail has a more difficult time," Roux said. The case has prompted a fierce debate in a country beset by high levels of violent crime against women and still dealing with the legacy of decades of apartheid race-based rule. Some rights groups have said Pistorius, a wealthy white man, has received preferential treatment. Roux said the publicity surrounding the case led to it being portrayed as an incident of gender-based violence, despite the facts showing it was not. Pistorius had now "become the face of gender violence", he said. Shortly after Roux asked Pistorius to walk without his prosthetics, prosecutor Gerrie Nel requested that the judge allow photos to be shown of Steenkamp's bloodied head and torso. Masipa later granted the request and ruled that the photos be made available to the public upon request. "There's a chasm between regret and remorse," Nel said. "Real remorse would have been the accused taking the court into his confidence, telling the court why I fired that shot, why I did what I did. We don't have that." Earlier, Steenkamp's cousin Kim Martin, fought back tears saying she found it hard to cope with the killing and wondered why Pistorius had given a television interview rather than testify at the pre-sentencing hearings. "I just think its very unfair to want to talk to the world about your version when you have the opportunity in court to do so, it's very hurtful, I can't understand why," she said. Pistorius' hour-long interview with Britain's ITV is due to air next week. (Additional reporting by Tanisha Heiberg; Writing by James Macharia; Editing by Alison Williams)
* Pistorius breaks down as he walks on stumps in court * Manslaughter conviction was upgraded to murder on appeal * Paralympian faces minimum 15-year jail sentence * Judge makes pictures of Steenkamp's body public * Due to be sentenced on July 6 (Adds judge's ruling on Steenkamp photos, analyst) By TJ Strydom and Tanisha Heiberg PRETORIA, June 15 (Reuters) - Oscar Pistorius shuffled through a Pretoria court without his prosthetic legs on Wednesday to show how vulnerable he is as the Paralympian seeks to avoid prison for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The 29-year-old faces a minimum 15-year jail term for the Valentine's Day killing in 2013 in a case that has attracted worldwide interest and divided South Africa. He will be sentenced on July 6. Pistorius has always said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired four shots through a locked toilet door in his Pretoria home, killing her almost instantly. During his closing arguments, defence lawyer Barry Roux asked the gold medallist, known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, to walk on his stumps to show the difficulty he faced dealing with the threat of an intruder. The lower part of his legs were amputated when he was a baby. His body shaking with emotion, Pistorius removed his prosthetics and stood on his stumps for about five minutes in front of the court television camera, wiping away tears with a tissue. "The accused was vulnerable because of his disability," Roux said. "His failure to conduct a rational thought process does not negate his vulnerability." The defence says Pistorius did not deliberately kill model and law graduate Steenkamp and was "a broken man", calling for a non-custodial sentence that includes community service. A state prosecutor argued that Pistorius - who did not take the stand himself - had shown no remorse or told the court why he fired the shots, and asked the court jail the athlete for the prescribed minimum sentence of 15-years. The athlete originally received a five-year sentence for a manslaughter conviction, that was upgraded to murder on appeal. The original trial judge, Thokozile Masipa, was presiding at the hearings at the Pretoria High Court. FIERCE DEBATE Roux asked the judge to consider that his client was vulnerable because of his disability and that the prescribed 15-year minimum sentence should give the court "unease". "The fact is that a disabled person in jail has a more difficult time," Roux said. The case has prompted a fierce debate in a country beset by high levels of violent crime against women and still dealing with the legacy of decades of apartheid race-based rule. Some rights groups have said Pistorius, a wealthy white man, has received preferential treatment. Pistorius reached the pinnacle of his fame in London 2012 when he became the first double amputee to run in the Olympics, reaching the 400 metres semi-finals, before taking two golds in the Paralympics. Roux said the publicity surrounding the case led to it being portrayed as an incident of gender-based violence, despite the facts showing it was not. Pistorius had now "become the face of gender violence", he said. Shortly after Roux asked Pistorius to walk without his prosthetics, prosecutor Gerrie Nel requested that the judge allow photos to be shown of Steenkamp's bloodied head and torso. Masipa ruled that the photos be made available to the public upon request. She said the photos had been banned to protect the Steenkamp family, who had now agreed to lifting the ban. The victim's father Barry Steenkamp said on Tuesday that Pistorius must pay for his crime. Prosecutor Nel said Pistorius had failed to show remorse. "There's a chasm between regret and remorse," Nel said. "Real remorse would have been the accused taking the court into his confidence, telling the court why I fired that shot, why I did what I did. We don't have that." Johannesburg-based criminal law attorney Zola Majavu said the judge could only deviate from handing out the minimum sentence if Pistorius had demonstrated exceptional circumstances to warrant such a deviation. He said Pistorius' decision not to speak in court could prove central: "It was a perfect opportunity to show the court that he does take responsibility for his actions." Pistorius has given an interview to British television, which will be aired next week. (Writing by James Macharia; Editing by Alison Williams)
With the global market tottering on uncertainties over the Brexit referendum, speculation over the Feds future course of actions, Bank of Japans imminent policies to handle the faltering economy and prolonged Chinese economic issues, investors must be having a hawks eye on equity valuation.

This is because in volatile times like this, no one wants to pick a bad or overvalued bet which may crash as soon as bearish signs hit the shore of risk-on investments. People must be searching for quality or value stocks and ETFs that are likely to prove sturdier in tough times like this (read: High Quality Dividend Stocks & ETFs for Uncertain Markets).

Since the start of 2016, the market has been edgy on global growth concerns and oil price woes. While a slew of solid U.S. economic data gave some short-term respite to investors, surprisingly downbeat job data for the month of May took some shine out of the glorious U.S. economic picture.

If this was not enough, the latest polls showing higher chances of Britain exiting the European Union completely spoiled the market momentum compelling stocks to retreat. But investors should note that after so many hazards since the start of the year, the major indexes are still near their all-time highs and may tank if more downbeat developments crop up in the days to come.

Are All Overvalued Securities Worth a No?

Market crashes may spur quality and undervalued investing. But there are a few sectors which appear overvalued at the current level among the 16 sectors within the S&P 500, classified under the Zacks methodology, but still have a room to run (read: Market Fears Brexit: Volatility ETFs Take Full Advantage).

Below we highlight those sectors and the related ETFs which may be played a little further.

Consumer Staples  Forward P/E 22.6 Current Year

The sector boasts a current year P/E of 22.6 and the next year P/E of 20.6 as per the Zacks Earnings Trends issued on May 25, 2016. This is way higher than the S&P 500 forward P/E of 18.2 for the current year and 16.1 for the next year.

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The consumer staples sector has been an area to watch lately as markets are volatile leading investors to bet big on defensive sectors like consumer staples. The sector enjoys a few benefits at this moment. Greater spending power in the wake of improving wage growth as well as still-low energy prices is helping the consumer segment (read: Will Consumer Staples ETFs Continue to Shine in 2016?).

Moreover, the sector offers a decent dividend yield which is immensely needed in the present low-yield environment. As long as volatility levels rule the market, consumer staples is likely to outperform. So, investors can have a look at Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF VDC, Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF RHS and PowerShares DWA Consumer Staples Momentum Portfolio ETF PSL for further gains.

Oil/ Energy

The oil/energy sector boasts a current year P/E of 98.1 and the next year P/E of 30.2. But since the sector has just taken off on an easing supply glut and a favorable demand-supply balance, it deserves investors attention for further gains. For this, investors may try iShares U.S. Energy ETF IYE, John Hancock Multifactor Energy ETF JHME and Vanguard Energy ETF VDE (read: Best Oil Rally in 7 Years; 3 Energy ETF Winners).

Utilities

This sector has a current year P/E of 17.9 and the next year P/E of 17.1. Though the P/E is lower than that of the S&P 500 for the current year, it is above several other sectors.

Now, investors should note that utilities offer outsized payouts. Investors hunger for high yield securities in the current low yield environment should goad this sector further. Also, the utility sector is defensive in nature which is why it should come out as a winner in the market turmoil.

PowerShares S&P SmallCap Utilities Portfolio ETFPSCU, First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX Fund FXU and Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF RYU are some of the utility ETFs that can be exercised further.

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Lille (France) (AFP) - French police fired tear gas and charged England supporters during trouble in central Lille on Wednesday which left at least one injured, AFP reporters said.

Fans were also involved in a brawl on a train heading for Lille where England supporters have gathered ahead of their key match against Wales on Thursday.

Fighting broke out near the main station in Lille, north east France, while a car was seriously damaged.

Riot squad members fired tear gas and then charged a group of British fans in the city ahead of England's next match in nearby Lens on Thursday.

An AFP reporter saw one fan being treated on the ground. Paramedics appeared to be performing a cardiac massage though the nationality of the injured fan was unclear.

Hundreds of supporters remained in the streets after the incident, drinking beer as anti-riot police looked on.

A separate brawl broke out between England and Wales fans on a train travelling from Calais to Lille. About 15 men were involved, a French security official told AFP.

"There was a fight between England and Wales fans. It was quite violent," the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

Several arrests were made when the train arrived in Lille on Wednesday evening with a British undercover police officer who was onboard helping French authorities to identify the aggressors, the official said.
Possible links between exposed paedophile Sir Clement Freud and missing Madeleine McCann are set to be examined by police, according to reports.

Officers investigating the disappearance of Madeleine in Portugal in 2007 are expected to consider whether revelations that Freud allegedly abused two girls between the late 1940s and 1970s have any relevance on their inquiry.

Freud was exposed as a paedophile in an ITV Exposure documentary after Sylvia Woosley told the programme that he abused her over several years and a second woman, who has remained anonymous, said he abused her as a child and raped her when she was 18.

According to reports, police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are expected to assess whether the revelations over Freud - who became friends with the couple - have any bearing on their own probe.

(Pictures: Rex)

A writer, broadcaster, politician and chef, Freud had a villa in Praia da Luz, Portugal, where Madeleine went missing in 2007, aged three.

His family are reported to have said he was not in Portugal at the time of her disappearance and that they have not been contacted by police.

In Kate McCanns book, she described how he invited them to his house for lunch shortly after their daughters disappearance.

The broadcaster, who died in April 2009, wore so many hats that he was hard to pin down, she noted.

The McCanns are said to be horrified by the revelations surrounding Freud.

(Pictures: Rex)

Freuds widow Jill, 89, has apologised to his victims.

She said: I am shocked, deeply saddened and profoundly sorry for what has happened to these women. I sincerely hope they will now have some peace.

Ms Woosley, now in her late 70s, told ITV she was first molested by Freud after meeting him in Cannes in the late 1940s, when she was 10 and he was 24.

She went on to live with him and his wife in London from the age of 14 and said he frequently molested her.

The second woman said she first met Freud in 1971 when she was 11. He frequently molested her and raped her in 1978 when she was 18, she said.


From Woman's Day

Dan Tillery, of Michigan, recently adopted a rescue dog named Sir Wiggleton, and they both couldn't be happier about it. Dan has always wanted a dog, and the patient canine waited in a shelter for almost 100 days before finding his forever home.

To celebrate Diggy-the dog's new name-officially becoming a part of his family, Dan posted a photo of the two on Facebook, wearing ear-to-ear grins. Detroit Dog Rescue shared the photo, and it quickly went viral.

But things took a sad turn after Waterford Township officials spotted the photo. According to a 1990 ordinance, pit bulls are not allowed in the town, and several people called the authorities complaining about the dog. When officials stopped by the home, they met Dan and Diggy, and-based on a visual inspection-determined that the dog was a pit bull and informed a devastated Dan that he had to go.

But Dan is claiming that Diggy isn't a pit bull. According to the shelter, the dog's veterinarian, and local animal control, Diggy is an American bull dog (and there are papers to back up that claim). So why is Diggy still being forced out? "A loophole in the town allows police officers to essentially ban any dog they believe to be a pit bull at their personal discretion," reports the Huffington Post. Violating the ordinance can lead to a $500 fine and a civil infraction.

Now, the town's animals lovers are rallying in support of Diggy. An online petition to lift the ordinance is close to 80,000 signatures. According to Dan's latest Facebook post, the dog is still with him.

If the dog has to leave Dan's possession, it will return to the shelter. But, as Dan told ABC News, the plans to keep fighting for Diggy. "He's my family."

(h/t CBS)

Follow Woman's Day on Instagram.
By PTI: Panaji, Jun 15 (PTI) Implementation of various ongoing schemes of the government and issues pertaining to power, coal and renewable energy sectors will come up for discussion at a two-day conference beginning here tomorrow.

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, will inaugurate the meet at Cavelossim village, South Goa, an official release said here today.

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"The aim of this conference is to review the implementation of various ongoing schemes, programmes and discuss a host of issues pertaining to power, coal and renewable energy sectors," the release said.

"The Ministers and Secretaries of the states and Union Territories and senior officials of power, coal and renewable energy PSUs will meet to discuss issues like implementation of Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY), 24x7 power for all and rural electrification programme," it added.

Discussions will also be held on formulation of broad aspects of hydropower policy. In the coal sector, deliberations will be held on coal swapping, the release said.

Adoption of energy conservation building codes by states and energy efficient agricultural pumps will also be discussed. PTI RPS RSY ABM

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donald trump

American's uneasiness with Donald Trump has reached a new level.

A Washington Post/ABC poll released Tuesday found Trump's negative rating at its highest level of any time since he entered the presidential campaign almost exactly one year ago.

According to the Post, 70% of Americans hold a negative view of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, compared to 55% who hold a negative view of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

The poll was conducted among 1,000 adults over four days staring on June 8, and has a margin of 3.5 percentage points.

In recent days, polls have shown a number of troubling signs for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

A Bloomberg Politics poll released on Tuesday showed Clinton with a 12-point lead over her Republican rival, while an NBC/SurveyMonkey weekly tracking poll released earlier that morning showed Clinton with a seven-point lead over Trump, four points higher than her lead over the former reality television star in NBC's tracking poll two weeks ago.

The polls come after several rough weeks for Trump. The real-estate mogul faced significant backlash from much of the Republican party for questioning whether a judge of Mexican heritage could fairly judge a case against him because of his proposal to build a wall between the US and Mexico.

Bloomberg's Tuesday poll, conducted by well-regarded pollster Ann Selzer, also found that 55% of respondents said that they'd never vote for Trump, while 43% said they'd never vote for Clinton.

Still, following a terrorist shooting at an Orlando LGBT nightclub that left at least 49 people dead, Trump has embraced what may be the one major advantage polling suggests he retains: National security.

Bloomberg's poll showed that a majority of voters have more confidence in Trump to handle situations similar to the shooting in Orlando, while a Reuters survey released on Tuesday found Clinton with an 11.6-point lead over Trump, down slightly from the 13-point lead she had in several previous days leading up to the attack.

Story continues

NOW WATCH: Golf legend Greg Norman reveals the truth behind US President Bill Clinton's late-night 1997 injury





More From Business Insider


From Road & Track

On a century old battlefield, seven Porsches ascend to heaven, accompanied by the hiss of forced induction. Six of the seven are getting a hero's stadium tour, the liveries of Jeff Zwart's Pikes Peak winning racecars draped like sportsball jerseys over slightly doughy fans: heritage n' crossovers, the Porsche recipe for profit.

As an arena of speed, you could hardly choose a better venue. Pikes Peak celebrates its hundredth anniversary this year, only slightly less venerable than the Indy 500. The track was paved to the top in 2011, running over 12.42 miles and 156 turns, many of them blind as you get to the top. Elevation climbs from 4,720 ft at the starting line, to a gasping 14,110 ft at the summit.

Anyone can drive up Pikes Peak. During the high season, the mountain sees thousands of tourists amble up at safe and sane speeds. Cyclists get shuttled up to coast down in the cold air, surrounded by panoramic views of Colorado.

Today, though, the road is closed. Our tour guide is Jeff Zwart himself, strapped in behind the wheel of the Andial-built 996 GT2 he stormed to a showroom stock class win in 2002. On the first run up the hill, he talked us through the racing line, laying out the upcoming turns, cautioning for frost heaves near the summit. On the second run, the radio is silent, and the pace increases.

Good news about our aspirational five-doors then. If the Macan is intended to sell in bulk to a different type of Porsche intender, the GTS version aims to please the cynics. It has Porsche's active suspension management and variable-height air suspension as standard. The brakes are the same 360mm discs as found on the heavier Turbo.

The twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 makes slightly more power than in the S model, now up to 360hp at 6000 rpm. The turbos spool quickly, making 369 lb-ft of torque from 1650-4000rpm. There's more boost, new camshafts, and a reworked flow for the air intake.

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All these numbers place the GTS in the Macan range with exacting precision. Stuttgart's engineers shake hands with Stuttgart's marketing department. Goldilocks will be pleased. So will the accounting department.

But back in the real world, a suicidal woodchuck darts out in front of Zwart's GT2 at 13,000ft. Dust and pea gravel accumulate in the corners. The blades of the turbochargers chop at air thin enough to make you light-headed. The sun periodically blinds you. The drops are impossible.

The Peak is as unpredictable an opponent as Ali was, but Jeff Zwart has mastered it time and again. He jokes that running without oxygen in the old days might have been easier: "I thought, if you're a little less sharp, then it might not be so scary." Zwart isn't racing at Pikes Peak this year (he'll be at the Goodwood Festival of Speed instead), but he'd normally be as keen as the blade of a knife, force-fed like his edgy, turbocharged, 700hp 911 GT3.

Enthusiast's special or no, the GTS is a lot less hairy than that beast. Chasing Zwart's 911 through a curve made blind by an overhanging snow bank, you trust the hill-climb champ. The rest of the time, you trust the car.

Despite the ride height and the door count, the Macan behaves very much like an all-wheel-drive Cayman. Snap off a couple of instant downshifts from the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, trail brake deep into one of the peak's hairpins, then jump on the throttle early and let the nose run wide. Because of low temperatures and variable weather, Porsche is running all-season tires on the standard 20" alloys here. Proper summer rubber would add turn-in bite and lateral grip; the GTS is sharp enough that owners will care about such things.

Even clad in approach hiking shoes, the Macan GTS is a scrambler. The all-wheel-drive has the same rear-bias as in the 911. Body roll is tightly controlled. The driver is aware that every sensory input is the result of a stream of algorithms scrolling past, Matrix-style, but the pace and the glee are there too. Pikes Peak at speed! (In a crossover.) But still!

Later we run across a valley, headed towards the even-higher Mount Evans. The tarmac runs out and the Macan gets even better, responding to left-foot braking with rotation in the dirt. Driver confidence is total as a contrail of dirt streams out behind us. Like the summit of Pikes Peak, many of the world's wild places are now accessible by pavement, and it's unlikely that a Macan owner, GTS or otherwise, will get their car's boots dirty. But the capability is there.

Mt. Evans is higher than Pikes Peak, and crowded at the top. The road up is slightly flooded in places, and there are a couple of huge heaves, as if the mountain is trying to shrug off the tarmac. Zwart has shifted to his own Macan and good thing too: his racing machine would likely first scrape, and then beach.

Our Macan didn't earn its racing livery, but its capabilities show that it is no mere pretender. It is built for those who live at saner altitudes, but it can climb and dance in the rarefied air. Like it or not, the Macan is more representative of modern Porsche than the Boxster or Cayman or even the 911. It delivers on the everyday, all-weather, all-terrain flexibility the brand promises, and is still a hoot to drive quickly.

Later in the day, we'll be shooting the breeze about daily drivers with Torsten Gartner, manager of driving dynamics for Macan. He has a current-gen GTI. "And," he says, "I of course had to get a Cayman GT4."

Profits, yes. Technology, yes. But somewhere in the guts of the Macan GTS, there's a champion ascending the mountain, an engineer who had to buy a mid-engined two seater with a flat six and a manual transmission. The livery wrap jobs are only skin-deep, but the GTS feels worthy to carry the badge on its nose.
On Jun 14, we issued an updated research report on coatings giant PPG Industries PPG.



PPG Industries saw higher profits in the first quarter of 2016, aided by its cost-management initiatives and contributions of acquisitions. Adjusted earnings for the quarter beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate while revenues fell short of expectations.



The first quarter saw increased growth in Europe, and the company expects this trend to continue. It anticipates regional demand in the U.S. and Canada to improve incrementally year over year.



PPG Industries remains committed to deliver higher organic growth, including continued commercialization of its innovative, industry-leading coatings technologies.

The company is well placed to gain from continued strength across North American automotive and aerospace markets, synergies from acquisitions and cost-saving measures. Healthy momentum across automotive OEM, automotive refinish and aerospace markets are expected to support its results moving ahead.



The companys cost containment measures through its restructuring program should also aid to its earnings. Its restructuring actions (includes right-sizing headcount and production capacity) are expected to deliver pre-tax savings of $100 million to $105 million by 2017.



PPG Industries is also taking steps to grow its business inorganically by making a number of acquisitions. The acquisition of Akzo Nobels AKZOY North American architectural coatings business has reinforced its branded paint product offerings and scale in the North American architectural paint market.



In addition, the buyout of Mexicos leading paint company  Comex  has boosted PPGs foothold in Mexico and Central America by offering a leading architectural coatings portfolio. PPG Industries opened 190 stores in Mexico through Comex in 2015 and expects to open 170-200 stores in 2016. The company expects annual cost synergies from the acquisition to exceed its originally stated target of $45-$50 million by end-2016.



PPG Industries also has an impressive record of returning cash to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. The company, in Apr 2016, raised its quarterly dividend by 11% to 40 cents per share. PPG Industries plans to deploy $2$2.5 billion of cash over 20152016 toward acquisitions and share repurchases.



PPG Industries is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).



Other Stocks to Consider



Other well-placed companies in the diversified chemical space include Albemarle Corporation ALB and Asahi Kasei Corporation AHKSY, both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>





Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



PPG INDS INC (PPG): Free Stock Analysis Report



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Zacks Investment Research
If you only read one thing: President Obamas broadside Tuesday against Donald Trumps comments about Muslims marked the deepest he has waded into the race for the election of his successor, but the speech was about more than just one election. Obama never referred to Trump by name, but he was the obvious target of Obama, who called him dangerous, ill-informed, and accused him of demagoguery. We hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests that entire religious communities are complicit in violence, Obama said. Where does this stop? Flanked by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the speech left reporters struggling for precedent as Obama warned Trumps rhetoric was undermining the fabric of the country and contributing to radicalization. Obama did little to highlight his administrations own plan against ISIS and extremism beyond pointing to the roster of terrorists he has ordered killed. But he found allies among Republicans who either didnt defend Trump from Obamas assault, or joined with him in condemning Trumps rhetoric.

Its over. The District of Columbia primary Tuesday marked the end of primary and caucus season after four-and-a-half months. At the start there were three Democrats (Bye OMalley) and more than 10 Republicans (its hard keeping all those names straight). The Republican National Convention starts on July 18 and the Democratic National Convention a week later. The outcomes are preordained (Sorry, Berniewho may be coming to that realization himself, announcing an address to his supporters Thursday night to outline his path forward), but the intra-party squabbles over how the parties govern themselvesand even what they stand forwill continue through next month.

Donald Trump attracts his former critics looking for a pay check. Clinton and Sanders meet. And Trump cant find a campaign venue in Dallas.

Story continues

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

Why the FBI Dropped Its Previous Orlando Shooter Investigations

Former FBI deputy director says investigative guidelines are too restrictive, arent keeping pace with the threat, TIMEs Massimo Calabresi reports

Obama Denounces Donald Trump for His Dangerous Mind-Set

President defends terrorism record as he warns about Trump [New York Times]

Hillary Clinton Offers Blistering Rebuttal to Donald Trumps Muslim Ban

One-two punch with Obama [TIME]

Top Republicans Join Obama in Condemning Trumps Words

Failure to win over GOP establishment comes back to haunt Trump [Washington Post]

Meet the Republican Critics of Donald Trump Now Working to Elect Him

TIMEs Alex Altman on the growing number of former critics are now cashing in Trumps candidacy

Sound Off

We just took the press credentials away, I love it.  Trump on banning the Washington Post from his events

Theres no magic to the phrase radical Islam. Its a talking point, not a strategy  President Obama rebutting Donald Trumps criticism Tuesday

Bits and Bites

Trump: U.S. Troops Stole Money in Iraq [Politico]

Russian Government Hackers Penetrated DNC, Stole Opposition Research on Trump [Washington Post]

See What Life Was Once Like for Women in Washington, D.C. [TIME]

President Obama at Womens Summit: This Is What a Feminist Looks Like [TIME]

Clinton, Sanders Talk After the Former Wins D.C. Primary [Washington Post]

In Revoking Press Credentials, Trump Casts Himself as Punisher in Chief [New York Times]

At White House staff picnic, Biden says, seven women told him theyd been raped [Washington Post]

Donald Trump turned down by Grand Prairie, Irving as rally locations [Dallas Morning News]

Donald Trump: I wont kick reporters out of White House press briefing room [CNN]
June 15 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

A global flight to safety triggered by the prospect of Britain leaving the European Union and central banks' ability to stimulate economic growth pushed 10-year German government borrowing costs into negative territory for the first time in history. (http://bit.ly/1U7xnur)

British tenpin bowling operator Hollywood Bowl Group will unveil plans today for a stock market flotation valuing the company at about 280 million pounds ($395.11 million). (http://bit.ly/1U7x3eV)

The Guardian

Kingfisher, the owner of B&Q, will face further pressure over pay and conditions for staff at its annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday when campaigners will ask the retailer to reverse cuts made this year. (http://bit.ly/1U7vMEN)

The UK government now fully backs a legal ban on polluting plastic microbeads in cosmetics and toiletries, environment minister George Eustice said on Tuesday. (http://bit.ly/1U7wJNm)

The Telegraph

Betfred, the bookmaker led by billionaire chairman Fred Done, is to pay out more than 800,000 pounds ($1.13 million)after it was found that one of the company's VIP customers was betting online with stolen money. (http://bit.ly/1U7w0vM)

Equipment hire company Ashtead is to launch a 200 million-pound share buyback after a strong performance in the North American construction market helped push pre-tax profits up 24 percent to 616.7 million pounds. (http://bit.ly/1U7wqCc)

Sky News

A former finance executive, Barry Nightingale, at the airline Monarch will be installed on Wednesday in a top job at the troubled owner of Garfunkel's and Frankie & Benny's. (http://bit.ly/1U7vWfh)

Virgin Active, majority-owned by South African investment group Brait, is selling 35 UK gyms as it moves further to fund its expansion into luxury fitness clubs. (http://bit.ly/1U7wq5e)

The Independent

Evidence given by the former BHS owner Dominic Chappell at an enquiry into the collapse of the chain has been branded "not correct" by Goldman Sachs, days after a former financial adviser to the retailer slammed Chappell as a "Premier League liar". (http://ind.pn/1U7w7r4) ($1 = 0.7087 pounds) (Compiled by Shalini Nagarajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Cooney)
June 15 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories from selected Canadian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

** Canada has soared in global rankings to become the second biggest arms dealer to the Middle East on the strength of its massive sale of combat vehicles to Saudi Arabia, new figures show. (http://bit.ly/25XsNcV)

** The federal government has opened the door to adopting parts of a U.S. law that angers the Kremlin, one that would freeze assets of corrupt Russian officials and ban their travel to Canada. (http://bit.ly/1Q4mahO)

** The number of intermodal cargo boxes hauled by the major railways in North American has fallen by about 7 percent in the latest quarter, a bigger-than-expected decline that one railway executive called a "worrisome" signal about the state of the North American economy. (http://bit.ly/25XfRnv)

NATIONAL POST

** In the general election campaign, the Liberals were vocal about repealing the "problematic elements" of the Conservative government's anti-terror legislation. In the wake of the carnage in Paris last November, and now Orlando, it is fair to say there is much less enthusiasm to overturn many of its provisions, particularly those that allow the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to disrupt potential terrorist activity. (http://bit.ly/1Uc9l6P)

** Bombardier Inc's competitors are trying to cast aspersions on the CSeries because they realize the aircraft is establishing itself as part of the "permanent landscape" and feel threatened by its success, according to a senior company executive. (http://bit.ly/1UUnwaO)

** Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall renewed his attacks on the idea of a federal carbon tax on Tuesday, suggesting that attempts to put a price on carbon could face legal obstacles.(http://bit.ly/1WNzIQG) (Compiled by Aurindom Mukherjee)
Problems with mail-in ballots in California. Overcrowded polling places in Arizona. Missing names on the voter rolls in New York.

Those are just some of the problems that Democratic and Republican primary voters faced over the last few months, leaving voting rights advocates concerned about the November elections, where turnout will be dramatically higher.

We are at a crossroads in our democracy. This is a moment that really requires that states and elected officials to explore ways to make voting easier, said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Theres no single fix to the problems, since each state runs elections in its own way. But advocates have found issues with malfunctioning voting machines, too few polling places and election workers misunderstanding state laws.

California, which voted last week, had problems with its vote-by-mail system. Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation, said the states 58 counties were not handling the process consistently. Some notified voters if their ballot was rejected, giving them the opportunity to fix the mistake, while others did not. She foresees similar problems in November.

I dont think its likely that well make any significant changes to our vote-by-mail system between now and then, Alexander said.

In New York, 125,000 voters in Brooklyn were removed from voter rolls, prompting an audit of the Board of Elections by NYC Comptroller, Scott Stringer. In addition to that, there were reports of voters having difficulties accessing polling sites.

Last week, a separate audit showed the Board of Elections did not have accurate records of more than 1,450 pieces of election and office equipment, raising alarms that property could be stolen or go missing without anyone noticing, a statement from the comptrollers office said.

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And in Arizona, the number of polling places were reduced in Maricopa County, which caused long lines for voters.

The nationwide Election Protection voter hotline has taken more than 21,000 calls since February, Clarke said, about anything from issues with voter ID requirements in Texas, to North Carolina eliminating early voting opportunities to Georgia, where one polling location in a majority black neighborhood was nearly moved to a sheriffs office, Clarke said.

Theres always reasons that are particular to each state, said Jonathan Brater, counsel for the Brennan Centers Democracy Program about the issues that spring up.

He noted that a complicating factor this year are the 17 new states that have implemented voting restrictions: Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Brater said the wave of laws that have been largely been put in place since 2010 include voting restrictions include stricter ID requirements, proof of citizenship during voter registration and cutting back on early voting and same-day registration opportunities.

The Brennan Center has observed trends in these states: The most restrictive laws have been passed in states that are GOP-controlled and the second trend is related to race, Brater said. Brater said seven of the 11 states that had the highest African-American turnout in 2008 have new voting restrictions in place. Eight of the 12 states that have seen the largest Hispanic population growth between the years 2000 and 2010 also have new restrictions.

Not only could voters face difficulties at the polls due to the restrictions, but some would-be voters could be dissuaded from attempting to vote at all in anticipation of facing obstacles, he added.

Still, he sees some signs of progress on voter registration. In March 2015, Oregon implemented automatic voter registration, in which eligible voters with drivers licenses are automatically registered to vote unless they opt out. Within three months of automatic voter registration being put in place, more than 34,000 new voters were being added to the rolls.

Since then, California, West Virginia, Vermont and Connecticut have passed similar laws, while Illinois is waiting on a bill that has been sent to the governor.
By PTI: Morena (MP), Jun 15 (PTI) Police have registered a case against K P Kansana, nephew of Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Minister A S Kansana, and ten others for allegedly assaulting the employees of a toll bridge and fleeing with Rs 1.50 lakh in cash.

K P Kansana and his ten unidentified accomplices were captured in CCTV of the toll booth while indulging in violence today, said the district Superintendent of police Vineet Khanna.

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Police registered a case under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 395 (dacoity) among others, the SP said, adding that the accused fled from the spot and a manhunt was on. The toll bridge over Chonda river is on the Gwalior-Morena road. As per the police complaint, when the toll bridge staff asked the driver of a truck laden with sand to pay the tax, he said his vehicle as well as three other sand-laden trucks behind him belonged to the family of the former minister A S Kansana, and they would not pay toll.

The driver then rang up K P Kansana, and within minutes K P Kansana and others reached and attacked the toll bridge staff with sticks.

They also fired guns in air, and fled with Rs 1.50 lakh cash, police said. PTI Cor LAL MAS KRK PVI BAS

--- ENDS ---
London (AFP) - Prince William will appear on the cover of Britain's leading gay magazine to speak out against homophobic bullying, the publication revealed on Wednesday.

The prince, second in line to the throne, is the first member of the British royal family to be photographed for the cover of a gay publication.

The announcement came just days after 49 people were gunned down in a deadly assault on a gay nightclub in Florida that was claimed by the Islamic State group in the worst mass shooting in US history.

In an interview with Attitude magazine, William spoke out about homophobic bullying after meeting members of the gay community at his Kensington Palace home to hear about their experiences of abuse due to their sexuality, and the impact on their mental health.

"No-one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives," William said.

"The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now.

"Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it."

Attitude said gay people suffer disproportionately from mental health issues.

William, 33, was told how bullying had led to low self-esteem, suicide attempts, eating disorders, depression and drug addiction.

In a message to young people being bullied over their sexuality, the Duke of Cambridge said: "Don't put up with it -- speak to a trusted adult.

"You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of."

The July issue of Attitude is available to download from Wednesday and appears in shops on June 22. On the cover is a smiling picture of William in an open-necked shirt.

On Tuesday, the air ambulance pilot and his wife Kate went to the US embassy in London to sign a book of condolence for victims of the Orlando massacre.
Prince William is making history as the first British royal to cover a LGBT magazine.

The father-of-two is featured on the cover of Attitude magazine and takes a hard stance against bullying. "No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason," he said in a statement to the publication.

WATCH: President Obama Speaks Out on Shooting at Orlando Gay Nightclub -- 'This Was an Act of Terror and an Act of Hate'

Prince William invited those from the magazine, along with people from the LGBT community, to Kensington Palace to share their experiences with bullying. "No one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives," he said following the discussion. "The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now."

The 33-year-old Duke of Cambridge added, "Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it."

WATCH: Kelly Osbourne Gets Head Tattoo Honoring Orlando Shooting Victims

Prince William also had some advice for those victims of bullying. "What I would say to any young person reading this who's being bullied for their sexuality: don't put up with it -- speak to a trusted adult, a friend, a teacher, Childline, Diana Award or some other service and get the help you need," he insisted. "You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of."

Editor of the magazine, Matthew Todd, was quite impressed with the prince. "During my time as editor of Attitude I have met parents whose child has taken or lost their life after being bullied for being LGBT+ or just perceived to be LGBT," he said. "I am very happy that the future King of the United Kingdom agrees this must stop and I would urge parents in particular to raise their voices in their communities to ensure that every school protects -- really protects -- all children."

Story continues

WATCH: Late Night Hosts Respond to Orlando Shooting With Anger, Love, and Cries for Gun Control

Attitude is the UK's best-selling LGBT magazine and has featured Ricky Martin, David Beckham, Lady Gaga and James Franco on the cover in previous issues.

Prince William's debut on the magazine comes just days after a man opened fire at a gay Orlando nightclub, killing 49 people. On Tuesday, the prince and Kate Middleton made a special trip to the U.S. Embassy in London to sign a book of condolences for the victims of the shooting.

Related Articles
Prince William is speaking out on homophobic bullying  and is now the first royal ever to cover an LGBT magazine.



William recently opened his Kensington Palace home for a discussion with British LGBT magazine Attitude and met with a group of nine people who have endured homophobic bullying.



After the palace chat, William released a statement to the magazine saying, No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives.



The royals appearance on the cover of the magazine comes just days after the mass shooting at the Orlando gay nightclub, Pulse. William and wife Princess Kate paid their respects in the wake of the attack Tuesday when they signed a book of condolence at the U.S. Embassy in London.







Williams efforts are part of the joint campaign on combating mental health difficulties that he has started with Kate and brother Prince Harry. William has also highlighted the plight of male suicide  something he has come across in his work as an air ambulance pilot.





The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now, he added.

He praised their sense of strength and optimism, which he said should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it. You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

The young people and families he met explained how bullying had led to low self-esteem, suicide attempts, eating disorders, depression and drug addiction.

Attitude

editor Matthew Todd tells PEOPLE, He put us all at ease despite the fact that we were talking about some intense and sometimes harrowing things. One of those was a mother, Mena Houghton, whose son Mark Houghton died in 2010 at age 27 from an unintentional overdose after years of being homophobically bullied at school. He was great with her and with all of us.

Story continues

He said he wants to help and wants people to stop being unkind to each other, Todd continues.

Todd  whose book Straight Talk: How to be Gay and Happy is out this week  got a sense of how deep-seated William, Kate and Harry feel about the issue.

I was completely bowled over by him, he says. He was absolutely passionate, compassionate and relaxed. Someone got upset during the conversation and he said, Its okay to cry. You can cry and be strong. 

You can tell when a celebrity or a politician is paying lip service to something, but I absolutely felt he meant it and you can see peoples mental health is important to him, Todd explains.

There is a head of steam about this issue building which is exciting, he adds.

Prince William, Princess Kate and Prince Harry Launch Their 'Heads Together Campaign

On a trip to North Wales last November, William was praised for his understanding and empathy. He and Kate met a group of students from Coleg Menai supported by the mental health charity, Mind.

James Cheffings, 19, from Bangor, told reporters he went through a difficult time at college but talking though things had helped. I accepted that I was a gay man and now I work in an attitude-free gay bar and am a drag queen on weekends, he said.

It came across that they were really accepting and understanding about the whole LGBT community, Cheffings said. Which was really nice to see that we in that community have got that support from the royal family.

It shows that people who are quite famous people do go to little villages like Caernarfon and little buildings like this and meet people like us who might not always get our voices heard, he added.

Williams spokesman said in a statement, The Duke of Cambridge is working hard to support the fight against bullying and to help break the stigma around mental health. He has established a task force on the prevention of cyberbullying and along with The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, is leading the Heads Together campaign on mental health and well-being.

He knows that LGBT young people suffer unacceptably high rates of bullying and he was grateful to Attitude for facilitating such a serious conversation on this topic, the statement continued. He was moved by the stories he heard and impressed by the positivity and courage of the people he met.
From Cosmopolitan

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the American Embassy in central London on Tuesday, in order to pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting last weekend.

Prince William and Kate Middleton both looked extremely somber during their visit to the embassy, where they met with U.S. Ambassador Matthew Barzun and signed a book of condolences dedicated to those affected by the attack.

"With our deepest condolences and with our thoughts and prayers to all those affected," Prince William wrote, before signing his name underneath the note. The Duchess of Cambridge then signed her name next to her husband's.

During their visit, the royal pair also spoke with nonprofit GLIFAA, which aims to promote LGBT+ pride in foreign affairs agencies. E! News reports that they also wore "custom-made badges that featured a combination of the British and American pride flags."

Follow Gina on Twitter.
Children Mending Hearts 8th Annual "Empathy Rocks" charity event kicked off Sunday afternoon at a private home in Beverly Hills. The sold-out fundraiser celebrated Rachel Zoe and Irena Medavoy's contributions and ongoing efforts with the organization.

Lysa Heslov, CEO of Children Mending Hearts had one goal in mind in 2008. She wanted to give disadvantaged children a voice and creative expression through educational and arts programs. In doing so, she founded Children Mending Hearts - an organization that focuses on empathy, global citizenry and growth of a child.

When asked about her inspiration, Heslov told The Hollywood Reporter, "I sort of stole [this concept] from my grandmother. She just really taught me about empathy and how to be compassionate."

She added: "It's nature versus nurture. If you can teach empathy in a way where it's instilled in young kids at a very early age, we really have a chance to make a lot of changes in the world. If you had that compassion for others, no matter what race, religion and wherever you come from, you know that we're all one and you would be much less likely to do something so horrible."

The family-friendly event included music, food and interactive games. There were stations for kids to paint, as well as a shopping bazaar for parents where 100% of the proceeds go straight toward school programs for the LA youth.

Actress Garcelle Beauvais, accompanied by her two sons, told THR on the orange carpet, "It's Sunday and obviously it's a family day, but this is such a great cause that I wouldn't think of being anywhere else." She said. "I want to teach my kids that it's important to give back. We're so fortunate that we have access to a lot of things, but there are a lot of children who don't. I really want [my kids] to know that and by coming to places like this, they get it."

Prior to accepting her Ambassador of Peace Award, philanthropist Irena Medavoy had a chance to speak to THR. She discussed her ongoing commitment as a child activist. Being a mother, Medavoy's effort toward change is on a more personal level.

Story continues

"Once I became a mother to my son, I see every child as my son or my daughter and I think they deserve the exact same amount of love and care and opportunity as he gets and I think that every child really deserves it."

She continued. "I'm so proud because I love this organization. Nothing means more when your work is recognized, but in actuality if you can bring some kind of awareness [like] Lysa Heslov and Children Mending Hearts, that's always the best."

Zoe who accepted the Humanitarian Award shared her gratitude for efforts toward the organization.

"To even be honored today is amazing. What Lysa has done is unreal and heroic in my eyes. [...] We do it to actually help as humanly possible."

Jessica Alba presented the Humanitarian Award to Zoe; and last year's honoree Nicole Avant presented the Ambassador of Peace Award to Medavoy.

Other notable guests included Kat Graham, Rowan Blanchard, Ali Fedotowsky and fiance Ryan Morrow, Jennette McCurdy, Lydia Hearst, Tammin Sursok and husband Sean McEwen, Torrance Coombs and Ted Sarandos.
Birmingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) - Agnieszka Radwanska, the top-seeded former Wimbledon finalist, lost her first match of the year on grass Wednesday, going down 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 to world number 32 Coco Vandeweghe at the Birmingham WTA event.

It was a setback which was particularly hard to take for a player who has reached the semi-finals or better in nine of her last 13 tournaments.

More incongruous still, Vandeweghe had lost all four of their previous encounters, winning a mere 18 games in the process.

But the powerfully built Americans timing and confidence were in good order after winning the 's-Hertogenbosch title on grass last week, while the Poles practice on this surface had been restricted by repeated rainstorms.

Vandeweghes career-best win was achieved with a determination to swing hard whenever she could, and a belief that she could over-power her opponent even if she sometimes missed.

The policy was particularly effective against Radwanskas moderately paced second serve, a delivery which was heavily punished in the seventh and ninth games of a final set, just when many thought the favourite was turning things around.

I got into trouble (in the second set) but I managed to get through it, said Vandeweghe. Last week helped me escape from a tricky situation because I had done it before.

The match had had a tricky feeling almost throughout, for it was stopped at four games all the previous night, and was halted again for nearly an hour Wednesday early in the second set.

The rain delays didnt help because you have to keep your mind on the match, which isnt always easy, Vandeweghe said.

I tried to keep myself quiet, and I thought if I could stick with my game plan (hard, flat attack) I could do it.

Radwanska was philosophical with Wimbledon less than two weeks away.

I dont think I played so bad today - she was just really good, she said.

Belinda Bencic, the youngest player in the top ten, suffered another injury less than two weeks after returning from more than two months away with a bad back.

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The 19-year-old Swiss player quit while trailing 6-4, 4-3 in her first round match against Irina-Camelia Begu, the world number 26 from Romania.

Bencic hurt her right thigh in a fall on the slick grass in the first game, and by the fifth game has called the trainer.

But she continued, often with her movement looking limited, and rarely looked capable of winning the match.

I played more than I should have, she admitted

Last week, Bencic contested four grass court matches in the Netherlands, her first tournament since early April, which makes this latest setback particularly ill-timed.

Almost inevitably the weather deteriorated again, placing Caroline Wozniacki, the former world number one from Denmark, in a similar situation to that of Radwanska on Tuesday - being obliged to finish early by repeated rain.

Wozniacki leads Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium 3-2 and the winner is scheduled to play twice in one day on Thursday.
"I request, I may be relieved of my charge to ensure that attention isn't diverted from the real issues facing Punjab," said Kamal Nath in his letter to Sonia Gandhi.

By Ashhar Khan: Congress leader Kamal Nath has resigned from the post of general secretary in-charge of Punjab, which goes to polls next year, amid renewed criticism of his alleged role in the 1984 riots. In his letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi he has urged to relive him from the post so that attention isn't diverted from the real issues facing Punjab. Sonia Gandhi has accepted his resignation.

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"I request, I may be relieved of my charge to ensure that attention isn't diverted from the real issues facing Punjab," said Kamal Nath in his letter to Sonia Gandhi.

He added, "Till 2005 not single public statement or FIR was made against me and 1st time my name was mentioned in any forum was 21 years after 1984." "I've been hurt by developments of past few days wherein unnecessary controversy has been created around the 1984 riots in Delhi."

Earlier, former Union minister MS Gill had said Kamal Nath's selection for the coveted post in the state was akin to "rubbing salt on wounds".

Kamal Nath in his letter to Sonia Gandhi said, "This canard is nothing but a cheap political ploy to gain traction ahead of the elections."

Captain Amarinder Singh had absolved Kamal Nath of having any role in the anti-Sikh riots.



MURMURS IN THE PARTY



Rumblings in the Punjab Congress had started Sunday evening itself. There was a candle light march against Kamal Nath in Chandigarh. Incidentally, on Monday when Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed an anti-drug rally, Kamal Nath was absent.

The entire episode has raised serious questions on political farsightedness of the Congress and also of Kamal Nath. Firstly, why was Kamal Nath appointed in the first place and secondly, why was he allowed to leave.



--- ENDS ---
In the immediate postWorld War II scramble for cover, with the Allies moving in from the west and the Soviets from the east, Germany and its now-scuttled Nazi machinery faced a reckoning. Hitler had ordered a Nero Decree in the face of what he claimed to Minister of Armaments and War Production Albert Speer was Germanys failure: Everything within their waning power and reach should be destroyed. Factories, bridges, farms, buildings, everything.

While Speer refused Hitlers order so as to preserve what little would be left of Germany, he had correctly guessed that an accounting was afoot. Hatred of Jews was Hitlers focal point, Speer explained in a testimonial a few years before his 1981 death from a stroke. The German people, the German greatness  they all meant nothing to him. For this reason, he wished in the final sentence of his testament to fixate us Germans, even after the apocalyptic downfall, on a miserable hatred of the Jews.

I killed a lot of people  and to this day, I dont have any feeling of unease.

That hatred could only be returned in kind. Not in the political realignment that followed, which was postwar business as usual. Not in tending to victims or even rebuilding the affected countries. Not in anything but the only currency that really counts in war: blood. All of my fathers family, other than two brothers, were murdered, and also my mothers family was destroyed, said Moshe Tavor in an interview in the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. But Tavor, who moved to whats now Israel at age 7 in 1925, was hellbent on payback. I killed a lot of people  and to this day, I dont have any feeling of unease.



Ghetto vilinus

Vilna Ghetto Fighters, some of whom joined the Nakam.

Source: CC

Tavor, dead just four weeks after giving this interview back in 2006 at the sprightly age of 89, was speaking specifically about his time as a member of the Jewish Brigade, a Winston Churchilldirected subunit of the British Army that chased Germans out of Italy in that last year of war. For them, the war continued as Tavor, along with eight other soldiers from the brigade, rendered judgment in a way that best suited the crime: with executions.

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My job was to be the executioner, Tavor said. And believe me, my hands didnt shake. Dressing up in British MP uniforms, theyd show up at the homes of Nazis, collaborators and coconspirators and secret them away  or not: A lot of their actions were filed away as suicides or accidents  and once they had established guilt, justice was served  in Italy, France, Belgium, wherever they could find war criminals and known associates.

Most famously? In Buenos Aires, this time as part of an Israeli team, where Tavor helped nab Adolf Eichmann, a major contributor to the Nazi actualization of the Holocaust. Eichmann was executed in Jerusalem after a trial. Dozens of others? With much less flash. And at the conclusion of hastily convened field courts, they received very much the same, with the goal being to stop when they hit six million  roughly the number of Jews who had succumbed to Hitlers Final Solution.

Gettyimages 90124618

Haim Laskov, chief of staff for an army of Jewish soldiers that allegedly hunted down SS officers.

Source: Getty

Houses were bombed, and suspects were run over by Jewish Brigade cars, Tavor claimed. And the Jewish Brigade was not alone. The Nakam, which means avengers in Hebrew, was a Jewish partisan militia that worked long after the war, sometimes with the Jewish Brigade, sometimes with some of the other so-called Din Squads, revenge-fueled militias. British writer Jonathan Freedland points to other revenge groups in his novel The Final Reckoning, which, albeit fictional, points to plots to poison German water supplies and actual Associated Press accounts from 1946 describing SS men falling ill and dying from arsenic-laced bread in POW camps. It also highlights Polands 2005 attempt to extradite 86-year-old Salomon Morel from Israel and charge him with crimes against humanity for, in a twist, postwar revenge killings of almost 1,500 German prisoners.



Though political objectives eventually shifted to securing Israeli statehood and then ensuring its survival  leaving Nazi hunting to those more interested in actual trials  the very real weight that for a time had been brought to bear against Nazi war criminals codified revenge as closure. Generally, revenge as a motive has suspect origins, says M.G. Sheftall, author of Blossoms in the Wind: Human Legacies of the Kamikaze and commentator on History channels Dogfights series. But if ever there was going to be one time that it was OK, this was probably it.



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There has been at least a bit of good news from Libya lately. Over the past few days, militias allied with the internationally recognized unity government have made substantial advances against Islamic State forces based in the city of Sirte. That has awakened hopes that Libyans might be on their way toward re-establishing an effective central government.

For the time being, however, the country remains badly fractured. Libya has been in a state of anarchy since the ousting of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. Rival administrations, dozens of different armed groups, and complex and shifting tribal alliances have battled for control of the oil-rich state. Until its latest setbacks, the Islamic State exerted control over some 150 miles of the Mediterranean coastline. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of refugees from across Africa have exploited the chaos, using Libya as their launching pad for travel onward to Europe.

Worries over the risks posed by such turmoil explain the rush of the United States and other world powers to provide Libyas national unity government with military assistance. Western diplomats are desperate to see a central authority emerge that they can entrust with fighting the Islamic State and stopping refugees at its borders.

Sadly, the new government has struggled to extend its writ beyond a handful of ministries it currently controls in Tripoli, the capital. Many observers are skeptical that it can do more, especially given its complete dependence on local militias for protection. Indeed, these efforts are built on sand; they are embedded in Libyas weaknesses rather than its strengths.

The international community has tried and tried again to bring some order and stability to the situation, and has repeatedly failed to deliver. The previous U.N. special envoy, Bernardino Leon, tried for months to broker an agreement between two governments (and their affiliated political networks, militias, and backers) without success. Fearful that the talks would collapse, the new envoy, Martin Kobler, forced the issue by establishing a new national unity government in December 2015. But the other governments and many factions throughout the country continue to resist its mandate. Meanwhile, the international backers of various rival groups continue to flout an arms embargo, providing finance and hardware to their clients inside the country. The country grows ever more fragmented, fostering more fighting and more jihadism.

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As in so many cases before, the current effort to broker some kind of agreement misses the most obvious point of entry. The many failed attempts to manufacture national unity stand in stark contrast to comparable efforts on the local level, where Libyas myriad tribes and municipalities have proved themselves to be effective organizers of public authority. They have also negotiated local cease-fires, concluded agreements on issues as varied as prisoner exchange and checkpoint removal, and resolved criminal investigations.

Yet the international communitys plan for fixing the country has rigidly followed the standard transitions script: first set up a national unity government, then hold parliamentary elections. This approach only exacerbates Libyas core weaknesses, namely its profound social divisions and its non-existent national institutions.

Libya does not have  at least for now  sufficient social cohesion and institutional capacity to establish a robust central government that can control all its territory. Even if the internationally recognized unity government were somehow able to gain support from its rivals, the agreement would be a flimsy thing. The fragile state that Libyans inherited from the predatory Qaddafi dictatorship cannot simply be pieced together again through a top-down approach: the central authority established will not be strong enough to arbitrate between factions or combat warlordism, jihadism, and criminality. Instead, it risks just creating one additional actor that will have to compete for power with elements of the rival governments as well as independent powerbrokers and militias.

A more prudent approach would be to work from the bottom up, focusing on Libyas political assets: functional local governance and effective, tribal-based conflict management mechanisms. The countrys tribes are especially important because their long histories and socially embedded institutions make them more durable than its shallow-rooted political parties and coalitions.

Local agreements with modest but achievable goals have a far greater chance of success.

These would involve fewer players, and each would have a better chance of enforcing the commitments made within their own spheres of influence. They would also be far better placed to implement and police agreements, as well as arbitrate differences both between and, when necessary, within groups.

A limited agreement or set of agreements between a small number of the most powerful local actors  for instance, Misrata, Zintan, the Warfallah, the Warshefana, the Obeidat, the Amazigh, and the Awaqir  would obviously have to take into account obstacles such as resistance to compromise from the hardliners in each group. This has prevented previous attempts at forging ad-hoc local agreements from achieving more  but then the peace brokers face exactly the same stumbling block to their efforts to create a robust government of national unity.

International actors should be supporting, training and advising local actors in parallel with efforts to develop an all-encompassing, top-down political settlement. Indeed, the two processes should be organized in such a way as to reinforce each other in a virtuous cycle. Change would certainly be slow and patchy, but once a few islands of stability begin to do well, others would be inclined to join and momentum would grow. Over time demand for national services such as central banking would increase, and central authority would grow in response.

This piecemeal approach may sound unorthodox, but it has many honorable precedents in countries such as Colombia, Uganda, and parts of Somalia. In fact, state recovery from failure or extreme weakness typically happens in this piecemeal fashion, advancing in fits and starts rather than through a single great leap.

Unless the international community can acquire the flexibility to push aside the same old centralized approach, its efforts are doomed to fail. Its obvious, really. Countries work best when they build on their strengths. Asking them to build on their weaknesses is a recipe for  more  failure.

In the photo, Libyans protest against an UN-sponsored agreement on forming a national unity government on December 18, 2015 in Tripoli.

Photo credit: MAHMUD TURKIA/AFP/Getty Images
Noah Galvins big mouth nearly cost him  and his Real ONeals castmates  dearly.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, ABC considered cutting the comedys Season 2 episode order as quasi-punishment for Galvins incendiary Vulture interview, in which the gay actor accused Eric Stonestreet of playing a caricature  of a stereotype as Modern Familys Cam. He also lashed out at Arrows Colton Haynes, referring to the actors recent coming-out interview as fing py bullst.

RELATEDABC Fall Schedule: Scandal Delayed, Kiefer Replaces Nashville, Middle and S.H.I.E.L.D. on the Move

When word spread that ABC was considering reducing the sitcoms order, one of the shows exec producers begged the network not to take action, per THR. The trade goes on to note that this wasnt Galvins first run-in with ABC brass. The network reportedly warned him on multiple occasions about his ego and sense of entitlement. (ABC declined to comment.)

Galvin eventually issued a mea culpa for his Vulture rant. I think Eric Stonestreet is a wonderful actor, he tweeted less than 12 hours after the interview went viral. I apologize to everyone Ive hurt with my comments and understand the damage that has been done. I am new to this and will certainly commit to being more thoughtful and wiser as I navigate all of this moving forward.

RELATEDFall TV Schedule 2016: Whats on When? And Versus What?

The Real ONeals, in which Galvin plays a 16-year-old boy who comes out to his conservative Catholic family, was recently renewed for a second season.

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Republicans have found a seemingly foolproof tool for eliminating governmental red tape: congressional gridlock.

U.S. House GOP leaders released the economic portion of their new policy agenda on Tuesday, which would give Congress the power to approve or reject regulations that would have a significant effect on businesses. If the proposals that are cooked up in these bureaucracies are really so important, then let the peoples elected representatives decide, Speaker Paul Ryan said during a press conference held outside of the Department of Labor in Washington. No major regulation should become law unless Congress takes a vote.

The burden should not be on the people to justify themselves to Washington, Ryan added. The burden should be on Washington justify itself to the people. The proposal builds on a theme for House Republicans, who have sought to rein in what they see as executive overreach by the Obama administration and reassert congressional authority. But rather than taking back a power the executive has grabbed from lawmakers, as theyve tried to do by suing the administration over Obamacare and blocking the presidents executive actions on immigration, this plan seeks a new role for Congress in promulgating regulations under laws that the House and Senate have previously passed. And Congress being Congress, this would likely have the practical impact of blocking major regulations for as long as Republicans maintain control on Capitol Hill.

The bigger challengeone Ryan and his colleagues did not addressis getting the proposal, known as the REINS Act, enacted in the first place. The GOP House majority has passed versions of the bill several times in the last few years only to see it stall in the Senate. Given its restriction on executive authority, it is bill that any president would be unlikely to sign. Certainly not Hillary Clinton, who supports the kind of environmental-, financial-, and consumer-protection regulations that Republicans want to eliminate. And, given his authoritarian tendencies, probably not Donald Trump either. (Ryan would only say he was confident Trump was onboard with the GOPs desire to reduce regulation generally.)

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Like the national-security agenda unveiled last week, the House GOPs anti-regulatory plan is an affirmation of party orthodoxy. Among more than 100 individual proposals are calls to loosen environmental and energy regulations, roll back mandates on financial institutions in the Dodd-Frank law, and scrap the Labor Departments recent overtime rule. In addition to requiring a congressional vote on regulations that would cost the economy more than $100 million, the plan would cap the amount of money federal agencies could spend to enforce regulations. And the GOP task forces 67-page report also revives proposals to combat baseless lawsuits and union favoritism.

The economic plan was also a throwback in another way: Rather than lionize the innovation of the sharing economy, Republicans spent more time talking up mom-and-pop small businesses. While it did come out against the FCCs net-neutrality rules as over-regulating the Internet, the report made only brief mentions of companies like Uber and Airbnb, which in recent years have become go-to exemplars for GOP politicians. This isnt about the next billion dollar Silicon Valley start-up, necessarily, Representative Patrick McHenry of North Carolina said at the press conference. He instead cited lawn-mowing companies and sandwich makers as businesses that would be helped by Republican policies.

No major regulation should become law unless Congress takes a vote.

In the past, Republicans have centered their agenda on concrete policies. For years, they touted support for the Keystone pipeline as a way to highlight bureaucratic foot-dragging in Washington. Other times it was specific Obamacare mandates, or EPA overreach that, they argued, was holding the economy back. In framing their latest proposal around a processhow regulations are approvedthe GOP chose to look inward and focus on government reform.

If it ever came to pass, this legislation would almost certainly be a first step toward reducing the scope of federal regulations that get added to the books. But as congressional Republicans struggle to adapt to the elevation of Donald Trump as the partys presidential nominee, the focus on executive authority is also a bit of a tell. If Paul Ryan thought hed have an ally in the White House in a few months time, why would he be so intent on limiting his power?

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Washington (AFP) - A team of international scientists said Wednesday that they had detected gravitational waves -- ripples in space and time, which Albert Einstein predicted a century ago -- for the second time.

Einstein predicted the existence of the waves in his theory of relativity a century ago, and scientists have been able to detect them with an instrument known as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO.

The first detection of the waves -- in September -- was announced in February, in a landmark discovery for physics and astronomy after decades of efforts.

On Wednesday, researchers announced they had found the waves a second time in December, produced by the collision of two black holes some 1.4 billion years ago, which sent forth a wobble that hurtled through space.

"We know from this second detection that the properties being measured by LIGO will allow us to start to answer some key questions with gravitational astronomy," said Sheila Rowan, a member of the discovery team and director of the University of Glasgow's Institute for Gravitational Research.

"Mysteries still to be explained include: how do such black hole systems form? In future we'll study this through cosmic history aiming to fill in the 'missing links' in our knowledge."

Scientists announced their findings at the meeting of the American Astronomical Society in San Diego, California this week, publishing their findings in the Physical Review Letters journal.

LIGO consists of two identical detectors sitting about 1,850 miles (3,000 kilometers) apart -- one in Livingston, Louisiana and the other in the city of Hanford in Washington state.

- 'New way' to observe universe -

Black holes form in the final stage of most massive stars' evolution. The space bodies are so dense that neither light nor matter can escape them.

Sometimes the holes couple, orbiting in a "dance" around each other as they lose energy in the form of gravitational waves, ultimately merging into a single black hole.

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Those gravitational waves allow scientists to detect when the black holes merge.

"We are starting to get a glimpse of the kind of new astrophysical information that can only come from gravitational wave detectors," said David Shoemaker, an astrophysicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and leader of the Advanced LIGO detector construction program.

Shoemaker noted that because black holes do not emit light, they are invisible except for the presence of gravitational waves.

The black hole merger generated energy that roughly equals the mass of the sun, energy converted into gravitational waves, scientists explained.

"With detections of two strong events in the four months of our first observing run, we can begin to make predictions about how often we might be hearing gravitational waves in the future," said Albert Lazzarini, deputy director of the LIGO Laboratory and researcher at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

"LIGO is bringing us a new way to observe some of the darkest yet most energetic events in our universe," Lazzarini added.
By James Davey and Sarah Young

LONDON (Reuters) - Retail tycoon Philip Green admitted to British lawmakers on Wednesday he had erred in selling BHS to a former bankrupt and promised to help fix a gaping hole in the pension scheme of the collapsed department store chain he owned for 15 years.

The loss-making BHS fell into administration in April, little more than a year after Green sold it to Dominic Chappell's Retail Acquisitions Ltd for a nominal sum, resulting in the likely loss of 11,000 jobs as it is wound down. Chappell was a serial bankrupt with no retail experience.

BHS's demise left its pension fund with a deficit of 571 million pounds, while Topshop-owner Green's reputation as a leading British businessman was tarnished.

In a six-hour session in front of parliament's Business and Work and Pensions committees, Green was at times contrite, at times exasperated and at one point came close to walking out.

He apologised for BHS's "sad ending" and his role in it.

"It was an honest mistake and unfortunately we sold it to the wrong guy," said the 64-year-old billionaire. Im a big boy, Im going to take a punch on the chin."

He said he was working on a plan to plug the pension deficit, calling the situation "resolvable, sortable".

But there were also flashes of annoyance as Green was probed more deeply. Exchanges were often heated and he frequently interrupted lawmakers and complained about their lines of questioning.

Green said he had trusted Chappell as a buyer because he had been approved by Green's adviser Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and was being represented by law firm Olswang and financial adviser Grant Thornton, names he called "reputable, well-regarded".

He said Chappell's status as a former bankrupt was not a reason not to do business with him. "Walt Disney was bankrupt, HJ Heinz was bankrupt, they did OK," he said.

Last week, Chappell told lawmakers he accepted partial responsibility for BHS's collapse, but said Green and the retailer's management should share the blame.

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PENSION REGULATOR

Green was critical of the pension regulator for failing to engage with BHS as its deficit increased and said the retailer's pension trustees were also responsible.

He said he had not received one phone call or email from Lesley Titcomb, the pension regulator's CEO, calling for a meeting in the three years since 2013 when it started examining BHS.

Green also denied he scuppered a last-ditch rescue of BHS by Sports Direct (SPD.L) owner Mike Ashley and said he considered buying back the business.

He did not provide details on the plan he is working on with Deloitte to plug the pension deficit - a figure based on how much it would cost to address the shortfall between assets and future liabilities with either insurance or a buyout - as he sought to reassure BHS's 20,000 pension-holders.

"We will sort it, we will find a solution," he said.

He told lawmakers the plan would offer BHS pensioners a "better outcome" than compensation available from the Pension Protection Fund, the levy-funded UK lifeboat scheme that helps finance pensions after company insolvencies.

The deficit compares to the 423 million pounds of dividends Green paid out during his ownership of BHS from 2000-2015, mainly to his family.

STOP STARING

Some politicians have called for the tycoon to be stripped of his knighthood if he does not make good the deficit.

Feeling the heat from lawmakers, Green asked Richard Fuller from the ruling Conservative party not to stare at him and complained a whispering committee clerk was putting him off. Filling a plastic cup of water, Green spilt it over his table.

Iain Wright, the opposition Labour party lawmaker who chairs the business committee, said Green had a "dominant personality" and that could have had implications for BHS's culture.

"You seem extraordinarily thin-skinned to quite courteous questions, as if you don't want to be challenged in any way shape or form," Wright said. Green refused to respond.

The marathon session was not, however, without humour. At one point Green's phone went off, prompting Wright to say: "It's the regulator."

(Additional reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Keith Weir and Mark Potter)
The Colonial-era white shopping arcade is also a social leveller, drawing people of all ages and backgrounds - from businessmen and foreign tourists to students, middle-class families as well as drug addicts and the homeless.

Last year the Ministry of Home Affairs raised concerns over these vagabonds after a Sashastra Seema Bal jawan was stabbed to death allegedly by a rag picker.

By Ankur Sharma: Delhi's central business district Connaught Place is turning back time to reclaim its old charm and neo-Georgian grandeur. But the Colonial-era white shopping arcade is also a social leveller, drawing people of all ages and backgrounds - from businessmen and foreign tourists to students, middle-class families as well as drug addicts and the homeless.

As bars and restaurants catering to the young spring up almost every week and the grand colonnaded buildings in the heart of Delhi come alive at night, the party crowd and shoppers are jittery with a slew of robberies and attacks allegedly carried out by vagrants and junkies who have made the pavements of CP their home.

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BJP WORKER ASSAULTED IN CONNAUGHT PLACE

BJP worker Ravinder Deshwal says he was assaulted last week after he got into an argument with two such vagabonds while reversing his car. He was hit on the head with a broken glass bottle that left him with a cut on his right ear.

In his complaint to the police, Deshwal said that the men would have killed him if people did not come to his rescue.

The victim said he had parked his car near the Audi car showroom next to the Connaught Place police station. After visiting the Hanuman temple on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, when he returned to the vehicle, he found two vagrants fiddling with it.

"I objected to it and asked them to leave my car alone. This triggered an argument and suddenly one of the accused attacked with a broken beer bottle and smashed it on my head," he said.

"Another accused gripped my right hand and asked his friend to kill me. After that they started punching me badly." A few passersby came to his rescue when he screamed for help and the two accused fled from the spot.

In another incident last week, a juvenile was caught trying to break into a car, say sources.

The reports come at a time when authorities are trying to ensure shops and restaurants in the inner circle remain open till late hours with plans to make the area vehicle-free.

SECURITY THREAT

Police officials admit that the vagrants do pose a security threat but say they cannot initiate action till they indulge in a criminal act. Detaining them is not a deterrent as they go back to their haunts after being released, cops say. "We can take legal action against them but to give accommodation and rehabilitation is the responsibility of the Delhi government," said an officer.

Activists argue, on the other hand, that the authorities are seeking to sweep the poor out of sight in a bid to present to the world an image of India in which everything is flashy and modern.

Restaurant owners in Connaught Place say they are aware of the menace and have taken steps on their own to ensure the safety of their guests.

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Sudhir Goria, owner of Caffe 9, says almost every outlet now employs two security guards- one at the front and the other at the back-to make sure that clients are safe and not harassed until they reach their vehicles.

"We sometimes throw mugs of water on the vagrants as that scares them off," he revealed. "The complaints from guests are kept in check with these measures. When President Obama visited in January, the vagabonds were transported to secluded places. But now, with the help of NGOs, they are back and causing problems."

Last year, the home ministry raised concerns about the presence of these vagrants after a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawan was stabbed to death allegedly by a ragpicker who was pestering the victim for a bottle of alcohol. A Delhi court this month sentenced five vagabonds to life for raping a Danish tourist at knifepoint.

"We maintain a database of vagabonds. We have deployed sufficient patrolling bikes and PCR vans. Though rehabilitation is not our job, we stick to crime and preventive measures," said DCP, New Delhi district, Jatin Narwal.

Also Read

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Watch: Road Rage in Delhi's Connaught Place caught on camera

--- ENDS ---
It was thereand then it wasnt. On Tuesday evening, foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) performed a diplomatic magic trick. First, after a meeting with their Chinese counterpart in southwest China, they issued a statement on the rising tensions in the South China Sea, parts of which are claimed by six regional governments. The language, for a body that prides itself on consensus-making and group photos of grinning dignitaries, was stern: We expressed our serious concerns over recent and ongoing developments, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and which may have the potential to undermine peace, security and stability in the South China Sea.

The nation that was eroding trust and confidence in the strategic waterway was unnamed. But China, which has embarked on an ambitious island-building campaign in disputed waters, and has blamed the U.S. for masterminding any regional conflict, was mentioned elsewhere in the statement. We also cannot ignore what is happening in the South China Sea, the communique read, as it is an important issue in the relations and cooperation between ASEAN and China.

While that sentence might seem anodyne, it implies a repudiation of Chinas preferred approach of negotiating bilaterally with each rival claimant, rather than facing the united front of a regional body. The ASEAN statement also cautioned against militarization in the South China Sea, a clear rebuke against Chinas defense build-up, which includes not only the new islands complete with runways that can welcome military jets, but also missile batteries, radar facilities and a coast guard that regularly comes into conflict with fishing boats from other littoral nations.

But, less than three hours after the ASEAN statement was released by the Malaysian Foreign Ministry, a spokeswoman retracted the document, saying that urgent amendments were needed. By the end of the evening, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had made his own statement refuting the contention that the South China Sea dispute was a sticking point between his country and the regional body as a whole.

This isnt an issue between China and ASEAN, he said. Cooperation between China and ASEAN is far greater than any specific discord, including the South China Sea dispute.

That may be. China, after all, is ASEANs largest trading partner. One senior regional diplomat told TIME that, in the busy minutes after the ASEAN statement went out, Beijing had lobbied regional ministers to make the embarrassing backtrack. Beijings foreign-policy makers, he said, had specifically pressured Laos, which is this years ASEAN chair, to force the statements recall. (ASEAN requires consensus among all of its 10 members to issue any statement.)

When the dragon roars, the little countries need to stay away from the fire coming out of its mouth, says the diplomat. We have no choice but to acknowledge this political reality.

A day later, and no new ASEAN statement has been issuedand it isnt clear whether one would be forthcoming at all. Instead, individual announcements from various Southeast Asian countries have dribbled out. The diplomatic mess recalled an incident in 2012 when, for the first time in ASEAN history, the group wrapped up a summit without a joint communique because of what was widely perceived to be Chinese pressure on Cambodia to avoid the sensitive South China Sea issue.

This is turning out to be another fiasco in which ASEANs credibility has been damaged because of a lack of unity, says Ian Storey, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. It really looks not only like ASEAN is in disarray but also that it lacks any backbone.

The strategic contest in the South China Sea brings together a rising China that is more assertively claiming disputed territory; a U.S. that has long held sway over the Pacific; and five other regional governments that claim various bits of rock and reef. Its a combustible mix, only heightened by an expected decision in the coming weeks from a U.N. tribunal that could well undercut Chinas claims over more than 80% of the contested waters. (The other claimants are Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia.)

Beijing has said it believes the Permanent Court of Arbitration does not have jurisdiction over the case, which was lodged by the Philippines, another claimant. The Hague tribunal has no ability to enforce its decision but Beijing has been courting international support ahead of the judgement. Chinas Foreign Ministry now says some 60 nations support its perspective, including such disparate countries as Gambia, Belarus and, notably, Laos. (Some countries, like Fiji, that were originally named as part of Chinas South China Sea bloc, have since distanced themselves from Beijings pronouncements.) Over recent weeks, Chinese state media has regularly accused the U.S. of using the South China Sea issue to foment regional instability and prevent Chinas rise.

Meanwhile, the G-7 nations last month cautioned against rising maritime tensions in the South China Sea and issued a veiled rebuke against China. We reaffirm the importance of states making and clarifying their claims based on international law, the communique read, refraining from unilateral actions which could increase tensions and not using force or coercion in trying to drive their claims.

At a late May security summit in Singapore, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter spoke out against Chinas build-up in the waterway, through which more than $5 trillion in trade flows each year. Chinas actions in the South China Sea are isolating it at a time when the entire region is coming together and networking, he said. Unfortunately, if these actions continue, China could end up erecting a Great Wall of self-isolation.

The response from Chinese Admiral Sun Jianguo was spirited. We do not make trouble, but we have no fear of trouble, he said in Singapore. China will not bear the consequences, nor will it allow any infringement upon its sovereignty and security interests or stay indifferent to the irresponsible behavior of some countries in and around the South China Sea.

Joint statements from ASEAN, it turns out, are not much trouble at all.
Road (2014) - Moto Movie Review

The 2014 documentary, Road follows 2 generations of Dunlop brothers, and their careers racing bikes on the real road courses of Ireland and the Isle of Man. If you know real road racing, then you already know their story, and if you don't know about this sport, then you really ought to. The most amazing thing about the elder Dunlops is perhaps how long they were able to dominate in this young man's game, even after supposed career ending crashes.

ROAD-Robert-Joey-Joeys-final-TT

I don't want to ruin it for you, but in this very dangerous sport (SPOILER ALERT) both elder brother Joey and younger brother Robert lost their lives, in 2000 and 2008 respectively. What is amazing is that Joey managed to race competitively from the mid 1970s, until the turn of the century, and be competitive. Robert was younger and got a later start, then had a rear wheel disintegrate in a race, leaving him with all sorts of nerve and joint issues, yet still was fast enough to win at 47 years old. The movie follows their rise, and fall, and come backs, as well as the promising careers of William and Michael, Robert's sons. Don't let the last name fool you either, this is a family of truck drivers, pub owners, and tradesmen, not heirs to a tire fortune.

ROAD-Brothers-Jim-Joey-and-Robert-Dunlop

The whole Dunlop family originally comes from Northern Ireland, and motorcycle racing bacteria seems to be in the water there. Joey, his brother Jim, and their brother in law all got infected with the racing bug, as well as several family friends. Understandably, Northern Ireland is one of the few places where you can still race motorcycles, head to head, on barely modified street circuits. You are all familiar with the Isle of Man TT, well races like the North West 200 are head to head versions of that with packs of bikes going all at the same time. There are curbs, dips, bridges, telephone poles, stone walls, and every other civilized obstacle you can imagine, lining streets so narrow they would be one way only in the USA. Imagine your morning commute, or weekend errand running, only flat out on a race prepared bike, and you get some idea.

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READ MORE: 10 Common Motorcycle Accidents And How To Avoid Them | RideApart

Road Dunlop (12)

The film gives a good account of the rise of these original Dunlop racers, and their loses and travails along the way, then focuses on Robert's sons. There is spectacular footage of the various races, much of which we don't get since there is no big motorcycle racing TV deal in the states.There is also a great deal of interviews with the people that knew Joey and Robert, as well as long time sponsors, family members, other racers, and more. Of course, you do get to see all of the tragic crashes, but if you are watching this movie for that sort of thing, you should just go into your garage and knock your bike over right now. Not only were these guys some of the best riders anywhere, they were the true salt of the earth. In the off season, Joey would load up a lorry with food and clothes, and drive it himself across dangerous border to get to orphanages in Bosnia, Romania, and other war zones.

Road Dunlop (6)

It is hard to build tension in a movie, when you already know how it ends, and most motorcycle people know how this ends. Still, it is nice to hear some first hand accounts of what caused Joey's crash, riding a 125cc bike, in his third race of the day, at a track no where near as dangerous as the road circuits. Both the crash that should have ended Robert's career, and the one that ultimately killed him are explained as well. They both died doing what they loved, and that is the best way to go, in my opinion, not wasting away in a hospital bed without even the memories of the thrills you once knew.

ROAD-Michael-William-2008-

The two young Dunlops, Michael and William, are carrying on the family business proudly, and seem to posses the rare combination of balance, reaction time, and near photographic memory needed to race successfully on these huge road based courses. It is a fitting tribute to their dad, and uncles that 2 promising riders are out there in the real road races with the name Dunlop. Robert even lived long enough to see them start their careers and race with them in some of the same events he and his brother had run.

ROAD-Robert-Michael-William-Dunlop

Rotten Tomato Rating: 80% favorable, and 89% audience rating, and you can read the reviews here.

RideApart Worth Watching: 100% favorable, and most likely greater than that from the audience, who suggest you watch it at least twice. If you like bikes and don't know this family and these races you need to sit down and get schooled, and this is a good way to do it. The movies TT3D: Closer to the Edge, and Joey Dunlop: No Ordinary Joe are a good education too.

Redeeming Quality: This movie is mostly redeeming qualities. Perhaps then we should mention what it could do without? It could be a bit less chatty, I suppose. And it would be better if Joey and Robert hadn't died, but then it wouldn't be non-fiction.

Road Dunlop (7)

Worth Noting: Yes, they speak English in Ireland, but if you want to understand what is being said in passing, when the subjects of the film aren't talking directly to the camera, you are going to need to pay close attention. The accents and dialects are thick, but your brain and ears could probably use a little exercise.

This is currently on Netflix, so it's free if you have the monthly subscription. That may be the only place to watch it right now, as I'm not finding an Amazon or Google Play link. Here's the trailer:

Learn more about Bryan and the rest of RideApart's excellent staff here: The RideApart Team

Follow RideApart on Facebook and Twitter, along with@RideApart on Instagram.
Bao Fan China Renaissance

China is the single biggest story in investment banking right now.

From the highly-acquisitive Chinese companies driving the mergers-and-acquisitions market to the plethora of growing private startups that could shape the future of the initial public offering market  every deal maker on Wall Street is scrambling to "get in on China."

China Renaissance CEO and founder Fan Bao is already at the heart of this story.

His recent accomplishments include the $1.78 billion US listing of JD.com, the $286 million IPO of microblogging app Weibo, and single-handedly pulling off the merger of the ride-hailing rivals Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache.

After seven years in banking and a short stint with a Beijing-based startup, Bao founded China Renaissance in 2004 to advise the flourishing community of Chinese tech entrepreneurs seeking high-quality advice that were too small to attract the attention of bulge-bracket firms.

Business Insider caught up with Bao in San Francisco this week for his first US interview. He was in town meeting with the Silicon Valley investing community and speaking at the 2016 Bloomberg Technology Conference.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Portia Crowe: Let's talk about the initial public offering, or IPO, space. The biggest IPO in the US was a Chinese company, Alibaba. But Jack Ma has said he regrets coming to the US. Do you find yourself having to address that with clients?

Fan Bao: Did he really mean that, that he regrets that? It's easy to say that after raising $20 billion here.

We just got a license to operate in China as an issuer  a security firm  so I started dealing with the domestic market a couple of years ago. I find that the two markets are very different. The domestic market is very much retail-driven as of today  85% of investors are retail investors, whereas here I think it's probably the other way around. So the markets behave very differently. And also in China all the IPOs are based on the approval process, meaning it's really up to the CSRC [China Securities Regulatory Commission], which is the SEC equivalent in China, to decide whether you're eligible for an IPO, whereas here it's more registration-based. So basically anyone can file for an IPO as long as you meet the minimum requirements and there are buyers of your securities  then you can get listed. So those two things make the fundamental difference between these two markets.

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I think there are pros and cons between these two markets. In the US, when you deal with institutional investors, obviously they drill much deeper. Your business model really has to be approved. And in this market people can buy, people can sell, people can short as well  so inherently the company is a lot more exposed. And, obviously, given that this is an institutional investor market, there are very high requirements in terms of corporate governance because that's in the end what institutional investors are all about. China is more about  being a listed company, you're not really subject to that much corporate governance, so to speak. Then again, in China you cannot short a stock, so the stock can only go up  you can't really push it the other way around. You can sell it and the stock will fall, but it's not going to fall 50% in a day because they have a 10% circuit break.

So in that regard, the market behaves very differently in China. Since they are retail investors, they very much want to bet on the narrative, the big story. You got into a new area, you're making acquisitions  they're very much driven by these short-term views. The investors actually give publicly-listed companies a lot of leeway in terms of doing deals, and they like doing deals because that generates a movement in the stock price. But the public companies are not really subject to the same level of scrutiny as the investors here.

JD.com

I'm not making any particular reference to any companies, but I think as a potential IPO candidate, you almost have to decide which system works for you.

Crowe: What does Chinese regulatory scrutiny look like?

Bao: Given that it's 85% retail, they've taken a very parental approach to that. So, "I have to protect the retail investors"  whereas the US is all disclosure-based. It's like, "As long as I've disclosed I'm a drug addict, you still want to buy my stock, fine." But in China, it's like, "No no no. If you're a drug addict, you can't do it because I would not allow you to do it." So it's a totally different approach.

Crowe: You have taken a number of Chinese companies public over here in the US. What are some of the challenges you had to overcome in the process?

Bao: If you look at the prospectus, oftentimes we're the only Chinese investment bank in there. So we play a very different role from the other US banks. US banks, you know, they come here, they sell stock. Our clients hire us first and foremost as an IPO adviser  the neutral party in the process, to watch out for the company's interests.

These IPO processes, the moment you start working on it, there's inherent conflict between the company and the underwriters, right? Because the underwriters want to obviously get the deal done, they want to price the deal low, and oftentimes the buy side pays them a lot of fees on the brokerage side, so they want to give them a good deal. So oftentimes, Chinese clients want somebody on their side to oversee the process, and to help them manage the rest of the underwriters  that's the role we play.

Crowe: How do the underwriters feel about that?

Bao: Well, they don't feel very good about it, but they have no choice. The level of trust is very different, but secondly, and increasingly so, even if it's a US IPO, a lot of buying interest or investors are coming from China. We have a pretty good distribution with Chinese financial institutions, so we're hired to also bring the Chinese investors into the IPOs. Those are sort of the two roles that we play in these IPOs.

Crowe: Tell me more about the pipeline. What's exciting to you?

Bao: Last year was all about going private. I think there was close to 20 going-private deals last year. So last year seems like the trend is going back to China. But ever since, there's been a lot of changes on the China side. These privatized companies are finding it harder to access the domestic-issue market. The ones that are already privatized are stuck  they have to go through the domestic-listing process. But the ones that are actually in the pipeline were originally thinking about a domestic IPO and now are thinking about [a US IPO], because this market, despite all the issues with it, at least is predictable. If you believe in yourself, believe in your ability to market to investors, you can get the deal done. There's no uncertainty with regard to the approval process.

I think that definitely more companies are thinking of coming here. But the pipeline this year is not that strong because of two factors. One I just talked about: Quite a few companies aren't really decided where to go. Even if they decide to go here, chances are they're probably not going to make it this year. Most likely next year. But also the cream of the crop of the current generation of Chinese tech companies  they're not ready to IPO yet. I'm talking about the likes of Didi, the likes of Meituan. I think the earliest they can come out is probably next year, if not the year after next. These are really the best of the current generation Chinese tech companies.

Crowe: It's the Didis, who else?

Bao: Meituan. There's now a company called Toutiao, which is sort of like BuzzFeed, but it's bigger.

Crowe: From which sectors can we expect more IPO activity?

TouTiao

Bao: After last year, it became pretty clear in our view  at least in our advice to our clients  which ones are more suitable here and which ones are more suitable in China. I think the ones that are more platform players  meaning, it's a platform, it's asset-light, you have to grow the user base first, then you start to drive the monetization  at some point there is an inflection point where you really break even and start making a lot of money, hopefully. You know, these are the models that are more suitable to this market, because US investors understand. There are a lot of great successes  Facebook, Snapchat, Google, these are all platform players. Investors here are going to buy that story.

The more local [Chinese] business model is not exactly platform, it's more asset-heavy, it's a model where you may not grow as fast, but it's a business model where you don't burn a lot of money  you actually make money as you go. It's more traditional. Those are the ones  like enterprise businesses, like SaaS [software as a service], cloud-based businesses, the content business  those are more suitable for the domestic IPOs.

Crowe: There are a lot of dire headlines coming out of China right now. People are worried about the transition from manufacturing to services, about potential oversupply in certain industries. Do these things impact the tech industry?

Bao: The fundamentals are still very strong. The tech guys  I mean, look, the tech companies or New Economy companies, they're not entirely dependent on GDP growth. A lot of the growth is actually coming from taking market share away from the traditional economy guys. So as long as the base is still small, the penetration is still there, they can still grow very nicely. If anything, a lot of the recent-generation companies are all about making things more efficient, making things cheaper for consumers. So actually when things are not going very well, generally, it's better for them because they can come up with better solutions. So on that front, we haven't really seen a lot of the problems in terms of the fundamental businesses.

The problem has more to do with the oversupply of capital. Within our industry, there's definitely a little bit of a bubble  actually a pretty big bubble  being made.

Crowe: In China?

Bao: I personally think so. I think there's a bubble here. too, but that's not for me to have an expert view on. But I think in China there's definitely a bubble being made.

What it means is, valuations are getting unreasonable, and I think a lot of deals that shouldn't be funded somehow got funded. The market standard has been lowered. We have a lot of issues in terms of retail money going into the venture-capital space in the form of wealth-management products being distributed by the banks and insurance companies. Those guys are not sophisticated investors. When they do deals, they do not do proper due diligence, they don't have minimum protections, so there has been a little bit of a race to the bottom, so to speak. In a sense, they're crowding out the institutional investors because it's become a game that the institutional investor cannot play. So that's been an issue. I think a little bit of a shakedown of the industry is potentially healthy, because right now things are getting a little frothy.

Crowe: Will this lead to a slowdown in IPOs in China, like high valuations in the US have done?

Bao: When you look from a capital perspective, our industry is really split in two. There's the offshore market, which is more moving in tandem with what's going on here, and there's the onshore market. The offshore market, the correction already happened because, at the end of the day, the US is still the core market. China is the emerging market, so whenever there is a correction happening here [in the US], the fringe usually gets the most burned. So I think that is already happening.

Crowe: So the tech bubble that you're referring to is more onshore?

China stock investor

Bao: It is onshore. The traditional economy is not doing well. A lot of capital is not only not going to the traditional economy, but a lot of the capital from the traditional economy is looking to invest in the New Economy. If you own a factory in China, you stop investing because your return on your money is negative. You'd rather take your money to invest it elsewhere. Where do you go? You have to go to the New Economy. So there's a lot of liquidity  a lot of capital  looking at investments in the New Economy companies. Which is fine, maybe that's how the capital markets work. But too much money in too short a time creates bubbles.

Crowe: Describe for me what you call the "New Economy."

Bao: Anything on the phone is New Economy. And they're not doing anything differently. I think Amazon is New Economy. Amazon is selling stuff just like Macy's was selling stuff  it's just a different way of selling stuff. You've got all these new companies coming up with technology-enabled innovative business models. These are the guys that come out and disrupt the way the traditional economy is being made.

Crowe: So in the New Economy, you roll out of bed, you order breakfast on your phone, get in your Didi or Uber, and go to work?

Bao: You wake up, you look at news on your phone, you go to work, you travel using Airbnb. I think that's everything that we call the New Economy. I think the good thing about current-generation tech companies is the demand is not created out of thin air  the demand is already there. They just come up with a better, more efficient way to address these demands.

Our service industry has never really developed, so our base is very low. So the benefit of that is, when we start building the service industry, we can start with the New Economy to address that. You think of healthcare services in China  it's upsetting. Hopefully, you've never been there. The queues are so long, it's dirty, and everything else. But you know, there's got to be a better way to provide healthcare service to the masses. That's why a lot of new companies are coming up in China that do a lot of pre-diagnosis on the phone so that, when you go to the doctor, 80% or 90% of the work is done, so it makes it more efficient. They do all the home-care stuff. You can put all sorts of phone-based monitors and the data is fed back to the hospital.

Crowe: So healthcare service apps are big?

Bao: It's very popular. I don't think anyone has come out to be a clear winner yet. We're still looking at a whole bunch of them.

Crowe: Let's talk about the venture capitalists. In addition to underwriting IPOs, you take VC money and help invest it in pre-IPO companies in China. What are VCs interested in right now? What are you hearing from the VC community about China?

Bao: Generally, people are a little bit lost where the next big things are. We know the areas that are going to be big, but it's hard to tell who is actually going to emerge as the winner.

But there are three things that I think we have agreement on, among all the VCs. In China, what we call the Consumer 2.0 is going to come. By that we mean a new type of consumer. They tend to come from the middle class, they are better-educated, younger. These guys want something different from the previous generations. Previous generations, it's all about how cheap  you have to be cost-effective. But the younger generation, the current generation, they're not only comparing prices, they want quality, they want individuality, they care as much about a product itself as the shopping experience, and they don't respond well to advertising. Oftentimes they buy stuff based on peer reviews. This is going to drive a new wave of consumer companies and the existing pecking order is probably going to change. So that's one thing.

Peking Hospital China lines

The second thing is, there's been a lot of critiques about China  the lack of innovation, oftentimes copying US models. I mean, a lot of that is probably not true. But it is true that the underlying technology has not been the biggest differentiator  the differentiator has been the business model, has been the team operating it, has been the operating efficiencies  but not the underlying technology.

Among the VCs, there is a consensus that, going forward in terms of looking for the generation of great companies, the emphasis has to be placed on technology. We are actually looking for companies that have at least some level of proprietary differentiator technology. If your innovation is based entirely on the business model, the problem with that is it can be copied overnight, then you end up competing on the basis of resources, competing on the basis of capital  so that's a pretty bloody game.

The third point: Healthcare, healthcare, healthcare. Everybody agrees healthcare is the big thing. From drug discovery, biotech, to med tech, to healthcare services. I think technology will play a very important role on all three fronts. We see this crossover between life science and information technology  I think that sort of intersection is going to create a lot of interesting opportunities.

Crowe: You mentioned Didi and Uber earlier, and the competition between the two. Tell me about that dynamic, where you have maybe an original from the US and a similar model from China. How does that play out?

Bao: I must say, among all the foreign companies, foreign internet companies, Uber has put up the best fight in China. They're really hanging tough there. No foreign internet company has ever succeeded in China. They are doing as good a job as they can, so hats off to them. But I think it's kind of tough to compete with Didi in China, because at the end of the day, it's a domestic business, there's a huge domestic market. And the Didi guys are good, I mean, they're really good, so I think it's really a tough battle. Everyone asks me, when will they do a deal? I really have no idea. Logic kind of tells you that some sort of partnership makes sense, but we all know the world is not logical.

Crowe: Well, nobody thought that Didi and Kuaidi would do a deal.

Bao: And we put them together.

Crowe: So is this your next big challenge?

Bao: All I can say is the deal will happen when the founders decide it's the right time to do it. At the end of the day, the ball is really in their court.

Crowe: Tell me what you're seeing in the outbound mergers-and-acquisitions space.

Bao: There is enthusiasm as well as interest on both sides, but there is also a very significant asymmetry of information on both sides. The Chinese, they want to invest in the space here, tech or not tech, but there's no systematic way for them to source high-quality assets. And also because guys here don't really know them, usually they do not get the first call  they probably get the last call.

But the US side is the same, because you've got so many Chinese coming here, telling them, "Look I have buying interest, I want to invest in this, I want to buy that." They don't know whether these guys are real or not. So I think we at China Renaissance can play a role because we've actually been operating on these two markets for a while. We really want to be the bridge and we want to be the gateway for Chinese investors looking to acquire assets and invest in deals coming this way as well as the other way around for the US companies who want access to Chinese companies. You need someone in the middle who is credible.

Fan Bao

One thing I've done quite a bit for my friends here that are either entrepreneurs or private-equity firms, who say, "Fan, yesterday a group of Chinese came to me, they're this company, they claim they want to buy this and buy that, are they credible?" I can give a reference in 10 minutes, whether or not these guys are real. We know enough people. Even if we don't know them, within three phone calls we can figure out whether these guys are real. A

nd vice versa, the guys coming here are like, "I have located this fantastic deal, it's the hottest deal on the market," and they check with us and we can tell them whether this deal is real, or as hot as they think, or just a deal that nobody wants that somehow they package off and try to sell to the foreign investors.

Crowe: The government has placed an emphasis on the tech industry, right?

Bao: I'm not sure it is at the behest of the government. The government is promoting the domestic tech industry  they've been very pro this industry as they try to change the structure of the Chinese economy. But I think it's more down to individual companies. Some are looking for growth, some are looking for interesting technologies, some are looking for attractive assets to buy. So that's what's driving it. I understand there has been an influx of Chinese interest in this market, looking for investment and acquisitions, but I think it's happening more at a micro level. I don't think the government has been directing buying interests.

Crowe: When you're looking at the next generation of companies, you're also looking for the next great entrepreneurs. What are you looking for in entrepreneurs?

Bao: I think it's hard to generalize that. But I think the key thing is really matching the demand with the job. Meaning, there's no perfect man or woman. It's about this particular individual, whether he is up to the job. So you have to understand what the job entails and you have to understand the individual  so whether there is a match.

I'll give you one example. If you do a social network, the entrepreneur better be young, the same generation as the users, a great product guy, have unique insight into the users and the needs and wants of the users, and really passionate about the stuff he is doing. He's not just making the product, creating a company, making a little money, but he truly believes his product can help his folks, or her folks, to make things differently. So that's one.

But if you're an enterprise guy, you're probably a bit older, and you need to be able to manage a pretty large engineering team. And the thing about enterprise is you have to sell. So the best enterprise entrepreneurs we have seen are more sales-y types, like coming from a selling and marketing perspective as opposed to a product-development perspective.

Early-stage development is probably all about the entrepreneur, or 90% about the entrepreneur. Even if the idea is somewhat less than perfect, he'll somehow figure out a way to make it perfect. But the challenging part is this: It's easy to say, "OK, this is what the job entails; does this guy have the right experience?" But oftentimes he doesn't. Has he had experience managing 1,000 people? Of course he hasn't. So how can you tell he actually has the potential to do that? That's the harder part. The youngest entrepreneur we're working with is a China Renaissance client who was born in 1995  a 21-year-old kid.

Crowe: What's the company?

Bao: He came up with this pretty cool app that enables you to do karaoke online and do competitions and do social networking on top of that. Karaoke's very popular in China.

NOW WATCH: A Chinese artist paints portraits so realistic they look like photographs  watch him paint Obama





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As first reported by the Washington Post, the penetration prompted the DNC to bring in an outside computer security firm, CrowdStrike, last April. The consultants linked the attack to what it believed were two separate Russian intelligence organizations: the Federal Security Service, or FSB, intelligence service and the countrys military intelligence organization, known as the GRU.

The DNCs security experts then monitored the GRU hackers, whom they codenamed Fancy Bear, as they swiped files and memos that Democratic oppo researchers had compiled on Trump, his past business deals and other aspects of his career. We were watching these people for six weeks, said one source familiar with the DNCs internal investigation. Their activity would take place from 9 to 5 Moscow time.

But sources familiar with the investigations tell Yahoo News that the Russian state-sponsored attack  reminiscent of a Chinese intelligence intrusion into the campaigns of Barack Obama and John McCain in 2008  was much more extensive than the DNC hack. Its broader, one senior U.S. official said of the Russian hack. The campaigns both of the real estate mogul and of the former secretary of state were targeted by the Russians, sources said, although it is not clear that the state-sponsored hackers in fact penetrated the campaigns. We have no evidence that our information systems have been compromised, said a Clinton campaign official, who asked not to be identified by name. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

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The possibility that American political campaigns were under attack from foreign spies was first raised last month by James Clapper, the director of national intelligence. He said then that there were some indications that cyberhackers, possibly associated with foreign governments, were seeking to penetrate the campaigns.

Although Clapper gave no details, the comments alarmed the DNCs security experts, who were trying to defend their system. They worried that the comments would alert the Russian hackers to the fact that the penetration had been discovered, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

Dmitri Alperovitch, a top CrowdStrike executive, said in a blog posting about the investigation that the Russian hackers were highly sophisticated and are likely to have used spear-phishing emails to DNC employees to penetrate the committees computer systems. Their tradecraft is superb, operational security second to none, he wrote.

Alperovitch, noting that the FSB-linked hackers had been associated last year with attacks on unclassified networks at the White House, the State Department and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, portrayed the attack as part of the Russian intelligence services extensive political and economic espionage.

But one theory being explored by U.S. intelligence officials and private security experts is that the Russians may have motives beyond intelligence gathering, including potentially influencing the outcome of the election. This could happen, they speculate, by leaking the DNCs oppo research files to the campaign of the presumptive Republican nominee, giving advance warning of possible lines of attack. Trump has indicated respect and even affinity for Russian president Vladimir Putin and has suggested that he may seek to curtail U.S. support for NATO, a long-standing Russian ambition. We know they like Trump, said one security expert who has been briefed on the Russian penetration of the DNC. One reason they may have been doing this is to feed the information to Trump.
Earlier this year, Samsung was awarded the title Marketer of the Year at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Considering how ubiquitous the company has become over the past several years, this might not come as much of a surprise, but even Samsung executives will admit that it wasn't long ago when consumers were calling the company "boring and monotonous."

So how did Samsung turn things around?

MUST SEE: Leaked iPhone 7 photo shows a major change we never saw coming

In a recent interview with Adweek, marketing head Younghee Lee explains that she has done her best since joining Samsung in 2007 to help the company tell its story in a way that will be appreciated by consumers.

"Our mission should be for the everyday users, not technology for the sake of technology," says Lee. "All the great technology we have had to be translated to consumer language. We've done a lot of research to understand what consumers want and need. That is at the core of our marketing."

But it's impossible to discuss Samsung's success as a creative marketer without bringing up Apple: the company that changed the way the mobile industry operated.

Here's what Lee said when asked how Samsung managed to overtake Apple as the industry's worldwide leading smartphone manufacturer:

We always relentlessly pursue what we think is right in technology. Our communications program is no different. If we think it is right, we pursue it relentlessly. In North America, we were aggressive with our marketing toward competitorswe went at them head on. If you think about the "Fanboy" and "Wall Hugger" (Galaxy S) campaigns and the approach we took there, we tried to be flexible, relevant and bold.

In other words, attacking Apple (and developing a great deal of respect for Apple's success) played a major part in Samsung's creative renaissance.

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One of Apple's first iPhone prototypes featured a curved display

Story continues

Code in macOS may confirm MacBook Pro with OLED touch panel and Touch ID

5 big changes supposedly coming to next year's iPhone 8

More from BGR: We mightve just found out when the Apple Watch 2 will launch

This article was originally published on BGR.com
Surprisingly loud chirps accompany a clumsy flurry of tiny wings as a wispy-haired chick breaks through its shell, its birth offering rare cause for celebration in the struggle to save the Philippine eagle from extinction.

Tropical rainforest destruction and relentless hunting have decimated the population of the majestic bird -- one of the world's biggest and most powerful -- with just hundreds believed to be left in the wild.

A small band of conservationists at a tiny sanctuary on the fringes of Davao, the southern Philippines' biggest city, is trying to ensure their survival by running the world's only breeding programme for the eagles and by rehabilitating the wounded.

"The centre serves basically as insurance, or a Noah's Ark so to speak, for the species," Philippine Eagle Foundation executive director Dennis Salvador told AFP on a recent visit.

"But it certainly doesn't substitute for a population in the wild."

The foundation estimates there are about 800 of the Philippines' national bird remaining in the wild, though it is impossible to count accurately due to their remote habitats. International conservation groups say there could be as few as 250 left.

In more than three decades of trial and error experiments by the foundation that have yet to fully understand the eagles' breeding habits, just 27 have been born in captivity.

The eagles are notoriously hard to pair, with the larger female known to attack and even kill an unwanted suitor in the wild. Once they do find a suitable partner, it is generally for life, although even in the forests the couples will generally only reproduce every two years.

"It's difficult because we don't really know what happens in the wild, and we can't replicate that here in captivity," said Anna Mae Sumaya, the foundation's curator.

- 'Exciting, fantastic' -

However, after failing to breed any eagles for nearly three years, recent successes have raised hopes.

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Go Phoenix, which was brought into the centre after being ensnared in a hunter's trap, and MVP, a shooting victim, were successfully paired in 2013 and have produced two chicks in quick succession, the latest in February.

The exceptionally rare moments in nature were filmed from behind glass enclosures, the footage showing chick number 27 breaking out of its shell with a burst of energy and chirping before resting its head on pebbles in a small metal dish.

"It was exciting, a fantastic feeling, we were very lucky," Sumaya said, adding she hoped Go Phoenix and MVP could produce again next season while two other pairs were also a chance to breed.

However a growing problem is space: 35 eagles live in cages of various sizes in the centre, which covers just eight hectares (20 acres) of forest.

The centre's ultimate goal is to release the eagles back into the wild, but this has proved even more of a challenge than breeding them.

One of the biggest problems has been the eagles becoming too accustomed to human contact at the centre. When released, they have been shot after getting too close to communities that are in or near the diminishing forests.

Formerly known as the monkey-eating eagle, the birds are protected by law. Killing one is punishable by a maximum 12-year prison term and a one million-peso ($21,000) fine, but shooters are rarely caught.

Out of 15 eagles from the centre that have been released, only one is known to still be alive in the wild, according to Sumaya. She said four had been brought back to the centre after sustaining injuries while the others were confirmed or presumed dead.

- 'Devastated' -

In the most recent failure, Matatag was shot in February. He had survived about a year after being released into the forests on Mt Apo, the Philippines' highest mountain.

Matatag had initially been brought to the centre after being shot when he was just one year old, then spent three years in rehabilitation before his ill-fated release.

"I was devastated. I thought: 'It's happening all over again'," Sumaya said, but added the bird was recovering well.

The centre is trying to eliminate contact between humans and the eagles that are earmarked for eventual release, although Sumaya said there were no plans in the near future to set any more free.

Those that are too badly injured or old to be released are put on display for tens of thousands of tourists and students who visit the centre each year.

While breeding the eagles is important, foundation executive director Salvador said the key to the eagles' survival was educating Filipinos about their plight and raising awareness about the need to stop logging, mining and other forest-destroying activities.

Four-year-old Fighter spends his days chained to a perch, his grey eyes constantly darting as if he thinks he is searching for prey in the wild, while his striking brown and white crest occasionally flares in a sign of stress or territorial aggression.

Fighter is missing nearly half of his left wing from a gun shot injury so would not survive in the wild, but he is helping to teach visitors about the eagles' plight.

"Just dont destroy the habitats of eagles, dont destroy their forests," said nine-year-old Daneen Sinsuat, when asked what she had learnt from her visit to the centre with her classmates.
Hillary Clinton and her top advisers met with Sen. Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane Sanders, on Tuesday evening shortly after Clinton was projected the landslide winner of the final Democratic primary in Washington, D.C.

The meeting at a D.C. hotel lasted nearly two hours and marked the first time the candidates have met face to face in months. Neither candidate spoke to the press after their conclave ended, but the pair had agreed to discuss the end of the Democratic race and Sanders desire to change the Democratic Party.

The Clinton and Sanders campaigns released nearly identical, carefully worded statements after the meeting, saying both candidates had congratulated each other on their campaigns and had a positive discussion. Both camps said they talked about the dangerous threat Donald Trump poses to the nation. The Clinton camp said the pair discussed uniting the party, while Sanders statement omitted that phrasing. The candidates agreed to work to develop a progressive agenda for the party platform in July, Sanders statement said, while the Clinton campaign called it their shared agenda.

Sanders has at times vowed to fight all the way to the Democratic convention in July, but Clinton has said she expects that they will go into the convention united.

Clinton became the presumptive Democratic nominee early last week, but Sanders has not yet endorsed her or conceded his own bid. The Vermont senator faces mounting pressure to step down and throw his support behind her. (In 2008, Clinton had already conceded at this point in the race to now-President Barack Obama.)

Sanders is clearly already starting down that road. Sanders campaign announced to supporters Tuesday that he will make an important video announcement Thursday night from his hometown of Burlington. The senator has also stopped saying he wants to convince superdelegates to flip from supporting Clinton to supporting him. And he declined to hold a rally Tuesday night, even though he has held them on other election nights.

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But the candidate is still not going down without a fight. In a feisty news conference earlier Tuesday, Sanders reiterated that he wants to fundamentally transform the Democratic Party, and called for a replacement of the Democratic National Committees leadership, presumably meaning chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. (He has already endorsed the congresswomans primary opponent in Florida.)

I do believe that we have to replace the current Democratic National Committee leadership, Sanders said. He also called for the most progressive platform ever at the convention in July.

Sanders has vowed to take his progressive ideals to the convention, but its unclear how many of his goals  which include changing the Democratic nomination process by eliminating superdelegates and allowing independents to vote in Democratic primaries in every state  he can achieve.

He has every right to express his opinion  he got a lot of votes! said former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Clinton supporter and a former chair of the DNC. That doesnt mean he has to get his way there. Sanders has some leverage in making his demands. Clinton will count on Sanders to rally his supporters  especially younger voters, who she has had trouble attracting in the Democratic primaries  to vote for her.

No matter what happens at the convention, Sanders will be a key figure in the progressive movement going forward. The senator has amassed a valuable email list of supporters who have already donated millions of dollars to Sanders-backed candidates. Bernie Sanders will be a powerful force in the Democratic Party over the next five or 10 years if he chooses to be, because he can raise money and he can support progressive candidates, Rendell said.
Bernie Sanders has accepted hes lost the war but, having won key battles, hes the one negotiating the terms of his surrender.

The Vermont Independent senator turned Democratic presidential contender met with presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton for two hours behind closed doors at a Washington hotel Tuesday night as the polls closed in the last primary of the Democratic nominating contest. A truce is taking shape between the former Senate colleagues, with Sanders and Clinton vowing in recent days to work together to defeat presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in November.

Still, Sanders came to the summit with a list of demands for reforming the Democratic Party, including a vow to push for the most progressive platform ever passed by the party. Hes already staked out positions well to the left of Clintons foreign policy on issues ranging from the Israeli-Palestinian dispute to the war against the Islamic State, setting the stage for potentially bitter fights.

Clinton has a well-documented record of pushing President Barack Obama to surge more troops into Afghanistan and launch a U.S.-led military intervention in Libya. And in many respects, Sanders has not forced her to substantially alter the relatively hawkish approach shes demonstrated in her years in public office.

Still, he has succeeded  and even exceeded observers expectations  in forcing the Democratic Party to re-evaluate its long-held assumptions about the use of military force abroad. Clinton embodies many of those views, and Sanders won millions of votes by coming at her from the left and arguing for a less interventionist foreign policy.

The Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign declined to comment on what contributions Sanders may have made to the foreign policy debate during the Democratic primary. Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs also did not respond to a request for comment.

Sanderss campaign announced he will give a video address from Burlington, Vermont, on Thursday, raising expectations that he will formally abandon his quest for the nomination  and yet, the email announcing the address was titled: The political revolution continues.

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Sanders launched his campaign with a laser-sharp focus on domestic issues like universal health care and an expanded social welfare system. By the end, though, he had succeeded in putting Clinton on the defensive on issues like Libyas unraveling, the ongoing carnage in Iraq, and international trade deals such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which she came out against despite backing it countless times as Obamas top diplomat.

While often deflecting questions on the specifics of his foreign policy, Sanders sought to undermine Clintons far deeper experience by questioning her judgment  a strategy Trump has already begun to emulate in his general election campaign.

And Sanders also forced concessions from the DNC that could have a lasting impact on the party far beyond its convention in Philadelphia in July. Due to Sanderss undeniable success in mobilizing Democratic voters and bringing new ones  particularly young people  into the party, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz gave him five seats on the powerful committee charged with drafting the partys platform. Clinton, who ultimately won 3 million more votes than her rival, received just one extra seat.

Even before the picks were named, Sanderss national security advisors said he shouldve focused more on foreign policy, believing him to be more closely aligned with the Democratic base on the issue than Clinton. Several promised to push for a platform with more liberal foreign policy proposals than she has espoused, particularly in calling for more evenhandedness toward Palestinians in language about the long-stymied peace process.

Jim Zogby, a foreign policy advisor for Sanders who was named to the drafting committee, credited the Vermont senator for pushing Clinton to talk more about Palestinian rights and whether Israel had used disproportionate force in retaliatory strikes.

Ending the taboo about discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a measured and balanced way was historic, Zogby told Foreign Policy on Tuesday. He has said he will push for the word occupation to be included in the platform to describe the nearly five-decade Israeli presence in land Palestinians claim for a future state.

Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute, has been part of the DNCs executive body for a decade, including as co-chair of the resolutions committee and co-founder of its Ethnic Caucus. Hes hoping Sanderss stance on the Israeli-Palestinian issue will have a trickle-down effect on the partys platform, leading to a demilitarization of our foreign policy, including avoiding nation-building and using force as a last resort.

When Foreign Policy noted that some of those critiques sound as if they could have come from Trump, Zogby pushed back: Donald Trump may pick up a phrase here or there [from Sanders], but that is in no way, shape, or form the same thing.

For one of her own picks on the drafting committee, Wasserman Schultz selected Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), the only member of Congress to vote against the 2001 authorization that serves as legal foundation for the war on terror  both Sanders and Clinton and Clinton voted yes. Lee told Foreign Policy Wednesday shell continue to withhold her endorsement, because neutrality will give her a better bargaining position if we get stuck on some of the big issues.

Shell personally push for issues such as an updated authorization for the ISIS fight and auditing of the Pentagon, but allowed Israel-Palestine could potentially be one on which the committee gets stuck. Still, she added, A very volatile debate is always good.

In going after Clintons judgment on foreign policy, Sanders pulled from Obamas successful 2008 playbook. Then Sen. Obama constantly hit the woman who would become his first secretary of state for her 2002 vote for the Iraq war, and won.

In the run-up to Clintons clinching of the nomination, Democratic leaders growing calls for Sanders to tone down his criticism reflected their fears that the judgment attack would hand Trump a ready-made response to questions about his own credibility.

And it has.

Rather than fade away with Sanderss campaign, Trump has given the judgment attack a second life. In recent weeks, he has parroted Sanderss language and even invoked his name, wielding the word judgment some half a dozen times in as many days in late May and early June.

Lee said of Sanderss tactic, I could question his judgment, referring to his vote for the 2001 authorization. But Im not going to say that, she laughed, questioning anothers judgment is pushing it a little bit. Still, she doesnt think it will hurt Clinton in the general election, particularly against Trump who has no foreign policy.

She said Sanders did succeed in raising an alternative vision on foreign policy: The fact that Democrats can be strong on national security and care about global peace, without continuing to use the military option as a first resort rather than the last.

It remains too soon to tell how enthusiastically Sanders will campaign for Clinton and what else he would be willing to do to help defeat Trump. The senator continued to withhold his endorsement following Tuesday nights meeting, though many outside observers believe he will eventually throw his support behind her.

Wasserman Schultz said in a statement timed with the meeting: Now that our 2016 primaries are officially at their end, Democrats are ready to unify and take on both Trump and the Republican Party that he represents.

Sanders has long accused Wasserman Schultz of being in the tank for Clinton and replacing her is one of his primary demands, though she insists shes staying put.

Still, Briggs, the Sanders spokesman, told reporters earlier Tuesday that the senator will not drop out today, or tomorrow, or the next day and plans to stay in this through the Democratic convention.

Photo credit: MARK WILSON/Staff
By PTI: From Abhishek Shukla

Abidjan, Jun 15 (PTI) Cote DIvoirie, the worlds largest producer of cocoa, today sought investment from Indias private sector, particularly in processing the main ingredient in chocolates, to further strengthen trade ties with India.

President of Cote DIvoirie Alassane Ouattara expressed interest in Indian private sector investment during his talks with President Pranab Mukherjee, who is on a two-day trip to the West African country as part his three-nation Africa tour.

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"Ivory Coast Government is very keen to get Indian private sector on board...Another sector he was proudly mentioning was that of chocolates. They produce cocoa. He says that Indian private sector could be useful as they export everything," Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha said while giving details of the talks between the two leaders to reporters.

Cote DIvoirie leads the world in production and export of the cocoa beans used in the manufacture of chocolate, supplying 33 per cent of cocoa produced globally.

Sinha also said as per figures in January this year, the trade between the two countries stood at around USD 841 million and would have touched USD 1 billion till March 31.

In one of the important agreements signed, Exim Bank is going to re-open its office here. It was shifted in 1992 to Sudan because of political turmoil in the country.

Headquartered in Mumbai, the bank signed a Headquarter Agreement which will give it some privileges.

Mukherjee also raised the issue of reforms in the UN Security Council and said change is a must, Sinha said.

Ouattara told Mukherjee it was an honour that he took time away from his busy schedule to visit his country and expressed regret that he could not come to India during the India-Africa Forum Summit last year because of elections.

Mukherjee extended an invitation to Ouattara, asking him to visit India anytime, Sinha said.

This is the maiden visit of the Indian President to "home of hospitality" Cote DIvoirie and is seen as Indias outreach to Africa. Mukherjees visit comes close on the heels of Vice President Hamid Ansaris trip to Morocco and Tunisia.

Cote DIvoirie also known as Ivory Coast, a francophone country, is also the biggest producer and exporter of cashew nuts to India which procures nearly 80 per cent of its total exports of cashew nuts.

The country had gone through a period of turmoil in the last decade due to civil war but its development can be seen from modern expressways crisscrossing the lush green countryside. PTI ABS MRJ KUN AKJ KUN

--- ENDS ---

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binary black hole merger illustration

Today, scientists announced that on December 26, 2015 the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected ripples in the fabric of the universe called gravitational waves.

These gravitational waves were generated by two black holes  eight and 14 times the mass of the sun  merging together 1.4 billion light years away from Earth.

This produced a spinning black hole 21 times the mass of the sun. It also released enough energy to rival the mass of the Sun in the form of gravitational waves.

This discovery came just three months after LIGO first detected gravitational waves on September 4, 2015  one of the most monumental discoveries ever made in physics.

The discovery of gravitational waves confirmed Einsteins 100-year-old prediction that extremely violent events in space will produce ripples in the fabric of spacetime similar to what would happen if you tossed a pebble into a pond.

Now that scientists have detected two of these events, theyre well on their way to probing some of the darkest, most energetic processes in the universe.

So why are gravitational waves so important?

black hole merger simulation ligo sxs

What we are able to see with light only makes up 0.4% of the universe. The rest of the universe is invisible. We only know it exists because it generates gravity.

Gravitational waves will allow us to listen, in a sense, to that 99.6% of the universe that we can never see.

It's kind as if you're walking in a jungle and you can't hear the sound.

"Without sound you wouldn't detect all the life in the jungle," Stefano Vitale, Principal Investigator for another gravitational wave project, called Laser Interferometer Space Antenna Project (LISA), told Business Insider. "When you turn on the sound you can recognize the sources - objects you can't see because they're hidden in the jungle. Looking at a gravitational wave is ... like adding the soundtrack to the universe. You can see things you cannot see with light."

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Studying the universe in gravity could allow us to see as far back in time as the big bang, NASA scientist Charles Dunn told Business Insider. "It's like opening a new window," Oliver Jennrich, ESA deputy project scientist, told Business Insider. "All of a sudden we learn about things we had no clue existed."

A whisper in space

aerial_ligo5_300

But when you toss that pebble into the pond, you might notice that as the ripples spread out on the surface, they get fainter as they get further from where the pebble smacked into the water.

The same thing happens with gravitational waves  by the time they reach us here on Earth they are so faint that they are nearly impossible to detect.

The LIGO detectors each consist of two 2.5 mile arms equipped with a highly sophisticated system of lasers. As a gravitational wave washes over the detectors, the geometry of the arms changes ever so slightly  the shift in arm length can be 10,000 times smaller than a proton.

To measure this incredibly small change, scientists had to make LIGO more sensitive than any scientific instrument ever built.

And this new wave that scientists detected was even harder to pick up than the first wave because the black holes were much less massive. This demonstrates just how sensitive the LIGO detectors can be to these waves.

Because of their lighter masses compared to the first detection, they spent more time about one secondin the sensitive band of the detectors, said Gabriela Gonzalez, spokesperson of the international LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC), in an MIT press release. It is a promising start to mapping the populations of black holes in our universe.

Because LIGO was able to detect two of these gravitational wave events within its first few months of running, scientists are confident that these sorts of black hole collisions are actually pretty common in our neighborhood.

Being able to study things like black hole mergers through gravity will shed light on some of the "darkest yet most energetic events in our universe, said Albert Lazzarini, deputy director of the LIGO Laboratory, in an American Physical Society press release.

Now that we are able to detect gravitational waves, they are going to be a phenomenal source of new information about our galaxy and an entirely new channel for discoveries about the universe, said Chad Hanna, co-chair of the Compact Binary Coalescence Group at LIGO, in a Penn State University press release.

NOW WATCH: These 5-mile long buildings led to one of the greatest discoveries in physics





More From Business Insider


Scientists have detected a second gravitational wave signal, leaving no doubt that Albert Einstein's 100-year-old prediction was right.

Back in February, scientists announced they had finally detected gravitational waves at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory, known as LIGO. Today, June 15, they announced a second detection of gravitational waves. Just like the first signal, this one came from a pair of merging black holes.

The discovery was announced at the 228th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in San Diego, California.

Gravitational waves are ripples through space-time that happen when something like a star collapses or two black holes merge. Einstein predicted their existence 100 years ago, but all searches had come up empty-handed until the signal detected in February.

How LIGO found them: The black holes that produced this second signal were about 1.4 billion light-years away. One was about eight times the mass of the sun and the other was about 14 times the mass of the sun, according to LIGO spokesperson Gabriela Gonzalez.

The black holes circled each other before finally colliding at half the speed of light. The cataclysmic merger produced a huge burst of energy, equivalent to the mass of our sun, that spread through space as gravitational waves.

LIGO picked up the gravitational waves by detecting small distortions in its twin laser beams. You can actually hear "chirps" from the signal:

Why it matters: After the first detection in February, it was possible that physicists just got really lucky. A second detection is huge; it opens the door for much more research. Gravitational waves are all around us, and we'll likely see many more signals.

"We can tell you now, the era of gravitational wave science has begun," Gonzalez said during the press conference.

The more gravitational waves we detect, the better we'll be able to test Einstein's theory of general relativity, and it could reveal more about black holes.

The research describing the second signal is published in the Physical Review Letters.
By Elisabeth O'Leary and Guy Faulconbridge EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Britain's referendum on European Union membership is on a knife edge and if England backs an exit that drags Scots out of the bloc against their will, Scotland may call a new vote on independence, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said. Opinion polls have in the past few days shown unexpectedly strong support for leaving the European Union in a June 23 referendum, a step that could rock the EU, test the unity of the United Kingdom and unleash turmoil on global financial markets. "Clearly the referendum is on a knife edge across the UK," Sturgeon, the pro-EU leader of Scotland's devolved government, told Reuters in an interview in the Scottish Parliament. Sturgeon said that if England pulled the United Kingdom out of the EU and Scotland voted to stay, there would probably be sharp rise in support for calling a vote on Scottish independence. She declined to give any timescale. Scots rejected independence by 55-45 percent in a referendum in September 2014, though the vote energized Scottish politics and support for Sturgeon's Scottish National Party (SNP) has surged seen then. Because of the potential political uncertainty that a so-called Brexit would cause, it is unclear how much support there would be for secession if Scots were to vote on the issue again. Sturgeon, 45, has been campaigning for Britain to remain in the EU, which she says is good for jobs, businesses and workers' rights. "It would be a very serious mistake for the UK to vote to leave the European Union, and I think it would be democratically indefensible for Scotland, if we had voted to stay in, to face the prospect of being taken out," Sturgeon said. "If we were to find ourselves in that position then I think people -- you know even people who don't support Scotland becoming independent -- in all fairness could understand the sense of disquiet that there would be in Scotland over that." Many Scots voted to remain in the United Kingdom in the 2014 independence referendum because they wanted to remain in the EU, said Sturgeon. Sturgeon was this month rated by U.S. magazine Forbes as the world's 50th most powerful woman and Britain's second most powerful after Queen Elizabeth. Her approval ratings amongst Scots are near 60 percent, according to pollster YouGov. UNITED KINGDOM? Since Sturgeon took over the SNP leadership following the independence referendum, party membership has risen fivefold. In an election in May 2015, the pro-independence party won 56 of the 59 seats allocated to Scotland in Britain's Westminster parliament. As head of the devolved Scottish government, Sturgeon decides health and education spending in Scotland and has the power to set some tax rates and bands. She expressed concern about the future of British politics in the event of a Brexit, saying right-wing politicians could unseat Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, who is also campaigning for Britain to remain in the EU. "I worry about the direction of the UK and UK politics and governance in the event of a Brexit," Sturgeon said. "If there is a 'Leave' vote in England and across the UK as a whole then we see the reins of power being seized by politicians who are on the right of the Conservative party." "It is absolutely vital to get out there in big numbers and (vote) remain." TRUMP OR 'PRESIDENT CLINTON'? She said she could not say when she thought Scotland would be independent, if ever. "I desperately want Scotland to be an independent country. I cannot, though, sit here and tell you definitively that it will happen, and that it will happen on this timescale, because I have to respect the opinion of the people of Scotland." "I recognize that we have work to do to build that majority support," she said. "It's not just a case of if I desperately want it to happen then I can make it happen." Asked whether she would take calls from Republican Donald Trump if he became U.S. president, she said: "I hope that doesn't arise." "I don't think it's any secret that I hope and believe that the good sense of the good people of the United States will prevail here. But it's their decision and the world will have to live with that decision." In a reference to remarks by Trump since 50 people were shot dead in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, she said: "Some of Donald Trump's comments in the last couple of days I think should make everyone pause for serious thought." Trump proposed after the attack, the worst mass killing in modern U.S. history, that the United States should suspend immigration from countries "where there is a proven history of terrorism" against the United States. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack but U.S. officials have said the killer's motives were unclear and that he had no known direct links with the Syria-based group. "I really don't think I would be surprising anyone if I were to say that I would rather be found to be in the position of congratulating President (Hillary) Clinton," she said. Asked if she planned to meet Trump, who had a Scottish mother and is due to visit Scotland the day after the referendum, she said with a laugh: "I think I might have other things to occupy myself with on the 24th of June." (Editing by Timothy Heritage)
My husband and I recently bought a home in a New York City suburb.

When we began the process of applying for our mortgage, we were asked to submit a boatload of documents and paperwork. We each handed over two months worth of pay stubs, three years worth of W-2s, about a dozen quarterly bank statements, letters confirming our employment, retirement account balances  and the list goes on.

We spent a few days getting everything together and then dedicated one Sunday afternoon in early April to scanning and emailing everything over to our soon-to-be lender.

Before I sent the email, I carefully looked through each and every document once more to confirm we had everything they were asking for.

Yup  okay  perfect  wonderful  great  WHAT?!?!

When I looked closely at my husbands 401(k) statement, I was shocked to see the number at the very bottom.

We had both started working and contributing to our retirement accounts around the same time (late 2010) and we earned about the same amount of money  so how on earth was his balance so much higher than mine?

Tyler (my husband) and I are very open with each other about our finances  so I always knew he contributed a larger percentage of his pre-tax income to his 401(k) than I did. But I had never realized just how much more money he was actually saving until I saw the balance.

While I had been contributing anywhere from 2% to 4% of my pre-tax income to my retirement account since I started working, he had been contributing between 8% and 12%  increasing his contribution by about 1% each year.

That led to a pretty big disparity between his balance and mine over the six-year span. He had saved about three times what I had, to be exact.

Seeing those numbers side by side was a huge wake-up call for me. I thought about our future. I wondered, If that gap is this big now, what will it look like in 40 years?

I knew if I continued contributing and saving the way I was, hed be in way better shape come time to retire.

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Sure, thats still years away  but I know from reading about saving for retirement that what you do and how you save when youre young has an immense impact on things later.

I felt silly for once feeling so proud of myself for contributing anything. I had thought, Oh, how responsible of me! But I now realized it simply wasnt enough.

I knew right then and there I had to re-evaluate.

I sat down, did the math, figured out what I could afford to contribute without feeling strapped for cash each month, and increased my contribution to 8%. I also checked off that little box next to the question on the website about whether Id like to automatically increase my contribution by 1% each year. Now I dont even have to think about it!

As Business Insiders Libby Kane recently pointed out, in order to finance 20-30 years post-work  operating on about 70% of my former annual income (at least)  I should be contributing 15% of my pre-tax income starting at age 30. (I just turned 28, so I have a couple of years to work my way up to that number.)

She says, according to T. Rowe Price, increasing my contribution to 15% could help me save about $600,000 more by age 65 than I would if I contributed just 10% of my income.

Sure, upping my contribution now makes my paychecks a bit smaller (maybe I have to skip a dinner out every now and then, or hold myself back from buying those sandals Ive been eyeing)  but Im sure Ill enjoy that extra $600,000 more than I will those shoes Ill probably wear twice.

Watch out, Tyler: Ill catch up before you know it!

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On Tuesday, senators voted in favor of a bill that would require women to register for the military draft when they turn 18, just as men do.

According to the New York Times, if signed into law, the legislation would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2018 and only apply to young women who turn 18 after that date. Women who fail to register would be subject to the same penalties that currently exist for men, including ineligibility for federal financial aid.

The question of including women in the draft has been a contentious one since United States Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced in December the historic decision to open all combat positions to women. At the time, Carter emphasized that making the U.S. military the "force of the future" depended on it.

"We can't afford to cut ourselves off from half of the country's talents and skills," he said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced in December that positions in all military branches would be open to women effective April 2016.

Some counted the decision as a move toward gender equality, and on Tuesday politicians maintained a draft for women would be in the same spirit.

"The fact is every single leader in this country, both men and women, members of the military leadership, believe that it's fair since we opened up all aspects of the military to women that they would also be registering for Selective Services," said Arizona Sen. John McCain, who serves as the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, according to the Times.

Opponents to the bill included former GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz, who, appealing to his ethos as a father, said requiring young women to enlist makes "little sense at all."

"I could not in good conscience vote to draft our daughters into the military, sending them off to war and forcing them into combat," Cruz said.

"I think the change is inevitable, whether in this debate or through the courts."

Though it's unlikely there will be a military draft any time soon  the last one, the Times noted, was in 1973 during the Vietnam War  and a draft wouldn't solely place women in active combat positions, many feminist concerns still linger.

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In December, Kim Tran, a gender and women's studies graduate student at University of California, Berkeley, told Mic in December 2015 she worried that the inclusion of women in all branches of the military disguises the colonialist and imperialist violence she sees inherent to the institution.

"For me," she'd said, "the most important question when it comes to women in combat has to do with the hidden anti-feminist economies of militarism."

Military policy analyst Nora Bensahel told the Times that Carter's decision sealed the fate for women and the draft.

"I think the change is inevitable, whether in this debate or through the courts," she said. "It just seems that now that you have women allowed to serve in any position in the military, there is no logical basis to say women should not be drafted."
By Susan Cornwell and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday that "nobody wants terrorists to have firearms" and that he was open to suggestions from experts on legislation that could address the problem, following the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

McConnell, a Republican, made his remarks amid blistering attacks by Democrats on the lack of action in Congress on legislation to prevent suspects on "watch lists" from purchasing guns or explosives.

While there was no firm evidence of Republicans and Democrats in either the Senate or House of Representatives moving toward a compromise, there were hints they at least might be willing to talk.

"Maybe we can find some middle ground. I hope so, said Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat.

The debate in Congress over firearms was reignited on Sunday after a gunman in Orlando, Florida, armed with an assault rifle killed 49 people at a gay nightclub and injured 53 others before he was shot to death by law enforcement officers.

The assailant, New York-born Omar Mateen, had been investigated by the FBI for 10 months in 2013 and 2014 over possible connections he had to foreign militant groups.

Democrats are pressuring Republicans in the Senate and House to quickly bring up legislation closing a loophole that allows those on "no fly" watch lists to purchase weapons in the United States.

The Democrats are targeting a Justice Department appropriations bill this week, hoping to add an amendment prohibiting such gun sales. A similar effort last December failed.

"Theres no excuse for allowing suspected terrorists to buy guns, said Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid.

McConnell took a swipe at the Democrats, saying: "Our suspicion is this is basically a politically motivated effort that were likely to see" on the Justice Department spending bill.

The Republican leader added, however: "Were open - nobody wants terrorists to have firearms - were open to serious suggestions from the experts as to what we might be able to do to be helpful.

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On Wednesday, senators from both parties will have an opportunity to speak directly to some experts when Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson are scheduled to brief them on the Orlando attack.

The officials briefed House members on Tuesday and several House Democrats brought up the watch list issue.

"There was some question about procedures going forward, said Representative Jan Schakowsky, a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee.

But House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the No. 2 Republican in that chamber, told reporters that law enforcement was already being notified if people being investigated for terrorism try to buy firearms. If you listen, they are being notified.

Durbin said he and his colleagues might pursue other gun-related amendments as well, including tougher background checks on gun buyers, closing some gun show loopholes and possibly new limits on assault rifles like the one used in Orlando.

(Reporting by Susan Cornwell and Richard Cowan; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Andrew Hay and Peter Cooney)
Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, took over the Senate floor on Wednesday to protest what they call a lack of action on gun control in the wake of this weekend's mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.

Murphy, who has been a vocal gun control advocate since the Newtown shooting rampage in his home state that killed dozens of elementary school students, began speaking at 11:21 a.m. Eastern. And, along with his Democratic colleagues, the senator will continue speaking until Republicans compromise on gun reform legislation.

"I've had enough and I just couldn't bring myself to come back to the Senate this week and pretend like this is just business as usual," Murphy said, according to the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call. "We've got to find a way to come together. Now I don't know how long this will take but I'm going to stand here and hold the floor while we give time to our colleagues to try and find a path forward."

A number of other Senate Democrats have joined the filibuster, including Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, among others.

Senate Dems are lining up for a late night on floor. Some senators are signing up for slots as late as 10:30 p.m. and beyond

Democrats are currently pushing for a law that would ban those on the FBI's terrorist watch list from being able to purchase guns.

The legislation has already been introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, whose state is reeling from the worst mass shooting in American history, when a man who had been investigated for potential terrorist ties purchased an assault weapon and used it to kill at least 49 and injure more than 50 others at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

@SenBillNelson proposes legislation in the wake of the #PulseNightclub shooting. @FCN2gopic.twitter.com/T8ep4TjK23 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ck_zihdXIAArnmH.jpg:large

Republicans appear more open to the idea after the attack.

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Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is meeting Wednesday with the National Rifle Association to talk about the idea of banning those on terrorist watch lists from purchasing guns.

I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns.

And Republican senators, who blocked similar legislation late last year, also appear ready to meet at the negotiating table.

"There's no debate that we both want to keep guns out of the hands of terrorists. We want to make sure it's done in a constitutional way," Sen. John Cornyn of Texas told Roll Call.
Having roommates has been a godsend for 83-year-old Freda Schaeffer.

The retired secretary began renting out the extra rooms in her three-bedroom, brick home in Brooklyn, NY, to fellow seniors after her husband died about eight years ago.

It helps with finances, says Schaeffer, who is on a meager fixed income from Social Security. And its very nice to have a friendly person in the house.

As housing prices across the nation continue to reach dizzying heights, its no longer just young millennials moving in with one another to save some bucks on rent. These days, more seniors, particularly single women, are taking a page straight out of the 80s cult-classic The Golden Girls (or Netflixs newer hit sitcom, Grace and Frankie) and getting a roommate.

To those who are joining the geriatric groupliving parade, its a bit like college living, 50 or 60 years laterminus the keg stands.

Senior housing organizations across the nation are reporting a surge in demand from the young and old alike to move into the spare rooms of lonely and often lower-income elderly homeowners. This provides the homeowners with the money and companionship they need to maintain and manage to stay in their homes, instead of moving in with family or into a nursing home.

It is creating affordable housing and preventing homelessness, says Linda Hoffman, president of the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, of the growing trend. Its keeping people out of institutions. Its keeping people from losing their homes.

In 2015, there were about 703,000 households in which someone lived with a nonrelative over the age of 65, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Only about 1% to 1.2% of the population over the age of 50 has lived with roommates over the past 15 or so years, according to AARP, a Washington, DCbased nonprofit and lobbying group for older Americans. But the group anticipates that percentage could rise as more baby boomers, a much larger generation than their predecessors, retire.

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That makes sense, as the median income of those over 65 was just $20,600 in 2014, according to the most recent data available from AARP. It was significantly lower for women, who often outlive their husbands, at $15,800.

Finding the perfect (room)mate

Cohabiting has worked well for Schaeffers Brooklyn roommate of a little more than a year, 66-year-old Loretta Halter.

We get along extremely well, says Halter, a retired grocery store manager. Here we are all doing our own little thing, and [then we] come home and hear stories about how the others day has been.

Halter sold her home and truck in Georgia and moved to New York City about four years ago to live out her dream of spending her retirement going to museums and attending plays and book signings in the city. Scared of potentially dangerous Craigslist roommates and scams, she initially rented a room in a private home. When that didnt work out, she turned to the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, which helped her find Schaeffer.

The foundation puts home hunters and elderly owners into a database and tries to then match them up according to their needs. They meet with a social worker and then chat on the phone before an in-person meeting is arranged.

Its like a date, Hoffman says of the first meeting. Potential tenants are encouraged to ask about whether alcohol and, ahem, overnight guests of the opposite sex are allowed in the home.

The agency typically places about 80 to 100 people annually, and demand is rising along with monthly rents, Hoffman says. Most roommates contribute to the household expenses and exchange services, like grocery shopping, in lieu of rent.

For Halter, the arrangement leaves her with enough money to attend the cultural events she came to New York to enjoyand still come home to a safe neighborhood. In exchange, she contributes to household expenses and helps Schaeffer around the house by taking out the trash and draining the boiler.

We look out for each other, Halter says.

The good, bad, and ornery

Such arrangements can enable roommates to have enough money to retire early, take the trip of a lifetime, or even hire a home health aide, says Michele Fiasca, founder of Portland, ORbased Lets Share Housing. The business connects seniors with potential roommates through meet-and-greet events held twice a month.

Its a lifestyle choice where people can actually pool resources and be able to work less and have more time to themselves, says Fiasca, whos seen interest in the program jump about 50% compared with last year. The great thing about people pooling resources is, you can afford a home thats much nicer than what you could get for yourself.

Indeed, about 43% of Americans over the age of 45 said they would get a roommate to help out with chores in a 2014 AARP survey of more than 1,000 participants. In addition, 26% said they would move in with a roommate to supplement their income.

But while having a roommate may be the stuff of sitcoms, it isnt always a barrel of laughs.

Aspiring roomies should really get to know each other to ensure theyre compatible before moving in, warns Fiasca. They can hang out a few times or a take a trip together, she says. And they should definitely do a suitcase test where they live together for about 10 days before hiring a U-Haul.

They should also sign agreements making it crystal clear what the tenant and homeowner will and wont do, and how much money will be exchanged. That ensures no one gets upset when a boarder who was supposed to help out with some light chores refuses to refinish the floors or clean out the litter boxes of their new roommates 12 cats.

But even if the roomies refrain from squabbling over whose turn it is to do the dishes, the arrangements often hit an expiration date when one person starts having health problems, says Andrew Carle, chief operating officer of assisted living provider Meridian Senior Living.

If your roommate has a stroke, whos going to bathe her? says Carle, also a part-time professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. If shes got Alzheimers and she starts to wander, whos going to find her?

Finding good roommates at any age is pretty tricky, says Mark Stewart, program coordinator at Shared Housing of New Orleans, a group that provides a roommate matchmaking service for the elderly.

A lot of the homeowners can be pretty ornery, he says of his graying clients. But when you get a pair that works well, [and] theyre almost always older women, it works perfectly.

The post Seniors Seeking Roommates: Golden Girls, Please Apply appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.





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Donald Trump has yet again been hit with major media backlash.



On Tuesday, Seth Meyers banned the presumptive Republican nominee from appearing on his NBC talk show, Late Night with Seth Meyers.



Meyers' decision came after Trump banned The Washington Post from attending his campaign events over a Post headline that seemed to suggest Trump had linked President Obama to the Orlando nightclub shootings.



"Yesterday, in the wake of the shooting in Orlando, Donald Trump gave a speech on terrorism in which he continued his Cal Ripken-esque streak of making inflammatory statements without any evidence whatsoever," Meyers said on Tuesday's episode of Late Night.







"When it comes to bigotry, Trump keeps upping his game," Meyers continued. "But even for Trump, Monday was a new low. For one thing, Trump banned a major newspaper from reporting on his campaign, and it's not even the first time he's done that."





RELATED VIDEO: President Obama Responds to Orlando Mass Shooting

Late Night: 'Trump Is Stoking Fear and Spreading Hate'" data-ad-channel="Brightcove" data-ad-subchannel="" data-auto-play="no">



Indeed, Trump has already barred other media outlets from his campaign, including Politico, The Daily Beast, The Huffington Post and BuzzFeed.



"As for The Washington Post, we here at Late Night believe in freedom of the press and therefore have decided to stand in solidarity with them," Meyers continued. "So as long as the The Washington Post is banned from Donald Trump's campaign, Donald Trump will be banned from ever coming on this show. You missed out, buddy. ... We could have driven around together while you yelled out the window at immigrants in Carpool Scary-oke."



Added Meyers with a smile: "Although to be fair, he wasn't coming on anyway, let's be honest: He had no interest in being here."



Meyers went on to slam Trump for his response to the Orlando shootings, in which the Republican candidate blamed immigration.



"To be clear, this is bigotry, plain and simple," said Meyers, 42. "To claim that any group of people, immigrants or anyone else, has anything in common with a terrorist murderer based simply on their ethnic background or religion or where they're from is dangerous and wrong."









"Trump is stoking fear and spreading hate. This is important, we can't become immune to it," Meyers pressed on. "We cannot allow it to become normalized, which is why we need a robust independent press, like the newspapers Trump banned from his campaign to challenge the fear-mongering and provide us with sober, clear-eyed reporting."



Meyers isn't the first to publicly take a stand against Trump, 70: After months of unbridled coverage of the ratings-grabbing Trump and his presidential campaign, media backlash is building.



Already, CBS This Morning refuses to take his calls on air and will only interview him in studio, seated at the table with the anchors.



Following Trump's decision to revoke campaign press credentials from The Washington Post, some members of the White House Correspondents' Association are also debating some sort of boycott of Trump as a show of solidarity with their colleagues at the Post.



Late Night with Seth Meyers airs weeknights (12:35 a.m. ET) on NBC.
By PTI: From Abhishek Shukla

Abidjan, Jun 15 (PTI) Cote DIvoirie today sought investment from Indias private sector particularly in cocoa processing to further strengthen its trade ties with India.

President of Cote DIvoirie Alassane Ouattara expressed interest in Indian private sector investment during his talks with President Pranab Mukherjee, who is on a two-day trip to the Western African country as part his three-nation African tour.

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"Ivory Coast Government is very keen to get Indian private sector on board...Another sector he was proudly mentioning was that of Chocolates. They produce cocoa. He says that Indian private sector could be useful as they export everything," Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha said while giving details of the talks between the two leaders to reporters.

He also said as per figures by January this year, the trade between the two countries stood at around USD 841 million and would have touched USD one billion till March 31.

In one of the important agreements signed, Exim Bank is going to re-open its office here. It was shifted in 1992 to Sudan because of political turmoil in the country.

Headquartered in Mumbai, the bank signed a Headquarter Agreement which wil give it some privileges.

Mukherjee also raised the issue of reforms in the United Nations security council and said change is must, Sinha said.

Ouattara told Mukherjee it was an honour that he took time away from his busy schedule to visit his country and expressed regret that he could not come to India during India-Africa Forum Summit last year because of elections, he said.

Mukherjee extended invitation to Ouattara, asking him to visit India anytime, he added.

This is the maiden visit of the Indian President to "home of hospitality" Cote DIvoirie and is seen as Indias outreach to Africa. Mukherjees visit comes close on the heels of Vice President Hamid Ansaris trip of Morocco and Tunisia.

Cote DIvoirie also known as Ivory Coast, a francophone country, is the biggest producer and exporter of cashew nuts to India which procures nearly 80 per cent of their total exports of cashew nuts.

The Presidents arrival coincided with rains which is considered a good omen by the locales.

"When a guest comes with rain, it is the most auspicious occasion in our country. The second line of our national anthem says our country is a home of hospitality," said Brice, a local.

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The country had gone through a period of turmoil in the last decade due to civil war but its development can be seen from modern expressways crisscrossing the lush green countryside. PTI ABS MRJ

--- ENDS ---
Seth Meyers banned Donald Trump from appearing on his NBC late-night show last night because, Meyers said, Trump had reached a new low by pulling press credentials of the Washington Post over a headline.

But Meyers also noted, Trump had banned other media outlets in the past, and Meyers forecast that by the time of the election, the only news outlets still allowed into Trumps campaign events will be National Enquirer and Rich Pricks Monthly.

WaPo was banned for a headline on its coverage of Trumps post-Orlando comments in which he seemed to suggest President Barack Obama is sympathetic to ISIS sympathizers. The gunman who killed 49 people and wounded more than 53 people early Sunday morning at a gay nightclub called 911 pledging allegiance to ISIS during the rampage.

Among Trumps comments about Obama the next day, played by Meyers: He doesnt get it, or he gets it better than anybody understands. Its one or the other, and, Were led by a man who is not tough, not smart  or hes got something else in mind. And the something else in mind, you know, people cant believe it. Both comments aired on Fox News Channel.

Trump is stoking fear and spreading hate, Meyers said of the latest attack on Obamas background by the man who formerly hosted NBCs The Apprentice while becoming the celebrity spokesman for the Obama birther movement.

We cannot allow it to become normalized, said Meyers, whose network took heat when it invited Trump to become the first presidential candidate ever to host another NBC late-night show, Saturday Night Live, after Trump delivered his Mexican Rapists Are Coming! speech announcing his candidacy.

As long as the Washington Post is banned from Donald Trumps campaign, Donald Trump will be banned from ever coming on this show, Meyers said. Later, he acknowledged, To be fair he wasnt coming on anyway, lets be honest. He isnt interested in being here.

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Your move, Mr. Trump.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kygQLLhos5k&w=620&h=340]

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Slow to heat up yet quick to burn out, police procedural-thriller Cold War 2 dramatizes internal strife and conspiracy among Hong Kongs police force and ruling elite, adding some new twists in a narrative framework that ultimately cant support the film. Still, directing duo Longman Leung and Sunny Luk do an admirable job walking the tightrope of servicing the mainland market while making an eloquent defense of the former British colonys benchmarks, namely rule of law and clean governance. Cold War was Hong Kongs highest grossing domestic film in 2012; the sequels stellar cast should stir initial interest, but its probably heading for middling business in China.

Leung and Luks debut feature tweaked the formula of crime thrillers by highlighting the inherent conflict between operation and management within Hong Kongs police system. Deputy commissioner M.B. Lee (Tony Leung Ka-fai) is a Dirty-Harry-like man of action beloved by the rank-and-file; his rival Sean Lau (Aaron Kwok) is a buttoned-up bureaucrat unpopular for his predilections for protocol and cost-cutting. The sequel, rather than delving more deeply into their backgrounds and motivations, merely telegraphs their intensifying rift via frowns and irate stare-downs.

Cold War ended with M.B. turning in renegade son Joe (Eddie Peng) for orchestrating the disappearance of an armored police van. As in the original, Cold War 2 conspicuously extols Hong Kong as Asias safest city, yet the events that unfold suggest its any but, starting off with a hostage crisis that goes terribly wrong on a crowded subway, with new police commissioner Sean humiliatingly handcuffed to a bomb. Its all an elaborate stunt to get Joe out of prison, and Seans leadership is called into question by an investigative committee appointed by the Legislative Council (Legco).

One of committee members is Oswald Kan (Chow Yun-fat), a retired high court judge and legal authority. He appears to be courted by the camp of Edward Lai (Waise Lee), a bureaucrat with ambitions of becoming the next chief executive of the powerful immigration agency. Meanwhile, M.B. comes face-to-face with the powerful consortium thats been goading Joes reckless behavior. Sean also has his allies: beleaguered police PR head Phoenix (Charlie Young, having less to do but looking more stressed than in the first film) and Billy Cheung (Aarif Lee Rahman), the cocky officer from the Independent Commission Against Corruption who helps him undertake unauthorized surveillance operations.

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After offering penetrating details on the inner workings of the HKPD in their debut, Leung and Luk try to up the ante by examining the crossover between police and legislative authorities. However, the information they dish out is even more dense, with a deluge of job titles introduced together with a fleet of characters that rattle on about policy and procedure, turning the first hour into a live-action government white paper. None of this helps to stoke tension in the rekindled friction between M.B. and Sean, whose antipathy in the previous story was developed with electrifying effect.

The film does show gumption in mounting a scathing put-down of wheeling-and-dealing among government top brass, who allocate power and plot their succession the way freemasons or frat boys do. But Jack Ngs screenplay lacks the acerbic insight or passionate righteousness of similar political thrillers from Korea, like Inside Men or The Attorney. The role of Oswald provides an excuse to rope in Chow for star wattage; his ambivalent stance vis-a-vis the overtures of Edward and his cronies proves frustrating rather than intriguing.

More engaging is how the story lays out an ingenuously intricate network of loyalties within these institutions, as when M.B. plays his protege Mok against Phoenix, who was Moks apprentice, but M.B. is in turn beholden to his one-time boss and former Police Commissioner Peter Choi (Chang Chens father Chang Kuo-chu, from Love Massacre). What governs these ties are old school values of respect for veterans, as well as shared histories of danger and mutual support, a human dimension thats not just about scratching each others backs.

M.B.s guilt toward juniors who willingly became his fall guys in the past gets the better of his principles. And his fear for Joes safety outweighs his own thirst for power, lending a sympathetic facet to his volatile persona. Leung, who won best actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards for his original portrayal of M.B., is again a powerhouse of complex thoughts and raw emotion, exemplified by a take-no-prisioners operation hes forced to spearhead to hunt down his own men, the only episode that achieves genuine pathos. Yo (a.k.a. Tony) Yang steals the scene as an ex-cop of brooding masculinity, whose taciturn stoicism reflects the films theme of how the idealistic but rash younger generation is susceptible to manipulation by recalcitrant old men clinging to power.

Tech credits by the ace Hong Kong crew from the first film are solid here, but lack stylistic flair. Jason Kwans cinematography out-dazzles the original with swinging cranes and flyover shots of the citys unnaturally green landscapes and nocturnal skylines  for no reason whatsoever. Action setpieces are more scarce than the previous production, but Chin Ka-locks car stunts are spectacular, especially a heart-stopping multiple crash inside a tunnel.

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* ISS advises against management, supervisory boards

* ISS backs planned dividend payout

* Volkswagen AGM to be held on June 22 (Adds detail from ISS report, background)

By Simon Jessop

LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - A second leading shareholder advisory firm recommended Volkswagen shareholders oppose next week's vote of confidence in the German carmaker's management on Wednesday, due to its handling of an emissions cheating scandal.

Wednesday's advice from Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) follows a call from fellow advisory firm PIRC for investors to oppose Volkswagen's management board.

However, unlike PIRC, ISS backed a controversial dividend payout by Volkswagen, which has been caught in a diesel emissions test-cheating scandal that caused it to report a record loss and damaged the car company's share price.

The "Dieselgate" affair has prompted activist hedge fund TCI to call for a radical overhaul of automaker, setting the scene for a lively annual general meeting next week.

An ISS report gave VW the highest level of risk and the group said investors should vote against the both the management and supervisory boards. ISS also urged investors to vote against all non-independent nominees to the supervisory board, given what it said was a low board independence of just five percent.

ISS said it backed four special audits sought by shareholders Deutsche Schutzvereinigung fuer Wertpapierbesitz e.V. and Deminor Recovery Services, which aim to see if board members were in breach of their duty over the scandal.

Clarification of liability could result in shareholder claims for damages against individuals, it said, "and there are justifiable concerns about the company's ability to investigate these matters internally and present their findings to shareholders in an impartial and transparent manner".

Unlike PIRC, however, ISS backed a planned dividend payout of 0.11 euros per ordinary share and 0.17 euros per preferred share, in spite of Volkswagen's 2015 loss.

(Editing by Sinead Cruise and Alexander Smith)
When Fatima Rahmati found out the Orlando killer was Afghan American she was shocked and scared -- fearful that her community could suffer reprisals in an increasingly toxic political climate.

"Everyone is still in shock," said the Women for Afghan Women program coordinator. "It's scary."

Her group provides services such as English classes and driving lessons to Afghan Americans living in New York.

There are an estimated 80,000 to 300,000 Afghan Americans. The largest communities are in California and Virginia, but thousands more live in New York, where shooter Omar Mateen was born in 1986.

Like many Americans of all backgrounds, Afghans are frustrated by failures to ban assault rifles in America. They are also weary of being asked to explain or apologize for the acts of deranged individuals.

"At this point, you don't know the backlash," said Rahmati, 37, scrambling to convene an emergency women's meeting to raise awareness should anyone spot suspicious activity or should children be harassed in school, for example.

A New York Times investigation after last November's terror attacks in Paris and the San Bernardino shooting in December found that the rate of suspected hate crimes against Muslims tripled in America.

Activists say Islamophobia has reached unprecedented levels, fueled by acts of terror and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's call to ban Muslims entering America.

"If you think worse-case scenario there could be retribution by any number of groups," said Rahmati. "I feel like the political climate feeds into that fire," she said, anxious about Trump's success in the 2016 campaign so far.

"Is that a reflection of the country as a whole?"

- Hits home -

Americans, she says, can be taken aback to learn she's Afghan and Muslim, her striking appearance and Western dress at odds with pictures they see in the media of women in burqas on dusty streets in Afghanistan.

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Yet she, like many Afghans in America, was once a refugee. Born in Afghanistan, she grew up in Australia and came to the United States 12 years ago.

Until the Syrian war, Afghans were the largest refugee population in the world. The 1980 Soviet invasion saw millions flee to Iran and Pakistan as their country became a battleground in the Cold War.

Their lives were rarely easy. Afghans who were doctors and teachers at home had to settle for menial work. The community in New York is diverse, numbering cab drivers, cleaners, surgeons, teachers, business owners and philanthropists.

Nationally, there is also a small but visible Afghan American elite. Zalmay Khalilzad, for example, served as US ambassador to Kabul, Baghdad and the United Nations under president George W. Bush.

Khaled Hosseini, author of international bestseller "The Kite Runner," is another renowned Afghan American.

Wazhmah Osman, 42, was sickened and appalled by the target in Orlando -- a gay nightclub that would have been a refuge for many.

She is a member of the Afghan American Artists and Writers' Association, which is fully supportive of LGBTQ rights, rights she said are "very much in keeping with our Afghan and Muslim beliefs."

"That hit home for me," she told AFP of the massacre.

- Hateful rhetoric -

The organization scrambled to put out a statement condemning the attack to counteract "vitriol and the hateful rhetoric" from the media, she said.

"Some of us identify as queer and across the spectrum of gender and sexuality, and it was very important for us to express our deepest regret."

Khaalid Abdulmalik, a part-time engineering student who teaches the Koran to children, reserves his anger for Mateen and other self-radicalized attackers who have nothing to do with Islam.

"We lose sleep over it at night because first of all it's a very bad act and second of all now we're facing more bigotry," the 28-year-old told AFP.

"I really get angry," he said. "It's making us look bad and we have to deal with the ramifications. And not just us. Basically every Muslim everywhere."

Donning Islamic dress in the mosque, he is careful to wear Western clothes on the street. Sometimes, Abdulmalik said, people tell his hijab-wearing wife "go back to your country" -- comments he dismisses as "stupid stuff."

Perhaps, he said, tighter gun laws could help. Afghans, just as any other American could easily become the next target.

"I don't want something like that happening when I'm outside or God forbid my family," said Abdulmalik. "Why not try to control it, see if it brings any change."
When the next president is inaugurated in 2017, it will be almost a quarter century since America had a commander-in-chief with any significant military experience.

George W. Bush was a lieutenant in the Texas Air National Guard who served stateside (and questions remain about his attendance record); neither Bill Clinton nor Obama ever served, and Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have no military records.

Slideshow: 20 Picks for Trump's VP

Trump and Clinton have traded barbs about who has the temperament and judgment to carry the nuclear code. Now, with the Orlando killings and the shooters reported pledge of allegiance to ISIS, will the question of who is better equipped to be commander-in-chief of a nation threatened by terrorists become a more significant campaign issue?

Sunday on Meet the Press, conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt suggested the mass murders could lead Trump to select a running mate with military experience. If [Orlando] turns out to have been inspired by ISIS, it will fulfill Donald Trump's prediction of the problem with [Clintons] candidacy, which is: It's not serious about terrorism, Hewitt said. Egypt, Libya, Syria, her whole record is a disaster. It's also going to frame [Trumps] choice, which is imminent, of his vice president. And I think it strengthens the case for Chris Christie and Tom Cotton.

Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas: Christie has no military record, but Cotton, the junior U.S. senator from Arkansas does. After going straight from the family farm to Harvard and Harvard Law and then working for a few years as a lawyer, Cotton joined the Army. Trained an airborne Ranger, he served combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Tom Cotton

Cotton also shares positions similar to Trump on immigration and the nuclear deal with Iran. He famously wrote a diplomatically impolitic open letter to the leaders of Iran in March, 2015, about a month before the eight-nation agreement was signed. The letter, from Cotton and 46 GOP Senate colleagues said the deal was nothing more than an executive agreement between President Obama and Ayatollah Khamenei. The next president could revoke such an executive agreement with the stroke of a pen and future Congresses could modify the terms of the agreement at any time.

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Related: Trump Wants to Add to the War on Terrors $4 Trillion Price Tag

On immigration, Cotton has long been an opponent of amnesty for those here illegally, and in a Wall Street Journal op-ed almost three years wrote about the effectiveness of a fence between the U.S. and Mexico. Like Trump, he also talks about how illegal immigrants have cost Americans jobs.

Perhaps even more important, the 39-year-old Cotton is a rising GOP star with Tea Party cred and is not among the growing number of Republican leaders who say they cannot support the presumptive nominee of their party. In fact, Cotton told Politico last month that he would be open to serving in a Trump administration, even as vice president.

Cotton, of course, isnt the only Republican in Washington or elsewhere with the military experience that could bolster a Trump ticket. Among other possibilities are:

Joni Ernst

Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa

Ernst is the first woman combat veteran to serve in the Senate. She was a company commander in Kuwait and Iraq, according to her official bio, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard after 23 years of service. Another up-and-coming GOP star, Ernst has been mentioned as a running mate for Trump.



Scott Brown

Former Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts

Last Saturday at a rally Brown hosted for Trump in New Hampshire, the presumptive GOP nominee joked with the crowd about having Brown as his Veep choice. Hey, you know what? And hes central casting. Look at that guy. Central casting, Trump said of the telegenic Brown who once worked as a model. Brown served in the Army National Guard for 35 years, retiring as a colonel. But he was defeated for reelection by Trump bete noire Elizabeth Warren in 2012. Brown then moved to his birth state of New Hampshire and ran against Democrat Jeanne Shaheen in 2014 and lost again. If there is one thing that Trump doesnt like, its a loser.



Former Army General Stanley McChrystal



Stanley McChrystal

If Trump wants a real soldier at his side, there is no more military a man than McChrystal. The son of a general, he is a West Point grad and Green Beret who headed the super-secret Joint Special Operations Command from 2003-2008 when it captured Saddam Hussein and al- Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. In 2009, President Obama appointed him as top commander in Afghanistan. In his book Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates called McChrystal perhaps the finest warrior and leader of men in combat he ever met. But the general resigned his Afghanistan command after about a year following publication of an article in Rolling Stone that quoted him talking trash about Vice-President Joe Biden and clowns in the White House Leadership.

At first blush, McChrystal and Trump seem like an odd couple: The general is legendary for his ascetic discipline, while Trump is famous for his self-indulgence and lack of control. But in a speech last fall, Trump spoke glowingly of a military leader who sounded a lot like McChrystal and had some qualities the pair may share. We had one general, who was really tough, Trump said. I wont say his name. But he got fired because he was very, very nasty. He wasnt politically correct. And everybody said he was our best general.

Related: Poll Finds Militaristic Trump Has Won Over the Troops

Former Army General Mike Flynn



Mike Flynn

Should Trump decide to pick a running mate with deep military and Washington experience, he would not have to look very far. Flynn, though a registered Democrat, told CNN that he has been advising Trump on a range of issues. A paratrooper by training, Flynn is an expert in military intelligence. He was a top intelligence adviser to McChrystal in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he served as director of intelligence for the U.S. Central Command and for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In the spring of 2014, The Washington Post reported that he was ousted as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency after clashes with other intelligence officials and then resigned his commission. Since then, Flynn has been critical of Obamas foreign policy and military tactics. Like Trump, he says invading Iraq and supporting the removal of Muammar Gaddafi of Libya were fatal errors. In an interview with the German publication Der Spiegel last November, Flynn said, The historic lesson is that it was a strategic failure to go into Iraq. History will not be and should not be kind with that decision.

Former Senator Jim Webb

Jim Webb

Webb has it all: Hes a war hero who as a Marine platoon leader in Vietnam earned the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts. A graduate of the Naval Academy, Webb was an Assistant Defense Secretary and Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan. And he served a single term as U.S. Senator from Virginia. The only possible glitch  or perhaps plus  for Trump is this: Webb, like Flynn, is a Democrat  but a much more high-profile member of the party. In fact, he was a briefly a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination before dropping his bid last October. But Webb and Trump line up on many issues.

Webb spoke out against invading Iraq; he is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment right to bear arms; and he has written about increasing income inequality and the negative effects of free trade on American workers. One other thing both Webb and Trump have in common is their outspokenness. Last March, Webb said he could not vote for Clinton but might vote for Trump.

Click here to view 20 picks for Trump's VP.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health) - For people who have had a procedure to open blocked heart arteries, untreated sleep-breathing problems like snoring or apnea may raise the risk of a future heart attack or stroke, researchers say. Patients in Japan who had the artery-clearing procedure after experiencing chest pain or a heart attack were more than twice as likely to have heart failure, a heart attack or a stroke in the next five years if they also had sleep-breathing problems. Intermittent low-oxygen periods during sleep may increase stress or activate inflammatory responses that damage the heart, said lead author Dr. Toru Mazaki of the department of cardiology at Kobe Central Hospital in Japan. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of sleep apnea, is a condition where breathing stops for several seconds during sleep because tissue in the throat collapses, blocking the airway. This can happen dozens of times a night, interrupting sleep and leaving the person feeling tired during the day. Snoring, usually the result of only partial blockage in the sinuses or other parts of the respiratory tract, also reduces the amount of oxygen a sleeper gets. So-called sleep-disordered breathing, especially apnea, has been tied to increased risk of heart disease and stroke in past research. To see if it affects risk for people who have already been treated for blocked arteries, the researchers used heart and breathing monitors on 241 patients to track breathing issues over one night of sleep. All the participants had undergone angioplasty, the clearing of a blocked heart artery, including placement of a tube called a stent to keep the artery open. The sleep measurements took place about one week after each person's angioplasty. Just over half of the patients were found to have sleep-disordered breathing, meaning five or more disrupted breathing events per hour, according to the report in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The researchers then tracked participants for an average of five and a half years. During that time, 10 people with sleep disordered breathing and three without sleep breathing issues died. Major adverse events like heart attack and stroke had occurred in more than 20 percent of those with sleep breathing issues, compared to 8 percent of those without breathing problems. There is limited awareness of sleep-disordered breathing among doctors who care for patients with heart attack, Mazaki told Reuters Health by email. Doctors and patients should consider sleep studies following heart attack and angioplasty to rule out sleep-disordered breathing or take necessary precautions to restore healthy breathing during sleep. Sleep-disordered breathing has been associated with cardiovascular risks and symptoms like high blood pressure, elevated glucose and abnormal heart rhythms, said Dr. Nieca Goldberg of NYU Langone Medical Center in New York who is also a spokesperson for the American Heart Association and was not part of the new study. Hopefully based on this study, doctors will pay more attention to their patients symptoms of fatigue or awakening from sleep, Goldberg told Reuters Health by email. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/1f4U4k9 Journal of the American Heart Association, online June 15, 2016.
Small-business owners say it's hard to find qualified applicants to interview.

Americas small-business owners have gotten slightly more optimistic recently but still have a number of business worries, according to a new report from a small-business trade group.

High on their list of concerns is difficulty finding qualified applicants, according to that report from the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB). Another recently released report, this one from Babson College, a private business school in Wellesley, Mass., found the No. 1 challenge business owners face when hiring qualified applicants is finding employees with the appropriate skills.

The Babson survey looked at a pool of 1,800 small business owners across the US, which included owners from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and a comparative random sample of businesses, and found the so-called skills gap was their biggest hiring challenge.

Meanwhile, the NFIB report analyzed 700 responses from small-business owners, 48% of whom said they could find few or even no qualified applicants for the jobs they were trying to fill.

The skills gap is one of the paradoxes of post-recession America, as Jordyn Holman noted on Marketplace back in April. While businesses might have laid people off during the recession, now many say they cant find any good people to hire. However, some economists say businesses cant find workers with the right skills because theyre simply not offering enough money, as Jonathan House noted in the Wall Street Journal last year.

One small-business owner who spoke with Yahoo Finance said qualified applicants are out there but that small businesses dont have the resources to recruit them.

The qualified and talented candidates are out there but the noise makes it hard for us to find them and for them to find us, Shawn Askinosie, founder & CEO of Askinosie Chocolate, a small chocolate manufacturer and one of Forbes Americas top small companies.

Askinosie added: In other words, the battle for attention on most social media channels (including job boards) is so overwhelming that it's a significant challenge to be seen and heard by great candidates. The only way over the noise is money and we don't have the budget to turn up the volume on our search objectives."

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In the Babson report, almost half of the respondents said hiring and keeping good employees is one of their top two growth challenges. That report also found that 72% of the respondents had difficulty hiring qualified employees in the last two years. Owners of companies that provide construction services and transportation cited the most difficulty hiring qualified workers.

Its not surprising that construction businesses have such a hard time hiring skilled employees. Chris Terrill, the CEO of HomeAdvisor, recently wrote in Fortune that a skills gap is hobbling construction.

Without skilled workers to replenish a diminishing skilled labor workforce, housing prices will continue to rise, housing inventories will continue to fall, Terrill wrote, and well pay a growing premium for even the smallest home repairs (until theres nobody left who knows how to complete them).

Read more:

Undocumented immigrants pay billions in taxes: study

The profound business implications of that viral Chewbacca video

5 times John Oliver exposed problems in corporate America

Americans are still freaked about money, and it's disrupting their lives: study
By PTI: Patna, Jun 15 (PTI) A court here today issued arrest warrants against former Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife, former JD(U) MLA Usha Sinha, in connection with +2 toppers scandal in the state.

Patna Chief Judicial Magistrate Om Prakash issued the arrest warrants against the couple on a plea by police.

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Sinha was yesterday replaced as principal of Ganga Devi College here by senior professor of the institution Kanchan Chakhaiyar.

Sinha had appointed junior professor Dilip Kumar Verma as principal of the college before proceeding on leave after her name cropped up in the +2 examination scandal in which her husband and ex-board chairman was a prime player.

Investigation in the scam had highlighted her role and the police made her a co-accused in the case.

Smelling trouble, Sinha went underground last week and appointed Verma as principal of the college.

Sinha, who did not contest the 2015 Assembly elections as her seat Hilsa in Nalanda district had gone to RJD quota, had joined the college and was made the principal.

"Prima facie there are ample evidences against Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh. Proof of tampering in the exam copies and evaluation have been found which was in the knowledge of the ex-BSEB chairman (Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh)," senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj, who heads the SIT to probe the scam, had said.

Police had on June 11 arrested Bacha Rai, the kingpin of the toppers scandal, from Bhagwanpur police station in Vaishali district. Rai is the secretary-cum principal of controversial Bishun Rai College.

The scandal was brought to the fore by media by conducting interviews of arts and science toppers Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shreshta for their answers to simple questions. PTI AR KK ZMN PS

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Sofia Vergaras anniversary message for her boo Joe Manganiello is making us MELT

Sofia Vergaras anniversary message for her boo Joe Manganiello is making us MELT

Get ready to have some serious #relationshipgoals, guys. Sofia Vergara just shared a message for her hubby, Joe Manganiello, on Instagram thats making us melt into a puddle of romantic goo.

The post is a gorgeous photo of the couple (as if they could take a bad picturethese two are so beautiful it hurts our eyes, kind of like staring at an eclipse), captioned: 2yrs. Te Amo. Dont ever change









See the picture here.

Since Vergara and Manganiello were just married last November, were guessing shes referring to the 2nd anniversary of their first date. Or possibly the date they first met. Either way, ADORABLE.

Ah, the cuteness! We cant handle it. We just cant.

Although, we should probably be used to Sofia and Joe bringing the romance. Their Insta PDA gives us heart eyes on the regular, like the time they did this

 A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on May 29, 2016 at 6:32pm PDT

And this.

Happy bday to the husband I always dreamed off @joemanganiello A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Dec 28, 2015 at 9:29am PST

And this.

We will never forget this place#parrotcaybycomo @realrobertearl A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Nov 30, 2015 at 3:24pm PST

Not to mention the time they danced at their ultra glam wedding.

A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Nov 22, 2015 at 6:12pm PST

Happy anniversary, Sofia and Joe!

The post Sofia Vergaras anniversary message for her boo Joe Manganiello is making us MELT appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Its been two years since  Jofia! (Photo: Getty Images)

Sofia Vergara loves being Mrs. Joe Manganiello.

Tuesday marked the two-year anniversary of the Modern Family stars first date with the Magic Mike XXL star, and she didnt let the day slip by without some fanfare. Along with a photo of Joe, 39, kissing her on a red carpet, the 43-year-old actress wrote, 2yrs. Te Amo. Dont ever change, with some heart and confetti emojis.

2yrs. Te Amo. Dont ever change A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Jun 14, 2016 at 9:26pm PDT

As sweet as that is, a post from the Colombian beautys adult son, Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, actually bested hers. Next to a black-and-white shot of the couple, who tied the knot in November, he wrote, On this day, these two went on their first date two years ago. And now they spend all day watching Netflix and Naked and Afraid. Thats real love. Manolos tags included congratulations, dateaversary, their couple nickname, Jofia, goals, height goals that is, and Im happy watching Unsolved Mysteries alone. (The guys hashtag game is strong.)

We really love knowing that, when Sofia and Joe are not binging on Netflix, theyre watching Naked and Afraid. Its pretty much the one thing we have in common with the rich, famous, and genetically blessed couple.

Vergara and Manganiello memorably met at the White House Correspondents Dinner in May 2014. He had a crush on her, which he had admitted publicly, and was photographed openly checked out her posterior.

This photo, taken at the 2014 White House Correspondents Dinner, was an icebreaker in their relationship. (Photo: Getty Images)

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It was really funny because I didnt know that had happened until I started really going out with him, Vergara said a few months later on The Meredith Vieira Show. Somebody sent me the pictures, and I confronted him about it and he was like, Yeah, I cant excuse myself.

She continued, I didnt know he was behind me! It was funny. It broke the ice. After that, we started talking, like, you know.

Their first year of marriage hasnt been without difficulties. The actor was hospitalized in April for what was reportedly a case of appendicitis. Neither has spoken in depth about his illness (complications arose during the surgery), but he did publicly thank his wife, via Twitter, for getting him through it.

In sickness and in health!
Happy anniversary, Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello!



On Wednesday, Vergara, 43, took to Instagram to dedicate a loving post to her husband on their two-year anniversary.



"2yrs. Te Amo. [Don't] ever change," she captioned a sweet picture of the two at a red carpet event.





2yrs. Te Amo. Dont ever change A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Jun 14, 2016 at 9:26pm PDT









The pair first linked up in 2014, shortly after Manganiello, 39, raved about Vergara in an interview with PEOPLE for the Hottest Bachelors issue.



Manganiello proposed to the Modern Family star on Christmas Day that year during a romantic trip to Kauai. The happy couple went on to tie the knot last November during a romantic ceremony at The Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Florida.



The festivities included a weekend full of fun, including a pool party, a sumptuous rehearsal dinner and a pre-wedding bash that featured Manganiello serenading his bride-to-be with "Sweet Child O' Mine."



"It was like a dream, like a fairy tale," Vergara said of her nuptials said during an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in December. "Like, it came out perfectly like how I wanted. I have to say, the people that work helping me do the wedding  amazing!"
Houston, we have a problem. A serious problem. Slowly, but inexorably, Turkey is headed off a cliff. The signposts ahead are bleak indeed. Despotism. Terrorism. Civil war. Just over the horizon, scenarios like failed state and forced partition are coming into view. The day may be approaching when U.S. policymakers, much as theyd prefer not to, will finally be forced to grapple with the question: What do you do with a NATO ally gone seriously bad?

Turkeys depressing, seemingly irreversible descent into one-man rule continues apace and may even be accelerating. Five weeks ago, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered the resignation of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who just six months prior had led their Justice and Development Party (AKP) to a major electoral victory, securing nearly 50 percent of the vote and a large parliamentary majority.

So what was Davutoglus transgression? What malfeasance had he committed that justified summary dismissal and humiliation? None  save, apparently, the sin of being insufficiently obsequious to Erdogan. As my colleague at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Aykan Erdemir, has pointedly noted, Davutoglus slavish compliance for nearly two years with 90 percent of Erdogans agenda was simply no longer good enough. Only total, 100 percent submission to the new Sultan is now deemed acceptable.

What appeared most intolerable to Erdogan was Davutoglus inadequate enthusiasm for the presidents monomaniacal desire to jam a new constitution down the throat of a dangerously polarized society  a constitution that would dispense with Turkeys parliamentary system in favor of an executive presidency, or more accurately, an imperial presidency. This new role would lend ex post facto legitimacy to Erdogans consolidation of absolute power and to his systematic, multi-year, extra-constitutional assault on nearly every major public and private institution in the country  the military, judiciary, media, private business, civil society  that might serve to check his totalitarian impulse.

In Davutoglus place, Erdogan commanded the AKP to install his hand-picked successor. For a ruling party that has dominated the commanding heights of a major nation for almost 15 years, you might expect such a decision to be grounds for some degree of discussion, debate, even competition among ambitious politicians with their own records of independent accomplishments and their own visions for Turkeys future.

Youd be wrong. Instead, the order came down from Erdogans thousand room palace that one Binali Yildirim  and only Yildarim  would replace Davutoglu as leader of the AKP and as Turkeys new prime minister. Yildirim has been part of Erdogans inner circle for decades, an absolute loyalist certain to do his bidding. In a display of party discipline that would have made Lenin proud, more than 1,400 AKP delegates thereupon saluted smartly, sang paeans of praise and obedience to their great chief Erdogan, and voted unanimously to confirm his chosen candidate.

For his part, Yildirim dutifully made clear that he would be little more than a cipher for Erdogans will to power. Mr. President, he pledged, we promise that your passion will be our passion, your cause will be our cause, your path will be our path. Lest any doubt remain about his priorities, Yildirim for good measure declared: The most important mission we have today is to legalise the de facto situation  by changing the constitution. The new constitution will be on an executive presidential system.

Yildirim also underscored that he would support unquestioningly Erdogans other misadventure, Turkeys all-out war against the Kurdistan Peoples Party (PKK). Ten months of renewed conflict across the cities and towns of the countrys predominantly Kurdish southeast have resulted in levels of devastation that have at times exceeded the worst days of the PKK insurgency in the 1990s. Unlike in the past, the center of gravity of this latest round of fighting has been concentrated in urban areas, not the mountains, inflicting much wider damage on civilian populations caught in the crossfire. More than ever, Turkeys conflict with the PKK risks morphing into a more generalized Turkish-Kurdish conflict, something that begins to look more like a civil war than a limited counter-terrorism campaign.

The promise of Erdogans 2013 ceasefire with the PKK is now long dead, discarded when it became evident that mobilizing nationalist sentiment against Kurdish terrorism offered a more reliable pathway for advancing his despotic ambitions than an ambiguous peace process. But the long-term price that Turkey may yet pay for Erdogans short-term gain could be high indeed  not just in lives lost and property destroyed, but in an entire generation of Kurds across the countrys southeast growing increasingly radicalized and convinced that they have no future in remaining part of the Turkish state.

The danger is magnified when one looks at Turkeys demographic trends. Kurds already comprise something like 20 percent of the countrys population. But ethnic Kurds today are estimated to have fertility rates that may be twice as high as those of ethnic Turks. Erdogan has obsessed over this data for years, repeatedly warning that Turkey faces a demographic time bomb; indeed, just last week, he excoriated Turkish women for using contraceptives. But all to little avail. According to some projections, that could mean that within a generation more than half of Turkeys military-age population will come from Kurdish-speaking households. To the extent that Erdogans policies today are working overtime to fan the flames of ethnic resentment and Kurdish nationalism, he may indeed be dooming Turkeys long-term geographic viability. The specter of outright partition in the southeast is almost certain to grow larger.

That threat, of course, has been greatly exacerbated by the civil war in neighboring Syria, and the emergence of a self-governing Kurdish entity on Turkeys southern border  one that happens to be dominated by the PKKs Syrian affiliate, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), and its militia, the Peoples Protection Units (YPG). Two years ago, Erdogan might have sought to co-opt the PYD into a broader strategy to influence, shape, and ultimately tame the region-wide Kurdish awakening under a Turkish umbrella, consistent with his successful outreach to Iraqi Kurdistan and the PKK peace process. Instead, Erdogan chose to interpret the rise of Syrias Kurds as a mortal threat that had to be crushed  even if that meant indulging all manner of Sunni jihadists, including the Islamic State.

Needless to say, that policy has been a strategic disaster for Turkey. Erdogans apparent readiness in late 2014 to allow the Islamic State to massacre Kurdish civilians in the Syrian town of Kobani alienated millions of Turkish Kurds. It also led to a serious breach with the United States, as America intervened, over Erdogans objections, to help the YPG defend Kobani and inflict a major defeat on the Islamic State. Ever since, U.S. military cooperation with the YPG has steadily deepened as the group has become Washingtons most effective and reliable partner on the ground in combating the Islamic State in Syria. Its successes, both on the battlefield and in relations with the United States, despite Erdogans increasingly shrill protestations to the contrary, have inevitably fueled Kurdish ambitions on both sides of the Turkish-Syrian border.

Meanwhile, Turkeys less-than-vigilant record in combating the Islamic State has now come back to haunt the country. As Turkey has come under growing international pressure in the last year to more fully support the anti-Islamic State coalition by shutting down the groups Turkish lifeline, the Islamic State has struck back with a vengeance, launching a steady string of mass casualty attacks in Turkish cities. These atrocities come on top of several other terrorist bombings perpetrated by a militant PKK offshoot since the resumption of fighting in the southeast. Both Istanbul and Ankara have now been struck multiple times. The frequency of the attacks, as well as the death toll, are rising rapidly. The growing sense of danger and instability on multiple fronts is having a devastating impact on Turkeys vital tourist industry, threatening further damage to an increasingly shaky economy.

The catalogue of Turkeys downward trajectory doesnt stop there. Erdogan recently forced through a law that would lift the immunity of parliamentary deputies, for the primary purpose of criminally prosecuting members of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party, or HDP, for their alleged links to the PKK. They would join a growing list of others, including journalists, academics, and civil society activists, who have been accused of supporting terrorism for raising questions about Turkeys policies toward the Kurds and the war in Syria. Even more Orwellian: Almost 2,000 people have been charged with the crime of insulting Erdogan. Let that sink in for a moment.

And then consider the spectacle that played out during Erdogans March trip to Washington when he unleashed thugs from his security detail to assault peaceful demonstrators on the streets of Washington, who had shown up to protest a speech he was giving. For good measure, the same goons also sought to forcibly evict from the audience duly invited Turkish journalists known to be critical of the Erdogan. Extraordinary, really, when you think about it: the hubris of a foreign leader who thought nothing of attempting to extend the reach of his expanding despotism to the heart of the worlds greatest democracy and defender of free speech. A warning sign, you think?

More immediately threatening to U.S. interests: Turkeys not-so-stellar record on the Islamic State has been compounded by even more active support for other Sunni jihadist groups fighting in Syria, including al Qaedas local branch, Jabhat al-Nusra. Meanwhile, a handful of operatives from Palestinian terrorist group Hamas enjoy safe haven in Istanbul. And Erdogan has been brazen in his threats to manipulate the flow of refugees out of Turkey as a weapon of extortion against the European Union, demanding benefits ranging from large-scale financial assistance to visa-free travel for Turks. We can open the doors to Greece and Bulgaria anytime and put the refugees on buses, Erdogan warned EU officials in late 2015. [W]e can tell [the Europeans]: Sorry, we will open the doors and say goodbye to the migrants. In a closed-door briefing to U.S. lawmakers last January, Jordans King Abdullah II said that Erdogan believes in a radical Islamic solution to the problems in the region and the fact that terrorists are going to Europe is part of Turkish policy.

U.S. officials have been waking up as well to the emerging catastrophe that is Erdogans Turkey. Last summer, a year after the Islamic State declared its caliphate in Iraq and Syria, Obama told a press conference that thousands of foreign fighters were still pouring into the region via Turkey. While allowing that not every wannabe jihadist could be stopped, Obama said that a lot of it is preventable  if weve got better cooperation, better coordination, better intelligence, if we are monitoring whats happening at the Turkish-Syria border more effectively. Why in the world a NATO ally of more than six decades was still not providing that kind of essential support to the U.S.-led war effort was left for others to ponder. Instead, Obama simply noted, This is an area where weve been seeking deeper cooperation with Turkish authorities who recognize its a problem but havent fully ramped up the capacity they need. And this is something that I think we got to spend a lot of time on.

Obamas assessment of Erdogan was much blunter in an extended interview published in the Atlantic two months ago. The interviewer, Jeffrey Goldberg, wrote, Obama acknowledged that he initially viewed Erdogan, mistakenly, as the sort of moderate Muslim leader who would bridge the divide between East and West  but Obama now considers him a failure and an authoritarian, one who refuses to use his enormous army to bring stability to Syria. Ouch.

The president is right, of course  as far as he went. Erdogan is a failure. But he is also a growing threat to U.S. interests. His policies are certainly endangering the well-being and stability of Turkey, a vital member of NATO. But they are also fanning the flames of extremism and terrorism beyond Turkeys borders  in Syria and the Middle East for sure, but increasingly in Europe as well. The country that is supposed to be a reliable bulwark for security and stability on NATOs southern flank is fast becoming a major source of risk to both the alliances democratic values and, and more importantly, its interests.

What, if anything, can be done about it is, as always, a much more challenging proposition. Given Erdogans absolute domination of Turkish politics, he is very much the problem. Were he to exit the scene or start acting in a more restrained manner, much could change for the better. But neither of those scenarios appears likely. For years, people have speculated that some of the AKPs more responsible leaders would finally say enough is enough, split the party, and establish a truly serious center-right opposition to short-circuit Erdogans rapidly advancing authoritarianism. But one after another, from former President Abdullah Gul to former Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc to Davutoglu himself, these figures of independent stature have been kicked to the curb and humiliated by Erdogan, only to balk at taking him on and saving Turkey from his mounting excesses and outrages.

There are a handful of other developments  admittedly, low-probability events, true black swans, really  that could throw a wrench into Erdogans works were they to emerge. The eruption of another mass protest movement, like the one that rocked Erdogans government in 2013 in Gezi Park, involving millions of citizens taking to the streets in peaceful protest for an extended period of time, could in theory give pause to his headlong rush for the imperial presidency.

Some kind of military intervention also cant be dismissed entirely  especially if coupled with widespread popular opposition to Erdogans rising despotism and disregard for Turkeys existing constitution. Though conventional wisdom maintains that Erdogans trumped-up court cases against the Turkish officer corps early in his tenure successfully neutered the military of any residual instinct to ever again play a role in the countrys politics, a few analysts have recently raised doubts about that assessment. The suggestion is that starting in 2014, and especially since his resumption of all-out war against the PKK, Erdogan has increasingly come to rely on a tactical alliance with the military to confront some of their common domestic opponents, thereby inevitably resurrecting the militarys power, its standing, and perhaps its ambitions. Should Turkeys situation continue to deteriorate, the theory goes  increased terrorism, political strife, and worsening relations with traditional Western partners, for example  its not unthinkable that the military would turn on Erdogan in order to save Turkey from his road to Islamist dictatorship and state failure.

One more possibility that is very much off the radar: a resurfacing of the huge corruption scandal that implicated the AKP, and even Erdogan himself, in December of 2013. Erdogan made the cases against him, his family, and some of their closest AKP cronies disappear in 2014 by means that amounted to the near total subversion of the Turkish justice system  a genuine abomination and travesty against the rule of law. Thousands of prosecutors, judges, and police involved with bringing the scandal to light were summarily purged and replaced by AKP loyalists. Bye-bye corruption scandal, hello imperial presidency.

Or maybe, just maybe, not. In a bizarre twist, the Turkish-Iranian businessman at the heart of the corruption scandal, Reza Zarrab, was arrested when he tried to enter the United States three months ago for a family vacation at Disney World. The U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York, Preet Bharara, wants to prosecute Zarrab for his role in a massive scheme to evade sanctions on Iran  a scheme in which Turkey and Turkish officials allegedly played a critical role thanks to tens of millions of dollars in bribes paid by Zarrab.

It seems likely that Bharara will limit the case to the narrower issue of sanctions evasion and Iran. But what if he decides to broaden it to include Zarrabs Turkish activities? Interestingly, in a pre-trial bail hearing, Bhararas brief for the court incorporated detailed information from the jettisoned Turkish corruption investigation, citing payments that Zarrab allegedly made to ministers in Erdogans government, as well as a charity headed by Erdogans wife. Its certainly not beyond all possibility that in an effort to save his own skin, Zarrab might offer to spill the beans entirely on the extent to which politicians at the very highest levels of the Turkish government were up to their necks as willing accomplices in his criminal enterprise to undermine U.S. policy toward Iran. Exactly what kind of impact such a bombshell coming out of an American court case would have on Erdogans political fate in Turkey is anyones guess. The fact that within a few days of arresting Zarrab, Bhararas following on Twitter skyrocketed from a few thousand to over 200,000 suggests that a lot of Turkish citizens believe the impact could be fairly substantial.

Beyond Zarrab, what should U.S. policy toward Erdogan be? Its a truism that Erdogan is a master at manipulating U.S. and European criticism to his own advantage, amping up the anti-Western diatribes, which have become a staple in his playbook, for political survival. That said, Erdogan knows that a sustained impression that he is bungling relations with Turkeys most powerful ally could be risky for him at home  especially in light of the fact that his policies have already engendered enormous tensions in Turkeys ties with most of its neighbors, many countries in Europe, and especially with Russia, thanks to Turkeys shoot down of a Russian jet over Syria last November.

Accordingly, Washington should lose any reluctance to be plainspoken when Erdogan takes actions that threaten our interests in Turkeys trajectory, both at home and beyond its borders. The Turkish people should not be left wondering whether the United States supports Erdogans assault on Turkeys democracy, free speech, and the rule of law. They should be clear about U.S. concerns that Erdogans war against the PKK is not winnable militarily, and that the faster a peace process can be resurrected with the Kurds, the more likely Turkey will be able to avoid literally ripping itself to pieces. They should know that we are wise to Erdogans dangerous dalliance with Sunni jihadism, in Syria and elsewhere, and highly disapproving. And they should be left with no doubt that any effort by Erdogan to weaponize the refugee tragedy to undermine and destabilize our European allies is unacceptable.

To its credit, the Obama administration has been doing more of this of late. This has been evident in the presidents criticism of Turkeys efforts against foreign fighters and the dismal view of Erdogan revealed in the Atlantic interview. Other instances: When Erdogan attended a nuclear summit in Washington in March, his push for a formal White House meeting with Obama was turned down, an alleged snub much remarked on inside Turkey. Last month, the State Department expressed concern that Erdogans push to lift parliamentary immunity posed a threat to free speech in Turkey. But perhaps of greatest significance has been the administrations persistent willingness to brush off Erdogans persistent wailing about Americas expanding military relationship with the YPG in Syria.

There is a much bigger move that the U.S. should seriously consider: finding a suitable replacement for Incirlik, the Turkish air force base that has been so important to U.S. and NATO military operations in the Iraq-Syria theater, both today and in years past. Americas reliance on Incirlik has without question increased U.S. reluctance to take issue with Erdogans most destructive policies, conferring on him great leverage. Indeed, despite urgent U.S. requests, Erdogan only granted American planes the right to fly from Incirlik a year into the war against the Islamic State, and only in conjunction with his controversial decision to relaunch Turkeys war against the PKK. And while the Obama administration has been unwilling to accede to Erdogans demands that it sever ties with the YPG, concerns about jeopardizing U.S. access to Incirlik have almost certainly constrained the scope of U.S. cooperation with Syrias Kurds, hindering the speed and effectiveness of the anti-Islamic State campaign.

A U.S. decision to study basing alternatives to Incirlik would be a powerful shot across Erdogans bow, a clear warning that Washington would not allow its interests to be held hostage to his dangerous policies indefinitely and would be prepared to hedge its bets in favor of more reliable and willing partners. Iraqi Kurdistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, might top the list.

The problem of Erdogans Turkey has been building for years. And for years, U.S. officials have sought to avoid dealing with it, hoping beyond hope that the problem wasnt as bad as they feared, or that it might somehow resolve itself, sparing them the need to confront difficult decisions with respect to a historical, longstanding ally that happens to occupy some of the most geo-strategically important territory on earth. But providence has not intervened to spare us. Instead, the Erdogan problem is getting worse, metastasizing, creating greater and greater risks for U.S. interests. Sooner or later, a day of reckoning is likely to come. The United States should start preparing now to mitigate the damage.

Photo credit: YASIN BULBUL/AFP/Getty Images
Though it was nearly 3,000 miles away, it was with great sadness and growing concern that I read the news about last weekends shooting by an American Muslim citizen at a gay bar in Orlando, Florida, that left 49 people dead and 53 others injured, with some still clinging to life.

That devastating attack has imparted an ironic importance to a conversation Ive had more than once with my good friend Rob Wells, a human rights activist. Weve talked about what would happen if such an attack befell a gay bar here in Edmonton, Canada. Its the kind of winding speculation that inevitably leads us to wonder what the certain backlash against the Muslim community in Alberta might look like as well.

Though weve been friends for 11 years, in many ways Rob and I are very different  hes a retired white man in his 60s and a committed Christian, while I am a Muslim gay man of color and an assistant professor of economics at MacEwan University.

But we both care deeply about the impact of hatred stoked in the name of our respective religions on vulnerable minorities. Rob goes out alone with his placards to protest issues that affect vulnerable LGBT youths, and Ive spent the past decade studying the nexus of Islamic law and same-sex unions. Were both volunteer members of the Edmonton Police Services sexual and gender minorities liaison committee in Alberta. Rob has served on the committee for some 12 years (I joined last year). During that time he has certainly amassed a depth of experience interacting with different communities, including Muslim, South Asian, black, and First Nations and has also noted the concerns of the Edmonton Police Service on backlash against the LGBT community when they were still struggling for their rights. And we have been especially concerned about the fallout of world events into our peaceful city of Edmonton, which many of us who live here see as the city of human rights.

Unfortunately, whether the tranquility of Edmonton is kept intact or not, the Orlando attack is not going to be the last of such dastardly acts. Concerted and sustained actions that directly counter hatred are urgently required  whether theyre between Vancouver and New York, or just broadly across North America. And those efforts cannot wait.

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Attacks like the one in Orlando  and Fort Hood and San Bernardino  have the potential to foment anti-Muslim bigotry, which is increasingly being witnessed in the circles that support the rhetoric of Donald Trump. And its incumbent upon the leaders of Muslim communities to not only respond but to be proactive.

To be sure, the fact that extremist Muslim murderers are ignoring the Quranic proscription against wanton killings and anarchy on Earth, and those people from Muslim backgrounds who are violating the sanctity of the holy month of Ramadan by engaging in senseless violence, is alarming for Muslim community leaders. But some remain on the defensive each time such carnage is perpetrated in the name of their faith, opting to dissociate the actions of terrorists from Islam and relinquish any responsibility to unite diverse communities.

In his response to the Orlando attack, American Muslim leader Yasir Qadhi attempted to distance Omar Mateen from Islam and bypass entirely the problem of homophobia in Muslim communities, posting this message on his public Facebook page:

He was a mentally deranged psychopathic American closet homosexual who was battling with his sexual identity. The guy was mental, plain and simple. Islams stance on homosexuality is IRRELEVANT to this massacre, period.

But there are Muslim leaders, predominantly from the United States, who have been swift to denounce the latest in the never-ending series of terrorist acts undertaken by people who claim an affiliation with Islam. Such condemnations are necessary but not sufficient for the urgent task of building bridges between diverse communities.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations expressed solidarity with the LGBT community in the wake of the attack and even urged Muslims to donate blood for the injured victims. In Orlando, Mahmoud El-Awadi, a concerned American Muslim citizen, stood out for giving blood for the injured. He passionately wrote on his Facebook page:

Yes I donated blood even though I cant eat or drink anything cause Im fasting in our holy month Ramadan just like hundreds of other Muslims who donated today here in Orlando  Yes our blood all look the same so get out there and donate blood cause our fellow American citizens are injured and need our blood.

In their respective tweets, Khalid Latif, the executive director and chaplain (imam) for the Islamic Center at New York University, expressed solidarity with brothers and sisters in the LGBT community and Abdul Nasir Jangda, founder of the Qalam Institute in Texas, which focuses on Islamic education and community initiatives, offered prayers for families who lost their loved ones in the attack.

Many Muslim leaders have long attempted to dissociate these horrific acts of violence from Islam. Sheila Musaji, editor of the American Muslim, an online forum that allows for discussion of issues concerning Muslims in America, has been compiling a database of American and international Muslim scholars and leaders who have denounced acts of terrorism and extremism across the globe to showcase how Muslims have repeatedly and consistently condemned terrorism. Indeed, Phil Gurski, a former analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, writes in his book The Threat From Within that Muslim community leaders have frequently and continuously raised their objections to and otherwise outright rejected terrorism.

And though this is admirable work, more needs to be done from within the Muslim leadership  from the community to the national level  that addresses bullying, discrimination, and violence against the LGBT community in general and LGBT Muslims in particular. There are several influential Muslim leaders who continue to be indifferent to the targeted abuse and murder of gays when they refuse to renounce draconian punishments of homosexuals or by depicting them in the worst possible ways.

Terrorism and extremism do not emerge out of a vacuum, but are either based on or later rationalized by a pre-existing and readily reinforced warped narrative, one that is stoked by homophobic leaders who hide behind the thin veneer of religious freedom.

According to the Muslim scholar Farouk Peru, who teaches Islamic studies at Kings College London, when prominent Muslim leaders condemn terrorism but support draconian punishments for gays under Islamic law, they cause a cognitive dissonance for the Muslim community. And this, he warns, is especially harmful to those who are struggling with their sexuality. In the most extreme cases, he wrote in a blog post following the Orlando attack, the issue may have deadly results. Its this dissonance created by moderate scholars, he wrote, that will inevitably create hatred in the hearts of their followers which will then erupt in the way the Orlando shooting most probably happened.

We must draw Muslim, LGBT, and the LGBT Muslim communities together to work on areas of common concern and to work together to issue coordinated and consistent messaging to their communities in the aftermath of violence or in the face of bigotry. However, our objectives can be realized only when we make the effort to know one another. We cannot tarry, as lives are at stake, especially those of vulnerable LGBT Muslim youths who must contend with both homophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry.

Suhaib Webb, the imam for the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center, has tweeted about the work needed for capacity building against hatred of vulnerable minorities. Todays murders remind us of hatreds dangerous power and the great work we have to do in building the capacity to temper it, he wrote.

Indeed, when it comes to the LGBT and Muslim communities, Im encouraged by some of the bridge-building already in the works. And I can say from personal experience that those at the intersection of having a Muslim and LGBT identity are in the best position to do this work. The statement by the Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity that emphasizes such intersections and the need to avoid pitting the LGBT and Muslim communities against each other and the statement by Muslims for Progressive Values that calls for addressing the mass shooting in Friday sermons are examples of such work. But this work needs to become mainstream within Muslim communities.

As concerned citizens, both Muslim and non-Muslim alike, we need to ensure that we do not allow hateful speakers to dole out hatred like poisoned candy bars to impressionable youths. We cannot afford to let hatred fester in our cities by our complacency with people who have narrow viewpoints on the world. Just as Christians and Jews are in the best position to counter bigotry within their respective communities, it is incumbent upon members of the Muslim community to rail against Muslim fearmongers, especially those who seek control through religious leadership. The Quran cautions Muslims against taking priests and scholars as lords besides Allah.

Events like the Orlando shooting should wake us all up Muslim and non-Muslim alike  to positive action that allows us to embrace all communities. Indeed, when we nurture diversity, the more extreme voices get drowned out. The need of the hour is to get a grand coalition of Muslims  Sunni, Shiite, Ismaili, Ahmadi, Bohra, Sufi, among others  to work with one another against hatred of any community, specifically the LGBT.

If we simply condemn terrorism but fail to address the warped religious narrative that destroys lives, then the fears that Rob and I have shared in the course of regular exchanges between two friends may sadly someday be realized and perhaps even in our peaceful city of Edmonton.

Retired Episcopalian Bishop John Shelby Spongs words on the murder of Matthew Shepherd, a young gay student in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1998, are absolutely relevant in the Muslim context if Christ is replaced with Allah in the following lines:

Words shape consciousness and therefore words have consequences. When religious voices claim to speak for Christ suggest in their prejudiced ignorance that homosexual people are sinful, abnormal, unclean or subhuman, we do nothing less than to sow the seeds that are used to justify hate, and even murder.

It is my fervent hope that people from all groups will be able to band together through community meetings, at rallies against hatred, and other events. I hope that the Muslim and LGBT communities can unite to express solidarity in times of both grief and joy.

I also hope that through our tears and prayers, we honor the precious and beautiful lives lost with the promise that instead of giving into hatred and fear, we live our lives with love  relentless, radical, everlasting love.

Editors note: An earlier version of this piece appeared in the June 15 edition of the Edmonton Journal.

Photo credit: DREW ANGERER/Getty Images
Traders are positioning for a possible decline in Southwest Airlines.



optionMONSTER's monitoring program shows that 2,200 July 38 puts were purchased for $0.70 to $0.80 today. This represents new positioning, as open interest in the strike was just 213 contracts before the trades appeared.



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LUV is up 0.54 percent to $40.10 in afternoon trading but is down 9 percent in the last three months. The airline carrier reported bullish results on April 21 and is expected to announce its next earnings numbers on July 21.



Overall option volume is about average in LUV so far today, with puts eclipsing calls by a narrow margin.





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Soweto (South Africa) (AFP) - On June 16, 1976, thousands of black students spilled into the streets of Soweto against a government order that South African schools could only teach in the Afrikaans language used by whites.

Forty years on, it is still unclear how many people died that day, but within a few months, at least 500 people were dead as a result of reprisals.

Those images of violence and death brought the injustices of the apartheid regime to the world's attention and marked a turning point in the anti-apartheid struggle.

As protests spread across South Africa, a new era of black activism emerged that eventually led to the collapse of the regime and Nelson Mandela's election as president in 1994.

Every year since that election, South Africa has commemorated the students' sacrifice.

Thursday, the 40th anniversary of the protest, President Jacob Zuma will address the nation from the township where it all began.

Imposing Afrikaans to the black majority - which spoke it badly or very little -- "was a strategy by the apartheid regime to hamper our progress, education wise, so that we wouldn't achieve anything," Joy Rabotapi, a student protester in 1976, told AFP.

Dan Montsitsi, a student leader who was there that day, said the march had been planned for months.

But "our parents did not know about it, our teachers did not know about it, even the police did not know about it," he told AFP.

"We were amazed with the number of students that we had been able to put in the streets to protest against Afrikaans," he said.

The students, most of whom were in their school uniforms, carried placards reading: "Afrikaans stinks", "To hell with Afrikaans" and "Afrikaans needs to be abolished".

"We were singing and dancing just at the corner of Orlando West High" Montsitsi said. "Suddenly, the police came."

"They did not talk to us to begin to negotiate," he said. "They gave us five minutes to displace. Of course we refused to displace."

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Montsitsi said the police released a dog into the crowd, which ended up "dead at the feet of the police".

"The police were very angry obviously and they decided they would use teargas."

"We began to attack with stones and they started to shoot," Montsitsi said. "Apartheid police shot at us, mostly at the back when we were running away."

The first to fall was Hector Pieterson, a 13-year-old boy.

The black-and-white photo of his body being carried away by a student in tears, Pieterson's clearly distressed sister alongside him, became the iconic image of the Soweto uprising.

The photo, broadcast all over the world, came to define South Africa's liberation struggle.

"We did not expect that somebody could just die from marching with a fist clinch," said survivor Trofomo Sono.

"I saw some boys trying to shield themselves from the bullets with dust bins lids."

- 'Country on fire' -

The next day, "the whole country was on fire," Montsitsi said. "Our own community no longer feared the police, no longer feared the Afrikaners. They were prepared to fight on."

The world jolted into action and in 1977, the United Nations imposed a mandatory arms embargo against South Africa.

Granny Seape, a student at Fort Hare near Cape Town at the time, travelled to the capital Johannesburg and heard about the Soweto uprising.

On arriving in Soweto, "we could see the buildings on fire and the smoke," she told AFP.

She immediately tried to locate her brother, Hastings Ndlovu, a 17-year-old student in the township.

"We looked for him and found him after 5 days at the morgue, in a pile of bodies," Seape said.

Among the first victims killed, the boy was shot dead between the eyes.

Seape said she was harassed by the police and decided to go into exile. She wouldn't return to her native country until Mandela walked out of prison in 1990.

"I have a great respect for those kids," said Reverend Frank Chikane, who survived an assassination attempt by poisoning during apartheid.

"Those kids changed South Africa," he said. "The South Africa we have today, it is because of them."

"South Africans are able now to vote," Montsitsi said. But "transformation in South Africa is very very slow."

Trofomo, who is unemployed, doesn't hide his bitterness.

"There are times where poverty makes you think some people might have sacrificed their life for nothing," he said.

More than a quarter of the working population, half under 35, remain unemployed.

"Overall, you still say it was worth it, because here we are," Trofomo added. "There is democracy."
Built to regulate traffic and provide safe passage to pedestrians to cross the road, these subways remain largely underutilised after sunset.

The Palika-Janpath subways, though newly renovated and even well-lit, have not been able to deter drug addicts from using them as their homes.

By Mail Today: Connaught Place is known as one of the most hip and happening places in the Capital. However, its subways tell a completely different story. Dingy and shady, they are teeming with drug addicts and miscreants.

Created in order to regulate the flow of traffic and provide safe passage to pedestrians to cross the road, these subways remain largely underutilised after sunset.

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Working professionals in the area are plagued by a host of problems when they have to use these subways late in the day to travel by the metro or bus. They say that most of the subways in Delhi are not safe after dark.

Subways located in the outer circle of Connaught Place, Barakhamba Road and Palika-Janpath depict the same picture.

DRUG ADDICTS SCARE AWAY COMMUTERS AT THE PALIKA-JANPATH SUBWAY

The Palika-Janpath subways, though newly renovated and even well-lit, have not been able to deter drug addicts from using them as their homes. A group of students who use the subways on a daily basis said that the stretch does get scary with addicts hiding in almost every corner.

Women commuters told Mail Today that they have encountered situations where they were followed by unknown men in these subways and hence they avoid using these pathways.

Kalpana Sharma, an IT professional said, "We prefer taking a longer route than use the subway once it gets dark. Although these subways are well lit, they are largely vacant. It is actually safer to cross the road than using the subway."

Manas Chauhan, another college student told Mail Today, "I will not advise any of my female friends to take these subways even during the day. Though now at least some security guards can be spotted, which was never the case earlier."

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Connaught Place reclaims its old charm because of security threats to visitors

Road Rage in Delhi's Connaught Place caught on camera



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Washington (AFP) - SpaceX successfully launched two satellites into orbit on Wednesday, but failed in an attempt to land the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket undamaged on a barge in the Atlantic.

The rocket apparently malfunctioned some 330 feet (70 meters) off the ground and was in flames when it reached the platform on the powered barge -- known as a drone ship -- live images via a SpaceX webcast showed.

SpaceX chief Elon Musk later confirmed the failure on Twitter.

"Ascent phase & satellites look good, but booster rocket had a RUD on droneship," he wrote, using an acronym for "rapid unscheduled disassembly," or explosion.

The rocket shook the barge when it landed, causing the ship's camera to freeze.

The final images showed the craft standing upright, enveloped in flames and thick smoke.

The rocket earlier successfully boosted into orbit a communications satellite for the French firm Eutelsat and another for Bermuda-based ABS.

The launch from Florida's Cape Canaveral took place at 10:29 am (1429 GMT) and the satellites deployed around 30 minutes later.

It was SpaceX's sixth launch of the year.

Wednesday's failure ends a recent streak of landing successes.

The California-based company has successfully landed the first stages of its Falcon 9 rockets three times -- twice on water and once on land.

Musk wants to revolutionize the launch industry by making rocket components reusable, much the same way as commercial airplanes.

Expensive rocket parts are currently jettisoned into the ocean after each launch.

SpaceX is next set to launch a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station for NASA next month.
Summer's here and Sprite is bringing back its Obey Your Verse Lyrical Collection, featuring limited-edition packaging adorned with 16 song lyrics from 2Pac, Missy Elliott and J. Cole.

"We wanted to make sure we identified artists who represented our point of view of staying true to yourself, artists who stay true to who they are and what they want to represent. And we wanted a nice balance of artists that have longevity in hip hop and some with more recent appeal," Bobby Oliver, director of Sprite & Citrus Brands, Coca-Cola North America, tells Billboard.

The campaign, which launches later this month, features lyrics from songs including 2Pac's "Keep Ya Head Up," "When We Ride" and "Wake Me When I'm Free"; Elliott's "WTF (Where They From)" and "Hot Boyz"; and J. Cole's "Grown Simba" and "Love Yourz" on 12- and 16-ounce cans, 20-ounce bottles, and 12-, 20- and 24-packs of 12-ounce cans.

"We wanted lyrics that are inspirational to our core fans, and something that can deliver a positive message and uplift people as they engage in the brand," he says.

J. Cole's 'Crooked Smile' Lyrics: A Song on Inner Beauty

Last year's inaugural Verse campaign, a spin on the beverage's Obey Your Thirst slogan that debuted in 1994, featured Drake, Nas, Rakim and The Notorious B.I.G. Oliver said feedback from the launch informed this year's artist selection.

"The big takeaway for us coming out of last year was how excited fans were about us staying true to the genre and paying homage to the heritage of hip hop. Choosing classic artists as well as current artists led to our credibility," Oliver notes, adding of this year's inclusion of 2Pac: "It's important for us to have an artist like that because of what he's represented to music and the art form. Having a heavyweight like him is important to the program."

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This year's campaign also features a new tech enhancement. Fans can use their mobile phones to access the Sprite brand website from June 20 through Aug. 15, snap a photo of each can and unlock a Sprite product offer, earn a music reward, and be entered for a chance to win autographed music memorabilia and a VIP concert experience.

Obey Your Verse returns as sister beverage brand Coke is in the midst of its own lyrics-centric Share a Coke and a Song campaign. "We work closely with the Coca Cola brand team," he says. "We each have a unique role to individually capture the lyrics that makes the most sense for our brand. Our fans believe the music we are celebrating represents who they are."

Missy Elliott Named Honoree at VH1 Hip Hop Honors: Exclusive

Sprite's relationship with hip hop culture continues to evolve from 30 years ago when it debuted an ad featuring Kurtis Blow to engagement with artists including A Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Grandmaster Flash, Common and Fat Joe.

"In the '80s we were in the forefront and taking a subculture and pushing it into the mainstream culture. We embraced the genre early on, when no other brand from a corporate perspective was doing that," Oliver says. "Continuing it through the years is critically important to us. Honest self-expression is what hip hop is all about and the piece of it we found very meaningful to the Sprite brand as well."

The program will be supported with a marketing campaign including TV, outdoor, radio, digital, social, in-store advertising and an integration during the BET Experience @ L.A. Live, June 23-25. Outdoor ads will feature the likeness of each Obey Your Verse artist along with their respective packaging. A 30-second broadcast spot will debut in late June and include an appearance from Rakim.
The trial over whether Led Zeppelin copied the iconic guitar riff in "Stairway to Heaven" from Spirit's "Taurus" may end abruptly, after a video shown during opening statements sparked a discussion about a potential mistrial.

In previewing his case on behalf of Michael Skidmore, trustee for late Spirit songwriter Randy Wolfe, attorney Francis Malofiy, played a video of a man on the acoustic guitar. The man, an unnamed expert, plays the beginning of "Stairway to Heaven" then the base line of "Taurus," followed by both videos synced.

Robert Plant & Jimmy Page Appear in Los Angeles Court as 'Stairway' Trial Selects Jurors

Zeppelin's attorney Peter Anderson objected to the video, claiming it wasn't included in the joint list of exhibits submitted prior to trial.

Malofiy didn't deny it, but proceeded with playing the video despite technical difficulties.

U.S. District Court judge R. Gary Klausner bluntly said if the video really wasn't in the joint exhibit list, its use would be "grounds for a mistrial." It remains to be seen if Anderson will move for a mistrial after day one.

Earlier in his opening statements, Malofiy said the case comes down to six words: give credit where credit is due. He claims Wolfe wrote "Taurus," which fell "into the lovely hands" of Jimmy Page and became the iconic intro to "Stairway."

The "pink elephant in the room" -- as Malofiy described it -- is that the jury undoubtedly knows Zeppelin, Page and frontman Robert Plant. While Page and Plant are "incredible musicians" and "incredible performers," Malofiy says they're not songwriters and became famous by covering other bands' music and making it their own.

'Stairway to Heaven' Trial: Judge Strikes Led Zeppelin Music Expert Request

When Anderson took the podium, he pointed out that because this case is playing out decades after any alleged infringement, many witnesses have died and documents have been lost.

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"Forty-five years ago Jimmy Page and Robert Plant wrote some of the greatest songs in rock and roll history ... half a century later, they're being sued for it," Anderson said, adding that there is still enough evidence "to show that history cannot be rewritten."

He also laid out several he intends to use including unclean hands, alleging the trust receives Wolfe's royalties because they were surreptitiously denied to his son. Even if the jury hears a similarity, he says the use would likely be de minimus, derivative or composed of uncopyrightable musical building blocks. Anderson also says Spirit members often covered The Beatles and their 1965 song "Michelle" also uses a similar chord progression to "Taurus," which was published later.

After opening statements, the songwriter's sister Janet Wolfe and Spirit bandmember Jay Ferguson took the stand. Their testimonies were largely focused on Wolfe's status as a "prodigy" (He wrote "Taurus" at the age of 15.) and when Led Zeppelin and Spirit performed on the same bill, presumably an attempt to show Page had access to Wolfe's song to hear it and later copy it. Although neither witness could definitively say if "Taurus" was performed during the handful of events or say Zeppelin band members saw the performance.

Skidmore, Page and Plant are expected to testify, along with Zeppelin member John Paul Jones, Spirit bassist Mark Andes and music producer Lou Adler.

This article was originally published by The Hollywood Reporter.
Many of the original cast of American Crime Storys debut season  The People V. O.J. Simpson  are expected to reassemble for the next chapter in the Ryan Murphy-produced anthology show. Producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson confirm to Awardsline that writers went to New Orleans last week on a research trip for Season 2, which will tell of the American response to Hurricane Katrina. And O.J.s Marcia Clark, Sarah Paulson, says she fully intends to return to the series. The Katrina story, to me, is a literal American crime, Paulson explains. It says something about a uniquely American attitude, and I find it incredibly potent.

When Jacobson and Simpson pitched The People V. O.J. Simpson they hadnt conceived it as an anthology show that would run on after the conclusion of this particular story. It was Murphy and FX who brought that ambition, and it was conceived in the notion that crime is about apathy as much as action. In the case of O.J. Simpson, Jeffrey Toobins book about the trial had made it clear that many injustices served to prejudice the perspectives of the nation that consumed it. There was no way to avoid the questions it asked about race, gender and celebrity, and yet we did. If anything, the lessons the O.J. Simpson trial tried to teach were ignored, if not actively rallied against, as 24-hour news media and the rise of the internet gave us all an excuse to exercise opinions before they were fully-formed.

And American Crime Story faces an uphill struggle as it steers towards a second season, thanks to the outpouring of critical praise and interest heaped on The People V. O.J. Simpson. But for the creative team, alighting on this broader definition of American crime has allowed them to change tack, with Season 2 of the show placing the emphasis on the American response to Hurricane Katrina. We started talking about American crime stories as being before and after moments  crimes in which nothing was the same after as it was before, says Jacobson. Theyre turning points. As we started looking at O.J. and Katrina next to each other, we realized that they were crimes in which America was culpable for the crime as much as anybody else.

In the case of Katrina, that means examining the neglect and disparity of care that followed the storms landfall on August 25 2005. To explore these things from a character foundation, and to revel in the shades of greyto explore moments in which theres a disparity between the way our country wants to see itself and the way we actually are thats been a really inspiring perspective for us.

Adds Jacobson: Its a very different story to O.J., but were optimistic that if we dive deep and focus on great characters, we can have another great season of television.

Those characters will differ from the denizens of the O.J. case, because there werent so many breakout stars in the wake of Katrina. But the one thing it has in common with O.J., notes Brad Simpson, is that America stopped and watched this thing happen, and it exposed some truths that maybe we didnt want exposed. Things we didnt want to admit to ourselves about this country.

The planas with Ryan Murphys other anthology series American Horror Story and Scream Queensis to encourage as many of the cast from The People v. O.J. Simpson back as schedules allow. John Travolta, who flew to Louisiana after Katrina to assist in the rescue effort, has already expressed his interest, and Paulson says now that shes in too.

I would be more excited than almost anything to have a crack at something else with this same creative team, she admits. For me, the idea of treating Katrina as an American Crime Story is incredibly resonant, powerful and accurate. The Katrina story, to me, is a literal American crime. It says something about a uniquely American attitude, and I find it incredibly potent. Ive begged them, and there have been some conversations.

Paulson has relished the chance to change gears every year with American Horror Story. The idea of taking this repertory group of actors, who tell different stories all the time anyway, and giving them an opportunity to go out every year and do something different; to me its the greatest job in the world.

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Statoil ASAs STO Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) of Oseberg Vestflanken 2 has received the permission from the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. As estimated in 2015, the project requires an investment of about NOK 8.2 billion.



Two existing subsea wells will be reused by the Oseberg Vestflanken 2 development. These apart, an unmanned wellhead platform with ten well slots will be part of the project. All wells will be remote-controlled from the Oseberg field center.



The unique project is helping other operators, public authorities and the rest of Statoils project portfolio to learn about the high safety standards required for installations on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). The project is the first of its kind in Norway but has been extensively assessed on the Danish and Dutch continental shelves.



Statoil intends to lower investment costs throughout the engineering phase. To this end, the company has reduced the break-even price of the project by about 30%, supported by decreased capital expenditure and successful maturing of the resource base. This in turn has resulted in higher volumes. This makes the project strong despite a low oil price environment.

STATOIL ASA-ADR Price

STATOIL ASA-ADR Price | STATOIL ASA-ADR Quote

The new category J rig Askepott, which is currently under construction, will drill the wells at Oseberg Vestflanken 2. This new category is owned by the Oseberg license.



The aforesaid initiatives of Statoil are in sync with its aim of sustaining production in the NCS at the current level till 2030 and beyond. The endeavors of Statoil have been fruitful in extending the life of the Oseberg field.



Oseberg Vestflanken 2 is the first of the three planned phases for developing the remaining reserves in the Oseberg area. The area is estimated to hold reserves of about 110 million barrels of oil equivalent.



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By Tiisetso Motsoeneng and Freya Berry JOHANNESBURG/LONDON (Reuters) - South Africa's Steinhoff has bought 23 percent of Poundland and is considering a full cash bid for the British no-frills homeware chain in its latest attempt to expand in Europe. Steinhoff, a $22 billion furniture conglomerate which has lost out in two high profile takeover battles already this year, said on Wednesday it had acquired 22.78 percent of Poundland, which sells every item at a single price point of 1 pound. Under UK takeover rules, Steinhoff has until July 13 to announce a firm intention to bid for all of Poundland, whose main shareholder had been private equity firm Warburg Pincus, which said on Tuesday it had sold down its 15 percent stake. Steinhoff, which has lost out to rivals in two battles for Britain's Home Retail and France's Darty in the last three months, bought just over 61.2 million Poundland shares, which would be worth around 120 million pounds at the closing price. Poundland has a market capitalisation of around 537 million pounds ($761 million). Poundland shares closed up 2.2 percent higher at 200 pence, after rising around 25 percent on Tuesday. The stock is still down about 7 percent so far this year. News of the South African company's latest move raised questions about its approach to expansion in Europe, where it already runs chains such as white goods retailer Conforama in France and furniture chain Harveys in Britain. "There's seem to be no obvious strategic fit but it might just be a matter of adding discounted chains to its stable because that's essentially what they are: a discount retailer," said Vestact's Sasha Naryshkine in Johannesburg. South African retail mogul Christo Wiese, Steinhoff's chairman and biggest shareholder, told Reuters he was interested in Poundland because it would be a "good fit" for Steinhoff, adding it had a disciplined approach to acquisitions. POUNDLAND PRESSURE Steinhoff, which sells beds and cupboards to lower-income shoppers in Europe, southern Africa and Asia, is keen to expand further in Europe, where pressure on consumer income has made German's Aldi the continent's fastest growing supermarket chain. Poundland, which is due to report annual earnings on Thursday, would give Steinhoff a company with more than 900 shops in Britain, Ireland and Spain but also one whose 1 billion annual sales have been under pressure. Poundland's 2015 purchase of rival 99p Stores for 55 million pounds has raised questions over its price model. "Although Steinhoff has a proven track record of integrating businesses and improving their margins over time, we would see this acquisition as higher than average risk given the increasingly crowded UK variety discount space," said RBC Europe Ltd's analyst Richard Chamberlain. Poundland, which competes with B&M, Home Bargains and Wilko and Bargain Buys, told shareholders to take no action, noting that there was no certainty an offer would be made. Warburg Pincus originally listed Poundland in March 2014 at 300 pence per share. ($1 = 0.7059 pounds) (Additional reporting by Wendell Roelf in Cape Town; Editing by Jane Merriman and Alexander Smith)
The John Lethbridge, a search boat contracted by the Egyptian government, is working against the clock to locate the "black boxes" that investigators say will help explain why Flight MS804 crashed on May 19, killing all 66 people on board.

An EgyptAir Airbus A320 with the registration SU-GCC taking off from Vienna International Airport, Austria. (Pic: AP)

By Reuters: The main locations of wreckage from the EgyptAir jet that crashed in the eastern Mediterranean last month have been identified by a deep ocean search vessel, the Egyptian-led investigation committee said Wednesday.

The John Lethbridge, a search boat contracted by the Egyptian government, is working against the clock to locate the "black boxes" that investigators say will help explain why Flight MS804 crashed on May 19, killing all 66 people on board.

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Signals from the flight data recorders needed to track them down on the seabed are expected to expire on June 24.

The John Lethbridge has provided the first images of wreckage to investigators. A search team on board along with investigators will now draw a map of the wreckage's distribution spots, the committee said in a statement.

It was not immediately known which parts of the plane had been found, nor whether the two flight recorders were nearby. The recorders, one for voice and another for data, were contained in the tail of the Airbus A320.

Previously collected debris will also be handed over to the investigation committee after "standard procedures" are completed by prosecutors who are currently holding it for forensic evidence, the statement added.

To recover the black boxes some 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) below the sea surface, investigators will need to pinpoint the signals to within a few metres and establish whether the pingers are still connected to the recorders.

Also Read

No sign of EgyptAir plane technical problems before takeoff: Sources

EgyptAir jet sent smoke-alarm warnings before crash



--- ENDS ---
Indy wont meet Han Solos fate in the next sequel (Everett)

Steven Spielberg is one of American cinemas all-time titans, and hes poised to reassert his standing atop the directorial pecking order when his latest, The BFG, opens later this summer. In a newly published interview, the E.T. and Schindlers List director also reveals some information about a highly anticipated future project.

Speaking exclusively to Kim Masters for The Hollywood Reporter, Spielberg talks about plans to team up with Harrison Ford for another Indiana Jones adventure, which is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters in July 2019. That project wont get underway until after the director has completed work on two other movies: the video game-themed novel adaptation Ready Player One and the historical drama The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara (both featuring his BFG and Bridge of Spies star Mark Rylance.) Nonetheless, he says hes super excited about making a fifth entry in the Indy franchise, and tells fans the archaeologist wont be sharing Han Solos Force Awakens fate. I think this one is straight down the pike for the fans. The one thing I will tell you is Im not killing off Harrison [Ford] at the end of it.

Spielberg refuses to divulge any plot details about the script, but his enthusiasm remains palpable  as it does for The BFG, which marks his first full-fledged movie made for Disney. Disney was truly, when I was a kid, my singular inspiration and also the source of most of my nightmares. The separation of mother and child [in Bambi], I mean, the killing of Bambis  it was just one of the most " he says, trailing off.

Elsewhere in the piece, its revealed that Spielberg is aiming to remake West Side Story with his Lincoln screenwriter Tony Kushner, and the filmmaker also talks about the history of DreamWorks, the studio that he founded in 1994 with Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen which, late last year, struck a distribution deal with Universal. What emerges is a portrait of an artist who, at age 70, is far from slowing down, lending his creative support and input to a vast slate of big-screen and TV ventures.

To get the full scope of Spielbergs workaholic output, you can check out The Hollywood Reporters entire interview here. The BFG hits theaters on July 1.

Watch the trailer for The BFG:
Kathleen Kennedy is late. Few people keep Steven Spielberg waiting, but this isn't a first. "I always like to say, 'The late Kathy Kennedy,' " says Spielberg, 69, as we sit in late April in an anonymous office on the Sony lot, where he is working on scoring The BFG.

As head of Lucasfilm, Kennedy, 63, has a few Star Wars sequels and spinoffs to deal with. She and her husband, 69-year-old producer Frank Marshall - also here waiting for her to arrive - have collaborated with Spielberg for decades. The three first worked together in 1981, when Spielberg directed Raiders of the Lost Ark, Kennedy was his assistant and Marshall was the producer. Since then, they have worked in various combinations on many other Spielberg-produced and -directed movies, from 1982's E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial to War Horse in 2011. (Kennedy also produced the 2012 film Lincoln with Spielberg, but Marshall was not involved.) All three have producer credits on The BFG (in theaters July 1) but when that film started shooting, Kennedy's duties at Lucasfilm kept her away much of the time. "I wasn't there a lot but enough to see what was going on," she says. Marshall was there every day, even while Jurassic World, also produced by him and Spielberg, was about to be released.

These days, it's a logistical nightmare to get all three, occupied with myriad projects, together for an interview: Kennedy's Lucasfilm duties often keep her in London, while Marshall is at work on Paul Greengrass' latest Bourne movie (opening July 29) and Clint Eastwood's Sully with Tom Hanks (coming in September). The three gathered to talk about BFG, Star Wars, the mistake that would have cost Colin Trevorrow his Jurassic directing gig and more.

Were you expecting Jurassic World to be as big as it was?

STEVEN SPIELBERG We were on our last day of shooting on BFG, and I knew that Jurassic World was being released that day. I said to Frank, "I don't want to hear grosses until they're in." Because sometimes when you hear projections, the grosses come in much lower. You're disappointed - even though a movie could do $80 million, they projected it at $100 million, so people go home depressed. I could tell it wasn't a disaster 'cause as Frank was working hard not to tell me anything, his face kept cracking into a smile, which he could not repress. So I knew we were going to be OK, I just didn't know how OK until [Comcast chairman] Brian Roberts sent me an email Saturday morning, "WOW!!!!"

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How involved were you in Jurassic World?

SPIELBERG I was very involved in breaking the story, working on the script with [director Colin Trevorrow] and [writer Derek Connolly]. I was not on the set, but I watched dailies every day. If I felt something about the dailies, I would send a note to Colin directly. But Colin was doing a great job; you could tell by the rushes. I didn't even find Colin, Frank did.

KATHLEEN KENNEDY Well  I 

SPIELBERG Oh - Kathy. Sorry. Anyway, Kathy told Frank, and Frank told me.

Read More: Steven Spielberg on DreamWorks' Past, Amblin's Present and His Own Future

KENNEDY I saw [Trevorrow's debut movie] Safety Not Guaranteed when I was looking for who was going to direct [Star Wars:] Episode 7. Then when Frank and Steven were looking for a director, and I had already decided on J.J. [Abrams], I said, "Hey, I know this is going to be off the wall and you're not going to immediately think this young director could do this movie, but I've come to the realization he is the real deal, and he could handle it."

FRANK MARSHALL Then I cold-called him. I looked at his movie and thought he definitely knew what he was doing.

SPIELBERG I looked at his movie and thought it was really good, but I wasn't convinced until the last scene 'cause that film could have gone two ways. When this [character] who I thought was certifiably insane actually invented something that could travel through time, that crystallized the choice that it had to be Colin to do Jurassic World.

I saw an earlier version of that film in which the time machine didn't work.

MARSHALL Well [for that version], he didn't have the money to do the effect.

SPIELBERG Had that machine not worked, Colin would not have directed Jurassic World. Colin was a fan of all the Jurassic movies. And he spoke so much like a moviemaker, not like an essayist. I've heard a lot of people talking about movies in very analytical ways, and some of that is impressive and some of that is just analytical. But Colin spoke about the audience and what it felt like to be in the movie theater watching the Jurassic movies. And then he took the other approach of talking about structure and how he would tell the story. And he basically sold himself to me in the room.

Read More: Steven Spielberg Reveals 'The BFG's' 20-Year Journey to Theaters

MARSHALL We spent a lot of time with Colin. We're doing that on [the next] Jurassic, too, with Juan Antonio [Bayona]. Kathy and I have spent a lot of time with Juan Antonio over the years. We had talked about him doing Jurassic World, but he has a long process for production.

SPIELBERG We had been very impressed with his Naomi Watts movie about the tsunami [The Impossible]. You've got to pick the right directors, and that's what Kathy has done so brilliantly on the Star Wars series. Rian Johnson and Colin are the two best directors who could be doing Episode 8 and 9. And that's the whole key. I think Harry Potter had a huge infusion of a second life when Alfonso Cuaron did No. 3. He changed the paradigm of Harry Potter and gave it another six years just based on the art he brought to the third movie.

KENNEDY It's also the idea that inside these franchises you can take artistic license and creative risks. If all you're doing is playing it safe - trying to make the same movie over and over again - that's when the audiences say, "Oh, this is just a moneymaking machine." But if it's genuinely in service to the art form, then the franchise concept is being used in a way that's exciting.

So when you have Jurassic World, I assume you feel pretty possessive?

SPIELBERG No, I don't. I honestly don't feel possessive at all. I think Colin feels possessive now - and he should. I passed the torch to Colin.

You really feel that way?

SPIELBERG I absolutely do. He's the guy who has to feel possessive.

KENNEDY Don't you feel that? I mean, I think it's all about the joy that comes from the ability to keep it going and keep audiences entertained.

MARSHALL It's what you did with Star Wars now.

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard in a scene from the Trevorrow-directed hit Jurassic World.

KENNEDY Yeah, there is nothing more thrilling than that - to introduce a new generation to something that the previous generation loved so much, and yet there is a way to modernize it and move it into a more contemporary environment and keep it going. Because you know, audiences love these movies.

SPIELBERG That's true, yeah.

Kathy, did you think of Steven to direct Star Wars: Episode 7?

KENNEDY No. Steven and I had many conversations about J.J.

SPIELBERG I brought J.J.'s name up. I thought J.J. would be the best person to direct Episode 7 and I called J.J. and said 'Would you do it if it was offered to you?' He said, 'I would but my wife won't let me 'cause she doesn't want me to restart any more franchises.' But I went to Kathy and asked if I could get J.J. to say yes to this would you consider it? Kathy said 'Are you kidding? Of course I would. But why would J.J. do Star Wars; he's already done Mission Impossible and Star Trek.' So I take Katie Abrams and J.J. to dinner that night to Giorgio with my wife, Kate, and right in front of Katie Abrams I popped the question. I said to Katie, 'I think there's a chance that J.J. could direct Star Wars. What do you think of that?' And Katie turned to J.J. and said, 'That would be amazing. Really?' And I went outside the restaurant, picked up my phone, called Kathy and said, "When can we meet with J.J.?" And that's how the whole thing began.

So when you look at young directors, how do you know you're not hiring another Josh Trank [who directed the Fox bomb Fantastic Four]?

SPIELBERG Who is that?

KENNEDY It's all instinctual. One of the things I've come to realize since I've been in this position of keeping Star Wars going is that in addition to looking for somebody who can creatively have an impact, you're really looking for leadership skills. No one steps into these big movies without being able to genuinely lead the charge with hundreds of people and [handle] the relationship with the studio. That's a very difficult thing to do, and you don't know [a person can do] that until you get to spend time and watch somebody operate. It's a strange time in our lives where we're hiring many filmmakers who have been influenced by the movies that we've made over the years.

SPIELBERG Well, it's like a passing of the torch. I know what it feels like to my generation looking back at the filmmakers who influenced us. And yet we're not them, we're ourselves, and we have to figure out what kind of a voice we have. You've got to be able to have heroes you aspire to be like, but you can't imitate them. You have to figure out what you have to contribute to the art form.

Read More: Cannes: Steven Spielberg Addresses 'BFG' Author Roald Dahl's Anti-Semitism

KENNEDY And I think the interesting thing is a lot of people keep asking me, "Well, what did you guys do when you formed Amblin, and what was the business model, and what were you "

SPIELBERG Business model? Come on.

KENNEDY I'm like, what?! We didn't do any of that. We were just making what we felt we wanted to see. It's interesting 'cause nowadays it feels that people approach these things in a much more calculated way because there is so much at stake, frankly. There is so much more money being spent. But when we were doing it, it was completely instinctual.

SPIELBERG If you're creating a story, if you're a writer or a producer, you're unconscious of stuff that's written every day in the trades. You're unconscious that there are trade magazines.

MARSHALL No offense.

This story first appeared in the June 24 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
The deadliest mass shooting in American history has refueled the political debate about gun control, with Democrats calling for stricter regulations and Republicans placing blame on radical Islamic terrorism.

Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt said on the FOX Business Networks Varney and Co. Wednesday that tighter gun control laws wont stop terrorists who are committed to killing anyone thats against their ideology.

The states that have the most gun control like California, that already ban assault rifles, thats where San Bernardino happened and we learn this lesson over and over again. Law abiding citizens have guns and theyre former military, theyre law enforcement, they are moms, theyre wives, Laxalt said.

President Obama on Monday spoke at the White House following the shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, which left 49 people dead and 53 injured. He reiterated the importance of regulating access to powerful firearms.

Laxalt shared his frustration with the Obama Administration at a time of national tragedy and said, rather than the President of the United States unifying us in the way we were unified after September 11, instead we have more division after this horrific tragedy than we ever had from a similar attack.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump weighed in on Wednesday by saying he is willing to meet with the National Rifle Association to discuss banning those on a terror watch list from buying and owning a firearm.

Weve seen it with the refugee crisis that [FBI] Director Comey said we have no ability to figure out who the good guys and the bad guys are coming in and out of this country, Laxalt told host Stuart Varney.

According to Laxalt, the federal government has lost its central focus and has done a terrible job differentiating who is coming into the United States with good and bad intentions.

"I just find it appalling that we are focusing on everything but the primary threat, which is radical Islamic terrorism, Laxalt said."

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All this week, were celebrating the great movies that hit screens 30 years ago in 1986. Go here to read more.

By the dog days of the summer of 1986, inveterate horror junkies (including yours truly) were in a funk. Not even James Camerons white-knuckle Aliens could wipe out the stench of Critters, Poltergeist II: The Other Side, and Psycho III. All that changed, however, in mid-August, when a freaky film announced itself with five immortal words:

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

David Cronenbergs The Fly arrived in theaters Aug. 15 of that year, an instant classic that seared itself into the pop consciousness thanks to star Jeff Goldblums mesmerizing, metastasizing Brundlefly, a twitchy, oozy monstrosity made of bug parts and slime.

Jeff Goldblums Brundlefly (20th Century Fox)

Hyped as a grosser, gorier remake of the eponymous 1958 Vincent Price fright film, The Fly transcended genre. Yes, the Frankenstein-riffing tropes are there: A brilliant, yet egotistical scientist (Goldblums Seth Brundle) develops teleportation tech that makes Elon Musks Hyperloop look like amateur hour; said scientist performs a test run himself, not realizing a housefly has entered the transportation chamber; with the flys DNA fused to his own, the scientist grows increasingly unhinged as he morphs into an insectoid monster jeopardizing his girlfriend (Geena Davis). But the film is elevated by Goldblums tour-de-force performance and by Cronenbergs reimagining of the source material (The Fly was hatched as a short story by George Langelaan) as a potent metaphor for love and loss. While some 80s audiences saw Brundles deterioration as an AIDS parable, Cronenberg later said he had a less specific story in mind. For me, though, there was something about The Fly story that was much more universal to me: aging and death  something all of us have to deal with, he told Film Freak Central in 2012.

The original 1958 The Fly (20th Century Fox)

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The remake was the brainchild of screenwriter Charles Edward Pogue, who pitched the idea to producer Stuart Cornfeld. Cornfeld convinced his boss, Mel Brooks (yes, that Mel Brooks) to take a flier on The Fly. (Brooks, who had a soft spot for horror flicks, had been a big fan of The Dead Zone, Cronenbergs stellar 1983 Stephen King adaptation.) Brooks and Cornfeld courted Cronenberg to helm The Fly, but he was under contract to direct Total Recall. Eventually, that deal fell apart and Brooks had his man. Cronenberg retooled Pogues script and, as Brooks told Moviefone in 2011, the team wanted to make sure that it made sense, and it was eerie and fascinating, but possible. Davids a little like Hitchcock. He knew what he wanted to shoot.  He had a very good beginning, middle, and end in his head of how to shoot it. And while Cronenberg retooled the script, the director credits Brooks with coining the films legendary  and much-lampooned  tagline.

The Fly struck a chord with audiences and critics alike. Made on a budget of $9 million, the film wound up tallying more than $40 million, ranking just behind Pretty in Pink and Short Circuit on the year-end box-office chart. Its still the most profitable film ever by Cronenberg (who, it happened, fancied himself an amateur entomologist). Times Richard Corliss put The Fly on his Top 10 list, calling it a a gross-your-eyes-out horror movie that is also the years most poignant romance. Gene Siskel raved that The Fly was superior to Aliens because its creature is part human we can empathize with the monster rather than merely fear it. The review-aggregating RottenTomatoes certifies The Fly as 91 percent fresh.

To realize his vision, Cronenberg recruited effects whiz Chris Walas, fresh off his ground-breaking creature work on Gremlins. Walas and his team spent three months fabricating various stages of Goldblums transformation from man to monstrosity. The initial phases were accomplished with makeup and prosthetics, while the final iterations, dubbed the Space Bug by the crew, were intricate puppets. Each of these was engineered to maximize the fear factor  to make, as the tagline boasted, us all very afraid. If the effects hadnt succeed as well as they did, the whole movie would have collapsed into a Troma-esque schlockfest.

The Spacebug puppet in The Fly (20th Century Fox)

While Walas would go on to win an Oscar for his Brundlefly, the two weirdest concoctions from his workshop wound up on the cutting-room floor. Those of us who saw the film in the 1980s heard whispers of these scenes  one of them supposedly so disgusting it caused a test-screening viewer to vomit  but they remained hidden away in the 20th Century Fox vaults for nearly 20 years, until surfacing in the bonus features of the 2005 DVD release. As we celebrate the best horror film of the summer of 86, lets look at the imagery that might have made The Fly even more horrifying.

Watch deleted scenes from The Fly:

The first, christened the Monkey-Cat, (which you view at the 2-minute mark above), came late in the film. Goldblums deformed Brundle is in his lab, placing a baboon and an alley cat in separate pods and then teleporting them into a third chamber. What emerges is a hellish, two-headed hybrid of the animals. As Cornfeld describes it on the DVD, the Monkey-Cat is in agony and lashes out at Brundle as he opens the door. Brundle, in turn, beats the creature to death with a metal bar. The scene continues with Brundle discovering an insect appendage jutting from his body. He bites it off and leaves the bloody stump in an alley.

When we screened it, besides being a little too intense  this one woman had thrown up  it taught us a very valuable lesson, Cornfeld says in his commentary. We had to keep the audience locked into the tragedy that this guy was going through. If you beat an animal, even a cat-monkey, to death with a lead pipe, your audience is no longer interested in your problems.

The infamous Monkey-Cat (20th Century Fox)

Perhaps if the scene was not excised from the film, Los Angeles Times critic Patrick Goldstein wouldnt have written, What makes The Fly such a stunning piece of obsessive filmmaking is the way Cronenberg deftly allows us to identify with his monstrous creation.

Aside from Monkey-Cat, the other oddity that didnt make the final cut was Butterfly Baby. Viewers of the film recall that Geena Daviss character, magazine journalist Veronica Quaife, is pregnant with Brundles child. Concerned that the baby will have his fathers fly genes, she opts for an abortion, but is captured by Brundlefly before she can have the procedure. He seeks to merge himself, Quaife, and their unborn child together into a singular entity using his telepods. Instead, she manages to escape and Brundle ends up melded with the telepod itself; at his urging, she shoots him to end his suffering as the credits roll.

Watch the ending of The Fly:

The film initially wasnt supposed to stop there. Cronenberg filmed four different epilogues all featuring Quaife having a dream in which she gives birth to a Butterfly Baby. The imagery was supposed to contrast with her earlier nightmare (that remains in the film) in which she delivers a giant maggot; the Butterfly Baby offered her a vision of a hopeful future.



The Butterfly Baby puppet (20th Century Fox)



However, the filmmakers decided to mercy-kill the scene, close with Brundles death, and leave Quaifes fate ambiguous. Their instincts were right-on. While the effects team did amazing work with the films other creatures, the Butterfly Baby is jarring and not a convincing effect. Looking at it now, the Butterfly Baby might have been the scariest creation of them all, for all the wrong reasons.



Even without Monkey-Cat and Butterfly Baby, The Fly is one wild, weird, wonderful, only-in-the-80s film whose success defied logic: A remake of a classic that far exceeded the original produced by one of Hollywoods preeminent funnymen directed by a decidedly non-mainstream filmmaker and starring an unconventional leading man who spends most of the movie obscured in makeup and slime. The Fly made us afraid, very afraid  and, three decades later, still gives us horror fans one hell of a buzz.

Read more:

Summer of 86: Stand by Me Takes on Life, Death, and One Epic Barf-o-Rama

Summer of 86: The Terrifying Madness of Manhunter  and Our First Introduction to an Infamous Serial Killer

Summer of 86: Ferris Buellers Day Off Let John Hughes Graduate from Teen Movies With Honors

Summer of 86: The Wild, Wacko Genre Mashup of Big Trouble in Little China

Summer of 86: The Top Gun Music Editor Remembers How He Took Audiences Right Into the Danger Zone


In a summer of Top Gun, the convention-defying About Last Night managed to find daylight. It was one of five movies to open on the Fourth of July (up against Big Trouble in Little China, The Great Mouse Detective, Psycho III, and Princes Under the Cherry Moon); it was the only one of those releases to hang for a solid month in the top 10. In the end, About Last Night grossed $38.7 million domestically, representing the biggest box-office hit of the 1980s for stars Rob Lowe and Demi Moore.

But to me it just sounded different.

Released during the Brat Pack era, and starring Brat Pack stars, 1986s About Last Night was by design not another Brat Pack movie.

Youd be forgiven if you thought otherwise, especially from a 2016 lens. Any confusion stems from looking back at the comedy in the broadest terms: The film is set in Chicago, like the John Hughes movies that gave birth to the Brat Pack epithet; its about young people and their relationships, like the John Hughes movies; it stars Rob Lowe and Demi Moore, like none of the John Hughes movies. Instead, like St. Elmos Fire, which also starred Lowe and Moore, About Last Night could be a John Hughes movies older sibling.

The cast (from left): Elizabeth Perkins, Demi Moore, Jim Belushi, Rob Lowe (Sony Pictures)



But see the movie as 1986s critics did, and you get an insightful look at the singles bar scene that might not have pushed boundaries, but was likeable enough, and maybe even special. Roger Ebert even gave the film a full four-star rating, gushing that it has an eye and an ear for the way we live now, and it has a heart, too, and a sense of humor and pronouncing it one of the years best movies. Sure, the words brat and pack were thrown around, too, but they were there to distinguish About Last Night from the Young Hollywood films that preceded it.

The two words that above all separated About Last Night from the rest: David Mamet. The film was based on the Oscar-nominated, Pulitzer Prize-winning writers 1974 one-act play, Sexual Perversity in Chicago.

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I didnt want the movie to have that [Brat Pack] stigma, director Edward Zwick said in 1986, but I knew the material was strong enough that it wouldnt.

To prove the point, Zwick opens About Last Night with the sound of Mamet performed by Lowe and James Belushi.



Watch the opening sequence of About Last Night:

So, Lowe begins.

So, what? Belushi counters.

Thus begins the most distinctive soundtrack moment of the Dont You (Forget About Me) decade.

So, tell me

What?

About last night

Are you kidding me?

Yeah?

With the next Belushi line, the first F-word of our R-rated relationship comedy is conjugated, and were not even off the first title card. We havent seen Belushi. We havent seen Lowe  and the then-22-year-old Lowe was not something to be concealed. (Let it be noted, the now-52-year-old Lowe is likewise a vision worth sharing.)

But Zwick, on his first feature-film assignment, is in no hurry. He lets Belushi and Lowe riff on Mamet (as interpreted by screenwriters Tim Kazurinsky and Denise DeClue) for a solid 30 seconds before we see anything but blue-on-black credits.

Even when Zwick finally lets us have a look at the movie, he keeps the focus on the words. Theres no sweeping establishing shot. Theres no frenetic Steadicam. There are no exposed Lowe biceps, a la the actors eye-candy character in the previous summers St. Elmos Fire. There are just blazer-clad, sales bros Bernie (Belushi) and Danny (Lowe) walking and talking along Chicagos waterfront, and hashing out Bernies (alleged) sexcapade with a woman who may or may not have been a pro.



The 2014 Kevin Hart remake, About Last Night  no ellipsis  offers its own take on this approach: It opens with James Browns spoken intro to Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine.

In Zwicks version, the filmmaker is so devoted is to Bernie and Danny, and, in turn, Mamet, that he lets the men banter their way around town, on the L train, on the downtown sidewalk, in the local bar, and through the rest of the opening credits, a cappella.

There is no Simple Minds song. There is no Tangerine Dream score. There is no saxophone.

Why, its as if were not really in the 1980s at all.

No, About Last Night was not another Brat Pack movie. It sounded different because it was different.

Read more:

Summer of 86: 'Stand by Me Takes on Life, Death, and One Epic Barf-o-Rama

Summer of 86: The Terrifying Madness of Manhunter  and Our First Introduction to an Infamous Serial Killer

Summer of 86: Ferris Buellers Day Off Let John Hughes Graduate from Teen Movies With Honors

Summer of 86: The Wild, Wacko Genre Mashup of Big Trouble in Little China


Los Angeles (AFP) - An Indiana man arrested over the weekend ahead of the Los Angeles gay pride parade had enough explosive material in his car to make a large bomb, authorities said Tuesday.

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, James Howell had 20 pounds (nine kilograms) of explosive mix and five gallons (19 liters) of gasoline when he was arrested on Sunday, just hours after the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Florida that left 49 people dead.

Authorities said the materials were enough to make a bomb similar to the one used in an attack on a federal building in Oklahoma in 1995 that left 168 people dead and hundreds more injured.

They added that some of the materials were already mixed in a bucket in the car.

After his arrest, Howell, 20, told officers that he was looking for a friend and planned to attend the LA Pride parade taking place that same day. He made no mention of planning to do any harm at the vent, authorities said.

He was formally charged on Tuesday with three felony counts of weapons possession and one misdemeanor count of possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle.

He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and was ordered held on $2 million bond.

According to court documents, Howell also had a Buck knife in his car when arrested as well as a Taser, a black hood, handcuffs and a security badge.

His motive and the reason why he had the weapons are unclear.

He was detained after a resident reported a prowler knocking on their door and window around 5:00 am.

Security was boosted at the LA Pride parade following his arrest and in the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando hours earlier.

According to the Los Angeles Times, citing Indiana court records, Howell was charged in October 2015 with intimidation and a felony count for pointing a firearm at another person.

Prosecutors dropped the felony charge after he pleaded guilty in April to the lesser misdemeanor charge of intimidation.

As part of his plea deal, he agreed to forfeit all weapons during his term of probation.

Joseph Greeson, 18, a friend of Howell's and a fellow car club member, told the Times that Howell harbored no ill will toward gays or lesbians, and that he was bisexual.
Paris (AFP) - Switzerland's new Arsenal signing Granit Xhaka said his team must be less wasteful in front of goal when they face France on Sunday looking for a place in Euro 2016's knockout phase.

The Swiss were held to a 1-1 draw by a spirited Romania side on Wednesday despite enjoying the lion's share of possession, leaving them with four points and a tricky task ahead against the host nation as Group A comes to a head this weekend.

Admir Mehmidi's powerful finish at the Parc des Princes cancelled out Bogdan Stancu's penalty, but the Swiss had plenty of opportunities to finish off the Romanians but wasted them all.

"We can't be totally satisfied with the result," said Xhaka, who was voted man of the match.

"We created so many chances but unfortunately we couldn't win.

"We could have scored two or three goals in the second half.

"We had eight good chances, we have to finish them.

"It's not that we can't create them, it's that we can't finish them."

The 23-year-old, who will swap Borussia Monchengladbach for the Emirates next season, said he did not think the Swiss "have to be satisfied with four points".

"We want to win against France like we want to win every game," he said.

"France will be the favourites but we want to win against France, we're not scared of them."

France were playing Albania later Wednesday looking for their second win of the tournament, which would guarantee their passage into the last 16.
Beirut (AFP) - Dozens of activist groups opposed to Syria's regime accused the United Nations on Wednesday of "capitulating" to Damascus on aid access to desperate civilians.

The UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Yaacoub El Hillo, said however that while aid access was not ideal, the UN continues to "assist Syrians based on need".

The scathing 50-page report by The Syria Campaign advocacy group was signed by 55 Syrian organisations opposed to the government, including the White Helmets organisation made up of emergency responders in rebel-held areas.

Based on testimonies from current and former UN staff and other aid workers, the report alleged that the UN in Syria was "in breach of its humanitarian principles and therefore at risk of fuelling the conflict".

"There has been a systematic failure in the UN-led response," said Roger Hearn, who headed the UN's Palestinian refugee agency in Damascus until December 2011 and contributed to the report.

One anonymous UN official interviewed for the report called the organisation's work in Syria "a profoundly flawed and one-sided operation."

By the UN's count, nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas, most surrounded by government forces.

Earlier this month, the UN said the government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas, after one was taken off the UN's list.

- 'Undue influence' -

Damascus requires aid agencies to go through an authorisation process to deliver aid to these areas -- a request that is frequently rejected.

Since Syria's conflict erupted in 2011, government officials have threatened to revoke the visas of UN staff in Damascus if they deliver aid to areas without regime permission, TSC's report said.

It accused the UN of "choosing to prioritise cooperation with the Syrian government at all costs," allowing the regime to unduly influence UN aid strategy.

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As a result, most assistance goes to government-held territory where permission is granted, instead of opposition areas where aid is most needed, the report said.

In April "88 percent of food aid delivered from inside Syria went into government-controlled territory," it said.

Reacting to the report during a visit to Beirut on Wednesday, the UN's Hillo told journalists the organisation does "not assist Syrians based on location. We assist Syrians based on need."

Sending an aid convoy to a besieged town without proper authorisation would be a "suicide mission for humanitarian workers", he said.

The report recommends that UN agencies publicly lay out conditions for continued cooperation with Damascus and halt work with the government if they are not met.

"A UN operation that violates its humanitarian principles becomes party to the conflict and stands accused of doing harm," it said.

Hillo admitted the government had "obstructed" access to some besieged areas.

"But because of it, do we condemn the rest to starvation?" he said.

Bissan Fakih, a spokeswoman for The Syria Campaign, countered: "A UN with the backbone to stand for its principles would help get aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians under siege, many of them only a few minutes' drive from where the UN is based in Damascus."

The Syria Campaign says the UN's "acquiescence" has also downplayed the desperate humanitarian situation for civilians living under government siege, including underestimating the numbers.

According to the UN, a total of 592,000 people live in besieged areas across Syria, but the report says that the number is closer to one million.

Earlier this year, an assessment by the UN's own aid coordination body, OCHA, also found that Damascus-based humanitarian agencies were "protective of their relationship with the GoS (government of Syria)."

It was "becoming clear that the Government was hindering the establishment of a proper humanitarian operation from quite early in the crisis," the March report said.

But "UN agencies were simply not willing to jeopardise their operations in Syria by taking a tougher stance with the Government."
Jayalalithaa , in her memorandum to Modi, asked the Centre to intervene in the building of a dam over the Mekedatu river by Karnataka. This move has not gone well with the Karnataka Chief Minister.

By Rohini Swamy: Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have fought over Cauvery for several decades. Now there is a renewed flashpoint opening up between the two states on the Mekedatu river project on Cauvery.

"They have no right whatsoever on the Mekedatu project, because it is the order of the tribunal and nobody violates the orders of the tribunal," said the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.



UNILATERAL DECISION : AIADMK

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The AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu calls it a unilateral decision.

"It is a matter of the livelihood of our farmers and taking a decision without concurrence from Tamil Nadu is against the spirit of a riparian government," said Pandiarajan, spokesperson of the AIADMK while speaking exclusively to India Today.

The issue has come up again because Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in her memorandum to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday had said that she would like the Centre to intervene on the building of a dam over the Mekedatu river by Karnataka. The dam would affect the flow of water into the River Cauvery into her state, she complained to Modi.



TAMIL NADU DEMANDS CAUVERY WATER BOARD



The Tamil Nadu government has been impressing upon forming the Cauvery Water Board which they say is a more competent authority to take a call on water sharing rather than one state making a unilateral decision.

"Nowhere has it been mentioned that the board cannot be formed and the state of Karnataka has been stalling this for more than three years now," Pandiarajan said.

KARNATAKA HIT BY SEVERE WATER CRISIS

Karnataka intends to build a reservoir across the river Cauvery near the area called Mekedatu to resolve the drinking water problem that India's technology capital faces.

In 2016, the state witnessed severe drought. Even the city of Bengaluru was hit by a drinking water crisis.

Karnataka's stand is that the dam would help tide over such natural calamities. An independent study conducted by V Balasubramanian, a former Additional Chief Secretary of Karnataka, rang the warning bell by stating that people of Bengaluru might have to be evacuated by 2025 because of a water famine. That severe was the crisis that the city was facing.

The depletion of ground water resources in the water reservoirs has forced the Karnataka government to take a firm their stand on the Mekedatu project.

THE CONTENTIOUS POINT

The Mekedatu reservoir was first proposed along with another project called Shivanasamudram hydro power project in 2003 to use the water for a hydro power station and supply drinking water to the city of Bengaluru. The Cauvery water sharing tribunal had asked Karnataka to supply 192 TMC feet of water to Tamil Nadu. And, due to the flow of water downstream, another 250 TMC feet of water is estimated to flow into the sea.

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Karnataka's argument is that the water flowing into the sea can be utilized for drinking water purposes of Bengaluru.

But Tamil Nadu has been crying foul and saying that no permission has been sought to build the reservoir. So much so that the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to instruct Karnataka from going ahead with the project.

In a statement, Siddaramaiah said that the state was fulfilling its responsibility of providing 192 TMC feet of water to Tamil Nadu as per the orders of the tribunal and only after that was it utilizing the remaining water to generate hydro-electricity and for drinking water purposes.

In 2015, the two states were at loggerheads when Tamil Nadu moved the Supreme court over Karnataka's Mekedatu project and the Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah took an all party delegation to the Centre to explain the state's stand on the project.

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Also Read:

Karnataka-Tamil Nadu bitterness spills over Cauvery dam

Cauvery water dispute talks fail again, Tamil Nadu to move SC against Karnataka





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The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) together with fighters from the Manbij Military Council continued advancing towards the Islamic State stronghold of Manbij on June 15 . Heavy clashes between SDF and IS continued around Manbij while the US-led coalition carried out airstrikes on Islamic State positions in the city, local reports said.

This video was posted to a Syrian Democratic Forces account and is described as showing the forces rescuing civilians from Islamic State near Manbij.

The people in the video appear with their hands up, emerging from a house. The exact context is not clear, but it seems likely the house they emerge from is in an area into which SDF advanced. The forces have reportedly recaptured 110 villages and farms since the beginning of the offensive.

The forces also found bodies of 27 IS fighters killed in the fighting, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. It cited local sources as saying most of the dead did not appear to be locals. Credit: YouTube/SAD
Sysco Corp.SYY has reportedly issued its first euro-denominated bonds to fund the $3.1 billion purchase of London-based Brakes Group.

The largest U.S. food distributor sold 500 million euros ($560 million) of seven-year securities yielding about 1.31%, according to Bloomberg, to proceed with the acquisition of Brakes Group, announced in Feb 2016.

We note that recently Sysco received an antitrust approval from the European Commission to acquire leading European foodservice distributor, Brakes Group. The deal would not have a negative effect on consumers, hospitals, schools and other clients, which purchase chilled, frozen and ambient food from the companies.

The acquisition, which is expected to close in early Jul 2016, will expand the global food product makers footprint in Europe.

SYSCO CORP Price and Consensus

SYSCO CORP Price and Consensus | SYSCO CORP Quote

Brakes Group, currently owned by Bain Capital Private Equity, operates in major European countries, namely, the U.K., Ireland, France, Sweden, Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg. In fiscal 2015, Brakes Group generated revenues of nearly $5 billion, up 6.5% year over year. It supplies almost 50,000 products including 4,000 own-brand items to roughly 50,000 food service customers through its distribution network.

Following the acquisition, Brakes Group with its 15,000 employees will continue to function as a standalone company within Sysco and be led by CEO Ken McMeikan.

The combined companies are expected to generate sales of approximately $55 billion annually. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to Syscos earnings immediately.

The company has been carrying out various acquisitions over the years to grow its distribution network and customer base and boost long-term growth. The company expects to achieve 0.5%1% sales growth through acquisitions in the long term.

Along with Brakes Group, the company had also announced the acquisition of North Star Seafood, which distributes high-quality fresh and frozen seafood to a combination of local, wholesale, cruise, export and retail customers throughout Florida, in Feb 2016.

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Last year, Sysco acquired 50% stake in Mexico based Pacific Star Foodservice, which gave Sysco access to distribution centers where Pacific Star is the leading distributor. This partnership also allowed Sysco to enhance its service to the U.S. customers. The company also announced the acquisition of Tannis Trading in Canada. Tannis operates in the Ottawa market, the fourth largest in Canada. This acquisition, which remains subject to regulatory approval, will allow the company to expand its sales in Canada.

Sysco currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some better-ranked food companies include Post Holdings, Inc. POST, Lancaster Colony Corporation LANC and B&G Foods, Inc. BGS. All of them sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

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One was an American private security guard with a history of domestic violence and no known criminal record. The other was a French ex-convict who had served two and half years in prison on a terrorism recruitment charge. But the propaganda arm of ISIS claimed both menOmar Mateen and Laruossi Abballaas soldiers after they committed murder in their respective countries.

The divergent profiles of the people claiming to kill in the name of ISIS underscores how the group embraces a broad spectrum of potential foot soldiers, whether or not they have prior contact with the group or a deep commitment to its ideology.

Read More: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Trump and ISIS Depend on Irrationality

Omar Mateen, the gunman who killed 49 people at a gay club in Orlando on Sunday, falls into the category of attackers acting in ISIS name without any known operational ties to the group. Other attackers, like Abballa, who stabbed two police officers to death in their home outside of Paris on Tuesday, follow a more familiar path to a jihadi-inspired attack, one that included personal contact with other would-be militants and time served in a Western prison system.

As information continues to surface, a more complex picture of Mateens motivations has emerged. Bar patrons said Mateen had frequented the Pulse nightclub before his attack. His ex-wife says he may in fact have even been gay. These descriptions of Mateen as a man who drank alcohol and may have struggled with his sexuality provide an awkward counterpoint to ISIS efforts to claim the shooter as a soldier of its puritanical caliphateand the efforts of some in the U.S. to claim that Orlando was an ISIS attack.

Read More: Everything We Know About the Paris Knife Attacker Inspired By ISIS

Nevertheless, ISIS has endorsed both Orlando and the double murder in Paris through their official media arm. Theres a good reason for thatISIS is losing ground in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Iraq, and analysts say it is seeking to reverse an image of decline and defeat by claiming spectacular acts of violence, even if the group had little to nothing to do with them.

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Its just an open casting call for anyone who wants to perpetrate violence, says Clint Watts, a former FBI counterterrorism agent and a fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia. Theyre desperate for success, but it works when there are people willing to do it.

Two days after the massacre in Orlando, Florida, 25-year-old Laruossi Abballa stabbed to death an off duty police captain and his partner, also a police official, at their suburban home in the town of Magnanville, outside of Paris. He then sat down and broadcast a live video on in which he proclaimed his allegiance with ISIS. The couples three-year-old son sat behind him. According to news reports, Abballa gestured at the child. I dont know what to do with him, he said.

Read More: What to Know About ISISs Role in the Orlando Shooting

Like Mateen, Abballa had also announced his support for ISIS at the last possible moment, speaking into his phone at 8:52 p.m. local time, shortly before he was killed by police special forces responding to the attack. Abballas message appears to have been very specific. He said he was responding to an appeal for attacks issued in May by ISIS spokesman Abu Muhammad al-Adnani.

Abballa was one of a group of men jailed in 2013 as a part of a plot to send militant recruits to Pakistan. At the time of his trial, he was quoted in Le Monde saying that his interest in militancy began when he was unemployed and lacking direction in life. I needed recognition, he said. He began to spend time with a group of men who spoke of jihad constantly. His former girlfriend told French radio that he became even more religious following his release from prison.

Abballas story is similar to past French attackers, including those who attacked the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January 2015. He was an alienated man, jailed a young age and hardened in prison. He was well known to French police, but that doesnt mean they were able to keep close track of him. Hundreds of young French citizens have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join militant groups including ISIS, and many have returned. France has a jihadi problem, says Ali Soufan, a former top terrorism investigator for the FBI.

The details of Omar Mateens phone call with 911 in which he reportedly declared allegiance to ISIS have not been released to the public. But other details suggest he had only a superficial knowledge of ISIS and what it stood for. Law enforcement officials say he had previously espoused admiration for al-Qaeda and Hezbollah, even though the lattera Shia militant group based in Lebanonis actively fighting ISIS in Syria.

But ISIS willingness to extend its brand to such a loose range of attacks is emblematic of its confused strategy for external operations. Yes it helps them in terms of their propaganda value, but as part of a strategy it starts to fall apart, says Watts. I dont know that on the investigative side, when you focus so heavily on the ISIS nexus, that it really helps you in terms of case-building or expanding things out.

In his audio recording in May, Adnani, the ISIS spokesman, specifically called for attacks in Europe and the U.S., appealing to potential recruits who might otherwise travel to join ISIS in Iraq and Syria. He appears to have thrown open the door to any would-be attacker. That approach is part of a new era of transnational jihadism, one that embraces so-called lone wolf attackers. It is also a departure from an older model, which placed more emphasis on central control and the planning of more elaborate operations, like the 9/11 attacks. In letters that became public after his killing, Osama bin Laden cautioned against the use of solo attackers, and fretted over extending the al-Qaeda brand to less disciplined groups. But even Bin Ladens chosen successor Ayman al-Zawahiri issued a call for lone attackers last year.

Soufan points out that that ISIS current laissez-faire attitude toward solo attackers is actually a reversal for the group, which previously distinguished itself from al-Qaeda by establishing a true state in the territory it occupied in Iraq and Syria, something bin Ladens group could never do. They are trying to do exactly what they criticized al-Qaeda for, which is going back to being a terrorist organization, an underground terrorism organization, he says.
If you have ever spotted another girl and found yourself transfixed, just needing to know her, then you might relate to the narrator of The Girls.

This girl-on-girl, non-sexual captivation forms the basis for Emma Cline's new novel. You might well have heard about the book. All set to be the biggest literary debut of the summer, youll soon be seeing its retro cover everywhere: two mysterious-looking girls blinking in the midday sun.

Narrated by Evie Boyd, the coming-of-age tale flits between 1969 when Evie is a lonely, hungry-for-experience 14-year-old, and the present day when we find a middle-aged recluse.

Much has been made of the story behind it. Its 27-year-old Californian author Emma Cline reportedly snagged a $2 million advance, has sold the film rights to Scott Rudin (he who produced No Country For Old Men and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), and has found a fan in Lena Dunham, who said that this book will break your heart and blow your mind.

So, what's it all about? On her summer break from school, Evie falls in with a Manson family-like cult. It is not charismatic Russell Hadrick, the Charles Manson-esque figure, who fascinates young Evie the most, but the young women who follow him around, especially 19-year-old Suzanne. Evie first spies the long-haired girls in dirty dresses in the park tragic and separate. Like royalty in exile. Soon she has all but left her Californian suburban home to join their feral ranch.

Of course, it doesnt end well. But amid bloodshed and downfalls, what struck me most when reading the book was the way Cline perfectly captures the spirit and nuances of female adolescence: the boredom, the longing, the jealousy, the manipulation. The constant search for validation.

I waited to be told what was good about me, Evie tells us. I wondered later if this was why there were so many more women than men at the ranch. All that time I had spent readying myself, the articles that taught me life was really just a waiting room until someone noticed you  the boys had spent that time becoming themselves.

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Refinery29 spoke to Emma Cline about the politics of girlhood, our continued fascination with the 60s, and becoming an overnight literary sensation.

You write about different types of girls with such accuracy, it makes me wonder what you were like at school? Were you a watcher or did you belong to a particular set?

I definitely felt like an observer. But Im also one of five girls and I think being from such a big family informed me. Im the oldest and I have four younger sisters but we were all adolescents at the same time and we are very close in age. So even if I didnt experience something, one of them did. I had all kinds of different lenses on being a girl.

Evie is a very lonely, only child, with divorced parents. Did you find it hard to write such a character when your own upbringing was so different?

I think it was actually surprising to me how easily accessible those feelings were for me during adolescence. What I remember most about it was how every feeling was so extreme and all-encompassing. And everything felt black and white. Everything was the most wonderful thing or the most terrible thing. Which is kind of an exhausting way to look at the world. It takes a lot of energy to sustain.

Did you feel intimidated by other girls when you were younger? I think I was more intimidated by girls than boys.

Yes! Especially older girls. They seemed capable in ways that I wasnt. Or they seemed to be models for this life that you could have, which is what makes older girls so magnetic. It was a dynamic that I wanted to write about. Its kind of a love story, or an alternative love story that you have at that age.

I remember becoming obsessed with my babysitter, who was probably 17 when I was 10. I thought she was the coolest person Id ever known and I wanted to dress like her and just be her. She totally fascinated me.

As soon as you said that I remembered my babysitter too! Id forgotten about her. She had this T-shirt and all I wanted to do was wear her T-shirt. And there was nothing special about it except that it was hers [laughs]. Its a really funny age. I dont know if men and boys have that same feeling. I dont know why. It feels very specific to being a young girl.

I feel like teen girls are given the short end of the stick in society. Theyre made into these objects and they arent given much agency.

Teenage girls can be really mean as well. Theres a scene when Evies friend Connie sets her up and pours soda all over her at a carnival. Did you have similar experiences with girls?

Yeah, I definitely thought about how power gets distributed. I feel like teen girls are given the short end of the stick in society. Theyre made into these objects and they arent given much agency. In terms of the agency that they do have, they often wield it much more cruelly, I think, because they dont have agency in other realms.

And what about the Manson family and the late 60s? Have you always been interested in that period or is it just that you thought that era would work well with the story?

To some extent I was interested in it because I thought it worked well with the story. It exaggerates some of the concerns I was interested in writing about anyway, which was girls and sex and vulnerability. Its a very extreme way to talk about those things. But its also something I was interested in from a young age. Growing up in California, it is still so steeped in cult mythology, and the whole history of the 60s still looms so large.

Why do you think people continue to be fascinated by that time?

It was an era of extremes. The dark points of that time were so dark and they were coupled with this intense idealism that everything would be peace and love and they were making a new world. And then to have that sort of crumble and break up around the edges. Those two things together really interest me about that time. Also the ways that people are, at least in northern California, sort of haunted by that time.

The feeling of wanting to be seen or noticed or acknowledged is such a basic desire for a teenager

And what about the Russell character? Have you ever felt drawn to someone like that before?

Not specifically but I think the feeling of wanting to be seen or noticed or acknowledged is such a basic desire for a teenager. It was important to me that Russell was a side character in a weird way. I think in a traditional narrative hed be the centre. Some people have said to me, Good book, I just wish thered been more of Russell. And Im like, That was the point!

The pop culture of that time is sort of left out of the book  was that deliberate? And what is your own relationship with the pop culture of that time.

I did that on purpose because I think sometimes in certain period books Ive read or books set in the past, and theres such an effort to ground it in time and place, it can be a little bit distracting. Whats more true to life is that people experience their personal relationships and emotions most strongly and that pop culture stuff rarely breaks through the consciousness of a character in that way.

But growing up in California, all the songs and musicians I listened to in high school were, like, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen. My first concert was Joan Baez.

Photo: Neil Krug

Is Evie based on anyone in particular?

Not really. In the Manson family, the numbers swelled. At the highest point there were maybe 50 people hanging around him and we only know, like, 10 main names. So I started thinking about those other people and wondered how they think of their time orbiting this infamous moment in history. Like, they will now just have jobs and just be normal people now who have lived their lives while these other people are lionised in a weird way.

Did you draw from any fictional people? Evie sort of reminded me of Lux Lisbon from The Virgin Suicides meets Sissy Spacek's Holly in Badlands.

Oh thats interesting. Wow, I didnt think of either of those but I really like it! Definitely with the outsider perspective, I was thinking a little of The Great Gatsby, as in, it's narrated by someone on the sidelines.

And what about you? How are you handling the attention and the pressures of having the big book of the summer?

Im working on a new thing already, and that feels good and important to remind myself that the main thing is to do my job, which is being a writer. And that stuff is not why I wanted to write a book, and I think I would have written the book even if no one wanted to read it. And thats a useful thing to remember.

Can you tell us anything about your new project?

Its at that moment where I dont want to talk about it yet [laughs.]

And what about the film version of The Girls? Is that something youre involved with or are you quite detached from it?

I feel like I did my work on this book and I dont mind the thought of someone else turning it into an entirely new thing. But yeah I dont really want to be involved. I want to keep working on the new thing and move ahead.

The Girls by Emma Cline is released Thursday 16th June by Chatto & Windus.

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Employees at a store in Torrington, Connecticut came to the aide of a woman, after a man called her disgusting for breastfeeding her baby in public.

The incident was captured on camera by the woman, Jessie Maher, and posted to Facebook where it has more than five million views.

Maher said the man called her disgusting as she breastfed her child, and the two exchanged words before Target employees came to her defense.

You shouldnt be ashamed of feeding your baby. He can go the other way. This is a beautiful moment. If he doesnt like it he can go, said an unidentified woman in the video. Then dont look, okay? Im here protecting her.

Maher told that the Target employees made her feel comfortable in the store and that nursing is allowed in public in accordance with both Connecticut state law and Target policy. CBS reports the retail chain allows nursing in public areas of the store and in the fitting rooms.
By Paul Lienert MENLO PARK, Calif (Reuters) - Generous state tax benefits granted this year to Silicon Valley startup Atieva could convince the electric car company to build its vehicles in California, just like the company it will be challenging, Tesla Motors Inc. The California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority in January approved Atieva's application for tax relief on a planned $530 million manufacturing plant, according to documents filed with the state, but not previously reported. Potential plant sites include Sacramento, the state capital, and Tracy, about 60 miles northeast of the company's Menlo Park headquarters, according to state records. Atieva plans to begin construction later this year on the plant, which would employ 1,300, the records show. Atieva officials last week told Reuters during a tour of company headquarters that they have narrowed the factory site search to two locations. They declined to disclose the finalists. Officials said the factory will be designed to build 20,000 electric cars a year initially, ramping up in stages to 130,000 a year. The first Atieva model will be a luxury sedan in 2018, followed by a pair of crossover vehicles in 2020-2021. On Wednesday, the company did not respond to a request for comment on the California tax incentives. Tesla, based in nearby Palo Alto, began production of its Model S sedan in mid-2012 at a former General Motors-Toyota plant in Fremont, just across the San Francisco Bay from Silicon Valley. Tesla has received millions of dollars in state incentives, mostly recently a $39 million break on sales tax tied to its $463 million expansion of the Fremont plant to boost production of the Model S and Model X. State records show the company also has applied for a $106 million tax break on a planned $1.26 billion expansion of Fremont to build the new Model 3 sedan. In a separate show of government support for plug-in vehicles, the Ontario provincial government said on Wednesday that it would provide Fiat Chrysler Automobiles with $66 million to help fund production of the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivan in Windsor. (This version of the story corrects $86 million to $66 million in last paragraph, to reflect conversion from Canadian to U.S. currency) (Editing by David Gregorio)
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f117698%2fhiddleswift

Talvin's out, Hiddleswift is in.

The very day Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris buried their Instagram-friendly love, The Sun published a series of photos that seem to be evidence that Swift has struck up an Instagram-friendly relationship with another British dude  actor Tom Hiddleston.

SEE ALSO: Teen's perfect recreations of Taylor Swift outfits will never go out of style

Tom Hiddleston is the Connor Kennedy of summer '16.

Many fans predicted Hiddleswift may be behind Tay's recent breakup  when Calvin Harris was noticeably absent from the Met Gala Swift co-hosted, Hiddleston picked up the slack and danced the night away with Swift.

And while the phrase "steamy photos" is hardly warranted when cardigans are involved, the evidence is pretty damning. Swift and Hiddleston on the beach, cuddling on giant piles or rocks and kissing.

It seems increasingly likely that Swift's team knew the images would go public and warned Harris. With a few key strokes, the ex-lovers' Instagram accounts were finally clean.

Naturally, People of The Internet are freaking out that the two Tumblr faves found love in a hopeless place.
Public schoolchildren in Michigan are now required to learn about the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide as part of their social studies curriculum, according to a law Governor Rick Snyder signed on Tuesday.

While most students in Michigan no doubt learn about the Holocaust already, the new law would require teachers in public schools to spend a certain amount of time on these topics. Between eighth and 12th grades, schools must spend a combined six hours on genocide education, specifically the Holocaustin which, during World War II, Nazi Germany killed 11 million Jews, Roma, and other ethnic minoritiesand the Armenian genocidein which Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1920. While Turkey denies a genocide took place, 29 countries and 45 U.S. states use the term genocide to refer to the killings.

In his signing statement, Snyder, a Republican, said:

Our next generation of leaders needs to have the wherewithal to recognize and help prevent widespread harm to their fellow men and women. Teaching the students of Michigan about genocide is important because we should remember and learn about these terrible events in our past while continuing to work toward creating a more tolerant society.

Several U.S. states, including California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York, already require public schoolchildren to learn about the Holocaust and other genocides. The new law in Michigan also requires the governor to make appointments to a 15-person genocide education panel, the Associated Press reports.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
By PTI: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jun 15 (PTI) The French and Canadian leaders have made phone calls to US President Barack Obama to express condolence over the deadly shooting in a gay nightclub in Orlando in which 49 people were killed.

According to the White House, Obama spoke by phone with the French President Francois Hollande to accept his Hollandes condolences for the terrorist attack in Orlando.

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"Obama thanked Hollande for visiting the US Embassy in Paris on Monday to express Frances sympathy and support," the White House said yesterday.

Obama offered his own condolences on behalf of the American people for yesterdays fatal attack on a French police officer and his partner in France.

"Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to degrading and destroying ISIL and standing against the broader scourge of terrorism," the White House said.

"The President spoke by phone today with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada to accept Prime Minister Trudeaus condolences for the terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida," the White House said.

Obama expressed his own condolences on behalf of the American people for the death of Canadian citizen Robert Hall, who was recently killed by Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the Philippines.

The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to confront the scourge of terrorism.

A self-radicalised Afghan-origin youth, Omar Mateen killed 49 people and wounded another 53 before he was killed when police stormed the Pulse, one of Orlandos most prominent gay venues, on Sunday. PTI LKJ AJR

--- ENDS ---
From Cosmopolitan

Last weekend, a gunman attacked a gay club in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 and injuring over 50 in the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. As police began to release the names of the victims of this horrible massacre, multiple people came forward to tell stories of how they almost went to Pulse that night - before last-minute circumstance prevented them from being able to go.

"That could have been me," 40-year-old mother Liz Robles told NPR.

On Saturday night, her friend invited her to go to Pulse, but because she was unable to find a babysitter for her daughter on such short notice, she had to decline the offer. Her friend still ended up going, and luckily, ended up surviving the shooting, but knowing so many others weren't able to make it out alive has shaken Robles to the core.

"This touches a lot of hearts," she continued. "Makes us think differently. Do things differently. Just the thought of losing people - it does have a big impact."

Another woman, Nicole Doucette, told NPR that she and her friends had planned to go to Pulse last night, but ended up canceling last-minute.

"I was just devastated," she said. "The one place that people come together to feel like they're accepted and not discriminated against is the one place where so many people lost their lives."

Others echoed her sentiments, including 24-year-old Caleb Collins, who originally planned to go to Pulse but was unexpectedly called into work that night.

"I feel very lucky but just more concerned about the families of the people killed," he said.

Follow Gina on Twitter.
Tesla Motors, Inc. TSLA is collaborating with Nordstrom Inc. JWN to open a new gallery in Los Angeles on Saturday. The 400-square-foot gallery will be located in the men's department on the first floor of Nordstrom at The Grove mall.

The gallery will display the Model X SUV and allow interested consumers to check out various interiors and trim options. Prospective buyers can also take on-site test drives. Further, Tesla is trying to obtain a sales license for the site, which will allow it to sell vehicles from there instead of just displaying them.

The gallery will be open through the end of 2016. Customers response to the location will decide the course of Teslas partnership with Nordstrom. The two companies do not have plans to collaborate on any other store or gallery at the moment.

Tesla often opens galleries in malls rather than stand-alone locations, which is convenient for customers and helps increase footfall. These galleries do not sell vehicles. This allows the company to open galleries even in states where direct sales of vehicles are banned.

TESLA MOTORS Price

TESLA MOTORS Price | TESLA MOTORS Quote

Zacks Rank

Tesla currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Some better-ranked automobile stocks include Lear Corp. LEA and Superior Industries International, Inc. SUP. Both the stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

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Orlando (AFP) - US authorities on Wednesday warned that threats against Muslims would not be tolerated, and possibly prosecuted, after alleged incidents in the wake of the Orlando gay club massacre, which was carried out by a Muslim gunman.

Officials asked the public to help in the investigation of Sunday's carnage at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando -- the worst mass shooting in American history, which left 49 people dead and 53 others wounded.

Gunman Omar Mateen was killed in a shootout with police.

Authorities refused to comment on reports that Mateen's wife would face charges over her alleged knowledge of his intentions to carry out an attack, calling any talk of charges "premature" and saying no stone would be left unturned in the probe.

The city -- reeling from the mass shooting, the murder of a singer who competed on TV reality show "The Voice" and the death of a toddler in an alligator attack at a Disney resort hotel -- was bracing for the first wake for a club victim.

"Civil rights violations are a priority for the FBI," assistant special agent Ron Hopper told reporters. "We will investigate reported incidents against individuals based upon any class, any protected class, to include race, religion, and sexual orientation."

US attorney Lee Bentley chimed in: "Making these threats is not only wrong, in most cases, making these threats is illegal. Stop it. Any threats like this detract from what we're doing in law enforcement."

Members of the small Muslim community in Mateen's hometown of Fort Pierce say they have endured profanity-laced taunts in recent days -- and even death threats.

"We're scared," Bedar Bakht, a taciturn Pakistani in his 50s who worships at the same mosque attended by Mateen, told AFP.

- 'Emotional trip' for Obama -

Mateen's motives for carrying out the slaughter are still unclear.

In a 911 call during the attack in the early hours of Sunday, he pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group, and President Barack Obama has said he was radicalized by reading extremist propaganda online.

Story continues

But witnesses also say he was a regular at the Pulse club, and was using gay dating apps.

"He appears to have been an angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalized," said Obama, who was set to visit Orlando on Thursday to show support for the tragedy-hit city.

"The president certainly wants to offer his condolences and comfort to the families of those who were killed and to those who survived," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said, adding he would also meet first responders.

"This will be, I think, an emotional trip."

Obama wants to "make clear that the country stands with the people of Orlando, stands with the LGBT community in Orlando, as they grieve for their loss," Earnest said.

- 'Too fresh' -

A new family assistance center opened in Orlando Wednesday in a part of the stadium once known as the Citrus Bowl.

Sarita Figueroa, the director of readjustment counseling services for the Department of Veterans Affairs's Southeast District, explained that her personnel were pitching in to help those in need of trauma and grief counseling.

"This is for the community," Figueroa told AFP, noting that counselors had come from across the country.

For relatives of the dead, the aftermath is "very difficult. It's too fresh," she said.

"Some are still getting belongings from that night that were on the floor. Glasses, watches, a wallet... You receive the news that you lost someone, and then you receive the note that you need to go and pick up things. That's another process."

- What did wife know? -

US media outlets, citing unnamed law enforcement officials, reported that Mateen's wife Noor, who is 30, may have had prior knowledge of her husband's plan and could face criminal charges.

CNN said Wednesday that federal prosecutors planned to present evidence to a grand jury, including that she accompanied Mateen to the gun store and the club on what may have been a mission to plan the attack.

The woman claims she tried to talk her husband out of the attack and did not know of a specific plot, CNN said, citing unnamed law enforcement officials.

On Wednesday, authorities refused to comment on their discussions with her.

"With respect to the wife, I can tell you that is only one of many interviews we have done and will continue to do in this investigation," Hopper said. "I cannot comment on the content or outcome of that investigation."

Bentley added: "I'm not going to speculate today as to any charges that may be brought or indeed about whether any charges will be brought in this case. It is premature to do so."
- By Juhi Kulkarni





Shares of chipmaking gaint Qualcomm (QCOM) retracted considerably last year. But Qualcomm has staged an impressive recovery this year, and the stock is in uptrend. Although Qualcomm has appreciated considerably from its 52-week low levels, the stock is still a buy and here's why.

Strong dividend

Qualcomm was badly hurt in the previous year mainly due to the removal of the Snapdragon 810 processor from SamsungasA (005930.KS)A flagship phones S6/S6 Edge. But this year, the company has successfully regained its position in Samsungas Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, which is powered by its Snapdragon 820 processor (some regions). The company solved all the problems such as overheating that were found in the Snapdragon 810 processor.





The chipmaker has fended off competition from Intel (INTC) in the smartphone market but presently faces some problems. Revenue generated from Qualcommas chip manufacturing business, which accounts for a major part of the companyas overall revenue, is losing market share in smartphone chips to trivial opponents such as Media TeK. Moreover, giant companies like Apple (AAPL) and SamsungA are strategizing to use their own manufactured chips in their upcoming smartphones.

Apart from this, the companyas licensing business has been beleaguered by companies and government regulators, appealing that its cut in the range of 3% to 5% of the wholesale price of each smartphone sold around the globe is too high.

On the other hand, Qualcomm anticipates that entering into the new market segments such as Internet of things, cars, drones and data centers will help the company overcome the losses and reap profits. The company currently pays a forward yield of 3.9% and has surged its dividend yearly for the last 13 years, which turns Qualcomm into a much more trustworthy dividend growth stock.

Story continues

ZenFone 3 is powered by Snapdragon 820

ASUSTek is about to launch its new smartphone titled ZenFone 3, which will have a completely aluminum body compared to the cheap plastic body of ZenFone 2. Due to this, ZenFone 3 will be considered a high-end smartphone. However, Qualcomm has huge benefits from ASUSTekas decision to sell superior quality smartphones as the companyas Snapdragon 820 processor will be used to power ZenFone 3.

The company is possibly getting good prices for its Snapdragon 820 from ASUSTeK. The superior build quality suggests that Zenfone 3 Deluxe could get sturdier sales as compared to its predecessor ZenFone 2. This can help Qualcomm boost sales in the future.

Conclusion

Qualcomm is an ideal dividend growth stock that conservative investors should consider buying. With the company recovering from the 2015 Snapdragon hiccup, the stock will likely tread higher this year. As a result, the stock is a buy for now.

Disclosure: The author doesnat have any position in the stock mentioned in the article.

Start a free seven-day trial of Premium Membership to GuruFocus.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






Once the 'guilty lion' responsible for three murders is identified, he will be transferred to a zoo for life, while other lions will be released back into the wild.

By India Today Web Desk: Forest officials in Gujarat have 'arrested' 18 Asiatic lions to nab a suspected man-eater which killed three people.The 'guilty lion' will be punished with a lifetime zoo sentence.

All the 18 lions kept in custody by the forest officials will be put through a series of tests. Their paw prints and feces will be examined to nab the culprit responsible for three murders, reports the BBC.

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"The officials are also studying the animals' behavior. Man-eating lions usually get aggressive at the sight of a human being," wildlife expert Ruchi Dave told the BBC.

JA Khan, Gujarat's top forest official, said, "We think we have pinpointed the guilty lion, but we are still awaiting the results of nine more animals."

After the "guilty animal" is identified, it will be transferred to a zoo, whereas other lions will be released back into the Gir National Park.



Reason for dwindling population of Asiatic lions

The Gir National Park in Gujarat is home to Asiatic lions, however, in the past five years population of this species has been steadily dwindling.

One of the main reasons for their shrinking population is human settlements and human encroachment on the animals' remaining habitat. The other causes for their death include poaching, live wires and speeding trucks and trains.



The lions finding new homes in human settlements has led to an increase in man-animal conflict.



Only about 400 Asiatic lions remain in the wild.

Wildlife officials in India said Gir National Park, where most of these lions live, can accommodate only 270 of them, which leads a few prides going beyond its boundaries.

The Supreme Court recently ruled that Gujarat needed to relocate the lions to other states to mitigate the decline in population, however, the state is yet to adhere to this rule.



--- ENDS ---
Mexico protest Guerrero Ayotzinapa 43

The disappearance and likely killing of 43 student teachers in Guerrero, Mexico, in late 2014, and the sordid investigation that followed, stained the reputation of the Mexican government and cast in sharp relief the nexus between government officials and criminal elements.

Now the appointment of a new special prosecutor to the Ayotzinapa 43 case, as it has come to be called, adds a new wrinkle to the purported government-criminal relationship: Alfredo Higuera Bernal, who is taking over the government's investigation, was reportedly an "honorary guest" at Sinaloa cartel chief Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's wedding in 2007.

"There were few but well-known people. Some attendees were said to have recognized the former deputy attorney general for Sinaloa, Alfredo Higuera Bernal," Mexican magazine Proceso reported in September 2007, after Guzman's wedding in July that year.

Proceso reported at the time that Higuera Bernal attended Guzman's July 2007 nuptials in the town of Angostura, a mountainous area of Durango state, in the heart of Guzman's cartel's territory.

Higeura Bernal, who gained public notice when he was appointed an investigator in the Sinaloa state attorney general's office in 1999, was announced as the Ayotzinapa 43 special prosecutor by Mexican Attorney General Arely Gomez on June 8.

Mexico police protests ayotzinapa

Higuera Bernal denied the report, saying he did not know the people in attendance and that there was no evidence to support the claim. The following year he was named state attorney general for Sinaloa.

Story continues

Guzman wed Emma Coronel, who is his current wife and reportedly the niece of Ignacio "Nacho" Coronel Villarreal, who was suspected of being a high-level member of the Sinaloa cartel before his death in a shootout with police in 2010. Other members of her family have been accused of involvement in the drug trade, as well.

Higuera Bernal is also the brother of Gilberto Higuera Bernal, who has served in various roles the Sinaloa state and federal attorney general's offices. The brothers were born in central Sinaloa state, and analysts cited by TeleSur said their links to Guzman have aided their rise in the government.

Mexico Guerrero Ayotzinapa protest

Gilberto Higuera Bernal served as a deputy attorney general from 2000 to 2003, during the administration of Vicente Fox.

Some have alleged that Guzman paid off Fox to allow his 2001 jailbreak, though other reports argue that Guzman's breakout was in response to Fox's election and the possible erosion of Guzman's political connections it could bring.

The announcement of Alfredo Higuera Bernal as the new Ayotzinapa prosecutor came alongside the release of a new government report about the crime.

The new report, according to Mexican news outlets, doesn't offer new information and backs a version of events that has been disputed by international bodies.

After a meeting with the Mexican attorney general, families of the Ayotzinapa 43 victims said they did not trust Alfredo Higuera Bernal or the government's new report, which admits to the "abuses of power, corruption and infiltration of criminal organizations in municipal police bodies in the northern zone of Guerrero."

NOW WATCH: There's a terrifying reason why people are warned to stay inside at 5:45 p.m. in parts of Mexico





More From Business Insider


Fallujah (Iraq) (AFP) - The Islamic State group battled Iraqi forces and held civilians hostage Wednesday to defend its bastion of Fallujah, where three weeks of fighting has forced tens of thousands from their homes.

Security forces have retaken significant parts of southern Fallujah since the start of the month and are now attacking the jihadists in the Jbeil neighbourhood, officers said.

"Counter-terrorism forces as well as federal and Anbar police continue the operation to liberate Jbeil, in southern Fallujah, and face fierce resistance from Daesh (IS)," a police colonel said.

Ground forces backed by Iraqi and US-led coalition air strikes alternated barrages of artillery fire with attempts to move forward in street battles, engaging with light weapons sometimes only metres (yards) away from IS fighters.

A photographer employed by the Iraqi interior ministry's elite forces was killed when a mortar round struck in Shuhada neighbourhood, which was recently retaken from IS.

A police officer and an AFP photographer on the scene confirmed that Fadhil al-Garaawi, 45, was among four members of the security forces killed in the incident.

Baghdad-based US military spokesman Colonel Chris Garver said counterterrorism fighters, commandos and federal police units were inside Fallujah's southern edge but stressed progress remained slow.

"They have a foothold in the southern corner or the southern edge of the city. But it's been a significant fight to grab that foothold, and so they're continuing to try to expand," he said in a video call with Pentagon reporters.

In an apparent attempt to distract Iraqi forces in Anbar province, where Fallujah is located, IS fighters attacked positions near Ramadi, the provincial capital that was retaken earlier this year, officers said.

Fallujah is a medium-sized, densely built-up town that lies only 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad. It is one of the last two major Iraqi cities IS controls, the other being Mosul.

Story continues

US forces suffered some of their worst losses since the Vietnam War when they battled one of IS's previous incarnations in the city in 2004 and it is one of the jihadists' most emblematic bastions.

Going against US advice to focus efforts on the northern city of Mosul, Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced an offensive to retake Fallujah in late May.

The advance of pro-government forces has since been slow, with Fallujah's status as a symbolic IS stronghold and a tight siege by Iraqi forces ensuring holdout jihadists have few options other than fighting to the death.

Progress against the massively outnumbered jihadists has also been hampered by IS's systematic use of civilians as human shields.

- 'No safe passage' -

According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 48,000 people have been displaced since the start of the operation.

But most of them were fleeing IS rule in outlying areas while residents of central Fallujah have found it very difficult to escape.

Attempting to do so has proven extremely dangerous, with roadside bombs and IS gunmen killing dozens of civilians in recent days.

The Iraqi army opened a corridor last week to facilitate the flow of civilians seeking to leave.

It has allowed thousands to escape but remains hard to reach from some neighbourhoods and dangerous to use.

On Tuesday, a man was killed and several other people wounded when an explosive device went off just metres (yards) away from the end of the corridor, where government forces receive fleeing civilians, said the Norwegian Refugee Council.

"Let's be absolutely clear: there is no safe passage out of Fallujah to speak of," NRC country director Nasr Muflahi said in a statement.

Thousands of men among those trying to flee were being held for screening by pro-government forces and allegations of abuses were mounting.

In the displacement camps of nearby Amriyat al-Fallujah, those men who made it through the screening said Shiite militiamen from the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary umbrella group were torturing suspects.

A 35-year-old man from an area just west of Fallujah displayed deep cuts on his wrists.

"That's from having my hands cuffed for four days, with nothing to eat or drink," he said.

"When they eventually pushed me off a moving pick-up truck, I was so exhausted I didn't even feel anything."

Abadi's office has promised to investigate allegations of abuses committed by the security forces during the operation.

Joining the US-led coalition fighting IS, Poland said Wednesday it plans to send F-17 warplanes plus 210 soldiers and military personnel to Iraq and neighbouring Kuwait.
Tribune Broadcasting stations in 18 major markets have set a deal with Sony Pictures TV for rerun rights to the ABC domestic comedy The Goldbergs starting in fall 2017.

The deal cements Goldbergs status as the prime syndication-friendly comedy available to broadcast TV stations in the next few years. The drought in broad-appeal sitcoms coming off the broadcast networks has alarmed TV station managers, many of which rely on sitcom reruns as tentpoles of their late afternoon, early evening and late-night schedules.

Tribune stations taking Goldbergs include its outlets in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Houston. All told the deal covers nearly 37% of U.S. TV households.

 The Goldbergs is a stand-out comedy with all-family appeal, growing ratings and buzz-worthy storytelling, making it a great fit for our stations, said Sean Compton, Tribunes president of strategic programming and acquisitions.

John Weiser, president of distribution for Sony Pictures TV, cited the shows three consecutive seasons of ratings growth in primetime as a good sign of a healthy afterlife in reruns.

Goldberg reruns have already been made available for streaming on Hulu through a deal set last September. That makes the show a test case for sitcoms with the potential to juggle both a streaming and traditional broadcast syndication window.

The Hulu exposure likely cut down on the price Tribune was willing to pay to land the show, yet the scarcity of available sitcoms surely worked in Sonys favor.

It is poised for a long run on ABC and in syndication, Weiser said.

Goldbergs is heading into its fourth season on ABC this fall. The series, created and exec produced by Adam F. Goldberg, is set in the 1980s and revolves around the coming of age story of a boy in a boisterous family. Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jeff Garlin, Sean Giambrone, Troy Gentile, Hayley Orrantia and George Segal star.

Related stories

Sony Pictures Realigns TV Leadership Structure in Wake of Steve Mosko Exit

Story continues

Creative Arts Emmys: Production and Costume Design Evoke Nostalgia for the Recent Past

Oaktree Capital Increases Pressure for Tribune Co. To Sell To Gannett
Guillermo del Toro is reuniting with his Hellboy, Ron Perlman, who has been announced as part of the voice cast for Trollhunters, the auteurs upcoming animated family series for Netflix.

RELATEDNick Kroll to Voice Pubescent Teen in Netflix Animated Series

Trollhunters tells a tale of two fantastical worlds set to epically collide. Set in the fictional suburb of Arcadia, an unlikely hero, Jim (voiced by the new Star Trek films Anton Yelchin), and his two best friends make a startling discovery that beneath their hometown lies a hidden battle between good trolls and bad, the outcome of which will impact their lives forever.

Perlman, whose TV credits of course include Sons of Anarchy and the original Beauty and the Beast, provides the voice of Bular, a sinister troll who targets Jim and his friends for battle, while five-time Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer will lend his equally distinct pipes to Blinky, a kind-hearted troll who befriends Jim.

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By Matt Spetalnick and David Ingram WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps proposal for suspending immigration from parts of the world with a history of terrorism could have a legal basis, but his assertion that it be part of a broader ban on Muslim immigrants makes it constitutionally untenable, legal scholars say. The new twist in Trumps anti-Muslim rhetoric came in the aftermath of a weekend shooting massacre at a Florida nightclub by the American-born son of Afghan immigrants. In a fiery speech on Monday, he expanded on his proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, vowing if elected to halt immigration from any area of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against America or its allies. He also accused the Muslim-American community of broad complicity in attacks such as the Orlando shooting, which was carried out by a gunman pledging allegiance to Islamic State, and threatened big consequences for those who fail to inform on their neighbors. Many legal experts said Trumps proposal for a religion-based ban would be unlikely to pass the test of U.S. constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, due process and equal protection and would likely be struck down by the courts if he tried to implement them by presidential decree. However, a ban on immigrants from certain countries has some precedent and might pass muster. Some see that new proposal as reminiscent of the congressional Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which was used for years to halt the influx of Chinese laborers and has been widely considered a black mark on Americas immigration record. But Trumps overall immigration plan would go beyond that, targeting not just a country or a region of the world but also a religion, something that no modern U.S. president has done. "This is an absurd proposal to build a Fortress America and pull up the drawbridges, said John Bellinger, former legal adviser to the Bush administration. President Barack Obama took a veiled swipe at Trump on Tuesday, saying such ideas represented a dangerous mindset. But U.S. presidents have wide latitude on immigration matters, and some conservative scholars said that the fate of any proposed ban would hinge on how narrowly Trump framed it. They note, for instance, that Democratic President Jimmy Carter barred Iranian nationals from entering the United States during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. If a Trump administration cut off immigration from certain countries, rather than certain religions, it would not violate the Constitution, said John Yoo, a law professor at the University of California Berkeley and former Justice Department official who advised the George W. Bush administration on interrogation methods used on terrorism suspects. Herman Schwartz, a law professor at American University in Washington, said if Trump stuck to his proposal for a temporary prohibition on Muslim immigrants, that raises significant constitutional questions and "shows his shaky command of the legal facts." MUSLIM BAN In Mondays speech in New Hampshire, Trump showed little sign of scaling back his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States, which he first laid out in December after an Islamic State-linked deadly mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. Debate over the legality of Trumps proposals was complicated by the vagueness of his pronouncement and questions on how broadly he would extend any immigration ban if elected. While legal experts say presidents have the power to ban immigrants from specific countries, the United States does not currently ban immigration from any country. Officials do give extra scrutiny to people entering from countries such Syria and Iran. Under the broadest interpretation of Trumps pronouncement, immigration could be barred not only from the Muslim world but from U.S.-allied countries in Europe and Asia where militant attacks have taken place. This could include India, the source of many skilled engineers for the U.S. technology sector. Critics say this would be impractical and counterproductive. Is Mr. Trump proposing to stop issuing visas even for business or tourism or education to nationals of certain countries?" said Bellinger. "Rather than increase economic growth, Mr. Trumps plan could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars. Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, a Trump foreign policy adviser, justified the candidates pronouncement, saying it is perfectly appropriate for the country to refuse admission to those whose presence may be detrimental to the national interest. But Orrin Hatch, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, when asked whether a president has the authority to ban immigrants based on religion, said: Im not sure he does. Legal experts also raised doubts about the legality of Trumps demand that members of the American Muslim community cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad or else they will be brought to justice themselves. Critics have accused him of anti-Muslim fear-mongering to win votes. Generally, the idea that knowledge in and of itself comes with criminal liability is antithetical to the way we talk about criminal law in the United States, said Daniel Richman, a Columbia University law professor and former federal prosecutor. If Trump tried to implement such prosecutions as president, he said, potential defendants could simply invoke their constitutional right against self-incrimination and continue to remain silent. (Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Joan Biskupic and Lawrence Hurley; editing by Stuart Grudgings)
Four years ago, when the president was running for his second term, Donald Trump went on a tear, determined to prove that Barack Obama was not born in the United States. In his usual bombastic way, Trump not only accused Obama of not being an American, but hinted that he was part of a larger international conspiracy to destroy the country.

Because of his passion and clear vitriol for President Obama, who at that time had good approval ratings, Trump was urged to run for the highest office in the land. You should run for president, his friends and family might have said  just like any one of us might say the same thing to a colleague or a friend who shares our political ideals.

Related: 6 Questions Donald Trumps Supporters Need to Answer Right Now

Trump took the idea seriously, possibly because he misconstrues applause and off-handed compliments as love and admiration. Running for president could have fed Trumps high extroversion, a trait specific to Trump identified by a psychologist in a recent profile in The Atlantic.

Today, as we look at the outcome of Trumps candidacy as the presumptive nominee of the GOP, heres what he has left in his wake:

A crippled and nearly destroyed Republican Party

Republican voters ashamed to be Republicans

Democrats who are thrilled that Trump is running against Hillary Clinton

Minority groups  especially Hispanics and Muslims  who feel even more marginalized

A press corps still trying to be fair while dealing with a serial liar.

The latest Bloomberg poll shows the Trump myth is starting to crumble. Clinton is ahead 12 points among all voters (49 to 37 percent, with Libertarian Gary Johnson at 9 percent), and 63 percent of all women say they could never vote for Trump.

The tipping point was probably Trumps attack on U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is adjudicating a lawsuit against Trump regarding fraud at Trump University. Trump claimed the judge was Mexican (Curiel is 100 percent American, born in Indiana to Mexican parents) and then accused the judge of bias because of his heritage and because of Trumps promise to build a wall on the U.S. southern border to keep out illegal immigrants.

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Related: Six Choices for Trumps VP with Military Cred

This exposed Trumps paranoia to voters and made many of them realize that Trump could hold them accountable for anything in their backgrounds, including their ethnicity.

One of the main reasons voters turned to Trump was because of his claims of being a great business person who would bring back jobs and set a winning course for Americas economy. But Trumps self-descriptions as a winner and a success have been debunked by press reports regarding many of his businesses. In addition to the charges of fraud at Trump University, where students paid as much as $35,000 to learn how to be successful real estate investors, Trump has a dubious record when it comes to winning in commercial real estate.

USA Today investigated Trumps business dealings and found that the billionaire doesnt always pay his bills. Donald Trump casts himself as a protector of workers and jobs, but hundreds of people  carpenters, dishwashers, painters, even his own lawyers  say he didnt pay them for their work.

For many Americans, who are told at school and in the workplace that theres zero tolerance for bullying, Trumps behavior has shocked some and liberated others. His attacks on political correctness (think college students who turn in their classmates or professors for micro-aggressions or not having a trigger warning about a subject that might make them feel bad) have resonated with Americans who believe that free speech is threatened.

But Trumps relentless attacks on anyone who challenges his dominance are not free speech  theyre second grade name calling and intimidation that Trump calls winning. Trump isnt a winner  hes Biff Tannen, a bully and a loser.

Related: Obama to GOP Leaders: Do You Actually Agree With Trump?

The New York Times collected The 224 People, Places and Things Donald Trump Has Insulted on Twitter: A Complete List. This is worth reading, if for no other reason than to see how he deals with what he sees as threats  the press, lawyers, Germany, Iran, Mexico, Washington, D.C.  and easy marks.

One thing is clear after reading the list of insults: Trump is not really a Republican. Nor is he anything when it comes to politics. He is his own self-contained world of judgment on every issue, domestic and global.

When youre Donald Trump, theres no need for advisors when youre always right.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Donald Trump said President Obama seemed more outraged with him than with the Orlando gunman after the billionaire's comments regarding the tragedy.

After the gunman, who was Muslim, fatally shot 49 people and injured 53 others, Trump had renewed his call for a ban on Muslims entering the country.

Read: Father of Orlando Killer Says He Wishes Son 'Wasn't Born'

On Tuesday, Obama responded: "We now have proposals from the presumptive Republican nominee for president of the United States to bar all Muslims from immigrating to America.

"We hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests entire religious communities are complicit in violence... Where does this stop?"

On Tuesday night, Trump fired back.

"I watched President Obama today, and he was more angry at me than he was at the shooter  and many people said that," he told an audience in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Read: Baptist Pastor Praises Attack on Gay Club: '50 Pedophiles Were Killed Today'

"One of the folks on television said, 'Boy, has Trump gotten under his skin.' And a lot of people have said this, that's the kind of anger he should have for the shooter and these killers that shouldn't be here."

On Thursday, Obama will travel to Florida to pay his respects to the victims of the nightclub shooting and "to stand in solidarity with the community as they embark on their recovery," the White House said.

Watch: Why Did It Take Police 3 Hours to End Orlando Nightclub Siege?

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In total, the government has ordered ban on 237 websites. But as it happens whenever the Indian government bans website, there has been no public communication about the same.

By India Today Web Desk: Another day and another opaque order asking Indian service providers to block websites that allegedly offer or advertise escort services in India. In total, the government has ordered ban on 237 websites. But as it happens whenever the Indian government bans website, there has been no public communication about the same.



Also, it has not been explained what, if any, process was followed before these websites were banned and what norms were applied for the order that the internet service providers have received.



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However, now Centre for Internet and Society has caught hold of the list of the websites that have been banned. Here is what the organisation says, "Unfortunately, the government does not make available publicly the list of websites they have ordered ISPs to block. Given that knowledge of what is censored by the government is crucial in a democracy, we are publishing the entire list of blocked websites."



As for the websites and URLs here they are:

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--- ENDS ---
GREENSBORO, N.C.  Hours after President Obama condemned his dangerous rhetoric on Muslims and immigrants, Donald Trump mocked Obama as a weak president who is more upset with him than with the accused killer behind Sundays deadly massacre in Orlando.

I watched President Obama today, and he was more angry at me than he was at the shooter, Trump said, referring to Omar Mateen, the Florida security guard accused of shooting 100 people, 49 of them fatally, at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. The level of anger: thats the kind of anger he should have for the shooter and these killers who shouldnt be here.

Speaking to a crowd of a few thousand people at his first public rally since the shootings, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said the United States was being led by weak, ineffective people and warned that attacks like the one in Orlando would happen again if the country does not take steps to close the borders to what he described as potential terrorists.

We dont know who they are, where they are coming from, Trump said. What a mess we have.

Echoing the remarks he delivered on national security on Monday, Trump warned of potential repercussions if the United States didnt begin to crack down on radical Islam. And he again accused Hillary Clinton, his likely Democratic opponent, of hypocrisy, for being friendly to countries with Islamic regimes that crack down on women and the LGBT community.

Offering no specifics, the New York real estate mogul told supporters in Greensboro that Clinton had taken more than $25 million from certain countries that treat women horrendously, that kill gays. Lets call for Hillary and Bill Clinton to give back the $25-plus million to the countries we are talking about, Trump declared, as the crowd cheered.

It was an unusual perspective for Trump, as he took on Clinton and cast himself as a champion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender voters. North Carolina has come under fire for a controversial law that bars transgender people from using public restrooms that dont match the gender on their birth certificates. Trump did not mention the law, which he has publicly criticized.

Story continues

Invoking Mateens status as the child of Afghan immigrants, Trump called for more controls to protect the country from immigrants with radical views. We want to live in a country where gay and lesbian Americans and all Americans are safe from radical Islam, he said.

Although he called out Obama and Clinton specifically, Trump has faced condemnation from across the political spectrum for his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country and for other inflammatory language he has used about immigrants. Republican leaders have publicly urged him to temper his public posture on the subject, but Trump signaled yet again that he would not bow to his critics, warning that the attack in Orlando proved that political correctness is deadly.

He slammed the current immigration system, suggesting that immigrants are poorly vetted and that the country is letting in too many immigrants who are hostile to Americans of different faiths, gender and sexual orientation. If you are not with them, its like: Forget it, Trump said. How does this kind of immigration make our life better in this country?

The GOP candidate warned that things will get worse before they get better. Just watch, he said, and declared that the country is going to hell. He cast himself as the only candidate who can turn things around for everyone.

If Hillary Clinton becomes president, I dont know that our country will ever ever come back, Trump said. I mean it.

Related video:

Related slideshows:

Slideshow: Victims of the Florida nightclub shooting >>>



Slideshow: Front page coverage of the Orlando mass shooting >>>

Slideshow: World reacts to Orlando mass shooting >>>

Slideshow: Shooting rampage at Florida nightclub >>>
Washington (AFP) - Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump signalled Wednesday he could support banning people on terror watch lists from purchasing guns, a move that would place him in opposition to members of his own party.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, regularly touts his support for the constitutionally enshrined right to bear arms.

He has said after terrorist attacks, including the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida Sunday, that death tolls would have been lower if private citizens had been armed and able to shoot back.

But he suggested he is prepared to consider restrictions on gun purchases, after it was revealed the Orlando shooter legally bought a rifle and handgun in Florida despite having been investigated by the FBI about possible extremist ties.

"I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns," Trump tweeted Wednesday.

Trump's announcement may place him on a collision course with the National Rifle Association, which tweeted Tuesday that "restrictions like bans on gun purchases by people on 'watch lists' are ineffective, unconstitutional, or both."

But the group opened the door to the Republican flagbearer Wednesday, saying they would be "happy to meet" with Trump.

According to Senate Democrat Bill Nelson of Florida, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Orlando nightclub gunman Omar Mateen was placed on a terrorism watch list from 2013 until 2014.

Republican lawmakers and the National Rifle Association have refused to support legislation that would deny weapons to people on such lists, arguing that such a bill would infringe on the Second Amendment rights of everyday Americans, including those who may have been placed unfairly on watch lists or no-fly lists.

Frustrated Democrats took to the Senate floor Wednesday to launch a filibuster -- a procedural obstruction -- and call for action to restrict suspected terrorists' access to guns.

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"I'm at my wits' end," said Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, where a 2012 school shooting left 20 children dead, as he began what could amount to a day-long roadblock.

"I've had enough of the ongoing slaughter of innocents, and I've had enough of the inaction of this body."

A Senate measure that would have prevented FBI terror suspects from purchasing firearms and explosives failed last December, with every Senate Republican but one voting in opposition.

President Barack Obama, speaking Tuesday on the Orlando tragedy, reiterated his backing for so-called "no-fly, no-buy" legislation.

"People with possible ties to terrorism who are not allowed on a plane shouldn't be allowed to buy a gun," Obama said.

A US government report shows that known or suspected terrorists have passed background checks for gun sales more than 90 percent of the time.

Democrats have introduced bills that would deny weapons to people on the watch lists and other terror suspects, and that would alert the FBI of any gun purchase attempts by people who have been investigated for terrorism.
After a wild and troubling month in which he denounced the integrity of a federal judge because of his Mexican heritage, doubled-downed on his vow to bar Muslims from entering the country and repeatedly questioned President Obamas loyalty following last weekends terrorist attack on a gay bar in Orlando, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump appears to be getting his political comeuppance.

Trump rewrote the political playbook in the 2016 GOP presidential campaign as he knocked off rivals left and right. He even boasted in January that he was so popular with Republican voters that, I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldnt lose voters.

Related: Obama to GOP Leaders -- Do You Actually Agree with Trump?

Yet his escalating rhetoric and rants have made many in his own party back away, and voters appear to have increasing doubts about him.

A spate of new polls released this week show widespread public disapproval of Trump and his candidacy, considerable unease over his response to gunman Omar Mateens killing of 49 people in the Florida nightclub, and  at least for now  a 12-point voter preference for Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee who has popularity problems of her own.

While there are months to go before the November general election, the new surveys suggest that Trump has hit the first major pothole of his candidacy and may be finding that the bombastic, take-no-prisoners style that helped him lock up the nomination is not working at this critical juncture in the campaign.

Trump never had Teflon with anybody but his 35-40 percent slice of the GOP, University of Virginia political scientist Larry J. Sabato said on Wednesday. That's more than enough to win a nomination with 17 candidates in the field, but it doesn't translate to a much larger, diverse electorate in November.

Related: Top Trump Supporter Christie Calls for Military Response to Orlando

Story continues

Trump has been on a rhetorical rampage for weeks, first insisting that a federal judge in Texas overseeing a class action fraud suit that was brought against the now defunct Trump University couldnt be objective because of his Mexican heritage and inherent bias against Trumps call for deporting millions of illegal immigrants and building a wall along the southern border.

Many Republican leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), publicly repudiated Trumps assault on the judge and urged him to tone down his language and focus more on issues that voters care about.

Then, while Obama and Clinton were calling for calm pending the outcome of the investigation into the Orlando shootings  the worst mass murders in U.S. history  Trump lashed out at Obama, suggesting that the president was somehow sympathetic to or connected with terrorists.

In a speech Monday, Trump repeated his long-standing call to ban Muslims from entering the country until the U.S. government gets a better handle on the domestic terrorism, and expanded the potential impact of that ban by including residents of any country with a history of terrorism against the U.S. and its allies.

Related: 6 Questions Donald Trumps Supporters Need to Answer Right Now

But new polls point to a less than enthusiastic reception for many of Trumps attacks. Among the polls findings:

* A record seven in 10 Americans view Trump unfavorably, up 10 percentage points in just the past month and the highest level of voter animosity since he formally announced for president a year ago, according to a Washington Post-ABC News national poll. Just 29 percent of Americans view the presumptive GOP nominee in a favorable light.

Trump fairs better among Republicans than Democrats, not surprisingly. But just 15 percent of all Americans strongly view him in a favorable light while 56 percent strongly view him unfavorably. Sixty-two percent of men say they have an unfavorable view of Trump, while 77 percent of women are hostile to him.

Trumps approval rating among racial and ethnic minorities is remarkably low, with 94 percent of blacks and 89 percent of Hispanics rating the New York billionaire unfavorably.

* Clinton is also carrying plenty of political baggage into the general election campaign, including the controversy over her misuse of email during her tenure as secretary of state, her policies on Iraq and the Middle East, and her coziness with Wall Street. According to the Washington Post-ABC News poll released on Tuesday, 55 percent of Americans disapprove of her while only 43 percent approve, roughly the same as a month ago.

Related: Top Advisor Says Trump Might Support New Gun Restrictions

* Clinton is leading the race. While Trump and Clinton have the dubious distinction of being the least popular presumptive major party nominees over the past three decades, for now at least a plurality of Americans are supporting Clinton for president.

A new Bloomberg poll shows Clinton leading Trump by 12 percentage points, 49 percent to 37 percent, heading into the July national conventions fall campaign, while Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson received nine percent. The remainder of those surveyed said they will not vote or arent sure of who they will support.

General Election Matchup

Clinton has a number of advantages in this poll, in addition to her lead, according to pollster J. Ann Selzer, who oversaw the survey for Bloomberg. Her supporters are more enthusiastic than Trumps and more voters overall see her becoming a more appealing candidate than say that for Trump.

Related: Trump Says Thousands of Shooters Like Orlando Terrorist Are in the US Already

* The Orlando attack. Finally, a new CBS News poll conducted Monday and Tuesday shows that Americans give Obama net positive ratings of 44 percent to 34 percent in his response to the Orlando shooting, while 22 percent had no opinion.

At the same time, 51 percent of Americans surveyed disapprove of Trumps response to the weekend shootings, while only 25 percent said they approved of his conduct. Trumps proposal for barring Muslims other than U.S. citizens from entering the country enjoys little support nationwide. Sixty-two percent of Americans say the government should not ban Muslims from entering the country while 31 percent support the idea.

As for Clinton, the public is divided: 36 percent of those interviewed approved of her more measured response to the shootings and call for gun control, while 34 percent disapproved and 30 percent had no opinion

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Donald Trump's inflammatory response to the Orlando massacre has him facing an unusual alliance: President Barack Obama and Republicans.



GOP leaders including House Speaker Paul Ryan echoed the president's fierce condemnation of Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric in the wake of the attack that killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday, as well as his suggestions that Obama was sympathetic to terrorists.



Ryan denounced the presumptive GOP nominee's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., telling reporters on Tuesday, "I do not think a Muslim ban is in our country's interest. I do not think it is reflective of our principles, not just as a party but as a country." Ryan called for "a security test, not a religious test" for immigrants, according to The Washington Post.



Other Republican leaders have tried to distance themselves from Trump's comments. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to answer questions about Trump at his weekly news conference. And Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming said of Trump, "I'm just not going to comment on more of his statements. It's going to be five months of it."







Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, a Republican who has praised Trump in the past, called the mogul's response to the national tragedy "disappointing." "Traditionally, it is a time when people rally around our country, and it's obviously not what's occurred, and it's very disappointing," Corker said.



Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a vocal Trump critic, said, "I don't think he has the judgment or the temperament, the experience to deal with what we are facing."





Related Video: Does Donald Trump Rattle You?





Graham and other Republicans have also decried Trump's implications that Obama is somehow linked to terrorists and that he "continues to prioritize our enemy over our allies and, for that matter, the American people."



Graham said that Trump "seems to be suggesting that the president is one of 'them.' I find that highly offensive. I find that whole line of reasoning way off base. My problems with President Obama are his policy choices."



Obama ripped into Trump during remarks at the Treasury Department on Tuesday, dismissing the billionaire businessman's demands that the president use the phrase "radical Islam" in reference to the Orlando shooting and other attacks. "What exactly would using this language accomplish?" the president said. "Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away."



As Trump continues to lose Republican support, he's also suffered a sharp drop at the polls, with presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton now leading him by 12 points. Clinton too joined Obama in sharply criticizing Trump's response to Orlando, calling it full of "conspiracy theories" and "pathological self-congratulations."



The bipartisan backlash comes after Trump, in a speech on Monday, blamed the Orlando shooting on the U.S.'s "dysfunctional immigration system," saying, "The only reason the killer was in America in the first place was because we allowed his family to come here." The shooter, Omar Mateen, was the American-born son of Afghan immigrants.



Trump also said the attack served as further proof that his proposed Muslim ban is the right thing and suggested extending the ban to all "areas of the world when there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe, or our allies, until we understand how to end these threats."
Athens (AFP) - Thousands of Greeks angry over new cuts imposed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras gathered in central Athens Wednesday to call on his leftist government to quit.

The protests dubbed "Resign" on central Syntagma Square attracted as many as 7,000 people, according to police and organiser estimates.

One of the organisers, Giorgos Koutsoukos, described the turnout as "satisfactory" but a little disappointing.

In Thessaloniki, Greece's second city, barely more than 100 people turned out to protest against the government, according to an AFP journalist.

Re-elected last year on a pledge to fight austerity, Tsipras instead brokered a new bailout with international creditors including fresh tax hikes and a controversial pension overhaul.

He now trails in opinion polls behind the conservative New Democracy party of Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

"We want a non-partisan government of technocrats, that is not led by Tsipras," Koutsoukos, 52, told AFP at the Athens protest.

Private sector employee Barbara Antypas, 43, said she was demonstrating because "what is happening in Greece is a farce. Tsipras did worse than all his predecessors".

Greece's government scorned Wednesday's gatherings, accusing organisers of seeking to cause political instability at a crucial time for the country's weak economy.

"In the current situation, (calls to resign) do not meet society's needs and are hostile to the country," government spokeswoman Olga Gerovassili said earlier this week.

Greece in 2015 held elections twice, and Tsipras has reached a modus vivendi with international creditors after a clash that nearly saw the country bundled out of the eurozone last summer.

Athens this week expects to draw 7.5 billion euros ($8.4 billion) in promised bailout loans from its creditors.

While Wednesday's protest is not officially backed by any movements, many government officials have suggested that it was covertly organised by New Democracy and other political opponents.

Labour ministry general secretary Andreas Nefeloudis this week dismissed the planned protest as elitist, saying: "If one turned half of them upside down, half the country's debt would fall from their pockets."
Turkey was offered visa-free travel in the Schengen zone  which includes all of the European Union, with the exception of the United Kingdom and Ireland  in exchange for meeting 72 different conditions. It was part of the controversial EU-Turkey refugee deal struck in March and the visa-free provision was considered a big win for Turkey.

But on Wednesday, the EU confirmed Turkey has only met 65 of those conditions, meaning they have missed their June deadline for the EU's approval of visa-free travel for Turkish citizens.

Many of these conditions have to do with border security and human rights.

Yet an independent delegation comprised of three European Union Parliamentarians visited "removal centers" in northern Turkey in May to assess the efficacy of the refugee deal on the ground. Their report was condemnatory.

"Turkish EU Affairs Minister and Chief Negotiator Omer Celik meets President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Pedro Agramunt in Ankara, Turkey on June 07, 2016."

"Everyone who is not Syrian or Iraqi is immediately sent back regardless of their situation, in clear violation of the principles laid down in the Geneva Conventions," Spanish MEP Marina Albiol Guzman, one of the three delegates, wrote in their official evaluation.

And in the month prior, Amnesty International found Turkey was, in fact, sending some of those Syrian refugees back across the shared border into Syria.

"Large-scale forced returns of refugees from Turkey to war-ravaged Syria expose the fatal flaws in a refugee deal signed between Turkey and the European Union earlier this month," Amnesty International said in its statement.

The most contentious of these 72 conditions is the insistence upon the EU that Turkey amend its counterterrorism laws. However, the increasingly autocratic Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is strongly resistant to the idea as his country is embroiled in two military struggles with ISIS and Kurdish nationalists, respectively.

News of the failed visa-free provision follows the resignation of Hansjorg Haber, the EU ambassador to Turkey, who stepped down on Tuesday. Both debacles indicate enfeebled relations between Turkey and the EU, further straining their already tenuous deal.
- By John Dorfman





aGet long and then get loud.a

That old Wall Street saying refers to talking up oneas own holdings. The practice is common, if a little crass. I try to refrain from touting my own holdings too much. Still, readers often ask, aWell, what do you hold?a

So, I devote one column per year to the stocks in my model portfolio. Many of my clients own the model exactly. Others own a modified version, while still others have portfolios that are completely customized.





Here then are my 25 favorite stocks. Five of them have headquarters outside the U.S., since I think the U.S. market is fairly fully priced.

Transportation

For the third straight year, I am fond of transportation stocks. I figure these are helped by fuel prices that are much lower than they were two years ago, by an improving economy, and (in the case of airlines) by industry consolidation.

The airlines in my model portfolio are Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) and Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK). I also own an airplane parts maker, Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. (SPR).

Lear Corp. (LEA), which makes electrical systems and seats for cars, benefits from rising auto sales. Yet the average car on U.S. roads is still 11 years old, hence my liking for Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. (CTB), which makes replacement tires.

Housing

Housing boomed in the U.S. in 2005-2006, then busted. In the good times, American builders constructed about two million houses a year. In the recession of 2007-2009 housing starts plunged to about a quarter of that peak.

Today housing starts are running about a million per year, and I think they have further to go. Therefore I am bullish on homebuilders, especially NVR Inc. (NVR) and PulteGroup Inc. (PHM). I also own shares in a furniture maker, Flexsteel Industries Inc. (FLXS).

Health Care

An aging population means more aches, pains and doctor visits (I should know). And Obamacare means that more people are covered by health insurance than were covered before 2010.

Story continues

Thatas why my model portfolio includes Aetna Inc. (AET), the big health insurer; Fonar Corp. (FONR), a maker of magnetic resonance imaging scanners; and Quest Diagnostics Inc. (DGX), which does medical tests.

Technology

My technology holdings have completely changed since a year ago. Tessera Technologies Inc. (TSRA) makes semiconductors and software used in mobile computing and imaging. Syntel Inc. (SYNT) makes database software, especially for the finance and medical industries.

The last tech holding is Leidos Holdings Inc. (LDOS), which makes military electronics including cybersecurity products and intelligence-analysis tools. I think this niche is an extremely important part of the defense budget, in a world where our enemies are often shadowy.

Defense

In a world where ISIS beheads people, Russia acts peremptory, China seeks to expand its military power and the Mideast is in turmoil, I donat see how Congress can avoid increasing the defense budget.

In addition to Leidos, my favorite defense stocks include General Dynamics Corp. (GD) and Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC).

ETFs

I like a pair of exchange traded funds (ETFs). One is the SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Dividend ETF (EDIV), which owns high-dividend-yield stocks in countries such as Taiwan, South Africa, Brazil and China. The other is an Australian ETF which I will name two weeks from now (Iam still buying it for clients).

Chickens and Eggs

To give some stability to the portfolio, I own Sanderson Farms Inc. (SAFM), a chicken producer, and Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (CALM), the largest U.S. egg producer. For the same reason, I hold Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PEG), an electric utility with headquarters in Newark, New Jersey.

In the energy sphere, I am content for now with a single holding, Valero Energy Corp. (VLO), a refiner.

I own a pair of European banks, because I like deeply out-of-favor stocks that I believe have rebound potential. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. (BBVA) is based in Spain; Intesa

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






By PTI: New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) The Cabinet today approved disinvestment of 10 per cent stake in the state-owned Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO).

"The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for disinvestment of 10 per cent paid-up equity of Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO)," an official statement said. CCEA also approved allowing a price discount of up to 5 per cent on the issue price to retail investors and HUDCO employees. The actual discount to them will be approved by the Alternative Mechanism based on recommendations of a High Level Committee (HLC) of Officers, it added. According to the statement, the paid-up equity capital of HUDCO, with a net worth of Rs 7,800 crore, is Rs 2,001.90 crore as on March 31, 2015. The face value of each HUDCO share is Rs 10 at present. The government has set a disinvestment target of Rs 56,500 crore for this fiscal. Of this, Rs 36,000 crore is to come from minority stake sale in PSUs and Rs 20,500 crore from strategic sale.

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The government has already kickstarted the disinvestment programme for the current fiscal with 11.36 per cent stake sale in NHPC, which fetched Rs 2,700 crore.

It has lined up as many as 15 PSUs, including Coal India, NMDC, MOIL, MMTC, National Fertilisers, NALCO and Bharat Electronics, for divestment in 2016-17.

During 2015-16, the government managed to notch up Rs 25,312 crore through disinvestment, less than half the target of Rs 69,500 crore.

It had raised around Rs 24,500 crore in 2014-15 by selling stake in public companies, about Rs 16,000 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 23,960 crore in 2012-13. It had raised around Rs 14,000 crore in 2011-12 and over Rs 22,100 crore in 2010-11. PTI BKS NKD ARD

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As the search for a 2-year-old boy dragged into a lagoon by an alligator at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, continues, Twitter is busy blaming the parents for the incident.

The boy was ankle-deep in Seven Seas Lagoon with his father near to the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando, when an alligator came and attacked the child Tuesday night. The father tried to wrestle back his son to no avail.

Because the area is marked by "No Swimming" signs, many online have turned against the parents. However, Twitter user Morgan Peterson identified the problem with doing so, saying it is tantamount to victim blaming.

Horrified about the victim blaming going on in light of the #DisneyGatorAttackpic.twitter.com/dUZCh5LliW https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ck_s41nUoAATzlc.jpg:large

Meanwhile, Twitter remained abuzz with accusations of parental negligence:

DisneyGatorAttack why would the parents allow their child in the water marked as "no swimming" praying they find the boy soon.

"no swimming" is usually interpreted as "don't be in the water" so like.....I mean RIP but the parents fucked up #DisneyGatorAttack

So in regards to the #DisneyGatorAttack there were signs explicitly stating no swimming in the water but the parents let there two year old

So another set of inadequate parents is responsible for animals being killed since they can't watch their kids smh #disneygatorattack

DisneyGatorAttack was the parents fault entirely.

The family, who is from Nebraska, had been vacationing at Disney World since June 12.

"[The toddler was] wading ... along the lake's edge at the time that the alligator attacked," Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told CNN.

Sheriff spokesman Jeff Williamson said it is still classified as a "'search and rescue' operation," the Guardian reports. However, hope of safely recovering the boy has dramatically dimmed over the course of 13 hours.
By Jessica DiNapoli

NEW YORK, June 15 (Reuters) - A U.S. bankruptcy judge on Wednesday approved Gawker Media LLC's request to borrow $22 million from an affiliate of buyout firm Cerberus Capital Management LP to help fund the online publisher through its court-supervised auction.

The gossip news website owner, facing a crippling court ruling to pay $140 million to former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan over the publication of excerpts from a sex tape, needs the money to stay in business as it seeks to sell itself in bankruptcy.

Gawker filed for bankruptcy last week, with an agreement from publisher Ziff Davis LLC to buy it for $90 million setting the floor for future bids in an auction expected to take place later this summer.

Attorneys for both Gawker and Hogan, whose legal name is Terry Bollea, agreed on Wednesday to a standstill in litigation the publisher faces in Florida until July 13.

Billionaire investor Peter Thiel, an early backer of Facebook Inc and PayPal Holdings Inc, helped fund Hogan's lawsuit, and several others against Gawker. Gawker posted a 2007 article about Thiel entitled "Peter Thiel is totally gay, people."

Gawker founder and Chief Executive Nick Denton told CNBC on Wednesday that the $90 million offer from Ziff Davis is "depressed compared to what Business Insider got last year."

European digital publisher Axel Springer SE announced it was buying business news website Business Insider for $442 million in September.

In his comments to CNBC, Denton did not rule out buying Gawker himself, "if an acquirer doesn't value it as say I or other investors would."

(Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli in New York; Editing by Tom Brown)
(Reuters) - The U.S. Southern Baptist Convention adopted a resolution on Tuesday repudiating the Confederate battle flag as an emblem of slavery, marking the latest bid for racial reconciliation by America's largest Protestant denomination.

The resolution, passed at the predominantly white convention's annual meeting in St. Louis, calls for Southern Baptist churches to discontinue displaying the Confederate flag as a "sign of solidarity of the whole Body of Christ."

The action came four years after the denomination elected its first black president, Fred Luter, a pastor and civic leader from New Orleans.

In 1995, a Southern Baptist committee issued a resolution apologizing to African-Americans for condoning slavery and racism during the early years of the denomination's 171-year history.

The convention, currently made up of more than 46,000 churches nationwide, was established in 1845 after Southern Baptists split from the First Baptist Church in America in the pre-Civil War era over the issue of slavery.

The denomination now counts a growing number of minorities among its more than 15.8 million members and has sought in recent years to better reflect the diversity of its congregants and America as a whole.

"This denomination was founded by people who wrongly defended the sin of human slavery," said Russell Moore, head of the convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. "Today the nation's largest Protestant denomination voted to repudiate the Confederate battle flag, and it's time and well past time."

The flag carried by the South's pro-slavery Confederate forces during the 1861-65 U.S. Civil War re-emerged as a flashpoint in America's troubled race relations after the massacre of nine blacks by a white gunman at an historic church in Charleston, South Carolina, in June 2015. The assailant was seen afterward in photographs posing with the flag.

The episode stirred a movement to eliminate the Stars and Bars flag - seen by many whites as a sign of Southern heritage, not hate - from South Carolina's statehouse and many other public displays in the South during the months that followed.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman; Editing by Nick Macfie)
By Idrees Ali and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy's Third Fleet will send more ships to East Asia to operate outside its normal theater alongside the Japan-based Seventh Fleet, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, a move that comes at a time of heightened tensions with China. The Third Fleet's Pacific Surface Action Group, which includes the guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance and USS Momsen, was deployed to East Asia in April. More Third Fleet vessels will be deployed in the region in the future, said a U.S. official who requested anonymity. He and a second official said the vessels would conduct a range of operations, but gave no details. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims, as well as close military ties with the United States. China has been angered by what it views as provocative U.S. military patrols close to islands that China controls in the South China Sea. The United States says the patrols are to protect freedom of navigation. On Wednesday, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry said if U.S. actions had a destructive impact on regional peace and stability and the interests of countries in the region, then China would "definitely be opposed and concerned". "How the U.S. military uses its taxpayers' dollars to carry out deployments is its own affair," ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing. "I'm not concerned about it. What I'm concerned about is regional peace, security and stability." The Third Fleet, based in San Diego, California, traditionally has confined its operations to the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean's international dateline. Japan's Nikkei Asian Review quoted the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Scott Swift, as saying on Tuesday that the move came in the "context of uncertainty and angst in the region," an apparent reference to China's behavior. Swift argued that the Navy should utilize the "total combined power" of the 140,000 sailors, over 200 ships and 1,200 aircraft that make up the Pacific Fleet. The Seventh Fleet consists of an aircraft carrier strike group, 80 other vessels and 140 aircraft. The Third Fleet has more than 100 vessels, including four aircraft carriers. Chinese officials have blamed the rising tension on the United States. "I think before Americans' so-called rebalancing in Asia-Pacific, the South China Sea was very quiet, very peaceful," Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to Britain, told Reuters in an interview last week. "China was talking to the neighboring countries. We had a Declaration of Conduct. And the Philippines was talking to us. Once the Americans came in, so-called `rebalancing,' things changed dramatically.""They want to find an excuse to have their strong military presence in the South China Sea and in the Asia Pacific. If it is so quiet, what is the reason for them to be there?" he asked. Greg Poling, director of Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said on Tuesday that the move appears to be part of President Barack Obama's plan to shift 60 percent of U.S. naval assets in Asia as part of his rebalance of resources to the region in the face of China's rise. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and David Brunnstrom, additional reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by John Walcott and Leslie Adler)
Travis Kalanick

Thanks to its new partnership with tech startup Factual, Uber will now have even more data at its fingertips.

The ride-hailing service has struck a deal with the Los Angeles-based startup, which is known for being the driving force behind some of the world's biggest location-based apps including Apple Maps and Facebook, according to a report in Inc.

The partnership is aimed at improving location accuracy for its customers, as well as enhancing its other services, like UberEats, its food delivery service, and its messenger service, UberRush, a spokesperson from Uber told Inc.

Factual collects an enormous amount of data about businesses, including hours of operation, phone numbers, email addresses and even the kinds of food offered at restaurants, as well as longitude and latitude information think of it like the information Google collects for its own services. This new partnership is most likely aimed at helping to make Uber's location services and GPS more accurate.

Factual was founded in 2008 by Gil Elbaz, who previously sold another company, Applied Semantics, to Google in 2003. Factual has raised $62 million in funding to date.

NOW WATCH: How to turn your MacBook into an external hard drive by pressing one button





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Kampala (AFP) - Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye should be tried for treason in court and not a high security prison as the prosecution had requested, a judge ruled on Wednesday.

Besigye, who claimed fraud after coming second in February's presidential election, was arrested last month for holding a mock swearing-in ceremony and charged with treason.

He appeared briefly in court on Wednesday before being returned to the maximum security Luzira Prison in the capital Kampala, with his next court appearance set for June 29.

"The court ruled that Besigye continues to be tried in the court where he was arraigned," judiciary spokesman Solomon Muyita told AFP Wednesday.

It turned down an application, "to have him tried inside Luzira prison over what the state calls security concerns," he said.

Besigye was arrested in Kampala on May 11 after staging his own inauguration ahead of President Yoweri Museveni's swearing in.

He was then whisked to a northern town and charged with treason before being brought back to the capital a few days later.

Treason is a capital offence in Uganda, but the death penalty has not been carried out for years. Besigye was earlier charged with treason in 2005 and the case was eventually dropped.

A long-standing opponent of Museveni, Besigye has been frequently jailed, placed under house arrest, accused of both treason and rape, tear-gassed, beaten and hospitalised over the years.

Museveni seized power at the head of a rebel army in 1986 and has ruled the country since. His victory in February's poll marked the start of his fifth term in office and fourth decade in power.
CHRISHALL GRANGE, England (Reuters) - A narrow majority of Britain's farmers support remaining in the European Union although many are still undecided in the run-up to next week's referendum, according to a poll issued on Wednesday. The survey, commissioned by the National Farm Research Unit, showed that 38 percent wanted to stay, 34 percent wanted to leave and 28 percent had not made up their minds. Farmers were strong supporters of EU membership when Britons last voted on it in 1975, and for years they flourished as funds flowed into the sector to encourage ever-rising production. Support has waned, however, as the proportion of EU funds spent on agriculture has declined and concerns have grown about rules and regulations imposed by Brussels. Many farmers in favour of remaining said they were worried an exit would increase uncertainty over agricultural trade and subsidies. One said he could not "see the benefits of leaping into the unknown". Those supporting leaving the EU said they would be better off without rules made in Brussels. One arable farmer said Britain was "so inhibited by EU rules and regulations, and should be more independent." The independent research body released the poll at Cereals 2016, the major annual trade event for Britain's arable sector. Britain's National Farmers Union has said continuing membership is in the best interest of farmers but acknowledged a diversity of views among its membership and opted not to campaign actively. The poll comes a few days after a survey of UK fisherman conducted by the University of Aberdeen found 92 percent would vote in favour of Brexit on June 23. (Reporting by Nigel Hunt; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ukraine's fiscal and balance-of-payments pressures should ease if the country receives at least $1 billion worth of International Monetary Fund support this year as it puts its reform efforts back on track, the government's top economic adviser said. Ivan Miklos, senior economic adviser to new Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, told Reuters in an interview that Ukraine will likely need more reform legislation passed to meet requirements for the IMF to fully release $1.7 billion in delayed funds. "The goal is, if not to receive the tranche in one amount, to deliver it in two parts, the first one in July and the second one in autumn," Miklos said on Tuesday evening. An IMF spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment on the status of Ukraine's $17.5 billion bailout program. Miklos added if the delayed third tranche is broken up, the first portion disbursed may be around $1 billion. That amount would be sufficient to keep external pressures at bay, because it would also trigger a $1 billion U.S. government loan guarantee and an economic stabilization loan from the European Union. As of June 1, Ukraine's central bank reported $13.5 billion in foreign currency reserves as it purchased dollars to smooth excessive fluctuations in the hryvnia currency . Miklos said that is about enough to cover 3.5 months' worth of imports, while higher exports of grains, steel and other commodities have also improved Ukraine's external buffers. But Miklos, a Slovakian who twice served as that country's finance minister, said he was concerned that the improved financial situation may also diminish the Ukraine parliament's appetite to pass difficult reform legislation. "There is not sufficient ownership of reform" in parliament, he said. "There is not sufficient understanding that the reforms are necessary." Other Eastern European countries such as Poland, Slovakia, Georgia and the Baltics successfully undertook similar reforms not to satisfy international institutions, but because they were important to transform those countries into functioning economies and democracies, he said. In Washington, Miklos said he hoped to persuade the Obama administration, the IMF and the World Bank that Ukraine's new cabinet, which took power in April after months of political turmoil, had resumed progress on reforms. "The main message is to convince partners that the new government is ready and eager to do reforms," he said. He cited passage of energy legislation that shifted gas prices to market-based levels - a major shift from heavily subsidized prices that prevailed before a 2014 uprising brought Western-backed leaders to power. Miklos also said further progress has been made on newly passed legislation to root out corruption in Ukraine's graft-ridden judiciary system, to liberalize the pharmaceuticals market and to expand a new online public procurement system. But progress has lagged on pension reforms demanded by the IMF and improvements to Ukraine's tax system, while the privatisation of a major state-run fertilizer plant in Odessa has drawn criticism from the Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by G Crosse and Andrea Ricci)
By PTI: New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) Government today sought comments from stakeholders on issues arising out of the changes in the tax treaty with Mauritius.

Earlier this week, the government had constituted a working group headed by a Joint Secretary-level officer to examine the "consequential issues" post amendments to the India-Mauritius Double Taxation Avoidance Convention.

"Stakeholders may send their comments and suggestion on the relevant issues electronically to dirfttr4-rev@gov.in by July 4, 2016, for consideration by the working group," a finance ministry statement said. Besides Joint Secretary (FT&TR-II), CBDT, the working group would comprise of departmental officers and representatives of Sebi, custodians, brokerage firms and fund managers.

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The Working Group will submit its report to the CBDT within three months after examining the relevant issues. The government last month amended the 33-year old tax treaty. With this companies routing funds into India through the tropical island after March 31, 2017, will have to pay short-term capital gains tax at half the rate prevailing during the two-year transition period.

The levy is currently at 15 per cent. The full rate will kick in from April 1, 2019. Between 2000 and 2015, a third of all foreign-direct investment into India, around USD 94 billion, came via Mauritius, according to the government data. Foreign investors have historically bought shares in Indian companies via entities in countries like Mauritius and Singapore, with which India has a treaty to avoid double taxation. These countries either have no tax on capital gains or have rates lower than what they are in India. It was expected that the changes will dampen investments into India as taxes would lower net returns for investors.

The government has now formed a group to study consequences arising out of the amendment. New Delhi had since 2006 engaged with Mauritius to amend the treaty to check misuse by some investors who use a double-taxation avoidance pact between the two nations to escape taxes.

The treaty amendment would trigger a similar amendment in Indias tax treaty with Singapore. Mauritius and Singapore accounted for USD 17 billion of the total USD 29.4 billion India received in FDI between April and December 2015. PTI JD MKJ

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By Michael Holden and Kylie MacLellan LONDON (Reuters) - The leader of Britain's main opposition party urged supporters on Tuesday to vote to remain in the European Union after opinion polls showed gains for those wanting to leave and the nation's biggest-selling paper backed Brexit. The "In" camp led by Prime Minister David Cameron, whose own Conservatives are deeply split over the EU, has recently given the lead role in campaigning to the left-leaning Labour Party, whose supporters could decide the June 23 referendum. In a campaign dominated by concerns over immigration and the economy, both sides have stepped up their arguments before the closely contested vote that will help determine Britain's future in trade and world affairs but also shape the EU itself. Sterling slipped to a two-month low on Tuesday and the euro has also lost value on fears a British exit from Europe, or Brexit, would tip the 28-member bloc back into recession. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, flanked by the party's top lawmakers and trade union members, said a vote to stay in the EU would protect workers' rights - pitching to voters who "In" campaigners fear have been turned off by a debate dominated by rivalries in the ruling Conservative Party. "This is the Labour movement saying we are voting to remain in the European Union next week," he said at the headquarters of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) which groups 51 unions representing almost 6 million of the United Kingdom's 65 million people. A TNS poll emphasised the battle facing Corbyn and other "In" campaigners. Just nine days before the referendum, it showed the Leave camp holding a lead of seven percentage points, matching a YouGov survey overnight. Criticized by some campaigners for being lukewarm in his support to remain in the EU, Corbyn was clear he was leading his party's push to stay but kept his distance from Cameron's mantra that Britain is "stronger, safer and better off" in the bloc. In a later speech, he attacked the Conservatives for damaging Britain's public health service (NHS) - where he had represented staff before becoming a lawmaker. But he told voters those who wanted to leave would "put the NHS in jeopardy". The general secretary of the TUC, Frances O'Grady, and other union leaders published an open letter earlier on Tuesday underlining their fears that Britain would vote to leave the EU, something they described as "a disaster for working people". The "Remain" camp played down any connection between the spotlight on the Labour message and the slide in the opinion polls - several of which put the "Leave" campaign ahead - saying there had been no change in strategy or message. "We're concentrating on getting our message across up and down the country," said a spokesman. "We're particularly concentrating on Labour voters and demonstrating to them that their party is unequivocally on the side of remain." POLLS TURN Polls over the last four days have suggested that the "Leave" camp is gaining, although there are many undecided voters. Bookmakers have also been slashing the odds on Brexit, unsettling investors. The pound fell below $1.41 for the first time in two months and London-listed shares fell nearly two percent on Brexit worries. In another, though not unexpected, boost for the "Leave" campaign, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's Sun newspaper called on its readers to vote to quit the EU. "The Sun urges everyone to vote Leave. We must set ourselves free from dictatorial Brussels," said the tabloid, which has a circulation of 1.7 million but may be preaching to the converted as many of its readers already back a Brexit according to polls. In an article for the London Evening Standard in February, veteran journalist Anthony Hilton said he once asked Murdoch why he was so opposed to the European Union. "'That's easy,' he replied. 'When I go into Downing Street they do what I say; when I go to Brussels they take no notice.'" But at a 2012 public inquiry into the press, Murdoch rejected suggestions he had influence over British politicians and in a world of declining sales and growing new media, the stance taken by the media may matter less than it once did. MONEY The Sun newspaper does, however, reach many of Labour's traditional working-class supporters, some of whom have been won over by arguments that Britain needs to control immigration to reduce pressure on the health service, schools and housing. While those wanting to stay in the EU can count on the support of many of Britain's biggest businesses, most economists and foreign leaders such as U.S. President Barack Obama, fears about uncontrolled immigration from Europe and the impact on jobs and services is proving key for the "Out" campaign. In an open letter, 13 government ministers and senior Conservatives said in the event of Brexit "there is more than enough money to ensure that those who now get funding from the EU - including universities, scientists, family farmers, regional funds, cultural organizations and others - will continue to do so". They also said there would be also be money saved to spend on priorities. The "Remain" campaign said it was "fantasy economics". (Writing by Michael Holden and Elizabeth Piper; Additional reporting by James Davey and Andy Bruce; Editing by Philippa Fletcher and Pravin Char)
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - A UN board of inquiry was unable to determine whether UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic were responsible for the deaths of a teenager and his father last year, the UN spokesman said Wednesday.

The two civilians were shot dead in Bangui on August 3, a day after UN peacekeepers carried out an arrest operation in which a Cameroonian blue helmet was killed and several others injured.

The suspect escaped arrest and the peacekeepers had returned to the area to pull down barricades put up by his supporters when the shooting broke out.

"The board was unable to establish the origin of the shots which killed the two CAR civilians," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The panel concluded "there were flaws in the planning and execution of the arrest operation" and made a series of recommendations on handling arrest warrants, he added.

Amnesty International quoted witnesses who said the father was shot in the back as he stepped out of his house to warn his daughter, while his son was shot in the chest when he came to his father's assistance.

The board of inquiry found that the peacekeepers came under attack when they tried to dismantle the barricades.

The house of the two victims was located "close by to where the violent demonstration was taking place," said a UN official.

Amnesty said a 12-year-old girl was raped during the peacekeeper operation, but an investigation by the UN office of internal oversight found that the allegations were unsubstantiated.

The UN mission in the Central African Republic, known as MINUSCA, has been hit by a wave of allegations of rape and sexual exploitation by its peacekeepers.

MINUSCA and the UN peacekeeping department "deplore the loss of life in this tragic incident," said Dujarric.

The Central African Republic is struggling to recover from the bloodshed that engulfed the country following a March 2013 coup that ousted long-serving president Francois Bozize.

About 12,000 peacekeepers are serving in the MINUSCA force, which took over from an African Union operation in September 2014.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply concerned by border clashes between Ethiopia and Eritrea and is calling on both governments to exercise "maximum restraint," the UN spokesman said Wednesday.

Ban raised concerns directly during a meeting in Brussels with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on Wednesday while UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson called Eritrea's foreign minister to discuss the crisis.

"They urged both governments to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any act or statement that could exacerbate the situation," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Ethiopia and Eritrea should resolve differences through peaceful means and fully implement a peace agreement signed in 2000, he added.

The fighting on Sunday resulted in heavy losses claimed by both sides along the heavily fortified border in East Africa, making it one of the worst battles since the 1998-2000 border war.
Washington (AFP) - The United States charged two Japanese auto-parts companies and five executives with price-fixing Wednesday in a long-running investigation into illegal competitive practices in the parts industry.

A federal grand jury in Ohio indicted Tokai Kogyo and Maruyasu Industries and their US subsidiaries on charges of participating in international conspiracies to rig bids and fix prices in the sale of auto body sealing products and steel tubing, the Justice Department said in a statement.

A total of five executives were also charged in the scheme.

"We will not be deterred from holding those involved -- both corporations and individuals -- accountable for their actions, and we welcome the opportunity to prove our cases to a jury," said Brent Snyder, deputy assistant attorney in the Justice Department's antitrust division.

The department charged Tokai Kogyo and one executive with conspiring to rig bids and fix prices on automotive body sealing products for sale to Honda for cars made and sold in the United States.

In a separate indictment, Haruyasu and four executives were charged with price fixing and bid rigging for automotive steel tubes sold in the US and elsewhere.

The charges are the latest in the US government's sprawling crackdown on illegal competitive activity in the automotive parts industry, which has mainly hit Japanese parts companies.

To date, a total of 64 persons and 44 companies have been charged and have agreed to pay more than $2.7 billion in criminal fines, officials said.
The improving economy has more Americans opening their wallets to help others.

Last year was Americas most generous year ever in terms of charitable contributions, with total giving by individuals, estates, foundations and corporations totaling $373 billion. Thats a 4.1 percent increase over the previous year, and the second record-setting year in a row, according to a new report from Giving USA.

Related: 12 Amazing Places to Retire Abroad in 2016

Its heartening that people really do want to make a difference, and theyre supporting the causes that matter to them, Giving USA Foundation chair W. Keith Curtis said in a statement.

Contributions from all sources grew last year. Donations from individuals made up the biggest share of charitable contributions, as they have for the past 60 years, totaling $265 billion and accounting for two-thirds of the overall increase in giving.

Charitable Giving

Source: Giving USA 2016 and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University

Giving by foundations had the largest percentage increase, growing 6.5 percent to $58 billion. Foundations have benefited from strong investment gains despite last years flat market, which have allowed them to be more generous with their grants.

Charitable giving is now growing faster than the overall economy. On an annual basis, charitable giving has risen 3.6 percent per year since 2010, while GDP has only grown at an annual average of 2 percent during that time.

Religious organizations continue to receive the largest share of donations, with one in three charitable dollars given in that category, for a total $119.3 billion, up 2.6 percent from 2014. Education was the second-largest category, receiving $57.48 billion, an 8.9 percent increase over 2014.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) together with fighters from the Manbij Military Council continued advancing towards the Islamic State stronghold of Manbij on June 15 . Heavy clashes between SDF and IS continued around Manbij while the US-led coalition carried out airstrikes on Islamic State positions in the city, local reports said.

The forces have reportedly recaptured 110 villages and farms since the beginning of the offensive.

The forces also found bodies of 27 IS fighters killed in the fighting, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. It cited local sources as saying most of the dead did not appear to be locals.

This video was shared by a Kurdish news agency and is described as showing coalition strikes on Islamic State locations in Manbij. Credit: YouTube/ANHA
The following factors are likely to influence Malaysian palm oil futures and other vegetable oil

markets.

FUNDAMENTALS

* Malaysian palm oil futures fell on Tuesday, its seventh straight losing session, as bearish

palm fundamentals and declining rival oils weighed on the market.

* U.S. corn futures rose 1.5 percent on Tuesday, rallying from early weakness as updated weather

forecasts raised the risk of stressful hot and dry conditions in the Midwest crop belt.

* Crude futures fell in early Asian trade on Wednesday as mounting concerns about Britain's

possible exit from the European Union and a surprise build in U.S. inventories left investors

ignoring the IEA's declaration that the oil market is now in balance.

MARKET NEWS

* Asian shares dipped to near three-week lows while safehaven assets such as U.S. bonds and the

yen were in demand on Wednesday on growing anxiety Britain will choose to leave the European

Union next week.

RELATED

> China sees slight increase in soybean imports this year - grain official

> India's cotton planting seen falling to 7-yr low -industry group

> Australia raises 2016/17 wheat forecast after autumn rains

> Argentina sees soybean losses of up to 4 mln tonnes due to floods

> IEA sees oil market balance in 2016, surplus to re-emerge next year

DATA/EVENTS

> Cargo surveyor ITS releases Malaysia's June 1-15 palm oil export data on June 15.

> Cargo surveyor SGS releases Malaysia's June 1-15 palm oil export data on June 15.

* For a table on Malaysian physical palm oil prices, including refined oil, Reuters Terminal

users can double click on or type.

* To view freight rates from Peninsula Malaysia/Sumatra to China, India, Pakistan and

Rotterdam, please key in and press enter, or double click between the brackets.

* Reuters Terminal users can see cash and futures edible oil prices by double clicking on

the codes in the brackets: To go to the next page in the same chain, hit F12. To go back, hit

F11.

Palm, soy and crude oil prices at 0050 GMT

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Contract Month Last Change Low High Volume

MY PALM OIL JUN6 0 +0.00 0 0 0

MY PALM OIL JUL6 0 +0.00 0 0 0

MY PALM OIL AUG6 0 +0.00 0 0 0

CHINA PALM OLEIN SEP6 5134 -92.00 5128 5176 229382

CHINA SOYOIL SEP6 6060 -50.00 6054 6098 140986

CBOT SOY OIL JUL6 32.52 -4.80 32.42 32.55 805

INDIA PALM OIL JUN6 519.10 -4.80 517.50 522.8 1539

INDIA SOYOIL JUN6 634.2 -4.70 634 637.8 7880

NYMEX CRUDE JUL6 47.81 -0.68 47.72 48.07 8931

Palm oil prices in Malaysian ringgit per tonne

CBOT soy oil in U.S. cents per pound

Dalian soy oil and RBD palm olein in Chinese yuan per tonne

India soy oil in Indian rupee per 10 kg

Crude in U.S. dollars per barrel

Vegetable oils --

Malaysian palm oil exports --

CBOT soyoil futures --

CBOT soybean futures --

Indian solvent --

Weekly Indian vegetable oils --

Dalian Commodity Exchange --

Dalian soyoil futures --

Dalian refined palm oil futures --

Zhengzhou rapeseed oil --

European edible oil prices/trades --

(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff)
Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro said he was scrapping an emergency measure that had public sector employees working only two days a week.

The socialist leader in late April restricted the work week to just Mondays and Tuesdays to save power in a country hit by electricity shortages.

The shortages have worsened hardship in the South American country, where citizens are suffering shortages of basic supplies.

"From this week, on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays public workers will go back to work until one o'clock in the afternoon, six hours in total," Maduro said in a televised address.

Pupils will also go back to schools on Fridays after several weeks of closure on that day.

Maduro blames the power shortages on a drought that has dried up Venezuela's hydroelectric dams.

His opponents say officials have mismanaged the power network.

The opposition blames him for the economic crisis and is calling for a referendum on removing him from office.
By Dan Levine

June 14 (Reuters) - Viacom Inc's lead independent director on Tuesday pleaded for a meeting with controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone and warned of further court battles if the media tycoon remained inaccessible to the board.

In a letter from Fred Salerno to Redstone, made public by the company, Salerno also defended Viacom management's handling of the possible sale of a stake in movie studio Paramount.

"Sumner, they tell us they won't make you available for fear that such a meeting would become the source of more litigation," Salerno wrote. "In reality, putting up a wall around you ensures more litigation - and that is not what we want."

A representative for Redstone declined to comment.

Last month Redstone ejected Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman and another director from the board of National Amusements Inc, which controls 80 percent of the voting shares of Viacom.

Dauman filed a legal challenge to that maneuver, arguing that Redstone was being manipulated by his daughter Shari.

Salerno and Viacom's other independent directors then vowed to fight any attempt to oust them from the board, saying they found "inexplicable" the assertion that Redstone was mentally competent.

In the letter, Salerno said new lawyers for Redstone staged a drive with the billionaire and his daughter to the Paramount studio last week "for a brief visit in which you didn't get out of your car."

The sale of an interest in Paramount has been an issue of contention in the battle for control of 93-year-old Redstone's $40 billion media empire, which includes Viacom and CBS Corp .

Redstone said in a statement last month he believed that keeping 100 percent of the film unit was in the best interest of Viacom but could be swayed by a plan that convinced him otherwise.

In the letter, Salerno recounted a meeting in February in which Dauman told Redstone about new opportunities for Paramount.

"He reported that you didn't react, other than to nod when he asked you if you heard him and understood what he said to you," Salerno wrote.

At a subsequent board meeting, Redstone did not speak up when the board discussed Paramount, Salerno said.

"We are quite concerned that your voice - and views - are not being heard," Salerno wrote. "When your phone is dialed into our board calls from your home, no one says a word. When we ask for your vote, all we hear is silence." (Reporting by Dan Levine in San Francisco)
By PTI: New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) Government today approved pact with Taiwan for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) provides for cooperation in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, aquaculture and food processing, genetic resources as well as environmental sustainability, according to an official statement.

"The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval to MoU between Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India and India Taipei Association in Taipei, Taiwan for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors," it added.

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The cooperation between the two sides involves exchange of visits, information, technology and training and also expansion of agricultural trade while reducing trade barriers, it said adding that both sides will also encourage the private sector in both countries to enter into cooperation.

Under the MoU, a Joint Working Committee will be constituted to identify priority areas of mutual interest and follow up on the progress of implementation of the activities identified by both sides.

The pact will be initially signed for a period of five years and shall be automatically renewed for a subsequent periods of five years unless either party expresses its desire/intention to terminate it, the statement said. PTI JTR MKJ

--- ENDS ---
As part of a continuing series this summer, Constitution Daily looks at Vice Presidential selections that had an impact on the Constitution. First up  the Vice President who forced Congress and the states to approve and ratify the 12th Amendment: Aaron Burr.

burrjefferson346

Jefferson and Burr  the worst of running mates!

The hats a Vice President wears are numerous: A shaper of policy and public opinion, a vice president is more than the last name hugging the presidents on a bumper sticker.

In colonial times, Vice Presidents were not strategically chosen partners, but rather the elections runner up. Thomas Jefferson famously served as John Adams veep, their mutual animosity common knowledge in the New Republic. Had a tie between Jefferson and Aaron Burr not resulted in the following election,

Burr was born on February 6, 1756 in Newark, New Jersey. The grandson of the famous theologian of the day, Jonathon Edwards, Burr was raised New Light Presbyterian. His father, Aaron Burr, Sr., was the president of The College of New Jersey (now Princeton) at a time when only three other acting college presidents lived within the colonies. However, it would be women, rather than his famous grandfather and father, who shaped his life.

Esther Edwards Burr, his mother, was an outspoken woman of her time. Though she died when Burr was just two years old, her influence was a lasting one. Before Burr was three years old, hed lost both parents and his maternal grandparents. His remaining family included a sister, Sally, who he was educated alongside of by tutor, Tapping Reeve. Perhaps his belief in the education of women was instilled here. He would go on to marry a woman 10 years his senior, Theodosia Bartow Prevost, who was renowned in the colonies for her intellectual prowess and home, which was modeled on a French Salon, during the American Revolution. Their daughter Theodosia (yes, the Theodosia from Hamiltons Dear Theodosia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjMN6zSVFQg ) was highly educated with Burr supervising much of her curriculum. However, Burrs feminism is often lost in history. When ones duel with Alexander Hamilton results in a Founding Fathers death, one is hardly remembered for much else.

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Before he was Hamiltons nemesis, however, he was just Little Burr, a 13- year-old sophomore at Princeton. Most of his peers were four years older and Burr quickly made a name for himself. At the time of Burrs entrance to Princeton, John Witherspoon (a signer of the Declaration of Independence) was president. This is critical. Had Witherspoon not brought Scottish enlightenment ideals to the colonies, stressing mathematics, geography and history, Burr might have followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. However, this emphasis on educating the whole person, sent him from the church and to the courtroom.

At Princeton, while significantly younger than his classmates, Burr was a troublemaker. Students at the time studied up to 18 hours a day and though Burr would have been no different, he made time to be a part of both Princetons rival clubs of the day: the Whigs and the Cilios. Some argue his party switching was foreshadowed in this, while others argue the club system at Princeton provided a basis of the party system itself. Interestingly, James Madison who was weary of factions participated in the rivalry at Princeton. No matter, when one teacher arrived late at a club meeting, Little Burr used the opportunity to chide him. Tactful and funny, he got away with it and grew all the more popular. However, these pushing the envelope moments would not last forever.

Burr fought in the Revolution and was promoted to captain and aide-de-camp after successfully escorting General Richard Montgomery from Quebec. Burr later saved an entire brigade in New York, but his efforts went uncommended by Washington. Whether a mistake or purposeful omission of credit, the incident did little to squelch Burrs rising star status but did found his resentment toward Washington. Later during the Quasi- War, Washington wrote to Adams, By all that I have known and heard, Colonel Burr is a brave and able officer, but the question is whether he has not equal talents at intrigue.

After suffering heat stroke, Burrs health declined and he resigned from the Continental Army in 1779. He was admitted to the bar in 1782 and moved to Wall Street. In 1791, Burr was elected to the Senate defeating incumbent and father-in-law to Alexander Hamilton, Philip Schuyler. The victory severed his friendship with Hamilton and laid the basis for his Machiavellian reputation.

His notoriety only increased when he ran as Thomas Jeffersons vice president. When the voting did not go according to plan and the election ended in a tie, Burr attempted to usurp Jeffersons bid and win the presidency himself. Hamilton famously voted for nemesis Jefferson over Burr, and Burr became the vice president.

The tie vote exposed deep problems in the 1787 system. The one-state/one-vote rule had the practical effect of giving Delawares sole Representative Bayard, an ardent Federalist, the same voting power as Virginia, then the largest state (and home, of course, of Jefferson), explains scholar Sanford Levinson. And it was Bayard whose vote on the 36th House ballot swung the election to Jefferson.

The whole incident, along with the pairing of Adams and Jefferson in the previous administration, led the Founders to rewrite part of a Constitution that was just 14 years old. The Twelfth Amendment was proposed by the Eighth Congress on December 9, 1803, and it was approved by the states within 10 months. It provided for separate Electoral College votes for President and Vice President.

Having lost Jeffersons trust, Burr was effectively dismissed from executive matters, but he was a favorite in the Senate where his farewell address was received with tears. He defended judicial independence in his role in the impeachment trial of Samuel Chase.

Dropped from Jeffersons 1804 ticket, the famous Hamilton-Burr duel loomed. While Burr was never tried for his killing of Hamilton, his political future and historic legacy were effectively doomed the moment the former Secretary of the Treasury was pronounced dead. Burr fled to Europe and upon his return to America (ensured by his daughter, Theodosia) married a rich widow nineteen years his junior. Eliza Jumel, his second wife, quickly divorced him. His land speculation had put a dent in her fortune. The divorce was finalized the day he died September 14, 1836 at the age of 80. Burrs ambition was perhaps his fatal flaw, but his contributions to the new Republic are undeniable. From his service in the Continental Army to his inadvertent establishment of the twelfth amendment, Burrs place in history would have likely been sealed even without a duel. Lin Manuel-Mirandas Tony winning musical, Hamilton, on the other hand may not have fared as well duel-free.

Olivia Fitzpatrick is an intern at the National Constitution Center. She is also a rising junior at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in English and minoring in Legal Studies.
British Vogue has revealed that they are to release a limited-edition anthology of photographs, covers, and articles to celebrate the magazine's centenary year.

The 448-page tome will be released in limited quantities this fall, with British Vogue editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman revealing that just 1,916 copies have been printed, to honor the year that the magazine was launched.

Entitled "Vogue - Voice Of A Century", the book will feature more than 500 of Vogue's images from the last 100 years, along with memories and commentary from those who have worked at the publication.

Each of the limited-edition copies has also been hand-signed by at least seven of Vogue's long-standing contributors, including Naomi Campbell, Grace Coddington, Twiggy, and Kate Moss.

Shulman also revealed on Monday that she is to release her personal memoir of the magazine's centenary year, documenting her own behind-the-scenes story of life during the magazine's landmark anniversary.
A Texas man saved his home from flooding with the help of an AquaDam.

Torrential rains have soaked parts of Texas over the past few weeks, leading to evacuations and severe flooding. But one Houston-area family found a way to stay safe and dry through some pretty innovative (albeit expensive) thinking.

Their secret? A two-and-a-half-foot-tall, 400-foot-long dam that was filled with water and installed along Randy Wagners property late last month.

When the rain started to fall, Wagner knew he needed something to insulate his Rosharon home against the rising Brazos River, according to CBS affiliate KHOU11. His neighbors thought he was nuts.

I was the crazy guy. Everybody was kinda going by, laughing at me, he told the station. But today, they are really impressed with this AquaDam.

Before the floods began, Wagner drove to Louisiana and plunked down $8,300 on the AquaDam, according to the station. Then he waited. Despite an evacuation order, Wagner, his wife, and their two children stayed home while the water rose to 27 inches outside his property. His neighbors homes took on water, while his did not. (They live several miles away from the river.)

Sure, Wagner shelled out some big bucks for a preventive measure. But the superintendent of a local chemical plant says it was worth every penny.

There was no damage to my home or my personal belongings, Wagner, 48, told realtor.com. If my house had been flooded, I would have had to spend $150,000 to $200,000 just to [fix up] my home.

Thousands of Texas residents homes were affected by the storm, according to Houston Public Media. President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration for 12 Texas counties, including Wagners Brazoria County.

The Abbeville, LAbased AquaDam, which saved Wagners home, makes barriers that start at a foot tall and go all the way up to 16 feet, costing $6 to $495 a foot.

It stops the water from inundating the homes and businesses, Larry Campisi, president of the 30-year-old company, told realtor.com. It basically is water fighting water.

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Affordable alternatives to safeguard your property

Not ready to drop thousands on your own personal dam? Thats OKthere are other steps you can take to beat the floods.

If youre in a flood-prone area (or even if youre not), you should use sealants to waterproof your homes foundation, says Chicago-area architect John Hrivnak. But beware: Safeguarding the outside of the foundation is a bit trickier, he warns, as the dirt (or beloved flower beds) surrounding it will need to be dug up to apply the sealant below the ground.

Homeowners can also hire a specialist to dig a small trench in their basement foundations, just a couple of inches deep and a few inches wide.

When the water does come in, it lands in that trench, Hrivnak says. Then the water goes into your sump pump  which forcefully pushes the water out of the basement.

That reminds us: Get a sump pump! And a big one, too, to keep up with the water coming in. This will be your lifesaver in the event of rising waters. (The average cost of getting and installing a sump pump is around $1,000.)

Make sure to stock up on sandbags, and stack them at least a foot high. Use two or three bags at minimum.

And no matter what, have an exit strategy. Flooding is seriously scary stuff, and no matter how much you prepare, you may need to seek shelter elsewhere. Plan ahead so you know what to take with you and what you can leave behind.

The post Want to Beat Flood Season? Be Like This Guy and Build Your Own Dam appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.





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Two groups of hackers sponsored by the Russian government broke into the computer systems of the Democratic National Committee and accessed emails, chat logs, and a trove of detailed opposition research on Donald Trump assembled by the partys researchers.

The hackers were removed from the system over the weekend, officials told The Washington Post, but not before they were able to comb through staff members day-to-day communications and their research on the presumptive Republican nominee.

One hacking group entered the system last year, and been monitoring DNC communications since then, the Posts Ellen Nakashima reported. This April, the other group gained access to the Trump files.

Paired with the ongoing controversy over the private email server Hillary Clinton used during her time as secretary of state, the enormous breach at the DNC is the second large-scale cybersecurity setback that Democrats have run into during the presidential campaign.

Recommended: What Obama Actually Thinks About Radical Islam

The persistence and skill of the Russian hackers that penetrated the DNCs defenses illustrates the threat posed by foreign online espionage. In the past, Russian hackers have gained access to email systems at the White House and the State Department, and their Chinese counterparts pulled off a colossal heist at the Office of Personnel Management last year, stealing the sensitive personal information of more than 22 million Americans.

The discovery of the Russian espionage operation vindicated James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, who warned last month that foreign intelligence agencies were spying on U.S. presidential campaigns. Indeed, as far back as 2008, the Intelligence Community gave a presentation to then president-elect Obama and his advisors, warning them that foreign intelligence services have been tracking this election cycle like no other.

Russian spies appeared to have targeted more than just the DNC during this election. Officials told the Post that hackers also went after Clinton and Trumps campaigns, as well as several Republican political action committees.

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The hackers appeared to target internal communications and opposition research only, leaving untouched the DNCs vast stores of personal and financial information on donors. That suggests sophisticated political espionage, rather than an opportunistic criminal lunge for potentially lucrative data.

Recommended: Why Some Coral Reefs Are Thriving

The ease with which the hackers were able to listen in on the DNCs communications is a far cry from the last major attempt to eavesdrop on the Democratic Party, more than 40 years ago. Then, malfunctioning wiretaps on DNC phones led officials to approve a plan to break into the partys Watergate headquarters, a plot which eventually led to Richard Nixons resignation. This year, the Russians electronic intrusion raised alarms only in April, when a network administrator saw suspicious activity and alerted party leaders. (Its much harder to find hackers in a computer system than it is to spot a taped-up door.)

World leaders have closely tracked the U.S. presidential campaign as it has developed over the past 12 months, especially Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has expressed admiration for Trumps brash style. Trump, in turn, praised Putins leadership.

Its not unusual for governments to monitor other countries political campaigns in order to glean details on a candidates policies before he or she is elected to high office. Since American intelligence agencies are known to spy on foreign governments, its likely that they are also listening in on crucial political races overseas. But in a presidential campaign where the discussion of cybersecurity hasnt moved past a political tussle over Clintons email server, the Russian intrusion is a reminder of the prevalence of the threatand the expertise of the U.S.s adversaries.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the most powerful democratically elected leader in the country's history. He has run Turkey since 2002 through his Justice and Development Party (AKP), first as prime minister and since 2014 as president. Having orchestrated on May 22 nd the promotion of his close ally Binali Yildirim to the post of prime minister and AKP chairman, Erdogan has amassed even more power in his hands: he is now head of state, as well as (de facto) head of government and leader of the ruling party. Where does he want to take Turkey?

Since 2002, Erdogan has methodically eliminated the legacy of Kemalism, the revolutionary-secularist ideology of Turkey in the 20 th century named after the country's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Erdogan's counter-revolution has been democratic "senso stricto." Although his critics blame him for being authoritarian, Erdogan has built strong popular support, using the wind from four electoral victories since 2002 to revolutionize Turkey's political system.

While Ataturk established a strict firewall between religion and government and firmly defined Turkey as a Western country, Erdogan flooded the country's politics, education system and foreign policy with Islam.

READ: [Learn more about Turkey]

Erdogan's proclivity to view the world through an anti-Kemalist lens has subsequently pivoted Ankara toward the Middle East where Turkey has become a party in the ruinous Syrian civil war. Hard as it is to believe, today Ankara supports radical Islamist groups, such as Ahrar al-Sham, which has ties to al Qaeda, in the Syrian conflict.

At home, Erdogan's counter-revolution whereby he has made Islam the epicenter of Turkish politics looks Kafkaesque. Subsequent to the changes to the country's secular education system, a growing number of pupils are forced to study in Islamic high schools. Recently, the grandson of the chief rabbi of Turkey was placed in an Islamic high school, along with many Christians, in government-run matriculation exams.

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Turkey's Islamization, coupled with Ankara's involvement in the Syrian civil war and bad neighbors, such as ISIL, next door, expose the country to grave risks. According to a report by the Global Policy and Strategy Institute, an Ankara-based think-tank, over two thousand more than 2,000 Turkish citizens have crossed the border to fight for ISIL. In the past 10 months, the group has carried out four terror attacks in Turkey, killing more than 150 citizens.

While Turkey is, unfortunately, yet to see the worst of the ISIL threat, I blame Ataturk indirectly for Erdogan's ruinous fixation to make Islam the guiding light of all politics in Turkey.

Ataturk was a general in the Ottoman military before the empire collapsed at the end of World War I. A product of the Ottoman system, he liberated Turkey and then went on to fully secularize the country. He was an ordinary middle-class citizen who received secular education in Ottoman public schools. As a young man, Ataturk lived in an Empire that already had a huge body of secular laws, courts, and institutions, including a parliament, and a tendency to see itself as part of the European state system.

Thus, Ataturk's uniqueness is not that he secularized Turkey but that he took the Ottoman trajectory to its fullest extent. He enshrined secularism in the Turkish constitution and strongly confirmed Turkey's Western vocation.

Revolutions need to portray the political systems they overthrow as being utterly useless in order to justify themselves, and so in his revolution Ataturk cast the Ottomans in an entirely different light. Ataturk and the Kemalist elites depicted the Westernizing Ottomans as religious fanatics who were obsessed with Islam, and who subsequently and consequently failed.

The Kemalists caricaturized the Ottomans: the Empire was all about religious, anti-Western darkness, almost a Turkish version of the Salafists. Kemalism, they argued, was all about progressive secularism.

Over 80 years, Turkey became one of the most secular-ideological Muslim-majority states and such falsified ideas about the Ottomans were taught to generations of pupils and citizens, including Erdogan, who have internalized them.

Counter-revolutions aim to rewind the political order back to the past, and this is what Erdogan is doing in Turkey. Erdogan's counter-revolution is focused on making Islam the centerpiece of Turkish politics and sees the country's foreign policy role as being primarily anti-Western. This, Erdogan thinks, is how he will bring the Ottomans back. The irony is that while trying to revive the pre-Ataturk Ottoman Empire, Erdogan is actually trying to revive the caricature of the Ottomans that he was taught by the Kemalists.

The Ottomans were a sophisticated bunch. They were Muslims, but not obsessed with Islam in foreign policy or at home. From its inception, the Empire saw itself as a European power and was so deeply Westernized that by the 19 th century it provided education for women, ran secular courts, and taught its pupils, including Ataturk, to take religion out of politics. And in foreign policy, the Ottomans always hoped to be a Muslim and European power, even as their power waned in the 19 th century. The last Ottoman caliph whom Ataturk exiled, Abdulmecid II, was an established painter known for his nudes.

If Erdogan can grasp the Ottoman legacy beyond the Kemalist caricature that shapes his thinking, Turkey still has a chance to walk away from a ruinous policy of Islamization at home and the ISIL threat from Syria.

Soner Cagaptay is director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute. Follow him on Twitter @SonerCagaptay.
By PTI: From Anisur Rahman

Dhaka, Jun 15 (PTI) A Hindu lecturer today survived an assassination attempt in southwestern Bangladesh when suspected Islamists barged into his home and attacked him with lethal weapons, wounding him seriously, the latest in a series of attacks on minorities and secular activists.

The attackers stormed the residence of Ripon Chakrabarty, a Mathematics lecturer at the Nazimuddin Government University College in Madaripur, and attacked him with lethal weapons this evening, police said.

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The residents at the neighbourhood grabbed one of the attackers while others fled from the scene.

"The detained attacker is now being grilled in our custody. We suspect he could be a member of a militant group," Madaripur police superintendent Sarwar Hossain told PTI.

A police sub-inspector told reporters that three assailants knocked at Ripons house and attacked him soon after he opened the door.

Ripon is being treated at a state-run hospital in southwestern Barisal.

Suspected Islamists killed a number of secular activists, four Hindus and other minorities across the country in recent months, prompting authorities to launch a nationwide anti-militant clampdown since Friday. MORE PTI AR ZH AKJ ZH

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Every morning, before the sun goes up, Durga Kami brushes his teeth, puts on his uniform and walks for over an hour to get to school. His routine is not too different from that of other ten graders in Nepal. Except maybe for one thing: he is 68, and one of the countrys oldest students.

A father of sixand a grandfather of eightKami told Reuters he was forced out of school by poverty as a kid and never fulfilled his dream of teaching.

Following the death of his wife though, and to avoid a lonely life at home, he decided to go back to the classroom.

To forget my sorrows I go to school, Kami said in the interview.

After his own kids had all left his hilltop home in Syangja district, 155 miles west of Nepals capital Katmandu, Kami first went to a primary school to learn how to read and write.

He then got a scholarship to attend the Shree Kala Bhairab higher secondary school, which gave him stationery and a uniform: white shirt, gray trousers and a tie.

Despite using a walking cane, Kami is eager to participate in all school activities  even volleyball. His 14- and 15-year-old classmates, initially wary of the old man sitting among them in the classroom, have grown to like him and started calling him Baa, or father in Nepali.

If they see an old person with white beard like me studying in school they might get motivated as well, he told Reuters, adding he hopes to study until his death.
President Obamas Wednesday meeting with the Dalai Lama in Washington ruffled a few feathers in China  around 1.3 billion to be exact, according to Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang. The 80-year-old exiled Tibetan leader and global icon is seen as a dangerous separatist by Beijing, one is perceived as a threat to Chinas sovereignty.

During a press briefing on June 14, Lu said of the upcoming White House meeting: Under the cloak of religion, the 14th Dalai Lama peddles his political ambitions of dividing China all around the world. We ask all countries and governments not to give him any room to carry out such campaigns, even less risking arousing the firm opposition from the 1.3 billion Chinese people.

Read More: Exclusive: The Dalai Lama Talks About Pope Francis, Aging and Heartbreak With TIME

While it is unknown what was discussed at the White House meeting  which U.S. officials called personal  the Dalai Lama has over the years crossed the globe meeting with a variety of state leaders, billionaires and celebrities. Speaking to TIME in 2014, the Dalai Lama explained that all he wants is compromise with China. We are not seeking independence, he said. We are seeking general autonomy.

Chinese officials are unconvinced, calling the exiled spiritual leader a wolf in monks robes who seeks to separate Tibet from China. Beijing says its sovereignty over Tibet goes back centuries, but Tibetans disagree. Beijing has a very narrow view of what the Dalai Lama is, and they see him as someone who wants to split China apart, says William Callahan, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics. The logic is whenever any foreign leader meets with the Dalai Lama they are therefore supporting separatism.

Read More: A Conversation With the Dalai Lama

The same year the Peoples Liberation Army took control of Tibet in 1950, the Dalai Lama officially became head of state at the age 15. He met Chairman Mao Zedong while negotiating for Tibetan autonomy, but was eventually forced to flee Tibet to northern India with his cabinet in 1959.

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The antipathy toward the Dalai Lama may have its roots in Chinese grievances that actually have little to do with Tibet. According to Callahan, Beijings stance on Tibet is tied in with very deep feelings  of a century of humiliation  a period in the 19th and 20th centuries where China lost control of its territory to Western and Japanese imperialists. According to this Chinese Communist Party founding narrative, that century ended when Mao established the Peoples Republic of China in 1939. Even though the rest of the world  especially the Western world  views the Dalai Lama as a benign religious and cultural icon, Callahan believes that Chinese officials will continue to regard him as a political figure seeking to undermine their legitimacy.

In a sense it is a sign of insecurity, says Kerry Brown, professor of Chinese studies and director of the Lau China Institute at Kings College in London. They are uneasy to questions about the rights of their control and are willing to throw diplomatic capital over meetings that are actually of little geopolitical significance, like todays encounter in the White House. Brown notes that in recent years Western leaders, apart from the U.S., have mostly stopped meeting with the Dalai Lama, largely over fears of negative diplomatic repercussions with Beijing. In 2012, U.K. Prime Minister David Camerons meeting with the Dalai Lama was strongly condemned by the Chinese. They didnt get ministerial visits from China for a year, says Brown.

This is the fourth time Obama has hosted the Tibetan-Buddhist monk. It is important to note that their meeting was conducted in the Map Room, not the Oval Office, which is traditionally used for meetings with heads of states. Obama also limited the fallout with China by holding the meeting behind closed doors and out of the public eye. Chinas anger may in part be bluster, but it looks like even America is listening.
Reed hastings Netflix CEO

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is worth $1.29 billion but he doesn't even have his own office.

The reason isn't some nod toward egalitarianism, or a need to feel in the midst of his employees, but rather that he simply doesn't need one, he told The New York Times.

My office is my phone, Hastings said.

I found I was rarely using my cubicle, and I just had no need for it. It is better for me to be meeting people all around the building.

For the Times' interview, he met the reporter in Netflix's cafeteria, where he leaned back, "tossing off answers to questions as if it were a day at the beach."

Part of why Hastings has no need for an office is because he's often on the go. He told Fortune he spends 3 to 4 nights in LA a month, and has been doing a lot of international travel.

But it says something about the way Hastings thinks that he's chosen to ditch his office. Obviously he could have one, even if just for things like meeting a Times reporter. But that wouldn't be the most efficient use of Netflix's resources.

NOW WATCH: How to find Netflixs secret categories





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Ripon Chakrabarty, a 50-year-old Mathematics lecturer at the Nazimuddin Government University College, was hacked with lethal weapons by the attackers who stormed his residence in Madaripur in southwestern Bangladesh.

File photo of the funeral of secular blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider in Dhaka, 2015. (Reuters)

By PTI: A Hindu lecturer today survived an assassination attempt when suspected Islamists barged into his home and hacked him with lethal weapons, critically injuring him in Bangladesh, the latest in a series of brutal attacks on minorities and secular activists in Muslim-majority nation.

Ripon Chakrabarty, a 50-year-old Mathematics lecturer at the Nazimuddin Government University College, was hacked with lethal weapons by the attackers who stormed his residence this evening in Madaripur in southwestern Bangladesh, police said.

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Chakrabarty, who was hacked by three assailants in his head, neck and shoulders, raised an alarm, prompting local residents to grab one of the attackers while others fled.

Bangladeshi student, who wrote against Islam on Facebook, hacked to death

"The detained attacker is now being questioned in our custody. We suspect he could be a member of a militant group," Madaripur police superintendent Sarwar Hossain told PTI.

A police sub-inspector said three assailants knocked at Ripons house and attacked him soon after he opened the door.

SEVERAL HINDUS ATTACKED

Chakrabarty, who was seriously injured, is being treated at a state-run hospital in southwestern Barisal. He is the only Hindu victim to survive an attack by the Islamists, who have hacked to death four other members from the community in recent months.

Bangladesh clerics sign fatwa against Islamist killings



Suspected Islamists killed a number of secular activists, Hindus and other minorities across the country in recent months, prompting authorities to launch a nationwide anti-militant clampdown since Friday.

THOUSANDS DETAINED IN NATIONWIDE CRACKDOWN

Bangladesh authorities have detained nearly 12,000 people in a nationwide crackdown to halt a spate of deadly attacks on minorities and secular writers in the Muslim-majority nation.

Some of those arrested were linked with outlawed Jamaatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh.

"If tallied, the number of people detained in the crackdown since Thursday midnight stands at 11,648. Around 145 among them are suspected militants mostly belonging to JMB," a police headquarters spokesman said.

Authorities are under mounting international pressure to halt the violence, which in the past three years have claimed nearly 50 people - Hindus, Christians and secular bloggers - many of them by machete-wielding attackers.

Though most of the attacks were claimed by the Islamic State or its affiliates and other similar extremist groups, the Bangladesh government has repeatedly dismissed the claims and said the attacks were carried out by homegrown outfits linked to the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Also Read:

Now, Hindu ashram worker hacked to death in Bangladesh

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Another Hindu priest hacked to death in Bangladesh, ISIS claims responsibility

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The recepients of the Baloise Art Prize, awarded by an international panel of judges and sponsored by the financial service Baloise Group, were announced yesterday at Art Basel. The winners are Sara Cwynar, represented by New York gallery Foxy Production, and Mary Reid Kelley, represented by Berlin gallery Arratia Beer.

Sara Cwynar (born Vancouver, BC, Canada, 1985) lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. She is known for her bright composite photographs: she sources found objects and stages them within studio sets, making collages and implementing re-photography.

Cwynar's film entry, an experimental video essay entitled "Soft Film," echoes the look and methods of her photographs. Cwynar accumulated discarded personal artifacts, from eBay and second-hand stores, which she arranged according to color, material, vintage, and use. Cwynar is especially interested in how objects circulate via the internet. In contrast to her photographic work, Cwynar herself features as a central protagonist: the viewer watches her working in her studio, and the film's voice-over combines Cwynar's writings with quotations from anthropology and image theory.

Mary Reid Kelley (Greenville, South Carolina, US, 1979) lives and works in Saratoga Springs, New York. The winner of a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship in 2014, she had an exhibition this year called the "The Thong of Dionysus" at Arratia Beer Gallery in Berlin.

Kelley's film was created in collaboration with her husband, Patrick. Entitled "This Is Offal," the production was previously performed live at the Tate Modern in London -- part of the museum's Performance Room BMW series -- in November 2015. The film version borrows from the live performance, but incorporates new elements such as animation and additional characters. Set in a morgue, a pathologist examines the body of a woman who committed suicide, and her internal organs (liver, stomach, intestines) voice their confusion and discontent about her end.

Each artist will each be awarded a cash prize of CHF 30,000 ($31,000) through the Art Basel Statements sector of the art fair, and a selection of their work will also be donated to the Museum fur Moderne Kunst in Frankfurt and the MUDAM museum in Luxembourg.
intel Diane Bryant

Intel's business was built on chips for personal computers. But the PC market is in decline and that's not good for Intel.

Instead, Intel has been able to find growth from its Data Center Group, the team that makes chips for servers and networks powering all kinds of internet services. Last year alone, the so-called DCG business generated $16 billion in revenue, or about 30% of Intel's total sales.

Intel's executive VP Diane Bryant runs the Data Center Group, which puts her in charge of the company's most important business. And according to Bryant, there are a lot of reasons not to be too worried about the PCs' decline.

"Certainly, PCs continue to be a very large and wonderful market for us, but what is really exciting is the billions of other devices  thats where the growth is going to come from," Bryant said at the Bloomberg Technology Conference held in San Francisco on Tuesday. "Youre talking about billions and billions of devices."

Bryant was referring to all the connected devices such as autonomous cars, smart grids, and drones that are collectively known as the internet of things. Intel has a small but rapidly growing IoT chip business that had about $2 billion in revenue last year.

Phones versus airplanes

The bigger opportunity will likely come from all the data created by those connected devices, Bryant said. Once these devices reach the mainstream and become more widely used, they will create tons of data that will be sent and processed in data centers most likely powered by Intel chips, which already own 96% market share in the data center market.

To put things in perspective, Bryant said an average smartphone creates about 30 megabytes of data traffic a day. That goes up to 90 megabytes a day for PCs, but jumps to 40 gigabytes of data for autonomous cars. If you go to a connected plane, you're talking about 50 terabytes of data per day, while connected factories could generate petabytes of data, according to Bryant.

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"It just dwarfs what your phone and your PC are delivering and demanding from a service and network capacity perspective," she said.

Bryant noted that Intel has shifted its strategy from having a PC-centric view to now being focused on cloud services and connected devices. The recent workforce reduction was also in-line with this shift, she said, as most of the new investment will be focused on those two areas.

Intel has noticeably changed its narrative in recent months to put more focus on the data center and IoT businesses. The first thing Intel CEO Brian Krzanich did after announcing plans to cut 12,000 people in April was to underscore this strategy in a blog post, narrowing it down to 5 major areas, including data centers and connected devices.

NOW WATCH: This is what happens to your brain and body when you check your phone before bed





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Geneva (AFP) - An information technology worker at the Geneva office of Mossack Fonseca, the law firm at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal, has been arrested, Switzerland's Le Temps newspaper reported Wednesday.

The paper, citing a source close to the case, said the IT employee had been placed in provisional detention on suspicion of stealing a large haul of confidential documents.

The spokesman for the Geneva's prosecutor's office, Henri Della Casa, told AFP that "a criminal case has been opened... following a complaint by Mossack Fonseca."

He declined to comment on whether an arrest had been made.

According to the paper, the unnamed employee is suspected of inappropriately accessing a database, stealing assets and abusing his position.

Della Casa neither confirmed nor denied those details.

Le Temps said it had no information on whether the arrested individual was the so-called "John Doe" who has claimed credit for the unprecedented leak in April of 11.5 million Mossack Fonseca documents.

The documents revealed the names of leaders, politicians, celebrities and wealthy individuals from around the world who used the Panama-based firm to create offshore entities to hide their assets.

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.

Offshore companies are not in themselves illegal, but the sudden publication of troves of data drew attention to rampant tax avoidance and even money laundering crimes.

Consequences from the leak continue to reverberate worldwide, with investigations under way in several countries.

The European parliament last week launched a far-reaching probe into potential tax fraud in Europe that was sparked by the Panama Papers scandal.

Last month, Mossack Fonseca said it was filing a lawsuit against the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) which coordinated a global probe by multiple media outlets into the information contained in the Panama Papers.

The firm's Geneva office did not respond to queries from AFP seeking details of the criminal case in Switzerland.
Patience Carter lay bleeding on the floor of the bathroom at Pulse Nightclub, shot once in the leg. She could see underneath the bathroom stall.



She was in the midst of the June 12 mass shooting in Orlando that killed 50 people and injured dozens more.



"I could see piles of bodies laying over the toilet seat and slumped over," she recalled in a press conference on Tuesday. "There were handprints and blood. I looked the other way, and I could see blood everywhere. Some people were dead, and others were moaning in pain."



That's when the 20-year-old began to pray. "I made peace with God. I said, 'God, if this is how I have to go, please just take my soul from my body.' I just wanted to close my eyes and let God take me."







For hours, Carter and her friends were in the bathroom with the gunman. During that time, he called 911 and pledged allegiance to ISIS.



After hanging up, the gunman asked the hostages a question. "Are there any black people in here?" Carter recalls him asking. Another patron replied that he was African American. "I don't have a problem with black people," the gunman told them. "This is about my country. You guys have suffered enough."



Carter, a Philadelphia native, was in Orlando on vacation. She found Pulse nightclub in Google Maps and decided to go with her friends for a night out.



"We were having the time of our lives," she said.



But now Carter was on the floor of the bathroom, waiting for the end. Suddenly, police began to break through the walls. The gunman reacted violently.



"As he heard the police outside, he said, 'Hey, you!' to someone on the floor and shot them. Shot another person, and then another person who was right behind me. Their body shielded me from the bullets."



Ever since police killed the gunman and rescued Carter, she has struggled with survivor's guilt. She read a poem to reporters that started with the line, "The guilt of feeling grateful to be alive is heavy."



One of Carter's friends, Tiara Parker, was wounded but alive. Another friend, Akyra Murray, was killed in the attack.





Angel Santiago Jr.

In another bathroom, Angel Santiago also lay on the ground, shot in both the knee and the foot.



About 15 people were crammed into a handicap stall. Santiago, 30, took cover under a sink. "There wasn't much protection there, he told reporters, "but I felt it was better than nothing."



The shooter had shot at them through the wall, and then went into the other bathroom. "We hear more gunfire and people screaming," Santiago recalled. "At that point we're just trying to be as quiet as possible, because we didn't want to attract him back to us, so we were just laying down."



Santiago looked over at his friend, who had been wounded. "He was sweating, just looked overall really weak and in bad condition, and my thought process was, 'You know, do we stay here and wait for the shooter to come back or do we try to leave?'"



He heard the police and dragged himself out from under the stall. Police took Santiago to the hospital. Although his friend was seriously injured, his condition is improving.



"I don't know how I survived," Santiago said. "I don't even know how I'm alive today."
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2016 / Ximen Mining Corp. (XIM.V) ("Ximen") is pleased to announce that effective immediately, Mr. Shervin Teymouri, (B.A.Sc., M.Eng., P.Eng.) has accepted a position on the board of directors of Ximen Mining Corp.

With over a decade in the industry, Mr. Teymouri's experience is in mining engineering with a specific focus on evaluation, design, execution, reclamation, First Nations relations and community engagement.

Mr. Teymouri has acted as a consultant, engineer and operations specialist as a mining engineer for base, precious and industrial metals projects. His combined financial and mining engineering experience has developed his credibility to interpret, evaluate, and comment on the feasibility of mining projects, either underground or open pit. His involvement in mine finance and strategic mine planning has focused on the maximization of mine returns and aligning mine planning with project financial objectives. Prior to founding MineIT Consulting, Mr. Teymouri was a senior mining engineer with Roscoe Postle Associates and a senior mining engineer developing mining projects at Alexco Resource Corp.

Mr. Teymouri is an Adjunct Professor and lecturer of mining engineering at the University Of British Columbia, Faculty Of Applied Science, Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering. He holds a B.A.Sc., Geological Engineering and a Masters, Mining Engineering/Mining Economics degree from the University of British Columbia and is a P.Eng with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia

Mr Teymouri commented on his appointment by saying: "I am pleased to be joining the Ximen board of directors and working with such an experienced and well-qualified group of executives and directors; and I am certain that their skills and track-record over many decades in all aspects of the mining sector will greatly benefit Ximen as it advances its Brett Project in BC."

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On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Christopher R. Anderson"

Christopher R. Anderson,

President, CEO and Director

Ximen Mining Corp. 604 488-3900

This News Release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the acquisition of certain mineral claims. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements and Revolver undertakes no obligation to update such statements, except as required by law.

Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the industry and markets in which the Company operates, including that: the current price of and demand for minerals being targeted by the Company will be sustained or will improve; the Company will be able to obtain required exploration licenses and other permits; general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; financing will be available if and when needed on reasonable terms; the Company will not experience any material accident; and the Company will be able to identify and acquire additional mineral interests on reasonable terms or at all. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including: that resource exploration and development is a speculative business; that environmental laws and regulations may become more onerous; that the Company may not be able to raise additional funds when necessary; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; fluctuating prices of commodities; operating hazards and risks; competition; potential inability to find suitable acquisition opportunities and/or complete the same; and other risks and uncertainties listed in the Company's public filings. These risks, as well as others, could cause actual results and events to vary significantly. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake any obligations to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.



Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Ximen Mining Corp.
These 10 Muslim countries are few of the many where being gay is not a crime.

By India Today Web Desk: 1. Lebanon

Lebanese penal code's version of Section 377, Article 534, was invalidated by a judge in the court of Jdeideh in 2014, decriminalising homosexuality in the country.

The Lebanese National Center for Psychiatry has also declassified non-heterosexual sexual orientations as mental disorders.

2. Kazakhstan

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Kazakhstan. However, same-sex couples do not enjoy certain legal protections available for heterosexual married couples in the country.

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3. Mali

While homosexuality is technically legal in Mali, prevailing cultural and religious beliefs view it as immoral. There are also no anti-discrimination laws to protect the LGBT community from harassment and abuse.

4. Niger

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Niger. The age of consent for homosexuals is different from that of heterosexual activities.

Niger also does not recognize same-sex unions legally.

5. Turkey

Homosexuality has been legal in Turkey since the country was founded in 1923. During the Ottoman Empire (predecessor of Turkey), homosexuality was legalised in 1858.

LGBT individuals have the right to seek asylum in Turkey under the Geneva Convention. although same-sex couples are not given the same legal protections available to heterosexual couples.

6. Indonesia

Indonesia does not does not criminalize private, non-commercial homosexuality act among consenting adults. Then again, same-sex couples here are not eligible for any of the legal protections available to married heterosexual couples.

Currently, Indonesia does not recognize same-sex marriage.

7. Northern Cyprus

Same-sex sexual activity was legalised in Northern Cyprus on February 7, 2014. Prior to that, while certain laws (Articles 171 and 173 of the criminal code) criminalized it for men, female homosexuality was never criminalised.



8. Bahrain

Bahrain legalized homosexuality in 1976. Law authorities can still take actions for under-age same-sex acts.

9. Albania

Same-gender sexual activities have been legal in Albania since 1995. Albania is aslo one of a few countries in Europe which explicitly bans discrimination on the grounds of gender identity and sexuality.

10. Azerbaijan

Homosexuality was decriminalised in Azerbaijan in 2000. But like in many other country, households headed by same-sex couples are not eligible for the same legal protections available to heterosexual couples.



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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  June 15, 2016  Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Royal Dutch Shell plc (RDS.A), BP plc (BP), Southwestern Energy Co. (SWN), Williams Companies Inc. (WMB) and Energy Transfer Equity L.P. ( ETE).

Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Get #1Stock of the Day pick for free.

Here are highlights from Tuesdays Analyst Blog:

Oil & Gas Stock Roundup

It was a week where oil prices climbed to an 11-month high and natural gas futures soared to their best level since late September.

On the news front, Royal Dutch Shell plc (RDS.A) unveiled a strategy to reshape the company through steeper cost cuts, while BP plc ( BP) has agreed to spin off Its local business in Norway.

Overall, it was a good week for the sector. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 0.9% to close at $49.07 per barrel, while natural gas prices jumped 6.6% to $2.556 per million Btu (MMBtu). (See the last Oil & Gas Stock Roundup here: Devon Energy Unloads $1B in Assets, Schlumberger Buys Omron Unit .)

Oil prices moved north for the eighth time in 10 weeks on continued supply disruptions in Nigeria. Things were further helped by the U.S. Energy Department's weekly inventory release that showed a large drop in crude stockpiles. However, most of the gains were erased after the Baker Hughes report revealed a rise in the U.S. oil rig count for the second straight week  indicating resurgence in shale drilling activities.

Natural gas surged big time following a bullish inventory report and predictions of strong cooling demand with forecasts of warmer temperature across the country over the next few days.

Oils-Energy Sector Price Index

Oils-Energy Sector Price Index

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Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories

1. Europes largest energy producer Royal Dutch Shell plc reiterated plans to further cut costs and confirmed that the 3-year $30 billion asset sale program was well on track. In its new mid-term strategy, the company announced several steps to cope with the lower for longer oil and pay down its ballooning debt following the $54 billion BG Group acquisition.

According to Shell management, these policies will help reassure investors about the companys ability to cover the all-important dividend payment. This has assumed significance after Shell had to dig into reserves for shareholder payouts during the first quarter when cash flow fell below the dividend bill.

The groups Chief Executive hopes the new strategy will lift stock price, improve shareholder returns to about 10% by the end of the decade and eventually catapult Shell to its glory days by making it the best oil investment. (See More: Royal Dutch Shell Unveils New Plans, Eyes No. 1 Spot .)

2. Oil giant BP plc and Det norske oljeselskap, along with the latters shareholder Aker ASA, will form the largest Norwegian independent oil and gas producer.

The new entity, to be renamed Aker BP ASA, will combine the assets as well as expertise of both the companies Norwegian exploration and production operations. Per the terms of the proposed transaction, Aker BP will be operated independently. It will also be listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

Shareholders of Aker BP will be current Det norske stakeholder Aker, other Det norske shareholders and BP, with 40%, 30% and 30%, respectively. BP is also entitled to collect a cash payment of $140 million and positive working capital adjustments as part of the transaction. (See More: BP, Det norske to Jointly Form Largest Norwegian Producer .)

3. Independent natural gas operator Southwestern Energy Co. (SWN) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with energy explorer Antero Resources Corp. Per the agreement, Southwestern Energy will sell approximately 55,000 net acres in West Virginia for $450 million. The cash proceeds from the transaction  expected to close in the third quarter of 2016  are earmarked to reduce the principal balance of the company's $750 million term loan due in Nov 2018.

The properties to be disposed are located in Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler and Wetzel Counties and are currently producing from the Marcellus Shale. Net production from this acreage is approximately 14 million cubic feet of gas equivalent per day, primarily from non-operated wells. Proved reserves were 11 billion cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe) as of Dec 31, 2015. The company had no plan to drill on these properties before 2023. (See More: Southwestern Energy to Sell Southwest Appalachia Acreage .)

4. Pipeline giant Williams Companies Inc. (WMB) and Energy Transfer Equity L.P.s (ETE) merger was recently approved by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, subject to certain conditions.

The approval is contingent on the combined entity agreeing to sell Williams' 50% stake in an interstate natural gas pipeline that serves Florida - its electric power companies in particular. The antitrust approval was the last regulatory hurdle for the closure of this $20 billion deal.

Notably, Williams shareholders will vote for the pending merger on Jun 27. Under the current terms, the merger will fall though if it is not closed by Jun 28, 2016. (See More: Williams-Energy Transfer Receives Merger Approval with Conditions .)

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.





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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  June 15, 2016  Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC),Sturm Ruger & Co. (RGR), Vista Outdoor Inc. (VSTO), Sportsman's Warehouse Holdings, Inc. (SPWH) and Cabelas Inc. ( CAB).

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Here are highlights from Tuesdays Analyst Blog:

Smith & Wesson, Sturm Ruger Rise Post-Orlando Massacre

At least 50 people were killed and 53 more wounded on Jun 12 in the Orlando, FL, nightclub mass shooting, the deadliest in contemporary U.S. history. Omar Mateen, the man behind this horrific incident, was carrying an AR-15 style assault rifle.



Reports are that this rifle has been used in several mass shootings since 2011 and has unsurprisingly raised a debate over U.S. gun laws once again.



Moreover, its by now a convention in the equity markets that tragic gun incidents typically boost share prices of gun stocks. The possibility of tighter gun control typically boosts short-term demand for weapons as people buy guns on a spree lest they are forbidden to do so in the near term.



Shares of gun makers Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC) and Sturm Ruger & Co. (RGR) climbed yesterday after Orlando shooting. While Smith & Wesson shares surged 6.87%, Sturm, Ruger climbed 8.50%. Ammunition maker Vista Outdoor Inc. (VSTO) rose about 0.19%. Though outdoor sporting goods retailersSportsman's Warehouse Holdings, Inc. (SPWH) and Cabelas Inc. (CAB) have major exposure to firearm sales, their shares were seen to fall 2.55% and 1.59%, respectively.



The Brewing Debate



This Orlando mass shooting has evoked new political debates with Democrats clamoring for gun control measures and Republicans calling out against "radical Islamic terrorism."



However, measures like new gun laws has never been put forward in the U.S. Congress. Any attempt to push for a ban will eventually face fierce opposition, with a strong Republican hold in both chambers of Congress, as theyve fiercely opposed gun control regulations. Republican politicians and the National Rifle Association have opposed Obama's proposals. They argued that the action plan infringes upon citizens' Second Amendment rights.



Despite strong backing from President Obama, the final attempt at new gun legislation failed in the U.S. Senate in 2013. Americans are believed to be less excited for banning assault weapons.



Are Shootouts Boosting Sales?



Share prices as well as sales of gun makers escalated in January after President Obama vowed for regulations to tighten gun control. The Obama gun plan was intended to intensify screening of prospective gun owners.

Story continues

However, as per a report from Reuters, gun shop owners and managers are yet to witness a spike in gun sales or ammunition following Sunday's shooting unlike what was seen in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, CT in 2012. People may have started believing that the government is not likely to take any measure to control guns.



Meanwhile, the FBIs National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or, NICS reported an almost 13% drop in firearm background checks in May compared to the prior month. Overall, the FBI reported 1.87 million background checks in May, down 12.9% from 2.15 million in April. The reported number was also way below the first-quarter monthly numbers that were in the 2.5 million to 2.6 million range.



To Sum Up



Gun control has been an important political issue following mass shootings that have gained such enormity in America. President Obamas stand on stricter firearm regulation helped boost gun and ammunition sales in the recent past.



But the crucial question is whether this gun sales surge will last on fear of tightening regulations? We will also have to keep a close view on the pace of gun sales in the coming quarters to see whether the upcoming presidential election will put the brakes on gun ownership.

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Continuous coverage is provided for a universe of 1,150 publicly traded stocks. Our analysts are organized by industry which gives them keen insights to developments that affect company profits and stock performance. Recommendations and target prices are six-month time horizons.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.





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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL  June 15, 2016  Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses the REITs, including AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AVB), Essex Property Trust Inc. (ESS) and UDR Inc. ( UDR).

Industry: REITs

Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/83065/reit-industry-stock-outlook---june-2016

The year 2016 has so far favored the U.S. Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) industry. In fact, despite the rate hike last December, the first one since 2006, the REIT industry managed to outpace the broader market in the first five months of the current year, thanks to positive fundamentals of the underlying asset categories and cheap capital inflow.

For the year through May 31, the total returns of the FTSE/NAREIT All REITs Index were 6.5% against the 3.6% increase logged by the S&P 500 Index. This outperformance suggests that investors are getting increasingly comfortable with the rate issues and expect the hike to be modest.

Further, the June hike seems to be off the table with the latestdisappointing jobs data and productivity falling to a negative. The icing on the cake was the recent speech by Fed Chief Janet Yellen, who despite sounding upbeat about U.S. economic growthand cautioning investors against overreacting to lone data, failed to give any hint on the timing of the next rate hike. U.S. Treasury yields too have been declining in recent times.

Amid all these upheavals in the economy, the decline in Treasury yields and an anticipated extension of the low rate period, the REIT industry remains a good choice, especially for income-seeking investors, for its steady and dependable cash flows. And because of their high dividend paying nature, REITs are treated as bonds. So REIT stock yields tend to become more attractive when Treasury yields fall.

Also, demand-supply dynamics in the individual asset categories and their impact on occupancy levels and pricing power of the real estate landlords play a pivotal role in selecting REIT stocks.

Story continues

This is because, even in this favorable rate environment, residential REIT stocks have plummeted on concerns of abundant supply in the New York and San Francisco markets. Equity Residential, which blamed new rental apartment supply for hurting rent growth, cut the 2016 guidance for same store revenue on Jun 1.

Following the announcement its shares tumbled. And other residential REITs like AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AVB), Essex Property Trust Inc. (ESS) and UDR Inc. ( UDR) followed suit.

On the other hand, retail REITs could address the market slump even amid lackluster retail sales in the first quarter because of lower supply of new space.

Dividends Still Standing Tall



Dividends are by far the biggest enticement to invest in REIT stocks. As of Apr 29, the dividend yield of the FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index was 4.28% while the dividend yield of the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index was 3.86%. Clearly, REITs continue to offer decent yields and outpaced the 2.18% dividend yield offered by the S&P 500 as of that date.

Note that in addition to capital appreciation, yield-hungry investors continue to have a large appetite for REIT stocks as the U.S. law requires these to distribute 90% of their annual taxable income in the form of dividends to shareholders. This unique feature made the REIT industry stand out and gain a solid footing over the past 1520 years.

Capital Access



REITs have also been proactive in the capital market in recent years, leveraging on a low rate environment to improve their financials. A total of $59.29 billion in public capital was raised by stock exchange-listed REITs in 2015. This indicates investors confidence in this sector and their willingness to pour money into it. Further, in 2016 through Apr 30, REITs have collected $23.4 billion in capital offerings.

Moreover, reforms to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA) are expected to offer easy access to capital from foreign investors for publicly traded REITs and commercial real estate.



Zacks Industry Rank



Within the Zacks Industry classification, REITs are broadly grouped in the Finance sector (one of the 16 Zacks sectors) and are further sub-divided into four industries at the expanded (aka "X") level: REIT Equity Trust - Retail, REIT Equity Trust - Residential, REIT Equity Trust - Other and REIT Mortgage Trust. The level of sensitivity and exposure to different stages of the economic cycle vary for each industry.



We rank 265 industries in the 16 Zacks sectors based on the earnings outlook and fundamental strength of the constituent companies in each industry.



We put our industries into two groups: the top half (industries with the best average Zacks Rank) and the bottom half (the industries with the worst average Zacks Rank). Over the last 10 years, using a one-week rebalance, the top half beat the bottom half by a factor of more than 2 to 1. (To learn more visit: About Zacks Industry Rank.)



The Zacks Industry Rank is #77 for REIT Equity Trust - Other, #105 for REIT Equity Trust - Retail, #159 for REIT Equity Trust - Residential, #185 for REIT Mortgage Trust.



Earnings Trends



Finally, with Q1 earnings season behind us, it is apparent that overall growth remained stressed. The broader Finance sector, of which the REITs are part, experienced a 7.0% decline in earnings from the same period last year on 2.7% higher revenues, with 59.1% beating EPS estimates and 53.4% coming ahead of top-line estimates. (Read: The Earnings Growth Challenge Continues)

For more information about earnings for this sector and others, please read our 'Earnings Trends' report.

However, in the real estate space, the trends have been different. In fact, total funds from operations (FFO) of listed U.S. Equity REITs succeeded in recording a 19.5% gain from the year-ago period and 8.3% from the prior quarter to $13.2 billion, per a May-released NAREIT T-Tracker report. This was backed by solid performance across many of the asset categories. Despite the lingering issues in the real estate market, this performance speaks volumes about the opportunities in the REIT industry.

Note: FFO, a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs, is obtained after adding depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses to net income.

About Zacks

Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which was formed in 1978. The later formation of the Zacks Rank, a proprietary stock picking system; continues to outperform the market by nearly a 3 to 1 margin. The best way to unlock the profitable stock recommendations and market insights of Zacks Investment Research is through our free daily email newsletter; Profit from the Pros. In short, it's your steady flow of Profitable ideas GUARANTEED to be worth your time! Click here for your free subscription to Profit from the Pros.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.



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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL - June 15, 2016 - Stocks featured in this week's Zacks Industry Rank analysis include Pfizer (PFE), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) and H Lundbeck ( HLUYY).

Zacks Industry Rank Analysis is written by John Blank, PhD, Chief Equity Strategist, Zacks.com.

Dont Make It Complicated, Own Drug Stocks

Dont make it complicated. The Large Cap Pharma Industry usually looks like a solid investor niche. Place a few of your stock picking bets here.

Heres the latest top-down data, which shows what I mean. In mid-June, the 15-company-strong industry has a Zacks Industry Rank of 44 out of 265 (thats the top 17%). In recent weeks, covering analysts made 10 positive earnings estimate revisions and just 5 negative revisions to large-cap drug stocks. Broad, top-down tailwinds like this? I see them nearly every time I look into the pharma industry.

Furthermore, each time I write up the Zacks Monthly Market Strategy investor report, the Health Care sector lands in the top 3 or 4 attractive spots out of the 10 S&P500 sectors. No other S&P 500 sector is as consistently ranked so favorably.

Finally, the portfolio I run at Zacks -- the International Trader -- always attempts to have an overweight position in Health Care. Lots of these drug companies are based outside the USA for tax purposes. Many base operations in Ireland, where the corporate profit tax rates are favorable. Due to patent protection, cash flows are strong and positive on successful drug stocks.

As an investor, not a trader, there are 3 good fundamental reasons to own a drug stock---

(1) Aging demographics in advanced countries like the USA.

Final demand growth is everything behind the sustainability of industry revenue growth. If there is no rain and sun, there will be no green grass. The basic ingredients for rising drug demand  the frailties that accompany aging -- are going to be there for the next 2 decades.

Story continues

(2) Drug stocks can pay a healthy dividend.

Two of the 3 stocks I list (below) offer dividends of 3.7% and 2.07% annually. When the U.S. 10-year Treasury trades at record lows, that adds a fixed income incentive to these stocks.

(3) Bigger pharma companies in the space buy smaller companies all the time.

That is (more often than not) how the large-cap drug companies grow. There is a real chance to score a sizeable merger stock premium, when you hold the right shares of an acquired smaller drug company. The final stock I picked is a smaller, though not too small, drug growth stock based in Denmark.

3 major Pharma stocks the Zacks Rank system identified for you

Pfizer ( PFE ): This $210 billion market cap monster drug company gets a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) and a Zacks VGM score of C. The Zacks Value is C and the Zacks Growth is C. The PEG ratio is high at 2.67 here. This is a well bid stock.

They report again on July 26th. The Zacks Consensus estimate is for $2.46 a share in 2016 and $2.66 a share in 2017. In the last 60 days, there have been 9 positive EPS revisions and no negative revisions. The company has met or barely beat on quarterly EPS reports the last 4 times at bat, with an average surprise of +3.7%.

Hospira, Warner-Lamber, Upjohn, Parke-Davis and more are rolled up into this M&A-built drug conglomerate. The stock offers a 3.40% dividend.

Pfizer Inc. is a research-based, global pharmaceutical company. The Company's diversified global healthcare portfolio includes human and animal biologic and small molecule medicines and vaccines, as well as nutritional products and consumer healthcare products. Pfizer's Animal Health business unit discovers, develops and sells products for the prevention and treatment of diseases in livestock and companion animals.

Pfizer Inc. is headquartered in New York City, NY.

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( BMY ): This $120 billion large-cap pharma stock gets a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) and has a Zacks VGM score of D. The Zacks Value score of D and Growth score of F shows that this stock, like all big pharma plays, is already well bid. However, the PEG ratio is only 1.30. Anything below 2 is OK on a forward look, incorporating growth into the valuation.

They report again on July 28th. The Zacks Consensus estimate is for $2.60 a share in 2016 and $3.33 a share in 2017. In the last 60 days, there have been 12 positive EPS revisions and no negative revisions on this stock. The last 4 quarterly reports have produced 4 positive surprises, averaging a nice +28% each time. The stock offers a 2.09% dividend.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is a global leader in the research and development of innovative lifesaving and life-enhancing treatments for heart disease; high blood pressure; stroke; diabetes; cancer; HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases; depression, schizophrenia and other mental disorders; pain; and other conditions.

Bristol-Myers Squibb is headquartered in New York City, NY.

H Lundbeck ( HLUYY ): This is a $7 billion market cap pharma company. It holds a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) and has a Zacks VGM score of D. The Zacks Value score is F and the Growth score is A. That shows you this stock is very well bid. Only buy this one on a pullback down the road somewhere.

They report on June 15th. As a European stock, the analyst coverage is very light. The one analyst in our system thinks EPS will be $0.95 this year and a $2.03 whopper next year. This smaller growth stock, predictably, offers no dividend. It prefers to use its cash to fund its strong growth.

H. Lundbeck A/S is an international pharmaceutical company engaged in the research and development, production, marketing and sale of pharmaceuticals across the world. Its products are targeted at disorders like depression and anxiety, schizophrenia, insomnia, Huntington's, epilepsies, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The Company is involved in the development of new and improved drugs for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders.

H. Lundbeck A/S is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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Prince William just doubled down on his support for LGBT rights.

Almost a year after becoming the first member of the British Monarchy to speak out on the matter, the 33-year-old is taking his action a step further in a profile and cover for U.K. gay magazine Attitude's July issue.

Making history: Prince William appears on the cover of Attitude http://attitude.co.uk/making-history-prince-william-appears-on-the-cover-of-attitude/ ... @KensingtonRoyalpic.twitter.com/vCRa1gOVWf https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ck-vwB1WgAA4xQS.jpg:large

"No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives," he told the magazine, according to a statement. "The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now. Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it."

The internationally recognized magazine has been published in the wake of the United States' largest gun massacre in history, which targeted a gay nightclub Sunday in Orlando, Florida, during its Latin night. Prince William and his wife Kate signed the U.S. Embassy's book of condolences for those impacted by the shooting.

"You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of," William said.

"During my time as editor of Attitude I have met parents whose child has taken or lost their life after being bullied for being LGBT+ or just perceived to be LGBT," Attitude's editor Matthew Todd said in the statement. "I am very happy that the future king of the United Kingdom agrees this must stop."

Story continues

Watch ' When Prince William met Attitude: http://attitude.co.uk/watch-when-prince-william-met-attitude/ ... @KensingtonRoyalpic.twitter.com/XVBP17gY38 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ck_Jc6DWkAAFjUG.jpg:large

In 2013, Queen Elizabeth was applauded for speaking out against discrimination, but criticized at the same time for avoiding any talk of sexual orientation. "We are implacably opposed to all forms of discrimination, whether rooted in gender, race, color, creed, political belief or other grounds," her charter read, International Business Times reported.

But William has taken on bullying as one of his core issues throughout his recent advocacy work. William, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry lead the Heads Together initiative, a campaign determined to end stigma associated with mental health. He invited members of the LGBTQ communities along with Attitude to speak with him at Kensington Palace about the mental health consequences of bullying.
By PTI: Trouble in Jammu over temple desecration,CM appeals for calm

Jammu, Jun 15 (PTI) Some incidents of stone-pelting were reported today as Jammu city witnessed a near total bandh in protest against alleged desecration of a temple here last night, an issue which resonated in the state Assembly as well.

Fearing a flare-up, the government suspended mobile Internet services and deployed police in strength to maintain law and order.

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Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appealed for calm, saying, "Jammu and Kashmir is the most secular place" and it should not be "hijacked extremist forces".

She said some elements were "hell-bent" on creating communal tension in the region but the people of Jammu, irrespective of their religion, must unite and fight the nefarious designs of such forces.

She warned that communal politics in Jammu region could have a disastrous effect as the state was already facing separatism in the Kashmir valley.

"Separatism and communalism are the two faces of a same coin and they ultimately divide the society and the country," she said while addressing a function at Jammu University.

The city last night saw protesters setting on fire three vehicles and resorting to stone pelting on police after the alleged desecration of an ancient temple situated in Roop Nagar area apparently by a "mentally disturbed" person. Today, a few incidents of stone pelting were reported, barring which the situation across Jammu region remained by and large normal.

Even though no political or social organisation had called for bandh, the businessmen and transporters decided to observe a shutdown in protest against the desecration of the temple.

Most of the shops and business establishments remained closed whereas traffic remained off the road. "The situation right now is normal barring a few incidents of protests by local residents. We have deployed adequate number of police personnel," Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh told PTI.

He said that even as the mobile Internet services have been snapped, no curfew or Section 144 is in force in any part of the city.

"The situation does not warrant the imposition of curfew or Section 144 as it would create problems for the masses. The situation is restricted to one place and that too is under control and we are regularly monitoring it," Singh said. A huge posse of police personnel, geared with anti-riots equipment, were deployed in the area after protesters had last night set three vehicles on fire and resorted to stone pelting on police after the news of the desecration of the temple spread in the city. Earlier in the day, people gathered at the Aap Shamboo temple and performed the "Shudi Karan Puja" there.

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Mehbooba said time and again the people of Jammu have showcased their secular credentials and it was evident from the fact that the region gave refuge to people who came there while fleeing from militancy-hit areas. (MORE) PTI TSS AKK AKK

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In a landmark judgment yesterday, the federal appeals court in Washington D.C. upheld the net neutrality rules proposed by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). This came as a major setback for the U.S. Internet service provider (ISP) industry. Several large ISPs and industry group questioned the legal validity of the newly adopted net neutrality rules.

In a historic decision, the FCC had approved net neutrality rules, on Feb 26, 2015, after a majority vote. The new laws reclassified high-speed broadband (Internet) as a public utility under Title II of the 1934 Communications Act instead of section 706 of the 1996 Telecom Act.

Importantly, these regulations will be applicable to both mobile and fixed broadband networks. The reclassification of the Internet called for a radical change in the way the government treats high-speed broadband service. This will now give the FCC stronger control over the ISPs.

What Is Net Neutrality?

Net neutrality implies an open-Internet atmosphere which will prohibit ISPs, especially the telecom and cable TV operators, from discriminating against applications. In order to control the flow of bandwidth-consuming applications such as video streaming, the ISPs had been discriminating against several web-based contents and applications. In such a scenario, content developers have had to pay heavy sums to ISPs for accelerated data transfer.

The new law, if implemented, will ban common ISP practices such as data traffic blocking, slowing any data traffic and paid prioritization. Notably, paid prioritization is a method by which content developers strike favorable deals with ISPs for quick and smooth transmission of their data traffic.

The FCC will closely monitor and put a check on all such deals in the future to ensure a level ground for all. Moreover, the FCC will also supervise interconnection deals, in which content developers pay ISPs to connect to their networks.

Arguments Against Net Neutrality

All ISPs, along with several cable and telecommunications industry bodies have vehemently opposed net neutrality. These groups believe that a slight law reformation under section 706 of the 1996 Telecom Act should have been enough to enforce net neutrality.

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The major argument against net neutrality is that ISPs have to spend several billion dollars to install and upgrade high-speed mobile/fixed broadband network. Disallowing discriminatory pricing policy will significantly reduce their revenues and margins which will in turn result in lower investments in the high-speed broadband sector. Consequently, broadband equipment service providers will suffer (due to lesser investment by ISPs) and jobs will be at stake in the sector.

The Beneficiaries

Content developers and consumer groups will be the beneficiaries of the net neutrality law implementation. Netflix, Google, Amazon, Hulu and Twitter are some of the companies poised to take advantage of this change. At present, these companies pay a special charge to the ISPs for speedy transmission of their content. The new rule will significantly alter online access charges of content including video, music, email, photos, social networks and navigational maps for consumers.

What Next?

The three-judge bench of the federal appeals court in Washington D.C. upheld the FCC's net neutrality rules in a 2-1 verdict. While Justice David S. Tatel and Justice Sri Srinivasan gave a favorable verdict on net neutrality, Justice Stephan F. Williams partly concurred and partly dissented with his fellow judges.

Immediately after the court ruling, major ISPs including AT&T Inc. T, Verizon Communications Inc. VZ, Comcast Corp. CMCSA and CenturyLink Inc. CTL together with leading ISP industry groups, such as, National Cable & Telecommunications Association and United States Telecom Association have made it clear that the next round of legal battle will be fought in the U.S. Supreme Court.

According to a report by LightReadng, the Supreme Court bench currently consist of eight judges. Of the eight, four judges seem to be traditionally liberal and could be expected to vote with the DC Circuit. However, the remaining four judges appear to be traditionally conservative and could be expected to vote against the DC Circuit. In the event of a deadlock in the Supreme Court, the DC Circuit Court decision would be held.

DIVERSIFIED COMM SERVICES Industry Price Index

DIVERSIFIED COMM SERVICES Industry Price Index

Bottom Line

Telecommunications is a necessary utility. The need for telecom in both rural and urban areas as well as its role in the infrastructural development of an economy is of vital importance. Net neutrality norms may discourage large investments in the telecom sector, but these will also cut down the cost of online access for end-users since content providers will no longer have to pay extra fees to ISPs. The Supreme Court will determine whether net neutrality is legally valid and practicable. The fate of the U.S. ISP industry will depend largely on this verdict.

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It is unlikely that Tuesdays ruling upholding network neutrality regulations will see a Supreme Court review, leaving advocates of an open internet with a historic victory say legal experts on both sides of the debate.

A three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled 2-1 to let stand the Federal Communications Commissions Open Internet Order, or net neutrality rules, which prohibit providers from slowing or blocking competitors content or charging higher prices to companies such as Netflix Inc. or AT&T Inc. to deliver their content to customers faster.

The judges also decided that the rules also apply to wireless service.

The court held that the FCC has the authority to compel internet openness  commonly known as net neutrality.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said, Todays ruling affirms the Commissions ability to enforce the strongest possible internet protections.

The Democrat-led FCC approved the rules in February 2015 in a 3-2 party-line vote, classifying internet providers as a utility, like phone companies, which are subject to tighter regulations. Previously providers were classified as information services, which are subject to less stringent rules.

At the time, Wheeler said the rules were needed because broadband providers have both the economic incentive and the technological capability to abuse their gatekeeper position.

The U.S. Telecommunications Association, an industry trade group that advocates on behalf of broadband providers such as AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc., filed suit, arguing the FCCs rules violate federal law.

Republicans and Internet providers argued the rules amounted to a government overreach and would prompt providers to cut back on investing in networks. Such improvements would lead to improved speeds and expanded services into rural and low-income areas, they say. Broadband providers invested $78 billion in their networks in 2014, according to the U.S. Telecommunications Association.

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AT&T vowed Tuesday to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

We have always expected this issue to be decided by the Supreme Court, and we look forward to participating in that appeal, David McAtee, AT&T Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel, said in a statement.

Other groups and companies said they would pursue an appeal or were evaluating their legal options.

But broadband advocates and legal scholars on both sides of the debate said it is unlikely the Supreme Court would hear the case, leaving the rules to stand and giving the Obama administration and net neutrality supporters a huge victory.

Reed Hundt, FCC chairman during the Clinton administration, said the dissenting opinion  written by Judge Stephen Williams, who was appointed to the court by President Ronald Reagan in 1986  supports the argument that the FCC has the authority to reclassify internet service as a utility, making it unlikely that the Supreme Court will take up the issue.

I agree with the majority that the Commissions reclassification of broadband internet as a telecommunications service may not run afoul of any statutory dictate in the Telecommunications Act, wrote Williams, who concurred in part and dissented in part. He argued, however, the FCC failed to properly justify why it was reclassifying internet services, saying its explanation of the policy is watery thin and self-contradictory.

Hundt said the FCC decision settled the matters of law and is among the top victories in the FCCs history.

The two judges voting to uphold the rules were appointed by Democratic presidents: Judge David Tatel was appointed by President Bill Clinton, and Judge Sri Srinivasan was appointed by President Barack Obama. In December, the day before the appeals court heard oral arguments, the Center for Public Integrity reported that the FCC had an advantage in the case because of the Tatels and Srinivasans earlier decisions.

Further diminishing the possibility of an appeal is the tendency that the Supreme Court doesnt accept cases unless lower courts have ruled differently on the issue, which has not happened.

SCOTUS does not take up a case unless there is a split in lower courts, said Matt Wood, policy director at Free Press, an advocacy group that supported the net neutrality rules.

John Bergmayer, senior staff attorney at Public Knowledge, which also supported the FCCs net neutrality rules, agreed. There is no legal question for the court to take up, he said.

Even Christopher Yoo, a telecommunications law scholar at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Law who submitted an amicus brief in support of the internet providers argument to strike down the rules, agreed that an appeal would likely be unsuccessful.

There would need to be a broader issue for the court to take up, Yoo said in an interview. He added that there are no conflicting laws in the case and that the high profile of the case alone isnt enough for the court to take it up.

This story is part of Broadband. Investigating the political power of the information technology industry. Click here to read more stories in this investigation.

Don't miss another Business investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email.

Other scholars agree that the Supreme Court hearing of the case is a long shot.

Having lost a major battle in the courts, providers are now looking to Congress.

The National Cable & Telecommunications Association, which represents providers such as Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable Corp., called for meaningful legislation that can end ongoing uncertainty, promote network investment and protect consumers.

Providers have a sympathetic ear in Sen. John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota who heads the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which oversees the FCC. He said in a statement that the courts decision is a clear signal that my colleagues and I need to re-establish Congress appropriate role in setting communications policy on a bipartisan basis.

This story is part of Broadband. Investigating the political power of the information technology industry. Click here to read more stories in this investigation.

Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C.
JetSmarter is a brand new private transportation startup that many are calling the Uber of private jets. It is in a sense, but this company's model is even better. What JetSmarter does so brilliantly is combine three different services into one  free scheduled JetShuttle flights, last-minute JetDeals, and chartered flights  all accessible in a single app.

Let's start with the free JetShuttle flights because this is absolutely out of this world. You can fly on a private jet, mostly Gulfstream G4s and Challenger 850s, for free on scheduled flights around the country: New York to Florida, Chicago to Los Angeles, San Francisco to New York, Los Angeles to San Francisco, Dallas to Houston, and more. All of those flights, multiple shuttles per week, are totally free for members. That means you can fly on a Gulfstream G4 from New York to Los Angeles every week for a year and not be charged anything.

JetDeals represent another really exciting component of the membership. When charter companies reposition aircraft to pick up charter passengers, that plane flies empty. So, if someone charters a Challenger 300 from White Plains, NY to Nassau, Bahamas and the plane is currently in Miami, it has to fly from Miami to White Plains without any passengers. JetSmarter lets you book that plane for free and bring along companions for free as well.

The third part of the service, traditional charter, is attractive for people who already travel privately, as the service offers wholesale charter prices in a great interface that's so easy to use.

JetSmarter has a very diverse clientele and members often network during flights. These include executives, celebrities, actors, models, and other A-listers, some of whom allow JetSmarter to notify members about an upcoming flight, offering the ability to fly with them for free. Jaimie Foxx, entrepreneur Daymon John, and actress Emily Ratajkowski are just a few examples of the company's high-profile members. I'm also a member and brand ambassador for JetSmarter, so you might even run into me on a flight.

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"Passengers and celebs will get a lot of networking value," Sergey Petrossov, JetSmarter's founder and CEO said in an interview with CNBC. "Friendships and business relationships are created daily between our passengers."

The membership includes unlimited free JetShuttle flights and is just $10,000 annually, so it definitely isn't reserved just for the super-wealthy. In fact, it's not even just a luxury: the company says members who fly regularly save money with the expansive membership package it offers.

JetSmarter has raised more than $50 million from venture capitalists, the Saudi Royal family, Jay-Z and other investors. The company has also started scheduled-free JetShuttle flights in Europe, flying from London to Paris, Paris to Nice, and other locations.

You can download the JetSmarter app on iOS for free here, and can use promo code BGR for $1500 in flight credit when you sign up! This limited time offer expires soon. You can also visit the company's site at jetsmarter.com

This article was updated to reflect a new limited-time promo code.

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By Marius Zaharia and Saeed Azhar SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Financial technology firm Mesitis Pte Ltd plans to launch a robo-advisory business for high net worth individuals in the next two months, its CEO said, capitalizing on a growing trend by the rich to seek online investment advice at a lower cost. A new, tech-savvy generation of wealthy clients and family offices are creating opportunities for fintech start-ups, challenging traditional private banks who have been slow to meet these demands. But Wall Street is fast catching up by building or buying robo advisers. Asia has been slow so far to join that trend but this year fintech firms are gearing up to launch such products in Singapore and Hong Kong. Singapore-based Mesitis' robo adviser will offer advice to those who typically hold investable assets worth at least $1 million. Based on a computer algorithm, it aims to make money by charging clients 30 basis points on assets, its CEO Tanmai Sharma told the Reuters Global Wealth Management Summit on Wednesday. "Robo adviser is just an asset allocation program which takes your risks preferences into account," Sharma said. He said being a small outfit, his firm had a substantial advantage in terms of costs over a private bank. The company, which Sharma founded in mid-2013 after a 15-year career at Deutsche Bank, currently mainly helps 90 rich clients keep track of their $3.6 billion worth of investments. (Additional reporting by Paige Lim in Singapore and Summeet Chatterjee in Hong Kong; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
4th UPDATE, 5:15 PM: Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger and Walt Disney World president George Kalogridis have issued statements following the tragic death of a 2-year-old boy by an alligator at the Orlando resort.

From Iger: As a parent and a grandparent, my heart goes out to the Graves family during this time of devastating loss. My thoughts and prayers are with them, and I know everyone at Disney joins me in offering our deepest sympathies.

There are no words to convey the profound sorrow we feel for the family and for their unimaginable loss, said Kalogridis. We are devastated and heartbroken by this tragic accident and are doing what we can to help the family during this difficult time. On behalf of everyone at Disney, we offer our deepest sympathies.

3RD UPDATE, 1:27 PM: Search crews have found the body of a toddler who was attacked and dragged away by an alligator in a lagoon outside a Disney hotel in Orlando last night, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings just announced at a news conference. Demings said sheriffs dive teams found what was believed to the boys remains at about 1:45 PM ET. The body, which was found intact near where he was dragged into the water, was sent to the coroner for positive identification.

The parents have been identified as Matt and Melissa Graves, from Elk Horn, NE. The boy was identified as Lane Graves.

Up to 50 rescue workers had been searching for the 2-year-old since he was snatched and pulled underwater last night about 9:30 PM ET. Demings said the investigation is ongoing, adding that there is no question in his mind that the child was drowned by the alligator.

2ND UPDATE, 9:45 AM: The toddler who was attacked and dragged away by an alligator outside a Disney hotel in Orlando last night is presumed dead, according to local law enforcement. Theres no question they will lose a 2-year-old child, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said Wednesday to assembled media about the incident outside Disney Worlds Grand Floridian Resort and Spa late Tuesday. It has been 15 hours since, we are working on recovering the body of the child at this point. The ultimate goal is to bring closure to the family.

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In what is being called a recovery operation, the Sheriffs office says up to 50 rescue workers were involved in the search, which is ongoing. Noting that, this is very concerning to Disney, Demings said his teams will keep searching until they find the childs body.

UPDATE, 6:30 AM: Search crews continue to comb a lagoon at Disney Worlds Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Orlando, more than 12 hours after a 2-year-old boy was snatched by an alligator, but so far there is no sign of the child. We are very hopeful and hoping for the best, Jeff Williamson of the Orange County Sheriffs Office said at a news conference this morning. Officials are terming it a search-and-recovery effort.

PREVIOUS, TUESDAY, 9:27 PM: A 2-year-old boy was dragged into a lagoon by an alligator on the grounds of Walt Disney Worlds Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Orlando, Florida. The accident occurred at the Resorts Seven Seas Lagoon water park at around 9:30 pm ET. A desperate search for the child is underway and will continue throughout the night.

We are hoping for the best, Orange Country Fla. Sheriff Jerry Demings said at a press conference held at around 1 AM ET. It was carried live by CNN, which broke into its regular programming after 12:30 AM ET to cover the incident.

Demings said that the missing boy was vacationing with his family  mother, father and two siblings  visiting from Nebraska. The boy was playing on the shoreline by the shallow part of the lagoon when the alligator emerged from the water and grabbed the child. The boys father tried unsuccessfully to fight the alligator as it dragged the boy into the lagoon.

Everyone here at the Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with the family, we are helping with the family and doing everything we can to assist law enforcement, a spokeswoman for Disney World said at the press conference.

A dive team is on standby at the resort.

Demings, a 35-year veteran of the department, acknowledged the challenges ahead in locating the two-year-old. The sad reality of it is its been several hours and were not likely going to recover a live body, he said. Demings said he was unaware of any similar incidents at the resort in the past.

The news comes as Orlando reels from the worst mass shooting in U.S. history Sunday, and the murder of The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie Friday night.

Police putting up yellow tape outside of The Grand Floridian directly across from Magic Kingdom in Orlando pic.twitter.com/yBQc3r4hcG  ChristianTheMagician (@Menardness) June 15, 2016

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A renowned contractor based in Burkina Faso, Djibril Kanazoe has revealed giving president Mahama a brand new Ford Expedition vehicle as a gift upon winning a contract with government.

Investigations conducted by Joy FM shows that there is evidence that the contractor gave a brand new Ford Expedition out (2010 model) as a gift to President John Mahama in 2012, the year he won the two contracts in Ghana.

READ ALSO: Traders at Kantamanto clash with AMA over possible demolition

In a letter dated October 29, 2012 and signed by the Head of Chancery at the Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso, Maxwell Nyarko-Lartey, for the Head of Mission the said ''gift'' is reported to have been ordered.

I have been directed to inform you that the Ghana Mission in Ouagadougou is assisting with the Transportation of a gift donated to His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana by Mr. Djibril Kanazoe, a

renowned Contractor in Burkina Faso. The said gift is a Ford Expedition with engine No. E173A1905101 and Chassis No. 1FMJUIJ58AEB748. I am to request the competent Ghanaian Boarder Authorities at the Paga Border to kindly assist with the passage of the said vehicle and those transporting it without any let or hindrance. I wish to take this opportunity on behalf of his Excellency the Ambassador to express the Missions appreciation in anticipation of your kind cooperation, excerpts of the letter stated.

READ ALSO: Ghanaians pay tribute to President Mahamas late mom

Djibril Kanazoe reveals that his friendship with President John Mahama started when he wanted a road contract in Ghana, but failed to win the bid.

I have been going to Ghana since 2003. The people from Mechanical Llyod, somebody was my friend there. My friend helped me to set up this company [Africa Motors in Burkina Faso]. His name is Morkporkpor. My friends friend is Mike Aidoo. So we made the first tender. When we made the tender, we didnt win. One day he told me he know [sic] the Vice President [John Mahama] so lets go to salute [greet] him. We went to salute him and I show [sic] him what we does [sic] in Burkina Faso. And we became friends. We talk a lot! We talk a lot. One day my father died, he sent a delegation to my village to salute the family, he said.

READ ALSO: Presidential debate to be organized by GBC ahead of polls

The office of the president is yet to comment on the shocking revelation as questions remain as to whether the gift was indeed a gift or a bribe.

Source: YEN.com.gh
A South African real estate agent, Grant Campbell, came across a man fishing for dinner in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and he had a rubber tyre in place of a boat. Read to know what Campbell did next.

By India Today Web Desk: What do you do when you find a man fishing for dinner wedged inside rubber tube in the middle of the sea? Well, if you're Grant Campbell, a South African real estate agent, you try to get him a proper boat.

Campbell was out fishing near Ligogo Beach off the coast of Mozambique when he encountered the fascinating sight of a poor fisherman alone in a rubber tractor tyre wearing shorts and fluorescent flippers.

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The Black Dot

"We could see this black dot on the horizon and thought we'd go and have a look at what it was...and there was this guy in a tube," Sydney Morning Herald quoted Campbell as saying.

"The thing that stuck with us is that there is no way he would have been getting back to the shore before it got dark. When we ran into him, there was maybe an hour of light left and with only the flippers it would have taken him a good couple of hours to get back, he told the paper.

Apparently, Campbell tried to communicate with the man he couldn't understand much English.



"I don't think he was having any luck fishing so we gave him all of our tuna," Campbell explained.



Boat dreams

Campbell hopes that when he returns to Mozambique next year, he would like to help the unknown fisherman get a boat.



Going Viral

He posted his experience on Facebook and was amazed to see that his post and photos he uploaded about that event had been shared more than than 1600 times.



He says the fisherman was a well-mannered gentleman and he would love to give something back to him, like a little rowboat with maybe a 15-horsepower engine that would make his life much easier.



Here's the Facebook post Campbell shared:



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Although there is no mention of Chidambaram in the 52-page report, but it indirectly indicts him.

By Kamaljit Kaur Sandhu: The 52-page report regarding the missing files in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case concluded that the papers were "removed knowingly or unknowingly or misplaced" in September, 2009. This was the period when Congress leader P Chidambaram was the Home Minister.

A one-man inquiry panel was formed to probe the missing files related to the Ishrat Jahan case. BK Prasad, Additional Secretary - Home Ministry, submitted his report to Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi today.

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WHAT THE REPORT READS

"It is evident that the documents were removed knowingly or unknowingly or misplaced," the inquiry committee has concluded.

Based on the statements of 11 serving and retired officers, including the then Home Secretary GK Pillai, the report said the documents went missing between September 18-28, 2009.

CHIDAMBARAM IN THE DOCK

Although there is no mention of Chidambaram in the probe panel's report, it indicts him indirectly.

As per the report, Diptivilas, was the Joint Secretary in internal security department during the period when the first and second affidavits of Ishrat was filed by the Home Ministry. When examined by the panel, he said, that the five documents which were part of the "Ishrat file" were there when it was sent to then Home Secretary GK Pillai and Home Minister P Chidambaram.

But when the file was returned, the five documents were missing.

Only one paper out of the five documents related to the controversial alleged fake encounter case that went missing were recovered from MHA.

The second affidavit, which was different from the first one, and filed before Gujarat High Court on September 29, 2009, had said thatthere was no conclusive evidence to suggest that Ishrat was aLashkar-e-Taiba operative.



BJP TOO ATTACKED CHIDAMBARAM

The former Home Minister has been under attack from the BJP for deliberately trying to exonerate Ishrat Jahan as a Lashkarterrorist. Ishrat, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed in an encounter with Gujarat Police on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004.

UPA govt worked in tandem with LeT in Ishrat Jahan case, says Kiren Rijiju

The papers which went missing Office copy of the letter and enclosure sent by the then Home Secretary to the Attorney-General on September 18, 2009. Office copy of the letter sent by the them Home Secretary to the A-G on September 23, 2009. Draft affidavit as vetted by the A-G, draft further affidavit amended by the then Home Minister on September 24, 2009. Draft letter by the Joint secretary to the law secretary. Office copy of the further affidavit filed with the Gujarat High Court on September 29, 2009.

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The only document to be retrieved from a computer hard disk was the letter sent by the then Home Secretary to A-G on September 18, 2009.



Also Read:

Prove you are Indian, asks MHA before disclosing Ishrat probe

Ishrat Jahan was a Lashkar operative, says David Headley

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By Amarnath K. Menon : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's mega wish list for the state presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday encompasses key elements of her vision for the state's growth and the to - do list during the current five year term. By calling on the Prime Minister, in her first visit to Delhi in two years, Jayalalithaa has impressed upon him that the state is looking forward to massive help from the central government as well as flexibility in implementing schemes keeping in mind state specific needs. But to arch rival and DMK president M.Karunanidhi her memorandum is a reminder of 'old wine in new bottle.'

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Significantly, her 50 minute Modi meeting came barely a day and half before newly elected members of the 15th Tamil Nadu legislative assembly gather in Chennai on Thursday for the inaugural session at which the state governor Konijeti Rosaiah will outline the policies of the AIADMK government in the customary inaugural address. It is also in the backdrop of Jayalalithaa being the first incumbent chief minister to continue in office for a second term in a row after 32 years.

In her 96 page memorandum, Jayalalithaa has listed 29 points which among other things asks for the immediate formation of a Cauvery Management Board and a Cauvery Water Regulation Board to implement the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. She has also demanded the restoration of the water level at Mullaperiyar Dam to 152 feet in the hope of resolving water sharing issues with contiguous Karnataka and Kerala more amicably even as she initiates measures to improve farming prospects in the Cauvery delta - the traditional rice bowl of the state.

Interlinking of rivers, retrieval of katchatheevu from Sri Lanka, including fishermen on the list of Scheduled Tribes, early commissioning of Unit 2 of the Kudankulam nuclear power station, setting up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Tamil Nadu, declare Tamil as the official language, allow use of Tamil as the language of the Madras High Court, revive electronic manufacturing hub at Sriperumbudur by resolving the issues related to the Nokia plant, realignment of the proposed Kochi - Bengaluru GAIL pipeline, additional cash grants including Rs.10,000 crore to modernize the police force and the grant of the digital addressable system license to Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation that beams largely whatever the state has to say to the people of the state.

However, she stood her ground over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and suggested that the Centre should strive for a broad consensus on important issues like the compensation period and exclusion of commodities before enacting the Constitution amendment. Tamil Nadu's primary concern is about the impact the proposed GST will have on the fiscal economy of the states and the huge revenue loss it is likely to cause to manufacturing and net exporting states like hers.

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Other concerns include the creation of the GST Council as a Constitutional body which impinges on the legislative sovereignty of both Parliament and state legislatures and jeopardizes the autonomy of the state in financial matters. She is against the Council and feels the existing Empowered Committee of State Ministers which dealt with VAT issues is adequate. She also wants petroleum and petroleum products kept outside the purview of GST permanently in view of the revenue impact and the positive environmental and social impact of high effective taxation of these items. To her a manufacturing state like Tamil Nadu will permanently lose substantial revenue if GST is implemented. This revenue loss to the state is estimated to be Rs.9,270 crore.

Also Read:



--- ENDS ---
By PTI: New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover today announced the opening of its 240 million pounds (around Rs 2,280 crore) manufacturing facility and education business partnership centre at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The new facility will build both Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport for Brazilian customers. The vehicles will be sold via dealers across Brazil from this month, the company said in a statement, without disclosing the production capacity of the facility.

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"The creation of new international factories allows JLR to offer its customers even more exciting new models, protect against currency fluctuations and create a globally competitive business," the company said.

JLR?s new factory at Itatiaia in Rio de Janeiro is the first wholly-owned overseas facility outside of Britain pursuant to its global expansion strategy. As of now, the company operates a Chinese joint venture factory set up in 2014, the firm said.

"The opening of JLRs new world-class facility in Brazil marks the latest exciting milestone in our global expansion," JLR Executive Director, Manufacturing, Wolfgang Stadler said.

He further said Land Rover is already Brazils market leader for midsized premium SUVs, accounting for over 30 per cent of sales in that segment.

The plant includes JLR?s first overseas Education Business Partnership Centre, which will provide a range of classroom activities for up to 12,000 local children every year, the company added.

JLR has been present in the Brazilian market for more than 25 years. Brazil is one of the top 15 markets for the company. Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery are the largest selling vehicles in Brazil. It has 35 dealers covering all the main territories of the country. PTI RKL JM ANU

--- ENDS ---
Kamal Haasan has now replaced director T K Rajeev Kumar and will be directing Sabash Naidu. The film will feature Kamal-Shruti duo for the first time on screen.

By India Today Web Desk: Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan has confirmed filling in for the 'extremely ill' T K Rajeev Kumar, who was assigned to direct Sabash Naidu.



As reported earlier, Kamal Haasan took over the director's chair temporarily to direct a song sequence featuring his daughter Shruti Haasan.

To avoid any further delay of the project, Kamal Haasan has now replaced the director and will be directing the trilingual film, which will feature the father-daughter duo for the first time on screen.



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ALSO READ: Kamal Haasan to direct daughter Shruti

ALSO READ: Kamal Haasan and crew leave for Los Angeles to film the action comedy

"My director, Rajeev has taken extremely ill. The unfortunate setback occurred when we were on the fourth day of our recce in Los Angeles. He has been diagnosed with a Lyme disease. It is a rare infection prevalent in Europe and North America. This is the reason why I am now directing the film," said Haasan in a statement.

"Rajeev is getting the best possible medical care in LA. We have put him in one of the best hospitals with one of our executives keeping vigil 24/7," he added.

In the film, Kamal reprises the role of Balram Naidu, a raw operative agent and a popular character from the 2008 blockbuster Tamil film Dasavatharam.

The film also stars actors Ramya Krishnan, Brahmanandam, Saurabh Shukla and Roger Narayan, which is simultaneously shot in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi.

Sabash Naidu will be Haasan's fifth directorial venture and his previous films include; Chachi 420 (1997), Hey Ram (2000), Virumandi (2004) and Vishwaroopam (2013).







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The CM is under pressure to drop 7 "non-performing" ministers and induct youngsters, as the government completed three years in office.

By Mail Today: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today announced a Cabinet reshuffle but did not reveal the names or number of ministers, who he intends to drop. The CM is under pressure to drop 7 "non-performing" ministers and induct youngsters, as the government completed three years in office.



WHO GOT CANNED?



Labour Minister P T Parameshwara Naik, who is likely to be axed, told the media in Bengaluru that he is ready to accept any job assigned to him by the party High Command. Industries & Tourism Minister R V Deshpande said that it was the prerogative of the CM to undertake the Cabinet reshuffle.

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Siddaramaiah is expected to leave for New Delhi tomorrow with a list of probable candidates for approval from the party High Command. He informed the Cabinet meeting that the reshuffle is being undertaken as per instructions of the High Command and sought the support of his colleagues to ensure a smooth operation.

There are more than 15 ministerial aspirants and they are already camping in New Delhi to impress upon the party leaders. Siddaramaiah is expected to complete the reshuffle by month-end.

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On several occasions, Narasimha expressed his wish to marry his colleague. Later, invited her home and allegedly raped her.

By Mail Today: A government school teacher, who raped his colleague, clicked her nude pictures and blackmailed her for money, was arrested by the police in Deralakatte in Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka.

According to the police, Narasimha (34) from Mysuru, worked at the Deralakatte Netaji Government High School for the last four months. He befriended a lady teacher, who worked in the Bantwal taluk Government Primary School, during a teachers' training programme in Mysuru.

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MARRIAGE OR RAPE

On several occasions, Narasimha expressed his wish to marry the lady teacher. Recently, he invited her home where he allegedly raped her. He also clicked her nude pictures on his mobile phone and threatened to upload them on the Internet in case she failed to pay him money.

The helpless lady teacher even gave post-dated cheques to Narasimha.

However, Narasimha allegedly continued to pester the victim for more money. Unable to bear the pressure, the lady teacher filed a complaint with the police.

After a detailed probe, the police arrested Narasimha on Tuesday and seized his mobile phone.



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Forest officials said that the 'guilty' animals would be kept in zoo from now on as punishment while others will be released back into the sanctuary.

By Gopi Maniar Ghanghar : Three people were killed near Gujarat's Gir sanctuary in separate incidents recently. The police have taken 18 males into custody for the murders . Three have been found guilty of the murders. All of them are Asiatic lions. Yes, you read it right.

According to reports, three lions have been given a 'life term' for the 'crime.' The Gujarat Police probing the killings of three people had taken 18 'suspects' into custody.

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GUILTY BIG CATS PUNISHED

Forest officials said that the 'guilty' animals will be kept in zoo for the rest of life as punishment while others will be released back into the sanctuary.

Two lions killed to save a suicidal man who jumped into their den



The police took paw prints of the 'suspects' and also ordered a lab test of their excreta to pinpoint the real culprits.



"We think we have pinpointed the guilty lion, but we are still awaiting the results of nine more animals," JA Khan, Gujarat's chief conservator of forests, said.

RELOCATE LIONS: SUPREME COURT



In 2013, the Supreme Court had asked the Gujarat government to relocate some of the lions from Gir to Kuno Palpur wildlife sanctuary. The Gujarat government had then appealed against the verdict but the top court had turned down the appeal.

Full video: The terrifying moment when a gorilla grabbed a child in the zoo

The Supreme Court had argued that shifting of the animals was important in order to protect them from a possible breakout of epidemic diseases or other disasters.

However, not a single lion has been shifted so far.

GIR UNABLE TO HANDLE INCREASING LION POPULATION

According to some experts, the flourishing lion population in the Gir forest is to blame for the "unusual" behaviour by the big cats.

Delhi zoo animals will now get fresh salad

Reports say that Gir has a capacity to be home to just 270 lions.

Also Read:

Meet Hyderabad zoo's star: Sahara chairman's chimp Suzy only has branded water, coffee and chocolates

13 lions enmeshed near Gir Wildlife Sanctuary

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One army jawan was killed and four others were also injured in the incident.

By Ashraf Wani: One terrorist was killed during an encounter with security forces in Machil sector along the LoC in Kashmir's Kupwara district today. A massive operation is under way to nab the other militants in the area.

The incident came after soldiers of 56 Rashtriya Rifles, manning the Line of Control (LoC), intercepted a militant group at Katwara forest area near Jet Gali on Tuesday. After being challenged, the militants opened fire on the forces triggering off an encounter, a senior army officer told India Today.

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One army jawan was killed and four others were also injured in the incident.

"In the day-long gunfight yesterday, five soldiers sustained injuries and were airlifted to the army's 92 base hospital for treatment," the officer said.

"Soon after the gunfight broke out, additional reinforcement of para-troopers were rushed to the area to join the operation," he added.

Among those injured, Lakashman Das is in a critical condition after sustaining bullet injuries in his chest.

Sniffer dogs and choppers have also been pressed into service to trace the remaining militants.

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Among the five injured was Sepoy Lakashman Das according to official sources is in critical conditions as he sustained bullet injuries in his chest.

By Ashraf Wani: A soldier and an unidentified militant were killed in an encounter at Machhil sector in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.

A senior army officer told India Today, "The encounter broke out on Tuesday morning when soldiers of 56 RR who were manning the Line of Control (LoC) intercepted a militant group which had infiltrators at Katwara forest area near Jet Gali, some 4 kilometers away from the LoC fence, in Machhil sector."

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The suspected militants opened fire on the forces triggering off an encounter, he said.

"In the day-long gunfight yesterday, five soldiers have sustained injuries and had been immediately airlifted to Army's 92 base hospital for treatment", he said.

Among the five injured was Sepoy Lakashman Das according to official sources is in critical conditions as he sustained bullet injuries in his chest.

"Soon after the gunfight broke out, the additional reinforcement of para-troopers has been rushed to the area and joined the operation".

Last evening, the exchange of gunfire raged the area with the group of militants resulting in injuries to one more soldier identified as Signalman Ajay Choudhary.

Choudhary was immediately airlifted to army's 92 base hospital where he succumbed to injuries today, he said.

Today in the morning when the joint team of para-commandos and 56 RR launched the search operation and recovered a militant's body from the spot, he said, adding that the operation has been launched to track down the militant group.

Meanwhile, official sources said that besides para-commandos army used sniffer dogs and choppers into service to locate the other members of the group who are believed to be hiding inside the dense bushes.

The search operation in the area is still going on.

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By PTI: Washington, Jun 15 (PTI) A 24-year-old Marine, who served in Afghanistan, is being hailed as a hero for helping scores of people escape from an Orlando club targeted by a terrorist who killed 49 people in the deadliest shooting in the US history.

Imran Yousuf, a bouncer at the Pulse nightclub, heard the gunfire break out early Sunday morning.

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"The initial one was three or four (shots). That was a shock. Three of four shots go off and you could tell it was a high caliber," Yousuf, a former sergeant who just left the Marine Corps last month, told CBS News.

Thats when his Marine Corps training kicked in, he said.

"Everyone froze. Im here in the back and I saw people start pouring into the back hallway, and they just sardine pack everyone."

Yousuf knew just beyond that pack of panicked people - was a door - and safety. But someone had to unlatch it.

"Im screaming Open the door! Open the door!" Yousuf said. "And no one is moving because they are scared."

"There was only one choice ? either we all stay there and we all die, or I could take the chance, and I jumped over to open that latch and we got everyone that we can out of there."

By creating the exit, Yousuf estimated that about 70 people were able to get out of the nightclub safely.

"I wish I couldve saved more," CBS News quoted him as saying. "...Theres a lot of people that are dead."

Yousuf served as an engineer equipment electrical systems technician in the Marine Corps from June 2010 to May 2016, according to service officials. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. He was last assigned to 3rd Marine Logistics Group.

He posted a message on his Facebook page saying he "just reacted."

"There are a lot of people naming me a hero and as a former Marine and Afghan veteran I honestly believe I reacted by instinct," he wrote.

"I have lost a few of my friends that night which I am just finding out about right now and while it might seem that my actions are heroic I decided that the others around me needed to be saved as well and so I just reacted."

While he appreciates the support he has received, Yousuf stressed that people should focus on the victims? families, not him, he wrote.

"We need to show our love and profound efforts to the families and friends who have lost someone and help them cope with what happened and turn our efforts to those who truly need it," he wrote.

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"Once again I sincerely thank everyone and bless all those who are recovering and trying to make sense of it all." PTI ZH AKJ ZH

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Jasmine VG, a B.Ed student at Kannur University, approached the high court after she was not allowed to write her second semester examination owing to attendance shortage.

The Kerala High Court has ruled that pregnancy is not an unexpected medical condition dismissing the plea of a student seeking permission to write her exam in spite of low attendance.

Jasmine VG, a B.Ed student at Kannur University, approached the High Court after she was not allowed to write her second semester examination owing to attendance shortage.

THE JUDGEMENT: PREGNANCY NOT A REASON TO DEVIATE FROM REGULAR COURSE

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Jasmine challenged the university decision citing a Delhi High Court order that ruled that "motherhood is not a crime." However, the Kerala court said "pregnancy was an optional choice and that cannot be a reason to permit a student to deviate from the requirements of a regular course of study." The judgement added that the insistence to adhere to the course regulations cannot be termed to be a negation of the preferential treatment to women.

Due to her advanced stage of pregnancy, Jasmine had attended less than 45% of the classes while it was necessary to attend at least 75% of the classes to be eligible to write the exam.

CAN'T GIVE RELAXATION: HC

The court was of the view that Jasmine ought to have adjusted her priorities when continuing a higher education especially in a course that trains her to be a professional teacher. It stated that it could not accept the finding of the Delhi court that "by not giving these students relaxation, we cannot make them pay the price for the glory that is motherhood," as education does not mean mere bookish knowledge.

Also Read:

8 safe exercises for you to practice if you're pregnant

Kerala judge says he was offered Rs 25 lakh bribe in gold smuggling case



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The family of five from Nebraska was on vacation and wading in the Seven Seas Lagoon about 9:20 pm on Tuesday when the child was taken from an area where "no swimming" were posted by an alligator estimated to be between 4 feet and 7 feet long.

Disney closed beaches today at their resorts "in an abundance of caution," divers remained on standby and stunned summer visitors to the Magic Kingdwom waited to hear news of efforts to find the child. AP photo

By AP: Wildlife officials pulled four alligators from a lagoon at Walt Disney World after a 2-year-old boy was dragged into the water by an alligator near the upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa as his father frantically tried to rescue his son.

Meanwhile, Disney closed beaches today at their resorts "in an abundance of caution," divers remained on standby and stunned summer visitors to the Magic Kingdwom waited to hear news of efforts to find the child.

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The family of five from Nebraska was on vacation and wading in the Seven Seas Lagoon about 9:20 pm on Tuesday when the child was taken from an area where "no swimming" were posted by an alligator estimated to be between 4 feet and 7 feet long, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told a news conference early Wednesday.

The grim news is the latest for a city hammered with tragedy in the past few days. On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, leaving 49 people dead in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. On Friday night, Christina Grimmie, 22, a contestant on season six of "The Voice," was killed as she signed autographs after a show in Orlando.

The search for the child was still considered a "search and rescue operation," said Jeff Williamson, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

"We are very hopeful," he said at a morning news conference. "Sometimes you get the worst, but we are hoping for the best."

Nick Wiley with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the four alligators were taken from the water overnight, but officials found no immediate indication they were involved in the child's disappearance. He said the alligators will be cut open and their remains examined after they are euthanized.

Florida Fish and Wildlife and an Orange County Sheriffs helicopter search for a toddler early Wednesday. AP photo

The beach area is part of the luxury Grand Floridian resort, across the lake from Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park. The man-made lake stretches about 200 acres and reaches a depth of 14 feet. Called the Seven Seas Lagoon, the lake feeds into a series of canals that wind through the entire Disney property.

More than 50 law enforcement personnel searched the well-tended lagoon along with an alligator tracker and two marine units. Williamson said more personnel were being brought in Wednesday to offer some "fresh eyes" for the search.

More than a million alligators live throughout Florida, though the species remains listed as an endangered species because it closely resembles the endangered American crocodile.

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Though Florida has grown to the third-most populous state, fatal alligator attacks remain rare. There have been 23 fatalities caused by wild alligators in Florida since 1973, according to data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Those fatalities were among 383 unprovoked bites not caused by someone handling or intentionally harassing an alligator.

Eight children, ages 2 to 16, are among the fatalities. Five died while swimming in lakes, rivers and canals. The youngest victims were killed near lakes, including a 2-year-old girl who wandered 700 feet from her fenced backyard and a 3-year-old boy who left a roped-off swimming area in a county park to pick lily pads.

Williamson, the sheriff's spokesman, said the boy was at the edge of the water, probably about a foot or two into the water, when the alligator attacked. The water was dark Tuesday night as searchers looked for the boy, he said.

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney is helping the family.

Minnesota residents John and Kim Aho, visiting Disney with their 12-year-old son Johnny, were stunned to hear what had happened to the child, whose name has not been released.

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"We have been to Yellowstone and encountered grizzly bears, but this is just freaky," John Aho said.

Kim Aho said their son is leery of the water around the park.

"He's a little freaked out about the gator," she said.

The sheriff said there had been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks on the lake.

More than a million alligators live throughout Florida, though the species remains listed as an endangered species because it closely resembles the endangered American crocodile. AP photo

The wildlife commission said eight of the 15 adults killed by alligators had been swimming in freshwater bodies of water, including a 36-year-old man swimming across a pond while trying to elude police. One 54-year-old woman was seized by an alligator while landscaping near a pond, and an 82-year-old man was killed while walking his dog on a path between two wetland areas.

Alligators are opportunistic feeders that will eat what is readily available and easily overpowered. It's illegal to feed wild alligators because that causes them to lose their fear of humans. According to wildlife commission biologists, alligators seldom bite people for reasons other than food.

Wildlife commission statistics show Florida averages about seven serious unprovoked bites a year, and the frequency of these bites is rising. However, the likelihood of someone being seriously injured by an unprovoked alligator in Florida is roughly one in 2.4 million.



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By PTI: New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a Jammu and Kashmir governments proposal for vacating nearly 458 Kanal of land in armys possession for expansion of Kashmir University campus in Anantnag.

Highly-placed sources said the Prime Minister, after his return from the five-nation tour, had called a meeting on Kashmir during which he asked the Defence Ministry to hand over the High ground in Anantnag to the state at the earliest so that the expansion plan of south campus of Kashmir University can be carried out.

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During the meeting, the Prime Minister said the Centre was committed to all-round improvement of education in the state, official sources said.

The army had in-principle been agreeable to vacating the land for quite sometime but a decision by its headquarters got delayed.

The latest deadline for vacating the land was March 31 which was agreed upon during a meeting chaired by state Governor N N Vohra.

The army holds nearly 2005.24 kanals of land in Anantnag district since early 1990s.

The land is adjacent to south campus in Fatehgarh area near an army camp. It was being used by the army for landing helicopters despite the force having a similar facility at Khanabal, a few kilometres from there.

346.7 Kanals of land, which was earlier in the armys possession, was transferred to the university in 2004.

The process of handing over of land had begun during the previous Omar Abdullah government and the ground work for many areas had been completed.

In the past, army has handed over defence land at Batmaloo, Pantha Chowk and Hari Parbat for developing civic amenities.

Army has provided timely clearances to infrastructure development projects like Haft Chinar flyover, road projects under NHAI, BEACON and PMGSY, especially in border areas.

Army has also agreed to vacate the Lower Plateau in Kargil at the request of the civil administration. PTI SKL SK SK

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The message had received 13,800 likes and 7,200 retweets as of 6 pm IST, around twelve hours after it had been posted.

By Ananth Krishnan: A birthday tweet from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Chinese President Xi Jinping has taken China's social media by storm.

The PM posted a message on China's popular Twitter equivalent Sina Weibo - Twitter is itself blocked in China - greeting Xi on his birthday, adding wishes for his long life and good health.

The message had received 13,800 likes and 7,200 retweets as of 6 pm IST, around twelve hours after it had been posted.

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Interestingly, it appeared that China's censors were moderating the comments of Chinese 'netizens' to ensure only positive responses to the message.

Despite the fact that it had tens of thousands of responses, there were only 135 comments, most of which were positive sentiments on India-China relations.

The comments were in sharp contrast to a tone often taken by many of China's young nationalist netizens on Weibo when it comes to political issues between India and China, often posting messages asking India "to return South Tibet" as China calls Arunachal Pradesh. Indian movies and yoga are other topics that often find mention on Chinese social media.

Both Indian and Chinese officials have used the PM's platform on Weibo to send a positive signal to the Chinese audience about the relationship.

Chinese officials often point to the selfie taken by the PM with his counterpart Li Keqiang at a Yoga-Taichi event during his May 2015 visit to Beijing which garnered millions of views and was hailed by Chinese netizens as their PM's first ever selfie.

China's leaders rarely appear in the media unless in formal scripted settings, and very carefully guard details about their private lives.

That was part of the reason for the popularity of Modi's message, as there was little information elsewhere on Chinese media that June 15 was Xi Jinping's birthday.

Modi himself remarked during a visit to Facebook, commenting on the uniqueness of Chinese social media, that he was surprised to find that when he wished Xi last year on his birthday, even many Chinese social media users had for the first time found out that June 15 was their president's birthday.

Also Read: China rejects allegation of incursion in Arunachal Pradesh

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According to WHO's data, the last instance of vaccine derived infection in India was in 2010 though a case was reported from Kolkata in December last year.

About 3,00,000 children in Hyderabad and the contiguous Ranga Reddy district are to be immunized in a week long drive from June 20.

By Amarnath K. Menon : Telangana government issued an alert after an active strain of polio virus was detected in a water sample, in Hyderabad today.

Besides calling it a 'global emergency', the government has also launched a massive immunization campaign as a 'preventive measure'. More than three lakh children in the city and the contiguous Ranga Reddy district will be vaccinated in a week long drive from June 20.

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POLIO VIRUS RISES

The move came after Vaccine Derived Polio Virus (VDPV) strain were discovered in samples collected from the Sewage Treatment Plant at Amberpet in the city on May 17. The samples were later tested positive for polio at the

Enterovirus Research Centre, Mumbai, which serves as the country's nodal agency for work on enteroviruses like polio.

The vaccine derived viruses spread and infect humans similar to wild polio viruses, which were eradicated from the country years ago. India was declared polio free in March 2014.

"This is not the first time that the P2 strain is found in the country. Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi have reported it earlier," explains Rajeshwar Tiwari, Telangana's Principal Secretary, Health while asserting there was no cause for widespread concern.

Incidentally, vaccines which have been administered in the recent past in the country do not combat the P2 strain because it has not surfaced in the country for a long time.

RISING CONCERNS

Environmental testing for the virus began in April, when India on World Health Organization's recommendation switched to the bivalent polio vaccine from the trivalent vaccine. The switch was to prevent vaccine-derived infections.

Interestingly, the virus was detected in the city's sewage a month after India made the switch.

"It is possible the virus has been circulating in the sewerage for long. Amberpet is now being monitored and additional samples have been collected for testing," says Dr. Amarender Reddy, Director, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Telangana.

Reddy points out that the sewage samples are being collected from three other locations too in the city for testing and it is possible that the virus has been circulating in the sewerage for long. He hasn't ruled out the possibilities of vaccines being dispensed off in drains as well.

According to WHO's data, the last instance of vaccine derived infection in India was in 2010, although a case was reported in West Bengal last year.

ALSO READ:

All nations in SE Asian region switched to bivalent oral polio

Pak claims progress in fight against polio



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By PTI: From Abhishek Shukla

Windhoek, Jun 15 (PTI) President Pranab Mukherjee today arrived in Namibia for a two-day state visit during which key negotiations on Uranium supply for civil nuclear use will take place besides other bilateral issues.

Namibia despite being one of the largest producer of Uranium and having a treaty with India for peaceful use of nukes does not supply the fuel to India because of Palindaba treaty among African Union countries which bars export of the element to non-NPT signatories.

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"Regarding uranium, there is a proposal which has been pending at their end basically because of African Union decisions. Whether we can move them along, in terms of becoming a supplier of uranium for us that is one of the key objectives that we have there," Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha had said.

The treaty signed in 2009 with India sets the framework for long term supply of uranium but it is pending ratification by Namibian Parliament.

"Namibia as you know is the fourth largest producer of uranium, but they have an African Union Agreement which sort of impedes the implementation of agreement. Namibia has not been able to break that unity, the binding commitment that they took, its called the Pelindaba Treaty," Sinha had said.

During talks, India might raise the issue of uranium supply impressing upon Namibia.

"And the fact is because this MoU which we thought will kick in quickly has not happened and we have had been looking in signing agreements with other countries like Kazakhstan, Australia and few others. So eventually if we actually meet our requirements from non-Namibian sources, it will be a loss for the Namibian industry," he said.

The strength of Namibian economy is mineral with mining sector which contributes around 11 per cent to the GDP and it fetches 50 per cent of their foreign exchange earnings making them highly dependent on that.

Another material in abundance is diamond but the mining works through long-term contracts, monopolies and cartels so despite being largest users of diamonds, it does not reaches Indian shores directly from Namibia.

"We are one of the largest users of the diamonds in terms of the polishing and finishing but it doesnt comes directly to us and I dont think there is possibility right now because they have a long term commitment with DeBeers. Indian diamond merchants based outside in Antwerp source it from DeBeers and then it gets shipped to India," he said.

India will offer assistance to Namibia in setting up Mining Engineering trading set up. MORE PTI ABS UZM

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As Prince William becomes the first member of the royal family to feature in a gay magazine, he gives a message to the LGBT community.

By India Today Web Desk: Prince William becomes the first member of the royal family to be featured in a a gay magazine. UK's Attitude magazine will carry an interview of the Duke in their upcoming edition releasing on June 22.

The Kensington Palace tweeted about the interview during which the Duke said,"no one should be bullied for their sexuality. Don't put with it. Be proud of the person you are".

"No one should be bullied for their sexuality. Don't put up with it. Be proud of the person you are." pic.twitter.com/XYuRZAmf5V Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) June 15, 2016

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Prince William told a member of staff during a visit to the American Embassy that he will be appearing in the monthly publication.

The Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge also signed a book of condolence for victims of the Orlando gay nightclub shooting, at the embassy in Westminster.

After signing the message that said, "with our deepest condolences and with our thoughts and prayers to all those affected" the royal couple spoke to the staff who have worked on LGBT issues.

The palace also confirmed that the Duke will be speaking out against bullying. A magazine source said the interview was "set up for months". Previously, Prince William had visited schools and worked a lot on bullying and mental health issues.



HRH met a group of young LGBT people convened by @AttitudeMag to discuss bullying at Kensington Palace in May 2016 pic.twitter.com/V6XLWQJbNB Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) June 15, 2016



Attitude, the magazine, was founded in 1994 and is the country's best selling gay magazine. It has a circulation of about 60,000 per month.



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A robot managed to escape the testing ground, travelled by itself to a busy junction, created a traffic jam and baffled passerby.

By India Today Web Desk: Terminators do not seem to be a distant dream anymore. It seems robots operating on Artificial Intelligence might take over the world sooner than we expect.



A robot called the Promobot managed to escape from a testing area in Russia's Perm, and reached a busy junction. Passersby were baffled at the sight of a funny looking robot standing right in the middle of the road.

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But when the robot's presence lead to a traffic jam the police rushed to the spot.

Oleg Kivokurtsev, a co-founder of the robot's maker, told ura.ru news agency, "The robot was learning automatic movement algorithms on the testing ground, these functions will feature in the latest version of the Promobot."

An engineer drove into the testing ground and forgot to close the gates behind him, and that's when the Promobot decided to 'go on his little adventure', as Kivokurtsev puts it.

The team noticed the 'missing' only 45 minutes into the robot's travel stint and by the time they tracked 'him' down there was a puzzled crowd. The 'litte guy' would have gone farther, but was shut down when his battery died, reports Ruplty.

Promobots were designed to function as hosts and as a source of information.



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Police had to use teargas shells to disperse the mob assembled outside the Janipur police station.

By India Today Web Desk: A massive protest broke out in Roop Nagar, Jammu, after a mentally unstable person allegedly pelted stones and damaged a sacred structure in the locality on Tuesday evening.

During the protest, the mob set two buses on fire and pelted stones at the police.

Police had to use teargas shells to disperse the mob assembled outside the Janipur police station.

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Mobile internet services were also banned in Jammu following tension in the city.

The accused man was later arrested and brought to the Janipur police station.

According to the latest reports coming in, as many as 50 people have been detained as a precautionary measure.



The police are also restricting the movement of people in the city and the area has been cordoned off.



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By Samonway Duttagupta: Delhi is one of those Indian cities that have always attracted travellers from all parts of the world. It's not just because it is the national capital, neither is it because it acts as a window to the Northern hill stations. Right from the charming historical monuments to the lakes to the unparalleled street food, the city has plenty of things for a traveller to explore. No wonder why one always sees the Qutub Minars and the Red Forts bustling with tourists throughout the year--be it the winters or the summers.

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No travel experience can be complete if one doesn't get the accommodation of his choice. While Delhi offers too many options to choose from, Radisson Blu MBD Hotel's brand new MBD Prive Collection is something a traveller can consider this season.

Launched at the second floor of Noida's iconic Radisson property, the Prive Collection welcomes its guests in a rather different world altogether. On reaching the property, your personal butler will escort you to a floor where everything--right from the floor to the walls displays fine decor.

The Prive floor's corridor is in tune with the decor of the Franco-Venetian style rooms

It's the attention to detail that strikes you the moment you enter your room. The interiors display a perfect marriage of French and Venetian styles, bearing design elements that encapsulate influences from the Victorian age, infused with modern luxury in a subtle manner.

Every little corner of a Prive Room makes you feel like you are living in the lap of luxury. While each piece of furniture is bespoke and finished meticulously with gold carvings dating back to the 1800s, lush embroidery on the curtains, and authentic dabka work on the draperies and cushions blend perfectly with the room's interiors.

Also read: 7 of the most stunning boutique hotels in India



While the subtle wallpapers and the stylish patterns of the floor carpets have a calming effect on the mind, a royal charm is added to the decor by an emperor-sized bed, a grand chandelier and the golden-framed colonial paintings adorning the walls.

Each piece of furniture in the room is bespoke and finished meticulously with gold carvings dating back to the 1800s. Picture courtesy: Samonway Duttagupta

Although the Radisson Noida has been known to cater business travellers, the new Prive Collection rooms are here to take it to a different level by ensuring that the regular traveller is served in the best possible manner. Specially designed for the guests living in these rooms, the Prive Lounge serves as a true testimony to the fact.

Monica Malhotra, Joint Managing Director, MBD Group comments, "MBD Prive Collection presents a lavish experience including a personal butler, access to the MBD Prive Lounge, signature amenities, signature aromas, mood-lighting, in-room technology that cater to personal specifications and much more for an effortless and luxury stay experience. To provide the exquisite and unique touch, we created the Prive Lounge, which is an exclusive area that makes for a perfect space for an extravagant lunch or an exuberant networking dinner with complimentary cocktail hours, lavish evening amenities and a well-stocked library for passionate readers."

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Other facilities of the hotel that can accentuate your stay include the two restaurants, Made in India and Rare Easter Dining, offering the best of Indian, and pan-Asian delicacies respectively, and the Espace floor offering access to an outdoor swimming pool, a spa with signature therapies, a salon, and a gym.

Good to know:

Name of the category: MBD Prive Collection

Number of rooms: 33

Tariff:

Prive Premium

Rs 14,999 plus taxes (Off-season)

Rs 16,999 plus taxes (Season)



Prive Suite

Rs 20,000 including taxes (Off-season)

Rs 24,000 including taxes (Season)

Inclusions:

Free airport transfers (One way)

Early check-in at 8am

24-hour personalised butler service

A bottle of house wine on arrival

Complimentary ironing of two pieces of garments daily

Complimentary cocktail hours from 6pm to 8pm at the Prive Lounge

Late check-out until 7pm (Subject to availability)

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These workouts will help you on your journey to motherhood.

By Nikita Bhalla: Your back is aching and your ankles are swelling; plus you feel constipated and bloated. In other words, you are pregnant. Exercise does wonders during pregnancy; it boosts your mood, improves sleep, and relieves aches and pains. It also prepares you for childbirth by strengthening your muscles and building endurance. but, the question is, 'how much should you exercise when you're pregnant?'

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We contacted Ashish Gupta, Fitness Expert and Director, Gold's Gym, Gurgaon to suggest exercises for the mom-to-be. Here's what he shared, "Expecting moms must get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day, 5 days a week. Most exercises are off-limits during pregnancy, agreed, but because it is time for you to binge (or so, some of you think), it makes working out even more important. Just a basic level of workout will help you get back in shape post-delivery. So lace up those sneakers and try these safe exercises during pregnancy."

Also read: Vacay time over? 5 ways you could lose that post-holiday weight!



Word of caution: All of these cardiovascular exercises increase blood circulation, muscle toning and building endurance but don't forget to keep a close watch on the levels of intensity.

Swimming: Swimming may just be the perfect pregnancy workout. As in water, you weigh a tenth of what you do on land, so you will feel lighter and more limber. A dip in the pool may also help relieve nausea, sciatic pain and puffy ankles--and because the baby is floating along with you, it is gentle on your loosening of joints and ligaments. Group dance classes: Low-impact aerobics and dance workout classes are a great way to increase your heart rate and get the endorphins flowing if you are a newbie exerciser. As your abdomen expands, avoid any activities that require careful balance. Brisk walking: There is no easier exercise to fit into your busy schedule than walking?and it is a workout you can continue to fit in right up until delivery date. What's more, you do not need any special equipment or a gym membership to participate--just some good sneakers. Indoor cycling: A wonderful way to break a sweat without putting pressure on your ankle and knee joints, indoor cycling lets you pedal at your own pace without the risk of falling. Try transitioning your cardio workouts to a stationary bike, or join an indoor cycling class for a more controlled ride. Just make sure your instructor knows you are expecting! Weight training: Lifting weights is safe when you are expecting--just opt for more reps (i.e., 12 to 15 in a set) using a lower weight than usual. You might also want to switch to machines, which helps limit your range of motion and reduces any chance of injury. Running: Experienced runners can stay on track during pregnancy. Just stick to level terrain (or a treadmill or an elliptical machine) and never overdo it (loose ligaments and joints during pregnancy can make jogging harder on your knees and make you more prone to injury). Pilates: A pregnancy-appropriate Pilates routine focuses mainly on strengthening your core and tightening your muscles. Prenatal yoga: Prenatal yoga is another ideal workout for the mom-to-be. It encourages relaxation, flexibility, focus and deep breathing. Ask your regular yoga instructor to modify the poses so that they are safe for you.

Keep in mind that there are, of course, many more ways to remain fit during pregnancy but always confirm with your routine with your practitioner before starting.









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By PTI: family

Kolkata, Jun 15 (PTI) The family members of Judith DSouza, who was abducted from Taimani area of Kabul last week, today said they were satisfied with the efforts by both Indian and Afghanistan governments to secure her release.

"On a regular basis we have conversation with MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) officials thrice a day. They are very cooperative. They share with us some information which is only for the consumption of my parents and family. We cant share that. But all I can say is, we are happy with the efforts made by the Indian and Afghanistan government to bring my sister back," Judiths brother Jerome told PTI.

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40-year-old Judith, working for Aga Khan Foundation as senior technical adviser, was kidnapped by suspected militants from outside her office in the heart of Kabul on June 9 and was scheduled to return home this week.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had earlier called up Judiths family here and assured them of making all-out effort to bring her back.

Judiths family had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urging him to do his "utmost" in securing her release from the abductors in Afghanistan. PTI PNT PR KIS

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By PTI: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jun 15 (PTI) A legislative amendment that aims to bring defence sales with India at par with Americas close allies and NATO members failed to get the US Senates nod.

Called the "Defence and Security Co-operation with India", the legislative amendment was moved by Illinois Senator Mark Kirk on May 25 as part of the National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA) 2017.

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"Unfortunately the Senators amendment was not included in the final NDAA FY17," a Congressional aide to the Senator told PTI.

Notably the US House of Representatives has already passed a similar amendment attached to the NDAA-2017.

The two versions of the bill would now have to be reconciled by both the Chambers of the Congress through conference.

It is only after the common version of the bill is passed, US President Barack Obama would sign that into law.

Another amendment moved by Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, that sought to recognise India as a global strategic and defence partner by making necessary modifications to defence export control regulations could not get the Senates nod.

The legislative move is not linked with the recent joint India-US statement in which Obama Administration had recognised India as a "Major Defence Partner".

The statement was issued last week after the meeting between US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.

As per the joint statement, under Major Defence Partner, the US will continue to work toward facilitating technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners, it had said.

McCain in a statement expressed disappointment over several legislative move, saying that even though they had bipartisan support they could not get through the Senate as part of NDAA-2017.

"I regret that the Senate was unable to debate and vote on several matters critical to our national security, many of which enjoyed broad bipartisan support," McCain said without specifically mentioning the legislative amendment related to India.

The McCain amendment said that the relationship between the US and India has developed over the past two decades to become a multifaceted, global strategic and defense partnership rooted in shared democratic values and the promotion of mutual prosperity, greater economic cooperation, regional peace, security, and stability. PTI LKJ UZM

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Sheikn according to government was a militant and killed in a gunfight with security forces in Udhampur, Jammu but his family claims he was a civilian who was killed in a fake encounter when traveling to Amritsar for treatment .

By Naseer Ganai: Amid massive deployment of police and paramilitary forces, hundreds of people on Wednesday attended the funeral prayers of 31-year-old Tanvir Sultan Sheikh here.

Sheikh, according to the government, was a militant, who was killed in a gunfight with security forces on Monday in Udhampur, Jammu. However, the family claims he was a civilian, traveling to Amritsar for treatment and was killed in a fake encounter. His body was handed over to the family on Wednesday morning.



On Tuesday government informed Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, after the opposition National Conference described Sheikh's killing as fake encounter, that Sheikh was killed after he opened fire on police and security forces wounding three persons.

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Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, Minister for Agriculture said on Monday at about 4.30 pm Police Station Kud Jammu received information that a State Road Transport Corporation Bus on its way from Srinagar to Jammu was stopped for checking by police and CRPF at Karnal Nallah Kud.



"All the passengers were asked to alight from the bus for thorough checking and frisking upon which a person who was also travelling in the same bus started firing at the CRPF and police", the Minister said. He said in the firing three persons sustained bullet wounds. Of three, Mamta Devi, 45, Jammu succumbed to her injuries. He said in retaliatory firing of the security the militant was killed. He was later identified as Tanveer Sultan, 31, of Ibrahim Colony Bemina, Srinagar. "One AK-47 and one pistol were recovered from him", the Minister said.



Jammu and Kashmir Police said the AK-47 recovered from him was the same snatched by a militant after killing a cop at Tengpora on May 23.

However, Sheikh Arshid Sultan, elder brother of Tanvir, describes the case as cold blooded murder and has raised several questions. He says Tanvir was psychiatric patient for past 19 years. "He developed first episode of the bipolar disorder in 1997 when he left his home in cold December night without having anything on. And since then the episodes of the disorder were recurring. He would get angry on slightest thing and it would take us hours to calm him down. In recent months he had shown signs of improvement and had curtailed medication on the advice of his doctor", Arshad, who is a banker, said. He said his brother had left his engineering education half way after he developed illness in 1997. He said in the past he was admitted to Psychiatric Disease Hospital in Srinagar.

He said Tanvir was on the way to Amritsar to get treatment for his fractured shoulder. "It was the second time he was going for the treatment. He had withdrawn Rs 60,000 from the ATM and had taken clothes and documents like identity card, Adhaar card and prescriptions along."



He said during his long years of illness he was working as medical representative and doing other odd jobs. "He was either a civilian or a militant. We believe he was civilian, who may have been killed in cold blood after some argument with the police or CRPF as he was short tempered. That is my perception. If he was militant let the police prove it", he asked.

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Also Read: Uproar in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Engineer Rashid marshalled out

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The accused man had allegedly entered the Aap Shambu temple in Roopnagar area of Janipur on Tuesday evening and had broken some items and windowpanes. When he was stopped by another youth from doing so, a scuffle broke out between the two.

By India Today Web Desk: Tension gripped parts of Jammu city on Tuesday evening after a man believed to be mentally unstable allegedly desecrated an ancient temple in the Roopnagar area of the city.

The accused man had allegedly entered the Aap Shambu temple in Roopnagar area of Janipur on Tuesday evening and had broken some items and windowpanes. When he was stopped by another youth from doing so, a scuffle broke out between the two.

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The police was called and immediately took the two men into custody. While one of the two detained men was let go soon afterwards, the accused was kept in custody.

MASSIVE PROTEST

Following the incident, people in large numbers came out onto the roads and protested outside the Janipur police station demanding that the accused youth be handed over to the mob. The accused is said to be mentally unstable who had gone to the area to meet his psychiatrist.

Tension arose when the police refused to hand over the accused. The mob then resorted to arson and burnt nearly six vehicles and also pelted stones at the police. Two vehicles were set on fire inside the police station as well.

POLICE ACTION

In retaliation, the police had to lathicharge the protesting mob and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

The clashes between the police and the mob lasted nearly seven hours following which the police detained nearly 50 people as a precautionary measure.

"A case has been registered and the accused has been arrested. He is mentally disturbed and had come to the area to see a psychiatrist," an officer said.

He said the police was investigating the entire incident.

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By PTI: New Delhi, June 15 (PTI) Ways to expand maritime security cooperation, dealing with threat of terrorism and boosting trade and investment will be major focus of talks between India and Thailand during Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Chas three-day visit here beginning tomorrow.

Chan-o-Cha will have extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday on a raft of issues including enhancing overall defence and security cooperation and the situation in the South China Sea.

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The Thai Prime Minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising the Deputy Prime Minister, five senior ministers and a 46-member business delegation.

The two sides will also deliberate on stepping up cooperation in trade and tourism sector. India is keen on enhancing connectivity between the two countries and promoting the Buddhist tourist circuits.

Issues relating to the proposed free trade pact between the two countries may also figure in talks. The volume of current annual bilateral trade between the two countries is nearly USD eight billion and both sides are very keen to expand it further.

The Thai Prime Minister will visit Bodh Gaya, a major place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, in Gaya district of Bihar before returning to Thailand on June 18.

It will be Chan-o-Chas first India visit as premier. Earlier Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had paid a State visit to India in January 2012 and she was the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations.

Briefing reporters about the visit, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs Preeti Saran said India regards Thailand as "central pillar" of Indias ties with ASEAN countries and a host of issues ranging from maritime security, trade and investment, education, tourism and space research are likely to figure prominently in talks.

Asked whether the disputes relating to South China Sea will be discussed, she said India will share its views if the issue is raised, adding freedom of navigation in the resource-rich area was important.

On maritime security, she said cooperation between the two countries in the Indian Ocean is already "very strong" and ways to further enhance it may be explored.

Saran said Thailand has shown interest in joint ventures in defence production and procurement of defence platforms from India. The issue may figure in the talks besides ways to combat terrorism.

The areas of expansion of trade will be sectors like steel, banking and food processing. India was keen on attracting Thai investment in the infrastructure sector.

Saran said there was huge potential for expanding bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector. Currently, around one million Indians visit Thailand annually while the number of Thai people visiting India is around one lakh.

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The Thai Prime Minister will also address an event organised by industry chambers FICCI and CII where a joint business forum of the two countries will be formed which will give its recommendations on ways to boost trade. PTI MPB SK

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Tony Kaye became famous for his antics behind the scenes, even though his debut feature American History X is revered today. Can he find redemption with Stranger than the Wheel?

By Tatsam Mukherjee: Very rarely has the audience seen pure evil on screen. Only a handful of instances come to mind where audiences were so affected by a character's actions that they would come out of the theatre discussing that one scene. American History X's famous 'stomp on a curb' scene happens to be one of those where a grinning Edward Norton surrenders to the police after having shattered the jaw of a black man. The film had more than a few powerful scenes, but that one act of violence has become synonymous with the film after all these years.

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The director of the film, Tony Kaye, working on his debut feature was billed by industry insiders as somewhat of a 'whack-job'. Having majorly directed music videos and commercials until then, the Brit got into more than a few scuffles with the production heads and his main lead Edward Norton. The director chose a controversial topic for a debut, a group of Neo-nazi skinheads in the tough neighbourhoods of Los Angeles.

Edward Norton won an Oscar nomination for playing a Nazi skinhead.

The director, by his own admission, was a 'spectacular pain in the ass' and thought he had to follow the footsteps of his idols - Welles, Coppolla who he considered to be pirates. He thought he was upholding some kind of an ancient tradition by picking fights with the producers, studio heads, being the outsider in the industry. The director too brash for his own good, outrightly disowned the final cut released by the studio which was half an hour too long compared to the director's cut which was a crisp 96 minutes.

The director had major disagreements with his lead actor Edward Norton about the treatment of the film. He liked the actor's inputs as he considered by getting Norton to play the lead, he had essentially hired a writer. The problem with the Brit director was, he didn't look at himself as a debutante (having been a veteran ad filmmaker, and worked in LA for over 7 years before American History X), and his cockiness hit the roof after he announced himself the greatest English director since Hitchcock. This was even before he made his first feature film.

Tony Kaye was at loggerheads with the studio about his vision about American History X. Tony Kaye was at loggerheads with the studio about his vision about American History X.

American History X released to widespread acclaim, with Edward Norton winning his second Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Derek Vinyard. However, the captain of the ship, Tony Kaye had disowned the film. He criticised his leading actor of being too generous with his own 'screen-time' (Norton was involved in the final edit of the film which was eventually released). The critics and the audience around the world praised the film's uncompromised, provocative narrative on an issue as relevant as racism in the United States.

The director came full circle in an open letter to The Guardian, as he realised how the act of a rebel wasn't going to help him get any work done. In that letter, he confessed to himself, how the studio didn't care about how amazingly talented you were unless you were easy to work with. His second feature, Lake of Fire, was a documentary on the abortion law in the United States. Kaye filmed the documentary over 16 years, spending USD 6 million of his own money. The film got unanimous praise when it came out in 2006, eight years after American History X.

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Tony has introspected about how he was brash, unapologetic yet full of passion.

"We've all got demons inside us. I've gotten rid of mine, or at least got them under control", said a more mature 63-year old Kaye, as he announced the beginning of the production for his latest film Stranger Than The Wheel. It's been five years since his third feature film, Detachment (2011), was released. The film was initially supposed to star Shia LaBeouf and is the story of an estranged father-son duo, as they try to reconnect after several years. Last month, Kaye sent out an email 'SHIA LABEOUF QU!T', citing differences over the project. Hunger Games star Evan Ross has been roped in as the replacement, as they begin shooting.

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The self proclaimed auteur is still trying to leave behind the shadow of his debut.

Kaye is excited about his latest project, "I've got some good stuff here, don't worry I want it to be a hit."

With his fourth feature, the director promises to make his most fearless film till date. Referring to his idols, Kaye says, "I'll get there, eventually."

Being on the wrong side of sixty, the self-proclaimed auteur is still out seeking redemption for his antics on his debut film. It will be interesting to see if he can get out of the shadow of American History X and make a 'comeback' as Hollywood likes to put it. There's never been a question about his skill, as much about his temperament. However, time is running out...

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By PTI: Srinagar, June 15 (PTI) Militants today carried out two grenade attacks within a span of 10 minutes in Shopian district of Kashmir, resulting in injuries to two civilians, police said.

The first attack took place at 5.

30 pm when militants lobbed a grenade at the police station building complex in Shopian town, a police official said.

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The grenade exploded in the compound of the police station without causing any damage, he said.

In the second attack, the ultras hurled a grenade at Batapora chowk, about 200 metres away from the police station, resulting in injuries to two civilians.

The injured persons have been admitted to District Hospital for treatment, the official said.

Security forces have launched an operation to track down the assailants, he added. PTI MIJ AKK

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By PTI: London, Jun 15 (PTI) Scientists have discovered a unique meteorite, which they believe is a part of a cosmic body that may have been involved in a huge collision in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter some 470 million years ago.

The 8cm space rock, called Osterplana 65, was found in a limestone quarry in Sweden and is said to be chemically distinct from any of the 50,000 other such objects held in collections.

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The collision in the asteroid belt 470 million years ago would have been the same that produced a large class of other rocks known as L chondrites, researchers said.

The L chondrites have been found in large quantities in the sediments of a period in Earth history when the Northern Hemisphere was largely under water and marine lifeforms such as the trilobites were flourishing.

Scientists have recovered more than a hundred of these "fossil" objects in the quarry.

However, the new meteorite discovered by researchers from the Lund University in Sweden and University of California at Davis in the US stands out because geochemically its oxygen and chromium signatures are distinct.

"For a long time we called it the mysterious object because it didnt resemble anything," Schmitz was quoted as saying by the BBC News.

The researchers used cosmogenic dating to hypothesise that the Osterplana 65 comes from the "second asteroid" in the collision.

The technique helps determine how long the fresh surface of a broken object has been exposed to space radiation.

The research was published in the journal Nature Communications. PTI MHN AKJ ABH

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Clinton's win in the District of Columbia, the final primary of 2016, had no bearing on her role as the presumptive nominee.

By AP: Hillary Clinton brought a close to the presidential primary season with a win in the nation's capital and a meeting with dispatched rival Bernie Sanders, hoping to set a tone of Democratic unity heading into next month's party convention in Philadelphia.

Clinton's win in the District of Columbia, the final primary of 2016, had no bearing on her role as the presumptive nominee, but it nevertheless marked a transition in the lengthy primary fight between the two rivals.

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In virtually identical statements released after meeting for more than 90 minutes, the Clinton and Sanders campaigns said the two rivals discussed their primary campaign, "unifying the party and the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation." Neither spoke to reporters after the session at a Washington, D.C., hotel a few blocks from the White House.

Clinton told Sanders she appreciated his commitment to stopping Trump in the general election and the two discussed issues in which they share common goals, including "raising wages for working families, eliminating undisclosed money in politics and reducing the cost of college for students and their families." Both candidates agreed to work together on the development of the platform at the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

Before polls closed in Washington, where Clinton won with nearly 80 percent of the vote, Sanders vowed again to do all he can to prevent Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, from reaching the White House but he declined to endorse Clinton.

The Vermont senator had said the private meeting would help him determine how committed Clinton will be to the policy issues he has staked out during his 13-month campaign.

"Our goal must not be to allow politicians, Donald Trump or anyone else, to divide us," Sanders said outside his Washington headquarters, telling reporters he will continue to "fight as hard as we can" to transform the Democratic Party.

Sanders said he would push for new leadership in the Democratic National Committee his campaign has sparred with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the party's chair along with a progressive platform in the summer convention and electoral changes, such as primaries that allow independents to participate and the elimination of superdelegates.

"We need major, major changes in the Democratic Party," he said.

Yet in Sanders' statement from spokesman Michael Briggs, the senator does not refer to Clinton as the presumptive nominee but instead congratulates her "on the campaign she has run."

Before polls closed in Washington, Sanders vowed again to do all he can to prevent Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, from reaching the White House but he declined to endorse Clinton.

The Vermont senator had said the private meeting would help him determine how committed Clinton will be to the policy issues he has staked out during his 13-month campaign.

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Sanders was warmly received Tuesday by Senate Democrats at their weekly luncheon, where he offered an update about his campaign and some of the lessons he had learned during the past year. Lawmakers in attendance said Sanders did not indicate his future plans.

"He had an opportunity to talk to us about his campaign and how it has changed him and what he has learned," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. "I think we all listened intently because we are anxious to always do better and grow as a party and be more inclusive."

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who leads the Senate Democrats' campaign arm, said Sanders "absolutely will" support fellow Senate Democrats in the fall elections. "It was productive, it was good, it was vintage Bernie," Tester said.

Sanders met last week with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who both later endorsed Clinton, and signaled to Democrats that he hopes to play a constructive role in helping the party regain control of the Senate in the 2016 elections.

The self-described democratic socialist says he will take his campaign to the convention in July and advocate for his policy issues in the platform while urging Democrats to be more inclusive of independents, young people and working-class voters, all of whom were pivotal in his victories in 22 states. But what that will look like still remains unclear, and Sanders has been soliciting advice from supporters on how he should take his campaign forward.

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The mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, has commanded the attention of both campaigns and prompted Democrats to point to Trump's call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S., an issue they view as a key contrast in the general election.

Without mentioning Trump by name, Clinton warned during a speech in Cleveland on Monday that demonizing Muslims would only empower extremist groups. "We should be intensifying contacts in those communities, not scapegoating or isolating them," she said.

Sanders attended a vigil in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont, on Monday night to show solidarity with the victims. Pointing to Trump's comments about Muslims, Sanders said the shooting was conducted by "one hateful person" and not committed by the Muslim people.

Looking forward, Sanders has begun helping Democrats preparing for congressional races and the battle to regain control of the Senate.

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An early test of his clout came Tuesday in Nevada, where a Sanders-backed congressional candidate, Lucy Flores, competed in a three-way primary.

Sanders has opened up his campaign's massive email donor list to several Democratic candidates, hauling in more than $2.4 million for his allies. Flores has been the top recipient of those appeals, collecting about $390,000 from an email Sanders sent in April on behalf of her and two other candidates.

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By PTI: From Lalit K Jha

Washington, Jun 15 (PTI) Ignoring concerns of the White House, the US Senate has moved to block USD 300 million military aid to Pakistan unless the Defence Secretary certifies that Islamabad is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani Network.

This forms part of the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA)-2017 passed by the Senate 85-13 votes yesterday.

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Notably Defence Secretary Ashton Carter is yet to give the necessary certification to Pakistan for a similar legislation passed by the Congress last year under NDAA-2016.

As a result the Pentagon has not been able to release USD 300 million of Coalition Support Fund (CSF) to Pakistan for the fiscal year 2015-2016 ending September 30 this year.

However, the Senate version of the NDAA differs with that of the House, which calls for blocking USD 450 million of the USD 900 million US aid to Pakistan in coalition support fund.

The Senate version has reduced both the figures respectively to USD 300 million and USD 800 million.

Ahead of the Senate voting on NDAA-2017, the White House had opposed any such move.

"We share concerns regarding the threat posed to our forces and interests in Afghanistan by the Haqqani Network, and we continue to engage with Pakistan at the highest levels regarding the need for concerted action specifically against the group," the White House said in a statement on June 8.

The restriction imposed by the Senate would unnecessarily complicate progress in US-Pakistan bilateral relationship on this issue and would limit the Secretary of Defences ability to act in the US national security interest, the White House said.

The White House had made similar objection to the House version of the National Defense Authorisation Act. PTI LKJ UZM

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The religious Kumbh celebrated by the community took place in the valley during the month of Ramzan after 75 years.

By Shuja-ul-Haq : In the month of Ramzan, the valley of Kashmir witnesses a grand and historic event of Kashmiri Hindus. Dashar, the religious Kumbh of the community, took place at Shadipora after 75 years on Tuesday.

With the help of scores of local Muslims, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits thronged this spot in Ganderbal. The sacred place is the confluence of two rivers Jehlum and Sindh. "This is happening after 75 years. We are happy that we have been able to see it happen in our lifetime," said an excited young devotee Suneeta.

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SEPARATE VALLEYS FOR KASHMIRI PANDITS

The event comes right in the middle of a raging controversy on settlement of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley. While many outside the valley have been advocating separate townships for Pandits, the idea has met a lot of opposition within valley.

Several valley-based organisations have said Kashmiri Pandits should settle down in their original areas, instead of separating the population. However, for the devotees who have come to this Kumbh, all the controversies seem to be manufactured to ensure divisions.

"Why is the government talking about separate colonies? We don't need this. This Mela has taken place after 75 years. Muslims are shoulder to shoulder with us here. They are giving us flowers, they are helping us cross this river on their boats. They are doing all this while fasting. We appeal to everyone to end the hate," says a Kashmiri Pandit Maharaj Krishan Bhat.

These sentiments are echoed by the Muslims helping in this Kumbh.

LOCAL HEROES OF THE KUMBH

Farooq Ahmad has been fasting all day himself but that hasn't stopped him from helping devotees cross the river. He has ferried scores of pilgrims to the sacred tree. The sacred tree is a Chinar which stands right in the centre where the two rivers meet and is known as Prayag. "We are helping in many ways. Many people are even staying in our houses for last few days. These Pandits should come back," says Ahmad.

The help that locals have extended is finding a clear appreciation among the devotees. Most of them say they want more such events to take place. "This has come after 75 years and has great importance for us. We are very thankful to the local people here. They are fasting themselves and still helping us," says Param.

As thousands of people thronged the place, the hope of brotherhood and communal harmony come alive yet again.

Also ReadPM Modi greets Muslim community on Ramzan



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By India Today Web Desk: Ever since the news of Rhea Kapoor's next came out, there has been a lot of buzz about the star cast. While Sonam Kapoor has always been the heroine of sister Rhea Kapoor's production ventures, this time around the elder sister decided to step down for Kareena Kapoor Khan.

ALSO READ: Kareena, and not Sonam, to play the lead in Rhea Kapoor's next



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If reports are to be believed, Kareena liked the script of the film but wanted the meatiest role. And this is the reason she will be seen in the lead role in Veere Di Wedding.

While many suspected that there would be bad blood between Sonam and Kareena after this episode, but the Neerja actor put all speculation to rest after she posted a picture with Kareena on Instagram and said that it's an honour to work with Bebo.



No one understands the importance of sisterhood better than you! Bebo what an honour to share screen space with you! #friendslikefamily #iconic #kapoorgirlsforlife #begum #senior #veerediwedding A photo posted by sonamkapoor (@sonamkapoor) on Jun 13, 2016 at 11:39pm PDT

Apart from Kareena and Sona, the film also stars Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania. Inspired from Hollywood film, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, Veere Di Wedding is about four friends on a trip from Delhi to Europe.

The 31-year-old actor is quite excited about the new project and shared a few pictures on her Instagram. After Raanjhanaa and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, this is the third time that Sonam will share screen space with Swara.



Behen this is our third film together!!!! Yayyyyyy!!! I love you @reallyswara !! #sisterfromanothermister #girlsruntheworld #veerediwedding A photo posted by sonamkapoor (@sonamkapoor) on Jun 13, 2016 at 11:28pm PDT

And Sawariyaa actor is happy with the casting coup. It is for the first time that Kareena and Sonam will share screen space for a film.



@rheakapoor I hope you and I keep doing epic shit together! You pulled off a groundbreaking casting coup #kapoorgirlsforlife #veerediwedding #notavanityproject #feminism A photo posted by sonamkapoor (@sonamkapoor) on Jun 14, 2016 at 12:20am PDT

The film will be directed by Shashanka Ghosh and the crew will soon fly to Thailand to begin shooting for the film.



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The e-service would enable villagers to look up for answers online, meet their queries and even lodge complaints. Reuters photo

By Indrajit Kundu: Taking cue from the Centre's digital push, West Bengal government today launched a one of its kind software that would allow people residing in villages to connect with Gram Panchayats online. Bengal Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Subrata Mukherjee inaugurated the e-service that would enable villagers to look up for answers online, meet their queries and even lodge complaints. The newly launched Gram Panchayat Management System (GPMS) is a part of the state government's e-Governance initiatives.

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The "Grievance Redressal Management System" will be accessible using a computer or through a smartphone. All one has to do is fill up the tabs provided on the website to solve any query they might have. Alternatively one can also dial up a toll free number provided on the website and state their problem.

HOW WILL THE SYSTEM WORK

Once the issue is enrolled the user will immediately receive a docket number along with the answer in a text message to one's phone number. The docket number can be used in the website to keep a track of the questions. The West Bengal government has also assured speedy assistance to all every complaint that is filed, regardless of the village or district.

"All the issues will be resolved within seventy four hours from the time of lodging a complaint. The software aims to bridge the gap between the rural population and the Panchayat," Mukherjee said while addressing the media during the launch of the programme.



WEBSITE SOON TO BE BILINGUAL

The website which presently runs on an English database will soon turn bilingual to adhere to the rural people of Bengal. This software will also keep the records of the users confidential, thus ensuring the villagers can voice out their problems without any hesitation. The software is currently being tested for further use and will be fully functional from this coming August.



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The Goods and Services Tax bill, touted to be India's biggest tax reform, will simplify the current system of taxation. The bill will convert the country into a unified market by replacing all indirect taxes with one tax.

By KC Archana: What is GST? Why is there a need for this bill?

Quite literally, GST (Goods and Services Tax) is a tax levied when a consumer buys a good or service.

The current tax regime is riddled with indirect taxes which the GST aims to subsume with a single comprehensive tax, bringing it all under a single umbrella. The bill aims to eliminate the cascading effect of taxes on production and distribution prices on goods and services.

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What is the cascading effect of taxation?

Cascading effect of taxes is caused due to levy of different charges by state and union governments separately. In the current multi-staged tax-structure, the following taxes are levied by the centre and state separately:

Taxes levied by the Centre include: Income tax, service tax, central sales tax, excise duty and security transaction tax.

Taxes levied by the state include: VAT/sales tax, octroi, state excise, property tax, entry tax and agriculture tax.

This tax structure raises the tax-burden on Indian products, affecting their prices, and as a result, sales in the international market. The new tax regime will therefore, help boost exports.



What are the challenges in the implementation?

India is adopting a dual GST, wherein the Central GST will be called CGST and state SGST. The main road block is the coordination among states. Centre and states have to come to a consensus on uniform GST rates, inter-state transaction of goods and services, administrative efficiency and infrastructural preparedness to implement the new tax reform.



How will GST remedy the situation?

GST will do away with Gordian knot of multiple tax-rates which is a burden on the common man.

Dual GST means it will have a federal structure. The GST will basically have only three kinds of taxes - Central, state and another one called integrated GST to tackle inter-state transactions.

Under the current GST tax reform, all forms of 'supply' of goods and services like transfer, sale, barter, exchange, and rental will have a CGST (central levy) and SGST (state levy).

GST will also help usher-in an era of a transparent and corruption-free tax administration. It is set to weed out the current shortcomings of the supply chain owing to the complicated, multi-layered policies.

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On being denied sex, an infuriated wife in Ahmedabad beat her husband to death with a stick. Here are four other incidents where people lost their lives for turning down sex.

By India Today Web Desk: After what she did on a fateful afternoon in November 2013, a session court in Ahmedabad on Monday sentenced a 54-year-old woman to life imprisonment for murdering her husband after he refused to have sex with her.

A report on TOI says the convict, Vimla Vaghela, was alone with her husband Narsinh at their home in Sardarnagar when she lost her cool over being turned down between the sheets.

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On being denied sex, an infuriated Vaghela started beating her husband on his head with a stick. It is said she "doubted her husband's fidelity and accused him of having an extra-marital relationship."

Narsinh suffered multiple injuries from this attack, which led to his death.

Along with life imprisonment, Vaghela has also been fined Rs 2,000, which on failure of payment will earn her another six months of imprisonment.



Killed over sex

1. Last month, a 40-year-old man in Mathura was arrested for allegedly killing his 24-year-old wife after she refused to have sex with him.

During interrogation, he reportedly told the police that his wife never allowed him to have any physical relations with her, which angered him.

2. In May, a 27-year-old Italian man set his ex-girlfriend on fire for refusing him oral sex. According to police, the accused followed her to a dark road, where he forced her car off the road and confronted her.

After failing to force himself on her, he poured alcohol over her and her car and torched the car. When she tried to escape, he chased her down and set her ablaze too.

3. In 2015, a 48-year-old woman in Africa axed her husband to death after he refused her sexual advance.

After much arguing, the husband went to sleep in the bedroom, while the wife dozed off in the kitchen. Upon waking up late that night, she took an ax and hacked her sleeping husband to death.

4. In 2014, a 45-year-old man in Bihar was reported to have hacked his 19-year-old married daughter with a fodder cutter after she refused to have sex with him.

The son-in-law logded a complaint saying the accused had barged into their room at night and threw him out, after which he tried to force himself on his daughter. When she resisted, he hacked her to death.

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By PTI: From K J M Varma

Beijing, Jun 15 (PTI) The wife and son of former powerful leader in Chinas ruling Communist party were jailed today for up to 18 years and fined for accepting bribes, a year after the ex-security Czar was sentenced to life for graft and abuse of power, state media reported.

Zhou Bin, son of former Politburo member Zhou Yongkang, was sentenced to 18 years for graft and indulging in illegal business operations by a court in central Chinas Hubei province which also clamped a hefty fine of 350.2 million yuan (USD 53 million). The court also ordered confiscation of all of his illegally obtained assets, state- run Xinhua news agency reported.

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Zhou Yongkangs wife Jia Xiaoye will serve nine years for taking bribes. She was also fined one million yuan (USD 150,000), the court announced on its official microblogging site.

Zhou Bin and his father Zhou Yongkang sought benefits for others by taking advantage of Yongkangs posts, and accepted property to the value of 98 million yuan, the Yichang City Intermediate Peoples Court said in its verdict.

In collaboration with others, Zhou Bin used his fathers influence to obtain advantages for others through other officials and accepted property to the amount of 124 million yuan. Zhou Bin violated the state regulations by doing business in restricted items, disturbing the market order, the verdict said.

Zhou Yongkang, who was considered security Czar in former Chinese president Hu Jintaos administration as he headed national security, was a member of the powerful nine-member Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) until he retired in 2012.

He and his supporters became the main target of the massive anti-corruption drive launched by President Xi Jinping who took over power in 2013 in which thousands of officials were punished.

In last June, Zhou Yongkang was sentenced to life imprisonment for accepting bribes, abusing his power and deliberately disclosing state secrets. PTI KJV CPS AKJ CPS

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Sony, Microsoft and Coolpad who were in the top 12 list dropped out this year.

By Indo-Asian News Service: South Korean smartphone giant Samsung sold the most number of smartphones worldwide in the first quarter of the year and is expected to sell 320 million smartphones by the end of the year, a new report said on Wednesday.

According to US-based market research company IC Insights, buoyed by the strong sales growth of Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, Samsung sold 81.5 million smartphones, followed by Apple with 51.6 million smartphones -- in the first quarter.

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Although the list of top 12 smartphone makers is dominated by China-based smartphone suppliers -- taking eight spots in the list -- Indian smartphone supplier Micromax broke into the list for the first time.

It sold five million devices in the first quarter of the year and is projected to sell 25 million smartphones by the end of the year -- 74 per cent increase from last year.

"Among the Chinese players, Huawei is at number three, OPPO at number four, Xiaomi at number five, Vivo at number six, ZTE at number eight, Lenovo at number nine and TCL and Meizu are at spots 10 and 11, respectively," androidheadlines.com said, quoting the report.

Sony, Microsoft and Coolpad who were in the top 12 list dropped out this year.

Lenovo, which was at fourth spot last year, dropped to ninth place this year - selling only 10.9 million smartphones in the first quarter of 2016. Their sales for the year are expected to drop 26 per cent from 2015.

According to IC Insights, total global smartphone sales will increase by 5 per cent from 1.43 billions units in 2015 to 1.5 billion in 2016.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 device has also topped the 2016 American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) poll.

According to the annual poll comprising 12,710 people, Samsung Galaxy Note 5 phablet has a rating of 86 out of 100, 9to5mac.com reported recently.

iPhone 6 Plus is one notch behind at 85. In last year's satisfaction index, Apple and Samsung were neck-to-neck at 80.

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The equal-access rules bar internet service providers from obstructing or slowing down consumer access to web content.

By Reuters: A U.S. appeals court upheld the Obama administration's landmark rules barring internet service providers from obstructing or slowing down consumer access to web content on Tuesday, dealing a blow to big cable and mobile phone companies.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in a 2-1 decision, backed the Federal Communications Commission's so-called net neutrality rules put in place last year to make internet service providers treat all internet traffic equally.

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The rules prohibited broadband providers from giving or selling access to speedy internet, essentially a "fast lane" on the web's information superhighway, to certain internet services over others.

In siding with the FCC, the court treated the internet like a public utility and opened the door to further government internet regulations.

The ruling was a big victory for President Barack Obama, a strong advocate of net neutrality rules.

"Today's ruling is a victory for the open, fair and free internet as we know it today - one that remains open to innovation and economic growth, without service providers serving as paid gatekeepers," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

But the fight is not over. The internet service providers that sued to block the regulations said they would appeal either to the full appellate court or to the Supreme Court, and telecommunications industry groups said they would redouble efforts to get Congress to limit the FCC's authority.

Netflix Inc and Twitter Inc were among the companies that praised the ruling, while Google, part of Alphabet Inc, and others have backed the rules.

Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Democrats in Congress also lauded the ruling.

Also read: Obama says unequivocally committed to net neutrality

But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce business group said the FCC is "essentially transforming an entire industry, in this case the internet, from an innovative, lightly regulated enterprise that made huge investments into this country, into a public utility subject to the whims of regulators."

South Dakota Republican John Thune, who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, said the decision upholds FCC restrictions "designed for the monopoly-telephone era." He said the Republican-led Congress needs to step in to overturn a decision that results in "a highly political agency micromanaging the internet ecosystem."

Net neutrality is a major issue for broadband providers like Verizon Communications Inc, Comcast Corp and AT&T, which fear the rules may make it harder to manage internet traffic and make investment to provide additional capacity less likely.

Verizon said it backs an open internet but urged Congress to approve "reasonable, bipartisan legislation that would provide a stable framework for continued investment and innovation."

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The decision was a victory for content providers like Netflix and Yelp Inc, which have worried that access to customers could be limited without net neutrality.

The ruling boosted the FCC in its bid to complete action on major internet privacy rules applying to internet providers before the end of the year. Internet service providers have expressed growing frustration at proposed FCC regulatory mandates, including new privacy rules and a proposal to open up pay-TV set top boxes to new competitors.

'UNFETTERED ACCESS'

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said the "ruling is a victory for consumers and innovators who deserve unfettered access to the entire web, and it ensures the internet remains a platform for unparalleled innovation, free expression and economic growth."

The telecommunications industry trade association US Telecom, which led the legal challenge, said the court failed to recognize "the significant legal failings" of the FCC rules that "we believe will replace a consumer-driven internet with a government-run internet, threatening innovation and investment in years to come."

The court also rejected legal arguments from opponents that the rules should not apply to mobile phone web use or that they violated the constitutional free-speech rights of internet service providers.

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Republican FCC commissioner Michael O'Rielly said, "We all will rue the day the commission was confirmed to have nearly unmitigated power over the internet."

While the ruling was critical for businesses, consumers likely will not notice any difference because the rules have been in effect since June 2015.

The court's ruling was made by two Democratic-appointed judges: David Tatel, named by President Bill Clinton, and Sri Srinivasan, an Obama appointee. They wrote that "over the past two decades, (website) content has transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, from profound actions like choosing a leader, building a career, and falling in love to more quotidian ones like hailing a cab and watching a movie."

Judge Stephen Williams, an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, wrote in dissent that "the ultimate irony of the commission's unreasoned patchwork is that, refusing to inquire into competitive conditions, it shunts broadband service onto the legal track suited to natural monopolies."

The FCC decided in 2015 to reclassify internet service providers as common carriers under a 1996 law. But unlike how utilities are treated, the FCC decided not to impose rate regulations or require broadband providers to file notice of pricing plans.

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Just two days before Udta Punjab hits cinema halls in India, the movie has been leaked on torrent sites, allegedly by someone from within the censor board.

By India Today Web Desk: Just two days before Udta Punjab hits cinema halls in India, the movie has been leaked on torrent sites, allegedly by someone from within the censor board. Now there have been leaks of unreleased movies on such sites earlier but what is surprising about this leak is that the copy that has been leaked is probably the same one that the Central Board of Film Certification received from the movie makers.

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The movies doing rounds on the torrent sites carries the watermark "for censor" as well as time stamp. So it is very much possible that someone from the Central Board of Film Certification might have knowingly or mistakenly leaked the film on the web.

Also Read: Udta Punjab: Court clears film with 1 cut, says it doesn't defame Punjab or encourage drug addiction

Incidentally, the leaks comes days after an increasingly public and bitter fight between the makers of Udta Punjab and the CBFC headed by Pahlaj Nihlani. CBFC had earlier objected to the release of the movie, which is about the drug problem in Punjab. The board suggested 89 cuts in the film before it could be given a certification for release. The movie producers, including Anurag Kashyap, objected to the cuts saying that they were unnecessary. They deemed the cuts "censorship".

Update: Nihlani has told a television news channel that the person who leaked the film online has been identified and that he is not from the CBFC.



The matter was resolved a few days ago, much to the chagrin of Nihlani, after Bombay High Court asked the CBFC to approve the film for release. The court ordered just one cut and said that the CBFC is a body that certify films and not an organisation that can stop the release of a film.

The leaked copies of Udta Punjab are available on almost all major torrent sites though it seems that Torrentz, a popular search engine for such files, has removed the search links for the leaked after it received copyright notices. The latest copy of the film was uploaded on some of the sites just a few hours ago.

Also Read: Udta Punjab fallout: From censorship to certification, government planning total transformation

This is not the first time when an unreleased film has been released on torrent sites. Earlier we saw big-ticket Hollywood films like Fury leaked on the web weeks before their launch.



Also Read: Udta Punjab: 5 reasons to watch the film (and nothing to do with the controversy)

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Chocovision 2016 reports out

More than 200 senior leaders, industry experts and other stakeholders participated in Chocovision 2016, the business for business conference for the cocoa value chain.

More than 200 senior leaders, industry experts and other stakeholders participated in Chocovision 2016, the business for business conference for the cocoa value chain. It brought together key stakeholders from around the world to discuss strategic topics, chances and challenges that are relevant for the whole chain of the global cocoa and chocolate business sector, as well as discussions started at Chocovision 2012 and 2014.

High-level speakers and panellists come together to address the industrys challenges Guest speakers at Chocovision 2016 included political leaders from cocoa growing countries including Ivory Coast, Ghana and Cameroon, plus industry representatives from The Hershey Company, Olam International, Mars, Metro Group, Tchibo, Ferrero, Firmenich International, Barry Callebaut and Buhler. Also participating were representatives of NGOs and various stakeholder groups including cocoa farmers from the worlds two largest producing countries, Ivory Coast and Ghana, together with experts along the cocoa value chain as well as young Millenials.

Highlights of this years conference included a speech by Lord Michael Hastings, Global Head of Corporate Citizenship at KPMG, who stated that what matters most in the chocolate industry is not the delight of the consumer but the dignity of the farmer. He gave the conference a clear direction when he pointed to more purpose to alleviate poverty. Lord Hastings said Yes, it will cost our pockets much, and our profits more, but we will have done a noble thing.

Jason Clay, SVP, Markets and Executive Director, The Markets Institute, World Wildlife Fund, stressed the emergency state of global food production.

The food we are going to consume in the next 40 years will equal the food we consumed in the last 8,000 years, Clay said. Facing threats like climate change and deforestation, he sees the way forward in innovation and collaboration.

Barry Parkin, Chairman World Cocoa Foundation and Chief Sustainability and Health Wellbeing Officer, Mars Incorporated summarized the discussions of industry representatives who talked about what they have done and where they are now. The key message was that we have established strong foundations of trust across the industry, have aligned on the necessary support to farmers and their communities and are now implementing at scale. The next phase will be learning together as we share progress in order to accelerate real impact with farmers. Answering the plea by a group of four outspoken farmer representatives from Ghana and Ivory Coast for more support, Parkin said: Lets really crystallize the responsibilities between origin governments and industry so we maximize the impact at the farm level. That way we can help more farmers more quickly.

Sir Bob Geldof closed the sustainability session of Chocovision 2016 with words of encouragement: I am thrilled that this is such a very different conference to (four years ago) that first hesitant step towards doing something together. But he also reassured listeners: There is no going back. Geldof appealed to conference participants: You can move the needle for hundreds of thousands of people. Its such a huge responsibility.

Comparing the industrys challenges to the ones development ministers face, he also made it very clear. But there must be some clear aim that you are working towards. Whats the specific target? What are the priorities?

In his closing remarks, Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of Barry Callebaut thanked speakers and participants for the lively discussions and their resolve. He summed up the discussions and the situation the industry finds itself in: We need to raise the floor, leveraging all the good things we have seen at scale. How do we make CocoaAction the norm, not the exception?

Adding to the sense of urgency, he pointed out that, because of global warming, because of tree aging, and because of farmer poverty, time is running out. Saint-Affrique urged industry, governments and the civil society to continue to work together to address also the topics of deforestation, womens empowerment for what he described as the individual and collective roadmap and our agenda for Chocovision 2018. We need to make sure that the trees we planted over the last few years start bearing fruits. We owe it to the children in the origin countries, we owe it to the people across the world who work in chocolate, and we owe it to the chocolate lovers of the world.
GIPI 5 - hot off the press

Global Intellectual Property Index 5th Report. Taylor Wessing's latest GIPI5 Report was unveiled yesterday morning, which has assessed and ranked 43 jurisdictions by combining objective analysis with thousands of survey respondents scoring each right on how it can be obtained, exploited, enforced, and attacked.





The headline news seems to be the optimism about the UPC and Unitary Patent System become almost-realities at long last, with the Unitary Patent identified most frequently by the survey as the current most important IP issue. The UK was rated top for patent law, and every EU Member State (except for Slovakia) falls within the Top 3 of 5 tiers overall.



Coming out on top were:





1 The Netherlands

2 Germany (#1 in GIPI3)

3 UK (#1 in GIPI1, GIPI2, GIPI4).





One remarkable aspect of report is the US' poor performance, being rated into the 4th tier and in 24th place overall - one place ahead of Slovakia. This may come as a bit of a surprise, especially considering that the US has been scored rather more favourably in other indexes. It seems that taking cost effectiveness of enforcement in particular into account is what has hurt the US' scores here, as well as the abandoned plans to improve design protection which fell through between since the last GIPI.





The last little surprise is the rating for personal data protection, which, when compared to the rankings for the other rights, is virtually unrecognisable. Taiwan, Malaysia and South Africa occupy the top three spots. The UK placed 24th. It is still not entirely clear to this Kat whether the jurisdictions have been scored for their quality per se, or what unscrupulous businesses can get away with - as the report observes, 'the table is headed by countries that either have no data protection laws in place or laws that are considered to be weak, immature or outdated'. The data protection rankings apparently describe how easy or relaxed the position is for businesses, and hence the more recently developed and tougher systems being consigned to the bottom of the table.





B aroness Neville-Rolfe, UK Minister for Intellectual Property has said:



I am pleased that UK retains its reputation for its strong IP regime. On patents we are ranked first in the world. This result is testimony to the governments commitment to make the UK the best place to patent. Movements elsewhere in the Global IP index are valuable in focusing our efforts as some laws change and as we strive to do a good job for business in an increasingly knowledge based and digital economy."





You can read the full report here , and find more detail including an interactive map here









Cash for IP in Singapore. The first loan using IP as collateral has been approved in Singapore, following the implementation of the IP Finance Scheme by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS). Masai Group International had the loan approved (with patents as collateral) by DBS as part of the scheme, which has been extended until 31 March 2018 and to include IP classes of trade marks and copyrights.





The press release from IPOS is here





John Allen

John J. Allen Scholarship. In memory of John J. Allen, the deeply missed lawyer and partner in their IT/IP Practice who lost his life along with his family in the MH17 air tragedy, NautaDutilh have introduced a scholarship with his name. The first scholarship has been awarded to Gerben Hartman, who will be commencing an LLM in intellectual property law at Stanford University in the next academic year. The scholarship of up to 10,000 is to be granted annually to promising young lawyers, in order to develop their intellectual property knowledge.





For more information about the scholarship, see here









Thomas Alva Edison Research Fellows. The USPTO is seeking proposals from scholars in IP, innovation, economics and related fields for the Thomas Alva Edison Visiting Scholars Program as Research Fellows. Proposals in a broad range of IP topics will be considered, but projects relating to patent quality would be especially welcome. The deadline for submissions is 11 July 2016.





More information is here





And finally... Citigroup Inc has sued AT&T Inc, alleging that their use of "thanks" and "AT&T thanks" in a new customer loyalty programme infringed Citigroup's trademark rights to the phrase "thankyou." Because, yes, Citigroup have a Citigroup Inc has sued AT&T Inc, alleging that their use of "thanks" and "AT&T thanks" in a new customer loyalty programme infringed Citigroup's trademark rights to the phrase "thankyou." Because, yes, Citigroup have a trademark for "thankyou" [no spaces]. The spokesman for AT&T, Fletcher Cook said:

"This may come as a surprise to Citigroup, but the law does not allow one company to own the word 'thanks. We're going to continue to say thanks to our customers."
[June 14, 2016] Adoption of Cloud-based Services is Driving the Global Critical Infrastructure Protection Market Through 2020, Says Technavio

According to the latest market study released by Technavio, the global critical infrastructure protection market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 13% during the forecast period. This research report titled 'Global Critical Infrastructure Protection Market 2016-2020' provides an in-depth analysis of the market in terms of revenue and emerging market trends. This market research report also includes an up to date analysis and forecasts for various market segments and all geographical regions. Request sample report: http://goo.gl/4gtyvN The report categorizes the global critical infrastructure protection market into the following four segments by physical security. They are: Access control systems

Surveillance systems

Alarms and notification systems

Software Global critical infrastructure protection market by access control systems The global critical infrastructure protection market by access control systems is expected to exceed USD 68 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of close to 15%. Access control systems grant employees access to protected areas only when their identity matches the information stored in the organization's database. The increase in revenue in this segment is because of increased adoption of access control systems in order to prevent unauthorized access to data and facilities. With advances in technology, a number of critical infrastructures are adopting access control systems integrated with biometric technologies such as fingerprint and iris recognition. Contactless smartcards that use radio frequency technology for communication between a contactless smartcard and the card reader are also being used by a number of critical infrastructures for securing access to premises. According to Amrita Choudhury, a lead analyst at Technavio for IT security, "The growth rate of this segment will increase with the growing adoption of advanced technologies such as multifactor authentication and multimodal biometrics. For instance, US-based ntrust provides multifactor authentication to critical infrastructures for controlling physical and logical access."



Global critical infrastructure protection market by surveillance systems The global critical infrastructure protection market by surveillance systems is expected to exceed USD 43 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of close to 13%. The main factor contributing to the growth of this market is the sale of surveillance systems for manufacturing and energy facilities. This is due to the growing awareness among these enterprises about the need for physical security. Surveillance systems are being used by different end-users for ensuring security and monitoring purposes. This accounts for an increase in the number of installations of surveillance cameras worldwide.

Vendors such as Western Advance provide surveillance systems to oil and gas, mining, transportation, and energy facilities. Aguas do Mondego, a water supply and sanitation system company in the Baixo Mondego-Bairrada region of Portugal, uses Avigilon HD solution to monitor remote locations. Global critical infrastructure protection market by alarms and notification systems The global critical infrastructure protection market by alarms and notification systems is expected to exceed USD 30 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of almost 10%. Due to an increase in the number of criminal activities in facilities such as oil and gas, the adoption of alarms and notification systems is expected to increase, which will positively affect market revenue. Alarms and notification systems send alert messages to security personnel in case of an intrusion or theft and thereby help prevent the theft or loss of data. Global critical infrastructure protection market by software The global critical infrastructure protection market by software is expected to exceed USD 19 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of over 16%. The software allows easy integration of physical security devices such as surveillance systems, access control systems, and alarms and notification systems installed at different places to give an integrated view of the critical area under surveillance. In addition, the software helps in seamless integration of new systems with the existing systems, without any added costs for the replacement of devices. "Due to the ability of critical infrastructure protection software to enhance or automate the monitoring processes and store and analyze data related to individual behavior, end-users are shifting from hardware devices to software solutions, which is influencing market growth," says Amrita. The top vendors highlighted by Technavio's research analysts in this report are: Axis Communications (News - Alert) AB

Robert Bosch

Honeywell

IBM

McAfee

Symantec Browse Related Reports: Global Cloud Security Market 2016-2020

Global Cloud Infrastructure Testing Market 2016-2020

Global Smart City ICT Infrastructure Market 2016-2020 Purchase these three reports for the price of one by becoming a Technavio subscriber. Subscribing to Technavio's reports allows you to download any three reports per month for the price of one. Contact [email protected] with your requirements and a link to our subscription platform. About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies. Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160614005097/en/

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[June 15, 2016] Tabush Group Deploys Coho Data's All Flash Scale-Out Platform for their Virtual Desktop Service

Coho Data, a leading innovator and provider of true scale-out infrastructure solutions for the enterprise private cloud, today announced Tabush Group is integrating the company's virtual desktop offering with Coho's DataStream scale-out storage platform in Boxtop, Tabush's all-in-one virtual workspace cloud IT solution. Tabush Group is a leading provider of virtual workspace, private cloud, and managed IT services, specializing in delivering technology solutions for small to midsize professional services firms. Click to Tweet Tabush chose Coho all flash scale-out storage for its ability to deliver high performance and unparalleled value to end-users, while allowing them to start out small and scale on demand without manual intervention. Tabush Group's virtual desktop user experience has been significantly improved by reducing average data store latency from 15-50ms to 1-2ms, after moving their VDI environment from another storage platform to Coho Data. According to Mahmut Sarigedik, CTO, Tabush Group, "As a managed service provider, we knew we had to have a solid, high-performance storage platform with great scalability to provide the best end-user experience on a virtual desktop for our customers. With Coho Data, we get all of this at a price point that helps to keep us extremely competitive!" The Coho DataStream architecture is designed for cloud infrastructures and its unique SDN integration provides network optimized workload distributionand parallelization to support the scalability requirements of cloud-based applications.



According to Andy Warfield, CTO, Coho Data, "Coho Data is very pleased to be working with Tabush since our architecture is a great fit relative to solving the prime VDI challenges of improving the end-user experience and scalability. To this end, DataStream delivers unparalleled performance and will efficiently scale both capacity and performance as VDI installation for Boxtop customers evolves over time." About Tabush Group

Tabush Group is a leading provider of virtual workspace, private cloud, and managed IT services that specializes in technology solutions for small to midsize businesses in the fields of law, real estate, construction, investment management, and professional services. Our mission is to help organizations succeed through our passion and experience. Building upon that experience, Tabush has developed an all-in-one cloud solution called Boxtop, which delivers all of a company's IT needs as a simple, secure, and scalable service, allowing small business owners to focus on growing their companies. Boxtop includes virtual desktops, cloud infrastructure, storage, backups, security, and unlimited support. Founded in 2000, Tabush is a privately held company headquartered in New York City, with data centers located in New York, Ohio, and Washington State. Additional information about Tabush and its services can be found at www.tabush.com, and additional information about Boxtop can be found at www.goboxtop.com. About Coho Data Coho Data is a leader in rack-scale converged infrastructure for the enterprise, combining SDN, SDS and commodity hardware that enables companies to bring the efficiency and flexibility of the public cloud into on-premise data centers. The Coho DataStream platform uniquely delivers true scale-out storage performance, unparalleled simplicity and a 75 percent reduction in TCO. The Coho DataStream architecture is optimized for "New IT" workloads, such as big data, containers and microservices. Coho Data headquartered in Palo Alto (News - Alert), California, with offices in Canada, the U.K. and India. For more information, visit Coho Data at www.cohodata.com and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @cohodata. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615005779/en/

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[June 15, 2016] Global Technical Alliance Forged Between TmaxSoft and Flynet

A global technical alliance that will cut the cost of running mainframes and dramatically improve the administration and accessibility of host system environments has been launched by TmaxSoft, a middleware and enterprise software company, and Flynet, a leading supplier of host server integration software and services. Under the terms of the technical alliance the two enterprise software companies will co-operate on a sales and marketing initiative globally, promoting the ways in which TmaxSoft's OpenFrame rehosting solution and Flynet's Terminal Emulation and User Experience tools work in tandem to transform legacy mainframe estates to a modernized, cost effective infrastructure with a modern user interface. Users will be able to rehost their mainframe applications to Open System platforms at low cost and reduce or eliminate Million Instructions Per Second (MIPS) payments, with the option of a modern interface that increases the accessibility and usability of their mainframe from any mobile or desktop device. Carl Davies (News - Alert), CEO of TmaxSoft UK, commented on the partnership: "The world of IT is changing rapidly and yet throughout this dramatic period of change the old mainframe remains a staple in many enterprises. The challenge in an era of Big Data, Cloud Computing, mobile and social technologies is how to ensure that the mainframe - and the data that resides within it - remain relevant. With the mainframe forming the backbone of many IT departments, supporting many mission critical applications it is still the system of choice for many in terms of security, scalability and reliability," "But here lies the challenge. The mainframe is expensive to run, very often built on bespoke programming and the people who developed and maintained them now retiring. There is a very real need for businesses to modernize their mainframe infrastructure, without sacrificing core applications that have served the company for generations."



"Our global alliance with TmaxSoft will not only deliver costs savings to legacy mainframe estates, but combined with our advanced mainframe terminal emulation and modernization software will make the data that resides within the mainframe accessible to a whole new generation. We look forward to working closely with TmaxSoft," he added.

As an advanced re-hosting solution that enables mainframe assets, including applications, resources and data residing in a legacy system to be migrated to a more reliable and high-performance open system platform without modifying original business logic and data, OpenFrame from TmaxSoft also offers efficient resource and data extractions from mainframe systems, allowing for less expensive conversions and more flexible open systems. Flynet Viewer Terminal Emulation software provides an instant web browser based terminal emulation to key business systems, including Mainframe, iSeries, Unix, VMS or multivalue systems, on any device with zero client side software, all managed centrally via the Flynet Viewer administration centre. The solution can be installed within minutes and connects automatically to any system that uses typical green screen connection protocols such as 3270, 5250, VT220. These systems are then instantly and securely available via any browser on any platform. NOTES TO EDITORS About Flynet Flynet is an established software company based in the UK and the US, providing host, legacy and heritage systems (mainframe, iSeries, pSeries, Unix, VMS, VAX and MultiValue) terminal emulation, modernization and migration software to companies like Wolseley, DHL, BMW, HP, Vodafone (News - Alert), BT and Tesco. Flynet was founded in 1996 in Cambridge (UK) originally a project based science organisation that was used by organisations like IBM (News - Alert), Xerox and SAP to provide accessibility solutions to their respective technologies, Flynet then grew to become an enterprise software company delivering solutions to many blue chip manufacturers, telco's, retailers and finance organisations. www.flynetviewer.com About TmaxSoft TmaxSoft is a global software innovator focused on data management, middleware, and mainframe modernization, with solutions that offer enterprise CIOs viable alternatives to support their global IT powerhouses and drive competitive advantage. OpenFrame is a legacy rehosting solution that enables mainframe applications, resources and data to be migrated to a less expensive, high performance open system while reducing TCO, and minimizing risk of migration, all in very short timeframes. Tibero is the best enterprise RDBMS for the Virtual Data Center. Our licensing model allows enterprises to fully maximize their virtualization investment by only licensing the cores associated to a given VM, resulting in drastically lower TCO. JEUS is the first Web Application Server in the world to be J2EE 1.4, JAVA EE 5, and JAVA EE 6 Certified and can deliver improved security over traditional WAS. TmaxSoft was founded in 1997 and today, we have over 800 employees in 12 strategic centers around the world. The U.S. headquarters are located in Chicago, IL. Please visit www.tmaxsoft.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615005882/en/

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[June 15, 2016] IMS2016 Draws Nearly 10,000 Attendees Creating the Wireless Future

SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 10,000 attendees flocked to the IEEE MTT-S 2016 International Microwave Symposium (IMS) May 22-27, marking a 32% increase in show attendance since 2013 and validating IMS as an essential event for the wireless industry. Tradeshow News Network (TSNN) recently named IMS one of the 25 Fastest Growing Shows based on attendance. The six-day event, held in San Francisco's Moscone Center, drew nearly 3,000 attendees to the technical program and featured a record-breaking 625 companies on the sold-out show floor. IMS, the annual conference and exhibition of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S), is the premier international meeting for technologists involved in all aspects of microwave theory and practice. IMS attendees comprised RF designers, researchers, developers and academics representing more than 60 countries including China (4% of attendees), as well as Japan (3%), Korea (3%), and Germany (3%). Of attendees at this year's show, 42% were first-time attendees, and IMS2016 saw an increase in overall attendance of 15% over IMS2015. "IMS is the number one trade-show in the microwave and RF industry and is rapidly becoming known as a must-attend event in the broader technology sector," said Dr. Amarpal Khanna, IMS2016 general chair. "Microwave and RF technologies are the backbone of emerging innovations that will shape the future of technology-- everything from virtual reality to autonomous driving. It's inspiring to see the industry's greatest innovators come together each year to exchange ideas that turn into tomorrow's ground-breaking technologies." The "connectivity crunch" was a hot topic of this year's show, with standing-room only technical sessions on millimeter waves and other approaches for overcoming bandwidth and spectrum issues. Humantechnology interaction was also a major theme; "father of the cell phone" Dr. Martin Cooper set the stage discussing how wireless connectivity has the opportunity to improve the interaction between humans and technology during his plenary session presentation, and University of California, Berkeley Donald O. Pederson Distinguished Professor Jan M. Rabaey spurred discussion on the human and technology interaction as it relates to the future of wearable devices at the closing session.



Technology heavyweights including Facebook, The Boeing Company and Virginia Tech discussed the technological and economic challenges for the future space-based internet during the evening "rump" session. Returning for its second year, the Wireless Wonders Pavilion showcased microwave and RF-based wearable electronics from exhibitors including Automatic Labs, Maja Systems/Rhode & Schwarz, Qualcomm and Zentri. The pavilion also highlighted a cooperative virtual reality experience in which players had to work as a team to complete a virtual mission to Mars. Additionally, special sessions hosted by the Women in Microwaves, which presented a panel on leadership, and the Young Professionals in microwaves, which held a panel on the future of millimeter waves, reinforced the industry's commitment to diversity and its future leaders. The show wrapped with a keynote from National Instruments' President, CEO, and Co-Founder Dr. James Truchard around the importance of 5G, in which Dr. Truchard explained how a software-based approach will enable the explosion of wireless connectivity. The transition to 5G will be a major theme at IMS2017.

"5G is the next horizon for wireless connectivity and the catalyst to make the Internet of Things a universal reality, but the transition still presents a number of challenges for the microwave and RF industry to address," said Dr. Wayne Shiroma, IMS2017 general chair. "The sharing of knowledge and collaboration that IMS enables are the key to bringing 5G, and technologies beyond it, to life." IMS2017 will be held June 4-9, 2017 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. Booth selection for 2017 is currently underway, with 80% of exhibit space already sold. About IMS

The International Microwave Symposium (IMS) is the annual conference and exhibition of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S). IMS features a large trade show with a large commercial exhibition featuring over 625 companies and a technical program offering technical sessions, interactive forums, plenary and panel sessions, workshops, short courses, application seminars, and a wide variety of other technical and social activities. The program covers the latest microwave and RF advancements in emerging areas such as 5G, automobile radar, wearable electronics, the Internet of Things, wireless HDMI, medical applications, satellite communications, and more. IMS2017 will be held June 4-9, 2017 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. For more information, visit www.ims2017.org or follow IMS on Facebook and Twitter. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ims2016-draws-nearly-10000-attendees-creating-the-wireless-future-300285409.html SOURCE IMS

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A Mattoon Police Department press release reported that Bobby Boehme, 32, of Charleston and Miles B. Callow, 23, of Mattoon were arrested at 12:01 p.m. Monday in the 1300 block of Richmond Avenue.

Both men were charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug equipment, and possession of cannabis. The charges allege that the pair were in possession of heroin, in possession of drug equipment used to ingest heroin, and in possession of cannabis.
SPRINGFIELD -- Even before a gunman opened fire over the weekend at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., killing 49 people before being fatally shot by police, efforts were underway in the Illinois General Assembly to strengthen the states gun laws.

The Illinois House is considering a bill that would require gun dealers to be licensed by the state and another that would create a lethal violence order of protection, allowing family members, roommates or law enforcement officers to seek court orders barring individuals from possessing firearms if theres evidence showing that they pose a danger to themselves or others. Both measures are sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, who didnt respond to requests for comment.

Colleen Daley, executive director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, said mass shootings like the one in Orlando, the deadliest in modern U.S. history, underscore the need for stricter controls on the sale and possession of guns.

We see this time and time again, primarily in Congress, Daley said. These things happen and everyone says thoughts and prayers, and then it leads to inaction.  Inaction is no longer an option. We have to do absolutely everything we possibly can to help save lives in our country."

The need for stronger gun laws should already be clear in Illinois, Daley said, noting that 42 people were shot, seven of them fatally, this past weekend in Chicago.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was able to purchase the semi-automatic handgun and rifle he used in the attack despite reportedly having previously been on the FBIs terrorist watch list. Changing that would require congressional action, but Daley said measures like those under consideration in Illinois could help stem the tide of gun violence.

Congress refuses to act, so we need to do things here in Illinois that are going to save lives, she said.

Allowing family members to go to court for lethal violence orders of protection could potentially prevent a mass shooting, Daley said.

Since the Orlando shooting, Mateens ex-wife has said publicly that he was mentally unstable and mentally ill. Under the proposed Illinois law, however, only a relative by blood or present marriage, a roommate or a law enforcement officer would be able to seek such a court order.

State licensing of firearm dealers, meanwhile, would help prevent guns from reaching the streets to be used in crimes, Daley said.

A 2014 report from the Chicago Police Department notes that four stores -- three in suburban Cook County and one in Gary, Ind. -- accounted for nearly 20 percent of the guns recovered in Chicago crimes from 2009 to 2013.

More scrutiny from state regulators and local law enforcement would help keep guns out of criminals hands, the report says.

But Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said both measures under consideration in the General Assembly are examples of unnecessary overreach.

The organization posted an announcement on its website Monday saying that the gun-grabbers in the Illinois House are still waiting for their opportunity to call for a vote on the dangerous legislation on state licensing.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives already tightly regulates gun sales, making additional state oversight unnecessary, Pearson said.

If the bill were to become law, he said, it would be used by Chicago and Cook County to harass gun sellers.

Likewise, allowing family members to seek court orders barring people from possessing guns could be used for harassment of people, of relatives you didnt like, Pearson said.

Somebody can complain against you, and your rights are immediately wiped out without any hearing, he said.

The bill provides for a hearing within 14 days of an emergency order being granted.

Pearson said his organization isnt against laws that will help put people who use guns illegally in jail. For example, the Illinois State Rifle Association supported a bill the Legislature approved this spring that would create a felony charge for firearm trafficking.

The General Assembly also approved a bill that would require the Illinois State Police to notify local law enforcement agencies when someones Firearm Owners Identification card is revoked due to a court-issued order of protection.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Bruce Rauner said he will carefully review these bills to ensure they protect public safety and the rights of lawful gun owners.
CHARLESTON -- A man will receive a new sentence for a Coles County conviction after he admitted attacking a woman in another county.

The resentencing for Dustin M. Trosper will result from his guilty plea and prison sentence for the March 2015 attack of a woman at his home in Vermilion County.

Trosper, now 40, was accused of raping a woman at his Charleston apartment in August 2010 when he and the woman were both Eastern Illinois University students.

However, at a trial in January 2013, a jury convicted Trosper of charges of unlawful restraint and aggravated domestic battery but acquitted him of a charge of aggravated criminal sexual assault.

After the Vermilion County incident, Coles County authorities filed a petition seeking to revoke the probation sentence Trosper received for his conviction here.

Trosper's guilty plea and conviction in the Vermilion County case means it's no longer a question of whether he violated his probation terms, Coles County Assistant State's Attorney Tom Bucher said on Tuesday.

A hearing in the Coles County is scheduled for June 27, when Bucher said he'll ask Circuit Judge Teresa Righter to take official notice of the Vermilion County conviction.

That should lead the judge to order Trosper's probation revoked and to schedule a hearing to impose a new sentence, Bucher explained.

In Vermilion County, Trosper was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his home in Catlin. He also was charged with offenses alleging he choked her and prevented her from leaving.

His jury trial on those charges had been set to take place this week before an agreement was reached on Friday.

With the agreement, Trosper pleaded guilty to an aggravated battery charge and was sentenced to three years in prison. Other charges were dismissed, including a sexual assault offense that would have required a six- to 30-year prison term.

When contacted about the case, Vermilion County Assistant State's Attorney Bill Brozovich, who prosecuted, said the agreement was based on several factors. Consultation with the victim was part of that, he said, but he declined to elaborate.

Brozovich did say he felt it was important that Trosper receive a conviction in the case and that he be sentenced to prison time.

In Coles County, Trosper was sentenced in April 2013 to 2 1/2 years of probation. At that time, Circuit Judge James Glenn said he decided against a prison sentence so Trosper could receive the counseling he needed.

Having his probation revoked would mean Trosper would face any sentence possible for the offenses for which he was originally convicted. The most serious can result in a prison sentence of three to seven years.
The forensic scientist who tested blood and semen evidence collected at the scene of a Beatrice woman's 1985 murder told a federal jury Tuesday in Lincoln that her findings were mischaracterized by attorneys at Joseph White's trial in 1989.

Line by line, Reena Roy, now a professor and director of Penn State University's forensic science graduate program, went through the ways the statement read to the Gage County jury 27 years ago got it wrong, starting with the spelling of her name. Attorneys in the case agreed to read the statement to the jury rather than have her testify.

Roy said she wouldn't have testified that the semen found on the carpet was similar to that of co-defendant Tom Winslow, or that the blood on Helen Wilson's nightgown was similar to that of another co-defendant, Kathy Gonzalez, as the jury was told she would have.

In 1989, the jury found White guilty of killing Wilson and a judge sentenced him to life in prison.

White served nearly 20 years before DNA testing he fought to get identified Bruce Allen Smith as the one who raped and killed the 68-year-old widow and the convictions against White and five others unraveled.

The Nebraska Supreme Court ultimately overturned White's conviction, and the case was dismissed. The others -- Winslow, Gonzalez, Ada JoAnn Taylor, James Dean and Debra Shelden -- were pardoned.

Together, they spent 77 years in prison.

They filed a civil rights suit against Gage County, former Sheriff Jerry DeWitt, who now is dead, Deputy Burdette Searcey and Wayne Price, a psychologist and part-time deputy, saying the investigation was so reckless it "shocked the conscience." A 2014 trial in the case ended in a mistrial.

On Tuesday, the seventh day of a new trial, Roy was called to talk about the tests she did on crime scene evidence in 1985 and in 1989 when Searcey started making arrests.

Serology has changed drastically since 1989, she said. She was doing blood typing, looking for genetic markers, not DNA tests, which were not yet done in Nebraska.

Roy said the testing she did on blood on Wilson's bedsheet and semen found on her body pointed to a suspect with Type B blood who was a non-secretor, meaning his blood type was not secreted into body fluids. Only about 20 percent of people are non-secretors. Fewer still have Type B blood.

Of the Beatrice 6, only Gonzalez had Type B blood, but she was a secretor.

Roy said Winslow should have been excluded as the source of all of the semen and blood evidence she analyzed.

Complicating matters, White and the victim both had Type O blood and were secretors with the exact same genetic markers, which is why Roy said she couldn't exclude him from creating fluids taken from Wilson's body. But, she said, more than likely it had been a combination of fluid from the victim and semen from a non-secretor.

That wasn't explained to the jury, which was only told that semen found in the victim's body "could not be positively identified as being White's."

Roy said she told White's attorney in a 1989 pre-trial deposition that DNA testing could distinguish if any of the fluids collected at the scene had come from White. But that wasn't done until decades later.

"So the prosecutor and defense attorney must've misunderstood your deposition?" Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf asked Roy before she left the stand.

No, she said, reading from a part of her report where she said Gonzalez' blood was not a match.

"I cannot make it much clearer," Roy said.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.  The body of a 2-year-old Nebraska boy who was snatched off a Walt Disney World beach by an alligator and dragged underwater was recovered Wednesday, ending a ghastly search at one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.

Divers found the body of Lane Graves about 16 hours after authorities first got the call that a reptile had taken the boy from the water's edge at Seven Seas Lagoon despite his father's frantic attempt to save the child.

Sheriff Jerry Demings said it appeared the gator pulled the child into deeper water and drowned him, leaving the body near the spot where he was last seen. An autopsy was planned.

"Of course the family was distraught, but also I believe somewhat relieved that his body was found intact," Demings told a news conference.

The boy's parents were identified as Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn, a suburban area of Omaha. A family friend released a statement on behalf of the couple thanking well-wishers for their "thoughts and hope-filled prayers."

CEO Michael Iaccarino of Infogroup, a marketing company where Matt Graves is chief data officer, said Grave's family "is the light of his life."

In a statement from Disney World Resort President George A. Kalogridis, the company said it was "doing what we can" to help the family.

Disney World closed beaches around Seven Seas Lagoon during the search, and it was not immediately clear when they would reopen.

While "no swimming" signs are posted at the beach where the boy was attacked, no signs warn about alligators. A company representative said it would "thoroughly review the situation for the future."

Demings said his agency and state wildlife officials would look into the issue of warning signs. The sheriff told The Associated Press that investigators would also review whether the boy's parents should be charged, but it's not likely.

"There nothing in this case to indicate that there was anything extraordinary" in terms of neglect by the parents, Demings said.

Wildlife officials said the attack was a rarity in a state with a gator population estimated at 1 million. But it still spooked visitors in a city built on tourism.

"We have been to Yellowstone and encountered grizzly bears, but this is just freaky," said Minnesota tourist John Aho, who was staying at the park with his wife, Kim, and their 12-year-old son, Johnny.

The child had waded no more than 1 or 2 feet into the water around nightfall Tuesday when he was taken from a small beach, authorities said.

The boy's father desperately tried to fight off the gator, suffering lacerations on a hand, but he could not save his son. Neither could a nearby lifeguard, officials said.

No other alligator attacks have been reported on the man-made lake, according to Demings.

Some visitors were surprised to learn the reptiles lived on the property.

"My question is why are there alligators in there?" said Michelle Stone, who lives near Detroit and was visiting Disney for 10 days with her two children.

The sheriff said the company has a wildlife management system and has "worked diligently to ensure their guests are not unduly exposed to wildlife here in this area."

Nick Wiley with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said witnesses estimated the alligator was 4 feet to 7 feet long. Crews removed five gators from the lake during the search, and officials said one could have been the animal that attacked the boy.

The beach where the reptile grabbed the child is part of the luxury Grand Floridian resort, across the lake from Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park. The lake stretches over about 200 acres and reaches a depth of 14 feet. It feeds into a series of canals that wind through the entire Disney property.

Though Florida has grown to the nation's third-most populous state, fatal alligator attacks remain rare. Since 1973, 23 people had been killed by wild alligators in Florida, according to data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The boy makes 24.

The grim news was only the latest for a city buffeted by tragedy in the past few days.

On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, leaving 49 people dead in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. On Friday night, Christina Grimmie, 22, a contestant on season six of "The Voice," was fatally shot as she signed autographs after a show in Orlando.
SANTA CLARA, California - I left work about 5 p.m. and drove to the San Jose Convention Center to hear Donald Trump speak.

I've been voting for conservative candidates for 15 years and have been a registered Republican since 2015. Now that the general election is underway, I believe Trump is the best candidate to fix our country's many problems, and I believe he's going to be the next commander in chief. So I was excited to hear him, and to show my support.

The speech really energized me. I got a new sense of appreciation and respect for Trump after a Bernie Sanders supporter interrupted him with a sign. Trump didn't blink: "Darling, there's no way he can win, but keep your sign high," he said. That is the president that I want. It was great being around so many Republicans -- in the Bay Area, we don't have a lot of that, so it was great to feel the camaraderie of being part of the GOP.

My trouble began once the rally was over.

The garage where we had parked our car was right next to the building, but police were directing everyone around the block to another garage entrance instead. The farther we walked, the fewer Trump fans were with us -- people began peeling off to go to restaurants or bars in the area, or to other garages nearby.

And suddenly, protesters WERE everywhere. Some were holding Mexican flags, or burning American ones. They were yelling "F-- Trump!" at us and cornering us. Some of them started grabbing Trump supporters -- they were going up and slugging people, sucker-punching people, just picking out random people.

About a block from the garage entrance, we turned down the street and found a line of protesters standing in our way. To get to our car, we'd have to go through them. My friend and I were wearing "Make America Great Again" Trump hats. We were targets, and I was terrified. I could feel it coming -- they would look at me and start walking up to me.

Before we could make it into the garage, four or five men surrounded me, and another four surrounded my friend. They just started swinging. We swung back as best as we could. My main thing was I didn't want to fall; I didn't want to be knocked down. I'm not a big guy, but I can defend myself as best I can if it's one on one -- but not when they have so much anger against us.

One of the blows caught my nose and blood started pouring out. That kind of stunned them, and they backed off a quick second. My adrenaline kicked in; I felt punches on my head and I felt the punch that hit my nose, but I was in survival mode by then, and I didn't realize until later how much it hurt. I called to my friend, "OK, let's go!"

We ran into the parking garage and thought we were safe, but there were a few dozen protesters there too. We got in our car and headed toward the exit. Protesters jumped on the cars in front of us, but we eventually made it out. My friend drove me to the emergency room because my nose was pouring blood. I had a broken nose, and because I was covered with scratches, I had to get a tetanus shot, too. It took a lot out of me, much more than I realized at first; my headaches and soreness didn't start to go away until a week later.

The whole thing made me angry. Here in Northern California, I feel like a unicorn: I'm a gay Hispanic Republican. It was much harder to come out as a Trump supporter than it was to come out as gay -- the minute you say you're for Trump, everyone comes at you -- but this has pushed me out of the closet about it completely.

I should be able to vote for whom I want, and I shouldn't have to deal with violence to hear my candidate speak. If people want to protest at rallies, they should do it peacefully.
Hate has the stage, the mic and most of the cards.

That's the problem, the common thread, the biggest glaring issue in all the bloodshed, grief and debate over the deadliest mass shooting in American history.

Omar Mateen despised gays in the same way that Donald Trump and too many of his supporters despise Muslims. And hate, alas, is contagious.

It's true that Mateen, 29, pledged his allegiance to the brutal Islamic State organization before he slaughtered 49 people and injured 53 others inside a gay nightclub in Orlando early Sunday morning. But it isn't Islam that explains what Mateen did.

There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world - 3.3 million in the United States - and the vast majority are peaceful, productive people. If mainstream Islam really demanded violence, our world would look pretty different.

No, Mateen didn't kill people because he was a Muslim. He killed people because he was an angry, unstable person who apparently beat his former wife and was outraged when he saw two men kiss in Miami.

"What is clear is that he was a person filled with hatred," President Barack Obama said Sunday. "In the coming days, we'll uncover why and how this happened, and we will go wherever the facts lead us."

Obama knows what it's like to be the target of hatred. He and first lady Michelle Obama have endured endless abuse during their seven years in the White House.

This week, the president's enemies, led by Trump, excoriated him for avoiding the use of the word "Muslim" in his speech.

So where was their fury when Obama omitted the word "Christian" in the speech he gave after Robert Lewis Dear Jr.'s slaughter at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado? Dear had crosses all over his ramshackle house and his Internet writings urged people to "Turn to JESUS or burn in hell."

Islam made Mateen a killer the same way Christianity made Dear a killer. The one and only altar those men worshiped at was the altar of hate.

Our country is being consumed by all this rage, and sometimes it feels impossible to put a stop to it.

"Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that," the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said before he became the victim of a hater.

Muslims were already under attack from Trump, who wants to bar them from entering the United States. He repeated that call again Monday, using Mateen's deadly attack on gays to justify his own ugly bigotry toward Muslims.

"This horrific Orlando attack however should NOT be used to vilify and stereotype the peaceful and law abiding Muslim community in America," the leaders of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society in Northern Virginia wrote on their website after the massacre. "Islam absolutely condemns and forbids terrorism and extremism. The Quran, Islam's revered text, states: 'Whoever kills a person, it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind.' "

For Hassan Ahmad, a Northern Virginia lawyer, Mateen's actions were "a reminder how much work goes into building inclusivity and coexistence, and how quickly it can be destroyed," he wrote in a raw Facebook post. "If we let it."

The country had just celebrated one of its most famous Muslims, Muhammad Ali, who "worked all his life and even in death brought people together," Ahmad told me.

Indeed, Ali had been a voice of reason, even in the last months of his life.

"I am a Muslim," he said, "and there is nothing Islamic about killing innocent people in Paris, San Bernardino, or anywhere else in the world. True Muslims know that the ruthless violence of so-called Islamic jihadists goes against the very tenets of our religion."

Reports of hate attacks against U.S. mosques tripled last year compared with previous years, according to the Council on American Islamic Relations. Many Muslims think the attacks are being fueled not by terrorist attacks in Paris, Brussels, San Bernardino, California, and Orlando, but by the election-year rhetoric of Trump.

There was a time when the American conversation was about hope, discovery and growth, about a melting pot unlike any other the world has ever seen.

Today, we've allowed hate to grab the microphone and seize the stage. And we have to take it back.
I applaud the City of Lincoln for its tireless efforts to maintain the city's roadways. However, would it be possible to coordinate lane closings, the closing of intersections and the closing of entire portions of roads in order to reduce traffic congestion? Example: 27th Street at Vine northbound is one lane. This makes turning onto 27th from Vine precarious at best and frustrating at most. At the same time, the intersection at 33rd and Vine is closed, so traffic is either routed to O Street or to the one-lane 27th traffic. Then, there is one lane traffic southbound on 27th at Holdrege. It's a cluster at best. Would it be possible to complete one project before it's complicated by two or three others that impact the same traffic flow? Just a thought.
JoAnne Young's article raises a red flag for inmates, their families, and the public (Prison media policy troubling," June 5). It is understandable that bureaucracies under siege, in this case the Department of Corrections, want to limit access. However, it is in the public interest to know how overcrowding impacts the day to day life on inmates. Is there access to educational and rehabilitative programming, medical and mental health care, what is the morale level?

I receive dozens of letters from inmates, telling their personal stories, asking for help and often just lamenting the lack of programs. Nebraska Criminal Justice Review publishes some.

This former inmates quote might be a reason for the restrictive policy: At Tecumseh the upper administration and most guards are corrupt, rotten, ignorant, some are sadistic. They routinely violate human rights A personal interview with a former guard from Tecumseh confirmed that the corruption and unresponsiveness and the toleration of repeated human rights violations went to the very top, senior administrators and the Warden. It is worth noting the Warden since that time has changed twice. I am not sure of a culture of abuse.

What is troubling is that until this report I had no idea that the press was being further restricted. Perhaps it is time for the Ombudsmans office, the ACLU, Families and Friends of Inmates and other interested groups and parties to seek some transparency or is this a job for the new Inspector General for Prisons, mandated by the Legislature?

John Krejci, Lincoln
SCHUYLER  Schuyler City Council members are considering banning the use of all-terrain vehicles within city limits.

During a first reading of the ordinance earlier this month, Police Chief Lennie Hiltner said his department is overwhelmed with speeding, reckless or underage ATV drivers.

Its getting dangerous, he said. "We receive at least one call a day on an ATV."

Council member Daryl Holmberg said he's seen reckless driving outside his home.

"My road past my house is about four blocks long of gravel and just the other day I called in one because he was doing 60-70 miles an hour  just smoking, as fast as he could go," said Holmberg. "And that's nothing unusual to see out in the rural areas."

One recent case involved three ATV drivers who fled from law enforcement officers while speeding through town. One of the drivers was a 15-year-old without a license.

In June 2015, Mayor Dave Reinecke issued a stern warning to ATV drivers, saying the privilege of driving within city limits would be revoked if they didn't start following the rules.

We do not want to get rid of this ordinance, but we may have to because somebody is going to get hurt, Reinecke said while putting the community on notice following a rash of complaints about reckless and illegal use of the vehicles within city limits.

Hiltner said that warning went unheeded, so he brought up the issue at a public safety meeting with the city council last month.

Schuyler has allowed ATVs and utility-type vehicles on local streets since March 2013, but citizen complaints and police-issued citations surged last year for issues such as underage driving, no insurance, speeding and having too many riders on a vehicle.

State law requires UTV and ATV operators to have a valid drivers license and the vehicles cannot exceed 30 mph when driven on public roads. The vehicles must have headlights, taillights and a bicycle safety flag attached to the back and they can only be operated during daylight hours.

Only one rider is allowed unless the vehicle has dedicated seats for passengers.

In Schuyler, UTVs and ATVs arent allowed on Nebraska 15 or Road E, the former highway 30.

The proposed ordinance change would only ban ATVs. Hiltner said the police department hasn't received any complaints about UTVs.

Council member Alden Kment asked if there's a way to make the current rules stronger.

"What kind of teeth can we put with that to make it enforceable?" he asked.

Hiltner said the problem is most times police officers cannot catch, much less cite, offenders.

A half dozen ATV users attended the city council meeting.

Victor Arroyo suggested the council ban sporting ATVs, which are lighter and faster.

"I've noticed a lot of the younger crowd, they have the sport ATVs, the real fast ones you see going about 50, 60 miles per hour. I think those should be banned from the city," said Arroyo. "There's no need for those in the city."

City Attorney Dick Seckman said state regulations do not separate regular ATVs from sporting ATVs, adding that he will do some more research to see if theres a way to parse that category.

Alejandra Dimas asked the city council to give them some time to organize, communicate the issues to other ATV drivers and explain that they are on the brink of being banned.

"We don't want that privilege taken away," said Dimas. "I understand the safety concern, we have two children of our own. But my husband and I enjoy going around town with our girls."

"It's just unfortunate that some people are ruining it for the rest of us," she said.

After a 30-minute discussion, council member Sheryl Barry moved to table the ordinance, giving the community time to address the problem.

Until a decision is made, the city clerks office will not issue new or renew current ATV tags.
Dear Amy: I am the proud big sister of my 18-year-old brother "Baxter."

His last day of high school was yesterday, and he is set to graduate in a few weeks.

He earned a 4.0 throughout high school and has worked really hard for four years.

He called me yesterday (I live out of state) and told me about his last day at school.

Then he dropped a bombshell on me, when he said, "Don't tell mom, but I smoked a lot of weed today!"

Amy, I was shocked! We grew up in a no alcohol, no smoking household. Now I don't know what to do. Do I keep his secret? Do I spill to our mom?

I know he's worked so hard, so I think he was celebrating and maybe rebelling a little bit, since he was the "perfect" student for so long.

I don't want this to be a stepping stone to more bad decisions for him.

What should I do? -- Worried in Wisconsin

Dear Worried: This is not necessarily a binary choice between either telling or not telling. You can choose to stay quiet now, but change your mind, later.

It might be best for you to communicate your next thoughts in text form, versus talking to him about this. You can write: "First, I want you to know that I appreciate your honesty. Secondly, please don't ever ask me to keep a secret from our parents. That's not fair to me -- or them -- and I will make my own choice about what to do regarding your decision to get toasted on the last day of classes. I am naturally very protective of you. I want you to know that there are extreme risks to what you are doing. You risk not graduating (if you are caught), but you also risk many other things you have worked very hard for. Soon you will be on your own and I hope you will make healthier choices. Your high school record shows how smart you are. I hope your future behavior will demonstrate that you are wise, too."

After communicating directly with him, leave it alone. If this is the worst thing this young man ever does, he'll be OK.

Dear Amy: I am currently seeing a man who has two jobs, one as an "everyday civilian" and one in the National Guard. He has been a guardsman for several years.

We have been seeing each other for about seven months. I just learned that he may face a deployment within the next year (he's been through three already).

I am very proud of him. I love him and he loves me. I don't know how to communicate how I feel and how scared I am; for him, for me, for us -- and for my child that has grown attached to him.

My anxiety levels have risen in the past few weeks because of this. He has noticed a change in me. I fell in love with this man without a second thought of what that would mean. I don't want to leave him over this because he is serving his country. However, I do not know how to live the life that is approaching.

I need advice and guidance. Can you help? -- Worried

Dear Worried: The most important thing you can do is to communicate with your guy about what might be in store for all of you if he deploys.

The National Guard offers helpful support and information to help you start this conversation. You should also seek friendship and advice from experienced people on this side of deployment. Check www.jointservicesupport.org.

Dear Amy: I think you let "Older but not Wiser," (the aunt who falsely accused her niece of theft) off too lightly. On the stated facts, she should expect a defamation suit by her niece, and she should expect to lose it. She can't duck the liability, but she might reduce the amount of the judgment if she apologized to her niece through the same media, as broadly and as loudly as she defamed her in the first place. This is one instance where the common law, common decency and common sense all point in the same direction. But she would have to accept responsibility for the consequences of her misbehavior, which she seems unwilling to do. -- H.C. Macgill, Dean Emeritus, University of Connecticut School of Law

Dear H.C.: Like many readers, I was absolutely appalled by this aunt's behavior. Thank you for weighing in on the legality of this situation.
BURLINGTON  For more than two decades, Alan Babe has been a volunteer firefighter, holding down a full-time, 40-hour-plus-a-week job and keeping the Town of Raymond safe after hours.

Now that he will oversee firefighting operations for the City of Burlington, hes understandably excited.

Burlington named Babe, a 21-year veteran from the Raymond Fire and Rescue Department, its next full-time fire chief in a release sent out Tuesday morning. The decision came after a two-month search and selection process initiated by embattled former Chief Perry Howards resignation on Dec. 22.

Im looking forward to having 40 hours a week to put forth my own ideas and efforts, Babe said. I definitely have a passion for it and its a challenge and opportunity that I welcome.

Burlington Police and Fire Commission President Joe Busch said that all six candidates considered had strong qualifications and that Babe tested well in all areas of the job.

Hes highly respected in the fire service community, he said. He did well in every facet.

Babes extensive experience in Raymonds volunteer department, where he worked his way up to chief from firefighter, made him an especially qualified candidate for Burlington. Burlingtons department has four full-time employees  three engineers and a fire inspector  and 47 volunteer members.

(He has) lots of experience with volunteer departments, which I think is an asset, Busch said.

Bridging differences

The Burlington Rescue Squad, a separate all-volunteer entity providing emergency medical service to the city and Town of Burlington, has had tensions with the Fire Department as recently as the fall. The tensions heated up after Howard, a former career firefighter in Arlington Heights, Ill., was hired in 2013 as the citys first full-time chief and when fire crews began responding to EMS calls.

Burlington Mayor Jeannie Hefty, a member of the rescue squad, said hiring a fire chief who will work well with all of the citys volunteer first responders was paramount.

We wanted everything to be right and have this leader now take our city fire to different heights and have everyone working together, she said.

Babe, for his part, says he wants to focus on moving the department past previous tensions.

I dont want to look backward, he said. I know that Acting Chief Mark Strasser has done an excellent job mending those fences.

Babe added that he has the utmost respect for Rescue Squad Chief Brian Zwiebel and Town of Burlington Fire Chief Ed Umnus.

Were going to work our very best to provide the very best possible service to the residents of the City of Burlington and the Town of Burlington and our surrounding communities when asked, Babe said.

Babe, who will leave his full-time job with automotive paint distributor Single Source Inc., is scheduled to be sworn in at the June 21 City Council meeting. He said his first day on the job will be July 5.

This has presented itself as a great opportunity, I feel very fortunate and blessed to be the new fire chief in the city of Burlington, he said. Im eager to get going.
RACINE  A Racine youth faces a misdemeanor hate crime charge after allegedly making anti-gay slurs to a group of male patrons at the Marcus Renaissance Theater in Sturtevant early Wednesday.

Nicholas A. Sabala IV, 18, of the 3000 block of 21st Street, Racine, appeared in Racine County Circuit Court on Wednesday facing charges of disorderly conduct-hate crime, disorderly conduct-domestic abuse, and three counts of misdemeanor bail jumping in connection with the incident that occurred at about 12:05 a.m. Wednesday.

The incident came mere hours after a nearly 200 people gathered at Racines North Beach on Tuesday night to remember the victims of Sundays shooting rampage at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., that left 49 dead and 53 wounded  the deadliest mass shooting in American history.

According to the criminal complaint, the Mount Pleasant Police Department was called to the theater, 10411 Washington Ave., Sturtevant, at 12:05 a.m. Wednesday to assist with an unruly patron.

The theater manager told police that Sabala had engaged in a verbal altercation with a group of male homosexual patrons, calling them faggots and using other inflammatory words, the complaint said.

The manager also told police that Sabala threatened the group by saying he had a firearm in his car, the complaint said.

The manager told police he asked Sabala to speak with him to distract him, and when Sabala refused to stop his insults, asked him to leave the theater, the complaint said.

The manager told police that Sabala appeared to be impaired in some way, the complaint said.

Sabala then apparently chased a female patron, who turned out to be the mother of Sabalas child, into a womens restroom, the complaint said. The female was screaming, so officers went into the restroom and found Sabala in a stall, the complaint said.

Police threatened to use a Taser unless he came out of the stall, the complaint said.

Thought he was being ogled

The female told police that she and Sabala were celebrating an anniversary and that Sabala had consumed alcohol before going to the theater, police said.

The female told police that she believed Sabala got upset because he thought the group of males was checking him out, the complaint said.

A theater official reached Wednesday late afternoon declined to comment on the incident.

Sabala has pending misdemeanor cases of possession of marijuana and domestic disorderly conduct, the complaint said. As a condition of being released on bond, Sabala was ordered not to commit any new crimes or possess or consume alcohol, the complaint said.

Sabala was in Racine County Jail on Wednesday, jail records showed. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 23, court records showed.
RACINE  They gathered at the North Beach gazebo Tuesday night  all ages, all colors, all creeds, all orientations.

All different, yet all there together to remember the victims of the worst mass shooting in American history.

Bullets dont discriminate, said Wallace Rayburn, of Kenosha. Bullets dont know if you are gay, straight, black or white. They hurt everyone the same.

Rayburn was one of nearly 200 people who attended a candlelight vigil at North Beach for the victims of Sundays mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., that left 49 dead and 53 wounded.

The event was organized by Racine resident Karen Aber, 37. She had the group light candles and stand in silence while she read the names of those killed in the attack, apparently committed by a lone gunman who was killed by police.

My goal was for us to have a moment to show solidarity and unity in our corner of the woods in Racine, Wisconsin, said Aber, who identifies herself a lesbian. Our flame will not be extinguished. It will grow stronger and more united.

All affected

Strength and solidarity were common threads among the participants, many of whom came carrying rainbow flags, sporting rainbow makeup, or wearing rainbow shirts. A large banner for the LGBT Center of SE Wisconsin was affixed to the gazebo and gently flapped in the breeze.

Its affecting us all, said Lee Urban, 42, who hugged his friends as they arrived. The people who died were brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, moms and dads and lovers. Coming here and being together gives us a tremendous strength at a time when we all might feel weak.

Aber told the crowd she felt extremely weak Sunday when she woke and looked at her cellphone in disbelief. I thought it was just a bad dream, she said. I felt it had to all be a mistake. But it wasnt a mistake. It was all too much.

The shooting shattered the idea that there were safe havens for gays and lesbians, Aber said, places that are all over the world, including Racine.

This event took all that away, she said.

Aber struggled with tears while reading the list of the deceased. Many others in the crowd cried while the names were read. Many stood in the gazebo, while more were on the grass around the structure, holding candles.

Sometimes days seems so dark, said Vicki Zweill, 28, wiping tears from her cheek. Especially if you feel alone. But tonight were here together, and together, we can see and feel the light.

After the names were read, participants observed a moment of silence and extinguished their candles. They hugged, shared a few words, and slowly filed out.

The hate has to stop, Aber said.

The shooting victims will again be remembered at 6 p.m. Thursday during a Racine Interfaith Coalition prayer vigil at Monument Square. The Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen will lead the event.
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73 children, women rescued from Birgunj in 3 months

Most of the victims are from quake-affected districts: Police
China says Dalai Lama-Obama meeting will damage bilateral ties

China has lodged diplomatic representations with the United States over a planned meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama at the White House on Wednesday saying it would damage Chinese-U.S. ties, the Foreign Ministry said.
Inadequate protection of women from sexual violence in Nepal: Zubaan

Little has been done to hold the perpetrators of sexual violence during the ten-year-long Maoist conflict accountable in Nepal, says an in-depth research on sexual violence and impunity.
Land acquisition process to complete in 6 months

The long-planned Upper Karnali Hydropower Project has moved a step ahead as locals who will be displaced by the power plant and the projects developer have agreed to complete the land acquisition process within six months.
Msia remembers Gurkhas contribution

The Warriors Association Malaysia (Persatuan Wira Malaysia) on Monday organised the annual commemorative function to honour the Gurkha soldiers who served during the First Emergency of Malaysia between 1948 and 1960.
National Reconstruction Authority signs agreement with 100,272 house owners

The National Reconstruction Authority has signed grant agreement with 100,272 house owners for the reconstruction of quake damaged houses.
Nat'l conference on early childhood urges to invest in holistic development

A national conference on early childhood development (ECD) calling for greater coordination and investment in holistic development of children aged 0-8 was held in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
NC blames govt for apathy towards quake survivours

The main opposition party, Nepali Congress (NC), has seriously objected over treatment towards earthquake victims on the basis of political attachment.
Nepal elected UNGA vice president in Asia Pacific bloc

The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday unanimously elected Nepal as one of its four vice-presidents from the Asia-Pacific Group of States for the 71st session of the UNGA. The session opens on September 13, 2016 and closes in December 2017.
Nepal's 68-year-old student

Grandfather Durga Kami has become one of Nepal's oldest students at 68, after he made the decision to return to school and complete his education
Orlando shootings: Obama attacks Trump's Muslim ban call

The Muslim ban proposed by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is "not the America we want", President Barack Obama has said.
Plaint filed against sitting minister at TRC

A case was filed against Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Agni Prasad Sapkota, a Maoist leader, and seven others, including former Maoist minister Surya Man Dong, at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Tuesday.
Social media 'outstrips TV' as news source for young people

Social media has overtaken television as young people's main source of news, according to a report.
The information era

Govt needs to facilitate more citizens access to mobile devices and internet
Transactions on Nepse hit new high of Rs2.19b

The value of share transactions executed on the Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) hit a new high of Rs2.19 billion on Tuesday. This is the first time that the daily turnover in the secondary market has crossed the Rs2 billion mark.
Prithvi Man Shrestha is a political reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering the governance-related issues including corruption and irregularities in the government machinery. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2009, he worked at nepalnews.com and Rising Nepal primarily covering the issues of political and economic affairs for three years.
Yarsa picker shot dead in Mugu

A Yarsa picker was killed in an indiscriminate shooting by an unidentified armed group in course of collecting the prized herb in the alpine meadow in Mugu district on Tuesday night.
Yes, its hard to to tell when one enters the city limits

Yes, they will make the city more inviting

Maybe ... does it really matter?

No, the signs in place are fine

No, it would be a waste of taxpayer dollars

Vote

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Another Member of the 10th parliament has been thrown out. The High Court in Mbale has kicked out of Parliament Budadiri East MP Vincent Woboya of the ruling NRM citing failure to retire in accordance with the law.

Justice Andrew Bashaija in his judgment said Woboyo had failed to prove to court that he retired legally from Office of the Prime Minister to be nominated. While delivering the judgment, Justice Bashaija said although documents tendered in court indicate that Woboya retired on 10 May 2015, he continued receiving a salary up to December.

He also received over Sh50m million in June from OPM for dissemination of disaster management information in Kween, Sironko and Bulambuli districts.

The petition was filed by FDCs Isaiah Sasaga, who lost in the February 18 election. Woboya is the 3rd NRM MP to lose his seat in less than two weeks. Last week, the High Court in Kampala declared Busiro South MP seat vacant after NRMs Peter Ssematimba was found to lack the requisite academic qualifications.

The MP for Lugazi Municipality Isaac Mulindwa Ssozi was also thrown out of parliament this week over lack of academic qualifications.
Legislators from Northern Uganda have warned of grave consequences if the rising insecurity in the Acholi sub-region if the government does not come out and provide a satisfactory explanation.

The warning by the legislators comes days after a violent shoot-out in Gulu town. On Sunday night gun fire rocked the town in what the police and the army said was an attempted attack on Gulu Central Police station by a group of unknown gunmen believed to have had plans to set free a UPC Deputy Secretary for mobilization Dan Oola Odiya.

Odiya remains detained at the police station in connection to an attack on an LDU Detach in Opit trading centre in which two people died. Sunday nights shooting has so far claimed two lives, a police officer and a UPDF officer.

In a press conference at Parliament this afternoon, the MPs led by Aswa County MP and Gulu Woman MP Betty Aol Ocan demand that a comprehensive report be made into the matter to dispel the growing fear and panic in the district.

The leaders have also condemned the un-coordinated response of security forces regarding the attack, saying it breeds suspicion. Gulu is one of the seven districts in Northern Uganda affected by the two-decade long LRA war, and is taking slow steps to heal from the effects of the insurgency.
South Korea on Wednesday urged North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program and stop reckless provocations as the two Koreas marked the 16th anniversary of their first summit meeting.

A summit between then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the late father of the current leader Kim Jong-un, was held in Pyongyang on June 15, 2000. It produced a landmark joint declaration that outlines inter-Korean reconciliation and economic cooperation.

Seoul's unification ministry said that North Korea is sticking to its nuclear weapons program and is persistently engaged in provocations despite South Korea's efforts for reconciliation.

"The North's acts hurt the spirit of cross-border agreements. It should stop its threat of reckless provocations and abandon nuclear weapons for better ties between the two sides that can lead towards peaceful unification," Park Soo-jin, the deputy spokesperson for the ministry, said in a regular press briefing.

North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and launched a long-range rocket in the following month that caused the U.N. Security Council to slap tougher sanctions against the reclusive country.

North Korea's incumbent leader Kim proposed to hold inter-Korean military talks at the congress by the Workers' Party of Korea held in early May. Seoul rejected the North's offer as a propaganda ploy without sincerity.

Analysts said that the communist country appears bent on driving a wedge in the united front to enforce the U.N. sanctions.

North Korea continued its charm offensive toward Seoul at the summit anniversary, saying that the implementation of the June 15 declaration is key to enhancing the two Koreas' ties.

"South Korea should stop confrontational acts and accept our offer for dialogue which we believe will ease military tension," the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, said in a commentary. (Yonhap)
South Korea's Marine Corps renewed its readiness to defend the tension-ridden western maritime border with North Korea on Wednesday in a military exercise marking the fifth year since the launch of a special command dedicated to the border area, the military said.

The Northwest Islands Defense Command conducted a command post exercise earlier in the day under an assumed war scenario of North Korea's shelling on the border area, the Marine Corps said in a statement.

The exercise was part of the Marine Corps' commemoration of the unit's launch five years earlier.

As border tensions sparked after North Korea's shelling of the island of Yeonpyeong in November 2010, the military established the Northwest Islands Defense Command to curb further provocations by North Korea along the tense Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the Yellow Sea.

The NLL is the de facto maritime border between the Koreas, but Pyongyang disputes the demarcation, having launched fatal provocations in the areas on many occasions.

Yeonpyeong is one of several South Korean islands that sit just south of the NLL.

"Everything that we are up to should be focused on minimizing any damage to islanders and troops in the region," Marine Corps's chief commander Lt. Gen. Lee Sang-hoon said in the statement.

The command put together military staff from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force along with 1,200 combat forces.

The command's launch made it possible for South Korea to dispatch troops to anywhere on the Korean Peninsula within 24 hours on an emergency breakout with the capacity to demolish key North Korean facilities, the Marine Corps said. (Yonhap)
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Rain showers this morning with some sunshine during the afternoon hours. High 53F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 32F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
ALBION  Theyve washed a lot of fire trucks at the Albion Fire Station.

But nothing like this.

This was more than metal. This was tradition. This, in the words of local firefighters, was sacred ground.

The usual chatter faded away Saturday morning as members of the local fire department washed Rescue 4, one of the responding units to the World Trade Centers in the wake of the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

Sponsored by the Remembrance Rescue Project, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization created by firefighters to restore, preserve and share Rescue 4 and Rescue 5 from 9/11 as educational tools, historical artifacts and memorials.

The Project strives to keep the memories alive of those lost on Sept. 11 and all firefighters killed in the line of duty every year.

Rescue 4, cobbled together from other fire units that were damaged during rescue efforts at the World Trade Center, was on hand from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Albion Fire Station, then participated in the Chain O Lakes Festival parade.

None of the firefighters who responded in that truck on 9/11 survived. That fact was omnipresent in members of the Albion Fire Department who toiled in respective quiet to make it shine Saturday morning.

To me, its emotional, firefighter Aaron Knight said. The guys who went out on that didnt come back.

To prep it for the parade was an honor, Fire Chief Brad Rollins said. You just think of the firefighters who didnt go home to their families. Its an honor for Albion to have it here.

Albion Fire Capt. Shane Coney remembered watching as the second plane hit the World Trade Center.

I couldnt believe what was going on, Coney said. They paged us out to come to the station. We didnt know what was going on.

Based on his experience as a firefighter, Coney knew the men and women who responded to the scene were up against it.

You knew a lot of guys werent coming back, he said.

Its a risk every firefighter takes when he or she puts on their bunker gear.

The willingness to put their lives on the line for anyone in need  and for each other  creates a special bond for those in the fire service.

Rollins spoke with pride about one of the newest firefighters to his department  his son, Blake, 18. One of five new recruits, Blake now has a bunch of people looking out for him.

Hes got 30 dads in the town of Albion, Rollins said of his son. Thats how tight we are. Were not related, but we are.

Albion may be more than 650 miles away from Ground Zero, but the firefighters who responded to 9/11 are joined forever by everyone who picks up a helmet, a set of bunker gear and puts their life on the line to save someone else.

Thats just part of what we do, Knight said. Every one of those guys knew the risks.

Local firefighters know the risks, too.

The people we have here, the people we help  thats why we do it, Rollins said.

The bond is so tight, when one firefighter is lost, they all feel it.

Tim Carey is a volunteer with the Remembrance Rescue Project. After serving 13 years as a firefighter in the Toledo, Ohio, area, he now calls Angola home.

He got involved in the project, he said, to let people know about 9/11.

Parked two blocks away form the South Tower, all eight of the firefighters on Rescue 4 went into the World Trade Center and never came out.

And if they had it to do all over again, Carey said is sure they would do the same thing. That kind of heroism courses through a firefighters veins like water through a fire hose.

The fire service lost 343 of its own on 9/11. Survivors remain in places like Toledo, Ohio, and in Albion.

Every one of us would have gone in and did what they did, Carey said. Thats the common ground.
INDIANAPOLIS  On May 17, 1860, the Republican convention campaign team of native son Abraham Lincoln met with the Indiana and Pennsylvania delegations in Chicago. What emerged hours later was a bloc of Hoosiers who would vote for the president who would go on to become the Great Emancipator, a worldwide statesman of biblical proportions.

It is a proud chapter that began with the Indiana Republican Party in its nascent form. The party was only six years old and it played a decisive, early role in Lincolns improbable 1860 presidential nomination and subsequent victory that autumn. Gov. Oliver P. Morton would forge a strong relationship with President Lincoln. He was an emphatic backer of the Emancipation Proclamation, and he shrewdly kept Indiana in the Union by establishing a state arsenal, negotiating private loans to fund the war effort, and suspending what had become a Copperhead General Assembly after the 1862 elections.

For his decisive leadership and moral bearings that made the Indiana Republicanism a stanchion for The Party of Lincoln, Mortons statue, along with two Union fighters, guard the eastern approach to the Indiana Statehouse to this very day.

There were other examples of Hoosier Republicanism which have stood the test of time. House Speaker Schuyler Colfax, a founder of the Republican Party after winning a congressional seat as a member of the anti-slavery Indiana Peoples Party, played a crucial role in the passage of the 13th Constitutional Amendment of 1865 that forever banned slavery. So invested in that process, Speaker Colfax took the rare step of voting for the amendment in what would become one of the defining moments of the Lincoln presidency.

House Minority Leader Charlie Halleck had been a strong opponent of the liberal New Frontier and Great Society agendas of Presidents Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, but when it came to the watershed Civil Rights Act of 1964, Halleck was one of its most emphatic advocates.

With this history, watching the Indiana Republican Party of today is to see a proud, vivid organization stoop into a strange moral decay.

After two weeks of watching Republican presidential nominee call federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel a Mexican, (he was born and raised in East Chicago and has a degree from the Indiana University Law School), after watching Trump point to a man at a rally and say, Oh, look at my African-American over here. Look at him; after calling for a ban of all Muslims, which Gov. Mike Pence said was unconstitutional and offensive, Pence, U.S. Sen. Dan Coats and U.S. Rep. Todd Young could only find the term inappropriate to describe what House Speaker Paul Ryan called textbook racism. Republican Chairman Jeff Cardwell called the Curiel episode a distraction.

Hoosier Republicans are now attached to Trump. When they had the opportunity to push for a true conservative, they sat on their hands. Such a strategy worked in Wisconsin in March, when Gov. Scott Walker, other Badger State Republican officials and its conservative talk radio network set up a bulwark in an attempt to derail Trump. They succeeded as Ted Cruz won the state. But other states down the line, including Indiana, did not mobilize. Pence endorsed Cruz, but just a few days before the primary.

The reward was Trumps 53 percent Indiana primary win that allowed him to assume the title of Republican presidential nominee. As it had with Lincoln, Indiana played a key, fateful role.

Influential Republicans stewed. Pence would endorse Trump two days after the primary, saying he would campaign for him. Sen. Coats came around in late May, saying that Trump was a preferred alternative to Hillary Clinton. Congressional delegation members Jackie Walorski, Todd Rokita, Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb and U.S. Senate nominee Todd Young hid behind the phrase that they would vote for the Republican nominee.

And their reward? A racist nominee.

It took Attorney General Greg Zoeller, who will not be on the ballot this fall, to provide some moral clarity on the Curiel episode, telling Doug Ross of the NWI Times, Our institutions are all under attack. Without the rule of law, youve got chaos. If theres a legitimate question of bias, there is a professional way to raise that without showing disrespect for a judge and the system generally. This is nowhere close. Im very sensitive to this, and Im upset that members of the profession have not all come out and said this is what we dont allow. We would all like more civility, thats what were shooting for, and this is going in the wrong direction.

Those members of the profession,  Pence, Coats, Rokita, Brooks, and Rep. Luke Messer  failed to denounce Trump in their roles as attorneys.

Is racism merely inappropriate in the Indiana Republican Party?

Many Hoosier Republicans Ive talked to are in various states of torment, denial and acquiescence. There is an obvious out without voting for Hillary Clinton in backing the Libertarian ticket of former Republican governors Gary Johnson of New Mexico and William Weld of Massachusetts.

By sticking with Trump, they are firmly under the sheets with a wild, unpredictable, nativist, racist and megalomaniacal standard bearer. The outcome could be  inappropriate.

 The columnist is publisher of Howey Politics Indiana at howeypolitics.com. Find him on Facebook and Twitter @hwypol.
ALBION  Chances are you dont know everything about Noble County, so the upcoming ALL-IN Block Party will be an opportunity to get to know it a little better and celebrate Indianas 200th birthday at the same time.

Its like a street fair, minus the carnival rides. Instead, the main attraction is the more than 70 local organizations that will have booths set up with small activities, giveaways and information about what they are and what they do.

Around the edges, the Block Party, which will be held Saturday, June 25, will have its fair share of entertainment, including musical acts, displays, tours of the Noble County Courthouse and performances.

By the end, you should have had a little fun, picked up some loot and learned something about Noble County.

I hope they have fun. I hope they learn about some of the services available in the county they dont know about, some of the organizations they may not know what their purpose is and what those groups do in the community, said organizer Joy LeCount. Sometimes these groups dont blow their own horn a little bit about whats the benefit they do in the county.

Indiana Humanities hatched the idea of holding block parties across the state in the lead-up to Indianas bicentennial celebration. The goals are to build community and state pride, but also to get people involved, cause them to reflect on local history and encourage them to help plan for the future.

The Albion S.T.A.R. Team got interested in the program as an event that could bring people downtown to the Noble County Courthouse square, while also having a wider scope than other events like the annual Chain O Lakes Festival.

The S.T.A.R. Team applied for and received a $1,000 grant last year from the state to help plan and launch its Block Party.

The Block Party concept  it was to get people thinking about their own communities, what was good about their community, what is going on presently and how we can look to the future and grow our communities, and get people working together and talking about things of interest to everyone, LeCount said.

The start of the Block Party at 9:30 a.m. will have a distinctly bicentennial theme, including: the reading of the state poem, Indiana, written by Kendallville native Arthur Franklin Mapes; a brief presentation about the state flower; the reading of Gene Stratton-Porters Indiana centennial poem; and the singing of Back Home Again in Indiana.

Then local businesses and organizations booths and food vendors will be ready to browse from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  many of them with their own activities to complete. That will be a prime opportunity to make connections with lots of people and community groups from throughout Noble County, LeCount said.

For example, maybe youve heard of Rotary Club before, but youre not quite sure what it is, what it does or how to get involved, LeCount said. Several of the countys clubs will be manning a booth together to provide information.

The list of exhibitors is expansive. As of last week, LeCount had more than 70 lined up. But its still growing, even until the last minute. On Monday, she said she had been contacted by three more organizations that want to squeeze in.

Attending the Block Party is free, but donations for local food banks will be accepted, she said.

Parking will be restricted around the courthouse square, but people can park at local sites including Central Noble Jr./Sr. High School, Noble County Public Library, Albion Town Hall or Noble REMC, with free shuttle bus service to downtown running from 8:45-10:30 a.m.

There is no admission to any Block Party events, but we are asking that if people desire to do so, that they bring nonperishable items to donate for the food banks, LeCount said. Whatever we collect is going to be divided to the food pantries across the county.

For more information, check out the block partys Facebook page at facebook.com/NobleBlockParty.
HONEYVILLE  One of the areas oldest quilt show and sales returns to Honeyville June 21.

The Topeka/Honeyville Quilt Show & Sale is celebrating its 42nd year and is considered one of the premier shows in northeast Indiana, according to the shows coordinator, Janice Gingerich.

The show draws quilters and quilt lovers from across the nation and around the world. The 2016 quilt show and sale again will be held in the historic Honeyville School, now the home of Eden Worship Center. Its located one mile west of S.R. 5 on C.R. 400S.

Hundreds of handcrafted quilts and quilted wall hangings will be on display and available for purchase. Last year, 80 exhibitors displayed more than 1,300 items, including quilts, wall hangings, purses, coats and items waiting to be quilted. Most of those were available for sale.

Show dates and times this year are Tuesday through Friday, June 21-24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vendors also will be on hand in the shows Merchants Mall with quilting supplies for sale. Admission is $5.

We are so pleased with how the show and sale has continued to grow over the years, Gingerich said in a news release. Quilting is becoming a lost art but it remains an important part of this community. This area and surrounding communities have many excellent quilters, and we are delighted to be able to showcase their handiwork.

Former Honeyville resident Sue Christner, who died in 2010, was the originator of the Topeka Quilt Show & Sale. For the first few years she and several of her friends did all the work. But the event rapidly grew in popularity, outgrowing her facility.

The show was moved to the Topeka United Methodist Church, where it remained and continued to grow for more than 20 years. At the request of Methodist organizers, the annual show was moved back to Honeyville in 2008. Since that time, both the show and the attendance have continued to grow, according to organizers.

Those interested in exhibiting quilts or quilted items for show or sale should bring them with a completed entry form. Entry forms are available online at edenworshipcenter.com/quiltshow or by calling 499-0149. Entry forms also will be available at the time of check-in. Fifteen percent will be added to the price for each item.

For more information,a call Gingerich at 499-0149.
Geraldo Ortiz-Jimenez, 25, was known to friends and on Facebook as Drake. He was proud of his Dominican heritage, posing with a flag of the Dominican Republic in celebration of a Dominican model winning Nuestra Belleza Latina 2016. The photo, posted on Facebook, included Spanish-language hashtags that translate as #proud #Dominican.

Ortiz-Jimenez graduated from J.P. McCaskey High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 2010, school district spokeswoman Kelly Burkholder told The Associated Press. He was living in Puerto Rico, according to his social media accounts, and studying at Universidad del Este in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

Kevin Ortiz, a friend from college, described him as a humble man who was always concerned about staying fit and working toward fulfilling his dream of being a dancer.
Just because youre out of session doesnt mean you dont work.

That, in part, is at least one of the lessons Sen. Jeremy Miller imparted on freshman civics classes at Caledonia High School, where Miller  a Republican state senator from District 28  gave those who gathered in the high schools auditorium quite a civics lesson on May 31.

Miller serves Houston, Fillmore and Winona counties, having been elected in 2010, re-elected in 2012, and now serving in his sixth year.

Generally, he said, Senate terms are four years long.

Except, Miller said, every 10 years, when the new district lines are drawn after the new census, thats a two-year term.

That meant his 2010 election was a two-year term, after which Miller was re-elected for four years in 2012. He had announced that morning his intention to seek re-election for his third term in 2016.

Because many important things seem to happen in threes  think of even the branches our of government  Miller opened the eyes of the youth to three different processes in the journey to the Minnesota Senate: the endorsement process for a candidate, the election process once she or he is running, and the legislative process itself once a candidate is elected to office.

Endorsement, he told them, comes from the local party theyre affiliated with (which, as many know, in Minnesota is a caucus-based system). This years caucuses were in March.

While convention-aimed delegates are chosen during the caucuses, they, in turn, select the candidates who will represent them and their party on the ballot come fall.

Once you get endorsed, Miller said, as long as you dont have a primary challenge, then you go onto the general election, which is the first Tuesday in November.

Miller said that his 2010 election was very tight, and his victory came down to the difference of 437 votes, a less than 1 percent margin.

His re-election in 2012 was won by a margin of more than 6,000 votes.

Running a campaign is a lot of work, he said. Its a big time commitment. Its challenging, its hectic, its parades, its door-knocking, all those types of things to get out and meet different constituents, listen to people. But the real work, the tough work, actually begins after youre elected. Then you have to start governing.

He called being in office a time to get good things done for the people in his district and the state as a whole.

Highlighting the accomplishments of his six years, Miller zeroed in on Green Acres Reform, a property tax relief program for farmers, which had been changed in 2008 (for the worse, he claimed). But Miller and his collaborators wanted to reform the program, and he said it took many people to support that change. Bipartisan support and collaborative work is big with Miller, who co-founded the Purple Caucus, an initiative to bring Republicans and Democrats together and reduce the nasty rhetoric and divisions to arrive at common solutions.

Its not a one-person thing, he said. One person cannot do everything, especially in politics.

Farmers, county assessors, the department of revenue, and bipartisan political support is what it took to find solutions, he said, with the last an important hallmark of his years in office (even at a young 31-years-old).

He also worked on legal reform concerning synthetic drugs, which he said are worse than the real thing because at one point, they were legal in Minnesota, until he worked on legislation to make them illegal.

Hopefully, no one in here knows anything about these, he said, calling the synthetic drugs dangerous.

How a bill becomes a law was also touched on.

You think of it, you can introduce it, Miller said.

That can include financial or educational reform, but it can also be as wild as a politician wanting to change the states color to purple (which came up after the much-hyped death of Prince).

Getting any legislation through the process of passing it as a bill is a different story, he said; with thousands of bills introduced in any given session, only a small percentage make it into law  a process which requires both the state House of Representative and Senates approval, as well as the governors signature.

Once the governor signs it, Miller said, then the bill becomes law.

Along the way, he said, bills are often altered from their original versions, a committee and amendment process which requires new votes from the chambers in order to pass muster.

Rarely are bills the exact same by the time theyre on the House and Senate floor, he said.

Bills that spend money have to originate in the House, he said. That would include taxes and bonding. He mourned the recent loss of a bonding bill, which was introduced in the last minutes of the legislative session, but which failed to pass due to last-minute amendments and lack of time.

It gives you a little bit of perspective, Miller told the students.

Miller is a part of his family scrap metal business, his father was also a long-time mayor of Winona, and he said Senate work is billed as part-time, or a citizens legislature.

At least thats what they tell you when they recruit you to run, he said.

But it quickly turns into a full-time job.

Sessions run from early January until May in even-numbered years (odd starts a bit later), and working at least four days per week, sometimes even longer.

He called it a lonely life, one in which he works office hours in St. Paul late into the night, with a bare-bones apartment (he doesnt even have cable T.V.  just a couch and a bed) and a lot of time missing his family in Winona.

His wife, Janel, also values civic leadership, he said, and theyre both committed to making the sacrifices it takes to

My wife and I are constantly trying to do good things for our area, our community, our region, Miller said. We do it as a way of public service.
The Tuesday Club of Black River Falls has selected the 10 winners in its annual art contest for seventh- and eighth-grade students from Black River Falls Middle School. This included two top winners and eight honorable mention winners.

A variety of mediums were judged, including drawings, marker, pencil, batik, tempera paint, watercolor and mixed media. . Judging was done by two local artists and Tuesday Club members Sue Michaelson and Jiana Norman. Lee Amborn is middle school art teacher and the Tuesday Club art committee members are Rhonda Holmquist, Tracy Madvig and Sue Michaelson.

The top winner from eighth grade was Masyn Fillner with a batik, Unititled. The top winner from seventh grade was Gabby Kovars for her mixed media, Fly Away. They each received $50 and a certificate of recognition.

The honorable mention winners from eighth-grade were Rineah Williams with tempera paint, Welcome to the Machine; Jennifer Tindal with pencil drawing, Untitled; Anna Lien with mixed media 2016; and Madison Eberhardt with batik, Untitled.

The honorable mention winners from seventh grade were Callista LeGarde with mixed media, This Way; Asia Rave with mixed media, Neff; Dominic Sandoval with marker, Untitled; and Kaylee Peterson with mixed media, Pointed Circles.

All of the honorable mention winners received $20 and a certificate of recognition.

Awards were presented at the honors awards program on June 3 at the Lunda Theater by Michaelson and Tuesday Club member Judy Hansen. The students artwork was shown and discussed at the Tuesday Clubs brunch and art show on May 18.

Tuesday Club has sponsored this art contest for many years to recognize the importance of art education in the schools and the benefits these programs have on the overall development of young people.
The Black River Falls Police Department welcomed two volunteer officers who already are assisting with ordinance enforcement and community relations.

Dave Johnson and Mike Puffer started their community service officer duties a couple weeks ago and are enjoying the part-time, unpaid efforts that alleviate some of the workload from already busy patrol officers.

Its really part of a culture thing. It will grow over time. People need to recognize them and see their roles and know what it is. At some point, people are going to actually come to see them, said BRF Police Chief Scot Eisenhauer.

I love it  its great for the city.

Johnson and Puffer will do up to 15 hours a week of duties that dont require sworn personnel, like nuisance ordinance enforcement, presence in schools and community events and walkthroughs of the downtown and places like the Foundation Trail.

Johnson, a 1992 graduate of Black River Falls High School, is a lifelong resident of Jackson County who already was volunteering to do clerical duties at the police department before the community service positions were proposed.

Johnson, also a former city council member, said hes enjoyed giving back to the community in various ways, including past volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club, and he was pleased when the new role at the PD was a possibility.

Ive always been a person that likes to give back, so I thought this would possibly be a new start of something different to do in the community, said Johnson, who also worked in early childhood education for 18 years. I see the (community service program) as a positive for the department and the community because it gives officers more time to concentrate on other duties rather than having to stop with, Oh, by the way, your grass needs to be cut, and, by the way, this vehicle has been out longer than it should have.

It kind of takes away from the police work that they have to do, and I think its a positive for everybody involved. The community seems to be pretty positive about it.

Puffer also was raised in Black River Falls and has a four-year degree in computer science and two-year degree in criminal investigation. He in part was interested in the volunteer position because of a family background in law enforcement and a desire to assist the community.

This is a nice community, and I wanted to do something for the community, said Puffer, who works full time at the Ho-Chunk Nations health clinic. I wanted to be part of something and volunteer to help the community out. I thought this would be an excellent way to do that.

I think (the program) is great. It gets us more involved with the community, and its outreach for the police department. Were out there and were communicating with the public.

Eisenhauer said the two new officers still are in the training phase but already have been out in the community in their tan shirts and black pants conducting ordinance enforcement, like long grass and junk complaints.

Other duties have included checking and monitoring the trail, skate park and disabled parking spots, but more training, like ride-alongs with sworn officers, also will take place. The pair is likely to be out at summer events, like the upcoming Karner Blue Summer Festival.

The department received six applications for the two positions and is considering adding a third community service officer in the future.

We didnt want to take on too much at once, Eisenhauer said. Two was plenty to get going and then well (add) that third one as we get these two up and running.
Takirra K. Andrews, 38, Fort Worth, Texas, was fined $301.30 for speeding on freeway (25-29 mph).

Miguel Custodio, 17, Black River Falls, was fined $175.30 for underage drinking-possess-17-20 (1st).

Dee Her, 34, St. Paul, Minn., was fined $200 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Christopher J. Hinton, 27, Minneapolis, was fined $276.10 for speeding on freeway (20-24 mph).

Trey J. Hizer, 20, Black River Falls, was fined $175.30 for exceeding speed zones, etc. (1-10 mph).

Kayl J. Hoagenson, 25, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Catherine R. Hodgins-Jones, 23, St. Paul, Minn., was fined $250.90 for speeding on freeway (16-19 mp).

Donta A. Holmes, 40, Milwaukee, was fined $250.90 for speeding on freeway (16-19 mph).

John L. Huntington, 53, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

James R. Ideker, 28, Taylor, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Alisha N. Java, 27, Milwaukee, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Taylor J. Kahler, 23, New Richmond, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Dakota L. Kamrowski, 18, Blair, was fined $10 for vehicle passenger fail to wear seat belt.

Rachel W. Kelty, 33, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle passenger fail to wear seat belt.

Brandon X. Kilgore, 20, Neillsville, was fined $175.30 for speeding in 55-mph zone (11-15 mph).

Russsell N. Kinder, 54, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Tylar T. Knez, 20, Boyd, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Aaron M. Koehler, 32, Minneapolis, was fined $250.90 for speeding on freeway (16-19 mph).

Tyler M. Koehler, 19, Highland, was fined $200.50 for operating while suspended and $175.30 for non-registration of vehicle-auto less than 10,000 pounds.

Christopher A. Koplin, 18, Black River Falls, was fined $200.50 for operating while suspended and $200.50 for operating a motor vehicle w/o insurance.

Wyatt A. Kowski, 19, Menomonie, was fined $263.50 for underage drinking-possess-17-20 (1st).

Victoria C. Krumenauer, 27, Germantown, was fined $250.90 for speeding on freeway (16-19 mph).

John R. Lange, 36, Janesville, was fined $195.90 for inattentive driving.

Benjamin J. Larock, 22, Madison, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Betsy J. Laufenberg, 27, Alma Center, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Holly M. Lawver, 24, Black River Falls, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Sarah R. Lindow, 40, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Jessica R. Littlejohn, 36, Merrillan, was fined $200.50 for operating a motor vehicle w/o insurance.

Enchanting B. Littlewolf, 19, Black River Falls, was fined $175.30 for fail/stop at stop sign.

Andrew F. Lopez, 31, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Julia J. Love, 28, Enumclaw, Wash., was fined $263.50 for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bryan J. Mager, 40, Westby, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Albulen Maksuti, 20, Thorp, was fined $175.30 for operate after rev/susp of registration.

Gabriel M. Maloy, 21, Aurora, Ind., was fined $263.50 for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Haley E. Mast, 18, Enumclaw, Wash., was fined $263.50 for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Nicholas J. Mathews, 32, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Abdikarim A. Maye, 31, Carol Stream, Ill., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Marshall D. McCarty, 71, Galesville, was fined $200.50 for operating while suspended.

Hannah E. Mclean, 24, Madison, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Jeffery A. Mehlert, 24, Minneapolis, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Paula M. Mike, 39, Neillsville, was fined $175.30 for speeding in 55-mph zone (11-15 mph).

Edith Mondragon Guevara, 34, Evanston, Ill., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Jennifer B. Moore, 53, Black River Falls, was fined $200.50 for speeding in 55-mph zone (16-19 mph).

Jamal M. Muhammad, 41, Racine, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Edward R. Murray, 73, Lindenhurst, Ill., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Michael T. Naples, 56, Aurora, Ill., was fined $143.80 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Joshua D. Nelson, 31, Savage, Minn., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Hannah J. Newman, 21, Cary, Ill., was fined $175.30 for unsafe lane deviation.

Andra L. Nicholson, 20, Milwaukee, was fined $276.10 for speeding on freeway (20-24 mph).

Shanae N. Nickson, 30, Minneapolis, was fined $200.50 for operate w/o valid license (1st).

Chizaram P. Okoroji, 26, Eau Claire, was fined $200.50 for operating while suspended and $175.30 for non-registration of vehicle-auto less than 10,000 pounds.

Joshua R. Oldham, 26, Alma Center, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance and $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Tiffany R. Olek, 21, Menomonie, was fined $200.50 for speeding in 55-mph zone (16-19 mph).

Amiel E. Olivo, 19, Warrens, was fined $143.80 for speeding on freeway (1-10 mph) and $143.80 for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Austin M. Olson, 19, Alma Center, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Anna M. Orlandi, 25, Duluth, Minn., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Cole A. Osley, 19, Hixton, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Leonel D. Osorio, 42, Minneapolis, was fined $250.90 for speeding on freeway (16-19 mph).

Daniel S. Oswald, 18, Newberry, Mich., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Dean M. Otterson, 50, Taylor, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Casey J. Palmer, 39, Black River Falls, was fined $175.30 for non-registration of vehicle-auto less than 10,000 pounds, $150.10 for fail/display vehicle license plates, $200.50 for operating while suspended, $150.10 for operate w/o carrying license and $200.50 for operating a motor vehicle w/o insurance.

Worapong Patana-Anake, 25, Hutchinson, Minn., was fined $250.90 for speeding on freeway (16-19 mph).

Anastasia J. Pathos, 20, Eau Claire, was fined $143.80 for speeding on freeway (1-10 mph).

Brian E. Paulson, 42, Stevens Point, was fined $213.10 for unreasonable and imprudent speed.

Luis V. Perez, 25, Oklahoma City, Okla., was fined $200.50 for operate w/o valid license (1st) and $276.10 for speeding on freeway (20-24 mph).

Thad L. Peterson, 46, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Robert A. Pierce, 24, Madison, was fined $143.80 for speedometer violations.

Mario D. Pole, 33, Buffalo, Minn., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Paul S. Prusinski, 46, Arcadia, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt and $200.50 for operating while suspended.

Brenna R. Ramirez, 21, Ludington, Mich., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Erica M. Rayburn, 21, Grand Rapids, Mich., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Anthony C. Robinson, 31, Coon Rapids, Minn., was fined $250.90 for speeding on freeway (16-19 mph).

Candace R. Rogers, 46, Alma Center, was fined $200.50 for operating while suspended (10th) and $200.50 for operate w/o valid license (1st).

Lance A. Rohloff, 64, Alma Center, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Michael A. Rudolph, 43, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Amanda M. Rueth, 22, Loyal, was fined $200.50 for exceeding speed zones, etc. (16-19 mph).

Deshawntrea O. Russell, 23, St. Cloud, Minn., was fined $200.50 for operate w/o valid license (1st).

Brenda S. Sampson, 41, Taylor, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt, $175.30 for non-registration of vehicle-auto less than 10,000 pounds, $175.30 for improper registration of vehicle-auto and $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Joshua S. Sam, 18, St. Paul, Minn., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph) and $200.50 for operate w/o valid license (1st).

Brittany A. Sather, 27, Marshfield, was fined $263.50 for retail theft.

Cody A. Satona, 24, Kendall, was fined $250.90 for speeding on freeway (16-19 mph).

Brittany M. Scherer, 26, Humbird, was fined $10 for operating motor vehicle w/o proof of insurance.

Jeremy J. Schreiner, 33, Durand, was fined $263.50 for fail/change lane-passing stop emerg. veh.

Nattaphone D. Senesombath, 26, Elgin, Ill., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Bryan D. Sheets, 28, Morris, Ill., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

Curtis J. Shuck, 24, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle operator fail/wear seat belt.

Warner F. Smith, 57, Beloit, was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (11-15 mph).

James D. Smothers, 20, Black River Falls, was fined $10 for vehicle passenger fail to wear seat belt.

Lori A. Spors, 37, Melrose, was fined $200.50 for operating a motor vehicle w/o insurance.

Alberta J. Stamper, 27, Chicago, was fined $276.10 for speeding on freeway (20-24 mph).

Nicole J. Starr, 40, St. Paul, Minn., was fined $200.50 for speeding on freeway (1-10 mph).

Lora L. Statz, 23, Black Earth, was fined $175.30 for non-registration of vehicle-auto less than 10,000 pounds.
In the weeks since the tragic passing of visionary musician Prince, many speculate his death may have been linked to drug abuse. We now know his death resulted from an overdose of the opiate medication Fentanyl.

Princes hits were all over the radio when I was in my 20s and 30s. He was a truly gifted artist, and he will be missed by many fans. Out of his death, his fans and everyone noting his passing should take away two very important lessons.

First, we as a society must work harder to reduce the stigma that surrounds substance addiction. As people speculated about the cause of Princes death, what judgments were they forming, perhaps even just subconsciously? Did they think he must be weak or of low moral character?

Too often, society attaches labels such as those to people who are suffering from addiction. The truth is that addiction is a disease. We would not view people with leukemia or diabetes as deserving to suffer or die because they have the misfortune of being struck with a disease. What do we think, though, when we hear a news story about a person who died from a drug overdose?

About 10 percent of Americans suffer from substance addiction. Addiction knows no socio-economic, gender, geographic or racial boundaries. For many people struggling with addiction and their families, it is kept secret because they fear the judgments they will face from others. As a result, they dont seek help when they should.

Prince seemed to have some quirks that go with being a celebrity, but I have never seen anything that suggests he was weak or a person of bad character. It is time to start looking at others who struggle with addiction compassionately and supportively. The odds are high that someone you care about suffers from this disease, and perhaps that person hasnt sought help and is afraid of what you will think. It is time to change that.

Second, I hope the passing of this music legend teaches us that no one is immune to the dangers that come with the abuse of prescription painkillers. They are highly addictive and can be deadly when abused. As a multi-millionaire, Prince had resources far beyond anything available to most of us. He could have afforded the best treatment available. Still, it took his life.

This is probably not the first time opiates caused Prince serious health dangers. He had cancelled a concert due to a health concern prior to his fatal overdose. I dont know whether that was opiate-related, but Fentanyl is an extraordinarily strong opiate. It is many times more powerful than heroin that can be purchased on the street.

Data shows most people do not start off abusing the strongest painkiller. More likely, Prince progressed to abusing such a strong drug after his body built up a higher tolerance for less potent prescription medications. Here is a frightening fact: 80 percent of those who abuse heroin started by abusing prescription pain pills such as Oxycontin, Percoset or Vicodin. Once their tolerance builds, they seek ever higher doses or more powerful opiates. They become helplessly trapped.

Opiates took Princes life despite his virtually unlimited resources and network of supporters. If it can happen to him, it can happen to any of us. Once addicted, the power of these drugs can be stronger than even the fear of death. And far too often, addiction comes quickly.

As a society, we need to make treatment more readily available to those who are addicted. We absolutely need to lock up those who prey on our society by trafficking deadly drugs, especially to young people, but we will not incarcerate our way out of this public health crisis.

Ultimately, our best chance to stem the nationwide opiate and heroin crisis is prevention.

We must alter our view of opiates. More people now die in Wisconsin from drug overdoses than car crashes. Prescription opiates, not heroin, are the top killer in our state. In fact, more die from prescription painkillers than from heroin and cocaine combined.

Opiates are appropriately prescribed in some circumstances, but they must only be used in exactly the way they are prescribed by a doctor.

About 70 percent of the time, when a person begins abusing opiates, they do not get them from a doctor. They acquire them improperly from a family member or a friend. So we all have a role in solving this epidemic by securely storing painkillers in our homes and by properly disposing them.

I was sad to learn about Princes death. I am even more saddened, though, about the 850 or so of my fellow citizens in our state who die from drug overdoses every year.

Lets not let any of them die in vain. Lets do something to put an end to this tragic public health crisis. Please go to doseofrealitywi.gov to learn more about how we can make our state safer and healthier.
About half a dozen Wisconsin prison inmates have begun refusing food as part of a protest against long-term isolation known as administrative confinement, backers of the protest said Monday.

At least one inmate participating in the hunger strike, LaRon McKinley Bey, has sued the state Department of Corrections, alleging that his more than 25 years in administrative confinement  with a least 23 hours a day spent in a cell alone  constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. About 115 Wisconsin prisoners are being held in this form of indefinite solitary confinement, according to the DOC.

Five prisoners at Waupun Correctional Institution, including McKinley Bey, are participating in the food refusal campaign, according to inmate advocate Peg Swan. Also participating in the Dying to Live campaign is Norman C. Green, who calls himself Prince Aturn-Ra Uhuru Mutawakkil and recently was transferred from Waupun to Columbia Correctional Institution, Swan said. Although organizers had said the hunger strike was set to begin Friday, some of the inmates began as early as June 5, she said.

Swan provided a letter she got Monday from McKinley Bey in which the prisoner alleges Waupun officials have transferred several inmates listed in his lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee from administrative confinement to the general population or a step-down unit designed to ease transition back to the general population. In the letter, dated Thursday, McKinley Bey said he was doing alright, and urged Swan to keep the pressure on.

Department of Corrections spokesman Tristan Cook confirmed Monday that several prisoners had begun turning away food, but he declined to offer specifics. Cook also did not address statements from McKinley Bey and other backers of the hunger strike that the agency had moved some inmates from solitary confinement to defuse the protest.

Hunger strikers are asking that Wisconsin eliminate administrative confinement, a status in which prisoners can be held indefinitely in solitary confinement conditions for prison safety reasons; that anyone held in solitary for more than a year be released into the general prison population; and that mental health services for prisoners in solitary  also known as restrictive housing  be improved.

The prisoners also are asking for independent oversight of Wisconsins use of solitary confinement, a call previously made by the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin.

The statewide faith-based group Wisdom said it stands in solidarity with the hunger strikers.

In their isolation, they are undertaking this extreme measure in an attempt to gain some recognition of their human dignity and that of their fellow prisoners, the group said in a statement. We pray for their physical and psychological health as they take this action.

Cook said Wisconsin already has begun reducing the use of solitary confinement by cutting the maximum term for disciplinary infractions from 360 days to 90 days. He said other steps the agency has taken include:

 Developing step-down programs to help inmates return to the general prison population;

 Reviewing the placement of any mentally ill inmate in restrictive housing and changing that placement if an alternative option is more appropriate; and

 Creating a pilot diversion unit for inmates who would otherwise be placed in solitary where they can receive intensive programming.

Cook said the states goal is to reduce the number and length of stay of prisoners in solitary, increase out-of-cell time, eliminate placement of mentally ill inmates in isolation, and provide educational, religious, treatment and other programming. Other states, including Colorado, have significantly reduced the use of solitary confinement.

State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff, D-Milwaukee, said he plans to introduce legislation next session that would ban the use of solitary confinement on mentally ill prisoners and possibly impose other limits to its use. Democrats are in the minority in both houses of the Legislature, and prison conditions have not been a priority for Wisconsins Republican lawmakers.

There is endless evidence for the harmful psychological effects that solitary confinement has on an individual, Brostoff said. These effects are magnified in those most vulnerable, such as people with mental health issues.

I hope that someday soon, there will be no use of solitary confinement and all inmates will receive the constructive and rehabilitative help they need.

If the hunger strike continues, the state DOC could seek court approval to force-feed prisoners who are likely to die or suffer severe bodily harm, said Larry Dupuis, legal director for the ACLU of Wisconsin. He said the group opposes force-feeding of any competent prisoners, which he said is consistent with international law.
Police say a grandmother unwittingly put Fillmore County law enforcement on the hunt for her car-stealing granddaughter when she called 911 over the weekend, worried that the woman had gone missing while tubing the Root River.

The grandmother called 911 shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, reporting her 25-year-old granddaughter and a 30-year-old male acquaintance hadnt returned from their tubing trip as expected, according to the Fillmore County Sheriffs Department.

Authorities coordinated a search. Fillmore County sheriffs deputies, the Preston Police Department, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the Lanesboro Fire Department all assisted, just a week after a similar effort rescued a teenage girl stranded on the river.

Despite a search using multiple boats, the tubers didnt turn up.

About 1 a.m. Sunday, morning while the search continued, members of the Lanesboro Fire Department noticed an open garage near the river. A sheriffs deputy found that a 2014 Chevy Equinox had been stolen.

At about 6:07 a.m., a Fillmore County sheriffs sergeant observed a vehicle reported to have been driven by the missing tubers, made a traffic stop and found the missing tubers.

Closing that case, however, opened another one.

The sergeant learned that the two missing tubers were involved in the theft of the vehicle and placed both under arrest.

Arrested were Jessi Kominek, 25, of Austin, Minn., and Joshua Vlasaty, 30, of Minneapolis. Both have made first appearances in Fillmore County District Court. Kominek has been released on her own recognizance, and Vlasaty continued to be held Tuesday in lieu of bail.
The event will be Sunday, June 26, at the La Crosse Area Harley-Davidson store in Onalaska. Cars will take off between 10:30 and 11 a.m., and motorcycles will depart between 11 and 11:30 a.m. The ride is approximately 110 miles, with two stops along the route. The ride will conclude at 3:30 p.m. at Miracle Field, YMCA-North branch, Onalaska. A meal will be offered from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Epic Systems Corp. asked a federal court this month to reduce the nearly $1 billion awarded by a jury in April against an Indian conglomerate, to bring the award in line with state law.

Epic said the court should reduce the total award from $940 million to $720 million by decreasing punitive damages from $700 million to $480 million. That is because a state statute caps punitive damages at twice that of compensatory damages, for which the jury awarded $240 million, the company said.

The request, first reported Tuesday by Wisconsin Health News, comes in a case in which Epic alleged that workers from Tata Consultancy Services inappropriately downloaded more than 6,000 documents from Epic's computer network detailing "over 20 years of development of Epic's proprietary software and database systems."

Verona-based Epic, founded in 1979, has 9,500 employees and generated revenues of $2.02 billion in 2015.
With less than five months to go before the November presidential election, a new poll out Wednesday found Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump in Wisconsin, and Trumps pending nomination could be depressing Republican voter enthusiasm.

The Marquette Law School Poll also found more respondents said they would describe Trump as honest than Clinton, but that Clinton was more prepared to be president.

Both had historically high unfavorable ratings for presidential candidates going back to the 1970s, according to poll director Charles Franklin.

Clinton led 42-35 among registered voters, though among likely voters her lead grew to 46-37.

Franklin, a Marquette political science professor, said the divergence between registered and likely voters was noteworthy, particularly because only 78 percent of Republicans said they were absolutely certain they would vote in November, down from 87 percent in March and 90 percent in June 2012. Among Democrats, 84 percent said they were certain to vote, up from 81 percent in March.

That is a substantial fall-off (among Republicans), Franklin said. What weve seen over these last two months is a pretty sharp drop-off in Republican likelihood of turning out.

Franklin cautioned that the results could change in the coming months as attitudes about voting change, and that the likely voter measure doesnt typically become the focus until late summer and early fall.

Asked if they thought each candidate was honest, more respondents described Trump that way (32 percent) than Clinton (28 percent). But more respondents agreed Clinton was more empathetic (42-27), better able to handle a national crisis (48-31) and more qualified to be president (56-30) than Trump.

Clinton was viewed unfavorably by 58 percent of registered voters, while Trump was viewed unfavorably by 64 percent. Among Republicans, Trump was viewed unfavorably by 35 percent, which Franklin described as historically bad.

Also, 55 percent said they would be very uncomfortable with Trump as president, compared with only 42 percent who said the same about Clinton.

The poll was the first presidential poll in Wisconsin since Trump and Clinton became their partys presumptive nominees.

The last Marquette poll in late March found Clinton leading Trump by more than 10 percentage points among registered voters. That was consistent with other national polls in Wisconsin that have been taken since then, the last of which was released a month ago.

The Marquette poll was conducted June 9-12. It involved 800 registered voters with a margin of error of +/-4.4 percentage points. The likely voter sample was 666 respondents with a margin of error of +/-4.9 percentage points.The majority of responses came in before Sundays terrorist attack at an Orlando gay club that left 50 dead, including the killer, and 53 wounded. Franklin said an analysis of the results that came in Sunday did not show a statistically significant difference from earlier results.
Mexican officials are concerned by statements about trade made by presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told reporters Wednesday from Guadalajara.

The governor is on a business development mission to Mexico this week. He spoke with Wisconsin reporters on a call Wednesday afternoon.

Asked whether he's heard concerns about presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump's pledge to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico and "make Mexico pay for it," Walker said he's heard none specifically put in those terms.

"In general, they're concerned about trade, and interestingly enough theyre concerned not just about the presumptive Republican nominee, but they were concerned about statements made by Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton," Walker said.

Trump, Sanders and Clinton have all taken positions against free trade in this election, particularly through their opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Mexico is Wisconsin's second-largest export destination, behind Canada. In 2015, exports from Wisconsin to Mexico were up 4.63 percent from the previous year, at $2.97 billion, Walker said.

While in Mexico, the governor has met with government officials and business leaders from companies like Grupo Bimbo and Quad Graphics to discuss strengthening trade and investment ties.

"Its ultimately about helping improve the economy in Wisconsin and create more jobs as more companies look to do business and invest in Wisconsin," Walker said.
Facing a dip in his job approval ratings and a survey that shows 50 percent of Wisconsin voters think the state is on the wrong track, Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday it's "no wonder" the polls look the way they do.

The governor placed blame on the media for focusing on the negatives, adding that "headlines are always negative and bad things."

However, he said, he hears good things from the people he speaks to in a series of listening sessions throughout the state.

The listening sessions are invite-only and are closed to press.

"Obviously people want to always do better, but we hear positive things," Walker said, speaking to Wisconsin reporters on a call during an economic development trip to Mexico.

A Marquette University Law School poll released Wednesday showed that 46 percent of the state's voters believe the state is heading in the right direction, while 50 percent say it's on the wrong track.

Thirty-seven percent of those polled said they think the state's budget is in worse shape than it was a few years ago, while 31 percent said it's in better shape and 25 percent said it hasn't changed much.

Thirty-nine percent said they approve of the governor's job performance, down from 43 percent in March.

"Its not just media," Walker said of the numbers. "I think media is a reflection of human nature. We tend to, all of us, unless we sit back and think about it, tend to focus on challenges as a opposed to where were. By and large, we hear good things at the listening sessions."
Nancy VanderMeer has an opponent in her race for re-election as the representative of the 70th Assembly District.

She is running against Democrat Mark Holbrook of Wisconsin Rapids, who is seeking his first term.

Holbrook resides just outside the city of Wisconsin Rapids, where he lives on a small farm with his wife of 42 years, Candyce. Together they have two children, Christian and Megan, and two grandchildren.

Holbrook was born in Sheboygan and graduated from high school there in 1965. He was drafted into the Army in 1966 and served until 1972. He served in Vietnam for a year as a scout pilot, taught aviation weapons and small arms weapons at the U.S. Army Armor School and was a Battalion Executive Officer of a basic training battalion.

After he left the Army, Holbrook attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a bachelors degree in meat and animal science in 1975, a masters degree in educational psychology in 1988 and certification in vocational agriculture.

He also holds a certification in educational administration from Marion College.

From 1976 to 1980 Holbrook worked for Frito-Lay in Beloit as a first line manager, second level management, quality control and later for the farm division.

For three years Holbrook taught vocational agriculture at Tri-County High School in Plainfield and for 10 years he worked as a school psychologist in the Pittsville School District.

In 1998 he was a K-8 principal in Brillion and then an assistant principal of D.C. Everest High School in Schofield.

Holbrook retired in 2011.

After his retirement, Holbrook began to get politically active, although he said he has always been politically minded. He worked on the campaign of state Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink, D-Milladore, who lost her 2014 re-election bid to VanderMeer.

Ive always been interested in politics, just as an observer, but I started getting more and more involved when I was retired, he said.

Holbrook said he decided to run because he is dissatisfied with the direction of Wisconsin government, including cuts to public education and infrastructure.

I dont think its healthy for the state long-term, he said. Theyre decimating public education, theyre decimating the infrastructure of this state by putting it off more ... and the idea that we can continue to cut taxes and not pay for the things we rely upon to keep businesses moving and grooving is ridiculous. Its not going to serve us well.

He also doesnt agree with how VanderMeer has voted on issues over the course of her two-year term.

I see the representative from the 70th District marching in line with the party line, with the exception of the budget, which she didnt vote for, she voted right down the line with Republicans, he said. Im not saying that voting with your party is wrong  I just think its wrong if its not good for your district.

Holbrook said hes qualified to run for office because of his work experience.

Im a concerned citizen, Im a voter, He said. I think my history in the workplace, whether serving in the military, working in industry or working in education, all qualify me as someone with I think a wealth of experience to do the job thats necessary to be the voice of the people of the 70th.

He wants to be the representative to change the tide of Wisconsin government.

I would like to represent the people of the 70th in the state legislature for a few years and see if we cant stem the tide of legislation that continues to destroy our public education system, continues to diminish the value of the University of Wisconsin and its system, and the usurpation of individual rights and local control, he said.

Holbrook said his goals, if elected, are to listen to the people and convey their viewpoint to the capitol.

(My goal is) to be an honest voice for the people of the 70th, not succumb to the influence of outside influences, he said. If I am to be true to what Im telling you, then I need to continually listen to the people in this district and represent that view in Madison.

Listening to the public, Holbrook said, is important because he doesnt have the answers. He said the people do.

I want to make very clear that ... I dont want people to believe that I have all the answers, because I dont, he said. I believe the answers for the solutions to the problems that face us today and in the future, lie in the people in the district. ... Theres plenty of room for other ideas, and we need to make sure that those ideas are presented and listened to. Government is the art of compromise.

The idea that we can continue to cut taxes and not pay for the things we rely upon to keep businesses moving and grooving is ridiculous. Its not going to serve us well. Mark Holbrook, candidate for Assembly
VOLK FIELD - Severe weather has ripped apart a warehouse. The building has collapsed and an unknown number of victims lay beneath the pile of rubble.

The hydrous ammonia is leaking, and no one wants to breathe it in or have it touch their skin.

Fire departments and EMS respond, but quickly realize the disaster is beyond their abilities. The governor calls a state of emergency, and the National Guard starts to move in.

Eventually the leak is stopped, but now someone has to take care of those who were inside, and figure out how to get to those who are still inside.

Tents fly up around the building. The decontamination process starts as soldiers talk to anyone possibly exposed to the ammonia. Some people would rather be home than put up with the National Guards orders, but the job has to be done all the same.

A team in hazmat suits moves forward and looks for signs of life. Its their job to get out anyone who is left.

The emergency responders are dealing with one of the worst natural disasters the country has ever seen. Luckily, its a training exercise, and no one is actually hurt.

Volk Field hosted the Miles Paratus exercises from June 5  9. Paratus is Latin for being prepared, and miles means soldier. After the extensive simulation that took place, everyone involved should be well prepared.

For these five days, Volk Field simulated being part of Dane, Walworth and Jefferson Counties. More than 2,500 people participated in the operation, with up to 1,700 working at once. Forces came from five different states  Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, West Virginia and Idaho  and included 22 military units and over 50 civilian units.

Fort McCoy simulated Monroe and Jackson Counties. Its simulations were mostly similar, except for dealing with a militia group that decided to take advantage of the natural disaster.

Different groups take turns coming in and training on the same scenario. While 2,000 people will go through the scenario, that number is much higher than the amount of soldiers deployed in most incidents.

The civilians stay in charge, and everyone reports back to emergency management headquarters in Madison.

In any scenario, the National Guard, we like to say theyre a tool in the incident commanders tool kit, said Captain Joe Trovato, National Guard Public Affairs deputy director. The National Guard doesnt come in and take over the scenario, civilians are in charge.

Trovato said the National Guard has a dual role. It is ready to deploy overseas on a federal mission if needed, but it also takes on the role of being the first military responders in the homeland.

Its not easy to get so many people together and organized for an event like Miles Paratus. Over a year of planning was involved in putting the exercise together.

Its a long time coming for sure, Trovato said. Were happy to start executing.

Green Bay Fire Department Hazmat instructor David Segal ran the simulation as the controller.

I guide the major role players, I tell them whats going on, I guide them with what they are going to do here, he said.

He has an idea of how the scenario will play out, but things tend to change.

Whether they do what I wanted or whether they do what the script calls for, theyre learning, he said.

The rubble piles, simulated houses and torn down areas are permanent fixtures at Volk Field  ready for training. A worker explained creating the rubble piles is significantly harder than normal construction. It was made to seem like its a wreck, but it has to be stable so it doesnt actually fall on anyone.

At one section of Volk Field, Regional Emergency All-Climate Training (REACT) was working to take drill through cement and anchor buildings to help rescue bodies. The buildings must be reinforced in order for someone to safely enter. One team drilled through concrete to rescue a body, only to find themselves inside their created tunnel to drill once again on the lookout for more people in need.

Its hard work for everyone involved, but now theyre prepared for when the worst case scenario arises.
Happy 30th anniversary to the Viroqua Heritage Inns Eckhart House!

The Eckhart House and Boyle House are both 1890s Viroqua historic landmarks.

Nancy Rhodes has been pleased to host over 12,000 visitors to our wonderful region. Many visitors have made the inn their destination and have then learned about Viroqua, shopped, dined, fished, hiked, etc.

Some have loved the area so much that they end up relocating to the area. When reflecting on the 30-year journey, Nancy Rhodes, owner, had this to say, I have met wonderful people while raising my precious Son, Dallas, volunteering as the chair of the Viroqua Historic Preservation Commission for 15 years, etc. I am so very grateful for the support from all our locals who trust me with their referrals. Thank you all.

Farmers markets

This Saturdays farmers market is sponsored by Scenic Bluffs and next Wednesdays market is sponsored by Organic Valley.

Thank you to all of our local partners for supporting this community event. We have an amazing diversity at both markets.

Wednesday markets are 3:30-7 p.m. in the Bluedog Cycles parking lot. Saturdays are at the fairgrounds from 8 a.m.-noon.

We are accepting SNAP/EBT benefit at both markets, as well as Visa/MasterCard. Please call with any questions call 637-2575.

Interns sought

The Viroqua Chamber- Main Street Visitor Center location is open on most Saturdays, we are fortunate enough to have volunteer staff to help with this process. If you are interested in volunteering, we could use your help. You could answer phones, greet visitors to our community and help to promote the community.

We are accepting applications for interns or volunteers. Most shifts are 3-4 hours in length. We have a flexible and fun team. For more information, call 637-2575 or email infodesk@viroqua-wisconsin.com

Movie in the Park, Eckhart Park, Friday, June 17, 5 p.m.

Save the date for this free, family friendly event!

Join us as we view Back to the Future on the big screen!

Budget friendly snacks and beverages will be provided. Bounce houses and games for the kids generously donated by our major sponsor Nelson Agri-Center.

Goody bags from local sponsors will be for the first 100 kids who arrive at the park. Other event sponsors include Vernon Memorial Healthcare, Organic Valley, Aligned for Health, McDonalds, Culvers, Bluedog Cycles, Go Macro, Citizens First Bank, Southwest Sanitation, Proline Printing, The Cakery & Bake Shop, the Viroqua Food-Co-op, The Driftless Music Festival and Viroqua Creative.

For more information about the event and our sponsors, please check out the Viroqua Chamber Main Street Facebook page or call 637-2575.

PHOX at the Temple

The Baraboo-based alternative folk/indie-pop band PHOX will play at the Temple Theatre in Viroqua, Friday, June 17, at 8 p.m.

Tickets cost $19. PHOX is an American six-piece and its self-titled debut album was released in June 2014. Their music is a school of simple folk-pop songs swimming amidst a chaotic eddy of rock, psychedelia and soul.

For tickets visit Parrish Music or the Viroqua Food Co-op or call 637-8190

Dead Horses play Driftless Books & Music

If the PHOX concert wasnt enough, theres a three-act concert at Driftless Books on Friday, June 17, featuring three bands.

Dead Horses will play at 10 p.m. with the lead-in acts being Auralai at 8:30 and Anima at 7:30 p.m. The doors open at 7 p.m.

Dead Horses is a Milwaukee-based folk trio.

For ticket information and band bios, visit the Driftless Books & Music Facebook page.
This year, 2016, for the third time I have read Aldo Leopolds book, Sand County Almanac.

As an outdoor writer Aldo Leopold is the best at writing prose poetically. There is good rhythm in what he writes; almost to the point where it can distract the reader. You tend to marvel at the writing style and miss the full meaning. Thus it was good for me to read the book a third time and concentrate on words regrading my passion, trout fishing.

To aid in my comprehension I underlined great concepts and then bookmarked the page. The result was 12 bookmarks. Obviously, in a short story I cant write about all of them. I have chosen two from the 12 that I want to explain to you, the reader.

From page 216, Leopold wrote, Home made aids to sport or outdoor life often embrace, rather than destroy, the man-earth drama, he who kills a trout with his own fly has scored two coups.

You wonder, what is a coup? From Wikipedia, Counting coup refers to the winning of prestige against an enemy by the Plains Indians of North America. Warriors won prestige by acts of bravery in the face of the enemy.

The most courageous act of coup, for an American Indian, was to touch an enemy warrior with the hand or bow and escape unharmed.

Regarding Aldo Leopolds premise of home-made aids, every trout angler who ties flies knows that its far more satisfying to catch a trout with a fly he or she tied. Thus, I surmise, the more items the angler makes for trout fishing the better the coup.

John Bethke, of Westby, I call, The Complete Angler, because John not only ties his own flies, but also builds trout nets and constructs split bamboo fly rods.

On the top of a bookshelf in my office is a trout basket that I retired in 1984, when beginning to release all my trout. It was made and given to me by Clifford A. Dahl, of Amasa, Mich. Amasa is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where I was born 83 years ago.

In August 1976, I took dad to fish trout near Amasa, with a retired teacher, Clifford A. Dahl, who I had been communicating with. Dad and mother both began their teaching career at the high school in Amasa. And that is where Dad had learned to fish trout. Clifford A. Dahl passed away in 1997. The trout baskets he made would easily win an award for style and durability. Both Cliff, and Aldo Leopold, would be pleased to know I no longer count coup by putting trout in the basket.

Aldo Leopold fished Alder Creek, in Iron County. He called the stream, Alder Fork, which is today an inconspicuous brook trout stream compared to others in northern Wisconsin.

In a chapter titled, The Alder Fork  A Fishing Idly, Leopold wrote, We found the main stream so low that the teeter-snipe pattered about in what last year were trout riffles, and so warm that we could duck in its deepest pool without a shout. Even after our cooling swim, waders felt like hot tar paper in the sun.

The evenings fishing proved as disappointing as its auguries. We asked that stream for trout, and it gave us a chub. That night we sat under a mosquito smudge and debated the morrows plan. Two hundred miles of hot, dusty road we had come, to feel again the impetuous tug of a disillusioned brook or rainbow. There were no trout.

But this, we now remembered, was a stream of parts. High up near the headwaters we had once seen a fork, narrow, deep, and fed by cold springs that gurgled out under its close-hemmed walls of alder. What would a self-respecting trout do in such weather? Just what we did: go up.

The booklet titled, Wisconsin Trout Streams, has Alder Creek listed as having native brook trout. The creek has 10 miles of class one trout water, and 3.3 miles of class three water. Leopold knew, as I have learned, that brook trout streams can easily be divided into parts. The upper third, where the springs are located will run coldest on a warm summer day. And the lower third, where only chubs swim, is too warm for brook trout. Also, Leopold didnt use a thermometer to find out the water was too warm. He, and his fishing partner went for a swim.

The lesson Leopold learned on the hot summer evening is one of the most important lessons on where to fish trout. If the water temperature is 60 degrees, or above, most of the brook trout have moved upstream to cooler water. And if its 67 degrees, or above, more brown trout have moved upstream. So, trout angler, like Aldo Leopold, move upstream to fish early morning during the warm days of summer.

Leopold and his fishing friend had good trout fishing in the upper third of Alder Creek.

In the fresh of the morning, when a hundred whitethroats had forgotten it would ever again be anything but sweet and cool, I climbed down the dewy bank and stepped into the Alder Fork. A trout was rising just upstream. I paid out some line  wishing it would always stay thus soft and dry  and, measuring the distance with a false cast or two, laid down a spent gnat exactly a foot above his last swirl.

Forgotten now were the hot miles, the mosquitoes, the ignominious chub. He took it with one great gulp, and shortly I could hear him kicking in the bed of wet alder leaves in the bottom of the creel.

Like Aldo Leopold, during the warm days of summer fish early morning in the upper third of the stream where the water runs cold and trout are happily feeding.
One of the greatest epiphanies of my young political life was when the adviser for my political science degree at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater said that when it came to political parties, it really didnt matter which party governed.

I was told that politicians, especially at the state level, need to ensure only a few key things are under control. This includes the proper paving of roads, the education of children, basic police protections  things you come to expect in average life.

Both parties will always take care of those issues, the learned professor surmised.

Flash forward 25 years...

There has been enormous slippage under the watch of Gov. Scott Walker and a Republican-controlled state legislature in two areas  the quality of roads and the education of Wisconsins children.

How bad are the roads? Its almost impossible to conduct business in Wisconsin for fear that tractor-trailer freight on state highways will jar to a most uncomfortable standstill. Our own State Assembly Rep. Lee Nerison (R-Westby) voted against the last state budget, a purely Republican document, because he plainly said the budget did not do enough to fix Wisconsins crumbling rural road system.

Under Republicans, education has been laid waste. Weve gone from having one of the best feeder programs for young teachers through the state university system into public schools to having teacher candidates flee Wisconsin in droves for much better paying and secure jobs in adjacent states such as Minnesota. The state of Wisconsin has continually shed its economic responsibility for paying for K-12 public education.

Under Gov. Walker the priority has been expanding the private school voucher program under which affluent families in suburban Milwaukee get subsidies to send their children to private school. The theory is that the vouchers are to help young African-American students avoid the worst of Wisconsins public schools in the inner cities. The voucher program is a giveaway to the rich. What is left is Wisconsins aging public teaching population is being replaced each year not by full-time educators who want to call the Badger State home, instead a number of hybrid part-time positions have been created by financially-decimated public schools and these positions are being filled by Wisconsins last generation of teachers.

Wisconsin school districts, beaten down by years of state funding decreases, cant promise even the most talented of teachers they will have job each year. Its only taken a handful of years since the implementation of Act 10 to completely turn what was one of the most progressive educational states in the union completely on its ear.

Republicans control the State Legislature, both the Assembly and Senate, and the governors office. All of the promises that have been made  from the very start  Walkers 250,000 new jobs, getting Wisconsin a better return on its federal tax dollars, making the state job-friendly overall, have failed.

The average Wisconsinite deals with this failure every day. You feel it when you drive on a bone-rattling road, of which there are many in Vernon County. When it comes to education, the results are equally easy to see. Students graduating from Wisconsins public schools under Walker have poorer overall ACT scores. Weve gone from an average ACT score of 22.2  second in the nation, to 20.0, ninth worst in the nation. Were tied with Kentucky.

Those of you standing with Scott Walker, what are you standing on? The debt from his failed presidential campaign? The countless millions of dollars hes prevented the state from receiving from the federal government for health care?

One thing is for sure, if youre standing on a state road, its crumbling, and if youre near a public school, its foundering.

This is your new Wisconsin. Look at what you have wrought.
As we celebrate Dairy Month this June, it is with great pride that we reflect on the importance of dairy farming in western and central Wisconsin. For centuries the dairy industry has helped create jobs and grow the local economy, supporting 78,900 jobs statewide and generating $43.4 billion in economic activity in 2014 alone.

However, with dairy prices continuing to drop due to a surplus in U.S. dairy products, our family farmers are struggling to make a profit. To address this problem and others, I am working on a comprehensive plan to secure the future of Wisconsin dairy.

We need to make our commodity programs easier and more efficient for family farmers to use. With 60 years old being the average age for farmers in this country we need to be encouraging the younger generation to pursue dairy farming. To address the dairy surplus we should be looking to open new markets for our dairy products to be sold in and increase funding for research into best practices. Finally, with over 40 percent of Wisconsin dairy laborers being immigrants, it is time to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Im excited to hit the road on the weekends and stop at dairy breakfasts all around western and central Wisconsin to talk directly with our local dairy farmers about how we can secure the future of Wisconsin dairy.

Thank you and happy Dairy Month to all the western and central Wisconsin dairy farmers.


A MYSTERY supporter has given Wycombe Wanderers a 150,000 loan.

The fan stumped up the interest-free loan this week after Wanderers directors asked supporters to lend them cash over a ten-year period.

Chairman Ivor Beeks revealed that alongside the 150,000 lender an 'encouraging number' of other fans have also pledged loans starting from the 1,000 minimum which will be repaid by the club over ten years.

He said: "I know there are a number of potential lenders who are sitting on the fence at the moment and I would urge them to get off it and help us before the December 31 deadline."

The loan scheme is just one of a series of ambitious and aggressive new initiatives devised by Blues' new board in a bid to get second division Wanderers out of the red and into the first division.

This week the club poached marketing guru Mike Sullivan from Crystal Palace to work alongside Mark Austin and Claire Ramsden. He will join the Adams Park revolution on January 6 and is expected to earn Wanderers an extra 100,000 a year with initiatives and functions designed to maximise the stadium's earning power.

Mike Greatwood has also been appointed to the twin role of customer relations and safety officer and his job will include looking at a whole range of ideas to get bums on seats.

Team manager Lawrie Sanchez has also promised to make his players more available to the community as Blues bid to woo stay-away fans.

Injured players will now be expected to do community events and increase the club's profile locally.

Chairman Ivor Beeks said: "The football club is like a new car. When it was new everyone wanted to be seen with it. Now the town has had the club for a while they've got used to it and we've got to come up with new ideas to keep them with us."

Further down the line the club are exploring the possibility of introducing an Adams Park pay-as-you-go credit card which supporters can top up when they like and then use to gain access to the ground at swipecard turnstiles, or spend on souvenirs or beers at the ground.

Beeks said: "We've got to change our whole way of looking at things. The new board have got some new ideas and thoughts and we've got to evolve.

"We've got to take the thing onto a new level. We've got to think how we can make the supporters afternoon more pleasant."

Other ideas being looked at to make the Adams Park experience a more enticing one include starting up a matchday park and ride scheme at the club's recently purchased Booker training ground to help relieve congestion in Hillbottom Road.

Beeks said: "We're playing better football but our gates are going down and we're trying to do something about it. It's an exciting time and there are a number of ideas we're looking at."

More immediately, the club this week kicked off a new free tickets scheme designed to get punters flocking to Adams Park.

Pubs, clubs or businesses who buy ten tickets to a match will be given another ten free of charge for any one match this season simply by contacting the ticket office.


ASEAN ministers meeting in China have expressed serious concern about rising tensions in the South China Sea. But, they withdrew a stronger statement on the issue.

Foreign ministers of members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met Monday and Tuesday in Yuxi, in the southern province of Yunnan.

Malaysias foreign ministry released a version of the ASEAN statement to the media. However, the ministry told reporters that urgent amendments were needed.

That document also called for respect for international law.

An international tribunal in the Dutch city of The Hague is to release a judgement soon on the South China Sea territorial dispute. The tribunal is expected to support Phillipine claims about the disputed waterway. However, China is expected to reject the ruling.

Diplomatic sources said Wednesday that Chinese officials privately pressured ASEAN to withdraw the other version of the ministers statement.

In 2012, ASEAN leaders meeting ended without a statement. That year, Cambodia led ASEAN. Observers say the South China Sea issue was at least partly to blame.

This year Laos holds the ASEAN leadership.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak is director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.

He told VOA that Laos had assured many stakeholders we wouldnt see a repeat of 2012.

However, Thitinan, said the South China Sea dispute in the last four years has intensified to the point it has to be mentioned in any joint statement.

The withdrawal of the early version shows disagreement among foreign ministers of ASEAN nations.

ASEAN is based on consensus. All ten member-states must agree on a statement for it to be official.

Five members have territorial claims to the South China Sea. They are Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

But, the other five members, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand, do not.

China and the United States are partners with ASEAN.

China denied any official statement was released at the meeting. Yet, the government newspaper, Global Times, published a story called, ASEAN FMs retract sea dispute statement.

Chinas Foreign Minister told reporters, Cooperation between China and ASEAN is far greater than any specific discord, including the South China Sea.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank, Curtis Chin, called the withdrawal, or retraction, incredible. He told VOA it, underscores both the high stakes involved in the South China Sea and how much further ASEAN has to go.

Additional territorial tensions with Japan

Another maritime dispute between Japan and China gained attention soon after the ASEAN summit.

Japan says a Chinese intelligence ship entered Japanese waters early Wednesday.

The ship was observed early in the morning near an island in southern Japan. Japan said the ship left its waters about 90 minutes later. The incident took place where the Pacific Ocean meets the South China Sea. The area is not part of the territorial disputes with ASEAN members.

Japan warned that any foreign naval ships entering its waters for any reason except innocent passage would be ordered to leave.

Last week, Japan said it will use all and any methods to protect its territory. It made the statement after a Chinese ship passed close to islands claimed by both countries. Japan controls the islands that it calls Senkaku. China calls them Diaoyu.

Japans chief cabinet secretary criticized China for increasing tensions.

But, Chinas defense ministry said it has the right to sail through those waters.

Im Mario Ritter.

Steve Herman and Esha Sarai reported parts of this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

tribunal n. a court that has authority in a specific area of law

assure v. to ensure, to say something is going to happen

stakeholders n. people with a material interest in a concern, business or government

discord n. disagreement, strife

incredible adj. not believable

underscores v. shows the importance of something

high stakes adj. describing something in which those involved have an intense interest or a lot of money at stake

consensus n. agreement by all involved

retract n. to take back, to withdraw something such as a statement


Hillary Clinton has earned enough delegates to win the Democratic Partys nomination for president. It will be the first time in U.S. history that a major party will nominate a woman for the nations highest office.

Clinton won a majority of votes over a series of primaries and caucuses across the U.S. The last contest was held on Tuesday, in Washington, DC. Clinton won easily there over her opponent, Bernie Sanders.

Clintons wins  in addition to the support of party officials called superdelegates  make her the Democratic Partys expected nominee. Her party will officially choose her at the Democratic National Convention next month.

That event will be new to U.S. history: For 227 years, every other major party presidential candidate has been a man.

Terry ONeill is president of a feminist activist group called the National Organization for Women. ONeill said, When I was a little girl, I used to hear people say things like, In America, anyone can be elected president. And a little voice in my head would respond, yeah, right.

Todays news is tomorrows history, and Hillary Clinton is making both, ONeill said.

Clinton  a former secretary of state, U.S. senator and first lady  will run against Republican businessman Donald Trump in November. A new poll by NBC News and SurveyMonkey shows Clinton leading Trump 49 to 42 percent in the race for president.

Late to the party

Even if Clinton wins in November, the United States is far behind other nations in electing women to its top office.

The World Economic Forum reported that 63 countries have had a woman head of government over the last 50 years.

Women now hold the top office in Germany, South Korea, Poland and Norway. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff was suspended by Brazils senate, but could return to office if an impeachment trial goes her way.

This year, the United Nations will choose a new leader. Some are pushing the U.N. to elect its first female secretary general since its founding in 1945.

Why has it taken so long for the U.S. to elect a women president?

Jennifer Lawless is a political scientist at American University. She said the U.S. may be so far behind in part because not that many women here seek elected office. She said research shows women candidates win as often as men and raise as much campaign money, but not as many are willing to run for office.

There are several reasons, Lawless said. But a major one is that women often feel they are not qualified, or believe they have to be twice as qualified to beat a male candidate. She said men generally do not share doubts about their own credentials.

In U.S. politics, as in other countries, candidates often run what are called negative campaigns. This common tactic involves criticizing opponents, hoping to make voters less likely to vote for them.

Adrienne Kimmell is executive director of the Barbara Lee Foundation, which encourages women to run for elected office. She said voters do not seem to mind when male candidates run negative campaigns, but they dont like it when women do.

If they do, they (women) risk being called the b-word, and Im not talking about boring, Kimmell said.

Senator Mary Landrieu served three terms as a U.S. senator from Louisiana. She served with Hillary Clinton in the Senate.

There were a lot of emotions the other night watching Hillary Clinton speak after winning the nomination, and I certainly felt them, said Landrieu, a Democrat. It was history.

Landrieu said women in politics face a double standard. In other words, voters expect one kind of behavior for men, and another for women.

Asked for an example, she talked about her experience after being elected to the Senate for the first time in 1996. She was immediately criticized for setting up a home with her family in Washington near the U.S. Capitol.

At the time, Landrieu said she didnt want to be separated from her husband and two young children when the Senate was in session. She promised to return to Louisiana often.

I got all this criticism about moving away from Louisiana and becoming part of Washington, Landrieu said. The senators elected before me all lived in Washington. But nobody made anything of it. Those senators were all men.

Wait, didnt some other women run for U.S. president?

While she is the first woman to win a major partys nomination, Hillary Clinton is not the first woman to run for president.

In this election season, businesswoman Carly Fiorina was one of 15 Republican candidates who lost the party primary to Donald Trump.

Other well-known women who ran for president were Margaret Chase Smith in 1964, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm in 1972, former Labor and Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Dole in 2000 and Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann in 2012.

In 1988, Congresswoman Pat Schroeder competed briefly for the Democratic nomination. A New York Times story reported that she was often criticized for running as a woman. Her response: Do I have a choice?

The first-ever woman to be nominated for president was Victoria Woodhull. A group called the Equal Rights Party chose her as its candidate in 1872. One hundred years later, a Broadway musical described Woodhulls life as a millionaire stockbroker, as well as a supporter of womens rights and open marriages.

Woodhull reportedly did not win any votes  not even her own. As a woman, she was allowed to run for president, but not to cast a ballot.

Making history

On Tuesday last week, Clinton spoke to a crowd in Brooklyn, New York. She had just won four primaries, including the big ones in California and New Jersey. The wins were enough to make her the likely Democratic nominee.

Clinton told supporters how proud she was to become the first woman to win a major political partys nomination. She said her victory belongs to generations of women and men who struggled and sacrificed and made this moment possible.

But not all women were excited. CNN published a report finding that most female voters under age 30 preferred Clintons Democratic opponent.

Bernie Sanders has given no sign of formally ending his campaign for president, even though he does not have enough support to win.

Nichola Gutgold, a communications professor at Penn State University, is interested in womens response to Clinton. Gutgold, who also wrote a childrens book about the history of women running for president, suspects some younger women dont know about the struggles women have had. She points out that the U.S. Constitution did not guarantee womens right to vote until 1920  fewer than 100 years ago.

But many of us, whether we are voting for Hillary or not voting for Hillary, recognize this is an historical moment in our country, Gutgold said.

I'm Anna Matteo.

Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page.

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Words in This Story

contest  n. an event in which people try to win by doing something better than others

respond  v. to have a particular reaction to something

yeah  v. an informal word for yes

impeachment -- n. to charge a public official with a crime done while in office

tactic  n. an action or method that is planned and used to achieve a particular goal

qualified  v. considered able to do a job

opponent  n. a person, team, group competing against another in a contest or election

encourage  v. to make more determined, hopeful, or confident

excite  v. to cause a particular emotion or reaction to be felt or to happen

moment  n. a short period of time


Police have recovered the body of a small boy who was attacked by an alligator at Walt Disney World, say officials in Florida.

The attack took place Tuesday night as the boy played at the edge of a lake on the grounds of the Seven Seas Lagoon.

The victim was identified as two-year-old Lane Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska by Orange County Sherriff Jerry Demings, reported the Associated Press.

The boy and his family had gone to Walt Disney World for a vacation. They were wading in the water along a beach area when the alligator grabbed the boy. The boy was less than one meter from the shore when he was taken.

Demings said the boys father tried  but was unable  to pull the two-year-old from the jaws of the alligator. The animal was reported to be longer than one meter.

More than 50 people, including an alligator tracker, searched the area overnight. More searchers joined the hunt on Wednesday.

The Reuters news service says wildlife officials caught and killed five alligators to examine them for signs of the boy.

Officials say there have not been other alligator attacks at the lake, but signs in the area warned people not to swim. Beaches and docks along the man-made lake have been closed.

The lake is connected to other bodies of water near Walt Disney World by canals, and it feeds into another, larger lake.

Alligators are plentiful in Florida and many states in the southeastern part of the U.S. But experts say these kinds of attacks are not common.

Ten years ago, an alligator drowned a small boy at a lake outside of Orlando. The Associated Press reported that the alligator was found 20 hours later, still holding the boy in its jaws.

Im John Russell.

Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English based on reports from VOANews.com and The Associated Press. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.

What do you think about the alligator attack? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

wade  v. to walk through water

grab  v. to quickly take and hold (someone or something) with your hand or arms

tracker  n. a person who follows and tries to find (an animal) by looking for its tracks

canal  n. a long narrow place that is filled with water and allows boats to pass through and other signs that show where it has gone
From Washington, this is VOA News. Im Dave DeForest reporting.

A coalition spokesman says Iraqi security forces are "inside" Fallujah.

The entry came three weeks after the government launched an offensive to retake the city from the Islamic State group. The spokesman said troops are working to seize the center of Fallujah and then fight outward.

Iraqi Security Force brigades, police, Anbar tribal fighters and Popular Mobilization Units have encircled Fallujah, the first Iraqi city to fall to the Islamic State militants in 2014.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is calling on the governments of Russia and Syria to respect the fragile Syrian ceasefire.

In Norway for the annual Oslo Forum meeting, Kerry accused the two governments of selectively enforcing the ceasefire.

It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk, and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place.

John Kerry said U.S. patience is running out.

U.S. investigators say that the wife of the man who carried out Sunday's mass shooting in Florida had some knowledge of his plans. They say Noor Zahi Salma-nand had accompanied him on a (so-called) "reconnaissance" mission to a gay nightclub where the attack occurred.

U.S. attorney Lee Bentley was asked if the woman would be charged.

Were not sure what charges will be brought or if charges will be brought. I can assure you that we are working with our law enforcement partners to find out everything we can about what happened in the Pulse nightclub.

Federal Bureau of Investigation officials say Salman has been cooperating with their probe. They say she might be able to provide important information.

This is VOA.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.


Time is running out for President Barack Obama to meet his goal of placing 10,000 Syrian refugees in the United States.

The process has been slowed by concerns about terrorism, especially after the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.

One of the first Syrian refugees resettled to the U.S. spoke about his sorrow for the killing of 49 people on Sunday.

This is not Islam, said an interpreter speaking for 45-year-old Ahmad Alabood. And he feels for the families that lost loved ones or have injured people." The Associated Press reported his comments.

The Obama administration has said it wants to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees by October 1. That is the end of the fiscal year, the 12-month period the government uses for keeping records.

But it will be difficult for the administration to reach that target. The AP reports that 5,763 Syrian refugees have been admitted to the U.S. since 2011.

An issue in the presidential campaign

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton supports calls to admit up to 65,000 refugees. Clinton is the likely presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. She is expected to face businessman Donald Trump, the likely Republican candidate, in the November 8 elections.

In a speech on Monday, Donald Trump said he would suspend immigration from areas with a history of terrorism.

Trump said Clinton, as head of the State Department, was responsible for admissions and the admissions process for foreigners seeking to live in the U.S. He has said he wants to temporarily stop Muslims from entering the country. He said that step is needed to protect against terrorism. Trump later amended his proposal, saying he would suspend immigration from areas where there is a proven history of terrorism against the U.S. and its allies.

Clinton criticized Trumps call for a ban on Muslims from entering the country. She said his policy would not have stopped the killings in Orlando.

She noted that Omar Mateen, the man who police say carried out the attack, was born in New York.

No agreement in Congress

Some Republicans in Congress say President Obama is trying to bring in too many Syrian immigrants.

But 27 Democratic members of the Senate recently wrote to Obama, saying the process is not going fast enough.

In their letter, the senators said Canada has already admitted more than 26,000 Syrian refugees. They said special checks by the State Department keep out people who are thought to be terrorist threats.

The lawmakers used wording from a United Nations report. It said that fewer safe places in Syria mean everyday decisions, like whether to go out to buy bread, can become a matter of life-or-death.

The war has led to hundreds of thousands of fatalities, more than a million injured, and more than half of Syrias entire population being displaced, the letter said.

The civil war in Syria started five years ago. Since then, the fighting has displaced more than six million Syrians. More than four million others have fled the country.

Some of the refugees are now in the United States. The highest number of refugees has settled in Michigan, with more than 500 arrivals, reports The Detroit News.

People from Syria must go through what is called an enhanced review. Law enforcement and intelligence reports are checked for every applicant, according to the State Department.

But some Republicans said it is hard to get a good sense of who is and who is not a threat because Syria has been at war for so long.

Islamic radicals want to attack America, said Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, a member of the Republican Party. Its no secret to the American people.

Difficulty in settling Syrian refugees

Erol Kekic of Church World Service said some landlords refuse to rent homes to people from Syria because of terrorism concerns.

On one side, it is the unfortunate statements by politicians about the supposed dangers of Syrian immigrants, Kekic said.

But the application process and investigations for security and health risks add to the delays. Kekic said a minor mistake can delay the process for months.

He worries about the delays. He said they affect the physical and mental health of people who faced major trauma because of Syrias civil war.

Church World Service has helped place refugees in the U.S. cities of Columbus, Ohio, Syracuse, New York, and Houston, Texas.

Nina Zelic works for the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. She says if there is good news, it is that the faith community and others are stepping up to the Syrian refugee crisis.

Given all the negative comments by some politicians, it is good to see that outpouring of community support, Zelic said.

Many Syrian refugees are skilled and had jobs before they fled the country. Erol Kekic said that was before the civil war cost them everything -- their homes, their jobs and their sense of well-being.

Some refugees, mainly those from rural areas, have large families. That makes it hard to find homes big enough to house them together, according to several U.S. groups.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

landlord  n. a person who owns a house, apartment, etc., and rents it to other people

rent  v. to allow someone to stay in your house, apartment, in return for money

application  n. a formal and usually written request for something

trauma  n. a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time

unfortunate  adj. not appropriate or desirable

outpouring  n. a large response

fatality  n. a death that results from a disaster, accident or war

enhanced  adj. to increase or improve

radical  n. having extreme political or social views that are not shared by most people

interpreter - n. a language aide


A recent piece of audience mail expressed concern about the listening capability of smart phones.

The writer said she had been planning a funeral and searched on Google for funeral homes. She typed "f-u-n-e-r-a" and Google suggested funeral homes near her as well as other funeral-related websites.

Just then, a friend called her on her landline phone. The friend suggested that the woman make food called funeral potatoes for a gathering after the service.

After the call ended, the woman returned to her Internet search. She again typed "f-u-n-e-r-a." This time, the first suggestion to appear on Google was funeral potatoes.

She called a relative and told him what happened. He thought it was a coincidence. So he experimented.

He typed "f-u-n-e-r-a" into Google. The search suggestions that appeared were funeral, funeral songs, funeral homes near me, and funeral homes.

Then, the man said the words "funeral potatoes" out loud. Then, he re-typed "f-u-n-e-r-a" into Google. Funeral potatoes, funeral and funeral songs appeared.

The woman who wrote about the experience says she and the man had their cell phones in the room with them at the time. It seemed the cell phones had listened to what they were talking about.

Cell phones may indeed be listening to us, even when we are not using them. Stories on the Internet tell of people who got Internet search results or advertisements based on words they said aloud near their cell phones.

When we give an app permission to use our cell phone microphone it is not clear when it is listening to us. There are no signal lights or icons that show when the microphone is turned on.

According to the BBC, Google and Facebook deny using voice data for advertising or other purposes. A Google spokesperson told the BBC that its listening abilities only extend to activating its voice services.

Facebook also told the BBC it does not permit companies to target advertising based around microphone data. And it said it never shares data without permission.

Voice of America Learning English also experimented with an iPhone and an Android. We did not find that search results or ads change based on spoken information.

Testing whether a phone can listen to you

The BBC asked developers if they could create an app that could activate a phone's microphone secretly and record speech taking place near the phone.

The developers could and did. They told the BBC that the process was "remarkably easy."

This video shows how the developers were successful in creating the app:

Benefits of tech listening to you

Many services on the Internet are free, such as Google, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and other sites. But advertising is sold to pay for these free services.

Apps that listen may be able to provide more helpful search results and ads. But you may not want your phone listening to you.

How to stop your phone from listening to you

Be sure to check the permissions you have given apps to access the microphone on your phone. Some apps need the microphone access to work correctly, but others do not. Never give permission to use your microphone unless the app needs access to it.

Some apps need the microphone for their operations. For example, Shazam, an app that identifies songs being played, must use the phone's microphone. But other apps may not need the microphone so they should not have access to it.

Turn off the microphone for any apps you do not want to have access to your microphone. You may want to turn off microphone access for all of the apps on your phone. If you find an app requiring microphone access you can always turn it back on again.

iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

To make sure apps are not listening to you, turn off microphone access on your iPhone. Go to Settings, then Privacy, then Microphone, to see a list of all of the apps that have asked for permission to use your microphone.

Turn off permission for any apps you do not want using your phone's microphone.

Android phones

Some Android phones let you to see which apps have permission to use your microphone and turn off that permission.

To turn off microphone access, go to Settings, Privacy and Emergency, App permissions, Microphone, to see a list of apps that have permission to use your microphone.

You can also turn the phone's power off or leave the phone in another room to make sure you are not being listened to.

Or you can try a microphone blocking app from the Google Play store. These apps have had mixed reviews.

Im Jill Robbins.

Carolyn Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

Do you wish your phone would let you know when the microphone was in use? Have you tested to see whether your phone is listening to you?

Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

funeral - n. a ceremony held for a dead person

coincidence - n. a situation in which events happen at the same time in a way that is not planned or expected

permission - n. the right or ability to do something that is given by someone who has the power to decide if it will be allowed or permitted

microphone - n. a device into which people speak or sing in order to record their voices or to make them sound louder

data - n. facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something

remarkable - adj. unusual or surprising

access - n. permission or the right to enter, get near, or make use of something
Weekends like the last one just dont come around very often.

With several major events around the area, there was truly something for almost any taste.

On Friday, young people took to the skies in Cozad with the Young Eagles.

Free airplane rides were offered to kids at the Cozad Municipal Airport as a precursor to the Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue 2016 Nebraska State Fly-in and Airshow.

Friday also featured tandem skydiving and a USO Show Social Hour.

Saturday featured vendors, exhibits, kids activities, aircraft displays and performances.

Event organizer Allison Donner with Mid-state Aviation said last weekend was the culmination of nine months of planning. When a community is awarded the annual fly-in, they have the option to add an airshow and other events provided the community foots the bill, she said. Cozad committed early to bringing in as many events as possible, and community sponsors helped make it happen, Donner added.

We decided to make it really special, so we added the Young Eagle rides, the skydiving, the airshow, the USO social hour, and the vendors, she said.

Hundreds of people lined the street in yards across from the airfield, with many more at the airfield itself and sitting in the shade atMunyPark.

The air show featured approximately 10 distinct acts, Donner said, and included several World War II-era aircraft, including a B-25 Mitchell and P-51 Mustang.

Vendors were set up in two new aircraft hangers Mid-State constructed in the past year.

The Fly-in and Airshow is something that could return to Cozad at some point in the future, Donner said. The last time the community hosted the event was 2001, though she said it was a much smaller-scale affair than the 2016 version.
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Not every computer needs a big, high-resolution screen, support for 4K video playback and enough horsepower to handle a high-end virtual reality headset. Sometimes you just want something to check your email and watch YouTube videos and a dirt cheap Chromebookll do the trick.

Right now Walmart is running a few Chromebook sales, letting you pick up an 11.6 inch model for just $129, or buy a Chromebook + laptop bundle for $136 and up. Woot has some refurbished Chromebooks for even less money.

And if you do want a Windows laptop with a bit more memory, storage, and, you know support for Windows apps, Woot has a pretty great deal on a cheap Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11E too.

Here are some of the days best deals.

Chromebooks

Windows computers

Smartphones

Other

You can find more bargains in our daily deals section.
Lesotho's minister of home affairs, Lekhetho Rakuoane, recently hosted over 100 business leaders and investors from Lesotho and neighbouring countries to discuss Lesotho's socio-economic transformation.

According to a report by the African Development Bank Group, in 2014, Lesothos economy had a registered a growth of 4.3%, with an expected average growth of 4.9% over the next two years.

However, the report also highlighted the high rates of poverty, unemployment and inequality in rural areas, relative to urban areas in Lesotho, as a challenge that required urgent attention.

As Lesotho prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence, Rakuoane urged the business community to see these celebrations as a platform to transform Lesothos economy, in order to effect the social transformation required in the Kingdom.

We as the people of Lesotho need to recognise that there is a need and urgency for Lesotho to transform its economy. True independence means a future that is characterised by a people that are economically and socially empowered, he said.

During his address, the minister also highlighted the National Development Strategic Plan as crucial in achieving Lesothos sustainable economy, highlighting energy, tourism and agriculture as some of the key pillars in driving the Kingdoms socio-economic growth.

We have the capacity to produce goods and services for regional, African and global markets. We believe that this can be addressed by exploiting our comparative advantages. These advantages include our central location within South Africa, which provides access to its markets and advanced infrastructure that creates links with the rest of the world.

In addition, we also have a relatively large, young, competitive and literate human resource base, as well as the natural landscape and resource endowments that offer great prospects for a greener economy, Rakuoane added.

He concluded, saying: We are pleased with the outcome of this meeting which enabled us to highlight to our local business community and potential investors, that Lesotho has more to offer."
A contract killer loses his memory in an accident. He wakes up knowing only his name, and the company of a beautiful woman who wants to help him regain his identity.

Rajeev Khandelwal is less Jason Bourne (after all, the spy did wake up from an attempt on his life, with amnesia) and more Emraan Hashmi in the trailer for his upcoming thriller Fever.

The trailer gives us a few details about his character before the mind-altering accident: This is a contract killer, or as Rajeev finds it necessary to explain, a professional assassin or if you still dont get it: Jo paison ke liye logon ki zindagi ko khatam karne ka contract leta hai. We see vignettes of the killer carrying out his contracts. In the midst of his bloody (we mean that literally) work, he also manages to seduce some women. Because in his own words, "Mere liye khoobsurti aam baat hai, aur khoobsurat ladkiyan roz ki baat hai". Okay then.

Then, the accident, waking up to realize his memory is gone, and in steps a mysterious woman  Gauhar Khan  who tells Rajeevs character about his sordid past. Cue more kissing, some stripping scenes, and the films message: that there are three sides to every story  yours, theirs and the truth. To drum this into us, the trailer shows us this message three times.

The only reason to be excited about the Fever trailer is it gives us a chance to see Rajeev Khandelwal back in action. But we do wish the talented actor had chosen a better vehicle this time round.

Watch the trailer for Fever here:
Shah Rukh Khan and Aditya Chopra are arguably one of the most revered actor-director duos in the Hindi Film industry, and they have three big film to their credit: the blockbuster Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Mohabbatein and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.

Eight years since their last film together, they are finally teaming up. Filmfare reports that the next film will be a big budget one, a period drama which will see Shah Rukh Khan playing a warrior.

The film is expected to go on floors in the end of 2017, after Chopra has done his due research and preparation.

While there is no official confirmation of this yet, Shah Rukh Khan had said in an earlier interview, "He told me that the shooting will be wrapped up in three months, but I will have to work with him on characters for two months prior to shooting for the film. I have no idea what he is making, but he has just asked me to keep my dates free next year. He has been planning one film with me after Befikre."

This film has reportedly been on Chopra's mind for a while now, and it saw a delay only when he decided to direct Befikre instead of producing it.

Meanwhile, Spotboye has confirmed that Shah Rukh Khan will be working with Rohit Shetty on the Hindi remake of Tamil film Theri.
JK Rowling was one of the many celebrities who mourned for the victims of the Orlando shooting that killed 49 people and injured 53.

The Harry Potter writer shared a special connection with one of the victims: Luis S Vielma was a ride attendant and attractions operator at the Harry Potter and Forbidden Journey ride inside Universal Orlando's Islands of Adventure theme park.

Luis was also an avid Harry Potter fan. JK Rowling tweeted this photo of him wearing the Hogwarts vest and said: "Luis Vielma worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal. He was 22 years old. I can't stop crying. #Orlando."

Luis Vielma worked on the Harry Potter ride at Universal. He was 22 years old. I can't stop crying. #Orlando pic.twitter.com/Nz2ZCWxNsS  J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 13, 2016

The theme park's president and COO, Bill Davis, also released a statement regarding the loss of Vielma.

From the President and COO of Universal Orlando Resort pic.twitter.com/OmuNmUORpQ  Universal Orlando (@UniversalORL) June 13, 2016

Vielma was not gay, but that didn't matter when the loud music started blaring at Pulse on that Saturday night. He was just a young person out to have fun with his friends. His friends and family took to social media to pay a tribute to him:

my beautiful friend Luis Vielma passed away today. At the age of 22. what a wonderful human being he was..I am lost for words..  gina (@ginnabeean) June 12, 2016
Vijay Mallya, who owes more than Rs 9,000 crore to a clutch of 17 banks, has been declared a proclaimed offender by a special PMLA court.

The declaration came on a plea by the Enforcement Directorate(ED) in connection with its money laundering probe against Mallya in an alleged bank loan default case.

Mallya, who left India in the nick of the time, is learnt to be living in the UK.

Will the move help the authorities to bring the defaulter to books?

Here are the key points to note:

Who is a 'proclaimed defender'?

A person can be termed a proclaimed offender in a criminal case probe if the court has reasons to believe that the accused against whom a warrant of arrest has been issued by it, has absconded or is concealing himself so that such warrant cannot be executed.

As per Section 82 of the CrPC, the court can publish a written proclamation requiring such an accused to appear at a specified place and at a specified time in not less than 30 days from the date of publishing of such a proclamation.

Officials said that the agency also has the option to seek action under Section 83 of the CrPC (attachment of property of person absconding) if Mallya does not comply with proceedings initiated under Section 82.

Whoever fails to appear at the specified place and the specified time as required by a proclamation by the Court is punishable with imprisonment for up to 3 years or with fine or with both

He shall be punished with imprisonment for a term up to 7 years and shall also be liable to fine.

Under section 83 CrPC, the Court issuing a proclamation may order the attachment of any property belonging to the person to force him to appear before the court.

Why did ED want the court to declare Mallya a 'proclaimed offender'?

ED has been wanting Mallya to join investigations "in person" in its PMLA probe against him and others in the Rs 900 crore alleged loan fraud of IDBI bank and has virtually exhausted all legal remedies like seeking an Interpol arrest warrant and getting his passport revoked.

In response to ED's request for a red corner notice (RCN) against Mallya, Interpol had earlier sought some "clarifications" from the ED. RCN is a global arrest warrant. The global police body had asked ED to provide certain detailed information on the legal processes undertaken in the case before it can notify an RCN.

ED's plea to declare Mallya proclaimed offender seems to be an attempt to fill in all loopholes before requesting another RCN from Interpol.

Will Mallya fall in line now?

A report in The Hindu newspaper cites an ED official as saying that the case is now different from Lalit Modi's. In Modi's case, he was not declared a proclaimed offender before trying to extradite. Now since the ED has succeeded in getting Mallya declared a proclaimed offender, chances of getting Mallya extradited from the UK has brightened. Also, as said earlier, ED now has power to attach all his properties across the world. This also is likely to put pressure on Mallya.

Hitesh Jain, senior partner at law firm ALMT Legal, has told The Economic Times that this is likely to cripple Mallya's businesses. "...This step is more like financial blockade to bring him back in the country," he has been quoted as saying in the report.

India's earlier attempt to deport Mallya from the UK met with failure as that country had rejected the plea submitted to that country after revoking his diplomatic passport.

"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," India's external affairs ministry statement has said.

However, the UK officials had agreed to consider extraditing Mallya under the 1993 treaty with India.
Rs 43,000 crore. That is one hell of a lot of money. But it belongs to the benighted tribe of provident fund subscribers who havent cared to claim their balance out of sheer ignorance. The government is reportedly eyeing these unclaimed provident fund balances of thousands of employees/ex-employees for financing its numerous projects by way of loan.

One may turn around and say what is wrong in it. Well everything. It is one thing for unclaimed dividend belonging to shareholders to be used for such altruistic purposes as investor education etc but quite another to use workers money for financing government projects. Shareholders after all are literate middle class or elite who have been constantly served notice about the unclaimed dividend through various means including the annual report.

But most of the unclaimed provident fund belongs to the itinerant, ignorant labour class who flit from organization to organization spread across the country leaving a PF balance at each halt. Of course Universal Access Number or UAN is meant to address this problem but when vast number of literate PF subscribers are yet to become the online UAN members then what to talk of the illiterate workers.

It is the governments job to ensure that the beneficiaries of these balances are alerted about the existence of the money belonging to them. When netas take out full page advertisements at the drop of the hat in both national and vernacular dailies tom-tomming their achievements, what prevents the government from publishing prominently the list of unclaimed PF accounts in each city or town? And what prevents the government from bringing out public interest ads on Doordarshan and other television channels alerting the beneficiaries generally about a tidy sum tucked away in their PF accounts? And what prevents the government from using the new kid on the block-- -UAN.

When somebody opens his/her Universal Access Number on the net to see his PF balance or to update his KYC document or change the nominee or indeed for any other purpose, information should spring up about unclaimed balances of persons likely to be known to such UAN member. This is the beauty of information technology. UAN can be programmed to flash the relevant unclaimed details of friends, neighbours and colleagues so that the UAN member imbued with public spirit can act upon the information by alerting such friends, neighbours and colleagues.

The point is the government should think in terms of handing over the unclaimed money to those who have a lawful right on it instead of coveting it for bankrolling its projects. EPFO has been chary of investing 5% of its total funds in the share market on the ground that it could amount to throwing employees money to wolves.

It should be even more chary and put its foot down to this hare-brained move of the government because in India NPAs are not unique to banks. Who will compensate the PF account holders if these loans go up in smoke? Government departments are as guilty as private parties in the matter of NPAs-- -- witness the massive dues from the electricity boards to power generation companies.

The Indian government is seized of a problem faced by the Indian working diaspora in the USA-- -- their contributions to the social security scheme is going abegging when they leave its shores before the mandatory ten year period, before which social security contributions cannot be claimed. Its social security scheme is our PF equivalent.

The Indian government is trying to impress upon the US government that the ten year mandatory period should include service in Indian establishments as well as in establishments of other countries that have the equivalent of social security scheme. The US government it seems is impressed by this argument.

If the Indian government can take up cudgels for its US-based NRIs, it should take up cudgels with greater vigor for the benighted working class rooted in India. God knows how many of them might be borrowing from wicked local money lenders practicing usury, sadly unaware of the existence of a tidy sum tucked away in the ledgers of a dingy PF office.
State chief ministers clearing the way for the rollout of Goods and Services Tax from 1 April 2017 may be a major boost for the country's e-commerce sector but also opens up a few major challenges.

The model draft GST law, released by the finance ministry on Tuesday, has brought electronic commerce under its purview. It is to be noted that the development has come at a time when the sector is going through a rough patch due to dwindling funds and mounting losses.

The GST regime will essentially tax the goods and services and all online purchases at the first point of transaction, as the per model draft. The reform is aimed at subsuming all indirect taxes to create one national market.

Bringing e-commerce under the GST regime will resolve the big tax issues that these companies face in various states now.

States like Uttarakhand, Assam and Bihar recently imposed a 10 percent entry tax on the goods sold online. There were fears that more states are likely to follow in their footsteps. However, Flipkart and other e-commerce companies had alleged that the move to impose tax was not driven by clean hands and was a handiwork of the offline retailers.

The GST regime is likely to end such arbitrary moves by state governments.

In an earlier article of the sector's tax troubles, Vivek Pachisia, Partner - Tax & Regulatory Services at Ernst & Young India, had pointed out that for the e-commerce sector, the indirect tax laws in India have been more of a snag than a driver for growth.

With e-commerce experimenting with various models, the companies have been grappling with a more complex tax framework involving VAT / CST, excise, and / or service taxes.

The sector was also having a hard time categorising their offerings into 'goods' or 'services' for charging either value added tax (VAT) / Central Sales Tax (CST) or service tax, the article pointed out. In case of digital downloads involving software, music, e-books etc, the confusion over whether the transaction is for sale of goods attracting VAT / CST or a provision of service that should be charged to service tax has led to many litigations.

Then there is the big hurdle of moving goods from one state to another, which is evident from the entry tax-related problems discussed above.

But the GST will be a step forward in resolving these issues.

The model GSt law clearly defines electronic commerce. Electronic commerce shall mean the supply or receipt of goods and / or services, or transmitting of funds or data, over an electronic network, primarily the internet, by using any of the applications that rely on the internet, like but not limited to e-mail, instant messaging, shopping carts, Web services, Universal Description, Discovery and Integration (UDDI), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), whether or not the payment is conducted online and whether or not the ultimate delivery of the goods and/or services is done by the operator.

An electronic commerce operator shall include every person who, directly or indirectly, owns, operates or manages an electronic platform that is engaged in facilitating the supply of any goods and/or services or in providing any information or any other services incidental to or in connection there with but shall not include persons engaged in supply of such goods and/or services on their own behalf, the law says.

However, some experts have expressed concerns that the clauses in the model draft may add burden to e-commerce companies.

For Pratik P Jain, Leader - Indirect Tax, PwC India, tax collection at source (TCS) system proposed for e-commerce companies is one of the highlights of the law.

"Any payment made to supplier would be subject to TCS at the notified rate. This will mean significant compliance burden on E commerce companies as many of them deal with thousands of vendors. Further, this may lead to refund situation for many suppliers who operate on thin margin. In addition, the E Commerce companies will need to file a statement providing details of all supplies made through E commerce platform," he says.

He, however, feels the revised draft is a significant improvement over the first draft.

Lauding the the hard work done to get all the states on board, he said industry would need to analyse the law with specific reference to their business and set the ball rolling in terms of preparation.

"Hectic times ahead for industry," he said.
Bengaluru - A heated argument ensued in the Debt Recovery Tribunal today after counsel for consortium of banks led by SBI called some defendants, including Vijay Mallya, "shameless" over the issue of disclosure of the balance sheets in the case.

While taking up the three Interlocutory Applications (IAs) of Kingfisher Finvest by the DRT's Presiding Officer C R Benakanahalli, counsel for bankers assailed the defendants including Mallya, United Breweries Holdings Limited and Kingfisher Airlines Limited, saying: "If you (defendants) want to prove our charges of fraud wrong, you should disclose the balance sheets. It has not been done and we have to deal with such persons- they are shameless."

Sajan Poovaiah, counsel for Kingfisher Finvest, hit back at bankers' counsel, saying the bankers have been shameful in their endeavours to give loans to Mallya even after he had defaulted.

"I object to the unparliamentary words used by bankers' counsel. If he resorts such a language I will also give it back in the same coin," Poovaiah said.

"In fact it has been the bankers who are shameless, who doled out money belonging to the people, to a person who has defaulted in repaying loans. And they did not take due diligence in recovering loans. I appeal to the tribunal to direct the bankers counsel to take back the word," he said.

In a counter submission, bankers' counsel said he used the unparliamentary words not against Kingfisher Finvest but other defendants.

Making submissions earlier, Poovaiah asked the tribunal to dismiss bankers' plea seeking 'Lifting of Corporate Veil' by arguing that the original application did not mention it.

The bankers had pleaded before the DRT for Lifting of Corporate Veil to pierce the protection against personal liability enjoyed by individuals controlling the company.

The doctrine of Lifting of Corporate Veil means disregarding the corporate personality and looking behind the persons controlling the company.

As soon as the proceedings started, counsel for State Bank of India pleaded: "After going through the list of IAs, at least two IAs needs immediate attention for it has direct bearing on the original application."

"The other IAs are procedural in nature and could be heard in short time. Also other IAs are in different high courts, Supreme Court and DRAT across India," the counsel said.

Counsel said all attempts to recover dues from Mallya are being made, but he was thwarting their attempts to take over his properties by seeking adjournments in courts, and hence the Kingfisher Finvest India's IAs could be heard at the disposal stage of the final hearing.

Also, Diageo Netherlands Holdings appealed to the presiding officer to hear their application on priority basis.

Diageo Netherlands pleaded their application relates to the pledging of shares of USL to the lenders which banks have not released.

Mallya, whose now-defunct group company Kingfisher Airlines owes over Rs 9,000 crore (Rs 90 billion) to 17 banks, had left the country on March 2 and is in the UK.

ED, on June 11, had attached assets worth Rs 1,411 crore of Mallya and one of his companies in connection with its money laundering probe in the alleged IDBI bank loan default case.
New Delhi: Opposing NITI Aayog's proposal to privatise Air India and shut 28 PSUs, central trade unions, including the RSS-backed BMS, have threatened to go on strike and sought Prime Minister's intervention on this matter.

One of the bodies has even accused the government of "moving on expected lines to sell the country".

"BMS opposes NITI Aayog proposal to close sick PSUs... BMS demands that the government call a meeting of all stakeholders to discuss the revival plan of sick PSUs before proceeding to decide on the proposal of NITI Aayog. Otherwise, we will

compel to come on to the street to oppose the move," BMS General Secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said in a statement today.

The statement follows NITI Aayog submitting its proposal to the Prime Minister's Office on strategic sale, privatisation of PSUs and closure of loss-making units. The NITI panel, headed by its Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya with CEO Amitabh Kant and other members on board, has prepared a detailed blueprint on PSU reforms. The Aayog

has already submitted two lists of PSUs for strategic sale and closure or sale of sick units.

Although the panels' recommendation has not been made public, some media reports suggest that it has pitched for reducing the government's stake to 49 percent or below in PSUs at one go under the strategic sale option.

"The AITUC Secretariat has taken serious note and condemned the proposal for strategic sale of Air India, Chennai Petroleum, Madras Fertilizer and FACT by NITI Aayog," All India Trade Union Congress Secretary D L Sachdev said in a statement.

"AITUC has also condemned Aayog's proposal to wind up 28 PSUs and long-term lease of ITDC hotels. AITUC appeals to the Prime Minister not to accept the proposals as submitted by NITI Aayog on strategic sale and winding up the so-called loss making PSUs and stresses on revival of these units."

Centre of Indian Trade Unions General Secretary Tapen Sen was more blunt: "We are opposed to it. The government is moving on expected lines to sell the country".

Sen said further, "What is surprising is that now the government wants to sell those PSUs on which crores were spent for revival. This will definitely be one of major issues at the nation-wide Bharat Bandh on September 2, 2016."

Indian National Trade Union Congress Vice-President Ashok Singh echoed his point, saying the union is against the proposal to sell sick PSUs and will oppose this. The government has set a disinvestment target of Rs 56,500 crore for this fiscal. Of this, Rs 36,000 crore is to come from minority stake sale in PSUs and Rs 20,500 crore from strategic sale.

The government kickstarted the disinvestment programme for the current fiscal with 11.36 per cent stake sale in NHPC. The government raised Rs 2,700 crore through the process. During 2015-16, the government managed to notch up Rs 25,312 crore through disinvestment, less than half the target of Rs 69,500 crore. It had raised around Rs 24,500 crore in 2014-15 by selling stake in public companies, about Rs 16,000 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 23,960 crore in 2012-13. It had raised around Rs 14,000 crore in 2011-12 and over Rs 22,100 crore in 2010-11.
In a startling revelation, the CBI disclosed that the key suspects of 2009 Goa blast, Malgunda Patil and Sarang Akolkar, had called Virendrasinh Tawade, a suspect in the Dabholkar murder case, before and after the blast.

Tawade was arrested on Friday night by the CBI in connection with the 2013 murder. While Patil died in 2009, after the bomb accidentally exploded, Akolkar has been on the run ever since he has been named in the Goa blast case. Akolkar is allegedly one of the key conspirators in the murder case.

To establish Tawade's role in the murder, his call records are proving to be one of the most important pieces of circumstantial evidence.

Tawade is a member of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, a group linked to Sanatan Sanstha, the radical Hindu group based in Goa.

If the investigating agencies had checked the call records of the two suspects, Dabholkar's murder might have been averted. Tawade's communication with suspects should have put him also on the list of suspects too.

An official quoted by The Times of India said, "If Tawade had been booked in the Goa blast case on the basis of his phone conversations with the suspects, he may have been prevented from planning the murders of Dabholkar and other rationalists."

Defending Tawade, Sanatan Sanstha spokesperson Abhay Vartak, said his arrest was a conspiracy to defame the organisation, which is doing social work. "A lot of our sadhaks are being targeted by the authorities for no fault of theirs. This is all a big conspiracy," Vartak told PTI.

The CBI is currently probing whether the same group is involved in the murder of Govind Pansare in Kolhapur and MM Kalburgi in Dharwad.

Though Pansare's family had earlier rejected CBI inquiry for his murder case, they now plan to write to the Bombay High Court seeking a transfer to them from the special investigation team (SIT) citing slow progress in the case and lack of transparency.

Dabholkar was murdered on 20 August, 2013 while taking a morning walk in Pune by two unidentified gunmen. Pansare and Kalburgi were also shot at in a similar way outside their homes on 16 February and 30 August, 2015 respectively.

With inputs from PTI
Mumbai: A month after Bombay High Court struck down two sections of Maharashtra Animals Preservation (Amendment) Act which criminalised possession of beef of animals slaughtered outside the state, some activists have urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to challenge the decision in the apex court.

The high court had last month struck down two sections  5D and 9B  of the Act, which criminalised possession of beef of animals slaughtered outside Maharashtra, while upholding the ban on slaughter of bulls and bullocks in the state.

Soon after the court order, Fadnavis had said that if required, the government will approach Supreme Court against the high court decision of striking down the "unconstitutional sections" of the Act.

Animal rights activist Siddh Vidya, in an email to the CM, on Wednesday urged him to move the apex court. "Please take a very serious note of the fact that with the removal of the said two sections from the statute book, the entire Act has become toothless," she said in the email.

"Removal of section 5D from the statute would provide cover to offenders who would slaughter cow progeny in Maharashtra and defend themselves with an excuse that it was slaughtered outside the state," she said. She pointed out that when the onus to prove the offence is on the state, it would be difficult for the prosecution to ascertain as to when and in which part of the country, a cow and its progeny were slaughtered and all the offenders would go unpunished.

"Hence, the state must challenge the order before the apex court," she said. Activist Rajendra Joshi said, "I have followed up this issue with the government. We have prepared a draft to challenge the order in Supreme court and sent it to state

legal department."

Another animal rights activist Chetan Sharma said he has also requested the chief minister to act on the issue at the earliest.
Bihar: A Bihar court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against Bihar School Examination Board's former chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, who has been untraceable and on the run since after his name figured in the Class 12 toppers' scam, police said.

A Patna civil court issued the arrest warrant against Singh, who is a key accused in the case and has gone underground after resigning from the board last week.

"Singh is still absconding after his name figured in the Class 12 toppers scam. Now the Special Investigation Team will send its team outside Bihar to arrest him," a police official said.

Meanwhile, police have arrested two persons, including Singh's private secretary, on Wednesday.

Singh resigned from the post last week after his name cropped up in the scam.

Earlier, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing into the scam sought an arrest warrant against Singh.

Singh's wife Usha Sinha, former Janata Dal-United legislator of Bihar, is also missing and on the run since her name too figured in the Class 12 toppers scam.

Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the mastermind behind the Class 12 Board merit list scam in Bihar, was arrested on Saturday after he surrendered before the police.

Both Singh and Rai are wanted by the SIT in the ongoing investigation into the alleged irregularities in the results of the toppers in the Class 12 Arts and Science examinations this year.

According to reports, the SIT has found evidences that suggest Singh's role in the racket. Evidence collected also indicates the board's complicity in the scam.

Last week five accused persons arrested in the case were remanded in 14 days' judicial custody by a local court in Patna.
More than two years after the Chandigarh rape case made headlines in which five policemen were accused of raping a minor, shocking revelations of violence against the victim's homosexual brother have resurfaced.

In what was a major embarrassment to the Chandigarh police in December 2013, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped by five policemen over a period of two months.

According to a report in The Indian Express, one of the accused police officers had visited her home in connection to a complaint made about domestic violence. He later started stalking and harassing the victim along with his four other friends. He also forcefully took her to a location in Khuda Lahora area  a moniker the case assumed in several media reports  a few times and raped her at gunpoint, along with the four other accused cops.

The girl, unable to bear the trauma, confided in her sister and a male cousin, who has now levelled charges of sexual assault and torture against the police. Incidentally, the cousin has reportedly been following the case doggedly and is also a key witness in the case.

He has now approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court to file a FIR against his alleged sexual assault and harassment, according to a DNA report.

According to him, he was first beaten up in 2014 by the relatives of some of the accused and was pressured to take back the case. Following this, he approached the district court and asked for police protection  he claims that it was never provided despite the court's clear directives.

The DNA report further states that on the night of 7 July, the girl's cousin was stopped on his way and was taken to a remote area where he was assaulted. Later, the police took him to the police station.

They first beat me up, impounded my vehicle and then groped me, including my penile areas. Then they took me to the Sector 34 police station, where they assaulted me for hours, he said. A policewoman said I was not a man, and said that my cousin was lying (about her rape), the article quotes him as saying.

Another report from July 2014, published in Galaxy online magazine also reported sexual assault on the rape victim's brother. According to the Galaxy, when the boy objected to the beatings he was brought over to the police station and told he was detained for triple-riding and for not carrying a valid license. Also, reportedly, a female police officer spat in his face before beating the boy up.

The Galaxy report further states that the SHO of the police station in question had denied the allegations made by the girl's cousin as false and baseless.

Following the harassment and assault, the boy was lost his job as a school teacher and was forced to go into hiding. He sought help from Gay rights' groups and has finally approached the court to seek justice. The case is likely to come up on 19 July.
New Delhi: A delegation of parliamentarians from various opposition parties will on Thursday visit Kandhala and Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP leaders have alleged "mass exodus of Hindus".

The delegation will consist of Janata Dal-United's KC Tyagi, Communist Party of India-Marxist's Mohammed Salim, Communist Party of India's D Raja, Nationalist Congress Party's DP Tripathi and Rashtriya Janata Dal spokesperson Manoj Jha, among others.

"The delegation will meet members of all sections of society and address a gathering in Kairana," JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said.

"We all strongly condemn Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah's statement that the Kairana exodus will be taken up at an all-India level. This statement has created anxiety and tension in western Uttar Pradesh," Tyagi said.

The JD(U) leader alleged that having "tasted success" in (riots in) Godhra in Gujarat and Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, the right wing forces may try to replicate the same before the coming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh in 2017.

"Taking advantage of lawlessness in some parts of Uttar Pradesh, the BJP is again trying to play the communal card," he said.

BJP MP Hukum Singh had claimed that Hindu families were leaving in large numbers from Muslim-majority Kairana town in Shamli district under duress.

However, on Tuesday, he retracted from his earlier stand and said it was not a communal issue but one of law and order. He released another list of 63 persons who had fled from neighbouring Kandhala.
New Delhi: A 25-year-old CRPF head constable committed suicide while on duty by shooting himself with his service revolver on Wednesday, police said.

The Central Reserve Police Force personnel was identified as Hemant, who was posted at the CGO complex in south Delhi, police said. No suicide note was recovered from his possession.

"Hemant shot himself with his service gun around 10 am in a bathroom at the CGO complex," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Nupur Bharadwaj told IANS.

The body of the deceased CRPF personnel was sent for autopsy, the officer said.

He was a resident of Krishna Nagar in east Delhi and was staying with his family. He was unmarried and has two siblings, the officer added.

The reason for the suicide is not yet clear, said police.
Patna/New Delhi: Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Bihar Education Minister Ashok Choudhary were on Tuesday locked in a bitter war of words on Twitter after the Congress

leader addressed her as "dear".

Issues of etiquette in official communication also cropped up during the barrage of tweets unleashed against each other.

Choudhary in a tweet on Tuesday referred to the Human Resources Development (HRD) minister as "Dear" Smriti Irani ji and said that rather than focus on politics and speeches, she should pay attention to the New Education Policy (NEP).

Irani, who is currently touring Bihar, shot back asking Choudhary that since when did he begin addressing women as "dear". "Mahilaon ko 'dear' keh ke kab se sambodhit karne lage Ashokji?"

@AshokChoudhaary mahilaon ko 'dear' keh ke kab se sambodhit karne lage Ashokji ?  Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016

Choudhary, who is also the state president of Congress, responded that it was "Not to disrespect but educate... Professional emails start with "dear"." In his tweet, he asked Irani to answer the real issue and not "circle around it."

"@AshokChoudhaary all my communications to you or any other person start with 'adarniya', but since you are now communicating allow me 1/3," Irani said in another tweet.

"Bihar is possibly the only state which has not done grass root consultations for the education policy 2/3."

"@AshokChoudhaary have not received state views on education policy neither did you in your 1 on 1 meeting with me give any suggestions 3/3," Irani tweeted.

Yadav, however, launched a counter-attack, tweeting, "@smritiirani ji has learnt a lot from Modiji...Fake promises and shifting blames to others for non-delivery is lesson1 in Sangh's book."

Choudhary also wanted the minutes of his meeting with Irani be made public so that "Doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani ho jayega (the truth comes out in the open)."

Irani again fired another tweet, saying "Sir I hope you do find time in your busy schedule to contribute to the education policy. Await state feedback."

The Bihar minister then responded with a jibe, tweeting "Thx for the high honor, glad to know delivery and non- delivery of NEP is on me. Hope Modiji shares the credit with me too."

The battle of the ministers did not stop there with Irani asking the Bihar minister to "fill 2 lac teacher vacancies, land for KVs, CU Motihari."

Choudhary responded, saying "I know how to deliver on my promises. Request you to deliver on what you have promised".

The war of words erupted on a day when Irani was on a visit to Bhagalpur in connection with "Vikash Parv" observed by BJP-led NDA on completion of two years in the office at the Centre.
New Delhi: The government plans to regulate steep rise in airfares during natural calamities and force majure, Union minister Mahesh Sharma said on Thursday even as his senior colleague Ashok Gajapathi Raju maintained that capping would push up the floor price of tickets.

Sharma said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to take note of the surge in air ticket prices during natural calamities and force majeure. The ministry is seriously looking into the matter.

"We (Civil Aviation Ministry) are working seriously and very shortly we will come out with a proposal on how we can regulate (fares) during such situations and force majeure," Sharma, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, said.

He also referred to instances of airfares going up during the floods in Jammu & Kashmir and Jat agitation in Haryana.

However, Civil Aviation Minister Raju emphasised that the ministry does not want to cap the fares and push up the floor price.

Last week, Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey had said that capping airfares is an issue which continues to be under consideration of the ministry.

Earlier also, Raju had said that capping airfares could be counter-productive for majority of passengers as airlines might hike the floor prices.

"The idea is not to regulate for the sake of regulation. We don't want to push up the cost of tickets for the majority," he had said last week.

When asked about the possibility of capping air ticket prices at the event, the minister had said that floors and caps did exist before 1994.

"So do we want to make it a regulated affair or not? If you put a cap, the floor will go up. This is the problem...," he had said.

An analysis done by the Ministry last year found that only around 1.7 per cent of the tickets were priced higher.
Violence erupted on Tuesday night in Janipur area of Jammu, after an allegedly mentally-disturbed youth vandalised the ancient Aap Shambhu temple in the city.

The police had said that the youth is "mentally-disturbed" and was visiting the area to visit a psychiatrist, when he allegedly entered the temple in Roopnagar area of Janipur, jammu and broke a few things and windowpanes.

As the news of the temple's desecration spread, crowd gathered on the street and started protesting, demanding immediate arrest of the accused. The protest spiraled into violence as people resorted to stone-pelting on the police and torched a number of vehicles, including two police public school buses, The Indian Express reported.

"They (mob) attacked the police station and set some vehicles on fire," Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, Simrandeep Singh, said.

Following the violence, heavy police force was deployed near the area and the accused was apprehended. However, the detention of the perpetrator did not satisfy the violent crowd who alleged inaction on two police officers present on the scene initially, who were of the other community. The crowd accused them of trying to shield the accused, The Indian Express report said.

The officer said that the police had to resort to light cane charge and lob a few tear-gas shells to control the mob.

In the aftermath of the communal tension and violence, the police has suspended mobile data services in the region, on Wednesday, as a precautionary measure to prevent spread of rumours that may ignite communal tension. The deputy commissioner also said that the internet service will be restored by evening if the situation normalises.

The police also said that some stone-pelters and arsonists have also been arrested to ensure law and order. The police who was accused of inaction earlier has also been suspended.

"Right now the situation is tense but calm, people became aggressive as some people were under the influence of alcohol," Singh said.

On the other hand the issue has now taken a political tinge as ruckus was created in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday.

Pandemonium in J&K Assembly during discussion on violent protests in Jammu region. pic.twitter.com/RUp3quybE9  ANI (@ANI_news) June 15, 2016

BJP, which is an ally in the ruling government, demanded a statement from the Chief Minister. While the Opposition party, National Conference questioned the government what it was doing to ensure the safety of Kashmiris in the Jammu region.

"Four boys from Pahalgam area have been arrested in Jammu. What is their fault?" National Conference's Altaf Ahmad Kaloo asked.

In the wake of the incident, the state's chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti has condemned those trying to stoke communal fire in the state. She said that playing communal politics in the region can have devastating effects on the state.

Communal politics in Jammu can have equally disastrous effct in Kashmir like separatist politics has: Mehbooba Mufti pic.twitter.com/FfYgCuSThs  ANI (@ANI_news) June 15, 2016

This is the most secular place,dont want it to be hijacked by extremist forces: Mehbooba Mufti,J&K CM in Jammu Univ pic.twitter.com/3iFk33j9tX  ANI (@ANI_news) June 15, 2016

The Opposition leader Omar Abdullah has termed the incident "worrying" and said that instead of fighting over the issue, the legislators "should set an example for the people to follow on ground. What we do here will be cue for the people in Jammu".

Incidents last evening in Jammu were worrying, we expressed our concerns in the assembly-Omar Abdullah pic.twitter.com/Q0YB7V2r2n  ANI (@ANI_news) June 15, 2016

With inputs from agencies
New Delhi: Congress on Wednesday dismissed findings of an inquiry panel that files relating to Ishrat Jahan case went missing in September 2009 when party leader P Chidambaram was the Home Minister.

"I do not think that is correct. I do not think any important file could go missing when Chidambaram was the Home

Minister. He was a very hands-on minister," senior spokesman Ajay Maken told reporters.

At that time, Maken was the deputy of Chidambaram in the Home Ministry but was not looking after the Internal Security division to which the file belonged.

Reports earlier had it that the one-man inquiry panel probing the missing files related to the case has concluded

that the papers were "removed knowingly or unknowingly or misplaced" in September, 2009.

Only one paper out of the five documents related to the controversial alleged Ishrat fake encounter case that went

missing from the Home Ministry was found, said Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry BK Prasad in his inquiry report submitted to Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.

Ishrat, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed in the encounter

with Gujarat Police on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on 15 June, 2004.

The Gujarat Police had then said those killed in the encounters were LeT terrorists and had landed in Gujarat to

kill the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said her government is giving importance to both power generation and distribution fronts, to improve electricity supply in the state.

She said the governments thrust is on upgrading transmission and distribution network to tide over Transmission and Distribution losses.

"To overcome the distressing power scenario, the Government is working on a comprehensive roadmap to augment the generation, transmission and distribution systems so that quality power supply is ensured to the consumers," the Chief Minister said while addressing a public gathering at Jatwal in Samba district after dedicating a Grid Station and Transmission Line.

The Chief Minister hailed the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) for completing and commissioning the ambitious Grid Station project at Jatwal well ahead of schedule.

"Power sector is crucial to J&Ks economy and this is one of the sectors which has a cascading effect on every other sector," she said and added that the Power Development Department (PDD) will have to firm up timelines to ensure timely execution of projects.

"The power scenario remains sluggish and we need to do more as the state has the potential to generate far more," she observed.

Chief Minister asked PDD to avoid unscheduled power cuts especially during the peak hours so that people are not put to any inconvenience in the winter capital amid scorching heat.

She said the consumers should be informed in advance about the power curtailment schedule, if any to be implemented, during any exigencies.

The Chief Minister called for expediting works under R-APDRP (Restructured Accelerated Power Development and Reforms Programme) and DDUGJY to augment the power supply position in the State.

She asked the executing agency IRCON to carry out works in double-shift to ensure completion of the project ahead of the schedule time frame of March 2017.

"RAPDRP has already missed the deadline and the thrust should be on completing the project ahead of the fresh deadline of March 2017," she said.
Jammu: Mobile internet services were suspended on Wednesday in Jammu following protests in parts of the city after an ancient temple was allegedly desecrated by a "mentally disturbed" person.

According to police officials, an ancient temple situated in Roop Nagar area of Jammu was vandalised on Tuesday which led to protests across the city.

"As a precautionary measure, we have decided to suspend mobile Internet services till the situation returns to normal", Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jammu, Simrandeep Singh told PTI.

Singh said top police and civil officials have been monitoring the situation since Tuesday night and the decision to suspend the mobile Internet services was taken to stop any further flare-up of the situation.

He said if the situation remains normal, the suspension of mobile Internet services would be revoked in the evening.

Adequate police deployment has been made to thwart any untoward incident.

Protesters had set three vehicles on fire on Tuesday night and had resorted to stone pelting on police after the news of the desecration of the temple spread in the city.

Police have arrested the man who allegedly vandalised the temple and have started the investigations.
While poachers and hunters roam free, setting up traps and killing endangered animals, in a bizarre turn of events, forest officials in Gujarat have rounded up 18 Asiatic lions and taken them into custody, at the Gir National Forest.

Suspected of killing three persons in Gujarat, the forest officials will test the faeces and the paw prints of the "convicted" lions to zero in on the culprit.

"The officials are also studying the animals' behaviour. Man-eating lions usually get aggressive at the sight of a human being," wildlife expert Ruchi Dave told the BBC.

The culprit once found guilty, will then be sentenced to life imprisonment in a zoo and the innocent lions will be returned to the Gir National forest.

While the plausible motives behind the killing remain unclear, some experts feel that the thriving lion population in Gir forest could be the reason behind the 'crime', as reported by BBC.

Govind Patel, the former chief wildlife warden of Gujarat, told the Indian Express that Gir can accommodate only 270 lions, forcing some prides to settle outside the boundaries of the sanctuary, leading to instances of confrontation between humans and the lions.

The Asiatic Lion's status as endangered species and the ever increasing human encroachment on its natural habitat, though strong arguments, would fail to save the lions from the confines of the zoo, as the officials seem more than determined to not let the lions get away with murder.
Bengaluru: Karnataka government has banned electronic cigarettes in the state with effect from Wednesday.

"We have banned e-cigarettes today. The decision has been taken on the recommendation of the committee on cancer prevention," Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader told PTI.

He said a study was conducted by the committee with an NGO on e-cigarettes, which said large number of youngsters was getting addicted to it.

"Two mg and four mg nicotine is allowed in chewables like nicotine gum for de-addiction purpose, but these e-cigarettes usage is leading to addiction towards it," he said.

E-cigarettes mimic the size and shape of cigarettes and contain a cartridge containing liquid, which includes nicotine (up to 36 mg/ML) among other chemicals (usually propylene glycol or glycerol).

The government, in a circular, said the state has knowledge that Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems or e-cigarette and other similar products have been sold illegally (including online sale), without a obtaining valid license from appropriate authority specified by law.

It also pointed out that the use of nicotine in food products and consumption by public is banned under Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 and Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation 2011.

"Nicotine is allowed as an aid for de-addiction in nicotine replacement therapy under Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, it is not allowed for any other purpose under law.

"Therefore, the state government hereby prohibits the sale (including online sale), manufacture, distribution, trade, import and advertisement of Electronic Nicotine

Delivery Systems, its parts and components in any shape or size of cartridges containing nicotine in the interest ofpublic," the circular said.

The Indian Medical Association had in January discouraged the use of electronic cigarettes to cut down on smoking as these disguised forms of tobacco can have "serious" long-term effects on health.

"IMA believes that e-cigarettes, though not as harmful as normal cigarettes, are not healthy and their use should not be encouraged. Like hookahs, they are disguised forms of tobacco addiction and can have serious long-term effects on one's health," it had said.
Five soldiers were injured on Wednesday in an ongoing gunfight between militants and security forces near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Reports have also said that one militant was killed in the encounter. According to Times Now, one soldier was also killed in the gunfight.

"Troops of 56 battalion of Rashtriya Rifles (RR) on Tuesday intercepted a group of heavily armed terrorists in Machil sector of the LoC," defence officials told IANS.

"Five RR soldiers have been injured. They were airlifted to an army base hospital in Srinagar," they added.

On Monday, a terrorist was killed after a gunfight with security forces, PTI had reported.

The terrorist, who was travelling on a bus, fired at security forces when the bus was stopped for checking.

A woman was killed in the incident and two other passengers were injured.

With inputs from agencies
Jammu: Appealing for calm in the wake of the desecration of a temple in Jammu city by a "mentally disturbed" person last evening, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said she does not want the state to be "hijacked" by extremist forces.

"Jammu and Kashmir is the most secular place and I don't want it to be hijacked by extremist forces," Mehbooba said while addressing a function at Jammu University on Wednesday.

She said some elements were "hell-bent" on creating communal tension in the region but the people of Jammu, irrespective of their religion, must unite and fight the nefarious designs of such forces.

"Separatism and communalism are the two faces of the same coin and they ultimately divide the society and the country," she said.

An ancient temple situated in Roop Nagar area of Jammu was desecrated by a "mentally disturbed" person on Tuesday, triggering protests across the city.

Protestors had last night set three vehicles on fire and clashed with police after the news spread. Authorities have suspended mobile internet services in Jammu region as a precautionary measure.

Mehbooba said time and again the people of Jammu have shown their secular credentials and it was evident from the fact that the region gave refuge to people who came there while fleeing from militancy-hit areas.

"In 1990, people of Jammu opened their doors for the people who escaped militancy and took refuge. Jammu has always been a shining example of secular harmony," she said.

She said that it was the people of Jammu who voted her father to the Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1985. "The secular character of Jammu elected my father, a Muslim from Kashmir, from RS Pura," she said.

The Chief Minister warned that communal politics in Jammu region could have a disastrous effect as the state was already facing separatism in the Kashmir valley. She appealed to students to play a positive role and get involved in political activities, but at the same time cautioned them against politics of religion.
Lucknow: The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh police has arrested an active member of the Munir gang wanted in the murder case of National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer Tanzil Ahmed.

Atiullah (22), a native of Bihar, was arrested following an encounter near Barauli bridge under Banna Devi police station in Aligarh last night, an STF release said on Wednesday.

Atiullah, who was carrying a cash reward of Rs 50,000, was wanted in 11 criminal cases. A .32 bore pistol and cartridges were recovered from his possession, the release added.

Atiullah, who had come into contact with Munir during the 2012 Aligarh Muslim University elections, has told the police that both had fled the city in September, 2015 following a murder on the AMU campus, the release added.

Subsequently, he had met Munir in Nepal but was not aware of his whereabouts since then, the release said, adding that a case has been registered and further investigation was on.

Tanzil Ahmed was gunned down by armed assailants in Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh on the night of 2 April when he was returning home with his wife and two children from a wedding.

The post-mortem report said Ahmed had received 21 bullet injuries. His wife Farzana too succumbed to bullet injuries 10 days after the incident in AIIMS in New Delhi.

The main accused in the case, Munir, a resident of Sahaspur and a history-sheeter, is still on the run.

Ahmed had handled several cases related to the banned Indian Mujahideen (IM) outfit, including the arrest and probe of the outfit's India chief, Yasin Bhatkal.
Aizawl: The Mizoram government has handed over the Rs 14.5 crore gold robbery case to the CBI as the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the state government to probe the case, was facing problems, an official said in Aizwal on Wednesday.

A private vehicle carrying 52 gold bars worth Rs 14.5 crore was intercepted on the outskirts of Aizawl capital city on 14 December last year by the troopers of Assam Rifles.

Mizoram Police last month arrested Colonel Jasjit Singh, Commandant of the 39th Battalion of Assam Rifles, eight other Assam Rifles troopers and four civilians, including a driver, in the sensational gold robbery case.

"After the approval of the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, a statutory notification was issued by the state home department on Tuesday evening handing over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation," a Mizoram home department official said.

Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana earlier said the SIT officials were facing problems to investigate the case as modern equipments were required to explore various details related to the case  chiefly, whether army officials, para-military personnel and people from outside the state as also the country were involved in the crime.

"People from outside the country might be involved in the offence. We want a detailed and accurate inquiry into the case to unearth all relevant details," the minister told reporters.

The fate of the gold bars, which might have been smuggled from neighbouring Myanmar, was not yet known.

The owner and driver of the vehicle C. Lalnunfela lodged an FIR at Kulikawn police station in Aizawl on 21 April following which a case was registered leading to the probe by Mizoram Police.

Lalnunfela told police that he lodged the FIR after more than four months as the Assam Rifles personnel had threatened him with dire consequence if he complained to police.

Home Minister Lalzirliana said the SIT officials did a commendable job by arresting 13 accused, including Colonel Singh, in connection with the case.

"Apart from the problems being faced by the SIT in the investigation, there are unconfirmed report of highly-placed people getting involved in the case and also Col. Singh's refusal to cooperate with the SIT forced the state government to hand over the case to the CBI," the home minister added.

The army officer was suspended from the service by the authorities immediately after his arrest by Mizoram Police on 5 May.

Mizoram shares an unfenced international border of 404 km with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh. This offers immense scope for smuggling animals, drugs, arms and ammunition and various other contraband across the border.
Kochi: Rejecting BJP's contention of migration of Hindus from Kairana, JNU Students' Union President Kanhaiya Kumar said on Tuesday that the residents were leaving their village in search of jobs and issue had nothing to do with any particular community.

"Now reports have come out...truth has come out...these people are leaving the village in search of their livelihood," the student leader said, addressing a convention organised by All India Students Federation (AISF) in Kochi.

Accusing the Sangh Parivar organisations of "spreading lies for polarising people communally" ahead of UP Assembly polls, Kumar said, "They have not been forced out by people of some particular religion but by political system being followed by people like Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

"Even in Dadri, mutton became beef looking at the upcoming UP Assembly polls," he alleged.

His statement comes two days after top BJP leaders, who were in Allahabad for the two-day national executive meeting, raked up the issue of alleged migration of Hindus from Kairana to attack the Samajwadi Party government in the state, ahead of the Assembly election to be held early next year.

BJP president Amit Shah, in his address to the National Executive on Sunday, had said, "The migration happening in Kairana due to violence is a matter of serious concern. There is an atmosphere of violence. The lack of development and the lack of governance in the largest state of India, that is Uttar Pradesh, is becoming a matter of serious concern."

The party has also set up a committee which will go to Kairana and study the situation.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a Jammu and Kashmir government's proposal for vacating nearly 458 Kanal of land in army's possession for expansion of Kashmir University campus in Anantnag.

Highly-placed sources said the Prime Minister, after his return from the five-nation tour, had called a meeting on Kashmir during which he asked the Defence Ministry to hand over the 'High ground' in Anantnag to the state at the earliest so that the expansion plan of south campus of Kashmir University can be carried out.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister said the Centre was committed to all-round improvement of education in the state, official sources said.

The army had in-principle been agreeable to vacating the land for quite sometime but a decision by its headquarters got delayed.

The latest deadline for vacating the land was 31 March which was agreed upon during a meeting chaired by state Governor N N Vohra.

The army holds nearly 2005.24 kanals of land in Anantnag district since early 1990s.

The land is adjacent to south campus in Fatehgarh area near an army camp. It was being used by the army for landing helicopters despite the force having a similar facility at Khanabal, a few kilometres from there.

346.7 Kanals of land, which was earlier in the army's possession, was transferred to the university in 2004.

The process of handing over of land had begun during the previous Omar Abdullah government and the ground work for many areas had been completed.

In the past, army has handed over defence land at Batmaloo, Pantha Chowk and Hari Parbat for developing civic amenities.

Army has provided timely clearances to infrastructure development projects like Haft Chinar flyover, road projects under NHAI, BEACON and PMGSY, especially in border areas.

Army has also agreed to vacate the Lower Plateau in Kargil at the request of the civil administration.
Jammu: An ancient temple in Jammu was on Tuesday allegedly vandalised by a "mentally-disturbed" man, triggering protests in which a mob attacked a police station and set some vehicles on fire, police said.

The man allegedly entered the Aap Shambu temple in Roopnagar area of Janipur in the evening and broke some items and windowpanes, a police officer said, adding, he has been arrested.

Following the incident, people in large number came on to the streets and held protests demanding immediate arrest of the accused, he said.

The protesters also resorted to stone-pelting and set three vehicles on fire in the area, police said.

"They (mob) attacked the police station and set some vehicles on fire," Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said.

He said a large number of police personnel have been deployed in the state and some stone-pelters and arsonists have also been arrested.

"A case has been registered and the accused has been arrested. He is mentally disturbed and had come to the area to see a psychiatrist," the officer said.

"Right now the situation is tense but calm, people became aggressive as some people were under the influence of alcohol," Singh said.

He said police had to resort to light cane charge and lob a few tear-gas shells to control the mob.

"The one who tried to vandalise the religious place has also been arrested," the deputy commissioner said.

He also said, a police officer who earlier "did not take action" against the man who allegedly vandalised the temple, has been suspended.
New Delhi: In a rare instance, the Home Ministry has asked an RTI applicant to prove he is an Indian before disclosing details about the one-member panel looking into the missing files related to the alleged fake encounter case of Ishrat Jahan.

Senior IAS officer BK Prasad, Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry, heads the inquiry panel. The RTI application was filed with the Ministry seeking copies of reports submitted by the panel besides file notings related to the extension in service given to Prasad.

"In this connection, it is requested that a proof of your Indian citizenship may please be provided," the Home Ministry said in its reply.

As per Right to Information Act, 2005, only Indian citizens can seek information. Usually, a proof of citizenship is not required to file an application under the transparency law. In rare cases, a public information officer can seek proof of nationality in case he has doubt over citizenship of an applicant.

"It is a way to block free flow of information and transparency by the government. Seeking proof of Indian citizenship must be discouraged. The Home Ministry appears to delay the information sought from it," said RTI activist Ajay Dubey.

Prasad, who heads the probe panel, is a 1983 batch IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre and was due to retire on 31 May. He has been given two months extension in service till 31 July.

Following an uproar in Parliament in March this year, the Home Ministry had asked Prasad to inquire into the whole matter of missing papers. The panel is yet to submit its report.

19-year-old Ishrat Jahan and three others were killed in an alleged fake encounter in Gujarat in 2004. The Gujarat Police had then said those killed were LeT terrorists and had come to Gujarat to assassinate the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The probe panel has recently found a copy of a letter written by the then Home Secretary GK Pillai to the then Attorney General late GE Vahanvati from the hard disk of a computer of the Home Ministry, official sources said.

The papers, which disappeared from the Home Ministry, include the copy of an affidavit vetted by the then Attorney General and submitted in the Gujarat High Court in 2009 and the draft of the second affidavit vetted by the AG on which changes were made.

Two letters written by Pillai to Vahanvati and the copy of the draft affidavit have also so far remained untraceable.
Mumbai: In the backdrop of drought in the last three years and lack of adequate rains resulting in insufficient soil moisture, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday asked farmers to refrain from sowing Kharif crops for the next few days.

"Though many parts of the state have received rainfall, monsoon has not arrived as yet. The meteorological department has said that rainy season will start soon. But after the initial rains, farmers have got ready with their Kharif sowing expecting continuous good rains," Fadnavis said.

"I urge farmers to not sow Kharif crops till it rains sufficiently and continuously for at least two days so that the soil develops the moisture required for crops," he said in a release here.

He said that due to the hot weather, the seeds may get destroyed and farmers may have to resow seeds, which may result in financial losses for them, like it did last year.

Fadnavis said the government has made sufficient fertilisers and seeds available for the Kharif season and has also stayed the decision regarding seed price hike by Mahabeej to provide relief to lakhs of farmers.

"Out of 43.75 metric tonnes of demand for fertilisers, the government has till now made available 40.25 lakh MT. Apart from this, the Centre has reserved 0.50 lakh MT of Urea fertiliser for Maharashtra," he said, adding that as compared to 2015, the demand for fertilisers has shot up by 26 per cent.

Fadnavis said that for the current Kharif season, the demand for seeds is 14.99 lakh quintal, while the government has made available seeds totalling 17.90 lakh quintal.
New Delhi: Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will begin his three-day state visit to India from 16 June, during which bilateral engagements will focus on defence, security, education, tourism, business ties and science and technology.

Visiting India on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation, Chan-o-cha will be accompanied by his wife, his deputy prime minister and five other cabinet ministers, a 46-member business delegation and senior officials.

"He will be given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on the morning of 17 June and thereafter will visit the Rajghat to pay his respects to the Father of the Nation," Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) Preeti Saran said.

The Thailand premier will meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, followed by a bilateral meeting with Modi.

Modi will host a luncheon in honour of the visiting dignitary and his delegation.

Thailand's prime minister will also call on Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

On the evening of 17 June, industry bodies Confederation of Indian Industry, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India will hold a business event, where the first India-Thailand business forum will be established.

The event will provide businessmen from both sides an opportunity to hold discussions on sectors like steel, infrastructure, machine tools, banking and food processing.

"After his official engagements on 17 June, he will leave for Bodh Gaya in Bihar and leave for Thailand from there on 18 June. It will be a pilgrimage for him and members of his delegation," she said.

"We would like to attract more Thai investments in India in general and in Make In India and other flagship programmes of the government of India.

"Apart from high-level political exchange, we expect discussions to take place in defence, security, education, science and technology and people-to-people contacts, which is an important element. Tourism has been important element in building people-to-people contacts," Saran added.

About 10 lakh Indian tourists visit Thailand every year while about one lakh tourists from Thailand come to India.

"There is a huge potential when it comes to the Buddhist pilgrimage. There is a lot of interest in Thailand to visit all Buddhist sites in India. Certainly, we can do better in attracting them. we have liberalised electronic visas for Thai nationals but no direct flight to Bodh Gaya could certainly be an impediment," she said.

The MEA Secretary said a CII-led delegation will visit Thailand later this year to showcase the immense tourism potential between the two countries.
The data recently released by the Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletin highlights a gradual decrease in the infant mortality rate (IMR) in certain Indian states and union territories.

While the report reveals that states like Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand have shown nominal drop in the infant mortality rate in urban and rural areas, the IMR in urban areas of states like Gujarat, Bihar and Uttarakhand has risen considerably.

The smaller states and union territories  Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Delhi, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, and Puducherry have shown a commendable drop in infant deaths in the rural areas. However, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep and Manipur show a rise in the numbers in urban as well as rural areas.

However, the data has been provided for only 17 states and 6 union territories. This report by The Times of India quoted Deputy Registrar General Rohit Bharadwaj as saying that the data for all states will be released soon.

What is infant mortality rate and why is it so important?

This United Nations site explains the infant mortality rate as the probability (expressed as a rate per 1,000 live births) of a child born in a specified year dying before reaching the age of one. Also, it is an important indicator of the level of health in a country.

A recent government data analysis indicated that if India has to curb its population growth, a higher survival rate for its children is an important factor. In other words, if more children survive, women tend to have fewer children, which increases their chances of living longer.

In the 42-year-period between 1971 and 2013, India's total fertility rate (TFR) fell by 55 percent. The average number of children born to a woman of child-bearing age dropped from 5.2 in 1971 to 2.3 in 2013, according to data released in 2015 by the health ministry. The reduction was influenced by declining infant mortality rate from 129 to 40 between 1971 and 2013.

However, before drawing any conclusions from the SRS report, it would be wise to wait for the data of the remaining states for a pan-India picture of infant deaths in the country.
Ahmedabad: Three Asiatic lions, from near Gir National Sanctuary, found to have turned man-eaters, have been sentenced to life within a cage. A fully grown male lion would be kept in a zoo while the other sub-adult females would be sent to a forest rescue centre permanently, an official said on Wednesday.

"The male lion would be sent to Sakkarbaug Zoo (on the outskirts of Junagadh city) and two lionesses would be locked up in one of the forest department's rescue centre," Chief Convervator of Forests, Junagadh Division, AP Singh told reporters.

The forest department officials had laid a trap and captured an entire pride of 17 lions last one month after three persons - a 14-year-old boy, a woman aged around 50 and a 61-year-old man - were mauled to death by the felines in the region between April and May near the Gir sanctuary in Amreli district.

Of the 17 big cats, three were identified as 'man-eaters' after a thorough investigation. The forest officials took paw prints of the suspected lions and ordered a laboratory test of their excreta to pinpoint the real culprits.

"After analysing their pug marks and faeces during a 25-day captivity, one adult male and two sub-adult female lions were found to have turned man-eaters, as human remains were found from the excreta of these three," Singh said. "The male lion attacked, killed and ate up the humans, while the sub-adult females appear to have eaten the leftover body parts."

"The other 14 lions of the pride, including several cubs, will be released gradually in the (Gir) sanctuary. As a precaution, they will be released in deeper pockets of the sanctuary, far away from where they were captured," he added.

The key reason for the lions turning man eaters, according to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, Jamaal Ahmed Khan, is their increasing dispersal beyond the traditional habitats with the increase in their population.

This is where they come into conflict with human beings in regions, which is replete with social and commercial activities, where there is little or no prey base for the carnivore, he said.

Khan told IANS that the Gir lions are no more restricted in the Gir region within 5 to 6,000 km and have now dispersed to as many as 20,000 sq km covering covering districts of Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, Devbhumi Dwarka, Bhavnagar and Amreli in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

According to the 14thAlion census carried out in May last year across 20,000 square km, the population increased from 411 lions in 2010 to 523 in 2015. The census enumerators found that Junagadh, which comprises the Gir region, had maximum number of lions at 268, but the greatest increase in the population was reported from beyond the traditional lion habitats in Amreli district which has 174 lions. And this is where the attacks on humans have occurred.
New Delhi: BJP favours holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies and has written to the Standing Committee of Parliament in this regard.

The suggestion was mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help save precious time and money spent in electioneering. "BJP President Amit Shah has written to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice for holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections," a senior BJP leader said.

Shah has also called for a larger debate among various political parties for holding polls to Lok Sabha and state assemblies concurrently and asked the Election Commission to explore such a possibility, the sources said.

The parliamentary standing committee had in its report on the Feasibility of Holding Simultaneous Elections to House of People (Lok Sabha) and State Legislative Assemblies favoured holding of simultaneous polls saying it would help reduce expenditure, end policy paralysis and save time.

The EC is not averse to holding simultaneous polls either and the matter is under consideration of a Group of Ministers headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Making a strong pitch for it, Modi had said that due to frequent elections, things get delayed and stalled and a lot of time is spent on elections. He also said a number of opposition leaders have met him and sought a way out.

The Standing Committee had in its report said the prospects of holding simultaneous elections needed to be weighed and deeply considered by all political parties, but admitted that gaining consensus may be difficult.

The AIADMK has supported the idea in principle and so has the Asom Gana Parishad. The SAD said it supports the idea but has doubts on certain issues like mandate delivering a hung assembly.

Congress and Trinamool Congress have rejected the idea, saying "ideal as it may sound" is "impractical and unworkable". The NCP too said that the proposal is "not feasible". The CPI said the "proposal looks ideal" but there are practical problems such as need for mid-term polls.

The Law Commission in one of its reports presented to the government in 1999 had also supported the idea of simultaneous polls.
The Election Commission of India is reportedly preparing to call 21 MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for a hearing against a complaint of occupying the posts unconstitutionally.

According to a report by DNA, the hearing may happen soon since the President rejected the amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997 passed by the Delhi Assembly.

The EC sought their replies after a Delhi lawyer Prashant Patel sent a petition to the Presidents office asking him to take action against the creation of 21 unconstitutional posts by the Delhi government.

The plea further questioned the MLAs on why they should not be disqualified.

Several AAP parliamentary secretaries had told the Election Commission in early May that their post was similar to an 'intern', or a 'volunteer assistant' attached to a Cabinet minister, according to Economic Times. They also asserted that they were not provided with any office space or office support systems.

In March, the EC had issued a show-cause notice to these AAP legislators.

The Bill rejected by the President sought to exempt MLAs appointed as parliamentary secretaries from the purview of office of profit criteria.

It remains to be seen if the EC will declare the 21 MLAs as disqualified or not. In such a scenario, Delhi will head towards an immediate election for 21 seats.
A reform bug seems to have finally bitten the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership at the partys two-day national executive in Allahabad. The BJP leaders, who returned from Allahabad are overly optimistic about the passage of the crucial GST (goods and services tax) bill shortly.

Though none of the partys top leadership is keen to speculate about finite time frame for passage of the bill, they seem to be shedding diffidence of the past and are making commitment for the GST. This attitude emerges in sharp contrast to an ambivalent approach in a section of the party leadership. "We may sail through after a trade off with regional leaders," a senior party leader commented on the situation.

The BJP leadership was initially wary of pushing through with the GST on various counts. The most pertinent among them was the fear of losing small traders who will find it too difficult to manage book-keeping and accounts in smaller districts.

Since traders form a core constituency of the BJP, there was hardly a sense of urgency in the partys leadership to push through the bill. In fact, the Congress obduracy came in handy for the BJP leadership to shift the blame.

However, party sources say that much has changed after Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent US visit, where he has assured the international business community of creating a conducive atmosphere for business. The passage of the GST bill will be seen as a first step to reassure the foreign industrialists of Modis sincerity and commitment.

What appears to have emboldened the party leadership is self-created situation of siege within the Congress after revolt by regional satraps in many places. At the same time, the BJP seems to have regained confidence after its historic victory in Assam. At the Allahabad national executive, the party leadership seems to have perfectly aligned with pro-reform agenda of the government to attain the long-term objectives.

Despite impending state Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab and the possibility of the GST bill being interpreted as anti-small time traders, the party leadership is keen to go ahead with the tide. With the greater determination to push through the bill, what has also emerged is clarity on certain issues. These include not accepting the Congress demand of making capping of tax rate inbuilt in the GST act.

The party feels that any constitutional capping of the GST rate is seen as a detrimental to the federal structure and adversely affect the states.

Also, the party doesnt want to be seen as anti-traders. Sources said that the party is devising a methodology to minimise the GSTs adverse impact on traders at the initial stage. The limit of those having turnover of Rs 10 lakh annually could be revised to keep petty traders out of the requirement of book-keeping and accounting.

GST, the biggest tax reform in India in last one decade, promises a unified tax regime by rolling in several state level levies into one, offering clarity on the tax regime and broadening the tax base in the economy. In the long-run, the roll out of GST is expected to boost the GDP by 1.5 percent to 2 percent.

BJP insiders do not rule out the possibility of the Congress creating ruckus in Parliaments Monsoon session in order to stall the bill. Given proclivity of motor-mouths of the Sangh Parivar to shoot off controversy, the Congress is expected to find many pretexts to disrupt the proceedings.

But Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has been given an unenviable task of using his personal charm on friends like Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Mamata Bannerjee. Similarly there is a determined attempt take Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on board.

Given her personal friendship with Modi, Jayalailathaas initial resistance would not seem insurmountable should the government makes a determined push for the bill. In this context, the BJP leadership appears quite bullish the possibility of having GST bill passed much sooner than later.
The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining," said John F Kennedy at the State of Union Address on 11 January, 1962. Union Finance Minister of India, Arun Jaitley, appears to be following in letter and spirit what the US president had suggested 44 years ago. He has learned that politics is more important than economics the hard way. He also knows that his party, in spite of its unbeatable numbers in the Lower House of the Parliament, just cannot push through the all important Goods and Services Bill, which is described as the biggest tax reform measure in the country, unless he can muster the support of more and more regional parties in the Upper House. For want of numbers, he has been facing a road-bloc all these months. Things were at a standstill.

But now he knows the sun is shining brightly. And the roof can be repaired, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi doggedly pursuing what is being described as politics of inclusion  and not exclusion for a change. This apart, the ruling party has won additional Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand and Haryana. It has registered a spectacular victory in Assam with the help of Asom Gan Parishad and Bodoland Peoples Front. It has also made huge gains in faraway Kerala, vote-share wise. And bolstered by favourable GDP and FDI figures, it continues to be in the celebratory mode. In short, Jaitley and all his friends in the NDA can sniff a feel-good factor all around.

Little wonder then that the finance minister did not lose time in making more and more regional parties from the opposition ranks agree to the idea of GST in principle at the meeting of finance ministers from 22 states in Kolkata on Tuesday. And if you can believe the finance minister, all states except Tamil Nadu have agreed on the broader contours of GST." But regardless of Tamil Nadus resistance, AIADMK supremo met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday in a meaningfully congenial atmosphere. They appeared to be at their smiling best.

There is, at the same time, a third angle to the logjam in the parliament: The BJPs dream of having a Congress-mukt Bharat cannot be achieved unless there is a Congress-mukt Rajya Sabha at the de facto level. And to be fair to the BJP, it must be said that the saffron outfit has been much more flexible in reaching understandings, adjustments and alliances with even antithetical parties compared to the Congress. Yes, it is historical truth.

How many of us remember that the Jan Sangh, which had merged its identity into the Janata Party, had in fact joined hands with Socialists and Marxists in 1977? And how many of us recall that the saffron outfit had rushed to join forces with even Mulayam Singh Yadav in the 1989 elections? Indeed, the BJP had shed its tag of untouchables long ago.

And if you have an eye for details, you would find that the current size of the BJP-led NDA is humongous: There are as many as 45 members from different states in this alliance. And 14 of these member-parties are represented in the Lok Sabha where the NDA accounts for 336 seats in all. In comparison, the Congress-led UPA occupies no more than 49 seats in the Lower House.

However, the scene is quite different in the Rajya Sabha where the UPA accounts 70 members as against NDAs 67. It is the others who hold an ace up their sleeve with 108 seats. Herein lies the catch. The fate of the GST largely depends on leanings of this camp of others.

You can now understand why Arun Jaitley is burning midnight oil to ensure a positive response from the regional parties. He is doing his best. But the gap between the proverbial cup and the lips remains. And, on its part, the Congress is not sitting idle either. Sonia Gandhi and her aides are trying to build bridges with Mamata Didi and some others afresh.

Lets keep our fingers crossed till the House of Elders meets next time.
New Delhi: Ghulam Nabi Azad, the new Congress General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday favoured Priyanka Gandhi campaigning outside Amethi and Rae Bareli for the state Assembly elections next year.

"I do hope that she will definitely campaign in some other places as per time available to her," he told reporters.

He was asked whether Priyanka, who has been focusing on the Assembly segments in Amethi and Rae Bareli Parliamentary constituencies so far, would be campaigning outside to help party Vice President Rahul Gandhi.

Azad will be going to Lucknow on Thursday for a two-day brainstorming session with senior state leaders on the strategy ahead. He has already said the Congress will project a chief ministerial candidate.

Talking separately at the AICC briefing, senior party spokesman Ajay Maken said it was up to Priyanka to decide when she wanted to get into active politics.

He was asked to react on Azad's remarks earlier in an interview that there is an overwhelming desire among party workers to see that Priyanka Gandhi pitching along Rahul Gandhi in the Uttar Pradesh electoral battle.

In Uttar Pradesh, Congress had secured just two seats in the last Lok Sabha elections with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi emerging victorious from their traditional seats of Rae Bareli and Amethi respectively.

The Congress is in political wilderness in Uttar Pradesh since 1989 following emergence of divisive 'Mandal-Mandir' politics and rise of the BSP, which took away its crucial Dalit vote base.
If the landmark Goods and Services Tax (GST) now stands on the cusp of frutition, the man who can claim almost exclusive credit for it is Arun Jaitley.

In his dogged pursuance to make GST enactment a reality, the Union Finance Minister refused to give up when going forward seemed impossible, shepherded the bill through a tricky terrain of varied regional interests and showed that cooperative federalism can trump even the most cynical of political strategies.

The last line needs a bit of explanation.

The reason why Congress stands where it does now, isolated in its obduracy for not letting the bill pass with a demand (putting an 18 percent ceiling rate into the constitution) that has failed to find support in even its own states, is because Jaitley got his strategy right.

He understood more than anyone else in his cabinet that the way forward on GST would to be empower the states. From that point, over the last year since the opposition led by the Congress in Rajya Sabha on 12 May forced it to be referred to a 21-member select committee, the Union Finance Minister proceeded to brief, cajole and dangle the occasional carrot for regional forces where necessary and created a situation where the demand for a GST regime would be driven by the states, not just the Centre.

Jaitley's strategy to let the GST cudgel be taken up by the regional satraps who govern two-thirds of the country is a masterstroke with consequences that will far outlive the immediate cause.

Thwarted almost at birth after getting passed in Lok Sabha on 6 May last year, the GST had won majority support of the 21-member Rajya Sabha Select Committee, which on 22 July endorsed almost all the provisions while also agreeing to the demands of parties such as Trinamool Congress for a five-year compensation to loss-making states.

At that point, it seemed as if the government would be able to achieve its ambition of rolling out GST by 1 April, 2016. But Congress, of course, had other plans.

Still smarting from a historic drubbing at the Lok Sabha hustings, the Sonia Gandhi-led party couldn't have let Narendra Modi run away with the credit for implementing India's single-biggest tax reform which it had originally brought to the table in 2011. Constitution Amendment Bill needed two-third majority in Rajya Sabha and numbers were not on Modi's side. Congress, along with the Left parties and AIADMK submitted dissent notes.

Jaitley's challenge was twofold. One, he had to engineer a broad consensus between the ruling party and the regional forces through discussion and ensure a smooth passage for the bill and two, somehow isolate the Congress. It was obvious that taking grand old party along would be an almost impossible task because electoral setbacks had pushed it to such a corner that opposing legislative procedures was the only way for it to maintain some sort of relevance.

From then on, it became a game of chess. Jaitley's first move was to put political pressure on Congress.

"It is hardly a dissent note on the bill, it is a dissent against the Congress party's own proposals which were originally given. Congress MPs are giving a dissent against the suggestions made by their own chief ministers", Jaitley said in July last year while reacting to Congress's move. "If Congress opposes this bill, then the country will oppose Congress. Every citizen and trader in the country will oppose Congress" he said.

On the political front, the Trinamool Congress's ambiguity was over when the Centre acceded to its demand of full compensation for five years to make up for any short-term revenue loss. The Centre sent two cheques for about Rs 1,000 crore to West Bengal as compensation for Central sales tax.

The Left parties, which had submitted the dissent note on grounds that it may lead to sacrificing of financial autonomy and state-specific financial planning by governments could be negatively affected if it becomes law, seems to have been persuaded with Keralas Finance Minister Thomas Isaac attending the empowered committee meeting on GST in Kolkata recently. Though the CPM still retains minor concerns over the Centre's veto power in GST Council, it appears that coming to power in Kerala has cured it of its GST allergy.

So from a situation in May last year when Gandhi-led Congress, TMC, NCP had staged a walkout when government passed the bill in Lok Sabha (AIADMK and BJD also opposed its consideration but did not walk out) there is now the reality that the states understand the long-term benefits of the reform and have joined hands, leading Jaitley to claim after the meeting on Tuesday that "virtually every state has supported the idea of GST except Tamil Nadu, which has some reservation. It has offered a few suggestions, which have been noted".

And crucially, Jaitley claimed that there has been "complete consensus on no constitutional cap (the key demand on which Congress is still stuck) as exigencies may arise in future to revise the rates".

The Congress, increasingly left on its own with nary a partner to share its histrionics, now claim that to speak about GST now is premature as the Monsoon Session is one-and-a-half months away.

"Our (Congress) and other opposition parties demands should be considered and taken on board and then GST can be passed in two minutes. We dont want to make this a big issue because nearly 1-1.5 months are still left for the session," said Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

While it may continue its bluster and insist on the government meeting its "three conditions", tragically for it even finance ministers of its own states, who attended the GST meeting in Kolkata, are not opposing GST and, instead, focusing on issues such as compensation to the states.

The isolation is its own doing. It had dashed governments hopes for 1 April, 2016 rollout by opposing a special session of Parliament and tying it to a demand over Sushma Swaraj's resignation. It had, last August, blocked government's move for a debate on introduction of GST in Rajya Sabha by raising procedural issues.

It led Jaitley to utter that "The real purpose (of Congress) is to stall to stall the growth of the country and that is why session after session, they are using one pretext or the other to stall it. That is why they are using the pretext of External Affairs Minister. The Congress party does not want the economy to grow. They must candidly say so...They don't need any pretext."

Jaitley's outreach last November on willing to meeting top opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi to resolve a parliamentary deadlock over GST, was also ignored. The Finance Minister took to Facebook after the washout of Winter Session and invoked Jawaharlal Nehru's legacy to remind the Congress leadership of the responsibility that comes with being lawmakers.

"Those who claim the legacy of Pandit ji must ask themselves the question, what kind of history are they making."

For plodding through the GST path with single-minded devotion, Jaitley deserves all the plaudits. As for Congress, it is doomed to carry on with its policy of obstructionism, come what may, as it is doomed to crash out of national consciousness with the "escape velocity of Jupiter".
Kairana is a small town in Shamli district in Uttar Pradesh.

It is known for being the birthplace of the Kiran Gharana, an established school of Indian classical music.

More importantly, Kairana has always had communal harmony, even at a time when parts of UP witnessed a lot of violence and communal hatred during the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, according to Deccan Chronicle. The report also said that with a population comprising nearly 80 percent Muslims and 18 percent Hindus, Kairana has seen no trace of communal tension.

Enter BJP MP Hukum Singh.

After his claim that 346 Hindu families have been forced to flee Kairana due to "threats and extortion by criminal elements belonging to a particular community", fear of communal tension has clearly spread in UP, where Assembly elections will take place in 2017.

The BJP leader had also released a list of the Hindus who had apparently left Kairana because of communal hatred.

After Hukum Singh's allegations, National Human Rights Commission issued a notice to the UP government in connection with the alleged exodus, while the UP government itself ordered a probe into the issue.

But just as authorities in UP were getting anxious about communal tension in Kairana, Hukum Singh took a massive U-turn.

On Tuesday, the BJP leader  who was also one of the accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots  said that the exodus of Hindus from Kairana was "not communal" in nature but was rather connected with the poor law and order situation in the region, according to the Deccan Chronicle report.

Another Indian Express report also pointed out that on the same day, Hukum Singh released a second list of names, this time from Kandhla. While the title of his first list was 'Kairana se palayan karne wale Hindu pariwaron ki soochi (List of Hindu families who migrated from Kairana)', his second list had the word 'Hindu' missing from the title, which was 'Kandhla se palayan karne wale pariwaron ki soochi (List of families who migrated from Kandhla)'.

We really wonder what brought about this sudden change in Hukum Singh's views. Maybe it was because he thought that the strategy of polarisation and divisive politics for poll-bound UP would be overpowered by the truth about Kairana.

But what is the truth about the situation in Kairana?

According to reports, the truth is actually what Hukum Singh said after his U-turn. It is indeed true that there has been an exodus of people from Kairana. But the reason behind it is the poor law and order situation, not any sentiment of communal hatred.

According to The Wire, while it is true that most of the Hindu families had left Kairana over a long period of time, it is also true that around 150 Muslim families had also moved out to safer places because of rampant crime and negligence by police in Kairana, something which Hukum Singh conveniently forgot to mention in his 'list'.

The report added that the few active gangs in Kairana extort not only from Hindus abut also from Muslims. Two of these gangs are led by Mukim Kala and Furqan, both of whom are in jail.

Thus, Hukum Singh was actually trying to twist the truth and disguise a law and order problem as a communal problem.

Moreover, there have been major inconsistencies reported in both of his lists.

In the Kairana list, an earlier Indian Express report had said that five people had actually died, four had moved out of Kairana looking for better opportunities, 10 had left more than 10 years ago and three had moved fearing local criminals.

Out of 118 names submitted by the UP police and the Shamli district administration, who are checking on names in Hukum Singhs list, similar patterns were found. Five were dead, 12 were still present, 46 had moved out since 2011 and 55 had moved out at least 6-11 years ago.

Similar inconsistencies were also found in Hukum Singh's Kandhla list.

As the nine-member BJP delegation arrives in Kairana to probe the exodus issue, they should keep in mind that the actual problem plaguing Kairana seems to be very different from the one projected by Hukum Singh.

With inputs from PTI
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Wednesday night wrote to party chief Sonia Gandhi, expressing his desire to be relieved from the charge of poll-bound Punjab, in view of the raging controversy over his recent appointment because of his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Gandhi immediately accepted his resignation and relieved him of his charge as party General Secretary.

Kamal Nath, who was appointed as the General Secretary in-charge of Punjab as well as Haryana only three days back, said in his letter to Gandhi, ".. I request that I may be relieved of my charge (of Punjab) to ensure that the attention is not diverted from the real issues facing Punjab."

He said he was "hurt by the developments of the past few days wherein an unnecessary controversy has been created around the tragic 1984 riots in New Delhi."

Insisting that there was not even any complaint or FIR against him in the riots case, Kamal Nath said, "this canard is therefore nothing but a cheap political ploy to gain traction ahead of the elections.... Certain elements are raking up these issues now only for political gains."

Expressing gratitude to Gandhi for appointing him as General Secretary in-charge of Punjab, the Congress leader wrote, "I am practitioner of Nehruvian politics and maligning of the Congress party using false accusations is unacceptable to me."

"I wish the party to focus on the upcoming elections and highlight the issues of misgovernance, misery of the farmers and youth, break down of law and order and rampant drug trade that caused untold misery to the people of Punjab."

Soon after, party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said the Congress president had accepted Nath's resignation as AICC General Secretary.

"Kamal Nath has tendered his resignation from the responsibilities assigned to him in AICC. On his request, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has accepted his resignation," Surjewala said.

Nath's step came as AAP, Akali Dal and BJP kept up attack on him and the Congress over his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots which followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

"Till 2005, not a single public statement, complaint or FIR was ever made against me and the first time my name was ever mentioned in any forum was 21 years after 1984," Kamal Nath wrote.

The Nanavati Commission set up by the previous NDA government "after proper investigation fully absolved me", he added.

"Even during a subsequent motion, to discuss the commission's report in Parliament, none of the Akali-BJP MPs including Sukhbir Singh Badal mentioned my name," he said.

Kamal Nath told the Congress President that he has been blessed to have a long career with the Congress right from youth Congress to being general secretary to being a minister in the Congress governments since 1991 and "never has there been any stigma attached to my name."

"It was not even an issue when I was general secretary incharge of Delhi, rather we won the MCD elections during my tenure," he said.
Mumbai: Four months after the ACB filed a chargesheet in the Maharashtra Sadan scam, a special court on Wednesday issued production warrant against senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer.

"The court issued production warrant against Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer in the Maharashtra Sadan case," special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat said.

The production warrant is issued against them as they are presently in the judicial custody in a money laundering case registered against them. "The jail authorities have to produce the duo on June 22," said Gharat.

Meanwhile, Gharat also sought issuance of non-bailable warrant against Chhagan Bhujbal's son Pankaj in the case for not appearing in the court. "However, his lawyers told the court that he will be present in the court on the next date," he told PTI.

The ACB, in February this year, had chargesheeted 17 persons, including the Bhujbals in connection with the case. It had filed a 20,000-page chargesheet consisting of statements of over 60 witnesses.

According to the anti-graft agency, the case was entirely based on documentary evidence, such as fund transfer and bank transactions.

In the construction of Maharashtra Sadan, contractors have earned 80 percent profits, while as per the government circular such contractors are entitled to only 20 percent gains, the officials said. They added that the books of accounts were fudged to show that the profit earned was only one percent.

Officials had said that to construct Maharashtra Sadan, Chamankar Associates, the contractor firm, had allegedly transferred money to Niche Infrastructure and other companies in which Pankaj and Sameer were the directors.

The chargesheet said that most of the companies floated by the Bhujbals are in the name of employees and used for siphoning off funds. Niche was earlier owned by some employees of Maharashtra Educational Trust, in which the Bhujbals later became directors.
Panaji: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked me about the recent public meeting conducted by Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal in the coastal state and its impact, Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said on Tuesday.

"Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) asked me about (the) recent (Arvind) Kejriwal (public) meeting and if (it will have) any future impact...(and) I said...no," Parsekar told reporters in Panaji after returning from New Delhi where he met Modi.

On 22 May, Kejriwal had kicked off AAP's campaign for the Goa Assembly polls scheduled to be held in 2017 by conducting a public meeting in Goa.

AAP has already announced that it will contest all the 40 seats in the state.

"(The) Prime Minister is fully appraised about state affairs. He asked me two-three points and I replied to it," the Chief Minister added.

Parsekar said he did not have discussion on the Medium of Instruction issue with the PM during his interaction.

The Chief Minister further said he has invited Modi to lay foundation stone for Greenfield International airport at Mopa in North Goa, Electronic City at Tuem and Independent and Super Speciality block at the Goa Medical College and Hospital.

"Prime Minister has agreed to give date between August 16 to August 30. The foundation stone for all three project would be laid on same day," Parsekar added.

He said Modi also reviewed preparations for the upcoming Brics meeting scheduled to be held in Goa in October.

"The Prime Minister advised (the) state government to make the best use of the opportunity to showcase Goa at the International Level.

"He (Prime Minister) told me that amongst the few shortlisted states, he selected Goa as it can showcase its talent and make the best possible use of the event at the International platform for further tourism promotion," Parsekar said.
So, Narendra Modi has Arvind Kejriwal on his mind.

The PM may not be spending sleepless nights yet about the maverick politician with a matching ability for showmanship, hyperbole and prime time drama, but he appears to be looking over the shoulder once in a while.

Modi is still the Usain Bolt and Kejriwal the tortoise of Indian politics. But, if you remember the moral of a famous childhood parable, there could be consequences of taking your eyes off even the weakest opponent.

Park that thought in mind as news emerges that when Modi met Goa chief minister Lakshmikant Parsekar, he wanted a heads-up on Kejriwal.

"Prime Minister asked me about (the) recent Kejriwal (public) meeting and if (it will have) any future impact...(and) I said...no," Parsekar told reporters in Panaji after returning from New Delhi where he met Modi.

Goa is next on AAP's radar. Even as the party is locked in a triangular fight in Punjab, where it has a clear shot at power, the AAP is trying to make inroads in the coastal state and become a major player before the Assembly elections scheduled in March.

For the AAP to succeed, two conditions are necessary. One, presence of the Congress as either the principal opposition or the party in power. And two, voter's disenchantment with the BJP or its ally. In Goa, both these enabling factors persist.

Ground reports suggest the Congress party, like everywhere else in the country, is in chaos. It is leaderless, effete and ineffective. Its traditional voters are looking at other alternatives and AAP has become the biggest beneficiary of the churn.

The BJP starts with an advantage in an election over its rivals only when it has the option of combining Amit Shah's Hindutva with Modi's vikas. But, in Goa, the party can't play its Hindutva card because of the state's syncretic culture, influence of Catholic Church and its primarily urban demography. So, it can seek votes only on the basis of its performance and promises, instead of raising the temperature through emotive issues.

In short: Goa has the familiar script of the Congress decline creating a vacuum and the BJP not entering the polls with a guaranteed voter base. A third player can always step in.

To complicate matters, the BJP and the RSS, are busy wrestling each other on the issue of the language to be adopted in schools. In 2012, the BJP and Sangh had led a campaign for promoting "regional languages" as the medium of instruction in schools. But, after coming to power, the BJP backtracked on its promise because of pressure from parents who were against the decision. The RSS is now angry with the state government for reneging on the promise; the heartburn has led to open war and threats of boycott.

AAP has jumped into the fray with its typical mix of door-to-door campaign and high-voltage campaign on local issues. It has supported a ban on casinos, a long-standing demand of the voters, and opposed government-interference in the choice of the medium of instruction adopted by schools. Both the issues are resonating on the ground.

This is not to argue that the AAP is the frontrunner in Goa. The BJP is still the party of choice for a majority of the GSP (Gaur-Saraswat-Brahmin) voters in the state. This group of voters is hugely influential. But, the Catholic Church, which is considered an opinion-leader in the state may not help it this time the way it did in the past by exhorting people to vote against corruption.

Perhaps the noise and murmurs from the ground have reached Modi's ears too. And that's why he had AAP on his mind in his meeting with Parsekar.

Consider now the bigger picture. In 2017, elections in four states would be closely watched. The big-ticket drama would, of course, be Uttar Pradesh. But Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand would also add to the theatre.

What if the AAP goes on to win Punjab and Goa, Mayawati wins UP and the Congress hold on to Uttarakhand? If that happens, the tortoise would start fancying his chances of taking on Bolt.
Yogesh Gowda, a senior BJP panchayat member, was hacked to death in Dharwad district in Karnataka on Wednesday morning, according to a report in India Today.

The reason of the attack remains unclear and the perpetrators unidentified, but the police believe it could be due to rivalry within the local party. The cops have acquired the CCTV footage and are carrying out further investigation.

According to initial reports in The Hindu, Gowda, was reading a newspaper sitting in front of his gym (Uday Gym and Fitness Club), when a group of five people attacked him with lethal weapons. India Today reported the use of a machete.

Gowda reportedly tried to escape by seeking sanctuary in the gym, but he was chased and attacked again.

According to the police, the victim sustained fatal injuries on the head and neck and died on the spot.The gym workers were the first to see Gowda lying in a pool of blood and they alerted the police.

This incident comes five days after BJP leader, Ramsai Majji was hacked to death by Maoists in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh.

Majji, a member of the Zila Panchayat, and a retired school principal was lured out of his house by Maoists. Later his body was found nearby, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Another incident of brutality was recorded against a 27-year-old RSS worker who was again, hacked to death, in front of his aged parents in Kannur district in Kerala, as reported by the Indian Express.

While BJP had openly accused CPM of the murder, the Left party had deemed the incident a local issue, having no political motive.
From almost all states opposing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on some grounds or the other till two years ago, apparently only Tamil Nadu is still holding out. At least thats what Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely informs the country. According to him, virtually all states have agreed to GST, except Tamil Nadu.

There was no word on Jammu and Kashmir, which had said even last year that it was unlikely to comply with the GST regime because it would take away the states exclusive authority on tax legislation. For J&K, its about the unwillingness to give up its special powers; or in simple terms, its autonomy as a state.

Thats the problem with Tamil Nadu too. Its reasons for resisting a uniform countrywide tax system that will subsume a host of national and state taxes is this fear. It may appear economic  or rather its manifestations might be economic  but the real reason is political. When J&K flags special powers and suggests resource-sharing instead of revenue sharing for effective cooperative federalism than coercive federalism, Tamil Nadus apparent fear is the loss of autonomy than loss of revenue when the country steamrolls uniform systems on an un-uniform country.

The Union Government has been insisting that it would compensate for the loss of revenues in the states for five years (100 percent for the first three years, and 75 percent and 50 percent in the fourth and fifth years respectively) by which time the GST would have been established. That may be fine with the consuming states, which obviously would only gain from its share of a uniform tax, but Tamil Nadu is a manufacturing state and hence losing the power of collecting taxes at origin is a loss of an upper hand that it had assiduously built over the years. Compensation of losses cannot replace that sense of autonomy.

In fact, Chief Minister Jayalalithaas explainer on Tuesday on why the state is not happy with the GST betrays this apprehension. Among her concerns, the foremost seems to be about the GST council, the constitutional body that will be set up to govern the new regime. And its political.

According to her, the Council would jeopardise the autonomy of the state in fiscal matters and would also impinge on the legislative sovereignty of the state because the decision-making and voting weight give the Centre the upper hand and an effective veto. More over, there is no distinction among the states in weight, which she feels should be based on their respective representation in Rajya Sabha. As the chief minister of the countrys second largest economy and the second most industrialised state, where the industrial growth far exceeds the national average, she is justified in being protective about her political and economic autonomy. There is no need for federal parity at the cost of the states interests.

As she says, the GST has different implications on different states based on the size and reliance on tax-revenues. Some have nothing to lose and only to gain and hence easily accede to a uniform system, while others, which are origins of wealth fear a justifiable sense of loss. It is quite clear that a manufacturing state like Tamil Nadu will permanently lose substantial revenue if GST is implemented, due to the shift of the levy from the point of origin to the point of destination and also due to the phasing out of central sales tax and the transfer of input tax credit on inter-state sales and inter-state stock transfers to the destination states. Due to the difficulty in fixing even nominally high revenue-neutral rates, it is expected that the extent of revenue loss under GST would be around Rs 9,270 crore for Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa said.

On the demand of keeping petroleum and petroleum products out of the ambit of GST permanently, Jayalalithaa is not alone. For TN, along with Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, its a huge earner. It accounts for about 20 percent of the sales tax collections in these states, which in fact top the list. The scale and relevance of this sector was noted in TNs interim budget presented in February, which said the loss from Petroleum taxes because of falling prices and poor realisation alone set the states revenue back by Rs 4000 crore.

TNs consent without a hard bargain will be a compromise on whatever autonomy, even if its psychological, it can retain. Similarly, its position on tobacco is also well placed because states should be allowed to tax tobacco and liquor freely - even punitively.

GST may or may not work the way it has done elsewhere in the world, particularly in rich countries. It may widen the tax base and reduce the overall tax burden, may spur economic growth and lead to more tax revenues; but the fear of TN, with its hard-earned political and economic autonomy is not misplaced because India is not Australia or Canada. Its the state and local administrations that deliver services to the people of India, and not the Centre, and hence TN cannot give up even part of its autonomy without a debate. Its a state that always stood up to attempts of socio-political homogenisation. Resistance to GST is a reflection of this awareness and an assertion of its multi-faceted autonomy.
Srinagar: BJP members created a ruckus in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday over the violence in Jammu city, which witnessed alleged desecration of a temple.

As soon as the House assembled, the BJP members took to their feet and demanded a statement from the government on the issue.

"It is matter of serious concern...Some anti-social elements have carried out an anti-social act. Situation in Jammu is bad. The government should make a statement," BJP MLA Ravinder Raina said.

National Conference's Altaf Ahmad Kaloo and Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed also joined in, demanding the government ensure safety of Kashmiris in Jammu region.

"Four boys from Pahalgam area have been arrested in Jammu. What is their fault?" Kaloo asked.

The BJP MLAs took offence to intervention from Rasheed and Kaloo and exchanged heated words.

CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami later intervened, saying the entire House should condemn the incident and appeal for maintaining calm and brotherhood. "Let us not divide this state along communal lines," he said.

Leader of Opposition Omar Abdullah supported Tarigami, saying, "It would have been better if the suggestion had come from the Treasury Benches."

"Usually, the Chief Minister comes here (assembly) and intervenes but today neither she nor the Deputy Chief Minister is here when the situation in Jammu is on the brink," he said.

Omar said that instead of fighting over the issue, the legislators "should set an example for the people to follow on ground. What we do here will be cue for the people in Jammu".

Earlier, Law Minister Abdul Haq Khan made a statement on the issue.

"As per information received by Roopnagar police station, one mentally disturbed person, identified as Yasir of Doda, tried damaging and defiling a temple in Janipur area.

"The accused was arrested by police but while he was being taken away, the temple priest and some local residents tried preventing police from discharging their duties," the minister said.

"The residents then held protests outside the police station and resorted to violence, setting several vehicles, including two police buses, on fire," the minister said, adding three policemen including the SHO of the police station were injured in the incident.

Khan said police resorted to use of "mild lathicharge" and tear smoke shells to bring the situation under control.

The minister also informed the House that Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh were not present in the Assembly as they were in Jammu to personally monitor the situation.
The family of the Srinagar youth, who was killed in a shootout in a state-owned bus in Kud town of Jammu, on Monday, contested the claims of the government and the police that he belonged to a militant group. The circumstances under which the incident took place has raised eyebrows on the authenticity of the encounter in which a woman was also killed and two others injured.

Clashes and protests were reported from 31-year-old Tanveer Sultans hometown in Bemina since Tuesday morning with his family demanding Tanvir's body be handed over for the last rites. Police resorted to teargas shelling to quell protesters, who had blocked the road in the area throughout the day.

We met the superintendent of police and asked him for the body, but he said that the vehicle carrying the body is yet to cross Jawahar Tunnel. He made the same excuse in the afternoon. We dont believe him, Tanvirs brother Arshid Sultan told the media.

They want us to hold the funeral silently in the dark, which is unacceptable, he said.

The family claimed that Tanveer was a psychiatric patient and was on medication. He suffered from bipolar disorder and was under medication for a long time, his family members said.

Arshid informed that he had fractured his shoulder recently and wanted to go to Amritsar for treatment. He left with a small bag that had his medical records, I wonder how he could have carried an AK-47 and other weapons in that bag. Tanveer was living with his family. Which militant lives in his own house? Arshid asked.

The police, however, said that Tanveer opened fire on CRPF camp near Kud in Udhampur town of Jammu and in retaliation he was killed. The government in the state Assembly said that Tanveer was a militant and an AK-47 rifle, a pistol and other ammunition were recovered from him. Contesting these claims, the family pointed out that how could anyone carry so many firearms in a small bag all the way from Srinagar without rousing any suspicion in the bus.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, on Tuesday, was in uproar over the issue with the lawmakers slamming the government and asking them to reveal the circumstances under which Tanveer Sultan was killed.

Ruling party MLA Noor Mohammad raked up the issue during the Question Hour in the Assembly and asked the government to furnish details of the encounter.

The government should inform the House about the truth behind Tanveers killing, he said.

Senior National Conference leader, Ali Mohammad Sagar, asked the government to clarify the truth behind the encounter. I also come from Bemina and there was heavy stone pelting going on. What is the truth? he asked.

Under pressure, the two statements issued by the government in both the Houses of the Assembly didnt clarify the name of the militant group with which Tanveer was suspected to be association with. Also, the government didnt mention about the attack on the CRPF camp as claimed by the police.

The CRPF and police started searching vehicles at Karnal Nallah Kud and an SRTC bus (JK02Y 0444) was stopped. All the passengers were asked to alight from the bus for checking, when a person, who was also travelling in the bus, started firing at the CRPF and police personnel, said Minister of Agriculture Ghulam Nabi Hanjura in the Assembly.

Meanwhile, no militant group has issued any statement about the youths association with them. However, Tanveer has served nearly a year in jail for his affiliation with Lashkar-e-Toiba in 2004 and his brother, Gowhar Sultan, associated with Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, was killed in an encounter with forces many years ago.

Senior Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Geelani, termed the Udhampur incident as mysterious and doubtful and demanded that the issue be investigated by an independent agency.
Beirut: At least 70 fighters have been killed in less than 24 hours of fierce clashes between pro-regime forces, jihadists and rebels in Syria's Aleppo province, a monitor said Wednesday.

Pro-regime fighters  backed by regime and Russian air strikes  retook the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa to the southwest of Aleppo city after losing control of them hours earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

But Al-Nusra Front, Syria's Al-Qaeda affiliate, launched a counterattack to retake Khalasa on Wednesday morning, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.

"Khalasa is on a high hill overlooking large parts of the south of Aleppo province," he said.

The area overlooks the regime's supply road around the south of Aleppo city, linking the government-held Nayrab airport to the city's southeast and areas controlled by regime troops to its west, he said.

Rebel- and jihadist-held areas in the south of Aleppo province faced heavy strikes and shelling overnight, said the Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria to gather its information.

The regime also pounded a key supply route and areas north of Aleppo city overnight, the Observatory said.

The Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the regime, reported Russian air strikes on the province on Wednesday.

"Russian fighter jets resumed their missions in Aleppo with force, targeting positions of Al-Nusra Front and allied militias," it said.

Moscow launched air strikes in support of the Damascus regime in September.

Aleppo was once Syria's commercial powerhouse, but it has been a battleground since 2012 when rebels seized the east of the city confining the army to the west.

In western Aleppo, rebel shelling killed two people and injured another three on Wednesday, official news agency Sana reported.

Syria's war has killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the world's most wanted man, has been hoodwinking the US ever since he proclaimed himself as the Caliph of the Islamic State. On Monday, reports emerged that Baghdadi has allegedly been killed in an air raid in Syria by the US-led coalition.

Iranian state media and pro-government Turkish daily Yenis Safak cited Islamic State-affiliated Arabic news agency al-Amaq and reported that Baghdadi died in an air strike in Raqqa. Earlier, the CNN had reported that the Islamic State chief, who has a $25 million bounty on his head, has been moving around and has travelled to Mosul at least twice in the last six months. In a cryptic manner, US Special Envoy Brett McGurk told the CNN on 10 June, "We have no reason to believe that Baghdadi's not still alive, but we have not heard from him since the end of last year." The report added that the Islamic State chief has been running an "extraordinary operational security" and if there was a lead on his location, the US officials in all likelihood will not share the details with the media.

Despite reports of Baghdadi's death, there has been no official confirmation from the US. A spokesperson from Pentagon spokesman told Daily Mail UK that the US was not aware of any "high value targets having been killed." According to the International Business Times, President Barack Obama, during a press conference said that the US has made successful progress in their fight against the Islamic State, but there was no announcement of Baghdadi's death.

The Independent reported that news of Baghdadi's death are possibly fake, as media outlets in Iran and Turkey, from where the reports had initially emerged, had fallen for a digitally altered image claiming to be a statement from the Islamic State. The report added that though reports of Baghdadi getting injured last week are circulating, there was no statement from Amaq regarding his death.

Several experts on the Middle East too dismissed reports of Baghdadi's death.

The front page of @reddit currently features a fake, unsubstantiated story about Baghdadi being killed. Good job, guys.  (((Jett Goldsmith))) (@JettGoldsmith) June 14, 2016

This "#IS statement" on Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's death is one of the shoddiest fakes I've ever seen. pic.twitter.com/wx9wJxeW2L  Charlie Winter (@charliewinter) June 14, 2016

Since I've been asked: sorry folks, but this purported IS claim of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's death is fake: pic.twitter.com/9pEGUpOG5C  Aymenn J Al-Tamimi (@ajaltamimi) June 12, 2016

This is not the first time that Baghdadi, who has been given the moniker of the "the invisible sheikh", has been reported to have died in a coalition strike. Such reports have emerged earlier as well. In October 2015, reports suggested that Baghdadi was believed to have been killed in an air strike, however, local sources and residents of Karabla later dismissed the reports and said that eight senior figures from Islamic State were killed, but Baghdadi was not among them.

Supporters of the Islamic State had then tweeted that if the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has been killed, his self-proclaimed caliphate will survive.

Intelligence officials have tracked down Baghdadis movements to north-western Iraq and north-eastern Syria, according to a Guardian report in May this year. It added that Baghdadis former deputies Abu Muslim al-Turkmani and Abu Ali al-Anbari, Omar al-Shishani, the head of the groups chemical weapons programme in Iraq, Abu Malik and numerous regional leaders in Anbar and Nineveh province have been killed in air strikes and Baghdadi had almost joined the club last year.

The Guardian reported that Baghdadi was injured near the Iraqi town of Shurgat and his serious spinal injury and slow recuperation was kept under wraps by the organisation.

Baghdadi has not released any audio or video statement in the last six months. An audio message was released in December 2015 from the dreaded terrorist leader who has orchestrated major attacks in Europe and massacres in the territory he governs. Since then he has maintained a silence with some reports saying he may have been dead since long.

Very little is known about the earlier life of Baghdadi and when he began his terrorist activities. He is said to have been arrested from Baghdad in 2004 as a "civilian internee" with terrorists in Iraq. He was released later as a "low-level prisoner".

He joined the Mujahideen Shura Council, serving on its "sharia committee" in 2006. That is when the group was renamed the Islamic State of Iraq, with Baghdadi promoted as a general. He was named the head of the Islamic State of Iraq in 2010.

Baghdadi oversaw the expansion of the Islamic State into Syria, naming the group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). He was also shortlisted as one of the TIME's person of the year. Massimo Calabresi wrote in the TIME magazine, "al-Baghdadi turned an early affinity for Quranic recitation into a grandiose claim to be the caliph, or theocratic leader fit to rule an Islamic empire." The magazine reported that each month 50 to 60 suicide bombers are used for basic combat maneuvers, of which mostly are foreign recruits.

FBI chief James Comey recently said that Omar Mateen, the Orlando shooter, had claimed allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a series of calls during the attack.

With inputs from agencies
Washington: Hillary Clinton captured the mostly symbolic Democratic primary Tuesday in the US capital, the final vote of the 2016 presidential primaries, as the race shifts to her showdown with Republican rival Donald Trump.

Clinton won nearly 79 percent of the vote against 21 percent for Bernie Sanders, with nearly all votes counted, according to US networks.

It marked a deflating finish for the Vermont senator, who captivated liberals and independents with a grassroots campaign that mounted a surprisingly strong challenge to Clinton.

The attention of the candidates  and the nation  however has shifted to the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001.

Clinton and Trump traded verbal blows and presented dramatically different approaches for fighting terrorism following the massacre at the Florida gay nightclub.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, on Monday said that if elected he would "suspend" immigration from areas with a "proven history of terrorism."

He also suggested that US Muslims were complicit in domestic attacks because they failed to "turn in the people who they know are bad."

In contrast, former secretary of state Clinton called on Americans to "stand together" to defeat terrorism.

But after Trump suggested in a TV interview that Obama sympathised with terrorists, Clinton on Tuesday slammed her rival's approach "dangerous" and "un-American."

"Even in a time of divided politics, this is way beyond anything that should be said by someone running for president of the United States," she told supporters in Pittsburgh.

"What Donald Trump is saying is shameful ... more evidence that he is temperamentally unfit and totally unqualified to be commander in chief," she said.

Healing party divisions

Washington's primary was an afterthought as Clinton reached number of delegates needed to lock up the nomination last week.

Sanders however refused to concede, though he steadily softened his tone in recent days.

Sanders and Clinton met at a Washington hotel "and had a positive discussion about their primary campaign, about unifying the party and about the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation," a Clinton campaign official said after the meeting.

Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said the two "had a positive discussion about how best to bring more people into the political process" and about the threat posed by Trump.

Clinton and Sanders also discussed what would be on the Democratic Party platform ahead of the national convention next month in Philadelphia.

Sanders told reporters ahead of the meeting that he wanted to see "the most progressive platform ever passed" at a convention, one which "makes it crystal clear that the Democratic Party is in fact on the side of working people."

Sanders met with President Barack Obama last week and emerged from the White House declaring his intent to work with Clinton to defeat Trump in November.

Obama endorsed Clinton later that day.

Republicans in Washington held their party convention in March, with Senator Marco Rubio emerging as the top vote-getter.

Tuesday's vote wraps up a spectacular primary season that saw conservatives flock to Trump, a celebrity billionaire and political novice, and liberals propel Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, into the national spotlight.

Sanders tapped into a deep well of anger among voters disillusioned with the current political system and eager to see action on issues such as reducing income inequality and campaign finance reform.

Clinton ultimately prevailed, becoming the first female presumptive presidential nominee of any major US political party.

Congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz congratulated both candidates for having "energised voters across the country."

"Now that our 2016 primaries are officially at their end, Democrats are ready to unify and take on both Trump and the Republican Party that he represents," Wasserman Schultz said in a statement.

Sanders is scheduled to address supporters live via webcast Thursday.
Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who this month picked up no less than the 44th honorary doctorate of his political career, likes nothing more than to give one of his trademark political speeches in full academic regalia.

But does the Turkish strongman, who served as premier from 2003-2014 before moving to the presidency, actually have a university degree?

Despite unequivocal denials by the president and his office, the Turkish opposition has seized on a new spate of recurring claims that he does not.

The argument is not merely an idle amusement  the Turkish president must have completed and passed a full four-year university degree course in order to hold the office.

Erdogan's fulsome array of honorary degrees  with his latest such award coming from Makerere University in the Ugandan capital Kampala -- has provoked mockery from opponents, who point out that US President Barack Obama can only boast of six honorary doctorates.

'Diploma or resignation'

According to his official biography, Erdogan received his university degree in 1981 after four years of study at the faculty of economic and administrative sciences of the Marmara University in Istanbul.

But Turkey's association of university professors UNIVDER claimed last week that Erdogan did not have a full university degree, but the equivalent of a college diploma.

It said he studied at an institution that only became part of Marmara University in 1983, two years after the president says he graduated.

A former prosecutor who now heads a magistrates' association, Omer Faruk Eminagaoglu, filed a complaint with Ankara prosecutors and Turkey's election council saying Erdogan should be disqualified from his position with immediate effect, as this made him ineligible.

The issue has become a new rallying cause for opponents seeking chinks in the president's armour, inspiring Twitter hashtags #diplomasidasahte (your diploma is also false) and #yadiplomayaistifa (either the diploma or resignation).

A deputy from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), with heavy irony, proposed submitting a bill to parliament to remove the requirement for the president to have a university education and save Turkey further embarrassment.

"Despite all the discussions, President Erdogan has yet to give a clear explanation on this issue," Murat Emir was quoted as saying by Turkish media.

"We have made such a proposal to stop further damage to our country's reputation being made by the person of Erdogan."

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) was sent a notarised copy of Erdogan's diploma after a request to Turkey's election committee, but said it would continue a legal battle to find the real diploma.

'Unfair and baseless'

Erdogan is deeply proud of his humble roots in a working class Istanbul suburb, and that he attended a so-called Imam Hatip school whose main task was to give a religious education.

His political image is built on the story of the pious boy from a poor background who took on the well-educated secular elite  and won.

The controversy has erupted as Erdogan has blasted opposition academics at universities as traitors for not supporting the military's offensive against Kurdish militants, indicating he would like to see a purge of disloyal lecturers.

But the president also has no intention of downplaying his academic achievements, and both he and his administration have moved to rubbish the claims.

"What do you want, that we find 10 million copies of these degrees and send them to the whole world?" presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said angrily.

The university  whose rector Mehmet Emin Arat is a close ally of Erdogan  rejected the claims that the degree was falsified as "unfair" and "baseless".

Arat published on the university website a lengthy document outlining the university's history going back to Ottoman times and Erdogan's academic career, including his graduation on April 4, 1981.

Erdogan has portrayed the issue as a tired tactic by his opponents who have exhausted all other forms of attack, saying his record of transforming Turkey while in office speaks for itself.

"Despite all the explanations and declarations that have been made on this subject, some people want to revive the debate," Erdogan said last week."Whatever you want to do, our works speak for themselves."
Washington: Hillary Clinton brought a close to the presidential primary season with a win Tuesday in the nation's capital and a meeting with dispatched rival Bernie Sanders, hoping to set a tone of Democratic unity heading into next month's party convention in Philadelphia.

Clinton's win in the District of Columbia, the final primary of 2016, had no bearing on her role as the presumptive nominee, but it nevertheless marked a transition in the lengthy primary fight between the two rivals.

"We're going to have a wide-ranging conversation, because we share a lot of the same goals," Clinton said Tuesday night in an interview with Telemundo. "We both want to raise the minimum wage, we want to fight inequality of income, we want to make college affordable and we certainly want everybody to get health care."

She added, "I very much am looking forward to having his support in this campaign, because Donald Trump poses a serious threat to our nation."

Before polls closed in Washington, Sanders vowed again to do all he can to prevent the presumptive Republican presidential nominee from reaching the White House  but he declined to endorse Clinton.

The Vermont senator has said the private meeting will help him determine how committed Clinton will be to the policy issues he has staked out during his 13-month campaign.

"Our goal must not be to allow politicians, Donald Trump or anyone else, to divide us," Sanders said outside his Washington headquarters, telling reporters he will continue to "fight as hard as we can" to transform the Democratic Party.

Sanders said he would push for new leadership in the Democratic National Committee  his campaign has sparred with Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the party's chair  along with a progressive platform in the summer convention and electoral changes, such as primaries that allow independents to participate and the elimination of superdelegates.

"We need major, major changes in the Democratic Party," he said.

Sanders was warmly received Tuesday by Senate Democrats at their weekly luncheon, where he offered an update about his campaign and some of the lessons he had learned during the past year. Lawmakers in attendance said Sanders did not indicate his future plans.

"He had an opportunity to talk to us about his campaign and how it has changed him and what he has learned," said Sen Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. "I think we all listened intently because we are anxious to always do better and grow as a party and be more inclusive."

Sen Jon Tester, D-Mont, who leads the Senate Democrats' campaign arm, said Sanders "absolutely will" support fellow Senate Democrats in the fall elections. "It was productive, it was good, it was vintage Bernie," Tester said.

Sanders met last week with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who both later endorsed Clinton, and signaled to Democrats that he hopes to play a constructive role in helping the party regain control of the Senate in the 2016 elections.

The self-described democratic socialist says he will take his campaign to the convention in July and advocate for his policy issues in the platform while urging Democrats to be more inclusive of independents, young people and working-class voters, all of whom were pivotal in his victories in 22 states. But what that will look like still remains unclear, and Sanders has been soliciting advice from supporters on how he should take his campaign forward.

The mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, has commanded the attention of both campaigns and prompted Democrats to point to Trump's call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S., an issue they view as a key contrast in the general election.

Without mentioning Trump by name, Clinton warned during a speech in Cleveland on Monday that demonizing Muslims would only empower extremist groups. "We should be intensifying contacts in those communities, not scapegoating or isolating them," she said.

Sanders attended a vigil in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont, on Monday night to show solidarity with the victims. Pointing to Trump's comments about Muslims, Sanders said the shooting was conducted by "one hateful person" and not committed by the Muslim people.

Looking forward, Sanders has begun helping Democrats preparing for congressional races and the battle to regain control of the Senate.

An early test of his clout will come Tuesday in Nevada, where a Sanders-backed congressional candidate, Lucy Flores, competes in a three-way primary.

Sanders has opened up his campaign's massive email donor list to several Democratic candidates, hauling in more than $2.4 million for his allies. Flores has been the top recipient of those appeals, collecting about $390,000 from an email Sanders sent in April on behalf of her and two other candidates.
Mumbai: Energy-hungry India has restarted talks on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchasing alliance with Japan and South Korea and may also include China as Asian demand for the fuel grows.

"For the next two to three decades, gas is going to be a major part of the energy basket for Asian energy consumers," Dharmendra Pradhan, Indian minister of petroleum and natural gas told reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday.

"We want to bring together the countries and form a network which can together source reasonable, rational and affordable LNG," he said, adding that talks with Japan and South Korea have begun and China may also come onboard as a partner.

State-owned GAIL Ltd is spearheading the talks, which follow a similar attempt in 2013, on India's behalf.

Natural gas currently accounts for about 8 percent of India's overall energy mix. In the last decade, while India's domestic natural gas production has grown by 10 percent, imports of LNG have risen by 335 percent.

This is likely to grow further as India gradually shifts to an oil-based economy, the minister told Reuters in a recent interview.

India's gas demand stands at 120 million standard cubic meters per day (mscmd) whereas domestic supply is 80 mscmd, making imports imperative, government data showed.
In the wake of the Orlando shooting, Twitter accounts belonging to Islamic State supporters have been hacked and flooded with links to gay porn, reported Newsweek.

Profile pictures of the hacked accounts have been changed to images with slogans, I'm Gay and Im Proud, the report said.

I did it for the lives lost in Orlando. Daesh [Islamic State] have been spreading and praising the attack, so I thought I would defend those that were lost. The taking of innocent lives will not be tolerated, Newsweek quoted the hacker who is known online as WauchulaGhost.

Additionally, the hacker claims to have taken over 200 Twitter accounts belonging to ISIS supporters and plans to continue the campaign with two other hackers who go by the name Ebony and Yeti.

One thing I do want to say is we arent using graphic porn and our purpose is not to offend Muslims. Our actions are directed at Jihadist extremists. Many of our own [group of hackers] are Muslim and we respect all religions that do not take innocent lives, WauchulaGhost told Newsweek.
Washington: US President Barack Obama hosted the Dalai Lama at the White House Wednesday  a now familiar ritual that takes place off-camera and out of the public eye to avoid irking China.

Obama carried out what has become a political rite in Washington, spiriting the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader into the White House through the back door and prompting the usual Chinese denunciations.

Since coming to office, Obama has hosted the Dalai Lama three previous times. Each time, Obama has tried to limit the fallout by holding the meeting behind closed doors.

This latest confab took place in the Map Room, not the Oval Office, and the press was not invited  meaning images of the two Nobel peace laureates would not be flashed around the world.

The 80-year-old Buddhist monk did not appear to enter the White House through the usual West Wing entrance, which is the route for most  although not all  visitors.

Even before the meeting, Beijing made its displeasure felt, warning it would "damage mutual trust and cooperation."

"China's foreign ministry has launched solemn representations with the US side, expressing our firm opposition to such an arrangement," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters.

Lu added that the meeting would "send a wrong signal to the separatist forces seeking Tibet independence."

Obama calls the monk, who is revered by Tibetans but portrayed by Beijing as a dangerous separatist, "a good friend."

He made a high-profile public appearance with the Dalai Lama last year at a prayer breakfast in Washington, calling him "a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion."

But Obama was criticized in 2010 for obliging the 80-year-old, clad in his characteristic red robes and flip flops, to leave the White House through a back door and walk past piles of snow and bags of rubbish.

Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of using "spiritual terrorism" to seek independence for Tibet.

The spiritual leader  who has lived in exile in India since a failed 1959 uprising  has for decades called for more Tibetan autonomy rather than independence.

Beijing maintains he is a "wolf in monk's clothing" and vigorously lobbies  often successfully  against foreign leaders meeting him.

Senior members of Congress have gone one step further, meeting both the Dalai Lama and Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Tibetans 'happy' with meeting

Tibetans "feel happy about His Holiness meeting the president," said Sonam Dagpo of the Tibetan government-in-exile, adding they hoped the US would support "the struggle of Tibetans."

China has ruled Tibet since the 1950s, but many Tibetans say Beijing represses their Buddhist religion and culture -- charges China denies.

More than 130 ethnic Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 in protest at Beijing's rule, campaign groups and overseas media have said. Most of them have died.

The Dalai Lama has described the protests as acts of desperation that he is powerless to stop.

Many observers believe China is confident that the Tibetan movement will lose much of its potency and global appeal when the charismatic Dalai Lama dies.

The Dalai Lama has also increasingly spoken of succession and has not ruled out picking his reincarnation before his death, fearing that China would instead pick its own boy whom it would use to advance its agenda.

His stance has led Chinese communist rulers, who are officially atheist, to insist that the Dalai Lama can only reincarnate after his death.
Washington: Gender equality is a national security issue and a foreign policy priority of his administration, US President Barack Obama has said but acknowledged that American should do more to achieve women's equality.

"This (gender equality) is a national security issue. I've made advancing gender equality a foreign policy priority," Obama said in his address to the specially convened "Women Summit" at the White House.

In the seven and half years of his presidency, Obama has taken several steps to advance this agenda. On Tuesday some 5,000 eminent women from across the country attended this one of its kind summit at the White House.

"I may be a little grayer than I was eight years ago, but this is what a feminist looks like. Of course, in my household there's no choice," Obama said amidst applause from the audience as he lives with his two daughters and the First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House.

One of his first acts as President was to establish the White House Council on Women and Girls, he said.

He said almost 100 years ago Alice Paul and her fellow suffragists were arrested for picketing outside the White House for the right to vote.

"Today, women make up more than half of the electorate. For the first time in history, a woman is a major party's presumptive presidential nominee. And we are here, at the first-ever White House Summit on the United State of Women," he said.

Obama said despite tremendous progress, a lot needs to be done. "We need equal pay for equal work. We need paid family and sick leave. We need affordable child care. We've got to raise the minimum wage. If we're truly a nation of family values, we wouldn't put up with the fact that many women can't even get a paid day off to give birth," he said.

"We should guarantee paid maternity leave and paid paternity leave too. That's how you value families. That's how employers retain great workers. And it's good for women  because when childcare falls disproportionately on mothers, as it often does, it makes it that much harder to advance in their careers," he added.

Obama said he has made advancing gender equality a foreign policy priority.

"We've implemented a comprehensive strategy to end gender-based violence around the world, from prevention, to treating survivors, to bringing perpetrators to justice," he said.

"And we're helping to remove barriers that prevent women from participating fully in their societies. We're empowering the next generation of women by investing in adolescent girls and advancing the Let Girls Learn initiative to get 62 million girls into schools," he added.

Michelle Obama, said when it comes to the issue of global girls' education, she is just getting started.

"I am so excited to continue working on this issue not just for the next seven months as First Lady, but for the rest of my life. And it's going to be good work, because there are a lot of good partners in this room. I am so looking forward to really diving in," she said.
Beijing: US President Barack Obama will meet the Dalai Lama at the White House Wednesday, a move condemned by China which portrays the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader as a dangerous separatist.

Obama has met the Dalai Lama several times before and calls the monk "a good friend," but the pair will  as usual  talk behind closed doors in an effort to avoid Beijing's ire.

China, which accuses the Nobel peace laureate of using "spiritual terrorism" to seek independence for Tibet, expressed displeasure over the visit to the United States.

"Under the cloak of religion, the 14th Dalai Lama peddles his political ambitions of dividing China all around the world," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters Tuesday.

"We demand all countries and governments not to grant him the space or soil for his activities," he added.

The spiritual leader  who has lived in exile in India since a failed 1959 uprising  has for decades called for more Tibetan autonomy rather than independence.

Beijing maintains he is a "wolf in monk's clothing" and vigorously lobbies  often successfully  against foreign leaders meeting him.

Obama made a high-profile public appearance with the Dalai Lama, who is widely revered by Tibetans, last year at a prayer breakfast in Washington, calling him "a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion."

But three prior meetings were held privately, and Obama was criticised in 2010 for obliging the 80-year-old, clad in his characteristic red robes and flip flops, to leave the White House through a back door and walk past piles of snow and bags of rubbish.

Obama's schedule indicated the Wednesday meeting would be held away from the cameras in the White House Map Room, not the Oval Office.

Tibetans applause

Tibetans "feel happy about His Holiness meeting the president," said Sonam Dagpo of the Tibetan government-in-exile, adding they hoped the US would support "the struggle of Tibetans."

China has ruled Tibet since the 1950s, but many Tibetans say Beijing represses their Buddhist religion and culture  charges China denies.

More than 130 ethnic Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 in protest at Beijing's rule, campaign groups and overseas media have said. Most of them have died.

The Dalai Lama has described the protests as acts of desperation that he is powerless to stop.

Many observers believe China is confident that the Tibetan movement will lose much of its potency and global appeal when the charismatic Dalai Lama dies.

The Dalai Lama has also increasingly spoken of succession and has not ruled out picking his reincarnation before his death, fearing that China would instead pick its own boy whom it would use to advance its agenda.

His stance has led Chinese communist rulers, who are officially atheist, to insist that the Dalai Lama can only reincarnate after his death.
WASHINGTON U.S. President Barack Obama will meet the Dalai Lama at the White House on Wednesday, a move certain to anger China which considers the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader a dangerous separatist.

Obama and the Dalai Lama will meet privately at 10:15 a.m. (1415 GMT), a White House statement said.

Earlier on Tuesday, China warned the United States to stick by its promises not to support any separatist activities.

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, the Dalai Lama had said it was possible he would meet Obama and on Tuesday Taiwan announced that its new president would make a transit stop in the United States next week.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said both issues touched on the "one China" policy, a basic diplomatic tenet referring to both Taiwan and Tibet being part of China that Beijing insists foreign governments recognise.

Lu said the United States had said it opposed Taiwan's independence and recognised that Tibet was an inseparable part of China.

"We demand the U.S. government earnestly stands by its promises, conscientiously handle the relevant issue in accordance with the one China principle and not give any space to any individual or behaviour which tries to create two Chinas, one China one Taiwan, or to split China," he said.

Obama met the Dalai Lama when the latter visited Washington in 2014 and angered China then when he vowed "strong support" for Tibetans' human rights.

The Dalai Lama says he wants genuine autonomy for Tibet rather than independence.

He told Reuters Obama was a "a long-time friend" whom he admired for his work to normalize relations with Cuba, on Iran and for his recent visits to former U.S. foe Vietnam and the site of the Hiroshima atomic bombing in Japan.

Asked how Beijing (Peking) might respond to a meeting, the Dalai Lama said: "I don't know - you should ask them. I think in Peking, we cannot as of now ... generalize. In Peking there are different views. Some people there have a more realistic view. Some are more hardline, which is more narrow-minded."

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will transit in Miami on her way to Panama, one of the island's few diplomatic allies, and stop over in Los Angeles on her return, Taiwan's deputy foreign minister, Javier Ching-shan Hou, said.

China is suspicious of Tsai, who assumed office last month, as she is also head of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party.

Travel abroad is sensitive for Taiwanese leaders who have angered China as it is seen as exerting sovereignty. Tsai's trip will run from June 24 to July 2 and include Paraguay.

(Additional reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Bill Rigby)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
WASHINGTON U.S. President Barack Obama encouraged direct dialogue between the Dalai Lama and China to resolve differences when he met with the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader on Wednesday, the White House said.

Obama told the Dalai Lama the United States does not support independence for Tibet. It was the fourth time the president met at the White House with the Dalai Lama, who China calls a dangerous separatist.





(Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Roberta Rampton)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Rodeo, California: She was a sweet, pretty California girl with Palestinian roots who left an arranged marriage, only to find love with a man who committed the worst mass shooting in modern US history.

Little by little, details have begun to emerge about 30-year-old Noor Zahi Salman, who grew up in the small suburb of Rodeo, California, tucked in the dry hills near the oil refineries, 25 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Her romance with Omar Mateen  security guard, bodybuilder and devout Muslim  began online, according to a neighbour, and they were married on 29 September, 2011, near her hometown, according to public records. The couple has a three-year-old son.

Early Sunday, the 29-year-old Mateen opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded.

Authorities believe Mateen's wife knew about the plot ahead of time, said an official who was briefed on the progress of the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation. The official said investigators are reluctant to charge her only on the basis of possible advance knowledge of her husband's plans.

Three people identifying themselves as FBI agents visited Salman's childhood home in Rodeo on Tuesday and spoke with her mother, said Jessie Rojas, a next-door neighbor.

In Fort Pierce, Florida, where Salman and Mateen lived, Salman made a brief visit to their first-floor apartment late Monday, escorted by police and her brother-in-law. Her father-in-law said she came to retrieve clothing. She did not speak with reporters. She has otherwise been in seclusion.

According to marriage documents on file in the Contra Costa County Recorder's office, Salman was born in the United States while her parents' birthplaces were listed as Palestine.

It's unclear when her parents, who served as witnesses for the wedding, came to the United States, but their naturalisation papers allowing them to stay in the country were approved in 1984.

No one answered the door at the Salman home Tuesday, but neighbors, who know the 2004 graduate of John Swett High School in nearby Crockett, said they find it hard to believe she had anything to do with the massacre.

Jasbinder Chahal, who has lived across the street from Salman's childhood home for the last 15 years, said Salman is "very nice... not the smartest, but she was beautiful. You know, some kids after high school, they open up the box and the world is theirs. She was inside the box, just pack it up and get married," said Chahal.

"They had a small wedding and took lots of pictures here at the house," said Chahal. The marriage license says the ceremony took place in Hercules, California, and that an imam officiated.

Of Mateen, Chahal said, "He was shorter than her and did not seem very friendly."

Chahal said Salman's mother, Ekbal Salman, was deeply upset when she visited her Monday night and said she feared for the safety of her daughter and grandson.

Salman's parents tried to shelter their four girls as they grew up.

"Noor never played in the street, and the girls were never allowed to drive," Chahal said.

The neighbor quoted Salman's mother as saying Mateen also kept her daughter from driving, until he recently allowed her to take a test to get her driver's license.

Salman's marriage to Mateen was her second, said Chahal. Mateen had previously been married as well.

Her first marriage had been arranged in the Palestinian Territories by her parents, said Chahal, adding that the union did not work out. "He was in Chicago and they were living there, but they were not married long," Chahal said. "They had cultural differences since she grew up here and was American."

Mateen had met his first wife, Sitora Yusufiy, online, too. They married in 2009 after a whirlwind romance.

Yusufiy, who immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan, has told reporters that Mateen was mentally unstable and abusive during their brief relationship.

She said she knew quickly that the marriage had been a mistake and she left him a few months later. The couple didn't divorce, though, until 21 June, 2011  just three months before Mateen married Salman.

On one of her sister's Facebook pages  next to a family photo  there is a box with the words: "Solidarity with Gaza."

Salman rarely came home to visit after she married because Mateen would not let her, Chahal said. She quoted Salman's mother telling her that Mateen even tried to keep the daughter from traveling home to see her father when he was sick.

The younger Salman managed to scrape together the money to visit before her father died in a local hospital, Chahal said.
London: Students at the elite Oxford University have complained that they are being forced to

submit too many essays in comparison with peers studying similar courses at different colleges in the varsity.

Undergraduates at the university protested about the uneven workload to an external review that some of them were expected to write up to three essays a week while others submitted only one for the same course.

The UK's Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), conducting the review, has said this week that the university must even out disparity in the number of tutorials and essays set by colleges.

In their regular review of the institution, QAA quotes Oxford under-graduates as saying that "rigour is lost to excessive workloads" and that there is "little parity across the colleges" on the number of tutorials and assignments that a student must complete.

The watchdog found that while university guidance on approval of new courses and major changes to existing ones includes a requirement to consider student workload, it "stops short of prescribing it in terms of number of teaching hours and volume of assessment", leaving open the possibility of significant variation between colleges and tutors.

"There are instances where students are set three essays in one week; at those levels, that's clearly at the detriment of rigour, welfare and pedagogy.

"At that point, you are very much an essay machine; you are meeting deadlines rather than having time to learn and to reflect on what you are meant to be learning," Cat Jones, vice-president for access and academic affairs at the Oxford University Student Union, told Times Higher Education.

QAA recommends that student workload, which at the moment at the discretion of individual tutors at Oxford, should become the subject of institution-wide guidance for the first time.

"We are already at work on the report's three recommendations, including the provision of more information about the teaching patterns that students can expect on each course.

"The QAA commends Oxford on the quality of its student representation on educational matters, and we will use these strong links to discuss and respond to particular workload concerns," said an Oxford University spokesperson.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan Pakistani troops fired heavy artillery at Afghan forces at their main Khyber Pass border crossing on Wednesday, the Pakistani military said, an escalation after days of clashes that have killed four people and stranded thousands on both sides.

Afghanistan's ambassador to Islamabad Omar Zakhilwal on Wednesday said he met Pakistani officials and the countries had "agreed on a ceasefire". Previous ceasefire deals announced over the last two days were swiftly broken.

Relations between the U.S. allies have never been close but have been strained over the past 15 years by Afghan accusations that Pakistan supports the Taliban who are fighting to unseat the U.S.-backed government in Kabul. Pakistan denies that.

The countries have blamed each other for the fighting that broke out on Sunday at the main crossing point between them over the construction of a new border post on the Pakistani side.

"When our people began construction work on the gate on Wednesday, Afghan forces again opened fire at our troops and construction workers," said a Pakistani security official who declined to be identified.

He said Pakistan had retaliated with long-range artillery and mortars. There was no word on any casualties.

The Pakistani military spokesman's office confirmed the Wednesday fighting.

Afghan officials, however, denied any fighting on Wednesday, but said an Afghan border guard was killed and five were wounded overnight on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear if the officials were talking about the same incident.

Pakistan's foreign ministry summoned ambassador Zakhilwal to demand that Afghanistan put an end to the "unprovoked firing" and to protest against the death of a Pakistani army major, shot on the border in a clash this week.

A diplomatic source and a Pakistani security source confirmed a fragile ceasefire had been agreed. On his Facebook page, Zakhilwal said the two sides had agreed on "de-escalation of tension, draw down of military build up and steps forward to an amicable solution".

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Washington was "concerned" by the clashes and by reports that heavy weapons were present. He urged the two sides to "resolve their disagreements ... and to de-escalate tensions."

"Good relations between the two countries are key to the stability of the region," Kirby added.

By Wednesday, trucks carrying goods to Afghanistan had been stranded on the Pakistani side of the border for four days. A Reuters journalist at the scene said trucks lined the road all the way from the northwestern city of Peshawar to the Torkham border.

Pakistan says the border gate it is building is well on its side of the border and will help stop militants from crossing and help fight drug trafficking.

Pakistan's foreign policy chief, Sartaj Aziz, expressed concern over what he called the Afghan army's attempts to "disrupt border management efforts" by Pakistan.

Afghanistan objects to all Pakistani construction on a 2,200-km (1,370-mile) border it says was unfairly imposed by British colonialists in the 19th century and which it has never recognised.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been particularly strained in recent months over Afghan officials' anger at what they see as insincere efforts by Pakistan to help with peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

(Additional reporting by Mirwais Harooni in Kabul and Amjad Ali and David Alexander in Washington; Writing by Mehreen Zahra-Malik; Editing by Richard Balmforth and James Dalgleish)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Islamabad: As investigators probe connections between the Orlando killer and the Islamic State group, analysts say the jihadists are struggling to gain a foothold in one country repeatedly linked to their high-profile attacks: Pakistan.

White House hopeful Donald Trump mentioned Pakistan in a speech this week in New Hampshire as he doubled down on anti-immigration threats in the wake of the bloody rampage in Orlando.

Trump cited an attack in California last November, when a Pakistani woman and her US-born husband were praised by IS as "soldiers" of the caliphate after killing 14 people.

Other murky links between Pakistan and IS attacks have also emerged.

Two people were killed in France on Monday by a man claiming allegiance to IS  and known to French intelligence for his role in a Pakistan-linked jihadist group.

In April, Austrian prosecutors said they are investigating a Pakistani held in connection with last November's deadly assault on Paris, also claimed by IS.

Washington earlier this year designated an IS affiliate  the "Khorasan Province"  as a Afghanistan- and Pakistan-based terrorist organisation.

But Islamabad officially denies IS has a formal presence in the country.

Analysts say that while the group's ultra-violent ideology has seen some success as a recruitment tool, IS is still scrabbling for purchase in Pakistan largely due to competition from well established extremist groups already there.

"My sense is that it has had limited success mainly because it has to compete for recruits with indigenous jihadi organisations," said Marvin G. Weinbaum, director of the Pakistan Center at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC.

"I don't see it as having the potential to make large-scale territorial gains and existentially threatening Pakistan as a nation," said Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, a research fellow at the US-based Middle East Forum.

"I am also somewhat sceptical of the potential to supplant al-Qaeda and the Taliban," he wrote in an email to AFP.

Recruitment web

Attacks claimed by IS in Pakistan are rare, the most significant being a 2015 gun assault on a bus in Karachi that killed 44 people.

However Pakistani officials told AFP that hundreds of suspects have been rounded up as authorities try to break an domestic IS recruitment network.

"Educated, motivated and unemployed youth are an IS recruitment base in Pakistan. We have busted several recruitment cells here," a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"Their focus is on the middle-class youth, many affluent and able to run operations of the IS state," said Muhammad Amir Rana, a security analyst.

That means not only foot soldiers, but people who can "run cyber operations, hospitals, and administrative operations", he said, estimating that some 700 young Pakistanis have already left to join IS.

Islamic organisations and security sources say at least two dozen people suspected of IS connections have been detained in the port megacity of Karachi.

Authorities also found evidence of IS recruitment efforts in Pakistan's wealthiest province Punjab, and made arrests in 2014.

Last year authorities traced a mother-of-four who went missing from the provincial capital Lahore with her children over fears she had left the country to join IS.

Her family says she is now in an IS-controlled area of Syria along with another Pakistani family.

Authorities have also arrested multiple people accused of IS sympathies with links to the religious political party, Markazi Jamiat Ahle-Hadith Pakistan (MJAP).

A senior party member told AFP that his son had become a jihadist and is now missing.

"Some people say he has gone to Damascus, others say to Afghanistan or Turkey," Talib-ur-Rehman Zaidi said.

Barbarism

In Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt that borders Afghanistan, analysts say IS are targeting militants already operating there.

"My impression ... is that IS mainly attracts and tries to recruit disillusioned members of the Taliban movements as well as the likes of Lashkar-e-Taiba," analyst Al-Tamimi said.

However they are not succeeding, says analyst Rana, because of sectarian differences between the militants.

The jostling of Pakistan's array of other extremist groups means IS will not become a threat to Islamabad "any time soon", said Weinbaum.

But the group's seeming inability to establish itself on Pakistani soil may not deter "lone wolf" attacks, as US investigators believe happened in Orlando.

"Individuals just associate themselves with them (IS)," president of MJAP Sajid Mir told AFP, as he denied any links between his party and the jihadists.

"We have no connection  what IS is doing, that is not jihad but barbarism."
Islamabad: As investigators probe connections between the Orlando killer and the Islamic State group, analysts say the jihadists are struggling to gain a foothold in one country repeatedly linked to their high-profile attacks: Pakistan.

White House hopeful Donald Trump mentioned Pakistan in a speech this week in New Hampshire as he doubled down on anti-immigration threats in the wake of the bloody rampage in Orlando.

Trump cited an attack in California last November, when a Pakistani woman and her US-born husband were praised by IS as "soldiers" of the caliphate after killing 14 people.

Other murky links between Pakistan and Islamic State attacks have also emerged.

Two people were killed in France on Monday by a man claiming allegiance to Islamic State  and known to French intelligence for his role in a Pakistan-linked jihadist group.

In April, Austrian prosecutors said they are investigating a Pakistani held in connection with last November's deadly assault on Paris, also claimed by Islamic State.

Washington earlier this year designated an Islamic State affiliate  the "Khorsan Province"  as a Afghanistan- and Pakistan-based terrorist organisation.

But Islamabad officially denies Islamic State has a formal presence in the country.

Analysts say that while the group's ultra-violent ideology has seen some success as a recruitment tool, IS is still scrabbling for purchase in Pakistan largely due to competition from well established extremist groups already there.

"My sense is that it has had limited success mainly because it has to compete for recruits with indigenous jihadi organisations," said Marvin G Weinbaum, director of the Pakistan Center at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC.

"I don't see it as having the potential to make large-scale territorial gains and existentially threatening Pakistan as a nation," said Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, a research fellow at the US-based Middle East Forum.

"I am also somewhat sceptical of the potential to supplant Al Qaeda and the Taliban," he wrote in an email to AFP.

Attacks claimed by Islamic State in Pakistan are rare, the most significant being a 2015 gun assault on a bus in Karachi that killed 44 people.

However, Pakistani officials told AFP that hundreds of suspects have been rounded up as authorities try to break an domestic Islamic State recruitment network.

"Educated, motivated and unemployed youth are an Islamic State recruitment base in Pakistan. We have busted several recruitment cells here," a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Geneva: An information technology worker at the Geneva office of Mossack Fonseca, the law firm at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal, has been arrested, Switzerland's Le Temps newspaper reported Wednesday.

The paper, citing a source close to the case, said the IT employee had been placed in provisional detention on suspicion of stealing a large haul of confidential documents.

The spokesman for the Geneva's prosecutor's office, Henri Della Casa, told AFP that "a criminal case has been opened... following a complaint by Mossack Fonseca."

He declined to comment on whether an arrest had been made.

According to the paper, the unnamed employee is suspected of inappropriately accessing a database, stealing assets and abusing his position.

Della Casa neither confirmed nor denied those details.

Le Temps said it had no information on whether the arrested individual was the so-called "John Doe" who has claimed credit for the unprecedented leak in April of 11.5 million Mossack Fonseca documents.

The documents revealed the names of leaders, politicians, celebrities and wealthy individuals from around the world who used the Panama-based firm to create offshore entities to hide their assets.

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.

Offshore companies are not in themselves illegal, but the sudden publication of troves of data drew attention to rampant tax avoidance and even money laundering crimes.

Consequences from the leak continue to reverberate worldwide, with investigations under way in several countries.

The European parliament last week launched a far-reaching probe into potential tax fraud in Europe that was sparked by the Panama Papers scandal.

Last month, Mossack Fonseca said it was filing a lawsuit against the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) which coordinated a global probe by multiple media outlets into the information contained in the Panama Papers.

The firm's Geneva office did not respond to queries from AFP seeking details of the criminal case in Switzerland.
London: An intelligent and highly sophisticated robot developed by a research team of University

of Birmingham in the UK is joining the world of work as a trainee office manager.

The robot, named Betty, will greet guests at reception and carry out tasks at the Transport Systems Catapult, based in Milton Keynes, in the UK, for a two-month trial period.

Betty's duties will include patrolling the offices, assessing how many staff members are in the office outside working hours and monitoring the environment by collating data on clutter, office temperature, humidity and noise.

She will also check fire doors are closed and desks are clear. A highly sophisticated robot, Betty runs Artificial Intelligence-driven software developed by an international research team led by the University of Birmingham.

This software enables her to process all the information she needs to map and navigate her environment, learning as she does so.

Using cameras and scanners she is able to create a map of her surrounding area, identifying desks, chairs and other objects that she must negotiate when she is moving around, as well as detecting people's movement through activity recognition.

While Betty carries out her duties, she will also gather information about her surroundings and learn how the environment changes over time  for example, where people go within the office, where objects appear, whether doors are open or closed.

She will also know when to report to her docking station to recharge her batteries. Betty is part of the 7.2 million EU-funded STRANDS project where robots are learning how to act intelligently and independently in real-world environments while understanding 3D space and how this changes over time from milliseconds to months.

Nick Hawes, from the School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham, who leads the STRANDS project, said:"For robots to work alongside humans in normal work environments it is important that they are both robust enough to operate autonomously without expert help, and that they

learn to adapt to their environments to improve their performance."

Betty demonstrates both these abilities in a real working environment: we expect her to operate for two months without expert input, whilst using cutting-edge AI techniques to increase her understanding of the world around her."

TSC Chief Operating Officer Mark Ruddy said: "At the TSC, innovation and new technologies are at the core of our business so we are excited to be hosting the STRANDS project. Thanks to our ongoing work on autonomous technology, Betty should feel right at home in the TSC's facilities."

"We hope that we can learn from her as much as she can learn from us during her stay. We have yet to see her interact with one of the LUTZ Pathfinder Autonomous Pods!"
Britain: Prince William will appear on the July cover of Attitude speaking out against homophobia, the first time a British royal has been photographed for the front of a gay publication, the magazine said on Wednesday.

William is seen grinning next to the headline "Making History", and his quote "No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason".

The magazine  which usually features athletes, models and other stars under its main logo  said the prince had posed for the shot after meeting its editor and a group of gay and transgender people at Kensington Palace.

William, whose brother Harry won praise in 2013 for saving a soldier in his regiment from a gay hate attack, is quoted telling anyone being bullied for their sexuality to report it and get support.

"Don't put up with it  speak to a trusted adult, a friend, a teacher, Childline ... or some other service and get the help you need. You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of," he said.

Attitude, which calls itself "the UK's best-selling gay magazine", said William had invited it last month "to bring members of the LGBT community to Kensington Palace to listen to their experience of bullying".

Attitude editor Matthew Todd said he had regularly met the parents of children who had taken their lives after being bullied over their sexuality.

"I am very happy that the future King of the United Kingdom agrees this must stop and I would urge parents in particular to raise their voices in their communities to ensure that every school protects  really protects  all children," Todd said.

William, the queen's grandson, said in April that he wanted to foster a more modern and relevant monarchy.

The magazine, whose print edition goes on sale on 22 June, went to press before Sunday's shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, where 49 people were killed.
Brussels: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday demanded that Russia withdraw its forces and military hardware from Ukraine and halt its support for pro-Moscow separatists battling Kiev.

"Russia needs to stop supporting the militants and withdraw its forces and military equipment from Ukrainian territory," Stoltenberg said after a meeting of NATO defence ministers with their Ukrainian counterpart in Brussels.

He said the US-led alliance will continue to stand by the government in Kiev and would never recognise Russia's "illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea."

"In response to Russia's actions, NATO has stepped up its support for Ukraine. Our level of political and practical engagement since 2014 is unprecedented," he said.

Stoltenberg said Moscow continued to support the rebels in many ways, supplying equipment and advisors while it massed troops along the border with Ukraine and built up its military presence in Crimea, home base for its key Black Sea fleet.
New Delhi: A scuffle had broken out between troops of Indian Army and Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) when the 276 Chinese personnel entered the Indian side from four different border points in Arunachal Pradesh last Thursday, according to an official account of the incident.

The incident occurred at 'Shankar Tikri' on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) of Yangtse area in Arunachal Pradesh with the PLA claiming the area belonged to China.

The area, which is being guarded by the Indian Army, was immediately covered and army moved in its men to prevent the aggressive PLA troops from crossing the perceived LAC in the region.

An estimated 215 PLA troops reportedly tried to push their way at 'Shakar Tikri' and simultaneously 20 each from 'Thang La' and 'Mera Gap' and another 21 from 'Yanki-I' of Arunachal Pradesh made similar attempts.

During the normal banner drill, the PLA troops striking an aggressive posture tried to attack the Indian army personnel physically but were overpowered immediately, official sources said on Wednesday.

The sources said the army has officially reported that there was only a "mild scuffle" between the Army and PLA at east of 'Shankar Tikri.'

Tensions reportedly eased only after four PLA officers accompanied by an interpreter met Commanding Officer of the Indian army formation in the area and presented him with two packets of chocolates and one gift packet to the in-charge of Yanki-I post.

Yangtse is one of the identified disputed pockets between the two countries and is an Indian territory. PLA carries out unusually big patrols as compared to other areas along the LAC.

The area has been reportedly witnessing transgressions by the Chinese side at regular intervals since 2011.
Lake Buena Vista, Florida: The search continued Wednesday morning for a two-year-old boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator near Disney's upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, authorities said.

The effort was still considered a "search and rescue operation," said Jeff Williamson, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

"We are very hopeful," he said at a morning news conference. "Sometimes you get the worst, but we are hoping for the best."

The family of five from Nebraska was on vacation and wading in the Seven Seas Lagoon about 9.20 pm Tuesday when the attack happened in an area where "no swimming" signs were posted, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told a news conference earlier in the morning. The father tried to rescue his son but was unsuccessful, Demings said.

The alligator was estimated to be 4 to 7 feet long, but its exact size was not known, Demings said. The father suffered cuts and lacerations.

The beach area is part of the luxury Grand Floridian resort, across the lake from Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park.

More than 50 law enforcement personnel searched the well-tended lagoon along with an alligator tracker and two marine units in an effort that continued through the night. Williamson said more personnel would be brought in Wednesday morning to offer some "fresh eyes" for the search.

Nick Wiley with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation said it's rare for people to be attacked by alligators, but he added that the creatures move around. He said four alligators were taken from the water overnight, but officials found no evidence they were involved. He said the alligators have to be euthanised before they are analyzed.

Williamson said the boy was at the edge of the water, probably about a foot or two into the water, when the alligator attacked. The water was dark Tuesday night as searchers looked for the boy, Williamson said. They also used a sonar boat.

Williamson said Disney's boats were the first ones in the water.

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney is helping the family.

When asked if Disney was aware of alligators on the property, Wahaler advised there were signs that said "no swimming."

Williamson brushed aside reporters' questions about the odds of rescuing the child at this point. "Right now, hopefully, we're searching for a little boy to bring the family some comfort," he said.

Demings said there had been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks on the lake.

In March 1997, a three-year-old New Smyrna Beach boy was killed by a 450-pound alligator that grabbed him and dragged him into Lake Ashby in Volusia County as he walked on the shore with his dog. Officials believe the 11-foot gator was attracted by the dog. Adam Trevor Binford was pulled under the surface and drowned. Wildlife officials shot the alligator, which was still holding the boy's body 20 hours later.

The latest alligator attack comes amid what was already a tragic week in the Orlando area. On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, leaving 49 victims dead in the worst mass shooting in modern US history.
Baghdad: Sniper fire by Islamic State militants killed a senior Iraqi commander near the northern IS-held city of Mosul, the extremist group's main bastion in Iraq, as the UN refugee agency warned that thousands of civilians have been newly displaced from that area.

Iraq's Defence Ministry said late yesterday that Brig Ahmed Badr al-Luhaibi, the commander of Brigade 71st of Division 15, was killed by a sniper during an operation to retake a village south of Mosul.

The statement lauded al-Luhaibi as a "knight" and said his death would "increase our determination to clear" the entire province of Nineveh, where Mosul is the provincial capital, of IS militants.

Mosul - Iraq's second-largest city - fell to the Islamic State group during the militants' June 2014 onslaught that captured large swaths of northern and western Iraq and also almost a third of neighbouring Syria.

The city, about 360 kilometres northwest of Baghdad, became also the largest city in the extremist group's

self-declared caliphate on the territories the militants control. Along with a major offensive to retake Fallujah, a city in western Anbar province, Iraqi troops have this week resumed small-scale operations to dislodge IS militants from areas to the south and southeast of Mosul.

In late March, the government forces launched a military operation aimed at clearing areas between Makmour and the adjacent Qayara areas outside of Mosul, to the east of the Tigris River, and to cut one of the supply lines to the nearby IS-held Shirqat area.

But retaking Mosul itself is not likely to come anytime soon. It will be an enormous undertaking for the Iraqi troops, even though they are backed by airstrikes from the US-led coalition and have been joined by pro-government fighters, mostly Shiite militias.

Iraqi and US officials have refrained from giving a specific time for a Mosul operation, saying it would take many months to prepare Iraq's still struggling military. Some of the US and Iraqi officials have said it may not even be possible to retake it this year, despite repeated vows by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

The UNHCR said yesterday the fighting outside Mosul has displaced over 14,000 Iraqis since March. Of that number, more than 8,000 people left from villages east of the Tigris, putting additional pressure on existing camps for refugees and the displaced.

Since April, 6,700 more Iraqis have crossed into Syria's northeastern Hassakeh province using local smuggling networks. Some of those refugees managed to escape Mosul.
WASHINGTON Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps proposal for suspending immigration from parts of the world with a history of terrorism could have a legal basis, but his assertion that it be part of a broader ban on Muslim immigrants makes it constitutionally untenable, legal scholars say.

The new twist in Trumps anti-Muslim rhetoric came in the aftermath of a weekend shooting massacre at a Florida nightclub by the American-born son of Afghan immigrants.

In a fiery speech on Monday, he expanded on his proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, vowing if elected to halt immigration from any area of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against America or its allies.

He also accused the Muslim-American community of broad complicity in attacks such as the Orlando shooting, which was carried out by a gunman pledging allegiance to Islamic State, and threatened big consequences for those who fail to inform on their neighbours.

Many legal experts said Trumps proposal for a religion-based ban would be unlikely to pass the test of U.S. constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, due process and equal protection and would likely be struck down by the courts if he tried to implement them by presidential decree.

However, a ban on immigrants from certain countries has some precedent and might pass muster.

Some see that new proposal as reminiscent of the congressional Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which was used for years to halt the influx of Chinese labourers and has been widely considered a black mark on Americas immigration record.

But Trumps overall immigration plan would go beyond that, targeting not just a country or a region of the world but also a religion, something that no modern U.S. president has done.

"This is an absurd proposal to build a Fortress America and pull up the drawbridges, said John Bellinger, former legal adviser to the Bush administration.

President Barack Obama took a veiled swipe at Trump on Tuesday, saying such ideas represented a dangerous mindset.

But U.S. presidents have wide latitude on immigration matters, and some conservative scholars said that the fate of any proposed ban would hinge on how narrowly Trump framed it.

They note, for instance, that Democratic President Jimmy Carter barred Iranian nationals from entering the United States during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

If a Trump administration cut off immigration from certain countries, rather than certain religions, it would not violate the Constitution, said John Yoo, a law professor at the University of California Berkeley and former Justice Department official who advised the George W. Bush administration on interrogation methods used on terrorism suspects.

Herman Schwartz, a law professor at American University in Washington, said if Trump stuck to his proposal for a temporary prohibition on Muslim immigrants, that raises significant constitutional questions and "shows his shaky command of the legal facts."

MUSLIM BAN

In Mondays speech in New Hampshire, Trump showed little sign of scaling back his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States, which he first laid out in December after an Islamic State-linked deadly mass shooting in San Bernardino, California.

Debate over the legality of Trumps proposals was complicated by the vagueness of his pronouncement and questions on how broadly he would extend any immigration ban if elected.

While legal experts say presidents have the power to ban immigrants from specific countries, the United States does not currently ban immigration from any country. Officials do give extra scrutiny to people entering from countries such Syria and Iran.

Under the broadest interpretation of Trumps pronouncement, immigration could be barred not only from the Muslim world but from U.S.-allied countries in Europe and Asia where militant attacks have taken place. This could include India, the source of many skilled engineers for the U.S. technology sector.

Critics say this would be impractical and counterproductive.

Is Mr. Trump proposing to stop issuing visas even for business or tourism or education to nationals of certain countries?" said Bellinger. "Rather than increase economic growth, Mr. Trumps plan could cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars.

Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, a Trump foreign policy adviser, justified the candidates pronouncement, saying it is perfectly appropriate for the country to refuse admission to those whose presence may be detrimental to the national interest.

But Orrin Hatch, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, when asked whether a president has the authority to ban immigrants based on religion, said: Im not sure he does.

Legal experts also raised doubts about the legality of Trumps demand that members of the American Muslim community cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad or else they will be brought to justice themselves. Critics have accused him of anti-Muslim fear-mongering to win votes.

Generally, the idea that knowledge in and of itself comes with criminal liability is antithetical to the way we talk about criminal law in the United States, said Daniel Richman, a Columbia University law professor and former federal prosecutor.

If Trump tried to implement such prosecutions as president, he said, potential defendants could simply invoke their constitutional right against self-incrimination and continue to remain silent.

(Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Joan Biskupic and Lawrence Hurley; editing by Stuart Grudgings)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
WASHINGTON The chairman of the U.S. Senate intelligence panel said on Wednesday authorities have not yet established any links between the Orlando gunman and international militant groups.

"There are no links to international groups that we know of today," Republican Senator Richard Burr, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told reporters after a briefing by Obama administration officials.





(Reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Eric Beech)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Washington: US State Department officials said the US is watching very closely the growing tensions between Afghan and Pakistani forces at Torkham border.

In response to a question regarding the tense situation in Torkham, State Department spokesperson John Kirby said, "We are all watching the tensions very closely, we are in touch with officials on both sides."

"We continue to urge a calm resolution to the tension. We obviously don't want to see clashes; we don't want to see violence; we don't want to see it get worse," Khamaa Press quoted Kirby as saying.

Clashes among the Afghan and Pakistani forces in Torkham erupted late on Sunday night after the Afghan border guards prevented the installation of a gate by Pakistani forces.

The Afghan government criticised Pakistan for taking unilateral steps by working on military installations along the zero point on Durand Line, calling it a move against the bilateral agreement.

Several people have lost their lives during the clashes in the past, including a senior Pakistani army officer who died due to wounds he sustained in the clash.
Washington: The United States has denied that it is in a dispute with its ally Saudi Arabia over how to handle the crisis in Syria.

US Secretary of State John Kerry was all smiles late Monday when he welcomed deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman to his home in Washington.

The influential 30-year-old prince, who serves as defense minister, broke his Ramadan fast at an iftar supper with the top US diplomat.

Reports had suggested Riyadh is frustrated with US policy in Syria and would like to step up arms supplies to the rebels fighting Bashar al-Assad's regime.

But on Tuesday, Kerry's spokesman John Kirby denied there was any rift.

"If you're asking if there's this big philosophical divide between the Saudis and the United States on how to move forward on the ground in Syria, the answer is 'no,'" he told reporters.

Kirby recalled that Saudi Arabia had been one of the first countries to join the United States and Russia in forming the International Syria Support Group.

This 22-nation group is pushing for a negotiated end to Syria's civil war, and Riyadh was vital in getting skeptical mainly Sunni rebels on board.

"If it were not for Saudi leadership, we wouldn't have that first meeting of the Syrian opposition groups back in December in Riyadh," Kirby said.

"They have been at this right from the beginning with the United States and with Russia and with Turkey, moving this process forward."

Earlier in the process, Saudi officials privately told AFP they favoured sending ground-to-air missiles and anti-tank weapons to the rebels.

But they have stuck by the US and Russian plan, while continuing to complain that Assad - backed by Saudi foe Iran- is breaching a shaky truce.

"I'm not going to speak for what they specifically want to do differently," Kirby said.

"But I can tell you that on the issues that matter...Saudi Arabia has been with us step-by-step."
Washington: The Senate has failed to recognise India as a "global strategic and defence partner" of the US after a key amendment necessary to modify its export control regulations could not be passed.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent address to a joint session of Congress, top Republican senator John McCain had moved an amendment to the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA-17) which if passed would have recognised India as a global strategic and defence partner.

The US had recognised India as a "major defence partner" in a joint statement issued after Modi held talks with President Barack Obama which supported defence-related trade and technology transfer to the country which would now be treated on par with America's closest allies.

NDAA was passed by the Senate with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 85-13. But some of the key amendments including the (SA 4618)  even though they had bipartisan support  could not be passed by the Senate.

"The (Senate) amendment (No 4618) was not adopted to the NDAA," a Congressional aide told PTI.

Without specifically mentioning this particular legislative move on India, McCain expressed disappointment that many key amendments could not see the light of day.

"I regret that the Senate was unable to debate and vote on several matters critical to our national security, many of which enjoyed broad bipartisan support," McCain said in a statement.

"In particular, I am deeply disappointed the Senate was not able to increase the number of special immigrant visas for Afghans who risked their lives to help America in a time of war, and whose lives are still at risk today," he said.

"Too often throughout this process, a single senator was able to bring the Senate's work on our national defence to a halt. This was a breakdown in the decorum of the Senate, and one that will have serious consequences," McCain said.

The McCain amendment said that the relationship between the United States and India has developed over the past two decades to become a multifaceted, global strategic and defence partnership rooted in shared democratic values and the promotion of mutual prosperity, greater economic cooperation, regional peace, security, and stability.

As such it asked the president to such actions as may be necessary "to recognise the status of India as a global strategic and defence partner" of the US through appropriate modifications to defence export control regulations.

It also asked the president to approve and facilitate the transfer of advanced technology in the context of, and in

order to satisfy, combined military planning with the Indian military for missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter piracy, and maritime domain awareness.
In the wake of the violent extremist homophobic terror attack in Orlando LGBT nightclub, the Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has made a new push for Gun Control Measures seconded by a considerable number of American liberals. In her speech on the Orlando massacre in Cleveland, she averred that gun control is the only way to hinder terrorists from getting the tools they use to carry out terror attacks. Terming the guns used in Orlando and San Bernardino as weapons of war, she stressed the need to close loopholes that allow firearms to be sold online and at gun shows without background checks.

The gun culture underpinned by a nefarious ideology has been playing havoc in the spate of terrorist atrocities from Brussels, Paris, Pathankot to San Bernardino and lately in Orlandos LGBT nightclub. The obnoxious act of violent extremism in Florida, as anywhere else in the world, is not just a law and order problem. Neither it is practically expedient to paint it as a political incident. The gun culture coupled with an exclusivist, retrogressive and chauvinistic ideology is the actual stimulus for the extremist zealots to go haywire. Emanating from the medieval eras warring cults in West Asia to the modern American and European nations engaged in the war on terror, the role of this intolerant, xenophobic ideology cannot be overlooked. Therefore, it is essential for the world governments to stop the extremists and potential terrorists from getting the guns they need to peddle their inherent hatred, be it faith-inspired or otherwise.

In an academically vigorous effort to debunk the common misconceptions about the gun culture and the mentality of mass shootings in the USA, the noted criminologist Frederic Lemieux reviewed current researches in this context. As a criminologist, his study conducted on the mass shootings in the US is worth deliberating. It indicated that although the frequent mass shootings are not confined to America, as numerous mass shootings took place in other developed nations between 1983 and 2013, but the US witnessed the biggest number of mass shootings.

It is a common knowledge now that the ghastly mass shooting of Orlando has been recorded as the deadliest use of gun in the most brutal manner in the US history. It has struck the entire heritage of peace and pluralism in the country. As the American civilians continue to howl in pain and distress, the most grieving part of the story is that the long-built moderate position of America as a melting pot is on the verge of destruction. The common Americans deeply wonder that the countrys plurality might lose its credibility with such wanton killings and mindless mass shootings occurring repeatedly for decades.

According to many American criminologists and counter-terrorism experts, one of the vital factors in the Orlando mass shooting was that Florida puts few restrictions on gun ownership, compared to other states. Going by the state scorecard annually issued by the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Florida is ranked 25th in terms of gun law environment score.

Ziming Xuan, a noted American academician recently led a study of state gun laws and gun-carrying young people in the US. He explored that the states without background checks requirement had greater chances of mass shootings as compared to the states that require background checks for all handgun sales. States with more restrictive gun laws tend to have lower level of gun ownership, lower gun-related nonfatal injuries and lower gun-related fatalities including homicide and suicide. He contended that the less restrictive state gun laws in Florida made it easy for the shooter to get an assault-style weapon. Clearly, this analysis corroborates Clintons recent statement.

Apart from the gun-related factor, many other causes were behind the shooting in Orlando. Many analysists including the US President Obama himself has called it an evident example of the homegrown terrorism. But the choice of guns used in this mass killing makes it patently clear that the attack was pre-planned and well-thought-out. It was not simply a homophobic and hate-filled assault. Rather, it was motivated by an entirely lethal ideology exhorting that anyone who commits the grave sins like alternative sexual behaviour must not be spared to survive as a member of the society.

This is patently clear from an article entitled "Kill the Imams of Kufr (disbelief) in the West" published in the online English-language magazine, Dabiq (April - May 2016). In this article, a jihadist ideologue blatantly writes addressing the misguided Muslim youth living in the western countries: ".wage jihad by yourselves with the resources available to you: guns, explosives and even knives, and kill the crusaders and other disbelievers and apostates. If they [note that apostates also includes lesbians, gays and bisexuals etc] are not sentenced to death by the ruling authorities, their throats may be slit by anyone who has perfect faith and righteous character.

The above brutal ideology of hate was on the rampage in Orlandos nightclub which resulted into gunning down the people with alternative sexual behaviour in the most vicious manner. Regrettably, the less restrictive state gun laws in Florida made it easy for the homophobic and wife-beater butcher of Orlando, Omar Mateen to get an assault-style weapon.

Even more surprisingly, the former senior imam of the Kabah, the Grand Mosque of Mecca and the holiest site in Islam, Sheikh Adel al-Kilbani has asserted in his televised interview that IS ideology comes from our own books, our own principles; we follow the same thoughtSalafism. He even dismissed the prevailing cliche that IS is creature of the American intelligence agencies and went on saying that the ideology behind IS is the Salafist thought that many Muslims follow, but the only disagreement is with the way in which that ideology is acted out from a public relations perspective.

As discussed above, the age-old pluralistic history of America positioning it as a melting pot in the world is the worst hit in Orlando terror attack. US has long been known as a bastion of peace and pluralism, welcoming all faith traditions, myriad cultures, different races and ethnicities. People from different nations turn up in this multi-cultural country in high hope to land up lucrative jobs, while enjoying religious freedom, socio-cultural liberty and a better and free lifestyle.

But the current spate of violent atrocities and anti-pluralism strikes frequently shattering the US image, its pluralistic historicity and sanctity of its democratic legacy is more antithetical to the religious immigrants. Mainstream Muslims, not the Radical Islamists, are going to suffer an irreparable damage, especially at a time when the Republican politicians like Donald Trump are on the lookout for fanning the fire of Islamophobia. Nevertheless, the blackout ban on Muslims and other religious minorities will only strengthen the hand of radical jihadists and extremist elements in the US as well as in the wider world. At the same time, it will endanger the life and career the law-abiding American Muslims. At this juncture, we are reminded of what Barack Obama has explained in his latest statement: ".there's no magic to the phrase radical Islam. It's a political talking point Groups like ISIL and al-Qaeda want to make this war a war between Islam and America or between Islam and the west. They want to claim that they are the true leaders of over a billion Muslims around the world who reject their crazy notions. That they speak for Islam. That's their propaganda. That's how they recruit. And if we fall into the trap of painting all Muslims with a broad brush and imply that we are at war with an entire religion, then we are doing the terrorist's work for them."
Oslo: US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russia and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday to respect a fragile ceasefire, warning that Washington's patience was running out.

"Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable," Kerry said during a visit to Norway.

"We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition" who have been involved in continuing violence, he said after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

World powers have failed to turn a fragile cessation of hostilities in Syria, in effect since 27 February, into a durable truce and Damascus has stepped up its military campaign against the Islamic State and rebels in the second city of Aleppo.

"It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place. We know that, we have no illusion," Kerry said.

"This is a critical moment and we are working very, very hard to see if we can in the next week or two come to an agreement that has a capacity to more fully implement a ceasefire across the country and deliver humanitarian access in a way that then provides for a genuine opportunity to bring people to the table and start talking about a transition," Kerry said.

"I'm not going to make any promises to be delivered on but I do believe the conversation I had with Zarif indicates to me possibilities for how this could be achieved," he added, without elaborating.

Kerry's talks with Zarif follow a meeting between the defence ministers of Iran, Russia and Syria last week on the battle against the various armed groups fighting the Assad regime.

Russia launched air strikes in support of the government in September.

The United Nations says nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas of Syria, most surrounded by government forces.

Earlier this month, the UN said the Syrian government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas.

Syria's war has killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in March 2011.

US, John Kerry, Syria, UN, Bashar al-Assad, Javad Zarif, Iran, Russia, TheySaidIt
Orlando: US President Barack Obama on Tuesday voiced solidarity with the LGBT community after the shooting rampage at an Orlando gay nightclub, calling the gunman an "angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalised."

Investigators were working to untangle the motive of Omar Mateen, as witnesses said the 29-year-old American of Afghan descent  who was married with a child  frequented the popular nightspot and used gay dating apps.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the shooting early Sunday. The FBI said Mateen pledged allegiance to the IS leader in 911 calls made during the killing spree  the worst mass shooting in US history.

Forty-nine people were killed and 53 wounded after Mateen opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, a resort city in central Florida best known as the home of Walt Disney World.

After a meeting of his National Security Council, Obama said the country's thoughts were with survivors and relatives of the dead, as well as the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community "who were targeted."

"You are not alone. The American people and our allies and friends all over the world stand with you," Obama said.

He reiterated the official belief that Mateen  a practicing Muslim  had absorbed extremist propaganda online, noting: "He appears to have been an angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalised."

Obama will travel to Orlando on Thursday.

The president spoke by phone Tuesday with French President Francois Hollande, who expressed his condolences. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to destroying IS, the White House said.

What his wife knew

MSNBC and ABC News, citing unnamed law enforcement officials, reported that Mateen's wife may have had prior knowledge of her husband's plan and could face criminal charges.

Noor Mateen, 30, was cooperating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and claims she tried to convince her husband not to go through with the shooting, the networks said.

An FBI spokeswoman declined to confirm the reports to AFP.

Security has been stepped up at Disney theme parks amid reports  based on his wife's statements to investigators  that Mateen may have scouted Disney World as a possible target.

Club regular

The probe took a new turn after witnesses said Mateen  who was killed in a shootout with police when they stormed the venue  had been a regular at Pulse.

"Sometimes he would go over in the corner and sit and drink by himself, and other times he would get so drunk he was loud and belligerent," Ty Smith told the Orlando Sentinel.

Another Pulse regular, Kevin West, told the Los Angeles Times that Mateen messaged him on and off for a year using a gay chat app.

Clubgoers told local media and MSNBC that Mateen had been using multiple gay apps, including the "hook up" app Grindr.

And a man who attended law enforcement training classes with Mateen in 2006 told the Palm Beach Post that the gunman had once asked him out on a date.

Mateen's ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, who has said he beat her, told CNN he "confessed to me... that he very much enjoyed going to clubs and the nightlife."

"I feel like it's a side of him or a part of him that he lived but probably didn't want everybody to know about."

'I'm next. I'm dead'

Authorities have identified all 49 victims, who ranged in age from 18 to 50. Of the 53 wounded, 27 remained hospitalised Tuesday, with six in critical condition, doctors at Orlando Regional Medical Center said.

Angel Colon suffered three bullet wounds to his leg  which was shattered as people trampled him to escape Pulse  and offered a harrowing account of the carnage.

"I can hear the (gunshots) closer, and I look over and he shoots the girl next to me. And I'm just there laying down. I'm thinking, 'I'm next. I'm dead,'" Colon told reporters.

"Everybody could hear him talking to 911, saying that the reason why he is doing this is because he wants America to stop bombing his country," recounted another survivor, Patience Carter.

She told of a chilling moment when the gunman asked if there were any African Americans present  before telling them: "You know I don't have a problem with black people, this is about my country."

The shooting hit Orlando's Latino community hard  the club was hosting a Latin-themed party that night. Thousands joined a vigil late Monday.

Still, the response was not all supportive. A Baptist preacher in California sparked uproar after praising the massacre as "great," saying he wasn't sad that "50 sodomites died."

"It's like the equivalent of asking me... ' Hey, are you sad that 50 pedophiles were killed today?'" pastor Roger Jimenez of the Verity Baptist Church said in his sermon just hours after the carnage.

"Um, no, I think that's great... I think Orlando, Florida is a little safer tonight."

His comments, posted on YouTube before being taken down, were denounced by LGBT activists and local officials.

Jimenez said his remarks were taken out of context.

'Where does this stop?'

The slaughter has raised questions about US counter-terror strategy  the FBI said it had investigated Mateen but cleared him of extremist ties.

But a fiery Obama lashed out at Republicans, especially presidential hopeful Donald Trump, for anti-Muslim rhetoric that he said was counterproductive to the fight on extremism.

"Where does this stop?" he said.

"Are we going to start treating all Muslim Americans differently? Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance? Are we going to start discriminating against them because of their faith?"

The rampage has also raised questions about gun laws. Mateen legally bought the assault rifle and handgun used in the attack.

Obama has demanded that the Republican-controlled Congress pass legislation to curb the sale of assault-type weapons  a measure that conservatives say violates their constitutional right to bear arms.
Two new Marriott International hotels will be constructed on the Danzigerkade in the Houthavens area of Amsterdam.

The hotels will be built in collaboration with, investment developer Heren2, Cycas Hospitality and Marriott International. It is expected that the hotels will open their doors in Autumn 2017.

Both the MOXY, with its 120 rooms, as the Residence Inn, with its 60 rooms, will be a great asset for the city as a whole and the Houthavens as a blossoming hotspot. The Extended Stay character of the Residence Inn is a first for Amsterdam; guests are welcome to stay for a longer period of time. The new hotel brand of Marriott International  MOXY, is a bold, trendy hotel concept that focusses on Generation X and Y.

"We are delighted to be working with Cycas on the development of a Moxy Hotel and a Residence Inn by Marriott in Amsterdam. Cycas has demonstrated strong hospitality expertise and professionalism and we are confident the properties will be a great success with more opportunities to come," says Markus Lenhert of Marriott.

"We're happy to be part of this exciting project with our first hotels in the Netherlands, especially on this spectacular location. The increasingly lively and creative area is very attractive for these hotel formulas. After London, Liverpool and Manchester we are bringing the Extended Stay hotel concept to Amsterdam," explains Eduard Elias, Managing Partner of Cycas Hospitality.

Colliers International guided Heren2 during the transaction, who applied its international expertise in real estate services and specialisation in hotels for this project from its office in Amsterdam.

The construction of the MOXY Hotel and the Residence Inn by Marriott starts shortly. The hotels will be built on a location that overlooks 't IJ and will house a restaurant, a pool and a gym, to be used by hotel guests.

Replenishment on a creative spot

The Houthavens, previously an area of Amsterdam with an impressive industrial history, is located on the banks of 't IJ and is a state-of-the-art cultural and creative neighbourhood. A dynamic harbour atmosphere comes together with the sense of independence offered by the surrounding water, which is reflected by the creative industry hotspots. Many companies, such as Diesel, Hugo Boss, Barts, Toms, Dedato Architecten and Aegis have established offices here. The Houthaven district has become an easy to reach, future-proof and stimulating place to work as a creative hub of excellence with a beautiful view over 't IJ and its harbours.

Lisa Ronchetti

adhocpr

07903869669

Cycas Hospitality BV
A candidate for Missouri treasurer who is seeking to become the state's first Latino statewide elected official has come up with a unique fundraising pitch.

As the candidate, Pat Contreras, puts it in the title of his fundraising appeal: Trump Hates Me.

It is disheartening to hear hateful speech in this election, particularly from Donald Trump, Contreras, a Democrat and former U.S. diplomat, says in the appeal, which was emailed to media today and also is online.

 . . . Trump says that Mexican immigrants in this country are criminals. Really?" the letter continues. "I am a proud third-generation Mexican-American, whose grandfather was a World War II veteran . . . 

The appeal goes on to list Contreras' support for various groups of people, including veterans, and people with disabilities.

Shortly after starting his presidential campaign last year, Trump famously disparaged U.S. service members who were captured during wartime. He later sparked outrage by acting out a demeaning impersonation of a physically disabled journalist in front of a campaign audience.

But what has created the most controversy from the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has been his call for a massive crackdown on undocumented immigrants, with a particular focus on Mexico.

Contreras' appeal asks the recipients to Join me in standing up to Trump and standing up for all Missourians by donating to my campaign.

Contreras is seeking the Democratic nomination for treasurer against former state Rep. Judy Baker. The winner in the Aug. 2 primary will face Republican state Sen. Eric Schmitt in the Nov. 8 general election.
On Greg Leducs walk into his polling location at Greenspun Junior High School, he still had a decision to make: Who was he going to vote for in Nevadas 3rd District Democratic Congressional Primary election.

I didnt really know a lot about either candidate, he told VOA soon after he cast his ballot.

But a chance encounter with candidate Jesse Sbaih, who was walking out of the polling location after having cast his own ballot, helped Leduc make up his mind.

Hes walking out with his family, and I just got a good feeling from seeing him.

Leduc said he voted for Sbaih, despite knowing little about the candidate, or his positions. It was the personal connection he had with him right before voting that helped seal the deal.

Its that simple, said Leduc. It was one of those happy accidents.

Happy accident or not, Sbaih needed the support.

He was the first Democratic candidate to declare for the open congressional seat in Nevada, the state where retiring U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is one of the most popular, and powerful, members of the Democratic party. Reids support and endorsement can go a long way in helping a candidate.

Sbaih said he asked to meet with Reid last August to discuss his candidacy. I was eager to meet with him to discuss the issues about our country, but instead of talking about policy, Sbaih said the conversation quickly turned to his religion.

He said, let me be blunt with you. You cannot win this race because you are Muslim, Sbaih told VOA.

Jesse Sbaih is one of the few Muslim Americans running for political office this year, and if elected, he would be the first Arab American Muslim immigrant serving in the U.S. Congress.

He came to the United States from Jordan with his parents when he was 11. We landed in Chesapeake, Virginia, and I didnt speak any English. I had to carry a dictionary around with me.

Sbaih soon grasped the language, became a citizen, and worked his way through law school, then as a clerk for the Nevada Supreme Court, and eventually began his own law firm in Henderson, Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas, where he currently works as a personal injury lawyer.

His decision to run for Congress, he said, was motivated by a desire to give back to the country that gave him and his family so much. In fact I feel its a duty to give back to our country and to our people.

Sbaih said his encounter with Reid last August was the first time in his life he felt marginalized because of his religion. He went public about the meeting earlier this year. What happened in that meeting had to be told so voters know whats going on in these elections.

In several media reports after he went public, Senator Reid denied that he made those comments to Sbaih.

It was not supposed to be an issue in this campaign, but it became an issue, Sbaih told VOA.

But Sbaihs faith wasnt an issue for voter Greg Leduc.

Now I really, really hope he wins, because as much as it would make Reid wrong, Reid is wrong to say that, Leduc said.

But few voters seemed to share his optimism.

In the end, first time candidate Jacky Rosen won a decisive victory over Sbaih and the other four candidates in the race. Sbaih, who used much of his own money to fund his campaign, attributed Rosens success to the support of Senator Harry Reid and the Nevada Democratic Party, support Sbaih was not able to secure for himself.

People have to make these decisions, not the establishment, not the elite, said Sbaih. People are sick and tired of being told who to vote for. Thats why people have so much apathy towards voting.

As Sbaih begins the post mortum on his campaign, he said he isnt sure how much of a factor his religion was for voters in his failed bid for the Congressional seat.

I think youll have a hard time getting people to admit this, that they did not vote for me or someone else because of their religion or ethnic background, he said. Thats very unfortunate and its not the America that I hope we are.

Jacky Rosen now moves on to the general election in November, where Democrats hope to claim a seat currently held by Congressman Joe Heck, now the Republican nominee in the U.S. Senate race to replace Democratic Senator Harry Reid later this fall.
Just a day after a mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest was asked by reporters about pointed criticism from likely Republican nominee Donald Trump toward President Barack Obama for being too politically correct to utter the words radical Islam or Islamic terrorism.

Trump and others in his party have repeatedly said you can never defeat an enemy unless you define who it is you are fighting against.

Earnest dismissed the criticism as too small to comment on, in the face of the huge challenges the president is facing.

Fast-forward a day, and the tone changed dramatically.

Obama mounted a passionate defense of his strategy and the U.S. militarys record in the global campaign to destroy the Islamic State group.

And he revealed a seldom-seen flash of anger at Republican criticism of his refusal to say Islamic terrorists.

Trump has repeatedly described Obama's efforts to defeat Islamic State terrorists in the Middle East as weak and said the United States has to take much tougher military actions against IS fighters and keep foreign-born Muslims out of the U.S. to thwart additional possible terrorist attacks.

Flanked by his top national security advisers, Obama asked: What exactly would using this label accomplish? What exactly would it change?

"Would it make ISIL [an acronym for the group] less committed to killing Americans? Would it bring in more allies? Is there a military strategy that would be served? he asked.

Choice of words

The president explained his choice of words, saying: "The reason I am careful has nothing to do with political correctness and everything to do with defeating extremism."

He pointed out that several of the coalition partners in the fight against the Islamic State group are Muslim majority countries, adding that U.S. and coalition forces know exactly who they are fighting, and they have ISIL on the run.

Obama said the territory controlled by Islamic State is shrinking, morale is plummeting, its ranks are shrinking and are now down to the lowest levels in 2 years. He said the coalition has cut IS oil revenues by millions of dollars each month.

Obama, who is usually measured in his responses, continued. Without mentioning his name, he directed his comments to Trump, saying his loose talk is making Americans less safe.

We now have proposals from the presumptive Republican nominee for president of the United States to bar all Muslims from immigrating to America. You hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests entire religious communities are complicit in violence. Where does this stop?" Obama asked.

"The Orlando killer, one of the San Bernardino killers, the Fort Hood killer  they were all U.S. citizens. Are we going to start treating all Muslim-Americans differently? Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance? Are we going to start discriminating against them because of their faith? the president questioned.

Obama, who has endorsed Trump's Democratic opponent, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said Trump's proposal would betray the U.S. heritage of racial, ethnic and religious pluralism and not be "the America we want."

Responding to the president's criticisms, Trump said later Tuesday at a rally in Greensboro, N.C., that Obama was "more angry" at him than the gunman in the Orlando massacre.

Earlier in the day, Trump said the U.S. "must now get very tough, very smart and very vigilant. We cannot admit people into our country without extraordinary screening."

Counterproductive

Max Abrahms, a terrorism expert at Northwestern University in Boston, told VOA Tuesday he agreed with the president that Trumps call for a ban on Muslims would be counterproductive in the fight against Islamic State, and could actually boost its recruitment efforts.

One of the reasons why the United States has a less severe terrorism problem than other countries, like in France and in Belgium, is because the American Muslim community is relatively happy," Abrahms said.

"And we need to make sure that they continue to be happy, and the best way to turn them against us is to discriminate against them. And if we do that, not only will we breed more terrorists out of an otherwise peaceful population, but we will reduce our ability to be able to generate intelligence,"he said. "Because the American Muslim community is really on the front lines in terms of identifying to law enforcement people who may be undergoing a process of radicalization.

Caliphate is crumbling

Abrahms said there is substantial evidence to corroborate the Obama administrations contention that the IS organization has been weakened, especially in its stronghold of Iraq and Syria.

A couple of years ago, IS was much more successful and appeared invincible, he said, but now the dream of a caliphate is crumbling.

Abrahms said there is almost an inverse relationship between IS success on the battlefield and its eagerness to claim responsibility for attacks on so-called soft targets  civilians  in the West.

Attacks such as the one in Orlando would not give IS a big boost, but would strengthen resolve in the West to destroy them, he said.

Daniel Pipes, president of the Middle East Forum, told VOA Tuesday that he had a much bleaker assessment of the Obama administrations policies and of the situation on the ground in the Middle East, saying anarchy is spreading throughout the entire region.

So my view is that U.S. policy should be to not try and transform the region as [former President] George W. Bush did, not try to abandon it as Barack Obama has done, but to have a sweet spot in the middle where we help our allies, we protect our interests, but we dont try and fix things thats not in the cards," Pipes said.

"And ... I dont think in the end it is good for either us to take on too much responsibility or for the Middle Easters who then become infantilized because were doing their work for them. They should take responsibility for themselves; we should be there to assist," he said.
After the worst terror attack on U.S. soil since 9/11, Muslims in the Orlando, Florida, area say they feel the backlash and have received thousands of pieces of hate mail in the last couple of days, VOA has learned through interviews with local residents.

"The Muslim community has experienced severe backlash in the last 36 hours since this happened and the world came to know about it. Thousands of [pieces of] hate mail, calls and threats have been logged by phone, by email, through social media against our community here in central Florida, Orlando," said Imam Muhammad Musri, the president of American Islam, a national group representing moderate U.S. Muslims, and a member of the Islamic Society of Central Florida.

Despite the efforts by the larger community in Orlando to keep rising tensions and anti-Muslim rhetoric in check, Muslims in the city feel uneasy and concerned about the situation.

Musri said that the Muslim community understands the anger of the people in Orlando, but added that the anger should be channeled in a positive direction to help other people in need.

Zarghee Mayan, who was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and grew up in New York City, runs a fried chicken restaurant in Orlando. He told VOA that, like a majority of people in Orlando, the attack caught him by surprise.

"I think this was a cowardly attack.  The people in Orlando and entire America, we keep going through terrorist acts like this by cowardly people. It is hurting us as Afghan-Americans over here," Mayan said. "Everywhere I have been today, I have seen people looking at me the wrong way. I hear people talking wrong [and saying bad things] about Muslims."

Online funds set record

In the aftermath of the attack, the Muslim community of Orlando rushed to help the victims, setting up online accounts and donating blood. An online account established by the Muslim community of Orlando has collected about $60,000 donated by 1,200 people.

Another online account set up by the larger Orlando community is far larger, collecting over $3 million to date.

Mayan says his Muslim friends took to social media to organize and help those in need.

"We have friends on Facebook calling to come out and donate blood," Mayan said.

Nuren Haider was among those Muslims who went to local hospitals to donate blood. She told VOA that it was a community responsibility and she had to step forward.

"This is what Orlando is about. No crazy murderer can break us apart. We stand united with the LGBT community and have donated blood to help our friends," she said. "That's the least we could do. Orlando needed blood. The victims needed blood. They are my friends and I had to help."

"We are one city, one nation and one people and will always remain so," she added.

Mosques discourage extremism

The president of the Islamic Center of Orlando, Tariq Rasheed, says that contrary to common belief, mosques discourage extremism and could be the front line in combating religious fanaticism.

"These terrorists, if you look into their lives, the one thing which is very commonly found is that these people don't come to the mosque. This is a very strange thing. Most of them are on their own," Rasheed said. "If they do come to the mosque, they come occasionally. People that regularly come to the mosque get education every day."

Joshua Weil is a part of the community outreach efforts at the Islamic Center of Orlando. He converted to Islam after he met his future wife in college in 2006. He thinks the internet is the main culprit when it comes to misinformation about Islam.

"It is so much more misinformation, particularly if you are an American, because so much information is coming from other languages and it has to get translated," Weil said. "You have issues with poor translation, awkward translation, translations that do not carry context or just the completely made-up, uneducated and ignorant explanation of something they do not understand, and it's out there."

U.S. intelligence officials did confirm that part of Orlando shooter Omar Saddiqui Mateens indoctrination was done through the internet, and law enforcement officers are going through his phone, emails and social media accounts to try to trace the sites he visited.

Regardless of what prompted Mateen to kill so many people, the Muslim community of Orlando says his acts were contradictory to Islamic teachings.

"We 100 percent condemn the attack. The Islamic Society of Central Florida and as a Muslim community, we want the people to know that what happened goes totally against the teachings of Islam," said Musri. "Islam is judged by what's said in the Quran and by the Prophet. Nowhere in the Quran does it say to kill innocent people."
Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan questioned if presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump understood the role of the free press in America just hours after he revoked the press credentials for Post reporters covering his campaign.

Sullivan said Tuesday that she had contacted Trump's campaign and wanted to ask the candidate to expand on his definition of the ban against the Post and how he would define the role of America's free press. She said she had not received comment as of her deadline.

Trump's campaign took issue with an article that appeared on the Post's website on Monday with the headline, "Donald Trump suggests President Obama was involved with Orlando shooting." The headline was changed to "Donald Trump seems to connect President Obama to Orlando shooting" within an hour after it was published.

Trump wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday, "Based on the incredibly inaccurate coverage and reporting of the record setting Trump campaign, we are hereby revoking the press credentials of the phony and dishonest Washington Post."

Later in the day, at a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, Trump joked about revoking the Post's press credentials.

After losing her credentials revoked by the Trump campaign, the Post's national political correspondent, Karen Tumulty, tweeted: "Trump has revoked the Washington Post's press credentials. If elected, he will build a wall around 13th and K Streets [the D.C. location of the Post].

White House reporters and several media entities condemned the move.

The White House Correspondents' Association criticized Trump for "arbitrarily" banning news outlets.

"Any nominee for the highest office in the country must respect the role of a free and adversarial press, not disown the principles of the First Amendment just because he or she does not like the tone or content of their coverage," president Carol Lee said in a statement Tuesday.

Kathleen Carroll, executive editor of The Associated Press, said: "This is a race for the most powerful position on the planet. The public is interested in what the candidates do and say and having independent coverage is part of what keeps the public informed.

"The founders who crafted the U.S. Constitution may very well have disliked some of the stories written about them, but they enshrined the right to a free press in the First Amendment anyway," Carroll said.

"Donald Trump's decision to revoke The Washington Post's press credentials is nothing less than a repudiation of the role of a free and independent press," the newspaper's editor, Marty Baron, said in a statement.

"When coverage doesn't correspond to what the candidate wants it to be, then a news organization is banished. The Post will continue to cover Donald Trump as it has all along -- honorably, honestly, accurately, energetically, and unflinchingly. We're proud of our coverage, and we're going to keep at it," Baron said.

On Tuesday, CNN reporter Brian Stelter interviewed Trump regarding the Post's ban and he said Trump said that if elected, he wouldn't try to revoke anyone's White House press credentials.

The Post's Sullivan commented that Trump's revocation put the D.C. newspaper among other media that had its press credentials revoked, including The Des Moines Register, Politico, Buzzfeed and the Huffington Post. Some of those bans were later reversed, but it was unclear if the Post's would be.

The Post later Tuesday published an op-ed piece called "How to Cover Donald Trump Fairly: A Style Guide." It's No. 1 lesson: Donald Trump is never wrong.

The Post, based in the U.S. capital, is one the country's the most influential newspapers and has one of the largest circulations.

Media survey

Meanwhile, although Trump has regularly complained the media has treated him unfairly, a study released Tuesday by Harvard's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy said the billionaire businessman has disproportionately benefited from news coverage of his campaign.

The study -- Pre-Primary News Coverage of the 2016 Presidential Race: Trumps Rise, Sanders Emergence, Clintons Struggle -- found Trump received 34 percent of the media's coverage of the Republican primaries, far more than any of his Republican rivals. Jeb Bush came in second with 18 percent.

Trump's media coverage was worth about $55 million dollars, compared to $19 million for Bush.

The report said because Trump had no political experience or voter base, he resorted to the use of harsh rhetoric to compete with party rivals Bush, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.

"The politics of outrage was [Trump's] edge, and the press became his dependable if unwitting ally," the report said. And "Trump exploited [the media's] lust for riveting stories," the report found.

The media was not as generous to the Democratic presidential candidates, particularly during the early days of the campaign season, the study said.

The media coverage was significantly less, but Clinton enjoyed substantial leads in polls over Bernie Sanders and other democratic hopefuls.

As media coverage of Trump boosted his poll ratings, it gradually eroded Clinton's advantage. Moreover, the study found that 84 percent of the issue-related coverage of Clinton was negative.

The report is based on an analysis of coverage from eight print and broadcast news outlets: CBS, Fox, the Los Angeles Times, NBC, The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.
United Nations human rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein is urging the United States to adopt strong gun control measures to protect its citizens from the kind of violence that killed 49 people and wounded more than 50 others in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida Sunday.

High Commissioner Zeid said the ease with which people in the United States are able to buy firearms  including battlefield-caliber assault rifles  defies all reason. He pointed out that almost anyone in the U.S.  including people with prior criminal records, histories of domestic violence, mental illness or drug abuse, or direct contact domestic or foreign extremists  has no trouble purchasing high-powered weapons designed to kill large numbers of humans quickly.

It is hard to find a rational justification that explains the ease with which people can buy firearms, he said. How many more mass killings of school-children, of co-workers, of African-American churchgoers  how many more individual shootings of talented musicians like Christina Grimmie, or politicians like Gabrielle Giffords, will it take before the United States adopts robust gun regulation?

A July 2015 U.N. report on the civilian acquisition, possession and use of firearms highlighted the devastating impact of gun violence on human rights.

His spokesman, Rupert Colville, said the most vulnerable communities and minorities are paying a high price for the failure of politicians to stand up to gun rights supporters. The powerful U.S. gun lobby, led chiefly by the National Rifle Association, has fought off numerous gun control efforts in the country, even after deadly attacks like the Orlando massacre that caught the attention of the nation.

Irresponsible pro-gun propaganda suggests that firearms make society safer, when all the evidence points to the contrary," said Colville. "In the high commissioners words, the ready availability of guns leaves little space between murderous impulses and actions that result in death. The journey between hate-filled beliefs and violent hate crimes is accelerated.

The high commissioner said it is particularly reprehensible that the Orlando massacre is already being utilized to promote homophobic and Islamophobic sentiments. Spokesman Colville told VOA it is irresponsible and dangerous for U.S. politicians to blame mass killings on Muslim terrorists and to call for a ban on Muslims entering the country.

Many of the killings in the United States are white male non-Muslim gunmen," said Colville. "So, I think to pick on just a few Muslim cases and make that appear like it is a general problem is utterly pernicious.

The U.N. refugee agency rejects suggestions by some politicians that refugees are likely terrorists and should not be allowed to resettle in the U.S. UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards told VOA all refugees are extensively vetted before they arrive in the U.S.

He said refugees are not terrorists, but people fleeing conflict and guns, and are in need of protection.
The South Atlantic, where five Portuguese-speaking countries are located, has been a privileged area for key companies China in their efforts at globalization and Angola and Brazil are among the top five destinations for Chinese investment in the last decade, according to a recent study.

In Chinas Risk Map in the South Atlantic, from the United States German Marshall Fund, researcher Jonas Parello-Plesner estimates, based on data from the American Enterprise Institute (aei.org) that Chinese investment in Brazil totaled around USD34 billion between 2005 and 2014, by far the highest level of all countries in the region.

With $13.75 billion, Angola is in 5th place, behind Nigeria ($28.75 billion), Venezuela ($22.11 billion) and Argentina ($14.31 billion) and just ahead of South Africa ($9.55 billion).

The list includes another member of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, Equatorial Guinea, with $2.3 billion, according to the document to which Macauhub had access.

Angola, where the number of Chinese residents was recently estimated at 200,000, is one of the prominent countries in the study, which analyses the political situation of the Countries selected by China for investment and the implications for Chinese security.

Parello-Plesner said the slowdown in the Angolan economy due to the fall in oil prices made political relations with China and its vital financial support [] even more important to the African country.

The researcher of Sino-Angolan relations Lucy Corkin estimated the loans granted by China to Angola at $14.5 billion, but other estimates point to values closer to $20 billion, largely backed by oil.

Following recent drops in exports from Sudan, Angola has solidified itself as the largest supplier of oil to China, says the researcher.

At a time when Angola is struggling to finance itself, the credit line from China, used to pay 155 public projects with a total of $5.2 billion, has been a major source for boosting the economy, focusing on the energy and water sector with $2.17 billion for 34 projects.

$1.64 billion will be spent on 33 construction sector projects and $373,300 on 55 education sector projects, according to data recently released by the LCC.

The contracts for many of these works have been published in the Official Gazette in recent weeks, including for water supply networks and and road repairs in the provinces of Bengo, Bie, Huambo, Namibe, Kwanza Norte, Kwanza Sul, Malanje and Uige, with an overall cost of $550 million.

For example, the China Railway 20 Bureau Group Corporation was contracted to repair the Catchiungo/Chinhama road in Huambo, for $58.4 million and to build a water supply system for the city of Cuito for $39.2 million.

In the last week of May, the Angolan government has awarded 30 public works contracts worth over $1.6 billion to Chinese companies, including the construction of new water supply system in Mucari in the province of Malanje, awarded to China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau for $18 million. MDT/Macauhub
China will pardon 30 million yuan (about USD5 million) in bilateral debt owed by Mozambique, said the Chinese Deputy Trade Minister Zhang Xiangchen this week in Maputo.

The announcement was made after Zhang signed a document to that effect which was signed by Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, Maria Isaltina Lucas, on behalf of Mozambique.

The deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Nyeleti Mondlane, present at the signing ceremony, said Chinas decision will help reduce pressure on servicing public debt in Mozambique.

The decision to partially pardon interest-free debt will minimize the pressure on servicing public debt in Mozambique and contribute to the materialisation of the objectives in the governments five-year plan, Mondlane said, quoted by Mozambican news agency AIM.

In addition to this agreement, the two countries also signed another, under which China will finance the construction of 200 water wells in Mozambique and a third agreement in the agricultural sector. MDT/Macauhub
The Guangdong Provincial Government has replied to the local government regarding the safety issues of Taishans nuclear power plant. Guangdong said that mainland China has done thorough assessments of the project.

Safety concerns were raised last month after components of the nuclear plant  which is being constructed less than 80 kilometers west of Macau  were discovered to have been made in mainland China, not in France as previously thought.

The Government Information Bureau (GCS) published the response from the provincial authorities, claiming the construction procedures, as well as materials for Taishans nuclear power plant, had been thoroughly examined by the National Nuclear Safety Administration. The safety assessment was in line with the standards required in France and Finland.

Since 2008, the site for the Taishan nuclear facilities has been checked annually by more than 400 professionals. During those inspections, about 5,220 issues had been raised.

In response, the authorities said that the Taishan nuclear facilities had been closely monitored by the National Nuclear Safety Administration since construction of the project began in 2009. The authority claimed that a total of 18 inspections, 58 specific check-ups and more than 700 examinations were performed on a daily basis.

The response addresses the fact that links with France and Finland had been strengthened in order to enhance the supervision of the nuclear project in Taishan.

The Guangdong government added that the first reactor of the nuclear power plant is still in a preparatory stage and that its second reactor is being installed.

GCS stated yesterday that the local government has invited nuclear experts from the mainland to visit Macau in order to share more knowledge on such a matter, and to suggest any update  if it is required  to the citys contingency plan for dealing with any nuclear incidents that might occur.
The New Macau Association (ANM) held a press conference yesterday calling for transparency over public spending and attaining public access to the citys financial activity reports, following the aftermath of the Macau Foundations controversial RMB100 million donation to Guangdongs Jinan University.

According to ANM president Scott Chiang, the MSARs financial reports are just a glimpse of the whole truth. He argued that the public should be consulted on financial proposals to decide whether the allocated funds are used properly.

All we see is a very slim slice of the whole process. Just a number and where it goes to. We dont know how it was used and how well it actually benefited the cause. We are not satisfied by that, Chiang argued.

The association filed a complaint to the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) in 2012 concerning the governments alleged omission regarding a law on Regulation on the Right of Association, which mandates that associations receiving public funds in an amount greater than the amount announced by the Chief Executive, shall publish their account books.

However, ANM complained that since the transfer of sovereignty in 1999, the Chief Executive has never announced such amounts, freeing the associations from the legal obligations to make their financial situations public.

Following New Macaus complaint, CCAC published an investigation report stating that there is an urgent need to review the whole system, yet the opaque practices of the Macau Foundation remains unchanged and there is no sign of reform despite pledges by the CCAC, according to the association.

People have to know they [beneficiaries] are doing justice to the funds, said Chiang. We need to have access to proposal activity reports.

Chiang also stressed that a large-scale public protest to demonstrate their objection to the RMB100 million donation to Jinan University had gone ignored by the authorities, who remained silent.

He also revealed that Wu Zhiliang, the president of Administrative Committee of the Macau Foundation, turned down ANMs request for a meeting.

Meanwhile, the association has launched a public consultation to reform the Macau Foundation, and aims to provide a platform for the collection and deliberation of different proposals from civil society.

ANM added that these proposals would be put to a vote at the end of the consultation.

Contrary to the past model, we are not going to be an opinion leader. We want the citizens to propose questions, said the vice president of the association Jason Chao. Staff reporter
Didi Chuxing has raised USD4.5 billion in a round of funding that values it at close to $28 billion, according to people familiar with the situation, giving Chinas leading ride-sharing company more firepower to battle Uber Technologies Inc.

Didis newly earned valuation would make it the worlds third-largest privately backed young company, surpassing Airbnb Inc. Didi was valued at $16.5 billion last year. It closed its latest round of funding with the help of Apple Inc. and prominent Chinese investors, including the nations top life insurer, according to the people, who didnt want to be identified because the deal is private.

The Beijing-based company also snagged a $2.5 billion debt package from China Merchants Bank Co. on top of the fundraising, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier, citing a person familiar with the matter. Didi declined to comment via e-mail yesterday.

Didi, which has formed a global coalition with Lyft Inc. in the U.S., Indias Ola and Southeast Asias Grab, is trying to fend off an aggressive charge by Uber onto its home turf. Both companies are amassing cash and spending aggressively to expand in the worlds second-largest economy, partly by subsidizing the costs of rides.

Backed by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd.  Chinas two most valuable technology companies  Didi is targeting an initial public offering in New York next year, people familiar with the matter have said. The timing depends on how the tussle with Uber plays out, the people said.

Uber is spending at least $1 billion a year in China and has raised capital there that, as of January, valued the Chinese operations at $7 billion. It recently raised $3.5 billion from Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund  the single biggest investment in the company to date. That capital infusion brought the total of Ubers latest financing round to $5 billion. San Francisco-based Uber is valued at almost $68 billion. Lulu Yilun Chen, Bloomberg
CHINA A Chinese peacekeeper killed while serving with the U.N. mission in Mali was given a heros funeral in his home province yesterday. State media reports said thousands of people lined the streets along the route from the funeral home to the cemetery for national heroes.

CHINA-ASEAN Continuing Beijings push to ease concerns about its assertions of sovereignty over the South China Sea, foreign minister Wang Yi told his Southeast Asian counterparts yesterday that both sides should take a long-term perspective as they try to solve their disputes.

MYANMAR An official says a military helicopter has crashed in the jungle in northern Myanmar, killing three officers on board. The aircraft went down yesterday in the jungle near Daik U town, some 150 kilometers northeast of Yangon.

INDIA A small group of Donald Trump fans in India celebrated the presumptive Republican presidential nominees 70th birthday yesterday in a New Delhi park. This is the second event the group has staged, after last month a dozen members lit a ritual fire and chanted mantras asking Hindu gods to help Trump win the U.S. presidential election.

MALDIVES A newly formed opposition alliance says it will seek to oust the Maldivess president and form an interim government to ensure elections scheduled in 2018 will be free and fair.

AUSTRALIA is considering canceling the visa of an Islamic cleric who has reportedly preached against homosexuality, the government said yesterday. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that the country has zero tolerance for people who preach hatred in Australia.

BAHRAIN suspends the countrys largest Shiite political group and freezes its assets amid a widening crackdown on activists.

EURO 2016 Groups of Russia fans are being deported from France after repeated scenes of violence, the BBC reported. French police blamed 150 well-trained Russian hooligans for clashes before England played Russia in Marseille. Meanwhile, six English fans were jailed yesterday [Macau time].

EU-TURKEY The European Unions top envoy to Turkey has resigned, less than a year into the job, after falling out with officials in Ankara at a critical juncture in EU-Turkey relations.
TWIN FALLS  Countryside Market has a mission: bringing fresh, local produce to Magic Valley residents.

The market opened June 4 on Addison Avenue East in Twin Falls for its second season, which runs through late October.

Market organizers say they want to offer non-genetically modified, pesticide-free foods as much as possible.

That seems to be what the public is looking for, said co-owner Jayson Giesbrecht, a Hazelton farmer.

Giesbrecht and Buhl farmer Doug Koehn purchased Proost Family Farms from Jay and Elaine Proost in March 2015. The Proosts called it quits after six years because they wanted to spend more time with family.

The new owners renamed the business Countryside Market.

This year, the markets popular fruit and vegetable stands will return around July 1 to Twin Falls behind Culvers on Pole Line Road and in Burley near C-A-L Ranch on Overland Avenue.

In addition to the owners and their family members, Countryside Market has about 10 employees: some of the youngsters from town here, Giesbrecht said.

Workers pick the produce every morning and wash it before its sold. Most of the produce will be less than a day old when you have it in your hands, Giesbrecht said.

The market plans to have sweet corn ready by the Fourth of July.

The sweet corn is kind of our big push, Giesbrecht said. They planted a few more acres of it than usual this year.

What you can find now at the market?

Cucumbers, tomatoes, greens, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower and potatoes.

Giesbrecht picks strawberries from Buhl and gets cherries from Boise to sell at the market, as well.

The markets headquarters has a refrigerator with products such as milk and yogurt from CloverLeaf Creamery in Buhl. The market also offers farm fresh eggs from Hazelton and honey from Buhl.

There are greens growing in the fields behind the market and greenhouses include tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. Back fields will be used for growing cantaloupe and lettuce.

We try to growing everything we possibly can ourselves, Giesbrecht said.

Another thing the market is pushing: homemade jams including raspberry, grape and habanero.

On the weekends, the market will offer homemade breads, cinnamon rolls and pies.

In the fall, the market plans to have a straw or corn maze in the fields behind the Addison Avenue East store.
BOISE  A convicted felon who twice faced murder charges in California for the deaths of his step-father and half brother is under investigation and is a prime suspect in the murder last March of Glenn Russell Cawley, a federal prosecutor said.

Michael Anthony Southerland, 37, of Twin Falls was dating Lillian Cawley, Glenn Cawleys widow, when he was arrested at the Cawley home in October. He was indicted in November by a federal grand jury on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Southerland pleaded guilty earlier this year in federal court, and U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced him Tuesday to 3  years in federal prison and three years of supervised release.

But while Tuesdays hearing was not officially about Cawleys murder investigation, Southerlands defense lawyer, Thomas Monaghan, called it the elephant in the room as the prosecutor, the defense and the judge brought it up repeatedly.

Investigators do believe that the defendant is a prime suspect in the murder of Glenn Cawley, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Hurwit told the judge during his sentencing argument. Theres a lot swirling around  about the ongoing murder investigation, and we can confirm with the court that it still is ongoing.

Last week, Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said he couldnt comment on the specifics of the investigation but did say he believes his office and the sheriffs department are on the right track.

The problem at the moment is just getting the final bits nailed down to where we can make a decision, Loebs said Friday.

In the federal gun case Southerland was sentenced on Tuesday, he initially faced up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. But after the federal presentence investigation process was complete, he actually faced between 37 and 46 months in federal prison.

Agents from the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System recommended the maximum 46 months, and Hurwit also argued for that highest possible sentence. Monaghan suggested 40 months and asked the judge to not consider the murder investigation in his sentencing.

We do not sentence based on speculation, Monaghan said. While he may be a prime suspect, the investigation is still just speculation.

Monaghan went on to say that if authorities do develop sufficient evidence to charge Southerland with murdering his girlfriends husband, then so be it, hell have his day in court.

But this federal court case should not turn into a substitute for (murder) charges, Monaghan argued. Hanging over this sentencing is the specter of the shooting investigation  but we maintain the court cannot let these unproven suspicions dictate or even influence the outcome on this felony possession case.

Winmill agreed with the defense, saying it would be unfair for him to consider or factor in Cawleys murder investigation into Southerlands sentencing on the gun charge.

I want to emphasize that while I appreciate the probation office and governments argument for (46 months in prison), the hard reality is that if Mr. Southerland was involved in the murder of Mr. Cawley, then clearly that sentence is nowhere near adequate, Winmill said during the sentencing. On the other hand, if hes not involved, it would be unfair to the defendant to impose sentence that assumes (hes guilty).

Well leave it to state court to ensure that justice is done, whatever that may be.

But while Winmill did not consider the murder investigation in handing down his sentence, he did rule that mention of that investigation and of the double murder charges in California should remain in the presentence investigation, which will help prison officials determine if Southerland is kept in minimum, medium or maximum security facilities and what type of prisoners he should share a cell with.

The judge said the double murder charges and the Cawley murder investigation would help give prison officials a full picture of Southerlands character and past.

Hurwit outlined that past Tuesday in court, which combined with available court documents paints Southerland as a dangerous, gun-obsessed man once charged with murdering two family members with shotgun blasts to the back of the head  the same way Cawley was killed on March 12, 2015, inside his Twin Falls home.

Southerland was just 17 in 1996 when he was charged in Placer County, Calif., with murdering his 49-year-old stepfather, William Miller, and his 11-year-old half brother, Steven Miller.

According to an Associated Press report from March 2000, Southerland confessed to the shootings but later recanted, telling investigators his mother, Diana Miller, was the killer, and that he confessed to protect her.

An initial trial ended with the jury deadlocked, and he was acquitted after a second trial. Prosecutors declined charges against anyone else because there wasnt evidence against anyone.

Not long after his acquittal, Southerland was convicted of embezzlement, Hurwit said. Then shortly after that conviction, he was convicted in Sacramento, Calif., of felony possession of a destructive device for making Molotov cocktails. That conviction prohibited him from owning guns.

Ex-girlfriends also accused Southerland of domestic violence, intimidation and threats, Hurwit said. And when he was released from prison, he showed a blatant disregard for the rules by regularly carrying and shooting guns.

Southerland was arrested Oct. 15 at the Cawley home after Glenn and Lillians daughter called 911 to report an armed intruder in the home, court documents said. When sheriffs deputies arrived, Lillian Cawley said it was a misunderstanding and that her boyfriend, Southerland, had come home unexpectedly.

Hurwit questioned the story of mistaken identity Tuesday, saying the Cawleys 15-year-old daughter was fearful of Southerland and she likely called 911 because of a domestic incident.

Whatever the case, when deputies arrived on scene they searched the home and found more than 20 firearms, Hurwit said. Lillian Cawley told police Southerland always had a Glock 21 handgun holstered on his hip and she said a shotgun in the bedroom on Southerlands side of the bed belonged to him. Deputies also found a Tauras 709 handgun in Southerlands car.

As part of the plea agreements, Southerland pleaded guilty to possessing the Glock and Tauras handguns and agreed the crime involved at least three firearms  an important distinction for sentencing  but didnt specifically admit to possession of the Harrington & Richardson 1871 12-guage shotgun with a sawed off barrel found near his bed, which the judge on Tuesday said at least has similar characteristics to the murder weapon.

In an affidavit, an FBI agent also determined the shotgun appears to be consistent with the possible murder weapon.

Given his chance to speak during Tuesdays sentencing, Southerland said he considered his girlfriend, Lillian Cawley, and her 15-year-old daughter to be his family. He disputed the prosecutors claim that Cawleys daughter was fearful of him, saying he has a great relationship with her and talks to her during his video visits with Lillian Cawley.

Wearing an orange and white striped jumpsuit, Southerland stood and took responsibility for possessing the guns, saying he kicks himself in the rear-end every day for his unfortunate and stupid actions.

Glenn Cawleys sister, Nancy Mayhan, questioned Southerlands claim about having a good relationship with the Cawleys daughter and said the family is happy to see him behind bars.

Im just happy hes not around my niece, Mayhan said over the phone Tuesday. Our biggest concern is her. Were pleased hes behind bars, for whatever reason.

Southerland did not mention the murder investigation in his comments, but Monaghan, his lawyer, questioned some of the evidence against his client in that investigation. He said Hurwit recently turned over evidence showing Glenn Cawleys DNA was not found on or inside the barrel of the sawed-off shotgun.

This doesnt rule out the theory (of the shotgun as the murder weapon), Monaghan said. But it certainly doesnt advance that theory.

Southerland will be credited for the time hes spent in federal custody, meaning hell have about three years left to serve, likely at the Federal Detention Center in Sheridan, Ore. Upon his release, hell be placed on three years of supervision and hell never be able to legally own a gun.

As for Glenn Cawleys murder investigation, Loebs said his office is on the right track, but that Tuesdays sentencing would have no bearing on the investigation or the timetable to possibly file charges.
BURLEY  At least a half-dozen deputies from two counties chased down a Rupert man on federal parole for armed robbery at speeds topping 100 mph as he ran lights and drove into oncoming traffic.

Carlos Alberto Rocha, 30, ripped through Heyburn, Paul, Rupert and Burley on Monday night at speeds up to 105 miles per hour in an SUV before wrecking in a Burley alley, police said.

After the crash, Rocha took off on foot, but police arrested him and reported finding:

A Ruger 9mm handgun

26 Luger 9mm bullets in a glove and medicine bottle

A handgun holster

A gold cylinder with white residue

A black digital scale and two clear baggies

A hydrocodone bitartrate pill

The chase began just after 8:30 p.m. near Wayside Cafe in Heyburn where a Minidoka County deputy tried to pull Rocha over. Rocha instead took off in a purple 2006 Chevrolet Equinox, a police report said. A second deputy followed.

Rocha was driving 100 mph against traffic before jumping onto Interstate 84 westbound and then exiting and going north on 600 West, the report said.

Rocha, who police say is known to carry a gun, then went east to Rupert on 100 South, the report said. One deputy reported seeing Rocho reaching around the vehicle, leading officers to fear Rocha was preparing for a gun fight, the report said.

Rocha went south on Idaho 24, blasting through the red light at 100 South at 105 mph, the report said. He rushed through Heyburn on U.S. 30 into Burley at speeds between 75 mph and 85 mph, the report said.

Rocha ran the red light at 20th Street and Seventh Street, throwing out two blue items along the way that were picked up by a Minidoka County deputy, the report said.

Rocha ran the red light at the airport road before turning north on Hiland Avenue at about 70 mph, the report said. From there, Rocha jumped to 80 mph and got into the opposite lane as he crossed the railroad tracks, the report said.

Rocha ran the stop sign at East Fifth Street and Hiland, drove out into the grass at the Burleys wastewater plant and then got back onto 5th, the report said. A Minidoka County captain joined in the pursuit as Rocha turned south on Overland Avenue, the report said.

On Overland, deputies witnessed Rocha drive directly at four vehicles in oncoming traffic after Main Street, the report said.

Rocha then turned into the Mr. Gas at Overland and 21st Street driving at the deputies before cutting through the front yards of businesses and homes and wrecking in an alley between Overland and Oakley Avenue, the report said.

Rocha, who did not display a weapon, ran toward deputies at the beginning of the alley and showed no intention of stopping, the report said. He was forced to the ground by several officers and arrested and booked into the Mini-Cassia jail on a felony parole violation.

State charges have not been filed in light of a pending federal indictment for the high speed chase and items found inside the vehicle, the report said.
TWIN FALLS  A larger percentage of Twin Falls high schoolers who took the SAT in April are considered college and career ready, compared with their peers across Idaho.

The Idaho Department of Education released statewide results Tuesday from SAT School Day.

With more pressure for students to go on to college, the state wants to reduce barriers to taking the SAT. Test scores are used for college admissions, to award scholarships and for educators to gauge how well students are doing.

Compared with statewide averages, the Twin Falls School District did pretty well, secondary programs director L.T. Erickson said. We really try to compare how were doing with the state.

Unlike past years, the Idaho Department of Education didnt release results for individual school districts. But the Twin Falls district shared its numbers with the Times-News.

If students havent received their SAT scores yet, they should soon, Erickson said.

Across the school district, he said, reading and writing scores were a bright spot.

One possible factor: The Twin Falls district launched a new writing initiative this school year called Write Tools. Middle and high schoolers spent more time reading and writing  even in subjects like physical education.

Theres evidence that its helping out in scores this year, Erickson said.

Advisory teachers also gave students practice SAT questions via the online Khan Academy.

In total, 7,470 Idaho high school juniors took the college entrance exam for free during SAT School Day. The Idaho Department of Education picked up the $910,847 tab.

In order to graduate, every Idaho public high school student must take a college entrance test by the end of their junior year.

Statewide, the average SAT score was 511 in evidence based reading and writing, and 491 in math. The best possible score is 800 for each section.

Twin Falls High surpassed the state average on both tests, with a 545 average in reading/writing and 536 in math.

Canyon Ridge Highs reading and writing average is 510 and the math average is 487  both just slightly below the state average. But theres a large improvement in math scores compared with previous years, Erickson said.

The College Board, which runs the SAT, sets a benchmark thats supposed to determine whether a student will be successful in college, receiving a C average or better in their classes. Thats a 480 score in reading and writing, and 530 in math.

Here in the Gem State, 62 percent of test takers met benchmarks in reading and writing, and 35 percent in math.

But Twin Falls percentages are higher: 85 percent of Twin Falls High test-takers are college and career ready in reading and writing, and 64 percent in math.

At Canyon Ridge High, 72 percent met the benchmark in reading and writing, and 41 percent in math.

The Twin Falls district celebrates student successes, Erickson said, but wants all students to be college and career ready. Were making progress toward that goal, he said.

More than three-fourths of Twin Falls and Canyon Ridge high juniors took the SAT in April. Others  plus students at Magic Valley High  took the ACT Compass instead. Its a test that helps place students in college classes according to their abilities.

It may not make sense to give the SAT to every student, school district spokeswoman Eva Craner said.

And college and career readiness doesnt focus exclusively on a traditional college experience. Its not just a four-year college degree, Craner said.

There are other options for students, too, such as community college, technical programs and on-the-job training.

In the Twin Falls district, students can earn certifications while in high school, such as for Microsoft Office, as an emergency medical technician or certified nursing assistant, and in welding.
TWIN FALLS  Micki Grubb had health insurance for three months earlier this spring, when she was able to get a defibrillator put in to help with a heart problem.

She lost her coverage a couple of weeks ago, because her income as reported to the state was too little to qualify for subsidized insurance on the state exchange. This leaves her on her own for any followup she might need.

I just dont know what to do, she said Tuesday at her home in Twin Falls. Im just screwed. And I cant qualify for Medicare.

You need to make between 100 percent and 400 percent of the poverty level to qualify for the Advance Payment of Premium Tax Credit, which worked out to a minimum of $925 a month in Grubbs case. People below that line often qualify for Medicaid in states that have expanded the program under the Affordable Care Act. Idaho isnt one of them  Medicaid eligibility is limited to poor pregnant women and children, people who are blind or disabled according to Social Security Administration criteria, and some extremely poor parents. An estimated 78,000 Idahoans, many of them employed but poor, fall into the Medicaid gap where they dont qualify either for Medicaid or for tax credits to buy insurance through Your Health Idaho.

Grubb signed up for insurance on the state exchange, through SelectHealth, earlier this year, after getting divorced. She said she and her ex-husband had been separated for several years, but she hadnt been able to afford to file for divorce. Because she was still legally married, she was unqualified for the exchange since her husband could claim her as a dependent. Her coverage kicked in in March.

Grubb said her actual income earlier this year was a bit more than the minimum to qualify. However, she works at a bar, and her hours fluctuate week to week. When her employer filled out her work verification form for the state Department of Health and Welfare, her boss estimated her hours at a little less, putting Grubbs estimated income at $125 a month less than she needed to make to get the tax credit.

Grubbs coverage lapsed at the end of May, as she was unable to pay the $1,763.82 bill to keep her insurance.

You dont make enough money, she said. Boom. That was it.

Grubb went to St. Lukes Boise Medical Center at the end of April to get an angiogram and then to get the defibrillator put in. Grubb went in for one followup appointment, but wasnt able to go in for an electrocardiogram she was supposed to get since she no longer has insurance. Now, she worries she might get penalized on her taxes because she cant afford insurance. And, she is waiting to see if her defibrillator shocks her. If that happens, youre supposed to go to the doctor.

Of course, I wont have insurance to go to the doctor when it does it, she said. But I guess Ill be alive.
BOISE  Legislative leaders plan to name three informal work groups before the 2017 session, including ones that will try to tackle the much-debated Medicaid gap and the states controversial faith-healing laws.

These work groups will be named at the Legislative Council meeting Friday in Boise, Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, said on Tuesday. A third work group will be appointed to study the states invasive species programs, Hill said.

The Legislative Council meeting is where the members of the more formal interim committees will also be named. These are authorized by the Legislature, and this years interim committees includes ones to study the public school funding formula, the states foster care system and natural resources issues.

Work groups are a little different; Hill and House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, can appoint them on their own authority and dont need legislative or other authorization.

The meeting will also feature presentations on other issues, such as an update on the state general fund and on the state Capitols compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Idaho has so far opted not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and how or whether to extend coverage to the estimated 78,000 people in the so-called Medicaid gap  those who qualify neither for Medicaid nor for subsidized insurance on the state exchange  has been a hot topic for the past several years. This year, Gov. C.L. Butch Otter put forth a state-funded plan to extend primary care coverage to the uninsured that stalled in the Legislature.

As the 2016 session wound down, the state Senate passed a bill to start work on applying for a federal waiver to implement a state-designed Medicaid expansion plan, which the House killed on the last day of the session. Bedke said at the time that he would appoint a work group to study the issue during the interim.

Idahos child-neglect laws currently exempt parents from prosecution if a child gets sick or dies when the parents are trying to treat them through faith healing. Boise Democrat John Gannon first introduced legislation in 2014 to modify the law in cases where serious injury or death could result, after the higher-than-normal number of child deaths among the faith-healing Followers of Christ denomination, which has some adherents in Idaho, hit the news. His bills havent gotten a hearing, with some Republicans saying they oppose changing the law on religious freedom grounds.

Otter sent Hill and Bedke a letter in February asking them to name a work group to study the issue.

The topic gained more attention after the session when an article in the British-based newspaper the Guardian prominently featured Mariah Walton, who grew up in Declo and is seriously ill today because her parents never got the hole in her heart treated when she was a child. Mariah and her sister Emily Walton later appeared on national TV programs to tell their story.
TWIN FALLS  An anti-graffiti ordinance aimed at curbing gang activity is on hold after several City Council members balked at part of the proposal that would fine homeowners slow to remove graffiti from their properties.

The proposed ordinance, drafted by Police Chief Craig Kingsbury after the City Council asked him to look into the issue, would empower police to serve a property owner notice to remove graffiti and, if they dont remove it after 25 days and two notices, let the city remove the graffiti, bill the property owner and issue a citation for an infraction.

Kingsbury stressed at Monday evenings Council meeting that it was his intent to work with property owners, not collect fines. Under the police chiefs plans, the Twin Falls County Juvenile Probation crews would paint the graffiti over rather than making the property owners pay. Kingsbury recently came to Twin Falls from Nampa, which has a similar ordinance, and he said he cant recall an instance in his 24 years with the Nampa department where a citation was issued to a property owner.

We are in no means trying to impose fines against the owners, Kingsbury said.

The only time Kingsbury envisioned having to issue a summons, he said, would be in cases where the property owner lives outside the area and refuses to clean it up. The ordinance, he said, would help police to better track graffiti and also to remove it quickly, rather than letting gang tags stay up.

Oftentimes it becomes a billboard for what may happen, and for advertising or recruiting for them, he said.

However, several City Council members said they want Kingsbury to work with City Attorney Fritz Wonderlich to soften the punitive aspect of the ordinance, or perhaps add more steps before a property owner would be charged, and come back with a new draft next week.

I just had a concern with the punitive aspect of a victim being victimized, and then we come in and fine them because theyre not adhering to remove the graffiti, Councilman Don Hall said.

While it may be the intent of Kingsbury and the current Council to work with property owners and use the penalties as a last resort, the ordinance needs to be worded in a way that the intent is clear in the future as well, said Hall, a former police officer.

The intention today is to not use the punitive piece, but youre not going to be here in 20 years, Hall said. Im not going to be here in 20 years.

Mayor Shawn Barigar suggested adding language to say the city would, as a first step, work with available resources or community organization to help property owners. It would still be the property owners ultimate responsibility, he said, but the ordinance could make it clear the city is a willing partner to provide some resources and tools.

Councilman Chris Talkington cautioned against taking out all of the enforcement aspects of the ordinance.

Dont pull all the teeth out of it, though, he said. Tagging is tough. We need to control tagging. It promotes more gang association.
IDAHO FALLS  Senate Pro Tem Brent Hill confirmed reports that fellow lawmaker Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, secretly recorded a private conversation the two had following the May primary.

Top legislative leaders say that amounts to conduct unbecoming a state representative.

Nate didnt respond to requests to speak about the allegation, but a public records request confirms that Nate has a record of a conversation between himself and Hill. Nate, accused of recording the private conversation, says releasing it would violate his own right to privacy.

The Post Register submitted the request based on tips from multiple sources saying Nate had invited Hill, his seatmate and the leader of the Senate, to talk sometime after the May primary, and that he secretly recorded their conversation. At some point during the conversation, Hill is reported to have asked if the conversation was being recorded, to which Nate said it was.

After being contacted by the Post Register, Hill confirmed that the incident took place, but declined to comment further. Hill did not approach the Post Register.

Hill had lent public support to Nates challenger, Brigham Young University-Idaho employee Doug Ricks, during the primary. He also donated $1,000 to Ricks campaign.

The Post Register requested from Nate all records, including video or audio recordings, in your possession, custody or control of a conversation between yourself and Senate Pro Tem Brent Hill between April 1 and June 9.

Nate declined to release the such records, but in doing so, confirmed a record exists.

I am aware of only one such document that falls within the category that you are requesting, he wrote in an email. However, this is not a public record.

The form of that record and its contents are unknown.

Releasing the record, Nate argued, would infringe on his privacy rights.

The record you request relates to personal business and as such its disclosure further would constitute an unwarranted invasion of my personal privacy, Nate wrote.

The denial cites a section of the Idaho Public Records Act which has been repealed.

Before the Post Register submitted the public records request, Nate declined to say whether he had secretly recorded a conversation with Hill, again citing privacy concerns.

Was there a conversation with (Hill) that you taped without his knowledge? the Post Register asked last week.

When I talk with Brent Hill, thats between me and Brent Hill, Nate responded. I dont want to talk about any of our private conversations.

Im not asking you to talk about what was said or anything like that, just about whether something was taped, the Post Register said.

I just dont want to talk about any conversations Ive had with Brent Hill, Nate said.

Speaking in general terms, not about a particular case, top House leaders condemned the practice of lawmakers covertly recording one another.

Lawmakers that secretly record one another have no other motive than to set their colleagues up and play gotcha with them down the road, said House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley. Its conduct unbecoming a member of the House of Representatives, and I believe that it is misconduct.

Conduct unbecoming a representative which is detrimental to the integrity of the House as a legislative body is a formal charge that would be reviewed by the House Committee on Ethics. It carries a possible penalty of formal reprimand or censure. A written complaint would have to be made by another member of the House to set that process in motion.

People, including legislators, dont like sneakiness, Bedke added. Its destructive and on most levels dishonest.

House Majority Leader Mike Moyle, R-Star, echoed those sentiments.

Being a legislator is like being in a marriage, he said. If you lose trust its over.

You still have to have that trust, and without that trust you become very ineffective. So if the allegations are true, I have concerns that people will be unlikely to trust a legislator who is in some way secretly recording conversations.

Majority Caucus Chairman John VanderWoude, R-Nampa, who along with Assistant Majority Leader Brent Crane, R-Nampa, last week authored a guest column defending Nates contributions at the Legislature, said he plans to have a conversation with Rep. Nate about the incident.

I think its unfortunate, VanderWoude said.

Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, said if Nate did record a conversation with Hill, it will undermine his effectiveness as a lawmaker.

In the event that the allegations are true  then that House member has a very serious credibility problem with all of his legislative colleagues, especially with the Idaho Senate, Davis said. I am doubtful that that legislator will have any influence for some time to come in the Idaho Senate.

Nate did not respond to repeated calls and emails seeking further comment, along with an offer to fact check the Post Registers story.
TWIN FALLS  Theyve got the funding, theyve got the volunteers  but this week, Paint Magic board members are looking for more local applicants for the free home painting program.

The nonprofit has 20 teams registered to paint this summer, 12 of them in Twin Falls. President Ryan Molsee said as of last week, only eight homeowners applied in the city  and not all qualified. The goal is to reach low-income senior and disabled citizens who need assistance with painting.

To encourage more applicants, the deadline has been extended to Friday for applications to be postmarked.

We really need applications in the Twin Falls area, he said.

Applications can be found online at paintmagic.org, or picked up at the College of Southern Idaho Office of Aging, South Central Community Action Partnership, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo, D.L. Evans Bank or local senior centers.

Molsee said the organization typically receives more applications.

This year its been really down, he said.

A drawing for projects among each of the teams will take place June 29. Teams, with a recommended size of 12 people, will paint the homes by July 16. A barbecue at the city park will take place that day for teams and homeowners, Molsee said.

Board member Ken Robinette said Paint Magic has had great financial support this year.

Every dime that comes in to Paint Magic goes 100 percent into homes, he said.

Robinette is also CEO of South Central Community Action Partnership, which provides a construction team to check for safety of the homes before work begins.

Since 1986, Paint Magic has painted more than 671 homes throughout the Magic Valley, Molsee said.

Last year, we painted 22 homes with about 400 volunteers, he said.

The average cost per home is about $517.

All labor is organized through volunteers from businesses, nonprofits and service organizations.
The following editorial appears on Bloomberg View:

The worst mass shooting in U.S. history provides Americans with yet another opportunity to talk past one another. Unfortunately, they seem to be taking it.

Even before the names of all 49 innocent people killed in Orlando had been released, the arguments had broken out. The shooting by 29-year-old suspect Omar Mateen shows the U.S. must be more vigilant about homegrown terrorism; Mateen was born in New York and lived in Florida. No, it shows the urgency of the fight against Islamic State; he was inspired (though not directed) by overseas terrorist groups. No, it shows how important it is to speak out against hate; he was a homophobe. No, it shows the necessity of better gun-safety laws; Mateen was armed with an assault rifle, a handgun, high-capacity magazines and many rounds of ammunition.

In truth, everybody has a point. But its the last one  about guns  that comes with clear legislative remedies. So-called lone-wolf terrorists may be hard to profile, but that work can continue while at the same time Congress passes smart gun laws to keep weapons out of dangerous peoples hands.

Guns, not bombs, have become the lone wolfs weapon of choice, and assault-style rifles increase the lethal potential of any would-be attacker. Al-Qaida has even celebrated how easy they are to obtain in the U.S.

Theres no understating the difficulty of passing better gun-safety laws, of course. Yet it would be easier than setting up a system to log and track lone wolves in the U.S. Its more straightforward than battling the tangled network of terrorist groups in the Middle East and elsewhere. And its more tractable than fighting hatred.

The response of the gun lobby to the bad-guy-with-a-gun scenario  a good guy with a gun  is too simplistic. The more sensible option has always been not to let the bad guy get the gun in the first place, especially if hes suspected of having ties to terrorists.

Sunday mornings massacre presents opponents of safer gun laws with a truly chilling scenario: a lone wolf with a gun and lots of ammunition. Surely they will want to join with the rest of America, and the world, in working to prevent that.
The only reaction to Donald Trumps response on Monday to the slaughter at a gay nightclub in Orlando is: Really, you couldnt help yourself, with all the country is going through.

He couldnt. Even before he asked for a moment of silence for the 49 victims in Orlando, Trump was lighting into Hillary Clinton and how bad a president she would be. His authority on that is a former Secret Service agent, who has seen her under pressure and in times of stress, has stated that she lacks the temperament and integrity to be president.

A campaign is an imperfect vehicle for judging how a presidential candidate would lead the country. Its as likely to inflame as enlighten.

The presumptive Republican nominees reaction to Orlando, via Twitter on Sunday and in the speech Monday, gave a glimpse of how commander-in-chief Trump might behave in the face of a terrorist act. It wasnt encouraging.

First, in his tweets, he seized on the attacks as an opportunity to talk about his strength and prescience and others weaknesses. The shooting, he said, brought all kinds of praise for his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country.

I had been receiving tens of thousands of tweets, literally, tweets and calls and letters and everything. Because Ive been the one that predicted it. Trump boasted. And Im the one that said what you should be doing. And I dont want the credit.

Trump is the master of taking in full daylight the thing he says he doesnt want. He went on to tear into Clinton for being too politically correct to call the enemy by its rightful name. When she uttered the phrase Islamic terrorism on Monday morning, Trump must not have heard because he didnt say the shift in language meant she was suddenly suited to be president.

His attacks on others at least were a little more fleshed-out than his proposals to prevent further terror strikes. His old hobby horse was dragged out. The current politically correct response cripples our ability to talk and to think and act clearly, he said Monday. His other advice centered on tightening immigration laws so that not just Muslims would be banned from coming in but all citizens from any country that has experienced an act of terrorism. Not only is that more impossible and inadvisable than his initial call to bar an entire religion, but it would hardly be a solution for this horror. At times, he spoke as if the Orlando gunman, Omar Mateen, wasnt born in the U.S. As for Mateens ability to obtain the AR-15 assault rifle that allowed him to shoot 100 people, killing 49, Trump said he would be speaking to the National Rifle Association, but not about changing the law.

Then Trump went back to his political beginnings. On Fox News on Monday morning he questioned the patriotism of President Barack Obama, who either is not tough, not smart, or hes got something else in mind. In case he wasnt clear, he suggested that the problem may be that the president is a sympathizer of radical Islam. Obama doesnt get it or he gets it better than anybody understands. Its one or the other.

The performance should give second thoughts to Republicans who cling to the hope that Trump, after some stumbles, will grow into the role of presidential nominee and maybe even president. Even in the face of immense tragedy and continuing peril, he could not stop aggrandizing himself and maligning others, and showed no interest in the complicated national security questions that any president might be called upon to confront.

Once a birther, always a birther, and so much worse.
Egypts State Council Administrative Court challenged to rule on the governments decision to hand over the two Red Sea Islands to Saudi Arabia under the April controversial agreement Tuesday set up June 21 for its verdict, reports say.

President Al Sisis cabinet decision to surrender the Tiran and Sanafir Islands to Saudi Arabia in April stirred condemnations across the whole country. Thousands of Egyptians took to the streets on April 15 and 27 to protest the decision.

Egyptian legal experts and public figures including former presidential candidate Khaled Ali filed a lawsuit against the government.

Cairo and Riyadh on April 8, part of a multi-billion dollar agreement, secretly agreed the transfer of the Islands. Egyptians say the islands belong to their country.

President al-Sisi denied relinquishing the strategic islands saying that Saudi Arabia gave them to Egypt for protection to prevent Israel from seizing them in the 50s.

The State Council Administrative Court has been reportedly granted the right to examine all documents provided by the two litigants, including the agreement signed between the two nations in April, local Egypt Independent reports.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, said that Iran will not violate the JCPOA, but if the opposite side violates it Iran will burn it.

Khameneis statements come as US presidential candidates are currently threatening to tear up the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA,) widely referred to as the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 in July 2015.

If they tear up the JCPOA, we will burn it, he said at a meeting with senior government and military officials.

He lamented that the agreement is not being implemented sincerely as Iranian banks and oil tankers are still facing the restrictions they have been experiencing before. The Americans are yet to show traces of commitment to obligations while Tehran has abandoned its enrichment program at Arak and Fordow plants, he said.

Khamenei said loopholes of the agreement are being abused by the enemies (of Iran) to render the JCPOA virtually useless for our side as he vowed that they will continue to remain committed to the deal but promised much stronger response if other parties violate its provisions.

Focusing on the relationship between Tehran and Washington, the Ayatollah said the issue with the US is existential threat to the Islamic Republic of Iran which would not be solved through conventional means of negotiation, since our motives and strength for anti-imperialism, irreconcilable to their hegemony as it is, comes from Islam. He said political convergence should guarantee plurality of political orientations and assure coordination between the different systems.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is expected to meet with US Secretary of State John Kerry before the end of the week in Germany and the progress made on the implementation of the nuclear deal will top the agenda of talks.
Hissene Habres lawyer has called for his immediate release on Monday, two weeks after the former Chadian leader was sentenced to life in prison in Senegal.

According to Hissene Habres lawyer, the Senegalese judge Amady Diouf does not fulfil the conditions to be among the college of judges to handle the case.

He [Amady Diouf] has never worked as a judge and therefore could not be designated as judge in the Extraordinary African Chambers. He served as technical adviser of Sidiki Kaba who chose him in total violation of the statutes, Habress lawyer Barrister Ibrahima Diawara, told reporters.

In his words, considering those irregularities and the consequences being the invalidity of the court decisions, we consider that President Hissene Habre has been arbitrarily detained.

Chads ex-ruler Hissene Habre has been convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison at a landmark trial in Senegal earlier this month.

The judge convicted him of rape, sexual slavery and ordering killings during his rule from 1982 to 1990.

It was the first time an African Union-backed court had tried a former ruler for human rights abuses.

Habre, who received strong backing from the US while in power, has been given 15 days to appeal.
Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou arrived in France on Monday for talks aimed at building a stronger coalition to battle the Islamist militants of Boko Haram in the West-African nation.

Issoufous visit comes 10 days after the attack of Boko Haram in the city of Bosso on the border with Nigeria, which left 32 soldiers dead and dozens more wounded.

Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamic state adhering to strict Sharia, Islamic law, in northeastern Nigeria since 2009. About 2.1 million people have been displaced and thousands killed during the insurgency.

Chad has sent 2,000 troops to Niger to prepare a counterattack against the terror group.

Issoufou, who is viewed as a key ally in fighting terrorism by both Paris and Washington, is scheduled to meet the French president, on Tuesday afternoon.

He will later hold talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault during an official dinner on Tuesday night and with French defense minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, on Wednesday.

Niger, which is challenged by both terrorism and poverty, has one of the worlds highest birth rates  7.6 babies for each woman  as well as high maternal mortality, according to the United Nations.

Only four of every 10 girls are enrolled in primary school. Only three of 100 girls make it to high school.
The visit Indian President Pranab Mukherjee is paying to Cote Ivoire as of Tuesday is said to consolidate ties and boost increasing trade exchanges between the two countries.

The visit takes place as trade exchanges between the West African country and the Asian giant have been steadily increasing, as figures recorded between 2009 and 2015 point at more than a two-fold increase, $300 million to $800 million.

On the eve of the visit, India, through its import-export bank, Exim Bank, granted the Ivorian government a $113 million loan earmarked for the purchase of 500 India-made TATA buses to be used for city transport in the Ivorian capital; Abidjan, as reported on le360.ma

Indian companies have also found fertile ground in the sub-Sahara country. President Mukherjee and his host Alassane Ouattara will also attend an international forum of both countries business people on Wednesday.

The two heads of state will also oversee the signing of an accord for the establishment of a branch of the Indian Exim Bank in Abidjan. The Ivorian capital will be the third African capital after Johannesburg and Addis Abeba to house the Indian establishment.

President Pranab Mukherjees visit to Cote dIvoire, the first ever of an Indian President to Cote dIvoire since the two countries established diplomatic relations, is the second leg of a three-nation tour meant to boost Indias relations with African countries.

On Monday he was in Ghana where he held talks with President John Dramani Mahama. He will end his tour by a visit to Namibia.
Moroccos King Mohammed VI chaired in Fez on Tuesday the installation ceremony of the Higher Council of the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Ulema, a new institution that will enhance further the special religious and cultural ties existing between Morocco and African countries.

In a speech he delivered during the ceremony, the King underlined that the Foundation is an institution for cooperation, for the exchange of experiences and for the Ulema to make concerted efforts to fulfil their duty and turn a spotlight on the true image of the pristine Islamic faith as well as on its open-minded values, which are based on moderation, tolerance and coexistence.

He said before the theologians and preachers from the 31 African Countries represented at the Foundation Higher Council that the aim is to make sure those values help us promote security, stability and development in Africa.

The Sovereign said he was confident that the Foundation, through its branches in African countries, and together with other religious institutions, will play its role in disseminating enlightened religious precepts and in combating extremism, reclusiveness and terrorism  which our faith does not embrace in any way  but which are advocated by some clerics, in the name of Islam.

The new institution was set up at the initiative of King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, who wants it to be a forum where Ulema from Morocco and other African States can discuss the Islamic thought and coordinate their efforts to disseminate the values of tolerant Islam.

King Mohammed VI explained that his decision to create this institution has nothing to do with transient circumstances or narrow, passing interests. It is rather in line with an integrated policy to promote constructive cooperation and respond to the requests from a number of sisterly African nations in the religious domain.

King Mohammed VI underscored further that the creation of the Foundation reflects the depth of the time-honored spiritual bonds between sub-Saharan African peoples and the King of Morocco, Commander of the Faithful. Furthermore, it attests to the unity of our faith and doctrine, as much as to our shared cultural heritage.

Islam was introduced to much of West Africa in the 11th century during the expansion of the Moroccan dynasty of the Almoravids and the Kings title of Commander of the Faithful is recognized beyond the borders of the Kingdom, especially in these countries following the Maliki doctrine.

The Foundation, the sovereign stated, is another building block which further enhances our strategic policy designed to raise the level of political and economic cooperation between Morocco and a number of sister African nations in order to make it an effective, solidarity-based partnership, covering all sectors.

The Foundation is entrusted with spreading tolerant Islam in Africa and fighting extremism and religious fanaticism through coordination with all African Muslims scholars. Besides strengthening Moroccos historical ties with African countries, the Foundation will preserve and disseminate the shared Islamic African cultural heritage. It will be a platform for Ijtihad enabling Ulema, thinkers and scholars to exchange their viewpoints on religious matters and to ponder in depth on the Moroccan model as initiated by the King.

The Higher Council of the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Ulema is tasked with managing the Foundations general affairs. It deliberates on all matters of interest to the Foundation and takes all decisions enabling the institution to fulfil its goals, notably the definition of the general guidelines of the Foundation, the study and approval of the annual action plan, and the drafting of the Foundations budget and rules of procedure.

Besides Moroccan Ulema, the council musters theologians from Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoro Islands, Congo, Cote dIvoire, the Central African Republic, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, GuineaConakry, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Soudan, South Africa, Tanzania, and Togo.

And the new Foundation comes to confirm the efforts made by Morocco, as a global bastion of Islams moderate Sufi mystical strand, to ward off the threat of radicalization of its own citizens as well as of those of African countries.
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Posted on: June 16, 2016



Guru Poornima Special Offering

(Daily Episode)



Part - 8



In 2006, eager to start a service which will help everyone to connect with Bhagawan's teachings on a daily basis, Radio Sai began 'Sai Inspires'. All who subscribed to this service, received an email from us which had a concise message of Baba accompanied with His image. This daily offering was received well, and soon the subscriptions grew. Today nearly 100,000 people from all corners of the world wait for this message to help them tide over their day with peace and ease. The power inherent in these discourse capsules is indeed tremendous. How much we benefit from it and how best we harness this energy depends purely on how seriously we ruminate over these words and how sincerely we put our learning into action. To help us in this noble and elevating exercise, Prof. G. Venkataraman has taken time out to elaborate on these messages. His reflections will not only give us a deeper understanding into what the Lord is communicating to us but also give us tips to translate them into our daily practical life with more ease. The best way to value the Master is to master His values. As we prepare to celebrate Guru Poornima (July 19), when we pay our respects and obeisance to the Divine Master, let us work to offer Him the tribute that the Lord loves the most from us - to make our lives His message, to make His love and wisdom shine in us. To aid us in this endeavour we have this series where Prof. Venkataraman for the next 26 days from June 9, 2016 shares his insights on select Sai Inspires messages. We hope this will help us to understand His teachings better and bolster our determination to walk on the sacred path.

Sai Inspires Message



HOW TO PURIFY THE MIND?



How is the mind to be purified? Through service to society with dedication and identification with everyone. You have to cultivate this feeling of Ekatmabhava (oneness with all). By engaging yourselves in service, you develop this sense of oneness. In this context, the supreme importance of love should be recognized. Love is your true nature. But modern man, in his preoccupation with the world of external phenomena, is failing to discover his own true nature. Of what avail is all the knowledge about the physical world if a man does not know what he really is? Love is the basis for this self-discovery. Love is the means and love is the proof.



 Divine Discourse, November 21, 1990.

REFLECTIONS



Sai Ram. This again happens to be a Sai quote relating to the Mind. No surprise in that, since the Mind plays an exceptionally key role in deciding which way we go, during the journey called life. As Swami often reminds us, the Heart is the Lock and the Mind the key. Turn the key one way and the lock snaps shut; turn it the other way, and the lock opens.



The same is true of life. If we turn the Mind towards the external world, the Mind easily becomes so absorbed in it, that it fails to see any connection between the world and God on the one hand and between ones own life and God on the other. Apart from some cursory acknowledgement of God in a vague sort of way, the individual behaves as he has little connection with God and thereby wastes his life. God did not put us in this world with a human form and such superior intelligence for us to trivialise our lives in this manner. In turn this means that our Mind must remain focussed on God and the main purpose of life.





But how is one to do that, when the Mind is so keen to wander in the world and get lost? In the above quote, Swami offers a neat and simple trick. He says effectively:



O man! You love to go into the world and be with people? Fine; by all means do so. But do it My way, for that would help you fulfil the purpose of life, besides bringing you close to Me!



Now what exactly is that way? Swami gives the answer, and its essence is contained in the following points:

 God is in all beings, meaning He is in you, me and everyone else, even if we do not happen to quite like them.



 Since God is in all, try to deal with all remembering that if you hurt anyone you are actually hurting God.



 Likewise, if you serve anyone and please that person, you are really pleasing God.



 So, why not be alike to everyone, and love as well as serve all?

That is the simple magic formula that Swami gives us. By serving everyone without exception, you take no risks whatsoever, since God is present in all and every bit of service you do gets counted for bonus points.





You may say, Well, thats OK, but what has all this got to do with the Mind. The quote you started with was all about the Mind? I do not see any mention of the Mind in your magic formula. How do you explain that? This is what one would call a great question.



You see, the moment one resolves to be alike to everyone and treat all alike, one straightaway wipes prejudice, saying this fellow is good and I like him, while this fellow is bad and I do not like him. Such an attitude wherein one makes no distinction between friend and foe is called ekatmabhavam, i.e., a feeling wherein one acts in the belief that there is no difference between beings since the same God is in all.



You may find it a bit difficult to understand this, but let me give a simple example from my own personal knowledge. Way back in 1940, I lived for a short time in a small village in South India, where my elderly uncle happened to be the Village Headman. These days, that might seem like a minor post but back then the Headman was almost like God in the village. Now one day, a cholera epidemic broke out in the entire neighbourhood, and the District Medical Officer showed up with his entire crew, went straight to the Headman, that is to say my uncle, and said, I have orders to inoculate every single man, woman and child in this village. So please spread the word around and have the people assembled. My uncle arranged for this by sending people who carried drums, went round the streets, beat the drum loudly and then asked everyone to assemble before the Headmans house. They of course did not mention that they had to come for a prick! The villagers were so scared of injections that they all would have gone into hiding!



Once the villagers assembled, officials made sure that no one would get way without an inoculation, and one by one we had to line up, hold out our arm and take the injection, either with a smile or howling. My uncle had to get the shot first, just to prove it was safe and the right thing to do, and later everyone in his family had to get the prick. Now the reason I am mentioning this is because after taking care of our village, the DMO went to a neighbouring village, a bigger one, where there was a Police Station. There he inoculated not only the Police Sub-Inspector and the Constables, but also those who were held in the lock up. In other words, where his job was concerned, the DMO treated everyone alike  that is the point I am trying to make.



Now you may say, Listen, that man was a doctor, and he was just doing his routine job. And his job was such that he HAD to treat everyone alike. You can do that always. Technically you would be correct. But what Swami is saying is that no matter what job one is doing one could always be the same to all in the sense of being kind and considerate, and always adhering to Sathya and Dharma. Furthermore, when there is spare time, one could, instead spending it playing video games or merely watching TV for hours while munching potato chips, one could, for example, try to visit handicapped children and engage with them to make them happy, or visit an aged persons home and render assistance and so on.



While some might consider all this totally unproductive and an utter waste of time, God does not think so. He clearly says that when you serve anyone with Love, that Love and service actually reaches Me. In other words, this is the simplest and the easiest way to turn the Mind towards Me, even while you are fully immersed in the world, and engaged in what one would call worldly activities. And, by the way, when the Mind is engaged in service, it is in fact turned towards God. Ever noticed the feel-good feeling that comes after an extended period of such seva? That is bliss or ananda, that comes as the direct result of communing with God.



So you see, when one serves, many things come together, purification of the Mind, the chance to cultivate the feeling that all are one or ekatmabhavam as Swami calls it, and above all, serve God Himself. That is why we have sayings such as:

Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray,

and

Service to Man is service to God!

Think about it! Thank you and Jai Sai Ram.



Other Episodes

Radio Sai Team


The present study in Helsinki is the first to examine the effects of SRI exposure directly on the brain activity of newborns. The study design aimed at distinguishing drug-related developmental effects from postnatal, environmental effects, such as potential changes in the mother-baby relationship due to maternal depression. Credit: S Vanhatalo

A new Finnish study shows that fetal exposure to commonly used SRI drugs may affect brain activity in newborns. The researchers suggest that the effects of drugs on fetal brain function should be assessed more carefully. Furthermore, indications for preventive medication should be critically evaluated, and non-pharmacological interventions should be the first-line treatment for depression and anxiety during pregnancy.

"We found many changes in the brain activity of SRI-exposed newborns," says Professor Sampsa Vanhatalo, head of the BABA center at the Helsinki University Children's Hospital. "Since the changes did not correlate with the mother's psychiatric symptoms, we have assumed that they resulted as a side effect of maternal drug treatment."

Depression and anxiety are commonly treated with SRI drugs that affect brain serotonin metabolism. These drugs are well tolerated and considered safe to use during pregnancy, because they are not seen to cause major malformations. It is estimated that up to 5% of all pregnant women use SRI medication.

However, several animal studies have shown that early SRI exposure may result in microscopic changes in fetal brain structure, as well as altered neuronal signaling. The already known side effect of this on human newborns is the transient 'SRI syndrome,' including such symptoms as respiratory problems during the first days of life. In addition, a recent Finnish long-term follow-up study conducted at the Universities of Helsinki and Turku showed that fetal exposure to SRI drugs increases the risk of childhood depression.

The present study in Helsinki is the first to examine the effects of SRI exposure directly on the brain activity of newborns. The study design aimed at distinguishing drug-related developmental effects from postnatal, environmental effects, such as potential changes in the mother-baby relationship due to maternal depression. The methodology for the detailed assessment of electrical brain function in newborns has been intensively developed at the BABA center of the Helsinki University Children's Hospital. As a result of this work, it has become possible to examine newborn brain function in detail, and better translate between research on animal models and research on human infants.

The study, involving 22 mothers using SRI medication and 62 controls without medication, aimed at assessing how fetal SRI drug exposure or maternal psychiatric symptoms affect newborns' neurological development and their brains' electrical activity.

Structured behavioral and neurological assessments of the newborns showed only minor effects from fetal SRI exposure; however, brain electrical activity exhibited several differences between the study groups. The most important relate to less-organized communication between brain hemispheres, as well as weaker synchronization between cortical rhythms. These findings did not correlate with the scores on maternal depression or anxiety.

"The most interesting aspect in our observations is that comparable effects were recently found in animal experiments after fetal SRI exposure," says principal investigator Dr. Mari Videman, senior consultant in child neurology. "This suggests that the early SRI effects on brain development may be comparable in humans and other species."

The study's psychiatric consultant, Adjunct Professor Outi Mantere from McGill University, Canada, emphasizes that pregnant mothers need treatment when they present with symptoms of depression or anxiety.

"The current guidelines do include non-pharmacological therapies as the first-line treatment," says Mantere. "If the mother using an SRI plans a pregnancy, it would be advisable to consider a close follow-up or a therapeutic intervention without SRI medication. Recent experience with group therapy has shown promise in treating depression or anxiety during pregnancy, with effects that extend to the wellbeing of both mother and baby."

"We hope that our study will facilitate the current international discussion and search for effective alternatives in the treatment of depression and anxiety during pregnancy," adds Professor Vanhatalo.

Explore further Gestational exposure to type of antidepressants associated with adolescent depression

More information: Mari Videman et al. Newborn Brain Function Is Affected by Fetal Exposure to Maternal Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Cerebral Cortex (2016). Journal information: Cerebral Cortex Mari Videman et al. Newborn Brain Function Is Affected by Fetal Exposure to Maternal Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors,(2016). DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhw153
This image shows regenerated bone, with mineralized matrix (red) and strong vascular supply (vessels with red blood cells seen in cavities). Credit: Sarindr Bhumiratana/Columbia Engineering

A new technique developed by Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, the Mikati Foundation Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia Engineering and professor of medical sciences (in Medicine) at Columbia University, repairs large bone defects in the head and face by using lab-grown living bone, tailored to the patient and the defect being treated. This is the first time researchers have grown living bone that precisely replicates the original anatomical structure, using autologous stem cells derived from a small sample of the recipient's fat. The study is published today in Science Translational Medicine.

"We've been able to show, in a clinical-size porcine model of jaw repair, that this bone, grown in vitro and then implanted, can seamlessly regenerate a large defect while providing mechanical function," says Vunjak-Novakovic, who is also the director of Columbia's Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, co-director of the Craniofacial Regeneration Center, and director of the Bioreactor Core of the NIH Tissue Engineering Center. "The need is huge, especially for congenital defects, trauma, and bone repair after cancer surgery. The quality of the regenerated tissue, including vascularization with blood perfusion, exceeds what has been achieved using other approaches. So this is a very exciting step forward in improving regenerative medicine options for patients with craniofacial defects, and we hope to start clinical trials within a few years."

Vunjak-Novakovic's team, which included researchers from Columbia Engineering's Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia's College of Dental Medicine, Louisiana State University, and Tulane University School of Medicine, fabricated a scaffold and bioreactor chamber based on images of the weight-bearing jaw defect, to provide a perfect anatomical fit. The scaffold they built enabled bone formation without the use of growth factors, and also provided mechanical function, both of which are unique advantages for clinical application. They then isolated the recipient's own stem cells from a small fat aspirate and, in just three weeks, formed the bone within a scaffold made from bone matrix, in a custom-designed perfused bioreactor. To mimic the logistics of envisioned clinical applications, where the patient and the bone manufacturing are at remote locations far from each other, the researchers shipped the bioreactor with the living bone across the country to be implanted.

A perfused bioreactor with cultured bone seen inside. Credit: Sarindr Bhumiratana/Columbia Engineering

An unexpected outcome was that the lab-grown bone, when implanted, was gradually replaced by new bone formed by the body, a result not seen with the implantation of a scaffold alone, without cells. "Our lab-grown living bone serves as an 'instructive' template for active bone remodeling rather than as a definitive implant," says Vunjak-Novakovic. "This feature is what makes our implant an integral part of the patient's own bone, allowing it to actively adapt to changes in the body throughout its life."

Vunjak-Novakovic and her team are now including a cartilage layer in the bioengineered living bone tissue to study bone regeneration in complex defects of the head and face. They are also advancing their technology through advanced preclinical trials, and in planning stages with the FDA for clinical trials, through her company epiBone.

A movie describing the bioreactor assembly. Credit: Sarindr Bhumiratana/Columbia Engineering

"Having a chance to work on innovative research that may be part of our future is intriguing, energizing, and really inspiring," says the study's lead author Sarindr Bhumiratana PhD'12, who also is chief scientific officer at epiBone.

"Today, tissue engineering is truly changing the way we approach tissue repair, drug testing, disease modeling," Vunjak-Novakovic adds. "In all these diverse areas, we now can put the cells to work for us and make tissues, by providing bioengineered environments that mimic their native milieu."

Explore further Columbia engineers grow functional human cartilage in lab

More information: Tissue-engineered autologous grafts for facial bone reconstruction, Science Translational Medicine, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aad5904 Journal information: Science Translational Medicine Tissue-engineered autologous grafts for facial bone reconstruction,
(HealthDay)The management of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury has a considerable economic impact, according to a study published online June 5 in Head & Neck.

Cesare Carlo Ferrari, M.D., from the University of Insubria in Varese, Italy, and colleagues examined resource consumption in the management of patients with RLN injury versus non-injured patients. Three perspectives (patient, national health system [NHS], and society) were examined in five clinical pathways.

The researchers found that the direct medical costs supported by the NHS varied from 79.46 to 3,261.95. From the perspective of the patient, the direct medical costs increased from 3.60 to 499.45. Per patient, productivity losses were 156 per day. Considering the minimum and maximum values related to direct costs associated with the NHS and patient for each clinical pathway, the percentage varied from 43.25 to 98.14 percent and from 51.52 to 80.60 percent, respectively.

"The analysis shows a significant economic impact of RLN injury management, which varies depending on the damage, duration, and severity," the authors write.

Explore further Nerve identification technique during thyroid removal associated with fewer complications

Copyright  2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Brain imaging in which the amygdala appears in blue and the hippocampus in yellow. Credit: Stephan Moratti

An international team lead by researchers from CTB-UPM shows that the amygdala of the human brain is able to detect possible threats in the visual environment at ultra-fast time scales.

For the first time, an international team of scientists lead by researchers from the Campus de Excelencia Internacional Moncloa (UCM-UPM) has shown that the amygdala in the human brain is able to detect possible threats in the visual environment at ultra-fast time scales. By measuring the electrical activity in the amygdala of patients that had been implanted with electrodes in order to better diagnose their epilepsy, the researchers produced new data on how information travels between the visual and emotional networks.

The amygdala is a brain structure that is part of the limbic system and plays a key role in emotional processing. As opposed to the neocortex, the external part of the brain that covers both hemispheres and hosts most higher cognitive functions in humans such as visual processing or language, the amygdala is located in the internal, or subcortical, part of the brain.

"The amygdala has a privileged spot in the brain, being one of the best connected structures. It sends and receives projections from brain areas at different levels and at the same time is capable of indirectly unleashing physiological changes and autonomic nervous system responses," explains Constantino Mendez-Bertolo of the Universidad Complutense (UCM) and the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM). However, its location deep inside the brain makes it a difficult structure to study with common neuroimaging techniques.

In order to better diagnose clinical conditions such as epilepsy, neurosurgeons may implant electrodes in the amygdala. In a study published in Nature Neuroscience, researchers relied on the collaboration of eleven patients undergoing such clinical evaluation by Dr. Antonio Gil-Nagel at the Hospital Ruber Internacional (Madrid) with electrodes implanted in this brain area.

The analysis of amygdala activity from these patients allowed the researchers to gather the first direct evidence in humans that this area by itself is able to extract information about biologically relevant stimuli in the visual scene very rapidly, before receiving more precise visual input from the neocortex.

In order to arrive at this conclusion, the scientists performed two experiments. In the first one, patients had to indicate, by pressing one of two buttons if the pictures they saw (facial expressions of fear, happiness and neutral) pertained to a man or a woman.

In addition to emotion, the experimenters also manipulated the spatial frequency of the faces. The authors showed normal photographs (comprising all the frequency bands) mixed with pictures of faces composed of only either low or high spatial frequency components. Low frequency pictures appear like blurry photos  one can distinguish if the eyes or the mouth is open or shut, but details are not apparent  while high frequency pictures have sharp edges and facial features appear highlighted.

There are two pathways through which visual information is thought to travel to affective neural circuits. One goes straight from the thalamus to the amygdala. This "low-road" is composed of neurons of the magnocellullar class through which only low spatial frequency components are transmitted. The other pathway flows from the thalamus to the occipital cortex, where traditional visual processing begins. This "high-road" is composed by magnocellular as well as parvocellullar neurons, where both high and low spatial frequencies are carried.

The authors observed that the amygdala can work with just the coarse visual information within a picture if this picture conveys biologically-relevant information of threat, in this case the expression of fear in another person.

"We started from the hypothesis that, if the amygdala would show a rapid emotional response, this would be larger for the negative emotions and it may occur as long as low spatial frequency components are present in the visual input, as information would arrive from the pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus to the amygdala via magnocellullar axons, which do not carry high frequency spatial information," points out Mendez-Bertolo, one of the main authors.

By recording intracranial from the amygdala the researchers were able to detect a very fast electrical response  before 100ms  to the low frequency components of fearful face stimuli. This was followed by responses  considerably later  in both amygdala and visual cortex to pictures with high or low spatial frequency components.

In a second experiment, patients viewed neutral and extremely unpleasant complex visual pictures and indicated whether the picture pertained to an indoor or outdoor scene. The results, compared with the previous experiment where only faces were being shown, indicated that such a fast emotional response was not present for more complex visual stimuli.

This new insight into how information travels between the visual system and emotional networks may help towards a better understanding of pathologies with elevated feelings of fear, such as in phobias and anxiety, where the amygdala is thought to play a fundamental role.

"Our work highlights the importance of ultra-rapid brain responses to threat-related visual stimuli. The responses in the amygdala are so fast that they could reflect an automatic or unconscious visual process, which might explain why fear can sometimes feel out of our voluntary control," according to Dr. Bryan Strange.

Explore further Thalamus found to add contextual information to visual signals

More information: Constantino Mendez-Bertolo et al. A fast pathway for fear in human amygdala, Nature Neuroscience (2016). Journal information: Nature Neuroscience Constantino Mendez-Bertolo et al. A fast pathway for fear in human amygdala,(2016). DOI: 10.1038/nn.4324
Doctors are trained to treat and cure. It's the key reason why many say they have given futile treatment to dying patients, a QUT study of 96 Brisbane doctors who make end-of-life treatment decisions has found.

The study, conducted by Professor Lindy Willmott and Professor Ben White from QUT's Australian Centre for Health Law Research and published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, is one in a series of studies by the Centre that has informed the new End-of-Life website, launched today (June 15).

"A national approach to end-of-life law is critical," Professor Willmott said.

"Results from this latest study illustrate the sometimes ad hoc nature of decision making and the vast array of factors that can influence patient treatment at the end of life.

"After studying end-of-life law in each state, even in a simplified version, we found much variation in regulation across the country.

"There have been repeated calls for uniform or harmonized law and this website should demonstrate clearly to policy makers how much variation there is."

Professor White said end-of-life law, even within each state, needed to be simplified.

"The process of trying to describe this law in an accessible way has reinforced how complex it all is.

"This area of law is meant to be used by real people  patients, families and health professionals, not legal experts. This new website is designed to help people know, understand and apply the law to ensure everyone has a 'good' death."

For the most recent study, researchers interviewed 96, mostly senior, doctors in three Brisbane public hospitals from the emergency, intensive care, palliative care, oncology, renal medicine, internal medicine, respiratory medicine, surgery, cardiology, and geriatric medicine disciplines.

"Futile treatment at the end of life is, by definition, treatment given that will not benefit the patient," Professor Willmott said.

"Our research investigated why doctors believe treatment they consider futile is sometimes provided to patients close to death.

"Futile treatment can prolong or increase patient suffering, cause health workers ethical distress and waste scarce health resources but it is entrenched in Western healthcare systems.

"The most commonly cited reason for futile treatment was that doctors said they were trained to treat with the aim of providing a cure.

"A number of doctors said the desire to satisfy patients, families and medical professionals themselves that everything possible had been done also drove futile treatment.

"This was echoed in the finding that the second most common reason given by doctors was that patients or families requested more treatment.

"However, doctors who had witnessed 'bad' deaths due to futile treatment or had experienced the death of a family member reported it had made them less likely to persist with treatment that wouldn't result in a good quality of life for the patient."

Professor White said doctors described wanting to help their patients and not give up hope.

"Where they had an emotional attachment to the patient, they found it difficult to decide further treatment was futile," Professor White said.

"They said communication with patients and families was a further factor that drove futile treatment and attributed it to their avoidance of and discomfort at initiating a conversation on dying.

"Doctors said it often took several conversations to negotiate how and when to withdraw futile treatment from dying patients.

"They reported doing everything possible to manage family expectations and that sometimes they continued treatment to give the family time to accept their loved one was dying, and the medical team time to negotiate withdrawal of active measures."

The study found concerns about legal consequences also influenced the decision to administer futile treatment.

"Hospital factors cited included increased specialisation so that one organ or system was focussed on for treatment when the patient had a number of other conditions. This meant a single intervention to address just one of the many conditions may be futile.

"Doctors also said this 'siloed' approach compounded communication issues between teams in different departments and was a barrier to coordinated care.

"In addition, doctors said it was hard to stop active treatment once it was started  when a patient is admitted to hospital it is like a 'chain reaction' of interventions. These hospital-related factors mean that once a treatment trajectory has been set it takes more effort to stop and redirect it to a palliative approach than to continue."

Explore further End-of-life care doctors consider patient and family needs when deciding to end treatment

More information: Lindy Willmott et al. Reasons doctors provide futile treatment at the end of life: a qualitative study, Journal of Medical Ethics (2016). Journal information: Journal of Medical Ethics Lindy Willmott et al. Reasons doctors provide futile treatment at the end of life: a qualitative study,(2016). DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2016-103370
Hurricane Sandy, later to be renamed Superstorm Sandy, made landfall near Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 29, 2012. Over 1000 miles wide, the storm impacted 24 states, with the greatest impact felt by New Jersey and New York City. The damage and destruction that followed made Sandy the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, whose financial impact was second only to Hurricane Katrina. The damage to buildings and other infrastructures is well documented in the media, but there was less documentation of the impact on public health following the storm.

While natural disasters like Superstorm Sandy cannot be prevented, each event provides learning opportunities that can be used to alleviate the impact of future disasters. However, much of this learning can only take place during the response and recovery phase. As a result, the New York Academy of Medicine quickly convened a group of subject matter expects in November 2012 to identify priority needs for research. Questions like what factors contributed to community resilience, how were health care systems impacted, and what was the effect on at-risk individuals were identified.

In response, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 allocated funding to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to commission research to investigate the many areas of concern following the storm. Funding was channeled through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). From this, 31 initial projects and 13 additional companion projects were funded.

The Guest Editors for this special collection published as the June 2016 Special Issue no. 3 of Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness are Michael J Reilly, Center for Disaster Medicine, New York Medical College; Linda C Degutis, The Avielle Foundation; and Stephen S Morse, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, with Eric G Carbone of CDC and Marcienne M Wright of ASPR also contributing an editorial.

More information: Michael J. Reilly et al, Investigating the Public Health Impact of Hurricane Sandy, Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness (2016). Journal information: Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness Michael J. Reilly et al, Investigating the Public Health Impact of Hurricane Sandy,(2016). DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2016.87

Provided by Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health
Georgias wine exports up 44 percent y/y

Georgia has earned more than $60 million USD from exporting more than 15 million bottles of locally-made wine and three million bottles of spirits this year.The countrys National Wine Agency today announced Georgia exported 44 percent more wine in the first five months of 2016 than in the same period of 2015.Between January and May 2016, Georgia exported 15,053,106 bottles of wine abroad. The total income received from wine exports amounted to $35.04 million, which was 16 percent more year-on-year (y/y).The amount of wine exported to China had risen substantially in the past 12 months. So far this year, the large Asian nation imported more than 1.2 million bottles of Georgian wine.The Agency noted Georgias wine exports had also increased to its nearby neighbours, to European Union (EU) countries, to North America and to the majority of its export markets.Between January-May 2016, Georgia exported more wine to (y/y): Kyrgyzstan  by 171 percent (107,646 bottles); China  by 106 percent (1,242,523 bottles); Great Britain  by 79 percent (52,126 bottles); Belarus  by 77 percent (262,838 bottles); Ukraine  by 73 percent (1,853,663 bottles); Russia  by 59 percent (7,560,974 bottles); Lithuania  by 46 percent (244,368 percent); Germany  by 31 percent (141,328 bottles); Poland  by 30 percent (835,792 bottles); Canada  by 25 percent (77,100 bottles); Estonia  by 17 percent (236,496 bottles).Georgias top five wine export countries were: Russia  7,560,974 bottles; Ukraine  1,853,663 bottles; China  1,242,523 bottles; Poland  835,792 bottles; Kyrgyzstan  107,646 bottles.Furthermore, in the first five months of 2016 Georgia exported 3,330,333 bottles (0.5L) of brandy. This was 69 percent more compared to the same period of last year. With this Georgia earned $7.7 million, which was 35 percent more y/y.The total amount of remuneration Georgia earned from exporting wine and spirits in the first five months of 2016 reached $61.1 million.In 2015, the country earned $45.5 million in the same time period for the same exports.
The News in Brief

If I see that people no longer believe in me, I will go away -



If I see in the elections that people no longer believe in me, I will go away, - former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili told reporters. According to him, in that case he will return to the life he wanted.



"I had a very interesting meeting with the National Forum two weeks ago. They were assuring me that I should not support anyone. It is difficult to define what their results would have been without me.



However, for some reason it seems to me now that I have a special role, because I still feel the confidence of society in me. This may be a false sense, but I will see it in the elections. Now I am driven by the sense of obligation towards my society, but if I see in the elections that people no longer believe in me, I will go away.



I can assure you that if I am supported by less than half of the voters, I will return to the life that I wanted," said Ivanishvili. (IPN)







Femicide bill rejected by Georgian parliaments human rights committee



The human rights committee in Parliament on Monday rejected a proposal by two MPs from the majority faction to make femicide a crime.



It would have taken seven votes for the committee to approve the draft. Only three voted for it; two from the Georgian Dream party and one from the Republican Party.



No-one voted against the bill, but during the discussion, majority MPs Soso Manjavidze, Dimitri Lortkpanidze and Gedevan Popkhadze did not support it.



Clergy from the Georgian Orthodox Church attended Mondays session and strongly criticized the proposal.



The bill was introduced by MPs Tamar Kordzaia (pictured) and Tamar Khidasheli and is an amendment to the Criminal Code. It would define femicide as a premeditated murder of a woman based on her gender and set punishment for femicide as a particularly severe crime.



The bill also proposes to define it as aggravating circumstances if the crimes seriously or lightly injuring, beating, forcing or threatening are based on gender.



The bills explanatory note explains that in 2015, there were launched 26 investigations for murder or attempted murder of women. Two women died as a result of domestic violence. In 2014, 33 women were murdered. (df WATCH)







Defense Minister Visits Afghanistan



Defence Minister Tina Khidasheli is visiting Georgian troops serving in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led Resolute Support mission.



During the visit, which is her third one in Afghanistan since becoming Defence Minister in May 2015, she met deputy commander of the Resolute Support Mission Lt. Gen. Sandy Storrie, as well as the acting defence minister of Afghanistan.



On Sunday she participated in a ceremony to dedicate Georgian fallen soldiers memorial at the Resolute Support mission headquarters in Kabul.



The memorial bears the names of the 31 Georgian soldiers who died while serving in the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan. The most recent fatality occurred in September 2015.



With 861 soldiers Georgia was the third largest troop contributor to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan after the United States (6,954 troops) and Germany (980 troops) as of end-May.



The Georgian troops, whose duties focus on security and rapid reaction force, are deployed in Kabul, at Bagram Airbase, and Camp Marmal in Mazar-i-Sharif. (Civil.ge)







Parliament chair: None of the trials are related to visa-liberalisation



As per the Chairman of the Georgian Parliament, the visa liberalization issue is not related to any trials - including the "Rustavi 2" case - ongoing in Georgia.



"All of our partners tell us that Georgia has fulfilled all the conditions of the visa liberalization. Tomorrow, if the issue of the visa liberalization is resolved positively, the day after tomorrow there will be the issues and topics in Georgia - political freedoms, democratic institutions, human rights - that our European colleagues will be interested in. This is a constant process, but it is not related to the visa liberalization issue, Davit Usupashvili said. (Pia.ge)




@ByKristenMClark

Three Orlando-area Democrats will call this morning for Republican legislative leaders to convene a special session of the Florida Legislature, so lawmakers can consider a proposal in response to Sunday's shooting massacre at Pulse nightclub.

Expected to attend the 10 a.m. announcement in front of the Orange County Courthouse are state Sens. Darren Soto and Geraldine Thompson, both of Orlando, state Rep. John Cortes, of Kissimmee, and Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.

The lawmakers and local official plan to unveil their "tactical proposal to prevent future tragedies."

But the proposal -- details of which are yet unknown -- isn't expected to go very far.

Katie Betta -- the spokeswoman for Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando -- told the News Service of Florida in an email Tuesday: "The president does not support expending taxpayer dollars on a special session unless there is definitive support within the Senate for a concrete legislative proposal that requires time-sensitive action. Absent those elements, the president has a hard time viewing press conferences calling for a special session three days after the worst act of terrorism in this country since Sept. 11 as anything more than political posturing by two senators who have declared their intention to run for Congress."

Both Soto and Thompson are leaving the state Senate this year and are campaigning for seats in the U.S. House.
@ByKristenMClark

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is planning to be on the tarmac as Air Force One lands in Orlando on Thursday -- when President Barack Obama is expected to visit with victims' families from Sunday's shooting massacre at Pulse nightclub.

Scott and Obama have not yet spoken directly in the three days since the shooting -- magnifying ongoing tension between the two -- but Scott's spokeswoman Jackie Schutz confirmed to the Herald/Times late Tuesday that "yes, the governor will be on the tarmac" for Obama's arrival.

It's unclear yet whether any public events will be held during Obama's trip or whether Obama and Scott will have time to talk privately, particularly about Scott's request for a federal emergency declaration for Orlando. The Florida Times-Union reported Scott's ask is unprecedented after a mass shooting.

The Orlando tragedy is the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, with 50 people dead (including the shooter Omar Mateen) and 53 injured.

The purpose of Obama's visit is "to pay his respects to victims' families and to stand in solidarity with the community as they embark on their recovery," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said when the trip was announced Monday.

Photo credit: U.S. President Barack Obama is welcomed by Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Florida Governor Rick Scott, as he arrives at MIA with Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, for a town hall meeting on immigration at Florida International University on Wednesday February 25, 2015. Pedro Portal / El Nuevo Herald
President Barack Obama will attend a vigil at the Amway Center in Orlando Thursday as part of his trip to pay respects to the victims of Sunday's nightclub shooting and to stand in solidarity with the community, Orlando officials told the Herald/Times.

The White House has not provided details about the trip yet but the president is expected to also visit other venues before he leaves as scheduled at 5:30 p.m., one source said.

"The president will be here tomorrow,'' said Mayor Buddy Dyer at a press conference early Wednesday. "I was in touch with the president and will be in touch with the White House in the last several days. He indicated he would like to come visit and comfort and show support for Orlando and the victims but did not want to get in the way. Obviously, a presidential visit comes with a lot of security and things you have to do so we decided this Thursday to get past the initial stages of this."

Dyer said Obama will be here "through the course of the day" and said the details of the locations he will visit would be released later today.

Obama canceled what was to be his first campaign event with presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Wednesday after the shooter killed 49 and wounded 53 before being killed by police.

The purpose of Obama's visit is "to pay his respects to victims' families and to stand in solidarity with the community as they embark on their recovery," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said when the trip was announced Monday.
Angel Candelario-Padro, 28, moved to Orlando from Chicago in January to be closer to family. The nurse and National Guard member soon found a new job and a new love.

"He was a humble boy, a good student. He liked to work and wasn't too much into partying," his aunt Leticia Padro told Univision.

Candelario-Padro's boyfriend, who was shot several times, told her that after hearing several shots he turned to Candelario-Padro and asked if he was OK.

"He told him he was OK, but in that instant he fell to the floor," Padro said.

Candelario-Padro loved music and had played the clarinet in a band in his hometown of Guanica, Puerto Rico, according to uncle Efrain Padro.

"We're waiting for his body to be brought home," he said, "We will welcome him with music."
While tugging and yanking some fat ruby-red stalks from our rhubarb patch a few days ago I hadnt yet decided what I would do with them. After hacking off the toxic leaves and abandoning them, I brought the stalks into the kitchen. In an instant, while eyeing some gorgeous strawberries, I had my answer.

Id make chutney, a spicy and gingery one, to serve with chicken thighs I had planned to cook for dinner that night.

Chutneys are one of the glories of Indian cookery. They can take from minutes to hours of cooking time and they offer all sorts of tastes. Fruits of all kinds find their way into chutneys. Some can be made into preserves, like sweet tomato chutney, bottled and kept indefinitely. Others are thick sauces and are eaten fresh with meats, vegetables, or fish. There really is no end to chutney possibilities.

My chutney began with a classic American combination of rhubarb and strawberry. I knew I wanted to add red onion, red wine vinegar, fresh ginger, and garlic. And for some heat, instead of chopping up a chili or two, I opted for Thai sriracha sauce. This sauce keeps forever in the refrigerator and you can add it to all manner of foods for a hot kick.

For some sweetness I chose honey  only 3 tablespoons  to tame the tartness of one pound of rhubarb  and fresh orange juice and orange zest. And except for a little salt, that was about it. The chutney  pleasingly tart and with a beautiful red color  takes about 15 minutes in all to cook and it will last for days in the fridge.

I like to cook bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs because they are far more flavorful than thighs that have been stripped naked. You can always remove the skin from thighs after cooking once theyve added a special taste to the meat. Be sure to save the drippings from the chicken pan. Refrigerate them to use as a base for a sauce in another recipe.

RECIPE

Chicken Thighs with Spicy Rhubarb-Strawberry Chutney

What? Rhubarb and strawberry together but not in a pie? Surprised? These two perfect flavor partners have beautiful lives together in savory cooking. Ive spiced them up with garlic, ginger, and sriracha sauce, a Thai condiment that adds a hit of welcome heat. This chutney cooks in just a few minutes. So while its cooling, cook the chicken. Dinner will be ready in 30 minutes. You can make the chutney a day or two ahead and refrigerate it. Cole slaw is excellent with this dish.

***

Chutney

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 cups diced red onion

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger

1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic

1 to 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons honey

Finely grated zest of 1 large orange

1/2 cup fresh orange juice

4 cups rhubarb cut into 1/2-inch pieces (1 pound)

2 cups strawberries, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (8 ounces)

Chicken

6 bone-in and skin on chicken thighs

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Fresh thyme sprigs, a generous amount

For the chutney, put the olive oil into a large skillet and set the pan over medium heat. When hot, stir in the red onion and pour on the red wine vinegar. Stir well and cook about 5 minutes, until onion is almost tender. The vinegar keeps the onion a vibrant red-purple.

Add the ginger, garlic, sriracha, and salt, and cook about 1 minute, stirring. Add the honey, orange zest, and orange juice and mix them in. Dump in the rhubarb, give everything a big stir or two, and cover the pan. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring once or twice, just until the rhubarb starts to break up. Add the strawberries, stir, and cover the pan again. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, just until the berries soften.

Uncover the pan and cook at a low boil, stirring, until the chutney has thickened slightly and holds its shape in a spoon. This will take just a minute or two. Take the pan off the heat and set aside to cool to room temperature. Taste carefully and adjust seasoning if necessary. The chutney should be tart. Please dont be tempted to add more sweetening.

Makes about 3 cups chutney.

For the chicken, trim away any excess fat. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season all over with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Put the olive oil into a large skillet and set the pan over medium heat. When hot, swirl the pan to coat the bottom with the oil, and add the chicken thighs skin side down. Cook about 5 minutes without moving the chicken, until the skin is golden brown and crisp. Take the pan off the heat and add a few fresh thyme sprigs onto each thigh. Press the thyme into the chicken and flip the thighs over with tongs so their skin sides are up. Put the skillet into the oven. Bake about 25 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Remove from the oven and leave the chicken in the pan.

To serve individually, place a thigh skin side up on a dinner plate, and spoon a generous dollop of chutney on the side. To serve at the table, arrange the chicken on a heated platter and top each thigh with a spoonful of chutney. Pass extra chutney in a bowl in case people want more.

Makes 6 servings.

Greg Patent is a columnist for the Missoulian and Ravalli Republic. His cookbook, Baking in America, won the James Beard Award. His weekly radio show, The Food Guys, is broadcast Sunday mornings on Montana Public Radio.
I have written about Fort Peck Reservoir a number of times in this column over the past years. In the course of a year in my hunting and fishing travels I get asked about this 134 miles of reservoir more than any other body of water.

Montana, as you know, has many great lakes to recreate during this time of the year, but when you consider Fort Pecks size and the number of species that it holds, there isnt a lake that comes close  not only in Montana but in states that border our state.

I am writing this column as I sit in my fifth wheel in Hell Creek State Campground, which is 25 miles north of Jordan. I have been here a week fishing with Downrigger Dale and Steve Hellegaard, who are from Missoula. Two of my brothers from South Dakota and Virginia are scheduled to arrive soon, and after their 10-hour drive, we will enjoy another week of fishing. As a I look out my window, I can see campers with license plates from North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and even as far away as Iowa.

Most folks come to Hell Creek to fish for walleye, but others enjoy the northern pike, smallmouth bass, and crappie around Hell Creek . If you want to travel by water 30 miles to the east toward the dam, you can even catch lake trout or even king salmon. In fact Bill Zahradka, a friend of mine from Wolf Point, texted me that last weekend, his son and he landed 50 lake trout and seven king salmon. The Fort Peck fishing frenzy has been caught by tournament anglers, too! This year the Montana Walleye Governors Cup fishing tournament filled up in April. The 200 two-person team tourney will be held July 7-9.

Two weeks ago Rock Creek Marina, which is located on the dry arm of Fort Peck, hosted a walleye tournament that had 96 teams competing. There are also numerous bass tournaments on Fort Peck throughout the summer and the Pikemasters out of Billings had a tournament just last weekend out of Rock Creek.

Big water, big fish and lots of them add up to big money for the marinas, convenience stores, grocery stores, and many other local retailers that try to make a living in small towns that border this massive sized body of water. Clint and Deb Thomas have owned Hell Creek Marina for quite a few years. Their How can I help attitude has helped many fisherman when they have had an equipment failure. Just this week alone, I saw Clint lend a helping hand to three boaters who would have had to pack and go home if it wasnt for his knowledge on how to fix a problem on their boats and a boat trailer.

Mary Beth Kibler told me that her charter service based out of Hell Creek is sold out for the rest of the month of June and into the first part of July.

If you are new to fishing Fort Peck, I think it is a good idea to hire an outfitter the first day you arrive. They will help you break the lake down in areas that you might fish in any given day.

Plan your trip to include several days and do some research on where you want to stay, whether it might be a state or federal or a private campground. June is probably the best month to fish Fort Peck for walleye, but also other months can be good for northern pike and smallmouth bass fishing.

***

Mark Wards statewide Montana Outdoor Radio Show airs Saturdays from 6 to 8 a.m. in Missoula on KGVO 1290 AM and 101.5 FM. Email Ward at captain@montanaoutdoor.com.
BILLINGS  Montanas congressional delegation is split on whether gun control is needed after Sundays mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, the worst in U.S. history.

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., told the Billings Gazette it was past time to stop selling weapons to people on terrorist watch lists, as well as people who have been declared mentally ill by a court of law.

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., disagreed, telling Senate colleagues the focus needed to be on radical Islam and ISIS, not the Second Amendment. It was the same focus Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., called for Sunday.

Given that Sundays gunman, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, was American born, the tighter gun restrictions advocated for by Democrats might not have been enough, Tester said. But tighter restrictions, starting with no gun sales to anyone considered too dangerous to fly commercially, would be a good first action of many needed to address terrorist threats.

Keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists is something that makes sense. Why are we not doing this? Tester said. We have a terrorist watch list. It probably wouldnt have stopped this one, but you have to start somewhere.

The proposal was the same no fly, no buy law that Democrats first proposed in 2009 and last tried to pass in 2015, failing to do so by seven votes. Tester said he didnt think there was any more support for the measure now.

Lawmakers spent Monday making speeches about how horrifying Sundays attack was, while girding battle over what to do about it. Republicans made clear they werent in support of gun restrictions.

This is a threat we face from radical Islam and ISIS and the worst response would be to politicize this and use this tragedy to restrict our constitutional rights and freedoms, Daines told the Senate. We cannot allow dangerous terrorists to hide in our communities. We need to seek them out and ensure they arent able to inflict harm on our neighbors, our friends and our families.

Sundays mass shooting came after several weeks of gun politicking by Daines and other Republicans. The National Rifle Association hosted presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at its national convention May 21. Trump told NRA members Hillary Clinton was coming for their guns.

Daines was on Snapchat less than a week ago, informing viewers that, in Montana we say gun control means using two hands. With the cloud-covered Bridger Mountains in the background, Daines delivered the message with a rifle slung over his shoulder.

Daines planned to support better terrorist background checks. Anyone on the terrorist watch list, the same list Tester supports using to ban gun sales to high-risk people, Daines said should be investigated, arrested and prosecuted.

If theres proof a terrorist suspect is trying to buying a gun, Daines would support arresting the suspect. The last time the no fly, no buy act reached the Senate, Montanas two senators were divided, with Tester voting in favor and Daines voting against.

The no-fly list has been scrutinized as a tool for banning gun sales because innocent Americans do make the list. Tester said anyone can prove their way off the list.

Zinke was waiting Monday afternoon for a whip meeting, in which Republican lawmakers were to discuss options the House might pursue post-Orlando. He said Sunday the focus needed to be on terrorism.

"We must change course: Radical Islamic terrorism is as much a war within Islam as it is a war against the West, and it will take a global coalition with Middle Eastern stakeholders and American leadership to stop it at its source, Zinke said. We must also do more here at home to stop individuals who have been radicalized before they act."
Students evacuated from apartments in the University Villages on South Avenue have been moved into new homes by the University of Montana.

Cary Shimek, communication manager at UM, said the university has found alternative school-owned housing for the residents affected by the fire. The school housed those residents in hotel rooms over the weekend.

The fire started shortly after 2:30 p.m. Saturday, centered on the breezeway that connected two sets of units in the Elliot Village apartments. Fire crews had to use a crane to cut ventilation holes in the roof of the building after the fire burned into the attic, and residents had been moved out of the eight units in the building.

Missoula Fire Marshal Gordy Hughes said the cause of the fire was determined to be improper discarding of smoking materials. Hughes said in this case, a cigarette was left on the second floor balcony in the breezeway.

Shimek said UM Residence Life staff were working to help clean and move out all personal items from the apartments that had been involved in the fire. One of the residents was already planning to move out of UM housing, and had found a new place to live off campus, he said.
Earthquakes reveal their secrets like malevolent pinatas.

Only after they break open do we learn whats inside and what they might do next. Last years Gorkha earthquake in Nepal spilled a bunch of those secrets on the desks of researchers at the University of Montana.

You can improve forecasting, or you can figure out youre rubbish at it, said UM geosciences professor Rebecca Bendick. Both are important things to know. With the Gorkha quake, its pretty safe to say our assumptions for forecasting these events were wrong.

The April 25, 2015, earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale. It broke a 150-km section of a major fault under the Himalaya Mountains. The shaking paralyzed the capitol city of Kathmandu for weeks. In the mountains, landslides swept away entire villages. More than 9,000 people died.

Scientific colleagues of Bendicks landed in Nepal three days after the catastrophe to learn what they could from the incident. She and UM graduate student Ellen Knappe joined them six weeks later, just after a 7.1-magnitude aftershock hit the Mount Everest area. As devastating as the Gorkha quakes were, the team concluded the earth was far from finished with the shifting.

The Himalayas are sliding over the top of India, Bendick explained. If you think of it like a household budget, the earth has a total cost, a total amount of energy to spend across India. You can accommodate that cost by hundreds of thousands of tiny earthquakes, thousands of medium earthquakes, or dozens of gigantic earthquakes. The historical record suggests dozens of mega-quakes over hundreds of years."

The Gorkha earthquake spent about a third of that budget. Bendicks research found that six months after the initial quake, continued afterslips under the Himalayas slowly released seismic energy equivalent to a magnitude-7.1 earthquake under the Tibetan Plateau along Nepals northern border. That accounted for another third of the energy. The geological record shows similar afterslips occurred in 1803, 1833, 1905 and 1947.

But the front third of the plate, from the Ganges Basin north to Kathmandu, that part is still stuck, Bendick said. We know we require these additional events, but we dont know when they come. We really dont know much beyond you have to close the earthquake budget.

We know that because many of the seismic sensors in Nepal deliver their data to computers on UMs Missoula campus. Bendick and Knappe spent the winter analyzing Gorkhas broken pinata and contributed their findings to a report published in the journal Nature Geoscience, along with co-authors from the University of Colorado-Boulder, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, The Nepal Survey Department, Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics and Central Washington University.

The Himalayan seismic zone they studied resembles the Cascadia Subduction Zone that threatens much of the Pacific Coast between Seattle and Portland. Given the better understanding of how hard it is to predict such mega-quakes, residents there should figure out how to survive rather than when to run away.

Its definitely a case of not if but when, Bendick said of the earthquake potential. The only sensible way to deal with that is to be prepared, to build earthquake resistant infrastructure, and have response capabilities in place.
I recently took a business trip to our nations capital. It wasnt your typical business trip, though. I went to D.C. to educate our Montana delegation and federal lawmakers that some places are more valuable than gold.

Im a member of the Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition. A pro-business, property rights organization seeking to limit the impact of two controversial gold mines near Yellowstone National Parks northern boundary and in the Paradise Valley. These mines dont make sense for the economy and quality of life in Montanas Park County.

I was joined on this trip by Bryan Wells, owner of Emigrant Creek Cabins. This was only Wells second time in his lifetime that he had been east of Billings. He rode a 46-hour train to Washington to speak his mind, and then came back home again.

I was also joined by Tracy Raich, owner of Raich Montana Properties LLC in Livingston. Raich handles ranch and recreational properties and strives to encourage positive development in the Paradise Valley. She worries that gold mines will negatively impact our local economy, ranching and quality of life. Her husband, a mining engineer, agrees that gold mines are not appropriate near Yellowstone.

We and the 200-plus other businesses that make up the Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition are seeking a permanent solution that protects the economy, the way of life and private property rights near Yellowstone National Park. One that fits Park County, and Montana. Thats why we went to Washington. For business.

One potential tool to consider in limiting the impact of mining near Yellowstone is a modest legislative mineral withdrawal for public that protects property rights. This is similar to what has already been done with the North Fork Watershed Protection Act championed by U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester and the Rocky Mountain Front lease withdrawal legislation championed by former Sen. Max Baucus and the late Sen. Conrad Burns.

Montanas delegation has a successful track record of listening to Montanans and advancing bipartisan leadership solutions. We are investigating whether they can do it again.

However, we need time for the right solution to come together. Legislation takes time and our clock is ticking. In addition to conversations with our Montana delegation, we are investigating what tools the federal government has to push a pause button and give us more breathing room.

We came to Washington, D.C., armed with plenty of ammo to support our arguments.

A new economic report from the OConnor Center for the Rocky Mountain West notes that large-scale, highly visible, and environmentally disruptive activitiessuch as large-scale mining and heavy manufacturingmay pose the greatest threats to Park Countys economy.

The economic report, titled "Park Countys Growing Economy," specifically warns that any economic benefits from large-scale mines in Paradise Valley are often short-term or transitory while their negative impacts are deep, continuing sometimes in perpetuity.

The Yellowstone Gateway Business Coalition has shared the report with Tester and Daines, and U.S. Congressman Ryan Zinke, as well as agency officials at the United States Department of Agriculture and Department of Interior.

This report reinforces what we have known for years, that Yellowstone National Park provides small business owners in Park County with a competitive advantage and a brighter future, Tester said. That is why I support the business leaders and land owners who are working together to protect Yellowstone from short-sighted decisions that will limit economic opportunities and slow down job creation in the Paradise Valley.

A summary of the report can be found on our website at dontmineyellowstone.org.

The bottom line is that Montana cannot afford any proposal that will pollute our clean water, hurt our businesses and threaten our jobs. We traveled the 2,000 miles between Montana and Washington to give a voice to Montanas outdoor heritage and to protect our state as a home for thousands and a destination for millions.

Is it really worth mining for gold near Yellowstone when you stand to lose so much? We dont think so; thats why we called it a business trip.
The culture wars are alive and well in the pages of the Missoulian (A Safe Space from Chaucer, June 7), which ran Rich Lowrys latest rant against his cherished bete noire, left-leaning student protest groups. The current controversy at Yale regarding a required Major Poets course is the newest iteration of a now three-decades-old debate between people attacking and defending the canon. In its public form, this tired debate was always insipid. Its disheartening that Lowry simple reheats the same lines of argument from the 80s, microwaving it with his trademark petulant style. Such ginned-up controversies are good for the business of middle-brow Beltway pundits like Lowry, who sing for their supper to the converted choir of conservatives, but they fail to advance the cause of literature. Note that his final advice to the Yale students is not to study English.

As a scholar of Chaucer, I have a different take. Chaucer has played a variety of roles in the remaking of the English literary canon through the centuries: to the 15th century, he was the father of English poesie; to the 16th, a proto-Reformation gadfly of the Church; to the 17th, a noble explorer of the universals of human nature; to the 18th, a wry and detached intellectual engaging in witty reflections on mans folly; to the 19th, a primitive poet with a fine-tuned ear unsullied by the rational abstractions of the Enlightenment; to the 20th, a hyper-intellectual reader who drew together discourses from every corner of medieval learning.

What Chaucer will be in the 21st century is yet to be determined, but Chaucer scholars of the last 20 years have explored the relations between humans and nature; gender conflicts; and, unsurprisingly, violence, both sexual and general, among many, many other topics too numerous to mention. That critical energy is generated in the classroom, where Chaucer continues to elicit interest among students precisely because of his ability to become entangled in our controversies. In the English literary tradition, there are Chaucers, not a single Chaucer, and that tradition includes plenty of critics who have seen defects, of both poetry and character.

Not teaching those defectssuch as Chaucers involvement in a legal case involving Cecily Champaugnedoes a disservice to the cultural record. But not teaching him at all erases a significant portion of our cultural legacy. Both the Yale students and Lowry are wrong, in other words. While I am eager for Chaucer to be read and read widely, I believe deeply that we do ourselves and our students a disservice if we teach the Major Poets only, as Lowry implies, to marvel at, and not to question, debate and critique them.

The good people of Montana will be proud to know that our Mansfield Library special collections contains an especially rich repository of evidence about Chaucers reception. The real treasure is an original copy of the 1561 edition of Chaucer, donated by Richard Merritt, a University of Montana alumnus and book collector whose gift has enhanced the appreciation in our community of the rich Chaucer tradition. My students, young and old, thrill to the opportunity to look directly at a book that was printed before Shakespeare was born; given the fantastic recent response to the First Folio in our community, Montanans might be primed to recognize the value of a book 60 years older right here in Missoula. UMs collection of Chauceriana also includes editions of his works in every century since the 16th, up to the unique and fascinating responses to Chaucer in the 20th century by artists such as Russell Flink, Arthur Rackham and Elizabeth Frink, gracious donors with a clear sense of the cultural value of a material record of our literary past have made this possible.

As Chaucer put it, Out of the old fields, as men sayeth, / Comes all this new corn from year to year. / And out of old books, in good faith, / Comes all this new knowledge that men lere [learn]. We would do well to renew our part in tilling the fertile fields of these old books.
The astonishing spectacle of a speaker of the House not endorsing a presidential nominee of his own party has been supplanted by the astonishing spectacle of a speaker of the House declaring that the nominee he endorsed said something racist.

Paul Ryan endorsed Donald Trump just in time for the Gonzalo Curiel furor. Ryan unloaded on Trump's attack on the judge's heritage  "the textbook definition of a racist comment"  while continuing to back the mogul, in either the most awkward denunciation or the most awkward support ever, or perhaps both.

Naturally enough, Ryan's slap at Trump came during, and overshadowed, an event rolling out the speaker's thoughtful and creative anti-poverty agenda. In other words, Trump's heedlessness stepped all over Ryan's earnestness. It may be an apt metaphor for how the rest of 2016 will play out. The Curiel flap is a window into what is the worst case for the GOP: Trump as a little bit of Todd Akin every day.

Although this potential downside of a Trump nomination was obvious, the Republican establishment barely lifted a finger to stop him in the primaries, gripped by a faux sophisticated fatalism (even at the beginning, it was allegedly too late to stop him) and by an abiding hatred of Ted Cruz. It has reacted in shock and dismay at Trump's attacks on the judge hearing the Trump University case, as if it were unaware the party had nominated a man whose calling card has been out-of-bounds, highly charged personal attacks on his opponents.

It must have missed it when he took shots at Ben Carson's Seventh-day Adventism. It wasn't watching TV that time when he doubted that Mitt Romney is a Mormon. It put it out of its mind that one of his main arguments against Cruz was that he was a Canadian ineligible for the presidency, and that Trump liked to sneeringly let it drop every now and then that Cruz's real name is Rafael. And Trump's birtherism? Hey, who hasn't harbored suspicions that the president might have been born in Kenya and covered up his secret with a fraudulent birth certificate?

If Trump didn't call Curiel a Mexican unworthy of hearing his case, you'd almost wonder what had knocked the candidate off his game. But the Republican establishment seems to have believed that it had an implicit pact (unbeknownst to Trump) that he could have the party so long as he didn't embarrass it too badly.

The breach in this imaginary agreement has occasioned epic ducking and covering. The new equivalent of medieval scholastic philosophers are the Republican senators insisting on heretofore unnoticed distinctions between different levels of support for a presidential candidate.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte is voting for Trump ("at this point"), but she isn't endorsing him. It would seem that saying she will vote for him constitutes an endorsement, but desperate times call for desperate evasions. Sen. Ron Johnson falls back on a similarly minute distinction: He's supporting, but not endorsing, Trump. Somewhere there is a Ph.D. candidate in political science mulling a dissertation on when support is or is not an endorsement.

The truth is that Trump is a wedge issue against his own party. Disavowing him means upsetting all those good Republicans who voted for him in the primaries, while supporting him means owning his irresponsible positions and statements. There is no good answer, which is why faith in a Trump "pivot"  to a more disciplined, conventional candidate  runs so deep in the establishment. Sen. Bob Corker, who will be a perfect running mate for Trump if he wants a wingman uncomfortable with much of what he says, is constantly talking about the pivot. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus applauded Trump's use of a teleprompter the other night as if the candidate's wooden reading of the text was some sort of fundamental breakthrough.

This is all misplaced. Donald Trump may have many talents. Not being Donald Trump isn't one of them.
Early Sunday morning, an gay night club in Orlando, Florida, became the scene of what many media are calling the "worst mass shooting in U.S. history." Authorities say that Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old American citizen from Fort Pierce, Florida, used an AR-15 to kill at least 50 people and critically injure at least 50 more. Officials in Orange County called the attack a "terror incident." Here's how some Facebook readers responded:

***

Mark Mullett: Wow ! don't that come by surprise?? WE SHOULD JUST OPEN OUR BORDERS TO MORE IMMIGRANTS THAT HATE US !

***

Randy Pepprock: You understand that the shooter was born & raised in the US and was 100% a US citizen, don't you?

***

Cj Karoly: There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world. If they wanted us dead we would be already. Islamic extremism is a very very small portion of those people. Let's not discriminate against an entire culture because of the actions of a few.

***

Ronald Barker: One sad reality is that everything the Orlando shooter said and did, right up to the moment he pointed this weapon at a person and pulled the trigger, was legal. WE have made such behavior tolerable. (and common) As a society we have sanctioned violence as a possible solution to what-ever we dislike. Our laws have made rapid and efficient slaughter convenient.

This particular shooter was investigated in 2013 & 2014 by the FBI after coworkers complained that he'd made comments that they felt were terroistic in nature. (Perhaps because the person saying such things was a Muslem?) The allegations were investigted and found insufficient to warrant further action.

At this time we don't know exactly what was said, but I find myself reflecting on things I've personally heard from people who are white, and "Christian" and "patriotic Americans" as well as by particular politicians, that to me have sounded hostile, threatening, violent, inciting of violence, and terroristic even. And no one seemingly bats an eye... Such language and behavior has been modeled and exemplified in the popular media.

Was this, apparently lone gunman an Islamic terrorist with ISIS connections? Or was he yet another angry & disinfranchised American, armed with convenient excuses, rationalizations, and efficient and accessable weapons of mass murder?

If we want to counter such violence, we need to understand such individuals motives and opportunities as well as our own fear, discomfort, judgement and bias.

Modern technology and a skewed, market driven intrepretation of the 2nd Amendment, have turned the idea of "a well regulated militia," into any number of fanciful "armies of one."

Jeeze... in our revolutionalry battles at Concord and Lexington our "minutemen" and militia together only killed 73 of the enemy "Redcoats."

We have met the enemy...

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Shannon Harris: In reference to the militia and minutemen, what won us the revolutionary war was unorthodox fighting styles by people that were not militia or minutemen. The people who refused to line up and shoot at each other in an open field. It was the people that didn't conform to the rules of war at the time that dealt such great blows to the british. The 2nd amendment is the only right that it is ok to chip away at and disintegrate beneath the American people. It has always been about an individual right to protect themselves. As rural and spread out as this country was when founded, it makes no sense to be interpreted any other way. We were never meant to have a standing army, we were meant to all have the means and training to fight and when the time came to be called upon, we gather, form leadership and fight as an army or militia. I agree with the current background check system. If you are prone to violent crime then you should be denied a firearm. However, any further degredation of the 2nd amendment via regulation is ridiculous and will not work. These terrorists are being raised within our borders to keep their noses clean enough to pass even california level gun restrictions, then when the time is right they strike. I honestly believe that they pick their targets not based on their beliefs but to skew a response from media and politics towards their agenda...
Why do atheists work to refute the beliefs of those of faith?

If they are right, there is no absolute measure for right or wrong and no logical reason to support democracy over fascism. Without some absolute referent, whos to say?

Gene Johnsons June 8 letter was confusing. After attacking all belief in life after death, he concludes all such beliefs, religious beliefs, are hindering the progress of human development on this earth.

Development toward what? And what is progress?

Johnson, and others like him, are likely sad people struggling to understand human existence. Science is a powerful tool but cannot supply that understanding.

The resurrection of Jesus in the flesh answers our questions.

Paul states in I Corinthians 15:3-4: For what I received I passed on to you as of first important that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according the scriptures.

Find the bones of Jesus and, bluntly, Christianity is done.

In my blog, I urge readers to investigate all available evidence for the resurrection of Christ. Be thorough, look at at the pros and cons.

Norman Geislers Big Book of Christian Apologetics is a good starting point. Follow up all the sources.

Actually, Im asking Johnson to do the same. When you reject, you should deeply know what you are rejecting.

Ed Chaberek,

Superior
How is it that Bernie Sanders wins the state of Montana but the Missoulian cant get it right?

You gave Donald Trump voters coverage but ignore the fact the majority of our Democratic Party population went for Senator Sanders and his platform.

Shame on you. Lets be fair, this was news the public needed to know.

Transposing the Bernie Sanders vs. Hillary Clinton voter numbers is not a simple slip-up, as explained re: Thursdays (June 9) edition.

It is more like a major screw up for a News  paper.

Sometimes there is no such thing as a coincidence. You should "Feel the Bern" on this mistake.

I am a longtime subscriber who is increasingly dissatisfied with the thinning down of your paper and its decreasing amount of news.

Chris Roberts,

Missoula
A tourist was fined $1,000 and a $30 court processing fee for straying from the boardwalk Tuesday in the Mammoth Hot Springs area of Yellowstone National Park.

According to a news release from the park, a witness told a ranger that the tourist, who was Chinese, walked on the thermal formations near Liberty Cap and collected water. The witness also said the tourist broke through the fragile travertine crust in the area.

During a law enforcement investigation, the visitor said he did not read the safety information distributed at the entrance to the park. He also admitted to collecting water from the hot springs.

He was issued a federal violation requiring an appearance at the Yellowstone Justice Center Court for off-boardwalk travel in a thermal area.

This is the most recent in an unusual spate of incidents involving the parks thermal features. A 23-year-old man died June 7 when he left the boardwalk and fell into an acidic hot spring at the Norris Geyser Basin. A day later, rangers called off a search for his body, saying no significant remains were left to recover. A teenager was burned June 4 after falling into a hot pool in the Upper Geyser Basin. A group of Canadian men left the boardwalk and walked on the thermal features of the Grand Prismatic Spring.

However, thermal accidents dont account for all of the recent high-profile happenings at the countrys first national park. Some visitors have also had unusual interactions involving wildlife.

A French Canadian made headlines across the nation when he put a baby bison in his vehicle, saying it looked cold; the calf later had to be euthanized when it was rejected by its herd. A woman was killed by a vehicle as she crossed the road to see an eagle. Another woman was charged by an elk. A woman also ventured too close to a bear and her two cubs during a bear jam, or traffic jam triggered by wildlife.

The national parks website offers the following rules for safety:
HELENA - An East Helena man is accused of molesting a 4-year-old boy.

Authorities arrested Darrell Harry Dennis Jr. on a felony charge of sexual assault Thursday. The molestation is alleged to have occurred in 2005. Dennis, 41, admitted to the abuse and corroborated the boy's report of the assault on the day of his arrest, court documents state.

In October 2005, sheriff's deputies took a report after the boy's mother said her son told her someone had touched his genitals and kissed him on his buttocks, according to documents filed Friday in Lewis and Clark County Justice Court. The boy was spending the night at the suspect's house at the time of the abuse, which happened repeatedly. He told investigators the "bad man" gave him candy after touching him.

"The victim indicated to his mother he was told not to tell her because he was told he would have to go to jail, as well as the defendant," the documents state.

During a subsequent investigation, the boy told deputies he'd been molested but would not say the man's name or give other details, court documents note.

The suspect, Dennis, was questioned in December 2005. He denied the allegations. The documents say "the case was deemed inactive at that time."

In February 2016, a school counselor informed Helena police a student wished to disclose sexual abuse. An interview with the now 14-year-old boy was later conducted. Court documents say the boy said Dennis, a friend of the family, is the man who molested him.
BILLINGS  The family of the Crow woman who was set on fire and left to die in April, has released a statement regarding her recovery.

In a Tuesday news release, family of the burned woman identified her as Roylynn Rides Horse, 28, daughter of Jerry and Ernestine Pretty Weasel.

"Roylynns mother, Ernestine Deputy-Pretty Weasel, has been by her daughters side at the University of Utah Burn Center in Salt Lake City and they are in need of financial assistance," the statement read.

The circumstances surrounding Rides Horse's attack have not been released by authorities, who say the investigation is ongoing. According to tribal lawmakers and family, on April 17, Rides Horse was found alive, but badly burned on the Crow Indian Reservation, close to the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

Doctors told the family that Rides Horse walked three miles after being set on fire. The majority of her body was covered in burns.

The news release included instructions on how to donate to the family, who have set up an account at Billings Federal Credit Union, 2522 Fourth Ave. N. Donations should be made to Jerry and Ernestine Pretty Weasel.

"The family would like to thank the community for the outpouring of support and for respecting their privacy during this time," the release said.
The former chief financial officer of Vanns Inc. pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge that he conspired with the former CEO to defraud the company.

Paul Lyn Nisbet, 47, entered his plea before Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch in U.S. District Court in Missoula as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors.

He and former CEO George Leslie Manlove were charged with 218 federal felonies for what prosecutors allege was their role in defrauding the company for their personal gain, with Manlove facing an additional three charges for tax fraud. Under the plea agreement, federal prosecutors agreed to dismiss the 217 other charges facing Nisbet, as well as two of the three criminal forfeiture allegations.

The conspiracy charge Nisbet pleaded guilty to on Wednesday carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced Oct. 7.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Duerk said prosecutors will not be asking for Nisbet to pay any part of the $906,300 in restitution in the case, but that they are recommending he pay the remaining forfeiture allegation, totaling $122,250.

This was the second time Nisbet had entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors. In December, he had signed a plea agreement to plead guilty to the conspiracy charge, but during a change of plea hearing held in January, chose instead to maintain his plea of not guilty and was added as a co-defendant to Manloves case.

Among the many allegations presented as part of their indictments, prosecutors accused Manlove and Nisbet of creating shell companies and having Vanns lease property from them without permission of the companys board. They also say Manlove used company money for personal expenditures like college tuition, shopping trips for his wife and daughter, jewelry and membership fees at clubs, with Nisbets knowledge and approval.

Vanns, an appliance and electronics retailer founded in 1961 in Missoula, closed in May 2013 after declaring bankruptcy the previous year. The company had at one point included four retail locations across the state, as well as an online store and two sister companies including The ON Store in Southgate Mall and BigSkyCountry.com. In 2014, a civil lawsuit filed against Manlove and Nisbet settled for $7.3 million.

Nisbet remains free pending his Oct. 7 sentencing. A trial for Manlove, who has pleaded not guilty to all 221 federal charges, is set for October.
HELENA (AP)  Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has been named the new chairman of the Western Governors' Association.

Bullock previously was the group's vice chair. He was elevated to the chairmanship Tuesday, the final day of the group's meeting in Jackson, Wyoming.

The Montana Democrat succeeds Wyoming's Republican governor, Matt Mead, in leading the association of governors from 19 Western states and three U.S. territories.

Bullock says his "chairman's initiative" will be improving forest and rangeland management. His term with the association is one year, assuming he is re-elected as governor in November.

The association is dominated by Republicans but attempts to address regional issues through bipartisanship.

That bipartisanship was on display Tuesday when some Republican governors showered Bullock with praise. Mead, for example, said Bullock "embodies the bipartisan spirit of the Western Governors' Association."
KALISPELL  Flathead County officers have arrested three more suspects in the Memorial Day weekend stabbing death of a Kalispell man.

Sheriff Chuck Curry says 29-year-old Melisa Ann Crone, 28-year-old Christopher Michael Hansen and 20-year-old David Vincent Toman  all of Kalispell  were arrested on suspicion of deliberate homicide in the death of 35-year-oild Wade Allen Rautio.

Curry says it appears the homicide was drug-related.

Officers received a tip about a possible homicide and on Monday found Rautio's body in a creek east of Creston.

Deputies arrested 29-year-old Robert Matthew Wittal on Monday night, also on suspicion of deliberate homicide.

Curry says he expects formal charges to be filed against all four suspects within a day. No court appearances have been scheduled.
Police reports

ISLAMIC CENTER BURGLARY

A burglar stole a credit card, personal checks, surveillance cameras and a desktop computer from the Butte Islamic Center between 1:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday. The screen on the Islamic Center's front door was broken, but police believe the culprit forced entry through a window on the building's west side. Two surveillance cameras remain, but their footage was stored on the stolen computer. Police have no suspects yet but say there is no evidence to suggest the burglary was a hate crime.

LONG POCKETS, SHORT SHORTS

Police arrested a man for shoplifting at the Grizzly Trail Town Pump west of town Tuesday afternoon. Wearing purple leggings and red lipstick, Timothy Erdley, 50, of Butte stuffed $300 worth of flashlights, lighters, trailer locks, socks, key chains, western gifts, wildlife earrings and other items into short black shorts and attempted to walk out of the gas station just before 3 p.m. Tuesday. His pockets bulging, Erdley emptied them when caught by an employee and left. An attendant called police when Erdley returned around 5 p.m. Police arrested Erdley east of the gas station on Grizzly Trail and charged him with theft.

UNCONSCIOUS MAN BLOCKS TRAFFIC

A panhandler blocked the gas pumps at the Town Pump at Harrison and Dewey when he passed out drunk in the road at the entrance to the gas station. When police woke the man at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, he swore and yelled at them. Police arrested the man for disorderly conduct.
An Idaho-based developer wants to buy one of the most coveted commercial real estate spots in Butte to build a $21.5 million supermarket and retail shops.

But Helen ONeill and Sean ONeill  who own the land on the northwest corner of Harrison Avenue and Elizabeth Warren Avenue with their family  say their property is not currently for sale.

Helen ONeill does not want to sell her property, period, at this time, Helen ONeill told The Montana Standard Tuesday morning.

A state assessor said Tuesday the value of the acreage alone was increased dramatically this spring because he thought a land sale and the proposed supermarket project was a done deal.

Property records show the tax value of the 7.3 acres went from $108,706 in 2015 to $543,376 this year  a nearly 400-percent increase. State assessor Jon Kinzle said the increase was largely due to a belief that the land would go from residential use to commercial use, making it much more valuable.

But the higher value also was based on the propertys location, which makes it one of the most appealing and valuable commercial spaces in Butte. It also reflected higher values due to a statewide property tax reassessment done last year.

That is probably the most high-traffic intersection in Butte, said Kinzle, who works out of Butte for the Montana Department of Revenue.

All these developments  or non-developments  preceded a $200,000 request that Chief Executive Matt Vincents administrative team is making formally to Butte-Silver Bow commissioners this week.

Community Development Director Karen Byrnes wants a council OK Wednesday night to tap the money from the countys Hard Rock Mine Trust Account to assist the possible supermarket project. The council meets at 7:30 p.m. in the courthouse.

Assistant Planning Director Lori Casey said money from the mine trust would be allocated as a reimbursement for costs accumulated during the project, and would not be given to the company until work is under way.

Byrnes, meanwhile, is expected go before the council Wednesday evening to present the proposal, which includes a formal letter from Larry Leasure  the chief executive officer of the development company, White-Leasure Development Co. of Boise.

In the letter, Leasure said he is proposing the project as a private-public partnership, adding that the supermarket could employ 195 people, would be 60,000 square feet and would include an additional 6,000 square feet of retail space for prospective businesses.

Leasure said the property would generate $278,341 in property tax revenue per year based upon discussions with the county assessors office.

In a Monday evening interview with The Montana Standard, Leasure said three major retailers are interested in the project, but declined to mention their names citing confidentiality.

County officials also declined to name the potential supermarket, saying any deal was contingent on factors including $200,000 from the Hard Rock fund.

Tuesday night Leasure spoke with The Montana Standard and confirmed that no current written agreement exists with the ONeill family to purchase the property.

Sean ONeill also confirmed in a phone interview that no such agreement exists.

However, Leasure added that written agreements did exist in the past and that he and the family have been engaging in ongoing discussions to purchase the property for at least two years.

We were under a contract for well over a year plus, said Leasure, noting that discussions ceased because weve been trying to figure out how to make the project work. And thats why we were meeting with the city to see if there could be some assistance to make the project work. Thats the only reason we didnt go forward with the property when we had it under contract.

According to the latest property tax records, the overall tax value of the property in question rose from $232,996 in 2015 to $667,666 this year. Those figures include a former motel on the parcel.

Kinzle said the owners were able to get the parcel reclassified as residential property many years ago. But the values were increased recently when officials thought the development deal had gone through, he said.

It was done that quickly, he said, because taxpayers deserve to know what the increases in tax value and taxes due would be. Those higher tax bills would be due first in November, he said.

He said the owners have asked for an informal review of the higher assessments, which is the first step in an appeals process. No decision on an appeal has been made, he said, but the lack of a development deal likely would be taken into account now.

Leasure said Monday night that he believes Butte has a favorable economic climate for the kinds of retail developments his company specializes in.

He said White-Leasure Development Co. has built about 100 retail developments in eight Western states, which house major tenants ranging from Walmart and national restaurants to other discount department stores.

I think (Butte) has a good strong market, he said, adding that building a retail complex in the Mining City makes sense because of the citys slow-but-steady population growth, the presence and growth of Montana Tech, the mining industry and the towns diversified economy.

He added that the presence of a major anchor retailer  such as those his company has worked with in the past  could help keep consumer dollars in the community and abate the leakage of retail sales that occur when residents travel to larger cities for shopping.
NorthWestern Energy is asking Montana to pull the plug on solar projects, at least until the utility can get better terms from the state on ones it legally cant refuse.

The utility, which provides electricity to half of Montana, told Montanas Public Service Commission on June 9 that the mandated price it must pay to small commercial solar projects of 3 megawatts or less is too high and hurting consumers. The projects, known as qualifying facilities, or QFs have been popping up like dandelions because Montanas guaranteed rate is too generous, according to the utility.

For each 3 megawatt project, the differential between the QF rate and the rate we propose is about $5 million per solar contract, said John Alke, NorthWestern Attorney. The contracts run 25 years.

The utility wants the current rate cut in half and the contracts shortened, but until that happens, it wants out of its decades old obligation for accept solar QFs.

The Montana Consumer Council, which represents ratepayers in regulated utility cases, sided with NorthWestern, arguing the price promised to solar farms was more than utility customers should pay.

At issue is a 48-year-old federal law promoting alternative energy projects. The Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act, or PURPA, requires utilities to buy power from QFs, under price and contract terms set by state governments. Montanas rate is $66 per megawatt hour, coincidently similar to the price NorthWestern gets for its own hydroelectric power.

The solar projects are small, each capable of powering about 540 homes at most, but there have been several proposed, more than 80 on the current docket, NorthWestern said, with many more casual inquiries, according to testimony.

However Jenny Harbine, of Vote Solar, told the PSC there really wasnt a crush of solar projects as the utility suggested. Few of the applications would actually become solar farms.

NorthWestern offers no support for its apparent belief that all or most of the current interconnection request will make it through the end of the process, Harbine said.

Most wont.

Suspending PURPA for NorthWestern both violates the mandate and harms solar companies invested in Montana projects, Harbine said. The projects arent cheap.

North Carolina-based FLS Energy told the PSC it would spend roughly $100 million developing its 14 Montana projects during the next 18 months.

The PSC is likely to establish a new price and contract terms for solar in the next six months, Harbine said, during which time it should have to use the current rate.

But NorthWestern isnt just shutting down solar projects, Alke said. The company has nine solar farms under contract now, mostly with Cypress Creek Renewables, of California. It also has agreed to terms with FLS Energy, for its projects not yet under contract. The locations for the solar farms, each roughly 40 acres in size, are scattered across Montana from Hardin to Missoula.

A third company, Pacific Northwest Solar, of Oregon, has 21 projects to which NorthWestern will accept, Alke said. Combined, the 44 solar projects account for 135 megawatts, more energy than offered by the original phase of Judith Gap Wind Farm.

The Public Service Commission will meet Thursday to decide whether to block the PURPA requirement. If it doesnt, NorthWestern will have to keep adding solar projects.
LONDON -- Of the fighting faiths that flourished during the ideologically drunk 20th century, anti-Semitism has been uniquely durable. It survives by mutating, even migrating across the political spectrum from the right to the left. Although most frequently found in European semi-fascist parties, anti-Semitism is growing in the fetid Petri dish of American academia, and is staining Britain's Labour Party.

In 2014, before Naseem "Naz" Shah became a Labour member of parliament, she shared a graphic on her Facebook page suggesting that all Israelis should be "relocated" to the United States. She seemed to endorse the idea that the "transportation cost" would be less than "three years of defense spending." When this was recently publicized, "Red Ken" Livingstone, former Labour mayor of London, offered on the BBC what he considered a defense of her as not anti-Semitic because "a real anti-Semite doesn't just hate the Jews in Israel." Besides, Livingstone said, Hitler was a Zionist (for supposedly considering sending Europe's Jews to Palestine) "before he went mad." As mayor, Livingstone praised as a "progressive voice" an Egyptian cleric who called the Holocaust "divine punishment."

Labour's leader, Jeremy Corbyn, says he wants to cleanse Labour of such thinking. But Corbyn hopes to host at the House of Commons a Palestinian sheikh who calls Jews "bacteria" and "monkeys" and has been accused of repeating the "blood libel" that Jews make matzo using the blood of gentile children.

Leftist anti-Semites invariably say they hate not Jews but Zionism, and hence not a people but a nation. Israel was, however, created as a haven for an endangered people. Jonathan Sacks, former chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, refutes the canard that "hating Israel is not the same as hating Jews" by saying:

Criticism of Israel is not necessarily anti-Semitic or anti-Zionist. When Sacks asks his audiences if Britain's government can be criticized, everyone says yes. But when they are asked, "Do you believe Britain should not exist?," no one says yes. Then Sacks tells his audiences: "Now you know the difference."

"It is very easy to hate," says Sacks. "It is very difficult to justify hate." Anti-Semitism's permutations adapt it to changing needs for justification. In the Middle Ages, he says, Jews were hated for their religion. In the 19th and 20th centuries, they were hated for their race. Now they are hated for their nation. "The new anti-Semitism can always say it is not the old anti-Semitism."

But it is. It remains, Sacks says, "essentially eliminationist." It disguises its genocidal viciousness, insisting that it seeks the destruction not of a people but only of the state formed as a haven for this people that has had a uniquely hazardous history. The international "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions" movement, supported by many American academics, aims not just to pressure Israel to change policies, as South Africa was pressured to abandon apartheid, but rather to de-legitimize Israel's existence as a nation.

Sacks says that when bad things happen to a healthy society, it asks: What did we do wrong? A fraying, insecure society asks: Who did this to us? Sacks notes that although Jews were never more than 2 percent of Germany's population, this did not protect them from becoming the explanation for Germany's discontents.

In a conversation with a supposedly "moderate" British Muslim leader, Sacks asked, "Does Israel have a right to exist within any borders whatever?" The leader replied: "Your own prophets said that because of your sins you have forfeited your right to your land." To which Sacks responded mildly: "But that was 2,700 years ago and surely the Jews have served their sentence."

After World War II, Western nations strove to develop what Sacks calls "a cultural immune system" against anti-Semitism with Holocaust education and other measures. The immune system is not weakening in Britain, other than among Muslim immigrants and leftists eager to meld their radicalism with radical Islam.

Labour's leader before Corbyn, Edward Miliband, who led the party in the 2015 general election, is Jewish, as was the Conservative Party's greatest 19th-century leader (Benjamin Disraeli). Former Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, who was educated at Eton, noted, perhaps regretfully, certainly indelicately, that Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet included more "old Estonians than old Etonians." This was not anti-Semitism, just a jest too fine to forgo.

Seven decades after the Holocaust, some European nations have, remarkably, anti-Semitism without Jews and Christian anti-Semitism without Christianity. Britain just has a few leftists eager to mend their threadbare socialism with something borrowed from National Socialism.

George Will's email address is georgewill@washpost.com.

(c) 2016, Washington Post Writers Group
Earlier this month near the banks of the Yellowstone River, I joined dozens of hunters, anglers, hikers, bikers, boaters, skiers and wildlife watchers to announce a vision for Montana that I believe is one of a governors fundamental responsibilities: protecting access to our public lands.

Sadly, weve seen that access come under attack in Montana.

In our state, the size of your checkbook doesnt determine whether or not you can spend a day alone with a fly rod on the river.

You dont have to own a big piece of property to experience some of the best hunting and fishing in the world.

You dont have to have friends in high places if you want to explore our mountains and trails with cameras, or hiking boots, or mountain bikes.

Taking our families to these places, enjoying them, and being responsible stewards of them, are what makes us Montanans.

All of our public lands have a tremendous impact on our economy. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, our outdoor recreation economy is responsible for more than 64,000 direct Montana jobs and nearly $6 billion per year in economic activity.

Thats why Im asking the Montana Legislature to create the Office of Outdoor Recreation. This new office will be housed in the Governors Office of Economic Development. And its role will be to cater to the unique challenges of Montanas lucrative outdoor recreation economy  to ensure our visitors keep visiting and spending money.

Make no mistake, we all respect private property rights. We must always defend them. But there are places that the public always has access to, like our streams and rivers.

We still have folks out there who want to try to do away with that access, and theyll go to great lengths to do it.

We still have pockets of public land that are virtually impossible to get to because theyre surrounded by private lands, or blocked by gates.

We still have disputes about whether the public is allowed on public land.

So based on input from folks across Montana, Im announcing that my administration is creating a new position within the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation called a Public Access Specialist.

Montanas Public Access Specialist will be on call to troubleshoot concerns from the public and  when warranted  to help open up inaccessible places that all Montanans have a right to.

Im also asking Montanas elected lawmakers to do their part as well in upholding the Montana value of keeping it public.

Created in 1987 and funded by hunting and fishing license fees, the Habitat Montana initiative opens the door to allow the State of Montana purchase lands to open up for hunting and fishing, and to protect our wildlife.

Over the past two sessions of the Montana Legislature, Habitat Montana has been under attack. Last session, lawmakers froze the funds for Habitat Montana, and Im asking them to open it back up, without restrictions, to protect Montanas outdoor heritage.

After all, protecting Montanas public lands and access to them is an issue that transcends party politics in Montana. It isnt about what Democrats or Republicans or Independents want. Its about doing whats right for all Montanans.

I recently created a new email address to solicit ideas from all Montanans about how best to champion our public lands. I encourage all Montanans to send us an email at keepitpublic@mt.gov.

And with your input, well continue to make Montana the best place possible for all who value our open land, our water, our wildlife, and our way of life.

-- Steve Bullock is the governor the state of Montana.
State and tribal governments deserve a bigger say in federal coal policies, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke said Tuesday, while seeking to overturn a temporary federal ban on coal leases.

Montanas lone Congressman, told the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources that the federal decision suspending coal leasing earlier this year was hurting state and tribal economies.

Leasing was suspended in January by Department of Interior, which contends the public isnt getting a fair royalty price for its coal. The department estimates theres a 20-year coal supply available without new leases. Its expected to take several years to establish a more equitable royalty rate, Interior estimates.

To undo the suspension, Zinke has proposed the Certainty for States and Tribes Act. In addition to ending the suspension, the bill directs the Secretary of Interior to re-establish a royalty policy committee from which state, tribal and energy interests consult the department. A state would need to have $10 million in leasing royalties annually to be considered for the committee.

This administration seems to be waging a war on coal specifically, and other natural resources, fossil fuels, and weve seen how hard hit Montana is as a result, Zinke said.

Zinke cited the loss of research databases at Montana school libraries because of declining coal revenue. In Musselshell County, commissioners are preparing for a $300,000 shortfall because of slumping coal taxes and the local school district is faced with paying for a $9.8 million construction bond as its largest taxpayer falters.

The Crow Tribe has cited lost coal revenue at its southeast Montana mine for a multimillion deficit in the tribal budget. Quarterly payments from the Absaloka Mine, operated by Westmoreland Coal Company, were off $1.2 million in 2015. The tribal government furloughed a quarter of its workers in January as a result.

For the Crow, there are treaties, the treaties specifically state that the United States will not interfere with their manifest destiny if they choose to mine their coal, Zinke said. The problem is, were getting in the way of a treaty. Either Indian tribes are sovereign, or theyre not.

Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., questioned the bills merits, both for reinstating coal leasing before Interior officials determine a more lucrative royalty rate for public coal, and for seeming to allow states, tribes and coal companies a committee from which to override federal policy.

This legislation would make the committee effectively able to stop a regulation in its tracks if it estimates there will be negative economic impact,. As far as the Congressional Research Service can tell, this is unprecedented, Lowenthal said. Its very possible this provision could block critical health, safety or environmental regulations.

But the undoing of Interiors suspension of coal leasing was Lowenthals biggest concern. He said 1.8 billion tons of coal would again be eligible for lease at royalty rates Interior estimates have cost the public billions of dollars.

Mark Squillace, a professor of natural resources law at the University of Colorado Law School, said state and federal losses to under-calculated coal royalties exceed $28 billion. Leasing more coal before adjusting the royalty rate, something the government hasnt done in 30 years, just compounds the publics loss, he said.

We ought to recognize that coal is in decline, Squillace said. We need to manage that decline in a responsible way that can help coal-dependent communities transition away from coal.

The professors remarks didn't sit well with Jillian Ballow, Wyoming's superintendent of public instruction, had minutes earlier praised Wyoming coal revenue for financing 100 school construction and remodeling projects in her state since 2003. Coal revenues also cover roughly a third of Wyomings state budget, she said.

This bill is really a responsible way for states, tribes and the federal government to engage so that all Americans can benefit.

Earlier this year, Wyoming braced for a 9 percent hit to its state general fund because of a crashing coal industry. Gov. Mike Mead, a Republican, estimated the state would needed to cut $300 million or more over the next two years because of souring coal markets.

Mike Johnson, a union representative from Montana told the subcommittee that federal management of public lands had cost him his job at a Missoula paper mill, apparently because of federal logging contracts, and now threatened his livelihood in Eastern Montana, where Colstrip miners and power plant workers were bracing for an unwelcome transition out of the coal economy. The power plant at the heart of the community is challenged by energy market prices driven down by natural gas, and climate change-cautious customers in the Pacific Northwest who no longer want coal power. Additionally, there are tougher federal pollution standards on the horizon that could shutter the older portions of Colstrip power plant built in the 1970s.

These people have lived there for generations and generations. They dont want to be retrained. They dont want to have to relocate, Johnson said. Most of them, the average age of coal miners is about 55 years old, theyre too old to retrain and start a new career. Theyre too young to retire. Its a very very hard situation to have your life turned around like that.

The subcommittee expects to mark up Zinkes bill by months end.
Jean Carlos Nieves Rodriguez, 27, was remembered by family and friends as a kind man and a hard worker.

Nieves Rodriguez, originally from Puerto Rico, had worked as manager of a McDonald's and a check-cashing store and bought his first house a month and a half ago, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

"He wanted to be the best at what he did, and he would work very hard to achieve that. ... That's why whatever job he went to, he became a manager," friend Ivonne Irizarry told the newspaper.

His sister Valeria Monroig said he "cared more about others than about himself."
Juan Chavez Martinez, 25, was a beloved boss and friend, friends and co-workers told the Orlando Sentinel.

Friends said Martinez came to the U.S. from Huichapan, Mexico, and worked as a housekeeping supervisor for a hospitality service company.

"He was extremely friendly, very dedicated to his family, to his co-workers. It is very difficult. Everybody loved him," said Alicia Amarro, chief financial officer for the company, APDC Services.

Jose Crisantos used to work with Martinez at Reunion Resorts and also remembered Martinez's kindness.

"He was very well known among us as very kind and loving," Crisantos said. "There was nobody else like him. It is a devastating loss."
Martin Benitez Torres, 33, had recently moved to Orlando and was working to become a pharmacy technician.

Benitez was a student at a Tampa satellite campus of the Ana G. Mendez University System, based in Puerto Rico, where he was born. In a university statement, one of his professors called him a "diligent and extremely hardworking student."

Benitez was "thankful for the opportunity to advance his career and hopeful to make his dreams a reality," said Carla Zayas, a Spanish professor.

He posted several photos and videos on his Facebook page in the days before the shooting, including one cooking with family members.

The cover photo on his Facebook profile includes a quote in Spanish: "If God takes away my eyesight, it's because I've been allowed to see everything that's beautiful in the world."
MUSCATINE, Iowa An inmate in the Muscatine County Jail has been charged with assault after allegedly injuring a fellow inmate.

Roberto Murillo Jr., 25, allegedly assaulted an unidentified inmate in a common area while both were being held in the jail.

Murillo has been charged with assault causing serious injury, a class D felony.

The other inmate sought medical attention after the altercation due to a laceration to his nose, according to the criminal complaint.

Muscatine County Sheriff C.J. Ryan said the inmates were in a common area when the alleged incident occurred, and while jail staff attempts to place inmates to avoid altercations, they can be difficult to avoid.

"It's kind of hard to prevent things like this from happening," he said.

Ryan said Murillo has been moved to segregation, and was serving time for a felony at the time of the altercation.

A preliminary hearing has been set for 9 a.m. June 20.

Emily Wenger of the Muscatine Journal
WILTON, Iowa  Even as residents look forward to saying farewell to the old elementary school during this weekend's Wilton All-School Reunion, city and school officials are looking forward to the next use of the property where the old school sits.

The Wilton City Council Monday night unanimously approved a joint resolution of intent to authorize demolition of the school by the school district, conveyance of the site at 201 E. Sixth St. to the city, and construction by the city of a new recreation center on the site. But the council made one change, stipulating the time of completion be changed from the proposed three years to five years.

"Ultimately, I think the ball's in the school board's court, but I think they're looking for your direction," City Administrator Chris Ball told the council

City officials believe they now have a handle on Wilton's sewer overflow problems. The council unanimously approved agreements with Visu-Sewer of Mason City, Iowa to line 2,748 linear feet of sewer and grouting 36 lateral connections.

Visu-Sewer has done similar work in Wilton the last two years, and Ball said most problems identified by Visu-Sewer three years ago have been treated. But he said only $75,000 is budgeted for the latest proposal, and he estimated the cost will be around $96,000.

"I think if you approve what we have here, it's a great accomplishment," Ball told the council.

"I'd get it done," Council Member Keith Stanley said. "I think this is a great company to work with."

"We're not getting calls when we get rainy days," Ball commented. "I'd count that as one of our more significant accomplishments."

But the council was more cautious about proposals to replace storm water intakes. The council approved a $7,850 proposal to remove and replace an intake and add an additional intake at the intersection of Fifth and Spruce streets and a $3,580 proposal to remove and replace an intake on East Fourth Street across from City Hall. But a $9,550 proposal to remove and replace an intake at Railroad and Maurer streets was not approved.

All three proposals were from Eller Excavating of Eldridge. "This is a little bit more than I'd like to spend," Ball said of the three. "We don't have the money in the budget."

IN OTHER BUSINESS:

The council approved payment of $56,533 to Triple B Construction of Wilton for the Water Street and Industrial Park Water Main Extension Project.

The council approved payment of $9,708 to Heuer Construction of Muscatine for the Division Street Improvement Project.

The council approved a request from the Chamber of Commerce to use designated city streets as well as the basketball and skateboarding courts and Elder Park for the annual Founders Day Celebration Aug. 26-27.
WAPELLO, Iowa  A recent decision by the Louisa County Board of Health to raise the salaries of several county public health workers will be discussed July 5, when the Board of Health meets with the Louisa County Board of Supervisors during the supervisors regular meeting, supervisor Chris Ball reported to other supervisors Tuesday.

The supervisors learned of the raises during their meeting last week, when Ball, who is the supervisors representative to the Board of Health, reported on an emergency Board of Health meeting that had been held earlier that morning.

In his report last week, Ball said the Board of Health had approved the unbudgeted raises during the emergency meeting as part of a public health accreditation grant that had been awarded earlier to the county. Ball acknowledged he had also voted for the increases after learning of a recent salary survey and other justifications.

The Board of Health's unilateral decision on the raises however raised concerns from board of supervisor chair Paula Buckman and supervisor Randy Griffin, who continued to question the Board of Health's action during Tuesdays meeting.

No one is saying the raises are not (deserved). We know public health has done a good job, but we have a budget, Buckman said.

Griffin agreed.

Were the ones who have to balance the budget after the grants go away, he said, pointing out the Board of Health's action was the latest example of what he suggested was unsustainable growth of county departments.

We keep getting bigger and this county cant afford that, he said.

The Board of Health decision on the raises has apparently raised questions with other county department heads. Several unexpectedly attended Tuesdays meeting, but said they were only there to listen to the boards discussion and did not offer any comments while the supervisors talked.

In other action, several county residents representing a group working to bring a Freedom Rock to Louisa County met with the board to update the supervisors on its efforts.

Cindy Grimm, Letts; Wes Shutt, Oakville; Mary Brown, Morning Sun; and Verlinda Prior, Columbus Junction, said an initial report that $10,000 would be needed to have the rock painted had been inaccurate.

The group said that may have been the amount needed for the entire project if volunteer efforts and other cost-cutting had not been provided. According to the four, a suitable rock may be available from a pile that was dumped by railroad workers over 100 years ago east of Oakville.

Shutt said the rock had been cut from a quarry, but was abandoned after it was feared the weight would collapse any of several bridges the train needed to cross. He said volunteers were willing to load and haul the rock, although the actual selection was pending a final inspection.

Grimm said she has visited several of the Freedom Rocks that artist Ray Bubba Sorensen II, Greenfield, has painted around Iowa. She said the rocks provide a way to say thank you to veterans and also helps promote tourism around the state.

I havent been to any where there hasnt been other people there, she said.

The Louisa County rock will be located at the All Veterans Memorial near Grandview.

In final action, the board accepted a $35,850 bid from K Buster K Construction, Morning Sun, to separate a newer section from the historic former Louisa County Jail in Wapello. The bid also includes renovation of the newer section into four offices. No other bids were received.
MUSCATINE, Iowa A complaint filed by the Mayor of Muscatine, Diana Broderson, with the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB) is slated for dismissal.

The tentative agenda for the IPIB meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 16, in Des Moines includes the possible dismissal of a complaint against the Muscatine City Council (City).

The complaint was filed April 28, according to the Preliminary Order, which will be reviewed for final approval by the board during the meeting.

Broderson alleged a violation of the Iowa Open Meetings Law, Chapter 21, which states minutes and audio recording must be kept of closed sessions.

The deputy director of IPIB reviewed the minutes of the closed sessions under authority of Iowa Code 23.6(6), and determined that there was no violation of Iowa Code, according to the Preliminary Order.

A footnote stated that the deputy director noticed that the minutes could have more detail, and communicated that assertion to the city administrator.

Emily Wenger of the Muscatine Journal
FRUITLAND, Iowa The Fruitland City Council held a special meeting last week to discuss a need for an assistant city clerk, and a council member volunteered to take the position.

"I have a background in business and I became a council member in November/December, and they were in a hurry to have somebody. So I volunteered because I have the background in both business and the city council," said Becca Shoppa.

The need for an assistant city clerk arose when Kim Thompson became unavailable temporarily for health reasons.

Fruitland Mayor DeWayne Walter said Shoppa has been a valuable asset, and was a good choice to take the position of assistant clerk.

"I will tell you now I am just amazed at how well, even after the first day, I was just amazed at what she did, this was a very good move," Walter said.

He said that after Thompson was unable to work, the city had no one to do payroll.

"We had no backup...so we had put it out there that we were looking for something and she expressed interest and she's a business owner, I thought this would be a good fit," he said.

Although there was previously no assistant city clerk, Walter said the city plans to keep Shoppa on as an assistant.

Shoppa resigned from the council, and her seat is currently open.

The Fruitland City Council held a meeting Tuesday, and no updates were available on the chicken ordinance that was discussed at the May 10 meeting.

The council had considered the the first reading of an ordinance that would allow 60 chickens per one acre in Fruitland.

The council asked the chicken committee that had proposed the ordinance return to council with a smaller number, and expressed concern that the ordinance did not include specifications regarding roosters.

The ordinance was tabled at the May 10 meeting pending an updated report from the chicken committee, which Walter said had not met to develop an updated proposal.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  A woman sexually assaulted by a Muscatine Police Officer is refusing to hide in the shadows anonymous to the world.

Shari Martin, of Davenport, said she did not expect to go public with her story, but she hopes her decision will help other women facing a similar situation.

Why do the women have to feel shame in these circumstances when they were the ones victimized and preyed on? Martin said.

Tomas Tovar was an on-duty officer with the Muscatine Police Department in February 2013 when he gave an intoxicated Martin a ride back to her Muscatine motel after Martin's boyfriend was arrested for drunk driving.

Martin said Tovar saw her to her room and then sexually assaulted her. He claimed the sex was consensual. Tovar is no longer employed by the Muscatine Police Department.

A Muscatine County jury found Tovar guilty of third-degree sexual abuse, a class C felony, last week. His sentencing is set for late July. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

She said although testifying in open court about her experiences was not easy, she feels the evidence spoke for itself. During her testimony, Martin admitted she was too intoxicated to remember some parts of the evening but she did tell the jury about recalling a male wearing a heavy uniform being on top of her.

It just shows me that all of the prayers I received from friends and family defeated the enemy. The jury was phenomenal and well-rounded, she said.

Evidence in the case included Martin's jeans and the bedding in her hotel room, in which Tovar's DNA was found. Martin said that other officers at the Muscatine Police Department encouraged the investigation that led to the evidence, so although her attacker was an on-duty police officer, her faith in law enforcement has not wavered.

They could have given up and said I had no clue what was going on and overlooked it, but they dug deep and investigated everything, Martin said.

Martin said she hopes her actions during the trial, especially her willingness to come forward and testify, will help other women who have had a similar experience find strength when it is most needed.

When you finally realize the things that were done to you and the way that they were premeditated, you realize that you have done the right thing, she said.

Martin said she felt going public was the right thing to do, and the possibility of helping other women helped her find a purpose in the most dire of circumstances.

Sometimes it's not enough for me to fight for myself, but when I know it can help others, it lights a fire in my soul."
MUSCATINE, Iowa Downtown business owners have had mixed reactions to the first day of Second Street as a two-way.

City crews worked late into Monday night and early Tuesday morning to convert Second Street from a one-way to a two-way.

Randy Howell, street maintenance supervisor for the City of Muscatine, said the overnight conversion took place to avoid rainstorms that were forecast for the area Tuesday.

Piper Beason, owner of Candle Shed Effect on Second Street, said that while she is trying to stay positive, she is concerned about receiving deliveries.

"The UPS truck was having a hard time, because their boss told them not to block Second Street, well we've tried to tell the city that a lot of us don't have back entrances. So what I'm afraid is going to happen is that people just aren't going to come to Second Street because there's beer delivery trucks, there's UPS, there's FedEx, and we all need those deliveries," Beason said.

Melissa Osborne, owner of Creations by Oz, said her customer traffic and deliveries have gone smoothly so far.

"Customers from out-of-town like it so far, I had two in today and they were thrilled. It just seemed more logical I guess for people coming into town," she said.

Midge Haller, owner of No More Butts Vapor Lounge, also on Second Street, said she has had customers tell her they will be going a different route rather than drive on the two-way.

"I've already had customers come in and say that they probably are going to avoid downtown, which means less business for me and I'm sure it means less business for a lot of the businesses down here, all to accommodate the (Merrill) hotel," she said.

She is also concerned about parking, because she said construction will be happening in the alley behind her store in the near future, and delivery trucks may not have spaces to park.

"I love it downtown, but customers can't park. And that alley is too small for deliveries anyway," she said.

Brent Hill, of Hill's Paint Store, has spoken against the change at City Council meetings, but said he has been pleasantly surprised by the first day of the change.

"It's going better than I thought it would," he said.

Kathy Crosley, of Halltree Boutique, said that she was expecting some chaos, but has also been surprised but the first day.

"It's been very quiet, it seems to be running smoothly," she said.

Cassie Burback, of Muscatine, said the cones that lined the center of the street were a helpful reminder for people driving down the two-way for the first time since the conversion.

"It's confusing seeing the cars coming toward you, but I'm glad that they have the cones up because even knowing that it was a two-way I was concerned that I was going to make a mistake and not think about it," she said.

The conversion of Second Street from Mulberry Avenue to Pine Street from a one-way to a two-way was approved April 21 at a Muscatine City Council meeting.
TOOLESBORO, Iowa  The Last Full Measure of Devotion was given by the six Littleton brothers over 150 years ago, when all six died fighting for the Union during the Civil War.

On a hot, breezy afternoon Tuesday, over 350 people, including Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, gathered in Toolesboro to dedicate a memorial to the brothers sacrifice and establish their own measure of devotion to the cause the brothers offered their lives to defend.

The six Littleton brothers were ordinary Iowans who heeded an extraordinary call in order to preserve the union of this nation, Branstad told the group.

Despite being in different military units in different areas of the war, the brothers, who grew up in the Toolesboro area, all shared one collective purpose.

They were united in the sacrifice we gather here to commemorate. The Littleton Brothers Monument reads The Last Full Measure of Devotion, which is surely what the Littleton brothers gave to this country, Branstad said.

This community and all of you should be very proud of your role in saluting the devotion of these young heroes, he continued, explaining it was the single greatest loss of life from any family in any war America has fought.

Keynote speaker Dr. Tom Morain, Graceland University, agreed, but said the brothers devotion and sacrifice needed a historical context to be fully understood.

The Littleton brothers would not mean much to us if we only knew them through the bare bones of census records. It is history, it is memories that breathe life into them, he said, using the Biblical story of Ezekiel to describe how the brothers story could have become simply a souvenir of our past, without connection.

Instead, Kendall, George, John, Noah, William and Thomas, whose story of devotion and sacrifice was almost lost, became known because of the heroes and heroines of Louisa County, such as monument committee organizers Tom Woodruff and Ed Bayne, who recognized the significance of the Littleton facts, Morain explained.

They have breathed life into the story that goes with the bones, he said.

That story began in 1840 when James and Martha Littleton arrived in Louisa County, Jake Shoppa, Columbus Junction, said. Shoppa, a descendant of Permelia Littleton, one of four sisters who survived the brothers, said[JR1] the parents died before the war and never knew all six of their sons died from the war.

Within months of the Civil War (start), John, 31; Thomas, 25; William, 24; Kendall, 19; and Noah, 16, enlisted in the Iowa infantry. George, 31, living in Illinois, enlisted there, Shoppa said.

Kendall died in battle at Prairie Grove, AR on Dec. 7, 1862. John died from wounds sustained in the same battle a few days later. Noah, who survived the battle, drowned in a Missouri river about one month later.

George, who had been captured in Virginia and then paroled, reportedly died in December 1862. William fought in several battles, but died from disease in a St. Louis hospital in December 1863.

Thomas also fought in several battles and was captured at Missionary Ridge, TN and sent to the infamous Andersonville prison, where he died on Jun. 16, 1864.

The Civil War ended 10 months later, but only the boys sisters, Permelia, Mary, Sarah and Rebecca would remain to mourn them and take pride in their sacrifice they made to our country and for our freedom, Shoppa said.

Now, 150 years later, that last full measure of devotion is finally getting recognized by a grateful country.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  A sexual assault victim has filed a civil suit against the City of Muscatine and a former Muscatine police officer in Muscatine County District Court.

Thomas Tovar and the City of Muscatine are plaintiffs in a civil suit filed by Shari Martin of Davenport. Martin alleged Tovar sexually assaulted her while he was on duty in February 2013. A Muscatine County jury found him guilty of third-degree sexual abuse on June 9.

Tovar has since left the police department.

Martin said the city should be held accountable for the actions of its employees while they are on duty.

The suit includes allegations of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, and invasion of privacy.

According to the petition, Martin is seeking compensation for her loss, including compensatory damages, past and future psychological injury, past and future physical pain and suffering, past and future loss of enjoyment of life, past and future emotional distress, and other damages.

She said drinking and fear and caused her to lose the job she held after the assault occurred.

"There were some days I couldn't stop shaking," she said.

She had difficulty not thinking about the event and moving on with her life.

"I just stopped going to work because I didn't want to be around a bunch of men," Martin said.

She said she was encouraged by friends and family members to stand up for herself.

Not only does Martin want compensation for what she claims she lost, she also wants to make an example of Tovar so other cities might be made more aware.

"So any city that has an inkling that there is a police officer like this on their force will investigate further," she said.

A status hearing in the suit is set for 8:30 a.m. July 26.

Both the defense and prosecution have requested a jury trial.
Credit President Obama for finally using the words he has desperately tried to avoid during his presidency. He correctly called the mass shooting in an Orlando gay nightclub Sunday morning, which killed 49 and injured 53, "an act of terror." It was, writes The New York Times, the "deadliest attack on a gay target in the nation's history."

Discredit to the president for avoiding linking the attack to ISIS and Islamic terrorism, even though the shooter, Omar Mateen, reportedly called 911 during the rampage and "pledged loyalty to the Islamic State." Jihadists everywhere quickly celebrated the carnage on the internet and, reports israelnationalnews.com, "...the al-Amaq agency -- which functions as ISIS's propaganda and media wing -- claimed that 'the attack ... was carried out by an Islamic State fighter.'"

The president used the tragedy to make another pitch for stronger gun laws. Does he believe that someone who claims to be on a mission from Allah would not be able to obtain guns and explosives illegally?

Mateen had been on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's radar in 2013 and 2014, but reports The Daily Beast, the FBI "subsequently closed the case when it produced nothing that appeared to warrant further investigation." NBC News learned that Mateen traveled twice to Saudi Arabia in 2011 and 2012 "to perform a pilgrimage to Mecca," according to a spokesman for Saudi Arabia's Ministry of the Interior. Once again, we are reactive rather than proactive.

The pattern following these terrorist attacks is now familiar. First comes extreme caution in which we say very little and refuse even to speculate about what seems obvious, followed, after the fact, as in the Fort Hood shooting, which was dubbed "workplace violence," by an attempt to quickly change the subject. Next comes the obligatory news conference in which a quickly produced imam or "expert," speaking for the Muslim community, is trotted out to say that the latest incident has nothing to do with Islam, which is a peaceful religion, and that we should all embrace unity.

Omar Mateen's father, Seddique Mateen, initially claimed there was no religious motivation behind the killings, but The Washington Post reported the father "is an Afghan man who holds strong political views, including support for the Afghan Taliban."

Muhammad Musri joined law enforcement officers at the news conference in Orlando. He is connected to the Islamic Society of Central Florida, which is connected to the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), an Islamic umbrella organization that some believe has ties to terrorist groups.

Muhammad Musri's mosque was even used for a fundraiser that collected $55,000 for Hamas. There is also a 2011 video of Musri in which he blames the United States for Sept. 11.

People like Omar Mateen are not so much "lone wolves" as "known wolves." But before law enforcement can legally act, it's often too late.

In wartime, certain liberties have been suspended in order to protect the country. This may be one of those times. Or should we wait until our enemies obtain a weapon of mass destruction?

Congress should declare war on all terrorist groups. Websites that promote ideologies that encourage terrorist acts should be shut down. No more mosques should be built in the U.S. until we gain an upper hand against radical Islamists. It does no good to say most Muslims are peaceful if you have no mechanism in place to act against or even identify those who are not.

On "American Idol," Randy Jackson would often say of a contestant that he or she was "in it to win it."

We don't appear to be in it, but our enemies are.

Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com.
Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes []
DStv recently revealed that all its new decoders are manufactured in South Africa.

The DStv Explora is manufactured in East London, and the single-view DStv HD decoder is made in Johannesburg, it said.

MultiChoices group general manager for broadcast technology, Nyiko Shiburi, told MyBroadband that they use three partners to manufacture their decoders.

Arris, which acquired Pace in April 2015, makes the DStv Explora in East London.

Altech UEC has a facility in Durban where it manufactures single-view decoders, and Sky Blue in Randburg also makes some of DStvs single-view decoders, said Shiburi.

We try to go for local suppliers as much as we can, said Shiburi, which includes sourcing plastic and other items that are available locally.

Shiburi said this benefits them financially, as buying locally reduces MultiChoices exposure to exchange rate fluctuations.

More on DStv

Trade in your old DStv decoder for up to R500 off a new one

Why DStv stops supporting decoders

DStv Compact subscribers get new channel for free

DStv versus Netflix

DStv decoder models which cannot be fixed
Jordan Tarquino will never forget what happened early Sunday morning at Pulse nightclub.

Neighbors said they didn't feel safe the night of the shooting

"I felt uneasy because it's literally close to my home," resident said

The area is known as SODO, or south downtown Orlando

"I didn't feel safe," she said Tuesday. "I feel safe knowing that the police are around, but I felt uneasy because it's so literally close to my home. Right in my backyard. We're talking a block? Less than a block."

A few minutes after the first shots were fired, Tarquino went outside and shot cellphone video. However, it took a while for what was happening to actually sink in, she said.

"It wasn't until the sirens came after that I was like, holy cow, what I heard was real and a couple of us came out to the street about 10-15 minutes later and just saw Orange Avenue lit up with red, white and blue, and that's when we knew  whatever is happening, we're in danger," Tarquino said.

Several streets surround the south downtown area  known as SODO  continue to be guarded by law enforcement. It's a surreal sight for neighbors.

"It's just so strange because I used to feel safe walking around in the middle of the night by myself, just walking my dog," Tarquino said. "So, it's just really strange that this happened. You really do feel targeted because why would it have happened here?"

Through it all, though, Tarquino said her neighborhood is now a community.

"I don't mean to say there's been good that has come out of this, but I probably would have never met my neighbors if this hadn't happened," she said. "And I do feel there's a huge sense of community here."


There is currently no credible threat to the Orlando area or the rest of the country, the FBI said Wednesday, days after a gunman opened fire inside a gay nightclub, killing 49 and injuring dozens.

Special Agent Ron Hopper, Gov. Rick Scott, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orlando Police Chief John Mina and U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley all spoke from just a few blocks from the Pulse nightclub in the south downtown area of Orlando.

Hopper said the investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to recreate the scene inside the nightclub from the night of the Pulse shooting.

Hopper said there's nothing so far in the investigation that suggests Omar Mateen targeted any other locations except for Pulse nightclub. The FBI is also reconstructing the gunman's movements in the months, days, hours and minutes before the early Sunday morning massacre.

Hopper said that because the crime scene is still being processed, it would be premature to comment whether there were any explosives found inside Pulse.

Hopper, when asked whether the Pulse shooting was a hate crime, said: "This was an act of violence born out of hate that inflicted terror on an entire community. So, I would call it a hate crime, I would call it terrorism. It's both."

It's unclear when charges will be finalized, Bentley said.

"Indeed, we're not sure what charges will be brought or if charges will be brought," he said. "I can assure you that we're working with our law enforcement partners to find out everything we can about what happened at Pulse nightclub."

Meanwhile, Mina said 300 to 400 police officers attended stress management briefings Tuesday. He said the agency's SWAT team stood "toe-to-toe with a mass murderer."

"I'm extremely proud of that," he said.

Officials also reiterated that the police officers who were engaged in a shootout with the gunman are on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation. This is standard protocol as the state and federal investigation is ongoing.

"I cannot stress this enough: Do not attempt to contact (the police officers involved)," Mina said.

Scott said the victims of the shooting are "people just like us," adding: "This was clearly an attack on our gay community, it was an attack on our Hispanic community."

Dyer said about $3.6 million has already been donated to the newly established One Orlando Fund. (If you want to donate, go here.)

The FBI continues to seek more information as it follows up on leads in the shooting. Anyone who has had contact with Mateen, either in person or online, is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or go to tips.fbi.gov.


Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has written this post on Facebook addressed to leaders.

Dear my fellow leaders,

You know very well that we were elected by our people to lead. We are paid equal salaries. We live in the suburb areas of Nairobi and other towns. Our children go to the same schools. We eat in the same restaurants. We serve in the same committees. We travel abroad for benchmarking and we together have a good time listening to stories of men and women who built their countries with strong values. When we suffer misfortune we contribute to each other regardless of our political parties. We make fun of our political competition especially how we outdid each other over the weekend.

Now that we have elections coming why do we use poor Kenyans to throw stones on our behalf and yet we surround ourselves with bodyguards who even guard our homes at night? Why call for punishment of other tribes when in truth your business partners and acquaintance are from different races and tribes?

I am a fierce critic of CORD leadership but criticisms of once leadership performance must not be generalized to the extent of abusing his or her tribe. Uhuru is the President, Kikuyus are not. Raila is the CORD leader, Luos are not.

My message to Kuria, Muthama, Ngunjiri, Junet, Aisha, Waititu, Bosire and other leaders is that freedom of expression & speech just like freedom of demonstration are permitted by our Constitution but freedom comes with responsibility.

Above all its upon you Kenyans to decide the leaders and the leadership you want. If you reward hatred and violence, then thats the leadership you deserve.

I reiterate what I said in Nakuru, there is no politician worth dying for. We change alliances and political affiliations and we find ourselves in different camps at any given time. Dont forget that four years ago Uhuru and Kalonzo were on one side and Raila and Ruto the other.

All these fights are meant to hoodwink you Kenyans and deny you the sober environment to hold us accountable for what we have or have not done for you.

The choice is yours. As for me and my house I choose peace.

OKM
OAKLAND  Oakland police say five people were shot in the citys downtown area near where a group of people were holding a vigil for a drowning victim.

The Oakland Police Department says everyone hurt in Tuesday evenings shooting are in stable condition and range in age from mid-teens to early twenties.

The department says the shooting in the area of 13th and Franklin Streets happened while a vigil was being held two blocks away for a person who drowned in Salinas last year.

Its unclear if the shooting is connected to the memorial gathering.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports the broad-daylight shooting sent people ducking for cover.

Mason Stone told the newspaper people were running every which way.
Soroptimist International of Calistogas new president is Nushi Safinya. Safinyas theme is Increasing our collective impact through compassion. She spoke to this motto in her acceptance speech: Only when our conduct manifests compassion for others can we do our greatest work and can our efforts be the most beneficial. The best for women. Let us remember why we gather together. Let us pledge to practice compassion and thus increase our collective impact.

Standing up with her this year to serve will be President Elect Maria Bartolome; Correspondence Secretary Carol Ashford; Treasurer Jennifer Tisa; Recording Secretary Mary Ellen Hester; Director Joan Dambros, Health and Environment Committee; Director Shawn Paris, Social and Economic Development Committee; Director Joan Heller, Human Rights and Status of Women Committee; Director Teresa Jacobsen, Education Committee; and Parliamentarian Suzan Shaw. Installing officers were past presidents Suzan Shaw, Karan Schlegel, Gayle Keller and Carrie Domogalla.

Soroptimist International of Calistoga, in addition to national and international programs, has many projects that serve our community. No Drugs Down the Drain is a biannual free collection for unwanted/expired pharmaceuticals and used sharps. Over the years more than 1 ton of medical waste has been saved from going into our waterways and ocean, our soil, our drinking water.

Scholarships and awards to deserving girls who contribute to their community and are intent on furthering their education to continue helping others include the Alice Vermeil award honoring culinary students; the Emma Spain award honoring arts and music: a Community Advocate award honoring volunteerism, and commitment to the community; and a very important Federation Live your Dream" Scholarship Award, which assists women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.

Soroptimist International of Calistogas Read Aloud Program has made Rappers a part of their Soroptimist focus. We donate and get donations to buy books and we organize not only Soroptimists but people from our community to be Rappers.

This last year we started an S Club at the Calistoga High School. S Clubs are service clubs for high school students in our communities encouraging high school students to learn about serving others and helping in the community.

We support, donate and participate in the Police Holiday Fund, Sober Grad night, Santa Claus letters and yes, SHHH! we are the elves.

We love our annual Thanksgiving Dinner where we bring together our Senior Citizens Associates, Creative Living, and Napa Valley support services for a holiday feast (and we never run out of pumpkin pie).

We keep up the fight against domestic violence, sexual slavery and trafficking. We have an ongoing campaign to stop trafficking through education and vigilance. We keep a close eye on International Womens Rights, work closely with Napa Emergency Womens Services (NEWS) and UpValley Family Centers, where we support a domestic violence counselor.

We are at an informational table at Cal Mart where we hand out literature and information to all on domestic violence and trafficking. We organize support for the NEWS Domestic Violence Shelter supplying them with dishes, blenders, cooking wear and anything else they need as well as financial support. And we support the Upvalley Family Centers and Domestic Violence Counselor and the Boys & Girls Club with ongoing financial commitments.

Please join Soroptimist International of Calistoga in our 60th year in service celebration Monday, June 27, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Calistoga Community Center, 1307 Washington St.

Soroptimist of Calistoga meets weekly at 11:30 a.m. at All Seasons Restaurant and interested persons are welcome. Call Carrie Domogalla at 942-5329.
Paul Schapiro memorial

A memorial bike ride honoring Paul Schapiro will be held Saturday, June 18 from 2-3:30 p.m. at wetlands. The ceremony will begin at Wetlands Edge and Eucalyptus Drive. For more information contact Richard Peterson at 853-0797.

Summer nights at the plaza

The American Canyon Family Resource Center will host Summer Nights at the Plaza beginning June 17 from 4-7 p.m. at Canyon Plaza shopping center. The event will also be held on July 15 and Aug. 19. Families are encouraged to attend. Crafts, prizes and activities will be available for children. The first Summer Nights on June 17 will also kick off the centers Talk, Read, Sing campaign. For more information call 980-7024.

Farewell to Umpqua

Community groups and organizations will host a farewell to Umpqua Bank on Friday, June 17, from 5-7 p.m. at 3417 Broadway, Suite J-2. Umpqua Bank has decided to close its branch in American Canyon. The branch will officially close on June 28. For more information about the farewell event, contact Brenda Knight Events at 319-4773.

Cancer Survivors Day in Vallejo

Kaiser Permanentes Vallejo Medical Center will mark National Cancer Survivors Day on Saturday, June 25 with the 3rd Annual Celebrate Life event  a day of learning, wellness and living after cancer. The event will take place from 10:30 a.m.2 p.m. at 975 Sereno Drive in Vallejo.

Kaiser Permanente specialists will discuss the latest advancements in cancer treatments and research, as well as the mind/body connection to surviving and thriving after cancer.

Brenda Knight, owner of Brenda Knight Events, will be the opening speaker. Dr. Ernie Bodai, director of the Breast Cancer Survivorship Institute in Sacramento and creator of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, will be a featured guest speaker.

The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.

Chamber town hall

The American Canyon Chamber of Commerce will host an Economic Development Town Hall meeting from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 18 the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley, 60 Benton Way. The town hall will be an opportunity for community members to discuss economic development in the city.

Brenda Knight, owner of Brenda Knight Events, will emcee and serve as moderator. Panelists will include Michael Holcomb (commercial real estate broker, Strong & Hayden); Brent Cooper (community development director, city of American Canyon); Walt Perlic (owner, FASTSIGNS of American Canyon); Rick Hess (owner, R.H. Hess Development); and James Cooper (president/CEO, American Canyon Chamber of Commerce).
AMERICAN CANYON  The American Canyon City Council expects to have a vacancy to fill by the beginning of 2017. What is less certain is how the council will fill it.

Councilmember Belia Ramos will join the Napa County Board of Supervisors next January because she ran unopposed for the District 5 seat in the June primary.

Since Ramos cannot serve as both council member and supervisor, the expectation is she will resign from the City Council shortly after officially taking over for retiring Supervisor Keith Caldwell.

Ramos council term does not end until 2018, which will make it necessary for the council to replace her for the remaining two years of her term.

They have two options: appoint someone or call a special election.

Some council members have expressed support for the appointment process, largely because the second option might prove costly to the city.

Im not that interested in a special election, said Mayor Leon Garcia, citing the expense of holding a special election in June 2017.

Registrar of Voters John Tuteur informed City Manager Dana Shigley that because there are no ballot measures scheduled for June 2017, American Canyon would bear the full cost of holding a special election then.

That cost is estimated to be $40,000.

The special election would also be done by mail only, and might produce a very low turnout of only 15-20 percent of voters, according to Shigley.

Councilmember Joan Bennett has said the city should follow a process similar to what the city of Napa did last year to fill the vacancy on its City Council after Alfredo Pedroza was appointed to the Board of Supervisors.

It was pretty good, said Bennett, referring to the one-day vetting of 16 candidates who applied to replace Pedroza. The Napa City Council eventually chose lawyer Mary Luros on a 3-1 vote.

The American Canyon City Council could appoint a replacement in this same manner, assuming at least three of the remaining four members could agree on the candidate.

If the four-member council, without Ramos, winds up voting 2-2 on a replacement, the city would have no choice but go back to Plan A.

If you cant break the [2-2] deadlock, your only choice is to have an election, said Shigley.

American Canyon faced such a situation 10 years ago, after Councilmember Lori Luporini resigned with two years left on her term.

Unable to decide on someone to appoint, the council was forced to call a special election for June 2006.

Bennett wound up winning the special election, and has remained on the council since.

Councilmember Mark Joseph has argued the council should explore creative alternatives for replacing Ramos.

One involved Ramos resigning her council seat immediately, then reappointing her as a caretaker until November so her replacement could be chosen by voters during a regularly scheduled election.

Another option required Ramos deciding on the date of her future resignation, such as Dec. 15, with the council officially accepting that date in advance. It would then hold an election in November to avoid calling a special election.

City Attorney William Ross shot down Josephs suggestions, saying the city had little wiggle room under state law that applies to filling council vacancies.

This is one of those areas where Sacramento has proscribed what we can do, said Ross.
David Grabill, a Bay Area attorney who spent the last several decades fighting for affordable housing in a region that badly needs it, died in Santa Rosa after a long illness. He was 74.

Grabill was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis last year and succumbed on Saturday to the lung disease after recent complications, family members said.

Over the years, his litigation with Sonoma County Housing Advocacy Group was behind the construction of scores of homes for low-income Bay Area families, and ushered in more housing policies that helped the homeless, colleagues said.

In Napa County, Grabill represented a local group, Latinos Unidos Del Valle de Napa y Solano, in a series of lawsuits over the past dozen years against Napa County, the city of Napa and St. Helena.

The lawsuits typically asserted that local government wasnt doing enough to promote affordable housing for local workers. Suits challenged local general plans and in one case the city of Napas approval of a resort for the Stanly Ranch.

Even when Grabill lost in court, his lawsuits often pushed elected leaders to make affordable housing a higher priority.

The Santa Rosa public interest attorney called himself retired, but those closest to Grabill said he never truly did. When his condition recently worsened, he worked on an iPad from his hospital bed  fighting to preserve a Santa Rosa rent control ordinance amid threats of appeals from developers, family said.

He was extremely passionate about his work and making housing affordable to all, said his daughter, Jane Battenfeld. He said at a dinner last year ... housing is a right, its a necessity. It shouldnt be a privilege.

At that dinner, Grabill received a career of distinction award from the Sonoma County Bar Association for his years of social justice work. In one instance, he joined a suit against the city of Santa Rosa and helped forge a settlement to build 3,000 affordable housing units and an 80-bed homeless shelter.

Born in Cleveland, on May 9, 1942, Grabill was 5 years old when he moved with his parents to Washington, D.C., where his father worked as an anesthesiologist.

As a student at the prestigious Sidwell Friends School, he and several classmates called for the schools desegregation, colleagues said. Although their initial efforts were unsuccessful, the school did eventually desegregate. Malia Obama graduated from the same high school on Friday.

Grabill spent his undergraduate years at Yale University, and received a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1967.

After school, he started working as a legal aid fellow at the federal Office of Economic Opportunity. He got involved in a slew of legal battles, including one in Southern California to secure territorial and water rights for Native Americans.

Grabill eventually moved to West Virginia in the 1970s, and soon scored a major legal victory. As a group of women struggled to start a womens health clinic, he argued the states restrictive policies ignored the Roe v. Wade decision on abortion, and an appeals court agreed.

He ended up marrying one of the women starting the clinic, Dorothy Battenfeld.

He just kept up this passion for wanting to help people who were less fortunate, his wife said. I think all of us want to continue doing that.

In 1981, Grabill began working with California Rural Legal Assistance and became managing attorney for the Santa Rosa office. His litigation forced government response to housing issues around Sonoma, Napa, Humboldt, and Mendocino counties.

One of his notable cases was a 1989 settlement with the city of Healdsburg that resulted in providing and zoning sites for 500 apartments.

After leaving the California Rural Legal Assistance group in 1995, he co-founded Sonoma County Housing Advocacy Group, where he acted as an attorney up until his death. He was fierce, argumentative, and sometimes a bull in a china shop as he took on city officials, colleagues said.

But Grabills resolve was just a reflection of his own zeal for the cause, said Stephen Harper, co-chairman of the Housing Advocacy Group and longtime friend.

Unfortunately, our community lost a very compassionate, caring human being when it came to housing for those less fortunate, Harper said. I dont believe we can replace him. To do what he did, theres no money in it. You do it because you care. And thats hard to replace, if not impossible.

Grabill is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and daughter, Jane, both of Santa Rosa, along with daughters Holly Rhodes of San Francisco, Megan Rhodes of Santa Rosa and son, Christopher Grabill, of Santa Rosa.

Register city editor Kevin Courtney contributed to this story.
An 80-year-old woman was sent to the hospital with major injuries via helicopter after a wreck on Mount St. Helena on Tuesday afternoon, according to Calistoga Fire.

The older model Volkswagen Beetle went off the roadway for an unknown reason and hit a tree around 11:58 p.m., said Napa County Fire Capt. Specialist Russell West.

The Mount St. Helena wreck required extrication of the woman, said Calistoga Fire Chief Steve Campbell. AMR transported the woman to the landing zone at the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga, where a REACH 1 air ambulance picked her up and transported her to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Campbell said.
While the Napa LGBTQ community and allies were still in the midst of celebrating Napa Valley Pride, the news of the shooting in Orlando was announced  49 people dead, targeted during Latin night at a gay dance club.

We held the pride dance on Sunday, which was just hours after we got the news of the shooting, said Robbie Doughty, also known as DJ Rotten Robbie. That was emotional.

People came to the dance because they felt the need to be around other people, he said. There was a lot of crying as well as dancing, he said, and every song held new meaning.

When I played I Will Survive, it was different and Ill always think of it that way. I played Stronger (What Doesnt Kill You) by Kelly Clarkson, and it changed  theres a new meaning to everything now to me.

The LGBTQ community came together again on Tuesday at LGBTQ Connection in Napa to connect and process the tragedy. Were not here to blame, were here to heal, said Ian Stanley, LGBTQ Connection program director.

Tonight is here just to be together as human beings, echoed Leslie Medine, co-founder of On The Move. We cant stop coming out and being together, she said. That would be the worst thing to do.

Instead of standing with candles, the gathering encouraged people to talk in small groups about how theyre feeling at the moment and about what they need.

People were scattered around the grounds of LGBTQ Connection, some tucked between trees, others sitting in circles  some people remained silent while others shared their feelings openly.

Wrapped in a rainbow flag, wearing a PRIDE hat and huddled next to her partner was Graycie Talamantes, tears occasionally streaming down her face. Before I got here I did feel kinda silly for feeling so emotional about all this because I dont know any of those people (who were killed), but it could have been any of us, she said. It shouldnt have happened, especially during Pride Month.

Talamantes, who is from San Francisco but now resides in Napa, said that she had been crying all day at work on Monday, but nobody really understood. The talk drifted to conversations about guns and politics, she said, but its bigger than that.

We shouldnt feel scared to go in our own safe spaces, Talamantes said. The LGBTQ community only has limited places they can feel safe like LGBTQ Connection and a few gay bars in San Francisco, so for a safe place like Pulse, the nightclub attacked, to be targeted is scary, she said. I didnt even want to come tonight, I felt scared but then I knew I wanted to see everybody.

I hope we can turn this negative into a positive and bring about some sort of change, Doughty said.

Stanley reflected on when the idea of having an LGBTQ center in Napa was still being discussed  when there was a question whether or not Napa needed one. Back then, the kids who were contributing to the discussion drew a black line around the center  a fence for safety, he said.

Even on Tuesday, Stanley said that he wondered whether or not it would be safe to put the rainbow flag up. He put it up anyway  it flew proudly in front of the center, welcoming the roughly 140 people who showed up to the gathering.

We cant let that fear make our decisions for us, he said. This is going to be a place of action. Were not just a place of being silent.

Just 30 minutes later in downtown Napa, about half the people from the LGBTQ gathering and others gathered at Veterans Memorial Park on Main Street for a candlelight vigil. Calpulli Nanahuatzin, an Aztec dance group, began the vigil with the lighting of candles, offerings of good intention and a spiritual dance. As moonlight took over the sky, people gathered in a large circle, holding candles and reading the names of those who died in the Orlando shooting.

There was a big community of Puerto Ricans in Orlando and it could have been me, said Mari Martinez Serrano, a librarian at St. Helena Public Library. Martinez Serrano, who is from Puerto Rico, said that she knew three of the people who were killed from when they attended Sacred Heart University together. They came to the United States for a better life  for freedom  and ended up being killed, she said. Its disappointing.

She said shes left questioning: How can we avoid this? How can we make this tragedy into action? How can we make America that land of freedom?

The fear my mom has around my safety as a Queer Latino is abundantly real, said Eliseo Rivas, program coordinator at LGBTQ Connection. Its not just one community that is affected, he said, its everyone. In order to heal from this incident, LGBTQ, Muslim, and Latino people will need to come together to build a united community, Rivas said.

Josie Jenkins said she has been working for years trying to make the community safer for the people who identify as LGBTQ. Jenkins said that something like this happening makes you realize how fragile that safety is. All I keep thinking is it could have been here.

It just breaks my heart, said Beth Nelsen. Now 42, Nelsen said that thinking about those kids reminded her about when she spent more time in clubs when she came out as a lesbian at age 20, celebrating, being ourselves, thinking were in the safest place in the world. Its terrifying, she said.

Although she knows people who feel less safe since the news came out, Nelsen said that it just makes her want to be louder.

Ive been out for 22 years, and Im not going back in the closet. Its hard to breathe in the closet.
Napa County government will move into the future with a familiar figure as its new county executive officer  Leanne Link.

Link has been assistant county executive officer for more than three years. On Aug. 27, she will take the helm of an organization with a $449 million budget and more than 1,400 employees.

The Board of Supervisors announced Tuesday it has appointed Link as successor to Nancy Watt. Watt announced last week she will leave the county executive officer position after a 12-year tenure.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Alfredo Pedroza talked about the seamless transition that Link will provide when she starts overseeing the countys day-to-day operations.

Were going to continue to run efficiently and be well-organized, Pedroza said during a break in Tuesdays Board of Supervisors meeting.

But he sees Link as being more than a status quo appointment amid a changing world. He talked about breaking new ground in such areas as collaborating with cities and further building relationships with the public, industry groups and neighborhood groups.

The county has to adapt, Pedroza said.

Pedroza cited Links fiscal knowledge. On Monday, she presented to the Board of Supervisors the overview of the proposed $449 million, 2016-17 county budget.

I am honored to serve our county in this new role, Link said in a press release. Napa County is a unique place and Im pleased to be a part of the community. To be invited to lead the organization is a privilege.

Next week, the Board of Supervisors could approve a contract with Link. Her salary is to be $244,609 annually, compared to Watts salary of $257,487, county officials said.

Before coming to Napa County, Link worked for Shasta County for 16 years in various roles. She served at the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency administrative director from 2007 to 2013.

The Board of Supervisors didnt take long to come up with Watts successor. Supervisors met in a closed session on Monday that Pedroza said lasted from an hour to an hour-and-a-half.

Supervisor Keith Caldwell said last week the county had the option of doing a nationwide search for the position or appointing someone from within the organization.

Ive always been supportive of trying to grow an organization from within, Caldwell said. I think we have the depth within our organization that we can pull from within.

Sometimes you dont know what youre getting when you choose a person from a national search, Caldwell said. The person may not fit.

The Board of Supervisors also turned to within the organization when it hired Watt as county executive officer 12 years ago. Watt joined the county in 1997 as a management analyst.

Link has a bachelor of science degree in accountancy from National University. She has a senior executive credential through the California State Association of Counties Institute.

She graduated from Leadership Napa Valley and sits on the programs Board of Directors. Leadership Napa Valley teaches participants about local government, business, the health industry, tourism, agriculture and other topics over nine months.
The Suscol Intertribal Council is planning its 23rd Annual Pow-wow next month on the grounds of the Veterans Home of California in Yountville.

The event will be Saturday and Sunday, July 9-10, at the Veterans Home Picnic Grounds, 100 California Drive, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

The Suscol Intertribal Council invites everyone to celebrate the lives and complexity of this region's first peoples. Tribes from this area as well as dancers from many different tribes of North American will share tradition and culture, including songs, drumming and dancing.

The event is free. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on or if you plan to stay longer, a shade awning. There are plenty of shaded picnic tables. There will be food and Native American crafts for sale. No drugs or alcohol are permitted.

The master of ceremonies will offer explanations of the celebration throughout the weekend. Drumming and dancing will be from at 11 a.m-6 p.m. each day.

For information about donations, vendor space or to volunteer, call 707-256-3561 or email: suscol@suscol.net. The website is suscolcouncil.org.

The event is sponsored by Suscol Intertribal Council with funding from the Napa County Mental Health Divisions Mental Health Service Act Prevention and Early Intervention component.
This one hits home.

Thats what people say when a tragedy feels personal.

Its what they say when a personal connection, be it geography, race, sexual orientation or religion, to one of many mass shootings in the U.S. each year, finally penetrates the numbness and makes way for real, genuine anger.

Maybe you were an alum of Virginia Tech or a parent hit especially hard by Sandy Hook.

The mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando hits home for me, and unfortunately, thats the third time Ive said those words in the past three years.

Even worse is admitting that only three of these common occurrences have moved me to this level of grief, prevented me from being able to move on with my life and focus on daily responsibilities.

I moved to Napa Valley in 2001, but Central Florida is where I grew up, where I lived from age two to 18. Id been to Pulse in the past, and many of my friends frequented it.

Less than two months ago, I was in Austin, Texas at a LGBT club, similar to Pulse, celebrating the nuptials of my gay best friend from Orlando. I remember feeling completely safe, completely happy.

But ever since I woke up on Sunday morning, Ive felt completely helpless and guilty.

Helpless because I couldnt jump in line to donate blood, because I couldnt physically band together with my city to overcome hate, and because I didnt yet know whether I knew any of the victims.

Guilty because I wasnt there, because I left Orlando 10 years ago and moved thousands of miles away, and for feeling so utterly heartbroken when my friends and family were actually living it.

The feelings are all too familiar. Just over three years ago, a friend came up to me at work and asked if my friends and family were all safe. I didnt know what they were talking about.

Didnt you hear about the bombing?

Boston, another home, my birthplace, my fathers birthplace, where I spent many family vacations, four years of college and then some, was attacked on what I fondly remembered as one of the citys happiest days of the year.

It hit home again last August, when a former Emerson College classmates girlfriend was shot on live television in Virginia, reporting the news like I and my colleagues do every day.

Each time its the same. I struggle to make sense of it, search down a black hole for answers and solutions, and make a donation that never feels like enough.

Then days or maybe weeks later, the process starts over.

Community after community after community gets hit with terror. I fear that soon these events will have hit home so many times, that instead of taking action, we will all simply accept that this is the violence-riddled world we live in, not just one of the darkest periods of American history.

And then one day, there will be no more safe places that feel like home.

Jess Lander

Deer Park
A San Diego environmental advocate who mired the city of Calistoga in years of expensive litigation over water issues is now turning his attention to St. Helena.

Water Audit California, which lists Grant Reynolds as a director, filed a claim with the city of St. Helena on May 19 alleging that the city has failed to meet its bypass requirements to protect fish habitat downstream of Bell Canyon Reservoir, which the city operates under a state permit.

The claim threatens legal action unless the city agrees to the following demands within 50 days: comply with the bypass requirements identified in the claim, stop diverting water to the reservoir between April 16 and Nov. 14, post online the dams daily operational data and water flows, pledge to install flow monitoring equipment by November, and undertake a stream and fish study to determine bypass levels that would be adequate to protect fish downstream.

(Water Audit) is looking for reservoirs that stand out as not being operated in accordance with the law, Reynolds said Wednesday in a phone interview. And St. Helenas reservoir appears to be one of those.

The St. Helena City Council will discuss the claim in closed session at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 16, at City Hall.

The city is carefully evaluating the claim asserted by Water Audit California, and will respond appropriately in due course, Mayor Alan Galbraith said Tuesday in a statement.

The claim alleges that the city failed to install monitoring equipment that it was directed to install nearly 40 years ago at Bell Canyon dam, which was built on Bell Creek in the late 1950s. According to the claim, the State Water Resources Control Board determined in 2001 that the city was violating its bypass requirements, and admonished the city in the early 2010s for exceeding its diversion limits at the dam.

Although the claimant has made specific and repeated inquiry, the City has produced no documents that indicate that the City has any present intension to perform the necessary monitoring improvements, perform a stream and fish study, or reform its dam operations to the needs of the public trust and the 1989 Orders of the trustee agency, the claim states.

The claim accuses the city of routinely violating its minimum bypass requirements, which dictate how much water must be diverted into the creek during each rainy season and prohibit any water from being diverted into the reservoir between April 16 and Nov. 14.

The claim points to stream surveys conducted by the Department of Fish and Wildlife showing that a species of rainbow trout that the state and federal governments consider threatened used to spawn downstream. But after the dam was built, the downstream population of that fish dwindled over the years, until a 1990 survey found none at all.

Reynolds is well-known in Calistoga, where city officials have accused him of entangling the city in prolonged, expensive and unfounded litigation. In February the Calistoga City Council lamented the roughly $1.5 million the city had spent defending itself from water-related litigation filed by Reynolds, his attorney William McKinnon of Grass Valley, and Debbie OGorman of Calistoga. Reynolds said one of those cases, involving OGormans water rights, is still pending in Napa Superior Court.

On Wednesday, Calistoga Mayor Chris Canning said he and Calistoga City Manager Dylan Feik are reaching out to their counterparts in St. Helena to offer first our condolences and second our assistance.

What I can say from our experience is be prepared for a very long and very expensive process, and dont expect it to be always based in logic or reason, Canning said.

A 2011 profile in The Weekly Calistogan recounted Reynolds colorful life story, which he said included stints in surfboard manufacturing and international marijuana smuggling.

Reynolds financial mentor in the surfboard business was Frank Hickerson, whose son Matt lives in Calistoga. Matt Hickerson and Debbie OGorman engaged in a legal dispute with the city of Calistoga, alleging that a 1939 water agreement with OGormans family gave them the rights to the water at Calistogas Kimball Dam.

As a fly fisherman, Reynolds said he was moved by old photos of steelhead that used to be found downstream of the dam. He got involved in the couples lawsuit in 2009, and the allegations grew in scope, claiming that Calistoga had failed to bypass enough water into Kimball Creek toward spawning grounds for salmon and trout.

My primary focus was to do something for the fish, he said.

In a separate lawsuit, Reynolds accused Calistoga of improperly spending Measure A flood control funds on a water storage tank.

Calistoga eventually did agree to bypass more water into Kimball Creek, but claimed it was in response to pressure from the state, not Reynolds litigation. However, a judge ruled that there was a causal relationship between the citys actions and Reynolds litigation, and ordered the city to pay $575,203 in legal fees to McKinnon, who had represented Reynolds in some of his cases. McKinnon had originally asked for up to $2.8 million.

The same judge later scolded McKinnon for trying to collect on the judgment last June by illegally filing a writ of execution on the citys checking account at WestAmerica Bank at Calistoga, resulting in a fund transfer that left the city with only 1 cent in its account.

The funds were transferred back to the city, which ultimately paid McKinnon $555,767, the amount of the original judgment minus almost $20,000 the city had spent on legal fees related to the bank transfer.

Reynolds claim against St. Helena states that Water Audit will seek reasonable attorney fees and costs if litigation becomes necessary. Reynolds said McKinnon represents Water Audit.

According to the California secretary of states website, Water Audit California was incorporated in March, with a Sacramento address. Reynolds and the claim describe Water Audit as a public benefit corporation.

According to Reynolds, Water Audit has just gotten off the ground in the last few months, but has already made inquiries with probably a couple hundred dam operators throughout the state.

What we want to do is protect the environment, and one of the ways to do that is to make people, including municipal corporations, obey the law as it pertains to the environment, Reynolds said.

A protracted lawsuit would present another financial challenge for St. Helena, which is already struggling to pay for everyday city operations and has a long list of unfunded capital projects.

The 2016-2017 budget approved by the City Council on Tuesday sets aside $247,037 for litigation.
China Exclusive: China to send Change-4 to south pole of moons far-side, Xinhua

China aims to send the Change-4 lunar probe to land in the south pole region of the far side of the moon in 2018, according to China National Space Administration (CNSA). Scientists plan to send a relay satellite for Change-4 to the halo orbit of the Earth-Moon Lagrange Point L2 in late May or early June 2018, and then launch the Change-4 lunar lander and rover to the Aitken Basin of the south pole region about half a year later, said Liu Tongjie, deputy director of the CNSAs Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center. We plan to land Change-4 at the Aitken Basin because the region is believed to be a place with great scientific research potential, Liu told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.
NATO Defence Ministers agreed on Wednesday (15 June 2016) to do more to project stability beyond the Alliances borders. Today, we decided that we will develop a recommendation for NATO training and capacity building in Iraq. Our aim is to reach agreement at the Warsaw Summit, said the Secretary General. He underlined that this initiative will complement NATO training of Iraqi officers in Jordan.

Ministers also considered providing direct support to the Counter-ISIL Coalition with AWACS surveillance aircraft. NATOs military authorities have now been tasked to provide advice. Turning to maritime activities, ministers discussed NATOs deployment in the Aegean Sea. This deployment has helped make a difference and it continues to be effective, said the Secretary General.

Mr. Stoltenberg noted that NATO is working to convert Operation Active Endeavour into a broader maritime security operation, encompassing tasks such as supporting situational awareness, countering terrorism and contributing to capacity building. This would create the right platform for a possible NATO role in the Central Mediterranean. And could support the EUs Operation Sophia, building on our successful cooperation with the EU in the Aegean. Our military authorities will soon make recommendations on this, said Mr. Stoltenberg.

The Secretary General welcomed the adoption of the UN resolution on the Libyan arms embargo, noting that NATO Military Authorities will take this into consideration when providing advice on the transformation of Operation Active Endeavour. He also highlighted that NATO continues to work with partners in the Middle East and North Africa. The Alliance is supporting Tunisia in areas such as counter-terrorism, special operation and border security, and working with Jordan on cyber defence and countering roadside bombs. Mr. Stoltenberg added that NATO is committed to do more to support partners, because when our neighbours are stable, we are more secure.
Germany restricts visas for Iranian passport holders

Belarus Foreign Minister visits Iran

Iran expands sanctions against EU

Ardshinbank is the only company from Armenia with assigned ratings from the big three credit rating agencies

Armenia Security Council chief receives OSCE needs assessment mission members

Kremlin comments on deployment of American division in Romania

Iltalehti: draft bill on Finland's membership in NATO allows deployment of nuclear weapons

Kremlin informs about preparation for Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan leaders meeting

Armenia envoy briefs Costa Rica president on South Caucasus situation

Mercedes confirms intention to leave Russia

Air-raid alarm sirens to be installed in Estonia

Armenia legislature head: PM will go to Sochi on October 31, meet with Russia, Azerbaijan presidents

US State Department: Armenia, Azerbaijan should decide whether Putin's invitation would be useful to them

US transfers to Ukraine first 2 NASAMS complexes

Armenia National Assembly speaker: Phrase about signing peace treaty by years end is tacit deadline

Armenia parliament speaker: We have 240 casualties as result of Azerbaijan attack

Armenia FM in Vatican, meets with Substitute for Holy See Secretariat of State for General Affairs

Israel president gives US intel on Iran UAVs in Ukraine

Copper prices are rising

World oil prices falling

Armenia MPs approve several changes to laws

FM: Armenia has never lost its belief in humanity despite facing many challenges, calamities

Canada embassy to soon be opened in Armenia

Biden: Russia would be making serious mistake to use tactical nuclear weapon

Margarita Simonyan says she is banned from entering Armenia

Newspaper: Artsakh Public Council establishment causes concern in political arena

First sneakers for horses created in US

India fines Google for $113 million

Mass dedicated to peace in Armenia is celebrated at Vatican

Biden says Russia would make 'serious mistake' if it deploys tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Romania plans to intensify talks on Black Sea and military purchases

Karekin II and Aram I refuse to participate in World Armenian Forum

IMF Director: Ukraine's need for external financing could reach $5 billion month

Turkey continues to beat out gas discount from Russia and payment deferral from Gazprom

Alen Simonyan refuses to participate in fifth meeting of Russian-Armenian Lazarev Club

UN Security Council to meet at Russia's request over accusations that Iran is supplying drones to Russia

Leading Wall Street bankers warn of recession in US and Europe

Armenian FM tells Vatican secretary of state about Azerbaijani aggression

Secretary of Armenian Security Council holds telephone conversation with Biden's aide

IEA head: World still needs Russian oil to flow into the market

Norwegian police arrest man on suspicion of spying for Russia

Ambassador-at-Large meets with Personal Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office

EU to offer banks to offer mandatory instant payments in euros

Ambassador: Active efforts of Armenian authorities are registering regress in Armenian-Russian relations

Saudi minister: Saudi Arabia and US will overcome unjustified spat

Zatulin: My ban on entering Armenia coincides with trilateral meeting planned in Russia

Rishi Sunak vows to fix 'mistakes' of Liz Truss

MFA comments on information about meeting of special envoys of Armenia and Turkey

Daily Sabah: Armenian, Turkish special representatives next meeting planned in Turkey

The Telegraph: US President Biden mispronounces Rishi Sunak's name

Zelenskyy proposes creating platforms for the 'de-occupation' of Transnistria and Abkhazia

'Armenia' bloc deputy: Nikol Pashinyan and Suren Papikyan are lying

Dollar falls, euro rises

Stanislav Zass discusses with Lavrov situation in CSTO zone of responsibility

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Klaar: EU actively engaged in Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process at all levels

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Azerbaijan prepares for peace with Armenia but dramatically increases military budget

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Azerbaijan military aggression against Armenia is discussed at Francophonie Parliamentary Assembly conference (PHOTOS)

Peskov says details of gas hub with Turkey were being worked out

Konstantin Zatulin on ban on his entry into Armenia: I see it as insulting move

Putin's spokesman says building wall on Russian-EU borders is nonsense

Turkey begins its part of work on gas hub agreement with Russia

Kremlin responds to Macron's appeal to Pope to negotiate with Putin

Millliyet: Turkish and Finnish delegations hold talks on NATO membership in Ankara

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Rishi Sunak takes office as Prime Minister of Great Britain

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YEREVAN.  It is not the first time that a Sargsyan-Aliyev talk will be conducted at the initiative of one of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group co-chairing countries (Russia, US, and France); there is no disagreement.

Vice President of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, Eduard Sharmazanov, on Wednesday told the abovementioned to reporters at the NA. He noted this reflecting on the news that the OSCE is not participating in the preparations for the trilateral summitbetween the presidents of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijanthat will be held on June 20 in Russia, and with respect to finding a resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

In his words, the respective statement means that the organizer of this talk is the Russian side, and Russia is an OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing country.

In Sharmazanovs words, the three co-chairing countries have noted numerous times, and at the highest level, that they have a single position on the Karabakh issue.

[But] the agreements were not implemented because Azerbaijan continues to violate agreements and make deconstructive statements, including at the presidents level, added the deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament.

In his words, to achieve progress, the parties to the conflict need to respect three precepts which they have adopted in the negotiation process.

At any rate, negotiating is better than not negotiating, stressed Eduard Sharmazanov.
YEREVAN.  We either will slam the doorwhich I dont consider to be right; that would be a demarche, or we will gradually work and see to it that Nagorno-Karabakh becomes a full party to the talks.

Vice President of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, Eduard Sharmazanov, on Wednesday told the aforesaid to reporters at the NA. He stated this responding to the query on what will be the reaction of the Armenian side, if the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) does not join the peace talks to resolve the Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan.

Its not the first time that the Armenian parties [to the conflict] have said that Karabakh should become a full-fledged party to talks, stressed Sharmazanov. Karabakh is certainly engaged in the negotiations today, but not as a full party.

Its no coincidence that the [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group] co-chairs have noted that Karabakh should become a party at the key final phase of the [peace] agreement; this problem cant be solved without Karabakh. If the co-chairs are speaking about the ceasefire [agreement] in 1994 being open-ended, we need to say that, first of all, the NKR signed the ceasefire [agreement] in 1994.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Monitoring Committee Co-Rapporteurs Cezar Florin Preda, and Stefan Schennach.

The guests noted the successful development of cooperation between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan, the latters media reported citing the official website of the Azerbaijan president.

The interlocutors also discussed the avenues for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The PACE co-rapporteurs are in Azerbaijan on a three-day visit.

Aside from talks with Azerbaijani officials, they will meet also with the civil society and media representatives of the country.
YEREVAN.  A regular meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Defense Ministers Council was convened Wednesday in Moscow.

A delegation from Armenia, led by Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, also participated in this event in the Russian capital city.

The Ministry of Defense informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that the discussants considered over twenty matters, and with respect to the further improvement of CIS military cooperation.

The participants in the meeting also outlined the joint events which the armed forces of the CIS member countries will hold in 2017, and conferred on several other military issues.

On the same day, Ohanyan had a tete-a-tete with Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu.

They discussed the avenues for strengthening defense cooperation and expanding technico-military collaboration as well as matters of mutual interest, and aimed at the further deepening of strategic allied relations between Armenia and Russia.
YEREVAN.  The Republic of Armenia State Revenue Committee (RA SRC) has explained when and why certain goods were exported from Armenia to Azerbaijan.

In response to the respective query by Armenian News-NEWS.am, the SRC Information and Public Relations Department specifically informed as follows:

On 23.06.2015, 400 bullets 5.6 mm bullets, with a customs value of USD 84.55, were exported from Armenia, by the RA Shooting Federation, to Azerbaijan ([to the] European Games Organizing Committee).

The news about the exporting of goods from Armenia to Azerbaijan had caused quite a stir on the Internet.
YEREVAN. - The organization of the high-level meeting on Karabakh under the auspices of Russia is fraught with challenges for Armenia, since Moscow managed to blackmail the Armenian side, trying to move the talks out of the OSCE format to the Russian platform.

Expert of the Center of Political and International Studies, Ruben Mehrabyan, told the aforementioned to Armenian News  NEWS.am.

In his words, this step shifts  at the expense of Armenias interests - the philosophy of the compromise-based settlement to the field of the Azerbaijani-Russian bargain. The analyst thus thinks that the Armenian side should refuse to take part in the meeting.

Mehrabyan expressed conviction that during the tripartite meeting in Saint Petersburg, the Armenian side will be forced to make concessions, this resulting in the increase of the Russian presence in the region, and first of all in Armenia, whereas the country will get nothing in return.

The tripartite agreement between the Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents is slated for June 20 in Saint Petersburg.
YEREVAN. - The community enlargement in Armenia will reduce the administrations in villages, but this does not at all suppose unemployment, First Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration, Vache Terteryan, said in the parliament Wednesday at the discussion of the Draft Law on Administrative-Territorial Division of Armenia. The bill suggests enlarging twelve other communities in addition to the current three.

The new communities are no longer composed of a village and a city but several villages or a city with its nearby villages.

The administrative staff will be reduced on the ground. But on the released capital, the new administration can recruit other workers of more necessary professions.

You can visit any village composed of 300-400 people and ask who they need more: administration which has nothing to do, kindergarten caregivers, streetlight inspectors or teachers. That is, the working places will not decline; they will just become more necessary, the Deputy Minister said.
YEREVAN. - A consultation on the 2016-2025 draft strategy of Armenian territorial development took place in the Armenian government Wednesday. The meeting, presided by Armenian PM Hovik Abrahamyan, was also attended by the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Piotr Switalski, a number of EU representatives, experts and heads of agencies concerned.

Minister of Armenias Territorial Administration and Development, Davit Lokyan, introduced in detail the 2016-2025 draft strategy of Armenian territorial development, the main goals of the document, its principles and expected results.

In Lokyans words, the main strategic goal is to raise the compatibility in all the provinces, considering their internal potential and allowing more expansive integration with national and international economies. Besides, according to him, it is necessary to ensure high-level proportionality in the regions, attaching special attention to the most poorly developed regions and border communities.

The Minister also noted that among the key objectives is also the improvement of territorial development policy and practice on the basis of sustainable use of resources in the development planning and implementation processes.

Apart from this, Lokyan informed that the draft strategy was developed jointly with the EU. The first practical project of territorial development will be drawn out in 2016-2017 and be implemented in 2017-2020, he added.

For his part, PM Hovik Abrahamyan attached importance to the presented document, whose implementation, according to him, will contribute to the proportional territorial development.

Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Piotr Switalski underscored the importance of the draft strategy, welcoming the governments policy aimed at the development of communities. The EU Ambassador noted that the EU is ready to provide additional financial support to Armenia for the implementation of the projects aimed at territorial development.
YEREVAN. - Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA) will pay off all debts to the power plants by August 1, Economic and Financial Director of the ENA, Armen Arshakyan, told journalists Wednesday.

According to him, the 12-month debt in the amount of 23.4 bln AMD (approx. $49 mln), which the ENA owes to the power plants since1 August 2015, must be fully paid off.

This relates to overdue, and not current situational debts, which are occasionally formed and paid off, Arshakyan noted.

The Public Services Regulatory Committee of Armenia has filed an application to lower the electricity tariff by 2.58 AMD, or 5.9 percent in average, for all groups of consumers. The daytime tariff will be lowered by 5.3 percent up to 46.2 AMD per 1 kWh (approx. 9,7 cents) for households.
YEREVAN. - Azerbaijan is doing its best to keep the topic of Nagorno-Karabakh closed, trying to ban the entry of different countrys political and cultural figures to Artsakh in order to be able to carry out its propaganda easily.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, who received participants of the 15th conference organized by Global Bridges Young Leaders, said the aforementioned at the meeting Wednesday. The meeting was also attended by the German Ambassador to Armenia Matthias Kiesler, Chairman of Global Bridges Hans Albrecht and organizations Vice Chairman Beate Lindemann.

The President welcomed the guests, attaching importance to the communication with the youth, which, according to him, is a good opportunity to discuss the current challenges with the new generation and get familiarized with their innovative ideas. Literally several days ago I had a meeting with the members of the European Youth Forum Council exactly in this hall, and we had a very interesting conversation. I strongly believe that the Global Bridges will work effectively in Armenia. I am aware of the fact that since its establishment, your organization has been called to activate the dialogue with the representatives of different continents, deepen relations, strengthen cooperation as well as promote youth activity. The goals of the organization are fully in line with the policy adopted by us: we are constantly working towards involving young people in decision-making at different state institutions, and, more importantly, give them the active role of implementing those decisions, Sargsyan said, briefing the guests on the mechanisms used to carry out that work with the youth in legislative and executive bodies or party activity.

The President also attached importance to the fact the visit to Armenia gives the conference participants an opportunity to get familiarized with the history of the Armenian people and visit the countrys sights. He also proposed them to visit the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh). I am [also] aware that in your discussions you touched on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I am sure that that visit will be the most correct way to form an opinion on the country, its people and authorities, since Azerbaijan is doing its best to keep the topic of Nagorno-Karabakh closed, trying to ban the entry of different countrys political and cultural figures to Artsakh in order to be able to carry out its propaganda easily, Sargsyan noted.

The President also expressed willingness to answer the participants questions, which related to the current stage of talk on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the existing issues and prospects, gross violation by Azerbaijan of the Ceasefire Agreement of 1994 in early April, unprecedented aggression against the Karabakh people, etc.

By the end of the meeting, Serzh Sargsyan wished good luck to the conference organized by Global Bridge in Yerevan.
YEREVAN. - The Armenian National Assembly (NA) has launched the discussion on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) loan for the repair of streets in Gyumri, the second largest city of Armenia.

The loans and grants will be earmarked for the repair of 16 km streets and pavements, as well as installment of power-saving LED street lamps.

The 14,6 million euro loan will be provided for 15 years, with a grace period of three years and at the rate of 6-month Euribor +1 percent.

Besides the loan, 7,3 million euro investment grant and another 19,4 million euro grant for technical support will be allocated for the program.

Small part of these means (160,000 euro) will be earmarked for the consultations on the organization of street parking lots.
The discussions on the Electoral Code must be speeded up as much as possible so that the support from donors is not late.

Minister - Chief of Armenia Government Staff Davit Harutyunyan told the aforementioned to journalists Wednesday after the subsequent meeting of the government, opposition and civil society representatives on the draft Electoral Code in 4+4+4 format.

The authorities have no principal objections against the voting solely by ID cards, or gathering the fingerprints of the entire population in several months, he added.

Apparently, less time we have, more equipment will be needed. Now our international partners state that the funding is not ruled out, so if we agree on the amendments to the [Electoral] Code, we must include them as soon as possible to manage getting funding and utilizing it, Harutyunayan noted.

The new Electoral Code was adopted in the parliament on May 25. The parliamentary elections are slated for the beginning of April 2017.
Orange County Sheriffs deputies along with Florida Fish and Wildlife officials search for boy attacked by alligator at Walt Disney World

Orange County Sheriffs deputies along with Florida Fish and Wildlife officials search for boy attacked by alligator at Walt Disney World Photo credit: OCSO

UPDATE: At 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Orange County Sheriff Jerry L. Demmings announced that the body of the 2-year-old attacked by an alligator was recovered fully intact in the immediate area were he was last seen.





The child, identified as Lane Graves of

Elkhorn, Nebraska

, was found in approximately 6 feet of water several yards from his last known location.





There is no question in my mind that the child was drowned by the alligator, Demmings said. But the cause of death will have to be officially confirmed by the Medical Examiners Office.





Monday night, Lanes parents, Matt and Mellisa Graves, were sitting at the beach-like area with Lane and his 4-year-old sibling. According to Demmings, Lane was just at the edge of the water when he was attacked by the alligator.



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Demmings said that Lanes parents were somewhat relieved that their sons body was found fullly intact.



So far, five alligators have been captured by FWC in the Seven Seas Lagoon since the attack. Those alligators will undergo a necropsy to determine if any were the alligator that attacked Lane.



Alligators are opportunistic predators with an indiscriminate appetite that includes fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and even fruit. Alligators often consume food that can not be eaten in one bite by first allowing it to rot.



Previous Story:



LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida  A 2-year-old boy was attacked by an alligator at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night.
MELBOURNE BEACH, Florida  Below Deck reality TV star Kate Chastain was arrested by Melbourne Beach police on Monday, June 13, 2016, and charged with Domestic Violence Battery by Strangulation, according to Brevard County Sheriffs records.

The Chief Stewardess on Bravo was arrested after her girlfriend went to work with bruising on her arm which led to a domestic violence investigation. According to police, the 33-year-old seality TV star bit her drunk girlfriend, placed a knee on her head, choked her, and tried to stop her from breathing, TMZ reported





Chastain was released from the Brevard County Jail the next day on a $5,000 bond.





Co-star Captain Lee tweeted that he was shocked by the news and that he wouldnt rush to judge, nor will I ignore the facts when I actually do find out what they are. You guys probably know more than I do, but I am stunned.


BREVARD COUNTY, Florida  Brevard County School Board Chairman Andy Ziegler took the opportunity at Tuesdays School Board meeting to defend his disruption of Dean Paterakis three minutes of public speaking time at a previous meeting last May that made national headlines.





[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goRukAFLdqA]





The lengthy, prepared speeches of both Ziegler and Paterakis follow:





ZIEGLER:





In light of previous events, Im just going to make sure that there is an understand of public comment. Its been said in the past by a previous chair, that our meetings are not public meetings. By law, they are business meetings being held in the public in the sunshine.



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It was even alluded to that we should hold our business portion of the meeting at another time so we can get right to public comment. That is not the purpose of the meeting. Although we are glad to hear input from our citizens of items of public concern relative to this organization. And of course, we will always continue to do that.





Up until about 2014, there was no law requiring that public comment even be part of our business meeting. We have always done that. I believe all the government agencies in the county have done that. Im assuming that hasnt always been the case.





Although with that privilege of speaking come rules  parameters for speaking. In 2014, the Legislature, because apparently something happened somewhere, made a law that says that we must listen to speakers who want to speak to an agenda item. Which therefore means that that person needs to speak before something that we are going to vote on at that particular meeting.





Which is why sometimes we may re-arrange speakers, if we have an excessive number of speakers, so that we follow the law and allow that to happen.





Even though that new law is in place, the rules of speaking still apply to this meeting.





Our attorney, Harold Blistline, has done much research. As we know, this is a misunderstood portion of the meeting where people are not sure what the parameters are. Its been challenged in courts. Apparently numerous times. Mr. Blistline has given me some case law to recite. So maybe it will give some more clarity on public comment. These are from case law:





The public comment portion of the School Board meeting is a limited public forum for purpose of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. As such, regulations on speech during public comment must be reasonable and viewpoint neutral  but that is all they need to be.





There is a significant governmental interest in conducting orderly, efficient meetings of public bodies and the presiding officer has the authority and discretion to regulate speech that is irrelevant, repetitious, or disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes, the orderly conduct of the meeting. So long as the speaker is not stopped from speaking because the presiding officer disagrees with the viewpoint of the speaker.





Finally, the federal courts have consistently held that the prohibition of profane, abusive, or slanderous speech during the public comment portions of the meeting are requiring speakers to abide by the rules governing the public comment period do not violate free speech protections of the First Amendment  as they are reasonable and viewpoint neutral.





As I have said before, I believe that we are all advocates of children here, which is why we are all here. And therefore, we should all be good role models because there are frequently children that are in the audience watching us or may even be watching the videos that we post online.





As I understand, the Boy Scouts even, have to watch a public meeting for a civics badge or something of that nature  a citizens badge. And so, they frequently watch School Board meetings. Mr. Blistline, you commented to me that there was a ruling relevant to , I believe it was prayer, where the courts have ruled that we are an extension of the school for that aspect. Can you explain about that?





BLISTLINE:





Yes, sir. The courts have held that prayer proceedings in a school board meeting is unconstitutional because it is commonly known that children frequently in attendance at school board meetings, and are young and impressionable, and the courts are concerned about the children might consider the prayer, the speaking or the type of prayer at the organization to be endorsed by the governmental body. So therefore, prayer, to open a school board meeting, is not premitted under the Constitution. Because children are frequently going to be exposed to the meeting.





ZIEGLER:





And we all agree with that. And I think we all acknowledge that is a concern at our meetings. So, I we do believe in that.





While some may disagree with where I draw the line on speaking, most agree. Not everyone will agree with that decision. It doesnt matter where we draw the line. There will be people that disagree.





So, I ask that everyone be respectful of the rules with no profane, abusive, or slanderous speech. And please dont do anything to disrupt the meeting, and there will be no reason to cut off anybody at the microphone. I will, as I have before, give a warning. Whether you disagree or not, please heed the warning. And I hope that you will continue  at that point- respectfully to the attendees of the entire meeting and to the process of the meeting.





PATERAKIS:





What concerns me about the Board, and its attempt to silence citizens, especially after the recent arrest of our Brevard County principal, which validates my concerns. According to the affidavit, there were 14 movies which depicted young boys between the ages of approximately 8 and 12 years of age engaging in sexual activities, and each other, and adult males. There are more details, but are too graphic to share today.





Using medical words for male genitalia that we use in fifth and sixth grade sex education classroom is not a reason to violate my free speech because you find those were offensive. And slander is only slander if my statement is false and damaging.





So Amy Kneesy all the sudden wants to vet principal candidates as if she only just now found out that there are pedophiles in our schools. This behavior of the board  and its old and worn-out response that we made mistakes, we will do better is getting old with the citizens of Brevard. And I believe they are not going to fall for it any longer.





What concerns me is that the former School Board candidate, Denise Coyle, exposed these abuse issues and other grave issues three years ago. And although we were promised that things will be fixed, they havent. Employees with criminal records who are prohibited by law to work in Brevard Schools were working in our schools and no one was held accountable for hiring them.





There is another teacher, who Denise Coyle exposed, who was bullying and sexually harassing students. And when an eighteen-year employee, Louis Ruffalo, came to her and the students aide, and asked to have a meeting with the senior staff. He was fired for bringing the subject up.





This teacher, James Wilkin, is now moved to another school. I understand he continues to work now with elementary students instead of high schoolers. And I ask Brevard County why?





Just like principal Ricky Sheppard , who I believe had enough and his personnel file to exclude him from working with young children, is moved to another school and is promoted. And I ask why?





But back to the reason I was arrested the first time the last time I spoke. I came to ask why a teacher, who even by the Superintendents letter of reprimand writes, Due to the egregious and repetitious nature of this issue, we are invoking article 18, section O.





What is repetitious mean? What has he done before? How come we dont know this? I encourage you, every student, to Google Noisy Room and Brevard Schools and read all of the cases that they have come up with. Lets not just vet principles, lets vet all employees of Brevard Schools. And lets start with the employees that keep getting moved from one school to the next. I think that is a good start.





ZIEGLER:





That was probably one of your best speeches.





I wanted to also make a comment about something that was said. And it has been said repetitively about possibly the conflict between myself and the previous speaker from last meeting. Just so you all know, that speaker was 27th on the list and I elevated him to 3rd on the list. If there was a concern or I wanted to use a conflict, he would have remained 27th on the list. So, I believe in taking the high road and professionalism outweighs personal opinion.




This computer illustration depicts calculations of how space and time are twisted near the merging black holes that emitted the second gravitational wave event observed by LIGO. The horizon of the newborn black hole just after merger is the red, white and blue sphere; inside the horizon, nothing, including light, can escape. A person oriented along a red or blue line would feel his/her body twisted clockwise or counterclockwise because of differences in how space is dragged around the hole as it rotates. Calculations/image courtesy of CSUF undergraduate Haroon Khan; Geoffrey Lovelace, CSUF assistant professor of physics; and Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes collaboration.

Cal State Fullerton scientists have helped to identify a second direct detection of gravitational waves from a pair of black holes that collided approximately 1.4 billion years ago.

This second discovery of gravitational waves was observed Dec. 26, 2015 at 03:38:53 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)  7:38 p.m. Dec. 25, 2015 (PST)  by both of the twin Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors, located in Livingston, La., and Hanford, Wash.

LIGO scientists announced their latest research in the effort to detect gravitational waves today at the 228th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in San Diego.

The latest discovery, also published today in the journal Physical Review Letters, was made by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which includes the GEO Collaboration and the Australian Consortium for Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy, and the Virgo (European) Collaboration using data from the two LIGO detectors.

Cal State Fullerton gravitational-wave faculty researchers are Joshua Smith, associate professor of physics; Jocelyn Read and Geoffrey Lovelace, both assistant professors of physics  all members of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration  and Alfonso Agnew, professor of mathematics.

These CSUF scientists were key contributors to the first detection of gravitational waves, announced Feb. 11 by the National Science Foundation and LIGO Scientific Collaboration, a group of more than 1,000 scientists from universities across the U.S.  including CSUF  and in 14 other countries.

This first groundbreaking discovery was a milestone in physics and astronomy, confirming a major prediction of Albert Einsteins 1915 general theory of relativity and marking the beginning of the new field of gravitational-wave astronomy. Gravitational waves carry information about their origins and about the nature of gravity that cannot otherwise be obtained.

Second Gravitational-Wave Discovery

For this second discovery, physicists concluded that these gravitational waves were produced during the final moments of the merger of two black holes, in which a quantity of energy roughly equivalent to the mass of the sun was converted into gravitational waves. The detected signal comes from the last 27 orbits of the black holes before their merger.

With this observation of an unambiguous second binary black-hole merger, LIGO has entered into a phase of gravitational-wave astronomy, where we will now begin to understand how many black holes there are in the universe, what their masses and spins are, and how often they collide with each other to form even larger black holes, said Smith, CSUFs Dan Black Director of Gravitational-Wave Physics and Astronomy Center (GWPAC).

What makes this second discovery different from the previous discovery announced in February is that the black holes had much lower masses, Smith explained.

That means that LIGO could observe those lower mass black holes orbiting around each other many more times before merging, providing more stringent tests of some aspects of Einsteins general theory of relativity.

For Lovelace, LIGOs second observation of gravitational waves from merging black holes was in a way, even more impressive than the first, since the waves were much fainter this time.

This was only possible thanks to both exquisitely sensitive detectors and to sophisticated software that compared the detectors measurements with computer calculations of the black holes and the gravitational waves they created, said Lovelace, a computational relativist who uses supercomputers to simulate black-hole collisions.

This triumph doesnt just show that the first observation was no fluke. LIGO is a new sense that lets us learn about the universe while testing Einsteins theory under the most extreme conditions. This second observation has already given us a better idea about what kinds of black holes are out there and how often they merge. I cant wait to find out what LIGO observes next.

For this second discovery, Lovelace and colleagues from the Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes (SXS) collaboration provided numerical relativity calculations of the binary black-hole merger and compared them with the approximate computer models used to find the waves in the detector data. Lovelace and Smith also were reviewers for figures included in the journal article announcing the second discovery, and Lovelace developed some of the software used to create the figures, specifically code that filters the noise from the detector data. CSUF students also performed some of the numerical relativity calculations on the GWPAC supercomputer that helped to build and improve approximate models.

Additionally, Smith was one of the scientists who analyzed data to rule out potential noise sources and confirm that the LIGO observatories detected the second gravitational wave signal from a binary black-hole merger. He also provided comments and input to the editors for several drafts of the article announcing the latest results.

Read, an astrophysicist who works on gravitational waves from binary systems, helped configure the LIGO searches that found the first two gravitational-wave signals. She leads a LIGO group focusing on gravitational waves from binary systems that include neutron stars and is currently preparing a paper describing results from the search for these systems in LIGOs first observing run.

Astronomers also expect Advanced LIGO to observe neutron stars crashing together and perhaps neutron stars being torn apart by black holes. Thats particularly exciting because we think those gravitational-wave sources could also be sources of light for traditional telescopes and satellites, said Read.

The LIGO Observatories are funded by the National Science Foundation and were conceived, built, and are operated by Caltech and MIT. Both discoveries were made possible by the enhanced capabilities of Advanced LIGO, a major upgrade to the LIGO detectors that improved the sensitivity of the instruments, enabling a large increase in the volume of the universe probed.

Advanced LIGOs next data-taking run will begin in the fall. By then, further improvements in detector sensitivity are expected to allow LIGO to reach as much as 1.5 to 2 times more of the volume of the universe. The Virgo detector is expected to join in the latter half of the upcoming observing run.

We expect dozens of these detections as we improve our sensitivity in the next few years, Read added.

For more about the first gravitational wave discovery and CSUFs role, visit here.

Media Contacts:

Debra Cano Ramos, 657-278-4027

Joshua Smith, Physics, 657-278-3716

Jocelyn Read, Physics, 657-278-8753

Geoffrey Lovelace, Physics, 657-278-7501
10:57





Heading the probe was B K Prasad, Additional Secretary (Foreigners) in the Union home ministry, whose report, submitted yesterday to the government, remained inconclusive on the missing papers. Which has led P Chidambaram, former home minister who had come under a cloud, to say that he has been vindicated





So far so good.





Indian Express called him on April 25 to ask him why the government had denied a visa to Chinese dissident Dolkun Issa. While he was on the phone and was being recorded by the Express reporter -- you can listen to the conversation Unfortunately for Prasad, when thecalled him on April 25 to ask him why the government had denied a visa to Chinese dissident Dolkun Issa. While he was on the phone and was being recorded by thereporter -- you can listen to the conversation here -- Prasad received another call so he put the reporter on hold and spoke to the other caller.





Who, judging by the conversation, was an officer who was scheduled to give his statement as part of the probe. Subsequently, the Indian Express says, it 'confirmed that the officer Prasad spoke with was Ashok Kumar, Joint Secretary (Parliament, Hindi Division and Nodal Officer for monitoring of court cases) in the department of commerce. Between March 1, 2011 and December 23, 2011, Kumar was director in the internal security division of the home ministry that dealt with the Ishrat Jahan case.'





He also confirmed to the Express that Prasad had called him as part of the inquiry.





What followed on the phone was a classic case of tutoring. We quote verbatim from the Express report:





'Prasad told Kumar that his probe into the Ishrat Jahan missing papers required him to pose a question to all officers who may have dealt with the matter: "Aapne ye paper dekha? (Have you seen that paper?)' Prasad then told the officer: "Aapko kehna hai ki 'Maine ye paper nahi dekha.' Seedhi si baat hai (You have to say, 'I have not seen that paper.' It's as simple as that).'





'Prasad told Kumar that the consequences of giving a different reply would be that doubts would be raised about the officer having played a role in the disappearance of the papers. "Aapko itna toh kehna hoga ki ya toh woh file hi maine kabhi zindagi mein deal nahi kiya, kabhi file ko dekhne ka kabhi mauka hi nahi mila (You will have to, at least, say that either you have never dealt with that file in your life, or have never had a chance to see it)' I don't think you have seen that file at any point'. Bas, that is what I want from you: 'I have not seen that file at all',' Prasad told the officer.





'Prasad also told the officer: "And another question will be, 'Did anybody give you these documents to be kept separately with you?' Aap bologe, 'Nahi, mere ko kisi ne nahi diya.' (You will say, 'No, nobody gave them to me').'





Prasad replied to the Express's queries on this via email: "You have stated that during my conversation with a senior officer on 25.4.2016 I have told him that I will ask him question on the missing Ishrat Jahan file papers and he should answer 'I have not seen that paper.' I would like to clarify that on 25.04.2016 I have sent a questionnaire to Mr Diptivilasa, the then Joint Secy and after 25.04.2016 I have enquired the following officers only: Mr Dharmendra Sharma, the then JS; Mr Rakesh Singh, the then JS; Mr Ashok Kumar, the then Director. None of the officers, whom I have enquired on 25.04.2016 or thereafter, have replied to any of the queries as quoted by you, i.e., 'I have not seen that paper''.





Indian Express report You can read the fullreport here

On March 10, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking in the Lok Sabha, announced a probe into the circumstances around the UPA government's second affidavit that dropped references to Ishrat's alleged Lashkar links and allowed for a CBI probe into her June 15, 2004, killing.
The diabetes epidemic: controlling, curing and preventing

I asked Dr. Mark Atkinson if I could spend the day with him. I figured if anyone could help me understand how the world of diabetes research worked, it was someone who has spent 30 years trying to figure out what causes Type 1 diabetes.

Atkinson explained that he doesnt spend his days looking through microscopes, meeting with patients, or checking on mice in a lab. Hes more like the guy in charge of determining what research should be pursued, bringing the right people together, and writing up what has been discovered. His days and nights are spent in meetings, on the phone, working on his computer, answering emails, traveling around the globe.



The night before I got to Atkinsons office, he had flown in from a trip to Guyana, Trinidad, and the Cayman Islands. He and his wife of 32 years, Carol, whom he met in high school, operate an international nonprofit organization called Insulin for Life USA that started in Australia and now has seven affiliates throughout the world. They collect unused diabetes suppliesincluding syringes, test strips, and insulinin the United States and distribute them free of charge to clinics and doctors in struggling countries such as Haiti, Rwanda, Nigeria and Congo.



He was operating on little sleep. Though strung tight by deadlines and conferences and phone calls and mishaps like having his phone stolen at the airport in Miami, he seemed, oddly, relaxed.



He was trying to describe his lab at the University of Florida to a job candidate, Amanda, who was in a final round of interviewing for a position to help input and manage the data collected at the lab.



Atkinsons own road to UF started in Michigan. His mother, one of 17 children, dropped out of school in the seventh grade. His dad, a child from a family of coal miners, dropped out in the ninth grade. As a child, Atkinson liked taking things apart and putting them back together again, figuring out how they worked. He got his first tool set when he was 5.



Given their background, education was not a priority for his family. His father died when he was ten. In high school, Atkinson got into a bad accident and had to wear a body cast for five months. He missed a lot of school but still went on to the University of MichiganDearborn, where he studied microbiology. He was a graduate student in pathology at the University of Florida when he started a rotation with a diabetes researcher, Dr. Noel Maclaren, who recommended he spend a week at a diabetes camp for kids.



I remember just being amazed at how the kids lived with the disease, from the foods they had to eat and what they could not eat, and the amount of concern they had to have when they had activities relative to when meals occur, he recalled. There were a whole lot of blood glucose tests and insulin injections, and that was back when things were more rudimentary than they are today.



This was how his career in diabetes began. For the next two decades, he pursued Type 1 diabetes research. He explored ways to cure the disease, developed tests to identify those at risk for diabetes, attempted to understand the role of the environment in Type 1 diabetes, and much more.



Read more of the story and download the complete text.



The stories chronicled in GATORBYTES span all colleges and units across the UF campus. They detail the far-reaching impact of UFs research, technologies, and innovationsand the UF faculty members dedicated to them. Gatorbytes describe how UF is continuing to build on its strengths and extend the reach of its efforts so that it can help even more people in even more places.



Gatorbytes are available from University Press of Florida and can be found wherever books and e-books are sold.




Military sources told IANS that the soldier was one of the two who were critically injured on Tuesday. One terrorist had so far been killed in the operation against militants in Kupwara district.

Five soldiers were injured on Tuesday when Rashtriya Rifles challenged a group of heavily armed militants near the LoC.

The soldiers were flown to an army hospital in Srinagar where doctors described the condition of two as critical. One of them succumbed to his injuries.

The sources said the militants had infiltrated into the Indian side of Jammu and Kashmir when they were challenged by the troops.

The winding LoC is the de facto border between India and Pakistan in divided Jammu and Kashmir.

--IANS sq/mr

( 155 Words)

2016-06-15-12:34:02 (IANS)
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to sign a series of agreements in areas ranging from trade to civil aviation during a visit to Serbia and Poland starting this week, diplomats said on Wednesday, as China looks to bolster its presence in central and eastern Europe.Central and east European countries are competing for Chinese investment in everything from banking to beer, looking to lure firms in need of new markets while securing a foothold for their own products in the huge but difficult Chinese market.Xi is expected to sign agreements in education, finance and technology, among other fields.Chinese foreign direct investment to Europe hit a record high in 2015 of around 20 billion euros ($22.45 billion), a 44 percent annual rise. Germany, Britain and France accounted for almost half the total, according to a report by Germany's Mercator Institute for China Studies and the U.S.-based Rhodium Group.Only snippets of investment went to central and eastern Europe, but as Chinese firms look to diversify as the economy slows, volumes are growing, thanks to deals in infrastructure, energy, finance, real estate and travel.Firms are finding a warm welcome in central and east Europe.In Hungary, the Chinese have a currency clearing centre. Hungary and Serbia have signed a deal with China to build a high-speed railway from Belgrade to Budapest. Hungary has also issued bonds in the Chinese currency.In April, China's Hebei Iron & Steel Group signed a 46 million euro deal to buy a Serbian steel plant. Also in April, China Everbright Group, a state-backed financial firm, bought into Albania's international airport.In Germany by contrast, there are political concerns about losing key expertise to China as a growing number of Chinese companies seek to buy German industrial technology."This (visit) shows the great importance China's leaders and government place on the development of China-Europe relations," said Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Haixing in a briefing. "We believe this visit will push forward the development of China-European relations to a great extent."The Chinese have also created a "16+1" forum - their way of communicating with multiple central and east European states, with a total population of around 120 million.But the relationship has not all been plain sailing.Ahead of Xi's visit to the Czech Republic in March, unknown activists defaced dozens of Chinese flags with black paint. Police also arrested 12 people who replaced Chinese flags with Tibetan ones along the main route from Prague's airport.Xi will also visit Uzbekistan, where he will attend a summit of the Chinese and Russia-led security bloc, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. REUTERS RSD PR1253 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-786590.Xml
In response to a question regarding the tense situation in Torkham, State Department spokesperson John Kirby said: "We are all watching the tensions very closely, we are in touch with officials on both sides."

"We continue to urge a calm resolution to the tension. We obviously don't want to see clashes; we don't want to see violence; we don't want to see it get worse," Khamaa Press quoted Kirby as saying.

Clashes among the Afghan and Pakistani forces in Torkham erupted late on Sunday night after the Afghan border guards prevented the installation of a gate by Pakistani forces.

The Afghan government criticised Pakistan for taking unilateral steps by working on military installations along the zero point on Durand Line, calling it a move against the bilateral agreement.

Several people have lost their lives during the clashes in the past, including a senior Pakistani army officer who died due to wounds he sustained in the clash.

--IANS py/vt

( 192 Words)

2016-06-15-16:54:02 (IANS)
Half a century into its technical outreach to the least developed and developing nations, India is helping create hubs of small and medium industries in some of the African countries to enable job generation and add value to their exports. The gradually emerging trend in the recent years is a win-win situation for both. It is a sign of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, begun in 1964 coming of age. On his visit, the first by an Indian Head of State to Cote D'voire, President Pranab Mukherjee discussed setting up of a plant to process cashewnuts. Coco and cashewnuts are major exports of Cote D'voire, a tiny western West African nation, to India. Indeed, Cote d'Ivoire is the second largest exporter of cashew in the world and India imports around 80 percent of Ivorian exports of cashew. A Joint Business Forum was held during Mukherjee's visit here with a view to encouraging establishment of business linkages and identifying new areas of mutual cooperation. The opening of a representative office of the Export Import Bank of India in Abidjan will also facilitate greater interaction between the business communities of the two countries, Mukherjee told President Alassane Qattarra at the banquet Tuesday evening. India's capacity building, that began more as a state-to-state drive, is slowly changing with more and more private Indian companies setting up manufacturing hubs. While big ones have set up plants with local collaboration, the challenge still lies in getting small and medium enterprises interested in entering into such arrangements that require moving away from traditional areas, grappling with local rules and regulations and start production that takes time to start fetching profits. Not all smaller nations are ready for hi-tech and could do with the intermediary technology that India has developed. This has required imagination and initiative and facilitating increased participation of Indian enterprises entering territories that are uncharted or less charted. This has worked in several sectors, including pharmaceuticals and agro-based industries. This helps in value-addition for the African side, while it takes care of the distance involved. India's developmental partnership in Africa has not come a day too early in that China is either already there in a big way or is coming in close. China has stepped in with factories and funds in an area that was traditionally India's with a large diaspora that has been focused on trade rather than manufacture and setting up infrastructure. A typical example is here where India's bilateral trade is modest, but is planned to cross a billion dollars with such efforts. Another aspect of the growing cooperation with the smaller African nations is the increasing emphasis on Information Technology. A number of Indian enterprises have established presence in Cote d'Ivoire in recent years making India one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment in the country. Many Indian companies are operating in the mining and minerals sector. There are also several Indian companies - small and medium size - involved in trading, manufacturing; ICT; agro-processing. Some leading Indian pharmaceutical companies also have operations in Cote d'Ivoire. (Mahendra Ved can be reached at mahendraved07@gmail.com) --IANS ved/rn/vm ( 536 Words) 2016-06-15-15:40:02 (IANS)
New Delhi, June 15 (ANI-BusinessWireIndia): Octane Marketing celebrates ReTechCon (Retail Technology Conclave), organized by Retailers Association of India (RAI) by releasing the fourth Annual Retail e-Marketing Research. With an ardent participation from more than 105+ Retailers and 95+ companies across India, this industry study encapsulates the present state of digital Retail Marketing in India and aspirations for 2016. 2016 India Retail e-Marketing Study: A Path to revolution explores how marketing budgets and technology investment priorities are changing as retailers continue to develop more targeted and personalized digital experiences across channels. The research also explores how mobile is emerging as the nexus for omni-channel retail initiatives. Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of RAI, commented, "Retail is one of the few sectors in India which has been showing promising signs of digital innovation. One of the key driving factors being the new and evolving digitally savvy consumers." Octane Marketing Director and Co-Founder, Punit Modhgil, underscored this point, "Retailers will have rethink shopper loyalty to create reasons for shoppers to come to their stores. And this is where digital marketing is helping to create sustained engagement with like-minded consumers who either buy online or find a reason to visit a retail store. In addition, it helps generate qualified leads and is equipped with smart analytics that helps retailers track the ROI of their digital investments." Some of the key findings of this 2016 report are consists of primary marketing goal of 2016 where customer acquisition has been observed to be the central priority of India retailers (51 percent), for fourth year in a row. Focus on online and offline marketing where 44 percent retailers showed keen interest in implementing an equal mix of online and offline marketing activities. However, with digital being the new currency in the industry, online presence has ranked first on their priority list. Importance of Email Marketing where 85 percent retailers agreed that email marketing gives them better consumer engagement and is important for them. Importance of Mobile in Marketing Plan where 94 percent retailers have embraced mobile as a part of their marketing strategy. Cart Abandonment Program (CAP) where this new initiative witnessed implementation by 3x more retailers over the past year. The numbers highlight the importance of such strategies to lower cart abandonment rates and improve conversion of online carts to orders. With a rapidly growing internet penetration, online retailing in India is expected to reach USD 1.7 billion as per industry estimates, at a CAGR of 10 percent by 2017. RAI and Octane Marketing's research seeks to give insights into how retailers in India can leverage this growth. (ANI-BusinessWireIndia)
Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will begin his three-day state visit to India from June 16, during which bilateral engagements will focus on defence, security, education, tourism, business ties and science and technology. Visiting India on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation, Chan-o-cha will be accompanied by his wife, his deputy prime minister and five other cabinet ministers, a 46-member business delegation and senior officials. "He will be given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on June 17 morning and thereafter will visit the Rajghat to pay his respects to the Father of the Nation," Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) Preeti Saran said. The Thailand premier will meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, followed by a bilateral meeting with Modi. Modi will host a luncheon here in honour of the visiting dignitary and his delegation. The Thailand Prime Minister will also call on Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari. On June 17 evening, industry bodies Confederation of Indian Industry, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India will hold a business event, where the first India-Thailand business forum will be established. The event will provide businessmen from both sides an opportunity to hold discussions on sectors like steel, infrastructure, machine tools, banking and food processing. "After his official engagements on June 17, he will leave for Bodh Gaya in Bihar and leave for Thailand from there on June 18. It will be a pilgrimage for him and members of his delegation," she said. "We would like to attract more Thai investments in India in general and in 'Make in India' and other flagship programmes of the government of India. "Apart from high-level political exchange, we expect discussions to take place in defence, security, education, science and technology and people-to-people contacts, which is an important element. Tourism has been important element in building people-to-people contacts," Saran added. About 10 lakh Indian tourists visit Thailand every year while about one lakh tourists from Thailand come to India. "There is a huge potential when it comes to the Buddhist pilgrimage. There is a lot of interest in Thailand to visit all Buddhist sites in India. Certainly, we can do better in attracting them. we have liberalised electronic visas for Thai nationals but no direct flight to Bodh Gaya could certainly be an impediment," she said. The MEA Secretary said a CII-led delegation will visit Thailand later this year to showcase the immense tourism potential between the two countries. --IANS sid/tsb/bg ( 429 Words) 2016-06-15-20:54:03 (IANS)
The national air carrier was the sole airlines operating a flight from the newly built Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport in Durgapur (Andal) of West Bengal's Burdwan since December. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee flew on its first trial flight from Durgapur to Delhi on December 7.

"Air India will withdraw its operations on the Kolkata-Durgapur-Delhi and return sector from June 17 due to operational reasons," said an airline spokesman.

With Air India stopping its flight, there will be no scheduled flights to and from the airport from Friday.

The spokesman said the passengers who booked tickets may either cancel and get the full refund or opt to fly Delhi from Kolkata with the same ticket.

The official declined to give the details of the operational reasons for which it suspended its operation.

The airport at Andal has been developed by the Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL).

--IANS bdc/ssp/vd

( 178 Words)

2016-06-15-21:24:03 (IANS)
In the first phase, the programme was executed in 1000 gram panchayats since its inception in 2010.

In the second phase, for the next five years, all 3,3,42 gram panchayats across the state's 19 districts will come under the ambit of the programme, state Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Subrata Mukherjee told media persons here.

The World Bank will provide an assistance of Rs 1,372 crore for phase two. The remaining amount has to be borne by the state government.

World Bank official Soma Ghosh Moulik said the project has now become a model for others with its success in ensuring rural bodies adopt a performance-based mechanism to reach out public services to the people.

It has also helped improve the economic health of the local bodies through a better revenue and tax mop-up.

The objective of the project is to help support the development of stronger, better capacitated, and performing Gram Panchayats delivering enhanced local services and infrastructure.

--IANS ssp/vd

( 214 Words)

2016-06-15-21:34:03 (IANS)
Air India on Wednesday said it will withdraw its operations on the Kolkata-Durgapur-Delhi route from June 17 due to operational reasons. The national air carrier was the sole airlines operating a flight from the newly built Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport in Durgapur (Andal) of West Bengal's Burdwan since December. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee flew on its first trial flight from Durgapur to Delhi on December 7. "Air India will withdraw its operations on the Kolkata-Durgapur-Delhi and return sector from June 17 due to operational reasons," said an airline spokesman. With Air India stopping its flight, there will be no scheduled flights to and from the airport from Friday. The spokesman said the passengers who booked tickets may either cancel and get the full refund or opt to fly Delhi from Kolkata with the same ticket. The official declined to give the details of the operational reasons for which it suspended its operation. But it was learnt that the airlines withdrew its operations due to economic non-viability. Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL), which developed the greenfield airport, said the cost of operations or the viability gap funding would have been almost half in case of a private airline compared to that of Air India. BAPL said while traditionally, VGF is paid by state governments to the airlines, it was the only private airport operator in the country to offer VGF to an airline to operate scheduled flights. "To bring in the first carrier through the viability gap funding model was not because of a dearth of demand but because of non-availability of any historical data, which is a primary requirement for any private airline operator to reach a conclusion, in terms of assessing the market potential. "Had it been any other private airline operator, the cost of operations/VGF would be almost half of what Air India has been charging. In that event, the operations would not only be self sustainable but highly profitable," said airport developer's Managing Director Partha Ghosh. "The high cost of operations by Air India, makes even a lucrative market like the Durgapur-Asansol region, unsustainable," he added. BAPL said it was in advanced level of talks with some of the major private airline operators to operate flights from Durgapur to all other major metros, starting with New Delhi and Mumbai. --IANS bdc/ssp/vd ( 396 Words) 2016-06-15-22:52:02 (IANS)
Posting a throwback pic on Instagram, the 44-year-old old rapper, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr., wrote, "19. Years today @bosslady_ent Happy anniversary been a1 from day 1 thanks for my kids" reports E! Online.

The snap, which appears to be a high school prom picture, shows the couple dressed in black outfits, posing for the picture.

The 'Beautiful' hit-maker and Broadus, who have four children together, tied the knot on June 12, 1997. (ANI)
The 65-year-old's comment came after the censorship controversy that surrounded director Abhishek Chaubey's directorial "Udta Punjab", where the makers got into a battle with the censor board, which first suggested as many as 89 cuts in the movie. Thereafter, its Revising Committee asked for 13 cuts.

The Bombay High Court on Monday cleared the film for release with one cut and three disclaimers.

"CBFC should become a body that does not censor or even certify only classify films. That gives the audience the choice to watch a film or not," Shabana tweeted.

"Udta Punjab", which stars Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh, is expected to release on Friday.

--IANS dc/nn/bg

( 149 Words)

2016-06-15-18:26:03 (IANS)
After days of uncertainty, Bollywood movie "Udta Punjab" will finally hit the screens on Friday, with producers getting the censor certificate on Wednesday evening. A post on the Twitter handle of Balaji Motion pictures, one of the co-producers of Abhishek Chaubey's film, read: "And Udta Punjab finally gets the Udta Certificate!! Let's fly high in 2 days!" Manoj Desai, Executive Director of Gaiety Galaxy and Maratha Mandir Cinema, told IANS that the certificate came at around 7 in the evening and now the advance booking will open from Thursday morning. Until they got the censor certificate in hand, the producers had their fingers tightly crossed although they had been earlier confident of having the film released on Friday. This was because fresh legal problems cropped up. After the Bombay High Court on Monday gave the drug-themed movie a green signal for release with an 'A' certificate, a NGO went to court. The Punjab-based Human Rights Awareness Association moved the Supreme Court to put on hold its screening saying it showed Punjab in poor light. At the same, the Delhi High Court asked the film's makers to remove from its promos a scene ordered to be axed by the Bombay High Court. Also, the film was leaked online on Wednesday. But the film's team managed to remove it online on war footing from Torrent sites. The pre-release buzz of "Udta Punjab" is immense given the legal war that followed the Central Board of Film Certification's (CBFC) order for a whopping 89 cuts to make the movie fit for release. The censors brought down that number to 13 later. Eventually, however, the Bombay High Court ruled it could be shown with just one scene cut. Delhi-based distributor Joginder Mahajan earlier told IANS: "If the film gets released, it will definitely do good business because of the publicity it has got." Mahajan expected the movie to make over Rs 10 crore on its opening day. Curiosity level about the Shahid Kapoor starrer is high among fans, said Girish Johar of Zee Studios. "The film has definitely got good publicity. People are curious to see what the entire fight was all about, and because of this, 'Udta Punjab' is going to get a good start," he said. According to the censor board, the movie, through its theme of the festering problem of drugs in Punjab, showcased the state in a negative way and was also laced with expletives. The Bombay High Court's verdict that the film could release with one cut and after inserting three disclaimers was hailed by filmmakers and movie buffs as a victory for freedom of expression. The film, co-produced by Phanton Films and Balaji Motion Pictures, also features Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh. It is directed by Abhishek Chaubey. --IANS uma-rb/vd/mr ( 477 Words) 2016-06-15-21:22:02 (IANS)
Yoga can be the antidote to violence. With that message, Rolston Nelson, the acting Chief Justice of the Caribbean Court of Justice, has urged the Trinidad Ministry of Education to introduce yoga in the school curriculum. Delivering the keynote address at the launch of Yoga Day held at Trinidad Hilton Hotel, Nelson said yoga can curb violence and indiscipline in the schools. Referring to incidents of crime, Nelson said: "If benefit of Yoga spreads among the population then we would be living in a much more humane and gentle society. I look forward to the Ministry of Education paying more to the science of Yoga." The International Yoga Day will be observed on June 21. In Trinidad and Tobago, the second International Yoga Day will be observed between June 18 and 26 at 10 locations, including the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus and Divali Nagar. Deoroop Teemal, Chairman of the International Day of Yoga Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (IDYCTT) said 12 yoga groups will participate in the International Yoga Day this year. According to Indian High Commissioner Gauri Shankar Gupta, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is partnering with the Ministry of Health, the United Nations and the IDYCTT. About 60 schools will hold Yoga classes in September, he said. Quoting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the High Commissioner said: "Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian traditions. It embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfilment, harmony between man and nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us to deal with climate change". "We would be happy to go into the high-risk schools and teach Yoga. At the end of the day, we would have healthier children. We are appealing to the government to come forward and cooperate with us." Yvonne Lewis, Director of Health Education Division, Ministry of Health, said Yoga can keep one's body active. Referring to the risks of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer and stroke faced by the people of Trinidad and Tobago, Lewis said: "These diseases account for over 60 per cent deaths every year. And 70 per cent of these diseases can be prevented." --IANS paras/bim/vm ( 378 Words) 2016-06-15-16:46:05 (IANS)
Indonesia's trade surplus narrowed in May as imports rose ahead of the Muslim fasting month, the statistics bureau said on Wednesday.The bureau said Southeast Asia's largest economy recorded a trade surplus of around $375.6 million last month, compared to the median forecast in a Reuters poll for a $680 million surplus and April's revised surplus of $660 million.Imports declined by 4.12 percent from a year earlier in May, the slowest pace of contraction since October 2014, to $11.14 billion. The pace of contraction was smaller the 5.92 percent expected in a Reuters poll.May's imports rose nearly 3 percent from a month earlier.Exports were down 9.75 percent annually in May, the 20th straight month of decline, to $11.51 billion. The poll had expected a 7.90 percent annual fall.Indonesia has recorded a trade surplus almost every month since the start of 2015. Low commodity prices have pressured Indonesia's shipments for years and falling export revenue has hurt purchasing power and investment, which in turn has taken a toll on imports. REUTERS DUR PR1015 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0442-786382.Xml
Thousands of depositors of AgriGold company, which deceived lakhs of its depositors in four states, staged a dharna at the place, where Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was sworn-in two years ago, near Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) in Guntur district, demanding the immediate release of Rs.1,000 crore for the payments of their deposits. AgriGold depositors organised a protest dharna in front of ANU demanding intervention of courts, government and mediators to pay their deposit amount. Talking to media, an AgriGold depositor N Sambashiva Rao alleged that even after 18 months of registering criminal cases against the promoters of the company, no justice had been done to the lakhs of victims in the four states. Another depositor, S Vanaja said that she mobilized deposits from hundreds of people to the tune of Rs 5 crore and the depositors were blaming her and exerting pressure for their money.The agitators alleged that they had not received appropriate response from the government on AgriGold issue. It was announced that AgriGold had properties worth Rs.20,000 crore and the deposits were only Rs.8,000 crore. They asked why the government and the court were hesitating to take steps to auction the property and pay their deposit money. The agitators raised slogans against AgriGold and the government for its inaction. The victims of AgriGold company formed the All India AgriGold customers and Agents Welfare Association to take up agitations and fight against the injustice.UNI DP MVR 1356 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-786603.Xml
Death of a leopard reportedly due to thirst has again raised a serious question in the drought situation in Bundelkhand region and the efforts made by the Uttar Pradesh government. The UP government has ordered a probe into the matter.A leopard, was found dead in the middle of a dry pond in Thirut village under Ajnar police station area yesterday. Reportedly the postmortem of the body of the animal also suggests that it was not ruled out that the leopard died due to thirst.Meanwhile senior forest officials have rushed to the spot and efforts were on to find out how the animal, which is rarely found in this part of the state, reached the pond. Mahoba has been declared as a drought hit district of Bundelkhand and recently much politics was unleashed over a water train sent by the Centre to provide drinking water to the people of the district. District forest officer(DFO) Ramesh Chandra said here today that the area forest officer would hold the probe, besides a team has been constituted to find out if there are more leopards in the areas along with other wild animals. The DFO admitted that this time, the animals are facing huge scrarcity of water due to the drought as all the ponds and water bodies have dried. He claimed that due to this, animals are entering the human habitate leading to human animal clash. Mr Chandra did not rule out death of several animals due to scarcity of water in the area.UNI XC-MB ADG PR1210 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-786451.Xml
With the nine-membered BJP team set up by party president Amit Shah to probe into the exodus of people from the area due to bad law and order, Uttar Pradesh government has rushed a report to the Centre with details of the prevailing situation in the area. The UP government report, sent to the Centre last night, claims that says Kairana never had a history of communal violence, not even when the Babri Mosque was demolished in 1992. The report says that both Hindus and Muslim families left Kairana over the years due to lack of proper educational, business and medical facilities in the area. Meanwhile, a high-level nine member BJP team led by party's legislature party leader Suresh Khanna reached Kairana today and started visiting the localities from where the exodus have been reported as per the claim of local BJP MP Hukum Singh. The other members of the team are party's chief whip in the assembly Dr Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, BJP MPs Satypal Singh, Raghav Lakhanpal, Dr Bhola Singh, Satish Gautam, Dharamendra Kashyap and former UP DGP Brijlal. The team assembled at the farm house of Hukum Singh and later left for the localities like Reiwala, Panipat Road, Teachers colony, Akbarpur Sunaheti and Main Bazar to check the families. BJP MLA Suresh Rana and senior leader Sudhir Agaral too accompanied the team. On the other hand the two page report sent by DIG of Saharanpur to the UP government clearly sayins that no law and order is involved in the exodus of the families. This report was also dispatched to the Centre. According to the report, Kairana and nearby areas lack schools and colleges of quality education and hence people from all sections of society go to nearby Panipat, Sonipat, Noida and Delhi for education. Besides the region is not a prominent centre of trade so many businessmen and traders have over the years left for nearby states of Haryana and Delhi to earn their livings. In the gradual process of time they settled there and by no means such move comes under the definition of fleeing from the area. The report further claims that Kairana has a history of peaceful co existence and communal Harmony. Even during post Babri demolition era no riots or communal violence took place in the town while Muzaffarnagar and nearby areas had witnessed riots. During recent Muzaffarnagar riots too Kairana was a safe refuge for several riot affected families, the report claimed. The UP government said that as far as question of people fleeing because of threat from the Mukeem gang is concerned, the 29 membered gang has almost been broken. Of the total gang member 25 of them are presently in jails in eastern UP while four others have been killed in encounters with police. It says that out of the list of names of 346 families given by Kairana MP, 119 families have been verified. More than 60 of them shifted out some 5-15 years ago. Still many of them have their ancestral home and properties in Kairana. These families shifted base because of either educational, business or medical reasons.13 families are still staying in Kairana. The migration is not only among the Hindu families but also Muslims. However, the report says that further verification is still underway. The BJP had raised the issue at its two-day National Executive meeting in Allahabad and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have expressed their concern on the exodus of people mostly Hindus from Kairana. BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP from Kairana, Hukum Singh, who raised the issue,had said that the exodus of people from Kairana and other places in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh should not be given communal colour and viewed through a prism of religion. The BJP leader ,however, released a "fresh list" of 68 families, who had migrated from Kandhla town of Shamli district. He had said that in addition to Hindus, even some Muslim families also fled Kandhla due to high-handedness of "local goons". He had earlier released a list of 365 families who were forced to migrate from Kairana to other places.UNI MB SB AS1532 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-786752.Xml
The Mizoram government has handed over the Rs 14.5 crore gold robbery case to the CBI as the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the state government to probe the case, was facing problems, an official said here on Wednesday. A private vehicle carrying 52 gold bars worth Rs 14.5 crore was intercepted on the outskirts of Aizawl capital city on December 14 last year by the troopers of Assam Rifles. Mizoram Police last month arrested Colonel Jasjit Singh, Commandant of the 39th Battalion of Assam Rifles, eight other Assam Rifles troopers and four civilians, including a driver, in the sensational gold robbery case. "After the approval of the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, a statutory notification was issued by the state home department on Tuesday evening handing over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation," a Mizoram home department official said. Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana earlier said the SIT officials were facing problems to investigate the case as modern equipments were required to explore various details related to the case -- chiefly, whether army officials, para-military personnel and people from outside the state as also the country were involved in the crime. "People from outside the country might be involved in the offence. We want a detailed and accurate inquiry into the case to unearth all relevant details," the minister told reporters. The fate of the gold bars, which might have been smuggled from neighbouring Myanmar, was not yet known. The owner and driver of the vehicle C. Lalnunfela lodged an FIR at Kulikawn police station in Aizawl on April 21 following which a case was registered leading to the probe by Mizoram Police. Lalnunfela told police that he lodged the FIR after more than four months as the Assam Rifles personnel had threatened him with dire consequence if he complained to police. Home Minister Lalzirliana said the SIT officials did a commendable job by arresting 13 accused, including Colonel Singh, in connection with the case. "Apart from the problems being faced by the SIT in the investigation, there are unconfirmed report of highly-placed people getting involved in the case and also Col. Singh's refusal to cooperate with the SIT forced the state government to hand over the case to the CBI," the home minister added. The army officer was suspended from the service by the authorities immediately after his arrest by Mizoram Police on May 5. Mizoram shares an unfenced international border of 404 km with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh. This offers immense scope for smuggling animals, drugs, arms and ammunition and various other contraband across the border. --IANS sc/pgh/vt ( 449 Words) 2016-06-15-16:22:02 (IANS)
: Stating that media is the eyes and ears of the government, Puducherry Lt.Governor Kiren bedi today exhorted media to be more responsible in their reporting. In an interaction with newspersons here today, Ms Bedi said the administration has started scanning media, both print and electronic, to initiate corrective measures and to reach out to people. The Information officials are asked to gather feedback from the day's media reports on a regular basis. The Lt. Governor said media is a partner in the government. The journalists should cross-check with officials and get their version, too, before filing their stories. Ms. Bedi said there is no divergence of opinion between the Lt.Governor's office, political leadership and bureaucracy. All have Puducherry's development as their agenda, she said, adding, she believes in synergy and convergence. She said there is enough space for the Lt.Governor and also for the elected government to work. Both have to work on the principles of check and balances, she reasoned. Ms Bedi said, administration has to warm up to make Puducherry develop like Bangalore in Information and Technology and similar to Goa in Tourism. Much more need to be done to obtain more assistance from the Central Government, she said, adding, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in performance. Hence if we can show better performance, the Union Government will be ready to provide us with more than adequate resources. The Lt. Governor lamented that Puducherry news find place only in regional pages of newspapers and regional bulletins of electronic media. She said Puducherry news has to appear in national bulletins and pages so that the Union Territory gets more visibility. It will help Puducherry derive its due from the Centre, she pointed out Ms Bedi also asked media not to limit their coverage to Lt. Governor and Chief Minister. Make public servants, chief secretaries, secretaries and senior officials, too. visible to public, she reasoned. She assured that all non-confidential information will be shared with media without fail.UNI PAB KVV ADB 1610 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-787012.Xml
A worker of an ordinance factory at Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh's Hoshangabad district was seriously injured during a blast at a section this afternoon, police said. According to preliminary information, an explosion occurred during mixing at NG-CMM Section at 1200 hrs. Machinist Harish Chourasia was seriously injured and admitted to a private hospital here. UNI XC-PS SB AS1628 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-786792.Xml
A police team had set out on patrol in Kotwali area when police found some suspicious people sitting outside a bungalow. When constables Sarvesh Yadav and Manish Mali headed towards them to question them, the ruffians pelted stones.

The constable duo escaped from the spot. Later, police raided the bungalow and arrested two criminals. Both are being questioned. The miscreants hail from Rajasthan. One accused is absconding.UNI XC-PS SB AS1635

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On the basis of a complaint by Samir Sheikh, district VHP vice-president Sanjay Bhawsar was arrested for hurting religious sentiments and under the Information Technology Act. He would be presented before Sendhwa court today.

In his complaint, Sheikh alleged that Sanjay circulated an objectionable message in a group on crosss-platform mobile messaging application 'WhatsApp'. Sheikh, who is also a group member, raised objection and lodged a complaint.

Markets today remained shut at Balwari on the call by the VHP to protest the arrest but was opened following police assurance. VHP workers also staged a protest outside Varla Police Station. Additional police force have been deployed in the area.UNI XC-PS SB AS1636

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Security forces burst teargas shells to disperse demonstrators who were raising pro-freedom slogans at Batmaloo and adjoining areas in the summer capital this afternoon. The trouble started immediately after Tanveer Sultan Sheikh was buried in martyrs grave yard at Batmaloo. Sheikh was killed in an encounter with security forces at Kud on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on June 13 afternoon. Though family members and separatist alleged that it was a fake encounter as Sheikh was a patient and was getting treatment at a Amritsar hospital, government said he was killed in an encounter in which a woman lot her life and two others were injured. Security forces had sealed main roads leading to the house of Sheikh at Bemina and diverted traffic through other routes since this morning. Thousands of people, mostly youths, took to the streets and tried to march towards Civil Secretariat, less than a km from here Batmaloo Chowk. However, security forces and state police personnel deployed in strength since morning stopped the processionists at Reka Chowk Batmaloo, leading to clashes. Security forces resorted to lathicharge to disperse the demonstrators who were pelting stones. Later security forces burst teargas shells to disperse the demonstrators who were still trying to hit the main road opposite the secretariat, seat of the government. Traffic was also disrupted for some time, leading to traffic jam on main Batmaloo roads.UNI BAS SB AS1631 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-786875.Xml
The leaders, who stayed at a five-star wild flower hotel at Chharabra, had to brave pre-monsoon showers this morning to take a glimpse of Priyanka's under construction house near the Retreat.

They remained on the site for about half-an-hour and took a luxury car at 1330 hrs from Chharabra as they went from Hindustan Tibet National Highway from Mashobra to Chandigarh airport.UNI ML SB NS1640

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The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for Indian membership of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Programme (ICDP) consortium by signing an MoU with the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. This is a government-funded, Public Law Foundation of the State of Brandenburg, Germany, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said after the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. By signing the MoU on the membership for a period of five years with ICDP, India would be able to engage internationally renowned experts with profound expertise in different aspects of scientific drilling in order to accomplish deep drilling and associated investigations in the Koyna region. As a part of the membership agreement, India will get a seat in two ICDP panels - Executive Committee (EC) and Assembly of Governors (AOG). Also, ICDP will provide technical/operational support, facilitate capacity building in terms of manpower training in key scientific areas, sample and data management and support workshops for the Koyna scientific deep drilling project undertaken by Ministry of Earth Sciences. As a member of ICDP, scientists/engineers from India would have right to submit proposals, to participate in all ICDP co-funded workshops and drilling projects and have access to all data results from ICDP projects. This will shed new light on the genesis of seismicity and better understanding of earthquake processes. UNI AR SW SB 1740 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-787239.Xml
Social media has emerged as an important route for hiring fresh talent by the corporates which use the micro-blogging sites for background checks as also judging the overall persona of the candidates with maximum of the HR personnel depending on the LinkedIn as a recruitment tool, an ASSOCHAM survey has noted. It noted that while 68 per cent of the HR managers looked into LinkedIn and/or Facebook or Twitter to have an idea about the candidates, the social media is also being used by the job hunters who are becoming conscious about their posts, pictures, academic and professional achievements posted online, reveals the ASSOCHAM survey. According to the survey, LinkedIn is the top dog for social recruitment. The findings of ASSOCHAM survey reveals that a large number of corporates using social media for recruitment based on the responses received from human resource officials representing more than 650 small, medium and large businesses from the cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune and Dehradun. The survey majorly focused on broad sectors such as BPO, IT/ITes sector, financial and other services, construction, real estate, hospitality, tourism, FMCG and infrastructure, media & advertising, manufacturing and textiles, logistics, transport operators etc. About 68 per cent of the human resource officials of various companies are using platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook for hiring through social media sites and other digital mediums to find and hire new talent, reveals the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) latest survey. It reveals that social media has also been a valuable tool for recruiters and job seekers. With employers increasingly using social media to recruit, it is a great medium for people looking for promotion or a new job to enhance their career, reveals the majority of the respondents. The study found that as many 80-85 per cent among the high level job seekers and 40-45 percent among the low level job hunters are using some online medium for selling their professional and academic achievements in the corporate world, highlights the survey. The Facebook is used as a tool to judge the behaviour and intellect of the candidate. An experienced HR personnel can make out from the kind of posts on the Facebook the level of intellect of the candidate. Besides, other behaviour traits such as the attitude towards society, women in particular, whether extrovert or introvert are easy to judge by a good review of the Facebook whereas the LinkedIn medium is more organised and cannot be taken as inadvertent", the ASSOCHAM survey observed. "Even though the social medium is a good first reference point, it cannot be fully relied upon by the HR managers, since there are chances of misrepresentation of the facts. There is no alternative to the internal checks and balance tools and further verification. After all, human resource is what makes or breaks the organisation," ASSOCHAM Secretary General D S Rawat today said in a statement. The increased use of technology, especially advances in social media related technologies, has been relentless. "Social media, for one thing, helps individuals reach out and build their job search network. They can find people in targeted companies and connect with those who can help", reveals the paper. One of the best aspects of LinkedIn is that the site gives users the opportunity to highlight their achievements by uploading work samples to their profile pages and adding "rich media" files, such as blog posts, videos and links to websites featuring their work, reveals the majority of the respondents.UNI BM SHK 1708 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0098-787139.Xml
The Union Cabinet today gave its ex-post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding between Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India and India Taipei Association in Taipei, Taiwan for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sector. Briefing mediapersons here after the Cabinet meeting -- held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said the MoU provides for cooperation in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, aquaculture and food processing, genetic resources as well as environmental sustainability. Both sides will encourage the private sector in both countries to enter into cooperation in these areas. The cooperation between the two sides involves exchange of visits, information, technology and training and also expansion of agricultural trade while reducing trade barriers. Under the MoU, a joint working committee will be constituted to identify priority areas of mutual interest and follow up on the progress of implementation of the activities identified by both sides. The MoU will be initially signed for a period of five years and shall be automatically renewed for a subsequent periods of five years unless either party expresses its desire/intention to terminate it. UNI NY SW SB 1728 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0099-787210.Xml
Acting on a tip-off, DRI nabbed smugglers from their hideout near National Highway 99 under Paliganj police station area in the district and seized 2.5 quintals of ganja from them. The value of seized narcotics is estimated to be lakhs of rupees, DRI sources added.

An intensive interrogation of nabbed smugglers is on to get vital clues from them.

Bihar police as well as central agencies, including DRI and Seema Sashastra Bal (SSB) posted on Indo-Nepal border have intensified their drive to seize contraband narcotics as their sale has registered a growth after the imposition of the complete prohibition in the state on April 5. UNI DH AKM SB NS1821

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"The MoU provides for cooperation in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, aquaculture and food processing, genetic resources as well as environmental sustainability," an official statement said after the meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Both sides will now encourage their private sectors to enter into cooperation in these areas.

The cooperation involves exchange of visits, information, technology and training and also expansion of agricultural trade while reducing trade barriers.

A Joint Working Committee will also be constituted to identify priority areas of mutual interest and follow up on the progress of implementation of the activities identified by both sides.

The MoU will be initially signed for a period of five years and shall be automatically renewed for a subsequent periods of five years unless either party expresses its desire to terminate it.

--IANS bns/rn/vm

( 182 Words)

2016-06-15-19:00:08 (IANS)
Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Wednesday shot off a letter to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav asking him to bring out a White Paper on illegal occupation and encroachment in the state. Naik, who has been at loggerheads with the Samajwadi Party (SP) government in the state since he came to the Raj Bhawan, has also sought details on how many public grounds, parks, common places, ponds have been encroached upon and what is the market value of such land. The publication of a White Paper, the governor has said in the letter, should also include detailed reports from development authorities, local bodies and district magistrate on illegally occupied government land. Naik has also asked the government to ensure that the state machinery should ensure that all such lands which have been illegally encroached upon should be taken back to ensure that Jawaharbagh like incidents are not repeated. As many as 29 people, including two police officials, were killed in Mathura earlier this month during an anti-encroachment drive. --IANS md/pgh/vm ( 180 Words) 2016-06-15-19:16:04 (IANS)
Defence sources said Bakshi toured the Assam and Arunachal sectors under the Gajraj Corps.

Earlier, on his arrival at Air Force Station Tezpur, the army commander was received by Lt. Gen. D Anbu, the commanded of the Gajraj Corps, a defence ministry release said on Wedneday.

Bakshi visited different units and formations at Tezpur and held discussion on wide ranging issues.

He also visited forward areas of Missamari and Tenga where he was briefed on all operational and training issues undertaken by units.

He interacted with a number of commanders and troops deployed in forward areas.

Reports have claimed that around 250 soldiers of the People's Liberation Army moved into Kameng district in Arunachal on June 9, and only left after three hours.

--IANS ssp/vd

( 166 Words)

2016-06-15-20:48:03 (IANS)
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Wednesday condemned the suspension of two professors of Hyderabad University on charges of supporting the students' protest following the suicide of Dalit student Rohith Vemula. The university's executive council had on Monday suspended Ratnam, a Dalit, and assistant professor Tathagata Sengupta who participated in the "justice for Rohith" movement. "Professor Ratnam and professor Sengupta tried to stop the brutal police lathicharge against the students when the Vice Chancellor had ordered police entry into the campus to break up the student agitation," the CPI-M said in a statement. "Instead of proceeding against the Vice Chancellor and the other officials who created the circumstances for the tragic suicide of Rohith Vemula, the university administration has now turned the case against those who have already been victims of the vindictive attitude," it noted. A case was filed against Vice Chancellor Appa Rao for abetting Vemula's suicide. Cases were also filed with the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Commission. "The Vice Chancellor had got cases registered against the professors and the Telangana government sent them to jail. That they were jailed for nine days is now being used as a pretext by the Vice Chancellor to suspend them," the CPI-M said. Targetting the state government, the CPI-M accused it of "favouring the Vice Chancellor who is acting at the behest of Union Human Resource Development Ministry". "The Polit Bureau of the CPI-M reiterates that the Vice Chancellor should be immediately removed and the central government intervene to ensure restoration of normalcy in the campus of this central university," the statement said. "The Telangana state government should immediately proceed on the criminal cases filed against the Vice Chancellor and the others for abetting the suicide of Rohith Vemula," added the statement. --IANS mak/pgh/vm ( 306 Words) 2016-06-15-21:00:05 (IANS)
Three Asiatic lions, from near Gir National Sanctuary, found to have turned man-eaters, have been sentenced to life within a cage. A fully grown male lion would be kept in a zoo while the other sub-adult females would be sent to a forest rescue centre permanently, an official said on Wednesday. "The male lion would be sent to Sakkarbaug Zoo (on the outskirts of Junagadh city) and two lionesses would be locked up in one of the forest department's rescue centre," Chief Convervator of Forests, Junagadh Division, A.P. Singh told reporters. The forest department officials had laid a trap and captured an entire pride of 17 lions last one month after three persons - a 14-year-old boy, a woman aged around 50 and a 61-year-old man - were mauled to death by the felines in the region between April and May near the Gir sanctuary in Amreli district. Of the 17 big cats, three were identified as 'man-eaters' after a thorough investigation. The forest officials took paw prints of the suspected lions and ordered a laboratory test of their excreta to pinpoint the real culprits. "After analysing their pug marks and faeces during a 25-day captivity, one adult male and two sub-adult female lions were found to have turned man-eaters, as human remains were found from the excreta of these three," Singh said. "The male lion attacked, killed and ate up the humans, while the sub-adult females appear to have eaten the leftover body parts." "The other 14 lions of the pride, including several cubs, will be released gradually in the (Gir) sanctuary. As a precaution, they will be released in deeper pockets of the sanctuary, far away from where they were captured," he added. The key reason for the lions turning man eaters, according to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Wildlife, Jamaal Ahmed Khan, is their increasing dispersal beyond the traditional habitats with the increase in their population. This is where they come into conflict with human beings in regions, which is replete with social and commercial activities, where there is little or no prey base for the carnivore, he said. Khan told IANS that the Gir lions are no more restricted in the Gir region within 5 to 6,000 km and have now dispersed to as many as 20,000 sq km covering covering districts of Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, Devbhumi Dwarka, Bhavnagar and Amreli in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. According to the 14thAlion census carried out in May last year across 20,000 square km, the population increased from 411 lions in 2010 to 523 in 2015. The census enumerators found that Junagadh, which comprises the Gir region, had maximum number of lions at 268, but the greatest increase in the population was reported from beyond the traditional lion habitats in Amreli district which has 174 lions. And this is where the attacks on humans have occurred. --IANS desai/vd ( 490 Words) 2016-06-15-21:16:02 (IANS)
The memorandum, signed by Saurabh Sharma, Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union Joint Secretary and ABVP member, put forth the student body's demands such as the arrest of all those involved in the incident and prompt investigation and filing of charge sheet in a time-bound manner.

"We demand that the people who provided sanctuary to these accused must also be prosecuted and arrests made," the memorandum said.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated student body had earlier in the day protested in front of the Delhi Police headquarters here.

Apart from Sharma, the protest was led by Delhi University Students Union President Satender Awana and ABVP national media coordinator Saket Bahuguna.

--IANS ar/tsb/vm

( 159 Words)

2016-06-15-21:22:03 (IANS)
Family of a debt-stressed farmer Surjit Singh , who committed suicide last year, received compensation cheque one year after the farmer's death. Surjit had briefed the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi about the plight of farmers in Punjab, whose crops had been destroyed by the unseasonal rains, on April 28 last year, before committing suicide on June 10.After the farmer's death Mr Gandhi visited village Dadumajra to condole the death and assured full support to the family. Punjab government had also announced compensation but cheque of Rs 2 lakh was finally handed over to the family yesterday by local Tehsildar Harbans Singh, Fatehgarh Sahib MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra. It may be mentioned here that Surjit Singh, a resident of village Dadu Majra of the district was among those who met Rahul Gandhi at the Sirhind grain mandi during the latter's visit of Punjab grain markets on April 28. Surjit had become emotional while narrating the problems of farmers to Rahul Gandhi. He had told Gandhi that if farmers' issues remained unresolved for long, many farmers would commit suicide. Surjit told him the condition of farmers was "deteriorating" in Punjab. Stating that the state government was not giving compensation to farmers and their stocks were not being purchased, he asked Rahul to raise these issues in the Lok Sabha. On June 10 Surjit , who was in his sixties, committed suicide by consuming some poisonous substance. Surjit owned six acres of land, and had taken another land on lease. But with his crop failing for two successive seasons, he was unable to pay back the lease amount. He was reportedly depressed as he was unable to pay off the loan amount to banks and private money lenders.After the farmer's death Rahul visited village Dadumajra offered condolences to the grieving family and assured the family about giving due prominence to the issue.UNI XC CJ RSA BD2154 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-787594.Xml
Civil Supplies minister Paritala Sunita said the government had decided to launch Anna canteens, on the lines of Amma canteens in Tamil Nadu, and three such canteens would be opened in new capital city Amaravathi on June 23 or 25. Talking to media at Kuntimaddi village near Dharmavaram town of the district today, she said that a team went to Chennai and studied the Amma canteens there. "We provide more quality food than Amma canteens" she said and added that she was one of the members in the committee, constituted for the managing of Anna canteens. She said that three Anna cantees would be opened in the new capital area in three places.UNI DP CJ RSA 2216 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-787949.Xml
The Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has urged the Governor PB Acharya to impress upon the Government of India not to further extent the Disturb Area Act (DAA) in the state beyond June 30, 2016 in the "better interest of strengthening the chance of evolving lasting peace in this part of the country."In a memorandum addressed to the Governor on "behalf of the citizens of Nagaland," NTC president Lendinoktang and general secretary Nribemo Ngullie today said the Union Home Ministry declared the entire Nagaland as a "disturbed area" for a period of one year from June 30, 2015 to June 30, 2016. Prior to June 2015, the enforcement of the DAA was promulgated only along the 20 km belt of the Indo-Myanmar border. However, after the ambush on security forces in Chandel district of Manipur on June 4, 2015 by NSCN (K) and other outfits, Nagaland was instantly imposed with the Act. Whereas, Nagaland is not in Manipur and therefore placing the peaceful State of Nagaland under the Act in the name of an incident in Manipur is ironic and illogical, the NTC stated.It said the Government of India is trying to resolve the Naga political issue through peaceful negotiation for which the prerequisite ceasefires were ensured out of mutual trust. And barring NSCN (K); there is no militant group in the State of Nagaland. Despite the existence of few political groups, barring NSCN (K), each has practically proved itself to be nonviolent peaceful segment of the society all through these years, the NTC asserted. The NTC therefore said, it is compelled to question the wisdom of Government of India as to "how ceasefires entered into and political dialogue continued when its legal weapons such as AFSPA and all anti-terror laws are forced on the people giving the armed forces special powers to search, raid and arrest without a warrant, causing untold hardship and putting law and order in peril by imposing DAA, as though it is a terrorist infested State."In other words, the NTC explained, "olive branches were offered to peace loving Naga political groups on one hand whereas war has been waged against all those who are in ceasefire." Reminding that peace and war are never of the same, and the two cannot go together, the NTC pointed out that if Government of India is at all honest and sincere at ceasefire and dialogue, the DAA, an action of suppression, cannot be imposed on Nagaland any longer, the memo said. UNI AS AKM CJ RSA BD2256 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-787952.Xml
Haryana government has demanded liberal financial assistance for developing Karnal and Jind, the new entrants in the National Capital Region (NCR), along with Mahendragarh and Bhiwani districts, and sought flexibility in fixing the eligibility conditions for the bidders in projects approved by the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB). The demand was made by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar while speaking at the 36th meeting of NCRPB in New Delhi today. Thanking the NCRPB chairman for notifying Karnal and Jind districts as new entrants to the NCR, Mr Khattar said, "We are keen to develop these newly added districts, along with Mahendragarh and Bhiwani which were earlier included in the sub-region, with liberal financial assistance of the Board. As preparing the sub-regional plan for the new areas is a time consuming exercise, I suggest that the Board may extend financial assistance for various development projects in the newly added districts based on approved development plans without insisting on SRP." He said that the NCRPB released Rs 7,222 crore up to March, 2016 as loan assistance for 190 projects in Haryana out of which the state has availed itself of Rs 5,387 crore, which is about 75 per cent of the total loan assistance. As many as 160 projects have already been completed and work is apace on 30 others. He pointed out that the projects approved by the NCRPB under funding by the ADB stipulated very stringent eligibility conditions for the bidders in the tender documents. This restricts the number of bidders, thereby limiting competition and leading to quoting of substantially higher rates in comparison to similar works being executed under the State Plan, Mr Khattar said.UNI DB RSA GC2258 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-787734.Xml
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today asked the NCRPB to part-finance the Rs 3,000 crore investment Haryana plans in the power sector in the NCR and ensure that power projects are approved within two to three months of submission of the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) so that the benefit of low-cost funding has maximum impact. Speaking at the 36th meeting of NCRPB in New Delhi, Mr Khattar said the Haryana sub Region was witnessing exponential demand for power. About 60 per cent of the state's expenditure on power infrastructure is spent in the sub-region. "We are planning to invest about Rs 3,000 crore in power sector in Sub Region during next three years. This includes investment in Smart Grid in Gurgaon city amounting to Rs 1,200 crore, for which 25 per cent grant is expected from the Central Government. I request NCR Planning Board to fund the balance investment in the project in the interest of consumers of the Haryana Sub Region," he said. All the sanctioned projects for strengthening of generation, transmission and distribution system in the state, funded by the Board have been successfully completed. At present, two schemes of HVPN, for an investment of Rs 115 crore, are pending for approval from the NCRPB. The Board in its meeting held on November 18, 2015, decided that in case of power projects, the DPRs are required to be got approved from the Power Finance Corporation / Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd. "I would urge for a review of their requirement on grounds of conflict of interest since both these agencies also provide loan for power projects. Specifically the DPRs were sent to REC in January, 2016 for both these projects", he added.UNI DB RSA GC2322 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-787786.Xml
Before Sunday morning, few Americans had heard of Orlando gunman Omar Mateen's British headquartered employer, G4S, the world's largest global security firm, which employs more than 610,000 people in 110 countries.In the United States alone, G4S security guards stand watch over airports, water and power plants, nuclear facilities, immigration detention centers and even, as in the case of Mateen, gated communities.Since 2008, G4S Secure Solutions - the company's American subsidiary - has received nearly 830 dollar million worth of federal, state and local government contracts, including for the Department of Homeland Security, according to the SmartProcure database. Its private clients include Google and J.P. Morgan Chase.News that the gunman who killed 49 people in a packed gay nightclub in Orlando was a G4S employee wiped almost 282.80 million dollar off the company on Monday, but some financial analysts said they expect little long-term damage to the company. Indeed, the attack could increase growth in the private security industry, they said."Individual major security incidents have rarely had any long-term effect on the specific companies that may be connected," said Jeff Kessler an analyst for Imperial Capital. "They do serve as a strong backdrop for the industry revenue growth - as the world is perceived as 'less safe.'"G4S made headlines in 2012 when it announced it could not provide the promised 10,400 security guards only two weeks before the London Olympics. The announcement wiped 1 billion dollar off its market value and the British government had to draft in thousands of troops as reinforcements.CO-WORKER COMPLAINTSDaniel Gilroy, a former co-worker of Mateen at G4S, said he repeatedly complained to supervisors about Mateen's behavior, which included Mateen bombarding Gilroy with as many as 30 text messages a day, some of which made death threats."Everything he said was toxic," Gilroy told the Florida Today, "and the company wouldn't do anything. This guy was unhinged and unstable. He talked of killing people."The company said in a statement that it had "no record of any complaint by Mr. Gilroy about Mr. Mateen," and that Gilroy said in June 2015 after leaving the company that his co-workers were "good men and women."Separately, the company said it had conducted two screenings of Mateen, once when he was hired in 2007 and again in 2013. Neither brought up anything of concern.As part of his screening for G4S, Mateen underwent a psychometric test, an ID verification test, and a criminal record check, among other measures.The company re-screens 15 per cent of its employees in North America each year, and when Mateen moved to a new role in 2013, the company updated his criminal records check, a spokesman said.In 2013, G4S learned that Mateen had been questioned by the FBI, but the company was unaware of a subsequent FBI interview of Mateen in 2014, the company said. The company declined to comment on how it found out about the FBI investigation in 2013.LIMITED LIABILITYLegal experts who have represented security firms say establishing liability against employers can be difficult. Proving a company should have known an employee posed a foreseeable risk is hard to do unless specific threats have been made.Family members of victims killed in a 2013 shooting rampage at the Washington Naval Yard sued HP Enterprise Services, part of Hewlett-Packard Co., and its subcontractor the Florida firm The Experts, which had hired the gunman as a technology contractor at the yard."Something like this happens and it's natural for human beings to want someone to be held accountable, but the law has very stringent requirements for that type of accountability ... especially in situations like this where you have someone doing something that is extraordinarily aberrant," said Jeffrey McFadden, a Washington DC-based attorney representing The Experts in the Naval Yard case.The companies filed motions to dismiss that case in US District Court in Washington DC, which are still pending.If a company fires an employee based on non-specific complaints from co-workers, the employee could also sue, claiming the dismissal was discriminatory, said Clifford Ingber, an attorney in Connecticut who has represented security guard companies since the 1980s. REUTERS AKC0419 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-786290.Xml
A judge on Brazil's Supreme Court has denied a prosecutors request to arrest the head of the Senate and two other leaders of the ruling PMDB party for allegedly obstructing justice in a corruption investigation, a court spokesman said.Yesterday the ruling by Justice Teori Zavascki was good news for interim President Michel Temer, whose one-month-old government has been buffeted by corruption allegations. The ruling covers former Brazilian president Jos Sarney and Senator Romero Juc, leader of Temer's PMDB party. REUTERS AKC0426 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-786293.Xml
President Pranab Mukhejee was today decorateCote D' Ivoire's Highest honour National Grand Croix on his first visit to thisWest African coastan state. This is the first honour of this kind for President Mukherjee from any foreign country. Secretary Economic Relations Amar Sinha and Press Secretary to the President Raja Venu Mani said that there was a great enthusiasm in Cote D'Ivoire about theMr Mukhrjee's visit and they consider it as their great honour that such a high-level visit from India had happened. The President today held formal talks with his counterpart Alassane QuattaraWho later in the evening held a banquet in his honour. The President was conferred the National Grande Croix at the Presidential Palace just before he attented the banquet.UNI NAZ AKC0436 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-786294.Xml
The California judge facing criticism over his sentencing of a former Stanford University swimmer convicted of sexual assault was removed from a new sexual assault case after complaints by prosecutors, officials said.Yesterday "we lack confidence that Judge (Aaron) Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient," Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. He called the move "rare and carefully considered."Rosen cited the six-month jail sentence Persky handed down to Brock Turner, 20, earlier this month following the former swimmer's conviction for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman after a party in January 2015. Prosecutors sought a six-year prison term.Turner was convicted of assault with intent to commit rape, penetration of an intoxicated and unconscious person. Under California law, those charges are not considered rape because they did not involve penile penetration.Stacey Capps, chief trial deputy for the District Attorney's office, said the new case was reassigned to another judge and a hearing was held yesterday afternoon. She said that the victim was "particularly vulnerable" factored into the move.Capps said in the new case, Cecil Webb stands accused of touching the vagina and breast of a woman who was anesthetized ahead of a surgery at a Santa Clara hospital in November 2014.Webb has pleaded not guilty and his attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.A juror in the Stanford University sexual assault case wrote to Judge Persky saying he was disappointed and "vehemently" disagreed with the June 2 sentence, according to the letter, which was posted online late on Monday by the Palo Alto Weekly newspaper."I expected that this case would serve as a very strong deterrent to on-campus assaults but with the ridiculously lenient sentence, I am afraid that it makes a mockery of the whole trial," the juror wrote, concluding the letter with "shame on you."Persky is prohibited from commenting on the case because Turner is appealing his conviction, a spokesman for Santa Clara County Superior Court has said.Turner's sentencing drew criticism after the publication of a letter the victim read in court, detailing the devastation she felt from the assault. A Stanford law professor is leading a drive to gather signatures for a petition to remove Persky. REUTERS AKC0633 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-786308.Xml
The family of a Canadian hostage who was executed by an Islamist militant group in the Philippines said they supported the Canadian government's policy of not paying ransom in kidnapping cases.Yesterday the Philippines confirmed the death of Robert Hall, who had been held hostage by al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf on a remote southern island with three other people since September 2015.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday condemned the killing, but also said the Canadian government cannot and will not pay ransom in such cases because it could encourage additional kidnappings."Our family, even in our darkest hour, agrees wholeheartedly with Canada's policy of not paying ransom," the Hall family said in a statement."We stand with the ideals that built this country; strength of character, resilience of spirit, and refusal to succumb to the demands of the wretched."Hall was taken captive by the militants with three others from an upscale resort on Samal island, hundreds km east of Jolo. Another Canadian who was held captive, former mining executive John Ridsdel, was executed by the group in April.A Norwegian man and a Filipina are still being held. REUTERS AKC0729 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-786320.Xml
Hillary Clinton formally concluded the US Democratic presidential race yesterday with a win in the District of Columbia primary, then turned her focus to uniting the party during a 90-minute private meeting with defeated rival Bernie Sanders.Clinton, who secured enough delegates to clinch the nomination last week, met with Sanders in a downtown Washington hotel as the sometimes bitter primary combatants searched for common ground ahead of the November 8 election against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.Sanders has resisted pressure to bow out and endorse Clinton in a show of party unity, choosing to continue his campaign as leverage to win concessions from Clinton on his policy agenda and reforms to the Democratic Party nominating process.Both camps described the meeting as "positive" and said the two noted their shared commitment to stopping Trump and pursuing issues such as raising the minimum wage, eliminating undisclosed money in politics, making college affordable and making healthcare coverage more accessible.Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said the meeting was "a positive discussion about how best to bring more people into the political process and about the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation."Also attending were Sanders' wife Jane, Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta and the two campaign managers, Jeff Weaver for Sanders and Robby Mook for Clinton.Sanders had promised to stay in the Democratic race until the final vote was cast in the Washington, D.C., primary, although in the past week he has stopped talking about capturing the party's nomination and instead focused on ways to advance his policy goals.He scheduled a national video address to supporters tomorrow night, telling them in an email message that "the political revolution continues."At a news conference before the Washington meeting, Sanders said he would also demand changes to make the Democratic nominating process more equitable, including replacing the Democratic National Committee leadership, letting independents take part in the voting and eliminating superdelegates, who are unelected and are free to support any candidate."The time is long overdue for a fundamental transformation of the Democratic Party," Sanders said.Clinton easily beat Sanders in the District of Columbia, winning 79 per cent to his 21 per cent in a primary that closed the more than four-month, state-by-state battle for the Democratic nomination that began on February 1 in Iowa.During a visit to Capitol Hill earlier yesterday, Sanders told Democratic senators he would take his message of progressive values and party reform to the convention."I'm open to that, I think we should all be open to that," Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois told reporters afterward. "It's not a surprise that the American people are skeptical of all of us in political life. And we ought to step back and reassess why, and what we can do about it."Top Democrats have taken steps in the last week to begin rallying behind Clinton and ease Sanders out of the race without alienating his supporters.President Barack Obama endorsed Clinton tomorrow, hours after meeting with Sanders at the White House. Clinton also secured the endorsement of Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a leader of the party's progressive wing.Clinton already has turned her attention on the campaign trail to the race with Trump, rejecting the New York businessman's renewed calls for a ban of the entry of foreign-born Muslims into the United States after the mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, by an American man who claimed allegiance with Islamic State militants."I have clearly said that we faced terrorist enemies who use a perverted version of Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people. We have to stop them, and we will," Clinton said in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, yesterday. "But I will not demonize and declare war on an entire religion."REUTERS RSD PR0927 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-786356.Xml
Lawyers for an Indonesian woman charged with murdering her college friend by poisoning her coffee said today there was no evidence that she committed such a crime.At the opening court hearing, prosecutors accused Jessica Kumala Wongso, a resident of Australia, of the premeditated murder of Wayan Mirna Salihin at a Jakarta cafe in early January. If found guilty she could face the death penalty."According to the results of a medical forensic examination, the cause of Mirna's death was cyanide poisoning," prosecutor Ardito Murdi told a packed courtroom in Indonesia's capital.Prosecutors said Salihin took a sip of her cyanide-laced drink, collapsed on the floor, and went into convulsions. She died by the time she arrived at hospital.Defence lawyers said there was no evidence Wongso, 27, had poisoned her coffee."Whether through CCTV or based on witness accounts, there was no movement by Jessica to retrieve and put sodium cyanide into Mirna's glass," Wongso's lawyer, Elizabeth Batubara, said in the crowded court room."Nobody saw Jessica put poison into Mirna's glass."The next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.The case has grabbed widespread media attention in Indonesia and neighbouring Australia.Indonesian President Joko Widodo's administration has waded into the case, saying Wongso would not be executed if found guilty, according to media. The deal was made with Australia in order for Australian police to assist in the investigation.Australia does not have the death sentence and opposes its use in other countries.Australia's police force faced criticism last year for its involvement in tracking an international drug smuggling network that culminated in the execution of two Australian drug traffickers by firing squad in Indonesia.Indonesia has stepped up the use of the death penalty, mainly as a deterrent to drug crimes, and plans to execute 16 prisoners as early as next month.REUTERS RSD PR1156 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-786515.Xml
An Australian entrepreneur convicted of financial crimes in China and transferred to Australia to serve the remainder of his 11-and-a-half year sentence is being granted early release, Australia's justice minister said today.Matthew Ng was found guilty of fraud and bribery over a business dispute in 2011 and served almost four years in a Chinese prison before being transferred to Australia in 2014.Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan said that Ng, who was eligible for parole in August but still had about six years left on his sentence, was being granted early release based on exceptional family circumstances.Ng's teenage daughter died while he was in jail and his wife is seriously ill, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. Keenan said that he was satisfied that Ng's situation met the criteria for an early release."Mr Ng applied for early release from prison based on his exceptional family circumstances," Keenan said in a statement."The application was made in accordance with Australian laws, which allow for the early release of a prisoner where there are exceptional circumstances."A spokeswoman for Keenan told Reuters Ng had not yet been released but that "we anticipate that will happen very shortly".Neither Ng nor his lawyer, Tom Lennox, could immediately be reached by Reuters for comment.Ng's supporters have labelled him Australia's first Chinese political prisoner over the circumstances related to his arrest and conviction in China, which followed his successful acquisition of a Chinese state-owned enterprise.During preparations to list the company on the London Stock Exchange, Ng allegedly became embroiled in a fierce dispute with the company he had bought, which maintained close ties with China's Communist Party-led government.Ng was tried in a closed court in southern China and convicted of fraud and bribery.Ng's transfer from China to Australia, which was negotiated by former Australian prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, was the first of its kind between the two countries and interpreted as a sign of warming ties. REUTERS RSD PR1200 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-786518.Xml
His reaction came after a private TV channel tweeted that the agreement was reached during a meeting between Zakhilwal and Pakistani Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, reports Khamma Press.

Dubbing the reports as categorically false, the Afghan envoy said the currently planned gates that resulted in the ongoing tension in Torkham were brought to the discussion with his country's Ministry of Defence only two days ago in Torkham.

He added that Afghanistan then did not agree with the same, but the Pakistan Army went ahead to construct them anyway.(ANI)
Southeast Asian countries withdrew a statement that expressed the region's deep concerns over rising tensions in the disputed South China Sea, where China has been involved in territorial disputes.The strongly-worded statement by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), released by the Malaysian foreign ministry, did not name China directly but warned against raising tensions in the contested waters, where Beijing has been building artificial islands and increasing its military presence."We expressed our serious concerns over recent and ongoing developments, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and which may have the potential to undermine peace, security and stability in the South China Sea," said the statement, which was issued following a meeting in the Chinese city of Kunming between ASEAN and China's foreign ministers.But just hours later, a Malaysian ministry spokeswoman recalled the statement, saying "urgent amendments" needed to be made and an updated version would be distributed.However, no updated joint statement was later issued and the spokeswoman said countries would now issue individual statements.China lays historical claim to most of the South China Sea, with its Nine Dash line stretching deep into the maritime heart of Southeast Asia, covering hundreds disputed islands and reefs, rich fishing grounds and oil and gas deposits. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims over the region, through which trillions of dollars in ship-borne trade passes every year.Ian Storey, an analyst at Singapore's ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, said the retraction of the initial statement showed the lack of unity between ASEAN members on the South China Sea disputes."The initial statement repeated ASEAN's existing concerns over China's artificial island building and the militarization of the dispute, but also countered China's position that the dispute should be settled by the parties directly concerned and that it is not an issue between ASEAN and China.""Perhaps this proved too much for some of the member states and the statement was withdrawn," Storey said.The ASEAN-China meeting was held ahead of a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on a case brought by the Philippines contesting Beijing's claims in the South China Sea.China has refused to recognised the case and says all disputes should be resolved through bilateral talks. The case has become the centre of an international diplomatic arm wrestle, with the United States and its allies insisting on international law be obeyed and China saying it has widespread support for its position, including from some ASEAN members.Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on the Kunming meeting, made no reference to the earlier ASEAN statement but echoed its concerns over increased military build-up in the South China Sea, "especially the large-scale accretion and embellishment and construction of the reefs, the militarization of the artificial islands and actions of sovereignty claims that are not based on international law."Singapore and Indonesia, meanwhile, took a softer tone calling on ASEAN and China to "continue working together to maintain the peace and stability of the South China Sea."An Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman said the initial statement was a "media guideline" which had been prepared for a planned press conference for the conclusion of the meeting."However because of the meeting dynamics where the meeting extended a few hours past schedule, the press conference was cancelled and a number of ASEAN FM had to leave immediately," Armanatha Nasir, told Reuters by text message.REUTERS DUR PR1253 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0442-786589.Xml
An internationally-agreed ceasefire in Ukraine is being violated by Russia "again and again", NATO's chief said today.NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also criticised new Russian snap military checks on combat readiness, saying they undermined stability."The ceasefire is violated again and again, and this is of great concern," Stoltenberg told a news conference following a meeting about Ukraine with NATO defence ministers. "Russia supports the separatists ... with equipment, with weapons. They also mass troops along the Ukrainian border," he said.European Union leaders must decide this month whether to extend sanctions on Russia over the crisis.REUTERS PY VN1438 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-786819.Xml
A Chinese court today jailed the son of former domestic security tsar Zhou Yongkang for 18 years on corruption charges, the official news agency Xinhua said.The report on Zhou Bin, who had business interests in the energy sector, came hours after a court jailed Zhou's wife, former state television journalist Jia Xiaoye, for nine years, also for graft.Once one of China's most powerful officials, the elder Zhou was at the centre of the biggest corruption scandals in more than six decades.REUTERS PY RAI1536 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-786936.Xml
Pakistani troops fired heavy artillery at Afghan forces at their main Khyber Pass border crossing today, the Pakistani military said, an escalation after days of clashes that have killed four people and stranded thousands on both sides.Relations between the US allies have never been close but have been strained over the past 15 years by Afghan accusations that Pakistan supports the Taliban who are fighting to unseat the US-backed government in Kabul.Pakistan denies that.The countries have blamed each other for the fighting that broke out on Sunday at the main crossing point between them over the construction of a new border post on the Pakistani side."When our people began construction work on the gate today, Afghan forces again opened fire at our troops and construction workers," said a Pakistani security official who declined to be identified.He said Pakistan had retaliated with long-range artillery and mortars. There was no word on any casualties.The Pakistani military spokesman's office confirmed the Wednesday fighting.Afghan officials, however, denied any fighting on Wednesday, but said an Afghan border guard was killed and five were wounded overnight yesterday. It was not immediately clear if the officials were talking about the same incident.Pakistan's Foreign Office summoned the Afghan ambassador to demand that Afghanistan put an end to the "unprovoked firing" and to protest against the death of a Pakistani army major, shot on the border in a clash this week.The US State Department yesterday urged "a calm resolution to the tension".Pakistan says the border gate it is building is well on its side of the border and it will help stop militants from crossing and help fight drug trafficking.Pakistan's foreign policy chief, Sartaj Aziz, expressed concern over what he called the Afghan army's attempts to "disrupt border management efforts" by Pakistan.Afghanistan objects to all Pakistani construction on a 2,200-km 1,370-mile border it says was unfairly imposed by British colonialists in the 19th century and which it has never recognised.Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been particularly strained in recent months over Afghan anger with what it sees as insincere efforts by Pakistan to help with peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.Afghan officials say Pakistan backs the Taliban as a tool to limit the influence of its old rival, India, in Afghanistan.Pakistan says it is trying to encourage the Taliban to talk to the Kabul government but has limited sway over the militants.REUTERS PY VN1558 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-787000.Xml
President Pranab Mukherjee today invited businessmen and industrialists of Cote d'Ivoire to take advantage of Make in India programme, underlining that the fast growing Indian economy offered them a lot of opportunities. Mr Mukherjee also said the Indian entrepreneurs were also keen to invest in Cote d'Ivoire, which he notes, was today an economic engine of growth for the entire West African region. In the last three years, it has registered an impressive annual growth rate of 9-10 per cent, making it the second fastest growing economy in Africa after Ethiopia, he said, while addressing a Business Forum here on the second and last day of his first visit to the country. ''India looks forward to partnering Cote d'Ivoire - particularly in the agricultural processing sector and the exploration and mining of minerals. ''As India's economy has grown and matured, a considerable amount of the capital generated in India was seeking new destinations outside the country, including in Africa,'' Mr Mukherjee added. The President said in the last three years, Cote D'Ivoire had registered an impressive annual growth rate of 9-10 per cent, making it the second fastest growing economy in Africa after Ethiopia. According to a forecast by the International Monetary Fund, in 2016 again, Cte d'Ivoire is expected to grow at a rate of 9.6 per cent. ''It is; therefore, no surprise that Cote d Ivoire is regarded as a prime destination for investment in Africa. Ivory Coast has been rightly lauded as a model for socio-economic development in this region,'' Mr Mukherjee pointed out. The President said Indian investors were aware of the potential of Cte d'Ivoire; with its large land mass, rich natural resources and youthful demography, as an important investment destination. ''I assure that our Central and State Governments would encourage such initiatives. We welcome investors from Cote d'Ivoire to come and work with Indian partners in mutually beneficial joint business ventures. The strengthening of economic relations would provide a robust underpinning to our excellent political ties,'' he added.The President pointed out that India had recorded a steady growth at the rate of 7.6 per cent each year - for over a decade now, and the comprehensive reforms introduced in key areas of the economy had enhanced the ease of doing business in India. The Foreign Investment regime had been liberalised through simplified procedures and the removal of several restricting provisions. ''These reforms have renewed the interest of global investors in India. In 2014, there was a 32 per cent growth in investments and in 2015; India emerged as one of the biggest global investment destinations,'' he added.More UNI NAZ RJ SHK 1740 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-786705.Xml
The United States is reexamining its plans to reduce the number of troops in Afghanistan, Britain's defence minister said today."US Defense Secretary Ash Carter told us the troop numbers are being looked at again," Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon told reporters after closed-door talks in Brussels at NATO headquarters.REUTERS PY BL1742 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-787307.Xml
Speaking after the occasion, President Mukherjee said he was accepting it with humility on behalf of the one billion plus Indians.

In his speech at the banquet, Mr. Mukherjee who is on the second leg of his three-nation visit to Africa, said it is rightly believed that the mutual goodwill between India and Cote D'Ivoirie is inversely proportional to the geographical distance separating the two countries, longstanding friendship and fruitful co-operation has made it irrelevant.

"I feel greatly honoured, Excellency, by your gesture of conferring on me the National Order of the Republic of Cote D'Ivoirie. I consider it to be emblematic of the long standing mutual friendship between the peoples of our two countries," he said. (ANI)
"I watched President Obama today and he was angrier at me than he was at the shooter," CNN quoted Trump as saying.

"The level of anger, that's the kind of anger that he should have for the shooter and these killers that shouldn't be here," he added.

The U.S. President had earlier in a speech ripped through Trump's 'Muslim ban' rhetoric, saying such a dangerous mindset will make the Muslim Americans feel that their government is betraying them.

Taking a jibe at Obama, Trump said, "I'll tell you what he's been one hell of a lousy president, he's done a terrible job."

He also took a jibe at his opponent Hillary Clinton.

"If Hillary Clinton becomes president I don't know that our country will ever, ever come back -- I mean it," Trump said.

Mateen (29) opened fire at the crowd present at a gay nightclub in Orlando early Sunday killing 53 people and wounding several others before being shot dead by the cops. (ANI)
President Pranab Mukherjee, who wrapped up his two-day visit to Ivory Coast, said that India wanted to forge new ties with Africa and the Indian diaspora could play an important role in this. My visit is not symbolic; I have come to convey the Indian government's stance that we want to forge new ties with Africa, Mr Mukherjee told a community reception here today. He said choice of his visiting to three African Countries was not random selection, but to underscore to these nations that India was with them in their journey of development. The President said that Indian diaspora is symbolic of Indian power in these developing countries. This was the last function that the President attended in Ivory Coast, after which he started for his next destination Namibia which is also the last leg of his three-nation African tour. Mr.Mukherjee had embarked on a six-day visit to three African nations - Ghana, Ivory Coast and Namibia to boost trade ties with these countries. He has left for Namibia after visiting Ghana and Ivory Coast.India has always been a keen friend and supporter of African nations since the period they were fighting against apartheid and today also India is ready to share with Africa its experiences in development, he said.UNI NAZ CJ SHK 2000 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-787669.Xml
A file photo taken on July 23, 2015, shows the destruction of drug packages during a controlled incineration held at Cerro Patacon garbage dump, in Panama City, capital of Panama. (Xinhua/Mauricio Valenzuela)

MEXICO CITY, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The fight against drug trafficking in Latin America requires effective rules to facilitate the exchange of criminal information and joint operations between countries, experts from the criminal justice system told Xinhua.

There are no regional instruments to allow the police in Latin American countries to have an agile coordination when investigating transnational groups, according to Jorge Emilio Iruegas, director at the Office of the Assistant Attorney General for Anti-corruption in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon.

Currently, the time for intelligence information to be exchanged between nations can take months to arrive on investigators' desks because it involves a lot of red tape between foreign ministers and other ministries, said Iruegas, also an expert in the penal system, in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

"For the Colombian criminal and the Mexican criminal sending just a text message is enough for them to go ahead and carry out the criminal action," said Iruegas, who used to be a civil servant within the Attorney General's Office (PGR), Mexico's federal prosecutors.

A member of the Directorate of Special Operations (Diroes) of Peru's National Police participates in a drill during an event marking the 28th anniversary of the Diroes' founding, in Lima City, Peru, on Aug 25, 2015. According to local press, the event presented a demonstration of Diroes' activities, especially in prevention and combat of terrorism and drug smuggling. (Xinhua/Norman Cordova/ANDINA)

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has signaled that the generalized problem of drug production and sales in Latin America is directly linked to the violence that the region is currently suffering from, where more than 100,000 murders are committed annually.

In a report issued in 2014, the UNDP called upon Latin American countries to strengthen information and intelligence exchange and promote an effective coordination of police operations in order to dismantle transnational criminal networks.

Only Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, headed by imprisoned druglord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, has a presence or links with criminals in several Central and South American countries for drug trafficking or money laundering, according to Mexican and United States security agencies.

Iruegas considered the current cooperation between nations stays at the level of heads of procurator's offices or security agencies and is not translated into measures that allow police to be more effective and efficient in their investigations.

"With organized crime being a transnational issue, rules should be established a lot quicker and with less bureaucracy in order to obtain the information from an investigation," he said.

Members of the Directorate of Special Operations (Diroes) of Peru's National Police participate in a drill during an event marking the 28th anniversary of the Diroes' founding, in Lima City, Peru, on Aug 25, 2015. According to local press, the event presented a demonstration of Diroes' activities, especially in prevention and combat of terrorism and drug smuggling. (Xinhua/Norman Cordova/ANDINA)

For Alonso Gonzalez-Villalobos, the international law, cooperation and development consultant, the lack of actual coordination mechanisms between police is a pending matter for the governments of the region.

"There is a lot of political discussion about cooperation and collaboration but, very little interoperability. On a day-to-day basis there is no possibility to exchange information," said Gonzalez-Villalobos in an interview.

If coordination improves at regional level, in Mexico, where drug trafficking has brought about a wave of violence for almost a decade, regulations combating organized crime will also need to be perfected, agreed the two experts.

Until now, in Mexico, prosecuting drug traffickers and organized crime gangs has been dealt with by the federal government. However, their operation leads to criminal activities that fall into the jurisdiction of state prosecutors, such as murders and kidnappings, explained Iruegas.

The Nuevo Leon expert added that the current Federal Law Against Organized Crime, which includes exceptional measures such as house arrest, should be modified so that it clearly specifies instruments and powers that the 31 states and Mexico City can use to fight criminals within their jurisdiction.

Gonzalez-Villalobos stressed the need for a national law against organized crime with mechanisms that are compatible with the new adversarial and accusatory justice system.

"The current Federal Law Against Organized Crime is not enough. It has serious problems and doesn't correspond to the political decision that the Mexican government has taken to nationalize criminal procedures," confirmed Gonzalez-Villalobos, who has a Masters in International Law.

Gonzalez-Villalobos warned that the fight against drug trafficking in Mexico and in Latin America in general will not prosper if mechanisms against corruption are not also established as this is a factor that affects the region and allows organized crime to happen.

Latin American countries could have better laws, communication systems and facilities in their security agencies. However, organized crime will continue if corruption among public officials does not reduce, said the consultant.

"The scourge isn't drugs. The scourge is organized crime groups' ability to infiltrate key institutions," Gonzalez-Villalobos noted.
BRUSSELS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow on Tuesday signed an agreement on airspace management arrangements with the defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, the security organization announced.

During the signing ceremony, on the sideline of a NATO defence ministers meeting, Vershbow stressed this agreement between NATO and the three Baltic states would facilitate more air training opportunities in the Baltic region.

"This sends a clear message of the alliance's shared responsibility and resolve to protect NATO's territory and populations," he said.

It contains provisions for the execution of NATO's air policing mission in the region, taking into account the evolution of national regulations for airspace management in the three Baltic states.

The newly signed agreement will also improve civil-military coordination, according to NATO press release.

NATO Baltic Air Policing missions have been carried out since 2004 with NATO allies taking turns deploying their interceptors and staff in the Baltic states in four-month rotations. Enditem
WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Scientists on Tuesday reported the first detection of a chiral molecule in space, a finding that may help understand one of the most puzzling mysteries of the early origins of life.

Like a pair of human hands, chiral molecules have two forms that are identical in structure, but are mirror images of one another.

Life on Earth uses one, and only one, handedness of many types of chiral molecules, a phenomenon known as homochirality.

The amino acids that make up the proteins in our bodies, for example, are all left-handed.

Chiral molecules are of particular significance in pharmaceutical development: one form, or enantiomer, may have a therapeutic effect while the other is toxic.

To date, the source of this chiral bias on Earth has been a mystery, though some suggested insights might be found in space since it's thought that interstellar clouds contain the raw ingredients for the formation of our solar system.

In the new study, a team of scientists used highly sensitive radio telescopes to detect a chiral molecule called propylene oxide, or CH3CHOCH2, in Sagittarius B2, a cloud of gas and dust which is roughly 3 million times the mass of the Sun and located in the center of our Milky Way galaxy.

"It's the first molecule detected in space that has the property of chirality, making it a pioneering leap forward in our understanding of how prebiotic molecules are made in space and the effects they may have on the origins of life," co-first author Brandon Carrol, a chemistry graduate student at the California Institute of Technology, said in a statement.

The research was undertaken primarily with the U.S. National Science Foundation's Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia as part of the Prebiotic Interstellar Molecular Survey, with supporting observations from the Parkes radio telescope in Australia.

Propylene oxide was detected in the cold, outer area of Sagittarius B2 North, rather than the hot cores within the gas cloud. Other organic compounds have also been detected in this region.

Though propylene oxide is not utilized in living organisms, its presence in space is a signpost for the existence of other chiral molecules.

The current data, however, did not distinguish between the left- and right-handed versions of the molecule.

"The next step is to detect an excess of one enantiomer over the other," said Brett McGuire, a chemist with the U.S. National Radio Astronomy Observatory, who shared the first authorship on the work with Carrol.

"By discovering a chiral molecule in space, we finally have a way to study where and how these molecules form before they find their way into meteorites and comets, and to understand the role they play in the origins of homochirality and life."

The finding was published in the U.S. journal Science and also presented at the American Astronomical Society meeting in San Diego, California. Enditem
HARARE, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has reduced charges on electronic transactions to encourage the use of plastic money in the wake of a biting cash crunch in the economy.

In a statement Tuesday, Governor John Mangudya said the central bank had agreed with the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe on the new charges.

"The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is pleased to advise the banking public that it has agreed with the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe and Payment Systems Providers to reduce charges on electronic transactions in order to promote and encourage usage of electronic banking services," the governor said.

This follows public complains that bank charges including for electronic transactions were too high.

With the new rates, the real time gross settlement (RTGS) now attracts a maximum of 5 U.S. dollars, electronic fund transfer a maximum of 2.10 U.S. dollars and point of sale (POS) transactions up to 10 dollars are now charged 10 cents.

POS transactions above 10 dollars are charged 45 cents, POS own bank customer maximum of 20 cents while POS issuer charges have been removed.

Automated teller machine withdrawals are now charged a maximum of 2.50 dollars down from about 4 dollars, merchant service commission 0 to a maximum of one percent for local transactions while monthly administrations or service fees are now charged 0 to a maximum 5 dollars for individuals.

"It is envisaged that the reduction in transactional fees will go a long way in promoting the use of plastic money which is essential to move the economy towards a cashless society and complement the current financial inclusion efforts," Mangudya said.

Zimbabwe has been facing severe cash shortages since March which authorities blame on money laundering and a widening trade deficit.

The central bank has since announced a raft of measures to deal with the cash crisis, which include limiting cash withdrawals and the planned introduction of bond notes in October. Enditem
DAR ES SALAAM, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Lu Youging on Tuesday donated blood at the east African nation's leading hospital to mark the World Blood Donor Day.

Speaking after he had donated his blood at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, Lu said he was motivated to donate blood because he understood the need to donate blood to help children who undergo heart surgery at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), named after Tanzania's retired President.

"Tanzania and China are cooperating in many areas. We are good partners. The government of China is giving first priority to supporting the health sector in Tanzania," he said.

The Chinese envoy assured President John Magufuli of his country's continued support towards the development of key sectors in Tanzania.

Makwaia Makani, MNH's Acting Director General, said the hospital was facing shortage of blood for patients needing the service, including children.

Makani said between 30 to 50 litres of blood were collected per day at the hospital, adding that the hospital was also facing lack of proper blood measuring facilities which affected collection and storage of blood.

The head of Heart Department at the MNH, Mohamed Janabi, said the hospital needed at least 90 litres of blood a day for children who underwent heart surgery.

On June 14, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day, established in 2004, to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products. Enditem
BEIRUT, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Kataeb Party leader Sami Gemayel announced Tuesday the resignation of his two ministers from the Cabinet, saying he no longer saw "the point of participating in a corrupt and lazy government."

"There is no reason for us to stay in this Cabinet. It was a temporary leadership (amid the presidential vacuum) and has turned into a Cabinet symbolizing failure and everything wrong in the country," Gemayel said during a televised news conference.

Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi and Economy Minister Alain Hakim are the second and third ministers to resign from the current government formed last year.

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi resigned in February over his own frustrations with the government.

Gemayel slammed the Cabinet and said it only cared about passing deals they could profit from "at the expense of the state's treasury."

"When we came into this Cabinet, we thought we would be in it for only a few months, and we were never afraid of confrontation," he said, adding that "they have been trying to box us in for a while now, however no one has been able to silence us, and we will never be silenced."

Kataeb has been at loggerheads with other factions over the trash issue, a controversial dam project as well as a security agency dispute. Enditem
By Salah Takieddine

BEIRUT, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon stressed Monday the need to intensify the European Union's support to the Lebanese developmental priorities, a statement by the EU embassy in Lebanon stated.

According to the statement, a Political and Security Committee (PSC) of the European Union wrapped up a two- day visit to Lebanon.

The delegation met Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, the President of the Council of Ministers Tamman Salam and the Minister of Interior and Municipalities Nouhad Machnouk.

The PSC was also briefed by the Lebanese armed forces on the security situation, their current capabilities and their on-going operations.

The PSC visited the UNHCR premises and an informal refugee settlement in Zahle, where it was briefed about living conditions and legal status of refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.

Ambassador Christina Lassen, head of the delegation of the European Union in Lebanon, said "the stability and security of Lebanon are paramount for the European Union and we see a need to strengthen state institutions and find a way out of the current political crisis."

Prime Minister Tammam Salam stressed the need to intensify the European Union's support to the Lebanese developmental priorities.

Minister of Interior Nohad Mashnouq, for his part, said home security in Lebanon was under control, and banks could not be "held hostages" for political reasons.

He also stressed the necessity to fill the presidential vacuum, voicing concerns if the legislative polls were ever held before the election of a new head of state. Enditem
GAZA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Israeli war jets launched an airstrike on an area close to the fence of the borders between Israel and southeast Gaza city; no injuries were reported, according to eyewitnesses and paramedics.

Security sources in Gaza told Xinhua that Israeli F16 warplanes fired one missile on an area close to the fence of the borders between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel to destroy an old tunnel dug underneath the borderline area.

The sources said the tunnel was discovered more than a week ago and it was destroyed its mouth in the Israeli side of the borders and the war planes destroyed it with one missile in the Gaza side of the borders.

Eyewitnesses said that they heard a huge explosion and no injuries were reported. The last Israeli air raid was on May 26 targeting training facilities of Islamic Hamas movement's armed wing, no injuries were reported.

In the summer of 2014, Israel waged a large-scale ground and air offensive on the Gaza Strip that lasted for 50 days to destroy dozens of tunnels Gaza militants dug underneath the borders between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli offensive ended after Egypt brokered a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas-led Gaza militants leaving more than 2,000 Palestinians and 70 Israelis killed.
WARSAW, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The opening ceremony of the first Chinese Books Center in Poland took place here on Tuesday at the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

The center is a result of cooperation between the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration and the university and was supervised by the State Council Information Office of China.

Thanks to the newly-opened center, any Polish citizen wishing to learn more about Chinese culture, history, economics, or searching for Chinese literature, will be sure to find what they need.

A Chinese books offer is to cover various topics and include both classical and modern works.

China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration offered its Polish partner the first delivery of books, including 200 works on Chinese economics, politics, culture, history, etc. Another 300 books are to follow.

The agreement between the two parties assumes an offering of 300 books each year over the next five years. The Polish side has committed to creating a special place for the books and ensures they will be widely available and accessible.

At the ceremony, Guo Weimin, vice minister of the Chinese State Council Information Office, expressed hope the offering of books might lead to more people reading about China, getting to know the country, and developing an interest in it, which might result in more Chinese-themed research.

Professor Krzysztof Gawlilowski, a renowned expert on China and head of the Eastern Asia Civilization Center, said he wished for more cooperation on a cultural level, especially as far as books and literature translation was concerned.

"Every great civilization is based on books," he said.

"In the case of China, studies on classical works used to play a fundamental role. Therefore, the creation of this center is both of a practical and symbolical meaning," he added.
Photo taken with mobile phone on June 13, 2016 shows guns for sale at a shop in Orlando, the United States. The American society has been buzzing with measures to prevent further gun-related violence in the United States, after a shooting spree in an Orlando nightclub left 49 dead and 53 wounded on Sunday. (Xinhua/file photo)

By Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Despite the deadliest shooting massacre in modern U.S. history, Washington is unlikely to pass major new gun control laws, experts said.

Sunday's shooting spree at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which left 49 people killed and 53 others wounded, has reignited the debate on gun control in the United States.

It has sparked calls for increased gun control in the country, where the right to bear firearms is embedded in the Constitution and where millions of ordinary Americans believe it is a sacred right.

Gun control advocates point out that it's inconceivable that the killer, Omar Mateen, was able to legally purchase firearms despite being on a police watch list for possible links to terrorism.

Still, it is doubtful that the attack will lead to any major changes in gun laws, U.S. experts said.

"Thus far crises like this do not change the basic politics of gun control. There is not much evidence at this point that the situation will be different," said Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University.

Asked why U.S. Congress has not passed more gun legislation, he told Xinhua that the opposition to gun control "is well organized and has support in both parties."

Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution, echoed those remarks.

"The country continues to be divided over gun laws and the NRA (National Rifle Association) still will resist any meaningful action," West told Xinhua.

The United States has long suffered from the woes of gun violence as there are more than 300 million guns in the country.

As usual, there is nationwide outrage over gun violence every time after a major shooting attack occurs, but it dies down fast with no major gun laws passed.

Indeed, even after the Sandy Hook massacre -- the 2012 shooting at an elementary school that killed 20 children aged six and seven -- there was no concerted public outcry for more gun control.

Even so, the issue will likely be the subject of much debate in the lead-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

In a speech from her campaign trail on Monday, the presumptive Democratic nominee for U.S. president, Hilary Clinton, called for more gun control, emphasizing that while there is much controversy over the issue, there are some points on which both sides of the political isle can agree.

Noting the killer of the Orlando shooting was on police watch list for possible links to extremism, Clinton said there is no reason why anyone fitting such a profile should be able to legally purchase firearms.

U.S. anti-gun advocates are angered by the fact that gun lobbying groups led by the NRA have powerful influence on Congress to block any efforts to pass bills on gun control.

The NRA spends tens of millions of U.S. dollars on political lobbying efforts.

But gun rights advocates insist that gun ownership is a constitutional right and gun violence can be curbed by law-abiding citizens bearing guns.

Some criminologists also maintain that attackers who are bent on destruction will always find a way around the law in order to get what they want, whether that means obtaining firearms illegally or constructing bombs from household cleaning agents.

The presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, who has been endorsed by the NRA, said in a speech Monday that he continues to support the group, while blasting what he called the current "politically correct response" to the attack.

Trump maintained that more gun laws would simply disarm law-abiding Americans and prevent them from being able to protect themselves from terrorists.

Instead, the brash billionaire seized on the Orlando shooting by attacking President Barack Obama and Clinton for making the country unsafe by trying to curb gun rights of law-abiding citizens while wanting to bring more Muslim immigrants into the country.
Photo taken with mobile phone on June 13, 2016 shows customers selecting gun at a shop in Orlando, the United States. The American society has been buzzing with measures to prevent further gun-related violence in the United States, after a shooting spree in an Orlando nightclub left 49 dead and 53 wounded on Sunday. (Xinhua/file photo)

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday challenged the Republican-controlled Congress to reinstate the ban on assault weapons in the wake of the deadliest shooting massacre in the U.S. history.

"Reinstate the assault weapons ban, (and) make it harder for terrorists to use these weapons to kill us," said Obama at a press conference, warning that without such a ban, "these kinds of events are going to keep on happening."

The manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automatic firearms was banned in 1994. However, when the ban expired in 2004, the U.S. Congress refused to renew the ban.

At least 49 people were killed and 53 others wounded, including a police officer, early Sunday in a shooting spree at a popular LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It was the worst mass shooing in U.S. history and the deadliest attack since the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001.

The gunman, identified by authorities as Omar Mateen of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was found dead inside the nightclub after a shootout with the police.

According to investigators, Mateen had an assault rifle and a handgun, both purchased legally early this month, and the U.S. authorities were highly confident that the gunman was radicalized on the Internet and was potentially inspired by foreign terrorist organizations.

"Enough talking about being tough on terrorism. Actually be tough on terrorism and stop making it as easy as possible for terrorists to buy assault weapons," said Obama.
UNITED NATIONS, June 14, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on June 14, 2016, shows the United Nations Security Council holding a meeting on Libya, at the UN headquarters in New York. The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution to ensure the implementation of arms embargo on Libya. (Xihua/Li Muzi)

UNITED NATIONS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution to ensure strict implementation of arms embargo on Libya.

The resolution has authorized member states for a period of one year to inspect, on the high seas off the coast of Libya, vessels coming from or to the country, if they have reasonable grounds to believe the vessels are carrying arms or related materials.

"In order to ensure strict implementation of arms embargo on Libya," the 15-nation council authorizes member states to act nationally or through regional organizations to use all measures to carry out such inspections, said the resolution.

The UK-drafted resolution was adopted after the European Union asked the UN Security Council to authorize EU's naval forces in the Mediterranean to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya.

On June 6, Federica Mogherini, high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, asked the council to adopt a resolution on authorizing the EU mission Operation Sophia to enforce the arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya.

In 2015, the EU launched the naval operation to reduce migrant and refugee smuggling across the Mediterranean. Last year in October, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to authorize member states, including the European Union, to take actions on vessels that are used for people smuggling from Libya.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi said after the vote that China supports the international community in taking effective measures to implement arms embargo and Libya, in particular severing channels and networks used by terrorist organizations to smuggle and acquire weapons.

Liu said the inspections of related vessels must have the consent of the vessel's flag state, and the measures taken by countries in implementing the resolution should not prejudice the exclusive jurisdiction of the flag state.

Libya, a major oil producer in North Africa, has been witnessing a frayed political process after former leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled during the 2011 political turmoil, as two rival parliaments and several groups have been fighting for control of national resource wealth.

The UN Security Council imposed sanctions measures including arms embargo on Libya in 2011 to prevent sale or supply of arms and related material of all types to the country.
Photo taken on June 14, 2016, shows the United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on Libya, at the UN headquarters in New York, June 14, 2016. The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution to ensure the implementation of arms embargo on Libya. (Xihua/Photo)

UNITED NATIONS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution to ensure strict implementation of arms embargo on Libya.

The resolution has authorized member states for a period of one year to inspect, on the high seas off the coast of Libya, vessels coming from or to the country, if they have reasonable grounds to believe the vessels are carrying arms or related materials.

"In order to ensure strict implementation of arms embargo on Libya," the 15-nation council authorizes member states to act nationally or through regional organizations to use all measures to carry out such inspections, said the resolution.

The UK-drafted resolution was adopted after the European Union asked the UN Security Council to authorize EU's naval forces in the Mediterranean to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya.

On June 6, Federica Mogherini, high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, asked the council to adopt a resolution on authorizing the EU mission Operation Sophia to enforce the arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya.

In 2015, the EU launched the naval operation to reduce migrant and refugee smuggling across the Mediterranean. Last year in October, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to authorize member states, including the European Union, to take actions on vessels that are used for people smuggling from Libya.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi said after the vote that China supports the international community in taking effective measures to implement arms embargo and Libya, in particular severing channels and networks used by terrorist organizations to smuggle and acquire weapons.

Liu said the inspections of related vessels must have the consent of the vessel's flag state, and the measures taken by countries in implementing the resolution should not prejudice the exclusive jurisdiction of the flag state.

Libya, a major oil producer in North Africa, has been witnessing a frayed political process after former leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled during the 2011 political turmoil, as two rival parliaments and several groups have been fighting for control of national resource wealth.

The UN Security Council imposed sanctions measures including arms embargo on Libya in 2011 to prevent sale or supply of arms and related material of all types to the country.
MEXICO CITY, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The United States will deport to Mexico drug trafficker Hector Palma Salazar, with an alias "El Guero Palma", on June 15 after he completed his prison sentence in a Californian jail on Tuesday, the Mexican prosecutor-general said on Tuesday.

Prosecutor-general Arely Gomes told a press conference here that the criminal, a companion of Joaquin "El Chapo Guzman" in the Sinaloa Cartel, would be deported by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

However, she declined to state whether the Mexican authorities would seek to press further charges against Palma Salazar once he arrives in Mexican soil or whether he would be freed.

The drug trafficker was first extradited to the U.S. in 2002 where he pled guilty for transporting 50 kilos of cocaine across the border. He was jailed for 16 years in 2008 but had already served five years in Mexico, which were taken off from his sentence.

"We must first complete the repatriation of 'El Guero Palma' to Mexico, after which we will have the necessary elements to decide on our next step," Gomez told the press.
by Juan Manuel Nieves

BUENOS AIRES, June 14 (Xinhua) -- An Argentine blood bank is working to boost its supply through a donors' club, according to a medical expert involved in the campaign.

Dr. Graciela Amerise, medical coordinator at the Buenos Aires Blood Bank Foundation, spoke with Xinhua recently in the lead up to World Blood Donor Day on Tuesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) designated June 14 as a day to raise awareness worldwide about the importance of giving blood to save lives, a message that rings particularly true less than two days after the worst mass shooting in the U.S. history killed 49 and wounded another 53 in Orlando, Florida.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Orlando residents lined up outside blood banks, as area hospitals worked to save the victims.

Members of the blood donors' club in Buenos Aires pledge to donate on a regular basis, such as three times a year, and also help spread the word about the need to voluntarily give blood.

According to the WHO, only regular, voluntary, unpaid blood donations can guarantee a community has a sufficient supply of safe blood.

"Having 100 percent voluntary donors is ideal," said Amerise, because "when a donor is pressured (by a family medical emergency or by need for money) he may not answer questions honestly."

Around the world, many blood banks only accept strictly voluntary blood donors to ensure the screening process is effective.

According to the WHO, some "62 countries collect 100 percent of their blood supply from voluntary, unpaid blood donors." But that occurs mainly in high-income countries.

In many parts of the world, demand outstrips supply, often for a particular type of blood.

"In Argentina it's very difficult to get O-type blood," said Amerise, though in general the larger problem is "the shortage of donors. That's why we are trying to raise awareness."

"You don't need to have a family member or friend in the hospital, any healthy person can come and donate blood," she added.

"If every healthy person voluntarily donates at least twice a year, we could meet the needs of nearly all the patients around the country who need a transfusion," said Amerise.

According to the WHO, "blood donation by one percent of the population can meet a nation's most basic requirements for blood."

In addition to June 14, Nov. 9 has traditionally been a day to give blood in Argentina, since it was on that day in 1914 that Argentinian researcher and physician Dr. Luis Agote performed the first non-direct blood transfusion in the Americas.
UNITED NATIONS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- UN General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft on Tuesday called on governments as well as civil society to work together to empower over one billion persons with disabilities.

He said all major stakeholders shall take necessary measures to work for "concrete results" for those living with disabilities as well as promoting their inclusive development.

Lykketoft made the remarks at the 9th session of Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), a high-level meeting opened here on Tuesday and will last till Thursday.

The CRPD was adopted on Dec. 13, 2006 at the UN headquarters and entered into force on May 3, 2008.

The convention aims to change attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities by recognizing them as "subjects" with rights, who are capable of being active members of society.

The 9th session highlights discussions on eliminating poverty and inequality for all persons with disabilities, promoting rights of persons with mental and intellectual disabilities, and enhancing their accessibility to information and technology and inclusive development.
UNITED NATIONS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- China and other countries on Tuesday were elected to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the coordinating body for the economic and social work of UN agencies and funds.

China won 182 votes out of a total of 185 votes casted in the Asia and Pacific group in the election. Other elected ECOSOC members in the group are Tajikstan, United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Korea.

The winners require two thirds majority of the votes in relevant groups.

Other winners included Azerbaijan, Benin, Bosnia, Britain, Cameroon, Colombia, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Venezuela.

ECOSOC is the principal UN organ to coordinate the economic, social and related work of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and institutions. It has 54 members, who serve for three-year terms.
QUITO, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador's National Assembly approved on Tuesday a bilateral agreement with China, allowing the nationals of the two countries to visit the other country with no visas.

The new regulation was passed with the support of 95 lawmakers out of 112, after initially being agreed by the two sides in January 2015 and then ratified by Ecuador's Constitutional Court.

The bill was then submitted to the Assembly for a vote after being approved by the body's international relations committee, which said it would "promote the principle of universal citizenship."

Once it enters into force, this law will allow Chinese and Ecuadorian citizens to enter, leave and transit through each other's countries without a visa, the Assembly said in a press release.

Chinese citizens will be able to stay in Ecuador for a single stay of up to 90 days over the course of a year with no visa while Ecuadorians will be able to visit China for 30 days, although usable on multiple trips in the course of a year.

"The difference in the timeframes is due to the different immigration systems each country possesses," said the press release.

In 2006, China named Ecuador an authorized tourism destination, said Dora Aguirre, president of the Assembly's international relations committee.

Between 2012 and 2015, a total of 11,552 Ecuadorians visited China while 61,160 Chinese visitors arrived in the South American country.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 14 (Xinhua) -- A new paper warns that policymakers who consider legalizing some illicit ivory trade may be relying on a faulty theory that legalization makes black markets collapse.

The paper, by Solomon Hsiang, a University of California, Berkeley, public policy professor and director of the campus's Global Policy Lab, and Nitin Sekar, an ecologist at Princeton University, notes that poaching jumped immediately by roughly 65 percent around the world, right when an ivory trade legalization experiment was announced.

In the paper posted on Tuesday by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research, Hsiang and Sekar note that black market operators, whose commerce accounts for roughly 20 percent of all global economic activity, make it difficult to develop evidence-based legalization policies because they intentionally hide their trade and do not report production or sales.

In their investigation of black markets, the researchers turned to elephant poaching, which leaves a trail of highly visible dead elephant carcasses for the world to see. "This is a unique opportunity to study illicit markets because poachers never bother to hide or destroy elephant carcasses; it's not worth the trouble," said Hsiang. "So they've basically left us a complete and visible record of their economic activity."

Global trade in ivory in the 1970s and 1980s devastated elephant populations, so all trade around the world was banned in 1989 by the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

As results, ivory collected from naturally dying wild African elephants accumulated in government warehouses across the continent, and African governments were not allowed to sell it off. Government leaders proposed some of the warehoused ivory could be sold to reward governments, such as Botswana, that had protected their elephant herds, while flooding the black market for ivory, causing the price to crash and forcing poachers out of business.

In a 2008 decision, CITES announced it would allow sales of legal ivory once by Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The experiment was the subject of Hsiang and Sekar's analysis using an "event study" approach, as they looked at elephant poaching rates at ecological sites across Africa and Asia to see if the CITES event changed black-market activity, finding that poaching rates stayed up in the years following the experiment and appeared to begin climbing faster, with the poaching surge occurring almost simultaneously across the entire African continent.

"We looked for alternative explanations in the data, but the best evidence still indicates that the legal sale exacerbated the destruction of elephant populations across Africa," Sekar said.

The researchers believe that as presence of legal ivory provides cover for smugglers trying to peddle illegal ivory sourced from poachers, transporting and selling illicit ivory has gotten easier and cheaper, which can boost illegal production even though prices are falling. "Traditionally, analysts have focused on whether prices fall after legalization, but that's the wrong question. Prices can fall even though illicit production is rising," Hsiang said.

Saying their work does not fault CITES, the authors contend the data enables better policy.

"In policy, when we see things that are terrible, it's natural to want to do something," Hsiang said. "But it's important to remember that even though things might be bad right now, our actions might make them even worse."

CITES is set to meet again this year to decide whether to allow another ivory sale by Namibia and Zimbabwe.
CANBERRA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Parkes Observatory telescope has discovered a molecule which displays key attributes associated with life, in a breakthrough set to help scientists solve the mystery of biology in space.

Chirality, or 'handedness' is a key attribute related closely with life, but homochirality, or being exclusively either 'left or right handed', has never been discovered outside of Earth, until the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation's (CSIRO's) Parkes telescope found the 'handed' molecule propylene oxide.

Dr John Reynolds, Director of Operations at CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science, said the discovery will give scientists the chance to further research how the Universe can contribute to sustaining life.

"This discovery gives us a window into how an incredibly important type of molecule is made in space, and gives us the chance to understand the impact that process may have on life in the universe," Reynolds said in a statement on Wednesday.

Typically, many molecules exist in forms that are mirror images of each other, but molecules associated with life, such as proteins, enzymes, amino acids and sugars are found to be made up of a single handedness.

Propylene oxide is a common homochiral compound used in making polyurethane plastics, and was discovered by the radio telescope in an interstellar cloud near the center of the Milky Way.

The cloud, known as Sagittarius B2, is actively forming stars, and Reynolds said scientists would follow the developments in the region to see if the Universe divulges any further secrets about the potential of life in outer space.

"Understanding how this came about is a major puzzle in biology," he said.
Apple CEO Tim Cook (3rd L) attends a meeting with Chinese app developers at an Apple store in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2016.(Xinhua file photo)

MELBOURNE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A nine-year-old Melbourne schoolgirl, Anvitha Vijay, has caught the eye of Apple's CEO Tim Cook at the Worldwide Developers' Conference (WWCD) in San Francisco.

Out of the 350 students invited to Apple's WWCD, Vijay was acknowledged by Cook in his keynote speech as one the most promising and young app developers in the world.

Vijay impressed Apple executives so much that she got to meet Cook. And he gave her a special shout out in the first few minutes of the show, pointing her out in the audience saying, "I met Vijay and she is going to make one heck of a developer."

The nine-year-old's budding app career began when she was only seven, after she taught herself how to write code by watching YouTube videos.

She was then invited to Apple's event this year as the youngest attendee, after developing two apps for the iPhone and the iPad.

"I want to be an app developer so I can make a difference in the world," Vijay told NewsCorp on Wednesday.

"All the hard work does not seem like hard work any more when people download and start using what you have made. It is the best feeling ever."

The Melbourne student received 7000 US Dollars in prize money at the OzApp Awards last year for her first educational app, GoalsHi', while her second app, Smartkins Animals', furthered her already impressive resume.

When the conference concludes later this week, Vijay and her family will be taking a celebratory trip to Disneyland.
by Raimundo Urrechaga

MOA, Cuba, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Cuba seeks foreign investment for its nickel industry despite sharp price falls, industry officials have said.

Nickel is a major foreign currency earner for Cuba. There are two plants in the city of Moa, some 900 km east of Havana. Despite the recent slump in nickel prices, state firm Cubaniquel continues to look to foreign investment to increase capacity in the near future.

"The industry produces around 700 million to 800 million U.S. dollars per year for the Cuban economy and nickel along with cobalt continues to be the main exportable good for the island," Eder Oliveros, general director of Cubaniquel, told Xinhua during a visit to the Pedro Soto Alba plant, a joint venture between Cubaniquel and Canadian mining company Sherritt International Corp.

Nickel prices had been projected at 14,000 U.S. dollars per ton, but now they are hovering around 8,600 due to decreasing demand around the world.

Scott McPherson, Sherritt representative at the plant, said that the partnership with Cuba has brought benefits to both sides since the Canadian company first started operation on the island in 1994, and that it will continue to exploit the mines to produce high quantities of exportable nickel.

"We can be very competitive in the market as we're one of the top world producers at low cost and therefore we're expanding to export more nickel. This plant might be old but it has high-end technology and production rates are very high," McPherson told Xinhua.

According to the Canadian executive, output at the Pedro Soto Alba plant will continue to run at full capacity, producing 37,500 tons per year with reserves to last another 25 years at the nearby mines.

The state-owned Che Guevara nickel plant is expected to produce 18,500 tons this year, well below its 30,000-ton capacity.

"For next year, we'll maintain the output rates for both plants but the issue of prices is having a significant impact on the facilities' results and projections," Oliveros noted.

He said the island is currently looking to partner with foreign companies in the nickel industry and there has been interest from corporations in Brazil, China, and South Africa.

"There are reserves in the mines around Moa for another 20 to 25 years of exploitation if we maintain the current rate of production," he added.

Cuban industry officials also expressed the hope that U.S. economic sanctions would be lifted in the near future, so the nickel industry could export to the country and import parts for its plants.

Nickel and cobalt mines are also being explored in the nearby location of Pinares de Mayari, as well as the eastern province of Camaguey. In addition, studies on water reserves all over the island also show new sources of the minerals.

Cuba's nickel ranks among the top 10 in the world and is seen as an important source of revenue in the future for the island.
An aerial photo taken on Sept. 25, 2015 from a seaplane of Hainan Maritime Safety Administration shows cruise vessel Haixun 1103 heading to the Yacheng 13-1 drilling rig during a patrol in South China Sea. (Xinhua/Zhao Yingquan)

MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The safest way to solve the South China Sea dispute is to hold bilateral talks between the parties involved and not to internationalize the issue, experts from Russia say.

"The Chinese leadership is trying to build a two-way interactive format with the Philippines, Vietnam and others. This is a position that we certainly welcome," said Sergei Luzianin, acting director of the Institute for Far Eastern Studies from the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In early 2013, the Philippines initiated proceedings against China at the Permanent court of Arbitration in the Hague, the Netherlands, alleging that China's "maritime claims" contradicted the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which became effective in November 1994.

The tribunal is expected to pass a ruling later this month.

China has officially refused to participate in arbitration, saying that territorial issues are subject to international law and not UNCLOS.

Timofei Bordachov, head of the Eurasian Program of the Valdai Club, says the South China Sea issue is not a question of international arbitration.

China has every right to look for international diplomatic solutions, rather than solutions of an arbitration court located far away, said Bordachov.

Bilateral negotiations should take into account not only territorial issues, but also the strategic importance of this region, said Vasily Kashin, senior fellow at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies of the Moscow-based Higher School of Economics (HSE), one of the top research universities in Russia.

"Broader agreements are needed, which would not only delimit some territories, but would also regulate basic policy issues of the relations system there," Kashin said.

Bordachov believed that "the provocative and aggressive" U.S. policy toward China is behind the attempts to internationalize the issue.

Luzianin said the launch of the tribunal is a collective effort to "impose on China an alternative view on the South China Sea division." He added that the United States is creating "informal anti-Chinese coalitions or groups" to dispute China's sovereignty.

Kashin noted that the situation in the South China Sea is an "element of confrontation and rivalry between the United States and China."

"The South China Sea is the most strategically important area of the Pacific Ocean," Kashin said, "the control of which determines the alignment of forces in the region."

Related:

South China Sea arbitration: judicial expansion detrimental to settlement of disputes, says Chinese diplomat

GRONINGEN, The Netherlands, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The arbitral tribunal in the Philippines' South China Sea (SCS) arbitration exceeded its competence by circumventing the real disputes and by degrading the role of States, such arbitral expansion is detrimental to the settlement of disputes, said Haibo Gou, legal advisor and counsellor at the Chinese embassy in the Netherlands.

The Philippines, which illegally occupied some of China's islands and reefs in the SCS in the 1970s, unilaterally filed the arbitration in 2013. Full Story

Spotlight: Two law experts in Britain question arbitral tribunal's jurisdiction over South China Sea dispute

LONDON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Two leading experts on international law in Britain have recently published two research papers, both concluding that an arbitral tribunal which allowed the South China Sea case initiated by the Philippines against China to go ahead is not convincing in many respects.
(Xinhua file photo)

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was projected on Tuesday to win the final presidential primary in Washington, D.C. ahead of her private meeting with rival Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Early results with 41 percent of votes counted showed Clinton notched up an easy win, leading Sanders by 57 percentage points.

Clinton had already hit the 2,383-delegate threshold to clinch the nomination before the contest on Tuesday.

The result came moments ahead of a private meeting between Clinton and Sanders.

Despite his mathematical elimination from the race, it still remained unknown when and how Sanders would exit the race.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Sanders gave little indication of what his future plan would be, ignoring reporters's repeated questions as to whether he would drop out after meeting Clinton.

Instead, Sanders said he was going to "fight as hard as" he could to change the Democratic Party.

Sanders was scheduled to address his supporters in a video on Thursday.
WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- At least one Chinese tourist was killed and more than a dozen others injured Tuesday in a crash involving a tour bus and another vehicle in the United States, local police said.

The accident happened on the George Washington Parkway near Mount Vernon, the plantation house of first U.S. President George Washington, in Virginia.

The bus carrying 19 people overturned after crashing into another vehicle with two people inside, Anna Rose, spokesperson of the U.S. Park Police, was quoted as saying.

Local police told Xinhua at the site that after the accident, some drivers stopped to right the overturned bus in order to rescue the passengers trapped inside.

The victims have been sent to three local hospitals.

The Chinese Embassy in the United States confirmed that there were 17 Chinese citizens aboard the bus. Their identities are still being verified.

The cause of the accident remained unknown. Chinese consular officials have arrived at the site and the hospitals to offer assistance.
by Nemanja Cabric and Wang Huijuan

BELGRADE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The long-awaited visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Serbia will reveal a new chapter of Serbia-China traditional friendship, and offer a chance of further economic cooperation, said Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic in an exclusive interview with Xinhua ahead of Xi's visit.

Nikolic first emphasized the profound and decades-old friendship between Serbia and China. He said the friendly bilateral relations are important to both countries and their people.

"The everlasting friendship cannot be influenced by changes of presidents or prime ministers," he added.

Nikolic said that he has always been paying great attention to relations with China ever since he was elected president in 2012. He expressed great expectation to Xi's upcoming visit, believing this visit will strengthen and promote the comprehensive development of bilateral relations.

Serbia and China signed a joint declaration on strategic partnership in 2009. During President Xi's visit, the two countries are expected to further enhance political and economic ties, according to Nikolic.

In past years, bilateral relations have been developing comprehensively, political and economic cooperation has also helped Serbia to elevate its international importance, said the Serbian president.

Serbia and China support each other's positions on issues concerning their core interests, he said.

In economy, the two countries have cooperated in many infrastructure projects with the help of Chinese loans and implementation, including highways, bridges and thermal power plants.

"Serbia has a tradition of production. The country gives high subsidies to investors and it has duty-free markets across the world. These are extraordinary reasons why Chinese investors should build their factories here -- we should jointly make products here and sell them in international market," Nikolic noted.

He suggested Chinese businessmen consider investing in Serbia's industry and food sector, as they are two very promising and fast-growing areas.

He also hoped the two nations can enhance communication and cooperation in science and technology, culture, and art.

Talking about China's Belt and Road Initiative and the "16+1 Cooperation" mechanism, Nikolic said that Serbia fits in the strategies and can play a very active role in them.

"We are on the route of 'the Belt and Road', and we also belong to the 16 countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Yet our bilateral relations will go beyond them," said Nikolic. "Serbia can become China's partner in the entire region."

The Serbian president said he was happy to see that bilateral cooperation is going on so well. "Friendship cannot be measured by money, but by time and history. Our friendship is as strong as the Great Wall of China," he concluded.

Related:

Xi to visit Serbia, Poland, Uzbekistan, attend SCO summit

BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan from June 17 to 22, the Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.
WASHINGTON, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of France and Canada expressed their condolences to U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday for the attack in the U.S. city of Orlando, the White House said.

In the deadliest shooting of U.S. history, a man who'd pledged allegiance to the Islamic State killed at least 49 people and wounded 53 others at a gay nightclub in the city on Sunday.

Obama spoke with French President Francois Hollande by telephone, expressing his gratitude to French leaders who visited the U.S. Embassy in Paris and showed France's sympathy for the victims in the shooting incident, the White House said in a statement.

Obama also offered consolation to his French counterpart for Monday's fatal attack on a French police officer and his partner in Paris by a man who had declared allegiance to the IS.

In a separate telephone call, Obama exchanged condolences with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by offering his own compassion to the death of Canadian citizen Robert Hall, who had been held hostage and killed by al Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf Islamist militant group recently.

Moreover, both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to degrading and destroying the IS and standing against the broader scourge of terrorism.
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese automaker Suzuki will recall 288 imported Swift in China over defective brake calipers, according to China's quality watchdog.

The affected vehicles were manufactured between Dec. 10, 2014 and Oct. 12, 2015, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said in a notice on its website.

Due to a flaw in the brake caliper, the braking system warning light will light up.

The company will replace the problematic parts free of charge. The recall will start from June 28.
A fisherman works in his boat on the sea near Zhaoshu Island of Qilianyu Islands, Sansha City, south China's Hainan Province, April 30, 2016. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The safest way to solve the South China Sea dispute is to hold bilateral talks between the parties involved and not to internationalize the issue, experts from Russia say.

"The Chinese leadership is trying to build a two-way interactive format with the Philippines, Vietnam and others. This is a position that we certainly welcome," said Sergei Luzianin, acting director of the Institute for Far Eastern Studies from the Russian Academy of Sciences.

In early 2013, the Philippines initiated proceedings against China at the Permanent court of Arbitration in the Hague, the Netherlands, alleging that China's "maritime claims" contradicted the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which became effective in November 1994.

The tribunal is expected to pass a ruling later this month.

China has officially refused to participate in arbitration, saying that territorial issues are subject to international law and not UNCLOS.

Timofei Bordachov, head of the Eurasian Program of the Valdai Club, says the South China Sea issue is not a question of international arbitration.

China has every right to look for international diplomatic solutions, rather than solutions of an arbitration court located far away, said Bordachov.

Bilateral negotiations should take into account not only territorial issues, but also the strategic importance of this region, said Vasily Kashin, senior fellow at the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies of the Moscow-based Higher School of Economics (HSE), one of the top research universities in Russia.

"Broader agreements are needed, which would not only delimit some territories, but would also regulate basic policy issues of the relations system there," Kashin said.

Bordachov believed that "the provocative and aggressive" U.S. policy toward China is behind the attempts to internationalize the issue.

Luzianin said the launch of the tribunal is a collective effort to "impose on China an alternative view on the South China Sea division." He added that the United States is creating "informal anti-Chinese coalitions or groups" to dispute China's sovereignty.

Kashin noted that the situation in the South China Sea is an "element of confrontation and rivalry between the United States and China."

"The South China Sea is the most strategically important area of the Pacific Ocean," Kashin said, "the control of which determines the alignment of forces in the region."
SYDNEY, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Infrastructure has been labelled as the key to improving living standards in Australia, Infrastructure Australia chairman Mark Birrell told attendees at the Australian Financial Review (AFR) National Infrastructure Summit in Sydney on Wednesday.

Birrell said Australia needs to focus its infrastructure plan for the long term to help sustain Australia's economic growth and quality of life.

"We must encourage a 15-year outlook, beyond election cycles and a nation wide strategy," Birrell said.

He noted Australia's population growth was very considerable and exceeding that of other nations such as Britain, Canada and the United States.

"Between 2011 and 2031, three-quarters of our growth will take part in four capital cities -- Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane."

Birrell, however, said that regional cities are also important to the economy, despite the transitioning economy.

He noted Australia has a key global locational advantage in the shift in global power to Asia.

"The Asian middle class will comprise of two thirds of the global middle class by 2031, and demand more of our exports, tourism and education," Birrell said.

"Asia is going to deliver the goods for us...our future success relies on engaging."

He also noted the need for an increased delivery of high-density housing built close to infrastructure and amenities to deal with Australia's growing population.

The summit brought together leaders from Australia's infrastructure and political sector.
SYDNEY, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Australian share market closed lower on Wednesday amid fears Britain will leave the European Union.

At 4:15 p.m. (AEST), the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was down 56.2 points or 1.08 percent at 5,147.1, while the broader All Ordinaries index was down 52.1 points, or 0.99 percent, at 5,230.4 points.

OptionsXpress analyst Ben Le Brun told AAP on Wednesday the Australian bourse was a barometer for risk sentiment across the globe.

"Risk sentiment is somewhere in the gutter at the moment so obviously we bear the brunt of a lot of the selling pressure that's exerted onto equity markets," Le Brun said.

"Until we get some clarity around this Brexit or see some polls that suggest they're going to stay in, it's probably going to be slim pickings in terms of good performances for the ASX200."

At the close, ANZ lost 1.82 percent, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia was down 1.80 percent, the National Australia Bank fell 1.92 percent, and Westpac was down 2.33 percent.

BHP Billiton lost 2.09 percent, rival Rio Tinto was down 1.17 percent while gold miner Newcrest closed the day 2.88 percent lower.

Oil Search was down 0.45 percent, Santos gained 0.68 percent and Woodside Petroleum closed the day 0.38 percent lower.

Wesfarmers gained 0.05 percent while Woolworths was down 0.66 percent.

Qantas closed the day 0.35 percent higher, while Telstra closed the day 1.31 percent lower.
TOKYO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Japan's main opposition Democratic Party on Wednesday pledged to block the controversial revision to a key pacifist clause in the Constitution being pitched by the ruling bloc, as the party set out its campaign platform for the upper house election on July 10.

The Democratic Party has stipulated in its campaign platform that it is fully opposed to any revision to the war-renouncing Article 9 of Japan's Constitution, which decrees that war will forever be renounced, a military not maintained, and force never used to settle international disputes.

The main opposition party's platform also ardently sets out its plan to scrap the highly-contentious war legislation that was forced through parliament and into law, marking the biggest security revision since WWII, that allows Japanese Self-Defense forces to engage in combat overseas.

The unilateral reinterpretation of Article 9 by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet and its subsequent forced passage into law on the back of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition's majority in parliament has been deemed unequivocally unconstitutional by the majority of experts on the matter, both from academic and legal backgrounds.

The Democratic Party has reiterated the public's majority sentiment on the matter, stating in its platform that while it embraces a Constitution that is progressive, the new security legislation threatens the pacifism assured by the Constitution and the peace it has provided Japan over the past seven decades.

The party also set out plans to combat the nation's growing social security economic crisis, stating that it would bolster financing through administrative reforms against a back drop of ineffectual economic polices that fall under the prime minster's "Abenomics" umbrella, that have failed to reverse deflation or kickstart a stagnant economy.

The Democratic Party said, specifically, it plans to invest in people and bridge the growing gap in wealth between the nation's rich and poor that has continued to widen since Abe retook office.

It also said it wants the nation to be less reliant on nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima crisis and, in addition, wants Japan to oppose the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement inked in February.

Related:

Japan's opposition parties join forces to block Abe's war moves as they launch into upper house election campaign mode

TOKYO, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Following the announcement by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that polling for the upper house election will begin on July 10, both the ruling coalition and opposition parties on Thursday began their campaign offenses.

In a bid to unseat Abe and oust his ruling Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition, which includes its Komeito ally, opposition parties have, in an unprecedented move, decided to join forces in endorsing candidates in all of the single-member electoral regions, of which there are 32 being contested nationwide. Full story

Interview: How Abe's new security laws violate constitution

by Yan Lei, Liu Xiuling

TOKYO, May 12 (Xinhua) -- "The new security laws are in violation of the pacifist constitution. They and Abe's attempts to amend the constitution, could see Japan return to militarism and are absolutely unacceptable to the people," said constitutional scholar Makoto Ito in a recent interview with Xinhua.


Photo taken on April 5, 2016 shows the lighthouse on Zhubi Reef of Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, south China. (Xinhua file photo)

JAKARTA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- As an international tribunal in the Netherlands is expected to rule in a case brought by the Philippines against China on the South China Sea dispute, experts in Indonesia have called on retaining good relationship between ASEAN and China.

"(The dispute) should not become a problem of ASEAN as an organization," Connie Rahakundini, the president of Indonesian Institute for Maritime Studies (IIMS), told Xinhua recently.

Connie warns that the "ASEAN plus" mechanism is prone to be used as a forum to intervene and meddling of those who have interests in the South China Sea. "ASEAN becomes the one who is pulled in into this issue which it should not."

"ASEAN and China must find ways to keep their good relations amid this issue," she says, adding that the ten-country organization has already initiated a code of conduct which is believed to create a conducive situation among the claimants and restrain them from possible moves that may stall initiative to negotiate.

In 2013, the Philippines filed the South China Sea dispute case with the arbitration court in the Hague, instead of trying to solve the dispute through bilateral ways.

China has decided not to participate in the arbitration and reject whatever ruling it might be on the basis of the court's lacking jurisdiction in the case, especially when Manila's requests are in fact about territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation, which are subject to general international law, not the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Indonesian experts said the Philippines and China would eventually still have to come up with a solution through bilateral ways after the court's arbitration ruling.

"The decision of the international court is not binding. China can choose not to implement it. (However), China will need to propose a roadmap or take time on solving the dispute bilaterally," Ibrahim Yusuf, chairman of the Indonesian Council on World Affairs tells Xinhua.

Connie of IIMS warned that intervention from other parties would only worsen the dispute and might cost each nation unnecessary military actions, and eventually create a crisis in the area.

"The United States actually has nothing to do in South China Sea, moreover it does not ratify the UNCLOS. So it is not appropriate for the United States to meddle or, even worse, demonstrate military might there. The United States has to be wiser and fairer to see the ongoing dispute in the South China Sea," Connie said.

"This issue must be settled by claimant countries with the help of neutral party. Settling the dispute through dialogue and negotiation between them is the best solution," she said.
ORLANDO, June 14, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken with mobile phone on June 13, 2016 shows customers selecting gun at a shop in Orlando, the United States. The American society has been buzzing with measures to prevent further gun-related violence in the United States, after a shooting spree in an Orlando nightclub left 49 dead and 53 wounded on Sunday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

ORLANDO, the United States, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The aftermath of yet another deadly mass shooting in the U.S. city Orlando had brought about furious debate on gun control and immigration policy, putting the nation into a polarizing disarray.

GUN CONTROL

Armed with an AR-15 assault rifle and a handgun, Omar Mateen opened fire early Sunday at a packed dance floor in the Pulse nightclub. Both guns were purchased legally.

With 49 people killed and 53 others wounded, it was the worst mass shooting in U.S. history and the deadliest terror attack since 9/11 in 2001.

"This massacre is therefore a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon," said U.S. President Barack Obama in his speech after the shooting.

During his two-term presidency, Obama had made speeches on a mass shooting incident not once, not twice, but a whooping 17 times.

The manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automatic firearms was banned in 1994. However, when the ban expired in 2004, the U.S. Congress refused to renew the ban.

"Reinstate the assault weapons ban, make it harder for terrorists to use these weapons to kill us," Obama said on Tuesday, challenging the Republican-controlled Congress with a warning that without such a ban, "these kind of events are going to keep on happening."

In the State of Florida where Orlando is located, gun laws are known to be lenient -- so lenient that the state's nickname has been jokingly changed by many from "Sunshine State" to "Gunshine State."

In a gun shop just 10 miles from downtown Orlando, a similar AR-15 style assault rifle sells for 799 U.S. dollars -- even cheaper than a mid-range iPhone.

More perplexing is that Florida gun laws are more lenient in regulating assault rifles than handguns. There is a three-day waiting period to buy a handgun, but there's no waiting period to buy a rifle. Handgun buyers have to be 21 or older, but one only needs to be 18 for a rifle.

What's more baffling is that Mateen had been investigated twice in the past for terrorism-related issues by the FBI, but it never made it on his record when he made the purchase of the weapons that took so many lives.

"Semi-automatic rifles do not run in the hands of American people," said Eileen Simoneau, a volunteer at a vigil held for the victims on Monday.

"I' m supporting gun elimination ideally, because guns kill people, and I don't want people dead. Let's talk it out, not fight it out," Eileen added.

"The assault rifles should not be in the hands of anyone that is not law enforcement or military," Kissimmee City Commissioner Jose Alvarez told Xinhua at a memorial event held by Orlando's Latino community. Kissimmee is a city just south of Orlando.

The shooting has also set off a new round of debate over gun control between the two opponents in the 2016 race for the White House.

"In Orlando and San Bernardino, terrorists used assault weapons like the AR-15 to kill Americans. We should make it harder for them to do so," presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton tweeted.

In a speech from her campaign trail on Monday, Clinton talked about the need to tackle terrorism, but emphasized what she billed as a need for more gun control.

NO! WE NEED GUNS

In response to those who believe that stricter firearms laws will keep Americans safer, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump noted that while France has very strict gun control laws, scores were killed in the deadly terrorist attack in Paris last year.

The bombastic billionaire added that more gun control would be tantamount to disarming law-abiding Americans and leaving them more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

"The country continues to be divided over gun laws and the NRA (National Rifle Association) still will resist any meaningful action," Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution told Xinhua.

U.S. anti-gun advocates are angered by the fact that gun lobbying groups led by the NRA have powerful influence on Congress to block any efforts to pass bills on gun control, while gun rights advocates insist that gun ownership be a constitutional right and gun violence can be curbed by law-abiding citizens bearing guns.

This terrorist was pretty committed to carrying out these acts, said U.S. Senator Marco Rubio at a news conference, believing that Mateen would still carry out the attacks even if guns were made illegal.

"I think he would have used explosives like they did in Boston; I think he could have crashed his car loaded with explosives into the building; I think he could have brought the gun from the black market," said Rubio.

Chris W. Cox, the executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, argued in an opinion piece that the San Bernardino terrorist attack wasn't stopped by California's assault weapons ban, and stricter gun laws also did not deter the attacks in Brussels and Paris.

"Law-abiding gun owners are tired of being blamed for the acts of madmen and terrorists," wrote Cox.

Even among friends of the shooting victims, there are people who believed guns were not the problem.

"Guns can by far be banned, but people will always find their way to harm who they want to harm," said Arron Candelaria at a previous vigil held for the victims.

"It could be either with a gun or with a knife (to harm people)," she added.

According to a recent report, a total of 51,675 gun violence incidents took place in the United States in 2015, leaving 13,136 dead and 26,493 injured.

IMMIGRATION

Sunday's attack also brought controversy over America's immigration policy.

The gunman was an American-born citizen whose parents came from Afghanistan more than 30 years ago.

Trump has used the the mass shooting to renew his call to temporarily ban foreign Muslims from entering the United States. His new saying is a suspension of immigration from parts of the world where there is a proven link between that country and terrorism.

Obama denounced the idea on Tuesday. "That's not the America we want. It does not reflect our democratic ideals." Obama noted that Trump's "loose talk and sloppiness" could lead to discrimination on ethnic and religious groups.

The president argued that Trump's ban on immigration would lead Muslim-Americans to believe their government had betrayed them.

"Where does this stop?" Obama said, "are we going to start treating all Muslim-Americans differently? Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance? Are we going to start discriminating against them because of their faith?"

However, Trump believed that Obama's policy is the "current politically correct response," and that this political correctness inhibits the United States from responding fast and clearly.

Related:

Obama to mourn victims of Orlando shooting Thursday

WASHINGTON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Monday announced that President Barack Obama will visit Orlando, Florida on Thursday to mourn the victims killed in the deadliest shooting in U.S. history.

"On Thursday, the president will travel to Orlando, Florida to pay his respects to victims' families, and stand in solidarity with the community as they embark on their recovery," said a White House statement. Full story

News Analysis: Terrorism, gun control to take center stage in 2016 presidential race after Orlando shooting

by Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- After the mass shooting incident in Florida, terrorism and gun control will likely become major issues in the 2016 U.S. presidential race.
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A militant and Indian military trooper were killed, while as four troopers were wounded Wednesday in a fierce gunfight near Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir, officials said.

The gunfight broke out on Tuesday in Machil sector of frontier Kupwara district, about 165 Km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Indian army yesterday intercepted a group of militants in forest area of Machil sector and upon challenging them, the group fired indiscriminately which resulted in wounding five troopers," an official said. "Though all the five were immediately evacuated to hospital, however later on one of them succumbed to his wounds."

Following the fierce gunfight, additional contingents were rushed to the area to take on militant group. Reports said the group is believed to be comprising of four to five militants.

"The gunfight is going on and so far one militant has been killed today," the official said.

The identity of the slain militant was not known immediately.

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts. Militant groups are engaged in guerrilla war with Indian troops in the region since 1989.

Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.
SYDNEY, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The prospect of driving an automated vehicle is becoming more of a reality, Transurban chief executive Scott Charlton told attendees at the Australian Financial Review (AFR) National Infrastructure Summit in Sydney on Wednesday.

Charlton said experts believed driverless cars were only five to ten years away from being on the market, with mass adoption expected by 2040.

He pointed out that driverless cars would reduce the road toll, as a significant proportion of crashes on roads around the world involved a certain degree of human error.

"This technology is not waiting for anyone or any regulation to catch up," Charlton said.

"It (driverless cars) will fundamentally change the way we move around our cities."

He pointed to a noticeable decline in the number of car licenses as millennials moved away from car ownership, and moved towards travel as a more of a service offering, noting ride-sharing services such as Uber.

"They (millennials) want easy and efficient ways to move around the cities without the cost of high capital ownership."

Charlton however noted a range of regulations and laws would need to be changed in Australia before driverless cars were legal, citing a recent paper released in May 2016 by the National Transport Commission (NTC).

NTC chief executive Paul Retter said in May there were a number of barriers that needed to be addressed with Australia's transport ministers when they meet in November 2016.

"Australia's laws need to be ready for the biggest change to our transport system since cars replaced horses," Retter said.

"Amending these laws shouldn't be hard, but making sure the new laws are nationally consistent and encourage innovation while ensuring the safety of all road users will be important."

The summit brought together leaders from Australia's infrastructure and political sector.
ANKARA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Ten Islamic State (IS) militants were killed on Tuesday in shelling in northern Syria by the Turkish army and air operations from the U.S.-led coalition, security sources told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.

Turkish artillery units shelled on Tuesday 17 IS targets as coalition warplanes conducted air operations in the region, security sources said.

Reports showed that 10 IS militants were killed, with Katyusha rockets and mortar guns belonging to IS destroyed.

Since mid-January, the IS has been targeting towns and cities in southern Turkey with rocket fire, killing and injuring many civilians.
CANBERRA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Unfavorable weather conditions are having severe impact on the search of the missing Malaysian Airline flight MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean, which may last till August instead of June as it was previously anticipated, the Joint Agency Coordination Center for the Search of MH370 (JACC) said in its weekly report on Wednesday.

"Recent poor weather conditions have severely impacted search operations," the report said.

"It is now anticipated it may take until around August to complete the 120,000 square kilometres, but this will be influenced by weather conditions over the coming months, which may worsen."

JACC said winter weather conditions continued to bring rough seas and strong winds to the search area, severely impacting search operations.

For the three vessels conducting the underwater search, Fugro Discovery is conducting underwater search operations as weather permits. Fugro Equator departed for Fremantle on June 11, and arrived in port Wednesday to conduct resupply.

It is anticipated the vessel will depart for the return voyage to the search area Thursday. Weather conditions allowed the Dong Hai Jiu 101 to recommence underwater search operations on June 13.

In response to the latest discoveries of suspected MH370 debris in Madagascar off the east coast of Africa and Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia, the JACC report confirmed that "arrangements are being made for this debris to be examined to establish if it is related to MH370".

More than 105,000 square kilometres of the seafloor have been searched so far.

Flight MH370 disappeared on March 8, 2014 with 239 passengers and crew aboard after the flight departed Kuala Lumpur for Beijing.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier (not in the picture) attend a joint press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Oct. 17, 2015.(Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

OSLO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran's foreign minister said on Tuesday the United States needs to remove the "psychological remnants" of sanctions on his country in implementing the nuclear deal dubbed as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"I believe while the United States on paper has removed all the sanctions, the psychological remnants of many years of sanctions are still there," Mohammad-Javad Zarif told a joint press conference with European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende.

"I believe the United States needs to take a much more proactive role in removing these psychological remnants," he said, adding that the Iranian people need to see Washington's action in its commitment to implement the nuclear deal.

Zarif, who is in Norway to attend the two-day Oslo Forum conference on conflict mediation, noted that it is important for everybody to realize that an international agreement will be sustainable if everybody feels that they are making gains from the agreement.

"We believe that JCPOA was a win-win agreement. Its implementation must also be a win-win implementation so that everybody feels there are benefits," he said.

Mogherini, who also attended the event, said the European Union is actively encouraging cooperation with Iran and developments have been "in the right direction."

Mogherini said, "We are very actively engaging with the business community and with the banks in Europe and elsewhere outside the Europe to encourage engaging in Iran."

The EU foreign policy chief noted that she headed an "unprecedented delegation" to Tehran a few months ago to open channels of cooperation between Iran and the European Union in different fields.

"I can share with you one data, which is that in the first four months of this year trade between Iran and the European Union increased by 22 percent (compared with last year)," Mogherini said.

She cautioned that there are challenges in the efforts and progress would take more time, but "we have already seen developments in the right direction."

"I can express here with the strongest possible tone that Europe is committed to make sure that the Iranian citizens can benefit from the lifting of the sanctions," Mogherini said.
HAVANA, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Cuba has seen 2 million foreign visitors as of June 12 this year, reaching the goal 27 days earlier compared with last year, the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba announced Tuesday.

Cuba has received 94,000 U.S. travelers so far this year, a 93 percent surge from the same period of last year, just behind Canada, Germany and Britain in terms of visitor number.

Restored diplomatic ties between the two nations have encouraged more Americans to visit the island despite travel restrictions still in place. American citizens are banned to travel to Cuba purely for tourism but they can go there for educational and business purposes.

In the wake of the diplomatic breakthrough, the Caribbean island has garnered worldwide attention, resulting in more visits by foreign tourists.

In 2015, a total of 3.5 million tourists traveled to Cuba, up 17 percent from 2014. It is expected that there will be 3.85 million foreign travelers this year.
JAKARTA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- President Joko Widodo has nominated Indonesia's anti-terrorism agency chief to lead the country's police force, House of Representatives speaker said on Wednesday.

"I received a letter from the president saying that Tito Karnavian is his sole choice to replace Badrodin Haiti," Ade Komarudin told reporters in Jakarta.

Three months ago, Commissioner General Tito Karnavian was promoted to head the National Counter terrorism Agency (BNPT) just a couple of months after a suicide bombing and gun attack claimed by the Syria-based Islamic State terrorist network took place in Jakarta.

The three-star general has an established background in the security forces, especially in the antiterrorism division, including the chief role at the Jakarta police and the National Police's counter-terrorism unit Densus 88.

Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population, has witnessed numerous radicalism bombings in the past 15 years, including the 2002 Bali attacks that murdered 202 people.

Combating terrorist cells across the archipelago has been among President Joko's main security and defence agenda.

Pending House's approval, Tito is expected to succeed General Badrodin Haiti who will retire in July.
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China's new yuan-denominated lending in May stood at 985.5 billion yuan (about 149 billion U.S. dollars), up 84.7 billion yuan from a year earlier, official data showed Wednesday.

The M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, rose 11.8 percent year on year to 146.17 trillion yuan by the end of May, the People's Bank of China said in a statement on its website.

The narrow measure of money supply (M1), which covers cash in circulation plus demand deposits, rose 23.7 percent year on year to 42.43 trillion yuan, the statement said.
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China's electricity consumption rose 2.1 percent year on year in May, reaching 473 billion kilowatt hours (kwh), data from the National Energy Administration showed on Wednesday.

In the first five months, power consumption rose 2.7 percent from a year earlier to 2.28 trillion kwh.
ORLANDO, June 14, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken with mobile phone on June 13, 2016 shows customers selecting gun at a shop in Orlando, the United States. The American society has been buzzing with measures to prevent further gun-related violence in the United States, after a shooting spree in an Orlando nightclub left 49 dead and 53 wounded on Sunday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

by Xinhua writers Zhu Lei, Qi Zijian

NEW YORK, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando in the U.S. state of Florida shocked Americans with its level of atrocity. Armed with an assault rifle, Omar Mateen killed 49 people at a gay nightclub before being shot dead; 53 others were injured.

Though united in grief, horror and outrage, Americans remain deeply divided over three major issues: gun control, immigration and how to fight terrorism.

Taking place in the lead-up to the 2016 race to the White House, the bloodbath, which was quickly utilized by both parties to seek political leverage, magnifies the deep and bitter division facing the country.

First and foremost, the deadliest shooting massacre in modern U.S. history once again reopened the old wounds of Americans as the country, with more than 300 million guns scattered nationwide, has long been plagued by gun violence.

The Orlando shooting has further fueled the debate on guns, sparking calls for tighter gun control law to keep Americans safer. Advocates say it's inconceivable that the killer was able to legally purchase firearms despite being on a police watch list for possible links to terrorism.

However, those on the other side of the aisle simply argue that more gun control would be tantamount to disarming law-abiding Americans and leaving them more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

Like every single mass shooting, the aftermath of the Orlando massacre is that public outrage at gun violence would slowly fade over time.

Then, facing a tragedy like this, whether the United States becomes "more inclusive" or "more fenced off" remains an open question. The Orlando mass shooting came just half a year after a terrorist attack killed 14 people and left 22 seriously injured in San Bernardino,California.

Perpetrators of the two attacks, Syed Rizwan Farook, an American-born U.S. citizen of Pakistani descent, and Mateen, an American-born citizen whose parents immigrated from Afghanistan, share some similarities: they are the children of immigrants and pledged allegiance to IS.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump doubled down on his pledge to ban Muslim immigration immediately after the Orlando shooting spree. The campaign rhetoric boosted Trump's ratings, just as it did following the San Bernardino and Paris terror attacks.

The inflammatory campaign rhetoric isn't coming out of thin air. Quite the opposite. Trump, who also proposed building a wall along the Mexican border, is tapping into the security fears of Americans.

The "fenced-off" rhetoric, though eye-catching, makes it hard to win broader support. It is even likely to flare up ethnic tensions as it instigates discrimination and hatred and isolates the Muslim community.

As the FBI investigates whether Mateen is a "lone wolf" or belongs to the Islamic State, the answer bears no difference to the radical group that has overtaken vast swaths of Syria and Iraq and unleashed the deadly attack on Paris.

It has motivated, through extremist propaganda online, home-grown, radicalized "lone wolf" attackers who act in sympathy with it.

The Orlando attack makes it clear that it is precisely a disconnected, unpredictable attack that leads to devastating results. In the face of intensified marginalization, radical groups are bound to carry out more attacks and make society even more vulnerable.

Facing terrorist attacks like the one in Orlando, the prescription that effectively works is none other than social tolerance.

Then comes the third divide -- whether the United States needs a tougher counter-terrorism strategy or new one altogether.

John Bolton, the fiery conservative who has served as former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, wrote on Fox News that "President Obama's strategy against terrorist bases of operation, when it is evident at all, has been lackadaisical and offhanded."

A slow, casual offensive against the IS, gives terrorists time and opportunity to encourage strikes like the one in Orlando, Bolton added.

The Orlando massacre has tragically underlined that the United States is still trapped in the vicious cycle that it is seeing more and more terrorist attacks despite years of efforts to fight them.

How can terrorism be fought while ensuring national security has become the focal point of debate between political parties.

However, the debate is not necessarily yielding something positive. The Iraq war launched in the name of "war on terror", as well as the ongoing wars in Syria and Iraq, resulted in the social structural collapse of some Arab countries, thus providing opportunities for the IS to rise and thrive.

The key question is not how to fight terrorism, but rather how to discard power politics in fighting terrorism.

The Washington Post wrote on Sunday that "Not since 9/11 has a moment like this brought the nation together, and that evaporated quickly. Since then, calamity seems only to drive the left and the right further apart, while faith in the nation's institutions deteriorates further."

The Orlando massacre further proves it right as grief for the victims has been overshadowed by the country's bitter political divide. It seems like a mission impossible to compromise and figure out a solution in the political wrangle between the left and right.

Related:

Spotlight: Orlando mass shooting divides America over gun control, immigration

ORLANDO, the United States, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The aftermath of yet another deadly mass shooting in the U.S. city Orlando had brought about furious debate on gun control and immigration policy, putting the nation into a polarizing disarray. Full story

Obama to mourn victims of Orlando shooting Thursday

WASHINGTON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Monday announced that President Barack Obama will visit Orlando, Florida on Thursday to mourn the victims killed in the deadliest shooting in U.S. history.

"On Thursday, the president will travel to Orlando, Florida to pay his respects to victims' families, and stand in solidarity with the community as they embark on their recovery," said a White House statement. Full story

News Analysis: Terrorism, gun control to take center stage in 2016 presidential race after Orlando shooting

by Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, June 13 (Xinhua) -- After the mass shooting incident in Florida, terrorism and gun control will likely become major issues in the 2016 U.S. presidential race.
BEIJING, June 15, 2016 (Xinhua) -- An Fengshan, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, takes questions from media at a press conference in Beijing, China, June 15, 2016. An warned that "Taiwan independence" in any form was a flagrant provocation and would sabotage cross-Strait peace and stability. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesman on Wednesday said that what some have taken to be an "anti-Taiwan sentiment" among people on the mainland, was actually about rejecting "Taiwan independence."

An Fengshan, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office who was speaking at a press conference, warned that "Taiwan independence" in any form was a flagrant provocation and would sabotage cross-Strait peace and stability.

Responding to a question about a recent proposal by some Taiwanese political parties to challenge the one-China provisions with "constitutional amendments," An said, "Any attempt to seek secession will be unsuccessful."

He also rejected a statement by Taiwan's cross-Strait affairs authority to term the cross-Strait relationship as one among "neighbors."

"The mainland and Taiwan belong to one China, and compatriots on both sides are a family, not 'neighbors.'"

Moreover, in response to a question about a plunge in the number of mainland tourists to Taiwan, An said the mainland authority had never set a quota on the number of tourists to Taiwan.

"Changes in the island's tourism are mainly due to changes on the island this year. The impact certain events have had on cross-Strait ties has been felt by the market," he said.

He said the mainland will continue to enhance cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation for the interests and welfare of the compatriots on both sides.

According to An, a Kuomintang Party youth-wing delegation will visit the mainland next week to discuss cross-Strait exchanges.

During the tour, the delegation is expected to meet with Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Mainland authorities have also decided to add six mainland bases for cultural exchanges with visitors from Taiwan, bringing the total bases on the mainland to 49.

However, the spokesman stressed, cross-Strait communication, dialogue, and exchanges must be based on the recognition of the 1992 Consensus and the one-China principle.

"So far, the island's new leader has adopted an ambiguous attitude toward the nature of relations between the mainland and Taiwan. To ensure the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, the confirmation of the one-China principle is a must," he said.

He reiterated this principle when answering questions about an upcoming visit by Taiwan's new leader Tsai Ing-wen to Panama and about a recent report that Chen Chu, mayor of Taiwan's city of Kaohsiung, has expressed willingness to visit the mainland.
TIRANA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday stressed the importance of judicial reform, setting it as a precondition for Albania's entry into the European Union (EU).

"We need a democratic Albania with an independent judiciary (that is able to) fight corruption," Steinmeier told a joint press conference with his Albanian counterpart Ditmir Bushati.

During their talks, Bushati and Steinmeier reaffirmed the excellent ties between Albania and Germany as well as the two countries' common will to boost their all-around cooperation.

The ministers also discussed the latest developments in the region, security challenges and the Western Balkan countries' integration into the EU.

Steinmeier noted that Albania is an important partner for Germany and plays a special role in the region.

The top German diplomat also met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposition leader Lulzim Basha on Tuesday.
TIRANA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Albanian government says it has adopted plans which will lead the country's economic and social development for the next 15 years, hopefully turning Albania into a more competitive country as well as a tourism destination, Albanian Daily News reported on Wednesday.

Albanian Urban Development Minister Eglantina Gjermeni recently unveiled its National General Plan, Coastal Cross-sectoral Plan and Tirana-Durres Economic Area Plan.

"This can be considered a historic event," she said. The national plans are for the future of Albania, Gjermeni added.

Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Niko Peleshi said the adoption of the national plans is a crucial part of the government's vision to support the country's economic growth.
This file photo taken on October 30, 2014 shows the Amazon logo in Hang Zhou, China.

NEW YORK, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Online retailer Amazon is facing a 350,000-U.S.-dollar fine for allegedly shipping hazardous chemicals that injured delivery workers, the CNN reported on Monday.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed the fine, saying Amazon did not properly package or label the box containing a drain cleaner before it was flown from Louisville to Boulder, Colorado, said the report.

"Nine UPS employees who came into contact with the box reported feeling a burning sensation and were treated with a chemical wash," the FAA said.

Amazon said it would work with the FAA to improve its processes.

"Amazon has a history of violating the Hazardous Materials Regulations. From February 2013 to September 2015 alone, Amazon was found to have violated the Hazardous Materials Regulations 24 times. The FAA is continuing to investigate Amazon's compliance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations applicable to air transportation," the FAA said.

Amazon said in a statement Monday that it takes "the safety of our air cargo delivery partners seriously."

"We ship tens of millions of products every day and have developed sophisticated technologies to detect potential shipping hazards and use any defects as an opportunity for continuous improvement. We will continue to partner with the FAA in this area," said the statement.
DAMASCUS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 70 fighters and military soldiers have been killed over the past 24 hours during battles in Syria's northern province of Aleppo, a monitor group reported on Wednesday.

The Syrian army backed by Russian airstrikes have been engaged in intense battles against several jihadist groups in areas in the southern countryside of Aleppo since Tuesday noon, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group said the government forces succeeded to capture several points and areas in southern Aleppo, after losing them to the rebels on Tuesday.

The recent battles are part of a major military showdown in Aleppo, whose biggest battles are still being prepared.

The Syrian army is expected to unleash a wide-scale offensive against the jihadi groups in Aleppo, Syria's largest city and once an economic hub.

While the Syrian army is busy battling the rebels in southern Aleppo, the U.S. backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) rebels are engaged in battles against the Islamic State (IS) group in the city of Manbej, one of the last IS strongholds in northern Aleppo.

Pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV said Wednesday it had information that German and French special forces arrived in northern Aleppo to aid the SDF in their push against IS.

The Observatory, which says it relies on a network of activists on ground, also confirmed the reports, saying that French and German military advisors are helping the SDF in the battle for Manbej.

It added that the French Special Forces have started building a military base near the predominantly-Kurdish city of Ayn al-Arab, or Kobane, the second city after Manbej where the German and French fighters have arrived to.

The SDF, a recently forced rebel group of Arab and Kurdish fighters and led by the Kurdish People Protection Units (YPG), has mounted an offensive in late May against key IS strongholds in northern Syria, mainly in the key border city of Manbej and the northern countryside of al-Raqqa, the de facto capital of the IS.

The SDF has completely laid siege on Manbej and advanced against the IS, local reports said.

Syria's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday the presence of German and French special forces in northern Syria constitutes a flagrant violation to the sovereignty of Syria.

In a statement, the ministry said that the foreign forces' presence in northern Syria's towns of Ayn al-Arab and Manbej came under a false pretense of fighting terrorism.

"This can fool nobody," the ministry said.

The ministry said countering terror needs coordination and cooperation with the legitimate government of Syria.
Fighters from Jaish al-Izzah, part of the Free Syrian Army, take part in a military display as part of a graduation ceremony at a camp in the north of Hama province, Syria May 28, 2016. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

DAMASCUS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 70 fighters and military soldiers have been killed over the past 24 hours during battles in Syria's northern province of Aleppo, a monitor group reported on Wednesday.

The Syrian army backed by Russian airstrikes have been engaged in intense battles against several jihadist groups in areas in the southern countryside of Aleppo since Tuesday noon, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The UK-based watchdog group said the government forces succeeded to capture several points and areas in southern Aleppo, after losing them to the rebels on Tuesday.

The recent battles are part of a major military showdown in Aleppo, whose biggest battles are still being prepared.

The Syrian army is expected to unleash a wide-scale offensive against the jihadi groups in Aleppo, Syria's largest city and once an economic hub.

While the Syrian army is busy battling the rebels in southern Aleppo, the U.S. backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) rebels are engaged in battles against the Islamic State (IS) group in the city of Manbej, one of the last IS strongholds in northern Aleppo.

Pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV said Wednesday it had information that German and French special forces arrived in northern Aleppo to aid the SDF in their push against IS.

A rebel fighter from the Jaish al-Fatah (or Army of Conquest) brigades fires artillery during clashes with Syrian pro-government forces near the village of Om al-Krameel, in Aleppo's southern countryside on May 5, 2016. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

The Observatory, which says it relies on a network of activists on ground, also confirmed the reports, saying that French and German military advisors are helping the SDF in the battle for Manbej.

It added that the French Special Forces have started building a military base near the predominantly-Kurdish city of Ayn al-Arab, or Kobane, the second city after Manbej where the German and French fighters have arrived to.

The SDF, a recently forced rebel group of Arab and Kurdish fighters and led by the Kurdish People Protection Units (YPG), has mounted an offensive in late May against key IS strongholds in northern Syria, mainly in the key border city of Manbej and the northern countryside of al-Raqqa, the de facto capital of the IS.

The SDF has completely laid siege on Manbej and advanced against the IS, local reports said.

Syria's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday the presence of German and French special forces in northern Syria constitutes a flagrant violation to the sovereignty of Syria.

In a statement, the ministry said that the foreign forces' presence in northern Syria's towns of Ayn al-Arab and Manbej came under a false pretense of fighting terrorism.

"This can fool nobody," the ministry said.

The ministry said countering terror needs coordination and cooperation with the legitimate government of Syria.
KINSHASA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Thirty nine elephants coming from Angola on Tuesday crossed over to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) side and destroyed farms and fish ponds in seven villages in Kasongo-Lunda locality, Kwango province, a local administrator told Xinhua.

The information was equally confirmed by the Kwango civil society groups.

According to civil society actors, a total of 36 hectares of farms were destroyed and 97 ponds as well as four sources of drinking water were destroyed.

"The destruction caused by these elephants were reported in Katanga, Kibuka, Seni, Banda-Ngongo, Mulasa, Kizunzu, and Mangomba villages.

The Kwango civil society groups said 370 households were affected by the destruction.

Over 12,450 other people were also forced to flee from their homes in neighbouring Kiambamba villages.

The civil society and local authorities in Kasongo-Lunda have appealed for help from both the provincial and central governments as well as from humanitarian aid agencies to help those affected.
WINDHOEK, June 15 (Xinhua) -- South African musician Yvonne Chaka Chaka, who is also the Goodwill Ambassador of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), is in Namibia ahead of the Day of the African Child Thursday.

The Day of the African Child was declared by the United Nations in memory of the 16 June 1976 Soweto Uprising that saw several school children gunned down during a mass demonstration against poor education.

This year's celebrations are being held under the theme "Conflict and Crisis in Africa: Protecting All Children's Rights."

Talking to the media at the port town of Walvis Bay, about 395 kilometers from Windhoek, when she flew in Tuesday, Chaka Chaka said musicians should actively participate in the fight for children's rights.

She also urged the private sector to work with governments in making children's rights a reality.

According to Chaka, UNICEF alone cannot make much of a difference.

Chaka Chaka further said protecting children should start from home.

"We must teach our children at home to change the way women and children are treated," she said.

On child marriages, Chaka Chaka said girls must be given an opportunity to get an education and that they should be married when they want.
HANOI, June 24, 2016 (Xinhua) -- A Vietnamese artist applies tattoo on a visitor at the first International Tattoo Convention held in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, June 24, 2016. (Xinhua/Le Yanna)

HANOI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The International Tattoo Convention will be held in Vietnam's capital Hanoi in June for the first time.

Scheduled to take place on June 23-24 in Hanoi, the event offers hundreds of domestic and international tattoo artists a chance to exchange experiences and ideas on the art of tattooing, Vietnam's state-run news agency reported Wednesday.

Artists from China, Singapore, Germany and Poland will attend the event.

Artists will draw their creations on thighs, backs, arms and other parts of the body to impress judges and win awards across 14 categories, ranging from color and cover-up tattoos to the most hyper-realistic tattoo and the best body art displays, reported VNA.

A special award "Queen of Tattoo," worth 50 million Vietnamese dong (over 2,240 U.S. dollars), will be given to a female artist with the most impressive tattoo based on votes from the judge and viewers.

Over 100 kiosks providing tattoo services will be present at the event.
YICHANG, Hubei, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A court in central China's Hubei Province on Wednesday sentenced Zhou Bin, son of Zhou Yongkang, to 18 years in prison for taking bribes and illegal business operations.

Zhou Bin was also fined 350.2 million yuan (53 million U.S. dollars) and all of his illegally obtained assets will be confiscated, according to the verdict of Yichang City Intermediate People's Court.

Zhou Bin and his father Zhou Yongkang sought benefits for others by taking advantage of Zhou Yongkang's posts, and accepted property to the value of 98 million yuan.

In collaboration with others, Zhou Bin used his father's influence to obtain advantages for others through other officials and accepted property to the amount of 124 million yuan.

Zhou Bin violated the state regulations by doing business in restricted items, disturbing the market order, the verdict said.

Zhou Yongkang was a former member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

In July 2014, the CPC Central Committee announced a decision to put Zhou Yongkang under investigation, and he was expelled from the CPC in December 2014.

On June 11, 2015, Zhou Yongkang was sentenced to life imprisonment for accepting bribes, abusing his power and deliberately disclosing state secrets.
KUNMING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A Myanmarese man was trampled to death by wild Asian elephants in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Tuesday, local authorities announced Wednesday.

The tragedy happened at about 2 a.m. Tuesday when rampaging elephants tore through a watermelon field in Meng'a Township in Menghai County, the prefecture government in Xishuangbanna said in a statement.

The 29-year-old victim had been in China since Monday noon, it said.

To avoid further such tragedies, local authorities called for better monitoring of wild elephants and an education campaign for villagers.

Wild Asian elephants are under state protection in China, about 300 live mainly in Yunnan Province. Enhanced protection for wild animals has seen the mammals' number rise in recent years, but cases of clashes with humans have also increased, according to the local government.

Wild Asian elephants killed two villagers in Xishuangbanna last month and killed a third in Pu'er City of Yunnan on June 6.
HANOI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Experts of Vietnam and the World Bank (WB) on Wednesday discussed challenges, opportunities and risks Vietnam faces as the country is joining new free trade agreements (FTAs), including the recently signed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the European Union-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA).

At the workshop "Vietnam: Seizing the Opportunities of the New-Generation FTAs" held in capital Hanoi, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said the TPP and EVFTA will create considerable opportunities for Vietnam, but simultaneously present serious challenges for the people, businesses and regulatory bodies.

In order to gain the most benefits and overcome challenges in international competition, the Vietnamese government has taken actions to create new incentives for the economy, including further improving investment climate for both domestic and foreign enterprises, he noted.

According to Victoria Kwakwa, WB Regional Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, Vietnam is now confronted with a big opportunity thanks to these FTAs, in terms of trade, investment, growth and job creation.

Also, both two agreements cover new areas which are either not covered by or going much deeper than the World Trade Organization, such as e-commerce, labor, environment, small and medium-sized enterprises, state-owned enterprises, and regulatory coherence.

However, these FTAs are also accompanied by a number of big challenges and, without careful implementation of commitments, many of the benefits might pass the country by. The WB is committed to helping Vietnam make the most of the next generation of international trade agreements, Kwakwa affirmed.

The workshop was co-held by Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade and the WB.
BUJUMBURA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Two Burundian networks of civil society organizations on Tuesday issued a joint statement strongly criticizing former Tanzanian President and facilitator in the Burundian conflict Benjamin Mkapa for meeting the radical opposition and "coup plotters" in Belgium, asking him to resign.

The two networks are the Integral Platform for the Civil Society and the Coalition of Associations of People Infected or Affected by HIV/AIDS (CAPES+).

"It is with high disappointment and worries that we condemn the procedure of facilitator Benjamin Mkapa for meeting, on June 10-11, in Brussels, coup plotters and persons involved in the Burundian crisis," said Venant Hamza Burikukiye, chairman of the CAPES+, in the joint statement.

Burikukiye said: "This is a sign of provocation against the Burundian government and the majority of Burundian citizens."

According to him, it is also a violation of Burundian laws and Resolutions 2248 and 2279 of the United Nations Security Council stipulating that only "peaceful" stakeholders will participate in the inter-Burundian dialogue.

"We urge the Burundian government to refuse facilitator Benjamin Mkapa and to refuse to go to Arusha talks on invitation of Mkapa. We also call on heads of state of the East African Community (EAC) to replace Mkapa as he has failed to carry out his assignment," said Burikukiye.

The statement comes at a time when talks to settle the year-long crisis in Burundi is due later this month in Arusha, Tanzania.

Last Friday, the Burundian government reiterated its refusal to negotiate with what it calls "non-peaceful" actors.

Stakeholders in the inter-Burundian dialogue participated in inter-Burundian consultations on May 21-24 in Arusha to try to end the year-long political crisis, but some members of the radical opposition boycotted the session.

The facilitator in the Burundian conflict, Benjamin Mkapa, had pledged to meet stakeholders that had not been able to attend the Arusha talks.

It is in that context that he met in Brussels leaders of the National Council for the Restoration of the Arusha Agreement and the Rule of Law in Burundi (CNARED).

In January, the inter-Burundian dialogue had failed to resume in Arusha following the boycott by the Burundian government, arguing that it could not sit "on the same table" with what it called "non-peaceful" stakeholders.

Burundi is facing a year-long political crisis that broke out since April 2015 following the announcement by Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza that he would be seeking a third term.

His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted into a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup on May 13, 2015.

Over 451 persons are reported to have been killed since then while some 270,000 citizens sought exile in neighboring countries.
JERUSALEM, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Jerusalem's municipality approved Wednesday the construction of a controversial building for Jews in a Palestinian neighborhood in East Jerusalem, Israeli officials said.

The permit by Jerusalem's Local Planning and Building Committee approved a new four-storey building in Silwan, a neighborhood across from the flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque compound.

A statement by the municipality said that "the city will continue to build in all areas."

Israeli human rights watchdog, Ir Amim ("City of Nations") said the project is an enterprise of Ateret Cohanim, a settler organization that has constructed buildings and taken over existing Palestinian buildings in Silwan in order to "Judaize" the neighborhood.

The permit is a "major step" in Ateret Cohanim's campaign to oust Palestinians from Silwan and to "supplant it with a new settler enclave," Ir Amim said in a statement.

The move was expected to trigger also international criticism.

Israel seized East Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast War. It later annexed it and declared it as part of its "eternal and indivisible capital," in a move that has never been recognized by the international community.

Palestinians, who makes up more than third of the city's overall population, consider East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

Hundreds of Jewish settlers, who object the possible division of the city, live under heavy guard in enclaves in the Palestinian neighborhoods.

The approval came amidst a nine-month-long Palestinian uprising, which saw the death of at least 205 Palestinians and 33 Israelis.
JALALABAD, Afghanistan, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Fire exchange between Afghan and Pakistani forces at the border town of Torkham have claimed the lives of five Afghans including three soldiers and two civilians since Sunday, spokesman for Nangarhar provincial government Attaullah Khogiani said Wednesday.

"Since eruption of conflict and fire exchange at Torkham border, three Afghan Border Police personnel and two children have been killed," Khogiani told Xinhua.

He also confirmed that 23 others including a civilian sustained injuries over the period.

Pakistani forces, according to the official on Sunday, attempted to construct a gate on no man's land without informing the Afghan government and the step had triggered gun battle between the two sides.

Fire exchange claimed the life of one Afghan security personnel and injured four others on Tuesday evening, the official asserted.

However, he said that no firing had taken place since early Wednesday and those have shops and business in Torkham border town have begun shifting their business to safer places, adding the situation is tense.

Meantime, spokesman for Afghan Foreign Ministry Shukib Mustaghni in talks with local media described the incident as "unpleasant", saying Afghanistan adheres to its pervious accords with Pakistan and emphasizes peaceful methods and expects from Pakistani side to tackle this problem through diplomatic channels.

Although Afghan ranking officials are tight lipped, Afghan media has reported the clash at Torkham border town and according to media reports, both sides have suffered casualties.

Afghans in different provinces including astern Nangarhar, southern Helmand and northern Takhar provinces by organizing rallies announced their support to Afghan security forces at Torkham.

Afghan Mushrano Jirga or upper house of parliament has condemned the alleged incursion of Pakistani troops in Torkham and called upon the government to solve the problems through diplomatic channels.
BRUSSELS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A note received in several Belgian police stations indicates "imminent" terrorist attacks in France and Belgium, according to Belgian newspapers Wednesday.

This detailed note of information indicates that some jihadists would have left Syria 10 days ago to reach Europe via Turkey and Greece to carry out attacks in France and Belgium.

In Belgium, the shopping center City 2 in Brussels, a McDonald's restaurant and a police station are cited as possible targets.

"They would separate into two groups, one for Belgium and one for France, to commit attacks in different places," said the note, adding that these groups are already armed and would aim to commit an act classified as "imminent."

The implications of the note on safety measures however are not yet known.
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China has lodged diplomatic representations with the United States over a planned meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama at the White House, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

It is reported that Obama and the Dalai Lama will meet privately in the Map Room at 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday.

"The Chinese Foreign Ministry has already made a representation to the U.S. Embassy in China," spokesman Lu Kang told a daily news briefing. "China firmly opposes the meeting."

If the U.S. side goes through with such a meeting, it will send the wrong signal to Tibet separatist forces and harm China-U.S. mutual trust and cooperation, Lu said.

"Tibet affairs are China's domestic affairs and no foreign country has the right to interfere," he said.

Lu said the 14th Dalai Lama is not a purely religious figure, but a political exile who has long engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion.

China demands the U.S. side keep its commitment of recognizing that Tibet is an internal part of China, and not support "Tibet-independence," or separatist forces, he said.

Any attempt to harm China's stability by using issues related to Tibet will not succeed, Lu said.
SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Jammu city, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, on Wednesday following violent clashes between protesters and police over an alleged desecration of a Hindu temple.

Tension gripped the city on Tuesday evening after protesters belonging to Hindu community took to roads to protest the alleged ransacking of a Hindu temple at the hands of a Muslim youth in Janipura area.

"The trouble began after some people spotted a Muslim youth indulging in desecration at the temple," Amit Kumar, a local resident said. "Though the youth was arrested by police but a policeman slapped the temple's priest during the melee, which worsened the situation."

The irate protesters attacked a local police station and set ablaze three vehicles including two buses of a police school. Police fired dozens of tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters and clashes continued for hours until late Tuesday.

Reports said the protesters also threw stones at house of a local minister and shops belonging to members of Muslim community in the area.

Police officials said they have detained 25-year-old Mohammed Yasir for the alleged desecration at temple. However, his brother Tanvir Ahmad told the police that Yasir was mentally unsound and had ran away from the a nearby psychiatric clinic.

The authorities have suspended mobile internet services in Jammu as a precautionary measure to prevent what they describe spreading of "rumours".

Region's Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has appealed for calm.

A local minister Abdul Haq Khan told region's lawmaking body (that is currently in session) that the youth was arrested and the priest along with others persons tried to stop police from discharging their duties.

"As per information received by Roopnagar police station, one mentally disturbed person, identified as Yasir of Doda, tried damaging and defiling a temple in Janipur area. The accused was arrested by police but while he was being taken away, the temple priest and some local residents tried preventing police from discharging their duties," Khan said.

Though Indian-controlled Kashmir is a Muslim majority region, however, in Jammu city, the Hindus are in majority.
NAY PYI TAW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar and Mongolia vowed on Wednesday to enhance bilateral cooperation, according to the President's Office.

Visiting Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi made the pledge during their meeting in Nay Pyi Taw.

The pair discussed matters concerning democratization and rule of laws, national reconciliation and peace process, and democracy culture.

Protection of natural resources, preservation of heritage and cooperation in power sector were also covered by their talks.

Elbegdorj extended invitation to Aung San Suu Kyi to visit Mongolia as a State Counselor for the second time. Suu Kyi last visited Mongolia before Myanmar's 2015 general election.

President Elbegdorj arrived Nay Pyi Taw Tuesday on a three-day working visit to Myanmar. His visit came on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Myanmar-Mongolia diplomatic ties and is the second world leader coming to Myanmar after Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong since the new government took place office in April.
PARIS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Wednesday urged the CGT union to halt demonstrations against labor reform in the French capital after violent clashes.

"I ask the CGT not to organize this type of demonstration in Paris," Valls told France Inter Radio.

"We must bear our responsibilities. We can no longer have this disgraceful show with things getting out of control," he added.

On Tuesday between 700 and 800 protestors clashed with riot police. Shortly after the start of the Paris rally, hooded youth threw projectiles at security forces who responded by firing tear gas.

Troublemakers torched three cars and defaced hospitals and banks in the French capital.

According to the Paris prefecture, 58 were arrested after the clashes which left 41 wounded people, among them 29 policemen.

In recent weeks, anti-labor reform demonstrations have turned violent in many cities. Police unions said more than 350 officers had been wounded since the nationwide rallies against labor reform began in March.

A total of 1,300 people have been arrested with 819 placed in custody and 51 convicted on charges of violent acts, according to the interior ministry.

In response to the French Senate examining how to loosen labor law to spark recruitment and reduce unemployment, the CGT union called for fresh demonstrations on June 23 and 28.
MANILA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Philippine non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are set to report this week to the United Nations on the alleged human rights violations committed by the outgoing administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III against the indigenous peoples, their officials said Wednesday.

Rex Reyes Jr., general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and co-convenor of the Philippine Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Watch, said two oral statements will be delivered during the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on June 17 and 20.

"Some of the concerns to be forwarded to the UN HRC are human rights violations committed against the indigenous people of Mindanao," he said, citing specifically the violent dispersal of farmers in southern Philippine city of Kidapawan over two months ago, which killed at least three protesters and injured several others.

"Militarized Lumad communities and the ill-effect of the government's counter-insurgency, and specific incidents showing abuse of power such as the violent dispersal of farmers and indigenous people demanding rice from the government last April 1 in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato will be highlighted by the Filipino NGO representatives," he added.

The oral statements would come from the NCCP, a convenor of the Philippine UPR Watch, and Kalumaran, an alliance of IPs in Mindanao. The Philippine UPR Watch is a platform of faith-based and human rights organizations engaging with the UN Universal Periodic Review process and brings to the attention of the UN and the international community the human rights situation in the country.

During the report of Maina Kiai, UN Special Rapporteur on Peaceful Assembly and of Association on June 17, Johanna Dela Cruz of the NCCP Human Rights Program will present an oral statement on the April 1 Kidapawan incident, Reyes said.

On June 20, during the report of Dr. Chaloka Beyani, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Lumad (IP) leader Kerlan Fanagel will present the situation of the displaced Lumads taking refuge in UCCP Haran and Tandag City, he added.

The trip of the NGO representatives is one of the preliminary activities prior to the Universal Periodic Review on the Philippines. The third cycle of review on the Philippine government's compliance to international human rights obligations is set in 2017.
MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Russian experts think the European Commission president's upcoming visit to a Russian forum heralds a restart of dialogue between the European Union (EU) and Russia, which has been interrupted since the 2014 Ukraine crisis.

Jean-Claude Juncker will attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, scheduled to kick off in Russia's second largest city St. Petersburg on Thursday.

"Juncker comes to Russia not to make specific proposals, but simply to restore dialogue, because no one benefits if the two sides do not hear each other," Maxim Bratersky with the National Research University Higher School of Economics said in an interview with Xinhua.

"We do not expect the visit to bring a breakthrough, but as a signal or as an episode, it is a good one," Andrei Klimov, deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Russia's Federation Council, or the upper house of parliament.

The United States may be upset by Juncker's visit, but Bratersky said Juncker is an independent politician who views Europe's interests as being not always identical to those of the United States.

Klimov said Juncker might have foreseen an adjustment of U.S. policy on Ukraine and Russia after the presidential elections, and he wants to stay in history as the one who restores cooperation between the EU and Russia.

There are a number of signals that the EU policy towards Russia is changing, though an immediate U-turn or an immediate lifting of sanctions against Russia is unlikely, Bratersky said.

Klimov said the EU, NATO and the United States have come to realize the ineffectiveness of the sanctions, which actually benefited Russia by prompting the Russian government to work more intensely and to restructure the economy.

On the other hand, the West understands that it is losing the Russian market, as Russian businesses turned to China, Japan, South Korea and other countries, Klimov added.

In any case, Bratersky said, Europe can not afford to lose Russia as a large market for European-made consumer goods and equipment and a supplier of raw materials and hydrocarbons.

Viktor Zubkov, board chairman of Russia's gas giant Gazprom, said that during Juncker's visit, Russia would discuss with him a project to deliver Russian gas to southern Europe via the Black Sea.

Bratersky said that although the EU Commission head would not make any decisions on the issue, he could bring back some proposals to Brussels.
BRUSSELS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- NATO defense ministers agreed on Wednesday to boost NATO's support for Ukraine with a Comprehensive Package of Assistance. The Package aims to help Ukraine strengthen its defenses by building stronger security structures.

In a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, the NATO defense ministers also exchanged views with Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak on the current security situation in eastern Ukraine, and the progress of government reforms, according to a NATO press release.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg explained that the Comprehensive Package brings together all the strands of NATO's support, and will "help Ukraine establish more effective and efficient defence and security structures, and to strengthen civilian control over them."

He highlighted that the Alliance is already implementing projects under the Trust Funds established for Ukraine, including on command and control, cyber defense, and rehabilitating wounded soldiers.

"We are also developing new projects, including in the areas of countering hybrid warfare and explosive devices," he said.

Ministers agreed that the Minsk Agreements remain the path to a sustainable solution to the conflict, and urged all parties to fully implement them, said the press release.

NATO allies will meet with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the Warsaw Summit in July.
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Rashid Alimov has lauded the vitality and prospects of the SCO, saying it has strived for political stability, security, economic cooperation and common development among its member countries.

"Within the group, no one dominates, wins or loses, and agreements are reached through negotiation and consultation, which has made the SCO a paradigm of the peaceful co-existence of nations with different powers and various political systems and cultures," said Alimov.

Alimov made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua ahead of the 15th anniversary of the group's establishment, which falls on June 15. Later this month, an SCO summit will be held in Tashkent of Uzbekistan. It is scheduled to issue a document outlining SCO members' positions on global and regional issues.

Against the backdrop of changing international situation, increasing geopolitical tensions and a rise in terrorism, separatism and extremism, the coming summit is expected to make a vital contribution to safeguarding global and regional stability and will strengthen sustainable development of SCO members, Alimov said.

He noted that the regular meeting of SCO members helps cope with changing regional and global situations, and there have been fruitful results in joint campaigns to address drug trade, gun smuggling and other cross-border crimes.

Hundreds of potential terrorist attacks have been foiled in SCO member countries with the assistance of the organization, according to Alimov.

He added that members of the SCO have taken a great interest in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which will boost and guide economic and trade cooperation between China and Eurasian countries.

The SCO should be "a bridge connecting Europe and Asia" when synergizing the development plans of its member countries, the Belt and Road Initiative and the projects proposed by the Eurasian Economic Union, said Alimov.
Dozens of firefighting teams were struggling on Wednesday to gain control over a huge blaze that broke out near the main entrance to Jerusalem. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

JERUSALEM, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of firefighting teams were struggling on Wednesday to gain control over a blaze that broke out near the main entrance to Jerusalem.

A spokesman for fire service said in a statement sent to Xinhua that the fire started during the morning hours in an area of the Jerusalem Forest close to Har HaMenuchot, the city's largest cemetery.

By 14:00 p.m. (1100 GMT), the fire was still raging, with at least 35 firefighting teams and eight jets trying to assume control over the blaze.

"The firefighters are battling huge flames and prevent them from getting close to houses and infrastructure buildings," Udi Gal, a spokesman for Jerusalem's fire department, told Ynet, a Hebrew news site.

Gal added that the fire has been spreading quickly due to strong winds.

Route No. One, which connects between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv was briefly closed, and a seminary school and offices of the national electric company were evacuated.

The fire came amidst a string of hot days following a dry winter, making vegetation more fire-prone.
NAIROBI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's health ministry has launched a new computer application to boost the national blood bank.

Ministry of Health Acting Director of Medical Services (DMS), Jackson Kioko, said the system, dubbed e-Progresa Blood Establishment Computerized System (BECS), is a vein to vein system that interface computer technologies with automated blood screening equipment to generate blood results in real time at the same time boost efficiency.

"We are also encouraging walk-in blood donors to our facilities across the country as a measure of reducing the cost of collecting blood," he said during the celebrations to mark the World Blood Donor Day late on Tuesday.

The system which is being rolled out by the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service (KNBTS) is already in use in six counties and will soon be available in 14 other satellites.

Kioko noted that last year, KNBTS collected a total of 155,000 units of blood representing 39 percent of the national blood requirement which, stands at 400,000 units.

To meet the deficit, Kioko revealed that the KNBTS adopted various strategies including targeting the adult blood donors and scaling up donor education and communication.

About 80 percent of blood donors in Kenya are aged between 16 and 25 years, which has informed the need to rope on older donors.

"We honor and urge all Kenyans to continue donating blood to save lives whenever they called upon to do so," Kioko said.

This year's theme "Blood connects us all" focuses on thanking blood donors and highlights the dimension of "sharing" and "connection" between blood donors and patients with the slogan "Share life, give blood", to draw attention to the roles that voluntary donation systems play in encouraging people to care for one another and promote community cohesion.

Last year the service launched a short message platform dubbed 'Text for Life,' which has progressively helped KNBTS to capture blood donor bio - data and boosted communication with blood donors. Today, the system has 160,000 blood donors.

Kioko also announced that KNBTS Policy would be reviewed to enable the provision of blood to Kenyans within the devolved structures.

"The Health Policy has a legal framework to make KNBTS a semi-autonomous government agency. This move will herald a new era in the government effort to attain blood sufficiency to save lives and improve health outcomes," he said.

Kioko said the country is in dire need of blood stock to ensure health security and response to disasters or terrorist attacks.

"Adequate and reliable supply of safe blood can only be assured by a stable base of regular, voluntary, unpaid blood donors, as the safest group of donors with the lowest prevalence of blood borne infections," Kioko said.

KNTBS Director Margaret Oduor, noted that high school children aged between 16 and 18 years contribute 60 percent of the blood donated in Kenya and challenged the adult donors to take up the cause to enable the service to address the current shortage.

"Most donors are below the age of 25. We are making headway but the whole idea is to interest the adult population to become donors as well," she said.
PHNOM PENH, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian and Vietnamese leaders on Wednesday pledged to expand bilateral cooperation in humanitarian activities for mutual benefits, a Cambodian senior official said.

The pledge was made during a meeting here between Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and visiting Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, said Eang Sophalleth, a personal assistant to the prime minister.

He said the Cambodian leader suggested that the two countries have agreements on emergency rescue cooperation and water consumption along the border.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen also requested that Vietnam charge the same medical fees from Cambodian patients as it does from Vietnamese patients because many Cambodians have currently sought medical services in Vietnam.

For his part, Tran Dai Quang agreed with the suggestions and promised to make them come true in the near future.

The Vietnamese leader arrived here on Tuesday for a three-day state visit.

Earlier on Wednesday, he met separately with King Norodom Sihamoni, Senate President Samdech Say Chhum, and National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin.
NICOSIA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- New Cypriot carrier Cobalt Air has started selling tickets for flights expected to start on July 7, an official said on Wednesday.

Grecory Diacou, Cobalt's chairman, said that the start of flight operations was made possible after the airline received its operating license on Tuesday.

The new airliner is aiming at taking the place of Cyprus Airways, the former Cypriot national carrier which was wound down in January 2015, after running out of cash.

"Cyprus has been without a national carrier for too long. A strong home airline is a vital part of our national infrastructure," Diacou said.

The Cyprus Airways brand name and logo, a flying moufflon, a species of wild goat native to Cyprus, has been put up for sale by the Cypriot government, which owned the former national carrier.

Cobalt Air had received its air operator certificate about a month ago, but actual services to clients were delayed until there was a satisfactory vetting of foreign shareholders.

The airline is owned and controlled by Cypriot nationals, but Hong Kong investors have a significant part of shares in Cobalt.

"This has been a long and at times difficult road but we are delighted that the new wings of Cyprus are now taking to the air," Diacou said.

The company owns two planes and two more are expected to arrive by the end of June.

It will start flying to a wide range of cities in the UK, Greece, and Ireland, and will focus its marketing efforts on the UK and Irish markets.

Cobalt will also fly to Beirut and Tel Aviv as of July subject to obtaining traffic rights and is promising flights to far and wide destinations, such as China and the United States at a later stage.
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China's new yuan-denominated lending in May stood at 985.5 billion yuan (149 billion U.S. dollars), 84.7 billion yuan more than May last year, official data showed Wednesday.

The figure was significantly up from 555.6 billion yuan in April, but was lower than a monthly average of 1.5 trillion yuan in the first quarter, the People's Bank of China said in a statement.

Total yuan loans at the end of May rose 14.4 percent to 100.1 trillion yuan, the same pace as that one month ago, according to the statement.

M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, rose 11.8 percent year on year to 146.17 trillion yuan at the end of May, according to the People's Bank of China website.

The narrow measure of money supply (M1), which covers cash in circulation plus demand deposits, rose 23.7 percent year on year to 42.43 trillion yuan, the statement said.

Newly-added social financing, a measurement of funds that non-financial firms and households get from the financial system, was 659.9 billion yuan in May, down by about 580 billion yuan from the same period last year.
BELGRADE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Serbia is of great significance and will surely raise Sino-Serbian relations to a new high, the Chinese ambassador to Serbia said.

Political contacts between China and Serbia have been frequent in recent years and bilateral ties have grown steadily, Li Manchang said in an interview with Xinhua ahead of Xi's state visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan on June 17-22.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli visited Serbia in late 2014 and in mid-2015 respectively, while Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic attended China's landmark parade marking the 70th anniversary of the World Anti-Fascist War victory in September 2015.

Ambassador Li believed that the frequent exchange of high-level visits may reflect the constant growth of relations between the two countries.

Serbia built a strategic partnership with China in 2009. It is China's first strategic partner in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

On the Sino-Serbian relationship, Ambassador Li quoted Serbian Prime Minister Aleksander Vucic as saying that "Serbia is always China's reliable friend and partner."

The Chinese ambassador noted that China and Serbia firmly support each other on issues related to their own core interests and have become real strategic partners.

Both sides support and help each other on the basis of equality and mutual trust, and jointly maintain international fairness and justice, he said.

Sino-Serbian cooperation has set an example for China-CEE cooperation and boosted China-Europe relations, the ambassador said, citing the first China-built railway bridge in Europe, highways and hydro power stations as results of such cooperation.

Sino-Serbian cooperation have expanded constantly in recent years, from infrastructure construction to the realms of energy, iron and steel, telecommunications, and finance, and from loans to investment and joint ventures, Ambassador Li stressed.

China and Serbia signed a memorandum on jointly promoting the "Belt and Road" construction in 2015, he said, adding that Serbia has offered strong support for China's Belt and Road Initiative.

He noted that during Xi's upcoming visit, China and Serbia will sign a series of political and economic agreements, map out blueprints and plans for the future development of the two countries, and further enhance bilateral relations.

Related:

Interview: Serbia-China friendship as strong as the Great Wall: Serbian president

by Nemanja Cabric and Wang Huijuan

BELGRADE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The long-awaited visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Serbia will reveal a new chapter of Serbia-China traditional friendship, and offer a chance of further economic cooperation, said Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic in an exclusive interview with Xinhua ahead of Xi's visit.
A photo taken on June 10, 2016 shows Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic during an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency at the Presidential Palace in Belgrade, capital of Serbia. (Xinhua/Han Jianjun)

by Nemanja Cabric and Wang Huijuan

BELGRADE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The long-awaited visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Serbia will reveal a new chapter of Serbia-China traditional friendship, and offer a chance of further economic cooperation, said Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic in an exclusive interview with Xinhua ahead of Xi's visit.

Nikolic first emphasized the profound and decades-old friendship between Serbia and China. He said the friendly bilateral relations are important to both countries and their people.

"The everlasting friendship cannot be influenced by changes of presidents or prime ministers," he added.

Nikolic said that he has always been paying great attention to relations with China ever since he was elected president in 2012. He expressed great expectation to Xi's upcoming visit, believing this visit will strengthen and promote the comprehensive development of bilateral relations.

Serbia and China signed a joint declaration on strategic partnership in 2009. During President Xi's visit, the two countries are expected to further enhance political and economic ties, according to Nikolic.

In past years, bilateral relations have been developing comprehensively, political and economic cooperation has also helped Serbia to elevate its international importance, said the Serbian president.

Serbia and China support each other's positions on issues concerning their core interests, he said.

In economy, the two countries have cooperated in many infrastructure projects with the help of Chinese loans and implementation, including highways, bridges and thermal power plants.

"Serbia has a tradition of production. The country gives high subsidies to investors and it has duty-free markets across the world. These are extraordinary reasons why Chinese investors should build their factories here -- we should jointly make products here and sell them in international market," Nikolic noted.

He suggested Chinese businessmen consider investing in Serbia's industry and food sector, as they are two very promising and fast-growing areas.

He also hoped the two nations can enhance communication and cooperation in science and technology, culture, and art.

Talking about China's Belt and Road Initiative and the "16+1 Cooperation" mechanism, Nikolic said that Serbia fits in the strategies and can play a very active role in them.

"We are on the route of 'the Belt and Road', and we also belong to the 16 countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Yet our bilateral relations will go beyond them," said Nikolic. "Serbia can become China's partner in the entire region."

The Serbian president said he was happy to see that bilateral cooperation is going on so well. "Friendship cannot be measured by money, but by time and history. Our friendship is as strong as the Great Wall of China," he concluded.
JERUSALEM, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed on Wednesday the White House opposition to a proposal to increase funding for Israel's missile program.

The Obama administration said in a "statement of administration policy" on Tuesday that it "strongly opposes" a congressional proposal to increase funding for Israel's missile defense program in the 2017 budget by 455 million U.S. dollars.

In Israel, the announcement stirred wide criticism against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the opposition leader, Isaac Herzog, accusing him of "irresponsibly" causing a bilateral crisis that puts Israel's security at risk.

In the wake of the uproar, the Prime Minister's Office released a statement that dismissed the Administration's announcement as an "internal debate between Congress and the White House on the size of the annual supplement to the missile defense program."

"Netanyahu is working to anchor this supplement as part of the discussions on the assistance agreement for the next ten years," the statement read, adding that not only will the security assistance not be cut, "it will be increased."

The relations between President Barack Obama and Netanyahu were strained last year over the latter fierce criticism of the nuclear deal with Iran.
KISII, Kenya, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Truphena Gesare Nyabuti, a Kenyan, has to move with speed to sell to travellers aboard public service vehicles pulling over for five to 10 minutes at Ekerenyo, along Kericho-Kisii highway, county of Nyamira in Western Kenya.

Hawking ripe bananas, avocado and sugarcane at the transit center has been her means of survival for almost a decade now.

She is uncertain of the time she joined the lot scrambling over attention of passengers with interest of having them buy one or two bundles. But she says it was soon after she gave birth to her now nine-year old son.

"This basin (small hand washing basin) used to be 0.1 U.S. dollars," she told Xinhua in an interview on Monday. "A whole cane could be sold for 0.07 dollars. These days you can only be lucky to buy for four dollars," she added.

The mother of four said she buys most of her stock since she has a small piece of land where she has mainly planted maize and bananas.

"I buy a whole raw banana 3.5 dollars with five marketable bundles when ripe. If you calculate, I will surely make a loss if I was to sell your price," Nyabuti told a male customer who wanted to buy a cluster of the full yellowed bananas at 0.2 dollars against the 0.5 five dollar price.

Finally, he failed to buy over disagreement on the price. For Paulina Kwamboka, hawking shelled boiled groundnuts and bananas is what has kept her going since she finished high school in 2003.

"I have a cow and a goat. I bought them through my profits. I sell milk every morning before I come here," says the single mother of two children- one in secondary school and another in higher primary.

Apart from being rained on, she said customer's attitude is one of the most challenging problem she encounters every day.

"Customers do now want to understand that we also buy (farm produce) from others. They think we are exploiting them. They always bargain and want everything for 0.1 or 0.2 dollars," said Kwamboka who sells a cup of the grounds at 0.2 dollars and 0.5 to one dollar for bananas depending on the size and buying price.

She said hawking farm produce has enabled her invest in her children's education indicating that she could only abandon it once they complete university.

She says she splits proceeds from her milk selling for her retirement and children education expenses while puts all from hawking in informal saving groups.

"I am in six groups. We contribute on Wednesday and Saturday," she said. "On Wednesday, I part with 19 dollars: one group takes five dollars and the rest two receive seven dollars each," explained the trader.

On Saturday, she also remits a total of nine dollars with each of the three groups receiving three dollars.

She is hopeful that her children will raise the dignity of her life since she said her kind of hawking is strenuous, dangerous and draws disdain from the society.

As she struggles to beat the odds in the business that has no patience for a snail's pace, she is optimistic her daughters will someday become lawyers and take good care of her.

"There are no big farms anymore (to grow crops in large-scale). This is my farm (hawking) but I don't want to grow old in it," Kwamboka hopes.

Trading in farm produce is categorized as a micro-enterprise under agriculture in the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) Act, the Kenyan legislations recognizing role of hawkers in building the country's economy.

In every part of Kenya, women form the majority of the small scale traders selling farm produce.

Now the county governments are constitutionally bound to bolster agricultural productivity in the 47 regions by encouraging farmers to adopt innovative ways of farming and marketing their produce.

More than 85 percent of Kenyans draw their livelihoods from farming either directly or indirectly, considering the rural population supplies food sold in the urban centers.

Micro and Small Enterprise Authority, an entity served with responsibility of promoting progressive development among the small traders continues to urge SMEs to form Saccos and cooperatives as a platform to accessing profitable markets and achieve better growth.
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Wednesday that Chinese frontier guards carried out routine patrols on the China-controlled side of border with India.

Indian media quoted Indian defense and intelligence officials as saying that about 250 Chinese soldiers made "incursion" in the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh" region.

In response to a question in this regard at a regular press briefing, Lu also noted that the boundary between China and India has not been demarcated.
by Liu Fang, Zindziwe Janse

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A lawsuit has been filed in the Netherlands for the repatriation of a 1000-year-old Buddhist mummy stolen from Yangchun village in China's southeast province of Fujian.

It is believed to be in possession of Dutch national Oscar van Overeem, Dutch lawyer Jan Holthuis who represents the Chinese villagers in Dutch court proceedings told Xinhua.

The villagers told an Amsterdam court on June 8 that the Dutch collector did not acquire the statue in good faith and has no right to own the human remains of an identifiable person under Dutch law.

The Dutch collector lent the Buddha statue with a mummified monk inside for an exhibition in Hungary at the end of 2014. Chinese villagers who saw the reports of the exhibition in March 2015 believed that the statue is "Zhanggong Patriarch" stolen from their temple and wanted it repatriated.

The villagers appointed a group of Chinese lawyers and a Dutch lawyer to start legal proceedings both in China and in the Netherlands. Holthuis International Lawyers is "dominus litis" or master in the Dutch court proceedings.

GOOD FAITH IN QUESTION

Jan Holthuis, managing partner of the Dutch law firm, said: "Van Overeem should have exercised a higher level of due diligence at the time of acquisition to check whether the object was illegally traded. Van Overeem also said the statue was traded through Hong Kong, known for illegal trade of this kind of Buddha statues at that time. We know that he bought the statue from another Dutch trader in Asian art, who was also an informed person."

In a statement sent to media after the statue was withdrawn from the exhibition in Hungary, a spokesperson of the Dutch collector said "the owner of the mummy has been collecting Chinese art for almost three decades" and "the owner bought the sculpture in the Netherlands from a fellow collector who, at that time, was sharing his professional time between Hong Kong and Amsterdam and who was well acquainted with the local Hong Kong art scene."

"In late 1995 in Amsterdam, the current owner noticed the statue first in the fellow collector's collection and by mid 1996 agreed to acquire it. The previous owner shipped the statue from his Hong Kong studio to his Amsterdam residence while he, in turn, in the winter of 1994-1995 acquired the statue from a Chinese art friend in Hong Kong," according to the statement.

Under the Dutch Civil Code, the possessor must observe the necessary diligence (prudence) at the acquisition of ancient cultural objects. Holthuis said "in professional art trading circles it is known that this kind of old statue could never have been exported out of China without a permit. A professional buyer should have asked for provenance documents and export permit. Apparently, Van Overeem did not."

HUMAN REMAINS INSIDE STATUE

Holthuis said the Buddhist statue carries the human remains of an identifiable person, who is 1,000 years old.

"The statue is a casket around the human remains of a person, and the Buddha statue is so much entangled with the corpse that one cannot be separated from the other. Eventually the leading part in this case is not the Buddhist art, but the human remains of the person that is in there," said Holthuis.

"According to the Dutch Burial and Cremation Act of 1991 and the interpretation of our Minister of Justice at that time, nobody can own a corpse. Nobody can therefore own this statue even if it is acquired in good faith. According to Dutch law, the family can claim the statue back. If the family cannot, then the caretaker can," he added.

The Chinese villagers have hundred years old genealogy records that refer to the origin of Zhanggong Patriarch by its full Chinese name, and the records show that it has been worshipped at Puzhao temple in Yangchun village from the Song dynasty (960-1279) to the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368). The Chinese characters on these documents are consistent with those on the praying mat stolen along with the statue.

"This genealogy is the interesting and unique thing in this case that proves Zhang Gong was related to the village temple and the villagers have been looking after their statue for a very long time. A link can be made between the village clan and this statue, and with the fact that the villagers have always worshiped this statue, they have the legal interest to claim back this statue," argued Holthuis.

WHAT NEXT?

"We sued three parties, Oscar van Overeem and his two companies registered at the same address, because we do not know whether he bought it through his company or privately," said Holthuis.

After the statement of claims is filed in court, the defendant normally has six weeks to prepare his statement of defense. He can ask an extension of another six weeks, and then again another extension with the approval of the other party.

The court might set a hearing and see whether they need additional information or whether they can already, after the hearing, take a decision. Another round of statements is still possible before the judge takes any decision and both parties can appeal.

"In Dutch legal proceedings, the judge lets the parties make arguments and eventually takes a decision on that basis although he can ask questions during the hearing and decide that one party shall give specific evidence," Holthuis said.

"The villagers deserve that we do our very best and we hope Master Zhang Gong can return to his usual resting place," he said.
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan, will significantly boost China's relationship with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Central Asia, diplomats and scholar said Wednesday.

The Belt and Road Initiative will be a focus of the meetings between Xi and leaders of the three countries that have traditional friendly ties with China. All three were among the first to respond to the China-proposed initiative.

President Xi will have an in-depth exchange of views with leaders in the three countries on cooperation in the initiative, officials with the Foreign Ministry said at a press briefing about Xi's visits, from June 17 to 24.

China and Serbia will sign agreements on trade, industry and finance while China and Poland will ink deals on finance, aviation, science and education, Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Haixing said.

Within the framework of China-CEE cooperation, or the "16+1" mechanism, major projects have been given the go ahead or are underway, including a China-Europe land-sea express passage, freight train services to strengthen connectivity between China and Europe, and the construction and revamping of a rail link between the Serbian and Hungarian capitals.

In April, China's HeSteel Group signed a 46-million-euro deal to buy Serbia's century-old steel plant Smederevo, with an aim to transform the plant into one of the most competitive firms in Europe.

Xi's upcoming visit to the CEE comes on the heels of his state visit to the Czech Republic in April, signalling growing importance of the region, said Liu Zuokui, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"Given the influence of Serbia and Poland in CEE countries, their bilateral relations with China will become a model and accelerator to China-Europe relations," Liu said.

President Xi will attend ceremonies marking the completion of major cooperation projects in Uzbekistan and discuss on new projects with his Uzbekistan counterpart during his visit to the central Asian country on June 21-24, Assistant Foreign Minister Li Huilai said.

Xi will also attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, where member state leaders will discuss anti-terrorism, drug smuggling and trans-national crimes to deepen security cooperation in the region, according to Li.

Founded in 2001, the SCO now has China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as its full members, with Afghanistan, Belarus, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan as observers.

Related:

Spotlight: Xi's upcoming trip to CEE countries, Central Asia to boost Belt & Road Initiative

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming trip to Central and Eastern European Countries (CEE) and Central Asia from June 17 to 24 is expected to significantly boost the Belt and Road Initiative.
ISTANBUL, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish police officer was killed on Wednesday in a clash with suspected drug traffickers in Istanbul's European district of Arnavutkoy, local media reported.

A fire exchange erupted when police attempted to detain the suspected dealers, according to CNNTurk.

A gunman was killed in the operation, the report added. A number of special forces were deployed to the scene.
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China's central bank saw its yuan funds outstanding for foreign exchange drop 53.7 billion yuan (8.2 billion U.S. dollars) to 23.7 trillion yuan in May, data showed on Wednesday.

The fall was less than the 54.4 billion-yuan decline in April, suggesting less pressure of capital flight.

As the Chinese currency is not freely convertible under the capital account, the central bank has to purchase foreign currency generated by China's trade surplus and foreign investment in the country, adding funds to the money market. Such funds are an important indicator for foreign capital flow in and out of China as well as domestic yuan liquidity.

Concerns about capital outflows had been on the rise as the economy slowed, and the Chinese currency had fallen since China revamped its forex mechanism last year.

Stability in international financial markets and positive signs in the domestic economy have reduced the pressure of capital outflow since the start of this year.
Image taken on June 10, 2016 shows bags with donated blood that will be divided in red globules, plasma and platelets in the laboratory of the Buenos Aires "Hemocentro" (Blood Center) Foundation, in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. (Xinhua/Martin Zabala)

BUENOS AIRES, June 14 (Xinhua) -- An Argentine blood bank is working to boost its supply through a donors' club, according to a medical expert involved in the campaign.

Dr. Graciela Amerise, medical coordinator at the Buenos Aires Blood Bank Foundation, spoke with Xinhua recently in the lead up to World Blood Donor Day on Tuesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) designated June 14 as a day to raise awareness worldwide about the importance of giving blood to save lives, a message that rings particularly true less than two days after the worst mass shooting in the U.S. history killed 49 and wounded another 53 in Orlando, Florida.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Orlando residents lined up outside blood banks, as area hospitals worked to save the victims.

Members of the blood donors' club in Buenos Aires pledge to donate on a regular basis, such as three times a year, and also help spread the word about the need to voluntarily give blood.

According to the WHO, only regular, voluntary, unpaid blood donations can guarantee a community has a sufficient supply of safe blood.

"Having 100 percent voluntary donors is ideal," said Amerise, because "when a donor is pressured (by a family medical emergency or by need for money) he may not answer questions honestly."

Around the world, many blood banks only accept strictly voluntary blood donors to ensure the screening process is effective.

According to the WHO, some "62 countries collect 100 percent of their blood supply from voluntary, unpaid blood donors." But that occurs mainly in high-income countries.

Image taken on June 10, 2016 shows a nurse preparing a bag to extract blood from a donor in the area of extractions of the Buenos Aires "Hemocentro" (Blood Center) Foundation, in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. (Xinhua/Martin Zabala)

In many parts of the world, demand outstrips supply, often for a particular type of blood.

"In Argentina it's very difficult to get O-type blood," said Amerise, though in general the larger problem is "the shortage of donors. That's why we are trying to raise awareness."

"You don't need to have a family member or friend in the hospital, any healthy person can come and donate blood," she added.

"If every healthy person voluntarily donates at least twice a year, we could meet the needs of nearly all the patients around the country who need a transfusion," said Amerise.

According to the WHO, "blood donation by one percent of the population can meet a nation's most basic requirements for blood."

In addition to June 14, Nov. 9 has traditionally been a day to give blood in Argentina, since it was on that day in 1914 that Argentinian researcher and physician Dr. Luis Agote performed the first non-direct blood transfusion in the Americas.
CHANGSHA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people have died and 13 remain missing after heavy rain caused flash floods, mudslides and landslides in south China's Hunan, Guizhou, Guangdong provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

In Hunan, continuous rain resulted in swollen rivers, landslides and mud-rock flows. Three people died in Hengshan county, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters on Wednesday.

Three residents of Xiangtan County have been reported missing after their home was buried by a landslide around 7 a.m. Wednesday, while in Longhui county one person was reported missing. About 530 houses collapsed, and 11,900 people were evacuated, said the headquarters.

In Guangxi, one person was killed by collapsing house in torrential rain, said the regional civil affairs department on Wednesday. Two people ware missing--one swept away by floods while another was buried in a landslide.

The rains and ensuing disasters also destroyed 754 houses, seriously damaged another 408, ruined 20,200 hectares of crops, forced the evacuation of 5,900 people and inflicted a direct economic loss estimated at 150 million yuan (about 22.8 million U.S. dollars).

In Jinping County in Guizhou, five people have died and four are still missing, according to the county's publicity office.

Heavy rain pounded the county from Tuesday night until early Wednesday, with 202 millimeters of precipitation recorded in some areas. Traffic, power and telecommunications were all affected and homes destroyed.

Around 10,000 residents of 24 counties in Guizhou have been displaced. The homes of 125 families have been destroyed and 300 more have been seriously damaged, said a statement from the provincial civil affairs department.

It is estimated that the rain has caused direct economic losses of 127 million yuan (about 19 million U.S. dollars).

In Guangdong, a female climber died and three of her group were swept away by a flash flood on Tianchi Mountain at around 2:30 p.m., according to the publicity office of Qujiang District, Shaoguan city.

Nearly 300 rescuers are searching for the missing around the mountain, which experienced torrential rain on Sunday and Monday.
JERUSALEM, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Israel's head of military intelligence said on Wednesday that Israel is prepared for another round of war with the Lebanese Hezbollah militia.

"We have no offensive intentions in Lebanon," Maj. Gen. Herzl Halevi, Chief of Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate said during the annual Herzliya Conference in Herzliya near Tel Aviv.

"We do not want a war, but we're ready for one more than ever," he said, noting that Hezbollah or other enemies "wouldn't risk additional conflict," if they know Israel's "military capabilities."

Halevi said the next conflict is expected to be harder for Israel as Hezbollah fighters are better trained now than during the last round of war in 2006.

"Hezbollah is suffering heavy casualties in Syria but also experiences significant achievements, and in this process they learn a lot and gain access to new means of combat," he said.

He noted that the Shiite organization Hezbollah, which controls southern Lebanon, is being aided by Iran, including through shipments of weapons.

"Syrian industries have resumed the production of weaponry for Hezbollah, and neither the world nor Israel should accept it -- it could escalate the next conflict," he warned.

The 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war ended with a fragile United Nations-brokered ceasefire after 34 days of bloody fighting.

Occasional hostilities have continued since then, with Hezbollah militants firing towards northern Israel and Israeli bombing convoys of weapons for Hezbollah.
We aren't wealthy, Nathi, but we aren't prisoners, the lead character's uncle in Masande Ntshanga's debut novel, The Reactive, tells him. Lindanathi, who we follow through both slums and breezy penthouses, raging parties and ancient rituals, seems, despite circumstances that might suffocate another, largely self-determined. Yet, even from the first page of the slim novel, we learn that Nathi is tethered by the death of his brother, a death he feels responsible for.

The Reactive takes place in South Africa circa 2003, a country then steeped in a culture of AIDs denialism led by former President Thabo Mbeki. Nathi and his friends, Cecelia and Ruan, spend their days huffing industrial glue, drinking and fading in and out of consciousness, buoyed by the illegal sale of Nathi's antiretroviral drugsat a time in South Africa when they were largely unavailableto others who, like Nathi, are HIV positive. Their days past listlessly until a shadowy figure materializes in the periphery, depositing a life-changing sum of money in Nathi's bank account in exchange for his entire supply of ARVs. Implicit in the offer is a threatthe stranger includes Nathi, Cecelia and Ruan's addresses, scans of their driver's licenses, the names of their families.

Despite the wealth of action in the book, Ntshanga is more invested in exploring Nathi's emotional life and the anatomy of post-apartheid South Africa than unpacking the plot. That's not a criticismit the unsettled heart of The Reactive; it is what makes the novel sharp and affecting. Nathi, while ever in motion, is rooted in his past. He is at home in both the city of Cape Town, as well as the rural, impoverished mountains of eMthatha where he is from. He straddles a life of opportunitymade possible by the recent windfall of cashwhile battling the very real spectre of racism and the pervasiveness of classism, addiction and the mechanics of living HIV positive, in a world that largely denies the existence of AIDS. Looming, always, is deathboth the guilt attached to Nathi's brother's death, and Nathi's own impending death, magnified by his disease. Cecelia and Nathi play a game called Last Life in which they muse on how they would spend their final days, their final hours.

What if Last Life was moved up to now? Cecilia asks as they sit at the bar, waiting to make the deal that might change their lives. Both Ruan and Nathi answer, mystified, I don't know. The three of them, despite their strung-out, abstracted days in which night time came. Then daytime. Then night time again. Then day time. It went on like this for awhile, are capable of directing their own fates. Admirably, and with cutting insight, Ntshanga takes the plot in surprising directions. Not least of all, he directs the story with an amazing precision of language that few writers can achieve in a lifetime work. With a style all his own, Ntshanga animates despair and agitation in a collage of moments, memories and landscapes that speak volumes of a exigent moment in South African history. Ntshanga grapples with the past and the too-real present with grace, but not clemency, with hope, but not too much.
BRUSSELS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission here on Wednesday adopted its second report on the EU-Turkey migrant deal, which showed that while there has been further good progress in its implementation, progress achieved remains fragile.

European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said that the EU-Turkey Statement was delivering results, noting that migrants saw that it is not worth risking their lives on smugglers' boats and the EU side was on track to contract 1 billion euros of projects under the Refugee Facility by the end of this summer.

"But now is not the moment to sit back. We need to fully implement all elements of the Statement. This includes stepping up resettlement and increasing Greece's capacity to address the humanitarian situation and deal with asylum applications in line with EU law. The Turkish authorities also need to complete the implementation of the visa liberalization roadmap," he said.

In line with the EU-Turkey Statement from March 18, 2016, all new irregular migrants and asylum seekers arriving from Turkey to the Greek islands and whose applications for asylum have been declared inadmissible should be returned to Turkey.

Under the Statement, the EU will resettle a Syrian from Turkey to the EU for every Syrian returned to Turkey from the Greek islands. Priority is given to migrants who have not previously entered or tried to enter the EU irregularly, within the framework of the existing commitments.

According to a commission press release, the implementation of the Statement requires huge operational efforts from all involved, and, on the EU-side, most of all from Greece. Greece and Turkey are the two governments in charge of implementation.

The commission has been working closely with the Greek and Turkish authorities to ensure the necessary improvements in terms of practical and logistical arrangements and human resources to ensure the smooth implementation of returns and is assisting Greece with advice, expertise and support from the EU budget.
LUSAKA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's anti-graft body on Wednesday announced that it had arrested five officials from the Ministry of Health for theft of public funds.

The five officials have since been charged with theft in connection of funds amounting to 471, 275 Zambian Kwacha.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) public relations manager Timothy Moono said the named officials committed the alleged thefts between April 2008 and December 2008.

Trial is expected to commence on July 15, he added.

In 2009, the governments of the Netherlands and Sweden suspended aid to Zambia's health sector following a revelation of embezzlement of hundreds of funds meant for health projects by officials from the health ministry.

Ten senior officials from the ministry were arrested in connection with the embezzlements and have been appearing in court. In April this year, they were found with a case to answer and were put on their defense. The ten were charged with 67 counts of corruption, theft, and money laundering. Enditem
GUANGZHOU, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A corrupt Chinese former official who had been on the run abroad since 2013 has been brought back to south China's Guangdong Province, local authorities said Wednesday.

Wang Yanwei, who was chairman of people's political consultative conference of Huadu District of Guangzhou, the provincial capital, is suspected of taking bribes. He went missing in June, 2013.

China launched its "Sky Net" campaign in April, 2015, aiming to bring back 100 suspects accused of economic crimes who have fled overseas.

With the space for graft and power abuse considerably narrowed at home after years of anti-corruption efforts, China is increasingly looking to for international cooperation in apprehending suspects overseas.

A total of 29 suspects on the list have been brought back so far.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addressed the State Duma in Moscow, Russia, on June 15, 2016. (Russian Foreign Ministry Photo)

MOSCOW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that Moscow has been forced into a confrontation with the West in the latter's anti-Russian campaign based on the Cold War mentality.

"Russia does not intend to get involved in the confrontation imposed on it, neither with the United States, nor NATO nor the European Union," Lavrov said when addressing the State Duma, or the lower house of parliament.

He blasted "Western countries led by the United States" for attempting to gain global domination by making use of the current terrorism threat, thus deepening regional conflicts and instability of the world economy.

Noting that international relations are experiencing a watershed moment, the top Russian diplomat called for the formation of a new polycentric architecture.

"No single state or a group of states, however potent they may be, are able to solve the multiple problems of the modern era on their own," he said. "The current situation demands collective diplomatic work ... to find the optimal responses to common challenges and threats."

Lavrov also highlighted the significance of providing a balance of world politics within such frameworks as the United Nations, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Group of 20.
TEHRAN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday that it had arrested an Iranian-British woman over a number of hostile acts, Tasnim news agency reported.

The IRGC said in a statement that its intelligence department arrested Nazanin Zaghari on April 3 at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport and took her to the city of Kerman in the south of country.

Zaghari was "a main ringleader of institutes affiliated with foreign intelligence agencies and carried out various operations to serve the hostile purposes of the enemies of the Islamic establishment," the statement was cited as saying.

Employed by foreign media and intelligence services, she had been involved in planning and performing media and cyber projects with the purpose of "soft overthrow" of the Islamic republic's establishment, it added.

During her detention, Zaghari has had regular telephone contacts and even face-to-face meetings with her family, it said, adding that her case is still under investigation.
OSLO, June 15, 2016 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (L) talks with Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg during a joint press conference, in Oslo, Norway, June 15, 2016. John Kerry met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif here on Wednesday morning to discuss the nuclear deal, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as well as the Syria issue. "With respect to the JCPOA, the United States of America has done absolutely everything that we were and are required to do according to the letter of the agreement," Kerry said here later on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Liang Youchang)

OSLO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif here on Wednesday morning to discuss the nuclear deal, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as well as the Syria issue.

Their meeting came just one day after Zarif urged the United States to remove the "psychological remnants" of sanctions on his country and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to retaliate if Washington sought to break the nuclear deal.

Kerry and Zarif "discussed progress on the continuing implementation of the JCPOA, including issues related to banking and relief of nuclear-related sanctions," U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Mark Toner said in a statement.

"The two also addressed the situation in Syria, where the secretary stressed the need for full access for humanitarian aid and a nationwide cessation of hostilities," he said.

Zarif said Tuesday in Oslo the United States had removed all the sanctions "on paper," but "the psychological remnants of many years of sanctions are still there." He urged Washington to "take a much more proactive role" in removing these psychological remnants.

In a meeting with senior Iranian administrative, legislative and judiciary officials in Tehran on Tuesday, Khamenei emphasized "we won't break the JCPOA. But if the other side seeks to break it, as some candidates in the U.S. presidential elections threaten to tear it to pieces, we will set it ablaze."

In response to the remarks of the Iranian officials, Kerry defended Washington's efforts to implement the nuclear deal, saying the United States had kept faith with the agreement.

"With respect to the JCPOA, the United States of America has done absolutely everything that we were and are required to do according to the letter of the agreement," Kerry told a joint press conference with Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg later on Wednesday.

"We have completely kept faith with both the black-and-white print as well as the spirit of this effort," he added.

The U.S. secretary of state noted he had done more than what the agreement requires in encouraging U.S. companies to do business with Iran.

Some banks, businesses, and others "have natural reluctance after several years of sanctions to move without fully understanding what they are allowed to do and what they are not," Kerry said. "So a lot of clarifications are necessary."
ISTANBUL, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Migrant flows to Greece via Turkey has decreased sharply thanks to a Turkey-EU deal tightening the control recently, a Turkish official said on Wednesday.

The number of illegally crossings has dropped to some 30 per day from a peak of about 7,000 daily in October last year, said the official.

Turkey signed the migration deal with the EU in exchange for its citizens' visa-free travel to Europe, stepped-up aid and expedited accession talks. The deal went into effect on March 20.

Under the deal, Turkey has readmitted 462 irregular migrants from Greece's Aegean islands since April, the Turkish official said.

Meanwhile, 508 Syrian refugees hosted by Turkey have been resettled in Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Sweden and Lithuania under the deal's "one-for-one" formula, the official added.

Turkey is sheltering some three million Syrian and Iraqi refugees, while some one million migrants crossed into Europe from Turkey in 2015.

The Turkish official reiterated a call for a political transition in Syria that excludes President Bashar al-Assad, which would enable an effective struggle against the Islamic State and make possible resettlement of the refugees.
Critics of the body-shaming ad by Protein World have photoshopped its catch phrase "Are you beach body ready?" into "#Each bodys ready." (Source: Twitter account of Women's Equality Party)

LONDON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- When you come across a giant poster of a very sexy girl, half-naked, looking at you seductively on a bus or in the subway, will you enjoy it or have an overwhelming feeling of insecurity about your own body?

On Monday, Sadiq Khan, London's newly-elected mayor, announced a ban on ads stirring up "body confidence issues" on his city's public transport network. So from the first day of July, no more posters of hot bikini babes for Londoners in the subway.

Many people have reacted well to Khan's decision. Women's Equality Party, an active female empowerment group in Britain, tweeted: "A great start for London's 'feminist Mayor' @sadiqkhan as he bans body-shaming ads on Tube, buses and trains."

A Londoner who called herself Emma on Twitter also said: "Good on you, @sadiqkhan."

Grace Barret, an activist from Self-Esteem Team, said: "Sadiq Khan has given us the opportunity; we have to go and seek out these images rather than have them thrust upon us."

The Independent also ran an editorial saying that the new major is doing the right thing. "If it prevents even one young person from feeling bad about her body, if it keeps one young girl from developing anorexia, if it strengthens the confidence of even one student, then surely he's done his job."

While some netizens and women's groups celebrated Khan's ban, others were not so happy about it. They thought that London's first Muslim mayor made this ban based on his religious beliefs.
by Nemanja Cabric and Han Jianjun

SMEDEREVO, Serbia, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Smederevo steel mill stands a good chance to recover and develop after it was sold to Chinese HeSteel Group (HBIS), experts and officials said.

Ljubisa Obradovic, secretary of the association of the metal-electro industry, metal mines and metallurgy at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, said the Serbian metal-electro industry gained a lot by the arrival of Hesteel.

"The arrival of Hesteel to Serbia opens huge potential in the metal-electro industry and mining in the sense that the level of production will double," he told Xinhua.

Slobodanka Susa, director of the Serbian Association of the Steel Industry, said the steel mill is an important part of the "infrastructure of the Serbian economy" and new investors will need money to improve technology and offer a wider range of products.

"The HBIS is one of the biggest in the world and have the possibility to have cheap raw material to produce steel in Smedervo and that is most important for continuity of production in Smederevo," she said.

She explained that the continuation of production in Smederevo means regular delivery to domestic markets and to exports. For Serbia it means it can expect an increase in economic activity.

The Smederevo steel mill was founded in 1913. After it went bankrupt in 2003, it was sold to U.S. Steel for the price of 23 million U.S. dollars.

Serbia became the owner of the steel mill once again in 2012 when the investor from the United States withdrew and the country bought the factory back for 1 U.S. dollar. After the departure of U.S. steel, the country was looking for a new investor, while the company's 5,000 workers were sent on paid leave until April 2013 when the furnaces of the steel mill in Smederevo started operating again with limited capacity.

HBIS was the sole competitor at a tender which finished on April 6, and bought the factory for 46 million euros (51.6 million U.S. dollars).

Many workers were glad as the takeover of the steel mill ended years of uncertainty.

For Goran Gigic, a 38-year-old shift manager, the steel mill will gain a lot by becoming a part of Hesteel.

"I expect that production will increase, new technologies implemented, to work more and live better from our work," Gigic said.

Ivan Matkovic, 37, a deputy shift manager who spent 16 years in Smederevo, hoped the new owner will increase financial investments.

"We hope for better times, and that we continue to work professionally as always," he said.
LONDON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Many people and some rights groups have responded positively to a recent decision by Sadiq Khan, London's newly-elected mayor, to ban ads stirring up "body confidence issues" on the city's public transport network starting from July.

"A great start for London's 'feminist Mayor' @sadiqkhan as he bans body-shaming ads on Tube, buses and trains," Women's Equality Party, an active female empowerment group in Britain, said on Twitter.

The ban means that there will be no more posters of "hot bikini babes" for Londoners in the subway starting from July. Such images have been controversial as they are seen by many as objectifying women and promoting an "ideal" body image that women must conform to.

But the decision favoring the ban has sparked a debate. Some suspect it might be associated with the religious beliefs of the new Muslim mayor, while others voiced support for the ban.

A Londoner by the name of Emma said on Twitter, "Good on you, @sadiqkhan."

Grace Barret, an activist from Self-Esteem Team, said, "Sadiq Khan has given us the opportunity; we have to go and seek out these images rather than have them thrust upon us."

The Independent ran an editorial saying that the new mayor is doing the right thing. "If it prevents even one young person from feeling bad about her body, if it keeps one young girl from developing anorexia, if it strengthens the confidence of even one student, then surely he's done his job," it said. Enditem
TEHRAN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran said it would soon unveil a major deal to purchase passenger planes from Boeing, Tehran Times daily reported on Wednesday.

The deal with the U.S. aircraft manufacturer has been finalized, said Abbas Akhoundi, Iran's minister of Roads and Urban Development, adding that more details will be disclosed in a few days.

Iran has been able to save at least five million U.S. dollars in its negotiations over the final deal, Akhoundi said without further elaboration, reported Press TV.

In January, Iran reached an agreement with Airbus to buy 118 passenger planes worth around 27 billion dollars.

The country has announced its need for about 400 passenger planes in the next decade to modernize its aging fleet, according to Tehran Times.

Reports said that Iranian airliners are no longer interested in buying more Russian planes, as their performance during the period when Iran was under heavy Western sanctions was unsatisfactory. Enditem
RABAT, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Morocco launched a religious foundation on Wednesday to counter the growing waves of extremism in Africa and promote religious moderation and tolerance across the continent.

Moroccan King Mohammed VI gave the go-ahead for the foundation in a ceremony attended by scholars from 31 African countries.

The Mohammed VI Foundation for African Ulema (scholars) seeks to unify and coordinate the efforts of Muslim scholars in Morocco as well as in other African states to disseminate and reinforce the values of tolerance in Islam.

Speaking at the ceremony, King Mohammed VI said the initiative is in line with the Kingdom's integrated policy to promote constructive cooperation and respond to the requests from a number of African nations in the religious domain.

He also voiced his conviction that the foundation, through its branches in African countries, and together with other religious institutions, "will play its role in disseminating enlightened religious precepts and in combating extremism and terrorism. Enditem
KIGALI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Africa needs favourable insurance regulation to enable the growth of insurance market on the continent, said panelists at the 40th Anniversary Symposium and the General assembly of the African Reinsurance Corporation (AfricaRe).

Rwanda hosts AfricaRe which is under the theme: "Can Africa Lead the World? Practical Steps and Solutions to Achieve World Leadership".

Speaking at the meeting that brought together about 200 participants from Africa and beyond, Moulay Hafid Elalamy, minister of industry, trade, and new technologies of Morocco said that unfavorable insurance regulation policies have hindered the growth of the insurance sector in Africa.

"Lack of reliable data and statistics, low capital requirements, as well as limited enforcement of regulatory provisions have been identified as major draw backs and key challenges to the growth of African insurance market," he noted.

Elalamy highlighted other challenges facing the industry as inadequate enforcement of compulsory insurances, failure by the government to lead by example in patronage of the industry, inadequate budgetary provisions for the insurances of government asset.

Only 3.5 percent of the African market is insured, indicating a vast opportunity for insurance firms, according to World Bank.

According to Dr. Martyn Davies, managing director, emerging markets and Africa, Deloitte, an absence of information on the insurance market in Africa is a main source of reluctance for insurance firms wanting to tap into the continent's potential market.

Davies stated that despite its importance for economic development, the majority of African countries lack access to insurance products.

Insurance penetration in Africa is still very low at 2.9 percent of GDP, meaning that African governments have not significantly embraced insurance in their economies

Africa's most attractive insurance markets have seen the entry of foreign players that generally create their subsidiaries from scratch, or simply acquire an existing local player.

"Most Africans still just struggling to meet their basic food and other day-to-day needs, insurance is still a long way off," said Claver Gatete, Rwanda minister of finance and economic planning.

"We should look at insurance needs for goods traded across borders to facilitate regional and international trade."

Gatete stated that demand driven insurance is not enough, there is a need to address supply side by massive sensitization and introduction of new products.

African insurance premium volume in 2014 totalled 69 billion U.S. dollars down from 72 billion U.S. dollars in 2013. Life insurance accounted for about two thirds of the 2014 total, with non-life insurance accounting for the rest.

In 2014, the 10 largest markets South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, Algeria, Angola, Namibia, Tunisia and Mauritius generated premium of 63.4 million U.S. dollars of insurance premiums. Enditem
JERUSALEM, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman banned the entry of a Palestinian official to Israel over alleged "subversive activity," Lieberman told Israeli reporters in a briefing on Wednesday.

The newly-appointed Defense Minister, known for his hawkish views and militant statements, barred the entry permits of Mohammed Al-Madani, a member of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement, and a close associate.

Al-Madani also serves as the chief of the Palestinian Authority's Committee for Interaction with Israeli society. He will not be allowed to enter Israel from the West Bank.

Throughout the years, Al-Madani had coordinated meetings between Israelis and Palestinians from the West Bank. The Shin Bet Security Agency said in a report presented to Lieberman that the Palestinian official had "embarked on subversive activity within Israeli society that included an attempt to establish a political party," according to a statement from the Defense Ministry, confirming the entry ban.

Lieberman told reporters the Palestinian official has allegedly met with Jews and with Arab Bedouins" in activity that is considered "illegal efforts by a foreign agent to establish a political party," the Ha'aretz daily reported.

The daily noted that Al-Madani had met in the past with noted Mizrahi Jews, whose origins are from Arab states from the Middle East and northern Africa, and with members of the Bedouin community and Arab tribes that reside in the southern Israeli Negev Desert, in order to start a dialogue.

On a related matter, a defense ministry official told Israeli reporters in a briefing on Wednesday that the next conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip will mark the end of the Palestinian Hamas movement's rule in the enclave.

"The next clash must be the last from the point of view of the Hamas regime," the Jerusalem Post quoted the source as saying.

He added that Israel must not initiate hostilities, but added it is likely that a future clash will be "unavoidable." The source also said Israel "will not tolerate an endless war of attrition," according to the Jerusalem Post.

Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip since 2007, and Israel have fought in several rounds of conflicts in the past decade which left the enclave in ruins. In the summer of 2014, Israel launched a mini war against the Hamas militants in the Strip, during which more than 2,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed while tens of thousands displaced.

It ended by a delicate cease-fire mediated by Egypt. Since then there have been sporadic and seldom rocket attacks, with the Israeli army retaliating in airstrikes. Some tensions also heightened in recent months amid the discovery of two tunnels by the military, allegedly planned to be used to facilitate attacks against Israelis by Palestinian militants in Gaza.

Tensions were also heightened by the recent wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians throughout Israel and the West Bank territories, which claimed the lives of 33 Israelis and 205 Palestinians.

Hamas, claiming attackers of a recent Tel Aviv attack which killed four Israelis as their own, vowed last week to carry out further strikes through its operatives during the Muslim holy month of the Ramadan.

Israel occupied the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip territories during the 1967 Mideast War. Enditem
A woman cries during a vigil to mourn the victims of the mass shooting at a park in Orlando, the United States, on June 12, 2016. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

by Xinhua writers Zhu Lei, Qi Zijian

NEW YORK, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando in the U.S. state of Florida shocked Americans with its level of atrocity. Armed with an assault rifle, Omar Mateen killed 49 people at a gay nightclub before being shot dead; 53 others were injured.

Though united in grief, horror and outrage, Americans remain deeply divided over three major issues: gun control, immigration and how to fight terrorism.

Taking place in the lead-up to the 2016 race to the White House, the bloodbath, which was quickly utilized by both parties to seek political leverage, magnifies the deep and bitter division facing the country.

Photo taken with mobile phone on June 13, 2016 shows guns for sale at a shop in Orlando, the United States. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

First and foremost, the deadliest shooting massacre in modern U.S. history once again reopened the old wounds of Americans as the country, with more than 300 million guns scattered nationwide, has long been plagued by gun violence.

The Orlando shooting has further fueled the debate on guns, sparking calls for tighter gun control law to keep Americans safer. Advocates say it's inconceivable that the killer was able to legally purchase firearms despite being on a police watch list for possible links to terrorism.

However, those on the other side of the aisle simply argue that more gun control would be tantamount to disarming law-abiding Americans and leaving them more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

Like every single mass shooting, the aftermath of the Orlando massacre is that public outrage at gun violence would slowly fade over time.

Then, facing a tragedy like this, whether the United States becomes "more inclusive" or "more fenced off" remains an open question. The Orlando mass shooting came just half a year after a terrorist attack killed 14 people and left 22 seriously injured in San Bernardino,California.

Perpetrators of the two attacks, Syed Rizwan Farook, an American-born U.S. citizen of Pakistani descent, and Mateen, an American-born citizen whose parents immigrated from Afghanistan, share some similarities: they are the children of immigrants and pledged allegiance to IS.

People mourn the victims of the mass shooting during a memorial service in Orlando, the United States, on June 13, 2016. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump doubled down on his pledge to ban Muslim immigration immediately after the Orlando shooting spree. The campaign rhetoric boosted Trump's ratings, just as it did following the San Bernardino and Paris terror attacks.

The inflammatory campaign rhetoric isn't coming out of thin air. Quite the opposite. Trump, who also proposed building a wall along the Mexican border, is tapping into the security fears of Americans.

The "fenced-off" rhetoric, though eye-catching, makes it hard to win broader support. It is even likely to flare up ethnic tensions as it instigates discrimination and hatred and isolates the Muslim community.

As the FBI investigates whether Mateen is a "lone wolf" or belongs to the Islamic State, the answer bears no difference to the radical group that has overtaken vast swaths of Syria and Iraq and unleashed the deadly attack on Paris.

It has motivated, through extremist propaganda online, home-grown, radicalized "lone wolf" attackers who act in sympathy with it.

The Orlando attack makes it clear that it is precisely a disconnected, unpredictable attack that leads to devastating results. In the face of intensified marginalization, radical groups are bound to carry out more attacks and make society even more vulnerable.

Facing terrorist attacks like the one in Orlando, the prescription that effectively works is none other than social tolerance.

Then comes the third divide -- whether the United States needs a tougher counter-terrorism strategy or new one altogether.

John Bolton, the fiery conservative who has served as former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, wrote on Fox News that "President Obama's strategy against terrorist bases of operation, when it is evident at all, has been lackadaisical and offhanded."

A slow, casual offensive against the IS, gives terrorists time and opportunity to encourage strikes like the one in Orlando, Bolton added.

Highway-patrol troopers stand guard near the mass shooting scene in Orlando, the United States, June 12, 2016. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

The Orlando massacre has tragically underlined that the United States is still trapped in the vicious cycle that it is seeing more and more terrorist attacks despite years of efforts to fight them.

How can terrorism be fought while ensuring national security has become the focal point of debate between political parties.

However, the debate is not necessarily yielding something positive. The Iraq war launched in the name of "war on terror", as well as the ongoing wars in Syria and Iraq, resulted in the social structural collapse of some Arab countries, thus providing opportunities for the IS to rise and thrive.

The key question is not how to fight terrorism, but rather how to discard power politics in fighting terrorism.

The Washington Post wrote on Sunday that "Not since 9/11 has a moment like this brought the nation together, and that evaporated quickly. Since then, calamity seems only to drive the left and the right further apart, while faith in the nation's institutions deteriorates further."

The Orlando massacre further proves it right as grief for the victims has been overshadowed by the country's bitter political divide. It seems like a mission impossible to compromise and figure out a solution in the political wrangle between the left and right.


BRUSSELS, Jan. 29, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on Jan. 29, 2016 shows the UK and EU flags at the VIP entrance of European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker met with British Prime Minister David Cameron here on Friday. (Xinhua file photo/Ye Pingfan)

LONDON, June 15 (Xinhua) -- London's River Thames became a battleground Wednesday when armadas from the "leave" and "remain" camps in the EU referendum campaigns clashed in front of the Houses of Parliament.

As dozens of boats gathered, both sides hurtled insults at each other as startled politicians watched from the terraces of the parliament buildings.

Nigel Farage, leader of UKIP, Britain's anti-EU political party, had led a flotilla of 30 fishing boats from Ramsgate along the river as part of his call for Britain to take back control of fishing around the British coast.

As the convoy reached Tower Bridge, they were greeted by a rival flotilla from the Remain campaign, led by rock musician and campaigner Sir Bob Geldorf who backs staying in Europe. Geldorf shouted at Farage he was "no fisherman's friend" as the two traded insults across the waves.

Campaigners fired water hose pipes as boats circled each other, while launches from the Metropolitan Police intervened to keep both sides at a safe distances.

Farage, who sits as an MEP in the European Parliament in Brussels, said Britain's fishing communities had been devastated by European regulations.

"We want to take back control of our seas, we want to get jobs back in this industry. There are now many harbors without a single commercial vessel," said Farage.

The flotilla arrived just as David Cameron was delivering his final Prime Minister's Questions time in the House of Commons ahead of the June 23 referendum to decide if Britain should stay in the EU or leave.

Most of the questions fired at Cameron, from all sides of the chamber, were from Remain supporters.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne provoked anger, including a threatened rebellion from 57 of his own Conservative colleagues, when he announced an emergency budget in the event of a Brexit win in just eight days.

Osborne said there would be a 30-billion-pound (42.5 billion U.S. dollar) cut in public spending to tackle a black hole in the economy, with the possibility of a 2-pence rise in the basic rate of income tax and a 3-pence rise in the higher tax rate.

Spending on police, transport and local government could also be cut by 5 percent, warned the Chancellor.

Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith, criticized the threats saying it was absurd for Osborne to punish people for voting to take back control from the EU.

"If he were to proceed with these proposals, the chancellor's position would become untenable," Smith said in a joint statement with other Conservative Brexit supporters.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the pro-remain Labour Party said he would not support an emergency budget.

Vote Leave published their own framework Wednesday, spelling out a road map needed to implement new policies and measures needed if Britons vote to quit the EU.

Leading Brexit MP Chris Grayling, Leader of the House of Commons, said after a vote-to-leave decision on June 23, the public would need to see there was immediate action to take back control from the EU.

"We will need a carefully managed negotiation process and some major legislative changes before 2020, including taking real steps to limit immigration, to abolish VAT on fuel and tampons, and to end the situation where an international court can tell us who we can and cannot deport."

Leave said its road map would also include a Free Trade Bill to restore the British government's power to control its own trade policy.

"That would create jobs and the UK would take back its seat at the World Trade Organization, becoming a more influential force for free trade and friendly cooperation," said Grayling.
NAIROBI, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) said Wednesday it has given 34.8 million U.S. dollars towards the rehabilitation of Kenya's degraded two water towers.

The EU Head of Social Affairs and Environment Dr. Hjordis Ogendo said that the program is to help improve the quality and quantity of ecosystem services provided by the water towers.

"The assistance is aimed at improving the quality and quantity of ecosystem services provided by Mount Elgon and Cherengani Hills water towers through increased forest cover, improved landscape and natural resource management," Ogendo said in Nairobi.

Kenya's environment, water and natural resources sector is confronted with challenges that include destruction of water catchment areas, increased conflicts in natural resource utilization, low sewerage coverage, pollution, poor waste management and water scarcity.

In the recent past, deforestation in the country has reduced forest coverage from 12 percent in the 1960s to the current 6.9 percent.

The degradation has affected the ability of Kenya forest ecosystems to provide critical ecosystem services and instead has made loses to the economy amounting to 60,000 dollars per year.

According to Ogendo, the assistance is expected to lead to increased benefits to rural communities from forest, agriculture and agro-forestry land use systems and also enhance resilience to climate change of the water sources.

She said that the amount will be divided between the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya Water Tower Agency (KWTA), Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the 11 county governments.

The project Lead Scientist Dr. Paul Ongugo said that fruit trees and bamboo has been identified to be planted in regions surrounding the two water towers.

He said that there are plans to establish forest parks in the 11 counties to help people see the value of trees.

An Assistant Director of KFS Erik Nahama observed that of the 3.7 percent of forest cover, out of the 6.99 percent in the country is from communal and private farms.

"We are pushing for the review of school curriculum in the country to incorporate tree planting as a way of popularizing environmental conservation," he added.

Mt Elgon and Cherangany Hills in western Kenya have received relatively less attention, yet they are critical to livelihoods in western and northern Kenya. The project will run for a period of six years with effect from September. Enditem
by Xue Lei, Nguon Sovan

PHNOM PENH, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Senate President Samdech Say Chhum said that building closer ASEAN-China relations is of the utmost importance in boosting economic development and maintaining peace and stability in the region.

ASEAN and China are indispensable partners, he said in a recent interview with Xinhua, stressing that "The progress of ASEAN is intrinsically linked to China's contribution and support."

He hailed ASEAN and China for having worked together actively to ensure peace, stability and security in the region.

"China and ASEAN are key actors that will continue to play a complementary role to each other in order to bring development in all fields into the future," he added.

Say Chhum, who is also a vice president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, said China and ASEAN are good neighbors, good friends and good partners.

"I'm very happy and satisfied with the fruitful cooperation and with mutual benefits provided from the frameworks of ASEAN-China, ASEAN+3, ASEAN-China Free Trade Zone, and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation," he said.

According to the senate president, China continues to stand as the first and largest trading partner of ASEAN since 2009, with the two-way trade volume worth 500 billion U.S. dollars in 2015 and expected to reach 1 trillion U.S. dollars by 2020.

The two economies have also targeted boosting bilateral investment to 150 billion U.S. dollars by 2020, he said. Enditem
by Alex Osei-Boateng

ACCRA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Ghana has recorded significant progress over the last five years in key target areas of fighting HIV/AIDS.

Between 2009 and 2014, the country recorded a 30 percent reduction in new HIV infections and a 43 percent reduction in AIDS-related deaths.

The general adult prevalence for HIV has also dropped by over 60 percent in 10 years, from 3.6 percent in 2003 to 1.47 percent in 2014 (AIDS Progress Report, 2015).

The Ghanaian government has also demonstrated increasing ownership of the HIV response through advocacy, policy development and financial support that increased over ten-fold between 2011 and 2015.

These, along with leadership commitments at various levels and across multiple actors, including civil society, the private sector and development partners, have contributed to the progress.

But Ghana is leaving no stone unturned as it is working to accelerate access to HIV testing and treatment toward the achievement of the new global 90 -90 - 90 fast track target.

As a result, the West African nation has incorporated the fast track target into its newly developed National HIV and AIDS Strategic Plan for the next five years.

"Ghana is committed to breaking the trajectory of the HIV epidemic in the next five years," Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur reiterated recently.

As part of efforts to close the testing gap and keep people abreast with HIV treatment, Ghana recently launched a national campaign on the "First 90" to accelerate testing and actions towards universal treatment.

"We project that this will result in over 45 percent of the population knowing their HIV status by 2020. We are committed to this ambitious target through mobilizing people and resources, with the support of our partners," the vice-president said while making a statement at the high level meeting on AIDS at the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Despite achieving positive results in the management of the HIV infection over the decade, funding has been a challenge to the national response, with donor support for the AIDS Commission to manage the national response declining due to Ghana's lower middle income status.

Among the successes of the Ghana Aids Commission and its partners is a significant increase in demand for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services, driving up the cost of implementing the national strategic plan for HIV and AIDS.

However, Ghana is diversifying its sources of funding to ensure sustainable and predictable funding for the national response.

The Ghana AIDS Commission Bill currently before Parliament contains clauses establishing and resourcing an HIV and AIDS Fund.

"While acknowledging that mobilization of resources at the national level is necessary, significant scaling up of global funding will be required to end the AIDS epidemic and avoid a rebound of HIV infections," Ghana's vice president said.

"AIDS remains both a universal challenge and a universal responsibility, and international financial support to complement domestic funding of HIV/AIDS programs is critical, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The benefits of investing in AIDS are evident," he told the high-level meeting.

According to Ghana's National Strategic Plan for the HIV/AIDS response, Ghana recorded funding gaps of over 3.65 million U.S. dollars in 2015, and more than 27.62 million dollars in 2016, while projecting to record a gap of more than 47.93 million dollars in 2017. Enditem
ZAGREB, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Croatian First Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Karamarko on Wednesday announced his resignation after being embroiled in conflict of interest charges vis-a-vis Croatian oil firm INA.

Karamarko, the leader of the biggest party in the ruling coalition Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), called on Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic and Deputy Prime Minister Bozo Petrov, the leader of MOST party, a junior partner of coalition to step down as well.

Croatian parliament will vote on the HDZ's no-confidence motion against Oreskovic on Thursday, Karamarko told a news conference, adding after the vote his party would start working on a government reshuffle.

Earlier on Wednesday, the State Commission for Conflicts of Interest, an independent body, decided Karamarko was in conflict of interest when he suggested Croatia to withdraw from arbitration with Hungarian energy firm MOL, the biggest shareholder of INA due to his wife's business links with a lobbyist for MOL.

Karamarko's case has caused a political turmoil in the country that has brought the government to paralysis.

HDZ filed a no-confidence vote against Oreskovic following the latter calling for the resignation of Karamarko.

Earlier, the MOST party has expressed its support to Oreskovic and asked Karamarko to step down as soon as possible.

Croatian main opposition party, Social Democratic Party (SDP), said it would vote in favor of the government impeachment in parliament and it wanted an early election.

According to Croatian laws, if the government is voted out and no one wins support from 76 parliament members of the 151-seat parliament to form a new one within 30 days, the president must call an early election. Enditem
SOFIA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov and his visiting South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se here on Wednesday discussed strengthening bilateral economic relations, officials said.

Bulgaria attaches great importance to the development of trade and economic cooperation with South Korea, Mitov told Yun, according to a statement issued by the Bulgarian foreign ministry.

"Cooperation with the Republic of Korea in areas such as infrastructure, energy, agriculture, automotive and information and communication technologies is fundamental to us," Mitov said.

"Our efforts are aimed at attracting investment and expanding trade," he said.

"For us, Bulgaria is a key partner, not only in Southeast Europe, but also in the European Union," Yun said in turn, as quoted by the statement.

Bilateral relations should develop in three key areas, including at the levels of intergovernmental, political and parliamentary dialogue; business communications; and cultural and educational exchanges, Yun said.

According to him, tourism is the area that has the most untapped potential, and the two countries need to focus their efforts on its priority development, the statement said.

This was the first visit of a South Korean foreign minister to Bulgaria since 1990, and the second in the history of bilateral relations, the statement said. Enditem
GENEVA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China's Special Representative for Human Rights Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Liu Hua urged UN agencies on Wednesday here to give priority to the right to development.

"Threats of wars and external aggression should be avoided. The unjust and inequitable international political and economic order should be reformed," Liu said in a statement to a panel as part of the 32nd session of the ongoing Human Rights Council.

Speaking on behalf of 31 like-minded states and 30 years after the Declaration on the Right to Development was adopted, Liu stressed that international cooperation should form the backbone of forward-thinking policies supporting the unassailable right.

This is particularly relevant for developed countries whose duty should be to assist nations striving to enhance economic, social, cultural and political development, she added.

"Developed countries should fulfill their international obligations, by providing financial, technical and capacity building support to developing and least developed countries," she noted, adding that all countries should embrace a new spirit of shared destiny for all and build a new type of international relations based on win-win cooperation.

Liu reminded that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the international community last year, is closely linked to the right to development.

She also highlighted that UN human rights instruments are central to efforts seeking to implement the declaration's objectives.

"UN human rights mechanisms should take as its priority the promotion and protection of the implementation of the right to development, promote effective work by the UN system in mainstreaming the right to development, so as to enhance balanced and sustainable development of all people," she said.
by Denis Elamu

JUBA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Oil-rich South Sudan before conflict broke out two years ago was being touted as a potential bread basket in the region but it has failed to diversify its economy from the risky black gold that has disrupted its macro-economic stability due to global shocks.

Analysts say the still fragile country just emerging from civil conflict should prioritise improving its non-oil revenue dwarfed by the over-reliance on oil exports to finance 98 percent of its fiscal budget.

But little seems being done in agriculture and other sectors like mining which could help widen the country's meager resource revenue and attract foreign direct investments reducing on the bloated civil service.

This is despite having in place the five-year agricultural sector policy framework and the 25-year Comprehensive Agricultural Master Plan (CAMP) and yet the government continues to allocate less than 2 percent budget to the sector while security and defence take 40 percent - lion share of funding for the last decade since signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) with Sudan.

Also the country aims to produce 2.5 million tons of food annually from 1.5 million tons to cover a cereal deficit of 400,000 tons annually but to achieve this increased funding towards the sector is inevitable.

The United Nations estimates about 5.3 million South Sudanese face starvation due to food insecurity and yet less than 4 percent of the country's arable land is under cultivation.

Despite having more than 36 million livestock the prospects of achieving modern and profitable agriculture remains a pipeline dream due to cultural and social hindrances leaving the sector backward.

According to Professor Mathew Udo, the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, South Sudan needs to increase annual fiscal funding from the dismal 1.5 percent to about 5 percent to have meaningful impact on achieving food security.

The Maputo convention calls for not less than 10 percent funding to agriculture by governments.

"We have come up with projects but it's not only the government to take the lead, the private investors must come in through public private partnership to transform agricultural sector from subsistence to modernized agriculture," he said.

Udo revealed the need to capitalize the agricultural bank to offer soft loans to local farmers in rural areas.

Makuei Malual, undersecretary of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, said much focus should be put on supporting agricultural extension services, building infrastructure like laboratories, roads, research institutes and water points along migratory routes during dry seasons.

"During dry season majority of livestock keepers stop along water points which exposes the animals to diseases," he said.

The agriculture remains heavily reliant on unreliable rainfall and yet proximity to the Nile River could help irrigation farming.

Stefano De Leo, Head of the European Union delegation in South Sudan, said the country has agricultural potential provided security is improved and use of improved technology and production techniques can spur the sector.

"The EU strongly believes in rural development of livestock and fisheries programmes to support small holder farmers working in difficult conditions," he said during the launch of the national agriculture and livestock extension policy in Juba on Wednesday.

FAO expert, Serge Tissot, emphasized the importance of extension services to empower agriculture and cautioned South Sudan to start planning and involving its population to embark on improvement of the livestock and fisheries.

John Andruga Duku, one of the country's large scale farmers along the Nimule-Juba road, said many farmers including him struggle without government support to invest in the sector. He added that most farmers are facing problems of buying expired seeds at exorbitant prices in the market.

"We have very serious challenge about the type of seeds we get in South Sudan. The private sector takes advantage of this loophole and import expired seeds they sell to us at exorbitant prices," Duku disclosed.

He said the altercations between cultivators and cattle keepers over grazing land and resources may incite the next deadly conflict in the fragile country.

Duku also said that he was hiring expensively a tractor to plough his farm from Uganda due to the expensive and scarce fuel in the country and that this has pushed up the costs of operations. Enditem
ISLAMABAD, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan and Afghanistan declared a ceasefire at Torkham border crossing on Wednesday after five days of exchange of heavy fire, officials said.

Skirmishes over construction of a gate on the Pakistani side led to clashes that caused casualties on both sides over the past five days.

Afghan Ambassador in Islamabad Omar Zakhilwal held talks with Pakistani officials on Wednesday and both sides later declared the ceasefire.

While confirming the ceasefire, Zakhilwal said his meeting with Pakistani officials proved successful.

Both sides also agreed to reduce tension along the border and decrease military presence.

Residents in Khyber tribal region said they have seen border forces of both countries raised white flags on their respective side that is a sign of ceasefire.

The Torkham border crossing has been closed since the clashes started that halted cross-border movement at the busiest border point between the two neighbors. Enditem
LHASA, May 21, 2016 (Xinhua) -- A train is going on the Nagqu section of Qinghai-Tibet railway, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Sept. 28, 2014. Qinghai-Tibet railway, free education, basic medical and health care and other social welfare made great improvement to the people's living level in the region after its peaceful liberation in 1951. The average life expectancy was 68.2 years in 2013, up from 35.5 years before its peaceful liberation. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Disregarding the Chinese government's strong opposition, U.S. President Barack Obama met with the 14th Dalai Lama behind closed doors at the White House on Wednesday.

This unwise behavior has broken the solemn promise of the United States not to support Tibet's independence, seriously jeopardized China-U.S. relations, and deeply hurt the Chinese people's feelings.

As we all know, the U.S. government has explicitly acknowledged the one-China policy, admitting Tibet is an inseparable part of China, and not recognizing the so-called "exiled government of Tibet."

The Dalai Lama has been campaigning for Tibet's independence around the world under the guise of religion for years. No matter with what dashing identity and charming words and behavior, the Dalai Lama's goal of dividing China is obvious.

The Chinese government urges all countries and governments not to offer maneuvering space for the Dalai Lama, let alone do things which could lead to strong objection from the Chinese people.

The Tibet issue concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which involves the core interests of China. It is common sense that not meeting with the Dalai Lama is a benchmark for governments not supporting Tibet's independence.

The Obama administration knows this only too well, yet it did it anyway, sending wrong signals. By meeting with the Dalai Lama, the U.S. government has broken its own promise and thrown away its political credibility, which is an extremely rash and irresponsible act.

Wednesday's tete-a-tete was Obama's fourth meeting with the 14th Dalai Lama since he took office as U.S. president.

Undoubtedly, Obama has his own calculation by choosing to meet the Dalai Lama before his term expires in January 2017.

The White House has been betting on both sides as it solemnly affirms its stance of recognizing Tibet as an inalienable part of China and its adherence to the one-China policy on the one hand while repeatedly meeting with the 14th Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of the "clique" attempting to separate Tibet from China, to court the U.S. hardliners on the other.

This flip-flopping shows the White House's narrow-mindedness and outdated way of thinking that still seeks to contain China by playing the "Tibet card."

The Tibet issue is China's internal affair. No foreign country has the right to interfere. Supporting Tibet's independence is a clear interference in China's internal affairs and is in gross violation of the norms of international relations.

Playing the "Tibet card" shows the U.S. government is overdrawing its political credit and international prestige.

The favorable status quo of China-U.S. relations should not be jeopardized, and any meddling in Tibet-related issues is doomed to fail.

The United States should show its sincerity by boosting mutual trust with China through concrete deeds, by respecting the core interests and major concerns of China, by desisting from making irresponsible moves and eating its own words, and by promoting the sustainable, healthy and stable development of bilateral ties.

Related:

China urges U.S. to honor promise on one-China policy

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese foreign ministry on Tuesday urged the United States to honor its promise on the one-China policy as Taiwan's new leader Tsai Ing-wen allegedly plans to make transit stops in Miami and Los Angeles on an overseas trip.
KIEV, June 15 (Xinhua) -- More than 600 Ukrainian army soldiers have been killed or injured in clashes with independence-seeking insurgents in eastern regions since the beginning of this year, Ukrainian defense minister said on Wednesday.

"This year, our combat losses, both -- irreversible and sanitary -- amounted to 623 Ukrainian soldiers," Stepan Poltorak said in a press release.

Despite the ceasefire regime, the situation in Donetsk and Lugansk regions continues to aggravate, Poltorak said, accusing the insurgents of violating the truce almost 7,000 times this year.

Earlier Wednesday, government military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said that two Ukrainian servicemen had been killed and seven others injured in the restive areas in the past 24 hours.

Besides, a civilian was wounded in Tuesday's shelling in Kurakhove town in Donetsk region, said the press service of Donetsk regional administration.

After more than half-year of a relative lull, hostilities intensified in the conflict-hit region last month, causing new combatant and civilian casualties.

Overall, the confrontation that started in April 2014 has claimed more than 9,300 lives and wounded almost 22,000 people. Enditem
MANAMA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- A fugitive terrorist at large in Iran was found to be running a charity that links to illegal fund-raising and money laundering, prosecutors in Bahrain said on Wednesday.

Bank accounts of the Al Risala Islamic Society have been frozen by the authorities on Tuesday, together with those of the Islamic Enlightenment Society, also a charity organization.

The two groups are now under investigation over money laundering and discrepancies in financial remittances and transactions.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Prosecutor Mohammed Al Malki said other related suspects from the two societies have been summoned and questioned, adding that they have all been under similar charges.

The suspects have been released pending the outcome of the investigations.

Officials said the investigation also revealed that a cleric held 10 million U.S. dollars in his bank account, now frozen by the authorities and awaits further probe. Enditem
HONG KONG, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The improvement of cross-Strait relations has brought peace and prosperity not only to the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, but to the Asia-Pacific region, Taiwan's former leader Ma Ying-jeou said on Wednesday.

In a pre-recorded speech at an awards ceremony held in Hong Kong by the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA), Ma said over the past eight years, the Chinese mainland and Taiwan signed 23 agreements and officials in charge of cross-Strait affairs from both sides met for several times.

The number of scheduled cross-Strait flights each week rose from zero to 890, over 4 million mainland tourists traveled to Taiwan last year, a 14-fold increase and the number of Chinese mainland students in Taiwan surpassed 42,000, almost a 50-fold increase, he said.

During his meeting with Xi Jinping in Singapore on Nov. 7 last year, both sides affirmed that the 1992 Consensus is the common foundation to consolidate the cross-Strait peace, Ma said.

"The cross-Strait relations have improved dramatically in the last eight years," bringing peace and prosperity not only to the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, but to the Asia-Pacific region as a whole, he added.

He expressed the hope that this trend will continue despite the recent change of Taiwan authorities, and the new authorities will have "the required wisdom and courage to maintain the peaceful and prosperous status quo" created in the last eight years.

Ma looked forward to the future that Hong Kong and Taiwan can work together to continue to contribute to the cross-Strait and regional peace and prosperity.

The SOPA invited Ma to give a speech at the ceremony earlier, but Taiwan authorities rejected Ma's application to go to Hong Kong on Sunday. Ma gave the speech through a pre-recorded video which was presented at the ceremony.
KIEV, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The state gas network operators of Ukraine and Poland, the Ukrtransgaz and the Gaz-System, have agreed to build a new interconnector to link their gas transportation networks, a spokesman for the Ukrtransgaz said on Wednesday.

"There will be a new gas pipeline link between Ukraine and Poland, its commercial operation is due to start in 2020," Maksym Bilyavsky wrote on Facebook.

He said that the construction works on the interconnector, which will stretch some 99.3 kilometers, will begin in 2017.

At the initial stage, the new pipeline will be able to deliver 5 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Poland to Ukraine per year, Bilyavsky said, noting that the maximum annual transport capacity of the interconnector could be increased to 8 billion cubic meters if there is a market demand.

According to the Ukrtransgaz, the main aim of the project is to increase reverse gas flows from Europe to Ukraine and to stockpile more gas designated for the consumers in the European Union (EU) in Ukraine's underground storage facilities.

The construction of the new pipeline is estimated to cost Ukraine about 245 million U.S. dollars.

Currently, the Ukrainian gas transportation system is connected to Poland through a single pipeline with an annual transit capacity of 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas.

In 2014, Ukraine started a reverse flow of gas deliveries from the EU countries, namely Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, to trim its reliance on Russian supplies. Enditem
Iraqi army tanks are seen in the frontline in Shuhada district, south Fallujah city in Iraq's western Anbar province, in battles against Islamic State (IS), on June 13, 2016. (Xinhua Photo)

BAGHDAD, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces on Wednesday made a significant progress in the battles against the Islamic State (IS) militants in the besieged city of Fallujah, while the security forces continued their clashes with IS militants in Iraq's western province of Anbar, provincial security sources said.

The troops took control of Shuhada district in southern Fallujah, some 50 km west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, and the troops are fighting near Sixteen Street, which separates Shuhada from the adjacent district of Nazal toward the central part of the city, a security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"The battles are underway and will continue until defeating the militants of Daesh (IS group) from Nazal district which is close to the government compound in central the city," the source said.

Wednesday's battles resulted in the killing of dozens of IS militants, along with destroying five car bombs, the source added.

The troops also fought heavy clashes with IS militants on the edge of Khadra district and managed to defeat the front defensive lines of the district which is adjacent to Shuhada district in southern Fallujah, the source said.

The latest advance in Fallujah came as the security forces have been battling IS militants after they made their first advance last week in Shuhada and raised the Iraqi flag over some of its buildings.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi army and allied Shiite paramilitary units, known as Hashd Shaabi, liberated three villages in southeast of Fallujah after driving out the extremist militants, according to a statement from the Hashd Shaabi media office.

The battles in southern Fallujah were slowed by IS militants resistance inside the city, with hundreds of hidden bombs believed to be planted by them.

The security forces are also avoiding heavy casualties among tens of thousands of civilians who are reportedly trapped inside Fallujah.

Abdul Wahab al-Saadi, Commander of the Operations Command of Fallujah Liberation, told reporters that a total of 1086 suspected IS members or supporters have been captured after being separated from dozens of thousands of displaced people who were forced to leave their homes in Fallujah.

Heavy smoke rises after the U.S.-led coalition warplanes struck Islamic State (IS) militants in Shuhadad district in Fallujah, some 50 km west of Baghdad, Iraq, on June 14, 2016. (Xinhua Photo)

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced on May 23 the launch of a major offensive to claim Fallujah and surrounding towns and areas.

Also in the province, the security forces and allied Hashd Shaabi units, backed by international and Iraqi aircraft, freed the area of Znakoura in northwest of the provincial capital city of Ramadi, some 110 km west of Baghdad, after fierce clashes with IS militants, General Ismail al-Mahalawi, Commander of Anbar Operations Command said in a press release.

The battles in Zankoura came as the security forces carried out an operation to retake control of military positions in the area which were captured the day before by dozens of IS militants who also attacked the nearby areas of Albu Risha, Tway and Jeraishi in north of the provincial capital city of Ramadi, but the IS attacks on the other three areas were foiled late on Tuesday after hours of clashes with the security forces that resulted in the killing of some 25 militants, the source said.

Government troops and allied militias have currently been fighting for months to reclaim key cities and towns in Anbar from IS militants, who attempted to advance toward Baghdad after seizing most of Anbar province.

Iraq has been witnessing a wave of violence since the IS controlled parts of its northern and western regions in June 2014.
By Tao Jun, Hua Xi

HO CHI MINH CITY, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Senior policymakers from ASEAN countries and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) members have met in Vietnam to discuss productivity growth and middle-income trap.

The officials gathered at the Second Steering Group Meeting of the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Program on Wednesday, and the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Forum 2016 on Tuesday, held in Vietnam for the first time.

On Wednesday, at the meeting themed "The OECD Southeast Asia Regional Program Support for the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025," the participants touched upon strategic guidances to the program.

Earlier, at the forum, christened "Boosting Productivity and Inclusiveness in Southeast Asia," over 200 delegates, including OECD Deputy Secretary-General Douglas Frantz, focused their discussions on implementing the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint, especially on lifting productivity growth, integrating small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into global value chains, and promoting a more inclusive social agenda.

According to the delegates, ASEAN needs a comprehensive strategy for enhancing productivity growth, a central driver of long-term improvements in living standards and prosperity, whilst promoting inclusiveness towards more coherent economy.

OECD Deputy Secretary-General Frantz advised ASEAN countries to intensify investment in education and training to improving skills of laborers, improve business environment, further assist SMEs in terms of integrating into global value chains.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said the ASEAN members should pay due attention to creating high-productivity jobs, and making good preparations on institution, infrastructure and manpower to fully tap opportunities and benefits of regional economic linkages, while narrowing development gaps.

On the occasion of the forum and the meeting, OECD held a press conference to introduce its report "Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India 2016: Enhancing Regional Ties," which mentions productivity-related issues in the ASEAN countries as well as in China and India.

According to the OECD, the emerging Asia region will face the challenge of slowing productivity growth. These trends showing a slowdown of growth in GDP and productivity are evident even before the global financial crisis. At the aggregate level, potential GDP declines in ASEAN economies, China and India after the global financial crisis of late 2000s. The decline in productivity is one of the factors contributing to the slowdown.

The OECD said that improvements in productivity are essential to drive continued economic growth in emerging Asia's wealthier economies. While their GDP growth rates have been impressive, many emerging economies around the world have seen slowing or stalled rates of growth as they have approached the levels of high-income countries.

This so-called "middle-income trap" results from the difficulties faced by economies in transitioning from previous growth strategies, such as those based on structural transformation, demographic change and factor accumulation, which naturally face limitations, to more sustainable productivity-driven growth and the development of technologically intensive economies.

Estimates by the OECD Development Center show that even in the best-case scenario, it will take some time for emerging Asia's middle-income countries to reach high-income status. Malaysia is expected to be the first to join this group in 2021, followed by China in 2028. Reaching this status is expected to take longer for Thailand (2035), Indonesia (2043) and the Philippines (2048). These estimates place Vietnam and India last among current middle-income countries in emerging Asia to leave this group in 2054 and 2055, respectively.

According to the OECD, real growth in emerging Asia is projected to moderate gradually over the medium-term (from 2016 to 2020) to 6.2 percent annually. Growth in China will continue to slow, while growth in India picks up to one of the highest rates in the region. Growth in the ASEAN region will be similar and is projected to average 5.2 percent over the 2016-2020 period, led by growth of the Philippines and Vietnam. Enditem
Dr. David Reitze, Executive Director of the LIGO Laboratory at Caltech, shows the merging of two black holes at a news conference to discuss the detection of gravitational waves, ripples in space and time hypothesized by physicist Albert Einstein a century ago, in Washington, DC, U.S. on February 11, 2016. (REUTERS/Gary Cameron/File Photo)

LOS ANGELES, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Four months after the historic first-ever detection of gravitational waves, scientists said Wednesday they have directly detected another gravitational wave washing over the Earth.

The gravitational waves, ripples in the fabric of spacetime, were observed for a second time on Dec. 26, 2015, at 03:38:53 UTC, scientists said at a press conference during the American Astronomical Society conference in San Diego, California.

Scientists said that the incredibly faint ripple that eventually reached Earth was the result of the spinning dance of a binary black hole pair on the brink of merging, although this duo weighed only 8 and 14 solar masses.

Their merger produced a single, more massive spinning black hole that is 21 times the mass of the sun, and transformed an additional sun's worth of mass into gravitational energy, they said.

The scientists detected the gravitational waves using the twin Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) interferometers, located in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington.

In contrast, LIGO's historic first detection on Sept. 14, 2015 resulted from a merger of two black holes 36 and 29 times the mass of the sun.

The first detection of gravitational waves, announced on Feb. 11, 2016, was a milestone in physics and astronomy. It confirmed a major prediction of Albert Einstein's 1915 general theory of relativity and marked the beginning of the new field of gravitational wave astronomy.
A photo taken on June 14, 2016 shows Guo Weimin(C), vice minister of the Chinese State Council Information Office, Lu Cairong(L), vice president of the China International Publishing Group and Professor Andrzej Eliasz, rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities jointly attend the opening ceremony of the first Chinese Books Center in Poland. (Xinhua/Chen Xu)

WARSAW, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The opening ceremony of the first Chinese Books Center in Poland took place here on Tuesday at the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

The center is a result of cooperation between the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration and the university and was supervised by the State Council Information Office of China.

Thanks to the newly-opened center, any Polish citizen wishing to learn more about Chinese culture, history, economics, or searching for Chinese literature, will be sure to find what they need.

A Chinese books offer is to cover various topics and include both classical and modern works.

China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration offered its Polish partner the first delivery of books, including 200 works on Chinese economics, politics, culture, history, etc. Another 300 books are to follow.

The agreement between the two parties assumes an offering of 300 books each year over the next five years. The Polish side has committed to creating a special place for the books and ensures they will be widely available and accessible.

At the ceremony, Guo Weimin, vice minister of the Chinese State Council Information Office, expressed hope the offering of books might lead to more people reading about China, getting to know the country, and developing an interest in it, which might result in more Chinese-themed research.

Professor Krzysztof Gawlilowski, a renowned expert on China and head of the Eastern Asia Civilization Center, said he wished for more cooperation on a cultural level, especially as far as books and literature translation was concerned.

"Every great civilization is based on books," he said.

"In the case of China, studies on classical works used to play a fundamental role. Therefore, the creation of this center is both of a practical and symbolical meaning," he added.
FREETOWN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of graves in at least six cemeteries in the capital have been "forcibly opened" by unidentified men dressed in black over the past two months, municipal authorities told the national broadcaster, Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, on Wednesday.

According to the Environmental Officer, Sulaiman Parker of the Freetown City Council, at least 400 graves have been forced open and corpses tampered with at the Ascension Cemetery in the west of the city in recent months.

"At the (nearby) Kingtom Cemetery, 300 more graves have also been vandalised and body parts taken from corpses," said Parker.

"We have had similar happenings in the past and we had assessed them as mainly economic crimes where robbers steal expensive jewelleries, watches, rings and other ornaments from corpses but we are now seeing the removal of body parts and suspecting that it is more connected to fetish and ritual practices than anything else," he said.

Parker said all cemeteries were monitored during the daytime from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. by the Council's unarmed Metropolitan Police, but called for a permanent deployment of armed police to stop the menace.

Residents living adjacent to the two cemeteries told Xinhua that they heard noises during the night from these cemeteries nearly every week.

"It's so disturbing that it affects your sleep. We are afraid to go out as these people (grave robbers) may be armed," an anonymous resident said. Enditem
A U.S. navy soldier on a search plane is looking for wreckage of crashed EgyptAir flight MS804 on May 22, 2016. (Xinhua/AP Photo)

CAIRO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The search vessel hired by the Egyptian government provided several locations of the wreckage of the EgyptAir flight MS804 recently crashed in the Mediterranean, official MENA news agency reported Wednesday.

"The search team and the investigators onboard the vessel will draw a map for the wreckage distribution after it was located in the search area," MENA quoted the Egyptian investigation committee as saying, noting the committee has been provided by the first images of the wreckage from one of the spotted sites.

EgyptAir Flight MS804, an Airbus A320, went missing from radar screens earlier in May en route from Paris to Cairo with 66 people on board, including 30 Egyptians and 15 French.

Later on, the Egyptian military announced the finding of some personal belongings of the victims and small pieces of the plane wreckage in the Mediterranean Sea 290 km north of the coastal city of Alexandria.
LAGOS, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria on Wednesday unveiled new guidelines in the management of foreign exchange (FX) which will be determined by the market and primary dealers.

The re-introduction of a flexible inter-bank exchange rate market would restore the automatic adjustment mechanism of the exchange rate, Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) told a news conference in Abuja, the nation's capital.

He said the workings of the market would then be consistent with the Bank's objectives of enhancing efficiency and facilitating a liquid and transparent Foreign Exchange Market.

Emefiele said the new policy became necessary to deal with the effect of the drop in international oil prices and global growth slowdown which had impacted negatively on the country's economy.

The apex bank chief said the primary dealers would be chosen from existing FX dealers based on the volume of foreign exchange transactions they have handled before and must have a minimum capital of 10 million U.S. dollars.

He said the level of liquidity, the extent to which those dealers have complied with CBN's regulations in the past, their level of preparedness in terms of being able to provide all the soft and hardware needed to operate would also be conditions to determine their qualification.

He said the Inter-bank trading under the new guidelines would begin on June 20 while the tenors and rates for the Over The Counter Naira-settled FX Futures would be announced on June 27. Enditem
SANTIAGO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Latin America and the Caribbean fell 9.1 percent in 2015 to reach 179.1 billion U.S. dollars, the lowest figure since 2010, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on Wednesday.

At the launch of its new report, "Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2016", the UN body linked this drop to low investment in mining and oil and gas, as well as an economic slowdown across the region, especially Brazil.

For 2016, the report said FDI could drop 8 percent if countries in the region do not seek out quality capital investments.

Alicia Barcena, ECLAC's executive secretary, told a press conference that "in the current global economy, FDI is linked to relevant actions in national and regional development strategies."

She added that countries "need to...diversify their economies, empower innovation, incorporate new technologies, and face the challenges of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals."

The fall of FDI seen in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2015 contrasted with a 36 percent increase in FDI around the world, especially due to a rise in mergers and acquisitions, ECLAC announced.

The drop in the region hit Brazil the hardest, with FDI falling 23 percent, or 75 billion U.S. dollars. However, Brazil remains the main destination of FDI, claiming 42 percent of the regional total.

In Mexico, the second-largest receiver, FDI rose by 18 percent to reach 30.285 billion U.S. dollars, the highest level in seven years. More investments in the manufacturing, automotive and telecommunication sectors helped reach this level.

However, the woes of the mining industry and its falling prices contributed to FDI falling in Colombia by 26 percent and in Chile by 8 percent.

ECLAC also highlighted important changes in FDI patterns over the last decade: the relevance of the extractive industries has fallen, the automotive sector is showing particular vigor, while telecommunications and renewable energies are growing. "Investments in renewable energies, and other environmental proposals, remain a pillar of ECLAC's proposal to develop the region...and make it a leader in productivity, energy and low-carbon consumption," emphasized Barcena.

In 2015, the U.S. remained the main investor of the region, with 25.9 percent of FDI, followed by the Netherlands with 15.9 percent and Spain with 11.8 percent. Enditem
AMMAN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan on Wednesday stressed on the country's effort to revive peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

The King made the remarks at a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, during which they discussed latest developments related to the Palestinian issue.

Jordan will work with all stakeholders to remove obstacles against resumption of peace talks leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on the two state solution, said the King.

He added the Jordan will continue to play its role in defending Islamic and Christian sites in Jerusalem.

Their talks also covered the need for continued coordination to serve the interests of the two sides as well as regional developments. Enditem
by Fuad Rajeh

SANAA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Suffering is not new to the Yemeni people who have been coping with crises since chaos started in the country in 2011.

"It is just the toughest time ever. Some days we fast 24 hours, sometimes more. We have never faced such harsh conditions. There is no way to do something over it and, in most cases, there is no one to help us," said Eman, a 35-year mother of five kids, and wife of a mentally-ill husband.

Eman and her nine-member family lived in a two-room house. Her father and mother in law live with them. The father in law is very sick after he fell to the ground. He can't walk, just lying on mattress.

"I am the only supporter of my family. My husband is mentally-ill. I don't work and got so tired of searching for job in such circumstances. I roamed almost whole Sanaa to find a job. Every time, I came back empty handed and with frustration," she said, adding that neither the government nor the aid agencies have come up to help them.

Since the conflict escalated after Saudi-led military intervention began in March 2015, crises have aggravated with 82 percent of total 21 million population, are in dare need for basic aid, says the UN.

The UN also said 19 million people lack access to safe water, 14 million lack access to healthcare and 14.4 million are food insecure. The UN OCHA in Yemen is appealing for funds as it says they are still very short.

It said that the country now needs 1.8 billion U.S. dollar-worth of humanitarian aid, yet only 19 percent has been given.

Local aid agencies say they are facing problems including lack of funds and difficulties of getting into the most affected areas because of endless warfare.

Fatik Al-Roudaini, director of Mona Relief, said conditions at refugee camps are so bad, noting that health care, sanitation, furniture and foods are badly needed.

FALTERING TALKS

The UN-backed peace talks between Yemen's warring parties in Kuwait have so far made no notable progress. Sources in Kuwait reveal that some parties took the talks back to zero stage every time progress appeared to be close.

Observers argued that the UN is just delaying the announcement of the talks failure.

Besides lack of good will from Yemeni factions, the UN is to blame for failure to make a breakthrough at the peace talks, said Fuad Alsalahi, a political sociology professor at Sanaa University.

"The talks started and are continuing without initial agreement from all to what they should talk about. They are in a vicious circle and that is why the process will fail," Alsalahi said.

Nageeb Ghallab, a politics professor at Sanaa University, said on his Facebook page that the UN will not be able to make the talks a success if it fails to deal strictly over references including UN resolutions that the talks are based on.

"The divisions between the Yemeni factions are still huge putting the international community before a difficult test. The UN should bridge the gap between the factions first," Gallab said.

The talks are being focused on three issues, the military and security and how end the conflict, releasing prisoners and restoring state facilities in order to lay the groundwork for a political deal. Enditem
Guo Weimin, vice-minister of the State Council Information Office, visits a photo exhibition in Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday. (Xinhua)

The China-Poland Media Dialogue is hosted by China's State Council Information Office in Warsaw, Poland's capital. (Chen Xu/Xinhua)

The China-Poland Media Dialogue is hosted by China's State Council Information Office in Warsaw, Poland's capital. (Chen Xu/Xinhua)

The China-Poland Media Dialogue is hosted by China's State Council Information Office in Warsaw, Poland's capital. (Chen Xu/Xinhua)

Heads of news organizations in Poland said on Tuesday that the country's people have a growing interest in China and the coming state visit by President Xi Jinping will have a great impact on the social and economic development of both countries.

Polish news agency, newspaper, radio and TV station representatives made the remarks at the China-Poland Media Dialogue, hosted by China's State Council Information Office in Warsaw, the country's capital. Fifteen heads of Chinese and Polish news organizations participated in the forum.

Xi will make state visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan from Friday to June 22, the Foreign Ministry announced on Monday. It will be Xi's first state visit to Poland, one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with China after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

The China-Poland Media Dialogue is hosted by China's State Council Information Office in Warsaw, Poland's capital. (Chen Xu/Xinhua)

"We are preparing to produce videos on China-related issues to meet people's growing interests about China," said Rafal Tomanski, deputy editor-in-chief for Asia and the Pacific region at Polish national daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita.

He said Xi's visit will be a great opportunity for people from the two countries to learn more about each other. He added that the paper plans to produce a 20-page special edition to cover Xi's activities in Poland.

Guo Weimin, vice-minister of the State Council Information Office, said: "I hope people can learn about the great importance of the visit from Chinese and Polish media."

The China-Poland Media Dialogue is hosted by China's State Council Information Office in Warsaw.(Chen Xu/Xinhua)

Qu Yingpu, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily, said the newspaper seeks in-depth cooperation with Polish media, especially in establishing a content-sharing mechanism for new media, so that people can quickly and easily learn about the current affairs of both countries.

Artur Dmochowski, president of Polish Press Agency, said: "Xi's visit to Poland is extremely important, as China's place in the world is more and more important. The visit will further enhance the political and economic ties between the two countries." In addition to the media forum, the State Council Information Office hosted a series of cultural activities on Tuesday to enhance mutual understanding between the peoples of China and Poland.

The Beautiful China, Beautiful Poland exhibition, with dozens of photos from both countries, opened at the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Meanwhile, about 100 bookstores around Poland began a monthlong book fair on Tuesday to promote books on ancient and modern China.

Also on Tuesday, a library of books on China was established at the Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities. China has provided the library with about 240 types of books and will give 300 books each year for the next five years.

(Source: Chinadaily.com)
SHENZHOU, June 14, 2016 (Xinhua) -- A volunteer donates blood on a mobile donate drive in Shenzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, June 14, 2016, the World Blood Donor Day, whose theme is "Blood Connects Us All" this year. (Xinhua/Mou Yu)
CIBC First Caribbean launches new mobile banking app

The new mobile app joins a series of innovations introduced to help the banks customers determine the banking experience they want  in essence control over how and when they bank is entirely in the hands of the client, said Trevor Torzsas, Managing Director of Customer Relationship Management and Strategy.

Managing Director of the Trinidad and Tobago bank, Anthony Seeraj, said the app was something our customers have been asking for and the initial feedback since its launch has been excellent. We are giving our customers here in Trinidad additional options when banking with us. Torzsas said the new app proves that CIBC FirstCaribbean is the bank that fits seamlessly into our clients lives.

All the enhancements that we have put in place over the past two or three years are part of our promise to deliver innovative products and services that truly meet our clients individual needs. Banking that fits your life - that is what we are ultimately aiming to provide to all our customers and our products were the obvious place to start and our mobile banking app is just one of those innovations, the bank executive noted.

He added that the bank already offers one of the best internet banking services in this region; and this combined with the new mobile app and the improvements we are making to our ABM fleet means that our clients need never set foot in a banking hall, unless theyve come to apply for a loanand even that is now possible online! Much like its internet banking, the new app, accessed via Android, Apple, Blackberry and Windows devices, affords users the convenience of checking their account balances, transferring funds, paying bills and locating branches and Instant Tellers, all from their mobile device.

He said the app was a significant step in our being able to add value for our customers who can now do their banking from the palm of their hand. Todays individual increasingly has a lifestyle that is fast-paced that affords them little time to spend in a queue in the banking hall. Our mobile banking app will forever change the way they interact with the bank.

Combine this with our online application process and paperless statement delivery and you have a best in class digital banking service for the tech-savvy who are always on the go. Torzsas noted that the bank which has almost 250 years of combined experience in the region will continue to invest in a strong line up of services such as its recently launched chip and pin technology for its merchant clients to ensure the highest standards of security.

It will also be moving to the same secure chip and pin technology later this year for all its credit card clients in order to give an even greater degree of protection against any attempts at compromising accounts.

He said the bank will also continue to invest in building a foundation to service its retail, wealth, business banking and large corporate clients by continuing to build close relationships with them as we drive a client centric approach to everything we do.
Community service recommended

Jonathan Sammy, 30, who pleaded guilty on Monday to possession of the marijuana grinder which contained traces of ganja, yesterday apologised for the incident, when he returned to the Port-of-Spain Eight Magistrates Court for sentencing.

I just sorry for the incident, said the father of one daughter and step-father of three others.

Sammy returns to court on July 14, for Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar to formalise her order for community service.

In the interim, Sammy will be out on $10,000 bail and is to visit the Probation Officers Offices to determine where he will perform his community service.

Once he completes his community service to the satisfaction of the court, Sammy can apply to have the conviction expunged from his record.

He also has a similar charge against him for possession of marijuana from 2014, but he told the chief magistrate that charge had been thrown out by the presiding magistrate. Sammy had been remanded in custody for one night after he pleaded guilty on Monday to the two charges against him.

The 30-year-old power mower operator with Sikas Engineering Ltd of Carapo, was on Thursday of last week, stopped by Special Branch officers, stationed at the security checkpoint at the entrance to the residence of the Prime Minister, at La Fantasie Road, St Anns.

The marijuana grinder - which is used to shred the illegal herb - was found in a pants pocket in the back seat of his vehicle and he was questioned, and allowed to leave.

A warrant was sought for Sammys arrest and he surrendered to police on the weekend.

When he appeared in court on Monday he said he accidentally forgot the item, which he purchased for $30, was in his car for two or three days and had only been called out to work that morning (June 9th) before he was held with it.

Police Prosecutor Insp Wayne Mohammed recommended community service for Sammy.
CSIs get a boost from 10 to 21

Dillon was replying to a question filed by Opposition Senate Whip Wade Mark, who asked what measures were being pursued by the Government to address the low crime detection rate.

The minister said there has been an increase in the number of CSIs from ten to 21.

We are incrementally strengthening the operational capacity of law enforcement, Dillon said. He said measures also included the strengthening of the Cold Case Unit to conduct further investigations into homicides which occurred over the last ten years and remained unsolved. In January the staffing of the unit was strengthened with additional investigative officers.

The minister also said a Criminal Case Management Unit has been established in each of the nine police geographical divisions to assist in the management of criminal cases.

Dillon said the staffing of the Justice Protection Unit, commonly referred to as the Witness Protection Unit, had also been increased. All existing databases within the TT Police Service have been expanded to allow for better monitoring of persons of interest, the minister said.

There was also the introduction of the digital recording of interviews, increased use of CCTV cameras (1,800) and GPS. A range of measures  including engagement through town meetings, social media and hotlines  was also stated
Western division cops seize $.25M in marijuana

According to reports, Western Division Task Force officers, under the supervision of Sen Sup Basdeo Ramdhanie, intercepted a white Nissan Tiida car at the Western Main Road, Carenage, and conducted a search of the vehilce.

In a water cooler in the vehicle, officers allegedly found the 20 packets of marijuana weighing approximately 12 kilogrammes. A Cocorite man was arrested, while officers also intercepted another vehicle believed to be following the suspect and detained him. A 35-year-old man from Chatham was also taken into custody and the two suspects were being questioned up until late yesterday.
PNM rallies around Ali

Through party chairman Franklin Khan and party deputy leader Rohan Sinanan (who replaces Ali in the Senate), the PNM declared it would provide its fullest support to Ali and this matter would not have any negative repercussions on the ruling party whatsoever.

Before beginning his contribution to debate in the Senate on a motion to approve the Privileges and Immunities (Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) Order 2016, Khan thanked Ali for his contribution as a government senator since he was appointed to that post following the general election. Ali unsuccessfully contested the Barataria/ San Juan constituency for the PNM in those elections. As Government senators thumped their desks, Khan declared, I just want to caution this society that we have a culture here, where for a single transgression, we condemn you for life. Khan continued, Hafeez Ali is still a very young man. He may have done something inappropriate but I think he will work through his challenges. We will give him all the support that he needs. Looking at the Opposition and Independent Senators, Khan stated, we should all as his former colleagues in this Senate and I speak now on behalf of the PNM, give him all the support that he needs to work through his challenges and hope for the best for him and his family. Some Opposition and Independent senators joined the Government senators in thumping their desks in support of this statement.

Prior to Khans statements, Senate President Christine Kangaloo read a notice from President Anthony Carmona which declared Alis seat vacant. Kangaloo also announced that Carmona had appointed Sinanan as Alis replacement, acting on the advice of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Sinanan then took his oath of office and joined the upper row of the Governments senatorial bench. Government senator Daniel Dookie was relocated to the lower row to make way for Sinanan.Speaking with reporters about Ali before the sitting began, Khan remarked, Well obviously, based on the circumstances, we are disappointed that something like this could have happened, but its a personal matter, so we dont want to delve too deeply into it. Khan said Alis resignation was not requested by anyone. It was known to him and certain other key people in the party. He had an audience with the Prime Minister, Khan said. He disclosed that Rowley met with Ali last Friday afternoon. They discussed it and then he indicated his intention to resign. Khan said Ali will remain the PNMs coordinator for the Barataria/San Juan constituency and this is a party position.

During the tea break, Sinanan told reporters, The PNM has withstood a lot in the last 60 years and I dont think this will do anything at all. He said ample evidence of that was the fact that yesterday Imran Mohammed, the grandson of deceased PNM stalwart Kamaluddin Mohammed, was appointed a temporary government senator to act for Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dennis Moses.

Mohammed died last December at the age of 88. I am very proud of the PNM to be able to attract someone like him (Imran Mohammed) at this time, Sinanan declared. Saying he has spoken to Ali and he is fine, Sinanan observed, At the end of the day, life goes on and I guess one has to do, what is required. I will continue to give him support. Sinanan said he was honoured and humbled to serve as a government senato
Mom seeks justice

My child is afraid to go to school because of this abuse, said Gail Cedeno.

Looking at her son Zacari Grant, she added, I cannot stand by and let this happen to my son. Cedeno, a mother of two, told Newsday her son left their Arima home on Monday to attend classes at the private school in DAbadie.

When he returned home in the afternoon, relatives noticed several bruises about his body. He also had cuts on the inside of his lip and a bruise to his left cheek.

When his grandparents - who picked him up from school - asked where he got the bruises, Zacari told them that a male relative of an official at the school, had beaten him. The child explained that he was sitting with another male student and a female student, when an argument broke out.

The female student complained to the caretaker, who in turn exacted corporal punishment on the two boys. Newsday understands that the boys were whipped with a cane and when the school official was done doling out licks, he allegedly told Zacari, go tell your grandparents that I beat you. Zacaris parents made a report to the Malabar Police Station and then took the boy to the Arima District Health Facility to be treated for his bruises.

Cedeno told Newsday that she took her son out of public school, because he was being bullied. She explained that he was picked on, on the first day that he went to public school. She had him transferred to the private school last October and is paying a monthly fee of $450, plus added expenses so the child could be educated without feeling pressured or bullied.

Contacted for comment, an official of the school refused to go into detail about the incident but made it plain that the boys parents were lying. What the parents told you has a lot of inaccuracies, the headmaster insisted. I cannot comment on the situation further because we have our own internal investigations being conducted.

But I can tell you that there are inaccuracies in what they are claiming.

Northern Division police have confirmed that an investigation is underway.
Appeal Court delivers landmark judgment

Four appellants, Lauren Aguillera, brothers Shawn and Evans Ballai and Richie Ayow appealed their sentences of February 2015 after pleading guilty to the murder of Robert Ramnath know as Metal Man back in February 2006, on the basis of the felony murder construct.

The judgment addressed points of broad application as to what is meant by the term starting point in sentencing; the overall sentencing methodology best suited to the TT jurisdiction; and various matters relating to guilty pleas.

The Court of Appeal (CA) noted there has been an occasional misalignment between the proper meaning and the actual usage term the starting point and that there was a lack of clarity as to what precisely is meant by the term. In order to address the impression that there is a disparity in sentencing and in an attempt to settle a principled methodology for sentencing, the CA placed the term starting point under the jurisprudential microscope.

Agreeing with the correctness of defense counsel Daniel Khans submission that the starting point is the sentence which is appropriate when aggravating and mitigating factors relative to the offending are taken into account, but which excludes any aggravating and mitigating factors relative to the offender.

Furthermore, ruling that the modern trend of sentencing requires full transparency which judges and magistrates can best achieve by the adoption of the methodology in this judgment.

This appeal involved the felony murder construct but the CA stated it cannot have escaped notice that the adopted definition of the starting point and recommended structure for sentencing applies across the board to practically all criminal offences, indictable and summary. Highlighting the far reaching consequences of the decision throughout the Caribbean, the CA stated that as the adopted meaning of the term, the starting point settles into common usage, a new body of case law will evolve, from which helpful comparators may be eventually drawn.

The CA endorsed its recent ruling in Fizul Rahamans Appeal when it reduced his sentence by seven years. Rahaman was also represented by counsel Khan, Nathai-Lutchman and Mankee- Sookram. Appreciating that the entire landscape of sentencing would now be changed, the Court clarified that previous authorities predating the decision of the Court in Fizul did not consistently reflect, a clear, universalised approach to the starting point, and warned counsel to be mindful and exercise restraint from citing them. Khan had argued that since the 2011 Privy Council judgment in Nimrod Miguel, there has been an increasing trend for accused to plead guilty on felony murder construct  about 15 because the death penalty is no longer mandatory under this construct. This judgment would affect these guilty pleas being the locus classicus in the approach to sentencing.

Appearances: Jagdeo Singh, Daniel Khan, Ria Mankee- Sookram, Ula Nathai-Lutchman for Shawn and Evans Ballai A. Francis and S Kalipersad for Lauren Aguillera B Dolsingh and C Seelochan for Richie Ayow A Teelucksingh-Ramoutar - the State
PM explains HSF drawdown to NATUC

Asked directly by Newsday, if the withdrawal was to pay outstanding arrears to government workers, Annisette said, You have a very good mind and I leave you to use your mind to determine that. Rowleys meeting with the union came after Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) head Ansel Roget promised that the Governments performance will be reviewed during the Labour Day march and rally in Fyzabad this Sunday.

Speaking after a two-hour long meeting with Rowley at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair, Annisette said, From NATUCs perspective, if that information was gleaned to the general public, we may not have had all the doubts in the minds of the population and the media in terms of what it is to be spent on. Among issues raised Annisette said, NATUC expressed concern at the slow pace in what is happening with Arcelor Mittal. We are maintaining that the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits Act could be amended and be made retroactive. It can be done in such a way that the workers can get their severance benefits. Minister of Labour, Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, who was present, he said, they were advised by senior counsel that it was not possible.

Other issues raised included governance of State enterprises and State boards and interference of day to day operations of the entities by State boards, the trades union movement involvement in cooperatives, partnering with Government in housing, structural adjustment and the diversification of the economy.
No right thinking Muslim would do this

This was the reaction yesterday of the Muslim Social and Cultural Foundation in response to the massacre of 49 persons killed in a shooting spree at a gay night club in Orlanda, USA on Sunday morning. No right thinking Muslim, no right thinking human being for that matter, would massacre 49 of his fellow human beings and wound another fifty-three, as mass killer Omar Mateen did, a release from the Foundation started.

The press release noted that the Islamic faith does not condone such radical and criminal behavior and no religion compels anyone to behave in such a murderous way. Human beings are responsible for their actions, for they have been given the freedom to do as they choose, the Foundation noted.

As the organiser of the largest events within the Muslim community, we can attest to the importance of inclusion. In the holiest of Months for Muslims, one would expect that we should try and instill positive values which will impact on our lives and those around us. After all, this month is about self restraint, not from only food but from any thought, action or deed which we consider wrong or questionable.

It is also expected that lessons learnt this month will form part of our daily routine enabling us to receive the numerous benefits both in this life and the hereafter. It is with this in mind that we wonder what would make any right thinking Muslim enter a public space and murder 49 individuals and seriously injure over 50...

but then again, based on news reports, this was no right thinking Muslim, the release stated.

This was no right thinking human. No Muslim, repeat, no Muslim has the authority through our scripture and teachings to hurt one single innocent human being, the release continued.

Maybe an elderly Muslim woman was assisted by one of the victims the day before the massacre. Maybe a Muslim patient was treated by one of the victims who was a nurse or maybe even a Muslim was able to feed his family because one of the victims was his boss.

Is this the reward for those victims? The list goes on and on and all we can do is pray for sanity to prevail. There is no compulsion in religion. Humans are given the freedom to do as they please, then they will be judged by God, not man. The release stated that Islam and other faiths do not condone or promote a LGBT lifestyle; however this is not a license to kill or harm anyone. The Foundation expressed condolences to the victims families and said it stands united with everyone against terror, whether by Muslims or against Muslims.
President to appoint EMA and TRHA boards

Providing detailed time lines of the revocation and new appointments of both boards, the Office of the President (OP) said yesterday, All of these Instruments were promptly signed off and sealed by (Carmona) upon receipt thereof from the Cabinet. Newsday understands that Nadra Nathai-Gyan, Consultant to the Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago, has been tipped as the new EMA chairman. However efforts to speak with Nathai-Gyan were unsuccessful as she was in meetings yesterday.

The OP said Cabinet revoked the appointments of the EMA board on October 8, 2015 and five months later, on March 24, 2016, approved the appointments of new board members.

Last Monday (June 6), the OP received a Cabinet memo, dated June 3, 2016, which included the Instruments of Revocation for the previous Board and Instruments of Appointment for members of the proposed new board.

On the said evening of June 6, 2016, President Carmona signed the Instruments of Revocation for the outgoing board. On the morning of June 7, 2016, the Instruments of Appointment for members of the new board of directors of the EMA were signed and sealed by the President. On the said morning of June 7, 2016, the signed and sealed Instruments were forwarded, as customary, to the requisite Authority, the OP stated.

Turning its attention to the TRHA board, the OP said it received several calls from the Office of the Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Orville London, and other medical professionals, all out of genuine concern, requesting Carmona sign off on the Instruments of Appointment for the TRHA board.

The previous board, appointed for a period of two years, had expired on March 9, 2016.

The OP said Cabinet approved the appointments of the new TRHA board on April 14, 2016.

On June 3, 2016, some two months subsequent to Cabinets approval, the OP received, for (Carmonas) signature and Seal of Office, the Instruments of Appointment, with curricula vitae (CVs), for the proposed new TRHA board.

According to the OP, that same day Carmona signed, affixed the Seal of the Office and forwarded to the requisite Authority, all the relevant Instruments of Appointment for the new TRHA board.

It is important to underscore, the OP said, that the appointments of these boards by (Carmona) were done promptly and efficiently. In making the necessary appointments, the President must ensure that the appointees meet the requirements for qualification and experience set out in the relevant governing legislation.
ECA takes issue with Cabrera

In a statement to the media yesterday, the ECA affirmed that it has always encouraged employers to turn to retrenchment as a last resort.

As a matter of fact, the ECA commenced engagement sessions with its membership as early as January 2016 on the topic where our position as articulated above was shared. Moreover, the ECA continues to share the view that retrenchment of workers will only serve to perpetuate the current period of decline and further derail the countrys chances of experiencing a turnaround in growth and development.
Grenada PM seeks better stats

Participants heard of the move by Grenadas Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell  himself a statistician  to place the matter at the forefront of the Caricom agenda. Regional heads of government are due to next meet in July.

We are moving on with statistics because now it is on the agenda of the heads of government, said Dr Philomena Harrison, Project Director of Caricoms Regional Statistics unit.

According to Caricom, Mitchell, Caricoms Minister Responsible for Finance and Energy, has been due to place the Action Plan for the Improvement of Statistics on the agenda of the next Conference of Heads of Government in July 2016 at Guyana. The Action Plan was originally on the agenda of the Thirty-Seventh Meeting of the Community Council of Ministers in January 2016 but was deferred due to the lengthiness of the agenda at that meeting.

On 15 December 2015, a sub-group of the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) met with Mitchell in Grenada and presented the Action Plan, which was prepared by the Caricom Advisory Group on Statistics (AGS). It was favorably received by the Prime Minister, and on his request, was placed on the Agenda of the Community Council.

Harrison said data can lead to development.

She said systems in place suffer from insufficient staff resources, high staff turnover, and insufficient recruitment. She noted some data tables produced are done residually.

Political will is needed. We will say no more on that, said Harrison.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning Joanne Deoraj said a shift in the economic paradigm could not be realised without relevant and timely statistics. She noted current economic conditions.

The importance of quality macroeconomic data cannot be overstated, Deoraj said.

The planned National Statistical Institute of Trinidad and Tobago (NSITT), she said, will be empowered to coordinate statistics and is to be independent, autonomous and transparent.

Our target is to establish the NSITT by January 2017, the PS said.
Trendsetters eye Police Retirees election win

Yesterday, Carrington urged persons eligible to vote to support her team for excellent leadership, competence, transparency, accountability, integrity and experience. Trendsetters boasted of their many achievements including the solvency of the Associations bank account, acquisition of books/ledgers for the records of members, continued growth in membership, continued visits to shut-ins numbering 130, introduction of Health Fair/Caravan in 2015/2016, re-introduction of the Police Metro Calypso in 2015, increase in death benefits, setting up and managing a web page among others.

Newsday understands that some of the projections of the Trendsetters are continued partnering with the Ministry of Health in the hosting the Annual Health Fair/Caravan, continued excursions and outings, staging police retro-calypso competition during Calypso History Month, providing recreational facilities at their location, visiting home for the aged with a view of hosting a luncheon and forty percent refund on all medical bills.
Orlando massacre in TT Mark: Dying by the dozens

they say its the bloodiest in its history...

we have now gone through a period in this country...where it is the worst experience that we have had in the last few years. Declaring that citizens of this country have been dying by the dozens, Mark said over 210 persons have been murdered in this country within recent times.

The majority of them have gone through gunfire, he quipped. After asking where were the illegal firearms coming from, Mark seemingly answered his own question when he said the guns were coming from porous borders. While the Peoples Partnership (PP) coalition was in government over the last five years, the then Opposition (now ruling) Peoples National Movement (PNM) regularly criticised the PP for leaving this countrys maritime borders unprotected when it scrapped the offshore patrol vessel (OPV) agreement reached between the former Patrick Manning administration and BAE Systems to provide three OPVs for the Coast Guard.

Questioning how many persons of interest of a national security interest that IMPACS has been able to identify to date, Mark said terrorism is on the rise and there are 100 TT nationals who have been identified as Islamic State (ISIS) fighters. He also claimed TT is facing an invasion through migration through Venezuela through the port of Cedros and elsewhere, as a result of the social and political unrest in the South American nation.

As he alleged that bomb threats and the appearances of hand grenades appear to be the norm in the country, Mark charged there are persons in TT who are trying to instil fear in the population. He wondered if, somebody is testing the State. Opposition Senator Khadijah Ameen warned the very stability of the country could be under threat as a result of Venezuelan nationals coming to TT. Ameen said there was no way to be certain whether these persons were coming to TT for legitimate reasons or as part of a criminal operation.

Ameen also said the perception of communities being crime hot spots prevents ordinary citizens from receiving services from State agencies.

Opposition Senator Rodger Samuel said the idea of IMPACS was a good one. However he agreed with Mark that there needed to be greater clarity on the performance of the organisation. Observing that vast parts of the Caribbean are uninhabited and vulnerable to criminals, Samuel said Caricom and the world are faced with a herculean task to stem the various manifestations of criminal activity taking place in the world today.
Fuad sorry for Senator Ali, Orlando victims

He expressed his sincere regrets for Ali who, he said, had a long and promising political career ahead of him which was now cut short. The political arena in TT has always been highly charged and contentious and he (Ali) is only the latest in a long line of persons who have fallen victim to its more ruthless elements, Khan said. Khan said that as someone who works with and supports members of the gay and transsexual community in their struggle to attain fair treatment and equal recognition, he bemoaned that events like these are a grim reminder that we all still inhabit a world of ignorance and intolerance.

While it is unfortunate that separate establishments need to be created for this community to relax in a free and easy environment, it is even more anguishing that this now presents an opportunity for persons opposed to their lifestyle to target them en masse for such an occurrence to take place.
Dillon: Orlando massacre affects us

He spoke at the opening of a two-day conference on National Security in the Caribbean, at the Trinidad Hilton.

There are many serious National Security and public safety challenges facing our international, regional and local communities which we as leaders and members of society must confront.

In fact, this conference is being held at a time when one of our strongest allies, the United States, only a few days ago faced what we considered the worst ever mass shooting incident, Dillon said.

The Minister added such an attack represents a change in the security risk to officers of law enforcement and that such acts demand greater vigilance from national security forces as he urged members of law enforcement to maintain a close relationship with the communities that they serve.

This act demonstrates the change in security risk faced by law enforcement, as individuals who seem to make their point by waging war against their fellow citizens, in what is now being described as a lone wolf style of attack.

It requires increased vigilance among our security. It is almost impossible to keep an eye on everyone who may become radicalised or who may have intentions of terrorizing our societies. It requires security forces to maintain close relationships with the communities with which they interact, so that they may get the necessary trust and confidence.
Garcia meets Vedic Education Board today

Students, teachers and staff members were denied access to the school compound since June 7 when the schools gate was locked and security officers were changed. The actions by the Board followed claims of misconduct by a teacher and an official investigation was launched.

In a statement to the media yesterday, the VEB noted that a meeting had been held with the Education Ministry and the schools PTA/Alumni last week to resolve the issues surrounding the three most senior teachers at the school and the delivery of quality education to students.

This morning, we understand, one of the teachers would be served with Regulation 90 which removes her from the school and she is to report to the Ministry of Education. The Board and the PTA/Alumni have jointly arranged for a retired teacher from the area to come in free of charge to teach the students until the Ministry of Education sends a replacement. The PTA/Alumni will also be setting up remedial classes so students can strengthen their skills. For the past couple of years, they have also been running vacation camps for students that include remedial classes, the VEB stated.

The Ministry of Education and the Teaching Service Commission are currently working on the issues associated with the other two senior teachers and the Board remains hopeful that all parties are working in good faith to fix this problem and ensure that quality education is delivered to students in the poor, rural district of Rio Claro. Students have a right to quality education, the VEB added.
New ISIS kill list said to target police, government employees and ordinary Americans

(NationalSecurity.news) A new kill list allegedly being distributed by the Islamic State is calling on ISIS loyalists in the U.S. to target Americans, including police in Minnesota, State Department workers and ordinary citizens, Vocativ reported Wednesday.

A pro-ISIS hacking group that calls itself the United Cyber Caliphate distributed the kill list earlier this week, claiming to include lists of names, home addresses and email addresses belong to some 8,318 people, which makes it one of the longest targeting lists such ISIS-linked groups have distributed.

In a post uncovered by Vocativ on the messaging app Telegram that was written in English and Arabic, the caliphate called on supporters to follow those listed and kill them strongly to take revenge for Muslims.

The Web site reported further:

Most of the names and the accompanying addresses listed appear to belong to people in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Out of 7,848 people identified as being in the U.S. alone, 1,445 were listed as having addresses in California, 643 in Florida, 341 in Washington, 333 in Texas, 331 in Illinois, and 290 in New York. Another 312 names and addresses allegedly belong to people in Canada, while 69 allegedly belong to people in Australia. Another 39 are affiliated with the U.K. and the rest are listed with addresses in Belgium, Brazil, China, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden and Trinidad and Tobago.

It wasnt known if the list, which was posted to Telegram on Monday, boasts any new information or details that werent publicly available online. Also, it wasnt clear why specific names and addresses were selected, whether they are related, or if they were just chosen at random.

In addition, the so-called cyber caliphate is dubious. A recent study by Flashpoint, an intelligence firm, showed that the United Cyber Caliphatea merger of pro-ISIS groupsis incompetent when it comes to hacking. Their highest-profile hack involved taking credit for others work, according to the study.

Still, the latest list shows how ISIS-affiliated organizations claiming to be hacking coalitions are continuing to use a well-known tactic, even if it is potentially superficial: Post kill lists calling on ISIS supporters to target various groups of Americans or Americans in general.

Counterterrorism officials cannot agree on whether such lists are efforts to instill fear or whether those listed are actually in danger, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The United Cyber Caliphate also published satellite images on its Telegram channel showing U.S air bases around the world on Monday. The same images can be found on Google Earth, Vocativ reported.

Nevertheless, experts say simply ignoring such lists is not an option.

Theyre putting out the lists that they are finding online and theyre sending it to their followers and they are saying these are good people for you to attack, Thomas Galati, chief of intelligence for the New York Police Department, told WSJ. You cant discount it.

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Analysis: Russias strategy with the West is to look scarier than it really is

(NationalSecurity.news) Would Russian President Vladimir Putin really risk starting a nuclear war over Ukraine and Crimea? Is he prepared to start World War III with NATO?

Some analysts think so  and that plays right into Putins hands, according to an analysis by The National Interest. Putin likely isnt willing to do either of those things, but keeping Western military and geopolitical experts guessing means that, in the short term at least, Putin gets to operate freely in his corner of the world.

With its saber-rattling the Kremlin has, over the last months, succeeded in taking large parts of the Western elite under its reflexive control, a Soviet strategy of action designed to trigger desired reactions on the enemys side, says the analysis.

Moscow has impregnated politicians, journalists, soldiers, intellectuals and diplomats around the world with the belief that Russia is posing a serious military threat and is up, if necessary, for a fight against NATO, perhaps even for World War III. As a result, the Wests political and military leaders are busy responding to threats that are, in fact, largely ephemeral. Brussels and Washington are, on the other side, insufficiently attentive and inadequately reacting to really existing new challenges in Europes east, the web site noted further.

Geopolitics is all about calculation  always pushing boundaries when it is in your best national interests, but never pushing too far, lest one miscalculate and trigger an aggressive response that wasnt planned. That is likely what happened a few months ago, when Russian fighter-bombers continued to violate Turkish airspace enroute to bomb targets in Syria; Russia pushed the envelope one too many times, and the Turks made them pay. Being a member of NATO likely saved Ankara from an ugly Russian response; Article V of the NATO treaty requires that all member countries come to the aid of any member nation under attack.

That said, the TNI analysis notes that NATO generals appear to be using an old playbook from the first Cold War when it comes to dealing with Russia, which is wholly inaccurate:

Instead of soberly assessing the the real nature of today Russias challenge and the entire gamut of the Wests new options to respond, a collective deja vu has taken hold of large parts of the Western elites. NATOs and the EUs resulting incomplete and misconceived rebuttals are serving rather than containing the Kremlin. They are increasing rather than decreasing insecurity in eastern Europea situation full of existential risks for humanity, yet beneficial to the stability and sustainability of Putins regime.

NATO and the West in general are guilty of overreacting rhetorically, militarily and politically to Russias aggression, the analysis says, and in doing so are playing Moscows game. What they dont realize is that, for all of Putins blustering and the Russian militarys technological improvements, Putin is not able to wage a new Cold War, let alone a hot one.

The biggest reason for that is the fundamental difference between the old Soviet Union and todays Russian Federation. The latter is not only much weaker than the former, but unlike the USSR and its largely self-contained, planned industry and economy, todays Russia is much more integrated with the West, thanks to its heavy reliance on the petrodollar.

Surveying its major pipeline destinations, its foreign direct investors, its most attractive tourist sites, its private real estate locations, its regular or secret bank accounts, its preferred shopping malls, and its popular foreign educational institutions, a large part of the Russian elites core interests is located in, connected with or related to countries that are members of NATO, the EU or both (or, like Switzerland, closely tied to them), the analysis states.

Though Moscow is trying to create the impression of an aggressive Eurasian hegemon, the Russian Federation is neither a reborn USSR, nor an eastern European China, nor a modern equivalent of Nazi Germany. Russias GDP is smaller than that of Italy or California, and Moscows economic problems are currently accumulating by the month.

That said, Moscow has still managed to impress enough Western military diplomats with a series of carefully orchestrated actions that, taken in sum, seem much more impressive than they really are. It should not have surprised anyone that Russia moved to secure the Crimea, for example, because of Moscows historic ties to the region and its military importance. Also, Russian action in Ukraine, in hindsight, is not so surprising given its location (it essentially borders NATO) and the Wests desire to absorb it into the alliance.

Whats odd about Western action is that it is arming itself against a Russia that is essentially dependent on the West for its existence.

That is even more bizarre in view of the fact that, in contrast to the impression that the Kremlin is projecting abroad, Russia is largely isolated internationally. So far, Russia is succeeding in papering over the grave repercussions of its insufficient international embeddedness with political bombast and diplomatic grandeur, the analysis says.

Read the rest, here.

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Dutch woman who was raped in Qatar convicted of adultery after she reported assault

In a true example of horrific injustice, a 22-year-old Dutch woman was convicted of fornication after being drugged and raped by a Syrian man after a night out at a club in Qatar.

The woman was deported shortly thereafter  for having sex outside of wedlock. She was visiting Qatar on vacation, and surely never expected the terrifying events that took place. After waking up and discovering that she had been raped, the woman went to the authorities to report the crime, but was arrested instead.

Can you imagine being assaulted in a strange land, mustering up the courage to come forward, thinking youve found help, and then being told that you committed a crime by being raped?

Its difficult to imagine a more unjust reality.

The alleged rapist, Omar Abdullah al-Hasan, was also convicted of having sex out of wedlock, and was sentenced to receive 140 lashes. Its shocking how lax the punishment for the rapist seems, while any punishment for the victim seems entirely inappropriate. Its a truly backwards ideology to find a victim of rape guilty of anything, and yet there are still places in the world where this line of thinking exists.

According to a Qatari official, had she been a Muslim woman, she would have received at least five years in jail. No one can get out of such charges here in Qatar. Its absolutely heartbreaking to think about how many Qatari women are being punished despite being the innocent victims in these situations. In this country, women truly are oppressed; being treated like less of a person strictly because of their gender.

This unsettling situation really puts problematic advertisements and off-color jokes in perspective. Someone needs to inform the Regressive Left that this is what rape culture is.

If you want to combat misogyny  here are the people you need to target.

Source:

DailyCaller.com

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Is RUSSIA about to release Hillary Clintons intercepted emails?

(Clinton.news) For months likely Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has claimed that her unsecured private email server she used during her stint as President Obamas Secretary of State was never hacked and in fact was safe despite the fact that it was outside the protection and security of federal email systems.

And while information technology and cybersecurity experts have refuted those claims and a well-known hacker named Guccifer has told federal authorities while in custody that he in fact hacked Clintons server, Russia may be set to prove once and for all that her server was both unsecure and hacked.

As reported by OilPrice.com, reliable sources in the West say warnings have been transmitted by the Russian government that it could, in the near future, release text of email messages that were intercepted rom Clintons server during her four-year tenure at State.

Such a release would prove conclusively that Clinton had indeed compromised U.S. secrets and made the susceptible to being stolen by foreign governments  emails that include several Top Secret and even more sensitive information  in violation of U.S. statutes governing the handling of such material.

As OilPrice.com reported further:

The reports indicated that the decision as to whether to reveal the intercepts would be made by Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, and it was possible that the release would, if made, be through a third party, such as Wikileaks. The apparent message from Moscow, through the intelligence community, seemed to indicate frustration with the pace of the official U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the so-called server scandal, which seemed to offer prima facie evidence that U.S. law had been violated by Mrs. Clintons decision to use a private server through which to conduct official and often highly-secret communications during her time as Secretary of State.

U.S. intelligence sources indicated that the extensive probe led by the FBI and the Department of Justice has been largely focused on whether Clintons private server, which was located in her home in Chappaqua, N.Y., was used by her to defy U.S. open records laws and protect communications she wanted to keep secret. Some of those communications, say analysts, may have involved discussions with quid pro quo transactions  foreign governments essentially buying future access to a Clinton White House via donations to the Clinton Family Foundation, in exchange for favorable treatment via Clintons foreign policy.

Moscows possession of the intercepted emails, however, also aimed to demonstrate that, separate from violating U.S. law regarding the handling of sensitive material, the email exchanges included extremely sensitive materials that had their classification headers stripped out.

Russian (and other) sources had indicated frustration with the pace of the Justice Dept. probe, and its avoidance of the national security aspects of intelligence handling, OilPrice.com reported. This meant that the topic would be suppressed by the U.S. Barack Obama Administration so that it would not be a factor in the current U.S. Presidential election campaign, in which President Obama had [sic] endorsed Mrs. Clinton.

The back-channeling messaging of Moscows possible intent, coming amid a presidential contest that is already highly charged, was aimed at pressuring U.S. officials and investigators within Justice and the Obama administration to quicken the pace of the probe and to reach a conclusion. But it is also a result of anticipated anti-Russian policy should Hillary Clinton win the election and succeed Obama.

Russia aside, intelligence and cyber security professionals have said Clintons server was very likely targeted by a plethora of foreign government intelligence services even before anyone realized or knew that it was unsecured, simply because of her high-level position within the Obama administration. China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, among others, have been mentioned as possibly targeting the server.

Sources:

Wired.com

FoxNews.com

OilPrice.com

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Texas, Vermont and New Hampshire testing the waters with secession as the federal government continues to disappoint

In recent years, the concept of states seceding from the union has been brought back to the forefront. With the American people at large growing increasingly frustrated with the federal government, what once seemed like a ludicrous concept has begun to make more and more sense.

Texas has threatened to secede in the past, and many Texans share the belief that the state should go through with it. Daniel Miller, president of the Texas Nationalist Movement, stated of their previous threats to secede, We were able to prove conclusively that this is not a fringe political discussion. Texas has a long history of being an independent nation, so whats preventing it from returning to its previous conditions?

While some have argued that the Constitution forbids secession in the 14th Amendment, the language on the issue isnt particularly clear: No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Given the fact that the writers of the United States Constitution were men who actively opposed tyrannical governments, its hard to imagine them having an issue with states fighting back against one. They were all about protecting the people  and secession could fit right in with that.

Texas isnt alone, either. Members of the Foundation for New Hampshire Independence and the Second Vermont Republic hope to see their states secede in the future, though it is unlikely to happen any time soon. After all, theres still a heavy stigma surrounding the concept of secession. But if America continues to head in the same direction, and its citizens continue to grow tired of the tyrannical nonsense, its not out of the question. We could be seeing independent republics of Texas, New Hampshire and Vermont before long.

Even if the actual act doesnt come to fruition, the mere threat of secession alone is an attractive concept. Theres perhaps no better way to send a message to the government that were fed up with their corruption than by threatening to leave  and take our states with us.

Sources:

SFGate.com

Freedom.news

Science.NaturalNews.com

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Whats next for the Unites States: warfare or internal collapse?

This week we remembered our fallen veterans.

We may also remember the United States, as she was, for she, too, has fallen: from forces inside that have collapsed and denigrated it. The good old days are long gone. The country is now in a soft-tyranny, a semi-totalitarian state. All it will take is a spark to turn it into a full-blown totalitarian regime. For decades, this planned destruction of the United States has been orchestrated: by the progressive oligarchy, the politicians, and foreign forces in both of the aforementioned categories.

(Article by Jeremiah Johnson, republished from //www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/mourn-the-death-of-the-united-states-soon-we-will-be-ripe-for-internal-collapse-or-a-large-war_05312016)

The universities have been paid by the oligarchs and enriched to pursue a path of scholastic curriculum to inculcate the desires of those paymasters into the youth. The college students are being molded into globalists, communal group-think, and to reject the history and greatness of the United States. Embraced in the schools and trickling down into our society are foreign views and foreign ways that, if not antithetical to our system are openly hostile to it.

And the net draws closer to closing. Look at all of the things that are happening, and see. Everything is being brought under controlso slowly that the sheep do not know they are being sheared and the frogs do not feel the temperature rising in the five-gallon pot. Cameras are rapidly appearing on virtually every corner. License plate readers are being installed. Drivers licenses will need to be in-sync in 2017 just for domestic air travel. If this is not the dawn, the precursor to an internal passport system then what is it for?

Banks fill out a SAR (Suspicious Activity Report) for the withdrawal of cash transactions even less than the original $10,000 initiated by the Rico Statute back in the 80s. People are beingdenied the ability to withdraw their cash, as with JP Morgan. People are being harassed by the bank managers, and these being customers with long histories of banking with the establishments. Larry Summers inserts his diatribe regarding the abolition of larger banknotes and openly is contemptuous of any kind of cash transactions.

The death of cash will be the death of any kind of privacy or financial freedom. Every purchase then will be recorded, every location where you made the purchase, and all of the amounts and details of your purchases. There are the loyalty cards that further categorize and monitor what you bought to predict (as marketing) your shopping habits. The problem: that information is no longer private, thanks to the NDAA and the Federal Governments ability to sequester (for whatever reason, however inane) those records in the interests of national security.

They didnt build that $50-billion-dollar data collection center in Ogden, UT for nothing.

The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America has been decimated, under the guises of social responsibility and political correctness. The states, as well as the federal government are designing a Newspeak type of language that does not allow us to voice our opinions or even use certain words in the context of a conversation, a protest, or a dispute. The influx of foreigners that are both undocumented and illegal is staggering, and the system cannot support it. Those foreigners are not only the illegal aliens from Mexico and Central America. The influx also includes foreigners from the Middle East, coming first to Mexico and finding anonymity in the groups of aliens that come across our borders from Mexico.

The prices of goods such as food and fuel are rising. This is deliberate on the part of the corporations with the sanctioning of local, state, and federal governments. Small farmers are almost extinct, with only 5-7% of the population of the U.S. being full-time farmers. The gigantic businesses such as Monsanto and Cargill, to name a few, are gobbling up the tracts of land and the farms. The factory farms are now more than just a reality: our entire consumer base is dependent upon the harvests of these gigantic corporations. Soylent Green is right around the corner, as all of the farms in that movie were under the corporate-governmental control. Agenda 21 is not just a catch-phrase: it is happening now .

The feds and the states are partners in taking away the federal and state lands in the interests of conservation, funded by the oligarchs and their NGOs and the funds also sequestered to bribe politicians at the local level to institute legislation that enables the theft of the land. The CKST water compact in Western Montana is a prime example: The Democrat-controlled legislation and the Democratic governor passed the laws. These laws grant the Indian Tribes all of the surface and subsurface water in the outlined regionoff of the reservationto be monitored by the Bureau of Internal Affairs and Indian Affairs, and enforced by none other than the Department of Homeland Security. The birth of such took place last year, and the slow, incremental process of completing the thefts of everyones (including mine) water rights has begun. Meters on every well, with the monies going to the tribe as handled by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and enforceable by DHS with the complicity of the Sheriffs Departments here in Montana.

Social unrest has been promoted, and an artificial racial divide is fostered and funded: from Black Lives Matter to the recent nonsense of all Caucasians being racists and bigots as reported in various news and alternative news segments. Bull. Absolute bull. The President of the U.S. is black, and would never have been electedtwiceif he hadnt captured the white voters. And what a president: promoting racial divide on his own, in his insidiously-subtle manner, whether over the Zimmerman shooting affair or the riots in 2015.

The per-capita income in the U.S. has plummeted. Obamacare has forced businesses to keep all employees under 30 hours a week, forcing people to take two or three jobstaxed on all of them, of coursejust to eke out a meager leftover after the governments (federal and state) have gorged 33-40% of their labors. Businesses are shutting down all over the United States, closing their doors for good or shutting down a large portion of their operations, and firing tens of thousands of employees nationwide in the process. The Baltic Dry Index is up and down, and contracts are not being fulfilled to the end.

We were at the tipping point. The TPP will finish us off, along with the destruction of the military by Obama. Just look at the Secretary of the Army. When will it be that latrines in the service will be transgender or such? The deliberate weakening of the United States military is almost complete. Soon we will be ripe for either one of two things, or both, either in conjunction or succession: the internal collapse of the United States or a large war. May God help us, although we dont deserve any help. We deserve judgment, and perhaps that has already been rendered, as the United States falls farther every day.

Read more at: //www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/mourn-the-death-of-the-united-states-soon-we-will-be-ripe-for-internal-collapse-or-a-large-war_05312016

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Speech by the President Shri Pranab Mukherjee in response to welcome speech by President of Cote D'ivoire on june 14, 2016 in Abidjan

Abidjan , Wed, 15 Jun 2016 NI Wire

1. It is indeed a singular honour for me to be the first Head of State of India to pay a visit to your beautiful country. I am deeply touched by the warm welcome accorded to me - and to my delegation - and the unstinting hospitality extended to us since our arrival.

2. I feel greatly honoured, Excellency, by your gesture of conferring on me the National Order of the Republic of Ivory Coast. I consider it to be emblematic of the long standing mutual friendship between the peoples of our two countries.

3. It is rightly believed that the mutual goodwill between India and Ivory Coast is inversely proportional to the geographical distance separating us  our longstanding friendship and fruitful co-operation has made it irrelevant.

4. India appreciated the naming of an information technology park in Abidjan after Mahatma Gandhi, revered in India as the Father of the Indian nation. He was a true son of India as well as Africa. During his initial struggles in South Africa, he espoused the principles of Ahimsa (Non-Violence) and Satyagraha ('Insistence on truth') as tools for emancipation of the people from the exploitative and oppressive colonial rule. These principles later inspired independent India's efforts in support of the decolonization of Africa in the 1950s and 1960s. It was also at the core of India's solidarity in the anti-apartheid movement.

5. Our commitment continued in the form of South-South Cooperation through developmental assistance and sharing our resources for the development of our brother nations in Africa.

6. Excellency, Ivory Coast has, thanks to your dynamic leadership, transformed into an economic engine of growth for the entire West Africa region. I take this opportunity to commend your tireless efforts in bringing peace and stability to your country.

7. India will remain a steadfast partner in assisting Ivory Coast in its economic development and growth. Over years of working together closely for the benefit of our peoples, our two Governments have developed a successful framework for our bilateral co-operation.

8. We have, over the decades, created unique bonds of trust and mutual understanding - based on our shared values and synergies. Our partnership has, in recent years, become increasingly multifaceted, dynamic and rewarding.

9. Our bilateral trade is steadily increasing and is expected to touch one billion US dollars in the next few years. Given the relative size of our economies and our wide convergences in several sectors of common interests, we both agree that our trade and investment and economic co-operation does, indeed have a greater potential that is waiting to be fully realised.

10. Excellency, your country is blessed with fertile soil and abundant agricultural and mineral resources. Our public and private sectors are keen to join you in exploring these resources efficiently and in setting up agro-based industries.

11. We would be happy to join your Government in developing the infrastructure that you require in the different sectors of your growing economy. At this time - when both our nations are on the path of rapid development, there are infinite opportunities that must be seized.

1. Our two nations share many other commonalities. We have both demonstrated our commitment to democratic values. Both our countries are active participants in regional and international fora and have worked together in close cooperation on matters of shared interest and concern.

2. We both recognize the imperatives of strengthening the UN system and other international organizations. We would like to see them reformed so that they remain effective in addressing the challenges that confront the world today. In this context, India stands ready to shoulder greater responsibilities in the specialized organs of the United Nations, particularly its Security Council.

3. Both Ivory Coast and India share common concerns in our fight against international terrorism. We have been co-ordinating closely in regional and multilateral fora on this and other key issues including disarmament, climate change and sustainable development.

4. Going forward, as we pursue our bilateral dialogue and implement our decisions, I am confident that we can open more doors to each other and establish the robust trade, economic and political partnership that we both envision today.

5. With these words, Your Excellency, I would like to thank you and your Government for the meticulous arrangements made for my visit and for hosting this splendid banquet.

6. I take this opportunity to most cordially reiterate my invitation to Your Excellency to visit India at a time of your convenience. I look forward to welcoming you in New Delhi.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

7. I invite you to join me in raising a toast :

- To the health and happiness of His Excellency, President Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Ivory Coast.

- To the continued success, progress and prosperity of the people of Ivory Coast

and

- To the enduring friendship between the peoples of the Republic of India and the Ivory Coast.

Thank you.

Source: PIB
Full text of interview of the President Shri Pranab Mukherjee to "Fraternite Matin" of Cote d'Ivoire

Abidjan , Wed, 15 Jun 2016 NI Wire

1. What is the state of bilateral relations between India and the Ivory Coast?

At the outset, let me say that I bring warm greetings from the people of India to the people of Cote d'Ivoire.

I am greatly looking forward to visiting Cote d'Ivoire at the invitation of President Alassane Ouattara on the first ever Presidential visit to from India. This is also personally the first time I am travelling to your beautiful country.

India values its friendship and longstanding cooperation with Cote d'Ivoire. Our bilateral relations have steadily grown and rest today on the foundation of a shared vision of democracy and development. India desires to reinforce this friendship and strengthen our bonds, taking advantage of the immense goodwill between the two countries.

The Third India-Africa Forum Summit was successfully organised in New Delhi from 26-29th October, 2015. Many important decisions were taken at the Summit. My visit is also intended to provide a renewed thrust to India's engagement with Africa. I am visiting Cote d'Ivoire after a State visit to Ghana. I will then proceed to Namibia. A series of high level visits to Africa is being undertaken by Indian leaders this year. Our Vice-President, Hamid Ansari recently visited Morocco and Tunisia.

President Ouattara has declared India a focus country. He has also emphasised the importance of expanding cooperation with India in ICT, Agriculture, Mining and Infrastructure. I appreciate this pro-active approach taken by President Ouattara.

Bilateral trade between our two countries has shown impressive growth in the last five years. Trade increased by over 40% in 2014-15 (US $ 841.85 million) making India the 5th largest trading partner of Cote d'Ivoire.

In 2014-15, India's exports to Cote d'Ivoire was US $ 309.75 million and imports amount to US$ 532.10 million. During 2015-16, for which data is available from April 2015 to February 2016, Indian exports amounted to US $ 359.74 and import was US $ 562.30. Cote d'Ivoire is the second largest exporter of cashew in the world and India imports around 80 percent of Ivorian exports of cashew.

There is a great potential to further enhance trade. I along with President Ouattara will discuss how our trade turnover can be increased from the existing level, within a fixed time period. A Joint Business Forum is being held during my visit with a view to encouraging establishment of business linkages and identifying new areas of mutual cooperation. The opening of a representative office of the Export Import Bank of India in Abidjan will also facilitate greater interaction between the business communities of the two countries.

A number of Indian enterprises have established presence in Cote d'Ivoire in recent years making India one of the largest sources of foreign direct investment in the country. Many Indian companies are operating in the mining and minerals sector. There are also several Indian companies  small and medium size  involved in trading, manufacturing; ICT; agro-processing etc. Leading Indian pharmaceutical companies also have operations in Cote d'Ivoire.

I am confident my visit will strengthen bilateral relations and provide fresh momentum to enhanced trade and economic relations, based on our complementarities.

2. India has a proven reputation in software and IT. How India can assist students of Ivory Coast and Africa develop skills in software and IT?

India has made considerable strides in the sphere of Information Technology. Indian software companies and professionals are well known all over the world. India stands ready to provide whatever assistance possible to Cote d'Ivoire and Africa to develop skills in software and IT.

India and Africa already have a history of partnership in this field. India has been helping African Countries including Cote d'Ivoire bridge the digital divide. The Indian Government funded Pan-Africa e-Network was launched in 2009 with the aim of narrowing the digital divide in Africa and harnessing socio-economic benefits of ICT. Under this project, India has set up a fibre-optic network to provide satellite connectivity, tele-medicine and tele-education to African countries.

India has assisted through concessional credit in setting up of Mahatma Gandhi IT and Biotechnology Park in Cote d'Ivoire. The Indian Government is also assisting in capacity building in the IT sector by offering scholarships under its Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme. I understand that India is the favoured destination for many Ivorian students who want to pursue education in IT and software development. The Indian Government will continue with its efforts to assist Africa and Cote d'Ivoire in the above regard.

3. We know India assisted Ivorian government is setting up of Mahatma Gandhi Cote d'Ivoire Technology Park in Abidjan. How we can take this initiative forward?

I am happy to note that Mahatma Gandhi IT & Bio-Technology Park at Grand Bassam near Abidjan is functioning satisfactorily. I have been informed that a leading Indian company Shapoorji Pallonji is ready to construct the first building in the Mahatma Gandhi IT Park. India is open to any proposal to make this Park a vibrant economic hub for the growth and development of Cote d'Ivoire.

Africa is today an engine of growth for the global economy. With a projected average growth of about 5% between 2013-25, it is second only to the emerging economies of Asia. Cote d'Ivoire has registered an impressive annual growth rate of 9-10 % in the last three years making it one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. According to IMF forecasts, Cote d'Ivoire is expected to grow, in the year 2016, at a rate of 9.6%. It is regarded a prime destination for investment in Africa. India is willing to work closely with the Government of Cote d'Ivoire to make this technology park a success.

4. As you may be aware, Ivory Coast is the largest producer of Cocoa and Cashew nuts. In fact, India imports eighty percent of cashew nuts produced in Ivory Coast. The Ivorian Government is keen to develop agro-processing units to add value to Cocoa and Cashew nuts to generate employment. How can India assist the Ivorian government?

I understand Indian companies are interested in setting up of agro-processing units in Cote d'Ivoire to process agricultural products, particularly cashew nuts. The Indian Government is committed to assist the efforts of the Ivorian Government in this regard and would be happy to look at any specific proposal from the Government of Cote d'Ivoire for India's assistance in this field.

5. This is the first visit by any Indian President to Ivory Coast. What is the message that President of India would like to convey to Ivorians.

My visit reflects India's desire and determination to deepen ties with Cote d'Ivoire. India shares a cordial and warm relationship with Cote d'Ivoire based on a solid foundation of trust and mutual understanding. Our bilateral cooperation is multifaceted, dynamic and mutually beneficial.

It is a singular honor for me to be the first Head of State of India to visit your beautiful country. India is committed to remaining a steadfast partner of Cote d'Ivoire in its economic development and growth.
PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
The USAir Forces new view  that the F-22 and F-35 replacement may be a system of systems and would include unmanned aerial vehicles  puts the service squarely in line with the Navy. In 2015 Navy Secretary Ray Mabus predicted that the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter would be the last traditional manned fighter the Navy would buy. In January the Navy began a requirements study for the Next Generation Air Dominance program  the effort formerly known as F/A-XX, or the sixth-generation fighter program  and Navy aviation leadership told USNI News that the effort would be conducted with input from the Navy but not in a joint manner.

The US Air force is looking for faster and more flexible upgrades of components and modules of a larger system.

Various aspects of a future System of Systems

integrated network systems

operationalize combat-focused space and cyber forces

increase range and payload

increase speed, manoeuvrability and stealth for the air space penetration components

Modest investments will also be made to upgrade and life-extending fourth-generation aircraft and modernize the F-22 Raptor

Leverage automation and machine learning

The goal is to operationalize a future air superiority network by 2025.

The sixth generation fighter project (F-X) would have turned into a 20 to 30-year development program. Instead, the Air Force plans to start an AOA in January, 2017, to look at options for what we can get short of a 20 or 30 year leap. The planning effort, called Next Generation Air Dominance, is scheduled to be complete by the middle of 2018.

The US Air Force will likely leverage existing bombers into Arsenal planes with more drones and missiles.

The Air Force seems likely to integrate with the US Navys vision of a kill web or tactical cloud. They will put data up in the cloud and users are going to go grab it and use it as a contributor to a targeting solution.

Mixing computing clouds, big data, with navy ships, planes and missiles

In 2014, the Office of Naval Research laid out the foundation of the Tactical Cloud concept

SOURCES  USNI, Air Force, DARPA, Office of Naval Research
LOS ANGELES  An Indiana man arrested over the weekend in California with three assault rifles and ammunition in his vehicle was forbidden from leaving his home state as part of probation stemming from a case in which he pointed a gun at neighbors, according to authorities and court records.

Howell was arrested in Santa Monica after police received an early morning call of a suspicious man who was knocking on doors and windows.

Even with the day's chilling news and overcast skies, crowds still took to West Hollywood to show their pride and courage, as well as their condolences for Orlando's victims.

Howell is being held at the Santa Monica jail on a felony weapons possession charge.

Wesley was being held in lieu of $500,000 bail on suspicion of weapons and explosives possession. It was unclear if Howell had an attorney.

A subsequent search of the auto found three assault rifles, high capacity magazines and ammunition in addition to a five-gallon bucket of "chemicals capable of forming an improvised explosive device", Rodriguez said. They originally said he had the intent to harm people at the West Hollywood gay pride event today.

Police say the 20-year-old Howell was arrested Sunday in Santa Monica with the weapons and explosive materials in a auto he apparently drove from Indiana.

A man arrested in Southern California with three assault rifles who told police he was headed to a gay pride event was tentatively scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, but it wasn't yet clear what charges he'll face, if any.

(AP Photo/Richard Vogel). Los Angeles County Sheriff's department motorcycle deputies ride along a street in West Hollywood, Calif., during the Gay Pride Parade on Sunday, June 12, 2016.

Just hours after the Orlando mass murder began, as word spread about the shooting inside the Pulse Nightclub, police near Los Angeles arrested 20-year-old James Howell with a frightening arsenal.

Santa Monica police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks tweeted that Howell told officers after he arrested that he wanted to harm the gay pride event in West Hollywood that was taking place about seven miles away later Sunday.

Howell's criminal record shows a young man with a hot temper and knack for intimidating people at the point of a gun. According to police reports obtained by ABC7, Howell had several brushes with the law in Charlestown, Indiana, which is just outside of Louisville, Kentucky.

Investigators on Monday were trying to determine whether James Wesley Howell had any plans to use the weapons.

"The boy was young and dumb and had a mouth on him", said Jeremy Hebert, a former IN neighbor who was once threatened at gunpoint by Howell, according to court documents.

Before his arrival in California, Howell had threatened people with firearms on three occasions, according to court records in Indiana. Police found a loaded revolver in his waistband.Howell was charged with misdemeanor intimidation in that case and reached a plea deal in April that placed him on probation and prohibited him from having weapons and from leaving the state. Also, an area resident said her son noticed Howell's white Acura parked against traffic around 3 a.m. near the intersection of 11th Street and Michigan Avenue. The FBI was helping with the case, police had said Sunday.

"They are very interested to find out the true facts of the case", he said. Howell's arrest adds another layer of security.

Howell is also listed in a host of other police reports, many of them related to domestic disturbances with his ex-boyfriend, a 17-year-old Charleston resident. "I thought the guy is coming to kill me", she said.
The Israeli army's decision to block Palestinians from entering Israel following a deadly attack in Tel Aviv may amount to collective punishment, the United Nations said Friday, criticising the move.

After urgent consultations with senior security officials, travel restrictions and cancellation of work permits for Palestinians were announced, as well as reinforcement of army and police in crowded public areas, including the Kosel. It had planned to allowed up to 500 people from Gaza to attend Friday prayers at the Israeli-controlled Al-Aqsa mosque compound in east Jerusalem over the holy month, which began on Monday.

Travel restrictions and increased security checks are routinely brought in after attacks in Israel and the West Bank, which have seen 32 Israelis and two Americans killed in stabbings, shootings, bombings and vehicle rammings over the last eight months. The assailants, two cousins from the West Bank village of Yatta, were apprehended by law enforcement shortly after the attack.

Tel Aviv's Ichilov Hospital said the four slain Israelis had been brought to the facility in critical condition and later died of their wounds. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the terrorists' "savage crime", and Israel announced it had suspended 83,000 entry permits for Palestinians on Thursday.

Relatives and friends mourn during the funeral of Ido Ben Ari, one of four Israelis who was killed in an Palestinian shooting attack in Tel Aviv, at a cemetery in Yavne, Israel on Thursday.

Over the last eight months, Palestinians have carried out dozens of attacks on civilians and security forces, mostly stabbings, shootings and auto ramming assaults that have killed 32 Israelis and two Americans.

"Well, let me start by saying that we offer our condolences to the families of those who are mourning the loss of loved ones in a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv yesterday", Earnest said. And more recently, the kidnapping and killings of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank two years ago helped trigger a series of events that escalated into a 50-day war against militants in the Gaza Strip.

The army said that the attackers, who were arrested, came from the Palestinian town of Yatta near the West Bank city of Hebron.

The army also said it had deployed two additional battalions to the Judea and Samaria on Thursday as a result of the attack.

On the Palestinian side, more than 200 have been killed in that same period, a majority of them while carrying out attacks, according to the Israel military.
Washington, The White House on Monday said President Barack Obama will visit Orlando city in Florida on Thursday to mourn the victims killed at the gay nightclub.

The Orlando Regional Medical Center said in a statement to The Associated Press that 29 victims are still hospitalized, with many still critically ill or in shock.

On Sunday, the President described the attack as "an act of terror and hate".

But there's been no announcement of a change of his schedule this weekend, when Obama had planned a working family vacation to two national parks beginning on Friday: Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, and Yosemite in California. Obama had cancelled what was to be his first campaign event with presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the wake of the shooting at a gay nightclub that killed 49 and wounded dozens more.

FBI Director James Comey said Mateen had previously claimed membership with Hezbollah, a fierce enemy to Daesh, which in turn is the terrorist group the shooter declared allegiance to during a 911 call while the attack was in progress. Obama told reporters after receiving a briefing from the Federal Bureau of Investigation it appears that the shooter was inspired by various extremist information that was disseminated over the Internet. The president and other officials said it appeared that the shooter had been radicalized through the Internet.
Apple kicked off its annual conference in San Francisco on Monday, and during the keynote speech, Apple senior vice president Craig Federighi teased the crowd with "one more thing" - the exact phrase former CEO Steve Jobs used to use before revealing a huge surprise.

Anvitha is attending WWDC as part of Apple's scholarship program, which gives hundreds of free tickets to developers from around the world who are creating apps for Apple devices. In addition, the number of women who applied for the scholarship have tripled this year with nearly 22 percent. After spending a year accumulating knowledge about coding on various platforms, she managed to learn the basics of programming. After this she has developed another app for children to help them learn colours in a similar way and is already working on her next app.

Ahead of the WWDC, usually a software-dominated event, Apple preannounced changes to its App Store, including a new revenue-share model with developers. The iOS app helped her to win one of the 350 Apple scholarships for young coders to attend WWDC. Vijay's apps were inspired by her toddler sister, who was learning how to talk and identify animals. For the second app she went to teach colors for the kids. Her first app, GoalsHi, was built during the summer holidays and won a $10,000 student prize at the OzApp awards in Australia in 2015.

She told Fortune it was a hard process to learn how to develop an app, because, well - she's not even ten yet. Her father is a capital projects manager for APA Group. The catch here is that she is all but nine years old. Apple invited her, impressed by Anvitha Vijay's tech skills - she has developed some apps for Apple products, iPhone and iPad.

According to the same article, Vijay, who lives with her parents in Melbourne, Australia, at the age of seven realised that her piggy bank did not have enough money to hire a developer to make her an app, so she chose to teach herself how to code.
Barry Steenkamp, the father of the woman murdered by Oscar Pistorius, told a court yesterday that he had "changed completely" since her death and become a virtual recluse.

Steenkamp's father broke down in court on Tuesday as he said Pistorius must "pay for his crime" of shooting his daughter three years ago.

The former paralympian faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars, after the Supreme Court of Appeal found that he should have been convicted of murder.

He gave testimony about the wrenching, personal grief of a distraught father who lost a daughter in a fatal shooting.

"The time will come when I will want to talk to Oscar, but the time is not now", said Steenkamp. "If I see a feather, or something like that, Reeva is with me all the time".

At his original trial, Pistorius had argued he mistook Reeva Steenkamp for an intruder. Perhaps, Steenkamp said, people who are "thinking of that type of deed" will hesitate before committing such a violent act if they see the photos.

"I hear her at night", Mr Steenkamp said. "I hear her crying".

"A particular heartache for me is that Reeva's parents have been made to believe that Oscar intentionally shot Reeva - there has been no evidence to support this belief despite the prosecution's best efforts".

He said of his daughter's death: "It devastated us".

Steenkamp said that his wife, June, has forgiven Pistorius, but that he found it very hard. Afterward, during an adjournment, he sat hunched forward, apparently emotional, as his siblings, Carl and Aimee, sought to comfort him.

On December 3 a year ago, the SCA overturned his culpable homicide conviction, and replaced it with the more serious one of murder.

The appeal court based its murder conviction on its finding that Pistorius must have realised that firing four times into the cubicle would kill the person inside.

All that is left then, would be for Judge Thokozile Masipa to determine an appropriate sentence.

Thursday is a national holiday in South Africa, and the sentence could be given on Friday - with Pistorius facing an immediate return to jail.

Ms Mashobane said Pistorius repeatedly had tantrums and shouted at her and other nurses, especially when she was trying to explain that he couldn't have medication brought into the prison without a prescription.

Ms Mashobane, Kgosi Mampuru Prison's assistant health manager, told the court in aggravation of sentencing that on one occasion Pistorius became angry with her after she went to check on him while he was in his cell.
"It's a dream here".

A solar-powered airplane, attempting the first round-the-world solar flight, has landed in New York City.

Under the cover of darkness, a massive, blinking object quietly circled the Statue of Liberty and lower Manhattan before finally coming in for a landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Pilots Andre Borschberg, who flew the plane to NY, and Bertrand Piccard, who will start the next leg of the journey, expect to leave "soon" to cross the Atlantic Ocean for Europe or South Africa on their way to completing an aviation engineering feat to advance environmentally compatible technology.

It was the 14th leg of an east-west journey that began March 9, 2015 in Abu Dhabi, and has taken the aircraft across Asia and the Pacific to the United States with the Sun as the plane's only source of power.

Dr Piccard will pilot the next leg, which will take Solar Impulse from NY across the Atlantic Ocean. The single-seater has made stops in many cities including Mandalay, Nanjing, Nagoya and Hawaii. It was only a few months ago in April that Solar Impulse 2 finally completed its flight across the Pacific, the pilot Bertrand Piccard flew almost 2,800 miles between Hawaii and San Francisco. During night flights like the one from Pennsylvania to NY, it runs on battery-stored power. During night flights it runs on battery-stored power, traveling 30 miles (48 kilometers) per hour, although its flight speed can double when exposed to full sunlight.

Mr Borschberg also flew close to the Brooklyn Bridge and the Verrazano Bridge, and took snapshots as he flew over Upper New York Bay.

Throughout the flight, Borschberg fielded phone calls from well-wishers and journalists.

FILE - In this April 23, 2016 file photo, Solar Impulse 2 flies over San Francisco.

The solar-powered plane took off from Abu Dhabi just over a year ago with plans to make it across the globe in about four months.
King Mohammed VI chaired in Moroccos spiritual capital Fez on Tuesday the installation ceremony of the Higher Council of the recently set up Mohammed VI Foundation for African Ulema, a new milestone in the kingdoms efforts to disseminate its Islam of the middle path, a doctrine based on tolerance, intercultural dialogue and respect of other faiths.

The new academic institution, which will enhance further the special religious and cultural ties existing between Morocco and African countries, was set up at the initiative of King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful. It is meant to be a forum where Ulema from Morocco and other African States can discuss the Islamic thought, unify and coordinate their efforts to disseminate the values of tolerant Islam.

I view the Mohammed VI Foundation for African Ulema as an institution for cooperation, for the exchange of experiences and for the Ulema to make concerted efforts to fulfil their duty and turn a spotlight on the true image of the pristine Islamic faith as well as on its open-minded values, said the Sovereign in a speech during the installation ceremony of the Foundation Higher Council.

The ceremony was held in the Al Qaraouiyine Mosque in Fez, a genuine knowledge hub and a real magnet for many religious scholars of the African continent. It was attended by scores of theologians from the over 30 African Countries represented at the Foundation Higher Council.

These values are based on moderation, tolerance and coexistence, the King said, adding that the aim is to make sure those values help us promote security, stability and development in Africa.

The Sovereign expressed confidence that the Foundation, through its branches in African countries, and together with other religious institutions, will play its role in disseminating enlightened religious precepts and in combating extremism, reclusiveness and terrorism  which our faith does not embrace in any way  but which are advocated by some clerics, in the name of Islam.

King Mohammed VI underscored that the creation of the Foundation reflects the depth of the time-honored spiritual bonds between sub-Saharan African peoples and the King of Morocco, Commander of the Faithful.

Actually, the King has, besides his temporal power, an acknowledged spiritual power, that carries with it responsibilities as Commander of the Faithful. The title is recognized beyond the borders of the Kingdom, especially to the south of the Sahara, where many Muslim communities share with Morocco the Maliki rite.

In his Speech, the Sovereign deemed the Foundation as another building block which further enhances Moroccos strategic policy designed to raise the level of its political and economic cooperation with a number of sisterly African nations, in order, he said, to make it an effective, solidarity-based partnership, covering all sectors.

Explaining that his decision to create this institution has nothing to do with transient circumstances or narrow, passing interests, he said It is rather in line with an integrated policy to promote constructive cooperation and respond to the requests from a number of sisterly African nations in the religious domain.

The Foundation crowns the series of actions undertaken by the Sovereign over the years and translates his unfailing commitment for promoting the values of the Islam of the middle path. The sovereign has, among others, created the League of Ulemas of Morocco and Senegal, established the Institute of African studies, sponsored several conferences on Sufism and financed the construction of mosques in many African countries.

The Sovereign also set up in 2015 the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Murshideen and Murshidat (male and female preachers.)

All these actions fully illustrate Moroccos successful part in the spread of moderate Islam and consequently the fight against terrorism.
The UN Security Council Tuesday granted a go-ahead to the European Union Sophia naval operation to inspect vessels on high seas suspected of violating the arm embargo imposed on Libya since 2011.

Libya has become a cross-road of illicit arm trade which UN and EU diplomats say fans regional conflicts and strengthens terrorists and gangs which feed on the trade.

The 15 members of the Council unanimously extended the mandate of the Sophia operation fighting illegal migrant smuggling off Libyas coast.

The Council granted a 12-month mandate to the operation to inspect, without undue delay, on the high seas off the coast of Libya, vessels bound to, or from Libya which they have reasonable grounds to believe are carrying arms or related material to or from Libya.

The French-British drafted resolution was last week endorsed by EU foreign policy Chief, Federica Mogherini who warned that leaving Libya in the hands of illicit arm dealers could be harmful to the entire region, including the EU.

The Tuesday resolution also allows Council members acting nationally to inspect vessels off Libyas coast, the UN said.

UN in 2011 imposed sanctions on the country during Col. Gaddafi era but the sanctions have been reportedly violated by several countries including Egypt, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Sudan backing factions in the North African country.

Libya is said flooded with arms estimated at 20 million with a 6 million people. The country descended in chaos following the death of Gaddafi in 2011 in a NATO-backed revolution.

Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, last week expressed concerns over the draft resolution and urged the UN not to take sides in the Libyan puzzle.

The UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) has repeatedly called on the international community to lift the arm embargo. Last month, 25 countries including the US pledged to ease the embargo and allow the purchase of military equipment needed to fight the Islamic State group.
An area near where an alligator dragged a 2-year-old boy into the water by Disneys upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando. Photo: Courtesy WKMG

Another tragedy has punctured the Orlando community, this time after an alligator snatched a 2-year-old boy from the shore of a lagoon at Disney Worlds Grand Floridian resort Tuesday night. The reptile pulled the boy into the water, and search and rescue teams have been scouring the manmade lake, but so far they havent found the toddler or the animal.

The Nebraska family of four had traveled to Disney World Sunday. The boy, his 4-year-old sister, and his parents were hanging out at the resorts Seven Seas Lagoon Tuesday evening. The 2-year-old boy was wading in the water, close to the shoreline, when the alligator swam up and dragged him away. The boys father tried to wrestle the alligator, but he could not wrench his son away from the creature, which disappeared under the water. The family alerted the lifeguard shortly after 9 p.m., according to the Orlando Sentinel, and authorities soon swarmed the scene.

Teams from the sheriffs department, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Disney cased for the boy and the alligator  believed to be between four and seven feet long  by boat and by air overnight, across the span of the 172-acre lake, says the New York Times. The search continued Wednesday morning. Officials found and trapped four alligators, each of which was euthanized and tested, but none turned up clues that it might have attacked the boy. Officials were still calling it a rescue operation Wednesday, but the mood among the authorities was decidedly grim: Were not likely now to find a live body, the county sheriff said.

Officials are also searching the perimeter of the water with flashlights where toddler was taken by #gator #Disney pic.twitter.com/Jh22S1kzhU  Christal Hayes (@Journo_Christal) June 15, 2016

According to the Sentinel, no signs near the lagoon warn about potential gators, but they do instruct vacationers that swimming is prohibited. Disney has never recorded an attack or incident with an alligator at the Seven Seas. Officials say that they had no reports of an aggressive alligator prior to the attack, and that these types of maulings are still very rare. A swimmer was ambushed and killed by an alligator in 2015, but that was a Floridians first deadly encounter since 2007.

Update: Florida officials have confirmed that the body and remains of the 2-year-old boy were recovered Wednesday afternoon, around 3:30 p.m. Officials had said earlier Wednesday that there was no question the boy, identified as Lane Graves, had been killed. Its unclear if the alligator who snatched the boy has also been found; officials had trapped, killed, and tested five alligators by Wednesday, but hadnt seen any evidence that any of those had taken the child. Disneys beaches remain closed for now.
James Wesley Howell. Photo: Santa Monica Police Dept.

Less than 24 hours after gunman Omar Mateen carried out the deadly massacre in an Orlando nightclub, Santa Monica police arrested a heavily armed man who told cops he was on his way to Los Angeless Gay Pride parade. Police initially said James Wesley Howell, a 20-year-old man from Indiana, had intended to harm the Gay Pride event, but later retracted that statement, and clarified that Howell only indicated that he planned to attend the event.

On Tuesday, Howell was charged with felony possession of an assault weapon, possession of explosives on a public highway, and possession of high-capacity magazines. He was also charged with having a loaded weapon in a vehicle, a misdemeanor charge. Prosecutors are requesting $2 million bail because they consider him a flight risk.

ALERT: The Los Angeles County Dist. Attorney Jackie Lacey announces charges filed against James Wesley Howell. pic.twitter.com/NMyo2TZPcy  Aaron Ellis (@aaronellis01) June 14, 2016

Its unclear what Howells motives were when police stopped him, but he was lugging an arsenal that could have done some serious harm: three assault rifles, 30-round magazines, a Taser, a black hood, a security badge, a knife, handcuffs, and five gallons of gasoline. He also had a 25-pound container of Shock-Shot, an explosive often used at gun ranges to blow up targets. Santa Monica detectives wrote in a statement that the amount of explosives in the container would have posed a grave danger if they were set off either intentionally or accidentally.

Police discovered him after a Santa Monica resident reported that a man had been knocking on a neighbors door and window around 5 a.m. Sunday. Howell, who is reportedly bisexual, was an explosive person, according to an ex-boyfriend who said he didnt know why Howell had gone to California. But friends also said they didnt believe he had something against the gay community, and had attended gay-pride events in Louisville, Kentucky, where he grew up. At the time of his arrest, Howell was on probation in Indiana for an intimidation charge he pled guilty to in March. He reportedly pulled a gun and made threats against a neighbor and an ex-boyfriend last October, according to the Associated Press. The trip to California, and, of course, his weapons cache, violated the terms of his yearlong probation  and its why the Los Angeles D.A. is asking for such a high bail amount.

Howell was also out on bail in Kentucky for reckless driving and fleeing police; the bail, per the Los Angeles Times, has now been revoked.

The FBI reportedly raided Howells Jeffersonville, Indiana, home on behalf of the Los Angeles office Monday night, but didnt say what they were looking for or whether anything was recovered from the residence. Howell is also reportedly a suspect in a May 31 sexual-assault case, the details of which  and whether it might be related to the California weapons case  are also unclear.
Just be quiet. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

When elected Republicans are asked to justify their support for the authoritarian demagogue who won their Partys nomination, many will explain that Donald Trump is actually extremely receptive to critical guidance.

One on one, Mr. Trump is a listener, congressman Chris Collins told The New Yorkers Ryan Lizza. Hes not a talker. When hes got a group of people, he wants to know whats going on in other peoples districts. Congressman Tom Price echoed this claim, telling the magazine, When I talk to people who work closely with Trump, what they tell me is that behind closed doors hes one of the best listeners theyve ever worked for or with in their life.

A little over week ago, Trump gave credence to this notion. After virtually every member of his party begged him to stop talking about the Mexican heritage of the federal judge overseeing a pair of fraud lawsuits against him, the mogul relented. Trump didnt apologize for his remarks but he vowed to quit making them. Then he chained himself to a teleprompter and got through an entire speech without saying anything his co-partisans would have to distance themselves from.

And then Omar Mateen killed 49 people in the Pulse nightclub. And Trump reframed the 2016 election as a referendum on a proposal his partys leadership universally condemns.

The GOP nominees renewed call for a blanket ban on Muslims entering the United States was met by a new wave of intraparty criticism. But Trump is done listening to the complaints of feckless politicians.

You know, the Republicans, honestly, folks, our leaders  our leaders have to get tougher, Trump declared at a rally Wednesday. This is too tough to do it alone. But you know what? I think Im gonna be forced to.

The GOP standard-bearer then offered some advice to those Republicans who think the government should not discriminate against citizens on the basis of their religious beliefs.

Dont talk. Please, be quiet, Trump said. Just be quiet, to the leaders, because they have to get tougher, they have to get sharper, they have to get smarter, and we have to have our Republicans either stick together or let me just do it by myself.

To demonstrate the kind of toughness our country needs, Trump called for the respectful surveillance of American mosques.

We have to maybe check, respectfully, the mosques, and we have to check other places, Trump explained. Because this is a problem that, if we dont solve it, its going to eat our country alive.

The man is a listener, not a talker.
Noor Salman with her husband and son. Photo: Facebook

Good morning and welcome to Fresh Intelligence, our roundup of the stories, ideas, and memes youll be talking about today. In this edition, the Feds convene a grand jury to investigate Omar Mateens wife, Hillary Clinton sweeps D.C., and Boeing makes a deal with Iran. Heres the rundown for Wednesday, June 15.

WEATHER

More severe storms are on the horizon today for the already inundated Midwest. Rain is expected  as usual  in the Pacific Northwest, and they might even see snow in the Rockies. On the East Coast, hot temperatures should stand up just fine to a smattering of thunderstorms, and in New York City, expect a muggy day with temperatures in the mid-80s and showers come evening. [USA Today]

FRONT PAGE

Grand Jury Will Investigate Orlando Gunmans Wife

A federal grand jury will be convened to investigate Noor Salman, the wife of Omar Mateen, the man who killed 49 people in a mass shooting at an Orlando gay club over the weekend. News of the grand jury comes after reports that Salman told the FBI she knew of her husbands plans  its unclear whether she tried to talk him out of them or not  and that she also helped plan the attack by driving him to the club to scope it out as a possible venue for mass murder. Fox News is also reporting that Mateen may have called his wife during the shooting and that she told investigators the club was her husbands second choice for the massacre after downtown Disney. [Fox]

President and Next President Respond to Trumps Racist Tirade

President Obama and presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton both reacted to Donald Trumps anti-immigrant responses to the mass shooting in Orlando with televised speeches yesterday. President Obama didnt mention Trump by name but could not disguise his anger when he decried the xenophobic rhetoric of the Republican campaign: Where does this stop? Are we going to start treating all Muslim-Americans differently? Do Republican officials actually agree with this? Because thats not the America we want  it doesnt reflect our democratic ideals. It wont make us more safe. It will make us less safe. Clinton made similar points in her speech, calling Trump out directly and saying, What Donald Trump is saying is shameful. [NYT]

Sanders: Who Needs Leverage to Negotiate?

Bernie Sanders met with Hillary Clinton last night after she decisively  were talking more than 75 percent of the vote decisively  beat Sanders in the final Democratic primary in Washington, D.C. According to people close to the discussion, Clinton asked Sanders what she needs to do to get his endorsement while Sanders was mostly interested in how best to enact changes in the Democratic party platform, and what he sees as an unfair election process.

Trumps Putin Alliance Pays Dividends, Remember When People Were Shocked by Watergate?

Democratic party officials announced yesterday that Russian government hackers breached the Democratic National Committees security. There were in fact two groups of Russia-based hackers named Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear  were not making this up  that gained access to all of the Democratic partys emails and internal chats. It appears they focused on the so-called oppositional research the party had been compiling on Trump. Trump has often proclaimed a fondness for Russian leader Vladimir Putin and has said he would like to have him as an ally if he becomes president. Not that were implying any kind of connection  please dont take away our press credentials! [WaPo]

CIA Further Declassifies Torture Documents

The CIA has further declassified a raft of documents referring to the agencys interrogation techniques  read: torture. The 50 declassified documents were released in response to multiple Freedom of Information Act lawsuits and show how CIA agents were disgusted and racked with guilt over the treatment of prisoners and how the agency urged them to not leave a paper trail or question the legality of their actions. The documents also reveal details of an intra-agency investigation of a prisoners death, which divulges details such as how he was kept naked from the waist down in near-freezing conditions. No one has been charged with any crimes stemming from the program. [Politico]

THE STREET, THE VALLEY

Americans Still Buying Lots of Things

Data released yesterday reveals that retail sales grew sharply in May, showing that even though job creation has slowed and gas (and basically everything else) has gotten more expensive, you really cant keep Americans from buying things. Lots of things. Expensive things. [Reuters]

Boeing Gets Into the Pissing-Off-Republicans Business

Iran state media is reporting that the country has reached a deal with Boeing and will spend billions on new commercial aircrafts in a bid to upgrade its aging fleet. Many obstacles still remain for the company, but apparently it has the U.S. governments permission to pursue the deal with Iran, which should really piss everyone off. [NYT]

Courts: Anything Opposed by Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T Must Be Worth Doing

In a major victory for the Obama administration, a federal court has upheld the Federal Communications Commissions net-neutrality regulations and come down strongly in favor of an open internet, meaning cable and internet providers are like utilities and cannot give companies access to faster internet if they pay more. To the Supreme Court! [Bloomberg]

Oracle Bets Big on Womens Education

After pledging $200 million to the White Houses Computer Science for All initiative in April, software company Oracle is now adding another $3 million earmarked for girls education in science, math, and technology around the world. [CNet]

MEDIA BUBBLE

Napsters 15-Year-Long Sellout Finally Complete

Napster is coming back. Not the Napster youre thinking of  the illegal file-sharing service that necessitated the modern streaming model and is the reason we have every Metallica recording ever made  but something totally different with Napsters name on it. Now Napster will be the name of Rhapsodys new music-streaming service (Rhapsody is the completely legal music service that bought out Napster in 2011). Somewhere Radiohead is weeping, but thats always true. [CNet]

Business As Usual: Viacom Board Members Publicly Beg Sumner Redstone to Talk to Them

In an open letter released yesterday, Fred Salerno, Viacoms lead independent director, straight-up begged the companys controlling shareholder, Sumner Redstone, to please, please let the board look into selling off a stake in Paramount Films. The board has been desperately trying to speak to the 93-year-old media tycoon whose mental competency theyve questioned, and who they claim is being manipulated by his family. [Bloomberg]

Where Did Twitter Get $70 Million?

It has emerged that Twitter invested $70 million in the music-streaming service SoundCloud. Twitter has long been obsessed with finding a way to integrate music into its platform, so maybe this is part of that rumored Twitter Music reboot weve been hearing so much about? [Reuters]

PHOTO OP

A Good Sign

Social media was dominated by this picture of a rainbow over Pulse nightclub yesterday.

Where this rainbow starts is where #Pulse is. This is truly amazing! Pulse is directly behind that Salvation truck. pic.twitter.com/M26eFgSRfQ  Craig Lucie (@CraigLucie) June 14, 2016

MORNING MEME

# LGBTQHatesTrumpParty

Does Donald still think hes an ally?

OTHER LOCAL NEWS

Seinfeldian Scheme Lands Man in Jail, and Its Not a Make-Your-Own-Pizza Restaurant

A Genesee County, Michigan, man is facing up to five years in jail after being caught with more than 10,000 empty bottles he was reportedly planning to illegally redeem for cash. In Michigan its a felony to return more than 10,000 containers knowingly purchased out of state. Too bad the man got it all wrong: Its Mothers Day, not Fathers Day that is the mother of all mail days. [Livingston Daily]

This Year, in Spiveys Corner No One Will Hear You Scream

We have some sad news. Spiveys Corner, North Carolinas world-famous National Hollerin Contest is no more. The contests organizers say that mounting costs  for what exactly?  and a lack of interest have forced them to put an end to the 47-year-old contest. The goal of the competition was to preserve the rural art of hollerin, or yelling at each other, which was popular and useful before the days of the telephone. Dont worry North Carolina, the art of yelling at each other is still alive and well in Congress. [Times-News]

HAPPENING TODAY

White House Visit Has A-Lama Bells Ringing in China

President Obama is set to meet the Dalai Lama at the White House today, proving, if nothing else, that the West is as adept at using the spiritual leader of the 150,000 Tibetans living in exile as a pawn as China is. The meeting is sure to anger China, which sees the Lama as the leader of a violent separatist movement, but if they still dont get the message, President Obama will also likely be meeting with Taiwans president next week. [Reuters]

Janet Yellen, World Listenin

Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen is set to host a press conference today, and although the chance of her announcing the much-anticipated  and, in some quarters, dreaded  interest-rate hike is remarkably slim, the countrys moneymakers will be listening closely for any clues as to when any movement on those rates may be announced in the future. [News.Markets]

Republicans Escalate Battle With Head Taxman

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is planning to officially censure Internal Revenue Service commissioner John A. Koskinen today for what it sees as his poor performance. Many Republicans hope this will lead to Koskinens impeachment, although it will almost certainly not. [NYT]
Representative Maloney has now introduced the amendment three times. Photo: Tom Williams/2016 CQ-Roll Call, Inc.

House Republicans are yet again blocking the passage of an amendment barring federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity  this time by refusing to allow it to come to vote. The same amendment, proposed by New York Representative Sean Patrick Maloney, has been attached to two previous bills, both of which were quashed by Republicans: the first failed to pass after anti-gay Republicans strong-armed their colleagues into changing their votes at the last minute, and the second collapsed a few weeks later.

This third bill was slated to come up for a vote this week, the Hill reports. But the House Rules Committee failed to green-light it for a vote Tuesday night. This time, the timing is significant. Maloney and his supporters argued that passing the amendment in the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, in which a lone-wolf gunman murdered 49 people at a gay club, would show solidarity with the victims.

Its hard to imagine that any act that is so horrific could lead to anything positive, he said. But if we were going to do anything, it would be a very positive step to say that discrimination has no place in our law and to reaffirm the presidents actions in this area. Seems to me a pretty basic thing to do.

He compared his legislation with laws passed after the shooting at a historically African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina, restricting the use of the Confederate flag symbol. They also responded by acting and by recognizing that symbols and language matter, he said. Because hate has no place in our flags, in our workplace, or in our country. And it should have no place in federal law.

House leaderships decision to postpone the vote on Maloneys amendment came the same day Democrats protested Congresss failure to pass gun-control measures following the shooting. After House Speaker Paul Ryan called for a moment of silence for the victims, many Democrats walked out or loudly chanted, Wheres the bill? The moment of silence is an act of respect and we supported that, but it is not a license to do nothing, Representative Nancy Pelosi said at the time. And Republicans have afforded it that power.
Photo: Happyfun Hideaway/Facebook

A little more than a day after the bloody rampage at Pulse nightclub that left 49 dead, the NYPD arrested a 40-year-old man after he aggressively threatened a Brooklyn gay bar and warned a bouncer that he was going to come back Orlando-style.

Cops said 40-year-old Justin Rice had been arguing with his girlfriend at Happyfun Hideway in Bushwick when bar staff asked the pair to calm down. They did not, and a bouncer escorted Rice out, which set him off. You fucking f-ts, Rice screamed, police sources told the Daily News. Im going to shoot this place up and get my 50 just like Orlando, Florida, he yelled. Im going to come back Orlando-style! Rice also tried to punch the bouncer and flung a metal bucket filled with sand at him, though the bouncer managed to restrain the belligerent man until the NYPD showed up and arrested him.

The horrible encounter took place shortly after 11 p.m. Monday. Rice has been charged with aggravated harassment, attempted assault, making a terrorist threat, and menacing as a hate crime. Hes currently being held at Rikers and is due in court on Friday.
Photo: Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

Police have described Orlando gunman Omar Mateen as cool and calm in his conversations with police after hed shot his way through Pulse, the gay nightclub where he staged his bloody attack. Now, more details are emerging about the hostage standoff in those hours between just after 2 a.m., when Mateen stormed into the club, and around 5 a.m., when police breached the bars walls and exchanged fire with the gunman, killing him.

According to officials, Mateen threatened to strap explosive vests onto four victims, direct them to separate corners of the club, and blow them up. Survivors say Mateens statements also made them think he had bombs or other devices that he planned to detonate. He told his hostages that he had snipers trained on the building  but right now signs indicate he acted alone.

Mateens warnings, and texts and phone calls that leaked from hostages inside the club made police strongly believe that  even after Mateen was fatally shot  he may have left explosives behind. The New York Times reports that Mateen did have a backpack, and some sort of battery pack next to him, which heightened that fear. All indications were it was booby-trapped, said Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer. No explosives were recovered.

Mateen apparently made multiple phone calls during the hostage standoff, including his check-ins with the police. He called 911 and declared his allegiance to ISIS, and called the Tsarnaev brothers his homeboys. He called News 13, a local news station, and declared his affiliation with ISIS to one producer who answered the phone around 2:45 a.m. He identified himself as the shooter, and told the producer: I did it for ISIS. I did it for the Islamic State.

Mateen also dialed a friend or acquaintance who lived in Florida, sources told the Washington Post, but theyre investigating that call and havent speculated yet on what was said between the two.

Survivors also overhead these calls of solidarity with ISIS, and one witness reported hearing Mateen say he was motivated to do this so Americans would stop bombing his country. Others overhead him speaking in what they believed was Arabic. Another survivor, held hostage by the gunman in a bathroom, said at one point Mateen asked if there were any black people in the room. You know I dont have a problem with black people, Mateen apparently announced. This is about my country. You guys suffered enough.

Investigators also told CBS News that Mateen posted a statement, riddled with errors, on social media before he carried out the bloody rampage. In it, he warned of ISIS attacks:

NEW: Orlando gunman Omar Mateen posted the following Facebook status, moments before attack, source tells CBS News: pic.twitter.com/u1j5e0LZGv  CBS News (@CBSNews) June 15, 2016

Authorities have linked at least four Facebook accounts to Mateen, which theyll be poring through as part of the expansive investigation into the shooters activities in the lead-up to the massacre.

This post has been updated to include information about Mateens social media activities.
#NeverTrump commissar Erick Erickson appears tempted by Trumps latest outrages. Photo: Fox News

Theres a lot of talk today about the efforts of Republican pols to separate themselves from Donald Trumps reaction to the Orlando massacre  well, not all his reaction, but the part about explicitly discriminating against Muslims and people from countries with a lot of Muslims. Speaker Paul Ryan, who will soon be presiding over Trumps coronation as the GOP presidential nominee, went out of his way to call a ban on Muslim immigration an idea that is un-Republican and un-American. Others are probably privately appalled by the Trump campaigns neo-Nixonian exclusion of Washington Post reporters from his events. The Posts sin, as I argued yesterday, was to take seriously Trumps remarks about the president, which were either an accusation of semi-treason or an incoherent word salad.

But Trump playing the ogre may have actually softened opposition to him in some conservative quarters of the GOP. Check out this reaction from #NeverTrump stalwart Erick Erickson, last seen looking high and low for somebody to run against Trump as an independent:

I couldnt care less for Donald Trump. I will not vote for the man. But yesterday he did two good things. First, he gave a good speech. True, the bar is quite low for Donald Trump. But he exceeded it yesterday. He did not dwell on banning muslims, but pivoted to a more reasonable approach first championed by Ted Cruz, i.e. temporarily banning immigration from countries with well known terrorist activity Second, Trump banned the Washington Post from covering his events. They deserved it. Look, lets be honest. Donald Trump is a 9/11 truther. It is not unreasonable to think, given that, that he also believes President Obama is a closet muslim sleeper cell of one hell bent on American destruction. But Trump never said it. The Washington Post, though, ran a headline that declared Trump believed this. The Washington Post ultimately changed the headline, but never apologized.

You have to appreciate that Ericksons disdain for Trump probably isnt like yours, gentle readers, or even Paul Ryans or William Kristols. In his statement of permanent opposition to Trump way back in February, Erickson made it clear that the tycoon just wasnt right-wing enough:

Donald Trump believes the federal government should fund Planned Parenthood. Donald Trump believes there are good things the child killers do. What is most damning is how so many are willing to be compromised by Donald Trump. For eight years the conservative movement compromised itself as a wing of George W. Bushs Republican Party. The movement became ill defined and conservative became a synonym with Republican.

Yep, Trumps just too much like the RINO George W. Bush for any True Conservative to support. So its not surprising that when Trump conspicuously mocks the solicitude for moderate Muslims that W. shares with Obama, and lashes back at the godless liberal media, old Ericks right knee is bound to jerk a bit.

But: [T]wo things in one day does not a campaign make. It has to make you wonder if four or five days of such redemptive things would make the people Erickson represents, if not Erickson himself, see the brighter side of Donald J. Trump  the side whose enemies are enemies of their own. I suspect well find that out at some point between now and Cleveland.
Clintons early advantage could be re-emerging. Photo: Jeff Swensen/2016 Getty Images

Ever since Hillary Clinton was generally acknowledged as having won the Democratic presidential nomination and Donald Trump went a little medieval on a Mexican judge, political observers have noted a small but steady rise in Clintons standing in general-election trial heats against Donald Trump, with or without Libertarian or Green candidates included. Now comes a reputable survey from Bloomberg showing Clintons lead has grown to 12 percent  or a landslide territory.

The survey was conducted by Ann Selzer, whose uncharacteristic miss in predicting the winner of the Iowa Republican caucus earlier this year doesnt detract much from her overall record of accuracy. And the poll has a likely voter screen, unlike many taken at this early stage (pre-stage, really) of the general-election contest.

Selzer has Clinton with 49 percent, Trump with 37 percent, and Gary Johnson with 9 percent. Recent polls including Johnson have given him comparable or even higher numbers, but theyve pegged Clintons lead at low single-digits. So this one is something new, and if reinforced by others, could show that Clinton has regained the solid lead she enjoyed over Trump earlier this year. The poll still shows some reluctance from Sanders supporters to get behind Clinton, so her lead appears mainly attributable to Trumps continued weaknesses. Hes at 50 percent among white men, which is 12 points lower than Mitt Romneys 2012 showing. Meanwhile, 55 percent of voters  and 63 percent of women  currently say they could never vote for Trump. Thats a real problem for the mogul, particularly since Clintons never percentage is a mere 43 percent.

You could make the argument that Johnsons support levels are likely to fade down the stretch, with Trump disproportionately benefiting. But that will only matter if the two-candidate gap narrows significantly.

The Bloomberg poll also asked smaller sample questions about the Orlando massacre and the appropriate response, but in that realm it tells us what we already knew: A small majority opposes an assault-gun ban, and Trump has a narrow lead over Clinton as the better candidate to fight terrorism. But sizable majorities oppose Trumps signature proposals to ban Muslim immigration and to subject Muslims already here to greater law-enforcement scrutiny.
Gun buddies. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

Donald Trump is coming for your guns  if youre a suspected terrorist, anyway. On Wednesday, the GOP nominee announced that he would push the NRA to support a ban on firearm sales to anyone on the terror watch list.

I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2016

The gun-rights group quickly replied that it does not, in fact, love it when terrorists buy guns.

Happy to meet @realdonaldtrump. Our position is no guns for terroristsperiod. Due process & right to self-defense for law-abiding Americans  NRA (@NRA) June 15, 2016

The executive director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action, Chris W. Cox, elaborated on the groups position in a written statement.

We are happy to meet with Donald Trump. The NRAs position on this issue has not changed. The NRA believes that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms, period. Anyone on a terror watchlist who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing. If an investigation uncovers evidence of terrorist activity or involvement, the government should be allowed to immediately go to court, block the sale, and arrest the terrorist. At the same time, due process protections should be put in place that allow law-abiding Americans who are wrongly put on a watchlist to be removed. That has been the position of Sen. John Cornyn (R.-Tex.) and a majority of the U.S. Senate. Sadly, President Obama and his allies would prefer to play politics with this issue.

Some progressive advocates of gun reform question the sincerity of the groups statement.

.@passantino The reality is that the @NRA has repeatedly killed legislative efforts that would make their position workable. #Enough  Nicholas Blake (@NCBlake) June 15, 2016

But, at least superficially, the NRA appears to have taken a sensible position on the issue. While prohibiting suspected terrorists from accessing firearms might seem like a no-brainer, such legislation would ostensibly give the Executive branch the unilateral authority to revoke the constitutional rights of American citizens without due process. Remember, we are not talking about individuals who have been convicted of terrorism, but those merely identified as suspects, often on the basis of limited evidence. Last year, the Intercept published a 2013 document outlining the Obama administrations criteria for labeling an individual a suspected terrorist. Those official guidelines stipulated that concrete facts werent required to make that designation. While one might trust President Obama to exercise that authority responsibly, the fact that Donald Trump has a better-than-zero chance of becoming our next president should alert progressives to the hazards of unchecked executive power.

All of which is to say, the NRAs concern with due-process protections is reasonable. And delaying gun sales to those under investigation  without formally revoking their Second Amendment rights (as regrettably construed under District of Columbia v. Heller)  seems like a sound way of protecting public safety without establishing a legal precedent that undermines basic civil liberties.

That said, gun-reform advocates contend that the specific bill the NRA references in its statement is not a serious one. Everytown for Gun Safety president John Feinblatt writes in The Hill:

Cornyns proposal would require the Department of Justice to prove to a judge that a suspected terrorist has already committed or will actually commit an act of terrorism  a standard so high that its practically meaningless. And DOJ would have only 72 hours to do the nearly impossible. Otherwise, a potentially dangerous gun sale could proceed.



Regardless, Cornyns bill failed to pass the Senate when it was introduced last year.
Photo: Alex Brandon/AP

Yesterday, the Washington Post reported that Russian government hackers penetrated the computer network of the Democratic National Committee and gained access to the entire database of opposition research on GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, according to committee officials and security experts who responded to the breach.

The intruders so thoroughly compromised the DNCs system they also were able to read all email and chat traffic, said DNC officials and  security experts, noted the Post. According to Crowdstrike, the cybersecurity firm the DNC called in to staunch the bleeding, the snooping and eventual heist involved two groups of hackers which Crowdstrike dubbed  a bit too cutely  Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear. Both were working for the Russian government, but working independently.

Someone claiming to be one of the hackers forwarded to Gawker what is allegedly one of the purloined documents, and Gawker embedded it in a post a couple hours ago (you can read or download the document itself here). Gawkers Sam Biddle and Gabrielle Bluestone write that according to embedded metadata [it] was created by a Democratic strategist named Warren Flood  [and] was created on December 19th, 2015. While the reporters werent able to immediately confirm the authenticity of the document, which is titled Donald Trump Report, if it isnt real then it took a Herculean effort to fake: Its more than 200 pages long and certainly looks like an internal DNC document. (In addition to the 12/19/15 date stamped on the front, a search for the term 2016 only reveals references to the election cycle rather than to anything that occurred this year, but there are references to events from December 2015, suggesting it is, in fact, from six months ago.)

Seven pages into the report, as Gawker notes, the document lists five Top Narratives that the DNC apparently believes will be key to defeating Trump, each section headlined in all caps: TRUMP HAS NO CORE (that is, he says whatever he wants for people to like him), DIVISIVE AND OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN, BAD BUSINESSMAN, DANGEROUS & IRRESPONSIBLE POLICIES, and MISOGYNIST IN CHIEF. According to Biddle and Bluestone, It appears that virtually all of the claims are derived from published sources, as opposed to independent investigations or mere rumor. Among other issues, these sections raise Trumps embrace of birtherism, his repeated false statements about Muslims in New Jersey celebrating 9/11, his call for a ban on Muslim entry into the United States, and the many bankruptcies he has racked up as a businessman.

This is a document from December, and surely there are various ways in which the Democratic anti-Trump strategy has evolved since then, especially as he started to knock out other candidates and assert himself as the presumptive nominee. But still, the document jibes with the commonsense notion that the Democratic Party doesnt feel the need to make any particularly fancy or complicated arguments about Donald Trump  he is, by this point, an extremely well-defined candidate, for better or worse.
Hes got something else in mind. Photo: Mark Makela/Getty Images

On Monday, Donald Trump said that Barack Obama might get the threat posed by radical Islamic terrorism better than anybody understands. This was not an endorsement of the presidents counterterrorism strategy. Rather, the Republican nominee was allowing for the possibility that Obamas failure to defeat ISIS is not an accident born of stupidity but an act of treason born of the presidents secret sympathies for radical Islam.

Were led by a man who is a very  look, were led by a man that either is, is not tough, not smart, or hes got something else in mind, Trump told Fox & Friends. And the something else in mind, you know, people cant believe it. People cannot  they cannot believe that President Obama is acting the ways he acts and cant even mention the words radical Islamic terrorism. Theres something going on. Its inconceivable.

Later, Trump disputed the idea that he had suggested President Obama might be complicit in ISIS terrorism. In fact, the GOP nominee found the notion so offensive, he revoked the Washington Posts press credentials after the paper published the headline Donald Trump seems to connect President Obama to Orlando shooting. And yet, Trump reiterated his suggestion that the president might not want to win the War on Terror in a Monday night interview with Bill OReilly.

Nobody knows why he doesnt have more anger, why he doesnt have more competitive zeal, Trump observed. Hes a competitive person. Why doesnt he have competitive zeal to knock them out?

Now Trump has tripled down on the insinuation.

An: Media fell all over themselves criticizing what DonaldTrump "may have insinuated about @POTUS." But he's right: https://t.co/bIIdYtvZYw  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2016

Here, the GOP nominee ostensibly quotes a supporter saying he was right about what he may have insinuated about the president, as evidenced by an intelligence document obtained by Breitbart. The conservative publication (turned Donald Trump fanzine) headlines its story Hillary Clinton Received Secret Memo Stating Obama Admin Support for ISIS. As a general rule, when Breitbart feels compelled to put a claim in quotes, one can assume that claim is patently false.

Contrary to Trumps insinuation, the memo does not outline Obamas plan to declare himself the caliph of the Islamic State West. Rather, the 2012 document merely notes that Al Qaeda in Iraq, one of the groups that evolved into ISIS, was a member of the Syrian opposition that the West, Gulf countries and Turkey were supporting at the time. The memo does not celebrate this (widely known) fact; it merely states it. The document offers no evidence to support the suggestion that Obama has something else in mind with regards to ISIS. On the contrary, it suggests that the administrations reluctance to intervene more dramatically in Syria was informed by concerns about the ideological orientation of the opposition forces.

Regardless, its hard to interpret Trumps tweet as anything other than a confession that the darkest interpretation of his initial comments was correct  that he really did suggest Obama supports the Islamic State. That charge is unlikely to arrest Trumps polling free fall; a Bloomberg survey released Tuesday found 61 percent of Americans disapprove of the claim.

But the horse-race implications are beside the point. This is a profoundly dangerous suggestion for a major political figure to be making. If the president were actually an agent of a foreign enemy, imagine the sort of actions that would become justifiable. Or let the Republican nominees former butler imagine them for you.
Somehow Jews and Asian-Americans prefer her over Trump. Photo: Barbara Davidson/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

American Jews, Milton Himmelfarb wrote 60 years ago, earn like Episcopalians and vote like Puerto Ricans. Jewish Republicans have spent most of the time since then alternating between hopeful predictions that this anomaly would cease, and bitter recriminations as to why it persists. In recent years, Asian-Americans have joined Jews as a demographic curiosity, voting far more heavily Democratic than their aggregate income profile would suggest. Republican staffers Lanhee Chen and Tevi Troy have an op-ed in todays Wall Street Journal that falls into the latter category, puzzling over the stubborn tendency of their brethren to forsake the GOP. Their answer is the insidious propaganda of the elite universities they attend.

In the U.S. population at large, the possession of a college or postgraduate degree has been a predictor of Democratic Party affiliation. We believe, in particular, that the liberal leanings of many professors at elite schools likely play an important role, they write. Chen and Troy urge young Jews and Asians to resist propagandization: Now that youre heading to university, you need not sublimate your own views to impress your professors or others around you.

It is true that Jews and Asians are more likely than most groups to belong to the highest-earning one percent, which Republicans lavish with tax cuts whenever they gain power. It is also true that academia tends to lean far to the left of America as a whole. But the notion that Jews and Asians are suppressing their natural agreement with the party of Donald Trump in order to impress some liberal professor is wildly at odds with the actual forces at work in American politics.

Over the last several decades, the Republican Party may have been harnessed to a policy agenda that caters to the affluent, but its political coalition has been anchored to a cohesive ethno-nationalistic bloc of white Christians opposed to cultural change. Its political style is visceral rather than intellectual  think George W. Bush dismissing Al Gores statistics about his tax-cut plan by joking that his opponent invented the calculator, or any of the words that came out of Sarah Palins mouth, or, of course, Trump. The modern Republican Party has alienated people with higher education levels, not because they are sucking up to their liberal English professor, but because they expect politicians to consider science and evidence in their policymaking. The entire liberal wing of the Republican Party has defected. (Indeed, Episcopalians these days now vote like Puerto Ricans, too.)

Its not an accident that the news network associated with this party annually whips up hysteria about a War on Christmas, or that Trump promises that his election will mean more people saying Merry Christmas rather than Happy Holidays. Obviously, people who dont celebrate Christmas are not going to find that promise inspirational. But the voters on all sides understand that Trump is promising something broader than a different holiday greeting. Indeed, he isnt actually promising that at all, since presidents have little power to change how we greet each other in December. What hes promising is a restoration of an older social hierarchy.

One of the delusions of right-wing politics is the belief that Democrats are held together by identity politics, while Republicans appeal to their voters on the basis of abstract ideals. From that mistaken premise, the loyalty of various Democratic constituencies can be seen as a gigantic error. What this ignores is the degree to which Republican politics is also identity politics, and the lack of support from groups that dont share its idealized identities is anything but strange.
Photo: Center for Disease Control/National Archives Catalog

As Science of Us has noted before, trust in the medical establishment is really, really important. Its important both because the medical Establishment (usually) makes a good-faith effort to provide people with solid, empirically supported health information in a manner that hucksters dont, but also for a simpler reason: If people dont trust doctors, they wont go in for checkups or for care when they need it.

For a particularly grim example, take the Tuskegee experiment. Thats the subject of a recently published National Bureau of Economic Research working paper by Marcella Alsan, a public-health researcher at Stanford, and Marianne Wanamaker, a University of Tennessee economist. They summarize this unethical and deadly experiment, which they call one of the most egregious examples of medical exploitation in U.S. history, thusly:

For 40 years, between 1932 and 1972, the U.S. Public Health Service ( PHS ) followed hundreds of poor, black men in Tuskegee Alabama, the majority of whom had syphilis, for the stated purpose of understanding the natural history of the disease. The men were denied highly effective treatment for their condition (most egregiously, penicillin, which became standard of care by the mid-1940s) and were actively discouraged from seeking medical advice from practitioners outside the study. Participants were subjected to blood draws, spinal taps, and, eventually, autopsies, by the studys primarily white medical staff. Survivors later reported that study doctors diagnosed them with bad blood for which they believed they were being treated. Compensation for participation included hot meals, the guise of treatment, and burial payments. News of the Tuskegee study became public in 1972 in an expose by Jean Heller of the Associated Press, and detailed narratives of the deception and its relationship to the medical establishment were widespread. By that point, the majority of the studys victims were deceased, many from syphilis-related causes. [citations removed, but you can find them in the text itself]

Since the experiment, the authors point out, various public-health researchers have noticed that when they interview African-Americans about their views on the health system, they will often bring up Tuskegee unprompted  it left a deep scar on the country, yes, but on this population in particular. Why should you trust doctors, and particularly white doctors, when the government can allow something this awful to happen?

Which raised an extremely depressing question for Alsan and Wanamaker, and one that no one had yet fully tried to answer: If you tried to measure the damage done not by the Tuskegee experiment itself, but by the aftermath, in the form of mistrust for the medical establishment, as news of it spread through various African-American communities, what would the results be?

To figure this out, the duo crunched a bunch of data from the General Social Survey (a big, comprehensive survey of Americans attitudes and behaviors that has been administered for decades), health seeking behavior reported in the National Health Interview Survey, and detailed annual mortality data available by race, age group, gender and cause from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The results, summed up in the papers abstract:

We find that the historical disclosure of the study in 1972 is correlated with increases in medical mistrust and mortality and decreases in both outpatient and inpatient physician interactions for older black men. Our estimates imply life expectancy at age 45 for black men fell by up to 1.4 years in response to the disclosure, accounting for approximately 35% of the 1980 life expectancy gap between black and white men.

That is pretty astounding  think about how a life-expectancy drop of 1.4 years translates across the millions of black men who have lived and died since then. And when you consider all the other factors that contribute to the life-expectancy gap between black and white men  all the factors that contribute to institutionalized racism and inequities in health and health-care access, basically  for a full third of that gap to be traceable back to the disclosure of the Tuskegee experiment is shocking.

Two other important details: One is that, as you may have noticed from the specificity of the at age 45 for black men phrasing above, the researchers did not find this effect among black women or younger black men. The researchers expected this, writing that the mortality and healthseeking behavior of younger individuals is generally driven by acute conditions such as childbirth or trauma in which the needs for care are urgent and the benefits immediate. If youre about to have a baby, or you have sliced your head open, the urgency of the situation will likely outweigh your mistrust for doctors, in other words. Older people, who are more prone to chronic illness and a variety of preventable ailments anyway, are more likely to bear the brunt of the damage from mistrust in doctors. The researchers also conjecture that the disclosure [of the experiment] had a stronger impact on the behavior of individuals who more readily identified with the studys mostly illiterate black males subjects, which could partially account for both the age and gender differences.

Second, the researchers found that the closer a given African-American male represented in this study was to Tuskegee itself, the more the likelihood theyd exhibit decreased life expectancy and/or increased mistrust of the medical system. Alsan and Wanamaker note that theyre not sure why this is the case, but that geography may capture information spread through formal and informal networks or cultural similarity[.] (Suffice it to say that geography mattered more in 1972, when the experiment was disclosed, than it would today, given the internet and social media.)

Its worth pointing out that this is a working paper, meaning it hasnt been peer-reviewed (though based on the acknowledgements on the front page, the authors got informal feedback from a small army of other researchers). And as with any other quantitative analysis of a complicated subject, its inevitable other researchers will pop their heads in and nitpick  there are tons of technical details in the papers PDF, for those with the appetite and expertise to dig through them. But the effects here are so large that its quite unlikely anyone will point to some flaw that topples Alsan and Wanamakers extremely depressing, important core findings.
Photo: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

In his ongoing quest to give us all Tidal FOMO, Kanye West has added a new track to his ever-expanding album The Life of Pablo. The new song is called Saint Pablo, after his son, Saint West (dont worry, North West  we remembered your birthday even if dad didnt). Like many songs on the album, Saint Pablo dabbles in both the sacred and profane, the introspective and the wildly braggadocious, interspersing laments about his extensive personal debt and declarations of faith with lines like generations closest thing to Einstein and Ive been waking the spirits of millions and the ultimate Gemini. Still, as Chance the Rapper recently said of Kanye: If I was the greatest artist of this generation, and the few past generations, and a few generations going forward, Id probably say it all the time. Lets examine:

After kicking off the song with a few lines about his money troubles, Kanye clarifies that we shouldnt worry about him. Hes doing fine!

I know Im the most influential / That TIME cover was just confirmation / This generations closest thing to Einstein / So dont worry about me, Im fine

Plus, he can literally see into the future:

I can see a thousand years from now in real life / Skate on the paradigm and shift it when I feel like / Grow conventional thought, dont need to question / I know its antiquated so sometimes I get aggressive

Hes better at having money than other people who have money (even if a lot of it probably belongs to Kris Jenner):

Most Blacks with money have been beaten to submission / Yeezy with the big house, did it way different

Astrology!

The ultimate Gemini has survived

Basically hes Jesus, just with more illegal downloads:

Ive been waking the spirits of millions more to come / A million illegally downloaded my truth over the drums

He is one with the people, for real:

I am one with the people / I am one with the people, real

But hes also totally good at Instagram (even if hes not as good as Kim):

Ive been working from enlightened mans dream / Checking Instagram comments to crowdsource my self-esteem

His life is basically one long cut scene from the movie Jobs:

When I was negotiating with Apple, it was Larry and me / Told Tim Cook to call me, I was scary to see

Yadda yadda, more stuff about him being a God:

Im praying a out-of-body experience will happen / So the people can see my light, now its not just rapping

But until he ascends to the skies like Donda on a flying horse, hell just settle for being a modern-day Michael Jackson:

Modern day MJ with an off-the-wall flow

Happy birthday, North!
Amber Heard Photo: Splash News

Amber Heards lawyer recently dropped the request for $50,000 a month of spousal support from estranged husband Johnny Depp; the focus of the case is now entirely about getting Heard a domestic violence restraining order against Depp, whom she alleged physically abused her during their relationship.





Page Six reports that, at Fridays hearing, Heard, along with friend iO Tillett Wright  who has been vocal about her support for Amber  and neighbor Raquel Rose Pennington will also testify under oath against Depp.

Amber and two of her friends are willing to testify under oath about exactly what happened with Depp, a source told Page Six. This will put an end to anyone who has doubted her story and his lawyers claims that this is about money.

Depp, meanwhile, is not expected to attend the hearing, as he is on vacation in the Bahamas.
Photo: Eric Kayne/Getty Images

A Texas county judge threw out a misdemeanor charge against the anti-abortion activist who was accused of trying to purchase fetal tissue after secretly filming Planned Parenthood last year.

The judges reasoning for dropping the misdemeanor charge was largely based on a technicality  and an ironic one at that.

The judge overseeing the case in Harris County, Texas, said prosecutors had failed to note exceptions to the law, which forbids the sale of human organs. Failure to negate such exceptions in the original indictment ultimately made the charge void, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Essentially, its illegal to profit off the sale of human organs, but its perfectly standard procedure to be compensated for the administrative and shipping costs associated with the donation of fetal tissue. Exceptions include accepting reimbursement for things like shipping or doctors fees.

And, as the Houston Press noted, the rationale behind dropping the misdemeanor charge is ironic, given that its the same defense Planned Parenthood used when the anti-abortion activists charged them with profiting off baby parts.

The whole ordeal began last year when two anti-abortion activists, David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, of a group called Center for Medical Progress, hid their identities and secretly filmed interactions with Planned Parenthood staff.

They then produced a series of highly edited videos that purportedly showed Planned Parenthood employees offering to sell aborted fetal tissue. (Which, of course, is illegal and Planned Parenthood has not been found to do.)

But their plan to expose (or rather, failure to expose) wrongdoing at Planned Parenthood backfired in January. Thats when a grand jury declined to indict Planned Parenthood and instead indicted the anti-abortion videographers.

The two were charged with a felony for tampering with government records when they used fake IDs; and Daleiden was specifically charged with a misdemeanor for trying to profit off of selling the same baby parts he claimed Planned Parenthood had been trying to sell.

Daleidon hasnt been let off scot-free, though. The misdemeanor was the lesser of the charges he faces, including a felony count for allegedly tampering with government records (re: the fake ID).

And lets not forget that Planned Parenthood also sued his group, the Center for Medical Progress.

So stay tuned.
Photo: James Warwick/Getty Images

Hi, Polly,

I love your writing. It calls to me, your writing, your vulnerability, your truthfulness. Speaking of the last two, I have been in this wonderful relationship these last 15 months. She is warm and funny and has showed me the joy of being open and hurting and vulnerable to another human being. And yet, it is hard. Two gay women in India  no walk in the park. So I must ask, if you do publish this letter, please let it be anonymous.

Anyway, we are so perfectly imperfect that it is delicious. And wanton and soul-searing. And there are moments I would rip open my chest and hand her my heart if I could. And then there are moments I could crush her head against the wall. And people tell me that it is normal. That the ones closest to us bring out our dark sides. They press all our buttons because they can and they know how to. And there are moments where she feels the same.

I dont know why I am writing. Maybe I am writing because something in me wants to be acknowledged and seen by you. You, whose craft I admire and whose opinion I value. And maybe because in one of your articles, you mentioned a friend who married her wife at 36. And you said it with such ease and familiarity, and my heart ached because I want that too. Now. Here. In my country. And I cant. And it hurts, like a motherfucker. And I wonder, why me? What did I do to deserve this? And then I think, I didnt do anything to deserve this gorgeous girlfriend either. So maybe we have to just make do. Paraphrasing Tony Horton, we just need to show up and keep pushing play.

Burning

Dear Burning,

You wrote me this letter almost a year ago. I remember that I read it very early in the morning, on my phone, and it made me happy and then very sad, and I wanted to send you a reply immediately, something like, Lets find a way to get you to America, where you and your girlfriend can live out in the open! But I knew that was absurd and naive and it made me angry at myself, for being such a fucking child, for believing in the endless possibilities of the world simply because I grew up in a place and time that afforded me that luxury.

This morning, when I remembered your letter and read it again, it struck me as even more naive to tell you, Too bad you cant join us here, in America, where everything is perfect and we can all live free, out in the open, without fearing for our lives! That feels beyond deluded and naive now. Orlando reminded us that even when we think everything is changing for the better, some sad creature will still try to turn back the clock. It reminded us that basic freedoms can never be taken for granted, because someone somewhere will want to take that shit away from us, to snatch it out of our fucking hands without warning. Privilege makes you feel invulnerable and tricks you into thinking youre safe.

Meanwhile, public officials stand idly by and watch as a reckless politician  one whos repeatedly demonstrated that hes governed only by his own narcissistic, self-serving impulses and his grandiose delusions  stirs fear and paranoia in a populace thats already angry, afraid, and armed to the teeth.

Were watching something terrible unfold and people are still trying to pretend its business as usual. Thats privilege. Thats a luxury, to tell yourself that its almost sort of okay and normal for a presidential candidate to stand over 50 dead bodies and say I called it. When a human being is capable of that, it tells us that he believes that some people are disposable. When a police chief stands up in front of his city and, without crying or hanging his head in shame, explains why a 12-year-old with a fake gun milling about aimlessly in a park was assassinated by an angry, paranoid cop, we know that he believes that some people are disposable. More important, were reminded that our country has been fundamentally warped by systems built around the disposability of ordinary people. So how can some of us move on from this devastating event so easily?

Understand, I hate writing that indulges this kind of guilty privileged hand-wringing, this pious fucking I know how incredibly lucky I am horse shit. Its not enough. Forgive me for dragging out your letter now, for my purposes. I was feeling bad and I remembered it and maybe I just wanted to say Well, at least we have it better than they do in India. Maybe I wanted to use your ACTUAL LIFE as a big woobie, to comfort me that it could be worse.

Your letter matters more to me than that. Ive been carrying it in my heart for almost a year now, feeling inadequate in the face of what youre going through, not knowing how I would ever reply to you but knowing that I should. I want you to know that I see you, but Im not giving you power by seeing you. Youre giving me power by seeing me. The fact that you see me matters to me a lot. Your letter is not just another letter to me. The way you describe your love makes me want to love more deeply. Some days I think Im too busy and distracted to lay myself bare like that, but being vulnerable with another person is everything. Your letter reminded me that when youre open and hurting and vulnerable with another person, the way you are with your girlfriend, you matter. You matter not because of your value or your words or your power. You matter because you are reaching out, imperfectly. You are worthy because you are reaching out. You are worthy because you try, against all odds, to love in spite of huge obstacles.

So this is what I want to say to you and to a world that feels like its about to spin off its axis: We have to stay vulnerable to whats happening around us. When you want to crush your girlfriends head against the wall, thats you protecting yourself from feeling how deeply you care about and depend on her. Thats you wanting to bash your own head against the wall, for opening up and trusting someone else enough that you could be destroyed by it. When we look around us and we see a culture that treats us as disposable, we want to bash some fucking heads against the wall. When we see a motherfucker who not only holds forth at length on how its logical and right to be suspicious of people based on the color of their skin and their religion, but also asserts his intention to form policies around such profoundly racist, misguided notions, its natural for us to want to burn everything down to the fucking ground.

We cant burn it all down, though, and we cant close our eyes. We have to take action, but we also have to stay vulnerable. If were vulnerable to the truth of whats happening around us, if we treat the 50 people assassinated in Orlando as human beings and not disposable casualties of a greater struggle, if we take the risk of feeling the full force of this event, then we cant help but take action. There is something to be said for being open and hurting and vulnerable together without bashing anyones head in.

I know that these words are inadequate. Theres no way for anything I write to be enough. I cant do this very well, and Im honestly not sure I deserve to try. I used to write to writers I loved, too, hoping to be seen. The fact that Im on the other side of things now feels like an accident of fate. The fact that I wasnt in some nightclub when a gunman arrived feels like an accident of fate. And I wonder, why me? What did I do to deserve this? What did Eddie Justice do to deserve his fate?

We can never let our privilege trick us into thinking that those who suffer deserve their fate. We should never trick ourselves into believing that everything glorious around us is our own creation. We have to resist the urge to stand on the shoulders of giants and declare ourselves very, very tall.

If that feels unnecessarily dramatic, well, Id argue that this is a pretty goddamned good time for us to acknowledge the drama of whats unfolding around us. We have to stay vulnerable and look at these events with clear eyes. Before you decide to bite your tongue because its somehow unseemly to talk politics publicly, before you encourage your employees to keep their political views to themselves, consider just how high the stakes are right now. Remember those Germans who figured speaking out against the menacing rabble rouser in their midst was unseemly or wasnt in their best interest, so they bit their tongues until it was much too late. Lots of people fought very hard so we could stand where were standing now. But history also tells us that basic freedoms can never be taken for granted. We are vulnerable. We cant stop fighting. We have to be vigilant.

Humility is crucial. Asking What did I do to deserve this? is fundamentally important. We are in this together. We are linked to the past and the future, together. The actions we take matter. No one is disposable. When they tell us that some are disposable, its our duty as human beings to raise our voices and object. When we speak up together, our voices form a symphony.

Im sorry that you have to stay hidden, Burning. Please know that the strength of your heart comes through loud and clear in your words. Being vulnerable to the truth in front of your face is unbelievably brave. It matters. Thats true for all of us, no matter how passionate or enraged or weak or small we feel.

We dont have to feel unworthy because of what we have, or unworthy because of what we dont have. We are worthy because we reach out to each other. I see you. You see me. We are humble reflections of each other. Together, we feel stronger and more alive. This is all we have, and this is everything.

Polly

Order the new Ask Polly book, How To Be A Person in the World, here. Got a question for Polly? Email askpolly@nymag.com. Her advice column will appear here every Wednesday.

All letters to askpolly@nymag.com become the property of Ask Polly and New York Media LLC and will be edited for length, clarity, and grammatical correctness.
Ashley Doolittle with Tanner Flores. Photo: Courtesy of Facebook/Ashley Doolittle

A Colorado teen admitted to killing his ex-girlfriend, wiping her body of blood, and fleeing the scene with her corpse. She had just broken up with him.

Eighteen-year-old Ashley Doolittle had dated Tanner Flores, also 18, for over a year in Berthoud, Colorado, a small town north of Boulder. After she broke up with him, his friends had never seen him so depressed.

Last Thursday, near a local reservoir called Carter Lake, Flores allegedly shot Doolittle twice in the head, cleaned her body of blood, and drove five hours west with her corpse through the Rocky Mountains. When Doolittle didnt come home that night after 7:30 p.m., as she normally would, her parents started to look for her  they found her empty car at another reservoir and called the police.

Tanner Flores. Photo: Courtesy of the Larimer County Sheriffs Office

Flores was also missing. His father told investigators his .22-caliber revolver had vanished from a locked gun cabinet, and that his son knew where he kept the key. While police searched for the teens, Flores had apparently driven to his grandfathers house in Collbran. A neighbor noticed a man who looked like Flores with a white Dodge pickup truck in the driveway. She watched him open all of the cars doors, pull out a wadded blanket, and place it on the ground  an arm appeared to protrude from the bundle. She called the police, who arrived with a SWAT car to arrest Flores. On Tuesday, he reportedly admitted to killing Doolittle and is now being held without bail, facing first-degree murder and kidnapping charges.

Doolittle graduated from Berthoud High School on May 28 and planned to study agricultural business at Colorado State University this fall. An avid 4-H horse rider and competitor, she was crowned the Boulder County Fair and Rodeos 2016 lady-in-waiting and would have been queen next year.

Doolittles family is asking for donations in lieu of flowers to the Ashley Doolittle Princess Program, which will nurture young girls with an interest in rodeo. So many girls are concerned about how people view them and saying the right thing and doing the right thing, a 4-H friend told the Denver Channel. Ashley was herself  all the time.
Photo: Larry Washburn/This content is subject to copyright.

California prosecutors successfully removed the controversial judge involved in the Stanford sexual-assault case from hearing another similar case involving an unconscious woman.

Prosecutors used a procedure attorneys commonly use when a judges impartiality is under question, NBC News reported.

Judge Aaron Persky was set to preside over a preliminary hearing in Santa Clara County, California, involving a male nurse accused of sexually assaulting a sedated woman, the Mercury News reported. Before the preliminary hearing could get underway, though, the attorneys in the case filed a challenge, which automatically assigns the case to another judge.

Persky has received harsh criticism from the public, legislators, and even a former juror for the six-month sentencing he gave Brock Turner, the Stanford swimmer who was convicted of three counts of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster outside a frat party.

Prosecutors in the new sexual-assault case issued a statement saying they had taken a rare and carefully considered step for [their] Office in seeking another judge. Concerns had also crept up earlier among the prosecutors. In Perskys first trial after sentencing Turner, he dismissed a misdemeanor trial involving stolen property before a jury could deliberate.

That Persky dismissed the trial was an unusual move, given that a dismissal cannot be appealed. Of 150 misdemeanor trials in Santa Clara County, judges dismissed only two, the Mercury News reported.

After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient, prosecutors said in a statement.

Persky has come under intense scrutiny for his sentencing in the sexual-assault case at Stanford, which many consider a slap on the wrist. Theres currently a petition to have him removed, though past attempted recalls have been largely unsuccessful for judges in California, the Los Angeles Times reported. Most who have been removed from office are done after investigations by a state commission and hearing.
North West. Photo: Splash News

North West turns 3 today, of all sweet days. In her three very famous years of life, North West has accomplished more as a toddler than most of us will, ever. Herewith, a brief history of her many, persistently trendy achievements.

Year One

Shes born on June 15, 2013. In her first month of life, she meets the co-founder of Apple. Anna Wintour grants approval of her name. Her first baby picture appears on national TV, on the finale of Kris Jenners talk show.

Later, she befriends Carine Roitfeld and Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci (her stylist). She is the force behind Kanyes big fallout with Nike. He chooses Adidas instead, for her, and roils the fashion industry: The old me, without a daughter, would have taken the Nike deal because I just love Nikes so much, he said. But the new me, with a daughter, takes the Adidas deal because I have royalties and I have to provide for my family.

She gets Charlotte Olympia kitten flats for her first Christmas and a bounty of gifts from other designers: fringed booties from Giuseppe Zanotti, silk pink booties from Hermes, and Stella McCartney onesies. Devastatingly, I own nothing from these brands.

She pees on Kanye right when Annie Leibovitz snaps a family portrait for Vogues April 2014 issue. She gets her ears pierced and weathers Kimyes extravagant European wedding before her first birthday.

Year Two

June 15, 2014: Of course Kim and Kanye throw her a Kidchella birthday party! Kourtneys Native American headpiece offends many; children wear fringed Yeezus shirts. There are teepees and a Ferris wheel. That summer, North steps out of a swimming pool and takes her first steps. She accessorizes a diaper with Chanel, obviously.

In the fall she makes her Fashion Week debut, sitting front row at Balenciagas Paris show in a Yeezus tour onesie and leather skirt. Shes an adorable skunk for Halloween! Kanye reportedly drops $74,000 on her Christmas gifts: a $62,000 diamond tiara, and a tiny matte-black SUV to match his own. Sure!

She begins 2016 famously, appearing in Kanyes Spike Jonze-directed home video/music video Only One. She stares at mud and looks enviously stylish for winter: fur-collared olive parka, duck boots.

At New York Fashion Week, she cries at the Yeezy show, wont stop, and has to be taken backstage. Kanye translates Norths emotional depth for i-D: She just wanted people to stop being mean to her daddy. Because she knows that her daddy loves the world and just wants to make it a more beautiful place. True. Love.

In the spring, during a family-heritage trip to Armenia, she takes a private plane to Jerusalem for her baptism in a 12th-century cathedral.

Year Three

June 15, 2015: As a Minnie Mouse fan, North kicks off her second birthday like the average toddler at Disneyland.

This year she deftly bosses paparazzi around while wearing a $2,000 custom Balmain jacket: I said no pictures!

She becomes a big sister to Saint and tends to a walk-in closet that is so much better than yours, all while wearing a Cinderella dress. She joins Taylor Swifts trendy choker cohort. She expertly owns her dad in the gym, as his personal push-up trainer.

Happy birthday, North! Cant wait to see what year four brings.
Tom Hiddleston, Taylor Swift. Photo: Getty Images; BFA

Taylor Swift, commander of lean-bodied white men ages 17 to 38, reportedly broke up with Calvin Harris (real name: Adam Wiles) (real occupation: DJ) two weeks ago. Yesterday afternoon, she was spotted making out with actor Tom Hiddleston on a rock in Rhode Island and there are so many photos of it am I still breathing?

WORLD EXCLUSIVE

Taylor Swift dating Tom Hiddleston - two weeks after dumping Calvin Harris.https://t.co/ytzLqZyGSu pic.twitter.com/2SBiPbFMxu  Dan Wootton (@danwootton) June 15, 2016

Wow!

The Sun has the world exclusive gallery, titled TINKER TAYLOR SNOGS A SPY, which you can view here. Its not clear whether Hiddleston and Swift knew they were being photographed, but Taylor Swift always knows when shes being photographed.

Though this exclusive news has shocked the world, the pairing isnt completely out of nowhere. The two were videotaped dancing at the Met Gala last month.

Congratulations to Tom Hiddleston for testing well with early audiences. Meanwhile, earlier today:

You guys Taylor Swift just deleted all of her Insta photos with Calvin Harris, excuse me, ADAM WILES.   Crystal Bell (@crystalbell) June 15, 2016
Tyra Banks applying lipstick from her Tyra Beauty line. Photo: Tim Boyles/Getty Images

When I was 10, a friend invited me to her moms Mary Kay party. Our overseer gave me a mirror and told me to hold it at arms length. No ones ever going to get closer to your face than that, she said. This is absurd, and I think I knew that even back then, but its stuck with me  just like the entire afternoon of playing with those pale pink tubes of lipsticks, mascaras, and lotions.

I thought this memory would be a quaint relic of my childhood, like Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. But then along came Tyra Beauty: a Mary Kay for millennials presided over by Tyra Banks herself. I couldnt resist the opportunity to try it for myself, so I signed up as a Beautytainer  a member of Tyras sales force.

Every new Beautytainer is assigned to an established Beautytainers crew. My head Beautytainer is named LeeAnne. She lives in New Hampshire and used to sell nutritional supplements, but then she saw an ad for Tyra Beauty and thought that sounded like more fun. The ads do sound fun:

Ready for an opportunity that combines beauty and business? Where you set the hours, on your own terms? Join our Crew of bonafide entrepreneurs  we call them Beautytainers, independent sales reps who make money through sharing the TYRA Beauty movement.

I was the third-ever person to sign up, LeeAnne says. Shes already reached Platinum level, which meant she got to have dinner with Tyra. Shes very down-to-earth, LeeAnne says. When she has the microphone, shes on, but when shes sitting there at the dinner table, shes sweet. You see her shy side, and thats surprising. Im like, I think I just fell in love with you even more.

The official history of Tyra Beauty says Banks started the company after going to Harvard Business School. She says she wanted to educate herself as much as she could to help her Beautytainers rack up what she calls Bank$igns. Banks doesnt have an MBA, though. What she went through at Harvard was the schools non-degree granting course called the Owner/President Management Program.

To be an active Beautytainer, I needed to sell $150 of products the first month  or buy $150 in products myself that I can then show potential buyers (the brand doesnt give free samples to start with). I also had to pay $59 to enroll. After Id paid my fees and ordered the products LeeAnne suggested  the 6-Minute TyOver kit, the Smize eye shadow palette, the Stick with Me makeup setting spritz, the Oops eyeliner, and the Menage A Brow (All amazing, LeeAnne says)  Id spent $231.30.

But spending money was only temporary: If I sold $150 in products a month, Id make 25% commission, which is only $37.50. But if I sold $500, Id get an additional 5%, and if I hit $1,000, Id get an additional 10%. Id make even more if I enrolled another Beautytainer  3% of that persons sales. From there, the more you sell and recruit, the more Bank$igns you get until you reach Diamond Beautytainer, the highest level, which comes with so many perks that it feels like Tyras just blowing her ANTM fortune. I already felt rich.

The 5 Minute TYover.

She also wants to talk about the haters. She seems to be referencing a Broadly story a few weeks earlier that depicted Tyra Beauty as part of a larger pattern of Banks taking financial advantage of young women. (An expert on multi-level marketing told reporter Emalie Marthe that young women are targeted by these businesses because theyre more likely to believe they really will get rich when they sign up). Despite the evidence of shady business practices and exploitation of her employees, young and vulnerable women keep flocking to Banks for her promise of quick fame and fierceness, Marthe wrote.

Critics say these kind of multi-level marketing businesses are little more than legal pyramid schemes. The problem with the kind of company where you can earn more by enlisting others than by selling the products is that the money tends to go to the people at the top who are convincing others to join, not to those actually selling. Research published by critics of the direct-sales industry found that up to 99 percent of reps dont earn any income at all.

Anita Krpata, Tyra Beautys general manager, says Tyra is not running a pyramid scheme and refutes the idea that the best way to be a successful Beautytainer is by having others do your work for you. LeeAnne agrees, saying the best part of the job is seeing others succeed. I love helping women make money, she tells me. I love it.

Recently, Ive seen press, and wanted to take a minute to share my life lessons to help put it in perspective for you guys, so you can understand more of Tyra Beauty and our strategy but how to navigate your own careers as CEOs and winners, Tyra tells us on the call. A lot of that stuff people write is a lie. There have been times when I have been in bed in LA, like about to go asleep, and have read on the internet that Im at a club in Paris on Champs-Elysees and cheating on my man.

In sum: Your CEO just happens to be a public figure, and its a positive but at the same time, whew.

Tyra Beautys Oops Liners are pretty cool, with black liquid eyeliner on one side and an eraser on the other (to get rid of bleeds and crooked handiwork). But Im not sure why anyone would want to buy them from me instead of online. The advantage is the customer service, LeeAnne tells me. Your friends are going to take your word more than someone elses. When you go to a great restaurant, you tell people they should go there, but you dont get anything from it. Direct selling is basically the same thing. Youre sharing your love for the products and what they do, but youre also making money.

LeeAnne tells me to make a list of all of the friends and family I could possibly sell to. First up is my mom. Theres no shame in going after low-hanging fruit.

I hit her up at Thanksgiving. What makeup do you use, Mom? I ask, while refilling her glass of champagne. Is there anything you dont like?

This is kind of dopey, she says, sliding a small disc of nameless gold eye shadow over to me.

I have just the thing! I pull out Tyras Eyes in a Stick in Once You Go Brown  it looks like a chestnut magic marker  and swipe it across the lower lid of her left eye. Check out the difference, I say triumphantly. We both admire my work, and Ive made my first sale  Mom even agrees to buy a second color at 50 percent off. Her total comes to $36, which means I make $9. (In December, I receive the products back; my mom didnt like them and re-gifted them to me for Christmas.)

Hoping to step up my game, I invite five friends over for a TyOver party. I prep by buying makeup sponges, tissues, disposable mascara wands, and twice as much wine and snacks as six people can consume. I print out a picture of my favorite Tyra (as Zoe in Coyote Ugly), plus one of a girls face that shows them how to apply the makeup trio of Light in a Stick, Sculpt in a Stick, and Cheek in a Stick. I scrawl You Look Fierce in hot pink lipstick on the mirror above my vanity.

Selling makeup to your friends is weird. At first its like when everyone at a party is afraid to take the first chip, us all standing there looking at the Smoky Smize palette like wed never seen eye shadow before. Then Erica picks up the three sticks and begins contouring her face as expertly as any Kardashian. Everyone else joins in.

Their assessments of their TyOvers are mixed. The eye pencil and the mascara are hits  and Ericas contouring really does look great  but Amanda thinks the face makeup is too shiny and Marisa calls the brow gel terrifyingly intense. They buy a few items: an Eyes in a Stick, a Light in a Stick, and the Stick with Me makeup setting spritz, earning me $18.75 in commission for the night.

All told, Ive made $27.75 for my first month as a Beautytainer. I suppose I could keep going and try to make back the rest of my initial investment, but Im not going to. Ill just use the products I have left myself. (Sorry, LeeAnne.)

Tyra believes makeup is the great equalizer. I dont, but I also dont hate what shes trying to do with her products. They dont take a lot of time to apply and theyre more fun than a lot of whats in Sephora. I dont think selling her makeup, however, is as good for Beautytainers as it is for Tyra. But if you dont believe me and want to try to make some Bank$igns yourself, I have a few tubes of Smack My Fat Lash I can sell you.
exactly

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thank you, coman

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yeah, there's no reason for a civilian to own an assault rifle. It makes no sense.

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it was very inconsiderate of you to change your username w/o giving me 30-day notice first.



Edited at 2016-06-15 04:55 pm (UTC)

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< o >



Edited at 2016-06-15 05:01 pm (UTC)

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I forgot to change the icon too

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omg bb why did you change!

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simple and to the point, agreed.

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Yep.



If you want to be like those 'old timey' heroes of 'real america', they didn't have assault rifles, John Connor.

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Its so little to ask imo too, like no one wants all your guns, just these ones that arent necessary to protect yourself

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I want all their guns, but yes, let's start with the assault rifles.

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Agreed

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agreed

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mte

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Agreed

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MTE

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Seriously. How about just a single baby step, prohibiting the sale of that one particular gun? Anyone who already legally owns one wouldn't necessarily be required to surrender it, though if they voluntarily wish to do so, will be offered cash totaling the full value of what they originally paid for it (or in the case of the gun having been received as a gift, a blue-book value).

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If you ask any NRA person they see this as the first step to the government taking away all of their guns. They are so simple minded and stubborn.

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ia, i feel like banning assault rifles and instituting across the board background checks in every place where guns are sold is literally the opposite of a radical proposition, but you'd never know it by the way the gun fetishists are crying about the mere thought of doing so.

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Conan's speeches after tragedies are always so good. It's fucked up he's had to make so many.

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His and Jon Stewart's speeches after 9/11 definitely ~helped 11 year old me during that time.

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Same. I still remember Jon's.

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November 8, 2016

November 6, 2018



Two dates we can actually MAKE A DIFFERENCE when it comes to this topic.



Time to vote out every swing house district incumbent who has voted against gun reform.

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YUP! It's so simple, yet apparently sooooo fucking hard.

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And that's exactly it. Voting.



Arguing about what's an assault rifle, and what the second amendment actually says is exactly what the NRA wants. Why? Because it distracts from real change. And real change comes from the voting booth.



As long as money still controls our political system, people will continue to die.

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Yes!! People need to vote!

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people who deliberately don't vote in midterm elections disgust me tbh

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YAS

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this needs to be marketing campaign too

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He's absolutely correct.

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I'm so tired of these speeches. We've had way too many. I just want something to finally change. Get your shit together, America.

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Most people I've seen talking about owning an AR-15 (or other assault rifles) is because somehow they think they will be the hero one day. It's such a small-dick complex. You are NOT a hero. Wanna be a hero? Donate your time to being a volunteer fire fighter. Learn CPR. Volunteer your time to organizations that make a difference. You will never be that cinematic hero.

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This guy at work is like that. Believes in his "right" owning assault rifles and thinking he and 5 million homes (his exact words) are going to be able to stand up to the government in a hypothetical takeover. Delusional as fuck.



This guy can barely walk around the building without aid so how he thinks he's going to be able to pull his gun during a attempt on his life is beyond me.

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I love that ~argument~. Yes, Bubba, you and JimBob and your machine guns are going to be a formidable opponent to the most heavily weaponized army in the history of humanity itself. That's right, your Glocks against tanks, jets, drones, nukes...

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These people love to wax poetic, bordering on fantasizing about some kind of imminent war on American soil- be it a race war, fight against a tyrannical government, chaos following an economic collapse, etc. It's frightening how some of them seem downright excited at the prospect, as if it'll finally allow them to live out their dreams of being some kind of big badass patriotic action hero.



Hey Jim Bob, instead of stocking up on guns and ammo and 5-gallon drums to poop in when the world "goes nuts", why not get out and vote? Educate yourself, your children, and your community? Trust your neighbors? Join the freaking military?

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wasn't there an instance when someone died in a scenario like this? during a shooting, a bystander pulled out their gun and then someone shot them? or am i making that up?

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RIGHT? Like, fuck, disasters happen everyday. If you really want to be that John Wayne cowboy hero, become a cop or a firefighter or an EMT or Paramedic. Go to nursing school and work in the ER or some shit. Put up or shut up; don't wait for that ~one day~

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Agreed. I know someone who insists he only has it "for fun". Take up knitting, you dick!

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Shut the fuck up, Debbie. They don't need your fucking moment, they needed a ban on assault riffles so they wouldn't be slaughtered by the dozen without a chance to escape but you couldn't even give them that, could you

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tbh I don't think Debbie was coming at it from that standpoint, I think she didn't bother reading the article and thought that Himes was just being an asshole. Someone pointed out what the article was actually about and she insisted that he was trying to backpedal and it was an excuse. She's like that Hamilton stan in the Mara Wilson post.



lol after reading her twitter maybe not. or it was a mixture of both and now she's doubling down.



Edited at 2016-06-15 05:09 pm (UTC)

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debbie's twitter is a trip. not surprised she doesn't understand that a moment of silence followed by total inaction is completely useless

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debbie you dumb af

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Thank you Jim Himes.

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Debbie has shit for brains

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Debbie udb

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Yup. It's so baffling how so many people think their guns are worth more than the lives of people who die in mass shootings. It makes no sense.

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American individualism at its absolute worst. Their need for what amounts to toys for them is worth more than human life. I honestly wonder if their family was gunned down like that that if they'd feel the same way, or are they that far gone? I honestly pity people who are just that morally bankrupt. What sad lives they must live to have such screwed up priorities

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I've heard a saying: "Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."



Yeah, under the Constitution you have a right to own a gun. But a) that was referring to 1700s muskets and the like, not semiautomatic assault rifles, and b) the right for everyone else to not live in fear of mass shootings overrides an individual's right to own the gun of their choice any day.



It seems like common sense to me, but idk, I guess common sense isn't so common.

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I have been so on edge this week. Last night at work, I had to give training videos on how to deal with a shooting situation. :-/



Edited at 2016-06-15 05:07 pm (UTC)

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Same. I'm always like this when shooting tragedies happen.. I have nightmares and thoughts about the future. my university professor was murdered in a terror attack a week ago and I still have major anxiety whenever I go out

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It's so bad. I honestly feel like throwing up.

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A Conoco-Phillips pipeline in Alberta, Canada has been leaking condensate since the 9th of June, spewing out approximately 2400 barrels of condensate into a wildlife area that had been set aside for elk and grizzly bears.

The leak occurred in the Little Smoky Caribou Range near the companys gas Resthaven plant, north of Grand Cache, Alberta. Other key wildlife zones, including a zone designated for grizzly bears, are just to the south of the spill area.

According to the Alberta Energy Regulator, there is a dead patch of vegetation the near the pipeline and a sheen on the water of nearby Webb Creek, which stretched for approximately 2.8 miles both upstream and downstream of a beaver pond. About 1.2 miles downstream of the affected area of the stream is the Simonette River. Although nothing was visible on the water, tests on the river have shown elevated levels of hydrocarbons, which are found in condensate.

The Alberta Energy Regulator has issued an environmental protection order to Conoco-Phillips. In its statement regarding the incident, the agency noted that Much of the required work has already begun. Environmental protection orders are not enforcement; they are remedial orders directing the company to provide a plan to ensure that the environment is remediated.

For its part, the company has shut down the line and is formulating a plan to investigate the cause of the leak. With regards to the waterway, the company has erected a boom. It has also begun using soaker pads, sending 150 people to the site as of Wednesday morning. Related: Congress Shoots Down Obamas $10 Dollar Oil Tax

In a statement, Conoco-Phillips said that it is planning a full investigation into the incident when it has been brought to a safe conclusion and that will participate fully in the investigation by the AER.

Along with containing the spill, the AER has ordered the company to inform anyone who may be affected by the spill, collect oil and water samples, develop mitigation and remediation plans, and publish daily reports on the company website.

By Lincoln Brown for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Forty-seven years after the birth of Ice Cube, and the bullish sentiment in the oil market is thawing once more. As economic conditions continue to look tepid, and supply outage fears melt, crude is moving lower for a fifth consecutive day. Hark, here are five things to consider in oil markets today.

1) Back in 2007 (think: Hugo Chavez), Venezuela entered into a financial agreement with China to borrow $50 billion dollars in exchange for oil. Venezuela is now seeking a one-year grace period in this agreement as it is struggling to meet its obligations. The halving in the oil price in recent years means it has to send double the amount of oil to China to meet its commitments.

If the grace period is agreed upon, Venezuela will receive cash payments for shipments over the coming year. Around 45 percent of Venezuelas petroleum exports to China are used to pay down debt, with PDVSA receiving cash for the rest.

(Click to enlarge)

2) Venezuelas financial situation is in stark contrast to its resource wealth; it holds the worlds largest crude reserves. That said, these are mainly in the Orinoco basin, and are a tar-like, heavy crude which is costly to process. While the break-even for Venezuelan oil is around $21/bbl, Orinoco crude needs a price above $28/bbl to be profitable; even then it needs to be mixed with imported light crude oil or naphtha to make it transportable.

In recent history, Venezuela has been pulling in Nigerian crude to blend with its bitumen. However, since March we have not seen any Nigerian crude loaded for PDVSAs oil facilities in Curacao. It is unlikely, however, that the halt in flows is due to Nigerian supply constraints  our ClipperData show Nigerian oil exports holding up through May at well over 1.6 million barrels per day, despite reported production losses. It could be a credit issue.

Concurrently, we have also been seeing a number of vessels carrying WTI anchored off the coast of Curacao for a number of weeks. There is market talk of a dispute about payment, but this has not been confirmed. Venezuelas economic status appears to be going from bad to worse.

(Click to enlarge)

3) This latest piece of analysis from Wood Mackenzie estimates that worldwide investment by the oil and gas industry will be $740 billion  or 22 percent  lower from 2015 to 2020 than it would have been prior to the price fall starting in mid-2014. A further $300 billion is expected to be eliminated from exploration spending, bringing total cuts to over $1 trillion. Related: Russias Oil Giants Feel The Crunch But Stay In The Black

The U.S. is expected to see the deepest cuts, with $125 billion of capex slashed from 2016-2017, with a further $200 billion of cuts expected by 2020.

(Click to enlarge)

4) On the economic data front, the Eurozone saw its trade balance increase (a good thing), while in the U.S. producer prices climbed by a better-than-expected 0.4 percent, lifted by dun-dun-duna strong rebound in gasoline and fuel oil prices. The jump in the PPI was concentrated in energy goods. Nonetheless, prices still fell year-on-year by -0.1 percent.

Industrial production, once again, was poor  dropping 0.4 percent on the prior month. It has now fallen for nine consecutive months on a year-over-year basis. This is worrying from both an economic and a fuel demand standpoint:

(Click to enlarge) Related: Congress Shoots Down Obamas $10 Dollar Oil Tax

5) Finally, the chart below shows OPECs oil revenues on a per capita basis. OPECs net oil export revenue for this year is estimated at $337 billion, about a third of 2012 revenues; this isnt too surprising given the drop in prices we have seen. The distribution of this wealth, however, is much more disparate.

Revenues are distributed completely unevenly among the OPEC member countries, given some are dramatically more populous than others. While Qatars ~2.2 million population experiences an oil-wealth of over $18,000 per capita, Nigerias population  the seventh most populous country in the world at ~186 million  barely feel the benefit. As the Bloomberg piece points out, no wonder they are experiencing unrest:

(Click to enlarge)

By Matt Smith via ClipperData

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A delayed natural gas pipeline between Bulgaria and Romania that was supposed to be completed in 2013 will purportedly become operational later in 2016.

"The interconnector will be completed by the end of this year," Corina Popescu, Romania's secretary of state at the Ministry of Energy, said at an energy traders conference on Wednesday according to Reuters.

Work on the planned 25-kilometer pipeline that would be primarily situated in Bulgaria first commenced in 2012 but has been hampered by technical difficulties.

Once completed the channel is expected to transfer a maximum of 1.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas per year from Bulgaria to Romania while the capacity in the opposite direction will be 500 million cubic meters per year.

Romania produces approximately 11 bcm of gas per year, which fulfills about 75 percent of its annual needs, while the remaining quarter is imported from Russia. Bulgaria, meanwhile, is said to be almost fully reliant on Russian imports. Energy demands for both states were dealt a blow when Russia in December 2014 decided to scrap its South Stream pipeline project.

Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted last week that plans for South Stream were not canceled in their entirety.

Nevertheless, both Romania and Bulgaria over the past eighteen months have sought natural gas alliances with other countries and tried to lessen their dependence on Russian supplies.



Related: Solar To See Twice As Much Investment As Fossil Fuels By 2040

Bulgaria has sought to build a gas link with Greece, while both countries joined 13 other European states in a comprehensive energy pact that includes expediting the building of gas links and developing a fully integrated energy market.

Popescu also declared intentions of completing a 171-kilometer, 400-kilovolt power line with Serbia by 2017.

Romanian natural gas companies have come under scrutiny over allegations of blocking gas exports to several European Union (EU) countries. EU antitrust regulators on June 6th raided the offices of state-owned Transgaz, Romgaz and OMV Petrom.

By Erwin Cifuentes for Oilprice.com

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Oil companies in Japan are expanding their list of crude importers, in an effort to reduce their reliance on Middle East oil.

Japan-based Idemitsu Kosan upped its imports from Venezuela and Russia last year, bringing the countrys Central and South American oil procurements to 3.3 percentten times the level seen in FY 2010. This gives Japanese companies procurement flexibility, because oil from Russia can be delivered to Japan within the space of one week.

Other Japanese procurements include West Texas intermediate. A tanker carrying 300,000 barrels of West Texas intermediate arrived at the Japanese port of Yokkaichi in January, marking the first time a company from Japan imported oil, rather than buying oil futures. Cosmo opted to buy the WTI when the price ebbed at the end of a 40-year ban by the U.S. on exporting crude oil at the close of last year.

As the United States began to increase its output of shale oil, Cosmo decided to add the Americas to its suppliers, and also began buying crude from Mexico. As the prices are tied to West Texas Intermediate, buyers can wait for a lucrative chance to purchase crude, as opposed to being tied to long-term contracts used by Middle-East countries. Masashi Nakayama, who is the general manager of Cosmo Oil's crude and tanker department, said that the company is eying Canada and Ecuador as future suppliers.

A representative of the JX Holdings unit of JX Nippon Oil and Energy said that as another result of the shale boom, traders are asking his company to buy leftover oil, adding that JX bought Alaskan oil for a good price earlier in the month, and made purchases from Colombia and Mexico. He said that since the U.S. ban was lifted, his company has been paying attention to U.S. prices.

By Lincoln Brown for Oilprice.com

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Shell has plans to ink a deal with the Russian gas company Gazprom sometime this week. The deal is related to Gazproms plan to begin a liquefied natural gas project at the port of Ust-Luga in the Baltic Sea.

Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin aide, confirmed the deal on Tuesday. Shell was reported to be interested in picking up 25 to 30 percent of the project.

That project is expected to include a two-train LNG plant as well as a pipeline that will connect with the Gazprom network. The plant could be finished by the year 2021. Gazprom plans to share the $10-billion-dollar cost, along with the risks with Gazprombank.

A floating storage and regasification unit is slated for Kaliningrad. The unit will be able to store 170,000 cubic meters and have a regasification capacity of 13.2 million cubic meters of gas per day. Ushakov noted that the total capacity of the trains is estimated to be approximately 10 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year, with the potential to expand to 15 million tonnes.

Ushakov said that President Vladimir Putin will be meeting with Royal Dutch Shell CEO Ben van Beurden during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, in order to discuss Shells operations in the market. The meeting will not be an official part of the Forum. Ushakov stated that at the Forum, there will also be documents signed between Rosneft and Italian energy company Eni, and on another deal between Novatek and Saipem regarding cooperative agreements in LNG development. No other details were available.

Antonio Fallico, the chairman of Banca Intesa, which is a Russian subsidiary of the Sanapaolo Group, an Italian lender, and who is also the president of the Conoscere Eurasia Association said that significant contacts and agreements that would be worth in his words :a few billion euros would be signed during the Forum.

By Lincoln Brown for Oilprice.com

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In earlier articles we have seen that there are opportunities, by changing our voting system, to encourage a larger number of political parties to thrive. I won't belabor that point here, but rather turn to exploring a vision of how we might hope elections to be conducted were there more competition.



What if we had an electoral system that allowed considerable freedom for individuals to run for office and what if many people decided to take on that challenge. With modern communications technology these candidates would all have an opportunity to present themselves to the public, but only a few exceptional ones would become well known. With an excessive number of candidates a single election would likely be quite unmanageable; voters would find so very many unfamiliar candidates. It seems clear that there would probably have to be some way to winnow the field down to some manageable number of candidates.

This need to reduce the number of candidates points up an important service that our two-party system now serves - to reduce the number of candidates, effectively, to two (which, using plurality voting, is the most candidates that can be handled while expecting a sensible outcome). With no limit on the number of political parties, some way to reduce that field of candidates to some manageable number would still be needed. The typical voter cannot be expected to contend with more than a few candidates.



Any time there is a large enough collection of candidates, we could expect every candidate to be familiar to some voters but probably not all of them. And it might be that no voter would be familiar with all of them. But even in these conditions, with a more appropriate voting system (Balanced Ration voting would seem a particularly good choice for this purpose, but perhaps there are even more suitable ones) a preliminary election could be held to retain five or perhaps ten candidates to compete in a final election some time later. In the interim between the two elections, the finalist candidates could have a chance to campaign and debate to allow voters to learn about them. That way, all of the voters to have an opportunity to develop and express an opinion on all of these finalist candidates. This final election could again use the same voting system but with only a few candidates it might instead use balanced approval voting or some other system.



But what about political parties? Nothing would prevent them from continuing to exist or to choose candidates to sponsor and support. What would change though is that they could (and should) become completely private organizations without any official status. Government would not, as it does now, sponsor primary elections to help parties to choose their candidates nor would government be involved in managing party membership lists for political parties. There would be no need for government even to know to what party (or parties) any voter belongs and that probably would be a good thing.



Some voters might remain unaffiliated with any political party but other voters might choose to become members of several different parties and to participate in the choice of several different candidates. Government would not, as it does today, dictate that a citizen is limited to supporting just a single party; the parties would manage their own affairs and have no more involvement with government than than an organization such as the Elks Club receives. Getting government out of the corrupting responsibility it has taken on, managing the voting rolls according to political party, would eliminate a major source of election fraud.

We might wonder whether George Washington would be disappointed to find us allowing the corruption he envisioned with political parties. But perhaps he would be smiling to observe this sort of separation of factions from government and this alternative approach to limiting the power of factions and avoid the unavoidable hostility that seems unavoidable when there are just two factions.

Later in this series there is another article that relates in a general way to the topic discussed here.
Reprinted from Empire Burlesque

The victims in Orlando were killed because of who they loved, who they desired, and for no other reason.The massacre was not "an attack on our country." It was a savage hate crime against gay people by a known homophobe (and aspiring policeman) trained in the use of weapons by the world's largest corporate security firm. Although like so many "lone wolf" terrorists (and would-be terrorists), the Orlando killer was "on the FBI's radar," we don't yet know -- and may never know -- if he, like many of his predecessors, had been encouraged and enabled by the FBI to pursue a terrorist action. But that he was driven primarily by hatred of homosexuality seems certain.

We are told that at one point in his shooting spree, Omar Mateen phoned emergency services and pledged his allegiance to ISIS. This may be so. In any case, one can accept that he made such a call and such a pledge, having apparently undergone some a recent "radicalization" that no one had noticed before, which led him to follow ISIS's well-known suggestion that any Muslim carrying out a violent act should feel free to do so in their name, even if they have no connection to the organization. (And as expected, ISIS, after some delay, has now claimed ownership of the attack.)

But this does not automatically turn the crime into a case of "international terrorism"; it simply adds a provocative patina to the long-held personal hatred of homosexuals that Mateen had clearly exhibited over the years. By all indications, the crime remains, at its core, an act of individual violence against LGBT people -- not in order to advance the establishment of an Islamist caliphate in some way, but solely to express an overwhelming hatred against a group of people on account of their sexual preference. This is the classic definition of a hate crime.

Nevertheless, it's clear that there are mighty efforts underway to force the narrative squarely into the "Terror War" paradigm, much as the case in San Bernadino, where what looked to be in many ways an "ordinary" workplace dispute ("ordinary" because workplace killings are so frequent in America today that many of them don't even make the news) was also turned into a raging red flag for the Terror Warriors.

In the latest killing, we have already seen the predictable demonizing of 1.6 billion people for the act of one man. We have seen the incredibly variegated shadings and understandings of a global religion reduced to a single, sinister monolithic mass. We have seen the propaganda bull-roarer of "ISIS" used as if that organization sprang full-blown from the stones of the earth, instead of being incubated in the American prisons of occupied Iraq after a war of aggression that left a million innocent people dead. We have seen this horrific incident in Orlando -- this shattering human tragedy cutting a swath through so many actual, real lives -- sucked up into the airless, dehumanizing Terror War echo chamber, where it will be drained of all meaning and converted into rhetorical firewood for the partisan furnaces of our imperial factions, with both sides bent on war and domination, regardless of the cost to their own people and others.

There is no hope that this latest incident will stop or even slow the the death spiral of the Terror War, as it circles round and round and down and down in an ever-widening gyre. There is every indication that it will make things worse, that the war-profiteers and the fear-profiteers and the power-grabbers will wring every bit of poison from it that they can to fuel the War Machine and the Domination Agenda. For we should not forget where the Terror War comes from, where ISIS comes from, where al Qaeda comes from, where the machinery of "radicalization" comes from: as I wrote after the Paris attacks, it comes directly from the decades-long policies of Western nations, particularly the US, to deliberately torment, encourage, enable and empower religious extremism in order to undermine secular opposition to American dominion over the world's economy, politics and natural resources. (For more detail on that sordid history,see this piece by Ben Norton. For more on the more recent consequences of these policies -- particularly their relevance to the upcoming election, do yourself a favor and get a copy of Diane Johnstone's Queen of Chaos.)

But see how powerful and prevalent the Terror War paradigm is, how it informs -- and deforms -- all our discourse today: even my attempt here to delineate how the Orlando massacre falls outside that paradigm has been sucked into it. But this is hard, perhaps impossible, to avoid: the Terror War -- and the Dominationist agenda behind it -- has now become our national life, the American way of being in the world. To speak of American policy and society means you cannot escape the Terror War, because it pervades everything, especially in politics.

(Which is one reason why Bernie Sanders' "revolution" was doomed from the start: you will never be able to enact any far-reaching reforms on the domestic front unless you dismantle the War Machine that looms over our whole society like a mushroom cloud, devouring precious resources, destroying lives, distorting our political and economic infrastructure beyond all sustainability, and sickening our society with the poisonous radiation of imperialism and authoritarianism.)

The man who committed the atrocity in Orlando happened to be a Muslim; but there are also Christians actively working to kill vast numbers of homosexuals "legally," spearheading efforts in Africa to pass laws making homosexuality a capital crime. If these laws take hold, these politically-connected American Christians will be responsible for far more deaths, for many more years, than Mateen managed to cause in a single night. Yet there has not been any universal condemnation of all Christians, of Christianity itself, because of this, or any other hate crime or act of terrorism that has been committed by people calling themselves Christians. (Including the millions of people killed by the state terror perpetrated and/or abetted by America's leaders, all of whom have claimed to be Christians). The increasingly virulent and violent homophobia in Russia is likewise being driven by a supposed adherence to Orthodox Christianity.

The tragedy in Orlando is a nightmare collision of homophobia and Islamophobia. As we can see in the crocodile tears of people like Mike Huckabee, at the moment Islamophobia is in the ascendant. Huckabee claims to be saddened by the violent, sudden death of homosexuals in Orlando; yet he believes, fervently believes, that homosexuals should burn in anguish for all eternity. In his mind, every one of the victims -- killed in the midst of their sin, drinking and dancing and lusting -- are right now, this minute, howling in hellfire. Because of who they loved, who they desired, and for no other reason.

Among the "peoples of the Abrahamic faiths" -- and among all those who seek to control and dominate others for power and profit -- there is nothing more disturbing, more enraging, more frightening than human love and desire. It dissolves barriers, tears down walls, disobeys laws, is fluid, flowing, uncontrollable. For that reason, we should honor it and support it, now more than ever. It is a form of true dissent, a true -- perhaps the truest -- expression of resistance against all the forces that seek to extinguish the human spirit.
The Orlando mass murderer, Omar Mateen, worked for G4S, one of the largest private security employers in the world. G4S has some 625,000 employees spanning five continents in more than 120 countries. As a private security company it provides services for both governments as well as corporations. Some of its well-known contractors are with the British Government, the United States, Israel, Australia and many more. G4S providers a range of services in the areas of corrections, policing, and security of important facilities. In the corporate sector it has worked with such well-known companies such as Chrysler, Amtrak, Apple, and the Bank of America.

A statement from G4S, published by The Independent June 12 says that: "We are shocked and saddened by the tragic even that occurred at the Orlando nightclub. We can confirm that Omar Mateen had been employed with G4S since Sept 10 2007. We are cooperating fully with all law enforcement authorities, including the FBI, as they conduct their investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the friends, families, and people affected by this unspeakable tragedy."

Mateen worked with the company since 2007. G4S provides security personnel for the Department of Homeland Security, US Customs and Border Protection at the US-Mexico border, and helps transport undocumented immigrants from urban areas.

Mass killings like the one in Orlando directly benefit private security firms like G4S by increasing fears and demands for higher security services. Estimates are that over $200 billion is spent on private security globally with higher amounts expected yearly. The industry currently employs some 15 million people worldwide.

G4S offers security guards, alarms, management and transportation of cash and valuables, prison management, and electronic monitoring of offenders in 120 countries worldwide. They are the second largest private employer in the world. Their annual revenue in 2014 was $10.5 billion. Increasingly G4S operates in "complex environments" and accepts jobs national armies are not trained to do, like land mine clearance and military security in active war zones.

Chevron Oil in Nigeria contracts with G4S for counter insurgency operations that deploy armed groups of fast-response mercenaries both on land and on delta water patrol boats mounted with machine guns. G4S maintains a similar operation in South Sudan. G4S also provides surveillance equipment to checkpoints and prisons in Israel.

G4S has been plagued with problems in the last decade, most noticeably with the botched contract at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. They failed to provide the 10,000 plus trained employees they had promised under contract. Instead G4S had roughly 2,000 people properly trained, with many more getting only a few weeks' worth of preparation. The result led to the British Military being called in to provide security with some 13,000 troops alongside G4S.

In June of 2014, G4S was accused of violently removing protesters from outside its own offices in London, a claim the company denies, and a few months after that G4S had to pay $100,000 for unlawfully restraining youths in a secure training facility. In 2011, a double amputee was improperly secured in one of G4S's ambulance services and died when the unsecured wheelchair tipped over backwards as he was being transported to the hospital. It was found that the G4S staff was not sufficiently trained to move patients safely from their homes to hospitals. And as far back as 2004, a 15-year-old died when three G4S employees at Rainsbrook Secure Training Center restrained him. None of the officers were charged in that incident.

G4S is a transnational security company in direct service to the global corporations and the transnational capitalist class. G4S protects capital and assets around the world and is increasingly taking a private military style approach as needed. As a multi-billion-dollar public company major investors come from the financial core of the transnational capitalist class including; Blackrock, UBS, Vanguard, Barclays, State Street, Allianz, J.P. Morgan Chase, Credit Suisse, and FMR. Even the State of California and New York have holdings in G4S. Nine of the thirteen largest most connected money management firms and banks in the world have direct investments holdings in G4S. Omnicom, the largest public relations and propaganda firm in the world, handles media for G4S and undoubtedly is currently in full crisis management mode to protect the company and minimalize links to Omar Mateen.

G4S is a part of neoliberal imperialism that is leading to the substitution of and privatization of state police. Inside G4S's 625,000 employees are undoubtedly a number of reactionary individuals with extreme racist, homophobic, and xenophobic feelings similar to Omar Mateen. These folks are armed walking time bombs that can individually or collectively unleash disruption and chaos on humans anywhere in the world. The resulting chaos and fear will be used to justify even more demands for private security, including even martial law, all resulting in improved profits for G4S.

Fully footnoted research on G4S is available on line at: http://projectcensored.org/private-military-companies-in-service-to-the-transnational-capitalist-class/


Between Sandy Hook and the Orlando Night Club Massacre there have been about 1,000 of these incidents, and for the most part your State and Federal Representatives have been oblivious to the dangers posed by assault weapons. Perhaps they have been more interested in the money available from the NRA and affiliates for their local election campaigns. So let's face if folks, if any laws are going to be proposed to help provide protection, we will have to do it.



The first objection to any restrictive law is that guns don't slaughter people, people do. For the most part, that is true, but no more true than cars don't kill people, people do. For cars we provide protection. So why not guns? The first objection is just plain silly. Try driving on any side of a two way road no matter what direction you travel and how far you travel with oncoming traffic and no rules.



The next objection is that the second amendment guarantees the right to own a gun. Without going into the legal arguments, the Second Amendment doesn't guarantee free gun or free ammunition, or the right to buy either without paying taxes.



The primary duty of society is to protect its members. So we try to protect society from those who pose a danger to themselves or others or who may be too young to yet fully know the nature and results of their activity. We require a certain amount of maturity, skill and physical ability to drive a car. We protect ourselves from those who have proved to be dangerous to themselves or others. This is the basic reasons for forming a society, a reason for the existence of the family.




Caricature of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

The initial intent from here was to wait for the Repubs and Dems conventions to officially name their candidates for the presidential "sweepstakes" before giving my take on the choices.

Well obviously there's no need to wait for the conventions extravaganza's.

It's the "Donald" v/s the "Hillerator". The two most hated candidates to lead their respective parties since...never happened before-at least in the memory of this septuagenarian.

Donald Trump is despised by his own party and Hillary Clinton though supported by a majority of women is despised by perhaps a majority of all others in America-but many of those won't even vote in November.

From here it's "Horror v/s Horror" so many people going to the polls in November will hold their nose and choose what they consider the lesser of evils-not exactly a new phenomenon in America, but this year it's truly bottom dwelling.

The self important billionaire Trump, blowhard extraordinaire, reality show host, narcissist, slick real estate magnate against Clinton the neo-con, neo-liberal war monger.

The former ready to build a fence on the southern border to keep out immigrants, torture Muslims and kill their family members while the latter calls Russian President Vladimir Putin "the new Hitler", supported the Afghanistan and Iraq invasions and occupations, regime change in Syria, Ukraine and Libya, a supporter of NAFTA and till recently the proposed TTP and TTIP financial agreements that if approved would have corporations able to sue governments if a countries regulations reduced the corporations profits and all held before a corporate court. She's in the pocket of AIPAC-lead organization of the Israeli Lobby- and all but a corporate exec of Goldman Sachs who received hundreds of thousands for speeches delivered at the financial "master of the universe".

As for Trump he's made so many off the cuff comments it's hard to know where he stands. Though he has said he'd work with Putin, the Iraq war was a mistake, sees no need to engage in regime change in Syria, that Europe needs to defend itself, NATO needs to be scrapped, that its function ceased to exist with demise of the Soviet Union.

These last are sensible ideas but who knows if he's elected whether any or all these ideas will be acted upon.

Meanwhile Hillary, with a record of supporting war, regime change and antagonizing Russia, one wonders could the world survive with a woman out to prove she has the cojones to use military force.

Then there's Bernie, still "in the ring", but won't get the Dems nomination as he's said all along he'd support the party's nominee.

What about his supporters who openly despise Hillary; what will they do? The sense here is they'll not vote for Hillary, stay home or vote for Trump. The idea they'll follow Bernie's lead and support Hillary is wishful thinking. They'll feel betrayed.

Yet the real betrayal is the electoral process foisted on the American people.

If there was a true democratic process in the US, neither the "Donald" or the "Hillerator" would be their party's nominee. There would be a viable, independent 3rd party and big money would be banned from corrupting the electoral process.

Debates wouldn't be controlled by the Democrat and Republican parties as is the case now but include ALL viable candidates and controlled by a respected, independent organization-as was done years ago with the League of Women Voters who stepped down from running the debates when the two parties interceded and limited the debates to only those candidates they decided could be in the debates. It was the reason Ralph Nader wasn't allowed to debate in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

Electronic voting machines would be banned and replaced with paper ballots so legitimate recounts could be occur.
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"Rob's bottom-up consulting for Thought Technology over the years to help us incorporate bottom-up thinking in our business and product development has been very valuable. It is a truly disruptive technique, well worth considering, which is well explained in his book."



Hal Myers, PhD, President, Thought Technology, Ltd. Member of the Board of Directors for the Ten to the Ninth Foundation (formerly Singularity University)
By Jason Williams

Taxpayer Association of Oregon

In disasters we Americans unite. My prayers extend to the Orlando victims and their families. To the gay community in America I pledge my protection of support for your safety  for without safety, all of our constitutional rights are lost. I pledge my money and ask others to help in the funds (Pulse Victims GoFundMePage & Gov. Rick Scotts disaster relief fund page). To everyone else I leave the inspirational poem created by one of the victims. We need to hear her voice.
In a meeting last September, Arvind Bali, CEO of telecom operator Videocon Telecom, told Business Today: "We have to run this business for the long term." His confidence was understandable, given that the government was about to announce trading and sharing norms for telecom spectrum. Such norms would allow telecom players - not just Videocon, but others as well - to transfer their idle spectrum to other service providers who are facing a spectrum crunch, or pool spectrum to bring together their fragmented spectrum holdings, resulting in better spectral efficiency. It was something Videocon Telecom was looking forward to. In October, the government announced the guidelines. In the November 2012 spectrum auction, the company had regained spectrum in six circles - after losing most of the 18 circles it held earlier when the Supreme Court famously cancelled 122 licences given in 2008 by the then telecom minister A. Raja - and had plans to launch 4G services there, but the market was not fully ready. So, like other telcos, it had been waiting for trading and sharing norms to come into force. "We are in discussion with three large operators...we will start with [spectrum] sharing," Bali had said.

However, last November, Videocon sold its spectrum in two circles to Idea Cellular before scrapping the move and finalising a Rs 4,428-crore deal with Bharti Airtel for its spectrum in six circles. It earned a hefty profit, given that the spectrum was bought at just Rs 2,221 crore. Videocon Telecom refused to participate in this story, but a senior executive of the company said it no longer has an India strategy: "We are left with just Punjab circle."

What made Bali change his mind - from sharing the spectrum with other operators to nearly exiting from the business? Telecom has been a loss-making venture all along for the $5-billion Videocon group, but that's not all. In the telecom sector, the scenario is changing rapidly. Technology - 3G, 4G, WiMAX - is changing fast, and smaller operators are not in a position to invest adequately to upgrade their networks. On the other hand, the strong network holdings and large investments by big telcos have made it difficult for smaller players to survive on their own. As a result, large operators like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular are growing their subscriber base at a significant pace (see Current Wireless Subscriber Base), even as most of the smaller ones see their share of the pie shrinking. The impending launch of Reliance Jio's 4G services, expected to be a big draw for consumers, has further queered the pitch for small telecom companies.

Unsurprisingly, a slew of deals has surfaced in the past few quarters (see Cross Connections), which is expected to change the landscape of the telecom sector. "The structural issues such as rising spectrum prices, mounting losses and high debt levels are forcing smaller operators to either sell their spectrum or consider merger or even shut shop," says Bhupendra Tiwary, analyst at ICICI Securities.

Join Hands or Exit

Videocon may not be the only one exiting. Norwegian telecom company Telenor is also analysing its strategy for the Indian market. In the March quarter, Telenor posted operating losses of Rs 2,530 crore, which was a 19-fold jump over the losses of the corresponding quarter last year. In fact, Telenor has been posting EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) losses since 2009. In April, when Telenor's global CEO Sigve Brekke announced its results, he said that "long-term presence in India is dependent on our ability to secure additional spectrum. We are not able to compete with the current spectrum portfolio we have in the growing data market...We are looking at upcoming auctions and potential trading options".

That could be challenging for Telenor, given that the upcoming auctions are expected to be the most exorbitant in the history of telecom auctions. TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has recommended Rs 11,485 crore per MHz base price for auction of spectrum in 700 MHz - the highest price for spectrum sold in India. Even the large players deem these prices prohibitive. For now, though, Telenor is putting up a brave face. "We do not comment on market rumours and speculations," says Sharad Mehrotra, CEO, Telenor (India) Communications. "Telenor sees India as a growth market. Last August, we announced a network modernisation programme where over 24,000 sites were to be swapped with modern equipment by Huawei. The investment earmarked for this is Rs 1,240 crore."

Then, Tata Group's telecom venture - with a mere 60.27 million subscribers as of February 2016 and presence in 19 circles - is in dire straits. Focus on CDMA technology, a confused strategy and more aggressive competitors have made Tata Teleservices Limited (TTL) one of India's worst performing operators. In the first half of 2015/16, it posted net losses of Rs 1,420 crore on revenue of Rs 5,390 crore. Over the past two years, Tata Group has been desperately looking for a buyer for TTL. Negotiations happened with various operators, but in vain. The company did not respond to an email sent by BT.

The other option is to consolidate. Reliance Communications (RCom), for instance, is planning a merger with two smaller telcos - Sistema Shyam TeleServices (SSTL) that operates MTS brand, and Aircel. RCom's and MTS's market shares have been dipping for two years whereas Aircel's is showing marginal uptrend in subscriber numbers (see Current Wireless Subscriber Base). If the merger works out, the new entity will have a subscriber base almost on par with the No. 2, Vodafone.

Analysts believe the merger will give a new lease of life to the three operators. "They would have been completely marginalised in the next two to three years," says an analyst. There are other challenges, including the fact that all three entities have significant debt on their books. As on December 31, 2015, RCom had Rs 40,479 crore of debt while Aircel, about Rs 18,000 crore. An analyst points out that Aircel's Rs 3,500-crore deal (for 2,300-MHz spectrum) with Bharti Airtel will help reduce Aircel's debt. The new entity is expected to have debt of around Rs 28,000 crore - with both RCom and Aircel contributing equally - provided RCom successfully reduces its debt by selling tower and optic fibre businesses.

Then, there are concerns over the portfolio of subscribers of this new entity. RCom's average revenue per user (ARPU) and number of postpaid users are low compared to the large operators. For instance, RCom's ARPU was Rs 157 in the December quarter, while Airtel's was Rs 194.

Experts say that RCom's inability to make sufficient investments in its networks can partly be resolved with its impending tie-up with Reliance Jio, which has already spent Rs 1.5 lakh crore in buying spectrum and building an ecosystem of services around 4G. It is expected to use RCom's spectrum as a fallback network.

Spectrum is Key

Large operators hold the maximum amount of spectrum across the country, and continue to modernise their networks with significant investments. For instance, in key markets such as Delhi and Mumbai, as on January 2015, the spectrum holdings of Airtel (86.40 MHz) and Vodafone (84.40 MHz) exceeded the combined holding of RCom (58.80 MHz) and Aircel (17.6 MHz). In the case of 4G spectrum, the total holding of Airtel (560 MHz) and Reliance Jio (620 MHz) across all circles is far higher than even Idea Cellular (110 MHz) and Vodafone (80 MHz). The holding of other players is even lesser.

Since spectrum is limited and costly, the operators have to continuously upgrade their networks, which means putting up more towers when certain utilisation is reached. That involves both operational and capacity expansion costs. Spectrum holding alone doesn't make large players formidable. Airtel, for instance, announced a Rs 60,000-crore 'Project Leap' programme last year - a network modernisation plan - that includes doubling the base stations to over 300,000 in three years. (Base stations or BTS is a piece of network equipment that facilitates wireless communication between a device and network.) "Lack of investment in networks is the primary reason for the decline of RCom's subscriber base over the years," an analyst informs.

Shift in Technology

Adding to the growing divide between large and small telcos are the constant changes in technology and rising data consumption. It was a voice-only market, until, in 2010, the market witnessed the launch of 3G. The spectrum sold for 3G services was priced at a premium. Smaller operators rolled out 3G, too, but much slower than large telcos. Today, the focus has shifted to 4G. Expectedly, the smaller players don't have the financial muscle to invest in this new technology whereas large operators have made big investments. Smaller operators, however, have a different view. "Even 3G has not been exploited to its full potential," says Sunil Kuttam, Head, Data and Devices, Aircel. "It will take time for the larger market to adopt 4G in a big way."

Significantly, though, smartphone shipments in India crossed the 100 million mark in 2015, with 4G shipments outnumbering 3G shipments for the first time, as per International Data Corporation.

Game of Scale

Most fringe operators have presence in limited number of circles. Telenor, for example, has presence in six circles, MTS in eight. A pan-India presence, like Airtel or Vodafone, has its benefits. "Suppose an operator is present only in two or three circles. When customers are travelling, I need to pay to some other operators to enable my users to make calls. I have to go for a commercial arrangement with other operators. That's revenue leakage," explains Sergey Savchenko, CEO of MTS India.

Sales and distribution is another key area. The bigger telcos seem to have established a distribution model that's difficult to emulate by new players. "It's as important as spectrum to win in the market place. The survival of smaller players will be tougher with large operators with deeper pockets lowering data and voice rates further," says an analyst.

Following Global Trend

T.V. Ramachandran, former head of GSM body COAI (Cellular Operators' Association of India), says, "The amount of spectrum that operators hold in India is 40 per cent of the global average. In India, the subscriber base is high and the propensity to talk is also high, but the spectrum is low. Universally, a mobile market can efficiently support three to four operators. That the market cannot support more than five players is not speculation, but an economic fact," he says. India has 12 telecom operators at present.

Most countries worldwide have licensed only three to five mobile operators. Some have seen consolidation in the number of mobile operators in the past few years. In the US, for instance, the market is now divided between Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile US and Sprint with regional providers, including Alltel, Leap Wireless, MetroPCS and others, being acquired by large operators.

"It's a poker game with big bets. The market can sustain five players plus BSNL," says MTS's Savchenko. While more mergers and acquisitions may not improve the quality of services, they can most certainly bring economies of scale for large operators. The smaller players, meanwhile, are smart enough to understand that their days are numbered.


After being exposed to hundreds of hours of salt spray, and showing virtually no signs of corrosion. Credit: Patrick Dodds, Swansea University

A team from Swansea University which is developing a new 'smart release' corrosion inhibitor, for use in coated steel products, has won the Materials Science Venture Prize awarded by The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers.

Led by Professor Geraint Williams, the team, including doctorate student Patrick Dodds, is working on an alternative to hexavalent chromate, the commonly used corrosion inhibitor which is facing an EU ban in 2019. The discovery by Mr Dodds, in late 2015, of a material and manufacturing process for a smart release coating which outperforms hexavalent chromate in laboratory tests could lead to the product taking a significant slice of a multi-million pound market. The market for coiled coated steel is potentially worth 3billion per year in Europe alone.

"This is a significant breakthrough, showing a smarter and safer way of reducing corrosion. The new product is environmentally sound, economical and outperforms the market leader in laboratory tests. It illustrates that Swansea, with its close links between research and industry, remains at the heart of innovation in steel" said Professor Geraint Williams.

Corrosion inhibitors are commonly used in a wide range of sectors, including: coated steel products used to construct industrial, commercial and other buildings; aerospace and aircraft; and the car industry.

The Swansea University team in the imaging lab: l-r Paddy Dodds, doctoral researcher; Dr Adrian Walters, SPECIFIC project; Prof Geraint Williams, team leader Credit: Swansea University

Dodds' discovery contains a stored reservoir of corrosion inhibitor. It works by channelling aggressive electrolyte anions into the coating, triggering the release of the inhibitor 'on demand', thus preventing corrosion.

"The system has been shown to prevent the onset of corrosion for over 24 hours compared to less than two hours for the current market leader," said Patrick Dodds. "We have also been able to demonstrate that the rate of corrosion can be slowed down significantly once it has started. This is by far the best result seen in 15 years of research on this topic."

"This is a significant discovery and shows how the UK is still a driving innovation force in industry," said Professor Bill Bonfield, chairman of the Armourers and Brasiers Venture Prize judging panel. "Our prize looks to encourage scientific entrepreneurship in the UK and provide funding to help discoveries like this realise their potential."

"The 25,000 prize win will be used to purchase a Jet Mill system, an essential tool for overcoming the remaining technical barriers preventing commercialisation," explained Professor Williams. "All the laboratory tests have been most encouraging and the next stage is to demonstrate technical viability and commercial scalability."

Professor Williams is leading the team developing the new anti-corrosion treatment, and is pictured in the electrochemistry lab at Swansea University. Credit: Swansea University

The research was carried out at Swansea University using a scanning Kelvin probe, specially built by the team, which can detect the state of the metal beneath a coating without touching it. This allowed them to test different products much more quickly, with each test taking around 24 hours, rather than 500 hours as was previously the case.

The intellectual property is owned by Swansea University, having been developed under a project co-funded by Tata Steel Colors. Swansea University has also filed a GB patent application relating to the technology. Ownership will be transferred to the spin-out company in exchange for a minority shareholding which will include a package of on-going scientific, technical and business support to ensure the company is investable.

The spin-out company will be co-located with the SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre at Swansea University in its company incubation area. The centre's strategic partners include Tata Steel and BASF Chemicals, and it is funded by EPSRC, Innovate UK and the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

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Luxurious coral growth, fore reef slope, Nonoc Island, Philippines. Scientists hope their discovery will provide opportunities for new solutions for coral reef conservation. Credit: Mark Tupper

Researchers have discovered a handful of 'bright spots' among the world's embattled coral reefs, offering the promise of a radical new approach to conservation.

In one of the largest global studies of its kind, researchers conducted over 6,000 reef surveys in 46 countries across the globe, and discovered 15 'bright spots' - places where, against all the odds, there were a lot more fish on coral reefs than expected.

"Given the widespread depletion of coral reef fisheries globally, we were really excited to find these bright spots that were doing much better than we anticipated," says lead author Professor Josh Cinner from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University.

"These 'bright spots' are reefs with more fish than expected based on their exposure to pressures like human population, poverty, and unfavourable environmental conditions.

"To be clear, bright spots are not necessarily pristine reefs, but rather reefs that have more fish than they should, given the pressures they face.

"We wanted to know why these reefs could 'punch above their weight' so-to-speak, and whether there are lessons we can learn about how to avoid the degradation often associated with overfishing."

Co-author, Professor Nick Graham of Lancaster University says globally, coral reefs are in decline and current strategies for preserving them are insufficient.

"Our bright spots approach has identified places we did not previously know were so successful, and the really interesting thing is that they are not necessarily untouched by man," he says.

"We believe their discovery offers the potential to develop exciting new solutions for coral reef conservation."

"Importantly, the bright spots had a few things in common, which, if applied to other places, might help promote better reef conditions."

"Many bright spots had strong local involvement in how the reefs were managed, local ownership rights, and traditional management practices," says co-author Dr. Christina Hicks of Lancaster and Stanford Universities.

The scientists also identified 35 'dark spots' - these were reefs with fish stocks in worse shape than expected.

"Dark spots also had a few defining characteristics; they were subject to intensive netting activities and there was easy access to freezers so people could stockpile fish to send to the market," says Dr. Hicks.

This type of bright spots analysis has been used in fields such as human health to improve the wellbeing of millions of people. It is the first time it has been rigorously developed for conservation.

"We believe that the bright spots offer hope and some solutions that can be applied more broadly across the world's coral reefs," says Prof. Cinner.

"Specifically, investments that foster local involvement and provide people with ownership rights can allow people to develop creative solutions that help defy expectations of reef fisheries depletion.

"Conversely, dark spots may highlight development or management pathways to avoid."

Bright spots were typically found in the Pacific Ocean in places like the Solomon Islands, parts of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Kiribati. Dark spots were more globally distributed and found in every major ocean basin.

The study has been published in the journal Nature. Thirty nine scientists from 34 different universities and conservation groups conducted the research.

More information: Joshua E. Cinner et al, Bright spots among the world's coral reefs, Nature (2016). Journal information: Nature Joshua E. Cinner et al, Bright spots among the world's coral reefs,(2016). DOI: 10.1038/nature18607
Denizens of the deep 210 million years ago near Bristol. An ichthyosaur sizes up the armoured fish, Dapedium, at bottom left. Sharks and ammonites swim in the background in tropical seas Credit: Drawing by Valentina Rossi, one of the lead authors of the work

A team from the University of Bristol has shed new light on the creatures that inhabited the tropical seas surrounding Britain at the start of the age of the dinosaurs.

Some 210 million years ago, Britain consisted of many islands, surrounded by warm seas. Europe at the time lay farther south, at latitudes equivalent to North Africa today. Much of Europe was hot desert, and at this point was flooded by a great sea - the Rhaetian Transgression.

Published in Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, the Bristol team's work is the most extensive study yet, based on more than 26,000 identified fossils, of the Rhaetian shallow sea sharks, bony fishes, marine reptiles, and other creatures. Unusually, five members of the team were undergraduates when they did the work, and this was part of a series of summer internships.

The team was led by Ellen Mears, now a postgraduate at the University of Edinburgh, and Valentina Rossi, now a postgraduate at the University of Cork.

Ellen Mears said: "I studied the shark and fish teeth, and found remains of at least seven species of sharks and four of bony fishes. The sharks were all predators, but some were quite small. The bony fishes were unusual because many of them were shell crushers."

Valentina Rossi, who worked on the reptile remains, added: "We found teeth and bones of ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, the classic great sea dragons of the Triassic and Jurassic, as well as some other reptiles, including a tooth possibly from a dinosaur - but it was heavily worn."

Professor Michael Benton, who supervised the students' work over the summers of 2014 and 2015, explained: "The students came to the project with no prior knowledge, but each one took on the task of identifying and documenting their group of fossils. They had to look at thousands of specimens and assign them to species, and then each contribute their part of the paper to proper professional standards. This is the eighth paper published from this internship scheme."

The new work has emphasized the complexity of major global changes, like this remarkable rise in sea level ten million years ago. It has been documented from dozens of localities in England, but also from central Europe. Careful measurement of the rock sections, and documentation of the fossils bed-by-bed allow us to reconstruct the to-and-fro of major animal groups over a few million years.

The fossils even include dozens of examples of coprolites, pellets of dung, hat were deposited by the various fishes and reptiles - some of these even contain bones and scales of fishes, and one even shows small bones of a marine reptile - clear evidence of who was eating whom in those ancient seas.

Explore further Study shows ancient British shores teemed with life

More information: 'The Rhaetian (Late Triassic) vertebrates of Hampstead Farm Quarry, Gloucestershire, UK' by Ellen Mears, Valentina Rossi, Ellen MacDonald, Gareth Coleman, Tom Davies, Caterina Arias-Riesgo, Claudia Hildebrandt, Helen Thiel, Christopher J. Duffin, David I. Whiteside, and Michael J. Benton in Proceedings of the Geologists' Association
The figure depicts one of the X-ray crystal structures solved by the research team. Shown is the serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (green) in complex with a Camelid antibody fragment (orange). The Camelid antibody fragment display an unusual inhibitory mechanism by binding to the active site region (highlighted in blue) of the serine protease where it mimics the binding of substrate. Credit: Tobias-Kromann-Hansen

The use of Camelid antibodies has important implications for future development of reagents for diagnosis and therapeutics in diseases involving a group of enzymes called serine proteases.

Antibodies have many applications, in areas ranging from basic molecular biology and biochemistry to clinical medicine. Recently, much interest has been focused on a special group of antibodies from Camelids (camels, dromedaries, llamas). Due to their small size and unique structures, these Camelid antibodies are ideal building blocks for the generation of novel biological drugs, with multiple competitive advantages over other therapeutic molecules. Moreover, Camelid antibodies offer many technical applications in basic biochemistry and structural biology.

Now, a group of Danish, Belgian, and Chinese researchers have used the Camelid antibody technology to explore basic principles of catalysis and inhibition of a group of enzymes called serine proteases, using X-ray crystal structure analysis. Serine proteases catalyse important processes in blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, tissue remodeling, and other physiological functions.

The research team has developed Camelid antibodies against serine proteases, thereby allowing a structural characterization of a long standing problem concerning whether a certain peptide segment will behave as an inhibitor or a substrate for a serine protease. The results also have important implications for future development of reagents for diagnosis and therapeutics in diseases involving serine proteases.

The results have been obtained in a collaboration between researchers from Aarhus (Denmark), Leuven and Brussels (Belgium) and Hong Kong (China). In particular, Serge Muyldermans, Vrijes Universiteit Brussels, who originally pioneered the development of the Camelid antibody technology, has contributed with his expertise. Tobias-Kromann-Hansen, as part of his Ph.D.-study, spent four months in his laboratory. Tobias Kromann-Hansen is currently developing these studies further as a Carlsberg Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of California San Diego, USA. The results are being published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The publication is one of the achievements of the Danish-Chinese Centre for Proteases and Cancer, headed by Peter A. Andreasen.

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More information: Tobias Kromann-Hansen et al. A Camelid-derived Antibody Fragment Targeting the Active Site of a Serine Protease Balances between Inhibitor and Substrate Behavior, Journal of Biological Chemistry (2016). Journal information: Journal of Biological Chemistry Tobias Kromann-Hansen et al. A Camelid-derived Antibody Fragment Targeting the Active Site of a Serine Protease Balances between Inhibitor and Substrate Behavior,(2016). DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M116.732503
Credit: City University London

Functional stupidity in the workplace is best described as when smart people are discouraged to think and reflect at work. The ramifications can ultimately be catastrophic, leading to organisational collapse, financial meltdown and technical disaster. However, there are countless commonplace examples of businesses accepting and encouraging functional stupidity within their organisations; from unsustainable management fads to an over-reliance on brand and image.

However, a dose of functional stupidity can be useful and produce good, short-term results: it can nurture harmony, encourage people to get on with the job and drive success. This is what the authors refer to as the stupidity paradox.

For over a decade we have been studying knowledge intensive organisations. These have included management consultancies, banks, engineering firms, pharmaceutical companies, universities and schools. We spoke with hundreds of people in dozens of organisations. During the course of our research, we were constantly struck by how these organisations, which employ so many people with high IQs and impressive qualifications, could do so many stupid things.

Our investigations into the stupidity paradox revealed many examples of when sensible decisions are ignored.

Examples included:

Executives who more interested in impressive power point shows than systematic analysis.

Companies ran leadership development initiatives which would not be out of place in a new age commune.

Technology firms that were more interest in keeping a positive tone than addressing real problems.

Schools focused more on developing impressive strategies than educating students.

Marketing executives who were obsessed with branding when all that counted was the price.

Corporations that would throw millions into 'change exercises' and then when they failed do exactly the same thing again and again

Senior defence officials who were more interested in running rebranding operations rather than military operations.

We started to ask why such smart firms with intelligent people could do such stupid things. We found that these organisations would often hire smart people and then encourage them not to use their intelligence. The smart people would naturally try to think for themselves and ask questions. But this was discouraged in subtle and not so subtle ways. Employees were told things like 'don't think about it, just do it', and 'don't bring us problems, just bring us solutions'. The smart workers quickly learned not to ask too many questions or to think too deeply because fully using their intelligence would result in awkward questions that might upset their superiors as well as their co-workers. The easiest course of action was often just to get on with the job.

We came across many processes that stupefy people at work such as leaders who encourage their followers not to think too much. Other examples include policies and processes which are mindlessly followed; corporate window dressings that were more about symbolism rather than substance; companies thoughtlessly imitating others firms, and corporate cultures that trap employees in mental straitjackets.

Generally, it is normal to think stupidity at work is a problem, but we were surprised to find that sometimes it can be useful (hence 'paradox' in the title), at least in the short-term.

The benefits of people not fully using their intellect has operational benefits, from decreasing time-wasting from asking too many questions, to avoiding conflict. This means those who buy-in to the stupidity paradox can get on with the job at hand and make their way up the corporate ladder.

However, this kind of stupidity in the workplace can create problems in the long-term. For example, when people overlook problems. Sometimes this didn't matter, especially if the organisation in question was large enough where issues might go unnoticed or be hidden. But when these problems build-up it can lead to disaster. This is what happened in the banking industry in the lead up to the financial crisis. We have also seen happen to Nokia when it was unable to keep up with Apple's iPhone. There are also examples in many public services, which continue to add pointless policies and procedures rather than actually delivering services to the public.

Functional stupidity is deeply engrained in many organisations, and rooting it out is tough because it often has a payoff. But there are some steps firms can take. Organisations can encourage an environment of reflection by building 'challenge' into thought processes. One way to do this could be to appoint a 'devil's advocate' whose job it is come up with questions, not solutions. Companies can also encourage greater realism, by getting employees to conduct pre-mortems before a project begins. Finally, organisations can harness theirs employees' scepticism to get rid of pointless initiatives; for instance, identifying and disposing of empty management speak, which wastes people's time and achieves little.

Explore further Smart organizations should also be stupid, according to new theory

More information: The Stupidity Paradox: The Power and Pitfalls of Functional Stupidity at Work (Profile Books), by Mats Alvesson and Andre Spicer. The Stupidity Paradox: The Power and Pitfalls of Functional Stupidity at Work (Profile Books), by Mats Alvesson and Andre Spicer. profilebooks.com/the-stupidity-paradox.html
Harmful chemicals known as endocrine disruptors are potentially found in a huge variety of products, including pesticides

European Union regulators on Wednesday set criteria for identifying harmful chemicals used in everyday products, but more than two years late after a fierce debate with lobbyists and activists.

The issue is highly sensitive one as EU law states that any product judged to contain these chemicals, known as endocrine disruptors, will have to be withdrawn from the market.

These chemicals are potentially found in a huge variety of everyday products, including disinfectants, pesticides and toiletries.

"The Commission is committed to ensuring the highest level of protection of both human health and the environment, which is why we are today putting forward strict criteria for endocrine disrupters - based on science," European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said in a statement.

In 2012, the World Health Organization sounded an alarm over endocrine disruptors, linking them to cancerous tumours, birth defects, and other developmental disorders.

EU rules in 2013 targeted suspected disruptors and the commission, the bloc's executive, agreed to define the criteria for identifying them that year.

But the sensitive decision was delayed by demands by worried chemicals companies for more research.

The delay became so long that in December, Europe's second-highest court found the commission had broken EU law by still failing to set out the criteria.

European health and environment groups said the Commission's criteria contained dangerous loopholes and that the EU had bowed to pressure from the chemical industry.

But a group representing chemicals giants such as Germany's Bayer and US group Dow Chemical also slammed the decision.

"We are extremely disappointed with this proposal from the European Commission," the European Crop Protection Association said in an email to AFP.

The group has warned that if too strict, the EU could encourage the spread of crop diseases and reduce yields by as much as 50 percent.

The commission's proposal will now be negotiated by the European Parliament and with ministers from the EU's 28 member states.

 2016 AFP
For Immediate Release

The CIA today released a trove of documents related to its rendition, detention, and interrogation programs, and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is appalled that the agency redacted nearly all details concerning the CIAs Office of Medical Services, the entity ostensibly charged with detainee care.

The following response can be attributed to Dr. Vincent Iacopino, medical director at Physicians for Human Rights:

We continue to be stunned by the CIAs audacity in suppressing all details related to the role medical officials played in the agencys brutal torture program. This blanket redaction of details relating to medical records, medical treatment, and any role played by CIA medical professionals is part of the CIAs ongoing effort to cover up responsibility for torture and for violations of medicines central principal: do no harm.

This wholesale redaction is part of the CIAs pattern of concealing evidence of its crimes, and it suggests U.S. government officials are still trying to avoid any and all liability for torturing detainees. As Physicians for Human Rights has established, psychologists, doctors, and other health professionals were central to the CIAs torture program. They designed the methods, medically monitored torture victims, engaged in unethical research and experimentation, and helped the CIA legitimize practices any responsible medical professional would consider beyond the pale.

National security laws were never intended to hide the evidence of crimes. Health personnel involved in torture at every level must be held accountable for their actions.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is a New York-based advocacy organization that uses science and medicine to prevent mass atrocities and severe human rights violations. Learn more here.
Merchants Using Ingenico Groups Telium Payments System Can Now Accept MintChip Digital Cash as a Secure, Convenient, Cheaper and Faster Way to Pay

CALGARY, AB and MISSISSAUGA, ON(Marketwired  Jun 15, 2016)  Today, at the Payments Panorama Conference, nanoPay Corporation, a fully integrated loyalty and payments platform provider and Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346  ING), the global leader in seamless payment, announced a new partnership in which Ingenico Group will integrate nanoPays MintChip digital cash platform into its Telium system, enabling merchants to accept MintChip using their existing Ingenico Group smart terminals. The partnership will provide a more seamless, secure and faster payment experience for both merchants and consumers, while bringing Canada one step closer to becoming a cashless society.

Ingenico Group embraces innovative solutions in Canada that expand our reach to a new generation of digital customers, said Suzan Denoncourt, Managing Director, Canada for Ingenico Group. This partnership further reinforces our leadership position in payments technology by enabling MintChip digital cash transactions for the thousands of retailers using our smart terminals across Canada.

Using Ingenico Groups smart terminals integrated with MintChip, consumers can pay for goods and services with their MintChip-enabled app at participating stores with a tap or quick scan of their phone at checkout. MintChip transactions settle in real time and eliminate costly chargebacks for merchants.

(Find Point-Of-Sale Resources, White Papers, Case studies, Software for Retailers )

As demand grows for convenience at checkout, it is undeniable that mobile payment solutions are changing consumer behaviour, said Laurence Cooke, CEO and Founder of nanoPay. Ingenico Group is the clear leader in merchant payment terminals in Canada and our partnership provides an opportunity to introduce MintChip to their large merchant network, while providing Canadians with the security, convenience and simplicity of digital cash.

The integration of the MintChip platform into Ingenico Groups payment technology is currently undergoing certification and will be commercially available in the fall of 2016.

In addition to demonstrating the MintChip platform at 12:15pm on June 15, Cooke will be speaking at the Payments Panorama conference on Digital currency: beyond the technology. Striking the right balance between regulation and innovation on June 17 at 9am.

For more information about nanoPay and MintChip, visit nanopay.net or mintchip.ca.
It can often be difficult to know where to begin when it comes to kickstarting a healthier lifestyle, so we are here to help you
Civil rights activist and political mega-donor Woody Kaplan, founder of Civil Rights List, contributed $2,700 on Sunday to the campaign of Democratic congressional candidate Mike Derrick, according to a 48-hour notice the campaign filed Monday with the Federal Election Commission.

Kaplan's occupation is listed as "provocateur."

The campaign reported $8,100 in contributions of $1,000 or more on Sunday from 6 individuals. including three individuals within the congressional district.

Derrick, a retired Army colonel from Peru, in Clinton County, is running in the 21st Congressional District against U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, and Green Party candidate Matt Funiciello, a bread company owners and political activist from Hudson Falls.

Stefanik had reported $5,700 in 48-hour notice contributions, as of Wednesday morning.

Funciello had not reported any 48-hour notice contributions, as of Wednesday morning.

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.
FORT EDWARD  Eyebrows were raised Friday when the victim in a felony criminal contempt case showed up in Washington County Court with the defendants lawyer. An order of protection barred the defendant from having contact with her.

After the defendant, two-time felon Robert D. Carota Jr., 51, of Moreau, pleaded guilty, Washington County sheriffs Senior Investigator Tony LeClaire watched to see if the two  who are boyfriend-girlfriend  left together.

Carota walked across the Washington County Municipal Center parking lot and got in a car on Route 4 being driven by the woman, LeClaire said.

LeClaire said he followed the car and pulled it over a few hundred yards south. When the vehicle stopped, Carota got out and ran off and police werent able to locate him.

Fast forward six hours, when a Sheriffs Office patrol stopped a car for speeding on Route 4 in Kingsbury around 10:30 p.m. Friday. Unbeknownst to the deputy, the woman who was not supposed to have contact with Carota was driving, and Carota was in the passenger seat.

He jumped out of the car and took off again, LeClaire said.

The Sheriffs Office asked Wednesday for the publics help in locating Carota, a Fort Edward Road resident who has a lengthy criminal record that includes at least nine DWI arrests. An arrest warrant was issued in Fort Edward Town Court charging him with an additional count of first-degree criminal contempt for the Fort Edward contact, and another charge could be filed for the Kingsbury incident as well.

Carota was released Friday after pleading guilty to first-degree criminal contempt. He faces 1.5 to 3 years in state prison in a plea deal on that charge, though the alleged offenses after the plea could affect the plea deal.

The no-contact order of protection was issued in Kingsbury Town Court after Carota was charged with an unspecified domestic violence offense against the woman. His lawyer, Tucker Stanclift, said a previous misdemeanor criminal contempt conviction in Kingsbury was being appealed, and if that conviction was struck down, the subsequent charges would be misdemeanors as well.

Under state law, felony criminal contempt charges are filed when a person is accused of violating an order of protection and has a prior misdemeanor criminal contempt conviction.

Anyone with information as to Carotas whereabouts was asked to call the Sheriffs Office at 747-4623.
CORINTH  A half-dozen parents pleaded their case to the Corinth Board of Education on Tuesday, saying a two-day in-school suspension for participating in Senior Skip Day is excessive, but the punishment was upheld.

Some of these kids start work right after Regents and cannot attend, said parent Amy Dunham.

She said the 24 students who were caught taking part in a June 3 Skip Day gathering at Sacandaga Lake werent drinking or doing drugs.

Parent Meg Musco said all of the seniors who participated in the Skip Day had permission from their parents. It was designed to be a family fun day, she said.

It is obviously routine and common practice for parents to give written permission for their child to not be in school for short or long periods of time in and under the umbrella of illness and appointments, when in fact families are traveling, vacationing, shopping, relaxing or just taking the day off during and while regular school is session, she said.

Musco added that those are unexcused absences as well, but the parents are never questioned by administration.

She also was concerned that Principal Brian Testani searched students coolers and belongings for alcohol and drugs with no probable cause or permission.

In addition, she said students were given an order to return to school within one hour or face a more severe consequence, but some students did not have vehicles or the ability to drive back to school.

Musco also pointed out that a two-day in-school suspension is a more severe punishment than students who were caught drinking on school grounds in June 2015 received. The board overruled Testanis initial punishment and reduced the punishment to writing a letter about the incident and reading it out loud.

Parent Ken Potter said the students were denied their due process rights, such as refusing to answer questions from school officials without an attorney present.

These students should have had the right to stand up before an impartial body and have their say, he said.

Parent Shannon Goolic said she is concerned that she did not receive a call from the principal about the matter.

Parent Coleen McEachron said she gave her daughter permission to take the morning off, since she was planning to leave school at 1 p.m. to go to a college orientation.

Parents also pointed out that only 24 students were caught out of a total of 58 who were skipping school.

Some school staff members came to Testanis defense, saying administrators are responsible for the students when school is in session.

Shannon Terry, science department chairperson, likened it to speeding.

Sometimes we get caught exceeding the speed limit and sometimes we dont. If we get caught, we have to pay the fine and pay the consequence. Unfortunately, thats the dice that youre rolling, she said.

After a 90-minute executive session in which school officials met privately with parents, the board upheld the decision.

President Lori Baker said the board says it supports the decision of its administrators based on the information in the student handbook that the students would face consequences as a result of their decision.
The deadliest mass shooting in United States history has led to renewed calls for gun control measures from some politicians, but it's unclear if anything will change as most remain divided along party lines.

Following Sunday's shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub that left 50 dead and 53 injured, local representatives released statements and acknowledged steps should be taken to prevent similar events in the future. For the most part, politicians stayed in line with their respective parties, as well as with their previous stances on the issue of gun control versus gun owners' rights.

Here's a look at how local representatives responded to the Orlando shooting, and how they compare on the issue of gun rights and gun control.

U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook

Represents New York's 19th Congressional District

Response to shooting: Gibson posted a statement to his Facebook page on Sunday. "Horrific attack on our country last night in Florida. Over 50 souls lost. Our country is strong and as Americans we remain united in our resolve to defend this cherished way of life, protect our people, mourn the dead and care for the wounded. Rest in peace."

His office did not respond to request for comment Monday regarding his views on gun rights.

Gibson received $8,900 from the National Rifle Association during the 2014 election cycle, the most of any politician in New York state, according to opensecrets.org.

U.S Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro

Represents New York's 21st Congressional District

Response to shooting: Stefanik released a statement on Monday calling the shooting a "horrific and cowardly act." She added that as the investigation into the incident proceeds, she'll be working with the House Armed Services Committee to learn about the attacker and prevent similar events from happening again.

Previous gun control record: Stefanik is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, and in January opposed President Barack Obama's executive order that tightened background checks on those purchasing firearms. On Monday, her spokesman Tom Flanagin said Stefanik will support common-sense reforms "so that we can take action that will help stop gun violence in our country."

Stefanik received $2,000 from the NRA during the 2014 election cycle, according to opensecrets.org.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Response to shooting: Schumer released a brief statement on Sunday expressing sadness about the shooting. On Monday, in a series of tweets, Schumer responded to the incident in more detail. He said Senate Democrats won't bow to the NRA and allow suspected terrorists to get their hands on guns.

"Mass shootings are the status quo because Congress voted against sensible gun safety measures. It's that simple," he tweeted.

Previous gun control record: Schumer has previously supported stricter gun laws, including the legislation that would prevent suspected terrorists from legally purchasing firearms. In 2015, he teamed up with comedian Amy Schumer to push a law that would make it more difficult for violent criminals, abusers and mentally ill people to obtain guns.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.

Response to shooting: Gillibrand tweeted on Sunday that she was saddened by the shooting. She followed that with tweets on Monday calling congressional inaction on common-sense gun safety measures "unacceptable." She urged the Senate to pass a bill preventing suspected terrorists from legally being able to buy guns.

Previous gun control record: As a congresswoman for New York's 20th Congressional District, Gillibrand earned a high rating from the NRA for her more lenient views on gun control. However, those views have shifted, and as a senator she has supported tighter gun regulation measures, including banning high capacity ammunition firearms, according to ontheissues.org.

Gillibrand's office did not respond to a request for comment Monday regarding her past record on gun issues.
QUEENSBURY  The former Sokols Market space on Aviation Road in Queensbury has been vacant since the long-time family-owned supermarket closed in February 2013.

After numerous unsuccesful attempts to attract a retail tenant, owner Matt Sokol has a new idea to fill the space  self-storage units.

We mean something totally different from what we all view as traditional self storage, said Michael Borgos, a lawyer who represents Sokol.

The exterior of the building would look the same, but the inside of the building would be retrofitted for self-storage units that would not be visible from the outside.

Borgos has proposed the Queensbury Town Board amend zoning to allow interior self-storage units as a special use in neighborhood commercial zones.

Queensbury Town Board discussed the concept with Borgos and Sokol at workshop meetings on May 18 and June 13.

Borgos said allowing interior self-storage units is a way to keep decades-old landmark buildings viable in an era of changing commercial real estate trends.

We want to keep the look the same and preserve the architectural heritage of the neighborhood, he said.

The former Cleverdale fire house on Ridge Road is another possible location for interior self-storage units, Borgos said.

As discussed at work shop meetings, the front of buildings would be kept entact, with loading and unloading entrances only allowed behind the buildings.

Front display windows would either be frosted or painted over with murals, for aesthetic purposes.

If were going to do it, we want to do it in a way that what you see from the road is something that is respectful, said 4th Ward Councilman William VanNess.

Third Ward Councilman Doug Irish said interior storage use should only be allowed for existing buildings, and only in a neighborhood commercial zone.

Land in other more intensive commercial areas should be developed for commercial use that would bring a higher assessment, he said.

Irish said he would not want to see sections of Aviation Mall turned into self-storage space.

Supervisor John Strough said use should be restricted to self-storage units, with retail or industrial warehouse use specifically prohibited.

You dont want it to be a warehouse and trucks going in and out of there every day. he said.

Strough will ask the towns lawyers to review language of the proposed zoning change.

Well set the public hearing as soon as it (zoning amendment language) to the town boards liking, he said.
HUDSON FALLS  Lakefront property on Lake George, rehabbed homes and unusual commercial buildings will go to the highest bidder Saturday during Washington Countys annual tax auction.

About 84 properties will be auctioned off because the previous owners have not paid their property taxes since 2014. Originally, 146 properties were on the list, but about 60 owners paid taxes and late fees to avoid losing their land.

An online post at auctionsinternational.com has the updated list, showing details about each parcel and highlighting in red the ones that have been redeemed by their owners. The site also has a PDF file showing photos and details for every property.

Despite the many redemptions, plenty of excellent properties are left. County Real Property Director Laura Chadwick joked she couldnt decide which parcel to highlight.

Theres just so many, she said. Some right on Lake George.

A property on Northern Lights Way in Putnam not only has frontage on Lake George, but also a peninsula. That property includes a small unheated cottage, a dock and a fire pit. Photos show that the walkway to the cottage is overgrown, but the fire pit on the peninsula overlooks the lake.

At least three properties on the list have frontage on Lake George.

Those looking for houses will also find many choices.

A house at 410 Colfax Road in Jackson could please residents who want to have horses.

Its a huge home, Chadwick said. A beautiful home.

In addition to acreage and a horse barn, the two-story house has an addition that could be used as a workshop or an in-law apartment, she said. The property has a two-car garage and sits on 5 acres.

Other houses going to auction need a little work.

We have some that are good for first-time homebuyers. We have four or five houses that someone has gone in and started to rehab, she said, speculating that some rehabbers got in over their heads and decided to walk away from their projects.

Those looking for commercial buildings could bid on the former PBA youth center in Granville, at 61-67 Main St., or a former restaurant and banquet hall at 47 E. Potter Ave., Granville.

Vacant land is available, too.

A vacant lot in Putnam has 93 acres, and no development beyond some haying.

It fronts on Route 22 and county Route 1, Chadwick said. Theres no zoning in Putnam. It is in the Adirondack Park.

There is also a lot with 295 vacant acres at 16180 Route 22 in Putnam. That one has been auctioned off before, she said.

The auction will be held Saturday at Kingsbury Volunteer Hose Company No. 1, 3715 Burgoyne Ave., Hudson Falls.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the auction begins at 10 a.m. Winners must immediately pay 20 percent of the purchase price plus a 6 percent buyers premium. Payment can be made with cash, certified or cashiers check, money order, MasterCard or Visa.

All bids are subject to the approval of the Washington County Board of Supervisors, and the county can reject any and all bids. Bidders who owe taxes in Washington County will have their bids disqualified and will lose their deposits.
I shrugged.

That was my reaction Sunday morning when I looked at my phone to see a news alert that 20 people had died in a mass shooting in Orlando.

I wasnt angry.

I wasnt outraged.

It was just another day.

I mentioned the shooting matter-of-factly to my wife, and then went into the bathroom.

When I returned from grocery shopping later that morning, my wife was watching the Orlando coverage on television.

I sat down. The number was now 50.

I got up.

I couldnt watch.

Not again.

I already knew nothing will change, that the discussion about violence in America was pointless.

We have lost our humanity and we should be ashamed.

We have always been a country that addresses our problems.

When terrorists brought down the towers with airplanes, we made our airports safer.

When chemicals are found to impact our health and safety, we limit or ban their use.

If the river is polluted, we dredge it.

We act on threats foreign and domestic.

Yet, when people die in mass shootings, we shrug our shoulders like I did Sunday.

We refuse to address this problem. We refuse to even define it.

This is the America that we all live in today:

The death toll from gunfire in the United States between 1968 and 2011  1.4 million  eclipses the totals of all wars fought by our country. Source: Politifact

We spend more than a trillion dollars a year defending ourselves against terrorism. Between 2005 and 2015, 71 Americans were killed in terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. There were 301,797 Americans killed by gun violence during the same period. Source: The Trace, an independent nonprofit media organization that believes the rate of firearm-related deaths and injuries is far too high in this country.

There were 13,286 people killed by firearms in the U.S. in 2015 and 26,819 injured. These figures do not include suicides. Another 6,028 have already been killed by guns this year and another 12,338 injured. Source: Gun Violence Archive

The rate of those killed by firearms is 30 times higher in the United States than Great Britain. Source: The Trace

Nearly 100 metro areas have experienced mass shootings (four or more people killed or injured) this year. Only one major American city has not had a mass shooting since 2013  Austin, Texas. Source: The Trace

Mass shootings account for less than 2 percent of annual gun deaths. Source: The Trace

A total of 756 children have been killed by guns in the United States this year. Three-quarters of them were under the age of 12. Source: The Trace

In 2015, a toddler in America shot someone about once a week. Source: The Trace

Suicide by firearm continues to climb. Source: The Trace

Domestic violence assaults with firearms are 12 times more likely to result in death than those without them. Source: The Trace

After 20 children were killed in the Sandy Hook massacre, membership in the National Rifle Association grew, and the NRA bragged about it. Source: The Trace

The Federal Assault Weapons Ban was passed in 1994 and prohibited the sale of new AR-15 semi-automatic weapons  the one used in the Orlando shooting  but Congress allowed the law to sunset in 2004. The SAFE Act in New York banned the AR-15. Source: Wikipedia

Between 2005 and 2013, gun manufacturers and their corporate allies have contributed between $20 million and $52.6 million to the NRA Ring of Freedom sponsor program, including manufacturers Sturm, Ruger & Co. and Smith & Wesson. Source: Business Insider

On Monday, the stock of Sturm, Ruger & Co. and Smith & Wesson rose 8.5 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively. Source: USA Today

God bless America.

Ken Tingley is the editor of The Post-Star and may be reached via email at tingley@poststar.com. You can read his blog The Front Page daily at www.poststar.com or his updates on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kentingley.
Ghanaians have over the years developed a lackadaisical attitude towards blood donation due to possible fears of contracting HIV-AIDS.

But Mr Segbefia said those are just misconceptions, adding I will encourage everybody regardless of what you are doing and where you are to find at least 30 minutes or one hour in your year period and donate blood.

Statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that blood donations in the continent increased from 3.9 million in 2013 to 4.4 million in 2016.

The acting Head of Korle Bu Blood Bank said the increase in blood donation is encouraging.

The amount of blood weve had from voluntary donors has gone up significantly and if you look at the beginning of the year to this point in June, for instance, theres been an increase of over 30 percent compared to the same period last year, he noted.
He also blamed the current system of election of MPs in the country. For him the system where the door is flung open every four years for incumbent MPs (no matter their performance) to be contested must be critically looked at again.

This he said is one of the many reasons that has led to a drop in the quality of discussions in the house. He indicated that a glance of the Hansards of previous year would make one realise "things are getting out of hand".

Speaking on Accra FM he said "the longer MP's stay in the house the better they become in their core duties of law-making, oversight responsibilities, and controlling the states purse".

He also blamed the aspiring MP's "who pay their way through" to be elected. He said such people "make promises he can't fulfill. He is unable to debate and make any tangible points during debates".
Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!
The President is expected to fly to Damango in the Northern Region for the burial of his mother today [Wednesday] even though sources close to the family in Busunu in West Gonja where the Presidents mum comes from say she passed away Tuesday night.

The cause of death is not readily known but Pulse News understands that the deceased who was popularly known as Hajia she was very old and could barely move.

The President therefore called of his tour in the Greater Accra Region to be present at the burial of his mother which will be done according to Muslim tradition.

President Mahama on Tuesday started his Accounting to the People tour in Greater after visiting five regions. The president yesterday handed over 500 vehicles, to educational institutions across the country. He later paid a courtesy call on the chiefs of the Ada Traditional Council and also inspected road works from Kasseh to Ada Foah Project.
It all started when Dayo Amusa yesterday, June 14, 2016 called Olunloyo a frustrated psycho for saying that Jide Kosoko be investigated for ritualism and occult practices and was dragged by Olunloyo who tagged her a Nollywood prostitute.

Amusa later went on to call the social media critic a criminal and refugee from the United States. According to her, the social media queen is a troll and a fraudster whose career was destroyed in 2005. Not stopping there she also told Olunloyo to list all what she achieved in Canada asides Cyber bullying.

ALSO READ: Dayo Amusa Kemi Olunloyo drags actress for calling her a psycho

@HNNAfrica Come out with what u achieved in Canada aside resulting to cyber bullying," she wrote, adding some swear words like, "Oloriburuku, alinitiju, Omo irankiiran."

Olunloyo known for her epic comebacks called Amusa a condom snatching whore. "@DayoAmusa I didn't know u were this stupid used condom snatching whore. I hear you send semen straight to the ritualists so u can make cash."

ALSO READ: Dayo Amusa Kemi Olunloyo calls actress a bastard

The social media 'queen' today, June 15, 2016 proceeded to calling Amusa a prostitute who slept with Sikirat Sindodo's ex, Sir K Oluwo of Ikorodu Odogunyan who also sponsored her Mecca trip last year.

Labelling her a husband snatcher, Olunloyo further asked Amusa if she killed Henrietta Kosoko while sleeping with Jide Kosoko.
Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!
This was disclosed by Elder Michael Ugwu, the Olowo of Nimbo, who is a traditional leader in the community affected.

The attack, which occurred on April 25, 2016, put the women in trauma that resulted in day time madness.

Ugwu said, It was a big blow to us because we never knew such will happen to some of the women.

We barely started recovering when the news came that one Mrs. Agnes Ajogu whose husband Okey Ajogu was butchered in her presence by the Fulani herdsmen has gone mad.

Though we have observed that since after the attack, the horror of seeing her husband being butchered and his heart removed from his body, her senses were seriously affected, but we thought she would get over it after some weeks only for her to go mad completely.

The worst part of the whole thing is that she has nine children and we believe that the thought of how to take care of them might have also contributed to her madness.

The other two women went into their mental problem due to a similar occurrence.
It was gathered that Adelaja who resides at Ola Omotoye Street in Aboru area of the state, had allegedly beaten up her landlord, Samuel Adeboye, causing him severe injuries because he dared to tell her to stop smoking the weed in his house.

The police prosecutor, Clement Okuoimose, told the court that Adelaja had, on May 12, assaulted Adeboye who has been sick for a while, hitting him on the face, causing him injury.

The accused tenant fought her landlord because he challenged her for smoking Indian Hemp and bringing a group of hemp-smoking boys into the house, Okuoimose told the court, adding that the offence contravenes Section 170 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The 28-year-old Akinbayo was alongside two of his trusted lieutenants, Muyideen Olayinka and Ibrahim Olaniran, at the Aluminium Village, Dopemu, Agege area of the state, by the Lagos State Task Force set up by the government to flush out cultists in the state.

During interrogation, Scorpion confessed that he and his boys raped, burgled and killed innocent citizens who confronted them during any of their operations.

Tobi Akinbayo and his lieutenants, Muyideen Olayinka and Ibrahim Olaniran

Photo Credit: The Nation

Akinbayo, a native of Kuta-ilegbo Town, Abeokuta, Ogun State, told the Tasforce that the Awawaa Boys is one umberella and that they only have branches in different parts of the State and that he is the leader of the group that controls Dopemu and its environs.

One of their victims of the cultists, Bunmi Adeoye, said the Awawaa Boys had used cutlass to cut off one of her fingers when she resisted them from forcefully entering her shop for illegal security levies being charged without government backing.

Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, expressed confidence that his team would round up other notorious cultists who have been terrorizing residents of the state.
Alhassan Mamoda, the commissioner in charge of the recruitment, revealed this to newsmen on Wednesday, June 15, 2016.

He mentioned that four of the arrested persons were arrested for tendering forged certificates, while the fifth suspect was apprehended for stealing a mobile phone.

Mamodu said, Imagine someone who wants to join the police to protect lives and properties now stealing a handset at the venue of the screening exercise.

He stole the handset and hid it in his pants and was discovered and apprehended in the cause of investigation.

They were all handed over to the appropriate department of the force for further investigation.

To avoid being arrested, the commissioner appealed to other candidates who are nurturing plans to commit similar forgery, to refrain from such, as they will be made to face serious consequences.
It was gathered that the young lady who blamed her actions on her inability to take care of the baby, was seen by some traders in the area around 9.00 a.m. on Sunday, June 12, as she was about dropping the baby, and drew the attention of officers of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), of the State Police Command, who arrested Jegede and rescued her baby.

A source with the RRS said that Jegede and the baby were taken to the RRS office in Magodo.

Around 9.00 a.m. on Sunday at Magodo, the attention of the RRS was drawn to a young lady who was suspected to be dumping a baby in the front of an Orphanage.

The operatives got there and brought the situation under control, the source said.

When questioned on why she decided to dump her baby, Jegede, a native of Imesi Ile in Osun State, said she went to the orphanage home with the intention of handing over her baby to somebody there but she could not do so since it was a Sunday and the senior officials of the orphanage were not around.

According to her, she could no longer take care of the baby due to her environment and lack of money.

I came to Lagos in 2009. I lived with my mother at No.1, Ejo Street, Igando. It was my mother that used to pay the house rent. One day, we didnt just see her again. She didnt come back home.

She didnt leave home with anything; all her things are still there. I dont know her whereabouts. But when the rent expired, I had no choice but to leave the house. That was over a year ago. I live inside market, just any space to sleep.

The man who got me pregnant ran away and abandoned me. I only know him as Sunday. I dont know his surname. I dont know his parents. I dont know his whereabouts too. That day, I went to sell pure water. Before I came back, he had packed all his belongings and disappeared, leaving me behind. I gave birth to my baby at Ikotun market, she narrated in tears.
Alhaji Tosin Raheem, the National President of the association, made the call at a ``Day of Tributes and Prayer for the late Mrs Olufunke Omotuyi, the Acting Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria.

The event was organised by the Lagos State council of the association and LUTH chapter in honour of the late Omotuyi in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late Omotuyi was killed by assailants at about 4 a.m on June 8, at her residence in Apo Quarters, Abuja.

Raheem, in his tributes, described the deceased as ``a quiet, humble and peaceful woman.

According to him, one can hardly hear her raising her voice or display any form of aggression or annoyance against anyone, no matter the situation.

``She was a believer who did not believe in power and struggle for any mundane or worldly issues.

``She can hardly hurt a fly. I then wonder what is the motive of her killer(s).

``We strongly believe that she came to this world humbly, lived humbly and peacefully, and has left her indelible footprints on the sands of time.

``Her footprints are indelible in the medical laboratory science in terms of professionalism, human capital and infrastructure developments,'' he said.

Also, Mr Adejinmi Adejare, the LUTH Chairman of the association, commended the late Omotuyi for her dedication to duty and professionalism.

Adejare said: ``She was never bothered about position, but she served everybody with humility and level of endurance to the end.
Amaechi in a Town Hall meeting organised for the people of the South-South region in Akwa-Ibom state, said the cost of the land (N13b) was outrageous, so the Federal Government could not continue with the project.

The minister of state for petroleum, saying the government will complete the project no matter how much it costs.

The IYC also commended Kachikwu for standing up for the Niger-Delta people and supporting that the area be developed.

The group said the minister of petroleum is a worthy son and a true representative of the region.

Daily Post reports that the IYC spokesman, Eric Omare, in a statement said We strongly condemn Rotimi Amaechis anti-Niger Delta position and commend the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu for standing with the people of the Niger Delta region and endorsing the development of the Niger Delta region.

Mr. Kachikwu clearly demonstrated to the world that he is a worthy son and representative of the Niger Delta region.

Rotimi Amaechi also told the people of Niger Delta not to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) if the party doesnt develop the region.
The information is contained in a statement issued by the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman in Abuja.

He said that the Army was training personnel of agencies in relevant areas of basic security and surveillance operations in the region.

Usman added that personnel of some of the agencies were already collaborating with ground troops to conduct patrols in the general areas.

He explained that the Nigerian Army recently supported the redeployment of 21 personnel of the Nigerian Immigration Service in Dikwa, Borno.

``Troops of 22 Brigade Garrison in conjunction with a detachment of the Nigerian Custom Service have been conducting patrol along Dikwa-Mafa-Maiduguri road to keep it safe.

``More paramilitary agencies have started returning to their units in some of the towns that were taken over by the insurgents.

``To this end, the Nigerian Immigration Service recently deployed its personnel to Dikwa, the 21 personnel have been briefed at the 22 Brigade Garrison and are undergoing training on mines and IED awareness and ground signs.''

The Army spokesman said the hostages comprising women and children had been taken to different military locations nearest to them for further screening and rehabilitation.

He said elements of the 22 Brigade Garrison rescued 14 Boko Haram hostages during an administrative patrol in Chingowa village near Dikwa.

Usman said troops of 114 Task Force Battalion of 28 Task Force Brigade on patrol of road linking Izge and Bitta rescued 43 hostages at Madube.

He said the hostages had been taken to the brigade headquarters for screening and onward movement to the nearest camp for displaced persons.

Usman said two insurgents were killed, while three soldiers and 13 civilians were wounded in an ambush during one of the patrols near Gwoza.
This was disclosed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman via a statement released on Tuesday, June 14, 2016.

The statement reads:

Troops of 114 Task Force Battalion of 28 Task Force Brigade during a recent operation came across 43 persons that escaped from one of the Boko Haram terrorists hideouts in Madube.

The escapees comprised of 10 men, 14 women and 19 children. They are currently being screened and profiled at the Battalion Headquarters. Similarly, troops of 115 Task Force Battalion of the same Brigade, in conjunction with some vigilante groups carried out patrols to Pegana, Joma, Wambiyar, Dille, Pumpum, Zah, Miya and Pugula communities and cleared them of Boko Haram terrorists.

On Monday, some elements of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), arrested and handed over a suspected Boko Haram terrorist, named Garba Thlama Mussa to the unit. He is currently being interrogated and would be handed over to Joint Intelligent Committee.

The troops of 117 Battalion also carried out patrols within Mubi North and Mubi South to ensure general security of the areas. The same unit also provided security to Adamawa State boundaries adjustment committee during their visit to Kwaja village in Mubi Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Troops of 143 Battalion also carried out patrol in Bebel, Fattude, Teddei, Hyambula and Sukur.

Also the 22 Brigade area of operations and the troops of 3 Battalion also conducted foot and mobile patrols towards Diema, Tatakura and Kala villages during which they had contact with Boko Haram terrorists, killed 2 of them and recovered some dangerous weapons.

Similarly, troops of 22 Brigade Garrison in conjunction with a detachment of Nigeria Custom Services personnel conducted patrol along Dikwa-Mafa-Maiduguri road to keep it safe.

As the security situation keeps improving in the North East especially in the liberated and cleared areas, other security and Paramilitary agencies have started redeploying back to their locations. It was to this end that the Nigerian Immigration Service has also deployed its personnel in Dikwa.

The 21 personnel were received and briefed at the Headquarters of 22 Brigade Garrison. The team is undergoing training on mines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) awareness and ground signs before they commence work.

In a related development, the troops of 22 Brigade Garrison, intercepted 14 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) which include 3 men, 3 women, 6 male children and 2 female children coming to Dikwa from Chingowa village. The IDPs were screened by the troops and the Civilian JTF at the area and then handed over to Dikwa IDP Coordinator for further screening, registration and rehabilitation.
The Ekiti state Governor in June 2016, joined the civil servants strike after efforts to make them return to work proved abortive.

Fayose also explained that he decided to join the workers to express his concern for their plight.

Premium Times reports that Akingbolu said Considering the provision of Section 176 subsection 1 and 2 of the Constitution whether the abdication of duty by the 1st Defendant in reckless abandonment is not a violation of Oath of office taken by him as Governor of Ekiti.

The lawyer prayed the court to declare that Fayose has lost his position as the state Governor, adding that he did not hand over to his deputy.
Amaechi was, on Monday, June 13, 2016, put in his place by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu after he displayed court jester behaviour at a town hall meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The transport minister, in a very unministerial manner, stated that the government would not be able to complete the Nigerian Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State because the property on which it was to be built was bought for N13 billion, a sum which he said could buy half of Lagos.

I am not against the University. I hope you people appreciate that. My argument about Okerenkoko is that the land alone is N13 billion. If you give me N13 billion I will buy half of Lagos, Amaechi said.

That N13 billion has built the university already so there is no need to spend more money. Let EFCC retrieve the money from them and then release them and we would build the University. I believe the Federal government has no money to continue, he added.

Kachikwu swiftly corrected the situation by saying that the university project would definitely be completed by the government.

First let me say on Maritime University, I disagree with the minister of transport. Any facility that is placed in the South-South, we should work towards developing it, he said.

I dont care the circumstances under which we are placedIt is not my position to determine whether land was valued at N19 billion or N10 billion or N3 billion. If he doesn't want it in maritime, I will take it to petroleum, he added.

The problem with Amaechis comment is that the suspension of the Maritime University project is one of the groundson which militants in the Niger Delta are threatening to launch attacks so his carelessness could have caused a fresh crisis in the already volatile region.

Amaechis comments were careless and were also presented carelessly with hand gestures that only market women and village gossips should be allowed to use.

The minister has always prided himself on being a frank person who says exactly what he wants, when he wants and how he wants it. He has been known to make comments like Goodluck Jonathan abused the hell out of my life, I will celebrate Nyesom Wikes defeat in a nightclub and Only God knows that if there is one thing I dont like, I dont like money among others.

This kind of talk is okay if the person involved is a comedian or a local musician, but a minister, in this era of change? No way. Its unacceptable.

Rotimi Amaechi needs to enrol himself in an etiquette school and hire a communications expert who will tell him what to say and how to say it so that he can be worthy of the position in which he has found himself.
Adebule said this at the 2016 Annual Spelling Bee organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Education in Lagos.

"Education remains the veritable means of attaining greatness. Education helps to prepare and equip individuals for life challenges.

"Lagos State Government will continue to invest heavily in your education to further expose your innate capabilities as education plays an important role in human capital development.

"I implore our students to take advantage of the great opportunity provided by the state government to work hard and distinguish yourselves in your academic pursuits", she said.

Adebule commended teachers in the state for their efforts in shaping and moulding personalities for the future.

Bolanle, wife of the Lagos State Governor, represented by Mr Kemi Durosimi-Etti, advised students to take their education serious to make their families, schools, state and the country proud.

"The government and your parents are investing so much in your education to make you better and self-reliant citizens.

"It is your duty to justify this investment by putting your best and becoming academic champions that can compete globally", she said.

Mr Adesina Odeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, said the Spelling Bee Competition was established to produce worthy ambassadors of the state and promote healthy academic rivalry among students of public schools.

Odeyemi said it also helped students to showcase their innate talents, improve their use of English language and diction, boost academic performance and confidence in public speaking.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the competition which has produced 15 One Day Governors, was initiated in 2001 by the New Era Foundation under the leadership of a former First Lady of Lagos State, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu.

Master Olufemi Olaseinde of Shasha Community Senior High School, Alimosho, emerged overall winner of the 2016 secondary school category and had the honour of acting as Governor of the state for one day.
According to a Daily Trust report, Nigerians are only allowed to enter the supermarket individually and not in groups.

The supermarkets security guard, identified simply as Maxwell, also said that only people who come with police escorts are allowed to enter in groups.

You can only be allowed in if you are accompanied by policemen, because you are more than one he said.

The supermarket launched the new policy in May after it was robbed of more than N2.5 million by Nigerians, an attendant, Samuel Azenda said.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Head, Media and Publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren of the EFCC and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The convicts, Paul Etim and Edet Okon were arrested on Nov. 27, 2011 and arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They were first arraigned on Jan. 24, 2012 and had pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges.

Justice Obile said the sentence takes effect from the first day of their arraignment.
This was confirmed to newsmen by the officer in charge of recruitment in the state, Alhassan Mamoda.

Mamoda explained that one of the applicants stole a mobile phone during the screening exercise, adding that the other four forged certificates.

He said Imagine someone who wants to join the police to protect lives and properties now stealing a handset at the venue of the screening exercise.

He stole the handset and hid it in his pants and was discovered and apprehended in the cause of investigation.

They were all handed over to the appropriate department of the force for further investigation.

Nine police applicants were also detained by the Enugu state police commandfor allegedly falsifying their results.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) also warned that anybody caught giving or receiving money to facilitate the recruitment of applicants into the Nigeria Police Force would be investigated, arrested and prosecuted.
The commissioners were summoned on Tuesday following the motion at adjournment raised by a member representing Mikkang constituency, Mr Na'anlong Daniel.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, recently announced that 11 states of the federation had donated 55 hectares of land for grazing reserve.

The minister had said Plateau was among the 11 states that donated land for the policy.

According to Daniel, the lack of adequate awareness on the issue of grazing reserve could generate a lot of tension in the state.

``Mr Speaker, the way and manner Plateau Government is handling the issue of grazing reserve is generating a lot of tension in the state.

``There is no adequate awareness, and this is causing serious confusion among citizens because from the feelers, this may be a time bomb on us.

``I learnt my constituency was mentioned among those which had donated land for the grazing reserve; unfortunately, as a representative of the people, I am not aware of such moves.

``This issue is beyond political party, it is beyond tribe and religion; this is an issue that if not carefully tackled will do a lot harm for the common Plateau people.

``So, I urge this honourable House to summon those in charge of this proposed policy to come and provide us, and indeed the general public, with adequate information about it, `` he said.

Contributing, a member representing Riyom constituency, Mr Daniel Dem, urged that sensitive issues like the grazing reserve should be handled with caution.

He said the state government ought to have done enough sensitisation on the matter to the populace.

He said reports making the rounds indicated that three local governments of the state had donated lands.

``List of states that have donated lands were published, and report have it that three local governments in Plateau have donated lands and nobody has come out to say anything about it.

``Mr Speaker, if government have not debunked such reports, it then means that implementation had started already.

``The grazing reserve bill is still before the National Assembly but implementation would seem to have started in Plateau; this is quite unfortunate.

``Such policies will demand serious consultation so as to avert any unforeseen acrimony and rancour in the state, `` he said.
Abubakar said they are only destroying the environment and putting the people of the region in danger.

The former President also added that the continued bombing of pipelines will affect the funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Abubakar also said I hope that they will come back to their senses and let us try to give this country peace. We do not deserve what we are going through.

We need peace and I am begging everybody in the spirit of Ramadan, whatever religion everybody is following. Please let us give peace a chance.

Channels TV reports that he said this while receiving members of the Niger state House of Assembly in his home.

Abubakar said All we need to do is to sit down in a round table and discuss this problem. Even if you fight a war and win you must come and sit down with the people you conquered.

What is Boko Haram? Nobody knows what they want. The Avengers are now out, what are they avenging?

The former Head of State also said the low income from crude oil sales will also affect the 13% derivation given to the Niger-Delta region.

He also asked the Federal Government to dialogue with all the insurgent groups.

Abdulsalami Abubakar was military President of Nigeria from June 9, 1998 to May 29, 1999.

He handed over power to Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999.

undefinedon Monday June 13, 2016.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, the Head of Corporate Affairs Department, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

It stated that the Head of the EU delegation, Mr Philippe Peyredieu, said this when he led an EU delegation to visit Mrs Ibim Semenitari, the Acting Managing Director of NDDC.

The statement quoted Peyredieu as having said that EU was particularly worried with current security situation in the Niger Delta.

``The EU is building a platform that would enable experts to address the challenges of maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea and specifically, in the Niger Delta.

``Peace and security in the Nigerian environment affects other countries in very significant ways, and as such, NDDC is in a vintage position to drive development in the region.

``Most of the tax and oil-related activities are done in and around the Niger Delta which makes it necessary for us to look at the security challenges that may hinder such activities.

``The EU will invest in a multi-million naira programme that would focus on maritime security in the region.

``This is because the Niger Delta is critical and strategic for not only Nigeria; but the West African sub-region, Peyredieu was quoted to have said in the statement.

Peyredieu said the union would not be able to achieve its plans without support and collaboration of relevant stakeholders in the region.

He said that plans for the programme would be concluded after a stakeholders meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja on June 25.

He said legal issues concerning arrest and prosecution would also be addressed at the meeting to facilitate necessary reforms.

``The idea is to make it easier to prosecute and enhance the process of evidence and intelligence gathering, the statement quoted Peyredieu.

The statement also quoted Semenitari, the Acting Managing Director, as saying that the Niger Delta was home to one of the worlds largest wetlands and Africas largest delta.

``The EU programme planned for 2017 is very important to us because we are beginning to reach out to the communities to make inputs for next years budget.

``There are lots of benefits that could be derived from the region  not just in oil, but on wetland and wealth in our water.

``So, it is very important and strategic for us to ensure that we begin to firm up security measures in the region, the statement quoted Semenitari to have said.
In a statement attributed to the former Minister's media aide, Jonathan Eze, he said the harassment meted out on innocent kids and women in his household will not go overlooked.

"Senator Obanikoro has consulted with his Lawyers and are prepared to meet them in court to stop this intrusions and persecution," Eze said.

While condemning the raid on the house, Obanikoro's aide said the vehicles driven away from his home were cars and trucks among others which obviously has no bearing with the purported investigation, were bought since 2006 when he served as an Ambassador in Ghana.

"Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today Tuesday the 14th day of June,2016, in their characteristic Gestapo like manner invaded Sen Obanikoro houses in Ikoyi with unnecessary intimidation and harassment of occupants who are majorly innocent kids, teenagers, his wife and daughter in-laws not without carting away cars, wristwatches and other valuables," the statement read further.

Continuing, Eze said, 'This is against the backdrop of the fact that the anti graft agency has never invited him or his son's for questioning beyond the tirades and allegations they have been propagating using the media spaces.

'We are using this medium to draw attention of all Nigerians to yet another infringement on the fundamental and inalienable rights of the Obanikoro family. Lovers of freedom should not wait until our democracy is put at irreversible damage. The list of human rights violations and political persecution has reached an alarming rate.

'We see this as an affront and a further show of shame and ignominy of this present administration hell bent in politically persecuting its perceived opponents in other to stoop them and rubbish their hard earned reputation of untainted public services.

'To our chagrin, the vehicles driven away were cars and trucks bought since 2006 and thereabouts when Senator Obanikoro served as an Ambassador in Ghana among others which obviously has no bearing with the purported investigation they are supposedly carrying out.

'We condemn in strong terms the brigandage and the idea of Inflicting trauma on innocent dependants and violating their privacies without recourse to the rule of Law,' the statement read in full.
Punch reports that the anti-graft commission's operatives stormed the home in connection with several allegations of fraud levelled against Obanikoro and his two sons, Babajide and Gbolahan.

It was further reported that the men of EFCC recovered and seized some vital documents, vehicles and other valuables from the raid on the property situated on Layi Ajayi Bembe Street in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi.

The EFCC further revealed that it traced N4.75bn to a company, Sylvan McNamara Limited, in which Obanikoros sons are allegedly directors.

The money was allegedly paid in several tranches into the companys account from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki's account with the Central Bank of Nigeria. without executing any contract.

In a swift reaction, the media aide to Obanikoro, Jonathan Eze, alleged that the officials of the EFCC harassed innocent kids, daughters-in-law and other extended family members in the house.

He added that the operatives of the EFCC carted away cars, wristwatches and other valuables from the house during the raid.
Okorocha reportedly said this in his recent interview with Daily Independent Newspaper in Owerri, Imo State.

The governor reportedly said that the humongous wage bill of the state amounts is concerning that he prefers employing people in the productive sectors of the economy like agriculture rather than maintain a bloated civil service.

In his words, I dont need more than 200 workers at the civil service of Imo State but I need more than 100,000 in the agricultural sector of the state. Its like if this nation makes $1 trillion every day and ends up paying salaries with it, there still will be no progress, he said, adding that unless we address those basic issues and get people to work in the productive sector of the economy, we cannot make any headway.

Continuing, he said, If I have 70 percent of money that comes to the state for capital expenditure, Imo State would look like London in the next five years. Public service is not welfarism, unless we are having a welfare state, where people can sit down and expect money. We have what is called governance by investment and not people sitting down and collecting money because that money they collect does not aid production."
He said this following the tension brewing in the state between the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Governor Aregbesola.

The former minister also added that a lot of havoc has been caused in Nigeria by politicians who use religion to serve their personal purposes.

Babatope said Let him have very good dialogue with the Christians community and face the governance that he was elected for, because promotion of Islamic religion over Christianity was not part of his campaign promises.

Let him concentrate on how to pay his workers salaries and work on how he will never owe salary again instead of this distraction he is occupying himself with.

He also added that Aregbesola should not sow such seeds of religious competition in the minds of young people in the South West now so that they will not grow up to start promoting religion crisis.

Is it this hijab or uniform wearing that will make them to become brilliant students, promote the standard of education and let them become useful to the society?

Christian students on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, also defiantly came to school with various church garments, following a court ruling that allowed female Muslim students to wear Hijabs in schools.
The actor will star in the movie alongside undefined as Peter Parker, undefined the adoptive mother of Peter Parker, and Robert Downey Jnr as Iron Man.

To be directed by Jon Watts, the next Spider-Man film debuts in theaters in IMAX and 3D on July 28, 2017. Sony Pictures will finance and release the next installment of the $4 billion Spider-Man franchise on July 28, 2017."Spider-Man" is currently the most successful franchise in the history of Sony Pictures.
Which upcoming 2016 movie are you excited about?

From "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" to "Jason Bourne," check out Pulse Nigeria's guide to nine movies to anticipate before the end of 2016.

1. "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"

"Rogue One" tells the story of resistance fighters who have united to steal plans to the dreaded Death Star. Following the foundation of the Galactic Empire, a wayward band of Rebel fighters comes together to carry out a desperate mission: to steal the plans for the Death Star before it can be used to enforce the Emperor's rule.

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is set for release on December 16, 2016.

2. "Finding Dory"

The animated film which is a sequel to the 2003 film "Finding Nemo," will take place six months after the first film.

In the upcoming sequel, Dory suddenly recalls her childhood memories. Remembering something about "the jewel of Monterey, California", accompanied by Nemo and Marlin, she sets out to find her family.

She arrives at the Monterey Marine Life Institute, where she meets Bailey, a white beluga whale; Destiny, a whale shark, and Hank the octopus, who becomes her guide.

ALSO READ:

3. "Jason Bourne"

The fifth film in the Bourne film series, "Jason Bourne" is the sequel to the 2012 film "The Bourne Legacy," and stars Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel andTommy Lee Jones.

About film

Several years after his disappearance at the conclusion of The Bourne Ultimatum, Jason Bourne unexpectedly resurfaces at a time when the world is faced with unprecedented instability.

Jason Bourne is scheduled to hit theaters on July 29, 2016.

ALSO READ: undefined4. "Star Trek Beyond"

"Star Trek Beyond" is an upcoming American science fiction film, and the sequel to the 2013 "Star Trek Into Darkness."

The 13th film in the Star Trek film franchise, and the third installment in the reboot series, the upcoming film is directed by Justin Lin (Furious 7).

Plot

The USS Enterprise crew, led by Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), have been attacked by a powerful unstoppable wave of unknown aliens, who destroy the Enterprise, leaving them stranded on a new planet where they find themselves in conflict with a new ruthless enemy.

The film is scheduled for a July 22, 2016 release, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Star Trek franchise.

ALSO READ: undefined

5. "Independence Day: Resurgence"

Starring Vivica A. Fox, Bil Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Liam Hemsworth, Jessie Usher, Maika Monroe, Judd Hirsch, Sela Ward and Charlotte Gainsbourg, the sequel is set nearly 20 years after the original was released in 1996.

Synopsis

Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.

ALSO READ:undefined

6. "Suicide Squad"

It feels good to be badAssemble a team of the worlds most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the governments disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity.

U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do.

However, once they realize they werent picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide its every man for himself?

The much anticipated film stars Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Will Smith asDeadshot, and Jared Leto as The Joker.

The movie has been scheduled for an August 5, 2016 release.

ALSO READ:undefined

7. "The Legend of Tarzan"

It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgard) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life in London as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane Porter (Margot Robbie) at his side.

Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the corrupt Belgian Captain Rom (Christoph Waltz).

The movie is scheduled for release on July 1, 2016.

ALSO READ: undefined

8. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"

An upcoming fantasy drama film inspired by by J. K. Rowling's book of same name, and a spin-off of the Harry Potter film series, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"stars Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander.

About movie

The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York's secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.

The anticipated prequel is set for a worldwide release in 3D and IMAX on November 18, 2016.

9. "Doctor Strange"

Synopsis.

"After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under his wing and trains him to defend the world against evil."

Produced by Kevin Feige, Louis DEsposito, Victoria Alonso, Charles Newirth, Stephen Broussard and Stan Lee serving as executive producers.
The clarification comes after

The Presidencys comments were contained in a statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, on Tuesday, June 14, 2016.

The statement reads:

We want the states to embrace this programme, it is good for the people, its a win-win for everyone. School feeding programme is not a counterpart funding arrangement model, no. What we have is a plan where the Federal Government provides 100 per cent feeding costs for pupils in primary one to three in all public primary schools in the country.
The governor made the comments during a recent interview with The Independent.

I dont need more than 200 workers at the civil service of Imo State but I need more than 100,000 in the agricultural sector of the state. Its like if this nation makes $1 trillion every day and ends up paying salaries with it, there still will be no progress, he said.

If I have 70 percent of money that comes to the state for capital expenditure, Imo State would look like London in the next five years.

Public service is not welfarism, unless we are having a welfare state, where people can sit down and expect money. We have what is called governance by investment and not people sitting down and collecting money because that money they collect does not aid production, he added.
The threat was made by PDP youth leader, Aderemi Olusegun while addressing journalists at the partys secretariat in Abuja, Vanguard reports.

As concerned youths, we deem it necessary to come together to take a firm position in the interest of party members nationwide. We believe that we have waited enough on the party stakeholders, since the Port Harcourt convention, to amicably resolve this lingering problem, he said.

In the last 24 hours, we consulted widely with different youth groups, women and patriots in our party, and we, therefore, after an emergency meeting in the National Headquarters (Wadata Plaza) resolved that we are giving the leadership of the party, which includes the BoT, Governors Forum, warring groups and other stakeholders, a seven-day ultimatum to resolve this intractable but avoidable rancour.

However, if this is not resolved, we shall be compelled to mobilise all concerned youths nationwide to take over the affairs of the party, and we have started putting in place an effective structure to that end, he added.
Premium Times reports that the Southern Nigeria Christian Elders Forum and CAN, after a meeting, said How can Christians be treated like cows and goats in the Northern part of Nigeria with impunity while we claim that Nigeria is a secular state?

Adding that The beheading of Mrs. Bridget in Kano and the murder attempt on Emmanuel in Kaduna should be the first and last of such because no one man or section has the monopoly of violence and we must do everything to stop such from reoccurring.

That all the Muslims in the South should as a matter of urgency speak to their people in the Northern part to desist because if the killings continue, it will affect everybody both in the North and in the South. If God has brought us together, then let us live in unity.

We call for adequate compensation for lives lost and medical bills of Emmanuel Francis be paid fully by the State Governments involved.

We equally call on the Federal Government to provide security for all the citizens no matter the creed and religion. We are human beings and not animals. We are entitled to live and not to be destroyed, the group added.

This is following the beheading of Bridget Agbaheme by hoodlums in Kano state for alleged blasphemy against Islam.
Making this explanation on Tuesday, June 14, in Abuja was the Senior Special Assistant, Media & Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, who added that while states are an active participant in the school feeding plan, their counterpart funding is not required to start the programme's implementation.

ALSO READ: Willing states are however being encouraged to complement the programme so it can reach more pupils, but state governments cannot and will not be compelled to do this. However the support of the states is vital whether they are able to fund in addition to what the FG will do or not, according to the SSA, saying "we want the states to embrace this programme, it is good for the people, it's a win-win for everyone."Akande who was responding to media enquiries and requests for clarifications on the issue stated that "the school feeding programme is not a counter-part funding arrangement model, no. What we have is a plan where the FGN provides 100 % feeding costs for pupils in primary one to three in all public primary schools in the country."According to him, "let me be clear about this, the Buhari presidency has made adequate arrangements for the HGSF to happen and by the grace of God, we are going forward to do exactly that."But what is interesting, he continued, is the fact that some states have actually gone ahead to start the school feeding programme on their own, while some others are also making such a plan. In that case he noted, "more primary school pupils would be fed in the final analysis."If a state is not able to fund the school feeding in Primary 4-6, Akande made it clear that the FG will not abandon such a state but instead go ahead and feed pupils from Primary 1-3.
According to Punch, the Ogun State Government are owing the lecturers fourteen months salaries.

The students took their cry to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, located at Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta.

According to reports, the students arrived the venue in groups conveyed in three buses. They held placards stating the reason for their protest.

Notes from the boldly written placards reads, Amosun save TASCE from extinction, Lectures are not going on in TASCE, Amosun restore education at TASCE and Please we students are suffering in TASCE, Punch reports.
One of the motorists, who was on the highway, Tosh Ruchiam, recounted the accident via a Facebook post.

Tonight I have found myself in the middle of an incident that I will remember for ages. Main thing Ive taken away from tonight is that Ive seen two sides of Kenyans tonight.

It looks bizarre. Worse still, the car has caught fire. I was amazed how guys in mere seconds coordinated to scoop handfuls of sand nearby to put out the fire as others joined hands to break in the drivers window and pull the door open," he wrote.

He urged others to help out when they encounter an accident.

Youre a driver as well, next time it could be you, what if everyone drives off and you dont make it to hospital on time, he asked.

The driver of the Toyota, who was bleeding from the head and had a torn lip, was rushed to a hospital.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement made available to newsmen, said The President told the Ghanaian leader that his personal thoughts and prayers as well as those of Nigerians are with him as he mourns the passage of a beloved mother.
"The ceasefire is violated again and again, and this is of great concern," Stoltenberg told a news conference following a meeting about Ukraine with NATO defence ministers. "Russia supports the separatists ... with equipment, with weapons. They also mass troops along the Ukrainian border," he said.
Burundi has been mired in a year-long crisis in which more than 450 people have been killed since Nkurunziza pursued and won a third term. Opponents said his move violated the constitution and a deal that ended a civil war in 2005.

"It is an option we took to push them to reveal the authors of the acts," he told Reuters by phone.

Earlier this month police clashed with students protesting at the arrest of other students for a similar offence of defacing the president's portrait in Muramvya, which is 50 km east of Bujumbura.
The European Union proposed the council resolution to expand its naval operation in the Mediterranean, which the 15-member Security Council authorized in October to seize and dispose of boats operated by human traffickers.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters ahead of the vote that the resolution has "the potential to be a game-changer," since a large quantity of arms is smuggled via ship off the coast of Libya.

Libya U.N. envoy Martin Kobler told the Security Council last week that Libya was awash with arms - 20 million pieces of weaponry in the North African state of six million people.

"These weapons do not fall from the sky, but come increasingly through illegal shipments by sea and by land. The arms fuel the conflict. These shipments must end if there is any serious hope of bringing peace to Libya," he said.

The U.N. Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Libya in 2011 when former leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.

U.N. sanctions monitors last year told the Security Council that Libya needed help from an international maritime force to halt the flow of weapons in and out of the country.

The fall of Gaddafi in 2011 sparked chaos with two competing governments backed by militias scrambling for control of the oil producing country. A power vacuum has allowed Islamic State militants to gain a foothold.

British U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said the existing arms embargo had not stopped the flow of arms and that illicit weapons in Libya were "enabling terrorists to murder, to maim, to bring yet more chaos to the people of Libya and the region."

A U.N.-backed unity government formed earlier this year is seen by western states as the best hope for uniting Libya's many political factions. Libya's government is allowed to import arms with approval of the Security Council's sanctions committee.
Disney ABC Television has issued an apology and all Pahrump mentions have been removed from an episode of the Disney XD show, Gamers Guide to Pretty Much Everything, that said several negative things about the town.

Disney ABC Television has issued an apology and all Pahrump mentions have been removed from an episode of the Disney XD show, Gamers Guide to Pretty Much Everything, that said several negative things about the town.

In Wednesdays Pahrump Valley Times article, Disney show hurls negative comments toward Pahrump, described various dialogue from the episode, including calling the town a stinkhole, referenced a made-up infectious disease called the Pahrump lump, and referenced town kids as filthy. A clip of the disparaging dialogue was posted by a local teenager and went viral.

A Disney executive reached out to the Pahrump Valley Times and issued an apology and announced the editing of the episode to exclude Pahrump in any future airings.

Regarding your report about viewer response to a recent episode of the comedy series  we reviewed the episode and have removed references to Pahrump and other lines of dialogue for future airings, said Patti McTeague, senior vice president of childrens communications with Disney ABC Television Group. Any disrespect to the people of Pahrump is unintentional and we sincerely regret if any offense was taken.

McTeague also told the town of Pahrump: We commit to you that well work with all of our creative teams to be more sensitive when it comes to dialogue that can potentially be interpreted as describing a person, place or situation in a derogatory manner.

Although glad that the apology and editing of the episode occurred, Director of Tourism for the town of Pahrump Arlette Ledbetter said shes not sure if that is enough to correct the damage done by the remarks.

I dont know that yet, Ledbetter said. I dont know if that really mended the situation.

Ledbetter went on to say that the possibility is there that the town would continue dialogue with Disney to come to a point where both parties involved are completely happy.

The story garnered attention from several media outlets over the hump and reached a worldwide audience after the Associated Press published an article of their own on the incident, citing the Pahrump Valley Times within their story. Las Vegas affiliates of ABC, NBC, Fox and CBS all ran segments on the episode and resulting apology and the Las Vegas Review-Journal reposted both Pahrump Valley Times articles on the matter Thursday, which were among their most popular stories for the day.

Ledbetter explained that she was disappointed that the town got the amount of media focus with such a negative topic.

Its unfortunate that the disparaging remarks received so much media attention, when there is so much here that is good and positive and enjoyable, she said.

The video was first posted on Rosemary Clarke Middle School student Danyelle Ormistons Facebook page, where it received about 33,000 views before the media blitz and is now up to 71,000 views.

She said that she had no idea something of this magnitude would come out of just posting a clip online that she thought was humorous.

I never thought it would go this far, Ormiston said. I didnt think it would be that big of a deal.

Ormiston is on the opposite side of the spectrum as far as Disneys response to the public outcry of the episode. She said she didnt think Disney had to go as far they did, as simply saying sorry would have been enough in her mind.

I think Disneys apology was the only thing needed I think editing Pahrump out of it seemed unnecessary, she said.

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.
Signage for off-highway vehicles could soon pop up across Nye County roadways as members of the Pahrump Regional Transportation Commission are mulling ideas for regulation of OHVs.

Signage for off-highway vehicles could soon pop up across Nye County roadways as members of the Pahrump Regional Transportation Commission are mulling ideas for regulation of OHVs.

The suggestion was brought up by former Pahrump Town Board member Bob Adams at several recent RTC meetings. Adams said that installing informational signs that would inform riders about food, fuel and lodging could also bring tourism dollars to Nye County.

The signage that we want here primarily is to promote tourism, Adams said. That where somebody thats come to Nye County, whether its from Clark (County), or whether its from California, that would feel comfortable out riding their OHV to say, Best Western, or to any of the Golden Gaming properties. Basically, any restaurant in town.

According state law, a city or county may designate any portion of a highway within the city or county as permissible for the operation of off-highway vehicle riders to reach a private or public area that is open for use by off-highway vehicles.

Riders also can cross interstate highways to reach their destination, which proved to be problematic, officials said.

In 2015, officials installed OHV signs in Tonopah.

Now we have to look at the other towns, especially Pahrump, because people are driving where they shouldnt be driving, RTC member John Koenig said.

Unless otherwise posted, speed limits on Nye County roads are 45 miles per hour on pavement and 25 miles per hour on dirt. Officials however said that the speed limit on dirt roads is not being observed.

People are just not following it, Koenig said.

While the speed limit requirements are in place, dirt roads in most parts of Nye County still lack signage, officials said.

Adams said OHV tourism brought money to places elsewhere, such as in Utah. Marysvale, a rural community in central Utah is in the center of the Paiute Trail System for OHVs.

Following the example of Marysvale and other Utah communities, we can attract OHV tourists by making them feel welcome, Adams said.

Adams said that much of the issue is OHVs being ridden on the dirt on the sides of State Route 372 in Pahrump. Riding an OHV on state highways requires NDOT authorization for small OHVs that include motorcycles and quads.

Adams said he will continue to work on OHV signage off of NRS 490 with the RTC. He said he wants OHV riders from other areas to feel comfortable riding their vehicles down designated OHV routes in Nye County.

Caliente in Lincoln County has brought in a lot of money with the Silver State Trail system, he said. We can do the same thing here in Nye County and actually, weve got Esmeralda (County) on board, weve got Mineral County that we are talking about putting the trail system that would be going from Pahrump all the way up into Hawthorne (and) from Hawthorne into Yerington.
Assembly District 36 challenger Tina Trenner captured the Nye County battle, but lost the overall war to unseat incumbent James Oscarson. Trenner received 1,586 votes to Oscarsons 1,348 in Nye County.

Assembly District 36 challenger Tina Trenner captured the Nye County battle, but lost the overall war to unseat incumbent James Oscarson. Trenner received 1,586 votes to Oscarsons 1,348 in Nye County.

However, when the votes were tallied in northern Clark and Lincoln counties, Oscarson edged out a slight victory in the Republican primary against the challenger, 1,988 to 1,855 with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

The two-term assemblyman will now face brothel owner and reality television personality Dennis Hof in the November general election. Hof, who is running as a Libertarian, entered the race on a similar platform to Trenners: critical of Oscarsons support of Gov. Brian Sandovals $1.5 billion of extended and new taxes during the last Legislative session.

Oscarson defended his vote, saying that is was necessary to move the education system forward in Nevada.

Oscarson spent $129,506 on the primary, while Trenner reported spending only $8,797 on her campaign. However, Trenner was endorsed by the Nye County Republican Central Committee.
Death Valley National Park is infamous for being the hottest place on Earth and a few recent events served as a reminder to tourists of just how torrid the area can be.

Death Valley National Park is infamous for being the hottest place on Earth and a few recent events served as a reminder to tourists of just how torrid the area can be.

A trio of issues make the area as dangerous as they come when there is an emergency incident as the scorching temperatures, traveling away from the more populated areas of the park and the difficulty of calling for help in a remote location can lead to deadly outcomes as they did last week.

Reinhard Egger, a 60-year-old German motorcyclist, was found dead on Thursday on the unpaved Harry Wade Road, which is located at the extreme southern end of the park. When park rangers arrived at the scene, they did not attempt to resuscitate him, due to his body indicating that hed been dead for some time.

Eggers motorcycle was parked upright and was still functional. Inyo County is investigating the cause of death, but with a reported a high of 118 degrees at Furnace Creek, heat was likely involved, the NPS said.

This makes me so sad. We think of national parks as wonderlands to explore, but sometimes people dont consider risks enough, said Mike Reynolds, Death Valley National Park superintendent. We dont know what happened to him, but if he had been on Highway 190 or near Badwater, places that lots of people visit year-round, maybe we could have saved him.

Death Valley National Park holds the world record for the hottest official temperature ever recorded of 134 degrees and summer temperatures routinely exceed 120 degrees.

Despite the extreme heat, droves of people visit the park in summer, especially in July and August. Many of these tourists are from other countries, with limited English skills and minuscule experience traveling in remote areas without cellphone coverage and over 100-degree heat.

Two French tourists were stranded on the unpaved West Side Road around 1:30 p.m. on June 1. The man and his mother were traveling the area when their automobile became stuck in loose sand.

No one they knew was aware of their specific travel route and they were out of cellphone range in temperatures above 110 degrees.

The pair of French tourists walked about one mile to Badwater Road, then walked about another mile before they were picked up by a family visiting the park from Korea.

They arrived at Furnace Creek Visitor Center about an hour later and contacted park rangers. By this time, the older French woman was unconscious and showing signs of extreme overheating.

Superintendent Reynolds was one of the park rangers assisting the French woman and recalled the incident.

We were doing everything we could, but it takes a helicopter about an hour to get here, he said. I didnt know if she would survive, if she would get to the hospital in time.

The woman survived and was released from the hospital about a week later.

A small airplane crashed while trying to land on an extremely remote dirt airstrip in Death Valley National Park on June 5 at 11:30 a.m. The Chicken Strip is about 1,400 feet long and 35 feet wide. The short landing strip is known for being challenging  which is an attraction for some pilots who want to test their skill, and in this case, their luck.

The plane ran off the end of the short runway and flipped over forward, landing on its roof.

The Chicken Strip is located in Saline Valley, a remote western section of Death Valley National Park, which is usually an over four-hour drive from park headquarters at Furnace Creek.

Saline Valley is a popular destination during cooler months, but on the day this accident occurred, only the parks volunteer campground host and one camper were present.

Both occupants in the plane were able to remove themselves from the plane and were not injured. The pilot did not file a flight plan, which could have led to a more dire situation. If the campground host had not been in the area at the time to witness the crash, it might have been an extended period of time before the plane and its occupants were found.

They had limited supplies and might not have survived long in the 111-degree conditions at the time of the crash.

Death Valley National Park recommends the following safety tips for summer travel:

Plan ahead and prepare.

Plan your travel route.

Cellphone coverage is very limited in Death Valley National Park.

Communicate your travel route to a friend or family member. Give them a specific time you will check back in with them and ask them to call 911 if you dont return on time.

Carry at least one gallon of water per person per day.

Stay on paved roads.

Make sure your vehicle and spare tire are in good condition.

If something goes wrong:

Stay with your vehicle; dont attempt to walk. You can use the vehicle for shade and you will be found more easily.

Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.
Go on Pinterest (or Google), search for summer cocktails and you might get a headache.

And not just because of the bright-as-the-sun colors that fill the screen.

You'll find a rainbow of beverages, mason jars filled with sliced fruits, and plenty of how-tos for do-it-yourself sangrias, margaritas and booze-infused slushies. You'll see under 100-calorie options and three-minute recipes and quizzes for which liquor to match to your personality.

Keep scrolling, and you might think: "Where do I start?"

Just ask Lauren Dallesasse, a bartender and mixologist at The J Bar in Davenport  she's basically a walking Pinterest board when it comes to summer cocktails.

"In the summer, it seems like there's a whole other list of things you can do with cocktails," Dallesasse, 23, said. "There's always a new trend, or something people want to try or something you saw on Instagram."

If doing-it-yourself seems overwhelming, just try The J Bar.

At this bar, recent trends include anything ginger-infused, blueberry Moscow mules and unique takes on sangrias and anything with fresh fruit.

Dallesasse has worked at the high-end spot attached to the Holiday Inn on Elmore Avenue for almost two years. Each day behind the bar, she whips up a new featured cocktail of the day.

"It's not the same from day to day, and I get to add my own touch to it," she said.

Every day, depending on her mood, the temperature, what she had for lunch or conversations with friends, she'll come up with a cocktail concoction.

"It's something you might only get to try that one day and that's it," she said. "It's spontaneity."

When it's warmer outside, the drinks tend to have flashes of pink, green and blue, she said.

"You get to be creative and make that girly drink or that colorful drink," she said. "It's something people point at, and it catches their eye."

For bars and restaurants, like The J Bar, summer isn't just an annual, inevitable weather pattern: Summer blooms a new reason to drink.

"People kind of come out of their caves after the winter," Tim Benevides, the beverage director at The J Bar, said. "And I think they're ready to be adventurous, so we want to beat them to the punch."

The ever-trendy space rolls out a new drink menu four times per year, or each season. With an uptick in sales during the summer, plus more people on the patio, the summer drink menu is coveted territory.

The J Bar menu is also charged with the challenge of catering to Quad-Citians as well as daily travelers who stay at the hotel.

"We go through at least 30 drinks before we come up the final list," he said. "It needs to be solid and really impress people in and draw people back."

The recently unveiled summer cocktail list isn't your typical blend of gin and tonics. Take. for example, The Lifeguard ($10), a drink with Patron tequila, fresh lime juice, strawberry mango puree and pineapple juice or the Drunken Monkey ($10), which is some version of an alcoholic ice cream sundae.

The names are summery, too  from Hot in Here to Skinny Jeans to Pretty in Pink to the more in-your-face choice: Summer Sunset, which holds a blend of Absolut Citron, champagne, lemonade and cranberry juice.

"It's the next generation of cocktails," Benevides said. "People have been drinking manhattans and old fashioneds for years and years  now they want something else."

And a hot day in June or July or August seems to be the go-to time to try those something-else, fruity, tropical, sweet, doesn't-taste-like-alcohol drinks.

"In the summer time, you want something that goes down a little easy," he said. "Something that's almost deceivingly good, something that tastes like the weather feels."
A nuisance case against the city of Davenport and two former officials arising from sewer backups in 2013 will not move forward, notching the city another win in an ongoing legal battle with a handful of residents.

The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed on Wednesday a Scott County District Court decision to dismiss a separate nuisance claim upon the city's motion for partial summary judgment. The claim was filed against the city, former Mayor Bill Gluba and former Public Works Director Mike Clarke.

Four residents  Todd and Christine Thoeming and Brittney and James Chapman  appealed the dismissal, and oral arguments were heard May 4 in Scott County District Court.

"While we disagree with the legal analysis employed by the district court in summarily dismissing the homeowners nuisance theory, we agree the claim could not be sustained in the circumstances of this case and affirm," the ruling states.

The Chapmans lived in the 1800 block of West 37th Street and the Thoemings lived in the 5700 block of Fillmore Street when their basements took on thousands of gallons of raw sewage during two storms in spring 2013, their attorney, Mike Meloy, said.

The residents became physically ill from the noxious smells coming from the sewage, and both couples had to spend the night at a hotel, Meloy said.

Meloy said he plans to appeal the case to the Iowa Supreme Court.

"We presented affidavits from an expert witness detailing the long history of neglect of sewer lines and affidavits from our clients outlining the filth, noxious smells and extreme interference with their use of their residences as a result of raw sewage in their basements," Meloy said.

"We further showed that both the mayor and an alderman publicly admitted that Davenport did not properly maintain the city sewer system. There clearly was a factual issue created that should have been decided by a Scott County jury."

Jason ORourke, who represented the city during the May 4 arguments, said sewer backup does not fit the legal argument for a nuisance claim.

Thousands of homes and buildings, in small towns and cities across Iowa, are serviced by sanitary sewer systems every minute, every day, ORourke said. Under the plaintiffs theory, if there is a backup in any way, thats a nuisance. I disagree.

The city of Davenport, Gluba and Clarke were all found not negligent by a jury in April 2015, and the five residents who brought the case were not awarded damages.

The residents claimed at the time that the citys poorly maintained sewer lines could not handle the 2013 flooding.

The city has a no-fault sewer backup reimbursement program. The reimbursement limit is $7,500 per building, per year for all costs and damages.

Davenport has paid $170,000 to 59 customers who filed claims over sewer backups from the 2013 flooding, Davenport Finance Director Brandon Wright said last year.

Wright said Wednesday the Chapmans and Thoemings have not received reimbursement from the city for their backups.

Meloy has said his clients did not file claims because that precludes a lawsuit.

In October 2014, the city settled two lawsuits arising from the 2013 backups.

 Rebecca Daniel, 502 E. 31st St., sought $24,945 for loss of property value and damaged personal property.

 Sophie Ventures LLC, a landlord at 3020 Dubuque St., sought $16,939 for the same.

Both accepted the city's last offer of $9,500, which was $2,000 above the city's reimbursement, and the property owners agreed to install backflow prevention valves at their expense, according to an attorney representing the city at the time.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said on Tuesday that had the FBI "been on top of things," it could have arrested Omar Mateen before he went on his murderous rampage in Orlando, killing 49 people.

Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters he saw no need for an expansion of gun control legislation, and he sent a letter to the Obama administration asking a series of questions about Mateen and his family.

Grassley's comments come as law enforcement and Congress are focusing on what led up to the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. The Obama administration and congressional Democrats have called for stronger gun laws.

On a conference call with radio reporters Tuesday, Grassley said, "We basically have to get over that this is about guns." Instead, Grassley turned to the FBI.

"If the FBI had been on top of things, he could have been arrested based upon the suspicions that they had beforehand," Grassley said, according to Iowa Public Radio.

Authorities have said Mateen was on a federal watch list in 2013 and 2014 after questions were raised about him, including his acquaintance with a Florida man who launched a suicide attack in Syria. He was removed from the list in early 2014.

Grassley chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, and in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Secretary of State John Kerry, the Iowa Republican asked for law enforcement records related to Mateen, as well as answers to whether his family members have refugee status or what types of visas they sought.

Mateen's parents came to the U.S. from Afghanistan.

Grassley cited a news report saying that Mateen's father, Seddique Mir Mateen, hosts a television program with a "pro-Taliban slant." He also asked for travel records for the family and whether the younger Mateen was ever a government contractor for Homeland Security or the State Department. Grassley's information request included Mateen's wife and ex-wife.

FBI Director James Comey has defended the bureau's handling of the case.

"I don't see anything in reviewing our work that our agents should have done differently," Comey said, according to an ABC News report Monday.

"Our investigation involved introducing confidential sources to him, recording conversations with him, following him, reviewing transactional records from his communications and searching all government holdings for any possible connections, any possible derogatory information. We then interviewed him twice," Comey said.

The cases were closed, officials said, because they did not have enough information to tie Mateen to terrorist activities.
TOOLESBORO, Iowa  The last full measure of devotion was given by the Littleton brothers more than 150 years ago, when all six died fighting for the Union during the Civil War.

On a hot, breezy afternoon Tuesday, more than 350 people, including Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, gathered in Toolesboro to dedicate a memorial to the brothers sacrifice and establish their own measure of devotion to the cause the brothers offered their lives to defend.

The six Littleton brothers were ordinary Iowans who heeded an extraordinary call in order to preserve the union of this nation, Branstad told the gathering

Despite being in different military units in different areas of the war, the brothers, who grew up in the Toolesboro area about 60 miles southwest of the Quad-Cities, shared one collective purpose.

They were united in the sacrifice we gather here to commemorate. The Littleton Brothers Monument reads The Last Full Measure of Devotion, which is surely what the Littleton brothers gave to this country, Branstad said.

This community and all of you should be very proud of your role in saluting the devotion of these young heroes, he continued, explaining it was the single greatest loss of life from any family in any war America has fought.

Keynote speaker Dr. Tom Morain, of Graceland University in Lamoni, agreed, but said the brothers devotion and sacrifice needed a historical context to be fully understood.

The Littleton brothers would not mean much to us if we only knew them through the bare bones of census records. It is history, it is memories that breathe life into them, he said, using the Biblical story of Ezekiel to describe how the brothers story could have become simply a souvenir of our past, without connection.

Instead, Kendall, George, John, Noah, William and Thomas, whose story of devotion and sacrifice was almost lost, became known because of the heroes and heroines of Louisa County, such as monument committee organizers Tom Woodruff and Ed Bayne, who recognized the significance of the Littleton facts, Morain explained.

They have breathed life into the story that goes with the bones, he said.

That story began in 1840 when James and Martha Littleton arrived in Louisa County, according to Jake Shoppa of Columbus Junction. Shoppa, a descendant of Permelia Littleton, one of four sisters who survived the brothers, said the parents died before the war and never knew their sons died from the war.

Within months of the Civil War (start), John, 31; Thomas, 25; William, 24; Kendall, 19; and Noah, 16, enlisted in the Iowa infantry. George, 31, living in Illinois, enlisted there, Shoppa said.

Kendall died in battle at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, on Dec. 7, 1862. John died from wounds sustained in the same battle a few days later. Noah, who survived the battle, drowned in a Missouri river about one month later.

George, who had been captured in Virginia and then paroled, reportedly died in December 1862. William fought in several battles, but died from disease in a St. Louis hospital in December 1863.

Thomas also fought in several battles and was captured at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee and sent to the infamous Andersonville prison, where he died on Jun. 16, 1864.

The Civil War ended 10 months later, but only the boys sisters, Permelia, Mary, Sarah and Rebecca would remain to mourn them and take pride in their sacrifice they made to our country and for our freedom, Shoppa said.

Now, 150 years later, that last full measure of devotion is finally being recognized by a grateful country.
ALTOONA  Iowas black youth are punished at school and arrested five times more often than white youth, and the racial disparity in arrests is widening, according to a state report.

That disparity was the subject of a daylong conference Wednesday at a hotel on the Adventureland amusement park campus and attended by dozens of Iowa local officials from the courts and law enforcement.

It is time for each one of us to confront and eliminate the implicit bias and disparity that exists in our criminal justice system, said Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady, who spoke at the event.

Iowa has the highest rate of black incarceration in the country. And, according to an early summary of a report from the state Department of Human Rights Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning that will be published in August, black Iowa youth are five times more likely than white youth to be suspended from school and are five times more likely to be arrested.

The arrest rate of black youth has increased 3.4 percent in nine of the states metropolitan areas, but the arrest rate of white youth has decreased nearly 31 percent during the same time period, the report summary said.

The over-representation of African-Americans in our criminal justice system is brought to life in our own data. It is visible, it is factual, and its impact is felt in our communities, Cady said. Let us never forget that the data has a face.

A significant part of the problem is the countrys reliance upon incarceration, said James Bell, founder and executive of the Burns Institute for Juvenile Justice Fairness and Equity of Oakland, California, and another of Wednesdays featured speakers.

Our justice system is driven by an addiction. And that addiction has always been, from the 1600s and 1700s to today, our societal reliance on incarceration as a primary instrument of societal control, Bell said. When you have to put a child on a crate to fingerprint them to incarcerate them, thats an addiction.

Bell said states are not adequately funding services that would help prevent minority juveniles from running afoul of the law and the court system has become overly burdened by an issue it is not equipped to handle.

The justice system is the dumping ground for other failed systems, and the justice system, to its credit, keeps taking them, Bell said, using drug and family courts as examples that the court system is handling people it should not. Treatment courts are the tacit admission by the justice department that its dealing with societal problems. 

What that is is justice saying, We cant do this, but you keep asking us to.

Wednesdays event also featured a panel of four Iowa court and law enforcement officials who in recent years participated in conferences hosted by the Georgetown University Center for Juvenile Justice Reform.

What I learned in Georgetown was that what we were doing with children was not working, was not making my community safer and was hurting children. That undermined my two main goals as assistant county attorney, said Assistant Scott County Attorney Julie Walton. So we have to do something different.

The report summary also highlighted pilot projects throughout Iowa.

In Black Hawk County, a program diverting low-risk juvenile offenders has cut youth arrests for both blacks and whites roughly in half.

In Woodbury County, a program to reduce juvenile detention facility holds to only individuals who have a court appearance or are deemed a threat to public safety has reduced the facilitys black population by 57 percent.
DEADWOOD | A Lawrence County jury on Aug. 24 will decide if Piedmont area contractor Alan Aker trespassed and damaged a clients property.

Aker, 52, on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor trespassing and alternative felony charges of allegedly causing $1,000 to $5,000 damage. He remains free on bond, and 4th Circuit Judge Randall Macy lowered the bond from $2,000 to $1,000.

Aker, a Meade County commissioner, owns and operates Aker Woods Co. He is accused of entering a clients property without permission, cutting 50 feet of wooden deck railing and removing the material. Court documents say the owner hired Aker to install the railing but withheld payment in a dispute over the job. Aker has said he removed the railing last February with permission and had since sold the railing.

Other Meade commissioners in May suspended Aker without pay or benefits until the criminal case is resolved.

Lawrence County deputy states attorney Brenda Harvey said a pre-trial hearing is set for Aug. 2. If convicted, Aker faces up to 30 days in jail for trespassing. If found guilty of causing $1,000 to $2,500 damage, he could serve up to two years in jail. Or if convicted of causing $2,500 to $5,000 damage, he could be sentenced up to 5 years in prison.
Just south of the Cheyenne River breaks, as you ascend southward, you can see a tiny American flag fluttering atop the arm a construction crane.

The crane seems curiously out of place in the rugged rolling terrain of Badlands country.

But as you drive closer, just beyond the newly cut hay, the crane's purpose becomes clear. It's the workhorse of Sturgis artist Dale Lamphere.

Upon completion, "Dignity" will tower nearly 50 feet in the air and stretch 32 feet across. It will grace the breaks overlooking another river, the Missouri at Chamberlain.

Lamphere and sponsors of the project, Norm and Enuabel McKie, hosted a project update reception Sunday at the Sealine and Trople Spirited Winds Tatanka Ranch east of Rapid City.

Tom Trople has taken the lead on piecing together the sculpture at the ranch. He and Lamphere have worked together nearly 30 years.

"We've created a number of large-scale pieces, and he is the reason that happens. We've really formed a good team," Lamphere said.

Dignity," Lamphere said, represents the courage, perseverance and wisdom of the Lakota and Dakota culture in South Dakota.

"My hope is that the sculpture might serve as a symbol of respect and promise for the future," he said. "The client's intent is to honor all the people of South Dakota, and particularly the Native culture. And to inspire the younger generation."

For months, Lamphere and his team have worked with an engineering firm and Native American advisers to be certain the work is structurally sound and culturally appropriate. They began production of the full-scale sculpture, starting with the support structure and the star quilt, last summer.

A central stainless steel pipe armature bears the weight of the quilt, made of over 100, 4-foot diamonds, and the fabricated sculpture of the woman. To reduce wind resistance, the wind moves through the diamonds and the perforations of her dress.

Brook Loobey of Sturgis is the painter of the triangles in the star quilt. Half of the stainless steel diamonds are dark blue and half are light blue. Lamphere went to a paint supply store in search of the perfect colors, then brought the paint mixture to Loobey who provided the artist with samples.

"We would take them out in the sun and hold them up together and look at them," he said. "Finally he arrived at those two colors, saying, 'This is it.'"

Loobey estimates there are 6 to 10 different pigments in each of the colors.

At different times of the day, the colors take on new dimensions, Loobey said.

"In the shadows or at night, that dark blue looks really dark blue. And when the sun hits it, it will lighten up," he said.

The sculpture, made of stainless steel, is being constructed so that air flows through it on all levels. The star quilt, which will be 32 feet across, will have 128 separate diamonds that make up the pattern in the quilt. They will freely move on a bearing spindle system.

"I want something that people have not seen before, and that has durability into the future," Lamphere said. "If it were just another large-scale classic figurative work, I don't think it would have that level of interest or fascination."

The dress is patterned after a two-hide Native dress of the 1850s.

Doree Jensen of Rapid City, a native of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, was struck by the beauty and grandeur of "Dignity" on Sunday.

"It's just amazing. It's beautiful. It's a great honor for our people. I'm happy that someone would think to do this in honor of us," she said.

Ramona Herrington attended the Sunday reception with her granddaughter Sayna Trujillo. Both are from Rapid City and Sayna helped inspire Lamphere in creating the young Lakota girl in his sculpture.

Sayna just happened to accompany her grandmother to a Community Conversations meeting that Lamphere also attended.

Herrington said Lamphere saw Sayna and thought she had features that he could use in the face. Lamphere took pictures of Sayna and then she and her grandmother visited the ranch studio.

"He said he had been looking for somebody and couldn't find them," Herrington said. "He saw her and said that was the face he wanted."

Sayna is a sophomore honor student at Central High School in Rapid City.

"It's cool," Sayna, 15, said as she peered at the sculpture.

Lamphere says his goal for the artwork is to speak with dignity to people like Sayna, the future generations.

"We hope it will inspire them to make the most of their life, to reach for a higher vision," he said. "If we can accomplish that in some small part, then it will be a great success."
DEADWOOD | A Spearfish woman is serving 45 days in the Lawrence County Jail after pleading guilty to embezzling nearly $27,000 from her former employer.

But her ex-boss, publisher Dave Withrow, wonders if 28-year-old Ashley Alyissa Sparrow got a special deal because her father, Craig Sparrow, is the chief enforcement officer for the South Dakota Commission on Gaming. Withrow also criticizes the local judicial system for not keeping him informed about progress in the case.

Court records say Ashley Sparrow absconded with nearly $27,000 of her employers money between June 2014 and September 2015, while serving as office manager and bookkeeper for Maverick Publishing of Spearfish. She faced up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine for felony grand theft by embezzlement.

On March 31, Sparrow pleaded not guilty in 4th Circuit Court in Deadwood. A week later, her attorney, Matthew Kinney of Spearfish, wrote the Lawrence County States Attorney and said his client would plead guilty if the state agreed to a suspended imposition of sentence, county jail time, a fine, payment of court costs and restitution.

In the letter, Kinney noted Sparrow had no previous criminal history and is extremely remorseful for her actions.

Court records show Sparrow on April 21 pleaded guilty, and last Thursday, Judge Michelle Palmer-Percy gave Sparrow the weekend to get her affairs in order before reporting to the Deadwood jail on Monday.

In addition to restitution, the judge also placed Sparrow on probation for five years, ordered her to obey all laws, maintain a job, stay within the state unless granted written permission from her court services officer, not own or possess firearms, ammunition or explosive devices, and advise current or future employers of her probation and the nature of her crime.

So, she has to spend the 45 days in county jail and pay back the $27,000 she stole from her employer in restitution or she runs the risk of going to the state penitentiary, States Attorney John Fitzgerald said. And, she must pay that back in five years. If restitution is paid and she observed all conditions of her sentence, she could be off probation in two and a half years. The felony could then be erased from her record.

The aftermath

Withrow, the president and owner of Maverick Publishing, which publishes two monthly motorcycle magazines and employs a dozen workers, said he may never know how much Sparrow actually stole from his business. But he knows hell be paying the price for a long time.

The worst part is waking up one day and thinking youre financially solvent and realizing you dont have the amount of money in the bank you thought you did, Withrow said. We thought we had $275,000 in our account and we had like $130,000. And then we find she hadnt paid our quarterly taxes. Instead she was paying $750 quarterly penalties. So, we had to pay $37,000 in back taxes.

The publisher said he hired Sparrow as a receptionist nearly four years ago and, based on her performance, she quickly moved up to office manager and bookkeeper. But, as the months turned into years, Withrow said Sparrow started using company credit cards for personal purchases, and ultimately opened an account at the local branch of Wells Fargo Bank that he knew nothing about.

She was forging checks on a checking account we didnt even know we had, he said. I still think $27,000 is the tip of the iceberg, and I dont know if well ever recover.

Withrow said he still hadnt been able to file a 2014 tax return for his business because he was still unable to reconcile all of Maverick Publishings accounts.

Since Sparrow was charged with grand theft, Withrow said he and his staff had found undeposited checks written to Maverick Publishing in the bottom of file cabinets and underneath a futon. He also discovered a debit card tied to the secret Wells Fargo checking account that Sparrow used for numerous personal purchases, ranging from lunches, dinners and drinks to events at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

The systematic year-long embezzlement was uncovered last summer when a new general manager started finding inaccuracies in bookkeeping. Then things came to a head when company officials found an unrecorded check paying a vendor from the secret Wells Fargo account.

What she did was almost like someone came in to intentionally ruin our business, Withrow said. Then she left in the middle of the night because she knew we were onto her. She hired her attorney, Kinney, before her crimes were even unraveled.

On Monday, the day Sparrow started her jail sentence, Withrow said he felt victimized a second time. He says the local judicial system did not inform him about Sparrows charges, plea bargain negotiations, or even her sentencing. Withrow said he was sitting in an airport last Thursday when an employee called to tell him Sparrow had gotten off easy.

Nobody even once called us and asked us what we thought, Withrow said. They said, `Well never do anything without you. Well, everything was done without us.

My faith in the court system is really gone, he said. Im disillusioned with all this. Is it because of her father that she got special treatment?

States Attorney Fitzgerald said emphatically, Thats not true, when asked if Sparrow received preferential treatment. He said his staff worked to ensure the perpetrator was punished and the stolen money was returned to the business.

We sent Mr. Withrow a victims assistance letter, allowing him to tell the court the extent of the impact this crime had on his business, Fitzgerald said. We recognize that when people steal this kind of money, it has an ongoing negative impact on the business for a prolonged period of time. I view it as my offices responsibility to try to restore the money taken and penalize the thief.

Neither Craig Sparrow nor Gaming Commission Executive Secretary Larry Eliason responded to emails and telephone calls seeking comment in the matter.
Military court upholds mitigation of ex-Russian Army commanders sentence

MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI)  The Moscow Regional Military Court on Wednesday upheld mitigation of sentence for former Army Commander Colonel General Vladimir Chirkin and his release, RAPSI reported from the courtroom.

Prosecutors demanded a 5-year prison term for Chirkin on corruption charges. The court therefore dismissed the motion and raised a prohibition imposed on ex-Russian Army commander to hold public or military office for three years.

On August 14, 2015, the Moscow Garrison Military Court sentenced Chirkin to five years in prison for taking bribes. He was also stripped of the military rank, and state and departmental awards. Later the charges were reclassified to fraud and his sentence was changed to a 90,000 ruble ($1,400) fine. Chirkin returned his military rank as well. In April, the Moscow Regional Military Court upheld a lower courts ruling to expunge conviction of Chirkin.

Prosecutors claimed that Chirkin took a bribe to help Major Vladimir Lopanov of the reserves, who had served with the Moscow Military District, receive a one-room apartment to which he was entitled under law.

After paying the bribe, Lopanov was unable to move into the apartment, which was already occupied by another ex-soldier. Lopanov tried unsuccessfully to get his money back and later complained to a prosecutors office.

Chirkin pleaded not guilty in this case and claimed that the intermediaries deceived Lopanov. They allegedly extorted money from him, using the generals name as a cover.




Appeal against ruling in dispute over Christian Louboutin trademark set for July

MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI) - The Ninth Commercial Court of Appeals has scheduled for July 21 the hearing of appeals against recovery of 24.3 million rubles ($368,000) from four Russian firms in favor of famous French fashion designer Christian Louboutin and his company "Christian Louboutin S.A.S." for sales of counterfeit perfumery products, RAPSI learned in the court on Wednesday.

In April, the Moscow Commercial Court granted a lawsuit lodged by Christian Louboutin seeking compensation. The defendants, Interlux-Perfume, InterPrestige Group, Image Perfume and Klementina, were also prohibited from selling perfumery goods misrepresented as the plaintiffs production.

According to the plaintiffs representative, Moscow companies were selling fakes online using their websites.

The defendants argued that the perfume products were imported legally. They admitted that the products were imported, but denied selling of them. Also the defendants claimed that there is a lack of similarities between contested trademarks and trademark of the plaintiff.

French fashion designer Christian Louboutin is famous for his collection of trendy red-soled shoes. In 2012, the New York Court of Appeals granted Christian Louboutin the exclusive right to red soles in womens shoes. The court ruled that the contrasting red sole of Louboutin shoes is a distinctive mark that should be protected as a trademark. In 2012, Christian Louboutin launched a beauty product line.
Russias Parliament upper house obliges legal entities to disclose their beneficiaries

MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI)  Russias senators on Wednesday approved a bill obliging legal entities to disclose information about their beneficiaries to a number of federal authorities.

The document has been prepared in the framework of implementation of the national plan aimed at de-offshorization and better transparency of the countrys economy. Legal entities will be bound to receive, keep, and renew information on their beneficiary owners at least annually; the data should be documentarily registered and kept for at least five years.

At the same time, legal entities are to be granted the right to request information necessary to establish identity of beneficiaries from their founders and participants, including both legal persons and individuals. The said persons should be obliged to present such data; the respective transfers are not to be considered infringements on Russias privacy legislation.

Organizations are obliged to present such information on requests of a number of federal authorities, including tax agencies. The list of authorities vested with the power to request the respective information, as well as the terms and procedures governing the transfer should be determined by the Government. The Federal Financial Monitoring Service (Rosfinmonitoring) has been already put on this list.

According to the bill, a beneficiary owner is an individual owning more than 25 per cent of the total capital of a legal entity, or is able to control its operations.

Failing to comply with this obligation, legal entities and their executives may be fined under some amended articles of the Russias Code of Administrative Offences. The fines should make 30,000 to 50,000 rubles (about $500 to $800) for individuals and 100,000 to 500,000 rubles (about $1,500 to $7,500) for legal entities.

The bill conforms to the guidelines set by the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF).




Federation Council unanimously supports reappointment of Prosecutor General

MOSCOW, June 15 (RAPSI)  The Federation Council, Russias Parliament upper house, had unanimously supported the reappointment of Yuri Chaika as the countrys Prosecutor General, RAPSI learnt in the Federation Council press-service on Wednesday.

Artur Muravyev, the plenipotentiary representative of the President in the upper house, Andrey Klishas, the Chairman of the Councils Committee on Constitutional Legislation, and Viktor Ozerov, the Chairman of the Councils Committee on Defense and Security, have introduced the nominee to the Parliament upper house.

Valentina Matviyenko, the Chairperson of the Federation Council, noted that as the Prosecutor General Chaika had proved himself as a professional, competent and hard-driving official, who could reform the Prosecutor Generals Office and maintain confidence on the part of the population. At present, according to Matviyenko, the Prosecutor Generals Office tightly controls compliance with laws and observance of human rights and liberties.

In the course of the meeting Chaika took the oath of Russias Prosecutor General. He has held this office since 2006.




A Ravalli County judicial candidate has filed a lawsuit against a state watchdog organization that filed its own complaint against him in April.

Rob Myers of Hamilton filed a federal lawsuit last week against the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel over an investigation that office had started into one of Myers campaign advertisements.

In the lawsuit, Myers claims the state ODC forced him to refrain from using a radio advertisement critical of his opponent.

The lawsuit asks the federal court to declare portions of the states codes of judicial and professional conduct unconstitutional. It also asks for damages and costs of litigation.

The suit names Shaun R. Thompson, the states chief disciplinary counsel, in his official capacity. The ODC is charged with enforcing professional conduct by Montana-licensed attorneys.

Myers lawsuit focuses on an ODC investigation of his radio advertisement critical of incumbent Judge Jeffrey Langton.

The advertisement is narrated by one of Myers former clients, Dan Cox. In the radio advertisement, Cox complains of Langtons handling of his child custody case and accuses the judge of committing fraud.

The advertisement was broadcast several times in April and May of 2016 on a Missoula radio station whose broadcasts reach into Ravalli County.

Myers suit claims the ODC demanded that he submit the digital copies of all of his published campaign materials as well as the invoices and contracts related to advertising material. The state also demanded to see any internet or social media network posting that he or his campaign made.

Myers said he quit using the advertisement after the investigation began.

The states outrageous intimidation of a candidate for judicial office simply because he criticized an incumbent judge is having its intended effect, Myers suit claimed. Fear of discipline, including possible suspension or disbarment, is causing plaintiff Myers to refrain from rebroadcasting the campaign advertisement triggering the states investigation.

Myers said underlying regulations that prohibit attorneys from making statements about judges that are deemed to be false violate the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment in this case.

Judicial candidates should not be forced to choose between exercising their fundamental rights to criticize their opponents or keeping their law licenses, Myers suit said.

Myers filed for a preliminary injunction with the U.S. District Court in Helena Friday.

The fight over the Cox parenting plan featured in the advertisement is also at the center of the charges of professional misconduct filed against Myers in April by the Office of Disciplinary Council. That case is before the Montana Supreme Court.

That case stems for a long simmering battle between Langton on one side and Myers and Cox on the other.

In that case, Langton filed a 42-page order in June 2014 that found Myers had made misrepresentations to the court as Coxs legal counsel and ordered Myers to pay $10,000 in sanctions.

The Office of Disciplinary Councils complaint listed 19 instances that Langton found that Myers failed to meet professional standards, including using inflammatory language to make baseless accusations of conspiracy, fraud, bias, unethical behavior and illegal acts against several people, including the judge himself.

Myers filed his answer to that complaint this week.

Langton won the primary by a vote of 7,997 to Myers 4,154. The two will square off again in Novembers general election.

Dan Cox is a familiar name in Ravalli County.

In 2008, he led the successful push to repeal Ravalli Countys growth policy.

Cox ran for the U.S. Senate as Libertarian in 2012 while living in Hamilton. He obtained about 30,000 votes, which was 10,000 more than the difference between Democratic incumbent Sen. Jon Tester and his Republican challenger, U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg.

Republicans claimed that Democrats purchased advertisements that supported Coxs campaign and that eventually led to Rehbergs loss.
The MAPS Media Institute is growing stronger with another year of recognized success. MAPS Media CEO and founder Peter Rosten was honored, MAPS staff was promoted and replaced and productions were awarded. MAPS begins its 13th year of programming with new community partnerships and student opportunities.

Rosten, MAPS Media CEO and founder, was inducted into The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Northwest Chapters Silver Circle in Seattle, June 3. This recognition is awarded to media professionals who began their careers in television at least 25 years ago.

I have 47 years in the industry and in three years Ill qualify for the gold circle, Rosten said. The kids made a fabulous video that is a history of my productions to show at this induction event. Sometimes it is great to be the old guy.

This year MAPS Media Institute received the NATAS NW Awards of Excellence for their Darby Rodeo and Darby Logger Days videos. Both videos were financed by the Montana Film Office and these honors are the equivalent of student EMMY awards.

In 2014 and 2016, the Presidents Committee recognized MAPS as one of the top 50 afterschool programs in the country in the arts and humanities.

The MAPS Media Festival at the Pharoahplex Theaters attracted record attendance of students, families and community members. The festival also featured the debut of Everybody Needs Love a music video project sung, performed and produced 100 percent by MAPS students. View it at mapsmediainstitute.com.

The MAPS Media Institute has announced several staffing changes.

MAPS film instructor Christian Ackerman is the Media Arts teacher at Corvallis High School with classes starting this fall. Replacing Ackerman is Missoula filmmaker Dru Carr who received his M.S. in Environmental Studies from the University of Montanan in 1996 and then co-founded the independent filmmaking team High Plains Films in 2000. He has received several nominations and awards for his work as a documentary filmmaker. Carr is also a founding board member of the Big Sky Film Institute, which runs the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival.

Dru is an extraordinary find, Rosten said. Six years ago Dru wouldnt have taken this job. That tells you how far our program has advanced. Hell add a whole new dimension to our film program.

Carr will teach the MAPS summer session that begins July 5.

MAPS has established a professional level for high school media arts programming, and I am honored to join this accomplished team, Carr said. Ive been producing films for the last 20 years. My goal as a part of MAPS will be to help young artists engage in, and view more critically, the world around them through the craft of filmmaking.

Current MAPS staff Clare Ann Harff and Tim Kolberg have received promotions.

Clare Ann Harff is the new president of the MAPS program. She will continue as program director, design and entrepreneur instructor. Tim Kolberg, music and tech teacher, is now also the vice president.

Rosten said, These new executive duties and titles reflect their enormous contributions to the programs growth and success.

I have agreed to stay with MAPS until Im 70. Im now 67, Rosten said. Clare Ann and Tim have performed at such a high level for years and she is my successor. I could stop tomorrow and we would be in great shape. I felt it was time to acknowledge her in public. People see her as a teacher or program director but with an executive title the community will see how important she is to our program.

This summer, MAPS has new programs underway.

MAPS is a host site for a national VISTA service member developing the curriculum for a new MAPS course called MAPS Works: Connecting Community Through Media Arts.

Rosten said this service-learning program continues MAPSs pro bono work and engages student production crews in the Bitterroot community. The first production is documenting the 11-week Cultivating Connections Youth Farm Internship offered at Homestead Organics in Hamilton.

MAPS students are documenting the program as the students tend, harvest and donate over 200 pounds of fresh, local, organic produce to the Ravalli County Council on Agings Meals on Wheels program. The final program will connect the art of growing food with the art of sharing stories.

MAPS is hosting a summer program for its second year beginning July 5. The program is four weeks long and students will create one specific production.
KATHMANDU, June 15: The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a charge sheet at the Special Court Wednesday against accountant at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Satyendra Narayan Singh on the charge of submitting fake credentials for job entry.

The academic certificate showing Singh of having passed SLC level from the Bihar School Exam Committee Patna, India in 1984 was found to be fake.

The certificate was submitting before accountant joined the NEA.

In the charge sheet, the CIAA has sought maximum penalty against the accused as per Clause 16 (1) of the Corruption Prevention Act, 2051 B.S. RSS
Kathmandu, Nepal: The Office of the Controller of Examinations (OCE) has said that it is going to publish the results of School Leaving Certificate (SLC) by Thursday.

According to an official of the OEC, the SLC results will be published under the grading system ending the decade long practice of percentage.

In the SLC examinations held from March 31 to April 11, total of 615,553 examinees had appeared in different categories.
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Jun-14-2016 21:33 TweetFollow @OregonNews American Muslim and Arab-American Communities in Portland and SW Washington Condemn Orlando Shooting "Let us join others here and throughout our state, nation and world -- to call for an end to terrorism, hate, and violence."



(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The American Muslim and Arab-American Communities in Oregon and SW Washington unequivocally condemn the senseless murder that has occurred in Orlando, Florida and offer our condolences to the victims and their families. Islam does not condone wanton murder or individual vendettas. This abhorrent action and the like are all prohibited in Islam and in direct violation of the teachings of Islam. We all denounce any person or group that would try to call to or justify any horrific act of terror, hate, and violence. Please let us join others here and throughout our state, nation and world -- to call for an end to terrorism, hate, and violence. Let us join together to build a future where all people can live safely without fearing for their safety. Vigils are being held nationwide every day this week, and the community is coming together to stand united in the face of hate, bigotry, and violence in every shape and form. We also stand united against Islamophobia, and any kind of hate or discrimination, incited by fear of "the other." We pledge to uphold that our diversity as a nation is a beautiful blessing that should be a source of strength, unity, and great inspiration, rather than division, fear, and uncertainty. Islam prohibits violence and killing and emphasizes time and time again the sanctity of human life. According to the Quran [5:32], the likeness of one who murders a soul is as one who has transgressed and murdered all of humanity, and the likeness of one who brings life to a soul is as one who has given life and hope to all of humanity. Signees Abdisalan Muse , Oregon Somali Family Education Center (OSFEC)

, Oregon Somali Family Education Center (OSFEC) Imam Abdullah Polovina , Bosniaks Educational & Cultural Organization (BECO)

, Bosniaks Educational & Cultural Organization (BECO) Ahmed Omer , Masjid Ibrahim (Bethany Musalla)

, Masjid Ibrahim (Bethany Musalla) Arshad Ashfaq , Masjid Omar Farooq

, Masjid Omar Farooq Dr. Birol Yesilada , Portland, Oregon

, Portland, Oregon Gulzar Ahmed ,Tualatin, Oregon

,Tualatin, Oregon Hala Gores , Attorney at Law and Former President of Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon (AACCO)

, Attorney at Law and Former President of Arab American Cultural Center of Oregon (AACCO) Hidayat Kisdarjono , Islamic Society of SW Washington - Masjed Al-Noor (ISSWW)

, Islamic Society of SW Washington - Masjed Al-Noor (ISSWW) Ibrahim Turki , Hillsboro, Oregon

, Hillsboro, Oregon Jahed Sukhun , Beaverton, Oregon

, Beaverton, Oregon Jawad Khan , Muslim Educational Trust (MET)

, Muslim Educational Trust (MET) Dr. Khalid Khan , Islamic Society of SW Washington - Masjed Al-Noor (ISSWW)

, Islamic Society of SW Washington - Masjed Al-Noor (ISSWW) Laila Cully ,Member of MET's Advisory Board

,Member of MET's Advisory Board Laila Hajoo , Islamic Social Services of Oregon State (I-SOS)

, Islamic Social Services of Oregon State (I-SOS) Dr. Mohamed Siala , Salman AlFaresi Islamic Center, Corvallis (SFIC)

, Salman AlFaresi Islamic Center, Corvallis (SFIC) Mohammed Haque , Oregon Muslim Citizens Alliance (OMCA)

, Oregon Muslim Citizens Alliance (OMCA) Imam Muhammad Najieb , Muslim Community Center of Portland (MCCP)

, Muslim Community Center of Portland (MCCP) Masjid Abu-Bakar

Mozafar Wanly ,Salman AlFaresi Islamic Center, Corvallis (SFIC)

,Salman AlFaresi Islamic Center, Corvallis (SFIC) Muslims of Salem , Salem Islamic Center

, Salem Islamic Center Musse Olol , Somali American Council of Oregon (SACOO)

, Somali American Council of Oregon (SACOO) Dr. Nadjoua Moumen , Beaverton, Oregon

, Beaverton, Oregon Nick Kahl , Attorney at Law

, Attorney at Law Omar Obaid , Iraqi Refugee Society for Greater Portland Area

, Iraqi Refugee Society for Greater Portland Area Osman Salaev , Ahiska Turkish Community Center of Oregon

, Ahiska Turkish Community Center of Oregon Rania Ayoub , Muslim Educational Trust (MET)

, Muslim Educational Trust (MET) Ronault (Polo) Catalani , New Portlander Policy Commission

, New Portlander Policy Commission Salahuddin Kadri , Muslim Educational Trust (MET)

, Muslim Educational Trust (MET) Dr. Saleh Ismail , M.D. Salem, Oregon

, M.D. Salem, Oregon Salma Ahmed , Islamic Society of Greater Portland (ISGP)

, Islamic Society of Greater Portland (ISGP) Samira Godil , SW Community Health Center

, SW Community Health Center Dr. Shahriar Ahmed , Bilal Masjed, Beaverton (BMA)

, Bilal Masjed, Beaverton (BMA) Stephen Johnson and Khedijah Nure , Beaverton, Oregon

, Beaverton, Oregon Suhail Khan , Northrup Corporation

, Northrup Corporation Tom Nelson , Attorney at Law

, Attorney at Law Wajdi Said , Muslim Educational Trust (MET)

, Muslim Educational Trust (MET) Dr. Waleed Vliza, M.D. Islamic Center of Eugene _________________________________________

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 Juror involved in trial of Stanford swimmer Brick Turner assails sentence given for sexual assault convictions | Main | "The Antidemocratic Sixth Amendment" 

June 15, 2016

If you are eager to take a peek behind this blog...

you can and should thank Scott Greenfield, the defense attorney behind the terrific Simple Justice blog, for kindly inviting me to be subject to this "cross" at Mimesis Law. Scott asked me 10 series of questions about my personal and professional history, and as a teaser I will reprint here the first and last sent of Scott's "crossing" inquiries:

Q. You graduated Princeton in 1990 with a degree in philosophy. Why philosophy? Was this about a liberal arts foundation for the future, or was there a plan to be the Nietzsche of Jersey? How did that prepare you for the rigors of law school and, later, the practice of law? Were there any alternatives coming out of Princeton other than law for your future?... Q. Having written the hornbook on sentencing law, getting your second endowed chair professorship, and being the acknowledged sentencing scholar on the internets, whats next for you? Are you a professor for life? Dean someday? What about a seat next to Judge Calabresi? Whats the next step for Doug Berman? And will SL&P last forever?

If you are curious at all about how I responded to these queries and eight more sets of terrific questions in between, please do check out CROSS: Douglas Berman, The Final Sentence

June 15, 2016 at 10:21 AM | Permalink

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Post a comment
 "Substantive and Procedural Silence" | Main | If you are eager to take a peek behind this blog... 

June 15, 2016

Juror involved in trial of Stanford swimmer Brick Turner assails sentence given for sexual assault convictions

I am generally somewhat hesitant about lambasting a judge's sentencing decision when I have only limited information about the case, and I often wonder whether others' quick to critcize a particular decision have reviewed all the key evidence before going on the attack. Relatedly, I am uniquely interested in the views and criticisms of a sentening decision lodged by anyone who was intimately involved in the case, and thus I find distinctly noteworthy this new report about new criticisms of the controversial Brock Turner sentencing. The article is headlined "Juror slams judge in Stanford rape case, calls sentence 'a mockery' amid recall push," and here is how it gets started:

The judge who sentenced Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail for sexual assault is continuing to face criticism for his decision. The effort to recall Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky has gained steam, with several political groups vowing to raise money for the campaign. Two veteran Democratic political consultants, Joe Trippi and John Shallman, decided Thursday to join the effort to force a recall election. Then, one of the jurors who convicted Turner of sexual assault wrote a letter to Persky. The juror wrote of being absolutely shocked and appalled at the sentence. After the guilty verdict I expected that this case would serve as a very strong deterrent to on-campus assaults, but with the ridiculously lenient sentence that Brock Turner received, I am afraid that it makes a mockery of the whole trial and the ability of the justice system to protect victims of assault and rape, the juror wrote to Persky. Clearly there are few to no consequences for a rapist even if they are caught in the act of assaulting a defenseless, unconscious person, the juror wrote in the letter, which was obtained by the Palo Alto Weekly [available here].

Prior related posts:

June 15, 2016 at 08:47 AM | Permalink

Comments

What did the victim want? I've read somewhere that she didn't want him to do much time. Personally, I would have preferred a longer sentence and a shorter amount of time on the SOR.

The deterrence argument seems a little weak in this context--what is happening to Turner is a powerful deterrent.

There was an Oklahoma State athlete who raped a 12 year old. It would be interesting to compare/contrast the sympathetic news coverage of his case with the coverage of Turner's.

Posted by: federalist | Jun 15, 2016 9:31:34 AM

Based on what has been reported of the judges's sentencing comments, I wonder if the judge had a different view of the case than the jury's. At most sentencing hearings, judges typically take a skeptical view of attempts by defendants to claim that they are really innocent of the charges or attempts to minimize the offense. The reported comments from this case seem to accept the defense version of events. Since a judge can only set aside a verdict if the evidence was legally insufficient, I wonder if those comments and the sentence indicated that the judge might not have found the defendant guilty if it had been a bench trial.

Posted by: tmm | Jun 15, 2016 10:18:14 AM

The NYT had an interesting article on the case the other day including reference to the pre-sentencing report (written by a woman, which I guess someone might care about; don't know her background, since the judge's received some play) that suggested a comparable sentence.

Those who want to give more sentencing power to juries might use the juror's remarks to support their cause. As is, the jury convicted him of three felonies & sentence (granting the seriousness of the registry) seems to not really reflect their judgment in that respect. I would be interested in coverage that compared his sentence to somewhat comparable crimes in that jurisdiction. The linked article does provide some interesting details including reasons other than the victim impact statement to question the mitigation given to the defendant.

The juror noted: "Clearly there are few to no consequences for a rapist even if they are caught in the act of assaulting a defenseless, unconscious person." I think this is exaggerated given jail time, the registry and him being pressured to voluntary resign from his university. This even without nation-wide infamy which admittedly would not be evenly supplied (with his face all over the place) to other rapists.

Posted by: Joe | Jun 15, 2016 10:51:02 AM

I was pummeled with narrowed, pointed questions that dissected my personal life, love life, past life, family life, inane questions, accumulating trivial details to try and find an excuse for this guy who had me half naked before even bothering to ask for my name.

Wait, I thought you were unconscious?

Posted by: Anon | Jun 16, 2016 3:57:13 AM

Chris Collins was the player for Ok. St. Sad story. http://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/12/21/chris-collins

Posted by: Fat Bastard | Jun 16, 2016 9:14:39 AM

Yeah, fat bastard, and note SI's sympathetic coverage---and compare to the coverage of Brock Turner's crime.

Posted by: federalist | Jun 16, 2016 10:03:07 AM

A new story on the case indicates that a Stanford University official pressured women's swim team members who planned to communicate with the court at the sentencing stage to relate the long pattern of behavior that culminated in the rape not to do so, and that they complied.

http://boingboing.net/2016/06/16/anonymous-source-claims-stanfo.html

This may not formally qualify for the legal definition of witness tampering but casts real doubt on the integrity of the sentencing process in the case.

Posted by: ohwilleke | Jun 17, 2016 12:54:59 PM

Post a comment
 "The Antidemocratic Sixth Amendment" | Main | Delaware Supreme Court struggles to tame the post-Hurst hydra 

June 15, 2016

Split Second Circuit panel reverses (on procedural grounds, sort of) 60-year sentence for production and possession of child porn

A few helpful readers helped make sure I did not fail to note the interesting split Second Circuit panel decision handed down yesterday in US v. Brown, No. 131706 (2d Cir. June 14, 2016) (available here). Here area key passages from the majority opinion authored by Judge Pooler explaining its (procedural?) basis for reversal of a 60-year prison term (with most cites omitted) for the production of child pornography:

At sentencing, the district court noted the trauma to these three children, the fact that three children would have to worry for the rest of their li[v]e[s] about the photographs, and that Brown destroyed the lives of three specific children. Appx at 10001. The district courts explanation suggests that the 2 individual harm suffered by each of Browns three victims played a critical role in the district courts decision to impose three consecutive 20year sentences. But the sentencing transcript also suggests that the district court may have misunderstood the nature of that harm as to Browns third victim. Three times the court emphasized the mental anguish that three specific children would suffer as a result of Browns abuse. Appx at 10001. Browns third victim, however, has no knowledge of having been victimized by Brown. PSR  35. Her mother declined to submit a victim impact statement specifically because her daughter was unaware of the abuse and had experienced no negative impact. PSR  51. To be sure, the district court was entitled to punish Brown for that abuse regardless of whether the victim was aware of it. But given the district courts repeated emphasis on the fact that Brown had destroyed the lives of three specific children, we conclude that it is appropriate to remand for resentencing to ensure that the sentence is not based on a clearly erroneous understanding of the facts. It is possible that, on remand, the district court will reimpose the same 60year sentence that it imposed at the original sentencing. Although we express no definitive view on the substantive reasonableness of that sentence at this time, we respectfully suggest that the district court consider whether an effective life sentence is warranted in this case. We understand and emphatically endorse the need to condemn Browns crimes in the strongest of terms. But the Supreme Court has recognized that defendants who do not kill, intend to kill, or foresee that life will be taken are categorically less deserving of the most serious forms of punishment than are murderers. Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 69 (2010).... The sentencing transcript suggests that the district court may have seen no moral difference between Brown and a defendant who murders or violently rapes children, stating that Browns crime was as serious a crime as federal judges confront, Appx at 101, that Brown was the worst kind of dangerous sex offender, Appx at 102, and that he was exactly like sex offenders who rape and torture children, Appx at 100. Punishing Brown as harshly as a murderer arguably frustrates the goal of marginal deterrence, that is, that the harshest sentences should be reserved for the most culpable behavior.... Finally, to the extent that the district court believed it necessary to incapacitate Brown for the rest of his life because of the danger he poses to the public, we note that defendants such as Brown are generally less likely to reoffend as they get older.

Judge Droney authored a lengthy dissent, which gets started this way:

The majority simply disagrees with the length of the imprisonment imposed upon the defendant by the district court, yet it cloaks that disagreement as procedural error. There was no procedural error, and the sentence was well within the discretion of the district court. It was also appropriate. The defendant sexually abused at least three very young girls, recorded that abuse, installed secret cameras in public areas where children changed clothes, and possessed over 25,000 images of child pornography on his computers, including many scenes of bestiality and sadistic treatment. No doubt this was a lengthy sentence, but it was warranted. I dissent. The district judge committed no error whatsoever procedural or substantive.

June 15, 2016 at 03:35 PM | Permalink

Comments

But the Supreme Court has recognized that defendants who do not kill, intend to kill, or foresee that life will be taken are categorically less deserving of the most serious forms of punishment than are murderers. Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48, 69 (2010)....

The judge who wrote this is a moron. That's right, a moron. First of all, this doesn't apply to adult criminals. Second of all, Graham doesn't intend that murder always gets more than any particularly heinous criminal sentence. It is painfully obvious to anyone who thinks for more than one second that murderers aren't necessarily more culpable than other criminals. Many murderers made one horrible decision in the spur of the moment--this guy took the time to plan his deeds and harmed more than one person---the damage may be less, but from a strictly moral standpoint, his character is far worse than many murderers'. (And I am not even mentioning felony murderers.)

The use of this quote points up a real problem with our legal culture--the Supreme Court made a bogus statement to buttress a bogus decision, and no one calls out the stupidity of the categorical statement--and no one calls the Court out--the Justices signing off on this ridiculous quote ought to be ruthlessly criticized. As a polity, we are forced to trust their wisdom in divining the "evolving standards" and we cannot even trust them to understand that culpability is not just measured by the results of a criminal act and that therefore, the "categorical" qualifier is not just dumb, but also demonstrates that they don't even know the basics. No big deal? Well, now we have some idiot 'rat Judge taking this mischief further to hook up an appalling criminal.

Posted by: federalist | Jun 15, 2016 6:06:20 PM

So in your world, considering only this Def in only this case--as is necessary when crafting an appropriate sentence under 3553--if the Def in this case had actually killed the kids instead of only taking dirty pictures, he would "deserve" what: 60 + cancer? Where's the incentive to leave them alive? There has to be a continuum, because we just can't seem to build enough prisons to please the terminal haters in the world.

Posted by: MarK M. | Jun 16, 2016 1:44:07 AM

The F.B.I. once stated that they don't publish the pictures of unknown child porn victims to locate the children because doing so could risk the child's life. That is enough to distinguish the crimes. The court could be saying a 40 year sentence would send as powerful message and would not be as easy to equate to a murder sentence, though many murder sentences are far less. What is troubling to me is the claims that the lives of these children are over. How can that be known? And why isn't it a "be careful what you wish for"?

Posted by: Anon | Jun 16, 2016 3:21:14 AM

The canard that the lives of victims of abuse are effectively over or that they are permanently damaged has always troubled me. In my view, it undermines the self-determination of the survivor for the sake of justifying the lust for punishment on the part of the speaker.

I was raped as a child, and I think were I to be told that my life was effectively over or that I was forever damaged it would have hindered my own recovery process than if I were simply helped to heal and get past it.

So that isn't to say that people are not harmed, or that punishment isn't warranted. But to the question of why sentences for this stuff are so severe, the response so often seems to be that it is because the victim was effectively murdered by the actions of the perpetrator -- when such a conclusion may not be, in fact, serving anyone's interests but the state.

Posted by: Guy | Jun 16, 2016 9:22:55 AM

Mark, once again, the difficulty in dealing with liberals. "in my world"--well, in my world, I don't have a specific opinion on every single sentence that comes down the pike--that's what we have judges and PSRs and the criminal justice system for. I haven't reviewed any of that. What I was commenting on was the utter stupidity of the "categorical" statement that was quoted in the majority opinion. Of course, you cannot defend that idiocy (or arrogance), so you change the subject to some debate over what this filth gets. Whatev. Suffice it to say that I agree with the dissent on the law---would I as a sentencing judge have handed down a 60 year sentence--probably.

Of course, I have to call out your euphemization of the crimes involved here--he didn't just take dirty pictures, he took dirty pictures of kids and he molested them. He abused a position of trust. Why would you euphemize such awful crimes (note the plural)?

As for the incentive to keep them alive--I understand that point, but my guess is that since child molesters know that their prison life (if the state sentences them) is going to be hell (try doing 10 years in Stateville), the incentive to kill kids is already there in abundance.

"There has to be a continuum, because we just can't seem to build enough prisons to please the terminal haters in the world." This is dumb. Putting aside the "terminal haters" nonsense--yeah, I want to see CP producers hammered because it is an awful crime, the continuum thing is possibly true in the abstract (although it doesn't take into consideration other factors, like character of defendant, premeditation, motive etc.), but if we are to try to implement on a granular level, it becomes a race to lenience. Olu Stevens handed out a sentence of probation for an armed home invasion robbery--does that mean that no one who steals a car can get jail time? This stuff is obvious--yet you pontificate in your moralistic tone. The sad thing---you don't realize how ignorant you are. You'll euphemize awful crimes to try to win a point. I'd laugh, but your ignorance is sad.

Posted by: federalist | Jun 16, 2016 10:00:15 AM

I have no moral problem with a 60-year sentence for a defendant who molests multiple children and produces child porn. This guy pled guilty, though, and if defendants who plead guilty are given de facto life terms anyway, then why plead? Given the sentences that are being handed out, why shouldn't everyone accused of such crimes go to trial, put the government to its proof and make the kids relive their abuse on the stand? After all, it's not like a 110-year sentence is any different in practical terms than 60 years, and maybe lightning will strike. It seems to me that people who plead guilty ought to be given some light at the end of the tunnel even if the light is a long way off.

Posted by: azazel | Jun 16, 2016 1:28:55 PM

"So that isn't to say that people are not harmed, or that punishment isn't warranted. But to the question of why sentences for this stuff are so severe, the response so often seems to be that it is because the victim was effectively murdered by the actions of the perpetrator -- when such a conclusion may not be, in fact, serving anyone's interests but the state."

Strawman argumentation--no one credibly suggests that victims' are effectively murdered, although child molestation can be very devastating to a family. The point is--people who do what this guy did are profoundly evil, and they deserve serious time. There is no reason for this guy to walk the streets. And good grief--the content he downloaded--god, to think that some child had to go through those things. Heartbreaking.

Posted by: federalist | Jun 17, 2016 11:17:24 AM

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 If you are eager to take a peek behind this blog... | Main | Split Second Circuit panel reverses (on procedural grounds, sort of) 60-year sentence for production and possession of child porn 

June 15, 2016

"The Antidemocratic Sixth Amendment"

The title of this post is the title of this intringuing new article about the right to counsel authored by Janet Moore and now available via SSRN. Here is the abstract:

Criminal procedure experts often claim that poor people have no Sixth Amendment right to choose their criminal defense lawyers. These experts insist that the Supreme Court has reserved the Sixth Amendment right to choose for the small minority of defendants who can afford to hire counsel. This Article upends that conventional wisdom with new doctrinal, theoretical, and practical arguments supporting a Sixth Amendment right to choose for all defendants, including the overwhelming majority who are indigent. The Articles fresh case analysis shows the Supreme Courts no-choice statements are dicta, which the Courts own reasoning and rulings refute. The Articles new theoretical framework exposes the no-choice stance as an antidemocratic concentration of judicial power, which blocks pressure from poor people to strengthen the right to counsel. Finally, the Article addresses practical objections to an equal right of attorney choice with innovative strategies that promote meaningful choice for all defendants.

June 15, 2016 at 02:32 PM | Permalink

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Back in simpler times, there weren't so many hills in San Francisco, or so city archivist emeritus Gladys Hansen recalls. "At the very beginning, San Francisco was a very small city and we had only seven hills," she told the Chronicle in 2004, which were "copied from the seven hills of Rome." Members of the original club are Telegraph Hill, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Rincon Hill, Mount Sutro, Twin Peaks, and Mount Davidson. As the city expanded over time, new hills were named and built up. Others were erased by development. Irish Hill, for instance, once in the vicinity of Potrero Hill, was essentially leveled.

Today it seems no one can agree on how to count our peaks, and therefore on the total number we possess. For example: Should we include Maintop Hill on the Farallon Islands? Technically they're part of San Francisco! Progressives tally 48 Hills, SF State's literary magazine has long been called 14 Hills, but still others think the number far greater.

Honestly, who cares! While the sheer number and variety of our hills has come to define everything from San Francisco's climate to its transportation, not all hills are created equal. Some have nicer trails, or better views, or pleasanter perches. This list, then, is an attempt to bring the total number of hills way down. These are the ten that matter. The ten to watch. The ten that stand out.

Surely we've missed your favorite, secret hill  how forgetful of us  but you will no doubt point this out in the comments without revealing which it is. Nice.



Bernal Heights

Formerly known by such names as "Nanny Goat Hill" (grazing animals) and "Red Hill" (anti-war protests), Bernal Hill is the namesake of San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood. Bernal itself stands at a respectable 433 ft high, but more impressive than its height are its long spine and its spacious park. Inside, colorful chert and thin layers of shale contrast with grasses (straw colored half the year, green the other). A central road takes you up to the top, which is somewhat unfortunately topped with a radio tower, and plenty of trails can lead you down and around. Expect off leash dogs, further elevating Bernal into the top ten.







Billy Goat Hill

Sitting on the rim of Noe Valley, this is the one with the swing you've seen on Instagram, although that wasn't there when I last checked. Arrive at the tiny network of trails (0.2 miles lol) by either 30th Street/Laidley Street or Beacon Street. According to SF Rec and Parks, it's got the highest diversity of bee species in the city, its steep slope blooming with native wildflowers.





Corona Heights. Photo Ed L. via Yelp

Corona Heights

In a difficult contest with its neighbor, taller, more verdant Buena Vista Park, Corona Heights and its bald, so-called "Pride Rock" have an edge. Check out that terra cotta red bedrock! Corona Heights is also the only SF hill that's home to a museum: That's the Randall Museum, an excellent resource for children and child-like adults to learn about the natural world. At Corona Heights, look out for: Cute dogs, California poppy, poison oak.





Grand View Park. Photo: Julie L. via Yelp

Grand View Park

Marvel at the grandeur of the Pacific atop the Inner Sunset's contribution to this list, Grand View Park, also known, sometimes, as Larsen Peak or Turtle Hill. Approach via the lovely 16th Avenue Tiled Steps, then come the rest of the way up the 666 feet via one of two staircases, one concrete, the other wooden. From the tippy-top, take in all of Golden Gate Park in a beautiful panoramic view. Please stay on the paths as windblown sand from ocean beach which built up part of the habitat is eroding and is not replenished due to development.





Kite Hill. Photo: telmo32 via Flickr

Kite Hill

An oasis in the Castro near the Seward Street Slides, this small open space off 19th Street provides a perfect urban refuge. There are just 2.87 acres to explore at Kite Hill, so stop for a quick breather or lounge among native grasses. The winds are, as you might expect, kite worthy  frequent but not overpowering  and, hidden away as it is, you might just find you've got Kite Hill all to yourself.





Mount Davidson. Photo:Eddie H. via Yelp

Mount Davidson

Mount Davidson is San Francisco's tallest peak at 938 feet tall, and that's not even counting the 103-foot concrete cross built in 1934 and sold, in 1997, to the Council of Armenian American Organizations of Northern California as a monument for the 1915 Armenian genocide. Say what you will about that thing, but if it's good enough for a shot in Dirty Harry, it's good enough for me. Mount Davidson was once called Blue Mountain for its springtime blooms, but renamed in 1911 after surveyor George Davidson at the behest of the Sierra Club. Adolph Sutro, who once owned much of the land, recruited children to plant trees like Blue gem eucalyptus, not out of the goodness of his heart or due to his love for forests, but instead because of a law that gave tax-free status to forested lands in city limits.





Hyde Street (near Russian Hill Open Space). Photo: Shawn Clover via Flickr

Russian Hill

Maybe it was clearer what, exactly, bounded Russian Hill when it was a Gold Rush era Russian cemetery. Now it's harder to say. Certainly Lombard Street's crooked section is one defining aspect of it, and the area is further worthy of iconic SF status thanks to the Hyde Street cable car. When in the area, don't miss Fay Park, a tiny green spot with terraces and two latticed wooden gazebos at Chestnut and Leavenworth.





Tank Hill. Photo: Lincy H. via Yelp

Tank Hill

This one is so-named for the Clarendon Heights Water Tank that once sat atop it, pumping water from Laguna Honda. However, the tank was removed in 1957 according to SF Rec and Parks  all the better, because housing was rejected up there and the city eventually bought (back) the hill once the Open Space fund got going in the '70s. Now its free and clear, save for an excellent, very high bench. A word of warning: Some of the side trails are eroded on Tank Hill. Do be careful. Ascend via a stairway at Twin Peaks and Clarendon or by the Belgrave Street Entrance.





Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill. Photo: concept007 via Flickr

Telegraph Hill

Telegraph Hill wears Coit tower proudly like a crown. But before that, and providing the hill its name, was a semaphore: A windmill-like thingamajig built in 1849 to signal to ships entering the Bay. Enjoy Telegraph Hill, truly a gem, for its Filbert Street steps, its excellent views, and its hordes of goddamn squawking parrots.


Judge Aaron Persky has been criticized widely for what has been seen as his lenient sentence of former Stanford student Brock Turner, a now 20-year-old man convicted in the rape of an unconscious woman on the University's Palo Alto campus. Backlash against the jurist has been meaningful but symbolic, until now: Persky has been automatically disqualified from presiding over another case of sexual assault, the LA Times reports.

"[We] lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing, in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. "In the future, we will evaluate each case on its own merits and decide if we should use our legal right to ask for another judge in order to protect public safety and pursue justice. The legal move, known as papering, might be seen as a warning to Persky or else as an informal reprimand of a sort.

KRON 4 reports that womens rights advocacy group UltraViolet has submitted to the California Commission on Judicial Performance the removal 800,000 signatures demanding the Santa Clara County jurists' removal. A change.org petition with the same goal has garnered over 1.2 million signatures.

Persky cruised to re-election this month. To commence a recall election, campaign organizers must gather 58,634 signatures from Santa Clara County voters. His statements during the sentencing show that he does not understand sexual violence. He does not understand violence against women, Stanford law professor Michele Dauber, who headed up the recall campaign, told KRON4. And so we are going to recall him, and were going to replace him with someone who does.

Previously, the first juror in the Brock Turner Case to come forward to the press shared a letter he wrote to Persky. The sentence, the juror writes, "makes a mockery of the whole trial and the ability of the justice system to protect victims of assault and rape."

Previously: Juror In Brock Turner Case Pens Letter To Judge, Says 'Shame On You'


News of a sex scandal that already cost Oakland's chief of police his job broke over the weekend  though hints of it were first reported last month by KRON 4 when an internal affairs probe began. Now, the East Bay Express delves further into the story, which has implicated an unprecedented number of officers who face charges of soliciting sex through coercion, and several of whom could face human trafficking charges as well. In an era in which police departments around the country are facing increased criticism and scrutiny over racism and officer-involved shootings  and just weeks after such a shooting finally forced the resignation of San Francisco' chief Greg Suhr  this scandal brings to light yet another morally circumspect aspect of police work for some officers. And it's unwelcome news for Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, who has her first big scandal on her hands from a department with a decades-long history of them that has been under threat of falling into federal receivership for over a decade if it doesn't reform itself.

As we now learn via the East Bay Times, a Contra Costa County sheriff's deputy has been placed on administrative leave in connection with the scandal, which involves a single Oakland prostitute  and daughter of an OPD dispatcher  who's being called Celeste Guap, which is not her real name. Guap, now 18, alleged that she had sex with at least three Oakland police officers when she was still underage, and multiple other officers from the Richmond PD and the Alameda County Sheriff's Department as well in the ensuing year.

One Oakland officer, Brendan O'Brien, committed suicide in September of last year, allegedly because his wife discovered the affair he'd been having with Guap, which was also known to former chief Whent's wife.

KRON 4 now reports that all four Alameda County deputies who had been implicated have been cleared of wrongdoing, however several Richmond officers remain under investigation, a federal enforcement officer based in Stockton was named, a Livermore police officer may be involved as well, and a total of fourteen Oakland officers are implicated, with two having already resigned and three on administrative leave.

Today, as ABC 7's Laura Anthony reports, BART Police's Deputy Chief Ben Fairow, who had been tapped to serve as Interim Chief in Oakland, has already been "relieved of his duties," and Assistant Chief Paul Figueroa will now take over as Interim Chief. Mayor Schaaf has issued a statement saying, "I made the decision to appoint Ben Fairow, I also own the decision to remove him. I firmly believe that when you make a mistake you need to own it, and act quickly to correct it."

Further implicating several officers, including one nicknamed "Superman" by Guap and identified by the Express as rookie Officer Brian J. Bunton  who apparently did not have sex with Guap  is that Guap alleges that officers tipped her off to prostitution stings in East Oakland, revealing confidential police information that potentially could have put other officers in harm's way.

Commenters on an earlier SFist post about the scandal pointed to the moral fuzziness around the age of consent, and the illegality of sex work, suggesting that this scandal should be far less important than others involving the deaths of unarmed people.

But experts on human trafficking and sex work weighed in with the Express, including Dr. Alexandra Lutnick, author of the book Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: Beyond Victims and Villains, who says, "For people well versed in sex work and minors involved in the sex industry, it's common knowledge that a lot of folks have experienced exploitation and abuse by law enforcement." She characterizes the acts of the officers as abuse of a minor, and assault.

Katherine Koster, who works with the national Sex Workers Outreach Project, takes a slightly more nuanced view. She tells the paper, "It's an injustice to people who say they consented to things to doubt what they're actually telling you. This may have made sense to her and she viewed these police officers as people who were helping her."

But Koster agrees that exchanging sex for information or protection amounts to exploitation, coercion, and soliciting.

It remains to be seen what the broader implications of the scandal will be, but the Express suggests that the immediate result may be that federal authorities and the court-appointed Independent Monitor Robert Warshaw who helped bring this case to light may take charge of the troubled department's hiring and recruitment process.

Previously: Oakland Police Chief Sean Whent Resigns Amidst Officer Sex Scandal

Oakland Police Sex Scandal Blows Up Further With Details From Formerly Underage Prostitute
The wife of 29-year-old Omar Mateen, the man police say is responsible for killing 49 people and wounding another 53 inside a gay nightclub in Orlando, allegedly knew of her husband's plans and tried to talk him out of committing the massacre, as we learned Tuesday amidst a barrage of further news from the investigation. The Chronicle also reports that Noor Zahi Salman was once a resident of the Bay Area  living in the East Bay until 2013.

Salman reportedly grew up on Donald Drive in Rodeo, and returned to the East Bay city after divorcing her first husband. Neighbors of her childhood home told CBS 5 that they never expected her to be involved with something like this.

Everybody is shocked," one resident of the neighborhood, Radinar Chahal, told the channel. "Everybody is shocked that happened.

And yet, according to the Chron, Salman told the FBI that not only had she been with Mateen when he bought ammunition two days before the attack, but that she had driven him to Pulse  the nightclub where the massacre took place  on at least one occasion before the shooting. Sources now allege that Salman knew of the attack beforehand, and tried to convince her husband not to go through with it.

Sedique Mateen, the father of the alleged shooter, denied that his daughter-in-law had anything to do with the mass murder. "I don't think so," he told a reporter when asked. He has also said to CNN that he doesn't think his son was gay, despite witnesses who say he went to Pulse dozens of times, got belligerently drunk on multiple occasions, and contacted other men on a gay hook-up app.

The question is how much [Salman] knows and whether she joined in his purpose, Laurie Levenson, who teaches criminal law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, told the paper. Its not just what she knew. Its what she did to help.

Speaking of whether or not the FBI might seek to charge Salman with some connection to the attack, Levenson furthered that If shes trying to convince him to not attack a place, it shows she does not join in the criminal activity. That would very much work in her favor  but that doesnt mean they wont question her.

Salman so far has not spoken to the press.

Related: As Many As 10,000 Attend Castro Rally, March To City Hall In Honor Of Orlando Shooting Victims
The collateral damage surrounding the Republicans scheduled presidential nomination of the openly racist Donald Trump now includes the once seemingly indestructible Washington reputation of Wisconsin Congressman and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

Ryans denunciation of Trump for his textbook racism, accompanied by Ryans simultaneous endorsement of the racist billionaire for president of the United States, was finally too much for Washingtons political analysts, regardless of ideology.

Those of us who watched Ryans calculated career moves and insincere political posturing from the beginning were always amazed that he got away with it as long as he did.

Even when Fox News contributor Sally Kohn described Ryans vice presidential nomination acceptance speech at the 2012 convention as an apparent attempt to set the world record for the greatest number of blatant lies and misrepresentations slipped into a single political speech, Ryans critical press barely lasted more than a blip.

The Washington media on both the right and left quickly reverted to describing Ryan as a serious, intellectual Republican policy wonk, the Republicans bright, young ideas man.

Never mind that Ryans only real idea was the same stale old Republican attempt to repeal successful government programs that have benefitted Americans ever since Franklin Roosevelts New Deal of the 1930s.

Ryans innocent, boyish appeal served the same purpose for the right-wing media commentariat as it did for the Republican Party.

Ryan was able to look straight into TV cameras, bite his lip and fake absolute sincerity, whether Republicans were trying to dismantle Social Security or take food away from hungry children.

And even some liberal media appreciated Ryans ability to sound much more thoughtful, intelligent and decent than the average right-wing Republican gnome.

Endorsing and Criticizing Trump

So what happened to cause the sudden, widespread collapse of the medias adoration of Ryan? Trump happened, of course. But Ryan also tripped himself up with the same sort of political double talk that worked so well for him in the past.

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Some people actually think Ryan wants to do something to reduce poverty because he says so. Only by looking closely at his latest poverty proposal and his past House budgets would they realize none of Ryans plans do anything to reduce poverty. They simply cut government programs that benefit poor people.

With Trump about to receive the partys nomination, Ryan was looking for an equally clever way to say one thing and do the opposite.

Ryans solution was to make a big show of withholding his support from Trump, publicly criticizing Trump for unacceptable demagoguery and then lying low for a few weeks before endorsing Trump in the interest of party unity.

Both conservative and liberal media analysts immediately condemned Ryan for violating his own alleged principles of decency to support a vicious, unprincipled candidate. Apparently, they actually believed Ryan held some of those sanctimonious principles he espoused in public.

Conservative columnist George Will was withering in his multi-syllabic scorn: The Caligulan malice with which Donald Trump administered Paul Ryans degradation is an object lesson in the price of abject capitulation to power.

Michael Gerson, a conservative former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, wrote that Republicans like Ryan who supported Trump while criticizing his racism were destroying both themselves and their party.

Having tied themselves to Trumps anchor, the protests of GOP leaders are merely the last string of bubbles escaping from their lungs, Gerson wrote.

Ryan justified his endorsement of Trump by claiming, I believe that we have more common ground on the policy issues of the day. He said Republicans had a better chance of passing their right-wing agenda under the unscrupulous Trump, possibly true, but not very admirable.

Ryan showed that his itsy-bitsy legislative ideas took precedence over mere matters of principle, wrote Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen.

Cohens colleague Eugene Robinson added: GOP leaders who choose party unity over principle should know that there is no way back.

Addressing Ryan directly, Robinson said: Your claim to intellectual leadership of the Republican Party is forfeited by your endorsement of a man who mocks the high ideals you espouse.

At a private gathering in Park City, Utah, of 300 skeptical Republican leaders and donors organized by Mitt Romney, who chose Ryan as his vice-presidential running mate in 2012, Ryan faced scathing attacks for endorsing Trump.

Meg Whitman, president and CEO of Hewlett-Packard, who raised millions as finance co-chair of the Romney-Ryan campaign, was incredulous. Whitman asked Ryan behind closed doors how he could possibly endorse one of the worst political demagogues in history, comparing it to endorsing Adolph Hitler or Benito Mussolini.

Described by those present as clearly uncomfortable, Ryan claimed House Republicans pressured him into supporting Trump because many of them represented districts where Trump was popular.

Trump can now add to his notorious boast: I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody without losing the support of itsy-bitsy Paul Ryan.
Image via Fibonaaci Blue, Flickr CC

We are saddened and outraged by the horrific attack on innocent club-goers in Orlando. Our deepest sympathies go to the victims families and friends and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals who were targets of the attack and those who feel threatened by it.

While we dont know the full story of what happened in the early hours of Sunday morning and why it happened, we do know a few things to be true. First, it is simply too easy in America to buy a military-style gun to use in a rampage. While the gunman may have been a lone wolf whose activities didnt rise to the level of a threat before this past weekend, he should not have had an assault-style rifle in his hands. As The Washington Post reported, this type of rifle is typically used by mass murderers because it can fire a lot of ammunition quickly and accurately. The AR-15 was used in Orlandos rampage, as well as mass shootings in Newtown, Conn.; San Bernardino, Calif.; Umpqua Community College in Oregon; and Aurora, Colo, according to the New York Daily News. Assault rifles werent always as readily available as they are now. They were outlawed from 1994-2004, when the ban expired and Congress couldnt find the decency or integrity to oppose the National Rifle Association (NRA) and reinstate it. An attempt to renew the ban in 2013, following the massacre of Sandy Hook school children in Newtown, failed in the face of NRA opposition and scared politicians. No wonder why mass shootings have become heartbreakingly common since the ban expired.

We also know that the Orlando killer targeted Pulse, a popular gay club, and the shooting is a sad reminder that although LGBT individuals have made great strides in claiming and affirming the right to live their lives freely, not everyone is enlightened and welcoming. We as a society need to do a better job of protecting the rights of vulnerable members of minority communities and also oppose the hateful speech and actions of those who promote fear, division and intolerance. Promoting tolerance isnt being politically correct, as the right wing would argue. Its simply being human and seeing the humanity in another individual and its something we need more of in Orlando, Milwaukee and our increasingly violent society.

The LGBT organization Equality Florida has set up a fund to help the victims of the Orlando shooting. To contribute, go to gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund.
Well before Walkers Point was known for new and trendy restaurants, there was Triskeles. Tucked away on the quiet corner of South Third and Maple Streets, yet still firmly in the shadow of the Polish Moon, Triskeles has been building a steady, loyal following among local diners over the past nine years. Chef-owned and operated by JoLinda Klopp and her partner Lynn Winter, Triskeles has a very comfortable, cozy feel to it. Regular customers and newcomers alike are all made to feel welcome immediately. Triskeles dining room consists of a mix of booths and tables, with a beautiful wood-topped bar which fronts an open kitchen.

Triskeles menu is, in fact, pretty fluid and changes frequently, sometimes to reflect the season, other times because Chef Klopp just wants it to. Often, youll find dishes with soft shell crab, Prince Edward Island mussels or other seafood delicacies as featured specials. Yet the core of the menu maintains a balanced trio of choices between seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes.

On a recent visit, it was tough to choose what to order because everything looked so good. You could begin your meal, as we did, with buttermilk fried calamari ($10.50)a beautiful mound of lightly breaded, perfectly fried calamari served with a flavorful, lemony aioli. The fried ginger pork wontons ($9.50) are also quite tasty and are served with a kicky ginger chili sauce. Entrees, like the house-made chicken fennel sausage and gnocchi, topped with a yummy tarragon shallot cream ($16.50), or the insanely delicious cedar planked mesquite salmon, topped with pickled pepper butter and served with crisp fried potatoes ($18), are excellent choices for a filling dinner.

Two items that always seem to be available on Triskeles menu, no matter what the season, are the juicy, half-pound Black Angus burger ($10.50) and the create-your-own baked mac n cheese ($12.95); both are excellent and allow for a fair amount of customization. The mac n cheese can be made with the diners choice of aged cheddar, goat cheese, gorgonzola or a combination. For a few dollars more, you can add chicken or Andouille sausage or have it made with gluten-free pasta.

One of the best things about Triskeles is their amazing special deals. Happy Hour (4-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday) boasts all sorts of ways to save a little money. That wonderful mac n cheese; the half-pound burgerall at half price. On various days, five-dollar appetizers and drink specials are also very wallet-friendly. Dont miss out on Tuesdays all-you-can-eat mussels ($8) because, aside from being a great value, they are among the best in the city. So, if you havent ventured off of the Second Street strip of restaurants and discovered Triskeles, perhaps its time you did.

1801 S. Third St.

414-837-5950

triskelesrestaurant.com

CC, FB, FF, RS

Handicap Access: Yes

$$
Most new-ish breweries feature an eclectic mix of beers that might all sound good and taste better, but arent really organized around a guiding principal (other than sounding good and tasting better, which is commendable.) Door County Brewing Co., though, features a thematic through line: their beers are primarily inspired by Belgian varieties and styles.

Take Sideshow, one of their flagship beers. Its an IPA (India Pale Ale)a traditionally hoppy style. The companys take on the IPA is labeled as Door County Style IPA, but beer nerds will instantly recognize it as a Belgian-style IPA, distinguishing itself from its European and American counterparts via a particularly fruity yeast strain and a bright blend of German and American hops. Showing a versatility thats become a necessity in the burgeoning craft beer market, McMahonalongside his son, Danny, who works as head brewerhas worked and reworked the recipe based off of feedback received from taproom customers and beer festival responses. Sideshow has evolved from its original, more bitter incarnation into an easy drinking beer with wonderful citrus notes sitting at a just-potent-enough 6.3% ABV (for reference, Miller Lite is 4.17%).

That willingness to tweak recipes based on customer feedback shows an engagement with their customer base and community that makes so many small businesses successful. Door County Brewing is currently working on expanding its taproom up north (managed by McMahons other son, Ben) to create a more accommodating facility for residents and tourists alike that will have, according to Door County Brewings distributor-representative Rick Gerondale, a rustic and lived-in feel to match the land. The goal is to have the new taproom open by summer 2017just in time to meet that summers initial rush of tourists.

Door County Brewing also goes out of its way to feature local musicians at its current space and give the spent grains from each batch of beer to local farms for their animals to feed on. For us, community involvement is vital; its important to have a strong, symbiotic relationship, Gerondale said.

The label and name of their first and one of their most popular beers, the European-style porter Polka King, pays homage to a Door County celebrity of sortsa man who worked at a feed mill and drove a tractor all around the area. Its the rare inside joke that also works with outsiders: Polka King has a certain beery ring to it.

Keeping in the Belgian tradition, Door County Brewing offers seasonal saisonsa classic Wallonian style initially brewed for farm workers to have something to sip on after a hard days work. Their aptly named summer saison, Lete, pours a beautiful hazy golden and features both tropical and earthy notes. Its a great summer sipper.

Door County Brewing Companys commitment to Wisconsin-made, Belgian-style beers and nurturing its community has proven that its a front-runner in the ever-competitive beer market.
 Expand Photo ia Apollo Cafe Facebook

With its ancient-modern interior, translating Greek motifs into contemporary design (with special reference to its namesake sun god), Apollo Cafe (1310 E. Brady St.) is a neighborhood favorite as well as a destination for a fast bite of Eastern Mediterranean food.

The veggie plate ($9.29) is a good place to start exploring: A large Greek salad with black olives and chunks of feta in a tangy vinegar and oil dressing comes with a thick slice of spinach pie in flaky filo dough, a pair of grape leaves stuffed with rice and a plate of warm pita bread. The menu also has plenty of meat, including Athenian chicken, beef and tuna souflaki and the Apollo burger.

The counter service is friendly and welcoming. Outdoor seating is available. Beer and wine are served.
A century ago, breakneck speed was defined as 40 mph in a Model T Ford. As horsepower increased, so did the potential for higher speed, and with it came the new thrill of sheer acceleration. Its a physical rush, but if you are the pilot, whether of a jet plane or a motorcar, high speed also demands intense concentration in the moment.

One facet of the quest for speed is on display at the Harley-Davidson Museum in a new exhibition, Drag Racing: Americas Fast Time. The exhibit takes the viewer through the origins and evolution of the sport (and technology) of drag racing through informative wall panels and videos. The heart of the exhibit is the hardwarethe two- and four-wheeled buggies that propel racers forward over flat surfaces. Todays Top Fuel machines can top 320 mph in a quarter-mile run. Appropriately, the exhibit is arrayed inside the Museums Garage, a structure whose name and design alludes to the beginnings of many innovations in automotive history, drag racing included. Coming from Americas vernacular culture of unschooled inventors, the original dragsters rebuilt engines and chassis in their garages. They had no instruction manuals to turn to. They wrote their own book.

According to the exhibits curator, David Kreidler, the sport of drag racing began in 1949, but as with any history there is a prehistory. Already in the 1930s, speed freaks were pushing the limits on dry lake beds in Southern California. The main impetus for drag racing as a sport, however, was concern over street racing, a hazard not only to the drivers but to anyone in their vicinity. Those great-grandparents of Fast and Furious were a subset of something largerthe Kustom Kulture whose adherents spent uncounted hours at night or on weekends in garages rebuilding automobiles and motorcycles to suit themselves. Jalopies were modified by their owners into hotrods. Some were interested in cars that looked good, Kreidler says. Others wanted cars that could go faster. There was a split between custom car fanatics and speed racers, but some people kept a foot on each pedal. Ed Big Daddy Roth, the Rat Fink kingpin of custom cars, also built a drag racing car.

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And there was another fork in the road of high speed: Stock car racing, the Southern-fried NASCAR sport, versus drag racing, California-born and sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). Aside from different histories, there is an important distinction: In drag racing, the competition comes down to acceleration, Kreidler says. Its all about reaching the end of that quarter-mile. As a result, the engines in drag cars underwent more extreme modifications than in stock cars. In drag racing, you have to rebuild your engine after one runthe engine burns out, Kreidler explains. Pumping at 10,000 to 11,000 horsepower in a quarter mile puts it through its paces! The clutches will have fused together. The spark plugs will have melted down. As far back as the 1940s, the first generation of drag racers began experimenting with fuel, mixing nitro methane into their tanks.

For the general public, drag racing usually conjures images of fantastically constructed four-wheel vehicles, but given Harley-Davidsons historic commitment to two wheels, most of the hardware displayed in the exhibit consists of motorcycles, not cars. Drag racers have always considered themselves to be outsiders. Motorcycle drag racers are the outsiders of outsiders. But motorcycles have always been there, Kreidler says. He cites the example of Chet Herbert, part of the original pack of drag racers. His bike, based on a 1947 Harley and dubbed The Beast, is on display in the exhibit. He taught himself how to do it, Kreidler continues. He knew what he needed but the parts didnt exist. He needed a camshaft with a new shapeone where the valves opened real fast. No one made them. Herbert didnt just make a new camshaft; he built the machine that made the camshaft. It was ingenuity in action, Kreidler adds.

Like the music that poured out of California in the 1960s, drag racing did not remain a local phenomenon, but spreadone could say spedacross the country. In drag racing, however, the outlaw status of the participants was ameliorated from the get-go by the authorities. Police agencies across the U.S. fostered drag racing as an alternative to the dangerous game of street racing. Established in the mid-1950s, Great Lakes Dragaway in Union Grove, Wisconsin, is one of the longest-running drag racing venues in the country.

Since its debut almost 70 years ago, drag racing has gotten fasterand saferas technology has developed. With NASAs manned space program as the model, drag racers began wearing fire suits and adding parachutes to their vehicles in the 60s. While the early drag racing subculture was no social utopia, Kreidler says it was more inclusive than many other arenas in American life with women and African Americans playing active roles in the sport. Like the vehicles they drove, drag racers were moving faster than the mainstream.

Drag Racing: Americas Fast Time opens June 17 at the Harley-Davidson Museum Garage, 400 W. Canal St. For more information, visit h-dmuseum.com.
The Lakefront Festival of Art is both mammoth and prestigious. From its inception in 1963 as a humble gathering of a handful of artists, the Lakefront Festival of Art will now draw approximately 30,000 attendees over the course of the June 17-19 weekend. And what began as a mere handful is now 170 juried artists working with paint, pottery, prints, jewelry, fibers, glass, wood, photography, mixed and digital media.

An array of styles and distinct aesthetic conceptions is also evident. Among the prints previewed online, Kreg Yingst contributes an R. Crumb-esque poster dedicated to Delta blues musician Robert Johnson, who is seen selling his soul to the devil at the crossroads for the guitar prowess that continues to inspire contemporary musicians. Grant Silversteins ink-on-paper drawing would not look out of place next to prints from the Italian or German Renaissance of the 16th century were it not for Silversteins contemporary scene scape.

The Lakefront Festival also features a silent auction to benefit the Milwaukee Art Museum, a fiber art fashion show, local bands, food and drink from local restaurants and all manner of activities for the edification and amusement of the kids. More info on the mammoth festival at lfoa.mam.org.

Art Happenings:

Web Site, Blog & Email Essentials with Sue Schaffner

Material Studio + Gallery

207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 600

Just as business professionals are not stereotypically known for aesthetic refinement, artists have a questionable reputation when it comes to self-promotion. Thankfully, a recent partnership between the Milwaukee Artist Resource Network (MARN) and Creative Capital seeks to improve the professional prowess of creative types throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. The first of their monthly webinars is Thursday, June 16 from 6-7:30 p.m. The workshop will cover best practices for websites, blogs, email marketing and communications. Since the webinars are conducted in real time, participants can ask questions of Sue Schaffner, webinar leader, photographer and co-founder of Dyke Action Machine (DAM!), a NYC public art project. Registration is $20.

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Singles Night

Splash Studios

184 N. Broadway

Privacy is important to many artists. It is said that Igor Stravinsky could not compose unless he were utterly certain that no one was listening. But art also facilitates meetingnot to mention wooingpotential partners. This is the idea behind the first ever Singles Night at Splash Studio. On Thursday, June 16, from 7-10 p.m., participants will learn principles of abstract art by replicating a painting by local artist Sarah Opatz. Periodically, participants will rotate stations a la musical chairs to be paired with a new partner. Individuals of diverse ages and sexual preference are welcome and matches who list each others ID numbers will be provided with contact info after the event. Singles Night is $25 per person and includes a free drink, colored beads, an 11x14 canvas, all paint and materials, two hours of artist-led instruction and (who knows?) perhaps a happily-ever-after.
 Expand Photo by Chris Hippensteel

Friendship is difficult to put into words. You can look up a cold unfeeling definition, but pure unbridled friendship is something that needs to be experienced. Upon immediate observation, Assault & Battery strike an intimidating pose. Two members stand over six feet tall, their hair closely shaved. The other three members sport spiky multicolored hair along with traditional punk garb. Once inside their practice space, all thoughts of imposing outward appearance evaporated in a sea of camaraderie and laughter. We all just get along. No problems, said guitarist Patsy Wahlberg. The band exchanged a seemingly endless stream of inside jokes and anecdotes with the fervor of life-long pals.

The band started as a project for guitarist Kevin Herwig and his brother, original bassist Brad Herwig. The initial lineup quickly fizzled out, but they held onto the idea of playing in a street rock/Oi! influenced band. A couple years passed and the idea lied dormant. That crowd that Kevin and Brad were always with were not the same crowd that some of us were with, drummer Johnny Ragonese said. We talked about it for years and never did it. The addition of Ragonese, Wahlberg and vocalist Bobby DeVillers solidified the early lineup. I was like, Listen, I think is going to be terrible but just humor me, DeVillers said. They just never kicked me out.

After recording two singles, Brad Herwig exited the band and was replaced by the bands artist, Richie Murry. We used him for his talents, then we asked him to play bass, Ragonese said, grinning. The culmination of the bands efforts thus far is their debut album, All The Shades of Truth. When asked about the amount of time it took the band to write the album, Ragonese joked, Diamonds take a long time to make, you know what I mean?

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In four years of playing shows, the band has developed a sizeable fan base. We get good turn outs here and its a lot of different people, DeVillers said. Some credit can be given to the band members histories of playing in bands from different factions of the punk scene. There are multiple punk scenes in Milwaukee; people dont always cross paths, Ragonese said. We took a couple of those and mooshed them together. Laughing, Herwig noted, Weve played weird grind shows and people didnt leave.

Even with their increasing popularity, the band kept a realistic outlook on the local scene. It definitely fluctuates, Wahlberg said. Murry cited the now-defunct all-ages venue The Outhouse, which was always packed full of street punk kids. Once that went away, a lot of those kids disappeared. Just as with any community, it takes a group effort to keep the punk scene going, an idea that is not lost on the members of Assault & Battery. Sometimes it sucks, Ragonese said. You dont want to have to do all the work, but if thats really what your life is, what you love, you keep doing it.

Watching the band converse, it was obvious they are doing what they love. The members cracked jokes, sometimes at each others expense, knowing anyone could be the butt of the joke at any time. They dont call us the kings of the good time for nothing, DeVillers said. Murry responded, Who calls us that? Herwig quickly answered, We do, and the room roared with laughter. Just a little light-hearted ribbing between friends. When all five of us are together, not to sound weird or whatever, we click real good, Herwig said. We may not be the greatest musicians, but were great friends and that goes a long way.

Assault & Battery play their record release show at Club Garibaldi on Friday, June 17 at 9 p.m. with Anti-Nowhere League, Population Control, Avenues and The DUIs.
A self-portrait of the artist is hung at the beginning of the exhibition American Epics: Thomas Hart Benton and Hollywood. Benton looms in the center, bare-chested against an azure sky with halo-like clouds. His wife, Rita, sits with elongated torso and limbs in a black bathing suit, holding a small crab. In the distance, other people dally on the shore, maybe making sand castles. For Benton, this beach vacation (at Marthas Vineyard) was no casual sojourn of sun and sand. There is a dramatic spark in this moment, and pivotal for Benton, who said, That little Massachusetts island freed me from its [paintings] illusions and opened my mind to receive the great American world beyond it. And so he didusing his characteristically baroque style to tell compelling stories, though not without edgy critiques.

The monumental painting Hollywood (1937-1938) is an apt example. Benton had previously completed major mural cycles where vignettes are tightly packed together, and his skill in creating dynamic figures allows for ready interpretation of the story. In Hollywood, a single canvas is organized into multiple spaces where the makings of the silver screen happen. An actress stands at the center, decked out like a sea goddess, while the production crew goes about their work. Cameras, lights, actors, even a makeup artist in the background, all do their part. For Benton, what went on behind the scenesthe often unseen activities of lifewere crucial parts of his art.

The exhibition presents a rich array of materials, such as drawings and completed paintings inspired by films and novels such as A Streetcar Named Desire, The Grapes of Wrath and The Kentuckian. The most shocking pieces come in the form of paintings that detail atrocities of World War II, and Bentons direct representations of violence as well as cultural stereotypes.

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This is the first major traveling exhibition of Bentons work in more than 25 years. It is an opportunity to consider Bentons work outside of the usual tropes of Regionalism, and instead to see him as an artist envisioning a cinematic American world.

American Epics: Thomas Hart Benton and Hollywood runs through Sept. 5 at the Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Drive.
Its inevitable that the medias focus will be on the presidential race this summer and fall as presumptive nominees Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, and Donald Trump, a Republican, make their case to the voters.

But just as important are the more local races on the ballot, the elected offices that have an enormous impact on our daily lives. While the president sets the tone for the nation, members of Congress and state lawmakers have the power to approve budgets, determine school policy, affect reproductive rights and regulateor notenvironmental polluters, among other things.

This year, Wisconsinites will vote in the partisan primaries on Tuesday, Aug. 9, and, along with the rest of the country, will cast ballots in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Offices on the ballot range from U.S. Senate and House to state lawmakers and local district attorneys.

Heres a roundup of the candidates on the ballot in Southeastern Wisconsin.

U.S. Senate

Wisconsins U.S. Senate race will be one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country as Democrats have a real chance of taking the majority this fall. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson is seen as one of the most vulnerable senators this year, since roughly a third of Wisconsinites dont seem to know who he is and this falls electorate likely will look nothing like the tea party-heavy crowd that elected him in the November 2010 midterm election. Johnsons major opponent is former Sen. Russ Feingold, the Democrat who lost to Johnson in that tea party-wave election. Feingold faces Scott Harbach of Kenosha in the Democratic primary in August. Phillip Anderson of Fitchburg will appear on the November ballot as a Libertarian.

U.S. Congress

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan has plenty of trouble in Washington as hes trying to both embrace and run away from his partys likely presidential nominee, Donald Trump. But hes also facing challenges at home as hes drawn a competitor, Delavan businessman Paul Nehlen, for the August Republican primary election. Democrats Ryan Solen of Mt. Pleasant and Tom Breu of Janesville will vie in August to be their partys pick. Libertarian Jason Lebeck of Janesville will appear on the November ballot with the Democratic and Republican nominees.

In Milwaukees Congressional District 4, Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore faces an August primary challenge from former lawmaker Gary George. The winner will face Libertarian Andy Craig in November.

Further west, longtime Republican Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. in District 5 will avoid a primary but face Democrat Khary Penebaker, a former small business owner, and Libertarian John Arndt in November.

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District Attorneys

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm is facing attorney Verona Swanigan in the August Democratic primary. No Republicans have jumped into this race.

Chisholm is almost certainly going to be facing an onslaught of negative campaign ads funded by the Wisconsin Club for Growth and other conservative dark-money groups allied with Gov. Scott Walker. These right-wing groups no doubt want to push Chisholm out of office so that he wont be able to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court the Wisconsin Supreme Courts decision shutting down the John Doe investigations and loosening campaign finance laws. If Chisholm loses his election, his appeal is seriously weakened.

Other notable DAs on the ballot include Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne, who is working with Chisholm on the John Doe appeal. Ozanne faces prosecutor Bob Jambois on the Aug. 9 Democratic primary ballot. (The third prosecutor appealing the John Doe decision, Iowa County District Attorney Larry Nelson, is running unopposed.) In Kenosha County, DA Bob Zapf is not running for re-election; the only candidate on the ballot is Democrat Mike Graveley. In Racine County, DA Richard Chiapete is not running for re-election. Democrat Thomas C. Binger will face Republican Tricia Hanson in November. Waukesha County Republican DA Susan Opper is running unopposed.

State Senate

Wisconsins legislative races are also on the ballot, although voters may not have much of a choice when voting. You can thank the GOP-drawn legislative map, now the subject of a federal lawsuit, which is biased toward the Republican Party and offers few truly competitive swing districts throughout the state. In addition, six of the Senate seats on the ballotabout 38%have just one candidate, and more than a third of the Assemblys 99 seats offer unopposed candidates.

Even-numbered Senate districts are on the ballot this fall. In Southeastern Wisconsin, they include:

Senate District 4: Sen. Lena C. Taylor is facing a challenge from her fellow Democrat, state Rep. Mandela Barnes, in the Aug. 9 primary. There is no Republican in the race, so the winner of the primary will take this Senate seat.

Senate District 6: Nikiya Harris-Dodd decided to step down from the Senate, so this is a rare open seat up for grabs. Three Democrats are on the primary ballot in August: Milwaukee Public Schools Board Director Michael Bonds, Lena Taylors former chief of staff Thomas Harris and state Rep. LaTonya Johnson. Since no Republican has jumped in, the winning Democrat will take office in January.

Senate District 8: River Hills Republican Sen. Alberta Darling hasnt drawn a challenger in her bid for her seventh term in the Senate.

Senate District 22: Democratic Sen. Robert Wirch of Kenosha is running unopposed for another four-year term.

Senate District 28: Longtime Republican Sen. Mary Lazich is leaving office. Just one candidate made it on to the ballotstate Rep. Dave Craig.

State Assembly

There are a number of competitive racesmost of them in the partisan primariesfor two-year terms in the state Assembly. But a host of incumbents are running unopposed and will return to the Assembly next January. In our area, Democrats David Bowen in District 10, Fred Kessler in District 12, Evan Goyke in District 18, Jonathan Brostoff in District 19, Peter W. Barca in District 64 and Tod Ohnstad in District 65 drew no opponents. Area Republicans Rob Hutton in District 13, Joe Sanfelippo in District 15, Janel Brandtjen in District 22, Jim Ott in District 23, Dan Knodl in District 24, Thomas Weatherston in District 62, Ken Skowronski in District 82, Michael Kuglitsch in District 84, Scott Allen in District 97, Adam Neylon in District 98 and Cindi Duchow in District 99 are running unopposed.

The competitive races in Greater Milwaukee include:

Assembly District 7: State Rep. Daniel Riemer, a Democrat, faces Libertarian Matthew Bughman and Republican Zachary Marshall in November.

Assembly District 8: State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa once again faces a primary challenge from fellow Democrat Laura Manriquez in August. No Republicans are running.

Assembly District 9: State Rep. Josh Zepnick and attorney Marisabel Cabrera will face off in the Democratic primary in August. Lacking a Republican in the race, the winning Democrat in August will assume office in January.

Assembly District 11: This seat is open because its representative, Mandela Barnes, is running for state Senate. Three Democrats are runningformer state Rep. Jason M. Fields, who was defeated by Barnes in 2012; political organizer Darrol D. Gibson; and Brandon V. Jackson, a former aide to Lena Taylor. (As of this writing, Jacksons ballot status is up in the air.) The winner of the Aug. 9 Democratic primary will take office in January. UPDATE: Jackson was removed from the ballot on June 14.

Assembly District 14: There isnt a primary for this seat, but Republican Rep. Dale Kooyenga will face Democrat Chris Rockwood of Wauwatosa in November.

Assembly District 16: Four Democrats will be on the Aug. 9 ballotincumbent Rep. Leon D. Young, public TV production assistant Brandy Bond, nonprofit professional Stephen Jansen and public defender Edgar Lin. No Republicans are running, so the winner of the Democratic primary will represent the district in the next legislative session.

Assembly District 17: This districts representative, LaTonya Johnson, is running for state Senate. Three Democrats are vying for this open seatKim Burns; Sen. Nikiya Harris Dodds policy director, David Crowley; and Marcus Hart, a minister. The winner in August will take office in January.

Assembly District 20: State Rep. Christine Sinicki and Milwaukee Public Schools teacher Julie Meyer will appear on the August Democratic primary ballot. No Republicans are running, so the winning Democrat will represent the district in the next legislative session.

Assembly District 21: Two Democrats are on the August primary ballot, Frank Disco Gratke and John Redmond. The winner will take on Rep. Jessie Rodriguez, a Republican, in November.

Assembly District 38: In November, Oconomowoc state Rep. Joel Kleefisch, a Republican, will face the winner of the August Democratic primaryeither Chris Gutschenritter or Scott Michalak.

Assembly District 63: Burlington state Rep. Robin J. Vos, the Republican Assembly speaker, will face Democrat Andy Mitchell, a special education teacher, in November.

Assembly District 66: State Rep. Cory Mason, a Democrat, and George Meyers, a Libertarian, will appear on the November ballot.

Assembly District 83: The districts current state representative, Dave Craig, is running for state Senate, so this is an open seat. Four Republicans will appear on the August Republican primary ballot: Jordan Karweik, Karen L. Schuh, Steven A. Whittow and Chuck Wichgers. No Democrats have jumped in, so the winning Republican in August will take office in January.
Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele and Mequon-Thiensville Superintendent Demond Means heard feedback on their Opportunity Schools and Partnership Program (OSPP), their plan to take control of one Milwaukee public school this fall.

Abele and Means, the appointed OSPP commissioner, stressed throughout the evening that they didnt like the Republican-crafted law that created the OSPP, but that they were trying to implement it without harming the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS).

Theyve given the MPS Board of Directors a June 23 deadline to accept or reject their offer to take one public school and turn it into a charter school under the MPS umbrella. If MPS rejects their plan, theyll apparently have to find a charter school operator to take over at least one schoolyet to be selectedby the beginning of the school year.

A Fairy Tale

The crowd at the MICAH-sponsored forum was polite, asking pointed but at times skeptical written questions about the OSPPs structure. After the written comments, sparks flew when audience members took to the microphone and addressed Abele and Means directly.

MPS educational assistant Michelle Mackey confronted Abele and Means about their fairy tale takeover plan that would likely target Milwaukees low-income children of color.

You live in a high rise and you are out in Mequon, Mackey said to Abele and Means. I am down here in the trenches for 22 years. Why are you attacking the children of color?

Mackey said the law requires the OSPP commissioner to fire the teachers in the school he takes over. The law states, If the commissioner transfers a school to the opportunity schools and partnership program, the commissioner may reassign the schools staff members out of the school without regard to seniority in service, shall terminate all employees of the school who are employees of the school district operating under this chapter, and shall require any individual seeking to remain employed at the school to reapply for employment at the school.

Yet Abele and Means proposal would retain teachers in the school theyre taking over.

You are not telling us the truth, Mackey said.

After her microphone was cut off, Mackey continued to talk, using her teachers voice.

We are going to fight you tooth and nail, she said. Why are you lying to us? Its like youre lying to children that Santa Claus is here. No. Youre not Santa Claus. You are a destroyer of inner city youth and black children of color and special needs. You are a destroyer. You are not going to service special needs.

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Abele responded by saying that he didnt craft the OSPP legislation and that hes concerned about impoverished kids. He said as a philanthropist he had helped to raise $100 million for the Boys & Girls Club.

I dont put out Tweets or Facebook posts about that, Abele said. I do it because Im passionate.

Shortly thereafter, as Means told Mackey that they were in fact telling the truth about their plan, Abele left without saying goodbye. The audience was bewildered.

MICAHs Jane Audette told the Shepherd that Abele had informed the organization that hed have to leave early, but organizers didnt tell the audience.

Abeles spokeswoman, Melissa Baldauff, emailed the Shepherd that Abele had planned to leave before the forum ended at 7:30.

He had a pre-scheduled meeting with Jim Clark, the director of Boys and Girls Club of America, to talk about more ways we can help MPS kids, Baldauff wrote. I know the organizers and Demond were aware that he would be leaving early and the reason for that, but unfortunately the message wasnt communicated to the audience.

June 23 Deadline

Abele and Means seem to be waiting for MPS June 23 response before making more details about their proposal public.

From a purely financial point of view, their proposal would penalize the district and not provide enough funding for extra programming needed in the school.

The MPS/OSPP school would receive roughly $8,075 per pupil. Since MPS per pupil revenue limit is $10,261, the district would lose about $2,000 for each student enrolled in the OSPP school.

Abele and Means OSPP school is supposed to provide wraparound social services for its students. But they havent stated what those services would be and who would provide them. Nor have they announced any definitive support from the citys philanthropic community for their school.

Abele said Thursday that state agencies such as the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health Services, the Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Transportation have all offered to provide OSPP with help.

Throughout the MICAH forum, Abele and Means stressed that they didnt like the OSPP law. But Abele, as the leader of a countywhich is an extension of the stateis forced to implement it, they argued. Their proposal does the least damage to MPS and is not what the laws authorsAbele allies state Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and state Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield)intended, they claimed.

They also didnt discuss what their Plan B is if MPS decides not to decline their offer. The law requires them to offer OSPP schools to charter operators, although according to the countys attorney, the law allows Means to draft the request for proposal for a charter operator, respond to it and win it with no outside input, meaning that Means himself could take over an MPS school this summer if the MPS board rejects his offer.
SIOUX CITY | Woodbury County Supervisor Mark Monson, who lost a Democratic primary on June 7, said he is considering a run as either an independent or Republican in the November general election.

"I might. I've gotten a lot of emails and text messages (of support to run)," Monson told the Journal on Tuesday.

In the June 7 primary, Monson lost by 436 votes to Democratic challenger Marty Pottebaum, a former Sioux City councilman who captured 60 percent of the vote. Monson, of Sergeant Bluff, was running for a fourth term in District 3.

Pottebaum said he mounted a challenge to Monson because the Democratic incumbent has often sided with the board's two Republican members, chairman Jeremy Taylor and Matthew Ung, rather than the other two Democrats, Jackie Smith and Larry Clausen, the past two years.

Noting it's only been a week since the primary, Monson said he hasn't given substantial thought to switching his longtime Democratic affiliation and running as either an independent or Republican.

Monson has until Aug. 31 to get on the ballot, in one of two ways, as summarized by the Iowa Secretary of State. He could gather signatures, known formally as nominated-by-petition, to run as an independent.

Because no Republican filed for the District 3 seat in the primary, the Woodbury County Republican Party also would have the option of nominating Monson as the GOP candidate for the general election. That would take place at a special nominating convention. Monson said there has been no outreach by Republicans to fill that spot.

Monson, who was first elected to the county board in 2004, said he will take some time before making a decision.

"I may just end it and ride off into the sunset," he said.
LE MARS, Iowa | Herb and Jean Angell left Lincoln, Nebraska, on Monday morning, and headed for Minneapolis. The fastest route, according to Google Maps, would have the couple taking Interstate 80 to Des Moines, then Interstate 35 to the Twin Cities, covering 429 miles in 6 hours, 24 minutes.

The problem? Google Maps doesn't have a sweet tooth. Jean Angell does.

"We had to go through Le Mars," said Angell, who, like millions of dessert lovers, is a fan of all things Blue Bunny Ice Cream.

The Angells would shave seven miles off their trip by going from Lincoln to Sioux City, then north to Le Mars. However, hopping on this Blue Bunny path would also take 40 minutes longer, a small sacrifice for peach ice cream.

So, at high noon on a steamy Monday, the Angells pulled in to the Ice Cream Capital of the World, the city where Wells' Dairy produces more than 150 million gallons of ice cream per year, site of this week's "coolest" Siouxland celebration, the 30th annual Ice Cream Days festival.

"I had to get Blue Bunny peach ice cream," Jean said, her eyes lighting up as server Charlie Ellis reached low in the freezer to dig out two scoops of peach ice cream, one of more than 40 flavors offered at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor, a downtown museum, gift shop and visitors center that celebrates its fifth birthday today, some 12,000 square feet of company history and incredible taste.

"Blue Bunny's Just Peachy ice cream tastes like they pick Georgia peaches while you stand here and wait," Angell said.

Think the Angells came out of their way for Blue Bunny Ice Cream? Thousands more follow their taste buds to the Plymouth County seat. Just before the Angells stopped by, the staff at Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor dug in for 30 visitors from Japan.

"The Japanese took a lot of pictures," said Gary Susemihl, parlor manager and a Wells' Dairy employee for 15 years.

President Barack Obama visited here and gave his stamp of approval to Blue Bunny's mint chip ice cream. His opponent, Republican Mitt Romney, devoured a chocolate malt. Joe Biden, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Carly Fiorina, Chris Christie, the list goes on and on.

"All sorts of presidential candidates have stopped," Susemihl said. "It is neat to see them."

It's neat to serve them, too. Susemihl, who loves Blue Bunny Cream, also savors seeing his high school staffers grow into adults during their time here. They often return with their children, taking their places at the old-fashioned marble bar which came from M&M Bakery & Cafe in O'Neill, Nebraska, adding a touch of nostalgia to this 1875 building, now a magnet for the downtown business district.

"People always comment on the freshness of our ice cream and the sizes," said Ellis, illustrating the statement by putting two scoops of Birthday Cake ice cream into a waffle cone.

"That's our single scoop," he said.

Jean Angell polished off her peach sundae at the counter, licked her lips and raved about the experience in Le Mars, another satisfied customer. She noted that she knows of what she speaks when it comes to ice cream.

"My grandfather was a master butter-maker in Verdigre, Nebraska," Angell said. "He attended school in Minneapolis to learn butter-making.

"Have you ever gone to a dairy farm and tasted the fresh cream?" she asked. "This is what fresh cream tastes like!"

It was so worth getting off the interstate, taking an alternate route and making tracks to Le Mars, home of Wells Enterprises and its famous Blue Bunny Ice Cream.
CALUMET, Iowa | The Northwest Iowa Beginning Young Livestock Farmer Group will tour and have a drone demonstration of Iowa State University Extension's research farm near Calumet at 2 p.m. on July 7.

The group will also undergo training with the Center for Farm Financial Managements planning and analysis software and have educational sessions with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Specialists Beth Doran, Ryan Breuer and Dave Stender.

We recognized an opportunity to reach young farmers who are faced with the challenge of feeding America and the challenges of operating a farm today, Stender said in a press release from the ISU Extension and Outreach office. "We can help by offering them tools they need to meet this challenge.

The event is free and participants are asked to pre-register by contacting the Plymouth County Extension and Outreach office at 712-546-7835 or janelle@iastate.edu by July 5.

The Young Livestock Farmer Group is sponsored by the ISU Extension and Outreach.
Help! That was the plea from a Sioux City dentist who reached out to me after learning he could no longer help his seven employees with their health insurance costs.

The dentist explained he had been helping his employees with the cost of their health insurance for 20 years. Then he realized the Affordable Care Act  better known as President Obamas health care law, or Obamacare  bars small business owners from reimbursing their employees for the cost of buying health insurance on the individual market, as the dentist had been doing. If they do, they risk fines of $100 per day per employee. Obamacare maintains that such an arrangement isnt good enough.

The problem is, that arrangement worked for the dentist and his employees. It worked for 20 years. Now he worries that his staff wont be able to afford insurance on their own and might earn slightly too much money to qualify for any government subsidy to help them buy insurance. They are caught in the middle, the dentist wrote. Please hurry and do something to help the millions of middle-class small business employees who are caught between a rock and a hard place.

I heard him loud and clear. Others wrote in, too. Family farmers, small business owners and accountants were mystified that Obamacare would force them to stop helping their employees with health insurance, when the goal of the entire health care system overhaul was to get more people insured, not fewer people. Why end an employee benefit that accomplishes the goal?

But Obamacare does exactly that. Employers who offer health reimbursement arrangements to help their employees purchase health insurance are subject to the hefty fines. This arrangement has worked well for small businesses that cant afford group insurance or dont have human resources departments to manage a health care plan. The small business owner reimbursed the employees for the cost of health insurance the employees purchased on their own. The payments received the same tax-favored treatment as other employer-provided health benefits. It all made sense. Then Obamacare pulled the plug on it.

To correct this flaw, and to restore something that worked for employers and employees alike, I introduced the bipartisan Small Business Healthcare Relief Act. The bill simply restores the ability of dentists and other small business owners to use health reimbursement arrangements the way they could before Obamacare. The House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee plans to consider its version of the bill today. The bill is likely to pass out of committee. I plan to introduce the same version in the Senate to increase the chances of passage. The fix is popular with members of Congress who are hearing from their constituents, as I have. And its popular with multiple small business groups.

As Joel White, the president of the Council for Affordable Health Coverage, put it, It makes little sense to penalize employers who are trying to do the right thing for their employees. It is our hope that bipartisanship and common sense will ultimately prevail."

I agree, and I believe the dentist in Sioux City who sought my help and his fellow small business owners across Iowa would, too.

Republican Charles Grassley represents Iowa in the United States Senate.
Hacking has created havoc in prosecuting child pornography cases  both for those caught in a 2015 FBI sting operation as well as for the adult victims of malicious pedophiles.

Evidence obtained by the FBI over the Internet has been ruled inadmissible in recent child pornography cases, and its ability to cast a wide cybernet to catch perpetrators is facing Fourth Amendment search and seizure concerns.

The FBI has refused to disclose how it hacked the computer of Jay Michaud, a Vancouver, Wash., middle school teacher charged with child pornography. Federal prosecutors claim he used the so-called dark web, which enables users to hide their identities, to access child pornography sites.

After a search warrant was issued, a cell phone and two USB drives were found at his home containing child pornography. The FBI alleges Michaud logged 100 hours surfing a hidden online network that couldnt be accessed accidentally.

But the prosecution stalled when the defense attacked the reliability of the FBI hack, and the bureau would not reveal its method, including its Network Investigation Technique code.

Another impediment was Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure allowing judges to authorize searches only within their district.

Federal judges in Massachusetts and Oklahoma cases have ruled FBI warrants invalid after a Virginia judge authorized the bureau for 13 days in early 2015 to seize and operate Playpen, a child pornography site with 150,000 members hidden in the dark web. The FBI deployed malware negating privacy protections and turned up 1,000 real IP addresses resulting in 137 prosecutions now potentially in jeopardy because of Rule 41.

At the request of the Justice Department, the U.S. Supreme Court in April proposed changing Rule 41 to bring it into the digital age by allowing warrants outside the district when the location is concealed through technological means.

Congress has until Dec. 1 to amend or reject the change  or do nothing, which would allow it to take effect. The American Civil Liberties Union and Google criticized the proposal as too broad and a violation of the Fourth Amendments safeguards against government search and seizure.

While we are wary of Fourth Amendment abuses  indiscriminate wiretapping or similar Internet ploys  we dont believe in allowing a refuge for pedophiles or other criminal activities on the dark web by virtue of an outdated technicality.

Still, the overly broad nature of Rule 41 is cause for concern. Congress must perform a balancing act with restrictions against abuse. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, should lead that effort.

On the flip side, malicious pedophiles have infected computers of innocent people who have been prosecuted for child pornography.

In 2009, an Associated Press investigation reported virus-infected computers were being used remotely as a repository for child pornography without the owner knowing it until police knock at your door.

Jeremiah Grossman, founder of White Hat Security Inc., told the Associated Press, Computers are not to be trusted, calling it painfully simple to download something to a computer with the owner unaware  whether a program to display ads or store illegal photos.

Prosecutors are skeptical of the Some Other Dude Did It claim used by attorneys defending suspected pedophiles, but it shouldnt be rejected outright.

Things on the Internet are not always what they seem.

Waterloo-Cedar Falls (Iowa) Courier
Never let em see you sweat. Leadership in any sector  business, government, non-profit, or military  depends on image. Personal presentation.

Steve Rucinski, who blogs at Small Business CEO and Small Business Trends Radio, comments that,

The lesson I learned early in my business career  is business composure. People respect that composure even when circumstances are hectic. My belief is composure is not stilted, never out of control; passion yes, anger no.

Steves insight can be used by the leadership of any enterprise. Especially during emergencies such as Hurricane Katrina.

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin cried during a WWL radio interview. Senator Mary Landrieu shed a tear on ABCs This Week while describing one pitiful crane working on a levee. The Hurricane Aftermath is heart breaking and everyone should have a good cry.

But not the boss. Not in public. As Steve might suggest, lack of composure looks out of control.

A hundred years ago, as a young army lieutenant, one of my first lessons was that, An ounce of appearance was worth a pound of performance.

How petty! I thought. So superficial!

And so true. But appearances matter.

My first superior in the army was a Captain Aykroyd, (unrelated to Dan). A soft-spoken West Pointer who was most patient in providing guidance in the finer points of Leadership. I once was tasked with the delivery of a pink umbrella misplaced by some Colonels wife.

So I was off, with a jaunty step.

No, Capt Aykroyd said. An Officer does not parade about with a pink umbrella.

I instead wrapped the offensive girly accoutrement with manly red, green and yellow firing range flags and completed my mission. Appearances are an authentic part of the Conduct of Leadership.

Business Composure and image are independent of gender: A woman could carry that umbrella. But a woman in uniform could not.

I did not need to be reminded to never cry, never blubber in front of the troops.

In World War II on May 13, 1940, Winston Churchill gave his first speech to the House of Commons as Great Britains Prime Minister. He famously said:

I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering. To reach profitability.

OK, I added that last part.

Churchill, with a bulldog image, spoke of war. Not of business; but it is sometimes hard to tell the difference.

Churchill offered tears; he didnt produce them.

He closed his speech thus,

Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.

Leadership in war, in a hurricane and in life depends on your Business Composure.
Picture this: you head into work early everyday with only one thought in mind. Your goal is specifically to get there before your co-workers who like to set the temperature especially hot or cold. You set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. But throughout the day, that doesnt stop others from heading over to change it to fit their specific preferences.

Theres the guy who always tries to set it five degrees warmer than everyone else likes it. And maybe you even have a few team members who like to turn the office into an arctic tundra. And all the back and forth switching between various temps can really drive up your offices energy costs.

Comfy Helps Employees Compromise on a Comfortable Office Temperature

To combat that problem, theres Comfy. Comfy is an app that allows all employees or building occupants to have a say in the temperature around their cubicle or workspace  without having them just change the thermostat for the entire office to one extreme or another.

Comfy just closed on a $12 million round of venture funding led by Emergence Capital, along with CBRE and Microsoft Ventures. The company plans to use the funding to build its team and develop new features and functionality to better serve clients going forward.

Heres how it works.

Employees download the Comfy app on their phones. Then they can use the app to request warmer or cooler temperatures in the area where they work. The app collects that data and combines it with regular patterns and routine preferences of each user to come up with a temperature plan thats most likely to keep everyone comfortable, happy and productive. Employees can even get an immediate stream of warm or cool air in the area around their workspace right after updating preferences in the app. But the data collected also determines the best way to manage your offices heating and cooling over time.

The app can work with your existing HVAC system to keep costs low. The system works best with variable air volume systems that are managed with direct digital controls. But it can also be compatible with other forced air or fast-responding systems.

The cost of Comfy depends on the square footage of your office space. Youll need to contact the company for a custom quote and also make sure that your HVAC system will work with Comfy. However, the app is free for employees to download once you have the systems in place.

The energy savings are a big part of Comfys draw. The company estimates it can reduce HVAC costs by around 20 percent, likely because it prevents employees with extreme preferences from constantly playing the back-and-forth game with the thermostat.

While Comfy says it can work with most forced air HVAC systems, those savings are likely to be more pronounced when it comes to larger office spaces with lots of employees or separate spaces. If youre working at home by yourself, you already have the ability to set the thermostat to the temperature you like and not have to worry about going back and forth or setting different temperatures in different parts of the office. But if you have separate offices or cubicle areas where different employees work, especially if there are separate vents for each of those areas, thats where youre likely to see the most savings.

Aside from that, the company also claims that by using an app that takes every employees habits and preferences into account, it can also lead to higher employee satisfaction and productivity. It may seem like a small thing, but it does make sense. If employees are actually comfortable in their workspace, rather than having to deal with their co-workers varying temperature preferences throughout the day, they can spend more of their energy and focus on their actual work-related tasks.
International Relations  June 15, 2016  Maurice Glasman

The origins of the European Union (EU) are, in many ways, inspiring and almost miraculous. Co-operation in the iron and steel industries between France and West Germany was built on an economic strategy that gave not only dignity, but some power to workers, through the balance of power in corporate governance which gave a parity to capital and labour. It recognised a mutual interest between nations that had engaged in two abominable wars in the previous forty years. Co-determination in industry underpinned co-operation. Extending this to uphold a non exclusively commodity status for agriculture, was also, in its way, sublime. France and Germany retained human scale agricultural production and slowed the trend toward the elimination of the small holder.

The agricultural and iron and steel treaties that formed the basis of the Common Market were built around bilateral agreements between France and Germany and did more to improve the lives of workers and peasants than the Soviet Union ever could. This is not coincidental. This was a Europe that had been unable to resist Fascism and in the late 1940s and 50s Communism was an imminent reality. Germany itself was divided and the outcome of that contest was yet to be decided. European banking and business elites had a great deal to fear, and to lose, and they shared power with unions and the church in order to do things differently. That was the basis of the social market economy in which Christian and Social Democracy agreed to a decentralised resistance to the domination of finance capital and a centralised state in the new Federal Republic of Germany. Unfortunately, probably from the outset, and certainly by the Rome Treaty of 1957 a Jacobin tradition of unmediated space, emptied of decentralised institutions had asserted itself, particularly through the head of the High Authority, that became the European Commission, Jean Monnet. He asserted that economic exchange and legal uniformity would, over time, produce political unification.

Post-WWII Origins

The tragedy of the European Union is that the post-war German political economy was not the basis of the European Union which was instead based on unfettered movement within a legally homogenous space. This however, only became apparent over time. In its initial form, pig farm and pig steel subsidies underlay the rhetoric of subsidiarity, solidarity and status that formed the basis of the consensus that guided the European Economic Community in its growth and consolidation in its first thirty years. It recognised that in order to resist the domination of the market it was misguided to think that an exclusively national policy could be pursued. Instead it was necessary to have a mutual policy between states that could uphold some degree of stability and security for workers in order to avoid the perils of the great depression, unemployment and the subsequent political polarisation that led, ultimately, to the victory of Fascism.

The Church and Trade Unions played a fundamental role in underwriting that consensus. It was a modest and a mundane politics that had the remarkable distinction of actually working and delivering rising prosperity, social peace and a genuine redistribution of power and wealth. Germany spoke of the economic miracle and France reflected on its three golden decades. Following Fascism and as an alternative to Communist dictatorship and occupation it was a magnificent achievement.

Britain Joins the Common Market

Germany and France extended the invitation to Italy, and the Benelux countries and that made a lot of sense. The signatories of the Treaty of Rome went to the Vatican to receive a blessing from the Pope. This is the high point of Christian Democracy. Peace, prosperity and partnership were the watch words and such was the nature of its growth and logic that Britain, searching for a post-imperial identity, became beguiled, and after much French opposition was invited to join. Under the leadership of Edward Heath [British Prime Minister from 1970 to 1974], who had a genuine feeling for the fate of Europe, Britain did join the Common Market, as it was called for a long time. It did not go well from that time on as the Common Market was not based on a shared political economy.

Britain is an island and was always at an angle to Europe. It avoided the continental territorial struggle for domination and developed a maritime rather than a landed economy as well as distinctive political institutions based upon the balance of powers within the Ancient Constitution.

Charles de Gaulle [President of France from 1958 to 1969], in continuation with Napoleon, thought that all Britain cared about was free trade and the primacy of the City of London. He argued that the British State could never agree with either the administrative directives favoured by the French or the institutional co-operation embodied in the German Social Market.

The difference between territorial rule underpinned by an army and central directives and a maritime economy based on the Navy and free trade was what was at stake in the Napoleonic wars. In boycotting Britain and building a Europe of administrative conformity Napoleon continually blasted Russian, German and Austrian leaders for continuing to trade with Britain, which as a maritime power traded with the world. Napoleons career ended when he voluntarily boarded a Royal Navy ship and was taken to a faraway island where his board and lodging was paid for by the City of London. Despite the conclusive result of that conflict it was not the end of the argument.

The political and economic systems of Britain and France was very significantly different. Britain had dispensed with its peasantry during the last stages of enclosure and the Corn Laws, it had embraced the market at home as well as free trade abroad. On joining the Common Market the very unhappy marriage of Napoleonic directives and free trade objectives began which threatened the European Communitys earlier achievements of agricultural protection and worker participation. The Common Market, or European Economic Community as it then became known, had been built on a substantive conception of an economy based upon agriculture and industry, land and labour. Britain, in contrast, brought a model of a financial and services based economy in which free movement rather than social partnership was the primary goal of political union.

The vision pursued by the founders of the EU was one of economic self interest, (subsidies, protection and investment) and lofty aspiration, (peace, prosperity and justice). It was predicated on a Europe without borders where mutual economic interests would lead to perpetual peace. A soft Kantian Marxism underpinned the European Union from the start, in which economic interests and a legal order would displace local institutions and national politics. This enabled West Germany to pursue a policy of national unification without being nationalist. The new nation would be absorbed within the framework of the European Union which would constrain German domination. The price of its unification was the acceptance of the French and British alternatives as the ideological framework for the EUs identity.

The Single European Act of 1985 marked the move from the Common Market to a single market, from a mutual space to a neutral space governed by an imposed harmonisation. It is the move to political and economic union in which the market lays down the law to politics. When national governments dissent, they are removed, as was the case with the imposition of technocratic government on Italy when it could not meet the Maastricht criteria.

The Fall of Communism and the Triumph of the Market

Before 1973, when the Common Market framework embraced countries of a roughly comparable economic level, whatever the regional disparities, the consequence of a single market not simply in goods but in people was not immediately apparent. Some opted to move around Europe but the divisions of language and practice mitigated against the levels of migration seen in the last decade. The overall preference for a manufacturing oriented economic policy was shared. The arrival of Britain, however, changed that; the arrival of Greece, Spain and Portugal, each conceived as a transition to democracy and free markets from the grip of right wing authoritarianism, strained it. Greece became a constant, corrupt drain on the reciprocal nature of solidarity. The immigration from southern Europe to north became more pronounced, but there was a counter movement in terms of retirement and holiday homes. The EU held its momentum as an institution that served the interests of both business and workers and which upheld peace.

The fall of Communism proved fatal for the development of the European Union.

The tension between its origins as a substantive coalition of interests with an interest in a form of economic organisation that did not treat people and nature exclusively as commodities (the Polanyi model) and its goal of creating a political union with a common fiscal, monetary and economic basis (the Hayek model) reached a turning point with the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was the face of Hayek and not Polanyi that was presented to the East.

The coalition between churches and unions which underpinned the post-war social market in Germany was curiously echoed by the Solidarity Movement in Poland which was itself a Catholic Trade Union and drew upon the traditions of the church and the labour movement to resist communist rule. Its first priority was to join the European Union as a path to prosperity and as a defence against Russia. The price of admission, however, did not include worker representation on boards, regional banks, farm subsidies, an industrial policy or a vocational labour market. In contrast it was based on the shock therapy of Thatcherism. Within the framework of a resurgent market ideology led by the United States and entrenched in the IMF and World Bank, Thatchers Britain rather than Kohls Germany defined the meaning of Europe. Germany exported its goods, but not the good of its economic system.

The European Union had been unable to articulate any of the features of the Social Market Economy as part of its identity which came to be entirely defined by free markets in labour, land and money. Fiscal discipline was the only part of the social market that had any external meaning, it did not include co-determination in industry between labour and capital, a vocational labour market or regional banks. Germany became dominant without ever becoming hegemonic. It did not extend its system to Europe. The permanent crisis had begun because a free market in people, nature and money is a utopian fantasy that demands a politics of resistance. Capital has a tendency to centralise and exert a pressure to turn human beings and nature into commodities. Democracy and politics, and most particularly Labour Politics, is a crucial way that society resists this through establishing a political community, a non-commodity status for people, and some constraints on the domination of the rich and the demands of deregulation.

The lunacy of including countries with a level of wealth far below that of the founder members in an economic space predicated on the free movement of people did not occur to economists who shared an orientation toward thinking in terms of undifferentiated space with no history. A strange way of conceptualising European history and so it was that the mass migration from East to West began and the ability to develop specific strategies for national economic development became illegal under European Law.

Europe became far more Napoleonic than Catholic, far more administrative than institutional, more formal than substantive. In short, the European Union, through its hostility to institutions, tradition and place and its upholding of unmediated movement through space, became hostile to all that was best about European civilisation based upon self-governing cities, universities, churches and an embedded economic system. The EU became a threat to Europe and this has taken a constitutional form in which fiscal orthodoxy subordinates democratic politics.

As it stands the European political economy is rigged toward the interests of capital and its irresistible centralising tendencies. It upholds the commodification of labour through free movement and it is hostile to national industrial policies as an impediment to competition. The havering of this Government in response to the potential disappearance of the British steel industry is consistent with European directives concerning subsidy and open markets. The European Union tries to constrain politics within a framework of fiscal, monetary and political union that is hostile to democracy as a means of resisting the domination of capital and asserting the primacy of politics and the ability to change things.

The Choice Before Labour?

Is this really something that Labour should be supporting?

Labour was different to other European Social Democratic Parties in that it was never aggressively secular and was not divided by confessional fissures. Its founding act, the Dock Strike of 1889 was brokered by the Salvation Army and Cardinal Manning. It was never a revolutionary party that became more peaceable but was, from the start, committed to extending democracy within the inherited constitution. It also had a base of support among the working class that secured British democracy from Fascism and Communism and that was because of its paradoxical nature, as conservative as it was radical, as patriotic as it was nationalist. The greatest failure of New Labour is that it led rather than resisted the definition of the European Union as a neoliberal project and did not develop a constructive alternative to the status quo. It seemed incapable of distinguishing between internationalism and globalisation.

The tension between democracy and markets can no longer be resolved at the level of the EU, which through its inverted definition of subsidiarity in which the larger subsumes the smaller, is hostile to democracy, distinctive local and national institutions.

As the European Union becomes more general, abstract and administrative it will naturally side with capital and directives, viewing politics itself as populist. The reaction is already present within each European State. When I was in Berlin last weekend the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) had surpassed the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD) in the polls. When reason itself becomes desiccated and exclusively rational, severing itself from institutional judgement and historical experience it turns all forms of resistance into demagogy and madness. And yet, democracy is the European way of resisting the outrageous claims of capitalism to own, commodify and de-contextualise human beings, nature and all civic institutions. The tension between democracy and markets can no longer be resolved at the level of the EU, which through its inverted definition of subsidiarity in which the larger subsumes the smaller, is hostile to democracy, distinctive local and national institutions.

A stronger alliance with other European States is one of the reasons that we should consider leaving the European Union. There will be a need for greater military and security co-operation that should be properly international, as should common action on the environment. If the logic of ever closer French and German integration is what they want, then Britain should not stand in its way. All the indications, however, are that it is a huge folly that undermines democracy and strengthens the power of capital in eluding accountability and renouncing reciprocity with labour.

There should, at the very least, be a serious conversation within the Labour Movement as to whether we wish to be part of this.

For many years the European project has served as an alternative to Labour having a serious politics of national transformation, of building the coalitions necessary to constrain capital and strengthen democracy. It was a national political weakness that led to the enthusiastic embrace of the EU and it remains a refuge from domestic political defeat. Labour should be robust in supporting free and democratic trade unions throughout Europe, in championing a balance of interests in corporate governance and strong civic self-government with a deep partnership between universities, cities and firms. The question is whether being part of the EU hinders this. Britain is already outside the Eurozone and the Schengen agreement. It is gratuitous to remain part of a political union that is so hostile to diversity and democracy and so disposed to the consolidation of big capital that it has become a remorseless machine for the liberalisation of trade and the disintegration of society, in which the demand for liquidity has dissolved solidarity. Perhaps it is time to think again. 
There are many fitness goals out there that we desire. Some of us want to be leaner and others wish to put on muscle mass. The thing is, for you to achieve your fitness goals, you need to
Booking photos.

LEONARDTOWN, Md.

Booking photos.

Disclaimer: In the U.S.A., all persons accused of a crime by the State are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. See: http://so.md/presumed-innocence. Additionally, all of the information provided above is solely from the perspective of the respective law enforcement agency and does not provide any direct input from the accused or persons otherwise mentioned. You can find additional information about the case by searching the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Database using the accused's name and date of birth. The database is online at http://so.md/mdcasesearch . Persons named who have been found innocent or not guilty of all charges in the respective case, and/or have had the case ordered expunged by the court can have their name, age, and city redacted by following the process defined at http://so.md/expungeme.

(June 14, 2016)The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office today released the following incident and arrest reports.6/07/2016 ASSAULT: Corporal D. Snyder responded to the St. Mary's County Detention Center for the report of an inmate on inmate assault. The victim alleged the suspect,, threw a cup of tea on the inmate and in the process struck him with the cup. Boyd was charged with Second Degree Assault on DOC Inmate. CASE# 29604-166/08/2016 ASSAULT: Deputy T. Siciliano responded to the 19000 block of Farm Lane in Valley Lee for the report of a domestic assault. The victim alleged the suspect,, closed a laptop on the victim's finger and pushed down on it during an argument. Marshall was arrested and charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE# 29822-166/11/2016 THEFT: Deputy T. Wesner responded to the Walmart in California for the report of a trespassing complaint. The suspect,, was located leaving the check-out line by Deputy Wesner. The deputy searched a large bag being carried by the victim which contained Walmart merchandise. No receipt could be produced for the merchandise and further investigation revealed Maples had an active warrant for her arrest through the state of Virginia. Maples was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. She was charged with Theft less Than $100. CASE# 30352-166/10/2016 POSSESSION: Deputy J. Krum made contact with the suspect,, who had an active arrest warrant for his arrest. During a search of the suspect, Krum located a hypodermic needle containing suspected cocaine. Reintzell was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center. An additional search at the Detention Center revealed suspected Alprazolam, hidden within the inner layers of a tear in a flat billed hat being worn by Reintzell. He was charged with two counts of CDS Possession: Not Marijuana, two counts of CDS PossessionParaphernalia, and Possession of Contraband in a place of Confinement. CASE# 30271-166/11/2016 ASSAULT: Corporal T. Seyfried responded to the 21000 block of Ronald Drive in Lexington Park for a reported domestic assault. The victim alleged the suspect,, pushed the victim down on the asphalt during an argument. The victim displayed injuries consistent with the allegations. Proctor was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE# 30302-166/12/2016 ASSAULT: Deputy G. Knott responded to the 22000 block of Ventura Way in Lexington Park for the report of a domestic assault. The victim advised the suspect,, threw apple juice on the victim and scratched the victim's face during an argument. The victim displayed injuries consistent with the allegations. Jewett was transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with Second Degree Assault. CASE# 30516-166/12/2016 BURGLARY: Deputy C. Ball responded to the 23000 block of West Patuxent Beach Road in California for the report of a suspect kicking in the back door to an unoccupied residence. Deputy Ball made contact with,, who matched the description of the suspect. Additionally, Warren had in his possession a key from the unoccupied residence. Warren was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Mary's County Detention Center and charged with 1st Degree Burglary. CASE# 30599-16THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE: During the overnight hours, unknown suspect(s) stole a victim's vehicle from their residence in the 47000 block of Berne Way in Lexington Park. The vehicle was located abandoned with the keys still in the ignition. The case is being investigated by Deputy L. Johnson. CASE# 30682-16BURGLARY: During the overnight hours of 6/12 into 6/13, unknown suspects forced entry into a shed and stole property in the 20000 block of Spring Hill Road in Lexington Park. The case is being investigated by Deputy D. Holdsworth. CASE# 30687-16BREAKING AND ENTERING TO A MOTOR VEHICLE: During the overnight hours, unknown suspect(s) entered the victim's unsecured vehicle and stole property in the 48000 block of Post Oak Road in St. Inigoes. The case is being investigated by Deputy D. Holdsworth. CASE# 30719-16
LA PLATA, Md. (June 15, 2016)Each year, Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) honors outstanding support services personnel in the areas of instructional assistant, building service worker, secretary, information technology, maintenance, central office support and food service. After nominations are received and judged, a person is selected to represent one of seven categories.



This year, Juin Lai, media instructional assistant at Henry E. Lackey was named the outstanding instructional support employee; Veistella Milstead, assistant building service worker and night manager at Milton M. Somers Middle School was named the outstanding building service employee; secretary to the principal of C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School Susan Pond was named the outstanding secretary; Trevor Gillum, a computer analyst, was named the outstanding information technology employee; carpenter George "Ted" Estevez was named the outstanding maintenance employee; student data accounting specialist George Simms was named the outstanding central office employee; and Jill Sprouse, food service manager at T.C. Martin Elementary School was named the outstanding food service employee. Staff members will be recognized at the June 14 Board of Education meeting.



Instructional assistant



Lai, a media assistant at Henry E. Lackey High School, has a wealth of knowledge about the library media center and her skill and ability exceed the level of proficiency of her position, according to nomination materials. Lai came to Lackey in 2008 and takes initiative on a variety of tasks including brainstorming ideas for student contests and creating innovative library displays.



"Ms. Lai is, without a doubt, one of the most professional and dedicated employees I have had the honor of working with during my 27-year tenure with Charles County Public Schools," Kathy Perriello, principal of Lackey, wrote in a nomination letter.



Margaret Donahue, library media specialist, was new to the school in 2015, but continuously assured that she would be fine because Lai would be by her side. "They were so right," Donahue wrote. "I could not have asked for a more knowledgeable, encouraging, flexible, competent and supportive partner. And she is just thata partner."



Lai also has other roles at the school. "As a mentor, she's second to none," wrote John Lush, an English and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher. "This is a woman who embodies a strong set of values. More importantly, she demonstrates these values to mold the character of many young men and women while making Lackey a better community for our students and staff." Students appreciate Lai's dedication as well. "She is smart, witty, thoughtful and easy to connect with on more than just the base level," wrote Brandon Edge, a student who works with Lai as a library aide. "Although she may not be a teacher, she still teaches and promotes understanding and learning," Edge wrote.



Building service worker



Milstead started working as a temporary building service worker for CCPS in 2008. By the following year she landed at Milton M. Somers Middle School and was named assistant building service manager at the school in 2012.



Milstead is described in nomination information as the "go to" person who is helpful to her staff, whether veterans or newcomers. She is lauded for her organizational skills and attention to detail. "Ms. Milstead gives great attention to detail because in a building this size and age, it is attention to detail which gets the job done right and well each day," wrote Somers Principal Carrie Akins in a nomination letter.



Teachers appreciate Milstead's service. "Ms. Milstead is quick to drop what she is doing to help me and other members of our school," wrote Crystal Holm, a sixth-grade math teacher. "This winter I know she was here  making sure the snow was cleared and that the sidewalks and trailer ramps were cleared and safe for our students and staff," sixth-grade social studies teacher April Thompson wrote. "Ms. Milstead has provided me with unending support that any teacher needs in order to be a successful contributor to the school environment," wrote Lynn M. Hopkins, a sixth-grade language arts teacher at Somers.



Milstead and her team share the workload and work hard. "With her leadership, we all strive for perfection," said Doris Hawkins, building service worker, in a nomination letter.



Secretary



Pond started her career with CCPS in 2006 as a temporary instructional assistant at Matthew Henson Middle School before becoming a Life Skills instructional assistant at Theodore G. Davis Middle School. She was the secretary for the special education department at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building and has been the secretary to the principal of C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School since 2012.



"She works countless hours going above and beyond the call of duty on a daily basis," wrote Barnhart Principal Troy Barnes in a nomination letter. "I could not be effective in my role as principal without Susan. Her leadership, work ethic, attitude, attention to detail and expertise are superior."



Pond sets a good example not only for fellow staff members but students as well. "Her ability to act as a role model for students and other staff is clear," Nicole Hawkins, Barnhart's vice principal wrote in a letter. Letters from students back up Hawkins.



"She is such a nice secretary," wrote fourth-grade student Naomi Kirkpatrick. "One reason she deserves this award is that Ms. Pond stays after hours and helps afterschool activities. I also love her dresses and high heels. She's so fashionable. If someone gets in trouble, Ms. Pond does not yell."



Gabbriel Chapman, president of the school's Parent Teacher Organization, of which Pond is a strong supporter, said Pond "genuinely cares" for the students. "Not only is she super in tune with the parents, she has awesome relationships with the students," Chapman wrote. The treasurer of the PTO, LaChelle Davis, works closely with Pond and sees how she goes "above and beyond the call of duty" for the school and its families. "Susan Pond adds a little touch of magic to all that she does for C. Paul Barnhart," Davis said. "The school would not be able to function properly without her. She is truly the backbone of Barnhart."



Information technology



Hired as a computer intern in 2004, Gillum has risen through the ranks to computer analysist III, the most senior computer analyst position. Currently, he oversees the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center, the Lifelong Learning Center, General Smallwood Middle School and Indian Head Elementary School.



"He works hard to keep the technology in all the buildings he supports functioning to enable the staff to create learning opportunities and support the mission of our school system," Lora Bennett, information technology manager for CCPS, wrote in a nomination letter. "His sensitivity to other viewpoints helps promote an atmosphere of mutual respect. Trevor provides an example for many of the technicians in our department with his open, thoughtful, kind methods of supporting technology in the school system."



B.J. Devkota, director of technology for CCPS, said Gillum's positive attitude can make a hard day at work seem fun and interesting. "He always handled even the most adverse situation in a calm and collective manner," Devkota wrote.



Gillum does get out from behind computers though, as evidenced by Heidi Mickey's letter of support. Mickey, an orchestra teacher for CCPS, said Gillum is well known to students. "I have fond memories of Mr. Gillum helping to DJ school dances and actively lead dance contests among students," she wrote.



Maintenance



Estevez is a carpenter with CCPS who can be counted on to get involved in any project regardless of the scope, said Steve Vance, director of maintenance, in a nomination letter. "Mr. Estevez has completed many projects that have improved our facilities," Vance wrote. "His diligence and attention to detail truly make him a valuable asset to Charles County Public Schools."



Among his projects, Estevez designed and built a temporary wall to support failing trusses at the maintenance building. He researched a design for an expansion joint that was used to modify the existing design of part of Westlake High School's roof and he took charge of the construction of new roofing systems of portable classrooms at several schools.



He also can be counted on to pitch in when help is needed. "Although his major role is in the carpentry trade  he is invaluable as a snow plow operator in the winter months," Laurence Budd, foreman of the operations center group, wrote in a letter. "His diligence and considerable skills in these areas are to be commended.



Administrators are impressed with his "can do" attitude. "Compassionate, dedicated and high energy individuals are the cornerstone of any top quality educational system," Benjamin Stoddert Middle School Principal Kenneth Schroeck wrote. "Mr. George Estevez is one such person. His is an outstanding, giving and compassionate individual with whom I have had the pleasure to work with."



Central office support



Simms has been helping CCPS staff even while a student at La Plata High School. Simms, the pupil data accounting specialist, was a student assistant in La Plata's guidance system, before he eventually landed at his current job. "When I started teaching at La Plata High School in 1981, George Simms was one of the first students that I met," Joan Withers, acting director of secondary education, wrote in a nomination letter. "I quickly learned that teachers and counselors alike relied on George's phenomenal memory and his accurate, detailed work."



Alicia Jones, supervising school counselor for CCPS, said she works closely with Simms to monitor students' graduation requirements, course selections and other data. "Looking back over my 28 years in education, I can honestly say he is the most dependable person I have ever worked with," Jones said in a letter. "Mr. Simms goes above and beyond and he always anticipates data you didn't know you needed to assist you in making an informed decision."



Charmaine Young-Waddy, a student services specialist, agrees with Jones. "He has a unique ability to anticipate problems before they occur so that major issues can be averted," she wrote. "He does so much more for so many people during the course of the day that it's difficult to list everything."



Food service



Starting as a food service worker in 2003 at T.C. Martin Elementary School, Sprouse was named food service manager at the school in 2008. Willing to meet with parents and families at open houses and meet-and-greets, Sprouse is always available to answer questions about the school's breakfast and lunch programs, said Martin Principal Greg Miller in a nomination letter. "Jill is a people person; her infectious smile and laugh always make students feel comfortable, even when they are down," Miller wrote.



Sprouse is a welcoming face for students. "Jill not only knows every child's name and face in the building, she can remember things they like to eat," said Beth Ullmann, a music teacher at Martin.



Sprouse helps ease parents' worries. She sends home notes letting parents know when their child's lunch account is nearing its limit to allow moms and dads time to add money to the account before it zeros out. Students appreciate Sprouse too. "She has been one of my best friends since the day I could remember," fourth grader Mandy Wang wrote in a nomination letter. "She never acted gloomy or somber. She doesn't teach you things or help you learn skills, but she is there to make your day, which is just as important."



The awards were established to recognize support personnel who exemplify excellence in their jobs. Classified personnel are essential to the effective and efficient operations of the school system.
Work is underway on the $115.4 million project to build a new interchange to replace the current signalized intersection along MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) at Kerby Hill and Livingston roads. Work includes constructing an overpass to carry Kerby Hill Road and Livingston Road traffic over MD 210 to improve traffic flow along this busy corridor in Prince George's County. (Google Maps)

ANNAPOLIS

(June 15, 2016)Governor Larry Hogan today announced work is underway on the $115.4 million project to build a new interchange to replace the current signalized intersection along MD 210 (Indian Head Highway) at Kerby Hill and Livingston roads. Work includes constructing an overpass to carry Kerby Hill Road and Livingston Road traffic over MD 210 to improve traffic flow along this busy corridor in Prince George's County. This investment will improve safety and reduce traffic congestion for thousands of drivers along this corridor."Everyone in the state relies on Maryland's roads, and our administration remains committed to the future improvement of Maryland transportation," said Governor Hogan. "Our investment in a number of critical projects all across Prince George's County, including $115 million for MD 210, will help citizens across our state go about their daily lives in a faster, more efficient, and safer manner."As part of the Hogan administration's commitment to eliminate every state-owned, structurally deficient bridge in Maryland, the Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration (SHA) will have advertised 38 of the original 69 structurally deficient bridges by the end of this year. This summer, SHA will start construction on four structurally deficient bridges along the Capital Beltway in Prince George's County alone.The MD 210 Interchange project is one of several that will be under construction this year in Prince George's County alone. MD 210 currently is three lanes in each direction with a narrow median. During the morning and evening rush hours, drivers experience delays at two traffic signals between I-495 (The Capital Beltway) and Kerby Hill/Livingston roads. Traffic on MD 210 is expected to increase from 82,700 vehicles per day to 126,350 by 2035.Once completed, the interchange will control merging traffic onto northbound and southbound MD 210. SHA will remove two traffic signals, one at MD 210 at Wilson Bridge Drive and the other at MD 210 at Kerby Hill/Livingston roads. New traffic signals will be installed on the overpass. Other enhancements to improve safety and traffic management include aligning Kerby Hill Road, adding new outside shoulders and building a new service road parallel to southbound MD 210 that will serve area residents and transit. SHA also will remove the median crossover south of Alcoa Drive and build a right-in/right-out turn movement connecting to the northbound MD 210 service road.SHA is scheduled to complete the project by fall 2018, providing drivers with safer, more efficient travel throughout the MD 210 corridor.
The Walt Disney Company announced Tuesday it would give $1 million to the OneOrlando Fund. The monies would be used to assist those affected by the massacre in Orlando.

We are heartbroken by this tragedy and hope our commitment will help those in the community affected by this senseless act, said Bob Chapek, chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in a prepared statement. With 74,000 Cast Members who call Orlando home, we mourn the loss of the victims and offer our condolences to their families, friends and loved ones.

In addition Disney is providing complimentary accommodations for the families and friends of the victims.

The OneOrlando Fund was established by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer in response to the Pulse shooting that claimed the lives of 49 people on Sunday, June 12.

As for Tuesday evening the fund has raised $2.5 million.

The funds will be given to the Central Florida Foundation, who will oversee the distribution.

Visit OneOrlando.org to donate to the fund or for more information. Donations to help the victims and their families are also being accepted through an Equality Florida GoFundMe page and an The Center GoFundMe page.
The 49 victims of the Orlando massacre were on the hearts and minds of the large crowd gathered outside Pembroke Pines City Hall on Tuesday night. By 8 p.m., approximately 300 people showed up to pay their respects.

The crowd was representative of the South Florida community as a whole  there were gay, straight, old, young, black, white, Latino all there for one purpose  to show their support for those who were tragically gunned down.

The city added the rainbow flag in front of city hall, it flew at half-staff.

Still in shock, those gathered cried, sang and prayed for those lost.

It could have been any of us, said Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortis. They were just 49 poor souls and one coward who had no moral compass.

Local activist Michael Rajner who is also on the Broward County Human Rights Board has spent the week working to get visas for the parents of victims who live in Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

I havent cried yet, he told the crowd. There is too much work to do to reunite the families of the victims.

One speaker urged people not to talk about the shooter. Dont mention his name. Dont write about him. But some of those in attendance say it is difficult not to think about the motivation behind Sundays shooting. I thought the LGBT community was in a better place, said Luis from Miami Lakes. He and his partner came to show their support and were impressed by the turnout. I think its amazing how were all coming together, he said.

Juan Guerrero, 22, is one of the victims of the massacre. His cousin attended the Pembroke Pines vigil, surrounded by her friends.

While those killed and injured were remembered, there was also talk about how to stop this kind of senseless tragedy from ever happening again.

Its up to us as citizens of this country to say enough, said Pembroke Pines Vice Mayor Carl Shechter. We need to stop the sale of automatic weapons! he shouted to thunderous applause.

Pembroke Pines Chief of Police Dan Giustino reminded the crown that the Orlando massacre was the worst mass shooting in the U.S. Still, he urged the crowd to remain strong.

Creating fear is the terrorists motivation, he explained. We must not allow these actions to change our thinking. The key is to remain vigilant.

After the speakers wrapped up, the names of the 49 victims were read as the crowd lit candles of hope, solidarity and love.

There have been over 500 vigils since Sunday, Rajner said. Its humbling to see how this violence has not divided us, but united us.

Another speaker summed it up this way, They cant destroy us. We are strong. Whatever they do, we are going to be stronger.



For more photos check out our Facebook gallery here.
With miniature Pride flags and a sign that read Love Always Wins adorning the dais, commissioners honored the victims of the Sunday morning massacre that took place at Pulse, an LGBT nightclub in Orlando.

Commissioners each took turns reading the names of the 49 victims who were murdered by the anti-gay extremist who had pledged his allegiance to ISIS before himself being killed by police.

We are all one family, said Commissioner Julie Carson. From Stonewall to Laramie to now Orlando, its not all tragedies, said Commissioner Justin Flippen, referring to the recent court and legal battles the LGBT community has won.

We are no longer a soft target. We are a hard target. This can happen anywhere, said Mayor Gary Resnick. He added that he went to his first gay bar in his 20s, when he hadnt revealed his sexual orientation to family and friends yet, and had a lot of fears about being outed and not fitting in. But being murdered with AR-15 wasnt one of them. That never dawned on me. I dont know why anyone needs to buy an assault rifle.

Commissioner Scott Newton said he couldnt understand how someone could hate another group of people so much. Its so much easier to love than to hate.

One audience member criticized the use of the word love and said fundamentalist Christians are a much bigger threat to the LGBT community than fundamentalist Muslims. I want justice first. You can talk about love. Love takes character. Its easier to hate.

Commissioner Tom Green said hes seen the progress the LGBT community has made in Broward County and all the wide amount of acceptance that has been gained. But, obviously, not everyone accepts LGBT individuals for who they are yet. He added that hes not ready to talk about love. I hope the love part will come later. We will recover from this but we will never forget.

As part of never forgetting, Green wants the city to look into the possibility of renaming Dixie Highway, south of Five Points, after Harvey Milk, the first openly-gay elected official in California. Milk, a San Francisco city supervisor, and Mayor George Moscone were murdered in 1978 by Dan White, a former city supervisor.

Green said he wants Dixie chosen because of the Confederate-related name and so younger LGBT individuals see Milks name and ask about who he was. I know this is going to upset a lot of people. Anything different always does, Green said.

Flippen suggested that other history-making LGBT officials could be candidates.

Carson said the commission looked at renaming a street several years ago and found that it was very costly financially. Green responded that the city had named part of Northeast 5 Avenue Diane Cline Way after the late Diane Cline, a former city council member. Carson replied that it was only an honorary renaming.

But names are not enough, said Flippen. He suggested a policy statement from the commission to the state legislature regarding stricter gun laws. Its not enough to read names.

But names are about the only thing the commission can offer.

Resnick pointed to the state statute that prevents local governments from regulating the manufacture, sale, or distribution of firearms. Elected officials who violate the statute can be fined up to $5,000 and be removed from office by the governor, and public funds cannot be used to defend them in court. Any local laws passed can also be nullified by the legislature.

The gun lobby in Florida has really screwed us, Resnick said.

For more photos check out our Facebook gallery here.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi -- long a thorn in the side of the gay and lesbian community  was grilled by CNN journalist Anderson Cooper on Tuesday.



In a televised interview from Orlando, Cooper asked Bondi if she truly thought she was a champion of the gay community. Bondi dodged the question saying she put her hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Florida Constitution.



In the five minute interview, Cooper noted Bondis office argued against same-sex marriage in court, going as far as claiming it would impose significant public harm. The CNN newsman twice asked Bondi if there was a sick irony in her attempt to cast herself as an ally of the LGBT community in the wake of the worst mass shooting in history. A massacre that took place at a gay nightclub.



Im not championing anything other than Floridians, thats what this is about, Bondi said. Were about human beings.



Cooper brought up Bondis costly court fight against same-sex marriage and her failure to recognize gay pride month during her tenure as Floridas attorney general.

Bondis office has agreed to pay the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida $213,000 in legal fees from the same-sex marriage case. Overall, the court battle cost Florida taxpayers more than $500,000 in legal fees.



On Wednesday, Bondi said CNN unfairly edited the interview and Cooper misled her into thinking she would be talking about donation scams related to the Pulse Nightclub shooting.

The interview, Bondi told New Yorks WOR 710 radio, only served to encourage anger and hate.

For the full video watch below:
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton clinched the Democratic Partys U.S. Presidential nomination with last weeks victories in California and New Jersey. Clinton, 68, becomes the first female to win the nomination of one of Americas two major political parties.

The celebration was short-lived due to the tragic shooting in Orlando. Clinton, in a speech in Cleveland, Ohio on Monday, condemned gun violence and assured LGBT Americans they would be protected.

You have millions of allies that will always have your back and I am one of them, Clinton said to rousing applause.

Meanwhile, in New Hampshire, presumptive Republican Party nominee Donald J. Trump also issued a condemnation of the Orlando massacre. Trump said the Pulse Nightclub attack was an assault on the ability of free people to live their lives, love who they want and express their identity.

Prior to Sunday mornings tragedy, Clinton and Trump had exchanged aggressive tweets with Trump continuing to label Clinton crooked and referring to U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) as Pocahontas.

Clinton responded to Trumps latest social media barrage with three simple words: Delete Your Account.

As both parties prepare for their national conventions, speculation shifts to running mates, primary elections and down ballot tickets. The Republican National Convention is July 18-21 in Cleveland followed by the Democratic National Convention, July 25-28 in Philadelphia.

As for the threat of terrorism lingering over Florida, Clinton said the Orlando terrorist may be dead, but the virus that poisoned his mind remains very much alive. And we must attack it with clear eyes, steady hands, unwavering determination and pride in our country and our values.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Monday that LGBT people should support his proposal to ban Muslims from the U.S. because Islamic groups promote violence against gays.

Ask yourself, who is really the friend of women and the LGBT community, said Trump, speaking on the campus of Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire June 13. He said Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton wants to allow radical Islamic terrorists to pour into our countrythey enslave women, and murder gays. I dont want them in our country.

America must do more  much more  to protect its citizens, especially people who are potential victims of crimes based on their backgrounds or sexual orientations, Trump said.

In what is being called the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, American citizen Omar Mateen, 29, a security guard from Fort Pierce, Florida, entered an LGBT nightclub in Orlando at 2 a.m. Sunday and shot 102 people, killing 49 before police killed him. While Mateen called 911 during the attack and declared his allegiance with the Islamic State (aka ISIS or ISIL), President Obama said Monday there was not yet any clear evidence that the shooter was directed externally by any terrorist organization.

It does appear that, at the last minute, he announced allegiance to ISIL, said the president, but there is no evidence so far that he was in fact directedThere is also no direct evidence that he was part of a larger plot.

Both Trump and Clinton delivered speeches Monday to address the implications of the Orlando attack.

Gregory Angelo, president of the national Log Cabin Republicans group, said Trumps speech was historic because it marked the first time in history a Republican presidential nominee made a direct and explicit appeal to the LGBT community.

Only time will tell if that translates to actual votes, said Angelo, but, in key states that will be decided by slim margins, a few extra votes from LGBT Americans could make all the difference.

Log Cabin Republicans has not yet endorsed a presidential candidate, and Angelo underscored that his group opposes an outright ban on all Muslims simply because of their religion.

While Trumps speech argued that the attack on the Orlando nightclub Pulse was the result of a dysfunctional immigration system, Clinton blamed it on a failure to restrict the availability of assault weapons.

The gunman was able to shoot a large number of patrons at the Pulse by using an AR-15 assault rifle, a rapid-fire weapon developed for use by the military that can discharge up to 30 rounds per magazine clip. Federal law banned the sale of such weapons to civilians until 2004.

Noting that the shooter had been questioned by the FBI as a suspected terrorist, Clinton said, If the FBI is watching you for suspected terrorist links, you shouldnt be able to just go buy a gun with no questions asked. And you shouldnt be able to exploit loopholes and evade criminal background checks by buying online or at a gun show.

The terrorist in Orlando, said Clinton, in a speech Monday, targeted LGBT Americans out of hatred and bigotry. And an attack on any American is an attack on all Americans. I want to say this to all the LGBT people grieving today in Florida and across our country: you have millions of allies who will always have your back. And I am one of them.

Trump said that Clinton can never claim to be a friend of the gay community as long as she continues to support immigration policies that bring Islamic extremists to our country who suppress women, gays and anyone who doesnt share their views.

She cant have it both ways, said Trump. She cant claim to be supportive of these communities while trying to increase the number of people coming in who want to oppress them.Why does Hillary Clinton want to bring people herein vast numberswho reject our values? Immigration is a privilege, and we should not let anyone into this country who doesnt support our communities  all of our communities.

Clinton has expressed support for allowing 65,000 Syrian refugees into the U.S. in an effort to help with alleviate the worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II. President Obama has called for the U.S. to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees. Trump has likened Syrian refugees to a Trojan Horse and said the U.S. should not accept any.

The Orlando attack and the two major party candidates starkly different responses to that attack promise to ensure that immigration and gun control will be prominent issues in the presidential contest between Clinton and Trump. The attack will also likely focus continued attention to religious-based hostilities toward LGBT people.

Noting that the gunman appeared to have been inspired by various extremist information that was disseminated over the internet, President Obama said Monday that organizations like ISIL target [] gays and lesbians because they believe that they do not abide towards their attitudes towards sexuality."

"Clearly there are connections between the attitudes of an organization like this and their attitudes towards tolerance and pluralism and the belief that all people are created equally," said Obama, in remarks to a White House pool reporter in the Oval Office. "There are connections between this vicious, bankrupt ideology and general attitudes towards gays and lesbians and, unfortunately, that's something that the LGBT community is subject to not just by ISIL but by a lot of groups."

Numerous media outlets quoted Mateens father, Seddique Mateen, as suggesting his son had expressed hostility toward homosexuality and had been angered recently by seeing two men kiss. CBS News reported that Seddique Mateen had himself posted a video that showed him saying, God will punish those involved in homosexuality. But Seddique Mateen told CBS his son did not have the right to harm anybody.

A friend of the gunman told the Washington Post that Mateen was quite religious but never mentioned any allegiance to the Islamic State. The shooters former wife told reporters Mateen was not a devout Muslim. But the FBI investigated Mateens connection to a man at his mosque in Fort Pierce, Florida, who executed a suicide bombing in Syria.

Media also reported patrons of the Pulse as saying they had seen Mateen at the LGBT nightclub on several occasions and some believed he was interested in meeting men.

Mateens parents immigrated from Afghanistan, but Mateen himself was an American citizen, born in New York and attended high school and a small state college in Florida. He had a state license to carry a concealed weapon, worked as a security guard, and had extensive training in the use of firearms.

The White House announced Monday night that President Obama will travel to Orlando Thursday to pay his respects to the families of the victims and to stand in solidarity with the community as they embark on their recovery.
Fort Lauderdale residents Jason King and Dean Trantalis attended a LGBT Pride reception at the White House last week.

King, the legislative affairs manager for the AIDS Healthcare Foundations Southern Bureau, gave an interview to SFGN about his experience.

It was a wonderful, King said. They really put on an elegant party.

King and Trantalis were invited by U.S. Congressman Alcee Hastings. President Barack Obama attended the reception and encouraged the 300 attendees to keep up the fight for equality.

"He (Obama) reminded us that our rights could be taken away and that we must maintain the fight for equality, awareness and education, King said.

The Florida Democratic Party is holding a leadership conference this weekend in Hollywood and King said he plans to participate. Earlier this year, he campaigned to be a delegate to the DNC Convention in Philadelphia. Pledging his support to Hillary Clinton, King came up short in his delegate campaign in Floridas congressional district 22.

It was a humbling experience, said the 29-year-old lobbyist. It taught me to get serious about what value I can bring to the community and if there is an appetite for younger people to get involved in politics.

King said he intends to apply to be a committeeman in his home precinct. He also praised Trantalis response to the Orlando massacre, noting his friend was the only Fort Lauderdale Commissioner to attend Sunday evenings vigil at Equality Park.
If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door. - Harvey Milk

You thought the hate was far away.

You thought when I wrote about ISIS fighters throwing gay men off rooftops in Syria it did not affect you.

Think again. Hate has always been around the corner.

A culture of hate against the LGBT community has been cultivated for centuries, advanced by preachers and politicians who think you have always been less than a whole person.

You were deviant and suffered from mental disorders. You were not allowed to teach in the schools, serve in the military, or access the same benefits as straight couples. Marry? Forget about it, you are lucky they gave you domestic partnerships and civil unions.

IRS benefits? No chance, no way. You have always been second-class citizens. Heck, you have never been equal as humans. Your acts have been perverted, your sex queer, and your lifestyles aberrant.

Oh, all that, you think, is a relic of the past. No its not, not when there are religions still teaching that gays are subhuman. No, its not, not when there are countries like Bangladesh still lynching us . No it's not, not when we can't give blood, but our blood still flows.

America is better than it used to be, but we are not so perfect either. We ostracized AIDS patients like Ryan White and killed Matthew Shepard. Getting bullied and battered in schools today is mild compared to the electro shock therapy we got yesteryear. And gay bar patrons have been rousted and raided for decades, even right here in South Florida.

We are celebrating Stonewall with a parade this weekend. How quaint. Guess what? Stonewall was no parade. Stonewall was a riot against the police, launched by drag queens and gay bar patrons who simply had had enough. No more abuse, they said; no more beatings. They fought back.

Today, it falls upon us to fight back again. We need advocacy, not apathy. We can't just make a world safe for ourselves. We have to insure that it is safer tomorrow. First and foremost, we have to be intolerant of intolerance. We can't look the other way when we are degraded or demeaned. We have to be accepted unconditionally, not tolerated pleasantly.

Nightclubs are our private palaces, secret sanctuaries, our homes away from home, our rights of passage into our own ecosystem. They are where we first came out, met our partners, lost our virginity. Yes, they were indulgent, but they are the places where we could express ourselves, be ourselves, and enjoy ourselves dancing the night away and partying into the daytime. Whether we are doctors or deadbeats today, we all did it once. Some of you who were on that cruise just a few weeks ago are still doing it today.

We lived for years as victims of violence, but recently, we have been celebrating with court victories and legislative achievements. The shootings in Orlando are a vicious reminder that the path is not yet so clear. The road still needs to be paved, the street widened. Together, we will get there. The Orlando 49 will not have died in vain, and like Harvey Milk, they will not be forgotten. But like Harvey Milk, history will record them as part of our fallen.

But we are a community, and we will memorialize and remember them. We have a niche that we have carved, a spirit that is unique. We have survived abuses before, from beatings to bombings, from bullying to burnings, and we will rise above them today. We will not be silenced and we will not go quiet into the night.

Once we said 'Act Up.' Once we said 'we are here, we are queer, we are everywhere'. Once we said 'Loud and Proud.' Today we say 'Orlando Strong.' We have always fought back, and we always will. Because just like your parents taught you, where there is a will, there is a way.

Mark it down that Orlando will not doom us. It will unite us. We will walk again, not in sin, but under the sun, side by side, proud of who we are, and honored by what we have achieved. Justice and righteousness is in our corner, and history is on our side.

Hope, not hate, will prevail. It always has; it always will.
Expedition 47 robotic arm operator astronaut Tim Kopra of NASA commanded the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm to release the Cygnus spacecraft at 9:30 a.m. EDT June 14, 2016 while the space station was flying above Paraguay. Earlier, ground controllers detached Cygnus from the station and maneuvered it into place for its departure. After Cygnus is a safe distance away, ground controllers at Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio will initiate the sequence for Saffire-1, and controllers at Orbital ATK in Dulles, Virginia, will activate the experiment. Cygnus will continue to orbit Earth for up to eight days as it transmits hi-resolution imagery and data from the Saffire experiment. Credit: NASA. NASA

Expedition 47 robotic arm operator Tim Kopra of NASA commanded the International Space Stations Canadarm2 robotic arm to release the Cygnus spacecraft at 9:30 a.m. EDT while the space station was flying above Paraguay. Earlier, ground controllers detached Cygnus from the station and maneuvered it into place for its departure.

After Cygnus is a safe distance away, ground controllers at Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio will initiate the sequence for Saffire-1, and controllers at Orbital ATK in Dulles, Virginia, will activate the experiment. Cygnus will continue to orbit Earth for up to eight days as it transmits hi-resolution imagery and data from the Saffire experiment. Following complete data transmission, the Cygnus spacecraft will complete its destructive entry into the Earths atmosphere on June 22. NASA TV will not provide a live broadcast of the Saffire experiment or the Cygnus deorbit burn and re-entry, but imagery from Saffire will be posted on NASA.gov as it becomes available.

The Cygnus resupply craft launched March 22 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, for the companys fifth NASA-contracted commercial resupply mission.

On-Orbit Status Report

Cygnus Departure: Cygnus unberthed nominally from the ISS at 6:45AM CDT with release at 8:35AM CDT. Post departure science objectives including Saffire, NanoRacks CubeSat deployments, and ReEntry Breakup Recorder  Wireless (REBR-W) are scheduled to occur prior to re-entry on June 22.

 Saffire-I intentionally lights a large-scale fire inside the empty Cygnus resupply vehicle after it leaves the ISS and before it re-enters Earths atmosphere. Because fire is extremely dangerous on a spacecraft, most previous controlled flame experiments have been limited to small sizes. Subsequent experiment data downloads can take up to eight days to complete.

 The NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer- External (NRCSD-E) is a ground loaded launch case designed to be mounted externally and deploy cubesats from a free-flying spacecraft.

 REBR-W is a cost-effective system that rides a re-entering space vehicle, records data during the re-entry and breakup of the vehicle, and returns the data for analysis. Understanding how vehicles behave during atmospheric reentry gives future spacecraft developers unique information that can enhance design efficiencies and safety.

Spacecraft Fire Experiment-I (Saffire-I) Operations: Following the unberth of OA-6 from the International Space Station (ISS), Saffire-I began the first of two phases by turning on the power to the experiment avionics, initiating the experiment run, and recording and compressing the resulting data. The second phase is composed of data downloads which could take up to eight days to complete.

Microbiome: The crew collected several samples from various physical surfaces before stowing the samples in MELFI (Minus Eighty-degree Freezer for ISS). Microbiome investigates the impact of space travel on both the human immune system and an individuals microbiome (the collection of microbes that live in and on the human body at any given time).

Manufacturing Device Print Removal: The crew removed and stowed a recently printed 3D object and cleaned the extruder print nozzle. The Manufacturing Device hardware consists of a single EXPRESS locker equivalent which houses a 3D printer and associated hardware.

Microgravity Experiment Research Locker Incubator (MERLIN) Desiccant Kit Removal: Eight desiccant packs were removed and discarded from inside MERLIN and the MERLIN door was partially opened for a 24-hour dryout period. The MERLIN provides a single middeck locker-sized Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station (EXPRESS) Rack compatible freezer/refrigerator or incubator that can be used for a variety of experiments.

Dose Tracker: The crew completed entries for medication tracking today. This investigation documents the medication usage of crew members before and during their missions by capturing data regarding medication use during spaceflight, including side effect qualities, frequencies and severities. The data is expected to either support or counter anecdotal evidence of medication ineffectiveness during flight and unusual side effects experienced during flight. It is also expected that specific, near-real-time questioning about symptom relief and side effects will provide the data required to establish whether spaceflight-associated alterations in pharmacokinetics (PK) or pharmacodynamics (PD) is occurring during missions.

External robotics operations: Robotics ground controllers unberthed Cygnus from the Node 1 Nadir (N1N) Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) and manuevered it to the release position using the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). The ISS crew then released the vehicle and backed the SSRMS away. Following Cygnus departure, ground controllers maneuvered the SSRMS to a park position. They then de-configured the MSS from Hot Backup and supported a video survey of the N1N CBM.

Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) High Conductivity Fault  This morning UPA faulted due to high conductivity. This is the first process cycle since UPA was shut down due to erratic conductivity of the urine distillate. UPA was recovered and is currently processing.

Node 3 Forward Hatch Handle Guide Install  Today the crew completed the Node 3 Forward hatch handle guide installation.

Oxygen Generator System (OGS) Recirculation Loop Sample and Activated Carbon/Ion Exchange (ACTEX) Cartridge Replacement  The crew performed sample draws of the OGS recirculation loop for return and replaced the ACTEX cartridge. The loop sample is performed every 180 days, and the ACTEX cartridge is changed out every 730 days.

Todays Planned Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Samples Collection in CQs using CDM

HRF. Samples Collection and Preparation for Stowage

HRF. Insertion of Samples into MELFI

BIOME. Samples Collection

HRF. Insertion of Samples into MELFI

Checking the Results of Antivirus Scanning on [???] Laptops / r/g 8247

OTKLIK. Hardware Monitoring / r/g 1588

HMS. Vision Test

Closing of USOS Windows Shutters

ISS Ham Video Deactivation

Cygnus-Node1 Vestibule Depressurization  Part 1

??? Maintenance

HMS. Vision Questionnaire

Functionality Check of RSE-Med USB ports r/g 2517

HMS. Hardware Setup prior to Tonometry Test

DOSETRK Questionnaire

Tonometry Test  CMO

Photography of the Window in the Descent Module ([??]) of Soyuz 720 in Plane IV / r/g 2511

Tonometry Test  Subject

UDOD. Experiment Ops with DYKHANIYE-1 and SPRUT-2 Kits r/g 2506

Tonometry Hardware Restow

MERLIN Desiccant Kit Removal

Removal, Cleaning and Stow of the Item Printed on the 3D Printer

UDOD. Photography during the Experiment / r/g 2505

Cygnus-Node1 Vestibule Depressurization  Part 2

LAB Camcorder Setup on LAB RWS Monitor 3

Transfer of Cargo to Soyuz 719 for Return / r/g 2529

Cygnus. PCS Command and PROX Link Verification

Inflight Maintenance. Hatch Guide Installation

Water Recovery Management (WRM) Condensate Transfer (start)

Node 1 Nadir- Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) Demate

J-ITCS. ITCS Coolant Sampling Adapter Installation

Soyuz 720 IRIDIUM Telephone Setup and Charging (start)

Soyuz 720 IRIDIUM Telephone  Monitoring Battery Charge

Water Recovery Management (WRM) Condensate Transfer (end)

Soyuz 720 IRIDIUM Telephone Charging (end)

CBEF. Reconfiguration

Cygnus-Node1 Vestibule Depressurization  Part 3

DRAGON. Cargo Transfer Ops

Inflight Maintenance (IFM) Oxygen Generation System (OGS) Hardware Gather

OGS. ACTEX Cartridge Flushing

Crew Departure Prepartion for Return to Earth

SSRMS. Cygnus Release Control

RELAKSATSIYA. Hardware Setup r/g 2510

TV Downlink Test via Ku-band in MPEG-2 prior to Soyuz 731 Docking to the ISS

Inflight Maintenance. OGS Internal ACTEX Cartridge R&R

Soyuz 719 IRIDIUM Telephone Charging (start) / Communication System [P??]

Cygnus. PROX Power Off

RELAKSATSIYA. Setting Parameters r/g 2510

PILOT-T. Experiment Ops r/g 2508

Soyuz 719 IRIDIUM Telephone  Monitoring Battery Charge

LAB Camcorder Setup on LAB RWS Monitor 3

Soyuz 719 IRIDIUM Telephone Charging (end). Teardown and Closeout Ops

ISS Ham Video Activation

Crew Departure Prepartion for Return to Earth

BIOME. Samples Collection

RELAKSATSIYA. Observation r/g 2510

Crew Departure Prepartion for Return to Earth

HRF. Insertion of Samples into MELFI

BIOME. Hardware Restow

RELAKSATSIYA. Closeout Ops and Hardware Teardown r/g 2510

PCS Relocation

BIOME. Perspiration Collection Setup

PCS Relocation

Inflight Maintenance. OGS Hardware Restow

WRS. Water Samples Analysis

IMS Delta File Prep

BIOME. Perspiration Samples Collection

HRF. Insertion of Samples into MELFI

BIOME. Surface Samples Collection from the Surfaces of USOS Panels

CONTENT. Experiment Ops / r/g 2509

HRF. Insertion of Samples into MELFI

BIOME. Perspiration Samples Stow

RADIOSKAF. Photo and Video Imagery / r/g 2530

RADIOSKAF. ?????-??? Nanosatellite Battery Preparation and Charging from ??? r/g 2530

TOCA. Data Recording

Completed Task List Items

iPAD cert update [Active]

Ground Activities

All activities were completed unless otherwise noted.

Cygnus unberth operations

Nominal ground commanding

Three-Day Look Ahead:

Wednesday, 06/15: EVA loop scrub/water conductivity test, 45S transfer, RAM retrieve, crew departure prep, Soyuz OBT

Thursday, 06/16: JEM stowage wire kit install, Emergency R&R review, Neuro Mapping

Friday, 06/17: Change of Command, Handhold Experiment Platform attach, MSL sample cartridge exchange

QUICK ISS Status  Environmental Control Group:

Component  Status



Elektron  On

Vozdukh  Manual

[???] 1  SM Air Conditioner System (SKV1)  On

[???] 2  SM Air Conditioner System (SKV2)  Off

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Lab  Standby

Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) Node 3  Operate

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Lab  Idle

Major Constituent Analyzer (MCA) Node 3  Operate

Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA)  Process

Urine Processing Assembly (UPA)  Process

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Lab  Off

Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS) Node 3  Full Up
Madrid, June 14, 2016 (SPS) - The conference of Spanish towns supporting Western Sahara, held last week in the Canary Islands, was an opportunity for all the participants to "reiterate their support to the Sahrawi people and their legitimate right to self-determination through a referendum," said the organizers.

"The Conference allowed examining the current state of the conflict and promoting all actions and initiatives of local institutions in order to find a solution to the long and painful conflict, which has lasted over 40 years," the National Federation of Institutions Working in Solidarity with the Saharawi People (FEDISSAH), the event's organizer, said in a communique, a copy of which reached APS,

The participants underlined the need "to continue supporting the right of Sahrawi people to self-determination, through a free and democratic referendum, in accordance with the United Nations' resolutions."

They denounced the "manipulations of the Moroccan government impeding the holding of a self-determination referendum."

They also denounced the "systematic violation of human rights in the occupied Sahrawi territories and the plundering of the natural resources of Western Sahara."

In this regard, they called for the cessation of repression and the plundering of Sahrawi natural resources as well as for the immediate release of all Sahrawi political prisoners and the opening of the occupied territories to international observers and media."

The conference brought together representatives of more than 50 Spanish public organizations and institutions.SPS

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Copenhagen (Denmark) 15 June 2016 (SPS) - The Danish parliament has recently unanimously passed a motion that urges Danish companies and the Danish public sector not to trade with Western Sahara. Danish MPs tell companies to avoid Africa's last colony.

The resolution reaffirmed the Danish Parliament Stand B40 of 2014 that calls for Self-determination for the Saharawi through referendum and the UN efforts, stresses that all the parties to the conflict must help to move the process of the negotiations forward, and stresses the importance of improvement of the human rights situation in Western Sahara.

During the debate that preceded the vote, Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kristian Jensen said he would talk to Danish companies to ensure that they know of the resolution and the position the Danish parliament has now taken on Western Sahara.

We want Danish companies to know and comply with the laws that are adopted by the Danish parliament. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will contact Organisations, such as the Confederation of Danish Industry, to brief them on the Danish government and parliaments position on Western Sahara," Jensen said during the parliamentary debate.

Six Danish MPs from different parties had proposed the motion and initiated the parliamentary debate, which ended with all Danish parties voting for the motion.

The motion is meant to make it much harder for Danish companies, municipalities, banks and pension funds that presently invest in Western Sahara to justify their investments to parliament, as well as to their investors and customers.

This motion can really make a difference in relation to Western Sahara. Everything depends on the UN, which is sometimes an uphill battle. But it will be an even greater task if democratic countries such as Denmark do not act, said chairman of the Foreign Policy Committee and former Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Social Democrat Mette Gjerskov.SPS

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In 1977 Fuller was in a position to activate Brzezinskis scheme. As CIA station chief in Kabul he was perfectly positioned to provide Brzezinski with the intelligence necessary to build a case for President Carter to sign a directive allowing him to lure the Soviets into invading Afghanistan. As the first American TV crew, in 1981, to gain access to Kabul after the Soviet invasion, we got a close-up look at the narrative supporting President Carter's "greatest threat to peace since the second world war" and it didn't hold up. What had been presented to the public as an open-and-shut case of Soviet expansion by Harvard Professor Richard Pipes on the MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour could just as easily be defined as a defensive action within the Soviets' legitimate sphere of influence. Three years earlier, Pipes' Team B Strategic Objectives Panel had been accused of subverting the process of estimating national security threats by inventing threats where none existed, and intentionally skewing findings along ideological lines. In the early 1980s that ideology was being presented as fact by America's Public Broadcasting System.In 1983 our press team returned to Kabul with Harvard Negotiation Project Director Roger Fisher , for ABC's Nightline. Our aim was to establish the credibility of American claims. We discovered, from high-level Soviet officials, that the Kremlin wanted desperately to abandon the war, but the Reagan administration was dragging its feet. From the moment he entered office, Reagan and his administration demanded that the Soviets withdraw their forces, at the same time keeping them pinned down through covert actions that prevented them from leaving. Though lacking in facts and dripping in right wing ideology, this hypocritical foreign-policy campaign was embraced by the entire American political spectrum and continues to be willfully-unexamined by America's mainstream media.At a conference conducted by the Nobel Institute in 1995 , a high-level group of former US and Soviet officials faced off over the question: Why did the Soviets invade Afghanistan? Former National Security Council staff member Dr. Gary Sick established that the US had assigned Afghanistan to the Soviet sphere of influence years before the invasion. So why did the US choose an ideologically-biased position when there were any number of verifiable fact-based explanations for why the Soviets invaded? To former CIA Director Stansfield Turner, responsibility could only be located in the personality of one specific individual. "Brzezinski's name comes up here every five minutes; but nobody has as yet mentioned that he is a Pole." Turner said. "[T]he fact that Brzezinski is a Pole, it seems to me was terribly important."What Turner was suggesting in 1995 was that Brzezinski's well-known Russophobia led him to take advantage of a Soviet miscalculation. But it wasn't until the 1998 Nouvel Observateur interview that Brzezinski boasted that he had provoked the invasion, by getting Carter to authorize a presidential finding to intentionally suck the Soviets in, six months before Moscow considered invading. Yet, despite Brzezinski's admission, Washington's entire political spectrum continued to embrace his original false narrative, that the Soviets were embarked on world conquest.
According to figures presented by the newspaper Politiken , two thirds of people who took the test, failed it. The test, which featured questions such as when the composer Carl Nielsen was born, was subsequently criticized as excessively difficult.

"There are 40 questions, and up to 10-15 of them are of such a nature that one has to ask themselves, what exactly is the idea behind them? They require knowledge of trivia at a level where it becomes almost insignificant," chairman of the Danish Language Centre, Poul Neergard said.

"It is fair enough that foreigners seeking Danish citizenship should know about prominent historical events and personalities such as Grundtvig [Danish 18-century pastor, poet, philosopher and politician]. But knowing when exactly they were born and died is not relevant," he argued.
The fact that the abuse of children in Sweden happens so systematically may be difficult to comprehend. Yet last year, isolation as a method of child-rearing was used at least 787 times, which constitutes two children a day, a recent survey by Swedish Radio showed.

Under the law, isolation may only be used in "extreme situations" where a child or an adolescent aged twelve and more behaves too violently to be handled differently. Nevertheless, it was revealed that even younger children were subjected to this degrading punishment. Last year, isolation was reportedly used against nine- and ten-year olds.

In Swedish reality, the term isolation implies solitary cells in a juvenile home, which are small bare rooms without furniture and only a mattress on the floor. Children may end up locked in solitude for up to 24 hours, sometimes with only their underwear on. This treatment may be easily labeled as torture. According to the United Nations Convention, torture means exposing another person to serious pain or suffering, be it mental or physical.
If you express suicidal thoughts or a desire to inflict self-harm in a Facebook post, network personnel is now likely to quickly contact you. This comes as part of Facebook's campaign against suicide among its 1.65 billion users worldwide.

"We have had extensive contact with experts in this field of work. The most important thing when you have thoughts of suicide is that you get in touch with other people," Christine Grahn, public policy manager for Facebook in the Nordic region, told tabloid newspaper Expressen.

In practical terms, this is an integral component of Facebook's system for reporting content. The idea is to give more substantial support to depressed users on the verge of suicide. People reporting disturbing content will therefore be encouraged to contact a national emergency line if it is a matter of life and death. The alternative is to contact the troubled person directly via messages or calls. Users will also be given aid on how to respond to suicidal thoughts.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to the 9News broadcaster, police arrested the young man at his home in southwest of Sydney on Tuesday night. Then law enforcement officers charged him with the preparation or planning of a terrorist attack. The suspect's name was not specified.

He was also charged with using a telecommunications network with intent to commit a serious offence, according to the broadcaster.

On Monday, a man stabbed a police commander to death and took his wife and child hostage at their house in the Paris northwestern suburb of Magnanville. The wife was murdered, while the child was rescued. The murderer, identified as Larossi Abballa, was killed by riot police. Following the murder, media reported that the suspect might have used Facebook Live stream to spread terrorist threats.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The explosion destroyed the roofs of two buildings, with interior heavily charred. There is smashed glass in surrounding buildings, electricity supply to 300 nearby houses is suspended.

No casualties have been reported so far. Police are investigating the incident.
Smoke was detected in the cabin of the flight 9W2839 and started to emerge as soon as the plane, operated by Jet Airways, took off from the airport in southern India.

The flight was en route to another southern Indian city Mangalore in the state of Karnataka.

"Precautionary evacuation of guests and crew was carried out immediately on landing. A full emergency was declared at the airport for priority landing of the flight following which the runway was closed for operations at 10.20 am and the aircraft landed safely," read a statement released by the Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL).
Glaciers in Pakistan constitute the biggest mass and collection of ice found anywhere in the whole world outside the North and South Polar regions. Pakistan is home to around 5218 glaciers with a total area of 15,040 km, and this enormous amount of ice is melting at a much faster rate due to an increase of average temperatures in the mountainous valleys.

"Presently, glacial melting is a major global warming-induced risk Pakistan is grappling with. Other risks include sea-level rise, floods, higher than average temperatures, a higher frequency of droughts and expanding desertification," Pakistan's Deputy Director and a spokesman at the Ministry of Climate Change Mohammad Saleem Shaikh told APP news agency.

Flows of glacial streams that feed the 3,500 kilometers-long Indus River increased to above normal and high levels during summer months and it clearly indicates that the country's glaciers are melting rapidly. Moreover, the mountain streams now flow even in winter, never observed until a couple of years ago, the ministry spokesman said.
It must be kept in mind that the production of new aircraft is time consuming and the training of personnel that will work to manufacture these aircraft is a difficult task.

Such a rapid build-up of the number of employees can lead lower quality training and as a result, could reduce the quality of the final product. It is possible that in the first years we will see the rate of production come up to 2-4 machines per year.

According to the military expert this would mean that even when China will be ready to start mass production of its own aircraft, It may be forced to rely on importing Russian Il-76 heavy transport aircraft.

Requirements for heavy transport aircraft in the PLA can grow faster than the production capacity of the Chinese industry, Kashin said.

The Chinese Army is increasing its participation in UN peacekeeping operations on other continents. China has its first foreign military base in Djibouti and it is likely to be followed by others.

The Chinese government takes protection of its citizens abroad very seriously and conducts all sorts of complex operations to evacuate its nationals from conflict zones.

Thus, heavy military transport aircraft continues to be a promising area of Russian-Chinese cooperation.
ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik)  Rosneft Vice-President for Energy Andrey Shishkin said on Tuesday that the first results of the joint drilling project in the Sea of Okhotsk will be available in 20 days.

"Rosneft, together with Norway's Statoil, will drill two exploration wells in the areas of Magadan-1 and Lisyansky in the Sea of Okhotsk. Modern drilling technology will be employed for these purposes. The drilling of an exploration well on the Lisyansky license area was started this month, the first 757 meters have been completed, and we hope to find a deposit with a resource of more than 100 million tonnes of oil equivalent," Igor Sechin said while talking at an annual shareholders meeting.

In 2012, Rosneft and Statoil signed a cooperation agreement providing for the joint development of Russian shelf areas, as well as Rosneft's participation in the development of Norwegian continental shelf areas.
DIW warned that Brexit would mostly affect export-oriented automotive, chemical and pharmaceutical industries as well as mechanical engineering, as the United Kingdom is the third largest trading partner for Germany.

According to the press release, Germany exports goods and services worth about 120 billion euros to the United Kingdom, or about 8 percent of all German exports.
The official goal of the New Silk Road is to create jointly with Russia and all Eurasian nations a common area of development and prosperity. However, each participant also has its own interests.

For instance, China wants to expand the activity of its logistic and construction companies beyond its borders. At the same time, other companies do not want China to bring its companies and workers there. They want China to create regional jobs, helping to boost their economies.

In turn, Russias goal is to combine Chinese supply and domestic demand, Bordachev said. Russia should use Chinas potential to develop Central Asian economies in a bid to stabilize the region.

Currently, the Eurasian Economic Commission is working on a draft cooperation agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and China.

"In a long-term perspective, the initiative is likely to be implemented. But all participants should cooperate and take into account the interests of the entire region," he concluded.
The EU and the US imposed the sanctions in 2014 amid Moscow's alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis. Russia denied the allegations and introduced a one-year food embargo in August 2014 on products originating from states that imposed the restrictive measure.

According to the newspaper, the visit of European Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is an important signal of a potential reconciliation between Russia and Europe, the newspaper noted.

The forum will be held on June 16-18. The event is organized annually and attended by business representatives and officials from dozens of countries.

The newspaper's article caused vivid debates among Internet users. Many of them criticized anti-Russian sanctions and called on Europe to abandon its dependence on the US.

"While the US will continue to increase its trade with Russia, the EU, as we know, thanks to Vice President Biden, will be further obliged to maintain sanctions," wrote a reader under nickname fellbe. "If the EU policy would have followed any human principles, then we would not operate trade with the US for a long time".

Another internet user also slammed European countries for supporting US policies and claimed that European politicians are under the control of US intelligence services.

"Europe is indeed being guarded by Germany and in Germany there are 58,000 US troops, every German politician is constantly monitored by US intelligence, including the Chancellor [] Germany is therefore a de facto US-dominion controlled directly from US- State Department," a man named Gerhard Pils wrote.
The boost in the value of bitcoins is being attributed to Chinese investors who were slightly concerned about the weakening Yuan.

Looks like #bitcoin price hike is linked to weakening of the yuan in China https://t.co/FiqwIpcfWY https://t.co/lp9MNHtDcd  David Gilbert (@daithaigilbert) May 27, 2016

According to Reuters, around 95 percent of all bitcoin transactions are done via Chinese exchanges, and this latest spike is thought to be driven by fears that China's economy is slowing. As a result, people were trying to diversify their investments, which currently stand at US$22 trillion.

According to experts this bitcoin hike is a brilliant thing and could pave the way for even more growth. Bobby Lee, Chief Executive of BTCC, one of the World's Leading Bitcoin exchanges said that what we are witnessing now is very high trading volumes.

"The block halving will dramatically decrease the bitcoin being added as we approach 75 percent of all bitcoins issued."

"People understand that in this world of ever expanding assets and printing of money, we have something that's fixed and limited in issuance. It gives a decent alternative for people who want to hold assets that can have sustained purchasing power," Bobby Lee said.

Others took to social media to discuss what this could all mean:

So for those interested in the next investment opportunity, it appears that bitcoins may be the next big thing to put your money in to.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Russias state technologies corporation Rostec will sign an agreement on the sale of Russian Helicopters manufacturer shares worth several hundred million dollars, a source told RIA Novosti.

"The Rostec state corporation will sign an agreement on the sidelines of SPIEF (St. Petersburg International Economic Forum) on the main conditions for investment into the Russian HelicoptersThe deal could be worth several hundred million dollars," the source said.

Potential investors include the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and investment funds of the Middle East, according to the source.
Meanwhile, Democrat presidential contender Hillary Clinton savaged Trump for his conspiracy theories and pathological self-congratulations. Clinton called for national unity and warned against hate speech towards Muslims.

Like Obama, Clinton repeated exhortations for tighter controls on gun ownership. In an editorial, the New York Times also castigated Trump over his lack of concern about gun control and said he just doesnt get it, while Clinton does.

That latter point seems reasonable enough. But despite the seemingly more rational response of Obama, Clinton and the major US media to the Orlando shootings what went largely unnoticed was the way in which these more reasonable voices nevertheless embedded false war-making suppositions into their responses.

Contradicting all the evidence, Hillary Clinton said of the Florida attacker: The Orlando terrorist may be dead but the virus that poisoned his mind is very much alive. Clinton then went on to call for a greater bombing campaign by US air force to defeat terrorists in Iraq and Syria, reported NBC News.

Obama in his initial comments about the Orlando massacre also conflated terrorism with what actually took place in the nightclub and then invoked that as further support for deploying US military force overseas.

Obama described the shootings as an act of terror and a devastating attack on all Americans.

This description is inaccurate, as even the FBIs assessment admits. It was more the deplorable actions of a deeply troubled individual, which are more accurately defined as a crime.

Yet Obama, like Clinton, went on to say in a press conference that we have to go after these terrorist organizations and hit them hard.

His Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, responding to the Orlando shooting, said that it should further steel everyones resolve to defeat ISIL (another term for Daesh, Islamic State) and its parent tumors in Iraq and Syria.

Note how these more reasonable political figures are using a despicable crime in Florida to justify an even more despicable crime of US forces bombing foreign countries.
The butter has been sent to the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin to be analyzed further, but experts say that it is in fact still edible, but they do not recommend its consumption.

In 2014, Irish celebrity chef Kevin Thornton ate a sample of 4,000-year-old bog butter. He was so intrigued that he buried some of his own butter in a bog to go back for later.

I was really excited about it. We tasted it. Theres fermentation but its not fermentation because its gone way beyond that. Then you get this taste coming down or right up through your nose, Thornton posted.

Because its a historical thing and you cant really take it, I decided to bury some myself. Its coming to a slate near you.
"We find it incredible that the chancellor could seriously be threatening to renege on so many manifesto pledges. It is absurd to say that if people vote to take back control from the EU that he would want to punish them in this way. We do not believe that he would find it possible to get support in parliament for these proposals to cut the NHS, our police forces and our schools," the statement signed by the 57 UK lawmakers said.

According to the statement published by the Vote Leave campaign, the lawmakers deem that the chancellor risks doing damage to the British economy in his bid to win this political campaign.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called on Wednesday on the members of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) to stop labor reforms protests in Paris.

"I demand that CGT stop demonstrations of such sort in Paris," Valls said, as quoted by France Inter radio, adding that the reforms had been brought about as the result of a compromise with the unions.
These forces, according to the press-office, include two mobile police squads that will be stationed at border and motorway tolls, security teams dedicated to countering hooliganism, an equestrian brigade as well as English, Welsh, Russian and Slovak police reinforcements.

"It [security] is based on the video-protection system strengthened in and around the stadium and in the fan area and in the city center of Lille and the presence of a helicopter of the gendarmerie," the press-office elaborated.

On Tuesday, English and Welsh fans clashed with Russian fans in Lille, forcing French police to intervene with pepper spray and detained several individuals.
"I keep saying that our special forces did not allow the slightest negligence <> The government and I vest our confidence in them," Valls told France Inter.

On Monday evening, Abballa stabbed a 42-year-old police commander and took his wife and child hostage at their house in the northwestern Paris suburb of Magnanville. The police commander's wife was subsequently murdered, while police managed to rescue the child and killed the assailant.
However, fewer studies are carried out looking at the effects of over-exposure to soft-core porn, such as pictures in tabloid newspapers, which researchers at the University of Nottingham say is surprising due to the proliferation of images of semi-naked women in advertising campaigns and social media.

"We need to examine the direction of the relationship  does exposure result in changed attitudes? Or do different attitudes impact on the exposure to imagery?" Duff told Sputnik.

Over 140 young people at an average age of 19 were recruited for the study to measure how much soft-core porn they are exposed to across various media types, their sensitivity to soft-core images, and their attitudes towards women and their acceptance of rape myths. Just under half of the group were young men.

@TheSun did you not understand #nomorepage3? Women don't WANT to be sexualised. Stop asking for cleavage pics you medieval idiots  Lizzie Arkell Music (@LizzieArkell) March 31, 2016

Duff, along with his colleague Sarah Daniels, examined the relationship between the frequency of exposure to soft-core porn  including semi-naked images of women  and the subsequent attitudes towards women and how desensitized or sensitive they were to the images.

"Whether one can demonstrate that exposure to these images impacts negatively on attitudes towards women or not  there is the important issue on the impact the imagery has on women and how they view themselves and it makes them feel," Duff told Sputnik.

One theory the scientists have, is that soft-core pornography has become such a regular feature in daily like  be that in a tabloid newspaper, social media or adverts, that young people are simply becoming desensitized to the images. However, the impact of these images on their thinking and behavior, it still unknown.

Oh, The Sun. *Shakes head* (PS I've torn them off a strip  literally  for modesty.) #nopage3 pic.twitter.com/Djp5eHksFr  Kerron Cross (@KerronCross) January 22, 2015

"My view is that it is important that we understand the potential impact so we can have an intelligent debate about it that involves the psychology of both viewers  and viewed."

The study carried out by forensic psychologists, Dr Simon Duff and Sophie Daniels is being presented at the annual conference of the British Psychological Society's Division of Forensic Psychology in Brighton.
The issue of immigration and refugees has played center-stage in the run-up to the In-Out referendum on the UK's membership of the EU on June 23 and the European refugee crisis has hampered Cameron's campaign to keep Britain inside the union.

Cairns  while stating Oxfam takes no view on the referendum  told Sputnik:

"If you're sitting in a sinking boat in the Mediterranean, it doesn't matter very much whether you're a migrant, a refugee or anything else. If you're a child coming to Italy  and nine out of ten children arriving there come without their parents  it doesn't matter whether you're a migrant or anything else.There is a need for a more informed and compassionate discussion about migration.

"We're talking about the record 60 million people who have been forced to flee from conflicts and violence and persecution.

"We don't know what's going to happen [on June 23]. But we do know that the UK exists in a world in which there are record numbers of people who are being forced to flee their homes and is living in a world in which the burden of responsibility for helping those people falls hugely unfairly on developing countries, rather than rich countries," he told Sputnik.

#StandAsOne with those forced to flee their homes. Urge the PM to protect ppl caught up in the refugee crisis https://t.co/yAD1xa4WgH  Meg Pruce (@meg_pruce) 15 June 2016

Oxfam's campaign, Stand As One, aims to put pressure on world leaders to welcome more refugees, to prevent families from being separated and to keep people fleeing their homes safe from harm.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Humanitarian prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine have nothing to do with the Minsk peace agreements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.

"I would exclude any relation to the Minsk agreements in this case, because the Minsk agreements, even if you don't read them very carefully, describe a completely different category of people. In this case, these are purely humanitarian exchanges, which have nothing to do with the Minsk agreements," Peskov told reporters.
ROME (Sputnik)  The 79-year-old politician, hospitalized after a heart attack, underwent an operation to replace his aortic valve which, according to his surgeons, was successful.

"The man has gone through an operation, he is in pain, but he is a fighter," Paolo Berlusconi told reporters.

Silvio Berlusconi was the Italian prime minister three times, holding the post in 1994-1995, 2001-2006 and 2008-2011.
Although amid the rise of lone attacks allegedly by jihadists, the US is not the only country that is feeling threatened.

Monday nights attack was not the first time police have been targeted by terrorists in France. Moreover, the leaders of the Daesh terrorist organization have called on their followers to target representatives of the French state, so the police in France have also called for more protection.

The permission to carry weapons off duty was firstly given to officers for a short duration following the 2015 Paris attacks in November, but this permission was to expire by the end of July as the state of emergency was to be called off.

The new measure has come after a meeting between police unions and Minister of the Interior Bernard Cazeneuve on Tuesday.

The minister announced that the authorization to carry weapons would be extended beyond the state of emergency, news website The Local reported Yves Lefebvre, secretary general of the Unite SGP-FO police union as saying.

There have also been calls for authorities to introduce a system in which radicalized individuals would be kept under a closer watch even after they have served prison sentences. Apart from that the French minister also expressed hope for improved relations between police and public.

Accusations of police violence during the anti-labor protests in France led to ill feeling and harsh criticism toward the forces of law and order of the country, The Local reported.
Work in Progess

The row is the latest in a series of setbacks over the migrant deal, which would see relocated migrants from Greece being swapped on a one-for-one basis with Syrian refugees from camps in Turkey, who would be relocated to EU member states. However, in the last month only 780 have actually been relocated from Greece  far short of the 6,000 a month the European Commission had wanted.

Many humanitarian aid agencies and NGOs have joined the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR in saying the EU-Turkey deal is either immoral or illegal as the "hotspots" have become detention centers. They also say Turkey is not a "safe country" for migrants to be returned to, under the Geneva Convention.

In a news conference Wednesday (June 15), Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship told reporters: "Let's be realistic and honest. We cannot expect Greece to have a properly functioning asylum system with more than 50,000 asylum seekers on their way".

Today we present recommendation for Greece to gradually restore asylum system and become part of #Dublin again https://t.co/X6MCM8TTnf  DimitrisAvramopoulos (@Avramopoulos) 15 June 2016

Our priority remains continuation and full implementation of entire EU-#Turkey statement https://t.co/2TUN5uSfip  DimitrisAvramopoulos (@Avramopoulos) June 15, 2016

"Yes, we have seen some progress. Irregular arrivals from Turkey have decreased drastically as the average daily number of irregular crossing in May was 47. Since March 290, 462 irregular migrants who have not applied for asylum have so far been returned from Turkey from Greece. 511 have been resettled from Turkey to European Union under the one-for-one mechanism," Avramopoulos said.

However, he admitted that more work had to be done on the EU-Turkey deal. "In certain areas, work needs to be done. Both sides have to deliver and uphold their commitments. Turkey still needs to fulfil the remaining [parts] of the roadmap."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  In May, Third Energy, another energy company, gained approval for its plans to extract shale gas at the Kirby Misperton site in North Yorkshire's district of Ryedale. INEOS has also announced plans to open up to 4,000 fracking wells in North Yorkshire.

"We will capture and contain it, treat it back to the standards agreed <> with the Environment Agency and discharge where allowed under permit, most likely the sea," INEOS Shale Operations Director Tom Pickering said in a letter to a local resident in Ryedale, revealed by The Guardian newspaper.

On May 23, North Yorkshire councilors approved plans to extract shale gas in the region despite anti-fracking protesters gathering outside the council building. The motion was passed by a margin of seven to four. Protesters voiced concerns with possible harmful effects of fracking on water, farming, tourism and the environment, which have been dismissed by shale gas companies.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Earlier this month, the European Commission submitted to Poland's government a critical document with a set of suggestions on Constitutional Tribunal reform in the country. The commission said it was concerned with the actions of the authorities which had paralyzed the work of the tribunal.

"Recent far-reaching changes to Polands legal and institutional framework threaten human rights and undermine the rule of law, on which the protection of human rights ultimately depends. Lawmakers and the Government should urgently change course," Muiznieks said, as quoted by the Council of Europe.

The official stressed his concern over Constitutional Tribunal paralysis, saying it "bears heavy consequences for the human rights protection of all Polish citizens and prevents human rights proofing of legislation."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Swedish Prosecution Authority suspects that reports on investigation reportedly launched into prosecutor Marrianne Ny over her handling of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange case are not true, director of communications for the prosecution authority Karin Rosander told Sputnik Wednesday.

"I heard the rumors myself but so far it has not been confirmed and I strongly suspect that its just a rumor and it is not true," Rossander said.

Earlier in the day, Swedish media reported that a special prosecutor would be in charge of the investigation into the Assange case handling.
BERLIN (Sputnik)  According to the chancellor, Germany will seek consultations on the issue to start as soon as possible.

"Germany will not oppose the European Commission's decision," Merkel told journalists.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised Wednesday during talks with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili to consider the trip to Tbilisi.
When Peters initially arrived in the villages to meet the sworn virgins, she was met with apathetic confusion by members of the community.

"People in the village were confused as to why I wanted to meet them, 'what do you want with him? He's just a farmer,' they'd say, or, 'he's just an old man.'

"If they present themselves as a man, smoking a cigarette, carrying a gun, then the rest of society wouldn't even question their true gender. The way in which their society accepts them and treats them as men, means over time, they just began to think like men, it's a natural progression," Peters says.

The tradition of the sworn virgin is underpinned by the code of the Kanun which has four pillars: honor, hospitality, right conduct and loyalty to kin.

"Honor and trust is everything in their culture," Peters says.

"I have always tried to present them in the way I see them. I make sure that they understand this is not about sexual orientation  the sworn virgins are very concerned that people portray them as transgender, which they are not.

"It's not a sexual orientation or identity; those things aren't recognized in northern Albania. It's about the social context and the service they provide to their family."

'Worth the Celibacy & Sacrifices'

Having filmed, interviewed, photographed and gained the trust of the sworn virgins in northern Albania since 2009, Peters believes the price of celibacy "is a high price to pay for freedom and not an easy way to live," which is why the tradition is dying out.

"They've given up so much  some of them are incredibly lonely. Their families have grown up and left and they don't have children of their own," Peters told Sputnik.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to reports, the bill was proposed by Bulgaria's Patriotic Front (PF) and was supported by 108 members of parliament while eight lawmakers voted against.

The face-covering ban will be applicable to all official institutions that provide administrative, educational or social services, and also to places for public recreation, sport and culture, media outlets reported.

Members of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), which is second largest opposition party in parliament, criticized the bill, saying that it did not resolve any of the considerable problems facing society, Sofia News Agency reported.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to the RMF radio station, the Commission decided to postpone the discussions over fears that it could make UK citizens think that Brussels may interfere in the United Kingdom's internal affairs in future, just as it interferes in Poland's affairs.

In December 2015, Warsaw adopted a set of controversial media and constitutional court laws, including amendments to the law on the Constitutional Tribunal influencing the independence of its judges, that have been widely criticized both in Poland and the European Union. The Constitutional Tribunal recognized the unconstitutionality of new legislation in its March ruling, which the Polish government refused to publish to prevent it from being considered legally binding.

In mid-January, the European Commission began a preliminary review of whether the new laws introduced by the Polish government were in breach of the European Union's founding principle on the rule of law. The commission also decided to start a dialogue with Warsaw on the issue to avoid violation of the European norms. Within the framework of EU legislation, if the dialogue fails, Poland could be deprived of voting rights in the Council of Ministers of the European Union.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Polish people maintain that Shukhevych is responsible for the Volhynia mass killing by the UPA. In Ukraine, Shukhevych was recognized as a hero in 2007.

"He is a Ukrainian hero and received such an award. This is a man who did a lot for building the state of Ukraine. I reiterate: historians should find out whether he did something bad for other nations. If so, we will have to bow down to our immediate neighbors and apologize for the horrible acts if they were indeed committed," Klympush-Tsintsadze said when answering the question if she personally considers Shukhevych a hero.
The Airbus A320 crashed with a total of 66 people onboard, including 56 passengers, while en route from Paris to Cairo.

The cause of the crash is still unknown. There is speculation that terrorism may have been involved, though no groups have come forward to claim responsibility.
ROME (Sputnik)  Some 80 percent of all waste collectors in the country have joined the strike, Ansa news agency reported.

The unions said that the previous agreement with the municipal authorities expired in December 2013, while a new one was still to be signed, media reported.

The previous 24-hour strike was held by the unions on May 25, and as a result rubbish began to pile up in the streets of the Italian cities.
"All across the world we have watched people come together in solidarity, and that is the comfort that I hope all of you, and members of the LGBTI community right across the world, take from these expressions of solidarity, and tonight is another such expression. We stand here tonight united, but we stand here proudly in defiance of hate and with a very clear message  that love, is love."

Sturgeon highlighted Scotland's commitment to equality, and cited the passing of the Equal Marriage Bill as one of the most important moments of her career, but emphasized that the Scottish Government's work is not done:

"Until we live in a world where no young person feels hatred, fear, discrimination, or prejudice simply because of their sexuality or gender identity, then we have still got work to do, and I pledge to you tonight, that we will continue to do that work for every day that it takes to get to the point where we live in a Scotland that is truly equal."

Watch Nicola Sturgeon's speech in full.

Kezia Dugdale, leader of the Scottish Labour Party, told Sputnik that she was in attendance to pay her respects to the victims in Orlando, and to show her solidarity to the LGBTI+ community in Edinburgh.

"Loud and clearly that love will always defeat hate," she said, "Whether it's CC Blooms, or the Polo Lounge, or GAY, or any club around the world, it has to be a place for safety and a place of sanctuary. We have to redouble our efforts to fight for our rights, to create a safe place for all LGBTI+ people."

Attendees came together in song and in friendship to send a clear message against homophobia and hate.

#OrlandoShooting vigil attendees on what it means to them to be in #Edinburgh tonight pic.twitter.com/1qaZWMFFzs  Sputnik UK (@SputnikNewsUK) June 15, 2016



This is one of several vigils across the UK this week, including in Glasgow and London. Scottish government buildings and local councils flew the pride flag at half-mast.
MEXICO CITY (Sputnik)  The governor said that that 400 people were detained in the Venezuelan city of Cumana for looting shops with many of them being underage, Globovision TV-channel reported.

Acuna also confirmed deaths of two people in Cumana on Tuesday but dismissed the allegations that people were killed during clashes. He said that the unrest in the city was caused by vandalism committed by criminal gangs.

Earlier Venezuelan opposition reported that up to 78 trade outlets were looted in Cumana on Tuesday by people who waited for trucks with food.
In a piece titled, "Why I Would Raise Chickens," the tech magnate, who earns more per year in interest alone than the poorest 45 countries in the world, lectured humanitys most economically-depressed on surviving hardship.

Wealthy American liberals heaped praise on the mega-billionaire for his humanitarian mission, without asking how people living in extreme poverty, in societies with endemic corruption and a constant threat of violence, would feed their flock.
The clashes involved various militant groups, including al-Nusra Front, Jaysh al-Islam, Ahrar ash-Sham, and Jaysh al-Fath. Despite the fact that some of them are considered by the West "moderate," they often join forces with terrorists.

Currently, the Syrian Army is carrying out a large-scale offensive on Raqqa, the de facto capital of Daesh. Terrorists are using the situation to regroup and deploy their forces to Aleppo.

"They understand that if the army liberates Aleppo it then will advance to Raqqa. This is why at the moment terrorists are trying to prepare for upcoming clashes. Moreover, the liberation of Aleppo would open the way for the peaceful settlement and dialogue between those who want peace in Syria," the analyst said.

Zaifa underscored that the so-called Riyadh group backed by Saudi Arabia and the US is not interested in a political resolution to the conflict.

"Aleppo is the last stronghold. It would turn the tide of this war. The key battle will be for Aleppo," he added.
The oil terminal will be built on Qeshm Island in the southern part of the Gulf and will turn the island into a major center for oil production and storage.

The $550 million contract was signed by Iran's Machine Making Co. and China's largest heavy industry enterprise.

After the completion of the first stage of the joint project Qeshm Island will be able to store 10 million barrels of light, heavy and ultra-heavy crude oil produced in Iran's West Karoun region.
According to the SANA news agency , the source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Syria strongly condemned the presence of French and German special forces the areas of Ayn al-Arab and Manbij, considering it a flagrant violation of the principles of the UN Charter and "overt unjustified aggression" against the sovereignty and independence of the country.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups. On February 27, the US-Russia brokered ceasefire in Syria came into force, with terrorist organizations such as al-Nusra Front and Daesh, both outlawed in Russia, being excluded from the truce.
More than half of the world's direct casualties of war are now harvested in conflicts linked to militant Islamism and jihadism, a new compilation from the world's leading conflict researchers at Uppsala University showed.

According to the Swedish researchers, almost all great conflicts since 2006 have been classified as jihadism, the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter wrote. Daesh has been the focus of the media coverage of violent Islamism ever since the terrorists spectacular advance in Iraq and Syria a couple of years ago. Although the jihadism category is still largely dominated by the war in Syria, Daesh proper is no longer the biggest player, as a constellation of Islamic groups has been mushrooming worldwide.

Of late, Daesh has opened "subdivisions" in countries such as Libya and Lebanon. At the same time, previously independent jihadists have been joining in, the most infamous being the Nigerian Boko Haram, which last year pledged allegiance to the "caliphate" in the Middle East.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The United States and Norway have launched a demining initiative to clear parts of Iraq and Syria from explosives planted by Daesh terrorists, the US Department of State said in a press release on Wednesday.

"Under this new initiative, the United States intends to provide an additional $10.8 million this year to clear portions of Iraq liberated from ISIL [Daesh] occupation and spend up to $8 million next year to do the same in liberated portions of Syria," the release stated.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The US-led coalition against Daesh conducted six airstrikes against the groups positions in the Syrian city of Manbij on Tuesday as well as 20 airstrikes in Iraq, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a press release.

"In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes using bomber, ground-attack, attack, and remotely piloted aircraft against ISIL [Daesh] targets," CENTCOM stated on Wednesday.

The coalition carried out all six Syrian strikes near the northern city of Manbij, where they hit Daesh tactical units and destroyed five of the groups fighting positions and a vehicle.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to Iran's state-run Mizan news agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a branch of Iranian security forces, have accused Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a 37-year old female charity worker with dual citizenship, of plotting "a soft overthrow" of the Iranian government.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained on April 3 in Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport on suspicion of working on an anti-government campaign spread through foreign media outlets.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  On Monday, Turkish media reported that Daesh leader was killed on June 10, the fifth day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, in a "massive" US airstrike.

"We did not hit Raqqa that day, on Friday the 10th of June. We didnt strike in Raqqa on that day. We did the next day, with two small strikes, but the way they [media reports] described it, we did not conduct that strike," Garver told reporters when asked about the media reports.

The US-led coalition did carry out two smaller strikes in Raqqa the next day, Garver stated.
'Gift' From Bahrain

Using a Freedom of Information (FoI) request, the group also revealed that the Bahraini government is largely paying for a British Naval base currently under construction in the country, with BIRD describing the arrangement as a "gift."

"Since the navy base deal, the UK has focused on reinforcing Bahrain's status quo. We have seen the Government of Bahrain acting with impunity, secure in the knowledge that the UK is indebted to them and will repay the debt by whitewashing their inhuman rights record," said BIRD director of advocacy, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei.

BIRD reveals that #Bahrain "gifted" construction of new naval base to UK. See the full FOI: https://t.co/53btANYRXh pic.twitter.com/fCvKhg03MK  BIRD (@BirdBahrain_) June 15, 2016

"The UK's technical assistance is part of this whitewash, which makes it a pointless misuse of tax payer's money. Britain is continuing to play a highly damaging colonial role to the Gulf."

Calls to Scrap Support

The increased support for Bahrain comes amid widespread allegations of human rights abuse committed by security forces in the Gulf country, with reports of protestors and political opponents being tortured.

"This contradiction between deteriorations in Bahrain's human rights situation and the UK's praise of progress is at the heart of a relationship which is sending deeply misleading messages on human rights in Bahrain and the Gulf," the report said.

Re-arrest of Nabeel Rajab in #Bahrain, treatment of human rights activists, political opposition, matters of deep concern.  Stavros Lambrinidis (@SJLambrinidis) June 15, 2016

In order to address the situation, BIRD has called on the UK government to publicly criticize any Bahraini regressions, suspend funding until investigations into torture claims are made, suspend arms sales and reject the "gifted" naval base construction.

"The core issues which underpinned the Arab Spring are still unmet, and tensions continue to simmer under the surface. It is probable that these issues will resurge again in the near future, within the current term of parliament. If no shift is taken now, then the long-term credibility of the UK's human rights foreign policy is at stake."
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Syrian Democratic Forces troops have seized some of the outer roads to cut Daesh terrorists off from potential reinforcements and supplies, but Garver said fighting around the city remains "significant."

"Weve seen estimates of hundreds of Daesh fighters still in Manbij and they are continuing to defend the city," Garver told reporters in a press briefing.
DUBAI (Sputnik)  The letter, singed by the UN diplomatic missions of the US, UK, Qatar, Turkey and others, highlighted the deepest concern at humanitarian crisis in Syria and violations of the ceasefire agreement, media reported.

"We stress the urgent need for the immediate, full, unimpeded and sustained access for the delivery of humanitarian aid," the letter said as quoted by Al Arabiya broadcaster.

Media reported that countries, which had signed the letter, fully supported the peace-making efforts of UNs special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.
The source said that the troops advanced by 5 km from Al-Thawrah after a series of successful assaults on Daesh terrorists.

The militants were getting support from fighters coming from Salamiyah in the province of Hama.

The Syrian Army eliminated 15 militants along with their field commander, as well as destroyed their military vehicles, the source told Sputnik.
Mekorot has long faced complaints of monopolism over water supplies in Israel and the occupied territories, with the city of Jenin in the northern West Bank area warning of reprisals against company personnel for endangering the health of the population by denying them clean water.

"Residents suffer badly in this hot weather and at this time of Ramadan," Jenin Mayor Ragheb Al Haj Hassan said. "Israel and only Israel is responsible for the water cuts as agreements signed with Israel clearly state that Mekorot should provide the northern areas of West Bank with their needs of water."

The move to deny the Palestinian people with water and basic resources during the month-long religious holiday of Ramadan appears to be a response to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement against Israel, modeled off efforts successfully employed to reveal the former apartheid regime in South Africa.

Israels government has also taken a hard shift toward the right, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing on Tuesday that the government would oppose any peace proposal that creates a separate state of Palestine or requires Israel to scale back settlements.
DUBAI (Sputnik)  The United Arab Emirates is withdrawing from the anti-Houthi military operation in Yemen, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said Wednesday.

"Our standpoint today is clear: war is over for our troops; were monitoring political arrangements, empowering Yemenis in liberated areas," the crown prince said on Twitter.

The statement comes after last week, an UAE military plane crashed in Yemens Aden province, killing both pilots on board.
TEL-AVIV (Sputnik)  Israel is "more prepared than ever" for a new war with the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah but is not interested in the military conflict, Halevi said, as quoted by the Jerusalem Post daily newspaper.

"The situation in the next conflict will be completely different. We are stronger than we have ever been and are able to deal with any threat," he said adding that in case of such a conflict Lebanon will become a "state of refugees," for which it will be very difficult to recover from the conflict.

Halevi added that the possible war against Hezbollah would not be easy but its result is clear. From his point of view the movements leader Hassan Nasrallah would not engage in a new conflict if he knew Israeli capabilities and level of preparedness.
"I don't know of a military campaign in Libya being contemplated," he stated.

Winer also admitted that the GNA was not yet securely established across Libya despite it making some progress in recent months with US assistance.

"There are lots of grounds for pessimism. There are also grounds for optimism and real progress Could the advances of the past few months be reversed? Yes the progress is fragile. We are still in a fragile place," he explained.

Additionally, Winer told the committee that the US government was in talks with the Tobruk House of Representatives forces that have so far refused to join Libyan government forces fighting the Islamic State around the eastern city of Sirte.

Years of instability in Libya have created a political and security vacuum that was filled by Islamist militants. Daesh gained a foothold in the country by capturing cities along the coast. In spring, armed forces loyal to GNA began fighting for control of Sirte.
BRUSSELS (Sputnik)  NATO defense ministers have agreed on a set of security assistance measures for Ukraine, the alliance's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday.

"We have agreed on the comprehensive assistance package," Stoltenberg told reporters.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Earlier in June, Yamanov said that the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, belonging to the Irkut Corporation aircraft manufacturer, has supplied 61 Su-30SM jets to the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Russian Navy's naval aviation.

"Before the end of 2018, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant will produce and supply another 55 planes for the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Russian Navy. The total number of Su-30SM jets will come to 116, with 88 for the aerospace forces and 28 for the naval aviation," Yamanov said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  NATO will continue its support mission to Afghanistan and is committed to supporting the country's national security forces, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday.

"On Afghanistan, what we have decided is that we will continue our Resolute Support Mission We will continue in Afghanistan and also with a regional presence. We will continue to advice and train and assist Afghan national forces because we are very much committed to continue to support Afghans," Stoltenberg said.

The alliance will maintain a flexible regional approach, maintaining presence in the capital of Kabul and other regions of the country, he added, noting that the specific number of NATO mission participants for 2017 will be determined later this year.
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MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The NATO mission to train, advise and assist Afghan security forces was launched on January 1, 2015 as a follow-up on the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) combat mission, which completed at the end of 2014. NATO foreign chiefs agreed in December 2015 to sustain the RSM presence during 2016.

"I was pleased today to hear from NATO counterparts the good news that they, too, intend to provide funding to sustain the ANDSF through 2020, like the United States does," Carter said.
BERLIN (Sputnik)  On Tuesday, Al Mayadeen television channel reported that dozens of German special forces troops entered Syria , joining French and US troops that are participating in a military operation near the city of Manbij in Aleppo province.

Following the news, Syrian state SANA news agency reported that Damascus condemns the presence of French and German special forces in the north of the country, citing a Syrian Foreign Ministry source.

"There are no Germans troops in Syria, not at all. No advisers, no troops, nobody," the spokesperson said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  In mid-February, the head of Poland's National Security Bureau, Pawel Soloch, said that the country could send at least four Polish F-16 jets to participate in an air alert mission in Syria.

"I hope that the four F-16 which are to take part in a reconnaissance mission, will be deployed at bases in the Middle East even before the NATO summit," Macierewicz said at a press conference following the NATO defense ministers' two-day meeting in Brussels, as quoted by the Onet news portal.

According to Macierewicz, all the preparations for the mission have been completed, the crew is ready for departure.
Meanwhile, NATO is conducting large-scale military drills in Poland codenamed Anakonda. According to the country's president, these exercises are aimed at demonstrating primarily to Russia the country's and alliance's strength and readiness to protect the borders.

Anakonda 2016, one of the largest military drills held in Poland over 25 years, began on June 6 and will last until June 17. It involves troops from over 20 NATO member states, bringing together some 31,000 servicemen, 100 aircraft, 12 vessels and 3,000 vehicles.

NATO has been reinforcing its military presence in Europe, particularly in the Eastern European states, since the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, citing Russia's alleged interference in the conflict as a justification for the move. Moscow has repeatedly denied the accusations, calling NATO's military buildup near Russias borders provocative.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said that Warsaw could send four F-16 fighter jets to the Middle East for reconnaissance operations in the region before the forthcoming July NATO summit in the Polish capital.

"Contingents could be sent to Kuwait and the Republic of Iraq, with supportive infrastructure in other countries in the region," Soloch said, as quoted by Polsat News TV channel.
The analyst stated that most European member states remain content with allowing the United States to foot the bill, allowing for national funds to be used for domestic, economic, and political concerns. Currently, only Britain has committed to spending 2% of their GDP on defense, whereas other key NATO allies, like Germany, contribute less than 1.3% of their economic output to the alliance.

How are European countries responding to calls to increase defense spending?

"If you look at Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland, they are the countries calling for more investment and a greater NATO presence, leading to the permanent battalions of 4000 troops to be stationed on Russia border," said the analyst. "These countries are also calling for a total force of 40,000 later on, which almost certainly will be confirmed during the NATO summit in Warsaw next month."

"The big question is, who is going to pay for this?" asked Dr. McCauley. He observed that both Eastern and Western Europeans intend to spend as little as possible on defense, while relying almost solely on American military beneficence, but the status quo has been disrupted by Republican frontrunner Donald Trumps arguments that, "America has spent too much money already and that NATO is past its sell-by date so it is up to Europeans to spend more."
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The leadership of NATO is hinting at a possible agreement coming out of the Warsaw summit in July on the alliances persistent presence in the Black Sea, former US Navy Intelligence Officer Captain Steven Horrell told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"Nothing specific has come out of the [NATO] defense ministerials, but we will see looking to Warsaw, what gets discussed and what gets included in the final communiques," Horrell said of a possible persistent rotational NATO presence in the Black Sea.

In a Wednesday speech in Washington, DC, Romanian Ambassador to the United States George Cristian Maior said his country would be proposing a multinational Black Sea brigade at the July NATO summit.
On the morning of March 22, the Belgian capital was hit by coordinated attacks at the Brussels Airport and the Maalbeek metro station. The incident killed 32 people, in addition to three attackers, just four months after the November 2015 Paris attacks.

According to Polish media, the CIA warned Warsaw that it could face a similar threat.
TBILISI (Sputnik)  Georgia's Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili will pay an official visit to Germany on June 15-16, during which he will hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the press service of the Georgian government said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The sides will consider bilateral relations, the issue of cooperation between Georgia and the European Union and the situation in the region At the end of the meeting a joint press-conference will take place," the statement said.

Kvirikashvili plans to speak out at the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, where he will raise the issue of Georgia's foreign policy and the importance of the countryu's European integration, according to the statement. The prime minister will also give the lecture named "Georgia's European Way" in Humboldt University.
MEXICO CITY (Sputnik)  Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he was ready to restore relations with the United States and appoint a new ambassador to Washington, Globovision reported.

"I offer [State] Secretary John Kerry to appoint ambassadors, I am ready to appoint ambassador to Washington again, I am ready to normalize relations I am the one who has been proposing to open a new stage in the dialogue for three years," Maduro said as quoted by Globovision.

He added that Kerry offered Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez to hold several high profile official meetings, and he approved this offer.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The South Ossetian parliament is considering the issue of a vote on recognizing Armenian genocide, citing the Armenian diaspora's appeal, the parliament's press release said Wednesday, citing one of the lawmakers.

"The members of the Armenian diaspora are full members of the South Ossetian society, many of whom fought for the freedom and independence of our Republic, went through the harsh times of war with us, and some of them are the descendants of the Armenians who ran away from the genocide," lawmaker Petr Gassiev was quoted as saying in the press release.

The news comes after on June 2 the German parliament passed a resolution almost unanimously recognizing the 1915 massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as a genocide. The move was met with widespread condemnation by Turkish officials.
No viable alternative to NATO has appeared on the European continent. The Western European Union, a military alliance comprising ten countries, ceased to exist in 2011.

"Then there is the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) with its peacekeeping forces," Vasilyev narrated. But still "it is hard for the EU to carry out independent policies when tens of thousands of US soldiers are located in Europe as part of NATO forces."

EU expert Alexander Kamkin, a senior analyst at the Moscow-based Institute of Europe, pointed to the "special relationship" between the UK and the US as one of the reasons for the opposition to establishing an EU army.

"Washington and by extension London do not want the EU to move away from the US. American leadership is convinced that a unified European military will contribute to the EU's greater independence from the US. Washington cannot allow this to happen. For their part, some in the EU want" to sever this bond, he noted.

Kamkin offered other reasons for London's stated commitment to block the initiative.

"Firstly, the UK has special rights and a special status in the EU. Secondly, the initiative has been supported by Britain's two leading opponents, France and Germany," he observed. "In addition, military and industrial complexes in the US and the UK will not benefit from an EU army. If unified European armed forces are created, then European weapons will be needed."
BEIJING (Sputnik)  China has lodged a diplomatic representation with the United States over the upcoming meeting between US President Barack Obama and Dalai Lama, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

"We have already made a representation with the US side at the US Embassy in China," Lu Kang told reporters.
"We could easily watch them [build fortifications]. It's very close to the border, like 50 meters away. If you can see the trenches from here now, you should have seen them being dug with all that big equipment," Bulent Polat, a shop owner from the Turkish town of Karkamis, told the television network.

A power shovel, left standing by the trench, is still visible in the distance.

Karkamis has been largely abandoned in the months after a foreign-sponsored insurgency set the neighboring country on fire. The ripples of the Syrian war reached the city when Daesh began to launch rockets across the border.
The SPIEF 2016 is more than ever about Russias relations with Europe. On June 16, the forum will be opened by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker.

After Juncker announced his plans to visit the SPIEF he has faced resistance from the United States, some European countries and even among his own staff. Several countries, including the United States, Britain, and Lithuania said the visit would be inappropriate at a delicate time of "discussions on sanctions."

The forum will take place two weeks ahead of the summit of the European Union (June 28-29) where European leaders will decide on the extension of sanctions against Russia.

Junckers visit was officially confirmed on June 1. It is known that the politician will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines.

Analysts noted that Junckers visit could be viewed as the first sign of a thaw in relations between the West and Moscow. Even European officials criticizing the move admitted that it may be the first in a series of visits by high-profile Western officials to Russia. For example, EU chief diplomat Federica Mogherini who previously cancelled a trip to Russia may visit Moscow after Juncker, sources in the European Commission said.

In turn, the Kremlin commented on Junckers visit saying that it may become the first step in establishing dialogue with the EU.

According to a source in the European Commission, during his visit, Juncker will translate to Russian officials the vision of Brussels on the current state of relations between the EU and Russia.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, a source close to the alliance told RIA Novosti that NATO will begin deploying its multinational battalions in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Poland in January 2017.

"Military activities were the topic of the previous meeting, which took place on April 20. If these solutions will be taken at the upcoming summit in Warsaw, then, of course, it will be one of the topics for discussion at a future meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, the question of holding which is currently under discussion," Andrei Kelin told RIA Novosti.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Moscow sees continued attempts to exert pressure on Russia and launch an anti-Russian campaignaimed to force Moscow to abandon its stance on global issues, Lavrov said.

"We do not intend to give into attempts to drag us into a confrontation, not with the United States, not with NATO, not with the European Union. Clearly, confrontational habits and fruitless geopolitical games only impede efforts to achieve sustainable global development and generate crises like the one in Ukraine," Lavrov told Russian lawmakers.

"We see continued attempts to exert pressure on us, to launch an anti-Russian campaign with the goal of forcing us to abandon our fundamental moral approach to world order problems. There is a clear desire to patch up transatlantic discipline on our expense, at the same time undermining Russia's position as a competitor in the energy and arms markets."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The spokesman noted that difficult diplomatic relations between countries are not always ground to stop sending congratulatory messages.

"This is a protocol and common practice in international relations. Generally, such messages require no response," Peskov said. "The message did not include any substantial points, unfortunately."

According to Peskov, Russia wishes for relations with Turkey to get better, but this is impossible at this point.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  UK nationals are set to vote on June 23 in a referendum on the country's EU membership after Prime Minister David Cameron and the leaders of 27 EU member states agreed in February to grant the United Kingdom a special status within the bloc.

"We would oppose any post-Brexit austerity budget just as we have opposed the austerity budget put forward by this government," Corbyn told the parliament.

UK nationals are set to vote on June 23 in a referendum on the country's EU membership, after Prime Minister David Cameron and the leaders of the 27 EU member states agreed in February to grant the United Kingdom a special status within the bloc.
Additional measures

Additional steps that the North Atlantic Alliance is working on deal with the free movement of NATO forces across Europe and improved cyber defense. The bloc has already overcome some bureaucratic hurdles and revised procedures that help to move troops faster.

"It is vital that our troops and equipment can move without delay. For exercises in peacetime, for reinforcements in an emerging crisis, time is of the essence," Stoltenberg said.

NATO's chief also urged member states to increase defense spending to help make all of these measures a reality.

#NATO defense ministers reviewed progress on defense investment pledge; spending is up but Allies must do more pic.twitter.com/ugg4K7aG5E  US Mission to NATO (@USNATO) 14  2016 .

NATO's alarming approach to Russia

Needless to say, Moscow has been concerned with the bloc's military buildup and its rhetoric. After all, several senior NATO members have repeatedly accused Russia of supposedly aggressive behavior and called the country a threat to its neighbors. Russia has always denied these unfounded claims.

"Even foreign diplomats admitted that there is no threat of [Russian] aggression, no possible attack; it's all a myth, a bluff, etc.," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said recently. "Once again, I would like to say that Russophobia has turned into a profitable business."
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Moscow wants to discuss NATO's plans to deploy four battalions in Baltic States and Poland.

"Military activity, transparency is part of the agenda we would like to see for the NATO-Russia Council," Stoltenberg told reporters.

The NATO chief added that the sides were currently consulting on the meeting's agenda and timing.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  US Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif in Oslo, Norway, to discuss sanctions relief and Tehrans access to the banking system, US Department of State spokesperson Mark Toner said in a press release on Wednesday.

"The two discussed progress on the continuing implementation of the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], including issues related to banking and relief of nuclear-related sanctions," Toner stated.

During the meeting, Kerry and Zarif also addressed the ongoing crisis in Syria, according to the State Department.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The unity of the European Union is important for the cohesion in its collaboration with NATO, he added, stressing that the collaboration is key in the matters of dangers coming from the alliance's southern and eastern flanks.

"The question of the so-called Brexit is, of course, a decision for the British people. As [US] President [Barack] Obama has said, the United States supports the United Kingdom remaining in the European Union. And I would just note that there is a strategic reason for that," Carter said.

UK nationals are set to vote on June 23 in a referendum on the country's EU membership, after Prime Minister David Cameron and the leaders of the 27 EU member states agreed in February to grant the United Kingdom a special status within the bloc.
Russia imposed a range of restrictive measures on Turkey following the incident that dealt a major blow to the Turkish economy. Zeybekci referred to the implication of the sanctions as "unnecessary and extremely burdensome difficulties" for both countries.

President Vladimir Putin has indicated that Russia was willing to resume its relations with Turkey, but Ankara will have to go through all the necessary steps, including an apology and compensation for the incident.

Turkey also wants to restore relations with Russia, but maintains that it was within its rights to shoot down the plane that was on an anti-Daesh mission in northern Syria.

The Turkish government "has not discussed this issue," Zeybekci noted, adding that it cannot be discussed. "Turkey has nothing to apologize for. But I want to emphasize that the incident and the events that followed have certainly afflicted us."

Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to Putin, congratulating him on Russia's Day. Zeybekci called the note a "positive" sign. "I am an optimist. This is why I tend to view this step as a positive signal for the future of our relations," the minister noted.

Indeed, there appears to be ground for cautious optimism, at least when it comes to business cooperation between the two countries.

"Both sides are making steps that point to good will to improve relations. We could say that both sides have adopted a positive approach to resolving this problem," he observed.
In addition to a "corruption component" of this business there is yet another noteworthy matter. Given close connections between Islamists and the Turkish leadership, the question of the smuggling of radical Islamic extremists into Europe acquires a new meaning, Shpunt remarked.

"For example, a refugee from the [Syrian] Christian community may not get a passport and a visa in Turkey. In contrast, a fake "refugee" from some [Syria-based] terrorist organization would obtain [these documents] easily. And it is the Turkish president who would decide [who will enter the EU]," the expert underscored, adding that by striking the EU-Turkish agreement the European leadership handed the right to decide who is an "asylum seeker" and who isn't over to Turkey.

It is worth mentioning that Angela Merkel has found herself in an awkward position due to her migrant policies' failure. Undoubtedly, Ergodan is well aware of that. Therefore, he has no scruples about blackmailing Brussels and Berlin.

However, it is not as easy as it seems, Vadim Trukhachev, Professor of Foreign Regions Chair at Russian State University for Humanities, believes.

In his interview with Svobodnaya Pressa the Russian academic stressed that in order to convince the European community to reach a "compromise" with Erdogan, Merkel would have to exert considerable pressure on Germany's Bundestag as well as on the European Parliament and on the EU member states' governments.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Earlier, it was reported that NATO is going to approve aid for Ukraine at the alliances summit in Warsaw after assessment of the reforms implemented in the country.

"Secretary Carter and Minister Poltorak reviewed US security assistance efforts designed to help build the capacity of Ukraine's forces," Cook stated.

In December 2014, the Ukrainian parliament amended two laws rejecting the neutral status of the country. Ukraine set the goal to be ready for joining NATO in 2020. In mid-December 2015, Ukraine and NATO signed a roadmap on defense-technical cooperation.
BERLIN (Sputnik)  She added that it was precisely German Foreign minister who urged the continuation of the Russia-NATO Council and "the continuation of the dialogue between the military."

"Ministry of Foreign Affairs and personally [Foreign Minister Frank-Walter] Steinmeier stand in NATO, unlike many others, for that the underlying NATO philosophy on containment, defense capability, on the one hand, and the dialogue with Russia, on the other hand, would have never been abandoned. On the contrary, we understand that the overall security is only possible with Russia," said Chebli at a briefing.

Moscow and Berlin have been continuing active bilateral cooperation in the political and business areas, despite the cooling in the relations between Russia and western countries over the Ukrainian crisis.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  In a surprise airstrike on June 7, 1981, Israeli fighter jets bombed the Iarqi nuclear reactor Tammuz, also known as the Osirak, which was located within Al Tuwaitha Nuclear Center near Baghdad. As a result, the reactor caught fire and was destroyed.

"Sheikh Dr. Hamoudi confirms Iraq's intention to sue Israel for bombing Osirak reactor in 1981 and compel it to pay financial compensation over the attack. He urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations to activate topic internationally," Hamoudi wrote on his official website.
As the NATO summit in Warsaw is approaching the alliance is ramping up its hostile rhetoric against Russia. Some members, like Poland and the Baltics, continue to insist that the "Russian threat" is real thus further deepening tensions.

However, some countries, particularly Germany and France, have insisted that the upcoming summit does not make significant changes to the principal NATO goals.

"Berlin and Paris are pushing the idea to establish a new council within the Russian-NATO framework. Thus, German and France are drifting away from Cold War era rhetoric which has prevailed in global politics after the Ukrainian crisis broke out," Dubien underscored.
It follows then that Moscow could ease simmering tensions in a region that appears to be stable, but could under certain conditions burst into flames. The country's assistance, the analyst added, could range from arbitration to peacekeeping efforts.

"Russia could emerge as an independent balancing or even peacekeeping force in the region, contributing to resolution of festering disputes over the South China Sea, the Korean peninsula and elsewhere," he added.
GENEVA (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said Ukraine was discussing potential participation in the NATO buildup in the Black Sea.

"We are closely following this discussion and hope that it will not bring about an increase in risks in the region. We reserve the right to take adequate counter actions against that," Karasin told RIA Novosti.
The August 2002 memo instructed CIA servicemen to refrain from any "speculative language" regarding the program's legality "in written traffic (e-mail or cable traffic)."

"Such language is not helpful," the memo explained laconically.

The newly disclosed documents also provide hideous details of Gul Rahman's death. Rahman died at a CIA secret prison in Afghanistan back in 2002. Before that, however, the detainee was subjected to humiliating torture:

"Often, prisoners who possess significant or imminent threat information are stripped to their diapers during interrogation and placed back into their cells wearing only diapers. This is done solely to humiliate the prisoner for interrogation purposes. When the prisoner soils a diaper, they are changed by the guards. Sometimes the guards run out of diapers and the prisoners are placed back in their cells in a handcrafted diaper secured by duct tape. If the guards don't have any available diapers, the prisoners are rendered to their cell nude," the report reads, cited by ACLU.
NEW YORK (Sputnik)  Hearings on the matter will be held in September and will focus on two Canadian laws targeting human-abusers with asset freezes, visa bans and other measures, Nault added.

"We thought instead of getting into hearings on Magnitsky specifically that we would look at the broader issue and include Magnitsky and the issues surrounding what transpired there as part of the whole process," Nault was quoted by The Globe and Mail as saying.

Sergei Magnitsky was a Russian lawyer who revealed alleged corruption at the highest levels of the Russian government. In 2008, the Russian authorities detained Magnitsky on charges of conspiracy and abatement for tax evasion. He died in Moscows Matrosskaya Tishina pre-trial detention center on November 16, 2009.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  NATO will be addressing the need and costs to the alliance of deploying a multinational brigade to the Black Sea region, Romanian Ambassador to the United States George Cristian Maior said at an Atlantic Council event on Black Sea security on Wednesday.

"NATO allies have [during] the past months discussed very seriously the relevance of the eastern flank in general [the northern and southern part of the flank] in terms of its strategic relevance, due to the recent events in Crimea and the Russian attitude in general," Maior stated.
According to the document uploaded on the Congress website, the amendment was required for the treatment of military sales and export authorizations to India in a manner similar to that of the closest defense partners of the United States.

The US defense firm Boeing and Lockheed Martin were very much keen on catering to the requirements of the Indian armed forces as Major Defense Partner status could have helped them in transferring major defense technology to India.

India is keen to invite only those foreign defense firms which could set up a production line in the country under Make in India. It is widely reported in the Indian media that the Indian government formally expressed interest in purchasing predator drones.

A senior minister in the Indian government refused to accept this as a setback for India.

Amit Cowshis stated, eventually the outcomes will depend on a number of factors including wider political support and assessment in both the countries of how far the mutual interests are served by a particular step, as in the case of India being accorded the status of a strategic partner by the US or India signing the logistics agreement with the US.
According to the former ambassador, America's misadventures cannot be excused as "intelligence errors."

"This has enabled multiple policy errors based on wishful thinking, selective listening and mirror-imaging," Freeman underscored, warning that "dealing with the Middle East as we prefer to imagine it rather than as it is doesn't work."

Predictably, the current state of affairs in the Middle East became the focus of Ambassador Freeman's attention.

Referring to the fact that "military campaign plans that aim at no defined political end state are violence for the sake of violence," Freeman pointed out that the pre-Tora Bora phase of the US' Afghani campaign and the Russian Air Force's military operation in Syria are shining examples of how limited interventions should be managed.

"The Russian campaign had clear political objectives, which it stuck to," Ambassador Freeman emphasized.
Relations between Moscow and Ankara deteriorated after a Turkish F-16 fighter downed a Russian Su-24 bomber over Syria on November 24, 2015. Following the incident, Russia imposed restrictive measures against Turkey, including sanctions in trade, tourism and investments.

"I repeatedly said that we need to separate relations in the spheres of commerce and politics and that we need to appreciate and support the proximity which exists between our nations and economic cooperation," former Turkish Minister of Economy Mustafa Elitas told Sputnik.

According to the politician, Erdogan's letter signifies Turkey's readiness to open new page in bilateral relations. He expressed his hope that the countries will be able to return to a strategic partnership they had before the incident.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  US Vice President Joe Biden and Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman have begun their meeting in Washington, DC, according to the White House pool report on Wednesday.

"I am delighted to welcome the prime minister. He's doing an incredibly lot of hard work," Biden said welcoming Groysman at the White House. "We've got a lot to talk about."
The new House version of the NDAA allows for the detention of US citizens without due process and both versions prohibit closing the Guantanamo Bay prison camp. Joining Becker to discuss the bill is Jeremy Varon, professor and activist with Witness Against Torture.

Saudi Arabia's powerful new defense minister is in Washington for talks with President Obama, John Kerry and Ash Carter. Saudi Arabia is on the march in an aggressive economic, military, political and religious foreign policy. How US-Saudi relations are changing and continuing. Becker is joined by Massoud Shadjareh, the founder of the Islamic Human Rights Commission.

NATO has announced that they are deploying four new battalions to the Baltics and Poland numbering up to 4,000 troops. Are there new divisions emerging from within NATO? What's next in the new Cold War? Mark Sleboda, international affairs and security analyst, joins Becker to discuss the NATO build up.
Twitter hearts melted when teaching assistant Ben John posted a screen grab of his grannies recent Google search, showing that old fashioned British politeness is not lost online.

@Push10Ben that is the CUTEST THING EVER   martyn (@martynhett) June 10, 2016

John was left in hysterics when he saw his granny May had said "please" and "thank you" to Google when shy typed in a question she wanted the search engine to answer.

In a screenshot shared on Twitter by John, Granny May wrote: "Please translate these roman numerals mcmxviii thank you."
"More than half of the world's total supply of cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to the government's own estimates, 20 percent of the cobalt currently exported from the DRC comes from artisanal miners in the southern part of the country," Armistead told Sputnik.

The question remains however, as to why these minerals are being used to make mobile phones and is there an alternative?

Academic, Dr Phil Clark from SOAS University, has been researching this area for many years, believes that the reason minerals such as coltan are ideal for the manufacture of mobile phones comes down to the simple fact that they are cheap, malleable, and heat-resistant. They can also hold a steady electrical charge.

"Mobile phone companies have generated a multibillion dollar resource race for coltan and similar minerals because of their rare and lucrative qualities," Dr Clark told Sputnik.

The process of extraction is also very harmful. Dr Clark said the mineral is often extracted using out of date gold-mining techniques, which include panning for minerals in streams and rivers, as coltan is a highly toxic substance before it is refined. Therefore, workers who pan for it are often contaminated and get ill.

Amnesty International gathered evidence from several child slaves, who documented what had happened to them while mining for these materials.

#Fact Mobile phones & other electronics contain minerals found in the #Congo Basin. Be a part of the solution & #recycle your old phone.  JaneGoodallInstitute (@JaneGoodallInst) January 26, 2016

The children that were interviewed told Amnesty that they worked for up to 12 hours a day in the mines, carrying heavy loads of between 20 and 40kg. Even those children who went to school worked 10  12 hours during the weekend and school holidays. The children who were not attending school worked in the mines all year round, because they or their parents cannot afford to send them.

One such example was of a young boy named Paul, aged 14, who started mining at the age of 12 and worked in tunnels underground. He told Amnesty that he would often spend 24 hours down in the tunnels.

"I arrived in the morning and would leave the following morning," he said.

These accounts are supported by Dr Phil Clark, who describes how many of the children are forced by rebel groups and other armed actors to pan for coltan in filthy rivers and streams, subjected to the toxicity of the minerals they handle as well as the dirtiness of the waters they wade into.

Batteries in your phone, rechargeable gadgets, EV etc contain a lot of cobalt. Over 1/2 world's supply is from Congo pic.twitter.com/bZVyQLyjuo  chrispydog (@chrispydog) June 7, 2016

The children are paid less than US$1 per day to perform this dangerous work and the lasting effects are very bad.

"Chronic exposure to dust containing cobalt can result in a potentially fatal lung disease, called 'hard metal lung disease.' Inhalation of cobalt particles can also cause 'respiratory sensitization, asthma, shortness of breath, and decreased pulmonary function,' and sustained skin contact with cobalt can lead to dermatitis. Yet we found that the vast majority of miners, both adults and children, who spend long hours every day working with cobalt, do not have the most basic of protective equipment, such as gloves, work clothes or facemasks," said Lauran Armistead.

But does an alternative exits? Well, according to Dr Phil Clark there is a simple solution that can end the use of child labor.

"80 percent of the world's coltan comes from Brazil, Canada and Australia where the mining sector is more regulated and coltan extraction is typically machine-driven rather than the panning by hand techniques used in the DRC and elsewhere," Dr Phil Clark told Sputnik.

For Amnesty the solution is also simple, to place pressure on the companies who source these materials, so that more stringent regulations are imposed, which means children are not exploited.

"The attention that our report has gained, the people who have signed our petition, taken part in protests outside the Apple store, has shown that consumers want to know that big brands, including Apple, are checking their supply chains for child labor and addressing it. I have an iPhone, and I want to know that Apple is checking their supply chain for child labor and addressing it where they find it," Armistead told Sputnik.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The gravitational waves, or ripples in space-time, were detected from the collision of two black holes.

"During a press briefing held simultaneously at the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the American Astronomical Society in San Diego, scientists from the LIGO collaboration have presented another piece of evidence in support of Einstein's theory on gravitational waves, they were registered by both LIGO detectors located in Livingston, Louisiana and Hanford, Washington," the MSU said in a statement.

The first gravitational wave signals were detected in February. LIGO Executive Director David Reitze said that the signal of two colliding black holes producing gravitational waves was picked up on September 14, 2015, by two LIGO detectors in Louisiana and Washington states.
As internet users seem less and less concerned with their privacy, and willing to share the most intimate details of their lives on the internet, his ideas may not be far fetched. While Facebook is not currently planning to use telepathy, Zuckerberg believes the means will be available within the next 50 years.

"You know thats obviously pretty far-off. There are a lot of technology advances that are going to need to happen for that to be something safe to use, and something youd actually want to do and all that," he stated, during a live Q&A videocast from his Facebook page. "But I do think in the future we will have the ability to just capture kind of a raw emotion or thought that we have, when you want and how you want, and of course its really important that people have the power to do this in the way that they want to be able to share that with other people."

The social-media mogul also told the newspaper that there is currently crazy research being conducted on how to make this happen, pointing to a California University at Berkeley experiment involving the use of a magnetic resonance imager (MRI), to read thought.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The United States must reinstate a ban on the purchase of assault weapons following the deadliest shooting in the countrys history over the weekend in the city of Orlando, Florida, Rep. Alan Grayson told Sputnik.

"I think its clear at this point that its far too easy to kill too many people too quickly," Grayson said on Tuesday.

Grayson said he will introduce a one-sentence bill in the US House of Representatives calling for the reinstatement of the assault weapons ban.
"Should there be an endorsement of a candidate such as Hillary Clinton if all the votes havent been counted? I think we need to have a very serious discussion about that," Segal says. "At the same time, Bernie or Bust also means that Donald Trump becomes the presidentand we do not want a radical, racist, anti-Muslim, who doesnt believe climate change is real, a misogynistin the White House.

"We can push Hillary to the left. I dont think we can push Trump. Thats a brick wall."

Some argue that accepting Clinton means that the Democratic Party will ultimately drift toward the right to compete with Republicans.
With 29% reporting, Clinton leads 78.8% to Sanders' 21%.

Clinton was declared the presumptive nominee last Monday, ahead of major primaries in New Jersey and California, having earned the 2,383 delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

She will not be officially declared the winner until the Democratic convention in July.
The attempt to pit the two groups, who have long faced discrimination at the hands of far-right Republicans, against each other, struck the nations political punditry as both brilliant and macabre. At a time of national mourning many question whether a candidate who offers a rhetoric of division would ultimately benefit from a hate crime specifically targeting the LGBT community.

"The burden is on Hillary Clinton to tell us why we should admit anyone into our country who supports violence of any kind against gay and lesbian Americans," declared Trump. "Hillary Clinton can never claim to be a friend of the gay community as long as she continues to support immigration policies that bring Islamic extremists to our country who suppress women, gays and anyone who doesnt share their views."
Trump wants to present himself as the New Leader who is fighting for America  and this is why the entire establishment oppose him, he said.

However, now Trump had to expand his campaign and fight it at a more sophisticated level to a very different national audience, Schirach pointed out.

Trump has to craft a national campaign. This means creating a strong appeal way beyond his loyal  but narrow  base, he said.

In the short term, Trumps latest row with the Washington Post was likely to expand his core base, but its longer-term prospects were more problematical, Schirach cautioned.

Attacking the liberal media may get him some new supporters. But making too many enemies may not be the best strategy for an outsider who wants to convince millions of Americans that he is absolutely the best person to lead the country out of the swamps of mediocrity and into greatness, he added.

The size and complexity of US society meant that broad, often complicated and complex coalitions of many different groups were necessary to attract the scores of millions of voters necessary to win a presidential election, Schirach explained.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Earlier on Tuesday, US media reports claimed that Russian intelligence had penetrated the computer systems of the Democratic National Committee in an effort to discover what the Democrats had researched on Republican presumptive presidential candidate Donald Trump.

In searching media about cyber warfare, its interesting how much is written about attacks on the United States by Russia, China, Iran, and other countries and how little about US cyberattacks on other countries, he said. Perhaps our media are not interested in it, or are not inclined to whine about it publicly.

Western, especially US, media exercise a double standard by publishing inflated and exaggerated accounts of alleged espionage activities by other countries against the United States while ignoring the enormous scale of US operations, Jatras observed.
"The Congress then almost unanimously adopted this law and named it after the person who was in custody for tax fraud. The law was lobbied by the man who earlier gave up his US citizenship for tax reasons," she said.

Veselnitskaya explained that Browders motive was to take away attention away from his own illegal activity in Russia.

The film focuses on Sergei Magnitsky, a tax and legal consultant for Browder's Hermitage Capital Management, and shows that Magnitsky's boss was involved in the multimillion tax evasion processes.

The millionaire, who used to be one of the largest investors in Russia's economy soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union, had repeatedly said that Russian authorities used Browder's companies to claim a tax rebate worth some $230 million.

Nekrasov, known for his criticism of the Russian authorities, decided to make a film about Browder's story, but in the course of research he came to a conclusion that the millionaire's narrative was false and Russian authorities were the victims of a multimillion dollar theft.

Veselnitskaya said that the representatives of the House Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats attended the screening of the documentary.

As many others, they were stunned by what they saw, she stated. As I understood them, they would like to conduct their own analysis of what had really happened in Russia.

In 2013, Russia sentenced Browder in absentia to nine years in prison for tax evasion and for falsely claiming tax breaks for hiring disabled persons. The court also ruled that Magnitsky developed and implemented a tax evasion scheme while working for the millionaire.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Noor Salman, who has been questioned by FBI agents in the days after the attack, knew about her husband's plans, but told no one about them and then lied, the source told Fox News.

On Sunday, the 29-year old shooter opened fire in the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 people and injuring at least 53 others. He was killed as police stormed the club.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The FBI stated that the man responsible for the deadly shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida on Sunday was placed on a terrorism watch list from 2013 to 2014.

"If a background check is conducted for a prospective gun buyer who is, or has been investigated for potential ties to terrorism, Nelsons bill would require that the NICS [National Instant Criminal Background Check System] automatically notify the appropriate division of the FBI," the release stated.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Jones pointed out he introduced a resolution that would enable Congress to declassify the 28 pages, the contents of which will not harm national security, but are critical to US foreign policy.

"It is more critical than ever for the American people to know what led to the tragic attacks on September 11, 2001, and I urge my colleagues on the House [of Representatives] Intelligence Committee to release the pages," Jones stated.

Last year, Jones introduced a bill calling on President Barack Obama to declassify the documents to provide the US public with the full truth behind the September attacks, especially with respect to the involvement of foreign governments.
The amendment was presented by Bill Nelson, a Democratic senator from Florida.

"We never want to get to the position that we just have one rocket company, because if something happened, you want to have a backup," Nelson said, according to Defense News.

"We have got to get satellites into space to protect our national security, and weve got to do it over this period of time from now until the end of 2022."

The US government is hoping that American companies like SpaceX will perfect their own rockets. For the time being, the Delta IV rocket is the only viable US-made option, but its hefty price tag led to charges that abandoning the cheaper RD-180 would be financially irresponsible.

"Using Delta when an Atlas will do is like burning $100 million on the back lawn for fun. Thats how big the price difference could be for some missions," Loren B. Thompson, a senior defense analyst with the Lexington Institute, said.
"My guess would be no," h said, "He will threaten to veto it and thats as far as his principle will go, or if he does veto it, he will accept a version that still has objectionable provisions with respect to Guantanamo."

When describing Guantanamo, Varon said, "It was created for the explicit purpose of denying any and all American legal rights or international human rights to people held captive there, and it was a place of extraordinarily abusive interrogation." He said that activists and progressives have been "begging and pleading" for Obama to make good on his calls to close Guantanamo, but it seems clear that the President has essentially given up fighting a Republican-controlled Congress that has fought the President with every legislative trick in the book. "Its become pretty apparent that this is as far as hes going to push things. Hell try to release as many prisoners as are deemed eligible for release, express intention to close it and then basically hand this mess to the next President."

Becker noted that the NDAA draft carries language allowing the government to arrest Americans and detain them indefinitely, without charge or trial, and asked what kind of implications this has in light of the recent nightclub shooting in Orlando.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The Orlando, Florida terror attacks again proves that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) cannot defend the American people against terror attacks on US soil, former CIA analyst and whistleblower John Kiriakou told Sputnik.

"Something ought to change, and quickly. That is the consistent failure of the FBI to do its job, to infiltrate terrorist groups, domestic and foreign, and to prevent attacks on US soil," Kiriakou said. "This is not something new. The FBI has been incompetent for a very long time."

Omar Mateen, who murdered 49 people in an attack on a night club in Orlando, Florida on Sunday reportedly had planned the massacre for a long time and had purchased a semi-automatic handgun and an automatic rifle.
The disturbing new report comes days after Sundays terrorist attack at an Orlando nightclub that killed 49 and wounded 53 in the worst act of terror in the United States since 9/11 and the most deadly shooting massacre in modern American history.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton first raised the question about how the 29-year-old Orlando security guard, who had previously been on a terrorist watch list and had been investigated by the FBI twice, could still legally purchase a semi-automatic assault rifle.
Reynaldo Gonzalez, father of American national Nohemi Gonzalez, who was killed in the 2015 Paris attacks, on Tuesday accused the corporations of "providing material support for terrorism." According to the plaintiff, the companies purposefully, knowingly or with willful blindness allowed militants to use their networks, while preparing for bloodbath attacks in France that killed over 130 people last November.

The lawsuit suggests that Daesh has used social media for the last few years to distribute propaganda, raise money and recruit members.

For instance, the leader of Daesh British division, Omar Hussain, was spotted by media recruiting members through Facebook. Googles YouTube has been used for posting videos of brutal Daesh executions. In another case, Daesh sympathizers posted to Twitter images of murdered soldiers with the hashtag #AMessagefromISIStoUS.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The Global Magnitsky Act, to sanction individuals responsible for gross violations of human rights worldwide, was approved as part of the 2017 US defense budget and will likely pass into law this year, US Senator and bill sponsor Ben Cardin told Sputnik.

"It is the second time the Senate has passed it," Cardin said on Wednesday of the legislation. "I am optimistic we will get to the finish line this year," he said.

The Global Magnitsky Act authorizes the US president to sanction foreign individuals responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other human rights violations that target government whistleblowers or other individuals pursuing internationally recognized freedoms of expression.
Shadjareh pointed out Saudi Arabias support for groups like Daesh and Al Nusra, and the countrys 30,000 political prisoners, stating that, "In reality, Saudi Arabia has become sort of one of the worst abusers of human rights, both against its own people and people beyond its borders."

Becker highlighted comments made by the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in a speech in Cleveland on Monday, in which she said, "it is long past time for the Saudis, the Qataris and the Kuwaitis and others to stop their citizens from funding extremist organizations. And they should stop supporting radical schools and mosques around the world that have set too many young people on a path towards extremism." Shadjareh noted that these acts to support global terror were happening during her husbands presidency as well, but no similar reproach of Saudi Arabia was made at the time.

"What needs to be said is that its the Saudi government itself is supporting this extremism," Shadjareh said, adding, "Unfortunately people think that Daesh and ISIS are an element of Islam against the West on non Muslims, but the reality is that Daesh is actually killing more Muslims in Iraq and Syria than anything else."

Noting that Bin Salmans visit with top US officials comes despite condemnation from Washington and a rescinded blacklisting from the UN, Becker reasoned, "The elites must see something in that relationship that trumps any human rights concerns," asking, "What is it about the nature of the US or EU relationship with Saudi Arabia? What is it that makes it so important? What do (the US and Europe) get from it?"
US citizens traveling to Havana can now do so without exchanging dollars, at a 10-percent fee, into the Cuban peso. Stonegate, the first US bank to introduce a debit card for use in Cuba, has issued a credit card as well.

The bank announced Tuesday that US travelers will be able to use its Mastercard to charge purchases at Cuban state-run businesses and some private businesses, starting June 15. The card's capability will be limited, as Cuba bars cardholders from cash advances, and point-of-sale devices are not always reliable.

"This is going to be huge for American companies trying to do business down here," Stonegate CEO David Seleski said.
"Mother bears with cubs are particularly wary of humans, and there are times when even hunters find them unmanageable," says Yohei Sasaki, chairman of the national hunters association Dainihon Ryoyukai, adding that although this species of bear doesnt grow very tall, "an ordinary person would be helpless against their attacks."

Kazuhiko Maita, who directs the Institute for Asiatic Black Bear Research and Preservation says seasonal factors can also account for the rise in attacks. "From summer to after autumn, people risk being attacked by mature cubs," Maita said.

Junpei Tanaka, speaking for the ecotourism nonprofit Picchio, helping to drive bears away from humans to safer habitats, reminds people to make as much noise as they can if they encounter a bear. "Bears normally avoid humans, so its good to make them aware of your presence by using something like a bell," he said.
TEHRAN (Sputnik)  Iran will file a lawsuit against the United States with the International Court in the Hague in the upcoming days to return $2 billion in frozen Iranian assets, a source familiar with the matter told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"In the upcoming days, Iran will file a lawsuit with the Hague court against the United States," the source said, adding that Iran expects a fair decision on the matter.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to the Rheinische Post newspaper, Seddique Mateen, the father of the Orlando assassin, called for donations in online videos in 2013, posting the bank information related to a Duesseldorf Stadtsparkasse account, which belonged to a charity fund.

The account was closed in early 2014 due to insufficient activity, with only two transactions in amount of 100 euros (some $113) and 70 euros, the media outlet reported.

According to the newspaper, it is unclear who is behind the charity fund and whether it still exists at all. It is considered unlikely that there is a direct connection to the Orlando massacre, however, the Duesseldorf public prosecutor is checking whether Mateen stays in contact with the charity fund.
Europe has been beset by a massive refugee crisis , with hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants fleeing their crisis-torn countries in the Middle East and North Africa to escape violence and poverty.

According to the latest data by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 214,00 migrants arrived in Europe so far in 2016, the majority of them having taken the sea route. A total of 2,856 other migrants were killed or went missing in attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea.
"He's sharp and on his game...sound...healthy. I couldn't be any happier the way he's coming in this week."

Trainer and co-owner Casie Coleman discussed 2016 Pepsi North America Cup starter Betting Line with Trot Insider at the post draw on Tuesday, June 14. The $1 million final will be contested on Saturday, June 18 at Mohawk Racetrack.

The Bettors Delight-Heathers Western colt won the fastest of two eliminations in 1:49.1 over Lyons Snyder and Racing Hill. As an elimination winner, Betting Line's local connections were able to choose his post position for Canada's richest race. Betting Line will be leaving from post three with David Miller driving for Coleman, who co-owns as West Wins Stable with Ross Warriner as well as Christine Calhoun and Mac Nichol.

"I think he looks real good coming in here, but it's a tough field. There's 10 of them in there and every one of them has got a shot."

To view the entries for Saturday's card at Mohawk or a free program for Mohawks Saturday card, courtesy of TrackIT, click on one of the following links: Saturday Entries -- Saturday Program Pages.

The Pepsi North America Cup is the centerpiece of Mohawks fantastic Saturday card of racing that will also feature the $438,000 final of the Fan Hanover Stakes (which will showcase three-year-old pacing fillies), the $370,000 final of the Roses Are Red (pacing mares), the $267,000 final of the Armbro Flight (trotting mares), the $268,000 final of the Goodtimes Stakes (three-year-old trotting colts), and the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup (invitational pacers).

TSN2 will televise the Cup final live on Saturday. First-race post time for Mohawks Saturday card of racing is 6:30 p.m. The NA Cup has been slotted as Race 12 on the 15-dash card and has an approximate post time of 10:40 p.m.

Mohawk will offer three Pick-4 wagers Saturday, including an All Stakes Pick-4 with a $100,000 guaranteed pool, comprising Races 9 through 12 and featuring the Roses Are Red, Mohawk Gold Cup, Fan Hanover and Pepsi North America Cup.
Standardbred Canada would like to remind all interested parties that the deadline for applications to the 2016 Atlantic Provinces Bursary Program is Friday, June 24.

2016 marks the tenth consecutive year that Standardbred Canada and the Atlantic provinces have partnered to offer the Atlantic Provinces Bursary Program. This project could award up to five students in the Atlantic Provinces bursaries towards their post secondary education this year.

If you are a student residing in the Atlantic Provinces and attending community college or university this fall, this is an opportunity that could help you pay for your tuition.

The bursaries will be awarded based on participation in the industry, academics and financial need. Applicants will be required to submit a typewritten essay on one of the following topics:

What unique ways can Standardbred Canada and the host tracks promote the WDC events to the general public in 2017? How can racetracks celebrate the 250th anniversary of horse racing at their track or in their community in 2017?

Applicants must be Canadian citizens and be a child or spouse of an active Standardbred Canada member or an SC member themselves. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a post secondary institution as of September 1, 2016.

A maximum of five bursaries worth up to $1,000 each will be awarded. Applications are available now and must be completed by June 24, 2016.

The successful applicants will be announced in early July.

This program is supported and funded by various organizations from the Atlantic provinces and Standardbred Canada. Partners from the Atlantic Provinces include the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association, Prince Edward Island Harness Racing Industry Association, and the 'Stretch Drive Fund,' a fund created by the Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing Commission's race officials.

Presentations to the successful applicants will be made during Governors Plate Week in Summerside. For a bursary application, email [email protected] or click here.
The Maritimes fastest horse of 2016 will look to dazzle the on-track fans yet again during this Thursdays (June 16) featured race at Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park.

First-race post time for the 12-dash card is 6:30 p.m.

OK Galahad has drawn Post 5 in the featured contest, which has been carded as Race 11. He is scheduled to be driven by his trainer, Jason Hughes, and is heading into the tilt off a blistering 1:54.4 victory on June 11, which is the fastest recorded win time thus far in the 2016 Maritime harness racing season.

The five-year-old son of Badlands Hanover is owned by Robi Hughes of Stratford and Foxyhall Racing of Nova Scotia. OK Galahad will jump back up in class for his $2,200 race on Thursday.

Last Thursdays feature winner, Fightmaster, has been shouldered with Post 7. Trainer Mike McGuigan will be back in the bike and he will be looking to extend Fightmasters two-race win streak. Eagle Jolt has drawn Post 1 after having been knocked off his roost as Thursday feature champion by Fightmaster last week.

Other entries include Smiley Bayama (who will be driven by Ron Gass), The Big Bite (Gilles Barrieau), Starcastic (Ron Matheson), McJestic (Walter Cheverie) and Waterside Light (Kenny Arsenault).

Professor Gordon will face his test since relocating Canadas east coast during Thursdays $1,950 Open Trot, which has been carded as Race 4. The Deanna Clow-owned and trained four-year-old will have Vincent Poulton in the bike and he will be looking to extend his two-race Charlottetown unbeaten streak. Professor Gordon will start from Post 4 and will face off with Neal (Brian Andrew), Osprey Impact (Paul Larabee), Paymenowpaymelater (Barrieau), Zip The Lip (Brian MacPhee) and Frill Seeker (Arsenault).

To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at the CDP, click the following link: Thursday Entries  Charlottetown Driving Park.

(With files from Red Shores)
Dear Mr Boyce,

Re: Sun front page article on Michael Misick (Mike Misick travelled to DR) Issue dated May 28 to June 4, 2016 (Vol. 12 No 21).





I read with interest your front page news story last week of an interview with former Premier, corruption trial co-defendant, Mr Michael Misick on the occasion of his return to the country under a bail variation allowing him to travel to the Dominican Republic for medical attention.





I was maligned and libelled in your article without so much as any prior notice or opportunity from your publication to comment.





I would expect under the rules at common law that you attempt to mitigate your liability and discharge a presumption of intentional malice by placing this letter in no less a prominent space in your publication than also front page where you placed the offending first piece.





Had your newspaper bothered to contact me before publication you might have been able to produce a balanced report reflecting the following facts:





1. I, Beryn Duncanson diligently represented Mr Misick over a full year with all manner of pre-trial challenges instructed and authorized by him (as detailed below).





2. In November last year, after diligently representing Mr Misick all year I tried to resign from Mr Misicks case and informed him and the other two lawyers of my then decision in a teleconference, and Mr Misick literally cried in distress for me to stay on with the legal team.





At that time QC Thorne threatened me with court action if I resigned.





3. Contrary to Mr Misicks suggestion the QC Mr Ralph Thorne and his Junior Adrian Kayne were briefed by my firm for the trial and have both been paid in full last year ALL their brief fees due to them under their signed retainer letters. (Signed respectively July 22, 2015, and September 1, 2015).





They both came to the country and took up the case having been thus satisfied, though QC Mr Thorne upon arriving to the country in September and after having meetings with Mr Misick did thereafter seek unreasonably to substantially increase his previously agreed and signed retainer contract.





4. Mr Misick deliberately obfuscates the truth by suggesting something untoward by me billing him in that "He tried to Bill me for something to (sic) legal aid should cover and you can't mix up legal aid with private money (sic)."





Mr Misick was granted legal aid which covers his criminal case only.





On January 7, 2015, Mr Misick signed my firms retainer agreement which expressly stipulated that he would be liable for all costs of representation of him which were for matters not covered by legal aid from the public purse.





In any event a legal aid certificate was not finalised for Mr Misick until June 8, 2015.





We had spent some three weeks back and forth haggling over the wording of that contract, purely over the question of payment for civil work not covered by legal aid, so it is disingenuous of Mr Misick to suggest now that legal aid was eventually supposed to cover all facets of his legal representation, when the whole point of hiring me (a civil litigator) was to conduct numerous civil cases in pre-trial challenges.





The civil cases could not possibly be covered by public legal aid which is limited only to costs of ones criminal case.





In the final event my firm did extensive work briefing two preliminary QCs on a host of preliminary trial issues on both statutory and constitutional law; challenged the court office for over six months with preparations for a judicial review case over the originally slim brief fees in legal aid; then filed and argued two other judicial review cases challenging the age of the judge and the legality of the Governors appointments of him; then challenged the judge on recusal for bias in terms of public comments reported from him in Jamaica; then challenged the SIPTs application to vary the restraint order on all Misick's assets (which I won on appeal against SIPT); also finally challenged the whole criminal process by separate civil lawsuit brought by way of constitutional motion.





All alone I prepared and argued four out of five of these aforementioned cases and all alone argued four out of five of the subsequent appeals arising from them in the Court of Appeal (because the QC failed to attend for all but the last appeal).





I even took two of the matters all the way to the Privy Council by application for special leave, which is a fairly exhaustive and drawn out application to draft and prepare.





Legal aid covered none of that save recusal and restraint.





I logged conservatively over 1,200 hours representing Mr Misick last year, averaging over 20 hours a week.





At my standard rate of $480 an hour (island standard for lawyers over 10 years' call) it is easy to see what level of works and services Mr Misick was consuming.





And that's before the substantial disbursements on his behalf.





I have over the years had a few major complex commercial cases where my billings over a year exceeded Mr Misick's but I can safely say that not a single one of those presented anywhere the vastness of issues and paperwork as present in the various levels of representation required for Mr Misick.





5. A casual observer of newspaper reports of all last year's build-up to trial will remember that there were several civil case matters.





6. Mr Misick throughout last year encouraged me to continue with case after case and repeatedly promised me that I would be paid separately for all the very substantial sums from all this litigation with civil matters either from an anticipated land sale or at the latest by the time of his recent 50th birthday in February when his Public Pension as a former parliamentarian fell due.





After his pension became due, Mr Misick suddenly changed his mind about paying my firm.





7. I am the only defence lawyer of some 30 lawyers separately and currently engaged in the case the past four years to score any significant pre-trial win against the SIPT team - in the Court of Appeal against prosecution lead counsel Mr Andrew Mitchell QC, who is by reputation the UK's leading barrister in that area.





I carried Mr Misick's file for over seven months before any substantial payment of any kind (ultimately only getting that for the criminal matters, from legal aid) and I accepted his case at a time when legal aid was so meagre that few law firms were anxious to be associated with his cause.





It is largely because of my efforts last year that legal aid was substantially increased for him and most all the defendants.





In light of all the above I challenge any one to assert that I did not deliver for Mr Misick above and beyond the call of duty of any lawyer to diligently represent his client.





Mr Misick attempted on March 29, 2016, to have me removed from the case but the presiding judge Harrison J dismissed him, refused his application, partly on the basis that a dispute over fees with one's lawyer was not enough reason to "have lost faith and confidence".





Two months later and Mr Misick has tried again, conveniently after first placing his interview in the Sun newspaper with the various libellous allegations.





As of this past Tuesday, May 31, I am officially off the case as the instructing lawyer, as judge Harrison has finally two months later allowed a second approach by Mr Misick to the court.





In the final analysis, Mr Misick's main complaint of my services appears to be his prior numerous complaints about the reporting on his criminal case by the Turks and Caicos Weekly News, a newspaper published by my father, which is (properly) beyond my editorial control.





Sincerely, DUNCANSON & CO

Beryn Duncanson Attorney at Law




The Millennium Bulk coal terminal in Longview may be a controversial subject for citizens. But all nine candidates running for Cowlitz County commissioner are mostly on the same page about the $680 million project.

Commissioner candidates for both District 1 and District 2  those held by Mike Karnofski and Dennis Weber  said Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview LLC has spent four years on the study process and they simply want to see the project move forward.

The whole permitting process has taken far too long, said Weber, incumbent for District 2. That sends the message that Cowlitz County is not open for business.

The county, along with the state Department of Ecology, is responsible for issuing several permits to Millennium. Almost all of the permits, however, will be approved through the Building and Planning Department or a hearings examiner, not the county commissioners.

The commissioners previously had the responsibility of issuing a shorelines permit based on whether the project met state standards for waterfronts. But in 2012 the commission voted to pass that decision on to a non-elected hearings examiner.

(Commissioners) dont have any decision-making authority, said Elaine Placido, director of Cowlitz County Building and Planning Department. They have the same say that everybody in this community has.

Citizens opposed to the terminal, which would be located west of Longview at the former Reynolds Metals Co. aluminum plant, are concerned about the effects of coal dust and other environmental concerns.

Commissioner candidates attended an election forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters on Sunday in Kelso, where they overwhelmingly said economic development was the most important issue facing the county. According to the recently completed draft environmental impact statement, the terminal would create 135 direct, full-time jobs, and estimated 165 indirect and induced jobs by 2028, according to the EIS. It would create 1,350 direct jobs throughout a five-year construction period, according to the DEIS.

Almost every candidate was in support of the coal terminal without reservation. Karnofski, incumbent for District 1, said its a free market process and Millennium should be treated fairly.

They need to be treated the same way anybody else whos bringing a project to Cowlitz County, he said. The state of Washington has some of the most stringent regulations in the nation. That guides our process.

Kelso Councilman Jim Hill, candidate for District 1, was the lone vote in favor of sending a letter from Kelso City Council to show support for the coal terminal earlier this month.

Frankly I think my folks cut and run, caved under pressure, Hill said.

Marilee McCall, Woodland Councilwoman running for the District 1 seat, ultimately supports the project with reservations. She said she favors moving the process forward but thought there werent enough jobs being provided out of the 190-acre facility.

The numbers dont seem to be the best use of that property, even putting the environmental concerns aside, McCall said.

Candidate Shawn Nyman, head of the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Central Labor Council, did not immediately respond to calls Tuesday. In the forum she said she struggled with the decision but ultimately wanted to see a decision made quickly.

This has been one of the more difficult topics for me to look at, Nyman said Sunday. What I would like to see is for it to just be done. Lets get this decision done and lets get it over with.

Commissioners election for District 1 and 2 will be on the ballots mailed by July 15. District 1, which spans Kelso east of the Cowlitz River and the countys southern parts such as Kalama and Woodland. District 2 comprises most of Longview.

The August primary will narrow the race down to the top two candidates for both seats. Its a five-way race for District 1: Curtis Hart, Hill, Mike Karnofski, McCall and Arne Mortensen. The District 2 seat is a four-way race: Kevin Hunter, Frank Morrison, Shawn Nyman and Weber.
A 68-year-old Longview woman was injured in a two-car accident on Interstate 5 in Clark County Wednesday morning, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Patricia A. Ross was southbound when a medical problem caused her to lose control of her 2016 Toyota Corolla, which drifted into a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze and then crashed into a cable barrier in the median about 6 miles north of Vancouver, the WSP reported. The accident occurred at about 10:40 a.m.
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India's ambitious plan to be a major player in semiconductors, taking on the Chinese and churning out locally-made chips for a new generation of smartphone users, has proved to be a little too ambitious. The government boldly announced three years ago it would host two new $5 billion chip plants as part of a project to become a global manufacturing powerhouse, creating thousands of jobs, reducing its need for imports and taking on global rivals such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and GlobalFoundries.

However potential investors have not materialized, put off by India's wobbly infrastructure, unstable power supply, bureaucratic red tape and poor planning, according to analysts and industry insiders. Just weeks after Jaypee Infratech, which was partnering IBM Corp and Israel's Tower Jazz, abandoned plans for one of the big chip plants, STMicroelectronics NV is set to scrap plans to build the other $5 billion plant as its main local partner failed to raise enough money from skeptical investors, government officials said.

"We've had a lot of issues with the original (semiconductor) plan," a top official at India's Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY) told Reuters. "The technology curve has moved ahead in the last three years, the global environment has changed and China has emerged as a big player." Two other officials at the department said a consortium led by Indian start-up Hindustan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (HSMC) with STMicro and Malaysia's Silterra had not been able to raise the funding for the plant, and it might be scrapped.

Investors doubted the potential of the Indian government's plan to set up a 22 nanometer (nm) chip fabricator as the industry's cutting-edge manufacturing has already shifted to smaller 14 nm chips, and is expected to move to sub-10 nm in the next three years, the officials said. "Our original estimates for chip demand were incorrect, and we decided to postpone our plant until 2020 since there's no market for semiconductors in India yet," HSMC founder Deven Verma told Reuters. Verma said the consortium had not yet closed financing for the plant, but had commitments for only 40 percent of the required funding. Operations had been expected to start this year. STMicro declined to comment.

LOWERING AMBITIONS

India is now toning down its ambitions and setting its sights on low-end chip making, the government officials said. DEITY plans to attract low-tech component companies including makers of printed circuit boards (PCBs), integrated circuits and analog chips. "If we target manufacturers of electronic components to look at India for their global production, we can start by manufacturing components such as PCBs and ICs locally, and that will give a much-needed boost to manufacturing in India," said one of the two top government officials.

To that end, the government has courted foreign manufacturers including Apple Inc to set up plants in India, though analysts say the country needs first to bulk up its component making capabilities. "It's crazy if India thinks it can compete with China on something like chip manufacturing when our electronics industry is a shambles," said Ganesh Ramamoorthy, an analyst at research firm Gartner.

India's ambitions in electronics manufacturing include cutting net imports to zero by 2020, from about $40 billion last year. It is the world's fastest growing smartphone market with over 100 million sold last year - but almost all of those phones' chips and circuits are imported. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has attracted some phone makers, including Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, to set up assembly plants in India. Samsung Electronics also manufactures some smartphones locally.

Reuters
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Sophisticated hackers linked to Russian intelligence services broke into the Democratic National Committee's computer networks and gained access to confidential emails, chats and opposition research on presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, people familiar with the breach said on Tuesday. CrowdStrike Inc., a cybersecurity firm, said the DNC asked it to investigate a suspected breach of its systems that began as early as last summer. CrowdStrike said it quickly found traces of two of the best adversaries in the hacking arena, both tied to the Russian government.

The newly revealed attacks join a host of high-profile digital breaches affecting current and past White House hopefuls, underscoring vulnerabilities in digital networks that increasingly hold sensitive data about political candidates, their opponents and their donors. DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz called the incident serious and said the committee moved quickly to "kick out the intruders and secure our network." The DNC said donor, financial and personal information did not appear to have been accessed by the hackers.

An individual knowledgeable of the breach said at least one year's worth of detailed chats, emails and opposition research on Trump were stolen. That kind of research, a staple of political campaigns, often contains detailed information - sometimes factual and sometimes specious - about a candidate's personal and professional history. The individual, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the breach, said DNC officials first learned about the hack in late April when its technology staff discovered malware on its computers.

CrowdStrike reported Tuesday that one group of hackers was able to execute computer code remotely on systems running Microsoft Windows. Another was capable of recording keystrokes. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said last month that U.S. officials have seen indications of foreign hackers spying on the presidential candidates. He said the U.S. intelligence community expects more cyber threats against the campaigns.

Foreign hacking was rampant during the 2008 presidential election, and President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were targets of Chinese cyberattacks in the 2012 campaign. In 2008, Obama and Republican nominee Sen. John McCain were also targeted. CrowdStrike said one of the hacking groups identified in the DNC attack, dubbed Cozy Bear, had previously infiltrated unclassified networks at the White House, the State Department and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Another group detected, called Fancy Bear, had targeted private and public sector networks around the world since the mid-2000s. The two groups involved in the DNC hacking had penetrated the system separately, CrowdStrike said. Dmitri Alperovitch, CrowdStrike's co-founder and chief technology officer, said the hackers specifically targeted the DNC's research department and obtained opposition documents prepared about Trump. He said the firm is confident the DNC's network has eliminated the threat.

But, Alperovitch said, "the Russians' interest in the political campaign will not stop at this incident. We fully expect that they will try to get back in." A representative from the Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately return phone calls and emails seeking comment Tuesday.

The incident was first reported Tuesday by The Washington Post. "It should come as no surprise to anyone that political parties are high-profile targets for foreign intelligence gathering," said Democratic Rep. Jim Langevin of Rhode Island, who co-founded the House's cybersecurity panel. "Nonetheless, it is disconcerting that two independent operations were able to penetrate the DNC, one of which was able to stay embedded for nearly a year."

Cybersecurity experts have previously told The Associated Press that neither Trump's nor Hillary Clinton's campaign networks are secure enough to stop attacks. Clinton's use of a private email server while secretary of state raised questions of how well her personal system was protected from intrusions; her campaign has said there's no evidence it was breached.

AP
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Tech giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said that a local media report of the firm's plans to invest 25 trillion won ($21.22 billion) by next year to boost 3D NAND memory chip capacity was not true. Samsung, the world's top memory chip maker, said in a regulatory filing, that the report by the Korea Economic Daily on its chip investment plans was not accurate and that it has not yet decided on specific investment plans.

The Korea Herald writes that the announcement is the result of Korean news media reporting that Samsung is planning to invest 25 trillion won (Some reported 2.5 trillion won) in order to increase capacities of its production lines for 3D NAND flash memory. The company has not set detailed plans for the investment as the 3D NAND flash memory business has just started to take off recently, said the company to the Korea Herald, adding that recent news reports on the issue were unfounded.

Other global chip makes including Koreas SK hypnix and Taiwanese TSMC are all going to produce 3D NAND flash memory chips. This is because the technology uses vertically stacked layers of ells to improve space efficiency in chips.

Reuters
tech2 News Staff

The world of photography has a new lens to ogle at thanks to Shenzhen Dongzheng Optics Technology which is a Chinese manufacturer. The company has unveiled the Kerlee 35mm f/1.2 lens, which is technically the fastest lens available for full frame SLRs/DSLRs. The Kerlee 35mm f/1.2 lens isn't the first one with same specifications and only other lens with such specifications is the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 for crop sensor bodies.

Before you start saving for this lens, the Kerlee 35mm f/1.2 is a manual focus lens, with no auto-focusing capabilities as reported by PetaPixel. It features 11 elements in 10 groups, including two high refractive index elements and one low-dispersion element. The minimum focusing distance of the lens is 1-ft but it is suggested that the best results can be achieved from 1-5 meters. The lens also comes with a switchable aperture lock which would allow you to switch over to smooth transitions when making videos.

The company has not announced the pricing of the lens yet but has confirmed that it will be manufacturing the lens for Nikon F, Canon EF, Sony E, and Pentax K mounts.

According to wedding photographer Richard Wong, the Kerlee would be easily the most well-made Chinese lens. For sample images and an early review of the lens, head over to Wongs blog here.
Pranjal Kshirsagar

Rise, the fintech innovation platform created by Barclays was launched in Mumbai today. This is Barclays' sixth site globally, following London, Manchester, New York, Cape Town and Tel Aviv hubs.

Rise Mumbai will provide a physical site for fintech companies, offering a co-working environment, event spaces and meeting rooms. The Mumbai site is in partnership with 91 springboard - a co-working community that helps provide space and organises events.

Prior to this launch, Barclays also held Risehack, a fintech hackathon, whose fianlists will have the opportunity to present their project to a group of Barclays stakeholders, industry experts and the global Rise community.

Jaideep Khanna, CEO and Country Head, Barclays India said, "The startup ecosystem is witnessing a steep increase in activity and interest from investors with even large corporates looking to invest in this space. Rise provides us with the opportunity to leverage our client relationships and experience to play a relevant role in the growth of the fintech community in India."

Lubaina Manji, Barclays Head of Rise and Group Innovation Office said, "At Barclays, we are embracing the opportunities and expertise of the startup ecosystem, working together to drive innovation in financial services. Rise Mumbai will give technology entrepreneurs in India access to a global network of experts, businesses and partners, setting them up for rapid scale and growth. We are very excited about the launch and look forward to tapping into India's budding fintech ecosystem, widening our global reach.

Speaking to the media after the launch, Manji said that Barclays is keen to become the first customer of the startups that join into the initiative. She added that with this initiative, Barclays looks at getting innovative products at a cost five times cheaper and a speed three times faster than what they would have got by carrying out research and development internally. Manji also said they are expecting to see innovation especially in the area of blockchain and chatbots in banking, two trends that will define the future of banking.
HC upholds death penalty of 6 in Ahsanullah Master murder case

The High court on Wednesday upheld the death sentences of six convicts and commuted that of seven to life term jail in the Awami League leader Ahsanullah Master killing case. An HC bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and Justice Krishna Debnath passed the order after hearing on appeal against a lower court verdict that had sentenced 22 people to death and six others to life term jail in the case in 2005. The six convicts whose death sentences were upheld by the HC are BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarkar, Nurul Islam Dipu, Mahbubur Rahman, Shahidul Islam Shipu, Kala Hafiz and Sohag. Besides, the convicts whose death sentences were commuted to life term jail are Mohammad Ali, Syed Ahmed Majnu (fugitive), Anwar Hossain Anu (fugitive), Boro Ratan, Choto Jahangir, son of Abul Kashem, Abu Salam (fugitive), Mashiur Rahman Mishu (fugitive). The court also acquitted seven condemned convicts-Amir Hossain, Boro Jahangir, son of Nur Hossain, Foysal (fugitive), Lokman Hossain Bulu, Rony Fakir (fugitive), Khokon (fugitive) and Dulal Mia. Furthermore, the High court upheld the life term imprisonment of one convict, out of six, in the case and acquitted four lifers from the charges as allegation brought against them could not be proved. The lifer was Nurul Amin while the acquitted accused were Rakibuddin Sarkar alias Pappu Sarkar, Aiyub Ali, Jahangir, son of Meher Ali and Monir. Earlier, on March 8, the High Court fixed June 15 to deliver its verdict on appeals against the lower court judgment in the Ahsanullah Master killing case. Criminals shot Ahsanullah Master, a former Awami League MP, to death at a rally at MA Mazid Miah High School ground at Tongi of Gazipur on May 7 2004. Victims brother Matiur Rahman filed a case with Tongi police station against 17 people the following day. A Speedy Trial Tribunal on April 16, 2005 sentenced 22 people, including BNP leader Nurul Islam Sarkar, to death and six others to life imprisonment in the murder case. Of them, two convicts died during the trial proceedings, while 17 are currently behind the bars and nine others are on the run. The convicts later appealed to the High Court against the sentences. The case documents were also sent to the HC as death reference for its approval. The hearing on the appeals and death reference began on 21 January this year. Of the 28 convicts, Ohidul Islam Tipu, who was awarded life term imprisonment by the lower court, did not file any petition against the imprisonment as he remained fugitive. -- Dhaka, June 15 (UNB)
Obama, Hillary criticises Trump for proposed Muslim immigrants ban

US President Barack Obama seen with Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at a press conference in Washington.

Reuters, Washington :Democratic President Barack Obama lambasted Donald Trump's proposed ban on Muslim immigrants on Tuesday in an angry denunciation of the Republican presidential candidate's response to the Orlando nightclub massacre.Obama and Hillary Clinton, the Democrat he has endorsed to succeed him in the Nov. 8 general election, made nearly simultaneous speeches responding to Trump, the New York mogul who is soon to become the Republican Party's presidential nominee.Clearly annoyed, Obama used a speech at the Treasury Department to respond to Trump's proposed suspension of immigration from countries with a "history of terrorism" in response to the killing of 49 people early on Sunday in Orlando, Florida. The gunman was U.S.-born Omar Mateen, 29, whose parents immigrated from Afghanistan.The president, without mentioning Trump by name, dismissed the Republican's criticism of Obama for not using the term "radical Islamic terrorism" to describe Islamic State militants. Obama called the phrase a political distraction."What exactly would using this label accomplish, what exactly would it change?" Obama said. "Someone seriously thinks we don't know who we're fighting?  There's no magic to the phrase 'radical Islam.' It's a political talking point."Obama, who canceled a joint appearance with Clinton planned on Wednesday in Wisconsin due to the events in Orlando, appeared to be enjoying his role in the campaign to select his successor. He tangled with Trump in 2011, producing his birth certificate to refute Trump's claim that the president was not born in the United States."We now have proposals from the presumptive Republican nominee for president of the United States to bar all Muslims from immigrating to America. We hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests entire religious communities are complicit in violence," Obama said. "Where does this stop?"Clinton, Obama's former secretary of state, addressed supporters in Pittsburgh. The candidate said Trump's proposal bolstered her case that he was temperamentally unfit to serve as president, saying the commander in chief "is a job that demands a calm, collected and dignified response" to events like the Orlando massacre.Clinton noted that Trump seemed to suggest on Monday in a television interview that Obama might have somehow been responsible for the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, a point that Trump said he did not make."I have to ask: Will responsible Republican leaders stand up to their presumptive nominee or will they stand by his accusation about our president?" she said.
Dalai Lama urges Suu Kyi to ease Rohingya tension

Dalai Lama speaking at the US Institute of Peace, a US-based think-tank established by the Congress.

Reuters, Washington :Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has a moral responsibility to try to ease tension between majority Buddhists and minority Rohingya Muslims, her fellow Nobel laureate, the Dalai Lama, said on Monday.The Tibetan spiritual leader said he had stressed the issue in meetings with Suu Kyi, who came to power in April in the newly created role of state counsellor in Myanmar's first democratically elected government in five decades."She already has the Nobel Peace Prize, a Nobel Laureate, so morally she should ... make efforts to reduce this tension between the Buddhist community and Muslim community," he told Reuters in an interview in Washington."I actually told her she should speak more openly."Violence between Buddhists and Muslims in recent years has cast a cloud over progress with democratic reforms in Myanmar. Rights groups have sharply criticized Suu Kyi's reluctance to speak out on the Rohingya's plight.The Dalai Lama said Suu Kyi, who won worldwide acclaim and a Nobel Peace Prize as a champion of democratic change in the face of military persecution, had responded to his calls by saying that the situation was "really complicated"."So I don't know," he said.There is widespread hostility towards Rohingya Muslims in the Buddhist-majority country, including among some within Suu Kyi's party and its supporters.More than 100 people were killed in violence in western Rakhine state in 2012, and some 125,000 Rohingya Muslims, who are stateless, took refuge in camps where their movements are severely restricted.The Dalai Lama said some Buddhist monks in Myanmar "seem to have some kind of negative attitude to Muslims" and Buddhists who harbored such thoughts "should remember Buddha's face.""If Buddha happened, he certainly would protect those Muslim brothers and sisters," he said.Suu Kyi said during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry last month that the country needed "enough space" to deal with the Rohingya issue and cautioned against the use of "emotive terms", that she said were making the situation more difficult."It's very important for the international community to realize the sensitive situation of Rakhine State, and avoid doing anything that would make matters worse and more difficult for the new government to handle it," Zaw Htay, a spokesman for Suu Kyi's office, said when asked about Dalai Lama's comments.
BRACU to sign deal on nanosatellites project

Campus Report :

BRAC University will sign a contract with Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan, to collaboratively build the first experimental university Nanosatellites of Bangladesh under the mission, "Joint Global Multi-Nation BIRDS Satellite", with the acronym "BIRDS project". Notably, this is the first time a university from Bangladesh will be working in the field of satellite engineering.

The "Birds project" is a cross-border interdisciplinary satellite project for non-space faring countries supported by Japan. The 5 participatory countries for this project include Bangladesh, Japan, Ghana, Mongolia and Nigeria and the mission aims to deliver ready-to-launch CubeSat by 2017. During the 2 years project, selected students from these countries will work together to design, develop and operate 5 units of identical 1U CubeSat (1kg, 10cm cubic) which is a type of miniaturized satellite for space research, each belonging to the five participating countries. These satellites will be operated from 7 ground stations.

This project will provide Bangladesh's engineers and university students to get hands on experience and education on satellite engineering and learn about the greater challenges of satellite mission. As a result, in future, this group of engineers will be able to provide their expert assistance to Bangladesh Government's mission to launch first geostationary communication satellite of Bangladesh, "Bangabondhu Satellite". BRAC University considers this as a milestone for the "Space Technology Transfer" and aims at using the satellite for following missions:

1. Observe space environment.

2. Monitor satellite location.

3. Demonstrate Ground Station Network for Nano-satellite constellation.

4. Attain multi-point simultaneous space environment measurement.

5. Relay audio signal and attain communication through HAM radio during emergency and catastrophe. Also play national anthem on special national days.

6. Take high quality aerial photograph of land to analyze vegetation, urbanization, flood, sea are surveillance, meteorology data etc.


Iftar items get pricier in port city

A Correspondent :

Iftar market in the Port city has gained momentum since the beginning of Ramzan and most of the shops and makeshift stalls are wearing a festive look to attract customers.

But not everyone is in a festive mood this year. People from middle and lower income groups are suffering due to a price-hike in iftar items.

As the price of the ingredients to make iftar items has gone up in kitchen markets, price of iftar items also went up, said the traders and consumers.

"Every year we see traders increase the price, it gets quite difficult for the middle-income group to maintain the monthly budget," said Habib Ullah, a resident of Mohammadpur.

However, Chittagong District Administration, Consumers Association of Bangladesh, and Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry have already started monitoring the prices of the daily essentials at different markets and have punished several unscrupulous traders for hiking the price, said CDA sources.

But the retailers are compelled to hike up the price of the iftar essentials as their purchase price was higher, said Lokman Hossain, a shopkeeper at Chawk Bazar Kitchen Market. "We only make a profit of Tk 2-3 a kg on each items," he said.

The retailers said they had already stockpiled many ingredients, purchased at a high price before Ramzan and there was no drive going on at that time. Now, it will be hard for them to reduce the price since it will not even cover their expenses, they added.

Meanwhile, price of almost all the iftar items soared in different outlets. While visiting Kazir Dewri, Chawk Bazar, Lalkhan Bazar, Dewan Bazar and Proborttak Intersection areas, this correspondent noticed that the price varied from areas to areas.

A kg of chana was sold at Tk 220 per kg at Snoopy in Probarttak Intersection while it was Tk 130 to 150 in different shops in Kazir Dewri, Chawk Bazar and Dewan Bazar areas.

Price of pianju and beguni was Tk 3 a piece in roadside shops in those areas but it was Tk 5-6 in eateries. Jilapi was Tk 120 to Tk 130 at roadside outlets while it was around Tk 220 to Tk 250 at many restaurants.

"I used to pay Tk 3 a piece for a pianju but this year a pianju of the same size is Tk 5," said Kawsar Ahmed, a salesman at a shopping mall, adding, "Rate of other items has also increased."

"The budget for iftar items has gone up around 30 percent," said Asad Hider, a jobholder at a private firm, adding, "My remuneration has not increased but expenses have gone up...I don't know how we will survive in the days to come."

Meanwhile, people from low income group, who do not usually get to have iftar with families due to their work schedule, mostly break their fast in roadside stalls.

Tamij Uddin, a rickshaw-puller, said he breaks his fast with muri, chana, and pianju. "Sometimes I eat a little bit of halim but I cannot afford it," he said, adding, "A plate of halim is being sold at Tk 60 at the roadside stalls."

"We all chip in and have iftar in our shop everyday," said Abdur Razzak, a salesman at a shopping mall, who breaks his fast at work.

"We share the burden of the price-hike together. Even though we miss our families, all of us (colleagues) become part of a family by having iftar together," he said.
Police equipping civilians with sticks: Way for more violence

Media report said police have taken a major step to strengthen rural policing by equipping people with bamboo stick and whistle to work as vigilante against militants as the spate of target killing is now spreading at village level. Senior police officials equipped a group of 40 local people at Surajgonj Bazar of Chuadanga district Tuesday. At a similar function the Police Super also distributed bamboo stick and whistle at Badargonj Bazar of the district in which ruling party men were primarily mobilized to come forward and demonstrate their strength to fight terrorism. Similarly over the last two days Magura District Police Super has also equipped people of the Hindu community at seven temple areas highlighting the government new move to guard against militant attacks and their target killing. As the news in the media flashed out Wednesday, many have raised question about the safety of ordinary people from such organized groups and more so when they are ruling party men having access to police protection to take on any one on suspicion while attacking political opponents. The apprehension is high in the air at a time when police are carrying out countrywide crackdown against militants and the new groups will join now to crack on the people. Many fears that a situation may eventually develop in the name of hunting militants in which not only police will continue to arrest thousands people but also that such bamboo wielding people will beat opponents of the government putting them in jail or ending in killing. It was police so long responsible for people's safety but they will have local vigilantes now who will terrorize the people. Let the government be right in stopping militancy. By encouraging civilians, whether government supporters or not, to use sticks for fighting militancy is a very simplistic way. There will be more violence but not less militancy. Because many have political grievances to deal with politically. To match violence with violence increases violence.We want police to be more professional.
Ex-SP's daughter mysteriously dies in city, husband held

Staff Reporter :

The daughter of a former Superintendent of Police (SP) mysteriously died in the city's Mohakhali area early Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Shoili Rahman, a model. She was daughter of ex-SP Motiur Rahman, hailing from Barisal district.

Police have also detained Shoili's husband Ovi Chowdhury on charge of murder.

Victim's relatives alleged Shoili's husband Ovi admitted that her unconscious wife was rushed to Metropolitan Hospital in Mohakhali at about 2:00am and fled the hospital. Shoili died in the hospital at about 3:00am.

They also said that Ovi and Shoili got married four years ago. Since then, he used to torture Shoili over family feud.

Meanwhile, Ovi told police that Shoili committed suicide by hanging herself on account of a family feud, said Salah Uddin Khan, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Banani Police Station.

A case was filed in this connection, the police official said.

The body has been sent to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) morgue for an autopsy, he said.
Inu should be brought to justice: BNP

UNB, Dhaka :Blaming a fraction of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasod) for creating anarchy in the country after the Liberation War, BNP on Wednesday said Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu should be brought to justice for that.Speaking at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also alleged that the Prime Minister is cheating with her blood by pampering Inu."The Awami League general secretary echoed the desire of their party' s leaders and activists through what he said about Jasod. A group of Jasod had played a role in carrying out destructive activities and killings across the country after the Liberation War. I don't want to say all leaders and activists of the party are bad many of them are patriots," he said. The BNP leader further said, "But, some leaders of the party like Inu had tried to push the country towards destruction. They're the cause of huge bloodletting. If we analyse Inu's activities during 1972-75, we'll find those are similar to current extremism and militancy."Earlier on Monday, Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam blamed Jasod for creating the grounds for the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the economical backwardness of Bangladesh. Speaking at a programme of Bangladesh Chhatra League at the Teacher-Student Centre of Dhaka University, he also said Awami League will have to repent for making a JSD leader minister.Narrating various 'destructive activities' carried out by Jasod during the post Liberation War period, Rizvi said Inu should be tried for three reasons.The first reason, he said, Inu had led a group of Jasod leaders and activists to carry out a sudden armed attack on the security persons of then home minister Mansur Ali's residence in 1974 during a peaceful demonstration programme there, leaving many Jasod men and some law enforcers dead.
Fitra fixed at Tk 65



The government of Wednesday fixed the minimum Fitra at Tk 65 and the maximum at Tk 1650 per head for this year.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Fitra Fixation Committee at the conference room of the Islamic Foundation in the city. Director of the Islamic Foundation Dr. Mohammad Abdus Salam presided over the meeting.

A handout issued by the Islamic Foundation after the meeting said the per person minimum Fitra has been fixed at Tk 65, while the maximum at Tk 1650 this year taking into account the market prices of wheat, fine wheat, dates and other items. Fitra can be given in cash or kind. Fitra is 'wajib' (compulsory) for all members of a Muslim family and should be paid to the poor people before the Eid Jamaat.
Teacher hacked in Madaripur

One held while fleeing

Staff Reporter :

A college teacher was critically injured by unknown miscreants in Madaripur town on Wednesday afternoon.

The injured is identified as Ripan Chakraborty, a lecturer in Mathematics of Govt Nazimuddin University College in the district.

Ripan was first rushed to Madaripur Sadar Hospital. Later, he was shifted to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in critical condition, said Madaripur Additional Superintendent of Police (In-Charge) Uttam Kumar Pal.

One of the attackers, Golam Faizullah, was caught by the locals while fleeing after the attack. He was later handed over to police, said Ziaul Murshed, Officer-in-Charge of Madaripur Sadar Police Station

Faizullah, son of Golam Faruk, comes from Dighiapara village of Chapainawabganj district. And he is now in custody at Madaripur Sadar police station, "Miscreants knocked the door of Ripan's house near the college campus around 4:30pm and indiscriminately started stabbing him as soon as he opened the door," the police official said.

The reason behind the attack could not be ascertained immediately, the OC said adding that police detained a person in connection with the attack.

"The arrestee is being quizzed and further action will be taken after the interrogation," he said

"He had four deep injury marks in his head and several other parts of his body," said Dr Abu Safar Hawlader, medical officer of Madaripur Sadar hospital.
Its not time for mudslinging : Inu

Criticising Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam's allegation that Jasad created grounds for the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu on Wednesday said it is not the time for 'mudslinging' as secret killings are taking place in the country.

"It isn't the time to analyse the mistakes made by Awami League and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal from 1972-1975. But it's history which will judge it and everything will be evaluated in the light of history," he said.

Inu, also the president of a fraction of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) said this while talking to journalists after a programme held at the Secretariat in the city. At a programme of Bangladesh Chhatra League on Monday, Syed Ashraful Islam said JSD created grounds for the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the economic backwardness of the country.

"JSD had misguided people about the spirit of the Liberation War in the name of scientific socialism and tried to make independence controversial," he added. Reacting to the remarks of AL general secretary, Inu said, "At this moment, militants are attacking the common people through secret killings It's a severe problem. All-out and combine efforts are needed for the security of the country and its people. The 14-party under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina is working together in this regard."

"We think there shouldn't be any mudslinging within the 14-party. Isn' t the time to practise history rather it is the time to stamp out militancy completely and protect the people of the country. That's why I think the comments which are being made against Jasad are unexpected, regretful and irrelevant," said the information minister. Shedding lights on the context of 1972-1975, the JSD leader said it has to be kept in mind that every incident of the time was documented in the pages of history.

"History will evaluate how wrong, or how much harms were done by the sycophants of Bangabandhu and Jasad who publicly detracted him," he added.

"It has to be kept in mind that the prime minister herself and we repeatedly said Bangabandhu was killed by a reactionary, anti-state and communal force. So, the comment to hold a specific political party responsible for the killing of Bangabandhu is not historical," he added. Inu went on saying, "Today, we think Awami League, Jasad and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have decided to forge the unity analysing deeply the sorrowful event of the 1975. And we think the unity has brought welfare to the nation."

He observed that Bangladesh was able to lead itself under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina in the path of non-communalism, democracy and constitution recovering from communalism and the curse of military rule.

The Jasad leader urged its leaders and activists not to be misguided by the comment of Awami League general secretary. In reply to a question whether Ashraf's comment would cast any impact on the unity of the alliance, he said, "The unity of Awami League and Jasad was a political decision. So, such comment won't affect the unity."
Aslam Chy on fresh remand

bdnews24.com :

After three rounds of police interrogation on charges of treason, BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury will be now grilled in two violence-related cases.

Police produced Aslam before two different Dhaka courts on Wednesday and sought ten days' remand in each of the cases. The courts granted one day each for the two cases filed with the Motijheel and Lalbagh police stations. Aslam has been charged with vandalism, arson and obstruction to police duty in the violence cases by filed by the police stations in Dhaka. He was in the

limelight recently because of his meeting with Israel's Likud Party leader Mendi N Safadi during an event in New Delhi this year.

Safadi was a former advisor to Israeli deputy minister MK Ayoub Karar. He also runs the Mendi N Safadi Center for International Diplomacy and Public Relations.
Pak, Afghan forces agree on ceasefire at border

Agencies | Peshawar :

The border authorities of Pakistan and Afghanistan on Wednesday formally agreed over ceasefire at Torkham and waved white flags on both sides of the border, it has been learnt.

According to security sources, the border authorities of both the sides met for a short meeting following which they waved white flags on their respective sides.

The construction work on Torkham gate also started following the ceasefire announcement.

Earlier in the day, an Afghan official said that renewed clashes at Pakistan-Afghan border crossing have killed an Afghan border guard and wounded five others, with Pakistan saying it has dispatched more troops and weapons to the volatile border amid an escalation in tension between the two neighbors.

Pakistan officials maintain that the unprovoked firing from Afghan forces is disrupting border management efforts by Pakistan Army.

"Strengthening of management and facilitation of the movement of people and vehicles across the border is an important part of counter-terrorism effort and also for checking drug trafficking

and other illegal activities," Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said in an official statement on Wednesday. Aziz said that durable peace and stability across the border cannot be achieved without taking effective measures for strengthening border controls.
IS now a global threat

BD, US to fight terrorism jointly: Bernicat. Arrests not politically motivated: Kamal

Staff Reporter :Laying emphasis on working together against terrorism, the US Ambassador to Dhaka Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat has said that the threat of IS [Islamic State] remains everywhere across the globe. You don't need to find out whether the IS, an International Islamist terrorist outfit, has any presence in Bangladesh or not. Rather, Bangladesh and the US should work jointly to tackle terrorism. Because terrorism is a global threat and its presence is worldwide.The US envoy told newsmen after a meeting with the Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at his Secretariat office on Wednesday. "We don't have to talk about where there is an organisation or not, the Bangladesh and US governments have agreed that it's a global threat. And so, we have to work on it globally," Bernicat mentioned. "Nobody should be killed for their beliefs or killed in the act of trying to convince other people to do things. Presence of terrorist isn't really the right question to ask. The people must be aware of the terrorists," she expressed her thinking about the terrorists,". Explaining the global threat of terrorism Bernicat further said, "If I can go on to my computer and I can reach by somebody in ISIL or I can find somebody in ISIL and talk to them then they are present in my life and they can distort my life, they can take my life and so presence isn't really the right question to ask. The question to ask, are we working together to fight them."On the development of the case filed over the brutal killing of USAID official Xulhaz Mannan, the ambassador said that she knows that the police are working hard to identify the suspects and round those up. "Despite the fact that this is a very difficult investigation, we believe the police are working on a breakthrough and we look forward to that breakthrough," she added.On the other hand, about her visit the Home Minister said: "The US ambassador came to my office all in a sudden. We've discussed over several issues. I've conveyed our grief to her about the Monday's 'killings' in a gay night club in the US We both countries have agreed to tackle the terrorism, which is a global threat nowadays." "The ambassador is going to US and so, she will not be present here for a few days. We mainly discussed the security arrangements of US citizens. I've informed that the presence of law enforcement agencies and surveillance has been beefed up around US embassy in Dhaka. At the same time, the number of check posts and CCTVs has been increased in the diplomatic area," he said. When US envoy asked whether there is any political motive behind the ongoing special drive, the Home Minister categorically said none was arrested under 'political motivation' till the date. Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal also informed the US envoy that everyone was arrested with specific allegation during the ongoing special drive that started on June 10. "There are 630 police stations in the country. If 20 persons are arrested in each police station, the total number of arrestees stood at 12, 600. So, the number of arrestees during the ongoing drive is not a big figure.The warranted accused were caught. The militants have also been nabbed in the raids," he said.
Photo by Robin May

It began with an agreement: Louisiana would provide Bell Helicopter with the funds and provisions to construct a $23.6 million assembly plant at Lafayette Regional Airport, where Bell would eventually begin production of its new 505 Jet Ranger X and create 115 new jobs. Former Gov. Bobby Jindal touted the agreement as a way to diversify the local economy and make Lafayette a great place for business to locate.

The cooperative endeavor agreement among Louisiana Economic Development, the Lafayette Airport Commission, the Lafayette Economic Development Authority and Bell aimed to ensure the establishment of a rotorcraft final assembly facility in Lafayette  a plan that promised to stimulate both the economy and the job market.

The deal was signed in December 2013. However, in May of this year  less than a year after completing the 82,000-square-foot Lafayette Assembly Center  the company shifted gears and announced it will move final production of the 505 to Quebec, Canada, and will instead build in Lafayette the Bell 525 Relentless cabin and the Northrop Grumman MQ-8C aerial vehicle, projects it is transferring from Amarillo, Texas, and Ozark, Ala., respectively. The company said it is unsure how many employees it will now need in Lafayette.

According to LED Secretary Don Pierson, Bells plant in Quebec has seen hundreds of layoffs in recent years, and Bell leadership decided moving the project north would be the best decision.

The shift in plans may create a change in outcomes  and, possibly, a change in Bells agreement with the Bayou State.

Pierson notes that the transfer may have violated the agreement, which requires the company to build a rotorcraft final assembly facility in Lafayette. "The new production plan envisions assembly of major components, but not complete rotorcrafts, he says.

An agreement change is on the way, but Pierson says it is too early to tell what the changes will be.

According to the terms of the 2013 agreement, LED is providing performance-based grants for facility construction, infrastructure and equipment, relocation and facility lease. LED also is offering free workforce support through its FastStart program.

In return, the company is supposed to rack up at least $900,000 in required capital expenditures by Dec. 31 and $6.8 million by 2029. If Bell does not meet the required capital expenditures, it must reimburse the state equal to 3 percent of shortfalls. Failure to meet new payroll requirements means Bell reimburses 30.5 percent of the shortfall.

The agreement also calls for Bell to add 75 new jobs this year, with the number of jobs in its Lafayette facility eventually reaching 135 and a required total payroll of $6.3 million. According to the contract, Bell must create 115 new jobs by the end of 2018. If Bell surpasses its required new payroll, it will receive credit for the excess that can offset future shortfalls.

Although the contract states that Bell should not transfer its leasehold without LEDs consent, Bell is able to transfer assignments to affiliates without prior consent so long as it does not affect the companys ability to carry out its obligations.

However, the agreement could still constitute a default if Bell fails to commence operation, ceases operation, fails to meet its payroll requirement, comply with audits or files for bankruptcy.

If a default occurs, Bell will have a 60-day period to make amends; if amends are not made, the agreement will be terminated, and the end result could be legal action against Bell.

If the state terminates the agreement, Bell will owe the state a reimbursement dependent on the year terminated. If terminated for any reason this year, Bell would be obligated to reimburse the state for $16.5 million, and $16.3 million in 2017.

In the last three years, Louisiana provided approximately $7 billion in tax breaks for 14 separate deals.

Bell is only the latest company to fall short of the promises made in exchange for government help. In the last three years, Louisiana provided approximately $7 billion in tax breaks for 14 separate deals, according to an April story in Bloomberg titled Taxpayer Subsidies to Companies Fall 70% as U.S. States Pull Back. According to the financial news source, the cost of those tax breaks and other incentives to corporations have exceeded Louisianas corporate income and franchise tax revenue by more than $225 million since November.

The helicopter makers sharp change in plans came weeks after Union Tank Car announced it would lay off 224 workers in mid-June after it received $65.2 million in incentives for bringing a $100 million plant to Alexandria that could employ 850 employees. The change also comes on the heels of German Pellets Louisianas Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in February after receiving a $75 million industrial tax exemption in 2013 for capital improvements at a plant in La Salle Parish.

Gary Perilloux, communications director at LED, says its too early to tell whether Bell will have to reimburse Louisiana for shortfalls. It will not be an issue until after this calendar year, he says of the transfers potential impact on the contract. Reimbursement provisions  that always is something that gets done down the road.

However, Perilloux says Bell is still committed to the area and the new, multi-million dollar facility.

We know that changes are happening, he says, We dont know what its going to look like two to three years down the line.

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Dr. Craig Walker

From opening one of the worlds most innovative heart hospitals and research institutions to authoring and coauthoring articles in more than 60 medical journals, Dr. Craig Walker has seen the world rage on to progress, and he relayed the importance of change and creation to UL Lafayettes spring 2016 graduates.

The internet has destroyed traditional geographic boundary protection, Walker said during his keynote speech. We now must compete with the entire world. Telephones being answered in India, manufacturing outsourced to low-cost countries, telemedicine practiced from remote locations with electronic devices that can be evaluated from anywhere in the world are just a few of the examples of how the world has changed.

For Walker, change has been his soup du jour since his one-man mission to improve cardiovascular health grew into the 16-location Cardiovascular Institute of the South.

Founded in 1983 as the Houma Heart Clinic, Walkers startup clinic trickled into larger waters after a stint with stent research. The clinics research attracted more physicians until expansion became an obvious solution. Under the same name it goes by today, CIS expanded to Thibodaux in 1985 and Morgan City by 1986.

With its once-tiny staff of Walker, a secretary and a nurse, the clinic has expanded to more than 40 physicians in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, with five locations in partnership with Lafayette General Medical Center, three of which are in Lafayette and the other two in Breaux Bridge and Crowley. Together, the locations serve the nations epicenter for research. CIS is working on more than 50 different research projects, and Walker, still stationed in Houma, continues to explore new stent technology and vanguard tools.

We have done some of the first-inworld work in a research project with a guide wire that measures the size of a blood vessel, Walker tells ABiz. It can give us a digital reading within .1 millimeter so we know exactly the size of a vessel. According to Walker, this work will soon be published.

The Nicholls State University alumnus and Harvard Medical School research fellows is also working on a project to remove blood clots and a company that utilizes ultrasound technology to help dilate blood vessels.

But what, really, is the future of cardiovascular care? For Walker, its better prevention.

Im the guy that people come to after many people have been told that they have no other options, and I have to find a way to treat them, Walker says. Clearly, thats not the best way to treat. The best way to improve, if were looking at the future, is to prevent the disease in the first place.

A monumental aspect of improvement is education, such as preventing people from smoking, ensuring people watch their weight and keeping their blood sugar under control. However, for those who do need treatment, Walker predicts safer alternatives to intervention techniques.

I think its going to be further and further improvement of less-invasive treatments, he says. At this point, drug-relieving coronary stents ... have rates as good as bypass surgery. I suspect we will continue to see that improve in the future.

Another sector of improvement is the advent of internet communication. Every morning, I receive images from outside clinics, says Walker. Some of those are well outside of the United States, some from China, some from Latin America. Health physicians send in an individual image asking me if I have any suggestions about approaches that they havent thought of. They may tell me what approach theyre planning to use; we can make suggestions about things that may or may not work.

These are kinds of things that exist now, Walker continues, and I think they represent the things that are a real win for our patients.

Also with the internet comes the opportunity for CIS clinicians to create better educational and screening programs.

Im pretty pleased with what we have done and fairly happy with the success weve had. Im not planning to change anything very different in terms of my approach. I do, however, plan to change a lot to go with changes that will occur in medicine, Walker says.

Walker told the approximately 1,600 UL graduates gathered at the Cajundome that the only way to survive in any field is to have a willingness to grow and the tenacity to withstand change.

Success will require constant continued education, self-evaluation and readjustment of goals, he said. The ability to embrace change and innovation will be a crucial asset.

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Pre-purchase property inspection is a relatively new thing in the United Kingdom. Its not something that most people have heard about, but it has become increasingly popular over the last few years with the rise in property prices and increased demand for high quality homes.

What are the benefits of pre-purchase building inspection? What can you expect to find out when you pay someone else to inspect your home before you buy it? And what should you look for during an inspection?

Many people want to know if theyre buying a house thats been well maintained or if its had any serious problems. If youve found a place on the market that seems attractive, but then discover some issues after moving in, you may not be as excited about buying it as you thought you were.

Its important to do your due diligence when looking at properties. A lot goes into making a property appealing to potential buyers, from the landscaping to the flooring to the kitchen appliances. The same applies when inspecting a property  there are many things that need checking over to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Here are some of the benefits of performing a pre-purchase inspection:

You get to see exactly what will happen to your money

When you go shopping for a new car, youll probably be shown several different models. You might even be shown one that looks like a great value, but doesnt fit around all of the extra features that you want. When it comes time to actually buy the vehicle, however, you wont have seen how your money will be spent on it once you drive it off the showroom floor.

Likewise, when you shop for a new home, you dont really know what youre getting yourself into until you move in. In order to get a feel for whether the home youre considering is what you want, you normally have to spend quite a bit of time inside it. This allows you to learn more about everything that youre going to be spending your hard-earned cash on.

A pre-purchase building inspection gives you much the same kind of experience without having to spend thousands of dollars. Since youre paying for the service, you can expect to see exactly what youre paying for, instead of just seeing a vague idea of what you might end up with.

You find out about potential major repairs

Some buildings are very expensive to maintain, which means that owners often neglect them for the sake of saving money. While youre paying for a building inspection, youre also paying for a professional who knows how to spot signs of trouble and repair work that needs doing.

If you notice that a particular area of your new home needs fixing right away, you can call in an expert to take care of it quickly. If you find that theres something wrong with your boiler, you wont have to wait weeks for a plumber to come over and fix it. Instead, youll have access to a solution immediately.

You can save hundreds of pounds by finding out about potential problems early on

One of the biggest expenses when you first buy a home is the cost of moving in. Many people dont realize this until its too late. Buying a home involves not only paying for the actual house, but also for moving costs, furniture, and other items that have to be moved along with the home.

Having a good idea ahead of time of what youre likely to encounter can help you avoid these kinds of costs. If you know youll need to replace the plumbing system, for example, youll be able to put together a budget for the expense and plan accordingly.

You can protect your investment by finding out if the homes been well cared for

While there are plenty of people who think that houses always look better when theyre newly built, youd be surprised at how well maintained older residences can still look nice. Sometimes, though, those homes need some additional maintenance to keep them looking their best.

This could involve repairs that arent so noticeable or small improvements that you wouldnt consider otherwise. Even worse, some houses have fallen into disrepair without anyone noticing. This is why having a professional perform a building inspection prior to purchasing a home is such a big benefit.

Not only will it give you insight into the state of the property, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing youre not getting taken advantage of. As long as youre aware of the potential pitfalls, youll have less reason to worry about the state of your new home.

You can use information gathered during a building inspection to negotiate a lower price

If youre worried about buying a home because you suspect that it may need extensive renovation work, you may already have a rough idea of how much work youll need to do to bring it up to scratch. That knowledge can come in handy if you decide to buy the home.

You can use all of the details that you gather during a building inspection to present a realistic picture of what the home is worth to prospective buyers. If a potential buyer thinks that the home is worth more than what you paid for it, you can try negotiating a lower price.

You can sell your home faster and for more money

If you decide to list your home on the market soon after buying it, youll need to price it accurately in order to attract buyers. But if youve already done a thorough building inspection, youll know exactly what work is needed and what the current market conditions are.

In other words, youll be able to make a more accurate estimate of the amount of money youve invested in the home and how much its worth. If you find that youre selling your house for close to its full market value, you can use this information to convince the potential buyer that your home is worth the asking price.

Even if youre planning to stay in the home for a while before you decide to sell, the fact that you did a thorough building inspection will give you more confidence when listing it. Prospective buyers will know exactly what theyre paying for.

Your home will hold its value longer

As mentioned earlier, the value of a home depends heavily upon the condition of the building itself. If your home is in bad shape, potential buyers wont be interested in buying it. On the other hand, if youve performed a thorough building inspection and know what sort of repairs are necessary, you can offer your prospective buyer a compelling reason to invest in your property.

When you buy a home, youre essentially agreeing to have it inspected periodically to ensure that it stays in top shape. Not only does this allow you to avoid expensive repairs down the road, but it can also increase the value of your home.

You can make smart decisions about property investments

Buying real estate isnt as simple as just driving a couple of minutes to pick up a house. There are lots of considerations involved, ranging from location to cost. The same is true when youre investing in property.

If you find a house that meets all of your requirements, youll want to make sure that you have a solid understanding of where it stands with regards to the rest of the market. If you havent spent enough time researching the area, you could inadvertently end up with a bad deal.

There are lots of resources available online that can help you determine the overall level of competition in your area. They can also help you figure out if there are any properties that meet your requirements that you didnt know about.

If you own rental property, you can use the information to identify tenants who might cause damage

If you own rental property and youve noticed that certain tenants consistently cause damage, you can use the results of a building inspection to identify them. You can then contact them directly to let them know that youre watching them closely and that you dont appreciate the problem theyre causing.

They might start taking better care of their homes, which would be good news for everyone. It could also be the case that youll find out that theyre responsible for previous damages that werent caught during a previous visit.

You can make smarter decisions about hiring contractors

If youve hired contractors to build or repair your home, you might want to ask them for references. However, unless you perform a thorough building inspection, you might not know exactly what to look for.

For instance, maybe you only checked the roof for leaks or the walls for cracks. You might not have looked underneath the foundation for anything that could cause a future issue. By performing a building inspection, you can ensure that you hire reputable contractors who will be trustworthy with your money.

You can avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition

Of course, the main benefit of structural inspections perth is that it helps you avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition. Before you make the decision to buy a home, you should do whatever you can to find out about the state of the building.

You can also ask your realtor about what sorts of inspections are typically recommended. Some agents say that its standard practice to check the heating system, the roof, the electrical wiring, and the floors. Others will tell you that they recommend that you check the entire structure.

Either way, if you choose to hire an inspector, youll find out exactly what needs to be fixed and how much it will cost to do so.

As a result, it can be concluded that a pre-purchase building inspection is highly important for the buyers because it provides transparency regarding the current conditions of the structure. Additionally, the building owner is made aware of any upgrades or repairs that are required, which could lead to a fair deal throughout the purchasing and selling process.
The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now.

Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market.

In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender.

India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex.

Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted.

But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted?

Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner.

If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems.

I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now.

I want more variation in masturbation

I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own.

If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end.

What is sex toys for Indian?

Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation.

It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms.

They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable.

Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner.

The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner.

It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past.

In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping.

Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order.

In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing.

Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome.

Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own.

But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance.

More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around.

Sextoy situation in India

Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years.

In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India.

Mumbai

Kolkata

Bangalore

Delhi

Chennai

Hyderabad

These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India.

In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well.

If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too.

If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it.

What are Sextoys for beginner?

Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms.

Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy.

I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion.

I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy.

If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma.

Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it.

Advantages of using sextoy for Indians

There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians

You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways.

Can have stimulating sex

Can develop new sexual zones

If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern.

However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways.

You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation.

Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever.

There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure.

This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it.

When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems.

It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms).

For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles

[Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou...

Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India.

Sextoy for beginner men in India

So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners.

For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men!

The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men

Masturbator

Cock rings

Love Doll

Sex Lubricants

Toys for the prostate

Lets check each one in detail.

Masturbator

The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products.

It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands.

Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands.

They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.)

Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much.

Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! !

Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa   SEXToys India PR  (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018

Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood.

If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here

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[For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien...

Cock Ring

A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis.

It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow.

It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber.

In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection.

Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction.

It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it.

Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time.

Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function.

Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy.

You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect.

[Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat...

Love Doll

Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex.

There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women.

Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price.

The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true.

You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste.

There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice.

You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls.

If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here

Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to...

Sex lubricants

Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules.

It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution.

Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse.

There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent.

Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent.

If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here.

What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many...

Toys for the Prostate

Another sextoy for men is prostate toys.

The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line.

Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men.

Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men.

What is the prostate?

The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm.

You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus.

By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms.

Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.)

The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation.

Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure.

sextoy for beinner women in India

The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy.

The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy.

Vibrator.

Dildo

Electric Masserger

Lets check out what each one is in detail.

If you want to check out womens toys, click here.

[BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm...

Vibrators

A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator.

Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy.

It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy.

Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women.

For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators.

Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex.

Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself.

This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual.

Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men.

When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons.

Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most...

Dildo

A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis.

It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass.

A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it.

They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well.

It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device.

A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo.

Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands.

For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis.

This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one.

To learn more about dildo, please click here.

What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th...

Electric Masserger

A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores.

It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low.

Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels.

Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation.

It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure.

For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm.

It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out.

If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager?

To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here.

What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th...

How to choose a sextoy for Indian

Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one.

Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points:  Does the size fit you (the partner)?

Does the size fit you (your partner)?

Is the environment able to produce sound without problems?

Price range

First of all, the choice of size is quite important.

Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women.

For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage.

Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems.

Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise.

If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level.

Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it.

Finally, there is the price range.

The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest.

Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy.

Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy?

I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance.

For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics.

If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out.

How to buy sextoys in India

The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping.

For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below.

Sextoy is one of them.

Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping.

SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India.

They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry.

Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card.

To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy.

ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal.

Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on.

Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture.

Cautions for Indians using sextoy

When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind

Keep sex toys clean

Watch out for electrical leakage

Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy

As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone.

Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there.

It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case.

In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness.

Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful.

If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it.

You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly.

Summary

What did you think?

In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India.

The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future.

As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values.

However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health.

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A Murphysboro man was sentenced Tuesday to 125 months in prison for a crack cocaine offense, according to a news release from James L. Porter, acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.

Keenon J. Farr, 32, previously pleaded guilty to an indictment charging conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. The offense occurred between October 2014 and July 2015 in Williamson and Jackson Counties.

Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Farr was involved with others in the distribution of crack cocaine in the Marion and Carbondale areas. During the investigation, Farr sold crack cocaine to confidential sources working for law enforcement. At sentencing, the judge found that Farr was responsible for the distribution of 525.12 grams of crack cocaine and 24.78 grams of cocaine.

Co-defendants Tommy T. Langston and Tammy R. Whitton have each previously been sentenced to terms of 120 months for their role in the crack cocaine conspiracy.

 The Southern
SPRINGFIELD  Even before a gunman opened fire over the weekend at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 people before being fatally shot by police, efforts were under way in the Illinois General Assembly to strengthen the states gun laws.

The Illinois House is considering a bill that would require gun dealers to be licensed by the state and another that would create a lethal violence order of protection, allowing family members, roommates or law enforcement officers to seek court orders barring individuals from possessing firearms if theres evidence showing that they pose a danger to themselves or others. Both measures are sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, who didnt respond to requests for comment.

Colleen Daley, executive director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, said mass shootings like the one in Orlando, the deadliest in U.S. history, underscore the need for stricter controls on the sale and possession of guns.

We see this time and time again, primarily in Congress, Daley said. These things happen and everyone says thoughts and prayers, and then it leads to inaction.  Inaction is no longer an option. We have to do absolutely everything we possibly can to help save lives in our country."

The need for stronger gun laws should already be clear in Illinois, Daley said, noting that 42 people were shot, seven of them fatally, this past weekend in Chicago.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was able to purchase the semi-automatic handgun and rifle he used in the attack despite reportedly having previously been on the FBIs terrorist watch list. Changing that would require congressional action, but Daley said measures like those under consideration in Illinois could help stem the tide of gun violence.

Congress refuses to act, so we need to do things here in Illinois that are going to save lives, she said.

Allowing family members to go to court for lethal violence orders of protection could potentially prevent a mass shooting, Daley said.

Since the Orlando shooting, Mateens ex-wife has said publicly that he was mentally unstable and mentally ill. Under the proposed Illinois law, however, only a relative by blood or present marriage, a roommate or a law enforcement officer would be able to seek such a court order.

State licensing of firearm dealers, meanwhile, would help prevent guns from reaching the streets to be used in crimes, Daley said.

A 2014 report from the Chicago Police Department notes that four stores  three in suburban Cook County and one in Gary, Indiana  accounted for nearly 20 percent of the guns recovered in Chicago crimes from 2009 to 2013.

More scrutiny from state regulators and local law enforcement would help keep guns out of criminals hands, the report says.

But Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said both measures under consideration in the General Assembly are examples of unnecessary overreach.

The organization posted an announcement on its website Monday saying that the gun-grabbers in the Illinois House are still waiting for their opportunity to call for a vote on the dangerous legislation on state licensing.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives already tightly regulates gun sales, making additional state oversight unnecessary, Pearson said.

If the bill were to become law, he said, it would be used by Chicago and Cook County to harass gun sellers.

Likewise, allowing family members to seek court orders barring people from possessing guns could be used for harassment of people, of relatives you didnt like, Pearson said.

Somebody can complain against you, and your rights are immediately wiped out without any hearing, he said.

The bill provides for a hearing within 14 days of an emergency order being granted.

Pearson said his organization isnt against laws that will help put people who use guns illegally in jail. For example, the Illinois State Rifle Association supported a bill the Legislature approved this spring that would create a felony charge for firearm trafficking.

The General Assembly also approved a bill that would require the Illinois State Police to notify local law enforcement agencies when someones Firearm Owners Identification card is revoked due to a court-issued order of protection.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Bruce Rauner said he will carefully review these bills to ensure they protect public safety and the rights of lawful gun owners.
SPRINGFIELD  Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration says it wants to bypass an administrative law judge's recommendation in order to expedite the resolution of its case on whether negotiations have stalled between the state and the largest state worker's union.

Rauner's administration said a quick resolution will help Illinois save $35 million to $40 million per month in extra health insurance costs for workers. The administration said in a filing with the Labor board that these costs would continue while the case continues on.

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees spokesman Anders Lindall said the move is a play by the governor to impose his own terms for a new contract. AFSCME members could decide on whether to stage a strike if the Illinois Labor Relations Board makes that determination.

The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reported that union said it thinks the request is without precedent. The union has said that that there is no impasse with the discussions and wants negotiations to continue.

Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said the use of an administrative law judge is optional under state labor laws.

AFSCME, which represents about 38,000 state workers, has the opportunity to respond to the administration's request in writing. The Labor board's executive director Melissa Mlynski said that the five-member board will decide what to do with the administrator's request.

An administrative law judge began holding hearings on the case in late April.

Tom Bradley, an attorney for Rauner's administration has told the judge that the state made several concessions during 24 bargaining sessions and noted that the state is in dire financial straits. Bradley said the state's financial situation is why the administration want to freeze wages and require employees to pay more for their health insurance.

The judge will issue a recommended decision and order, but it is not binding and the board will make the final decision.
CARBONDALE  Neighborhood Co-op Grocery in Carbondale won second place and $750 from USA Pears for a display of pears, wine, and cheeses entitled Pearfect Together.

Last year, the Co-op, which is located at 1815 W. Main St., won third place in this contest.

The annual contest promotes pears to U.S. consumers, most of whom focus on apples and bananas, said Co-op Produce Manager Chris Neville in a news release.

Displays are required to include Anjou, red Anjou and Bosc USA Pears, and the Co-op also included Barlett, Comice and Seckel pears.

Neville said customers were given a chance to sample pears daily and decide their favorites.

USA Pears are defined as fresh pears that are grown in the U.S. Imported pears do not qualify for the contest. During the contest period, mid-January through March, most come from Oregon and Washington. Displays must be up for no less than seven days.

It was the creativity of Holly Mathis, Co-op visual merchandiser, that led to the winning display.
CARTERVILLE  Working at Shawnee Alliance as the agencys adult protective services unit director, David Mitchell has seen all the different ugly forms that elder abuse can take.

That can include physical, emotional or financial abuse or exploitation, as well as neglect. Neglect can be intentional or unintentional, attributed to a caregiver's lack of means or skills.

By far, the most common form of abuse cases reported to Shawnee Alliance involve financial exploitation, and the most likely abuser is a family member or other trusted caregiver, he said. Shawnee Alliances protective service unit provides services across the lower 13 counties of Southern Illinois. The unit investigates reports of abuse to adults age 60 and older, as well as adults with disabilities ages 18 to 59.

Usually theres more than one type of abuse going on with any one report we get, Mitchell said in an interview Tuesday, a day ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. For example, he said, a senior may be financially exploited via emotional abuse such as threats, or sob stories about a relative's predicaments that may or may not be true. People are encouraged to wear purple on Wednesday in an effort to bring awareness to a problem that spans the globe, and touches people across the economic spectrum.

Recognizing the problem

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was launched on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations, to promote a better understanding of the factors that can lead to abuse and what can be done to prevent it.

The incidence rate of reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation in Southern Illinois is much higher than the state and national rates, Mitchell said. But he believes that much of that could be attributed to the awareness in this area of Shawnee Alliances programs, a byproduct of the agency's extensive outreach efforts over the years.

I dont think its because we have meaner people by any means, Mitchell said. I think its because more folks are familiar with our program. Weve been around for so many years that awareness is driving surprisingly higher intake numbers for us.

In terms of reports of abuse, the nationwide rate is about 3.5 per 1,000 people, and just slightly higher than that statewide rate, which averages about 3.5 to 4, Mitchell said. The rate of abuse in Shawnee Alliances 13-county catchment area is about 15 per 1,000 people  nearly four times the national and statewide rate  he said.

Many factors at play

The rural landscape that can lead to isolation of families and older adults and people with disabilities as well as high rates of poverty may also be contributing factors. Incident rates of child abuse are also high in Southern Illinois counties compared to the statewide average, indicating abuse is an issue that has been cited across the board for vulnerable people in this region of all ages.

In Shawnee Alliances past full completed fiscal year, there were 886 reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of seniors or adults with disabilities filed with the agency. That fiscal year ran July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015. About 53 percent of those reports were substantiated, Mitchell said. Mitchell said he was not aware of available data comparing rates of substantiated reports for the region to other parts of the state or country, which could draw a more accurate picture of the scope of the problem.

The number of abuse reports filed in recent years has been relatively steady in a range of about 800 to 1,000, he said. So far this fiscal year, which ends in a couple of weeks on June 30, there have been 896 reports filed, he said. Among the counties Shawnee Alliance serves, there were 238 cases reported in Williamson County; 161 in Jackson County; 156 in Franklin County; and 51 in Perry County.

Purple pinwheels visible Wednesday outside some local county courthouses are in recognition of these reported cases, and ongoing efforts to combat elder abuse.

When it comes to financial abuse, Mitchell said, We have people stealing from those with only Social Security income, maybe just a few hundred dollars a month, up to people who may be multi-millionaires.

Most often, the perpetrator is a relative, be it a child, grandchild, spouse or other trusted person. There are cases where these individuals outright steal from the victim, but more often, the victim is emotionally exploited into handing over money he needs for himself, or doesnt really want to give, to the relative in question.

Statewide, abusers were family members in 78 percent of cases, according to the Illinois Department on Aging.

In cases where felony activity is observed, that is always reported to law enforcement, Mitchell said. But many cases the agency deals with falls into a gray area where the victim wants the abuse or exploitation to be stopped, but doesnt want the source of the problem to go to jail or otherwise face any sanctions from the judicial system.

Our programs are based on the theory of self-determination, Mitchell said. We want the victim to drive our behaviors and our activities. Four out of five perpetrators are family members. Often, they (the victims) dont want them to be arrested. If we directly observe felony criminal activity we are required to report it. Otherwise, we have to have permission of the client to do so.

There are many cases where Shawnee Alliance is able to rectify a situation without the involvement of law enforcement, Mitchell said.

Cases often complex

A 70-year-old woman from Hurst said that was the situation for her. She asked that her name be withheld because of the sensitive nature of her comments. The woman said that she was connected with Shawnee Alliance at one point when her adult son who was living with her threatened her life. She suspected he was on drugs, and that the substance abuse was affecting his behavior.

He got in my face and said hed kill me, she said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. I thought, Well, its time to do something. I didnt want to wait until I was lying in the floor in a pool of blood.'

The woman said it was very difficult to take action, but after several incidents  one witnessed by her home aide  she was connected with Shawnee Alliance's adult protective services division, and a worker helped arranged for her to spend the night in a hotel, immediately removing her from the home she shared with her son. The next day, a Shawnee Alliance worker helped her fill out an order of protection, she said.

It hurt me to do that to him but I didnt want to get hurt myself, she said.

After about a month passed, the woman said she spoke to her son. He did not have a good living situation, and she offered to let him move back in. But the woman said she told her son he was not allowed to do drugs in her home, and told him she could not tolerate threats. She had the order of protection lifted, and he moved back in.

He never did that again, she said. I can swear that on the holy Bible.

The woman had this advice for others in similar situations: I know its hard and I know its embarrassing, but if you feel that your life is in any kind of danger, you dont have to put up with that. I cant see anybody putting up with that.

She said some people may tolerate abuse because they fear being isolated, or their loved one being sent to jail. Her son died of a heart attack in April at the age of 46, three days shy of her birthday, she said. The woman described feeling extremely lonely living alone in Hurst. Even though she had that issue with her son, she didnt want to see him get in trouble, and wanted to continue a relationship with him.

I loved him, she said. He was my baby. He was all I had. I dont have anybody now. I feel so bad.
"The shooter was apparently armed with a handgun and a powerful assault rifle. This massacre is, therefore, a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school or in a house of worship or a movie theater or in a nightclub. And we have to decide if that's the kind of country we want to be. And to actively do nothing is a decision as well.

President Barack Obama

By some counts, Sunday marked the 15th time in his presidency that the president has spoken following a mass shooting. His seven-year method of doing nothing involves a public call for tightened gun laws and the extension of zero political capital in attempting to make it a reality.

"We're led by a man who is very  look, we're led by a man that either is not tough, not smart, or he's got something else in mind. And the something else in mind, you know, people can't believe it. People cannot believe, they cannot believe that President Obama is acting the way he acts and he can't even mention the words radical Islamic terrorism. There's something going on. It's inconceivable. There's something going on."

Donald Trump

Trump is frustrated. For a variety of often-conflicting reasons, virtually every American is frustrated that the latest mass shooting  Americas deadliest to date  was allowed to happen. The confluence of a gay night club, guns and an assailant with an Arabic name provided Trump with an excuse to go on the offensive. Not that hes ever required one.

"The Orlando terrorist may be dead, but the virus that poisoned his mind remains very much alive. We must attack it with clear eyes, steady hands and unwavering determination in pride in our country and our values  From my perspective, it matters what we do more than what we say  I have clearly said we  whether you call it radical jihadism or radical Islamism, I'm happy to say either. I think they mean the same thing."

Hillary Clinton

Clinton proceeded to call for renewal of the assault weapon ban, either because its what her base expects her to say, or, unencumbered with a major policy initiative such as her predecessor had with health care, because she actually plans to try to do something about it.

Reaction to the Orlando shooting by the president was as expected. Reactions by the two nominees aspiring to that role tell us much of what we need to know about their personalities and the measure of force or self-control they will employ beginning Jan. 20.

Trump refers to the president as timid and weak, and there seems to be evidence to support that claim. Most accounts paint the commander in chief as reluctant to engage in military conflict, preferring to play a peacemaker role. Ironically, then-Secretary of State Hilary Clinton was often the one pushing Obama to engage.

There is a slow, sometimes imperceptible danger in appearing timid and weak. Perceived weakness of the U.S. by countries (and organizations)  both allies and enemies  is harmful to our citizens and erodes our security.

The dangers associated with a leaders lack of self-control are likely to elicit more severe short-term consequences. A decision made in the situation room with the same level of thought employed by urgent rapid-fire tweets will not erode our security, it will place us at immediate risk.

Boldness and strength should not be incompatible with self-control. But heretofore in the presidential campaign, theyve remained mutually exclusive. If one candidate seems to display both in the next 21 weeks, they will likely become the 45th president of the United States.
NORTH  The towns fiscal year 2016-2017 budget was unanimously approved by North Town Council at its June meeting.

The council earlier in the evening held a public hearing on the proposed balanced budget totaling $923,700, then gave final approval to the spending plan during the regular meeting.

In other business, Rick Bryan, supervisor of the water and sewer department, reported the town was not cited for any violations by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control in May.

We have replaced the water main on Pou Street. This was paid for by the penny sales tax money. The 2015 Consumer Confidence Report has been completed and posted in the newspaper. Copies are available at Town Hall if anyone wants one to review, and the results are posted on the towns website, Bryan said. A storage container for supplies has been delivered to the wastewater treatment plant. It was also paid for with penny tax money. And, we have sent some proposed penny tax utility projects and cost estimates to the county for consideration for the next round of penny tax funding.

He also presented the Utility Status Report, indicating the town had 591 active water accounts and 366 active sewer accounts. There were no new taps added in May, Bryan said. The water/sewer department received 22 service orders last month, he said.

In his report for May, Police Chief Lin Shirer said the North Police Department responded to 26 calls for service, served three outstanding bench warrants, apprehended two people wanted in other jurisdictions, worked three traffic collisions and wrote 13 incident reports. In addition, police issued 57 citations  43 for traffic offenses, 10 for criminal offenses and four for business license violations.

We will be conducting a traffic safety checkpoint within the next 30 days, and we are still accepting applications for a full-time police officer, Shirer reported.

He said officers attended two training sessions last month.

Also during the meeting, the council approved the April financial statement; however, no totals were available because the bank statement had not been received prior to the council meeting.

Mayor Patty Carson announced the town will be advertising for new auditors on the state procurement website. Auditors are being sought for the 2017, 2018 and 2019 financial reports, she said.

In other business:

It was reported that the town received information from the Municipal Association of South Carolina regarding the Zika virus and effective mosquito control. That information will be posted on the towns bulletin board, it was noted.

Carson said the mosquitoes tend to be more aggressive during the daylight hours.

Councilman Julius Jones reported the towns application to FEMA had been approved. He said the Hazard Mitigation Committee will meet to determine what information is needed for the next step in the application process.

Councilman Daniel Jackson said the Zoning Board will meet on either June 20 or June 27. The date will be announced when it is scheduled, he said.

Carson announced the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center will be offering summer art classes for children. Information about the classes can be found on the towns bulletin board or by contacting the OCFAC, she said.

Former mayor Earl Jeffcoat during public comments informed council that the S.C. Alzheimers Associations annual Ride to Remember fundraiser will be held July 15-17.

They have been stopping at North Town Hall for seven years for a lunch and rest break, and want to make certain that they (can) stop here again, Jeffcoat said. The first year they came through, there were 29 riders and they raised over $30,000. Last year, there were 200 riders and they raised over $300,000. This year, they are expecting 295 riders.

Jeffcoat offered to provide the contact information for those involved, and Carson said she would consider it.

Two other citizens who asked to address council during the public comments portion of the meeting were denied that opportunity. One individual failed to include the topic to be addressed and the other person wanted to discuss a topic that was not related to the agenda items as required by the towns Guidelines for Citizen Participation.

Carson thanked Boltin Avenue Community Church for allowing her to speak during its recent outreach mission.
Orangeburg County voters went to the polls Tuesday concerned about safety and ensuring activities are available for youth.

Most important is the keeping down of crime, Betty Lincoln said. Shed like to see the people come together as a whole to make the community better.

The voters selected Democratic nominees for sheriff and House District 95.

Shirley Ward was one of several voters in the county who made Sheriff Leroy Ravenell their choice for sheriff.

To me hes a nice person. Youll call on him and hes right there for you, she said.

Its so much crime around here, she said. I hope itll be a better place though.

Alberta Cody agreed saying hes served amazingly.

Cody says she wants to see Orangeburg County become a strong and loving community.

Brandon Gathers was also in support of Ravenells re-election.

I spoke with him one-on-one countless times, he said. Gathers noted that Ravenell had also visited his church to deliver a sermon and he felt encouraged.

He described the sheriff as straight to the point. He doesnt sugar coat anything. Hes a really down-to-earth guy.

Ezell Parker and his wife Elaine Parker felt Ravenells position was one of the most important on the ballot.

Elaine Parker feels one solution to crime in the county could be providing more for the youth to be involved in.

She said shed like to see more resources for the young people. They dont have enough to do, thats why they do all kinds of things. They dont have enough resources.

Another voter, Charles Mack, would also like to see more opportunities come to Orangeburg.

He wants to see Orangeburg grow by bringing in more jobs and said hed like to see the leadership try to bring more industries.

We need that, he said.

Mack voted for Rep. Jerry Govan to be re-elected to the House District 95 seat.

I think he can help this community, Mack said. He described Govan as a people person who is very concerned about the community.

Brandon Gathers chose Dr. Kevin Ray instead saying, I havent known him for too long but I want to see what he has to offer to Orangeburg.
A Columbia man is facing two charges in a fatal hit-and-run death that happened in Calhoun County.

Ricco Lee Williams of Columbia is accused of having no drivers license and hit-and-run resulting in the death of Loubert Laube, 55, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, on May 24 on Frontage Road (adjacent to Interstate 26) near the Airgas plant.

The S.C. Highway Patrol announced the mans arrest late Tuesday night.

Officials have said Laubes truck was illegally parked in the eastbound lane of Frontage Road about 3.3 miles from Gaston.

Laube was standing beside the 2007 Freighliner when a vehicle passed, striking him and knocking him into his truck. The motorist left the scene.

Authorities now believe Williams is the motorist.

Hes currently held at the Orangeburg County Detention Center.
Less than five months before the federal government's death penalty trial of accused Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof, South Carolina's top federal prosecutor announced his immediate departure from the office Wednesday, saying he is returning to private law practice.

During an interview with The Associated Press, U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said that he had long planned to leave the post, to which he was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2010. Serving for six years, Nettles said that he had been South Carolina's longest-serving U.S. Attorney since the 1960s.

With the election in November, whoever becomes president will make his or her own selections for U.S. Attorneys across the country.

Nettles, 54, opposes the death penalty and spent much of his more than 20-year private practice career on criminal defense, at times fighting to keep defendants off death row. When he took office, Nettles told The Associated Press he would "follow the law as it's dictated by Washington," even in potential death penalty cases.

"My opinions don't matter when I work for the Department of Justice," Nettles told the AP on Wednesday, pointing out that he could put personal opinions aside while serving as a prosecutor. He called himself an "unlikely choice" for the office in the first place, in part because of that stance, as well as the fact he had never worked as a prosecutor prior to his appointment.

Asked about the Charleston case and his personal convictions, Nettles said that he had spent hours in conversation with U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch as she contemplated whether the federal government would seek the death penalty against Roof. The 22-year-old faces federal hate crime and other charges for the shooting deaths of nine members of Emanuel AME Church last June during Wednesday night Bible study.

"I am deeply grateful to the Attorney General," Nettles said, of Lynch's willingness to hear his point of view on how to handle the case. "It wasn't lip service. ... She has been very receptive to letting me speak my mind."

Roof's federal trial has been set to begin in November. He also faces a possible death sentence in state court if convicted in a trial scheduled for January.

During his six years in office, Nettles says he's proud of expanding South Carolina's federal prosecutions of white collar and public corruption cases. When he came in, Nettles says such cases were less than 25 percent of the office's work. Now, they represent more than half.

Nettles said he's also proud to have worked on ways to find alternate ways to handle cases, like sending low-level drug cases to state court and trying to figure out if addiction might be at the root of a defendant's problems, and if so, to find help.

"I never viewed my job as putting people in jail," he said. "My job was to make South Carolina a better, safer place."

With Nettles' departure, federal prosecutor Beth Drake will be serving as acting U.S. Attorney until a new choice is confirmed by the U.S. Senate. At his own firm, Nettles said he will take a variety of cases and also will pursue setting up a mediation practice for false claims cases against the federal government, an area on which he's proud to have focused as a prosecutor.

"I'm going to be a lawyer," Nettles said with a smile. "I'm going to be an advocate for my client, whoever my client may be. ... I enjoy advocacy, and I enjoy the fight."

Pascoe not interested in position

First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe, who in the past has been mentioned as a successor to Nettles, said Wednesday he would not accept the position if offered.

I need to concentrate on my job and doing what I promised the citizens of South Carolina and this circuit," the Democrat said.

"I would be very honored and appreciative, but I would decline an appointment," Pascoe said.

Pascoe is presently embroiled in a dispute with S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson over Pascoe's powers as special prosecutor in a legislative corruption investigation. The S.C. Supreme Court is to decide whether Wilson can limit Pascoe's authority and remove the solicitor from the special prosecutor position.
The only reasonable response to the massacre in Orlando is to ban the sale of military-style assault weapons. All else, Im afraid, is just noise.

If this ensconces me in an ideological corner, Im fine with that. If it insults the Constitution, so be it  any other response would do far greater harm to our freedoms. Or we could argue for a while and then do nothing. Weve tried that course of action many times, and it doesnt work.

An Islamic State sympathizer was able to go into a gun store days or weeks ago and buy both a pistol and an AR-15-style semiautomatic assault rifle, which he used to kill 49 men and women at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Had he been armed with the pistol alone, he still would have killed people  but not so many. Keeping military-grade combat weapons out of the hands of maniacs should not be a controversial idea.

The Second Amendment enshrines the right to keep and bear arms, and the Supreme Court has ruled that this is an individual right, not a collective one. The court has made clear, however, that this does not preclude reasonable gun-control measures. Not all weapons must be considered suitable for private hands.

When the framers wrote of arms, they were thinking about muskets and single-shot pistols. They could not have foreseen modern rifles or high-capacity magazines. They lived at a time when it was impossible to imagine one man barging into a crowded room and killing more than one or two people before having to reload and surely being subdued. Today it is not only imaginable but tragically commonplace.

No hunter needs an AR-15 to bring down a deer. None of us needs such a weapon to defend our families against intruders. And for those who believe assault rifles offer protection against a hypothetical tyrannical government  or who perhaps consider the present government a tyranny  I have sobering news: If and when the black helicopters come, they will be accompanied by tanks.

Why focus exclusively on the guns? Because other proposed solutions would violate the letter and spirit of the Constitution  and surely wouldnt work anyway. One of the presidential candidates  I dont want to sully this column with his name  has suggested a ban on Muslim immigration. The idea would be laughable if it were not so dangerously un-American.

First, it would be useless. The Orlando murderer  I dont want to use his name, either  was born not overseas but in New York, just like the presidential candidate in question. And in the San Bernardino killing spree, also inspired by the Islamic State, the wife was an immigrant but the husband was born in the United States. The self-radicalization of American citizens is not going to be solved by banning all believers in Islam from entry.

Which would be impossible, of course. I suppose immigration officers could ask every foreign visitor whether he or she is a Muslim, but then what? If the answer is no, wave them through? Stop them for further questioning if they look Muslim, whatever that means? Dont you think Islamic State operatives might be smart enough to have Bibles in their carry-on rather than Qurans?

Attempting such a prohibition would also be obscene in a nation that enshrines religious freedom in the First Amendment. Enough said about this loathsome idea.

Another possible response would involve more vigilant surveillance. The Orlando shooter had been interviewed by the FBI at least twice because of alleged extremist leanings or connections. He was apparently on a terrorism watch list for a time, but was removed after authorities decided there was no need to keep him under suspicion.

By all means, Congress should immediately ban gun sales to anyone on such a watch list. But that wouldnt have helped in Orlando. No level of surveillance remotely permissible under the Constitution would allow authorities to detect all instances of self-radicalization and act on them. We put people in jail for what they do, not what they think.

Should there be universal background checks for gun purchases? Yes, of course. But the Orlando killer passed a background check. It is not possible to have a free society without the presumption of innocence.

Freedom is possible, however, without the right to buy military weapons designed for killing sprees. Banning them would not end mass killings, but it would mean fewer deaths. If we do not act, the blood of future victims will be on all of our hands.
The Orlando mass killings have produced a convergence of key issues for the left and right.

For the right, the killings are proof that Islamic extremism is being downplayed, including by none other than President Barack Obama. GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump is again calling for limits on immigration of Muslims.

For the left, the killings are proof the right is fomenting hatred in America, particularly for minorities from Muslims to the LGBT community.

Both say the shooting deaths of 50 people on Sunday reinforce their positions on guns.

The left says there must be more regulation so people such as the Orlando shooter cannot get an assault-type weapon.

The right argues terrorists and criminals such as the shooter will get weapons no matter what. And a legally armed populace has a chance to prevent the likes of the Orlando carnage.

The problem is both sides are right and both are wrong:

Islamic extremism IS a problem for the United States and the West. But attempting to bar a religious group from entering the country and targeting Muslims with discriminatory measures are steps that are as unconstitutional as they are impractical.

Yet the left must face reality. Radical Islam is THE leading terror threat being faced in this country  and increasingly in places that can be called soft targets. Better surveillance and communication between federal, state and local law enforcement are necessary. The rights of a person stop where he or she tramples on the rights of others  and there is no more violation of a persons rights than killing him.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick was roundly criticized for a Sunday social media post of the Bible verse from Galatians: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Patrick posts a Bible verse each Sunday but critics say this one was intentional in the wake of the Orlando attacks targeting a gay dance hall. Patrick denied that, but the post was deleted.

Many Christians agree with the Bible verse as it pertains to LGBT issues, but none will condone the action of a Muslim extremist praised by ISIS for his actions to kill sodomites.

America is a country of tolerance and a nation of laws. Christians will obey the law and respect others. But their right to actively and non-violently oppose laws sanctioning alternative lifestyles such as homosexuality must also be respected.

More gun control is always the cry when a mass killing occurs. And in this case  again  there is the reality that the culprit (on the FBIs watch list as a potential terrorist) should not have been able to purchase weapons. Trying to prevent such is sensible law and sensible regulation under the 2nd Amendment.

Gun proponents do not want people such as the Orlando shooter to have weapons and have no reason to oppose more regulation EXCEPT they are aware that attempts to limit access to weapons will do more to stop law-abiding people from having guns than prevent those who would carry out attacks from finding weapons to do so.

The ongoing problem is unwillingness to accept there are no ready-made solutions and to make sensible compromises toward finding answers. And the gulf between political viewpoints seems only to be widening. It is very troubling in a country sorely in need of moderation.

Amid the discord, the social media message by South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on Sunday echoes in the wake of Orlando and as South Carolina prepares on Friday to observe the anniversary of the killings of nine members at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston in 2015.

We dont have to agree all the time but hate is never the answer.
The #NeverTrump conservatives who hope to recruit a third-party candidate to challenge Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have so far had no luck. A number of potential candidates, well known and not, have turned down the chance to run. But no matter who eventually takes the job, the new party will operate on a set of wishful-thinking scenarios in which victory depends on one improbable event after another.

One such scenario is the hope of winning the election outright. Organizers insist that a third-party candidacy would not be a frivolous exercise, and that the purpose of a run would be to win. But the fact is there is no chance a third-party candidate could reach the 270 electoral votes required to win the White House.

It's a commonplace that the states that have voted Democratic in the last six presidential elections total 242 electoral votes -- just 28 short of a Democratic victory. Republicans have more than 100 electoral votes in states that have voted for the GOP in the last six elections. At this point in the race, it is simply not possible that 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, who won 206 electoral votes, or Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, who has never run for national office, or any lesser-known candidate would win 270 votes. It just won't happen.

Indeed, third-party advocates concede there was never a chance. "The way this would happen would never be to win 270," one such advocate said in a recent conversation. "That was never a plausible scenario."

Knowing they would never hit the winning number, the third-party planners instead hoped to create a situation in which neither the Republican nor the Democratic candidate would reach 270, which would send the election to the House of Representatives.

To call such an outcome implausible would be generous. To keep both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump below 270, a third-party candidate would have to win at least a few electoral votes, which means he would have to win a state. That is hard to do. Ross Perot won 19 percent of the popular vote in 1992 and zero electoral votes, because he did not win a single state.

One hopeful scenario envisions a third-party candidate winning Utah, where Trump was trounced in the Republican primary.

Start with the 2012 electoral map, advocates say, in which Obama won 332 electoral votes and Romney 206. Assume Trump wins every state Romney won. Then assume Trump wins Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. That would put him at 273 -- victory -- and Clinton at 265. But then take away Utah, with its six electoral votes, and give it to the third party candidate. That leaves Trump at 267 and Clinton at 265 -- both below the magic 270 -- and the third party at 6. The election would then go to the House of Representatives.

It's far-fetched, to say the least -- no Republican has won Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania since George H.W. Bush drafted on Ronald Reagan's popularity in 1988. But even if Trump pulls it off, and also wins every other state Romney took in 2012, what are the chances a relatively obscure candidate could accomplish what Perot could not -- winning a state? Not very high.

And even if all that happened and the election went to the House of Representatives, there are more insurmountable problems. The Constitution specifies that the vote be taken by state, with each state given one vote for president. So a state with a Democratic majority in its House delegation would cast one vote for Clinton. And a state with a Republican majority would cast one vote for ... who?

The Constitution says the House must vote for one of the top three candidates in number of electoral votes. That means no Paul Ryan or other outsider scenario. So the president would be Clinton, Trump, or the third-party candidate. Assuming the House is still in Republican hands -- remember, this would be next January, when the House that is elected this November takes office -- does anyone believe that Republican politicians, acting in concert within their state delegations, would select the candidate with six electoral votes over the candidate with 267?

Some third-party advocates embrace other scenarios. In one, an independent candidate would draw just a point or two from Trump in a few closely contested states -- enough for Trump to lose. But that, of course, would lead not to third-party victory but to a Hillary Clinton win, which is an outcome some longtime Republican #NeverTrumpers cannot publicly support.

Other scenarios rely on the hope that something crazy will happen. Perhaps Trump will implode, or a third-party candidate will emerge on the left. After all, it's been an unpredictable year.

Finally, some third-party advocates concede they have little chance of winning but just want a candidate for whom a conservative who can't accept Clinton or Trump can vote in good conscience.

It's still not clear whether the third-party run will actually happen. Organizers have promised a strong organization and plenty of money. But with only pie-in-the-sky scenarios, and so far no candidate, hope -- and enthusiasm -- are dwindling.

-----

Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner.
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/By Azernews/

By Laman Ismayilova

Cultural ties between Jordan and Azerbaijan were mulled as Jordanian Ambassador to Baku Mohammad Nassar Ibrahim al-Habashneh received the famous fashion designer, PhD on art criticism, Gulnara Khalilova, Trend Life reported.

The sides discussed realization of joint projects aimed at promotion of Azerbaijani and Jordanian national costumes. Current plans stipulate presentation of a fashion collection by the national designer in Jordan and Jordanian fashion designers collections in Azerbaijan, including their joint fashion show.

Later, the designer has presented a panel decorated with Azerbaijan's national ornaments to the ambassador.

"Jordan's envoy has voiced that he admires Azerbaijani national costumes and expressed a wish to implement a project to promote ancient heritage of our countries", said Gulnara Khalilova.

Works of Khalilova's national collection can be found in Egypt, the library of Alexandria, the Cultural Center of Istanbul, and the cultural centers of various cities in the U.S.

The designer took part in preparing the classic Azerbaijani operetta "Arshin mal alan" by famous composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov staged at the 100th anniversary of the State Theatre of Musical Comedy, where she created costumes.



Her works are also very popular among Turkish public figures, representatives of culture and art such as Ajda Pekkan, Emrah Erdogan, Beyazit Ozturk, Soner Sarikabadayi, and others.
/By Azernews/

By Rashid Shirinov

The protection and promotion of human rights among the priorities of Azerbaijan's state policy, said Mahmud Mammadguliyev, Azerbaijans Deputy Foreign Minister.

Mammadguliyev made the remark while addressing a meeting of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, according to the Council's official website.

Highlighting that legislative and juridical authorities have undertaken relevant steps in this regard, he said Azerbaijan attached particular importance to cooperation with the Human Rights Council.

"Azerbaijan closely cooperated with the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, regularly submitting reports on measures taken to implement the rights and freedoms stipulated in the relevant international instruments," said the deputy minister.

Mammadguliyev further added Azerbaijan also attached importance to the mechanism of the Universal Periodic Review, to which it had voluntarily submitted a mid-term report.

"Growing intolerance was one of the negative trends of the contemporary world. Azerbaijan, located at the crossroads of the East and the West, acted as an intercultural bridge between civilizations, he said.

The 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) had taken place in Baku recently, adopting the Baku Declaration, which would serve as a guideline for states and international organizations in the promotion of intercultural dialogue and multiculturalism, the deputy minister reminded.

Mammadguliyev added that the establishment and successful functioning of the State Agency for Services to Citizens and Social Innovations (ASAN) allowed to promote good governance and fight against corruption.

The official also spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying that the ongoing armed conflict in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan had included ethnic cleansing by Armenia of more than one million Azerbaijanis living in those occupied territories.

"As a result, Azerbaijan hosted one of the largest communities of internally displaced persons and refugees in the world per capita," he noted, further adding that the conflict could be resolved only by ensuring full respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders.

The Human Rights Council and its special mechanisms should play an increased role in the restoration of the violated human rights of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons, said the deputy minister.

Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.

While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.

Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Cezar Florin Preda and Stefan Schennach.





Co-rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee Cezar Florin Preda and Stefan Schennach noted the importance of their visit to Azerbaijan at a time when the country marked National Salvation Day. They stressed that the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe to be held in Baku would contribute to the expansion of international cooperation. The co-rapporteurs hailed the development of cooperation between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan.





They hailed the significance of the Azerbaijani President`s Order pardoning a group of prisoners and the adoption of a Law on Amnesty Act, adding that the moves were praised by the Council of Europe.





The head of state underlined that Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe had enjoyed fruitful and constructive cooperation for long years, and hailed the current level of cooperation.





President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan was one of the most active members of the organization. The head of state expressed his confidence that this cooperation would be further developed.





The sides exchanged views over the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as cooperation prospects.




Trend's interview with Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski.

Q: Iranian media report that Tehran and Warsaw have signed MOUs worth $700 million during a recent visit of Iran's FM Mohammad Javad Zarif to Poland. What cooperation areas will be covered under those deals?

A: First of all, it should be noted that during the aforementioned visit some MOUs were signed, not contracts though; additionally a letter of intent was inked between the Polish Chamber of Commerce and the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture.

It means that there is still a long way ahead for the Polish and Iranian partners before these preliminary in fact agreements are transformed into fully binding contracts.

In fact, during the visit only two MOUs were signed - in the field of energy production and maritime infrastructure - however their value has not been disclosed due to trade confidentiality clauses, but we can assume that the total value is not even close to $700 million; the figure should be measured in much humbler range.

Of course, taking into consideration the potential of Polish and Iranian economies, there is a perspective for reaching such values in bilateral trade in the future. Of course, in order to achieve this, much more time is needed.

We should also remember the strong competition from international companies, mainly from other EU member states, Ukraine, Russia, Japan and South Korea among others, which are also interested in doing business with Iran.

Q: When the MOUs are expected to become operational? Have the banking problems been settled between the two countries?

A: Given Poland's successful story in adopting an effective model of free market economy with a major share of market consisting of private, small and medium enterprises, it only depends on management boards of the companies how their businesses are run and their new markets defined.

Polish government has no leverage in this regard. As the Polish FM, responsible among other things for strengthening commercial ties with foreign countries, I can only hope that these MOUs will become operational soon.

As to the banking issues, based on Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and SWIFT's decision on reopening operations for Iranian banks, there are now no legal barriers for money transfers between the EU and Iranian banks.

Polish banks were quite active in that field, and two Polish banks restored their ties with three major Iranian private-owned banks this March. Also during the business forum that took place during Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's visit to Warsaw, a session on banking issues was held with the participation of a number of Polish and Iranian banks.

Q: Polish deputy energy minister earlier said the two countries are negotiating over oil and gas cooperation. In which areas, the Polish oil and gas firms, including PGNiG, can cooperate with Iran?

A: Due to the scope of activities and financial capabilities of Polish oil and gas companies we do not aim at full-scale competition with major global players in terms of big investment contracts, which are a priority for the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum, but still there is a big field of cooperation in the framework of some smaller contracts, mainly in services sector: geophysical assessment and exploration, drilling, on-surface infrastructure construction and maintenance.

PGNiG's sister companies have significant experience in executing such international contracts and for sure Iran could be their partner. The talks are ongoing and we are optimistic about their progress.

Q: Does Poland plan to buy crude oil from Tehran?

A: Diversification of supplies, looking for new sources and suppliers, as well as channels of delivery of the crude oil and natural gas are matters of strategic importance for Poland.

As the market of hydrocarbons and political situation worldwide change rapidly, Polish experts, also in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assess feasibility of cooperation with various countries, not excluding any of them.

When it comes to Iran, taking into consideration the opinion of Iranian Ministry of Petroleum, there is no surplus of crude oil that would enable Iran to enter new markets.

Should investments in Iranian oil and gas sector be made according to the plans of Iranian administration, Iran would achieve significant export capabilities. Most likely, traditional pre-sanctions crude oil buyers from the EU, like France, Italy, Spain, Greece, will renew their contracts with Tehran, so we do not exclude that Poland also joins that group.
/By Azernews/

By Fatma Babayeva

Turkmenistan and China have expressed their mutual interest in developing cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

The remarks were made during a meeting in Ashgabat with Song Tao, Minister of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party, the Turkmen government reported on June 13.

Speaking about the diversification of trade and economic cooperation, the sides discussed the use of the Chinese experience in modernization of Turkmenistan's industrial potential.

The Turkmen side expressed support for China's initiatives for the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt, which coincides with the initiatives of Turkmenistan in the transportation and energy fields.

The two countries similarities in their stance and approach over solving the problems of development, including peace, security and sustainability issues in the region were also emphasized during the meeting.

China is the largest foreign trade partner of Turkmenistan, and Beijing expects to increase annual purchase of Turkmen gas up to 65 billion cubic meters by the end of 2021.

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) purchases gas from the Central Asia region since 2009 via Central Asia- China gas pipeline, also known as Turkmenistan  China pipeline that passes through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

More than 140 billion cubic meters of natural gas were transported to via this pipeline's A, B and C lines since its launch until March 2016.

Turkmen Malai gas field is the main source for this gas pipeline. With the construction of a gas booster station in this field, Turkmenistan plans increasing gas supply to China. Installations in the field will fulfill gas pumping functions that will facilitate its supply and transport and boost the production levels at low pressure.

Roughly 35 percent of Chinas gas import accounts for the Turkmen gas at the present.

Turkmenistan enjoys the world's fourth largest natural gas reserves after Russia, Iran, and Qatar It produces about 70-80 billion cubic meters of gas annually. The country is one of the key players in the energy market in the resource-rich Caspian region.
Dubais non-oil foreign trade reached Dh319 billion ($86.83 billion) in the first quarter of this year, according to statistics released by Dubai Customs.



Imports contributed Dh196 billion, exports Dh36 billion, and re-exports Dh87 billion, it said.



The volume of traded goods jumped 17 percent, compared to the same period last year, to reach 24 million tonnes, the data showed.



The significant growth was the result of re-export commodities soaring 35 percent to 4.1 million tonnes; export of goods rising by 26 percent to 4.58 million tonnes, and import of goods going up 11 percent to 15.25 million tonnes, it said.



Mobile phones topped the list of high-value commodities in Dubais foreign trade in the first three months of this year with Dh43 billion worth of trade.



Next on the list was gold with Dh32 billion worth of trade, followed by diamonds with Dh23 billion, and jewellery with Dh18 billion. Dubais foreign trade in automobiles in the first quarter of 2016 stood at Dh15 billion.



China topped Dubais trading partners with trade worth Dh39 billion in Q1 2016. India came second with Dh24 billion worth of trade, followed by the US at third place with Dh22 billion. Saudi Arabia remained Dubais top GCC and Arab trading partner, and fourth largest globally, with a total value of Dh14 billion.



The safe-haven sector of foreign trade in the emirate of Dubai is gaining greater momentum at the present stage of the UAEs economic development, where it is moving ahead into the post-oil phase that was launched by Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to boost the nations diversified economy and ensure its sustainability, said Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World and Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation.



A key factor in our national economic diversification, Dubais foreign trade sector puts the UAE solidly on the world trade map, especially as Dubai has positioned itself among the leading global markets for smart information technology and broadened its global trading partner network to include major players in the world economy, added Bin Sulayem. - TradeArabia News Service


The Saudi Arabian government has imposed a mid-day ban on outdoor work starting from today (June 15) for the next three months in a move aimed at mainly protecting construction workers who are vulnerable to heat stroke and dehydration.



The mid-day ban makes it illegal for anyone to work outdoors between 12 pm and 3 pm, reported Saudi Gazette, citing a senior official from the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.



All employers have been instructed to ensure their workers stay out of the sun for three hours during the three-month period ending on September 15, stated Fahd Al Owaidi, undersecretary for inspections and improvement of the work environment at the ministry.



However, there will be exemption in some regions of the kingdom in view of the low temperatures there, he added.



Also oil and gas workers as well as maintenance workers who do emergency duty will be exempted from this regulation, Al Owaidi was quoted as saying by the Saudi Press Agency.



However, measures must be taken to protect them from the hazards of the scorching sun, he added.
Imdaad, a leading provider of integrated facilities, environment, and energy management solutions in the GCC, said it has implemented the ethernet fabric network switching solution from Brocade, a leading networking solutions provider, as an integral part of its service infrastructure across its sites in Dubai, UAE.



The company was in search for a hitech data centre that provides a fast, flexible, and scalable network with better connectivity within the organisation, according to a company statement.



Imdaad eventually decided to replace its system with the Brocade ICX 7750 network switch and introduced the company's VDX 6740 switch into its data centre to build a VCS Ethernet Fabric in order to future-proof its network capabilities.



Jamal Lootah, the chief executive of Imdaad, said: "We are proud to be at the forefront of the managed services industry and upgrading the service infrastructure will empower us to accomplish our growth plans."



"We wanted to partner with a market leader who can help us take one step ahead to achieve our goals and objectives and are confident of Brocades state-of-the-art and highly advanced multiple switch solution," he noted.



"We are upbeat that the Brocade Ethernet fabric network switching solution will provide the required agility, scalability and automation to our data centre, enabling the management and our employees to increase efficiency and focus more on the companys strategic growth plans," he added.



Carob Sanmina, the regional director, Brocade Middle East, said: "Imdaad has a strong vision for its company and was ready to upscale its network infrastructure. In its fifth generation, Brocade VCS Fabric technology is the leading fabric in enterprise data centres and a trusted solution for the company."



"Software-defined networking (SDN)-enabled and with native automation, VCS Fabric technology provides an ideal foundation for not only Imdaads future but also for the New IP approach of open, innovation-focused and software-enabled networking," added Sanmina.-TradeArabia News Service
Jacobs Engineering Group has won a three-year contract from Saudi Arabia-based Sahara Petrochemicals (Sahara) to provide general engineering services at its Jubail Industrial City facilities in the kingdom.



Jacobs is a leading global provider of technical, professional and construction services.



Under the terms of the contract, Jacobs is expected to provide engineering, procurement, construction supervision, project management, pre-commissioning and commissioning support to a range of small- to medium-sized capital projects for Saharas propane dehydrogenation, polypropylene, chlor alkyl, ethylene dichloride and peripheral utilities operating facilities, said a statement from the company.



Bassim D Shebaro, senior vice president oil and gas, Jacobs, said: Our company has had a presence in the Middle East for many years serving the oil, gas, buildings and infrastructure sectors.



This contract enables us to expand our presence in Jubail as part of our overall commitment to providing world-class services to our clients across the region, he added.  TradeArabia News Service


The volume of non-oil trade between the GCC and the US, in the first nine months of 2015, amounted to $41.7 billion, a rise of 2.8 per cent as compared to the same period in 2014, which stood at $40.6 billion.



The total value of non-oil exports of the GCC countries to the US in the first nine months of 2015 amounted to $4.8 billion compared to $4 billion during the same period of 2014, an increase of 18.7 per cent, said a Wam report, citing Omani News Agency (ONA).



It said the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC Stat) annual report showed that the total merchandise imports of the GCC countries from the US in the first nine months of 2015 amounted to $36.9 billion, an increase of 1 per cent compared to the same period in 2014, which amounted to $36.5 billion. These merchandise imports accounted for 11.9 per cent of total imports of the GCC during the same period in 2015.



Additionally, the report noted that Saudi Arabia was ranked as the most important trading partner of the GCC countries for the volume of non-oil trade with the US for the first nine months of 2015, with $17.4 billion, which is 41.8 per cent of the total volume of non-oil trade of the GCC countries with the US over that period.



The UAE was the largest GCC exporting market to the US in the first nine months of 2015, where its exports reached $1.9 billion, or 40 per cent of the total GCC non-oil merchandise exports with the US, as against the same period last year.



The report indicated that the aluminium group and its products ranked first among the non-oil merchandise exports of the GCC countries to the US in the first nine months of 2015, where its contribution accounted for nearly 20.9 per cent of the total non-oil merchandise of GCC countries during the same period the previous year. The devices group and machine tools ranked first for merchandise imports from the US in the first nine months in 2015, amounting to $10.1 billion.



This merchandise group accounted for 27.4 per cent of the total imports of the GCC commodities from the US in the same period in 2015, added the report.
Malaysias state-owned oil corporation and Saudi Aramco are asking banks for proposals to finance about $7 billion for a planned refinery and a petrochemical complex in the Southeast Asian nation, Bloomberg said quoting people familiar with the matter.



The lenders would provide financing for the two projects worth a total of $12 billion to be constructed by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Saudi Aramco under a memorandum of understanding that the two firms have signed, according to the people, who asked not to be identified as the process is private.



The banks are expected to submit proposals by later this month, the sources said.



A Petronas spokesman couldnt immediately be reached for comments by phone. Saudi Aramcos media officials at its headquarter in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, declined to comment.



While Petronas announced in January that it would cut its capital and operating expenditures by 50 billion ringgit ($12.2 billion) over four years, it also gave commitment to invest in long-term projects. The planned projects with Saudi Aramco are part of the $27-billion Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development that it is building for future growth and will come onstream in 2019.



Petronas reported a 71 percent decline in net income of 2.7 billion ringgit in the first quarter from 9.3 billion ringgit a year earlier due to lower product prices and reduced sales volume, according to a May 18 statement. Its total assets decreased to 567.6 billion ringgit as at end March compared to 591.9 billion ringitt as at December 31. The company raised $5 billion by selling dollar bonds and Islamic debt in March last year.



Saudi Aramco, the worlds biggest oil exporter, already has refining and petrochemical partnerships in the US, China, South Korea and Japan, as well as in Saudi Arabia, giving it a share in plants capable of processing 5.4 million barrels a day. It is also looking to develop more joint ventures in countries including the US, China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam and South Africa, chief executive officer Amin Nasser told reporters on May 10. - Bloomberg
Iraq's Kurds said they are ready to strike an agreement with the central government in Baghdad on a deal to increase oil exports if it guarantees them monthly revenue of $1 billion, more than double what they make currently from selling oil.



The Iraqi central government in March stopped oil exports through a Kurdish pipeline to pressure the local authorities to resume talks about an oil revenue-sharing agreement.



Iraq's state-run North Oil Company normally exported 150,000 barrels a day through the pipeline that comes out at the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, in Turkey.



The pipeline also carries oil produced in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq and sold independently from the central government.



Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) spokesman Safeen Dizayee said in an interview in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Erbil on Tuesday that the Kurdish authorities would be willing to sell the oil through Baghdad if they received a share from the federal budget amounting to $1 billion a month.



"If Baghdad comes and says OK, give me all the oil that you have and I'll give you the 17 percent as per the budget, which equals to 1 billion, I think, logically it should be the thing to accept," he told Reuters, specifying later that the amount referred to a monthly payment in dollars.



"Whether this oil goes to the international market or first to Baghdad and then to the market, it doesn't make any difference," he said. "We are ready to enter dialogue with Baghdad."



A government spokesman in Baghdad did not return telephone calls seeking comment.



The KRG stopped delivering crude oil to the central government a year ago, a decision taken when Baghdad's payment fell under $400 million a month, Dizayee said.



"The Kurds are offering a win-lose deal for Baghdad: a win for them and a loss for Baghdad," said Baghdad-based oil analyst Hamza al-Jawahiri. "What's the point of asking the central government to pay double the value of the region's oil?"



The Kurdish region exported an average of 513,041 barrels in May through the pipeline to Turkey, generating about $391 million, of which about $75 million was paid to oil companies that produce the crude, according to KRG official estimates.



"The companies have been assured that certain amounts will be made on a monthly basis," said Dizayee, referring to the three foreign oil producers in the KRG region - DNO, Gulf Keystone and Genel.



"We have started to pay some of it, at least it has rebuilt that confidence between the government and the IPCs (oil companies)," he said, referring to arrears owed to the companies.



The KRG in February said it would pay international oil companies in 2016 according to the terms of their contracts, after making ad-hoc payments last year.



The foreign operators have been reluctant to invest without the promise of regular payment, while the cash-strapped KRG needs production to increase to avert an economic collapse caused by a sharp decline in oil prices since 2014.



The KRG is also in a dispute with the central government over Kirkuk, where the North Oil Company produces its crude and which the Kurds claim as part of their territory.-Reuters
Malaysian budget airline AirAsia has appointed Kathleen Tan as president of North Asia.



She will be responsible for building the airline's market in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.



Tan returns to AirAsia from her stint as CEO of AirAsiaExpedia where she successfully turned around the loss-making joint venture within eight months, delivering a net profit of S$20 million ($14.7 million) in her second year.



A bold, dynamic business leader and self-proclaimed "disruptor", Tan accelerated growth especially in key markets such as Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, establishing AirAsiaExpedia as a major player in North Asia.



Under her guidance, AirAsiaExpedia won various awards in the region, including Best Asia Pacific Online Travel Agency Website by TravelMole as well as Best Campaign for Tablets in Hong Kong, Gold for the Expedia tablet app, Bronze for Best Use of Social Platform by Expedia Singapore and Best App/Content By A Consumer Brand by AirAsiaGo from Mobile Marketing Excellence (Mob-Ex).



Before leaving for AirAsiaExpedia, Tan was regional head of commercial and senior vice president of China at AirAsia from 2004 to 2013, and was widely credited for making AirAsia a financial success and global brand.



During her tenure, fleet size increased from 17 to 143 aircraft, revenue surged 14-fold to over RM5 billion ($1.2 billion) and AirAsia secured the first of many Skytrax World's Best Low-Cost Airline awards.



Known for her out-of-the-box thinking, Tan championed innovation at AirAsia as well as a wide range of ancillary and partner products, and transformed the brand into one synonymous with fun and cool. She pioneered AirAsia's signature free seats promotion by giving away one million discounted seats in 2005.



Tan also spearheaded AirAsia's social media strategy and development, laying the ground for the airline's top-ranked presence in Asia Pacific on Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms.



AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said: "Kathleen lives and breathes North Asia. She was the first to spot the massive potential of China when no budget airlines operated to it. She made sure we were the first low-cost carrier to fly to China and built a strong network of 14 hubs there.



"Today, China contributes nearly 40 per cent of our revenue but there is still a lot to do in North Asia. It is an important long-haul market that will take on greater significance once AirAsia Japan launches, and I couldn't think of anyone more suited than Kathleen to drive our business there."



Tan said, "North Asia is close to my heart and I look forward to pushing AirAsia's engagement there even further. What we have achieved in China is just the tip of the iceberg. There is much more we can do to position AirAsia as the low-cost carrier for the region and I won't rest until everyone knows our name." - TradeArabia News Service


Seawings Lifestyle, a bespoke luxury holidays and excursions sub brand of UAE's seaplane tour operator Seawings, has partnered with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (TDA) and four luxury resorts in the emirate to welcome summer vacationers to the destination.



The collaboration is an integral part of the TDAs campaign to enhance the visibility of Ras Al Khaimah as a leading tourist destination.



Seawings Lifestyle has created a unique collection of staycation packages that combine scenic flying with Ras Al Khaimah's finest accommodation. These holiday packages start with a 45-minute seaplane flight from Dubai Creek to Ras Al Khaimah. Travellers can enjoy unrivalled views of the Dubai cityscape and Arabian coastline before touching down on the waters of Ras Al Khaimah.



Guests can choose from day packages to one or two-night staycation escapes at DoubleTree by Hilton, The Cove Rotana Resort, Banyan Tree Al Wadi, and the all-inclusive Rixos Bab Al Bahr. Day trip spa packages are also available and guests have access to all of the resorts' facilities. Travellers will return to Dubai by chauffeured land transfer.



To launch the packages, Seawings Lifestyle is offering exclusive discounts that knock over 50 percent off the listed price. The lowest discounted package is the one-night stay at just Dh999 ($271.9) per person, inclusive of the scenic flight and land transfer. These will be predominantly marketed towards neighbouring emirate residents seeking a getaway from the city.



Discussing the collaboration, CEO of Seawings Stuart Wheeler said: Seawings and the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority can both play a significant role in developing tourism and showcasing everything Ras Al Khaimah has to offer. We're delighted to collaborate and promote the unique beauty of the emirate.



Wheeler added: We've always enjoyed curating the very best of the emirates for the luxury traveller. By developing this unique collection of seaplane staycations, Ras Al Khaimah can be a favourite to new audiences and ensure more visitors can enjoy its unique charms.



Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah TDA said: While Ras Al Khaimah offers something for every type of traveller, the partnership with Seawings Lifestyle will grow our expansive luxury offering for those seeking a more indulgent getaway. Visitors to the emirate can now enjoy an especially memorable start to their trip, with a birds-eye view of the destination showcasing the diversity of our landscape - from the stunning terracotta deserts and mountain range, to the 64km of pristine beaches.



The new Ras Al Khaimah staycation packages are exclusive to Seawings and can be booked through www.seawingslifestyle.com or over the phone on 04  8070709 with a Seawings Lifestyle ambassador. Packages can also be customised. - TradeArabia News Service


Oman Air, the national carrier of Oman, will operate more flights than ever before to the southern city of Salalah during this summers Khareef season.



The airline has increased frequencies to Salalah in previous years, but will this year offer an unprecedented number of seats to the increasingly popular destination, in response to rising demand.



Eleven flights a day will be operated between Salalah and the Omani capital of Muscat, with a capacity increase of 15,000 seats compared to the previous year. In addition, the deployment of Boeing 737, Boeing 787 and Airbus 330 aircraft on the Salalah/Muscat/Salalah sectors will increase the availability of seats on the route.



The Dubai/Salalah route will witness the operation of one daily flight in the months of July and August. Furthermore, from September 1 Oman Air will deploy Boeing 737s on the Salalah to Dubai route, replacing smaller Embraer 175 regional jets which are currently in use. This will enable increased numbers of customers from the UAE to enjoy both Oman Airs outstanding passenger experience and the warm hospitality offered to visitors in Salalah. From January to December 2015, a record 52,274 seats were offered by Oman Air on flights between Salalah and Dubai. In 2016, Oman Air will increase that number to 74,176 seats (42 per cent).



The increased frequencies will be supported by a range of attractive special offers for customers travelling to Salalah from points throughout Oman Air growing international network.



Paul Gregorowitsch, chief executive officer of Oman Air, announced the expansion of services to Salalah, saying: Salalah is becoming an increasingly important destination for visitors from the Gulf region and throughout Oman Airs international network, especially during the Khareef season. We are therefore delighted to be expanding Oman Airs services to the city this summer, from both Muscat and Dubai. In fact, we will be increasing the available number of seats on the Salalah/Dubai route alone by nearly 22,000.



As a result, tens of thousands more travellers will have the opportunity to enjoy the areas cool and refreshing weather, which contrasts so sharply with the hot, dry climate to be found elsewhere within the region. Visitors will also be able to make the most of Dhofars renowned hospitality, ancient culture and awe-inspiring landscapes.



And to ensure that as many people as possible can experience this thrilling destination, Oman Air will be making a range of special offers available. These will enable customers to appreciate Oman Airs award-winning interiors, onboard service and inflight dining whilst flying from a range of destinations across our network at highly competitive prices. We look forward to announcing the details soon.



Previous offers on flights to Salalah have included Two fly for the price of one tickets, short-term sales on Business Class and Economy Class fares, and a range of Economy Class promotional fares.



The Khareef season runs from June to September and sees monsoon mists and rains sweep across the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. The cool, damp weather attracts thousands of visitors every year, especially from more northern parts of the Gulf region, where summer temperatures can rise to over 50 Celsius.



Salalah, the principal city of Omans most southerly Governorate, Dhofar, has experienced major year-on-year growth in visitor numbers in recent times. Increasing numbers of travellers from the Gulf, the Far East and Europe are visiting the city and its surrounding region, which offers a unique and ancient culture, dramatic mountain backdrops and unspoiled tropical beaches. - TradeArabia News Service
The president of an international police union sent a letter to Gov. Matt Mead recently expressing anger over proposed cuts to the Wyoming Department of Corrections, according to a news release from the union.

Though final cuts have not been announced, Mead has suggested limiting overtime pay and not replacing retiring officers, according to the letter written by Sam A. Cabral, the president of the International Union of Police Associations.

Cabral accused Mead of prioritizing his own staff by giving his employees substantial raises.

It is shameful that you reward those close to you while endangering the very men and women who protect the citizens of Wyoming by containing a criminal element that if not separated from decent citizens would continue to prey upon them, he wrote.

Mead has told the Department of Corrections, along with other state agencies, to reduce general fund spending by 8 percent for the upcoming two-year budget cycle, which begins July 1, in response to diminishing revenues from the states energy sector.

Mark Horan, spokesman for the Department of Corrections, said the agency is anticipating the freezing of additional vacant positions across the department. Horan said there would also be operational cost reductions that might impact offender programs, specifically substance abuse and sex offender treatment programs.

These reductions will reduce offender success rates, which will in turn result in increased recidivism on their release, which in turn places the public at large in danger, the unions press release said.

According to Cabrals letter, the cuts will not only financially affect the corrections officers and their families, but will place the officers in further danger.

The plan to leave positions vacant will result in understaffed prisons, Cabral wrote. Poor staffing will place an unfair burden on those officers still working and the lack of adequate support in critical situations will place them in physical danger from violent inmates.

The Department of Corrections will meet with the Joint Appropriations Committee on June 21 to discuss the proposed cuts, Horan said. The agency is reviewing ways to address the programming reductions with public domain resources, he said.
School districts are cutting employee hours, consolidating bus routes and eliminating vacant positions from Campbell to Sweetwater counties.

The changes are a result of $36 million in cuts to education over the next two years, a decision made by lawmakers in February.

In Casper on Tuesday, a team of individuals from the states school districts asked that the Joint Education Committee reconsider those cuts, despite a morning of dire predictions for the future of education funding. Lawmakers will continue discussing the issue, but likely wont make a decision until closer to the 2017 legislative session.

Wyomings revenue streams from energy have slowed to a trickle, and those dollars represent the bulk of funding for public schools.

School officials contention, one shared by 28 districts whose leaders signed a letter to committee members, is that Wyomings model for school funding self-adjusts. As the economy stumbles, the number of students attending the states schools declines, meaning the amount of money the state has to pay schools gradually drops as well. Education officials say energy busts have always led to lower enrollment numbers in the state.

This bust will be no different, they say.

But lawmakers werent convinced of that argument when they voted for the cuts in February. In the seven separate accounts that hold money from Wyomings schools, there is enough cash to last through the two-year budget cycle at Wyomings current funding level. Beyond that, lawmakers and school districts are facing uncertainty.

The school finance analyst for the Legislative Services Office questioned the prediction that energys demise leads to lower enrollment during the Tuesday meeting. Matthew Willmarth ran the enrollment numbers over the last few decades and found no direct correlation between the price or production of Wyomings natural resources and the number of students in Wyoming schools, he said.

He also said judging school funding by student numbers alone was a simplification of the model.

But school officials are resolute that the connection exists.

And they say they have evidence.

In 1986, the price of oil sank below $10 a barrel. Wyoming lost more than 1,800 students that year. The following year, 2,500 more left. A gradual increase in students swelled the ranks until 1990, but over the next decade enrollment decreased every year.

Whether or not there is a direct correlation to oil prices or coal production, educators can speak to their own experience, and many remember how former busts transformed schools, said Ken Decaria, one of the education officials to argue for a repeal of the cuts. Decaria is now the government relations director for the Wyoming Education Association.

I can tell you, Ive witnessed that in the school districts, he told the committee. When mineral prices arent good, when the economy is not good, people go somewhere else for work.

Student numbers are already declining in some areas, officials say.

It is not unusual for drops in enrollment from the beginning of the year to the end. That data is consistent in the majority of Wyomings districts.

But Converse County School District No. 2, a small district adjacent to Natrona County, lost almost 50 students, a dramatic departure from a trend of gradually decreasing enrolment over the last five years, said Superintendent Kirk Hughes.

I dont know if its the oil and gas, uranium, I just dont have a feel for it, he said. If there is anything that is contributing to this, its the turn in the state economy.

The district cut $250,000 from their 2016-2017 budget by eliminating vacant positions like an employee that serves at-risk students and a fifth grade teacher. They also cut two of their seven bus routes, Hughes said.

Transportation costs are fully reimbursed by the state, but the payback is delayed by a year. In the meantime the district had to save money, he said.

Boyd Brown, superintendent of Campbell County School District No. 1, said in an interview last week that he was confident there was enough support in the Legislature to garner backing for a repeal of the cuts.

But not all lawmakers were convinced Tuesday.

Sen. Hank Coe, chairman of the education committee, told the education professionals that he understood the pressure on school districts. However, in light of the mornings updates on available education funding in the next few years, he asked them to consider one thing  where the money would come from.
U.S. House candidate Leland Christensen is accusing campaign rival Liz Cheney of trying to handpick a moderator for an upcoming public debate.

In a statement sent Tuesday by Christensens campaign, the candidate said Cheney tried to undermine what should be a fair debate forum.

The release included an email reportedly sent by a Cheney campaign adviser and meant for Cheney. However, the mail was mistakenly sent to another Liz and was obtained by the Christensen campaign. In the email, the campaign advisor asks Cheney for suggestions for a moderator for the debate and offers a few suggestions, including Wyoming Public Radios Bob Beck.

How do you want this to go? the email concludes.

Christensen asserts the email amounts to a serious ethical issue.

Here in Wyoming, we have no tolerance for attempts to rig the system, Christensen said in the release. The only rig the people of Wyoming are interested in is the kind that produces jobs, paychecks and revenues for our local economies.

Christensen said he wondered if the episode reflected how the campaign would proceed.

Its disappointing to so early in the campaign start to see this type of action, he said.

Bill Novotny, Cheneys campaign manager, said in a statement sent to the Star-Tribune that Christensens comments amount to desperation.

These are exactly the kind of false negative attacks the people of Wyoming have consistently rejected, Novotny said. Senator Christensen would be better served to focus his time and attention on the issues and challenges our state faces. That is what Liz Cheney will continue to do.

The Aug. 2 debate is being sponsored by the Star-Tribune, Wyoming PBS and Casper College. Initially, former Wyoming Gov. Mike Sullivan, a Democrat, was chosen to moderate the Republican debate, said Star-Tribune Executive Editor Dale Bohren. However, while negotiating an agreement with the sponsors, the state GOP suggested a Republican moderate the event.

Bohren asked the state Republican Party to suggest some names of acceptable moderators. The partys chairman, Matt Micheli, offered several names and from those, Bohren chose Jim Geringer, a former Wyoming governor.

Jim Geringer is a very understated political power, Bohren said. He thought it sounded like fun, and he agreed to do it.

Im really happy with the choice and his agreeing to do it with us and its going to be a great debate with true value to the voters.

Bohren said the Republican Party was doing its job by consulting members for moderator suggestions.

They represent them, he said. But hopefully they asked all of them.

Christensen said his campaign was not approached by the state Republican Party for moderator suggestions.

In a statement sent Tuesday to the Star-Tribune, the state GOP said it requested input on the debate from each campaign. No campaign attempted to influence who the moderator should be, the statement said.

As part of the process in thinking about a moderator, the Wyoming Republican Party asked several people for thoughts and ideas on who would be a good moderator, the statement said.

Geringer is not supporting any candidates in the race and has not endorsed any of them, the State Republican Party said.

We have no doubts that he will be an effective and neutral moderator in this debate, the statement said.

The other Republican candidates include Heath Beaudry, Mike Konsmo, Paul Paad, Rex Rammell, Jason Senteney, Darin Smith and Tim Stubson.

The sponsors are also hosting a Democratic debate Aug. 2 for candidates Ryan Greene and Charlie Hardy. Sullivan will moderate that debate.
Democrat and former Casper City Council member Kimberly Holloway is challenging Republican Jim Anderson in Senate District 28, questioning the incumbents opposition to Medicaid expansion, among other issues.

Holloway, 46, administers a grant for Poverty Resistance, helping people in need. She ran for the seat, which represents downtown Casper, in 2012 but lost to Anderson.

A key tenet of the Affordable Care Act, expansion would provide 20,000 low-income adults with health coverage through the Medicaid program. it would provide the state $268 million in federal money at a time when the economy has slowed.

Holloway said shes concerned about the poor who need expansion. Shes also worried about the states hospitals, which absorb over $100 million in uncompensated care costs from patients who cannot afford to pay their medical bills.

I think theres a misunderstanding out there that because theyre a nonprofit somehow they can handle giving away care, she said. I will say to a degree they can. Our Legislature seems to force them to the extreme of what they can handle. Its obscene to not pay hospitals and doctors and community health centers for the people who they treat. That puts health care facilities at risk.

Holloway serves on the Natrona County Memorial Hospital board of trustees. The board acts as landlord for the Wyoming Medical Center property.

Last week, the hospital laid off 58 employees, reduced hours of others and eliminated vacant positions to save $7 million. Holloway said that shes privy to the hospitals financials due to her role on the board, although because of that role, she spoke only generally on the issue.

We have been watching some very distressing trends, she said. If it continues I hope this was done out of long-term planning, and I assume it was because theyre being stressed by people who cant afford to pay their bills, people who dont have Medicaid. The Legislature is pushing them to that extreme.

At a press conference announcing the layoffs, hospital administrators said they expected they would provide $55.1 million in uncompensated care by June 30, the end of the fiscal year.

Anderson, 68, said he disagrees with Medicaid expansion for a number of reasons. He thinks the ACA should have been written differently so that people in the lowest income brackets can obtain insurance through the health care marketplace.

The federal government has covered the cost of Medicaid expansion, but its reimbursement to states begins to drop this year and will fall to 90 percent by 2020 and beyond.

Anderson worries expansion will saddle the state with expenses of additional people who are eligible for the program but may not be accounted for in Wyoming Health Department estimates. In other states, Medicaid rolls soared above original estimates.

Anderson also questioned the hospitals $55 million figure for uncompensated care. He said thats the amount the hospital would charge. He believes the actual costs are closer to $15 million  an amount that he says is reasonable, considering the county owns the property, building, equipment and assets and allows the hospital to operate there.

This leads me to believe WMC cost for indigent care, jail and bad debts may not be out of line for the facilities they use in Natrona County, Anderson said.

Kristy Bleizeffer, a spokeswoman for Wyoming Medical Center, said that the charges thus far in the fiscal year are $22.7 million.
A tourist was fined $1,000 and a $30 court processing fee for straying from the boardwalk Tuesday in the Mammoth Hot Springs area of Yellowstone National Park.

According to a news release from the park, a witness told a ranger that the tourist, who was Chinese, walked on the thermal formations near Liberty Cap and collected water. The witness also said the tourist broke through the fragile travertine crust in the area.

During a law enforcement investigation, the visitor said he did not read the safety information distributed at the entrance to the park. He also admitted to collecting water from the hot springs.

He was issued a federal violation requiring an appearance at the Yellowstone Justice Center Court for off-boardwalk travel in a thermal area.

This is the most recent in an unusual spate of incidents involving the parks thermal features. A 23-year-old man died June 7 when he left the boardwalk and fell into an acidic hot spring at the Norris Geyser Basin. A day later, rangers called off a search for his body, saying no significant remains were left to recover. A teenager was burned June 4 after falling into a hot pool in the Upper Geyser Basin. A group of Canadian men left the boardwalk and walked on the thermal features of the Grand Prismatic Spring.

However, thermal accidents dont account for all of the recent high-profile happenings at the countrys first national park. Some visitors have also had unusual interactions involving wildlife.

A French Canadian made headlines across the nation when he put a baby bison in his vehicle, saying it looked cold; the calf later had to be euthanized when it was rejected by its herd. A woman was killed by a vehicle as she crossed the road to see an eagle. Another woman was charged and knocked to the ground by an elk. A woman also ventured too close to a bear and her two cubs during a bear jam, or traffic jam triggered by wildlife.

The national parks website offers the following rules for safety:

Never approach wildlife. Remain at least 100 yards from bears and wolves and at least 25 yards from other animals, such as bison and elk.

Stay on boardwalks and trails. The boiling water of the parks thermal features poses significant risks. The delicate landscape is also easily damaged.

Dont stop in the road to watch wildlife. Use the pullouts in the park to avoid blocking traffic.

Dont feed wildlife or leave trash unattended. This affects the safety of everyone  animals who become used to human food sometimes display aggression toward people and have to be euthanized.
CHEYENNE  Laramie County School District 1 recently used a new argument to defend its practice of charging citizens to inspect public records kept in electronic format.

The district filed a brief June 9 with the Wyoming Supreme Court in response to the Wyoming Tribune Eagles appeal following a Laramie County District Court judgment in favor of the school district.

The districts response brief states that wording in the Wyoming Public Records Act makes it clear that government entities not only can, but should, charge for time spent making electronic records available for inspection or copies.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. 16-4-202(d), by its express terms, applies to requests to inspect and copy electronic public records and provides that reasonable costs incurred to comply with such requests are to be borne by the party requesting the records, according to the response.

The WTE filed the original lawsuit following a February 2014 records request by former education reporter Aerin Curtis.

Curtis asked the district to allow her to inspect all email on school board topics to, among or from school board members since Dec. 1, 2013 through Feb. 11, 2014.

One month after she submitted the request, LCSD1 notified Curtis that the relevant emails had been collected and were available for her to pick up on a compact disc. But the district asked her to pay $110 for the records.

LCSD1s response brief quotes the districts Guideline for Electronic Records, adopted in August 2011, as allowing the district to charge 10 cents per page for copies or 20 cents per CD, as well as $20 an hour for clerical time, $30 an hour for professional time and $40 an hour for managerial time needed for constructing the record.

According to the WTEs appeal, filed April 25, the district charged $20 for clerical time and $90 for three hours of professional staff time.

The charge for clerical time referred to an hour former administrative assistant Brenda Gompert spent forwarding emails to the technology department, searching her email account for emails from the board members and printing emails.

Those printed emails later were shredded because the district chose to compile the emails on a disc instead.

The appeal states the professional time was charged to the WTE for the time email coordinator Dennis Pacheco spent developing two search commands to locate the emails and the time spent burning them onto a disc, making the clerical charges duplicative.

According to the appellant brief, the district originally argued that fees and costs are not the same, so the limitations on charging fees for inspection in the Act does not apply to the costs of employee time.

Laramie County District Judge Thomas Campbell agreed with the argument the district made and ruled against the WTE.

The newspapers appeal brings up several concerns regarding the ruling:

If the districts interpretation of the Public Records Act is correct, any governmental agency could also charge the public to pay for an attorney to inspect public records before releasing them.

The districts interpretation also could lead citizens to be charged for compiling an electronic document when they wouldnt have been charged if the document had been a printed record.

Citizens could be charged more for inspecting documents if the employee collecting the documents is less skilled with the agencys system than another employee.

If one citizen paid for the retrieval of the documents, the next citizen would not be charged because the documents already were retrieved, creating an unfair system.

LCSD1s response no longer focuses on the difference between a fee and a cost, but on the Public Record Acts wording.

Wyoming Statute 16, Chapter 4, Section 202 states, If a public record exists primarily or solely in an electronic format, the custodian of the record shall so inform the requester. Electronic records inspection and copying shall be subject to the following: (i) The reasonable costs of producing a copy of the public record shall be borne by the party making the request. The cost may include the cost of producing a copy of the public record and the cost of constructing the record, including the cost of programming and computer services.

The districts response brief states, The use of the conjunction and means both inspection and copying are subject for the provision of Wyo. Stat. Ann. 16-4-202(d), quoted above.

The district also said, Given the nature of electronic records, it is ordinarily necessary to make a copy of some kind to comply with a request to inspect the record. It would have been impractical and unreasonably time-consuming and expensive, if not impossible, to make the requested emails available for inspection without first producing an electronic copy or a hard copy of the emails.

The newspapers attorney, Bruce Moats, said, I believe the Legislature meant two different things  either you inspect or you get a copy to take home. If there always needs to be a copy made, then it obliterates the difference between inspection and copying, and the statute wouldnt need to mention both.

He also questioned the definition of a copy of an electronic document. You send an email to more than one person  is one of those the copy and one the original?

Moats said the only reason the Legislature would have mentioned a copy in the Public Record Acts wording is if they meant a copy for the requester to take home, not a copy for the requester to view.

The school district further said the Legislature intended for the statute to allow businesses to make up some of the cost lost in employees spending time gathering electronic records, but Moats said the practice makes it harder for citizens to access public records.

Regarding the WTEs concern, stated in its appellant brief, that this case could result in many government agencies charging citizens high costs to inspect public documents, LCSD1s response brief argues that any costs will be small and of little consequence to either the agency or the person requesting the record.

Moats said the district is interpreting Wyoming Statute 16-4-202 incorrectly. All of their arguments are interpreting the statute in a way that makes access more difficult.

He said he has until June 24 to file a reply to the response based on the new arguments. Then the court will schedule oral arguments and eventually issue a decision. Moats said that process could take several months.
New Mexico again criticized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday over a massive mine waste spill that tainted rivers in three states, accusing the agency of lying about the seriousness of the blowout.

New Mexico Environment Secretary Ryan Flynn said the EPA misrepresented test samples taken after the spill to make water quality look better than it was.

He also criticized the EPA for saying the water met recreational standards for contamination after the spill instead of using the more stringent residential standard.

In a statement, the EPA defended its testing procedures, saying they were thorough and science-based.

An EPA-led crew inadvertently triggered the release of 3 million gallons of acidic wastewater from the inactive Gold King Mine in southwestern Colorado while doing preliminary cleanup work last August. Rivers in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah were polluted with arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and zinc and other metals.

Flynn made his accusations in the New Mexicos official comment on the EPAs proposal to designate the Gold King and other nearby mines a Superfund site and in a news release.

Flynn said New Mexico supports the creation of a Superfund site despite the states criticisms of the EPA. The comment was submitted Monday and made public Tuesday.

The EPA said it received 44 comments on the Superfund proposal before the Monday deadline, including at least 20 in favor and seven against. Eight comments hadnt been made public, and others didnt take a position.

The EPA could formally create the Bonita Peak Mining District Superfund site as early as this fall, after the agency reviews the comments and makes any changes to the plan.

If the area is designated a Superfund site, the EPA would examine the mountains for pollution sources and compile a list of cleanup alternatives. Long-term cleanup work would begin once the EPA chooses an alternative.

New Mexico has been harshly critical of the EPA in the past, and last month the state filed a lawsuit against the agency in federal court. New Mexico officials say the spill is costing the state $130 million in lost income taxes, fees and revenue.

Utah officials filed a notice in February that they plan to sue the EPA over the spill. Assistant Attorney General Wade Farraway says the state is hiring outside lawyers to handle the case.

Colorado officials havent said whether they plan to sue.

Erica Gaddis of the Utah Division of Water Quality praised the proposed Superfund designation Tuesday, saying it would make more money available to clean up abandoned mines.
LARAMIE  University of Wyoming President Laurie Nichols said she will declare a financial crisis that will allow for the evaluation and possible elimination of academic and nonacademic programs at the states only public four-year university.

The university has to cut more than $40 million from its budget over the next two years to compensate for reduced state aid because of a drop in tax revenue from the downturn in Wyomings energy extraction industry.

Nichols said declaring a financial crisis allows her to appoint a committee that will review all programs at the university this summer.

It kind of opens the door to allow you to really look at elimination of academic programs, she said.

But she stressed that the university will not do anything that will hurt enrollment or the quality of education students receive.

The UW board of trustees would have to approve any program elimination.

The trustees unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday supporting Nichols plans to immediately save about $26 million, beginning July 1, and to review additional cuts in the future.

Nichols said the immediate savings will come from a number of actions, including eliminating 70 faculty and staff positions that are currently vacant, asking faculty to spend more time teaching, eliminating overtime and offering an incentive for early retirement.

It is hoped that at least 50 employees will accept early retirement.

Some positions will be reallocated to where they are needed most, she said.

The overall goal is downsizing, Nichols said. We are not going to be able to replace every position.

She is also considering a four-day furlough during the December break in classes, but Nichols said she wants to avoid that step if possible.

Nichols said the idea behind faculty doing more teaching is to save money by not hiring part-time faculty.

Robert Sprague, associate professor of legal studies in business and a member of the UW Faculty Senate, said most faculty now spend about 50 percent of their time in the classroom and 50 percent on research, which includes producing books, articles, inventions, artwork and finding new discoveries.

Increasing the teaching load will result in less research, Sprague said.

If a majority of faculty who also perform research are going to have to teach an additional course load, we will have to lower either the quantity or the quality of the research that is generated by that faculty, he said.

Sprague also noted many departments are already short of faculty and some programs need part-time faculty to handle student demand.

The Legislature trimmed spending by about 1.5 percent during its budget session earlier this year. That resulted in about $3 million a year less for the university.

But the states revenue picture has worsened since lawmakers left Cheyenne, and Gov. Matt Mead says the state will have to cut about an additional 8 percent from the states $3 billion two-year budget. Mead has already told the UW trustees that the university will see its state support reduced by about another $35 million.

Mead is scheduled to meet with the Legislatures Joint Appropriations Committee next Tuesday to detail proposed cuts in other state agencies.

For the university, the cut in state funding is compounded by a need to find about $13 million over a two-year period to cover costs related to a new financial and reporting system, increased utility expenses and other needs that the Legislature said it could not fund. That means reallocating money it had planned for other things.

Wyoming derives most of its tax revenue from the extraction of coal, oil, natural gas and other minerals. However, low prices, growing wind and natural gas competition and new federal regulations have taken a toll on the industry. Several major coal companies with mines in Wyoming have filed for bankruptcy and hundreds of mine workers have been laid off in recent weeks. Thousands of other jobs directly and indirectly linked to the energy industry also have been lost over the last year.
The demands of fatherhood (OK, and a cracked vertebra) have left me too distracted to string together a coherent Fathers Day essay, so instead Im sharing random thoughts about the occasion:

A father is the sort of person who cant find a major national park with a detailed map and GPS but can unerringly find a one-inch plastic soldier with a bare foot.

Fatherhood is no longer the safe gig it used to be; now you have to worry about Uber undercutting you on all the prime piggyback ride assignments. And where the Worlds Best Dad mug used to be a shoo-in, now nothing is sure until the superdelegate votes are counted.

It wasnt until 1972 that President Richard Nixon signed into law a permanent U.S. Fathers Day to be observed on the third Sunday of June. Said Nixon, I am not a crook  just as I told those lobbyists from Acme Ugly Necktie Company and Acme Superfluous Screwdriver Company. Wink, wink.

Only dads say things like, Well, the FDA didnt say anything about banning sodium-heavy power tools.

Dads occupy a special place. No, not the special place where they have us stash dirty dishes and dirty laundry while Mom is away  a special place in our hearts. Good grief!

Upstanding fathers swell with pride and observe, The apple doesnt fall far from the tree. Less upstanding fathers observe, The apple doesnt fall far from the tree, but it falls far enough to trigger a personal injury suit. Grab a shady lawyer.

Fathers cant help but have a cynical streak. After all the innocent-looking boxes that promise Some assembly required, they cant hear a DJ say, Put your hands together, without thinking, Swell! There will probably be at least three parts left over!

According to years of research by the American Optometric Association, only a father could lose a grandmother, a favorite old dog and a pennant race all in the same day and pull that crap about There must be something in my eye.

Only a father could bellyache, Junior, Ive heard you whine about that car payment for the hundredth time. I wish youd just  hey! Its the millionth time the oldies station has played Layla! Quick! Hand me my air guitar! No, no that one  the other one! And tell all your remaining friends to come over and watch! At least advances in theoretical science are breathing new life into old fatherhood cliches. (Why? Because quantum physics said so!)

Other dad speeches have evolved. (When I was your age...Hmm, was I ever your age? This Botox is some great stuff! If they could get Clydesdales to pull it, Id never need anything else!)

Dads think having possession of a device for controlling the flatscreen TV is a national priority.

In spite of an ongoing fascination with the occult, the world still hears fewer outbursts of Im turning into a werewolf! than Im turning into my father!
These are times of great change in Natrona County.

First, the county has been growing, with three of Caspers suburbs  Bar Nunn, Evansville and Mills  leading the state in rate of expansion. Even though those numbers describe the population a year ago, when the most recent figures were available, thats good news: It demonstrates that people see our area as an attractive place to live, and it broadens the tax base.

But the expansion and its corresponding pressures  more people using roads and community services  arrive at a difficult moment for Casper, Natrona County and Wyoming. Energy prices mired in the doldrums have taken the wind out of our communities economic sails. Our leaders are contending with smaller budgets and more uncertainty. And there are so many important needs to address, from roads to schools to social services and beyond.

With all that said, our leaders should remember to invest in the people who live here now and the people who might consider moving to or even visiting the area someday. City leaders should avoid a spending spree, of course, but consistent steps  even small ones  that help our area stay an attractive place to live are important. When revenues are down, its tempting to turn off the spending spigot, but ultimately thats not the right decision.

Investment in the community is essential. Past city leaders have recognized this; their foresight is why we can enjoy amenities such as the brand-new Mike Sedar Pool and an improved trails system even in these difficult economic times. Downtown Casper has also seen these benefits; the Art 321 building was bought by the city for revitalization, and we have high hopes for the planned public plaza and additional parking. A downtown with more amenities will attract the talented professionals we need to guide the city and county into the future. Thats the talent we need.

Casper and Wyomings next generation of leaders  in politics, business and other sectors  will have to continue to bring big ideas to the area. Theyll need to find ways to diversify our economy, so that we avoid the bruises that too often accompany our roller coaster economy.

But for that to happen, theyll have to want to live here, in our city and state. Theyll have to want to raise their children here. And they wont do that without the knowledge that their leaders value their quality of life.

That means making tough decisions. Certainly, we cant fund everything. But Casper and Wyomings leaders might look at the benefits we enjoy today that are the result of past leaders investing in the future. These demonstrate well the wisdom of investing in the community and its people  for today, tomorrow and all the days beyond.
PHOENIX  A U.S. citizen is suing the federal government after she said she was taken in handcuffs by border officers to a Nogales hospital for a body cavity search  which found nothing  and then billed for the procedure.

Ashley Cervantes says in her lawsuit that she had crossed into Mexico on foot in October 2014 to have breakfast at a restaurant where she often eats. On returning, she presented border officials with her birth certificate and state identification card.

Attorney Brian Marchetti said they accused the woman, 18 at the time, of possessing drugs. When she denied that was true, they took her into a detention room where, during the next several hours, she was handcuffed to a chair, had several dogs sniff her, and eventually was taken into a separate room where she was patted down and asked to squat so female investigators could visually inspect her.

All that, said Marchetti, occurred without her consent or a warrant. In fact, he said, a request to call her mother was denied.

It was what happened next that Marchetti charges clearly violated his clients rights.

He said an agent of Customs and Border Protection signed a Treatment Authorization Request to have her taken to a medical facility as an alleged potential internal carrier of foreign substance. That form, he said, requested an X-ray.

Instead, Marchetti said, Cervantes was taken in handcuffs to Holy Cross Hospital where a doctor conducted a body cavity search.

Ashley had never before been to a gynecologist and, for the remainder of her life, will always remember that her first pelvic and rectal exams were under the most inhumane circumstances imaginable to a U.S. citizen at a hospital on U.S. soil, Marchetti charges in the lawsuit.

No drugs were found, Marchetti said, and his client was released after about seven hours.

The attorney said the problem goes beyond the decisions by federal agents. He said the hospital has no protections in place to ensure that searches sought by law enforcement comply with constitutional requirements.

A spokesman for Customs and Border Protection declined to comment.

But the agencys policy says body cavity searches must be approved by a supervisor and after obtaining consent or a search warrant. It also says that consent to X-rays must be freely and voluntarily given or a court order is required.

A request for comment from the hospital yielded no response.

Marchetti did not dispute that standards for searches of someone crossing into the country, even a U.S. citizen, may be different than someone stopped by police elsewhere. But he told Capitol Media Services none of that excuses what happened to Cervantes.

Wherever the line is, its crossed here where you have an American citizen who, by the way, the most trouble shes ever been in is an hour of detention her freshman year of high school, he said.

Whether or not the border exception applies here, we would certainly submit the search needs to be reasonable, Marchetti said. And even if reasonable minds could disagree on whether an X-ray might have been appropriate, that was not the course taken by Customs and Border Protection.

And Marchetti said if the invasion of his clients body was not enough, that was not the end. The hospital had one more thing.

They even billed her parents for the treatment, for $575, he said.

The case will be heard in front of a federal judge in Tucson.
On Monday, the day after the mass shooting in Orlando, I happened to see Gabrielle Giffords at a coffee shop near the university.

I exchanged greetings with Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, and we went about our days. No interview requests from me, no suggestions from them. I was still using my protective numbness to the latest random killings.

But in retrospect, the encounter served as a reminder. Giffords is a survivor of a mass shooting  in that way, a member of a group whose ranks are growing month after month, year after year.

Another 53 wounded survivors unwillingly joined the club on Sunday in Florida. Many will suffer physically for the rest of their lives; all will be altered.

Giffords shook my hand with her left hand because her right arm no longer works. She has trouble speaking. She survived being shot through the brain  a fact we should never grow used to. She may be the quintessential survivor of Americas mass-shooting wave, but these days, shes just one of many.

Not only are the ranks of survivors growing, but so is the number of people who know victims of mass shootings, those of us who are just one person away from the carnage. There are the parents of the Sandy Hook, Connecticut, and Aurora, Colorado, victims. The children and grandchildren of the Charleston, South Carolina, killings. The friends and family of the Orlando victims. Many more.

Each victim and each survivor had perhaps hundreds of relationships. And each of those people experienced the attack vicariously, to greater or lesser degrees.

The result is, an increasing number of Americans dont just respond to mass shootings as consumers of news  shocked but removed. Slowly, we are becoming a nation of mass-shooting victims and survivors.

When a mass shooting happens in Orlando, people feel it more sharply in Roseburg, Oregon, Oak Creek, Wisconsin, Fort Hood, Texas, Santa Barbara, California, Binghamton, New York, Omaha, Nebraska, and of course, here in Tucson.

The list of locations goes on. And on. And on. Look it up  you wont believe the number of cases youve forgotten. Those affected are spread across the country. They also represent a demographic cross section of the United States.

With Sundays shooting, for example, the American subculture of gay Latinos was hit especially hard, and the impacts on that group undoubtedly rippled across the country. When the Sikh Temple in Wisconsin was attacked, Sikhs everywhere felt it. Each attack at a university tightens the chests of employees and students at colleges across the country.

It happens there is an Arizona State University mathematician who has researched the frequency of mass shootings. Research professor Sherry Towers and her colleagues gauged the contagion effect last year and established that after a nationally reported mass shooting, the probability of another one increases significantly over the next 13 days.

The research also helped make Towers more aware of the growing frequency and immediacy of mass killings.

I am one degree of separation away from the Virginia Tech shooting, Towers told me, referring to the 2007 incident in which 32 people were killed and two dozen more injured. She knows somebody who was in the building where that occurred.

I dont think Im that unusual for a person in the United States, said Towers, who is originally from Canada. The degrees of separation become smaller and smaller.

In Tucson, of course, we know that. I knew some of the people shot or present outside the Safeway on Jan. 8, 2011  most closely former U.S. Rep. Ron Barber, a friend of my family. Many others did, too.

What does it mean to have so many victims, survivors and their contacts spread across the country? Some people understandably turn away from the news and numb themselves to it. But thats too bad, because they represent a nationwide constituency now, one with potential power for good.

Pat Maisch, an Oro Valley woman who witnessed the 2011 attack here and helped subdue the shooter, became a gun-violence-prevention activist, shaming lawmakers for doing nothing in response to this random pattern of bloodshed.

Its always with you, she told me Tuesday. If you talk to other survivors, theyll tell you the same thing. Theres no moving on. You incorporate it into your daily life.

Kelly and Giffords started Americans for Responsible Solutions, which campaigns for more widespread background checks and other common-sense gun laws. Two days before the Orlando attack, they announced a new group supporting their effort, Veterans Coalition for Common Sense, which includes heavy hitters such as retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, Army Gen. David Petraeus and Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal, among others.

But not all efforts are aimed at changing gun laws.

The parents of Alex Teves, who was killed in the Colorado movie theater rampage, started No Notoriety, a group aimed at reducing repeated news-media use of the names and photos of killers.

The father of a young girl killed in the Sandy Hook shootings is a neuroscientist and started The Avielle Foundation to help prevent violence through neuroscience research and education.

People try to make sense of a senseless act by doing something in their childs or their loved-ones honor, Maisch said.

Its our countrys shame that there are so many people in this position. But at this stage, their growing numbers and power may be what it takes to solve the problem.
Editor

Curt has been with the Star since 2015. He covered the border, immigration and federal courts. He now is the Opinion editor at the Star. He previously worked at the Nogales International.
A Pima County resident has filed papers challenging the signatures that congressional candidate Edna San Miguel submitted to the Arizona Secretary of State.

The challenge, filed on behalf of resident Betty Villegas, states the Republican candidate filed 1,653 invalid signatures and therefore does not have enough signatures to qualify as a candidate.

San Miguel filed 2,130 signatures and needs 864 valid signatures from Republicans living in Congressional District 3 to qualify for the ballot.

The 34-page document cites a number of legal reasons to discount the signatures gathered by San Miguel and her supporters, from some signers not living in CD3 to others not being registered Republicans. At least one signature was collected from a registered felon, the challenge states.

San Miguel, who hopes to run against U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, a Democrat, said she has asked the court for time to hire an attorney.

The Tucson author and teacher said she was caught off guard by the court challenge, but is confident her signatures will be found to be valid.

The case is scheduled to be heard Wednesday, June 15, at 1:30 p.m. in Pima County Superior Court.
Even though special master Ken Feinberg, who was in charge of the first federal Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund, distributed $6 billion to the estates of those killed on 9/11  an average of more than $2 million to the nearly 3,000 victims  the House of Representatives passed its new Fairness for 9/11 Families Act to allow additional claims for the deaths inflicted by the terrorists and set aside $2.7 billion for them.
PHOENIX  State laws denying bail to accused sex offenders are unconstitutional, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

In a split opinion, the majority said it may very well be appropriate to keep individuals who are charged with having sexual contact with minors behind bars until trial.

But Judge Peter Swann said simply being charged with a crime  even if there is evidence of the persons guilt  is legally insufficient. He said a judge can deny bail only if prosecutors can also show that no conditions of release can be imposed to ensure protection of others.

In fact, Swann suggested that even Arizona laws absolutely prohibiting bail for those accused of capital offenses may be similarly illegal. But the court did not go quite that far in Tuesdays decision.

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said he will seek state Supreme Court review.

The ruling involves two men charged in separate unrelated incidents of various charges, including sexual conduct with minors younger than 15.

Both were initially denied bond based on an Arizona law and state constitutional provisions that deny bail in certain kinds of crime if the proof is evidence or the presumption great that the person is guilty of the offense charged.

But Swann said the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987 ruled that categorical denial of bail is unconstitutional. Instead, the high court said prosecutors must first prove by clear and convincing evidence that no release conditions will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community.

By contrast, the judge said, the law and state constitutional provisions here require that defendants must be denied bail upon nothing more than a sufficient showing that they likely committed the offense, without addressing the availability of release conditions that could assure the safety of victims and the community.

And Swann said that opportunity for a hearing is a necessary safeguard. Otherwise, he said, a flat denial of bail with no opportunity for a defendant to argue he or she can be safely released becomes punitive.

Swann said the ruling is not as far-fetched as it might sound.

He noted, for example, that existing Arizona laws give a judge the opportunity to deny bail to someone who is a member of a criminal street gang. But Swann pointed out this is not automatic.

The court still has the duty to consider the propriety of setting bail for the dangerous individual on a case-by-case basis but retains the authority to deny bail altogether if the facts warrant, Swann wrote of that law.

He said the same requirements exist even for cases where state lawmakers  or even voters  decided some people should be denied bail.

And even under federal law, he said, those accused of terrorism are entitled to a bail hearing.

Swann was careful to say he was not excusing the offenses charged here.

Sexual conduct with a young minor is unquestionably a serious offense that involves a vulnerable class of victims and severe penalties, he wrote. But it cannot serve in every case, as a reliable proxy for unmanageable flight risk, witness intimidation, unmanageable risk to victims or any other plausible bail consideration.

Appellate Judge Andrew Gould, in his dissent, rejected the contention that denial of bail in certain circumstances is unconstitutional.

He said the express purpose of the statute and its companion state constitutional provision is to protect victims and the community. That, he said, makes its purpose regulatory, not punitive.

Gould acknowledged it is impossible to always know if a defendant charged with having sex with a child poses a danger to the victim or community. But he said that may also be true of someone charged with murder or other capital offense.

But it seems to me that if holding a defendant without bond in a capital case or murder case is constitutional, and has been for over 200 years, then doing so when a child is the victim of a serious sex crime is as well, Gould wrote, saying he would uphold Arizona provisions for denying bail as constitutional.
PHOENIX  Unable to qualify for the ballot this year, organizers of one of the initiatives to legalize recreational use of marijuana in Arizona are now trying to defeat the remaining measure.

Arizonans for Mindful Regulation has quietly shelved its plans to put its proposal on the November ballot. Organizer Jason Medar said the group has only about 120,000 signatures, far short of the 150,642 it would need by July 7.

The organization, however, is not going away. Its website says it is regrouping for 2018. Medar said with volunteers already in place and more time he is convinced it can qualify for that years ballot.

But its what will happen next that is most significant: Medar and his allies are forming a political committee to try to persuade voters to reject the other initiative.

That measure, pushed under the banner of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, is virtually certain to make the ballot. Fueled by more than $1 million in donations, the group claims it already has more than 200,000 names on petitions.

And that, in turn, paves the way for what could be an expensive and high-profile fight over whether Arizona wants to follow the lead of states like Oregon and Washington that have legalized recreational use of marijuana by adults.

It puts Medars group on the same side of the fight as Sheila Polk and Bill Montgomery, the chief prosecutors of Yavapai and Maricopa counties, who are leading the anti-legalization fight.

But unlike Polk and Montgomery, who oppose easing the laws, Medar and his followers believe the surviving initiative does not go far enough to make marijuana available for recreational use.

The two groups pushing legalization had started as one. But they split last year over the best path to take.

Both measures would legalize recreational use and possession of up to an ounce. And both would impose a system of regulation and taxes.

The measure still alive says anything over 2 ounces remains a felony offense. By contrast, the proposal by Arizonans for Mindful Regulation made everything up to 8 ounces a misdemeanor.

But at least part of what caused the split was the insistence of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol to limit the number of places where people could buy marijuana initially to about 160.

The more than 80 existing medical marijuana dispensaries would get first crack at the number of licenses available. And Medar said there also are provisions in that initiative that allow cities and counties to impose some limits on new locations.

Only the existing medical marijuana dispensaries are guaranteed to receive any of the recreational marijuana business licenses, he said, with everyone else out of luck. It even limits future competition until 2021, the point at which the state agency that would regulate marijuana would be able to issue more licenses if there is a need.

We simply couldnt vote for that, Medar said of those involved in what he called the grass roots part of the marijuana legalization movement, the people who smoke the stuff versus the business owners who sell it.

His initiative would have required the state to license as many marijuana shops as liquor stores, a figure Medar put at about 1,600.

Carlos Alfaro, the deputy campaign manager for the remaining ballot measure, would not answer questions about the differences between the measures nor how the new opposition from Medars group might affect the November vote. Instead, he issued a prepared statement saying his group looks forward to waging a positive campaign showing the economic and social benefits of taxing and regulating marijuana.

While the new opposition from Medars group could undermine the other initiative, the narrowing of the field to a single ballot measure could benefit the remaining campaign.

Had both qualified for the ballot, it could have created confusion for voters who may have been unaware they could vote for both. That raised the potential of splitting the pro-marijuana vote, leaving each measure short of the majority.

The largest share of the funding for the surviving measure comes from the Marijuana Policy Project. That is the same organization that got voters to narrowly approve a 2010 measure allowing those with certain medical conditions to obtain up to 2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks.

Campaign finance reports show the project and its affiliated foundation have contributed more than $414,000 so far. There also are a series of donations from dispensaries that stand to benefit if the measure is approved.

The campaign against any form of legalization, operating as Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy, has so far raised at least $480,000 according to reports filed with the Secretary of States Office.
Help India!

Jammu : The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday ordered a probe into the alleged desecration of a temple here as sporadic incidents of violence continued for a second day, police said.

Incidents of stone pelting were reported from parts of Jammu city, forcing police to use batons and tear smoke to quell the protests, senior officials said.

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Heath and Medical Education Minister Bali Bhagat said the government had ordered a probe to ascertain the facts about the alleged desecration of an ancient Hindu temple in Roop Nagar area here on Tuesday.

Bhagat appealed to people to maintain calm and said the situation in Jammu city remained largely peaceful on Wednesday.

Police arrested a youth, Yasir, belonging to Doda district, in connection with the alleged desecration.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Haq Khan told the state assembly in Srinagar that the youth was found to be mentally challenged.

Meanwhile, following demands by some rightwing Hindu groups, the authorities on Wednesday evening released all the 22 people arrested on suspicion of arson and rioting on Tuesday.

A mob torched three vehicles in Janipur area of Jammu as news about the alleged desecration spread on Tuesday.

Authorities on Wednesday suspended Internet services in Jammu city to check the spread of rumours.


Help India!





Sadiq Shaikh, Mubin Shaikh and Shabana Parveen



By A Mirsab, Twocircles.net,

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Solapur (Maharashtra): Shabana Parveen, 53, a mother of twenty-eight years old Mohsin Sadiq Shaikh had convinced him to get married by the end of 2014 and for that she had already seen some girls in Solapur. Mohsin had promised her that after Eid he would pick one of them as his bride.

It was double happiness for her because in coming weeks Ramadan was going to start and soon after Eid she can start making prepartions for Mohsins marriage.

However, on the evening of June 2, 2014 a phone call crashed her entire life when she was informed that Mohsin was brutally killed in Pune.







Mohsin Shaikh



In the first week of June 2014 sporadic violence was triggered in Pune as an aftermath of alleged uploading of derogatory images of Shivaji and Bal Thakerey.

Mohsin, who was working as a manager in an IT firm was caught by Hindu Radicals belonging to Hindu Rashtra Sena (HRS) when he come out of a Mosque in Hadapsar after offering Isha (night) prayer and was brutally murdered. Mohsin had nothing to do with offensive Facebook post.

Parveen chokes up while recalling that day two years later, I could never enjoy life after that unexpected phone call informing of my dear sons death. Those rioters took away all our happiness forever.

According to Parveen, her son was a quiet person who would always kept a smiling face and would never hurt anyone.

He would always use kind words, he never abused anyone. He would offer regular prayers but would never hate others. If his killers would ever know him they would have respected him for his behavior than thinking of assaulting him, she describes Mohsin.

After his killing it was stated by the witness to police that alleged members of HRS spotted beard and a skull cap on Mohsin and beat him to death.

After spending five years in the IT industry, Mohsin had established himself professionally and had plans to get married soon. The reminder of his unfulfilled dream of marriage disheartens Parveen because it was her dream too and Mohsin had left the choice of finding his wife to his mother.

When I would ask him what kind of girl he wants, he would only say that he has full faith in me and I can find better match for him, she recalls touching exchange with Mohsin.

This is the third Ramadan that Mohsin is not with the family and due to his absence family could not experience happiness of the month of Ramadan and Eid.

Ramadan is just like any other months at home after my son was killed by extremists. All of us cry thinking of him while we make iftar everyday, she breaks down while mentioning this.

Mohsins father tells TwoCircles.net, I had only two sons and Mohsin was a hardworking and an intelligent boy. I did allow him to go out of Solapur to pursue his dreams thinking at least one son was at home. He was accomplishing so much, he was selected as a manager in an MNC only a month earlier. But he now lives with a guilt feeling, Now I blame myself why I allowed him to step out of Solapur.

Mubin Shaikh, 23, younger brother of Mohsin looks after his parents and is trying to take over responsibilities that once were on Mohsins shoulders.

My father is diabetic and has now 60 years old. Mother too has become very weak after Mohsins death. We do not have anyone at home to look after them. Although I am trying hard but when they recall his memories, I too cannot hold on to my emotions, says Mubin who is working as a team lead in a car showroom in Solapur.
Microsoft Purchase of LinkedIn Could Boost Its UC Saturation

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By Casey Houser

Contributing Writer By Casey HouserContributing Writer

For readers that frequent the pages of TMC (News - Alert), they probably know all about Microsofts decision to purchase LinkedIn for $26.2 billion. The story broke on Monday and has, in the span of three short days, become old hat. Ho hum; yet another purchase in the business world.





Or has it? This could be one of the biggest acquisitions in the world this year, and aside from it being just another transfer of ownership  something common in this reporting space and in business dealings overall  this transfer could offer something more.

The flip from LinkedIn ownership to the flag held by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (News - Alert), tech news bastion Livemint speculates, could have its roots in the formation of Microsofts unified communications (UC). Sure, Nadellas behemoth already has Skype (News - Alert) for Business, which is one of major UC software-service packages pundits can discuss. That software alone has established itself in businesses meeting rooms in every corner Microsofts (News - Alert) operating region (see: everywhere), and that brief analysis does not even include the action of Skype proper in the suite of Office 365 deployments in enterprise halls and individual workspaces.

The development of UC with regard to LinkedIn (News - Alert) could be an altogether different animal because it does more than just release a new product to the masses. Instead, it offers a host of potential users that could make Skype for Business their home, not to mention jumping to OneNote for their collaborative projects and to Azure for their cloud computing.

Livemint rightly points out that LinkedIn has more than 400 million users under its wings. Those users are loyal to its social platform. Furthermore, many of those users own their own small and midsize businesses, so they have an interest in communications, collaboration, and cloud usage applications that work well.

Microsoft can use the LinkedIn news feed to capture the attention of those users and help bring them over to the side of reliability and usability  or so Microsoft will have to convince them. If it can pull off the task, Nadellas behemoth-less-$26.2 billion could make its purchase worthwhile and convert a number of burgeoning businesses to its own style of operation. Not all of them will turn into the next Microsoft, but they could become ingrained in the fabric that the Nadella crew has built.

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Edited by Maurice Nagle
One of the most controversial decisions during the George W. Bush presidency was his call to invade Iraq in 2003. Costing the United States trillions, Republican nominee Donald Trump is now asking if members of the military got their hands on some of the missing funds in order to live a lavish lifestyle.

Trump on Iraq War vets

Trump's relationship with veterans has been a mixed bag. Despite claiming to be "great" for veterans and members of the military, Trump and his campaign still can't account for $1.5 million in charity money that was allegedly raised during a fundraiser in January.

During a campaign rally in Greensboro, N.C. on Tuesday, Trump questioned the behavior of soldiers during their time serving in the Iraq War, as reported by The Hill on June 14.

Trump accuses soldiers of stealing cash during Iraq War https://t.co/8y4MORglgh pic.twitter.com/UgYs7pDtbG  The Hill (@thehill) June 15, 2016

"How about bringing baskets of money, millions and millions of dollars, and handing it out?" Trump said, in reference to reconstruction funds that were lost during the war in Iraq. "I want to know, who were the soldiers that had the job?" Trump rhetorically asked the crowd, stating, "I think theyre living very well right now, whoever they might be."

The former host of "The Apprentice" quickly faced backlash, forcing campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks to attempt to clarify Trump's statement.

"Mr. Trump was referring to Iraqi soldiers," Hicks told NBC News, while many still question whether or not Trump's comments were directed at U.S. soldiers and veterans.

Election forecast

Ever since clinching the Republican nomination last month, the Trump campaign has been on a downward spiral. From dealing with the upcoming Trump University fraud case, including his comments about the "Mexican" judge handling the case, to questionable remarks about an African-American man at his recent rally, to his statement in the aftermath of theterrorist attack in Orlando, Florida, Trump has seen a sharp drop in the polls. According to the latest Bloomberg Politics poll, likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton is leading Trump by double-digits, 49 percent to 37 percent.
The world was once again rocked Sunday morning when a gunman opened fire at "Pulse," a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The result was the worst mass shooting in United States history, as yet another example of Islamic terrorism has infected the West.

Trump blow-back

Twenty-nine year old Omar Mateen, an American born to parents from Afghanistan, walked into Pulse with a hand gun and AR-15. When the smoke cleared, 49 people were killed, with 53 others left injured. Since that time, it's been confirmed that Mateen had been radicalized into Islam, pledging an allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) during a 911 call made during the shooting.

The reaction from around the world has been sympathetic, but the two major candidates running for president haddifferent takes on the situation, as reported by CNN on June 13.

Addressing the media during a press conference on Monday, Donald Trump referred to the Orlando shooting as a "very Dark moment in America's history." While many on the left have continued a push for stricter gun laws, Trump said he "will be always defending the Second Amendment." Continuing, Trump took credit for being "right" about the shooter being a radical Islamic terrorist, saying, "Many are saying I was right" in reference to his proposed ban on Muslim immigration.

The billionaire real estate mogul continued, claiming to be a great "friend" to the LGBT community, while criticizing President Obama's handling of LGBT issues during his time in office.

President of @HRC goes off on Trump: Its shameful and disgusting what Donald Trump did today

https://t.co/nd49zedYmp  The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) June 13, 2016

Responding to Trump's comments was Chad Griffen, the President of the Human Rights Campaign, who went off on the former host of "The Apprentice" during an interview with CNN on Monday.

"LGBT people. We are Muslims. We are women. We are Latinos. We are as diverse as the fabric of this nation," Griffen told host Wolf Blitzer. "Any attack on anyone of us is an attack on all of us," Griffen continued, stating, "It's shameful and disgusting what Donald Trump did today, and what he said today." In conclusion, Griffen said, "I hope he says not another word about."
Philippine diplomats urge incoming government to conduct bilateral talks with China Updated: 2016-06-12 09:32 (Xinhua)

Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte speaks during his victory party in Davao, the Philippines, June 4, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

MANILA - Philippine diplomats have urged President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's government to launch bilateral talks with China to settle the long-running South China Sea territorial dispute between the two sides.

The call came as the Chinse Foreign Ministry on Wednesday issued a statement on settling disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea through bilateral negotiations.

DISPUTE SHOULD BE SOLVED BY BILATERAL TALKS

"You can't resolve an issue without talking to each other," the Manila Times, one of Philippine's major newspapers, cited Lauro Baja, former Philippine foreign affairs undersecretary and ambassador to the United Nations, as reporting on Friday.

Tension between China and the Philippines have heightened in recent years over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. In 2013, the Philippines unilaterally initiated an arbitration case against China over the dispute from an international tribunal in The Hague.

Rosario Manalo, Philippines' former foreign affairs undersecretary for international economic relations, said the best thing for both the Philippines and China is to "sit down and talk".

Manalo said that everything can be resolved through bilateral negotiations.

"We should start talking about how to share the fruits of the tree through exploration," the Manila Bulletin, Philippine's another major newspaper, quoted her as saying.

Baja noted that the questions of territorial integrity or maritime entitlement will not be solved solely on legal ground.

"What the department (foreign affairs) or the Philippines may have missed is that they relied too much on the legal ground," he said, adding "Second, we relied too much on the panel and we put all our eggs in the panel."

With Regard to the arbitration, he said he believed that it will not be a total victory for the Philippines nor a total loss for China.

"I think they will come to a decision where there will be opportunities for China and the Philippines to engage in bilateral talks," Baja said.

THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE KEPT OUT

Manalo, who was the head of the High Level Task Force on ASEAN charter, said the only way to solve the dispute in the South China Sea is to diplomatically talk with China.

Manalo saw no need for the United States to join the negotiations as it doesn't have any claim in the disputed waters in the South China Sea.

"We can't pursue multilateral talks... What's the interest of the United States in us? Do they have any claim to the Philippines or China's territory? The problem is only between us and China," she said.

A US expert suggested the other day that the Philippines could take its case to the United Nations Security Council if China will not abide by the court ruling.

Baja dismissed the recommendation by Ernest Bower, a senior adviser to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

He said that China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, will surely veto such a move.




China's Global Newspaper





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China urges US to honor promise on one-China policy Updated: 2016-06-15 00:34 (Xinhua)

BEIJING -- The Chinese foreign ministry on Tuesday urged the United States to honor its promise on the one-China policy as Taiwan's new leader Tsai Ing-wen allegedly plans to make transit stops in Miami and Los Angeles on an overseas trip.

"The US government has made solemn promises that it upholds the one-China policy," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in response to a question at a daily news briefing.

"We demand the US government earnestly keep its promises and handle the issue in accordance with the one-China policy," Lu said, urging the United States to avoid providing "soil" for secessionist activities aimed to split China.

When asked on Dalai Lama's possible meeting with US President Barrack Obama in Washington, Lu stressed that the United States admits Tibet is inalienable part of China and will adhere to the one-China policy.

Lu added that the US government has promised it will never recognize the so-called "Tibetan government-in-exile."

"The 14th Dalai Lama often peddles his political position of splitting China internationally in the cloak of religion," Lu said.

"We demand no country or government should give him space for such activities, and do things that 1.3 billion Chinese people will resolutely oppose," said the spokesman.
Adopted children arrive for a wide-ranging discovery mission Updated: 2016-06-15 04:20 By Su Zhou(China Daily)

Adopted Chinese youngsters and their family members take a selfie during a visit to Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Tuesday. Zou Hong / China Daily

More than 90 Chinese youngsters, accompanied by their adoptive families from the United States, began an exploration tour in Beijing on Tuesday to locate their birthplaces.

Wearing T-shirts with giant panda and bamboo cartoon images, most of them were returning to China for the first time.

In coming days, they will review their adoption files, take traditional Chinese cultural classes, return to the orphanages where they lived before being adopted and travel to tourist destinations, including Chengdu in Sichuan province.

The heritage tours have been organized by the China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption since 2006. They are aimed at helping Chinese adoptees living overseas to understand how they were adopted, recapture their childhood, and learn more about traditional Chinese culture.

More than 4,000 Chinese adoptees have been invited to visit the country since 2006.

Li Liguo, the minister of civil affairs, said in a welcoming speech that the Chinese government pays great attention to children's interests and rights, and has sought the most suitable adoptive families worldwide for Chinese orphans.

"Adoptions are not the end of our work, but an extension of it," Li said. "We are pleased to see the children are happy and healthy, and we want to express our gratitude to the adoptive parents."

The United States tops the list of countries where Chinese orphans have been adopted.
IMF official warns of debt risk Updated: 2016-06-15 07:46 By Wang Yanfei(China Daily)

China 'making progress' in economic transition, but high corporate borrowing could spell trouble

China is making progress on its economic rebalancing, but rising corporate debt could pose risks to growth in the medium and long term if the debt problem isn't solved, a senior official at the International Monetary Fund suggested in Beijing on Tuesday.

"China is making progress in many dimensions on its transition to a sustainable growth path, and the near-term outlook has turned more buoyant due to recent policy support," said David Lipton, the IMF's first deputy managing director, after a discussion with top Chinese officials and regulators in the financial sector.

Lipton said the moderate slowdown in China's growth in the first quarter is a natural result of the country's necessary transition, and it's good enough compared with many other economies.

Addressing recent depreciation pressure on the renminbi that sparked concerns of global investors, Lipton said the exchange rate is becoming "more flexible and market-based" as there has been substantial liberalization of financial markets.

Lipton said the government should achieve an effective floating range within the next couple of years.

What it needs to be concerned about to ensure medium-to-high growth in the long run is the risk of rising debt, Lipton said.

"The corporate debt load, which is at 145 percent of GDP, though still manageable, is high and rising fast," Lipton said, adding that China needed a comprehensive plan and concrete action - especially for State-owned enterprises - to avoid serious problems in the long run.

His observations were in line with those of Chinese authorities who have been aware of the challenges. An unidentified "authoritative figure" who published an article in People's Daily earlier in May said that soaring debt levels could trigger a "systemic" financial crisis if efforts are too weak.

China has since launched a series of initiatives to whittle back the bad debt sitting on bank balance sheets, including securitization and debt-for-equity swaps.

Facing possible vulnerabilities, officials have adopted plans designed to settle growth at a sustainable level.

Zhang Tao, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, speaking at a financial forum in Shanghai on Sunday, signaled a willingness to let zombie companies die and let the market decide which ones should be shut down.

Li Pumin, spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission, pledged on Tuesday to take more steps to address excess capacity in the coal and steel sectors in an effort to spur restructuring.

(China Daily 06/15/2016 page4)
Ministry: Navy ship passes strait 'for international navigation' Updated: 2016-06-15 16:29 By ZHANG YUNBI(chinadaily.com.cn)

The Ministry of National Defense said on Wednesday that a Chinese naval ship passed a Japanese strait "used for international navigation" and it had abided by the freedom of navigation principle in international law.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Japanese Defense Ministry claimed that a Chinese naval ship entered "territorial waters" near Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture.

In response, the Chinese ministry told reporters in a written reply that the Chinese naval ship was passing the Tokara Strait, a "territorial strait used for international navigation".

The passage of the Chinese naval ship "abided by the freedom of navigation principle of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea"the ministry said.

Also, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday that the passage was part of planned regular training and it is not compulsory for China to report such a passage to Japan in advance.

Japan's intentions "deserve to be doubted" as it has deliberately tried to sensationalize the passage, the spokesman said.
Shooting renews gun-control push Updated: 2016-06-14 11:38 By Amy He in New York(China Daily USA)

After Orlando, senator seeks to bar firearms to hate-crime convicts

With the US reeling in the aftermath of a mass shooting at a crowded gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which left 49 people dead and 53 wounded, a US senator introduced legislation that would bar people convicted of hate crimes from owning or buying firearms.

Bob Casey Jr, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said at a press conference on Monday that law enforcement needs to focus on the connection between violence and hate crimes.

Gunman Omar Mateen, 29, had reportedly once expressed anger over seeing two men kissing. Authorities said on Monday that they had identified all but one of those shot and killed at the Pulse nightclub by Mateen, who was killed in a shootout with police. Many victims remain hospitalized in critical condition.

Mateen used an assault rifle and handgun that he had recently purchased legally. He professed allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) in a 911 call he made during the attack, law enforcement officials said.

ISIS claimed responsibility on Monday for the slayings in an official broadcast on the group's Albayan Radio.

"One of the caliphate's soldiers in America carried out a security invasion where he was able to enter a crusader gathering at a nightclub for homosexuals in Orlando, Florida ... where he killed and injured more than a hundred of them before he was killed," the group said in its broadcast, according to Reuters.

Casey described the deadly shooting as "an act of terror" and "an attack on the LGBT community".

"In Orlando, he was targeting people based on who they were and who they loved, and that has to be a focus of our work as well," Casey said. "If you have proven you will commit criminal acts based on hate, you absolutely should not have access to a gun," he said. "It's common sense."

Leaders from around the world expressed their condolences for the worst mass shooting in American history.

President Xi Jinping called President Barack Obama on Monday to express sympathy on behalf of the Chinese government and Chinese people, according to Xinhua.

Premier Li Keqiang said in a press conference after his talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that China "opposes terrorist action in all forms".

Congressional Democrats challenged Republican lawmakers by reviving legislation that would deny the sale of firearms to those on terrorism watch lists, which had failed to pass in December.

The Democrats said they will try to attach the revived legislation to the Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill that will be on the Senate floor this week, according to the website Politico.

New York Senator Charles Schumer, a supporter of the legislation, said that Democrats believe they will "do better" this time in getting Republicans to support it. "Circumstances are going to force them to see the light," he told Politico.

Julian Mortenson, a professor of law at the University of Michigan, said that gun control advocates expect each mass shooting to be the catalyst for significant reform, but it has not happened.

"So I don't see signs of the fundamental political dynamic changing, and until we see some of that - and it's hard to tell when that will happen, perhaps at some point it will - I'm not sure we should expect the outcomes to be any differently politically," he said.

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence advocacy group said in a statement released on Sunday when the Orlando shootings took place that it is "far too easy" for those who are intent on causing harm to access guns.

"We owe it to the people of Orlando - and to all of the 90 Americans killed each day by guns - to do everything in our power to prevent this kind of violence," said Dan Gross, president of the organization.

Obama said on Monday that "it appears that the shooter was inspired by various extremist information" online; he added that "all those materials" are now being scrutinized and "exploited".

Investigators said they are operating under the theory that the attack was inspired by ISIS. But Mateen, who had been interviewed twice by the FBI and once was on a terrorist watch list, had previously expressed solidarity with Islamist groups that oppose Islamic State, FBI Director James Comey said on Monday, adding "confusion" about his inspiration for the attack, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Mateen's ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, said outside of her home in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday that their marriage lasted four months and that she had left their Florida home and filed for divorce. She said that Mateen had been abusive, and at times displayed erratic behavior. "There were definitely moments when he'd express his intolerance toward homosexuals," she said.

amyhhe@chinadailyusa.com

A man kneels at a memorial service the day after a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida on Monday. Reuters

(China Daily USA 06/14/2016 page1)
MSCI again rejects China shares for index Updated: 2016-06-15 11:31 By Paul Welitzkin and Reuters in New York(China Daily USA)

China's securities regulator said any global benchmark index that doesn't include China A shares is incomplete, after US index provider MSCI Inc on Tuesday again rejected including domestic Chinese equities in its prominent emerging markets benchmark index.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said MSCI's decision to not include A shares won't impact the reform and opening process of the country's capital markets.

It added that China needs to build long-term, stable and healthy capital markets.

MSCI said it will retain the China A shares inclusion proposal as part of the 2017 Market Classification Review. MSCI does not rule out a potential off-cycle announcement should positive developments occur by June 2017.

"International institutional investors clearly indicated that they would like to see further improvements in the accessibility of the China A-share market before its inclusion in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index," Remy Briand, MSCI managing director and global head of research, said in a statement.

MSCI said that it would retain the option to include the A-shares as part of its next market classification review in 2017.

"MSCI will monitor the implementation of the recently announced policy changes and will seek feedback from market participants," Briand said.

In June 2015, MSCI rejected the Chinese shares, citing uncertainty about who actually owns them and how easily investors can withdraw their money from Chinese investments. Earlier this year China's stock exchanges published rules that restrict arbitrary trading suspensions for Chinese stocks. Chinese officials have been pushing for the inclusion of A-shares, seeing it as another step in the assimilation of China into the global financial marketplace.

Qi Bin, an official with the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said improvements to the trading-halt system were part of the Chinese government's efforts to facilitate MSCI inclusion. He also cited freer money transfers allowed by the foreign exchange regulator and greater recognition of beneficiary ownership.

Briand acknowledged that "there have been significant steps toward the eventual inclusion of China A shares in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index".

MSCI said it gathered feedback from market participants on the potential inclusion of the A shares in the index. "Investors recognized the actions taken to further open the China A-share market and highlighted that the topic of beneficial ownership has been satisfactorily resolved," it said.

"They generally stressed the need for a period of observation to assess the effectiveness of the QFII quota allocation and capital mobility policy changes," said the MSCI statement.

"The 20 percent monthly repatriation limit remains a significant hurdle for investors that may be faced with redemptions such as mutual funds and must be satisfactorily addressed."

MSCI said it will retain the China A shares inclusion proposal as part of the 2017 Market Classification Review. MSCI does not rule out a potential off-cycle announcement should positive developments occur by June 2017.

paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com
1 killed as tour bus carrying Chinese flips in Virginia Updated: 2016-06-15 11:31 By Associated Press and Chen Weihua in Washington(China Daily USA)

A tour bus overturned near George Washington's Mount Vernon estate in Virginia after colliding head-on with a car Tuesday afternoon, leaving one person dead and 15 injured, authorities said.

US Park Police spokeswoman Sergeant Anna Rose said that 15 people were taken to hospitals following the crash; three of whom suffered critical injuries. The person who died was a bus passenger, Rose said.

The injured were rushed to three nearby Inova hospitals at Alexandria, Fairfax and Mount Vernon. Police talked to witnesses of the accident.

In an e-mail, Rose said that the mid-sized shuttle bus was carrying 16 tourists from the Chinese mainland, two tour guides and the driver, who was not injured. The car had two occupants.

At a news conference, Rose said the collision occurred shortly before 5 pm. The shuttle bus was traveling northbound on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, and the car was traveling south, Rose said.

When the two vehicles collided, the bus toppled on the driver's side and skidded, Rose said, adding that passers-by helped right the bus so passengers could escape.

Police closed sections of the parkway, which runs along the Potomac River between the nation's capital and Mount Vernon.

Fairfax County Police said they were assisting Park Police and directing families of the injured to the Mount Vernon police station.

Senior officials and staff from the consular section of the Chinese Embassy in Washington rushed to the hospitals to visit the injured, where they were treated. Police were talking to witnesses of the accidents.
African agricultural officials visit China's countryside Updated: 2016-06-15 09:41 By Yan Dongjie(chinadaily.com.cn)

Agricultural officials and representatives from Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique visit the greenhouses in Liuqiao village, Heliu town of Anhui province, June 3, 2016. [Photo by Yan Dongjie/chinadaily.com.cn]

A delegation of agricultural officials and representatives from Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique went on a countryside field trip in east China's Anhui province in early June.

Touring the greenhouses, pig farms, research centers and local companies, the delegation consisted of more than 10 African officials and representatives. They're looking forward to learning developing experience from China, which they can apply accordingly back in their countries, as well as finding cooperation opportunities with Chinese companies.

"The governance structures and the infrastructures are what we find really helpful with the agricultural development but hard to apply in our countries," said Abdoulaye Balde, representative and country director of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Mozambique.

It's Balde's first trip to China. He said he was surprised to see how villages and farmlands were well organized, not only by the farmers themselves, but also with help from the local government and companies, who provide financial, mechanical and technical support for the farmers to improve both the land use capacity and the land production.

Olegario Banze, national director of rural development with the Ministry of Land and Rural Development in Mozambique, expressed similar thoughts.

"From China's experience, I see a lot our government should process to take its role in agricultural development," said Banze, adding that practices such as transferring land into farming soil, teaching farmers how to grow crops more efficiently, putting subsistence farming people into business and constructing facilities were all part of efforts that African governments should make.

"However, it's too long a way to go. But we can start with the simple cooperation with Chinese companies, and small-scale mechanization," Banze said.

Banze welcomed Chinese companies to come to Mozambique.

"We have the land and labor, and we long for Chinese companies to bring over the techniques and investments, as well as efforts from Chinese government," he said.
Survey shows Americans and Europeans divided over sanctions against Russia Updated: 2016-06-15 13:14 (Sputnik)

Moscow - Almost half of Europeans (47 percent) believe that sanctions against Russia should be lifted in June 2016, according to a recent Sputnik.Polls survey.

The poll found that 51 percent of Italians, 48 percent of Germans, and 43 percent of French respondents said that they agreed with the lifting of sanctions. In contrast, when asked about the same topic, only 29 percent of Americans said that they would like to see sanctions against Russia lifted. The poll was conducted by French opinion and marketing research company Ifop and UK polling agency Populus for Sputnik News Agency and Radio.

The poll also found that respondents in the United States were most likely to support extending sanctions. When asked if sanctions against Russia should be lifted or extended in June 2016, 42 percent of Americans said that they supported extending them. However, only 31 percent of respondents in Germany, 29 percent in France, and 27 percent in Italy agreed with extending sanctions. The survey also found that 21 percent of Germans, 22 percent of Italians, 28 percent of French respondents, and 29 percent of Americans said that they were undecided on the issue.

The European Union's economic sanctions against Russia were imposed in 2014. The EU is poised to make a final decision on extending the sanctions by the end of June 2016.

The poll was conducted in the United States and Italy by UK market research company Populus on April 15-21 2016. In France and Germany, the poll was run by France's oldest opinion and marketing research company, Ifop, from April 14-18 2016.

Pollsters interviewed 4,010 people. This included 1,002 respondents in the United States as well as 989 in Germany, 1,008 in France, and 1,011 in Italy. The poll was designed to include representative samples of the individual countrys populations in terms of gender, age, and location.

The confidence interval was +/- 3.1% at 95% confidence.
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HA NOI  Garment and textile industry exports in the first five months of this year rose 6.1 per cent to US$8.6 billion, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The rise was lower than the targeted growth of 10 per cent this year.

In May, the industry earned $1.75 billion, up only 3.8 per cent.

The United States was the largest export market of the industry, with $3.4 billion, up 6 per cent. The European Union, Japan and South Korea followed with $936 million, $845.17 million and $677.2 million, respectively.

Industry insiders are concerned with meeting the industrys export target of $31 billion this year due to falling export prices and difficulties in finding new export contracts, especially for shirts, pants and jackets.

Than uc Viet, deputy general director of the Garment No.10 Corporation, said this years business results for local textile and garment exporters, especially among small- and medium-sized firms, were not as good as expected due to rising input costs and falling demand.

The chairman of the Viet Nam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), Vu uc Giang, said some traditional customers of Viet Nams garment exporters were moving their orders to Laos and Myanmar, which have preferential tax rates for exports to the United States and European Union.

Currently, the tax imposed on Viet Nams textile and garment exports to the United States averages 17 per cent, while the rate to the European Union is nearly 10 per cent. The taxes are expected to drop to zero by mid-2018 when the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement take effect.

Giang said domestic textile and garment exporters will therefore have to compete fiercely against producers from Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

VITAS said export growth rates among these producers were rising faster than in Viet Nam. It offered Cambodia as an example. Viet Nams textile and garment exports to the European Union were valued at EUR2.53 billion in 2014 and EUR3.13 billion in 2015. Meanwhile, the European Union imported textiles and garments worth EUR2.26 billion in 2014 and EUR2.97 billion in 2015 from Cambodia. - VNS
HA NOI  Energy stocks led local markets up despite oil prices falling for a fourth trading day.

The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange rebounded 0.3 per cent to finish at 625.43 points, after declining by 1.2 per cent in the two previous sessions.

Recent declines helped energy stocks become attractive to investors, as Vietnamese stocks struggled to return to positive territory.

The HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange ended nearly flat at 84.35 points, up from a loss of 0.7 per cent on Monday.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) lost 1.3 per cent to trade at US$48.24 a barrel, a four-day fall of 5.8 per cent.

Petroleum Pipeline and Tank Construction JSC (PXT), PetroVietnam Coating Corp (PVB), and PetroVietnam Mud Drilling Corp (PVC) made the greatest gains, rising 4.2 per cent, 5 per cent, and 3.2 per cent, respectively.

Gains were also seen in other energy firms, including Southern Gas JSC (PGS), Petroleum Equipment Assembly and Metal Structure JSC (PXS), and PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Service Corp (PVD).

Other large-cap stocks on the two local exchanges also recovered from recent losses and helped drive markets up.

Property developer Vingroup JSC (VIC) and Vicostone JSC (VCS) rose 1 per cent each. Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) edged up 0.5 per cent. Kim Long Securities Corp (KLS) jumped 4.9 per cent.

Meanwhile, blue chips still suffered from foreign selling. Investors proved cautious and global markets continued to slide, ahead of the US central bank meeting on Wednesday and the possible withdrawal of Britain from the European Union, Bao Viet Securities Corp (BVSC) wrote in its daily report.

Although the US central bank is not likely to increase its rates this month, the post-meeting message it sent the markets will still have negative effects on investor confidence, BVSC said, adding that investors are still investing in safer assets such as gold and bonds.

Financial firms, such as banks, showed little improvement compared to their performance on Monday. The three biggest listed banks  Vietcombank (VCB), Vietinbank (CTG), and the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID)  slipped between 0.2 and 1.1 per cent.

Investors traded more than 145.7 million shares worth nearly VN2.43 trillion ($108 million) yesterday.  VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue has affirmed Viet Nams wish to elevate its comprehensive economic partnership with the Republic of Korea (RoK), during a meeting in Ha Noi yesterday.

At a roundtable on business co-operation between the two countries, he called on RoK businesses to invest more in areas such as the manufacturing industry, electronics, automobiles, and finance and banking, in addition to high quality services, creative products development and infrastructure, and start-ups.

The Deputy PM expressed the hope that investments from giant RoK groups would encourage small- and medium-sized enterprises, as well as high technology firms from the country, to do more business in Viet Nam.

Addressing the meeting, the RoKs Ambassador to Viet Nam Lee Hyuk said that specific efforts should be made to seek ways to further boost bilateral ties, and suggested the creation of a co-operation axis across politics, diplomacy and security to match the sound bilateral economic ties.

He proposed that the two countries focus on partnerships in the manufacturing industry, infrastructure, information and telecommunication technology, and health care, in addition to science and technology.

Deputy PM Hue also noted that the two countries are experiencing peak development in their relationship in all fields, with the RoK being the second largest ODA provider of Viet Nam.

Since 2014, the RoK has always been the largest foreign investor in Viet Nam with total investment of over US$49 billion in 5,300 projects, he said.

In the first five months of this year, the RoK was also the largest investor with $3.4 billion pumped into 420 projects.

This shows the confidence of the RoKs businesses in Viet Nams economic prospects, he commented.

At the same time, the RoK is the third largest trade partner of Viet Nam, with two-way trade reaching $36.5 billion last year, he added.

Deputy PM Hue also pointed out that the Viet Nam-RoK free trade agreement and the ASEAN-RoK free trade deal have laid the foundation for bilateral trade and investment ties in a win-win spirit.

Hue believed that two-way trade will reach $70 billion in 2020 in a balanced direction. Viet Nam wants to export more seafood, fruit, consumer goods, and electronic products and accessories to the RoK, he said.

Together with efforts to complete its legal system, the Vietnamese Government is working hard to stabilise the macro-economy and restructure the economy with the focus on State-owned enterprises and banking reform, alongside settling bad debts and public debts, thus creating a new status for the country to integrate into the world community and join regional and global production chains, the deputy PM said.

At the meeting, Kang Seong Cheon, a representative of the RoKs Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said that it was necessary to expand investment cooperation activities to fully tap the advantages from free trade agreements, while continuing to create favourable business investment opportunities for enterprises from both countries.

The meeting was co-organised by the RoKs Embassy in Viet Nam and Maekyung Media.  VNS
HA NOI  An essay entitled Denmark-Where Happiness Rests, written by 9th grade student Pham Tam an from Nguyen Sieu High School, has won the grand prize in the Denmark in Your Eyes creative writing contest.

Danish Ambassador Charlotte Laursen and the Chairman of the Viet Nam-Denmark Friendship Association (VIDAFA) and Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, Tran Hong Ha, announced the names of the winners at a ceremony in the Danish ambassadors residence earlier this week.

This is the first writing held by the Danish embassy and VIDAFA, in celebration of the 45th anniversary of Viet NamDenmark diplomatic relations.

an will be awarded a two-week scholarship at the prestigious Niels Brock Business School in Copenhagen, Denmark.

I am very surprised and honoured to receive the prize with other students. I would like to express my sincere thanks to both the Danish embassy and VIDAFA for giving me an opportunity to learn about Denmark, a country that I have not had chance to visit, she said.

According to Ambassador Laursen, Pham Tam ans essay captured the essence of Denmark - mutual trust - and touched the judges.

I hope that an will enjoy her stay at Niels Brock Business School in Copenhagen and that the embassy will have a chance to repeat such contests in the future, she said.

Surprisingly, not many students entering the contest have had the chance to visit Denmark or meet the characters in fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen, but they have such a rich knowledge about the countrys culture, people and other aspects of life, which they have demonstrated through their writing, Minister Ha said.

I believe that many students in Viet Nam will choose Denmark as their destination to study overseas in the coming years, and they will be ambassadors connecting Viet Nam and Denmark.

Students in 9th through 12th grades participated in the Denmark in Your Eyes contest at three schools, Nguyen Sieu, oan Thi iem, and Vinschool in Ha Noi. They were to submit photos of Denmark, either captured by themselves or from other sources, and an essay in English explaining why the photo they chose had inspired and linked them to Denmark.

Apart from the grand prize, awards were also given to the first and second runner ups, as well as three honorary prizes.

The Embassy of Denmark in Ha Noi also announced the establishment of the DenmarkViet Nam Alumni Network.

The Denmark-Viet Nam Alumni Network is expected to foster the development of long lasting and diverse relationships between the two countries through people-to-people contacts and conduct activities relevant to its members in fields such as education, research, culture, and career-development opportunities, according to Ambassador Laursen.  VNS
WASHINGTON  Hillary Clinton captured the mostly symbolic Democratic primary Tuesday in the US capital, the final vote of the 2016 presidential primaries, as the race shifts to her showdown with Republican rival Donald Trump.

Clinton won nearly 79 percent of the vote, compared with just 21 percent for Bernie Sanders, with nearly all votes counted, according to US networks.

It marked a deflating finish for the Vermont senator, who captivated liberals and independents with his grassroots campaign that challenged Clinton more than just about everyone expected.

But as the most controversial primary season in decades drew to a close, the attention of the candidates -- and the nation -- was elsewhere: grappling with the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001.

Instead of hailing the end of a historic primary season, Clinton and Trump were trading explosive verbal blows and laying out dramatically different approaches for fighting terrorism in the wake of the massacre at a gay nightclub in Florida.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, on Monday proposed stark changes to existing immigration policy, saying that if elected he would "suspend" immigration from areas with a "proven history of terrorism."

He also suggested American Muslims were complicit in domestic attacks because they failed to "turn in the people who they know are bad."

Clinton, a former secretary of state, maintained a more statesmanlike demeanor, calling on Americans to "stand together" to defeat terrorism.

But after Trump suggested in a TV interview that Obama sympathised with terrorists, Clinton unleashed a blistering anti-Trump broadside Tuesday and called her rivals approach "dangerous" and "un-American."

"Even in a time of divided politics, this is way beyond anything that should be said by someone running for president of the United States," she told supporters in Pittsburgh.

"What Donald Trump is saying is shameful," she added. "It is yet more evidence that he is temperamentally unfit and totally unqualified to be commander in chief."

Healing party divisions

Washingtons primary was an afterthought, as Clinton last week reached the magic number of delegates needed to lock up the nomination.

While she has called for uniting the party quickly in order to focus on the looming Trump battle, Sanders has refused to concede the race.

But he has steadily softened in recent days. And Sanders and Clinton met to discuss the Democratic Party platform ahead of the national convention next month in Philadelphia.

Sanders told reporters that he wanted to see "the most progressive platform ever passed" at a convention, one which "makes it crystal clear that the Democratic Party is in fact on the side of working people."

He met with President Barack Obama last week, and emerged from the White House declaring his intent to work together with Clinton to defeat Trump in November. The move could go far to quell concerns of divisions within the party.

Obama endorsed Clinton later that day.

Republicans in Washington held their party convention in March, with Senator Marco Rubio emerging as the top vote-getter.

Tuesdays vote wraps up a spectacular primary season that saw conservatives flock to a celebrity billionaire and political novice in Trump, and liberals propel a self-described democratic socialist into the national spotlight for a heavyweight bout against one of the nations best-known political figures.  AFP
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Malaysian Ambassador M. Zamruni Khalid in Ha Noi yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat

HA NOI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had separate welcome meetings with the new Ambassadors of Malaysia and Thailand to Viet Nam in Ha Noi yesterday.

Receiving Malaysian Ambassador M. Zamruni Khalid, the PM stressed that Viet Nam treasures its strategic partnership with Malaysia and wanted to make it stronger.

The Viet Nam-Malaysia action plan for 2016-18 should soon be put in place, he said, adding that agreements on the transfer and extradition of the convicted, aviation services, education and legal support should be finalised to serve co-operative activities.

He stressed the need to establish a deputy ministerial defence dialogue mechanism, a joint patrol method and a hotline to step up fishery affiliation, search and rescue operations, and efforts to combat pirates.

The fifth meeting of the Joint Committee on economic, scientific and technological co-operation should convene in the third quarter, he noted, expressing his hope that the Malaysian Government would support Vietnamese businesses investment in its country.

On the issue of Vietnamese workers in Malaysia, he stressed the need to co-operate in handling emerging issues to ensure workers rights and interests, and encourage their contributions to the host countrys socio-economic development.

He expressed hopes that the two countries close collaboration and mutual support at multilateral forums in the region and the world would continue.

Ambassador M. Zamruni Khalid said his country was working hard to complete the two countries 2016-18 action plan.

He said he expected the Vietnamese Government would help Malaysian enterprises seeking to invest and do business in Viet Nam.

PM Phuc meets Thai Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat

During his reception for Thai Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi, PM Phuc praised the two countries growing two-way trade, which hit US$11 billion and is set to reach $20 billion by 2020.

As they are both among the worlds three biggest rice exporters, both countries should work together to bring about benefits for their people, he said, suggesting increased connectivity in other realms, especially employment.

Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi conveyed greetings from the King and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ochas invitation for the Vietnamese Prime Minister to visit Thailand.

Earlier yesterday, the Thai diplomat pledged $100,000 to help Viet Nam cope with drought and saline intrusion.

Receiving the aid, President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan said that over 420,000 households in Viet Nam had been affected by drought and saline intrusion in the last 10 months, and the damage was estimated at VN6.4 trillion (nearly $285 million). Over 1.5 million people were facing water shortages for daily usage and agricultural cultivation, he said.

Nhan added that the aid from the Thai government would be properly and effectively used.  VNS
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh meets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Kunming, in Chinas Yunnan Province, yesterday. Photo daidoanket.vn

KUNMING  ASEAN-China relations and the East Sea issue dominated a special meeting between foreign ministers from ASEAN and China in Kunming, in Chinas Yunnan Province, yesterday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh led the Vietnamese delegation to the event, which was co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy PM Minh affirmed that Viet Nam and ASEAN attached importance to ties with China, and underscored the importance of the ASEAN-China strategic partnership for peace, security and prosperity in Asia-Pacific.

He proposed boosting bilateral co-operation to effectively carry out the 2016-20 Action Plan, focusing on priority fields of the economy, trade, investment, climate change, agriculture, and food and water security, particularly in the Greater Mekong sub-region.

He said joint work should be intensified to deal with regional security challenges, even in the East Sea, and thorough preparations should be made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations, particularly the commemorative summit slated for September in Laos.

Expressing concern over complicated developments in the East Sea and their obstacles, the Deputy PM called on ASEAN and China to increase dialogues and co-operation to deal with the issue while complying with commitments through concrete actions and the peaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He urged parties to refrain from using force or threatening to use force, and also urged efforts to prevent other actions that could further complicate the dispute, particularly via non-militarisation in the East Sea, the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early formulation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The Vietnamese leader also pushed forward progress in bilateral talks on sea boundary delimitation.

Participants expressed their delight at the outcomes of the implementation of the 2011-2015 Action Plan for the Joint Statement on the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership, including upgrades to the ASEAN-China free trade agreement.

China remains ASEANs biggest trade partner with two-way trade of US$470 billion, which is expected to soar to $1 trillion by 2020.

Ministers sought to further promote co-ordination across the fields of politics-security, economy, socio-culture and development. They committed to effectively materialising the 2016-20 Action Plan and preparing for the Commemorative Summit of ASEAN-China Relations in Vientiane, Laos, this September, including drafting the ASEAN-China Joint Statement on enhancing manufacturing capability and increasing collaboration via ASEAN mechanisms to deal with common challenges.

The ASEAN foreign ministers shared the view that the maintenance of peace, stability, overflight and navigation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea is a shared responsibility.

They expressed their concerns about recent issues in the East Sea, especially land reclamation, large-scale construction, militarisation on man-made islands and actions affirming sovereignty not grounded in international law.

They asked ASEAN and China to show political will and greater efforts to ensure peace and security in the East Sea and comply with basic principles of international law.

Measures to build trust and preventive diplomacy need to be adopted, they said.

The two sides also hailed the outcomes of the ASEAN-China senior officials 12th meeting on DOC implementation recently held in the Vietnamese northern province of Quang Ninh.

They reaffirmed their commitment to manage disputes and prevent conflicts, as well as to finish drafting the Declaration on the implementation of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea to submit to the Commemorative Summit for approval. They also agreed to launch a hotline for diplomatic officials to deal with contingencies in the East Sea.

Meeting with Chinese counterpart

The day before, Deputy PM Minh met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the meeting.

Both sides said they highly value the co-operation between ASEAN and China and wanted to boost their ties.

They said the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers Meeting would help enhance their mutual understanding and co-operation, which is an important preparation for the success of the Commemorative Summit later this year.

Deputy PM Minh took note of developments in Viet Nam-China ties and proposed that the two sides maintain delegation exchanges and contacts at high levels while pushing forward mutually-beneficial measures and the implementation of agreements reached during their leaders visits.

He urged more balanced and sustainable economic and trade ties and stronger cooperation between the two foreign ministries.

Deputy PM Minh requested that China facilitate the import of Vietnamese goods, particularly agro-forestry-fishery products.

He said both sides needed to improve the performance of their working groups on infrastructure and finance-currency, thus accelerating the construction speed of contracted infrastructure projects.

He asked China to implement preferential credit packages for Viet Nam.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM and Foreign Minister also expressed Viet Nams concern over recent complicated developments in the East Sea, and called for compliance of commitments and common perceptions reached by leaders of the two Parties and countries on controlling disputes and refraining from acts that further complicate the situation while pushing for progress in negotiation mechanisms.

He noted the need to work with ASEAN to effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and build a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) to help maintain peace and stability in the East Sea and the region.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi agreed with his guest on measures to boost Viet Nam-China co-operation.

He added that both China and ASEAN wanted to maintain peace and co-operation, and control disputes in the East Sea.  VNS
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh inh Dung receives Cuban Minister of Construction Rene Antonio Mesa Villafana in Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Pham Kien

HA NOI  Viet Nam will do its utmost to bolster its traditional friendship and co-operation with Cuba, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh inh Dung said during a reception in Ha Noi yesterday for Cuban Minister of Construction Rene Antonio Mesa Villafana.

During the meeting, Dung congratulated the Caribbean countrys recent socio-economic development achievements, despite being affected by an embargo lasting more than half a century.

He underlined that Viet Nam would instruct relevant ministries and departments to create favourable conditions for Cuban investors to operate and invest in Viet Nam, especially in the areas of transport and construction, and vice versa, in order to effectively deploy agreements on bilateral economic collaboration.

For his part, the foreign minister said he hoped the two countries would intensify co-operation in construction and transport, adding that Cuba could learn from Viet Nams experience in these areas.

Earlier during a separate reception for the delegation from the Cuban Ministry of Construction, Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha urged Cuban leaders, including the construction minister, to facilitate the early establishment of a joint venture between the Viet Nam Glass and Ceramics for Construction Corporation (Viglacera) and the Cuban Geicons Group.

Ha called on his Cuban counterpart to support and facilitate the export of Viglaceras construction materials to the country.

The minister expressed his hope that the Cuban side will facilitate the co-operation between the two nations, particularly the operation and development of Vietnamese construction firms in Cuba.

The Vietnamese ministry is willing to share its experience with its Cuban counterpart in managing and developing housing, urban areas, technology and material production, Ha affirmed.

For his part, the Cuban Minister said the joint venture, once established, will help Cuba reduce its import of construction materials.

The Cuban side expressed hopes that the two nations will strengthen human resources training, particularly in the construction field; and that the two ministries will boost cooperation between the two nations enterprises. VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nams total budget revenue in 2014 reached VN1,130 trillion (US$50 billion), of which the estimated tax collection was more than VN877 trillion ($38 billion), an increase of 12 per cent over the planned figure.

The figures were presented yesterday in Ha Noi at the 49th session of the 13th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee to discuss the State budget balance and a report on the enforcement of the law on thrift practices and waste prevention in 2015.

The collection increase was attributed to strong administration reforms in the tax and customs sectors and reforms in State-owned enterprises. Better guidance and co-ordination in tax collection and stricter penalties for violations were also important contributing factors, the standing commission of the NAs Finance and Budget Committee said.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said policies made by the countrys legislative body also contributed greatly to the increase.

However, the commission also said that many localities were still passive in planning their budget and had not been effective enough in managing pending tax debts. Lax management with tax violations have resulted in massive tax frauds in many enterprises, the commission said.

According to the head of the NAs Finance-Budget Committee Nguyen uc Hai some problems remain in the State budget balance. One is overspending and falling short of collection targets. Spending in basic infrastructure construction is line with planning but violations of investment procedures are still popular.

The State Audit of Viet Nam has uncovered many violations in management and use of the State budget and property. Pending debts increased by VN2.2 trillion ($97 million). This body suggested a reduction of more than VN5.5 trillion ($244 million) in spending.

Clarify responsibilities in wastefulness

The finance ministrys report on the implementation of the law on thrift practice and against waste indicates shortcomings in 2015.

The formulation of policies on thrift practice and anti-wastefulness remained slow. The reason, according to the report, was due to a large number of legal documents that needed to be completed, while the time for research and building these documents were relatively short. The loose co-ordination between ministries and ministerial-level agencies in the process of construction, appraisal, and inspection of legal documents also contributed to the problem.

Moreover, improper allocation and use of the State budget continued. The use of public property in some places remained ineffective and wasteful. The implementation of plans to rezone State-owned land and houses was also slow.

The implementation of regulations on public investment management in some places was not strict enough and the approval of project investment was ineffective, according to the report.

In reply to the report, National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu said it should focus on raising issues of public concern and analyze the reasons and possible solutions.

The head of the National Assemblys Justice Committee, Le Thi Nga, said the report should identify organisations and individuals who cause losses and waste so they can be strictly penalised, especially the heads of organisations responsible.

Addressing the closing ceremony, NA Chairwoman Ngan said the NA Standing Committee completed the planned content for the 49th session.

At the session, the NA Standing Committee agreed with the Government proposal on a plan to save nearly VN5.5 trillion ($244 million) in spending of the 2015 State budget.

Regarding the collection of VN10 trillion ($448 million) from the selling of ownership at State-owned businesses in 2015 that was unused, the committee proposed the Government finalise a report to be presented at the first session of the 14th NA to use it for development investment with priority given to salt water intrusion prevention and climate change.

The NA Chairwoman asked members of the NA Standing Committee to continue the prompt implementation of conclusions made by the committee.  VNS
PHNOM PENH  Viet Nam and Cambodia have agreed to continue their mutual support and close collaboration in order to strengthen the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive, sustainable and long-term co-operation between the two countries.

This was the thrust of a meeting between President Tran ai Quang and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni in Phnom Penh yesterday during the Vietnamese leaders two-day State visit to Cambodia.

The guest congratulated the Cambodian people on their achievements in recent years expressed great appreciation for the Kings role in national reconciliation and development.

Viet Nam has always treasured the valuable support of King Norodom Sihamoni, the late King Norodom Sihanouk and the Cambodian people for Viet Nam during its past struggle for national independence and on its present course of national construction and development, he said.

Quang expressed his hope that King Norodom Sihamoni would continue his assistance to help the Vietnamese in Cambodia stabilise their lives and make more contributions to the development of the host country, as well as to bilateral ties.

Viet Nam always seeks to work together with Cambodia to consolidate and further develop the friendship and co-operation between the two countries for the sake of the two countries people and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large, he said, expressing confidence that the King would continue to nurture the relationship.

The two sides agreed to cooperate in organising activities marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties (June 24, 1967).

They also agreed to teach young people more about the solidarity and traditional friendship between the nations, while increasing the exchange of delegations, especially between residents of their border areas.

Quang invited King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk to visit Viet Nam at a suitable time. The King accepted with pleasure.

The host described the Vietnamese Presidents visit as a milestone in deepening the countries friendship and comprehensive cooperation in a sustainable fashion. He thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, Government and people for their great support of Cambodia, especially their contribution to national reconciliation in the country.

Cambodia will continue to promote the solidarity, friendship and affiliation between the two countries, he said, voicing his hope that Viet Nam would provide more support for Cambodian development.

President meets Cambodian legislature, government leaders

Later the same day, President Quang met leaders of Cambodian legislature and government in Phnom Penh, assuring them that the Vietnamese Party, State and people always do their best to foster the neighbourly friendship, solidarity and all-around cooperation with Cambodia.

Senate President Say Chhum and National Assembly Chairman Heng Samrin said the Cambodian people will never forget the sacrifices made by Vietnamese voluntary soldiers to save Cambodia from the genocidal regime and win the historic victory on January 7, 1979.

NA Chairman Heng Samrin spoke highly of close co-operation between the legislative bodies of Cambodia and Viet Nam on bilateral and multilateral channels, particularly at regional and global inter-parliamentary forums.

President Quang stressed that the two countries need to further tighten solidarity and friendship to meet the expectations of the two peoples amid complicated developments in the region and the world at present.

In the meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Vietnamese President expressed his belief that the Cambodian Peoples Party and the government led by Hun Sen will continue taking the country on the way toward prosperity in the coming years.

He thanked his host for directing support for Vietnamese nationals living in Cambodia in the past, adding that he hopes the Hun Sen government will deal with difficulties faced by them, especially those regarding their legal position, to help them settle down in the host country.

Both host and guest committed to fully realising commitments to contribute to peace, stability and development in the region and the world, facilitating high-level visits and people-to-people exchanges.

They agreed to direct their ministries and agencies to work closely together to fine-tune relevant mechanisms and agreements to push forward trade, investment, economic connectivity, education-training, and tourism.

The two sides also vowed to consider measures to raise bilateral trade to US$5 billion, including the signing of an agreement on double taxation avoidance and building of a programme to connect the two economies, especially cross-border economic development.

Discussing regional and global issues of shared concern, the two sides pledged to continue coordinating at multilateral forums to which they are members, speeding up the peaceful settlement of regional and global disputes, and working with each other and with other Mekong River Commission members to ensure the sustainable management and use of water resources in the Mekong River.

- VNS

 VNS
In civil and commercial agreements, the parties to the contract may choose Vietnamese or other foreign languages to be the language of contracts. An exception applies in cases where specialised laws may require the contract to be written (or to have a copy) in Vietnamese.

In general, when foreign enterprises engage in a transaction with individuals and organisations in Viet Nam, they often use Vietnamese contracts or bilingual English-Vietnamese contracts following business practices in Viet Nam.

The 2005 Law on Commerce, which is the principle legal reference for commercial transactions in Viet Nam, does not specify the contract language. The 2005 Civil Code, which has a broader scope of regulations on civil actions, only provides a definition for civil transactions made orally or in writing; this content is retained in the new 2015 Civil Code, which will take effect from January 1, 2017. However, the 2004 Civil Procedure Code specifies that the language and scripts to be used in civil procedures shall be Vietnamese, which means that when disputes occur, the contract will be examined on the basis of the Vietnamese language; this content is retained in the new 2015 Civil Procedure Code, which will take effect from July 1, 2016.

Enterprises need to comply with regulations on documents to be used when working with Vietnamese government agencies and commercial arbitration bodies as follows:

For tax regulations, Circular No. 156/2013/TT-BTC specifies that the language used in tax dossiers is Vietnamese; any documents in foreign languages must be translated into Vietnamese. The taxpayers must sign and stamp the translated copy and will be legally liable for the contents of this translation. The contract must accompany the tax dossier as an attachment. Therefore, it should be presented in Vietnamese.

For regulations on the invoices of goods sales and service provision, Circular No. 26/2015/TT-BTC specifies that the invoices should be presented in Vietnamese. In cases where foreign words need to be added, they should be placed on the right-hand side in parentheses. If only one language is allowed to be used on export invoices, then English should be used.

For the law on accounting, the 2013 Accounting Law specifies that the scripts used in accounting must be Vietnamese.

For regulations on notarisation, the 2014 Law on Notarisation specifies that the language and scripts used must be Vietnamese. Contracts that require notarisation should be translated into Vietnamese.

For regulations on arbitral proceedings, the 2010 Commercial Arbitration Act stipulates that in disputes with no foreign elements, the language used in the arbitral proceedings must be Vietnamese, except in cases where at least one of the parties is a foreign-invested enterprise; for any disputes involving foreign elements, the language used in the arbitration will be agreed upon by the parties.

In some commercial areas with specific characteristics, the State shall specify the language to be used in the contracts as follows:

Technology transfer: The 2016 Technology Transfer Act specifies in detail that the contract language should be agreed upon by the parties; where transactions are conducted in Viet Nam, a contract in Vietnamese is required, and the legality of Vietnamese and foreign-language contracts should be equal.

Consumer goods: The 2010 Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights specifies that the language used in contracts signed with consumers must be Vietnamese.

Information technology: The 2010 Postal Act clearly specifies that contracts for the supply and use of postal services in writing must be presented in Vietnamese; if the parties agree to use additional languages, Vietnamese documents and other language documents should have the same legal value.

Urban construction: Decree No. 37/2015/ND-CP specifies that the language used for the construction contract must be Vietnamese. For construction contracts with foreign elements, the contract language will be Vietnamese and a foreign language that will be agreed upon by the parties; in case no agreement is reached, English will be used.

There are two concerns relating to the contracts that should be noted:

The relationship between the parties to the contract: The language is the means to record the will of the parties in the transaction. When the law does not specify a language, the parties can freely agree upon the contract language.

The relationship between the State and the parties to the contract: In this relationship, the State requires the enterprises to present the contract or written documents in Vietnamese to facilitate the management of the State (such as taxes, accounting or notarisation).

Thus, foreign-invested enterprises can select the contract language when conducting transactions in Viet Nam. For typical contracts with no specific requirements, enterprises can use bilingual contracts with English as the preferred language. In fact, in the process of working with State agencies such as the courts, contracts in English are required to be translated and notarised. For specialised contracts, enterprises need to be in compliance with the specialised law. -- PLFLaw Firm
HA NOI  The Transport Ministry is promoting the use of technology in an effort to better manage the countrys highways, a ministry official said.

Accordingly, technology will be deployed in non-stop toll collection and vehicle weight supervision.

The ministrys plans were presented last week by Vu Anh Tuan, deputy head of Viet Nam Expressway Administration, to ministry officials, the traffic police and transportation experts.

So far, 12 highways covering 745 kms have been put into operation nationwide.

However, all is not smoooth running. Residents have been removing road barriers, walking or waiting on highways and even opening food stalls along some roads. Controversially high toll fees are also among the problems, experts at the conference agreed.

Transport Deputy Minister Nguyen Hong Truong said that highways help reduce travel time, cut down expenses and accelerate socio-economic development, security and defence in many regions. However, the management of highways is a relatively new job and has its own difficulties.

Nguyen Van Nhi, deputy director of Viet Nam Expressway Corporation (VEC), management of the Noi Bai-Lao Cai expressway has been particularly difficult, including challenges in policies, sign systems and user awareness.

VEC will continue to cooperate with local authorities to raise awareness among residents living along highways and stiffen punishments for theft and throwing rocks at vehicles, while clamping down on overloaded vehicles and those which pick up passengers illegally on the way, he said.

Trinh Van Sy, deputy head of Ha Noi traffic police, suggested installing cameras to capture license plates of drivers violating traffic laws.  VNS
IEN BIEN  A fire occurred yesterday morning at the Cultural House for Children in the northern mountainous province of ien Bien, destroying all of the homes equipment and assets.

Some 58 firefighters and 5 fire-engines, as well as the police force from Muong Thanh Ward, were called to battle the blaze.

The fire began on the left side of the hall, about 5m from the stage, and then flared, said Nguyen Tran Tuyen, director of the Cultural House for Children.

The ceiling, which includes foam panels, along with curtains and chair covers, helped the fire spread rapidly, engulfing the interior of the hall, including 450 chairs and much musical equipment.

The fire took 40 minutes to be extinguished.

The estimated loss was set at about VN6 billion (US$269,000).

Officials said the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit, Tuyen said.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by authorised agencies.  VNS
Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Chi Vinh (R), deputy minister of the National Defence, and KOICA Vietnam Country director Chang Jae-yun (L), signed a MoU yesterday for a project to clear unexploded ordnances (UXO) from the war in Viet Nams central provinces. Photo qdnd.vn

HA NOI  The Korea International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) and the Ministry of National Defence signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday for a project to clear unexploded ordnances (UXO) from the war in Viet Nams central provinces.

Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Chi Vinh, deputy minister of the National Defence, and KOICA Vietnam Country director Chang Jae-yun, signed the document.

Under the project, Viet Nam will get an aid package worth about US$20 million would to help clear UXO left on 8,000 hectares in central Binh inh and Quang Binh provinces.

The project will also improve the management capacity of UXO clearance, enhance the techniques of surveys in contaminated areas, support UXO victims and enhance the dissemination of information on bomb and mine accident prevention in the two provinces.

The project will be implemented over five years (2016-20).

The Ministry of National Defence has assigned Vietnam National Mine Action Centre to implement the project. A project co-ordination committee and a project management board will be set up to provide regular consultation during the implementation.

Previously, in 2014 and 2015, two delegations from KOICA worked with Vietnamese agencies to discuss UXO-related issues in the central provinces.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Nguyen Chi Vinh said the project reflected the willingness to cooperate in solving humanitarian problems between the two countries.

The two sides co-operated closely to speed up the surveys of areas contaminated by post-war bombs and mines and build a project on UXO clearance in the two central provinces, he said. However, there were a lot of things to do before the project could be put into operation.

Lee Hyuk, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, said that Vietnamese agencies provided favourable conditions for the organisations surveys and working visits, making the UXO issue a priority.

A preliminary survey in 2014 showed that nearly 6.1 million hectares of land across Viet Nam were contaminated with UXOs, accounting for 18 per cent of the countrys land area. The central region is the most contaminated.

UXOs claimed 42,135 lives and injured 62,163 others from 1975 to 2000. The State has spent tens of millions of dollars every year on UXO disposal, providing vocational training and resettling UXO victims.  VNS
The Secretary of HCM City Party Committee inh La Thang has asked the Department of Transport to adjust roads that have been built at levels higher than the ground floor of houses.  Photo tuoitre.vn

HCM CITY  The Secretary of HCM City Party Committee inh La Thang has asked the Department of Transport to adjust roads that have been built at levels higher than the ground floor of houses.

Due to road upgrades to deal with flooding, thousands of residents houses have been affected, with their ground floors lower than the roads outside, Bui Xuan Cuong, director of the department, said.

The department will temporarily build pavements or ladders to connect residents houses and the street, Thang said.

This has occurred on Kinh Duong Vuong Street, the section in Binh Tan District, he added.

He explained that the section had been affected by floods for several years, and peak flooding had reached 1.68 metres.

The road is nearly one metre higher than the floor of the houses.

Cuong added: The city still has streets lower than peoples houses, including Hong Ha, Pham Van ong, and Truong Son in Tan Binh and Go Vap Districts.

The roads were upgraded under the Tan Son Nhat  Binh Loi Outer Ring Road Project. The upgrade is to be completed in August.

Cuong said the projects investor had not provided enough information about the project to local residents, who built their houses lower than the road.

The department will check affected areas and find ways to deal with the situation.  VNS
NGHE AN  The pilot of the military aircraft that went missing during a training flight off the coast of the central province of Nghe An yesterday was rescued at 5am this morning.

The Su 30Mk2 aircraft lost contact at 6:50 am yesterday during a training session in the area of Hon Mat Island, about 40km off the coast of Nghe Ans Vinh City.

The pilot, Major Nguyen Huu Cuong, who is head of the SU30 fighter squadron under Division 371s Regiment 923 of the Air Defence  Air Force Service, was in stable condition after being found by fisherman Pham Van Le from the neighbouring province of Ha Tinh.

A ship was deployed to the fishing boats location to carry the pilot back to the mainland.

Meanwhile, rescue forces are continuing to search for the other airman on board, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Khai, who is deputy head and chief of staff of Regiment 923.

The aircraft remains unaccounted for.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday asked the Defence Ministry to seek all measures and mobilise forces to speed up the search for the two pilots and the aircraft.

The ministry is required to investigate reasons for the incident and review the flight control process to learn from experience to avoid similar accidents.  VNS
HCM CITY  Police in HCM City have arrested two men for using fake bank accounts to cheat several customers, earning hundreds of millions of ong.

Pham Tien Manh, 32, residing in District 8, and Hap Tien Bac, 46, residing in Tan Phu District, were arrested on charges of appropriating property through swindling.

According to police investigators, the two suspects bought identity cards at pawn shops and used them to open different bank accounts. They advertised online the sale of motorbikes at a reasonable price. When customers agreed to their price, they would be asked to transfer the money to the designated fake accounts.

On March 8, a man named H from ong Nai Province telephoned Manh, asking to buy a motorbike at a price of VN20 million (US$890) based on information he had read on the website chotot.vn.

Manh asked H to contact a man named Hoang, an accomplice whose real name is Hap Tien Bac, to deliver the money and receive the motorbike.

Bac told H that he was attending a meeting when he called and persuaded him to transfer the money to his account.

H did so but did not receive the motorbike as promised and could not contact Manh or Bac by phone.

Suspecting that he had been swindled, H informed the police of the incident.

Police in Binh Thanh District have blocked the account to which H had transferred his money.

Police further discovered that 23 people had sent money to this account, including 12 other victims like H.

Investigations revealed that the person named on the account has lost his identity card and had not opened the bank account. Manh was identified as the recipient withdrawing money from the account.

Manh and Bac were arrested last Friday while they were meeting on Binh Tan Districts Le Trong Tan Street.

HCM Police are expanding their investigation into this case of fraud.  VNS
Norms on risk-based capital in are expected to take more time to be implemented. The regulator has set up a committee on an approach to this and on and liability valuation.
After two years of deficient rains, heavy showers are welcome and required. However, they can damage your vehicle and house. A comprehensive home insurance and some add-on motor insurance covers can help reduce the cost you incur for any monsoon-related damage. And, since there is no waiting for these add on covers, you can buy these even now.
5 homeless killed

in L.A. arson fire

LOS ANGELES (AP)  A dispute between homeless people living together in an abandoned office building led one of them to set a fire that killed five others, authorities alleged Tuesday.

Just one man was declared dead during the fire Monday night, but two more men and two women were found dead in the rubble by a search team with dogs on Tuesday afternoon, city fire officials said.

Before the new deaths were discovered, Johnny Sanchez, 21, who had been living in the building, was arrested on suspicion of murder for starting the fire.

Wal-Mart worker killed in standoff

MARILLO, Texas (AP)  Officers fatally shot an armed man inside a Wal-Mart store in Amarillo, Texas, on Tuesday after he took two people hostage, including a manager with whom he had a work-related dispute, according to police.

Amarillo police identified the suspect as 54-year-old store employee Mohammad Moghaddam and said neither hostage was injured. Police said the incident began over a dispute related to a promotion and called the incident a workplace violence event.

Hillary Clinton wins D.C. primary

WASHINGTON (AP)  Hillary Clinton brought a close to the presidential primary season with a win Tuesday in the nations capital and a meeting with dispatched rival Bernie Sanders, hoping to set a tone of Democratic unity heading into next months party convention in Philadelphia.

Clintons win in the District of Columbia, the final primary of 2016, had no bearing on her role as the presumptive nominee, but it nevertheless marked a transition in the lengthy primary fight between the two rivals.

Before polls closed in Washington, Sanders vowed again to do all he can to prevent the presumptive Republican presidential nominee from reaching the White House  but he declined to endorse Clinton.

The Vermont senator has said the private meeting will help him determine how committed Clinton will be to the policy issues he has staked out during his 13-month campaign.

Man breaks into police station

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP)  Police in one Georgia community charged a man with breaking in to jail.

Police arrested 32-year-old Samuel Espejel-Sanchez on charges including interfering with government property.

Officials say Espejel-Sanchez broke into the Gainesville Police Department early Sunday by climbing a fence. Officers heard glass shattering and noises from a secured area. Officials said the suspect broke windows and doors, causing hundreds of dollars in damage.

Police said he appeared to be hallucinating and claimed people were after him.

Southern Baptists oppose rebel flag

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  The Southern Baptist Convention on Tuesday urged Christians to stop displaying the Confederate battle flag, recognizing it is perceived by many as a symbol of hatred, bigotry and racism that offends millions of people.

The resolution, originally presented by African-American Pastor Dwight McKissic, had stirred debate and led to at least one call to withdraw it. The version presented to thousands of delegates to the denominations annual meeting in St. Louis was less strongly worded.

Despite some opposition on Tuesday from delegates who thought even the more conciliatory version was divisive and political, delegates voted by a wide margin to strengthen the language.
WATERLOO  Cary Darrah has moved up at Cedar Valley TechWorks.

Darrah, 59, who has been general manager at TechWorks since 2007, will move into her new role as president July 1. Steve Dust, who has been president since TechWorks inception in 2006, will shift into a new position with the organization  vice-chair  with strategic management and oversight responsibilities, the organization announced Tuesday.

The attention of Dust, Darrah and other partners over the first eight years of the project has been preparation of the property for development and adjusting the original vision to carve out opportunities for the project.

It wont be a change in direction; the change in leadership will more have me focus on implementation of the last nine years of planning, Darrah said Tuesday. Theres momentum and more attention on the project. Our job, Wes (James, facilities manager), and me, is to find ways for that campus to remain sustainable.

Darrah oversaw the removal of several large industrial structures and management of the brownfield site. Now, she will focus on marketing and attracting tenants to available space in the Tech 1 building, light industrial and commercial parcels in the 30-acre campus.

Steves fingerprints on this campus development will never be removed, Tim Hurley, TechWorks Campus board chair and former Waterloo mayor, said in a news release. Without his vision, direction and guidance I am confident we could have or would have easily surrendered to any one of many stiff challenges faced along the way.

Darrah was executive director of Community Main Street in Cedar Falls from 1997 to 2007.

In 2013, Darrah took on the role of vice president of community development with the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber  TechWorks parent organization  while maintaining her position with TechWorks.

Alliance & Chamber officials said Darrahs responsibilities with that organization likely will change as she shifts her attention to full-time development of the TechWorks Campus.

It is particularly exciting to lead in this phase of TechWorks development, Darrah said. The public can finally see the results of 10 years work. I am optimistic that the explosion of new development in the area, the Tech 2 mixed use project including the Courtyard Waterloo-Cedar Falls, the John Deere Regional Training Center, and restaurant; Single Speed; Grand Crossing; and Hawkeye Community College, will help TechWorks attract the right mix of tenants as we work to fulfill the vision for the Iowa Advanced Manufacturing Network Hub, and bring retailers into our Iowa Reinvestment District.
WATERLOO -- Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa will honor three area business leaders and one Young Entrepreneur for their outstanding achievements in the community at the 21st annual Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa Business Hall of Fame event Oct. 27 at the Park Place Event Centre in Cedar Falls. Honors will be given to Laureates Bob Heaton of Cedar Valley Wealth Advisors; Bob Beach of University Book and Supply (Retired); and Stephen Jackson of Cedar Valley Corp. LLC. The Young Entrepreneur will be Andy Van Fleet of Visual Logic Group and ID8 Workspace.
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man who was removed from the country five times and threatened to shoot federal agents when he was arrested in April has pleaded guilty to immigration charges.

Manuel Sanchez-Rojas, 46, pleaded to illegal reentry June 2 in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.

A native of Zacatecas, Mexico, Sanchez first entered the United States in June 1986 and has a history of crimes in California and Illinois before he came to Iowa, according to court records.

In 1991, he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and felony burglary in California. He was first deported in November 1992 after he was arrested for domestic battery in Palatine, Ill., court records state.

He illegally returned to the U.S. less than a month later, records state, and made his way back to Illinois, where he was convicted of felony burglary in Cook County in May 1994 and sentenced to jail. Then in 1995, he was convicted of two counts of felony burglary in Los Angeles County, Calif., and sentenced to prison. He was deported in May 1997.

Immigration officials then found him in the Calipatria State Prison in California in January 2000. He was removed to Mexico 13 days later.

Sanchez apparently reentered the U.S. in October 2001 and was found during a February 2004 traffic stop in Kansas. He was removed again that same month.

He returned to the states in December 2004 and remained in the country for a year before Missouri authorities arrested him at the scene of an ice methamphetamine deal in December 2005. Ten days later, he was deported to Mexico  his fifth removal. He allegedly returned in 2008.

Sanchezs next surfaced in the United States on Dec. 13, 2015, when he entered the Kwik Star at 1214 Franklin St. in Waterloo, picked up a six pack of Steel Reserve beer and took it to the store bathroom where he drank it, court records state.

He returned to the store for similar drinking sessions Dec. 16 and Dec. 22. During the last visit, Waterloo police officers were called, and Sanchez was arrested for fifth-degree theft.

After he was released from jail, Sanchez allegedly made his way back to the Kwik Star on Jan. 19 and stole a can of beer, records state. He was charged with trespassing charge and theft charge.

Then on April 13, a loss prevention officer at Wal-Mart on Flammang Drive allegedly caught Sanchez trying to stuff a $74 wifi digital camera down his pants. He was arrested for fifth-degree theft when he left the store.

Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement picked up Sanchez at the Black Hawk County Jail and took him to Cedar Rapids. During the ride, Sanchez allegedly told the agents he would be back soon and when he comes back he would shoot both of them, court records state. He later apologized for the shooting comment, records state.

Illegal re-entry is usually punishable by up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but if the court finds he returned after he was convicted of an aggravated felony, the maximum sentence increases to up to 20 years. He faces immediate removal following his prison sentence.

Sentencing will be at a later date.
CEDAR FALLS  University of Northern Iowa professor Michele Devlins public health work in the state over the past 20 years is described as some of the most significant contributions to Iowans health and as a voice for those who often dont have one.

Those contributions, among others, have earned Devlin a slot in the Iowa Womens Hall of Fame.

Devlin, a Los Angeles native and doctor of global public health, will be officially inducted during an Aug. 20 ceremony in Des Moines along with three other women with roots in the state.

I am thrilled about this honor, and I am just very blessed really to have been able to wind up in Iowa and have an entire career in global health at the right time and the right place in a state like this, Devlin said. Its been the chance of a lifetime actually.

Devlin said she was further humbled to receive the award because the hall of fame inductees are nominated by peers.

Im just really honored by that, and its, I think, a testament to a lot of the work that many of us have been doing together in the state for many years trying to improve the status of low-income families and moms and kids in the state, Devlin said.

Aside from teaching and working with students on the UNI campus, Devlin has been a part of activities across the state that help agencies and organizations work with refugee and underserved populations. She also regularly makes trips across the state, nation and internationally to work on global health initiatives and disaster relief.

She founded the UNI Global Health Corps that has trained more than 400 students and worked with more than 50,000 low-income, immigrant, refugee and minority families on health education projects. She also is the director of the Iowa Center on Health Disparities that provides training to agencies that work with those underserved populations.

Devlin said during the past 20 years the shift in Iowas population has made it possible to do important global public health work without leaving the state.

The world has come to us. Its just amazing, Devlin said. We have about 200 different languages now in the state.

UNI professor Mark Grey works closely with Devlin and spearheaded the effort to get her nominated to the Iowa Womens Hall of Fame.

Dr. Devlin has made some of the most significant contributions to the health and well being of Iowans in the last 20 years, Grey said.

Grey praised Devlin as someone who is willing to address the challenging health and welfare issues facing new Iowans and as an academic who uses her skills to address real-world challenges.

It has been a privilege to work and serve with Dr. Devlin for nearly two decades addressing some of the most challenging health and social well-being issues facing Iowas immigrant, refugee, minority and other underserved populations, Grey said.

Monica Stone, a deputy director at the Iowa Department of Human Rights, said the hall of fame inductees are chosen by the volunteer Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, which looks for women who have made positive impacts on women and girls, in particular, as well as generally worked to make their community or state better.

Professor Devlin with her strong background and strong advocacy for public health issues, particularly for underserved populations stood out, Stone said. Shes been a long-term, effective advocate for people who often dont have a voice in government and certainly in health.

Devlin is one of four recipients to be inducted into the Iowa Womens Hall of Fame this year. The others are Grace Amemiya, a nurse and advocate for peace and justice in Ames; Angela Connolly, a Polk County supervisor and leader in central Iowa; and Viola Gibson, a deceased Iowa civil rights leader, who was from Cedar Rapids.

Mildred Hope Fisher Wood was the most recent Iowa Hall of Fame inductee who had ties to the Cedar Valley. She was inducted in 2011 for her role in teaching the first courses on learning disabilities to future teachers at UNI. Prior to that, former Lt. Gov. Joy Cole Corning, of Cedar Falls, was inducted into the Womens Hall of Fame in 2004. Late UNI administrator Sue Follon was inducted in 2002.

The Iowa Commission on the Status of Women established the Iowa Womens Hall of Fame in 1975.
As one of 50 chapters nationwide to receive the grant, the UIU Veterans Club will use the funds to help establish the Military and Veterans Service Center on the Fayette campus.

The current Fayette/Upper Iowa Rooms in Garbee Hall will soon be transformed into the MVSC student lounge, a meeting space and offices. Building materials, paint and furniture will be among the items purchased with the grant funding, which is distributed via Home Depot gift cards. The MVSC is expected to serve as a one-stop shop where prospective and current students who are military service members, dependents and veterans can easily obtain UIU information, advisement and support.
CEDAR FALLS  A 36-year veteran Cedar Falls firefighter is assuming the role of acting fire chief.

Fire Battalion Chief John Bostwick will take the job following Chief John Schillings resignation after seven years to become fire chief in Carpentersville, Ill., near Chicago.

Public Safety Director Jeff Olson said he decided on Bostwick after interviewing all interested fire battalion chiefs and reviewing their work records.

Hes just real active in a lot of programs and moving a lot of projects forward, Olson said. Since August, Bostwick has handled support services, including inspections, alternative staffing, training and other administrative duties.

Bostwick was promoted to fire captain in 1993 and battalion chief in 1999.

His appointment will take effect after the City Council passes a resolution setting his new salary for his acting duties at its Monday meeting.

His new salary will be $84,326. He is also a paid on-call fire response staff member for an additional $7,000 for a total of $91,326. He currently makes $88,870, including the on-call compensation. His new pay takes effect 20 days after council action.

Olson said it will likely take several months to permanently fill the position. Part of the issue is a bachelors degree is required for the chiefs post.

We have no battalion chiefs that qualify, Olson said. In fact, thats been the case for the last two chief hires, Schilling in 2009 and Steve Mitchell in 2003.

That will be reviewed.

If our job classification eliminates all our internal candidates, maybe we need to make a change, Olson said.

Succession planning has been a goal of the City Council for many years, Ron Gaines, acting city administrator, noted. Cedar Falls had traditionally promoted a chief from within the fire ranks.

Jim Cook, president of the Cedar Falls Firefighters Association, said Olson met with the union about qualifications for the chief position but not about the selection of an acting chief.

Bostwick would not have been the choice of our association, Cook said, for reasons on which he did not elaborate.
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DES MOINES  Roughly 7 percent of Iowa students are chronically absent, meaning they miss more than 10 percent of school days.

On Monday, Gov. Terry Branstad announced the formation of a state advisory council to study and make recommendations on addressing chronic absences, particularly among young students.

The advisory council will be composed of 30 education, nonprofit, business and state government leaders.

This is a problem that schools cant solve by themselves, Branstad said. They need the involvement and the support of the entire community.

Branstad cited a Child and Family Policy Center study that suggests students who are chronically absent are 1.5 times less likely to be proficient in reading. In Iowa, one in four students cannot read proficiently by the end of third grade.

We know that too many children, especially children from families with low income, miss too many days of school, said Jean Kresse, president and CEO of United Way of Story County. If left unchecked, this problem will undermine all of our efforts to end intergenerational poverty, close the achievement gaps and reduce high school dropout rates.

The council will meet four times, once a month, starting in August, and will make recommendations to the administration in November.

We know schools cant do it alone. And we know chronic absence is a solvable problem, Kresse said. Forming the Iowa Chronic Absenteeism Advisory Council is a critical step in that solution.

Kresse noted local projects across the state as examples of work already being done in Iowa to reduce chronic absence, including in the Quad-Cities and Waterloo.

Waterloos Bell to Bell program stresses to students the importance of being at school on time in the morning, ready to learn, and it has a staff member dedicated to reaching out to families with students who have had chronic absences in the past.

Amy Schmidt, the principal at Waterloos Irving Elementary, said average attendance increased a full percent this year and overall student performance in standardized testing improved. Schmidt and another key Irving staff member attributed much of that success to Bell to Bell.

Were definitely seeing a huge difference in what were doing, said Adriane Carlson, a family support worker at Irving Elementary.
DES MOINES  A University of Northern Iowa student was the victim of a shooting June 10, police here said Tuesday.

Shamar Hill, a junior financial management major from Des Moines according to the UNI student directory, suffered gunshot wounds, according to Des Moines Police. The incident occurred in the 6000 block of Creston Avenue, near the Deer Ridge apartment complex.

Police said Hill was taken to Iowa Methodist Medical Center. Officials there said federal patient confidentiality rules prevented the release of information as to his status as a patient there or his condition.
WATERLOO  Veterans advocates received a welcome gift when an anonymous donor offered a home on Waterloos east side that can soon serve as a veterans homeless shelter for the community.

The details are still being finalized to transfer the four-bedroom home to Americans for Independent Living, a nonprofit that specializes in home modifications for veterans. Work will need to be done to the home to prepare it to serve the needs of homeless veterans. But advocates say it will be a big step toward ending homelessness among veterans.

Our goal here is to eradicate all the homeless veterans population here in Black Hawk County. Hopefully this home will be the start of it, said Kevin Dill, executive director of Black Hawk County Veteran Affairs Commission.

Dill said its estimated theres an average of five to 30 homeless veterans living in the county each month. He said those veterans are currently served by other agencies that offer temporary housing, but are often already at maximum capacity.

He said regardless of the number, veterans sleeping on the street should not be tolerated, particularly since Black Hawk County has the fourth largest veteran population in the state.

Tim Combs, director of Americans for Independent Living, said the time frame for opening the shelter depends on a number of factors  how much work needs to be done, donations of labor and supplies and when the nonprofit officially owns the home.

But his goal is to have it up and running within 60 to 90 days.

To that end, he is appealing for donations of materials and volunteer labor. People can donate at www.americansforindependentliving.org or by calling Combs 243-9932.

Combs does have a good foundation of funds to get the project started  a $100,000 donation from the Trump Foundation. Combs agency was one of the veterans groups to receive funding following a fundraiser now-presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump held this past January at Drake University.

While Combs appreciates the donation, his long-term vision for giving a hand up to area veterans will require much more funding.

Dill said one of their top priorities now is securing transportation so homeless veterans can get job training, get to interviews and show up for jobs.

Long term, Combs said the goal is to have a homeless shelter for both men and women veterans, as well as securing transitional housing, allowing veterans up to two years to get back on their feet.

We want to be there, be a partner, and a friend and family member with them for the entire time, Combs said.

Dill called the anonymous home donation a goodwill offering that (shows) they care about veterans and wanted to see something done. Combs adds that there needs to be more of that in the community.

Tim and I are trying to be a light in a dark world and help them (veterans) get out from under the bridges, let them know that their life story is not over, that we do care about them, and well get them a place to call home for a while and get them back on their feet, Dill said.
As Ralph Reed, the longtime evangelical leader, sees it, Donald Trump did two smart things in his appearance before Reeds Faith & Freedom Coalition Road to Majority conference in Washington recently.

First, Trump showed up. Showing up really matters, and we have not had, either at Faith & Freedom or my preceding work at Christian Coalition, a nominee show up, announced, with a full-dress speech, since George H.W. Bush in 1992, Reed told a small group of reporters after Trumps appearance. (Bob Dole did an unannounced drop-by in 1996, Reed said.)

Second, Trump hit the right notes, according to Reed, focusing on the issues that resonated with the activists in the audience: right to life, traditional marriage, religious freedom, support for Israel, opposition to the Iran nuclear deal.

Yes, Trump did indeed say all the right things. But Trump has often said the right things on Reeds issues. The bigger question is whether there is sufficient basis for conservative voters to believe him.

As an example, I asked Reed about Trumps list of possible Supreme Court justices. Most conservatives said it was a great list. Its just that some of those same conservatives dont trust a President Trump to actually do what he says.

Reeds answer was both confident and nuanced. I trust him, Reed said  and by the way, what has trust gotten us in the past?

Reed explained he met Trump in 2011 after he, Reed, saw Trump discuss abortion with Fox News Bill OReilly. In a later interview with a religious blogger, Reed praised Trumps performance, and almost immediately after the post hit the internet, Reeds cellphone rang. It was Trump. Reed invited Trump to that years Road to Majority gathering. Trump came, and the two have kept in touch ever since.

Based on that experience, Reed said, he has faith in Trump to do what he says. Trump and I developed a relationship, Reed said. And when he says thats what hes going to do, based on my interaction with him, I dont really have any questions about whether or not he means it.

But that wasnt Reeds entire answer. The other thing I would say is, compared to what? he continued. Compared to whom? Reagan, who told us those things, and then appointed Sandra Day OConnor as his first nominee? More than George H.W. Bush, who appointed Souter? I mean who are we talking about?

By that argument, you would never be for any candidate, Reed concluded. Because you would just cross your arms and say, I dont trust them.

Of course, thats exactly what some evangelical leaders say about Trump. I asked Reed about one, the Southern Baptist Conventions Russell Moore, who has called Trump representative of the reality television moral sewage coming through all over our culture. (Moores shot earned a response from Trump calling Moore truly a terrible representative of evangelicals and a nasty guy with no heart.) Is Moore wrong? I asked Reed.

I have a great deal of respect for Russell, hes a good friend, Reed began. (Reed, who has been in evangelical politics for a long time, answers a lot of questions that way.) I just think that its a binary choice between one of two candidates, and given the fact that Hillary Clinton is not only advancing, but I would argue enthusiastically advancing, what we consider to be great moral evils  I just think you have to choose between these two candidates.

During his speech to the Road to Majority gathering a little earlier, Reed took an obvious shot at those faith leaders who cant accept Trump. Describing the extensive voter contact effort his group will launch this fall, Reed said no one should sit on the sidelines.

There are some who counsel timidity and retreat, Reed said. And they recommend that people of faith retreat to the cold comfort of a stained glass ghetto and decline to muddy our boots with the mire and the muck of politics. But that is not an option for followers of Christ. You see, were called to put away our my-way-or-the-highway pride.

Reed stayed publicly neutral during the long Republican primary fight. But now he is touting plans for his groups biggest-ever voter turnout operation. The Faith & Freedom Coalition will distribute 35 million nonpartisan voter guides in 117,000 churches, Reed told the crowd. It will make 15 million phone calls. Send 20 million emails and texts to seven million evangelicals in the key swing states of Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Wisconsin and Colorado. Knock on a million doors in those states.

All on behalf of Donald Trump. After all, Trump showed up, which is more than a lot of presumptive nominees have done. In the years before a big race  2007, 2011, 2015  the primary candidates fall all over themselves to speak before groups like Reeds. In the election year, after the nomination is in the bag  not so much. Trump, who after a miserable week mired in controversy over his attacks on the judge in the Trump University case, had reasons of his own for coming. But in return he got the message from Reed there is at least one (large) part of the evangelical world thats on his side.
Paul Terrell Henry, 41, was a caring father of two who loved to dance, play piano and sing, according to his friends and his boyfriend.

Francisco Hernandez, Henry's boyfriend, told the Orlando Sentinel that the Chicago native's main priority was to make sure his kids were taken care of.

"Such a loving spirit. I'll always have him in my heart," said Hernandez, who added that he will most remember Henry's smile.

Bettye Edwards told the newspaper that she and Henry started a church briefly and that Henry had a master's degree in business from Florida State University and a theological degree.

Henry never took a lesson, Edwards said, but he was a talented singer and musician.

Danielle Biggers, of Orlando, said she worked with Henry as a sales representative at a resort company.

"He just was over the top and made everybody smile," she said.
Hydrant flushing set

for Thursday

WATERLOO  The Waterloo Water Works will flush hydrants Thursday in the area from Independence Avenue to Newell Street, from East Fourth Street to Idaho Street, including the City View area.

The Waterloo Water Works asks the cooperation of all water customers Thursday to continue the water main flushing program. An area of the city will be selected for flushing each week and announced in advance.

Customers living within the area and within several blocks of the flushing area could experience water discoloration.

The water may be brownish during and immediately after the flushing. Customers are urged not to plan wash day on a Thursday. The discolored water is bacterially safe. The discoloration is caused by the accumulation of minerals on the inside of the water mains.

A periodic flushing cleans the mains and helps avoid discolored water problems during normal operation.

Sheriff to host town meeting

EVANSDALE  Sheriff Tony Thompson will host a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Evansdale City Hall, 123 N. Evans Road.

He will discuss county law enforcement efforts and answer questions.

Retired school workers to meet





WATERLOO  The Black Hawk Retired School Personnel Association will meet June 21 in the Friendship Village Dining Room, 600 Park Lane.

The program will start at 11 a.m.; people are asked to arrive a little earlier to register.

Lunch is $8. Speaker will be Dr. Kurt Kuhn on the topic of bone health.

To reserve a place, call 988-3245 before Friday.

All retired school personnel (administrators, teachers, associates, secretaries, custodians, bus drivers, etc.) are welcome to join the local and state association to help support retired school personnel across Iowa.

Rep to hold meet and greet





WATERLOO  Iowa Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, D-Waterloo, will hold her second annual meat and greet Saturday.

The event will go from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Liberty Park, at the corner of East Mitchell Avenue and West Ninth Street, in Waterloo.

The event is free of charge and in conjunction with the Liberty Park Creative Sale, the proceeds of which will go toward signage in the Liberty Park neighborhood.

Hot dogs will be prepared by Hometown Foods and cookies provided by Monster Cookies and More.
Q: Is there a new gun store in Cedar Falls?

A: MR Guns has relocated from its store on South Main Street to 305 Roosevelt St., off First Street (Iowa Highway 57).

Q: Im hot. When can we expect a cool down?

A: In the short term, looks like mid-80s or better through Sunday, June 19, according to the National Weather Service. If you mean seasonally, the earliest the temperature ever dipped to 36 degrees in Waterloo was Aug. 20. That happened in 1950. The earliest that the temperature ever dropped to 32 degrees was Sept. 11, which happened in 1917. The earliest trace of snow in Waterloo was recorded Sept. 26, 1942.

Q: Who do you report to when Section 8 housing is being sublet?

A: Since the caller does not mention whether they are referring to project-based Section 8 housing or Section 8 vouchers, well just give you the general complaint hotline for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developments Office of Inspector General. You can report fraud by calling (800)347-3735; writing HUD Inspector General Hotline (GFI), 451 Seventh St. S.W., Washington, DC 20410; or emailing Hotline@hugoig.gov. If you know the local agency overseeing the project or providing the vouchers, you might try contacting them first. The Waterloo Housing Authority oversees most of the Section 8 rental housing vouchers used in Waterloo, for example.

Q: What is the advantage of the International Baccalaureate classes offered in the Waterloo Schools over the AP classes also offered? Dont both programs offer the opportunity to get college credits?

A: Students enrolled in Waterloo Community Schools International Baccalaureate diploma program are required to take the whole series of IB courses in six subject areas over two years plus the theory of knowledge class. They also complete a 4,000-word essay while in the program and a community service component. Educators involved in the districts program have noted that students are not picking classes in individual subjects, as they do with Advanced Placement courses. As a result, students take rigorous classes in subjects where their skills are both stronger and weaker. Both types of classes do offer the possibility of earning college credit, so individual students need to decide based on their preferences which is best for them.

Clarification

A June 13 Call the Courier answer said the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors must approve a Dollar General store project in La Porte City before it can proceed, according to city officials. County officials said the city has jurisdiction over the project. The county is only working with the developer on an agreement to pave a small portion of Reinbeck Road according to county standards for access to the store. Only that agreement would have to come back to supervisors for approval.
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If youre looking to try out an online casino, there are several things that will help you make a decision. Heres what you should look for when choosing an online casino

 Are they regulated? A lot of the larger ones have licenses issued by the authorities in their respective regions, so its worth checking this first.

 Do they offer games from different software providers? Some casinos just use one software provider and limit your selection. This is fine if you like playing those types of games but you may want to check other casinos as well.

 What does their payout percentage look like? The payout rate refers to how much money you can expect to win after every bet. A high payout rate means youll be able to play more often without having to worry about losing all your money. Its also important to know the minimum and maximum bets allowed on each game. If youre going to play roulette, for example, then you probably dont want a casino with a minimum bet of less than $2.50 or even lower than that.

The players used to play the game slot online in the land based casinos in the past time. But now with time after the invention of the online casinos players play the game slot online. Online platform provide the players with the convenience in playing and even better winning. Even after keeping a good percentage of the profits, they distribute good funds to players.

 How many games do they offer? There are lots of different types of games to choose from. Roulette, blackjack and poker are some of the most popular options, but you might find slots, video pokers, video bingo and others as well. You can usually filter these games down to only show the ones that interest you best, so make sure that your list isnt too long!

 Is there a bonus offer? Many online casinos offer free bonuses as part of their welcome package  which includes new players being awarded 100% up to $10 instantly, for example. These offers are great but not everyone has access to them all the time (and some require you to deposit real money). If youd prefer to avoid paying a fee, some casinos offer no-deposit bonuses where you can get a certain amount of funds before you need to put any actual money into the account. These are usually offered alongside welcome bonuses, so make sure you read both parts of the terms and conditions carefully before signing up.

 Does it offer live dealer games? Live dealers are much preferred by many over regular virtual versions, so it pays to check this option out too. Most online casinos now offer live dealer games in addition to their regular offerings, allowing you to experience the thrill of the real thing without needing to leave home.

Now that youve got an idea of what to look for when choosing an online casino, heres some tips for making the right choice

It really comes down to personal preference. No two people are exactly alike, so everyone has an opinion on what they like and dislike about each casino. That said, here are some things to consider in order to narrow down your choices

 Popularity. Check out reviews, forums and Facebook pages to see what other people think of the casino. Also, ask around at work or friends houses who they would recommend to you. You could always take a look at the casinos website too, to see what kind of information they provide about themselves.

 Reputation. Find out what the general public thinks about the casino. Check out any customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot, Amazon and Google Play to find out more. As far as gaming goes, you can also check out the Better Business Bureau to see whether there have been any complaints against the casino.

 Security. Make sure the casino uses SSL encryption to secure its transactions, meaning that your private data stays safe during transactions. Other than that, look for security seals on the site itself and verify that theyre legitimate. You can also check out the casinos privacy policy to see how they handle confidential information.

 Payment methods. Its good to have multiple payment options available, especially if you plan to play frequently. Its also nice to find a casino that accepts cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. If youre worried about safety, you can always opt for a credit card or PayPal instead.

With all those criteria in mind, heres our top picks

Betway:

Betway is a relatively new UK casino offering online gambling to residents of the United Kingdom and European Union. They offer hundreds of games across both land based and digital platforms, with plenty of top software providers like Net Entertainment, Microgaming and Yggdrasil Gaming Network. With a generous welcome offer that gives players 100% up to 100, you really cant go wrong with Betway.

Coral Casino:

Coral Casino is operated by the same company that runs the famous Caribbean casino, Grand Reef. Like many casinos, Coral Casino offers a wide variety of games, including plenty of video slots and table games. New players can benefit from a huge 100% match bonus up to 1000, while existing customers enjoy 25% cash back on deposits made within 48 hours of opening an account.

Ladbrokes Casino:

Ladbrokes Casino is owned by the same company as the famous bookmaker that started life in 1921. With more than 500 games from leading software providers such as Amaya, NetEnt and Microgaming, you wont be disappointed by the quality of the games here. New players get a 200% match bonus up to 500, while existing customers can claim 35% cashback on their first three deposits.

Paddy Power Casino:

Paddy Power is another Irish-owned casino that operates throughout Europe. Not only does Paddy Power Casino offer traditional casino games like blackjack, roulette and slots, but it also provides a full range of sports betting, including football, tennis, boxing and horse racing. New players can receive a massive 100% match bonus up to 200, while existing customers can claim 35% cashback on their first three deposits.

William Hill Casino:

William Hill Casino is one of the biggest names in the industry, operating in Europe, Asia and North America. Founded in 1984, this online casino has more than 400 games to choose from, including slots and table games, with a wide array of software providers like WagerLogic, Big Time Gaming and Rival.

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If youre interested in trying out an online casino but arent quite ready to commit to one, why not try out one of the many no deposit casinos weve reviewed? You can test drive various casinos completely risk-free, so you can feel confident about your choice before you make a single penny deposit.
Jun 15, 2016 | By Alec

The Peking University Third Hospital in Beijing, China is building up a reputation for groundbreaking medical procedures involving 3D printed implants. Two years ago, they became the first hospital in the world to implant a 3D printed vertebrae, and they have now completed an even more remarkable feat. Just a few days ago, the hospitals surgeons removed five sections of a patients spine  all affected by malignant spinal tumors  and replaced them with 3D printed implants, becoming the first hospital in the world to replace such a large segment of the spine.

This feat is especially remarkable because the patient in question, Mr. Yuan, was faced with an impossible situation. Suffering from chordoma, Mr. Yuans spine was in such a terrible state that up to 19 centimeters had to be removed completely  including thoracic sections 10, 11, and 12 and lumbar sections 1 and 2. While removal provided the only chance of saving his life, very few doctors in the world would even dare to remove such a large portion of the spine. Problematically, there are no ready-made solutions to replace that such a large section. With no precedent existing for the large titanium mesh that would be necessary, the doctors settled on a remarkable 3D printing solution.

During the surgery, which took place in the early hours of June 12th at Peking University Third Hospitals orthopedic ward, surgeons implanted multiple 3D printed thoracolumbar implants over the 19 cm long section of the spine. These completely replaced the five resected vertebrae, an exciting medical first.

As surgeon and Professor Liu Zhongjun revealed, the surgery itself is very rare. Despite having obtained CFDA certificates for 3D printing artificial vertebrae and studying them for surgical purposes, they were unsure what to do in a situation where five vertebrae were resected. How can the implants be supported, and how can the important spinal cord, nerves and blood vessels in the spinal canal be kept intact when after removing such a large section, the spinal structure effectively ceases to exist and needs to be rebuilt. It was an unprecedented challenge.

Spine fixation can effectively be divided into two categories: on front and on the rear side. The rear side is the most accessible, and during surgery the specialists use the pedicle screw fixation technique to fixate spine segments to the lower and upper end of the remaining intact spine with metal rods. This should provide the patient with enough stability to get out of bed and perform basic activities.

But the big problem is on the front side. Traditionally, implants would be fixated by filling the titanium mesh with autologous or allogeneic bone material, which provides interbody support. Hopefully, the bone fuses together with the adjacent structures over time, providing a stable structure. However, that technique is not entirely suitable for a large structure reconstruction. If the titanium mesh shifts it could compress the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis. Whats more, the titanium mesh has a straight cylindrical shape, and does not correspond to the spines natural S curve. While not a problem for single vertebra replacements, they are not suitable for such large segments and no manufacturer produces them.

The surgeons were thus effectively left in no-mans land, and turned to 3D printing. We can use metal 3D printing technology, in accordance with the patient's anatomy, to create an artificial vertebral form that is similar in shape and length to the five sections that needed to be removed, the professor explained. Artificial vertebrae have significant advantages. Firstly, if placed between the adjacent vertebral bodies after the removal of lesions, it can form a reliable connection. Through 3D printing, it can be designed to provide optimal support, and we developed a structure especially suited for the patients back to greatly enhance the stability of the front and rear sections.

The professor went on to argue that its a qualitative leap in terms of mechanical properties. With such a fixation method, the patient can even get out of bed very early on into the postoperative process. The artificial vertebral body has a porous structure, that is shaped like a sponge and resembles a trabecular bone, he explained. With this bone, adjacent vertebral bone cells can grow into the structure and eventually blend together through osseointegration.

The 3D printed artificial vertebral body received approval from the CFDA, Chinas Food and Drug Administration, on May 6. The 3D printed implants were listed in the third section of orthopedic implants, which can be directly implanted and are placed under the highest level of supervision. The implant was co-developed by Peking University Third Hospitals orthopedic department and industry partner Beijing Ai Kang Yicheng Medical Equipment. They previously gained CDFA approval for a co-developed 3D printed hip joint in 2015, the only other 3D printed implant with that level of approval.

According to the professor, 3D printing has become a life-saving solution. Without it, we would have to tell patients a horrible truth: that we cannot find an ideal treatment method and that no surgical solution exists. This would be a huge tragedy for the patient, but 3D printing now enables custom implants and complete reconstruction opportunities. After the artificial spine is fixated in the body, the patient can return to normal life, he said.

This was proven during the surgery for Mr. Yuan. After a six hour surgery, during which no complications occurred, the patient was moved out of the operating room. Having lost little blood and with his vital signs remaining stable, he didnt even have to stay in the ICU and was moved back to the general ward immediately. Currently recovering, the prospects are good. It just shows what a custom 3D printed solution can contribute to medical care.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Xrox wrote at 8/15/2018 8:13:24 AM:Why not make a similar 3D implant system that also preserves motion and has artificial joints/disks? Imagine replacing the entire cervical or lumbar column in severe DDD.




Jun 15, 2016 | By Alec

Laser 3D printing is becoming increasingly popular in automotive and aerospace industries for its ability to realize immensely complex geometries at very fast rates. But the immense heat used to fuse metal particles together also has one side effect that is difficult to predict: warping that causes small deformities. This forms a major obstacle for systematic part qualification, thus preventing widespread adoption by commercial companies.

In an attempt to overcome this obstacle, The University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering has announced a collaboration with Canonsburg-based software developers Ansys Inc. In the new 1,200-square-foot ANSYS-Pitt Additive Manufacturing Research Laboratory in Pittsburgh, they will be seeking to develop new algorithms that accommodate deformities and compensate for them without affecting the overall quality of the metal prints.

As some of you might know, Pittsburghs Swanson School of Engineering is no stranger to metal 3D printing or its shortcomings. One of the leading engineering schools in the US, they have already received millions in contracts revolving around 3D printing over the last few years. Just last year, two Pittsburgh research projects received more than $1.7 million in funding from America Makes to explore more efficient 3D printed support structures. Their students and faculty members have also been using Ansys simulation software for years, and Ansys has extensive 3D printing experience already. [3D printing] promises to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., Ansys chief marketing officer Mark Hindsbo said. It really has broad applicability.

This new initiative is thus building on a solid partnership, and the 3D printing lab is expected to be state-of-the art. The 1,200-square-foot laboratory will be equipped, they revealed, with the latest 3D printing equipment and simulation software and will focus on all aspects of the 3D printing process. Though the value of the Pitt-Ansys partnership was not disclosed, the lab is expected to cost several million dollars and is in part financed by grants from America Makes  the government-backed program that promotes industrial 3D printing and that is also keen to realize manufacturing standards for 3D printing.

At the top of their list of targets is 3D printing deformation. As Pittsburghs associate professor and CNG Faculty Fellow Albert To argued, 3D printing is a melting process at its core, so deformation caused by warping will lead them to the core of 3D printing. The deformation can cause failure, To revealed. If a part deforms too much, you cannot use it. So how do you develop an algorithm to compensate?

This is where Ansys comes in, who will provide the necessary software to Pittsburgh students and faculty members to explore all aspects of 3D printing. Specifically, To and his team will seek to perfect their laser 3D printing algorithm that is used to design components for specific functions. The upgraded algorithm should be able to predict deformation and how that will affect part performance. We know how [to solve deformation problems], To argued. We just need to develop the new algorithms and find out whether our ideas will work. That will allow the industry to reduce the design cycle.

The professor of engineering also argued that 3D printing could give a boost to the American manufacturing sector  in which millions of jobs has been lost over the past few years. To believes that 3D printers, though limited in use right now, could fundamentally change the sector once the technology improves and the material costs decline.

Ansys, meanwhile, is keen to use their software to educate the next generation of engineers, Mark Hindsbo revealed. He added that they believe they can also solve some industrial problems with 3D printing. We're in a super interesting place in that Pittsburgh has that manufacturing heritage. And then you couple that with the computer software that we bring to the table and with the academic research that is going on at University of Pittsburgh, and I think you have an interesting cocktail," he said.

For those same reasons, Ansys has also partnered with Carnegie Mellon University earlier this month. Together with Carnegie Mellon University, also based in Pittsburgh, they will erect a 30,000-square-foot building also focused on educational manufacturing and design. It is a deliberate focus on the partnerships with those fantastic institutions, Hindsbo concluded. There are some very, very interesting things happening in the next generation of manufacturing and computer science.

Posted in 3D Printing Technology

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Vasudevan Mukunth in The Wire:

The experiment that first directly detected gravitational waves in the spacetime continuum has repeated the feat, scientists announced at a meeting in San Diego on June 15. The achievement establishes the experiment, called LIGO, as the primary tool with which astrophysicists now observe the play of gravity around massive bodies in the universe. It also reposes faith in some of the sophisticated techniques developed by scientists to detect and study gravitational waves, and highlights the challenges in the road ahead.

This finding confirms the fact that the first detection wasnt an isolated event, P. Ajith, leader of the astrophysical relativity group at the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), Bengaluru, told The Wire. But more importantly, this is the beginning of serious gravitational astronomy.

LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory. Its two identical detectors are located in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana. In the wee hours of December 26, 2015, they detected gravitational waves originating from a pair of black holes that were about to merge, about 1.3 billion lightyears away. Before the merger, in the inspiral phase, the black holes rapidly spiral in tight orbits around each other, their acceleration sending away ripples of gravitational energy that alternatively contract and expand spacetime (by minuscule amounts) as they move through it  much as a wave passing through a sheet of cloth would.

More here.
Susan Schneider in KurzweilAI:

Some things in life cannot be offset by a mere net gain in intelligence. The last few years have seen the widespread recognition that sophisticated AI is under development. Bill Gates, Stephen Hawking, and others warn of the rise of superintelligent machines: AIs that outthink the smartest humans in every domain, including common sense reasoning and social skills. Superintelligence could destroy us, they caution. In contrast, Ray Kurzweil, a Google director of engineering, depicts a technological utopia bringing about the end of disease, poverty and resource scarcity. Whether sophisticated AI turns out to be friend or foe, we must come to grips with the possibility that as we move further into the 21st century, the greatest intelligence on the planet may be silicon-based. It is time to ask: could these vastly smarter beings have conscious experiences  could it feel a certain way to be them? When we experience the warm hues of a sunrise, or hear the scream of an espresso machine, there is a felt quality to our mental lives. We are conscious.

A superintelligent AI could solve problems that even the brightest humans are unable to solve, but being made of a different substrate, would it have conscious experience? Could it feel the burning of curiosity, or the pangs of grief? Let us call this the problem of AI consciousness. If silicon cannot be the basis for consciousness, then superintelligent machines  machines that may outmode us or even supplant us  may exhibit superior intelligence, but they will lack inner experience. Further, just as the breathtaking android in Ex Machina convinced Caleb that she was in love with him, so too, a clever AI may behave as if it is conscious. In an extreme, horrifying case, humans upload their brains, or slowly replace the parts of their brains underlying consciousness with silicon chips, and in the end, only non-human animals remain to experience the world. This would be an unfathomable loss. Even the slightest chance that this could happen should give us reason to think carefully about AI consciousness.

The philosopher David Chalmers has posed the hard problem of consciousness, asking: why does all this information processing need to feel a certain way to us, from the inside? The problem of AI consciousness is not just Chalmers hard problem applied to the case of AI, though. For the hard problem of consciousness assumes that we are conscious.

More here.
Peter E. Gordon at The Nation:

Unlikely as their friendship may seem, Scholem and Adorno had one thing in common: They had both been friends of the literary critic and philosopher Walter Benjamin, though at first this connection did little to awaken warm feelings between the two. Scholem had known Benjamin since their Berlin days in the Youth Movement during World War I, and he feared that Adorno would lead his friend astrayfrom Judaism and toward Marxism. He also had little patience for the elaborations of Adornos dialectic. On reading Adornos early study of Kierkegaard, Scholem wrote to Benjamin that it combines a sublime plagiarism of your thought with an uncommon chutzpah.

Despite this initial chill, the mutual suspicion between the two men soon gave way to a shared concern for the fate of their friend. After the Nazi invasion of France, Scholem and Adorno exchanged details on Benjamins flight southward from Paris and eventually to Portbou, the town on the Spanish border where he committed suicide. The awful event is reported in a letter dated October 8, 1940, sent by Adorno (then in New York) to Scholem (in Jerusalem). It stands among the earliest letters in their correspondence. Whatever their ideological differences, the tragedy of Benjamins death would loom over their friendship for the next three decades, and the bond between them would be forged from the shared experience of mourning. As Asaf Angermann notes in his editors afterword, the publication of this volume closes the circuit of correspondence among three of the most esteemed European intellectuals of the 20th century. The letters between Scholem and Benjamin span the years 1932 to 1940; those between Benjamin and Adorno, 1928 to 1940. Those between Adorno and Scholem cover a full three decades, from 1939 to 1969, and are the most extensive of the three collectionsa dialogue between survivors.

more here.
Your guide to the tastiest foodie happenings going down this week. Bon appetit!





Man'oushe Monday at Mission Pie

Man'oushedelicious, Lebanese flatbread slathered with zesty za'atar spiceis a specialty of Reem's, one of La Cocina's latest superstars. If you haven't yet tasted this magic, head to Mission Pie for Man'oushe Mondayit'll be open extra late for those fasting for Ramadan. // Monday, June 20, 6-10pm at 2901 Mission St. (Mission), reemscalifornia.com





Chesapeake Tonkotsu Ramen (photo via Ippudo NY)





Ippudo Ramen Headed to San Francisco

If you thought the Japanese noodle craze was over, then you're in for a treat: famed New York-based Ippudo Ramen is headed to San Francisco. The expansion is made possible by their partnership with Panda Restaurant Group (yes, owner of Panda Express), and the restaurant should hit downtown San Francisco sometime next year. Meanwhile, we're still waiting for the Berkeley location to finally open. // 18 Yerba Buena Ln. (SoMa), ippudony.com





Boozy Ice Cream at Smitten

Our two favorite things in the whole wide world are ice cream and booze (duh), and Smitten is satisfying both of our desires with their new boozy ice cream series. First up is Whiskey Chip, which will launch in all shops starting Friday the 17th (and be available for only ten days before the flavor changes to Mojito. There'll also be free samples from 5pm-7pm on launch day at the Pac Heights location. Hopefully they have a fernet flavor in the worksit is San Francisco after all. // Available at all locations, smittenicecream.com





SPARK Social SF Food Truck Park in Mission Bay

There's a new food truck park coming to Mission Bay's Parklab called SPARK Social SF. It's brought to you by the folks who run SoMa StrEat Food Park, and will cover 18,000 square feet (enough to hold eight rotating food trucks, as well as a permanent bar and coffee shop. // Opening day is Saturday, June 25th at 601 Mission Bay Blvd. North (Mission Bay), sparksocialsf.com





Tuna or Not to Tuna

Eat and be educated this Thursday night at Fine & Rare as you enjoy a delicious five-course meal that will highlight seafood sustainability. You'll learn how to make correct decisions when ordering tuna from Chefs Jordan Grosser and Ted Flurry of Stag Dining. All proceeds will benefit Fish Revolution, a non-profit that educates consumers on sustainable seafood. // $65, Thursday, June 16th, 555 Golden Gate Ave. (Civic Center), Get tickets here.






According to the International Interior Design Association, 69 percent of the 87,000 design practitioners in the United States are women, but only 25 percent of firm leaders are female. W.T.F.





While famous women such as Zaha Hadid, Odile Decq and Jennifer Siegal are paving the road to the very top, the Bay Area is also full of talented female designers and architects who are making a name for themselves in San Francisco and beyond. We chatted with four creatives who have opened their own studios in the city, established their reputations nationally and internationally, and overcome every challenge along the way. It's time we give these women the attention they deserve.





Nicole Hollis, Principal and Creative Director of NICOLEHOLLIS

What does it mean to be a woman in a male-dominated industry?



I ignore gender and drive through the work. I believe that by the end of a project, the entire team will have forgotten about it too.





What are the main challenges?

I've always been fortunate enough to work with architects that have focused on the work itself and not questioned my ability based on sex. Working on construction sites can occasionally be challenging. They stop calling me "sweetheart" once they realize that I have an extremely high level of expertise and that I will send them back to the drawing board until they get it right. Also, getting out of my office and working together on site, rather than via email or phone, generates a lot of mutual respect.





What are the opportunities for women in your industry?

I believe that women have the same opportunities as men. Often having quiet determination and hanging in there during the tough times can be more of a factor than gender.









Lisa Bottom, Design Principal at Gensler San Francisco

What does it mean to be a woman in a male-dominated industry?



I never felt inadequate because I am a woman. Today, the profession is far more egalitarian. The era of improper behavior towards women is long gone thankfully. I am happy to report that both the design and construction professions have many more women in powerful positions and a woman's ability to multi-task and see the big picture while following up on small details is seen as a valuable set of skills. I no longer feel that I have to be "better than the guys," I simply want to be the best I can be, do work that matters, and teach young professionals (regardless of gender) how to reach their own full potential.





What are the main challenges?

I learned early on that my proclivity for hard work would serve me well. I had to work harder than most of the men and ensure that all my delivered product was the best I could produce. Up until about 1990 I could always count on being singled out by cat calls and whistles while on a job site, or by being referred to as "honey." I developed a pretty thick skin, cut my hair short and learned how to make decisions and give orders in a manner that was no-nonsense and to the point, without wavering. One mechanical sub-contractor dismissively nicknamed me "Little Missy" when I made him pull out an entire mechanical system that was improperly built. However, I was right and the client stood behind me. The name "Little Missy" stuck with me for years, but I was never challenged again after that.





What are the opportunities for women in your industry?

The sky's the limit today. The Co-CEO of Gensler, Diane Hoskins, is a woman. Our most recent Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Gensler, Robin Klehr-Avia, is a woman, and the Managing Directors of many of the Gensler offices are women. Gender is no longer the determining factor for success in a design career. Instead, designers are asked to be creators and visionaries, always moving to the vanguard of what is possible. Designers are asked to be dreamers as well as problem solvers. Fortunately for all of us, this transcends gender completely.









Anne Fougeron, Principal of Fougeron Architecture

Anne Fougeron (right) of Fougeron Architecture with Danielle Dignan of DM Development. (Noah Kalina, via Residential Architect)





What does it mean to be a woman in a male-dominated industries?

Being a minority is always a challenge. You have to be extra vigilant and work harder as you are being tested and judged more quickly that your male counterparts.





What are the main challenges?

The challenge is to convince people that you are as capable as your male colleagues. There seems to be an underlying assumption that men understand and know more about construction than women! I am often asked if I am the interior designer. "We are slow to believe in women architects, we were slow in an effort to try to educate them; had we been more enlightened we might have had as many architects as we have milliners and dressmakers. They can build a house as well as a bonnet." This is a quote taken from an article published in the New York Times on June 5, 1895. What has changed?





What are the opportunities for women in your industry?

I think women are primed to take over and be the new emerging voice in the field of architecture .We just need to keep pushing down the barriers of sexism. We must remember to always ask for what is rightfully ours.



Kendall Wilkinson, Principal of Kendall Wilkinson Design



Kendall Wilkinson (right) and Bunny Williams. (Drew Altizer, via SF Luxe)





What does it mean to be a woman in a male-dominated industries?

I wouldn't actually characterize our industry as male dominated. Certainly, there are many well-known female interior designers. While the percentage of female principals in architectural firms is much lower, many of them are incredibly celebrated, such as the late Zaha Hadid. Bringing a female perspective to industries with a heavy male concentration (architects, builders, etc.) can be a benefit as it may be quite different in terms of flow, usage of space and even conflict resolution. Ideally, it is about the collaboration of talent and creativity and life experience.





What are the main challenges?

I think that because my mother was such a strong role model, in addition to being a fabulous designer, she taught me how to approach life from a different perspective. I never thought about being less or more because of my gender, I always knew that I had something to bring to any table, regardless of the audience.





What are the opportunities for women in your industry?

Doors are opening in so many areas related to design now. More and more, you are seeing women in construction be it electricians, project managers, or even general contractors. Female designers are well celebrated and the opportunities in interior design are becoming more expansive, our industry is undergoing disruption which I think will lead to interesting new paths for both women and men.


WA Government Co-funded Drilling Grant Curara Well Gold-Diamond-Base Metals Project Doolgunna

Perth, June 15, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Directors of Venus Metals Corporation Limited ( ASX:VMC ) are pleased to announce that the Company has been awarded a $150,000 grant* toward drilling on the Curara Well Gold-Diamond-Base Metals Project at Doolgunna Region, under WA Government Exploration Incentive Scheme Co-funded Exploration Drilling Programme.



A program of diamond drilling is being designed to test the previously announced, coincident geochemical anomalies and deeper structural geophysical VTEM/aeromagnetic targets on the Curara Well Project (refer ASX release 14 October 2015).



Venus looks forward to updating shareholders as exploration progresses at Curara Well.



*Venus will be required to match the $150,000 funding grant on a dollar-for-dollar basis on direct drilling costs.





About Venus Metals Corporation Limited





Venus Metals Corporation Limited (ASX:VMC) is a West Australian based Company with a focus on gold, base metals, vanadium and lithium exploration projects. The Company aims to increase shareholder value through targeted exploration success on its projects.

The Company's major gold project is the Youanmi Gold Mine, located 500km north-east of Perth. The Youanmi Gold Mine is now jointly owned by Venus Metals (30%) and Rox Resources Limited (70%); Indicated and Inferred Resource of the mine is in excess of 3 million ounces of gold.


Low Cost Highwall Mining to Commence at Isaac Plains Coking Coal Mine

Brisbane, June 15, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Stanmore Coal Limited ( ASX:SMR ) (Stanmore or the Company) is pleased to announce that the Company has awarded a contract to UGM Highwall Mining Pty Ltd (UGM) to commence highwall mining operations at Isaac Plains. Highwall mining represents a short term, low cost, low impact incremental increase to production from the existing disused S2 pit in the south of the mining lease. The introduction of incremental highwall mining production provides benefits to Stanmore in better utilising the significant infrastructure and fixed cost base already in place for the Isaac Plains open cut mining operations.



Highlights:



- Highwall mining contract signed, targeting extraction of over 300,000 ROM tonnes of low cost coal in addition to the existing open cut operation



- This additional coal will be extracted at an estimated 20% lower FOB cost than the existing open cut and will be used to supply to existing and new steel customers in Asia



- Up to 80,000 ROM tonnes per month of previously uneconomic coal will be extracted from the disused S2 pit from June to October 2016



Highwall mining activities are geographically separate from the existing open cut operations in the northern pits and have no impact on open pit production. Increased coking coal production is planned to be first utilised for the existing steel customers in Asia with any surplus tonnage potentially being used to establish new customers.



HIGHWALL MINING OVERVIEW



Highwall mining is a low cost, low impact mining method to extract otherwise uneconomic coal at the end of an open cut pit life. It has been extensively used in the USA and Australia including at Glencore's Newlands and Ulan mines and Anglo American's Dawson mine. The highwall mining equipment is operated remotely meaning there are no personnel underground.



HIGHWALL MINING DESIGN



Stanmore and UGM have engaged a leading geotechnical consultancy to carry out the geotechnical investigation and design of the highwall mining area including cut width and barrier sizing. Stanmore and UGM have worked closely with the relevant State government departments in relation to the planned highwall mining extraction method. A revised Plan of Operations has also been submitted and accepted by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines which reaffirms the approach and process undertaken by the Company.



Within the target highwall mining zone of the S2 pit, 100% of the area is covered by JORC compliant Measured Resources per the report released by the Company in April of this year. The Isaac Plains Mining Lease Resource was estimated at 48.2 Mt, comprised 15.2Mt Measured, 23.03Mt Indicated and 10.0Mt Inferred categories. This provides the Company with a high degree of comfort over the coal seam, structure and likely mining conditions within the target highwall mining zone. In addition, the highwall mining zones have been designed so as not to interfere with future access to the underground resource which is being investigated as a potential bord & pillar operation.



CONTRACTING APPROACH



The contract for highwall mining rewards UGM for delivery of run-of-mine coal to the pad on the S2 pit floor. The UGM contract is designed around a ROM production target of 70,000 tonnes per month at a dollar rate per ROM tonne. Overall the contract term is around 5 months with over 300,000 ROM tonnes targeted within the existing highwall of the S2 pit.



Stanmore is responsible for the provision of certain services including water and power connectivity. Golding Contractors Pty Ltd (Golding) has been awarded ROM coal haulage services for delivery of mined coal to the processing plant where Golding will also then process the coal to deliver high quality coking and thermal products. In addition, Golding's current roles and responsibilities for statutory positions and safety systems at site will apply over the highwall mining operations with all safety procedures, inductions and other activities reporting through the single Golding interface. This is key to ensure a smooth continuation of the strong safety culture and focus to date which has resulted in nil lost time and nil reportable injuries.



Given the geographical separation between the open cut operations in the northern pits and highwall mining in the southern pits of the Isaac Plains mining lease, there is limited interface between the two mining zones.



Nick Jorss, Managing Director of Stanmore, said, "We are very pleased to have signed this contract with UGM after more than 12 months of preparation, detailed design and discussions with relevant State representatives. Highwall mining is an attractive option for Stanmore at Isaac Plains given the potential to produce low cost, low impact incremental tonnes of coking coal to be sold to existing and new customers.



The additional coal is expected to be produced at an FOB cost which is around 20% lower than the current open cut cost, given the largely fixed nature of the infrastructure costs which are already covered by open cut mining operations."



To view maps and images, please visit:

http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/R4816S0K



ABOUT UGM



The UGM Group history is steeped in underground coal mining and providing support to international mining houses in the Hunter Valley and Illawarra, NSW and the Bowen Basin coalfields of QLD. From providing whole of mine operational support including the supply and maintenance of continuous miners through to LHD's and man transporters, UGM have continued to grow through the provision of quality, safe and cost effective solutions for customers. In 2014, UGM acquired leading highwall mining specialist, ADDCAR Highwall Mining Systems based in Kentucky, USA.





About Stanmore Coal Limited





Stanmore Coal (ASX:SMR) is an operating coal mining company with a number of additional prospective coal projects and mining assets within Queensland's Bowen and Surat Basins. Stanmore Coal owns 100% of the Isaac Plains Coal Mine and the adjoining Isaac Plains East Project and is focused on the creation of shareholder value via the efficient operation of Isaac Plains and identification of further local development opportunities. Stanmore continues to progress its prospective high quality thermal coal assets in the Northern Surat Basin which will prove to be valuable as the demand for high quality, low impurity thermal coal grows at a global level. Stanmores focus is on the prime coal bearing regions of the east coast of Australia.
SANTA FE  The 29-year-old former teaching assistant accused of sexually molesting two Santa Fe elementary school students turned himself into police on Tuesday and was booked into the Santa Fe County jail on $100,000 bond.

Sergio I. Muterperl was charged last week with two counts of criminal penetration of a minor, three counts of sexual contact with a minor and two counts of enticement of a child. Muterperls attorney, Jerry Todd Wertheim, said Tuesday he had been in contact with police since then and his client turned himself in when police asked him to. He said that Muterperl is looking forward to defending himself against the charges.

These are serious charges, and people have a deep emotion response, but we hope that people understand that theres a different side to this story, Wertheim said.

According to police reports, a 6-year-old girl first confided in her mother, then told a forensic interviewer that Muterperl had touched her private parts and her booty both outside and inside her clothing while they were on the school playground during recess. The girl said Muterperl also tried to make her touch his private parts. She said he told her not to tell anyone and that her mother would be mad if she did, according to the report.

A nurse examined the girl a few days after the alleged incident and found she had a linear vertical tear consistent with sexual assault. Muterperl, who worked at Atalaya Elementary School, was placed on paid administrative leave by Santa Fe Public Schools at that time.

About two months later, a 9-year-old girl who attended Atalaya asked a school employee whether Muterperl had been arrested. Asked if there was any reason she thought Muterperl should be arrested, the girl said because he had touched her private parts. The girl told investigators that Muterperl had touched her inappropriately on three occasions  once underneath her clothing  in 2015 while he was baby sitting her at her home. She said one time Muterperl took his privates out and made her touch it. He allegedly told her not to tell anyone and that it would be their little secret.

A Santa Fe Public Schools spokeswoman last week said that Muterperl, who also worked for ASPIRE, which contracts with the school district to provide after-school program at school sites, had been subjected to a background check when he was hired four years ago. She said the district was aware that Muterperl had been convicted of DWI in 2011 but that didnt preclude him from being hired.

Muterperl had twice prior to his employment with SFPS been cited for domestic violence, in 2005 and 2001, but the charges were dismissed both times.

Santa Fe Detective Jessica Sanchez said Tuesday that Muterperls file provided to her by SFPS did not contain any kind of background information other than employment history. Muterperl was terminated by Santa Fe Public Schools on Friday.
SANTA FE  A 30-year-old Santa Fe man has been charged with trafficking controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia after a late-night raid by police on his motel room. According to police documents, police obtained a search warrant for the first-floor room occupied by Nathaniel Ortiz in the Motel 6 in the 3000 block of Cerrillos Road as part of a narcotics trafficking investigation.

Just prior to executing the warrant about 10 p.m. Monday, Ortiz was detained by officers while he was walking from his room to the front lobby of the hotel. A Santa Fe Police Department SWAT team then entered the room and took photographs before beginning the search. A SFPD spokesman could not provide details as to what was found. Police records show that 17 police officers were on the scene.

Ortiz, who also goes by the nickname Bear, has a lengthy criminal history that includes possession of drugs, domestic violence, and criminal damage to property, and a DWI conviction in 2006. Ortiz had been in and out of jail four times prior to the Monday arrest in the last six months.
LOS ANGELES  Police found a loaded assault rifle with magazines rigged to allow 60 shots to be fired in quick succession, along with 15 pounds of chemicals mixed and ready to explode in the car of an Indiana man who said he was headed to a gay pride event, authorities revealed Tuesday.

James Wesley Howell, 20, of Charlestown, also had two other loaded rifles, ammunition, a stun gun, a buck knife and a security badge when he was arrested early Sunday in Santa Monica, they said.

Howell made his initial court appearance Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to three felony weapons and ammunition charges. The judge set bail at $2 million.

Alone, each item found in Howells car might not indicate anything sinister, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz said. But together, they just dont pass the common sense test.

I cannot in good conscience think of any reasonable reason that somebody would be traveling across the country with all of these things, he said.

Howell recently drove from Indiana to Los Angeles because of pending charges against him in his home state, according to statements he made to police.

Authorities havent disclosed any evidence that Howell intended violence at the LA Pride event in West Hollywood that attracts hundreds of thousands of people.

Friends in Indiana described Howell as a gun enthusiast with a short temper. In October, he twice was accused of pulling a gun and making threats, once against his then-boyfriend and once against a neighbor.

Howell was convicted in April of misdemeanor intimidation for the incident with his neighbor. Under the terms of his probation, Howell was not allowed to have weapons or leave Indiana.

When he was picked up in Santa Monica, there was an assault rifle in his cars passenger seat and 15 pounds of Shoc-Shot, two chemicals that explode when mixed and shot. The assault rifle was loaded with a 30-round magazine, which had another inverted 30-round magazine taped to it, according to police.

Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney said gun enthusiasts dont mix Shoc-Shot until its ready to be used, as federal regulations require, and the amount that Howell had far exceeds any amount that would reasonably be used.

Howells attorney, Pamela Jones, told the judge there was no evidence Howell planned to detonate the chemicals. She said a black hood found in his car was just a clothing item, and nothing indicated Howell planned to use it as a mask, as police contended was a possibility.

James Wedick, a former longtime FBI agent, said the manipulation of the gun magazines would allow someone to reload 30 rounds in less than 2 seconds.

It doubles your killing capacity by 100 percent, he said. For a civilian to have a weapon rigged as such, it suggests his purposes are deadly.

The FBI took the lead in the investigation and its probe continues, spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.

Federal agents searched Howells Jeffersonville, Indiana, home Monday but declined to release any details.

Rebecca Lonergan, a former federal prosecutor who teaches national security law at the University of Southern California, said filing the state charges keeps Howell in custody while the FBI continues building its own possible case.

In the atmosphere we have where there is such great concern about active shooters, about terrorism, about hate crimes, both the state and federal investigators are going to want to thoroughly look at this guy, she said.

On Tuesday, the sheriffs office in Clark County, Indiana, said Howell also is the subject of a sexual assault investigation. The alleged incident occurred May 31, about two weeks before Howells arrest in California.

___

Davies reported from Indianapolis. Associated Press writers Christopher Weber and Christine Armario in Los Angeles, Claire Galofaro in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Dylan Lovan in Charlestown, Indiana, contributed to this report.
Does the West still exist? And do we need it?

Those are questions many British citizens are asking as their country prepares for a June 23 referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union.

Or to put it another way, are the European institutions that America and Britain worked together to create after World War II, and that brought the continent decades of peace, still relevant? And would Britain be better off on its own?

For anyone with a historic memory dating back two decades, the question is shocking. As little as 25 years ago, Europe was divided by the Iron Curtain, the Baltic states didnt exist, and Margaret Thatcher was skeptical of a united Germany, recalled the noted British historian Timothy Garton Ash. Then, astonishingly, the Iron Curtain fell and Germany united peacefully, safely embedded once and for all in a democratic Europe.

A powerful, united Europe, partnered with the United States, emerged as the premier symbol of Western values.

Weve got the Europe British prime ministers from Churchill on wanted, and now we propose to leave and pull it apart, Garton Ash said ruefully in a phone interview from Oxford University, where he teaches. Tabloid headlines in London now scream: Stick it to the EU!

So what went wrong?

Of course, much has changed since the early 1990s, when some claimed that the liberal democratic model had triumphed forever. As Garton Ash points out, the West came together as a geopolitical actor only in the struggle against Nazism and then the Soviet Union. When the Cold War ended, so did the common threat that bound together the Western allies.

Yet the word West once connoted a community of values  democracy, the rule of law, open markets, and the possibility of a better life  to which other nations aspired. Garton Ash became famous as an author of books and articles about Eastern Europe, whose opposition leaders struggled to break out of Moscows grip and join the European Union.

Less than three decades later, the Brussels headquarters of the EU has become synonymous with massive bureaucracy rather than values, and many European citizens resent its myriad regulations. The 2008 crash and the EUs mishandling of the euro crisis undermined faith in its financial institutions.

Moreover, Europes open internal borders have facilitated a flow of refugees  and internal EU migrants  that has become an explosive issue across the continent and in Britain. The issue is real but has been whipped up by populist parties in Europe and England  just as it has been by you-know-who in the United States.

Migration may be the issue that could drive British voters to support a Brexit, shorthand for a British exit from the European Union. Here is the heart of the Leave case: If our future is in the hands of Angela Merkel  the German chancellor, who let in a million refugees  then we dont want to be part of a suicide mission, proclaimed Douglas Murray, associate director of Londons Henry Jackson Society, in a debate on Europes future at the American Jewish Committees national conference.

Those in the Leave campaign argue that Britain would be better off making its own trade deals, taking in fewer immigrants, and separating once again from the continent. But Garton Ash responds that the Brexiteers have vastly underestimated the costs of going it alone.

His argument goes beyond the economic costs, although they are substantial. Britains role as a financial hub would take a big hit, and Scotland might split with the United Kingdom to remain with Europe.

And, ironically, shutting the door to migrants may not benefit Britain, which has taken in fewer than 300 Syrian refugees; the bulk of Britains migrants are Europeans from countries such as Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria who enter legally under EU rules and often take jobs that Britons no longer want.

But Garton Ash makes a more critical case for Remain: The political and security gains of past decades could fall apart if Britain leaves.

I have no doubt that Brexit would be the beginning of the end for the European Union, he told me. Referendums in other countries would follow, promoted by anti-EU populist parties, including the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and right-wing parties in Germany and France. Their fellow isolationist Donald Trump has also expressed disdain for European institutions.

The Oxford historian wrote in the Spectator: I cannot share the blithe ahistorical optimism that sees Europe making a smooth segue from this imperfect union to a region of freely cooperating, prosperous liberal democracies. This has been an exceptional period in modern European history, an exception whose durability is now bound up, like it or not, with that of the EU.

If Europe falters, the negative ripple effect would reach across the Atlantic. As Garton Ash rightly notes, the great global challenges we face  from a rising China to an expansionist Russia to a traumatized Middle East to climate change  cant be addressed without close cooperation between the United States and the European Union.

Which is why Americans should be paying close attention to the Brexit vote next week.

Trudy Rubin is a columnist and editorial board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Readers may write to her at: Philadelphia Inquirer, P.O. Box 8263, Philadelphia, Pa. 19101, or by email at trubin@phillynews.com.
ORLANDO, Fla. Patience Carter and two friends cowered inside the handicapped bathroom stall, injured and pinned by a crush of bleeding bodies, the gunman who opened fire in the Pulse nightclub kept talking.

He said, Are there any black people in here? I was too afraid to answer, said Carter, who is black.

Carter continued: There was an African American man in the stall with us  he said, Yes, there are about six or seven of us. The gunman responded back to him saying that, you know, I dont have a problem with black people, this is about my country. You guys suffered enough.'

Carter, a slight 20-year-old with long hair and rhinestone-tipped nails, had just arrived in Orlando, Fla., for her first night of vacation and ended up cowering with more than a dozen people held hostage by the Omar Mateen in a rear bathroom. Carter and another survivor, Angel Santiago, 32, on Tuesday met with reporters at Florida Hospital in Orlando to recount their ordeal.

When Santiago heard shooting, he figured it was a fight, and took cover in a restroom. I thought it was going to pass, he said.

Santiago and a friend crammed themselves into a stall with 15 to 20 people as the gunfire continued. Santiago started to worry, then pray.

I just remember thinking When is it going to stop?' Santiago said as he lay atop a gurney, a white sheet draped over his lap concealing his wounds.

It kept getting louder and closer and I could actually start to smell  I dont know, I guess its gunpowder, Im not sure, it kind of smells like when firecrackers go off, he said.

Everyone in the stall tried to be as quiet as possible. We didnt want to attract attention, he said, but the gunfire kept getting closer and closer.

Santiago could not hear the gunman, but Carter did. She heard Mateen, who was born in New York to Afghan immigrant parents, speak in a foreign language. Then he called 911.

Through the conversation with 911, he said that the reason why he was doing this was he wanted America to stop bombing his country, Carter said. So the motive was very clear to us who were laying in our blood and other peoples blood who were injured, who were shot  that we knew what his motive was. And he was not going to stop killing people until he was killed, until he felt that the message got out there.

She and two friends had been near the restroom when the shooting began and they fled into a stall. A man who had closed the bathroom stall to shield the rest was shot, she said. Later, she heard the gunman complain, Damn! It jammed as he fiddled with the gun.

Throughout the hours the hostages were trapped in the bathroom, Carter said the gunman repeatedly yelled at them to shut off their cellphones. Some were frantically texting or calling relatives, she said, but other phones went unanswered. We were assuming because they were dead, she said.

Every time a phone would go off or a text message (alert) he would say, Where is it? Give it up,' and hostages would have to hand over their phones, she said.

She could see where others had tried to hide in another stall opposite.

I could see piles of bodies laying over the toilet seat and slumped over. And the bottom of the toilet was just covered with hand prints and blood, she said, and recalled thinking, I really dont think Im going to get out of here.

At one point, she prayed to die.

I was just begging God to take my soul out of my body, Carter said.

At times, she said the shooter referenced snipers and implied he was not acting alone.

It sounded like he was communicating with other people involved in it, Carter said, noting that when police arrived outside he said, Its OK, we have snipers outside.

The ordeal began about 2 a.m. Later, Carter said, they heard three explosive sounds and feared another gunman was arriving to attack them. Actually, it was the police starting to break through the restroom wall around 5 a.m.

Before police entered, she said the gunman backed toward the stall. She could see his feet. Then he scooted away.

He said, Hey you! and shot another person, then another person who Im told shielded me with their body, Carter said. I dont know who that was, but thank you.

Then the wall exploded, she said, and water rose from the floor.

I was getting pretty scared because I thought if they dont come soon, I might drown in this bloody water, Crater said.

She asked her friend Tiara Parker, 20, if she was shot. She was. So was friend Akira Murray, 18, who was sprawled on Parkers lap, unresponsive. A stranger checked her pulse, and she was still alive, Carter said.

As police entered, the hostages warned them about possible snipers, Carter said. Police said to raise their hands if they were alive, and she said, We were all raising our hands up.

A member of the SWAT team dragged her through the grass to an ambulance, Carter said. A bullet had shattered a bone in her right leg and then entered her left leg. She didnt realize her left leg was hit until paramedics cut her clothes off in the ambulance.

Reflecting on that day, Carter said she feels guilty. When the shooting started, she and Murray had been standing in front of an exit and quickly stepped out. She persuaded her friend to go back in to find Parker, and they ended up trapped in the bathroom.

Carter has spoken with Murrays mother, who told her, Thats OK. God has a plan.

But she still feels survivors guilt. She wrote a poem about it in a small notebook that she carried with her and read at the briefing. The guilt of feeling grateful to be alive is heavy, she wrote, recalling, The other 49 who were not so lucky to feel this pain of mine.

She read it and told the story of those hours in the bathroom without breaking down once, then suddenly sobbed uncontrollably as she was wheeled away.
I woke up in Los Angeles on Sunday morning to the news that on the other side of the country more than 100 people at a Florida nightclub had been shot, 49 fatally, one of the weapons of choice being an AR-15-style rifle.

Not far from my hotel room, an Indiana man with a history of gun violence and plans to attend the LA Pride festival had been detained by police after his car was found loaded with high-capacity ammo, a bucket of explosive chemicals and three assault rifles.

Back home in New Mexico, news had broken that morning about the slaughter of a Roswell woman and her four daughters, the youngest only 3, each killed with a bullet to her head.

And so it was, another day dawning in America, where guns are sacrosanct and lives are seemingly less so.

What was so terrifyingly timely was that just two days earlier I had attended a lecture on firearm regulation. The lecture was part of the Journalist Law School program, a jurisprudence boot camp for media folks like me presented by the Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

The lecture was given by Eugene Volokh, a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, a brilliant man who had made a name for himself in the realms of law, statistics and weaponry.

A Los Angeles Times profile described the Ukrainian native as a prodigy, a genius, or, simply, staggeringly bright, with an IQ of 206. He had graduated from UCLA on a full scholarship at the tender age of 15.

Volokh was a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OConnor and Judge Alex Kozinski on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit before returning to UCLA to teach law, specializing in First Amendment issues.

But he had also become well-known for matters of the Second Amendment, particularly through his legal writings and the Volokh Conspiracy, a libertarian-leaning legal blog that is must reading among lawmakers and scholars alike.

One of Volokhs articles was cited by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who wrote the majority opinion in the landmark District of Columbia v. Heller, which in 2008 solidified the position that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual the right to possess firearms  despite a local ordinance to the contrary.

Surely a brainiac like Volokh, I thought, would have some words of wisdom as to how the nation might deal with gun violence in this post-Heller country.

Volokh regaled us with slide after slide of statistics:

 35 percent to 45 percent of U.S. households own guns (although, he added, no one really knows for sure).

 There are about 300 million guns in the country.

 Each year, guns are used in 470,000 crimes, account for about 11,000 homicides, 21,300 suicides and 600 fatal accidents.

Volokh chided that we journalists often ask the wrong questions concerning gun laws.

The question is, what are the costs and benefits of a proposed policy? Often you are not asking that question, he said. You ask, what are the costs and benefits of the regulated activity? Or would we be better off in a blank-free world  in which guns fills in that blank?

I was not altogether sure I knew the difference between the first two questions, but I felt I knew the answer to the last one.

Volokh told us that he is a gun control skeptic and that he has yet to see any enacted or proposed limitations on firearm sales or ownership show signs of slowing the bloodshed by bullet. Prohibition laws were irrational, he said. So, too, he says, are many gun reforms.

For all his brilliance, Volokh could offer no silver bullet. But he did impart one morsel of promise  increased regulations aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of felons. But even that, as we have learned, is easier said than done.

Even so, maybe its a place to start. Because there simply has to be someplace to start. Because we need to talk, really talk, about this and not in just a purely academic way. Because no longer should Congress expect to be satisfied with a moment of silence after the next mass shooting and the next.

UpFront is a daily front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Go to ABQjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor.
The just-released final staffing plan for Albuquerque police is more optimistic than an earlier draft and predicts the department will hit the 1,000-officer mark by 2020  or sooner.

The plan, which was prepared by APD, changed from an earlier draft that predicted the department would be understaffed for the next 10 to 15 years. Police officials blamed mathematical errors for the bleak staffing outlook in the earlier draft.

The final plan also suggests the department consider several policy changes to free up more officers to focus on crime  for example, changing the way police respond to car wrecks and burglar alarms that havent been confirmed.

Chief Gorden Eden said those are among the changes being considered to deal with the staffing shortage, but said nothing is set in stone.

I think the community would agree that our priority should be the (most serious) calls where lives are in immediate danger, he said.

Albuquerque police officials said they desperately need more officers to bolster ranks that have been declining for several years. There are currently about 850 sworn officers despite the department being authorized for 1,000. There were nearly 1,100 officers on the force in 2009.

The response times to the most serious calls for service have increased as the 911 calls have increased and the number of officers has dropped, according to city documents.

The staffing plan predicts APD will graduate 100 cadets from police academies each year for several consecutive years. It also says lateral hires from other police departments, return to work legislation that would allow retired officers to return to policing and a better incentive package could allow the force to rebound and be fully staffed as early as next year.

The department is expecting that between 13 and 55 officers will retire every year from 2016 through 2021 and another 25 officers will leave for other reasons, according to the study.

The previous draft predicted APD would graduate only 80 cadets per year and didnt account for the other methods the department could use to grow the ranks. That plan said the department wouldnt consistently have 1,000 officers until 2026 to 2031.

While return to work, lateral hires and more money for incentives arent in place yet, they could lead to a quick turnaround in the size of the force.

Were hopeful that well be able to reach 1,000 officers next year if we get some these incentive packages going, said Bill Slauson, executive director of the police departments administrative support bureau.

The goal of 100 police academy graduates exceeds the number of officers that have graduated from Albuquerque polices academy in recent years, he said, but the department could graduate as many as 99 cadets this year and police officials think they can have similar success in the future.

Also, Eden said hes been in discussion with police chiefs and sheriffs from around the state and will make a renewed attempt at getting the Legislature to pass return to work legislation. A return to work proposal died in the state Senate during the most recent session.

APOA criticism

Shaun Willoughby, the president of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, said 100 police academy graduates each year isnt realistic.

The union had several other objections to the study, which were included in the final report. The union said the plan would violate the collective bargaining agreement between the city and police officers and that shifting detectives to other work could increase crime.

The staffing study was done as part of a settlement agreement between the city of Albuquerque and the Department of Justice that aims to correct a pattern of excessive force within Albuquerque police.

About two-thirds of Albuquerque police officers work in the Field Services Bureau, or patrol, but over the next several years police officials plan to shuffle officers from other positions, like property crimes investigators, into field services.

Willoughby said that while he thinks the city needs more patrol officers, detectives already are overworked. He said sending detectives to patrol will cause cases those detectives handle  such as property crimes  to increase.

Theyre robbing Peter to pay Paul, he said of the staffing study. Albuquerque is already in crisis and (the police administration) is adding insult to injury by letting this plan go forward.

Eden said restructuring the detectives wouldnt have a negative effect on crime. He said the changes would lead to better communication within the department.

They (property crimes detectives) are going to (field services) to investigate property crimes, he said. Its a redeployment of resources.
PHOENIX  A Buckeye man who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in his friends death has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Maricopa County Superior Court officials say 19-year-old Richard Anthony Burns Jr. was sentenced Wednesday.

Burns pleaded guilty in April in the 2015 shooting death of 19-year-old Matthew Christensen.

Prosecutors say Burns accomplice in the case also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and will be sentenced on July 1.
Premiums for one the most popular low-cost medical plans under the Affordable Care Act  aka Obamacare  could increase by an average of 4 percent next year in Albuquerque, compared to 10 percent among 14 metropolitan areas, a study released Wednesday has found.

The analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation also found Albuquerque had the lowest proposed monthly premium charge among cities studied for both that plan  the second-cheapest silver plan  and the cheapest silver plan  $193 and $192, respectively. Those costs are for a 40-year-old non-smoker.

Kaiser based its projections on insurers preliminary rates filed with state regulators, which remain subject to state or federal review.

An estimated 55,000 customers signed up for individual health plans in 2016 through the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange.

The projected premiums for 2017 do not factor in tax credits or the amount of money enrollees pay for deductibles, said Cynthia Cox, one of Kaiser studys authors.

The deductible data isnt available for these states. We wont know what they look like until open enrollment starts in November, said Cox, associate director of Kaisers program for the study of health reform and private insurance. She said many plans in the ACA marketplace may cut back on co-pays if they raise the deductibles.

Were seeing this trend in the employer-paid market, too.

A plan with a high deductible will have cheaper monthly payments, but youll pay a lot upfront when you need care.

Cox said silver plans are popular, with 68 percent of marketplace enrollees choosing the lowest-cost or second lowest-cost silver plan available to them.

While the figures are just an average and the final tab for health coverage will be different for many, the anecdotal examples of premium hikes or averages across insurers can provide a skewed picture of the increases marketplace enrollees will actually face.

 About 8 in 10 marketplace enrollees are receiving government premium subsidies, and these enrollees are protected from an increase in premiums if they continue to be enrolled in a low-cost plan.

Most workers and their families are covered by employers, but about 12 million people get private coverage through HealthCare.gov and online insurance markets run by states.

In the Kaiser study, the changes range from a decrease of 14 percent in Providence, R.I., to an increase of 26 percent in Portland,Ore.

Premiums are going up faster in 2017 than they have in past years, Cox said.

New Mexico regulators last month unveiled details about the health insurance premiums proposed by five insurers for 2017 under the Affordable Care Act. The companies made requests that would increase premiums for all plans from an average of 3 percent to well into the double digits in preliminary proposals filed with New Mexico Insurance Superintendent John Franchini.

Among the five insurers selling on the state exchange, Presbyterian Health Plan is seeking an average increase of 30 percent on its individual plan premiums, while New Mexico Health Connections seeks a bump of 20 to 30 percent on its individual plans. Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, which is returning to the states health insurance exchange after taking a year off, has requested 2017 preliminary increases that range from 20 percent to 83 percent. But those percentages are compared to the companys 2015 rates.

Christus Health Plan and Molina Healthcare of New Mexico  asked for increases of between 3 and 6 percent.

Material from The Associated Press was included in this report.
Lavu, a point-of-sale software company and one of Albuquerques most hyped startups, has lost its new CEO after three months on the job and has dropped plans to expand to Phoenix.

Marc Chesleys last day was June 3, according to Ohad Jehassi, who was promoted from COO to president in the wake of the departure and will run the company going forward. Jehassi said Chesley decided to leave after Lavu shuttered its plans to expand operations to Phoenix, where Chesley is based. Chesley did not respond to requests for comment.

When we hired Marc, there was an express commitment to open an office in Phoenix, said Jehassi. Once he began, we realized it was going to be a risk for us to expand there.

Jehassi would not confirm whether Chesley had refused to move to Albuquerque, but did say the original plan had been to have Chesley travel to New Mexico regularly and then work out of Phoenix once the new office opened. Jehassi described Lavu as entering a critical stage of growth and said the company abandoned its Phoenix plan because it first wanted to get the culture right in the midst of a ballooning headcount.

Jehassi said Lavu will hire about 30 employees in Albuqueque now that the company no longer has plans to open an office in Phoenix. The company currently has more than 60 employees, he said, double what it had a year ago.

Lavu launched in 2010 and has more than 4,000 restaurants and hotels in 80 countries using its point-of-sale systems. Last year, it attracted a +$15 million venture capital investment in what was billed as the largest Series A venture investment in New Mexico history.
ACAs library of educational tools help members improve their business practices. ACA also holds the most popular industry conferences and offers credentialing for collectors, attorneys, and more. ACAs Training Zone subscription gives agencies access to almost all of our education for one low cost.
(Bloomberg) A House committee voted Wednesday to censure Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen over Republican claims that he obstructed an investigation into whether his agency targeted conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status.

The 23-15 party-line vote by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee comes before a planned June 22 hearing by the House Judiciary Committee about a resolution to impeach Koskinen. House Republican leaders have not promised floor votes on the proposals, and neither effort is expected to move through the Senate.

Because of Mr. Koskinens misconduct, Americans will never know the truth about how and why their First Amendment rights were violated, Oversight panel Chairman Jason Chaffetz said. He said Koskinen deserves to be removed from office as the censure resolution seeks, and also deserves to be impeached by the Judiciary panel.

Censures of administration officials are rare, and generally would have no practical consequences, although the resolution pushed by Chaffetz says Koskinens pension should be forfeited. Koskinen isnt the only member of President Barack Obamas administration to face stringent action in the Republican-led House. In 2012, then-Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt by the full House in a dispute over providing documents related to a botched operation to track gun smuggling.

House Republicans decision now to target the head of an agency, and not a cabinet official, shows a willingness to reach more deeply into the Democratic administration.

Chaffetz of Utah is leading the effort to censure Koskinen, saying the commissioner failed to respond to congressional subpoenas. The resolution calls on Koskinen to resign or for Obama to dismiss him.

Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the top Democrat on the panel, said the accusations against Koskinen are baseless and that Republicans have wasted three years and $20 million on the IRS investigation. The Justice Department and the IRSs inspector general have determined that the agency wasnt unfairly targeting conservative groups, he said.

You are completely and totally wrong on this one, Cummings said. He called on Republicans to put their baseless conspiracies to rest and stop attacking Koskinen, who he said is an honorable man.

Tea Party Groups

Koskinen took over the IRS in 2013 after a scandal in which the agency said it improperly gave scrutiny to conservative Tea Party groups seeking tax-exempt status. He informed Congress in June 2014 that 30,000 e-mails from a key IRS official, Lois Lerner, couldnt be found. He also said he had learned months earlier that there was a problem with Lerners computer.

The Treasury Departments inspector general later reported that it had recovered many of Lerners e-mails.

After the Justice Department notified Congress in October 2015 that it wouldnt charge Lerner or others involved in the matter, Chaffetz introduced a resolution to impeach the IRS commissioner. In May, he followed up with the censure resolution.

At a Judiciary Committee hearing in May, ranking Democrat John Conyers of Michigan said the proposed articles of impeachment have been debunked and face stiff bipartisan opposition in the House and even worse odds in a Senate trial. Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah has said he doesnt support impeachment.

Koskinen, a former chairman of Freddie Mac and deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, was confirmed by the Senate to lead the IRS in December 2013 on a 59-36 vote.
The House passed Republican-backed legislation Tuesday that would prevent the Internal Revenue Service from requiring tax-exempt 501(c) organizations to disclose the names of donors on Form 990.

The bill, introduced by House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee chairman Peter Roskam, R-Ill., comes in response to the IRS targeting scandal, when the IRSs Exempt Organizations unit asked groups seeking tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)4 of the Tax Code about their political activities and in some cases to provide lists of their donors.

House Ways and Means Committee chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, praised the legislation. We fought hard to push forward a ban on IRS political targeting as part of the PATH Act, he said, referring to last years tax extenders legislation. And, last December, that ban was signed into law for the very first time. But we still have work to do to clean up the IRS and hold it more accountable to the taxpayers it serves. The Preventing IRS Abuse and Protecting Free Speech Act continues that critical effort. This bill authored by Congressman Roskam would prohibit the IRS from collecting the identity of people who donate to tax-exempt organizations. During our committees IRS political targeting investigation, we learned that the IRS not only singled out certain organizations for heightened scrutiny, but in some cases it even demanded they turn over a list of all their donors. These invasions of privacy are completely unacceptable.

In addition, the bill effectively eliminates the Schedule B from Form 990 that most 501(c) nonprofits are required to file reporting the names of anyone who contributes more than $5,000. The information is supposed to be kept confidential, although the IRS agreed to pay $50,000 in 2014 to a group called the National Organization for Marriage to settle a lawsuit over claims that the information was leaked ahead of the 2012 election.

Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., the ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, objected to the bill, pointing out that it would encourage dark money contributions to elections in which donor names remain undisclosed.

The Republican Majority believes the more hidden money in politics, the better, he said Tuesday. Freedom of speech, they say, requires more and more dark money, or that Democracy requires the ability of a few key people to write a $100 million check without anyone knowing who signed it. As a Koch brothers executive claimed: Americans have the right to anonymous free speech. And this bill now would help extend that anonymity to foreign individuals who contribute in violation of our laws.

The conservative activist group FreedomWorks hailed passage of the legislation in the House. Passage of this bill by the House is an important step in opposing political intimidation from the IRS, said FreedomWorks CEO Adam Brandon in a statement. This powerful and corrupt tax agency should not be in a position to leak donor names to try to chill free speech. The Senate should take up this legislation immediately to help protect a healthy public policy discourse and rein in the IRS.

Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., chairman of the Democratic Caucus, denounced the bill, however. Secret money is hijacking our American democracy, he said. "This bill would prohibit the disclosure of substantial contributions and promote special interests' secrecy. What do I mean by that? Well this bill becomes a license to secretly influence our elections. How? Foreign government doesnt like where American policy is going so guess what? They want to influence who gets elected. What do they do? They dont make a contribution to a candidate because they cant under the law. What can they do? They can now give to a social welfare organization and let them use the money to politic in our campaign. And guess what? If this bill becomes law, youll never know the name of that foreign government or that foreign government official who makes that contribution. It could be a $5000 contribution, it could be a $5 billion contributionyoull never have to report it if youre one of these tax-exempt organizations.
(Bloomberg) A House committee plans to vote Wednesday on whether to censure Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen over Republican claims that he obstructed an investigation into whether his agency targeted conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status.

The action by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee comes before a planned June 22 hearing by the House Judiciary Committee about a resolution to impeach Koskinen. House Republican leaders have not promised floor votes on the proposals, and neither effort is expected to move through the Senate.

Censures of administration officials are rareand would have no practical consequencesbut Koskinen isnt the only member of President Barack Obamas administration to face stringent action in the Republican-led House. In 2012, then-Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt by the full House in a dispute over providing documents related to a botched operation to track gun smuggling.

House Republicans decision now to target the head of an agency, and not a cabinet official, shows a willingness to reach more deeply into the Democratic administration.

Representative Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the Oversight committee, is leading the effort to censure Koskinen, saying the commissioner failed to respond to congressional subpoenas. The resolution calls on Koskinen to resign or for Obama to dismiss him.

Tea Party Groups

Koskinen took over the IRS in 2013 after a scandal in which the agency said it improperly gave scrutiny to conservative Tea Party groups seeking tax-exempt status. He informed Congress in June 2014 that 30,000 e-mails from a key IRS official, Lois Lerner, couldnt be found. He also said he had learned months earlier that there was a problem with Lerners computer.

The Treasury Departments inspector general later reported that it had recovered many of Lerners e-mails.

After the Justice Department notified Congress in October 2015 that it wouldnt charge Lerner or others involved in the matter, Chaffetz of Utah introduced a resolution to impeach the IRS commissioner. In May, he followed up with the censure resolution.

At a Judiciary Committee hearing in May, ranking Democrat John Conyers of Michigan said the proposed articles of impeachment have been debunked and face stiff bipartisan opposition in the House and even worse odds in a Senate trial. Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah has said he doesnt support impeachment.

The top Democrat on Chaffetzs panel, Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland, earlier this week denounced the oversight panels plan to advance the censure resolution before the House Judiciary hearing.

We have no idea why Chairman Chaffetz is rushing forward with his own vote, but this process is totally backwards, Cummings said in a prepared statement. The Republican inspector general found absolutely no evidence that anyone at the IRS targeted any conservative groups for political reasons, and no evidence that Commissioner Koskinen obstructed the investigation.

Koskinen, a former chairman of Freddie Mac and deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, was confirmed by the Senate to lead the IRS in December 2013 on a 59-36 vote.
(Bloomberg) Microsoft Corp. has enough cash to buy LinkedIn Corp. four times over. So why is it taking out a big loan to pay for its latest purchase?

Maybe because itll lower the technology giants tax bill.

Microsoft will avoid having to pay a 35 percent tax rate to repatriate cash from overseas accounts. While its true that Microsoft has more than $100 billion in cash and cash equivalents, most of it is parked offshore. Bringing home any of it to fund the proposed $26.2 billion purchase, announced on Monday, would generate a tax bill.

Thats not the only benefit of borrowing. The company could also deduct interest payments, thus lowering its future U.S. tax bill. So by financing the bulk of its purchase with debt, Microsoft could legally sidestep roughly $9 billion in U.S. taxes this year, and save millions more in the years to come by using interest deductions to reduce its taxable income.

Its an odd world where a company is awash in cash and chooses to make the acquisition with debts because they dont want to pay tax, said Robert McIntyre, executive director of Citizens for Tax Justice.

The company plans to finance the acquisition primarily with new debt, Microsofts chief financial officer, Amy Hood, said during a conference call on Monday announcing the deal, without specifying an exact amount it expects to borrow. A Microsoft spokesman didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Companies are always deciding how to finance themselves and prefer debt when rates are exceedingly low, as they are now. With its latest plan, Microsoft joins a procession of cash-rich U.S. companies that have in recent years relied on leverage to sidestep U.S. taxes. In 2015, Apple, with more than $180 billion overseas, borrowed $6.5 billion to pay shareholders a dividend.

Many chief executive officers and business analysts say the strategy amounts to both good corporate governance and common sense. Apple CEO Tim Cook famously said last year that it was crap to criticize his company for borrowing at low rates to avoid paying 40 percent in combined federal and local taxes.

Avoiding Taxes

But financing the LinkedIn purchase with debt could leave Microsoft in a spotrich abroad and strapped in the U.S. On Monday, Moodys Investors Service placed Microsofts Aaa senior unsecured rating under review for downgrade, citing the companys debt and overseas cash hoard as factors.

Microsoft is already committed to pay the final $10 billion of a $40 billion share buyback program this year. But the company has only $3 billion in cash in the U.S. and would likely have to borrow to pay for the buyback, said Richard J. Lane, a senior analyst for Moodys. The decision to add another $20 billion plus of debt to buy LinkedIn could "contribute to ratings pressure, Lane said.

With 97 percent of its cash overseas, Microsofts ability to support its existing capital allocation program without further debt is limited, the Moodys report noted. S&P Global Ratings, by contrast, affirmed Microsofts AAA rating on Monday.

Tax-Free Repatriation

Microsofts borrowing plan is another example of the way the U.S. tax code encourages corporations to use bookkeeping maneuvers to avoid taxes, representatives for tax fairness groups and other tax experts said Monday.

Under the current tax policy, Microsofts borrowing was tantamount to a tax-free repatriation, said Edward Kleinbard, a tax expert and professor of law and business at University of Southern California.

The offshore money continues to sit, invested in portfolio assets, earning a rate of returnand the new borrowing then incurs an income expense, so the two offset each other, said Kleinbard, a former chief of staff for the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. It means a somewhat bloated balance sheet, but that cosmetic blemish is a lot less costly than writing out a big check to the Treasury.

Glaring Idiosyncrasy

Such convoluted accounting measures are the result of a glaring idiosyncrasy in the U.S. corporate tax code: The U.S. taxes its multinationals on profits earned anywhere around the globe, but only after the money is brought home. That might explain why companies with big offshore stores find it difficult to use their cash. By contrast, almost every other government exempts foreign profits from taxes at home.

These tax rules have prompted U.S.-based corporations to hoard more than $2 trillion in earnings in their foreign subsidiaries, according to a Bloomberg analysis, an amount that would result in a tax bill of more than $600 billion if it were returned home.

Adding to the counterintuitive nature of borrowing by cash-rich corporations is this: Although the untaxed money is technically controlled by the foreign subsidiaries of U.S. multinationals, much of it is held in U.S. banks and investment accounts. In Microsofts most recent quarterly report, the company reported $102.8 billion in untaxed profits controlled by its offshore subsidiaries, 81 percent of which was held in U.S. government securities.

From the time President Barack Obama took office in 2009 through the end of 2015, the cash hoards held by U.S. multinationals roughly doubled to $2.4 trillion, according to a study of corporate filings by Citizens for Tax Justice. Pfizer reported more than $193 billion in unrepatriated profits at the end of 2015. Apple had more than $200 billion; General Electric: $104 billion, Google: $58 billion and Goldman Sachs: $28 billion.

Many U.S. multinationals, particularly in the technology and pharmaceutical industries, have been lobbying federal officials for years to enact a so-called repatriation holiday, allowing them to bring money home at a rate far below the 35 percent corporate tax. A lower rate would allow them to return the money and use it to hire and invest in the U.S., the companies have asserted.

Thats not what happened in 2005, when Congress and the Bush administration temporarily lowered the tax rate on repatriated corporate profits to 5.25 percent from 35 percent. More than 800 companies availed themselves of the program, bringing home $300 billion.

But 92 percent of that money was used for share buybacks and executive bonuses, according to a subsequent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, and some of the companies that reaped the biggest tax savings actually closed plants and laid off tens of thousands of workers in the U.S.

Divided Lawmakers

With Congress deeply divided and with a contentious presidential race under way, the prospects of any major tax code changes this year are minuscule, according to tax experts. By borrowing to pay for its LinkedIn purchase, Microsoft preserves its option to take advantage of any repatriation tax breaks that might be enacted by the next Congress and president.

I believe they are betting that there will be a better way to get the earnings home in the future under most plausible expected tax reforms, said Kimberly Clausing, an economics professor at Reed College who has written extensively about offshore corporate policy.
Findings from Nielsens newly launched E-commerce Sellers Study Q1 2016 (January-March 2016) indicate that 39 per cent online sellers explore two or more e-commerce website as an option to sell products on and grow their business.

This study launched by Nielsen aims to understand the inclination and experience of selling products on e-tailing platforms. The study also gauges the brand equity of e-commerce websites amongst connected online sellers, and of those who intend to sell their products online in the next few months. The first wave of the study was conducted in 16 markets with a population of more than 10 lakh, and a sample size of over 1,100 respondents.

With the e-commerce industry growing in double digits, there is surge in demand by customers, and an evolving online seller category that is fuelling supply on portals. To ensure the equilibrium of demand and supply, it is essential for e-commerce portals to focus on developing an inviting platform for online sellers in India. Sellers are also increasingly discerning when it comes to reaching their customer and meeting business needs, noted Dolly Jha, Executive Director, Nielsen India. Considering the juncture at which the category is, it is now very critical for e-tailers to understand push and pull factors that make sellers pick one website over the other. This pioneering study that measures brand health will also help understand the impact of marketing activities, she added.

A high level of familiarity, along with in-depth knowledge of an e-commerce website, is the most important factor that drives brand equity. Other key factors that impact brand equity are certain perception of the e-tailers  They help the sellers stay relevant and ahead of competition, Provide new market opportunity and Help minimise costs to reach out to more customers.

At a micro level other important attributes include potential of reaching out to customers from the same locality, ensuring publicity for the shop, and those websites used by peers and competition. Helping sellers save on in-store and inventory management, as well as a platform that would be most profitable to sell products on are critical when looking for new opportunities and markets. The ability of reaching out to a pan-India customer base, savings on logistics and requiring minimal investment are other considerations sellers look for while choosing e-tailers.

The sellers polled indicated that Amazon (1st), Flipkart (2nd) and Snapdeal (3rd) have the highest brand equity amongst e-tailing websites. Familiarity, which had come up as the top driver for building equity in the category, is demonstrated by top of mind recall. The top three players among the first brand spontaneously recalled were Amazon (25 per cent), Flipkart (21 per cent) and Snapdeal (20 per cent). In terms of overall awareness, Amazon (86 per cent), Flipkart (82 per cent), and Snapdeal (75 per cent) were leading among the others. Intent to sell on the e-tailer is also an important parameter to demonstrate familiarity, where the leading brands were Flipkart (58 per cent) and Amazon (55 per cent).

This study outlines the need gaps in the ecosystem, and opens avenues for e-commerce platforms to support sellers. E-tailers can play a big role in helping sellers develop their category and build businesses  thus also becoming a preferred brand for sellers, said Jha.

Nielsens E-Commerce Sellers Study is based on face to face surveys conducted with Internet-connected owners/ key decision makers of multi-brand/ unbranded businesses in 16 cities  Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Lucknow, Jaipur, Rajkot, Indore, Nagpur, Coimbatore, Kochi and Patna  to understand their inclination and experience of selling their products on the Internet.

The sample of 1,184 businesses in either Fashion, Apparel, Consumer Electronics, Household Products, Groceries/ Gourmet, or Automotive Parts businesses were split between those currently selling online and those intending to sell online in the next six months. By surveying evenly across businesses with annual turnover of under Rs 1 crore per annum (50 per cent) and above Rs 1 crore (50 per cent) between March-April 2016, the study outlines the current seller mindset and landscape towards e-retail. Nielsen uses Winning Brands as the brand health measurement framework. Winning Brands is a holistic brand health management tool which integrates multiple data sources to measure brand equity and health, identify threats and opportunities and provide actionable insights and foresight.
Glenfiddich, the worlds most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, has chosen Thinkstr and PPR South Asia as its agency partners in India. Thinksr will handle the creative mandate along with PPR South Asia that will manage the communications campaigns for Glenfiddich.



Commenting on the appointment, Shweta Jain, Head of Marketing at William Grant & Sons, said, Its exciting times for us as we expand our India footprint and WGS India is very excited to have Thinkstr and PPR on board as our communication partners. They would lead our maverick approach to bring Glenfiddichs global positioning to life in the Indian Subcontinent; Thinkstr as our creative development agency for a through the line brand activation led by digital. PPR South Asia, would develop integrated communications, real time content and manage the media relations on behalf of the brand.



Glenfiddich has always been at the forefront of innovation in the whisky industry and is recognized as the worlds most awarded single malt. It is a brand that has challenged the norm by taking single malt beyond Scotlands borders to create the premium single malt category as it is known today.
YU, the new age technology brand and fully-owned subsidiary of Micromax, has announced three senior level appointments, strengthening its core team responsible for future expansion and growth. The company has appointed Bharat Singh Malik as Vice President of Service, Deepak Dahiya as Head of Sales - South and West regions, and Chandra Kishore as Head of Sales - North and East regions. The move is aimed at building a robust offline sales network and increasing its focus on customer service.

Commenting on the high profile appointments, Shubhodip Pal, Chief Operating Officer, YU Televentures, said, In a very short span, the agility with which we moved, the products that we introduced, the way our users interacted with us and the feedback that we received from the developer community, has been defining and extraordinary. While in the first phase we focused on taking crucial steps towards consumer confidence and brand acceptability, in the second phase we will strengthening our national presence and growth potential to reach newer audience. This core team brings with them a wealth of experience, which is exceedingly valuable at this juncture of our growth story.

Bharat Singh Malik is a strategic leader and brings with him a wealth of experience in strategising and managing the service operations for some of the leading brands in the category, including Samsung and Nokia. This is Maliks second stint with the company, as he led the same function for Micromax, the parent brand of YU. His area of expertise lies in setting up service networks, contact centers, central support warehouses regional support warehouses. He will aggressively chart out a clear cut service and support strategyto help YU enhance its customer service and delight.

Commenting on his appointment, Malik said, It is a great opportunity for me to be working with YU, a young brand which is all set to make it big. I am proud to be a part of an organisation that is dedicated to maintaining a reputation built on quality, service, and uncompromising ethics.

Deepak Dahiya added here, Micromax has been a brand really close to my heart as I was one of the initial team members of the Micromax family. I went to the US to pursue an alternate career, however a call from Rahul and his vision for YU got me back. I am thrilled to take the brand to the next level and will certainly focus on two of the biggest smartphone regions in India  South and West.

Commenting on his new role, Chandra Kishore said, There is immense potential in regions and consumers are adopting technology like never before. In my new role at YU, I look forward to building growth opportunities for the brand.

Dahiya and Kishore are mandated with boosting the online sales while driving YUs physical footprint across the country. With over nine years of experience, Dahiya has been associated with the parent brand Micromax since 2007 in different roles. At YU, he will be a key resource to accentuate its successful journey in the West and South India markets. Kishore has been with the parent brand Micromax since 2008 and now in his new role he is all set to solely enhance YUs presence in some of the largest markets in North and Eastern India.




mid-day has always taken pride in being true to Mumbai; minutely covering different facets of the city like no one else. As mid-day turns 37 we renew our vows to the city and our readers by bringing out a mid-day anniversary bumper issue on the 24th of June. With a one of its kind interesting theme: Off the Grid- The Mumbai you cant search online we promise to be a unique read. Sandeep Khosla, CEO, mid-day infomedia ltd., said, Mumbai is one of the most vibrant city globally and putting together innovative, relevant, exclusive content to connect with dynamic Mumbai is something brand mid-day has been delivering for the past 37 years. This anniversary issue is an extension to our philosophy of knowing Mumbai better than anyone, reinforcing our stance of being important to the Mumbaikar even in this digital age

The Anniversary issue takes you to that side of Mumbai which even the internet has not captured, with attention-grabbing sections each having a distinctive readership value, some being:

Quiz: A 37-question fiendish Mumbai quiz whose answers you wont find online. Do you know your city well enough to crack it?

Celebrities: They share their birthday with mid-day.

Food: Mumbais 20 heavenly eats for under Rs. 37.

Words: 37 terms Mumbai gave India and the world with the story behind them.



mid-day has always been known for its tremendous appeal all through the day, and this anniversary shall only emphasize that, by even making it an interesting weekend read. The Group has also floated attractive rates for advertisers and its long standing associates.
Mihir Swarup Sharma, a critically acclaimed and award winning journalist, has joined Bloomberg News as a Bloomberg View columnist focusing on business and economy in India. Sharma brings over 18 years of journalistic experience and was trained as an economist and political scientist in New Delhi and Boston.

Prior to joining Bloomberg, he was a columnist at The Indian Express and Business Standard, and was conferred the Sriram Sanlam award in recognition for his work in financial journalism.

A member of the Harvard University Fellowship between 2000 and 2003, Sharma has contributed significantly as an economist to several universities, including his alma mater Harvard University, Institute of International Economics and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In 2015, Sharma published a book, Restart: The Last Chance for the Indian Economy. It was awarded the Tata LitLive Best Business Book of the Year and was longlisted for the Financial TimesMcKinsey Business Book of the Year.
Tata Sky, the pioneer of innovative services in the DTH industry, has launched an educational service, Tata Sky Classroom, in association with Tata ClassEdge (a leading provider of technology based education solutions to schools). An interactive service, Tata Sky Classroom aims to take education to a whole new paradigm by making concept learning in Maths and Science interestingly easy from within the comfort of ones home.

This interactive service will be available to all subscribers, and is intended to benefit children from Classes V to VIII with lessons mapped to their syllabus. It will assist in tutoring young viewers in an engaging manner with animated video content providing fundamental understanding of core concepts in Science and Maths subjects.

At the launch, Tata Skys Chief Commercial Officer Ms. Pallavi Puri said, Tata Sky Classroom will help children in understanding core concepts which are really the key building blocks for future learning as we see this as a clear need gap. The service is aligned with children's school syllabus and covers over 500 topics, delivered in an interesting and interactive format.



She further added, With the objective to provide the best-in-class educative experience to kids, Tata ClassEdge with their expertise in the field was the perfect fit. Some of the best schools in India are currently using multimedia solutions from Tata ClassEdge to augment classroom learning. We plan to now make these accessible to our subscribers at an affordable price.



Providing an insight on the future of multimedia education, Mr. Rajesh Khandagale, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata ClassEdge said, We are excited to partner with Tata Sky and make available our innovative learning content to children in the comfort and convenience of their homes. Tata Sky Classroom will enable learning of the core concepts of Science & Maths in an engaging manner so that a child understands the fundamental principles and is able to access this anytime of the day. This partnership will further support our vision of educating 10 million students annually by 2025.

Sharing their experience about use of Tata ClassEdge, Dr. Nicholas Correa, Principal and Executive Director, New Horizon Public School, Mumbai added, We are glad to know that the content created by Tata ClassEdge will now be available on Tata Sky Classroom. Students enjoy interactive learning and grasp the core concepts easily.



Available at Rs. 99/- a month, Tata Sky Classroom brings to life concepts taught in school through videos run on a systematic schedule, multiple choice questions, learning games and even mock tests. The year-round schedule for each Class will encompass the syllabus as per the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research & Training).
Hanscom historian captures share of Air Force-level award

Base historian Randy Bergeron has earned a share of the Dennis F. Casey Award for Excellence in Periodic History in the Albert S. Simpson Category for co-authoring the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's periodic history last year.



Bergeron was recognized for superior historical services in writing the AFLCMC periodic history along with Dr. Henry Narducci, the center's historian, who works at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.



"Winning the award has extra special meaning because the award is named after Dr. Dennis Casey, who was my instructor while attending the Unit Historian Development Course at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in 1984," said Bergeron, who has worked at Hanscom AFB since 2013.



Hanscom's share included unit history on the Battle Management and Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks Directorates, as well as the 66th Air Base Group and other Hanscom AFB activities.



The award is part of the U.S. Air Force History and Museums Program Awards, and winners were announced by the Air Force History Office in April. The AFLCMC award was in the periodic history category named in honor of Albert S. Simpson, who was the first director of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.



As the installation historian, Bergeron is responsible for documenting and preserving the base's history and the history of other AFLCMC organizations that reside on Hanscom AFB. He also prepares special studies and answers historical queries.



As part of his responsibilities, Bergeron is required each year to produce a narrative report detailing the major programs and operations at the base.



"This award identifies those historians who submitted a periodic history that exceeded standards," Bergeron said. "While the award is given to the authors, credit should also be given to those units that submit information to unit historians to write this history."



The Air Force History and Museums program is responsible for preserving Air Force history. The program is comprised of historians and archivists, writers and editors, national and base museums, and research centers as well as command, base and unit history offices.



Bergeron is a retired master sergeant who spent all but three years of his 23-year active-duty career as a historian. He has served as a civilian in the career field since leaving active duty in 2004.



He is a five-time winner of Air Force-level awards and two-time winner at the major command-level in a variety of categories. He also twice earned special recognition awards for best studies while deployed.



"This is the perfect job for me. I love to research and write and this job allows me to do that," he said. "The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Hanscom is doing wonderful things every day, and I'm able to preserve those historical accomplishments in the documents I author."
A veteran of multiple overseas deployments who also overcame a series of personal struggles has joined the resiliency training cadre of the Air Force Reserve Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program.

Lt. Col. Jenni Pfafman, a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot with the 940th Air Refueling Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California, made her teaching debut at a Yellow Ribbon event in Texas in May.

Yellow Ribbon promotes the well-being of reservists and their loved ones by connecting them with resources before and after deployments through a series of training sessions around the country. It began in 2008 following a congressional mandate for the Department of Defense to assist reservists and National Guard members in maintaining resiliency as they transition between their military and civilian roles.

Before teaching in Texas, Pfafman received formal training in resiliency to add a more scientific approach to her instruction, allowing her to mix cognitive therapy with personal anecdotes. She said she jumped at the chance to take an in-depth course on improving resiliency as she was enthusiastic to help others.

"There are life skills, like resiliency, that come more naturally to some more than others," she said. "But until I took the course, it didn't occur to me that these are transferrable skills that are teachable."

Yellow Ribbon participants in Texas May 20-22 heard Pfafmans lessons on learning mindfulness and other coping skills to keep a cool head in tense situations, whether during their daily routines at home or on a deployment.

Lt. Col. Kathleen Kent, 932nd Aeromedical Squadron commander at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, participated in the training, including Pfafmans instruction, with her family members.

"(They) felt more a part of my upcoming deployment because of the chance to obtain information firsthand than they had previously," she said.

Maj. Laura Haver, chief of the Air Force Reserves Psychological Health Advocacy Program, commended Pfafmans calm, matter-of-fact demeanor and way of relating to her audience members.

In the past few years the Air Force Reserve and other military branches have adopted resiliency techniques developed from the University of Pennsylvania.

"We can all use balance your thinking techniques to lead healthier, happier and more productive lives," Pfafman said. Id be happy if attendees could remember even one thing from my talks that could help them deal with a difficult situation or improve their lives."

The tips she offered to her Texas class participants consisted of a simple, analytical process: Get more information about a situation, check if you're using a double standard or other emotion-based illogical thinking called cognitive traps and, when in doubt, get a friends opinion or talk directly to those involved in the situation.

"The goal is to perceive a situation accurately and take action based on evidence, not using excessive emotions," she said. "This ensures our actions are more productive."

Examining a situation's evidence and trying to stay calm before jumping to conclusions may have been the most helpful takeaway for the group, participants said.

"There's lots of ways to miscommunicate or misunderstand during our interactions with people, especially over a long-distance deployment," Pfafman said. "We can then fall into patterns of thought that can lead us down a negative road where we do or say something we later regret."

Some in her classes said the logic and analytical foundation of them could keep them more balanced in the future. Kent and her husband, Mike, agreed they sometimes fall into negative cycles with each other and their three children.

Pfafman said its tough to break a habit, and that correcting overreactions or illogical thinking takes self-control and practice. The Kents said it will take work learning to turn around automatic responses that might damage an already tense situation, but they will do it.

"All the information we learned can all be tied together to create a more positive atmosphere with each person being more aware of their words and actions," said Kent.

Haver agreed that self-awareness is the key to not repeating the negative cycles and suggested also keeping in mind not becoming so wrapped up in your own thoughts and feelings that you don't ignore how you can help others. She and Pfafman said they hope these simple tips can keep Yellow Ribbon families headed in the right direction for keeping life in balance.

Each year, Yellow Ribbon trains 7,000 Air Force reservists and those closest to them about education benefits, health care and retirement information through the program.
Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais, Founder and Chairman of Quantum Global Group.

Investment firm focusing on Africa, Quantum Global Group recently announced expansion plans across the Middle East and Africa region.

The firm will establish offices in key markets to increase investor access to the vast development potential through funds registered in Mauritius.

The funds are setup to target high growth industry sectors in Africa that include agribusiness, hospitality, timber and mining, healthcare and mezzanine investments.

As part of the expansion plan, Quantum Global is said to have begun the legal registration process to open a representative office in Dubai to offer financial advisory services to Asian and Middle East investors looking to tap into Africas development potential.

Quantum Global also announced the planned opening of strategic offices in other countries such as Nigeria, Angola, Kenya and Mozambique.

The firm will broaden the scope of its investment services in these markets by offering financial advisory services, actively sourcing deals and managing the local private equity investments.

Earlier this month, QG Africa Hotel LP acquired the 244-room InterContinental Hotel Lusaka in Zambia from Kingdom Hotel Investments for a gross consideration of USD $35.9 million.

QG Africa Hotel LP is a USD $500 million Mauritius-based fund by QG Investments Africa Management Ltd of Quantum Global that aims to capitalize on the emerging opportunities in the hospitality sector.

As a long-term direct equity investor in hotel projects across sub-Saharan Africa, they are targeting real estate and real estate-related investments in midscale to upscale business hotels.

Commenting on the Groups expansion plans, Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais, Founder and Chairman of the Advisory Board, said:

With Africa offering enormous development potential, global investors including Asian and Middle Eastern, are increasingly looking to capitalize on investment opportunities in the region in a low risk environment that Mauritius has to offer.

Building on Quantum Globals African heritage, we can really bring considerable investments into the region.

We are therefore extremely thrilled about expanding our presence across Africa and the Middle East.

Focused on high-growth sectors on the African continent, Quantum Globals Mauritius registered portfolio comprises of a mezzanine fund and dedicated private equity funds in the infrastructure, hospitality, agriculture, healthcare, timber, and mining sectors.
A month after conducting a havan for Donald Trumps victory in the United States presidential elections, rarely known right-wing group Hindu Sena organised a birthday bash for him at Delhis Jantar Mantar. The celebrations included a seven-kg birthday cake, balloons, Trumps poster brandishing a gun and some children playing the birthday song on guitars.

Sena chief Vishnu Gupta told that Mr. Trump brandishing a gun would strike fear in the hearts of the ISI and Islamic terrorists. It will send across the message that they still have a few months to reform themselves before Mr. Trump becomes president of United States.

The crazy Gupta, put on a birthday cap on his head, cut the three layered colourful cake before offering a piece of it to Trumps poster. His supporters were cheering him.

A self-confessed admirer of Trump, Gupta has been using his name to remain in news ever since the Delhi Police threatened to extern him from the city for his frequent indulgence in mischief. Moreover, the media too is giving undue coverage to such issues. Whats Guptas intention behind these stunts, no one knows. However, he might be unaware that this Trump equally hates Indians also. The celebrations termed as desperate publicity stunt by social media sites users.

Donald Trump, the controversial Republican presidential candidate, once again blamed India for taking away jobs from Americans, pledging to bring them back if elected president even as the Trump mania appeared to have picked up in the US ahead of Super Tuesday showdown. I hope these Hindu Sena publicity mongers could see this.

The 69-year-old real estate tycoon who became a politician only last summer has been drawing thousands of crowd across the country, hoped to seal the deal.

Super Tuesday refers to one or more Tuesdays early in a presidential primary season when the highest number of states holds primary elections.

Addressing a crowd of roughly 5,000 people, a big by US primary election standard  inside the hanger of a local airport in Tennessee, Trump sold the dream of making America great again by promising to bring back jobs from countries like India, China, Japan and Mexico, building the wall on US-Mexico border, knocking the hell out ISIS, and repealing and replacing Obama care.

Every promise of his drew a thunderous applause with people cheering USA, USA and Trump, Trump. People lapped on to every word he said from the makeshift stage with his Trump plane in the background.

Trump had earlier added India to the list of countries that he believes is taking away jobs from the US. Trump has been regularly singling out China, Japan and Mexico and occasionally Vietnam for taking away American jobs.

They are taking our jobs. China is taking our jobs. Japan is taking our jobs. India is taking our jobs. It is not going to happen anymore, folks! Trump told to thunderous applause from the audience.

Trump and Modi both are known for their staunch communal approach and silent agenda, as both want their countries Muslim free. Here Right wing organisations always portrayed Muslims and Islam as threat to India, in a same way Trump portrayed them already a global threat.

With Modi Sarkar coming to power in the centre (May 2014), the picture of the country has changed drastically for the worse. On one hand, nation is witnessing the increasing unrestricted control of Corporate on our economy and on the other the sectarian divides are on the rise. This government had come to power standing on two pillars; one was the corporate world and other the solid support of RSS. Modi promised Achche din and danga mukt bharat (violence free society). The things have been totally in the opposite direction to the promises. During the first year of Modi Sarkar, the hate speeches went up to horrendous limits. One recalls that even before Modi Sarkar assumed the seat of power the divisive activities of BJP associates in the form of propaganda of love jihad and Ghar Wapsi were on, and they continued without any respite. Soon after this Government came to power; in Pune; Mohsin Sheikh, a person working in IT was hacked to death by activists of Hindu Jagran Sena. The attack on Churches was very glaring and the process which was dominant in Delhi and Haryana was also witnessed in places like Panvel near Mumbai, Agra in UP amongst other places. Some recent examples are Mathrua and Kairana. The hate saga is their political agenda and its never going to stop.

Its time to remain mature about the ongoing political developments. The craze of pampering Donald Trump will be hardly of any use to our country.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2016  Wheat breeders around the world now have access to the whole genome assembly for bread wheat, courtesy of the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium.

The IWGSC announced the production of the genome assembly in January. It now says it has completed quality control and is making the resource available through its wheat sequence repository in France.

Scientists will be able to download the assembly to accelerate crop improvement programs and wheat genomics research. IWGSC says the data set will facilitate the identification of genes associated with important agricultural traits such as yield increase, stress response, and

disease resistance and, ultimately, will make possible the production of improved wheat varieties for farmers.

The IWGSC policy has always been to make all data publicly available as soon as they have passed the quality checks, IWGSC Executive Director Kellye Eversole said in a release. By doing so, the scientific community can start exploiting the data now while the consortium progresses towards a gold standard reference sequence, anticipated to be released in 2017.

Steve Joehl, director of research and technology with the National Association of Wheat Growers, called the release a very big deal. He noted that wheat is the last of the major world crops to have its gene sequenced.

Now, with this information, wheat breeders are on par with corn soy, cotton and others crops, he said. The data will allow scientists to more effectively select areas of research, cutting breeding time virtually in half. Joehl said the data set would be especially helpful for researchers using the new gene editing techniques.

Theyll be able to more easily fix a gene thats not doing what its supposed to do, or silence a gene thats doing something its not supposed to do, Joehl said in a telephone interview.

IWGSC says that since the January announcement, its project team has been fine-tuning the data so that the genome assembly released to the scientific community is of the highest quality possible. It says the resource released today  based on Illumina sequencing data assembled with

NRGenes DeNovoMAGICTM software  accurately represents more than 90 percent of the highly complex bread wheat genome, contains over 97 percent of known genes, and assigns the data to the 21 wheat chromosomes.

The consortium says the data release represents the IWGSCs continued effort to produce a gold standard reference sequence  the complete map of the entire genome that precisely positions all genes and other genomic structures along the 21 wheat chromosomes. The wheat genome is large  five times that of the human genome  and complex, with three sets of seven chromosomes.

As is customary in the scientific community, the dataset is being made available for breeding and research under the Toronto statement, which outlines rules for prepublication data sharing, under which the IWGSC reserves the right to publish the first analyses of the data, which includes descriptions of whole chromosome or genome-level analyses of genes, gene families, repetitive elements, and comparisons with other organisms. Detailed information on how to access the data is available on the IWGSC website.

Over the coming months, the IWGSC says its project team will continue its work towards completing a high quality, ordered sequence of the wheat genome that includes annotating and identifying the precise locations of genes, regulatory elements, and markers along the chromosomes, thereby providing invaluable tools for wheat breeders. The final result will integrate all genomic resources produced under the umbrella of the IWGSC over the last decade, including individual physical and genetic maps.

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Wheat is the staple food for more than a third of the global human population and accounts for 20 percent of all calories consumed in the world.

As the global population grows, so too does its dependence on wheat. To meet future demands of a projected world population of 9.6 billion by 2050 (up from an estimated 7.3 million now), wheat productivity needs to increase by 1.6 percent each year, IWGSC says. In order to preserve biodiversity, water, and nutrient resources, the majority of this increase has to be achieved via crop and trait improvement on land currently cultivated rather than committing new land to cultivation. As for other major crops, a well annotated reference genome sequence will be an invaluable resource towards this goal by providing the detailed maps of genes and gene-networks that can be improved through breeding.

Funding for the project was provided by several institutions in Europe, Canada and the U.S., including Kansas State University through the U.S. National Science Foundation Plant Genome Research Program and the Kansas Wheat Commission.

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Two more airport operators have signed a deal to promote transport of temperature-sensitive pharma products between Europe and Asia at the Air Cargo China 2016 exhibition and conference.

Following yesterdays deal between Swiss WorldCargo, Cargologic and SATS for a temperature-controlled, quality corridor between Singapore and Zurich, Luxembourg Airport operator lux-Airport and Eastern Air Logistics (EAL), one of the largest air cargo terminal operators at Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong Airport, agreed on June 15 to promote similar traffic between their respective cities.

A new memorandum of understanding will promote the transportation of time- and temperature-sensitive medicinal products for human use, in accordance with the European Union and World Health Organization Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines.

EAL and lux-Airport, with the support of their local partners, will exercise their best efforts to maintain a fully GDP-secured end-to-end trade lane focused on the transportation of healthcare products between Luxembourg and Shanghai and ensure the quality and integrity of products on the ground and in the air.

They will also educate businesses of the value of GDP-certified partners and verify that all participants in the transport chain monitor performance indicators and maintain a quality system.

Johan Vanneste, chief executive of lux-Airport, said it was the gateways second such agreement, commenting that he had noticed that some other airports are now copying us.

He added: I am convinced this is a very interesting and unique development for shippers of valuable pharma shipments, and that it will stimulate traffic between Shanghai, the worlds third largest cargo airport, and Luxembourg.

Jin Xu, vice president of EAL, said it was a significant step in the operators strategy to build a global pharma hub and spoke system that embraces all key world markets. By establishing such a fully GDP secured end-to-end trade lane for pharma and healthcare shipments, we shall stand together to provide more comprehensive, professional and reliable services to all our clients in this high-value market.

Air Cargo News will be hosting its annual Life Sciences and Pharmaceutical conference in London on November 22 and 23, click here for more information.

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June 15, 2016

Reactions are mixed to the June 3 summit in Paris to discuss Frances Middle East peace initiative  a meeting that ended with a call for yet another meeting.

Some last-minute gatherings regarding Egypts role in the peace process preceded the June 3 meeting.

On May 23, Cairo received Aviva Raz-Shechter, the director of the Middle East Department at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, leading a delegation from Tel Aviv. During the two-day visit, Raz-Shechter visited a number of senior officials, but no details were made public.

On May 28, the Arab League held an emergency meeting to discuss developments in the Palestinian cause. At that time, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry expressed support for the upcoming Paris conference, saying Egypt was ready to pave the way for Palestinians to activate an Arab peace initiative with the help of international players.

Israelis and Palestinians both appear to endorse Egypts participation in the peace process, but to varying degrees and with different goals. Egypt accepts Frances approach of involving international participation in the process, an idea the Palestinian Authority (PA) backs. Israel, on the other hand, prefers direct negotiations that would involve Egypt perhaps smoothing relations between Israel and other Arab states.

During his speech at the Arab League meeting, league Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi stressed that Arabs will not support any amendments to the Arab Peace Initiative approved by the league in Beirut in 2002. That initiative called for Arab states to recognize Israel in return for establishing a Palestinian state according to pre-1967 borders. Arabi denounced what he said were Israeli attempts to manipulate the order of priorities, conditions and obligations set by the initiative.

However, Tareq Fahmy, head of the Israeli studies unit at the National Center for Middle East Studies, expects that with Ahmed Aboul-Gheit taking over July 1 as the new Arab League secretary-general, some Israeli amendments to the Arab Peace Initiative will be allowed. Aboul-Gheit is considered to be more of a diplomat than Arabi.

In a phone interview with Al-Monitor, Fahmy said that French efforts to hold an international peace conference were a failure and that Israel prefers to negotiate with Palestinians through Egypt to expand talks with Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia.

Also, Fahmy asserted Israel does not want to work under the eyes of the international community, whose members would likely stress that Israel has to be more committed to reaching a solution with the Palestinians. Instead, Israel prefers bilateral negotiations, during which it can gain more time and more settlements, he said.

As for Egypts motivations, Fahmy said the visits between Israel and Egypt are simply part of Cairos bid to return the Palestinian cause to the international level.

Hazem Abu Shanab, a member of Fatahs Revolutionary Council, told Al-Monitor by phone that the PA is seeking a political process guaranteed by the international community.

Abu Shanab made scathing comments against the Israeli government, which he described as extremist to the greatest extent. He said Israel rejects the idea of peace altogether.

Although international dignitaries representing the United Nations, the United States, Russia, the European Union and others attended the June 3 Paris summit, Israeli and Palestinian representatives were not invited.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry criticized the meeting, saying it supported Palestinian stances rather than the peace process. Still, Israel does say it supports Egypts role.

After the Paris meeting ended, Ofir Gendelman, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Arab media spokesman, wrote that day on Facebook that Israel welcomes Egypts involvement, which he described as the correct path toward encouraging Palestinians to return to the negotiating table.

Netanyahu wrote June 5 on Twitter that should peace be achieved, it would be through direct negotiations, considering that international dictations undermine the peace process.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at the June 3 conference that the obstacles to peace include terrorism, the ongoing settlement project and the division between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. He called on Israel to stop expanding and legalizing settlements and demolishing Palestinian houses.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated that his country will continue to adhere to the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, stressing that he will not accept any condition Israel might try to impose on the ground in Jerusalem.

Ismail Haniyeh, deputy head of Hamas political bureau, said June 5 at a public appearance in Jerusalem that he does not welcome any initiatives pertaining to nationalization or internationalization, and that he considers the French initiative to be nothing but a new illusion.

Egyptian intelligence met June 7 with a delegation from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) for the first time in three years. According to Abu Ali Hassan, a member of the PFLP political bureau, Egypt has been open to all Palestinian factions to try to achieve reconciliation.

In a phone interview with Al-Monitor, Hassan said the talks focused on the Palestinian reconciliation, PFLPs stance on the French efforts, the opening of the Fatah crossing and the possibility of convening the Palestinian National Council.

The PFLP agrees with Hamas in its rejection of the French efforts. Concerning the Palestinian reconciliation, the PFLP calls for a comprehensive reconciliation to include Gaza as part of the anticipated Palestinian state.

Hassan added that Egyptian intelligence has met with the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Front, and that Egyptian intelligence also previously met with Fatah and will meet with Hamas.

He welcomed the relations with Egypt, emphasizing that the PFLP is strongly convinced of the paramount importance of Egypts leading role.

Hassan Shahin, a Palestinian writer and journalist, presented a different point of view. He said any talks held with Cairo would be to no avail, as Israel manages to impose its conditions in light of the weakness of Arab governments.
June 15, 2016

TEHRAN, Iran  On June 10, Iran hosted the defense ministers of Russia and Syria at its own Defense Ministry. The stated aim was to exchange views and discuss the war on terror. This time, unlike previous such gatherings, it was Iran and not Russia that formed the political axis of the discussions. During the talks in Tehran, the three defense ministers confirmed their respective governments determination to continue military operations until terrorism is rooted out, especially in Syria.

The Iranian defense minister, Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan, expressed Tehrans determination to continue to provide military aid to the Syrian government. At the same time, he noted Irans concern regarding the possibility of the Islamic State gaining access to nuclear weapons. He also commented on the temporary cease-fires in Syria, especially in Aleppo, saying, We agree to a guaranteed cease-fire that does not lead to terrorists building up their powers. Dehghan was referring to a May 7 attack in which members of the anti-Assad coalition Jaish al-Fatah attacked the village of Khan Tuman south of Aleppo, killing 13 Iranian officers and taking several more captive. More importantly, members of the Iranian Green Berets, who were also present on this front, suffered serious loses and had to retreat from their positions. The May 7 incident was the biggest attack on Iranian forces in the country so far, and Iran suffered its greatest human losses since it became involved in the war in Syria.

After the Khan Tuman incident, many Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) strategists who had previously welcomed the Russian military presence in Syria began to express doubt and worry about Moscows objectives in fighting alongside Iranian, Lebanese and Syrian forces. These strategists and others in Iran who oppose Russias military presence in Syria now argue that Moscow has no reason to pay a heavy price for only Tehran to reach its objectives, and so Russia must be pursuing its own objectives in Syria without informing Iran.

As such, the media landscape in Iran, previously one of complete trust regarding the Russian presence in Syria, suddenly became dominated by silence and deep skepticism. Political and military officials also started having doubts regarding Russias objectives in Syria. The administration of President Hassan Rouhani knows full well that the Syrian war has been very costly to Irans economy, and is therefore not interested in maintaining the status quo. On the other hand, the most important strategic objective of Iran in Syria is keeping open the land-based arms-supply lines from Iran to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon that are at present almost completely cut off. So far, leaving aside the human and political expenses, Tehran is on the whole estimated to have since 2011 spent $9 billion to $15 billion in Syria alone to achieve this goal. This is while Iranian officials are not 100% confident about Russias objectives  and also Syrian President Bashar al-Assads determination to fight for his stated objectives.

Several important political and field developments over the past two months have made Iran more suspicious of its Russian strategic partner. These developments include a reported secret agreement between Russia and the United States regarding the Free Syrian Army, Russia accepting the cease-fires without informing Iran and Lebanon and a temporary halt in Russian airstrikes against the moderate Syria opposition and Jabhat al-Nusra.

Irans main objective in hosting the gathering was to convey to its Syrian and Russian partners that it is still the main player in the Syrian war and it is not willing to retreat because of Assad or Russian President Vladimir Putin until all its objectives have been realized.

Of note, it also appears that coordination between Tehran and Damascus has grown compared with that between Damascus and Moscow, especially as Assad seems to be growing suspicious of his Russian ally and its objectives in Syria. In a message to his Russian counterpart, Assad recently emphasized, We will not be satisfied with anything less than complete victory in Aleppo.

Although Moscow views its interactions with the United States from a longer strategic perspective rather than focusing on tactical gains, it realizes that it cannot bring about the endgame in Syria without collaborating with Tehran and Damascus. This is why Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu traveled to Tehran. According to Iranian sources who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Shoigu has expressed regret over the Khan Tuman incident and also about Iran not being informed regarding the cease-fire in Aleppo. Furthermore, the Russian official emphasized that Moscow is committed to collaborating with Tehran on all political and military issues.

Although this new reported Russian pledge can at present meet the tactical objectives of Iran and Hezbollah, it cannot bridge the strategic gap between Russias military objectives and those of Iran when it comes to the Syrian war. The divergence between Tehran and Moscows geostrategic objectives in Syria, considering the price that each side needs to pay, is too wide for them to be able to reach a comprehensive and long-term agreement on collaboration. Moscows biggest objective is to maintain a dependent government in Damascus and to keep access to port cities in the eastern Mediterranean for its naval fleet. Iran needs Syria and access to its southern regions to maintain its support for Lebanese Hezbollah. It is natural that if Russia achieves its goals, it would see no reason to maintain the status quo, and this is exactly what has concerned Iran ever since this game began.

Thus, it can be argued that Tehran has no choice but to rely on short-term tactical collaboration with its Russian ally in Syria. In the long term, however, it will be forced to either enter the Syrian war in full force or abandon its goals in Syria to some extent; this is now fueling the rise of a debate on which strategy is best between the Iranian factions for and against military intervention in Syria.
June 15, 2016

These are the final days of Khaled Meshaals leadership of the Hamas political bureau. Meshaals influence in the movement has been declining ever since he bet on the wrong horse and moved from Damascus to Qatar, where he did not find the support he had hoped for. Now his downfall is apparently about to be official and final.

The Meshaal era in the Hamas movement is coming to an end with a whimper. The London-based Al Wattan newspaper reported June 13 that the movements leader informed his associates in Qatar, where he has been living since leaving Syria and falling out with Iran, that he had decided not to run in the year-end elections for leadership of the political bureau and Hamas' decision-making body, the Shura Council.

About a year before Hamas' last internal elections in April 2013, Meshaal had considered stepping down and even announced at one point that he wouldn't run. He feared that Hamas' military wing in Gaza, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, would torpedo his campaign. But after Israels November 2012 assassination of al-Qassam Brigades leader Ahmed Jabari and Israels Operation Pillar of Defense that followed, Meshaal came to Gaza and started rebuilding his status. He delivered a victory speech in the Square of the Unknown Soldier in Gaza City and announced that he would heed the call of the movement and continue to lead its political bureau.

This time, given his current standing in Qatar and the grim circumstances of Hamas, Meshaal understands its over. Even if, by some miracle, he manages to overcome the forces and currents arrayed against him in the deeply divided movement, theres no way he will be able to extricate Hamas from the quagmire in which it is sunk.

Mousa Abu Marzouk established the political bureau of Hamas with painstaking efforts in the early 1990s from his perch in the United States. When the FBI arrested Abu Marzouk in 1995 and proceedings were begun to extradite him to Israel, Meshaal, who was then residing in Amman, was entrusted with directing the political bureau. He continued to hold onto the job, which consisted mostly of fundraising for Hamas, even after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waived Abu Marzouks extradition to Israel.

Meshaals standing as the movements undisputed leader was cemented after he narrowly escaped a 1997 assassination attempt by the Mossad in Amman. To appease Jordans anger over the attempted assassination on its soil, Netanyahu was forced to release Hamas spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Yassins release from an Israeli jail was considered a major achievement and credited to Meshaal.

After the March 2004 assassination of Yassin and of his successor Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi a month later, Meshaal became the movements most senior figure. He decided to push forward dramatic moves that turned Hamas into a power-hungry political movement. His leadership from Damascus is credited with bringing the movement to power in the 2006 elections. Since then, however, he has made nothing but mistakes.

The leaders in Gaza complained that Meshaal, out of the range of Israels security agencies, adopted an overly militant policy that had already resulted in a catastrophe for Gaza. Senior Hamas figures Ghazi Hammad and Ahmed Yousef were reported to have traveled to Damascus specifically to tell Meshaal and other members of the political bureau to their faces that they were responsible for Gazas destruction in Israels Operation Cast Lead in December 2008.

But the main thrust of the criticism was and remains the contention that after Hamas' electoral victory and its establishment of a government to rule the Gaza Strip, there was no longer any reason to have a leadership in exile. The head of the political bureau found a comfortable safe haven in Qatar and lost his power base and influence in Gaza in the ensuing years. Though in the past Hamas had needed Meshaal to raise funds for the movement around the world, now not only had his fundraising capacity declined, he had become a burden. Meshaal fell out with Iran and became anathema to the regime in Tehran. As long as he continues to head up the Hamas political bureau theres no chance of improved ties with Iran, once one of the movements economic and military pillars.

Meshaal understands his position well. All signs suggest that the era of former Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh will soon begin. Anyone familiar with the political intrigues and power struggles within the movement knows Haniyeh is Meshaals natural successor. He has come a long way since the days when he was Yassins right-hand man. His opponents, among them Fatah party officials and senior Israeli intelligence officers, used to belittle Haniyeh and call him the washer of Ahmed Yassins bedpans.

Haniyeh is indeed not blessed with a particularly strong backbone, but is endowed with two important traits: charisma and pragmatism. His fiery speeches and relatively moderate political approach  which attracted supporters from outside Hamas, too  led him to the top of the Hamas ballot in the 2006 elections. Nonetheless, over the years Haniyeh learned that moderate and pragmatic stands would not take him far in a movement whose powerful military wing has the final say. He thus became increasingly aggressive and militant until fully aligning himself with the most radical of Hamas leaders.

The following story illustrates Haniyeh's duplicitous character and conduct: Haniyeh had taken refuge in the home of his friend Samir Masharawi, a Fatah leader in the Gaza Strip, in the 2004 Israeli helicopter gunship blitz against the Hamas leadership. Masharawi hid Haniyeh in his home, where he arrived disguised as a woman. During the June 2007 military coup, artillery shells were fired at that same house.

When the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades tried to wipe out his friend, Haniyeh did nothing and did not say a word to save him. Masharawi, who was considered a close associate and right-hand man of then-Fatah leader in Gaza Mohammed Dahlan, survived the shelling. But since then he has been telling everyone he knows that those perilous days are proof that Haniyeh is willing to sell out his principles and morality for his position, power and influence.

In the previous political department elections in 2013, Haniyeh beat Abu Marzouk and was named deputy head of the bureau. In the coming elections, Haniyeh is likely to be named its head. Presumably, even in this position, he will not become the strong man of Hamas and will keep dancing to the tune of the movements military wing.
June 15, 2016

The bomb that exploded June 12 at the BLOM Bank on Verdun Street in central Beirut did not cause major material damage and only slightly injured two people. Its political and security repercussions, however, will be major. The bomb exploded at the headquarters of one of Lebanon's leading banks, and it took place against a backdrop of heightened tensions between Hezbollah and Lebanese banking and financial authorities stemming from implementation of the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 (HIFPA), a US law calling for sanctions against anyone found to be financially supporting or doing business with Hezbollah, which the United States has designated a terrorist organization.

After the release of regulations for implementing HIFPA on April 15, the issue sparked conflict in Beirut. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah repeatedly referenced it in his speeches, assessing its consequences and warning Lebanese authorities about its repercussions. The Central Bank of Lebanon and the Association of Lebanese Banks took the position that Lebanon is obliged to apply HIFPA and cannot afford the risk of manipulation to skirt the law, under penalty of Lebanese banks facing US sanctions, which could lead to their closure.

Members of the banking sector and Hezbollah entered into direct dialogue on the issue. Throughout May, a Hezbollah delegation consisting of member of parliament Ali Fayyad and former member of parliament Amin Sherri held a series of meetings with Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and bank association representatives.

One of the participants in those meetings told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the consultations failed to produce positive, conclusive results, as the Hezbollah delegation adamantly claimed that Lebanese citizens banking rights are a sovereign matter and that Lebanon, as an independent state, cannot take these rights lightly or compromise them in this regard.

In addition, Hezbollah claimed to have documented information showing some Lebanese banks to be going beyond the measures required by the Americans and closing accounts belonging to people whose names were not included on a list issued by the Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as being covered by HIFPA. The banks were also said to be closing accounts without alerting the Central Bank, which is supposed to ensure that the provisions of HIFPA actually apply to targeted accounts.

The source said that the Lebanese bank representatives told the Hezbollah delegation that whenever a financial-security situation might lead to Washington getting involved, the banks tend to apply the law in a strict manner to avoid unintentional dereliction. Previous experience  specifically with the Lebanese Canadian Bank, which was liquidated after accusations of money laundering involving individuals close to Hezbollah  has taught the Lebanese banks that strictness is a guarantee against inadvertent consequence when insufficient measures are taken.

The bank delegation claimed that its measures are in line with the OFAC list and the requirements of correspondent banks in the West. The Lebanese banks deal with one or several foreign correspondent banks and have a portion of their assets deposited there. This forces Lebanese banks to apply the protection measures taken by the foreign banks, including the HIFPA provisions, and makes them liable for the consequences of not doing so. This, according to the banks, explains the measures they are taking.

Amid this back and forth between Hezbollah and the banks, Salameh said in a June 8 interview with the CNBC network that 100 Hezbollah-related accounts had already been frozen. He added, We don't want illegal funds in our system. We don't want a few Lebanese to spoil the image of the country or the financial markets in Lebanon.

Salamehs statements were deemed critical of Hezbollahs position and its supporters. Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Loyalty to the Resistance, replied the same day in a statement, declaring, Targeting the resistance and its public through the banking sector is doomed to fail and will not achieve its objectives. It went on to say, The recent position of the Central Bank governor was ambiguous and suspicious, which shows that the monetary policy is not ruled by the national sovereignty controls. Therefore, we reject it altogether. Everyone should be aware that the resistances public as well as its educational and health institutions will resist any attempts to undermine them no matter who the parties behind these attempts are and how important they are.

The conflicting positions of the two sides thus went public, and 72 hours later a bomb exploded in a bank in the center of Beirut. Two theories immediately began circulating in the media and among Lebanese. According to Hezbollah opponents, the blast was a violent message from the Shiite organization to Lebanese banking, financing and governmental authorities to stop cooperating with United States in applying HIFPA. Meanwhile, friends of Hezbollah said the bombing had been carried out by a third party to implicate Hezbollah and incite people against it locally and abroad.

The circumstances surrounding the bombing can be assessed to the benefit of both theories. The blast took place on a Sunday, when banks are usually closed, and at 8 p.m., when the blast area would be devoid of passers-by due to the Ramadan iftar meal. The timing limited the potential damage and suggests that the blast was only meant to convey a message.

Hezbollah has remained silent about the incident, while political circles close to it have said the party is awaiting various reactions to the event before issuing a substantive reply. In any case, regardless of who was behind the blast, the episode will certainly have repercussions on Lebanons banking, financial, economic, political and security stability. In other words, it is a minor blast that will have major repercussions.
June 15, 2016

The pace of the attacks against Israelis during the Jerusalem intifada, which broke out in October 2015, has been increasing at times and decreasing at others. Up until early March, 620 attacks had been carried out in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Jerusalem, resulting in the death of 33 Israelis and 209 Palestinians.

The Tel Aviv attack June 8 was the most ruthless Palestinian armed attack against Israelis, targeting a shopping mall in Tel Aviv, a short walk from the headquarters of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Cousins Mohammad and Khaled Mahamra from the town of Yatta in Hebron governorate were able to pass through the security measures and the Israeli military checkpoints, and started shooting at people killing four Israelis and wounding six others.

On June 9, the Israeli government promptly decided to impose a series of collective punishments on the Palestinian residents of Yatta. Most importantly, Israel imposed a complete siege on the city and revoked the work permits of the perpetrators family as well as 83,000 permits from residents of Yatta and other Palestinian cities. The Israeli government had granted the Palestinians these permits allowing them to visit the West Bank and pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the month of Ramadan.

Othman Abu Sabha, Palestinian National Initiative leader and an influential figure in Yatta, told Al-Monitor, The Israeli measures imposed on Yatta include sand berms and military checkpoints blocking all entrances to the city and a siege that was not even imposed at the height of Al-Aqsa intifada in 2000. The fact that Israel is making the citys residents suffer this much expresses a retaliatory Israeli approach to punish the perpetrators hometown. The siege is still imposed and it has resulted in heavy economic losses for the city. Many plants, factories and shops are located in Yatta, and the siege impedes the import and export movement.

Also on June 9, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine said in separate statements that they believe the Tel Aviv operation to be a natural response to the Israeli crimes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They stressed that the Jerusalem intifada is still ongoing and will not be stopped by the Israeli arrests. For its part, Fatah considered the operation to be an individual response and spontaneous reaction to the use of violence adopted by Israel.

However, the Palestinian Authority (PA) expressed its rejection of operations affecting civilians from any party whatsoever and whatever the justifications, calling for not resorting to violence or any action that would increase tension.

On the same day, Israelis demanded the enactment of a law to move the perpetrators parents from the West Bank to Gaza and called on Israel to take radical action and security measures based on harsh retribution that would remain etched in the minds of the Palestinians.

Samira Halayqa, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council for Hamas in Hebron, told Al-Monitor, Israel is not waiting for pretexts to impose sanctions on the Palestinians, such as the recent Tel Aviv operation. The occupation is the main reason for the continuation of these violations against the Palestinians, before and after the [Tel Aviv] operation.

The Tel Aviv operation also sparked a debate among the Palestinians. Some thought it may contribute to turning the current intifada into armed operations that would be a prelude to the coming stage and that the resistance action must regain its central role. Others, however, considered that this operation would reignite a controversial debate whereby Palestinians targeting Israeli civilians may be used as a pretext by Israel, which claims that the Palestinians are engaging in violent acts and not in legitimate resistance.

A Palestinian minister told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, The Palestinian resistance is undisputedly a legitimate right. But the Tel Aviv operation came at the wrong time as it coincided with terrorist operations carried out around the world, most notably, the attack in Istanbul in early June that killed 11 Turks. This could give Israel the opportunity to claim that the Palestinian resistance is the same as terrorism that is rejected by the entire world.

The Tel Aviv operation took place only two days into the holy month of Ramadan. Before that and specifically in early May, Israel had warned about escalation in Palestinian attacks against Israelis and deployed more Israeli troops in the West Bank in anticipation of further operations.

According to preliminary Israeli estimates, the Tel Aviv operation was an individual attack carried out by two Palestinian cousins from the city of Yatta who are not backed by a specific Palestinian organization, even though they are known to be Hamas supporters. But even when Hamas itself gave the operation its blessing, it did not claim official responsibility for it.

Hani al-Masri, the director of the Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies - MASARAT, told Al-Monitor, The Tel Aviv operation confirms that Palestinian individual operations are increasing, which requires a research on their causes and motives instead of rushing to condemn or support them. One must also think carefully about the targeting of civilians in Israel, so the Palestinian resistance can be deliberate and not random. It should not target children and public places, and [resistance action] should go in line with the Palestinian cause and its moral superiority as there are 1.5 million Palestinians with Israeli citizenship and Jews who reject the Zionist project.

The Tel Aviv operation will not soon be forgotten, and repercussions continue to take their toll in light of the ongoing siege imposed on Yatta, while Israel continues to cooperate with the PAs security services when arresting Palestinians in the West Bank whom Israel suspects of planning armed attacks against it.
June 15, 2016

Since taking office in August 2013, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been the target of a relentless campaign by the country's conservative media. While the president has no control over the judiciary, which is responsible for the majority of newspaper closures in Iran, Rouhani can issue warnings and temporary suspensions through the Press Supervisory Board. According to the conservative Kayhan newspaper, the president has now taken the country's premier conservative newspaper to court over "numerous complaints."

Justice Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi is one of the complainants against the paper, according to the June 15 article in Kahyan. Pourmohammadi has reportedly accused the paper of "publishing lies to [cause] damage." Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor of Kayhan, appeared in court to defend the paper against the accusations. The editor of Kayhan is appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

One of the accusations against Kayhan is its reporting that the Rouhani administration had supported the moderate and Reformist "List of Hope" faction in the February parliamentary elections. The Rouhani administration said this was not the case, but Shariatmadari said Rouhani had met with this faction and his message for people there to vote "implicitly" supported the faction. Other Kayhan articles addressed in the complaints were about Iran's natural gas deals and economic problems in the country.

Shariatmadari has been the editor of Kayhan for over 20 years. His reported access to powerful institutions in the country and the wide dissemination of his paper to government buildings affords him access and clout very few conservative papers, let alone Reformist outlets, enjoy. The paper, which has faced these types of complaints before, views the move by the administration as a means to apply "extreme pressure" on it. Kayhan wrote that rather than taking it to court, the president should respond to the issues raised in the articles.

In a more surprising move, the Press Supervisory Board, which operates under the administration's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, suspended the conservative website Jahan News. The June 15 statement on the ministry's website did not give a reason for the suspension. Some media outlets speculated part of the reason for the suspension was that the site belongs to former conservative Iranian parliamentarian Alireza Zakani, who had opposed the nuclear deal in the previous parliament.

Rooz-e No website reported that the suspension was over two articles that recently appeared on Jahan. One article was a Jahan report claiming that European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini sent Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif a "confidential letter" stating that Iran's banking issues were its own problem and not related to the nuclear deal. Therefore, Mogherini wrote, according to Jahan, that none of the countries involved in the nuclear deal would take further steps regarding the issue. Iran's Foreign Ministry denied the letter.

The other Jahan article allegedly in question was one that reported that Iranian officials had met with a former Taliban leader in Iran and had agreed to combat the Islamic State on Iran's eastern border. Rooz-e No wrote that despite the fact that the article was later taken down, it renewed false accusations in US, Israeli and satellite media that Iran supports terrorism.

Under the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad administration, the Press Supervisory Board would target Reformist-minded media and refer violations of the country's media laws to the judiciary. While the Rouhani administration has a positive relationship with Reformist media, it has used the Press Supervisory Board to confront conservative media, which generally have more freedom and space to attack opponents than Reformist media.

Hussein Entezami, deputy minister of media affairs at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, said April 26 that suspension is the last tool it uses to confront media. However, Rouhani indicated June 15 that even moderate leaders have difficulty understanding the role of media. "The desire of the three branches of government from the media is that the hope and joy of society increases," the president said in a meeting with parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and judiciary head Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani.

In other news, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on June 15 confirmed that British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained April 3. The statement by the IRGC accused Nazanin of working to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nazanin works for a charitable organization and was visiting her parents with her 22-month-old daughter when arrested at the Imam Khomeini Airport in Tehran.
Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED

Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED's office in Birmingham on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015.

John Sherman, President and CEO of Birmingham's Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED.

Birmingham Coke bottler Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED is growing its Alabama presence as it continues a massive expansion.

The company has signed a letter of intent to acquire production facilities in Leroy, Robertson and Mobile, Alabama from Coca-Cola Consolidated. It will also exchange its territories in Spartanburg and Bluffton, South Carolina for territories in Florence, Alabama and Panama City, Florida.

"We are delighted to be a part of these anticipated transactions with Coca-Cola Consolidated and The Coca-Cola Company as they will provide for a more rational franchise footprint for both companies," John H. Sherman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Coca-Cola UNITED, said in a statement. "We have such admiration for Consolidated and their highly capable associates; many of whom we already know."

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transition is expected to finish in October 2017.

In 2014, Coca-Cola United started a massive expansion with acquiring the Oxford Coca-Cola Bottling Company's territories; followed by expansions in Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi. It plans to triple its business in about three years.

Since the expansion began, UNITED has transitioned 17 facilities and territories. The company named Sherman as its new CEO in April, replacing Claude Nielsen, who retired.
A familiar face is back in the kitchen at Birmingham's Bottega restaurant.

John Rolen has returned to the restaurant as chef de cuisine, a position he held for several years until he left Bottega about two and a half years ago to work as a chef for Whole Foods Market in Mountain Brook.

"He's been working at Whole Foods, doing part of the food planning for their menus," Bottega owner and executive chef Frank Stitt says. "It seems like a few people have been with us and then have gone with Whole Foods and then some of them have come back. So Whole Foods is a real progressive organization as far as the management and leadership, and I think he's really learned a lot being away from the Stitt family."

Rolen replaces Paul Yeck, who has left Bottega to work for the Fresh Hospitality restaurant group, whose properties include Little Donkey, Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe, Big Bad Breakfast, Saigon Noodle House and several others.

"Paul is an incredibly gifted and talented and creative chef, so, of course, we've really enjoyed him being a part of our team for the last two and a half years," Stitt says. "We will miss him, but we certainly wish him great success and happiness and well-being."

Rolen originally went to work at Bottega in 1998, after graduating from UAB with an art degree, and became the restaurant's chef de cuisine in 2000, according to his bio.

He brings with him a passion for, and knowledge of, Italian cooking that should complement Bottega's Italian-inspired menu, Stitt says.

"His grandmother and family have a rich tradition of Italian cooking, with an emphasis being on Sicily," Stitt says. "So he shares my love of regional Italian food.

"He and I are collaborating, working on the menu. We are continuing to run some of the dishes that we've had on the menu that have been big successes, like the squid ink spaghetti with crab meat and crisp bread crumbs and the tuna crudo with pickled mushrooms."

Yeck, who grew up in Oxford, Miss., and came to Bottega after working for chef Jose Andres in Washington, D.C., will be the company chef for the Fresh Hospitality group, and he will work closely with the group's FatBack Pig Project, which provides pastured-raised, heritage-breed pork for its restaurants.

"He is going to be working at our FatBack plant helping us develop product, and he is going to be working with all of our brands from a research and development standpoint to just help us get better and keep getting better at the new projects we do," Fresh Hospitality partner and co-founder Nick Pihakis says.

Among its projects, Fresh Hospitality recently opened a second location of Saigon Noodle House in Birmingham's Avondale neighborhood and has plans to open another Big Bad Breakfast in Homewood later this year.
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"You sully this place bringing a man here to torment him."

"Has it ever occurred to you that I do what I do for you, Leah?"

"At ease Sergeant!" She shucked her pretense of being an ordinary housewife. "What you're doing is for you, not me. I don't need it. I am dead, remember?"

The Cordoba Connection by C. Terry Cline

The Cordoba Connection, a story of religion, hate crimes, and the reasons behind them, is the last book written by the late C. Terry Cline. Soon after he finished the manuscript in 2011, he had a stroke and passed away. But Judith Richards, his wife and collaborator of 34 years, kept his work alive.

On Thursday, June 16, his spirit and words will be celebrated at the Page & Palette with the launch of his book on C. Terry Cline Day in Fairhope.

An intense writer, Cline wrote 10 novels and he finished a nonfiction story, The Return of Edgar Cayce, before he died. He also wrote a children's musical, Switchwitch. Richards says Cline always wanted to be different. He started penning stories for magazines when he was 17 and often wrote about animals and nature. He started a public relations business and taught a chimpanzee to bowl as part of his work for a company that manufactured bowling pins. They went on all of the major television shows of that time.

Richards met Cline in 1968, when he took live animals into schools to teach the anatomy and psychology of animal groups and hired her to give the feline lecture. Her first husband grew up in the circus and trained dogs, and she worked with him and learned how to train animals. "While we were giving the lectures, Terry said he was going to retire at 35 and do nothing but write until he had a successful novel. He was 37. He wrote three novels in three years and the third one sold," Richards said. "That was the beginning of his career as a novelist."

Cline's first novels were categorized as occult and did so well that publishers tried to lock him into that category, but he refused to be boxed in and switched and to suspense novels about criminals instead. His book Missing Persons, based on Ted Bundy, was one of the first novels about a serial killer. Bundy murdered at least 30 young women from seven states, escaped from a prison in Colorado, and was arrested in Pensacola before being sent to Tallahassee.

"The deputy sheriff in Tallahassee was a friend of ours and had to take Bundy every day from his cell," says Richards. "Our friend had tears in his eyes when he said, 'I know he has done the most terrible things, but I like him.'"

"Terry knew if he could capture that in a novel it would make a great story," says Richards. "He said if he hadn't found his way through writing, he could have been a criminal.".

The Cordoba Connection takes the reader inside the mind of a former Navy SEAL who kidnaps Muslim imams from mosques in the United States, and murders them to stop the spread of Islam and the teaching of Sharia law. The deaths are gruesome, but Cline also creates empathy for the killer. Raised by an abusive father, the death of his wife in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, sends the sergeant over the edge. The story is built on intense, fast-moving dialog that also educates about Islam, Christianity and Judaism.

"Terry's strength was plotting," says Richards. "He wanted you to learn something and feel something you didn't feel before. He didn't excuse or defend the criminal, but he showed two sides of the personality. People aren't all good or all bad."

It might seem incongruous that such a delightful personality would be fascinated

with death, but his was not a dark kind of fascination. It was more of a head-cocked-to-

the-side, isn't-that-interesting kind. Not cold, but curious; comfortable with the human

condition. "He's been talking about death for forty years," Judy often said. He turned his

face-to-face interviews with serial killer Ted Bundy into 1982's Missing Persons, a

brilliant psychological thriller. He put his perceptive, innovative stamp on the suspense

genre with works like Quarry, Reaper, and The Attorney Conspiracy.

"Sailing into the Ever-Ever: Remembering Terry Cline" by Suzanne Hudson and Joe Formichella, read at Cline's memorial service



The stories began when Cline was a child skipping school in Belle Glade, Florida. He loved learning, but was bored in class. "His mother sent him to school and he went in the front door and out the back," says Richards, who wrote Summer Lightning about Cline's childhood. He hopped on trains and played around labor camps during school. He swapped lunch for cigarettes, explored the Everglades with a backwoods naturalist and learned how to catch catfish with just his hands. And that was just in first grade.

Writing was the outlet for the boy who didn't like school, and telling the stories of his imagination became his career. "Writing was 24-hours-a-day and he didn't get away from it," says Richards. "Some of the best thoughts came when when he was in the shower or driving the car. We were always talking about plot, developing characters and editing. It was good to help him with what wasn't working on his story, but it was hard to tell him when his work was bad that day because I had to go to bed with him."

Cline encouraged Richards to write her own books, pushing her to be a better writer. "It wasn't competitive because each of us wrote a different kind of book," she says. "We already had a working relationship from working with the animals and understood patience and tolerance and how to work through things. Overall we got along extremely well but there were moments of shouting and 'What the hell do you know?'"

"I didn't start out wanting to be a writer and never would have taken anything out of the drawer if it hadn't been for him," she says. "It scares me to death to think of writing another novel without him." Richards' sold the movie rights to her last novel, Thelonius Rising.

"Plotting Murder" by Don Andrews. This is a painting of Cline and Richards at Julwin's restaurant. They went there every day to smoke a cigarette and talk about the stories they were writing.

Cline also gave himself to other writers. "Terry was generous sometimes to the detriment of what we were doing," says Richards. "Writers showed up at our house and got us to read their work. He sucked me into it too. It was a wonderful thing to do. He may not have had the answer to 'Why isn't this working?' or 'Why isn't this book selling?' but he inspired them to keep going."

"Terry made no bones about helping aspiring writers," says Fairhope writer Roger Bull. "He motivated us to write what we know and write honestly from the heart and don't be pretentious. He said to vomit words on the page, don't worry about the mess, you can clean it up later. When you get an idea, put it on paper right away."

The couple created their stories in the glassed-in porch on the front of their house in Fairhope. His desk and IBM Selectric typewriter was on one end and her desk and typewriter was at the other. Encyclopedias, yearbooks and boxes of books were scattered around the porch. "He had many books on birds and trees," she says. "Terry always said you had to do a ton of research for an ounce of material, then you had to figure out what not to use."

The book launch for The Cordoba Connection is Thursday, June 16 at 6:00 p.m. at Page & Palette in Fairhope.

Cline wrote The Cordoba Connection in 2010 and 2011. He had a stroke in November 2011, and died on May 21, 2013. Richards tried to send the book out before his death but there were no takers. "We didn't have an agent at that time and I tried to send out letters to literary agents, but his health became so bad, that I had to focus on him and the book sat there." River's Edge Media is releasing The Cordoba Connection and republishing his earlier books.

"Getting the book out now has given Terry back to me. But even better, it is extending his life and career," she says. "Publishing his books is giving him back to the people who loved him, and it is a chance for new readers to discover him for the first time."

The book launch for The Cordoba Connection is Thursday, June 16 at 6:00 p.m. at Page & Palette in Fairhope. Readers include JD Crowe, Skip Jones and Graham Timbes. There will also be music by Chris Clifton and Eric Erdman.
Birmingham religious leaders have organized a "Religious Memorial Observance for the Victims of the Orlando Massacre" tonight at Beloved Community Church, 131 41st St. South in Avondale.

"It's to give people a space to grieve and heal and share," said the Rev. Dave Barnhart, pastor of St. Junia United Methodist Church, one of the clergy involved. "It's a multi-faith prayer vigil. This is to provide ongoing pastoral care."

The prayer vigil and memorial observance begins at 8 p.m.

In this June 15, 2003 photo, The Key West 'Sea-to-Sea' Rainbow flag is stretched the entire length of Duval Street in Key West, Fla. during the island's annual Pridefest celebration. A section of the 1.25 mile long flag will be on display on Thursday, June 16, 2016, during President Barack Obama's visit to Orlando, Florida, in the wake of the shooting at the Pulse nightclub. (Bob O'Neal/The Key West Citizen via AP)

Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham has also announced a special program to commemorate the Orlando massacre as part of its Friday night Sabbath service this week.

"All of us were shocked and saddened by the massacre at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida on Shavuot morning, June 12," Rabbi Jonathan Miller wrote in a letter to the congregation. "Sunday evening, I visited the mosque at the Birmingham Islamic Center for evening prayers, and I was warmly and graciously received. One week earlier, I was included in a community worship service at the Covenant Community Church to celebrate Gay Pride Month. There too I was warmly and graciously received. We are suffering as a nation. Elements of our communities are afraid for their safety. As Jews who have often been targets of unfounded hatred and violence, we can empathize with every community which lives with a measure of fear and concern for their well-being."

The synagogue will focus on welcoming Muslims and members of the gay community at the Friday night service, Miller said.

"During our Friday evening Shabbat worship, we will be holding a memorial service for the victims of the Orlando Nightclub Massacre," he wrote. "Temple Emanu-El has extended a special invitation to the Muslim and LGBT communities to join us in worship. We will create an opportunity to pray together, remember the victims, and acknowledge the common humanity of all of God's children."

Religious organizations participating in tonight's event include: The Abbey, Baptist Church of the Covenant, Beloved Community Church, Birmingham Friends Meeting, Birmingham Progressive Christian Alliance, Birmingham Shambhala Meditation Center, Covenant Community Church Birmingham Center Point AL, Edgewood Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church (Birmingham, Alabama), Pilgrim Church, UCC, Saint Junia United Methodist Church, and Woodlawn UMC.

"I think it's important to have a religious response," said Jennifer Sanders, a lesbian who is a community minister and attends Beloved Community Church. "Religion is often so engaged in creating harm. We're lucky to have a number of progressive religious communities in Birmingham. Faith is such a big part of people's lives."

That is true for lesbians and gays too, Sanders said.

"There's a narrative that puts the LGBT community in one box and Christians in another," Sanders said. "That's not accurate. There is overlap."

Tonight's service will be a chance to mourn and create unity, Sanders said.

"It should be an opportunity for grief and for healing," she said. "I hope tonight offers people the opportunity to find a place where they can express their grief and a place where they can connect with their own healing. We are bringing together a range of faith traditions in a respectful atmosphere."
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Outside of DC Comics, which is currently relaunching of all of its main titles, there are -- strangely enough -- other publishers putting out books. Here's a look at a few of them.

CIVIL WAR II #1. Marvel. Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Art by David Marquez. / CIVIL WAR II: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1. Marvel. Written by Christos N. Gage. Art by Travel Foreman.

A handful of issues in and the "Civil War II" event is already looking like it's going to be better than its predecessor. Why? Well, as we see in "Civil War II" #1, the story is already more personal for Iron Man after the death of [name redacted, spoiler] during a mission led by Captain Marvel, who undertook said mission after she received intel from Ulysses, an Inhuman who has visions of future crimes and atrocities. So it's got a better emotional hook than the Iron Man/Captain America scrap, and the ideological question (re: thought crimes and the impossibility to predict the future with absolute certitude) is also more clearly defined -- the two plusses dovetail nicely toward the end of "Civil War II" #1 with Tony Stark storming off, swearing to prevent Captain Marvel and her squad from "playing God."

As far as "Civil War: Amazing Spider-Man" goes, it's not a bad companion book, with Spider-Man taking Ulysses under his wing (Spider web? Spider legs?) for a day. Some of the issue's humor is a bit forced and out of place (especially in comparison to the mothership's emotional heavy lifting), but the comparison between the future-seeing Inhuman and the "My spider-sense is tingling" Peter Parker is apt enough to carry a lot. It'll also be interesting to see if Spidey's interaction with Ulysses ultimately influences him to cast his lot with one side rather than the other.

Generalized Unique Emoticon Scientific Score:

Main series: :'-(, 5*, /:(

Spider-Man's book: ( o_o), :-), :-7

RENATO JONES: THE ONE PERCENT #2. Image. Written by Kaare Kyle Andrews. Art by Kaare Kyle Andrews.

Renato Jones, the vigilante hero of writer/artist Kaare Kyle Andrews' twisted new series, is a mix of Batman, Robin Hood and the Punisher with a heavy dose of violence and even a bit of sadism. In other words, it's a great book. Jones, like Gotham's great guardian, was born into wealth and privilege (with only a slight hiccup as we saw in #1 with his grandmother killing his parents in an attempt to gain control over the family fortune) but he shuns it, preferring a life of violent retribution against, as the title suggests, the "one-percent" maker class. In #2, this quest takes him to a hedonistic gathering of the ultra-rich where no pleasure (no matter how disgusting or illegal) goes unindulged. Once there, Renato does what he does best: killing every perverted, pampered scumbag he can find. There's a special, simple pleasure in this book, and Andrews' art is fabulous -- his faux fading and creases on flashback pages were an especially nice touch. And if that's not enough, come for the "Christopher Baal" (the real estate developer of "Baal Towers" who loves talking about "winners" and "losers") cameo if you're not a fan of a certain presidential candidate.

GUESS: ^^, \,,/(>.

WEAVERS #2. Boom!. Written by Simon Spurrier. Art by Dylan Burnett.

The sophomore entry in a six-part series about a supernatural gang infused with spider spirits, "Weavers" #2 has the double burden of both explaining more about its high-concept premise and following up from a compelling, tightly-woven (See what I did there?) debut. Alas, while #2 has its moments, it can't quite surpass what was a riveting first installment. But it does have its moments, with Sid's continuing efforts to fit into the gang and the weird, screaming inner spider monologue being a couple of the issue's highlights.

GUESS: ::::|, /\(00)/\, 0-0

CONTROL #1. Dynamite. Written by Angela Cruickshank and Andy Diggle. Art by Andrea Mutti.

It doesn't do anything new or revolutionary in terms of being a contemporary noir/police procedural, but that's definitely not an indictment of the quality seen in "Control," a new series set in Washington D.C. that tells a familiar story of detectives, murder and shadowy bad guys. The political setting, at least, is new, and the book hints at exploring how far politicians are willing to twist laws to suit their own personal goals; however, these hints haven't been framed well enough to inspire confidence in the book's ability to explore the issue with any depth. Still, the protagonist, Metro Police Detective Sgt. Kate Burnham, is a powerful lead, and I'll read damn near any detective comic.

GUESS: :-O, 5-0, :-/

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: BEBOP & ROCKSTEADY DESTROY EVERYTHING #1/#2. IDW. Written by Ben Bates and Dustin Weaver. Art by Sophie Campbell, Giannis Milonogiannis and Nick Pitarra.

"TMNT: Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything" sounds like a great idea -- in principle. Two oafs turned loose against...everything? How can that go wrong? Alas, for the most part, the first two chapters in the miniseries manage to do the impossible, settling into a mess of time travel paradoxes and repetitive scenery rather than presenting the titular lummoxes as destroyers of anything. The first installment starts off well enough with the turtles checking out prehistoric fossilized remains of two creatures who are startlingly familiar. From there, we get the requisite scoop on how Bebop and Rocksteady made it back into the past, and we even get to see them cavorting with their pre-mutant human selves, but it never quite gets as cool as the first few opening pages. (Admittedly, I did get a chuckle out of two car loads of Bebops and Rocksteadys colliding, exploding and then recombining as if nothing happened.) Too much dialogue and not enough smashing to sufficiently execute on what should have been a can't-miss series for TMNT fans.

GUESS: :-/, [>#
The Anniston Star is reporting an Oxford city employee was arrested today for harassment after a reporter for the newspaper alleged an attack.

Reporter Zac Tyler said the employee, Rick Harris, threatened him when he sought an interview Friday from Mayor Leon Smith at the mayor's home. Harris works as Smith's driver.

Tyler said he went to Smith's house, attempting to interview the mayor, who has suffered from poor health for months. He said Harris put his hands around Tyler's neck, telling him, "If you ever come back here, you won't leave breathing."

Smith, 75, is in his eighth term as mayor.

Harris was arrested on a misdemeanor charge, and he filed a criminal trespassing charge against Tyler as well, the paper reported.

For more information, read the Star's story here.
Alabama Supreme Court Justice Tom Parker on Wednesday filed a federal lawsuit against the state's Judicial Inquiry Commission, which has been investigating complaints that he violated judicial canons of ethics for statements he made about gay marriage.

The federal lawsuit follows one filed last month by Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, who was suspended after the JIC filed charges against him for an order he issued in January regarding gay marriage.

Liberty Counsel, the legal firm that also represents Moore, on Tuesday filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Parker in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama in Montgomery.

The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of several speech restrictive Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics and the state law that automatically suspends a judge when JIC files charges. The judge can be re-instated depending on the outcome of a trial before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary.

As of late Wednesday afternoon the JIC had not leveled any charges against Parker.

"These provisions (of law) are being used by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and its allies on the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC) in an attempt to intimidate, silence, and punish Justice Parker for his originalist judicial philosophy and protected speech," according to a statement from Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel who represents both Moore and Parker.

In October the SPLC filed a judicial ethics complaint against Parker, claiming he inappropriately commented on pending same-sex marriage cases and voiced his personal opinions about the issue. The SPLC cited Parker's appearance on a conservative radio talk show.

"The SPLC, an advocacy organization that has a distinct animus against Justice Parker and his philosophy of constitutional interpretation, pursues an agenda to intimidate and vilify anyone who speaks out in any way (in its view) against the promotion of homosexuality and same-sex "marriage" ("SSM") or the "five lawyer" majority opinion of the United States Supreme Court in Obergefell," the lawsuit states.

Parker's lawsuit claims the free speech rights of Parker, who this year is running for re-election, have already been harmed and "significantly chilled" by the ongoing investigation against him by the JIC. "That harm is continuing and, in fact, increasing as the election approaches and forces him to engage in self-censorship," the lawsuit states.

"Justice Parker is facing a credible threat of sanction resulting from the JIC's ongoing investigation of him due to his protected speech, and no person--including a sitting judge and candidate for judicial office--should be forced to choose between speech and sanction," Parker's lawsuit states.

"The automatic disqualification (suspension) provision threatens to cause impending, imminent and irreparable harm to Justice Parker, a sitting justice on the state's highest court and a present candidate for retaining that judicial office, unless the automatic disqualification provision is struck down as unconstitutional," the lawsuit states.

Parker states in his lawsuit that the JIC informed him on Nov. 5, 2015, that it had decided to investigate the SPLC complaint charging that in his radio interview on October 6, 2015 Parker violated Canon 3A(6) by publicly commenting on a petition before regarding same sex marriage that was still pending before the Alabama Supreme Court.

Also, in that same interview he is alleged to have violated Canons 1 and 2A by making comments "that undermine the integrity of and public confidence in the integrity of the federal judiciary and the United States Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitution in Obergefell v. Hodge (U.S. Supreme Court's gay marriage decision) ... suggesting that the Alabama Supreme Court should defy and refuse to give effect to the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell."

The JIC has periodically notified Parker that it is continuing its investigation.

Moore also filed a lawsuit seeking to have the automatic suspension provision declared unconstitutional.

Meanwhile, Moore has been given an extra two weeks to respond to the judicial ethics charges leveled by the Judicial Inquiry Commission regarding an order he issued in opposition to gay marriage in January - also filed by the SPLC.

Moore did have 30 days - or until Tuesday June 7 - to respond to the Judicial Inquiry Commission's (JIC) charges, which were brought May 6. The charges center on Moore's alleged violation of judicial ethics when in January he advised probate judges in the state to ignore the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling last year making same-sex marriage legal nationwide.

The federal judge handling Moore's lawsuit against JIC had not set a hearing on his request for an injunction as of late Wednesday.
A longtime Jefferson County educator was placed on administrative leave this afternoon amid an ongoing criminal investigation.

Brett Kirkham, the 39-year-old human resources director for Jefferson County Schools, is on paid leave, according to schools' spokeswoman Nez Calhoun. "We do not know, nor can we discuss any allegations surrounding him on these matters, but we take seriously the trust the public places in us and we are cooperating fully with the investigation," Superintendent Craig Pouncey said in a prepared statement.

The Hueytown Police Department is the lead agency in the investigation, but at least two other cities are part of the ongoing probe. Hueytown police Chief Chuck Hagler said he can't yet elaborate on the allegations against Kirkham and referred questions to Bill Veitch, District Attorney in the Bessemer Cutoff. Veitch said he couldn't yet discuss the case either.

Investigators have interviewed Kirkham, and a search warrant carried out at the Board of Education central offices earlier today led to the seizure of at least one of Kirkham's computers. Kirkham has not been charged with any crime.

Kirkham, an Eagle Scout and Decatur native who in April was named one of five finalists for the superintendent's position in that city, was a longtime teacher and principal in the Hueytown schools.

He attended the University of Alabama, where he was a member of the Million Dollar Band. He received his bachelor's degree from Alabama in 1998 in math and history. He went on to obtain his master's degree in history and math in 2000, also at UA.

He later attended Samford University where he trained in education leadership and administration and studied for his doctorate.

Kirkham began his teaching career at Hueytown High School in 2000, where he taught for three years. He then took a position at Pittman Junior High in Hueytown in 2004 and worked in that job for two years and two months. He later became the principal of the school, renamed Hueytown Middle School, and served as the school leader for eight years.

In 2012, Kirkham became the school group director/area superintendent for the board of education. His next assignment was as director of assistance and safety for the board and was then named human resources director two years ago.

In 2011, Kirkham received the Ellen Northcutt Memorial Excellence in Education Award at the annual membership banquet of the Hueytown Chamber of Commerce.
Quentin McDaniel Shooting.jpg

Quentin McDaniel, 26, was shot to death June 7, 2016 in Birmingham's Kingston community.

( )

A father of three fatally gunned down in Birmingham's Kingston community a week ago was targeted because of a dispute over a woman that involved his brother and the woman's boyfriend, according to family and police.

Quentin McDaniel, 26, was shot in the head Tuesday, June 7. The shooting happened at 7:50 p.m. in the 800 block of 45th Street North.

South Precinct officers were dispatched to the scene on a report of someone shot. When they arrived, they found McDaniel inside his vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Birmingham Fire and Rescue transported McDaniel to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:17 p.m.

Witnesses told police McDaniel was driving down the street when an unidentified black male began to shoot at his car. The vehicle crashed into a tree after being shot, and the suspect fled the scene on foot.

"It is very unlikely this incident is a random shooting,'' Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards said at the time. "The shooter knew his target."

Court records show McDaniel was arrested last month for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, however his mother said her son wasn't a drug dealer and his death wasn't linked in any way to drugs. He had no prior criminal convictions, but investigators in court records say he was found in possession of Molly and scales containing heroin residue.

"He was going to beat that case,'' Jacqueline Jones said. "Quentin never had a felony and he said he didn't ever want to have a felony."

Jones said her son was in Kingston that night because his fiancee and two of his three children lived there. She said there had been a problem over a woman that involved one of her other sons and that woman's boyfriend, and that McDaniel was threatened because of that. "This was not his fight,'' the grieving mother said. "They were mad at his brother."

On the night he was killed, she said, he was outside playing with his two daughters when he spotted the people who had threatened him. "He got in his car and peeled away to keep his children from being harmed,'' Jones said. "His fiancee said she knew something was wrong because he just left the children. She watched him driving away and when she couldn't see him no more, she heard five shots."

Jones said McDaniel graduated from Huffman High School and had worked various jobs since graduation. He lived at home with her, and was devoted to all of his family, she said.

"He had a good heart,'' she said. "He would be there for anybody. He was the person I talked to and it was vice versa. I could call on Quentin for anything."

Friends and family will hold a candlelight vigil on Thursday at the scene of the slaying in Kingston. Jones is asking that anyone with information to please come forward. McDaniel will be buried on Saturday.

To the killer or killers, Jones said this: "You don't have a right to take a life for no reason. It was senseless."

Anyone with information on the slaying is asked to call Birmingham police at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
A man and woman charged with animal cruelty after more than 50 animals were left abandoned in their Jefferson County home for weeks - which led to the largest single animal seizure in the history of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society - were found guilty today.

Ricky Leroy Thomason, 38, and Elizabeth McGraw, 30, were found guilty of three counts of animal cruelty each and given the maximum sentence for the Class B misdemeanor charges in a hearing late this afternoon in the City of Warrior Municipal Court. They both pleaded not guilty to the three charges against them - once charge for each type of animal found at the home.

After being found guilty, the judge sentenced them to pay a $500 fine per charge for a total of $3,000. They also were sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 90 days to serve.

"Today justice was obtained for these animals," said GBHS CEO Allison Black Cornelius. "This truly sickening and heartbreaking situation for these animals is over, and we are happy to say that these animals now have a second chance at life."

The GBHS division of Animal Care and Control rescued the animals in April from the couple's Warrior home on Dana Drive. Authorities received a tip from a citizen about a possible hoarding situation at the home and, once they determined the home was in the Warrior Police Department's jurisdiction, they began working with officers to remove the animals from the home.

In all, rescue workers found 51 animals including six puppies, four turtles, 17 adult dogs, nine cats and 15 kittens. Of those, Baker said, 11 of the puppies, kittens and dogs were already dead upon arrival, died after intake or had to be euthanized because of severe malnutrition. The remaining 36 animals were held at the ACC facility at 6227 5th Avenue North pending today's court hearing.

Authorities said they believe the owners had been gone for at least two weeks, though there was some evidence that someone had at least given them water or they all likely would have died. The animals were living in diminished conditions without food or water, and with excrement all over the floor. Three dogs were found in a bathroom with a door closed. Syringes and other drug paraphernalia were also found at the home among clothes and other items strewn all over the floor.

Warrior police Chief Ray Horn has said he believes the pair left the home, and their pets, because they were about to be evicted. They have lived in multiple rental houses in the area over the years, he said. Police and city officials have previously dealt with them on complaints about the condition of their property.

Of the seized animals, one dog was in poor condition because of painful joints, external parasites and a high heartworm positive diagnosis. Fifteen Chihuahua, Labrador and Pitbull-type adult dogs almost all came in with intestinal parasites. Two were heartworm positive, but all have been doing well at ACC.

Of the animals that died, one dog died of pneumonia, one puppy was dead when ACC arrived at the house, one puppy died en route to ACC and four puppies were euthanized because of their inability to thrive without a nursing mother.

One kitten was euthanized because it was not responding to medication to treat is severe dehydration and lethargy. Of the four kittens born at ACC, two kittens died or were euthanized because of health conditions.

Thomason and McGraw can appeal the verdict within 14 days, where the case will be heard in Circuit Court. Restitution is dependent on the appeals process.

The animals will remain in the care of ACC until the 14-day period expires. If the decision is not appealed, the sentence will start in 14 days and the remaining 34 animals currently in the care of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) division of Animal Care & Control (ACC) will be legally released into the custody of the GBHS.

At that time, the animals will be spayed or neutered and microchipped before being placed into foster homes, transferred to rescues or put up for adoption at the Snow Drive adoption facility. Authorities said foster families are needed now more than ever to accommodate the large number of animals under GBHS care. People interested in fostering can find more information about the program here or by emailing gbhsfoster@gmail.com.
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Decatur police officers were called early Tuesday morning to this home on Stratford Drive, where a 30-year-old man was found dead of a gunshot wound. (Lucy Berry/lberry@al.com)

Decatur police officers responded early Tuesday morning to a fatal shooting in the city.

The shooting occurred around 4:45 a.m. at 2110 Stratford Road SE. According to the Decatur Daily, officers responding to the scene found Jonathan Mark Leffers, 30, dead of gunshot wounds.

Jonathan Leffers (Morgan County Jail)

Leffers' estranged wife lives in the home where the shooting occurred and was at the scene when the 911 call came in, the newspaper reports.

No arrests have been made and investigators continue to probe the shooting.

Court records indicate that the couple, who were in the middle of divorce proceedings, moved into the house about two years ago with their three children, an 8-year-old and twin 5-year-olds.

In the November petition for divorce, Venessa Leffers sought sole custody of the children, citing alleged alcohol and prescription drug abuse on her husband's part, as well as bouts of severe depression, PTSD and suicide threats. She claimed he'd had two standoffs with police, including one that lasted over 10 hours, and was on probation.

She said that he'd been arrested Oct. 30 for being a danger to himself and others and, at the time of her divorce petition, was being held in the Morgan County Jail. A copy of the jail log at that time showed that Jonathan Leffers was being held on a probation violation out of Texas.

She also stated that she feared his reaction to the divorce filing and requested an order of protection.

A judge in January granted her sole custody and gave Jonathan Leffers supervised visitation. Both were ordered to refrain from harassment, threats, intimidation or assault.

Venessa Leffers accused her estranged husband of violating that order by sending her threatening text messages and, in April, asked that his visitation with the children be suspended.

In her motion, Leffers alleged that her estranged husband had been released from jail in Texas in order to enroll in rehab in Alabama. In March, before he could enroll in a program, police officers found him unresponsive in his vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .137, nearly twice the legal limit.

He was hospitalized briefly before being admitted to a rehab facility. Following a suicide attempt in rehab, he was admitted to the psychiatric ward at UAB Hospital.

The rehab facility would not take him back upon his discharge from the hospital and he was "back in Morgan County and...mentally unstable," the motion read. "The defendant is continuing to consume large amount of alcohol regardless of this honorable court's order prohibiting him from doing so, does not have a residence and is threatening the plaintiff."

That request was denied by Circuit Judge Steven Haddock, but a hearing on the situation was set for June 30.

AL.com will update this story as more information becomes available.

Updated at 12:35 a.m. with details from court records.
I agree with Bryans proposal that the SRC on behalf of the whole student body and each of the individual students who have been shot and injured by the police should commence Human Rights Violation and Enforcement proceeding in the National Court.

I have also read an excellent summary by Bryan Kramer of how the confrontation took place and escalated into the undisciplined and unlawful shooting of students, by the police led by Superintendent Ben Turi.

I am truly saddened by the sight of our young unarmed students being shot at and chased like animals. As this video footage now goes viral globally, the incident marks a sad and dark page in our short democratic history.

I HAVE just watched the video footage of the confrontation between the UPNG students and police and the police shooting of unarmed students.

I also agree with Bryan that the Commission of Inquiry is not really going to ultimately hold any individual accountable for their role in this gross violation of the students human rights to peacefully protest and voice dissent.

The proceedings should name Superintendent Ben Turi, the Police Commissioner Gari Baki and the State as Respondents for being complicit in the violation of the students human rights.

The students and indeed every citizen of this democratic free constitutional democracy have the human rights freedom to protest and show dissent in a peaceful way. The police do not have the right nor the power to arbitrarily deny or prevent the exercise of these rights guaranteed under our constitution.

The government does not have the power to stop the free and peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression in dissent or to assemble and march to exercise this freedom.

So, what the police did in stopping the students from going to Parliament to witness the parliamentary sittings was unlawful and in violation of the human constitutional rights.

Even if at best some students may have hurled stones at police,

Did that warrant and justify the level of response to fire live bullets into an unarmed body of students?

There did not seem to be any justification whatsoever, in law, for the police to open fire into an unarmed body of students. Those were prima facie criminal acts.

The individual officers who were responsible for firing those live bullets into the students should be charged with attempted murder.

The officer in charge of that operation, Ben Turi, and the police commissioner should both be charge as accomplices as aiders and abettors in the perpetration of this criminal action.

Now having said this, I do not imagine for one moment any leadership in the police force is going to do this. Already, the puppet police commission and the PM Peter ONeill are announcing commissions of inquiry and some toothless internal inquiry by the police.

If we are truly serious about accountability and good governance and upholding the rule of law, strong leadership should have immediately suspended the commanding officer in charge of this operation, which in this case is Superintendent Ben Turi as I understand.

He should be immediately suspended for losing control and or ordering his men to open fire on unarmed students.

As Bryan Kramer suggested, and I agree with him, a National Court exercising human rights enforcement jurisdiction and powers will have more authority and judicial constitutional powers to enforce human rights violations than a commission of inquiry.

These are actions of an authoritarian regime, using the police and armed forces to suppress constitutional human rights of dissent and peaceful assembly and freedom of speech.

We in civil society must not allow this to happen. If this continues, we can kiss our democratic freedoms good-bye.

I continue to have much confidence in the independence and resilience of our judiciary, who know the breath of the constitutional powers vested in them, to enforce the constitutional rights of our people.
There are deeper meanings in the book however, and it follows directly from his earlier Papua New Guinea-based novel, Visitants.

The setting has a particular resonance for me because it is based in Suffolk in England where I lived as a child, not too many years before the period described by Stow. Among other things he evokes the curious Suffolk dialect perfectly  it was the language I spoke when I arrived in Australia in 1956.

It is a wonderfully crafted text that evokes both the idiosyncrasies of its setting and a kind of magical realism that is beguiling and enchanting.

All of Stows novels, as the novels of most writers, are firmly based on personal experience and it was never more so than with these two books.

The nexus between the realities that generated Visitants and the fictional story in the novel has always intrigued me, not least because some of the facts were deliberately obscured both by Stow himself and by the Australian administration of the time.

Suzanne Falkiners recent biography of Stow, simply called Mick, has helped me to understand part of the puzzle but not its entirety. This later novel fills in many gaps and I think it was intended by Stow to do exactly that, both for himself and his readers.

The Girl Green as Elderflower serves as a personal retrospective 20 years after the traumatic underlying events depicted in Visitants. It is, for Stow, a kind of laying to rest of demons.

In that sense, I think if I was recommending either book I would insist that both be read together and in sequential order; that is if one was interested in understanding Stow himself and the events that helped make him.

Without this, I think this second novel, whilst enjoyable and enchanting in its own right, would present itself as an unrelated curiosity more than anything richer and deeper. And this is probably why some people find his novels difficult to understand. To understand Stows novels you have to understand Stow himself.

The other thing I found intriguing about The Girl Green as Elderflower was the melding of reality and magic, which Stow achieves by the use of old Suffolk folk myths.

And this is where it gets interesting because, whereas the novel is set in a bucolic rural setting in East Anglia, it is unquestionably about Papua New Guinea.

In the novel there are references to narrator Crispin Clares unsettling time in the Trobriand Islands, not least by the inclusion of asides in the Kiriwina language, but more than that there is a clear sense that Stow has carried away that peculiar Melanesian merging of the natural and supernatural worlds.

This is fascinating because it is very much the case in modern Papua New Guinea. Despite the adoption of Western ways and all the hard-nosed pragmatism this implies, most Papua New Guineans still live between these two worlds.

It is something that I find delightful and has informed much of what I write. To that I attribute my Irish roots.

Perhaps, by juxtaposing the old world beliefs of somewhere like Suffolk, a world that was still very real when I was a lad, with a place on the other side of the world in the Trobriand Islands Stow demonstrates the universality of the human condition.

But I would emphasise, if you are going to read The Girl Green as Elderflower, and you should if you havent already, then first read Visitants.
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(JD Crowe/jdcrowe@al.com)

"What do we need? New prisons! When do we need them? Right now!" -- Mike Hubbard and friends, probably.

The one thing our do-nothing Alabama lawmakers actually did this year was pass a plan -- proposed by potentially impeachable Gov. Bentley -- to build new state prisons. Four big, fancy new super-prisons. Coincidence? I think not.

Alabama's prison system is among the worst in the country, has been for a long time. Why the urgency to build new prisons now? Maybe because many of our state lawmakin' goobers see the writing on the wall: They could be headed there.

They should have started the process years ago. A clean new prison won't be ready in time to greet our convicted ex-Speaker Hubbard, who could be facing anywhere from 5 to 20 years on each of 12 corruption charges.

Hubbard will likely get a taste of the state's overcrowded hellhole prison system from the inside.

Hubbard will be sentenced in July. Will some of his corruption-enabling buddies become his litter mates?

Check out more JD Crowe cartoons about Alabama's goofy politicians:
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(JD Crowe/jdcrowe@al.com)

Bryan Kessler is a graduate of Samford University, located in Birmingham, Alabama.

By Bryan Kessler, a graduate of Samford University, he is currently a pursuing a doctorate in history at the University of Mississippi.

When I woke up Sunday morning to the news that there was a horrific mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, I was immobilized with sadness for my community. Here in the middle of Pride Month--and while many cities, including Birmingham, were still cleaning up from their Pride parades--was yet another senseless attack on LGBT Americans.

The Pulse shooting was a vile, hate-filled act that targeted people just because their love wasn't "normal." As I began processing the events in Orlando, however, my sadness quickly turned to indignation at how this country's continued inability to deal forthrightly with the scourge of assault weapons enabled the slaughter of my gay brothers, echoing a sentiment I've heard from almost everyone in the LGBT community.

It didn't take long, of course, for a legion of "journalists" and cowardly politicians to trot out the tired refrain we hear after any of these mass shootings. If we are to respect the dead, they tell us, we shouldn't "politicize the tragedy."

To them, the fact that this was a targeted shooting of a GAY nightclub, enabled by easy access to assault-style guns, was just background noise. Some, now, are even seizing on the rumors that the shooter might have frequented gay hangouts to dismiss the notion that the Pulse shooting really was a hate crime--as if a society where very prominent segments still preach that we should hate ourselves doesn't hold responsibility for keeping many in the closet and fostering a level of internalized homophobia that too often manifests as targeted aggression.

What these grief policemen are doing is a whitewashing of the victims distinct from, although the result is not necessarily different than, those who want to impose a narrative about "radical Islam".

Instead of dealing forthrightly with how the Orlando shooting was a hate crime that had a broader effect on the lives of the LGBT community as a whole, the "depoliticizers" demand that we talk about the shooting under a charade of detached mourning.

Such deference to decorum benefits those politicians and pundits, mainly conservatives, who want to seem mournful without having to acknowledge how their decades of strong pro-gun policies enabled this attack. It also allows social conservatives, who've spent their lifetimes warning of God's judgement and fostered a culture of hate as a response to gay marriage and transgender equality, to pray for Orlando without having to deal with who the victims were.

Unfortunately, the LGBT community has heard this refrain too many times. We have been told to be silent, to memorialize our dead without making them into a statement.

Of course, for most of our history, we have even told been that our tragedies weren't even tragedies.

From the government employees declared un-American and unfit for service in the Lavender Scare, to the bar patrons assaulted and killed at Stonewall Inn and the UpStairs Lounge, to the generations of queer folk declared mentally ill by psychiatrists, to those lost to a plague that our government took way too long to recognize, LGBT Americans have had to fight to get ourselves included in the narrative. One of the key tools in that process, as with almost any civil rights movement, was ensuring that gay lives were not lost in vain. No group was better at politicizing a tragedy than the generation of AIDS activists who turned the country's willful insensitivity to the "gay disease" into a winning argument for social equality.

Those warning against politicizing the tragedy are wrong-headed, and they are attempting to silence the LGBT community at a time when we need to be speaking loudest. Indeed, the Pulse shooting was political from the moment the first shot rang out. It was political because we live in a society that sees trans women as predators and turns bathrooms into battlegrounds. It was political because despite our legal gains, we still have to fear holding hands in public or passing as friends in front of our landlords. It was political because our safe spaces (the ones that we haven't already lost to "progress") are still in the crosshairs for those who hate us. It was political because society treats our very being, our wanting to live our lives in truth, as a controversy and allows our civil rights to be decided by a majority vote.

So, when we talk about being afraid of a world in which assault weapons are readily available, we are trying to turn our rage, our sadness, our anxiety at this senseless tragedy into something productive. You don't have to agree with us, but, please, out of respect for the dead and the community they represent, stop trying to depoliticize our tragedy.
It's a wrap. The trial of former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard is done. He's been booked and bailed and likely will head to state prison.

Of course Hubbard is the biggest loser in all this. But this conviction has wide-reaching implications. It changed the course of politics and power in this state, and reverberates through the government.

Who else benefits? Who else suffers? Here are the winners and losers of the Hubbard trial.

The Winners

10. Gov. Robert Bentley. Not because he did anything noble. The LuvGuv benefitted simply because, for three weeks anyway, the headlines were filled with news about a scandal more despicable than his own.

9. Bill Armistead. The former state GOP chair was among the first to raise questions about Hubbard's sketchy spending at the party. Hubbard was cleared of those counts, but Armistead still looks like a guy who could see ethical right from wrong.

8. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh. Marsh now seems like the only high-profile player in Alabama not hip-deep in humiliation.

7. Attorney General Luther Strange. Sure, he recused himself from the prosecution, but the Hubbard conviction lets him claim his "clean up Montgomery" vow. He could be a gubernatorial front-runner.

6. Victor Gaston. The 73-year-old speaker pro tempore - now acting speaker of the House - gets a shot at the real job. Better yet, after 34 years in office the mention of his name won't automatically be followed by the word ..."Who?"

5. Matt Hart. The special prosecutor in the Hubbard case put the state's most powerful and vengeful people in the cross-hairs. A Hubbard acquittal could have ended his career - or at least his ability to pursue crooked government officials.

4. Reps. Jim Carns and Allen Treadaway. Somebody had to say something. Carns and Treadaway were among the few Republican representatives with the stones to question Hubbard at all.

3. Josh Blades. The testimony of Hubbard's former chief of staff sunk the knife into Hubbard. Blades shone on the stand as someone who cared about propriety and ethics, who was disappointed in the lapses of his boss.

2. The judge and jury. Throughout the trial the jury was attentive and serious. In the end it showed discernment, convicting on almost half the charges but acquitting on those where doubt remain. It was a fair and reasonable decision, and evidence the system can still work. Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker refused to play favorites.

1. The People. The people of Alabama deserve a government that can be held accountable for its mistakes - even if they seldom expect that accountability. This trial proved it is real, even for the most powerful man in Alabama politics.

The Losers

10. The apologists. Sycophants surrounded Hubbard like a cocoon after his indictment. A rally to support him and impugn prosecutors featured a host of losers. Rep. Mac. McCutcheon, Reps. Ed Henry, Alan Harper, David Session and Matt Fridy refused to acknowledge the possibility of his guilt. Congressman Mike Rogers and Senate president pro tem Del Marsh were there. Remember their faces, and the names Jack Williams, Alan Baker, Mike Ball, April Weaver and Kerry Rich, among others.

9. Sonny Reagan. The former deputy attorney general got fired after playing footsy with the defense. Hopes of redemption disappeared with the conviction. He will be remembered as a Mike Hubbard Mata Hari.

8. Yellowhammer "News," the fake news site and PR arm of the Hubbard machine, finally has to admit Hubbard is - at the least -- under investigation. Hubbard insiders John Ross, Dax Swatek and Tim Howe - who got rich off Hubbard's success and influence - have to hitch their creaky wagon to a new star.

7. The Alabama GOP. Sure, party chair Terry Lathan tried to distance the Republicans from Hubbard when the poo hit the flue. But Hubbard was the GOP, the self-styled architect of the Republican revolution. The party showed it was no better than the Dems before it.

6. Former Sen. Steve French. It was revealed during trial that French had signed an immunity agreement with prosecutors, but he still managed to tick them off in the way he testified. The attorney general's office may not get their claws into him, but somebody will be looking.

5. The BCA. The Business Council of Alabama is one of the most powerful lobbies in all the state. Its leaders were intimate with Hubbard, holding weekly sessions to outline the plans and policies of the speaker. It is clear BCA leaders consider themselves above the law because they know best. It is clear they are today's AEA.

4. Ferrell Patrick is the lobbyist who introduced Hubbard to several clients who got him in trouble. A wise legislator would look at his arrival like the ailing see the grim reaper. Yikes!

3.Hubbard "friends" and investors Jimmy Rane, Will Brooke, Rob Burton and Jim Holbrook. It's not just a problem to take a thing of value from a lobbyist or principal, as Hubbard found out. It's a problem to give it.

2. Rep. Jack Williams. The chief apologist for Mike Hubbard should go home and look in the mirror. Not just to see what's in his own soul, but to see who's sniffing around behind him.

1. Bob Riley. Hubbard was not convicted on charges related to the former governor, but emails between Hubbard and Riley revealed a side of Riley the people had not seen. He may not be a criminal, but he's not the person Alabama wanted to remember.
Dr Pok and Southern Highlands governor William Powi have called Mr Basils claims unfounded but have not provided statistics to disprove them.

Deputy opposition leader Sam Basil says that since Mr ONeill came to power 70% of defence recruits have come from his Ialibu-Pangia Electorate in the Southern Highlands while 30% have come from Jiwaka Province, home of Dr Pok.

PRIME minister Peter ONeill and defence minister Fabian Pok have been accused of pursuing recruitment policies that skew the composition of the PNG Defence Force to personnel from their own highlands provinces.

The allegations made are an insult to the leaders, the elites and the people of Southern Highlands, Hela and Jiwaka, said an emotional Governor Powi.

Their name [has been] used on unfounded information designed to destroy the integrity and reputation of leaders and people.

Mr Basil said he had raised questions in relation to the recruitment of PNGDF soldiers since Mr O'Neill became prime minister and Dr Poks appointment as defence minister.

Peter O'Neill is from Southern Province and Dr Pok is from Jiwaka Province and it is obvious that the recruitment of soldiers are based on those two provinces with Ialibu-Pangia dominating, Mr Basil said.

He stated that he had reliable information leaked from the PNGDF to the opposition adding that he had challenged Dr Pok in parliament to provide lists of soldiers recruited since 2013 to prove that I am wrong.

Mr Basil also said he had PNGDF documents that instructed recruitment officers to overlook minor issues such as marital status and false education certificates to allow for soldiers from Ialibu Pangia to be recruited.
House Republicans have decided to take a new approach in order to get three counterterrorism bills, including legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Katko, through the Senate.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul announced Tuesday that the three bills will be folded into one, the Countering Terrorist Radicalization Act.

The legislation will include the Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act introduced by Katko, R-Camillus, in February.

Katko's bill, which the House passed by a 389-5 vote in May, would codify the board within the Department of Homeland Security in order to better coordinate the agency's counterterrorism efforts and the agency's secretary would be required to appoint a coordinator to oversee the panel.

Other provisions in the bill include a mandate for the board to advise the Homeland Security secretary on issuing terrorism threat alerts and DHS would be required to provide updates to Congress on the board's activities.

The measure was one of several recommendations made by the Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel, which was chaired by Katko.

"The United States faces the highest threat level since 9/11  with open counterterrorism investigations in all 50 states and more than 80 ISIS-related arrests over the past two years," Katko said after the bill's passage in May. "Combating global terrorism and foreign fighter travel requires a smart, coordinated and collaborative effort."

But Katko's legislation, along with other bills, haven't received a vote in the Senate.

McCarthy, R-California, and McCaul, R-Texas, said two other measures  the ALERT Act sponsored by U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk, a Georgia Republican, and the Combating Terrorist Recruitment Act introduced by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican  have been approved by the House.

The Senate, though, hasn't considered the legislation.

With the Senate's inaction, McCarthy and McCaul opted for the new approach. The Countering Terrorist Radicalization Act is expected to be voted on this week.

"Every single one of these bills passed with wide bipartisan support," McCarthy and McCaul said in a joint statement. "There is no reason this should not be sent to the president's desk and signed into law immediately."

The leaders said the House will consider other bills in the aftermath of the Orlando terrorist attack.

A gunman killed 49 people and wounded 53 others early Sunday at a gay nightclub. Authorities believe the shooter, who reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS, was radicalized online.
When the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan ended, Arab fighters began to wonder for whose cause they had fought.

During the second half of the 20th century, Arab political groups were at the forefront of the battle against tyrannical regimes. Our societies had come to understand that democracy, peaceful transitions of power, transparency and political and financial accountability were out of reach as long as the dictators were in power.

Many concluded that the only way to force these obstinate dictators from power was through violence.

Yet this unintentionally offered those same dictators a new lifeline on to which they could cling. They were able to use this threat of violence as evidence to be presented to the West that they were engaged in a war against terrorists in their own countries.

There were two main groups leading the Arab struggle for freedom and democracy: the leftists and the Muslim Brotherhood.

During the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, it was easy for Arab regimes to discredit the leftists by branding them communists. In truth, many had no connection to that political creed. But when Arab dictators sought to present this as a battle to halt the spread of communism to the Middle East, the truth didnt matter much.

The Muslim Brotherhood proved more frustrating  particularly when it adopted more peaceful sociopolitical methods to achieve its aims, thus removing the dictators ability to discredit them and occupy the moral high ground.

Still, at this time, neither the more violent Islamist groups nor the Muslim Brotherhood viewed the United States as its enemy. For them, that was to be found on the eastern front in the form of the irreligious Soviet Union. The West, led by the US, was considered to be at peace with Muslims.

After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, it presented an opportunity for Washington to finish off the evil empire, as US President Ronald Reagan labelled it in 1983. It also allowed the US to settle some past political debts and to repay Moscow for turning Vietnam into a war of attrition.

The dictatorial regimes in Arab countries  most of whom were by then allied with the US  found in this a way to serve their new chaperone. They began to loosen their security grip on local Islamist groups, encouraging them to go to Afghanistan, where they could fight against the Soviets.

It served a double function: redirecting the efforts of these groups away from their own countries and proving their value to the US in the battle against a common enemy.

Arab fighters in Afghanistan  the majority of whom were Egyptian  played a key role in the war. But when the Soviets began to withdraw in 1989, these mujahedeen, as they were known, were thrown into flux. For a decade they had been absorbed into Afghan society, but their main reason for being there had suddenly been removed. Their mission had been successfully completed, but they were facing a crisis of identity. Naturally, they began to look back towards their homelands, where the same, unelected dictators remained in power and their objectives were far from fulfilled.

They began to receive signals from the regimes in their own countries that they were no longer welcome to return.

It was around this time that their animosity began to shift away from the Soviet Union and towards the US, who had backed them during the war in Afghanistan.

As the US continued to back the dictators who ruled their own countries, these Arabs began to wonder if they had not been fighting a war against the Soviets so much as a crusade on behalf of the US.

It was the beginning of a long period of animosity that would have far-reaching consequences for those on all sides 

More in this series:

Part 1: Into the cage  a journalist on trial in Egypt

Part 2: Crocodiles in a court of law

Part 3: Inside the cage  the writing on the wall

Part 4: Chasing a childhood friend who became a fighter in Afghanistan

In the next instalment of Chronicle of a caged journalist, Egyptian war correspondent Yehia Ghanem tells the stories of some of the Arabs who fought the Soviets in Afghanistan.

Chronicle of a caged journalist is a series of excerpts from a forthcoming book.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
We ask if the casino tycoon and pro-Israel mega-donor wields more cash than clout or if he will soon become king-maker.

New York, US  It is testament to his status in United States politics that Sheldon Adelson has a primary election named after him.

The Adelson primary, as it is known informally, is not a vote in which Californians or New Yorkers tick boxes in booths. It refers to the Republican wannabes who pilgrimage to Adelsons casino empire headquarters to curry favour with the behind-the-scenes mega-donor.

Adelson, the 82-year-old multibillionaire pro-Israel stalwart, held the purse strings tight this election cycle.

He refrained from backing Ted Cruz and other fund-seekers when the Republican Jewish Coalition met at his Las Vegas Strip hotel, The Venetian, in April.

Eventually, he endorsed the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump. Reports indicate he will fund Trumps campaign to the tune of $100m, mostly via super PACS (or political action committees), which pay for, among other things, attack ads against foes in the White House race.

He lavished similar sums in the 2012 election, initially on the relatively unpopular but unwaveringly pro-Israel Newt Gingrich but later throwing his weight behind Mitt Romneys bid to boot President Barack Obama from the Oval Office.

This is oligarchy

Adelson doubtless rose from humble origins to earn riches from glitzy resorts in Nevada, Macau and Singapore. But whether a self-made mans wealth should promote such narrow policy concerns as Israels security and outlawing online gambling is hotly contested.

As it stands, there are few limits on cashflows into US politics. Adelsons fans are OK with this, lauding a savvy entrepreneur with strong opinions that he backs with money. He also pays for young Jewish adults to visit Israel and charity projects.

When you have all the marbles, you can make the calls. And he has all the marbles, Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman said in January after he bought the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a newspaper, for $140m.

Critics say he corrodes US politics by steering Republicans into ever-more hawkish pro-Israel stances. They allege skulduggery and harrying in his casino empire and say his newspapers relay propaganda, not journalism.

READ MORE: Trump and Clinton headline pro-Israel lobby conference

Bernie Sanders, a leftist Democratic presidential contender, derided Adelsons ability to summon Republican candidates to his office and dangle a multimillion-dollar campaign finance bonanza in return for policy pledges.

My friends, this is not democracy. This is oligarchy, Sanders said in a Las Vegas stump speech in February.

Others highlight Adelsons trenchant views. The gambling mogul says that Palestinians are an invented people and rejects the two-state solution vaunted by most Western policymakers. His solution: more Jewish babies and bigger walls.

He doggedly fought Obamas deal to halt Irans nuclear programme. He unveiled his strategy in 2013, saying the US should drop a nuclear bomb on an uninhabited Iranian desert and compel the countrys rulers to turn off their centrifuges.

In some ways, Adelson agrees with his critics. While hawkish on Israeli security and fiercely against legalising cannabis, he is liberal on such issues as free healthcare, immigration and access to abortions.

In 2012, he told Forbes he was against very wealthy people attempting to or influencing elections, but noted how George Soros and other tycoons funnel their money to left-wing causes via stealthier channels than his headline-making donations.

As long as its doable, Im going to do it, Adelson said.

A principled man

Adelson won big with casinos but has not yet hit the political jackpot. Neither Gingrich nor Romney took the White House in 2012. Opening his wallet to United Against Nuclear Iran, a pressure group, did not derail Obamas 2015 seven-nation deal with Tehran.

All that money didnt make a dent in terms of influencing voters on the issues Adelson cares about, Josh Ruebner, author of Shattered Hopes, a book about the Israel-Palestine conflict, told Al Jazeera.

Bankrolling Trump may prove as chancy as Adelsons past bets. In some ways, the two men are natural bedfellows: straight-talking property kings with decisive but jejune solutions to problems that leave wiser men scratching their heads.

But, aside from Trumps low favourability ratings, he is capricious. Initially, Trump sold himself as a neutral broker of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. He walked that back in March with talk of unbreakable US-Israeli ties and a Palestinian culture of hatred.

READ: Palestinians sue pro-Israel tycoons for $34.5bn

Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America, described Adelson, a patron and friend of more than 15 years, as a likeable US patriot who was motivated by a deep concern for Israels safety and security.

Hes a principled man who will support people he thinks are best even if it doesnt look good for them, Klein told Al Jazeera. Hes hoping that maybe, with his help, they may be able to win after all; but for the last few years, that has not worked out the way he has hoped.

Not everyone agrees. Abba Solomon, author of The Speech and its Context, a book about Zionism, said that Adelsons bellicose stance on Israel may hail from a misplaced desire to hold on to a distant Jewish heritage.

That can be dangerous, Solomon told Al Jazeera.

As Americans, we should work for the common good and American principles of equality. Adelson and some other Jewish Americans working so monomaniacally to advance Israels security interests at the expense of Palestinians undermines an ethical US foreign policy.

Hes not Israeli, and he has never lived here

Adelson has an all-American rags-to-riches story that resonates with many. His father, a Lithuanian immigrant, drove a taxi in Boston. His mother ran a knitting shop from home. The family-of-six slept in a single room.

He was a grafter. Aged 12, he sold newspapers on street corners. Four years later, he started a candy-vending-machine operation. He launched a hit computer trade show in 1979 and entered the casino business a decade later.

His empire currently boasts The Palazzo, The Venetian and Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, the landmark Marina Bay Sands Resort in Singapore and lucrative casino ventures in Macau in southern China.

His wealth has peaked and troughed like a rollercoaster, but stands at around $26.4 bn, according to Forbes. He has been dogged by claims of shady business deals, and recently settled a breach of contract case brought by Steve Jacobs, his firms former boss of Macau operations.

READ MORE: Should the US be neutral on Israel-Palestine?

While he has accrued many honours, Adelson also has a reputation for bolshiness, getting into acrimonious rows and ending up in court.

He feuded with his one-time corporate lawyer and a former US congresswoman, Shelley Berkley, who later wrote that Adelson could go ballistic and plot vendettas against perceived foes, using his money and position to bully others.

John L Smith, a Las Vegas journalist, filed for 2016 report, Freedom House, a watchdog, said the free sheet was strangling the revenues of more independent papers.

Hes not Israeli, and he has never lived here, Neri Zilber, a Tel Aviv-based scholar with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a think-tank, told Al Jazeera. Should somebody, even if he happens to be Jewish, have that much influence in Israels domestic politics?
At least 34 people die, including civilians, amid intense shelling and air strikes on battle-stricken city.

At least 34 people have died in another day of bombardment in the Syrian city of Aleppo, a source inside the city told Al Jazeera.

The deaths on Tuesday came amid aerial bombardment, shelling and the use of barrel bombs by government helicopters over rebel-held districts.

Barrel bombs fell on the Salhen, Ferdos, and Jisr al-Haj districts of Aleppo, killing nine people including two children.

READ MORE: Russia in search of a new strategy in Syria

Further shelling and air strikes in the Salahadeen, Sukary, Malaah, and Castello areas caused the deaths of 25 people, among them women and children.

Raids by warplanes continued overnight into Wednesday morning.

Those wounded in the strikes included independent journalist and activist Hadi al-Abdullah, who has been covering the battle for Aleppo from rebel-held areas.

Pictures posted on Twitter captured the moment Abdullah was hit by debris formed by a shell landing near his position.

Rebel losses

The bombing inside Aleppo came as rebel forces and government troops fought bloody clashes for its surrounding villages.





At least 70 rebels were killed in separate clashes on Tuesday when government forces recaptured the village of Zeitan and in the village of Khalasah, which is still contested.

Since 2012, Aleppo has been fought over by rebels, government troops, and Kurdish factions, as well as fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

ISIL was forced from the city in 2013, but still controls large parts of the surrounding countryside to its east.

In recent months, Syrian government forces backed by Russian jets, and Kurdish groups, have enclosed rebel areas, threatening their supply routes to the Turkish border.

The Syrian conflict, which began with peaceful protests in March 2011, has escalated into a multi-sided civil war.

The death toll has risen to more than 280,000 people, while half the countrys population have been forced from their homes, according to UN estimates.

Zouhir al-Shimale contributed to this report from Aleppo.
Father enters water and tries in vain to grab two-year-old son who was taken by alligator near Disney resort in Florida.

Authorities are searching for a child who was dragged into the water by an alligator near Disneys Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando.

Orange County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Rose Silva said the two-year-old boy was snatched and dragged into the Seven Seas Lagoon about 9:30pm on Tuesday, local news outlets reported.

Deputies were continuing the search for the child and local authorities called in the help of an alligator trapper.

A police official said that the father of the boy entered the water and tried in vain to grab his son as the alligator dragged him into the lagoon.

At some point the mother may have also entered the water, so the parents diligently tried to get the child, the official said.

The family of five was holidaying from Nebraska and were out relaxing at the beach area of the lagoon. The father and child were wading in shallow water on the edge of the lake when the alligator attacked.

The parents alerted the nearby lifeguard before some 50 members of the Reedy Creek Fire Rescue, Orange County and the Florida Fish and Wildlife officials joined forces in the search for the missing boy.

The search for the child will continue until resolved, police officials said.

A Walt Disney World spokesperson attended the news conference on Wednesday morning, saying the everyone at Disney is devastated by the incident.
Divers find Lane Graves drowned body after alligator snatched child in its jaws at popular tourist destination.

The body of a two-year-old Nebraska boy who was snatched off a Walt Disney World beach by an alligator and dragged underwater has been recovered, ending a ghastly search at one of the worlds most popular tourist destinations.

Divers on Wednesday found the body of Lane Graves about 16 hours after authorities first got the call that a reptile had taken the boy from the waters edge at Seven Seas Lagoon despite his fathers frantic attempt to save the child.

Sheriff Jerry Demings said it appeared the alligator pulled the child into deeper water and drowned him, leaving the body near the spot where he was last seen. An autopsy was planned.

Of course the family was distraught, but also I believe somewhat relieved that his body was found intact, Demings told a news conference.

The boys parents were identified as Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska, a suburban area of Omaha. A family friend released a statement on behalf of the couple thanking well-wishers for their thoughts and hope-filled prayers.

CEO Michael Iaccarino of Infogroup, a marketing company where Matt Graves is chief data officer, said Graves family is the light of his life.

In a statement from Disney World Resort President George A Kalogridis, the company said it was doing what we can to help the family.

Disney World closed beaches around Seven Seas Lagoon during the search, and it was not immediately clear when they would reopen.

No swimming signs

While no swimming signs are posted at the beach where the boy was attacked, no signs warn about alligators.

A company representative said it would thoroughly review the situation for the future.

Demings said his agency and state wildlife officials would look into the issue of warning signs. The sheriff said that investigators would also review whether the boys parents should be charged, but its not likely.

There nothing in this case to indicate that there was anything extraordinary in terms of neglect by the parents, Demings said.

READ MORE: Crocodile snatches Australian woman during night swim

Wildlife officials said the attack was a rarity in a state with a alligator population estimated at one million. But it still spooked visitors in a city built on tourism.

We have been to Yellowstone and encountered grizzly bears, but this is just freaky, said Minnesota tourist John Aho, who was staying at the park with his wife, Kim, and their 12-year-old son, Johnny.

The child had waded no more than 1ft or 2ft into the water around nightfall Tuesday when he was taken from a small beach, authorities said.

The boys father desperately tried to fight off the gator, suffering lacerations on a hand, but he could not save his son. Neither could a nearby lifeguard, officials said.

No other alligator attacks have been reported on the man-made lake, according to Demings.

Why are alligators there?

Some visitors were surprised to learn the reptiles lived on the property.

My question is why are there alligators in there? said Michelle Stone, who lives near Detroit and was visiting Disney for 10 days with her two children.

The sheriff said the company has a wildlife management system and has worked diligently to ensure their guests are not unduly exposed to wildlife here in this area.

Nick Wiley, of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said witnesses estimated the alligator was 4ft to 7ft long. Crews removed five gators from the lake during the search, and officials said one could have been the animal that attacked the boy.

Though Florida has grown to the nations third most populous state, fatal alligator attacks remain rare. Since 1973, 23 people had been killed by wild alligators in Florida, according to data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The boy makes 24.
Torkham border crossing remains closed for the fourth day as violence over construction of a gate by Pakistan continues.

At least one Afghan border guard has been killed in renewed clashes at a Pakistani-Afghan border crossing, according to an Afghan official.

Wednesdays death was the third since Sunday night, when the violence erupted at the Torkham border crossing over the construction of a gate by Pakistan on allegedly disputed territory.

More than two dozen border guards from both sides have been wounded so far in the shootouts.

When our people began construction work on the gate on Wednesday, Afghan forces again opened fire at our troops and construction workers, said a Pakistani security official who declined to be identified.

He said Pakistan had retaliated with long-range artillery and mortars.

Afghan officials, however, denied any fighting on Wednesday, but said an Afghan border guard was killed and five were wounded overnight on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear if the officials were talking about the same incident.

Afghanistan-Pakistan border clashes kill two soldiers

Al Jazeeras Kamal Hyder, reporting from the Torkham border crossing, said that the area was under curfew.

The situation is quite tense. The Pakistanis are saying they will continue building the gate and every time they start the construction, they come under fire, he said.

We are told that there are some talks going on in Islamabad between the Afghan ambassador and the Pakistani military. After that we will find out whether this crisis is going to go on or it will subside.

He also said people living in the area had already left for safer locations and hundreds of trucks that were supposed to cross the border were parked at a safe distance.

Strained ties

Pakistan said the border gate it was building was well on its side of the border and would help to stop armed fighters from crossing and help to fight drug trafficking.

Afghanistan objected to all Pakistani construction on a 2,200-km border that it said was unfairly imposed by British colonialists in the 19th century and which it had never recognised.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been particularly strained in recent months over Afghan officials anger at what they see as insincere efforts by Pakistan to help with peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
More than a million refugees and migrants reached European shores after taking boats across the Mediterranean in 2015.

Chios, Greece  Families are made to handwash their clothes in a trough-like fountain behind the long row of tents in the crowded Souda refugee camp, nestled between the coast and historic ruins on this Greek island.

Dozens wait in a lengthy queue to obtain special food portions for their sick offspring, while children play along the dirt passage bisecting the camp. Although it is an unrecognised camp, Souda is home to at least 1,000 refugees and migrants.

Anger is high in the islands refugee camps as the Greek asylum process moves at a snails pace. Scheduled to start earlier this week, the asylum registration process has been delayed until Friday. In other parts of Greece, the pre-registration process began last week.

Along with the more than 2,000 refugees in the Vial camp and the estimated 300 camped out next to a dilapidated theatre down the road, Soudas residents are barred from leaving Chios as a result of the March agreement to halt the flow of refugees between the European Union and Turkey.

Achraf Zbir, 29, arrived in Souda more than a month ago after leaving his hometown of Casablanca, Morocco. You see the conditions here, he tells Al Jazeera, motioning to a large mound of rubbish. You see the trash, the lack of food.

Explaining that he paid 1,000 euros ($1,120) to take a dinghy from Turkey to Chios, he recalled: I saw people die in front of me in the sea.

Most of these people have family in Germany or elsewhere in Europe, but now were stuck here, Zbir added, explaining that the only people able to continue their journeys are those with enough money to hire expensive smugglers. But our money ran out a long time ago.

George Kiritsis, a government spokesman for refugee affairs, admits that resistance by the local population in Chios has delayed the process.

We are trying to accelerate the process, he tells Al Jazeera. We understand there are delays, but there were certain difficulties in the procedure; especially in Chios because in the beginning the locals were blocking [the delivery of] some of our containers and equipment.

Though arrivals have plummeted since the EU-Turkey deal, nearly 300 refugees and migrants have made it to Greece by boat this month.

The number of people arriving has gone down, but the number on the island is increasing, says Maria Lavida, a Greece-based spokeswoman for Doctors of the World NGO.

With the camps at full capacity, residents are enduring difficult humanitarian conditions. The most common medical ailments are stomach and intestinal disorders, common flu, and broken limbs due to the situation in the camps, Lavida tells Al Jazeera.

The group and others have been trying to treat as many patients as possible in on-site clinics because the local hospital is overcrowded.

Many people are also suffering from depression because of the stress, Lavida adds. They have been waiting for so long. This is a situation that makes them anxious and desperate, and they dont know whats next.

A five-minute walk down the road from Souda lies Dipethe, an impromptu refugee camp where some 300 people  mostly Syrians and Iraqis  sleep under tarpaulins and in small tents at an abandoned municipal theatre.

Dipethes residents ended up here after fleeing violent clashes between Syrians, Afghans and other groups in Vial, a closed refugee centre south of Chios.

Ammar al-Ashqar, 27, shares a makeshift tent  a large rain tarpaulin tied to the wall of the theatre and held up with old wooden planks  with nine relatives.

His family fled the southern Damascus countryside and arrived in Chios on March 20, only two days after the European Union and Turkey reached a deal to deport refugees and migrants back to Turkey in exchange for the resettlement of Syrian refugees in that country.

The camp is lined with similar tents, most of which are stringed together by thin ropes. Water leaks from under a row of portable toilets at the camps edge, as children holler and run through the maze of tents and tarpaulins.

With the sun setting behind them, a group of men place blankets on the bare earth to pray before they break the fast for Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims.

Ashqar recalls making the 7km trek from Vial with his family before sunrise one morning last month to escape the clashes gripping the camp. He holds up his telephone to show a video of fires in the camp as groups of masked youth threw petrol bombs and rocks at one another.

After sleeping in the port for four days, the families were attacked by right-wing locals and later moved by police to the theatres courtyard.

We are scared the police will move us back to Vial at some point. Many of the kids here are sick, and people are very angry, he says, explaining that ill residents in the camp have been denied requests to travel to Athens for medical treatment that isnt available in Chios.

The Greek authorities havent done anything. They did some pre-interviews, but weve been stuck here for three months already.

Ashqar estimated that 60 percent of the families in Dipethe are completely broke. He adds: The only way for us to even get food is from the aid organisations.

If we stayed in Syria with the bombs and violence, it would have been better than being imprisoned here on the island.

More than a million refugees and migrants reached European shores after taking boats across the Mediterranean in 2015, while at least 211,108 have made the trip so far this year, according to the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR.

An estimated 55,000 refugees and migrants are bottlenecked in Greece since Macedonia sealed its borders in March, along with other countries across the Balkans.

In northern Greeces Evzoni, police arrested at least 26 volunteers while forcibly evicting refugees and migrants from unrecognised camps near a hotel and a pair of petrol stations located a few kilometres from the Macedonian border on Monday.

Back in the Souda camp, Walaa, who was a teacher back in the Syrian city of Homs, lives in a cramped container with her husband, two children and two other families. We are being made to live like animals here, she says, declining to provide her last name for fear of her relatives safety back home.

A group of children kick a fooball behind her as camp residents made their way to the food and medicine queues near the camps entrance. A few dozen metres away, a pair of young boys toss stones into the water.

I dont care if they send us back to Turkey, but they should do it already, Walaa said.

Follow Patrick Strickland on Twitter: @P_Strickland_
Immigration head says Farrokh Sekaleshfar will not be able to return easily after inflammatory comments about gays.

A cleric has left Australia after comments he made against homosexuality sparked a government review of his visa, officials said.

Farrokh Sekaleshfar, a British citizen, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation at Sydney Airport on Tuesday night that he had decided to leave after discussions with the Muslim community.

He said that he had not been asked to leave by the Australian government.

Peter Dutton, the minister for immigration and border protection, said on Wednesday that the cleric left before Duttons department cancelled his visa on Tuesday night.

This individual has decided to leave of his own accord last night, which we welcome and it will be very difficult if not impossible for him to return back to our country, Dutton told Radio 5AA.

Sekaleshfar came under investigation over a newspaper report quoting comments he had made about homosexuality during a lecture at the University of Michigan in 2013.

The Australian newspaper reported that Sekaleshfar said: Death is the sentence for gay sex acts in public.

Out of compassion, lets get rid of them now, he reportedly added.

Cleric denies inciting hatred

Sekaleshfar told ABC his comments had been taken out of context. He expressed sympathy for the families of those killed in the Orlando, Florida, gay nightclub and denied that his comments could have inspired such a mass shooting.

No speech, especially when youre not inciting any hatred, and it was given three years ago  that would never lead to such a massacre, he said.

Sekaleshfar said the suspect of the Orlando shooting followed the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS).

That animal, they are connecting me to him [gunman Omar Mateen]. Not at all. He was an ISIS sympathiser, a follower of [Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr] al-Baghdadi, these people are criminals, Sekaleshfar said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Wednesday that he would investigate why Sekaleshfar had not been placed on a watch list that would have alerted authorities to his visa application.

The moment that this mans presence and what he had said was drawn to our attention, the minister [Dutton] and I spoke about it, the minister acted decisively and his visa was revoked, Turnbull told Radio 2GB.

Immigration rules questioned

Sekaleshfar arrived in Sydney last Tuesday as a guest speaker of the Imam Husain Islamic Centre.

Dutton said he had ordered the visa review after becoming aware on Monday of the clerics presence in Australia.

A gun attack on a gay nightclub in Florida that left 49 dead has focused Australias current election campaign on the threat posed by hardline groups. Australians go to the polls on July 2.

Turnbull said that if his conservative coalition is re-elected, he would propose legislation to ensure that people convicted of terrorism offences could remain in prison after serving their sentences if a court ruled that they continued to pose a threat to society.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten questioned whether cost-cutting in border security had enabled Sekaleshfar to obtain a visa.

This government has allowed  a visa to be issued to someone with despicable, abhorrent views of gay hate, of homophobia of the most violent and vile nature, Shorten told reporters. The government needs to explain how this fellow got in.
Kanjak, South Sudan  Awae Koeks grandmother Abanga Kok would usually be in charge of the children today, but inside the house she is lying on the floor groaning in pain, her eyes barely open.

Weeks earlier doctors diagnosed Abanga with a stomach parasite normally seen off quickly by a healthy immune system. But Abanga is also suffering from acute malnutrition, leading the doctors to question if shes strong enough to survive the illness. Antibiotics would help, but her family cant afford to buy them.

Since her grandmother became ill, Awae, 14, stands against the earthen wall of the family home watching over her young siblings. Their father is at the market buying what little food they can afford.

He is now a single parent as their mother left some months ago, fleeing the familys village of Kanjak to Sudan without saying goodbye. Many people in the village have left because of food insecurity, says Chout Kur Athian, the village chief.

We have nothing to eat now, Awae says of her and her family. It is late afternoon, but the last time she ate solid food was yesterday. Earlier she foraged some leaves from nearby trees and used them to make a thin soup.

Kanjak is situated in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, a region of South Sudan close to the border with its neighbour Sudan. It has recently entered phase 4, an emergency on the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) scale, used by governments and humanitarian organisations to measure the severity of food shortages.

For some, phase 4 means gaps of days between meals. More than 20 percent of the population also suffer from acute malnutrition, while the death rate among the most vulnerable  the old and the young  increases significantly. The next phase on the scale is full-blown famine.

Northern Bahr el Ghazal is a region of South Sudan that is usually self-sufficient in food, but because of an economic collapse in parts of the country and two years of poor rains, it is unable to provide for itself this year.

The day after Al Jazeera first met Awaes grandmother her condition had not improved. One of Abangas daughters arrived at the house and was sitting beside her on the dusty floor, brushing flies from her mothers face.

She is unable to pass urine or stool, says her daughter, who believes her liver is failing.

The family had been relatively prosperous after they moved from Khartoum in Sudan to Kanjak. They owned cows given as a marriage dowry, but have since been forced to sell them.

Northern Bahr el Ghazal is especially vulnerable to economic problems as many families, such as Abangas, are former refugees who have returned to the area after 2005s peace agreement with Sudan.

Many were urban dwellers in Sudan and since returning do not have access to agricultural lands nor the skills to manage them. This means they are reliant on buying food from the market where prices have risen sharply, while familys livelihoods have rapidly declined.

The UNs World Food Programme (WFP) food distribution was happening in the village that day, but Abangas family had not received any of the sorghum being handed out.

The UN relies on village chiefs to assist in identifying those most in need of food, but an argument had broken out between two chiefs as to whose responsibility Abanga and her family fell under.

They were eventually given enough sorghum to last a few days, but this represents just one of the problems the UN face when distributing aid in complicated circumstances.

George Fominyen, from the WFP, says action needs to be taken quickly if the situation in Northern Bahr el Ghazal is to improve.

There are only a few weeks before rains make the roads leading to these places impassable. After that, we are stuck with what [food] we have, which isnt enough.

The WFP in South Sudan currently has a shortfall of $106m in its food distribution budget.

The government is in an inadequate position to help. Since civil war ended a year ago, South Sudans peace process has stalled as rebel leader Riek Machar remained in exile in the countrys northern states.

In early May he returned to Juba and was reinstated as vice president, sparking hope that a new government unifying the previously warring Dinka and Neur tribes would bring a new momentum towards solving some of the countrys numerous problems. This has yet to materialise.

South Sudans economy is largely dependent on oil exports and has been so badly affected by plummeting oil prices internationally that in January reports suggested the country was actually losing money on every barrel it produces.

In December, the South Sudanese pound was devalued by 84 percent, which has led to sharp increases in the prices of staple foods as the country depends largely on imports.

Poor rains last year, as well as this years El Nino felt across Africa, have also taken a toll.

As a result there has been an exodus of people from the villages in Northern Bahr el Ghazal to Sudan where prospects for families to feed themselves are said to be better. According to the WFP, 38,000 have left the region surrounding Kanjak  known as Aweil East  since February, about 7.6 percent of the population.

In the past the UN has provided residents with sheets of corrugated steel, used as an alternative to the traditional thatched roofing.

When people decide to leave [the village] they roll up the sheets and sell them for a few pounds, explains Chout. Many of the houses lie empty with gaping holes where the roof once was.

Some even have mounds of sand piled outside, the graves of their former inhabitants. Malnutrition is the primary cause of death, Chout says.

One such house, stripped of its roof and windows, belonged to Mhial Awach, whose wife left with his four children shortly before he died in December. He used to cut timber for a living and tried to cultivate ground nuts and sorghum, but the crop failed and he started losing weight.

Awach died after complaining of constipation and stomach pains. The other villagers said they were unable to offer support as they had no food themselves.

Despite the fact Abanga and her family had been given food from the distribution, the WFP decided the best course of action was to take her to a nearby hospital. A local man and Abangas daughter lifted her into the back of a WFP 44. She pleaded with them to stop.

The vehicle traversed the potholed route to the hospital while her cries of pain followed the uneven contours of the road. By the time she arrived at the hospital she was exhausted and lay almost lifeless with her daughter perched on the end of the bed.

As for Abanga, she has now been discharged from hospital, but her condition has not improved. Like South Sudans economy and Northern Bahr el Ghazals most vulnerable, her fate hangs in the balance.
A bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Katko to study whether Fort Ontario and the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum in Oswego should be added to the national park system is headed to the House floor for a vote.

The House Committee on Natural Resources approved the Fort Ontario Study Act Wednesday, which clears the way for consideration by the full House.

Katko, R-Camillus, introduced the bill in December and testified in support of the measure at a House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands meeting in May.

"This legislation takes the first step in preserving the legacy of a historic gem in our community," Katko said.

Fort Ontario was utilized during several wars, including the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War and War of 1812.

In the final years of World War, it was transformed into a refugee camp and provided shelter for nearly 1,000 refugees, most of whom were Holocaust survivors.

The federal government transferred the site to the state in 1946. It was used to house World War II veterans and their families, according to the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

The fort is now a state historic site.

"(Fort Ontario) already draws visitors from across the nation and its designation as a national park would preserve the history of this site and continue to boost our region's growing tourism-based economy," Katko said.

The push to establish Fort Ontario as a national park is supported by many local stakeholders and federal officials. Katko's bill is cosponsored by U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, who represents the eastern portion of Oswego County.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has introduced the Fort Ontario Study Act in the Senate. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for review.
Utility company says there has been broad reduction in water supply to large parts of Palestinian territory.

Israels national water company has denied cutting crucial water supplies to large parts of the occupied West Bank during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, saying there was only broad reduction in water supply to the Palestinian territory.

As a result of the shortage of water supply in the West Bank  we have made a broad reduction of the supply to all residents in the area, utility company Mekorot told Al Jazeera late on Wednesday.

All the facilities are working and the capability to supply is less than the rate of consumption. The water authority recently approved a master plan for the water sector and accordingly we will build the systems that will meet the West Banks required consumption, the company added.

READ MORE: Israel cuts water supplies to West Bank during Ramadan

On Tuesday, the executive director of the Palestinian Hydrology Group, an NGO focusing on water and sanitation issues, told Al Jazeera that water was totally siphoned off in some Palestinian areas before and during Ramadan days.

Some areas had not received any water for more than 40 days, Ayman Rabi said.

People are relying on purchasing water from water trucks or finding it from alternative sources such as springs and other filling points in their vicinity, he said.

Families are having to live on two, three or 10 litres per capita per day, he said, adding that in some areas they had started rationing water.

Authorities in the city of Jenin, which has a population of more than 40,000 people, said its water supplies had been cut by half, and warned that it would hold Mekorot solely responsible for any tragedies resulting from water shortages during the hot summer months.

Pipe burst

An Israeli military coordinator in the occupied West Bank told Al Jazeera that a pipe that supplies water to various villages had burst, causing shortage of water.



Israel cuts water supply to West Bank

Israeli civil administration teams spent hours repairing it. It was fixed, the water flow has been regulated since then and is currently up and running, the coordinator told Al Jazeera.

According to the UN, 7.5 litres per person per day is the minimum requirement for most people under most conditions but in some areas of Palestine  where temperatures exceed 35C  the minimum requirement is much higher.

Since 1967, Israel has limited the water available to Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip since its forces occupied the territories.

Israelis, including settlers, consume five times more water than Palestinians in the West Bank, 350 litres per person per day in Israel compared with 60 litres per Palestinian per day in the West Bank.
Breaking records two decades ago was a noteworthy event, now it is commonplace. Abnormal is the new normal, said David Carlson, director of the World Climate Research Programme within NASAs Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

The state of the climate so far this year gives us much cause for alarm, he added. The rapid changes in the Arctic are of particular concern. What happens in the Arctic affects the rest of the globe.

Snow and Ice

Satellite records of Arctic sea ice cover go back 38 years, and this May shows the sparsest sea ice cover yet observed. Northern hemisphere snow cover measurements go back to 1966 and this spring (March, April, and May) recorded the lowest extent on that record.

Snow started melting, in its retreat from Barrow, Alaska, on May 13. In 78 years of records, this annual retreat has never started this early.

Snow is highly reflective and effectively stops the sun warming the ground. When there is less snow cover or an early retreat, winter and spring sunshine warms the ground more, and sooner, than usual.

This is a positive feedback mechanism in that if the ground starts summer warmer than normal, it enters winter warmer than normal and prevents snow sticking or ice forming until later than is usual.

This process repeats itself year after year until, eventually, it no longer gets cold enough for snow to settle.

Temperature

This May was the hottest May on record. Spring was the hottest spring on record. Alaska had its warmest known spring by a wide margin. Most parts of Finland were 3C to 5C warmer than usual for May. Nuuk in Greenland saw an unprecedented June temperature of 24.8C on June 9. Australia had its warmest autumn to date.

Last years El Nino event contributed to the high temperatures and, in doing so, it simply boosted the background trend. Since the last big El Nino of 1997-98, carbon dioxide emissions produced by mankind have increased by 25 percent.

The CO2 content gives a measure of the atmospheres capacity to hold heat. It has long been measured on the Hawaiian island of Mauna Loa.

The figure of 400 parts per million CO2 was reached here in 2015. This amount of CO2 in the Earths atmosphere has not happened in human history but is likely to continue to rise.
US president welcomes spiritual leader for the fourth time, blamed by China for encouraging separatist forces.

US President Barack Obama has met the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, at the White House despite warnings by China that this would damage the bilateral diplomatic relations.

The closed-door meeting on Wednesday came at a time of heightened tensions between the US and China over Beijings assertive pursuit of territorial claims in East Asia.

Obamas fourth White House meeting with the Dalai Lama in the past eight years took place in the White House residence, instead of the Oval Office where the president normally meets world leaders.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the choice of the residence emphasised the personal nature of their meeting.

READ MORE: Obamas Dalai Lama greeting criticised by China

He said Obama had thanked the Dalai Lama for his condolences for the victims of Sundays mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida.

Earnest added that Obama had in the past spoken of his warm personal feelings for the Dalai Lama, appreciation of his teachings, and belief in preserving Tibets unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions.

At the same time, Earnest said the US position of considering Tibet part of China had not changed.

Warning from Beijing

Chinas foreign ministry said earlier it had lodged diplomatic representations with the US over the planned meeting, saying it would damage Chinese-US ties.

Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the meeting would encourage separatist forces, urging Washington to cease any support for Tibetan independence.

China considers the Dalai Lama a dangerous separatist.

The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet into exile in India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, says he wants genuine autonomy for Tibet, not independence.

On Wednesday, a Chinese observation ship shadowed a US aircraft carrier in the Western Pacific, the carriers commander said, as it joined warships from Japan and India for drills close to waters Beijing considers its backyard.

Japan and the US worry that China is extending its influence into the Western Pacific with submarines and surface vessels as it pushes territorial claims in the neighbouring South China Sea.

China has been angered by what it views as provocative US military patrols close to the islands. The US says the patrols are to protect freedom of navigation.
A report released by rights group The Syria Campaign accuses the United Nations of delivering 99 percent of its aid to government-controlled territories, and calls on the UN to restore its impartiality.

The report, based on interviews with aid workers, including current and former UN staff, finds the UN in Syria in breach of its humanitarian principles and at risk of fuelling the conflict.

Entitled Taking Sides: The United Nations loss of impartiality, independence and neutrality in Syria, the report documents how from the beginning of the conflict in Syria, the UN provided the Syrian government with an effective veto over aid deliveries to areas outside of government control, enabling its use of siege as a weapon of war.

The organisations fear of having visas revoked or being asked to leave Damascus has led to far-reaching and unnecessary capitulations to the Syrian government by the UN, the reports states, describing a culture of compliance among agencies in Damascus.

The UNs failure to set red lines for its operation has weakened its negotiating power with the Syrian government and allowed humanitarian aid to become party to the conflict in Syria, according to The Syria Campaign.

The report stated that the UN has allowed the Syrian government to direct aid from Damascus almost exclusively into its territories.

In April 2016, 88 percent of food aid delivered from inside Syria went into government-controlled territory. Twelve percent went into territories outside the governments control.

The reported added that in August 2015, the government directed over 99 percent of UN aid from inside the country to its territories.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, told Al Jazeera that to describe the UN humanitarian work in Syria as not being impartial or not being fair, discredits the amazing work of our colleagues, mostly Syrians, are doing every day to try to deliver aid to the Syrian people.

Systematic failure

There has been a systematic failure in the UN-led response. Rather than basing its response on need, it has developed into a billion-dollar response programme that is largely controlled by the regime and its proxies, Roger Hearn, former head of UN agency UNRWA in Damascus, said.

Assaad al-Achi, director of Baytna Syria (Syria is our home), accused the UN of losing its credibility in the conflict in Syria and called on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to restore the UNs credibility by setting conditions on its relationship with the Syrian government.

Backers of the report are calling on Ban to draw a line and set conditions for its relationship with the Syrian government aimed at protecting its humanitarian principles.

If those conditions are not met, then the UN must withdraw cooperation with the Syrian government, the report states.

The report was signed by groups such as the Syria Civil Defence, known as the White Helmets, Basmeh and Zeitooneh, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the Violations Documentation Center and dozens of Syrian humanitarian organisations, local councils and civil society groups.
Rifts remain after deadly anti-Muslim riots in 2014 killed four and caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

Dharga Town, Sri Lanka  For those who live in Muslim-majority Dharga Town on the southwest coast, life will never be the same again.

While peace and tranquility now blanket this quiet town as residents observe the holy month of Ramadan, the scene was sharply different two years ago when Buddhist mobs launched a violent rampage against Muslims and their property.

I can never be normal again. I live in perpetual fear, said Nasir Zarook, 28, a shop owner from a wealthy neighbourhood.

His home and 10 vehicles he owned were destroyed when Buddhist attackers lobbed grenades. He escaped death but suffered head injuries after being attacked with clubs. Life will never be the same, said Nasir.

His home was among 90 houses destroyed in communal violence on June 15, 2014, when ethnic Sinhalese mobs led by the hardline Bodu Bala Sena  or Buddhist Power Force, a nationalist group  went on a rampage in three Muslim-dominated towns in the coastal district of Kalutara.



Sri Lanka mudslides bury 150 people: Red Cross

The two-day assault on Dharga Town, Aluthgama and Beruwala came after an anti-Muslim protest organised by Bodu Bala Senas leader, Ven Galagodaaththe Gnanasa Thera, who made an inflammatory speech urging Sinhalese to sever all ties with Muslims  and to behave like the true majority.

The demonstration was reportedly called in response to a Buddhist priest being verbally threatened by a Muslim. Bodu Bala Sena has said it was not responsible for the violence.

Anti-Muslim riots

The 2014 communal riots  curiously coinciding with the 100th anniversary of Buddhist-Muslim bloodshed  left three Muslims and one Tamil dead. More than 10,000 people were displaced, some 8,000 Muslims and 2,000 Sinhalese, while another 80 were wounded.

I fear being targeted again. I will feel safe only when I leave Dharga Town, said Nasir. Neighbours turned into attackers, he noted, even though many perpetrators were not from the area and still roam free. Where is justice?

For AH Mohammed, 64, a retired director of education from the national Ministry of Education, the vandalism cost him more than $55,600. His 32-year-old son suffered severe emotional trauma following the attacks, fell ill, and died two years later.

Its as if suffering our lost home wasnt enough. We also had to lose him, said Mohammed.

Built homes, lost hope

Most homes destroyed in 2014 have been rebuilt and families have returned. But for many their livelihoods were wiped out with about 40 businesses demolished.

Our businesses have not been compensated, only the homes have been rebuilt. How do we move forward? said Nasir, whose own losses amounted to $21,000.

For Thowffiq Samsudeen, a shop owner from Beruwala, it was as if the mobs went after people with some means.

We were all brothers just the previous day. For years, we have been feasting together and living peacefully, he said.

Gamini Viyangoda is from the civil society organisation Puravesi Balaya, or Citizens Force.

The group led a campaign against the then-government of Mahinda Rajapaksa, a Sinhalese nationalist hardliner whose administration was accused of turning a blind eye to the violence.

There was growing radicalisation, fanned by the then-governments policy of Sinhala majoritarianism. The violence was a byproduct of an unspoken policy. The core of the 2014 violence was located within the government itself, said Viyangoda.

Ven Watareka Wjitha thera is a campaigner for interfaith dialogue who is seeking to create a lasting peace between the communities.

Institutional structures have been created, but whether this reaches ground level is a problem, he said.

We need to reinforce the idea of coexistence in a multi-religious and multicultural Sri Lanka, where our affection and love for each other can prevail over attempts to divide us. Thats our lesson from two years ago.
Syrian activists demand answers on the fate of thousands of detainees languishing in regime and opposition prisons.

Beirut  In early May, hundreds of detainees at Syrias Hama central prison went into a week-long revolt to protest against the planned transfer of five inmates to the notorious Sednaya prison near Damascus, purportedly so that they could be executed.

The prisoners, many of whom are held without charge, rioted in solidarity.

Seven prison guards were taken hostage. Prisoners demanded basic rights, including a fair trial or release.

A deal, however, was soon reached resulting in the release of 83 prisoners held without charge.

Two weeks later, a similar scene played out again when inmates captured a high-ranking police officer to protest at what they say was the governments reneging on an earlier deal to release several hundred political detainees.

Inmates have previously demanded the restoration of electricity and water amid food shortages and serious medical conditions among prisoners, according to to UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Both incidents highlighted the plight of thousands of detainees who are languishing in government prisons in appalling conditions. Both rights groups and opposition negotiators had hoped the first Hama standoff would push Syrias forgotten detainees back to the forefront of the Syria peace talks.

As the whole world has come to know, the brave prison revolt that detainees in Hama prison staged has restored the issue of detainees to the forefront of media and international attention, wrote Anas al-Abdah, president of the oppositions National Coalition, to the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) in mid-May.

READ MORE: Syrias Civil War Explained

As the popular uprising, that broke out in March 2011, has turned into an armed conflict, rights groups say that both government and anti-government forces have arrested thousands of activists and civilians.

Those detainees have no voices. Nobody knows anything about them. by Sakher Idris, a Syrian activist

Between 2011 and 2015, the Syrian Network for Human Rights documented the arrest and detention of more than 117,000 people mostly by government security forces. The Syrian observatory, however, put the number at 500,000 detained and disappeared during the same period.

Last April, the main opposition negotiating group, High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said it has a list of 150,000 detainees. An unknown number of detainees are held by rebel armed groups.

According to a recent observatory report, more than 60,000 people have been killed through torture or have died in dire humanitarian conditions inside regime prisons during the countrys five-year uprising  although other monitoring groups, such as the Syrian Network for Human Rights, quote lower figures.

Different numbers come down to different methodologies.

In a December 2015 report, Human Rights Watch said that its researchers had found evidence of widespread torture, starvation, beatings, and disease in government jails and detention centres. UN investigators and human rights groups have documented abuses inside these facilities amounting to war crimes.

Frustrated by a lack of progress from the official opposition and the international community, Syrian activists in Europe launched a new campaign last month ito refocus attention on the plight of tens of thousands of people detained or disappeared in the past five years.

The Detainees First Campaign held its first protest in central Paris on June 11. According to the campaigns founding statement: There is international responsibility towards the continuance of the incarceration of detainees and kidnapped everywhere in Syria, whether at the hands of the Syrian regime  or at the hands of various warlords.

According to Syrian journalist and activist Sakher Idris, a member of the Detainees First, the campaign aims to to spotlight those held  especially those in secret prisons  whether in Syrian regime areas, or other opposition-held areas. Those detainees have no voices, he added. Nobody knows anything about them.

The campaign includes activists, artists, actors and journalists from Syria. Some have had their own experience with imprisonment, including Idris himself.

Idriss father and uncle were arrested in the mid-1970s, faced political charges under Syrias Emergency Law and were thrown into prison. They would not be released until 1991, under the first in a series of prisoner amnesties implemented by Hafez al-Assad, father of the current president.

Idris says harassment from the authorities was enough for them to leave the country.

For Idris, past informs the present. This is a habit of the regime, he said. Theyve been detaining people for a long time. And theyve been detaining people since the first days of the [2011] revolution.

In November, a UN Human Rights Council report , based on 621 interviews, accused the Syrian government of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including extermination in its detention facilities. It claimed that tens of thousands of people are detained by the Syrian Government at any one time.

The report found that other parties to the conflict, including armed opposition groups such as the al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS), were also guilty of war crimes  including torture and summary executions. The situation of detainees is critical, and represents an urgent and large-scale crisis of human rights protection, it added.

Staffan de Mistura, the UNs special envoy to Syria, recently appointed Eva Svoboda, formerly of the International Committee of the Red Cross, to handle the issue of those being held and disappeared persons as part of the ISSGs humanitarian task force  seemingly in an attempt to reinvigorate trust on both sides.





International diplomats have long said that discussions about detainees, as well as mutual prisoner releases, could provide a key confidence-building measure going in to future talks.

Yet the very future of the Syria peace talks remains uncertain.

On Tuesday, De Mistura said that the UN would not hold another round of Syria peace talks until officials on all sides agreed the parameters for a political transitional deal.

Additionally, Mohammed Alloush, Jaish al-Islam representative and chief negotiator with the oppositions HNC, the opposition platform created in Saudi Arabia last December, recently resigned from his position.

Alice Mufarej, a member of the HNCs human rights team, said that the onus for the success of future negotiations on Syrias detainees depends on the international community and the Syrian regime. The [HNC] negotiating team has not failed to complete the detainees file, the international community has failed to implement its legal and ethical obligations  and force the regime to respect UN resolutions.

The regime is trying to politicise the detainees file, to use it as pressure and blackmail during negotiations, Mufarej claimed, adding that the HNC has made repeated demands for the regime to halt executions, release political prisoners  particularly women and children  and allow international inspections of detention sites.

However, Mufarej added, there had been little progress until now. Government negotiators have previously disputed the oppositions numbers on those held in Syria.

Idris, from the Detainees First campaign, says that activists, frustrated by the politics of the negotiating table, must now take matters into their own hands. We have to try and put pressure on the negotiations, to pressure governments, he said.

The international community has ignored this case. The media has been absent. Theyre always talking about air strikes, or about Daesh [ISIL], while forgetting what the regime does, Idris argued. OK  but where are the detainees?
Top US diplomat warns Syria and its ally Russia to respect frayed ceasefire as death toll mounts amid fresh fighting.

John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has warned the Syrian regime and its main military backer Russia to respect frayed ceasefire and said that its patience was not infinite amid mounting death toll.

Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite. In fact it is very limited with whether or not [Bashar] al-Assad is going to be held accountable, Kerry said on Wednesday after meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in the Norwegian capital, Oslo.



Children among dozens killed in Aleppo strike

Kerry also met defence ministers from Syria, Iran and Russia in an effort to halt the fighting, particularly in the northern city of Aleppo, where raging battle has claimed dozens of lives in the past two days.

We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition who have been involved in continuing violence, he said.

The Syrian conflict has drawn in world powers, with the US, along with regional powers, largely backing the moderate rebels while Russia began a military offensive in support of the Assad regime in September.

A Moscow and Washington-backed ceasefire has been in place since February 27, but a fresh bout of fighting broke out in April that stalled the UN peace talks in Geneva.

More than 280,000 people have been killed since the start of Syrias war in 2011, and millions have been displaced, the UN estimates.

READ MORE: Syria civil war  224 killed in first week of Ramadan

It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place, Kerry said. We know that, we have no illusion.

Efforts are under way, he said, to reach a new agreement in the next week or two to reinstate the ceasefire across Syria, leading to more humanitarian aid deliveries and a resumption of the peace process.

The Assads regime has stepped up its military campaign against the ISIL, also known as ISIS, and rebels, especially in the city of Aleppo.

Russian forces have also attacked many rebel groups and civilian areas under the justification of attacking ISIL and al-Nusra Front  both excluded from the ceasefire.

Washington has been pushing for cessation of hostilities amid deteriorating humanitarian situation.

This is a critical moment and we are working very, very hard to see if we can in the next week or two come to an agreement that has a capacity to more fully implement a ceasefire across the country and deliver humanitarian access in a way that then provides for a genuine opportunity to bring people to the table and start talking about a transition, he said.

Im not going to make any promises to be delivered on but I do believe the conversation I had with Zarif indicates to me possibilities for how this could be achieved, Kerry said.

Earlier this month, the UN said the Syrian government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas, where nearly 600,000 people live surrounded mostly by government forces.
Damascus says French and German special forces are active in its territory but Germanys defence ministry rejects claim.

The Syrian government has accused Germany and France of blatant interference in its affairs by allegedly deploying special forces in its territory.

The German defence ministry immediately issued a rebuke of the Syrian claim on Tuesday, denying its troops were in the country.

There are no German special forces in Syria. The accusation is false, a ministry spokesman said

An earlier report carried by the state-owned Syrian Arab News Agency said French and German troops were operating in the Ain al-Arab and Manbij areas.

Officials at the Syrian foreign ministry called the presence an overt unjustified aggression on Syria, according to the report.

Kurdish offensive

Ain al-Arab, which is also known as Kobane, and Manbij are territories controlled by Syrian Kurdish factions, who are allied to Western states.

Kurdish groups are involved in an offensive against territories held by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group in northeastern Syria.

The fighters are backed by US-coalition air strikes and special forces advisers from the United States and allegedly France and other Western countries.

Both France and Germany have soldiers in neighbouring Iraq training Kurdish Peshmerga forces to take on ISIL in that country.

After its initial advances in the summer of 2014, ISIL is struggling to hold on to its gains under bombardment from the coalition and having to fend off rival armies and factions on multiple fronts.
Fishing communities in Malawi are getting higher prices for their dried fish thanks to simple solar drying technology.

A project to provide fishing communities around Lake Malawi with a cheap and effective way to dry their catch is boosting earnings and improving lives.

Made from a polythene sheet and a simple wooden frame, the drying tents have been designed to trap warm air inside and dry the fish faster, even during rainy weather.

Processers and mongers involved in the fish business will profit a lot, Alexandra Kefi, Project Leader for Cultivate Africas Future, told Al Jazeera.

Catches lost in the course of processing will be greatly minimised. This means there will be more money from the same commodity and quantities.

Researchers estimate that for every 10 fish caught, four are spoiled and their value lost before they can be sold, largely because they rot during the drying process.

Processers welcome the innovation

For those making their living from selling dried fish, such as Stevina Chitedze from Mchenga Njala village in Zomba, the solar tent has resulted in cleaner and better-quality fish, which fetch higher prices and have a longer shelf life.

This innovation provides a more conducive environment for drying fish compared to open fish drying. Open drying exposes fish to dust, house flies and poor sanitation, Chitedze told Al Jazeera.

Before using the solar tents, the fish were dried in the open on wire racks.

During the rainy season they would often spoil before being properly dried, forcing them to be thrown out or reducing the prices they fetch at market.

As a result of the high-quality fish products produced from this innovation, fish processors are now capable of supplying high protein-rich food to orphanages, secondary schools and shops within the communities, Hamisa Nyapesa, from the project Nsomba Nchuma (Wealth in Fish), told Al Jazeera.

Despite dwindling fish stocks in Lake Malawi, dried fish remains a primary source of protein for many people in the region and contributes about 4 percent of the countrys GDP.

The industry employs more than 50,000 fishermen and more than 35,000 people are involved in related industries; fish processing, fish marketing, net-making and boat building.

Stopping deforestation

The low-tech solar tents are having another unexpected effect on the areas where they have been built.

By drying the fish using the suns energy, there is now no need to cut down trees which were formerly used to smoke the fish.

Solar is a renewable energy and the fact that it is reducing deforestation, this is good initiative, Cullen Kamanga, a biologist who graduated from the University of Malawi, told Al Jazeera.

This means that forest resources will be spared.

Kamanga says the solar tents will help producers to improve the quality of their dried fish, but they must also strive to ensure their finished product is consistent.

Having fragmented fishermen producing fish will most likely lead to varying qualities among the finished products, he said.

The project, which also operates in Zambia, is funded by Canadas International Development Research Centre and the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research.

It is continuing to modify the design of the drying tent, to ensure that it delivers the right balance of ventilation and warmth.

Once the design is finalised the project plans to roll it out to more communities in eastern and central Malawi.
ORLANDO  About 5,000 people stood packed together in smothering humidity at Orlandos Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Monday.

A sea of candles dotted the crowd, and chants such as Peace. Love. Pulse emanated from the masses. Many listened intently as LGBTQ+ representatives, local government officials and religious leaders honored the 49 people who died after a shooting at Pulse nightclub Sunday morning.

We love Orlando, said Ron Legler, the co-owner of the club. We opened Pulse for a place for you to feel safe and we will re-build that Pulse Orlando.

Equality Florida hosted the event alongside partner organizations, such as the Human Rights Campaign, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, First Unitarian Church of Orlando and about 12 others.

A rainbow of colors spanned across signs that read Orlando will be strong and LOVE conquers HATE, and throughout the flowers held by cheering visitors.

Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan focused her speech on compassion and recovery.

I have seen the power of love in Orlando, and Im looking at it right now, she said to the audience. Orlando, we will get through this because we are a city that loves, and love conquers hate.

Carlos Guillermo Smith, the government affairs manager for Equality Florida, told the crowd gun violence and bigotry against the LGBTQ+ community ultimately caused the massacre.

Equality Florida, our LGBTQ Floridians, we all stand in solidarity, not just with the Latino community, but as well with the Muslim and Islamic community in opposition to intolerance and discrimination and hate crimes that our people continue to face, he said.

Not only did the gunman attack the LGBTQ+ community where it felt most safe, Smith said, but he also attacked the Hispanic community.

As I watch the families hugging their families, and we see the pictures on TV, I realize they look like my family, he said.

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Local firefighter Paul Urquijo joined the crowd and reflected on his own experience. Though he partied just like many others Sunday morning, Urquijo said he did so in the safety of another venue down the road.

He said it was impressive to watch thousands of people gather in solidarity Monday, bringing the city together for an evening.

Still, he said, the attack will remain a shock to his community.

I was just having a conversation about how safe it is out here, Urquijo said. Sure enough, this [attack] happens.
A bill named for a 1-year-old Syracuse girl who police say was killed by her father in February was approved Tuesday by the New York State Senate.

The Senate passed "Maddox's Law," legislation sponsored by state Sen. John DeFrancisco that would create a new charge of first-degree murder when the victim is 12 years old or younger.

The charge also would carry a tougher penalty  a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, said current law reserves first-degree murder for those who kill correctional facility employees, doctors, first responders, judges and nurses.

"The killing of a young defenseless child is one of the most heinous crimes, since the perpetrator has a significant physical and emotional advantage over the victim," DeFrancisco said. "We need to change the law so that the punishment for the crime adequately reflects the severity of the crime."

DeFrancisco's bill is named for Maddox Lawrence. Authorities say Maddox was killed by her father, Ryan Lawrence, in February. Her body was found in the Syracuse inner harbor.

Ryan Lawrence is facing a first-degree murder charge.

After the Senate's action Tuesday, DeFrancisco's bill has been sent to the Assembly for consideration. It's unknown whether the Assembly will hold a vote on Maddox's Law before the legislative session ends Thursday.
June is my favorite month for several reasons: It's my birthday month, it's the start of summer, and this June marks my 15-year anniversary at Allure as well as my 27-year anniversary in this crazy business of models, beauty, and fashion. And I can trace my humble beginnings in the industry to two words: Cindy Crawford.

As as preteen, my first magazine subscriptions were YM and Rolling Stone. Fast-forward to 1988 and Rolling Stone's annual Hot Issue, in which I first laid eyes on Cindy in an editorial shot by the legendary Patrick Demarchelier. I was fangirling before the term was even coined.

I'd always been fascinated with models, but there was something about Cindy that made her seem more alive in photos than anyone else (and back then, I hadn't really subscribed to any of the high-fashion magazines). I knew I wanted to work at a model agency (her model agency), and I knew I wanted to (hopefully) meet her.

Yeah, OK, that just made me sound a like a stalker, but I swear on my vintage 1976 Gibson electric guitar that I'm not.

I took to the public library (no Internet back then, kids) to research which agency represented (that's "repped" in industry-speak) Cindy, and found Elite Model Management, home to many supermodels of the era, including Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell (more about them another time). I became an intern at Elite in June 1989, and upon my college graduation in December of that year, I was hired full time at the agency.

That December, I also met Cindy.
           2005     ..        
In the debate over how consumers' data can be used by retailers and marketers, banks seem largely paralyzed on the issue, letting others argue the merits of more or less data access. Yet with the push for data privacy possibly leading to costly new regulations, now is the time for banks to weigh in. If they don't, they run the risk that the public policy debate could eventually hurt their historical "trusted agent" position.

The current data privacy debate is contentious and unproductive. At one extreme are powerful digital aggregators and fintech players arguing that they must be free to mine and use consumer data without restrictions in order to bring consumers convenience, choice and better service. At the other extreme, consumer advocates contend that data mining and sharing is a fundamental violation of consumer privacy. As the two camps go on arguing in circles, digital commerce is rapidly expanding  online shopping accounted for 39% of 2015 U.S. holiday sales  exposing consumer data to unprecedented vulnerabilities.

Banks may be cautious about wading into the debate since the two extremes seem impractical. They would not want to be seen calling for unfettered freedom for businesses to use and share consumer data, nor are they likely to support making all consumer data off limits. But there is an alternative solution in between: putting consumers in the driver's seat of deciding how their data can be used and by whom.

The financial services industry's voice in the data privacy policy debate would carry considerable weight. Research shows that consumers trust their primary bank to safeguard their personal information far more than they trust digital aggregators and digital commerce players like Amazon, Apple or Google. And banks should get involved in the debate over privacy policy before events beyond their control take hold.

The U.S. has a history of enacting regulations in reaction to "data privacy" crises. Nixon-era abuses triggered the creation of a special Senate committee led by Frank Church to look into government spying on civilians, which in turn led to the 1978 Right to Financial Privacy Act. More recently, the 2015 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act was in part a response to the 2013 Target data breach, and some of Facebook's practices have triggered a call for congressional hearings. And so it goes.

There has been a strong call for privacy protections in the wake of the Edward Snowden revelations about government snooping. But how might U.S. lawmakers and regulators react to a private-sector version of that story: a company using consumer data in highly invasive and objectionable ways? The consequence could be painful restrictions on how companies, including banks, access and use data.

One template for how government policymakers could respond in such an event is the onerous restrictions of the European Union Data Protection Directive, which is a favorite model of many privacy and consumer advocates in the U.S. The populist and often anti-bank rhetoric of this year's presidential primary campaign further underscores that, in the wake of a crisis around data privacy, banks could be saddled with heavy new regulatory burdens even though they likely played no part in the triggering crisis.

As tech aggregators and consumer advocates continue to approach the issue from opposite ends, banks could take a high road that calls for neither unlimited access by businesses to consumer data nor a complete clampdown.

Specifically, banks could support empowering consumers to take charge of their own data exposure by allowing them to set their own risk tolerances regarding data sharing. There are already multiple precedents for this type of path. The Truth in Lending Act helps consumers make informed choices about the release of their information during the credit process. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act empowers individuals to decide how much of their medical history to reveal and to whom.

Research by Pew and others has long shown that consumers are willing to share information  if they can choose when and where  and that most favor opt-in approaches that would give them more control over how their personal data is collected and used.

As the institutions consumers trust most with their personal information, banks seem well positioned to have a lead voice in the debate over privacy policy. In arguing for a middle ground approach, the financial services industry could collaboratively advocate for public policy while backing consumers' "data rights." This would position banks as dedicated protectors of consumer interests in the digital age.

Banks could also take an active role in building data aggregation platforms that help consumers strike a balance between sharing and privacy, thereby creating new revenue streams and differentiating the financial services sector from other players in digital commerce.

Taking a more proactive role in the privacy debate might require banks to step outside of their comfort zone. But doing so now is preferable to letting other voices and events determine the eventual policy.

Bob Hedges is a partner and global leader of the Financial Institutions Practice at A.T. Kearney, a global strategy and management consulting firm. He can be reached at bob.hedges@atkearney.com.
Sometimes if the growth isn't there, you have to go out and create it.

That's part of Doral Financial's (DRL) motivation for developing several programs that help women entrepreneurs start or expand businesses. Programs such as these provide a way for community banks to promote their brand, differentiate themselves from competitors and bring in new business, industry experts say.

"We are getting our name out there through helping someone else who needs it," says Lucienne Gigante, senior vice president of public relations and marketing at the San Juan, Puerto Rico, company. "It's a way to not only say you are a community bank but actually show you are one through your actions."

The Puerto Rican economy has experienced a sluggish recovery with unemployment still hovering above 13%, almost twice as high as the U.S. figure. This has made it more difficult for Doral and other banks in the territory to deal with legacy problem loans and increase revenue. Doral, which has $8.5 billion of assets, reported a second-quarter loss of $12.8 million on declines in revenue and valuations of certain assets.

These economic factors spurred Doral into action with directives from top management to think outside the box, says Gigante, who leads the bank's social responsibility efforts. The company decided to divert funds away from traditional advertising to support corporate social responsibility efforts.

Whenever Doral Chief Executive Glen Wakeman was approached with ideas, "he always responded with 'Make it bigger,' " Gigante says. "We need to find ways to create employment, and it is not only the government's responsibility but private industry needs to as well."

This type of support for a philanthropic initiative from top executives is crucial, experts say. If the program isn't a priority for management then "the culture of the rest of the bank picks up on that," says Kathleen Burns Kingsbury, a wealth psychology expert and founder of KBK Wealth Connection.

Doral started in 2007 by making a donation to research of breast cancer  one of the leading causes of death among Puerto Rican women  for each opening of a special checking account. The bank then expanded its efforts by offering free mammograms to women out of a mobile unit stationed at its branches. Executives knew it had tapped into an unmet need when 150 women had lined up for the service by 7 a.m., Gigante says.

The company now works with women entrepreneurs through several programs. It gives capital to nonprofits, which then provide microloans and mentoring to women to start their own companies. Over the last two years it has also selected more than two dozen women to receive $50,000 each in loans and grants along with ongoing mentoring to expand their existing businesses.

Doral also hosts educational events at its branches where successful businesswomen lead seminars on everything from obtaining permits to marketing. More than 230 women attended the last event, Gigante says.

Hosting events in a branch can be more effective than other forms of traditional advertising, says Tom Truedson, president of the Core Organization, a marketing firm. Those that attend are already interested in the bank whereas "99% of the people mass advertisements hit" don't care, he adds.

Programs like Doral's that help businesses create jobs can have "a ripple effect," says Linda Gornitsky, president of LBG Associates, a corporate philanthropy consulting firm. Those businesses and their employees will require additional products and services from other sectors.

When launching outreach programs, banks need to ensure that they align their business goals with meeting a community need and addressing employee interests, Gornitsky says. A third of Puerto Rican households are led by women and more than half of the territory's population is female, executives say.

"It is in our interest from a business point of view and from a social responsibility stance that our community is healthy," says Jesus Mendez, executive vice president of Puerto Rico operations at Doral Bank. "It makes all the sense in the world. Rather than spending tons in advertising, our real investment is spending time assisting the community."

Doral executives are hoping that as these women expand their businesses, they will continue to come back to the bank for additional products. All of this is a long-term strategy that won't necessarily produce big results now but is an investment in the future, experts say. Every bit helps as the company continues to look for new retail deposits and loans. It had some success in the second quarter, reporting that loan production rose about 20% from a year earlier to $630.7 million.

"If someone gives you a grant or a small loan when a lot of other people don't believe in you, that is a powerful connection," Kingsbury says.

However, banks need to be careful when they develop programs geared toward women, experts warn. Executives "often assume we are one big homogenous group" but that isn't true, Kingsbury says. Banks need to decide on their target audience and then run focus groups to get feedback, she adds.

With many bank executives focused on controlling costs, there are inexpensive ways to engage in philanthropic efforts, Gornitsky says. Having employees provide consulting or other pro bono services to nonprofits is a great way to ensure widespread involvement. Engaged employees are usually happier, which increases retention and decreases recruitment costs.

"A lot of companies today have limited funds so they have to think about getting more bang for their buck," she says. "You shouldn't think about it as being cash poor but as being resource rich."
Community banks and credit unions have banded together to use their combined bargaining power to wrest better terms from what they regard as an oligopoly of core processing vendors.

Smaller financial institutions say unfair contract negotiations have been holding them back from developing consumer-facing services on the same level as the large national banks. A group that launched Wednesday, called the Golden Contract Coalition, wants to level the playing field by creating a standard agreement between its member institutions and their core vendors.

"The GCC is the first alliance of its kind where a group of like-minded institutions has the power to create huge waves in the financial industry," Aaron Silva, founder of the coalition and president and CEO of the consulting firm Paladin fs, said in a Wednesday news release. "The vendors and the banks need each other, but there has to be a fair balance established."

The coalition, based in Austin, Texas, has partnered with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, a law firm that specializes in IT contract negotiation, and plans to determine the master commercial terms and legal conditions under which all vendors would operate with the member banks, removing "excessive legalese and self-serving conditions" from agreements and pricing arrangements. This will return money to the community banks' and credit unions' bottom lines, the coalition says.

GCC member banks will also receive individual consulting and price negotiation support according to their asset size.

Community financial institutions have been burdened by underperforming IT functionality, unenforceable service-level agreements, unfavorable contract terms, and overpriced, one-sided deals, the GCC said.
Siri, will banks be ready to use you on launch day?

Come this fall, Apple will begin to allow third-party apps to access several of its internal capabilities, most notably Siri's application program interface. This means iPhone users will be able to ask the talking digital assistant to order an Uber car, check movie times on Fandango and initiate payments via the German neobank Number26.

But will major banks in the United States be ready to roll out Siri capabilities alongside other companies' apps on launch day, or will they take a wait-and-see approach? For most banks, the answer is almost certainly the latter. But the pressure is rising for it to be the former, observers say.

Consumers judge a bank's digital experience not against what another bank offers, but against all their other online and mobile interactions. And as companies outside the financial services sector quickly adopt the latest features, bankers may need to move quicker or hear about it from their customers.

"If you miss a critical feature on launch day, you're going to be playing catch-up and fighting App Store reviews asking for that functionality," said Sara Taylor Demos, senior digital strategist at Solstice Mobile, a digital consulting firm that works with several large financial services companies. Some of those bank clients are aiming to let customers connect via Siri at the launch day, she said. That date, which Apple hasn't yet set, is typically in late September.

"Our banking clients find value in being first-to-market with new iOS features, and it's twofold: customer experience for retention and media buzz driving acquisitions," Taylor Demos said. "There is value in being perceived as an innovative company." Tech-savvy customers "are purposely seeking out companies who champion rapid experimentation and helpful, even delightful, digital experiences in customer banking."

The process moves quickly  on Monday, Solstice met with banking clients to prioritize the new features of iOS10 that Apple announced that afternoon at its Worldwide Developers Conference.

"Launching on Day One takes precision and investment," Taylor Demos said.

The best proxy for what to expect with new features is Touch ID, the biometric feature that Apple opened up to third parties in 2014. Financial services firms like American Express, Discover Financial Services and BBVA's Simple were among the first to allow their customers to log in to their mobile apps via thumbprint. Banks like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America were slower to market, both releasing the feature well into 2015.

Simple says its early adoption of Touch ID was motivated by security, not by a desire to be first.

"It was never about being the first to market for bragging rights, it was about seizing the opportunity to make our customer experience even smoother and safer," said Amy Dunn, a spokeswoman for the BBVA unit. She later added, "Being first-to-market with modern technology can't be the only thing  it has to be coupled with user experience and customer service."

Simple is looking into voice capabilities, but Dunn said it has "no firm plans" yet.

Similarly, Wells Fargo says its interest has been piqued by the potential use of Siri, but it would not disclose a timetable for adopting it.

"For years we've experimented with alternative forms of data input, including voice, and are excited about tools like Apple's Siri and Amazon Echo," said Miranda Hill, manager of Wells Fargo's Digital Innovation Lab. "At this time, we don't have exact release dates to announce, but we look forward to continuing to discover how voice technology might make banking simpler and more convenient."

Several other banks contacted for this story would not discuss the Siri announcement.

While customers' expectations of new features might be growing, voice capabilities are an area where many banks are likely to step carefully and methodically.

"There is not the immediately clear benefit with voice as there was Touch ID. It is sexy, for sure, but will consumers really be interested?" asked Emmett Higdon, director of mobile for Javelin Strategy & Research. "I think there will still be a lot of 'wait and see.' "

Even Simple's Dunn noted that being an early adopter can be a gamble.

"The biggest challenge  in any industry  is knowing which of these innovations will hit mass-market appeal," Dunn said. "For a risk-averse industry like banking, that likely makes it challenging to invest in rolling out new technology without knowing if it will draw more customers."

Taylor Demos said that her firm and its clients conduct user experience validation testing to ensure customers want the capabilities and pivots if necessary. Also, the introduction of Siri isn't happening in a vacuum.

"Our banking customers are already experimenting with voice, such as [Amazon's] Alexa and biometrics, and they view Siri as another opportunity to expand their ecosystem," Taylor Demos said.

If banks are planning to take a wait-and-see approach, they ought to be prepared to answer questions about when they'll adopt Siri, said Ken Hans, a partner and executive director of Blackstone Technology Group, an IT consultancy.

"I don't think not having Siri on launch day would send customers into a fit, but they are going to want to hear from banks," Hans said. "So they should have a road map and be ready to talk about their plans."


Banks are expert at everyday community outreach. What their local markets don't demand, reinvestment rules generally do, and they know what needs to happen.

But no chief executive, no board member, no neighborhood liaison can be immediately certain how to respond to the mass killings that seem to be more prevalent in the U.S., with the latest  and worst example  having taken place in Orlando just days ago.

Florida bankers are reeling and looking for ways to help their customers and communities affected by the tragedy that left 49 people dead and dozens of others injured at the hands of a single killer who attacked a gay nightclub. Banks are doing everything from promoting blood drives to donating money to local organizations that support LGBT equality. But some are also considering ways that they can make a lasting impact, such as promoting tolerance and equality.

"It's definitely a sad time for Florida and a sad time for America," said Trevor Burgess, the chief executive of C1 Financial in St. Petersburg, Fla.

"This attack was an attack on the American people but also an attack on the gay and lesbian community," said Burgess, who is openly gay. "I know from talking with many of our employees they want to know what they can do to help."

'Forever  Touched'

One of the victims Sunday of gunman Omar Mateen was Christopher Sanfeliz, 24, from Tampa, a personal banker for JPMorgan Chase, according to local news reports. The company will "forever be touched by this tragedy," JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said in a statement sent to all U.S. employees on Monday.

The New York company has offered whatever support it can provide to employees, including counseling through its employee-assistance program, a spokeswoman said. The JPMorgan Chase Foundation has committed $300,000 to the OneOrlando Fund, which is run by Strengthen Orlando, a nonprofit that distributes money to various charities in the area. Additionally, JPMorgan will match donations made by employees up to $100,000 for a total of another $200,000 for related recovery efforts.

JPMorgan has roughly 3,000 employees in the greater Orlando area. Other employees lost family members and loved ones during the attack, the company said.

"Our prayers and sympathy go out to the families and friends who are mourning the loss of loved ones," Dimon said.

Citigroup, which has more employees in Florida than any state save New York, is also making a $100,000 donation through its foundation to the OneOrlando Fund.

EverBank in Jacksonville, Fla., will make a contribution to Equality Florida, an organization that lobbies for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, in addition to encouraging employees to donate to the group through a GoFundMe page set up to help the victims' families. So far the fund has raised more than $4.4 million from almost 95,000 donors. C1 and its employees are also supporting that fund.

The $26.6 billion-asset EverBank also helped promote a blood drive hosted in one of its buildings in Jacksonville. Michael Cosgrove, a spokesman for EverBank, had heard that people were waiting for an hour in Florida's heat to participate in the event.

USAmeriBank in Largo, Fla., had previously planned a blood drive for next week and will now dedicate that to victims. The $3.8 billion-asset company also will donate money from its next biweekly "jeans day"  where employees can wear jeans on a Friday if they donate $5  to a fund supporting the shooting's victims. An average jeans day raises up to $1,500, which is then matched by the company, said Tina Ford, director of human resources for USAmeriBank. A specific fund hasn't been selected yet.

Additional initiatives to help are being discussed and could be announced next week, Ford said.

"These events are close to our employees' hearts and minds," Ford said. "We want to do something to help even though we may not know the people affected by this."

Wanting to Do More

Any bank could suddenly find itself at the heart of such a crisis as unimaginable as the prospect seems. A long-term strategy of how to help communities and victims' families months after a tragedy is a necessary component of any philanthropic program, experts say.

"Any kind of crisis brings out the American human spirit of helping others," said Marian Stern, principal at Projects in Philanthropy. "There is a huge influx of help right after, but people eventually get back to their lives. A well-formulated program should always be thinking strategically down the line."

In the Orlando case, this could mean long-term giving to LGBT support groups or promoting education about tolerance, Stern said. Banks could also help with long-term medical care or counseling that survivors may need.

Banks are uniquely positioned to help their communities after such a tragic event because they are already usually embedded in their communities through existing charitable work and often support employee volunteerism, Stern said.

Helping after a tragedy "should really be just building on what already exists," Stern said. "Banks have the chance to provide human resources and to get into the community and participate in whatever civic response there is."

The $1.8 billion-asset C1 has reached out to its customers to see if any had been affected by the shooting, Burgess said. One client had an employee who was killed in the shooting, and C1 was offering that customer any support it could provide, he said

Additionally, C1 is looking forward to its participation in the St. Petersburg pride parade later this month and wants to be a "visible force for equality," Burgess said.

First Green Bancorp in Orlando is considering "anything and everything" to show its support, including updating branch signs to include the message #OrlandoProud, said CEO Ken LaRoe. The shooting occurred about a mile from its Orlando location.

LaRoe is working with board members, including a church pastor and another involved with a family foundation, to develop a "multitiered approach to do something today and to do something months from now," he said.

LaRoe has vowed that the $411 million-asset First Green, which is also donating $1,000 to a local LGBT rights center, would get a perfect score on the corporate equality index by the Human Rights Campaign. The index measures a company's policies and practices, such as demonstrating a sustained commitment to diversity, that pertain to LGBT employees. Many large banks, including Bank of America, Citigroup and JPMorgan, already get perfect scores.

"All of the big companies have scored 100 on it so, of course, I want to get a perfect score as well," LaRoe said. "If we do that and start promoting it, then maybe other businesses will take notice and do it as well."


Wells Fargo, widely regarded as the industry's least complex megabank, has recently made big moves into the volatile world of investment banking. But John Shrewsberry, the company's chief financial officer, cautioned against reading too much into it.

Speaking Tuesday at an industry conference, Shrewsberry downplayed the unit's recent success when asked about its plans to ramp up growth in investment banking.

In the first quarter, Wells ranked No. 3 in the industry for investment banking transactions in the U.S.  ahead of Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. The company has also steadily increased its market share.

"It depends on what you mean by investment banking," Shrewsberry replied.

Any future growth in the business won't "change the character" of the company's balance sheet, he added.

Shrewsberry's comments illustrate the delicate balancing act facing Wells as it expands beyond its traditional bread-and-butter retail business and into the more risky and complicated world of Wall Street finance.

The self-described "Main Street bank" entered the investment banking market during the financial crisis, through its 2008 purchase of Wachovia. Since then, it has slowly taken a bigger piece of the market, as some of its larger competitors have scaled back.

During the first quarter, the company's share of the U.S. investment banking market was about 5%, compared to about 4% for the 2015 calendar year.

Investment banking also generated about 3% of the of the company's fees. Still, revenue from the unit plunged 26% from a year earlier, to $331 million, amid volatility in the market.

At the conference, Shrewsberry said Wells is reluctant to use its balance sheet to attract business from hedge funds and asset managers. Because of that, prime brokerage likely will not grow into an "enormous business" for Wells.

"Using our balance sheet comes at a cost," he said. "We are trying to generate a 12%, 13%, 14% return on equity, and the financing business doesn't do that."

Wells does plan to continue expanding its capital raising and M&A advisory business to its wholesale customers, according to Shrewsberry.

The comments echo Wells Fargo's previous line on its investment business. Jon Weiss, head of Wells Fargo Securities, said in a speech at the company's investor day last month that he has seen "palatable" momentum in the business.

Over 43% of the company's wholesale corporate and commercial clients used an investment banking product in the past year, Weiss said.

But Wells Fargo has maintained that it has a handle on the financial and reputational risks that come with the business.

"I will use an improper word: You can't prostitute your balance sheet to get a fee," Tim Sloan, Wells' president and chief operating officer, said at the company's investor day. "That just doesn't make long-term sense."


The month of Ramadan just begun for Muslims is not merely about the rigors of fasting and prayers, it is also about meditating on mans responsibility in this world and accountability in the next. One of the most urgent issues for Muslims at the present time is take responsibility for those who commit violence against innocent people in the name of Islam, and unequivocally repudiate them and their theology that defiles Islam and makes a mockery of Gods revelation to Muhammad that first occurred, as tradition records, in the month of Ramadan.

But nearly fifteen years after 9/11 and counting, Muslims in America as elsewhere remain in denial of Islams role (or a perverse theological rendition of Islam) in the terrorist violence that spread from the Middle East around the world. This explains in part why any expectation that so-called moderate Muslims in sufficient numbers will publicly repudiate their religious compatriots who engage in terrorism as an act of religious obligation, or jihad (holy war), has not materialized yet and likely will not unless there is some significant change in majority American view of Islam that presses upon Muslims.

The emergence of Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for the presidential election in November could be the spur for a sufficient number of Muslims, if they have courage and imagination, to break from their past. A Trump presidency might well facilitate the making of an American Islam as an effective counterweight to political Islam, or Islamism, that has been ruinous for Muslims everywhere in modern times.

Trumps call for a ban on Muslims last December from entering the United States until our representatives can figure out what is going on followed the Muslim rampage of terror and murder in San Bernardino, California, on December 2, 2015, and the horrific terrorist attacks several weeks earlier in Paris. This suggestion of Trump at a minimum is a prudent choice in defending Americans against those who wish to do them harm.

There is no sign of Islamist terrorism ebbing in the near future. Instead, in the Arab-Muslim world Islamist terrorism has become a daily occurrence, destroying whatever little remains of a culture and civilization that once rivaled that of ancient Rome and Persia.

Trumps candidacy offers Muslims in America a rare opportunity to take the stage as American Muslims, and repudiate Islamism publicly and categorically.

But why with Trump?

It is because Trump refuses to coddle Muslims, or Islam, in America. In an interview with Anderson Cooper of CNN during the Republican primaries Trump said, I think Islam hates us. He went on to state the war America has been waging since 9/11 is against radical Islam, but it is very hard to define. Its very hard to separate. Because you dont know whos who. This leaves an opportunity for Trump to acknowledge difference between Islam and radical Islam, but the onus remains upon Muslims to illustrate that difference by their conduct. Hence, only American Muslims, by renouncing Islamism, might have some credibility in engaging positively with Trump.

Unlike President Obama, and President Bush before him, Trumps refusal to coddle Muslims, to appease them, or to speak in politically correct language about Islam as a religion of peace marks a refreshing break from the suffocating speech-code that turns any discussion in the West about Muslim history and politics into abject hypocrisy.

This refusal on the part of Trump to coddle Muslims can also, ironically, liberate sufficient number of Muslims to speak out publicly what many in fearing political correctness among Muslims generally have refrained from doing.

"Muslim" is not an ethnicity, and Islam is not an ethnic religion. It is political correctness among Muslims enforced violently by Islamists that makes for Muslim denial of objective facts in regard to their religion and culture staring at them.

The politics of victimhood that Muslims in general have bought into is demeaning and dishonest when the overwhelming reality is Muslims have thrived in America, and the West in general, in contrast to the increasing impoverishment of Muslims across the world of Islam.

Presidents Obama and Bush mistakenly believed that deference to Muslims and their faith-tradition would facilitate mutual respect. Indeed, they repeatedly indicated America is a friend, an ally, and a partner with Muslim countries and supports them in their effort to become economically and politically modern societies.

The history of Americas relationship with the Muslim world since 1945 has been overwhelmingly positive. During the Cold War years American support assisted Muslim countries vulnerable to communist penetration to resist falling into the Soviet or Chinese orbit. Without American intervention, war and genocide against Muslims in the Balkans, for instance, would not have been halted. And throughout this period America has kept open her doors to Muslims without any undue reservation.

The response from the Muslim world, however, has been quite the opposite. The Iraqi journalist flinging his shoe in a press conference at President George W. Bush during his final visit to Baghdad has symbolized the attitude of great many Muslims, perhaps a majority, toward America. More sinister, as an example, is the conduct of the Pakistani government, an ostensible ally of America and recipient of billions of dollars in economic and military assistance, hiding Osama bin Laden within the vicinity of a military cantonment.

Trumps challenge to Muslims in America, in contrast to the pandering of Muslims by Obama and Bush, is whether they are prepared to set aside the mind-set they brought with them. It is long past the time for Muslims to engage in self-emancipation from a culture and ideology profoundly at odds with individual freedom and democracy that American culture represents.

It is common among Muslims everywhere, especially among the middle class and college educated, to dwell nostalgically on more or less an imagined past of Muslim glory. They refer readily to the period of Muslim rule over Spain, or al-Andalus, as an illustration of Islams golden age. And embedded in this nostalgia, in this Andalusian myth-making, is their wish to return to a similitude of that past while living in denial of the present.

This Muslim state of mind, or temperament, which dwells excessively, even pathologically, on the past to find some pride, hence dignity, in the present day world is easily susceptible to Islamism that thrives on the politics of grievance, victimhood, and repressed anger toward others. Such a state of mind tends to be volatile, as it is in a tenuous equilibrium between undue deference and abrupt excitability that can trigger violence.

The simple undeniable fact for Muslims to contemplate is that they never ever in their history have lived anywhere as well in prosperity and security as they do in America. The al-Andalus of Muslim fantasy does not compare at its most glorious moment of convivencia with the even greater reality of coexistence among people of different faiths in contemporary America, and the equal treatment for all in law as provided by the American constitution that was non-existent in Muslim Spain.

In acknowledging this undeniable fact of history, American Muslims can begin to free themselves from the hold of political Islam, renounce the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) as the fountainhead of Islamism, and sever all ties with organizations, such as CAIR (Council of American-Islamic Relations) and ISNA (Islamic Society of North America). There can be no American Islam so long Muslims in America remain bound by loyalty to any of these MB-related organizations, or seek their religious teachings from mosques run by, or associated with, members of such Islamist organizations.

The demands on Trump to soften his views on Muslims and Islam will increase from those in American politics who have made a fetish out of identity politics and the misbegotten doctrine of multiculturalism. But any softening of Trumps views will only assist Islamists and their apologists, while relieving pressures from the majority of Muslims in America to embrace rethinking the fundamentals of their faith-tradition.

It should be indisputable that only in a free society are Muslims -- especially the majority belonging to the mainstream Sunni and Shia traditions of Islam -- in a position to emancipate themselves from the closed circle of their religious thinking and practice stipulated as obligatory by their ulema (religious scholars) more than a millennium ago.

Muslims are free in America to affirm their faith in the purity of Abrahamic monotheism that in essence is Islam, while jettisoning much if not all of the theological and jurisprudential constructions -- otherwise known as Sharia -- that came to define Islam as a system of law and society from the early centuries of Muslim history.

The case for enlightened reform of Islam -- not to be confused by Wahhabism, the official version of Islam in Saudi Arabia, once mistakenly viewed as a reform movement -- has been a wish for a long time among a substantive number, if not a majority, of mainstream Muslims. Such a wish can only be translated into reality by Muslims in America where they are free, where their freedoms are protected, and where they may practice their faith independent of politics.

Trumps refusal to coddle Muslims paradoxically can be a boon for Muslims in America, finally setting them free in a republic founded on the idea of liberty. And American Islam, cleansed of the dross of Muslim history, could then hold the promise for renewal of what was in origin an irresistible invitation to worship one God and seek refuge in His mercy.

Salim Mansur teaches at Western University in London, Ontario and is the author of award-winning Delectable Lie: a liberal repudiation of multiculturalism.
May 29 on CNN, Bret Stephens of the Wall Street Journal confessed that he wanted Donald Trump to be the biggest loser in presidential history, and:

Its important that Donald Trump, and what he represents, this kind of ethnic quote conservatism or populism, be so decisively rebuked that the Republican Party and the Republican voters will forever learn their lesson that they cannot nominate a man so manifestly unqualified to be president in any way, shape or form.

Mr. Stephens, usually a smart guy, has entirely too much faith in the voters learning their lesson. People rarely change; they dont learn lessons easily. Sure, if their country is defeated in war and they lose everything, some of them might think: that guy we elected sure was a loser. But like alcoholics and other addicts, most people must reach bottom before theyre ready to learn lessons. They must learn their lesson over and over again before its learned forever.

Delegates to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland next month should read David Frenchs June 9 article at National Review, Not a Single Republican Delegate Is Bound to Donald Trump. Frenchs headline says it all; delegates are not legally nor constitutionally bound to vote for any candidate. French goes into history, law, and party rules. He begins with the constitutional questions:

Throughout the primary, pundits have reminded voters again and again that there exists a patchwork quilt of state laws that require delegates to follow the will of the primary voters -- sometimes only through one ballot, sometimes through more. These laws are unconstitutional. A state entity cannot mandate the manner in which private citizens govern private organizations.

French cites the 1975 Supreme Court case of Cousins v. Wigoda, (click the X in the upper-right corner of the dialog box, and youll get to the webpage). Justice Brennan, no conservative, delivered the Courts opinion, which ended:

Thus, Illinois interest in protecting the integrity of its electoral process cannot be deemed compelling in the context of the selection of delegates to the National Party Convention. Whatever the case of actions presenting claims that the Party's delegate selection procedures are not exercised within the confines of the Constitution -- and no such claims are made here -- this is a case where the convention itself [was] the proper forum for determining intra-party disputes as to which delegates [should] be seated.

The Courts decision was nearly unanimous with only Justice Powell filing an opinion that dissented in part, but which also concurred in part.

In his second section, French examines the RNC rules, and he makes it clear that GOP delegates are free agents, unless they choose not to be. Choosing to be bound would involve changing party rules. Frenchs powerful conclusion to his 1,196-word article is a corrective to the lies we hear on the boob tube about this contest being over. Not a single delegate has voted. (At least the pundits have the grace to refer to the nominees as presumptive, anything else would be presumptuous).

So, if the parties are sovereign with regard to their rules and who gets to be a delegate and so on, why do we have these expensive, interminable primaries and caucuses? The answer is probably the ballot-access laws in the several States. In order to get their presidential candidates on the ballot in the states, the parties must conduct primaries or caucuses or conventions or whatever a state says.

The solution to this problem is to require all states to grant ballot access to the presidential nominees of parties whose past nominees received a significant share, perhaps twenty percent, of the popular vote in recent presidential elections. This would require a constitutional amendment, a big undertaking. But it would help the major parties to find, and even draft, the best nominees.

Theres seems to be a bit of self-righteous moral preening going on among the anti-Trump crowd. I wont make very much of this, because we both want the same thing: a conservative in the White House. But do the NeverTrump people advocate changing the system that has given America these two presumptive nominees? That system, i.e. the primary system, is one of the reasons weve seen the vile demonstrations in California. If there were no primaries, with their rallies, thered be nothing to protest. If party nominees were chosen by unbound delegates to conventions, as Mr. French suggests can be done, thered be none of the vandalism, the assaults, and unrest weve been seeing lately. I suggested back in 2009 at GOPUSA that delegates just ignore the primaries, and Mr. French, a constitutional lawyer, has just provided justification for that.

Unless GOP delegates nominate the Beast of the Apocalypse, Ill be supporting the Republican nominee, Trump or No-Trump. You go to the polls with the nominee you have. I admire certain things about Mr. Trump, but hes not my beau ideal of a conservative candidate. Im more of a John Bolton-Victor Davis Hanson-Laura Ingraham-Condi Rice kinda guy, not to mention David French.

Bret Stephens and the rest of the NeverTrumpians might consider whether America has the luxury of possessing the time to learn our lesson. There are several very serious things coming to a head in the next four years. America needs the best that America has to offer. But the NeverTrumpians havent offered any solutions other than some cockamamie third party candidacy to try and throw the election into the House of Representatives. I love the smell of delegate mutiny in the morning; it smells like  victory.

Republican delegates, read Frenchs article. Youre free agents, kids.

Jon N. Hall is a programmer/analyst from Kansas City.
A leading national suicide prevention organization has recognized U.S. Rep. John Katko for his work on mental health issues in Congress.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention presented Katko, R-Camillus, with its Allies in Action Award. The award is the group's highest advocacy honor and recognizes members of Congress and other leaders "who have made important contributions toward preventing suicide."

"We're pleased to honor Congressman Katko for his leadership in Congress in making mental health a priority and standing up for the rights and needs of people with mental illness and their families," AFSP CEO Bob Gebbia said. "We look forward to seeing what other great accomplishments will come of his hard work."

The foundation said Katko has been an outspoken supporter of mental health and suicide prevention. He's also a cosponsor of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, a bill that seeks to expand mental health services throughout the country.

Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in New York, according to AFSP. The deaths cost the state $1.8 billion of lifetime medical and work loss in 2010.

After Katko took office in 2015, he outlined 11 priorities for the 24th Congressional District. One of the points on his agenda was the creation of an adolescent mental health task force.

The goal of the task force was to establish a comprehensive pediatric mental health facility in the Syracuse area.

In September, Katko co-hosted a hearing with U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano, a California Democrat, on federal suicide prevention funding.
As sympathetic as one might be with a father whose son massacred nearly 50 people in an Orlando night club, part of the motive for the sons atrocity may lie with the fathers embrace of the anti-gay tenets of Islam and the anti-gay mindset of the Arab world. The unspoken truth is that while Christians in the West, often accused of homophobia, view homosexuality as a sin, many if not most do not condemn the sinner. In the Arab world, homosexuality is viewed as a sin punishable by death.

Seddique Mir Mateen, father of Orlando gunmen Omar Mateen, posted a video on Facebook which expresses shock and surprise at his sons actions, while giving us a clear indication of his sons motive. As CBS News reported:

The Orlando gay club gunman's father has well-known anti-American views and is an ideological supporter of the Afghan Taliban. A new message posted by the father on Facebook early Monday morning also makes it clear he could have passed anti-homosexual views onto his son. Seddique Mir Mateen, father of Orlando gunman Omar Mateen, who died in a shootout with police after killing at least 49 people early Sunday morning, regularly attended Friday prayers at a Florida mosque with his son. In the video posted early Monday, Seddique Mateen says his son was well-educated and respectful to his parents, and that he was "not aware what motivated him to go into a gay club and kill 50 people." The elder Mateen says he was saddened by his son's actions during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. He then adds: "God will punish those involved in homosexuality," saying it's, "not an issue that humans should deal with."

The Afghan Taliban, which embraces Sharia law and imposed it when it ruled the country, does not wait for God to punish gays. In February, 1998, for example, when the Taliban was in control, ordered the cruel execution of three men convicted of sodomy. As Reuters reported;

On Wednesday, the Taleban ordered the execution of three men for sodomy in the southern town of Kandahar, southern Afghanistan. They were ordered to be buried alive under a pile of stones and a wall was pushed on top of them by a tank.

Not even those sexist, racist homophobic Republicans go that far. We see this deadly bigotry throughout the Islamic world. In its 1991 Constitution, Iran adopted the extreme punishment of execution for sodomy. Articles 108-133 say:

Sodomy is a crime, for which both partners are punished. The punishment is death if the participants are adults, of sound mind and consenting; the method of execution is for the Shari'a judge to decide.

In a video posted by ISIS, to which Omar Mateen pledged allegiance in a 911 call during his massacre, the harsh treatment advocated for homosexuals under Sharia are graphically shown:

A new ISIS propaganda video has delivered a clear, chilling, terrifying warning to what happens to gay people in countries under their control. Purportedly released by the terror group, also named Daesh, the 10 minute video is entitled The Voice of Virtue in Deterring Hell. It shows a life of prayer and brotherhood between the extremists. Women are barely seen. Then there is a series of punishments being carried out. One man accused of being gay is thrown off a roof in front of a baying mob on the ground. Blindfolded, he is thrown head first onto a pile of rocks. Writhing on the floor, he is finished off by being stoned to death by the mob. Another man, also accused of being gay, is beheaded with a bloody sword. Another shot sees a body lying twisted on the ground. The decapitated head is on the bodys back. People watch and do nothing.

It is this group and its anti-homosexual terror that Omar Mateen swore allegiance to. In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Seddique Mateen said his son became enraged when he saw two men kissing in front of his wife and son during a visit to Miami a couple of months ago:

One wonders if this Islamist intolerance and homophobic slaughter of gays will be noticed by the politically correct left who repeatedly say, as they did after the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris in which a Jewish deli was deliberately targeted, that this massacre or that massacre by someone shouting Allahu Akbhar has nothing to do with Islam. They see homophobia only when American citizens try to exercise their religious liberty and not cater a gay wedding.

On March 3, 2014, the blog Jihad Watch, which covers Islamist terror and fanaticism, reprinted a Washington Free Beacon story on how Iran executed two gay men for the crime of perversion... Frontpage Magazine in August 2014 reported that two Iranian men were executed for consensual sodomy and noted that under the Islamist and Sharia law of Iran and Irans penal code, the punishment for homosexuals ranges from public lashings to outright executions.

Rennick Remley, a self-proclaimed gay American, took out a full-page ad in the New York Times which spoke of this unpleasant truth: Hamas, ISIS, and Iran kill gays like me. If I lived in Iran or under Hamas ideological cousin ISIS chances are youd be seeing my picture. Not in this ad, but hanging from a crane in a public square. Thats a regular practice against gay men by the Iranian regime.

In Iran gay wedding cake and pizza requests are handled a bit more harshly and with more finality than a simple statement from a business owner that his or her faith wont allow them to cater the affair. If two gays contemplating marriage had walked into a Tehran pizza shop like Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana, the pizza shop that refused to cater a gay wedding, hanging in the public square would have been a likely outcome.

If you want tolerance, dont look for it in the Islamist world.

Daniel John Sobieski is a free lance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investors Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications.
It is beyond disquieting when warnings that have been issued for years are ignored, and as a consequence, innocent Americans are the sacrificial lambs for this evil disease known as Islamic jihad, or war against kafirs (infidels) to establish Islam's sharia law.

The idea that politicians who receive briefings about terrorism profess to be shocked by the recent massacre in Orlando is disingenuous at best. As Bruce Bawer explains, "the only shocking thing about ISIS's attack on a gay establishment is that it took this long." After all, according to The Reliance of the Traveller which is the sharia manual "there is consensus among Muslims ... that sodomy is an enormity. It is even viler and uglier than adultery," which is "punished brutally, including by death."

Three years ago, a Muslim phoned NY1, "a New York City TV news station and stated that all homosexuals should be beheaded." Horrific videos are constantly posted showing gays being thrown from rooftops in Iran and other sharia-controlled countries.

Robert Spencer, Pamela Geller, Steve Emerson, Andrew C. McCarthy, Raymond Ibrahim, Frank Gaffney, Walid Shoebat, Nonie Darwish, and a host of other prophets have been warning about the poisonous message of Islam for decades. Yet the leadership at the helm of this country invites Muslim Brotherhood operatives for consultation, hires people devoted to sharia expansion, and won't acknowledge that Islam is behind these attacks on Western civilization even when the very attackers proudly proclaim their fealty to Islam.

Now that we are in the "highest threat environment since 9/11," it is incumbent, yet again, to delineate the dastardly ideas integral to Islam. It is "a purely aggressive ideology, which teaches Muslims to hate the infidel." Once Muslims grow in number, the attacks and abuse of locals begin and never end. It started in the U.K. with the grooming and rape of thousands of non-Muslim British girls. Now we have Londonistan.

Sweden is now the rape capital of the world since the admission of Muslim immigrants.

One year ago, Iranian ayatollah Ali Khamenei "encouraged Western youth to find out about Islam for themselves and not allow their image of it to be clouded by prejudice." Youths were to "study and research and ... receive knowledge of Islam from its primary and original sources."

So let's take the man at his word. Here is a smattering of those primary and original sources:

Quran 8:12 - I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.

Quran 9:5 - So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush.

Quran 4:144 - O ye who believe! Take not for friends unbelievers rather than believers: Do ye wish to offer Allah an open proof against yourselves?

Quran 5:51 - O ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for friends. They are friends one to another, He among you who taketh them for friends is (one) of them. Lo! Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.

Quran 4:101- For the Unbelievers are unto you open enemies.

Quran 4:89 - They would have you become Kafirs like them so you will all be the same. Therefore, do not take any of them as friends until they have abandoned their homes to fight for Allah's cause [jihad]. But if they turn back, find them and kill them wherever they are.

As Bill Warner explains in Sharia Law for Non-Muslims, "the whole world must submit to Islam. Kafirs are the enemy simply by not being Muslims. Violence and terror are made sacred by Koran. Peace comes only with submission to Islam."

The Quran maintains that Jews are wicked (4:160-162) and "fond of lies" and "devour the forbidden" (5:42). Moreover, in Islam, polytheists such as Hindus are worse than all other religions. And certainly any Muslim who gives up his religion is a "perverted transgressor" (3:82). The death penalty awaits the apostate.

Our president's refusal to call out radical Islam is well beyond unconscionable. Obama and other Democrats refuse to assert that we are "at war with 'radical Islam.'" Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal states that "[t]he Senate's inaction on commonsense gun violence prevention makes it complicit in this public health crisis." His naivete is breath-taking and perilous.

In fact, killing gays, Jews, Christians, Yazidis, Hindus, Buddhists, and uncovered women, or, for that matter, anyone who refuses to bow down to the medieval edicts of Islam, is not ISIS law; it is Muslim law, better known as sharia. A well known radio host on WOR 710 scoffed at his colleague's concern that in 100 years, sharia law will be in the United States. That he has a public platform on the radio is alarming, considering the extent of his ignorance. Sharia law already established a foothold in this country in 2013 in Dearborn, Michigan. In 2015 in Seattle, Washington, a move toward sharia-compliant financing took place. As far back as 2011, the Center for Security Policy repeatedly highlighted the various successful insertions of sharia law into the American courtroom in 23 different states in America.

Currently, "[t]here are now an estimated 3 million Muslims residing in the United States as citizens or with permanent legal status, and more than 250,000 new Muslim residents enter the U.S. per year as refugees, on work visas and student-based visas, according to the Center for Immigration Studies. A poll commissioned in May 2015 by the Center for Security Policy showed that 51 percent of American Muslims preferred that they should have their own sharia courts outside of the legal system ruled by the U.S. Constitution. And nearly a quarter believed the use of violent jihad was justified in establishing sharia."

Moreover, in the Jihadi Dictionary, it is cited that a 2015 Pew Report estimates that "330 million Muslims believe in violent jihad, a number that far exceeds that of the Nazis." To put it into further perspective  that is close to the population of the United States  hardly an insignificant number.

And while vigils are established and funerals are held, the Obama regime continues to spend upwards of $20,000 of taxpayer money on each Muslim refugee admitted to America. And this is before they receive welfare, food stamps, and free health care. When does this madness stop?

To add to the agony of this most recent assault on Americans is the fact that the victims of terrorism have now been prohibited from seeking damages. Christopher Holton writes that Florida legislation known as "Andy's Law" was "supposed to provide for treble damages and attorney's fees to be awarded to terror victims or their surviving family members." It was prevented from passage by leadership in the Florida House of Representatives in March, even though it had already "passed three committees in the Florida Senate, two subcommittees of the House and a full committee of the House without a single opposing vote." Yet it was defeated, clearly raising "serious questions about the political terrain ... when a Republican led and dominated body would allow a popular counterterrorism measure opposed by nefarious elements of the Muslim Brotherhood to be mysteriously killed." Indeed.

In his magisterial tome Catastrophic Failure: Blindfolding America in the Face of Jihad, author Stephen Coughlin reminds the reader that "the standard for professional analysis should be based on its ability to validate the enemy's doctrine when mapped against acts undertaken in furtherance of that doctrine." Thus, "demands for 'balance' that allow non-factual arguments to compete with factual ones undermine professionalism."

And yet at every turn, Americans are scolded for their profound and proven fears about Islamic jihad, even though there is continual ramping up of the evidence of the desire to annihilate the infidel and destroy Western civilization. Instead, we are subjected to lectures about gun control, American racism, our lack of brotherly love, our greed, our white privilege, and our alleged hatred of "the other."

The willful parroting of ignorance shows that we "have reached the point where anyone who provides a fact-driven threat analysis can be asked to remove citations from briefing materials that establish the underlying authority of the product so as not to 'bully' competing analysis that can't. After all, in the postmodern paradigm, what is authority?" Or put another way, how dare we say that what comes out of jihadist Islam is ugly, cruel, sadistic, and anti-human? Instead, we must kowtow to the moral equivalence argument.

We are continually reminded that Islam is a religion of peace, notwithstanding the fact that since 9/11, Islamic terrorists have carried out "28,589" deadly attacks, and there is no abatement in sight.

But let's keep bringing in Muslim immigrants and ignore the fact, for example, that "[b]etween 2001 and 2013, the U.S. permanently resettled nearly 30,000 Afghan migrants on green cards. According to Pew, nearly all Muslims in Afghanistan (99%) support sharia law as official law."

If there is no genuine change to immigration policy in this country, "in the next five years, ... the U.S. will permanently resettle a Muslim population larger than the entire population of Washington D.C."

It cannot be repeated enough times that sharia law is immutable in the eyes of its adherents. We must put an end to what Daniel Pipes calls "diversion mode," as politicians, police, the press, prosecutors, and professors do what they can to ignore the Islamist elephant in the room. If we continue to bow to the dictates of Islam, no matter how small their demands, we help the enemy, who is sworn to our destruction. If we refuse to take them at their word, our world will be irrevocably destroyed.

Eileen can be reached at middlemarch18@gmail.com.
If you want to know the reason why the U.S. is a sitting duck for Islamic terrorists, the minutes from this meeting of a Homeland Security advisory council tells you all you need to know.

Held in January just days after the San Bernardino attack, the meeting was chaired by DHS secretary Jeh Johnson and featured some delusional statements.

Daily Caller:

One month after the San Bernardino terrorist attack that left 14 innocent people dead, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told advisors that right wing extremists pose just as much of a threat to the country as Islamic extremists. Johnson made the comments during the Homeland Security Advisory Councils (HSAC) January meeting. City of Austin Mayor Art Acevedo, whom Johnson appointed to HSAC, shifted the discussion to the threat of right-wing extremists, according to the official meeting minutes. Member Acevedo reminded the Council that the threat from right-wing extremists domestically is just as real as the threat from Islamic extremism, the minutes state. Johnson echoed the sentiment. Secretary Johnson agreed and noted that CVE [Subcommittee on Combating Violent Extremism], by definition, is not solely focused on one religion, the minutes state. Another council member, Cardinal Point Strategies CEO Paul Goldenberg, joined the chorus. Member Goldenberg seconded Member Acevedos remarks and noted the importance of online sites in right wing extremist communities, not only in America but worldwide, the minutes state. The meeting was also attended by the co-chairs of HSACs Subcommittee on Combating Violent Extremism. As originally reported by The Daily Caller on Monday, a report published by that subcommittee last week urged DHS to avoid using the words sharia and jihad (among others) when discussing terrorism, in order to avoid offending Muslims. At the meeting in January, Subcommittee Co-Chair Adnan Kifayat emphasized that the report will be respectful of the communities it seeks to engage with, and will take into account those communities specific needs.

The problem isn't that there aren't right-wing nuts with guns. There are. The problem is that no one has heard of any of them plotting mass casualty attacks, while violent jihadists dream of nothing else. Most of what you hear from the fringe has to do with defending themselves from what they consider is an enemy government. That means confrontations with law enforcement, not walking into a bar and shooting up the place.

To equate violent militias with Islamic terrorists is idiotic and delusional. And devoting homeland security resources equally to right-wing extremists and Islamic terrorists is a dangerous  and negligent  waste of money.
A year after the administration ended combat operations in Afghanistan, the White House and the Pentagon have quietly given the OK for American commanders to authorize air strikes on the Taliban and to allow joint combat operations with the Afghan army for the 9,800 U.S. troops deployed there.

If it looks like war, sounds like war, smells like war...it's war.

Washington Times:

The changes were based on the findings of a three-month review of the situation in Afghanistan, which was overseen by Gen. John Nicholson, the top U.S. commander there, and submitted to Pentagon and White House officials this month.

Before the changes made at Gen. Nicholsons behest, American air power was authorized only when U.S. forces were under direct threat and American combat missions in the country were limited to special operations teams.

The shift in the White House strategy was a clear recognition that what is on the ground right now just isnt working, said Rick Nelson, a senior counterterrorism analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

President Obama pledged to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan when he announced in 2007 that he was seeking

Mr. Nelson said the White House has been really bad about changing military tactics in Afghanistan, pressing ahead with plans to withdraw all U.S. forces from the country by 2017.

The latest move, however, reflects [that Mr. Obama] is being thoughtful about what is needed in Afghanistan to ensure the country does not devolve into a failed state, he said.

U.S. military commanders are still in the process of operationalizing the strategy, Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters Tuesday.

The changes, he said, would affect only the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan, known as Operation Freedoms Sentinel, and not the NATO-led training mission under Operation Resolute Support.

The changes approved by the White House did not constitute a return to full-fledged combat by U.S. forces inAfghanistan, Capt. Davis said. Rather, the shift would allow U.S. forces to provide strategic effects enabling the [Afghan National Security Forces] to take on the Taliban and other Islamist groups during the fighting season, he said.

U.S. airstrikes, as well as American and Afghan combat missions, would be limited to areas of Afghanistan where local forces need the most help, Capt. Davis said.

The U.S. mission will not be something where we will be doing this everywhere, he said.
The recent Orlando massacre, the deadliest mass shooting in America's history, was committed by an American citizen wielding a legally purchased firearm. Predictably, the leftist media have already begun brandishing this fact to "prove" once and for all that the blame lies not with Islam, but rather with insufficient gun control. However, in deliberately ignoring the motivation behind the attack and instead focusing only on the tool used to perpetrate it, the left have failed to recognize the one crucial question that Americans should be asking:

How did an American-born Muslim become so radical in his beliefs?

Theoretically, the children of first-generation immigrants to U.S. should be have an easier time integrating than their parents. Yet an examination of the sentiments held by young Muslim Americans demonstrates that they are in fact far more likely to hold radical beliefs. In 2007, Pew conducted a study whose findings corroborated this trend.

The Pew survey found that among Muslim Americans aged 18-29, 26% believed that suicide bombings could at least occasionally be justified, while 9% of older respondents agreed. Additionally, nearly one in four (23%) Muslims in the youngest age bracket held a favorable or only partially unfavorable view of al-Qaeda.

But what is behind the surge in radicalism among young Western Muslims? Policy Exchange (page 15) theorizes that the burgeoning prevalence of radical Islam is not merely a reaction to aggressive American foreign policy. Rather, it reflects a deep-seated disgust with Western culture. The Orlando shooting, which put a gay nightclub in the crosshairs, makes a strong case for the cultural argument.

This anti-Western sentiment appears to be inextricably linked with Islam itself. Pew research (page 6) indicates that Muslims between 18 and 29 in the U.S. tend to be not only more radical, but more observant as well. Half of respondents under 30 stated they attend a mosque at least once a week; in the older age bracket, this figure dropped to 35%. Additionally, 60% of those under 30 identify as Muslims first and Americans second, while only about 40% of older American Muslims agree.

The data indicate that radical beliefs strongly correlate with a devotion to Islam. Thus, if young American Muslims are found to be more religious than their elders  and they are  it stands to reason that they should hold more extreme opinions, too  and they do. One possible explanation for this phenomenon is the existence of endemic Muslim communities in the U.S. Though their numbers are steadily growing, the majority of America's Muslims congregate in communities that already have a sizable Islamic population. As a result, we now have places like Hamtramck, Michigan, which recently became the first Muslim-majority city in the United States.

First-generation Muslim immigrants in America have faced more pressure to integrate than their progeny, who now grow up in relatively insular Islamic communities. Thus, there is little reason to expect young Muslims raised in such environments to embrace Western ideals to the same extent that their parents have. If anything, we can expect each successive generation of American-born Muslims to surpass their parents in both faith and zeal.

The issues facing America's Muslim communities are a taboo topic for many in the media. Rather than addressing the root of the problem, the left have opted to engage in their routine hysterics, scrambling to blame the Orlando shooting on anything but the real culprit. Yet amid the deluge of politicians and journalists harping on gun control, many Americans are unsatisfied with the canned excuses they are being fed.

The body of evidence has grown too vast to ignore any longer: the problem is Islam itself.
It is more than time for Hillary Clintons ethnic pandering to blow back on her campaign for president. When she was running for the Senate in New York State, getting her husband Bill to pardon Puerto Rican terrorists who had bombed historic Fraunces Tavern in Lower Manhattan seemed like smart move, despite the New Yorkers who perished. After all, Puerto Ricans are a major New York Democrat voting bloc.

But one of the terrorists, Oscar Lopez Rivera, a true fanatic, refused to renounce violence and so had to remain imprisoned. He still affirms the justice of terrorism in his particular cause.

This makes it very awkward for those who support him, especially following the hideous terror attack in Orlando last weekend  including one of Hillarys key surrogates in New York. The New York Post editors explain:

Even as the victims were bleeding out in Orlando early Sunday, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito was tweeting her support for another terrorist, unrepentant bomber Oscar Lopez Rivera. (snip) The speaker is a fervent Puerto Rican nationalist, you see. And since thats Riveras cause, too, she plainly doesnt care about his victims (not even the New Yorkers killed by his bombs), or the fact that hed have won release from federal prison years ago  had he been willing to renounce violence. And so, hours before Sundays National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Mark-Viverito tweeted out yet another call for the president to give Rivera an unconditional pardon. Next she learned of the Orlando slaughter, and tweeted, disgusted and horrified. But then, minutes later, as SWAT officers were storming Pulse, she blithely went back to pushing for the release of her favorite terrorist, with a photo of her embracing him. Hmm. Mark-Viverito is a prominent surrogate for Hillary Clinton. Does Clinton really need an advocate for an unrepentant home-grown terrorist on her team? A terrorist who wont even express remorse?

The only decent thing for Hillary to do would be to rebuke Mark-Viverito. But of course that will never happen. And decency has nothing to do with Hillary.
In the June 14 presser, Obama knocked down straw "persons" and then missed the point about Islam.

He lectured us, as follows:

So there's no magic to the phrase "radical Islam." It's a political talking point; it's not a strategy. And the reason I am careful about how I describe this threat has nothing to do with political correctness and everything to do with actually defeating extremism. Groups like ISIL and al Qaeda want to make this war a war between Islam and America, or between Islam and the West. They want to claim that they are the true leaders of over a billion Muslims around the world who reject their crazy notions.

No one believes that the phrase "radical Islam" is magical or is a strategy (even though Obama sent a clear message in his 2009 speeches in Cairo and Turkey that his words are magical and that it was Bush's fault, but the new administration would fix things. His middle name, after all, is Arabic.). What we deny, Mr. Obama, is that ISIS and al-Qaeda are the only groups in Islam who intend to make this a war between Islam and the West. All throughout the Islamic world, calls go forth from mosques that America is decadent and must be taken down by the will of Allah. This sort of ideology is what motivated Islamic jihad during Muhammad's lifetime and continued for four hundred years before the Church finally called for a Crusade to stop Islamic aggression. Islam declared war first. This same aggressive impulse is still powerful today.

But if Islamic armies can't conquer us through military might, then how can they take down the West?

What Obama misses are sharia and an Islamic legal system and government. Call it their version of mission creep. Let's use six hallmarks of civilization and stay within the confines of the USA, though Europe closely parallels us.

1. We keep government and religion separate and distinct; that is, religious law like sharia does not control our government. Islamic civilizations fuse together mosque and state in a mishmash.

2. Free speech is honored over here, even if citizens criticize religion. In Islamic civilizations, such criticisms can land the critic in jail and getting lashes on the back, and possibly execution.

3. Freedom of religion is allowed over here, but in Islamic countries such freedom is suppressed, and religious minorities are barely tolerated.

4. Womankind can express themselves in whatever ways they deem appropriate. In Islamic civilization, womankind is oppressed, even to the point of domestic violence, permitted in the Quran itself.

5. Punishments here in America differ and are superior. We treat private behavior as just that  private. Gays can even go to night clubs if they choose the public square or hold pride parades. In Islam, sexual misconduct is treated as criminal, leading to lashes, prison, and maybe even death.

6. In the USA, there is no forced religion tax, but in Islamic civilizations the jizyah for religious minorities, under threat of death from the Muslim military, and zakat or charity tax are imposed.

Mr. Obama is confused about the nature of the struggle. He thinks the Orlando massacre and ISIS are all that he has to oppose. But it goes much deeper than that. The struggle is in fact with Islam as a religion and civilization, "con-fused" together. With a weak military, Islam is aggressive in slow motion, as Muslims refuse to assimilate in the "dirty" West and open up sharia courts in the U.K., for example. All of those six points flow from Islamic law.

But this is the Second Hundred Years War  a slow-grinding, gradual war with occasional flare-ups as we saw in the Paris and Orlando massacres. It will last past 2100.

The real war is ideological and fought in the minds of our citizens. It's an open question whether we'll win it.

James Arlandson's website is Live As Free People, where he has posted Thirty shariah laws, Why shariah is incompatible with American values, Time to reform Islam (if it's possible), and How the left misreads world affairs.
It comes as no surprise that Barack Obama jumped on Omar Mateen's mass shooting in Orlando the way any self-respecting ghoul jumps on a fresh corpse to aid Hillary Clinton's campaign. A real leader would have called out this act of militant "Islamic" terrorism as an act of war against the United States, but Obama chose instead to promote a political agenda.

Today marks the most deadly shooting in American history. The shooter was apparently armed with a handgun and a powerful assault rifle. This massacre is therefore a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school, or in a house of worship, or a movie theater, or in a nightclub. And we have to decide if thats the kind of country we want to be. And to actively do nothing is a decision as well.

Obama's political exploitation of this act of terroristic violence against the United States is entirely consistent with his press secretary's violation of the Hatch Act by campaigning against Donald Trump. The president and vice president have far more leeway under the act as to what they can say to influence an election, but Obama's ghoulish conduct in the aftermath of an attack on the United States is nonetheless repugnant. Franklin D. Roosevelt, for example, did not use the bombing of Pearl Harbor as an opportunity to pitch the New Deal or campaign for Democrats who faced re-election in 1942.

Former DNC chair Ed Rendell (D-Penn.) also doubtless welcomed the shooting, as shown by his previous comments on the Newtown school shooting. "[T]he good thing about Newtown is, it was so horrific that I think it galvanized Americans to a point where the intensity on our side is going to match the intensity on their side." We get it, Fast Eddie: never let a dead child go to waste. Senator Bob Casey (D-Penn.), meanwhile, took less than a day to propose a ban on gun possession by people convicted of misdemeanor hate crimes even though Omar Mateen had no criminal record whatsoever.

The blood on the floor of the Pulse nightclub had probably not even dried before I got the following email from Americans for Responsible Solutions. "Congress must close loopholes in our laws that allows criminals and domestic abusers to get their hands on guns. Congress must act to ensure that the dangerously mentally ill find it easier to access affordable treatment than a firearm." Mateen had never been adjudicated as mentally incompetent, and only after his crime did his wife accuse him of domestic violence.

The General Motors ignition switch fiasco, in which engineers were not even permitted to use safety-related words, underscores the fact that we cannot solve a problem if we will not even name it. The bottom line is that Omar Mateen took it upon himself to implement sharia law in the United States. He called 911 during his crime to identify himself as a member of ISIS, and he almost certainly acted on ISIS's position that gay people should be killed.

The United West reported, in fact, that the Husseini Islamic Center in nearby Sanford, Florida invited Sheikh Farrokh Sekaleshfar to speak at their mosque. This individual said homosexuals should be executed and that, although United States law prevents him from putting this into practice here, the only way for gays and lesbians to be forgiven is for them to die. Mateen acted on this despicable rhetoric, or rhetoric and ideology like it, and I personally filed a Form 13909 complaint against this mosque to the Internal Revenue Service. If somebody wants to incite violence against Jews, Christians, the wrong kinds of Muslims, women, LGBT people, or anybody else, he should not do it on tax-exempt money.
Yesterday, President Obama responded to years of criticism arguing that he refused to say "radical Islam" as an identity for America's enemy:

"What exactly would using this label accomplish? What exactly would it change? Would it make ISIL less committed to kill Americans? Would it bring in more allies? Is there a military strategy that is served by this?" he said. "The answer is none of the above."

The president is convinced that the words "radical Islamist" do not matter and, in fact, continued to imply that their usage would give the terrorist what they want  which is the interpretive position of authority over more than one billion Muslims. The president is mistaken and misguided to continue defending a refusal to use this terminology.

It is possible to refine this term. Radical may not as a term appropriate the authoritarian nature of this enemy. A term such as "Islamic supremacist" might do better in conveying that there are some Muslims who seek to establish an absolute interpretive control over the second largest religion in the world by way of authoritarian violence. An astute secular critic and former Muslim, Ayaan Hirsi Ali has suggested a distinction between "Medina Muslims" and "Mecca Muslims." Ali is utilizing her in-depth knowledge of the Koran and Islamic teachings to highlight a key distinction in Koranic literature. The Prophet Muhammad did offer the more benign methodologies of peace and moral suasion in the narratives bound in Mecca. But in the Medina events, the narratives become battle stories, where violence is textually rooted and justified. By highlighting this difference, the bold and endangered voice of Ali points to a path away from violence and toward peace while preserving the integrity of Muslim devotion to teachings of the Prophet.

The president may feel he had to swallow a bitter bill Tuesday. The tenor of his remarks seemed angry and retributive. But this was indeed a necessary first step, and it must guide the other questions he asked about military strategy. The president and FBI director Comey need to withdraw from their interpretive isolation on these questions and stop trying to reframe terrorism and acts of war as cultural failings of American citizens.

The Islamic supremacists who have attacked America again and again and again did so not because of a lack of gun control. When the president again put his finger on the problem as he saw it Sunday  guns  he felt he was properly naming the problem. He thought that was a first step in creating a solution: legislative limits on firearms purchases. His ideological opponents also believe that naming the problem is a good first step. Radical Islamist terrorism is the problem, and gun control legislation or refusing to name the enemy will not solve it.

The FBI director's statement that they were confused by the attacker's avowals about ISIS, the Boston bombing, and other Islamic supremacist attacks was disingenuous. It makes the public nervous and angry about their leadership. The president and his ideological comrades have concluded that the basic decency of mourning and reflecting on the value of lives lost is not only pointless, but counterproductive. It is now expected under the President's rhetorical example that the innocent victims of terrorism like the gay community decimated in Orlando should have their lives immediately commandeered in the service of a deliberative political agenda. There simply is no time for moments of silence or commemoration as congressional Democrats walk out of a moment of silence for the victims of Orlando. Prayer shaming is now a trendy neo-Jacobin concept for the 21st century.

In one of the first presidential primary debates, Hillary Clinton was asked who her enemies were. She paused and then laughed: "Republicans." That was probably one of the more candid admissions we will get in this political season. Who are your enemies, Mr. President? Are they Republicans? Are they the NRA? Are they gun owners? Is it Donald Trump?

It is understandable that Americans do not want to hear in such an outrageous act of war that is the Orlando massacre that they are the enemy. Leading an entire nation, rather than a political party, is much more difficult than the more ideological task of a campaign. In a world of 24-hour campaigning, even once elected, that patriotic duty may be easy to forget.

Republicans, the NRA, gun owners, conservatives, and the American public are not the enemy. They did not condone, encourage, or compel the murders of 49 innocent individuals at a gay night club in Orlando. The horror of Orlando is a presidential moment, and one that should rise above partisan causes  even in an election year. That is not what we have seen since Sunday morning from the president. Words do matter.

Ben Voth is an associate professor of corporate communication and public affairs and director of debate at Southern Methodist University. Voth is the author of Death as a Text: The Rhetoric of Genocide, which analyzes the motivations and communication basis of crimes like those that happened in Orlando and around the world.
In the 1951 film People Will Talk, one of the characters says to the antoganist, "Professor Ewell, you're a little man. It's not that you're short. You're...little, in the mind and in the heart. ...And as it turned out...you're even littler than you were before" (Joseph Mankiewicz).

It was at the 2012 Republican Convention that Clint Eastwood addressed Obama, personified by an empty chair. It is unfortunate for our nation that Obama was re-elected, but he was, and his pathetic "lead from behind" strategy toward all things related to foreign policy and national security has been a predictable disaster. The world is in chaos, and much of the blame can be placed squarely on this president of the United States. He backed the wrong horse in Egypt, in Libya, in Syria. He loathes Israel and Netanyahu. He has imported to the U.S. tens of thousands of Muslim refugees from the Middle East without properly vetting them and has left the Christians to be victims of genocide.

How many of those who have been given asylum here, or their children, will commit terrorist acts against innocent Americans? There are bound to be more than a few. But Obama will not be perturbed. He called the Paris attack an act of "random violence." Tell that to the families of the victims of the Orlando massacre. Obama rarely speaks of defeating ISIS, only of managing them as one would a persistent rash. He denies the increasing strength of ISIS, and yet it arose on his watch, because he withdrew so completely from Iraq. He gave these vermin the opportunity and the space to grow and to threaten everyone in their path with 7th-century brutality. And he called them the J.V. team. President Obama has terrible judgment rooted in his rigid ideology, his view that America is not a force for good.

Obama's speech on Tuesday, ostensibly to address the Orlando terrorist attack, was instead an all-out attack on Trump and other critics who have long been mystified by his inability to call radical jihadism what it is: a faith-based death cult rooted in the text of an unreformed religion. He was so very obviously, as many have noted, far angrier at Trump and his critics than he has ever been at any of the terrorists who have attacked and killed Americans on home soil. His speech was a furious defense of his nonexistent strategy to defeat ISIS, which he insists on calling ISIL. (ISIL denotes a much larger area and is a designation that is meant to take attention away from the administration's failure in Iraq and Syria.) He is very clearly not as angry at the terrorists as he is at Americans who advocate defending ourselves against them.

The left accuses Trump of being thin-skinned, and indeed he is, but no one is thinner-skinned than Obama. The speech was a fatuous, derisive rant entirely in his own interest, a pathetic defense of his own failures. He barely mentioned the Orlando victims. And to make the whole disaster worse, some Republicans have acceded to Obama's specious anti-gun nonsense this time. The American people are being betrayed all around. All mass shootings in this country have taken place in gun-free zones; in the words of John Lott, they are killing fields.

America has been very poorly served by President Obama, as we have been by too many members of Congress. The Republican leadership have thoroughly betrayed the conservative voters who gave them their majorities. Who knows at this moment in time what will become of America?

One thing is certain: Obama is a small man, and after his latest rant, he is even littler than before  hardly big enough even for that empty chair.
After the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is supporting a measure that would provide additional funding to the FBI to train local and state law enforcement agencies on responding to active shooter situations.

An amendment to the Commerce, Justice and Science appropriations bill would allocate $175 million to the FBI  an investment that would allow the agency to restore 350 positions, including 225 special agents for key investigations.

Some of the new special agents would be placed in upstate New York FBI field offices, Schumer, D-N.Y., said.

The amendment also would provide an additional $15 million for the FBI to train local and state law enforcement agencies on how to respond to active shooter situations.

The total request of $190 million is $73 million more than what was included in President Barack Obama's budget proposal and $24 million more than the House's budget plan.

Schumer announced his support for the amendment three days after the mass shooting in Orlando, where a gunman killed 49 people and wounded 53 others at a gay nightclub.

"The attack was a harrowing reminder that these hate-fueled terrorist attacks can happen anywhere," he said.

The measure, Schumer said, would allow the FBI to better coordinate with local law enforcement agencies and improve its information sharing capabilities. He said information sharing between federal and local officials is important, especially if there's a suspected terrorist in a municipality.

But Schumer added that the funding is also important because of the threat posed by "lone wolves"  individuals who are self-radicalized  and the locations they select to carry out their attacks.

In recent attacks in Brussels, Orlando, Paris and San Bernardino, terrorists targeted bars, clubs, non-secure areas of airports and subway stations. All are considered "soft targets" because they usually don't have a large security presence.

"There's a wake-up call that there are serious vulnerabilities in areas that we consider soft targets," Schumer said.

The Senate is in the process of debating the Commerce bill. Schumer anticipates that the full legislation will be voted on in the next week or two.

"The (amendment) is very important, it's needed and we're going to push it very hard this week," he said.
Imagine earning a fortune like $22 million! That would be enough, even after taxes, to lead a life of luxury. It is beyond the dreams of 99.9% of the American people. But that is the new total we now know that Bill and Hillary Clinton collected for very, very, very part-time work  essentially lending the Clinton brand to a couple of for-profit education enterprises.

We already knew about Laureate Education, the global higher education conglomerate accused in class action lawsuits of many of the purported sins of Trump University. The Clintons pulled down a cool $16.5 million from that company, owned by billionaire friend (and Hillary donor) Doug Becker. Now the Free Beacon has pored through the tax records of the Clintons and discovered another education honey pot. Joe Schoffstall writes:

Bill Clinton was paid $5.6 million from an international for-profit educator after it entered into a partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative around the same time the former president hauled in $16.4 million from Laureate Education, tax returns show. GEMS Education, a Dubai-based education management firm, was founded by billionaire educator Sunny Varkey in 2000 and consists of over 90 schools in 12 countries. GEMS bills itself as a broad-based education option. It is the largest global education management firm in the world offering K-12 instruction with offices in the United Kingdom, United States, India, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Kenya, the United Arab Emirates, and Switzerland. Bill Clinton announced in 2010 that GEMS Education would become a strategic partner of the Clinton Global Initiative. Later that year, the Varkey GEMS Foundation, a global charitable foundation, was launched with Clinton named as its honorary chairman.

In addition to donations to the Clinton slush fund charities, Varkey enriched the Clintons themselves:

Bill began receiving payments from GEMS Education in 2011, tax records show. Clinton has hauled in millions from the vast GEMS for-profit network between 2011 and 2014. The first payment Clinton received from GEMS Education came in 2011 in the amount of $500,000, according to Hillary Clintons tax returns. In 2012, he earned another $1.25 million from GEMS. In 2013, the amount increased to $1.75 million. In 2014, the payments rose again to $2.125 million. Clinton has received a total of $5,625,000 from GEMS Education.

No wonder Chelsea can afford to live in a ten-million-dollar apartment in Manhattan. Her parents have enriched themselves massively. Wealth beyond our dreams.

Hat tip: Linda
The analogy is war, and Omar Mateen is a soldier in this war. Soldiers of Islam have a different morality from what our side has.

But the larger point is that you don't look for the motivation of a soldier when he shoots the enemy.

"Now, why did he do that?"

And if he is a soldier, we recognize that his compatriots have the same agenda, the same objective. We don't say, "Just because that German lieutenant shot at us, let's not blame everybody in the German Army, or everybody in Germany."

The fact is, we do blame everybody supporting the war, and we certainly blame everybody in the army!

Framing the argument is critical. If this guy is a lone wolf, we can, in fact, account for that, but it gives the appeasers an opening to bring in endless irrelevant considerations and slow-walk any reaction because of the things like this guy's childhood, his happiness at work, whether he is himself gay, etc.

Islam has declared war on America. Its objective? Dominance. How? Replace the Constitution with the Koran. What are we going to do about it? Surrender is always an option. We don't think of it because that is not what we do.

But it is what Obama expects to do. The frog in the pot strategy. Turn the heat up one bit at a time.
When it comes apps that many of use without really giving it much thought, Google Maps will be right at the top of that list. What used to be a novel and useful way of printing off directions online has become one of the biggest and most popular features of Android. Of course, behind all the fancy UI elements and maps themselves is cold, hard data and while Google and businesses do much of this work themselves, they cant do everything on their own. Which is why some time ago they introduced a crowdsourcing feature to Google Maps, which allows users to make their own additions to Google Maps. These include submitting a name and location of a service building, restaurant, movie theater or whatever else. Now, Google is using the crowdsourcing model to verify these changes.

Some users have noticed a pop-up when using Google Maps to research a place asking them to verify which name or detail is correct based on suggestions sent to Google by other users. The pop-up reads Someone suggested this change to Google. Tap one if you know its right. which suggests that Google is looking to further utilize the crowdsourcing model to make sure their data is as correct as possible. After all, local knowledge is still a very powerful thing, and is the sort of thing that apps like Waze are basically built on top of. This new feature doesnt appear to be available for everyone right now though, and theres a good chance that Google is only using it in areas that arent very tech-savvy. Emerging markets, rural areas and small towns come to mind here, and asking users that are there or planning to go there makes a lot of sense.

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Google Maps itself continues to get better and better with each minor release, and now that the app has a solid UI that people know and love, its time for them to turn to the underlying data that powers it all. Asking real people to verify whats in front of them there and then seems an obvious idea, but rolling it out to more than just trusted users is something any company should be cautious of, so we cant blame Google for dragging their feet a little with this.
Have you ever thought of something brilliant, thrown it on Twitter and then promptly lamented the fact that your mates wouldnt be on to see it until later on in the day, at which point their feeds could very well be a jumbled mess and youd be lucky if they even scrolled past your Tweet? Or have you ever shot off a Tweet so wonderful that you wanted to do it again, but didnt feel like typing it up twice? There are a few other use cases for this new feature, but mostly, the two groups mentioned above will be the happiest to hear that as of Tuesday, Twitter has enabled Retweeting and Quote Tweeting of your own Tweets.

All narcissism aside, this feature could prove quite useful for a number of people. If you happen to be an independent creative of some sort, for instance a YouTube musician or aspiring blogger, Twitter can be a gold mine for self-promotion, but the sad fact is that youre likely only ever going to reach a quarter of your audience at one time. The same can be said of those who Tweet for marketing purposes, or simply to share interesting stuff with their followers. If youre in the market for more views on a Tweet, sending it out again at a later time of day is pretty much the only way to do it. With the newly enabled self-Retweeting feature, thats as easy as heading to your profile and hitting Retweet on the golden Tweet in question. With Quote Tweeting enabled as well, you can also comment on your own previous Tweet, share new insight or offer a disclaimer of the misadventures that led to a regrettable Tweet, if you happen to have one floating around.

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While the number of possible use cases for the new feature may be a bit limited, it is nonetheless a nice feature to have. The nicer part is that it has been enabled server side for all users worldwide, meaning no matter where you are, you can now send whatever glorious Tweet that some of your audience missed back out into the world with minimal effort, no app update needed on any platform. Thus, whether youre trying to sell something, get more followers or just get your name out there, if persistence will pay off, then this feature is there to help you.
After a long period of leaks, rumors and slip-ups, the OnePlus 3 is finally a reality. It was announced earlier this week all over the world, and is available to purchase right now directly from OnePlus as well as Amazon  in India, at least  and it seems to be one hell of a device. With 6GB of RAM (an eye-popping spec on its own) as well as a Snapdragon 820, Optic AMOLED display, Dash Charge and a whole lot more, the OnePlus 3 is easily the best value for money weve seen in a smartphone for a long time. Coming in at just $399, the OnePlus 3 could be considered a real bargain. After what some would call a fairly low-key and perhaps even boring launch, does the OnePlus 3 have what it takes to grab attention and become another solid success for the Chinese brand just as the OnePlus 2 did last year?

The Good

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Any device of this caliber that carries such a low price tag is going to be something of a hit, but the OnePlus 3 arguably knocks it out the park where specs are concerned. With a Snapdragon 820 CPU, 6GB of RAM, fast charging and a much-improved fingerprint sensor, the OnePlus 3 has the right foundations of any great device. On top of all that, theres a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera that packs not just more resolution than most other flagships of 2016, but also two methods of stabilization. Thankfully, Optical Image Stabilization is of course one of those, but so too is Electrical Image Stabilization. The former gives the cameras lens assembly and such some much needed stability as light enters, and then the latter reinforces this with some digital magic to make video and stills seem smoother. The camera is something of a high point for the OnePlus 3, and a big improvement over last years model. Mostly thanks to the new sensor from Sony that incorporates Phase Detection Autofocus, or PDAF, that allows photos to be taken in 0.2 of a second. This puts the OnePlus 3 camera in line with the likes of Samsungs Galaxy S7 Edge and other flagships, so its clear that OnePlus took the right turn here this year.

On top of this, OnePlus also changed the way that people can actually get their hands on the device as well, which is a big deal, indeed. Previously, OnePlus devices would launch with an invite system, where users would register their interest and then  once a unit was ready for them  be emailed an invite to buy the phone with. This has always been a sore point for OnePlus, and this year they got rid of it. As of writing, the OnePlus 3 is available for order practically anywhere and everywhere across the globe. This includes the US, the vast majority of Europe and India. Pricing is much clearer now, and while theres nothing to say that OnePlus will always have that much stock available  any firm looking to make big piles of money does not like the idea of stock lying around  this is a massive improvement from last year and the year before it. In fact, this could be the biggest deal of the entire launch. Now, the OnePlus 3 is just like any other phone out there, from the perspective that its easy to get hold of, affordable and there are no more hoops to jump through. So, the OnePlus 3 has all of the specs, its easy to get hold of and super-affordable, but it cant be all roses now, can it?

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The Bad

The overall goal of any OnePlus device is to retail for a lot less than other flagships, to punch well above its weight and make sure that users get a good deal. As a result, there are often some sacrifices that need to be made. For OnePlus fans, this is something that theyve gotten used to, but for outsiders looking in, it doesnt look all that professional. This year, we had yet another launch that felt more like a cost-saving exercise than it did anything else. Not only was there no physical event for media to get their hands on the device  as there was for both the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus X  but there wasnt even a simple livestream or anything like that. Instead, what users got was a pre-rendered virtual reality experience that left many feeling shortchanged. The Loop, OnePlus fictional space station was a cute idea, and is certainly a different way of doing things, but the VR app and experience that came with it wasnt all that exciting. A mix between Portal and an Infomercial, the OnePlus 3 launch wasnt much of a launch at all. Aside from the new VR tech being used, it was almost as if OnePlus had mailed users an Infomercial they could only play at a certain time, which ended up in a 600MB+ update the time of the launch. This might well be subjective, but shouldnt be expecting something more from a company like OnePlus in their third year of doing business? Regardless, it looks like device launches in virtual reality have a long way to go.

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Dash Charge sure sounds nice, but in reality its not all that fancy. Unlike Qualcomms Quick Charge, the industrys standard for fast charging, the OnePlus 3 does not charge with adjustments in voltage, it merely increases the current. Not to take anything way from OnePlus  charging a device to 60% full in half an hour is great  but this doesnt seem all that great of a feature. Increasing the current is arguably something anyone can do by simply finding a better charger. I have a 2.5 Amp charger that juices my Galaxy S7 Edge up a little bit quicker, but its no contest for the Quick Charge 3.0 technology in the HTC 10 or LG G5, which are both USB Type-C devices as well. Again, this could all be a cost-saving measure on their part, as not using Quick Charge probably allows them to save on licensing costs. Either way, Dash Charge is handy to have, but its no replacement for Qualcomm Quick Charge and a higher current is not always the best answer, either.

The Ugly

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Beauty is of course in the eye of the beholder, but the OnePlus 3 is most definitely a design that will divide people. Whether or not something looks good is always going to be subjective, but its not hard at all to line up with the OnePlus 3 with other devices and get the feeling OnePlus have been lazy this year. If you were to line up all the devices with metallic backs in their silver guises and step back 10 feet or so, they would all blend together. This is just not a OnePlus problem, a lot of brands are copying the iPhones design again, and its become beyond boring. OnePlus however, as a firm that asks us to Never Settle should have done better, surely? The above picture puts the OnePlus 3, launched in 2016 against designs launched as far back as 2014, and this is going to be a problem for OnePlus. Sure, they offer some great cases, but thats not the point. People will see the OnePlus 3s design and make a decision on whether or not they like the look of it on pictures of it naked, not in a case. Devices from HTC, Huawei, Honor, Meizu and even some from Xiaomi all look alike, and while we expect Chinese brands to blend together, its arguable that OnePlus is trying very hard to be a global brand these days.

Design is not everything of course, but customers want to feel that their device is special, and thats even more true of OnePlus fans. To sell a device that simply blends in with the rest of the field is asking to do the exact opposite of OnePlus motto; to settle. To settle for a design they could easily get elsewhere. The OnePlus 3 has it all when it comes to specs and value, its really quite admirable when you consider its price point, but many will say that OnePlus have gone the opposite direction when it comes to design this year.

Its a shame that the OnePlus 3 will be judged on its looks alone, but this is 2016, Android phones all do the same sort of things and while the OnePlus 3 has some great specs, theyre not unique and a different design would have certainly helped them to stand out from the crowd.
OnePlus has introduced their all-new OnePlus 3 flagship yesterday. The device was introduced during the companys global VR event, and many people have been wondering when will OnePlus release the OnePlus Xs successor. The OnePlus X was the companys mid-range offering for 2015, and many people actually like this premium-looking smartphone. That being said, OnePlus CEO actually shared some info regarding the OnePlus X during the OnePlus 3s launch event in Shenzhen earlier today, read on.

So, when will the 2nd-gen OnePlus X launch? Well, it wont, unfortunately. Pete Lau said that the company has no plans to release a new OnePlus X, and that they will focus on just one true flagship line from now on. Mr. Lau said that the company is doing this in order to strengthen its foundation, which he thinks they neglected last year. Now, in addition to this, OnePlus also said that they plan to merge development resources for the global OxygenOS and the China-only HydrogenOS, the company said well get more info later this year. The companys CEO also confirmed that OnePlus intends to offer more lifestyle products, and invest more in the after-sale services. So, it seems like OnePlus intends to focus solely on the OnePlus 3 as far as smartphones go, and that this will be their only smartphone launch this year, but we can maybe expect more smart gadgets to arrive before the end of 2016.

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OnePlus didnt share any sales figures or anything of the sort during this event, but the company did say that theyre doing really well in Europe, US and India. Europe seems to be OnePlus fastest-growing market, and Pete Lau expects it to remain that way. As far as China is concerned, OnePlus intends to stay online-only business, and wont open retail stores, at all. This will all make sense in 20 years time, said Pete Lau. That is more or less it, unfortunately for those of you who were looking forward to the OnePlus X 2nd-gen, the company has no plans of announcing such a device, at all. Well see what happens by the end of the year, but considering OnePlus 3s specs, pricing, and the fact people dont need an invite anymore, chances are the company will be able to sell quite a few of these units, presuming theyll be able to meet the demand, of course.
While Australia is known as the land Down Under for its position in the southern hemisphere, it is also known as a market of early technology adopting. Therefore, it was with great enthusiasm that Samsung Electronics Australia today launched their mobile payment service, Samsung Pay, allowing Australian consumers and businesses a fast, convenient, and secure way to transact sales. While Apple Pay is already in Australia, it requires specialized equipment that many businesses are not willing to purchase. With Samsung Pay, a customer can make a purchase at any retailer that accepts tap and pay and most others that have the old card swiping equipment  this opens up many possibilities to which Australian businesses and banks seem to be welcoming.

Samsung Pay is starting today and is available for use on select Samsung compatible smartphones  the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S7, and Galaxy S7 Edge  with launch partners of American Express and Citibank. American Express has been at the forefront of Samsung Pay according to Vice President Payment Consulting Group, American Express JAPA, Nick Alexander. He says it is another way that American Express can provide their card members with the latest technology and convenience  speeding up the payment process and allowing their customers to earn rewards when they pay by phone. Citi Global Consumer Bank, Australia, Managing Director of Cards and Consumer Lending, Alan Machet agrees that by allowing their customers to pay with their smartphones, it provides a fast and secure method for their globally-minded customers.

Samsung says that Samsung Pay has the potential to do more than offer Australians the ability to make payments  they are looking at being an integral part of major retailers to government departments to ticketing companies. Samsung Pay uses the Near Field Communication (NFC) method for paying, like Android Pay, but adds the option of paying with a proprietary technology called Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST). MST is what allows Samsung Pay to be used at small, ma and pa stores that have only the old card swipe mechanism  not the newer tap and pay. MST technology also enables partners with loyalty, gift, and transit cards to use those with Samsung Pay.

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The arrival of Samsung Pay in Australia follows successful launches in South Korea, the US, China, and Spain. Elle Kim, of Samsung, said that in just the first six months of the South Korea and US launching they have surpassed more than 5 million registered users and have processed more than US$1 billion in South Korean alone. They look forward to this in Australia, where contactless payments are in high demand.
The OnePlus 3 has finally and officially been announced at long last, and while there were no surprises in what the OnePlus 3 is all about, its been another great launch from the Chinese upstart. With the world of Android being as it is however, there are always plenty of other options out there. Maybe youre not keen on the idea of a 5.5-inch Full HD display in 2016, or maybe you just want something similar that isnt from OnePlus. Well, no matter what the case is, we have a list of Top 10 Alternatives to the OnePlus 3. Some of them are cheaper, some are more expensive, and while many of them offer similar experiences to each other, there are some standouts in the below list.

Motorola Moto G4

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The Moto G4 is the latest in a long line of quality, yet affordable devices, and if youve been eyeing up the OnePlus 3, its likely the value-for-money aspect is important to you. The Moto G4 and its Snapdragon 617 octa-core CPU isnt as fast as the OnePlus 3s Snapdragon 820, but with the same 1080p resolution and the same 5.5-inch display they share some key similarities. The Moto G4 also features a fingerprint sensor, just like the OnePlus 3, and theres a good chance itll be cheaper and more readily available where you are.

OnePlus X

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The OnePlus X is even cheaper than the Moto G4 and will be a perfect device for those that want something more affordable, but also want to stick with the OnePlus brand. Besides, its glass and metal design is something a little different to the OnePlus 3 anyway. With its 5.0-inch Full HD AMOLED display its a little more compact than the OnePlus 3 while sporting the same resolution. The only thing to be aware of here is that the Snapdragon 801 and 3GB of RAM here does make the OnePlus X something of an older device overall, and it might not stay updated for more than a year or so.

Huawei P9 Plus

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So, you like the look and feel of devices from China, but want to go with something a little more established? In that case, the Huawei P9 Plus is what you want, with its 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display and great Leica cameras  two of them at 12-megapixel apiece  it shares many of the same specs but has an excellent camera and overall shooting experience. The Emotion UI on top of Android 6.0 Marshmallow here is a little out there, but with its own HiSilicon Kirin 955 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage it really does get the job done. Its a little more pricey than the OnePlus 3, but if youre in the market for a high-end device with an excellent fingerprint sensor as well as some superb optics, the P9 Plus is the one to look out for.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

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While this might be the option that most people will consider fitting in, its no less a great option to consider. A lot more expensive than the OnePlus 3 without a doubt, the Galaxy S7 Edge does make up for it. For one thing the 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display here is a Quad HD panel, which makes virtual reality look much better, which brings us to the Gear VR. OnePlus might have launched the OnePlus 3 in VR, but they dont have much in the way of virtual reality offerings, whereas Samsung has partnered with Oculus for one of the best on Android right now. The 12-megapixel camera here is great as well, and theres a hell of a lot on offer with the extra software and the overall look and feel is something a lot of people will argue is much nicer than the OnePlus 3s look and feel.

Meizu Pro 6

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The Meizu Pro 6 is currently the latest and greatest from Meizu, and if youre a fan of Chinese devices, youll know about Meizu. If not, this is a brand thats been around for just as long  if not longer  as Xiaomi have and they produce some of the greatest devices out of China. The Pro 6 might look a little like an iPhone, but with a MT6797T Helio X25 from MediaTek under-the-hood it forges its own path in the world of Android. A device with FlymeOS on top of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, this offering from Meizu will give users a fresh experience to have fun with. Its got a great camera and while the design isnt for everyone, its 5.2-inch Full HD AMOLED display makes for a good-looking and compact device.

ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe

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The ZenFone line from ASUS has become something people relate to good value as well as great specs, and this year was no different. In particular the ZenFone 3 Deluxe is an excellent device to look out for. With a 5.7-inch Full HD AMOLED display, it trades blows with the OnePlus 3 by offering the same Snapdragon 820 CPU as well as 6GB of RAM and an insane 256GB of built-in internal storage. Its more expensive than youd expect from a ZenFone device, but its Deluxe for a reason and the 23-megapixel rear-facing camera is the sort of thing that big camera fans will enjoy and the slightly larger screen gives OnePlus fans looking for something a little larger another solid alternative.

Motorola Moto Z

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The Moto Z  as well as the Moto Z DROID Edition, pictured above  is a device that takes customization to a whole new level. While the Moto Z doesnt officially go on sale until this Fall  unless youre a Verizon customer  the Moto Z could well be worth waiting for. Not only is the 5.5-inch display much easier to handle than last years Moto X Pure, but the Moto Mods that are available, as well as new ones being made by other manufacturers, will make your Moto Z truly your own. With speakers, battery packs, projectors and more just a simple snap away from becoming part of your device, the Moto Z sounds more and more attractive. Its also not that expensive, either.

Xiaomi Mi 5

Again, the Mi 5 is yet another Chinese device, but as a result it punches well above its weight, just as the OnePlus 3 does. With a 5.15-inch Full HD display and a Snapdragon 820 running the show, this is one device that you might not want to miss, especially if youre okay with importing a smartphone. Great value for money and a slick user interface are all part of the Xiaomi experience and with a glass build, it has a different look to the OnePlus 3 as well. Available fairly easily in both China as well as India, the Mi 5 might be tricky to get hold of, but itll always be good value for money no matter where you get it from.

Lenovo PHAB2 Plus

At 6.4-inches, the Lenovo PHAB2 Plus is always going to be a bit of a handful, but the OnePlus 3 isnt exactly pocket-friendly either. With a Full HD display that huge screen might appear to be all that sharp, but with a quality build and decent software experience, the PHAB2 Plus makes up for this elsewhere. It has not one, but two rear-facing 13-megapixel cameras and the MediaTek MT8783 under-the-hood is a different processor that should hold its own. Theres dual SIM support here as well, and for the most part this is a device thats all about being larger than life without having to break the bank.

LeEco LeMax 2

The LeMax 2 is a device from a Chinese company, formerly known as LeTV, which specializes in well, practically everything. This device offers a standard 4GB option as well as a 6GB version to go toe-to-toe with the OnePlus 3. Elsewhere, a 5.7-inch Quad HD display is present, and it also features an Ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and a 21-megapixel Sony sensor to make sure the camera experience is as good as it can be. A little pricey, the LeMax 2 still offers good value for money, and will no doubt make for a great contender to the OnePlus 3 when it goes on sale later this Summer.
When United States of Americas current president, Barack Obama, took office in 2009 he wanted to keep his BlackBerry 8900 Curve. In what might seem like one of those rare occasions when somebody had to say, No, Mr. President, he was issued with a customized BlackBerry 8830; this model came with additional security features for classified email and calls. The standard BlackBerry always has been a secure environment but the type approved for the US Government featured improved security. However, since 2009 both smartphones and operating systems have been increasingly enhanced when it comes to security. Despite this and until relatively recently, President Barack had continued to use a BlackBerry: but now we know he has been issued with something else. Earlier this week, President Barack appeared on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show. He explained that his current smartphone is not so smart: it doesnt allow him to place calls, play music or send text messages and indeed, it was likened to a childs toy. Of course, there are good reasons for this: calls are likely placed via a secure switchboard using encrypted VoIP (voice over IP) technology. The device is locked down to prevent data leaks.

As to what the device is, unfortunately for the President, this is almost certainly a software modified Samsung Galaxy S4. The rationale behind this? Simply that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is the only device that has been approved and is supported by the DISA DMCC-S. This stands for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Department Of Defense Mobility Classified Capability-Secret (DMCC-S). In other words, its the necessary encryption required for Secret communications  although the Presidents Galaxy S4 appears to have upgraded security. The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the first commercial smartphone approved to connect to the US government SIPRNet network  the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network, which may be explained as the US governments equivalent of the Internet. In order to qualify for access to these networks, the Galaxy S4 has additional security layers applied as may be familiar to Android-using enterprise customers: app selection is restricted to a number from the DISA store and the camera is not accessible, for example. In 2014, a number of Samsung KNOX-supported devices were approved for the US National Security Agencys Commercial Solutions for Classified program, but from this pool the Galaxy S4 is the only device (we are aware of) given the higher level of approval.

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It would appear that using a dumbed down Samsung Galaxy S4 is one of the many compromises that U.S. President Barack Obama must make, not least is the inability to use his work phone to snap a cheeky selfie in a secure location! You can see a highlight of the conversation with Jimmy Fallon on the YouTube clip below.
OWASCO  Every morning, when Sister Chris Treichel was a little girl, her father knocked on her door to wake her up. And under the cover of darkness, while the city and sun still slept, the two would go to church.

A devoted Catholic, Treichel's dad shared a special bond of faith with his oldest child. He sent her to Catholic school  first to St. Teresa's in Washington, D.C., then to La Reine High School in Suitland, Maryland, where she grew up surrounded by sisters and religious.

And at a very young age, Treichel knew what she wanted to do with her life.

"I remember telling my fourth-grade teacher that I wanted to be a nun," she said, smiling. "I looked at the sisters and I just wanted to be like them... It kind of touched my heart."

Now, decades later, Treichel said she's finally fulfilled that dream as she celebrates her retirement after 50 years as a Franciscan sister.

"God hasn't let me down," she said. "In 50 years, I've had wonderful opportunities in ministry."

Treichel studied under three different communities of sisters: the School Sisters of Notre Dame in grade school, the Bernardine Franciscans in high school and the Allegany Franciscans in college.

"Most people went in the convent right after high school," she said, "but I went to college for a year. And I said to myself, 'You really want to do this, so why are you waiting?'"

Perhaps, she realized, she was waiting to find the right religious community.

Like her father  who had studied to be a priest before meeting her mother, a nurse at Georgetown Hospital, over a bout of appendicitis  Treichel went north to attend St. Bonaventure University in Olean.

And that's where she found her new family: the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany.

"I left home at 18 years old and I haven't turned back yet," she said. "I love my community."

Treichel joined the sisters in 1965 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in education from St. Bonaventure. From there, she spent the next decade teaching fourth grade in New Jersey and the Bronx before returning to school herself, pursuing a degree in liturgical studies at St. John's University in Minnesota.

Then, after a year working at a parish back in Olean, it was time for Treichel to look for her own ministry.

She started in Cortland, where she worked for nine years as a pastoral associate at St. Anthony's. Next, she joined St. John the Evangelist Parish in Rochester, where she spent another nine years. And then, in 2000, Treichel moved to Sacred Heart Parish in Owasco, first as a pastoral associate, then as pastoral administrator.

And she's been there ever since.

"I remember seeing kids in strollers and now, 16 years later, they're in high school," she said, adding that she is also pastoral administrator for St. Ann Parish in Owasco, a mission of Sacred Heart Church. "That makes me so happy to have watched them grow. That's been a real blessing."

But now, at 70 years old, Treichel said it's time for her to retire and refuel.

On June 28, the Rev. Michael Brown will take over as pastor at Sacred Heart after more than 10 years as an assistant priest with the parish.

"He'll build on what I've done and he'll change things, and that's fine," Treichel said. "I just didn't have the energy anymore. For the people's sake, for them to grow, they needed somebody young to lead them."

So Treichel will come full circle, visiting family and friends in D.C. and returning to the motherhouse in Allegany, where she and six other sisters will celebrate 50 years in the community.

Of course, she said, even though she's retiring, "nuns don't retire."

"I'm going to sabbatical to the Canossian Spirituality Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in September, and I'm really looking forward to that," Treichel said. "After that, I'm hoping to find some ministry that's not as demanding. But I want to do something with people."

On Saturday, more than 300 people celebrated her retirement at a reception at Sacred Heart, where Treichel kicked off her shoes and greeted guests with smiles and stockinged feet.

"I don't know if people realize it, but I feel like they're my family," she said. "I've journeyed with them from the time that they were born through life... and I care about them because they let me in to be a part of that journey."
Do you dream of being your own boss? Maybe you want to be the top executive at a growing company? How about being president? Jumpstart your future at the Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways' annual Camp CEO program!

Camp CEO is a camp-based leadership development experience where central New Yorks most accomplished women connect with the next generation of leaders: girls in grades 9-12. Youll participate in mentoring activities and workshops where youll discover what life is like in a variety of careers, and even gain some insights into the challenges and triumphs of these professional women.

Youll also have the chance to interact with the CEOs as you canoe on Cayuga Lake, sit around the campfire, hike to a waterfall or participate in team challenges. Youll leave with an expanded network of peers and interested adult mentors, as well as with increased confidence.

Camp CEO is taking place at the Comstock Adventure Center, north of Ithaca, Aug. 18-21. Its a wonderful opportunity for girls who may not have the financial opportunity to attend camp, as full funding is available (minus a $10 registration fee). Girls dont even have to be Girl Scouts to attend. For more information about Camp CEO, visit gsnypenn.org/summercamp.

Upcoming programs available for girls

The Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways offers programs throughout the year for girls of all ages.

Here are some upcoming programs this summer:

 Meet the Expert Talk: Archery, July 12 at Bass Pro Shops in Fingerlakes Mall. Girls will work on some of the requirements to earn their archery badge. Theyll learn all about archery gear and archery safety.

 Meet the Expert Talk: Backpacking and Trekking, July 12 at Bass Pro Shops in Fingerlakes Mall. Girls will work on some of the requirements to earn their trailblazing badge. Theyll learn about the gear involved in backpacking and trekking, including water purification techniques.

 Overnight at the Island, July 16-17 at the Hoover Adventure Center in Tully. The waterfront at Hoover has a lot to offer: swimming, boating, fishing. After enjoying a summer afternoon, girls will pack up the boats with supplies for a primitive overnight at Hoovers island in Song Lake and camp out for the night.

 Meet the Expert Talk: Planning for Camping, Aug. 9 at Bass Pro Shops in Fingerlakes Mall. Girls will work on some of the requirements to earn their camper badge. Theyll learn about how to begin planning their next camping adventure.

For more information about any of these or other programs offered, or to get involved in Girl Scouts, visit gsnypenn.org.

We encourage Girl Scout alumnae to reconnect with the organization that helped them succeed. To keep up to date on all of the activities, or find out more information, visit gsnypenn.org. Did you know that girls can participate in events without their troop? Join the fun and friendship of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience! Visit gsnypenn.org or call (315) 698-9400 for more information.
June 15, 1936

Various sparkling features were successfully carried out at the second annual June rally of Cayuga County Council, Girl Scouts of America, staged Saturday afternoon in beautiful Hoopes Park, East Genesee Street. The affair was participated in by nearly 300 Scouts of the various troops of the county.

Golden eaglets, the highest award in scouting, were given three girls for special work done during the past year. They included Miss Barbara Kimball of Troop 2, Miss Pauline Strokarck of Troop 10, and Miss Patricia Barry of Troop 12. Troops given the 100 per cent attendance honor were the Gild Rose and American Beauty troops. Honorable mention went to the Port Byron troop, Fulton troop and the Pansy troop of Auburn.

June 15, 1961

Cayuga County Postmasters will honor Postmaster Lyman D. Cook of Poplar Ridge at a dinner meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Auburn Inn. Mr. Cook is retiring in the near future after 14 years as postmaster of Polar Ridge.

The principal speakers will include Harry C. Stevens of the Postal Inspection Service and Robert E. Miller, director of marketing at the Beacon Milling Co.

June 15, 2006

Audiences don't normally stomp, clap and shout while someone is reading a story, but Robert Djed Snead didn't mind. In fact, he encouraged the crowd at the Booker T. Washington Community Center Thursday to get involved. Snead, a professional storyteller from Rochester, was the centerpiece of the annual Juneteenth Celebration, a program that commemorates the first days of freedom for many of America's slaves in 1865.

The event was sponsored by the Auburn Human Rights Commission and included the reading of several essays by students from local elementary schools, the presentation of several awards and Snead's program. More than 200 students from Owasco, Casey Park, Herman Avenue and other schools packed the center's gymnasium to watch the show.

June 15, 2011

Friends, family and fellow residents gathered Tuesday afternoon on the steps at city hall to send a group of local troops off as they head for deployment abroad. About 40 soldiers with the 107th Military Police Company of the New York Army National Guard left Auburn as they prepare for deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as part of Project We Lead the Way,
Should Auburn be named the winner of a $10 million state grant competition at the end of June, two of the six projects that stand to gain are downtown performing arts spaces.

Both the Auburn Schine Theater and a possible performing arts center in the State Street Mall were identified by the city May 31 as projects included in its grant application. The $10 million was made available through the state's Downtown Revitalization Initiative program, and Auburn is up against Oswego, Cortland and Fulton in the central New York division of the grant competition.

Specifically, the city proposed to the state the rehabilitation of the Schine's marquee and facade, abatement of its asbestos and restoration of its 2,100-square-foot inner lobby. The application makes no mention of the 1938 John Eberson theater's 1,600-seat auditorium.

The State Street project, meanwhile, falls under a broader proposal for the Creative Corridor area's development. A 14,000-square-foot, two- or three-story mixed-use building would adjoin a 7,500-square-foot outdoor public space on the vacant 1-7 State St. lot, the application says.

Taken on its face, Auburn's grant application would appear to suggest the city is prepared to commit resources to the realization of both the Schine and State Street projects  two downtown venues with potentially overlapping artistic functions and square footage that would dwarf the area's lone already-existing venue, Auburn Public Theater.

However, due to the nature of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative program and its grant application process, that's not quite the case. Several officials and stakeholders told The Citizen that the application represents possibilities, not plans  and that goes for both the Schine and State Street projects.

Auburn City Councilor Jimmy Giannettino, a member of the group that prepared the application, said the city was told the state sought to fund projects "ripe" for development with the grant.

Both the Schine and State Street projects fit that description, Giannettino said. The Cayuga County Arts Council has roadmapped the Schine's restoration for 20 years. And the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival drew up plans for a State Street theater, the 300-seat Schwartz Family Performing Arts Center, before shelving them in 2014 while citing litigation from property neighbor Joseph Camardo.

Because of their history, Giannettino said, both projects also enjoy public support. He noted that several community members addressed Auburn City Council earlier this year to plead for the Schine's restoration. Though the city doesn't own the theater  the arts council does  Auburn could help the group along via the state grant. City officials said May 31 the money could function as incentive for the arts council to shore up its restoration efforts.

Giannettino said the city also hears frequently from citizens who want to see something occupy the 1-7 State St. lot where the Schwartz was to be built. The future of the former Kalet's department store site was the subject of a September public forum, and the city voted in March to accept proposals from consulting agencies to study its best use.

That combination of readiness and popularity made both the Schine and State Street projects natural candidates for the grant application, Giannettino said. But, he continued, their presence on the application doesn't mean Auburn has earmarked the money for them.

"The important thing to realize is that it's all conceptual," he said. "(If Auburn wins the grant) the first thing the state's going to do is assign a developer to look at our plan and provide guidance."

City of Auburn Director of Capital Projects and Grants Christina Selvek said the direction of the Creative Corridor project would also depend on the results of the best use study of the 1-7 State St. space. And a performing arts center may not be its best use, she said. Though the city referred to the project as a "shared use public performing arts center" in its May 31 presentation, Selvek said June 13 that "it was premature to identify any potential use."

Regardless, if the Schine and State Street projects remain on the table as recipients of state funding  and if the latter takes a functional shape similar to that of the former  a question of sustainability emerges. Could the two spaces co-exist, or would they self-cannibalize?

Feasibility studies of each project have been done. The Cayuga County Arts Council's vision for the Schine includes not only performing arts, but with features like removable seating, also weddings and banquets. The council had also planned to offer local arts organizations permanent residence at the theater's adjacent Lincoln South building, but that building's purchase by another entity earlier this year all but scuttled those plans.

Council board President Jim Loperfido acknowledged in August that the Schine's last study, in 2001, needed to be updated to account for the opening of Auburn Public Theater in 2005. He said in February that the council was reviewing its feasibility strategy, but did not respond to recent requests for comment.

The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, meanwhile, has veered from the course laid out by its 2008 feasibility study from the Institute for Outdoor Drama. Though the study said a downtown theater of the Schwartz's size could work in concert with Owasco's Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and Auburn Public Theater, festival Producing Artistic Director Brett Smock said last week that the festival's current focus is solidifying its financial plan at its existing venues: the playhouse, Theater Mack and the Nazareth College Arts Center in Rochester.

"When it is appropriate for us to expand and consider a new venue, we will do so," Smock said.

Both the council and the festival's feasibility studies share a common oversight, though: Neither accounts for the other. Neither asks whether it could work while the other competes for similar programming, for similar audiences. If Auburn wins the $10 million grant for an application that includes both the Schine and State Street projects, though, that's a question that will quite possibly get asked.

Chicago-based architect Daniel P. Coffey's 1993 feasibility study of the Schine may provide a starting point for an answer. (The 2001 study was not made available to The Citizen.)

Coffey suggested in the study that a restored Schine retain none other than the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse as its major tenant  a prospect that'd now be dimmed by not only the construction of a State Street performing arts center tailored to the festival's needs, but also by Smock's repeated statements that the festival has no plans to program at the Schine. Despite those statements, though, Loperfido expressed to The Citizen in August and February a hope that the festival will "(come) to their senses" and decide to produce shows at the Schine.

Coffey also suggested that a restored Schine reduce its seat count from about 1,600 to 612, based on both Merry-Go-Round's average audience size and Cayuga County's population at the time. A State Street performing arts center in the Schwartz's seat count range  not to mention Auburn Public Theater  may therefore shrink the niche Coffey saw the restored Schine fulfilling. So may the fact that Cayuga County's population has since dipped almost 5 percent.

Coffey could not be reached for comment. The implications of his 23-year-old study aside, Auburn officials remain optimistic about the potential for not one, but two more performing arts spaces downtown.

Giannettino pointed to the success of Auburn Public Theater and the festival as signs that the city could, in fact, accommodate both the Schine and State Street venues at some point in the future.

"The additional space would allow us to bring it to the next level," he said of the theater and festival's programming.

Though Selvek said the city would talk with the festival in the event it secures the grant, she was more reserved in her appraisal of the two projects' collective sustainability. Like Giannettino, she stressed the involvement of a developer in strategizing any potential investment  in turning Auburn's application for it, Schine and State Street included, from possibilities into plans.

"We're on the brink of really great things downtown, and this would be the good kick we need," Selvek said. "We're hoping they all make it, but maybe they won't."
Madeleine McCann: Sir Clement Freud dug up and beaten with sticks

Madeleine McCann is back in the news. The Daily Mirror (the self-styled intelligent tabloid) wonders if a dead celebrity and MP kidnapped her.

Paedophile Sir Clement Freud lived close to where Madeleine McCann went missing as police urged to probe link

Sir Clement Freund, who died in 2009, was a paedophile? The Mirror wants us to consider it. But its uncertain if the dead man molested or raped or kidnapped children so its placed the word paedophile inside inverted commas. How fair is that.

Freud is believed to have sexually abused girls as young as 11, a documentary has claimed, and invited the McCanns to his Portuguese villa after she disappeared

Believed. By whom and why? And  get this  Freud reached out to the McCanns after not before their child vanished.

First up, we can look at who says the dead man did criminal things to innocent children.

Sylvia Woosley, now in her late seventies, said she was repeatedly assaulted by Freud over 60 years ago. A second woman claimed the former star of Radio 4s Just a Minute panel game raped her aged 18 after years of grooming that included taking her on trips to the House of Commons.

Just a Minute is on the BBC. Its a hat-trick of the tabloids game of Paedo Hunt for Freud: MP. Tick. BBC employee. Tick. Dead. Tick.

Former Crown Prosecution Service chief Nazir Afzal told the ITV Exposure programme that Freud, who died in 2009 aged 84, would have been charged with child sex offences based on Sylvias case if he was still alive. He said: I would have no doubt there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Sir Clement Freud.

What the current CPS chief thinks we are not told. But its good to see Afzal finds life after service as TV pundit. Can Sylvias claims be tested?

Freuds widow Jill, now 89, said in response to the film: This is a very sad day for me. I was married to Clement for 58 years and loved him dearly. I am shocked, deeply saddened and profoundly sorry for what has happened to these women. I sincerely hope they will now have some peace.

Now back to the papers Our Maddie news:

Paedophile Sir Clement Freud had a villa in the resort Madeleine McCann vanished from and befriended her parents in the weeks after she went missing. Detectives investigating the three-year-olds disappearance from in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007 have been alerted to the revelation and are reportedly expected to assess the new information before deciding if it may be relevant to the inquiry.

Did the McCanns ever visit with Freud?

They were invited to his house twice after Madeleine vanished and kept in contact by phone and email. Writing about their first meeting  two months after Madeleine vanished  Kate wrote in her book Madeleine: Im usually very intimidated by people with brains the size of planets but Clement was incredibly warm, funny and instantly likeable.

The swine!

He had cooked a watercress and egg salad followed by a chicken and mushroom risotto which was the best risotto weve ever tasted before or since.

The pig!

He invited them for dinner again in September that year but they cancelled because they had been named arguidos in the investigation. But they did go to his house for drinks later in the evening and he was dressed in a nightshirt watching a cookery show.

The depraved old bast

Kate wrote of the meeting: He gave me one of his looks and a giant glass of brandy, and managed to get a smile out of me with his greeting: So, Kate, which of the devout Catholic, alcoholic, depressed, nymphomaniac parts is correct? Clement cheered us up with his lugubrious wit, and would continue to do so by email after his return to England, she added.

The Telegraph has more: Sir Clement Freud exposed as a paedophile as police urged to probe Madeleine McCann links.

Exposed? Surely it has been alleged or claimed.

Sir Clement Freud, the former broadcaster and politician, was exposed on Tuesday night as a paedophile who sexually abused girls as young as 10 for decades.

Adding:

Sylvia Woosley said Freud befriended her family in 1948, when he was working at a hotel in the South of France, and started abusing her when she was 10. Four years later, following a family crisis, her mother asked Freud and his wife Jill if they would look after Mrs Woosley, and she found herself living under the same roof as her abuser, being brought up as a daughter. The abuse continued until she managed to move away when she was 19

A second woman wishes to remain anonymous. She alleges:

Another woman told ITV that Freud started abusing her in the 1970s, when she was 11, and eventually raped her when she was 18, by which time he was a Liberal MP sharing an office with Cyril Smith, who was also unmasked as a paedophile after his death. The rape was so brutal that his victim bled for a week.

The Telegraph than adds this to the dead mans history:

With his finger on the capitals showbiz pulse he helped propel a number of young acts to stardom and later boasted of being the first person to book the now disgraced entertainer, Rolf Harris.

The Sun: NEW INFORMATION Paedophile Sir Clement Freud lived close to where Madeleine McCann went missing  as TV doc makes startling claims

Startling claims made by TV show. Yes.

Such are the facts.

Anorak

Posted: 15th, June 2016 | In: Celebrities, Key Posts, Madeleine McCann, Reviews, Tabloids Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
CONNECT2016 activities included speakers such as General Colin Powell, along with opportunities to network with leaders from throughout the financial services industry.

It was an honor to attend CONNECT2016. I found the event to be an invaluable resource for networking with peers from around the country and, perhaps most importantly, to learn firsthand from HD Vest executives and industry experts regarding best practices related to the successful integration of sound tax and investment advice into one wealth management solution aimed at helping our clients to pursue their long-term financial goals, Cuddy said in a press release.
(ANSA) - Brussels, June 15 - Italy and Europe must up the pressure on Egypt to obtain a transparent probe into the death of Giulio Regeni, tortured and murdered in Cairo, his parents said at the European Parliaments human rights commission Wednesday. Member States must recall their ambassadors and declare Egypt an unsafe country, Paola and Claudio Regeni said.

"I don't understand whether Italy is still a friend of Egypt or not: you don't kill the children of your friend", Paola Regeni said.

Claudio Regeni said "we want to thank the European Parliament for approving the resolution (to demand the truth from Egypt".

"Now it is important that Egypt should feel a strong pressure from Europe and all its member States in order to obtain a transparent investigation.

"I ask the member States to recall their ambassadors, declare Egypt an unsafe country, suspend accords on sending weapons, inter-force (collaboration) on spying and internal repression, suspend economic accords, monitor trials against activists, militant lawyers and journalists fighting for freedom in Egypt and offer protection and collaboration, also by offering visas to those who can offer news to Rome prosecutors".

Regeni disappeared on January 25, the heavily policed fifth anniversary of the 2011 uprising that toppled former strongman Hosni Mubarak, and his mutilated body turned up in a ditch on the road to Alexandria on February 3. An autopsy confirmed Regeni had been severely tortured for days on end, and ultimately killed by having his neck broken.

Egyptian authorities have offered up a series of explanations of the incident, including a car crash, a gay lovers' quarrel, and a kidnapping for ransom gone bad.

Italy has not found any of these versions convincing.


(ANSA) - Brussels, June 15 - Italy is assessing the possibility of contributing to NATO battalions to be deployed in eastern Europe, Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti said Wednesday.

This does not mean a military escalation is ongoing or that the "level of possible conflict has increased", Pinotti said after a summit of NATO defence ministers.

"The need for dialogue for Russia has been reiterated," Pinotti said. "There is no doubt events have taken place and eastern countries have been requesting a deterrent reaction for some time in view of a more robust Russian position at the borders," she said.

"We believe a response had to be made...to (allay) the rightful concerns of our eastern allies," the minister said.

Italy is one of the main contributors to NATO, the first contributor in terms of European missions and the first European contributor to UN missions, Pinotti said.

The minister added Italian Premier Matteo Renzi is to attend an upcoming summit in Warsaw, where "proposals will be made" and commitments made on "Afghanistan, the Balkans, the eastern front, and the Mediterranean".


TUNIS - Tunisia is betting on tourism and plans to increase investments in tourism to 25% of the country's GDP by 2020, with a total investment volume possibly reaching 50 billion euros over the next four years, according to Minister for Development, Investments and International Cooperation Yassine Brahim.



Brahim presented guidelines for a 2016-2020 strategic plan based on five points at a conference organized by the Arab Institute of Business Managers in Tunis.



Leading the plan is public administration reform, to allow for good management of public businesses and the fight against corruption. The second point is passing from a relatively low-cost economy to a high-level industrial economy through an increase in productivity and exports, infrastructure development, improvement in logistics, and innovation promotion.



Human development and social inclusion make up the third point for the five-year development plan. The final two points are putting regional ambitions into action and positioning the "green" economy at the heart of sustainable development.



Brahim said the strategic plan's objectives are gradual economic recovery and development of investments.



The minister added that the plan aims to improve the business climate by giving a push to public and private partnerships.



According to statistics provided by Brahim during her speech, the country's deficit should decrease by 2020, going from 8.5% of GDP in 2015 to a hoped-for 6.8% of GDP by 2020
Migrants: 462 sent back to Turkey by EU agreement 508 Syrians relocated. Greece daily arrivals go from 7,000 to 30

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, JUNE 15 - Since the March 18th signing of the EU-Turkey accord, 462 migrants have been sent back to Turkey from Greece. In the same period, 508 Syrians hosted in Turkish refugee camps have been relocated to Europe. Welcoming them on a voluntary basis were Germany, Finland, Italy, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden and Lithuania, Turkish government sources told ANSA.



The average number of daily arrivals from Turkey to the Greek islands has gone down from a peak of 7,000 in October to about 30 last week, the same sources said.



On some days, such as April 10 and 25, and May 1 and 24, there weren't any registered migrant arrivals from Turkey.



(ANSAmed).




Turkey: nationalist groups threaten Gay Pride Istanbul 'Insult during Ramadan, without a ban we'll stop it'

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, JUNE 15 - If the Turkish authorities don't ban Gay Pride, planned for June 26 in Istanbul, "we'll stop the march" said ultranationalist group Alperen Ocaklari, the youth branch of the Great Unity Party (BBP), in a press conference.



"We absolutely don't want them to walk nude on the holy ground of our country during the blessed month of Ramadan. The State has to stop them, taking into consideration national values," said local leader Kursat Mican. A similar threat had already been launched by the Anatolia Muslim Youth Association (MAG). The LGBT associations organising the march reported the threats to authorities.



Istanbul's Gay Pride parade, now in its 14th year, was banned last year just hours from its start and dispersed by police. In 2014, however, the march took place without incident, even though it coincided with Ramadan.(ANSAmed).




BEIRUT - Syrians will account for the largest share of the 81 refugees due to arrive in Rome on Thursday from the Lebanese capital as part of a project for 'humanitarian corridors'. The new arrivals will be in addition to the 200 who have arrived in Italy since February as part of an agreement between the Italian foreign ministry, the Comunita di Sant'Egidio, the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy and the Waldensian Evangelical Church. Organizers have underscored that the initiative is no longer just an experiment and is helping people who are fleeing war and are part of vulnerable groups (victims of persecutions, families with children, single women, the elderly, the ill and the disabled) to arrive safely and legally in Italy without risking their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea. The project is expected to include about a thousand people in two years from Lebanon, Morocco and Ethiopia. The idea may be replicated elsewhere in other European countries.
CAIRO - "Our forces continue to strengthen the positions conquered around the centre of Sirte and taken from ISIS, which now finds itself surrounded into an area of 15 square kilometres. We're preparing for the final battle to definitively drive them out; our forces haven't drawn back at all," said the Operation for the Liberation of Sirte Facebook page.

It said that a battalion of "fighters, our heroes, managed to take a Daesh heavy weapons and ammunitions depot" forcing "the jihadists to flee".

The militants specified that "clashes took place at the Al-Gharbeyat axis, pushing back ISIS fighters who used heavy artillery and a tank, supported by snipers positioned on the rooftops". Strong tension and "fighting also around the Ouagadougou conference centre", while "aviation continued with its air raids".
ISTANBUL - Since the March 18th signing of the EU-Turkey accord, 462 migrants have been sent back to Turkey from Greece. In the same period, 508 Syrians hosted in Turkish refugee camps have been relocated to Europe. Welcoming them on a voluntary basis were Germany, Finland, Italy, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Sweden and Lithuania, Turkish government sources told ANSA.



The average number of daily arrivals from Turkey to the Greek islands has gone down from a peak of 7,000 in October to about 30 last week, the same sources said.



On some days, such as April 10 and 25, and May 1 and 24, there weren't any registered migrant arrivals from Turkey.
PARIS - "This war will last a generation. Other innocents will lose their lives. I'll be accused of generating even more anxiety, but this is the reality," said French Prime Minister Manuel Valls to the microphones of France Inter, the day after a young jihadist killed two police officers in the outskirts of Paris.



Yesterday, in a phone call between French President Francois Hollande and US President Barack Obama, France and the United States decided to "increase cooperation between French and American security forces even more in the face of a threat that is continuously evolving. France and its allies will continue to put forth the strength of democracies against barbarism", read a statement released by Elysee Palace after the talks.



The talks came after an attack on Sunday in an Orlando, Florida gay bar was claimed as in service to ISIS, and an attack in Magnanville, France, in which the husband and wife police officer couple was killed by a young jihadist.
TUNIS - Tunisia is betting on tourism and plans to increase investments in tourism to 25% of the country's GDP by 2020, with a total investment volume possibly reaching 50 billion euros over the next four years, according to Minister for Development, Investments and International Cooperation Yassine Brahim.



Brahim presented guidelines for a 2016-2020 strategic plan based on five points at a conference organized by the Arab Institute of Business Managers in Tunis.



Leading the plan is public administration reform, to allow for good management of public businesses and the fight against corruption. The second point is passing from a relatively low-cost economy to a high-level industrial economy through an increase in productivity and exports, infrastructure development, improvement in logistics, and innovation promotion.



Human development and social inclusion make up the third point for the five-year development plan. The final two points are putting regional ambitions into action and positioning the "green" economy at the heart of sustainable development.



Brahim said the strategic plan's objectives are gradual economic recovery and development of investments.



The minister added that the plan aims to improve the business climate by giving a push to public and private partnerships.



According to statistics provided by Brahim during her speech, the country's deficit should decrease by 2020, going from 8.5% of GDP in 2015 to a hoped-for 6.8% of GDP by 2020.(ANSAmed).


AUBURN  Robert Houle thinks of himself as David and Cayuga County as Goliath.

That's what he told Judge Thomas Leone Wednesday morning in Cayuga County Supreme Court.

Despite failing to pay his taxes on two Cayuga County properties, the Honeoye Falls resident argued that the mobile homes on those parcels, which are located on Duck Lake Road in Victory and Dennison Road in Ira, are personal property and not real property. Therefore, he said, the county had no right to sell the mobile homes as part of its regular county tax auction last June.

"This is kind of an interesting case, and kind of an important case," Houle said. "The bottom line is, I caught Cayuga County."

Representing himself along with his father, Glenn Houle, the father and son sat together at one table in the courtroom, while four attorneys representing a lengthy list of defendants  including Cayuga County, Attorney Earle Thurston and real estate broker Dean Cummins  sat around the adjacent table.

While Houle has filed a legal complaint suing the county for $1.75 million plus any accrued costs or fees, Leone focused the hearing on a motion to show cause, which was issued by New York State Court of Claims Judge Renee Forgensi Minarik last year.

The order was intended to prevent Cayuga County from auctioning off the properties; however, the hearing for the order did not occur until August 2015. The properties had been sold by then.

Houle was the first to address the court Wednesday morning, alleging not only that the county unlawfully took his personal property, but also calling into question events that allegedly occurred at the county auction last June.

He said he was led to believe by several county officials that the mobile homes would not be part of the sale. The county did include them as part of the sale, however, so Houle had an agent distribute pamphlets that said the mobile homes were not included. Houle said his agent was threatened with arrest, as was he.

"We've showed good faith," Houle said. "The county did not. We call them out and question them. We've been vilified. We've been threatened. It's disgusting."

Representing the county, attorney John Callahan pointed out that Houle knew his properties were delinquent in taxes back in November 2011, when the county's real property office filed its list. When the county reached out to Houle to see if he had interest in the property, he had said no. Nearly four years after the list of delinquent taxes was published, Houle's legal challenges were filed.

"There's no basis to hold these parties in contempt," Callahan said. "It's too late."

Attorney Stephen Pesarchick, representing Cummins, who bought the property and mobile home on Duck Lake Road, addressed Leone next. Pesarchick said the mobile homes could be considered personal property if they were separately assessed, but they were assessed together. Therefore, he said, the homes were properly included in the tax auction and transferred.

Pesarchick also said his client had not been personally served any of the orders.

Also on the list of defendants was Thurston, who had originally represented Cummins until Houle listed him as a party in the matter. He was represented by Attorney David Thurston, who said Houle's "vague notions of conspiracy," have no basis in court.

One of Houle's arguments was that he still possessed the original bill of sale on the mobile homes, something the county did not have. Thurston said those documents are null at this point. The sale had originally been made to Todtel Holdings Inc., a company that had been dissolved in October 2011.

"Todtel Holdings doesn't exist," Thurston said. "It's a fiction at this point."

Thurston also called Houle's orders and motions a "litany of procedural defects."

"He has no ability to create an action, let alone without an attorney," Thurston said. "We've now sat here for an hour being taught lessons. He has no basis to be here."

Houle argued that the dissolved company had been transferred to Houle Sales Consulting Inc., of which Houle is the sole owner. Therefore, he said, his name is on the bill of sale.

Houle complained that both Cummins and Thurston were aware of the order to show cause, but they still went ahead with the property sale. Standing at the podium, Houle called Cummins an "aggressive real estate investor" and a "wildcat."

Leone, breaking his silence, said the order was served after the home was sold, though.

"Respectfully, your honor, I'm a little concerned you made that comment," Houle said.

Leone, leaning into the court microphone, replied: "You should be concerned."

He asked if Houle had anything more to say, without repeating what had already been said. Houle raised both his hands in the air, questioning, then stood up.

"We showed good faith," he said again. "I think that we've identified something. I really don't care about the order to show cause. This has countywide, statewide implications. Maybe nationwide."

He again referred to whether mobile homes are affixed or not, personal property or real property.

Leone said that unlike the morning's proceedings, he would be brief in his ruling. He granted Cummins and Thurston's motions to dismiss. He denied Houle's motion for contempt and order to show cause.

As for Houle's complaint against the county, which seeks damages for recovery of personal property, theft, fraud and incompetence of the county, violation of freedom of speech and harassment, the county is waiting for Houle to decide how he wants to proceed.

"We're going to review our options internally," said Cayuga County Attorney Fred Westphal. "At least short-term, we're going to wait."
Summer reading is a great way to help children stay sharp and focused for the new school year. It also can be a very fun and rewarding activity!

Thats why I am once again sponsoring the New York State Senate Summer Reading Program to encourage summer learning. The State Senate, in partnership with the New York State Library, offers this convenient online program, so families may enjoy the rewards of reading together. This years summer reading theme is On Your Mark, Get SetRead!

To register your child for the 2016 New York State Senate Summer Reading Program, please visit my website at www.defrancisco.nysenate.gov. Once your child is registered, he or she may select at least three books, which can be found at your local library, and then track his or her reading progress through an online journal. You can also use this tool to find suggestions on the most popular books among other children of the same grade.

Once the online journal is complete, I will mail your child a special New York State Senate Certificate of Recognition for his or her reading accomplishments. Its a great incentive to encourage kids to keep reading and learning throughout the long summer months.

According to New York State Library officials, more than one million school-age children from across our state participated in last years summer reading program. I am hopeful that increased attention to the benefits of consistent reading will result in even more participation this summer.

I hope you will join me for the 2016 New York State Senate Summer Reading Program because when you open a book, you open up a world of possibilities!
The contract begins June 2016 and will last for a period of three years. The sponsorship includes ticket and hospitality experiences at Lincoln Centers David Geffen Hall and the New York Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, Presented by Didi and Oscar Schafer, as well as branding and advertising opportunities.
Since Emirates started flying from its Dubai hub to Moscow in 2003, the airline has carried almost 3.5 million passengers on the route. Over the past 12 months, demand has increased, with some 400,000 passengers having travelled on the route. The increased level of passenger support and demand has led to Emirates decision to bring its iconic A380 to the Russian capital, setting a new product quality level in the market.
Coconino County has joined four area national forests and the city of Flagstaff in imposing fire restrictions that will take effect Wednesday at 8 a.m.

Coconino County Supervisors on Tuesday approved Stage 1 fire restrictions that apply to county-owned public lands, as well as private lands in the unincorporated areas of the county.

The restrictions prohibit pile burning or campfires outside of established campgrounds.

Stage 1 fire restrictions do not affect recreational activities at county parks.

Citizens are reminded to use caution when smoking cigarettes outdoors and to completely extinguish them. The use of any machinery that may emit sparks, such as chainsaws and welding equipment should be used with caution during the high fire danger period. Be prepared and have fire extinguishing equipment readily available.
Royal Jordanian launched its annual Ramadan campaign starting from the north of Jordan, with employees heading to one of Irbid governorate camps and a village in the north of the country where they distributed food parcels to needy families.

The airline organized the distribution of food aid to underprivileged families in cooperation with the Social Development Ministry and charities in these villages.

RJ will carry on its Ramadan campaign throughout the holy month, giving out more food aid to inhabitants of remote villages and areas in different governorates of Jordan: Maan, Jordan Valley, Karak, Zarqa, Madaba and Balqa.

It will also hold Iftars for orphans and distribute clothes to them, and will donate medical equipment and sewing machines to women living in the south of the kingdom to help them lend some support to their families.

RJ President/CEO Captain Suleiman Obeidat said RJ employees visit different communities all over the country during the Holy Month of Ramadan in order to distribute food parcels, an annual ritual that RJ has been practicing since long years and will continue to do so.

As the national carrier of Jordan, RJ has a duty to enhance its presence and role in serving the local society, said Obeidat, adding that the company believes sustained corporate social responsibility is an essential element of the airlines work and of the support it offers at different levels: health, youth, education and special needs.
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP)  Repairs to a pipeline that supplies water to the largest farm on the Navajo Nation are finished and the system will be tested this weekend.

The fixed pipe, which supplies water to 72,000 acres of farmland in northwestern New Mexico, will be tested in two phases, according to the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry.

The company manages many of the crops on the land located near Farmington.

Operators will slowly fill the siphon with water. If testing is successful, water will be released into the canal that feeds the area, NAPI CEO Wilton Charley told the Farmington Daily Times (http://bit.ly/1UIHRCt).

The irrigation canal delivers water to the tribal farm from the San Juan River through Navajo Dam.

A decades-old concrete pipe failed May 13. The water that was in the canal when the 17-foot diameter pipe broke had to be rationed among the crops grown by the tribal company and those who lease land. The produce grown there includes alfalfa, corn, beans and pumpkins.

Charley said subcontractors worked around the clock every day for the last few weeks to get the repairs done.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Technical Service Center in Denver is evaluating what caused the breach.

The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs is responsible for the operations and maintenance of the irrigation system that was built decades ago by the Bureau of Reclamation, federal officials said. The Navajo Nation oversees all on-site activities on the farms.

Mihio Manus, the spokesman for Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye, did not respond to questions about whether the farm suffered financial losses after the pipe broke.

According to Charley, it could take at least two weeks to fully gauge the financial impact as well as the effect on NAPI's crops themselves. The company is holding ongoing talks with the U.S. Department of the Interior on how to prevent future infrastructure risk.
It started with an email from a mother whose 24-year-old daughter had struggled for years to overcome intense Lyme disease.

After five years shuttling her daughter to doctor visits across the country and intense antibiotic treatments to battle the Lyme, Tammy Crawford got in touch with Paul Keim, director of the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Flagstaff. Knowing the institutes experience using genetic sequencing to identify pathogens like tuberculosis and E. coli, Crawford asked if TGen could do the same for Lyme disease.

Keim agreed to give it a try, and Crawford wrote TGen a $75,000 check through her recently created nonprofit Focus on Lyme to get started.

Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme, is sneaky, hiding in the bodys cartilage instead of the blood, which makes it much harder to detect, Keim said. Current diagnostic tests are just 50 percent accurate.

But less than a year after TGen took on the project, Keim said the team has developed the test, and has already received promising initial results. Next, researchers will begin using human blood samples to verify the accuracy of the diagnostic process.

An undercover pathogen

Lyme has confounded doctors for years, and is commonly misdiagnosed. Symptoms vary for different people and often mimic symptoms of other diseases as well, said Nathan Nieto, a microbiology professor at Northern Arizona University who has studied the disease for a decade. According to the Centers for Disease control, symptoms of untreated Lyme disease include chronic fatigue, short term memory problems, rashes, arthritis, facial palsy, inflammation of the brain and intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints and bones.

It causes an illness that has lots of different symptoms that could be lots of other things, Nieto said. Its still this weird mystery.

The Lyme bacteria are transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, and according to the CDC, the disease affects almost 300,000 Americans annually.

TGens test works by targeting and amplifying specific regions of the Lyme bacterias DNA as well as specific genes in related bacteria. That amplified DNA gets sequenced, then researchers determine the bacterial species present in the sample by searching for the DNA code specific to Lyme or other bacteria, explained Dave Engelthaler, director of programs and operations at TGen North in Flagstaff.

So far in the process, TGen has run this diagnostic tool through tests on DNA extracted from infected ticks and mice and it has detected Lyme DNA in all of those known positive samples, Engelthaler wrote in an email.

The DNA came from just down the road at Nietos microbiology lab at Northern Arizona University. Nieto has been studying Lyme for nearly a decade and is an expert in a range of tick-borne diseases. His lab is filled with close to 4,000 ticks sent in by people from across the country as part of a project testing the insects for a suite of pathogens.

Nieto sent vials of the DNA to TGen and also advised the team on which specific genes define the disease-causing types of the borrelia bacteria, which helped TGen know what genes to amplify in its test.

Keim said the next step is to use samples from patients who had Lyme disease and see if the test can positively identify the presence of the Lyme bacteria. The samples will come from a biobank in California and TGen will start collecting them this summer, Keim said. Next summer, Keim is organizing a trial on a sample of about 500 patients.

The ticks that carry Lyme dont live in Arizona, so all of the cases here are imports from other places, which is why samples come from elsewhere, Keim said.

So far, all of TGens Lyme work has been funded by Focus on Lyme and the nonprofit is now fundraising for next summers patient trial.

Keim said the drawback in existing tests is they are too highly focused, tending to look at single components of the pathogen like a single protein or single piece of DNA, which means they may miss different strains of the Lyme bacteria, he said. Other tests cant detect low levels of the bacteria or are based on immune response, which can be slow and inaccurate, Keim said.

TGens Lyme test is similar to others the institute has developed for pathogens like tuberculosis, anthrax and E. Coli.

Keim said hes hopeful that the Lyme test will also be successful.

We think we can diagnose it even if it is hiding out in cartilage because its shedding stuff, Keim said.

DNA sequencing technology has grown exponentially in terms of its capacity to process data and a decrease in cost and TGen has been riding that wave for the past 10 to 15 years, Keim said.

Every time it gets cheaper and faster we can apply it to new problems, he said.

Crawford expressed absolute faith in TGens ability to get the job done. So much so that she is already forming a company to move the test into the marketplace and get FDA approval. If the institute cant find an answer to this problem, Crawford said she doubts anyone else would be able to do so.

They are the best, she said. They've got this one.
Le CBD, cette molecule active du cannabis a aujourdhui le vent en poupe. Et cela est en grande partie du au fait quil permet...
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan toured the province of Shirak on a working visit.

PM Abrahamyan visited the Gyumri branches of the Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts, the Komitas Conservatory, the M.Nalbandian Pedagogical University and the State Institute of Cinema and Theater.

The Public Relations department of the Government says the Prime Minister reviewed the educational institutions and the curricular programs.

In Gyumri, PM Abrahamyan visited the Sasstex textile factory. Previously the Government had allocated buildings to the company, where construction works are currently underway.

Abrahamyan reviewed the ongoing construction works. Representatives of the company told Abrahamyan that the works will be finished in the coming months.

4 million Euros are invested in the project, and 400 jobs will be created.

The factorys production will be exported to Europe.

During a briefing the Prime Minister said his visit to the Province of Shirak aims at once again raising all the issues and solving them step by step.

According to Abrahamyan, the Province of Shirak is under the spotlight of the President and the Government. He said the state will implement all scheduled projects and create new jobs.

Abrahamyan added that 23 million Euros will be allocated for the improvement of Gyumris infrastructure.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. U.S. President Barack Obama will meet the Dalai Lama at the White House on June 15, a move certain to anger China which considers the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader a dangerous separatist, Reuters reports.

Obama and the Dalai Lama will meet privately at 10:15 a.m. (1415 GMT), a White House statement said.

Earlier on June 14, China warned the United States to stick by its promises not to support any separatist activities.

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, the Dalai Lama had said it was possible he would meet Obama and on Tuesday Taiwan announced that its new president would make a transit stop in the United States next week.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said both issues touched on the "one China" policy, a basic diplomatic tenet referring to both Taiwan and Tibet being part of China that Beijing insists foreign governments recognize.

Lu said the United States had said it opposed Taiwan's independence and recognized that Tibet was an inseparable part of China.

"We demand the U.S. government earnestly stands by its promises, conscientiously handle the relevant issue in accordance with the one China principle and not give any space to any individual or behavior which tries to create two Chinas, one China one Taiwan, or to split China," he said.

Obama met the Dalai Lama when the latter visited Washington in 2014 and angered China then when he vowed "strong support" for Tibetans' human rights.

The Dalai Lama says he wants genuine autonomy for Tibet rather than independence.

He told Reuters Obama was a "a long-time friend" whom he admired for his work to normalize relations with Cuba, on Iran and for his recent visits to former U.S. foe Vietnam and the site of the Hiroshima atomic bombing in Japan.

Asked how Beijing (Peking) might respond to a meeting, the Dalai Lama said: "I don't know - you should ask them. I think in Peking, we cannot as of now ... generalize. In Peking there are different views. Some people there have a more realistic view. Some are more hardline, which is more narrow-minded."

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will transit in Miami on her way to Panama, one of the island's few diplomatic allies, and stop over in Los Angeles on her return, Taiwan's deputy foreign minister, Javier Ching-shan Hou, said.

China is suspicious of Tsai, who assumed office last month, as she is also head of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party.

Travel abroad is sensitive for Taiwanese leaders who have angered China as it is seen as exerting sovereignty. Tsai's trip will run from June 24 to July 2 and include Paraguay.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. The wife of the gunman who killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando could face charges in connection with the attack, reports BBC.

Prosecutors have convened a grand jury to investigate Noor Salman, wife of gunman Omar Mateen, sources quoted by Fox News and Reuters say.

She is reported to have told police she tried to talk her husband out of attacking the Pulse nightclub.

The attack in Florida was the worst mass shooting in recent US history.

Fifty-three people were wounded and six remain in a critical condition.

Prosecutors quoted by Fox News said they were seeking to charge Noor Salman as an accessory to 49 counts of murder and 53 counts of attempted murder, as well as with failure to warn authorities about the impending attack.

It was possible that Mateen had called his wife from inside the club while the killings were taking place, Fox quoted a source as saying.

Although Ms Salman has been questioned since the attack early on Sunday, she has not been arrested.

US Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee which received a briefing on the investigation, told CNN that "it appears she had some knowledge of what was going on".

"She definitely is, I guess you would say, a person of interest right now and appears to be co-operating and can provide us with some important information," he added.

On Tuesday, US media reported that Noor Salman had gone with Omar Mateen to buy ammunition and had also driven him to the Pulse nightclub on a previous occasion because he had wanted to survey it.

However, she said she had tried to talk her husband out of carrying out the attack, sources quoted by NBC News said.

Mateen's father, Seddique Mateen, said on Tuesday that Ms Salman - his son's second wife - had returned to the couple's flat on Monday to pick up some clothes. He said she and the couple's young son were still in Florida but declined to say where.

Mateen, 29, who was killed when police stormed the club, pledged allegiance to so-called Islamic State (IS) during the attack, authorities say.

The FBI is investigating reports that Mateen made several visits to the Pulse nightclub and made contact with other men on gay dating apps.
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Turkeys leaders plan to remove references in the constitution binding public servants to the ideology of the nations secular founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the state, its principles and institutions under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, reporters Selcan Hacaoglu and Firat Kozok wrote in Bloomberg.

The prevailing view is that there should be no reference to any specific ideology in the new constitution, Mehmet Ucum, a chief adviser to Erdogan, said in an interview at the presidential palace in Ankara. Its thought to be more appropriate if the constitutions preamble states that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is the founding leader of the Turkish Republic.

The omission will be controversial in Turkey, where Ataturks legacy is viewed as the untouchable bedrock of the mostly Muslim nations secularist structure -- and a key reference for its historically close ties to Western democracies. Both Erdogan and the ruling AK Party, which rose from Turkeys Islamic political movement and have ruled for the past 14 years, have pushed back against parts of a legacy that they view as oppressive and anti-democratic.

The founding of the republic became a project of pro-Western, enlightened, modernist nation-building" at the expense of religious people who were branded as fundamentalists and excluded from politics, Ucum said, speaking from an office decorated with a traditional Ataturk portrait facing off against one of Erdogan on the other side of the room. Ucum equated governing modern Turkey according to 20th-century principles with "trying to send an e-mail through a typewriter.

Under Turkeys current constitution, lawmakers and the president are required to swear allegiance to a secular state and the "principles and reforms" of Ataturk, who is described as the nations immortal leader and unrivaled hero. Additional articles of the charter require that the education system develop the nations youth according to the principles of Ataturk, who died in Istanbul in 1938.

The government may spend most of this year working on a new constitution, readying a skeleton draft by July before submitting it for public debate, with a final draft submitted to parliament in December, Ucum said. Erdogan will insist on holding a public referendum on the subject whether or not the ruling party gets the 367 votes necessary to pass it through parliament, he said.

The constitution is just a beginning, Ucum said, and the government will screen or change thousands of laws and regulations to reshape the bureaucracy in the five years following a new charter. Anti-democratic institutions including Turkeys judiciary and military still hold the power to pose a "great threat" to elected governments, despite considerable erosion in the AK Party era, he said.

There is a need to safeguard the system with a new constitution and a presidential system under Erdogan, who in 2014 became the first person to be publicly elected to that office, Ucum said. Previous presidents were selected by parliament.

The government also plans to change the electoral system, the adviser said. One option would be to divide the nation into 550 regions of equal populations, with voters in each choosing a representative for the 550-seat legislature. Another would be to divide the nation into 450 regions, each with one representative, and appoint another 100 proportionally among political parties that receive at least 1 percent of the national vote.

The powers of local administrations will be strengthened and theyll have more say in policy making, Ucum said. The people may be given the right to propose legislation to parliament, call for a referendum on a law or dismiss a lawmaker based on performance, he said.

Under a presidential system, lawmakers would focus on legislation and would not be appointed as ministers, he said. The parliament, however, would have strengthened oversight in such a system, including on budget matters, he said. The president could express his view on bills but wouldnt be able to propose a bill to the legislature himself.

Erdogan knows that under the current system, he could get the ruling party to pass any bill he wanted, Ucum said. "Erdogan is not asking for that," he said. "His insistence on the presidential system is aimed at preventing this system from potentially producing an authoritarian regime."

Requests from some members of the nations Kurdish minority for greater local authority could be met via constitutional modifications, though would fall short of demands for regional autonomy, which is "out of the question," Ucum said. Such calls are made "under the provocation of terrorist organizations," he said, in a reference to the PKK, or Kurdistan Workers Party, and its affiliates.

The constitution will recognize the right to live in the mother tongue, said Ucum, a motion that would primarily impact Kurdish speaking citizens whove suffered from prohibitions on using their native language in Turkey. Anyone will have the right to learn and write in their mother tongue.

"From now on, the new constitution itself is the peace process for all of society in Turkey," he said.

After this storys publication sparked criticism of the plans to downplay Ataturks ideology in the constitution, Ucum responded in a post on Twitter.

"No one should have a monopoly on the Republic and Ataturk," he said. "Both the Republic and Ataturk belong eternally to Turkish society, not to elitist fascists."
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS. Walt Disney World resort in Florida closed its beaches on Wednesday as police hunted for signs of a 2-year-old boy who was dragged by an alligator into a lagoon despite an attempt by his father to rescue him, according to officials and CNN reports, Armenpress reports citing Reuters.

Wildlife officials captured and euthanized four alligators from the lagoon to examine them for traces of the child after attack on the Tuesday night but found no evidence they were involved, said Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

There are "no swimming" signs at the lagoon but the alligator grabbed the boy as he played at the edge of the water while his family relaxed nearby on the shore, sheriff's spokesman Jeff Williamson said at a news conference.

The boy's father rushed into the water after the alligator struck and struggled to wrestle his child from the alligator's grasp, Williamson said.

"The father did his best," Williamson said. "He tried to rescue the child, however, to no avail."

The family, which was vacationing from Nebraska, was not named.

Disney has closed its beaches "out of an abundance of caution," CNN reported, citing a Disney spokesperson.

The father suffered minor cuts on his arm in the struggle, Williamson said. Authorities had earlier said the boy's mother also tried to rescue him.

A lifeguard who was on duty by the lagoon also was unable to reach the boy in time, he said. "The gator swam away with the child," Williamson said.

Dozens of sheriff's deputies and wildlife officials were searching for the boy on Wednesday and expected to use sonar technology, helicopters and divers.

Sheriff Jerry Demings told reporters the reptile was thought to be between 4 and 7 feet (1.2 and 2 meters) long.
With her 1918 book Married Love (Downton Abbey fans may recognize the title) prompting a tidal wave of correspondence, Marie Stopes became the closest thing to an expert on sexual equality that the early 20th century ever had  despite, as all evidence suggests, her being a virgin herself.
Rising on the Plaza de la Republica [in Mexico City], the massive structure marks the first time the Vatican has given permission to reproduce the chapel on this scale  Michelangelos paintings are photographic reproductions printed on canvas, their religious scenes composed of over 2.6 million images each about an inch large.
Stunned. How much did we ever know?

Al Monitor, by FERESHTEH SADEGHI

TEHRAN, Iran  Reactions are still pouring in over the BBC Persian Services June 1 story on the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, based on recently declassified CIA documents. The British broadcaster cites a 1980 CIA analysis, titled Islam in Iran, released in 2008 that claimed Khomeini had reached out to the administration of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. The BBC article also reports that Khomeini contacted the White House just before the fall of the Shah of Iran in 1979.

Al-Monitor did not have access to the declassified documents and was not able to independently verify them. The BBC has, however, made Islam in Iran available to the public.

CIA documents are reported to show that Khomeini sent a secret letter to President Jimmy Carter in January 1979 in which he proposed that if the US president used his influence with the Iranian military to drop its opposition to his takeover, he would calm the situation in Iran. Khomeini also reportedly promised that US interests and nationals in Iran would be protected.

Khomeini was arrested in 1963 after voicing fiery criticism of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. At a speech in the holy city of Qom on Ashoura, Khomeini slammed the shahs land reforms and accused him of serving Israels interests while undermining Islam and Muslim clerics. Khomeini also warned the shah that he would come to regret his actions. According to a CIA cable cited in Islam in Iran, Khomeini sent a rare message of support to the Kennedy administration, explaining that he was not opposed to American interests in Iran. The cable names theologian and cleric Haj Mirza Khalil Kamarei as Khomeinis messenger.

The original Persian-language version of the BBCs story went online two days ahead of the 27th anniversary of Khomeinis death, prompting a swift response from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Addressing the crowds gathered at Khomeinis mausoleum on the outskirts of Tehran on June 3, Khamenei dismissed the BBC report as false and asserted, Britain has always been hostile toward Iran.

Many others have challenged the authenticity of the CIA documents or claimed that it was Carter who first wrote to Khomeini and that the latters response has been distorted. These figures include Kamareis son, Nasser al-Din Kamarei, who has issued a statement denying any contact between his late father and the US Embassy.

Al-Monitor spoke with Seyed Mahmoud Doaei, managing editor of Ettelaat. Doaei spent 11 years working in Khomeinis office in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf, during Khomeinis 1965-1978 exile there. Doaei described both the BBCs report and the CIA cables as lies, adding to Al-Monitor, The Imam, which we knew, was not a man to make contact with any foreigner, whether British or American.

On June 7, Iranian parliament Speaker Ali Larijani lambasted the BBC for engaging in a childish game of manipulating the documents. Larijani cited former US National Security Council adviser Gary Sick as saying that the BBCs account contains selective quotations and some factual errors. Of note, Sick downplayed the BBC report as a tempest in a teapot and wrote on his blog that he has no knowledge of the reputed message from Khomeini to Kennedy in 1963. Larijani further charged that the reports were invented in an attempt to legitimize ties between Tehran and Washington and to create the impression among Iranians that Islamic Republic officials maintained contact with the United States even during the most difficult of times.

Al-Monitor discussed the BBC report with Seyed Hamid Rouhani, who for 15 years worked as an aide to Khomeini in Qom and later during the years of exile in Iraq. These days, Rouhani is known as a historian of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He told Al-Monitor, The BBC report and the CIA paper are only claims. In addition, they are full of contradictions. Rouhani claimed that Kamarei, who reportedly relayed a message from Khomeini to the United States in 1963, had some contact with the shahs court. Therefore, he was not a confidante to the late leader and basically he could not have met with Khomeini at all while he was under house arrest. In this vein, Doaei told Al-Monitor that Khomeini and Kamareis relationship was ordinary and that he does not think Khomeini would have chosen Kamarei to pass on any message to anyone.

Rouhani, who has published a book series titled Imam Khomeinis Movement, also told Al-Monitor, Not a single Savak [shah-era secret police] document on Imam Khomeini ever pointed to any contacts between him and foreign governments or individuals. He reiterated Larijanis claims about the motivations behind the BBC report, alleging that apart from legitimizing relations with the United States, The enemy is trying to tarnish the reputation of the Imam as an uncompromising figure.  They know other nations would not give in to arrogant powers if Khomeinis thoughts and ideas spread throughout the world.

Rouhani concluded, America has felt that the Iranian nation is resentful about the recent negotiations and that it cannot tolerate relations with the United States, so America wants to make people believe that having ties with the Americans is not taboo and that even the Imam had engaged with them.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/06/bbc-persian-khomeini-report-cia-kennedy-carter-cables.html#ixzz4BbZGAKmC
by John Ai

Beijing (AsiaNews) - The judicial authorities of Inner Mongolia have charged 74 people with murder, fraud and extortion. The gang allegedly killed at least 17 miners to fake accidents in small illegal quarries and to obtain the compensation from the state or mine owners. The investigation has been ongoing since 2014, when a series of murders sparked police suspicions.



The first recorded case was of a miner from Yunnan, who died two years ago in an alleged accident at work. The manager of the mine did not report the death to the authorities, choosing to pay 680 thousand yuan (about 91 thousand euro) as compensation to the family members. After paying, however, he had no money for the salaries of the other miners. This sparked a controversy that, in turn, attracted the attention of the police.



According to an article in Caixin, the arrested cheated the miners for profit. The preferred victims were migrants or people with mental problems. The gang was highly organized: Some members were in charge of locating the mines suitable to stage accidents, mainly small and illegal operations, in the most remote areas of the country. Others beat the workers to death and staged the accidents.



Investigators note that their methods were "cruel: they beat the victims to unconscious and then threw mine carts on them, or stoned them. In this way they could declare that the deaths were caused by collapsed shafts or internal explosions ".



After executing their plan, other members of the group presented themselves to the owner of the mine pretending to be relatives of the deceased. The owners, given their illegal status, preferred to cover up the incident by paying: the figures ranged from 500 thousand to 800 thousand yuan (67 thousand to 107 thousand EUR). The body was sent to the nearest crematorium and the "relatives" left with the money and the funerary urn.



Once gathered at a hotel, the gang shared the proceeds and threw the ashes of the victim in the toilet, then started looking for another mine. The most frequently targeted were those of Shanxi, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia. Most of those arrested originate from Yanjin County, Yunnan.
The Archbishop of Yangon appeals to the government, rebels and the international community to end the fighting. More than 150,000 people live in refugee camps surrounded by minefields. The July peace conference is an opportunity that should not to be missed. Religious leaders, Catholic and Protestant, are failing our people on the path of peace.

Yangon (AsiaNews)  Mgr Charles Maung Bo, archbishop of Yangon, issued a message on the tragic situation of the people of Kachin State, northern Myanmar, where local ethnic minorities have been fighting the government forces for years.

The conflict has taken its toll on the local population. This chronic war has produced no winners. Only losers. The losers being the innocent people languishing in dark camps, the prelate writes. Drug menace is an incremental death sentence on the Kachin youth. Hence, no one should think about boycotting the peace conference.

The prelates message begins with a recognition. After six decades of a suffocating political system, democracy has been enthroned through the sacrifice of hundreds of our countrymen and women.

But there are areas where this dream is still to reach. I refer to the war ravaged Kachin areas. More than 150,000 languish in camps. Their life has been affected for the last five years. The once proud people are reduced to the status of IDPs, expecting international handouts.

While the Kachins struggle for a roof over their head and food on their plates, billions are made through jade mining in their land. This is the root cause of conflict.

Fighting between the Myanmar army and the Kachin Independence Army has lasted five years. Violence broke out in June 2011 after 17 years of relative calm, causing scores of civilian deaths with at least 200,000 people displaced.

I earnestly appeal to all, Card Bo writes. I am not a politician. I wish to raise my voice on behalf of these people whose voice is stifled. I have lived with these people for 22 years; I speak their language. I have known their pain.

To the new government of Myanmar, he asks Kindly Pursue peace with sincerity. The planned 21st Century Panglong conference must be held with all the parties. Eschewing all past configuration of one nation, one race, one religion, we implore you to move towards a rainbow nation with a federal system.

In view of this, "The planned 21st Century Panglong conference must be held with all the parties. The reference here is to the talks proposed by government for July. All of Myanmars ethnic groups are in favour of the process. However, a partial agreement signed last October with most ethnic groups did not yield the desired results.

The first Panglong Conference was organised by Aung San Suu Kyis father, General Aung San, in 1947. At the time, Shan, Kachin and Chin minorities were granted a degree of self-government. He was murdered five months after the meeting, which led it to fall apart.

Religious leaders must play a major role in the progress towards peace, the cardinal said. However, most Kachins are Christians  either Baptists, other denominations, or Catholics. [. . .] Our faith makes us pursue peace with justice. Where are we in peace talks? I strongly feel we are failing our people by not proactively exploring peace.

We cannot be silent to the oppression of our people by either government or any other armed groups. [...] I do believe peace shall also have its date with destiny in this land.

His last appeal is to the Kachin people. As you face the great challenge in your history, we wish you peace. We pray that your sons and daughters are protected from war, human trafficking and drug. May the Good Lord bring you peace. [. . .] Stay united. This war started for the dignity of Kachins. Let not disunity destroy that dream.
by Mathias Hariyadi

President Joko Widodo took the step to speed up public administration, which was a drag on the countrys development. Corrupt administrators use by-laws to line their pockets.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced at a press conference on Monday that the Interior Ministry has cancelled 3,143 local by-laws in order to streamline the administration and boost the economy.

With fewer rules, Indonesians should find it easier when they apply for permits and certificates. Local by-laws (Peraturan Daerah or perda) have been a nightmare for most, but a gold mine for corrupt local officials.

Sadly, Indonesia is one of the worlds most corrupt countries. According to Transparency International, the Southeast Asian nation was ranked 88th out of 168 in 2015. As evidence of how much officials use the public purse for private gain, Indonesia scores low on the corruption control scale, -0.7 on a scale that ranges from -2.5 to +2.5.

Faced with long queues at counters, Indonesians prefer to pay extra to get the papers they need, like birth certificates, marriage certificates, or building permits.

Hiding behind a great wall of laws and by-laws, public servants take advantage of the situation to line their pockets, and usually go unpunished. Now with thousands fewer rules, red tape should improve.

President Widodo is not new to such measures. When he was mayor of Surakarta (Central Java), he improved service delivery to the public. He did the same later when he became governor of Jakarta.

"I can assure you, the president said, that this was done with the goal of giving our great nation an edge and make it more competitive."

The president also called on governors and mayors to streamline the other by-laws for the greater good, and avoid bureaucratic rules that hamper the economy.
Srinagar (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Police in Jammu and Kashmir have imposed a curfew in large areas of the Indian state, after violence was unleashed last night in Jammu City following the desecration of a Hindu temple. According to authorities, a Muslim man with learning disabilities threw stones at the temple of Aap Shamboo in Roop Nagar area. The man's gesture sparked community protests and fierce clashes with the police lasted all night. Even the priest of the temple was caught up in the clashes, assaulted by a policeman.



Mehbooba Mufti, chief minister of the state, appeared on television and appealed for calm to the entire population. The incident happened last night, when a 25-year-old man, identified as Mohammed Yasir, threw stones at the windows and walls of the temple. His brother later said that the attacker has been in treatment since 2008 at a psychiatric clinic, from which he escaped in the evening.



Yasir was detained by police, but it was not enough to quell the spirits of the protesters, who burned two police vans.



A report has been filed against unknown persons, while the policeman guilty of assaulting the priest was arrested. Meanwhile the curfew is still in place and the state government has restricted communications by blocking Internet access for mobile phones.



Mufti attempted to defuse the tension between the Hindu and Muslim communities, and said: "The Jammu and Kashmir is the most secular place [in India], must not be hijacked by the extremist forces. Some stubborn elements are creating sectarian tension, but the people of Jammu must remain united irrespective of their religion ".
by Nirmala Carvalho

Mangalore (AsiaNews) - The family of Shwetha, a Catholic girl of 22, has decided to donate her eyes to allow another person to regain their sight. The young woman from Mangalore, in the State of Karnataka (southern part of India), died in a tragic accident while riding her bicycle. Her parents consented to the removal of organs after their youngest daughter said to the mother: "Please, give someone Shwethas eyes. This way she will see through another person's eyes".



On June 12 Shwetha D'Souza was involved in an accident in Bangalore, the state capital, and died in hospital the next day. Frank and Lethicia, her parents, told AsiaNews that the decision to donate the girl's eyes was not immediate. They were encouraged to do so by Kiran, their youngest daughter of 20.



Eye donation is not widespread in India, home to a third of the global visually impaired population (15 million blind people out of a total of 39). Most of them are poor and tribals living in precarious conditions because of illness. Every year 140 thousand people would need a cornea transplant, but the number of donors does not exceed 40 thousand. This means that 100 thousand patients are put on waiting lists.



Recently, a group of 60 Indian sisters promoted the initiative "The Vision Project", which aims to raise awareness on the issue of patients with vision problems. They are "vision ambassadors" and will donate their corneas when they die.



The choice of Shwetha's parents is a bold one. Fr Cyprian Pinto, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Church in Mangalore, reports that the D'Souza family "is a Catholic family full of faith. It is a real grace that they, despite the deep pain and affliction, chose to donate her daughter's eyes. In this Year of Mercy, it is a great work of mercy. The terrible tragedy that has befallen this family has not discouraged them. The parents have given the gift of sight of their beloved daughter to another human being. "
In the midst of the chaos early Sunday morning at Pulse nightclub, the team at News 13 in downtown Orlando was covering the story when a producer took an ominous phone call.

Overnight producer answered News 13 phone

Caller claimed to be Pulse nightclub shooter

Producer: 'I will never forget the words he said to me'

"News 13, this is Matt," is how Matthew Gentili, a producer at News 13, answered the phone.

Gentili knew something wasn't right.

"I was receiving phone calls from viewers saying, 'What's going on? What's happening? What's happening in Orlando?" Gentili recalled Tuesday.

Sharing with viewers the horror taking place just a few blocks down the street became Gentili's first priority  until a phone call made him pause.

"I will never forget the words he said to me," Gentili said.

About 45 minutes after the shooting began, the phone rang inside the News 13 newsroom.

"It was at 2:45 a.m. when I had just received the phone call of someone claiming to be the Orlando shooter," he said. "I answered the phone as I always do: 'News 13, this is Matt.' And on the other end, I heard, 'Do you know about the shooting?' "

Gentili said he was aware of the shooting. "Yes, I'm getting calls. I am hearing reports of a shooting," he replied to the caller, who then cut him off.

"I'm the shooter. It's me. I am the shooter," the person on the other end said.

Gentili said he didn't know what to say. The caller then started to say he committed the shooting for the Islamic State (militant group).

"He did it for ISIS, and he started speaking Arabic," Gentili said of the early morning phone call. "At the time, I didn't know what he was saying. He was speaking so fast. But it was ... he was speaking fluently. Whatever language he was speaking, he knew it. And he was speaking it very quickly. And that is when I said to him, 'Sir. Please. Speak in English, please.'"

Gentili said the caller stopped and said: "I did it for ISIS. I did it for the Islamic State."

Gentili said he asked where the caller was, but the caller said it was "none of my (expletive) business."

Sitting at his desk in the newsroom, Gentili said there was a long pause before he asked one final question.

"It was silent for a while. I asked him: 'Is there anything else you want to say?' " Gentili said. "He said no and hung up the phone."

Gentili sat and replayed in his head what had just happened. He heard nothing in the background.

After completing a 12-hour shift, Gentili was interviewed at home by the FBI.

Agents won't confirm whether Gentili spoke to the gunman, but News 13's managing editor was able to research the phone number from which the call came, and it matched to Omar Mateen.

"I'm definitely changed," Gentili said. "When you get a phone call like that, I'm never going to be able to answer the phone again without thinking this is the most serious call I'll ever get in my life."
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - " How often do we feel annoyed when we see people in the streets who are sick or hungry? How often are we annoyed by the sight of refugees and migrants" while in the Gospel Jesus shows that we must be "at the service" of those in need. Jesus who "pours out his mercy on all those whom he met", gathers them into a new people able to recognize even those who need help and consolation, the "many people who, even today, are marginalized because of a disadvantage, be it physical or in some other form": This was the theme addressed today by the Pope in his catechesis for the general audience, based on the story of the blind man of Jericho, whose sight is restored by Jesus.



"Today - said Francis to the 30 thousand people present in St Peter's Square - we want to grasp the meaning of this sign because it also affects us directly. The evangelist Luke says that the blind man was sitting by the roadside begging (cf. v. 35). A blind man in those days  but even until not so long ago - lived on charity. That blind man represents the many people who, even today, are marginalized because of a disadvantage, be it physical or of other kind. He is separated from the crowd that goes about its business as usual, a crowd that passes ... but he's just there. "



"Its a sad picture of marginalization, especially against the backdrop of the city of Jericho, the beautiful, lush oasis in the desert. We know that the people of Israel after the Exodus from Egypt came to Jericho: that city is the gateway to the promised land. Remember the words which Moses pronounced at the time: " If one of your kindred is in need in any community in the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand against your kin who is in need. Instead, you shall freely open your hand and generously lend what suffices to meet that need. The land will never lack for needly persons" (Deut 15,7.11). The contrast between this recommendation of the Law of God and the situation described in the Gospel is stark: the blind man cries while invoking Jesus, people reproached him to keep quiet. They have no mercy on him, in fact, his cries annoy them. Indifference and hostility make us blind and deaf, unable to see our brethren and recognize the Lord in them. Note an interesting detail. The Evangelist says that someone from the crowd told the blind man the reason for all these people saying: "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by!" (V. 37). The passage of Jesus is indicated by the same verb with which the book of Exodus speaks of the angel destroyer that saves the Israelites in the land of Egypt (cf. Ex 12,23). It is the 'passage' of the Passover, the beginning of liberation. The blind man, then, it is as if his Passover is announced. Undaunted, the blind man repeatedly cries out to Jesus recognizing him as the Son of David, the awaited Messiah who, according to the prophet Isaiah, opens the eyes of the blind (cf. Is 35,5). Unlike the crowd, this blind man sees with the eyes of faith. Thanks to it, his supplication has a powerful effect. In fact, he is heard, "Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring him to him" (v. 40). In doing so Jesus takes the blind man by the side of the road and places him at the center of his disciples and the crowd. Thus there is a dual passage. First, people had announced good news to the blind, but wanted nothing to do with him. Now Jesus obliges everyone to be aware that proclaiming the good news involves placing the one who was excluded at the center of their path. Second, in turn, the blind man could not see, but his faith opens up the path to salvation, and he finds himself in the midst of those who took to the streets to see Jesus. The passage of the Lord is a merciful encounter which unites those around him to allow them to recognize who needs help and consolation. "



"Jesus turns to the blind man, and asks," What do you want me to do for you? "(V. 41). These words of Jesus are impressive: the Son of God is now in front of the blind man like a humble servant. God becomes man's servant, sinner. The blind man replied to Jesus no longer calling him 'Son of David', but 'Lord', the title that the Church from the beginning has applied to the Risen Jesus. The blind man asks to see again, and his wish is granted, "Have your sight! Your faith has saved you "(v. 42). He showed his faith by invoking Jesus and wanting to meet him absolutely, and this has brought the gift of salvation. Through faith he can now see and, above all, feel loved by Jesus. This is why the story ends by reporting that the blind "began to follow him, giving glory to God" (v. 43): He began to walk as a disciple behind the Lord and joining his community. The one who others wanted to silence, now testifies his encounter with Jesus of Nazareth out loud, and "all the people, when they saw this, gave praise to God" (v. 43). It takes a second miracle: what happened to the blind means that even the people finally see. The same light illuminates them all, bringing them all together in the prayer of praise. So Jesus pours out his mercy on all those he meets: he calls them, gathers them, heals them and enlightens them, creating a new people that celebrates the wonders of his merciful love. "
In Southeast Asian countries, around 40 percent of students interested in studying overseas said they would likely cross the U.S. off their list if Donald Trump became president, revealed a recent study.

And Canada is one of alternative leading destinations for these students, the study found.

In a survey involving more than 40,000 students from 118 countries, 60 percent reported that they would be less likely to choose the U.S. as a study destination if Trump, the Republican candidate, were elected as president in November.

Conversely, only 4 percent of respondents said they would probably not study in the U.S. if Trumps Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, won the election.

The survey was carried out by FPP Edu Media, a Brazil-based study fair organizer, and Intead, a student recruitment specialist firm based in the U.S.

CEO of Intead, Ben Waxman, told The PIE News that the figures should not be taken face value, but maintained that an impact would still be felt.

I have no illusions that 60 percent would really not come if Donald Trump were elected president; it wont be that dramatic, he said.

But even if a sliver of that  if 10 percent say, You know what, thats not where I want to be, thats huge.

The study calculated that a Trump presidency could cost the U.S. up to US$4.75 billion in economic contributions from international students, based on the IIE Open Door calculation that estimates each international students contribution to the countrys economy comes up to an average of US$31,000.

Southeast Asian students were not as strong in their disdain of Trump compared to other regions, such as Central and South America.

While most countries in the region had up to 40 percent of students saying they would be put off from studying in the U.S. if Trump won, Thai students were more tolerant, as only 25 percent said they would study elsewhere.

Malaysia turned out to have the most students in the region that did not support Clinton, with 8 percent saying they would be discouraged from studying in the U.S. if she was elected president.

When it comes to the competitive world of international student recruitment, Waxman said if Trump won, the U.S.s loss would be huge gain to its competitors.

If Donald Trump is elected, the U.K., Canada, Australia all win big time, because if theyre studying abroad, the Southeast Asian students will go to Australia, and the Mexicans and the U.K. students will go to Canada or the U.K., he said.

Trump has staked out uncompromising positions on Asia policy that could potentially strain U.S. relations with the region if he wins the White House.

He says China is ripping off America in trade and should be slapped with a fat import tax. And he claims U.S. military allies Japan and South Korea are freeloading and need to pull their weight. The pan-Pacific trade pact negotiated by the Obama administration is a total disaster.

Thats already prompted some sharp commentary from usually friendly countries in Asia, and expressions of contempt from Republican foreign policy hands who have vowed to oppose Trump.

UniversityAffairs.ca has been urging Ottawa to take quick action on international students to boost Canadas economic competitiveness

Kareem El-Assal an education and immigration research associate at the National Immigration Centre of the Conference Board of Canada said if we dont move quickly, Canada risks seeing many of these young, bright minds take their talents elsewhere.

In an op-ed he wrote ambitious, skilled and often multilingual, international students are a great source of talent.

They fill jobs and create new ones through innovation and entrepreneurship  Silicon Valley is a prominent, international example. Research by the Conference Board of Canada shows immigrants help expand and diversify Canadas global trade. International students could do the same, helping Canada trade in markets such as Asia, where economic growth is greater than in the U.S. and EU  Canadas largest trading partners.

However, ensuring Canada fully benefits from the skills, global connections and experience of its international students requires quick action on the following issues, wrote Kareem El-Assal on UniversityAffairs.ca

Canadas international student population  356,600  has doubled over the past decade. However, Canadas study visa processing times have increased and lag behind competitor nations. In a recent global survey, recruitment agents viewed Canada as one of the most attractive international student destinations, yet also cited it as the country with the most study visa difficulties. This could be harming Canadas efforts to attract more international students.

Canada is taking action to ensure study visas are processed in a timely manner. More visa application centres have opened abroad and Canada is implementing modernization initiatives such as electronic processing of visas. Canada will need to continue such efforts to avoid losing out on prospective international students who may choose to study elsewhere.

Conference Board research reveals that international students are often unable to receive adequate settlement services, such as language training. Part of the reason is that financially constrained governments cannot provide settlements services to all international students who require them. This ties into another challenge that international students frequently experience: difficulties establishing social networks.

One potential solution is to earmark more government settlement funds for highly skilled international students, such as medical students, who would offer tremendous long-term benefits to Canada if they were to attain permanent residence (PR). Taking a targeted approach would help control costs and improve Canadas efforts to settle, integrate, and retain international students who possess critical skills.

A 2015 survey found that 51 percent of Canadas international students intend to apply for PR upon completion of their studies. However, international students typically find it difficult to attain PR. In 2015, the median Express Entry score for an international student was 408 points  short of the 450 points needed to apply for PR.

Research shows that international students who transition to PR tend to fare well in the economy and that age and education are the best predictors of immigrant earnings over the long run  the younger and more educated an immigrant is, the more they are likely to earn.

Based on the evidence, it makes economic sense for Canada to provide PR to more international students who are young, well educated, and ambitious. Taking concerted policy action, for example by giving international students 50 additional Express Entry points for being a graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution, would help ensure more international students attain PR.

In light of Canadas pressing demographic challenges and growing international student population  many of whom want to make a life in Canada  time is of the essence. Without quick action, Canada risks seeing many of these young, bright minds take their talents elsewhere  which would be a great lost opportunity. Acting now will help ensure that todays international students become the skilled workers, innovators, entrepreneurs and exporters of Canadas 21st-century economy.
Photo caption: The City built the Gate of Happy Arrival in 1998 to commemorate the Vietnamese immigrants and other ethnic groups. Photo Credit: Peter Wong Collection, Edmonton

By Florence Hwang,

to The Post

Attendees from across North America gathered to discuss ways to revitalize Canadas Chinatowns at the Edmonton Chinese Chinatown Conference, held on June 11 and 12. Its possibly the first of its kind in terms of scale and scope, says one organizer.

Topics included Transforming Chinatowns: Social, Economic and Cultural Trends and Development Strategy and Planning and the Chinatowns of the Future: What Would This Look Like and How to Sustain Them?

The first conference on this topic was held in 2011, but it focused mostly on the City of Edmonton. This years conference took the issue to a larger stage, drawing on the expertise and experience of Chinatown activists from all over Canada and United States.

Conference organizer Lan Chan-Marples says some recommendations for revitalizing Chinatowns that came out of the weekend included hosting night markets, cultural festivals and historical walking tours.

Chinatowns were formed in the 1880s in major cities in the United States largely because of the Chinese Exclusion Act. In Canada, they arose with the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway, on which many Chinese immigrants worked.

These enclaves enabled Chinese immigrants to form tightly knit communities, capable of defending themselves against hostile external forces, and create job opportunities.

Before the 1950s, most Chinese immigrants in the United States and Canada came from the southern province of Guangdong. Since then, the population has became much more diversified.

Intention of the conference

Claudia Wong-Rusnak is the City of Edmonton Project Manager for the Chinatown plan. She was also one of the panelists at the conference.

Wong-Rusnak says there have been many decisions made in the past few decades that impacted the citys Chinatown, but that they now need the residents assistance to put those plans into action.

Thats why were having a conference. Thats why we need a comprehensive plan because the old one [that was made in the 1980s] didnt materialize. The city council is extremely dedicated to seeing Chinatown thrive, notes Wong-Rusnak.

She says the two Chinatowns in Edmonton, which are quite close to one another, have had competing interests, making progress difficult.

The north Chinatown is a very commercial centre. South Chinatown is more of a destination and houses the multicultural centre, the Benevolent Association and the seniors home. Ideally, Chinatown should have both elements of business and culture, she says.

Were suggesting we grow a core so that we can have a destination and explore those connections to downtown and to each other physically, Wong-Rusnak explains. She also hopes that they can continue storytelling and celebrating our Chinese culture through softer means.

Revitalising Chinatowns across Canada

Named Torontos first Chinese historian, Valerie Mah discovered very little had been written about the Chinese when she attended Teachers College in Toronto.

Mah was born in Brockville, Ontario, where her grandfather had a laundromat and her parents opened a restaurant in 1930. When her mother was born, there were only two Chinese families in town, but many bachelor Chinese men owned or worked in Chinese restaurants.

Mah is still involved with the Chinese community, even in her retirement from teaching. She sits on both the Yee Hong and Mon Sheong Board of Governors, two major Chinese retirement homes.

My hope is to try and help 'East Chinatown' become a vibrant community. Some of the older owners are retiring and I am working on their offspring who are carrying on in the community, says Mah.

Creating change through collective dialogue

Yi Chen, a filmmaker who was born and who grew up in Shanghai, China, was asked to speak at the conference about her 30-minute documentary that explored Washington, D.C.s Chinatown.

Chen said she wanted to be part of this conference because it gathered Chinatown activists from major cities across Canada and the United States to talk about a topic shes very passionate about.

More importantly, this kind of collective dialogue about Chinatowns future is unprecedented and much needed, she says.

Like in Edmonton, the Chinese population in D.C. is hoping to revive their Chinatown by working with grassroots and non-profit organizations with similar interests, as well as the municipal government.

Nicole So, who has helped establish the Youth Collaborative for Chinatown group and organized the "Hot and Noisy" mahjong social events in Vancouver, saw the conference as a unique opportunity that brings together individuals from Chinatown all across North America."

These events are vital to further the conversation about the different Chinatowns, especially given the rapid developments and changes seen in recent years, she says.

Who we are, what we do and where we come from is nested in the history and lives [and] the actions of all those who came before us, she continues. So I think it is important to remember and cherish that, especially for someone like myselfto learn about their roots and remember how things used to be.

New things are always coming along, but once old things are lost, they are gone for good.

This piece was originally appeared in New Canadian Media (newcanadianmedia.ca).

See http://newcanadianmedia.ca/item/36718-conference-discusses-the-future-of-canada-s-chinatowns
By Sherman Chan,

Special to The Post

The well-seasoned meatball sandwich had enough provolone. The meat in the Philly Cheesesteak was tender and natural. Although too sweet, the pulled pork was moist and tender. The star of this sandwich was the creamy and cheesy Mac n' Cheese. The Clubbin' was a turkey club that was pretty standard. I didnt like the Grilled Cheese because the sweet fig chutney was dominant.

The Cajun Chicken wasnt too spicy. The chicken was moist and tender. The calabrese salami, capicollo, jalapeno jack cheese, garlic aioli and red pepper spread made it enjoyable. The plain Ham & Cheese was ok.

The Montreal Smoked Meat sammie had enough salt. The Banh Mi had a tender beef brisket was nicely sauced with a sweet and aromatic sauce. It could've used more pickled carrots to balance the sweetness. The Smoked Turkey sandwich was average.

Of the Kale, Arugula and Asiago Caesar salads, I liked the Kale the best. It had dill ranch, bacon, jalapeno jack and garlic crostini. The bacon and cheese added saltiness. I wasn't a fan of the Arugula. The Caesar had asiago dressing and bacon, making it creamy and salty.

Probably the best was the side - the Mac n' Cheese. With the capicola and the mac n' cheese became spicy and meaty. The Kettle Chips, including Salt, Dill and Jalapeno flavours, were crunchy and not overly greasy. The more "interesting" items were tasty and fulfilling. I would pay the extra cost for the sandwiches I liked most rather than defaulting to Subway.

Chachi's

314- 4820 Kingsway Avenue, Burnaby, BC

The Good:

- Really tasty mac n' cheese

- The more unique sammies were on point

- Loved the kettle chips

The Bad:

- Is on the pricier end, but not that much

- Standard items are there to appeal to a wide range of customers, I would choose something more interesting

Chachi's offers gourmet sandwiches.

Sherman Chan is the #1 ranked food blogger on the Vancouver portal of Urbanspoon.com. Read more of his reviews at www.shermansfoodadventures.com.
How Billionaire John Paul DeJoria Built An Empire On A $350 Loan From His Mom

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Self-made man. A seductive moniker thats generally used to assert some level of mastery of the physical, of ones destiny.

And whenever seduction is present, temptation is inherent  the temptation to apply the term liberally, when it isnt appropriate. Because, whos to know?

Using that term frivolously is something a man who made the trek would never do. Theres a vibration, a weight, to an accomplishment that significant.

By all measures, John Paul DeJoria, the man behind mega-brands John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patron Tequila, is a self-made man. And though he would never say it, and would probably refrain from ever using the term to describe himself, he is perhaps the ultimate self-made man.

Growing up in Echo Park, California, downtown L.A., at the age of two years old, my dad left us  he was a deadbeat dad, DeJoria told me. So its just my mother, my brother, and I growing up. It was hard times. My mother ran into some medical issues where she couldnt work. So, we ended up in a foster home in East L.A. from Monday through Friday. And we did that until I was about nine-years-old. We were with my mom on the weekends and there during the week.

DeJorias time in the foster home served as the catalyst for his earliest entrepreneurial experience. An experience that would shape the rest of his life.

On weekends wed go to the Boys Club on Cincinnati Street in East L.A. For 25 cents, we could get all the wood we needed to build these really nice flower boxes and the club would give us a credit. This is the early 1950s. My brother and I would make one, then go and walk down the street and talk to people and try to sell our flower box.

Our first sale was for 50 cents to a lady that was a waitress in a coffee shop. And it was on Wabash Avenue in East L.A., Ill never forget it. So, we went back and paid our 25 cents credit. In those days, 5 cents would buy a soda pop. So 25 cents would buy you five soda pops; that was a lot of money in the early 50s. So what we did was, took the 25 cents profit we had made and paid for another flower box to be built. So when we sold the second flower box, that 50 cents was all ours. That was my first entrepreneurial adventure.

Then after high school, I went into the Navy. And from the Navy, I went to work in a variety of jobs. One of the better jobs I had in my early 20s was selling encyclopedias door to door for Colliers  no salary, commission only. If you didnt sell, you made nothing. The average encyclopedia salesman lasted three days. Britannica had it made; they had appointments! We had no appointments! You would knock on doors and people would close them in your face. I lasted three years and it was a great experience for me.

At 26, he got his first job in the beauty industry working for Redken Laboratories. Despite  and essentially because of  increasing sales revenue, he was fired two years later. Over the next four and a half years, the story repeated itself two more times; DeJoria was fired from companies that he made more profitable.

He was told he wasnt corporate enough, that he wasnt one of us. This, from people he respected and had ultimately built his life around. DeJoria had had enough and decided to roll the dice by striking out on his own.

In 1979 or 1980, a friend of mine whom Id known for nine years named Paul Mitchell was a hairdresser in the beauty industry. He tried to come out with a product line and it just failed. A total, miserable failure, unfortunately. He knew nothing about business or putting a product line together. So I said, Paul, let me try to help you out here as a friend. Because Im consulting so Ive got some money coming in.

As it turned out, Paul had no money, no business sense, and nobody was following through. The only reason it was going to work is I knew marketing, sales and how to get products made. So I said, How about you and I start a company? You own 30%, I own 30% and we have to raise half a million dollars so well give the person putting in the money 40% of the company. Paul was getting to his last bucks. He said, JP, great  lets do it.; So I organized everything and put it together. Took some of his old products and revamped them and came up with another new one.
Career progression program aims to be game-changer at global firm

A new program has been launched by K&L Gates which aims to pioneer transparency and clarity in the promotion process.

The global firms Path to Equity Partnership Program (PEPP) is focused on helping the firms income partners gain key competencies including leadership, client development and business management.

A key component will be the firms Leadership College which will allow access to the firms executive for newly promoted partners. This will begin in the US but will include regional forums in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

The promotion-to-partner process is also being reengineered to include input from practice leaders, group coordinators and admin partners.

The firms Global Integration and Strategic Growth partner, Craig Budner, commented that by focusing on helping partners become successful owners of the firm, the new program can be a game-changer.



International firm launches innovation hub

DAC Beachcroft has become the latest international law firm to create a team focused on innovation.

The research and development hub, Innovations Lab, will enable its clients in the insurance sector to work with multi-disciplinary teams of lawyers and operational experts in order to identify, evaluate, design, prototype and launch new commercial products and services.

The CEO of DAC Beachcroft Claims Solutions Group, Craig Dickson, commented that the Innovations Lab is a commercial operation and will be expected to deliver a return on investment. However, it has been launched in response to client demand for innovation in legal services.



Corporate finance lawyer hired by Skadden

Kenji Taneda has joined Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom as a corporate finance partner in Tokyo.

He joins after 3 years with Morrison Foerster and his practice focuses on both issuers and underwriters in capital markets matters, including equity and debt offerings by Japanese corporations, financial institutions and sovereign entities. He also has significant M&A experience.


Two prominent law firms have announced a strategic alliance which they say is a challenger model to the current transatlantic legal services market.UK-based Bond Dickinson and US firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice have a shared commitment to offer clients a superior service and to enabling lawyers from both sides of the Atlantic to further their international capabilities.The two firms have been working together for some time to support each others clients but this formal agreement is likely to lead to reciprocal office-hosting, referrals and other collaboration.DLA Piper has announced a partnership with artificial intelligence specialists Kira Systems in order to implement a new document review process across its international locations. It follows a recent trial of the technology in its corporate, IP and technology practices.The tool will be used during due diligence in M&A deals and DLA Pipers Jonathan Klein commented: "We believe that this innovative technology will do for corporate transactional work what e-discovery has done for litigation.The benefits of AI includes reduced risk of errors and of course speed. Brisbane-based corporate M&A partner Lindon Masters said: On a recent deal, our knowledge and experience combined with Kira meant that we could deliver to much faster timelines with greater accuracy and efficiency.The German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in China on a state visit and has used the occasion to urge Beijing to ensure an independent judiciary.Business Insider reports that Merkel said that it is important for foreign firms to know that there is a strong legal framework in the country and that everyone is equal before the law.She is under pressure along with other world leaders to push for reform in China amid concern over the recent clampdown on critics of the government and the rise in regulatory enforcement.
By Rowena Ball, Associate professor, Australian National University

NASA / Jenny Mottar

Try shaking a colleagues left hand with your right hand. It just doesnt work, does it? Your right palm and her or his left palm cannot mesh comfortably because hands are chiral objects, having non-superimposable mirror images.

All objects have a mirror image (with the exception of vampires), but only objects that are not superimposable on their mirror image are chiral. So when we say that an object and its mirror image are superimposable, we mean that if we were to bring the image from behind the mirror, it could be made to coincide exactly with the object.

So a three-dimensional object is either chiral, or it is not.

Lifes building blocks are chiral

Molecules are tiny, three-dimensional objects too, and many of them are chiral. Louis Pasteur discovered this in 1848. A chiral molecule and its mirror image are called a pair of enantiomers. In the non-living universe, enantiomers of chiral molecules are expected to occur in equal parts, called racemic mixtures.

Chiral molecules that have been detected in interstellar dust and gas clouds are hydrogen peroxide and, this week, propylene oxide.

Some of the most important molecules of life, such as the nucleotides that make up the polymeric nucleic acids DNA and RNA, exist in principle as pairs of enantiomers known as D and L, or left-handed and right-handed forms.

A fact that has puzzled scientists for generations is that living organisms contain only D nucleotides! In other words, life is homochiral.

In itself, the homochirality of life is unremarkable. Scientists have shown in the lab that heterochiral DNA and RNA cannot function, or even form. But the big questions is: why is life as we know it D rather than L?

What was the mechanism, at the origin of life, by which D nucleotide polymers were selected and amplified to homochirality, while the L species became extinct?

Most of the other main building blocks of life  the amino acids  are chiral too, and in this case life uses the L enantiomers exclusively. Last year, it was proposed that a special type of L-glycine (normal glycine is the simplest amino acid, and is not chiral), may have helped produce the other L amino acids. But this mechanism cannot have directed the D-nucleotides of life, such as DNA and RNA.

Enter hydrogen peroxide

Late last year, my colleague and I proposed that hydrogen peroxide was the agent that mediated amplification of an initial small excess of D polynucleotides to homochirality.

We know that hydrogen peroxide is present on Mars, Enceladus and Europa, and it was produced on the ancient Earth, more than 3.8 billion years ago, which is around the time that life emerged. As mentioned above, it has also been detected outside the solar system.

In our previous research, we showed that hydrogen peroxide may have provided the essential periodic drive for pre-cellular proto life (the RNA world).

In our most recent study, we focused on another remarkable property of hydrogen peroxide: it is the smallest and simplest chiral molecule itself, occurring as a pair of enantiomers called M and P.













Now, chirality begets chirality. This is a consequence of Curies principle, which states that the symmetry of a cause is always preserved in its effects. In other words, to achieve a chirally selective synthesis, separation or amplification, a chiral agent or force is needed.

In fact, chiral organic peroxides have been used in the lab to mediate the production of homochiral molecules. This tells us that, in principle, hydrogen peroxide can act similarly.

It is thought that a small excess of L-amino acids was rained onto the ancient Earth by meteorite bombardment, and scientists have found that a small excess of L-amino acids can catalyse formation of small excesses of D-nucleotide precursors. This, we proposed, led to a marginal excess of D-polynucleotides over L-polynucleotides, and a bias to D-chains of longer mean length than L-chains in the RNA world.

In the primordial soup, local excesses of one or other hydrogen peroxide enantiomer would have occurred. Specific interactions with polynucleotides destabilise the shorter L-chains more than the longer, more robust, D-chains.

With a greater fraction of L-chains over D-chains destabilised, hydrogen peroxide can then go in for the kill, with one enantiomer (let us say M) preferentially oxidising L-chains.

Overall, this process works in favour of increasing the fraction and average length of D-chains at the expense of L-species.

But the hydrogen peroxide itself remains a racemic mixture, on average, meaning that over time and space it has a balance of M and P enantiomers. So we have a subtle reinforcement effect: the fraction D/P increases while the fraction L/M decreases over time.

Thus, the emergence of homochirality in itself confers a significant advantage on replicating RNA species.

But could there be mirror-image life made of L-nucleic acids elsewhere in the universe?

Well, all I can say at this stage is that when one reflects on it (or attempts to, so to speak), in a sense we are all vampires, made of molecules that have no natural mirror images on this world, and forever searching the universe for our lost reflections.

Rowena Ball receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Originally published in The Conversation.
The jobs market outlook in Australia is positive but the chances of getting a decent salary increase less so, according to the latest research.Some 66% of employers will increase salaries by less than 3% when they next review and a further 12% expect to offer no increases, says the latest Salary Guide from Hays Recruitment.The data also shows that during the last year some 58% increased salaries by less than 3% while 20% gave increases between 3% and 6%.It says that while business activity and permanent headcounts may be rising, they are not translating into salary increases. With employers for the most part unwilling to loosen the purse strings, the recruiter warns that employees will start to take matters into their own hands.According to the Guide just 22% of employees can expect a salary increase of 3% or more and professional services followed by financial services and construction, property and engineering employers will be at the front of the small group offering the biggest increases."Overall, it's clear that employers remain reluctant to offer substantial increases unless absolutely necessary to secure a candidate with skills in short supply," says Nick Deligiannis, managing director of Hays in Australia and New Zealand."Despite seven in 10 employers expecting business activity to increase in the year ahead, and permanent headcounts also expected to rise, cost consciousness remains in vogue," he added.According to Hays, over the last year 16% of employers offered no salary increases. Those who did receive a salary increase found that their wallets were not that much heavier. Some 58% received an increase of less than 3%, 20% saw their pay increase from 3% to 6%, and a lucky 6% received an increase of 6% or more.But Hays warns employers not to be complacent, because employees are starting to take matters into their own hands. "Some 41% of employees say they'll ask for a pay rise in their next review. Another 25% are as yet undecided about popping the salary question. Meanwhile staff turnover has already increased in 29% of organisations," explained Deligiannis."With organisations adding headcount, business activity rising, and people more likely to say the economy will strengthen rather than weaken over the next six to 12 months, candidates are aware that skill shortages will intensify anew, particularly for highly skilled professionals, and they want their salaries to increase accordingly," he pointed out.The report also shows that 64% of employers experienced increased business activity over the past 12 months, with 70% expecting further increased activity in the year ahead and staff levels are up too, with 39% increasing permanent headcount during the last 12 months. This outstrips the 21% who decreased it.Meanwhile, 40% intend to increase their permanent headcount in the year ahead, far exceeding the 13% who expect to decrease it and the use of temporary or contract staff will also increase for 21% of employers, exceeding the 12% who expect their use of such resources to fall.The report adds that in light of salary expectations it's ironic that 32% of employers say salary and benefits have a major impact on their employer brand, up from 25% last year and 60% say skill shortages will impact the effective operation of their business or department.
Bajaj Auto has revised the price of Pulsar 135 LS to take on Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India.

Bajaj Auto is estimated to have dropped the ex-showroom price of the Pulsar 135LS in the range of Rs 3,000-Rs 4,000. The model, which was earlier priced close to Rs 62,000 (ex-showroom, Pune), is now retailing for Rs 57,494 (ex-showroom, Maharashtra), according to the company website. The two best-selling motorcycles in this segment  Hero Glamour and Honda CB Shine are currently retailed in the price band of Rs 55,213-Rs 57,312 and Rs 57,449-Rs 62,797  both prices ex-showroom, Pune  respectively.

Bajaj Autos intent is clearly to encash into the rising demand for mileage-friendly commuter bikes by making its smallest-capacity Pulsar available for sales within the segments price range. The Pulsar 135LS offers several superior features as standard including a front-disc brake, larger engine displacement with DTS-i technology, and superior power delivery among others. In comparison, the base variants of the Hero Glamour and Honda CB Shine come with drum brake fitments. This price-drop game-plan seems to be Bajaj Autos strategy is to draw 125cc customers to the bigger engine displacement classes of 135cc and 150cc  the 134.66cc Pulsar 135LS, 149.5cc Bajaj V and 150cc Avenger Street 150  all models running on proven air-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder DTS-i engine technology.

According to Bajaj Autos website, the Bajaj V and Avenger Street 150 are priced at Rs 62,803 and Rs 73,388 (both ex-showroom, Maharashtra). It is to be noted that while the Avenger brand has brought the first ever affordable cruiser motorcycle to its segment, the V15 comes with many unconventional highlights including its design, throaty exhaust system, a piece of metal from the INS Vikrant and others. It is interesting to note that SIAM industry sales data of May 2016 reveals that Bajaj Auto has sold more volumes in the 125cc-150cc motorcycle category than Hero MotoCorp and HMSI sold in 110cc-125cc segment respectively. Bajaj Autos total sales in the 125cc-150cc segment stood at 77,464 units for May 2016. Hero and Honda sold 75,621 units and 70,858 units respectively in the 110cc-125cc segment last month.

Hero Glamour best-selling 125cc bike

While Honda grabbed best-seller position in the 125cc motorcycle segment for FY2015-16 with its popular CB Shine, Hero MotoCorp has been leading the pack for the past four months. The table provided traces the struggle between the two contemporary rivals in the Indian two-wheeler market in the executive commuter motorcycle segment over the past eight months. Hero (Glamour and variants) has outsold Honda (CB Shine and variants) for five months during the period. On the other hand, a struggle for number-three slot can also be seen between Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company. Bajaj Auto, which has been adversely impacted by the slowdown of its Discover brand, lost to TVS Motor in March 2016, thanks to the latters Victor brand. This out-of-the-box (read segment) strategy from Bajaj Auto is clever to fill in the shoes of a competent 125cc motorcycle that could stand in the market against the likes of the hugely popular CB Shine and Glamour. Pitching the Pulsar 135LS with its superior features in the same domain is interesting. It is yet to be seen how the market now responds, remarked an industry analyst.
MQB

TDI

Underpinned by theplatform of the second-gen VW Tiguan, the Kodiaq is something the Czech manufacturer was craving for a long, long time now. The Skoda Kodiaq is extremely versatile, said Jozef Kaban, the head of design at Skoda . It is exceptionally spacious and with compact external dimensions, it delivers the best overall package in its class.Mr. Kaban and his team borrowed styling cues from the VisionS Design Study presented at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, then wrapped everything up in a functional package. As for versatility, well, this thing seats seven people and it can tackle unpaved roads thanks to a Haldex coupling all-wheel-drive system.In terms of powertrain options, the range will consist of TSI turbo petrol andturbo diesel units with outputs ranging from 125 PS and 220 PS. Its not yet known if the Kodiaq will also be available with the 240 PS 2.0 BiTDI, but were keeping our fingers crossed theres a market for it in this application.Believe it or not, a plug-in hybrid powertrain is slated to join the Skoda Kodiaq lineup after the regular models go on sale in the Old Continent, packing a 1.4 TSI engine, an electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery pack.Although the Czech manufacturer has yet to release a photograph or sketch of the cabin, Skoda promises four air vents, as well as a large display [that] splits the instrument panel into two equal sections for the driver and passenger. The front of the instrument panel is three-dimensional and divided into two areas." Pretty neat stuff for a Skoda, alright. The 2017 Skoda Kodiaq will go on sale in Europe in the first months of 2017.
AMG

6x6

SUV

HP

However, his car was engulfed in flames, and burned to the ground. The cause of the fire is unknown at the moment, but it might be related to a fuel leak that appeared after the initial impact.As Car News China reports, the G63had crashed into a Hyundai Santa Fe, and the pick-up truck hit the South Koreans front-left wheel with its right side.The same news outlet claims this was the only Mansory 6x6 in China, which made the owners tragedy even worse. However, Chinese fans of the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG can still rejoice, as the country still has two Brabus-tuned models on its streets.The Mansory kit for the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6 raised output to 840and peak torque to 1,000 Nm (737 lb-ft). The stock version of the G63 AMG 6x6 provided 544 HP and 760 Nm (560 lb-ft). So the Chinese driver had serious horsepower under his right foot, but it has now disappeared without any useable remains.Mercedes-Benzs G63 AMG 6x6 was built in limited numbers, and only 100 cars were ever made. Tuners like Brabus and Mansory developed more powerful variants, and raised prices for this exclusive pick-up truck.In the case of Mansory , along with an impressive output, the tuning specialists also employed carbon fiber parts, as well as design elements. For example, the car received a new front bumper, a set of additional lights, a new front grille, and other changes.On the interior, the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6 was enhanced with leather and Alcantara, as well as carbon fiber trim. In the case of the example in the photo gallery, its all gone in flames.
kilowatt

And still, wouldn't you just love if you could drop everything you were doing right now and swap places with them? Going on a 6,000+ miles (10,000 km) road trip with no time pressure is probably the best way to get to know a country.After all, some people even wrote books about it after similar experiences - see Ilf and Petrov's "Little Golden America." And while they don't plan to launch themselves into a career in literature, these two will also document their journey on a blog and social media.Like all big ideas, it all started differently. Silke Sommerfeld and Rolf Oetter have been planning a trip across Canada for over ten years, but never found the time to do it. Initially, they were supposed to do it in a motor home , but after acquiring their Model X , leaving a trail of pollution behind just didn't seem right to them anymore.So Rolf, a German engineer, set to modify the trailer for the long trip. Since camping spots only come with one plug, and they would need it for the car, the trailer had to be energy self-sufficient. By installing 800 watts of solar panels and a little over five-hours worth of lithium ion batteries, he not only achieved that, but also turned the trailer into an external power source for the car, capable of delivering between 30 to 40 kilometers of extra range.The couple estimate their journey will take them about three months, but that's only because they plan to make the most of it and not rush it in any way. Tesla is in no way involved in their endeavor, and they make it very clear that they want to promote electric cars in general, not one brand in particular."This trip is our idea," says Silke, talking to Vancouver Island News . "All we want is to raise awareness and bring electric cars closer to as many people as possible." You can follow Silke and Rolf's progress on their Facebook page where they are also more than happy to answer any questions.
The line separating the two breeds was never easy to distinguish, but the British engineers have a special talent for making it nearly invisible. The latest example of that comes from the 675 Longtail Now that P1 production has ended, the 675LT remains the quickest Mac in the line-up and there's no shame in being confused on the label this speed demon deserves.The latest example of this comes from the piece of footage at the bottom of the page, which demonstrates the 675LT's abilities during a recent track day event. The McLaren joined dozens of other uber-fast machines during the recent Sport & Collection speed celebration, a charity event held in France, on the Val de Vienne track.As you'll be able to notice in the clip, the 675 doesn't miss any opportunity of showing otherwise incredible machines who's boss.Heck, with its current range-topper, McLaren has made it hard to believe that the 675LT is an evolutionary process that started with the MP4-12C For instance, when trying to get the tail out through the corners, McLaren's early models could get just as awkward as their names, as the electronics and the driver were constantly fighting.While the British specialist still relies on electronics alone (read: an open diff) to put the 666 hp (make that 675 PS, you metric system fans) of this beast down, the electronic nannies have learned the meaning of "organic handling" - perhaps the best proof of this came when Bruno Senna, Ayrton's nephew, officially drifted a 675LT Spider.And while Mclaren is only building 500 675LT Coupes, as well as 500 Spiders, their engineers have a fantastic memory, so you'll find the same hypercar-like performance in future models.
Industry insiders claim that the decision to skip these offers for the South Korean market was linked to the popularity of Volkswagen models in the country, as well as the fact that diesel engines are still popular on the market, even those from VWs lineup.As Korea Times reports, a local official from the German corporation explained that the lack of compensation for owners of dieselgate-affected vehicles comes from the laws that are applicable in the country.Meanwhile, in the USA, customers are better protected from these situations, especially if we are talking about manufacturer-admitted faults.Some unnamed industry insiders from South Korea do not agree, as they believe that Volkswagen did not offer its customers any buyback options or compensation because the company still registers solid sales figures for its diesel cars.One of the officials of a domestic automaker explained under the cover of anonymity that he believes that South Koreans do not care about emissions that much, and this would justify Volkswagens sales results for diesel models.Volkswagen has yet to received approval for the submitted recall plans for the Dieselgate-affected vehicles sold in South Korea. The German automaker filed three propositions, but they were dismissed by local authorities because they had poor and insincere content.Local authorities have begun to focus on eco-friendly cars, and are planning legislation changes to favor cars that do not have a severe impact on the environment.The Dieselgate situation is not the only problem faced by Volkswagen in South Korea, as regulators have discovered the corporation was involved in manipulating noise and emission charts for its models . The reported flaws were found after a government organization raided the local headquarters of the German company while seeking for evidence for the Dieselgate situation.
SUV

That's just the kind of reputation thishas built for itself, but after this video surfaced, it's going to suffer an 180-degrees turn. The Volvo XC90 i s suddenly going to become the car of choice for every gangsta in this world, and with good reason.Most car chases aren't exactly planned events. The suspect doesn't know he's going to be chased in that vehicle, so it's just your regular, faster or slower depending on its specifications. Some of them might even be tuned, but that usually implies more power and some aerodynamic touches. But that's it.This guy from Lithuania does not believe in taking your chances. He would much rather always be ready for anything, and that's precisely why his XC90 could be displayed right there next to James Bond 's Aston Martins . Or any of the karts featured in Wacky Races game, for that matter.It all starts like any other car chase out there, with the suspect in front and the police car in pursuit. As the cops begin to gain ground, however, the driver decides it was time to deploy his first secret weapon. At first, it all looks like the usual cloud of death that many diesel cars release when the throttle is opened wide. Soon, though, it becomes obvious that something is fishy. Yup, the guy is using smoke as a screen to keep the police cars away.It's not the best tactic since it may put some distance between his car and the pursuers, but a big cloud of smoke is also very easy to spot, so they'd have no problem chasing him from a distance. But the police don't back off and continue to hold on tight. That seems like a bad and unsafe decision, but soon enough proves to be the right call.Moments later, the Volvo man releases his second and final defense mechanism: a bunch of spikes that were supposed to puncture the tires of the pursuing cars (at 0:52). Great idea, bad execution - the police cruiser is just a few feet behind, so the spikes don't get to touch the ground in front of it, bouncing off the hood and windshield instead.Running out of gadgets to use, the suspect is finally cornered and pushed into a protective barrier, which is also where the clip ends. So, full marks for effort and ingenuity, but better luck next time. Which will most likely be a long time from now, since he'll be charged with endangering the lives of police officers, an accusation he'll have a hard time denying with this video running around on the Internet.
So what's he up to these days? Mostly hanging out in his badass 1962 Chevy Impala, eating tacos and skating.This project started for him about six years ago, when he decided to get a classic car. A friend knew about an "old-man hotrod Impala" which he negotiated and bought.Yeah, this is a promo video from AccuAir Suspension, the guys responsible for the air shocks underneath the Impala. But Wee-Man doesn't come off as fake; he genuinely loves to play around with the level system.Wee-Man's real name is Jason Acuna. He was born in Pisa, Italy, grew up in California and is of Mexican and German descent. He became associated with the television series Jackass in 2001, being known for skateboarding as an Oompa-Loompa.Of course, the antics never really stopped for him. He had a MINI Cooper covered in photos of him naked and sometimes appears in Steve-O's Youtube videos.After the death of his colleague and friend Ryan Dunn, he had his portrait tattooed on the right leg. Exactly five years a few days from now, Dunn and Zachary Hartwell, a production assistant on Jackass Number Two, were killed when the former's Porsche 911 GT3 veered off the road, hit a tree and burst into flames in West Goshen Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.Dunn and Wee-Man aren't the only Jackass members with a passion for cars. Bam Margera is famous for the antics he pulls in a blue Lamborghini Murcielago convertible. He also had a Ferrari and a purple Huracan, which he entered in the Gumball 3000. Somehow, Wee-Man is keeping things way more classy.
Jeremy Pilgrim and Rita Reeves of Kailua-Kona were both arrested on June 6 on a number of felony charges, including stealing a rental car, according to a report by West Hawaii Today. They were also arrested for third-degree promotion of dangerous drug and possession of paraphernalia.

The couple was driving a 2016 Honda Versa when pulled over by police. The police determined the vehicle was reported stolen from Avis Budget Group on March 24, according to the report.

Both Pilgrim and Reeves claim a friend had given them the car and neither knew it was stolen, Detective Walter Ah Mow told West Hawaii Today. When questioned, neither Pilgrim nor Reeves could provide a last name or a way to contact the person who supposed gave them the car.

Pilgrim remains in custody on a $35,000 bond and Reeves is on supervised release, according to the report.

Click here for the full West Hawaii Today report.
The U.S. government has given permission to six airlines to go ahead and start service to secondary cities in Cuba, but the OK to fly to Havana is still on hold till later this year. The new treaty between the U.S. and Cuba allows U.S. airlines to ultimately fly up to 110 flights daily to the island  20 to Havana and 10 to each of nine other international airports. The Havana routes are most prized, so for most of the routes awarded this week, the airlines each got what they asked for. The six airlines are American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Frontier Airlines, Sun Country Airlines and Silver Airways. U.S. airlines have not flown to Cuba in more than 50 years.

The U.S. flights will originate from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Philadelphia. The airlines have said they will start selling tickets later this month and airplanes are expected to start flying in September. Currently, its possible for general aviation pilots to fly to Cuba from the U.S., but the process is complex and pilots are assessed multiple fees.
The U.S. Senate today passed a bill that includes changes for how third-class medicals would be implemented, marking the third time in the last six months that such legislation has been passed by the Senate. Its clear that third-class medical reform has strong bipartisan support, AOPA President Mark Baker said in a statement today. The Senate has passed these reforms three times already, and the Pilots Bill of Rights 2 has 178 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House. Its time for the House to take action and pass Pilots Bill of Rights 2 so we can get much-needed medical reforms. Today the reforms were included in the National Defense Authorization Act, which passed by a vote of 85 to 13.

Aviation-related legislation has been stalled in the House due to a stalemate over a proposal to privatize air traffic control. AOPA, EAA, GAMA, NBAA and 10 other aviation advocacy groups sent a letter (PDF) to House leaders last week, urging them to end the stalemate and reauthorize the FAA before the current authorization expires on July 15. If no bill has been passed by then, the FAA will have to operate on short-term budget extensions, as it has in the past. NATCA has been lobbying for the government to change the way the FAA is funded, in hopes that a new system could be put in place that would avoid these recurring budget issues.
Risking fresh criticism from Armenia, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu on Wednesday praised Russias strategic military ties with Azerbaijan and signaled Moscows readiness to sell more weapons to Baku.

Our military cooperation has a strategic character, as do all other types of cooperation between our countries, Shoygu told his Azerbaijani counterpart Zakir Hasanov during talks in Moscow.

I think that there is a potential for its further growth and development. We will certainly do everything to ensure that our friendly strategic partnership and ties continue to develop, he said in remarks cited by the Russian Defense Ministry.

According to a ministry statement, Shoygu also said he would be happy to see an Azerbaijani delegation at a massive arms exhibition which the Russian military will hold outside Moscow in September. Russian defense firms will demonstrate state-of-the-art weapons and military equipment during the weeklong expo, the statement said.

Hasanov was reported to agree that Azerbaijani-Russian relations are strategic and friendly. He also stressed the importance of Russian training of Azerbaijani military personnel. He expressed hope that the number of Azerbaijanis studying at Russian military academies will rise from 72 to 88 next year.

Shoygus offer came just two months after an Azerbaijani army offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh that triggered the most serious escalation of the Karabakh conflict since the Armenian-Azerbaijani war of 1991-1994. Armenian leaders have publicly charged that the four-day heavy fighting along the Karabakh line of contact was greatly facilitated by recent years large-sale Russian arms supplies to Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani army has received hundreds of tanks, artillery systems, helicopters and other weaponry worth at least $4 billion in accordance with Russian-Azerbaijani defense contracts signed in 2010-2011. Many Armenians feel that those arms deals ran counter to Russias military alliance with Armenia.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev rejected the Armenian criticism after visiting Yerevan in early April. He said that that Russia delivers weapons to both Armenia and Azerbaijan and thereby sustains the military balance in the Karabakh conflict.

Russia is the main source of weapons used by the Armenian army, having supplied most of them at discounted prices or even free of charge. Armenia will buy more such weapons soon with a $200 million loan extended by the Russian government last year. Yerevan asked Moscow to speed up the planned arms supplies following the April 2-5 fighting around Karabakh.

Armenias First Deputy Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan most probably discussed them with his Russian counterpart Anatoly Antonov when they met in Moscow on Tuesday. The Russian Defense Ministry said they looked into a number of pressing issues of military and military-technical cooperation between the two countries. It gave no details.

Despite the continuing Russian military assistance to Yerevan, Moscows apparent readiness to cut more arms deals with Baku may prompt fresh criticism from Armenian government officials and pro-government politicians. An Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman declined to immediately comment on Shoygus remarks, though.

Shoygu met with Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian immediately after the talks with Hasanov. We would like to maintain our strategic partnership, he told Ohanian.

The Russian minister praised defense cooperation with Armenia, singling out military training and education, rather than arms supplies. The Russian Defense Ministry quoted him as saying that Moscow is ready enroll more than 200 Armenian officers and cadets in Russian military academies this year.

Ohanian, for his part, said that bilateral military ties are dynamically developing. His press office said he also spoke with Shoygu about the expansion of military-technical cooperation.

Shoygu held separate talks with his Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts ahead of a regular meeting in Moscow of the defense ministers of ex-Soviet states.

Shoygu hinted at more Russian arms sales to Armenias arch-foe despite problems in the implementation of the most recent Russian-Azerbaijani defense contracts. Dmitry Rogozin, a Russian deputy prime minister overseeing the domestic defense industry, twice visited Baku this spring to discuss them.

Russian newspapers reported early this year that the Azerbaijani side failed to fully pay for the Russian weapons so far because of a sharp fall in oil prices that has hit it hard. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov denied those reports, however, saying that Baku has not paid up in full because some of the Russian weapons do not correspond to the technical parameters specified in the contracts.
15 June 2016 10:26 (UTC+04:00)

Armenian armed forces have 18 times violated the ceasefire with Azerbaijan on the line of contact over the past 24 hours, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry reported on June 15.

Armenian armed forces stationed in the Paravakar village of Armenia's Ijevan district, opened fire at the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Kohnegishlag village of the Aghstafa district.

Azerbaijani positions, located in the villages of Aghbulag and Alibayli of the Tovuz district underwent fire from the position located in the villages of Chinari and Mosesgeh of Armenia's Berd district.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani positions located on nameless heights of the Gadabay district were shelled from the positions located on nameless heights of Armenia's Krasnoselsk district.

Moreover, Azerbaijani positions underwent fire from the positions located near the villages of Garakhanbeyli, Horadiz and Gorgan of the Fizuli district and from the nameless heights in Goranboy, Fizuli and Jabrayil districts.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

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15 June 2016 11:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the creation of an industrial district in Masalli on June 13.

The main objective of the creation of industrial district in a southern region located in 240 km of capital Baku is to support the entrepreneurial activity in small and medium businesses engaged in industrial sphere, to provide sustainable development of non-oil industry as well as to open new jobs in the sphere.

The district will be managed, developed and regulated by Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC which is engaged in the promotion of investment activity in the country.

Plants engaged in the manufacture and processing of output in non-oil industry as well as service enterprises are to be created in the districts territory with the view of rendering support to small and medium-scale entrepreneurship.

Commenting on the issue Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev said that more than 30 entrepreneurs have already taken an interest in conducting operations in the territory of the industrial district.

The minister mentioned that the construction work on the territory of Masalli industrial district will start soon. The infrastructure work on the territory of Neftchala industrial district will be completed by late June, after which the construction of certain factories and plants will start there, Mustafayev added.

He noted that the construction of the Neftchala industrial district is nearing to an end. The total volume of investments which will be allocated for the Neftchala industrial district in the first stage will exceed 20 million manats ($13.3 million).

We have chosen seven projects out of 17 presented by businessmen. The projects envisage opening 380 new jobs. Azerbaijan Azeuocar and Irans Khodro companies have signed a memorandum on the manufacturing of motor cars and service parts in Neftchala industrial district. We have already chosen seven projects out of 17 presented by businessmen. The projects envisage opening 380 new jobs, Mustafayev said.

Moreover, Azerbaijan's Azeurocar and Iran's Iran Khodro company have recently signed a memorandum in accordance with which, cars and spare parts will be manufactured in Neftchala industrial district, said the minister, adding that thereby, 60 percent of the spare parts for cars will be manufactured in Azerbaijan.

Further, the minister noted that the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park will have new residents soon.

Industrial districts are considered to be an important element of modern innovative economy. Azerbaijan takes bids to develop non-oil sector and diversify its economy as well as minimize its oil dependence. Further development of non-oil industry in the county is an issue of top priority for the government of the country.

Industrial parks have been so far created in Sumgait, in the village of Balakhani in Baku and Mingachevir. The country seeks to further boost this sphere and create industrial parks in other cities. The country also provides favorable conditions for other countries to participate in the industrial parks. Works over the provision of infrastructure in the created industrial parks are currently underway.

The government has made certain changes to the legislature in order to ensure further development of the concept of industrial parks and districts. Import of goods by the industrial park residents is exempt of customs duties for a term of five years, while foreign residents of industrial parks are exempt from payments for compulsory social insurance as well as the equipment and technologies used in industrial parks is also exempt from value added tax.

The total number of industrial parks' residents is currently 12, seven being in Sumgait and four in Balakhani and in Garadagh.

The Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to allocate 10 hectares of land for the district, which should be transferred to AIC within the period of the next 2 months.

The Ministry of Economy and Industry was instructed to create conditions for business at that territory including internal and external infrastructure (power, water, gas, heating, sanitation, communications, transport, and firefighting means).

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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15 June 2016 10:36 (UTC+04:00)

The Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe and events like it have the potential to bring in significant numbers of tourists to Azerbaijan from countries all over the world, U.S. Ambassador to Baku Robert Cekuta told Trend June 14.

"As Azerbaijan focuses on building its tourism industry as part of the overall effort to diversify the economy, such events also provide an opportunity to boost the development of tourism infrastructure and services that attracts visitors year-round and encourages them to explore the rich history and culture Azerbaijan has to offer both in Baku and in the regions beyond," he said.

The 2016 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe will be held June 17-19 in Baku. Eleven teams will take part in the racing: Mercedes AMG Petronas, Scuderia Ferrari, Williams Martini Racing, Red Bull Racing, Sahara Force India, Haas F1 Team, McLaren Honda, Toro Rosso, Sauber F1 Team, Renault Sport F1 and Manor Racing.

Azerbaijan is the latest addition in the F1 calendar and the newly designed impressive street circuit promises to become one of the most exciting and thrilling venues for the F1 race.

Being the worlds fastest city circuit and the track loop around the citys historical centre, Baku will create a unique and remarkable atmosphere for fans watching in the grandstands and at home.

The six kilometers, anti-clockwise layout of the circuit is planned to start adjacent to Azadliq Square, then loop around the Government House before heading west to Maiden Tower. From there the track is planned to have a narrow uphill traversal and then circle the Old City along Neftchilar Avenue back to the start line.

The quickest street track on the Formula One circuit will feature 20 turns and a 2.2km straight along Neftchilar Avenue, where drivers will reach speeds of 340kph.

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15 June 2016 13:07 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijani developers have created a display of the Braille Pad tablet PC for visually impaired individuals, project leader Rashid Aliyev told Trend on June 14.

The prototype of the tablet is likely to be assembled in the design offices in China and Ukraine.

"Currently we have a display of the device, excluding the electronic component. Unfortunately, the agreement earlier reached with design bureau over the production of the prototype can be revised due to the fact that manufacturers made adjustments to the prices. The amount of the grant allocated to us by the State Fund of Information Technologies Development cannot cover the required costs, Aliyev noted.

He claimed that every 3 months the Fund allocates $3,000 for the project that amounts to $9,000 in general. However, this makes up just 8% of the needed financing.

Aliyev said that $60,000 should be devoted for the completion of the technological component of the Braille Pads display, and $1.5 million for mass production.

Given the market volumes and the need for such devices, this amount may not seem so significant. According to the World Health Organization, there were 35 million people with limited vision in 2013, but in 2020 their number is expected to rise to 75 million, the project leader said.

He added that Braille Pad has the potential of bringing billions of dollars after its mass production launched.

Aliyev mentioned that the project is export-oriented and is already pre-ordered by Turkey. Some 50,000 Braille Pads are planned for export to this country, while Ukrainian and Saudi Arabian markets will be the next.

Braille Pad is designed for people with limited vision. It will be equipped with multi-line tactile display that allows the user to fully use the functions of a conventional tablet computer by his fingertips. The users will be able to visit websites, use e-mail, social networks, etc.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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15 June 2016 13:54 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Egypt and Azerbaijan, which have much in common including traditions, culture, customs, and religion, have a permanent political dialogue, as well.



Egyptian Ambassador to Baku Suzanne Jamil in an interview with Trend stressed that the Egypt-Azerbaijan cooperation has been always strong.

"Egypt's foreign policy remained unchanged," Jamil said, adding that Egypt wants to expand cooperation with all countries.

She mentioned a number of high level visits from Egypt to Azerbaijan scheduled for this year, noting that the details have not been disclosed yet.

The ambassador also expressed her countrys support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"Egypt supports the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and also backs Azerbaijan in this issue," she said. "We hope for speedy and peaceful settlement of the conflict."

The successful development of military and security cooperation between Azerbaijan and Egypt was high on the agenda of talks in Baku earlier this March, as a delegation led by the border guard commander of the Egyptian Defense Ministry visited the country. During the Baku talks, the sides emphasized the significance of developing relations in the military and security areas.

Cairo and Baku have had relations which date back to centuries ago but since the last century they have developed closer contacts. Since Azerbaijan has gained its independence in 1991, the two countries have started building relations in the political, economic, cultural and educational spheres.

The two countries also seek to open a new stage of cooperation in tourism. For the past two years thousands of Azerbaijanis visited Egypt. Last year their number reached up to more than 3,000. The most popular months for travel were December, January and March.

Meanwhile the flow of the national tourists to Egypt is expected to increase even more, since Sharm el-Sheikh-Baku direct flight was launched from June 3. Air Cairo low fare subsidiary of Egypt Air opened regular Baku-Sharm el-Sheikh-Baku flights to be performed once a week.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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15 June 2016 13:29 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev received co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Cezar Florin Preda and Stefan Schennach in Baku on June 15,Azertac reported.

The co-rapporteurs noted the importance of their visit to Azerbaijan at a time when the country marks National Salvation Day.

They stressed that the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe to be held in Baku would contribute to the expansion of international cooperation. The co-rapporteurs also hailed the development of cooperation between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan.

They hailed the significance of the Azerbaijani president`s Order pardoning a group of prisoners and the adoption of a Law on Amnesty Act, adding that the moves were praised by the Council of Europe.

The head of state underlined that Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe had enjoyed fruitful and constructive cooperation for long years, and hailed the current level of cooperation.

President Aliyev said Azerbaijan was one of the most active members of the organization. The head of state further expressed his confidence that this cooperation would be further developed.

The sides exchanged views over the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as cooperation prospects.

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15 June 2016 13:01 (UTC+04:00)

The initiative of Azerbaijans First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva to adopt an Amnesty Act was a real gift to our families.

Nizami Aliyev, an amnestied person, who was released today from the detention center, made the remark while talking to Trend. He thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for great joy that his family experienced following the decision.

The execution of the amnesty act, adopted by the Parliament of Azerbaijan on May 2 on the initiative of Azerbaijan's First Lady has today been started. The amnesty act covers 10,000 prisoners. Of these, 3,500 people will be released from the places of detention.

MP Bakhtiyar Aliyev described the amnesty act, as a manifestation of humanism.

Aliyev expressed hope that the amnesty will positively affect the released persons and prevent them from engaging in crime in the future.

Under the amnesty act, all persons convicted for crimes that don't pose big danger to society, a number of women convicted for less serious crimes, the persons who were under the age of 18 at the time of committing the crime, and the men who have reached 60 years of age will be exempt from the imprisonment punishment.

The amnesty act also covers those who have dependant minors or children with the first or second group of disability, the persons who have participated in battles for the defense of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the persons displaced internally from their native lands as a result of the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories, and the persons of other categories.

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15 June 2016 14:32 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijans Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov has met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu on the sidelines of the 70th meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the CIS held in Moscow.

Shoygu hailed all-round relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, including military one. He praised the military and technical cooperation between the two countries, saying Our military cooperation has a strategic character, as all other types of cooperation between our countries.

The Russian minister voiced hope for the further improvement of the two countries relations. I think there is a potential for the growth and development. Of course, we will do everything to further develop our strategic partnership and friendly ties, he said.

Moreover, Shoygu congratulated his Azerbaijani counterpart on the occasion of Azerbaijan's National Salvation Day.

Hasanov also hailed the military cooperation between the two countries, and invited the Russian minister to visit Azerbaijan.

"We have a good plan of the bilateral military cooperation," said Hasanov, "These are the issues of training of our future officers."

Hasanov mentioned that almost 90 officers of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces will start education at the Russian military universities in 2016. He noted that currently 72 people from Azerbaijan study in those institutions. We expect it will be 88 in the next year, he added.

During the meeting, the two ministers also discussed the issues of international security, including in the South Caucasus and the Caspian region.

The Azerbaijani-Russian cooperation is completely based on the principles of mutual respect and good neighborly relations. Being long-time partners, Russia and Azerbaijan are keen to continue developing multilateral cooperation in the future.

To date, Russia has invested over $1.8 billion in Azerbaijan's economy, while Azerbaijan has invested over $1 billion in the Russian economy. Today, more than 600 companies with Russian capital operate in Azerbaijan.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

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15 June 2016 12:12 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Matanat-A Company, one of the leaders for construction materials production in the country, is planning to build a plant for production of lime.

Elkhan Bashirov, President of Matanat-A talking to reporters mentioned that the project has already been awarded a document of the investment incentives.

The plant will be constructed in Gazakh region. Its capacity is expected to amount to 90,000 tons per year. The construction of the plant will allow to create about 250 new work places. Initial volume of investments will be around 15 million manats ($ 9.9 million), Bashirov added.

He further noted that the document of the investment incentives allows to save on the project realization.

We will save about 1.8 million manats ($ 1.1) due to exemption from value added tax. It will allow the plant to run its operations with high level of efficiency. We will deliver all necessary equipment within the period of one month, he said.

Bashirov also underlined that the generated production will partially be directed to export. Our output will meet all necessary international requirements thus giving an opportunity for both to supply to local market and to export our production to the near abroad, he added.

Document of the investment incentives is a new mechanism which exempts entrepreneurs from land taxes and grants discounts at the rate of 50 percent in the cases of income tax payments.

Previously Economy Minister Shahin Mustafayev mentioned that the total volume of investments for 15 projects which hold the document of the investment incentives will amount to 160 million manats ($105.8 million)

In order to obtain a certificate an entrepreneur should submit a business plan and confirm making of at least 10% of the expected project investments.

Matanat-A Company which was established in 2000 is considered to be the first manufacturer of cement- and gypsum-based products in Azerbaijan. Operating in 3 systems and 22 product groups, the company has a portfolio of more than 200 brands and about 1000 product types. Currently the company is engaged in the production of lime goods including slack lime and coating for facade.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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15 June 2016 13:36 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Paolo Gentiloni will visit Azerbaijan in coming months.

Gentiloni spoke about his visit at the 4th session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Italy and Azerbaijan, held in Rome on June 13, Italian media reported.

The minister said Italy relies on Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus and noted that from a geopolitical point of view. Azerbaijan has a strategic position and great economic potential, it is a key country linking Europe with Asia, as well as Italy's partner, he said.

Speaking about the visits of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev to Italy in 2014 and 2015, as well as the mutual visits, Gentiloni said the Italian side wants that there were more official visits.

The minister also touched upon the importance of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project in strengthening the Italian-Azerbaijani partnership.

He said the project is strategically important for Italy's economy and the Azerbaijani gas will be supplied to Italy via this pipeline in 2020.

The country is the largest supplier of oil to Italy, and with the launch of the Southern Gas Corridor will supply Shah Deniz gas to this country.

Earlier this month some 18 Italian companies attended the 23rd International Caspian Oil&Gas exhibition in Baku for the first time. The Italian participation was represented by solid and better structured companies focused for foreign markets, confirming their willingness to cooperate with the Azerbaijani companies.

Gentiloni went on to add that the trade turnover between Italy and Azerbaijan amounted to five billion euros in 2015 and Azerbaijan's demand for Italian products is increasing.

Italy wants to increase its exports to Azerbaijan, he added.

Over the past few years, Italy remains the main trade partner of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijans State Statistics Committee statistics show that the trade turnover with Italy in January-April 2016 amounted to $567.54 million and some 78.14 percent of the total turnover fell to the export of Azerbaijani products to Italy.

The economic cooperation between the two countries shouldn't be limited to the energy sector, according to the minister, as the sides enjoy opportunities for cooperation in various fields.

Speaking about the importance of relations in cultural sphere, Gentiloni emphasized the attention paid by the Azerbaijani side, in particular, by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to this sphere.

The foreign minister also noted that Italy also must make efforts for restoring peace and stability in the Caucasus and for a constructive and fruitful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU.

Touching upon hte Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he added that Italy supports the efforts of Germany, which chairs the OSCE, for the settlement of the conflict.

The minister assured that in case of Italy's election as the OSCE Chair in 2018, the country will make every effort to resolve the conflict.

The 4th session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held with participation of Azerbaijan's delegation, led by the country's energy minister and the Commission's co-chairman Natig Aliyev, and various state structures representing the country.

Along with the Commission's session, an Azerbaijani-Italian business forum was held the same day in Rome with participation of the two countries' leading companies.

Italy, being the largest importer of Azerbaijani goods, enjoys good relations with the country and export from Italy to Azerbaijan is also growing year by year.



Italy, is very interested in investing in the country, and according to experts, logistics, alternative energy, hardware, ecology, jewelry, construction, agriculture and agricultural complex, certification and food industry are the most attracting fields for Italian businessmen.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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15 June 2016 11:31 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Cultural ties between Jordan and Azerbaijan were mulled as Jordanian Ambassador to Baku Mohammad Nassar Ibrahim al-Habashneh received the famous fashion designer, PhD on art criticism, Gulnara Khalilova, Trend Life reported.

The sides discussed realization of joint projects aimed at promotion of Azerbaijani and Jordanian national costumes. Current plans stipulate presentation of a fashion collection by the national designer in Jordan and Jordanian fashion designers collections in Azerbaijan, including their joint fashion show.

Later, the designer has presented a panel decorated with Azerbaijan's national ornaments to the ambassador.

"Jordan's envoy has voiced that he admires Azerbaijani national costumes and expressed a wish to implement a project to promote ancient heritage of our countries", said Gulnara Khalilova.

Works of Khalilova's national collection can be found in Egypt, the library of Alexandria, the Cultural Center of Istanbul, and the cultural centers of various cities in the U.S.

The designer took part in preparing the classic Azerbaijani operetta "Arshin mal alan" by famous composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov staged at the 100th anniversary of the State Theatre of Musical Comedy, where she created costumes.



Her works are also very popular among Turkish public figures, representatives of culture and art such as Ajda Pekkan, Emrah Erdogan, Beyazit Ozturk, Soner Sarikabadayi, and others.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 June 2016 12:47 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

The Hungarian embassy in Azerbaijan has presented a three-volume book One hundred and one Azerbaijani folktales" in Hungarian language, Trend Life reported.

Hungarian Ambassador to Baku Imre Laslotski, addressing the event, said that bilateral relations between his country and Azerbaijan are developing quite dynamically in the widest range of spheres.

He stressed the importance of developing the cultural ties between the two countries.

The envoy noted that the edition was published in three volumes in Hungarian with a circulation of 1,000 copies with assistance of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan and the Hungary-Azerbaijan Friendship Society.

Speaking at the event, Svetlana Abdullayeva told about work on the edition, creative approach to the translation of the Azerbaijani fairy tales into Hungarian language.

She expressed hope that these books will become an irreplaceable resource both for the students learning Hungarian and for ordinary readers of all age.

The book of fairy tales has been translated by Svetlana Abdullayeva, Aron Sipos and Imre Adorian. The publication includes 101 tales from the five-volume folk tales, which were published in Azerbaijan in 2005.

The cover for the new book depicts works of People's artist of Azerbaijan Arif Huseynov and 33 illustrations of young artist Aybeniz Yusubova.

Previously, the book has been presented in Hungary. The publication is expected to be transferred to libraries and educational institutions of Azerbaijan and Hungary.

Hungary recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in April 1992.

The cooperation in industry, energy, transportation, agriculture, communications and information technology, pharmaceuticals, environment, culture, tourism and other areas are carried out successfully, and trade relations develop between Azerbaijan and Hungary. In 2013, the trade turnover between the two countries increased by nearly 40 percent up to 3.3 million.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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15 June 2016 13:20 (UTC+04:00)

By Laman Ismayilova

Two paintings of Azerbaijan's most popular surrealist, Mehriban Efendi were sold at Homeless Gears silent auction, Trend Life reported.

Homeless Gear is a Fort Collins-based nonprofit that provides a continuum of services to individuals and families who are homeless or  in some cases  at risk of becoming homeless: supplies that help them survive in the short-term, connections to resources in the interim and links to employment, housing and self-sufficiency in the long-term.

All of the money raised from the silent auction will be donated to homeless Americans, the author told Trend Life.

The auction held in Denver, Colorado was also attended by American photographer Tauni OBrien , auction organizer Linda Nuss and others.

Mehriban Efendi is among the best surrealists of the world. Since 2010, she has been involved in project "International Surrealism Now" that brings together artists from Europe, Asia, North and South America.

Efendi's works are exhibited in Portugal, USA, Holland, Bulgaria and other countries.

Mehiban Efendi awarded a number of international prizes in Germany, France, Macedonia, Bulgary, etc. The outstanding artist also worked as a costume designer with the German filmmaker Veit Helmer in his comedy Absurdistan, shot in Azerbaijan in 2008. In 2014, she awarded the 'Sandro Botticelli Prize' for artistic merit in Italy.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 June 2016 10:48 (UTC+04:00)

Trend's interview with Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski.

Iranian media report that Tehran and Warsaw have signed MOUs worth $700 million during a recent visit of Iran's FM Mohammad Javad Zarif to Poland. What cooperation areas will be covered under those deals?

First of all, it should be noted that during the aforementioned visit some MOUs were signed, not contracts though; additionally a letter of intent was inked between the Polish Chamber of Commerce and the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture.

It means that there is still a long way ahead for the Polish and Iranian partners before these preliminary in fact agreements are transformed into fully binding contracts.

In fact, during the visit only two MOUs were signed - in the field of energy production and maritime infrastructure - however their value has not been disclosed due to trade confidentiality clauses, but we can assume that the total value is not even close to $700 million; the figure should be measured in much humbler range.

Of course, taking into consideration the potential of Polish and Iranian economies, there is a perspective for reaching such values in bilateral trade in the future. Of course, in order to achieve this, much more time is needed.

We should also remember the strong competition from international companies, mainly from other EU member states, Ukraine, Russia, Japan and South Korea among others, which are also interested in doing business with Iran.

When the MOUs are expected to become operational? Have the banking problems been settled between the two countries?

Given Poland's successful story in adopting an effective model of free market economy with a major share of market consisting of private, small and medium enterprises, it only depends on management boards of the companies how their businesses are run and their new markets defined.

Polish government has no leverage in this regard. As the Polish FM, responsible among other things for strengthening commercial ties with foreign countries, I can only hope that these MOUs will become operational soon.

As to the banking issues, based on Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and SWIFT's decision on reopening operations for Iranian banks, there are now no legal barriers for money transfers between the EU and Iranian banks.

Polish banks were quite active in that field, and two Polish banks restored their ties with three major Iranian private-owned banks this March. Also during the business forum that took place during Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's visit to Warsaw, a session on banking issues was held with the participation of a number of Polish and Iranian banks.

Polish deputy energy minister earlier said the two countries are negotiating over oil and gas cooperation. In which areas, the Polish oil and gas firms, including PGNiG, can cooperate with Iran?

Due to the scope of activities and financial capabilities of Polish oil and gas companies we do not aim at full-scale competition with major global players in terms of big investment contracts, which are a priority for the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum, but still there is a big field of cooperation in the framework of some smaller contracts, mainly in services sector: geophysical assessment and exploration, drilling, on-surface infrastructure construction and maintenance.

PGNiG's sister companies have significant experience in executing such international contracts and for sure Iran could be their partner. The talks are ongoing and we are optimistic about their progress.

Does Poland plan to buy crude oil from Tehran?

Diversification of supplies, looking for new sources and suppliers, as well as channels of delivery of the crude oil and natural gas are matters of strategic importance for Poland.

As the market of hydrocarbons and political situation worldwide change rapidly, Polish experts, also in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assess feasibility of cooperation with various countries, not excluding any of them.

When it comes to Iran, taking into consideration the opinion of Iranian Ministry of Petroleum, there is no surplus of crude oil that would enable Iran to enter new markets.

Should investments in Iranian oil and gas sector be made according to the plans of Iranian administration, Iran would achieve significant export capabilities. Most likely, traditional pre-sanctions crude oil buyers from the EU, like France, Italy, Spain, Greece, will renew their contracts with Tehran, so we do not exclude that Poland also joins that group.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 June 2016 13:43 (UTC+04:00)

By Fatma Babayeva

Iran seems committed to push forward with plans to pump additional barrels of oil into an already oversupplied market.

The countrys crude output has crossed over 3.8 million barrels a day during the current month, which marks about 40 percent increase since the western sanctions were lifted.

Irans Petroleum Minister Bijan Zangeneh announced about this during the public meeting of the Iranian Parliament on June 13, Shana news agency reported. Zangeneh noted that Iran has doubled oil exports, which reached 2 million barrels per day now.

The Minister stressed the need for foreign investment to develop the countrys oil and gas industry as well.

Iran plans to push its oil exports up to 2.2 million barrels a day by the end of this summer. In late May, the oil production in Iran amounted to 3.562 million barrels per day, which was 90,000 barrels more compared to the volume extracted in April, according to OPECs June report released this week.

Obviously, greater supply will pressure global oil pricing. However, the issue for Iran is market share. The country is determined to regain the market share lost as a result of the sanctions, James M. Dorsey, Senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies told AzerNews via email while commenting on Irans increasing oil exports to the global market.

Geopolitical tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia led to failure of OPECs Doha and Vienna meetings previously. The organization could not realize its oil freezing plan or put production ceiling to control volumes of oil that the member states pump. Saudis refused to take any measure without the commitment by the Iranian side.

Dorsey believes the more Iran reintegrates in the international community, as well as, the economy and financial systems, the easier investment will become.

Although most of the western sanctions against Iran were removed, some of the U.S sanctions still remain in place. It bans conducting business transactions in U.S. dollar with Iran, which obstructs flow of the investment to the country.

Dorsey believes that nothing much is likely to happen on this front until after the U.S. elections, and then it will depend on who has won the election.

Currently, Irans oil industry attracts attention of the foreign investors more than its gas sector do. Nevertheless, the Islamic Republic is very keen to boost its gas exports too.

Dorsey said that increase in the gas export volumes of Iran is only a matter of time.

The Iranian gas industry is encountering the same problems in attracting foreign investment that most sectors of the economy face. Foreign investors are circling Iran but hesitant to bite as long as they feel that there is a risk of violating American sanctions, added the expert

Iran is currently building a pipeline to Oman, where it will use the LNG plants to exports its natural gas supplies.

Touching upon Irans preference to construct Iran-Oman pipeline over other options, Dorsey underlined that Iran has very close relations with Oman that has been very helpful to Iran as a mediator with the United States and in terms of maintaining economic and political relations.

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Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 June 2016 12:19 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Kazakhstan will allocate huge funds to support small and medium-scale entrepreneurship in the country.

President Nursultan Nazarbayev instructed the government to allocate additional 240 billion Kazakh tenges (nearly $712 million) in the second half of 2016 to stimulate the economic growth in the country.

Funds are expected to be directed for the provision of support to small and medium-sized businesses, lending and implementation of programs of individual housing construction.

Financial means will also be allocated for the implementation of a number of infrastructural projects including improvement of life quality in rural areas, completion of the ferry crossing at the Kuryk port and modernization of Astana airport.

Measures are expected to give a stimulus for the growth of the countrys economy.

Kazakhstan's economy depends heavily on the oil sector. It accounts for an estimated 20 percent of GDP, 50 percent of fiscal revenues, and 60 percent of exports

Among the major trading partners of Kazakhstan are Russia, U.S., Uzbekistan, China, Turkey, U.K., Germany and Ukraine. Kazakhstan major exports include the oil, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery, chemicals, grain, wool, meat, coal. Major imports of the country are machinery and parts, industrial materials, gas, and vehicles.

The official exchange rate of the US dollar and euro to Kazakh tenge was set at 337.65 tenge and 378.71 tenge respectively on June 15.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 June 2016 14:09 (UTC+04:00)

By Rashid Shirinov

The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Azerbaijan will submit to the countrys government its recommendations for improving tourism by the end of July 2016.

The Travel, Hospitality and Tourism Committee of AmCham in Azerbaijan have held two productive meetings in June to mull improvement of tourism in Azerbaijan. One of the meetings was held with Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfaz Garayev, while the other at the countrys parliament.

AmCham representatives, at the meeting with the minister, mentioned the latest changes in the tourism sector of Azerbaijan, hailing creation of ASAN Visa service, amendments to the Migration Code and drafting of new Tourism Law.

Garayev, for his part, said that thanks to the recent international and local events held in Azerbaijan, the countrys tourism industry grows rapidly. He emphasized that tourism is one of the priorities for the non-oil sector development.

Today, the share of tourism revenues in GDP makes up 4.5 percent. Currently, there are about 300 travel agencies and more than 570 facilities for guest accommodation. The number of tourists visiting Azerbaijan for the last 10 years increased 5 times. The aim of Azerbaijan is to ensure the opportunity to receive about 5 million tourists a year, the minister said.

Garayev also noted the positive impact of tourism on the creation of new jobs as a factor of economic development. In addition, he stressed that efforts towards the development of culture and tourism in Azerbaijan will be multiplied.

Overall, Azerbaijan welcomed over 2 million tourists in 2015. That may be linked with several major high-level events held in Azerbaijan for the last years. The first European Games took place here in the summer of 2015. Additionally, Formula 1 Grand Prix races will be held in Baku on June 17-19.

AmCham also suggested its recommendations during the meeting at the Parliament. Chairman of the Parliamentary Social Policy Committee, Hadi Rajabli outlined the main challenges to the proposed changes into Tourism Law of Azerbaijan, as well as the shortcomings of the current version of the law.

In turn, AmChams Executive Director Natavan Mammadova, member of the Board of the Chamber Nuran Kerimov and Chairman of the Committee on Travel, Hospitality & Tourism Martin Kleemann presented their positions and outlined the key points which need careful consideration.

The meeting ended with an agreement on the establishment of a working group, which will bring together both MPs and representatives of the tourism industry. The bill will be presented for general public discussion in the near future.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Azerbaijan is a private, non-profit business association supporting and promoting the interests of business in Azerbaijan. Established in 1996, AmCham is composed of over 280 members and associates active in every sector of the Azerbaijani economy. AmCham represents 80% of all foreign investment, as well as a significant portion of local investment, in Azerbaijan. As AmCham members, companies and organizations have access to a vast network of business information and contacts in the country.

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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Martin Torres, 33, was supposed to graduate from Ana G. Mendez University in Tampa next week. Instead, his family is planning for his funeral.



The native of Puerto Rico was gunned down Sunday at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando.



Wednesday was supposed to be his last day of class, his teacher said.



Its sad not to have him tomorrow," said Torres professor Carla Zayas. "Our assignment for the day was to present our goals as professionals."

Torres was set to be a pharmacist. He moved to Florida to live the American dream, his teacher said.



Torres mother and family will travel from Puerto Rico for his graduation next Tuesday. Yvonne Cadiz, the campus director, says the family will receive Torres cap and gown and diploma.



Three other students from the same university passed away in the shooting. The others studied at the schools Orlando campus.




Details continue to emerge about the wife of the man who opened fire in a crowded nightclub last weekend in Orlando, killing 49 people.

Noor Zahi Salman lived in a Fort Pierce condo for the past three years with her husband, Omar Mateen, and their 3-year-old son.



Early Sunday, the 29-year-old Mateen opened fire at Pulse, a gay nightclub, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded.



Authorities think Mateen's wife knew about the plot ahead of time, said an official who was briefed on the progress of the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation.

On Tuesday, media reported that Salman had gone with Mateen to buy ammunition and had also driven him to the Pulse nightclub on a previous occasion because he had wanted to survey it.



However, she said she had tried to talk her husband out of carrying out the attack, according to sources.



The official said investigators are reluctant to charge her only on the basis of possible advance knowledge of her husband's plans.



Salman, a 30-year-old California native of Palestinian heritage, was escorted to and from the condo Monday night by authorities.



Three people identifying themselves as FBI agents visited Salman's childhood home in Rodeo, California, on Tuesday and spoke with her mother.



Salman made a brief visit to their first-floor apartment late Monday, escorted by police and her brother-in-law. Her father-in-law said she came to retrieve clothing. She did not speak with reporters.



She has otherwise been in seclusion.



A number of possible explanations and motives for the bloodbath have emerged, with the Muslim Mateen professing allegiance to the Islamic State group in a 911 call during the attack (including a phone call to News 13), his ex-wife saying he was mentally ill and his father suggesting he was driven by hatred of gays.



The investigation into an attack that left Mateen and 49 victims dead includes a look at his current spouse. An official who was briefed on the case, but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation said authorities believe Mateen's wife knew about the plot ahead of time, but they are reluctant to charge her on that basis alone.



On Tuesday, a U.S. official said the FBI was looking into a flurry of news reports quoting patrons of the Pulse as saying Mateen frequented the nightspot and reached out to men on gay dating apps. The official was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
After the Pulse nightclub shooting, Orlando Regional Medical Center sprang into action to help the 44 victims that came through its doors.

But if a mass casualty situation happened in Tampa Bay, would Tampa General Hospital, the level one trauma center for West Central Florida, be prepared?

Tampa General Hospital is the Tampa Bay area's level one trama center

TGH runs annual drills to simulate different types of mass casualty situations

We would get notified by EMS that there is a mass casualty situation," said Dr. David Ciesla, the Regional Trauma Director for Tampa General Hospital and USF Health. "We would alert our on-call faculty, so we have in-house trauma surgeons, fellows and residents who are here, and if it sounded like it was a big incident then they would call in the back up, and we would go down a call list and mobilize as much resources as we needed."

With extra staff and resources on hand, the hospital would start triaging.

"You shift gears from trying to do the most for one person or any individual to be doing the most good for the most amount of people, and a lot of times youll have to ration resources, Ciesla said.

To make sure the hospital is prepared, Tampa General Hospital participates in annual drills where it reenacts different types of mass casualty situations. The hospital uses volunteers to pose as patients.

We will practice getting them in, doing primary and secondary surveys, getting them registered, getting them through the ER and the system, Ciesla said.


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The Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel has announced the addition of Samantha (Hovendick) Thompson to the staff of the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice, Adams, DeWitt, and the Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore.

Thompson is the fourth generation of her family to continue the tradition of ministering to families in Beatrice, Wymore and surrounding communities. The family service was established by her great-grandfather and founder Heath Griffiths, grandfather Dick Hovendick and uncle Rich Hovendick.

Thompson received her mortuary science education at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, where she obtained an advanced standing diploma in mortuary science. Since graduation, she has been working as an intern and licensed funeral director at Merle Hay Funeral Home in Des Moines.

Thompson continues to serve as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Mortuary Science program at Des Moines Area Community College, while also previously serving as the student ambassador for the Re-Accreditation Advisory Committee for the Mortuary Science program.

Thompson will assist with services at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice and will manage the Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore.
The forensic scientist who tested blood and semen evidence collected at the scene of a Beatrice woman's 1985 murder told a federal jury Tuesday in Lincoln that her findings were mischaracterized by attorneys at Joseph White's trial in 1989.

Line by line, Reena Roy, now a professor and director of Penn State University's forensic science graduate program, went through the ways the statement read to the Gage County jury 27 years ago got it wrong, starting with the spelling of her name. Attorneys in the case agreed to read the statement to the jury rather than have her testify.

Roy said she wouldn't have testified that the semen found on the carpet was similar to that of co-defendant Tom Winslow, or that the blood on Helen Wilson's nightgown was similar to that of another co-defendant, Kathy Gonzalez, as the jury was told she would have.

In 1989, the jury found White guilty of killing Wilson and a judge sentenced him to life in prison.

White served nearly 20 years before DNA testing he fought to get identified Bruce Allen Smith as the one who raped and killed the 68-year-old widow and the convictions against White and five others unraveled.

The Nebraska Supreme Court ultimately overturned White's conviction, and the case was dismissed. The others -- Winslow, Gonzalez, Ada JoAnn Taylor, James Dean and Debra Shelden -- were pardoned.

Together, they spent a combined 77 years in prison.

They filed a civil rights suit against Gage County, former Sheriff Jerry DeWitt, who now is dead, Deputy Burdette Searcey and Wayne Price, a psychologist and part-time deputy, saying the investigation was so reckless it "shocked the conscience." A 2014 trial in the case ended in a mistrial.

On Tuesday, the seventh day of a new trial, Roy was called to talk about the tests she did on crime scene evidence in 1985 and in 1989 when Searcey started making arrests.

Serology has changed drastically since 1989, she said. She was doing blood typing, looking for genetic markers, not DNA tests, which were not yet done in Nebraska.

Roy said the testing she did on blood on Wilson's bedsheet and semen found on her body pointed to a suspect with Type B blood who was a non-secretor, meaning his blood type was not secreted into body fluids. Only about 20 percent of people are non-secretors. Fewer still have Type B blood.

Of the Beatrice 6, only Gonzalez had Type B blood, but she was a secretor.

Roy said Winslow should have been excluded as the source of all of the semen and blood evidence she analyzed.

Complicating matters, White and the victim both had Type O blood and were secretors with the exact same genetic markers, which is why Roy said she couldn't exclude him from creating fluids taken from Wilson's body. But, she said, more than likely it had been a combination of fluid from the victim and semen from a non-secretor.

That wasn't explained to the jury, which was only told that semen found in the victim's body "could not be positively identified as being White's."

Roy said she told White's attorney in a 1989 pre-trial deposition that DNA testing could distinguish if any of the fluids collected at the scene had come from White. But that wasn't done until decades later.

"So the prosecutor and defense attorney must've misunderstood your deposition?" Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf asked Roy before she left the stand.

No, she said, reading from a part of her report where she said Gonzalez' blood was not a match.

"I cannot make it much clearer," Roy said.
Bundled payments still possess a veil of mystery  the term means a variety of things to different people.

"There are no standards in bundled payments," said Julie Greene, CEO and administrator of Muskegon (Mich.) Surgery Center. "When someone says 'bundled payment,' you have to ask what they mean by that."

Ms. Green and other healthcare professionals discussed their experiences with bundled payments in ASCs during a panel titled, "Key thoughts on bundled packages and services for ASCs," at Becker's 14th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine in Chicago.

Lise' Mundwiller, RN, director of clinical and surgical services of Peoria, Ill.-based Great Plains Orthopaedics Ambulatory Surgery Center; and Tim Fox, PT, DPT, GCS, CCI, founder and chairman of Cherry Hill, N.J.-based FOX Rehabilitation, joined Ms. Green on the panel.

"When you're putting bundles together, you're also creating synergies between groups that are going to work effectively together for a better patient experience, a very high quality of care," said Ms. Green. "Long-term, it's going to better for the payer because of how that care is coordinated."

Working with bundles

In the current landscape, Mr. Fox's private physical therapy practice still bills in a fee-for-service model within the bundles. He noted a 50 percent to 85 percent reduction on post acute costs by going directly to a house call model, in contrast to home health model.

"We've added some tremendous value to our partners in bundling models by educating and having them not go for the 'easy button' home healthcare to reduce costs and expenses surrounding bundles," said Mr. Fox.

For total joints, Ms. Mundwiller's center has bundled services with implants and anesthesia carved out of the bundle. The bundle includes preoperative first 90 days, surgery and post-operative.

"We were able to work out a very good, lucrative deal for us," said Ms. Mundwiller. "Our COO negotiated with this particular payer for all patients upcoming." She added the payer has stayed true to the initial contract.

To test costs, Ms. Mundwiller said her lead physician visited other centers and spoke with various colleagues about bundled payments, garnering an understanding about what the center would need to be profitable under this model. Ms. Mundwiller then completed a case cost analysis.

She said bundling would catch on at a greater rate if more payers would get on board. "It's just very frustrating to get self-funded groups to really move forward that bundle," she added.

Ms. Green's orthopedic practice decided not to take part in some CMS bundling. Instead, the practice entered a co-management agreement with the hospital who wanted the bundles.

"We are still doing well in a fee-for-service world, although its' going down drastically," said Ms. Green. Still, she expressed excitement about the future because ASCs are starting to interact and develop relationships with employers. Bundled payments present great opportunities in the commercial world, she added.

"The employers are very receptive, however, we're all trying to figure out what the methodology from a claims standpoints. And I think that's the challenge," explained Ms. Green. "Self-funded employers want [claims] to go through the insurance product, so that it hits the stock cost coverage, so that it hits the information that we need from a data standpoint." Payers often don't possess this ability with the typical coding and system structure, she said.

Margins in bundled payments

Many centers will start small, bundling a few procedures with payers to start. This allows centers to avoid taking on a significant amount of risk at first, as they are testing out a few bundles to learn how to effectively manage the bundled costs.

Ms. Green chimed in that at the beginning, "you're not taking the same kind of risks that you do as you learn exactly what your margin can be, and you're willing to take a little bit more risk to do more patients in this model."

On the practice side, she noted they have opted out of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement model because they do not see a positive margin in their market for cost-shared savings. "You do have to be very careful about what kind of risk and what population you're talking about, in the bundle payment," said Ms. Green.

As a rehabilitation group, Mr. Fox said they dive into how post acute care is managed, with a particular focus on the outcomes and patient experience. "That's where we see a pickup where we can deliver to our partners," he said.

Careful selection of patients

Within bundled payments, patient selection is crucial.



Ms. Mundwiller said her center not only considers the patient's health, but the patient's caregiver's ability to help throughout the recovery process. "Do they have buy-in? Are they going to support this patient coming home immediately, post-op?" asked Ms. Mundwiller. Of the small number of total joints they've performed, Ms. Mundwiller's center has seen no readmissions, transfers or infections.

"We really have a good selection process of our patients, and that's the main driving force," Ms. Mundwiller said. "It has to be someone who is highly motivated, someone who wants to get back into the workforce or back into their normal routine."

Mr. Fox agreed, noting more physicians are aware of where their patients are heading post-discharge.

In-house or outsourced services?

Groups that choose to offer physical therapy services in-house may face challenges in new regulations in the increased audit of Medicare Part B and CMS scrutiny, said Dr. Fox. "These orthopedic groups are not going to have the standards and policies in place to be able to regulate their staff the way that they need to," he added.

If vertical integration makes sense economically, it may be wise to put everything under one roof, added Ms. Green. "Can you build that core competency and do it just as well as what you can if you are clinically integrated network with very good partnerships, but it's not internally vertically integrated?"
Evergreen Health Cooperative, a Maryland co-op, filed a lawsuit against the federal government to avoid more than $22 million in fees, according to The Hill.

Here are five points:

1. Evergreen Health is the first co-op to file a lawsuit against the federal government, and claims the Affordable Care Act's risk adjustment program is "dangerously flawed."

2. Unless the risk corridor program undergoes significant changes, Evergreen Health cautions the program may in fact "threaten the viability of the entire Affordable Care Act."

3. The government asked the co-op to may $22 million in fees, which comprises nearly 25 percent of Evergreen Health's 2014 premiums revenue.

4. Evergreen CEO Peter Beilenson said the risk corridor program's formula favors larger, establishing companies, while serving to various state co-ops' detriment.

5. While the ACA created 23 co-ops to promote competition, Maryland remains one of the final 10 contenders. In 2010, federal ACA grants totaling $65 million helped launch Maryland's co-op program.

More articles on coding & billing:

ASCs reduce outpatient procedure costs by $38B per year compared to HOPDs: 5 insights

How Medicare influences commercial payers & key strategies for ASCs to obtain sustainable payer rates

10 takeaways on CMS' updated Medicare managed care rules




Which key strategies elevate an ASC to a level of profitability, and keep it there?

Healthcare professionals offered insights on how to maintain a profitable surgery center in the current healthcare landscape during a panel titled, "Keys to Keeping Surgery Centers a Profitable Business," at Becker's 14th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine.

Naya Kehayes, principal and ambulatory surgery practice leader of Seattle-based Eveia Health, a division of ECG Management Consultants; Larry Taylor, president and CEO of Hoover, Ala.-based Practice Partners in Healthcare; Roe Riggio, vice president of national accounts of Mundelein, Ill.-based Medline Industries; and Jeffrey Peo, chief development officer of Hanover, Mass.-based Ambulatory Surgical Centers of America, spoke on the panel.

Sidestepping 4 common mistakes

Contracts

Look at a potential contract, and then, look at it again. ASCs may fall prey to contracts that are not reasonable for their particular services. "Don't sign a contract just to get the volume in the door, because the surgery doesn't have value without appropriate reimbursement," advised Ms. Kehayes.

If considering adding a new service line, don't commit until thoroughly reviewing your contracts.

Costs

Successful ASCs know every cost, right down to the minute in the operating room.

"Know your costs  if you don't know how much it's costing you to do a procedure, you're missing the boat," said Mr. Riggio.

Vendors

Establish a partnership with a vendor, and ensure the ASC's goals and business objectives align with the vendor's goals. Mr. Riggio suggested meeting with your vendor on a quarterly, semi-annually or annually basis.

"They need to hear what your challenges are and you need to hear what their challenges are," said Mr. Riggio. "Treat your vendors like a partner, but more importantly, challenge them."

Overcommitting

Surgery centers with an overwhelmed staff probably won't succeed. If someone else performs a task better than an ASC team member, hire that person or company  it's worth the cost and will likely result in higher profitability.

"Thinking like a hospital, staying open 40 hours a week and taking in every case; that's a big problem," said Mr. Peo. "You get paid like a surgery center, so you need to think and act like a surgery center."

Recruiting physicians

To maintain a strong patient base, an ASC requires excellent surgeons. Often, an ASC only receives one opportunity to meet a physician, so prepare for these interactions, said Mr. Peo.

"If you're a struggling ASC, talk about value  why adding them, for a very low buy-in, can have a very high return on investment," added Mr. Peo. Utilize your center's physicians, as they can easily pinpoint potential additions.

Mr. Taylor added it's imperative to understand where the surgeon currently works. An ASC will need to spin its pitch based on the surgeon's previous employment, whether that's in a hospital or another surgery center.

"Constantly be recruiting," said Mr. Peo. "Continuously look for ways to keep your center evergreen."

Dealing with payers

Profitable ASCs will set fee schedules, ensuring no money falls to the wayside. Then, a center ensures it's properly reimbursed.

Ms. Kehayes added you never want to be the last one at the table with the payer, because it will impact rates. It's imperative to establish a relationship with payers early on, resulting in better negotiations with them later.

A successful ASC will demonstrate savings to payers especially in a hospital dominated market.

"Partner with the payer and empower them to understand why you are a solution for them," said Ms. Kehayes.

Boosting a struggling ASC

Differentiating a surgery center proves crucial to survival in a competitive market.

"You're going to have to differentiate your care in the future or you're going to be on the sidelines," said Mr. Taylor.

Some centers may find success in new service lines, but Ms. Kehayes cautioned contract rates are critical to determining which cases will enhance an ASC's bottom line. If considering adding new cases, understand the incremental operating costs as well as necessary equipment, capital requirements and additional staff the procedures will require.

"We're all looking for something to add, but just be careful," added Mr. Peo. "It's a dangerous cliff at times if you don't look at it carefully."

If bringing new surgeons into the center to handle new cases, vet them well. Know their OR times, complication rates and personalities.

Additionally, a center's physician investors must understand how their decisions impact the bottom line if an ASC is to maintain profitability  from OR time to requested supplies.

"Patient care is number one, but there's nothing wrong with talking to your surgeons about potential savings," said Mr. Riggio.

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In an effort to challenge "top-down" healthcare reform, Community Health Accountable Care, a Vermont-based accountable care organization, has filed a bid to compete with an ACO owned by the region's two largest hospitals, reports VT Digger.

The bid is related to discussions currently underway between the state and federal government to build a statewide, all-payer healthcare system in Vermont. Under the proposed all-payer model, the state said it would use OneCare as a regulated monopoly to receive monthly payments from Medicaid, Medicare and commercial insurers and then reimburse physicians according to clinical outcomes and quality.

OneCare, a statewide ACO, is jointly owned by University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington and Dartmouth-HitchcockMedicalCenter in Lebanon, N.H.

Community and rural healthcare leaders have criticized the deal as a hospital-centric form of healthcare reform. John Hall, executive director of the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging in Essex Junction, Vt., called the all-payer model proposal "a top-down approach to managing healthcare, as opposed to a vision that we think works, a community-based, community-drive approach" that uses home health workers to reduce spending, according to VT Digger.

Community Health Accountable Care filed a bid to compete for a cost control contract with the state's Medicaid agency on June 12. The only other bid came from OneCare Vermont.

Community Health Accountable Care consists of around 300 largely rural primary care physicians. It is backed by UnitedHealthcare's health services platform Optum.

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Magee, Miss.-based Pioneer Health Services, which owns hospitals in Georgia, North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia, will close its primary care clinic in Oneida, Tenn., on June 24, according to the Independent Herald.

The clinic was opened by Pioneer Community Hospital of Scott last year. PHS, which filed for bankruptcy in April, has notified the State of Tennessee it could close Pioneer Community Hospital of Scott as soon as June 26.

Hospital CEO Tony Taylor previously told the Independent Herald that the hospital will not close as long as it operates in the black. However, sources have told the publication that PHS will close the hospital if it cannot find a buyer for the facility.

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Across industries and across the globe, the average cost of a data breach is now $4 million, up from $3.79 million in 2015, according to the "2016 Cost of a Data Breach Study: Global Analysis" from IBM and Ponemon Institute. The report also found healthcare breaches are among the most costly.

The report gathered information from 383 companies in different countries and industries. Here are six key findings from the report.

1. While the average global cost of a data breach was $158 per lost or stolen record, healthcare organizations reported the highest average cost per lost or stolen record at $355. Education followed with an average cost of $246.

2. Nearly half of breaches studied were caused by hackers and criminal insiders, and these were also the most costly type of breach. The average cost spent to resolve malicious or criminal attacks was $170 per record, while breaches stemming from system glitches cost about $138 per record. For the U.S. specifically, companies paid an average of $236 per record to address a malicious or criminal attack, the highest across countries.

3. Incident response teams were observed to reduce the cost of a data breach resolution by $16 per record. Employee training reduced the cost by $9, board-level involvement reduced the cost by $6 and insurance protection reduced the cost by $5.

4. Elements that increased the cost of data breach resolution include third-party involvement in the breach (increased by $14), rushing to notify ($6), lost or stolen devices ($5) and engaging consultants ($5).

5. What's behind the increasing costs of data breaches? According to the report, the average number of records stolen has increased 3.2 percent, and organizations have experienced greater losses in businesses than expected.

6. The U.S. and Germany have the highest average per capita cost of data breaches, at $221 and $213, respectively. Brazil and India had the lowest average per capita cost of data breaches, at $100 and $61, respectively.

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Nicole Thomas will become the first female at Jacksonville, Fla.-based Baptist Health to hold the title of hospital president.

She will replace Ron Robinson, who is retiring as president of 269-bed Baptist Medical Center South in Jacksonville, Baptist Health's second-largest hospital.

Ms. Thomas joined Baptist Health in 2011 as vice president of operations and specialty services. In 2014, she was promoted to senior vice president of specialty services with oversight of neurosciences, orthopedics and oncology. Most recently, she had primary executive responsibility for Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, a partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, according to a news release. Baptist MD Anderson will open a new facility in 2018.

During her tenure, Baptist Health's neurosciences program saw significant growth including the creation of the Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville; primary stroke center certification at Baptist Health's community hospitals; comprehensive stroke center designation for Baptist Jacksonville; and the launch of the Baptist Neurological Institute, according to a news release. Additionally, she led the program and introduction of robot-assisted partial knee replacement surgery.

Prior to joining Baptist Health, Ms. Thomas was with St. Luke's Episcopal Health System in Houston leading the surgical services line and developing its primary care network, including opening the first St. Luke's Medical Clinic, the news release states.

Ms. Thomas earned a master's degree in healthcare administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a bachelor's degree in public health administration from Dillard University in New Orleans.

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Albert Wright Jr., PharmD, has been named president and CEO of Morgantown-based WVU Medicine-West Virginia University Health System, effective Sept. 1.

Here are five things to know about Dr. Wright.

1. He is currently president and CEO of Morgantown-based WVU Medicine-WVU Hospitals and COO of WVU Medicine-West Virginia University Health System.

2. Prior to joining WVU Medicine in 2014, Dr. Wright served in various positions at Pittsburgh-based UPMC, including vice president for operations at UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside.

3. He also previously held leadership positions at Dublin (Ohio) Methodist Hospital and Select Medical Corp. in Columbus, Ohio.

4. In his new role, he will take over for Christopher C. Colenda, MD, who is retiring. Dr. Colenda served in leadership roles for seven years, beginning as chancellor for WVU Health Sciences and then becoming the head of the WVUHS.

5. Dr. Wright earned his undergraduate degree in pharmacy at the University of Toledo (Ohio), a master's degree in health administration from Ohio State University in Columbus, and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville.

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Roles were reversed this week for many southeast Nebraska teachers as they gathered at Beatrice High School not to teach, but rather to learn at a tech fair.

Teachers from around the area learned Monday from the keynote speaker, Leslie Fisher, who specializes in presenting emerging and exciting technologies for teachers to bring to the classroom. On Tuesday the teachers broke into different sessions to apply what they learned and to see new technologies in action, with the help of interested middle school students.

The tech fair, sponsored by Educational Service Unit 5 (ESU 5) and hosted by BHS, was meant to showcase new technologies that any teacher could integrate into their classroom.

It is for teachers to understand how to use purposeful integration of technology to enhance teaching and learning, said Nick Ziegler, technology integration expert at ESU 5.

Gym teachers, science teachers, teachers of second graders and high schoolers surrounded the room, learning new strategies for educating with technology.

Its a spectrum across ages for teachers with tools that are applicable across content areas and subjects, Ziegler said. They are tools you can use tomorrow."

Teachers from 25 different school districts in southeast Nebraska were present, with over 150 people in attendance for the speaker, Ziegler said.

ESU 5 serves Gage, Jefferson, and Thayer County in southeast Nebraska and looks to improve with new technologies.

I see measureable differences in integration of technology (following the conference), Ziegler said. Theres a need to teach differently because of technology. Teachers need to understand to enhance what they do because of technology.

The keynote speaker, Leslie Fisher, travels over 200 days a year for worldwide company Fisher Technologies Inc., which works to present technology to educators all over the world, Fisher said.

She said the group was very engaged and she was impressed that the teachers were here on their summer break.

Kudos to them, she said.

All the tools I show, every grade level can use," Fisher explained. "Ive had students reach out to thank me for showing their teacher something and Ive become friends with many teachers.

The presentation lasted four hours on Monday, broken into two sessions.

Fisher said she tries to tailor her discussion for older and younger teachers, ones that are new to technology and those that already use technology every day.

The second day of the tech fair saw teachers break into groups for activities such as Promote your school with live streaming and Google tools for special education. The commons area at the high school was used to showcase fun technologies for classrooms. Interested middle school students and teachers tested a variety of digital teaching tools.

The grouping of activities is designed to give kids opportunities to make connections between workforce skills and what they do in school, said Chad Johnson, Nebraska Public Power District education specialist.

The commons area workshop was divided by four themes: 1) Make it New, focusing on innovation and engineering design. 2) Make it Do, showing what a student can make a machine do using logic and coding. 3) Make an Impact, using data to observe with a focus on environmental impact. 4) Make it You, making things unique using branding and marketing.

Its a lot different than normal classes because there are no step-by-step processes, Johnson explained. We encourage kids to spend time figuring out the problems.

Jaclyn Rasmussen, a seventh grader going into eighth grade at Fairbury, participated in several of the exhibits on display, including a 3-D printer, drones, and a sphere-o.

She said her favorite was the sphere-o, a small, spherical device that moved with remote control from a tablet. Users could input instructions to move the ball anywhere in the classroom. Rasmussen said it was cool for Beatrice to put on the fair and would like to see some of the tools at school.
San Francisco-based health benefits broker Zenefits is laying off another 106 employees, or 9 percent of its staff, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Here are five things to know about the layoffs.

1. The layoffs affect 61 people in the company's Arizona sales office, which is being shut down, and 45 others, mostly from the company's operations team.

2. The layoffs mark the latest restructuring by Zenefits, which is reeling from regulatory issues and missed sales targets, according to the report. In February, the company laid off 250 employees, or about 17 percent of its workforce. The cuts were announced shortly after David Sacks replaced Zenefits co-founder Parker Conrad, who stepped down as CEO.

3. Following the newest layoffs, Zenefits will have less than 1,100 employees.

4. Amid the most recent layoff announcement, a Zenefits spokeswoman confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that the company is still being investigated by multiple state insurance regulators because its staff allegedly sold insurance without the proper licenses. She noted that Zenefits has fixed its past licensing issues and that it self-reported these issues to all 50 states.

5. Mr. Sacks told The Wall Street Journal Zenefits is offering voluntary separation packages to other employees who may want to leave the company. He also told the publication the company plans to launch a second version of its product, or "Z2," that he described as a "total redesign of Zenefits," this fall.
The federal antitrust lawsuit filed against Charlotte, N.C.-based Carolinas HealthCare could have sweeping implications for hospitals and patients nationally, reports Charlotte Observer.

The Department of Justice and North Carolina Attorney General filed an antitrust lawsuit against Carolinas HealthCare Thursday, alleging the state's largest hospital system used steering restrictions in contracts with commercial insurers to reduce competition with area hospitals. Illegally limiting healthcare competition enabled Carolinas to drive up patient care costs, according to the complaint.

Carolinas officials maintained the system follows antitrust laws and is dedicated to making healthcare more affordable.

Below are four ways the case could affect hospitals nationally.

1. A win for the DOJ would establish an important legal precedent, Fiona Morton, an economics professor at YaleUniversity's School of Management told Charlotte Observer. All hospitals and health systems with steering provisions in payer contracts would be affected by the decision. Exactly how prevalent such contract restrictions are nationally is unclear, according to the article.

2. Should the court rule in the DOJ's favor, hospitals nationwide might feel compelled to remove anti-steering provisions from their contracts with insurers.

3. The removal of anti-steering provisions could positively impact healthcare consumers by increasing competition between hospitals, which could result in lower healthcare prices.

4. However, large hospital systems may find other ways to restrict competition and control prices if they are forced to remove anti-steering provisions, Barak Richman, a law professor from Duke University, told Charlotte Observer. Many systems across the nation have already acquired enough competing hospitals and physician practices that they're able to leverage their market power to demand higher payments from insurance companies.
Jorge Juvier, a former owner and operator of HIV/AIDS clinics in New York City, has been sentenced to 63 months in prison for his role in a $12 million Medicare fraud scheme, according to the Department of Justice.

According to documents filed in Manhattan federal court, Mr. Juvier and his co-conspirators operated multiple healthcare clinics in New York City that purported to provide injection and infusion treatments for Medicare-eligible HIV/AIDS patients. However, the clinics were "fraud mills" that billed Medicare for medications that were never provided or were provided at highly diluted doses, according to the DOJ.

Mr. Juvier and his co-conspirators recruited patients by paying them kickbacks of up to $300 per week in exchange for coming to the clinics and agreeing to undergo treatments. Although those involved in the fraud scheme often received tens of thousands of dollars in Medicare reimbursements per patient, most patients never received treatments at the clinics or were provided treatments in highly diluted doses.

From 2009 through 2013, Mr. Juvier and his co-conspirators defrauded Medicare of at least $12 million.

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A misdemeanor charge against David Daleiden  the 27-year-old responsible for the videos that attempted to frame Planned Parenthood for illegally selling fetal tissue  was dismissed by a judge in Texas, according to The Hill.

The dropped charge was related to attempts by Mr. Daleiden to buy fetal tissue, according to the report. Last June, he sent an email to Planned Parenthood offering to buy fetal tissue for $1,600 per sample, but the organization never replied to the email.

Mr. Daleiden still faces felony charges, which are being handled by another judge, according to The Hill. He was indicted in January on a felony charge for tampering with a government record, including creating fake California IDs to pose as a biotechnology representative of a fake company called Biomax Procurement Services. Mr. Daleiden and a colleague both posed as reps from Biomax in order to secretly film a meeting with Planned Parenthood officials.

Investigations in multiple states found Planned Parenthood is innocent of any wrongdoing.

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The CEO of Lakewood, Wash.-based Western State Hospital will not have to report to jail Wednesday over her refusal to admit a man to the Lakewood, Wash.-based psychiatric hospital.

Cheryl Strange, who was named CEO of Western State in April, was found in contempt of court Friday for keeping a man with dementia and behavioral disturbances on the wait list for admission after a civil court ordered the man to go to the hospital earlier this year. Ms. Strange was given the option to either admit the patient or report to jail Wednesday.

After the hearing Friday, Ms. Strange said she would report to jail as she didn't intend to admit the patient. However, the Washington Department of Social and Health Services stepped in and asked a judge to issue a stay. The judge granted the state's request, keeping Ms. Strange out of jail at least through June 21, according to The Seattle Times.

The man at the center of the case is one of 73 people waiting to be admitted to Western State. While waiting to be admitted, the man has been held in a general acute care hospital for more than a 30-day stretch in violation of state law, according to Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Craig Adams.

Western State has faced a string of problems this year. In early April, two patients deemed "dangerous" escaped from the facility. One was found the same day and the other was located the next day. In addition to severe staffing shortages, Washington state officials have amped up safety and security measures at the hospital.

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A woman in New Jersey has been charged after allegedly throwing an IV bag at and punching a physician at Christ Hospital in Jersey City, N.J., according to a report from The Jersey Journal.

In the act of throwing the IV bag, Laporsche Ransom also exposed the physician to bodily fluids and possibly bloodborne pathogens, according to the criminal compliant.

Ms. Ransom has been charged with attempting to cause bodily injury to a healthcare worker. Her case will be heard in pre-indictment court, according to The Jersey Journal, and she was released on a summons.

Violence against healthcare workers is a common problem throughout the U.S. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 70 percent of reported workplace assaults between 2011 and 2013 took place in healthcare and social service settings. The American Medical Association recently adopted a policy asking the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to require healthcare employers to establish violence prevention programs.
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A model in one of the fashion company Ted Baker lines

Britain staying in the European Union would be the best decision for Ted Baker, the company's chief has claimed.

Founder and chief executive Ray Kelvin told the Press Association that remaining would provide "certainty, continue free trade and ensure the easy movement of products".

Ted Baker operates one standalone store in Belfast's Victoria Square Shopping Centre, as well as a concession in House of Fraser.

"We're ready for any decision that's made," Mr Kelvin said. "However, it's better for Ted Baker that we stay in."

Mr Kelvin was speaking alongside the retailer's first-quarter trading update, which saw the firm post an 11.3% increase in revenues, shrugging off fears of a high street slowdown.

The luxury clothing firm said retail sales rose 12.7%, while online transactions rocketed 32.3%, as it hailed the strength of its brand in "challenging external trading conditions".

"We've had so many things this year - the economy, terrorism, weather, Brexit, oil prices, you name it," Mr Kelvin said. "But we've come through it by focusing on the product, being well-organised and not having too many shops in one area."

The retailer also extended its international reach over the period, opening stores in Beijing, Ottawa and Seattle, and concessions in France, Germany, Japan and Spain.
The Queen's birthday honours list has awarded Hastings Hotels director John Toner an MBE

A Co Down hotel manager with five decades of experience in the industry was among those in the business world included in the Queen's birthday honours list.

Hastings Hotels director John Toner was awarded an MBE, following his 37 years with the hotel group.

The former Slieve Donard Resort & Spa general manager was given the award for services to hospitality and tourism in Northern Ireland.

Jackie Henry, senior partner of professional services firm Deloitte, was also given an MBE for her services to Northern Ireland's economy.

"I'm really pleased even to have been considered," she said.

"I'm especially delighted that Deloitte's work, and the contribution it has made to the growth of the economy in Northern Ireland, has been recognised.

"I did not expect it, not one bit. I'm thrilled with it."

Other business figures that were recognised in the Queen's birthday honours list included Mark Ennis, the chairman of Invest NI.

Mr Ennis was given a CBE for services to the economy and the community in Northern Ireland.

He was appointed chairman of Invest NI in 2012, and has been chairman of energy firm SSE in Ireland since 2010.

Sharon Polson, also with Invest NI, was given an MBE.

And Peter Lunn of Belfast jewellers Lunn's was also given the honour for services to commerce, charity and sport in Northern Ireland.

Issam Abbas Horshi, managing director of The White Horse Hotel, was given an MBE for his services to tourism.
Today is Global Wind Day, a worldwide event that falls each year on June 15. All around the world, it is marked as a day for discovering wind, its power and the possibilities it holds to reshape our energy systems, decarbonise our economies and boost jobs and growth.

Northern Ireland has been successful in harnessing this opportunity to meet climate change goals. Frequently, wind energy supply exceeds 50% of electricity demand in the market.

Renewable energy depresses the wholesale price of electricity, makes significant contributions to the local economy and supports employment in the region. A recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) report indicated that 2,000 companies were active in the sector in Northern Ireland, sustaining 6,500 full-time jobs and demonstrating that the Assembly's energy policy has to date effectively delivered.

SSE has proudly made its own contribution to this economic opportunity. Today, at Slieve Kirk Wind Park near Derry-Londonderry, we host a Northern Ireland Chamber Minister on the Move event, during which we will welcome the new Minister for Infrastructure, Chris Hazzard, and Chamber members to tour the wind park. We will also showcase the economic contribution that renewable energy has delivered here.

Slieve Kirk, the largest wind farm in Northern Ireland, represents a total investment by SSE of 125m, 55mn of which is directly into the local economy. It provides sufficient power for 65,000 homes and saves 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere.

The wind farm has contributed almost 750,000 so far to more than 100 local projects through the SSE Airtricity Community Fund, alongside 55 scholarships for local students progressing to third-level education.

Our economy is seeking to grow and prosper over the coming years. Greening our energy supply will not only provide an economic boost to Northern Ireland through investment in renewable energy projects, but it will also further incentivise foreign direct investors to choose Northern Ireland as their location of choice, as we have already seen multinationals do in the Republic of Ireland.

Global Wind Day allows us to pause and reflect on the success of our efforts so far here, not just in harnessing wind power for more affordable clean energy, but also in real economic terms through sustaining full time employment.

In reflecting on that success, we can look forward with confidence at the opportunity that a continued commitment to wind power affords the Stormont Executive to achieve the outcome of a thriving low-carbon economy - an outcome which we all desire through the Executive's new Programme for Government.

Mark Ennis CBE is chairman of SSE Ireland
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The United States gained 50 new citizens Tuesday at a citizenship and naturalization ceremony at the Homestead National Monument of America.

Immigrants from all over the world living in southeast Nebraska gathered for the ceremony, which included messages from guest speakers and representatives for U.S. senators and Congress members.

Im very proud of the United States, said new citizen Nayyef Abdo, born in Iraq. I think the U.S. is a great country.

Abdo said hes not proud to be from Iraq and he hopes that his family can move to the U.S. soon.

We heard of the American Dream before coming here, Abdo said. I think if you work hard and respect the law and Constitution and go to a good school, you can have the American Dream.

Everything in the United States is different than in Iraq or other countries, he said.

Everyone is equal here, Abdo said. We dont have any problem with religion or with skin color or anything like that. Other countries have those kind of problems.

June 14 will be a very special day for Abdo each year, he said.

I literally cannot describe my feelings, Abdo said with a smile after the ceremony. It means a lot to me.

Abdo lives in Lincoln, where he owns a business and attends school. He described Lincoln as quiet, safe, with good schools; a place thats easy to find a job and good for families.

I will always, always be ready anywhere, anytime to protect the border of the United States and I will always follow the law, respect the law, respect the Constitution, always try to vote for who I think is going to be the right person to be the president of the United States, Abdo said.

Other new U.S. citizens spoke of freedoms and opportunities afforded to them in their new home.

Im so excited. Im so happy, said Saeideh Samani, who moved from Iran to the U.S. about five years ago. There are lots of opportunities here. When we came here, we started to learn English and then entered UNL. So Im graduated from UNL. I got a masters degree in mechanical engineering.

Samani moved to the U.S. with her husband, who studies computer science at UNL.

Actually, I won in a lottery program to get the green card, Samani said of her move to the U.S.

Samani said women had fewer rights than men in Iran.

There is freedom here, she said. Every person has value, so I like it. There is religious freedom here, too, and I like that. ... I hope I can be a good person in the U.S. and be useful.

When Christian Mukuna and Mary Jane Mundemdo were asked after the ceremony where theyre from, first they said Democratic Republic of the Congo, then they said with a laugh, No, were from Lincoln, Nebraska now. This is our home now.

Mukuna and Mundembo said they did not have freedom in Democratic Republic of the Congo and they are excited to be U.S. citizens, citing religious freedom, a lot of opportunities, freedom and education for their children.

We are happy today to become citizens and we are thankful for our rights. This will be a day I cant forget, Mundembo said.

Martin Centurion moved from his home country of Paraguay to the United States in 1996 to study physics. Now, he lives in Lincoln with his wife and two children and has a job as a professor of physics.

The United States is very welcoming of immigrants, Centurion said, adding that hes most excited to not worry about being kicked out now that he is a citizen.

Centurion said the ceremony was very nice and more than he expected.

I thought it would be a small room and wed sign some papers, Centurion said. He described the process up until the ceremony as involving a lot of paperwork.

The sunny ceremony lasted about an hour in the courtyard of the Homestead Education Center. American Legion Post 27 posted colors in opening, followed by an instrumental performance of The Star-Spangled Banner" by the United States Army Field Band Brass Quintet.

As the ceremony was held on Flag Day, speakers made several connections to the history and symbols of the American flag.

As our newest citizens, what will you write upon our flag? asked keynote speaker Magistrate Judge Cheryl R. Zwart. For now, you have the opportunity and freedom to do so.

Zwart went on to say the citizens have the opportunity to vote, make a difference, take control and take ownership in the outcome of their lives, their community and this nation.

This is your home now, Zwart said. Like those who claimed a stake in this land under the Homestead Act, you stake a claim in our country to settle here, to live here and to have a home here. And you dont have to worry that well ever kick you out. You have the freedom to stay here, permanently, and belong."

Guest speaker Jennifer Shirk of Woodmen of the World named three responsibilities the new citizens have: uphold the dignity of the American flag, demonstrate citizenship  specifically in voting  and approach the American Dream. Shirk read the poem, I am Your Flag.

Guest speaker Ramon Mangual, a park ranger at the Homestead, said the venue is a fitting one, expanding on the Homestead Act of 1862 as an invitation to immigrants to become citizens of the U.S. and as the humble beginning of the American Dream.

Letters from U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse and U.S. Representatives Adrian Smith and Jeff Fortenberry were also read.

The ceremony ended with each new citizen posing for a photograph with Zwart, certificate in hand and the American flag behind them. The new citizens also had the opportunity to register to vote on-site.
Staying in the EU will lead to an extra one million jobs, Labour deputy leader Tom Watson is insisting.

Remaining linked to the EU's digital, energy, and tourism markets could see the surge in employment by 2030, Mr Watson is saying.

"Labour is clear that the UK's membership of the EU is good for jobs and good for British workers.

"We are united in campaigning for Britain to remain in Europe. That's because Labour values are at the heart of this campaign.

"We believe in standing up for working people whose jobs and communities depend on trade with Europe. We believe in standing up for the rights of everyone to be treated fairly at work - and for the rights at work that are guaranteed by our membership of the European Union.

"And we believe in the positive role our membership of the EU can play in the future - the more than a million new jobs our economy has the potential to generate if we remain in the European Union, helping to provide opportunities for the next generation," Mr Watson is saying.
Discount chain Poundland is in the takeover sights of South African retailer Steinhoff after the group confirmed it was eyeing a bid and said it had snapped up a 23% stake in the business.

Shares in Poundland surged as much as 7% at one point following the bid interest from Steinhoff, which revealed late on Wednesday that it had bought 61.2 million ordinary shares in the budget retailer.

It also confirmed that its offer for Poundland would be made in cash.

The move marks the latest takeover attempt by Steinhoff, after it lost out in a battle with Sainsbury's to buy Argos owner Home Retail Group in March.

Steinhoff - which owns UK furniture firm Harveys - has until 5pm on July 13 to make a firm bid for Poundland or walk away under City takeover rules.

Poundland said shareholders are "strongly advised to take no action".

Speculation over a potential bid for Poundland had been mounting ahead of the Steinhoff announcement after a stake of around 15% of the group was sold at a 24% premium to the stock price on Tuesday.

While the buyer was not confirmed, the move duly sent shares surging 24% higher.

It comes before Poundland's results on Thursday, when outgoing boss Jim McCarthy will unveil his final set of full-year figures.

The chain has had a testing year following sales falls and a difficult takeover of rival 99p Stores.

The group is expected to report an 11% drop in underlying pre-tax profits to 38.7 million for the year to March 27 after seeing sales decline pick up pace in the final six months.

Like-for-like sales decreased by 3.9% over the full year, but the fall was steeper in the second half, at 4.9%.

A potential bid from Steinhoff gives new Poundland boss Kevin O'Byrne an eventful start to his tenure at the top.

The former B&Q UK and Ireland boss takes over from Mr McCarthy on July 1, having joined as chief executive designate in April.

But Mr McCarthy will remain with the group until his retirement at the firm's annual shareholder meeting in September.

Steinhoff appears determined to expand further across Europe, having tried and failed to gatecrash two deals in recent months.

As well as seeking to muscle in on the Sainsbury's deal for Home Retail, it also barged in on French retailer Fnac's takeover of London-listed white goods retailer Darty, although it was ultimately out-bid.

Steinhoff is backed by South African retail billionaire Christo Wiese, whose Brait investment group also owns controlling stakes in Virgin Active, New Look and food chain Iceland.

Steinhoff also owns Bensons for Beds in the UK and Conforama in France, as well as a number of retailers across Europe, Australasia and Africa.

Its interest in Poundland comes after the set-price retailer's shares had fallen by a third in a year following tough trading.

Poundland warned over profits in January after Christmas trading was hit by poor numbers of shoppers on the high street, and trading has remained under pressure since then.

The group's transformational 55 million takeover of 99p Stores has also proved to be far from smooth.

It finally received the all-clear for the deal from the competition watchdog last September, but Mr McCarthy has since admitted that 99p Stores was ''in a mess'' when it was handed over.
Actor Brian Cox is taking the lead role in a film about former prime minister Winston Churchill

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop has hailed Scotland as an attractive place to shoot large-scale productions after she visited the set of a new film about Winston Churchill.

The movie, which charts the tension between the war0time prime minister and allied leaders during the five days before the June 1944 D-Day landings, is being shot at locations across Scotland.

Starring Brian Cox in the leading role, it is set to hit the screens in January next year.

Ms Hyslop will make a keynote speech to the Scottish Screen Summit today, in which she will say ministers are committed to supporting Scotland's screen sector.

It comes after she met the Churchill production team and watched filming at the set.

Ms Hyslop said: "Scotland is widely recognised as a location for international film and TV productions.

"The talent of the Churchill cast and crew highlights why Scotland is an attractive place to shoot large-scale productions.

"During my visit, I met three young Scottish crew members, including a trainee grip, costume trainee and a floor runner, to hear about their experiences working in the screen sector of Scotland.

"It's vital that we continue to work together collectively to encourage fresh talent into the TV and film industry."

The Salon Pictures production, directed by Jonathan Teplitzky, has received 250,000 from a 1.75 million fund administered by Creative Scotland and aimed at encouraging international productions to come to Scotland.

Producer Piers Tempest said: "We've been filming across 11 Scottish locations since May 23 and each one has proved unique.

"Scotland is a highly-attractive location for film makers with stunning backdrops."
Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and Robert Plant have arrived at court to face claims they copied a guitar riff on Stairway To Heaven.

The British musicians are accused of plagiarising the instrumental track Taurus by the US band Spirit when they wrote the classic rock song, which was released in 1971.

A lawsuit has been filed by Michael Skidmore, the trustee of Spirit's guitarist Randy Wolfe - known by the nickname Randy California - who died in 1997 having never taken legal action over the song.

A jury will rule on the case at the US District Court in Los Angeles, where Plant, Page and their bandmate John Paul Jones are expected to give evidence.

Led Zeppelin were the opening act for Spirit when the British band made their US debut in December 1968 in Denver, according to documents filed with the court.

Led Zeppelin's lawyers have argued that both Stairway To Heaven and Taurus use notes and combinations that have been circulating in music for centuries.

The lawsuit comes after a US federal jury found last year that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams had copied a Marvin Gaye song to create their 2013 hit Blurred Lines and awarded Gaye's children 7.4 million US dollars (5.2 million).

A judge trimmed the award in that case and the verdict is under appeal.

The jury was sworn in as district court judge Gary Klausner warned the panel not to read news reports about the case or do their own research online.

"The plaintiff asserts infringement of copyright of a musical composition known as Taurus," the judge said.

"The defendants deny these claims.

"You must decide this case solely on the evidence received during this trial.

"You must not be exposed to any other information about the case."
The mainstream Brexit debate is "one arm of big business arguing with another arm of big business," the pro-Leave trade unionist Carmel Gates has claimed.

Ms Gates, the leader of public service union Nipsa, spoke at a left-wing EU debate at Queen's University Student Union last night.

She told a packed room that her union - which has voted in favour of leaving - had taken "a lot of flak" for its stance.

Umbrella trade union the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) had already indicated it was pro-Remain when Nipsa took its vote last month. Nationally, the TUC had said it is pro-Remain.

She said: "TUC leader Frances O'Grady has joined other great socialists like Mark Carney of Bank of England in their leaflet to say we are better off in, but ICTU took a position on Brexit before their conference and before they even asked their affiliates or even had a proper opportunity to discuss it.

"We abstained and at our full conference we decided we wished to leave."

She dismissed Remain arguments from other trade unions as "very limited and spurious, and economical with the truth". Ms Gates said it joined railway workers union the RMT in advocating a Leave vote to protect public services. "The EU embraces privatisation, and we stand with the RMT in the fight to protect services."

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"Workers rights have been won by trade unions, and the EU is trying to take everything back from us. French laws are taking away workers rights and Greek workers have been faced with wage austerity," she said.

She added that in the EU, "labour is cheap and can be moved around Europe at the whim of capitalism".

She said Brexit would not be a panacea.

Phil Kelly, a member of the executive of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, said the debate was to decide whether those "who oppose war, poverty and environmental destruction" were better off in the EU.

He said the vote excluded "co-workers, neighbours and comrades from the EU" as non-UK citizens are not able to vote, and he was under no delusion over what the EU stood for.

Pro-Remain Green Party councillor Ross Brown said: "The Council of Ministers is made up of directly-elected politicians. It happens now that they are mainly centre-right but what we must do is elect progressive parties.

"Just because we now have a right wing Conservative government doesn't mean we must now abolish the House of Commons."

Paul Murphy, a socialist TD in the Republic's Dail and former MEP, summed up the EU as "an EU of millionaires, of war, of poverty and racism".
Prime Minister David Cameron has warned of checks along the Northern Ireland border with the Republic and even the possibility people travelling from Belfast to other parts of the UK will have to provide paperwork in the event of a Brexit in the EU referendum.

Mr Cameron was responding to a question from former SDLP leader, the MP Alasdair McDonnell.

Dr McDonnell raised fears that there could be a return to hard borders and passport checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

He said: "The Brexit campaigners have made securing our borders their resounding war cry, but when it comes to the only land border between the UK and the rest of the EU were dismissed and told that nothing will change there.

"A return to custom posts, passport checks and a hard border will be a critical economic issue for Northern Irelands voters in eight days time.

"So can the Prime Minister now, once and for all, clarify this issue and say what will become of the border if the UK votes to leave the European Union?

More:

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David Cameron responded: If we vote to stay in we know what the situation is.

"We know that the Common Travel Area works, we know it can continue and everyone can have confidence in that.

"If we were to Leave, and, as the Leave campaigners want, make a big issue about our borders, then youve got a land border with Britain outside the European Union and the Republic of Ireland inside the EU.

"Therefore you can only either have new border controls between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, or, which I would regret hugely, you would have to have some sort of checks on people as they left Belfast or other parts of Northern Ireland to come to the rest of UK.

"Now we can avoid these risks, there are so many risks here, risks to our childrens job, risks to our borders, risks to the unity of the United Kingdom  I say avoid the risks and vote Remain next Thursday.
Pro-choice campaigners are planning to fly abortion pills into Northern Ireland using a drone.

The unusual move, scheduled for next Tuesday, has been described as an act of solidarity between women on both sides of the Irish border to highlight the strict laws on terminations that exist in both countries.

Rita Harrold from Rosa which is helping to co-ordinate the "abortion drone" said: "The action is an act of solidarity from women in the south where abortion is criminalised and women in the north where abortion is also criminalised and unfortunately there have recently been a number of prosecutions.

"We will be sending the drone over the border and bringing the pills into Northern Ireland to show women that they are still available and they are still safe."

The flight will start at Omeath in Co Louth and land close to Narrow Water in Co Down.

A number of women, who are not pregnant, are expected to swallow the tablets - mifepristone and misoprostol - which can be taken up to nine weeks into a pregnancy and have been approved for use by the World Health Organisation since 2005.

"Obviously there have been prosecutions and the threat looms large but the women who will be taking the pills won't be pregnant at the time," she added.

"This is an act of protest against the Eighth Amendment in the south and the lack of abortion rights in the north."

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A number of pro-choice groups, Alliance For Choice; Rosa; Labour Alternative and Women On Waves which staged a similar flight from Germany into Poland, have collaborated on the issue.

The groups say legislation permits the drone to fly abortion pills lawfully from jurisdiction to the other.

They said in a statement: "The 'abortion drone' will mark the different reality for Irish women to access safe abortion services compared to women in other European countries where abortion is legal."

The maximum penalty for the crime of administering a drug to induce miscarriage under the relevant law in Northern Ireland, namely the Offences Against The Person Act 1861, is life imprisonment.

In the Irish Republic, the offence of procuring an abortion carries a potential 14-year jail term.

Pro-life campaigners have vowed to do all in their power to stop the drone.

Bernadette Smyth from the Belfast-based group Precious Life said: "I am currently seeking legal advice and may very well be in contact with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to ensure that these pills will be confiscated and to ensure that they are not used to destroy the lives of unborn children.

"These people are hell-bent on destroying lives but we will be doing everything in our power, legally, to protect lives."

Pro-choice campaigners also plan to take their protest to the gates of Belfast High Court where an appeal against a ruling which found Northern Ireland's abortion laws breached human rights legislation, is to be heard on Tuesday.
Caterpillar Northern Ireland is likely to face enforcement action after thousands of litres of red diesel poured into the sea from its plant in Larne.

The company and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) have come under fire for a delay in notifying people about the spill, which threatens Larne Lough and The Gobbins.

The storm drain leak was discovered by Caterpillar on Saturday morning.

While environmental authorities said they believed the impact on the sea and marine life would be limited and the clean-up operation has been restricted to the immediate area of the spill and nearby beaches, wildlife groups warned that the slick could have a massive effect.

The diesel has drifted close to a number of wildlife hotspots, including The Gobbins, which is a key breeding site for puffins, and Larne Lough, where Northern Ireland's only pair of roseate terns nest.

Green Party leader Steven Agnew said he was concerned at the apparent lack of communication after an estimated 40,000 litres of red diesel poured into the sea off the Antrim coast. "The diesel continues to drift towards Muck Island and the Gobbins, which are protected areas with large numbers of seabirds currently sustaining hungry chicks with potentially contaminated food," he added.

"I am seeking answers from the minister as to what measures were taken to prevent people from entering the water, whether the NIEA is aware of the impact of the diesel spill on health, what clean-up measures are being taken and whether the costs will be covered by Caterpillar Northern Ireland.

Both the NIEA and Caterpillar are currently carrying out investigations into the cause of the diesel spill.

Staff from the Food Standards Agency have taken samples that will be compared to tests taken before the accident.

It is understood that Caterpillar is likely to face enforcement action and cost recovery down the line because the red diesel should have been contained on site by fall-back mechanisms such as oil bunds (round tanks). These apparently failed.

A major clean-up operation was launched after the spill, along with smaller clean-ups on local beaches.

It is understood that the NIEA is confident that the diesel will evaporate and be quickly dispersed by ocean waves and currents, limiting the long-term impact on wildlife.

However, the RSPB warned that the red diesel could have a massive impact on wildlife. The organisation has brought forward a planned monitoring trip of animals living around Larne Lough.

Caterpillar NI said it has employed the services of an accredited environmental contractor to assist with the clean-up.

"This contractor has worked diligently along the coast since the incident to help reduce any impact and continues to do so," a spokesman for the company added. "We also continue to work closely with the NIEA. We meet or exceed the statutory requirements for bunding.

"The safety of our employees and members of our community and minimising the environmental impact continues to be our main priority.

"Caterpillar Northern Ireland deeply regrets that the incident occurred and is carrying out an investigation to fully understand how this happened and to make any changes necessary to prevent further incidents."
The handling of plans to cut special school nursery hours has prompted an apology from the Education Authority

The Education Authority (EA) has apologised for its handling of controversial plans to cut special school nursery hours.

EA chairwoman Sharon O'Connor told MLAs on Stormont's Education Scrutiny Committee that she was sorry for any distress they may have caused.

She said: "If parents are upset I am more than happy to apologise to them."

The EA proposal to slash pre-school provision from 22 to 12 hours a week from September was heavily criticised by parents, school principals and governors.

Former education minister John O'Dowd ordered a review and last week a series of interim measures including a six-month review were announced and the authority said it would not be cutting hours until at least September 2017.

Ms O'Connor said lessons would be learned.

"I would not defend the level of engagement," she added. "But we are in a difficult set of circumstances. We are trying to build as we go and we will certainly learn from this on how we engage with parents and the population in general."

There was also an apology from the EA interim chief executive after incorrect information was given to the committee in March which stated no school principals had made contact to express concern about the cuts between October 2015 and the hearing date.

Gavin Boyd said: "That submission was incorrect.

"I had received that report in reference to the concerns to the worries of parents, governors and school principals.

"For that I have unreservedly apologised to the committee. It was never our intention to mislead the committee."

During a lengthy session, Ms O'Connor, Mr Boyd and Dr Clare Mangan, EA regional managing director, were grilled by politicians who said they had been lobbied by anxious parents and school staff.

In a briefing, Dr Mangan outlined a 20% increase in demand for special needs nursery places when compared to 2015 but in sisted the plan to cut hours was not about funding.

"This is a significant and unprecedented increase in the number of children identified in the early years as needing special educational needs.

"This is not about resources. This is about meeting the needs of the children," she said.

While he welcomed the apology, East Belfast Alliance Party MLA Chris Lyttle was among the most vocal in his criticism.

He said: "The approach has been unacceptable. It has been inconsistent, it has been contradictory, evidentially disputed and there has been wholly inadequate communication and engagement.

"I welcome the fact that has been implicitly and explicitly acknowledged by way of an apology and an engagement process that has been put in place that was in no way part of the previous process that was scheduled to complete in this month."

DUP MLA Carla Lockhart also outlined concerns.

"The communication has been terrible," she said. "I think that is a real indictment of the authority.

"Parents are upset. Parents are very upset and we, as a committee are upset for them.

"I think there has to be a degree of humility in saying that there has been a catalogue of errors."

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein committee chairman Barry McElduff claimed the public and political representatives were "not impressed" with the authority, adding that the contentious issue had not yet been fully resolved.
Evidence linking politicians in Northern Ireland to a massive property deal allegedly involving multimillion-pound fixer fees could emerge in the coming weeks, the Irish parliament was told yesterday.

Micheal Martin, leader of the chief opposition party Fianna Fail, said the Dublin government's position on the 1.2bn sale of a Northern Ireland property loan portfolio by a State agency in the Republic was becoming more and more untenable by the day.

The deal two years ago by the National Assets Management Agency (Nama) with US investment giant Cerberus has been dogged by controversy since 7m allegedly linked to it was found in an Isle of Man bank account.

Separate investigations have been launched by the UK's National Crime Agency, the US Department of Justice's Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as a parliamentary inquiry in Stormont.

But Taoiseach Enda Kenny has repeatedly rejected calls for an Irish State inquiry into the so-called Project Eagle sale.

Mr Martin said the "nothing to see here" attitude in Dublin was incredible.

"As revelations emerge, and as the levels of the investigations get deeper, the Government's position in relation to the sale of Project Eagle by Nama is, in my view, more untenable by the day," he added.

Mr Martin also claimed there were huge ethical questions over the sale of the portfolio.

"The deal is tainted - of that there can be no question," he told the Irish Parliament, the Dail.

"There seems to be a sense of a connection, of a nexus, between politics and all of this in the North as well. That may emerge in the coming weeks."

But Mr Kenny denied the Irish government was being defensive about the deal and called for evidence to be presented that a fair process was not followed.

"I'm informed that this loan sale was executed in a proper manner," he said. "Despite all the comments and allegations, there are no claims of wrongdoing against Nama.

"That loan portfolio was sold after an open process to the highest bidder for what it was worth.

"Nama paid no monies to any party against whom allegations of wrongdoing are being made."

Two men who were arrested last month in Co Down as part of the National Crime Agency investigation were subsequently released on bail.

Nama is the so-called "bad bank" set up in Ireland at the height of the financial crisis to take property linked loans off the books of bailed-out banks.

It sold 800 property loans to Cerberus, a multibillion fund that boasts former US vice president Dan Quayle among its associates.

The 7m was paid into an account controlled by a former managing partner of Belfast-based law firm Tughans who resigned after it was unearthed.

Tughans, which was involved in the Nama transaction as subcontractor for Cerberus's US lawyers Brown Rudnick, insisted it was not aware of the transfer.

All parties involved in the 1.2bn transaction in 2014 have denied wrongdoing.
After the shooting in Orlando on June 12, 2016, there will no doubt be a rush to solutions which range from more gun control to more tolerance for LGBT rights, including political twist to take advantage in the present election process.

First, I freely admit I have no armchair chair solution to the problem. I have opinions, but some may remember the old saying about opinions being like "????????",everyone has one. In the absence of anything other than an uninformed opinion, most think people will look to the experts for an answer or at least an informed opinion.

Normally, I would look to our political leadership to assemble knowledgeable people to address the issue, but I have lost all confidence in our current crop of political leaders on either side of the political spectrum to identify the problem much less provide a reasoned path forward.

Anger and shock are not the time to make snap judgements on actions and new laws that may be required to calm the angst of the population. I have for many years been concerned about the absolute ideology of any movement. If you think back over our recent history you will find that ideology is the root of many of our abhorrent disasters.

Radical Christians felt that they had the right to kill doctors and bomb clinics that provide abortions.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Rudolph)

Radical anarchist felt that they had the right to blow up a government building in Oklahoma. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_McVeigh)

Radical White supremacist ideology sparked a massacre in Ruby Ridge when the federal government overreacted to this aberrant ideology by laying siege on the home of Randy Weaver. (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/incident-at-ruby-ridge)

Radical Progressive ideology has been played out on our college campuses when students and professors called for more muscle to prevent a news reporter from covering their event in Missouri. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/01/25/i-need-some-muscle-over-here-missouri-prof-melissa-click-charged-with-assault/)

Radical Left Wing ideology founded the Weather Underground because they felt that peaceful means were not sufficient to convert non-believers to followers their beliefs. (http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/weatherunderground/movement.html)

Radical Right Wing Ideology formed the Ku Klux Klan to maintain a system of racial supremacists that felt it was appropriate to lynch black people just for being black. (http://www.history.com/topics/ku-klux-klan)

None of the above had anything to do with the Islam religion but were the result of an Ideology that the adherents believed justified their actions. The point I am belaboring here is that the problem is not the bombs, guns, or extra muscle that caused the problem. It is the extrapolation that one's ideology gives them license to kill, attack, eject or maim anyone who disagrees with their ideology.

This has been the human condition since humans were first place on this earth. The second generation of humans resorted to the use of force over differing ideologies. (Genesis 4:116)

Some would ask what this world is coming to when they look at the current frequency of ideology-based attacks on our civilization. This is not a recent phenomenon. Ask any World War II sailor who served in the pacific fleet at the end of the war. An ideology run amuck resulted in the "Divine Wind" attacks by Japanese pilots on US Naval ships in the Kamikaze attacks. (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-kamikaze-attack-of-the-war-begins)

You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.

Before we descend into a debate once again about gun control, perhaps we should look to a more deeper analysis of our current war. Arguing over the weapon of choice in terrorist attacks is just a deflection of the core problem which is based on ideology. If you do not believe we are engaged in a war, I offer the quote often erroneously attributed to Leon Trotsky

Fortunately, we have multiple sources of serious and well-reasoned analysis of the current fight with ISIS. I offer one such source for those who have the patience and concern to delve deeper into the dilemma of how we deal with ISIS. Based on the recent North Carolina primary election returns, I suspect that only seven percent (7%) have gotten this far in this article and fewer still will click on any links included here. And that perhaps is where our problem lies. Will it take another Pearl Harbor or World Trade Center event to galvanize our attention away from our "not my backyard" mentality? Secondly, do we as a country have the determination to solve the problem or will we forget as we always do in a few weeks until the next event. I have tried to stay away from the flame words of either the left or right political perspective, but my prejudices are apparent to those who may disagree with my political leanings. However, maybe just once we could focus on the problem instead of the weapon used.

"What I have been trying to convince this city of for many years now is that we have not even begun to engage in the information operations battlefield. We do almost everything at the tactical level and have allowed political correctness to infect the way we do Information Operations and Psychological Warfare. America is preeminent at the application of kinetic force. The U.S. Abbottabad raid will be taught from the Beijing Military Academy to Sandhurst for the next hundred years as how you do a kinetic application of lead-on target. But tactical perfection does not automatically add up to victory. Tactical victories do not necessarily bring strategic success. We must delegitimize the ideology of the enemy or this will be exercise in whack-a-mole. Your children, my grandchildren, will be hunting jihadists a hundred years from now unless we take down their ideology of Global Jihadism."

Here is one alternative from Sebastian Gorka.( The Gorka Briefing Testimony to House Armed Services Committees Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, 8 Jan 2016.
PSNI has arrested a man in Belfast who has been at large since 2000

The PSNI has arrested a man that police in Lancashire have been seeking for 16 years.

The 41-year-old man was arrested by the PSNI in Belfast on suspicion of a number of serious offences, including burglary with intent to inflict, GBH, possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear and threats to kill.

Sergeant Downey, PSNI Extradition & International Liaison said the man has been at large since 2000.

"This individual had been wanted by Lancashire Police since 2000 and we have assisted them in effecting the European Arrest Warrant process as he has been resident in the Republic of Ireland," he said.

"Working with our partners and following a planned operation last Tuesday (June 7) the male was arrested in Belfast city centre and returned to the custody of Lancashire Police the following day."
The map will feature stone from all 32 counties of Ireland

Stone masons prepare the giant monument base which is part of a map of Ireland carved from stone native to each of the 32 counties

A Stone Mason prepares the giant monument base for the worlds first stone map of Ireland at the Tr Chonaill Stone Festival

Stone Masons from across Ireland working on the Stone Map of Ireland for the Tr Chonaill Stone Festival in Glencolmcille Co Donegal

Stone Masons prepare the giant monument base for the worlds first stone map of Ireland at the Tr Chonaill Stone Festival

A map of Ireland carved from stone native to each of the 32 counties will be unveiled this weekend.

The 15 foot vertical construct has been a year in the making, with stonemasons from across Ireland each asked to sculpt a decorative map of their own county.

The 32 individual pieces are being fitted together like a jigsaw to form a new monument at Glencolmcille in Co Donegal.

Called Stones Of Ireland, it is being unveiled at the annual Tir Chonaill Stone Festival in the area on Saturday.

Each stone mason was asked to carve their native county using natural stone of that region.

Louise Price, chairwoman of the Tir Chonaill Stone Festival, said: "We are overwhelmed by goodwill. It basically involved getting 32 native Irish stones from quarries across Ireland and then getting 32 volunteer stonemasons from their representative county to apply their expertise in carving.

"The logistics of this project was difficult but the whole thing is driven by camaraderie and a love of what we do."

Embellished with artwork, the various county stones depict myths, legend & emblems symbolic to each county.

All work has been carried out on a voluntary basis helped by donations of stone from quarries all over the island.

Stonemason Patsy McInaw, who is president of the festival, said: "The monument celebrates who we are as Irish people and celebrates this ancient art. It reflects a people united in their work not for private gain but for the greater good. I would like to thank our supporters and all the quarries across Ireland for their kind donations of native stone."
Police at the scene of a Security Alert in the Etna Drive of north Belfast following the discovery of a suspect object Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

Police and search dogs at the scene of a security alert on Etna Drive in north Belfast following the discovery of a suspect object , Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

Police and search dogs at the scene of a security alert on Etna Drive in north Belfast following the discovery of a suspect object , Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

Police and search dogs at the scene of a security alert on Etna Drive in north Belfast following the discovery of a suspect object , Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

Police and search dogs at the scene of a security alert on Etna Drive in north Belfast following the discovery of a suspect object , Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

Police and search dogs at the scene of a security alert on Etna Drive in north Belfast following the discovery of a suspect object , Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

Police at the scene of a Security Alert in the Etna Drive of north Belfast following the discovery of a suspect object Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

Police at the scene of a Security Alert in the Etna Drive of north Belfast following the discovery of a suspect object Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

The find at a property on Etna Drive - just off Brompton Park - sparked a security operation on Wednesday afternoon during which residents were evacuated from their home for around six hours.

On Wednesday evening the PSNI revealed that a bag of pipe bombs had been found - and have been made safe.

Detective Inspector Mark McHaffie said a number of controlled explosions were carried out.

"Police were called to the area at around 2pm after a bag containing what appeared to be a number of pipe bombs was discovered," he said.

"The items were examined by police and ATO and a number of controlled explosions were carried out.

"ATO has determined that the bag did indeed contain the component parts for a number of pipe bombs and these have now been removed for examination."

He has issued an appeal for information about the incident.

Detectives at Musgrave Reactive and Organised Crime are investigating and are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to contact them. Please call 101, quoting reference 588 15/06/16.

The Ardoyne area has been battling dissident republican violence in recent months, and local priest Father Gary Donegan has received threats.

Etna St in N Belfast closed due to discovery of suspicious object at house in the area. Homes being evacuated and diversions in place.  PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) June 15, 2016

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In April Fr Donegan criticised paramilitaries at a rally for murdered north Belfast taxi driver Michael McGibbon, the 33-year-old father-of-four who bled to death after he was shot in the legs by dissidents.
The transport system bringing fans to the stadium for Northern Ireland's game could be overloaded, the president of Lyon's French-Irish Association warned.

Thousands will take to trams, Metro and buses on Thursday afternoon bound for the Stade de Lyon in France for the crucial Ukraine clash. Eoin Campbell urged them to leave lots of time for their journey.

Special arrangements are due to be introduced in one of the country's largest cities three and a half hours before kick off, with shuttle buses to the stadium.

Mr Campbell said: "They are here for the match, they want to see the match, it would just be a real pity if people were heading out and they missed the start of the match - they would be gutted.

"I reckon it is a bit overloaded and that could be a problem.

"I would advise people to get moving."

He said there was an alcohol ban around the stadium, part of a suite of emergency measures taken by the French government to ensure safety.

"Allow plenty of time for the journey."

Mr Campbell, from Warrenpoint in Co Down, said the European Rugby Champions Cup final was held in Lyon last month and getting out of town seemed to be an overload on the system. There were huge delays where fans transferred from the Metro onto shuttle buses to the ground.

The Green and White Army has already suffered severe travel disruption, by train across Provence from the opening fixture in Nice and by air from Northern Ireland after French transport workers took industrial action over Government reforms.

A spokeswoman for Lyon transport company TCL said: "We transported 38,000 people Monday for the match between Belgium and Italy.

"Everything went well.

"For Thursday's game, the service by shuttle (bus and tram) is set up from 14:30. The fans should anticipate their path and not go to the stadium at the last moment.

"For the return, shuttles run until 21:30, we advise fans not to rush."
Derriaghy hall which was the target of the latest attack on Orange property

The defaced portrait of Her Majesty The Queen and graffiti placed on Derriaghy Orange Hall near Lisburn

An Orange Hall on the outskirts of Lisburn, Co Antrim has been attacked by vandals.

Graffiti was daubed on the exterior of Derriaghy Orange hall and a portrait of the Queen, located at the front of the building, was also defaced.

It is understood the incident took place at the weekend, with nearby business premises also targeted.

The Derriaghy incident is the ninth reported attack on Orange property so far this year in Northern Ireland, and the third within the last three weeks following separate incidents in Wattlebridge, Fermanagh, and nearby Glenavy.

An Orange Order spokesman condemned those responsible for the Derriaghy attack.

"Those who engage in such premeditated wanton vandalism should be ashamed of their actions," he said.

It is no coincidence such criminality should occur on the weekend of the Queens official 90th birthday celebrations. Such deliberate contempt for our monarch is contemptible and outrageous, and will quite rightly be condemned by the vast majority of the local community.

The intolerant and ignorant delinquents behind this attack have nothing to offer our society going forward.

The Institution has appealed for anyone with any information in relation to the Derriaghy attack to contact the police as a matter of urgency.
Evidence linking politicians in Northern Ireland to a massive property deal allegedly involving multi-million pound fixer fees could emerge in the coming weeks, the Irish parliament has heard.

Micheal Martin, leader of the chief Opposition party Fianna Fail, said the Dublin government's position on the 1.2 billion sale of a Northern Ireland property loan portfolio by a State agency in the Republic was becoming more untenable by the day.

The deal two years ago by the National Assets Management Agency (Nama) with US investment giant Cerberus has been dogged by controversy after 7 million linked to it was found in an Isle of Man bank account.

Investigations have been launched by the UK's National Crime Agency, the US Department of Justice's Securities and Exchange Commission as well as a parliamentary inquiry in Belfast.

But Taoiseach Enda Kenny has repeatedly rejected calls for an Irish state inquiry into the so-called Project Eagle sale.

Mr Martin said the "nothing to see here" attitude in Dublin was incredible.

"As revelations emerge, and as the levels of the investigations get deeper, the Government's position in relation to the sale of Project Eagle by Nama is, in my view, more untenable by the day," he said.

"The sense that there is nothing to investigate down here or there is no necessity for the Government of the Irish Republic to be overly concerned about this particular deal - I don't think that is credible."

Mr Martin said there are huge ethical questions over the entire sale of the portfolio, which he claims resulted in substantial losses to the Irish taxpayer.

"The deal is tainted - of that there can be no question," he told the Irish Parliament, the Dail.

He added: "There seems to be a sense of a connection, of a nexus, between politics and all of this in the North as well.

"That may emerge in the coming weeks."

But Mr Kenny denied the Irish Government was being defensive about the deal and called for evidence that a fair process was not followed.

"I'm informed that this loan sale was executed in a proper manner," he said.

"Despite all the comments and allegations there are no claims of wrongdoing against Nama.

"That loan portfolio was sold after an open process to the highest bidder for what it was worth.

"Nama paid no monies to any party against whom allegations of wrongdoing are being made."

Two men were arrested last month in Co Down as part of the National Crime Agency inquiry and subsequently released on bail.

Nama is the so-called "bad bank" set up in Ireland at the height of the financial crisis to take property linked loans off the books of bailed-out banks.

It sold 800 property loans to Cerberus, a multi billion fund which boasts former US vice president Dan Quayle in its ranks.

The 7 million was paid into an account controlled by a former managing partner of Belfast-based law firm Tughans who resigned after it was unearthed.

Tughans, which was involved in the Nama transaction as subcontractor for Cerberus's US lawyers Brown Rudnick, insisted it was not aware of the transfer.

All parties involved in the 1.2 billion transaction in 2014 have denied wrongdoing.

Gerry Adams, Sinn Fein leader, said a State inquiry was "definitely" needed into the affair.
An Irish fan in France for the Euro 2016 tournament who did not turn up for his flight has been found safe and well at a Paris railway station.

Lee McLaughlin, 19, from Inishowen, County Donegal, arrived in the French capital on Sunday with his father and another family member, and was due to fly back to Ireland on Tuesday.

The group went to Ireland's opening match against Sweden at the Stade de France on Monday evening before returning to their hotel in Montmartre a number of hours later.

At some time before midday on Tuesday, Mr McLaughlin is believed to have left the hotel on his own, and was not seen for almost 24 hours.

Garda Superintendent Gerry Delmar said officials and his family found him at Saint-Lazare station.

He told the Press Association: "He was found safe and well. They arranged a meeting with him at a Metro station. He got his phone working and they were able to make contact with him."

He added: "He's doing OK."

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) had appealed to all Republic of Ireland supporters in Paris to assist in the search for him.

FAI chief executive John Delaney was in touch with the McLaughlin family and the FAI also communicated with the Confederation of Republic of Ireland Supporters Clubs.

Family member Rosemarie Fedder wrote on Facebook: "This is our brother Lee, he has been missing in Paris since this morning.

"He was last seen leaving Ibis Paris Montmartre at 12pm. (6/14) He was not answering his phone and it is now off.

"This is very out of character for Lee. His flight home has already departed and he has not shown up to the airport.

"We are all very worried. Please please share my post and if anyone has seen him please contact any of his family ASAP."

The Department of Foreign Affairs said: "He was found safe and well in Paris. The Department continues to provide consular assistance to Lee and his family."

The Irish Embassy in Paris tweeted: "Lee McLaughlin has been found safe and well in the last few minutes. Thanks to all."

It is understood the family will not be doing any interviews.
Michael Gove has become the most senior Tory to announce he will oppose the emergency austerity budget the Chancellor intends to hold if Britain backs Brexit.

The move would mean the Leave campaigner would be forced to quit his Cabinet post as Justice Secretary.

George Osborne is facing open revolt from Eurosceptic Tories, with Mr Gove becoming the 66th MP vowing to rebel against a new financial statement.

Asked if he would support the Chancellor's "punishment" budget, Mr Gove told a special edition of BBC One's Question Time: "No, because I think that what we have heard from the Remain campaign throughout this whole referendum have been dire warnings of the terrible consequences of the British people just taking control of our own destiny.

"And, the truth is, if we vote to Leave we will be in an economically stronger position. We will be able to take back some of the money that we currently give to the European Union and we can invest it in our priorities."

The Chancellor joined his Labour predecessor Lord (Alistair) Darling to warn that a Leave vote in the June 23 referendum would create a "black hole" in public finances which would require 30 billion of tax rises or spending cuts to prevent the country plunging into an "economic tailspin".

An emergency budget within a couple of months of a Brexit vote could involve 15 million of tax rises, including a 2p hike to 22% in the basic rate of income tax, as well as a 3p increase in the higher rate to 43%, as well as similar-sized cuts in public services spending.

These could include a 2.5 billion a year cut in the NHS, 1.2 billion from defence and 1.15 billion from education, as each of these departments lost 2% of their budgets, while pensions spending could be cut by 2 billion a year, he said. Spending in other areas, including policing, transport and local government, could take a 5% cut, saving 5.8 billion.

Mr Gove told Question Time EU Special: The Case for Leave: "There is no need for an emergency budget. The guy who leads the In campaign, Stuart Rose, was asked by the House of Commons Treasury committee what would happen if we left the European Union and he said the day after there would be no difference, no cost economically."

In a joint statement issued by Vote Leave, furious Tories, including former Cabinet ministers Iain Duncan Smith, Liam Fox, Cheryl Gillan, David Jones and Owen Paterson, said it was "incredible" that the Chancellor was "threatening to renege on so many manifesto pledges".

"If the Chancellor is serious then we cannot possibly allow this to go ahead," they said. "It would be unnecessary, wrong and a rejection of the platform on which we all stood.

"If he were to proceed with these proposals, the Chancellor's position would become untenable. This is a blatant attempt to talk down the market and the country. The Chancellor risks doing damage to the British economy in his bid to win this political campaign."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn made clear that his party would not support any post-referendum budget which slashes public services or increases austerity.

David Cameron insisted he is "confident we'll get the right result" but said he will "accept the judgment of the British people".

The Prime Minister told Channel 4 News: "I 'm confident we'll get the right result which is Britain staying in a reformed European Union. But the people are sovereign not the politicians and its right to have this discussion and decision."

Mr Cameron insisted the Conservative party will "come back together" despite the bitter divisions that have erupted during the campaign.

"It's a passionate campaign and that is inevitable when you've got such an enormous issue and such deep differences of opinion about whether Britain is better off remaining or Britain's better off cutting itself off from Europe," he said.

" Well, I don't agree with that. We all supported a referendum. We'll accept the judgment of the British people and we'll have to come back together afterwards. And there's a huge government programme of life chances, reforming prisons, reforming schools, investing in childcare, creating a seven-day NHS.

"There's huge challenges to overcome and I think you'll be surprised how politicians can have an argument, have that decided and then get on with the other things about which they by and large agree."

Mr Gove conceded there would be "bumps in the road" if voters back Brexit.

"If we leave the European Union, yes there will be bumps in the road, inevitably, but we will be in a better position to deal with them," he told the programme.

Pressed on what the issues might be, Mr Gove said that there would be "bumps" whether Britain stayed or remained but the country would be "liberated to deal with whatever risks" it faced if voters "take back control".

Mr Gove was accused of being "off his rocker" by one sceptical audience member, while another said he was a "wolf in sheep's clothing".

In an apparent slip of the tongue, Mr Gove said the Leave campaign had ramped up the fear.

Asked if Mr Osborne would have to go if voters backed Brexit, he said: "One of the things we have seen from the Leave campaign as we have got closer and closer to the vote is ramping up the fear, turning it up to 11. One of the things I say, is instead of listening to the scare stories and instead of thinking about individuals and personalities, think about the potential for this country."

Mr Gove said the referendum was a choice between being governed by people voters could kick out or people they could not name or get rid of.

He called for a " vote of confidence in our democracy and our people".

The Justice Secretary insisted Vote Leave was "absolutely not" scaremongering over Turkey's future in the European Union.

The Government has "no intention" of using its veto to block the country's membership of the bloc, he insisted.

"It will inevitably happen in our lifetimes unless we vote Leave on June 23," he said.
Rather than add this as a comment to the previous article, I offer it here as an addendum. Here is the original article.

Point I

I am perfectly willing to accept that both Hillary and President Obama believe in their hearts that this is a gun control problem. I am also aware of their mentor's admonition:

"You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it's an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before." Rahm Emanuel

I am not so naive as to believe that their position on gun control is solely based on the prevention of terrorist attacks and domestic violence crimes. After all, the cities with the toughest gun control laws are not gun free zones but merely legal gun free zones and crime is rampant.

When I say that we should be very wary of ideologues, I think that includes the Saul Alinsky model of activism that both Hillary and the POTUS subscribe to. If you do not know whom Saul Alinsky is or have never investigated his principles of agitation and fermenting discontent, go back to sleep. Someone will wake you when it is over.

Point II

We are apparently in the process of converting the shooter from a Islamist Terrorist to a latent Gay man who was tormented by our bigoted society not accepting his gayness. Not all the facts are in yet, so snap judgement would be wrong on both sides, but I cannot help but wonder if the media is missing the point that the shooting occurred in an openly gay bar that is frequented by many from the area not all of which are gay. That does not sound like the neighborhood was intolerant against gays, but a truly diverse community that accepted all lifestyles.

I misjudged how long it would take for me and my bigoted views to be the core fault for this atrocity. I will await the further development of additional facts. There is still some confusion about the shooters actions. Was he casing the joint before carrying out his plan or was he actively participating in the lifestyle that he secretly abhorred? MSNBC reports that he tried to pick up gay men at the bar. Could he have been planning to become a serial killer one at a time and later decided to elevate his goals? After years of hearing that one's sexual orientation should not be a reason for making judgement, I wonder why this is even relevant.

Stay tuned, this developing story has now taken on a political aspect, as we all knew it would. However, I thought it might take at least a week before the spin started in the national media.

While I most often disagree with Donald Trump's demeanor and presentation of his viewpoints and almost all of Hillary's viewpoints, both he and Hillary are using this incident to further their candidacy. That is to be expected.

While the media is trying to convince us that this attack was solely based on a rage against the gay lifestyle, I note that ISIS has repeatedly told us that they want to kill ALL INFIDELS regardless of our orientation. Is there something about the radical pronouncements that ISIS makes that is not clear?

I can only hope that someone in the FBI is working on developing a profile (Profiling article) of this shooter that may help identify and prevent future attacks. If that requires them profiling Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender, - Gay Islamic Terrorist (LBGT-GIT) then so be it, but we must find a way to deal with these extremist regardless of their sexual preference. Rattle Snake Logic

Point III

I used to travel Orlando area and one of the landmarks was the twin domed strip club that was a landmark. When I traveled the area it was named the Booby Trap. Subsequent research reveals that the location was later know as by many names and lastly as Club Harem and was demolished by the city in 2015. The landmark is now just a vacant lot. Club Harem was less than seven miles from Pulse so it appears that the community was not to tolerant of naked women or at least the twin peaks building that was always used as a way-point when giving directions around Winter Park area. My disclaimer of course is that I was researching to find out where the Pulse was located and accidentally noticed the article on Club Harem. (wink wink). I point this out in hopes some will realize the absurdity of the bigoted hatred argument.Bobby Trap /Club Harem demolition

Point IV

If however, I am wrong and this is a gun control problem then it follows that:
The Duke of Cambridge has appeared on the cover of the UK's leading gay magazine, Attitude, as he spoke out against homophobic bullying.

William - the first member of the Royal Family to be photographed for the cover of a gay publication - told the magazine: "No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason."

The Duke revealed on Tuesday he would be appearing in Attitude after signing a book of condolence for victims of the gay nightclub shooting in Orlando which left 49 people dead and dozens of others wounded.

He had invited the magazine to bring members of the LGBT+ community to Kensington Palace in May to listen to their experience of bullying and the mental health affects it can have.

Speaking to Attitude, the Duke called on young people being bullied for their sexuality to seek help.

"No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives," he said.

"The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now.

"Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it.

"What I would say to any young person reading this who's being bullied for their sexuality: don't put up with it - speak to a trusted adult, a friend, a teacher, Childline, Diana Award or some other service and get the help you need.

"You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of."

Attitude editor Matthew Todd, who led the meeting with William at Kensington Palace, welcomed the Duke's support.

"During my time as editor of Attitude I have met parents whose child has taken or lost their life after being bullied for being LGBT+ or even just perceived to be LGBT," he said.

"I am very happy that the future king of the United Kingdom agrees this must stop and I would urge parents in particular to raise their voices in their communities to ensure that every school protects - really protects - all children."

The colour cover shot, taken by Australian-born, London-based celebrity portrait and men's fashion photographer Leigh Keily, shows a relaxed William in an open-necked white shirt, laughing as he rests his chin on his left hand.

Nine members of the LGBT+ community told the Duke how being bullied had led to low self-esteem, suicide attempts, eating disorders, depression and drug addiction.

He was also told about one young man who died after an unintentional overdose.

Kensington Palace said William had been moved by the stories he heard.

"He knows that LGBT young people suffer unacceptably high rates of bullying and he was grateful to Attitude for facilitating such a serious conversation on this topic," his spokesman said.

"He was moved by the stories he heard and impressed by the positivity and courage of the people he met."

The Duke has set up a taskforce to tackle cyberbullying and, with the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, has launched the Heads Together campaign on mental health and well-being.

Research published in 2015 showed that a third of young lesbian, gay or bisexual people and 48% of trans young people in England had made least one suicide attempt, compared with 18% of young straight people.

Around 57% of LGB young people and 85% of trans young people had self-harmed at least once compared with 38% of young heterosexual people and 47% of cisgender young people - those born into the body that they feel they are.

Among those the Duke met was journalist, presenter and trans rights campaigner Paris Lee, who was once named the most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender figure in the UK in the annual Pink List, now known as the Rainbow List.

Ms Lees tweeted: "Proud to have discussed gender based bullying with The Duke of Cambridge. Thank you @AttitudeMag & @KensingtonRoyal".

William also signed a condolence book for Mena Houghton's 27-year-old son Mark, who was bullied at school because he was gay and who died from an unintentional overdose in 2010.

Photographer Keily said he was honoured to be chosen to take the historic cover photo.

He said of the Duke: "Though he hadn't done a shoot like this before, he was a pleasure to work with and we got along well, having a laugh whilst shooting.

"I'm sure you'll agree he looks fantastic. More importantly, I feel truly privileged to have been involved in such an historical moment, particularly in light of recent events."

Ant and Dec, Tinie Tempah, Liam Payne from One Direction and model David Gandy are just some of the celebrities Keily has worked with.

:: The July edition of Attitude magazine is available to download now from pocketmags.com/attitude - or to buy in shops from June 22.
Mick Cash said the seizure of the vessel exposes the scandal of 'modern-day slavery'

An offshore supply ship has been detained at a UK port by Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) officers for an alleged failure to pay seafarers' wages.

The Mumbai-registered MV Malaviya Seven was detained in Aberdeen on Wednesday amid claims by the RMT union that 15 Indian crew members have not been paid for nearly two months, with some having been without pay for longer.

The union claimed the incident was an example of "modern-day slavery" in the North Sea.

An MCA spokeswoman said the ship will be detained until the wages are paid.

She said: "The vessel has been detained ... for non-payment of seafarers' wages and for not fully complying with the requirements for seafarers' employment agreements.

"The detention will remain in place until the seafarers' wages are paid and other identified deficiencies are rectified.

"A second vessel from the same company is being inspected by the MCA in Great Yarmouth for similar reasons."

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "The seizure of this vessel exposes the scandal of modern-day slavery on our ships right at the heart of the UK's oil capital, Aberdeen.

"It also exposes the shameful practices in the exploitation of our natural resources, practices that must be outlawed and regulated against immediately.

"These ships of shame are a blatant abuse of migrant workers and are contrary to any number of stated industry and government objectives around human rights and maximising economic recovery from our resources.

"Additionally, it is a catalyst for the dumping of UK seafarers, many thousands of whom are now drawing benefit from the state."

BP confirmed it had chartered the vessel from June 1 until Wednesday.

Premier Oil declined to comment on RMT claims it had also chartered the vessel recently.

A spokesman for Dana Petroleum said the firm had chartered the ship "on the spot market earlier in the year".
MPs want astronaut Tim Peake's legacy to include the establishment of Britain's own national space programme

British astronaut Tim Peake's mission should act as the launchpad for a British leap into space, MPs have said.

A report urged the Government to use Major Peake's legacy as the basis of an ambitious expansion of the UK space industry.

Members of the Science and Technology Select Committee wanted to see steps taken towards establishing Britain's own national space programme, independent of the European Space Agency (Esa).

They also backed bolder proposals for a UK spaceport than those already suggested which envisage launch facilities for traditional "vertical" rockets as well as sub-orbital spaceplanes taking off from runways.

Major Peake, who returns to Earth on Saturday at the end of his six month Principia mission on the International Space Station (ISS), took centre stage in the report.

The MPs said the mission should serve as a "call to action" and a catalyst driving development of a national UK space programme and spaceport.

They wrote: "We ask the Government to outline its plans to ensure that the legacy of the Principia mission continues to raise public awareness of the UK's leading role in the global space sector, while also inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers, long after Major Peake returns to Earth."

The report pointed out that the UK space economy generated a turnover of 11.8 billion, directly employed more than 35,000 people, and had delivered year-on-year economic growth rates of around 8% in the past 10 years.

It was hoped that Britain's share of the global space market would grow from 6.5% to 10% by 2030. But this was "highly contingent" on expanding the use of "space-enabled services" by both the private and public sectors.

Progress was being held back by the UK not having sufficient access to space - what the MPs called a lack of "flight heritage". This was something that could be addressed by a national space programme, they said.

Committee chair Nicola Blackwood MP said: " The UK has, so far, only taken small steps towards launching a national space programme that would enable our innovative space and satellite industries to get the 'flight heritage' they need. Now is the time to take a confident leap towards that goal."

The search for a suitable UK spaceport location was launched by the Government in 2014. Several coastal sites were shortlisted as places from where future sub-orbital spaceplanes carrying passengers or satellites could be launched. However, no final selection has been made.

Ms Blackwood said the spaceport plan was a "bold ambition" but now needed "solid action".

Calling for the scope of the proposal to be widened to allow traditional "vertical" rocket launches, she added: "The Government's technical requirements for the spaceport have focused on establishing a horizontal launch capacity for sub-orbital flights, without a vertical launch capacity.

"These narrow parameters risk limiting the use, and value, of the spaceport to the space and satellite industry. The Government must urgently set out the rationale, and evidence, for its spaceport proposals."

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Bis), said: " The UK space industry is booming, almost doubling in size over seven years, and we have backed it all the way. We are continuing to invest through the UK Space Agency and provided over 3 million for educational programmes around Tim Peake's mission to inspire young people to pursue Stem subjects and careers.

"Last year we published our first National Space Policy, which supported industry ambitions to grow the UK's share of the global space market to 10% by 2030 - worth 40bn to the UK and supporting 100,000 new jobs."
People take part in a pro-EU counter demonstration, as a Fishing for Leave pro-Brexit flotilla makes its way along the River Thames in London.

Bob Geldof (right) on board a boat taking part in a pro-EU counter demonstration on the Thames

Ukip leader Nigel Farage on board a boat taking part in a Fishing for Leave pro-Brexit flotilla on the Thames

Nigel Farage and rock star Bob Geldof engaged in a war of words as rival fleets of boats backing the Leave and Remain camps clashed on the River Thames.

The European Union referendum contest took a bizarre turn as Mr Farage led a flotilla of vessels along the river in London in protest at fishing policies from Brussels.

But the Fishing for Leave flotilla was met by rival boats backing a Remain vote, with Geldof branding Mr Farage a "fraud" as he fired a broadside at the Ukip leader.

Small inflatable boats flying flags backing the In campaign skimmed around the larger fishing vessels - with some Remain protesters given a soaking by hoses on the trawlers.

Geldof and his Remain supporters blasted out the song The In Crowd from a large on-board sound system on their river cruise boat as they pulled alongside the vessel carrying Mr Farage.

Addressing Mr Farage over the PA system, Geldof said: "You are no fisherman's friend."

He said that while Mr Farage was on the European Parliament fisheries committee he attended just one out of 43 meetings.

"You are a fraud, Nigel. Go back down the river because you are up one without a canoe or a paddle."

Speaking to reporters accompanying him on the Thames, Mr Farage branded the Geldof protest "just disgusting".

He added that Geldof was "deeply ignorant about how the Common Fisheries Policy works" and "it ill befits multi-millionaires coming to drown out ordinary men and women from the fishing industry who have come to have a fair say".

Mr Farage said: "We used to protest against the establishment and now the establishment protests against us. We must be getting something right."

He added: "The Common Fisheries Policy works on the principle of equal access to the common resource. What that means is that we have to share the fish in our waters with the rest of the European Union.

"Sensible countries like Norway, the Faroes and Iceland do no such thing. These industries, these communities have been devastated now for decades and they have come here today to be heard."

The flotilla, which involved around 30 vessels, passed Parliament as David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn engaged each other at Prime Minister's Questions.

The Prime Minister said the UK fishing industry had grown by around 20% thanks to Government reforms, and insisted it would be hit with tariffs on the sale of fish if Britain pulled out of the EU.

Mr Cameron spoke after Mr Corbyn criticised the Government for giving the majority of its fishing quota to large companies, urging people to "stop blaming Brussels".

Fisherman Aaron Brown, from Ayrshire, accompanied Mr Farage on the protest voyage.

He said the industry and his community had been badly hit by the EU rules and added: "I hope my countrymen have the courage, like the men who went into the trenches, to say 'we are going to be a free nation again and we are going to flourish great and free'."

Despite the occasionally rowdy scenes on the water, a Metropolitan Police spokeswoman described the event as "good natured on both sides".

The Port of London Authority (PLA) oversaw the vessels and spoke to Leave and Remain campaigners about excessive noise near HMS Belfast in the Pool of London.
Riot police in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

A police water cannon arrives in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

EDS NOTE NUDITY - A naked fan climbs on a signpost as they gather outside a bar in Lille, France Wednesday, June 15, 2016 one day ahead of their Euro 2016 Group B soccer match against Wales in nearby Lens. Russia were playing Slovakia at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve d'Ascq, near Lille on Wednesday which raised the possibility of violence after clashes between supporters from the two countries at their previous match in Marseille last weekend. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)

Riot police in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Football fans of differing nationalities and innocent bystanders try to escape tear gas fired by French police in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

England fans chant in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

England fans chant in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Football fans of differing nationalities and innocent bystanders try to escape tear gas fired by French police in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Football fans of differing nationalities and innocent bystanders try to escape tear gas fired by French police in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Football fans of differing nationalities and innocent bystanders try to escape tear gas fired by French police in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

An England fan helps another up after he was knocked to the ground by French police officers in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

An England fan helps another up after he was knocked to the ground by French police officers in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

England fans lit by a burning flare in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

An England fan helps another up after he was knocked to the ground by French police officers in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

England fans lit by a burning flare in Lille city centre, France, as fresh clashes have taken place between England fans and Russian hooligans at Euro 2016. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday June 15, 2016. Video posted online showed Russian hooligans approaching a group of English and Welsh fans as they drank together. See PA story SPORT Euro2016. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Police have charged at England fans in Lille as flares and bangers were lit in the French city.

Ahead of a baton charge supporters were heard to chant and red flares were let off amid a stand-off with officers.

Fans from England, Wales, Slovakia and Russia have been gathering in the city for Group B matches between the countries.

Earlier police used teargas on crowds following scuffles in the city centre.

As tensions continued to rise, a stand off developed with the fans and a line of police, with a bottle being thrown. But police officers from England and Wales moved into the crowd and were able to ease the crowd back 50 yards.

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In the latest disturbances police charged multiple times and were seen hitting people with batons.

An England fan who charged at officers was pepper sprayed.

Despite the bars being shut and a ban on drinking in the street many supporters have been consuming alcohol outside.

Some were seen climbing road signs and while English police - sent out to help with the security operation - have been urging fans to behave, the French police decided to charge in an attempt to disperse the crowds.

The trouble followed an earlier skirmish after a small group of Russians threw a flare at large group of England fans who then charged them.

The Russians left the scene and the remaining British fans were tear gassed.
Colin Howell, with his American second wife Kyle and their child Finn

Gary Proctor is in the business of saving lives. But the Jordanstown man isn't a doctor, surgeon, paramedic or firefighter. And the lives he saves belong to people who have committed some of the most heinous crimes that we can imagine.

One of his clients raped his female victim before cutting her throat and gouging her eyes out. Another shot a woman dead in front of her two young grandchildren.

A third, already incarcerated for other offences, repeatedly stabbed a prison officer to death.

These people have three things in common: they committed a capital crime, they were sentenced to death for it, and they turned to Gary Proctor - now one of the most celebrated Death Row lawyers in the United States - as their last throw of the dice.

The Queen's University graduate has a job description guaranteed to stop any conversation in its tracks.

But whatever you think of the 43-year-old's career of choice, rest assured that he's proud of what he does.

He believes everybody - even those people the courts determine have relinquished their right to keep on breathing - are entitled to the best possible representation.

Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Hazel Stewart and her husband Trevor Buchanan on their wedding day Hazel Stewart leaving court during her trial with her husband David and children Lisa and Andrew Hazel Stewart with her husband David Stewart outside court / Facebook

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He believes in putting up a compelling argument for a client to be spared the ultimate punishment - lethal injection, in most cases - and, with a success rate higher than 90%, the former Belfast High pupil is clearly very good at what he does.

Not only that, but he doesn't believe "evil" actually exists ("only degrees of irrationality and mental illness") and admits to forging bonds with most of his clients, to unrelenting rage and sleepless nights when he fails them, and to an unshakeable belief that, even at the 11th hour, redemption can be found for people whom others believe should rot in Hell with immediate effect.

Whilst there isn't a market for his specialist skills in the UK - capital punishment for murder was abolished and replaced with life imprisonment in 1965 in Great Britain and in 1973 in Northern Ireland - he's pretty busy in the US, where 31 states still have the death penalty as an option.

But as a Northern Ireland native - and a man with a day-to-day insight into the minds of murderers - Gary admits to a keen interest in the now world-famous case of illicit lovers Colin Howell and Hazel Stewart.

The lovers killed their respective spouses, Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan, and faked the victims' suicides - an apparently perfect crime until Howell sensationally confessed two decades later.

He adds that Americans who have seen the resultant TV drama, The Secret, starring James Nesbitt and Genevieve O'Reilly, are also fascinated by a crime that, even by US standards, is highly unusual.

And although he has watched the series himself, Gary believes it was aired a little too soon after the convictions.

"The mother of a friend of mine from Coleraine went to the same church as Lesley Howell," he said.

"One part of me certainly thought the show seemed like rubbing on a wound that hadn't closed yet. It just seemed so close to the proximity of the event. If I was one of Colin Howell's or Hazel Stewart's children, to see what mum and dad did on deceased dad and deceased mum... well, it seems very close in time."

Gary, who is married to Theresa (44), an American social worker with whom he has seven-year-old twin boys Sammy and Louie, says he hasn't come across "anything remotely similar" in the States.

"The reason so many people are talking about it is because it's so out of the norm - it's so remarkable," he said.

"Ninety-nine murders out of 100 have more to do with the availability of firearms than they do about a motive to rekindle romances.

"It's a spur of the moment thing, there's very little time for reflection. If they'd had time for reflection, it wouldn't have happened. What surprised me with the Howell-Stewart case is that murders with such premeditation by persons who appear not to be mentally ill or under the influence of narcotics are, in my experience, shockingly rare.

"In this case, Howell seems to have been driven by his faith. Contrary to popular opinion, most people that commit crimes do not protest their innocence for very long.

"Whether through conscience or spirituality or a desire to atone, most perpetrators of horrific acts acknowledge them and seek to make amends.

"I've had numerous clients attempt to apologise to victims' families. I have seen many readily accept life sentences in the full knowledge that they should spend the rest of their lives in prison for the hurt they have caused."

Referring to Howell (57), Gary - a winner of the prestigious John Adams Award for his work in the US courts - added: "No one does anything like that without there being something really wrong under their bonnet."

The dentist's crimes only surfaced when he confided in his second wife, Kyle Jorgensen, a New Yorker who had fled America after a violent three-year marriage to her first husband.

The couple, who married within five months, met at a Bible study in 1996 after the then mother-of -two joined a local Baptist church in Castlerock.

It was only two years later when the youngest of their five children, Erik, was seven months old, that the lay preacher suddenly confessed.

He told Kyle, now 50, he had been unfaithful to his first wife and that he had murdered her.

He then admitted to killing the policeman husband of his mistress and putting their bodies together to make it look like a suicide pact.

He also told her that he had sexually assaulted his female patients while they were sedated.

She finally forced Howell to confess everything to church elders and police in January 2009 - after a decade of being bullied and blackmailed into staying silent for the sake of their children, while he threatened to kill himself.

He is now serving a minimum 21 years in jail after admitting gassing 31-year-old mum-of-four Lesley and Trevor (32), a father-of-two.

His former lover and Sunday School teacher Stewart (53), who remarried after their split, got 18 years for her part in the notorious murders. Kyle then returned to the US to rebuild her life in Sanibel Island, Florida, where she is bringing up her five children by Howell.

The former waitress was investigated by the PSNI for four years over the decade-long secrets she kept, but she was not charged - and that's something Gary stands by.

"I know of no law on either side of the Atlantic that makes it a crime to keep a secret," he said.

"Indeed, in the US there are statutes that prohibit one spouse from testifying to things they are told in private, absent the other spouse's permission, such is the sanctity of marriage."

So, would Howell and Stewart have faced the death penalty in certain US states had their crime been committed there?

"Unlikely," Gary replied. "First of all they're both white - that's a good start in large parts of the United States. And second of all, at least they have some money.

"The fact that they have money would make it unlikely that they would go to Death Row. I would bet a lot of money they'd never have to worry about the ultimate punishment."

In America, Gary has built his reputation on standing up for those he believes have been failed by the system.

The champion of pro-life issues is outraged by what he believes are loaded verdicts against disadvantaged people and "the grim, macabre, revolting, staged spectacle" of an execution.

He also insists that there is no difference in defending someone accused of a serious crime and one that has already been convicted.

"If it was you, if it was someone you cared about, you would want them to be treated exactly the same," he said.

"When you really understand the way their brain works, the way their family works, the way their personality works, there's not a huge degree of difference.

"Everyone deserves someone in their corner to try and put their best foot forward. It matters to me.

"When you take them out of that atmosphere, when you take them away from the drugs they were using, when you get them medication for the underlying mental illness - and there's always an underlying mental illness...

"A decade on (from the crime), no one is the same person. They're clean and sober and have a support network, and a set of rules that they understand and can abide by. They pose no danger to anyone."

Gary isn't alone when it comes to bonding with inmates convicted of despicable offences.

His office in Baltimore - one of the world's most violent cities - is a showcase for presents made for him by the damned and the condemned.

"In many cases it absolutely is a friendship with these people," he said. "The guards are the same. You see them crying at executions. You see wardens moved to tears. It doesn't matter who they are or what they've done. If you're around someone often enough it's going to rub off."
A computer specialist for Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca has been taken into custody, according to reports

A computer specialist for Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca has been taken into custody by Geneva authorities in connection with a probe over the leak of a massive trove of data on offshore companies, a Swiss newspaper has reported.

Daily Le Temps, citing an unidentified official close to the case, reported that Geneva prosecutors placed the information technology worker for the firm's Geneva office in temporary detention in connection with a release of "a very large volume of confidential data".

The Geneva prosecutor's office only confirmed that a criminal investigation has been opened following a complaint by Mossack Fonseca.

Data on more than 200,000 offshore entities was leaked this year to a German newspaper, which shared it with a global network of investigative journalists.
At the weekend, I picked up Sinn Fein's Remain leaflet. Apart from a number of highly debatable assertions made in it, there was one which is blatantly untrue. It reads: "Ireland out of Europe (sic) means: European Court of Human Rights will no longer apply, which will have serious implications for families searching for truth and justice."

Regardless of whether Britain leaves, or remains in, the EU, it will continue to be a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights.

It will also remain a member of the Council of Europe, founded in 1949.

Therefore, Irish citizens will continue to have the right to take the British Government to the council's Strasbourg court, just as my family, along with the McCann and Savage families, did in 1995 over the killing in Gibraltar in 1988 of our loved ones - Mairead Farrell, Dan McCann and Sean Savage.

To deliberately mislead the people of the six counties on such a crucial issue seems a cynical and callous attempt to frighten people who trust them and families who are seeking truth and justice.

A falsehood of such magnitude must be publicly withdrawn by Sinn Fein.

NIALL FARRELL

Oranmore, Co Galway
A vote to leave the EU would lead to decreased funding for studies to fight the killer disease as well as diminished international cooperation, writes Queen's University's Professor Mark Lawler.

Cancer is the leading cause of premature death in more than 50% of European countries. In the UK, more than half our citizens will develop cancer at some stage during their lifetime, with a significant proportion of patients dying of the disease.

As the debate on a potential UK exit from the European Union (EU) intensifies, with in many cases rhetoric dominating fact, let us examine the ramifications of a Brexit vote through the linked prisms of the cancer researcher and the cancer patient.

Scientists and clinicians in the UK, including Northern Ireland, have made world-leading contributions to our understanding of the complex biology that characterises a cancer cell, and have translated this information into more effective preventative and therapeutic interventions for cancer patients. This is strongly supported both by UK charities (eg Cancer Research UK) and the Government, with a 500m-plus spend on cancer research annually.

However generous this figure might seem, it is not sufficient on its own to support a world-class cancer research effort. Therefore, English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland researchers compete with cancer researchers from other EU countries in order to expand the "funding footprint" in UK universities and research institutes.

The results have been impressive. In the EU 7th Framework Programme (FP7), which funded EU research and technical development from 2017-2014, more than 1.5bn was spent on cancer research. UK cancer researchers were extremely successful, being involved in more than 80% of funded projects.

If we consider all research in FP7 and not just cancer, more than 4bn of funding was achieved by UK researchers, with Northern Irish scientists and clinicians gaining a considerable slice of that pie.

Looking in more detail at one programme in particular, the highly sought-after European Research Council grants, which recognise individual scientific excellence, UK researchers have clearly punched above their collective weight, with a success rate of 16.5% and a collective value of 150m, placing them in Europe's premier league of researchers.

Thus, there are significant positive financial and reputational benefits for UK scientists and clinicians being part of an EU-wide cancer research effort.

A second positive that underpins cancer research in the UK is the ability of researchers to be mobile. At both junior and senior level, many talented researchers relocate to the UK, bringing a depth and diversity of experience that enhances our universities and research institutions - including Queen's University, Belfast and Ulster University. And this mobility is bi-directional, with UK researchers moving to EU research institutions to develop their careers and contribute to EU cancer research activities.

From a clinical perspective, the ability to work together at EU level has been extremely beneficial, as it allows the identification of best practice and its adoption in different member states. UK researchers have contributed to this shared learning by leading cancer survival surveillance initiatives, such as Concord, and by strong participation in Eurocare. From a Northern Ireland perspective, the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry contributes significantly to both of these initiatives.

Cancer experts in Northern Ireland also participate in, and in many cases lead, pan-European clinical trials that allow the benefits of the latest knowledge and breakthroughs in cancer research to be passed directly on to our patients. However, while enhanced cancer care has led to significantly increased survival in the UK in the last 20 years, there is still room for improvement. And this can best be achieved by sharing best practice.

Thus, for example, recent Danish activities aimed at enhancing earlier cancer diagnosis are now informing potential practice-changing activities in the UK, while innovation to improve outcomes for older cancer patients, such as that ongoing in France, will also help improve UK practice for the ageing cancer population.

Emphasising the importance of the patient, UK patient advocates and healthcare professionals, under the leadership of researchers at Queen's University, Belfast, have come together with their EU counterparts to form the European Cancer Concord, culminating in the launch of the European Cancer Patient's Bill of Rights in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on World Cancer Day 2014.

However, not all EU activities that impact on cancer research and cancer care in the UK have been positive. While the intention of the 2001 European Clinical Trials Directive may have been to promote harmonisation across the member states and simplify regulations, its implementation actually led to an overwhelming increase in bureaucracy, a doubling of costs and an initial reduction in clinical trial activity across the UK.

More recently, the new EU General Data Protection Regulation has provoked significant concerns on its potential (albeit inadvertently) to undermine clinical and translational research. Given these issues, it is critically important that there is a UK voice at European level to address these concerns.

So, what would happen if next week, on June 23, the UK voted to leave the EU? Given that a country has never left the EU before, it is probably safe to assume that a period of uncertainty would arise. So, how would this uncertainty manifest itself from a cancer perspective? From a financial point of view, what would happen to the EU funding that UK researchers so successfully compete for?

It is extremely unlikely that continued access to these funding sources could be renegotiated, thus losing a huge resource that would help to foster better cancer care. Additionally, a prolonged period of economic uncertainty could have significant repercussions on health budgets, which could translate to poorer health outcomes, particularly for the disadvantaged members of our community.

Lack of free movement of researchers would potentially stifle innovation. The benefits of the various EU collaborative approaches outlined above would surely be compromised if the UK's role in Europe were to change. A lack of involvement in EU debate and decision-making would also mean that the powerful voice of the UK in health and research policy would be lost.

Initiatives such as the Queen's University, Belfast-led European Cancer Patient's Bill of Rights, which mean so much to cancer patients across Europe, would be much more effectively implemented through the involvement of the UK within the EU.

It is incumbent on us as global citizens to ensure that, whatever the result of the referendum, we continue to contribute to the European debate in important domains such as clinical trials, data-sharing and clinical best practice, while also delivering the highest-quality research that leads to the best possible outcomes for cancer patients in the UK, the EU and globally.

These aspirations can most effectively be achieved if the UK stays within the EU.
The day after the Orlando shooting, my friend Wajahat Ali addressed a crowd of mostly professional, fairly religious Muslim Americans in Houston. Here is a transcript of his remarks, a call to action for the Muslim community. Reprinted with his gracious permission.

So, yes, things are really bad for Muslims right now. But writer Willow Wilson reminded me of a hadith, a saying of the Prophet Muhammad: Even if the day of judgement is coming, plant the seedling.

It might seem that a orange skinned man with wavy, interesting hair and a permanent scowl on his face named Trump is one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse and that qiyamat (Judgement Day) is around the corner

But have faith. Have faith. And have hope. And do good. Continue doing good. Our Creator commands it.

My job, your job, our job is to expand and stretch America to realize its full potential, challenging her to live up to her professed ideals. Pushing the boundaries of the Constitution and our American freedoms as to accommodate all the diverse communities that live within it.

How do we do that? Through service, through living our faith with humble swagger, pride, an open heart and generosity. By bum rushing the show and refusing to be spectators and victims.

And by sharing our story. Because if you arent sharing your story, your story will always be told for you by others.

There is tremendous power in the ability to share and tell a story, especially someone elses story.

And to quote Spider-Man who quotes Uncle Ben who quotes Voltaire  with great power, comes great responsibility.

Each community is tested with challenges. Our fathers generation had their challenges as did our grandparents before them. We are currently facing severe challenges. We are not unique.

Our real test is NOT if we fight for our own freedoms, thats a given. Our real test is not If we fight against the Islamophobia Industry, thats a given. Or if we mobilize a Muslim Get out the Vote campaign to make our presence felt in swing states  thats a given and the least we owe America after we gave the world Bush for 8 years. Thank you Florida and California Muslims  no, I did not vote for him. Yes I am judging you.

Our real test is if we turn around and extend our hand and make sure we uplift those who are marginalized and downtrodden as well.

Earlier today, a 29-year-old man, Omar Mateen, walked into Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, carrying a handgun and assault rifle. At 2 am he opened fire and killed 50 people and wounded at least 53 others.

Law enforcement is saying the shooting was well planned and organized.

This is the worst mass shooting in US history.

You want your leadership challenge? You want your fork in the road? You want your test? You want your choose your own adventure? HERE IT IS.

What choice will you make?

Will you sit by silent, idle and complacent?

OR will you disrupt the narrative?

Will you empower and uplift our LGBT Muslim brothers and sisters, who often suffer in silence and have been ostracized and demonized by multiple communities in America for their sexuality, religion and ethnicity? People who are at the cultural fault lines  blasted for being both gay and Muslim in an America that often uses them as pawns for an absolutist cultural war.

Will you call out ignorance that creates an atmosphere which tolerates and breeds hate?

Will you sincerely assert our solidarity with the LGBT community, not for sake of politics, talking points and expedient alliances, but around shared values and visions of creating an America where no one is hazed, victimized, brutalized or murdered simply for being ?

Will you denounce the draconian and unnecessary anti LGBT legislation that is being introduced in several states around the country just like LGBT members have routinely denounced Trumps anti Muslim bigotry and anti Sharia legislation for years?

If so, then congratulations, you are writing a new chapter in the evolving rough draft of America. Because thats what it means to be American.

Remember- disagreement does not become grounds for lack of compassion or lack of humanity or lack of empathy and solidarity.

Pluralism and respect is a two way street. It requires reciprocity. Thats the test. You cant demand rights and compassion and dignity for Muslims while denying it for other groups. Its hypocrisy and morally inconsistent.

Lets develop and reflect our real Islamic ethics of pluralism and DECENCY.

I challenge and invite us to write a new story for American Islam and Muslims.

One that is not isolated, angry, victimized, bitter, miserly, insular, racist, sectarian or homophobic.

One instead that stretches and accommodates America using our Islamic values to ensure that these vast freedoms are enjoyed by all communities, not just our own.

We must be like Musa and throw down our stick. We must be like Muhammad Ali  and dance and float and sting as participants in the ring, no longer as spectators. We have to throw down  and throw down hard. And ball out of control  right now.

These are urgent times, but also moments of opportunity and growth.

So thank you to all of you, especially for investing in service, in hope, in helping our AMERICAN communities, for investing in our religious values and freedoms, for investing in the future of America, for investing in us being the best versions of ourselves, and for planting a seedling, so the next generation can emerge and write a new chapter for our communities where we become the protagonists of the American narrative.
Chicago Police Department

Thanks to members of the Chicago Police Department, girls without fathers were able to have a date for a Daddy-Daughter Dance.

An annual event is held at the South Shore Cultural Center and is organized to encourage healthy relationships between fathers and their daughters in their neighborhood. Last year, the Chicago Police force wanted to help those girls who didnt have fathers or whose fathers couldnt attend. Police officers stepped in to escort the young ladies to the soiree.

About twice as many girls were able to attend this year as did in 2015.

After last years event, we had several officers and the young ladies that they escorted, they kept up with one another and it really bridged a gap, Sgt. Kimberly Woods told WMAQ News. It let the girls know that officers are just people too and we dance, and we dance funny like your dads do.

The event had a huge impact on the girls who are able to come.

Its a once-in-a-lifetime thing because some people dont really associate with their fathers, 13-year-old Brejay Payne told the news outlet. So once you come out, dressed up, and dance, eat, and play with your father, its kind of a nice day.

This years theme was All Shades of Beautiful. Participants enjoyed dancing, refreshments and even goodie bags from officers and other sponsors. One hundred and fifty girls attended the dance. The event was free and open to the public.

The Chicago Police Department teamed up with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement executives to plan the event. The Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) also helped at the event, saying their mission was to facilitate a relationship between the citys police force and its community.

They actually get to see us to find out that that the police are nothing but people. We just happen to have uniforms on, Cmdr. Larry Watson told NBC Chicago.

Recently, a school in Connecticut had their own father-daughter dance. The Parent Club President said it was important to have events like this to grow healthy relationships.

We believe the daughters getting that bonding experience with their father, or a father figure, is very important as they grow up and become of age to date.

Unfortunately due to many young girls not having fathers, schools and community centers across the nation have had to cancel or shut down father-daughter dance nights. However, knowing there are groups of role models such as the Chicago Police Department that are willing to step in as father-figures for a night, there is hope that these traditions can continue.

Megan Bailey is a former Social Media Specialist and Content Producer for Beliefnet. She attended James Madison University where she received a degree in psychology.
Bangladeshi activists hold up photos of slain secular bloggers and intellectuals during a protest in Dhaka against a spate of killings carried out by suspected Islamic extremists, June 15, 2016.

An influential Islamic scholars group in Bangladesh says it has gathered 100,000 signatures on a fatwa condemning killings of religious minorities and secular writers by suspected extremists, and will disseminate the document publicly on Saturday.

Maulana Farid Uddin Masud, president of the Bangladesh Jamatul Ulema, said he led fellow Islamic clerics and scholars in the groups campaign to gather signatures and compile the 62-page fatwa, or religious decree, so as to use their influence among Bangladeshi Muslims to help authorities prevent more acts of violent extremism nationwide.

We have collected signatures of 100,000 Islamic scholars who have unanimously extended their support to our fatwa against militancy and violent extremism, in the light of the Quran and Hadith. We will distribute the fatwa among the religious leaders to spread the peaceful message of Islam, Masud, the former imam of Bangladeshs largest Eid congregation, told BenarNews.

In a spate of attacks dating to February 2013, at least 36 people including religious minorities, secular bloggers, gay-rights activists and intellectuals have been killed by suspected Islamic militants, according to the Home Ministry.

Last week, the Bangladeshi authorities launched a crackdown against suspected militants and criminals that, as of Wednesday, had netted arrests of some 15,000 people, officials said.

Islam prohibits the taking of a persons life because of their faith, whatever it may be, Masud said.

Islam has not allowed any individual to judge others activities," he said.

The fatwa unequivocally said these killings of non-Muslims, minorities and secular activists are forbidden in Islam, Masud told Agence France-Presse.

In Dhaka on Wednesday, activists and bloggers protested in front of the National Museum, demanding that authorities apprehend and punish suspected Islamic militants who had killed seven secular writers and a publish of secular literature during the past three years, six of whom were killed since February 2015 alone.

Alliance by religious leaders, law enforcement

Unless we can change their distorted thought process, counterterrorism efforts are unlikely to be successful, Maulana Masud told Benar, referring to radicals who are brainwashed into thinking that they will be surrounded by beautiful women in heaven after carrying out suicide missions.

Islam never permits violence, killings, arson, torture, minority repression and other violent acts. The militants misguide the good faith of young people through partial interpretation of the Holy Quran, he said, adding the fatwa would help guide imams in giving sermons against militancy.

He said he would hand over copies of the fatwa to President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and send another copy to the United Nations.

According to analysts, the governments counter-terrorist efforts can only succeed and be effective with the help of clerics and scholars.

The common people will not listen to the political leaders on religious issues. An imams sermon against extremism and militancy in the Islamic jalsa [conference] and during prayers can positively influence common people and even groups targeted the by militant leaders, Shahedul Anam Khan, a retired brigadier and counter-terrorism analyst, told BenarNews.

The issuing of the fatwa comes nearly two months after Maulana Farid Uddin Masud and leaders of Bangladeshs major religions  Islam, Hinduism Christianity and Buddhism  took part in the countrys first conference on inter-faith harmony, during which they declared that they would pursue a dialogue for ending religious extremism and attacks on minorities.

The April 28 meeting in Dhaka was organized by government officials and police.

We have sought the support of the religious leaders and imam who can influence the opinion of the people. They can counter the militants misinterpretation of the peaceful religion Islam. Islam promotes peaceful accommodation of all faiths. I am happy that the Islamic scholars have extended their support to our counter-terrorism efforts, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told BenarNews.
Asmizar holds up a mobile phone showing a photograph of her son, Wendy Rahadian, one of 10 members of an Indonesian tugboat crew kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf, March 31, 2016.

The families of four Malaysian sailors released from captivity last week by Abu Sayyaf militants are claiming that 12 million ringgit (U.S. $ 2.94 million) was handed over to the authorities as a ransom payment, a local newspaper reported Wednesday.

Malaysian authorities have denied that any ransom was paid to the southern Philippine-based Abu Sayyaf Group to secure the release of the hostages, identified as brothers Wong Teck Kang, 31, and Wong Chii Teck, 29, their cousin, Johnny Lau Kim Hien, 21, and Wong Hung Sing, 34, who is not related.

Lau Cheng Kiong, a spokesman for the families of the four ex-hostages and who is the uncle of Johnny Lau Kim Hien, said the money was given to the team responsible for handling the case  Special Branch Police in Sandakan, Sabah, on May 24, according to the Star newspaper.

We have handed over about 12 Hong Leong Banks checks, each worth 1 million ringgit ($244,000), to the Special Branch team in Sandakan between 4 and 6 p.m. May 24.

I want to stress, we did not take a penny of the money collected. It was donated by the public, we are not entitled to it, Lau told a press conference in Sibu, Sarawak, on Wednesday, the Star reported.

Nine million ringgit ($2.2 million) was donated by people from Malaysia and elsewhere, including Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, China and the Solomon Islands, he said.

The 1 million ringgit ($244,000) is from mortgages of our two-family residence and the remaining 2 million ringgit ($490,000) is a contribution from the shipping companies, he added.

At the time of their release last week, Malaysias Inspector General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar, claimed that no ransom was paid to the militants. The four sailors, who all hail from Sibu, Sarawak, were kidnapped on April 1.

Khalid could not be reached and Mohamad Fuzi Harun, director of the Royal Malaysia Polices Special Branch, declined comment when BenarNews contacted him on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, Malaysian newspaper Utusan Malaysia quoted Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as denying claims that Malaysian authorities had paid a ransom. He said there were no negotiations over a payment involving Malaysian and Philippine police and Abu Sayyaf.

If there are allegations of certain payments made to free all the hostages, it is not the responsibility of authorities such as the Royal Malaysian Police who represent the Malaysian government, he said.

Previous reports claimed that Abu Sayyaf had demanded 18 million ringgit ($4.46 million) in order to release all four sailors.

Aid sought

Following the kidnapping, the sailors kin created a Facebook page appealing for help in freeing them.

Lau said the family members decided to make the announcement on Wednesday because donors wanted to know what had happened to the money.

Those who want to get detailed about the information can contact the Special Branch and Hong Leong Bank in Sandakan, the Star quoted him as saying.

Wong Teck Kang, meanwhile, told reporters that the four had feared that they would not survive the kidnapping after they were shown a video of a beheading, according to local media.

During their captivity, Abu Sayyaf beheaded Canadian hostage John Ridsdel, five hours after a ransom deadline passed on April 25. On Monday, Abu Sayyaf executed a second Canadian hostage, Robert Hall.

In November, Abu Sayyaf beheaded Bernard Then, a Malaysian citizen who had been abducted from a seaside restaurant in Sabah in May 2015.

I am not sure why [they showed us the beheading]  we were really scared, Wong told reporters Wednesday at his family home in Pulau Li Hua, Sibu. We didnt think wed be freed. Every day we prayed that we would survive.

He said their feet were chained except for when they were transferred to another location, or if they wanted to use the toilet. Their captors allowed them to communicate with relatives several times.

The four were taken hostage from their tugboat while it sailed to Sarawak, a state that borders Sabah on the island of Borneo, from Manila. Five other crew members on the Malaysian-registered timber-hauling barge  three from Myanmar and two from Indonesia  were left behind.

The hijacking occurred a week after Abu Sayyaf abducted 10 Indonesian sailors in Philippine waters bordering Sabah. The 10 were released on May 1 and Indonesian officials did not comment on whether a ransom had been paid.
Thai rangers inspect the site of a roadside bombing in Narathiwat provinces Rangae district that targeted a police patrol car, March 29, 2016.

Criminal syndicates and corrupt officials promote and profit from violence in Thailands Deep South, clouding efforts to resolve an insurgency there, people who know the region well told BenarNews.

Violent incidents occur almost daily in provinces on Thailands southern border where a separatist conflict has lasted for decades. More than 15,000 gun or bomb attacks have been recorded in the region since January 2004, according to Deep South Watch, a local think-tank.

Police typically pin the blame on insurgents, but notoriously elusive rebel groups never claim or deny responsibility for attacks.

We cannot deny that there are separatists. There are many, in fact, Saki Pitakkhumpol, a professor of peace studies at Prince of Songkla University in southern Thailand, told BenarNews.

But there are contraband smuggling rings, and they need to create an environment to facilitate their business. As well, there are drug-trafficking syndicates, and personal conflicts among local gang-landers, he said, adding, When they get angry at each other, they use bomb attacks. When the officials cannot identify the real cause, they say the incidents are separatist-related.

Apart from drug-smuggling, the Deep South has been notorious as a transit route for the cross-border smuggling into neighboring Malaysia of undocumented migrants and Muslim Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

Moreover, underground syndicates hire separatist groups to carry out attacks to divert the real attention from them, said Saki, whose father, Asis Pitakkhumpol, is Thailands Sheikhul Islam, or government-appointed leader of Thai Muslims.

Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces, near the Thai border with Malaysia, were part of a Malay Muslim sultanate annexed by mostly Buddhist Thailand over a century ago. Today 80 percent of the Deep Souths 1.7 million residents are Muslim Malay-Patani, or Muslim Thais, a term preferred by Thai authorities.

Since the separatist insurgency reignited in 2004, more than 6,500 people of both faiths and all ages have been killed, according to Deep South Watch.

Saki Pitakkhumpol [Photo courtesy of Saki Pitakkhumpol]

Climate of fear

Much of the violence in the Deep South is carried out by the most powerful insurgent group, Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), according to Samrej Srirai, a general, now retired, who was posted in the south from 2005 to 2013.

The BRN wants to have independence. Its tactics are violent attacks and to exploit Islamism by depicting [Thais] as Siamese infidel intruders, said Samrej, who was deputy commander of the 4th Army Region, which oversees southern Thailand, at the end of his tenure.

They have a secretive chain of command, and sleeper cells of RKK militants, he said, using the Malay-language acronym for an armed group in the south, Runda Kumpulan Kecil.

The cells do not know anyone beyond their direct commanders, and the cells do not know each other, he told BenarNews.

In addition, the insurgents have a shadow administration in the provincial level, the district level, and down to village level.

But violence is also carried out by criminal syndicates who smuggle palm oil, petroleum and bootlegged goods into Thailand, and illegal drugs into Malaysia, he said.

Black marketers used thugs to create turbulence, to cause a climate of fear, he said.

The underground syndicates are the allies of the insurgents, but they do not have armed elements of their own, he added.

He alleged that authorities were being paid off by the syndicates.

Drugs, oil smuggling, these illegal activities cannot be conducted without Thai officials involvement. Gangsters gave them a kickback, he said.

Speaking to BenarNews on condition of anonymity, a Narathiwat resident close to an illicit smuggling ring said that illegal activities had been going on for a long time in the Deep South and that some local and national-level leaders had been involved.

There have been illegal activities that are backed by local politicians and national-level politicians. The methamphetamine trade is an obvious [example], he said.

The border towns of Sungai Kolok, Dan Nok and Padang Besar are transit points for drugs to Malaysia, and some operators have both Malaysian and Thai citizenship so they can escape prosecution in Thailand, he said.

Criminal syndicates even sponsor insurgent violence to distract authorities, he alleged.

There are good and bad persons in any organization

According to Col. Pramote Prom-in, a spokesman the regional forward office of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), violence perpetrated by insurgents is a tiny fraction of violence carried out across the region by criminal elements.

The insurgent-induced violence in Deep South accounts for only 5 percent, while 95 percent is linked to what we call opportunistic threats: violence by racketeering in drugs trade, illegal goods and oil smuggle and so on, Pramote told BenarNews.

Nonetheless, authorities in the Deep South have suspected insurgents of being behind a spate of attacks that has killed at least 44 people across the region since early February.

We cannot verify whether there are officials involved. There are good and bad persons in any organization but we have punishments for that, Pramote said, adding that military officers face two-times harsher punishments for taking part in criminal activity.

Former Army Lt. Gen. Manas Kongpaen is on trial in Bangkok with some 90 other suspected members of a major human trafficking ring that allegedly operated in Thailand southern border region and was uncovered last year during a Thai crackdown on illegal immigration.

In many cases, there are links between the racketeers and insurgents because they use the same groups of militants and the same weapons, Pramote said.

Its not going to go away

On top of the prevalence of criminal gangs operating in the region, there are some 9,000 militants in the Deep South affiliated with a variety of insurgent groups and factions, according to estimates by the government and by Mara Patani, a committee representing the rebels that has been involved in recent efforts to restart peace talks.

Those efforts ground to an apparent halt in April when the Thai government declined to endorse terms of reference that the two sides had hammered out in a series of encounters over a years time.

At the time, lead Thai negotiator Gen. Aksara Kerdpol said it was unclear whether rebel ranks were united behind Mara Patani.

Gen. Samrej suggested that the only way to achieve peace would be to reach out to the RKK commanders.

We need to talk with those middle-level commanders in Deep South to stop the carnage, he said.

Metha Mekharath, chairman of Muslims for Peace in Narathiwat, said the missing element in the peace process was political will to solve the problem.

The problem in the Deep South has a long history. Its not going to go away. I believe government agencies have all the information about the insurgents. What have they done with it? he asked.
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Von: By FRITZ ESSER

Europes unions are united against Brexit!

In a joint appeal, 20 leaders of important unions are fighting against the danger of a UK exit of the EU. In a weeks time, the Brits will vote on Brexit in a referendum. Polls show that both camps are more or less neck and neck.

In their appeal (which has been made available to BILD), the union leaders issue a warning on the risks for millions of British and European workers.

Legislation enforcing basic rights like paid annual leave, limits on working time, equal pay, parental leave, workplace safety and fair treatment for part-time and agency workers have been won at EU level by trade union campaigning. There is no guarantee that these rights will be maintained in national law by the current British government.

A growing number of research studies warn Brexit would also put at risk hundreds of thousands of jobs in the UK, and provoke a drop in GDP, consumer spending and the value of sterling.

At the same time, it would weaken the EU economically and politically, undermining the interests of workers across Europe.

Lesen Sie auch

The letter also criticizes concessions for Great Britain with respect to, for example, immigration and social benefits for foreigners. We believe the concessions () are in breach of the EU treaties and damage social Europe.

The danger is that any Member State will feel it has the right to reject commonly agreed rules, using Britain as the precedent, and creating a self-service EU, where everybody takes what they need and votes anything out that is inconvenient for powerful national interest groups.

Lesen Sie auch

The signatories represent more than 23 million union members. They include, among others, Reiner Hoffmann (DGB), Frances O'Grady, (TUC, Great Britain), Michael Vassiliadis (IG BCE), Frank Bsirske (Verdi), Rudi de Leeuw (European Trade Union Confederation), and Susanna Camusso (CGIL, Italy).
Seven days until the voting |

In a weeks time, the Brits will decide whether their country will leave the EU (Brexit). According to some polls, the leave camp is now ahead. This is the result of unprecedented mud-slinging, which has included distortions, half-truths, and lies. Often, these have been anti-German and xenophobic.

BILD offers a few examples.

Lesen Sie auch

The Nazi comparison

Brexit leader Boris Johnson (51, the conservative former mayor of London) thinks the EU is another attempt to force Europe together. He says: Napoleon, Hitler, various people tried this. The EU is the attempt to achieve it by other means.

The truth is: the EU is not a centralized state, but a federation, in which central questions are answered consensually. In the 60 years since the foundation of the EU, its members have not led any wars against each other  in contrast to the prior two centuries.

Moreover, any country that wants to become an EU member must first contractually settle conflicts involving borders or minorities with all of its neighbours.

The inpouring of Turks

British media have issued warnings that 12 million Turks would enter the island if Turkey were to join the EU. Penny Mordaunt, Brexit supporter and Minister of State for the Armed Forces, declared to the BBC that Great Britain could not veto Turkeys access to the EU.

The truth is: every single one of the 28 EU member states has the right to veto a further enlargement of the EU.

Cancer deaths

Vote Leave leader Gisela Stuart suggested that the EU is to blame for thousands of British breast cancer deaths. Allegedly, the EU prohibits a drug that is already in use in the US.

The truth is: the manufacturer, Pfitzer, only applied to the relevant EU authorities for the drugs EU approval in August 2015. The approval process usually takes 18 months  which is less time than that taken by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Cost explosion

We are liable for the Eurozone rescue packages, say Brexit supporters. Moreover, due to the EUs unpaid bills, a bill of more than 3 billion euros is expected soon.

The truth is: The EUs rescue packages are financed by Euro countries alone  which does not include the UK. The unpaid bills are EU accounting agreements for their support programmes, which usually run for several years.

Only then will the EU states have to pay into the commonly agreed budget.

Lesen Sie auch

The Brexit dividend

Boris Johnson proclaimed that an EU exit would mean that the British EU contribution of 442 million euros (350 million pounds) per week would be spent on the national healthcare system.

The truth is: after subtracting the UK rebate and the return flow from EU funds to the UK, the remaining net UK contribution in 2014 amounted to 4.9 billion euros (which is about the same as the much smaller Netherlands payment). This equates to 94.7 million euros per week.




First up, Joe Biden is thinking about dropping tariffs against China. But theres a spy in prison this morning that helps us understand why he shouldnt. Ill explain.





Your second brief, If youre looking for a good paying job, you might consider being a CEO for a health insurance company. One executive made $142M dollars last year. Let's talk about that.





And as always, Im keeping an eye out for developing stories. Put this one on your radar. Mexican cartels are grooming American kids online and paying them cash to traffic illegals or run drugs across the border. Ill share details.





If you enjoyed this episode of the President's Daily Brief, remember to subscribe and listen daily at podfollow.com/pdb.

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For Immediate Release, June 15, 2016 Contacts: Anne Mariah Tapp, Grand Canyon Trust, (512) 565-9906, atapp@grandcanyontrust.org

Ted Zukoski, Earthjustice, (303) 996-9622, tzukoski@earthjustice.org

John Weisheit, Living Rivers and Colorado Riverkeeper, (435) 259-1063, john@livingrivers.org

Rob Dubuc, Western Resource Advocates, (801) 487-9911, rob.dubuc@westernresources.org

Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity, (801) 300-2414, tmckinnon@biologicaldiversity.org

Anne Hawke, Natural Resources Defense Council, (202) 513-6263, ahawke@nrdc.org

Jonathon Berman, Sierra Club, (202) 495-3033, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org

Denni Cawley, Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, (415) 937-3887, dcawleyuphe@gmail.com Groups to Feds: Plan for Americas First Commercial Oil Shale Facility Not in Public Interest Strip Mining Plan Threatens Land, Water, Wildlife, Climate VERNAL, Utah Fourteen conservation groups submitted formal comments to the Bureau of Land Managements Vernal Field Office on Tuesday urging the Obama administration to deny rights-of-way across federal public lands that would allow an Estonian energy giant to sidestep environmental review and pave the way for the first commercial oil shale project in the United States, north of Utahs scenic Book Cliffs. The groups also delivered more than 35,000 comments from citizens opposed to the project. The BLM is moving forward to grant utility rights-of-way to Enefit American Oil, a subsidiary of Estonian government-owned Eesti Energia. Enefit seeks to strip-mine 9,000 acres for oil shale near the Green and White rivers, and ultimately expand its operations to process up to 1.2 billion barrels of kerogen oil. The BLM is charged with safeguarding the American public interest and our national inheritance  our federal public lands, said Anne Mariah Tapp, energy program director for the Grand Canyon Trust. But instead the BLM is preparing to flip the on switch for Enefits massive oil shale strip mine and jump-start development of one of the worlds most polluting industries. The interests of an Estonian mining giant should not trump those of the American public. The groups argue the BLM would be allowing Enefit to sidestep critical environmental reviews designed to protect public health, land, air, water and wildlife. The company has yet to reveal a development plan for its mining project, but requests approval for its rights-of-way nonetheless. Enefits massive strip-mining and refining operations will unleash significant air and climate pollution in an area thats already suffering from some of the nations most unhealthy wintertime smog, said Ted Zukoski, an attorney with the pro bono law firm Earthjustice. But Enefit has refused to provide federal agencies or the public with information about the projects air and climate pollution until after it gets BLMs OK to start building access for water, power and roads. Thats backward. Enefit cant be allowed to game the system by getting federal approval first, but only owning up to the projects damage later. The groups comments assert that the rights-of-way would amount to a federal subsidy. The Interior Department is working against President Obamas climate goals here, said Taylor McKinnon, with the Center for Biological Diversity. Subsidizing the development of one of the worlds dirtiest fossil fuels is the opposite of climate leadership. Doing so in the Colorado River Basin is the opposite of prudent water policy. The administration should abandon this project now. The BLM lacks critical information it needs to assess whether the project is in the public interest, including the long-term air quality and climate impacts of emissions from mining and processing; the quantity and source of water required; water-quality impacts related to the estimated 23 million tons of spent shale waste a year the project would produce; and potential consequences for endangered species. Its unfathomable  and inconsistent with the administrations climate goals  for BLM to give Enefit access to public lands so it can damage them, threaten surrounding communities and worsen both air quality and climate change, said Amy Mall, a senior policy analyst with the Natural Resources Defense Councils Land and Wildlife Program. Enefit has not provided enough data on the potential impacts of its mining project and BLM shouldnt make a decision based on an incomplete environmental assessment. Local groups are also drawing attention to threats to Utah. The utility corridor will facilitate a massive oil shale development that will further compound the damage to Utah's air, water, wildlife and land, said Denni Cawley, executive director of Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment. This is not the right direction to go to secure a sustainable future for those who live in that area." Shale waste runoff will contaminate Evacuation Creek, the White River and the Green River, which are all important for the recovery of endangered fish, and for communities downstream, said John Weisheit, conservation director for Living Rivers. An Estonian environmental advocate recently stated in an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune that in her country the oil shale industry has permanently damaged many of our most important natural resources and warned Utahns against similar harm.
The Intel Corporation within Nigeria has unveiled a new radio show, which according to the company, is set to empower women and girls, while connecting them to opportunities for personal growth in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

Image by 123RF

The radio show, which has been dubbed: She Will Connect, will air on a weekly basis on Nigerias very own WFM 91.7; while the new features column called Through her Eyes will feature on the Bella Naija blog.

The new initiative, according to Intel, is a part of the companys She Will Connect programme, and is targeted at helping young girls and women access an innovative combination of digital literacy training, online peer network, and gender-relevant content.

According to This Day Live, public relations and marketing manager of Intel West Africa, Adim Isiakpona, disclosed that the programme would bring millions of women online, and reduce the gap in access to internet and digital literacy skills for young women by up to 50%, while also connecting millions of women to new opportunities through technology.

According to Isiakpona: Girls and women are an important part in the growth of any economy and the She Will Connect programme has gone a long way to reach and enable them to do more.

Intel will continue to drive momentum into its She Will Connect programme. We want to use this radio show and the column on Bella Naija, to empower several girls and women by closing the gender gap in education access, inspiring more girls and women to become creators of technology, and connecting girls and women to opportunity through technology access, he concluded.
As part of its 'Picture This' campaign, Sony Pictures Television's Networks has launched the 'Picture This Festival for the Environment', celebrating stories of hope and progress in the protection and preservation of the environment.

Participating regions include the UK, Spain and Portugal, Russia, Central Europe (Poland, Romania and Hungary), South Africa, Latin America, Asia and the US.

The Festival will curate short videos; 30 seconds to seven minutes, from contests held by their networks around the world and select a grand prizewinner at an all-day event at the Sony Pictures Studios in Los Angeles this October.

Building upon the efforts of our networks around the world, which have encouraged their audiences to help improve the environment, we are now inviting creators everywhere to tell the stories of a better world, because the best stories are more than entertaining, they also motivate people to action, said Andy Kaplan, president, worldwide networks for Sony Pictures Television.

Eight participating network groups will accept entries from countries in their territories, which will be judged by a respected panel of local dignitaries and experts. The regional winner in each territory will be flown to Los Angeles, courtesy of American Airlines, for a day of events and a Hollywood screening on the Sony Pictures lot in October, when a global winner will be announced. Winners will be chosen based on the power of their storytelling and their illustration of the Picture This campaign: Picture a Better World.

The grand prizewinner will receive $5,000 as well as a Sony 4K package including a 55 4K TV and a Sony - Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Camera, courtesy of Sony Electronics.

Contest dates
After persistent minority shareholder pressure in the past few years, supermarket giant Pick n Pay Stores will collapse its archaic pyramid control structure Pick n Pay Holdings (Pikwik) - but the new set-up ensures voting control remains with the Ackerman family.

On Tuesday, the company said the much-derided structure would be dismantled in August through an exercise that entails Pikwik unbundling its holding in PicknPay Stores to its shareholders. Pikwik holds a 52.8% stake in Pick n Pay Stores.

The move unlocked more than R2bn in value yesterday as Pikwik shares soared.

But the status quo at Pick n Pay Stores remains. The Ackerman family  via Ackerman Investments  will retain voting control of PicknPay Stores after being issued a new class of unlisted B-shares.

The B-shares carry important voting rights but do not participate in dividends or any other distributions.

The Rupert family also controls investment giant Remgro through unlisted B-shares.

The Ackerman family has controlled Pick n Pay Stores for more than 50 years with the Pikwik arrangement in place since 1981.

Ackerman Investments speaks for about 48.5% of Pikwik  which means the family will retain voting control of Pick n Pay Stores with an economic interest of only 26%.

The market response was mixed with Pick n Pay Stores share price closing down 2.14% and Pikwik shares  which have traded at a sizeable discount to the operating company shares  jumping more than 13%.

Market watchers canvassed mostly thought that the development was positive, although there were questions around whether it was not better to execute a straightforward unbundling of Pikwiks Pick n Pay Stores shares without the complications of a B-share issue to the Ackerman family.

One analyst, who asked not be named, said the development was worthy of a bronze but not a gold medal.

"In terms of governance and unlocking value it would have been much better if they had gone the whole way and simply unbundled Pikwiks Pick n Pay Stores shares without retaining an artificial control structure.

"Although it is not going to be a case of one shareholder one vote, the Pikwik discount has been erased and there will be a welcome boost in liquidity for Pick n Pay Stores shares."

Shareholder activist Theo Botha was not impressed.

"They are removing a pyramid control structure and replacing it with B-shares.

"Where is the benefit to Pick n Pay Stores shareholders that until 2009 carried the corporate costs of Pikwik?"

But Opportune Investments Chris Logan  who has successfully railed against other pyramid structures on the JSE and has been a fierce critic of Pick n Pay Stores control structure  believes the dismantling of Pikwik was a good move.

"It will eliminate the discount at which Pikwik trades and boost liquidity of Pick n Pay shares."

Logan said that having the Ackerman family control vesting in the unlisted B shares was not a utopian scenario from a governance standpoint.

"But it is a common occurrence among founding families on the JSE. The fact that Pick n Pay has made a strong recovery, and is performing operationally, makes the B shares a lot more palatable."

Almost every annual general meeting for the last handful of years has seen Pick n Pay Stores directors questioned about dismantling the pyramid structure.

The JSE also discourages artificial control structures, which work against natural market forces.

In recent years, the Ackerman family has vehemently defended the Pikwik structure  but the family did compromise by removing the low voting N-share structure in 1999.

In recent years certain minority shareholders have contended that the Ackerman familys artificial control should not be a licence for long periods of underperformance.

In the last decade Pick n Pay Stores has markedly lagged its main rivals Shoprite, Spar and Woolworths in terms of profit growth.

As recently as the 2014 annual general meeting Pick n Pay Stores chairman Gareth Ackerman reiterated that family control of Pick n Pay would continue  arguing that the appointment of former Tesco heavyweight Richard Brasher as CEO meant the company had shifted from being "family run" to being "family controlled and professionally run".

At that time he argued that the Ackerman familys ability to focus on longer-term strategic goals had been referred to as "patient capital".

On Tuesday, Ackerman said the family had for some time been looking to unbundle the pyramid in a way that benefited the company and all shareholders.

He said the new B-share proposals would create a control structure that was not only recognised domestically and internationally, but was also more compliant with modern corporate governance standards.

Ackerman believes that having one listed entity for all shareholders should improve Pick n Pay Stores appeal to investors  which could help the companys long-term growth strategy.
Brait, the owner of UK chains New Look, Virgin Active and Iceland Foods along with South African fast moving consumer goods group Premier, reported on Tuesday that its net asset value per share grew 76.7% to R77.12 over the year to end-March.

Customers take a break at Virgin Active's Soweto gym. Picture: The Times

Its biggest investment is clothing retailer New Look, which accounted for R35bn, or 45% of its R78bn total assets under management.

Gym chain Virgin Active accounted for 23%, Premier 15% and Iceland Foods 9% of total assets.

It declared a dividend of 136.27c, with a scrip alternative for shareholders who want additional shares instead of cash.

New Look grew its revenue 5.4% in pounds sterling. Sales via its own website, Newlook.com, grew 28% and third party e-commerce sales were up 42%.

New Look opened its first six standalone menswear stores in the UK and expanded into China where it has grown to 85 from 19 stores in its previous financial year.

New Looks total number of stores increased to 838 from 809.

Virgin Active increased its total clubs by nine to 276, following the opening of three new "Collection" clubs in Europe, 10 new clubs opened in Southern Africa, including four entry-level Virgin Active "Red" clubs and its first club in Botswana. The gym chain also opened three new clubs in Asia-Pacific. One of Braits first moves after taking over Virgin Active was to sell 35 of its UK clubs to Nuffield Health, a not-for-profit healthcare organisation.

Its strategy is to "focus on operating and developing prime sites in metropolitan hubs in its key geographies," the company said in Tuesdays results statement.

Virgin Actives UK business will now be focused on London, the southeast and other metropolitan areas.

Premiers milling operations suffered from significant increases in grain prices due to the severe drought, rand depreciation and the effect of a wheat import tariff.

Premier acquired Lil-lets in 2013, and its "backward integration into tampon manufacturing in SA, has been a success and its efforts to expand into new markets in China and the Middle East are on track".

Brait said highlights of the year included redeeming all 20-million of its preference shares on January 18, paying their face value of R100 plus dividends accrued to that date.
BT has announced that it is working with Gallerie Commerciali Italia to create new digital customer experiences for shoppers in Italy. Under a new three-year contract, BT will provide Gallerie Commerciali Italia - which owns or operates 43 shopping centres and six retail parks across Italy, with a range of ICT infrastructure services, customer relationship management (CRM) and in-store solutions - to prove how digital technology can grow the appeal of retail spaces and provide new business services to retailers, as well as offer an enhanced omni-channel customer experience.

The digital transformation project will involve a range of in-store multi-sensory solutions, spanning sight, sound, smell and touch. These will change how customers and retailers interact within stores, offering new ways to engage and communicate using smart screens, mobile devices and in-store radio as well as scent diffusion.

Underpinning the digital transformation project will be a BT network, providing fixed and wireless connectivity. Gallerie Commerciali Italia will use the network to control and bring together data from digital devices throughout its malls and to provide free Wi-Fi for shoppers. The big data gathered by the network will be analysed and used to offer services to retailers to help further enhance customer experience.

Pilot phase

The pilot phase of the project will involve three shopping centres, located in Vimodrone, Nerviano and Rescaldina, chosen to reflect the different features and sizes of shopping centers in Gallerie Commercialis portfolio. The outcomes of the pilot will provide insights and help fine-tune the roll-out of digital technologies across all of Gallerie Commerciali Italia malls, comprising 2200 stores visited by a total of 180 million people annually.

Edoardo Favro, CEO of Gallerie Commerciali Italia, commented: "We have launched an ambitious digital transformation and cross-functional project, with Italy leading the pilot for the international group. The project aims to offer truly engaging customer experiences. At the same time, we want to deepen our relationship with retailers, leveraging analytics to give them more insight on our visitors behaviours while maintaining a single governance process and close control of data. In BT we found a partner with the vision, capabilities and experience required to deliver that.

Hubertus von Roenne, vice-president, global industry practices, BT, said: "We feel very proud that Gallerie Commerciali Italia has entrusted BT with the deployment of this transformational project that shares and embraces our Digital Possible vision. BT, with its extensive retail experience and digital integration expertise, understands modern consumers expectations of physical store environments. These environments must offer the same ease and customised convenience of online shopping and be truly integrated with the digital world. This project shows that digital innovations are not just for online stores. They can help personalise the customer experience of the physical store and make a visit there much more engaging and attractive, as well as increasing the efficiency of retailers."

The Gallerie Commerciali Italia project reflects wider trends in digital transformation captured in the BT CIO report 2016: the digital CIO. The cross-sector international study finds that the business areas most keen for support on digital transformation programmes are marketing (44%), client relationship management (38%), research and development (37%) and sales (36%).
MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet has announced a new partnership through which loot.co.za, one of South Africa's top-five online retailers, will join the fundraising initiative that raises millions of rand for schools and charities every year.

MySchool supporters will now be able to shop loot.co.zas offering, and with every purchase loot.co.za will make a contribution to their chosen beneficiary. This donation will come from the retailer at no extra expense to the consumer.

The partnership comes at a crucial time as it enriches the MySchool offering to its supporters, allowing the fundraiser even more opportunities to contribute towards schools and charities in South Africa. Loot.co.za currently offers over 14 million products across 17 departments including: books, DVDs, music, games, electronics, toys, baby, kitchen and home, stationery, arts and crafts, outdoor, health and beauty, office supplies, DIY and more, with free delivery on purchases of R250 or more. MySchool currently has 1.1 million active cardholders and raises an average of R6 million per month for schools and charities.

With more and more South Africans embracing the convenience of online shopping, loot.co.za, as a strong, pure-play e-commerce retailer fills an essential gap in the MySchool partner network, said Pieter Twine MySchools GM. Its also great to have an online retail partner that has such a big product offering over so many categories. We are pleased to welcome loot.co.za and increase our retail partners to make it easier for our supporters to swipe more often, raise more funds and make an even bigger difference.

A good fit

The partnership is a good fit with loot.co.zas existing corporate social investment focus on education. As South Africans we should all be playing an active role in the upliftment of our youths and in improving the lives of all children in our country. This is why were so excited about the partnership, as it would make giving back even easier, said Gary Hadfield loot.co.zas CEO. Thats the driving force behind our motivation to get on board as a MySchool partner. Through the partnership we will be able to give back in a more tangible way.

All that MySchool supporters shopping on loot.co.za need to do at the checkout is enter their MySchool card number. Loot will then give back a percentage on every item purchased in the shop towards the MySchool programme. Existing Loot customers who dont have a MySchool card yet, can sign up online at myschool.co.za to get their free cards.

In celebration of Youth Day loot.co.za and MySchool will be donating 2,300 Tutudesks to learners who dont have desks at select under-resourced schools in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The Tutudesk Campaign, a MySchool beneficiary, has already assisted 1.3 million learners in 24 African countries with lap desks, which have significantly improved the overall learning experience for many pupils.
Lonmin CEO, Ben Magara, shares his views on the challenges of managing social risks and maintaining open lines of communication with a diverse range of stakeholders in times of cutbacks and budget restrictions.

Who is he?

He is a man who is passionate about mining, a man whose excitement is evident when he speaks about the challenges of digging, of blasting, of turning the three grams a tonne of platinum group metals begrudgingly yielded up by the hard igneous rock of the Bushveld Complex into metals that can be turned into wealth, turned into jewellery, turned into catalytic convertors that can save cities from choking in the fumes of the increasing demand for automobiles.

On leadership

Magara gives a straightforward answer, simple but profound: Show up, be there with passion and purpose. If you arent passionate about what you do, find another job, go somewhere else.

He doesnt dissolve into cliches about only having one life and the answer is not a slick, well-used refrain. He believes in what he does and seeks out opportunities to practice his profession  hes a miner who wears his hard hat with honour.

Ben Magara

Righting the wrongs of Marikana

In July 2013, when all of the platinum industry and most of South Africa were still reeling in horror after the events of August 2012, which left 44 people dead in Marikana, Magara walked away from the familiarity of an executive role at Anglo and joined Lonmin as its CEO.

Hes been asked why many times, not least by his former colleagues at Anglo, the company that had sponsored his studies and where he had grown from new recruit to CEO of Anglo Coal, putting in some time in the platinum mines along the way. He was driven to take it on, he says, because he felt there was a purpose.

Magara took on a company where everyone from the unionised workers, those who had wanted to strike and those who didnt, to executives, management and shareholders had suffered a deep sense of loss.

First week on the job

During his first week in the job, he skipped the Melrose Arch head office with its easy access to trendy coffee shops and restaurants, and headed to the shafts. That week he greeted around 22,000 of his new employees as they started shifts or came up from underground. Introducing himself as one of them.

The workers mocked him, he says, saying they had never had a CEO who knew about going underground. He told them he would be back to show them

Week 2

In his second week at Lonmin, Ben kept the shareholders and the financiers waiting a bit longer while he travelled to the Eastern Cape to meet the widows and the relatives of those who had died during that fateful week in August 2012.

He set in motion a process of offering bereaved families the opportunity for one member to be given employment, so that no family would be left without a breadwinner as well as a renewed focus on their childrens education. All of the child dependents are now in school, even those who hadnt been to school before the events. And he has led a process to fundamentally reassess the companys investment in employees and communities.

One of the first appointments he made was that of an executive vice-president in charge of communication and stakeholder relationships. This has previously been a human resources function. Even in these worst of times, that team has grown, supporting him in holding open the lines of communication and extending those to line managers and other executives.

And in the third week

In week three at Lonmin, he went back to the shafts to start a weekly tradition. He went underground with the team who had mocked him, to show them he understood what it meant to be a rock driller. And, in the uncomfortable confines of a one-metre platinum stope, he spoke to them about what it took to turn the meagre three grams a tonne of platinum they extracted into a saleable mineral  helping them to understand why their demands for a R12,500 minimum wage were always going to be difficult to achieve.

Bens a big man, so a day underground alongside them, experiencing the discomfort of moving in those confined spaces - with a hard hat on his head, knees protected by the caps that are necessary when crawling along these confined stopes - must elicit the kind of mutual respect needed to work with and help heal this deeply affected workforce. But, his face lights up and his energy is evident when he talks about his regular return visits to the mine shafts  once a week when he is in the country. They greet him with smiles when he comes, he says.

Read the second installment of Ben Magara's take on the platinum industry on Friday, 17 June.
Cape Town-based social impact incubator RLabs is rolling out 12 RLabsU campuses across Cape Town, offering free programmes aimed at developing digital entrepreneurs.

RLabs launched the RLabsU initiative in October of last year in Khayelitsha and Gugulethu in partnership with the College of Cape Town, with community members offered courses in small business management and introduction to computers.

The initiative is now being scaled across Cape Town, with RLabs launching 12 RLabsU campuses over the next six weeks alongside partners such as the Bandwidth Barn Khayelitsha, Omidyar Network and the City of Cape Town.

The 12 locations are in Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Strandfontein, Atlantis, Delft, Blue Downs, Rylands, Rocklands, Hanover Park, Heideveld, Manenberg and Athlone, with all set to be operating by July 2, according to RLabs co-founder Marlon Parker.

The goal is to develop and equip 50,000 community members each year in three years with this decentralised skills model that leverages existing community spaces and assets, Parker told Disrupt Africa.

This new model leverages existing MOOCs, academic partnerships and creative commons content that is contextualised providing relevant training programmes to communities who are unable to access these programmes.

Community members had previously accessed the courses by word of mouth, social media and messaging apps, but RLabs is scaling up awareness, not least through the launch of a mobile platform where community members can subscribe to various campuses and receive updates on courses that are currently being offered.
South Africa has made progress with land reform and there is now more certainty with regard to some worrying aspects. According to Dr John Purchase, Agbiz CEO, says " The government is now starting to accommodate a level of flexibility in its plans."

Dr John Purchase

Purchase said that the agriculture sector acknowledges that land reform in South Africa is necessary, even though it is a complex and emotive subject. The question is: How do we do it? The sector (businesses and producers) actively participates in all relevant forums to deliberate and help solve the land issue. We gave conditional support to most policies and legislation and we make suggestions and put alternative models on the table. Agbizs proposals in the Nareg process was, for instance, well accepted. We, however, have major concerns about issues such as the erosion of property rights. These issues need further intensive debate.

Overview

Purchase gave a comprehensive overview of land reform developments the past years, the working groups and processes and the acts and policies involved. He stressed that policy uncertainty and specifically the continuing erosion of individual property rights and the impact thereof on investment and subsequent food security remain a cause for concern. He explained his point of view during a panel discussion at the Agbiz congress.

We must firstly acknowledge that individual property rights, in whatever form, are the basis of wealth creation in society. If you vest that in the state, it leads to a poorer society. History has taught this all over the world. We need strong individual property rights in whatever form they are. It could be fixed property, intellectual property or any kind of property. These rights must be entrenched and citizens must have the opportunity to exercise this right, Purchase urged.

He referred to a project in the Parys district in the Free State introduced by the Free Market Foundation. The Kaya Lam project is sponsored by businessman Christo Wiese. In brief, the project entails that rental agreements are transferred to title deeds in townships. People who have been renting in townships for decades can now own property. They can improve and add value to that property and sell it at a profit. They can also rebuild or borrow against that property and drive their own entrepreneurial projects, Purchase said.

We should all support projects such as this one as it will change peoples lives.

Dialogue

South Africa has to get this issue of property rights on the table for dialogue, he urged. Our concern is with certain legislation such as the Private Securities Amendment Bill. If this becomes law, Agoa will also be subject to the bill and the Americans will exclude us from Agoa. They clearly said so.

Purchase referred to other matters that raise concern such as issues concerning land holdings and the Protection of Investment Act. We have to ensure that investment in private property is honoured by the government. This is a huge problem that we need to address in a number of pieces of legislation. We have to watch out for this. Individual property rights could go the same direction as mineral rights went.

Purchase said that, somewhere, one should start drawing the line in terms of what private property is and what government property is. These are huge issues that need much more dialogue, even at Nedlac.

Without investment by the multinational companies in South Africa, we will not be competitive in the agricultural market. We need their technology and expertise and the capital they bring to the market. We will have to make sure that multinational companies investments are protected in terms of the relevant legislation.

He admitted that balancing the issue of ownership with sustainable transformation is not easy. We have to get a single vision to ensure investment and growth while ensuring sustainable transformation.

Referring to agri-parks, Purchase said that some Agbiz members are already investigating opportunities in this regard, for example at Springbokpan in North West and in the Sondag Valley in the Western Cape.
Some have said, only half-jokingly, that an innovation only gets the investment they need to be perfected once the arms industry has seen a need for it. More worryingly, there is now good evidence that much of the innovation is being driven by increasingly organised, sophisticated and well-resourced cyber-criminals.

Mikko Lemola via 123RF

For example, one of the worlds first encrypted wireless network was created by a Mexican drug cartel. Submarines that cannot be detected by radar have been developed by, and are being manufactured on behalf of international smuggling syndicates. And then, of course, there are the software developers that create the software that allows hackers to access any system, from a power plant, oil refinery or similarly vital site to a bank. The Bangladeshi central bank recently lost more than $80m.

Cyber-crime innovation

The real issue here is that cyber criminals have become leading innovators in their own right, and they have the resources, both financial and human, to do whatever it takes to penetrate the most carefully constructed defences, said Kovelin Naidoo, CIO at Internet Solutions, speaking at a recent cyber security event hosted by ContinuitySA. We have to be aware that there is a vast hidden network of organisations and individuals who are focused on accessing the data and system for their own purposes.

These shadowy players make use of the 'deep' and 'dark' webs, which host an alternate economy where pretty much anything can be ordered and paid for in untraceable Bitcoins, including contract killings and replacement human organs. All of this covert activity falls into three broad categories: governments working against their enemies, activists motivated by a cause, or those simply motivated by profit.

The figures make for scary reading. The Verizon Data Breach Report 2016 noted 2,260 data breaches and 64,199 security incidents last year, overwhelmingly from external players, while the Dell Threat Report 2016 shows that the number of unique malwares is growing exponentially year on year.

Are you prepared?

Jeremy Capell, head of advisory at ContinuitySA, said that the threat posed by cyber criminals to businesses and governments has now become so severe and so sophisticated that nothing but a coordinated and integrated technical and business response across all domains would be effective.

A technical response to cybercrime is one important component, but its only part of the solution, he says. Companies need to understand what the risks of a breach are, but they also need to have a detailed, enterprise-wide response that will limit the damage. This damage is not restricted to direct financial loss, but also includes reputational damage, which can be devastating.

Capell says that organisations need to assess whether they are properly prepared. Do they have the right skills? Do they have a document set of processes and procedures in place? Do they have adequate threat intelligence? Very often sites are breached and corporate information is posted on deep web yet the organisation remains unaware of the breach. Is security conscious behaviour integrated into the corporate culture? And are all the risks known and properly communicated, and is the security and threat landscape constantly being monitored?

Cybercrime calls for a technical response, a business response and, increasingly, proper cyber insurance as well, Capell concludes.
The Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) Richards Bay team recently helped the crew of the Italian vessel, MV Peppino Bottiglieri when they found themselves in a dangerous situation.

TPT assisting Italian vessel MV Peppino Bottiglieri to remove problematic coal cargo

According to Nombuso Afolayan, TPT general manager: KZN Operations, Bulk, Break-Bulk and Cars, in mid-May TPT and TNPA were contacted by the vessel agent for the MV Peppino Bottiglieri cargo vessel requiring urgent layby berth in Richards Bay. The vessel was carrying coal, which had been loaded in Russia en route to Malaysia.

While rounding the Cape the crew discovered cargo coal smouldering in hatch #7 of the vessel. The crew was caught in a difficult situation because, in order to suppress the fire, CO2 gas was used in the hatch, however, the risk in using this gas is that the pressure builds up in the hatch further increasing the risk of explosion. Hence, air is allowed back into the hatch, which then further fuels the fire.

With no alternative but to seek help ashore, the vessel proceeded to the Port of Durban in search of assistance. However, due to vessel LOA and draft restrictions (the vessel is 229.2m long, and 12.5m draft) Durbans Port was unable to assist the vessel. With options and time running out, the vessel contacted the Richards Bay harbour master, who approached TPT Richards Bay. Together with TNPA, TPT worked on a solution that would best assist the vessel and the urgency of the matter, in a manner that would be both safe and effective for all involved.

On 13 May, the vessel berthed at Richards Bay and TPT proceeded to unload the cargo, and the smouldering coal was suppressed. Over the next three days, the cargo was then loaded back onto the vessel under the supervision of TPTs landside team with the final result of the successful operation including no further incidents - much to the relief and satisfaction of all parties involved.

We are delighted to have come to the aid of MV Peppino Bottiglieri in a situation that was potentially a life or death scenario. I am very proud of how our Richards Bay team handled themselves during this high risk and very stressful period and it speaks volumes to the highly skilled and experienced staff we have on site. We take the safety and security of our people and clients cargo very seriously and TPT has invested in a number of programmes and measures to instil a culture and mindset that reinforces this. It is in unforeseen circumstances such as this one that all the training and preparation to offset the risks and danger, pay off concluded Afolayan.
The Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry is convening a Cape Business Summit at the River Club in Observatory on 22 June 2016, starting at 8am.

Huge areas of uncertainty have been created for business by the rapid changes in the modern world and it is time to take stock and see where we are going. To do this we are convening a business summit where we will take a holistic view of the future of business, says Janine Myburgh, president of the Cape Chamber of Commerce.

We have arranged some inspirational input from Google, Uber and the Institute for Futures Research to get business people thinking about the challenges and opportunities opening up as the world changes.

Some the changes were political and would have a major impact on business confidence and investment while others were technological in nature.

Nearly 50 years ago, Alvin Toffler said in his book Future Shock that the illiterate of tomorrow will not be the person who cannot read, but the person who does not know how to learn. This goes to the heart of the matter and the business summit will be an opportunity to come to terms with the new technology flooding into our lives and businesses.

The pace of change was accelerating and businesses had to anticipate, adapt and take advantage of new opportunities. To do this it was essential to be more aware of the world around us. If there is one summit you need to attend this year this is it.

The speakers will include Luke McKend, a director of Google South Africa, Jonathan Ayache, Ubers GM in Cape Town, Dr Morne Mostert, director of the Institute for Futures Research, Jannie Mouton, founder and chairman of the financial services company PSG and Busisiwe Radebe, an economist from Nedbank. There will also be input from the City with talks by Alderman J P Smith who is responsible for safety and security on the Citys Mayoral Committee and Lance Greyling, the citys director of trade and investment.

For more information, call Denise Kolbe on +27 (0) 21 402 4300, email az.oc.rebmahcepac@esined or go to www.capechamber.co.za.
On Thursday 9 June in Cape Town and on 13 June in Johannesburg, the Red & Yellow School hosted information sessions to address the changes and updates to the B-BBEE Sector Code for the South African Marketing, Advertising and Communications (MAC) industry. BEE is focused on transformation, and that's exactly what the Charter is setting out to achieve.

Dionne Kerr, CEO of Siyakha Implementation Partners, gave a thorough presentation on the importance of transformation, BEE and creating a country that is filled with opportunities. The venue was fitting, as Kerr stated that the marriage between transformation and education is key, and change is important from both a national and industry perspective.

Kerr then moved to the topic of localisation, and how this speaks to more than simply BEE and really is the undercurrent that drives transformation legislation. Localisation focuses on three key areas: local content, capacity building and job creation.

The MAC industry on both agency and client side, needs to examine all the aspects of their business, and identify ways in which to engage local manufacturers and suppliers, instead of leveraging international companies.

Localisation stays true to the Proudly South African ideal; one which agencies need to adopt in order to invest in development and ultimately succeed.

The issue around education

Education plays a major role in our development on a personal and professional level. It gives us knowledge, skills and confidence to pursue our future careers, as well as provides us with the necessary life skills we need to succeed. However, South Africa is faced with the enormous challenge of providing adequate employment opportunities to educated and skilled youth, which, when unavailable, leads to despondency. South Africa has the third highest youth unemployment rate in the world, and this needs to change.

Socio-economic development is a wonderful thing, giving the youth a chance to study and gain experience at top colleges in South Africa  but its more than just a once-off investment. Paying for tuition is not enough, as there are still the costs of transport, accommodation, food and so on to consider when investing in young South Africans. The philosophy around education needs to change to ensure that students are settled and able to sustain themselves (and their families if necessary) during their studies, or they run the risk of being forced to drop-out due to a lack of funds.

Education to drive transformation

Katharina Scholtz, head of academics at Red & Yellow, updated us on some of the skills development programmes taking place. Skills development matters, because it offers us meaningful, sustainable ways to invest in transformation and accumulate B-BBEE scorecard points. While it cant completely replace aspects of the scorecard like ownership and management control, investment in skills and socio economic development in the form of education add considerably to a long term transformation strategy.

Skills development can be designed and rolled out internally (for existing staff) and externally (for suppliers, small enterprises and those looking to enter the industry). This can be done through short interventions such as workshops, medium term solutions like online and blended course programmes and longer term investments such as learnership funding, bursaries for degree and diploma candidates or part-time bursaries for existing employees.

At Red & Yellow, the focus is on offering solutions that demonstrate the philosophy of investing in the whole student, not only while theyre studying but also once theyve graduated and are seeking employment or work experience. While the formal qualifications do matter enormously, their transformation focus is on practical skills and work readiness. The Red & Yellow Springboard Programme is a great example of this, and has seen 43 graduates and 32 currently completing their workplace internships through the programme. Learners who complete this programme successfully could enter into a Red & Yellow diploma, extended degree programme or be absorbed into the industry. Of course, this is dependent on continued holistic support from the industry in terms of funding, mentorship and the creation of job opportunities for interns.

Without this proper support, these candidates will fail to thrive, they will not accumulate the skills and experience they need, will struggle to integrate socially and professionally and ultimately this will threaten our transformation efforts. The MAC Charter updates focus on this, which means that businesses within the industry can address the changes through investing in education.

Businesses need to understand the MAC Charter updates in order to play an active role in industry transformation through education and socio economic development initiatives.

Get in touch with Red & Yellow to discuss how we can help you achieve your transformation and education goals. Email: az.oc.wolleydnader@ofni. Tel.: 021 462 1946 / 011 067 3400.
There's an old adage, borrowed from dialogue in a George Bernard Shaw play, that goes: "Those who can't do, teach." The Loeries is now proving Shaw wrong by introducing MasterClasses this year - led by key doers of the brand communications industry. Taking place during Loeries Creative Week, the MasterClasses are a series of interactive sessions and workshops designed to inspire and educate. Taking place on Thursday, 18 August, at the Tsogo Sun Elangeni Hotel, each session is tailor-made to a specific area of creative communication.

Presenting MasterClasses are comedian and Loeries Creative Voice, Donovan Goliath (Turning ideas into currency); Accenture (Design and Innovation); Google (YouTube as a creative tool) and industry heavyweight, Mike Schalit, for IAS (Creativity vs strategy). Whether student, creative or marketer  there is something for everyone across the range of topics, and all participants will receive a Loeries MasterClass certificate.

Donovan Goliath

In addition to the MasterClasses, the Mobile Marketing Association of South Africa (MMA SA) will be hosting a Mobile Marketing Leadership Forum on Transforming Marketing through Mobile, on Thursday, 18 August, and the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA) is hosting its annual conference during Loeries Creative Week Durban, on 1718 August, under the tagline Advance, Rise, Grow.

Following on from the MasterClasses is the Loeries DStv Seminar of Creativity, which takes place on 19 August with a heavyweight line-up of global thought leaders.

About Loeries MasterClasses

Comedian and Loeries Creative Voice Donovan Goliaths morning MasterClass, starting at 10am, is titled Turning ideas into currency. As one who has transformed his wild imagination to currency, Goliaths talk is geared towards students and young creatives, and will provide insight on how they can grow in their roles with confidence by converting their creative ideas into tangible deliverables  and cold, hard cash.

Also at 10am, the Accenture MasterClass, on the topic Design and Innovation, is highly recommended for anyone wanting to hone their marketing and innovation skills. Further information about the Accenture MasterClass will be released soon.

The afternoon session kicks off at 2pm, and attendees will have a choice of either the Google MasterClass, titled YouTube as a creative tool, or the IAS MasterClass, titled Creativity vs strategy. The Google MasterClass aims to assist mid-level creatives and marketing managers to better understand how to use YouTube to its full potential, offering the opportunity to reach millions of people globally.

Marketing directors and managers wont want to miss the IAS MasterClass presented by Mike Schalit, co-founder of Net#work BBDO and creative chief of BBDO South Africa. The session will give insight into and advice on how to walk the often fraught tightrope between magic and logic; and find ways to align their creative impulses with the agency, brand or companys overarching strategy. Schalit will demystify the creative process by providing practical insight into how the person or team least equipped to judge creativity can actually make more of the right calls to enable the most powerful, relevant and imaginative ideas.

Entrance to the IAS MasterClass is R750. The other MasterClasses are complimentary to Loeries delegates and members of the public, although seating is very limited and booking essential.

For bookings and more information about Loeries Creative Week Durban and the Loeries MasterClasses, visit loeries.com.

Loeries Creative Week Durban takes place from 15-21 August 2016, with the awards ceremonies on 20 and 21 August.

Major partners of the Loeries 2016

Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN), the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, KwaZulu-Natal Province (EDTEA), EThekwini Municipality  Durban Tourism, DStv Media Sales, Gearhouse South Africa

Category partners

Accenture, Adams & Adams, ADreach, Channel O, Facebook, Film & Publication Board, Google, JCDecaux, Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA), The Times, Unilever South Africa, Woolworths, YFM

Additional partners and official suppliers

AAA School of Advertising, Antalis South Africa, Aon South Africa, Arcade Content, Association of Practitioners in Advertising, Backsberg, BEE Online, Brand Council SA, Clive Stewart Photography, Egg Films, First Source, Funk Productions, Gallo Images, Graphica, Grid Worldwide, HelloCrowd, Hetzner, Mobile Marketing Association South Africa, Multiprint Litho, Newsclip, Paygate, Rocketseed, Red Hot Ops, Scan Display, South African Airways, Telkom SA SOC Ltd, Tiekie Barnard Consultancy, Tsogo Sun, Vega School of Brand Leadership

Official media partners

Adlip.com, Between 10and5, Bizcommunity.com, Coloribus Advertising Archive, Design Times, Film & Event Media, iDidTht.com, Marketing Edge Nigeria, Music in Africa, The Redzone




Cape Town-based machine learning startup, DataProphet, has entered into an investment partnership with a global investment and private equity group. Following Yellowwoods Capital Holdings' recent acquisition of a significant interest in the machine learning company, DataProphet will be acting as the advanced analytics partner for the group.

Daniel Schwartzkopff, DataProphet

Yellowwoods Capital Holdings is a member of the European-based global investment and private equity focused Yellowwoods Group. The groups local investments include Hollard Insurance, Clientele Limited and Nandos, amongst others.

DataProphets commercial director and co-founder, Daniel Schwartzkopff, comments: It has given us the freedom to do what we are good at while also being able to invest in additional resources and machines if and when necessary.

Schwartzkopff emphasises that investment in the company is a good indication for growth of the field moving forward. DataProphet custom-builds solutions for clients to help them improve on their processes. These solutions include an agent lead matching algorithm (US patent pending), priority lead identification algorithm, time allocation algorithm and fraud detection.

Gradual uptake

While machine learning has been around for some time now, this has mainly been as an academic subject, rather than an industry in itself. Global interest and uptake of this technology is significant with industry giants Facebook, Google and Uber recognising and utilising machine learning solutions, he says.

We are also working closely with a number of small businesses in Silicon Valley, San Francisco Bay area. South African businesses havent been as quick to jump on board as those in the US, mainly due to a shortage of artificial intelligence skills in the country. Recently, however, a number of large local and international corporates in South Africa have begun to allow for these solutions in their budgets, says Schwartzkopff.

He explains that, while DataProphet is good at building algorithms, any machine learning business requires partners who have data for which these products can be developed. Schwartzkopff highlights that such a partnership is mutually beneficial in that businesses are increasingly concerned about disruptive technologies.

This is especially relevant in the South African context where cost efficiencies for businesses as well as consumers are necessary to extend financial inclusion.
The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi) in partnership with Media24 has launched The Hub @ Media24, with the aim to develop a new generation of skilled coders for the media company. The Hub was officially launched on 1 June and is located in the Bandwidth Barn in Woodstock, CiTi's business accelerator and incubator.

The initial pilot programme, which is currently underway, will train 16 coders specifically for entry-level positions at two of Media24's businesses: 24.com and Spree.Over six months, the students will be trained in PHP, .NET, JavaScript and Android programming languages  all used by Media24. In addition to gaining practical coding experience, the students will be given support and training in the wider skills required to find a job as a coder, including professional skills such as interview techniques.

Customised for Media24

With both aspects of the course customised for Media24, the company benefits from employees who are both upskilled in the specific coding languages the company uses, as well as having six months of exposure to the Media24 business and culture. This both improves the students chances of a successful first job, and fast tracks the impact they can have on the business they join.

The skills shortage for young web development talent is well documented and through our new graduate programme we aim to close that gap by not only providing IT training, but also preparing young people for tech jobs ... said Media24 chief executive Esmare Weideman.

Media24 has large digital media platforms and applications in South Africa in its stable, with over 100 software developers working across web, mobile and OpenSource. We snap up more software developers than the market can supply. And so weve taken to training the tech talent we need by partnering with CapaCiTi, said Weideman.

Bridging the gap

The Hub @ Media24 is modelled on CiTis successful CapaCiTi programmes, which between 2011 and the end of 2016 will have trained and placed 900 candidates in IT jobs at more than 100 leading companies in the Western Cape. As part of the partnership with Media24, CapaCiTi facilitated the recruitment of the candidates and training providers, the set up of the lab, monitoring the curriculum including the international certifications, as well as the corporate life skills programme customised for Media24.

We are facing a tech skills shortage in South Africa for a range of reasons, said Alethea Hagemann, head of the CapaCiTi skills development programme at CiTi. From lack of awareness of IT as an exciting career prospect at school level, to the misperception that you need a university computer science degree to break into this field.

Whats more, a lack of practical experience and little business behaviour modelling mean that too many graduates remain unemployed once completing their tertiary education. The CapaCiTi programmes were developed to bridge this gap by fast tracking candidates into their first IT jobs.
In celebration of a centenary of filmmaking in the province, the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission (KZNFC) will offer masterclasses as part of its Film Week programme during the Durban International Film Festival, 16-26 June 2016.

The first film that recognised and utilised the province of KwaZulu-Natal as its stage, was a film titled A Zulus Devotion, which was shot in

1916, directed by Joseph Albrecht.

During the Durban International Film Festival, KZNFC will host a series of master classes hosted by its special guests during the festival. The highlights of the master class series will be hosted by the legendary music icon Caiphus Semenya, hosting a master class on music in film and Darrell Roodt the director of the film Sarafina! The Master Classes will take place at the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission newly established Film Hub in Musgrave Towers, 115 Musgrave Road, Durban.

Masterclasses

Daryl Roodt - Learn the tricks of being a director with great credits  17 June 2016

The master class by South African film director, screenwriter and producer  Darrell Roodt. Roodt known for his 1992 film Sarafina! is regarded as one of South Africa's most prolific film directors. He has worked with the late Patrick Swayze in Father Hood , James Earl Jones in Cry, the Beloved Country and Ice Cube in Dangerous Grounds .

The master class by South African film director, screenwriter and producer  Darrell Roodt. Roodt known for his 1992 film is regarded as one of South Africa's most prolific film directors. He has worked with the late Patrick Swayze in , James Earl Jones in and Ice Cube in . Caiphus Semenya - Music meets Film  18 June 2016

Music can make or break a film, how do you select good music for your movie? Caiphus Semenya will host this master class. Semenya is one of South Africas foremost musical directors and composers, with recent credits including the music scores for the SABC series Molo Fish, Vicious Circle and Gaba Mootho, as well as a lifetime of work as a performer and arranger of African music. Semenya left South Africa in the 1960s, together with his wife, singer Letta Mbulu. Whilst in exile, he worked with compatriots Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa, Hotep Galeta and Miriam Makeba amongst many others. He subsequently took up residence in Los Angeles, where his talent resulted in work with the top range of American artists and producers, and saw his compositions being performed by Cannonball Adderley, Harry Belafonte, The Crusaders, Lou Rawls and Nina Simone, amongst others. Most notable have been his regular collaborations with Quincy Jones. The association has seen Semenya composing all the African music for Alex Hayleys Roots Pt 1 and Pt 2 and the African music for the Steven Spielberg directed Colour Purple . Semenyas work for Colour Purple earned him an Oscar Nomination.

Music can make or break a film, how do you select good music for your movie? Caiphus Semenya will host this master class. Semenya is one of South Africas foremost musical directors and composers, with recent credits including the music scores for the SABC series Molo Fish, Vicious Circle and Gaba Mootho, as well as a lifetime of work as a performer and arranger of African music. Semenya left South Africa in the 1960s, together with his wife, singer Letta Mbulu. Whilst in exile, he worked with compatriots Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa, Hotep Galeta and Miriam Makeba amongst many others. He subsequently took up residence in Los Angeles, where his talent resulted in work with the top range of American artists and producers, and saw his compositions being performed by Cannonball Adderley, Harry Belafonte, The Crusaders, Lou Rawls and Nina Simone, amongst others. Most notable have been his regular collaborations with Quincy Jones. The association has seen Semenya composing all the African music for Alex Hayleys Pt 1 and Pt 2 and the African music for the Steven Spielberg directed . Semenyas work for Colour Purple earned him an Oscar Nomination. Kirk Cooper - Market Readiness Workshop  22 June 2016

Our filmmakers often attend markets and festivals, locally and internationally. It is important therefore that they are equipped to maximise on their attendance and have a beneficial experience. Coopers involvement in the film industry began with the Black Film and Video Network, a stint that led to independent programming and publicity for several festivals, where he achieved success on numerous films selected for ReelWorld, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Montreal World Film Festival, Hot Docs, and CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival. His work has taken him to Cannes, LA and his accumulative network of contacts now extends beyond North America to include Europe, South Africa, India and the Caribbean, successfully contributing to creating Film Market Access.

Our filmmakers often attend markets and festivals, locally and internationally. It is important therefore that they are equipped to maximise on their attendance and have a beneficial experience. Coopers involvement in the film industry began with the Black Film and Video Network, a stint that led to independent programming and publicity for several festivals, where he achieved success on numerous films selected for ReelWorld, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Montreal World Film Festival, Hot Docs, and CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival. His work has taken him to Cannes, LA and his accumulative network of contacts now extends beyond North America to include Europe, South Africa, India and the Caribbean, successfully contributing to creating Film Market Access. Film Policy Review  22 June 2016

The National film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and Gauteng Film Commission will host an industry consultation session on the proposed changes to the Dti Foreign Film and Television Production rebate. The proposed changes have come about as proposals from members of the film industry. The Dti will be in attendance.

The National film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and Gauteng Film Commission will host an industry consultation session on the proposed changes to the Dti Foreign Film and Television Production rebate. The proposed changes have come about as proposals from members of the film industry. The Dti will be in attendance. The Film Mrs Right Guy. A Story Development Case Study.  24 June 2016 Mokopi Shale and Cati Weinek, the writing team of the recently released hit film Mrs Right Guy, will explore the journey of producing the film at the development phase. In particular, they will look at balancing the creative needs of the writing team against the needs of the funder.

For more information, go to www.kwazulunatalfilm.co.za.
Retail solutions company, Smollan, has recently acquired majority share in the youth marketing and graduate development company, Student Village.

The two businesses will collaborate to deliver solutions to brand owners looking to activate their brands in the South African youth market and beyond.

Student Village CEO, Ronen Aires expressed that the opportunity lies in how the businesses collaborate to amplify their offerings.
Got a question or tip? Contact us at bizmojoidaho@gmail.com.
The western State of Myanmar recorded 21.19 per cent passing outcome in the tenth standard examination under the 2015-2016 academic year, which reflected a drop of 1.94 pass-percentage compared to the last academic year in Arakan.

Altogether 34,822 students of Arakan sat for the 2015-2016 matriculation examination which was held in March 2015. Among them, 7,380 students passed the examination and 15 students in Arakan passed the examination with the distinction or gold marks.

According to the Arakan State education department, 24 students passed with distinction marks in five subjects while 56 students acquired distinction in four subjects.

A student in Burma has to study eight subjects namely English, History, Mathematics, Economics, Geography, Physics, Chemistry and Biology to sit in the tenth standard high school leaving examination.

The mark carried by each question paper is 100 and if a student achieves 80 or above mark in six subjects, (s)he is accorded with a mark of distinction.

The meritorious students of Burma, who pass the matriculation examination with gold marks, are allowed to get the admission in professional university or colleges to study the technology or medicinal steams.

Although the number of students who passed the important examination with distinction marks was increased, the overall passed percentage has been declined this year, added the education department officer.
The collective submitted a signed 7-point letter to the state chief minister on June 10. Copies of the letter were also sent to the President, State Counselor, Union Ethnic Affair Minister, Home Affairs Ministry and other respective Hluttaw departments.

This matter can put the national cause in danger. This type of racism can negatively influence ethnic groups. Therefore, we urge the government to stop this activity immediately, said U Htun Myint, chairman of the Mon Youth Association of Mudon Township.



Copy of petition letter to

Mon State Chief Minister

U Htun Myint added that the associations requested that the Mon State government meet with them. However, if the government fails to provide transparency in household documents program, the associations have planned to stage a major protest.

The submitted 7-point letter included the following points; 1) Since migrant workers moved into the state, peaceful stability in our area has eroded. Subsequently, crimes occur including stealing, looting, killing, drug dealing, rape and other threatening causes. 2) The migrant citizens are intruding into land and roads belonging to locals as well as trading land. These issues can cause major suffering to the locals.

We gathered a list of migrant workers across respective areas. The La-Wa-Ka (immigration department) said they would come to provide household documents. Now, they are doing that. However, they have not come to our village yet, said U Aung Naing Moe, administrator of Ahzin Village Tract, Ye Township.

According to the Mon State Governments 100-day project, the government would provide temporary household documents to migrant workers who have resided in the state for 6 to 8 months and official household documents would be given to the migrants who have lived in the state for 5 years or more.

According to the 2014 census data, Mon States population is over 2 million. Within that population, Mon State has 426,586 citizens working abroad legally and illegally, while there are more than 342,000 migrant workers registered in the state.
Press release on Non State Actors sensitisation meeting on the 2016 Nairobi Kenya Tokyo International Conference on Africas Development  TICAD VI:

Held under the banner of the pan African civil society body  Civic Commission for Africa (CCfA) in collaboration with the government of Kenya, UNDP, AU CIDO, and other Kenya based CSO partners - the two-day meeting from 9  10 June 2016 at Hotel Royal Orchid, in Nairobi, Kenya brought together Africas Non State Actors to bring African voices to the 2016 TICAD VI.

The TICAD VI Summit due to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 27-28 August 2016 is a watershed moment in the23 year history of this multilateral partnership framework between Africa and Japan, as it affirms and underpins the principle of African ownership.

It is precisely consistent with this value proposition that Africas civil society organisations held the consultative meeting to reduce the three Pillars - INDUSTRIALISATION; HEALTH, WATER & SANITATION and SOCIAL SECURITY- into a Non State Actors Declaration for onward transmission to the Ministerial Meeting due in Banjul, The Gambia from 16 to 17 June 2016, which will in turn blend these views together with those of African governments, into a draft Nairobi Declaration.





The Nairobi Declaration will be signed at the TICAD VI Summit later in August 28th by all the African Heads of State and Government, the Prime Minister of Japan and other co-organizers of TICAD, African Union Commission, World Bank, UNOSAA, UNDP and other partners and players in the TICAD process.



CCfA President

Ms Maungo T. Mooki


INSV Mhadei received by MCGV Retriever. An Indian Navy photo

NEW DELHI (PTI): Braving rough seas whipped up by the South West monsoons, Indian Navy sail boat Mhadei with an all-women crew on Tuesday sailed into Port Louis in Mauritius, 20 days after it had set off from Goa.



This is the first open ocean voyage by an all-women crew on any vessel of the Indian Navy.



Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, a naval architect, is the first woman skipper of Mhadei. The boat is crewed by Lieutenant P Swathi, Lieutenant Pratibha Jamwal (Air Traffic Control specialists), Lieutenant Vijaya Devi, Sub Lieutenant Payal Gupta (both education officers) and Lieutenant B Aishwarya, a naval architect.



The 2,100 nautical miles voyage was covered by Mhadei in 20 days, a statement by the Navy said.



The timing of the voyage was chosen to expose the crew to rough weather that they are likely to encounter during their attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 2017.



Mhadei encountered winds of up to 35 knots and a swell of up to 5 m during the onward leg from Goa to Mauritius.



This adequately met the training aims of the voyage. The strenuous journey also provided the crew with an opportunity to consolidate their theoretical and practical training undergone so far.



The return journey from Port Louis to Goa is slated to commence on June 24. Mhadei is expected to arrive in Goa in early July.




Photo: MBDA

PARIS (BNS): Italy and France has signed a 'Cooperation Arrangement' agreement which aims to pursue the joint development of the Aster 30 Block 1 NT missile.



Italian Minister of Defence, Roberta Pinotti, and French Minister of Defence, Jean-Yves Le Drian, signed the agreement. France launched the development programme in December 2015.



The Aster 30 Block 1 NT programme comprises, in addition to the upgrade of the Aster missile, the modernization of the SAMP/T systems currently in service with the French Air Force and the Italian Army.



These systems as a result will see themselves featuring enhanced capabilities notably against ballistic missiles and thereby making essential contributions to the NATO programme in this domain, MBDA said in a statement.



Antoine Bouvier, CEO of MBDA, said "...The Aster missile programme is Europe's most ambitious tactical missile programme. The two countries, which have carried out this programme for many years, have just laid out a robust route map that will see the Aster programme well into the next decade,...



Aster is in fact much more than a missile. It is a whole family of air defence and anti-missile systems which has been adopted by 11 armed forces around the world. Aster represents the leading edge of worldwide military capability and as such serves to consolidate the European missile industry."






NEW DELHI (PTI): Foreign defence firms can now appoint 'agents' to market their products to the armed forces and the government but with strict oversight which includes opening up of company's books to scrutiny besides not allowing any success bonus or penalty fees among other measures.



The government will also have the veto power to reject or accept, at any point of time, an agent proposed by the company.



The new set of guidelines are now part of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP), 2016 that was put out in public last week as the government works on ensuring transparency in the murky world of defence deals.



While previous DPPs also had a window for foreign companies to hire agents, it is for the first time that a detailed set of guidelines has come out.



The previous mechanisms had failed to ensure transparency even though defence agents continued to play crucial roles in defence contracts.



In an interview to PTI earlier, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had drawn a distinction between agents and middlemen, saying the government will not leave room for any "hanky-panky".



"Agents do not mean middlemen. There will be scope for a company to appoint an agent to represent it or to get over technical difficulties by paying him or her reasonable fees which will have to be mentioned upfront," Parrikar had said.



As per the new guidelines, the vendor is required to disclose full details of any such person, party, firm or institution engaged by them for marketing of their equipment in India, either on a country specific basis or as a part of global or regional arrangement.



These details should include the scope of work and responsibilities that have been entrusted with the said party in India.



If there is non-involvement of any such party then the same also be communicated in the offers specifically.



According to the new conditions imposed, the contract with the agent will not be a conditional contract wherein payment made or penalty levied is based, directly or indirectly, on success or failure of the award of the contract.



On demand, the vendor shall provide necessary inputs, inspection of the relevant financial documents, information, including a copy of the contract(s) and details of payment terms between the vendor and the agent engaged by him.



The guidelines also says that details of all agents will be disclosed at the time of submission of offers and within two weeks of engagement of an agent at any subsequent stage of procurement.



The vendor is required to disclose termination of the agreement with the agent, within two weeks of the agreement having been terminated.



The Defence Ministry reserves the right to inform the vendor at any stage that the agent so engaged is not acceptable whereupon it would be incumbent on the vendor either to interact with the Ministry directly or engage another agent.



The decision of MoD on rejection of the agent shall be final and be effective immediately, it said.



All payments made to the agent 12 months prior to tender submission would be disclosed at the time of tender submission and thereafter an annual report of payments would be submitted during the procurement process or upon demand of the MoD.



"The agent will not be engaged to manipulate or in any way to recommend to any functionaries of the Government of India, whether officially or unofficially, the award of the contract to the seller or to indulge in corrupt and unethical practices," it said.



Parrikar had agreed that there is already a provision for agents legally but said, "In short, agent word was there but without clearly defining what his role would be. It was not very well defined. That is being defined properly".


Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Last June was filled with frustration for Amanda Williams.

The Souris product was hoping to climb Rugby Canadas ranks and make the national team, but got sidelined with a concussion. Shortly after recovering from that, she broke her arm delaying her return to the pitch.

Her spirit, however, never broke.

Amanda Williams

Williams, who now lives in Calgary, continued training, played senior club rugby with the Hornets and was picked up by the Maples Leafs  Canada development team  for a tour in England in December.

On Tuesday, all of her hard work was rewarded as she was named to the senior national team roster for the Womens Rugby Super Series in Salt Lake City, Utah in July.

Although Williams always dreamed of making the national team, she never knew if it was possible and was in disbelief when she found out.

I woke up at 7 a.m. and I had a message from a friend in Ontario asking if Id heard any news, so I check my email right away. I ran to my roommate and got her to read the email just to make sure. I cried a little bit and then called my parents, Williams said.

Coming from a small town and a small town in Manitoba, you dont always get an opportunity to get exposed. Knowing how hard the people around me have worked to give me opportunities and to see that come to fruition is pretty amazing.

Although she has made the team, the challenges wont stop for Williams as her life is about to become hectic.

The national team doesnt get together until June 26, but the 26-year-old has one other thing weighing on her mind before she gets on a plane. Williams is finishing her masters of occupational therapy degree and she has to defend her thesis on June 23.

Balancing the preparation of her defence with her training for the Super Series and excitement for joining the national team is something already weighing on her mind.

I wasnt really thinking about it until yesterday and today, and then I started thinking, crap I better start preparing for that, said the five-foot-nine centre, who played Canadian Interuniversity Sport rugby with the University of Calgary Dinos in 2011 and 2012. I just spent so much time writing my thesis that I hope I dont have to do a lot of prep work and can spend more time preparing as much as I need to but also training properly going into the Super Series.

Williams will be joined on the team by Winnipegs Elysa Sandron. Brandonite Amanda Thornborough will miss the event. She is sidelined with a herniated C5/C6 disc in her back.

Canada opens the event against England on July 1 before taking on the United States on July 5 and France on July 9. Williams doesnt know what to expect once she arrives with the rest of the team, but shes going to maintain the same mindset that got her on the team in the first place.

I know there are some returning players who are very strong players, she said. Im still making a name for myself on the national level. I had to earn my way on to the team and on to the roster and Ill have to earn my way on to the field.

Im going prepared to work hard and get on the field.

 cjaster@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @jasterch
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO  Canadian companies are cashing in on so-called anti-Trumpism in the United States, offering our neighbours to the south an escape plan should Donald Trump win the presidential election in November.

Come to Canada.

Its a smart move, says one marketing and advertising expert who sees only benefits for firms trying to entice Americans north of the border because of the blowhard billionaire.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at Saint Anselm College Monday, June 13, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. Trump attacked Hilary Clinton by name in his speech in the aftermath of the Orlando shooting. Clinton did not mention Trump by name in her speech an hour earlier. During the national security speech, Trump repeatedly criticized Clinton's immigration plan, her attempts to tighten the nation's gun control laws and for not using the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism" when describing recent attackers. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)

It makes a lot of sense for marketers to use Donald Trump because hes so out there, said associate marketing professor Grant Packard.

He has obvious humour appeal and cultural currency. Trump is such a bombastic personality.

Packard, who teaches at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University, explains that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is so polarizing that he is seen as the antithesis of how Canadians view themselves.

For homegrown Canadian brands, the businessman is an obvious target when companies want to appeal to like-minded Americans living in the U.S.

For brands that kind of play on Canadas modest pride, and our socially minded altruism, Trump is the anti-brand to that, he said.

Appealing to Americans appalled by Trump likely works best for brands like Roots and Molson Canadian (NYSE:TAP)  two companies rooted in Canadian nationalism and with the ability to be tongue and cheek with their marketing campaigns.

Other Canadian companies like Bombardier arent known for having a sense of humour and and should probably shy away from advertising with a political flavour because it could be seen as opportunistic, Packard said.

There are also risks to wading into the murky political choices of another country since they could alienate potential customers who, in this case, may be Trump supporters.

That was a serious consideration for Air Canada (TSX:AC) earlier this month when the airline launched a campaign in five large U.S. cities urging Americans to test drive Canada with a visit before moving here post-election should Trump succeed in his bid for the White House.

The ad, featuring a cheery flight attendant, acknowledges that many Americans are searching online about starting over in Canada.

But before you sell your house and book a one-way ticket, maybe it makes sense to check us out first, urges the flight attendant, who points out that Air Canada operates 240 flights between Canada and the U.S. each day.

Ad agency J. Walter Thompson Toronto headed the campaign. The agencys Sarah Stringer said the intention was to capitalize on an event that happens every four years in the U.S.  the presidential election  without mentioning specific candidates or pushing for a certain outcome.

We were quite careful not to make a political statement. Thats not our business, she said.

Stringer said ultimately, Air Canada saw the campaign as an opportunity to increase their brand recognition in the U.S. as it battles fierce competition from its American rivals.

It wasnt the first time a Canadian company entered the fray of the U.S. presidential race to lift their profile.

In March, a Nova Scotia DJ launched the website Cape Breton If Trump Wins, letting Americans know that residents of the East Coast island will welcome them with open arms.

A Kitchener, Ont., startup also launched a hiring campaign on Facebook and Instagram urging expats to come back to Canada if Trump becomes president. The ad, which features a grimacing Trump, asks: Thinking of Moving to Canada? Sortable is Hiring.

Even a new dating website got in on the anti-Trump sentiment by offering to pair Americans with Canadian singles.

The website promises to make dating great again, a nod at Trumps signature slogan Make America Great Again!

MapleMatch.com has not officially launched but is currently operating a waitlist for those seeking love on both sides of the border.



Follow @LindaNguyenTO on Twitter
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/06/2016 (2325 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY  Two Twin Otter planes from Calgary-based Kenn Borek Air are on their way to the South Pole to carry out a medical evacuation.

One will stay at the British station Rothera for search and rescue purposes, while the other will travel on to the Amundsen-Scott Research station at the South Pole.

The planes left Calgary on Tuesday morning and arent expected to arrive at their destination until Sunday.

The National Science Foundation says a seasonal employee with Lockheed Martin at the Amundsen-Scott station requires hospitalization and must be evacuated.

No further personal or medical information is being released in order to preserve the patients privacy.

Foundation spokesman Peter West says they dont normally schedule flights for this time of year because of darkness and the extreme cold, which hovers at around -60 C during the winter months.

He says theyre monitoring the situation closely to see when the weather will co-operate.

Their equipment, their aircraft, are better suited for the cooler weather than some other options, says West. Were keeping a careful eye on the weather, I dont know what the window is that far out.

It is the third time in 15 years that Kenn Borek Air has carried out similar flights, with the other evacuations occurring in 2001 and 2003.

The company made improvements to its navigation charts for the Antarctic after three Canadians were killed when a Kenn Borek plane crashed into an Antarctic mountainside in January 2013.

The bodies of Bob Heath, 55, of Inuvik, N.W.T., Perry Andersen, 36, of Collingwood, Ont., and Mike Denton, 25, of Calgary remain on Mount Elizabeth, entombed in the wreckage of the plane in which they died.

Transportation Safety Board investigators were unable to pinpoint the cause of the crash.

(CFFR, The Canadian Press)
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/06/2016 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If we had any inclination that lives were at risk, we would definitely take cancelling events into consideration. At the same time, we dont want to let perpetrators of such an act force us to cancel everything. In that case, fear and hatred win.

 Brandon Pride chair Ken Jackson

Later this evening, Brandons LGBTTQ* community will band together in solidarity as part of a vigil to honour the victims of last weekends shooting in Orlando, Fla.

Understandably, Jackson told the Sun this week that the massacre of 49 people  not including gunman Omar Mateen, who was killed in a gunfight with SWAT officers  at the Pulse nightclub early Sunday has shaken a lot of people up.

As we noted yesterday on this page, the shooting roped together three of the most divisive issues in the United States today  gun violence, terrorism and homophobia. Intriguingly, it turns out that Mateen was a regular visitor at the club, and had apparently exchanged messages with at least one gay man on a gay dating app. This, even though his father suggested that his son had been angered by the sight of two men kissing.

The horrific events of last weekend have cast a pall on Brandons Pride celebrations, which are slated to run all this week, and end on Sunday. Indeed, LGBTTQ* communities around the world are feeling the pain, as are Muslim communities in North America that have been unfortunately associated with the deaths in Orlando, due to the shooters decision to pledge allegiance to ISIS in a 911 call during the attack.

And, of course, the fact that Mateens background was Afghan doesnt help the situation.

But in so many stories, the Muslim aspect seems the least poignant, even as politicians like Donald Trump stoke anger against Muslim communities with his repeated calls for all followers of Islam to be banned from entering the U.S.

Like Jackson said, at its heart, this is a human story, one that is being politically charged with the backdrop of a presidential election, and turf wars over gun policy from Democrats and Republicans alike.

Last year, Brandon witnessed its first Pride March, an historic moment for our city. But even at that time, well before the shooting in Orlando unfolded, members Brandons LGBTTQ* community joined the march with trepidation, fearing that they would not be accepted in this city if they were seen at public events supporting Pride.

That fear seems as top of mind as ever, as our little corner of the world tries to make sense of such senseless violence.

Earlier this week, thousands of men and women came together on the steps of the Manitoba legislature to remember victims of the Orlando shooting, and to show solidarity with Winnipegs gay community. It was an emotional, and visceral showing of support, one that cut across any distinctions of gay or straight.

For tonights vigil in Brandon, which begins at 8 p.m. at city hall, we urge everyone in our community to attend and show our friends and neighbours that they are not alone in their grief or their fears.
New figures released in the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2016 for Ireland show that Landmark Media's flagship digital brands have a combined weekly digital reach of 37%, second only to RTE.ie.

The Irish Digital News Report 2016 is part of a global study on the changing ecology of news by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University.

In its analysis of digital reach across all Irish and foreign digital media brands, the report highlights RTE.ie as the nation's leading digital brand with a weekly reach of 42% of those surveyed.

In terms of Landmark media's flagship digital titles, breakingnews.ie and irishexaminer.com, the report also shows that when combined the audience reach of these titles, at 37%, exceeds that of all other digital brands with the exception of RTE.

This is ahead of Irish Independent / Herald online (36%), The Journal.ie (34%) and The Irish Times online (29%).

Reacting to the report's publication, the digital editor of irishexaminer.com, Dolan O'Hagan, said the FuJo analysis was a hugely welcome addition to the debate around the future direction of the Irish media landscape and the importance of original journalism as an essential and central plank of our democracy.

"The report's findings on the increasing importance of social media and mobile in general mirrors our internal analysis and while a lot has been achieved in that regard in recent months we would ask our loyal users to be patient as these factors and user experience in general will continue be central to our thinking around digital developments in the future.

He went on: "It is perhaps not as clear as we would like in the report but the fact is that according to these findings, when combined, the two major Landmark digital titles are now second only to RTE.ie and ahead of Independent/Herald online, journal.ie and the Irish Times online when it comes to weekly digital reach.

"That is a huge success story for a media company based outside the capital and one all employees should be proud of. We thank our ever growing audience base in every county of Ireland for granting us that privilege."

Commenting on the growth highlighted in the report, the editor of breakingnews.ie, Jill O'Sullivan, said she was was delighted to see an 8% growth in audience reach since last year, to 24%.

"We have seen phenomenal growth in our Facebook audience in the last 12 months and recently passed 400,000 likes on our Facebook page, as well as winning a Sockie award for Facebook strategy among media organisations," she said.

"Our success on social media has been a crucial factor in helping us to drive more traffic to breakingnews.ie.

"We have also seen our mobile audience growing significantly in the year. That trend is continuing with the introduction of Google AMP and Facebook's Instant Articles."

Commissioned by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, the Irish report was overseen and analysed by the Institute for Future Media and Journalism (FuJo) at Dublin City University.

The global report, reported on

Read More:

The 100 page Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2016 for Ireland aims to supply a more 'focused examination of Irish news consumption trends across all platforms.'

In her foreword to the report Jane Suiter, Director, Institute for Future Media and Journalism (FuJo) sites Irish news consumption patterns as broadly in line with those seen globally and expresses the hope that the annual report will become "the prime source for identifying change in the fast paced news environment as well as forecasting trends for the future.

In his foreword the BAI Chief Executive, Michael OKeeffe, said he was confident the report would "aid in the ongoing discussion relating to the future of news journalism, how audiences access their news and the challenges for us all as we encounter the seismic shifts that digital news has and will likely continue to create."
Social media has overtaken television for the first time as young people's main source of news, according to a study.

Figures released by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism showed that globally half (51%) of all online users surveyed said they used social media as a news source, with one in 10 saying it was their main method.

The number of young people, aged between 18 and 24, who said they used social media as their main news source had surpassed those who watched news on television, at 28% compared with 24%.

The report suggested that sites such as Facebook are increasingly influential in the distribution of news content.

The online study, which surveyed around 50,000 people, found 44% of online users across 26 countries said they used Facebook to read, watch, share and comment on news, more than double its nearest rival YouTube on 19% and well above Twitter on 10%.

In Ireland, the major findings highlight the widespread use of smartphones, the growth of news on social media, and the rise of ad blockers.

More than half of Irish consumers (52%) now get their news from social media sites.

Facebook is Irelands most popular social media site with 71% using it regularly and 45% using it as a source of news.

Participation in online news is also high in Ireland with 72% frequently rating, sharing and commenting on online news stories.

However, only 23% of Irish consumers notice the news brands responsible for content on social media.

As sales of printed newspapers continue to fall, 71% of Irish consumers are unwilling to pay for online news. Among those who do currently pay for news, 49% pay less than 50 a year.

The widespread availability of free news in the global English-language market is a notable influence on payment rates. No English-speaking country has a news payment rate of more than 10%.

While 42% of consumers say they are willing to view ads in return for free access to news, more than half of Irish consumers (54%) find adverts on news sites intrusive.

Among the 26 nations surveyed, Ireland has the fifth highest level of ad blocker use at 30%. More than half of 18-24s use some form of ad blocker.

TV news remains the most popular platform for accessing news in Ireland at 73%; although this is down 3% from 2015. Radio remains the first point of daily contact with news for 39% of consumers.

Among morning smartphone users (21%), 50% find news on social media sites while 30% go direct to a news app or news website.

Only a quarter (24%) of international respondents say they access online news video with Irish people (28%) more inclined to watch video news than many European peers.

However, those who do not regularly watch news video identify technical issues (46%), the convenience of reading (39%), and a dislike of pre-roll adverts (24%) as factors.

Editor of breakingnews.ie, Jill O'Sullivan said: "We're delighted to see an 8% growth in audience since last year.

"We have seen phenomenal growth in our Facebook audience in the last 12 months and recently passed 400,000 likes on our Facebook page, as well as winning a Sockie award for Facebook strategy among media organisations.

"Our success on social media has been a crucial factor in helping us to drive more traffic to breakingnews.ie.

"We have also seen our mobile audience growing significantly in the year. That trend is continuing with the introduction of Google AMP and Facebook's Instant Articles."

Digital Editor of irishexaminer.com, Dolan O'Hagan said: "This report is a hugely welcome addition to the debate around the future direction of the Irish media landscape and the importance of original journalism as an essential and central plank of our democracy.

"Undocumented in the report, however, is the fact that with regard to digital penetration by the major digital brands, Landmark media's flagship titles, irishexaminer.com and breakingnews.ie, when combined account for the second largest media presence in the country with a digital penetration of 37%.

"That leaves the two major Landmark media titles second only behind RTE.ie and ahead of Independent/Herald online, journal.ie and the Irish Times online when it comes to weekly digital penetration and engagement.

"That is a huge success story for a media company based outside the capital.

"We thank our ever growing audience base in every county of Ireland for granting us that privilege."

In the global edition of the institute's Digital News Report, it was shown that users noticed the original news brand behind social media content less than half the time, while the use of mobile phones as the main way to access news had overtaken computers and laptops in the UK for the first time.

The rise of social media platforms for consuming news and the move to mobile was "undermining" the business models of publishers of quality news, the report added.

Reuters Institute director of research Rasmus Kleis Nielsen said: "The move towards a more distributed environment offers publishers opportunities to reach new audiences on an unprecedented scale, but as people increasingly access news via third party platforms, it will become harder and harder for most publishers to stand out from the crowd, connect directly with users, and make money.

"This development will leave some winners, and many losers."

The report found women and young people were less likely to visit a news site or app directly.

In the UK, the number of people who said they were using their mobiles to access news rose from 42% to 46%, with 16% using it first thing in the morning.

Of those, 48% still went through a news website or app, compared with 33% who use social media.

Lead author Nic Newman said: "The move to smartphone goes hand-in-hand with the move to distributed content. Mobile users increasingly find news coming to them through social media feeds, alerts and notifications."

Meanwhile, weekly tablet usage fell in line with global trends and video news was not growing as fast as expected, with only 26% of respondents saying they access online news video in a week.

Traditional newspaper brands still lead the way in producing most of the digital content, followed by broadcasters and digital sites such as Buzzfeed and the Huffington Post, the institute said.
Judging by the many, many photos and videos coming in from France, it's safe to say that Sweden is our new best friend.

Here's some more evidence.

With a large crowd looking on, an Irish and a Swedish fan got stuck into a matador dance-off bullfight... thing.

We're not really sure if one of them is a bull or if they're both matadors or what but either way, it's an entertaining watch.

Loving the hip action! And the fancy footwork - we feel it's not the first time your man has attempted a bit of salsa.
Gardai are looking for your help in tracing a missing teenager in Dublin.

15-year-old Celine Sweeney was last seen in the Swords area on Sunday.
By David Raleigh

A Limerick teenager who says her incurable sleep disorder is linked to the swine flu vaccine, and that the State is liable, will soon have her case heard in court

Kellie O'Gorman said she is going public with her story to highlight her condition in the hope she and others like her will get more help.

Kellie is one of 80 Irish children diagnosed with the incurable sleep disorder narcolepsy, after receiving the H1N1 swineflu vaccine in 2009.

She also developed cataplexy, a condition that causes her muscles to collapse without warning, leaving her temporarily paralysed.

She suffers from severe depression and chronic anxiety, and has come to rely on prescribed medication.

Kellie received the H1N1 vaccine when she was aged 10.

Kellie O'Gorman before she received the swine flu seven years ago. Pic: Press 22.

The vaccine was made available during global panic over the swine flu pandemic in the winter of 2009 and 2010. The flu turned out to be much milder than feared.

Soon after she received the vaccine, Kellie's mum, Jackie, noticed something "weird" whenever Kellie laughed or smiled.

Kellie, now aged 17, said: "I'd lose control. It was like my muscles were giving up".

Around the same time, Kellie was turning heads on the GAA pitch as a member of her local camogie team, but her dreams of playing for her county soon faded.

"My knees started to buckle. Then I started falling asleep all the time. I didn't understand why," she said.

"I thought she was lazy," Jackie said, fighting back tears.

Kellie soon developed insomnia and started to hallucinate.

"I would be screaming at night because I would think there was someone in the room with a knife," she said.

With no understanding of her illness, Kellie began self-harming aged 14 and says she came to a crisis point a few weeks ago.

Since her diagnosis three years ago, she is allowed take naps during the school day, and she has a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) to help her keep up with her peers.

"It has stolen everything from me - all my teenage years; my childhood; my family, my confidence; my friends," Kellie said.

She said: "It's difficult to process and accept that this is my life now. I'm expected to just get on with things. Nothing has been addressed and the State haven't taken responsibility for the pain that this has inflicted on myself and others, whose lives have been turned upside down.

"My teenage years and education have been stolen. I've reached out for support, wanting to come to terms and accept that this is my life now and there's no going back. I've written letters and emails to people and I'm not being heard.

"I wake up some days and it feels like this is all just a nightmare and that I'll soon wake up. I feel as though I have lost a part of me and I'm still grieving the loss of my independence and freedom."

The Department of Health confirmed in a statement that, "the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has received a number of reports with clinical information confirming a diagnosis of narcolepsy in individuals who were vaccinated with pandemic influenza vaccine".

It said: "The majority of these reports relate to children/adolescents.

"The Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills continue to work together to provide a wide range of services and supports for those affected."

Court case

The State has indicated it will fight 60 children, including Kellie, in the courts for compensation claims.

The first legal stage of the cases is due to come before the High Court this week, when an order will be sought for discovery of documents from the Department of Health and the vaccine manufacturer GlaxoSmithcline (GSK).

At the time the vaccine was issued, GSK secured an indemnity agreement from the Irish government from any potential compensation claims.

The government is denying it owes a duty of care to those who received the jab.

The 60 plaintiffs allege negligence by the State and GSK in the circumstances where they were administered the vaccine and/or that the vaccine was a defective product.

Former Progressive Democrat leader Mary Harney was Minister for Health at the time the Government sanctioned the delivery of the vaccination.

At the time Switzerland, America, Poland and Australia refused to grant a licence for the vaccine.

Children in several other countries have been compensated; some through what is termed a "no-fault vaccine redress scheme".

In the Netherlands, some children have received payouts of nearly 1m.
Expectant mothers are being warned of the risks posed by being overweight.

The Master of National Maternity Hospital has issued the warning saying maternity services are facing a crisis due to the increase of pregnant women who are above the recommended weight.
By Elaine Loughlin, Political Reporter

Health Minister Simon Harris has said there is no plan B if a row over the new National Maternity Hospital is not resolved.

Speaking in the Seanad this morning Mr Harris said he hoped an agreement around the governance of the new hospital will be reached as he said there is no simple option if Holles Street National Maternity Hospital and the St Vincent's Hospital Group walk off the pitch.

Mr Harris appointed the head of the Workplace Relations Commission Kieran Mulvey to mediate the row between both bodies which has stalled the development of the much needed hospital.

The two sides have been involved in a protracted dispute over the governance of the new hospital which will be built on the grounds of St Vincent's Hospital.

Questioned by senator Kevin Humphreys who described the spat as a turf war, Mr Harris said he hoped an agreement could be reached in the coming days.

Mr Harris said: Let me be very clear. This is a priority project for me. I have invested a significant amount of time in this project since becoming Minister for Health because we are close to delivering a landmark project for maternity services, not just in the Dublin area but a national maternity hospital that cares for some of our sickest newborn infants.

I have to be very honest with the Senator. There is not an apparent plan B. That is why it is so important that the hospitals get this right.

The minister added: If these hospitals walk off the pitch, there is no simple option. The only people who will suffer, along with front-line staff, are the future expectant mothers of this country and their babies.

We cannot allow that to happen. This process has to work. I need be very careful about what I say because I do not want to say anything that will undermine the mediation process in any way, Mr Harris told the Seanad.

Mr Humphreys said: I wish the mediation every success and offer it every encouragement, but both hospitals have to be practical and put the health of mothers and children first.
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has called the Orlando shootings "an outrage".

Mr Kenny signed a book of condolence in the Mansion House in Dublin this morning.

His message said that Ireland would stand by the American people and the LGBT community in the wake of the "senseless" killings.

He said: "It's important to come here and sign the book of condolence arising from these senseless murders in Orlando.

"I have written here that Ireland stands in support of the American people in the wake of these senseless killings, and particualry with the LGBT community in the United States.

"And obviously our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the bereaved arising from this latest outrage."
Between the 1916 commemorations and the hype of the Euros, our nation has been proudly draped head to toe in our tri-colour.

From Red Rock to Fair City even the Irish soaps are flying the flag, although the folks in McCoys pub, Carrigstown may have to re-think their decor.
The question whether wheelchair users should have priority on buses over mothers with baby buggies is to be considered by the highest court in the UK.

Proceedings at the Supreme Court follow a decision by Court of Appeal judges that a mother was within her rights when she occupied the reserved space also used by disabled travellers.

The ruling was a defeat for wheelchair user Doug Paulley, from Wetherby, West Yorkshire, but he was later granted permission to continue his legal battle because it raises issues of public importance.

Mr Paulley attempted to board a bus operated by FirstGroup which had a sign saying: ''Please give up this space if needed for a wheelchair user.''

But he was left behind at the stop because a woman with a sleeping baby in a pushchair refused to move out of the designated area when asked by the bus driver, saying the buggy would not fold.

The appeal judges rejected Mr Paulley's claim of unlawful discrimination.

FirstGroup has a policy of ''requesting but not requiring'' non-disabled travellers, including those with babies and pushchairs, to vacate the space if it is needed by a wheelchair user.

A judge at Leeds County Court ruled the policy was discriminatory and in breach of a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people.

Mr Paulley won 5,500 in damages against FirstGroup after Recorder Paul Isaacs said the company should have taken measures to ensure he was not at a disadvantage when he tried to get on the bus.

But that decision was overturned by the appeal court judges and the case will now be considered by a panel of seven Supreme Court justices in London.

Mr Paulley said in a statement: "It is not right that I, and other wheelchair users, should be nervously looking to see if anybody is in the wheelchair space and wondering what will happen.

"This can cause a great deal of distress. Wheelchair spaces are the only place on the bus that wheelchair users can travel in; if they aren't available, wheelchair users can't travel. This is the single biggest barrier experienced by wheelchair users when accessing transport, and most wheelchair users experience this.

"Bus companies need to have clear policies so that we can have a culture where non-disabled people automatically move to other areas. More needs to be done to ensure that this space is available to wheelchair users when needed."

Chris Fry, of Unity Law, which represents Mr Paulley, said it was the first case of its kind to be heard by the Supreme Court and added: "We hope that the Supreme Court will finally make the correct legal and moral decision that supports the overriding objective of social inclusion for disabled people, and find in favour of Doug."

David Isaac, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in the UK, said: "This is not about pushchairs versus wheelchairs but confusing policies from bus companies that cause problems. Bus companies have a duty to allow wheelchair users to travel given how vital this is to disabled people being able to live independent lives."

Justine Roberts, Mumsnet chief executive, said: "The general consensus on Mumsnet is that when it comes to the priority space, wheelchair users take precedence.

"A lack of space on crowded buses can cause problems for those with travelling with pushchairs, shopping and babies; Mumsnet users would like to see more flexible space for storage, but certainly not at the expense of wheelchair users."

Rosemary Frazer, campaigns manager at disability charity Scope, said: "We hope this case will provide clarity for all bus users.

"It's really hard to get around on buses when you have a buggy and young children, but it's even harder when you are disabled.

"Before accessible spaces were brought in, it was impossible for wheelchair users to use the bus - I wasn't able to use a bus until I was 30.

"Companies allocated accessible spaces on buses following a sustained campaign by disabled people. Today they are often a lifeline into work and the community.

"Most people don't realise just how difficult it is for disabled people to get around, to work, the shops, or to visit friends.

"We'd like to see transport companies looking for ways to make it easier for all of their customers to use their services."
A Laura Ashley boss and a former beauty queen who have been fighting over money for more than two years following the breakdown of their 43-year marriage should declare an "armistice", a High Court judge has said.

Khoo Kay Peng, 77, non-executive chairman of Laura Ashley Holdings and 69-year-old Pauline Chai - who was Miss Malaysia 1969 - had run up lawyers' bills of more than 6m, Mr Justice Mostyn heard.

The judge said the legal costs were "stratospheric" and told Dr Khoo and Ms Chai: "It really is time for an armistice to be declared."

He was speaking at a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London on Wednesday after analysing the latest stage of the dispute.

Dr Khoo and Ms Chai, who both come from Malaysia, married in 1970 and have five children.

They could not agree on whether decisions about who got what ought to be made in English or Malaysian courts - and litigation was launched in both countries.

Dr Khoo, who is based in Malaysia, said the marital home was in Malaysia and said a judge in Malaysia should make decisions about the division of money.

He said Ms Chai wanted to fight in England because an English judge would give her a more generous award.

Ms Chai said they moved their home to Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, before separating and therefore decisions should be made in an English court.

In December, Ms Chai claimed victory in the fight over jurisdiction following a ruling by three Court of Appeal judges in London.

Now a High Court judge in England will make decisions on who should get what - if Dr Khoo and Ms Chai cannot agree.

Mr Justice Mostyn was analysing preliminary issues in that dispute over division of money.

Both Dr Khoo and Ms Chai were at the hearing.

Ms Chai estimates that Dr Khoo is worth at least 440m.

She says he has failed to give a ''proper account'' of his assets. Dr Khoo disputes her claims.

Mr Justice Mostyn was told that Dr Khoo had run up legal bills of 1.7m and Ms Chai bills of 4.4m.

The judge said the litigation had been "relentless".
There are misconceptions over Oscar Pistorius's murder conviction, his chief defence lawyer said, calling them "enemies" of the case as he asked a judge for leniency for the double-amputee athlete, who is facing a 15-year jail sentence for killing girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux was presenting his final arguments to Judge Thokozile Masipa at Pistorius's re-sentencing hearing and said "substantial and compelling circumstances" existed that would allow the judge to deviate from the minimum term of 15 years in prison for murder in South Africa.

Mr Roux's plea to Judge Masipa followed the evidence of the final witness at the hearing, a cousin of Steenkamp, who accused Pistorius himself of not giving the "true version" of the shooting.

The cousin, Kim Martin, also criticised Pistorius for not testifying at this week's sentencing hearing but agreeing to a television interview that will be broadcast after the hearing ends.

"I think it's very unfair to want to talk to the world about your version when you had the opportunity in court to do so," Ms Martin said under questioning from chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

Pistorius, who was present in court, is currently living under house arrest after initially serving one year of a five-year prison sentence for manslaughter for shooting Ms Steenkamp multiple times in 2013. That conviction was overturned last year by an appeals court, which convicted Pistorius of the more serious charge of murder.

But Mr Roux said there were "serious enemies" of Pistorius's case and listed what he said were misconceptions that still existed about the shooting and the Supreme Court of Appeal's decision last year to change Pistorius's conviction to murder.

Mr Roux said the first misconception was that people believed Pistorius was convicted of murder for intentionally killing Steenkamp when he shot her through a toilet cubicle door in his home.

The Supreme Court found Pistorius guilty of murder in that he realised that someone might die as a result of his actions and went ahead anyway. The ruling did not say that Pistorius knew it was Ms Steenkamp - and not an intruder, as he claimed he thought it was - behind the door.

Mr Roux also said it was not the "strong, ambitious" Pistorius, the history-making Olympic runner and multiple Paralympic champion, who fired four shots that night. Rather, it was a disabled man standing on his stumps and in fear for his life, Mr Roux argued.

"It was not the man winning gold medals that must be judged," the defence lawyer said. "It is common cause it is a 1.85-metre man standing on his stumps at 3 o'clock in the morning in the dark that must be judged."

Later, Mr Roux said: "They want to see Oscar Pistorius running to the bathroom with his gold medal around his neck."

The "emotions" of the trial had also clouded some facts, Mr Roux argued, including that the prosecution's allegation that there was a loud fight between Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp before he shot his girlfriend had never been proved.

As Mr Roux spoke about the shooting, Pistorius hunched over in the courtroom and held his head in his hands. At other times, he sat up straight on his wooden bench.

Judge Masipa, who initially acquitted Pistorius of murder before her decision was overturned, will also decide the new sentence. The hearing is scheduled to run through to Friday this week. South Africa's minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for murder can be reduced in some circumstances.

While prosecutors are seeking a long jail term for the 29-year-old Pistorius, his defence has argued that he should be spared prison and allowed to do community work with children.

In her testimony, Ms Martin, Ms Steenkamp's cousin, said she and her family are struggling to cope with Ms Steenkamp's death and that every Valentine's Day - the day when Ms Steenkamp was fatally shot - is the "worst day for us".

Ms Martin said her family lights a candle for Ms Steenkamp, a model, at Christmas and that they try to celebrate such special days despite the grief.

"We don't want every occasion to become a funeral," she said.

Ms Martin also questioned Pistorius's statement that he killed Ms Steenkamp by mistake thinking an intruder was in the house.

"All we've ever wanted is the truth," Ms Martin said. "People say we've got the truth, but we didn't. Oscar's version has changed so many times. I don't feel the true version came out."
Update - 1.15pm: A search is under way for a two-year-old boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator near Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, authorities said.

The effort was still considered a "search and rescue operation", said Jeff Williamson, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

"We are very hopeful," he said at a morning news conference. "Sometimes you get the worst, but we are hoping for the best."

The family of five from Nebraska was on holiday and wading in the Seven Seas Lagoon on Tuesday evening when the attack happened in an area where "no swimming" signs were posted, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told a news conference earlier in the morning. The father tried to rescue his son but was unsuccessful, Mr Demings said.

Here is a @googleearth view of the area the #Orange County Sheriff's Office is searching right now. @FOX13News pic.twitter.com/WK18OFHfhn  Lucas Bogg (@LucasBoggPhotog) June 15, 2016

The alligator was estimated to be 4ft to 7ft long, but its exact size was not known, Mr Demings said. The father suffered cuts and lacerations.

The beach area is part of the luxury Grand Floridian resort, across the lake from Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park.

More than 50 law enforcement personnel searched the well-tended lagoon along with an alligator tracker and two marine units in an effort that continued through the night. Mr Williamson said more personnel would be brought in on Wednesday to offer some "fresh eyes" for the search.

Nick Wiley, from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation, said it is rare for people to be attacked by alligators, but he added that the creatures move around. He said four alligators were taken from the water overnight, but officials found no evidence they were involved. He said the alligators have to be euthanised before they are analysed.

Mr Williamson said the boy was at the edge of the water, probably about a foot or two into the water, when the alligator attacked. The water was dark on Tuesday night as searchers looked for the boy, Mr Williamson said. They also used a sonar boat.

Mr Williamson said Disney's boats were the first ones in the water.

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney is helping the family.

When asked if Disney was aware of alligators on the property, Ms Wahaler advised there were signs that said "no swimming".

Mr Williamson brushed aside reporters' questions about the odds of rescuing the child at this point. "Right now, hopefully, we're searching for a little boy to bring the family some comfort," he said.

Mr Demings said there had been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks on the lake.

Earlier: Authorities in Orlando are searching for a two-year-old boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator near Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings says a family of five from Nebraska was on vacation and wading in a lake when the attack happened.

He said the father tried to rescue the boy.

Mr Demings said more than 50 law enforcement personnel are searching the Seven Seas Lagoon for the boy and will keep looking.

He added there have been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks at the lake.

Orange County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Rose Silva said the two-year-old child was dragged into the Seven Seas Lagoon near the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando.

It happened around 9.30pm (2.30am Irish Time) last night.
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It's a monolithic economic power that is evoked daily in multiple aspects of Australian society  politics, news, popular culture.

But when it comes to China, what springs to mind when you hear the term "Mainlanders"? Is it a vast, unknowable morass of people all riding high on the same economic boom, with little or no connection to the rest of the world? Or something far more nuanced?

The Other Shore, Wei Leng Tay. Credit:Wei Leng Tay

It's a question worth asking even in Hong Kong, which is drawing young Mainland Chinese from all over China. These migrants, who have crossed the water for diverse reasons  family, career, education  often find themselves in an obscurely hostile environment, a discriminated majority that is subject to entrenched prejudice.

The subject has long interested photographer Wei Leng Tay, whose work examines how such issues  socioeconomics, family, history and the state  interact with themes of displacement and self-identity. In an exhibition showing at China in the World at the Australian National University, she presents a series of portraits of Chinese "Mainlander" migrants in Hong Kong, revealing them to be both a series of individuals and a byproduct of rapid economic change.
A Canberra man has been extradited to NSW to face a murder charge over the stabbing death of a man in Sydney's west last year.

Phuc Tu Luong, 35, died after he was allegedly bashed and stabbed by a group of men armed with metal bars and knives in Belmore Street in Fairfield East in December 2015.

Minh Duc Trinh, 36, was arrested and brought before the ACT Magistrates Court, where NSW Police sought to have him extradited on Wednesday afternoon so he could be charged over the alleged killing.

A NSW homicide detective attached to the state crime command told the court police became aware Trinh had relocated to the ACT and confirmed his address about five weeks ago when the investigation was in its final stages.
Virgin will bolster its coffers by more than $1 billion and undertake a massive $300 million-a-year cost-cutting drive in an attempt to improve its profitability and repair its debt-damaged balance sheet.

The push will be a vital element in the next chapter of the airline  which will ultimately emerge as a company whose ownership will be dominated by Chinese and Singaporean shareholders.

The massive recapitalisation will be a big test for Virgin chief executive John Borghetti, who has engineered the transformation of the airline from a budget carrier five years ago to a full-service domestic and international group with a reasonable slice of the business market.

But it has been a costly exercise for shareholders  most of which are large international airlines with which Virgin is affiliated.
Male chief executives are "sitting on the fence" when it comes to championing gender diversity in their companies, but those who have a daughter are more likely to take action, research shows.

Confidential interviews with more than 40 chief executives leading prominent organisations nationwide found most who join Male Champions of Change gender-equality advocacy groups were "bystanders" who neither actively support nor resist improving gender equity.

Illustration: Michael Mucci

The most active in championing gender diversity in their workplace had first-hand experience with discrimination or exclusion through their daughters or female partners. More than 40 per cent of those surveyed said they were driven by moral values, such as shame and fairness.

One CEO said: "I have a wife and daughter, and I could see the struggle that my wife had gone through, and I could see the struggle that my daughter was going through, and so there was an emotional resonance."
If John Howard returned to politics, a friend and frustrated voter declared this week, he would walk into a seat, government and the prime minister's office.

The comments, from a swinging voter, were uttered only half in jest, and followed the chilling news that a gun-happy United States was being forced to deal with another massacre.

Australians have to look back 20 years to find an example of true leadership in Canberra. Credit:Nic Walker

John Howard was forced to stare down many in his own party to introduce his signature gun laws in the wake of Port Arthur, and the fact that he did remains one of the biggest legacies of his leadership.

But it's also an indictment on our current crop of Australian leaders that we have to travel back in a time capsule to 1996 to quickly nominate instances of strong political leadership.
Almost six decades have passed since I left my homeland, Tibet, and became a refugee. Thanks to the kindness of the government and people of India, we Tibetans found a second home where we could live in dignity and freedom, able to keep our language, culture and Buddhist traditions alive.

My generation has witnessed so much violence  some historians estimate that more than 200 million people were killed in conflicts in the 20th century.

The Dalai Lama: "We need to seek new answers." Credit:Danish Siddiqui

Today, there is no end in sight to the horrific violence in the Middle East, which in the case of Syria has led to the greatest refugee crisis in a generation. Appalling terrorist attacks  as we were sadly reminded this weekend  have created deep-seated fear. While it would be easy to feel a sense of hopelessness and despair, it is all the more necessary in the early years of the 21st century to be realistic and optimistic.

There are many reasons for us to be hopeful. Recognition of universal human rights, including the right to self-determination, has expanded beyond anything imagined a century ago. There is growing international consensus in support of gender equality and respect for women. Particularly among the younger generation, there is a widespread rejection of war as a means of solving problems. Across the world, many are doing valuable work to prevent terrorism, recognising the depths of misunderstanding and the divisive idea of "us" and "them" that is so dangerous. Significant reductions in the world's arsenal of nuclear weapons mean that setting a timetable for further reductions and ultimately the elimination of nuclear weapons  a sentiment President Obama recently reiterated in Hiroshima, Japan  no longer seem a mere dream.
We need to talk about Cleverman. Like, seriously. It's great. And yet, it's really not.

Long before it debuted on our screens, this six-part ABC series was generating all kinds of excitement. It screened at the Berlin Film Festival, it had a guaranteed berth in the US on the Sundance Channel, and it had sold to the BBC, too.

A home-grown story that combines horror, speculative fiction and the Dreaming, it was clearly something to be proud of, long before any of us had seen a second of it. But halfway through its first season (a second has already been commissioned), I reckon it's time to admit Cleverman doesn't quite match the hype.

In case you haven't yet seen it yet (you can catch the first three episodes on iview ahead of this week's fourth), here's the cheat-sheet.
The ironies are manifold. A wholly government-owned and initiated information company is so incensed at unauthorised information release that it calls police on whistleblowing employees, while branding them as thieves.

Criticised for wantonly straying into an area of intense political difference, NBN management's response was to scoff at any wrongdoing, before continuing the argument.

It was a typically aggressive denial, which didn't disprove the original insult so much as compound it.

Journalists who publish such information are handling stolen goods, despite a high level of public interest in understanding the expenditure of tens of billions of public dollars on a sprawling project of major economic significance to the country.

NBN boss Ziggy Switkowski was advised specifically against submitting his incendiary opinion piece. Credit:Luis Ascui

And the management of this 21st century infrastructure utility charged with ushering in a new age of instantaneous information exchange, emerges as among the nation's most paranoid and criticism-averse.

NBN-initiated police raids on opposition premises at the outset of this election campaign got things off to a bizarre start. It was an atrocious look, which did nothing for the company's arm's-length reputation and lent Australia's 2016 political contest images more akin to some 1970s post-colonial dictatorship.

The Australian Federal Police was naively surprised that anyone would suspect political influence in the raids even though this extraordinary (televised) escalation took place in the first fevered days of an election campaign. And NBN Co, which had been the subject of unrelenting opposition criticism, was appalled that anyone would even suspect it of dark motivations.
Queensland MP Bob Katter has been condemned by both sides of politics for an election ad that depicts him shooting his rivals.

The independent member for Kennedy's campaign ad starts with two men in ALP and LNP T-shirts shaking hands over an "Australia for sale" sign.

Mr Katter is then shown grinning and blowing the smoke from a cowboy pistol with the two men dead behind him.

The video was released on Wednesday, just days after 50 people were killed in a horrific mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.
Firms that mislead or harm their customers will no longer be able to content themselves with the knowledge that the worst that could happen is a $1.1 million fine should Labor win the election.

Instead they will face fines of up to $10 million, the same as for breaches of the competition section of the Competition and Consumer Act.

Labor competition spokesman Andrew Leigh said the move would end a situation where companies can write off penalties for deceiving consumers as "the cost of doing business".
Britain's exit from the European Union would cause "a degree" of global economic uncertainty, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has warned.

And he has used the prospect of an economic "shock" caused by Brexit to make the case for the re-election of the Turnbull government.

But Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has repeatedly declined to say if the federal government would pump up government spending  and potentially increase the size of the deficit  to support economic growth in Australia in the event of a global economic slowdown triggered by Brexit.
A constitutional referendum on Indigenous recognition and a renewed push for a formal treaty with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are not mutually exclusive, Reconciliation Australia co-chair Melinda Cilento said on Wednesday.

Welcoming Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's endorsement of the concept of an "invasion" by European settlers in 1788, Ms Cilento said frank and open discussion of the historical fact would help advance the reconciliation cause.

The first major discussion of Indigenous issues in the federal election campaign came after Opposition Leader Bill Shorten signalled his support for a treaty with Indigenous Australians after the planned referendum on Indigenous recognition, which could be timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the landmark 1967 Indigenous referendum in 2017.
Some of Australia's most senior economic officials are closely monitoring the push for Britain to exit the European Union and war-gaming the potential impact on the domestic economy.

However, there is a view in the Treasury that markets will adjust, if Brexit is to take place, and the officials are not alarmed about the potential impact on Australia.

And as senior officials in Treasury's macroeconomic policy group prepare for the potential economic fall-out from a Brexit scenario, both Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the economic uncertainty supported their pitch for election on July 2.
'What I've had to be learn to be okay with (WHICH IS NOT COOL) is the fact that people still think it's okay to comment on my body.'

The world's most popular plus-size model Tess Holliday and her Australian fiance have welcomed their first child together.

Tess Holliday gave birth to her second child on June 6. Credit:Instagram

"When I had my son, I was 20 and I didn't know what I was doing and I didn't have help. I'm really excited to be doing it again and have support, and be able to enjoy having a baby, because I couldn't last time," she said earlier this year.

"It's been 10 years since I had a kid, so there are so many things that are new. My friends that have babies are posting all of these new swings and breastfeeding techniques and new bottles, and it's really overwhelming because I thought, 'I've already done all this,' but it feels like I haven't. I'm having to relearn a lot."

Holliday said her second pregnancy was not planned, but the body-positive model embraced it by appearing in nude photoshoot for London's The Telegraph.

"It definitely was not planned and I was a little nervous when I first found out, but I'm excited," she said.
Mara Wilson has come out as queer and bisexual following Sunday's mass shooting in a Florida gay nightclub, telling her Twitter followers the LGBTQ community has "always felt like home".

The 28-year-old former child star, who found fame appearing in the 1990s films Matilda and Mrs Doubtfire, tweeted a series of messages about the shooting and her relationship with gay bars on Tuesday, in which she revealed she identified as "queer/bi".

Mara Wilson (R) appears on Katie with Katie Couric in 2013. Credit:Getty

Wilson started her tweets with a picture of herself at a gay club when she was 18, saying that although she was "embarrassed" to look at the picture of her younger self now, she felt "so welcomed" there.

"I haven't been to one since college, except once when a friend brought me along," she continued. "I didn't feel like I belonged there."
Much more has been riding on the outcome of the Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara murder trial than it would seem.

Wednesday's guilty verdict opens the way for a raft of new books and films to make their way into the public domain.

Tony Martin as Neddy Smith, and Richard Roxburgh as Roger Rogerson, in the original mini-series, Blue Murder.

PS can reveal actor Richard Roxburgh is in the process of reprising his role as the disgraced ex-detective Rogerson from the 1995 TV mini-series, Blue Murder.
An anti-vaccination campaigner accused of assaulting a man with a needle has been offering to sell "ancient magnesium oil" to fund his defence against the charge.

Australian Chris Savage was arrested at Auckland International Airport last week, allegedly trying to leave the country.

Anti-vaccination campaigner Chris Savage says an assault charge he faces is the result of "helping a vaccine injured person [who] turned against me".

Police spent several weeks looking for Mr Savage after he failed to appear in Hastings District Court to face a charge of assaulting a 46-year-old Hawke's Bay diabetes and coeliac disease sufferer by injecting him with magnesium.

The alleged victim was hospitalised in April following the injection treatment, prompting the Hawke's Bay District Health Board to issue a warning that the public should not follow medical or treatment advice from Mr Savage, who is not a registered medical practitioner.
The Defence Department must realise journalists are not monsters and abandon a "shut-up or shut-out" relationship with the media, a leading think-tank has warned.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute fellow Graeme Dobell has warned an all-purpose shroud of secrecy exists in many departments with information subject to ministerial approval and delay.

Senior ADF officers are prolific users of social media, including the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, who has over 5000 Twitter followers. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

In a review of the Defence Department's media operations, Mr Dobell called for officials to be able to release material without approval and use "truth firepower to occupy the information high ground".
An eight-month investigation into poor treatment of animals at Australia Zoo's animal hospital has found no evidence its hospital staff deliberately mistreated animals.

The Queensland Government's Biosecurity Queensland investigated 31 allegations since 2015 against the hospital staff.

Eight-month investigation finds no case of animal cruelty at Australia Zoo. Credit:Ben Beaden

"Investigators did not identify any animal welfare offences and the standard of care being provided at the hospital was deemed to be excellent," the Biosecurity Queensland report found.

The hospital treated 5635 wild animals in 2015. It sees up to 70 koalas a month.
A man has been charged with murder over the stabbing death of a 27-year-old man in Beaudesert on Friday.

About 6.30pm police responded to reports of a disturbance on Tubber Street and located a 27-year-old man with puncture wounds.

A man has been charged with murder over a stabbing at Beaudesert on Friday. Credit:Tom Threadingham

The injured man died while being transported to hospital.

A 35-year-old man from Veresdale, north of Beaudesert, has been charged with murder and it is understood he knew the victim.
Brisbane City Council's Labor opposition has estimated tens of thousands of dollars of ratepayers' money would have flowed to Parakeelia, a controversial company with Liberal Party links, since 2009.

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten described Parakeelia as a "scam" on Wednesday and called on the Auditor-General to conduct an investigation into the flow of money from the company to the Liberal Party's coffers.

"This looks like a Liberal Party washing machine turning taxpayer dollars into Liberal Party profits," Mr Shorten told reporters in Perth.

"(Prime Minister Malcolm) Turnbull needs to get off the fence and stop being in denial about the scam."
He fought for years to clear his name, now University of Queensland top academic Paul Frijters has quit, freeing himself to pursue other opportunities.

Last week the Fair Work Commission found in favour of Professor Frijters, finding there were "substantial flaws and a lack of procedural fairness" in the university investigation into his study of Brisbane buses positing that Caucasian and East Asian passengers were more likely to be allowed to travel for free than Indian or black passengers.

Professor Paul Frijters: "the public image of a university has become so important".

But now, Professor Frijters will conduct research at a new university with opportunities being explored overseas as well as in Australia.
In a move hailed by much - but not all - of Silicon Valley, a US appeals court on Tuesday upheld federal "net neutrality" rules that prevent internet providers from slowing down service for some users while speeding it up for others willing to pay extra.

As internet companies emphasise video, which requires beefed-up networks, the Federal Communications Commission's regulatory powers are viewed as crucial to making sure that streams of images and sound arrive smoothly on users' smartphones, computers and televisions.

Net-based Video provider like Netflix have long supported moves against ISPs providing preferential services to those that pay more. Credit:iStock

The ruling allows the federal government to regulate Internet service as a utility similar to telephone networks, a step that will have profound implications for the way internet providers operate.

Assuming the decision stands, companies such as Verizon, Comcast and AT&T will also face tougher rules for protecting and sharing their customers' data.
I got a huge response today's brainteaser. It was definitely one of the more cryptic and quirky ones.

Don't scroll any further if you don't want the answer spoiled. It's been a busy morning on the blog so sorry for keeping you all in suspense for so long.

I told you this was a tricky one. The powers pattern was a red herring.

My younger brother James showed me this brainteaser and said it had caused some spirited arguments at his work.

Melbourne Express reader Garry was first to email me the correct answer (he said he will print out his own certificate to put on the wall) while @its_ella_bella was the first to send me the solution on Twitter.
Police have been called to cancer conwoman Belle Gibson's Melbourne home after a complaint about media harassment.

It follows a front page report in the Herald Sun in which Ms Gibson was photographed outside her Northcote house and sitting in her car.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed police attended a Northcote property just after 9am on Wednesday following complaints about a large group of media "causing a disturbance".

"Police attended the scene and no offences were detected," the spokeswoman said.
A Port Kennedy man has been charged in relation to the sexual assault of a teenage girl in Queens Park almost 20 years ago.

Police allege the 18-year-old woman was at home on the night of June 21, 1997, when a balaclava-clad man with a knife, broke into the house and tied up the woman before sexually assaulting her.

The 43-year-old man has been charged with aggravated sexual penetration, deprivation of liberty, aggravated burglary and commit offence and attempted robbery with violence.

He was due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on June 15.
Beijing: China's Ministry of Commerce has released a list of goods banned for export to North Korea, saying the items could be used to build weapons of mass destruction.

The list of dual-use goods, or products that have both civilian and military use, comes after the United Nations nuclear watchdog said North Korea appeared to have reopened a plant to produce plutonium from spent fuel of a reactor central to its banned atomic weapons drive.

The ministry said in a statement on its website that the list was meant to comply with the requirements of a round of UN sanctions imposed in March in response to a North Korean nuclear test in January.
London: Deceased British politician Sir Clement Freud, who was this week exposed as a paedophile, had formed a close relationship with the parents of missing toddler Madeleine McCann.

At one point he invited them around for a brandy nightcap and joked with Kate McCann about tabloid accusations of "nymphomania".

The McCanns are said to be horrified by the revelation on Wednesday that Freud - who befriended them, kept in contact by phone and email and entertained them at his home - had sexually abused girls as young as 10.

Freud owned a villa in Praia da Luz, the Portuguese resort where Madeleine went missing.
Julianna Snow, the little girl who touched millions with her approach to terminal illness, died at home in her mother's arms on Tuesday.

The five-year-old, who was born with an incurable illness, told her parents she wanted to go to "heaven not hospital" in a conversation that sparked a series on CNN called Heaven over Hospital.

Her mother, Michelle Moon, chronicled her daughter's decision on a blog devoted to the girl who loved princesses and having her toenails painted.

Dr Moon, a neurologist from Portland, Oregon, announced her daughter's death on Tuesday.
Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian police believe the party drugs Rye Hunt took before his death in Rio de Janeiro came from fellow Australians he had met in Argentina days earlier.

The 25-year-old, from Tasmania, went missing in Rio on May 21. His body was found washed ashore on a beach in Marica, about 25 kilometres away, on June 8.

Police believed he swam to Ilha Cotunduba, an island about three kilometres from Copacabana Beach, on May 21, and had been unable to swim back to shore.
Latest News Westpac joins Home Guarantee Scheme Help for home buyers starts mid-2023

CBA-owned stockbroker acknowledges court decision relating to systemic compliance failures A total remediation of $6.5 million has been paid to affected customers

The mortgage broking sector in Australia should be concerned about the future of trail commissions as a part of ASICs remuneration review, an industry veteran has told brokers.Speaking at the FBAA National Tour in Sydney today, Steve Weston, the former CEO of Mortgages at Barclays in the UK and former general manager of broker platforms at NAB , spoke about the major differences between the broker markets in Australia and the UK.According to Weston, Australia is one of the last markets in the world  along with some lenders in New Zealand  to pay trail commissions to mortgage brokers. Because of this, he said it is a reasonable assumption to say ASIC will be questioning this.The other big, big difference is on remuneration  and that is something we should be concerned about with ASIC because regulators will speak to their international counterparts, Weston told brokers.[In the UK] the upfront is not at 60 [basis points] that we have here, its 35-40 basis points and there is no trail.Weston  who admitted he is a big supporter of trail commission and has championed this model in the UK  said it is important now for the Australian mortgage broking industry to fight for it.We need to be very, very clear about what it is we do to justify trail, he said.He then told brokers that the UK experience should be used an argument on behalf of trail commission, not as a justification for abolishing them.This is the UK experience and you are free to use this as it is a good argument to ASIC, he said.According to Weston, 90-95% of the UK mortgage market is made up of fixed rate home loans. However, when he compared the fixed rate products originated through the third party channel to the propriety channel, he found most of the broker-originated home loans were two-year fixed products whilst the propriety channel were five-year fixed products.This is because a lack of trail commissions incentivises churn....[I]nterest rates in the UK  theyve been at half a percent since 2009  at some stage are going up. Borrowers are highly indebted as they are in Australia, so [rate] certainty would have been pretty important for customers. More should be taking a five-year fixed rate now than we are seeing from the broker market," Weston said.But the answer invariably was that because brokers were not getting paid enough commission they were putting a customer into a two-year fixed rate so they could churn them out in two years and get another upfront just so they could survive. Those are the sorts of unintended consequences that would happen if we remove trail.Weston also added that due to the UKs remuneration structure, there is a much higher propensity for brokers to operate under a fee-for-service model.But the FBAAs Peter White told brokers at the National Tour that this is not a viable model for Australia, highlighting the importance of learning from the UK experience.In regards to fee-for-service, I dont believe fee-for-service is a viable model. It has a place in the industry but it is certainly not the majority[I]t is most certainly not where the industry should be heading unless we do wind up going down the route of the UK market, but lets not predestine that journey.
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62nd Precinct

BensonhurstBath Beach

Wrong kind of shots

An argument at an 86th Street bar on June 13 ended with gunshots and two trips to the hospital, according to a police report.

The incident came to an abrupt end at the watering hole between 24th Avenue and Bay 37th Street around 12:40 am when a guy pulled out a handgun and shot two men he was arguing with, police said.

He shot man in the groin and another twice in the chest, sending both of them off in an ambulance, cops reported. Police later recovered the handgun and found shell casings from two different kinds of handguns.

Weak stomach

Two would-be bandits ran off empty-handed when their victim fought back during an altercation on 66th Street on June 10, according to a police report.

The victim told police he was near 14th Avenue at 11 pm when the duo  one brandishing a blade  approached and told him to run his pockets. The guy thought otherwise and tried to grab the knife from the robber, police said.

The mugger pulled back though, slicing the victims hand open, police said. The sight of blood sent the two brutes running.

Double team

Two louts robbed a woman on New Utrecht Avenue on June 8, police said.

She was near 63rd Street around 3:40 am when the pair appeared and asked her for money for food. Then one grabbed her from behind and pushed her down, according to police. They took some electronics she had and fled, she told cops.

Free ride

A thief drove off on a mans motorcycle during a test drive on Benson Avenue on June 10, according to law enforcement officials.

The victim met the nogoodnik near Bay Eighth Street just before 9 pm to sell the bike to him. The buyer asked for a test drive, but when the victim let him take a ride, the snake just took off, according to police.

The guy chased the weasel in his car, but with no success  and the bike has no license plates, is unregistered, and has no insurance on it, making it hard to trace, police reported.

My mail

Some jerk stole mail out of a Stillwell Avenue apartment mailbox on June 8 and 10, according to police.

Police say the thief forced the mailboxes open and stuffed the mail into his pants to conceal them on the way out of the apartment building between 86th Street and Avenue T at 1:42 pm on June 8.

Two days later, had a lookout with him when he hit the mailboxes around 4:30 pm, according to the police report.

 Dennis Lynch
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Hundreds of Brooklynites stood vigil in the shadow of Grand Army Plaza as the sun set on Wednesday, holding candles in the twilight to mourn the 49 men and women who fell under a hail of automatic gun fire in a gay club in Orlando on June 12.

For many, the faces of the dead were still fresh on their minds, which reeled in search of meaning in the aftermath of a senseless act of violence.

I finished watching the news tonight and it had the pictures, said Daniel McCarthy, a gay man and 40-year Prospect Heights resident, who choked back tears as he spoke. These beautiful children out having a good time  thats all they were doing. Its nuts. Its crazy. Its like living in an insane asylum. It doesnt make sense. I guess it never will.

For one mourner, the vigil was an opportunity to let go of emotions that had been welling up since Sunday.

It feels healing, but its also really painful to be here, said Samantha Schoer, a former Park Slope resident, who was in town from Philadelphia visiting friends when the shooting occurred. Its emotional, but I wanted to feel that.

The strains of Amazing Grace filled the air amidst rainbow flags, Old Glory, and the banners of Latin American countries, representing the many Hispanic victims gunned down by shooter Omar Mateen.

But as the evening wore on, the vigil took the form of a political rally, with elected officials demanding changes to laws that allowed Mateen to legally purchase the semi-automatic rifle he used to mow down the club-goers.

We cannot ignore that he supposedly had an assault-style rifle, weapons that are legal in the United States, said Public Advocate Letitia James, who organized the gathering. We not only stand in unity with Orlando, but we stand ready to take action.

For McCarthy, that change cant come soon enough.

These automatic assault weapons have got to stop, he said. Stop people from walking into a gun store and getting them. Its so obvious I feel embarrassed to say something.

Amid the pain and the cries for change, there were also appeals to love, and hope that the countrys anguish doesnt turn to hatred.

Im glad [James] organized this to be a vigil for peace and support, and to suppress all the hatred that is brewed by this, said Teresa Calabrese, who came with wife Cora Sangree from Kensington. We all really need to embrace this moment, and come together, and figure out what we need to do to get action on gun control.
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90th Precinct

SouthsideWilliamsburg

Not so peachy

Police cuffed two men who they say attacked a woman with their fists and a peach while arguing with her over a so-called hoverboard at a Division Avenue supermarket on June 9, according to a police report.

The woman said she was shopping at the market at Wythe Avenue around 9:10 pm when all three started arguing about the suspects riding the two-wheeled toy. She said the first perp pushed and tackled her to the ground, banging up her right shoulder.

Then the second guy threw a peach at her, hitting just under her right eye  which was protected by her sunglasses  but causing a small cut and swelling, the report said.

No prize

Two grifters conned a woman into giving up her jewelry and $3,500 outside of a Graham Avenue shop on June 10, cops said.

The woman told police she was coming out of the store near Moore Street just after noon when the men came out of a van, and told her one of them had won a prize, but couldnt pick it up because he didnt have the right documents.

They asked the woman to give them her gold necklace and ring, money, and proof of her address in exchange for the prize, cops said. The woman agreed, got inside the van, and let them drive her to her Humboldt Street, where she gathered the items.

The lady gave the creeps the stuff, but when her daughter-in-law heard what was going on, she took a picture of the vans New York license plate, the report said.

Smashed

A man beat up his friend with a beer bottle at a S. Fourth Street wine shop on June 12, cops said.

The victim said he and the attacker got into a fight over a girl at the vino store near Borinquen Place at 6 pm.

The brute then smashed the victim in the face with the beer bottle, knocking him to the ground, and continued hitting the victim with the bottle until bystanders broke up the fight, police said.

The bruiser fled the scene on a blue bicycle, and the victim took himself to the hospital, where doctors told him his nose was broken, according to the report.

No service

A teenager hit a man in the face after the victim refused to serve him at a McKibbin Street nail salon on June 1.

The man said the disgruntled adolescent struck him with a glass bottle at the salon near Graham Avenue around 8 pm, causing his face to bleed and swell. The kid then ran toward Humboldt Street, cops said.

Bar fight

A man hit his friend in the head with a stool at a Grand Street bar on June 9, police said.

The victim told authorities he was sitting at the tavern at Union Avenue at 9:50 pm watching a game when the so-called friend struck him in the back of the head with the seat.

The jerk then ran off toward Lorimer Street, according to the report.

 Tatiana Hernandez
Gone are the days when we could spend the entire summer lounging on the beach or watching TV, free of all responsibility or 9-to-5 schedules. Working adults have only a few short weeks to enjoy the sunshine before we have to go back to our desk jobs. Whats even more tragic is that many of the places that would make great vacation spots, places that weve seen our favorite TV characters visit a number of times, dont even exist. Here are a few of our favorite fictional locales that would make for a fun vacay.

1) Neptune, California, Veronica Mars



Right above San Diego sits the small coastal town of Neptune, California where Veronica Mars can be found hunting down criminals and solving mysteries. The town may be plagued by scandals and mysterious accidents but if youre only popping in for a short visit, you can avoid all that and enjoy a few peaceful days at the beach with everyones favorite private detective. (Sorry, Inspector Gadget.)

2) Stars Hollow, Connecticut, Gilmore Girls



Do we even need an explanation here? Stars Hollow, the home of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, is the type of quaint little suburb that every parent dreams about. Mix a bustling town center with a community of festive, kind people and what do you get? The perfect family-friendly vacation destination.

3) Storybrooke, Maine, Once Upon A Time





If youve ever wanted to coexist with your favorite fairytale characters, then Storybrooke from ABCs Once Upon A Time is the place to be. The fictional Maine town (which is filmed in the very real province of Stevenson, Vancouver if you fancy a visit) is chock full of places to see including Storybrooke Coffee Co. and Grannys Diner. Where else can you grab a coffee with Prince Charming and walk along the docks with Snow White all in the same day?

4) Capeside, Massachusetts, Dawsons Creek



For those looking for a classic beachside getaway, look no further than Capeside, Massachusetts, home of Dawson Leery and the three friends that helped him survive high school. Bring your family down to Capeside for a nice seafood dinner at the Ice House or enjoy a peaceful sunset on the docks.

5) Eureka, Oregon, Eureka



Have you ever wanted to be surrounded by creative geniuses? Then maybe you belong in Eureka, the town from SyFys long-forgotten show by the same name. This Oregon town is known for housing wild inventors of all types, which means youre bound to leave here with a number of crazy stories and maybe even a few futuristic souvenirs.

6) Kingdom of Dorne, Westeros, Game of Thrones



Okay, so this option is a little more far-fetched and perhaps a bit risky, but if you look past Dornes seedy citizens and Westeross high rates of violence, you will find a tropical vacation spot filled with charming ancient architecture and sprawling with wildlife. Grab some wine and a lawn chair and perch yourself atop one of Dornes many castles for a relaxing day of sunbathing.

7) Coeur dCoeurs, Massachusetts, Pushing Daisies



If youre looking for somewhere a little more colorful, why not try Coeur dCoeurs, the hometown of Pushing Daisiess Ned the pie maker. Walking along the whimsical streets of Coeur dCoeurs and chowing down on some homemade pie at The Pie Hole will lift your spirits so high, youll never want to leave this little Massachusetts town.

8) Smallville, Kansas, Smallville



While Smallville can be dangerous, its also one of the only places where you can develop superpowers by doing seemingly anything. Sit outside during a meteor shower? Instant superpowers. Why sit at home when you could be transforming your family into The Incredibles or interacting with young Clark Kent in the flesh? This is an unprecedented opportunity.

These are our top 8, which TV town would you want to visit?

(Images courtesy of WB, CW, ABC, Syfy, and HBO)
Opinion / Columnist

Every right thinking African should be worried about the violence unfolding in our sister country, Mozambique, at the instigation of RENAMO led by Alfonzo Dhlakama.RENAMO has caused untold suffering to hundreds of thousand innocent people in Mozambique and neighbouring countries including Zimbabwe, twenty years ago, before a peace agreement was reached with the ruling FLERIMO.Dhlakama participated in democratic elections several times but failed to win the presidency of that country. Peace brought hope of stability and economic growth, not only to Mozambique but to Southern Africa as a whole. A lot foreign direct investment poured in that country resulting in Mozambique recording one fastest economic growth in Africa. However, after realising that he could not win the presidency through democratic means, Dhlakama is now resorting to banditry again in order to take power by force. As I write this article people are being killed, maimed and displaced in their thousands in Mozambique, hence many citizens of that country are now refugees in neighbouring countries including Malawi and Zimbabwe.At the peak of Mozambique's civil war, at the instigation of Apartheid South African sponsored RENAMO, thousands of Zimbabweans, who stayed close to the country's border with Mozambique, were brutally killed, maimed or displaced from their homes. In addition, Zimbabwe's defence budget was strained to the limit as the country defended its citizens as well as trade routes and the oil pipeline in Mozambique.-------------Chadzimura Mhute
Higher taxes, trash pickup? Many special questions await voters Nov. 8

They're sometimes easy to miss, but many South Jersey communities have special questions before voters on their Nov. 8 ballots.
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Indian automobile has announced a flurry of recalls in the recent past, with numbers suggesting that almost one out of every four cars sold here is being recalled to fix a manufacturing defect.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has written to the telecom regulator, asking it to reconsider the ban on differential rules.
With occupancy cost of $149.71 (Rs 10,030) per sq ft, New Delhis Central Business District (CBD) of Connaught Place is the seventh most expensive prime in the world, according to a study.
If 60 per cent of Delhi Metros daytime requirement of power is met from as far as Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, it would mean more than just a shift towards green energy for the citys lifeline: it takes away a prized customer from Delhis distribution companies, if not entirely but majorly, indicating a crucial shift from renewable purchase obligation (RPO)-driven demand for green power to one directed by commercial considerations.
Despite the slowdown in real market in India, foreign developers are still bullish on investing in Indian property market.

Chinese property developer Dalian Wanda Group, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) earlier this year with the northern state of Haryana to develop 'Wanda Industrial New City'. The company is planning to invest $10 billion in the next ten years in India to construct industrial townships, retail and residential developments. The construction of the phase-I of 'Wanda Industrial New City' is likely to begin in 2016 and it will be spread over 1,300 hectares.
Renault Nissan Automotive India (RNAIPL) has signed a three-year long term of settlement agreement with its employee representative union at its Oragadam facility, near Chennai. The agreement will be effective from April 01, 2016 until March 31, 2019.
Samara Capital has invested 70 per cent of its $320-million second fund, raised in 2013-14, in six companies. Of this, five are controlled (or co-controlled) transactions and only one is minority investment.
With occupancy cost of $149.71 (Rs 10,030) per sq ft, New Delhis Central Business District (CBD) of ranks as the seventh most expensive prime office market in the world, said a new study. was ranked sixth in the previous CBRE Research's Global Prime Office Occupancy Costs bi-annual survey.
Tamil Nadu government has asked to join in the Expert Committee, which was constituted by the state government, to examine the possibilities of realigning the gas pipeline along the Highways.
Delhi High Court today told the producers of Udta Punjab to remove from the film's promos a scene which the Bombay High Court has ordered to be cut.

A bench of justices Sunil Gaur and P S Teji directed the movie's producer, Phantom Films, to "modify" the promos accordingly and ensure that the scene in question is also withdrawn from online sites like YouTube.

The Bombay HC had ordered removal of one scene which showed the film's protagonist urinating in public.

"You withdraw it from your end," the bench told the producers regarding online promos, with Phantom Films agreeing to comply with the Bombay High Court direction.

With this direction, the Delhi High Court disposed of the petition filed by an NGO which apart from seeking removal of the scene had also sought that it be heard by the censor board and its appellate authority before certifying the film.

The Delhi High Court, however, did not go into the other prayers sought by the Punjab-based NGO, Human Rights Awareness Association, as the Bombay HC order has been challenged by it in the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, central government standing counsel Rajesh Gogna, appearing for the censor board and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, told the court that the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) would not be challenging the Bombay HC order in the Supreme Court.

Gogna also said that CBFC would be certifying the film for public exhibition.

The Bombay HC on June 13 had cleared the decks for the release of Udta Punjab after ordering deleting of a urination scene from the movie and displaying a revised disclaimer.

The high court had also directed the CBFC to certify the drug-themed film within 48 hours to enable the makers to release it on its scheduled date of June 17.

It also quashed the June 6 order passed by the CBFC's revising committee directing for a total of 13 changes in the movie.

As per the revised disclaimer, the Udta Punjab makers will have to delete reference to Pakistan.

They will also have to make additions to the disclaimer to the effect that the movie, its characters and the film- makers do not promote the use of drugs and abusive language, and that the film is only attempting to depict the reality of drug abuse.
Two villages, which are native of two Nobel laureates from Tamil Nadu, will go digital on World Day (June 20). Internet & service provider Microsense is networking the ancestral villages of Sir C V Raman and Dr. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar.
Pune, the city that made it to second spot in the Smart City Challenge competition earlier this year, is not new to the concept. This is perhaps the third attempt for the city, an established hub for industries such as automobiles and information technology, to begin on a road map that will lessen its many woes with smart solutions.
Amid hectic lobbying, the Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for partial abolition of the 5/20 rule, which will enable new carriers like Vistara and Air Asia to start international operations sooner.
The Central Administrative Tribunal has passed its third order in eight months against the Prime Minister-led Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) directing it to decide whether whistle-blower officer (pictured) would be allowed to work as personal staff of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal or not. It has given the committee three weeks to take a final decision.



Delhis request and Chaturvedis application for transfer from central deputation to the Delhi government have been pending for over a year. Chaturvedi has thrice gone to the tribunal asking that the committee, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi take a final decision on his petition.



He has had a running battle through several court cases with the National Democratic Alliance government on several decisions impacting his career. The NDA government's decision to remove him from the post of chief vigilance officer at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences on the request of Bharatiya Janata Party leader J P Nadda, at a time when he had unearthed several corruption cases, triggered the legal tussle. At that time Kejriwal sought his services as personal staff in the office of the Delhi chief minister.



In its first order in November 2015, CAT had directed ACC to decide the matter by January 5, 2016. In its second order in April 2016, the CAT instructed that the environment ministry and the Cabinet secretariat put up Chaturvedi's proposal to the ACC within two weeks and that the two member appointments committee take a decision in the matter as expeditiously as possible.



When the committee did not take a decision, Chaturvedi went back to CAT for the third time. The tribunal has again ordered in his favour, stating, Surprisingly enough, the respondents (ACC, Cabinet secretariat and environment ministry) have not yet complied with the pointed directions, which necessitated the applicant, to file the present application for time bound disposal of his case of inter-deputation.



What cannot possibly be disputed here is that the applicant was compelled to repeatedly approach this tribunal for redressal of his grievance. It said its previous order directing the ACC to act expeditiously had gone in vain.



Therefore, we are of the view that it would be expedient in the interest of justice, if the respondents are directed to decide the matteror the applicant would suffer irreparable loss in this regard, the tribunal wrote.



In his third petition before the tribunal, Chaturvedi had alleged that the decision was deliberately and willfully delayed by the committee and the government, first by keeping it pending for eight months and then pressurising the government of Uttarakhand to withdraw the no objection certificate. Uttarakhand state government did withdraw its mandatory no-objection certificate back once but resent it in Chaturvedis favour again.
Tamil Nadu is planning to expand the Chennai project along three corridors and an orbital corridor at an estimated cost of Rs 44,000 crore.
As, the goods and services tax (GST), inches closer to the finishing line here are a set of frequently asked questions based on the draft legislation made public on Tuesday.
For the first time, India has announced an integrated civil aviation policy. The thrust of the policy is to make flying more affordable for the expanding middle class, bolster competition and get more regions connected. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, minister for civil aviation, speaks to Arindam Majumder on the policy. Edited excerpts:



Some airlines are saying the government has not been able to do away with 5/20 rule fully and has walked a middle path instead. What's your take on it?



No policy is true for lifetime. It will have a periodic viability so that economic activity can increase. We felt the (5/20) rule was an impediment for business in India. The present rule, in fact, had no commitment to deploy aircraft in India. If you could manage 20 aircraft, you could fly all of them on international routes. This policy attempts to address that concern too. Indian players should (first) serve India.
Indias merchandise exports fell for an eighteenth continuous month in May. However, the rate of fall was the lowest since November 2014, when outbound trade had last grown.
On the verge of becoming a state with huge power surplus, has sought to surrender share of allocated power of the order of 1,514 Mw from NTPC stations located outside the state.

Capacity additions from independent power producers (IPPs), the upcoming 4000 Mw ultra mega power project (UMPP) at Bhedabahal (Sundargarh) and the state sector thermal power plants would contribute to the growth in power generation.
Now people in rural India would be able to pay utility bills such as electricity, water and telephone at (CSC) through debit or credit cards as well in cash.
from India hoping for a barter deal to be worked out with countries in Africa as well as some Latin American countries like Venezuela to help them beat currency blues. Industry sources claimed that the payments of exporters, most of whom are small and medium sized players, are stuck in the wake of liquidity issues in some of the oil exporting countries in Africa.
Individuals and entities with an annual turnover of Rs 10 lakh or more could soon be under goods and service tax laws, widening the tax base of the government, according to the draft central and integrated laws released on Tuesday.
Foreign lender has now decided to focus on the financial technology space in India and has opened a fintech innovation platform. In this technology innovation hub, the lender is looking at partnering with various start-ups and will provide a physical site for fintech companies.
In a definitive push for consolidation in the banking sector, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave a go-ahead to the merger of State Bank of India (SBI) with its five associate lenders and Bharatiya Mahila Bank. The combined entity would create a financial sector powerhouse, with total assets worth Rs 29.7 lakh crore.
Acknowledgement address by the president of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee on the occasion of ceremony to receive the key to the city of Abidjan on June 15, 2016 .

1. I am delighted to be here in Abidjan, Pearl of West Africa, on the very first State Visit by a President of India to this beautiful country. .

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2. I am deeply touched by your gesture of presenting to me a key of the City and conferring honorary citizenship on me. I am indeed very thankful to all for this honor bestowed upon me. I am very pleased to be henceforth an honorary citizen of the city of Abidjan. This city has embraced, with the same warmth, the people of India who have been living and working in Cote d'Ivoire. I thank you, Your Excellency, for your contribution in making Indian nationals feel welcome and secure here. .

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3. As the world's largest democratic and secular Republic, India sees the city of Abidjan as a melting pot of diverse ethnicities and religions. I am happy to see that Abidjan, after suffering extensive damage during the recent civil war, has regained its past splendour. Today, it is, once again, a symbol of national unity and solidarity and has developed into an important commercial hub. India lauds the spirit of the citizens of Cote d'Ivoire for swiftly pursuing national reconciliation and uniting to look forward to better days. .

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4. Your Excellency, I very much appreciate this Ivorian tradition as it reminds me of Indias age-old philosophy of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam". These words in Sanskrit mean that mankind is one large family. I therefore accept the honorary citizenship bestowed by you in the name of the people of India and as a valued symbol of the friendship of the people of Cote dIvoire and people of India. .

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5. With these words, I convey to the people of Cote d'Ivoire, the best wishes of the people of India for their continued peace, prosperity and happiness. .

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Thank you. .

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The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for Indian membership of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) consortium by signing an MoU with the Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ German Research Centre for geosciences. This is a government-funded, Public Law Foundation of the State of Brandenburg, Germany. .

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By signing the MoU on the membership for a period of five years with ICDP, India would enable engaging internationally renowned experts with profound expertise in different aspects of scientific drilling in order to accomplish deep drilling and associated investigations in Koyna region. As a part of the membership agreement, India will get a seat on two ICDP panels - Executive Committee (EC) and Assembly of Governors (AOG). Also, ICDP will provide technical / operational support, facilitate capacity building in terms of manpower training in key scientific areas, sample and data management and support workshops for the Koyna scientific deep drilling project undertaken by Ministry of Earth Sciences. .

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As a member of ICDP, scientists/engineers from India would have right to submit proposals, to participate in all ICDP co-funded workshops and drilling projects and have access to all data results from ICDP projects. This will shed new light on the genesis of seismicity and better understanding of earthquake processes. .

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Cabinet approves of 4/6 laning of Kharar-Ludhiana Section of NH-95 (New NH-05) in Punjab .

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the development of 4/6 laning of Kharar-Ludhiana Section of NH-95 (New NH-05) in Punjab. .

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The cost is estimated to be Rs.2069.70 crore including cost of land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation and other pre-construction activities. The total length of the road to be developed is approximately 76 kms. .

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This work will be done under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase-V in Hybrid Annuity Mode. .

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The project will help in expediting the improvement of infrastructure in Punjab and in reducing the time and cost of travel for traffic, particularly heavy traffic, plying between Kharar and Ludhiana section. The development of this stretch will also help in uplifting the socio-economic condition of this region in the State. It would also increase employment potential for local labourers for project activities. .

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It has been estimated that a total number of 4,076 mandays are required for construction of one kilometre of highway.

As such, employment potential of 3,09,833 (approx.) mandays will be generated locally during the construction period of this stretch. .

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The Sub-project (Kharar-Ludhiana) is part of the project of Chandigarh-Ludhiana. The project was divided in two sections i.e. Chandigarh-Kharar and Kharar-Ludhiana. The Chandigarh-Kharar section has already been awarded for four laning on Engineering, Procurement and Construction mode. .

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Cabinet approves signing of Air Services Agreement between India and Taiwan . . The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of Air Services Agreement between India-Taipei Association in Taipei (Indias representative office in Taiwan) and Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India (Taiwans representative office in India). .

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Presently there is no formal Air Services Agreement between India and Taiwan and the Air Services are governed by an MoU exchanged between Air India Charters Limited (AIRL) and Taipei Airlines Associations (TAA). .

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The Air Services Agreement signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relations between India and Taiwan, and has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two parties. .

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India lauds the spirit of the citizens of Cote D'ivoire for swiftly pursuing national reconciliation and uniting to look forward to better days, says President .

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee received Key and Parchment of city of Abidjan from Mr. Robert Beugr Mamb, Governor of Abidjan today (June 15, 2016). The Key presentation is a symbolic conferment of Honorary Citizenship of Abidjan. Honorary Citizens are members of Committee of Wise Men of City advising effective functioning of the administration of the City. .

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Speaking on the occasion, the President said as the world's largest democratic and secular Republic, India sees the city of Abidjan as a melting pot of diverse ethnicities and religions. He was happy that Abidjan, after suffering extensive damage during the recent civil war, has regained its past splendour. Today, it is, once again, a symbol of national unity and solidarity and has developed into an important commercial hub. India lauds the spirit of the citizens of Cote d'Ivoire for swiftly pursuing national reconciliation and uniting to look forward to better days. .

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The President said that he accepted the honorary citizenship bestowed by city of Abidjan in the name of the people of India and as a valued symbol of the friendship of the people of Cote dIvoire and people of India. .

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Along with presentation of the keys of the city of Abidjan, President Pranab Mukherjee was conferred the Honorary citizenship of the city of Abidjan. The President was invited to join the community of traditional DOUGBO CHIEFS with the distinction of being for them an advisor. In this context he was offered clothing to match the status. This cladding comprised of a large traditional loincloth with a light outfit underneath matching shoes, a special cap, with a bracelet, traditional necklace, a cane representing his authority and a fly-whisk. Each of these elements plays a specific role in within the function of a traditional Leader. With this novel status, he was conferred a new name: ASSI TO which means the path, the way, the example. .

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The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India had decided to hold tripartite talks with Govt. of Manipur and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United Peoples Front (UPF) of Manipur. First round of talks was held at New Delhi today. KNO and UPF indicated their demands in the presence of senior representatives of Government of Manipur. Talks were held in a cordial atmosphere. Next round of talks will be held in consultation with Government of Manipur and KNO and UPF. .

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The First Battalion The Assam Regiment celebrated its 75th Raising Day (Platinum Jubilee) with ceremonial fervor at Shimla, Himanchal Pradesh, today. The highlight of the whole occasion was release of 'First Day Cover' by Colonel of the ASSAM REGIMENT & ARUNACHAL SCOUT, Lt Gen Subrata Saha and flagging in of a Motorcycle Rally, led by Brig Charandeep Singh, by Lt Gen PM Hariz, General Officer Commanding -in - Chief of the Army Training Command. .

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The Battalion was raised on this very day in 1941 and has had an illustrious military history. It is one of the only units in the history of warfare to have been awarded six Battle Honours, namely, JESSAMI (Nagaland), KOHIMA (Nagaland), ARADURA (Nagaland), MAWLAIK (Burma), KYAUKMYAUNG (Burma) and TOUNGOO (Burma) and one Theatre Award BURMA within a short span of three years of its raising. The Battalion is also proud recipient of Chief of the Army Staff Unit Citation for its role in combating terrorism on Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir. .

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The celebrations were spread over three days commencing from 13 Jun with large number of senior veteran officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Others Ranks along with a number of civilian dignitaries gracing the occasion. Church Service was organised at Christ Church for the Platinum Jubilee guests on 14 Jun. On 15 Jun, a Wreath Laying Ceremony was organized wherein all serving and retired soldiers and officers paid respect to the Martyrs. .

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Col Rohan Anand, SM.

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PRO (Army)
Officers fatally shot an armed man inside a Walmart store in Amarillo after he took two people hostage, including a manager with whom he had a work-related dispute, according to the police.

Amarillo police yesterday said neither hostage was injured and identified the suspect as 54-year-old Mohammad Moghaddam.

The police didn't release any details about Moghaddam, including whether he was former employee or what may have led up to the incident.

Officers responded to a reported shooting at the store around 11 a.m, amid reports that an armed person was inside and may have had hostages.

Police later said officers made their way inside the store and that a police SWAT crew shot the suspect, though they didn't immediately say whether the man had died. No other injuries were reported.

In a brief statement late yesterday afternoon, police confirmed that Moghaddam had been fatally shot. Police called the incident a "workplace violence event," saying Moghaddam had a work-related dispute with a manager he took hostage.

Walmart spokesman Brian Nick released a statement earlier



Saying all store associates and customers were safe.

Nick thanked officers, saying: "This was a very difficult situation and we are thankful for the quick response from law enforcement."



Authorities said the investigation was ongoing in Amarillo, a city in the Texas Panhandle. Some nearby streets were closed as a precaution during the incident, including an off ramp to Interstate 27.

The city released a statement earlier in the day, saying only that emergency officials were on the scene of an "active shooter incident.
A 28-year-old Sikh man has been sworn-in as the first officer from the community who can wear his turban and beard on work despite grooming policy that requires officers to be clean shaven in the Modesto Police Department, California.

Varinder Khun Khun, who was born in India, graduated from the Napa Police Academy on June 11 along with two other officers. He is one of 33 officers hired by the department so far this year, The Modesto Bee reported.

"I've never seen police officers wearing a turban before; I didn't know if I would get a chance (to be a police officer)... I am thankful for the department for giving me the opportunity," Khun Khun said before the swearing-in ceremony in Modesto.

The Modesto Police Department's grooming policy requires officers to be clean shaven, allowing only for a moustache that extends to the edge of the lip.

Khun Khun approached Police Chief Galen Carroll a year ago about applying for the job and the requirement that he have a beard and wear a turban, it said.

"I told him that that didn't matter, that we would make accommodations for his religious beliefs and that, more importantly, we were looking for people with high character standards and he would be an addition to the Police Department as a segment of the community that is not represented in the Police Department," Carroll said.

"You want to have a police department that mirrors the community as much as possible. When you call an officer and nobody looks like you... You don't feel like they can understand you or relate to you, so it is important to have that so you build stronger ties with the community," Carroll added.

In 2012, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law that added to California's Fair Employment Act protection against discrimination for religious dress and grooming practices.

In April, three Sikh US Army enlistees won permission to wear beards and turbans after filing federal lawsuits that seek to force the Pentagon to accommodate those who wear beards for religious purposes.
A convicted radical who killed a French police couple in an IS-inspired stabbing was carrying a "hit list" of VIPs and urged followers to turn Euro 2016 into a "graveyard", officials said today.

Yesterday's assault in a small town, northwest of Paris was the first deadly strike in France since the coordinated attacks in the capital by an cell in November, which killed 130 people.

Larossi Abballa, who was under surveillance after serving time for links to jihadist networks, first stabbed 42-year-old Jean-Baptiste Salvaing outside his home.

He then holed up inside the house with Salvaing's 36-year-old partner Jessica Schneider and the couple's three-year-old son.

Shortly afterwards he killed Schneider by slitting her throat.

Abballa then posted on Facebook a live 13-minute video of himself inside the house with the child in which he admits the murders and urges fellow jihadists to carry out more bloodshed.

He was later killed during a police raid which ended the standoff in the town of Magnanville.

The child escaped unharmed but in shock.

Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said Abballa, 25, who came from the nearby suburb of Mantes-la-Jolie, told police negotiators before his death that he had sworn fealty to IS three weeks earlier.

He told negotiators he was responding to a call by IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to "kill infidels, at home, with their families."



IS claimed Monday's attack in a statement issued by the Amaq news agency, a regular conduit for IS announcements.

Molins said police had found a hit list at the scene naming police and VIPs including journalists and rappers to be targeted.

They also found three knives, one of which was covered in blood.

Three men from Abballa's entourage have been arrested over the attack, Molins said.

One of the three was among seven people convicted alongside Abballa in 2013 over their involvement in a network recruiting jihadists for Pakistan, Molins added.

Abballa, who had been known to police as a youth for petty crime, spent over two years in custody.

More recently, he was investigated in connection with a network recruiting jihadists to fight in Syria.

His wiretapped conversations gave no indication that he was planning an attack, however, Molins said.

Yesterday's stabbings comes with France on high alert during the Euro tournament, with up to 90,000 police and security guards deployed to ensure the safety of local and visiting fans.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton today slammed her Republican rival Donald Trump's "shameful" comments that allegedly suggested that President Barack Obama is siding with terrorists.

"What Donald Trump is saying is shameful. It is disrespectful to the people who were killed and wounded, and their families. And it is yet more evidence that he is temperamentally unfit and totally unqualified to be Commander- in-Chief," Clinton told her supporters in Pittsburgh.

In an interview on Fox News, Trump had said, "People cannot believe that President Obama is acting the way he acts and can't even mention the words 'radical Islamic terrorism'".

In her hard hitting speech, Clinton urged the Republican leadership to rebuke this "dangerous rhetoric".

"Will responsible Republican leaders stand up to their presumptive nominee or will they stand by his accusation about our president? History will remember what we do in this moment. Americans don't need conspiracy theories and pathological self-congratulations. We need leadership, common sense and concrete plans," she said.

"Of course, he (Trump) is a leader of the birther movement, which spread the lie that President Obama wasn't born in the United States. I guess he had to be reminded Hawaii is part of the United States," Clinton continued.

"This is the man who claimed a distinguished federal judge born and raised in Indiana can't do his job because of his - quote - 'Mexican heritage'. I guess he has to be reminded Indiana is in the United States," she said.

"So maybe we shouldn't be surprised. But it was one thing when he was a reality TV personality. You know, raising his arms and yelling, you're fired. It is another thing altogether when he's the Republican Party's presumptive nominee for president," the former secretary of state said.

Accusing Trump of being "fixated" on the words "radical Islam", Clinton asked "is the GOP leader suggesting that there are magic words that, once uttered, will stop terrorists from coming after the US?"



"Trump, as usual, is obsessed with name-calling. From my perspective, it matters what we do, not just what we say. In the end, it didn't matter what we called bin Laden - it mattered that we got bin Laden," she said.

"I have clearly said that we face terrorist enemies who use a perverted version of Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people. We have to stop them, and we will. So if Donald suggests I won't call this threat what it is, he hasn't been listening. But I will not demonize and declare war on an entire religion," Clinton said.
The aftermath of yet another deadly mass shooting in the US, this time in Orlando city of Florida, has set off furious debate on gun control and immigration policy, putting the nation into a polarising disarray.

Armed with an AR-15 assault rifle and a handgun, Afghan-origin Omar Mateen, 29, opened fire at a gay nightclub around 2.00 am on Sunday that left 49 persons and himself killed and 53 injured. Both the guns were purchased legally, Xinhua news agency reported.

The massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando city of Florida was the worst mass shooting in US history and the deadliest terror attack since 9/11 in 2001.

"This massacre is therefore a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon," said US President Barack Obama in his speech after the shooting.

During his two-term presidency, Obama has made speeches on a mass shooting incident not once, not twice, but a whooping 17 times.

The manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automatic firearms was banned in 1994.

However, when the ban expired in 2004, the US Congress refused to renew it.

"Reinstate the assault weapons ban, make it harder for terrorists to use these weapons to kill us," Obama said on Tuesday, challenging the Republican-controlled Congress with a warning that without such a ban, these kinds of events are going to keep on happening.

In Florida, gun laws are known to be lenient, so lenient that the state's nickname has been jokingly changed by many from "Sunshine State" to "Gunshine State".

In a gun shop just 10 miles (16 km) from downtown Orlando, a similar AR-15 style assault rifle sells for $799, even cheaper than a mid-range iPhone.

More perplexing is that Florida gun laws are more lenient in regulating assault rifles than handguns.

There is a three-day waiting period to buy a handgun, but there is no waiting period to buy a rifle. Handgun buyers have to be 21 or older, but one only needs to be 18 for a rifle.

What is more baffling is that Mateen had been investigated twice in the past for terrorism-related issues by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but it never made it on his record when he made the purchase of the weapons that took so many lives.

"Semi-automatic rifles do not run in the hands of American people," said Eileen Simoneau, a volunteer at a vigil held on Monday for the victims.

"I' m supporting gun elimination ideally, because guns kill people, and I don't want people dead. Let's talk it out, not fight it out," Eileen added.

"The assault rifles should not be in the hands of anyone that is not law enforcement or military," Kissimmee City Commissioner Jose Alvarez said at a memorial event held by Orlando's Latino community. Kissimmee is a city just south of Orlando.

The shooting has also set off a new round of debate over gun control between the two opponents in the 2016 race for the White House.

"In Orlando and San Bernardino, terrorists used assault weapons like the AR-15 to kill Americans. We should make it harder for them to do so," presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton tweeted.

In a speech from her campaign trail on Monday, Clinton talked about the need to tackle terrorism, but emphasised what she billed as a need for more gun control.

In response to those who believe that stricter firearms laws will keep Americans safer, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump said while France has very strict gun control laws, scores were killed in the deadly terrorist attack in Paris on November 13 last year.

The New York billionaire said more gun control would be tantamount to disarming law-abiding Americans and leaving them more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

"The country continues to be divided over gun laws and the NRA (National Rifle Association) still will resist any meaningful action," Darrell West, vice president and director of governance studies of the Brookings Institution said.

US anti-gun advocates are angered by the fact that gun lobbying groups led by the NRA have powerful influence on Congress to block any efforts to pass bills on gun control, while gun rights advocates insist that gun ownership be a constitutional right and gun violence can be curbed by law-abiding citizens bearing guns.

This terrorist was pretty committed to carrying out these acts, said US Senator Marco Rubio, believing that Mateen would still carry out the attacks even if guns were made illegal.

"I think he would have used explosives like they did in Boston; I think he could have crashed his car loaded with explosives into the building; I think he could have brought the gun from the black market," said Rubio.

Chris W Cox, the executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, argued that the San Bernardino terrorist attack on December 14 last year was not stopped by California's assault weapons ban, and stricter gun laws also did not deter the attacks in Brussels and Paris.

"Law-abiding gun owners are tired of being blamed for the acts of madmen and terrorists," Cox said.

Even among friends of the shooting victims, there are people who believed guns were not the problem.

"Guns can by far be banned, but people will always find their way to harm who they want to harm," said Arron Candelaria at a previous vigil held for the victims.

"It could be either with a gun or with a knife (to harm people)," she added.

According to a recent report, a total of 51,675 gun violence incidents took place in the US in 2015, leaving 13,136 dead and 26,493 injured.

Sunday's attack also brought controversy over the US's immigration policy.

The gunman was an American-born citizen whose parents came from Afghanistan more than 30 years ago.

Trump has used the the mass shooting to renew his call to temporarily ban foreign Muslims from entering the US. His new saying is a suspension of immigration from parts of the world where there is a proven link between that country and terrorism.

Obama denounced the idea on Tuesday. "That's not the America we want. It does not reflect our democratic ideals," he said.

Obama noted that Trump's "loose talk and sloppiness" could lead to discrimination on ethnic and religious groups.

The president argued that Trump's ban on immigration would lead Muslim-Americans to believe their government had betrayed them.

"Where does this stop?" Obama said, "are we going to start treating all Muslim-Americans differently? Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance? Are we going to start discriminating against them because of their faith?"

However, Trump believed that Obama's policy is the "current politically correct response", and that this political correctness inhibits the US from responding fast and clearly.
Security has been stepped up at Disney theme parks following reports that the gunman behind the massacre in Orlando may have scouted Disney World in Florida as a possible target.

"Unfortunately, we've all been living in a world of uncertainty, and during this time we have increased our security measures across our properties, adding such visible safeguards as magnetometers, additional canine units and law enforcement officers on site, as well as less visible systems that employ state-of-the-art security technologies," Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler said in a statement.

Authorities have said they were trying to confirm whether gunman Omar Mateen had scouted the park in Orlando, Florida, as well as other locations before his rampage at the Pulse nightclub on Sunday that left 49 people dead and 53 wounded.

Citing a law enforcement source, People Magazine reported earlier that Mateen's wife -- Noor Zahi Salman -- told investigators that the couple had recently visited Walt Disney World as a potential target.

"Salman told federal authorities on Sunday that her husband had more recently been 'scouting Downtown Disney and Pulse for attacks,'" the magazine said.

A Disney manager in Florida told AFP that Mateen had visited the park in April.

Disney has two theme parks in the United States, one in California and one in Florida.

The company in December had announced new security measures at the two parks following the terror attacks in San Bernardino, California, and in Paris.

Joined by several other popular theme parks, including Universal Studios, it said at the time that it was banning toy guns, adding metal detectors and bringing in specially trained dogs to patrol key areas.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of the Haqqani terrorist network and deputy chief of the Taliban group has said that the Taliban is open to talks only if negotiations are in line with Islamic Sharia.

The Taliban group and the Haqqani terrorist network have long been demanding the complete withdrawal of foreign forces and establishment of a strict Sharia rule in the country.

"The Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan] is not opposed to talks if they are held in line with Sharia and if the community agrees to this," the Express Tribune quoted Sirajuddin as saying in a rare audio message.

Sirajuddin, was appointed deputy of Maulvi Haibatullah Akhunzada after Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strike in Balochistan on May 21. He was also a deputy to Mansour.

"Our Political Commission deals with the issue of negotiations. If we were opposed to talks, we would have not formed this commission," he said.

The Taliban released a 45-minute audio with a brief statement, where Sirajuddin has talked about important issues.

Asserting that it is a consensual decision of the Taliban leadership, he said that the community has imposed a 'puppet administration' on the people of Afghanistan.

"They are now asking and even forcing us to join it. We cannot accept this demand. The Kabul administration has no power as it cannot implement any decision," he added.

Sirajuddin's audio message has been released as Quadrilateral talks involving Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and United States failed to revive the peace talks.
Turkish President reiterated his wish to restore relations with Russia in a recent letter of congratulation to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Sunday's Russia Day.

"On behalf of the Turkish people, I congratulate all Russians on the occasion of the Russia Day, and wish that in the time ahead the relations between Russia and Turkey will reach their well-deserved level," Xinhua quoted RIA Novosti news agency as saying on Tuesday.

Relations between Russia and Turkey have soured after the latter downed a Russian Su-24 bomber near the Turkish-Syrian border in November last year for alleged airspace violation, which Russia denied and took as a hostile act.

Putin described the attack as a "stab in the back" and ordered a broad range of economic sanctions against Turkey.

Ankara did not take retaliatory measures, in a bid to avoid the escalation of the already tense situation. But it did not shy away from resorting to harsh diatribe against Russia.
The US has appealed Pakistan and Afghanistan to reduce the ongoing tension following recent cross-border firing gunfire over the contentious fencing issue at north-western border crossing which resulted in casualties on both sides.

"I could tell you we are all watching the tensions very closely, that we are in touch with officials on both sides," State Department Spokesman John Kirby told reporters yesterday.

He was responding to questions on tensions between the two South Asian neighbours in aftermath of the cross firing across the border.

In the firing, an Afghan border guard was killed while three Pakistani soldiers, including a senior army official and nine civilians were injured.

"We continue to urge a calm resolution to the tension. We obviously don't want to see clashes; we don't want to see violence; we don't want to see it get worse," he said.

The Special US Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Olson, was in the two countries over the weekend.

In Islamabad, Olson met with government officials, including adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif, to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues.

In Kabul, he met with Afghan government officials to include President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, and National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar.

He also met with Resolute Support Commander, General John Nicholson, Kirby said.
Hillary Clinton today ended her Democratic presidential primary campaign on a winning note as she defeated her party rival Senator Bernie Sanders in the US capital, setting the stage for a fierce showdown with Republican opponent Donald Trump in November.

The result heralds the start of an epic race to the White House between Clinton, 68, and brash real estate tycoon Trump who celebrated his 70th birthday today.

"We just won Washington, DC ! Grateful to everyone who voted," Clinton tweeted.

During the primary process which started from Iowa in February and concluded in District of Columbia, Clinton won 2,219 delegates as against 1,832 by Sanders.

Clinton also received support from 581 super delegates - who are primarily the party's office bearers and elected officials - as against just 49 for Sanders.

In total Clinton now has 2800 delegates out of 4763 delegates. The half way mark is 2382. Sanders has 1832 delegates in his kitty.

Ending the primary elections on a winning note puts the former first lady on a sound footing ahead of the general election in November and the Democratic Party's convention in Philadelphia in July.

"We congratulate both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders for finishing strong today in the District of Columbia after energising voters across the country with smart, substantive primary campaigns worthy of the American people," said Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

"Now that our 2016 primaries are officially at their end, Democrats are ready to unify and take on both Trump and the Republican Party that he represents. At our convention in July, we're going to nominate a qualified, capable candidate who will build on the hard-won progress of the last seven years," she said.

Nearly 28 million people cast their ballots for Clinton and Sanders in Democratic primaries - 2.7 million more than the top three Republican candidates combined.

"The reason we're driving more people to the polls is simple: our candidates have shown throughout this campaign that they're committed to fighting for the hopes, dreams and aspirations of hardworking families across the country," she said.

Sanders, who is yet to drop out of the race despite a bleak chance of nomination, is to meet Hillary today. He had also met President Obama recently.
A group representing reporters covering the White House today condemned for revoking press credentials of The Washington Post over allegations that the leading US daily was writing inaccurate stories against the Republican presumptive presidential nominee.

"The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) stands with The Washington Post and numerous other news outlets that has arbitrarily banned from his campaign events," said Carol Lee, the WHCA president.

"Any nominee for the highest office in the country must respect the role of a free and adversarial press, not disown the principles of the First Amendment just because he or she does not like the tone or content of their coverage," Lee said.

WHCA represents the correspondents covering White House on a daily basis.

In another statement, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) strongly condemned Trump's decision to revoke The Washington Post's press credentials and said this is a serious violation of freedom of the press.

In a Facebook posting, Trump said, "based on the incredibly inaccurate coverage and reporting of the record setting Trump campaign, we are hereby revoking the press credentials of the phony and dishonest Washington Post".

Trump himself indicated that the decision came after he disagreed with a Washington Post article with the headline " seems to connect President Obama to Orlando Shooting".

Marty Baron, executive editor of The Washington Post, said: "This is nothing less than a repudiation of the role of a free and independent press. When coverage doesn't correspond to what the candidate wants it to be, then a news organisation is banished. The Post will continue to cover Donald Trump as it has all along - honourably, honestly, accurately, energetically, and unflinchingly. We're proud of our coverage, and we're going to keep at it."



RSF alleged this is the latest incident where Trump and his campaign have made clear his disregard for freedom of the press.

Previously, Trump's team has restricted media access to campaign events, he has insulted and bullied reporters who portray him negatively or ask him tough questions, and refused to participate in a Republican debate because FoxNews refused to remove its reporter Megyn Kelly as a moderator, it alleged.

"Trump's actions during the run up to the 2016 presidential election mark an alarming trend of curtailing freedom of the press in the United States," RSF said.

The US ranks 41 out of 180 countries on RSF's 2016 World Press Freedom Index.
For Hollywood animation movies in India, 2016 is already turning out to be a blockbuster year in terms of brand associations. Finding Dory, the latest release, has struck gold with a record 16 brands partnering with the movie for promotions, and merchandising relationships.
In April, agreed to sell its stake in California-based private equity and venture capital firm Northgate Capital to The Capital Partnership, an independent asset manager. Religare, which had acquired Northgate for $200 million in 2010, is seeking shareholder approval for the deal through a postal ballot. But, it has not disclosed the key terms of the sale such as valuation and price.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has asked stock exchanges to change their byelaws to ensure investors are compensated from their investor protection fund (IPF) if a trading member or broker is expelled.
Animals Rights activist Gauri Maulekhi on Wednesday condemned the heart-rending incident where around 50 stray were burnt alive by the residents of Keezhamur village in Tamil Nadu's Kancheepuram district and vowed to get the culprits arrested for this absolutely abhorable act.

Maulekhi told ANI this particular incident is as sick as it can get.

"We do not have to become with . If an animal has killed a goat, there is a method to go about it. You cannot feed them pesticides and put kerosene on them. What kind of a jungle law are we following? This is absolutely abhorable and we are going to get these people arrested today," she added.

Expressing disgrace over the matter, Maulekhi said there is a clear procedure laid down in law.

"These dogs have to be picked up, sterilized, vaccinated and sent back. That is the responsibility of the urban development departments. They have failed and not done anything even to uphold the Supreme Court's orders," she added.

As per reports, some villagers first sedated the dogs with pesticides and poured kerosene on them before setting the animals on fire.

Reportedly, few villagers were angry with the dogs as they had attacked their goats and sheep.

The incident came to light after a villager informed an animal activist P Aswath, who ultimately brought this story to the fore.

Reportedly, the police have filed a complaint and booked four persons in connection with this case.
In a massive development in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against Christian Michel James and two other middlemen, sources state.

Michel, has been accused by the CBI and the ED of working at the behest of AgustaWestland and its parent Italian major Finmeccanica.

He has been accused of routing funds to India meant to bribe officials.

Earlier, he had asserted that he never met Congress President Sonia Gandhi, and that he is ready to be questioned by Indian investigators, as he wants to clear his name.

Earlier this month, the ED reportedly conducted searches on the premises in the city of Suraj Prakash Mehra, a businessman who was allegedly in contact with Christian Michel.
A 45-day fishing ban in the western coastal zone of Kanyakumari will come into force today.

The fishermen will not be given tokens to venture out into the sea during the ban period.

A 45-day fishing ban for mechanised boats for fish species propagation under the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Regulation Act , 1983 was earlier enforced from April 15 in the eastern coast.

Now, along with Kerala and other western states, the fishing ban is being enforced in the western coast of Tamil Nadu.

The main aim is to safeguard fish in their breeding season and increase the fish catch.

The ban will be enforced in fishing hamlets in western zone of Rajakkamangalam, Nidravilai, Kollengodu and Chiinavilai.

Kanyakumari is perhaps the only region in peninsular India which is having both western and eastern coastal zones.

Indian fishermen venturing into the Sri Lankan Maritime Territory and being apprehended by their navy has become a common occurrence in recent times.
The Patna lower court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against the former Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) chairman, Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, who has been absconding since his name figured in the Class 12 toppers scam.

Singh resigned from his post last week following his alleged involvement in the scam.

An arrest warrant has also been issued against his wife and former Janata Dal (United) Member of Legislative Assembly, Usha Sinha, who is also on the run since her name figured in the scam.

Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the mastermind behind the Class 12 scam, was arrested on Saturday after he surrendered before the police.

Both Singh and Rai are wanted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) with regard to the alleged irregularities in the Class 12 Arts and Science examination 2016 results.

According to reports, the SIT has found evidences that suggest Singh's role in the racket. The evidence collected also indicates the board's complicity in the scam.

Last week five persons arrested in this case were remanded in 14 days judicial custody by a local court in Patna.

First Information Report was registered against four students and the director of the Vishun Roy College in connection with the scam.

Following the furore over the Bihar board examination toppers being unable to answer basic questions related to their stream eventually leading to a re-examination, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had earlier said the guilty won't be spared and the investigation into this matter will be done with a criminal angle.

The BSEB earlier on June 4 cancelled the results of two toppers, Rahul Kumar and Sourabh Shrestha, of the Intermediate (Science) examinations after they failed to prove their merits in a re-test.

Saurabh Shrestha from the science stream, who had secured 485 out of 500, was caught on camera failing to answer basic questions.

Ruby Rai, the arts topper, from the same college failed to take the re-test earlier on Friday citing health reasons.

Rai had secured 444 marks out of 500 in the arts stream. However, on camera she did not even appear to know the number of subjects in her course.
Hitting back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Kairana exodus row, Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal on Wednesday accused the saffron party of spreading communalism for political gains ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

"After being disappointed in Allahabad, I think the only weapon left with the BJP is to spread communalism and divide the state between the Hindus and Muslims. If the people are going to other places for earning money, that shouldn't be called migration," Agarwal told ANI.

Further escalating his attack, the Samajwadi Party leader said the BJP was trying to crush the feeling of brotherhood in the state, adding the Uttar Pradesh Government should initiate strict action against such elements.

"The BJP doesn't have any issue to raise. After miserable failing in addressing the issues raised during the Lok Sabha elections, they now have no issues left and are making desperate attempts to communalise the situation in the state and fight the elections in Uttar Pradesh with the same agenda. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party want to disturb the tranquility in the country," he added.

BJP legislator and Muzaffarnagar riots accused Hukum Singh, who had earlier reportedly said that the Hindus were being forced to leave their homes in the Muslim-majority town in Kairana, has now backtracked from his claims.

He has said that the "migration" of Hindus from Kairana was "not communal" in nature, adding that people are leaving the region due to law and order problems and threats by goons.

According to reports, the police have ordered a probe into the alleged migration after Singh presented a list of 346 families from the Muslim-majority town while claiming that they had to leave their homes after attacks and extortion attempts.
The United States has said it is closely watching the ongoing tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the aftermath of the recent clash between the security forces of both sides at Torkham border gate.

"I could tell you we are all watching the tensions very closely, that we are in touch with officials on both sides. We continue to urge a calm resolution to the tension," State Department spokesman John Kirby said at his daily news conference.

He added, "We obviously don't want to see clashes; we don't want to see violence; we don't want to see it get worse. And I can assure you that Ambassador Olson shares those sentiments"

Kirby was responding to questions on tensions between Islamabad and Kabul in the aftermath of the cross firing across the Durand Line.

The Special U.S Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Olson, has been in the two countries over the weekend.

In Islamabad, the envoy met with government officials, including Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif, to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues.

In Kabul, he met with Afghan government officials including President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar.

This meeting comes after clash between the security forces of both sides broke out early on Saturday over the reported attempt by Pakistan to erect a new installation at the gate.

Both nations have increased their troops across the Torkham border after a Pakistani officer died in a clash yesterday.

The main gates at Torkham, the most frequented official border crossing at the end of the Khyber Pass, stayed closed for the third day yesterday, leaving thousands stranded on both sides.

Both countries have summoned each other's ambassador to register its protest at the violence.

Pakistan says it is building the gate to stop militants from crossing the border.

Firing between the two countries first broke out on Sunday after the Afghan forces prevented Pakistanis from constructing a gate at Torkham.

Afghanistan has blocked repeated attempts by Pakistan to build a fence on sections of the roughly 2,200-km-long frontier, rejecting the contours of the boundary.
A nine-member BJP team arrived at Kairana in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district to take stock of the situation following reports of exodus by Hindu families.

The delegation comprising Bagpat MP Satyapal Singh, Saharanpur MP Raghav Lakhan Pal, Aligarh MP Satish Gautam, former Uttar Pradesh DGP Brij Lal, senior BJP leader Suresh Khanna, Aawala MP Dharmendra Kashyap, Bulandshahar MP Bhola Nath Singh, Gorakhpur MLA Radha Mohan and BJP's Human Right Commission Wing national president Sudhir Aggrawal arrived in Kairnan for an on-the-spot evaluation of the situation created by exodus of Hindus.

The Samajwadi Party-led Uttar Pradesh Government is drawing flak from various quarters on the issue.

Talking to reporters in Bahraich on Monday, Union Minister Shripad Naik had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keeping an eye on the incident of migration from Kairana.

Terming the incidents at Kairana and Mathura "serious", Naik said they prove that law-and-order situation in Uttar Pradesh is dismal.

The Centre has also sought a detailed report from the Uttar Pradesh Government on the migration of people from Kairana village. In a communication, the Union Home Ministry asked the state government to verify the allegations and send a detailed report to it as early as possible. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju had earlier said it is unfortunate that people are forced to leave their village in their own country, adding that the state government should take the responsibility.

"If people have to leave their village in their own country, then the state government should take the responsibility. If the state government seeks any help from us, we will definitely provide them," said Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home.

"The Uttar Pradesh government should take a note of the deteriorating law and order situation and comprehend over it. Hooliganism, hostility and looting, land-related problems etc are rampant in the state, which is adding to people's resentment against the government. The law and order situation has deteriorated to a greater extent and the government must ponder on it. For the development of the state, the government needs to ensure people's safety, which is not happening in Uttar Pradesh," he said.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said it is the habit of the saffron party to rake up such issues just before the polls.



"These BJP people, they first disturbed the environment in UP, they are responsible for Muazzfarnagar riots. He is the leader who spoiled the harmony here," he said.

Senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP Hukum Singh had released a fresh list of 63 people who, according to him, migrated from Kandhla town in Shamli district. He had earlier released a list of 346 persons who migrated from Kairana to other places owing "threat to their life and property".

He alleged that goons belonging to the ruling Samajwadi Party have created so much terror among poor and weak that they have no option but to migrate to safer places.

The local MP alleged that extortion, land grabbing, crime against women have become the order of the day in the area.
The Nepali Congress on Wednesday slammed Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli-led government for delay in post-earthquake reconstruction works.

Nepali Congress lawmaker Arjun Narsingha KC, who was speaking at the house, said the government failed to provide relief to the 2015 earthquake survivors as committed, reports the Himalayan Times.

Narsingha also accused the government of ignoring his party in decision making process of the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) in order to take unilateral decisions.

The Nepali Congress claims that Oli's government outsourced the task of post-quake reconstruction to the NGOs close to Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) using the NRA to recruit the party's cadres.

UML lawmaker Guru Prasad Burlakoti in response said that some earthquake survivors were missing in the list of relief receivers due to technical reasons and not due to political affiliation.

Meanwhile, the constituents of the protesting Federal Alliance continued to boycott the House meeting today as well.
The market on Wednesday opened firm supported by banks, auto, infra and pharma stocks.

The Sensex traded up 131.18 points or 0.5 percent at 26526.89, and the Nifty gained 38.35 points or 0.5 percent at 8147.20.

Shares such as Adani Ports, Bhari Airtel, SBI, NTPC and BHEL were among the top gainers while ICICI Bnak, Dr Reddy's and TCS were down in the Sensex.

The Indian rupee opened flat at 67.25 per dollar against previous close of 67.26. The Yuan slipped to its weakest level since early February in offshore trading after MSCI Inc. denied local equities entry into their indexes.

Market experts believe that the trend in the rupee can remain under pressure due to global events. If Indian equity market trades positively on the back of GST news then the rupee may get some support near 67.50/dollar levels.

Global markets are jittery as investors are keenly waiting for the Federal Reserve decision on rates and Bank of Japan policy meeting outcome while upcoming vote on whether the UK will remain in the European Union looms large.

Also, the crude prices declined led by Brexit concerns, which overshadowed signs of a return to health for crude prices. International energy agency, said the oil market is essentially balanced after two years of surpluses. Gold price is near 6-week high on expectations the Federal Reserve won't raise rates today.
Asserting that Donald Trump's 'anti-Muslim' rhetoric is "not the America we want", United States President Barack Obama on Tuesday flayed the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's 'dangerous' mindset recalling moments where the U.S. government had acted out of fear and lived to regret it.

Addressing the media after his meeting with the National Security Council, the President ripped through Trump's 'Muslim ban' rhetoric saying such a dangerous mindset will make Muslim Americans feel that their government is betraying them.

"For a while now, the main contribution of some of my friends on the other side of the aisle in the fight against ISIL, has been to criticise this administration and me for not using the phrase 'radical Islam'. They tell us that we can't beat ISIL until we call them radical Islamists. What exactly would using this label accomplish? What exactly would it change? Would it make ISIL less committed in trying to kill Americans? Would it bring in more allies? Is there a military strategy that is served by this?" the President questioned.

Asserting that this was simply a "political distraction" on Trump's behalf, he added that calling a threat by a different name did not make the danger go away and that he had never faced a moment in his seven years of Presidency, where he was not able to pursue a strategy because of being unable to use the label 'radical' Islam.

"If there is anyone out there who thinks that we do not know who we are fighting and that we are confused about who our enemies are, that would come as a surprise to the thousands of terrorists who we have taken off the battlefield. We know who the enemy is. There is no magic to the phrase 'radical Islam'. It's a political talking point, not a strategy," the President said.

Highlighting the fact that groups like ISIL and Al Qaeda wanted to make the war between Islam and America or Islam and the west, Obama warned that "if we fall into the trap of painting all Muslims with a broad brush and imply that we are at war with an entire religion, then we are doing the terrorist work for them."

"That kind of yapping has not prevented folks across the government from doing their jobs. We are now seeing how dangerous this kind of mindset and thinking can be. We are seeing where this kind of rhetoric, sloppiness and loose talk about whom we fighting can lead us," he added.

The President also warned that it will make young Muslims around the feel like no matter what they do, they will be under suspicion and under attack.

"We have gone through moments before where we have acted out of fear and regretted it. We have seen our government mistreat our fellow citizens. It's been a shameful part of us history," the President said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan and Afghanistan have increased their troops across the Torkham border after a Pakistani officer died in a clash between the two neighbours yesterday.

The Pakistan Army moved heavy weaponry and additional troops to the Afghan border on Monday night.

Dawn quoted a senior military official as saying the gate at Torkham will now be built at any cost.

"If someone tries to create hindrance in the process, the army will retaliate with full force," he added.

The officer said the construction of this gate was agreed upon by both sides during a bilateral meeting.

The Afghan officials also confirmed of reinforcements along the border.

The main gates at Torkham, the most frequented official border crossing at the end of the Khyber Pass, stayed closed for the third day yesterday, leaving thousands stranded on both sides.

Both countries have summoned each other's ambassador to register its protest at the violence.

Pakistan says it is building the gate to stop militants from crossing the border.

Firing between the two countries first broke out on Sunday after the Afghan forces prevented Pakistanis from constructing a gate at Torkham.

Afghanistan has blocked repeated attempts by Pakistan to build a fence on sections of the roughly 2,200-km-long frontier, rejecting the contours of the boundary.
Pakistan has reaffirmed its commitment to nuclear test moratorium at a ministerial meeting held earlier this week by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) in Vienna.

India did not participate in the meeting, which was held on Monday.

Pakistan's Ambassador in Vienna, Ayesha Riaz, affirmed Islamabad's stance that despite being a non-signatory to the treaty it supported the treaty's objective by maintaining a voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing, reports Dawn.

Riaz also assured that Pakistan would not be the first to resume nuclear testing in its region.

The countries that are still to ratify the treaty were invited to join member states and the CTBTO to discuss the future.

With reference to the United States backing India's bid to join the NSG without signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Riaz also called for a non-discriminatory and criteria-based approach for integrating and mainstreaming states outside the Non-Proliferation Instruments (NPT).

US Undersecretary Rose Gottemoeller, who represented Washington in the meeting, read out a message from President Barack Obama, noting that a legally binding prohibition on nuclear weapon tests or any other nuclear explosions was a meaningful step towards nuclear disarmament.
With the current trend to digitize businesses gaining increasing mileage, Singapore-based e-commerce company Shopmatic, which provides a platform for merchants to take their online, has achieved tremendous growth within just five months since its launch.

The company has reached its first milestone with 10,000 online store owners choosing Shopmatic's services to engage and expand their customer base.

Launched in October 2015, Shopmatic helps merchants and individuals handle the full spectrum of what is required to grow their online, from developing a web-store to listing it on marketplaces, and promoting it on social channels, along with helping with insights on how to sell online.

Within a month of launching operations, Shopmatic tied up with Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to help it's almost sic crore merchants digitize their offline businesses. Earlier this year in January, Shopmatic signed a deal with online payments giant PayPal to enable its merchants to expand their global sales.

The move also marked PayPal's first tie-up with an Indian partner. All these tie-ups have been instrumental in helping the e-commerce company reach its first milestone.

"We are quite happy with this progress as this confirms that we are heading in the right direction. These numbers are also a reaffirmation of the surging confidence of small merchants in tapping the online ecosystem for increasing their consumer base on both the national and global front," said CEO of Shopmatic Group, Anurag Avula.

Meanwhile, to enable easy payments and delivery solutions to the target consumers of online businesses, the e-commerce business-enabler has recently tied up with India's payment getaway solution and mobile wallet, Citrus Pay.

By offering comprehensive service offerings that help businesses establish an online presence as per their relevant market and target audience, Shopmatic is taking the right measures to ensure entrepreneurs do not miss out on the potential that the burgeoning virtual ecosystem promises today.
Afghanistan's envoy to Pakistan, Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, has rejected claims that the construction of a gate in Torkham was agreed upon with the Pakistani authorities.

His reaction came after a private TV channel tweeted that the agreement was reached during a meeting between Zakhilwal and Pakistani Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, reports Khamma Press.

Dubbing the reports as categorically false, the Afghan envoy said the currently planned gates that resulted in the ongoing tension in Torkham were brought to the discussion with his country's Ministry of Defence only two days ago in Torkham.

He added that Afghanistan then did not agree with the same, but the Pakistan Army went ahead to construct them anyway.
Turn up those tearjerkers and dig out your Radiohead albums as a team of researchers has found that sad music can actually lift your mood.

Researchers at Durham University, UK and the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland, said their findings could have implications for how music therapy and rehabilitation could help people's moods.

The musicologists looked at the emotional experiences associated with sad music of 2,436 people across three large-scale surveys in the UK and Finland. They identified the reasons for listening to sad music and emotions involved in memorable experiences related to listening to sad music.

The team said that the majority of people surveyed highlighted the enjoyable nature of such experiences, which in general lead to clear improvement of mood and added that listening to sad music led to feelings of pleasure related to enjoyment of the music in some people, or feelings of comfort where sad music evoked memories in others.

However, a significant portion of people also reported painful experiences associated with listening to sad music, which invariably related to personal loss such as the death of a loved one, divorce, breakup, or other significant adversity in life.

Lead researcher Tuomas Eerola said that the results help them to pinpoint the ways people regulate their mood with the help of music, as well as how music rehabilitation and music therapy might tap into these processes of comfort, relief, and enjoyment. The findings also have implications for understanding the paradoxical nature of enjoyment of negative emotions within the arts and fiction.

The three types of experience associated with listening to sad music (pleasure, comfort and pain) were found across the different surveys.

The researchers noted that experiences of enjoyable sadness were not affected by gender or age, although musical expertise and interest in music seemed to amplify these feelings.

Older people reported stronger experiences of comforting sadness, while strong negative feelings when listening to sad music were more pronounced for younger people and women.

Each type of emotional experience associated with sad music could be connected to a distinct profile of reasons, psychological mechanisms, and reactions, the researchers added.

The study appears in PLOS ONE.
Actress Chitrangada Singh has walked out of Kushan Nandy's action film 'Babumoshai Bandookbaaz' over an intimate scene with Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

A leading daily Mumbai Mirror quoted the dialogue and screenplay writer, Galib Asad Bhopali as saying, the 39-year-old actress had objections to the lovemaking scenes and even refused to kiss Siddiqui. She lost her cool when they were shooting a lovemaking scene and she "fumed and stormed out."

However, the directors are now searching for another actress to play the lead role.

Reportedly, actress Swara Bhaskar has been approached to take on Chitrangada's role.
With effect from 14 June 2016

Allahabad Bank announced that in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section 3(b) of Section 9 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition & Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970, read with Sub clause (1) of Clause 3 of the Nationalized Banks (Management & Miscellaneous Provisions) Scheme, 1970, the Govt. of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services vide their Notification dated 14 June 2016, have nominated Anshuman Sharma, Deputy Secretary, Department of Financial Services, as Government Nominee Director on the Board of Bank in place of Shashank Saksena with immediate effect until further orders.

Accordingly, Shashank Saksena has ceased to be director of Bank with effect from 14 June 2016 and Anshuman Sharma has joined the Bank as Government Nominee Director with effect from 14 June 2016.

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Coal India was down 0.37% to Rs 307.50 at 9:28 IST on BSE after the company said that one of its subsidiaries will buyback total shares worth around Rs 1200.19 crore from its shareholders.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 64.89 points, or 0.25%, to 26,460.60.

On BSE, so far 13,000 shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average volume of 3.11 crore shares in the past one quarter. The stock rose 0.39% at the day's high of Rs 309.85. The stock fell 0.50% at the day's low of Rs 307.10. The stock hit a record high of Rs 447.25 on 5 August 2015. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 272.05 on 12 April 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 14 June 2016, rising 9.12% compared with 2.89% rise in the Sensex. The scrip had, however, underperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 4.41% as against Sensex's 6.94% rise.

The large-cap PSU coal mining major has an equity capital of Rs 6316.36 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

Coal India announced after market hours yesterday, 14 June 2016, that the board of directors of its subsidiary, South Eastern Coalfields (SECL), approved the buyback of 8.46 lakh fully paid equity shares of face value of Rs 1000 each from the members of the company on a proportionate basis through tender offer representing 23.53% of the total number of equity shares in the paid-up share capital of the company. The shares will be bought back for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs 1200.19 crore with maximum buyback size being upto 25% of the paid-up equity share capital and free reserves as on financial year ended 31 March 2016, at a buyback price of Rs 14,180.57 per share payable in cash.

Coal India announced after market hours on Monday, 13 June 2016, that the board of directors of Western Coalfields (WCL), a company's subsidiary, at its meeting held on 13 June 2016 approved buyback of 7.42 lakh fully paid equity shares, or 25% equity, of face value of Rs 1000 each from the members of WCL for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs 789.30 crore. The shares will be purchased at Rs 10,626.73 each.

Coal India announced on Sunday, 12 June 2016, that two of its subsidiaries - Mahanadi Coalfields and Northern Coalfields - will buyback total shares worth around Rs 1978 crore from their shareholders.

The board of directors of Northern Coalfields (NGL) approved buyback of 4.01 lakh fully paid equity shares, or 22.62% equity, of face value of Rs 1000 each from the members of NGL on a proportionate basis through tender offer for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs 948.72 crore. The shares will be purchased at Rs. 23,610.04 each.

The board of directors of Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL) approved buyback of 4.43 lakh fully paid equity shares, or 23.82% equity, of face value of Rs 1000 each from the members of MCL on a proportionate basis through tender offer for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs 1028.77 crore. The shares will be purchased at Rs 23,171.89 each.

Coal India's consolidated net profit rose 0.2% to Rs 4247.93 crore on 0.7% decline in total income to Rs 22904.36 crore in Q4 March 2016 over Q4 March 2015.

Coal India is an organized state-owned coal mining corporate. The Government of India held 79.65% stake in Coal India (as per the shareholding pattern as on 31 March 2016).

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PSU Coal mining major Coal India announced after market hours yesterday, 14 June 2016, that the board of directors of its subsidiary, South Eastern Coalfields (SECL), approved the buyback of 8.46 lakh fully paid equity shares of face value of Rs 1000 each from the members of the company on a proportionate basis through tender offer representing 23.53% of the total number of equity shares in the paid-up share capital of the company. The shares will be bought back for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs 1200.19 crore with maximum buyback size being upto 25% of the paid-up equity share capital and free reserves as on financial year ended 31 March 2016, at a buyback price of Rs 14,180.57 per share payable in cash.

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) announced that the futures and options (F&O) contracts on NIIT Technologies and Sintex Industries will be available for trading from 1 July 2016. The market lot, scheme of strikes and quantity freeze limit of the securities shall be informed to members on 30 June 2016 through a separate circular.

Bharti Airtel announced after market hours yesterday, 14 June 2016, a new initiative - Open Network - which will display its mobile network coverage and signal strength across India in addition to network site deployment status. The initiative under Project Leap, its national network transformation initiative, sees the company open up its entire mobile network information to its customers through an interactive online interface, said a company statement. The new interface will be available to customers in the website and app from today, 15 June 2016.

Union Bank of India announced after market hours yesterday, 14 June 2016, that the bank intends to raise capital funds through issuance of Tier 2 bonds. In this regard, CRISIL Ratings has assigned 'CRISIL AAA' rating with negative outlook to the bank's proposed Basel III compliant Tier 2 bond issue of Rs 1000 crore. Further, CRISIL has reaffirmed its ratings on other debt instruments i.e. Tier 1 Perpetual Bond Issue (Basel II), Tier 1 Bond Issue (Basel III) & Tier 2 (Basel II & III) at 'CRISIL AAA', 'CRISIL AA' & 'CRISIL AAA' respectively with negative outlook. CRISIL has also reaffirmed its rating on the bank's certificate of deposits programme at CRISIL A1+.

Dewan Housing Finance Corporation announced after market hours yesterday, 14 June 2016, that it proposes to issue Secured Redeemable non-convertible debentures amounting to Rs 400 crore and a greenshoe option upto Rs 175 crore on Private Placement basis, pursuant to special resolution passed by the shareholders of the company at the 31st annual general meeting held on 23 July 2015, on the terms and conditions.

Godrej Industries announced after market hours yesterday, 14 June 2016, that the board of directors of Godrej Agrovet (GAVL) has granted approval for joint development by GAVL and/or its subsidiaries, of land/s admeasuring approximately 100 acres, located at Sarjapur, Bangalore, with Godrej Properties, the developer. The board of directors of GAVL believes that, since GAVL has not been carrying out any operational activity on the aforesaid land for a long time and the land is available for alternate use, such asset monetization by way of joint development on the said land over a period of time, with the expertise of Godrej Properties will benefit GAVL.

New Delhi Television (NDTV) announced after market hours yesterday, 14 June 2016, that the company and its promoters have, on 13 June 2016, received show cause notices (SCNs) issued by Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) with regard to certain non-compliances related to delay/non-filing of disclosures in the previous years, under Sebi Takeover Regulations. The company is of the opinion that the alleged non-compliances referred in SCN are technical/procedural in nature. The company and its Promoters are in the process of seeking legal advice to take appropriate action in the said matter.

Mandhana Industries announced after market hours yesterday, 14 June 2016, that CARE has revised its ratings for non-convertible debentures, long term and short term banking facilities of the company to BBB+, CARE A3 and CARE BBB+, respectively.

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24x7 Monitoring of All Sewage Treatment Plants': Javadekar

The Government has approved a series of measures for the abatement of pollution and for the conservation and preservation of lakes in Bengaluru. The decision was taken at a meeting jointly chaired by Union Minister of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Ananth Kumar and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar.

Shri Javadekar said that it has been decided to initiate 24x7 online monitoring of all Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), as well as lake water quality to be by concerned authorities in Bengaluru. The Minister said that the corporate sector is also being involved in the effort to conserve and preserve the lakes in Bengaluru. He also said that the progress will be monitored every six months.

Shri Ananth Kumar said that bio-development of lakes of Bengaluru will be undertaken. He said that the lakes will be restored in a bio-diverse manner in Public-Private Partnership mode.

Some of the other actions that have been agreed upon include:

All residential group housing projects/apartments with >20 units and total build-up area of 2000 sq.mtr. to install STP.

Re-use of treated sewage for various purposes and dual piping system to be prescribed in apartments/commercial establishments for re-use of treated sewage.

Regular monitoring of STPs to be carried out by State Pollution Control Board.

Retrofitting of existing STPs to meet the revised effluent norms.

Proper management of plastic waste to ensure that it is not dumped in the lakes.

Madivala lake to be developed as a biodiversity park on the lines of Yamuna Biodiversity Park under the guidance of Karnataka Knowledge Commission.

Lake Wardens to be appointed for involvement of public in lake conservation.

CSR funds to be tapped for conserving and developing lakes.

Discharge of untreated sewage being generated in the city into the lakes is a major cause for their degradation. Against present sewage generation of around 1320 mld (million litres per day), installed treatment capacity is 721 mld (with quantity of sewage treated in these STPs is only 600 mld). To bridge the gap between sewage generation and treatment, the Bengaluru Water Supply & Sewerage Board expect to complete 336 mld STP capacity (which is under construction) by December 2018, 515 mld STP capacity by December 2019 and 189 mld STP capacity by December 2020. Thus, by the end of 2020, STP capacity totalling 1761 mld and its related sewerage system is likely to be available for treating the entire sewage generated in the city.

Projects totalling to Rs.887.97 crore relating to sewerage system and STPs in Bengaluru have been approved/initiated under AMRUT programme of Ministry of Urban Development. Apart from other benefits, these projects will help in rejuvenating lakes in Bengaluru by reducing the pollution load being discharged into them.

This meeting was a follow-up of the earlier meeting taken by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment, Forest & Climate Change on October 19, 2015, in Bengaluru, for preparing a concrete plan for revival of lakes in the city. Minister of Forest, Environment & Ecology, Karnataka, Shri Ramnath Rai attended the meeting, along with senior officials from the State Government.

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Ministry of Railways signed a Joint Venture Agreement with Govt. of Odisha on 14 June 2016. Shri A K Mittal, Member Engineering, Railway Board presided over the signing function. The agreement was signed by Shri V. P Dudeja, ED/Works on behalf of Ministry of Railways and Shri Sanjay Rastogi, Pr. Secretary/ Transport, Govt. of Odisha. This is a very important step for formation of Joint Venture Company for development of Railway Infrastructure in the State.

The company shall identify projects to be developed and find avenues for financing of the same. Ministry of Railways and Govt. of Odisha shall be essentially funding part of such identified projects. Project specific SPVs shall be formed after financial closure of the project.

Background:

In view of the growing demands for railway lines in various states and huge requirement of funds to execute them, Minister for Railways announced in his budget speech regarding setting up of Joint Ventures with states for focused project development, resource mobilization, land acquisition, project implementation and monitoring of critical rail projects.

17 State Governments consented for formation of Joint Venture Companies in collaboration with the Ministry of Railways for development of rail infrastructure in their respective States. Draft MoUs were sent to these State Governments and discussions were also held with them to clarify various provisions of the MoU.

MoUs have already been signed by the Ministry of Railways with seven State Governments viz. Odisha, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Haryana.

Jharkhand and Gujarat have shown their keenness to sign MoU/JV Agreements.

Joint Venture Agreements were sent to all the above nine State Governments.

Apart from the above 9 States, the other States who have consented/ shown keenness for formation of State JVs are Punjab, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Karnataka is already having a Joint Venture (by the name K-RIDE) with Ministry of Railways.

The MoU envisages formation of a Joint Venture company having 51% stake of the State Government and 49% stake of Ministry of Railways. Thus, the JV company shall be fully owned by the Government.

The company will primarily identify projects and possible financing avenues in addition to Govt. of India and the State Government. After finances for a project are tied up, project specific SPVs or special purpose vehicles shall be formed. These SPVs can have other stake holders from Industries, Central PSUs, State PSUs etc. However, the JV companies shall be mandatory stake holders with minimum 26% shares in the SPVs.

The ministry of Railways will sign a concession agreement of 30 years with the project SPV for safe and sound operation, revenue sharing and providing technical & marketing logistics to the SPV. The revenue sharing shall be based on already established formula being used for inter zonal apportionment of revenue.

The most important aspect of this MoU is that the ownership of the land shall vest with the SPVs which is a departure from previous practice. This will give financial leverage to the company to exploit commercial potential of the land. This is likely to result in making project viable which are otherwise not viable.

At the end of concession period, the railways will have option to take over the assets at a nominal price. This is largely in line with average codal life of the assets as most of the assets will need large scale replacement after 30 years.

Indian Railways has been playing a major role in national integration by connecting the remotest places and bringing people closer to each other. Railways receive a large number of demands for network expansion as a railway line acts as an engine of growth for the area it serves.

However, Railways have a large shelf of ongoing New Line, Gauge Conversion and Doubling projects needing about Rs 3.86 lakh crores to complete. We have been trying to meet the aspirations of public within limited availability of funds.

To expedite the projects, Railways have been trying to mobilize resources through other than Gross Budgetary Support. However, on the initiative of Hon'ble Minister for Railways Sh. Suresh Prabhu, Indian Railways have tied up funds for critical capacity enhancement project of doubling, third line, electrification etc. This tied up loan will ensure dedicated and assured funding for such critical projects.

Formation of Joint Venture Companies with the State Governments will go a long way in faster commissioning of critical rail infrastructure projects as it will not only help in mobilization of funds but also in facilitating various clearances and land acquisition.

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Shares of State Bank of India and its associate banks spurted on reports that the Union Cabinet may approve the proposed merger of associate banks with State Bank of India today, 15 June 2016.

State Bank of Mysore (up 12.57%), State Bank of Travancore (up 10.97%), State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (up 9.96%) and State Bank of India (up 1.16%), edged higher.

Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 95.21 points, or 0.36% at 26,490.92.

Earlier on 17 May 2016, State Bank of India (SBI) announced that it is seeking in principle sanction of the Government of India (GoI) to enter into negotiation with its 5 subsidiary banks viz. State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala and State Bank of Travancore to acquire their businesses including assets and liabilities. The decision is purely exploratory at this stage and there is no certainty in relation to SBI completing the acquisitions, SBI said. SBI's board of directors will take a final call after evaluating all the relevant considerations. SBI also said that it is considering acquisition of the newly-created Bharatiya Mahila Bank.

In May 2016, government officials were quoted by the media as saying that no legislative changes will be required for SBI merger and that the process may get completed within this fiscal. SBI Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya had told the media that the benefits of merger would be huge and one of them will be 100 basis points reduction in lending cost within a year post this merger.

Brokerages, which see merger a positive development, had reportedly said employee integration and their cost will be the key to watch out for when the merger will take place. According to brokerages, the merger is long term positive for SBI, but financially it may be negative in the near term due to higher retirement cost, reports said.

While explaining the importance of staff cost, a foreign brokerage reportedly highlighted earlier merger of SBI. In its note, the brokerage reportedly said that SBI had to make additional employee provisions in the case of merger with its subsidiaries historically. This was due to likely rationalization of pay scales, and higher retirement related benefits. Currently SBI subsidiaries get only two retirement related benefits versus three at SBI (pension, provident fund and gratuity), reports suggested.

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Five soldiers were injured on Wednesday in an ongoing gunfight between militants and security forces near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir's Kupwara distric.

"Troops of 56 battalion of Rashtriya Rifles (RR) on Tuesday intercepted a group of heavily armed terrorists in Machil sector of the LoC," defence officials told IANS.

"Five RR soldiers have been injured. They were airlifted to an army base hospital in Srinagar," they added.

--IANS

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French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Wednesday urged the CGT union to halt demonstrations against labour reform in Paris after violent clashes.

"I ask the CGT not to organise this type of demonstration in Paris," Xinhua quoted Valls as saying.

"We must bear our responsibilities. We can no longer have this disgraceful show with things getting out of control," he said.

On Tuesday between 700 and 800 protesters clashed with riot police. Shortly after the start of the Paris rally, hooded youth threw projectiles at security forces who responded by firing tear gas.

Troublemakers torched three cars and defaced hospitals and banks in Paris.

According to the Paris prefecture, 58 were arrested after the clashes which left 41 people injured, among them 29 policemen.

In recent weeks, anti-labour reform demonstrations have turned violent in many cities.

Police unions said more than 350 officers had been injured since the nationwide rallies against labour reform began in March.

A total of 1,300 people were arrested with 819 placed in custody and 51 convicted on charges of violent acts, according to the interior ministry.

In response to the French Senate examining how to loosen labour law to spark recruitment and reduce unemployment, the CGT union called for fresh demonstrations on June 23 and 28.

--IANS

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Commuters heaved a sigh of relief as striking employees of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) ended their strike on Wednesday, enabling the state-run entity's 2,500 buses resume normal operations.

The employees said they will not protest in support of their demands till June 20, the date by which the Himachal High Court has sought the state government's reply on the matter.

"Buses resumed service on all intra- and inter-state routes this morning (Wednesday)," a government spokesperson told IANS.

Transport Minister G.S. Bali said the buses were plying on all routes, warning of action against employees who instigated their colleagues to go on strike.

"We accepted most of their demands before they went on strike which was uncalled for and unjustified," he told reporters in Shimla.

"Respecting the high court order, we have decided to postpone the strike till June 20. Moreover, we will now plead before the court for the acceptance of our genuine demands," HRTC employees joint coordination committee president Pawan Guleria said.

Acting tough against the protesting employees, the high court on Wednesday asked the authorities to take action against "any person or persons found disassociating other employees from joining their duties or otherwise disrupting the smooth functioning of the HRTC or creating any hindrance."

It said: "Necessary follow-up action in accordance with law shall be taken and if need be the erring employees can also be arrested."

Over 10,000 roadways employees had earlier continued their two-day strike from Monday night in defiance of the high court order.

On Monday, the high court declared the strike illegal and issued a directive for its immediate withdrawal, asking the state to look into the employees' demands.

On Tuesday, the court said any decision to join and continue the strike will be treated as contempt of court.

"The striking employees' leaders were apprised of the high court orders on Tuesday, especially the directive that they must call off their strike by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, but they refused to call off the strike," HRTC Managing Director Ashok Tewari earlier said in a statement.

The striking employees are demanding regularisation of the contract staff and pension benefits.

--IANS

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For the first time, an instrument onboard, an orbiting spacecraft has measured the methane emissions from a single, specific leaking facility on the Earth's surface, the US space agency has said.

The observation by the Hyperion spectrometer on NASA's Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) is an important breakthrough in our ability to eventually measure and monitor emissions of this potent greenhouse gas from space.

"This is the first time the methane emissions from a single facility have been observed from space," said one of the researchers, David Thompson from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

In a new paper accepted for publication in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, a research team detailed the observation, which occurred over Aliso Canyon, near Porter Ranch, California.

The Hyperion instrument successfully detected the methane leak on three separate overpasses during the winter of 2015-16.

The research was part of an investigation of the large accidental Aliso Canyon methane release.

The orbital observations from Hyperion were consistent with airborne measurements made by NASA's Airborne/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) imager flying onboard a ER-2 aircraft.
It was reunion time for the cast of "Inferno" here on Tuesday when they got together for the promotions of the upcoming film. Internationally-acclaimed Indian actor Irrfan Khan brought a 'desi' flavour while walking the red carpet here with Oscar-winning star Tom Hanks.

The stars added a dash of action and thrill of Hollywood to Singapore at an event, held at ArtScience Museum, located within the Marina Bay Sands resort here, in anticipation of the film's release.

Oscar-winner director Ron Howard, who has helmed "Inferno", also joined the duo on the red carpet.

Irrfan had a special guest with him on the red carpet -- his son Babil, who was mostly clicking photographs of his father.

Known for his simple and minimalistic style, Irrfan, who gained global recognition with superb performances in films like "Slumdog Millionaire", "Life of Pi" and "Jurassic World", added a splash of colour on the red carpet with his dark red jacket, teamed with floral print shirt.

It was black all the way for Hanks as he wore a simple and sophisticated black suit, and Howard was seen in a blazer teamed up with a shirt and trousers, and completing the look with a cap.

The building of ArtScience Museum turned into a passage to the world of "Inferno" for the fans and attendees as the building got draped in myriad colours like green, red, purple and an impression of a still from the movie being cast over it.

It was a moment of joy and excitement for all the fans waiting to catch a glimpse of their favourite actors when the doors opened and Hanks walked out along with Irrfan and Howard.

The film gala ended all too soon for the waiting fans who were left asking for more and pleading with the stars not to go away.

After giving a visual translation to Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons", Howard is yet again infusing life to his popular "Inferno".

In the film, based on the 2013 novel of the same name, Hanks will be seen reprising the role of Robert Langdon, a professor of symbology at Harvard University, while Irrfan is playing Harry "The Provost" Sims, head of The Consortium.

The film will present a trail of clues tied to the great Dante himself. When Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Sienna Brooks (played by Felicity Jones), a doctor he hopes will help him recover his memories. They race across Europe and against the clock to foil a deadly global plot, and Irrfan joins their mission to save the world.

The event was held as a part of Sony Pictures Summit Singapore.

--IANS

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US president Barack Obama is slated to welcome Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Wednesday at the White House.

The White House announced the meeting will take place behind closed doors in the Map Room, EFE news reported.

The Tibetan religious leader is currently in Washington where he met with both Democratic and Republican members of Congress and gave a speech at the US Institute of Peace which began with one minute of silence for the mass shooting victims in Orlando.

"As a figure revered by Tibetans and people around the world, His Holiness (the Dalai Lama) reminds us of our great responsibility to act to safeguard human rights, promote equality and protect the environment," the Democratic Leader of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

The White House has barred news media coverage of the meeting,

However, the Chinese government has warned the US that it hopes that the visits of both the Dalai Lama and Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen does not jeopardise Washington's support of the One-China policy.

"We hope the US government fulfils its commitments ... and not send wrong signals to those who attempt to divide China," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said.

--IANS

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All domestic carriers, but for AirAsia India, did not react to the new integrated civil aviation policy on Wednesday, perhaps piqued by the recast of norms allowing domestic carriers to fly abroad.

While Vistara is another airline that stands to benefit from the new policy, besides AirAsia India -- in which, too, the Tata's have a stake -- the airline did not issue any statement.

The policy has recast what is called the 5/20 norm -- that is an airline must have five years of domestic flying and a fleet of 20 aircraft to qualify to fly abroad.

The policy cleared by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday has done away with the first five-year wait, but airlines will need 20 aircraft or fly 20 per cent of their total capacity on domestic routes.

"The National Civil Aviation Policy is a progressive one and as a nation we are one step closer to strengthening and growing aviation in India," said Amar Abrol, Cheif Executive of AirAsia India.

"Though a 0/0 or 0/10 would have been more than welcome, the amendments that have been made to the policy are encouraging."

Abrol added that the airline would now focus on aggressively investing in India and increasing its fleet size from six to 20 aircraft.

"The growth in aviation has a cascading effect on the economy and AirAsia will contribute to this economic growth in India," Abrol added.

Leading industry chamber the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) pointed out that the new policy is a turning point for India's civil aviation sector, as it frees the operators from the shackles of 5/20 rule for flying overseas.

"The step would surely attract more investment in the aviation which in any case had become quite viable after a sharp correction in the fuel prices," said D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, Assocham.

Dhiraj Mathur, Partner - Aerospace and Defence, PwC said that by amending the 5/20 rule the policy will increase competition in the market.

"As far as amendment to 5/20 rule is concerned, it should attract new entrants. The requirement of 20 aircrafts is reasonable because one, this issue was holding up the release of the policy and the government has taken a call," Mathur said.

"Second, one can't start international operations with one or two aircrafts. This will not only augment supply and increase investment in the sector in India but will also create more choice for our consumers."

According to Mathur, the five year clause was irrational as it constrained Indian players.

"In any case, a complete new entrant with no experience will hardly be able to start international operations, so only somebody who ties-up with an existing player would be able to do so," Mathur added.

"Admittedly, existing private airlines have been disadvantaged by this rule but something that is irrational must go sooner rather than later."

The 5/20 norms had bitterly divided the Indian airlines sector, as older airlines that are eligible to fly abroad opposed the government's decision to abolish the 5/20 rule.

The eligible airlines made representations to the government under Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) banner.

They highlighted that the proposed exemption of 5/20 rule will amount to injustice to the existing airlines.

Whereas, several aviation research institutions such as the Centre for Asia pacific Aviation have described the 5/20 rule as being damaging, discriminatory and anti-competition, besides preventing carriers from optimal fleet utilisation and expansion.

--IANS

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Home Minister Rajnath Singh will hold a meeting with top officials of nine coastal states and four Union Territories here on Friday to review coastal security, an official said on Wednesday.

Singh will be accompanied at the meet by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Inter-State Council Secretariat, the Registrar General of India, defence, Indian Coast Guard, shipping, animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries besides state home ministers, chief secretaries and directors-general of police from these states.

The nine coastal states are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, and UTs are Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep.

The meet will discuss expeditious implementation of coastal security schemes, institutional set-up in the participating states and UTs to review coastal security, constitution of state maritime boards, security of non-major ports and single-point mooring, coastal mapping, and islands' security.

The issues to be deliberated upon also include distributing Biometric Identity Cards and Card Readers among the fisherfolk, colour coding of fishing and other boats, monitoring of fish landing points and crossing of International Maritime Boundary Line by the fishermen.

There will be presentations by the Coast Guard, coastal states and Union Territories highlighting the measures initiated by them for ensuring coastal security and their additional requirements to strengthen it.

--IANS

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A soldier and a militant were killed on Wednesday following a gun battle near the Line of Control (LoC) in Machil sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

Military sources told IANS that the soldier was one of the two who were critically injured on Tuesday. One terrorist had so far been killed in the operation against militants in Kupwara district.

Five soldiers were injured on Tuesday when Rashtriya Rifles challenged a group of heavily armed militants near the LoC.

The soldiers were flown to an army hospital in Srinagar where doctors described the condition of two as critical. One of them succumbed to his injuries.

The sources said the militants had infiltrated into the Indian side of Jammu and Kashmir when they were challenged by the troops.

The winding LoC is the de facto border between India and Pakistan in divided Jammu and Kashmir.

--IANS

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A list of targets, including journalists and the police, was found in the house of the police officer who was stabbed to death on Monday night by an Islamic State (IS)-linked man, Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said on Tuesday.

Three phones, three knives, including the one with blood placed on the table, were found in the house of the police officer, Xinhua quoted Molins as saying.

The prosecutor also said the assailant, Larossi Abballa, admitted to the police that he pledged allegiance to the IS three weeks ago and acknowledged the victim's status as police officer.

was arrested in 2011 and sentenced to three years in prison in 2013 for helping terrorists to go to Pakistan.

So far, three people have been arrested and placed in custody during the double murder investigation.

The police officer was stabbed to death by the suspect on Monday night in the west Paris suburb of Magnanville. His partner was also killed at their home.

Hours after the attack, an IS-linked news agency report said that the attack was carried out by an "Islamic State fighter".
Three civilians were injured when suspected militants hurled two grenades in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian town on Wednesday, police said.

"Three civilians were injured in Shopian town where militants lobed two grenades today. One exploded outside the police station while the other exploded at Batpora Chowk," a senior police official told IANS.

"The injured were shifted to hospital for treatment. No security personnel was injured in these explosions," the official added.

--IANS

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A labourer from Uttar Pradesh, who had gone to Oman for a job and fell ill and went into a coma, has died, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Wednesday.

"I am sorry Shri Bhiku Prasad is no more. He was in a state of coma in a hospital in Oman. His mortal remains will be sent to his family in Village Kusmahi PO Ramkola Distt Kushinagar UP. @yadavakhilesh," Sushma Swaraj said in a tweet, which she also marked it to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

"His mortal remains will be sent to his family in village Kusmahi PO Ramkola Distt Kushinagar UP," she said in another tweet.

Sushma Swaraj had on Monday tweeted about a media report in Oman on Prasad.

Earlier media reports said Prasad was on a visit visa to Oman for three months to find a job. He had collapsed three days after getting a job but his papers were not complete.

He had not received his "labour card" when he collapsed at work, the reports said, adding the India government had then assured to bear his medical expenses.

"Bhiku Prasad - Yes. We are bearing his expenses because he is in Indian national," Sushma Swaraj had tweeted on Tuesday.

In another tweet, she also had said, while India wanted to fly Bhiku Prasad back home but "Oman doctors have denied permission".

--IANS

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Indian air travellers would be happy to know they are in a better position as compared to foreign counterparts. For one, most Indian airlines offer refundable tickets, while most foreign ones dont. Also, charges on excess baggage are less than what is charged by foreign airlines. Foreign airlines charge $100-200 or euro 75-150 for excess baggage, while Indian airlines charge Rs 300-500 per kg above 15 kg.



With the civil aviation ministry has proposed to bring excess baggage charge to Rs 100 for five kg, above the 15 kg free limit, things could get even cheaper. There is also a proposal to reduce cancellation fees and raise compensation paid to passengers in case of not being allowed to board. Currently, these numbers stand at Rs 2,000-4,000 depending on the duration of the flight. It is proposed to increase this to Rs 5,000-10,000. These measures are expected to bring in transparency and ensure that airlines dont resort to over booking of flights or cancel flights at the last minute.



Typically, the mandatory charges on an include base fare and government taxes. Additional charges include convenience fee for online booking, fees for excess baggage, seat selection, food, cancellation, rescheduling or changing flight, seat upgrade, name change, stretcher, sport equipment and no-show charges.



For instance, on a Mumbai-Bengaluru flight for July 22, the base fare was Rs 1,519, the surcharge Rs 841 and the fare totaled Rs 2,360. This is for a full service carrier. This is on the lowest economy. However, if you cancel the ticket, you lose all the money as the airline has a cancellation charge of Rs 2,500. Similarly, if you want to change the date, they charge you Rs 2,250. In case of a non-refundable ticket, you only get your statutory taxes refunded, while on refundable fare the cancellation charges are charged and the convenience fee is not refunded, says John Nair, head corporate travel, Cox and Kings.



It also depends on when you decide to cancel tickets, says Neelu Singh, chief executive officer and director, Ezeego1.com. If the tickets are cancelled or if the passenger does not show up, then only government taxes are refunded. If the base fare plus fuel charge is lower than the cancellation charges, then the entire base fare plus fuel charge will be deducted as cancellation fee.



In such cases, the governments proposal that cancellation charge should not be more than the basic fare will help. Also, airlines should not levy additional charge to process the refund. And in case of no show, statutory taxes, user development fee/airport development fee/passenger service fee should be refunded. The capping will make it easier for customers to understand because different airlines have different charges and off late they have been increasing, says Amit Taneja  chief revenue officer at Cleartrip.com.



If the ticket is booked through an agent or an online portal, there could be a variable handling fee depending on agency and client. Airlines also charge convenience fee of Rs 100-200, which includes credit, debit, internet banking charges, web fee for online transactions, airport ticketing counter charges, etc.



Preferred seat charges are Rs 500800 and are applicable for customers choosing a seat with more leg room and convenience, with wider seat pitch and located near the exits. This also varies on the choice of destination, says Singh.



The aim is to discourage airlines from cancelling flights and excessively overbooking. So if compensation is high airlines will make efforts to operate the flight. The proposed amount will at least cover the cost of trying to arrange alternate modes of transportation, Taneja says.





ALSO READ: DGCA seeks info on ticket pricing from airlines
The Congress on Wednesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in stepping up its demand for disqualification of 21 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators appointed by the Arvind Kejriwal government as parliamentary secretaries. termed the presidential refusal to give assent to a Bill to shield the legislators from the office of profit rule as "purely political".



Congress and BJP are AAP's principal rivals not just in Delhi but also in states like Goa and Punjab, which are due for Assembly polls by February 2017. In both these states, but particularly Punjab, is emerging as a strong contender to what has for more than a decade remained a bipolar contest between BJP and Shiromani Akali Dali alliance on one side and the Congress on the other.



Any disqualification of MLAs would mean by-elections to these 21 seats in Delhi, which might be scheduled alongside the Assembly polls to Goa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur by early 2017. Such a scenario, given AAP is a nascent one leader party, can hamper Kejriwal in campaigning in Punjab and Goa.



The AAP said the President's decision, "based on the Centre's recommendation", was not on technical grounds "as being projected" as BJP and Congress themselves had appointed their lawmakers as parliamentary secretaries in Delhi and other states.



It said the Delhi government released an order, dated May 7, 1997, through which the then BJP government under Sahib Singh had appointed Nand Kishore Garg as parliamentary secretary.



Kejriwal tweeted, "Modi is only scared of AAP. He sees AAP everywhere - in the morning, evening, during daytime and in night." Kejriwal had on Tuesday wondered why nobody was talking about legislators occupying similar posts in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab.



AAP's Delhi Convenor Dilip Pandey said Supreme Court orders "make it clear" that a post will be considered office of profit only if monetary gains are involved and that AAP's parliamentary secretaries never drew salaries or allowances.



The Congress said in a commentary posted on its website: "AAP has cried hoarse saying that these 21 MLAs/ parliamentary secretaries received no salaries. As they clamber to save themselves, it appears AAP have not bothered to read Supreme Court's judgments which have clearly stated that 'office of profit' is not deemed by salary alone."



It said the 'office of profit' is determined by perks, which undoubtedly these 21 MLAs were enjoying at the cost of the Delhi taxpayer. The Congress said there is a limit to the number of ministers Kejriwal can appoint and in an attempt at ingenuity gave 21 MLAs the position of 'parliamentary secretaries'. "These positions are not in the statute books, so are not legal and have been deemed an 'Office of Profit'," it said.


Four months after the ACB filed a chargesheet in the Maharashtra Sadan scam, a special court on Wednesday issued production warrant against senior NCP leader and his nephew Sameer Bhubals.

"The court issued production warrant against Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer in the Maharashtra Sadan case," special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat said.

The production warrant is issued against them as they are presently in the judicial custody in a money laundering case registered against them.

"The jail authorities have to produce the duo on June 22," said Gharat.

Meanwhile, Gharat also sought issuance of non-bailable warrant against Chhagan Bhujbal's son Pankaj in the case for not appearing in the court.

"However, his lawyers told the court that he will be present in the court on the next date," he told Press Trust of India.



The ACB, in February this year, had chargesheeted 17 persons, including the Bhujbals in connection with the case. It had filed a 20,000-page chargesheet consisting of statements of over 60 witnesses.

According to the anti-graft agency, the case was entirely based on documentary evidence, such as fund transfer and bank transactions.

In the construction of Maharashtra Sadan, contractors have earned 80% profits, while as per the government circular such contractors are entitled to only 20% gains, the officials said.

They added that the books of accounts were fudged to show that the profit earned was only 1%.

Officials had said that to construct Maharashtra Sadan, Chamankar Associates, the contractor firm, had allegedly transferred money to Niche Infrastructure and other companies in which Pankaj and Sameer were the directors.

The chargesheet said that most of the companies floated by the Bhujbals are in the name of employees and used for siphoning off funds. Niche was earlier owned by some employees of Maharashtra Educational Trust, in which the Bhujbals later became directors.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) foresees a close contest to elect the successor to President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan. It is, therefore, keen to improve its tally of seats in the Assembly polls to five states, including the key state of Uttar Pradesh, that are scheduled to be held by February-March 2017. The are slated for July 2017.
Sanatan Sanstha activists Virendra Tawde and Sarang Akolkar wanted to eliminate rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in 2009 itself, but they dropped the plan due to the Margao bomb blast that took place in the same year, CBI sources said today, citing evidence pieced together by the agency.

Two Sanatan Sanstha workers - Malgonda Patil and Yogesh Naik - died when the bomb they were ferrying to Margao, Goa, accidentally exploded in November 2009. Akolkar, one of the accused in the blast, case is absconding since then.

"As per the documentary evidence and investigation till now, Tawde and Akolkar wanted to kill Dabholkar in 2009. However, they had to drop the plan after two Sanatan Sanstha workers died when the bomb, they were ferrying to Margao, accidentally went off," they said.

The Central agency is probing the Dabholkar murder case, which was handed over to it in May 2014 by the Bombay High Court. The NIA is handling the Margao blast case.

Tawde, an ENT surgeon, was arrested from Panvel, Navi Mumbai last week for the murder of the 67-year-old anti superstition crusader. He is the first accused to be held in the nearly three-year-old case.

Tawde, suspected to be the brain behind the murder conspiracy, kept on planning a hit on the activist along with Akolkar. The plan was finally executed on August 20, 2013, when Dabholkar was shot dead by two unidentified men while he was on a morning walk on Omkareshwar Bridge here, they said.

In another revelation, the sources said workers of the Goa-based right-wing outfit were present near the bridge when the murder took place.

The sources said Tawde hated Dabholkar for his relentless campaign against religious superstition. He also allegedly played a key role in the 2009 Sangli-Miraj riots.

The Sanstha has denied any role in Dabholkar's murder and termed Tawde's arrest as "mysterious".
India has fared worse than even some sub-Saharan countries in terms of number of children who are stunted, according to a new report on global nutrition.

With 38.7 per cent children in the country suffering from stunting, India ranks 114 in the list of 132 countries surveyed. The percentage is much higher than the global prevalence of stunting at 23.8 per cent, as per the latest Global Nutrition Report (GNR).

"At current rates of decline, India will achieve the current stunting rates of Ghana or Togo by 2030 and that of China by 2055," noted the report.

Currently, China ranks 26, which is 106 notches above India, while Ghana and Togo rank 52 and 80, respectively.

However, India and many other countries are winning their fight against this form of malnutrition, the report says.

"India almost doubled the rate of stunting reduction in the past 10 years compared with the previous decade. That is highly significant given that India is home to more than one-third of the world's stunted children," GNR said.

Other important finding of the survey is that families with people suffering from cardio-vascular diseases spend 30 per cent of their income on treatment of the ailment.

The report also noted an increase of nearly 58 per cent in the cost of hospitalisation due to cardio-vascular diseases in the country in the period between 1995 and 2004.

"A recent systematic review of the global impact of non-communicable diseases on household income found that cardiovascular disease patients in India spent 30 per cent of their annual family income on direct cardio-vascular disease health care.

"... The mean out-of-pocket cost per hospitalisation increased from USD 364 in 1995 to USD 575 in 2004," the report noted.

Giving the data for other diseases, it said 9.5 per cent adults in India were suffering from diabetes as opposed to nine per cent of the global population. It said India ranked at 104 among 190 countries surveyed for diabetes.

The study also noted that most countries, including India, were off course when it came to meeting targets in fighting obesity which was becoming a "staggering global challenge".

The report is an annual assessment of countries' progress in meeting global nutrition targets established by the World Health Assembly and commitments made at the Nutrition for Growth Summit in 2013.
Nearly 500 Pakistani soldiers and 3,500 militants were killed during two-year long 'Operation Zarb-e-Azb' launched by the military to clear the restive tribal region of terrorists, army said today.

"The FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Region) has been cleared of all militants and the troops have reached upto the border (with Afghanistan)," Military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said, marking the second anniversary of the Zarb-e-Azb.

Operation Zarb-e-Azb (Sharp and cutting strike) was launched on June 15, 2014 to clear the North Waziristan of al-Qaeda linked militants.

Bajwa said more than 3,500 militants were killed while around 490 soldiers lost their lives during the operation.

He said 992 militant hideous were destroyed, 253 tonnes of explosives confiscated, 7,500 bomb factories dismantled, 2,800 mines removed and 3,500 rockets and mortars recovered during the operation.

"The militants had enough explosives to continue bombing for 15 years with upto seven bombing every day," he said.

He said 4,304 sq/km was cleared in the tribal region and all militant networks in North Waziristan and Khyber were smashed, which were main source of terrorism.

He said the operation was done indiscriminately and all militants groups were targeted. He said the operation was still going on in the shape of combing operations.

Bajwa said that Pakistan suffered USD 107 billion of financial losses since 9/11 due to militancy in its region.

He said border management with Afghanistan was serious issues as Pakistan wants to plug all points on the 2,600 kilometer long border to stop illegal movements.

He said in the initial phase eight recognised crossing points will be managed and later presence of forces on the border will be increased.

"We are having new recruits to increase manpower of Frontier Corps and border management troops to improve the security and bring all movement under control," he said.

Bajwa said that success in the tribal region had major positive impact on the security in the country. He also mentioned Karachi where over 1,200 militants were captured and several killed.
A five-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 50-year-old man in south Delhi's Sangam Vihar area today.

The incident took place early morning when the minor was returning home after buying a packet of milk and the accused, who is the landlord of her family's rented house, lured her to a secluded place where he allegedly forced himself upon her, a senior police official said.

The girl narrated her ordeal to her parents, who later approached police.

A case under relevant sections of IPC and POCSO Act was registered at Neb Sarai Police Station and the man was arrested, the official said.
The fresh round of pro-quota agitation by Jats continued for the eleventh consecutive day today with INLD leader Abhay Chautala addressing their gatherings at many places while state minister Anil Vij accused the Opposition of "provoking" the protestors.

The state remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported, officials here said here.

Addressing sit-ins by the members of the Jat community at Rohtak, Jhajjar, Jind and Kaithal, Chautala said his party favours continuation of reservation given to Jats and five other communities.

"We will raise the issue in the next session of the Assembly," he said.

He said his party had doubted the intention of the government in giving reservation to Jats and five other communities right from the beginning.

"That is is why the matter has got stuck in the courts," he said.

Meanwhile, state minister Anil Vij charged the Opposition of "provoking" the Jat community "holding dharnas in a peaceful manner".

"The Jats are sitting peacefully, but they are not able to digest this. They want to provoke them. Yesterday, Congress leader Anand Singh Dangi also addressed a gathering of Jats in Rohtak, where he made a political speech, which was rightly opposed by the gathering which he addressed.

He said the Jat community knows the "gameplan" of the Opposition, which wants to disturb peace and therefore they won't fall into their trap.

"I am hopeful that Jat community will give dharnas in a peaceful manner," he said.

After the Jats violent agitation in February, the state government had brought in laws to provide reservation to them and five other communities under a newly-carved Backward Classes (C) category.

However, the High Court stayed it, acting on a public interest litigation, after which some Jat groups announced the fresh stir.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said Air India did not inform the government about its decision to withdraw its flight on Kolkata-Durgapur-Delhi sector from June 17.

"We were not told of Air India's decision," she said.

Air India yesterday said it has decided to withdraw its thrice-a-week flight on Kolkata-Durgapur-Delhi sector from June 17, six months after its inauguration, due to 'operational reasons'.

Meanwhile, Banerjee has handed over the task of investigating chit fund scams to senior police officer Jawed Shamim.

The Chief Minister said Shamim, who is the Director of Economic Offences Wing, has also been given the additional charge of CID.

"CID investigates these scams and so we have given him the additional charge in CID so that he can probe those cases," she said.
The authorities in Florida searched a lake at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa early today after an alligator snatched a two-year-old boy from the shore.

The mission was still considered a search and rescue operation even though the toddler had been missing since late yesterday, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said at a sunrise conference.

"We determined this two-year-old child was playing at the edge of the water, a foot or so into the water, when this alligator came up and attacked the child," he said.

"The father did his best. Tried to rescue the child, however, to no avail."



The child belonged a family of five from the Midwestern state of Nebraska that was relaxing on the shore of a man-made lake at the upscale Disney resort hotel, Demings said.

The lake is part of a Disney complex that includes another hotel. Both are connected to the Magic Kingdom, one of four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

"We have not been able to locate that child," Demings said. "We will continue the search throughout the course of the evening."



"Multiple deputies" were at the site overnight, he added.

"More are coming this morning, fresh eyes to give another fresh look at the water. We'll have deputies in the air as well."



Rescuers used sonar and lit the area with bright lights overnight as a helicopter hovered overhead. Firefighters stood on the water's edge with infrared cameras scanning the water for the child.

"We are very hopeful, hoping for the best," Demings said. "Sometimes you get the worst, but we're certainly hoping for the best."



Alligators are common in Florida, where they can be found in bodies of fresh water across the state, Nick Wily from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Service told reporters.

However, it is "very rare" for an alligator to attack a human, he said.

There was a no swimming sign at the lake, but no warning about alligators, Wily added.

"Everyone here at the Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by this tragic accident," a Disney official said at an earlier conference.
GE group company Alstom T&D India has bagged two orders worth Rs 202 crore from Power Grid Corp for execution of projects to improve power flow in Madhya Pradesh.

"Alstom T&D India Limited, a GE Group company has been awarded two contracts worth Rs 202 crore from Power Grid Corporation of India Limited for execution of projects in Madhya Pradesh," the company said in a BSE filing.

According to the statement, both the projects will facilitate evacuation of power and add to availability of electricity in central region.

Under the first contract worth Rs 119.7 crore, the company will set a 400/220kV AIS substation at Rewa. The contract also includes supply of three 500 MVA power transformers and one 125 MVAR shunt reactor at 400kV level. The substation will evacuate power from from a 750 mw solar park coming up at Rewa.

In the second contract, worth Rs 82.8 crore, the company will install, test and commission 16 shunt reactors 110MVAR, 765kV, 1-ph and two shunt reactors of 80 MVAR, 400KV, 3-ph as part of Gadarwara Part (A) Transmission system project in Madhya Pradesh. The project will evacuate power from NTPC's 1,600 mw Gadarwara Supercritical Thermal Power Station.

The company said the equipment for both the projects will be manufactured at company's facilities in India.
In a dig at Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh's outreach programme 'Halke Vich Captain', Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today claimed there is no match between "darbars of Maharajas" and "pro-people Sangat Darshan" of SAD-BJP government.

The "politically motivated darbars" of Congress leaders reflect their "feudal mindset" whereas the Sangat Darshans are unique phenomena where the entire government visits villages for solving people's problems, he claimed at a Sangat Darshan programme in Malout Assembly segment.

"Congress leaders with aristocratic mindset are free to hold darbars, provided they are of some utility to general public. It is on record that Sangat Darshan programme is very fruitful in redressing the grievances of the every strata of the society," Badal said.

Ahead of the Assembly polls next year, Amarinder, who belongs to the royal family of the erstwhile State of Patiala, has announced the launch of 24-week-long outreach programme -'Halke Vich Captain'- which will kick off on June 19 from Jalalabad, the assembly constituency of Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal.

In this programme, Amarinder will spend one full day in each of Punjab's 117 Halkas (assembly constituencies) reaching out to more than two crore people and establishing direct contact with more than five lakh people.

The chief minister claimed, "Sangat Darshans guarantee holistic development of villages and welfare of people and enable the government to judge the performance of its officers. This is first of its kind programme in the entire country as no other CM bothers to take up so much pain."



Amarinder, who has often hit out at Badal over holding 'Sangat Darshan Programmes', has also announced he will lead a dharna at the chief minister's village Badal in Muktsar district on June 18 to protest the alleged multi-crore recruitment scam.

(REOPENS DES 25)



On another query, Chief Minister Badal said that he had already ordered cash grant for the war widows.

Refuting the charges of misappropriation of funds for procurement being leveled by the Congress party, the Chief Minister claimed the entire procurement operations was being conducted in a transparent manner, so there was hardly any scope of misappropriation.

Badal said that had there been any misappropriation then the cash-credit limit would not have been issued by the Central Government.

On another query, the Chief Minister said that he would soon raise the issue of inflow of "contaminated water" through river Ghagghar in the state from Haryana.

He said that the supply of toxic water was a major concern for the region as it was creating several health hazards for the residents.

Badal said that he had taken up this issue earlier in several meetings and would again flag up this issue with Haryana government.

Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that only the Union government was authorized to waive off the loans of farmers towards the banks adding that the state government has hardly any role in it.

Likewise, Badal said that he had been regularly pleading for making all out efforts to make agriculture a profitable venture.

He said all the powers regarding fixing the prices of crop and agriculture inputs were vested with the Central government.

Badal said that on its part the state government was providing free power worth Rs 5000 crore annually to the farmers besides ensuring health insurance and an interest free crop loan worth Rs 50,000 to them.
In a fresh salvo at BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar today accused them of being anti-labour and "protecting" interests of industrialists.

"The government protects interests of industrialists and not of workers," Pawar said, addressing a labour convention organised by NCP.

"Till now, government permission was needed to wind up industrial unit having more than 100 workers. Now the limit has been raised up to 300," Pawar said.

Such changes will lead to workers losing jobs on a large scale, the former Union minister said.

Taunting state labour minister Prakash Mehta, Pawar said, "When I heard his name, I wondered what is his connection with workers."



Workers should unite in large numbers against this government, Pawar said. "Show them your collective power," he added.
A nine-member BJP team today visited this village in Uttar Pradesh to review the situation over alleged migration of Hindus that has set off a political slugfest even as Congress said the BJP leadership has been "totally exposed" after a party MP's U-turn on the issue.

The fact-finding team was announced by BJP president Amit Shah on Monday during the course of its National Executive meeting in Allahabad after BJP MP Hukum Singh alleged there was a communal angle to the 'migration' from Kairana village in Shamli district in UP where elections are due next year.

Singh, who had recently alleged that several Hindu families have been forced to migrate from Kairana following atrocities from "one particular community", did a volte face yesterday, saying that it was "not communal" in nature but had more to do with the law and order situation.

The team met some families of Hindus who had allegedly migrated, said Suresh Rana a BJP MLA, adding it also had an interaction with officials of the district administration.

"We have been raising the same issue in Vidhan Sabha for three years now. We only talk about migration when the atmosphere of fear is at its peak. Had the CM of UP wanted, he could have controlled the situation long back," Rana said, adding a report will be sent to the party leadership.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should visit Kairana village and assess the situation rather than accusing BJP of lying on this "sensitive matter", he added. The team was led by Suresh Khanna, BJP's legislature party leader in UP assembly.

Besides Khanna, the other members of the delegation included Baghpat MP Satpal Singh, Saharanpur MP RLP Sharma, Bulandshahr MP Bhola Singh, Aligarh MP Satish Gautam, Aonla MP Dharmendra Kashyap and former UP DGP Brij Lal.

"There has been mass exodus(from Kairana) due to gunda raj" of the SP government," Sharma alleged.

Congress's in-charge of UP Ghulam Nabi Azad said the BJP leadership stood "totally exposed" on how they wanted to exploit the situation and tell the people that the alleged migration is on religious lines while it was for economic reasons.

"Exactly that is what we are afraid of because they(BJP) are having an eye on assembly elections. They might even turn small issues into big issues. They will try to polarise the situation. This is what people in UP should be cautious about," he added.

JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav cautioned against any attempts to foment communal tension ahead of the assembly polls.

"People from Kairana did come to me. They told me that what all they(BJP) are saying is a lie. It is nice that they (BJP)have taken a U-turn from what they have earlier said. Soon there will be elections in UP, there should not be any tension on communal divide," he said.

Shamli District Magistrate Sujeet Kumar has already ruled out any communal and law and order issues behind some people leaving the area.

"[The] party president has set up a committee, which will go there and study the situation. Such a migration is not good for democracy. The party is sensitive about it and proper steps will be taken after the report comes," senior BJP leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday, a Shah expressed serious concern over "migration" from Kairana area in Shamli district, which had witnessed communal riots in 2013.

(REOPENS DEL 42)



BJP said it will await the report of its fact-finding team, which visited Kairana and met locals, before moving further on the issue.

On reports that migrations have been happening for many years from Kairana, a senior BJP leader said, "then it is very serious" as no government has addressed the issue by seriously taking it up.

Terming the migration problem as that of law and order, BJP Secretary Shrikant Sharma claimed the ruling SP is giving a communal twist to it only to divert the public attention from its own "failures of lawlessness" in the state.

"The Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh is a failure on the law and order front and the truth is now coming out in the open," he said, adding that the so called secular brigade is trying its best to save Akhilesh over the issue.

"Those involved in doing politics over deaths are now trying to save the Akhilesh Yadav government on the issue by raising questions on the list provided by us," he said.

Sharma claimed it is Akhilesh who is giving communal colour to Kairana incident as he has "failed" to address basic issues of water and electricity and people are questioning him.

Brushing aside charges of a U-turn on the issue, the BJP leader said BJP has maintained its stand right from day one that the issue is of deteriorating law and order and is linked to extortions by a particular community.

"350 families of Kairana have migrated out and government should hold an inquiry to ascertain the reasons why they have fled. Even if one family flees, it should be probed as to why it has done so," he said.

He said the BJP is not making it a Hindu-Muslim affair but a law and order issue, the BJP leader said, alleging that "members of only one community are involved in extortions and Akhilesh Yadav is giving protection to such people.
The anti-corruption branch (ACB) has filed a preliminary investigation report pointing out several "irregularities" in connection with the AAP government's ambitious app-based Premium Bus Service Scheme.

The irregularities pointed out in it include alleged misinterpretation of the Motor Vehicles Act to suit the scheme, absence of any limit on the number of buses or routes under it and not putting its proposal on the public domain, a source in ACB said today.

He further said, all bus operators except one had opposed the scheme in connection with which a notification was issued on the Lieutenant Governor's name without his prior approval. Also, the finance and law departments were "not consulted" with regard to the same.

Almost all the "irregularities" mentioned in the report were first pointed out by BJP legislator Vijender Gupta, on whose complaint a probe into the matter was iniated by ACB chief M K Meena.

The source said, Delhi Traffic Police was also "not consulted" in connection with the scheme and its notification was issued without the high court's approval.

The cabinet note regarding the same was borrowed from Delhi Dialogue Commission's proposal and it was signed by former transport minister Gopal Rai, and not any secretary in the transport department, he claimed.

Rai had voluntarily presented himself before the ACB yesterday and claimed the probe agency is "totally clueless" to substantiate the graft charges in the scheme.

Rai, accompanied by senior officials of Transport Department, also met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and asked him for evidence which proves corruption in this bus scheme, alleging that the move is totally "politically motivated" to "defame" it.
A businessman was today allegedly abducted and robbed off Rs 53 lakh at knife-point by two unidentified persons in Sola area of the city, police said.

Jasmin Patel, who is in construction business, told police that two men abducted him near Sola over bridge.

"Patel claimed that when he was going home in his car after withdrawing around Rs 53 lakh from a bank, a van rammed into his car near Sola over bridge. Two men came out of the van and got into Patel's car. Before he could say anything, they held a knife to his throat and asked him to drive towards Ognaj village," said police inspector D V Rana.

"After some distance the duo asked Patel to stop the car at a secluded place. A third person came behind in the van. The duo snatched the bag containing the cash and drove off in the van," Rana said.

Police said they have cordoned off all the exit routes from the area and were also checking the CCTV footages near the bank to identify the culprits.
The Union Cabinet today approved agreement between India and Saudi Arabia on Labour Cooperation for the recruitment of the general category of workers.

The pact benefits Indian emigrant workers, especially in the unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled categories.

"The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post facto approval for the Agreement on Labour Co-operation between India and Saudi Arabia," a press release said.

According to statement, the Agreement was signed in Riyadh on April 2-3, 2016 during the visit of the Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia.
Cabinet today approved a bill seeking to amend the debt recovery laws with an overall objective of improving the ease of doing business.

"Cabinet approves ex-facto 'The Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, 2016," an official statement said.

The bill aims to improve ease of doing business, facilitate investment leading to higher economic growth and development, it added.

Briefing media after the Cabinet meeting, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the bill will help in faster recovery of bad loans.

Introduced in Lok Sabha last month, the bill seeks to amend four legislations -- Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (Sarfaesi) Act, 2002, the Recovery of Debts due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993, the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 and the Depositories Act, 1996.

A Parliamentary Joint Committee has invited views and suggestions from various stakeholders and public on the provisions of the Bill by June 22.

The government has come up with this legislation at a time when there is mounting concerns over loan recovery in view of stressed assets to the tune of over Rs 8 lakh crore in the banking system.

The legislation proposes to give RBI powers to regulate asset reconstruction companies, prioritise secured creditors in repayment of debts and provide stamp duty exemption on loans assigned by banks and financial institutions to asset reconstruction firms.

Around 70,000 cases are pending in Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT) and the proposed amendments would facilitate expeditious disposal of recovery applications.
With a controversy surrounding his three-day-old appointment, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath tonight quit as party in-charge of poll-bound Punjab in view of a "canard" regarding the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

He wrote a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi who immediately accepted his resignation and relieved him of his charge as party General Secretary.

Nath, who was appointed as the General Secretary in-charge of Punjab as well as Haryana only three days back, said in his letter to Gandhi, ".. I request that I may be relieved of my charge (of Punjab) to ensure that the attention is not diverted from the real issues facing Punjab."



The former Union Minister said he was "hurt by the developments of the past few days wherein an unnecessary controversy has been created around the tragic 1984 riots in New Delhi."



His step came as Akali Dal, BJP and AAP had kept up attack on him and the Congress over his alleged role in the anti-Sikh riots which followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Describing his appointment as 'sprinkling of salt on wounds' of Sikhs, the three parties were set to rake up the issue in the run up to the Assembly polls slated next year.

Kamal Nath insisted that there was not even any public statement, complaint or FIR against him till 2005 in the riots case and that he had been absolved subsequently by the Nanavati Commission set up by the previous NDA government.

"This canard is therefore nothing but a cheap political ploy to gain traction ahead of the elections.... Certain elements are raking up these issues now only for political gains," he wrote to Gandhi.

Expressing gratitude to Gandhi for appointing him as General Secretary in-charge of Punjab, the Congress leader wrote, "I am practitioner of Nehruvian politics and maligning of the Congress party using false accusations is unacceptable to me."



"I wish the party to focus on the upcoming elections and highlight the issues of misgovernance, misery of the farmers and youth, break down of law and order and rampant drug trade that caused untold misery to the people of Punjab."



Soon after, party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said the Congress president had accepted Nath's resignation as AICC General Secretary.

"Kamal Nath has tendered his resignation from the responsibilities assigned to him in AICC. On his request, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has accepted his resignation," Surjewala said.
China on Wednesday banned the export of several critical dual use technologies to that could be used for development of nuclear weapons, the latest in a series of efforts to deter Pyongyang's aggressive nuclear and missile programme.

The ban, with immediate effect, follows United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions, a Commerce Ministry statement said.

The list of banned items, referred as dual use items include ring magnets, high strength alumina's alloys, laser welding equipment, and an array of compounds that can be used to produce nuclear and chemical weapons.

It also includes metal hydrides, laser-welding equipment and plasma cutting equipment.

It also bans the exports of a dozen chemicals that could be used in the production of chemical warfare agents, the statement added.

China and North Korea, officially referred to as Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), continue to have close relations.

China is North Korea's largest trading partner and its only influential protector for decades. However, relations between the two countries have soured over differences over Pyongyang aggressively pursing nuclear weapons and missile programme.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in March in response to the DPRK's nuclear test in January and attempted satellite launch in February this year.

North Korea, which held its first party congress last month after nearly four decades, has formally endorsed leader Kim Jong-Un's policy of expanding the country's nuclear arsenal.
China today said public mood in the country is against Taiwan's "independence" and any attempt by the island to seek secession will be unsuccessful.

"Taiwan independence in any form was a flagrant provocation and would sabotage cross-Strait peace and stability," AnFengshan, spokesman for Chin's Taiwan Affairs Office told media here.

Responding to a question about a recent proposal by some Taiwanese political parties to challenge the one-China provisions with "constitutional amendments", An said "any attempt to seek secession will be unsuccessful".

He also rejected a statement by Taiwan's cross-Strait affairs authority to term the cross-Strait relationship as one among "neighbours".

"The mainland and Taiwan belong to one China, and compatriots on both sides are a family, not neighbours," he said.

China claims Taiwan, which broke away from the mainland in 1949, is part of it and opposes any country according diplomatic recognition to Taipei.

China's concern over Taiwan is on the rise after the recent election ofTsai Ing-wen who advocated pro-Taiwan independence policy unlike policy of reconciliation with mainland pursued by her successor Ma Ying-Jeou.

Asked about a plunge in the number of mainland tourists to Taiwan, An said no quota of numbers have been fixed for tourists inflow between both the sides.

"Changes in the island's tourism are mainly due to changes on the island this year. The impact certain events have had on cross-Strait ties has been felt by the market," he said, apparently referring to Tsai's election.

He said the mainland will continue to enhance cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation for the interests and welfare of the compatriots on both sides.

According to An, a Kuomintang Party youth-wing delegation will visit the mainland next week to discuss cross-Strait exchanges.

During the tour, the delegation is expected to meet with Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

Mainland authorities have also decided to add six mainland bases for cultural exchanges with visitors from Taiwan, bringing the total bases on the mainland to 49.

However, the spokesman said, cross-Strait communication, dialogue, and exchanges must be based on the recognition of the 1992 Consensus and the one-China principle.

"So far, the island's new leader has adopted an ambiguous attitude toward the nature of relations between the mainland and Taiwan. To ensure the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, the confirmation of the one-China principle is a must," he said.

He reiterated this principle when answering questions about an upcoming visit by Taiwan's new leader Tsai Ing-wen to Panama and about a recent report that Chen Chu, mayor of Taiwan's city of Kaohsiung, has expressed willingness to visit the mainland.
A Chinese navy spy ship today entered Japan's territorial waters for the first time in over a decade while tailing two Indian naval ships during trilateral Malabar naval exercise attended by the US, India and Japan.

Japanese P-3C patrol aircraft spotted the Dongdiao-class intelligence vessel sailing in territorial waters to the west of Kuchinoerabu Island at around 3:30 AM (1830 GMT Tuesday), Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko told reporters.

The ship travelled on a southeasterly bearing and left Japan's territorial waters south of the prefecture's Yakushima Island around 5 AM, Kyodo agency quoted Seko as saying.

It was for the first time that a Chinese spy ship was detected in Japanese water since a submarine was spotted in 2004. The latest intrusion came less than a week after another Chinese naval vessel sailed near islands at the centre of a Tokyo-Beijing sovereignty dispute in the East China Sea.

"The Chinese military vessel moved in after an Indian ship sailed into Japan's territorial waters as it participated in a Japan-US-India joint exercise," Defence Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters.

A senior Foreign Ministry official lodged a protest with the Chinese Embassy here over its military activities in view of latest intrusion.

"We are concerned about the Chinese military's recent activities," Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.

Japanese officials said they are analysing China's possible motives behind the two actions.

"The government will continue to exert every effort in warning and surveillance activities in the waters and airspace surrounding the country," Seko said.

As to the spy vessel's case today, the Defense Ministry said it entered the waters while tracking two Indian naval ships that were participating in ongoing Malabar naval drills.

In Beijing, Chinese officials defended the naval vessel's entry into the waters, saying the passage was in line with the principle of freedom of navigation and international rules.

Under international law, ships of all countries, including military ones, are entitled to the right of "innocent passage" through territorial waters as long as it would not undermine others' security.

"There is no need to provide notification or to get authorisation in advance," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in Beijing.

"So if Japan insists on hyping up this issue in the media, we have to question its motives.
Congress today dismissed findings of an inquiry panel that files relating to Ishrat Jahan case went missing in September 2009 when party leader P Chidambaram was the Home Minister.

"I do not think that is correct. I do not think any important file could go missing when Chidambaram was the Home Minister. He was a very hands-on minister," senior spokesman Ajay Maken told reporters.

At that time, Maken was the deputy of Chidambaram in the Home Ministry but was not looking after the Internal Security division to which the file belonged.

Reports earlier had it that the one-man inquiry panel probing the missing files related to the case has concluded that the papers were "removed knowingly or unknowingly or misplaced" in September, 2009.

Only one paper out of the five documents related to the controversial alleged Ishrat fake encounter case that went missing from the Home Ministry was found, said Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry B K Prasad in his inquiry report submitted to Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.

Ishrat, Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai, Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killed in the encounter with Gujarat Police on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004.

The Gujarat Police had then said those killed in the encounters were LeT terrorists and had landed in Gujarat to kill the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Congress is not likely to contest for the post of deputy speaker in West Bengal assembly, senior party leader today said reverting from the stand taken last week by the party.

"We have not taken any final decision regarding the matter. Some senior Congress MLAs are against the decision of contesting for the post of deputy speaker. We will take a final call regarding this on June 17, when the assembly session begins," Leader of opposition and senior Congress leader Abdul Mannan told PTI.

Mannan, however, did not disclose the reason behind Congress MLAs' stand of not contesting for the post.

Some senior MLAs, who spoke to PTI on condition of anonymity cited two main reasons behind the decision not to contest.

"Firstly we don't have the numbers to win if there is a contest. The CPI(M)-Congress combine has 76 seats whereas the ruling TMC has 211 seats. How can you win the contest?



"Secondly if there is voting and three BJP MLAs vote in favour of alliance candidate then it would be fatal as TMC would get the opportunity to say that we have forged an alliance with the communal party," a senior MLA said.

Mannan had said last week that Congress had decided to contest for the post of deputy speaker.
Cote D'Ivoirie, the world's largest producer of cocoa, today sought investment from India's private sector, particularly in processing the main ingredient in chocolates, to further strengthen trade ties with India.

President of Cote D'Ivoirie Alassane Ouattara expressed interest in Indian private sector investment during his talks with President Pranab Mukherjee, who is on a two-day trip to the West African country as part his three-nation Africa tour.

"Ivory Coast Government is very keen to get Indian private sector on board...Another sector he was proudly mentioning was that of chocolates. They produce cocoa. He says that Indian private sector could be useful as they export everything," Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha said while giving details of the talks between the two leaders to reporters.

Cote D'Ivoirie leads the world in production and export of the cocoa beans used in the manufacture of chocolate, supplying 33 per cent of cocoa produced globally.

Sinha also said as per figures in January this year, the trade between the two countries stood at around USD 841 million and would have touched USD 1 billion till March 31.

In one of the important agreements signed, Exim Bank is going to re-open its office here. It was shifted in 1992 to Sudan because of political turmoil in the country.

Headquartered in Mumbai, the bank signed a 'Headquarter Agreement' which will give it some privileges.

Mukherjee also raised the issue of reforms in the UN Security Council and said change is a must, Sinha said.

Ouattara told Mukherjee it was an honour that he took time away from his busy schedule to visit his country and expressed regret that he could not come to India during the India-Africa Forum Summit last year because of elections.

Mukherjee extended an invitation to Ouattara, asking him to visit India anytime, Sinha said.

This is the maiden visit of the Indian President to "home of hospitality" Cote D'Ivoirie and is seen as India's outreach to Africa. Mukherjee's visit comes close on the heels of Vice President Hamid Ansari's trip to Morocco and Tunisia.

Cote D'Ivoirie also known as Ivory Coast, a francophone country, is also the biggest producer and exporter of cashew nuts to India which procures nearly 80 per cent of its total exports of cashew nuts.

The country had gone through a period of turmoil in the last decade due to civil war but its development can be seen from modern expressways crisscrossing the lush green countryside.
A court here today issued arrest warrants against former Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife, former JD(U) MLA Usha Sinha, in connection with +2 toppers scandal in the state.

Patna Chief Judicial Magistrate Om Prakash issued the arrest warrants against the couple on a plea by police.

Sinha was yesterday replaced as principal of Ganga Devi College here by senior professor of the institution Kanchan Chakhaiyar.

Sinha had appointed junior professor Dilip Kumar Verma as principal of the college before proceeding on leave after her name cropped up in the +2 examination scandal in which her husband and ex-board chairman was a prime player.

Investigation in the scam had highlighted her role and the police made her a co-accused in the case.

Smelling trouble, Sinha went underground last week and appointed Verma as principal of the college.

Sinha, who did not contest the 2015 Assembly elections as her seat Hilsa in Nalanda district had gone to RJD quota, had joined the college and was made the principal.

"Prima facie there are ample evidences against Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh. Proof of tampering in the exam copies and evaluation have been found which was in the knowledge of the ex-BSEB chairman (Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh)," senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj, who heads the SIT to probe the scam, had said.

Police had on June 11 arrested Bacha Rai, the kingpin of the toppers scandal, from Bhagwanpur police station in Vaishali district. Rai is the secretary-cum principal of controversial Bishun Rai College.

The scandal was brought to the fore by media by conducting interviews of arts and science toppers Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shreshta for their answers to simple questions.
A delegation of five opposition parties, including JD(U), CPI(M) and NCP, will tomorrow visit Kairana where it will meet residents and address a gathering of civil society, alleging that BJP's claim of exodus of Hindus and subsequent visit by a party team have created "anxiety and tension" in Western Uttar Pradesh.

"They (BJP) have tested the waters in Godhra and Muzaffarnagar riots and seen the results and are in search of (an opportunity for) doing the same before the upcoming UP Assembly election," JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi said in a statement.

Condemning BJP president Amit Shah's statement on "exodus" of Hindus in Kairana, the opposition parties alleged that the statement has created anxiety and tension in Western Uttar Pradesh.

The delegation which will visit Kandhla and Kairana include JD(U) MP K C Tyagi, CPI(M) MP Md Salim, CPI's D Raja, NCP MP D P Tripathi and RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha.

"They will meet with all sections of the society and address a gathering of civil society in Kairana. Members of the delegation took strong exception to and emphatically condemned the statement made by Shah about Kairana exodus," Tyagi said.

A nine-member BJP team today visited Kairana to review the situation over alleged migration of Hindus that has set off a political slugfest even as Congress said the BJP leadership has been "totally exposed" after a party MP's U-turn on the issue.

The fact-finding team was announced by Shah on Monday during the course of its National Executive meeting in Allahabad after BJP MP Hukum Singh alleged there was a communal angle to the 'migration' from Kairana in Shamli district in UP where elections are due next year.

Singh, who had recently alleged that several Hindu families have been forced to migrate from Kairana following atrocities from "one particular community", did a volte face yesterday, saying that it was "not communal" in nature but had more to do with the law and order situation.

Earlier in the day, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav cautioned against any attempt to foment communal tension ahead of the assembly polls.

"People from Kairana did come to me. They told me that what all they (BJP) are saying is a lie. It is nice that they (BJP) have made a U-turn from what they have earlier said. Soon there will be elections in UP, there should not be any tension on communal divide," he said.
Department of Heavy Industry will send a proposal to the Union Cabinet seeking approval for the takeover of the Palakkad unit of Instrumentation Limited by the Kerala government, Union Minister Anant Geete said today.

"The Kerala Government has agreed in-principle to the takeover proposal of the Palakkad unit of Instrumentation Limited, which has been making profits. Therefore a proposal in this regard will be sent to the Cabinet," Geete told reporters here.

However, the Minister said that the Rajasthan Government has rejected the proposal to take over the Kota unit of Instrumentation Limited, which has been in the red since many years.

Employees of the Palakkad unit have been demanding that the government either delink it from its loss-making mother unit at Kota or merge with a profit-making PSU.

The government had earlier approved hiving off profit-making Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL) from its parent company Instrumentation Ltd and turning it into an independent central public sector enterprise (CPSE) under the Department of Heavy Industry.
NATO allies will likely agree next month to extend the Afghanistan training mission and keep troops in all four sections of the country next year, a senior NATO diplomat said today, leaving the door open for the US to maintain current troops levels if the Obama administration decides it's necessary.

Under current plans, the US will cut its troop numbers from 9,800 to 5,500 by the end of 2016. But in the face of a resurgent Taliban, former commanders have urged President Barack Obama to keep 9,800 there into next year.

The diplomat said it appears that at the NATO summit in Warsaw in July, the allies will shelve earlier plans to consolidate forces in and around Kabul next year.

And instead, they will keep what NATO has called the hub-and-spoke system, which has headquarters in Kabul and Bagram, German troops working with Afghan forces in the north, Italian troops doing the same in west, and US forces working in the southern region around Kandahar and in the east in Jalalabad.

In addition, the diplomat said officials believe NATO will get commitments for the USD 5 billion needed to fund the current number of Afghan security forces through 2020.

The diplomat was not authorised to discuss the expected decisions publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.

Asked about the plans, British defense secretary Michael Hammond told reporters that, "Nobody wants to see all the spokes collapse. I think we're all aware of the fragility of the Afghan forces. They're fighting hard, but taking very heavy casualties."



He also said that Britain will maintain its funding of the Afghan advisory mission at nearly USD 100 million a year through 2020.

The expected decisions cement NATO's continued commitment to the training and advising mission in Afghanistan, as the conflict there drags on.

And they come on the heels of an announcement by President Barack Obama to expand the US military's authority to support the Afghan forces in the air and on the ground.

The US is now able to conduct airstrikes against the Taliban when needed in critical operations, and American troops can accompany and advise Afghan conventional forces on the ground, much like they have done with Afghan commandos.

Although Obama has said he will cut US troop numbers to 5,500 by year's end, there has been some talk of possibly delaying that reduction.

Afghan forces are still struggling against a stubborn Taliban, which has made gains this year, particularly in the south. And Islamic State fighters have also sought to gain a foothold in the country.

The diplomat said there have been no changes yet to the decision to reduce forces, and it will be possible to continue working with the Afghans in Kabul and all four of the regions with the lower US troop levels.

But, the diplomat also noted that Obama has shown a willingness in the past to adjust troops cuts when conditions on the ground call for it.

Now, as the fighting season rages on, is an assessment period, the diplomat said, and keeping the four regions open will provide greater flexibility in future decisions.

So far, the diplomat said that the U.S. Has not asked other allies to increase their troop commitments to make up for the US reduction.
Kerala government today made it clear that the state would oppose any proposal to raise the water level of Mullaperiyar dam, a bone of contention between it and neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

State Minister for Water Resources Mathew T Thomas said further steps in this regard would be taken after consulting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other officials concerned.

The minister's statement comes amid reports about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the water level to 152 ft during her New Delhi visit, yesterday.

"There are media reports that Tamil Nadu chief minister submitted such a request before Prime Minister. There is no official communication in this regard so far. But, we will oppose any move to raise the reservoir's water level," Thomas told PTI.

There were also reports that Jayalalithaa had sought the Centre's support to implement the linking of inter-state rivers of Achankovil, Pampa and Vaipar.

Thomas said the linking of rivers was against the interest of Kerala and the government would raise strong objection against it also, if there was any such move.

"Kerala has always objected to the proposal to link rivers. We will continue to object it," the minister added.

Meanwhile, state Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said the proposal to link inter-state rivers would "adversely" affect the state.

Most of the rivers of the state would become dry and the Kuttanadu and Upper Kuttanadu, areas known for the scenic backwaters, would be the worst affected.

Chennithala also wanted the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the Prime Minister.

Based on the report by the Empowered Committee, the Supreme Court had allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the water level to 142 feet in 2014.
World famous Dudhwa Park, situated on the Indo-Nepal border, on Wednesday was closed for tourists.

On the last day of the current tourist season, Dudhwa witnessed a heavy rush of tourists, Park's Deputy director, Mahavir Kaujlagi told Press Trust of India.



The park was formally declared closed after the last batch of tourists left Dudhwa.

Kaujlagi said the park would re-open on November 15 after monsoon is over and the park is maintained for tourists.

This season, Dudhwa had a heavy influx of tourists, he said, adding, frequent sights of big cats attracted the visitors.

Located on India-Nepal border, the park has been a major source of attraction for tourists as well as research scholars owing to its rich flora and fauna and wild animals.

It houses various wild species including royal Bengal tigers, unihorned rhinoceros, five species of deer including its flagship specie swamp deer, extinct specie of Bengal florickan bird besides a number other avian and aquatic species.

Dudhwa is also famous for its successful relocation programme of rhinos in which unihorned rhinos were brought after a gap of over a century.

Starting with just five rhinos in 1984, the park today enjoys a population of 32 rhinos.

Despite several odds, the population of tigers has registered a sustained growth here courtesy well habitat management and rich natural resources.
Egypt's foreign minister says the country's parliament has the power to annul a decision by the president to hand over two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

The minister, Sameh Shukry, is being quoted by the state MENA agency today as saying that President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's decision on the two islands would be considered "non-existent" if the parliament, which has constitutional rights to review and endorse international accords, votes against it.

Shukri's comments come at a time when a high court in Egypt is reviewing a lawsuit against el-Sissi's decision to hand over Tiran and Sanafir islands to the kingdom.

The deal, announced during a high-profile visit by Saudi King Salman in April, has sparked the largest anti-government protests since the former army chief became president.
Turkey must still do more to meet the EU's conditions to win visa-free travel for Turks under a migrant crisis deal, for which the deadline is July 1, the European Commission said today.

The European Union agreed in March to offer Turkey visa- free access, increased aid and speeded up accession talks in return for Ankara controlling the flood of migrants crossing into Greece.

But Turkey has yet to fulfil all of the conditions laid down by the European Commission for the visa agreement, including changes to Ankara's anti-terrorism laws to meet EU concerns over human rights.

"On visa liberalisation, Turkey still needs to fulfil the remaining benchmarks of the roadmap so that visa requirements for Turkey citizens can be lifted soon," said Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos.

He was unveiling the latest report by the commission, the executive arm of the 28-nation EU, on the progress of the migrant deal agreed at a summit in Brussels.

Avramopoulos insisted Turkey had made "spectacular" progress by so far fulfilling 65 of the 72 benchmarks set by Brussels "and our people work together with the Turkish authorities to accomplish this goal".

"Turkey has committed to meeting the rest of the benchmarks to allow for visa-free travel for Turkish citizens and we expect them to come to this commitment," he added.

"We are moving ahead."



Turkey's Europe minister has admitted there is no chance of completing the deal on visa-free travel to the EU by the July 1 deadline.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last month that the visa exemption must be introduced by October at the latest. Ankara has threatened to scrap the migrant deal with the EU altogether if visa-free travel is not forthcoming.

"There are some problems today, there are some ups and downs," a senior Turkish official told reporters just ahead of the commission report's publication.

The commission said migrant arrivals had dramatically dropped because of the deal, to just 47 a day during May compared to a massive 1,740 a day before the deal.

Under the deal 462 irregular migrants who had not applied for asylum had been returned from Turkey to Greece, it added.

Meanwhile, the EU had resettled 511 Syrians from Turkey under a "one for one" clause in the deal, under with the EU takes in one Syrian from camps in Turkey for every Syrian that Turkey takes back from the Greek islands.

More than one million refugees and migrants have flooded into Europe since the start of 2015 in the biggest such crisis to hit the continent since World War II.
Exports fell for the 18th month in a row in May, though marginally by 0.79 per cent to USD 22.17 billion as several non-oil sectors such as engineering and gems and jewellery saw a rise in outward shipments.

Imports, too, dipped by 13.16 per cent to USD 28.44 billion in the month under review. The trade deficit narrowed to USD 6.27 billion in May, from USD 10.4 billion in the same month last year.

While releasing the trade data today, the Commerce Ministry said, "The decline in exports for India has slowed considerably".

Exporters body FIEO said decline in exports has largely been arrested and non-oil exports have turned positive after a long gap.

"Exports are all set to take off from here onwards and we can look for double digit growth from October onwards which may pave the way for reaching USD 300 billion in the current fiscal," it said.

CII, however, said that the uncertainty in the global economy will continue to persist and there is no sign of leap frog growth in global demand.

"In this challenging situation, India can no longer afford to delay domestic reforms aimed at improving export competitiveness, which would have direct influence on its exports performance," it said in a statement.

Exports have been falling since December 2014 due to weak global demand and slide in oil prices. However, since December last year, the pace of contraction is slowing down.

During April-May 2016, exports contracted by 3.74 per cent to USD 42.73 billion. Imports during the period fell by 18.15 per cent to USD 53.85 billion, leaving a trade deficit of USD 11.11 billion.

Oil imports in May dipped by 30.45 per cent to USD 5.93 billion. Non-oil imports too fell by 7.06 per cent to USD 22.5 billion.

In May, overseas shipments of petroleum products shrank 15.53 per cent to USD 2 billion.

On the other hand, exports of engineering goods entered positive zone and recorded a growth of 2.2 per cent. Gems and jewellery exports too grew by 24.34 per cent to USD 3.71 billion.

Other sectors which recorded negative growth include carpet, textiles, oil meals, tea and coffee. Sectors which registered positive growth are handicrafts, chemicals and electronic goods.
Family of a debt-ridden farmer here who had committed suicide last year received compensation cheque almost a year after the incident.

Surjit Singh, whose crops had been destroyed by the unseasonal rains, had on April 28 last year briefed Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on the farmers' plight and later committed suicide on June 10 (last year).

Following his death, Gandhi had visited Dadumajra village and assured full support to the family.

Fatehgarh Sahib Congress MLA Kuljit Singh Nagra today said the deceased's family was given the cheque yesterday.

The Rs-2 lakh cheque was handed over to the family by local Tehsildar Harbans Singh, Nagra claimed.

When contacted Tehsildar Harbans Singh said his office recently received cheque from the SDM office and they handed it over to the farmers' family.

Surjit was among those who had met Gandhi at Sirhind Grain Mandi during the latter's visit at Punjab grain markets on April 28.

He had told Gandhi that if farmers' issues remained unresolved for long many of them would commit suicide.

Surjit owned six acres of land and had taken another land on lease. But with his crop failing for two successive seasons, he was unable to pay back the lease amount.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari today asked officials to fast-track the project on starting a boat transport service on a section of Yamuna and see if it could be be commenced from October.

The Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, PWD Minister Satyendar Jain and Water Minister Kapil Mishra discussed the issue during a meeting here.

Gaskari asked officers of his ministry to fast-track the project that seeks to start the boat service from Wazirabad to Fatehpur Jat and check if it could be commenced from October.

Transport Ministry officials also raised the issue of building terminals on the banks where boats could berth.

Gadkari said starting the project on this small patch in Yamuna would serve as a "model for the entire country" and also prove to be a boost to the waterways transport.

Kejriwal too emphasised that the project would send the "message aloud across the country".

Officials from the two sides are expected to visit the sites in a day or two.

Delhi government asked the Centre if 54-km Najafgarh Drain could be marked as an inland waterway.

Both sides discussed several pending issues, including dredging of Yamuna River in order to take up the project.

Apart from it, progress on the work of decongesting the national capital was also taken up during the meeting.
Boko Haram killed four people and abducted four women from a village in northeast Nigeria, the military said today, dismissing the Islamists as weakened and increasingly desperate.

Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman told AFP the attack happened on Tuesday morning in Kutuva, in the Damboa local government area of Borno state, which has been hardest hit by seven years of fighting.

"Boko Haram terrorists riding on six motorcycles attacked the village. They killed four residents and abducted four women," he said.

"Residents of neighbouring Kaya village mobilised and pursued the terrorists. They traced them to Sabon Garin Baale but unfortunately they lost track of the gunmen."



Such hit-and-run attacks were a regular feature of the Islamic State group affiliate's tactics in the remote region but have become increasingly rare since the beginning of 2015.

Thousands of women have also been seized in the conflict, including more than 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok, which is some 70 kilometres (44 miles) away by road.

A military counter-insurgency has recaptured swathes of territory seized and controlled by the militants in 2014, pushing them out into border areas around Lake Chad.

The army has since April been mounting a push against Boko Haram's stronghold in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno, which is near Damboa local government area.

Usman said soldiers and civilian militia had been deployed to the area of the kidnapping but it was unclear whether the gunmen were heading for the Sambisa Forest or elsewhere.

"They are doing their best to track them down and rescue the women," he added.

"Boko Haram have been severely weakened. But they are trying to save face. That's why they're trying to launch attacks on soft targets.

"They're now facing lots of challenges. Our troops are mounting pressure on them, which has cut off most of their supply routes.

"Just a few days ago 17 Boko Haram terrorists surrendered to the civilian JTF in the Damboa area. They were forced to surrender out of starvation.
The French and Canadian leaders have made phone calls to US President Barack Obama to express condolence over the deadly shooting in a gay nightclub in Orlando in which 49 people were killed.

According to the White House, Obama spoke by phone with the French President Francois Hollande to accept his Hollande's condolences for the terrorist attack in Orlando.

"Obama thanked Hollande for visiting the US Embassy in Paris on Monday to express France's sympathy and support," the White House said yesterday.

Obama offered his own condolences on behalf of the American people for yesterday's fatal attack on a French police officer and his partner in France.

"Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to degrading and destroying ISIL and standing against the broader scourge of terrorism," the White House said.

"The President spoke by phone today with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada to accept Prime Minister Trudeau's condolences for the terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida," the White House said.

Obama expressed his own condolences on behalf of the American people for the death of Canadian citizen Robert Hall, who was recently killed by Abu Sayyaf terrorists in the Philippines.

The leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to confront the scourge of terrorism.

A self-radicalised Afghan-origin youth, Omar Mateen killed 49 people and wounded another 53 before he was killed when police stormed the Pulse, one of Orlando's most prominent gay venues, on Sunday.
The Congress in Goa today demanded a ban on Sanatan Sanstha, which is under scanner for the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, even as it targeted State Public Works Department minister Sudin Dhavalikar for his "close links" with the right wing outfit.

"The activities of Sanatan Sanstha should be banned from immediate effect. One of their seekers (follower) has been arrested by CBI in connection with the Dabholkar murder case, while another one (Sarang Akolkar) is on the run since the Margao bomb blast in 2009," state Congress' spokesman Sunil Kawathankar said at a press conference along with party colleague Trojano D'Mello.

"We demand the organisation (Sanatan Sanstha) be declared as terror organisation and banned. We had written to the union ministry in the past but they said that it is a state matter," Kawathankar said.

The Congress Goa spokesman questioned that "if Muthalik can be banned then why not Sanatan Sanstha?"



Goa government has banned the entry of Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik in the state citing law and order issues.

Sanatan Sanstha is headquartered at Ramnathi village, 30 kms from here, near Ponda town.

Kawathankar said the recent arrest of Virendra Tawade from Panvel in Navi Mumbai has indicated that he was also linked with the Margao bomb blast case.

"It is high time that the organisation be banned in the state. If state government fails to do so, we will protest on the streets pressing for the demand," he said.

The Congress party also pointed out close links of state PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar to Sanatan Sanstha.

"The close links of the PWD minister and his family to Sanatan Sanstha has made the government slow paddle on the issue," D'Mello said.

"The BJP should stop helping the people who create hatred and spread violence in the society," he said.

When contacted, Dhavalikar said that he should not be unnecessarily dragged in the controversy.

"Investigation agencies are doing their job. I don't support a ban on the organisation and state government has no role to play in the investigation of Dabholkar murder," he said.
Uttar Pradesh government tonight suspended Gorakhpur SSP Anant Dev on charges of dereliction of duty and attached him to DGP headquarter in Lucknow, a senior home department official said.

Ram Lal Verma, posted in Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) Kanpur, has been sent to Gorakhpur in place of Dev, the official said.

The suspension comes after reports in a section of media of alleged attack on a Samajwadi Party leader's son there.

Gaurav Yadav, son of Samajwadi Party's ex-district president Gopal Yadav was reportedly beaten by the police yesterday in Cantonment police station with a matter relating to land dispute.

The SP workers and leaders of the district had lodged a strong protest against police personnel and had also met party leaders and chief minister in Lucknow demanding action against policemen.
With prices of pulses soaring to as high as Rs 170 per kg, the government today decided to import lentils from Myanmar and Africa and beef up the buffer stocks to check the spike in rates.

At a high-level meeting, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley discussed ways to control prices with Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.

The government is concerned about the prices of pulses ruling at a high of Rs 170 per kg and a spike in tomato prices to Rs 100 a kg.

The reasons for the spike in prices and possible options available to check the same were discussed at the meeting.

Among the issues discussed were the releasing more pulses from the buffer stock whenever there is a demand from the states as well as importing pulses from Mayanmar and Africa to deal with the price rise.

"In the meeting, the pulses issue was discussed in detail. Our deparment was told to procure more pulses for buffer stock," Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said.

This year's target is to procure 1.5 lakh tonnes of pulses for buffer stock creation and so far, 1.15 lakh tonnes have been purchased during the kharif and rabi seasons, while the rabi procurement is still going on, he added.

To boost domestic supply, Paswan said, "The Finance Minister also said that imports via public and private agencies should be strengthened to meet the deficit."



The government has decided to send a team immediately to pulses-growing nations like Myanmar and Africa to explore government-to-government imports, the Food Minister said.

The meeting, which was also attended by secretaries to the department of economic affairs and revenue as well as Chief Economic Advisor, was informed that Kendriya Bhandar, Safal and other government agencies were selling the staple tur and urad dal at Rs 120 per kg from their outlets.

The government has already released 10,000 tonnes of pulses from buffer stock to deal with the situation.

The govrenment's twin strategy comprises boosting supply through its newly-created buffer stock and imports.

Already, India has submitted a draft agreement for import of tur from Myanmar on government-to-government route. Many African countries have also envinced interest to supply lentils to India.

Besides pulses, the price rise of tomato, sugar and wheat was also discussed at the meeting.

Tomato prices have more than doubled to rule as high as Rs 100 per kg due to crop damage. Potato prices have also been on the rise.

Paswan informed in the meeting that the price rise in tomato was a "seasonal" factor and the commodity cannot be stored due to short shelf-life unlike wheat and rice.

He also informed that his ministry is keeping a close watch on prices of pulses, sugar, wheat, tomato and other essential food items.

The country had imported 5.5 million tonnes of pulses last year. The country's pulses production is estimated to be 17.06 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year (July-June), while the demand is pegged at 23.5 million tonnes.

The ministers discussed the progress made in imports of pulses as well as reviewed the buffer stocks position and lifting by state governments for retail distribution at subsidised rates.

The government has procured 1.15 lakh tonnes pulses directly from farmers as of now for creating a buffer stock of 1.5 lakh tonnes this year. It is also importing pulses through state-owned trading agencies like MMTC. So far, 38,500 tonnes of lentils have been contracted for import.

The wholesale price inflation data released yesterday showed vegetable prices rising sharply to 12.94 per cent. Pulses inflation has remained in double digits since January 2015 and stood at 35.56 per cent in May.
A team of scientists have identified the merger of two black holes yet again  just three months after their first detection, researchers announced on Thursday.

Scientists detected the cataclysmic black hole merger  a phenomenon Albert Einstein predicted in his theory of relativity a century ago  by spotting gravitational waves, using an advanced detector known as the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO instrument.

Black holes form in the final stage of most massive stars' evolution. The space bodies are so dense that neither light nor matter can escape them.

Sometimes the holes couple, orbiting in a "dance" around each other as they lose energy in the form of gravitational waves, ultimately merging into a single black hole.

Those gravitational waves  "ripples in the fabric of space time"  allow scientists to detect when the black holes merge.

On December 26, 2015, waves first signaled a collision that occurred about 1.4 billion light-years from Earth, meaning the gravitational waves crossed space for 1.4 billion years before the LIGO instruments could pick them up.

"We are starting to get a glimpse of the kind of new astrophysical information that can only come from gravitational wave detectors," said David Shoemaker, an astrophysicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and leader of the Advanced LIGO detector construction program.

Shoemaker noted that because black holes do not emit light, they are invisible without gravitational waves.

Two identical LIGO detectors sit about 1,864 miles (3,000 kilometres) from each other, one in Livingston, Louisiana and the other in the city Hanford in Washington state.

Scientists announced the second detection  with 99.99% certainty  at the meeting of the American Astronomical Society in San Diego, California this week, publishing their findings in the Physical Review Letters journal.

The black hole merger generated energy that roughly equals the mass of the sun, energy converted into gravitational waves, scientists explained.

"With detections of two strong events in the four months of our first observing run, we can begin to make predictions about how often we might be hearing gravitational waves in the future," said Albert Lazzarini, deputy director of the LIGO Laboratory and researcher at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
The Gujarat government has issued a notice to former chairman of Mehsana-based Doodhsagar Dairy, Vipul Chaudhary, for recovery of over Rs 40 crore which the dairy lost due to his alleged corrupt practises.

The notice was issued two days ago by the state registrar of cooperative societies Nalin Upadhyay.

"We have issued him the notice for the recovery of Rs 41.83 crore which the dairy lost due to his corrupt practises. We have asked him to personally appear at our office on June 27 with his response," said Upadhyay today.

In 2014, Chaudhary was first sacked as the chairman of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), owner of the Amul brand.

In March last year, he was sacked as the chairman of Doodhsagar dairy on the charge of irregularities. He was also banned from holding any position in a cooperative entity for three years.

According to Upadhyay, Chaudhary has been served notice on three grounds under section 93 of Gujarat Cooperative Societies Act.

"One is related to the supply of cattle feed worth Rs 22 crore to Maharashtra, second is about a sugar purchase and the third is about huge difference of stock in the dairy which came to light after an internal audit," said Upadhyay.

In 2013, two members of the Doodhsagar Dairy had filed a petition in the High Court alleging that Chaudhary, as the chairman, donated Rs 22 crore worth of cattle feed to Maharashtra without approval of the board of directors.

Last year, registrar of co-operatives in Mehsana filed an FIR against Chaudhary for allegedly purchasing sugar for the dairy at a higher than the prevalent market rates, resulting in a loss of Rs 17 crore. Chaudhary is currently out on bail in both the cases.
Haryana villages achieving 100 per cent coverage under three flagship insurance schemes will get a refund of half a per cent in premiums.

The three insurance scheme are -- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna, Pradhan Mantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojna and Pashudhan Bima Yojna.

Villages, blocks and districts which have 100 per cent coverage under Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojna, Pradhanmantri Jivan Jyoti Bima Yojna and Pashudhan Bima Yojna will get the benefit of half a per cent in premium and would also be declared as risk free areas, an official release said.

The decision has been taken to mark the golden jubilee year commencing from November 1, the release said.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in a meeting today reviewed various schemes of Departments of Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare and Horticulture, it said.

It was also decided to set up soil testing laboratories in all 108 mandis in the state, the space for which would be made available by Haryana State Agricultural and Marketing Board.

Apart from this, it was also decided to promote Perry Agriculture Concept in blocks adjoining Kundli Manesar Palwal Expressway as this would not only meet requirement of Delhi for fruits, flowers, vegetable and dairy products but would also increase the farmers' income.

It was informed in the meeting that 4.1 lakh soil samples have been collected in the state out of which 1.46 lakh samples have been tested and 1.02 lakh soil cards have been prepared.

Moreover, to give boost to the micro irrigation, a target has been fixed to bring 37,850 hectares of area under ground pipeline.

Apart from this, 28,350 sprinklers, 9,830 mini sprinklers and 7,870 drip systems would be provided to the farmers during the current financial year.

It was also informed that the Detailed Project Report of Horticulture University being set up in Karnal has been sent to the Central Government.

The Chief Minister was also informed that various services and procedures in the department are being simplified.

Online system of seed, pesticide and fertiliser licences have been introduced and practice of obtaining large number of documents not provided in rules have been stopped.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, the new Congress General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, today favoured Priyanka Gandhi campaigning outside Amethi and Rae Bareli for the state Assembly elections next year.

"I do hope that she will definitely campaign in some other places as per time available to her," he told reporters.

He was asked whether Priyanka, who has been focusing on the Assembly segments in Amethi and Rae Bareli Parliamentary constituencies so far, would be campaigning outside to help party Vice President Rahul Gandhi.

Azad will be going to Lucknow tomorrow for a two-day brainstorming session with senior state leaders on the strategy ahead. He has already said the Congress will project a chief ministerial candidate.

Talking separately at the AICC briefing, senior party spokesman Ajay Maken said it was up to Priyanka to decide when she wanted to get into active politics.

He was asked to react on Azad's remarks earlier in an interview that there is an overwhelming desire among party workers to see that Priyanka Gandhi pitching along Rahul Gandhi in the Uttar Pradesh electoral battle.

In Uttar Pradesh, Congress had secured just two seats in the last Lok Sabha elections with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi emerging victorious from their traditional seats of Rae Bareli and Amethi respectively.

The Congress is in political wilderness in Uttar Pradesh since 1989 following emergence of divisive 'Mandal-Mandir' politics and rise of the BSP, which took away its crucial Dalit vote base.
Transport services in Himachal Pradesh resumed today as HRTC employees called of their strike after the High Court took a serious view of the defiance of itsorder and asked them to resume duty.

The court directed the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) employees unions to call off the strike, else their action would be deemed to be aggravating the contempt already committed by them.

HRTC officials said the services have been resumed.

The JCC defied the court orders and had proceeded on strike yesterday even as the High Court observed that the action of the employees, prima facie amounted to contempt of the Court.

The leaders of the committee held a meeting with the Principal Secretary (Transport) last night and refused to accept the orders passed by a division bench comprising Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sandeep Sharma yesterday.

"The employees leaders refused to accept the copy of High Court orders and left the meeting and the government has filed a contempt case which would come up for hearing in the afternoon," the Principal Secretary Sanjay Gupta said.

He said the leaders pressed the demand for conversion of HRTC into roadways and payment of salaries and allowances like in Punjab and Haryana and left the meeting when they were clearly told that the demand could not accepted and the chief minister had already rejected the demand.

The employees had given call for a strike on June 14 and 15 and the strike was to continue till mid night today.

Initially, the HRTC bus services resumed on some routes, even as a section of employees tried to disrupt the services but later services resumed completely after the contempt case was filed, Gupta said.

While directing the JCC leaders not to go on strike, the High Court had asked the government to hold negotiations and settle the issues raised by them by June 20.

The court had also asked the government to give a list of the employees who went on strike yesterday.
India and Myanmar need to work together on a road map to facilitate trade not just between the two but among other ASEAN nations with a view to boosting growth, Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia today said.

She said the trade route between India and Myanmar has the potential to gain significantly from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

"Just sending goods to each other would not help, so we will need to work together on a road map on how to allow the goods of ASEAN region also... And provide them (traders) a secure environment, (modern) infrastructure and speed of movement," she said while launching a study on 'Enhancing India-Myanmar Border Trade: Policy and Implementation Measures'.

India has a free trade agreement with the 10-nation bloc ASEAN, whose members are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam.

She referred to people talking about China's achievements and India's failure to replicate that.

"Let's get real about that. India is not China. We are a different country. We have a different policy. We engage for equal partneship... India does not gain at the cost of any other country and that is the difference. We need to recognise that," she said.

On security concerns related to the India-Myanmar border, the secretary underlined the need for both the governments to work on the issue as there is "a lot to do on this front".

She put primacy on economic growth and development as an important way to deal with security related matters.

"We need to create an environment, an economic space for growth, for development, for jobs and this will certainly be the only medicine for us to have an environment where traders feel comfortable," Teaotia said.

Further emphasising on the need to step up investments in border infrastructure, Teaotia suggested that the Inland Container Depot (ICD), which is under construction for long time, should be completed soon at both sides.

There is also a need to set up laboratory facility, including testing centres and systems for certificate of origin, she said, maintaining that India does not have any issue with Chinese or Thai goods flowing in, but rules of origin certificates and tariffs, if any, need to be applied for legitimate trade.

Asked about opening up of Myanmar's consulate at Moreh, she felt there is a need.

Speaking at the event, Joint Secretary of the Department of Commerce Ravi Capoor said there is a strong need to engage with neighbours like Myanmar as it would help boost growth of India's North-East.

The recommendations of the study include identification of focus areas, constitution of task force on border trade statistics, proper banking and currency exchange facilities and online Customs clearance to promote smooth flow of goods.
India and Thailand are set to firm up cooperation to combat terrorism, and boost maritime security, defence ties and trade during Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha's maiden visit to India, officials said today.

The Thai premier will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his three-day visit beginning tomorrow.

The two countries will issue a joint statement later, expressing their expectations to increase maritime security, double trade in five years, push the India-Myanmar-Thai road project, cooperate in civil aviation, fight cybercrime and promote people-to-people cooperation, said Maj-General Werachon Sukondhapatipak, a deputy Thai government spokesman.

Werachon said talks with India will focus on issues such as trade, support for Thai agricultural products and cooperation on education and tourism.

He said Gen Prayuth has said to put all items high on agenda. A high-level delegation will discuss boosting cultural exchanges between the two nations.

India and Thailand will also look for joint projects in solar energy, space applications and space technology sectors.

"Thailand is an extremely important partner and the two sides attach a lot of importance to this visit," India's Ambassador to Thailand Bhagwant Bishnoi told PTI.

Noting that India's 'Act East' and Thailand's 'Look West' policies were complementary to each other, Bishnoi said India was looking forward to signing several agreements, MoUs on narcotics, cultural exchange with Thailand during the visit.

A Thailand-India Free Trade Agreement will be discussed.

"We are looking forward to a substantial joint statement which would talk of other agreements in the pipeline," Bishnoi said, and added that Thailand is also keen on India's 'Make in India' programme.

He said India appreciated the fact that Thailand was "very sensitive" to India's security concerns and ensured that Thai territory was not used by forces inimical to India.

The Thai delegation will discuss cultural links by travelling to Bodh Gaya for prayers.

The Indian Ambassador here said an agreement will be signed by Nagaland and Thailand's Chiang Mai universities to conduct Thai and Indian courses respectively.

India courses have been important to Thailand and centres at Chulalongkorn, Thammasat, and Silpakorn universities have had Sanskrit and Tamil classes for 61 years, Bishnoi said.

(Reopens FGN 21)



The two countries are expected to sign three agreements after Prayuth-Modi talks: an action plan for cultural exchange, academic cooperation between Chiang Mai University and Nagaland University and cooperation between Kasikornbank and Axis Bank.

The joint statement will pave way for closer Thai-India diplomatic relations to mark their 70th anniversary next year, Werachon added.

Prayut will be accompanied by Thai foreign minister, Agriculture Minister, Industries minister, IT minister and Deputy Minister of Commerce.

The total trade between the two countries stands at USD 8.5 billion. In 2015, Thai exports to India were USD 5.30 billion while Thai imports from India were USD 2.63 billion.

At least 1.1 million Indian tourists visited Thailand last year.
India is in the process of implementing a project to provide a unique ID card to persons with disabilities aimed at creating a national data base that will enable the government to have real time information on their level of education, income and employment status, the UN was told.

"Data and statistics on persons with disabilities is key to their inclusion in the implementation of the Agenda 2030," said Vinod Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities here yesterday.

He said the Indian government is in the process of implementing the 'Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities' project with a view to create a national data base for persons with disabilities, and issue them an unique ID card.

"This would also enable the government to have genuine and real time data on disability covering various aspects such as level of education, income, employment status," he said, adding that the government has also decided to establish the first Central University for Disability Studies and Research in Kerala.

Aggarwal said the explicit inclusion of persons with disabilities in the global vision of the people-centric, universal and transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a "significant" achievement for the international community.

"Disability is recognised as a consequence and cause of poverty. Eradication of poverty, the overarching objective of the Agenda 2030, will remain a distant dream without fully realising their potential and contribution in the vision of sustainable development," he said.

Aggarwal noted that an estimated billion people out of the world's population are disabled and 80 per cent of them live in the developing world.

About 27 million persons with disabilities live in India, constituting about two per cent of its population.

He said India is in the process of harmonising the main legislation of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and a new bill 'Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill' is under consideration in the Parliament.

"The proposed law will increase the rights and entitlements for persons with disabilities, protect them from discrimination, facilitate mainstreaming, access to care and treatment and also strengthen enforcement mechanisms," he said.

Aggarwal stressed that the empowerment of persons with disabilities is an inter-disciplinary process, covering various aspects like early detection, intervention, education, vocational training, rehabilitation, accessibility and social integration.

India launched the National Action Plan for skill



development of 2.5 million persons with disabilities by the year 2022 through various schemes and financial assistance to improve accessibility, rehabilitation, education, vocational training and self-employment.

"Raising awareness among public to promote legal rights of persons with disabilities and also to generate affirmative public perception towards them is a priority," he said.

"The private sector and civil society are valued partners in the endeavour to empower persons with disabilities and to build a more inclusive society that is more sensitive to their needs, as envisioned in the Agenda 2030 and the SDGS.

"India remains committed to building an enabling environment so that all persons with disabilities are able to enjoy their rights equally with others and realise their full potential," he said.

Marking the 10th anniversary of a United Nations treaty that protects the rights of persons with disabilities, senior UN officials today highlighted the critical role people with disabilities play as invaluable partners to achieve the2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

"Through the power of music and the arts, these talented women and men are living examples of our core message: disability is not inability," saidUN Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon in a video message, referring to artists from the Beautiful Mind Charity, '4WheelCity' and the Samulnori team who performed at UN Headquarters.

"Let us work together for a world of opportunity and dignity for all, a future of inclusion, one in which we all gain by leaving no one behind," he added.

Implementing the new Sustainable Development Goalsfor all persons with disabilities is the main focus of the Parties to theConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities(CRPD) as they meet in New York from today through Thursday.

Gathering hundreds of disability advocates and government delegates, the9th Sessionof the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD constitutes one of the largest and most diverse international meetings on disability in the world.

The UN is underlining that the annual review of the Convention will examine the implementation of the binding agreement adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006 to reaffirm that the one billion persons with disabilities -- 15 per cent of the world's population -- must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
India and the UK today clinched two new key agreements on solar energy and nano technology as part of their wider science and technology cooperation.

Dr Harsh Vardhan, Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, met his UK counterpart, Jo Johnson, here for the fifth Indo-UK Science and Innovation Council meeting today to establish the India-UK Networked Centre on Solar Energy.

"The UK is among the most important countries where we have a very dynamic engagement. In India, we are taking up renewable energy in a big way, and in the solar area we will have an even more active engagement with the UK now," he told reporters at the Indian High Commission today.

Describing his UK visit as "very successful and upbeat", he elaborated on the new solar pact as being focused on research projects around micro-grid systems for connectivity of remote areas.

India will be investing Rs 50 crore over a period of five years in the network, with matching contribution from Research Council UK under the 'Newton Bhabha' program.

The council also announced access to Indian researchers to the Neutron Scattering facility of the UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxford.

"We had a very good meeting with the vice-chancellor and other scholars working in the biomedical field. This tie-up will help us in our Nano mission and development of advanced nano materials. India is currently third in the world in terms of nano technology," the minister said.

Science and Technology (S&T) is seen by both governments as among the most important elements in India-UK bilateral cooperation, which started with signing of the inter- governmental S&T agreement in 1996.

In 2006, a new orientation was given to S&T cooperation with setting up of the Science and Innovation Council (SIC).

The SIC, headed by the science ministers of India and UK, is the apex body to review overall bilateral scientific cooperation and it is held once in two years, alternatively in India and the UK.

The fourthSIC meeting was held in November 2014 in New Delhi, co-chaired by Dr Harsh Vardhan and Rt Hon. Greg Clark MP, then UK Minister for Universities, Science and Cities.

The 'Newton Bhabha' initiative was signed during that meeting.

The fifthmeeting took place in London today, which covered a wide range of topics.
Japanese developers and private equity investors are looking to enter Indian property market and could invest at least USD 2 billion over the next three years in residential as well as industrial projects, says JLL.

Realty consultant JLL India said in a report that the country is emerging as major investment destination for Chinese and Japanese developers.

China's biggest developer Wanda has signed an MoU with Haryana government earlier this year and more developers from China and Japan are expected to enter the Indian realty market, it said.

Private equity investors from these two countries are also looking at entering India's real estate sector, it added.

"Japanese developers are keen to explore strategic partnerships and enter into joint ventures with Indian builders, and are particularly interested in industrial projects. There is likely to be an inflow of at least USD 2 billion in investments from Japan into the Indian real estate market over the next three years," JLL India Chairman and Country Head Anuj Puri said.

After 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) was allowed into the real estate industry, it was only a matter of time before foreign developers made big investment announcements, he said.

"One of China's most prominent developers, Dalian Wanda Group, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) earlier this year with the northern state of Haryana to develop 'Wanda Industrial New City'. The investment of USD 10 billion, phased out over the next decade, is a very significant outlay by any Chinese company in India," Puri said.

Other Chinese developers are also interested in India and most likely to follow suit, he added.

The RICS-JLL survey this January had shown that 62 per cent of the respondents felt that institutions from Japan and China could come knocking to the Indian real estate market in 2016.
Lawyers for an Indonesian woman accused of murdering her friend by lacing her coffee with cyanide told an overflowing courtroom today that the evidence against her was vague and illogical.

Indonesians have been riveted by the case, which has also attracted attention in Australia because the suspect, Jessica Kumala Wongso, 27, was a permanent resident and studied in Sydney.

The victim, Wayan Mirna Salihin, collapsed and died Jan. 6 after sipping her coffee in a Jakarta cafe where she was meeting Wongso and another friend. Police say laboratory tests showed the drink contained cyanide.

But Wongso's lawyers said video from a surveillance camera shows no one interfered with the drink, and asked for the case to be thrown out.

Wongso's chief lawyer, Otto Hasibuan, ridiculed the prosecution's contention that the motive was Salihin's advice that Wongso break up with her troublesome boyfriend.

"Does it make sense that Jessica is accused of plotting the murder just because of Mirna's advice to sever her relationship with her boyfriend?" he said. "That is a reason that could not be accepted by common sense."



Police have struggled to bring the case to trial, with the Jakarta prosecutor's office deferring it several times because of insufficient evidence.

The case was accepted after Indonesian investigators gained additional information from the Australian Federal Police.

Wongso is charged with premediated murder, which is a capital crime in Indonesia. But if found guilty she could avoid the death penalty because of an Indonesian government promise it wouldn't be imposed in exchange for the Australian police's help.

Australia opposes the death penalty and relations between it and Indonesia were strained last year after two Australians were executed along with other foreigners for drug crimes.
The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) today strongly condemned the recent attack on leading Malayalam daily "Mathrubhumi" and termed it as an attack on the freedom of press.

It also demanded that those involved in the violent attack on the daily's press and its employees should be brought to book and punished under law.

Mathrubhumi newspaper's Kottakkal unit was attacked on May 31 by a group of people protesting against a road accident. The staff present in the office were injured and furniture damaged in the attack.

"The Executive Committee of the INS, which met today at New Delhi, strongly condemned the attack against Mathrubhumi, a respected media organisation in Kerala.

"It is an attack against freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution of India. It is also an attack against people's right to information," the INS said in a release.

The leading organisation of newspaper publishers said the attack was an act of cowardice adding such unjustifiable incidents posed a great threat to democracy.
A British-Iranian woman who was arrested in Iran in April was accused today of seeking to "overthrow the regime", according to a statement from the powerful Revolutionary Guards.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, an employee of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was accused of being "involved in the soft overthrow of the Islamic republic through... Her membership in foreign companies and institutions," the Mizan agency quoted a regional Guards branch as saying.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, was arrested at Tehran airport on April 3 as she prepared to return to Britain with her daughter after visiting family in Iran, her husband told AFP last week.

Iran doesn't recognise dual-citizenship and, if put on trial, she will be considered an Iranian.

According to the Guards, Zaghari-Ratcliffe was "identified and arrested after massive intelligence operations" as one of "the heads of foreign-linked hostile networks."



She was alleged to have conducted "various missions... leading her criminal activities under the direction of media and intelligence services of foreign governments."



"Further investigations are being done and her case has been sent to Tehran for legal proceedings," the statement added.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe is being held in a furnished room in a prison in the southeastern city of Kerman, 1,000 kilometres from Tehran, it added.

Her husband said she was held in solitary confinement for 45 days.

Britain's Foreign Office has said it has raised the case "repeatedly and at the highest levels" and will continue to do so at "every available opportunity".

Contacted by AFP, Zaghari-Ratcliffe's husband dismissed the allegations against her.

"It's complete nonsense. It's taken them 70 days to come up with this, and it's still not clear what it means anyway," he said.

"Her father has appointed a lawyer, the next step is to discuss with her father what the lawyer knows. And I'll probably go to the Iranian embassy," he added.

Ratcliffe said he had last spoken to his wife on May 30. On Friday, he led a rally outside the Iranian embassy in London to press for her release.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a charitable organisation coordinating training programmes for journalists around the world.

"She has nothing to do with Iran in her work and the foundation doesn't work with Iran anyway, so we have no idea why she has been detained for more than two months, first in isolation and then in a common cell," foundation CEO Monique Villa told AFP last week.
Iran has appealed to the UN's top court against a US Supreme Court ruling that USD 2 billion in frozen Iranian assets must be paid to American victims of terror attacks blamed on Tehran, the tribunal said today.

In its filing to the International Court of Justice in the Hague yesterday, Tehran argues that "Iran and Iranian state-owned companies are entitled to immunity from the jurisdiction of the US courts", the tribunal said in a statement.
Sniper fire by Islamic State militants killed a senior Iraqi commander near the northern IS-held city of Mosul, the extremist group's main bastion in Iraq, as the UN refugee agency warned that thousands of civilians have been newly displaced from that area.

Iraq's Defence Ministry said late yesterday that Brig Ahmed Badr al-Luhaibi, the commander of Brigade 71st of Division 15, was killed by a sniper during an operation to retake a village south of Mosul.

The statement lauded al-Luhaibi as a "knight" and said his death would "increase our determination to clear" the entire province of Nineveh, where Mosul is the provincial capital, of IS militants.

Mosul - Iraq's second-largest city - fell to the Islamic State group during the militants' June 2014 onslaught that captured large swaths of northern and western Iraq and also almost a third of neighbouring Syria.

The city, about 360 kilometres northwest of Baghdad, became also the largest city in the extremist group's self-declared caliphate on the territories the militants control.

Along with a major offensive to retake Fallujah, a city in western Anbar province, Iraqi troops have this week resumed small-scale operations to dislodge IS militants from areas to the south and southeast of Mosul.

In late March, the government forces launched a military operation aimed at clearing areas between Makmour and the adjacent Qayara areas outside of Mosul, to the east of the Tigris River, and to cut one of the supply lines to the nearby IS-held Shirqat area.

But retaking Mosul itself is not likely to come anytime soon. It will be an enormous undertaking for the Iraqi troops, even though they are backed by airstrikes from the US-led coalition and have been joined by pro-government fighters, mostly Shiite militias.

Iraqi and US officials have refrained from giving a specific time for a Mosul operation, saying it would take many months to prepare Iraq's still struggling military. Some of the US and Iraqi officials have said it may not even be possible to retake it this year, despite repeated vows by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

The UNHCR said yesterday the fighting outside Mosul has displaced over 14,000 Iraqis since March. Of that number, more than 8,000 people left from villages east of the Tigris, putting additional pressure on existing camps for refugees and the displaced.

Since April, 6,700 more Iraqis have crossed into Syria's northeastern Hassakeh province using local smuggling networks. Some of those refugees managed to escape Mosul.
A Turkish court handed down multiple life sentences to three foreign Islamic State militants on Wednesday after finding them guilty of murder, according to a lawyer.

The men were arrested in 2014 after killing a soldier, a policeman and a truck driver in an armed attack in Nigde, central Turkey.

The incident is viewed as the first act of violence carried out by members of the Islamic State group inside Turkey and raised awareness of the threat the organization poses to the country.

Since then, authorities have blamed IS for major bombings in the border town of Suruc and the capital Ankara, as well as attacks on tourists in Istanbul.

The men were identified as Cendrim Ramadani, a Swiss citizen; Benyamin Xu, a German; and Muhammed Zakiri, a Macedonian.

Ali Cil, the lawyer of the civilian victim, said they were also found guilty of wanting to overthrow the government by force.

Ramadani received five aggravated life sentences, Xu four, and Zakiri one. An aggravated life sentence is the worst possible penalty in the Turkish criminal code. Prisoners serving such sentences are kept in solitary cells and have only one hour exercise per day. They are not eligible for pardons or conditional release.

The three men were also sentenced to more than 124 additional years each behind bars and fined $77,000 each. "I hope they rot in jail," said the killed soldier's mother, Hatice Kozanoglu.

Media reports said the court also found a fourth suspect, Fuad Movsumov, guilty of membership in a terrorist organization, a lesser charge. Movsumov, identified by the private Dogan agency as a Macedonian national, was sentenced to 13 years and 9 months in jail.

Turkey shares long borders with Syria and Iraq, two war-torn nations where IS controls large pockets of territory. The porous nature of those borders has made Turkey a natural stepping stone for jihadi fighters.

Turkey, a member of the US-led coalition against IS, has stepped up controls at airports and land borders and deported thousands of foreign fighters. But it is struggling to tackle the threat of IS militants who have cells inside Turkey and sometimes fire into the country from across the Syrian border.

Since last summer, Turkish forces have been largely tied up in vast security operations against Kurdish rebels who want greater autonomy in the southeast.
Following the success of its experiment in 1000 gram panchayats, a World Bank project on institutional strengthening of Gram Panchayats (ISGP) in West Bengal will be extended across all panchayats in the state.

"In the second phase of ISGP, work will happen in all Gram Panchayats of the state," state panchayat and rural development minister Subrata Mukherjee said today.

For the next five years, the second phase of the project will cover all the 3,342 gram panchayats spread across 19 districts of the state.

The tentative budget for the phase II is Rs 1,783 crore out of which World Bank assistance will be around Rs 1,972 crore while the rest of Rs 411 crore will be contributed by the state government, officials said.

The minister said so far money from the Finance Commission used to go to the Zilla Parishads but from the 14th Commission onwards, funds will reach the gram panchayats directly which will also have freedom to use it according to their needs.

The first phase of ISGP which began in 2010 in 1000 panchayats will formally close at the end of this month.

"When we started the project it was inspired by experiences in Africa and Bangladesh but now when we are ending it this project has become a model for others," said Soma Ghosh Moulik from World Bank.

She said this project has shown how local governments can become successful in delivery of public services by a performance-based mechanism and increase revenue and tax collection.

West Bengal is the only state where accounting audit of local bodies was done by CAG, she said.
An Islamic cleric has left Australia after comments he made against homosexuality sparked a government review of his visa, officials said today.

Farrokh Sekaleshfar, a British citizen, told Australian Broadcasting Corp at Sydney Airport last night that he had decided to leave after discussions with the Muslim community.

He said he had not been asked to leave by the Australian government.

Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton said today that the cleric left before Dutton's department canceled his visa yesterday night.

"This individual has decided to leave of his own accord last night which we welcome and it will be very difficult if not impossible for him to return back to our country," Dutton told Radio 5AA.

Sekaleshfar came under investigation over a newspaper report about comments he had made about homosexuality during a lecture at the University of Michigan in 2013.

The Australian newspaper reported that Sekaleshfar said: "Death is the sentence" for gay sex acts in public. "Out of compassion, let's get rid of them now," he reportedly added.

Sekaleshfar told ABC his comments had been taken out of context. He expressed sympathy for the families of those killed in the Orlando, Florida, gay nightclub and denied his comments could have inspired such a mass shooting.

"No speech, especially when you're not inciting any hatred and it was given three years ago that would never lead to such a massacre," he said.

"That animal, they are connecting me to him (shooter Omar Mateen). Not at all. He was an ISIS sympathizer, a follower of (Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr) al-Baghdadi, these people are criminals," Sekaleshfar said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said today that he would investigate why Sekaleshfar had not been placed on a watch list that would have alerted authorities to his visa application.

"The moment that this man's presence and what he had said was drawn to our attention, the minister (Dutton) and I spoke about it, the minister acted decisively and his visa was revoked," Turnbull told Radio 2GB.

Sekaleshfar arrived in Sydney last Tuesday as a guest speaker of the Imam Husain Islamic Center.

Dutton said he had ordered the visa review after becoming aware on Monday of the cleric's presence in Australia.

A gun attack on a gay nightclub in Florida that left 49 dead has focused Australia's current election campaign on the threat posed by Islamic extremists. Australians go to the polls on July 2.

Turnbull said that if his conservative coalition is re-elected, he would propose legislation to ensure that people convicted of terrorism offenses could remain in prison after serving their sentences if a court ruled that they continued to pose a threat to society.
An information technology worker at the Geneva office of Mossack Fonseca, the law firm at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal, has been arrested, a Swiss newspaper reported today.

The Le Temps newspaper, citing a source close to the case, said the IT employee had been placed in provisional detention on suspicion of removing a large haul of confidential documents.

The Geneva prosecutor's office confirmed to the paper that a case had been opened following a complaint filed by Mossack Fonseca.
A Japanese man lost his little finger after being attacked by a bear in western Japan today, police and reports said, the latest attack by the animals on humans.

It came two days after human flesh and hair were found inside the stomach of a bear suspected of attacking at least one of four people in northern Japan who apparently died from such assaults.

A bear believed to be 1.5 metres tall, attacked a 63-year-old man who was at a river in Shimane prefecture, area police told AFP.

"His face and left hand were injured," police spokesman Masuhiko Ito said, without giving details of the injury.

But the Asahi Shimbun daily reported that the man had his little finger severed in the attack. He was conscious and sent to hospital, it added.

"The injury isn't life-threatening," Ito said, adding the bear ran away after attacking the man.

Bear sightings in rural Shimane in April and May reached 139, up from 115 in the same period last year, according to the local government.

"There have been no fatal attacks these past few years," prefectural official Michiko Kamoto said.

But according to Kamoto, people tend to see bears especially in spring and summer as the animals become active after hibernation.

On Saturday, a tourist was slightly injured by a bear in central Gifu prefecture, while a woman was bitten on the face by one in northern Iwate prefecture last week while she was picking edible wild plants.

Last month, three men -- two in their seventies and one in his sixties -- died in apparent attacks while harvesting bamboo shoots in three separate incidents in a mountain forest of Akita prefecture.

The body of a fourth victim, a badly mauled 74-year-old woman, was discovered Friday. The woman had reportedly been picking wild plants.

Hunters killed a bear just 10 metres from the spot where her remains were discovered. Human flesh and hair were found in the bear's stomach but it remains unclear if it was responsible for her death.

Following the four deaths, Akita officials issued warnings to avoid the mountain forest but some are ignoring them to seek popular seasonal bamboo shoots and wild plants.

Bamboo shoots are a staple food for bears at this time of year.
Hollywood star Johnny Depp has reportedly hired a 20,000 pounds-a-month crisis management expert.

The 53-year-old "Black Mass" actor could be set to do a tell-all TV interview under the advice of Allan Mayer, who has been drafted in to help Depp salvage his reputation in the wake of allegations of domestic abuse from estranged wife Amber Heard, reported Female First.

A source said, "Johnny has been warned that his career could take a major downturn and wants to do as much damage control as possible. He's being urged to do a huge TV interview and is being advised that he can't just hide away.

"Johnny held a string of secret meetings with Allan and his team at a hotel in Denmark last month while he was touring there with his band. A huge crisis management drive has been launched in LA too," the insider said.

Heard recently filed for divorce from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor and has accused him of being physically and verbally abusive towards her during their marriage.
Some dalit MPs from Karnataka today met Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh demanding representation for the 'Madiga' community in the forthcoming reshuffle of the state cabinet.

They also sought representation from this most backward community for President's post of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

'Madiga' community is a scheduled caste that is found primarily in south India. They are also called as 'chamar or Mochi' in other states. In Karnataka, this community is known as 'dalit-left' group.

"We met the party general secretary Digvijay Singh yesterday and submitted our demands. We informed him that dalit-left Madiga community is the poorest among the dalits in the state. We need to uplift this community and for that adequate representation is required in the cabinet and even in KPCC," B N Chandrappa, MP from Chitradurga, told reporters.

At present, there is one minister in the state H Anjaneya representing this community in the cabinet, who is handling the social welfare ministry. "We demand one more cabinet berth from 'Madiga' community," said another dalit-left leader and former Rajya Sabha MP K B Krishnamurthy.

Krishnamurthy said that 'Madiga' population is highest among the scheduled caste in the state with a share of 7.2 per cent but they remain backward and lack adequate support.

Similarly for the party's president post at state level, he said, "We have demanded that a dalit-left leader should be appointed this time. We hope our demands will be accepted in the interest of the community in the state."



Late K H Ranganath and K T Rathod, and even Mallikarjun Kharge and at present G Parameshwara are dalit-right leaders who have headed KPCC so far. "An opportunity should be given now for dalit-left leader in KPCC," he said.

G Parameshwara, the incumbent Home Minister, is holding charge of the KPCC President on adhoc basis after his term ended two years back.

Dalit leader Muniyappa, MP from Kolar and former cabinet minister, was also present in the meeting.
Karnataka government has banned electronic cigarettes in the state with effect from today.

"We have banned e-cigarettes today. The decision has been taken on the recommendation of the committee on cancer prevention," Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader told PTI.

He said a study was conducted by the committee with an NGO on e-cigarettes, which said large number of youngsters was getting addicted to it.

"2mg and 4 mg nicotine is allowed in chewables like nicotine gum for de-addiction purpose, but these e-cigarettes usage is leading to addiction towards it," he said.

E-cigarettes mimic the size and shape of cigarettes and contain a cartridge containing liquid, which includes nicotine (up to 36 mg/ML) among other chemicals (usually propylene glycol or glycerol).

The government, in a circular, said the state has knowledge that Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems or e-cigarette and other similar products have been sold illegally (including online sale), without a obtaining valid license from appropriate authority specified by law.

It also pointed out that the use of nicotine in food products and consumption by public is banned under Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 and Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation 2011.

"Nicotine is allowed as an aid for de-addiction in nicotine replacement therapy under Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940, it is not allowed for any other purpose under law.

"Therefore, the state government hereby prohibits the sale (including online sale), manufacture, distribution, trade, import and advertisement of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, its parts and components in any shape or size of cartridges containing nicotine in the interest of public," the circular said.

The Indian Medical Association had in January discouraged the use of electronic cigarettes to cut down on smoking as these disguised forms of tobacco can have "serious" long-term effects on health.

"IMA believes that e-cigarettes, though not as harmful as normal cigarettes, are not healthy and their use should not be encouraged. Like hookahs, they are disguised forms of tobacco addiction and can have serious long-term effects on one's health," it had said.
Reality TV star Kelly Osbourne has debuted a new head tattoo in remembrance those injured and killed in Orlando mass shooting.

50 people were killed and 53 more injured at a gay nightclub in Orlando, making the terrorist act the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the US.

The 31-year-old fashion designer and daughter of British rocker Ozzy Osbourne showed off on Instagram the tattoo, which reads, "Solidarity", reported Aceshowbiz.

"Solidarity: 'Noun. Unity of feeling of individuals with a common interest or purpose'. Individually, we have rights and unique gifts. Together, we have strength and powerful harmony," she wrote in the caption to explain what the tattoo signifies.

"I have wanted to get this tattoo for a long time. The tragedy in Orlando devastated me and reminded me that every moment of our lives is precious. Every human is precious. Love hard. Live gracefully, authentically and with conviction, respect, purpose and compassion. Together we achieve what is impossible to those who stand alone. Those of us who embrace and respect freedom stand together, progress together, celebrate together and grieve together," she added.

Kelly previously wrote the word on her head with a marker at the LA Pride Parade over the weekend, but decided to make it permanent in the wake of the tragedy.

The "Project Runway Junior" judge has another tattoo, "Stories...," on the other side of her head.
US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russia and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad today to respect a fragile ceasefire, warning that Washington's patience was running out.

"Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable," Kerry said during a visit to Norway.

"We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition" who have been involved in continuing violence, he said after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

World powers have failed to turn a fragile cessation of hostilities in Syria, in effect since February 27, into a durable truce and Damascus has stepped up its military campaign against the Islamic State group and rebels in the second city of Aleppo.

"It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place. We know that, we have no illusion," Kerry said.

"This is a critical moment and we are working very, very hard to see if we can in the next week or two come to an agreement that has a capacity to more fully implement a ceasefire across the country and deliver humanitarian access in a way that then provides for a genuine opportunity to bring people to the table and start talking about a transition," Kerry said.

"I'm not going to make any promises to be delivered on but I do believe the conversation I had with Zarif indicates to me possibilities for how this could be achieved," he added, without elaborating.

Kerry's talks with Zarif follow a meeting between the defence ministers of Iran, Russia and Syria last week on the battle against the various armed groups fighting the Assad regime.

Russia launched air strikes in support of the government in September.

The United Nations says nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas of Syria, most surrounded by government forces.

Earlier this month, the UN said the Syrian government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas.

Syria's war has killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in March 2011.
Investors set aside caution momentarily over the US Fed rate-setting meet and Brexit vote to help domestic equities rise for the first time in five days as a string of key Cabinet decisions pushed the BSE Sensex higher by 331 points to 26,726.34.

Optimistic buying on hopes that Parliament will approve the long-pending Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill in the upcoming monsoon session also helped.

State-run SBI jumped on reports that the Centre has given approval to the merger of five associate banks with itself. The bank topped the gainers list, rising 3.90 per cent to Rs 215.65.

State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur and State Bank of Tranvancor rallied 20 per cent each to hit upper limit of Rs 599.60 and Rs 478.90, respectively.

Airlines were also in limelight on the Centre's approval to the much-awaited civil aviation policy that seeks to strengthen regional connectivity and tap the sector's growth potential.

Spicejet soared 3.51 per cent to Rs 66.40, InterGlobe Aviation rose by 1.90 per cent to Rs 1,008 while Jet Airways gained 0.21 per cent to Rs 561.

Overseas investors lapped up shares after MSCI decided to delay inclusion of mainland-traded Chinese A shares in its key emerging market index.

Participants will keenly follow the US Federal Reserve's policy decision and Brexit referendum next week for more cues.

The BSE Sensex opened gap-up and hovered between 26,752.59 and 26,446.59 before closing at 26,726.34, showing a gain of 330.63 points or 1.25 per cent. The gauge had lost 625 points in previous four sessions.

The 50-issue NSE Nifty surged 97.75 points or 1.21 per cent to end above the crucial 8,200-level at 8,206.60.

"It was a day of gains on the bourses today as benchmark indices opened the day on a positive note and rallied by more than 1 per cent, snapping a four-day losing streak," said Shreyash Devalkar, Fund Manager - Equities, BNP Paribas MF.

Overseas, most Asian markets reversed its morning losses to end higher despite continued jitters over the possibility the UK may opt to exit the European Union as well as concerns over the outcome of the Fed meeting.

Key Asian indices, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and Singpaore rose by 0.21 per cent to 1.58 per cent while South Korea's Kopsi eased 0.16 per cent.

European indices, like France, Germany and the UK rose between 1.10 per cent and 1.72 per cent.

Back home, out of the 30-share Sensex pack, 25 scrips



ended higher while only five closed lower.

Major gainers were SBI (3.90 pc), NTPC (3.88 pc), Larsen (3.38 pc), Bharti Airtel (2.82 pc), Maruti (2.50 pc), Hero MotoCorp (1.83 pc), ITC (1.80 pc), Bajaj Auto (1.60 pc), GAIL India (1.53 pc), Tata Steel (1.51 pc), Cipla (1.48 pc), Asian Paints (1.29 pc), HDFC Bank (1.25 pc), ICICI Bank (1.22 pc) and Infosys (1.19 pc).

However, Dr Reddy's declined marginally by 0.51 per cent, Axis Bank fell 0.35 per cent and Adani Ports fell 0.22 per cent.

Among the S&P sectoral indices capital goods rose by 2.26 per cent followed by utilities 2.06 per cent, power 1.99 per cent, bankex 1.38 per cent, IT 1.31 per cent, finance 1.16 per cent and oil&gas 1.14 per cent.

The market breadth remained positive as 1,674 stocks ended higher, 954 closed lower while 176 ruled steady.

The total turnover rose further to Rs 2,948.02 crore from Rs 2,733.26 crore yesterday.
The final witness was due to appear at Oscar Pistorius's sentencing hearing today as the paralympic athlete awaits a new jail term for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp three years ago.

Steenkamp's father broke down in court on Tuesday as he said Pistorius must "pay for his crime" of shooting his daughter three years ago.

It was the first time that 73-year-old Barry Steenkamp had testified in court and directly addressed the double-amputee Olympic sprinter.

Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013, saying he mistook her for a burglar when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet.

In March, Pistorius's lawyers lost an appeal judgement that upgraded his original conviction from culpable homicide -- the equivalent of manslaughter -- to murder.

"It has been very difficult for me to forgive... I feel that Oscar has to pay for what he did. He has to pay for his crime," Barry Steenkamp said, tears streaming down his face.

Reliving how his daughter, 29, died, Steenkamp said: "What she must have gone through in those split seconds -- she must have been in so much fear and pain."



Pistorius held his head in his hands and sobbed during the testimony on Tuesday in the High Court in Pretoria, the South African capital.

Barry Steenkamp, a former racehorse trainer, also described the chaos and panic when his wife June rang him at work early in the morning after Reeva, a model and law graduate, was shot.

"June grieves like I do, all the time. I hear her at night, I hear her crying, I hear her talking to Reeva," he added, saying that June had tried to forgive Pistorius to help her cope with the loss of her daughter.

The identity of the final state witness to appear was not known.

The original trial judge Thokozile Masipa is due to hand down a new sentence for murder after arguments from both prosecution and defence are completed by the end of Wednesday.

Thursday is a national holiday in South Africa, and the sentence could be given on Friday -- with Pistorius facing an immediate return to jail.

The minimum jail term for murder is 15 years, but his sentence may be reduced due to time already spent in prison and mitigating factors, including his disability.

Pistorius was released from jail last October to live under house arrest at his uncle's mansion in Pretoria after serving one year of his five-year sentence for culpable homicide.

Yesterday, prison nurse Charlotte Mashabane, told the court that Pistorius had been a difficult inmate and had argued with officials, shouting and banging her desk in a dispute over medication.

Barry Roux, defence lawyer, accused her of giving contradictory evidence and exaggerating Pistorius's behaviour due to a personality clash.

Pistorius has always denied killing Steenkamp in a rage and, during his seven-month trial in 2014, vomited in the dock as details of his lover's death were examined in excruciating detail.

The year before he killed Steenkamp, Pistorius became the first double-amputee to race at Olympic level when he appeared at the London 2012 games.
Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has reportedly rekindled his romance with model Nina Agdal.

The 41-year-old actor was first linked to the Victoria's Secret model, 24, in 2014 but the pair were spotted together in Montauk, New York over the weekend where they paid a low-key visit to Goldberg's Famous Bagels and the Montauk Point Lighthouse, reported the New York Post.

The pair "are dating again and spent a romantic weekend in the Hamptons," said a source.

This is not the first time they have been linked recently as last month DiCaprio and Agdal were spotted partying at Up&Down nightclub in New York.
A leopard is on the prowl in Karumalai area of nearby hilly Valparai and has killed a calf, triggering panic among plantation workers in the locality.

Police said a few workers returning home yesterday noticed a leopard attacking and dragging the calf in Pudupadi in Karumalai area. Later the carcass was found in an estate away from the place, police said.

They said the carnivore was changing places and was last spotted in a thick bushy area in Co-Op colony in the town.

The villagers have lodged complaints with the forest department officials.
Country's largest insurer LIC today said it is willing to participate in India's maiden sovereign wealth fund NIIF as the state-owned company's own core focus is also on infrastructure investment.

"LIC has enough funds to invest in NIIF. LIC's core focus is infrastructure investment. There is no problem in investment quantum," LIC Chairman S K Roy said.

The government has set up the Rs 40,000 crore National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) to facilitate funding in infrastructure projects.

NIIF has already signed MoU with Russia's Rusnano, ADIA of Abu Dhabi and Qatar sovereign wealth fund QIA to study investment opportunities in the Indian infrastructure sector.

While government holds 49 per cent in NIIF, it is scouting for investors for the remaining 51 per cent. It is in the process of appointing a CEO for NIIF.

The NIIF Governing Council, under chairmanship of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, met last week and reviewed the progress of India's maiden sovereign wealth fund and discussed investment proposals and project pipeline.
A BJP Zilla Panchayat member was hacked to death by a group of men at a gym here today, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Yogeesh Goudar, a member of Hebballi constituency, police said.

He sustained injuries on the head and neck after being attacked with lethal weapons, they said, adding that a special team has been formed to probe the case.

Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar demanded an "impartial" probe into the incident. He also expressed "doubts" about a political conspiracy behind the murder.

Speaking to reporters at Bengaluru, State Home Minister G Parameshwara said, "Investigation is on in this murder. I have directed officials to nab the culprits as soon as possible. One suspicion is that there was a land dispute he was involved in."



Dharwad District in-charge Minister Vinay Kulkarni said the Chief Minister was aware of the incident.

"Investigation is going on and action will be taken against those involved," he said.

Asked about a tiff some Congress leaders had with him during the local body elections recently, he said, "During elections, blame game is common from both sides, but that should not be counted as enmity."



His brother was also murdered by a group of men few years ago.
Actor Mads Mikkelsen feels "Hannibal" should return with a TV series.

The 50-year-old Danish actor thinks that a film will not be satisfying for him or fans of the movie, reported Digital Spy.

"I won't say no to anything but I think the TV medium for the story of Hannibal works so well. It's not a film thing - it's not something you can do in an hour-and-a-half.

"Because of the time we had, we could go slowly, reveal our ghosts in the closets later on... And I prefer that, I thinks that's very interesting and dramatic to watch," Mikkelsen said.

The actor, who played psychotic Hannibal Lecter said he would "do everything in (his) power" to be part of any revival.

"This is a show we cannot do without (showrunner) Bryan Fuller he's the mastermind behind the whole thing, he's a genius.

"If he one day says, 'Hey guys, I've found a TV channel that wants to pick it up and I'm ready to go', I'm sure that we would do everything in our power to be part of the show as well, we all enjoyed it tremendously. We'll see," he said.
In the backdrop of drought in the last three years and lack of adequate rains resulting in insufficient soil moisture, Maharashtra Chief Minister on Wednesday asked farmers to refrain from sowing Kharif crops for the next few days.

"Though many parts of the state have received rainfall, monsoon has not arrived as yet. The meteorological department has said that rainy season will start soon. But after the initial rains, farmers have got ready with their Kharif sowing expecting continuous good rains," Fadnavis said.

"I urge farmers to not sow Kharif crops till it rains sufficiently and continuously for at least two days so that the soil develops the moisture required for crops," he said in a release here.

He said that due to the hot weather, the seeds may get destroyed and farmers may have to resow seeds, which may result in financial losses for them, like it did last year.

Fadnavis said the government has made sufficient fertilisers and seeds available for the Kharif season and has also stayed the decision regarding seed price hike by Mahabeej to provide relief to lakhs of farmers.

"Out of 43.75 tonnes of demand for fertilisers, the government has till now made available 40.25 lakh tonnes. Apart from this, the Centre has reserved 0.50 lakh tonnes of Urea fertiliser for Maharashtra," he said, adding that as compared to 2015, the demand for fertilisers has shot up by 26%.

Fadnavis said that for the current Kharif season, the demand for seeds is 14.99 lakh quintal, while the government has made available seeds totalling 17.90 lakh quintal.
The sessions court here today sentenced a 25 years old brick kiln worker to seven years' rigorous imprisonment for raping a woman.

Sessions judge S C Khalipe convicted the accused Santosh Kamlakar Waghe, and also imposed a fine of Rs 3,000 on him.

Additional Public Prosecutor Sangita Phad said that Waghe raped the 22 years old victim when she was returning from the fields on November 30, 2012, at Angaon village in Bhiwandi district.

The court also ordered the accused to pay a compensation of Rs 10,000 to the victim.
A 45-year-old man was killed and two other family members injured when they were attacked with a country-made bomb while trying to resist robbers at their house in Rampur Mathura area, police said today.

Three-four robbers threw the bomb at Janardan Singh, his wife and child when he tried to resist robbery, they said.

Singh died on the spot while the other two members were rushed to a hospital, police said.

The matter is under investigation.
Manipur's two insurgent outfits Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF) today joined in parleys with the Centre to bring lasting peace in their area of influence.

The first round of talks was held here after the central government decided to hold tripartite talks between it, Manipur government and the two insurgent groups -- KNO and UPF.

The rebel groups indicated their demands in the presence of representatives of central and state governments, a Home Ministry official said.

The talks were held in a cordial atmosphere and the next round of discussions will be held in consultation with the government of Manipur, KNO and UPF, the official added.
The US has a "massive" trade deficit with countries like India, China and Mexico, presumptive presidential nominee of Republican party Donald Trump today said, alleging that practically every country in the world who do business with the US tries to "rip it off"



"People are tired. They want to have strength. They don't want to have trade deals where China has got a trade deficit, of USD 505 billion a year; where we have trade deficits, massive trade deficits with Mexico, with Japan, with Vietnam, with India, with everybody, folks, with everybody," Trump told a crowded election rally in Atlanta, Georgia.

"I mean, practically every country in the world when they do business with the US, it's called let's rip them off. It's like we're all the big, bad dummies. Those days are over if I win. Those days are over. They're over," Trump said.

The Republican presidential nominee continued with his campaign against his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

"If you look at what Hillary Clinton has done with women, No 1 from certain countries, her foundation has taken millions, tens of millions of dollars from countries that want to enslave women," he alleged.

"As far as the gay community, they kill gays. And she's taking money in. And now, she wants to allow them to come into our country, pretty much un-vetted, because every law enforcement person that I've spoken to and that you watch and that you read is saying it's very hard, if not impossible, to check out people. There's just no papers. There are no papers," he said.

The migration, he said, is a horrible thing to watch.

"I have a heart as big as anybody else. We have to build safe zones over there. And we have to take care of people. Let's build safe zones, but bill them over there. Build them in Syria. Build them in places over there," he said.

Trump reiterated his call for temporary ban of entry of Muslims into the US.

"We have to stop on a temporary basis, at least, but we have to stop people from pouring into our country. We have to stop it until we find out what the hell is going on. And we can do that, but we have to have people come in that cherish us, that love us, that want to love us, that want to do things, that don't want to destroy us, that don't want to go to a club where you have innocent people and where you had no guns on the other side," he said.
Looking to attract investment from Indian companies in Mauritius and other African nations through its shores, the island nation today said it will organise a partnership summit next month.

The first-ever India-Mauritius Global Partnership Summit 2016 will be organised in Mauritius on July 24-27.

The summit's express objective is to encourage the business community from India to invest in Mauritius and other African countries.

According to the India-Mauritius Trade and Cultural Friendship Forum, 250 Indian delegates are estimated to attend the event.

"We have a lot of investment opportunities in Mauritius for Indian entrepreneurs. Besides, we have a simple tax regime and favourable business climate," said Seewraj Nundlall, Country Head-India, Board of Investment, Mauritius.

"We are also a gateway to opportunities in African markets and we have access to 26 per cent of the world's population."



Mauritius is seeking investment in sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, education, technology, smart cities, financial services and realty.

The Board of Investment (BOI) is the national investment promotion agency of the Mauritius government.

One of the most prosperous countries in Africa, the scenic island nation has a population of about 1.2 million while GDP per capita is estimated to be around USD 9,200.

Promoting the summit across India through roadshows, Director-Conference Deven Maulloo said "the summit will be direct meeting of the business community".
The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh police has arrested an active member of the Munir gang wanted in the murder case of National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer Tanzil Ahmed.

Atiullah (22), a native of Bihar, was arrested following an encounter near Barauli bridge under Banna Devi police station in Aligarh last night, an STF release said today.

Atiullah, who was carrying a cash reward of Rs 50,000, was wanted in 11 criminal cases. A .32 bore pistol and cartridges were recovered from his possession, the release added.

Atiullah, who had come into contact with Munir during the 2012 Aligarh Muslim University elections, has told the police that both had fled the city in September, 2015 following a murder on the AMU campus, the release added.

Subsequently, he had met Munir in Nepal but was not aware of his whereabouts since then, the release said, adding that a case has been registered and further investigation was on.

Tanzil Ahmed was gunned down by armed assailants in Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh on the night of April 2 when he was returning home with his wife and two children from a wedding.

The post-mortem report said Ahmed had received 21 bullet injuries. His wife Farzana too succumbed to bullet injuries 10 days after the incident in AIIMS in New Delhi.

The main accused in the case, Munir, a resident of Sahaspur and a history-sheeter, is still on the run.

Ahmed had handled several cases related to the banned Indian Mujahideen (IM) outfit, including the arrest and probe of the outfit's India chief, Yasin Bhatkal.
Unidentified persons today demanded extortion money of Rs 13 lakh from a petrol pump owner of Nawada district here.

Warsalighanj police station SHO Mrityunjay Kumar Singh said that the the unidentified persons came at the petrol pump located on Nawada-Jamui state highway near Vagipardiha mor under the same police station and pasted a leaflet asking the petrol pump owner Ashok Kumar to get the money delivered in the jungle of Kauwakol.

Police have started investigation into the matter



The SHO said.

Raids are being conducted to nab the miscreants.

FIR will be lodged after conducting preliminary probe into the matter, police said.
Mizoram government has given formal consent to CBI investigation into the robbery of smuggled gold bars worth Rs 14.5 crore allegedly by Assam Rifles personnel and others near here on December 14 last.

The notification in this regard was issued last evening, officials said today.

The dacoity case, allegedly involving suspended Commandant of the 39th Assam Rifles, eight other AR personnel and four civilians, was handed over to the CBI as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police probing it faced various problems.

The SIT officials faced problems like lack of modern equipment, involvement of Army officials and people outside the state and country, Home Minister R Lalzirliana said.

A vehicle carrying 52 smuggled gold bars worth Rs 14.5 crore was waylaid at the outskirts of Aizawl on December 14 by suspected personnel of the Assam Rifles who fled with the booty. The gold bars were concealed in the gearbox of the car.

The owner and driver of the vehicle C Lalnunfela lodged an FIR on April 21 following which a case was registered at Kulikawn Police Station in Aizawl.

Lalzirliana said the SIT did a commendable job by arresting 13 accused including Colonel Singh, eight AR men and four civilians in connection with the case.

"Apart from the problems being faced by the SIT in the investigation, rumours of highly-placed people getting involved in the case and also Col Singh's refusal to cooperate forced us to hand over the case to the CBI," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted China's President Xi Jinping on his 63rd birthday through his Chinese microblog account Weibo, wishing him "long life and good health".

"Birthday greetings to President Xi Jinping. I pray for his long life and good health," Modi said in his message on Weibo which is akin to Chinese Twitter.

His greetings were shared over 7,700 times viewed by 10,000 people.

Modi has opened his account on Weibo ahead of his visit to China last year and continues to use it for posts.
A day after Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar disclosed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi assessed from him the impact of Arvind Kejriwal's public meeting here, AAP leader Ashutosh today said Modi was "scared" of his party's expanding footprint.

"This is exactly what we were saying all along. This (fear) is also related to the move to disqualify 21 Delhi AAP MLAs. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is scared of AAP," he told PTI.

Parsekar had yesterday said that the Prime Minister asked him about the recent public meeting conducted by Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal in the coastal state and its impact.

"Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) asked me about (the) recent (Arvind) Kejriwal (public) meeting and if (it will have) any future impact...(and) I said...No," he had told reporters here after returning from New Delhi.

Ashutosh said, "Modi's inquiry with the Goa CM clearly indicates that he is scared of AAP...The way the party has been spreading across the country, including Punjab and Goa".

AAP has already announced its plan to contest the 2017 Goa Assembly elections.

In his well attended maiden rally last month, Kejriwal had lashed out at BJP and Congress.

"We have made our mark in Goa. Everyday we are improving our position in Goa. People have decided to reject BJP and Congress party this time (during upcoming polls)," he said.

Kejriwal also criticised the Goa CM over reinstatement of the latter's brother-in-law Dilip Malvankar, who was arrested earlier by ACB under graft charge, in state government service.

"BJP came to power on the promise of zero tolerance towards corruption. But recently Parsekar reinstated his own brother-in-law (Malavankar) who was caught accepting bribe.

"The people of Goa have decided that they will not have a CM who is openly supporting corruption," the AAP leader said.

Malvankar, a senior officer at the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), was suspended in August 2015, after the ACB caught him while allegedly accepting bribe of Rs one lakh for allotment of land in Tuem Industrial Estate.

Amid protests by the Congress, Goa Forward and NCP against the reinstatement, Parsekar has defended the move saying, "law is equal for all and Malvankar's was one of many such cases where suspended officials are reinstated".
The Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) today approved a sum of Rs 196 crore to Maharashtra for various afforestation activities.

The decision came after Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar held a meeting with Maharashtra Environment Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar on ad hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

Javadekar also said that once the Compensatory Afforestation Bill (CAF) is passed, Maharashtra will get nearly Rs 2,000 crore under it.

The Environment Ministry has been holding a series of meetings with states on ad hoc CAMPA and had yesterday held meetings with ministers of Telangana and Rajasthan.

"Today we had a good meeting on afforestation and forest development in the state. Rs 196 crore have been approved for Maharashtra for afforestation," he said.

Mungantiwar said Maharashtra government will be planting two crore trees on July 1 with the participation of people in the state.

The Ministry had yesterday sanctioned Rs 164 crore for Rajasthan and Rs 156 crore for Telangana, following a meeting on CAMPA with the two states.

The CAF was cleared by the Lok Sabha in May 2016. The CAMPA corpus currently stands around Rs 42,000 crore.

The CAF Bill once passed will pave the way for expeditious utilisation of funds realised for forest land diverted to non-forest purposes in a transparent manner.

The Bill will also ensure utilisation of accumulated unspent funds already available with CAMPA.
Myanmar's film censorship board said today it banned the screening of a love story featuring an ethnic leader over fears it could derail an ongoing peace process with the country's rebel armies.

The ban highlights the lingering limits on free speech in the former junta-run country, despite its new civilian government led by democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi.

The Austrian-directed film, "Twilight Over Burma: My Life as a Shan Princess," is set in mid-20th century Myanmar. It tells the true story of an Austrian woman and her marriage to a Shan prince who was arrested in the wake of the 1962 military coup before dying in mysterious circumstances.

The film was supposed to be screened at the opening night of an international human rights film festival in Yangon yesterday, where policemen remained posted the following day.

"We were worried and afraid that unnecessary problems could arise because of this (film) while we are working on achieving national reconciliation," said Thida Tin, deputy chairman of the Ministry of Information's 15-member film review committee.

She told AFP the board was concerned about ruffling feathers while Suu Kyi's administration prepares for a major peace dialogue with ethnic rebel groups, who have fought lengthy civil wars with the national army and accuse it of rampant rights abuses.

Conflicts continue to rage in several border regions after a ceasefire pact signed last year failed to include all of the country's fighters.

The censorship will come as a disappointment to many in Myanmar's budding film community, where there were hopes that Suu Kyi's leadership would usher in a new era of artistic freedom.

"It is the first time in four years one of our films didn't pass the censorship committee," the festival's founder, Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, told AFP.

Under the junta all books, films and reports were vetted for content considered inflammatory or damaging to the regime.

The former semi-civilian government that ended outright junta rule in 2011 lifted a number of censorship laws and web restrictions.

But criticism of the army remains a sensitive subject as it is still a powerful presence in Myanmar, with control over key ministries and a quarter of parliament seats.
Wild elephants have trampled to death a 29-year-old Myanmarese man after rampaging through a watermelon field in southwest China.

The tragedy happened yesterday in Menghai County in Yunnan Province, the prefecture government said in a statement.

The victim had been in China since Monday, state-run Xinhua quoted the statement as saying.

To avoid further such tragedies, local authorities called for better monitoring of wild elephants and an education campaign for villagers.

Wild Asian elephants are under state protection in China, about 300 live mainly in Yunnan Province.

Enhanced protection for wild animals has seen the mammals' number rise in recent years, but cases of clashes with humans have also increased, according to the local government.

Wild Asian elephants killed two villagers in Xishuangbanna last month and killed a third in Pu'er City of Yunnan on June 6.
The District Sessions Court today issued a non-bailable warrant against Congress MLA and Mahila Congress National General secretary S.Vijayadharani in a criminal defamation case against her.

Public Prosecutor A Gnanasekaran had filed the case on behalf of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

When the case came up for hearing, Vijayadharani, who was asked to appear in court, was not present.

District Sessions Court Judge Satheesh Kumar issued the non-bailable warrant (NBW) against her as she did not turn up for the second time.

At a public meeting in Kanyakumari district on July 9 last year, Vijayadharani and TNCC chief E V K S Elangovan, had allegedly made defamatory remarks against Jayalalithaa. Cases were registered against both of them.

There was no advocate to represent Vijayadharani as the advocates were boycotting the court protesting amendments to the Advocates Act.

Besides she was mourning the death of her husband and the obsequies were not yet over. Hence she could not appear in court, Vijayadharani's supporters said.
The film and TV production founded by romance author Nicholas Sparks is shuttering.

The company was launched in 2012 with a two-year, first-look deal with Warner Horizon Television to create TV series.

Sparks' company also produced 2013's "Safe Haven" and, as its first indie production, the adaptation of Sparks' book "The Choice", which Lionsgate released earlier this year.

Nicholas Sparks Productions and Warner Bros TV had also teamed up last August to develop a TV series based on Sparks' book "The Notebook".

Todd Graff was hired to pen the script and executive produce alongside Sparks and Theresa Park. In March, TV network The CW announced that it would redevelop the series for 2017. Sparks and Park will stay on as executive producers.

Eleven of Sparks' romance novels have been adapted into films. "Message in a Bottle", released in 1999, was the top earner, followed by the hit "The Notebook" (2004) and 2010's "Dear John".

But in the past few years, the adaptations have not been seeing the same success, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Sparks, who has published 18 novels and two nonfiction books throughout his career, is focusing on writing a new novel. His next book, "Two by Two", is set to come out in October.
US President Barack Obama has not taken any decision on the reduction of American troops in Afghanistan even as the situation in the war-torn country has improved but is far from ideal, the White House said today.

"The situation in Afghanistan has profoundly changed, not just if you quantify it based on troop levels, but what's also true is we have succeeded in decimating core Al Qaida that previously operated with virtual impunity in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said.

"I don't think there's anybody that would describe the situation in Afghanistan right now as ideal. So the President has acknowledged for some time that there is continued work and a sustained commitment to Afghanistan will be required after his presidency. There is no denying that," he said.

Noting that there has been a "remarkable progress" in Afghanistan to decimate core Al Qaida, Earnest said there is a need to build up the governing institutions in the country and to reduce the military commitment and military sacrifices that the US was making before President Obama took office.

"I don't have a specific timetable to share, but once the President has been presented a recommendation then he will make a decision. But I don't have a timeframe to share in terms of when that recommendation will be presented or when the President would make a decision based on it," he said.

The United States, he observed, values the important contribution that our NATO allies are making to that effort.

"We would not have make the kind of progress that we have seen in Afghanistan without the substantial contribution, and in some cases sacrifices, that our NATO allies have made in pursuit of our interest in Afghanistan," he added.

"At one point earlier in President Obama's tenure in office, there were more than 100,000 US troops on the ground in Afghanistan. And now, the question is are we going to reduce the number of our troops from 9,800 to 5,500? That, of course, is more than a 90 per cent reduction of our military personnel in Afghanistan," Earnest said.

So that also, I think, is an indication of the important progress that we've made in Afghanistan," he said.
The Madras High Court today ruled that persons who do not wish to disclose their caste or religion in application forms for admission to educational institutions in the state, should not be compelled to do so.

Disposing of a PIL filed by one G Balakrishnan, the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, directed government to give wide publicity to a government order (GO) dated July 31, 2000 in this regard.

The state government had issued the order with the avowed objective of having a casteless society, the bench said.

Stating that counsel for the petitioner had submitted that the GO needed to be re-emphasised, the court directed the respondents to circulate the GO giving wide publicity "so that such persons who do not want to declare their caste or religion are not compelled to do so."



The PIL was filed seeking a direction to educational authorities to take appropriate steps to implement the GO with regard to the non-insistence of religion and caste of the student who prefer to remain "without such narrow and divisive identities."



The petition also prayed for appropriate instructions to to all educational institutions in the state to refrain from mentioning the religion/caste of the student in the Transfer Certificate issued by the institution concerned.

However, the bench refused to concede with the submission of the petitioner about not disclosing the caste and religion in the transfer certificate of students and said: "In so far as the transfer certificate is concerned, we cannot issue a mandatory direction that caste shall not be disclosed because some people may want to do so."



"But if any person does not want the caste to be disclosed, we feel there is no need to mandatorily do so, keeping in mind the aforesaid government order.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today told US President Barack Obama that he is not seeking independence of Tibet from China and hoped that talks with the Chinese government would resume soon, the White House said.

"The Dalai Lama stated that he is not seeking independence for Tibet and hopes that dialogue between his representatives and the Chinese government will resume," the White House said.

"The President and the Dalai Lama agreed on the importance of a constructive and productive relationship between the United States and China," said the statement issued after the two Noble laureates met at the Maple Room of the White House, which was described as a personal meeting.

During the meeting, the Dalai Lama condoled Obama over shooting in Orlando on Sunday. Obama commended the Dalai Lama for his efforts to promote compassion, empathy, and respect for others.

The two leaders discussed the situation for Tibetans in China, the White House said.

Obama expressed support for the preservation of Tibet's unique religious, cultural, and linguistic traditions and the equal protection of human rights of Tibetans in China.

"The President lauded the Dalai Lama's commitment to peace and nonviolence and expressed support for the Dalai Lama's 'Middle Way' approach," the White House said.

Obama in his meeting encouraged meaningful and direct dialogue between the Dalai Lama and his representatives with Chinese authorities to lower tensions and resolve differences.

"In this context, the President reiterated the longstanding US position that Tibet is a part of the People's Republic of China, and the US does not support Tibetan independence," it said, adding that the two agreed on the importance of a constructive and productive relationship between the US and China.
US President Barack Obama met Tibetan Spiritual Leader the at the White House, his spokesman said, underlining the meeting between the two Noble laureates does not change America's stand on Tibet.

"This is actually the fourth opportunity that President Obama has had to meet with the at the White House over the last eight years," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference.

"And I would just reiterate once again that the US's position, as it relates to Tibet has not changed. Tibet, per US policy, is considered part of the People's Republic of China. And the United States has not articulated our support for Tibetan independence," Earnest said.

Obama met the 80-year-old spiritual leader in the historic Map Room of the White House. The meeting was closed for the press.

The Tibetan spiritual leader did not speak to the battery of reporters waiting inside.

"Just to give you a sense of the meeting, the President thanked the for his expression of condolences about the terrorist attack in Orlando over the weekend," Earnest said.

"The President has spoken publicly in the past about his warm, personal feelings for the Dalai Lama. The president has articulated his appreciation for the Dalai Lama's teachings, and believes in preserving Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions," he said in response to a question.

Earnest said the personal nature of their meeting would explain why the President received the Dalai Lama in the White House residence, as opposed to the oval office, for example.

Earlier in a statement, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, who hosted a lunch for the Tibetan leader's simplicity has caught the imagination of the world.

"I think he has received just about every award we have to give him. In fact, I felt a little sheepish this morning when I realised that all I had to offer him was a lunch. But, as he likes to say, he is a simple Buddhist monk," Ryan said.

"And it is that very simplicity-the simplicity of faith-that has captured the world's imagination. It is almost as if he has no room in his soul for impatience or self-serving. All he has room for is kindness. It is inspiring to see," he said.

Later in the day the Dalai Lama attended an event of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) to present the Democracy Service Medal to honour the courageous work of the late Tibetan Buddhist Monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a prominent political prisoner who died in a Sichuan prison in 2015.

According to Human Rights Watch, Tenzin's imprisonment in 2002 was the culmination of a decade-long effort by Chinese authorities to curb his efforts to foster Tibetan Buddhism.

Tenzin was an inspiration for Tibetans struggling to retain their cultural identity in the face of China's harsh policies.
Hours after President Barack Obama blasted him for his anti-Muslim rhetoric, Donald Trump today hit back calling him a "lousy" president who he said is "more angry" at the Republican presidential nominee than at the shooter.

"He (Obama) was more angry at me than he was at the shooter, and many people said that. One of the folks on television said, 'Boy, has Trump gotten under his skin,'" Trump told his cheering supporters at an election rally in Greensboro, North Carolina.

"The level of anger, that's the kind of anger he should have for the shooter and these killers that shouldn't be here. We have a radical Islamic terrorism problem," Trump said.

He was responding to Obama's strong statement earlier in the day in which he slammed the real estate tycoon for his anti-Muslim rhetoric including temporary ban of entry of Muslims in the US, increase in surveillance and for describing it as "radical Islamic terrorism".

"There is no magic to the phrase 'radical Islam'. It is a political talking point. It is not a strategy," Obama had said in his remarks at the Department of Treasury after he held a meeting with his national security council.

"We now have proposals from the presumptive Republican nominee for president of the United States to bar all Muslims from immigrating into America. And you hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests entire religious communities are complacent in violence," he said.

"Where does this stop? The killer, one of the San Bernardino killers, the Fort Hood killer -- they were all US citizens. Are we going to start treating all Muslim-Americans differently? Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance? Are we going to start discriminate them, because of their faith?" Obama asked.

Obama said this makes Muslim-Americans feel like their government is betraying them.

"It betrays the very values America stands for. We have gone through moments in our history before when we acted out of fear, and we came to regret it. We have seen our government mistreat our fellow citizens, and it has been a shameful part of our history," said the president.

However, Trump stood his ground.

"I would have been very happy had Obama been a great president. He's been one hell of a lousy president. He's done a terrible job. What's happening to our country is devastating and embarrassing and our lives will never be the same," Trump said.
Sidestepping Chinese opposition, US President Barack Obama will meet the Dalai Lama at the White House today, a move likely to infuriate China which considers the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader as a separatist.

"In the morning, the President will meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the White House," said the presidential schedule yesterday.

The meeting to be held in the Map Room of the White House is closed press. The Tibetan spiritual leader is currently on a visit of the US.

Normally the US President meets the Tibetan spiritual leader when he is in the American Capital.

In the past, the White House has maintained that the US President meets the Dalai Lama in his capacity as religious and spiritual leader.

Despite the US believing that Tibet is an integral part of China, every meeting of the Dalai Lama with the American President angers Beijing.

"As a revered figure to Tibetans and people around the world, His Holiness reminds us of our great responsibility to act to safeguard human rights, promote equality and protect our environment," said top Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.

"Any attempts on the part of the Chinese to dilute the population of Tibetans in Tibet is something that would be just really wrong. Just plain and simple: wrong. Again, a challenge to the conscience," she said.

Welcoming Obama's decision to meet the Dalai Lama, Pelosi said Tibetan spiritual leader's friendship with the US and the respect commanded from leaders on both sides of the aisle serve "as a powerful tribute to the righteousness of the cause of Tibetan autonomy."



"If freedom-loving people do not speak out against oppression in Tibet, then we surrender all moral authority to speak on behalf of human rights anywhere in the world," Pelosi said.

Senators Bob Corker and Ben Cardin, the chairman and ranking member of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with the Dalai Lama and Lobsang Sangay, the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile.

"At a time when our country is grappling with an increasingly unstable and uncertain world, we are inspired by his universal message, which reflects many of our own deeply-held values," Corker said, adding that they discussed about issues important to the US and the people of Tibet.

"As I continue to underscore the importance of protecting and uplifting basic human rights in the foreign policy of the United States as well as in the work of our partners and allies abroad, the Dalai Lama remains a source of inspiration and guidance to me," Cardin said.

(REOPENS FGN 4)



Speaking on the House floor, Democratic Minority leader Nancy Pelosi welcomed the decision of the US President to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader.

"I know that President [Obama] will be receiving His Holiness this week. Presidents have done that over time, which is a source of great pride for us in our country and in the relationship between His Holiness and our presidents," Pelosi said.

Pelosi said the relationship between an American President and His Holiness the Dalai Lama goes back to when he was a little boy and it persists into his 80s now, something that, again, "brings luster to us in our country that we have such a beautiful relationship" with such a spiritual figure in the world.

"Honoured to see the Dalai Lama today, who continually inspires us to choose love over hate," tweeted Congressman Tim Walz.

Congressman Suzan K Delbene said over the past several years, the Chinese government had constructed more obstacles to efforts by Tibetans to preserve their culture and religion.

"Sadly, we know that Tibetans have used self-immolations as a protest against the religious and political oversight of the Chinese government. It is difficult to fathom the despair and desperation felt by Tibetans who take this last act of defiance," she alleged.

"The Chinese government has blamed the Dalai Lama and "foreign forces" for self-immolations instead of looking at how their own policies created such deep grievances," she said.

"The Chinese government also expanded its efforts last year to transform Tibetan Buddhism into a state-managed institution. They sought to undermine the devotion of the Tibetan people to the Dalai Lama and control the process of selecting Buddhist leaders," Delbene said.
President Barack Obama has challenged Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban and make it harder for terrorist to kill Americans.

Obama spoke yesterday after meeting with his National Security Council. Democrat Hillary Clinton has called for a similar ban, while Republican Donald Trump is opposing reinstatement of the ban.

The shooter in the Orlando attack, Omar Mateen, used a military-style assault weapon to blast away at an Orlando nightclub, killing 49 people.

The ban on semi-automatic assault weapons that expired in 2004. The large majority of Republicans in Congress and some pro-gun Democrats have opposed reinstatement of the ban.
The wife of Orlando shooter Omar Mateen may face criminal charges after reports emerged that she was aware of his plots to attack a gay nightclub and was with him when he bought ammunition.

Noor Zahi Salman told the FBI that she was with him when he bought ammunition and a holster and she once drove him to the gay nightclub, Pulse, because he wanted to scope it out, a report in the NBC quoted several officials familiar with the case as saying.

30-year-old Salman, Mateen's second wife, told federal agents that she tried to talk her husband out of carrying out the attack, the website said.

The report said authorities are considering filing criminal charges against Salman for failing to tell them what she knew before the brutal attack but no decision has been made.

Officials said Salman is cooperating with investigators.

Early Sunday, the 29-year-old Mateen opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded, the worst mass shooting in modern US history.

Federal prosecutors have convened a grand jury to investigate Mateen's wife seeking to charge her as an accessory to 49 counts of murder and 53 counts of attempted murder as well as with failure to notify law enforcement about the pending terrorist attack and lying to federal agents, a federal law enforcement source told Fox .

Law enforcement officials said Salman accompanied Mateen on trips to scout potential targets, though it is unclear how much she knew about his intentions, it said.

Salman told investigators that Mateen shared his plans with her to carry out an attack and the shooter may have even called her from the gay club Pulse during the slaughter, a source told Fox News.

US Senator Angus King, who as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee was briefed on the investigation, told CNN that "it appears she (Salman) had some knowledge of what was going on, visiting some of the other sites."



"We don't know whether she was involved and knew about the purchase of the guns, which took place only about a week before the attack. But she definitely is, I guess you would say, a person of interest right now and appears to be cooperating and can provide us with some important information on who this guy is, what his motivations were and what his plans were," King said.

Earlier, Mateen's former wife Sitora Yusufiy had said that he himself might have been gay but chose to hide his true identity out of anger and shame.

Yusufiy said in media reports that her ex-husband had told her that he frequented nightclubs before their marriage, but that he did not tell her they were gay clubs.

She said Mateen had been abusive and theirshort-lived marriage was marred by violence and isolation.
America's deadliest ever shooting that killed 49 people and injured 53 in Orlando was a case of self-radicalisation and was not a terrorist-directed attack, a top US official said today.

"What we know at this point, it appears that this was a case of self-radicalisation, it was not a terrorist-directed attack," Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson told Fox News in an interview.

"As we say, it was more in the nature of a terrorist- inspired attack. He does not appear to have been part of any group or any cell," Johnson said in response to a question on the alleged suspect Omar Mateen.

Afghan-origin Mateen, 29, investigators say was self-radicalised and pledged allegiance to Islamic State (ISIS).

"And the environment we're in right now is reflected by this horrific attack where we have to be concerned about the homegrown violent extremism," he said.

"For both the President and me, homeland security, the protection of the American people against this type of threat is our number one priority," Johnson said.

Johnson said there's some indication at this point that he self-radicalised based on things he was looking at on the Internet and on social media.

"(This) is why one of the things that we're focused on in homeland security is how do we encourage Internet service providers to take down prohibited content, content that violates the terms of their own service," he said.

"They're pretty good about doing this. But it becomes a more and more difficult task as the terrorists become smarter at this," he added.

Johnson said the US needs to be concerned about homegrown violent extremists.

"We are taking the fight to the Islamic State pursuant to the President's direction. We're killing these guys where they rear their heads in places like Iraq and Syria," he noted.

"But we've got to be concerned about those here in the United States who self-radicalise, which is why our whole of government efforts to take them down with law enforcement, to build bridges to the American Muslim community so that they help us help them has become all the more important," he said.

Earlier in the evening, President Barack Obama at a meet with Democratic lawmakers said this has been a difficult week for the country.

"Obviously this has been a difficult week for America, because all of us are still grieving for those who were lost in Orlando. All of us still have our thoughts and prayers for the families, those who were killed but also for those who are still recovering and for the city of Orlando," he said.

"One of the things I said I emphasised this is something that could happen anywhere. These could be our kids or our brothers or our cousins or our nephews, nieces," Obama said.

"And at moments like this it's critically important for us to remind ourselves of what binds us together as a people. That regardless of race or ethnicity or religion or sexual orientation, we're all Americans and we look out for each other. We celebrate those things we hold dear and have in common, like love of family and love of country, we mourn together when part of that family is hurt," he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to G4S Secure Solutions, the security company that employed Mateen seeking more information about him.
Disclosures of exorbitant salaries paid to senior officials have sparked widespread anger in Iran, threatening to undermine public support for President Hassan Rouhani as he prepares to run for re-election next year.

Rouhani's government has launched an investigation into public pay following the reports of executives at the state insurance regulator earning more than 50 times the base government salary.

The president's opponents are demanding answers on behalf of struggling Iranians who have yet to see the promised economic benefits of the country's nuclear deal with world powers.

The Iranian parliament's conservative speaker, Ali Larijani, hammered the message home in the legislature yesterday, announcing the Supreme Audit Court would release a report on the issue next week.

"These excessive salaries have caused anxiety in society," Larijani said, responding to a claim from another conservative MP that a senior health ministry official was earning 2 billion rials (USD 58,000) a month, far above the base public sector salary of about USD 400 a month.

The disclosures surfaced two months ago, when the salaries of several senior executives at the Central Insurance of Iran (CII), the state insurance regulator, were disclosed on social media.

In some cases the salaries ranged between 700 million and 800 million rials (USD 20,000 to USD 23,000) per month.

The source of the leaks is not known but several Iranian media picked up on the reports, including IRIB state television which wrote on its website that the disclosures had "shocked and angered ordinary people".

Mohammad-Ebrahim Amin, the head of the CII, resigned over the scandal.

"I am ashamed that under my responsiblity an incident... became the target of massive media attacks on (the CII), you and the government," Mehr agency quoted him as writing in a letter to Rouhani.

With anger mounting over the dislosures, Rouhani on Sunday ordered first vice president Eshaq Jahangiri to conduct an investigation into senior officials' income and bonuses.

Government spokesman Mohammad Bagher Nobakht even offered "apologies to the people" over the salaries. He said loopholes that allowed for excessive pay would be closed and that officials who received such wages would "certainly be removed from office".
Students at the elite Oxford University have complained that they are being forced to submit too many essays in comparison with peers studying similar courses at different colleges in the varsity.

Undergraduates at the university protested about the uneven workload to an external review that some of them were expected to write up to three essays a week while others submitted only one for the same course.

The UK's Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), conducting the review, has said this week that the university must even out disparity in the number of tutorials and essays set by colleges.

In their regular reviewofthe institution, QAA quotes Oxford under-graduates as saying that "rigour is lost to excessive workloads" and that there is "little parity across the colleges" on the number of tutorials and assignments that a student must complete.

The watchdog found that while university guidance on approval of new courses and major changes to existing ones includes a requirement to consider student workload, it "stops short of prescribing it in terms of number of teaching hours and volume of assessment", leaving open the possibility of significant variation between colleges and tutors.

"There are instances where students are set three essays in one week; at those levels, that's clearly at the detriment of rigour, welfare and pedagogy.

"At that point, you are very much an essay machine; you are meeting deadlines rather than having time to learn and to reflect on what you are meant to be learning,"Cat Jones, vice-president for access and academic affairs at the Oxford University Student Union,told Times Higher Education.

QAA recommends that student workload, which at the moment at the discretion of individual tutors at Oxford, should become the subject of institution-wide guidance for the first time.

"We are already at work on the report's three recommendations, including the provision of more information about the teaching patterns that students can expect on each course.

"The QAA commends Oxford on the quality of its student representation on educational matters, and we will use these strong links to discuss and respond to particular workload concerns," said an Oxford University spokesperson.
An influential lawmaker of Pakistan's ruling coalition has been booked for allegedly verbally abusing and trying to physically attack a woman rights activist during a live TV debate on honour killing.

The ugly incident happened during a private TV talk show last week when Hafiz Hamdullah of Jamiat Ulema-e-Isla Fazal (JUI-F) became furious at Marvi Sarmad for speaking against honour killing.

According to the footage widely circulated on social media, the bearded lawmaker used foul language against the activist and tried to attack her.

Marvi lodged a complaint with the Margalla police station and the case was registered yesterday, a police official said.

The lawmaker's JUI-F party is an ally of the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

At least 1,100 women were killed in the name of honour in Pakistan last year by their relatives on the pretext of defending what is seen as family honour.

Police yesterday arrested the brother of a Pakistani woman for alleging burning her to death in an honour killing last week.

An Islamic religious body in Pakistan yesterday declared that killing of women in the name of "honour" is un-Islamic, days after 40 influential clerics issued a fatwa against honour-killing.
Pakistan today summoned Afghan ambassador and lodged a strong protest over the killing of an army Major in a recent border clash.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary summoned Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and lodged "strong protest" over the killing of Major Ali Jawad Khan, Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.

Khan was injured on June 13 due to the "unprovoked firing" by Afghan security forces over the contentious fencing issue at north-western Torkham border crossing. He died of injuries yesterday.

FO also asked Afghanistan to take immediate steps to bring the unprovoked firing to an end.

The Foreign Secretary stressed that the Pakistani side was undertaking construction works on its side to regulate the movements of people as well as vehicles with the prior agreement of the Afghan Government.

Chaudhary expressed concern over the continued firing by the Afghan forces for last few days with a view to disrupt the construction works aimed at strengthening effective border management.

He rejected allegations of Afghanistan that the construction work being undertaken by Pakistan was violation of the agreements and understandings reached between the two countries.

It was reiterated that these works are being undertaken on Pakistani side and were started after the two sides had agreed on them during the meetings held last month.

Underscoring the importance of border management for strengthening mutual security and checking infiltration of terrorists and militants, Chaudhary emphasised the need for resolving this issue through constructive engagement, FO said.

In the firing between security forces, an Afghan border guard was killed while two Pakistani soldiers and nine civilians were injured. One of the injured soldiers has died.

Pakistan alleged that "unprovoked" firing was started by Afghanistan's security forces when construction work began on a new gate on the Pakistani side.

Last month, the border crossing was sealed for several days over the construction of the gate, causing hardships to thousands of people who cross it every day.

Afghan government does not recognise the border, which is also known as Durand Line, and it opposes permanent structure.
As investigators probe connections between the Orlando killer and the Islamic State group, analysts say the jihadists are struggling to gain a foothold in one country repeatedly linked to their high-profile attacks: Pakistan.

White House hopeful Donald Trump mentioned Pakistan in a speech this week in New Hampshire as he doubled down on anti-immigration threats in the wake of the bloody rampage in Orlando.

Trump cited an attack in California last November, when a Pakistani woman and her US-born husband were praised by IS as "soldiers" of the caliphate after killing 14 people.

Other murky links between Pakistan and IS attacks have also emerged.

Two people were killed in France on Monday by a man claiming allegiance to IS -- and known to French intelligence for his role in a Pakistan-linked jihadist group.

In April, Austrian prosecutors said they are investigating a Pakistani held in connection with last November's deadly assault on Paris, also claimed by IS.

Washington earlier this year designated an IS affiliate -- the "Khorsan Province" -- as a Afghanistan- and Pakistan-based terrorist organisation.

But Islamabad officially denies IS has a formal presence in the country.

Analysts say that while the group's ultra-violent ideology has seen some success as a recruitment tool, IS is still scrabbling for purchase in Pakistan largely due to competition from well established extremist groups already there.

"My sense is that it has had limited success mainly because it has to compete for recruits with indigenous jihadi organisations," said Marvin G. Weinbaum, director of the Pakistan Center at the Middle East Institute in Washington DC.

"I don't see it as having the potential to make large-scale territorial gains and existentially threatening Pakistan as a nation," said Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi, a research fellow at the US-based Middle East Forum.

"I am also somewhat sceptical of the potential to supplant al-Qaeda and the Taliban," he wrote in an email to AFP.

Attacks claimed by IS in Pakistan are rare, the most significant being a 2015 gun assault on a bus in Karachi that killed 44 people.

However, Pakistani officials told AFP that hundreds of suspects have been rounded up as authorities try to break an domestic IS recruitment network.

"Educated, motivated and unemployed youth are an IS recruitment base in Pakistan. We have busted several recruitment cells here," a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
A number of paramilitary chiefs today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in order to present their proposals and demands vis-a-vis the forthcoming implementations of the 7th Pay Commission.

Five Directors General (DGs), including Krishna Chaudhary (ITBP), K Durga Prasad (CRPF), Archana Ramasundaram (SSB), Surender Singh (CISF) and O P Singh (NDRF), met the Minister at his office in South Block here and presented a memorandum to him.

The government in January had set up a high-powered panel headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha to process the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission which will have a bearing on the remuneration of 47 lakh central government employees and 52 lakh pensioners.

The Empowered Committee of Secretaries will function as a Screening Committee to process the recommendations with regard to all relevant factors of the Commission in an expeditious detailed and holistic fashion.
The Madras High Court today issued notice to the state government on a petition seeking higher compensation to families of children who died in the Kumbakonam school fire accident in 2004.

The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, which heard the plea by one of the deceased's father, K Inbaraj, issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Secretary, State School Education Department, and posted the matter to July 13 for further hearing.

The bench also directed the petitioners' counsel to serve notice on the schools where the tragedy occurred.

The matter relates to the fire tragedy that had occurred on July 16, 2004 at the compounds of Sri Krishna School and Saraswathi Nursery school where 94 children and a teacher were killed and several others were injured.

Earlier, the court had appointed a retired High Court Judge, Justice K Venkatraman, as one-man commission to determine the compensation to the victims' families.

The commission fixed the compensation as Rs five lakh each to the families of the deceased. With respect to the injured children, the commission found it very difficult to find out the injuries/scars at a later stage.

Apart from Rs 25,000 already paid by the government, the commission fixed an amount of Rs 50,000 more to them.

The petitioner had filed the petition, aggrieved by the compensation, and sought a direction to enhance it to Rs 25 lakh to each deceased's kin, and Rs 20 lakh, instead of Rs six lakh, recommended by the commission, to six seriously injured students, and Rs five lakh from Rs 50,000 to those who suffered minor injuries.

The petitioner prayed that a direction may be issued to the state government to grant the relief within a reasonable time, including nine per cent interest from the date of occurrence of the tragedy.
A sobbing Oscar Pistorius today hobbled on his stumps across a courtroom to demonstrate his physical vulnerability to a judge who will decide next month how long he goes to prison for murder.

The double-amputee removed his prosthetic limbs at the request of his lawyer Barry Roux who is pleading for leniency, but state prosecutors sought a minimum 15-year jail term for the killing of Reeva Steenkamp.

Wearing shorts, the Paralympic athlete held onto wooden benches for support as he walked unsteadily through the courtroom. He appeared in distress as a cushion was provided for him to rest on.

Pistorius, 29, shot his girlfriend in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013, claiming he mistook her for a burglar when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet.

He was convicted of culpable homicide in 2014 -- the equivalent of manslaughter -- before the appeal court upgraded his crime to murder earlier this year.

His murder sentence will be handed down on July 6, judge Thokozile Masipa told the High Court in Pretoria after a three-day hearing.

Pistorius's lawyer Roux tried to stress the effects of the athlete's disability, saying: "It is three o'clock in the morning, it is dark, he is on his stumps.

"His balance is seriously compromised and... He would not be able to defend himself. He was anxious, he was frightened.

"He believed the person in the toilet was an intruder and (the) deceased was at the time in the bed," Roux said.

In March, the Supreme Court of Appeal said Pistorius was guilty of murder, irrespective of whoever was behind the door when he opened fire with a pistol he kept under his bed.

Roux urged judge Masipa to "entertain the correct facts and not to be drowned by the many perceptions" that Pistorius had killed Steenkamp deliberately.

"The accused has lost everything. He can never ever resume his career," said Roux, whose client had both legs amputated below the knee as a child.

"He has paid physically... He has paid financially, he has paid socially. He is paying constantly."



The minimum jail term for murder in South Africa is 15 years, but Pistorius's sentence may be reduced due to the year he has already spent in prison and mitigating factors, including his disability.

State prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued that Pistorius should be jailed for at least the minimum term, saying the disgraced athlete had failed to show remorse.

"He knew there was someone behind the door," Nel said.

"Using a lethal weapon, a loaded firearm, the accused fired not one but four shots to the toilet door.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a Jammu and Kashmir government's proposal for vacating nearly 458 Kanal of land in army's possession for expansion of Kashmir University campus in Anantnag.

Highly-placed sources said the Prime Minister, after his return from the five-nation tour, had called a meeting on Kashmir during which he asked the Defence Ministry to hand over the 'High ground' in Anantnag to the state at the earliest so that the expansion plan of south campus of Kashmir University can be carried out.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister said the Centre was committed to all-round improvement of education in the state, official sources said.

The army had in-principle been agreeable to vacating the land for quite sometime but a decision by its headquarters got delayed.

The latest deadline for vacating the land was March 31 which was agreed upon during a meeting chaired by state Governor N N Vohra.

The army holds nearly 2005.24 kanals of land in Anantnag district since early 1990s.

The land is adjacent to south campus in Fatehgarh area near an army camp. It was being used by the army for landing helicopters despite the force having a similar facility at Khanabal, a few kilometres from there.

346.7 Kanals of land, which was earlier in the army's possession, was transferred to the university in 2004.

The process of handing over of land had begun during the previous Omar Abdullah government and the ground work for many areas had been completed.

In the past, army has handed over defence land at Batmaloo, Pantha Chowk and Hari Parbat for developing civic amenities.

Army has provided timely clearances to infrastructure development projects like Haft Chinar flyover, road projects under NHAI, BEACON and PMGSY, especially in border areas.

Army has also agreed to vacate the Lower Plateau in Kargil at the request of the civil administration.
President Pranab Mukherjee today arrived in Namibia for a two-day state visit during which key negotiations on Uranium supply for civil nuclear use will take place besides other bilateral issues.

Namibia despite being one of the largest producer of Uranium and having a treaty with India for peaceful use of nukes does not supply the fuel to India because of Palindaba treaty among African Union countries which bars export of the element to non-NPT signatories.

"Regarding uranium, there is a proposal which has been pending at their end basically because of African Union decisions. Whether we can move them along, in terms of becoming a supplier of uranium for us that is one of the key objectives that we have there," Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha had said.

The treaty signed in 2009 with India sets the framework for long term supply of uranium but it is pending ratification by Namibian Parliament.

"Namibia as you know is the fourth largest producer of uranium, but they have an African Union Agreement which sort of impedes the implementation of agreement. Namibia has not been able to break that unity, the binding commitment that they took, it's called the Pelindaba Treaty," Sinha had said.

During talks, India might raise the issue of uranium supply impressing upon Namibia.

"And the fact is because this MoU which we thought will kick in quickly has not happened and we have had been looking in signing agreements with other countries like Kazakhstan, Australia and few others. So eventually if we actually meet our requirements from non-Namibian sources, it will be a loss for the Namibian industry," he said.

The strength of Namibian economy is mineral with mining sector which contributes around 11 per cent to the GDP and it fetches 50 per cent of their foreign exchange earnings making them highly dependent on that.

Another material in abundance is diamond but the mining works through long-term contracts, monopolies and cartels so despite being largest users of diamonds, it does not reaches Indian shores directly from Namibia.

"We are one of the largest users of the diamonds in terms of the polishing and finishing but it doesn't comes directly to us and I don't think there is possibility right now because they have a long term commitment with DeBeers. Indian diamond merchants based outside in Antwerp source it from DeBeers and then it gets shipped to India," he said.

India will offer assistance to Namibia in setting up Mining Engineering trading set up.

Four MoUs will be signed during the trip which include



Deputation of Indian Army for training purposes to Namibian Defence Forces, Centre of Excellence in Information Technology.

"Then there will be a MoU between Namibian Institute of Public Administration and Management and our own IIM Ahmedabad and also between their Public Administration and our Lal Bahadur Shashtri Academy which trains civil servants because they are focused on developing their own capacities," he said.

Mukherhjee's visit which is the third and final leg of his three-nation tour is first by an Indian Head of State to Namibia in the last 21 years.

"Here in Namibia, the last visit of Head of State was made 21 years ago in 1995 and then Prime Minister (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee had visited in 1998. At that time legendary Sam Nujoma used to head Namibia and he was particularly beholden to India and was a very close friend to India politically," he said.

The visit of Mukherjee is also seen as "renewing political contact" with Namibia which has emerged as a country where democracy has firmed its roots, he added.

Besides crucial talks with President Hage G Geingob, Mukherjee will also address Namibian Parliament, besides visiting Independence Memorial Museum, Heroes Acre Memorial, addressing students and faculty of Namibia Institute of Science and Technology, a visit to Okapuka ranch and addressing Indian community.
President Pranab Mukherjee has been accorded the highest honour of Cote D'Ivoirie by its President Alassane Ouattara on his maiden visit here.

After an elaborate reception accorded at the airport, Mukherjee attended a banquet last evening hosted by Ouattara where he was accorded with Grand Cross National Order of the Republic of Cote D'Ivoirie in a simple ceremony in the President's Palace.

It is the first such honour accorded to Mukherjee, Press Secretary to the President Venu Rajamony said.

He said while Mukherjee has received number of honorary degrees, it is first such honour accorded to him by a country.

In his speech at the banquet, Mukherjee who is on the second leg of his three-nation visit to Africa, said it is rightly believed that the mutual goodwill between India and Cote D'Ivoirie is inversely proportional to the geographical distance separating the two countries, longstanding friendship and fruitful co-operation has made it irrelevant.

"I feel greatly honoured, Excellency, by your gesture of conferring on me the National Order of the Republic of Cote D'Ivoirie. I consider it to be emblematic of the long standing mutual friendship between the peoples of our two countries," he said.

Calling for UN reforms, Mukherjee said both countries share many commonalities as both are active participants in regional and international fora and have worked together in close cooperation on matters of shared interest and concern.

"We both recognise the imperatives of strengthening the UN system and other international organisations. We would like to see them reformed s that they remain relevant and effective in addressing the challenges that confront the world today. In this context, India stands ready to shoulder greater responsibilities in the specialised organs of the United Nations, particularly the UN Security Council," he said.

He also underlined "common concerns" of both countries in the fight against international terrorism.

"We have been co-ordinating closely in regional and multilateral fora on this and other key issues including disarmament, climate change and sustainable development," he said.

Mukherjee said India's commitment continued in the form of South-South Cooperation through developmental assistance and sharing resources for the development of her brother nations in Africa.

The President said India's public and private sector are keen to join Cote D'Ivoirie in setting up agro-based industries because of its fertile soil and agricultural and mineral resources.

"We would be happy to join your government in developing



the infrastructure that you require in the different sectors of your growing economy. We have much to offer. At this time - when both our nations are growing at a rate of 7-9 per cent, there are infinite opportunities that must be seized," Mukherjee said.

He appreciated the naming of an information technology park in Abidjan after Mahatma Gandhi calling him "a true son of India as well as Africa".

"During his initial struggles in South Africa, he espoused the principles of Ahimsa (Non-Violence) and Satyagraha as tools for emancipation of the people from the exploitative and oppressive colonial rule.

These principles later inspired independent India's efforts in support of the decolonisation of Africa in the 1950s and 1960s. It was also at the core of India's solidarity in the anti-apartheid movement," he said.

Mukherjee said India will remain a steadfast partner in assisting Cote D'Ivoirie in its economic development and growth. He said trade between the two nations is expected to touch USD 1 billion in the next few years.

"Given the relative size of our economies and our wide convergences in several sectors of common interests, we both agree that our trade and investment and economic co-operation does, indeed have a greater potential that is waiting to be fully realised," he said.
Scouting for new avenues for Indian businesses, President Pranab Mukherjee today said that a considerable amount of the capital generated in India seeks new destinations outside the country, including in resource-rich Africa.

Recalling ancient trade and economic linkages between India and Africa, the President said business and economic activity has always been a major driver of India's close and friendly ties with Africa.

Addressing the Business Forum of local businessmen, Mukherjee said Cote d'Ivoire is expected to grow at a rate of 9.6 per cent which makes it a prime destination for investment in Africa and second fastest growing economy after Ethiopia.

"For Ivorian businessmen, the opportunities offered by India are not new. India has recorded a steady growth at the rate of 7.6 per cent each year - for over a decade now. The comprehensive reforms introduced in key areas of our economy have enhanced the ease of doing business in India," he said.

The President said country's foreign investment regime has been liberalised through simplified procedures and the removal of several restricting provisions.

Mukherjee said In 2014, India recorded 32 per cent growth in investments and late it emerged as emerged as one of the biggest global investment destinations.

"India as economy has grown and matured; a considerable amount of the capital generated in India seeks new destinations outside the country, including in Africa. Indian investors are aware of the potential of Cote d'Ivoire; with its large land mass, rich natural resources and youthful demography, as an important investment destination," he said,



Mukherjee said India looks forward to partnering Cote d'Ivoire - particularly in the agricultural processing sector and the exploration and mining of minerals.

He asked businessmen of Cote d'Ivoire to take advantage of the Indian Government's initiatives such as Make in India.

"India is the 5th largest trading partner of Ivory Coast - and yet, we continue to see that despite the positive environment of growth in our two countries, our bilateral trade has remained at modest levels. It has not grown beyond USD 840 million, which is far below the true potential that we can and must fully realise," he said.
Chandan Bose, the right hand man of Ram Vriksha Yadav, leader of encroachers of Jawahar Bag, carrying a reward of Rs 5000 on this head has been arrested from Basti district where he was hiding, police said today.

"On the basis of information gathered from different points, with inputs from surveillance his location was established in Basti.

"He was hiding in his father in law's residence at Katholia village with his wife Poonam and was planning to flee Nepal. In order to foil his plan SP Basti was informed about the facts and we finally got him nabbed along with his wife," SSP Mathura BablooKumar said today.

Bose was wanted in 14 cases and had link with Naxalites.

He is not only sharp shooter but master trainer of encroachers of Jawahar Bag.

"Police team lead by one of the senior investigating officer has been sent to Basti to bring Chandan Bose and his wife in Mathura," the SSP said.

Twenty nine people including two police officers were killed in clashes between encroachers of Jawahar Bagh and the police.
Renault Nissan Automotive India today said it has signed a wage settlement pact with workers at its Chennai plant under which their salaries will be hiked by Rs 18,000 a month, spread over the next three years.

The company has formally signed a three year settlement agreement with its employee representative union, Renault Nissan India Thozhilalar Sangam (RNITS), Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd (RNAIPL) said in a statement.

The agreement will be effective from April 1, 2016 until March 31, 2019, it added.

"With this agreement the plant technicians will receive a salary increase of Rs 18,000 (per month) progressively over the next three years. The agreement includes several benefits and schemes for employees and their families," the statement said.

RNAIPL CEO & Managing Director Colin MacDonald said: "The wage agreement with the employee union goes a long way in building a sustainable and performing organisation. We have carefully ensured that the employees and families receive best benefits and schemes."



The Chennai plant is one of the largest in the Renault and Nissan Alliance. It started operation in March 2010. The alliance has invested Rs 6,100 crore till date and introduced 32 new Renault, Nissan and Datsun models and derivatives to its production line.

The plant caters to both domestic and international markets and has exported more than 6 lakh units to 106 countries since 2010.

It had crossed the production milestone of one million cars and recently, started third shift operations in response to increasing demand for its products, the company said.

RNAIPL said the manufacturing plant and the company's R&D facility in Chennai have created more than 40,000 direct and indirect jobs.
CASPER, Wyo.  A tourist was fined $1,000 and a $30 court processing fee for straying from the boardwalk Tuesday in the Mammoth Hot Springs area of Yellowstone National Park.

According to a news release from the park, a witness told a ranger that the tourist, who was Chinese, walked on the thermal formations near Liberty Cap and collected water. The witness also said the tourist broke through the fragile travertine crust in the area.

During a law enforcement investigation, the visitor said he did not read the safety information distributed at the entrance to the park. He also admitted to collecting water from the hot springs.

He was issued a federal violation requiring an appearance at the Yellowstone Justice Center Court for off-boardwalk travel in a thermal area.

This is the most recent in an unusual spate of incidents involving the parks thermal features. A 23-year-old man died June 7 when he left the boardwalk and fell into an acidic hot spring at the Norris Geyser Basin. A day later, rangers called off a search for his body, saying no significant remains were left to recover. A teenager was burned June 4 after falling into a hot pool in the Upper Geyser Basin. A group of Canadian men left the boardwalk and walked on the thermal features of the Grand Prismatic Spring.

However, thermal accidents dont account for all of the recent high-profile happenings at the countrys first national park. Some visitors have also had unusual interactions involving wildlife.

A French Canadian made headlines across the nation when he put a baby bison in his vehicle, saying it looked cold; the calf later had to be euthanized when it was rejected by its herd. A woman was killed by a vehicle as she crossed the road to see an eagle. Another woman was charged by an elk. A woman also ventured too close to a bear and her two cubs during a bear jam, or traffic jam triggered by wildlife.

The national parks website offers the following rules for safety:
Filmmaker Kabir Khan's next "Tubelight" starring superstar Salman Khan will have elements of comedy and drama with politics as its backdrop.

"It is about a personal issue. Can't talk about what exactly right now. Needless to say my films always have a political backdrop to them because thats what excites me and I find real. So 'Tubelight' also has a little political backdrop," Kabir told PTI.

Right from his debut "Kabul Express", to "New York" and his last, "Phantom", the filmmaker has helmed movies that have a strong political background.

"Tubelight" will mark the third collaboration between Kabir and the 50-year-old "Dabangg" star after blockbusters "Ek Tha Tiger" and "Bajrangi Bhaijaan".

When asked if their upcoming film will follow the lines of "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", Kabir said, "In terms of its emotional space it is similar to Bajrangi Bhaijaan. But story is very different. It is more of humour and emotional space that we (Salman and I) haven't delved into."



It was reported that Salman will be undertaking a journey of enlightenment from India to China in the film.

The director said "Tubelight" will have a "China element in the story" but he will be shooting the film in Ladakh.

"Tubelight" is scheduled to release on Eid next year.
The Supreme Court today asked the Maharashtra government not to carry out demolition of illegal buildings at a village in Navi Mumbai during the monsoon season till July 31.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and L Nageswara Rao also gave its nod to the state government to come out with a policy for regularizing the structures in the Digha village.

The bench asked the state government not to take any coercive action against the residents during the monsoon season till July 31.

Residents of the village had challenged the Bombay High Court order of last year in which Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO) were directed to initiate the process of demolition of 99 buildings illegally constructed in the village.

The counsel appearing for the residents said the court had ordered to vacate the buildings right before monsoon season which would render them homeless.

Counsel appearing for Maharashtra government supported the stand of residents and said there were 99 buildings in the area in which thousands of people were living.

He further informed the court that according to the resolution passed by the state government in 2001, demolition drive cannot be carried out in the state during monsoon season from June 1 to September 30.

The counsel further said the state government was contemplating a concrete policy for regularising the structures which can be examined by the Bombay High Court.

The High Court had earlier this year rejected the state government's plea to go ahead with the draft policy on regularisation of illegal structures in the state.

It had directed the state government not to go ahead with the policy without its permission observing that the decision to regularise illegal structures will have disastrous consequence and also set an unhealthy precedent for other cities.
A scuffle had broken out between troops of and Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) when the 276 Chinese personnel entered the Indian side from four different border points in Arunachal Pradesh last Thursday, according to an official account of the incident on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at 'Shankar Tikri' on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) of Yangtse area in Arunachal Pradesh with the PLA claiming the area belonged to China.

The area, which is being guarded by the Indian Army, was immediately covered and army moved in its men to prevent the aggressive PLA troops from crossing the perceived LAC in the region.

An estimated 215 PLA troops reportedly tried to push their way at 'Shakar Tikri' and simultaneously 20 each from 'Thang La' and 'Mera Gap' and another 21 from 'Yanki-I' of Arunachal Pradesh made similar attempts.

During the normal banner drill, the PLA troops striking an aggressive posture tried to attack the personnel physically but were overpowered immediately, official sources said on Wednesday.

The sources said the army has officially reported that there was only a "mild scuffle" between the Army and PLA at east of 'Shankar Tikri'.

Tensions reportedly eased only after four PLA officers accompanied by an interpreter met Commanding Officer of the formation in the area and presented him with two packets of chocolates and one gift packet to the in-charge of Yanki-I post.

Yangtse is one of the identified disputed pockets between the two countries and is an Indian territory. PLA carries out unusually big patrols as compared to other areas along the LAC.

The area has been reportedly witnessing transgressions by the Chinese side at regular intervals since 2011.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the scuffle had ended with exchange of chocolates.

"The Chinese troops went back with a sweet note," he told reporters in New Delhi.
Sebi today slapped a fine totalling Rs 2 crore on two Sai group firms for failing to comply with the markets regulator's directives of not undertaking fund mobilisation activities.

The Securities and Exchange Bord of India (Sebi) had imposed a penlaty of Rs 1 crore each on Sai Prasad Properties and Sai Prasad Foods.

The regulator, in July 2013, had ordered the two companies "not to collect any money from investors" under their existing schemes and "not to launch any new schemes or plans."



These firms were engaged in illegal funds raising from the public by floating, sponsoring or launching schemes.

"I cannot lose sight of the fact that despite directions issued by Sebi vide interim order dated July 17, 2013, prohibiting the noticees from undertaking fund mobilisation activities, Sai Prasad Properties mobilised Rs 279.74 crore from 7,15,747 investors and Sai Prasad Foods mobilised Rs 48.10 crore from 99,722 investors after the Sebi order," Sebi Adjudicating Officer Suresh B Menon said.

"Noticees have also not disputed the mobilization of funds by them after the receipt of the interim order. Such stark defiance displayed by the noticees towards regulatory directions cannot be viewed lightly," he added.

Accordingly, Sebi has imposed the penalty on these two companies for not complying with its directions issued in July 2013.
A legislative amendment that aims to bring defence sales with India at par with America's close allies and NATO members failed to get the US Senate's nod.

Called the "Defence and Security Co-operation with India", the legislative amendment was moved by Illinois Senator Mark Kirk on May 25 as part of the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2017.

"Unfortunately the Senator's amendment was not included in the final NDAA FY17," a Congressional aide to the Senator told.

Notably the US House of Representatives has already passed a similar amendment attached to the NDAA-2017.

The two versions of the bill would now have to be reconciled by both the Chambers of the Congress through conference.

It is only after the common version of the bill is passed, US President Barack Obama would sign that into law.

Another amendment moved by Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, that sought to recognise India as a global strategic and defence partner by making necessary modifications to defence export control regulations could not get the Senate's nod.

The legislative move is not linked with the recent joint India-US statement in which Obama Administration had recognised India as a "Major Defence Partner".

The statement was issued last week after the meeting between US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.

As per the joint statement, under Major Defence Partner, the US will continue to work toward facilitating technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners, it had said.

McCain in a statement expressed disappointment over several legislative move, saying that even though they had bipartisan support they could not get through the Senate as part of NDAA-2017.

"I regret that the Senate was unable to debate and vote on several matters critical to our national security, many of which enjoyed broad bipartisan support," McCain said without specifically mentioning the legislative amendment related to India.

The McCain amendment said that the relationship between the US and India has developed over the past two decades to become a multifaceted, global strategic and defence partnership rooted in shared democratic values and the promotion of mutual prosperity, greater economic cooperation, regional peace, security, and stability.
Socialite Paris Hilton has lauded social media for leaving a positive effect on her life and has called it "amazing".

Hilton, 35, has been a regular snapchat, Twitter and Instragram user which has brought her fans closer to her, reported Female First.

"Social media is amazing! It has given me a way to directly connect and chat to fans in a way I never could have done before," she said.

"I often launch contests or ask fans questions or even meet up with fans when I travel all through connecting on social media. I also enjoy sharing some of my happiest times and moments and letting fans experience them with me," she added.

Hilton has 13.7 followers on Twitter and 5.9 million fans on Instagram making her one of the most popular people on both platforms.
Even before a ruling, China may have lost by refusing to cooperate with a UN arbitration tribunal over its South China Sea claims.

Yet Beijing seems prepared to absorb the cost to its reputation, confident that in terms of territory and resources, it won't lose a thing.

Despite pressure from Washington and elsewhere, China appears determined to avoid granting any hint of legitimacy to a process that might challenge its claim to ownership of virtually the entire South China Sea, including its islands, reefs, fish stocks and potentially rich reserves of oil and gas.

The collateral cost, analysts say: harm to global efforts to resolve similar territorial disputes through legal means. By its actions, China is demonstrating that countries can reject such measures whenever they conflict with their interests.

The case before The Hague tribunal, filed by the Philippines, centers on the applicability of China's vaguely drawn "nine-dash line" South China Sea boundary under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.

A decision is expected sometime within the next several weeks, but since there is no enforcement mechanism, its potential impact is unclear.

Along with China and the Philippines, four other governments Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim islands and reefs falling within the nine-dash line, while Indonesia has expressed concern about the Chinese boundary overlapping with its exclusive economic zone.

For months, Chinese officials, state media outlets and high-ranking military officers have maintained a relentless stream of invective against the Philippines' pursuit of arbitration, calling it unlawful, illegitimate and a "political farce."



"The South China Sea arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines is nothing but a political scheme for one party to insult the other and will be recorded as an infamous case in the history of international law," Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told a group of visiting reporters in Beijing earlier this month.

That the panel is headed by a former diplomat from China's old nemesis, Japan, makes it even more worthy of derision, Chinese critics say.

"The ruling can't be objective and fair, and we won't be giving up our historical rights simply to make China look good," said Wu Shicun, president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.
Sri Lanka's cabinet approved today the introduction of a capital gains tax for the first time in 14 years, as the island battles a revenue crisis that has forced an IMF bailout.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's tax plans come after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this month released the first tranche of a USD 1.5 billion loan in support of the island's reform agenda.

"This is a move to increase direct taxation and reduce the reliance on indirect taxes such as VAT," government spokesman Rajitha Senaratne told reporters. "It is the super rich who make huge profits who will be asked to pay capital gains."



Senaratne said the tax would be introduced soon, but did not give details of rates and the areas to which it would be applied.

A 25 per cent rate had been slapped on property sales before the tax was abolished in 2002.

As part of the deal to secure the IMF money, the government promised to increase tax collection, cut state expenditure and reform loss-making state enterprises, according to documents released by the IMF.

The country last month increased value added tax (VAT) from 11 to 15 per cent.

The government sought an IMF bailout immediately after taking power in January last year, but the fund turned down the request, saying the country's reserves were at a comfortable level then.

However, the government faced a balance of payments crisis after it went on a huge spending spree to implement its election pledges of higher public sector salaries and lower prices.

Wickremesinghe said the government will seek to raise its tax-to-GDP ratio to 15 per cent by 2020 from the current level of 11 per cent.

Sri Lanka has also agreed to a "flexible exchange rate policy" while maintaining price stability.

Last week, Wickremesinghe announced plans to lift six- decade-old restrictions on foreign exchange flows by November to allow the free transfer of money in and out of the island.

In 2009, Sri Lanka received USD 2.6 billion from the IMF to boost its financial reserves, which dropped below USD 1 billion at the height of fighting between Tamil Tiger rebels and troops.
: Stethoscope is still valuable despite the advances in the medical technology, opined doctors at the 200th anniversary of the invention of the device here today.

Senior Consultant in Respiratory Medicine and critical Care, KIMS Hospital, Kesavan Nair saidstethoscope had become 'sine qua non' of doctors, thanks to a French physician, Rene T H Laennec who invented it in 1816.

"Eventhough several new gadgets had been developed to help doctors listen to the sounds of the body, every physician will cherish memories of the stethoscope," he said.

Head of cardiology department, KIMS, G Vijayaraghavan said many heart ailments could be detected soon with the help of a stethoscope.

The hospital organised a seminar and discussion to mark the 200th year of invention of stethoscope.
Mexican police have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of 12 members of the same family in a crime linked to personal conflicts, officials said.

Gunmen marched into the remote mountain hamlet of El Mirado in central Puebla state last Friday and opened fire on an entire family.

Two suspects, who were identified, fled the scene of the massacre.

The Puebla state prosecutor's office yesterday said on Twitter that the investigation was "progressing" as it placed a man in custody in relation with the case.

It did not provide more details about the suspect.

Vicente Lopez, the mayor of Coxcatlan whose municipality oversees the hamlet, said local police detained a man named Carlos in the El Mirador area.

Prosecutors say one of the victims was a woman who had given birth to a boy after being raped by one of the suspects nine years ago.

Lopez has described the mass murder as an act of "vengeance."



The woman's partner, who was also killed, had more wounds than the others and had been stabbed.

The death toll was raised from 11 to 12 after authorities said that the woman was 37 weeks pregnant and that the foetus had not survived.

The rapist is not the suspect who was detained, an official at the prosecutor's office said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly.
The Montana Innocence Project has expanded its legal team with the hiring of a former Yellowstone County District Court Law Clerk.

Entering into the organization's eighth year, the Montana Innocence Project hired a second full-time attorney, Toby Cook, former law clerk for Yellowstone County District Court Judge Russell Fagg.

"It's basically my dream job," Cook said.

The Montana Innocence Project was founded in June 2008 by a group of public officials, attorneys, journalists and University of Montana professors in order to help exonerate people wrongly convicted. Right now, the organization is representing clients in four cases.

Cook worked for the organization in the past, assisting in notable cases including the petition for a new trial for Richard Raugust, convicted of killing his best friend Joseph Tash in 1997.

Cook attended the University of Montana for the chance to volunteer with the the organization at an early point in his law career. He chose Montana over the University of Washington because UM allows even first year law students a chance to volunteer.

Cook was hired June 1 for a position as a staff attorney and director of investigations, replacing a former part-time clinic director position. He will be working with students and volunteers from various disciplines to investigate cases, but his primary role will be litigating innocence cases.

Legal Director Larry Mansch said the Montana Innocence Project likes to hire "bright folks" dedicated to the cause of exonerating innocent people in Montana. One of the last states to start an innocence project, the group has already reviewed more than 600 cases in the short time since it began. It has only litigated about eight or nine cases in that time.

In order for the organization to take on a case, applicants go through a five-step screening process, Mansch said. A convicted person sends a letter requesting help and stating the new evidence they believe could exonerate them.

If the project believes there to be "actual and factual" evidence of wrongful conviction, they send the applicant a 16-page questionnaire, Mansch said.

After the return of the questionnaire, the project conducts a preliminary investigation, sifting through trial transcripts and court documents, gathering all the information needed to determine whether or not they have a claim for post-conviction relief. Cook will direct a lot of this work.

The information found is then presented to a screening committee and a board of directors, made up of lawyers, professors and retired judges. Should the screening committee approve, the organization seeks approval from their board of directors to move forward.

At any point during this process, the organization can abandon a case if it has no merit, Mansch said.

In addition to their litigation work, the project works to influence legislation in favor of evidence preservation and against the death penalty, Mansch said. The Innocence Project also educates the public about what it does, something Mansch said the public mostly understands.

"People say, 'You're the guys who find DNA and free people with it,'" Mansch said. "And that is a pretty good description."

The biggest contributor to a false conviction is bad eyewitness identification, Mansch said. The biggest contributor to exoneration is new DNA evidence.

The Innocence Project is connected to the University of Montana Alexander Blewett III School of Law and for that reason will always have its headquarters in Missoula. However, pro bono attorneys across Montana partner with the project, which allows the organization to expand its reach. Cook worked as one of these attorneys while he clerked for Fagg.

"We'd like to have a stronger presence in Eastern Montana," Mansch said. "We'd like to have board of directors in Eastern Montana. It's a big state, and we're always looking for ways to expand."

For Fagg's part, he was sad to see Cook leave his team, but excited for his return to the project, something Fagg said he knew his former law clerk had a passion for. Fagg said no judge likes to see someone wrongly convicted, and though judges have an innate trust in the system, the evidence presented by the Innocence Project is often hard to contradict.

Mansch said he has heard overwhelmingly positive things from everyone he talks to outside the project regarding the work being done there.

The people the organization has worked for express the greatest gratitude for the project.

"Majority of them have spent several years in prison," Cook said. "They are ready to move on with their lives afterward. They aren't bitter or anything like that. The process is like an emotional roller coaster."

Fagg has an intern filling in as law clerk for the summer and a new person will begin in September.
Ways to expand maritime security cooperation, dealing with threat of terrorism and boosting trade and investment will be major focus of talks between India and Thailand during Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha's three-day visit here beginning tomorrow.

Chan-o-Cha will have extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday on a raft of issues including enhancing overall defence and security cooperation and the situation in the South China Sea.

The Thai Prime Minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising the Deputy Prime Minister, five senior ministers and a 46-member business delegation.

The two sides will also deliberate on stepping up cooperation in trade and tourism sector. India is keen on enhancing connectivity between the two countries and promoting the Buddhist tourist circuits.

Issues relating to the proposed free trade pact between the two countries may also figure in talks. The volume of current annual bilateral trade between the two countries is nearly USD eight billion and both sides are very keen to expand it further.

The Thai Prime Minister will visit Bodh Gaya, a major place of pilgrimage for Buddhists, in Gaya district of Bihar before returning to Thailand on June 18.

It will be Chan-o-Cha's first India visit as premier. Earlier Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had paid a State visit to India in January 2012 and she was the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations.

Briefing reporters about the visit, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs Preeti Saran said India regards Thailand as "central pillar" of India's ties with ASEAN countries and a host of issues ranging from maritime security, trade and investment, education, tourism and space research are likely to figure prominently in talks.

Asked whether the disputes relating to South China Sea will be discussed, she said India will share its views if the issue is raised, adding freedom of navigation in the resource-rich area was important.

On maritime security, she said cooperation between the two countries in the Indian Ocean is already "very strong" and ways to further enhance it may be explored.

Saran said Thailand has shown interest in joint ventures in defence production and procurement of defence platforms from India. The issue may figure in the talks besides ways to combat terrorism.

The areas of expansion of trade will be sectors like steel, banking and food processing. India was keen on attracting Thai investment in the infrastructure sector.

Saran said there was huge potential for expanding bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector. Currently, around one million Indians visit Thailand annually while the number of Thai people visiting India is around one lakh.

The Thai Prime Minister will also address an event organised by industry chambers FICCI and CII where a joint business forum of the two countries will be formed which will give its recommendations on ways to boost trade.
A 45-year-old traffic constable was allegedly beaten up by four women after he entered into a heated exchange with a couple over traffic violation in northwest Delhi's Rani Bagh area, police said today.

The incident took place yesterday morning when the constable was heading towards Madhuban Chowk, where he is posted, and he spotted a couple on a motorbike who had stopped beyond the mark near a zebra crossing at an intersection in Rani Bagh area, violating traffic norms, a police official said.

When the constable, Mool Chand, asked them to reverse the two-wheeler by a metre or so, the woman pillion rider entered into an argument with him, which soon turned quite violent.

Meanwhile, three women, who were riding on a scooter, which is also in violation of law, intervened and then the four women allegedly assaulted him and even tore apart his uniform, the official said.

Locals rushed to the cop's rescue and held two of the accused women, while the others fled the spot. They called up police and a case was registered in connection with the matter.

During investigation, it emerged that the three women who had come later in the scooter, were known to the couple in the motorbike. Efforts are on to nab the other women too, the official added.
Two youths died and another seriously injured when their bikes collided near Aluojharana under Kamakshya Nagar police station in Odisha's Dhenkanal district today, the police said.

The accident took place when three youths in two motor bikes were crossing each other.

"Two youths died on the spot, while the seriously injured person has been rushed to SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack," said Kamakshya Nagar Police Station IIC Pravat Tripathy.
Producers of drug-themed drama "Udta Punjab", slated for Friday release, today lodged a complaint with cyber police alleging that the film was leaked online.

In their compliant lodged with the cyber crime police in Bandra, they stated the film was uploaded before its release by some unidentified persons.

Police are tracing the IP address through which the movie was allegedly uploaded, an official said without elaborating.
Actor Diljit Dosanjh says he decided to be a part of "Udta Punjab" because he felt nothing in the movie was defamatory and the Punjabi star thinks director Abhishek Chaubey's good intention will come across to the audience as well.

Diljit, a renowned name in Punjabi cinema courtesy hits like "Jatt and Juliet" series and "Sardaarji", is making his Bollywood debut with the movie, which faced censorship issues.

The censor board demanded multiple cuts in the film but the producers decided to move the Bombay High Court, which cleared the movie with just one cut and a revised disclaimer.

"When I was narrated the script, I found their intention right. I never felt that they were trying to show something wrong. Now that the High Court has given the judgement so I don't even need to make a comment on it. I just feel the film's intention is good and a nice story," Diljit told PTI in an interview.

"People should watch and then judge. After watching it if they say, 'We didn't like this' or 'It doesn't show things in good light' then the producers are going nowhere you can get hold of them," the actor said.

The "Udta Punjab" controversy has given a new lease of life to the ongoing debate of censorship and certification. Celebrities like Aamir Khan, Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt have said that CBFC should certify films not censor them.

When asked about it, Diljit said, "I think that's what (to certify instead of censoring) is their job."



The movie has been given 'A' certificate and the actor said that adults are capable of taking decisions and will watch the film if they want to.

"The movie has got an 'A' certificate. So, obviously only people above that age limit can watch and I think adults can decide what they want to watch. There is no age limit online.

"Anyone can watch it anything... In the end, everyone is responsible for his/her own actions. The good intention and hard work with which the film has been made will be there for all to see once it releases."



Also starring Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Alia Bhatt, the movie will hit theatres on June 17.

It's a double treat for Diljit's fans this month as a week after "Udta Punjab", his Punjabi movie "Sardaarji 2" will arrive in theatres.

The actor, who was in the capital for a promotional event of the movie, will be seen in a double avatar in the sequel to the 2015 hit "Sardaarji".

It also stars Sonam Bajwa and Monica Gill in lead roles.
Invoking the tragedy of partition of India, leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul says Britain should not only continue to stay in Europe but also adopt the Euro to fully tap the economic benefits of its largest market.

Speaking ahead of the June 23 referendum when UK votes on whether to remain in the 28-nation European Union or to leave, Paul, Chairman and Founder of Caparo Group said, "when you divide countries and continents you can often cause more problems than you solve."



"Take India and Pakistan for example. At the time of partition they were the same people with the same language; yet it was decided that they should become separate countries with their own sovereignty.

"In my view, and in the view of many other people, India and Pakistan are still suffering today from that decision," Paul said yesterday while addressing a gathering at the Regent University here on UK membership of the European Union (EU).

"My own life experiences have led me to strongly believe in the intermingling of nationalities," he said, underlining that this was the reason why he believes that the UK should be in Europe and leading Europe.

"I am very pro-European and genuinely believe it is the best thing to have happened economically and strategically to Europe and to Britain," he said.

Paul also emphasised that being in Europe can only help the country in the long run and certainly will not cause any damage.

"From an economic point of view, and in order for the UK to get the full benefit of being in Europe, then we must also adopt the Euro," Paul said.

"If we are not in the common currency then we are losing out. In the event of Brexit, I believe that British industry will suffer to an extent, because we rely heavily on the European export market," he said.

The UK labour market will also suffer because Britain is forced to bring in a number of skilled and unskilled workers for the jobs that cannot be filled by the indigenous population, he said.

The result of the June 23 referendum will have far- reaching consequences for politics, the economy, defense, migration and diplomacy in Britain and elsewhere.
Opposing NITI Aayog's proposal to privatise Air India and shut 28 PSUs, central trade unions, including the RSS-backed BMS, have threatened to go on strike and sought Prime Minister's intervention on this matter.

One of the bodies has even accused the government of "moving on expected lines to sell the country".

"BMS opposes NITI Aayog proposal to close sick PSUs... BMS demands that the government call a meeting of all stakeholders to discuss the revival plan of sick PSUs before proceeding to decide on the proposal of NITI Aayog. Otherwise, we will compel to come on to the street to oppose the move," BMS General Secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said in a statement today.

The statement follows NITI Aayog submitting its proposal to the Prime Minister's Office on strategic sale, privatisation of PSUs and closure of loss-making units.

The NITI panel, headed by its Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya with CEO Amitabh Kant and other members on board, has prepared a detailed blueprint on PSU reforms. The Aayog has already submitted two lists of PSUs for strategic sale and closure or sale of sick units.

Although the panels' recommendation has not been made public, some media reports suggest that it has pitched for reducing the government's stake to 49 per cent or below in PSUs at one go under the strategic sale option.

"The AITUC Secretariat has taken serious note and condemned the proposal for strategic sale of Air India, Chennai Petroleum, Madras Fertilizer and FACT by NITI Aayog," All India Trade Union Congress Secretary D L Sachdev said in a statement.

"AITUC has also condemned Aayog's proposal to wind up 28 PSUs and long-term lease of ITDC hotels. AITUC appeals to the Prime Minister not to accept the proposals as submitted by NITI Aayog on strategic sale and winding up the so-called loss making PSUs and stresses on revival of these units."



Centre of Indian Trade Unions General Secretary Tapen Sen was more blunt: "We are opposed to it. The government is moving on expected lines to sell the country".

Sen said further, "What is surprising is that now the government wants to sell those PSUs on which crores were spent for revival. This will definitely be one of major issues at the nation-wide Bharat Bandh on September 2, 2016."



Indian National Trade Union Congress Vice-President Ashok Singh echoed his point, saying the union is against the proposal to sell sick PSUs and will oppose this.

The government has set a disinvestment target of Rs 56,500 crore for this fiscal. Of this, Rs 36,000 crore is to come from minority stake sale in PSUs and Rs 20,500 crore from strategic sale.

The government kickstarted the disinvestment programme for the current fiscal with 11.36 per cent stake sale in NHPC. The government raised Rs 2,700 crore through the process.

During 2015-16, the government managed to notch up Rs 25,312 crore through disinvestment, less than half the target of Rs 69,500 crore.

It had raised around Rs 24,500 crore in 2014-15 by selling stake in public companies, about Rs 16,000 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 23,960 crore in 2012-13. It had raised around Rs 14,000 crore in 2011-12 and over Rs 22,100 crore in 2010-11.

Gupta said between 2009 and now, only six CPSEs got



listed. In 2012, approval was granted for listing of four CPSEs. "This has been taking so much time."



While two PSUs got listed in 2009, three made a debut in 2010 and one in 2012. However, no state-owned companies got listed on the bourses between 2014-2016.

While the administrative ministries don't have much of a problem, it's the CPSEs which say that they will be exposed to higher accountability, transparency, much wider disclosure norms and big set of compliance, Gupta said. "So there is a inertia not to get into that."



Once CPSEs are identified, the listing process will run parallelly in different CPSEs across departments. "Don't think if the number of CPSEs is very large, the exercise is sequential. But the transaction have to be done at the appropriate done," he said.

"We will bring out guidelines and mechanism to complete different steps in a time bound manner as has been directed in Budget," he added.
Scientists have discovered a unique meteorite, which they believe is a part of a cosmic body that may have been involved in a huge collision in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter some 470 million years ago.

The 8cm space rock, called Osterplana 65, was found in a limestone quarry in Sweden and is said to be chemically distinct from any of the 50,000 other such objects held in collections.

The collision in the asteroid belt 470 million years ago would have been the same that produced a large class of other rocks known as L chondrites, researchers said.

The L chondrites have been found in large quantities in the sediments of a period in Earth history when the Northern Hemisphere was largely under water and marine lifeforms such as the trilobites were flourishing.

Scientists have recovered more than a hundred of these "fossil" objects in the quarry.

However, the new meteorite discovered by researchers from the Lund University in Sweden and University of California at Davis in the US stands out because geochemically its oxygen and chromium signatures are distinct.

"For a long time we called it 'the mysterious object' because it didn't resemble anything," Schmitz was quoted as saying by the 'BBC News'.

The researchers used cosmogenic dating to hypothesise that the Osterplana 65 comes from the "second asteroid" in the collision.

The technique helps determine how long the fresh surface of a broken object has been exposed to space radiation.

The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.
The United States has denied that it is in a dispute with its ally Saudi Arabia over how to handle the crisis in Syria.

US Secretary of State John Kerry was all smiles late Monday when he welcomed deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman to his home in Washington.

The influential 30-year-old prince, who serves as defense minister, broke his Ramadan fast at an iftar supper with the top US diplomat.

Reports had suggested Riyadh is frustrated with US policy in Syria and would like to step up arms supplies to the rebels fighting Bashar al-Assad's regime.

But yesterday, Kerry's spokesman John Kirby denied there was any rift.

"If you're asking if there's this big philosophical divide between the Saudis and the United States on how to move forward on the ground in Syria, the answer is 'no,'" he told reporters.

Kirby recalled that Saudi Arabia had been one of the first countries to join the United States and Russia in forming the Syria Support Group.

This 22-nation group is pushing for a negotiated end to Syria's civil war, and Riyadh was vital in getting skeptical mainly Sunni rebels on board.

"If it were not for Saudi leadership, we wouldn't have that first meeting of the Syrian opposition groups back in December in Riyadh," Kirby said.

"They have been at this right from the beginning with the United States and with Russia and with Turkey, moving this process forward," he added.

Earlier in the process, Saudi officials privately told AFP they favoured sending ground-to-air missiles and anti-tank weapons to the rebels.

But they have stuck by the US and Russian plan, while continuing to complain that Assad - backed by Saudi foe Iran - is breaching a shaky truce.

"I'm not going to speak for what they specifically want to do differently," Kirby said.

"But I can tell you that on the issues that matter... Saudi Arabia has been with us step-by-step.
The US and Venezuelan governments said they would launch new high-level talks as the South American country struggles with a political and economic crisis.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro yesterday said in televised comments that the countries agreed to launch "a new stage of dialogue."



US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters he would send a top State Department envoy to Caracas "as soon as possible."



The announcement came after Kerry met with Venezuela's Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez on the sidelines of the general assembly of the Organisation of American States (OAS).

Kerry said he discussed with Rodriguez the Venezuelan opposition's efforts to hold a recall referendum on whether to remove Maduro from power.

He said the United States was "supporting the constitutional process" to organise a referendum, which Maduro is resisting.

"We agreed to have a dialogue immediately" with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Tom Shannon representing the United States, Kerry said.

Maduro shortly afterward said he had agreed to new talks with Washington, with whom Venezuela's socialist leaders have had tense relations over recent years.

Kerry and Rodriguez "proposed that we immediately start a new stage of dialogue with new channels of communication and an ensemble of high-level meetings, and I said to the foreign minister: approved," Maduro said.

Oil-rich has slid into crisis as crude prices have crashed over the past two years. Citizens are suffering shortages of basic goods.

Maduro has accused the United States and the Washington-based OAS of conspiring against his government.
A man was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison Wednesday for assaulting a woman in Lodge Grass and firing at her vehicle as she fled.

Elijah Lee Rock, 33, was convicted of assault resulting in substantial injury, assault with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. He was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Billings.

In addition to the sentence, Judge Susan P. Watters ordered that Rock undergo substance abuse treatment and that he be on supervised release for five years after prison.

According to court documents, Rock and the woman drove together to Wyoming to get alcohol on April 6, 2015. Rock became intoxicated as they returned to Lodge Grass and parked in a residential area.

An argument ensued, and Rock began punching the woman, charges state. He also choked her. At one point, Rock exited the car and the woman got into the driver's seat and drove away.

Rock got into another car, driven by another man, and followed. At School Hill, Rock fired two shots at the woman's car. Federal investigators interviewed a witness who confirmed the account.

The woman made it to a nearby house, cried for help and got inside. Rock followed, banged on the door of the house and demanded to be let inside. He pointed the gun at the door as a 4-year-old boy sat on the porch, charges state. Rock eventually left.

The bulk of the sentence came from a mandatory minimum of 10 years on the firearm charge.
Veteran Tamil film director AC Tirulokachandar, who had directed over 60 movies including Tamil, Telugu and some Hindi films, passed away here today.

"He was 85 and he passed away at a hospital here due to age related health issues and he is survived by a son and a daughter," N Shan, son-in-law of Raj Chandar, son of Tirlokachandar told PTI.

Remembered for films in which he had directed iconic yesteryear actors like MG Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan, he debuted in Tamil film industry in the 1962 movie "Veera Thirumagan," a AVM production.

Before that he had worked in film studios and had written numerous short stories in Tamil magazines. Films like Anbey Vaa (1966), (Ramu (1966), Athey Kangal (1967), Naanum Oru Pen (1963), Baratha Vilas (1973), Enga Mama (1970), were among his Tamil hits.

"The last movie that he directed was Sivaji starrer Anbulla Appa (1986)," Shan said.

Totally, he had directed 65 films, most of them in Tamil followed by Telugu and Hindi, he said.

He also directed Rajinikanth starrer movies, including "Badrakali".

Meanwhile, a press release from his publicist said he won a host of awards, which include Kalaimamani Award from the Tamil Nadu government, and Filmfare Awards. He also headed a State government panel to select best movies, it added.

The cremation would be held here tomorrow, Shan said.

(REOPENS MES9)



Chief Minister Jayalalithaa expressed grief over the death of Tirulokachandar.

"He was a very learned, and well bred individual and an excellent film director who directed his movies with dexterity," she said in an official release here.

She said he was an expert in making women-centric movies and "a pastmaster in excellent characterisation."



Jayalalithaa recalled that he directed "Anbey Va" (her mentor and AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran starrer-movie), and "Deiva Magan," "Engiruntho Vanthal," "Dharmam Engey," and "Enga Mama," in which she had done lead roles.

"Deiva Magan," was first Tamil film to be submitted by India for the Oscars in best foreign language film category.
Micromax subsidiary YU today said it has made three senior level appointments as part of its efforts to strengthen offline sales network.

The company has appointed Bharat Singh Malik as Vice President of Service while Deepak Dahiya will take over as Head of Sales (South and West region).

Chandra Kishore has been appointed as Head of Sales - North and East region, YU said in a statement.

"While in the first phase we focused on taking crucial steps towards consumer confidence and brand acceptability, in the second phase we will be strengthening our national presence and growth potential to reach newer audience," YU Televentures Chief Operating Officer Shubhodip Pal said.

This core team brings with them a wealth of experience, which is exceedingly valuable at this juncture of Yu's growth story, he added.

Malik, who has led the same function for Micromax as well, has worked with brands like Samsung and Nokia. He will chart out a service and support strategy to help YU enhance its customer service.

Dahiya has been associated with the parent brand since 2007 in different roles. At YU, he will be a key resource to accentuate the company's presence in the West and South India markets.

Kishore, who has been with Micromax since 2008, has played a key role in preparing high impact sales strategies and contributing towards enhancing business volumes and growth.
The Cabinet today gave go-ahead to the merger of State Bank of India (SBI) and its associate lenders that would make the state-owned lender a global-sized bank.



India's largest lender had last month mooted the proposal for merger of its five subsidiary with itself and acquisition of the newly set up Bharatiya Mahila Bank.



has five associate lenders -- State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Hyderabad.



"Kindly await a structured briefing on that," Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said when asked if the Cabinet approved the merger of associate with the .



Meanwhile, SBI Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya said merger of SBI and its associate is a win-win for both the sides.



"Currently, no Indian bank features in the top 50 banks of the world. With this merger, some visibility at global level is likely to increase. Customers of associates and subsidiaries of the Bank will also be beneficiaries," she said.



She further said that with this merger the network of SBI will increase and its reach multiply. One can expect efficiencies to be created from rationalisation of branches, common treasury pooling and proper deployment of a large skilled resource base, Bhattacharya said.



"Customers of associates and subsidiaries of the Bank will also be beneficiaries. Any introduction of new technology by SBI would simultaneously be available uniformly. The scale of operations and common cost would get rationalised. Overall, the synergies being pooled at one place are going to be a big positive," she added.



Among the associate banks, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Travancore are listed. There shares jumped nearly 20 per cent on benchmark BSE today and hit their respective upper circuit limits towards closing of the trading session. SBI stock was up 3.9 per cent.



The merged entity will become a banking behemoth, which could compete with the largest in the world, with an asset base of Rs 37 trillion (Rs 37 lakh crore) or over $555 billion, with 22,500 branches and 58,000 ATMs. It will have over 50 crore customers.



Presently SBI has close to 16,500 branches, including 191 foreign offices spread across 36 countries.



SBI first merged State Bank of Saurashtra with itself in 2008. Two years later, State Bank of Indore was merged with it.
By Aditi Shah

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has made it easier for the country's airlines to fly abroad as part of the first set of comprehensive rules governing civil aviation which are designed to boost air travel and economic growth.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government presented the national civil aviation policy, which has been years in the making, as a bid to make flying more affordable for India's expanding middle class, to bolster competition and to get more of the country connected.

Under the policy, domestic carriers will no longer have to operate for five years before they can start flying abroad, although they must still have 20 aircraft in their fleets.

"We want airlines to start flying quicker so there is more competition," civil aviation secretary R. N. Choubey told reporters after the cabinet cleared the policy.

Easing the so-called 5/20 rule marks a further step towards liberalising India's aviation market, the world's fastest growing, and is a boost for Tata Group's two recent ventures - Vistara, in partnership with Singapore Airlines, and AirAsia India, a venture with Malaysia's AirAsia Bhd.

The rule, unique to India, had sought to encourage the growth of the nascent domestic aviation industry, but many officials say it now inhibits Indian carriers from increasing their share of international travel.

Incumbents such as Etihad-backed Jet Airways, InterGlobe Aviation's Indigo Airlines and SpiceJet already flying overseas had lobbied hard to keep the rule in place.

Shares in Jet Airways, InterGlobe and SpiceJet rose on the civil aviation policy had been approved.

Vistara, with 10 jets, is at least a year away from having the 20 planes needed to fly abroad, meaning that there is no immediate threat to the established players. AirAsia India has only six A320 planes and its fleet growth plans remain unclear.

CAP ON FARES

The government also announced it would cap base fares on regional routes at 2,500 rupees ($37) per hour of travel to get more people flying, with the government providing funding to make it viable.

Funding for new "no-frills" airports would also be made available and excise duty on fuel would be cut, Choubey said.

India's air travel market has boomed in the last decade as it opened up to competition, ticket prices were slashed and the number of people wealthy enough to travel ballooned.

Still, very few Indians have enough money to fly - with 0.04 annual trips per capita against 0.3 in China.

Amber Dubey, head of aerospace at KPMG in India, said he welcomed the focus on regional connectivity and replacing the 5/20 rule, predicting it would accelerate growth.

"The National Civil Aviation Policy ... is likely to enhance that further by taking flying to the masses through a slew of policy initiatives and fiscal and monetary support," he said.

Dubey faulted the new policy, however, for remaining silent on the issue of setting up an independent civil aviation authority and on addressing whether to privatise lossmaking flag carrier Air India.($1 = 67.1200 Indian rupees)

(Additional reporting by Nigam Prusty; additional reporting and writing by Tommy Wilkes; editing by Douglas Busvine and David Clarke)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two Japanese auto parts companies, Tokai Kogyo Co Ltd and Maruyasu Industries Co Ltd, were indicted on Wednesday on price-fixing charges along with five executives, the U.S. Justice Department said.

The indictments arose from a long-running international antitrust probe of price-fixing in the auto parts industry that has ensnared more than 40 companies and 60 people.

In one indictment by a federal grand jury in Ohio, Tokai Kogyo and its U.S. subsidiary Green Tokai Co Ltd were accused of rigging bids for automobile weather stripping and other sealing products sold to Honda Motor Co Ltd <7267.T>, the department said.

A Tokai Kogyo assistant general manager, Akitada Tazumi, will also face charges, the department said in a statement.

Separately, Maruyasu Industries Co Ltd and its U.S. subsidiary were charged with rigging bids for steel tubes that automakers use in fuel distribution, braking and other parts of their cars, the department said.

Four Maruyasu sales executives - Tadao Hirade, Satoru Murai, Kazunori Kobayashi and Yoshihiro Shigematsu - also face price-fixing charges, the indictment said.

Neither of the companies nor their attorneys could be reached for comment. A lawyer for Tazumi could not be reached, while an attorney for Hirade, Murai, Kobayashi and Shigematsu declined to comment.

(Reporting by Diane Bartz and Eric Beech; editing by Eric Walsh and Dan Grebler)
State-owned Coal India said its subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields will buy back shares worth Rs 1,200.19 crore. The move will help the government in realising its disinvestment target of Rs 56,500 crore for the fiscal.

"The board of directors of South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL)... at its meeting held on June 14, has considered and approved the buyback of 8,46,359 fully paid equity shares of face value of Rs 1,000 each from the members of the company on a proportionate basis through tender offer," Coal India (CIL) said in a BSE filing.

The SECL buyback will represent 23.53 per cent of the total number of equity shares in the paid-up share capital of the subsidiary for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs 1,200.19 crore (maximum buyback size) being up to 25 per cent of the paid-up equity share capital and free reserves as on fiscal ended March 31, the filing said.

The buyback will be at a price of of Rs 14,180.57 per equity share payable in cash. Buybacks help a company reduce equity by using idle cash and hence provide better returns to shareholders.

Coal India had recently informed bourses that two of its subsidiaries Mahanadi Coalfields and Northern Coalfields will buy back shares worth around Rs 1,978 crore from their shareholders. CIL accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal production.


Having completed two years of governance, the Narendra Modi government has reached out to public to rate its various initiatives through the 'MyGov' platform.

"As you are aware, Jan-Bhagidari (people's participation) is a cornerstone of the government s governance efforts. In keeping with this spirit, here is an opportunity to give your feedback on these initiatives through the 'Rate My Government' survey," reads a post on MyGov website.

Besides rating government's initiative on the website, people can also participate in the suvey through a toll free Number 1800-11-7800 or give a missed call at 09514200100.

The total number of responses through these two additional streams will be collated in the final tally on the website.

"Your responses will help the government in further improving these programmes, serving you better and making India great," the post said.

The Modi government last month celebrated its two years in office with a gala event, which had a smattering of Bollywood actors.

Also, the Prime Minister had asked his Council of Ministers to reach out to people to create awareness among them about the schemes and initiatives launched by his government in the last two years.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said virtually all states, barring the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, have come on board on the long-pending Goods and Services Tax bill and expressed hopes of pushing the legislation in the upcoming monsoon session.

After a meeting of Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers here on the proposed nationwide common indirect tax, Jaitley also said the states' fear of any revenue loss in the first five years has been addressed and the Centre would compensate for these losses.

"Virtually all the states have supported the idea of GST today, barring Tamil Nadu which has expressed some reservations. Tamil Nadu has offered a few suggestions which have been noted by the committee," Jaitley told reporters on the first day of the two-day meet.

ALSO READ: All online purchases to attract GST, says law

At their meeting, the state finance ministers also approved a model GST law, which said that sale of goods and services and all online purchases will attract GST at the first point of transaction and pegged threshold annual turnover for levy of the tax at INR 10 lakh. The limit will be INR 5 lakh in North East and Sikkim.

Jaitley said there is "no deadline as such" for the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax which aims to subsume a string of state and central level levies.

The government had earlier targeted to roll out the nationwide single tax regime from April 1, 2016 but the Constitutional Amendment Bill on GST has been stuck in the Rajya Sabha due to opposition by the Congress party.

Jaitley, however, rejected Congress' demand for capping the GST rate, which has been the main issue of contention.

"There is a complete consensus on that, there should not be any such ceiling as exigencies may arise in future. Now it is left to the GST council," he said.

Congress Leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is also Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, however said in the national capital that there is no change in Congress' stand as of now.

"If government satisfies the Congress and other parties which have sought amendments, then there is no problem. To speak about it now is premature as the Monsoon session is one and a half months away", he said.

The meeting was attended by Finance Ministers of 22 states, including West Bengal's Amit Mitra as well as Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, deputy CM of Delhi and senior officials of seven others.

Later on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and told him that her state was "concerned about the impact the proposed GST will have on the fiscal autonomy of states and the huge permanent revenue loss it is likely to cause to a manufacturing and net-exporting state like Tamil Nadu".

"The stand of Tamil Nadu government is that before the Constitutional Amendment Bill on GST is taken up, the Government of India should strive for a broad consensus on important issues like compensation period and methodology, revenue neutral rates, floor rates with bands, commodities to be excluded from GST... and clarity on dual administrative control," she said in a memorandum to the Prime Minister.

Stating that this was a record attendance of FMs, Jaitley said that every state has given detailed views on GST.

Regarding the future roadmap, Jaitley said: "We will try our best to bring the Constitutional amendment in the monsoon session of Parliament. Then the CGST and SGST legislations will be put in place."

On calculation of the revenue neutral rate (RNR), he said the Empowered Committee Chairman and West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra will again convene a meeting of the Committee in July and the Chief Economic Advisor will give a presentation.

About dual control on tax rates by the Centre and states, he said it was again up to the committee to see that it was harmonious and there was no conflict. "It will be again discussed in the next meeting."

On the issue of additional 1 per cent tax as demanded by the producing states, he said the Centre was flexible on the matter. As GST is a consumption-based tax, the producing states had been demanding this extra tax.

Jaitley said the Lok Sabha had approved the GST Bill while it was pending before the Rajya Sabha.

"The first thing which will have to be done is to pass the Constitutional amendment which has to be then ratified by the states. Then Parliament will have to pass the CGST Bill and states the SGST Bills" he said.

Jaitley said the states' fear of loss of revenue for the first five years had also been addressed.

"The Centre will compensate the loss and there should not be any cause for worry," he said.

Mitra said there was "general consensus" on the issue of dual control over taxation structure between the Centre and states.

"The issue of dual control has been discussed and all the participants have spoken about it. The general consensus was that turnover below INR 1.5 crore will be taxed by the states and beyond that by the Centre," he said after the meeting.

However, the matter would again be discussed at the next meeting in July, he said.

The other major issue discussed at the meeting was the revenue neutral rate (RNR), which Mitra said would come up for discussion again in the next meeting to find out what is the optimal rate.

While the panel of Chief Economic Advisor had suggested RNR of 17 per cent, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy put it at 26 per cent.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the discussion on the GST Council as held on Tuesday would make it more powerful than the state assemblies which some FMs opposed.
The number of foreigners arriving in Indian on e-Tourist Visa stood at 43,833 at the end of May, a rise of 179.9 per cent compared to the same month 2015, a report by Assocham says.

A total of 43,833 tourists arrived this May on e-Tourist Visa compared to 15,659 during May 2015, the report said today.

During the January-May period this year, a total of 4,34,927 tourists arrived on as compared to 1,10,657 during the same period last year, registering a growth of 293.0 per cent, the report said.

Commencing from November 27, 2014, the e-Tourist Visa facility was available until February 25, 2016 for citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 airports in India.

After that, the Government of India has extended this facility for citizens of 37 more countries from February 26, 2016 taking the tally to 150 countries.

This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 150 countries as against the earlier coverage of 43 countries, the report stated.

The US, with 18.52 per cent, stands top of the list among the top 10 countries availing e-Tourist Visa facilities during this May, the report said.

The UK with 15.63 per cent is second on the list while China is third with 8.17% per cent availing e-Tourist Visa facilities during the same period.

France contributed 5.16 per cent, followed by Germany (4.91%), Australia (4.50%), Canada (4.49%), UAE (3.01%), Russian Fed (2.79%) and Malaysia (2.12%), the report said.

On the percentage shares of top 10 airports in the tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa during the same period, New Delhi Airport is the leader with 45.11 per cent while Mumbai recorded 22.50 per cent and Bengaluru 9 per cent.

Among other airports, Chennai registered 6.63 per cent, while Kochi witnessed 3.68 per cent, Goa (2.86 per cent), Hyderabad (2.75 per cent) Kolkata (2.63 per cent) with Trivandrum (1.42 per cent) and Ahmadabad (1.26 per cent), the report said.
When Linda Filpula moved from classroom teaching into administration, she didnt want to have an authoritative approach.

When you kind of come from the bottom up, you see things differently, she said. It was really about supporting the people on the front lines. My job is to help them do their job better.

Filpula, who began in Laurel as a seventh-grade math teacher in 1993, was selected by the school board this spring to replace outgoing Superintendent Tim Bronk. Board chairman Doug LeBrun cited the desire for consistency when hiring Filpula, whos spent nearly her entire career in Laurel.

The district faces challenges, some unique. Like many Montana schools, its facilities and staff are strained by growing enrollment. But tax protests by the CHS refinery, which makes up 29 percent of the district's tax base, are drastically reducing Laurel's means to fund solutions.

The district still keeps teaching with the resources it has, and Filpula believes that strong teacher support is key to offering a high quality education.

Denise Boettcher, a middle school math teacher who taught with Filpula, agrees. She believed that Filpulas time in the classroom has given her the experience to empathize with teachers.

The teaching experience at Laurel has changed a little over the last two years, as the district has adopted the Intensive Care Unit, a program that emphasizes student support and allows students to turn in assignments late, focusing on the learning process. Its perhaps best known for texting students' parents if they miss an assignment deadline.

Filpula supports the program, but it was brought into the district by then-high school principal Karen Fox, whos now an administrator in South Dakota. Filpula, who was then director of assessment and curriculum for Laurel, helped free up resources to implement the program.

Thats where Linda really came in, Fox said.

The district will host ICU leader Danny Hill again this summer for a training session. Several other Yellowstone County schools have adopted the program.

To Filpula, increasing parent involvement is the key piece of the program.

It allows me as a parent to work with my kids and help keep them responsible, she said.

A closer relationship with the school system helps the district promote its goals better and raise academic standards.

Now were telling kids, a high school diploma is just a stepping stone, Filpula said.

Despite relaxed deadline policies, theres still accountability, she said.

There is still very much that incentive that you need to get this in and you need to figure it out, she said. But theyre still kids.

Accountability is also being revisited at the federal level. New education legislation replacing No Child Left Behind will allow schools to incorporate multiple factors into their accountability system, including test scores.

While the state requires schools to administer Smarter Balanced tests in grades three through eight, Laurel is one of several school districts that gives students Northwest Evaluation Association MAP tests twice a year. Proponents say that the tests provide consistent data that tracks groups of students from year-to-year, and testing twice a year allows educators to measure in-year changes.

Did they grow or not? Filpula said. She cited a student who improved 35 points but still didnt reach the proficient threshold. How do you say that thats not success?
Larsen & Toubro Chairman A.M. Naik first noticed S.N. Subrahmanyan, an enthusiastic civil engineer then heading the construction of the Bangalore airport, about 12 years ago. Until then Subrahmanyan had played key roles in marquee L&T projects such as the Lotus Temple in Delhi, Abu Dhabi airport, police headquarters in Iraq, and Hyderabad HITEC City. Naik's first impression was that he was 'arrogant'.

He must have flashed back 40 years, when Naik himself appeared for an interview for a job at L&T, he was considered 'overconfident. Naik got the job, though at a lower pay, but went on to become the company's Chairman. Subrahmanyan is set to get the job too.

For, Subrahmanyan took the criticism of the super boss to his heart and initiated a correction phase. "I became introspective. Every evening I stood before the mirror and thought about my contributions to L&T. This helped me stretch my abilities," notes 56-year-old Subrahmanyan, the likely successor to the septuagenarian Naik, who has been at the helm for 17 years.

Barring exceptional circumstances, Subrahmanyan is likely to be anointed by L&T's board as the next managing director & CEO. But the company he will inherit and run until it's time to pass on the baton will be a vastly different entity from the one he takes over from Naik. In short, Subrahmanyan's L&T will be nothing like Naik's L&T!

Under the scanner are plain vanilla operational assets such as roads and power plant and non-core businesses - valves and alloy. After development, L&T is unlikely to operate Hyderabad metro and Seawoods commercial complex. In favour will be new thrust areas such as smart city, nuclear, defence and railways.

For, Naik has already set in motion a five-year exercise for L&T's makeover. A plan to make it a leaner, more focused organisation that will engage more in hi-tech and specialised projects rather than build highways. The move will reduce the number of companies within the fold from 21 in 82 businesses to 15 across 65-70 businesses through divestment, merger and new subsidiaries. It is a significant departure from L&T's old way of doing things.

But let's come back to that in a bit.

Subrahmanyan's elevation will be after years of speculation over: After Naik, who? Around the time Naik turned 65, the age of superannuation, in 2007, L&T had little option but to retain him due to a lack of succession planning at a time when it went through one of its most critical phases of retirement of key personnel. As a result, Naik, who built L&T from a mid-sized construction company into the multi-sector engineering and technology giant it is today, got two five-year extensions post retirement - until 2017. Towards the end of Naik's first extension, J.P. Nayak, president of machinery and industrial products, who was the strong second-in-command in L&T's hierarchy, retired in 2011/12, along with K.V. Rangaswami, the head of construction. Another contemporary, CFO Y. M. Deosthalee, moved to L&T Finance as chairman in 2011.

Of late, despite his stellar reputation and career, analysts and the board had worried about L&T's succession planning. Naik's reluctant decision to hand over the reins may appear like an exercise in self interest, but few can blame him for that. After all, who could manage a company of the size and complexity of L&T, but the man who created it - Naik himself. Subrahmanyan says Naik is a person beyond normal abilities: "He doesn't waste any time. Naik does networking at the highest level. He regularly meets the mighty and the powerful in the world." Since Naik took charge, L&T's revenues have grown 20 times and market cap 45 times (see interview on page 52). Only, age doesn't favour him any more.

In comes Subrahmanyan. The Deputy MD and President already heads the company's biggest vertical of infrastructure and construction (I&C), which contributes 47 per cent to L&T's Rs 1,03,522 crore revenue. L&T has not officially made the announcement of Subrahmanyan's appointment as the next CEO. However, Naik says Subrahmanyan is the senior most, after him. "So the chances of him becoming the next boss are higher," he says.

Besides I&C, Subrahmanyan is entrusted with L&T Infotech, L&T Technology Services, the shipyard and Hyderabad Metro, besides L&T's 'Smart World' business. "In the last couple of years, I have entrusted him with critical responsibilities. Until now, I have given him four businesses in addition to I&C. By July 2017, I would give almost every business to him," says Naik, who would stay as chairman or chairman emeritus sans any executive role.

Sanjay Sethi, Managing Director and CEO of Nestor Consulting, says that L&T's size and complex business structure demands clarity in succession. "The successor should get the time to learn working with Naik. The sooner the company nominates a successor, the better," he adds.

In the true sense, heading L&T is like making an elephant obedient. It has no promoters. It is vast, and complex. It builds infrastructure such as roads and airports on one hand, and nuclear plants and missiles on the other. And, unlike the Internet companies in vogue today, it is firmly planted in the brick-and-mortar economy. Somewhat like FMCG giant ITC, L&T's ownership is mainly with public sector insurance companies and banks, in addition to the 12.58 per cent stake held by the employees' trust, which Naik made to ring fence L&T from hostile takeovers. Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram once rightly termed L&T as a 'national sector' company. If India has a Bechtel, Vinci SA or a Grupo ACS, it is L&T.

L&T Of The Future

Meanwhile, L&T's makeover is already in the works. In two years, it has sold off the port in Dhamra (Odisha) to Adani group and signed an agreement for selling Kattupalli (Tamil Nadu) port with them. Kattupalli would fetch around Rs 2,000 crore, while the JV with Tata Steel at Dhamra was valued at Rs 5,500 crore. In 2012, L&T sold its medical equipment business to Skanray Healthcare. The company's move to sell off its electrical & electronics business at a valuation of close to Rs 10,000 crore had been objected to by financial Institutions such as LIC since the business makes profits.

Five businesses will be spun off, just like L&T Finance was. L&T Infotech, L&T Technology Services and, four years down the line, L&T Hydrocarbon will form as daughter companies. Altogether six to eight companies will go out of the parent company and the remaining businesses within will be grouped into verticals like water, electrical transmission and distribution, infrastructure, heavy infrastructure and transportation infrastructure. Smart World and Communication is another vertical that has the potential to become an independent business in future.

Last year, L&T decided to put the sale of its subsidiary L&T Valves on the backburner after failing to fetch the desired value of around $700 million. As part of its strategy to exit non-core areas, the infrastructure major is also likely to sell stakes in L&T EWAC Alloys.

The road business will also be spun off. "Once we did the restructuring of road business under L&T IDPL. Today I am struggling because of seven bad assets of the total 17 roads. Nobody will pay me the price. So we will restructure and keep with ourselves. We will spin it off in the market when we have 10-15 healthy assets," says Naik.

"This is part of a five-year plan. The idea is to simplify the structure and bring more accountability to business units and convert them into subsidiaries for public listing. L&T will continue to hold majority share in all subsidiaries and will be a kind of holding company," Naik explains.

Not many people understand L&T today. They think L&T makes tall buildings and bridges. "That is only one part of our activity. We make 'Super Hi-tech', not even 'hi-tech', plants and products. For example, in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project of 10 chosen nations coming up in France, L&T represents India," says Naik.

Arvind Mahajan, head of energy and infrastructure at KPMG in India says, "It is important for L&T to research in advanced technology to counter the threat of Japanese, French and Chinese in the Indian market." Naik's goal is not too different: "I will de-emphasise all low-technology projects and work on hi-tech in every business. The target is to generate a revenue of Rs 1,50,000 crore by 2020, but only from tech intensive projects. We will not bid for small and low-tech projects." Defence is targeted to be Rs 10,000 crore a year, nuclear Rs 3000-4000 crore, IT and technology engineering services Rs 8000 crore and Smart World Rs 7,000 crore. This excludes potential revenue of Rs 10,000 crore from businesses such as roads and construction.

L&T's international business will be restricted primarily to Middle-East, Africa and South-East Asia. Exports, IT and technology services will be targeted globally. Ideally, the revenue mix will be 30 per cent global and 70 per cent domestic in future. Besides, Subrahmanyan also needs to find answers to some of L&T's ticklish problems.

The Pain Ahead

In the previous financial year, L&T's order inflow fell 12 per cent to Rs 1,36,900 crore. In the seven months until February 12, L&T's market value fell by Rs 80,000 crore, or 43.7 per cent. In comparison, the BSE Sensex fell 17 per cent. It has since improved by 41 per cent to Rs 1,38,598 crore on June 10, but concerns remain.

Considering an order book of Rs 2,50,000 crore (as on March 2016), the fall in order inflow is a long-term worry since the existing backlog is sufficient for just two-three years. But R. Shankar Raman, CFO, believes an economic revival will take time. "Private sector and industrial capital expenditure takes time. Execution conditions remain challenging because of the limited projects. Banking system is stretched in corporate lending," he adds.

Subrahmanyan's other task is to revive L&T's flagging businesses. Between 2003 and 2009, when L&T was booming on all parameters, it invested in shipyard, ports, nuclear forging and power. Public sector shipyards were inefficient and the government was talking about privatising defence, which in turn was to trigger orders at shipyards. In 2007, L&T took the decision to build a shipyard at Kattupalli. It anticipated the government would take three to four years before giving defence ship building orders to the private sector. The shipyard got completed by 2011. The adjoining port had been developed to support the shipyard. But the orders are nowhere in sight.

After the UPA government signed the civil nuclear agreement (123 agreement) with the US, L&T sniffed an opportunity in nuclear manufacturing. It constructed nuclear forging facility at Hazira in 2012. Similarly, the construction giant bet heavily in power business during the boom time, forming a joint venture with Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) to manufacture supercritical boilers and turbines. In addition, it built a 1,400-megawatt (MW) reference power plant at Nabha with supercritical technology. Despite an investment of Rs 25,000 crore over five years, most of these projects remain heavily underutilised. L&T's capital-light balance sheet was overburdened due to these large commitments.

Its core engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) business needed minimal working capital instead of equity and debt. Since the assets on books were low, the company's return on capital employed (RoCE) was 27-30 per cent in 2007-09. After the commissioning of large projects, the RoCE fell to 12 per cent.

L&T management chalked out a plan for the next five years with the theme "profitable growth", under Lakshya 2021. "We think the worst is over. The company expects orders for its shipyard from the private sector," says Shankar Raman. In a nutshell, Lakshya should enhance profitability by releasing locked capital, turning around struggling assets, making the core business working capital efficient, optimising cost and shedding non-core assets.

There are also concerns around the Middle-East businesses (15-20 per cent of revenue) as the fall in crude price has shaken the hydrocarbon business in ME and its impact has spread across other sectors in the region.

Naik says L&T's margins have always been around 11.5-12 per cent, but are down to 10 per cent today. "The fall in margins is mainly because of bleeding hydrocarbon projects in the Middle-East, the loss making nuclear forging shop and the shipyards. I think these problems will be over and we will have very robust profits by 2018/19," he adds.

The target is to increase the RoCE to the pre-2010 level of around 30 per cent, says Raman. "Even if we achieve 20 per cent from the present 12 per cent, it will substantially increase the profitability. By 2018-19, we expect an economic boom and it will help us reach the target."

The big bets are on three new areas - defence, nuclear and aerospace. Overall, around Rs 1 lakh crore order intake is likely in three years between defence, nuclear, defence electronics and aerospace, says Naik. L&T has also pinned hopes on L&T Smart, its smart city initiative, also being managed by Subrahmanyan. L&T Smart is a natural diversification as the company has many verticals executing projects in optical fibre and communication, traffic and security management and railways.

Finally, Subrahmanyan has to contend with L&T's perennial talent shortage. L&T Infotech had been without a CEO for one year after joint CEOs Vivek Chopra and Mukesh Aghi quit in October 2014. Finally in 2015, the company appointed Infosys veteran Sanjay Jalona as the CEO and MD. At L&T Realty, former Emaar MGF CEO Shrikant Joshi became the head. From Mahindra Satyam, former DRDO scientist Keshab Panda joined as CEO of L&T Technology Services. Hydrocarbon took seven years to get a head. In power, it has internally transferred Derek Michael Shaw from heavy engineering. Shailendra Roy will retire in 2020. Naik has to find a boss for heavy engineering - which includes nuclear, defence and aerospace - most probably from abroad. Ship building and industrial machinery verticals will need heads in the near term. Finance and accounts need to be strengthened. Hasit Joshipura, who reports to Naik, has many functions, including corporate strategy, mergers and Acquisitions, legal and corporate brand management. His work load will be reduced.

"Soon, I am meeting about 20 youngsters to see whether anyone has the potential to fill in the vacant positions. It is a tremendous amount of task for creating management teams of high class for 82 businesses," says Naik.

Naik grooms nearly 25 executive assistants, who shadow him through meetings and travel. Similarly, Subrahmanyan grooms about 10 executives. Yet, several top-level vacancies remain vacant.

Clearly, L&T needs many more than those. And fast.
BRIDGING THE GAP

WHAT: Financial Clinic for MSMEs: Facilitating Businesses for Sustainability

WHEN: June 23 (Mumbai); July 13 (Bengaluru); August 10 (Kolkata); August 30 (Hyderabad)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The events will be held to provide assistance to regional MSMEs in getting the right fund provider as per their specific financial needs. Senior government officials and industry stalwarts will participate in panel discussions at the summit.

World Affairs

WHAT: 8th Annual Session of the UN Governing Bodies Secretariat

WHEN: June 30-July 1, 2016, Washington D.C.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The group comprising 25 UN agencies and the IMF will engage in discussions related to corporate governance, meeting structures, gender inclusivity, inter-agency staff exchanges and sustainable development goals.

Tackling NPAs





WHAT: ARCON-2016: Second Summit on ARCs

WHEN: July 1, 2016, Mumbai

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The summit will focus on greater synergy between banks and asset reconstruction companies - the challenges in restructuring of assets, measures for strengthening the legal framework and review of the existing rating of security receipts - and deliberate on the constraints being faced by ARCs and measures to improve their functional effectiveness.

A Home for All

WHAT: Cities and Middle Income Countries: Making Cities More Liveable

WHEN: July 12, 2016, Singapore

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The event, hosted by ADB and the National University of Singapore, will focus on the challenges and opportunities posed by rapid urbanisation in middle-income countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Labour Intensive

WHAT: Regional Roundtable: Macroeconomic and Structural Policy Challenges

WHEN: July 14 - 15, 2016, Tokyo

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The event will discuss macroeconomic and structural policy actions, including women participation in the workforce and better access to finance for SMEs, to address challenges from the prolonged period of slow growth since the 2008 financial crisis.

Made In Afghanistan





WHAT: Trade, Commerce and Investment Opportunities in Afghanistan

WHEN: July 14-15, 2016

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The Made in Afghanistan conference and exhibition will bring together stakeholders, including ministers, government officials, heads of private and public sector companies on a common platform to share and showcase business opportunities for companies from both countries.
On September 1, 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on his maiden visit to Japan, a handful of freight-handling agents in Mumbai were tracking a muddy truck entering Astrakhan, a small city in southern Russia. The truck, carrying an empty container tagged with a GPS device, was creating history. For the first time in the modern age, cargo from India was making its way across Asia by land to Europe. The container had started its journey from Mumbai and reached the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, from where it took the North South Transport Corridor, or NSTC, and crossed Azerbaijan, before entering Russia. It was a dry run for what could be routine after India fulfils its $500-million promise to Iran to transform its Chabahar port in the southern part of the country into a business hub. Under the deal, signed during the prime minister's recent visit to Iran, the first phase of the port will be operational within 18 months. This will give Indian companies access to Iran's markets - limited due to earlier US sanctions over its nuclear programme - besides a route to Central Asia, Russia and Eastern Europe via a multi-modal network, reducing freight costs by 30 per cent. The historical land route to Central Asia was closed after the creation of Pakistan.

Friend from Persia

India is keen to build bridges and do business with Iran after the lifting of US sanctions. But it will not be easy as Indian companies will have to compete with Chinese and Russian conglomerates, along with the Europeans. The Chinese especially have been very active in the region. In January, starting from China's eastern Zhejiang province, a train, with 32 cargo containers, crossed Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan and reached Iran. Yuwi, from where the train originated, is nearly 300 km from Shanghai, and the route will reduce the travel time from 30 days to less than 14 days. China has been one of Iran's biggest trade partners and accounts for 25 per cent of the latter's import pie; India's share is a mere 4.6 per cent. In exports, China is Iran's biggest partner with a share of 29 per cent; India's share is 11.9 per cent. One reason for this difference is that China continued to deepen its ties with Iran in spite of US sanctions. The bilateral trade between China and Iran, for instance, grew from $4 billion in 2003 to $56 billion in 2014. China is already working with Iran in sectors such as mining, energy and infrastructure.

New Delhi, after a cautious stance for years, is trying to catch up. Other than spending $85 million from the books of a joint venture between Kandla Port Trust and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust to develop the port and convert the berths into a container terminal and a multi-purpose cargo terminal, a consortium of PSUs, Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers, Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals and Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizer & Chemicals, will set up a 1.3-million-tonne urea plant in Chabahar's Free Trade Zone or FTZ. NALCO, too, will set up an aluminium plant there. Iran has assured gas to the urea plant. "Cheaper access to energy will make our products more competitive in the international market," says oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Besides, the Indian Railway company, IRCON, will build a line connecting Zahedah on the Iran-Afghanistan border with this port. New Delhi has already spent $100 million on building a 220-km road in the Afghan province of Nimroz that connects the Iran-Afghan border town of Zaranj with Delaram in south-west Afghanistan. This will enable India and Afghanistan to trade without Pakistan. India and Iran also plan to develop the prolific gas field, Farzad-B, in the Persian Gulf through a consortium led by ONGC Videsh. "If all goes well, there will be no hitch in the deal for Farzad-B block. Iran has offered us other projects also. Access to this cheaper energy source will help our companies compete with the global majors," Pradhan told BT in April this year. India is also negotiating to develop the South Pars gas field and an LNG project in Iran.

The prime minister has also asked India's oil refiners to clear the $6.5-billion dues that have accumulated since 2013. Till the first week of June, $1.1 billion had already been paid. These dues had piled up because of difficulty in making payments due to US sanctions. Iran was accepting 45 per cent payment in rupees, while payment of the rest was postponed till the mode of payment was finalised. The US lifted the sanctions in January this year.

Post sanctions, Iran is looking to revive its fortunes after several years of zero growth. Investors and business houses see potential for 5 per cent growth if it can attract foreign capital and technology, not only in the traditional oil and gas sector but also in infrastructure. Indian companies such as GMR, GVK, Reliance Infrastructure and Shapoorji Pallonji Group are eagerly looking to bid for such projects. Transmission company KEC group and energy conservation firm Forbes Marshall, for instance, are keen to build power capacity and revamp Iran's transmission and distribution network. "Most sectors in Iran are controlled by the government, and traditionally governments there have been conservative. Most Indian companies are keen to work there but will wait and see what sort of projects come up," says the CEO of an Indian company interested in doing business in Iran.

In April, a Confederation of Indian Industry team led by Chairman Naushad Forbes had gone to Iran to explore business opportunities. Traditionally, India has sold Iran agri commodities, mostly basmati rice, besides consumer goods and heavy machinery. Oil accounts for 80 per cent imports. "The opportunities there are huge. They are keen to upgrade airports. It is an opportunity for players such as GMR, GVK and Reliance Infrastructure," says an executive of a company who recently went to Iran with the CII delegation.



Looking Beyond

In 2008, Indian fertiliser major IFFCO thought about sourcing rock phosphates from Kazakhstan, which has one of the finest forms of this natural resource. But the cost of porting the mineral made the plan unviable. Now, with Chabahar port seeing the light of day, such plans of IFFCO and other companies may become viable. The 70-km rail line connecting the Iranian town of Gorgan with the Kazakh town of Uzen via Turkmenistan is close to commissioning. Gorgan is roughly 30 km from the Caspian Sea. The other end of this landlocked sea is already touched by the NSTC, connected with Chabahar. "If we are present in Iran, it will enhance our chances of utilising the new geographies in Central Asia that are opening up for us," says the CEO of a top infrastructure company. He says they are still cautious and waiting for the right opportunities to invest.

India's trade with the five key Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, is just $1.4 billion. India had tried to establish a road link with Kabul via Pakistan under the SAARC motor vehicle multilateral agreement. The agreement is acceptable to every SAARC country except Pakistan. "The Chabahar link passes through a tougher terrain. Road connectivity would have been ideal," says former road secretary Vijay Chibber.

Counter Balance

Chabahar would benefit these five Central Asian countries also by reducing their dependence on China, Russia and Europe for trade. In fact, Afghanistan is already moving ahead, and its businesses have started setting up shop in the Chabahar FTZ. "At least 110 Afghan and Afghan-Iranian companies have registered for investing there. Most have started the work," the head of the FTZ, Hamid Ali Mubaraki, told Iranian press in January. In fact, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was present in Tehran when India was signing the Chabahar deal.

The new port will also help Iran reduce the burden on Bandar Abbas, which handles 85 per cent of its seaborne trade. It will also help India build a counter to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CEPC, under which China will own a port in Gwadar, Pakistan, and build an expressway to connect Kashgar via Gilgit and Baltistan. Gwadar is less than 100 km from Chabahar. One reason for India's objection to the CEPC is that it passes through the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, over which India has claims.

Whether India's efforts to forge closer links with Central Asia bears fruit, only time will tell.
The Cabinet on Wednesday gave a go-ahead to the merger of State Bank of India (SBI) and its associate lenders that would make the state-owned lender a global-sized bank.

Country's largest lender SBI had last month mooted the proposal for merger of its five subsidiary banks with itself and acquisition of the newly set up Bharatiya Mahila Bank.

SBI has five associate lenders-State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Hyderabad.

"Kindly await a structured briefing on that," Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said when asked if the Cabinet approved the merger of associate banks with the SBI.

Meanwhile, SBI Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya said merger of SBI and its associate banks is a win-win for both the sides.

"Currently, no Indian bank features in the top 50 banks of the world. With this merger, some visibility at global level is likely to increase. Customers of associates and subsidiaries of the Bank will also be beneficiaries," she said.

She further said that with this merger the network of SBI will increase and its reach multiply. One can expect efficiencies to be created from rationalisation of branches, common treasury pooling and proper deployment of a large skilled resource base, Bhattacharya said.

"Customers of associates and subsidiaries of the Bank will also be beneficiaries. Any introduction of new technology by SBI would simultaneously be available uniformly. The scale of operations and common cost would get rationalised. Overall, the synergies being pooled at one place are going to be a big positive," she added.

Among the associate banks, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Travancore are listed. There shares jumped nearly 20 per cent on benchmark BSE on Wednesday and hit their respective upper circuit limits towards closing of the trading session. SBI stock was up 3.9 per cent.

The merged entity will become a banking behemoth, which could compete with the largest in the world, with an asset base of Rs 37 trillion (Rs 37 lakh crore) or over $555 billion, with 22,500 branches and 58,000 ATMs. It will have over 50 crore customers.

Presently, SBI has close to 16,500 branches, including 191 foreign offices spread across 36 countries.

SBI first merged State Bank of Saurashtra with itself in 2008. Two years later, State Bank of Indore was merged with it.


The European Union on Wednesday proposed cutting wholesale roaming rates telecoms operators pay each other when customers surf the Internet abroad to pave the way for the abolition of retail roaming charges by summer next year.

The EU struck a deal a year ago to abolish mobile roaming charges across the 28-country bloc by June 2017 but that hinges on wholesale prices being competitive enough to allow firms to offer customers free roaming without operating at a loss.

The European Commission, the EU's executive, proposed cutting the maximum amount operators can charge each other to 4 euro cents a minute for calls, 1 euro cent per text message and 0.85 euro cent per megabyte of data.

"In a year from now, we'll say goodbye to roaming charges," Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip said.

However, the proposal is likely to run into many of the disagreements that hampered the law to abolish roaming charges, which was eventually agreed after much wrangling over the date.

Operators in countries with lots of incoming roaming traffic such as Spain, Greece and France want wholesale rates to be high enough to compensate them for handling the extra tourist traffic and ensure they can keep investing in networks.

Operators in countries with cheap domestic rates and whose customers travel a lot, such as Baltic and eastern European countries, fear removing retail roaming rates without lowering wholesale prices first will force them to raise prices at home to recoup the cost.

Wholesale prices are currently 5 euro cents a minute for calls, 2 euro cents for text messages and 5 euro cents per megabyte of data.

The Commission considers that cutting wholesale prices to the level proposed on Wednesday would ensure retail charges can be abolished without distorting the market.

Once retail charges are abolished on June 15, 2017 operators will be able to apply a "fair use" policy to stop users roaming permanently with a cheaper foreign contract.

They can also ask to be exempted from the obligation to provide free roaming if they can prove they will not be able to recover their costs and would therefore have to raise domestic prices. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
ZELTIQ Aesthetics have today announced that they are establishing a European manufacturing facility in Galway which is expected to create circa sixty jobs over the next eighteen months.



The project is supported by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation through IDA Ireland.



ZELTIQ Aesthetics is a medical technology company focused on developing and commercializing products utilizing its proprietary controlled-cooling technology.

The US based company is headquartered in Pleasanton, California, where it also has Research and Development, Finance, Marketing, Manufacturing and Distribution facilities amongst other support functions.

In addition to Manufacturing, ZELTIQ will locate other functions in Galway to support the Manufacturing operations. The company employs over six hundred people on a worldwide basis.



Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Mary Mitchell OConnor today welcomed the announcement, "I am delighted that Galway will benefit from ZELTIQs decision to establish its European manufacturing facility with the expected creation of sixty jobs. This is a really exciting development and I very much welcome ZELTIQ to Galway."

She added, "Ireland already has a dynamic and vibrant Medical Technologies sector and we are keen to expand its footprint into new areas and especially to see it develop further into regional centres."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
The benefits of Horizon 2020 funding were outlined this morning by the Minister for Training and Skills, John Halligan, at a breakfast event organised by Enterprise Ireland and attended by multinational companies including Irish multinational companies.



The Horizon 2020 benefits for companies include access to competitive EU funding for research and innovation activities and opportunities to collaborate with the best researchers and leading companies in the EU.



It is the EUs Programme to support Research and Innovation. It has a budget of 75 billion and runs from 2014 to 2020. From January 2014-November 2015 Ireland had won 251 million. This performance has Ireland on track to achieve the national target of 1.25bn.



The heads of three of Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation's enterprise development agencies also spoke at the event to outline their support for the scheme. These included Chief Executive of Enterprise Ireland - Julie Sinnamon, Chief Executive of IDA Ireland - Martin Shanahan and Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Advisor to the Government, Prof Mark Ferguson.



Speaking at the event, Minister John Halligan commented, "I encourage all innovative companies operating in Ireland to engage with the EU Horizon 2020 programme so that they can experience the multiple benefits of participation."

He added, "The value of participation in Horizon 2020 extends far beyond the potential monetary rewards. Horizon 2020 provides a mechanism to network and collaborate with the best researchers and leading companies across Europe."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
It was announced today that Payzone has entered a new distribution deal with The Gift Card Company which will now see the multi-store gift card branded FromMe2You available for purchase through participating Payzone retail agents nationwide.



The multi-store gift card will now be available to all 2,700 branded Payzone retail agents located throughout the country.

This latest distribution move is set to support the rapidly expanding use of the card which can be purchased for a minimum value of 15 and has no expiry date.



The FromMe2You multi-store gift card is providing new competition in the gift card market which is expected to be worth 1 billion by 2017.

The card differentiates itself from other multi-store cards in the range and choice of retailers where the card is accepted and promoted. This includes different retail environments such as grocery, fast food, coffee shops, health and beauty, leisure, travel and hotels. Some of the thousands of stores covered include Smyths Toys, Omniplex Cinemas, Tiger Stores, Butlers Chocolate Cafe and Lifestyle Sports.



As part of the joint marketing efforts between Payzone and FromMe2You, Payzone agents will be provided with new in-store merchandising point of sale to promote the cards.



Managing Director of the Gift Card Company, John Wall said, "We very much look forward to working with Payzone, Ireland's largest branded consumer payment network. The Payzone distribution channel is a key, strategic platform to significantly grow the business and reach out to our target customers. Launching the FromMe2You gift card has allowed us to bring much needed competition and choice to the Irish gift card market."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Sales growth picked up at Swedish budget fashion firm Hennes & Mauritz in May after unusually cold spring weather in Europe had capped growth in previous months.

H&M, the second-biggest clothing retailer after Zara owner Inditex, said on Wednesday sales in local currencies rose 9% last month from a year earlier. That was slightly below the 10% mean forecast in a Reuters poll of analysts.

H&M's full second-quarter report, due on June 22, will show to what extent May's sales growth was boosted by reducing the prices of spring clothes.

Inditex beat forecasts with a 6% rise in quarterly profit on Wednesday, driven by strong sales as fast turnover allowed Zara and other brands to react quickly to unseasonable weather.

Monthly fast-fashion sales trends are often volatile and influenced by the weather and H&M cited an unusually cold spring in some markets after sluggish sales growth in March and April.

But some rivals and analysts have expressed concerns that lacklustre sales at some clothing retailers also indicate slowing underlying demand in some markets.

There was a 1% decline in overall clothing sales in Germany, H&M's largest market, in May according to Textilwirtschaft industry data, and also a market decline in the United States.

"We expect the company to have marked down in price the unsold transitional product at least partly within the quarter. This is likely to impact the gross margin for the second quarter," Societe Generale analyst Anne Critchlow said, adding that the May reading indicated monthly like-for-like sales growth of 1%.

H&M said net sales in March through May, its fiscal second quarter, rose to 46.9 billion crowns ($5.6 billion) from 45.9 billion, below an analysts' forecast of 47.7 billion.

Shares in H&M, which did not comment on its sales figures, rose 1.5% to 245.90 crowns by 0735 GMT. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
Retail tycoon Philip Green promised to help fix a gaping hole in the pension scheme of BHS as he fielded questions from lawmakers over the demise of the department store chain he owned for 15 years in a heated exchange in parliament.

BHS collapsed into administration in April, little more than a year after Green sold it to Dominic Chappell for a nominal sum, resulting in the likely loss of 11,000 jobs as it is wound down. Chappell was a serial bankrupt with no retail experience.

The collapse has left BHS's pension fund with a deficit of 571 million pounds and tarnished the Topshop-owner Green's reputation as a leading British businessman.

Under questioning from lawmakers, Green apologised for what happened to BHS and said he was working on a plan to plug the pension deficit, calling the situation "resolvable, sortable".

Asked about the sale of loss-making BHS to Retail Acquisitions Ltd, a little known vehicle led by Chappell, for 1 pound in March 2015, the billionaire admitted it was a mistake.

"Unfortunately we found the wrong guy," he said, adding: "Would I do that deal again? No. Am I sorry we did it? Yes."

But his contrition was mixed with flashes of annoyance as he was probed more deeply. He frequently interrupted lawmakers and complained about the line of questioning.

Green said he had trusted Chappell as a buyer because he had been approved by Green's adviser Goldman Sachs, and was being represented by law firm Olswang and financial adviser Grant Thornton, names he called "reputable, well-regarded".

Green, 64, did not provide details on the plan he is working on with Deloitte to plug the pension deficit - a figure based on how much it would cost to address the shortfall between assets and future liabilities with either insurance or a buyout - as he sought to reassure BHS's 20,000 pension-holders.

"We will sort it, we will find a solution," he said.

He told lawmakers the plan would offer BHS pensioners a "better outcome" than compensation available from the Pension Protection Fund, the levy-funded UK lifeboat scheme that helps finance pensions after company insolvencies.

The pension deficit compares to the 423 million pounds of dividends Green paid out during his ownership of BHS from 2000-2015, mainly to his family.

Some lawmakers have called for the tycoon to be stripped of his knighthood if he does not make good the pension deficit. The honour was awarded by Tony Blair's Labour government in 2006 for services to retailing.

Feeling the heat from lawmakers, Green asked Richard Fuller from the ruling Conservative party not to stare at him. Filling a plastic cup of water, he spilt it over his table.

Another lawmaker, Iain Wright from the opposition Labour party, observed Green had a "dominant personality" and said that could have had implications for BHS's culture.

"You seem extraordinarily thin-skinned to quite courteous questions, as if you don't want to be challenged in any way shape or form," Wright said. Green refused to comment.

For nearly two decades, Green has been one of the leading figures in Britain's retail sector, buying Topshop owner Arcadia in 2002, and twice trying and failing to buy Marks & Spencer , Britain's biggest clothing retailer.

Chappell last week told lawmakers he accepted partial responsibility for the collapse of 88-year-old BHS, which had 164 stores, but said Green and the retailer's management should share the blame.

Britain's Insolvency Service and the Pensions Regulator are also investigating BHS' collapse. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Two people were arrested Tuesday night after abandoning a still-moving stolen vehicle in a neighborhood near Grand Avenue following a police chase that began after the Billings Police Department received report of a disturbance believed to be related to an attempt to sell the vehicle, according to police.

According to BPD Sgt. Jason Gartner, one of the four people later seen abandoning the stolen Dodge truck had displayed a BB gun after a disagreement arose around 8 p.m. on the 1400 block of Rimrock Road. At the time of the incident witnesses believed the male suspect had shown a gun.

"One person inside the Ram was trying to sell the vehicle to a person that lived in the area," Gartner said. "I think the subject up there suspected the vehicle was stolen and they were yelling back and forth over the vehicle."

After the BPD attempted to stop the vehicle, which was stolen out of Frazer on June 7, the suspects briefly drove down 13th Street West before turning onto Avenue C and abandoning the vehicle blocks later after wildly turning onto Colorado Street.

Gartner said the individuals fled on foot and an officer pursued and quickly found one of the suspects outside an apartment at 1509 1/2 12th St. West. The three other suspects were found inside. Gartner said the BPD was initially concerned they had broken into the residence but police believe at least one person lives there.

Of the three adult suspects and one juvenile, two arrests were made, according to Gartner. Gartner said the woman will be charged with criminal drug possession and obstruction of a peace officer. One of the male suspects will be charged with possession of stolen property, fleeing or eluding a peace officer and obstruction of a peace officer, Gartner said. The two other males in the group, one age 15, were released.

The stolen truck has been impounded and Gartner said a search of the vehicle is pending.

Rose Harper, 40, was feeding her fish in the home she shares with her elderly mother and 15-year-old son when she heard the sound of the eastbound truck speeding through a right turn from Avenue C onto the 1500 block of Colorado Street sometime between 7:45 and 8 p.m. Tuesday night.

In what Harper described as "the quietest, most peaceful neighborhood ever," the loud noise startled her and she quickly came out of her front door to try and find the source. Outside, Harper saw three men and one woman jump out of the truck, grabbing backpacks as they went, before sprinting west between 1508 Colorado St. and 1504 Colorado St.

As Harper watched them run, she noticed that the truck hadn't been put into park and was rolling backwards northbound down the street toward the intersection of Colorado and Avenue C that sits around 30 yards from where she stood.

Harper sprinted to the vehicle, hopped into the driver's side and stopped the car. Less than a minute later, as her neighbor Tyler Andersen described, multiple Billings Police Department vehicles arrived.

"Then all of a sudden the cops came up behind me and I held up my hands and said 'Not me.'" Harper said. Tyler Andersen and his wife Samantha Andersen said they quickly assured police that Harper was telling the truth.
LOGAN  A 28-year-old Perry man accused of stalking and threatening his estranged wife was able to avoid a possible prison sentence, after accepting a plea deal from state prosecutors.

Matthew Benson pleaded guilty in 1st District Court Tuesday morning to stalking and criminal trespass, both amended from third-degree felonies to class A misdemeanors. Two additional charges were dismissed.

Prosecutor Barbara Lachmar said Benson went to his wifes home on the morning of November 5, because he believed she was with another man. He was armed with a handgun at the time.

When Benson didnt find the man at the home, he followed his wife to her workplace, where he threatened to harm him. He was later arrested by Cache County Sheriffs deputies and booked into jail.

As part of Tuesdays plea agreement, attorneys for both sides recommended Benson be placed on probation for one-year and forfeit the handgun that he used at the time of the incident. He would also be prohibited from possessing a firearm except while working on a ranch in Idaho. Finally, he would be ordered to serve two days in jail but be given credit for the one day he already served.

Judge Brian Cannell said he would go along the plea but warned Benson that if he violated the terms of the agreement, he would face a harsher penalty.

<hr /><p style=text-align: center;>will@cvradio.com
European Union: With or Without You?

Published on June 16, 2016

Story by Marta Pacheco

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Since 1975 up to this day, the UK had eleven referendums, most of them focusing on the issue of devolution, sovereignty and more independence to the country. On the 23rd of June, not only the British people, but all Europeans will follow the results of another plebiscite which will command the future of Britain. But how complex is this debate? How informed are British citizens?

Britain has always been a reluctant member within the European Union (EU). In fact, the question of Britain remaining in the EU dates back to the time of the United Kingdom (UK)'s entry in the then European Economic Community (EEC), in 1973. Edward Heath, then Conservative leader, was the responsible for such a bold move. However, his Labour opponent Harold Wilson had since the very beginning disagreed with the terms of entry of the UK in the Union and thus, after winning the elections in 1974, he called on a referendum to renegotiate the UK's position within the then EEC. The referendum was held on June 1975.

Citizen Involvement

On Thursday 26th of May, BBC broadcasted the "Question Time" in Ipswich, moderated by David Dimbleby. The debate was alight and British people  including British descendants of immigrants  had the opportunity to expose their questions, their doubts and their fears.

The debate  one of many  included personalities such as Conservative MP David Davis, former Labour leader Ed Miliband, former Green leader Caroline Lucas and former adviser to David Cameron, Steve Hilton.

Ms Lucas pointed out that the UK needs more the EU than the Union needs the UK. As for Mr David Davis, he considers that this campaign is emerging as a battle between the establishment and the people and he made the case for a Brexit vote by calling on an economic model like in Canada, a country that has free trade deals and a border controls. Ed Miliband, son of a Belgian father and a Polish mother, made the case for Britain to remain in the EU by focusing on cooperation in questions such as security, terrorism and climate change. In fact, current Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and with Ed Miliband are about to make a joint appeal on climate change warning.

Overall, the British people are confused and mostly apprehensive. Polls, numbers and graphs are flooding the web and puzzling their minds. The arguments for leaving or remaining are very much theoretical and the future  in or out  is very inconclusive. The strongest arguments focus on immigration, security and terrorism and of course, a country's underpinning, the economy and financial stability.

Leave arguments are blaming the flux of immigrants in the UK, accusing them of "stealing" jobs, increasing insecurity and changing the identity of the country. They also feel that the UK lost its power of negotiation and influence as an international actor within the EU, arguing they would be stronger outside the Union  and still part of the Commonwealth - with more power to decide their future.

On the other hand, remain arguments focus on the economic stability and the symbiotic process existing between the EU and the UK when it comes to trade and investment. The advocates of remain also accuse the leave's defenders of misjudgement, pointing out the net contribution that immigrants (EU and non-EU) bring to the country. In fact, several studies about the fiscal effects of immigration to the UK consider immigrants to make a positive contribution, even during periods when Britain was running budget deficits.

Game of Power

We are facing a very complex debate and even though some might use Brexit to move their agendas forward  whether to leave or to remain  this is not (or should not be) a political battle. David Cameron pledged to hold an in-out referendum back in 2014, claiming a firm renegotiation over the welfare system in the UK, calling on the real possibility of Britain leaving the Union in the case his requirements would not be met.

In February 2016, after talks and meetings in Brussels, Cameron managed to strike a deal with the EU where the UK was given a "special status" regarding migrant's benefits. From this moment on, Cameron announced he would campaign his "heart and soul" to remain in the Union. This special treatment conceded to the UK came with its dose of controversy, as the chance of other Member States calling on different types of conditions went up.

In early February 2016, former mayor of London Boris Johnson surprised David Cameron, announcing his commitment to campaign for the leave vote. This announcement has also caused polemic with some voices accusing Johnson of being driven by the future general elections. Recently during his campaign, he accused the EU of trying to create a "United States of Europe". As for Nigel Farage, the UKIP leader, he claims the Tories might risk losing a considerable amount of members should the British people vote to remain.

Scotland

Concerns have also sprung up in Scotland. If the outcomes of the Scottish people's votes are confronted with a majority for leaving the EU, there is a big chance that it will trigger another referendum to decide Scotland's independence, said Alex Salmond, former Scottish National Party leader. In September 2014, Scotland voted on a referendum to determine its permanence within the United Kingdom and the wish to remain (55.30%) part of the UK surpassed the desire of independence (44.70%).

Overseas

Donald Trump, the controversial GPO candidate running for the White House has publicly expressed the US would not give a different treatment to the UK should the British people vote leave. As a response, PM David Cameron, who has allegedly described Trump as "stupid, divisive and wrong", declared during the recent G7 meeting his belief in the "special relationship" with the US regardless the chosen president.

US president Barack Obama and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau are just a few influential figures who have publicly shared their support for Britain to remain in the EU. The aftermath of the G7 meeting of the world's leader claimed that a Brexit case-scenario would represent a peril to global growth. Moreover, the European press also seems to be giving the push for the permanence in the Union

Story by Marta Pacheco
Robyn Peterson earned her doctorate in Viking art and archaeology, but since coming to the Yellowstone Art Museum 10 years ago, shes surrounded herself with much more contemporary art.

Peterson, YAMs executive director, spoke to a crowd of about 20 people at the Billings Public Library on Tuesday as part of Zonta Club of Billings Artful Women of Montana series. Her talk gave the crowd a behind-the-scenes look at, among other things, the value of establishing good relationships with donors and the people who run other museums and have items that can be swapped with works in YAMs collection.

Weve spent a lot of time establishing those collaborative relationships, she said, which can result in exhibit exchanges that cost the museums only the cost of shipping the art pieces and insuring them.

A swap about four years ago with a museum in Lafayette, La., brought contemporary Chinese art to YAM.

China figures largely on the worlds stage today, Peterson said during an hour-long question-and-answer session emceed by Connie Dillon, a Zonta Club past president. So that exhibit was part of making us all better citizens.

Some big-name works that have been displayed  Peterson specifically mentioned a handful of Monet paintings YAM has exhibited in recent years  have been made possible by anonymous lenders and we are grateful for those relationships. Otherwise, she said, we couldnt afford even the insurance.

Shes also pleased with the museums Montana Masters series, which features artists not necessarily born and raised here. The series has demonstrated the immense diversity of the work being done here. It allows us to step away from the stereotype of what people think Montana should be about  cowboys and Indians, and traditional landscapes. That is just a small, small part of what is being done around the state.

The Visible Vault

Among YAMs most significant developments during Petersons decade running the state's first museum devoted to contemporary art is the Visible Vault, where visitors can check out the museums entire collection while its in storage and, if theyre lucky, watch and speak to an artist in residence while at work.

YAMs first artist in residence was Molt artist Tracy Linder, who told the group that during her time in the Visible Vault she visited with a lot of people taking respite while their loved one was being treated at one of Billings two downtown hospitals.

Among Linders favorite visitors: a high school couple out on their first date. They talked to me for 45 minutes! she said, her head shaking in amazement.

The Visible Vault, one of just a handful of similar facilities in the nation, was a big step in getting reaccredited by the American Alliance of Museums this spring.

Peterson said the approach has created transparency that visitors and other museum professionals appreciate.

When I go to a museum like (the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City), I see a lot of doors with no labels, she said. I just know that something good is back there that theyre not showing us.

When people can see the behind-the-scenes operation, it can improve understanding of whats going on and increase support, she added. People are not inclined to help support you for a collection they have never seen.

As an added benefit, creating the Visible Art as a self-guided public program has opened doors to funding that would not have been available to us it if were closed to the public, she said. People are very interested in the process and seeing how things happen. We are pleased by the communitys reception to the space. That rough industrial aesthetic has turned out to be very popular.

YAMs permanent collection, she said, is almost evenly split between male and female artists.

Theres still tremendous gender disparity, but Im happy to say the museum does not take part in that, she said. Its not because we have tried to do that  its because there are a lot of extraordinary women artists in the state. It has just worked out that we are not really following the bias that marks so many museums  and thats not just in the art world.

Peterson said that on occasion, the museum opens its doors for meaningful community discussions. We see the museum as a library in that sense, she said, noting that recent discussions have focused on the legalization of marijuana and gun rights and restrictions.

Art can engender a wide range of responses. Museums are considered to be trusted, safe places, and we want to take advantage of that," she said. "When we do an exhibit that relates to contentious topics, we will provide the backdrop of the artistic exploration of those topics.

I think that is an appropriate role for museums, she added. Its not like were reaching. Art is about everything. There is no topic you can name that artists havent dealt with.
Murphy Givens Columnist SHARE The boiler of the steamship Nicaragua was a landmark at the Devil's Elbow of Padre Island in 1960. Below, the Nicaragua on the beach soon after it ran aground during a storm in the Gulf on Oct. 16, 1912.

The freighter Nicaragua wrecked on Padre Island in 1912. The ship ran aground at the Devil's Elbow, 75 miles south of Port Aransas. Rumors said the ship was carrying guns for Pancho Villa, but the real story was simpler, if less romantic.

The steamer left Tampico for Port Arthur on Oct. 11, 1912. It was loaded with cotton, lumber and other products. If it had been carrying guns for Mexican revolutionaries, it was headed in the wrong direction.

On Oct. 16, a late hurricane hit the Gulf and during the storm, the Nicaragua was forced aground on Padre Island. The ship's owners in Mexico reported the vessel missing, but no one knew what happened for 10 days until members of the crew turned up in a small boat at Port Aransas. Capt. Eschevarria and nine crew members took one of the ship's boats and headed north. They were spotted by the Coast Guard's Lifeboat Station and rescued. The captain said the rudder chain was damaged in the storm and the ship was thrown against the island breakers.

The revenue cutter Windom searched for the other 12 crew members without success. They were presumed lost. But on Oct. 29, six of them arrived at Port Isabel after they had walked 54 miles down the island. They left behind two men on the ship who were too sick to walk. They were later rescued.

Efforts to salvage the ship were unsuccessful. For decades, the remains of the old Nicaragua could be seen off the sands of the island.

Greg Smith, great grandson of Padre Island rancher Pat Dunn, said his grandfather, Burton Dunn, and a cousin, Dooley Dunn, got to the wreck shortly after its grounding. "Granddaddy got on deck with some effort and scrounged up some of the ship's cups and dishes," Smith said. "They had Nicaragua embossed on them. He proceeded to drop them over the side to Dooley who was on the beach. Dooley was all thumbs and couldn't catch the darn things, leaving not much more than broken pieces. The ones caught disappeared long ago, probably lost when the house at the head of the island was destroyed in the 1916 storm."

A reporter visited the wreck in 1922 and wrote that a rope ladder still dangled from Nicaragua's side and a galley door swung on rusty hinges as a gulf breeze swept through the cabins. By 1960, another reporter said only the giant boiler was still visible. There may be part of the old freighter resting on the Gulf floor off Padre Island. Otherwise, what remains of the old Nicaragua is its story.

Laureles Ranch

Rancho de Los Laureles was the closest large ranch to Corpus Christi. It was named for the bay laurel trees near the Laguna Madre.

The great capitalist Charles Stillman bought the Laureles in 1844 and his brother Cornelius ran it. As the ranch grew, it took in the Flour Bluff area and much of what is now the Southside of Corpus Christi. After the Civil War, Mifflin Kenedy bought the Laureles and increased the size of the ranch to 300,000 acres. At the time it was larger than King Ranch.

In 1882 Kenedy bought La Parra Ranch and sold Laureles to investors in Scotland for $1.1 million. They called their holdings the Texas Land & Cattle Company and hired John Tod of Edinburgh to manage the Laureles.

Richard King tried several times to buy the Laureles before he died. Henrietta King finally acquired the ranch in 1907 and Kenedy's old Laurel Leaf brand was added to the King Ranch brands.

John Tod, the old Scotsman, returned to Edinburgh. An article in 1936 said he spent his last years at his club, sharing memories of his days managing the Laureles, one of the great cattle ranches of South Texas.

The county seat

When Nueces County was created by the Legislature on April 18, 1846, it was bigger than some states, stretching from the Nueces to the Rio Grande. The first voting precincts were at Corpus Christi, Laredo and Port Isabel. Corpus Christi was named the county seat, and it has been the county seat ever since except for one brief period.

During the Civil War, after Corpus Christi was bombarded by Union warships in 1862, officials moved the county government to Santa Margarita, a ferry-crossing settlement on the west bank of the Nueces River near the present community of Bluntzer, which was safe enough from Union warships. Commissioners' minutes for the last two years of the war were noted "in vacation."

After the war, Nueces County was reorganized and the county seat was moved back to Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi has always been the county seat of Nueces County except for those two years when county officials were "in vacation" and hunkered down at Santa Margarita.

Cost of living

In reviewing 1902 editions of the Corpus Christi Crony it's always shocking to see what things cost more than a hundred years ago. Compared to today's prices they seem mighty cheap, but they were not.

People could buy a Victor Monarch gramophone, with 12 records, for $25. At Lichtenstein's men could buy hand-sewn shirts for one dollar each. At R.G. Blossman's Grocery coffee sold for 15 cents a pound and a dozen cinnamon rolls cost 15 cents at Cooper's Clean Bakery.

At the Oriental Hotel Merriman a room cost $1 a day, without meals, or $2 a day with meals. At Uehlinger's Grocery a plug of Gravely's Blue Tag chewing tobacco or tin of Dog Fight smoking tobacco cost 10 cents. A full meal, with coffee or tea and dessert, cost 25 cents at J.R. Shaw's Restaurant. Three Havana cigars sold for 25 cents at Joshua Smith's Drug Store.

But the average worker made $400 a year in 1902. He would work 60 hours a week for that dollar and quarter a day. If that worker paid $1 to stay in the Oriental Hotel Merriman, and spent 25 cents for a meal at Shaw's Restaurant, his hard-earned wages were gone and he would not have a dime left to buy a cigar or a can of Dog Fight tobacco. Those prices seem low today but they would have been considered "dear" at the time.
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By Beatriz Alvarado of the Caller-Times

Summer school isn't canceled for students affected by the state's decision to waive test scores last week, a Corpus Christi ISD letter to parents states.

The letter was posted on the district's social media page Wednesday afternoon to clarify the implications of the Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath's late Friday announcement. The announcement states State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) results for fifth- and eighth-graders were waived "as a result of ongoing reporting issues with (the) testing vendor," according to a TEA news release.

Parent Summer School Letter - English

Under state law, fifth and eighth grade students need to pass the STAAR reading and mathematics tests to be promoted to the next grade. Students are given three chances to take the test.

After the second administration of tests in May, 1,479 district fifth and eighth grade students failed reading, math or both, according to district data. The group would have retested in June, but Morath also called off the third round of tests.

At the end of the school year, the district asked students who failed the first two STAAR assessments to attend summer school to prepare for the third administration. Students also were assigned to summer classes if they failed course work for the year.

"The district decided to continue to support students who need the assistance, as evidenced by STAAR and/or course work," the letter states. "This instruction is designed to make sure that students are prepared for the upcoming academic year."

"This will be an opportunity for remediation," district spokesman Lyndall Gathright said of students assigned to attend summer school. "(The students) are still going to have to pass the test next year."

New Jersey-based Educational Testing Service developed and administered the STAAR exam for the first time this year.

Twitter: @CallerBetty
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Score a big win in Jim Wells County for open government  even at the steep price of 200 jobs for a community of 4,400.

The county was negotiating with contracting giant Serco for an immigrant family detention center in San Diego. County officials had conducted a public hearing Thursday in Alice, the county seat, where the proposal met resistance from among the 50 attendees. Also, Catholic Bishop Michael Mulvey sent a letter opposing the detention center, saying that the very existence of such a thing goes against human decency. Serco asserted that the facility would be "residential in nature" rather than prison-like. But other detention centers have earned a dark reputation for mistreatment of immigrant women and children.

The bishop's words are likely to have considerable influence on the populace. Also there was the understandable ire of San Diego city officials who had been left out of the loop despite the proposed site's location within San Diego city limits. County commissioners recognized that they owed San Diego residents a public hearing in San Diego, and scheduled one. Then Serco decided that it was on too tight a deadline to accommodate the hearing.

The commissioners court was in an unenviable position, faced on one side by concerned constituents who would have to live with the detention center in their community  but who also would reap the economic benefit of 200 jobs  and on the other by a powerful, sophisticated, impatient international contractor whose time is big money. Some may construe the court's decision as knuckling under to vocal constituents and the bishop, or as the commissioners coming to their senses and genuinely sharing the bishop's revulsion at the idea of such a facility.

We see it as a stand for principle over profit  the principle of open government, encompassing the people's right not only to know but to participate. Until Monday's decision, the commissioners didn't appear to have been looking for excuses to back out on Serco. They appeared to be looking forward to 200 new jobs. In insisting that San Diego have its town hall, the commissioners didn't back down. They stood up.

More often we find ourselves chastising local governments for cutting corners, often legally but in violation of the principle of transparency  emerging from closed doors to introduce a new school superintendent or city manager as the so-called lone finalist in a search to which the people weren't privy, or appointing a new council member or trustee to an unexpired term after no public discussion, and expecting the people to trust that the best person was chosen. Same story, different cast of characters.

Not this time. Jim Wells County leaders reminded themselves who government was for, of and by. Theirs is an example to be followed at every level, from the rural water district to the White House.
Although some candidates were absent, the two-day certificate examinations took off on June 14, 2016 on an assuring note.

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Most accommodation centres were silent, but examination halls teemed with candidates sitting the First School Leaving Certificate Examination, FSLC and the Certificat dEtudes Primaires, CEP. The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Basic Education, Benoit Ndong Soumhet, on June 14, 2016 visited some accommodation centres in the Littoral Region to assess the start of the examinations.



At the end of the guided tour, which took him and his team to the Sanaga-Maritime, Wouri and Moungo Divisions, the Secretary of State expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examinations and attendance on the part of the invigilators, examination staff and candidates. In spite of some absences, the exams effectively kicked off on time and went on hitch-free, he said.



Benoit Ndong Soumhet and his delegation, including the Littoral Regional Delegate for Basic Education, made the first stopover at Ecole Publique du Centre, Edea I, where 252 candidates were having their first experience of the CEP; then the Government Bilingual Nursery School, Edea, where eight candidates were absent. After a tour of other accommodation centres, the delegation headed for Douala where sub-centres in the Douala III and V Subdivisions were visited. He rounded up with a visit to La Grande Ecole Maternelle Publique at Bomono Ba Mbangue in the Moungo Division.



In most accommodation centres, the situation was the same: roll calls were made at 7:30 am while writing effectively kicked off at 8 am with Mathematics Paper One for the FSLC and Dictee and questions for the Francophones sitting the CEP. Nsong Eveline, Head of Sub-centre at the Yassa Government English Primary School, Bepanda, Douala, explained that candidates who are absent were either ill, dead or had forgotten that the exams were being written.



According to Mouanjo Njoh Victor, Head of Secretariat at the accommodation centre at La Grande Ecole Maternelle Publique Bomono Ba Mbangue in the Moungo Division, it was difficult to give convincing reasons for the absences since the pupils concerned live far away. In general, 13,614 pupils sat the FSLC and 48,907 the CEP in the Littoral Region. Some 845 examiners were deployed to the 46 examination sub-centres for the FSLC and 3,574 for the 239 examination sub-centres for the CEP. The practicum phase of the First School Leaving Certificate Examination earlier held on May 24, 2016.

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| BY Ricki Green |

Full service agency Atomic 212 is launching a new initiative, Yoga on the Wharf, in order to provide the broader industry with a fun initiative that everyone can share in, regardless of their employer.

Every Tuesday morning at 7.30am, the company will be providing Atomic employees, as well as fellow Sydney agencies, marketers and media people, with a free yoga class from the glorious wharf of its Walsh Bay office. The motto of the program is Putting people first in advertising.

The agency has invited staff and management from the entire marcomms industry, across brands, agencies and media owners, to take part in the initiative. Anyone who wants to participate can drop by. Even better, its free.

CEO, Jason Dooris, believes it is important to nurture a balanced work life for his staff, and is an advocate for breaking down the competitive nature between agencies  to create a more congenial industry.

Says Dooris: This is all about nurturing talent in the industry, and putting people first in advertising. Agencies are very competitive in general, but once in a while it is great to come together as an industry in a non-competitive environment, so we can focus on the very thing that makes this industry tick: the people.

The 38-hour work week is increasingly a thing of the past, and it is important to foster a healthy work environment, and a strong work-life balance. In fact, recent research has indicated that the vast majority of full time workers in Australia are putting in considerably more hours than the traditional 38-hour week.

The new Yoga on the Wharf initiative encourages people to stop, take a moment, and connect with themselves before stepping into work. A balanced life in and out of work has proven to increase productivity and staff happiness. Yoga relieves stress and increases mental and physical energy  a perfect way to start off a long work day.

Says Dooris: Big companies are focusing less and less on the health of their employees. People are working longer hours, and the work life balance has fallen out of whack. We want to give something back on behalf of the entire industry, whether you are working with us today or not.

The Atomic 212 is located at:

Level 2, Pier 8/9, Walsh Bay

Sydney, 2000
| BY Ricki Green |

How will New Zealand perform at Cannes this year? In the lead up to the Festival, Campaign Brief will be showcasing the work we hope will impress the judges

Colenso BBDO, Auckland

What if we created a way that men could save the planet by doing what they always do. What if we could turn a mans favourite pastime; drinking beer, into a selfless act of sustainability. DB Export Brewtroleum is a biofuel made from the yeast leftover after we finish brewing DB Export. That means every sip of DB Export men take, helps to save the planet. After 6 months of painstaking research and testing we took 58,000L of yeast slurry and turned it into 300,000 litres of planet-saving biofuel  enough to open our own flagship petrol station and to supply 62 service stations around the country. Drink DB Export. Save the entire world.

Colenso BBDO, Auckland

The Anchor X-Ray Cast is an interactive campaign for kids. A super tough decal for kids broken bone casts. It shows their actual X-Ray and has a barcode that can be scanned in supermarkets enabling them to get free Anchor Calci+ milk while they heal. Posters and leaflets in A&Es and hospitals spoke directly to the audience offering help when they needed it. All you have to do to turn your cast into an X-Ray Cast is upload your digital x-ray file to our website and fill in the form. If you didnt want to upload your own x-ray, you can choose our existing image. Bespoke vinyl stickers of your actual x-ray are then created and posted back out.

Colenso BBDO, Auckland

In NZ there are over 9,900 dog bites a year with the most likely victims being children aged 5-9 y/o. Over 75% of these incidents happen in the home environment, with a dog that is known to the child. A lot of these incidents happen due to a lack of education around dog safety. However it is the dog that is often blamed and in most cases put down. Created in partnership with dog behaviourists and the Auckland City Council, A Dogs Story is an interactive adventure that teaches children dog safety and how to read dog behaviour.

Colenso BBDO, Auckland
Red Lodge Mayor Ed Williams announced his resignation at a city council meeting Monday evening.

City Clerk and Treasurer Loni Hanson confirmed the announcement. Williams' last day will be June 29, she said.

Reached on Wednesday, Williams shared his letter of resignation.

"I wish the community much success in the future, and it is my fervent hope that the divisiveness that has occurred during the last few months can be put aside and our community can move forward in a constructive manner," he wrote.

Williams had no additional comment.

The resignation comes during a time of unease between city and Carbon county officials and months after Red Lodge Police Chief Steve Hibler announced his resignation. Hibler gave notice in April and his last day was set for June 30.

Hibler's resignation came as the city and county were at odds after a controversial search warrant was served in Bearcreek in January.

The Red Lodge Police Department applied for and carried out the warrant outside of city limits. Two people were arrested, and one woman was injured. The woman sued the city.

The Montana Attorney General's Office called the search inappropriate but declined to prosecute.

Shortly after Hibler's resignation was announced, Williams told the Carbon County News that the county didn't support city law enforcement and created a harsh environment.

Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan and County Attorney Alex Nixon dismissed the remarks as petty bickering.
| BY Ricki Green |

How will New Zealand perform at Cannes this year? In the lead up to the Festival, Campaign Brief will be showcasing the work we hope will impress the judges

Y&R New Zealand

Breast Cancer Cure needed an ongoing stream of funding for breast cancer research. We decided to hijack the revenue stream of New Zealands largest commodity  dairy, and approached premium milk brand Lewis Road Creamery with an idea to repackage their blue top milk as Breast Milk. 20c of every bottle sold was donated to Breast Cancer Cure, making a routine donation as effortless as a switch in milk brands. The campaign was launched with a PR push, while outdoor and social media channels worked to normalise the product and encouraged New Zealanders to make funding a cure part of their everyday routine. Breast Milk received coverage across national television, social media and global news and the campaign became the most talked about charitable initiative of 2015 in New Zealand.

Y&R New Zealand
Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 8:46PM

Better late than never, we say. Netflixs latest update on iOS brings picture-in-picture mode support to its app. Version 8.7.0 will allow for multitasking if you use iOS version 9.3.2 or later. The app will shrink your videos into a thumbnail automatically if you hit home or switch to another app. From there, you can adjust the size of the viewing window or reposition it to where you want the window to be. Youre allowed to pull another window in using the Slide Over feature you it wont let you play two videos at once. This new update brings with it the usual stability improvements and bug fixes as well.

Source: CNET
TRUFFLE FESTIVAL Canberra's truffle season is in full swing, with the festival running until the end of August. There's local black truffles on the menu at restaurants all around town, plus special dinners, events, cooking classes and of course hunts with the dogs to unearth truffles. For the full program and tickets, visit trufflefestival.com.au.
BUTTE  Orlando actor Timiki Salinas spent Sunday wading through frantic texts and social media posts from friends.

Working at Cutler Brothers Theater in Deer Lodge for the summer, Salinas awoke to the frightening news:

That 50 patrons were gunned down at Pulse, the gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where he and his friends have partied at times. Another 53 were injured  all by a lone gunman.

I knew people who were at that club, but luckily none of them were killed or injured, Salinas, 20, said. My close friends were talking about going to that club, but they changed their minds at the last minute.

His mother in Orlando knew he was safe and sound in Montana. But many friends in Orlando and Pittsburgh, where he attends Carnegie Mellon University, were unaware he was working out of state. They sought to ensure he was OK and not present at Pulse when Omar Mateen went on a tragic rampage early Sunday morning. It was the worst mass killing in U.S. history.

A lot of people didnt know I was in Montana, said Salinas. The released names, none of them I have had a personal relationship to  but as it gets closer and closer to home, it gets scary. It was a really tough morning, waking up and being bombarded by messages.

Forty-eight of the 49 victims have been identified, according to the New York Times on Monday. Ongoing vigils have cropped up across Montana and the nation to express unity while mourning the victims.

Morale at the Cutler Brothers Theater is pretty much the same sentiment as across the country, said Kelly Cutler, owner, actor and producer.

Except with our connection with Timiki. Hes become our friend  we feel a connection to him and his family.

Salinas arrived in Deer Lodge in mid-May. Cutler hired him after watching his singing and dancing video posted on www.backstage.com. He stars as Mr. Applegate  the devil  in the musical "Damn Yankees," which opened last Friday.

Like the glamorous, high-profile Tony Awards, which paid tribute to the victims on Sunday night, the LGBT community and supporters have coalesced.

To think that there is this much hate for this great group of people I have worked so closely with for the better part of my life is unfathomable, Cutler said. I don't get where the hate stems from. The gay community is extremely prevalent in the theater world, as witnessed by the countless memorials at (Sundays) Tony Awards.

Salinas appreciates that the Tonys  the most mainstream theatrical event of the year  dedicated so much time to the victims and senselessness.

It was finding the social responsibility through art, added Salinas, of Mexican and French heritage and who identifies as gay. I hope that through education and the arts, society will change for the better.

A "Damn Yankees Sunday matinee and Mondays Rising Star Academy kids theater camp at the Old Prison Theater has kept him on track since the bad news, said Salinas.

Im getting back in the zone. I was still shaken up. In my head, I was doing it for Orlando and for those who lost their lives. Once I wrapped my head around that, it made the show easier.

The Cutler Brothers Theater, a family-owned business for 14 years, has been touched by an unusually high number of tragedies in recent years:

Arie Arlynn Lee, cast as Calpurnia in "To Kill a Mockingbird," was murdered by her husband, Michael Augustine Bournes, in the backwoods of Deer Lodge on June 7, 2015. He killed their children, too. It was five days before the play opened.

Beverly Giannonatti, another Deer Lodge resident and regular theater patron, was murdered by David Wayne Nelson in November 2015. Nelson also killed her son, Gregory Giannonatti.

Its just a weird string of events the past couple of years, said Cutler. The shows always go up and theyre great, but things happen that we never really expect.

Salinas shines a bright light on Deer Lodge  and family patriarch dad Al Cutler, custodian and bartender, wants to spread the word.

Hes magnificent  hes really fantastic with his craft, said Al. Hes very talented, humble and fun to have around. I told our younger actors, Nows your chance to learn from the best.

The Cutlers and cast havent had time to process the Orlando shootings, but an element of sorrow is palpable at the theater.

I have a lot of (gay) friends, said Kelly Cutler. They are of the most talented, respected and amazing people I know. I cannot comprehend what happened in Orlando, at all. It's simply unjustified, insanely brutal hate.

City born and raised, Salinas is breaching his comfort zone and adapting to Big Sky Country and Deer Lodge, where residents number fewer than his high school.

People have been really sweet, he said, in the wake of his hometown tragedy.

Im so grateful, said Salinas, whose first name Timiki is Aztec for dreamer. What if? Things could have been so different.
The past week has publicised the matter of several candidates with a military background, including Labor's Mike Kelly in Eden-Monaro and the Liberals' Andrew Hastie MP in Canning, using photographs of themselves in military uniform in their campaign. They have been forced to leave the ADF Reserve, with Kelly resigning and Hastie being sacked. It was not the first time such images had been used so the ADF was catching up with existing practice. Hastie had already been controversial for his criticisms of the Department of Defence and of the former Chief of Army, David Morrison.
Few mainstream American politicians have talked openly about the phenomenon of Wahhabist ideology, much less the need to counter efforts by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states to export it to the west. The official US government attitude appears to be that the virulently anti-western ideology of groups like IS and the al-Nusra Front is a wicked aberration conceived in isolation. In fact, IS has been heavily influenced by Wahhabism, the variant of Islam that is effectively the state religion of Saudi Arabia. The ideological sway that Wahhabism now exerts over mainstream Sunni Islam, whether in the Middle East or elsewhere in the world, testifies to the success of the export strategy.
"There are many things that occur in the global economy over which we have no control, there are many shocks that can occur ... strong economic leadership is critical, that is why the choice that Australians are making today and will be making every day up to July 2 is clear.
CHEYENNE, Wyo.  The tiny and isolated southeast Wyoming town of Chugwater could finally get a gas station more than three years after the only one for miles around burned in a bizarre car wreck.

Those plans could become clear Friday, when town officials open bids to build a new gas station. After the owners of Horton's Corner decided not to rebuild, the town bought the vacant lot with a $400,000 federal grant.

The winning bidder will assume full ownership after five years in operation. Mayor LaDonna Sand counts herself among those looking forward to filling up locally again.

"We're really tired of storing gas in our garages," Sand said Tuesday.

Horton's Corner not only was the only place nearby to get gas and groceries, it was one of Chugwater's biggest employers. A dozen people worked there.

The saga began the night of Dec. 30, 2012, when a man drove off an Interstate 25 exit ramp and straight into Horton's Corner. Witnesses said he didn't appear to brake and when he got out, his face was covered in black stuff.

Local resident Jim Crawford said the man told him his face was smeared with shoe polish, for keeping him warm. The driver told a sheriff's deputy he crashed into the convenience store "because the hot dogs were cold, the chili was cold, the bathrooms were dirty and the girls needed to be warmed up," according to an affidavit.

But ever since, locals have had to buy gas in Wheatland, 25 miles north, or Cheyenne, 45 miles south. The 70-mile stretch of Interstate 25 without gas often causes even bigger problems for drivers whose phone apps show gas available.

"We probably have anywhere from one a day to three a day that stop for gas," Sand said. "We've had some people who have been on fumes. We've had some people who never even got into town. They've been stuck."

The crash was a significant budget blow to Chugwater, population 215 and named for the "chug" sound bison made when American Indians drove them over a cliff into a local creek.

The town lost at least $15,000 a year in gasoline and cigarette taxes. That's out of a town budget of $739,000 this year, according to Sand.

Only one building bid had been submitted as of Tuesday, but Sand expected more. The town will require the new business to be fully operational by November.

"They have to hustle and get going. We have to get fishing here," Sand said.
The trial, called 5Groningen, will focus on logistics, healthcare, the environment, energy and agriculture. The first series of tests will be launched before the end of the year at Zernike Campus, Groningens large research complex.

Groningen is the only rural area in Europe where 5G tests are being carried out.

Today, the Netherlands enjoy fast mobile connectivity. We need to ensure that our country continues to benefit from the latest developments of mobile technologies such as 5G, said Henk Kamp, the Dutch minister for economic affairs. This will bring added value for citizens, as well as businesses  not only from an economic perspective, but also by enabling key innovations in fields such as healthcare and agriculture.

The testbed is supported by 10 partner organisations, which signed an agreement at the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Supporters include KPN and Vodafone plus Huawei and Ericsson, as well as Agentschap Telecom, the Dutch telecommunications agency, and TNO, the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research.

The agricultural sector is set to be among the leaders of 5G innovation. Farmers are at the forefront of technological innovation; not only with regard to the efficiency of their business operations, but also, importantly, with a view to ensuring sustainability and environmental protection, explained Peter Rake, 5G programme manager at Economic Board Groningen, one of the projects supporters.

Other sectors in the Netherlands and the rest of Europe are paying close attention to agricultural innovation in the fields of sensors, drones and other technologies that will benefit from 5G development.
DUNN CENTER -- A lightning strike to its steeple set a 100-year-old church ablaze Monday evening in rural Dunn County.

The Vang Lutheran Church, which maintained a small congregation despite ending regular Sunday services in 2010, was destroyed by the fire.

"You just trust the Lord knows what's best for the congregation," said Dave Nodland, one of the church's few remaining members.

The church opened in 1916 about 6 miles southeast of Dunn Center following eight years of planning and construction. The earliest parishioners were Norwegian immigrants who moved to the area from Renville County, Minn., and the church served generations of central Dunn County Lutheran families, former state Sen. George Nodland said.

"It was basically an icon to the county," said Halliday Fire Chief Joey Bogers, who responded to the fire.

Dunn County Commission Chairman Reinhard Hauck -- who was baptized there -- said Tuesday the church only recently officially closed as a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's Western North Dakota Synod.

Hauck and Dave Nodland said because of the building's deterioration -- it was badly damaged by hail a few years ago -- families who were stakeholders in the church had started talking about its eventual fate.

"We were still struggling with that," Dave Nodland said. "I guess the good Lord made the decision for us. ... Nobody wanted to see it close because it was a landmark for generations."

Around 30 firefighters responded to the fire after it was reported around 7:30 p.m., Bogers said, adding he could see the fire from three miles away.

Dave Nodland said he and other congregation members told firefighters to let the church burn after the blaze spread beyond the steeple and fire trucks began running out of water.

"It was at the point where you just couldn't fight it," he said.

The church burned to the ground within two hours, Bogers said.

"You think of all the lightning storms there have been in the last 100 years and finally one struck," Dave Nodland said.

Denise Brew, the county's emergency manager, called the church fire is "devastating" to locals.

"It's that one church everybody in the county knew of," she said. "It was the beacon of the county down there."

George Nodland said he was baptized at the Vang Lutheran Church and has about 40 relatives buried in the church's cemetery, which he said will continue to be maintained.

His grandfather was one of the church's founders, and said services were held at the family's home while the church was being constructed.

"It has quite a history," he said.

Shortly before Memorial Day, George Nodland said he visited the church after tidying up his relative's gravesites.

"I went into the church and looked at some stuff," he said. "I made a comment to my wife, 'Somebody should get that stuff out of there.' It was getting old."

A few items were spared, Dave Nodland said, including the baptismal fountain, and some pictures and communion items. However, the pews and the altar -- which he said the congregation hoped to save -- were completely lost in the fire.

George Nodland said he went through a range of emotions Tuesday as he learned more about the fire and the remains of the church his family helped build.

"It means a lot to me," he said.
Under the agreement, Nokia will deploy its 5G-ready AirScale base station which is said to allow multiple radio technologies to operate simultaneously in one base station as well as what it claims to have virtually unlimited scalability to support 5G speed and IoT demand.

"This is a highly significant agreement with our longstanding partner; it strengthens Nokia's position as a leading provider of next-generation technologies in China, and reflects our larger footprint in the country following the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent," said Mike Wang, president of the joint management team of Nokia Networks China and ASB.

"We are committed to delivering mobile broadband capabilities that will allow operators to optimise their networks and open up new opportunities for them and their subscribers."

In addition Nokia will provide additional elements of its mobile radio access and core portfolio as well as fixed access, IP routing and optical transport, customer experience management, operational support system (OSS), third party products and global services expertise.

Nokia and China Mobile plan to collaborate further to define the products and services that will enable the operator to meet ever-growing demands of internet users. The two companies have been working together to develop, trial and deploy new technologies to enable cloud connectivity as well as faster and more affordable internet access.
Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact.

Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here.

Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing.

You are our people. You Care. We Care2.
Nigeria/New Delhi, June 15, 2016: NIIT, a global leader in skills and talent development today announced the 17th National Scholarship in Nigeria, to reward meritorious students desirous of building successful careers in today's knowledge economy. For the first time ever, scholarships will also be offered for futuristic cutting-edge programs in Digital Transformation under digiNxt series.

NIIT will now offer scholarships in programs like digiNxt MMS, Big Data, Java Enterprises Apps with DevOps, Digital Marketing apart from Revolutionary MMS and other programs. These programs have been introduced by NIIT with a profound understanding of the changing workforce requirement of the Global and Nigerian IT industry.

The programs will include the following elements:-

digiNxt MMS: This is an Intensive 1- 2 year program aimed at building talent pool of software engineers aligned to the Digital Transformation requirements of the industry.

digiNxt-Big Data: Big data is high volume, high velocity information to process and enable enhanced decision making. It consists of Hadoop, Zookeeper, Hbase, Hive, Storm Distributed Live Computing and Sqoop.

digiNxt-Java Enterprise Apps with Dev Ops: The program will encompass the various aspects of enterprise app development while enabling a learner to implement these aspects through project-based learning methodology.

digiNxt-Digital Marketing: The program is designed to help the students understand how to plan, implement and manage comprehensive Digital Marketing strategy.

This year the annual scholarship test will be held on Saturday, 16th July 2016, across the country. For more information, students can visit www.niit.com/nigeria.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prakash Menon, President, Global Skills & Careers Group, NIIT Ltd, said, "Over the last 17 years NIIT has created a pool of job-ready professionals, for the fast growing IT industry in Nigeria. With our keen understanding of the changing skills requirement of the industry we are now focusing on the DigitalTransformation needs of the country. The company will now offer futuristic programs in digiNxt MMS, Big Data, Java Enterprises Apps with Dev-ops and Digital Marketing to create a talent pool armed with futuristic skill-sets aligned to the industry."

Today, information technology has changed the way people work and the next ten years will be about transforming the businesses across all industry sectors to embrace the digital era. According to industry experts, digitally transformed organizations are 26% more profitable than their industry competitors. Global spending on digital transformation technologies is expected to cross $2.1 Billion by 2019. By 2018, 35% of IT resources will be spent to support the creation of new digital revenue streams, and by 2020 almost 50% of IT budgets will be tied to digital transformation initiatives.

According to MIT Centre for Digital Business, 77% of organizations consider missing digital skills as the key hurdle to their transformation strategy. Therefore, Global IT Companies are investing heavily in building digital transformation skills to enable their clients transform digitally. As organizations are building talent pool, the most-sought after skill sets include: Product Engineering, Business Analytics, Cloud Technology and Architecture, Mobile Apps, Internet of Things and Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence. To cater to this need, NIIT has introduced career and diploma programs in Digital Transformation series. According to industry sources, IT industry in Nigeria is estimated to be one of the fastest growing industries in Nigeria in coming years.

NIIT is also launching state-of-the-art program in financial accounting- "Tally.ERP9" in Nigeria. This program is a robust ERP product and a complete business management solution tool.

With an aim to create empowered workforce for the Nigerian IT industry, NIIT offers various other programs to the students in Nigeria. The revolutionary Mastermind series comprises of Software Engineering and Infrastructure Management courses. While the Software Engineering course will expose the student to technologies like Office 2013, Java 7, Visual Studio 2012, SQL Server 2012, ASP.net, MVC 4.5, HTML 5, JQuery, Java Script, the Infrastructure Management course will enable students to learn Office 2013, Windows Server 2012, Microsoft SQL Server 2012 and Microsoft Share Point 2013.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Sanjay Tickoo, Head of Business Operations, International Education Business - Emerging Markets, NIIT Ltd said, "Since inception, NIIT's National Scholarship Program has enabled thousands of Nigerian students desirous of building successful career in IT Industry. NIIT, a pioneer of IT Training Industry in Nigeria, has impacted over 1.7 million students over the past 17 years, contributing to the overall development of the ICT industry in the country. We look forward to further strengthening this initiative, by empowering many more students in the coming years. We are grateful to students & parents who have continuously bestowed their faith & trust in us and helped us become Africa's largest IT Education Provider."

NIIT in Nigeria

NIIT, a global leader in skills & talent development, established its presence in Nigeria by setting up an education centre in Ikeja, Lagos in 1999 and since then affirmed its support to prepare the youth in the country for lucrative IT careers. The scholarship has reached out to nearly 1.7 million students in the past 17 years. Since 1999 NIIT has been involved in creation of skilled ICT workforce and has launched several initiatives in the country.

NIIT is acknowledged as the undisputed leader in the country's IT training and education segment, offering the latest IT programs mapped to the industry requirement and international vendor certifications.

In Nigeria, NIIT provides IT education to individuals; offers customized training solutions for corporate; and caters to the IT learning needs of University & School students.
Fargo businessman Doug Burgum upended the North Dakota Republican Party establishment Tuesday by delivering a stunning and convincing defeat to Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem in a hard-fought and expensive primary campaign.

With 398 of 432 precincts reporting, unofficial results from the North Dakota Secretary of States office had Burgum leading with 59.6 percent of the vote compared to Stenehjems 38.5 percent. Bismarck business consultant Paul Sorum had 1.9 percent.

Burgum, in a victory speech in Fargo to supporters Tuesday night, reiterated words from when he began his campaign: I didnt want to be a politician. But I did decide I want to be an elected leader.

He said it was a hard-fought campaign, and while traversing the state in an old 1970s bus, it reminded him how the states greatest resource is its people. He acknowledged the campaign may have divided factions within the party but the time had come to fix those divisions.

Its time for all of us to come together and build the great state that I know we can, Burgum said. This is an exciting night for the future of North Dakota, and its a tremendous honor to have your support and trust.

Burgum, 59, has highlighted from the beginning of the race his business background as a former software executive. Since launching his campaign in January, Burgum has taken aim at the political establishment in Bismarck, working to convince Republican voters to trust a first-time candidate over a widely known and popular candidate with 40 years of experience in state government.

Burgums takedown of Stenehjem wasnt easy: It took months of crisscrossing the state to raise his public profile for those who may not be knowledgeable of him outside of the Fargo area or the Red River Valley.

He also used extensive funding to put himself over the top: He blanketed the state with a deluge of advertisements to the tune of well north of $1 million. Burgums campaign also raised more than $960,000, according to his pre-primary report.

Burgum said the path toward unity will begin immediately.

I will be reaching out to the governor and the leaders of our state Legislature to begin a collaborative dialogue about how to best serve the citizens of North Dakota, Burgum said.

He said the top priority following the election will be the states budget; a more than $1 billion shortfall was already addressed earlier this year and deeper cuts are expected in 2017-19 agency budgets.

Burgum said he also is in agreement with Stenehjem on combating federal overreach on regulations, adding that hed be ready to work with him on criminal justice reform in the state.

North Dakotans will continue to benefit from Waynes deep experience in the attorney generals office, Burgum said.

Stenehjem later addressed his defeat in a phone interview.

Im disappointed, but I felt I ran a strong, positive, upbeat campaign, Stenehjem said. I congratulated him on his victory and for participating in the political process.

Stenehjem said hell have to look at the final numbers in the days ahead, adding that he likely wouldnt have run his campaign any differently than he did.

He (Burgum) understands that theres going to be some fences that are going to need to be mended within the party, Stenehjem said.

North Dakota Republican Party Chairman Kelly Armstrong also congratulated Burgum.

This is a much bigger margin than most people thought. You cant take anything away from the Burgum campaign, Armstrong said.

Armstrong said for Burgum to defeat the states longest-serving attorney general as a first-time candidate is no small feat and speaks to the intensity and hard work of the Burgum campaign.

The GOP will be reaching out to the Burgum campaign, according to Armstrong, who expressed confidence the party will come together and unite in time for the general election.

Its like a big rowdy Thanksgiving dinner. People get bumps and bruises, Armstrong said. Well start working on mending whatever fences that need to be mended.

Burgum received his bachelors degree from North Dakota State University and a masters degree in business administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

In 1983, he joined Great Plains Software as chairman and CEO and grew the company. In 2001, it was sold to Microsoft for $1.1 billion. He served as a senior vice president for Microsoft until 2007.

In 2006, he founded the Kilbourne Group, which works to redevelop downtown Fargo, and, in 2008, he co-founded the venture capital company Arthur Ventures.

Burgum and his running mate, Watford City Mayor Brent Sanford, will square off against a Democratic-NPL Party ticket of Rolla Rep. Marvin Nelson and New Rockford Sen. Joan Heckaman in November. The Libertarian Party has Marty Riske and Joshua Voytek, both of Fargo, for their gubernatorial ticket.

The Republicans have held the governors office since 1992.
Voters chose Tuesday to maintain North Dakota's nearly century-old ban on corporate farming.

As of 10 p.m. with 72 percent of precincts reporting, opposition to Measure 1 was leading with 69,008 votes, representing 75 percent of the total.

The results tonight are a strong message that the people dont want corporate farming in North Dakota," North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne said in a statement.

NDFU and North Dakotans for Family Farms ran the opposition campaign.

We left no stone unturned to defeat Measure 1, because it was that important to us and to our state, Watne said. There is a reason that our volunteers made tens of thousands of calls in January alone. North Dakotans want to keep family farming strong in our state."

Measure 1 would have affirmed legislation from last session, providing exemptions to allow for corporate dairy and swine operations of at least 50 cows or 500 hogs on a farm of up to 640 acres.

The legislation was introduced in an effort to save the states dwindling pork and dairy industries by allowing non-family members to form corporations and share in investments. Opponents said the law was an invitation for big, out-of-state corporations to set up operations in the state, threatening family-owned farms.

All I saw was opportunity, and the opposition -- all they see is fear, said Sen. Terry Wanzek, R-Jamestown, who introduced the legislation. If I felt it had threatened (family farms), I never would have supported it.

Wanzek said he does not plan to reintroduce the bill in the next legislative session.

Im not going to throw it back at the voters, he said, adding that the legislation would need a two-thirds majority to be resurrected.

Wanzek and his son, Ryan Wanzek, treasurer of Yes for Dairies & Pork Producers, instead asked opponents: Whats your solution?

And in the time between the laws passage and the referral vote, Wanzek said the states declining number of dairies has shrunk even further, from 91 to 86. They keep quitting," he said.

Watne said NDFU believes something needs to be done to address pricing, and a new business model was not the solution. He suggested a better government-run farm program would help, along with research into value-added options.

"We have to invest in the industry," he said.

Pork Council Executive Director Tamra Hines called the results "disappointing, but not surprising." She said the council's board will meet later this week to decide on a plan of action, though the council has no solutions in mind at this point.
Ford has released a six-episode video series with Steve Sutcliffe showing us some of Europes best driving roads.



The renowned motoring journalist traveled to U.K., France, Germany, Spain and Romania for the series driving Fords hottest models, including the Mustang GT, the Focus RS and the Fiesta ST on the most challenging and rewarding roads of the continent.

Every route is ranked by thrill factor, road surface, accessibility, hospitality, scenery, food and drink, with the research team spending one year covering a total of 15,000km in their hunt for the perfect European road trip.

The first episode of the series was shot on the most famous of Romanias roads with the Mustang GT. The rest of the exciting routes explored include UKs Blakey Ridge, the Spanish C462, Germanys Black Forest Highway, Mallorcas MA10 Mountain Road and the French D526 and D926 at the Alps.

Enjoy the videos.

VIDEO
That Skoda is planning to launch a new SUV should come as no surprise to regular readers of this site. Volkswagens Czech brand previewed its arrival in with the VisionS concept in Geneva a few months ago, and weve seen prototypes for the production version undergoing testing twice now. What you see here, though, could be our best look at the upcoming crossover yet.



Set to wear the name Kodiaq, the new model is slated to slot in above the Yeti as Skodas biggest model yet. As you can see, the three-row crossovers design will follow fairly closely to that of the concept, with sharp creases, a strong shoulder line extending to the C-shaped LED taillights.

The shape was spearheaded by Skodas chief designer Jozef Kaban, who previously headed up exterior design at Audi and styled the bodywork on the Bugatti Veyron before moving to Mlada Boleslav. It draws its inspiration from Czech crystal glasswork, with delicate but bold lines, stretched over a long wheelbase with short overhangs for superior proportions and maximized interior space.

Though we cant see inside the cabin just yet, Skoda promises that the interior continues the striking design of the exterior, with strong design elements and large infotainment displays split between driver and front-seat passenger. The manufacturer has scheduled the Kodiaqs debut for September, so we can expect to see it at the upcoming Paris Auto Salon.

Photo Gallery
Among the lists that Forbes publishes every year are the rankings of the worlds most valuable brands.

With the 2016 lists now out, it should come as no surprise that the top brands come from the tech sector, with Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook forming four out of the top five (punctuated only by Coca-Cola). But a good dozen automakers made the list of the top hundred  though only one made it into the top ten.



Toyota ranked as the sixth highest entry on the overall list, and the most valuable of automakers. BMW comes next in #14, followed by Mercedes-Benz (#20), Honda (23), Ford (35), Audi (36), Chevrolet (59), Lexus (63), Porsche (67), Nissan (70), Hyundai (71), and Volkswagen (77).

Thats good news especially for the Toyota and VW groups that between them control nearly half of those brands listed. Japanese and German manufacturers accounted for all but two of those ranked, with Ford, Chevy and Hyundai standing out as notable exceptions.

Further down the list, heavy equipment manufacturers Caterpillar and John Deere rank in spots #66 and 88, respectively, while General Electric ranks at #10.

Photo Gallery
By the end of last week, however, Disney and Dreamworks had appealed the certification to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In their appeal, the studios reminded the court that the entire case had been thrown out last year by Judge Koh on statute of limitations groundsthat is, that Nitsch, Cano and Wentworth filed their lawsuit too many years after the allegedly illegal behavior of the studios took place. Koh only let the case go forward once the plaintiffs showed that the studios may have fraudulently concealed their activities. (As part of the prior settlement with the plaintiffs, Blue Sky Studios, Sony Pictures Animation, and Sony Pictures Imageworks have already agreed to not challenge the class certification sought by the plaintiffs.)

But the studios now argue that even if they concealed their actions, many artiststhose who would be part of the certified classknew about the alleged conspiracy among the studios. The studios point to emails between Pixar employeesone of whom would be a class memberreferring to a gentlemans agreement between Pixar and another studio.

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They also point to a 2006 meeting between Disney animation employees and the studios presidentpresumably, Ed Catmullin which the president reportedly admitted to a non-poaching agreement among the studios. There is also a meeting between Pixars general manager and several interns that mentioned the gentlemans agreement, and that Pixar uploaded the video of the meeting to the companys intranet, available for all employees to see (and thus learn of the alleged conspiracy).

The studios refer to blog posts (including those made by the Animation Guild Blog), additional meetings, and other evidence, all arguably indicating that a substantial number of artists who make up the certified class had knowledge of the allegedly fraudulently concealed conspiracy.

And if they had knowledge of it, then that knowledge voids any concealment defense to the statute of limitations. In laymans terms, any Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm, or Dreamworks employee who had knowledge that they were being screwed by the studios should not be eligible to be a part of the lawsuit.

Judge Koh, in her certification ruling, addressed some of these concerns, pointing out that, for example, three months after being uploaded onto Pixars intranet, the video referencing the anti-poaching agreement had been edited to delete references to the agreement, and then re-uploaded. Judge Koh found much of the studios evidence of prior knowledge too general, that the information may have been available generally, but specific instances of knowledge were too few to warrant a limited class certification, and pointed out that the studios can later raise individualized statute of limitations defenses against specific class members.

The studios were obviously unconvinced, and now appeal to a higher court. No ruling from the Ninth Circuit is expected for several weeks. Until then, the class of artists covered by the lawsuit will remain in limbo.
Photo: Getty Images

Long-term effects of childhood bullying

With another school year winding down, it may seem a strange time to bring up a subject often affecting our kids when theyre out on the schoolyard.

But just as there is no one season for childhood bullying, there is also evidence to suggest its effects last far longer than the school year.

A longitudinal study out of the U.K. followed 8,000 people for up to 50 years to determine the long-term effects of childhood bullying.

Being a victim of childhood bullying was associated with persistent and pervasive negative effects well into middle age.

Researchers examined data concerning bullying exposure between the ages of 7 and 11 and then followed up between the ages of 23 and 50. Bullying was fairly common for this population who grew up in the 1960s with more than a quarter of subjects experiencing some bullying and 15 percent reporting frequent bullying.

Victims of bullying had higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation at age 45 than those who had not been bullied. They were also less likely to be living with a partner or having other social relationships and were more likely to experience financial strain, have a poor perceived quality of life and self-report poor cognitive functioning at age 50.

Although the results are stark, they are not all that surprising given our knowledge of the lasting impact of any childhood trauma. Childhood is an important and formative time for individuals and lays a foundation for future mental health.

It is important to realize the potential for childhood bullying to harm the mental health and well being of adults well into middle age. Although bullying has received wider attention from schools, parents and the media in recent years, we now have one more convincing reason not to ignore it.

We must do all we can to prevent bullying at a young age and ensure we provide safe, friendly spaces at schools and other places where kids get together.

When we become aware of bullying behaviour, we cannot hide our heads in the sand. We must face it and do what we can to not only stop the behaviour, but also to mitigate the lasting impact it can have on victims.

Researchers in this study suggest psychiatrists need to take a more active role in schools and be willing to work alongside school staff to manage the victimization that can and does occur.

When a psychiatrist or other mental health professional is working with a school-aged patient experiencing bullying, it would be helpful to ensure the issue is being addressed in a coordinated fashion between the health professionals, school staff and parents.

This is a preventable problem when we work together.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
Photo: Contributed

It will be more than three years before a man charged with running down a paper carrier in 2013 will actually face a trial.

The next pre-trial court appearance for Donald Brodie, who is alleged to have been behind the wheel of a vehicle that severely injured paper carrier Steve Kania on Dec. 6, 2013, is set for May 9, 2017.

Kania was airlifted to Vancouver and put into a medically induced coma.

In 2014, Kania's condition had improved, but he did suffer a serious brain injury as a result of being struck.

Brodie, Nathan Fahl and Lisa Carlisle were all inside the car when Kania was struck and critically injured.

Fahl was originally charged as the driver in the incident, but charges were removed when Brodie allegedly told police he had been behind the wheel when Kania was struck.

In June 2014, Brodie addressed a handwritten letter to Castanet and other media outlets from the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre stating remorse for the events and accepting fault.

He did not, however, accept all blame and was critical of the police reaction to the incident.

At the time of his arrest, Brodie was already in custody at KRCC on a different matter.

The 35-year-old remains in custody on charges of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, flight causing bodily harm and resisting a peace officer.

He will stay behind bars while he awaits his next court appearance in 2017. Following that pre-trial conference, a tentative voir dire (to determine the admissibility of evidence) is scheduled for July 24, 2017, followed by a trial booked for Sept. 18, 2017.

The man originally charged in the crime, Nathan Fahl, is also back before the courts after he was cuffed following a nationwide warrant for his arrest last month.

Fahl is now in custody and facing two counts of theft of motor vehicle, two counts of driving while disqualified, one count of breach of probation and one count of failure to appear.

The charges stem from an incident in Kelowna on March 30, 2016.

Fahl will make his next court appearance on June 23, 2016.

 for past Castanet stories on this case, click here.
Photo: Getty Images

A 49-year-old Burnaby resident is facing criminal charges after she allegedly withdrew close to $270,000 over a one-year period from an unsuspecting senior's bank account.

Police began investigating after a 91-year-old Coquitlam woman realized the money was missing from her account in April.

With assistance from the bank, police were able to obtain ATM surveillance images and, with help from the victim, identified the suspect as Antonette Dizon.

During the last year, Dizon worked as a caregiver for the victim and her husband.

On May 30, police searched a residence in Burnaby and obtained evidence to support a charge of fraud over $5,000 against Dizon.

This was a person in a position of trust who saw an opportunity to benefit financially and took full advantage of the very people she was hired to care for, said Const. Jamie Phillipson. This is a form of elder abuse, plain and simple.

Dizon was arrested and released on court-ordered conditions, including restricted access to any elderly care home facility. Dizon is scheduled to make her next court appearance on June 27 at the Port Coquitlam provincial courthouse.

Tips and safeguards for elder financial abuse:

Protect yourself: keep your financial and personal information in a safe place

Have an enduring or continuing power of attorney prepared appointing someone you trust to look after you, so that even if you are ill and unable to look after yourself, your finances will be protected from others who might try to take advantage

Ask for help if you think you are experiencing financial abuse

Keep a record of money you give away and note whether its a loan or a gift

For major decisions involving your home or other property, get your own legal advice before signing documents

Ask someone you trust to look over contracts and other papers before you sign them

Be very cautious if you open a joint bank account  the other person can take all of the money without asking

Make an effort to keep in touch with a variety of friends and family so you dont become isolated

Review your finances on a regular basis and report any irregularities to your bank

For more information on safety and security, go to the RCMP elder abuse prevention website.
Photo: Contributed

The province is stepping up efforts to restore kokanee populations B.C. waterways.

Following reports of a high survival rate for kokanee eggs planted in the Kootenay Lake spawning channel at Meadow Creek and additional fry releases, the province has launched a comprehensive action plan to guide the ongoing recovery of local kokanee stocks, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced.

As part of ongoing recovery efforts, provincial biologists released more than half a million kokanee fry this spring and more than 90 per cent of the half a million eggs planted into the Meadow Creek spawning channel in the fall have now emerged as fry and entered Kootenay Lake.

Meanwhile, the province released the Kootenay Lake Action Plan, which calls for enhanced monitoring, aggressive restocking, ongoing angling closures and an expansion of the nutrient restoration program.

The plan  which will be presented at a public meeting in Balfour Thursday  was developed under the direction of an expert advisory panel, and with the support of local First Nations, the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC and the BC Wildlife Federation.

Last fall, provincial biologists counted 18,000 spawning kokanee in main body of Kootenay Lake and its tributaries, the lowest number since the annual count started in the 1964.

In response, the province initiated an aggressive restocking program, extended the nutrient restoration program and changed fishing regulations to decrease Kokanee harvest and increase Gerrard trout harvest.

Kokanee are landlocked sockeye salmon and are second only to rainbow trout as the most popular game fish in B.C.
Photo: Contributed

If the Province gives its approval, West Kelowna voters will go to the ballot boxes Sept. 17.

The electorate will get a chance to decide whether the city can borrow the funds necessary to construct a new city hall, part of a larger civic centre, on Elliott Road.

Council avoided the temptation to borrow internally from reserves and pay itself back in five years. Because the repayment would have been over five-years, not 20, a referendum would not have been required.

However, additional taxes would have been needed.

Instead, a majority on council believed it needed to respect the will of the people, who voted against the original borrowing bylaw using the alternative approval process.

"We have to carry on with what we have been told by the public to do," said Coun. Bryden Winsby.

"Whether those 3,900 people were opposed, in the AAP, to what we are intending to do, or didn't like the process, regardless. We've been told to put it to the folks, so I think that's what we have to do."

He commended staff for coming up with creative solutions which would have included an additional parcel tax to pay down a short-term loan, but said the optics to do something like that were not right.

The original borrowing bylaw, turned down by the populace, would have allowed the city to borrow up to $10.5 million.

Because of a lowering of the 20-year debt servicing rate from 3.5 per cent to 2.6 per cent, the amount needed to borrow was lowered to $8.2 million.

However, city CAO and interim CFO, Jim Zaffino, said that number is worst case scenario. He said $1 million of that is a contingency.

He said he doesn't expect the final price tag to hit the $8.2 million mark.

Coun. Duane Ophus suggested the borrowing bylaw be amended to $7.7 million by authorizing a half million come from internal funds if a contingency is required.

The amendment passed.

Ophus also lamented not having the additional figures available to council earlier in the process.

"If you look at the projections, you will see that at the end of five-years, with a modest partial tax, and possibly significantly less than is outlined, we would have a fully paid for city hall in five years time," said Ophus.

"We would never have to pay rent. We would have 20, 25, maybe 30 years, rent free in our city hall that would be paid for. And, we would get a higher rate by paying ourselves 1.7 per cent, that we would get investing that $25 million (reserve amount) somewhere else."

The lone dissenting voice was from Coun. Rosalind Neis, who believes a new city hall is not necessary right now and said council's trumpeting of Interior Health locating to the civic centre complex is nothing but a red herring.

"I take serious offence at the continued reference to bringing in health care facilities to our community, and that's the reason why city hall should be there," said Neis.

"I have a list from our CAO listing the health services that re going to be offered, potentially, at this location. I would like to know which one of those now are currently not offered. They all are currently offered."

She said there is a lack of understanding that those already exist.

Coun. Rusty Ensign countered with a list of services he said will be included in a West Kelowna facility.

"Wound care, IV therapy, catheter care, pain and symptom management, diabetes program, respiratory services, social worker support, care giver support, home support and palliative nursing care," said Ensign.

"That saves so much money on the health care system from going to the hospital and sitting in a hospital bed. It's phenomenal."

The referendum request will no go to the province for approval.

Once approval is granted, the wheels will be set in motion for a Sept. 17 referendum.
Photo: Contributed

It might be June on the calendar, but its snowing outside.

If youre up at Big White, the North Shore Mountains or on Allison Pass, that is.

Tuesday afternoon, the Gem Lake webcam at Big White Ski Resort (at 2,219 metres elevation) looked closer to opening day than the start of summer.

Environment Canada is calling for showers that will turn to light snow over Coastal Mountain passes, due to a cold, unstable airmass.

Near the Coquihalla summit and over the Allison Pass, five to 10 centimetres of snow are possible by Wednesday morning, according to Environment Canada.

Travellers are advised that roads could be slippery and they should exercise caution.

Share your photos of the June snowfall at [email protected]
Photo: David Ogilvie

Emergency crews were scrambling Tuesday after multi-car accidents on Boucherie Road.

Witnesses report five vehicles were involved in mishaps a block apart. One accident was near Ogden Road and the other was reported to be a block south.

Boucherie Road has been reduced to single-lane traffic and police, fire and ambulance crews have responded.

There is no word on any injuries from the accidents.

Castanet will have more details as soon as they become available.
Photo: Contributed

Federal prosecutors say a Las Vegas man has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for sending more than 27 million spam messages to Facebook users and disobeying a court order not to access Facebook.

Federal prosecutors say Tuesday a federal judge in San Jose, Calif., on Monday also ordered 47-year-old Sanford Wallace to pay $310,000 in restitution.

Last year Wallace admitted to accessing about 500,000 Facebook accounts and sending unsolicited ads disguised as friend posts over a three-month span.

Prosecutors say Wallace collected Facebook user account information by sending "phishing" messages that tricked users of the social networking site into providing their passwords.

According to the indictment, he then used that information to log into their accounts and post spam messages on their friends' Facebook walls.
Photo: Twitter - Brooke Kostak

Authorities in Galveston, Texas, say a five-year-old girl has been taken to a hospital after a shark bit her leg.

Galveston Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis says the girl was in the water off Pirates Beach about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday with her father and brother when the shark bit her.

Davis says the girl was floating in a ring tube when her father heard her scream and saw a 3- to 4-foot shark.

The man got his daughter to shore, where Nathan Jung, Galveston County Health District EMS Administrator, says beachgoers fashioned a tourniquet with a dog leash.

Authorities said the girl, who wasn't immediately identified, suffered significant soft tissue damage. She was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Photo: CTV

Two people have been shot in the Vancouver Island community of Sooke, about 40 kilometres west of Victoria.

The attack happened Tuesday evening, just after 9 p.m.

Sooke RCMP have not released any details.

They also haven't said if any suspects have been identified or if the shooting may have been targeted.

Ambulance officials confirm two patients have been rushed to hospital in critical condition.

The age and sex of the victims, or the extent of their injuries remains unknown.
Photo: Facebook

An Alberta man says he was moving a injured deer off a highway in British Columbia when he saw a tiny hoof sticking out of its belly.

Barrhead farmer Sean Steele was on his way to visit family in Prince Rupert last week, when he came across the dying doe near Smithers.

He says he used a pocket knife to perform a road-side caesarean section.

The fawn wasn't breathing, so he stuffed grass up its nose and wiped slime out of its mouth.

It quickly came to and Steele placed the tiny deer on the back seat of his pickup truck and delivered the baby to a nearby sanctuary.

Steele says other passing motorists who stopped were surprised by his actions, but he says it was no big deal.
Photo: Facebook

An elementary school teacher in Port Alberni has been charged with making or publishing child pornography.

A letter from E.J. Dunn Elementary School informed parents on Tuesday that teacher Daniel Oliver has been charged.

The board also confirms that the nature of the criminal charges and the conditions of Mr. Olivers release prevent him performing his teaching duties effective immediately, the letter states.

The teacher hasnt been in class since June 9.

Oliver was charged on June 10. The date of the alleged offence is listed as May 30, according to the B.C. Court Registry.

The school district said in the letter it is co-operating with police.

It also said theres no reason to believe theres a connection between the charges and local students, but officials will follow up as appropriate on any new information arising from the RCMP investigation.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

 with files from CTV Vancouver Island
The candidate was largely unknown in much of North Dakota during his campaign. He had no political experience and ran as an outsider. And after the ballots were counted from the June primary, he was declared the Republican candidate for governor.

It happened on Tuesday, when Fargo businessman Doug Burgum earned the Republican nomination for governor over state Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. But that set of facts is not unprecedented. It happened a century before, too.

Lynn J. Frazier, who would be elected to three two-year terms as governor and become the first governor in the United States to be recalled from office, became the Republican candidate in 1916 despite having little name recognition and no political experience.

It is a magnificent comparison, said Kimberly Porter, a professor of history at the University of North Dakota.

Porter said primary elections didnt come to North Dakota until 1908. Before then, the parties decided whose turn it was to run, and the candidates moved to the general election. Even by 1916, the parties largely put forward their candidates, and their candidates won.

Everyone expected Usher Burdick to walk away with the Republican nomination that year, Porter said. Burdick had paid his dues, serving in legislative posts.

It was just kind of assumed  and we know what assumptions will get you  that he was going to be the Republican nominee, she said.

Running against him was Frazier, representing the Nonpartisan League in the Republican primary. Porter said Frazier was a bright guy, who had hoped for a medical career but got pulled back to the farm after his brothers death.

Frazier became known during his campaign for standing up and saying, My name is Lynn J. Frazier, and Im from Hoople, Porter said.

This was before radio had come to the state, so the elections played out in the newspapers. Several papers questioned both who Frazier was and what Hoople was, Porter said.

There was genuine shock when Frazier came out on top in the primary. He was elected governor that November and served until his recall in 1921. During his time in office, the state established the Bank of North Dakota and moved toward establishing the North Dakota Mill and Elevator.

Porter said Fraziers recall was rooted in backroom dealings, along with a fear of the Nonpartisan Leagues socialist leanings.

Though Fraziers victory in 1916 was a big upset, Porter said it didnt change much for the Republican Party. Like today, the party was strong in the state and used to winning, she said.

They understood or saw that this was kind of a blip, she said.

Frazier went on to be elected to the U.S. Senate in 1922 and served until his defeat by William Langer in 1940.

Porter, who is visiting Iowa, went to bed Tuesday night thinking Stenehjem would lock up the Republican nomination.

I thought I knew what was going to happen, she said. And I dont think I was alone.

She said Burgums victory is an interesting shake-up to state politics, much like Fraziers was 100 years ago.

I looked at the screen this morning and thought, Wow, she said. And its not a political thing. Its more of a cool, somebodys shaking things up.

North Dakota candidates since Frazier have succeeded in primaries without the support of their parties. Nicholas Spaeth won the 1992 primary even though William Heigaard was the Democratic-NPL Partys choice. Spaeth lost in the general election to Ed Schafer. Kevin Cramer beat Brian Kalk in the 2012 primary to be the Republican Party nominee for Congress in the general election despite skipping the party convention. Cramer went on to win the general that year and again in 2014. He is running again for re-election this year.

And Burgum isnt the first person to win the governors race without prior political experience. Schafer also was known for business before his victory in 1992. However, Schafer had put his name on a ballot before that year, running an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives against Byron Dorgan.

According to the State Historical Society of North Dakota, other governors who did not have prior political experience include Andrew Burke, Eli Shortridge, Elmore Sarles, Arthur Sorlie, Thomas Moodie, John Moses and John Hoeven. Hoeven had served as president and CEO of the Bank of North Dakota.

Robert Wood, associate professor of political science and public administration at UND, said there are modern examples of candidates for political office coming seemingly out of nowhere to score victory. Celebrities and business people have found success in politics across the nation  including Donald Trumps status as the presumptive Republican nominee for president this year.

A candidate needs resources, name recognition and a track record to win, Wood said. Burgum had the track record as a business person, and his campaign had the resources to help him get name recognition.

Wood doesnt see Burgums win as a sign that the Trump effect has spilled over into local politics. Though he imagines Burgum found some support from people who saw him as an outsider, Wood thinks Burgums success came more from the campaign he ran, with a little help from support from Democrats.

If Burgum had received support just for being an outsider to politics, Wood would have expected to see pockets of support for him in the east with Stenehjem winning the west. He expected the Bismarck-Mandan area to cast the deciding votes.

That wasnt what we saw at all, he said. Stenehjem only won four counties in the state.
Photo: Contributed

West Kelowna has crowned its first male youth ambassador.

Mount Boucherie Secondary School student Carson Bidewell was named ambassador during the West Kelowna Youth Ambassador Program pageant at Westbank Lions Community Hall.

Bronwyn Shardelow, 14, will serve as female ambassador.

It was fabulous, it was a full house, said organizer Ricki Morin.

Morin says her son questioned why men couldn't be a part of these types of events in the early 1990s, so she changed it from a princess title to ambassador role.

I was the first person to elect a male ambassador in 1994 in Peachland. I changed the whole program around, said Morin.

Carson Bidewell is now the first male ambassador for the City of West Kelowna.

This is just the second year for the West Kelowna ambassador program.

Training includes public speaking, interview techniques, etiquette and even basic mechanics.

They are absolutely wonderful, each one of the 14 candidates could have had the title, no question, said Morin.

First vice-ambassador is Emilie Soucy, and second vice-ambassador is Grace Greening. Jaylin Rees was named Miss Congeniality.

The ambassadors will represent West Kelowna around the province as well as volunteer at community events.

To learn more about the program, check out the West Kelowna Youth Ambassador Program website here.
Photo: Contributed

A man accused of murder in an alleged high school love triangle told police his ex-girlfriend was "the mastermind" behind the plot.

Tyler Myers, 22, was shot to death in a Salmon Arm schoolyard on Nov. 21, 2008.

The accused killer was 16 and his ex-girlfriend was 17 at the time. Neither can be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

They were charged with first-degree murder four years later at the end of an RCMP undercover operation.

On Tuesday, jurors in B.C. Supreme Court watched more than two hours of a video taken the day after the male accused was arrested in November 2012.

In the recording, an RCMP officer persuades the male accused to explain what unfolded.

The officer says the female accused was trying to pin the murder on the male accused, who later starts crying and says he hadn't slept through the night since Myers was killed four years earlier.

He says his ex-girlfriend was also dating Myers at the time, and she told him that Myers planned to attack his family.

I was scared, he says.

There was an altercation between Myers and the male accused at her house 11 days before the murder, court heard in the video.

The male accused says he walked in on the two of them in bed together, then he asked to speak to Myers. He says Myers pushed him, and he ran away.

The female accused, now 25, then started talking about removing Myers from the picture, court heard.

She just said she wants to get rid of him, the male accused, who is 24, says in the police video.

I was just so stupidly, irrationally, illogically in love with her. I was 16 years old.

I was scared, I was confused. I just felt like she was this absolute angel.

On the day of the murder, he says he cut class with the female accused and a friend. Thats when they hatched a plan.

That evening, the male accused hid with a borrowed rifle in a stand of trees at a schoolyard. He says the female accused lured Myers to the area to be shot.

"She called me and said, 'Are you ready? We're coming down,'" the male accused says on the video, describing the female accused as "the mastermind."

"I said, 'Yup.' I was shaking."

The male accused says he had never shot a gun before killing Myers. He told police on the video he shot his romantic rival once from his hideout before emerging and firing two more shots at the request of the female accused.

I just shot, he said. I don't know where it hit him. He was just standing there looking around.

He was just on the ground and she said, Shoot him in the head.

She looked at me and said, You did good, Babe, and gave me a kiss.

Myers was struck with two bullets in his back and one in the back of his head, court heard.

The male accused apologized in the video to the community of Salmon Arm and his parents, as well as Myers family.

The young woman's trial is scheduled for November.
Photo: The Canadian Press

The British Columbia government has bought a former seniors care facility in downtown Victoria and plans to turn it into 140 housing units for the homeless.

The purchase comes as the province heads to B.C. Supreme Court later this month in its second attempt to evict the 80 to 100 people who have been camping on the grounds of the Victoria courthouse since last year.

B.C. paid $11.2 million for the former care facility which will be ready for tenants next month.

Housing Minister Rich Coleman says the new building has enough space for the homeless camp residents who are living in unsafe conditions in tarp-covered tents beside the courthouse.

Coleman says the province has already provided more than 190 spaces for Victoria's homeless since last October, including shelter and living units at a former youth jail, community centre and seniors care facility.

In April, the chief justice of the B.C. Supreme Court refused to grant the province an interim injunction to evict the campers, ruling the government didn't prove it would suffer irreparable harm if an injunction wasn't granted.
Photo: Nick Taylor

The British Columbia Coroners Service has revealed a tragic portrait of children and youth who died in collisions and is calling for safer street design to prevent future deaths.

The service has issued a report with recommendations for the province after reviewing the deaths of 81 young pedestrians, skateboarders and cyclists between 2005 and 2014.

The report says 15 to 18-year-olds were most likely to die in road-related crashes, and of 29 in that age range who were tested for toxicology, 23 tested positive for alcohol or marijuana.

More than one-third had involvement with the Children's Ministry within 12 months of their deaths, which the coroner says is consistent with research findings in other jurisdictions.

The service also found nearly half of the children aged one to four died in driveway incidents where, for example, a child runs behind a parent's vehicle as it is backing up.

The report recommends B.C. approach road design with a focus on safety, increase traffic safety knowledge for children and youth, and promote the adoption of legislation for vehicle sensors and cameras.
FARGO -- North Dakota's economy shrank in 2015 by almost 6 percent, ending a decade of mostly robust growth that saw the state's output of goods and services more than double.

North Dakota's gross domestic product last year dropped to $54.8 billion, down from $58.2 billion in 2014, or a decline of 5.8 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Agriculture and petroleum, the two main drivers of North Dakota's wealth, saw significant declines last year.

Mining, dominated by oil and gas extraction, plunged 34.2 percent from 2014 to 2015. During the same period, agriculture declined 11.6 percent.

Bright spots in the economy included health care, which grew 6.7 percent, educational services, which rose 6.6 percent, and utilities, up 6.5 percent, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis figures.

David Flynn, an economics professor at the University of North Dakota, said the decline should be viewed in the context of years of impressive growth. Until the last few years, both oil and agriculture were booming simultaneously.

"We're talking about an amazing change in our state's economy," Flynn said. North Dakota might have to accept the sharp decline in oil last year as the downside of a phenomenal growth spurt.

"This is still a track record I think many states would gladly swap with North Dakota," he said. The drop in the state's economy reflects the volatility of commodities.

"It's not a good time," Flynn said. "There's a lot of volatility."

Nonetheless, he predicted the price of oil, which recently has shown signs of stabilizing, will increase in the future.

"North Dakota is going to continue gaining from it," Flynn said, referring to petroleum. "I think we'll be seeing growth from that sector" in the future.

Al Anderson, commissioner of the North Dakota Department of Commerce, said the decline was anticipated, given the unprecedented growth in 2014, when the economy grew 7 percent, following an intense growth spurt of 16.9 percent in 2010-11 and 23.9 percent in 2011-12.

If agriculture and mining were subtracted from the gross domestic product figures, North Dakota's economy would have grown a modest 1.3 percent last year, Anderson said.

The decline in agriculture last year actually was less severe than in the two previous years. The ag sector shrank 16.6 percent from 2013 to 2014 and plummeted 24.4 percent from 2012 to 2013. The declines in the farming sector followed a series of years with mostly healthy growth, including an increase of 47 percent in 2011 to 2012 when crop prices were much higher.

The 34.2 percent decrease in mining marked the first decrease in the sector that includes petroleum since 2008 to 2009, during the Great Recession, when it fell 6.8 percent.

The drop in the value of goods and services produced from 2014 to 2015 is North Dakota's first decline in a series of gross domestic product figures kept by the Bureau of Economic Analysis dating back to 1997.

Anderson expects North Dakota's economy to rebound. The economy has diversified in recent years. Although agriculture and mining have struggled in recent years, manufacturing continues to grow steadily, state figures show.

"I fully expect us to continue to grow," Anderson said. "I'm very optimistic for the future."

The state's struggling economy in the face of slumping farming and energy prices has been a leading issue in the hotly contested state GOP gubernatorial primary on Tuesday.
Germany: Refratechnik appoints new managing director

15 June 2016

Mr Wolfgang Tabbert, managing director of Refratechnik Cement GmbH, has handed over his duties to his colleague Dr Stefan Puntke, whose field of activities will now be handled by Dr Christian Meyre.



Wolfgang Tabbert has worked for the company for more than 30 years, five of them as sales manager, and 13 years as managing director. To ensure a smooth transfer and termination of his activities, he will continue to act as consultant for Refratechnik Cement for a while.



Refratechnik Holding's Management Board expressed their deep-felt thanks for his outstanding work and his many years of commitment to the Refratechnik Group, and wished him all the best for the future and his well-deserved retirement.



In his new function as managing director, Dr Stefan Puntke  who is already well-known and highly appreciated in the cement industry and within the Refratechnik Group  will be responsible for Mr Tabbert's previous field of activities.



On 1 June 2016, Dr Christian Meyre took over Dr Stefan Puntke's previous management functions. Dr Meyre has acquired extensive management experience in the international cement industry, particularly in North America.







Published under
Iran: exporters look to Africa for new markets

ICR Newsroom By 15 June 2016

Iranian cement producers are looking further afield as the impact of Iraqs ban on imports shuts them out of their main export market, the Financial Tribune reports. The lifting of sanctions on Iran earlier this year has expanded the list of potential destinations for cement exports.

In May, the Iraqi parliament approved legislation banning cement imports in a move designed to protect domestic producers. Iran has hitherto been a major supply to its neighbour: 48 per cent of Iranian exports  in volume terms anywhere between 7-9Mt  are to Iraq.

Now, Abdolreza Sheikhan, the head of Iran Cement Employers Association, has called on the government to subsidise the cost of transportation to Africa. Iranian exporters are believed to be seeking opportunities in countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya  two African markets where demand has risen strongly in recent years.

Published under
 Former NYT Jerusalem Bureau Chief Sees the Light | Main | Wheres the Coverage? Hezbollah Works with Drug Cartels 

June 15, 2016

Tribune Newspapers Contradicts Themselves in Refusing to Correct



Tribune Newspapers (including The Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and Baltimore Sun) offered a contradictory refusal to a request by CAMERA for a correction to an article calling disputed territories, some of which are held by Israel, Palestinian lands.?

The Tribune report John Kerry joins French-led Middle East peace push,? by correspondent Tracy Wilkinson, appeared in The Baltimore Sun, The Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune (online June 3). It says, among other things: participants in Fridays talks, including U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and about 25 senior European and Arab diplomats, urged Israelis and Palestinians to genuinely commit to a two-state solution and to create conditions for fully ending Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands [emphasis added].?

However, as CAMERA pointed out in its correction request, there are not now, nor have there ever been, Palestinian lands.? Since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, no power has exercised recognized sovereignty over the land in question. Its status is to resolved by negotiations anticipated by U.N. Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the 1995 Israeli-Palestinian interim accords, the 2003 international road map and related diplomatic efforts taking 242 and 338 as reference points.

It would be more accurate to describe the status of the territories as disputed, not Palestinian. As U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Madeline Albright stated in March 1994: We simply do not support the description of the territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 War as occupied territory.? That is, neither occupied Jordanian (the West Bank, 1948-1967) or Egyptian (the Gaza Strip, 1948-1967) land, nor occupied Palestinian territory.

Other newspapers have, if infrequently, noted as much. For examplefollowing contact by CAMERAThe Washington Post updated a Sept. 5, 2014 article (Washington Post Corrects on West Bank Palestinian Land, Sept. 7, 2014, CAMERA). That update acknowledged that The Post article "incorrectly referred to Israel's occupation of 'Palestinian lands' in the West Bank." Further, it added the Israeli-occupied territories are disputed lands that Palestinians want as a future state.? Similarly, after contact from CAMERA, The New York Times offered a correction on Feb. 20, 2014, over what the paper acknowledged was imprecise? wording.

However, Tribune newspapers refused to correct its use of Palestinian lands.? Instead, its rejection claimedbizarrelythat the article makes it more than clear that these lands are in disputeits what the discussions are about.? Except it doesnt; the incorrect term Palestinian lands? implies a fait accompli regarding the status of those territories, voiding any need for negotiation. Readers might well wonder what is there to negotiate if the lands are already Palestinian.?

It is worth noting however that Tribune, while affirming its choice in terminology, didnt contradict CAMERAs pointing out that the status of the lands are disputed. In fact, the chain agreed, asserting that countless others [articles] we have published on the peace process, makes it more than clear that these lands are in dispute.? Countless others, but not this one.





Posted by SD at June 15, 2016 03:15 PM

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TakeItDownAmerica.jpg

Hundreds gathered at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday in support of Attorney Carlos Moore and actress Aunjanue Ellis in their efforts to encourage lawmakers in Washington to exercise their power under the 13th Amendment to remove vestiges of slavery from federal and public property in Mississippi.

(TakeItDownAmerica Facebook)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Flag Day brought over 100 Mississippians to the nation's capital on Tuesday to rally and encourage lawmakers in Washington to order Mississippi to remove and discontinue the flight of the 1894 Mississippi state flag bearing Confederate insignia from flying over federal and public property.

Congressmen such as Bennie Thompson and Hakeem Jeffries, state representative Kathy Sykes, local civic leaders and their congregations, actress and native Mississippian Aunjanue Ellis, and scholar, author, and Georgetown professor Michael Eric Dyson were on hand to present speeches to the audience at the capitol on Tuesday. Students from colleges such as Tougaloo and Jackson State also made the trip to Washington.

Moss Point native and attorney Carlos Moore said he felt Tuesday's rally was successful.

"It was a great rally," Moore said. "We had congressmen from Mississippi, California, and New York to address the audience, along with music and singing, so overall, it was a great day. We had a boat load of people to travel from Mississippi from cities such as Hattiesburg, Magee, Jackson, and Grenada came to support, so we were pleased in the turnout."

#TakeItDownAmerica Rally at the US Capitol in Washington DC Posted by Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba on Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Three Democratic congressmen from within the house also came out to join the rally, according to Moore

Moore and Ellis have been very vocal about their displeasure for the state of Mississippi's continued flight of a flag they consider to be a "vestige of slavery" - along with Moore's lawsuit against Mississippi Governor, Phil Bryant.

Ellis, an actress who has appeared in movies and television series has gone as far as saying she would never act in Mississippi again until the state flag is taken down.

Moore has went as far as suing the state of Mississippi citing past incidents in which Confederate symbols have been associated with racially motivated acts of violence: White supremacist Dylann Roof murdered nine people in a Charleston, S.C., church in June 2015 and has photos of himself holding a Confederate flag. In February 2014 on the campus of the University of Mississippi, a noose was found draped around the neck of the James Meredith statue along with an old Georgia flag with Confederate battle insignia placed around the shoulders of the statue. He also cites the hanging of two Mississippi men in the last five years, Frederick Carter in Greenwood, Miss., and Otis Byrd, found hanging from a tree in Claiborne County in 2015.

Tuesday's rally went well, but Moore says he along with others plan to return to Washington to encourage people to vote and to continue the fight against Republicans lack of removing Confederate imagery across the nation.

"We need people who are sympathetic to the cause to be in leadership," Moore said. "Congress has a lot to do and they have the power under the 13th Amendment to outlaw vestiges of slavery across the country and we plan to advocate on getting the right people in the House and Senate so we can get this accomplished through Congress."

The state flag issue was initially brought to a vote on April 17, 2001 where a referendum was presented stating the 1894 state flag had not been verified when the state constitution was rewritten in 1906. Mississippians voted overwhelmingly to keep the 1894 state flag by a total margin of 65% to 35%.
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OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Ocean Springs police have arrested a Pascagoula man who is suspected in a string of auto burglaries throughout the city.

According to Ocean Springs Det. Capt. Chuck Jackson, Harrison County investigators contacted Ocean Springs police last Friday, saying they had made a traffic stop which led to the arrest of 38-year-old Antowin Vasha Porter on stolen tag and vehicle theft charges.

The Harrison County investigators had found Porter in possession of numerous items, including ID's, checks and credit cards which did not belong to him. Investigation revealed the items were among those reported taken during several auto burglaries in Ocean Springs.

Porter posted a $100,00 bond and was released from the Harrison County Adult Detention Center, but on Monday Ocean Springs detectives obtained an arrest warrant from Municipal Court Judge Matthew Mestayer and arrested Porter at his residence in Pascagoula.

While there, Ocean Springs investigators executed a search warrant of the home and located numerous other items reported stolen during auto burglaries in Ocean Springs.

Porter was transported to the Ocean Springs Municipal Jail where he is awaiting his initial court appearance on seven counts of auto burglary. Additional charges may be pending.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the OSPD at 228-875-2211.
BILOXI, Miss. -- On Tuesday, the U.S. Marshall's Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 20-year-old Corbyn Treymane Cowan, of Pascagoula, for a Biloxi Police Department warrant for aggravated assault with a firearm.

Cowan was arrested at a relative's house without incident in Pascagoula, according to police. Police conducted an investigation that identified Cowan as the suspect from a shooting on May 29 in the 400 block of Carmague Lane where a teenage victim was shot in the leg.

Cowan taken to the Biloxi Police Department and then transported to the Harrison County Jail where he is being held on a $50,000 bond set by Harrison County Justice Court Judge Bruce Strong.

The night of the shooting, the victim was taken to a local hospital and treated for a non-life threatening injury where he was later released a few days later and is expected to make a full recovery, according to police.

Cowan is believed to have been the only person who discharged a firearm in this incident.

Anyone who has additional information regarding this incident or any criminal activity should contact the Biloxi Police Department at (228) 392-0641 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at (877) 787-5898 or online at mscoastcrimestoppers.com
As the Yulin dog meat festival draws closer, HSI this week helped rescue 29 dogs, including the ones pictured above, from a slaughterhouse in Yulin, China. Photo by Mai Zi/CAPP

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This week, Humane Society Internationals Peter Li, working with Chinese activists, helped save 29 dogs and five cats from the butchers block in Yulin, China, where preparations are on for an annual dog meat festival that begins June 21.

It was a great sense of relief to leave the slaughterhouse cages empty for one day at least, said Peter, who negotiated the release of the animals from a slaughterhouse in Yulin. The dogs and cats were clearly afraid, especially the older dogs who looked very fearful. But once they realized that we were not there to hurt them, but in fact we would make their suffering stop at last, they very quickly responded with licks and wagging tails.

Like most of the dogs and cats butchered at this event, the terrified animals, including puppies and kittens, were being held in squalid conditions, starved, and without water. Some of the dogs wore collars, suggesting they were pets stolen by dog thieves to fuel the trade, an increasingly common crime across China.

Rescue operations are just one in a number of steps we are taking in Yulin to end the suffering of dogs and cats at this so-called festival. Stopping the entire bloody spectacle is a top priority within our organization  as much as ending the confinement of farm animals in industrial agriculture, stopping the seal hunt in Canada, and adopting felony-level penalties everywhere for malicious cruelty.

Since the Yulin festival opened in 2010, we have helped bring down the number of dogs slaughtered each year from 15,000 to around 2,000-3,000 last year. Through a concerted communications effort , we have focused the worlds attention on this awful event. Still, the fight is far from over, and in the past few weeks, HSI and activists from China Animal Protection Power have helped rescue 500 dogs from trucks headed for slaughter. In April of this year, Peter and a team of HSI investigators traveled to Yulin to document some of the horrors that precede the festival. They found that as many as 300 dogs were being slaughtered each day in the city, weeks before the festival even began.

We are keeping up the pressure on the Chinese government to end this cruel spectacle. Last week, we delivered a petition to Chinese authorities signed by an astonishing 11 million people around the world and in China, demanding an end to the festival. The petition was also presented to the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom by several celebrities, including actress Carrie Fisher of Star Wars, and members of parliament.

The Yulin dog meat festival began as an attempt to encourage tourism, but as the overwhelming response to the petition shows, the event has brought China nothing but international censure and condemnation. Even within China, where only a small and declining minority eats dog meat, animal activists have demanded an end to this barbaric event. Increasingly, young Chinese view dogs and cats as pets, not food.

China has the second highest number of human rabies cases in the world, and the Guangxi Autonomous Region, where Yulin is located, and the city of Yulin, have Chinas highest incidence of rabies. Mass transport, handling, and slaughter expose workers in the dog meat trade, who are mostly unvaccinated, to the deadly disease. The World Health Organization warns that the dog trade spreads rabies and increases the risk of cholera by 20 times.

All of the 34 animals we helped rescue are now safe in a shelter where they are being evaluated and treated by veterinarians before being prepared for adoption within China, and in the United Kingdom and the United States. Meanwhile, our work to stop the dog meat festival continues at a fever pitch, and were committed to staying the course until Yulin is better known as the place where a dog meat festival once occurred.
Chattanooga State Community Colleges award-winning Writers@Work program is the recipient of a $15,000 grant to host the NEA Big Read in Chattanooga. A program of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Big Read broadens understanding of the world, communities, and individuals through "the joy of sharing a good book".

Chattanooga State is one of 77 nonprofit organizations to receive a grant in support of an NEA Big Read project between September and June 2017. The NEA Big Read in Chattanooga will focus on Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones. Activities will take place beginning in January with the author visit slated for April 10-14. Chattanooga States cultural partners in this endeavor include UNUM, the Hunter Museum of American Art, the Chattanooga Public Library, and the Southern Lit Alliance. The Writers@Work program also will receive grant funding from the Tennessee Arts Commission for the second year in a row.

"The Chattanooga State Humanities Department is extremely excited for the opportunity that the NEA's Big Read offers," said Dr. Joel henderson, Chattanooga State Humanities Department chair. "This grant will allow us to expand the reach of our annual Writers@Work program and to impact Chattanooga in a powerful and positive way. We can't wait to introduce Tayari Jones and her novel, Silver Sparrow, to the greater Chattanooga community."

Over the last five years, the Chattanooga State Humanities Departments Writers@Work program has established itself as a proponent of Southern literature and literary studies. Primarily designed to enhance the Departments English curriculum, W@W has a secondary aim of providing students and community members with an opportunity to explore what it means to be Southern through a weeklong series of free public events.

Both school and city should be proud of such a program, said 2016s visiting W@W author Ron Rash, author of Serena.

Rick Bragg (All Over But the Shoutin) had this to say after his visit in 2015: They work you like a rented mule, dawn till midnight (or so it seemed), in an effort to bring that love of writing to as many people, young and old, as possible. The people there are passionate about the reading and writing life and bring in only people who share that passion. All this goes on in the shadow of mountains, the mist-covered mountains my people made whiskey on, so I am a little biased, here. But even if I was a stranger to this place, I would still call it one of the finest programs of its kind.

Managed by Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read offers grants to support innovative community reading programs designed around a single book. The program supports organizations across the country in developing community-wide reading programs, which encourage reading and participation by diverse audiences. Organizations selected to participate in the NEA Big Read receive a grant, access to online training resources and opportunities, and educational and promotional materials designed to support widespread community involvement.

For more information about the NEA Big Read, visit neabigread.org. For more information about the Chattanooga State Humanities Departments Writers@Work program, visit www.facebook.com/CSWritersatWork.






Virginia College announced that it will host a BBQ Competition on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with an awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m.

The competition, hosted in partnership with the Chattanooga chapter of the American Culinary Federation (ACF), is free and open to the public and will be held at the Virginia College campus at 721 Eastgate Loop.

The event will open to the public Saturday at 10 a.m. and will feature live music, live broadcasting for attendees throughout the day. There will also be activities for children and families setup by Virginia College staff.

The ACF is the national accrediting commission for culinary and pastry education programs at postsecondary institutions and secondary programs. Culinard, the culinary institute of Virginia College in Chattanooga, is the only ACF accredited school in the East Tennessee area, and Culinard program director Andi Cagle is the current ACF president for the Chattanooga chapter.

ACF will be providing food for sale at the event, and proceeds will benefit the Zion Project, an international organization that works to stop the human trafficking of women, specifically in the Chattanooga area. The Zion Project also touches the lives of women who have fallen victim to these horrible crimes by helping them rebuild their life on various levels. Representatives from the Zion Project will be at the event to share information about the organization.



We are excited to host this event at our campus, said Dominick DeLorenzo, campus president. Not only is this a great opportunity for the community to get involved, but it provides wonderful real world experience for our Virginia College Culinard students.



Once the competitors have presented their protein, a panel of four professional chefs and a celebrity judge with years of experience judging BBQ will evaluate them. The judges include:



Chef Dao Le  executive chef of the Double Tree Hotel

Chef Vince Fant  executive chef of Council Fire Golf Club

Chef Eric Pippert  executive chef of Alleia

Chef William Wright  Culinard instructor

Chip Chapmen  Channel 12 News meteorologist

Winners of the three categories will be announced at 5:30 p.m. and will receive a trophy and $400 prize. One competitor who has entered into all three categories will be selected as the grand champion and will receive a trophy and $500 prize.



We have an excellent lineup of judges for this event and are excited for a high-quality competition, said Chef Roger Burrows, executive chef at Ruths Chris and committee chair for the ACF. This event is a great way to bring the culinary community in Chattanooga together while creating a fun family event for the public to enjoy.



Culinard, the culinary institute of Virginia College is accredited by the ACF, and the Virginia College in Chattanoogas program director Andi Cagle is the current president of the ACF.



More information about the event is available at bbqcompchatt.wix.com/mysite.

Competitors will provide their own protein, smoker and equipment, as well as wood or heat source. Turn in times for pork ribs, beef brisket and pulled pork will be Saturday, July 9 at noon, 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively.
Immaculate Conception School IMG_0016 (003).jpg

Carol Hilton, of Merchants Bank, with Sir Maria Luz, of Immaculate Conception School, and Anna Rittle, of Merchants.

(Special to lehighvalleylive.com)

Merchants Bank has donated $3,000 to the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholarship Foundation through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program.

Holy Family School, in Nazareth, received $1,000, while Immaculate Conception School in Pen Argyl received $2,000.
Nathan Ozug, left, and Brenton Engel of Letherbee Distillers work in the distillery June 9, 2016, in Chicago. Engel's company produces about 4,000 cases of spirits annually. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Soon, makers of craft spirits in Illinois might be able to produce significantly more booze with a single state license, but not all craft distillers are raising a glass to honor the occasion.

Senate Bill 2797, passed by both House and Senate last month but not yet sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner, would allow those licensed as craft distillers in Illinois to make up to 100,000 gallons of spirits a year, up from the 35,000 gallons a year per license that's currently allowed. But it also would close a loophole in the existing law that doesn't explicitly prohibit distilleries from holding multiple licenses at different locations as a way to produce more spirits.

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This bill  sponsored by state Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago  would cap total production at a threshold that's still well beyond what many Illinois craft distillers are making. The increase would directly benefit the Ravenswood-based Koval Distillery, one of the state's largest craft distillers that's looking for a larger facility in Chicago to consolidate and grow its operations.

But it would "cramp" the business plans for Few Spirits in Evanston, a Koval competitor that's currently producing about 70,000 gallons under two craft licenses, said Paul Hletko, Few Spirits founder.

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"I think it's going to stink when one of the largest craft distillers in Illinois has to close its doors to the public," said Hletko, referring to his own business.

Hletko's said the bill's cap on total gallonage likely would force him to eschew the craft license in favor of a noncraft distiller's license, which doesn't permit tasting rooms or tours. Ultimately, the growth of the business is what's most important, Hletko said.

Sonat Birnecker Hart, Koval president, also is trying to grow her business, which is why she advocated for the production increase. Like Few, Koval makes about 70,000 gallons a year under two craft licenses, she said. But Hart is hoping to bring those operations under one roof, while retaining a tasting room to attract tourists, and wanted her investment to be protected by law.

Hart maintains that other distilleries, and not just her own, will eventually benefit from the increase.

"This is a fast-growing industry. A distillery can grow very fast in a short amount of time. ... This is a significant win for all the (craft) distilleries in Illinois," Hart said.

In Illinois, there are 28 craft distiller licenses currently issued, said Terry Horstman, spokesman for the state Department of Revenue. The tax revenue generated from these businesses is still relatively small, but growing quickly. In 2011, craft distillers generated about $7,420 in state sales taxes and liquor revenue taxes, according to state data. By last year, that number had grown to almost $154,400. Those running these businesses are also quick to point out that, like craft breweries, distilleries also produce jobs and tourism dollars.

Nationally, there are 1,280 producers of craft spirits, the most since Prohibition, according to a study conducted by the American Craft Spirits Association, International Wine and Spirits Research and import company Park Street.

Between 2011 and 2015, launches of spirits marketed as "craft" increased 265 percent globally, a craze driven by the U.S. market and, in particular, millennial consumers, according to a recent report from market research firm Mintel.

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But what does it even mean to be a craft distiller? Depends on who you ask and where you do business. In contrast to the craft beer industry, which has one generally agreed-upon definition of what it means to be a craft brewer, the definition of craft distilling is more fluid, varying state-by-state depending on the regulations.

"Craft" has become a meaningless term, said Brenton Engel, owner of Letherbee Distillers, which is based in the Ravenswood industrial corridor.

But Engel nonetheless had strong opinions on what craft isn't.

"I think 100,000 gallons (a year) is an absurd amount to produce and still call yourself a craft distiller," said Engel, whose distillery produces about 7,000 gallons a year.

Engel noted that the proposed increase to production in Illinois is happening while the American Craft Spirits Association is lobbying for the federal excise tax on distilleries to be lowered for the first 100,000 gallons produced and bottled each year. Engel called that lobbying effort "greedy" and "distasteful."

Hletko, who's also president of the board of directors for the national craft spirits group, said it's all about establishing "parity" with wine and beer, which are taxed at lower rates.

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The Illinois Craft Distillers Association, a fledgling trade group with 22 members created in 2013, had hoped to secure state legislative victories that would more directly help the smaller distilleries, said Matthew Blaum, president of the board of directors for the association.

In a first-time lobbying effort, the group pushed two separate bills this session. Both bills sought to raise the amount of product that can be sold on premise at distilleries and permit distillers to sell their spirits at events like farmers markets, among other provisions.

But those proposals ran into a "buzz saw" of opposition from the more established wholesalers lobbying groups, Blaum said.

So the craft distillers group instead merged its support with the Steans bill, which does establish tasting permits for distilleries to give samples at farmers markets and other events.

"The biggest thing we accomplished was just being heard and recognized for the first time," said Blaum, co-founder of Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. in Galena.

Under the so-called three-tier system for alcohol in Illinois, each tier  manufacturers, distributors and retailers  maintains its independence. Manufacturers sell to distributors, who sell to retailers, who sell to consumers.

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Changing liquor laws often requires reaching compromise with the Wine and Spirits Distributors of Illinois, a powerful, long-standing trade association funded by the two largest wholesalers in the state  the Wirtz family's Breakthru Beverage and Southern Wine & Spirits.

Suffice to say that self-distribution for small distilleries, which is also on the wish list for the Illinois Craft Distillers Association, will be an uphill battle.

Karin Matura, executive director of Wine and Spirits Distributors of Illinois, said her organization's excited about the growth in craft distilleries  and willing to review and change antiquated laws as needed  so long as that growth includes working with wholesalers to distribute product. Matura said her association supported Steans' bill because it did just that.

"The three-tier system works and it allows for craft distilleries to grow," Matura said.

Noelle DiPrizio, co-founder of Chicago Distilling Company, had her first taste of how Springfield works, which she described as "eye-opening."

In addition to her job as vice president at the distillery and raising two small children, DiPrizio served as the de facto lobbyist for the craft distillers group this legislative session.

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"What I learned is things can change in a matter of seconds down there (in Springfield)," DiPrizio said.

DiPrizio said she's excited about the proposed change in law, which she believes will eventually benefit more distilleries than just Koval. And with one legislative session under her belt, she's optimistic about future changes to state law that will benefit smaller distilleries. Next time around, though, the craft distillers group hopes to hire a full-time lobbyist.

"The growth of craft distilleries (in Illinois) has been exponential," DiPrizio said. "We have an organization now. We have needs."

gtrotter@tribpub.com

Twitter @GregTrotterTrib
Music icon Prince, who died in May, is featured on the cover of "Ebony" in June 2016. The magazine has been sold to a Texas company.

After a 71-year run in Chicago, Johnson Publishing is getting out of publishing.

The company said Tuesday it has sold Ebony, its iconic African-American lifestyle magazine, and the now digital-only Jet magazine to Clear View Group, an Austin, Texas-based private equity firm, for an undisclosed amount.

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Johnson Publishing will retain its Fashion Fair Cosmetics business and its historic Ebony photo archives, which remains up for sale. The deal, which closed in May, also included the assumption of debt.

A family-owned business throughout its history, Ebony has documented the African-American experience since it first hit newsstands in 1945. It has shaped culture ever since, coming into its own as it reported from the front lines of the civil rights movement during the 1960s in powerful photos and prose.

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In recent years, though, Johnson Publishing has seen declining media revenues as it struggled to evolve from print to digital platforms.

Linda Johnson Rice, chairman of Johnson Publishing and daughter of founder John Johnson, will serve as chairman emeritus on the board of the new company.

"This is the next chapter in retaining the legacy that my father, John H. Johnson, built to ensure the celebration of African-Americans," she said in a statement Tuesday.

The new publishing entity, Ebony Media Operations, will maintain the magazine's Chicago headquarters and its New York editorial office, as well as much of the current staff, according to Michael Gibson, co-founder and chairman of African-American-owned Clear View Group.

It is the first investment in the publishing business for Clear View.

"We made this purchase because this is an iconic brand  it's the most-recognized brand in the African-American community," said Gibson, 59. "We just think this is a great opportunity for us."

Cheryl McKissack, who has served as chief operating officer since 2013, will assume the role of CEO of the new publishing entity under Clear View, operating out of the magazine's Chicago office. Kierna Mayo is stepping down as editor-in-chief of Ebony to pursue other opportunities, Gibson said.

Chicago-based Kyra Kyles, who has headed up digital content for Ebony and Jet since last June, will add the role of editor-in-chief of Ebony, Gibson said.

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Ebony covers featuring Vanessa Williams (1983), Muhammad Ali (1978), Nelson Mandela (1990) and President Barack Obama (2008).

"When we make an investment, that's what we look for  a strong team that can actually run the company," Gibson said. "We're not managers or experts by any stretch of imagination in the media business. What we bring to the table is very strong networking and the ability to raise financing and the ability to establish a vision for the company."

Desiree Rogers, the former social secretary for President Barack Obama who has been steering Johnson Publishing since 2010, will remain CEO, focusing on the cosmetics business, which represents about half of the company's total revenue.

"The overall strategy of separating these two distinct businesses  media and cosmetics  will ensure that both iconic brands are positioned for future investment and growth," Rogers said in a statement.

Under Rogers, Johnson Publishing made a number of moves in an effort to shore up finances. Those included taking on a minority partner in 2011, and taking the money-losing weekly digest Jet out of print circulation in 2014.

In January 2015, Johnson Publishing put its entire photo archive up for sale, hoping to raise $40 million. The historic collection spans seven decades of African-American history, chronicling everyone from Martin Luther King Jr. to Sammy Davis Jr.

The collection is still for sale, Rogers said Tuesday.

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While the publishing industry continues to face headwinds  year-over-year magazine revenue is down 9 percent through April, according to Standard Media Index  Gibson said Ebony will remain in print for the foreseeable future. At the same time, he recognizes the need to ramp up digital growth.

"There's a lot of good reasons to keep the print," Gibson said. "That will always be our anchor. We want to grow the digital platform more consistently with both Ebony and Jet."

Gibson also sees opportunity in leveraging and expanding Ebony's events business. But in the end, the greatest asset he acquired was the legacy of a brand, one which he hopes will be influential for years to come.

"It's a dream come true," Gibson said. "Growing up, we had Ebony and Jet in our household all along. You knew you made it when you made it to the cover of Ebony or Jet. It is just exciting  I pinch myself every morning."

rchannick@tribpub.com

Twitter @RobertChannick
A $55 million surgical expansion is under construction June 15, 2016, at Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora. The hospital plans to expand specialty care in neurosciences, neonatal and women's health as part of a closer partnership with Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora plans to expand specialty care and add physician training under a closer partnership with Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

The two hospitals are selling the expansion as enhancing "academic" medicine in the western suburbs. Academic medical centers like Rush have a three-pronged mission: education, research and patient care. They are designed to deliver complex, specialized care and tend to have higher costs than other hospitals.

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In Chicago, academic medical centers have been acquiring community hospitals in the suburbs to bring more patients to their downtown facilities and expand their well-known brands. Rush was one of the early movers, entering into an affiliation in 1987 with Copley Memorial Hospital. The arrangement wasn't a full-blown merger but Rush controlled Copley's borrowing, strategic plans and budgets. Together they built a new 210-bed hospital in Aurora in 1995.

Nearly 30 years after forming that partnership, Rush seeks to expand patient access partly through its specialty care. The Aurora hospital will no longer be viewed as just a referral network, according to Dr. Larry Goodman, CEO of Rush.

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For Rush-Copley, that means investments in clinical programs to offer patients more comprehensive services in three areas: neurosciences, neonatal and women's health. The hospital also will start a new residency program in emergency medicine and plans to do more clinical studies to bring cutting-edge research closer to its patients.

"In order to be effective in the future of health care, we have to do a better job of reaching patients where they are," Goodman said.

To be more unified, Rush plans to use the same medical records system at all facilities. It also plans to form a new board of directors to oversee the health system, which includes Rush Oak Park Hospital and several outpatient facilities. The board will be led by William Goodyear, chair of the Rush University Medical Center. Barry Finn, CEO of Rush-Copley, will continue in his current role.

"The level of services, whether you go to Rush-Copley or Rush medical center, will become similar," Finn said. "The same people will be involved in your care across locations. That's very different than what's happening today."

Finn said he expects to hire more nurses and other staff to accommodate more specialty care.

The Copley hospital competes with five hospitals, including Presence Health's Mercy Medical Center in Aurora, but has a leading market share in its primary service area, according to Standard & Poor's Rating Services.

The Aurora hospital has benefited from Rush's clinical reputation, Finn said. Rush has several nationally recognized programs, including orthopedics and geriatrics.

Two years ago, the Aurora hospital received state approval for a $52 million project to expand and modernize operating and recovery rooms. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

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Rush has transformed its Chicago campus on the Near West Side through a $1.1 billion investment, including a new 14-story tower that added 304 beds. In a highly competitive market, Rush's revenues, which include the Aurora hospital, grew 5.3 percent to $1.81 billion in the year ended June 30, 2015. Hospital admissions in fiscal 2015 increased 2.6 percent over the previous year.

The boards of Rush-Copley and Rush medical center have signed a letter of intent on the new governance structure and expect to complete the arrangement in early 2017.

asachdev@tribpub.com

Twitter @ameetsachdev
Galt, Calif., brewery Special Ed's has caused an uproar over its name, which some say is offensive to mentally disabled people. (Special Ed's / Facebook)

Galt, Calif.  On the Facebook page for Special Ed's Brewery, a new business slated to open soon in Galt, Calif., the business description comes with a warning: "We do everything tongue in cheek, so don't take offense to anything we do or say."

This week, following a social media uproar over the business name and related slogans  including beer bottle labels that read " 'tard tested, 'tard approved"  no one seems to be laughing.

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People who were initially excited that the first small brewery might be opening in Galt soon grew angry once details of the business became clear. One of the brewery's slogans reads, "Ride the short bus to special beer," in seeming reference to buses transporting developmentally disabled children. Special Ed's also has a proposed beer "Back of the Bus Brown Ale," which appears to refer to the Jim Crow-era policy that helped launch the civil rights movement.

The owners of the business, Edward and Cheryl Mason, said they'd received death threats even after writing an apology on Facebook.

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"My husband is getting death threats on his phone," Cheryl Mason said, adding they had reported the threats to police. "The situation is not funny at all."

Name of new Galt brewery  Special Ed's  creates uproar over insult to disabled pic.twitter.com/MG4P9aM3XA  The Sacramento Bee (@sacbee_news) June 13, 2016

Asked for her reaction to the social media onslaught, Cheryl Mason said, "I think it's ridiculous. I understand where people are coming from. I'm not heartless ... but people are not seeing where my husband is coming from. It wasn't made out to attack anyone. It wasn't meant to make fun of special-needs people."

Special Ed's is slated to be a homebrew supply store and small brewery serving beer to the public. The most recent post on the business's now-defunct Facebook page suggested the name might be changed to Ed's Special Brewery or Ed's Special Brew.

"I never wanted the intent to be that I'm insensitive or some of the horrid things I've been called today," said a post, apparently written by Edward Mason. "I just wanted to have some fun with my name."

"People are complaining about the name. The name is Special Ed's Brewery, not Special Ed Brewery. My husband has been known as Ed or Eddie all his life, and he's special to me," Cheryl Mason said.

Asked if she realized that making a pun about special education was seen by many as insensitive, she said, "The T-shirts are gone. We cut them up and put them in the trash this morning. The pictures are gone. Everything is gone so we can say, 'OK, you got your way.'"

Based on the wave of feedback, it may be too late for a name change. Several people on Facebook said they would boycott the business and angrily denounced the name and related slogans while responding to posts on the brewery's page.

"I might be biased because I have an 8-year-old girl with Down syndrome, but it seems like a really bad business decision. You're definitely alienating a lot of people," said Nguyen Pham, owner of Sunh Fish, in an interview Monday. "I have friends messaging me, and they think this is crazy."

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Pham, whose business supplies seafood to restaurants and sells to the public, added,

"I feel like the word 'retard' or ''tard' is much more hurtful because you're dealing with a segment of society that can't defend themselves."

One Galt resident who called for a boycott of Special Ed's even before it has opened said she is willing to hear him out before moving forward with the campaign.

"This is absolutely heartbreaking. I was really embarrassed that this was in Galt, where I have lived for 17 years," said Tricia Bowden, whose 22-year-old daughter is autistic.

Bowden said Edward Mason agreed to meet with her Tuesday morning to discuss the name and slogans and hear out why so many people were hurt by them. She said Mason told her that his friends gave him the thumbs-up to move forward with the name.

"My hope and my best guess is it was a joke to him and only a joke," said Bowden, a parent educator who works with severely disabled young adults. "I would love to get to know him and love to be his friend because I feel like all of his other friends let him down."

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The city of Galt said in a statement Monday that "the review and issuance of a City business license is not a discretionary process."

"In this situation, the City does not have the legal ability to regulate the name of a business or control the manner in which the business chooses to market its products and services," the statement read.

Many names in the craft beer industry have a lighthearted, feel-good element to them, whether it's Bike Dog Brewing in West Sacramento or the upcoming Big Sexy Brewing in Sacramento. Names of specific beers sometimes push the limits, such as Soft Dookie by highly regarded Evil Twin Brewing in Brooklyn or Hoppy Ending Pale Ale from Palo Alto Brewing.

But the joke can go too far, said A.J. Tendick, co-founder of Bike Dog.

"Craft beer has a history of levity, humor and not taking yourself too seriously. However, there is no humor in disparaging a disadvantaged portion of our society (or by gender, color, religious beliefs, etc.)," Tendick wrote in an email to The Sacramento Bee.

Tendick added: "Any brewery needs to determine what identifies them and how to communicate that to their potential customers. I'd advise this business to start this process over to land on an identity that communicates who they are in a positive way. If it was an honest mistake, an immediate heartfelt apology and pledge to make it right would go a long way. And then make really good beer because quality goes a long ways to making people forget your past missteps."

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Tom McCormick, executive director of the California Craft Brewers Association, was alerted to the growing controversy over the weekend. McCormick said Special Ed's had only recently applied for an Alcoholic Beverage Control license and was still months away from being able to serve and sell beer.

"I've been in the industry a long time and I've seen other examples of this," McCormick said. "Personally, I would call it poor taste and unfortunate. ... When you're starting a business, you want to alienate as few people as possible."

Tribune News Service | The Sacramento Bee
Fathers matter ... and not just at this time of year when we formally salute them with a special day.

While many children in West Michigan are blessed with fabulous fathers, too many are not. And that can put an entire family at risk.

Providing help and creating hope, Catholic Charities West Michigan started a Fathers Matter program in 2015 to fill this gap.

"I am so glad I participated in the program," said one of the dads who is a graduate of Fathers Matter. "It has changed my whole mindset."

Another father said: "I'm glad to be a part of a program where I can have a conversation with other fathers and share our thoughts and ideas. Now, I can discuss my past with my dad and how that has affected my relationship with my children."

Many of the program participants lacked a solid father figure as a child or they have some issues that hinder them. Some men just can't seem to grasp how to be a good dad. How can someone do right if they don't know what is right?

Catholic Charities West Michigan knows what makes for better, more loving fathers, as well as how to put those techniques into practice. Using "evidence-based parenting education" to equip men of all ages with the knowledge and wisdom of how to be better dads, CCWM is repairing families and improving children's lives, one father at a time.

Fathers Matter has already helped more than 60 West Michigan men become better dads. It consists of 13 two-and-a- half hour classes, covering a variety of topics and bringing together a community of men who want to be better.

"Many men who come through the program are non-custodial parents who want to make a difference in the lives of their children," says Timmy Smith, coordinator/facilitator of the Fathers Matter program at CCWM. "Many of the participants have issues being nurturing parents because of the way they were raised. We go back to the roots of parenting and explore who their fathers were. What influence did their fathers have? How is that influencing their parenting techniques?"

Smith says that by answering these questions, the men can "internalize who they are and who they want to become." He adds that by bringing together like-minded individuals, Fathers Matter is fostering a "coalition of fathers who will support each other and involve the community that will continue to positively impact the lives of children."

This is needed now more than ever. With divorce rates and broken homes at an all-time high, the number of kids growing up without their father's influence is staggering. Nearly 17.5 million children in the U.S. live in fatherless homes. That's nearly 1 in 4 children.

Children who grow up without the positive influence of their dad are:

* Four times as likely to live in poverty.

* Exponentially more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.

* Significantly more likely to develop behavioral problems.

* Far more likely to struggle in school.

* Prone to higher rates of sexual abuse.

* Dramatically more likely to have an unwanted pregnancy.

* Twice as likely to commit suicide.

Mothers are far more likely to stay with their children than fathers, and God bless them for that. But even the most amazing of moms are not dads.

"Daughters will use their fathers as the standard for how they measure all men," Smith says. "Sons will want to be just like their dad. It doesn't matter what kind of person their father is, they will more than likely want to be just like them. That's why it's important for fathers to be strong, nurturing parents."

Smith added that Fathers Matter has proven itself to be a highly successful tool for fathers looking to improve their relationships with their children. He has witnessed firsthand how "less frustrated and much happier" the men are after they complete the program, and can say with confidence that CCWM and Fathers Matter has helped these men "get the skills and motivation to become nurturing fathers and develop greater parenting skills."

After successful completion of the program, the fathers receive a graduation certificate, T-shirt and lifetime membership to all Fathers Matter classes and events. More than that, though, they are able to reconnect with their children and finally be the role models their children always deserved.

The Fathers Matter program was made possible by Catholic Charities West Michigan's partnerships with Great Start of Muskegon and the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, as well as the Douglas Rosen grant.

Providing free, high-quality education like this isn't cheap, however. The existing grants and sponsorships that helped start the program are nearing their end, and without new or renewed sponsors, the program could end.

Every child deserves a great father and the Fathers Matter program helps men be great fathers.

For more information about Fathers Matter, visit their website or call 616-551-4747.
A vintage Negroni from the book "Aperitivo" by Marisa Huff is the classic Negroni formula bolstered by Barolo chinato, a fortified wine with a bitter note. (Michael Tercha / Chicago Tribune)

As the Negroni and spritz continue to gain ground in America, can aperitivo  the Italian cocktail hour when those drinks are featured  be far behind? We can only hope.

Aperitivo is both the name for a category of drinks (a before-dinner beverage; aperitivo is the Italian word for aperitif, which we borrowed from the French) and the post-work ritual of enjoying those drinks. It's the Italian happy hour. But as Marisa Huff explains in her new book celebrating the custom, "Aperitivo: The Cocktail Culture of Italy" (Rizzoli, $35), it's more. Aperitivo is the time when you sit in a cafe, alfresco preferably, and catch up with friends while sipping a drink and nibbling on appetizers. It's a scene that embodies la dolce vita (the sweet life).

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Huff, an America-born food writer who now lives in Padua, a northern Italian city, offers both travelogue and cookbook as she describes the lure of aperitivo, focusing mostly on the northern Italian cities where the custom is strongest  Turin, Milan and Venice  but also hitting Florence, Rome, the Ligurian coast and her adopted hometown. She writes about the drinks and food you might expect, then tells you how to make them.

The apperitivi range from a glass of wine or prosecco to vermouth (neat, on the rocks or with soda) to cocktails  which tend to be lighter than American mixed drinks, with exceptions like the Negroni.

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The range of the food is gloriously broad, from cheese focaccia (Liguria) to myriad crostini (everywhere) to fried sardines (Venice). We're especially geeked to see plenty of tramezzini,  an Italian sandwich, overshadowed in America by panini, built on crustless white bread and holding a simple filling, such as red pepper and anchovy or tuna and egg. (Huff includes an entire chart of tramezzini!)

And for those of us lucky enough to be headed to Italy, Huff lists her favorite aperitivo spots, city by city.

jxgray@tribpub.com

Twitter @joegraygoodeats

Vintage Negroni

Makes: 1 drink

From "Aperitivo" by Marisa Huff. Barolo chinato is a fortified, aromatized wine made with Barolo, the most famous wine of Italy's Piedmont region, and flavored with quinine bark (china in Italian). Guglielmo Miriello of Dry, a bar and pizzeria in Milan, adds it to the classic Negroni formula for a drink whose slight bitter edge lingers on and on. Look for Barolo chinato in well-stocked liqueur stores.

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3/4 ounce Campari

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3/4 ounce sweet vermouth

3/4 ounce London dry gin

1/2 ounce Barolo chinato

1 dash mandarin or orange bitters

Orange slice

Fill a mixing glass with 3 or 4 ice cubes. Stir to chill the glass, then pour off the water. Add the Campari, vermouth, gin, Chinato and bitters to the mixing glass; stir to chill for 15 seconds. Fill a rocks glass with 3 ice cubes and strain the drink over the ice. Garnish with the orange slice.
While some sparkling wine leans more toward the contemplative than the whimsical, ideally it all finds its way to some degree into the "Fun" circle of the bubbly Venn Diagram. Nobody yearns for a nice, festive glass of sparkling wine at a wake. But think of all the other places and events that we find it appropriate to pop open a bottle and get our noses tickled.

Most often, for those of us who live a lifestyle that falls somewhere between Formula 1/superyacht and NASCAR/bass boat, sparkling wine is reserved for what we call special occasions. I can't understand why this is true except that a lot of sparkling wine is kind of pricey, especially the stuff that comes from the place where it all began, Champagne.

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I would love to see sparkling wine kicking off many more occasions, making the ones that we don't outright label as "special," special nonetheless by virtue of bubble presence. One way to get your sparkle on more often is to embrace prosecco, the affordable effervescent wine from northeastern Italy. It is light, accessible, refreshing and often so inexpensive that you could go around collecting the change buried under your seat cushions and almost have enough for a bottle. Plus, you basically just cleaned your entire house  so pop open a bottle and celebrate!

Prosecco is like Champagne in that it comes from a legally protected place, most of which is near Venice in the larger Veneto region (but also in neighboring Friuli-Venezia Giulia). The wine is made predominantly of a white grape variety that has been called glera since 2009 and was called prosecco before that. The grape's name change was meant to protect the area's unique, established regional "brand," assuring that only winemakers within the prosecco zone could label their wines prosecco.

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One reason the wine is so affordable is that it is made via the cost-efficient tank method, known as Charmat, and not via the pricier traditional method that involves secondary fermentation in bottles. Charmat takes care of the bubbles all at once in a large, pressurized tank. Thus, "tank method."

Prosecco can give off aromas and flavors of citrus, pear, apple, peach and honey, with varying degrees of bubble intensity. It works well as an aperitif and is very food-friendly, a good companion to everything from light appetizers and fried anything to sushi and semispicy Asian fare. It is especially good with outside air and views of tree-lined vacation lakes, or twinkling cityscapes. Make sure it is well-chilled, and you can't go wrong.

RELATED: HOW TO MAKE A SPRITZ WITH 3 RECIPES

Prosecco also lends the bubbles to a few wine cocktails. One is the bellini, a Venetian concoction that combines prosecco and peach juice. The legendary Harry's Bar is where that one came to life. The Aperol spritz contains prosecco, the bitter liqueur and a splash of soda, garnished with an orange slice and sometimes a pimento-stuffed olive. There are surely many other prosecco-friendly cocktails, and one of them is the brunch classic mimosa. Orange juice and bubbles. Why spend $50 on sparkling wine when you can spend $15, especially when you're drowning it in O.J.?

Most prosecco is nonvintage, and the best of it comes from the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G. region, the extra G guaranteeing the highest quality of the wine. Below are some prosecco wines from a recent tasting, listed in ascending order by price. All are prosecco D.O.C. wines, unless noted as D.O.C.G., which also allows the wine to carry the "Prosecco Superiore" designation. Most of them are made of 100 percent glera, and each one lands in the neighborhood of a moderate 11 percent alcohol, which means you can have an extra glass and still be able to say "Conegliano-Valdobbiadene" 10 times fast.

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Tiamo Prosecco. Soft and creamy with a gentle fizz that carries waves of apple and honey, this extra dry prosecco was made from certified organic grapes grown both in and around the town of Valdobbiadene. $15

Martini & Rossi Prosecco. Pear and tiny whiffs of anise give way to a pleasant minerality in this extra dry refresher with aggressive bubbles to wake up your mouth and scrub your palate clean after every bite. $15

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The White Knight Prosecco Brut. This one starts with floral, powdered sugar candy aromas and proceeds to a clean citrusy finish, with lively, persistent bubbles. Certainly good with food but fun to drink on its own, too. $15

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Zardetto Prosecco Brut. Floral and peachy, this wine ups the sweetness and alcohol (11.5 percent) just a touch but sill finishes crisply. Its bubbles are more frothy than individually zingy, resulting in a creamy mouthfeel. $16

Zonin Prosecco Grey. Part of the White/Grey/Black Dress Code series from Zonin, this one comes in an opaque silvery bottle, delivering minerality, salinity, spice and bright fruitiness from its inclusion of 13 percent pinot grigio. $17

Carpene Malvolti 1868 Extra Dry. A hint of smoke and minerality lead to layers of toast and lemon in this complex Conegliano-Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G. sparkler. This wine is worth every coin you find in the sofa, and many more. $19

2014 Adriano Adami Col Credas Brut Rive di Farra di Soligo. "Adami Col Credas" are the words to remember when you are shopping for this single-vineyard Conegliano-Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G. wine, which starts with flowers and apples, and ends with fresh lemons. $22

2014 Bisol Crede Brut. From the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene D.O.C.G., this is another vintage prosecco, but it says so only in the fine print. Expect pear and bread aromas to lead to apple flavors, with a soft mouthfeel and a crisp, citrus finish. $25

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If your wine store does not carry these wines, ask for one similar in style and price.

Twitter @pour_man






Recognized by the James Beard Foundation and Jean Banchet, chef Ed Sura returns to his roots as new executive chef at NoMI in the Park Hyatt. (NoMI)

As a sophomore in culinary school, with only a few semesters under his belt, chef Ed Sura visited Chicago for the first time to stage at NoMI in the Park Hyatt. Today, the restaurant announces that he will return to that kitchen  this time as its executive chef.

In that time, Sura has made quite a name for himself. Most recently chef de cuisine at Perennial Virant, the 31-year-old received a 2016 James Beard semi-finalist nomination for Rising Star Chef of the Year for his work at the restaurant, along with being named a Jean Banchet finalist.

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After five years at Perennial Virant, Sura is ready to lead a team. "It'll be interesting to come into a more corporate setting, (but) I'm coming in with a more local mindset, so that will be fun to introduce to guests," he says, referencing his work with local farmers. He's also well-versed in preservation and fermentation; expect those elements, and plenty of Midwestern produce, on his first menu, which he'll unveil later this summer.

For Sura, the return to NoMI is unexpected, but appealing thanks to the time he spent there as a student. "Working with that level of talent when I started (my career) changed everything for me," he says. "I looked up to everyone there. Having the opportunity to lead that kitchen, now? It's just mind-blowing."

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Sura is taking time off before he assumes his new post on June 27.

NoMI, 800 N. Michigan Ave., www.nomirestaurant.com

jbhernandez@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @joeybear85






Benjamin Schiller, shown at The Sixth, and Tomasz Sas, not shown, who will run the bar at Steadfast, are tracking down vintage bottles to serve at the new bar and restaurant. (Taylor Castle)

Steadfast, the Fifty/50 Group's first foray into fine-dining, is almost ready to descend on the Loop  bringing with it what may be one of Chicago's most ambitious bar menus.

The restaurant will open in the new Kimpton Gray hotel at 39 S. LaSalle St. at the end of June, owners say, with chefs Chris Davies and Chris Texeira at the helm. (Davies currently runs the kitchen at Homestead on the Roof, another Fifty/50 concept; Texeira is executive pastry chef for all Fifty/50 properties, a list that also includes Roots Handmade Pizza, West Town Bakery & Diner, The Berkshire Room and The Sixth).

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But while Steadfast hopes to excel at white-tablecloth dining, its bar has plans to majorly up the drinking game in the area  one not exactly known for its cocktails, save what Paul McGee is doing over at Milk Room. Fifty/50's group beverage director Benjamin Schiller has tapped his protege, Tomasz Sas, to run a bar that rivals The Sixth.

"The hotel is beautiful and ornate, and the chefs are plating up beautiful food," Schiller says, "but [Sas] has a lot to do. He has his hands full."

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Sas, currently a bartender at The Berkshire Room, is creating cocktails to pair with Steadfast's Mediterranean-inspired menu. "I've got big spice profiles to play with," he says. Eight cocktails include drinks like the Spring in My Step, made with aquavit, carrot, ginger, Gran Classico bitters and mint; and the Punch Drunk Love, made with rum, orange olea saccharum and amontillado Sherry.

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Whiskey fans will be treated with Manhattans made with either Jim Beam from 1977 or Pappy Van Winkle 10-year bourbon. One of the highlights of Steadfast is its extensive spirits program focused on brown spirits, particularly antique and hard-to-find whiskeys.

Sure, Pappy is on hand (cue the horde of whiskey nerds who read the internet) but Steadfast does you one better: Among the twenty bottles on hand, all bottled between the 1930s and the 1970s, is an offering from Stitzel-Weller, known by bourbon connoisseurs as the first distillery owned and operated by Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle himself.

"We're looking not just for different distillers, but different time periods," says Schiller, who has been hitting up auctions with Sas to find interesting bottles.

"Ben framed this for me: These bottles are a time capsule," Sas adds. "You're not looking for age, you're looking for a difference between [the distilling styles of] then and now. You see a different kind of craftsmanship."

Pricing for these bottlings will depend on market supply and demand, according to Schiller.

"We want to be more than just a happy hour spot," Sas says. "Our job is to invite you to stay longer. When you sip these old whiskeys, you're transported."

jbhernandez@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @joeybear85






Detail of a LEGO rendering of the American Eagle roller coaster, which is part of the new exhibition "Brick by Brick" at the Museum of Science and Industry, seen on Tuesday, March 8, 2016. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry will hold its first-ever 21-and-over public event, following a trend long established at other Chicago museums.

The July 16 "MSI After Hours: Brick Bash" will be centered around the museum's special Lego exhibit "Brick by Brick," and include an interview of Adam Reed Tucker, the Lego Certified Professional from the northwest suburbs who built the 13 major structures in the exhibit.

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"We're just thrilled to be trying something new," said Maureen Chen, director of marketing. "We wanted to make sure the timing was right to do something relevant and engaging to the over-21 crowd."

The $30 tickets to the Saturday event, running from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Hyde Park institution, include admission to "Brick by Brick" and other exhibits, snacks, parking and a free cocktail. The Tucker interview will be conducted for the "General Admission" podcast hosted by two Chicago Public Media staffers.

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If all goes well, Chen said, MSI After Hours could become a regular series, like the nighttime ones that take place at Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Art Institute and other museums.

"We hope it brings 500 people. We hope it brings 1,500 people," said Chen. "We've been cautious so far so we'll be evaluating it cautiously. But there's a lot of excitement behind it within the museum employees."

sajohnson@tribpub.com

Twitter @StevenKJohnson

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Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 126 Woody introduces the gang to a homemade spork toy with self-esteem issues in "Toy Story 4." Read the review. (Pixar / AP)
Chicago has long-awaited "Bat Boy," the smart and generally hilarious spoof of (among other things) small-town myopia, the repelling of outsiders and tabloid journalism, since there actually was a report of a half-bat-half-boy creature being discovered in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. That "news" was reported in the defunct tabloid known as The Weekly World News, which would, at various points, go on to report that Bat Boy was living in the New York City subway, playing in a thrash metal band, endorsing John McCain for president and himself running in the gubernatorial election in California. As the first boy-and-bat candidate in history.

That was all nonsense, of course, and fodder for a musical (with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe) that opened in New York in 2001 and has subsequently been seen all over the country. Except for a professional production in Chicago. Which changed Sunday afternoon.

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In some ways the Griffin Theatre's version of "Bat Boy" was disappointing, given the quality of the material and my past admiration for the work of Scott Weinstein, the very capable young director of Griffin's uneven production, staged (aptly) in a darkened cavern at the Den Theatre in Wicker Park. The show suffers from the cardinal sins of high-campery  the overwrought, the overplayed, the exaggerated  when all it needs to be funny, really funny, is truth, simplicity and a dry sense of humor. That surprised me, for Chicago generally is adept at such work. Part of the issue Sunday was a poor sound system  the bete noir of small rock musicals in Chicago  and the need for the actors to overcome the lack of certitude of the reinforcement.

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There are two strong, well-sung performances in the show, and they are in the roles where you would want them: the titular young chiropteran gentleman (Henry McGinniss) and his love interest, Shelley (Tiffany Tatreau, who is on a roll). The pas de deux are funny, honest and, as the show is intended to be, weirdly moving. But once we get into all the townspeople, the family members and the like, the production style just gets to be too much. It's always tempting to parody the conservatism of the inhabitants of some small West Virginia town, but the satiric and social force of "Bat Boy," for all its absurdity, relies on the accuracy of its observations of just how we react to the outsider, especially one who may or may not have malevolent intentions. That issue, of course, is very much of the political moment.

But "Bat Boy" (which is not unlike "Urinetown") mostly is intended as tongue-in-cheek  or tongue-in-wing  fun, replete with a plethora of insider theater gags. Many of those are funny in this production, too. Nothing is dull nor half-measured; Weinstein clearly was determined to raise the stakes, which was the right impulse, even if the show didn't land as truthfully as it should.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@tribpub.com Twitter @ChrisJonesTrib

"Bat Boy"  2.5 STARS

When: Through July 24

Where: Den Theatre, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

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Tickets: $34.50-$39.50 at 866-811-4111 or visit GriffinTheatre.com

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Watch the latest movie trailers.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
Gay Monopoly  A Celebration of Gay Life! from 1983, produced by The Parker Sisters, a knowing nod at Parker Brothers, the company that famously produced the Monopoly board game in 1935. (Kristen Norman / Chicago Tribune)

Gerber/Hart Library and Archives is billed as "the Midwest's largest LGBTQ circulating library," a repository for all things related to LGBTQ culture and history, from books to meeting minutes, posters to newspapers, even a Rosie O'Donnell doll.

The library has 14,000 books, 150 archival collections, thousands of newspapers, hundreds of videos and countless posters, according to Carrie Barnett, president of Gerber/Hart's board of directors. But that's just part of the story.

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"It seems to me that the conversation that happens in the library among people who know each other and people who are just there is one of the most interesting parts of the experience,'' Barnett said. "It's intergenerational. People from all sorts of places come. It's amazing to watch them come and connect."

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That young people, in particular, are using the Rogers Park library "blows my mind," added Barnett, who co-owned the now-closed People Like Us Books and is a 1998 inductee in the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. "To see people in their 20s recognize the importance of what happened over the last 40 years, and to be hungry to have more knowledge of that, is surprising and refreshing to me."

"Gerber/Hart Library and Archives believes that knowledge is the key to dispelling homophobia," the library's mission statement begins.

Barnett said there had been talk about changing where those opening words appear in the mission statement given how society has been changing in terms of the LGBTQ community. But the mass shooting June 12 at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., where 49 people were killed underscores the need for those words to remain in place.

"Sunday is a punch in the gut that proves it's still true,'' she said.

"Essentially, our primary motive is to create a way for people to learn as much as they can about the LGBT community," Barnett said. "It's one of the most effective ways to reduce homophobia."

The library has been working to do that for 35 years.

Founded in January 1981 as the Midwest Gay and Lesbian Archive and Library, the library changed its name a few months later to the Henry Gerber-Pearl M. Hart Library: The Midwest Lesbian & Gay Resource Center. Gerber was a Chicago activist who in 1924 founded the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. Hart was a Chicago attorney who, in the words of the library website, worked for 61 years "as an advocate for the oppressed, most notably children, women, immigrants, and homosexuals." Both were inducted posthumously into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1992.

Now known simply as Gerber/Hart, the library has had a number of homes since its inception and is now at 6500 N. Clark St. The move there from a nearby Granville Avenue storefront in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood saw the library closed for nearly 18 months. Even now, 2 1/2 years later, some people are surprised to learn Gerber/Hart is open and operating, Barnett said.

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Gerber/Hart occupies the second floor rear section of a large, modern building that also houses a Howard Brown Health clinic. Besides the bookshelves and tables you'd expect for a library, there's exhibit space (the current display is titled "Textual Empowerment: Lesbian Publishing in the 1970s and 1980s") and comfortable seating grouped for the conversations Barnett so enjoys seeing take place.

The library is host to various community groups, including the New Town Writers. There's a "game night" monthly for participants to enjoy card games, board games or video games (this month: June 21, 6 to 9 p.m.). And the third Sunday of the month is set aside at the library for exclusive use by an LGBTQ teen book club (June 19, 2 to 4 p.m.).

At one time, Gerber/Hart patrons came mostly for the books, which cover all aspects of LGBTQ history and culture; few other venues existed in which to find and read these works. Now, with books increasingly available online, it's the library's unique archives and special collections that are drawing attention, according to Wil Brant, the library's interim director, former board president and a longtime volunteer.

Asked to name the library's biggest challenge, Brant pointed to funding. Then he mentioned the challenge of keeping up with all the donated material the library receives and processing it properly.

"It takes people with a certain amount of skill," he said.

Currently, library volunteers are working their way, slowly and carefully, through about 300 boxes containing the papers of the late William B. Kelley, a Chicago lawyer and longtime LGBTQ activist who, among other accomplishments, was among the first members of Mattachine Midwest, a pioneering "homophile" organization, in the 1960s. Kelley died in May 2015 at 72. He was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1991, Mattachine Midwest in 2002.

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"The library is important for a few reasons," Barnett said. "It's not only a place to gather and talk about ideas and share experiences, and learn about others' experiences, it's a place that holds the primary source materials of our history as it happened. To provide it to people now, and to future generations, is invaluable. It's amazing to think of someone  requesting a box and seeing Bill Kelley keeping minutes for the Mattachine society. That's where the long-term value is."

Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, 6500 N. Clark St., open 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday; 1 to 7 p.m. Friday; noon to 6 p.m. Saturday; 773-381-8030, www.gerberhart.org

Bill Daley is a food writer for the Chicago Tribune and a former member of the Gerber/Hart Library board of directors.

wdaley@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @billdaley

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A Shanghai Disneyland cast member prepares the theme park's iconic "Mickey Avenue" clock in advance of the grand opening of Shanghai Disney Resort on June 16, 2016, with the spectacular backdrop of the world's largest Disney castle, The Enchanted Storybook Castle. (Matt Stroshane / Shanghai Disney Resort)

There was never anything Mickey Mouse about the price tag: $5.5 billion. And, sure enough, Shanghai Disney Resort is not a small world, after all.

Indeed, it is colossal.

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It's also at long last ready to strut its stuff. June 16 marks the official grand opening of what Walt Disney Co. CEO and Chairman Bob Iger calls "the most technologically advanced Disney park yet."

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Prepping for its premiere, this high-profile entry into the global theme-park industry underwent a full month of previews by invitation only  one of which this observer was lucky enough to grab.

The break-in period allowed some 10,000 brand-new cast members (read: staff) the chance to work out the kinks and fine-tune everything from the boarding process to their phonetic English pronunciation of "Have a magical day."

Typical of a Disney property, the first looks drew near-capacity crowds, equal doses of superlatives and speculation, and, much to the chagrin of the Mouse House, dozens of amateur videos posted to YouTube. But what word of mouth and GoPro captures can't convey is the sheer spectacle of the in-person experience.

At 963 acres  more than six times the footprint of California's original 1955 Disneyland  Shanghai is about triple the size of its closest cousin, 11-year-old Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. Its Magic Kingdom-style theme park, Shanghai Disneyland, is made up of half a dozen themed lands clustered around the Enchanted Storybook Castle, the biggest palace in the Disney portfolio.

Compared with the other parks in the Disney universe of Orlando, Fla. (which opened in 1971), Tokyo (1983) and Paris (1992), Shanghai is also the most expansive and richly detailed when it comes to showcasing its attractions.

Here, totally reimagined from its 49-year-old antecedent in Anaheim, Calif., Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure comprises its own entire land, Treasure Cove. The pirate-themed shops and restaurant  not to mention the jaw-dropping main attraction (more on that later)  all revolve around the movie series starring Johnny Depp. (One quick spoiler: The audio-animatronic Depp, as Capt. Jack Sparrow, first appears as a skeleton.)

The nearly 200-foot-tall Enchanted Storybook Castle is home to all of the Disney princesses. Within resides numerous attractions, including Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, a gentle boat ride that ladles out classic character scenes amid dancing waters; the Once Upon a Time Adventure, featuring interactive participation with Snow White; and the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the service station where young girls are transformed into young princesses.

"We are taking everything we've learned from our six decades of exceeding expectations ... to create a truly magical place that is both authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese," Iger said last year, when closely held plans were finally unveiled for the resort, which is 43 percent owned by Disney. The remainder belongs to China's state-owned Shanghai Shendi Group.

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Iger has called this new addition to the Burbank, Calif.-based company its most promising opportunity since the Chicago-born Walt Disney himself bought land in central Florida in the 1960s.

As such, some traditionalists may come away surprised: Absent from Shanghai are a train around the circumference, Haunted Mansion hobgoblins and Small World cherubs. Similarly MIA are waterlogged Jungle Cruise elephants (unless you count the fountain of the Dumbo attraction, which itself has been repositioned to the forecourt of the castle), along with Space, Splash and Big Thunder mountains.

Nor should one expect a Main Street gateway to the park; Walt Disney's personal slice of 1890s Americana has been swapped out for Mickey Avenue, a charming take on a 1920s-style Toontown.

Not that every element of parks past has been given the old heave-ho. Peter Pan's Flight and Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue have upped their game with noticeable technological enhancements, while a streamlined Tomorrowland glistens with the added advantage of actually looking futuristic, devoid of the techno-punk flourishes found in its American counterparts.

Besides providing a home port for the heroes of Marvel Comics and Star Wars, the two-tiered Tomorrowland is defined by its neon-lit anchor attraction, TRON Lightcycle Power Run. The roller coaster whizzes by under a winged canopy, allowing ground-level visitors to judge for themselves whether their hearts could take the high-speed cycle journey.

Shanghai's Adventureland is called Adventure Isle. Its towering peak, which shelters the Roaring Rapids water attraction, was still under scaffolding during my preview, although by night it was lit up in a majestic magenta.

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Meanwhile, under, around and through a lengthy Indiana Jones-style cave spiraled the line for Soarin' Over the Horizon (to be called Soarin' Around the World when it all-but-simultaneously opens in Anaheim and Orlando), the 2.0 version of the wildly popular hang-glider travelogue. Landmarks around the globe provide the attraction's new theme  citing them would only ruin the thrill  with the added surprise of dramatic aerodynamic dips that caused many in the preview audience to scream.

Even so, little could compare with the loud gasps that met the masterful Pirates. Whether or not an optical illusion, the action-packed sea battle appeared to be in 3-D (without the need for special glasses) and the vessels life-sized. The villain Davy Jones, on the other hand, is supersized, and pretty darned scary.

Hands down, however, the most affectionate response greeted Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy, who hold court inside the castle's Royal Banquet Hall, at a $30-per-adult prix fixe dinner. (Reserve early.) Elsewhere, menus span east and west, from dim sum breakfasts to corn dogs and caramel corn snacks, to Asian BBQ ribs and vegetarian dishes.

In terms of park admission, Shanghai's is less than those stateside: around $76 during the half-month grand-opening period (the first day has been sold out for months), after which standard adult entry will go to $57.

In addition to a Disneytown shopping district and a 123-acre recreational area with a large lake dubbed Wishing Star Park, there are two hotels on the property: the swank Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, where rooms start at around $250 a night, and the ultra kid-friendly Toy Story Hotel, starting at $130 a night.

The resort is about a 20-minute taxi ride from Shanghai's Pudong International Airport. The fare is about $20  the same as the 50-minute subway ride.

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As for the ultimate question, is Shanghai Disneyland worth the 15-hour flight from Chicago?

Paging Aladdin: Is your carpet available?

Stephen M. Silverman is a freelance writer and author of "The Catskills: Its History and How It Changed America."

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Chicago police Cmdr. Glenn Evans, center, leaves court after be acquitted on Dec. 14, 2015, of shoving a gun in a man's mouth. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

A bid to fire a controversial, high-ranking Chicago police officer for misconduct has fizzled after officials realized recently they failed to act before a five-year statute of limitations passed on taking disciplinary action.

The missed opportunity is an embarrassment for the Independent Police Review Authority, the embattled agency that since the fallout over the Laquan McDonald video-recorded shooting has tried to reshape its performance and image.

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An IPRA spokeswoman said, however, that the agency is still investigating Cmdr. Glenn Evans over separate allegations of misconduct that carry penalties up to dismissal.

Evans had risen to commander in large part for his aggressive style and hands-on approach, but even at that rank he continued to amass an unusual number of citizen complaints, including nine as a commander, a Tribune analysis in 2014 found. The most serious allegation  that he shoved a gun down the throat of a man and threatened to kill him  led to him being criminally charged, but a Cook County judge acquitted Evans despite DNA evidence.

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Beginning in early May, IPRA's chief administrator, Sharon Fairley, moved to have Evans fired for breaking the nose of a woman who refused to be fingerprinted, but police Superintendent Eddie Johnson proposed a 30-day suspension. Unable to reach a compromise with Johnson, Fairley asked earlier this month that a three-member panel of the Chicago Police Board settle the dispute. The next day, however, Fairley rescinded the request in hopes of still reaching an agreement with Johnson.

But since then, lawyers for IPRA and the Police Department figured out that the five-year statute of limitations mandated by state law had passed in April and Evans couldn't be fired for that offense, said Mia Sissac, IPRA's spokeswoman.

Fairley had mistakenly thought that IPRA had met the deadline when it recommended punishment for Evans last year, according to Sissac. But only the filing of disciplinary charges  an action that hadn't yet taken place  would satisfy the statute of limitations requirement.

Sissac blamed administration changes within IPRA, prompted by the McDonald scandal, for the oversight.

"This one just fell through," she said.

Sissac could not explain why it took IPRA nearly four years to make that initial recommendation, however.

The complaint against Evans had resulted from the arrest of Rita King in April 2011 on charges of simple battery and disorderly conduct. She was brought by officers to the Gresham police district station, where Evans then worked. In the lockup, she objected to being fingerprinted by officers, according to her lawsuit, which is pending in federal court.

"We know somebody who can get your fingerprints," the lawsuit alleged one of the officers told King.

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Evans was then summoned to the lockup. The lawsuit alleged he ordered officers to restrain King. Evans then pressed his fist into King's face, threatening to push her nose into her brain, the suit alleged.

The misdemeanor charges against King were later dropped.

IPRA opened an investigation into Evans' use of force against King shortly after the incident in April 2011.

But it wasn't until February 2015 that IPRA  long criticized for taking too long to complete its investigations  sustained the complaint against Evans and sought a 15-day suspension without pay.

Facing a 90-day deadline to respond, then-Superintendent Garry McCarthy asked in mid-May 2015 for IPRA to conduct an additional investigation into the incident.

Nothing more happened on the case for another nine months. Last February, IPRA, now under new leadership following the court-ordered release months earlier of the McDonald shooting video, made another recommendation that Evans be suspended for 15 days.

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By early May, Johnson, who had taken office weeks earlier, recommended that Evans be suspended for 30 days, double what IPRA sought.

It was only then that Fairley realized that IPRA had mistakenly sought a 15-day suspension for a second time, according to Sissac. Four days later, on May 6, IPRA revised its recommendation and sought to fire Evans.

Ten days later, Johnson sent a letter opposing the firing.

On May 23, Fairley and Johnson met but were unable to reach a compromise on Evans' punishment.

Fairley asked that the mayoral-appointed Chicago Police Board settle the dispute but withdrew her request the next day.

However, lawyers then revealed to Fairley and Johnson that they had missed the five-year deadline in April.

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Despite the passing of the statute of limitations, Evans could still be suspended for up to 30 days without pay for breaking King's nose.

Evans also could still be disciplined for the January 2013 incident that led to him being criminally charged  even though he was acquitted.

Sissac said a new team of IPRA investigators will "start from scratch" on that investigation.

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At the time of the charges in 2014, Evans was a commander of the West Side's Harrison District and was frequently praised by McCarthy for his no-nonsense approach to policing some of Chicago's most dangerous neighborhoods.

The Tribune published a front-page story in 2014 that Evans had amassed 36 complaints from January 2006 through July 2014, a period in which he was promoted to lieutenant and then named one of only 22 district commanders. Over that 81/2-year period, Evans had far more complaints than any other commander and topped all but 34 officers for the entire 12,000-strong department.

He continued to pile up complaints  nine in all  even after he was promoted to commander of the South Side's Grand Crossing police district in August 2012 by McCarthy, according to a Tribune analysis of the data.

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Combined with previously released records, Evans has been the subject of at least a combined 50 complaints since 2001.

Evans has been disciplined only on rare occasions despite his lengthy history of complaints.

jgorner@tribpub.com

Twitter @JeremyGorner
Lon Hodge, a veteran with PTSD, says he'll apply to receive medical marijuana as soon as Gov. Bruce Rauner signs the bill to expand the program. (Kristen Norman / Chicago Tribune)

Advocates for medical marijuana hope Illinois' plan to expand its program will give the industry the boost it needs to sustain itself  but some doctors warn that, despite changes made to protect them, they still have legal and medical concerns about the product.

After previously rejecting efforts to make medical marijuana available to more people, Gov. Bruce Rauner's office has indicated he will sign into law a bill to lengthen the pilot program by more than two years, to July 1, 2020. The legislation also adds two new qualifying conditions: post-traumatic stress disorder and terminal illness.

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More broadly, the plan would remove the requirement that physicians recommend the drug for their patients, and instead only require that doctors certify that a patient has a qualifying condition. This provision is meant to address physicians' unease about recommending a drug that is illegal to prescribe or possess under federal law.

One person who plans to take immediate advantage of the change in the law is Lon Hodge, a veteran diagnosed with PTSD.

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"The minute that goes through, I'll be applying," said Hodge, 62, a Grayslake resident who uses a service dog to help him cope with his PTSD.

Because he had bad experiences with other medications, Hodge said he did extensive research on the subject before trying legal marijuana in Colorado two years ago. He's found that with strains that contain less THC, the component that gets users high, and more of another component known as CBD, he can finally sleep through the night without nightmares and have productive days.

Medical marijuana business owners welcomed the planned expansion as a potential lifesaver for the industry. Joseph Friedman, owner of PDI Medical dispensary in Buffalo Grove, expected the changes to help broaden the patient population.

"It's a breath of fresh air and a sense of relief for the industry," he said. "It's going to help a lot of people who really need the help."

After a sluggish start, the medical marijuana program in Illinois has been growing slowly but steadily. The state has about 7,000 authorized patients and that number, while still significantly lower than initial projections, has almost doubled since medical marijuana went on sale in November. Sales have risen to more than $2 million a month at 37 dispensaries statewide.

Jim Champion, a military veteran and member of the state's Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, said the changes in the law would help not only veterans with PTSD but others who suffer from the condition, including victims of abuse, assaults and accidents. He welcomed the change even though the future of the board is uncertain because the new law would have the governor reconstitute the 16-member panel.

PTSD affects about 3.5 percent of the population, according to the National Institutes of Health, which would amount to about 450,000 people in Illinois alone. One-third of the cases are diagnosed as severe, and only half of those diagnosed are receiving treatment. It's more likely to affect women than men, and members of the military are at higher risk.

To qualify for medical marijuana in Illinois, a patient must have a doctor certify that he or she is likely to benefit from using marijuana to treat one of about 40 specific qualifying conditions, including cancer, severe fibromyalgia and spinal cord injuries.

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At least five other states list PTSD as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, according to a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying group, the Marijuana Policy Project. In New Mexico, half of all medical marijuana patients use it to treat PTSD. At least three states also permit the drug for treating terminal illness, while several other states don't limit the use of medical marijuana to certain conditions but leave it up to doctors' discretion.

Yet numerous medical groups remain opposed to the use of marijuana as medicine. The American Medical Association has called the drug "dangerous" and stated that its sale should not be legalized, while calling for more research on its effects.

The use of marijuana to treat PTSD, in particular, is opposed by the American Psychiatric Association, the Illinois Psychiatric Society and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Each of those groups said there is no credible scientific evidence that marijuana is an effective treatment for PTSD, and that research suggests it can actually be harmful to people with PTSD by increasing their anxiety.

Among veterans using the VA health system, cannabis use disorder has been the most common form of substance abuse since 2009, affecting almost one out of four veterans, the VA has reported.

The results of research into the effects of marijuana on PTSD have been mixed. Yale University researchers analyzed 46 studies on the subject and found that, while many studies cited a reduction in PTSD symptoms, the lack of large, controlled trials rendered the findings inconclusive.

Dr. Joshua Straus, co-director of outpatient behavioral medicine at NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, said other studies hadn't shown the benefit. Among his own patients, he has often seen regular use of marijuana increase anxiety.

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While conventional PTSD treatments involving medications such as Zoloft and cognitive behavioral therapy help many patients, Straus said, others receive fewer benefits or suffer intolerable side effects. So while marijuana has been shown to be effective treating pain, he believes more research is needed on its use for PTSD.

The chief barrier to research remains the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance  the same as heroin  meaning it has no accepted medical use and a high risk of abuse.

Earlier this year, however, the DEA authorized what sponsors say is the first randomized, controlled trial of whole plant medical marijuana as a treatment for PTSD. The $2 million study, funded by the state of Colorado, will test the effects of varying ratios of THC and CBD on veterans.

Partly because of limited research, many doctors in Illinois remain cautious or skeptical about using marijuana for any condition.

Dr. Asokumar Buvanendran, a professor who practices anesthesiology and pain medicine at Rush University Medical Center, said one concern is interaction of marijuana with other medications, particularly opioids, which he said have not been sufficiently studied.

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His other concern is about how doctors can track medical marijuana use. The proposed change in the law would add medical marijuana to the state's prescription drug monitoring program, so doctors would know which patients are using it, and to make sure patients don't seek multiple referrals by different doctors.

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To get more doctors to participate, Buvanendran said, marijuana would need to be reclassified at the federal level, or at minimum the DEA, which licenses doctors to prescribe drugs, would need to provide assurances that it will not penalize doctors who prescribe marijuana.

In addition, the proposed change from doctors recommending marijuana to merely certifying a qualifying illness may help assure doctors that they won't be held liable if something goes wrong with a patient using marijuana, said Dr. Charles Bush-Joseph, an orthopedist and professor at Rush, and a team physician for the Chicago White Sox and Bulls.

Bush-Joseph is also a consultant for state-certified medical marijuana grower Cresco Labs, and helped design the company's program to educate doctors about medical marijuana.

"I believe there is benefit to it," he said. "Physicians are trying to educate themselves. Now that the standard (for certifying patients) is a little lower, I think more doctors will be willing to participate."

rmccoppin@tribpub.com

Twitter @RobertMcCoppin
First lady Michelle Obama speaks in the East Room of the White House on June 1, 2016. (Evan Vucci / AP)

WASHINGTON  First lady Michelle Obama and her daughters will visit Spain, Morocco and Liberia later this month to crusade for girls' education, the White House said. Actresses Meryl Streep and Freida Pinto will join them on some stops.

Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, also will be on the trip, which is expected to include a visit with Queen Letizia of Spain.

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The Obamas will advocate for the first lady's "Let Girls Learn" initiative, which seeks to get an estimated 62 million uneducated girls worldwide into classrooms.

Obama, in remarks Tuesday, said her work to advance girls' education "will be something that I do for the rest of my life."

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The trip kicks off with a stop June 27 in Liberia, where the first lady will be joined by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Michelle Obama will visit a Peace Corps training facility in Kakata and a school in Unification Town.

Pinto, who rose to prominence in the film "Slumdog Millionaire," will moderate a discussion at the school with adolescent girls who have faced obstacles in attaining an education.

"The conversation will highlight both the educational barriers girls face as Liberia moves beyond the Ebola epidemic" and the U.S. government's efforts to help give adolescent girls equitable access to safe, quality education, the White House announcement said.

In Morocco, Obama will be joined by Pinto and Streep for education events June 28-29. In Madrid, the Spanish capital, the first lady will give a speech June 30 on "Let Girls Learn."

The Obamas return July 1 to Washington.

kskiba@tribpub.com

Twitter @KatherineSkiba
Surveillance photos of a man wanted in connection with a May 21, 2016, homicide outside a liquor store at Garfield Boulevard and State Street. (Chicago Police Department)

Chicago police on Tuesday released surveillance photos of a man wanted in connection with a slaying in the Englewood neighborhood last month.

The man got into a fight and then shot Semial Sigle, of the 200 block of West 109 th Street, about 12:20 a.m. May 21 at the corner of State Street and Garfield Boulevard. Sigle had been standing on the sidewalk in front of Midway Liquors when a fight started with two other men, police said at the time

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The attacker tried to punch the victim in the head, then took out a gun and shot Sigle in the chest, police said in a release Tuesday evening. Sigle was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

After the shooting, the attacker fled east on Garfield in a four-door silver or gray Cadillac, police said Tuesday.

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The attacker is described as a black man about 30 to 35 years old, 5-foot-10 to 6 feet and 200 to 220 pounds, with a muscular build. At the time of the shooting, he was wearing a black T-shirt with the word "ROCK" on the front in block letters, with the "RO" stacked above the "CK," and a White Sox hat, according to the photos released Tuesday.

Anyone with information or who sees the man suspected in the killing is asked to call 911 or call Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380.
Chris Kennedy's longtime management of the Merchandise Mart may have earned him respect in Chicago's business community  but his habit of declining to run for a political office after his name has been floated means he has a reputation in the political world as something of a serial tease.

Reports earlier this month that the 52-year-old son of Robert F. Kennedy was mulling a run for governor in 2018 were met with a collective shrug: Kennedy's name has over the last 17 years been linked with runs for Congress, the Senate and the governor's office, all of which failed to materialize.

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Still, making his first public appearance since it emerged that he met recently with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and other Democratic party grandees to discuss a possible gubernatorial bid, Kennedy on Wednesday stood alongside union leaders for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the downtown high rise he helped develop, Wolf Point West. And his speech certainly sounded like that of a man who was running for something, without doing much to suggest that his latest flirtation with high office will not end as his previous dalliances did.

Referring to the luxury 46-story apartment building, which was built on land owned by the Kennedy family and bankrolled by the AFL-CIO's Building Investment Trust, as the "fulfillment of the American Dream," he employed soaring rhetoric about the founding fathers, and took what seemed to be a swipe at Donald Trump and Bruce Rauner.

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"We are living in a time when some national leaders and some state leaders are held up as examples to our children, teaching them a new and ugly form of economics, that what you get should not be determined by what you need, but instead that what you get should be determined by what you take," he said, referring to that as "a lesson that no generation in our country has been taught since the age of the robber barons."

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"America was supposed to be a place free from the oppression of political leaders acting like kings, imposing their views on everyone else, dismissing the pain and the hardship that they cause as nothing more than the collateral damage necessary to pursue some selfish agenda," added Kennedy, who sold the Merchandise Mart in 2012 and now spends his time running a grocery non-profit, Top Box Foods.

But asked why this potential run should be taken more seriously than his previous tilts, he demurred. "I'm here to talk about Wolf Point today," he told the Tribune after delivering a speech full of praise for the union movement whose support might prove critical in a Democratic primary. "I don't want to distract from it with all that other stuff."

So that wasn't the speech of a would-be politician, Mr. Kennedy?

"You haven't heard me speak before, that's all.

"I said what I said in my speech and I meant it."

kjanssen@tribpub.com

Twitter @kimjnews
The bicyclist struck and killed by a tour bus on the Gold Coast had just gotten off work as a bike courier and had posted a message on his Facebook page asking, "Who's down for the lake?"



Blaine Klingenberg, 29, was a few hundred yards from Oak Street Beach when he was hit by the double-decker bus at Oak and Michigan Avenue around 5:25 p.m. Wednesday, according to police.



Firefighters placed large airbags under the bus to lift it and remove Klingenberg's body, said Chief Joe Roccasalva, a Fire Department spokesman. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and was dead on arrival, the chief said.

An autopsy Thursday determined Klingenberg, of the 3600 block of West Shakespeare Avenue in the city's Logan Square neighborhood, died of multiple injuries from a bus striking a pedestian, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office, which ruled his death an accident.

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Bicyclist killed in tour bus collision on Michigan Ave. in Gold Coast June 15, 2016. (CBS Chicago)

Klingenberg was riding north on Michigan when he turned into the bus, which was heading west on Oak, according to Officer Michelle Tannehill, a police spokeswoman, citing preliminary information.



Two people who said they were in the area at the time said it appeared the bus had a red light. But one of them said Klingenberg also had a red light because southbound traffic from Inner Lake Shore Drive had a left turn light at the time.



One of the witnesses said Klingenberg was well into the intersection when the bus hit him. No citations were issued for the bus driver, according to police.



Klingenberg had just gotten off work at Advanced Messenger Service about half an hour earlier, according to the owner of the business, Bruce Kohn.





"He was probably the best, nicest bicycle messenger I've had the pleasure of working with, and I've been doing this my entire adult life," he said.



He described Klingenberg as a "cautious" worker. "There's a difference between fast and being cautious," he said.



Blaine was scheduled to start a new job Thursday with U.S. Messenger, according to the company president, Ron Libman.



"We're devastated," Libman said.



In Blaine's honor, all the company's messengers wore a single white rose with a black ribbon around it on their uniform or bag.



"We were super-excited to have him, to have him on our radar. He was really well-respected. Our people really liked him,'' Libman said. "We are very sorry and our community, the bike messenger community, has been hit very hard.''



Blaine was hired to be a "cargo biker," which is more unusual than a regular bike messenger and requires more experience. Their bikes have a platform in front of it designed to carry boxes.



"We're shaken up over here,'' he said.



His sister, Kendal Klingenberg, 34, said her brother was a "loving person" who helped raise her 9-year-old daughter and taught her how to ride a bike.



"He was a loving person, a person who always welcomed everyone in,'' said Klingenberg, 34, who last saw her brother in March when he came back to Bakersfield, Calif. with his girlfriend to attend a wedding. They were serious but they had made no wedding plans, she said.



"It's hard," she added. "He was really wonderful."



Blaine played soccer as a kid but "always loved riding bikes. It was his life,'' his sister said. He moved to Chicago about a year ago.



"It's going to be very tough without him. I was always there for him. If he needed something, he would call me,'' Klingenberg said. "I am happy that he passed away doing what he loved."
Police are warning businesses on the North Side of robberies that have happened in the area at restaurants over the past month.

Two robberies happened on May 20 and on Monday, according to a news release from the Chicago Police Department.

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In each incident, two attackers, armed with a handgun, entered a restaurant and announced a robbery. They then demanded money from the register and fled in an unknown direction, the release said.

The latest robbery on Monday happened at 6 :30 p.m. in the 1700 block of North Clybourn Avenue in the Sheffield Neighbors neighborhood. The other robbery occurred around 1:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of North Halsted Street in the Ranch Triangle neighborhood, according to the release.

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The suspects are black men who are between 35 and 45 years old. They are between 5-foot-10 and 6 feet tall. They weigh between 220 and 225 pounds.

Anyone with information about the robberies should call Area Central detectives at 312-747-8382.
Ald. Ed Burke on Wednesday led the charge to ban businesses that allow only arbitration to settle disputes with employees and customers from doing business with the city, a way for the veteran City Council member to try to slightly recast his image, given his business ties to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

The 14th Ward alderman got the Finance Committee he chairs to recommend approval of the ordinance, contending that so-called "pre-dispute arbitration agreements" included in many routine contracts for cellphones, credit cards and bank loans make it far harder for the little guys to prove they were wronged by big corporations.

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The ordinance would require the city to stop doing business with three major cellphone companies, cable and satellite TV operators, American Express and at least three major banks if they continued to force arbitration on their customers, Burke said.

Burke's ordinance could put Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a bit of a trick box. If Emanuel opposes passage by the full City Council to avoid upending a host of long-standing contracts, he could be perceived as siding with big corporations. That, in turn, could provide further fuel for opponents who have branded him "Mayor 1 percent" for his ties to the business community.

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But, as is often the case with Burke, his end game is unclear. Emanuel spokeswoman Molly Poppe, said in a statement that "the administration expressed serious concerns to the chairman regarding this ordinance, and he has agreed to hold it until we are able to address these issues." Translated: Burke won't necessarily call it for a vote at next week's City Council meeting.

Burke, meanwhile, walked away from reporters trying to ask him questions about the ordinance after the meeting.

The move comes as the Chicago Sun-Times has noted that Burke's law firm represented Trump in appealing his property tax assessments on Trump Tower, which has saved the real estate mogul millions of dollars.

And recent financial interest statements filed with the city show Burke or his firm continue to provide legal services to many major corporations, including large banks and AT&T  one of the cellphone service providers Burke said force mandatory arbitration on customers.

Yet, during the meeting, the alderman criticized AT&T and others for using "mandatory arbitration to avoid the court system and sidestep legal claims alleging fraud, predatory lending, discrimination, elder abuse, medical malpractice, wrongful death and other evils."

The pre-dispute arbitration agreements are buried in the fine print of many routine contracts, a development documented last year in a New York Times investigative series Burke repeatedly referred to.

Those agreements can affect a diverse array of contracts, including those for nursing home stays, employment, hotel stays purchased online and bank accounts, the newspaper noted. They often prevent the filing of class-action lawsuits, which the newspaper described as "realistically the only tool citizens have to fight illegal or deceitful business practices."

Representatives from the National Consumer Law Center and LAF, a Chicago group that provides free legal services to the elderly and disabled, testified on behalf of the ordinance, while the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and Illinois Retail Merchants Association opposed it. Attorney David Ritter spoke on behalf of the chamber, saying the ordinance's approval could trigger a constitutional legal challenge.

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Burke said he was hoping for a different reaction. "Perhaps if we do this, some of these big CEOs will recognize the errors of their ways  ha, ha, ha  and drop some of these mandatory arbitration clauses, because its strictly against the public interest," he said.

hdardick@tribpub.com

Twitter @ReporterHal
RODEO, California  She was a sweet, pretty California girl with Palestinian roots who left an arranged marriage only to find love with a man who committed the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.



Little by little, details have begun to emerge about 30-year-old Noor Zahi Salman, who grew up in the small suburb of Rodeo, Calif., tucked in the dry hills near the oil refineries 25 miles northeast of San Francisco, before spending time in a Chicago suburb.



Her romance with Omar Mateen  security guard, bodybuilder and devout Muslim  began online, according to a neighbor, and they were married on Sept. 29, 2011, near her hometown, according to public records. The couple has a 3-year-old son.



Early Sunday, the 29-year-old Mateen opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded.



Authorities believe Mateen's wife knew about the plot ahead of time, said an official who was briefed on the progress of the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation. The official said investigators are reluctant to charge her only on the basis of possible advance knowledge of her husband's plans.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 94 Omar Mateen, right, with his wife, Noor Zahi Salman, and their son. (Facebook)

Investigators have found Mateen increasingly sought out Islamic State videos and other radical Islamist propaganda in the months leading up to his shooting rampage Sunday, the Los Angeles Times reported. A counterterrorism official said investigators uncovered the material while reviewing Mateen's searches on the internet.

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In interviews with Salman, the FBI learned that she accompanied Mateen on at least one trip to the club prior to the attack to do what a U.S. law enforcement official described as "reconnaissance," The Washington Post reported. She also accompanied her husband to shop at a firearms dealer, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Three people identifying themselves as FBI agents visited Salman's childhood home in Rodeo on Tuesday and spoke with her mother, said Jessie Rojas, a next-door neighbor.



In Fort Pierce, Fla., where Salman and Mateen lived, Salman made a brief visit to their first-floor apartment late Monday, escorted by police and her brother-in-law. Her father-in-law said she came to retrieve clothing. She did not speak with reporters. She has otherwise been in seclusion.

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According to marriage documents on file in the Contra Costa County recorder's office, Salman was born in the United States while her parents' birthplaces were listed as "Palestine."



It's unclear when her parents, who served as witnesses for the wedding, came to the United States, but their naturalization papers allowing them to stay in the country were approved in 1984.



No one answered the door at the Salman home Tuesday, but neighbors who know the 2004 graduate of Swett High School in nearby Crockett said they find it hard to believe she had anything to do with the massacre.



Jasbinder Chahal, who has lived across the street from Salman's childhood home for the last 15 years, said Salman is "very nice ... not the smartest, but she was beautiful."



"You know, some kids after high school, they open up the box and the world is theirs. She was inside the box, just pack it up and get married," Chahal said.





"They had a small wedding and took lots of pictures here at the house," said Chahal. The marriage license says the ceremony took place in Hercules, Calif., and that an imam officiated.



Of Mateen, Chahal said, "He was shorter than her and did not seem very friendly."



Chahal said Salman's mother, Ekbal Salman, was deeply upset when she visited her Monday night and said she feared for the safety of her daughter and grandson.



Growing up, Salman's parents tried to shelter their four girls.



"Noor never played in the street, and the girls were never allowed to drive," Chahal said.



The neighbor quoted Salman's mother as saying Mateen also kept her daughter from driving, until he recently allowed her to take a test to get her driver's license.





Salman's marriage to Mateen was her second, said Chahal. Mateen had previously been married as well.



Her first marriage had been arranged in the Palestinian Territories by her parents, said Chahal, adding that the union did not work out.



"He was in Chicago and they were living there, but they were not married long," Chahal said. "They had cultural differences since she grew up here and was American."

Salman had lived in west suburban Berwyn for a few years before she moved to California to be with family there, according to the landlord of an building where she had rented an apartment in the 7100 block of West Windsor Avenue.

"I just remember she was a young, pretty girl, from what I can recall," said the landlord, who wanted to remain anonymous. He said he didn't remember the exact year she moved in or out, but said she was a good tenant who got her security deposit back.

"She wasn't a problem tenant," he said.

Rick Lux, 62, currently lives in the building but said he moved in after Salman had already left. Lux said all of his neighbors have been talking about the news that she used to live there, but everyone was fairly new to the building and hadn't rented there long enough to have met her.

"It was kind of weird," he said. "You never know who your neighbors could be, I guess."

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Mateen had met his first wife, Sitora Yusufiy, online, too. They married in 2009 after a whirlwind romance.



Yusufiy, who immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan, has told reporters that Mateen was mentally unstable and abusive during their brief relationship.



She said she knew quickly that the marriage had been a mistake and she left him a few months later. The couple didn't divorce, though, until June 21, 2011  just three months before Mateen married Salman.



On one of Yusufiy's sister's Facebook pages  next to a family photo  there is a box with the words: "Solidarity with Gaza."



Salman rarely came home to visit after she married because Mateen would not let her, Chahal said. She quoted Salman's mother telling her that Mateen even tried to keep the daughter from traveling home to see her father when he was sick.



The younger Salman managed to scrape together the money to visit before her father died in a local hospital, Chahal said.



Associated Press
Orlando gunman Omar Mateen apparently made a series of Facebook posts and searches before and during his attack on a gay nightclub, raging against the "filthy ways of the west" and blaming the U.S. for the deaths of "innocent women and children," according to a Senate committee letter released Wednesday.

The killer whose rampage left 49 people dead also searched for "Pulse Orlando" and "Shooting" online on the morning of the carnage Sunday and said on Facebook: "America and Russia stop bombing the Islamic state," according to the letter.

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The Senate Homeland Security Committee sent the letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, asking the company to produce information on Mateen's online activity and to provide a briefing to the panel.

The letter illuminating Mateen's state of mind in the final hours of his life was released as the long, sad procession of memorials and funerals for the victims began in Orlando and as the FBI appealed for the public's help in reconstructing the killer's movements. The FBI is also trying to establish how much Mateen's wife may have known about the attack at Pulse dance club.

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"We need your help in developing the most complete picture of what he did and why he did it," FBI agent Ron Hopper said at a news conference.

Mateen posted on Facebook moments before the attack began, said a source familiar with the situation who is not authorized to speak publicly.

In its letter, the committee said staffers have learned that five Facebook accounts were associated with the 29-year-old American-born Muslim.

"The real muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the west," Mateen wrote, according to the letter from committee chairman Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican. Johnson did not say how he learned of the posts other than to cite "information obtained by my staff."

As he did in his call to a 911 operator during the massacre, Mateen pledged his allegiance on Facebook to the leader of the Islamic State and, in his final post, warned: "in the next few days you will see attacks from the Islamic state in the usa."

Omar Mateen, right, with his wife, Noor Zahi Salman, and their son. (Facebook)

Despite his professed loyalty to the extremist group, the Obama administration has said it has seen no evidence that the shooting rampage was directed by the Islamic State.

A spokesman for the FBI did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday evening, and Facebook had no immediate comment.

The three-hour rampage began at 2 a.m. Sunday and ended with Mateen being killed by a police SWAT team. The FBI said it is still gathering evidence at the Pulse and analyzing cellphone location data to piece together Mateen's activities leading up to the massacre, while also interviewing people who had any dealings with him.

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On Saturday night, hours before the rampage, Mateen visited Disney Springs, an outdoor restaurant, retail and entertainment complex at Walt Disney World, an official who was briefed on the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss the continuing investigation told The Associated Press.

The official said it is not clear what Mateen was up to.

Meanwhile, drag queens and motorcyclists turned out to pay their respects at an evening visitation at a funeral parlor for Javier Jorge-Reyes, a 40-year-old salesman and makeup artist.

Members of the SWAT team underwent a stress-management debriefing Wednesday, as hundreds of others involved in the response to the shooting have done, Orlando Police Chief John Mina said. Further counseling is being made available.

"These are some of the bravest toughest men I know," Mina said. "No one can prepare you for what those officers encountered that night. They stood toe-to-toe and went face-to-face with a mass murderer, and I'm extremely proud of that."

A key topic for investigators is how much Mateen's Palestinian-American wife may have known about the plot.

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An official who was briefed on the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation said authorities believe 30-year-old U.S.-born Noor Salman knew ahead of time about the attack.

Investigators have spoken extensively with her and are working to establish whether she recently accompanied Mateen to the club, said a second official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly.

U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley repeatedly refused to say whether charges might be brought against the wife or anyone else. He said authorities are talking to hundreds of people and investigating everyone associated with Mateen, including family, friends and business associates.

Salman has been in seclusion for days.

In other developments:

 Florida documents obtained by the AP under open-records laws show that Mateen passed a psychological evaluation in 2007 as part of his application to be a security guard. The records say he took a written psychological test or was evaluated by a psychologist or psychiatrist.

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 Orlando TV producer Matt Gentili of CFN 13 said Mateen called during his standoff to say he was doing it for the Islamic State. The station's managing editor traced the call back to a number associated with Mateen, according to NY 1 News, CFN 13's sister operation in New York. The FBI's Hopper declined to comment on calls Mateen made during the rampage.

 A newly unearthed clip from a film documentary about the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico shows Mateen  then working security for the cleanup  talking cynically about people making money off disasters.

The excerpt from 2012's "The Big Fix" shows Mateen telling a woman that everyone is "hoping for more oil to come out and more people to complain so they'll have the jobs." Security firm G4S confirmed that it's Mateen, saying he was stationed in Pensacola in 2010 to assist with cleanup.

Associated Press
Following the deadliest shooting in U.S. history, a Baptist preacher stood at his pulpit Sunday night in Northern California and delivered an impassioned sermon praising the brutal massacre at a gay nightclub in Florida.

Pastor Roger Jimenez from Verity Baptist Church in Sacramento told his congregation that Christians "shouldn't be mourning the death of 50 sodomites."

"People say, like: Well, aren't you sad that 50 sodomites died?" Jimenez said, referencing the initial death toll in Orlando, which authorities later clarified included 49 victims plus the gunman. "Here's the problem with that. It's like the equivalent of asking me - what if you asked me: Hey, are you sad that 50 pedophiles were killed today?'

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"Um, no, I think that's great. I think that helps society. You know, I think Orlando, Fla., is a little safer tonight."

He added: "The tragedy is that more of them didn't die. The tragedy is - I'm kind of upset that he didn't finish the job!"

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The sermon has drawn scorn from community leaders and others who have called it "hateful propaganda" and "bigotry."

Jay Brown, spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign, said there is "nothing whatsoever Christian" in the pastor's sermon.

"He's preaching hate from the pulpit," Brown said in a statement to The Washington Post. "His words offer no comfort to the survivors of the attack, to the family and friends whose loved ones they'll never see again.

"And to think of the LGBTQ youth in his own church, it's simply heartbreaking."

Members of the LGBT community are not allowed to join Verity Baptist or attend its services, according to the church's "What We Believe" page. It states the church believes "sodomy" - referring to homosexuality - is "a sin and an abomination before God which God punishes with the death penalty."

"I wish the government would round them all up, put them up against a firing wall, put a firing squad in front of them, and blow their brains out," Jimenez said during his Sunday sermon, which Verity Baptist posted on its website under the title "the Christian response to the Orlando murders."

The church did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jimenez declined to comment Monday when a CBS Sacramento camera crew showed up at his home.

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Video of the sermon, uploaded to the church's YouTube channel, was removed late Monday or early Tuesday "for violating YouTube's policy on hate speech." A copy of the video was later uploaded by a different YouTube user.

The sermon runs for 45 minutes and focuses on the Bible, homosexuality and the deadly rampage at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando.

Hours after a lone gunman went into the club and shot and killed 49 people, Jimenez suggested that their deaths were well-deserved.

"As Christians, we should not be taking a sympathetic approach to these types of news and saying: This was a tragedy, this is something that we're sad about, we should be mourning these people," he said. "The Bible teaches that they're all predators. That's all the Bible says about them: They're wicked, they're vile, they're predators. And God says that they deserve the death penalty for what they do . . .

"I'm not saying that we should be doing that. But in God's government, where God set up the laws and God set up the rules and God set up the people in charge, God said: When you find a sodomite, put them to death."

He continued:

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"Let me say this: As Christians, we shouldn't be advocating the killing of Sodomites. I'm not standing up here tonight and saying: Let's go get some guns, and let's go get 'em. That's not what I'm saying at all. People will sometimes hear people like me preach, or other pastors, and say: You guys are advocating violence. We're not advocating violence. We're not saying we should go do this.

"But we're just saying this: If we lived in a righteous nation, with a righteous government, then the government should be taking them. There's no tragedy. I wish the government would round them all up, put them up against a firing wall, put a firing squad in front of them, and blow their brains out.

"If we lived in a righteous government that loved God and loved children and wanted to protect them, that's what we'd do. I'm not saying we should do it. I'm not saying we should go, you know, blow up Planned Parenthood. I'm not saying that at all. All I'm saying is this: If God has his way, that's what he'd do. And by the way, in the millennium, that's what will be done. God's laws will be re-established.

The pastor's sermon drew a strong rebuke from Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson who tweeted:

"The hateful comments made by a preacher in Sacramento do not reflect Christian values and have no place in our society."

Austin Webster, communications director for California Community Colleges, said that he was "absolutely disgusted" by the "message of hate."

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And angry commenters flooded the church's Facebook page.

"Pastor Roger Jimenez," one wrote, "I pray that God has more mercy on your soul than you have shown for those who were injured and murdered in Orlando this past weekend. The God I believe in, have studied and learnt about, and love dearly, would disagree strongly with what you have said, and how you have said it. I would like to strongly suggest you stand down as the Pastor at Verity Baptist Church, and go back to Bible College, spend many hours reading God's Word, and many more hours examining your heart and soul, and praying for your Saviour's forgiveness. I pray that God will lead you to His light and bless you."

Sandre Nelson of the Davis Phoenix coalition, a nonprofit group that works to prevent hate-motivated violence in the Sacramento Valley, told CBS Sacramento that he was stunned by the pastor's sermon.

"He's not a man of God," Nelson told the news station. "He's not a man teaching a true religion."

Nelson said the sort of speech featured in Jimenez's sermon can be devastating.

"It can definitely cause more harm to our LGBT youth and those still living in the closet that are older," he told CBS Sacramento. "It causes our suicide rates to go up, it causes kids to feel like they're worthless."

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Even as Jimenez was praising the deaths in Orlando, another Christian leader was calling on the faithful to stop "singling out people for victimization because of their religion, their sexual orientation, their nationality."

"Sadly it is religion, including our own, that targets, mostly verbally, and often breeds contempt for gays, lesbians and transgender people," Robert Lynch, a Catholic bishop in central Florida, wrote on his blog. "Attacks today on LGBT men and women often plant the seed of contempt, then hatred, which can ultimately lead to violence.

"Those women and men who were mowed down Sunday were all made in the image and likeness of God. We teach that. We should believe that. We must stand for that."

But an Arizona pastor who is listed as an anti-gay hate group leader by the Southern Poverty Law Center posted a response to the Orlando killings that was similar to Jimenez's.

Steven Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe celebrated the 49 slayings in a YouTube video.

"The good news is that at least 50 of these pedophiles are not going to be harming children anymore," he said. "The bad news is that a lot of the homos in the bar are still alive, so they're going to continue to molest children and recruit people into their filthy homosexual lifestyle. The other bad news is that this is going to now be used as propaganda not only against Muslims, but also against Christians."

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"I'm not sad about it; I'm not going to cry about it," Anderson said of the massacre, adding that the victims "were going to die of AIDS and syphilis and whatever else; they were going to die early anyway."

Anderson, who founded Faithful Word, gained notoriety in 2009 when he told his congregation he hates President Barack Obama and would "pray that he dies and goes to hell," according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. A member of the pastor's congregation then showed up at an Obama appearance armed with an assault rifle and a pistol, according to the SPLC.

In his Sunday video, however, Anderson said he has never "advocated for violence."

"I don't believe in taking the law into our own hands," he said. "I would never go in and shoot up a gay bar, so called. I don't believe it's right for us to just be a vigilante. We're supposed to obey the law of the land and obey the powers that be. I would never take things into my own hands."

He added: "But I will say this: You know, the Bible says that homosexuals should be put to death, in Leviticus 20:13. Obviously, it's not right for somebody to just, you know, shoot up the place, because that's not going through the proper channels. But these people all should have been killed anyway, but they should have been killed through the proper channels.

"As in, they should have been executed by a righteous government that would have tried them, convicted them and saw them executed."

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Jimenez, the pastor in Sacramento, was born in Venezuela, where he became a Christian "through the influence of American missionaries," according to his church website.

Throughout his sermon Sunday, he preached about what he said was God's view on homosexuality. He referenced the Book of Romans and "natural" and "unnatural" sexual relations and the "recompense for their error."

"If you don't mind writing in your Bible," he said, "right there next to Romans 1:27, you ought to write this word: AIDS. The recompense for their error, you know what that was? AIDS."

Romans 1:27 states:

"And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet."

"These people are predators. They are abusers," Jimenez told his congregation. "They take advantage of people. And look, as Christians, we need to take these stands that it is not our job to sit there and say, oh, this is a tragedy, or oh, this is something we mourn. Look, the Bible paints the picture that these are wicked people. These are evil people."

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He said that Christians must "fight a spiritual battle."

"We shouldn't be advocating what happened today," he said, "but we shouldn't be sad about it, either."
WASHINGTON  A Democratic senator who mourned the loss of 20 children in his home state waged a roughly 15-hour filibuster into early Thursday, asserting as he yielded the floor that Republican leaders had committed to hold votes on expanded gun background checks and a ban on gun sales to suspected terrorists.

With a compromise on the gun issue still improbable, Sen. Chris Murphy stood on the Senate floor for most of Wednesday and into Thursday. Speaking in the wake of the mass shooting early Sunday at a Florida nightclub, Murphy said he would remain there "until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together." He concluded the filibuster at 2:11 a.m. EDT Thursday.

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Although Murphy, D-Conn., talked optimistically about his cause, it is unlikely the amendments Democrats are seeking will pass the Republican-run Senate.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., dismissed the Democrats' "campaign talk-a-thon" and urged lawmakers to back legislation favored by the National Rifle Association that would let the government delay firearms sales to suspected terrorists for up to 72 hours.

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Prosecutors would have to persuade a judge to block the transaction permanently, a bar that Democrats and gun control activists say is too high.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said nothing will change as long as "Republicans continue to take their orders" from the NRA.

Sen. Chris Murphy speaks to reporters after waging an almost 15-hour filibuster on the Senate floor in order to force a vote on gun control on June 15, 2016. (Pete Marovich / Getty Images)

Murphy spent much of the time speaking about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012. He finished his filibuster by talking about one of the young boys who died there.

When Murphy had stood on the floor for more than nine hours, his own young sons, ages 4 and 7, briefly appeared in the Senate gallery.

"I hope you'll understand some day why we're doing this," Murphy said, addressing his oldest son. "Trying and trying and trying to do the right thing is ultimately just as important as getting the outcome in the end."

Democrats have revived the gun debate after 49 people were killed at a nightclub in Orlando, the worst such incident in modern U.S. history. The fight pits strong proponents of the Second Amendment right to bear arms against those arguing for greater restrictions on the ability to obtain weapons.

Murphy's call for the two votes came as presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would meet with the NRA to discuss ways to block people on terrorism watch lists or no-fly lists from buying guns. The same day, Trump told a rally in Georgia: "I'm going to save your Second Amendment."

For those of us that represent Conn., the failure of this body to do anything, anything at all in the face of that continued slaughter isn't just painful to us, it's unconscionable  Sen. Chris Murphy

Murphy was joined by more than 30 Democratic colleagues on the floor, many of whom angrily told stories of mass shootings in their own states and called for action.

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"The next time someone uses a gun to kill one of us, a gun that we could have kept out of the hands of a terrorist, then members of this Congress will have blood on our hands," said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., asked: "Where is our spine?"

Attempts at compromise appeared to collapse within hours of surfacing in the Senate Wednesday, underscoring the extreme difficulty of resolving the divisive issue five months from November's election. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who had been involved in talks with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said there was no resolution.

Murphy, 42, began speaking at 11:21 a.m., and was showing few signs of fatigue when the filibuster ended. By Senate rules, he had to stand at his desk the entire time to maintain control of the floor.

Tourists and staff filled the galleries past midnight, and Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Cory Booker of New Jersey stayed with Murphy on the floor for most of the debate. Like Murphy, Booker did not sit down for the full 15 hours.

It's been nearly a decade since Congress made any significant changes to federal gun laws. In April 2007, Congress passed a law to strengthen the instant background check system after a gunman at Virginia Tech who killed 32 people was able to purchase his weapons because his mental health history was not in the instant background check database.

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Murphy is seeking a vote on legislation from Feinstein that would let the government bar sales of guns and explosives to people it suspects of being terrorists. Feinstein offered a similar version of the amendment in December, a day after an extremist couple killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, but the Republican-run Senate rejected the proposal on a near party-line vote.

Cornyn and other Republicans argue that Feinstein's bill would deny due process to people who may be on the terror list erroneously.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was added to a government watch list of individuals known or suspected of being involved in terrorist activities in 2013, when he was investigated for inflammatory statements to co-workers. But he was pulled from that database when that investigation was closed 10 months later.

Associated Press
For nearly a half century, Loretta Grzetich and her husband owned and operated Sonny's Inn, a restaurant and bar housed in an old train depot along the Illinois Central railroad tracks in South Chicago.

It was the kind of place where waitresses sat drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes when not waiting tables, where coffees-to-go got grabbed up by morning rush-hour commuters and steel workers, meat packers and truckers stopped for a beer or two at the end of their shift.

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Although she rarely stepped foot in the kitchen other than to check on orders with her husband  Sonny, the cook  Grzetich did everything she could to make sure nobody ever walked away hungry, her family said.

Grzetich, 89, died of natural causes on May 26, her family said. She lived in an apartment above her family's now-shuttered restaurant.

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"She did a little of everything at the restaurant and knew everybody who walked in  the plumbers, the cops, the lady down the street with 10 kids," said her nephew, Phil Abruzino, who worked at Sonny's Inn during his youth. "She'd seat people at a table and then sit down to talk with them. Her customers were more like friends."

By the early 2000s, the couple had sold the restaurant, but it kept operating under the same name until several years ago, when it closed. Sonny Grzetich died in 2006.

"Most mornings, she'd get up at 4:30 to head downstairs to the restaurant," said her son, David. "The dog would follow and lay at her feet as she made the coffee. She rarely missed a day of work but was ready when it came time to call it quits. It'd been a good ride."

The daughter of a tailor, Grzetich was born Loretta Smith in Chicago and raised in Calumet Park. She married George "Sonny" Grzetich, a Navy veteran, after he returned from World War II and was working in his parents' small diner, G & K Restaurant, which opened in 1941.

The couple took ownership of the business in 1952 and purchased the building. They made renovations to the restaurant, added a bar and renamed it Sonny's Inn. Soon after, they moved from their South Side bungalow into an apartment above the restaurant.

"So much of their lives revolved around that one building," her son said. "It's where they woke up, worked and went to bed."

Over the years, the couple provided jobs for dozens of friends and patrons in the neighborhood. Often Grzetich would hear about someone being out of work and tell Sonny to hire that person.

"She was more like a friend than an aunt," Abruzino said. "She was the kind of person who when I needed a few bucks, she was putting the money in my hand before I could even finish my sentence."

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There are no other immediate survivors.

Services were private.

Joan Giangrasse Kates is a freelancer.
All guns kill. Some do so with horrifying efficiency.

In Orlando early Sunday, a heavily armed madman opened fire on the crowd at a gay nightclub. The attack killed 49 people and wounded 53. It also reopened the tortured debate about gun ownership in America, where the Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms. In many states that protection translates into the ability to walk into a store, fill out minimal paperwork and leave with a military-style rifle.

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The Orlando killer, Omar Mateen, is responsible for shooting more than 100 people. With the law enforcement investigation in its early days, there is a lot we don't know about Mateen's motives and rampage. We do know something about his arsenal. He was carrying a semi-automatic rifle and a semi-automatic pistol, which he purchased legally in Florida in the days before the attack.

We also know  from a brief video uploaded to Snapchat by one of the victims, Amanda Alvear, before she died  what the early moments of the massacre sounded like: a frantic drumbeat of shots, 17 or more in about nine seconds, one shot per trigger-pull in a continual barrage.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 94 Omar Mateen, right, with his wife, Noor Zahi Salman, and their son. (Facebook)

Mateen carried an AR-style assault rifle with 30-round magazines, giving him 30 shots before reloading. These civilian versions of the military's M16 rifle are fast, accurate and comfortable to fire. They are bought by Americans for target shooting, hunting and self-defense  but designed to kill as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-crack, went Mateen's rifle in the video. Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-crack-crack.

There is no simple solution for eliminating the scourge of gun violence in America. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2008 that the Second Amendment guarantees individuals the right to own guns for self-defense. But even if the bedrock principle of gun ownership is here to stay, the high court noted that "the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited."

On what grounds can the country justify giving citizens the ability to fire off 30 or more rounds in a near burst?  Chicago Tribune Editorial Board

If you're looking to apply that legal guidance to the reduction of killings, especially the horror of mass shootings, one place to look is Highland Park. That's where a recent ban on assault weapons has survived judicial scrutiny. While the Supreme Court knocked out Chicago's prohibition on handguns in 2010, it declined last year to consider a challenge to Highland Park's ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, passed in 2013. We don't know the high court's thinking because it took a pass, but the lower court, Chicago's 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, said assault weapons were dangerous and unusual enough to justify banning.

"Why else are they the weapon of choice in mass shootings?" Judge Frank Easterbrook asked. "A ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines might not prevent shootings in Highland Park, but it may reduce the carnage if a mass shooting occurs."

Wise words. And all too accurate, given the ugly history of mass shootings in America. The Washington-based Violence Policy Center counts five incidents in the past year in which a mass killer used high-capacity ammunition magazines: Orlando; Kalamazoo, Mich. (six dead); San Bernardino, Calif. (14 dead); Chattanooga, Tenn. (six dead including the shooter); and Charleston, S.C. (nine dead). Go back further: Newtown, Conn. (28 dead, including the shooter); Fort Hood, Texas (13 dead).

The history of assault weapon bans is murkier than many might remember. A federal ban on the manufacture and sale of such weapons was in place from 1994 to 2004, but possession of those already in existence remained legal.

Given the Supreme Court's recent Second Amendment decisions, restoring the assault weapon ban is constitutionally questionable. A limit on the size of magazines would be more likely to survive court scrutiny. And it would serve to make semi-automatic weapons somewhat less lethal. Limiting magazines to eight or 10 rounds would hinder mass shooters while imposing minimal inconvenience on law-abiding gun owners.

On what grounds can the country justify giving citizens the ability to fire off 30 or more rounds in a near burst? Or 50 rounds? Or 100? In the hands of a killer, that kind of firepower overwhelms even crowds of people. Forcing an assailant to reload, though, buys time for victims to flee or defend themselves.

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In the 1993 Long Island Railroad shooting, a passenger charged the assailant, who was reloading; that disruption of the shooter's intent limited the death count to six people.

Would such a limit have reduced the bloodshed in Orlando? It's impossible to answer. What we know is that the pattern of mass shootings is set and quite possibly will intensify, given the grave terror threat the country faces. Combating our enemies takes a coordinated response. That has to include a serious national debate about the role of guns in American life and justifiable limits on gun ownership.

Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
By the time average American children reach age 17, their eyes will have spent the equivalent of nearly six years looking at digital devices, according to findings from a new survey by VSP Vision Care.

While the survey shows that parents are concerned with increasing screen time, it found that nearly 60 percent have little to no awareness of blue light  the high-energy light emitted from digital devices  and its impact on vision. As blue light enters the eye, it causes visual strain because it is defocused in front of the retina and scatters, creating an effect visually perceived as glare. The eyes are then forced to work overtime to focus and process the wavelengths of light.

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From smartphones, to tablets, laptops, televisions, and even CFL and LED lighting, today's family is surrounded by devices that produce blue light. As we spend increasing amounts of time staring at screens, blue light exposure is reaching unprecedented levels. This has led to an alarming increase in reports of digital eye strain, especially amongst children who are experiencing tired, sore eyes, headaches and trouble focusing.

"At home, in classrooms and at work, our eyes are exposed to blue light," says VSP optometrist Dr. Gary Morgan. "Technology continues to change the way we live and allows us to be more efficient and connected, but despite its benefits, we must be mindful of the impact of increased blue light exposure on our eyes."

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Morgan offers the following tips to reduce blue light exposure and maintain good eye health.

Get an eye exam: An annual trip to the eye doctor is critical for the entire family. Ask your eye doctor about the best options to help reduce eye strain, including eyeglass lenses with coatings that reflect and absorb blue light, like Sharper Image TechShield.

Observe the 20/20/20 Rule: Give eyes a break every 20 minutes and spend 20 seconds looking at something at least 20 feet away.

Maintain digital distance: Find a comfortable working distance from your screen. This is especially important for children, since the intensity of light increases exponentially the closer our eyes are to light sources. Children have shorter arms and therefore receive a more intense dose of blue light from devices. They should hold devices as far away from their eyes as is comfortable.

Lower screen brightness: Turn down the brightness level of device screens to reduce blue light exposure, especially during evening hours.

Limit screen time before bed: Blue light can slow melatonin production, which helps us sleep. Reducing exposure to blue light a couple of hours before bed may make it easier to go to sleep.

More information about the effects of blue light and protection options can be found at SharperImageVision.com.

"While medical research continues to study possible long-term health impacts of blue light, we can take practical steps to reduce exposure, ease digital eye strain and maintain good vision," says Morgan.

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Get into the swing of summer with a trip to Market Square, a top shopping destination celebrating 100 years of retail excellence.

Step into one the center's newcomers, Evereve, and take a look at flattering layered tops matched with soft and comfy yet fashionable bottoms. Finish the outfit with a pair of strappy sandals with chunky heels and the look is complete.

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Then head over to J.McLaughlin where you will see stripes in every color of the rainbow on breezy summer tops, or for a more sophisticated look, try on an embroidered lace shift. Sara Campbell has its resort collection on the racks with fun pieces like a quilted denim knit dress, cashmere hoodie or striped jacquard dress with a flirty flounce.

Be as appealing as Chicago's lakefront with apparel from the Lake Forest Shop, where you'll find the latest designer fashions from Emy Mack shoes to Lafayette 148. Claim your name with Palm Beach monogram sandals at Lake Forest Bootery, where you can also pick up a pair of Native waterproof slip-ons for the kids that are perfect for the beach.

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Outshine the sun with a new diamond, Deco-inspired bracelet or other stunning piece from Lake Forest Jewelers. Increase your "Spex" appeal with a pair of Persol sunglasses from Spex.

In addition to this shopping sensation, Market Square is also hosting summer Concerts on the Square at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays during June and July. Second Hand Soul Band takes the stage on June 16. Class of '68 headlines on June 23 and New Odyssey will be featured on June 30.
By Alexander Chipman Koty

In March this year, China and Israel officially launched discussions for a long-rumored free trade agreement (FTA), reflecting the budding rapport between the two nations. As China and Israel become progressively more politically isolated due to their assertive geopolitical policies, the two controversial states are growing their economic and political ties closer together. Israels traditional economic and political partners in the U.S. and Western Europe are becoming increasingly critical of their longtime Middle Eastern ally, while Chinas aggressions in the South China Sea are unnerving Pacific countries wary of the Middle Kingdoms rise.

In light of these political realities, China and Israel are finding each other to be convenient collaborators as they seek to diversify their economic dependence and profit from each others comparative advantages. Israel, with its small population of about eight and a half million and world class high-tech capabilities, and China, with its immense population, manufacturing prowess, and huge capital waiting to be spent, are naturally complementary economies. Despite presenting rapidly expanding bilateral trade and investment opportunities, however, sometimes divergent political interests and persistent concerns over IP protection prevent the countries from fully embracing their burgeoning friendship.

Snapshot of China-Israel Relations

When Chinese and Israeli politicians make public appearances together, they enjoy stressing the fact that the Jewish and Chinese peoples comprise two of the worlds most ancient civilizations and have held relations since trading using the Silk Road in the 8th Century. Despite this storied history, the modern state of Israel and the Peoples Republic of China did not establish formal relations until 1992, making their present day political and economic connectivity relatively immature.

While Israel sold arms to China with quiet U.S. support beginning in the late 1970s to counter the USSR, the formal economic relationship between the countries had been fairly limited until recently. In 1992, bilateral trade between China and Israel comprised only US$50 million; this number reached US$11 billion in 2015. Although trade between the two countries got off to a late start, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked in 2014 that China is Israels largest trading partner in Asia and fast becoming perhaps Israels largest trading partner, period, as we move into the future. Such declarations are notable given that China has long been a supporter of Iran  Israels regional rival.

The steady rise in trade between China and Israel mirrors the swelling enthusiasm they display for one another and coincides with Israels increasingly rocky relationship with the West. Israel joined the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as a founding partner in 2015, and Netanyahu established an Israel-China task force for his office the same year. The two countries have also recently created a range of initiatives to promote exchange and investment, such as the China-Israel Technology, Innovation & Investment Summit held this January in Beijing, the upcoming Innonation: China-Israel Investment Summit in September in Tel Aviv, and the US$300 million Tel Aviv University-Tsinghua University joint center for exchange and collaboration. Further, the countries are easing visa requirements and establishing direct flights to promote greater interconnectivity and tourism.

RELATED: Business Advisory Services from Dezan Shira & Associates

Bilateral Trade and Investment

The political rapprochement between China and Israel allows them to take advantage of their highly complementary economies. China excels in its industrial and manufacturing capacity that supplies the world with affordable goods, while Israel is known for its high-tech sector and innovation. Indeed, China has been investing heavily in startups and high-tech as it seeks to move up the value chain to keep its manufacturing sector competitive as the country faces rising labor costs and a changing demographic makeup. Meanwhile, Israel is highly competitive in innovation, ranking first on Bloombergs index of R&D intensity, while its manufacturing sector is fairly negligible.

Chinas exports to Israel, which amounted to about US$8 billion in 2015 and 14.1 percent of Israels total imports, were led by electronic equipment (US$1.7 billion), machinery (US$1.2 billion), and clothing (US$475.9 million). On the other side of the relationship, Israels US$3.3 billion worth of exports to China in 2015, 5.4 percent of its entire exports, were driven by electronic components, primarily from Intels semiconductor plants (US$1.7 billion), medical and technical equipment (US$417.7 million), and fertilizers (US$346.4 million).

Agricultural and Water Management Technology

As is seen from Israels leading exports to China, the Middle Kingdom has a keen interest in acquiring advanced Israeli technology and expertise. Areas of particular appeal include desertification prevention technology, water desalination and irrigation, advanced agricultural equipment, medical devices, and general high-tech. Chinas agricultural and water management sectors are notoriously inefficient, and Israel has strong expertise in technology that can reduce waste and pollution.

Adopting such practices is of increasing importance for Beijing, as seen in the environmental emphasis of the 13th Five Year Plan, as the public grows tired of pollution, contaminated goods, and other environmental issues. Efforts with Israel to this end include a US$300 million deal in 2012 to acquire Israeli water technology, Dowell Technological and Environment Engineering Co.s Sino-Israeli Water Treatment Innovative Industrial Park established in Dongguan in 2013, and an Israeli Water City venture in Shougang to test and develop water management technology.

Semiconductors and Startups

In addition to the aforementioned technology, semiconductors  one of Israels leading exports to China  remains a hot commodity and may be set to rise further. Although manufacturing has slowed, China is still the worlds largest producer of electronic products and the biggest consumer of semiconductors as a result. However, China is reliant on Pacific countries such as the U.S., Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea to satisfy this appetite, leading Beijing to invest heavily in its domestic semiconductor industry. Semiconductors are potential dual-use technology that can be used for both civilian and military use, making Pacific countries in Chinas vicinity cautious of sharing technology. Several potential Chinese acquisitions of American semiconductor companies, for example, have already been discarded this year due to the expectation of being blocked by the U.S. government for security reasons.

Due to political interventions in the semiconductor industry, China has strong incentives to diversify its supply chain to reduce its reliance on potential regional adversaries. Israel, as a Middle Eastern country, has less immediate concern for Chinese expansion in the Pacific. Israel has angered the U.S. multiple times for selling arms to China behind its back, which the U.S. has described as a repeated pattern of behavior. The U.S. is likely to keep a close eye on Israeli technology transfers to China, as is the case with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) new factory in China, which it assures will only serve the civilian sector.

With the expectation that Israeli technology will be easier to acquire than that from the U.S. due to less political interference and Israels limited domestic market, China is increasing investments in Israeli startups. Chinas venture capital investments in Israel amount to approximately US$1.77 billion and are concentrated in the tech sector; in 2015 alone, China invested about US$500 million in Israeli startups. Although China may see Israel as more lenient than the U.S. in sharing technology, Israel may ultimately act similarly cautiously as it does not want its technology to be shared with opponents like Iran.

Going Forward

China and Israels relationship is blossoming, with significant economic opportunities presenting themselves with little immediate political conflict. As China seeks to improve its environmental standards and move up the manufacturing value chain, Israels robust high tech and innovation make the countries natural partners. However, although Israel is pivoting away from traditional allies towards Asia, China and Israel are unlikely to wholly embrace their relationship.

As is the case with high-tech companies in other countries, there are significant concerns over IP protection and reverse-engineering in China. Further, although China has traditionally been relatively passive in the Middle East, it could eventually become more assertive in the region, as is currently the case in the South China Sea, and more actively support allies such as Iran and Pakistan. As such, despite Israels strained relations with the West, its relations with China are likely to be predominantly economic and could be upset if political differences emerge. In the meantime, however, economic opportunities between China and Israel are bound to grow and bear significant fruit.



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 china@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. 

Importing and Exporting in China: a Guide for Trading Companies

In this issue of China Briefing, we discuss the latest import and export trends in China, and analyze the ways in which a foreign company in China can properly prepare for the import/export process. With import taxes and duties adding a significant cost burden, we explain how this system works in China, and highlight some of the tax incentives that the Chinese government has put in place to help stimulate trade.

Using Chinas Free Trade & Double Tax Agreements

In this issue of China Briefing, we examine the role of Free Trade Agreements and the various regional blocs that China is either a member of or considering becoming so, as well as how these can be of significance to your China business. We also examine the role of Double Tax Treaties, provide a list of active agreements, and explain how to obtain the tax minimization benefits on offer.

Double Taxation Avoidance in China: A Business Intelligence Primer

In our twenty-two years of experience in facilitating foreign investment into Asia, Dezan Shira & Associates has witnessed first-hand the development of Chinas double taxation avoidance mechanism and established an extensive library of resources for helping foreign investors obtain DTA benefits. In this issue of China Briefing Magazine, we are proud to present the distillation of this knowledge in the form of a business intelligence primer to DTAs in China.
China is making progress on its economic rebalancing, but rising corporate debt could pose risks to growth in the medium and long term if the debt problem isn't solved, a senior official at the International Monetary Fund suggested in Beijing on Tuesday.

"China is making progress in many dimensions on its transition to a sustainable growth path, and the near-term outlook has turned more buoyant due to recent policy support," said David Lipton, the IMF's first deputy managing director, after a discussion with top Chinese officials and regulators in the financial sector.

Lipton said the moderate slowdown in China's growth in the first quarter is a natural result of the country's necessary transition, and it's good enough compared with many other economies.

Addressing recent depreciation pressure on the renminbi that sparked concerns of global investors, Lipton said the exchange rate is becoming "more flexible and market-based" as there has been substantial liberalization of financial markets.

Lipton said the government should achieve an effective floating range within the next couple of years.

What it needs to be concerned about to ensure medium-to-high growth in the long run is the risk of rising debt, Lipton said.

"The corporate debt load, which is at 145 percent of GDP, though still manageable, is high and rising fast," Lipton said, adding that China needed a comprehensive plan and concrete actionespecially for State-owned enterprisesto avoid serious problems in the long run.

His observations were in line with those of Chinese authorities who have been aware of the challenges. An unidentified "authoritative figure" who published an article in People's Daily earlier in May said that soaring debt levels could trigger a "systemic" financial crisis if efforts are too weak.

China has since launched a series of initiatives to whittle back the bad debt sitting on bank balance sheets, including securitization and debt-for-equity swaps.

Facing possible vulnerabilities, officials have adopted plans designed to settle growth at a sustainable level.

Zhang Tao, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, speaking at a financial forum in Shanghai on Sunday, signaled a willingness to let zombie companies die and let the market decide which ones should be shut down.

Li Pumin, spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission, pledged on Tuesday to take more steps to address excess capacity in the coal and steel sectors in an effort to spur restructuring.
The "Glass V1", released by Shenzhen Dlodlo Technologies Co Ltd. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Shenzhen Dlodlo Technologies Co Ltd, a startup engaged in virtual reality technology research and development, released VR glasses called "Glass V1", which weigh only 78 grams and have a thickness of 16 millimeters.

The "Glass V1" looks more like a pair of sunglasses than a VR headset. Each of the lenses is equipped with a display screen, with a resolution of 2,560x1,024 pixels for each eye, with a 110-degree field of view. Users can connect it to a mobile phone. It will likely be sold in August.

Li Gang, CEO of Dlodlo Technologies, said: "There are over 100 companies engaged in VR devices, but generally speaking, they lack originality and have no experience in developing consumerlevel electronic products. Their products are still in a phase of imagination."

Li said the company will continue to maintain high investment in R&D and patents, carry out deep cooperation with smartphone manufacturers to develop VR smartphones.

It also plans to participate in the standard setting of VR smartphone, build up VR content platform and virtual community platform, and cooperate with VR content provider.

According to iiMedia Research, China's total VR market was worth 1.54 billion yuan ($233 million) in 2015. It is expected to exceed 5.6 billion yuan this year and 55 billion yuan in 2020.
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Alibaba's Executive Chairman Jack Ma delivers a speech at an investor conference at the company's headquarters in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, June 14, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba on Tuesday said it eyes recording 6 trillion yuan (US$912 billion) in gross merchandise value by 2020, nearly doubling the 3.09 trillion yuan in fiscal 2016.

The 2020 forecast was disclosed by Alibaba during an investor conference at its headquarters in eastern city of Hangzhou.

Speaking at the conference, Executive Chairman Jack Ma said Alibaba expects to have 2 billion users by 2036, up from 423 million active buyers in 2016.

Meanwhile, Ma pledged to intensify a crackdown on fake goods as part of Alibaba's efforts to remove counterfeit products from its online platforms.

Alibaba will do "anything to stop fake products," Ma vowed.

"I promise you guys that counterfeits, fake products, and intellectual property theft - we are more and more confident than ever that we can solve the problem," he added.
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Photo taken on Feb. 29, 2016 shows a test bench for C919 plane at its research base in Shanghai Aircraft Design And Research Institute of the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC), in Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft, C919, is to make its maiden flight in the second half of this year, Chinese Flight Test Establishment told Xinhua-affiliated business newspaper Economic Information Daily on Monday.

However the Commercial Aircraft Cooperation of China (COMAC), the maker of C919, told the media later the jet is still being tested, and its maiden flight could be postponed till next year.

C919 is expected to strengthen China's capacity in high-end equipment manufacturing and make the country a real manufacturing power.

Twenty-one foreign and domestic customers have already placed 517 orders for the jet.

According to a report released by COMAC, the potential market of C919 is worth more than 650 billion yuan (US$100 billion).

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
A 10-year-old boy is recovering in hospital after he was stabbed several times by a man on a bus in Yiyang, central Hunan Province.

A 10-year-old boy is recovering in hospital after he was stabbed several times by a man on a bus in Yiyang, central Hunan Province.[Photo/weibo]

Police said the attacker, who was caught at the scene, was in dispute with a hospital where the boys father worked as a cashier.

Video footage from cameras on the bus showed the 54-year-old man, surnamed He, following the boy onto the bus around 6:20am on Monday and sitting in the row in front of him before launching his attack.

The driver heard the boys shouts and stopped the bus, holding the attacker back with one hand as he tried to protect the defenseless victim.

The boy managed to walk from the bus but was bleeding badly. He received emergency treatment in hospital and is now out of danger.

Five other passengers  an elderly man, two schoolgirls and two women  appeared to do nothing to help, according to video.

Police were quickly on the scene and apprehended the attacker.

They said He had been treated at Yuejiaqiao Township Hospital for emphysema, later being transferred to other hospitals. But the transfers caused insurance complications when it came to settling the bill.

During one visit to the township hospital about the problem, police said, He caused a disturbance but was stopped by the cashier, surnamed Kong, the boys father. The boys mother also worked at the hospital.

According to the Legal Evening News, He blamed the hospital for his insurance problems. He is also said to have accused Kong of hitting him during the disturbance, for which he was demanding an apology and compensation.
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The ashes of a Chinese peacekeeper, who was killed in a terrorist attack in Mali last month, were interred in a hero's cemetery on Monday in his hometown in Central China's Henan province.

Shen Liangliang, a 29-year-old First Sergeant, died in a terrorist attack on May 31 in the northern Malian town of Gao, when a car bomb detonated at a United Nations camp.

Shen was at a sentinel post at the time of the attack. Five other peacekeepers were injured. Shen's body was returned to China by military plane earlier this month.

Thousands of people lined the street to pay their respects as Shen's ashes were taken from the funeral home to the cemetery.

"Shen exhibited the great courage, dedication and heroic spirit of a Chinese soldier. He is the pride of our people," said Deng Kai, deputy secretary of the provincial Communist Party of China committee, at the funeral.

Shen was the youngest son of a farming family.

Since China joined the UN peacekeeping missions in 1990, over 31,000 Chinese officers and soldiers have taken part in 24 missions around the world.

At present, over 2,800 Chinese officers and soldiers are involved in active UN peacekeeping missions in nine mission regions, te largest amount among the five UN Security Council permanent members.
A Chinese non-government organization has written to Japan's ambassador to China, seeking an apology from the Japanese government for using forced Chinese laborers during World War II.

Chinese nationals on behalf of the wartime Chinese forced laborers in Japan sign a deal with Mitubishi Materials in Beijing on June 1, 2016. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

"The Japanese government can never escape the responsibilities of kidnapping Chinese citizens and forcing them to work for Japanese enterprises," the China Federation of Demanding Compensation from Japan (CFDC) said in the letter to ambassadorYutaka Yokoi.

"After the Pacific War broke out, the Japanese cabinet promulgated the Resolution on Moving Chinese Laborers to Japan on Nov. 27, 1942 and the Resolution on Facilitating the Moving of Chinese Laborers to Japan on Feb. 26, 1944. The two resolutions prove that the Japanese government was responsible for the crime of kidnapping Chinese laborers," the letter said.

Copies of the letter have been sent to the ambassador through fax and express delivery.

Three representatives of the surviving Chinese laborers signed a deal with Mitsubishi Materials on June 1. The Japanese company agreed to offer an apology and compensate 100,000 yuan (US$15,000) per person to the nearly 4,000 Chinese nationals who were forced to work in labor camps during World War II.

It's not enough that only Japanese enterprises apologize, the CFDC president Tong Zeng said.

The Japanese government must face up to history, apologize to Chinese laborers and offer them corresponding compensation, so as to seek forgiveness and make sure the tragedy of war will never be repeated, Tong said.

At least 39,000 Chinese people were forcibly brought to Japan from China between 1943 and 1945. Almost 7,000 of them died there because of the rigors of their labor, the squalid conditions and a lack of basic essentials such as food and water.
A man who killed six people and injured four others with guns and an iron pipe in Shanghai three years ago has been executed, a local court said on Tuesday.

Fan Jieming, 65, was sentenced to death by Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People's Court for murder, robbery, and forcible seizure, illegal purchase and possession of guns last July.

According to the court, Fan had a dispute at a chemical factory in the city's Baoshan District on June 22, 2013, before beating a colleague to death there with an iron pipe.

He then took a hunting rifle from his dormitory and asked a driver to take him to another district. He killed the driver on the way and took the vehicle.

At a nearby military barracks Fan killed a guard and took his gun. He then returned to the plant and shot dead another three people.

Fan also seriously injured three people and slightly injured another. He was captured by police the same day and put on trial in January, 2014.
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Black bags containing buildup of contaminated wastes are seen in the town of Iitate, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, March 7, 2015. [Photo: Xinhua]

China has again urged the Japanese government to give an honest explanation of the Fukushima nuclear leak incident and its impact on the environment as soon as possible.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks after the Japanese government decided to lift the evacuation order in the highly radiated "residential restricted area," allowing evacuees to return to where they used to live.

"We have noticed that since the responsible person of the atomic energy department of the Tokyo Electric Power Company disclosed on May 30 the truth that had been concealed for five years, the Japanese government has, up to the present, not made any responsible and open response to the matter."

He added that the impact of the Fukushima nuclear leak on the environment, ecology and food safety is not limited to Japan itself.

Lu also addressed the issue of whether Chinese tourists to Japan are safe.

"I want to clarify that it is the freedom and choice of each and every Chinese citizen to make their own travel plan. But the Chinese government has responsibilities to give a necessary warning when there are uncertain risks and it is the compelling obligation of the Japanese government to give an honest and true answer of the Fukushima nuclear leak and its impact as soon as possible."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has issued an alert, warning Chinese citizens and tourist groups to be cautious when going to Fukushima, and other seriously affected areas.
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A man cries outside the Orlando Regional Medical Centre where the wounded are treated in Orlando, Florida, the United States, June 13, 2016. At least 50 people were killed including the gunman and 53 others were wounded early Sunday in the mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday challenged the Republican-controlled Congress to reinstate the ban on assault weapons in the wake of the deadliest shooting massacre in the U.S. history.

At least 49 people were killed and 53 others wounded, including a police officer, early Sunday in a shooting spree at a popular LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

The gunman, identified by authorities as Omar Mateen of Port St. Lucie, Florida, used an AR-15 assault rifle and a handgun to carry out the attack. Both guns were purchased legally.

"Reinstate the assault weapons ban, (and) make it harder for terrorists to use these weapons to kill us," said Obama at a press conference, warning that without such a ban, "these kinds of events are going to keep on happening."

The manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automatic firearms was banned in 1994. However, when the ban expired in 2004, the U.S. Congress refused to renew the ban.

"We have to work hard as a nation, to reconsider our gun laws that allow such massacres to take place," Iman Muhammad Musri, an Islam leader told a rally to commemorate the victims in the mass shooting in Orlando Monday.

As the attack occurred in the leadup to the 2016 race for the White House, two competing narratives are already emerging, with the left touting what they say is a need for more gun control and the right calling for more action against "Islamic radicalism."

In a speech from her campaign trail on Monday, Democratic presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton talked about the need to tackle terrorism, but emphasized what she billed as a need for more gun control.

While noting that the shooter had pledged allegiance to IS, she added that his motives remain unknown.

"There's a lot we still don't know, including what other mix of motives drove him to kill," she said.

Later on Monday, Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump spoke from his campaign trail in the state of New Hampshire, saying he would "suspend immigration" from parts of the world where there is a proven link between that country and terrorism.

Expressing disdain for what he called the "current politically correct response," he said political correctness inhibits the United States from responding fast and clearly.

In response to those who believe that stricter firearms laws will keep Americans safer, the bombastic billionaire noted that while France has very strict gun control laws, scores were killed in the deadly terror in Paris last year.

Trump added that more gun control would be tantamount to disarming law-abiding Americans and leaving them more vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

As the mass shooting triggered heated political debates, people in Orlando in the southeastern U.S. state of Florida showed their solidarity with a vigil on Monday.

Thousands of people gathered in downtown Orlando to remember the 49 people who were killed and to pray for the 53 others wounded.

People held praying signs and candles. Some of them laid flowers and wrote encouraging words on the pavement with crayon.

"Be Strong Orlando," "One City Love" and "We are with you," said the signs.

"Tonight we remain a city of pain, we are mourning and we are angry," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer in a speech during the vigil on Monday. "We will get through this because in our city's darkest hour, our residents have shown that they are the light."
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(Xinhua file photo)

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton was projected on Tuesday to win the final presidential primary in Washington, D.C. ahead of her private meeting with rival Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Early results with 41 percent of votes counted showed Clinton notched up an easy win, leading Sanders by 57 percentage points.

Clinton had already hit the 2,383-delegate threshold to clinch the nomination before the contest on Tuesday.

The result came moments ahead of a private meeting between Clinton and Sanders.

Despite his mathematical elimination from the race, it still remained unknown when and how Sanders would exit the race.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Sanders gave little indication of what his future plan would be, ignoring reporters's repeated questions as to whether he would drop out after meeting Clinton.

Instead, Sanders said he was going to "fight as hard as" he could to change the Democratic Party.

Sanders was scheduled to address his supporters in a video on Thursday.
The other week, I noted that todays school reform community bears an eerie resemblance to the education schools that I fled long ago, including a stifling orthodoxy so ingrained that its invisible to its adherents. Several friends, readers, and colleagues responded along the lines of, What are you talking about? Well, I spent much of the 1990s and early 2000s in and around schools of education as an M.Ed. student, supervisor of student teachers, doctoral student, and professor. Especially back then, ed schools were marked by oppressive consensus on key questions: tests were bad, charter schooling and school vouchers were very bad, Teach For America was terrible, schools were underfunded, market forces had no place in education, and so on.

To disagree with any of this was seen as churlish and professionally problematic. This state of affairs made it hard to ask tough questions, challenge assumptions, break out of stale debates, or learn from mistakes. The echo chamber made it easy to overestimate the broader popularity of ed school thinking. Nobody in the ed schools gave any of this much thought; they just knew that any educated observer would think this way. In fact, to talk of orthodoxy was to be waved off by people who would point to disagreements over site-based management or curricular models as evidence that such talk was silly. In the face of all this, I found refuge in a school reform community that, at the time, took pride in its heterodoxy and welcomed a remarkable breadth of thought. Things have changed, though. Today, I no longer see school reform as a refuge; rather, I see a community as consumed by its own groupthink as the ed schools were. I could go on at length, but Ill just flag five similarities that strike me.

Orthodoxy reigns without being formally demanded or commanded. In the ed schools, orthodoxy was a product of broadly shared biases among leading faculty, advocates, and funders. Influential faculty drew confidence and sway from their close relationships with friends at key foundations like Pew, Ford, Carnegie, and Annenberg. Those in power gave out the prizes, edited the key journals, and sat on the review committees for research funding. Nobody needed to scheme in order for the groupthink to persist; it was the product of key people happening to see the world in similar ways. The dynamic feels remarkably similar to what now prevails in school reformthough the names and titles of the taste-makers have changed, and the consensus now operates mostly through partnerships, projects, consulting arrangements, and foundation initiatives.

Open disagreement about values is deemed unpleasant and unnecessary. In ed schools, hardly anyone disagreed with the prevailing orthodoxy. Dissenters, whether students or faculty, were dismissed as troublemakers. When Id express my lack of enthusiasm for books by Jonathan Kozol or Carol Gilligan to folks in ed schools, Id be told that I was just trying to be contrarythat I wasnt willing to talk about hard issues, rejected dialogue, and clearly wasnt serious about educational improvement. When Id tell my friends in the school reform world about all this, theyd laugh. You could go years in an ed school without encountering more than token representation of a dissenting voice. School reformers have borrowed this modus operandi, even as the issues and orthodoxies have changed. And they have taken to greeting dissent--when it comes to Race to the Top, the Common Core, or other favored initiativesby accusing dissenters of being contrary or unserious about school improvement.

Inconvenient critiques are seen as a failure to get it. Back in the 1990s, my Harvard dissertation asked why urban reforms seemed to flit by with so little impact and argued that there were big incentives to focus on doing something rather than making reforms work. Brookings published it in 1998 as Spinning Wheels: The Politics of Urban School Reform, and it was well-received by reformers back then as a useful analysis. Two other presses had sent it to six education professors for review, all of whom uniformly hated it (Brookings had sent it to policy scholars). The ed schoolers argued that I didnt appreciate how important the various reforms really were or that I was reading too much into mere implementation challenges. Today, when I raise concerns about the urge to hurriedly do something on teacher evaluation or accountability, reformers complain that I dont appreciate the importance of the reforms or that Im making too much of modest implementation challenges.

Faddism reigns. In the ed schools, something new would capture everyones imagination, and wed be off on a wave of exciting, fresh groupthink. Everyone just knew that multiple intelligences or portfolio assessment was the way of the future, and each time a perfectly sensible idea was twisted into a problematic caricature. This is one of the hazards of groupthinkit means that there are precious few firebreaks in the way of a raging blaze of faddish enthusiasm. School reform may have always been susceptible on this count, but groupthink has severely weakened its defenses against faddism. Today, reformers whove spent years deriding a focus on anything but reading and math scores have rediscovered age-old concepts like perseverance and character in shiny new wrappersand responded by twisting sensible intuitions into goofy, worrisome proposals for evaluation and accountability.

Race, poverty, and privilege are the right way to think about school improvement. When the phrase political correctness first entered the lexicon in the early 1990s, ed schools were working to ensure that people had the correct understanding of certain issues, including the already-popular concept of white privilege. I was always struck that a remarkable number of discussions and gatherings on these issues would start with the proviso that we never talk about these issues. To suggest that we actually talked about these issues a lot, or to argue that this kind of framing was divisive and destructive, was to be dismissed as ignorant, morally suspect, and blinded by privilege. Well, guess what? These stances and sayings have been much in evidence in school reform circles, as was abundantly clear in the reactions to Robert Pondiscios column last month on the NewSchools conference.

Yep. It all feels eerily familiar. That is a huge problem for reformers. It has undermined the healthy competition of ideas. It has weakened the ability to sustain bipartisan cooperation. It has rendered the space less hospitable to young minds who may not share the current orthodoxy. I hope that school reformers will find ways to address this. After all, at the turn of the century, the reform community offered an alternative to the ed school orthodoxy. I dont know where todays disenchanted reformers might look for refuge.
Arnaud Vaissie, co-founder, chairman and CEO of International SOS Pte Ltd.[Photo/China Daily] Medical assistance firm targets expanding corporate market

Attracted by the global footprint of Chinese companies and their growing need to look after their international workforce, International SOS Pte Ltd, the world's leading provider of medical assistance, emergency services, evacuation and repatriation services, is optimistic about expansion in China.

"We aim to triple our Chinese clients in the next five years. We will be happy to see a 15 to 20 percent growth per year in revenue in the same period," said Arnaud Vaissie, co-founder, chairman and CEO, on Monday. The company's Chinese revenue grew by 23 percent year-on-year in its last financial year ending June and the trend is expected to continue, according to its CEO.

Last year, its global revenue was $1.5 billion, about 10 percent of which was from China.

Two reasons contributed to the high growth, Vaissie said. The first is the Chinese government's policies, such as the Belt and Road Initiative that encourage companies to expand internationally. Second, more and more Chinese companies are at the forefront of international business so they need to ensure the security and well-being of their employees working overseas.

International SOS has 98 Chinese clients, 35 of which were new last year, including Bank of China Ltd, UnionPay and Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. Its clients also include government agencies, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Culture.

The company entered China in 1989 to support foreign companies operating in China. But the 98 Chinese customers now account for 30 percent of its China business, with the rest from multinational firms.

Vaissie said the company plans to raise the ratio to more than 50 percent in three years. "Our Chinese clients sent more and more employees to abroad, fewer and fewer are from international clients."

China, as International SOS' 5th largest market, is also one of its two fastest-growing markets along with the United States. In China, the company now has 30 locations, including six clinics that are joint ventures with Raffles Medical Group, one 24-hour assistance center, two dedicated aircraft, 700 employees and 700 partnered service providers.

Vaissie said that developing business with Chinese clients is different from his experience in the West. Chinese clients are more centralized with more reporting to multiple management levels; while in the US, business decisions are more driven by the final users.
Attendants pose for a photo beside the models of a high speed train during the China High Speed Railway on Fast Track exhibition in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug 13, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

China's domestically produced wheels for high-speed trains traveling faster than 250 kilometers per hour will be ready to replace the imported ones as early as in the first half of 2017, according to a leading Chinese train wheel maker.

"Currently, the wheels used on the Chinese high-speed trains, except those for experimental and test purposes, are all imported," said Su Shihuai, vice-president of Ma'anshan Iron & Steel Co Ltd, a publicly traded company controlled by Masteel Group.

He added that such an "embarrassing" situation will be changed next year.

The company, more widely known as Magang Group or Masteel, said its train wheels with speed standards of 250 km/h and 350 km/h have so far undergone more than 300,000 km and 250,000 km of field tests, respectively.

"When completed, the whole test for each of the two specifications should cover a distance of 600,000 km," he said.

After the tests, conducted by the China Railway Test & Certification Centre, the wheels will go into mass production.

"The prices of such wheels are expected to drop significantly then, which will benefit the development of the high-speed train sector at home and abroad," said Su.

Established in the 1950s and located in Ma'anshan in eastern China's Anhui province, Masteel was the birthplace of the first train wheel production line in China in 1964 and enjoys about a 50 percent share of the domestic train wheel market.

Masteel signed an agreement in 2008 with the Ministry of Railways, which is now called China Railway Corporation, to localize manufacturing of wheels for high-speed trains.

Gao Haijian, president of the group, said that developing the high-speed wheels has been time-consuming with great challenges, especially when the country's steel sector has been deeply trapped in overcapacity difficulties in recent years.

Masteel produced about 20 million metric tons of iron and steel last year. "Though wheel manufacturing consumes just slightly more than 1 percent of Masteel's iron and steel production, it has been one of the most profitable components of the group for decades, with an average profit rate of about 30 percent," said An Tao, manager of Masteel's wheel company.

Other difficulties come from the declining domestic demand for traditional train wheels. In the first four months this year, the wheel maker sold 32,400 tons of train wheels, down about 20 percent from the same period of last year.

With the rapid development of China's high-speed railways, both at home and abroad, Masteel is aiming to seize a significant market share in the emerging and rapidly developing markets with the set-to-be-launched wheels, according to Su.

He also said the company's first axles for high-speed trains will be ready for field tests by the end of the year. In April, Masteel started construction of its first train axle production line, which will have a capacity of producing 40,000 axles for multiple types of trains annually.
An investor looks at an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.[Photo/IC]

Global index compiler MSCI on Tuesday again rejected including Chinese mainland-listed "A-shares" from its prominent emerging markets index.

"International institutional investors clearly indicated that they would like to see further improvements in the accessibility of the China A-shares market before its inclusion in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index,'' Remy Briand, MSCI managing director and global head of research, said in a statement.

MSCI said that it would retain the option to include the A-shares as part of its next market classification review in 2017."MSCI will monitor the implementation of the recently announced policy changes and will seek feedback from market participants," Briand said.

The MSCI decision means A-shares, or stocks in Shanghai and Shenzhen that are denominated in yuan, won't be included in the widely-used emerging markets index which has about $1.5 trillion of assets benchmarked to it. Asset managers, pension funds, insurers and individual investors hold passive investments like an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or mutual fund that track an MSCI index like emerging markets.

Chinese stocks now listed in MSCI's emerging market index are all traded in either Hong Kong or the US. That means the world's second-largest economy makes up only about one-fourth of the benchmark index, while projected full inclusion of A shares would bring that ratio to more than one-third.

In June 2015, MSCI rejected the Chinese shares, citing uncertainty about who actually owns them and how easily investors can withdraw their money from Chinese investments.Earlier this year China's stock exchanges published rules that restrict arbitrary trading suspensions for Chinese stocks. Chinese officials have been pushing for the inclusion of A-shares, seeing it as another step in the assimilation of China into the global financial marketplace.

Qi Bin, an official with the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said improvements to the trading-halt system were part of Chinese government's efforts to facilitate MSCI inclusion. He also cited freer money transfers allowed by the foreign exchange regulator and greater recognition of beneficiary ownership.

Briand acknowledged that "there have been significant steps toward the eventual inclusion of China A shares in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index".

MSCI said it gathered feedback from market participants on the potential inclusion of the A shares in the index. "Investors recognized the actions taken to further open the China A-share market and highlighted that the topic of beneficial ownership has been satisfactorily resolved," it said.

"They generally stressed the need for a period of observation to assess the effectiveness of the QFII quota allocation and capital mobility policy changes as well as the effectiveness of the new trading suspension policies," said the MSCI statement.

"The 20 percent monthly repatriation limit remains a significant hurdle for investors that may be faced with redemptions such as mutual funds and must be satisfactorily addressed. Finally, the local exchanges' pre-approval restrictions on launching financial products remain unaddressed."

MSCI said it will retain the China A shares inclusion proposal as part of the 2017 Market Classification Review. MSCI does not rule out a potential off-cycle announcement should further significant positive developments occur ahead of June 2017.

Contact the author at paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com
A jogger runs on the Bund after a rain with the skyline of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings in Shanghai. [Photo/IC]

China is making progress on its economic rebalancing, but rising corporate debt could pose risks to growth in the medium and long term if the debt problem isn't solved, a senior official at the International Monetary Fund suggested in Beijing on Tuesday.

"China is making progress in many dimensions on its transition to a sustainable growth path, and the near-term outlook has turned more buoyant due to recent policy support," said David Lipton, the IMF's first deputy managing director, after a discussion with top Chinese officials and regulators in the financial sector.

Lipton said the moderate slowdown in China's growth in the first quarter is a natural result of the country's necessary transition, and it's good enough compared with many other economies.

Addressing recent depreciation pressure on the renminbi that sparked concerns of global investors, Lipton said the exchange rate is becoming "more flexible and market-based" as there has been substantial liberalization of financial markets.

Lipton said the government should achieve an effective floating range within the next couple of years.

What it needs to be concerned about to ensure medium-to-high growth in the long run is the risk of rising debt, Lipton said.

"The corporate debt load, which is at 145 percent of GDP, though still manageable, is high and rising fast," Lipton said, adding that China needed a comprehensive plan and concrete actionespecially for State-owned enterprisesto avoid serious problems in the long run.

His observations were in line with those of Chinese authorities who have been aware of the challenges. An unidentified "authoritative figure" who published an article in People's Daily earlier in May said that soaring debt levels could trigger a "systemic" financial crisis if efforts are too weak.

China has since launched a series of initiatives to whittle back the bad debt sitting on bank balance sheets, including securitization and debt-for-equity swaps.

Facing possible vulnerabilities, officials have adopted plans designed to settle growth at a sustainable level.

Zhang Tao, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, speaking at a financial forum in Shanghai on Sunday, signaled a willingness to let zombie companies die and let the market decide which ones should be shut down.

Li Pumin, spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission, pledged on Tuesday to take more steps to address excess capacity in the coal and steel sectors in an effort to spur restructuring.
China's outbound mergers and acquisitions reached $96 billion in the first four months of 2016, far surpassing the total 2015 transaction volume of $59 billion and representing more than a fivefold increase from the first four months of last year, said a report released by JPMorgan Chase & Co on Tuesday.

The surge was partly driven by China National Chemical Corp's planned $46.4 billion acquisition of Swiss pesticide giant Syngenta AG.

The country's total M&A transaction volume nearly tripled from $259 billion in 2013 to $735 billion in 2015, accounting for half of the Asia-Pacific M&A volume and 15 percent of global volume last year, according to the report.

Other key drivers behind the growth include a shift in the Chinese economy from export-driven manufacturing to one driven by technology, industrial know-how and consumption. The report found that China's outbound M&A priorities evolved to focus on technology and consumption-focused sectors. Consistent with this shift, the targets of M&As moved from resource-abundant countries to developed countries that house companies with best-in-class capabilities and technologies.

As China's GDP growth slowed down to 6.7 percent in the first quarter, Chinese companies have turned to both domestic and outbound M&As to boost slowing organic growth.

The deals are facilitated by a supportive M&A financing environment along with overall monetary easing and a strategic imperative to execute overseas acquisitions. Regulators have also taken significant steps to relax the approval process for Chinese buyers seeking outbound acquisitions.

The recent M&A wave includes companies with a broader sector focus, domestic private equity firms and A-share listed companies, not just the energy- and resource-focused State-owned enterprises that were active earlier.

Brian Gu, co-head of M&A Asia Pacific at JP Morgan, said: "Most of the Chinese buyers have a strategic goal for their outbound acquisitions. The China M&A market has seen the emergence of experienced acquirers. They have become more confident in their ability to fund, execute and integrate multibillion-dollar deals."

The number of deals with a transaction value greater than $1 billion increased from two in 2005 to 28 over the 12 months ended April 2016.

The funding of outbound M&As can be more complex and less transparent than Western M&A financing. The source of funding may involve a diverse array of parties, including government investment vehicles, trust structures, equity syndicates and lesser-known private equity funds, according to the report.

Gu said: "Chinese buyers should be well-prepared for all sorts of possible questions from the target companies, providing a solution to address each concern of the sellers with the help of experienced legal and financial advisers."
BEIJING - China will take measures to provide more opportunities for investors from home and broad, said Premier Li Keqiang on Monday, pledging to enhance law enforcement efforts to protect intellectual property rights.

Li made the remarks when attending the meeting of the China-German Economic Advisory Committee together with his German counterpart Angela Merkel Monday afternoon at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

China has taken great steps forward in the reform and opening up in the past three decades, Li told the Chinese and German entrepreneurs present at the meeting.

"In the future, China will continue to ease market access and take more measures to provide more and greater opportunities for investors from home and abroad," he said, encouraging Germany to make joint efforts with China.

China will continue to improve the intellectual property rights protection system, enhance law enforcement efforts and better protect the rights of enterprises, researchers and the public in the hope of releasing their creative powers and entrepreneurship so as to help advance the transformation and upgrading of China's economy, Li said.

Chairmen and general managers from Siemens AG, Thyssenkrupp AG, ALBA Group, CLAAS KGaA and China Railway, CRRC Corporation Limited, Baosteel Group gave their views and suggestions at the meeting on industrial cooperation including intelligent manufacturing, cooperation on third-party markets and trade and investment environment.

Hailing the discussion "pragmatic, pointed and forward-looking," Li said the advisory committee plays an important role in bilateral cooperation.

He called on the committee to continue to strengthen exchange of views and break the information asymmetry in order to better accommodate the overall situation of the China-German cooperation.

On the issue of production capacity surplus in some industries, Li said it is caused by weak recovery of the world economy and should be addressed by joint efforts from all countries.

"It is unreasonable to blame a certain country or aspect for this. It will harm others without benefit to oneself if some countries trigger a trade war," Li warned.

He urged all countries to address the challenges and preclude risks with market means in a cooperative spirit so as to defend trade liberalization.

Merkel, for her part, said the advisory committee is an effective mechanism to boost Germany-China economic cooperation.

She said she had in-depth discussion with Li on issues of common concern to both countries' businesses and reached many agreements during the consultation.

She called on both sides to give full play to the role of the committee to enhance dialogue and expand cooperation.

Representatives of the entrepreneurs expressed their hopes of grasping the opportunities of the integration between the strategies of "Made in China 2025" and "Industry 4.0," looking forward to a more equal and open market environment created by both governments.

Also on Monday afternoon, Li and Merkel attended the eighth forum on China-Germany economic and technological cooperation co-sponsored by China's National Development and Reform Commission and Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy at the Great Hall of the People.

Stressing that China will open wider to the outside world, Li said German companies and companies from other countries will see more opportunities in China especially in the area of new economy.

"No matter a company is a joint venture or a wholly foreign owned enterprise, as long as it is registered in China, it will be treated equally," Li told the forum attended by more than 800 business representatives from both countries.

With the expansion of China-Germany cooperation, the possibility of economic and trade frictions between the two is increasing, yet such a ratio in the overall mainstream cooperation will be decreasing, said Li.

Should both sides bear the overall situation in mind and equally open to each other, the two countries will enhance mutual understanding and properly solve differences, he said.

Calling Germany and China "important export markets of each other and partners of creation and research and development," Merkel said the two sides need to work together to well synergize strategies, explore new potentials and expand third-party markets so as to open up a new field of bilateral cooperation.

Merkel was on her ninth visit to China in the office of German Chancellor.

Li and Merkel held the fourth round of intergovernmental consultation on Monday. She paid a visit to Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning province on Tuesday before ending her three-day trip.
DUBAI - China topped Dubai's trading partners with bilateral trade totaling 39 billion dirham ($10.6 billion) in the first quarter of 2016, Dubai Customs said here on Monday.

India followed second with 24 billion dirham ($6.5 billion) worth of trade. The United States came third with 22 billion dirham ($6 billion).

China became Dubai's biggest trade partner in 2014, when it surpassed India for the first time with bilateral exchange hitting 175 billion dirham ($47.7 billion).

Over 4,000 Chinese firms run branches in the UAE, according to official reports.

As one of seven sheikhdoms forming the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai harbors the biggest free port in the Middle East and is considered the trade and business hub of the Gulf Arab state.

Dubai registered growth of 319 billion dirham ($86.9 billion) of non-oil foreign trade commodities in the first quarter, UAE state news agency WAM quoted Dubai Customs figures as stating.

The volume of traded goods jumped by 17 percent year-on-year to 24 million tons, resulting from soaring re-export commodities and export goods.
DUBAI - Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) said Tuesday it received a green light for a five-year unsecured loan worth $230 million from China's Industrial and Commercial Banking Corporation (ICBC), for the expansion of its business.

The ENOC said in a statement the loan was secured from the bank's branch located at the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"The trust placed by ICBC in us is a big testament of our robust business and financial performance," said Petri Pentti, Chief Financial Officer at ENOC Group.

ICBC is the biggest bank in the world in relation to assets and market capitalization.

Pentti added that the ENOC has a long-term strategy in place, "which is not greatly impacted by the change in the economic climate of the region."

The loan will help ENOC fund its new projects and support the company's expansion strategy and business operations in light of the challenges faced by the international oil and gas market.
Photo taken on Feb 29, 2016 shows a test bench for C919 plane at its research base in Shanghai Aircraft Design And Research Institute of the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), in Shanghai. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's first domestically produced large passenger aircraft, C919, is to make its maiden flight in the second half of this year, Chinese Flight Test Establishment told Xinhua-affiliated business newspaper Economic Information Daily on Monday.

However the Commercial Aircraft Cooperation of China (COMAC), the maker of C919, told the media later the jet is still being tested, and its maiden flight could be postponed till next year.

C919 is expected to strengthen China's capacity in high-end equipment manufacturing and make the country a real manufacturing power.

Twenty-one foreign and domestic customers have already placed 517 orders for the jet.

According to a report released by COMAC, the potential market of C919 is worth more than 650 billion yuan ($100 billion).
The New York Board of Regents voted Tuesday to make it easier for some students in special education to earn a high school diploma, the latest in a series of changes intended to ease the path to graduation for students with disabilities.

The new regulation requires district superintendents to automatically review a students record to see if he or she has demonstrated proficiency in enough subjects to earn a local diploma (New York state also has a Regents diploma, considered more rigorous.) The students final grade, course work, class tests and quizzes, and participation are all among the ingredients that go into determining if a student has met the learning standards for a given course. The new regulation was approved Tuesday and goes into effect immediately, meaning that special education students in the class of 2016 are eligible. But this option is only triggered if a student has:



A current individualized education program (students with disabilities who are covered under Section 504 are not eligible);

Passed the Regents exams in math and English/language arts;

Earned passing grades in all the courses required for graduation, including English/language arts, math, science, and social studies;

Takenbut not necessarily passedthe Regents exams in social studies and science, and in one optional course.

Like a Regents diploma, a local diploma can be used to enter the military or go on to higher education.

Most students with disabilities can meet the states learning standards for graduation, so we want to be certain we give them every opportunity to demonstrate their ability, State Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said in a video announcing the change, embedded below. At the same time, these regulations strike the right balance by maintaining the rigor of our graduation requirements.

Commissioner Elia - new graduation regulation from NYSED on Vimeo .

This modification is only the latest change that has been made to graduation requirements for students with disabilities in New York state. Before 2012, students both with and without disabilities were able to earn a local diploma with lower scores on the Regents exam. But in 2012, the Regents diploma became the main diploma that students were expected to aim for.

However, exceptions for students with disabilities were carved out from the start. Students with disabilities could get a local diploma with lower test scores. They could also go through a complex appeal process to earn a local diploma, or a compensatory process where a high score on one Regents exam could offset a lower score on another exam.

(An aside: Earlier this year, I wrote about the changing percentages of students enrolled in special education nationally. Special education enrollment has been trending up, with New York driving most of the increase in the most recent school year . I never got an answer from the state about why that might be happening, but a reader and advocate in New York emailed me later to suggest that school systems were intentionally classifying more students as having disabilities so that they would be eligible for local diplomas. That has not been confirmed, but it is an interesting demonstration of how state policy could affect special education enrollment.)

Abja Midha, a project director for Advocates for Children, an organization that supports multiple pathways for high school diplomas, said in an interview with Education Week that the new option is welcomebut that it comes with some concerns. First, it makes it even more complicated for families and schools to figure out just how a student can earn a diploma, though she said that concern is eased by the requirement that this option be considered automatically. Parents dont have to request it.

Second, the local diploma option is primarily available to students with disabilities, and could be stigmatizing for themparticularly if they remain in New York, where the public better understands the difference between the diploma options.

Midha said that the state should consider changing the number of Regents exams required for a diploma. Theres nothing magic about the number five, and the new rule shows that the board may be open to considering this, she said.

The organization would also like to see the state move to performance-based assessments as an option for all students, not just students with disabilities.

We appreciate the changes that are being made, but we do see a need for a wholesale review of what a good exam requirement is here in New York state, Midha said.
High rise residential flats are under construction in Beijing, May 18, 2016.[Photo/IC]

A Beijing housing official has denied speculation the online registration of business property purchases will be suspended from today.

It comes after salespersons from several property projects in Yizhuang Economic and Technology Development Zone, based in south-eastern Beijing, claimed purchases would cease from 12:00 am this morning.

"The online registration will be suspended tonight, and Beijing will restrict business property purchases beginning July 1. You'll have no chance anymore if you don't buy one now," a salesperson told the Beijing Morning Post, yesterday.

But an official from the Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development told the newspaper today it's not true, denying online rumors.

Rumors that Beijing will restrict business property purchases have been circulating in Beijing's real estate market since the Mengtougou district, a suburb in Beijing, suspended online registration on June 6.

It also drove up the transaction of corporate apartments.

During the week that ended on June 12, 3,701 corporate apartments were sold in Beijing, with a total transaction amount of 12.04 billion yuan, according to data released by real estate company Centaline Property. Earlier, the weekly transaction volume was 1.4 to 2.4 billion yuan.

Last month, Beijing extended its real estate restrictions in Tongzhou for the first time to cover business property and force out speculators.

Under the new policy, families without household registration in Beijing, unmarried Beijing residents who already own homes and families that own more than one home are among those no longer eligible to purchase corporate apartments in Tongzhou.

Those from outside Beijing will only be allowed to buy corporate apartments in the district if they have made tax and social security payments in Beijing over five straight years.
An intelligent car attracts attention at the Beijing Internet High-tech Expo on May 19, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Automakers in China will face greater pressure on their profit margins as the market slows and competition increases, ratings agency Fitch said Tuesday.

China will see annual growth in passenger vehicle sales slow to 5 percent over the next five years, due to economic slowdown and restrictive policies on car purchases and usage in top-tier cities, said Jing Yang, associate director of Asia-Pacific Corporates with Fitch Ratings, at a media briefing.

As a result, profit margins of both joint ventures and Chinese proprietary brands could fall, Yang said.

Demand from lower-tier cities will be the major growth catalyst, while sport utility vehicles (SUVs) will continue to gain market share from sedans, according to Fitch forecasts.

As competition in the SUV market increases, profit margins may fall for manufacturers that rely heavily on SUV business, Yang said.

Chinese auto sales growth peaked at 45 percent in 2009 and has fallen steadily since. Passenger vehicle shipments increased by 7.3 percent in 2015, slowing from 9.9 percent in 2014, according to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
China 'making progress' in economic transition, but high corporate borrowing could spell trouble

China is making progress on its economic rebalancing, but rising corporate debt could pose risks to growth in the medium and long term if the debt problem isn't solved, a senior official at the International Monetary Fund suggested in Beijing on Tuesday.

"China is making progress in many dimensions on its transition to a sustainable growth path, and the near-term outlook has turned more buoyant due to recent policy support," said David Lipton, the IMF's first deputy managing director, after a discussion with top Chinese officials and regulators in the financial sector.

Lipton said the moderate slowdown in China's growth in the first quarter is a natural result of the country's necessary transition, and it's good enough compared with many other economies.

Addressing recent depreciation pressure on the renminbi that sparked concerns of global investors, Lipton said the exchange rate is becoming "more flexible and market-based" as there has been substantial liberalization of financial markets.

Lipton said the government should achieve an effective floating range within the next couple of years.

What it needs to be concerned about to ensure medium-to-high growth in the long run is the risk of rising debt, Lipton said.

"The corporate debt load, which is at 145 percent of GDP, though still manageable, is high and rising fast," Lipton said, adding that China needed a comprehensive plan and concrete action - especially for State-owned enterprises - to avoid serious problems in the long run.

His observations were in line with those of Chinese authorities who have been aware of the challenges. An unidentified "authoritative figure" who published an article in People's Daily earlier in May said that soaring debt levels could trigger a "systemic" financial crisis if efforts are too weak.

China has since launched a series of initiatives to whittle back the bad debt sitting on bank balance sheets, including securitization and debt-for-equity swaps.

Facing possible vulnerabilities, officials have adopted plans designed to settle growth at a sustainable level.

Zhang Tao, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, speaking at a financial forum in Shanghai on Sunday, signaled a willingness to let zombie companies die and let the market decide which ones should be shut down.

Li Pumin, spokesman for the National Development and Reform Commission, pledged on Tuesday to take more steps to address excess capacity in the coal and steel sectors in an effort to spur restructuring.

(China Daily 06/15/2016 page4)
Beijing judges warned people to be sensible when making purchases online, as the largest contract fraud case since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 came to a close.

Beijing No 1 Intermediate People's Court sentenced 62 defendants on Tuesday for contract fraud. Shi Shurong, the leader of the group, received the maximum 12-year sentence.

The court, which heard evidence over six days in April, said the defendants siphoned off more than 80 million yuan ($12 million) from 259 people between 2013 and 2014. Most victims were seniors.

All of the convicts worked for a private internet service provider in Beijing, but told their clients that the company was run by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

They solicited clients through an online platform and persuaded them to buy certain keywords or online services said to have great market value, the court said.

One 26-year-old defendant, surnamed Yan, who worked for the company for two and a half months and was spared a sentence for his minor offenses, said the so-called market value was a sham. It was easier to gain the trust of elderly people, he said.

"I pretended to be a salesman in charge of calling people and finding those interested in online products or services," Yan said.

Judge Song Zhenyu said people should not blindly purchase online services, "because not all new services or products deserve investment."

"If they find they have been cheated, people should preserve online evidence, such as messages from cheaters, and make a recording when they call back," Song said.

Tao Wei, chief judge of the court's criminal tribunal, encouraged people to report clues about fraud, as the number of such cases - and the money involved - has been increasing.

Eleven defendants were spared penalties due to the lesser seriousness of their offenses, but they were fined, the court said.

It was not known if any appeals would be made.
Suspected telecom fraudsters are escorted from an aircraft by police at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on April 30. Ninety-seven suspects, including 32 people from Taiwan, were repatriated from Malaysia under the escort of Chinese police. The suspects were allegedly involved in more than 100 international telecom frauds in more than 20 areas of the Chinese mainland. [Liang Xu / Xinhua]

Telephone scams are a growing problem in China, with even financial experts falling prey to sophisticated schemes. For some victims, though, the consequences are far more severe than a simple monetary loss, as Zhang Yi reports.

Last month, Fan Yin-gui hanged himself in a residential building in Qin'an county, Gansu province. He left no suicide note, just a cryptic messages crawled in dust at the scene: "My death has nothing to do with my wife, it is about swindlers."

The day before Fan took his own life, the 44-year-old received a bogus phone call, supposedly from the police, which led him to transfer 230,000 yuan ($35,000) to a fake bank account set up under the name of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

The money represented all of Fan's savings. The member of the logistics department at Xichuan Middle School in Qin'an had planned to use the funds to buy an apartment for his family.

According to his wife, Feng Xiangxiang, Fan was told he was being targeted by the police in connection with a money-laundering case and he was threatened with arrest if he refused to cooperate with the investigation.

"On May 9, after a 60-minute discussion on the phone, he left home with his ID card and a bank card. He ignored me when I asked him where he was headed," Feng said. "When he returned home the next morning, he told me he had been swindled out of all our savings."

Fan's death was one of a series of suicides linked with telecom frauds that have attracted national attention since the beginning of the year.

Rich pickings

Last year, a series of telecom frauds nationwide netted 22.2 billion yuan. Half the money flowed into bank accounts in Taiwan, and so far only a fraction of the total amount has been recovered, leaving many families destitute.

Even financial professionals are not immune to the fraudsters' ploys, which have resulted in large losses of government funds.

In April, police in Guizhou province broke up China's biggest single case of telecom fraud, in which 117 million yuan of public money was taken from the construction bureau of the Economic Development Zone in Duyun city.

The bureau's finance supervisor, surnamed Yang, was contacted by several callers who claimed either to be officers at a police station in the Songjiang district of Shanghai or staff at the headquarters of the Agricultural Bank of China. Yang was told the bank account she managed needed to be reviewed, and she was instructed to download software from a website that would provide the callers with access to the bureau's finances.

Fake calls such as these are not a novelty, but many people remain ignorant about the serious consequences of revealing information to unidentified callers.
In the latest Asian University Rankings, China dominated the list with Tsinghua University ranking 6th and Peking University 9th, according to the 2016 QS release on Tuesday.

As the global education group revealed the Chinese dominance on the world's largest regional university rankings, a total of 124 Chinese universities were in the top 350, of which 82 were higher education institutions on the mainland, 7 in Hong Kong, 34 in Taiwan and one in Macao. The number is far more than the second highest country, Japan, which had 74, and the third, South Korea, with 54.

Twenty-six universities in the Chinese mainland have been ranked in the Top 100. 48 Chinese universities have seen their rankings move up.

"China as the world leader in higher education with all aspects including research, innovation, education, employment, training, and international strategy Habitat Asian leadership and outstanding achievements, has been widely recognized by the international community in a long term, said Dr. Zhang Yan, QS Global Education Group China director.

"The Chinese government should further increase investment in education, and continuously expand and deepen the comprehensive reform of the education system, giving more autonomy to colleges and universities to encourage Chinese universities to reach out for more international cooperation."

Now that a new indicator of faculty with PhDs has been introduced, the Renmin University of China, ranking 62 and USTC ranking 25 received 100 points for this indicator.

These rankings indicate that Chinese universities have the significant ability to attract the best talent worldwide, whether they are studying, interning, working, and forming start ups in multiple disciplines in the future.
Logo of "all gender toilet". [Photo from web]

Many bars in Beijing have started installing "All-gender toilet" sign on their restrooms to show their open attitude to all genders, reported qdaily.com on Tuesday.

The "All-gender toilet" sign displays three figures: one wearing a dress, one in trousers and one wearing half dress and half trousers.

All-gender toilets, or gender-neutral toilets, welcome people of all sexes, including transgenders.

The initiative was launched by Beijing Gender Health Education Institute, a nongovernmental organization, on May 17, which marks International Day Against Homophobia.

UN Women and UN Development Program also participated in the event. More than 30 organizations, mostly cafe, bars and NGOs, have joined the initiative.

Yang Gang, chief of the event, said many people, such as neutral dressed people, transgenders, fathers with little daughters or mothers with little sons, will benefit from it.

The organization plans to draw a map of all gender-neutral toilets and provide consulting and training for organizations willing to join the initiative.

The organization said it's the first such promotion across the nation on such a scale.

According to TIME magazine, more than 150 universities in US already have plans to build all-gender toilets by January.

Last April, the White House announced plans to install a gender-neutral restroom to show its tolerance and acceptance of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) group.
BEIJING -- A Chinese mainland spokesman on Wednesday said that what some have taken to be an "anti-Taiwan sentiment" among people on the mainland, was actually about rejecting "Taiwan independence."

An Fengshan, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office who was speaking at a press conference, warned that "Taiwan independence" in any form was a flagrant provocation and would sabotage cross-Strait peace and stability.

Responding to a question about a recent proposal by some Taiwanese political parties to challenge the one-China provisions with "constitutional amendments," An said, "Any attempt to seek secession will be unsuccessful."

He also rejected a statement by Taiwan's cross-Strait affairs authority to term the cross-Strait relationship as one among "neighbors."

"The mainland and Taiwan belong to one China, and compatriots on both sides are a family, not 'neighbors.'"

Moreover, in response to a question about a plunge in the number of mainland tourists to Taiwan, An said the mainland authority had never set a quota on the number of tourists to Taiwan.

"Changes in the island's tourism are mainly due to changes on the island this year. The impact certain events have had on cross-Strait ties has been felt by the market," he said.

He said the mainland will continue to enhance cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation for the interests and welfare of the compatriots on both sides.

According to An, a Kuomintang Party youth-wing delegation will visit the mainland next week to discuss cross-Strait exchanges.

During the tour, the delegation is expected to meet with Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Mainland authorities have also decided to add six mainland bases for cultural exchanges with visitors from Taiwan, bringing the total bases on the mainland to 49.

However, the spokesman stressed, cross-Strait communication, dialogue, and exchanges must be based on the recognition of the 1992 Consensus and the one-China principle.

"So far, the island's new leader has adopted an ambiguous attitude toward the nature of relations between the mainland and Taiwan. To ensure the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, the confirmation of the one-China principle is a must," he said.

He reiterated this principle when answering questions about an upcoming visit by Taiwan's new leader Tsai Ing-wen to Panama and about a recent report that Chen Chu, mayor of Taiwan's city of Kaohsiung, has expressed willingness to visit the mainland.
Stage photo of In the Name of the People. [Photo from web]

A Chinese TV drama series based on the country's fight against corruption and on other political developments is poised to challenge the popularity of the US hit House of Cards.

The new series, In the Name of the People, is produced by the Supreme People's Procuratorate's Film and Television Center. It features about 100 roles and is being filmed with a budget of 120 million yuan ($18.46 million).

Fan Ziwen, deputy director of the center, said it is the first domestic production to portray a State-level government official as a villain, making it a topic of heated debate.

The series has attracted widespread attention, as the topic of corruption had largely faded from TV screens in China after the media watchdog ordered a reduction in the number of such shows in 2004.

Zhou Meisen, screenwriter for the new series, said such productions have not been screened for a decade amid a nationwide increase in more-commercial shows. But they have reappeared with the introduction of intensified efforts to fight corruption.

Fan said, "Audiences will not see the face of the 'tiger', or State-level official, but only hear his voice."

Actors Lu Yi and Zhang Fengyi take the lead roles in the series, which has completed filming and is at the post-production stage. It will begin airing later this year.

Fan said it is being shown to reflect the central leadership's determination and the measures taken to fight corruption since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in late 2012. It also portrays anti-graft work at home and abroad.

In the past three years, corruption has led to the downfall of a series of officials at provincial or ministerial level, including Zhou Yongkang, the former security chief, who was sentenced to life in prison in June last year for graft, abuse of power and disclosing State secrets.

Besides the "tigers", corruption among officials at lower level, or "flies", will feature in the series.
Editor's Notes: In January 1992 at the crucial juncture of China's reform and opening up program, Comrade Deng Xiaoping paid an inspection tour to south China where he delivered a series of speeches aimed to clarify the muddled idea about whether the establishment of special economic zones is of "capitalism" or socialism" in nature.

People within the Party generally learned about this from a document of the CPC Central Committee, while the majority of Chinese common people knew this from a news report entitled "Vigor of Spring Greets the Eyes as the East Wind Comes" relayed from newspapers and magazines nationwide. This report indeed triggered a strong repercussion nationwide.

We once again present this news report to all of you, so that we together cherish the memory of Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China's reform and opening up program.

It was near the traditional Chinese Spring Festival that our respected and beloved Comrade Deng Xiaoping came to Shenzhen!

In the crucial period of China's socialist modernization drive, the arrival of Comrade Xiaoping was the greatest concern and support for the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, as well as the greatest encouragement and spur to the Shenzhen people.

Part I

At around 8:00 a.m. January 19, on the Shenzhen railway platform, several provincial and city leading members and a crowd of other people were waiting for Deng's arrival with great excitement.

He's come! Then there came the rumbling sound from afar, followed by a long train which stopped by the railway platform at 9 sharp in the morning.

Before long, Comrade Deng Xiaoping made his appearance! People's eyes and the flashlight immediately turned to this great man.

He looked very healthy, with a pair of bright, piercing eyes, a kindly, smiling face, wearing a dark gray jacket and black Western-style trousers. Glowing with health and vigor, he walked out of the car. After an interval of eight years, he once again stepped onto Shenzhen, a piece of land in the forefront of reform and opening up.

After alighting from the car, the smiling Deng shook hands with Xie Fei, secretary of the Guangdong provincial Party committee; Li Hao, secretary of the Shenzhen city Party committee and Mayor Zheng Liangyu, who had come there to welcome the leader.

Comrade Deng Xiaoping, together with the provincial and municipal leading members got on board a mid-sized bus which steered direct to the guest house. Considering that Deng had traveled a long journey, the city responsible member persuaded the grand old man to take a good rest.

However, Comrade Xiaoping showed not the least fatigue. He said, "Now I've come to Shenzhen, I want to have a look everywhere."

It is widely known that Comrade Deng Xiaoping was the principal decision-maker of the establishment of special economic zones. As early as April 1979, after listening to the reports given by the main leader of the Guangdong provincial Party committee, Deng said: We can mark out a piece of land and call it a special zone, like the case of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Special Zone. The central government had no money, and you should do this by relying on your own resources. In August the following year, the National People's Congress formally adopted and promulgated the "Regulations on Guangdong Provincial Special Economic Zones, thus heralding the birth of China's special economic zones. The Shenzhen Special Economic Zone is one of the earliest experimental areas for reform and opening up. Comrade Xiaoping showed great concern about its development. In January 1984, he went to Shenzhen on an inspection tour. Eight years had elapsed. What changes had taken place in the face of Shenzhen? This grand old man was eager to have a look at it by himself.

On January 26, 1984, Comrade Xiaoping wrote the inscriptions for the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, which read, "The development and experiences of Shenzhen have proved the correctness of our policy on the establishment of special economic zones."

In 1984, construction of the special economic zone encountered a lot of difficulties and resistance, some people adopted a wait-and-see attitude toward the establishment of special economic zones. Deng's inscriptions meant decisive support to the construction of the special zone, reinforced people's determination and confidence in the special zone, and gave a push to the further advancement of the construction of the special zone.

Accompanied by provincial and city responsible leading members, Comrade Xiaoping had a sight-seeing in the city. In the previous eight years, here was still a place with paddy fields, fish- ponds, small paths and low houses. Now in 1992, this place was crisscrossed by wide roads, a block of high-rises towering into the sky and full of a of modernization flavor. Deng was very happy to see such a prospering and vigorous scene. Just as he said later, "eight years have passed, this time I come to see that Shenzhen, Zhuhai and some other localities have undergone rapid development, it is really out of my expectations. After seeing all this, I've got enhanced confidence."

While having a sight-seeing in the city, Comrade Xiaoping talked cordially with the provincial and municipal responsible members.

While speaking about the establishment of special economic zones, Xiaoping said: From the very outset there were different opinions concerning the establishment of special economic zones, fearing whether this meant practicing capitalism. Shenzhen's construction achievements have answered those having worries of one kind or another, the special zone is "socialist", not "capitalist" in nature. Judged from the situation in Shenzhen, public ownership is the mainstay, foreign investment accounts for only one-fourth. Take that part of foreign capital for example, we can benefit from taxation and labor service! Don't be afraid the establishment of more Sino-foreign cooperative enterprises, Sino-foreign joint ventures and solely foreign-owned businesses. We need not be afraid so long as we are clear-headed. We have advantages, large and medium-sized State-owned enterprises and township enterprises, more importantly, we have the political power in our own hands.

Speaking of the question regarding economic development, Comrade Xiaoping said: the "four small dragons" (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea) in Asia have developed very rapidly, so has your development. Guangdong should strive to catch up with the said "four small dragons" in Asia in a 20-years' time. After a while, he added not only should we push up the economy, we should also create a good social order and a good social mood. We should surpass them in material development and cultural and ethical progress, this and this alone can be regarded as socialism with Chinese characteristics. Singaporean social order is good, because the country put it under strict control, we should learn from its experiences and should exercise better management of society.
In the lead-up to the June 23 special session where Kansas legislators will attempt to address a court order to make its school funding formula more equitable, the states attorney general is asking the Kansas Supreme Court to back down from its threat to close schools if lawmakers fail to act, and political leaders are looking for ways to redistribute an annual $4 billion in education dollars.

Derek Schmidt, the states attorney general, says cutting off all of the school funding a move that would have a disproportionate impact on students. .

An African proverb cautions that when two elephants fight, it is the grass the gets trampled, he wrote in the motion filed Friday.

He also threatened to appeal the case, Gannon v. Kansas, to a federal court, pointing out that withholding several million dollars for children with disabilities could potentially violate the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Alan Rupe, the lawyer of the four districts who have sued the state, described the motion to the Lawrence Journal-World as thinly veiled threats.

Last month, the states supreme court said for the second time this year that the state leaves its poor school districts with far less money than its wealthy districts. The supreme court attached to its ruling a threat that if the legislature doesnt come up with a different funding formula by June 30, the court will ban the state from distributing any state dollars, a move that could potentially lead to the shutdown of the states school system.

On Thursday, the House and Senate judiciary committees will meet to discuss potential changes to the states funding formula, according to the Associated Press . According to the states education department, the state would have to add at least $38 million in spending in order to satisfy the court. It would have to provide more than $50 million to do so while not forcing some of the states wealthier (and politically powerful) districts from making cuts this summer.

Democrats have suggested reverting to an old formula that would redistribute money based on the number and types of students districts have.

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback has repeatedly pointed out that $38 million is just 1 percent of the states education budget. But the states revenue has fallen precipitously in recent years since Brownback ushered through a series of income tax cuts in 2012 and 2013 in order to spur spending and rejuvenate the states economy.

For a story I wrote in a recent Education Week issue about funding formula cases, Richard Levy, a legal scholar at the University of Kansas, said forcing legislatures to adhere to court orders has been, historically, very challenging.

What would they do if the legislature says no? Levy said. You cant jail legislators, because they have legislative immunity.

Dont miss another State EdWatch post. Sign up here to get news alerts in your email inbox. And make sure to follow @StateEdWatch on Twitter for the latest news from state K-12 policy and politics.
The Zunyi Meeting was an enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee that was held in Zunyi, Guizhou Province, in January 1935 during the Long March.

The meeting focused on rectifying the left-leaning errors in military and organizational affairs, put an end to the domination of Wang Ming's leftist adventurist line in the central leadership, established the correct leadership of the new Central Committee, as represented by Mao Zedong, and saved the Red Army and the Party from destruction at a critical juncture.
A: The CPC advocated adopting a line of total resistance against Japanese aggression by the whole nation. On July 8, 1937, the day after the July 7th Incident, the CPC Central Committee issued a telegram declaring, "A war of resistance in which the whole nation takes part is the only way out."

Between August 22 and 25, the Central Committee called an enlarged meeting of its Political Bureau. At the meeting, it was formally decided that total resistance by the whole nation was the line to be taken. In the "Ten-Point Program for Resisting Japanese Aggression and Saving the Nation" adopted at the meeting, this line was elaborated in detail. The main points included bringing down Japanese imperialism; mobilizing armed forces all around the country; mobilizing the people; reforming the government apparatus; adopting a counter-Japanese foreign policy; adopting wartime financial and economic policies; improving the people's living standards; adopting a resistance-related education policy; weeding out collaborators, traitors and pro-Japanese elements, and consolidating the rear; and achieving national unity against Japan. The CPC's line was, in essence, one of waging a people's war.

In addition to the right line, the right strategy was also essential for securing victory. The CPC decided on its fundamental strategy of carrying out a protracted war.

In order to implement the line of total resistance by the whole nation and the overarching strategy of carrying out a protracted war, the CPC Central Committee and its Military Commission adopted a new military strategy for the people's army, taking into account that the army was poorly equipped and its troop numbers were limited.

Mao Zedong proposed that the people's army should engage in independent guerrilla warfare in the mountainous regions and that it should, when conditions were ripe, seek to defeat enemy units and engage in guerrilla warfare on the plains.

The new military strategy required the people's army to transform the way it did battle. It was now to engage mostly in guerrilla warfare to resist the Japanese and no longer engage in regular warfare in civil war. The strategy also demanded that organizationally, the people's army be transformed from a regular army employed in concentrated units to a guerrilla army employed in dispersed operations.

Mao predicted that during the final stage of the war, which for the Chinese would be a period of strategic counter-offensives, military strategy would again need to be changed, this time from mainly guerrilla to mainly regular warfare.

He also argued that there would be three stages to the protracted war. Each of these stages was, in its own right, to be protracted. The first stage, according to Mao's analysis, was to be a period of strategic offensives by the enemy and strategic defense by China; the second was to involve strategic consolidation by the enemy, and Chinese preparations for making counter-offensives; and the third would be one of strategic counter-offensives by China and the enemy's retreat. China, he predicted, would gain the power to swap weakness for strength during the second stage of the war, and that was what would secure its victory.
The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO) of Malaysia have vowed to boost ties between the two parties and the two countries.

Wang Sanyun, a member of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of Gansu provincial committee of the CPC, is attending the UMNO General Assembly 2015 here from Dec. 7 to 11 as the representative of CPC at the invitation of UMNO.

Wang on Wednesday briefed UMNO Secretary-General Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor on the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, saying that CPC is willing to strengthen the ties between the two parties and the two countries and promote the cooperation between Gansu Province and Malaysia under the framework of the "Belt and Road" initiative.

Tengku Adnan said that UMNO is willing to deepen communication between the two parties and boost pragmatic cooperation between the two countries in all fields.
The Communist Party of China and political parties of Arab countries should take the lead in helping China and Arab countries build a "community of shared destiny", an official in charge of the CPC's international exchanges suggested today.

Song Tao, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks in the opening ceremony of a two-day dialogue between the CPC and political parties in Arab countries.

The dialogue, which has attracted delegates from 16 Arab countries, most of whom are members of political parties, was launched in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

Song, the CPC official, said China is willing to share its experience in development with Arab countries, and hopes to learn from the latter's time-honored civilization and development practice.

He called for political parties in China and Arab countries to facilitate "pragmatic cooperation" between China and the Arab world by dovetailing the Belt and Road Initiative and Arab countries' efforts to diversify their economies, and to contribute to China-Arab counterterrorism cooperation.

By always treating each other with respect and openness, China and Arab countries "set up an example of how countries of different civilizations, institutions and faiths can coexist in harmony", Song said. He added that political parties from both sides should advocate for tolerance and exchanges, and prevent extreme ideas from causing estrangement between different civilizations.

Former Egyptian prime minister Essam Sharaf said through the interpreter that he looked forward to "China's wisdom to stop the situation of the Middle East from deteriorating, and that the CPC's practice has inspired political parties in the Arab world.

"The achievements China, a big country, has obtained are closely linked to the CPC," he said.

He added that there is great room for China-Arab cooperation to grow, and that the Belt and Road Initiative is the best way to enhance the cooperation to the expected level.
With a project titled Master & Youth, Beijing TUS Music Culture & Media Company is helping to select and train young Chinese students with classical music talents.[Photo provided to China Daily]

With a project titled Master & Youth, Beijing TUS Music Culture & Media Company is helping to select and train young Chinese students with classical music talents.

Introducing concerts and classical musicians to middle- and high-school students, the project was launched on June 10 with a concert held at Beijing's No 35 Middle School.

Established Chinese conductor Tang Muhai led hundreds of students in performances including Vivaldi's The Four Seasons (Spring), a serenade by Mozart and a couple of pieces by Chinese composers.

According to the organizer, more concerts will be held this year and in cities including Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Nanjing.

The company also plans to found an orchestra and a chorus by selecting talented young Chinese classical musicians from these concerts.

Related:

US orchestra enters road to decade of China residency
Daniel Wu. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Many fans are sighing over Daniel Wu's "ugliest" role in history in the film Warcraft, but they may find more to enjoy in his role in the upcoming sci-fi action Sky on Fire.

Wu played a green-skinned, slouch orc villain in Warcraft, which has raked in around 1 billion yuan ($152 million) after its fifth day of release.

Now, starring as a head bodyguard in the new movie, Wu returns to his familiar zone.

Set about 10 years in the future, Sky on Fire offers a storyline in which scientists successfully develop a new medicine to prolong the human life span. But the medicine is stolen and Wus character is involved into the crime.

A martial arts practitioner, Wu handled most of the action sequences without using stand-ins.

Daniel Wu (left) and Zhang Jingchu (center). [Photo provided to China Daily]

"I broke my nose the second day," he recalls in a news conference during the 2016 Shanghai International Film Festival.

However, Wu says his biggest concern was not his nose but whether he could continue working in the directorial work of Ringo Lam.

Lam has directed a small number of films, around 10, in a career spanning for more than 30 years. He is known for breathtaking action films, and Sky on Fire marks his return to directing after a seven-year break.

Most of the photography was shot in a 35-story skyscraper in Hong Kong.

In addition to Wu, the celebrity cast includes Chinese mainland actress Zhang Jingchu, Taiwan actress Amber Kuo and Taiwan actor Chang Hsiao-chuan.

The feature is set for a national release during the 2017 Spring Festival holiday.

Related:

Officials urge more cooperation in films and TV series translation
Iberico ham. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Foodies won't want to miss World Tapas Day, which will be celebrated in many countries around the world on June 16. Activities will highlight the delicious small plates with special tours, workshops and tasting events organized by chefs, restaurants and tourism boards.

Thursday's celebration in Beijing will take place at Nali Patio in Sanlitun from 5 to 11 pm. Some popular local restaurants will be serving genuine Spanish tapas and wine, with flamenco performances. Guests can have a bite of the famous Iberian ham, cold tomato soup and mini hamburgers, and enjoy the Spanish social and dining culture in the evening.

Spain's tourism agency, Turespana, declared early this year that the third Thursday in June will officially be World Tapas Day.

"Tapas is a symbol of Spain and is considered deserving of being the star of its own World Day because it is representative of our cuisine in miniature, is the focus of our most innovative chefs, and because tapas is a word that is recognized in all major languages," the agency said in January.

Food tourism lured 9.5 million tourists to visit Spain in 2015, according to the tourism agency. World Tapas Day is designed to build on that both by offering tapas-focused events in Spain and by building the reputation of Spanish cuisine in other countries.

Related:

Taster's choice on Beijing's Brunch Week
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Tips for Avoiding Arrest When Dating a Drug Dealer

Love is hard to find and all the gurus tell you to keep an open mind -- don't decide who is right for you just based on what they do. So now you are dating a drug dealer and the dates are nice but you have some questions about what this means for your life. Will you go to jail for just hanging around with this person?

It is very hard to say what will happen to you when you date a drug dealer without more context. Is your true love selling heroin or weed? Are transactions happening around you or is it totally separate from your existence? How high-end (pun intended) is this dealer's business? No one can guess what the consequences for dating a drug dealer will be in your case specifically, but here are some things to keep in mind.

Reporting Crimes

You have probably seen crimes taking place and not reported them before -- underage drinking at a party, people taking bong hits. In reality, most people let plenty of illegal activity go on without calling the cops.

Theoretically, if you are not doing anything illegal -- not making, possessing, or distributing drugs -- then there is no reason you should get in trouble with the law. But of course hanging around in places where illegal activity takes place increases your risk of being in a bad situation.

Even if you have done nothing wrong, you can get picked up in a sweep if you're hanging around shady places. But you can't be charged criminally merely for having what society considers unsavory friends.

Insider Tips

A woman writing anonymously in Vice UK explains that a particular risk of hanging around with drug dealers, based on her personal experience, is that you don't know when you might find something illegal in your pockets or bag. That can certainly get you in big trouble.

If you get picked up with drugs, you can and will be charged criminally. If you blame it on your lover, don't expect that tactic to go over very well. Maybe you will get out of the charge, but you'd have to get your mate to take responsibility for the drugs, which is not likely to happen, or welcome the end of your relationship. It is going to be hard to explain that you love them, just not enough to take the rap.

Talk to a Lawyer

If you are dating a drug dealer and have concerns about something you have seen or done, talk to a criminal defense attorney. Get some guidance on handling the situation the right way. Many criminal defense attorneys consult for free or a minimal fee and will be happy to help.

Related Resources:
An investment forum between Qingdao and Indonesia was held at the Qingdao Shangri-La Hotel on June 14, where topics such as economy, trade and tourism were discussed to promote common development.

Qingdao and Indonesia have enjoyed rapid growth in economic cooperation in recent times. So far, Indonesia has invested 402.25 million yuan ($61 million) in 34 Qingdao projects. In turn, Qingdao has approved 24 projects in Indonesia worth $845 million.

In the first four months of this year, the trade volume between two areas has reached $211 million.

Qingdao mayor Zhang Xinqi said at the forum that Qingdao, as one of China's most important harbor cities, now served as a major node city in new Eurasian Continental Bridge economic corridor and was set to become a bridgehead for the Belt and Road Initiative.

He said Qingdao was committed to becoming an innovative coastal center in East China, a regional service center and an advanced international marine development center, and provides excellent opportunities for mutual cooperation.

He also appealed to Indonesia's enterprises to visit and invest in Qingdao.

Indonesian Ambassador to China, Soegeng Rahaidjo said that both countries had great prospects in marine cooperation and the Indonesian Embassy would spare no efforts to support the mutual exchanges.
Wang Yi on the The special ASEAN-China foreign ministers' meeting,June 14,2016.[Photo/Agencies]

Twenty-five years after they launched their formal dialogue mechanisms, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have found themselves better off thanks to closer communication.

But the once virtuous cycle between economic payoff and political closeness has come under threat as territorial disputes in the South China Sea have come to dominate the limelight and evolved into a potential flashpoint.

The special ASEAN-China foreign ministers' meeting on Tuesday was important in that it provided a timely venue for strategic communication.

China and ASEAN as a whole have been on very good terms, by and large. The degree of political mutual trust, as well as economic interdependence and benign interaction between them, are hard to find elsewhere, which explains why the region has remained peaceful and vibrant in the past decades, even as much of the rest of the world struggled economically.

Yet that generally fine picture has been tarnished lately as third parties have sought to sow seeds of distrust between them.

Given the bilateral nature of the territorial disputes between some ASEAN members and China, the dialogue mechanisms between China and ASEAN as a whole are not the right channels for solving the disputes. They are, however, precious platforms for comparing notes and exchanging ideas about topics of broader regional concerns, the South China Sea included.

In order to not let the simmering tensions in the South China Sea get in the way of their common aspiration to make their partnership even more fruitful, China and ASEAN must work together on crisis management.

One conspicuous, obvious truth about the South China Sea is that outsider intervention, although it claims to be in the name of conflict prevention, is actually muddling the water and adding fuel to regional tensions.

But difficult as it may be, at the end of the day, the burden is on the shoulders of those in the region to put their own house in order. And the earlier the better, before the third-party interference makes things even messier.

Their 2002 Declaration on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea was a wonderful starting move in the right direction. Now their Tuesday agreement on pressing ahead with consultations on an ultimate Code of Conduct must be followed up with substantial consensus-building endeavors.
A view of the new campus of Changzhou Foreign Languages School near a toxic site in Changzhou city, east China's Jiangsu province, 18 April 2016.

The symptoms recently reported by some pupils in a primary school in Beijing, for which the school's plastic running track has been blamed, has caused extensive concerns over the safety of such running tracks and the official's attitude toward this issue.

People are questioning why lessons have not been learned, since similar cases were reported in 15 cities across the country in 2015 alone. The public has also questioned why no effective measures have been taken to stop the widespread occurrence of such a safety problem since the popularization of plastic running tracks in China 10 years ago.

To people's surprise, almost all the plastic running tracks tested have conformed to national standards. For example, following the exposure of the health problems of pupils at a Beijing primary school, test results confirm the running track meets the national quality standards.

Aside from doubts over the objectivity of the testers, the test results have prompted calls for the national quality standards to be raised, as people are concerned that the tests do not cover all the toxic substances used in running tracks.

Following a public outcry over the safety of plastic running tracks as early as 2003, the Ministry of Education and the General Administration of Sport jointly organized an assessment of them and reached the conclusion that they are "basically harmless". But the problem is that the materials used by most schools for their plastic running tracks are not the same as those used in the samples sent to the authorities for assessment. In the absence of effective supervision, even the strictest safety standards cannot ensure safety.

China has only a few licensed producers of plastic running tracks, but there are now thousands of manufacturers. The effort to set up a free market should not mean tolerance of unlicensed companies and the lack of effective supervision. The value of any safety standards lies in their implementation.--Changjiang Daily
The paralyzed Zhu Ling (second right) tries to move with the help of her parents and a housemaid. Zhu was poisoned with thallium 19 years ago when she was studying at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The case has never been solved. [Photo by Lyu Jiazuo / for China Daily]

Xu xueling, a resident in East China's Shandong province, was reportedly diagnosed as "mentally ill" and locked up in a mental health institution in 2008 and 2009 when she appealed to the higher authorities against the local government. After being sued by the local government last year for compensation, she was diagnosed as "not mentally ill" and "capable of payment". Southern Metropolis Daily calls for independent mental health institutions free of local government control:

There are many problems with Xu's diagnosis. She has been diagnosed as "mentally ill" with no evidence but the records of local officials. Her family was not even informed.

It has long been an open secret that local governments control mental health institutions and use them to detain disobedient residents. As early as December 2008, Beijing News reported that some citizens that appealed to the higher authorities in their disputes with local governments had been incarcerated in mental health institutions.

Under the control of local governments, mental illness diagnoses are always in their favor. When they want to deprive citizens of their liberty, they could have them diagnosed as mentally ill.

Many defend the local officials by saying the citizens that appeal to higher authorities put pressure on the officials. But people have the legal right to appeal to the higher authorities if they feel they are being mistreated. Moreover, the central leadership has cancelled the past practice of ranking local governments according to the number of petitioners and punishing officials if there are too many. By doing so the central leadership means to encourage people to appeal against perceived injustices.

The case of Xu also highlights the urgency of limiting the powers of local governments. They control almost everything in this regard, even the diagnoses of residents' mental health. Only through a deeper reform that shuts power in the cage can we prevent a tragedy like Xu's from happening again.
LI FENG/CHINA DAILY

Given the horrendous mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, it is natural for one to inquire why the shooter targeted so many innocent people.

Obviously, this massacre is an act of terrorism. Omar Mateen, the perpetrator, claimed the highest number of casualties in amass shooting in the United States. Thus far, the US government has been busy trying to find out if Mateen was associated with any terrorist group. The fact that intelligence officers again failed to foil such a terror attack may have an impact on the US presidential election.

The motive behind the attack will decide if it was merely an individual terror attack or an organized act of terrorism. Even though Mateen pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State group before gunning people down, his true motive is still under investigation. But no matter what the outcome of the investigation, the US government will not feel easy.

If the 29-year-old Mateen is proven to have launched the attack on instructions of the IS, it will expose a major loophole in the US' "war on terror", because American intelligence failed to intercept and prevent the dastardly act. And if his was a "lone wolf" attack, the US will still feel frustrated for not being able to prevent an individual from gunning down so many people out of hatred.

If Mateen was driven by the IS, his was not only a terrorist act; he was also a terrorist. Given his ethnic background(his father migrated from Afghanistan), presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has linked it to radical Islamic terrorism, which US President Barack Obama and presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton would be hesitant to echo.
JOSE HERNANDEZ (in gray) holds hands with friend VICTOR BAYEZ as they grieve the loss of close friends Amanda Alvear and Mercedez Flores at a vigil held in front of the Dr. P. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando. Honored were those killed in the mass shooting that left 50 dead and many more wounded at an Orlando gay nightclub early Sunday morning.[Photo/IC]

Once again it's mourning in Americathis time for the victims of the worst mass shooting in a country where multiple deaths from gunshots is a daily occurrence. More than 100 innocent souls lost their lives or were injured in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday.

The day might have been even more gruesome if Los Angeles police hadn't arrested a suspect who told them he was en route to the city's gay pride parade where he wanted to do "harm". He certainly could have as he had multiple weapons, including one assault rifle, abundant ammunition and ingredients to make bombs. The two events don't seem linkedor are they?

Reactions were predictable. Conservatives, led by presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, said the shooting was caused by "radical Islamic terrorism". Liberals, like US President Barack Obama, said that it was due to lax gun laws. He asked "God to watch over this country that we love". Well, God has been doing a lot of watching lately given that there are more guns than people in the US.

And foolish me who thought that "one-a-day" was a vitamin but it's the frequency of armed encounters in the US last year in which four or more people were killed or injured. And foolish me who thought the AR-15 semi-automatic weapon in Orlando was a weapon of war. I must be dead wrong because according to the National Rifle Association, the AR-15 is merely for hunting or home protection.
2015-11-09

In a Sino-UK declaration on a 21st century global strategic partnership, the two countries agreed to learn from each other in health care, urbanization, and science to improve public welfare and communications in medicine and health policy, and do joint studies to with global health challenges.
2014-06-18

China has set up an organ procurement organization alliance to help smooth the process of organ donations, distribution and transplants, a senior health official said.
Hot Topics

Geng Jiasheng, 54, a national master technician in the manufacturing industry, is busy working on improvements for a new removable environmental protection toilet, a project he has been devoted to since last year.
With the rise of temperature, a growing number of people choose to spend time near the beach in Qingdao, Shandong province, June 14,2016. Tourists to this coastal city are mostly concentrated in hot scenic spots like Zhanqiao pier or May 4th Square.[Photo by Wang Haibin/Asianewsphoto]
Appeals Court Reverses Jesse Ventura's $1.85M Damages Award

A brief barroom brawl has been the subject of a protracted legal battle, one that has outlived one of the brawlers. In 2006, Chris Kyle wrote an anecdote in his best-selling autobiography American Sniper in which he punched out a man called "Scruff Face" for speaking ill of Navy SEALs in Iraq. Scruff Face was later revealed to be Jesse Ventura -- a former Navy SEAL himself and former Governor of Minnesota, who fought back legally.

Ventura sued Kyle for defamation in a case that lasted longer than the sniper himself. Kyle is now deceased and Ventura was awarded $500,000 in damages for the defamation, plus $1.35 million of the profits from Kyle's book based on unjust enrichment. But today an appeals court overturned that award, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Defamation Claim Remanded

The author of American Sniper, who was the most deadly sniper in US history, would no doubt be pleased with today's legal results. Ventura's claims were killed ... almost.

Kyle's wife appealed the damages award and in today's opinion, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to set aside the $500,000 defamation award because of improper and prejudicial testimony about Kyle's insurance, remanding it for a new trial. Still, it is possible -- and maybe even likely -- that Ventura and Kyle's widow will settle the claim rather than go through a trial again, particularly in light of what happened to the unjust enrichment argument and award.

Unjust Enrichment Reversed

The award for unjust enrichment was reversed altogether and will not be heard again. Media companies had opposed this particular claim and argued in briefs to the court that awarding profits from the book under an unjust enrichment theory would have a potentially crippling effect on free speech. The 8th Circuit agreed, noting that damages available under a defamation claim are an adequate legal remedy and that Ventura offered no precedent to support his claim.

"Neither the district court nor Ventura cited any case awarding profits in a defamation case under an unjust-enrichment theory, or even suggesting money damages are an inadequate remedy in a public-figure defamation case," according to the opinion authored by 8th Circuit Judge William Jay Riley. "We find none ... We cannot accept Ventura's unjust-enrichment theory, because it enjoys no legal support under Minnesota law."

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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton addresses the Planned Parenthood Action Fund in Washington, US, June 10, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - Democrat Hillary Clinton won the District of Columbia primary on Tuesday, CNN projected on Twitter, capturing the party's last presidential nominating contest as Democrats turn their focus to the Nov 8 election against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Clinton, who secured enough delegates to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination last week, will meet in private later on Tuesday with rival Bernie Sanders as the sometimes bitter political combatants search for common ground in the race against Trump.

Sanders is under pressure to give up his campaign and help unite the party. But the US senator from Vermont has vowed to push on to next month's convention to gain more converts to his agenda of reducing income inequality, curbing big money in politics and reining in Wall Street.

At a news conference in Washington on Tuesday, Sanders said he would also demand changes to make the Democratic nominating process more equitable, including replacing the Democratic National Committee leadership, letting independents take part in the voting and eliminating superdelegates, who are unelected and are free to support any candidate.

"The time is long overdue for a fundamental transformation of the Democratic Party," Sanders told reporters.

Sanders had promised to stay in the Democratic race until the final vote was cast in the Washington, primary, although he has stopped talking about capturing the party's nomination and instead focused on ways he can push his agenda.

He scheduled a national video address to supporters on Thursday night.
Virginia -- A Chinese tourist has died and three others have been seriously injured in a tour bus roll-over on the George Washington Memorial parkway in Alexandria, Virginia, on Tuesday afternoon.

The tour bus, which was carrying 19 people including 16 tourists from the Chinese mainland, two tour guides and the driver, crashed into a car with two passengers, according to local police and Chinese embassy staff.

The injured were rushed to three nearby Inova hospitals at Alexandria, Fairfax and Mount Vernon.

Consular staff at the Chinese Embassy in Washington also rushed to the hospitals to visit the injured. Police were talking towitnesses..

By press time, senior officials from the Chinese Embassy were also on their way to the hospitals.
Incoming Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski attends a Catholic mass at a church in Manchay on the outskirts of Lima, Peru, June 12, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

LIMA - Peruvian President-elect Pedro Pablo Kuczynski will visit China on his first foreign trip after taking office next month.

Speaking to Channel 2 television recently, Kuczynski said his first official trip will be to China, prior to the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) summit Lima is set to host on Nov 19 and 20.

"It's necessary to go to China before the APEC, because it is our No. 1 trade partner," said Kuczynski, who just won the presidential election.

Kuczynski's decision shows his determination to boost ties with Peru's biggest trade partner, said Carlos Aquino, director of the Economic Research Institute at the National University of San Marcos in Lima.

"China is our leading trade partner, the top investor in Peru, especially in the area of mining, and we have a great (joint) project of bicoastal train with Brazil that will hopefully become a reality," Aquino told Xinhua.

Reciprocal high-level visits between China and its trade partners in Latin America are getting more frequent in recent years. Leaders of Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Chile have all made China their first foreign trip destinations in recognition of China's growing importance in the economy of the region, said Aquino.

The president-elect's first agenda on the trip will be to boost trade, especially to increase the share of products with more added value that Peru exports to China, said Aquino.

Peru is also seeking to attract more Chinese investment in mining, fishing and infrastructure and more Chinese visitors, he said.

The total value of bilateral trade now stands at some 15 billion US dollars, thanks to the free-trade agreement that went into effect on March 1, 2010.
Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe attends a news conference at Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office in Tokyo, Japan, May 27, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

TOKYO - Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe on Wednesday submitted a letter of resignation to the president of the Tokyo assembly and will step down from his post for his involvement in a funds scandal, the subsequent probe into which Masuzoe was unable to sufficiently account for with the assembly set to pass a no-confidence motion against him later in the day.

The embattled 67-year-old governor is accused of misusing political funds on numerous occasions for his own personal purposes, in violation of Japan's political funds law and in a blow to Japanese politics and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who has lost four of his own ministers to high-profile scandals since retaking office in December 2012, with Masuzoe's case further highlighting an inherent culture of fraudulent political funds use and bribery endemic for decades in Japanese politics.

On Monday, Masuzoe was grilled by the assembly over his misappropriation of funds and was found to provide insufficient clarification on his spending and in some cases refused to elaborate and provide adequate details when being examined.

The departure of Masuzoe, following his predecessor Naoki Inose also stepping down for a money scandal, has reignited fierce debate about money and politics in Japan, with such instances of graft, misappropriation of political funds, corruption and bribery involving political figures, rarely being out of the headlines here.

Masuzoe himself had previously apologized to the public for his involvement in the scandal stating he intended to carry on in his position and restore the public's faith in him, but an irate public as well as both ruling and opposition camps have been gunning for Masuzoe to step down, despite the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August and the almost certain negative impact his resignation will have on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Seven assembly groups, however, which include the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its Komeito ally, have jointly agreed to submit the no-confidence motion to the plenary session on Wednesday, despite the potential fallout.
BEIJING - China has lodged diplomatic representations with the United States over a planned meeting between US President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama at the White House on Wednesday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.

It is reported that Obama and the Dalai Lama will meet privately in the Map Room at 10:15 am on Wednesday.

"Chinese Foreign Ministry has already made a representation to the US Embassy in China," spokesperson Lu Kang told a daily news briefing.

If the US side arranges such a meeting, it will send a wrong signal to Tibet separatist forces and harm China-US mutual trust and cooperation, Lu said.
Editor-in-Chief of Rossiyskaya Gazeta Vladislav Fronin, Publisher of Rossiyskaya Gazeta Pavel Negoitsa, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of China Daily Zhu Ling and China's Ambassador to Russia Li Hui attend the launch ceremony in Moscow of the Russian version of China Watch (top left) and the photo album One Hundred Photographers Focus on China. XU JINGXING / CHINA DAILY

China Daily launched on Tuesday its Russian edition of China Watch, the media group's multilingual publication, in partnership with leading Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

Zhu Ling, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said 2016 is the Sino-Russian Media Exchange Year, an idea proposed by President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin last year.

As a China Daily supplement, China Watch has been telling China's story in English, French, German and Spanish, Zhu said at the launch ceremony.

Li Hui, China's ambassador to Russia, said, "Congratulations on the publication of the Russian edition of China Watch. As President Putin is expected to visit China soon, the launch will help pave the way for the visit. I believe it will boost the understanding of the peoples of the two countries."

During the launch ceremony, the two newspapers also jointly unveiled a photo album One Hundred Photographers Focus on China.

Zhu said publication of the Russian edition of China Watch and the new album signifies the friendship and cooperation momentum between the two nations and their peoples, adding that it will help Russian people to understand China better and intensify ties and the partnership between the two countries.
Heads of news organizations in Poland said on Tuesday that the country's people have a growing interest in China and the coming state visit by President Xi Jinping will have a great impact on the social and economic development of both countries.

Guo Weimin, vice-minister of the State Council Information Office, visits a photo exhibition in Warsaw, Poland, on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Polish news agency, newspaper, radio and TV station representatives made the remarks at the China-Poland Media Dialogue, hosted by China's State Council Information Office in Warsaw, the country's capital. Fifteen heads of Chinese and Polish news organizations participated in the forum.

Xi will make state visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan from Friday to June 22, the Foreign Ministry announced on Monday. It will be Xi's first state visit to Poland, one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with China after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

"We are preparing to produce videos on China-related issues to meet people's growing interests about China," said Rafal Tomanski, deputy editor-in-chief for Asia and the Pacific region at Polish national daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita.

He said Xi's visit will be a great opportunity for people from the two countries to learn more about each other. He added that the paper plans to produce a 20-page special edition to cover Xi's activities in Poland.

Guo Weimin, vice-minister of the State Council Information Office, said: "I hope people can learn about the great importance of the visit from Chinese and Polish media."

Qu Yingpu, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily, said the newspaper seeks in-depth cooperation with Polish media, especially in establishing a content-sharing mechanism for new media, so that people can quickly and easily learn about the current affairs of both countries.
A visitor at a book fair in Chopin International Airport in Warsaw, Poland. [Photo by Chen Xu/Xinhua]

Bookstores across Poland are jointly taking part in a month-long book fair to promote literature on ancient and modern China.

A launch ceremony for the event was held in Chopin International Airport in Warsaw, the country's capital, on Tuesday.

Among the 100 volumes on display at the fair are ones featuring information on China's history and cultural heritage, as well as others outlining the country's development and achievements in modern times.

About 100 bookstores across nine Polish cities are taking part in the fair, which is organized by China's State Council Information Office.

Many of the works featured are in English, but there will also be 20 titles in Polish on display. These will help people get a better understanding of China, especially its modern politics, economy and culture, said Guo Weimin, vice-minister of the State Council Information Office.

A new Polish edition of the already popular "Using the Wisdom of Chinese Medicine to Stay Healthy" will be released during the book fair, with copies given away as gifts to people visiting participating book stores.

The fair is being held in advance of President Xi Jinping's first state visit to Poland. Guo said books are the best media to connect with people's hearts and minds and promote cultural exchanges.

Xi will pay state visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan from June 17 to 22, the Foreign Ministry announced on Monday. Xi will also attend the 16th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on June 23 and 24.

Also on Tuesday, a library of books on China was established in the Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities. China has already provided the library with more than 200 kinds of books and will give 300 books annually in the next five years.

Guo said he hopes the library can serve as a window on China and a resource for scholars to study China and Chinese.
Collaboration on production capacity will enhance work along Belt and Road route

President Xi Jinping's visit to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan will lead to more projects involving production capacity cooperation, Foreign Ministry officials said on Wednesday.

During the eight-day trip that will begin on Friday, Xi will attend signing ceremonies for cooperation documents in the three countries, all of which are along the route of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, said Liu Haixing and Li Huilai, both assistant foreign ministers.

Liu told a news briefing that Xi will visit Serbia's Smederevo steel mill, which was founded in 1913 and acquired in April by Hesteel Group, China's largest iron and steel business group in terms of production capacity.

The deal is worth 46 million euros ($51.7 million).

Construction of Serbian power stations and highways in projects involving contracts with Chinese companies is going smoothly, he said.

In Serbia, the Zemun-Borca Bridge, newly renamed Pupin Bridge, was opened in 2014. The bridge over the Danube River is the first built in Europe by a Chinese company.

"The bridge is fondly known by the local people as the Chinese Bridge," Liu said.

The Chinese government is encouraging domestic companies to invest in Poland's nuclear power industry, Liu said.

Poland has been China's largest trade partner in Central and Eastern Europe for 11 consecutive years. It is also the only CEE country that has joined the China-proposed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Liu said.

Liu Zuokui, an expert at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that promoting bilateral cooperation with Serbia and Poland will play a positive role in propelling China-CEE relations.

To show support toward China-Uzbekistan cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi will attend a ceremony for the completion of a tunnel made by China, Li said.

While attending the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Xi will discuss with other leaders the applications by India and Pakistan to join the SCO as members, Li said.

Chen Yurong, a researcher of European and Asian studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said the SCO summit is expected to have a huge, positive influence on the growth of the organization, which marks its 15th anniversary this year.
Back in 1983, a man named Nicolas Roeg made a film called 'Eureka' with a stellar cast that was based on a real guy in the early 1900s. The guy in question is named Harry Oakes, where a number of adaptations of books, television shows, and movies have been loosely told about his life and death. First though, director Nicolas Roeg is a strange director indeed. His resume includes, 'Performance', 'The Man Who Fell To Earth', 'The Witches', and of course 'Eureka'.

I say that Roeg is a strange director in that a lot of his films included images and scenes that were placed out-of-order, or just randomly placed scenes in order to have his audience try and decipher what was happening in the story. It was a fairly chaotic and unpredictable way of filmmaking, but he developed a cult following and his films still stand the test of time, even though some of them are just far-out weird, including 'Eureka'.

The film tells the story of a man named Jack MacCann (Gene Hackman) who is mostly based on Harry Oakes, who struck gold, became rich, but very paranoid. He moved to the Bahamas to avoid paying taxes on his money. In his 60s, he was found dead in his mansion. He was severely beaten, burned and covered in feathers. To this day, nobody has ever come forward or has been found in his murder, and there have been tons of theories on his death, ranging from gangsters to witchcraft and voodoo. Oddly enough, the film mostly starts out similarly to 'The Revenant', as McCann is in the middle of a cold Yukon, trying to survive in the bitter winter with people trying to fight him and wolves nearby. He really has a will to live and survives long enough to see someone commit suicide right in front of him.

This leads him to take solace in a fortune teller, which leads to him finding all the gold. He becomes rich, but increasingly off-kilter and paranoid. His nightmares become reality for the most part. This is where his daughter Tracy (Theresa Russell) and her lover Claude (Rutger Hauer) come into the picture, where their family dynamic is crude and not loving to say the least. In addition, a mobster named Mayakofsky (Joe Pesci) is trying to get McCann to give all his money to him in order to build casinos. McCaan, Claude, and Tracy all spiral down the rabbit hole, as we see them take part in orgies with snakes, witchcraft, and voodoo, until there is almost nothing left.

The chaotic editing and filmmaking here is somewhat hard to follow, but we can tell where it's going, because Roeg leaves us clues here and there, which sometimes go off on tangents. Some of the images her are shocking and is intended to put the audience in an awkward position, which it succeeds in doing. It;s just that some of the performances and story itself and its execution are little off. Still, for a film of this caliber in 1983, it's still memorable.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

'Eureka' comes with a 50GB Blu-ray Disc that is Region A Locked from Twilight Time and is limited to 3,000 copies. There is a fully illustrated booklet with an essay from Julie Kirgo. The disc is housed in a hard, clear plastic case with reversible box art.
"For the first time, an instrument onboard an orbiting spacecraft has measured the methane emissions from a single, specific leaking facility on Earth's surface," NASA announced Tuesday.

From the announcement:

Using the Hyperion spectrometer on NASA's Earth Observing-1 (EO-1), NASA scientists made this important breakthrough in our ability to one day measure and monitor emissions of this potent greenhouse gas, from space.

In a new paper accepted for publication in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, a research team with scientist David R. Thompson of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, detailed the observation, which occurred over Aliso Canyon, near Porter Ranch, California. The Hyperion instrument successfully detected the methane leak on three separate overpasses during the winter of 2015-16. The research was part of an investigation of the large accidental Aliso Canyon methane release last fall and winter.

The orbital observations from Hyperion were consistent with airborne measurements made by NASA's Airborne/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) imager flying onboard a NASA ER-2 aircraft.

"This is the first time the methane emissions from a single facility have been observed from space," said Thompson. "The percentage of atmospheric methane produced through human activities remains poorly understood. Future instruments with much greater sensitivity on orbiting satellites can help resolve this question by surveying the biggest sources around the world, so that we can better understand and address this unknown factor in greenhouse gas emissions."

Other institutions participating in the study include Caltech, Pasadena, California; Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany; and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.

Part of NASA's New Millennium Program, EO-1 is an advanced land-imaging mission designed to demonstrate new instruments and spacecraft systems. Launched in 2000, EO-1 has validated technologies for the Operational Land Imager used on the Landsat-8 satellite mission and future imaging spectrometer missions, and supported disaster-response applications. The mission is managed by NASA Goddard. A joint initiative between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, Landsat represents the world's longest continuously acquired collection of space-based moderate-resolution land remote sensing data.
Sixty hikers from Hungary were stranded in the Austrian Alps last weekend when their drunk guide disappeared. Apparently the guide wandered off and found his way back to the bottom of the mountain, leaving his group behind.

The hikers set off at around 3pm local time (2pm BST) on Saturday with an unqualified guide from a Hungarian trekking association to explore the Rax mountain range in eastern Austria, according to local police. But around an hour later Austrian emergency services received a call from a distressed member of the group, who said he was lost with his daughter in the mountains.

The weather was taking a turn for the worse as 12 rescuers brought the group back down to safety. The group then ran into the irresponsible "guide," who claimed he hadn't touched a drop of alcohol. Read the Telegraph's full story here.
(Photo : Getty Images.) Reports from Germany claim that China's Midea Group is planning to 49 percent stake in German robotic company Kuka.

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China's Midea Group Co Ltd wants to buy a 49 percent stake in German industrial robot maker Kuka, sources familiar with the matter revealed on Tuesday.



Midea Group will reportedly resell any shares it acquires beyond the threshold of 49 percent, which would allow Kuka to retain a strong German anchor investor.



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Midea group is planning to offer 115 euros ($128.97) per Kuka share. The German stock market did not react enthusiastically to Kuka's stake sale as the company's shares were down 2.8 percent to 102.90 euros during the morning trading session on Tuesday. It was among the biggest losers among the mid-cap index.



German engineering group 'Voith' owns a 25 percent stake and billionaire Friedhelm Loh owns a 10 percent stake in the company. Both parties declined to comment on the deal.



Several German politicians have come forward in protest of the deal, claiming that Kuka's technology is essential for Germany's economic success and must therefore be protected from falling into China's hands.



Germany's Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel announced earlier this month that the government is searching for a European company to bid for Kuka's share. However, no European company has so far shown any interest.



The news of this deal comes while German Chancellor Angela Merkel is China on a three-day visit. Merkel on Monday had urged Beijing to reduce restrictions on foreign companies operating in China, adding that Chinese firms are enjoying a much more open environment in Germany.



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TagsMidea Group, china, Kuka, Germany Kuka, Germany
(Photo : GETTY IMAGES) The countries have made progress on implementing their recent treaties including an anti-hacking accord signed in September last year.

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China and United States announced on Tuesday that both countries are committed to patch up their differences over cybersecurity.



The countries have also made progress on implementing their recent agreements, including an anti-hacking accord signed in September last year. Cyber security has been a prominent point of contention between U.S. and Beijing.



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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary Suzanne Spaulding held talks with Chinese officials in Beijing. "We look forward to discussing the commitments we made with regards to not engaging in IP theft of trade secrets and confidential business information," Spaulding said.



She also underscored the importance of the September agreement, which is a major milestone between the two countries after China backed out of a working group in 2014.



U.S. ambassador to China, Max Baucus, said that both countries can work on the issues to reach common grounds and added that the talks will lead to higher trust between the two nations. Baucus also said that it is important to ensure the proper implementation of the programs agreed upon by the two presidents.



Chinese Minister of Public Security Guo Shengku said, "We want to bring the discussions from policies on paper to actual implementation." He also stated that both the countries will continue to collaborate on cyber issues.



USA counts China, Iran and Russia as the most active countries trying to hack into its systems. However, the countries are now making progress towards reconciliation.



The current discussions mark the second stage of dialogue between the countries. The first session was conducted in December last year, and since then authorities from both states have jointly worked towards solving a child pornography case.



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TagsMax Baucus, Suzanne Spaulding, Guo Shengku, cybersecurity, china, US
(Photo : Getty Images/Mark Wilson) China has cautioned US officials against meeting the Dalai Lama during his visit to the country.

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China has warned US officials against meeting the Dalai Lama during his visit to the country. The Tibetan spiritual leader is in Washington, D. C. this week.



China extended the same cautionary note regarding Tsai Ing-Wen, the newly elected president of Taiwan, who is expected to visit the United States soon on her way to Panama.



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Lu Kang, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, said that the US is expected to uphold the "One-China" policy. During a daily news briefing on Tuesday, Lu said "I can responsibly tell you that on this issue the U.S. government has made solemn promises, which is to uphold a one China policy."



Both Tibet and Taiwan are delicate political issues for China. The Dalai Lama is considered to be a separatist by China.



It has not been confirmed if there will be any meeting between President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama. Speaking to Reuters, the Dalai Lama said that the meeting is "not finalised, but some friends say he may meet me."



The Dalai Lama claims that he does not want independence but genuine autonomy for Tibet.



While US politicians have extended their support to the Dalai Lama in past, China claims that the United States has "promised" to recognize Tibet as an integral part of China.



Taiwan's President Tsai is expected to be in the United States in late June. She will set out on her first overseas trip on June 24. Tsai will visit Panama and Paraguay, which are among Taiwan's few allies. She may make a stopover in the US on her way back. However, no details about her engagements in the United States have been provided.



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(Photo : Reuters)

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Noor Salman, the wife of the radicalized Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen, was aware of her husband's plan to carry out the terrorist attack people but did nothing to stop him, according to a federal law enforcement source.







Salman was interrogated by FBI agents and is likely to be arrested days after Sunday's massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando that claimed the lives of 49 people and left 53 more wounded.



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Federal prosecutors are already considering charging Salman as an accessory to 49 counts of murder and 53 counts of attempted murder. She may also be slammed with a lawsuit for failure to inform the law enforcers about Omar's impending terror attack and lying to federal agents. A grand jury is expected to start the investigation soon.



Mateen even called Salman during the mass shooting in Orlando on Sunday, according to a source. The source also revealed that Salman is now cooperating with investigators and has told them of Mateen's violent plans.



Salman also confirmed her husband's purchase of deadly weapons before the massacre and has apparently already undergone a polygraph test.



A report by MSNBC, which cited different, unnamed individuals, said that Salman had driven him around as he scouted for different areas to carry out the attack. She allegedly also accompanied Mateen as he purchased ammunition for the premeditated shooting. The sources, however, cited that she tried to talk him out of the attack but to no avail.



Another source also told investigators that Mateen's radicalized tendencies came after browsing through militant Islamic material online at least two years before the incident.



Mateen's father shared that his son had harbored strong anti-gay sentiments. He remembered one time when Mateen bursted out after seeing two men kissing in downtown Miami while he was with his wife and son.



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TagsOrlando terror attack, Orlando shooting, noor salman, Omar Mateen, noor salman
(Photo : Fred Dufour / Pool / Getty Images) President Xi has stated that the Silk Road Initiative is a key component of China's foreign policy.

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President Xi Jinping's scheduled visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan are expected to foster greater economic cooperation among countries involved in China's Silk Road Economic Belt initiative.



According to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang, Xi will start his eight-day visit to the three countries starting Friday this week.



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During the trip, Xi will participate in the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from June 23 and 24.



Wang Yiwei, a professor at the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China, pointed out that Xi's visit to the Central and East European (CEE) countries aim to push forward the initiatives under the China Silk Road Economic Belt initiative.



Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan are situated in key points within the Silk Road project.



"Central and Eastern European countries, including Serbia and Poland, are eager to develop ties with China to attract more Chinese investment," Wang said.



He added that China's position on the South China Sea issue is expected to be supported by the three European countries during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.



In 2013, the Philippines filed an arbitration case against China concerning maritime disputes in the South China Sea with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.



The court is expected to release its decision on the case in the coming weeks.



In the meantime, Sun Yuxi, former Chinese ambassador to Poland, noted that the Central and East European (CEE) countries have collaborated with China on a number of big ticket projects.



These include the bridge across the Danube River in Belgrade, Serbia, which has given a major boost to infrastructure development in the CEE region, and has become a testament to the benefits of the China Silk Road Economic Belt initiative.







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Tagschina, China Silk Road, China Silk Road Economic Belt Initiative, Chinese President Xi jinping
Aaron Persky, the California judge who let rapist Brock Turner off with a 6-month term in county jail, was removed from a new case Tuesday after prosecutors complained they lacked confidence in him.

"We lack confidence that Judge (Aaron) Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetised female patient," Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. He called the move "rare and carefully considered".  Stacey Capps, chief trial deputy for the District Attorney's office, said the new case was reassigned to another judge and a hearing was held on Tuesday afternoon. She said that the victim was "particularly vulnerable" factored into the move. Capps said in the new case, Cecil Webb stands accused of touching the vagina and breast of a woman who was anesthetised ahead of a surgery at a Santa Clara hospital in November 2014.

Rosen, though disagreeing with Turner's sentence, earlier backed the judge against criticism of his impartiality. But now he, too, is a critic of his impartiality.
(Photo : Mark Makela/Getty Images) A photo showing a police line at a crime scene.

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Two French police officers, who were a couple, were stabbed to death by a man, who broadcasted the attack via Facebook Live and was also killed by officials responding to the scene.



Media reports in France said that the attack took place on the home of two off-duty police officers. Their home is located 30 miles west of Paris and the attacker surprised the male police officer when he arrived from work. The attacker stabbed the male police officer repeatedly. The attacker then went inside the home and took the female police officer and their three-year-old son as a hostage. Officials negotiated with the assailant but failed.



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The wife was found dead inside the home and fortunately, the toddler was rescued. Reports added, "The assailant, a French citizen, was known to police for petty crime and for involvement in a jihadi recruiting network for which he did jail time. The assailant claimed the attack for Islamic State."



The names of the couple have not been released yet but reports claim that the man was a commander at a police station in Les Mureaux, who was recently promoted and is 42 years of age. The woman is said to be 35 years old and worked in the administrative unit of a police station in the town of Mantes-la-Jolie.



The assailant was identified as Larossi Abballa, 25. In the video via Facebook Live, Abballa confessed to killing the police officers and talked about attacking his other targets such as rappers, journalists, and other police officials as well as officers. The Facebook page of Aballa was taken down but the Islamic State was able to get a copy of the video and released it on their social media accounts.



The killings come after IS urged their supporters to carry out attacks in Europe and America during the month of Ramadan. It also comes after the Orlando mass shooting that killed 50 and injured dozens. The attacker at the Orlando gay club shooting also pledged allegiance to the IS militants.



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TagsFrench officials, French police, Islamic State, couple, toddler, Larossi Abballa, Orlando mass shooting, Europe and America
(Photo : Getty Images) Gone for good: M. rubicola, killed by climate change

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The Bramble Cay melomys, a rat-like mammal found on only one island in Australia, is extinct and scientists said climate change -- specifically sea level rise -- is to blame.



The extinction of this species is the first to be attributed to climate change. Scientists said the Bramble Cay melomys (Melomys rubicola or M. rubicola) has disappeared from its small island home on Bramble Cay in the eastern Torres Strait of the Great Barrier Reef only three meters above sea level. The rodent is referred to as Australia's most isolated mammal.



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Researchers from Queensland's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and the University of Queensland jointly reported that the species had indeed become extinct.



"Significantly, this probably represents the first recorded mammalian extinction due to anthropogenic climate change," they reported.



M. rubicola hasn't been seen since 2007 despite a search by a team of scientists and was feared extinct. Failed attempts to trap any in late 2014 led scientists to conclude the rodent, also called the mosaic-tailed rat, is likely extinct. There were several hundred of the rodents in 1978.



"The key factor responsible for the extirpation of this population was almost certainly ocean inundation of the low-lying cay, very likely on multiple occasions, during the last decade, causing dramatic habitat loss and perhaps also direct mortality of individuals," said Ian Gynther from Queensland's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection that reported on the extinction.



"For low-lying islands like Bramble Cay, the destructive effects of extreme water levels resulting from severe meteorological events are compounded by the impacts from anthropogenic climate change-driven sea-level rise."



The researchers noted that since 1998, the part of the island above high tide has shrunk to 2.5 hectares from 4 hectares. That means the rodents have lost about 97 percent of their habitat while the vegetation they eat has also been engulfed by the waves.



Climate scientists said sea level globally has risen by almost 20 centimeters or 8 inches between 1901 and 2010, a rate unheard of in the last 6,000 years. In the Torres Strait, the sea level has risen at almost twice the global average rate between 1993 and 2014.



"We knew something had to be first, but this is still stunning news," said Lee Hannah, a senior scientist for climate change biology with Conservation International.



Hannah has published research suggesting one in five species may be at risk from climate change. And species on small islands and mountains are most threatened since they can't escape.



"This species could have been saved," he lamented of M.rubicola.



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TagsBramble Cay melomys, Australia, Climate Change, Queensland's Department of Environment and Heritage Protectio
(Photo : MIT) This illustration depicts the process of light emission from a sheet of graphene, which is represented as the blue lattice on the top surface of a carrier material. The light-colored arrow moving upwards at the center depicts a fast-moving electron. Because the electron is moving faster than light itself, it generates a shock wave, which spews out plasmons, shown as red squiggly lines, in two directions.

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A man-made "optical boom" in a sheet of graphene can produce an intense, focused beam of light that will lead to the development of future microchips with speeds over a million times faster than those used in computers and mobile devices today.



Funded by the US Army, researchers at MIT, Israel, Croatia and Singapore discovered that a flow of electric current can, under certain circumstances, exceed the speed of slowed-down light and produce a kind of optical boom. This discovery represents an entirely new way of converting electricity into visible radiation.



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It's fast, highly controllable and efficient, said the MIT researchers. More important, it will lead to a wide variety of new applications.



The researchers said using light instead of flowing electrons to move and store and data can massively increase microchip operating speeds up to incredibly higher levels compared to those in today's chips.



Although still theoretical, the discovery adds a new dimension to graphene's potential to produce blazingly fast microchips. Scientists at IBM Research have been exploring how graphene can be used to create new chips that exploit the way electrons move faster through graphene than through other semiconductor materials.



The optic boom allows electrons to pass through graphene at up to a million meters per second or 1/300 the speed of light in a vacuum. This represents a totally new way of producing light from electricity compared to light produced by LEDs or compact fluorescent lights.



This new "plasmon-based approach" might eventually be part of more efficient, more compact, faster and more tunable alternatives for certain applications, said the researchers.



More important, this is a way of efficiently and controllably generating plasmons on a scale compatible with current microchip technology. These graphene-based systems could potentially be key on-chip components in the development of new, light-based circuits, which are considered a major new direction in the evolution of computing technology toward ever-smaller and more efficient devices.



Plasmons are a kind of virtual particle that represents the oscillations of electrons on the surface.



The work was reported in the journal Nature Communications in a paper by two MIT professors: Marin Soljacic, professor of physics, and John Joannopoulos, the Francis Wright Davis Professor of physics and postdoc Ido Kaminer.



The team included researchers Yichen Shen, Ognjen Ilic, and Josue Lopez at MIT; Yaniv Katan at Technion, in Haifa, Israel; Hrvoje Buljan at the University of Zagreb in Croatia and Liang Jie Wong at the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology.



The research was supported by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and the U.S. Army Research Office through the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies at MIT.



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TagsGraphene, optical boom, US Army, MIT
(Photo : Getty Images) China has released a new list of good that are banned from being exported to North Korea.

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China's Commerce Ministry on Tuesday released a list of 'dual-use' goods that have been banned from being exported to North Korea. The ban is in compliance with the United Nations (UN) sanctions imposed on Pyongyang in March.



The banned items have been described as 'dual-use' goods as they can serve both civilian and military purposes. The list includes items such as magnetic materials, high-strength metals, chemical fibers, and laser-welding equipment. The list also includes dozens of chemicals that could be used for producing weapons of mass destruction.



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In April, China banned the import of gold, rare earthen materials and fuel products from North Korea. The ban is aimed at depleting the financial reserves of the North Korean government, which experts say is important to curtail Pyongyang's controversial nuclear ambition.



China is North Korea's largest trading partner and key ally. In the past, China has been often accused of going slow on implementing UN sanctions against North Korea. However, experts agree that this time China has been more diligent in carrying out the sanctions.



The latest ban comes just a few weeks after North Korea's top envoy Ri Su-yong paid an official visit to Beijing. The North Korean envoy had an hour-long meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The meeting is considered immensely crucial for ironing out the recent strains in the bilateral relationship between both nations. After the meeting, Xi said that China attaches "great importance" to its bilateral relation with North Korea.



Foreign experts claim that China is still hesitant to go tough on North Korea. Beijing has expressed concerns that further isolation could lead to the collapse of the political structure in North Korea, which could have long term repercussions on China.



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Tagschina, North Korea, North Korea nuclear test, China and North Korea
(Photo : Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Paragliders fly past a giant UAE flag as part of Dubai National Day celebrations on December 1, 2008 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. National Day festivities traditionally take place on the 1st and 2nd of December with a parade for children and students on the 1st.

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China's Industrial and Commercial Banking Corporation (ICBC) has given Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) a total of $230 million as an unsecured loan that is payable in a span of five years.



The Xinhua News Agency, which is the official press agency of the People's Republic of China, said in their report that ENOC was able to secure the loan from the bank's branch located at the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC). The branch is in the United Arab Emirates.



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The Chief Financial Officer of ENOC, Petri Pentti, also released a statement regarding the matter. Pentti said that the trust placed by ICBC in their company is "a big testament of our robust business and financial performance."



Pentti pointed out that ENOC has a long-term strategy in order to pay the loan. He also assured that their strategy is not impacted by the change in the economic climate of the region due to the problems being faced by the country now in terms of economic standing.



He added, "We are confident of our growth plans and will continue to move ahead with our expansion plans across Supply Trading & Processing, Retail, Marketing, Terminals and Exploration and Production businesses."



The loan will be helping ENOC fund their new projects in the future. The loan will also be used for the company's expansion strategy regarding business operations since the country has been facing challenges both internationally and nationally when it comes to the oil and gas market.



ENOC is the Dubai Government owned diversified energy group. It is also a downstream-focused firm owned by sovereign fund Investment Corporation of Dubai. They operate their service stations, fuel terminals and oil tankers. They have branches in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.



ICBC, on the other hand, is the biggest bank in the world when it comes to assets and market capitalization.



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TagsEmirates National Oil Company, Industrial and Commercial Banking Corporation, china, UAE, loan, $230M loan, gas and oil industry, Dubai International Financial Center
(Photo : Getty Images) Suicide cases have increased among government officials accused of graft in China.

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More Chinese government officials suspected of committing graft and corruption are taking their lives, the Communist Party of China (CPC) said on Tuesday.



On Sunday, two civil servants suspected of embezzling government funds committed suicide.



Chinese state-run media reported that Liu Xiaohua, a high-ranking official in the Guangzhou province, hanged himself in his home on Sunday, days after learning that he was set to be interrogated by the party for corruption.



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On the same day, Xiao Bibo, the head of the secret protection bureau of the Yantian district, committed suicide by jumping to her death from a bridge in the northeastern part of the district.



Motives



Although police are still investigating the motives behind the suicides, the communist party has started to look into the rising cases of suicide among government officials accused of corruption since last year.



According to an editorial published recently by the Chinese official paper, Guangming Daily, under the presidency of Hu Jintao, there was only 68 cases of suicide in a span of nine years, from 2003 and 2012.



However, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, who has stepped up China's anti-corruption campaign, suicide cases have risen tremendously among government officials suspected of graft.



In the first two years of Xi's presidency, up to 77 government officials accused of corruption reportedly killed themselves.



Anti-corruption campaign



Experts have noted that President Xi's far-reaching anti-corruption campaign has spared no one in government including people in the military and state-owned companies and industries.



Human rights lawyer Yuan Yulai said it was not surprising that the suspected officials took their lives even before they could be interrogated by the communist party's corruption watchdog.



The interrogation, known as shuanggui, has been described as 'dark' as suspects are held incommunicado for an undetermined duration of time before they are turned over to the prosecutors to be formally charged.



"Being hardline and suppressive of ordinary people, some officials found themselves, in turn, subject to the same treatment when they faced fellow officials with higher ranking," Yuan said.



A large number of officials suspected of graft had opted for suicide in a bid to protect their families and kin from being subjected to intense scrutiny by investigators and prosecutors.



Under the law, it is only a court judge and not the CCDI who determines whether a suspect is guilty.



Yuan said that if the accused dies before or during the trial, all judicial proceedings against the suspect are stopped, and the case, as well as the accompanying investigation, is terminated.



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TagsCommunist Party of China, graft and corruption, embezzlement, government officials, Suicide, anti-corruption campaign, President Xi Jinping, china
(Photo : Getty Images/Scott Olson) The inclusion of Chinese stocks to the MSCI index would have led to billions of dollars worth of investment in China.

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Chinese stocks have been denied entry to international stock benchmarks by MSCI Inc. The move will come as a blow to investors looking to invest in the world's second-largest economy. MSCI cited concerns about access to Chinese markets as a reason for the non-inclusion. This is the third such decline by MSCI.



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The inclusion of Chinese stocks to the index would have led to billion of dollars worth of investment in China. The country is currently struggling to power through a sluggish growth pace. Earlier this year, MSCI laid out a road map for including Chinese stocks to the index, leading to speculations that they will be added soon. However, the index provider has announced that it is likely to wait and observe the situation.



Remy Briand, global head of research with MSCI, said, "International institutional investors clearly indicated that they would like to see further improvements in the accessibility of the China A-shares market before its inclusion."



MSCI stated that it would continue to collaborate with Chinese authorities to study the impact of reforms in the market. The index provider said that China has undertaken important steps in this direction.



Chinese officials had justified the inclusion of Chinese stocks in the MSCI on account of the sheer size of the country's domestic share market. Qi Bin, director-general of international affairs for the China Securities Regulatory Commission, stated that "Theoretically if an international index is without this big market, it is incomplete."



Foreign investors can invest in Chinese companies through H-shares. These are the shares of the companies listed in Hong Kong. However, access to A-shares, which are the shares traded in Shanghai and Shenzhen, is restricted. Institutional investors can trade in the domestic stock market after receiving the required approval and license.



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(Photo : Getty Images) An influential Chinese economist on Wednesday called on the government to take constructive steps to tackle the country's corporate debt problem.

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China's rising debt problem is considerably offset by its high saving rate, but steps need to be taken to control exceptionally high corporate liabilities, a leading government economist said on Wednesday.



"The possibility of having a debt crisis in China is small," Li Yang, a member of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told a news conference. "China is a country with a high savings rate and its debt problem is mostly internal, which is totally different from countries with low savings."



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However, Li was quick to add that mounting corporate debt may derail the entire financial system if constructive steps are not taken too soon.



"If there are problems in corporate debt, banks will have problems immediately. If banks have problems, government finances will have problems as banks are owned by the state," Li said.



China's net debt stood at 168.5 trillion Yuan ($25 trillion) at the end of 2015, which is roughly 249 percent of China's GDP, according to Li's calculation. Earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged Beijing to act promptly to control its mounting corporate debt. Global investors have also raised a red flag over China's debt problem.



Economic experts claim that many of the economic stimulus packages announced by the Chinese government have been fuelled by debt, and this is making the debt problem worse. The state-run newspaper People's Daily quoted an "authoritative person" in May saying that China risks falling into a long-term economic recession if it unduly relies on debt-fuelled stimulus packages.



In a bid to turnaround its sluggish economy, the Chinese government announced several stimulus packages in the current year. It is not known exactly how much money the Chinese government has put into these stimulus packages, but is believed to be running into billions of dollar.



China is currently facing its worst economic crisis in over two decades, with most of its important economic indicators showing no sign of improvement. Economic experts say that the exceptionally high corporate debt is only adding to China's economic woes.



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Tagschina, Chinese Economy, China Corporate Debt, China debt
(Photo : Getty Images.) The ASEAN countries on Wednesday retracted a critical statement on South China Sea, which was issued at the end of special ASEAN-China foreign ministers meeting.

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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Wednesday issued a critical statement on the ongoing South China Sea issue only to retract it later.



The tough statement expressing deep concerns over the rising tensions in the maritime region was supposedly aimed at China. However, China was not directly mentioned in the statement.



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"We expressed our serious concerns over recent and ongoing developments, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and which may have the potential to undermine peace, security and stability in the South China Sea," said the statement.



The statement, issued by the Malaysian foreign ministry on Tuesday, came in the wake of a meeting between Chinese officials and ASEAN members in the Chinese city of Kunming.



Hours after the statement was issued, the Malaysian foreign ministry retracted the statement, citing that "urgent amendments" needed to be done and an updated statement would soon be released.



However, the ministry later said that no updated joint statement would be issued and all countries would be issuing their own individual statements.



The Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the meeting in Kunming was a closed-door affair and there was never a plan to issue a joint statement.



However, several analysts claim that the initial statement was just too critical of China and therefore had to be withdrawn. Ian Storey, an analyst at Singapore's ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, said the retraction of the earlier statement completely demonstrated the lack of unity among the ASEAN members over the South China Sea dispute.



China is locked in dispute with several of its neighbors over the maritime territory China claims the entire region as its own and has been accused of assertively staking its claim over the same in recent months.



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Tagschina, South China Sea, China and ASEAN countries, ASEAN, China-ASEAN, ASEAN statement
(Photo : Getty Images.) China on Wednesday dismissed Indian allegation of incursion by its troops into the disputed Indian territory of Arunachal Pradesh.

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China on Wednesday rejected India's allegations that its army has made an incursion into the disputed Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, saying there are no clear demarcations between Sino-Indian borders.



"China and India border has not yet been demarcated," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters. The non-demarcation of borders has been the standard response of China whenever India has accused of Chinese troops of incursion.



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Lu added that Chinese troops were conducting normal patrol on the Chinese side of LAC (Line of Actual Control).



On Tuesday, India claimed that around 250 Chinese troops intruded into eastern district of Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh.



In recent years, both countries have reduced border tensions through various mechanisms like boundary meetings by 'special representatives.' India and China have held 19 border meetings by special representatives, but have not reached any lasting solution to their border issues. New Delhi has proposed for the demarcation of the 3,488 km of the LAC, but China is yet to respond to the proposal.



The latest border tension comes at a time when the Sino-Indian bilateral relationship has been strained due to Beijing blocking India's bid to secure membership in the Nuclear Supplier Group(NSG).



China says it has a territorial right over Arunachal Pradesh state, claiming that the Shimla accord signed between British India and Tibetan government signed in 1914 is entirely illegal. The Tibetan government had ceded Arunachal Pradesh to British India under the Shimla accord.



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The first in a series of NPR reports online and on-air about Traumatic Brain Injuries and the military is a must-listen.

NPR's Isabel Lara tells Boing Boing:

Kit Parker's mission to explain invisible brain injuries began with a call from an old Army buddy. Parker's friend had been patrolling in an armored vehicle in Iraq, when an improvised explosive device went off nearby. Now something was wrong, his friend couldn't sleep; he frequently lost his train of thought. Parker, a Harvard biophysicist and an officer in the Army Reserve, knew his friend's brain wasn't right, but aside from a ruptured eardrum, there was no sign of damage. How did the blast hurt him? Why couldn't he think straight?

In a long-form piece, NPR's Jon Hamilton has the story of how Parker used his scientific know-how and experience as a soldier to piece together the mystery of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have sustained at least one of these injuries, which can impair thinking, memory, and emotional stability. But because even brain scans couldn't usually detect TBIs, they were largely ignored by the military until recently. Hamilton's piece tells the story of a researcher obsessed with TBI, and how what he found changed the military's thinking on brain injury forever.
Former SBC state leader charges mission board with 'cover-up of wrongdoing' Editorial Staff | 14 June, 2016 by Joni B. Hannigan

ST. LOUIS (Christian Examiner)  Decrying what he sees as a "cover-up of wrongdoing" in regards to actions by North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell by board trustees, Will McRaney, the former executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network, said June 14 that "votes by any group will not change the unimpeachable truth."

McRaney made the comments to the Christian Examiner following a June 13 vote by NAMB trustees to unanimously approve a recommendation indicating their satisfaction with a "thorough examination and review" of the Southern Baptist entity's relationship with the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network (MABN).

Ezell earlier this year McRaney and other state convention leaders suggested Ezell abused his leadership role by tying financial incentives to missions strategies  and when displeased would threaten to withdraw support that could have a devastating effect on particular mission efforts.

After a two-hour closed session June 13, trustees announced that following their investigation of issues between NAMB leadership and the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network  without naming either Ezell or McRaney  the matter had been "concluded."

"Representatives of this Board have conducted a thorough examination and review of the dealings between NAMB leadership and the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network and have fully reported those findings to the full Board of Trustees, who discussed the findings at length and considered them when making this recommendation," the Board was told as a part of background information before the vote.

"In addition, the trustees were kept informed about challenges regarding the relationship between NAMB and MABN as the challenges developed, and NAMB's executive leadership sought input from the chairman and other officers of this Board regarding such challenges," the recommendation read.

No other specifics were given in the recommendation, which drew strong applause from the board.

Will McRaney earlier this year posted an extensive number of documents related to the issues he raised, including emails, agreements, and narratives by him and others.

In addition, other state executives told Christian Examiner of feeling pressured by NAMB employees and by Ezell to conform to particular ways of doing things or else lose funding.

McRaney said despite the unanimous vote of trustees meeting just prior to the SBC, "documented facts fully support each accusation I made."

"The facts are fully documented, witness testified, and unimpeachable," McRaney said. "This is not a personality conflict, it is a conflict of truth before our holy God and Southern Baptists."

McRaney, who previously served as a leader with the Florida Baptist Convention, urged Southern Baptists to investigate on their own, by reading through the documents he said he posted on his website after six failed attempts to speak with Ezell and then trustees.

"Southern Baptists entrust their hearts, sons and daughters and financial resources to the North American Mission Board and its leaders," McRaney said. "Dr. Ezell's actions demonstrate his willingness to threaten and damage both individuals and state convention leaders and then cover matters up with lies and denials of wrongdoing."

Randy Adams, the executive director of the Northwest Baptist Convention, told Christian Examiner in an interview in May he has previously serve as a trustee for a Southern Baptist entity and in his opinion the board of trustees should address specifics of the allegations.

"I trust Will," Adams said.

"To me the accusations are very serious allegations and the specifics of those allegations, I think, require a response," Adams said.

In a ?Feb. 5 response to McRaney's charges, which he shared with trustees and eventually with the public, NAMB board chairman Chuck Herring had initially indicated a desire to keep the matter internal, however McRaney released the response on his personal website months ago.

Herring wrote in his response, "Rather than engage in a line-by-line rebuttal of Dr. McRaney's portrayals of how Kevin and other NAMB leadership navigated through this challenging situation, it is sufficient to say that his letter is both factually inaccurate and misleading."

McRaney June 14 told Christian Examiner he believes that he has been wronged along with the MD/DE Convention and others, and that a court would agree. "I hope NAMB trustees will make things right with me becuase of the Bible," he said, however, instead "of being forced to do so by law."

"I am prayerful that NAMB trustees will fully support an independent investigation in addition to conducting an investigation that enhances the goodwill and trust of Southern Baptists," McRaney said.

"We need men and women to fear God, not just fear the court," he said.

NAMB is one of just a few SBC entities that does not allow media access to committee meetings, opening the doors to plenary sessions where most voting takes place without discussion.
An honest essay has numerous characteristics: original thinking, a good structure, balanced arguments, and plenty more.

But one aspect often overlooked is that an honest essay should be interesting. It should spark the readers curiosity, keep them absorbed, make them want to stay reading and learn more. An uneventful article risks losing the readers attention; whether or not the points you create are excellent, a flat style, or poor handling of a dry subject material can undermine the positive aspects of the essay. The matter is that a lot of students think that essays should be like this: they believe that a flat, dry style is suited to the needs of educational writing and dont even consider that the teacher reading their essay wants to search out the essay interesting. You might want to have online essay editor service to boost your confidence in writing with an error-free output. Academic writing doesnt need to be  and shouldnt be  bland. The excellent news is that there is much stuff you can do to create your essay more attractive, while youll be able only to do such a lot while remaining within the formal confines of educational writing. Lets study what theyre.

Have an interest in what youre writing about

Dont go overboard, but youll be able to let your passion for your subject show.

If theres one thing bound to inject interest into your writing, its being fascinated by what youre writing about. Passion for a subject matter comes across naturally in your essay, typically making it more lively and fascinating and infusing an infectious enthusiasm into your words  within the same way that its easy to talk knowledgeably to someone about something you discover fascinating.

Include fascinating details

Another factor that may make an essay boring maybe a dry material. Some topic areas are naturally dry, and it falls to you to form the article more interesting through your written style and by trying to seek out fascinating snippets of knowledge to incorporate, which will liven it up a small amount and make the data easier to relate to. A way of doing this with a dry subject is to create what youre talking about that seems relevant to the critical world, as this is often easier for the reader to relate to.

Emulate the fashion of writers you discover interesting

When you read lots, you subconsciously start emulating the fashion of the writers you have read. Reading benefits you a lot, as this exposes you to a spread of designs, and youll start to require the characteristics of these you discover interesting to read.

Borrow some creative writing techniques

Theres a limit to the quantity of actual story-telling youll do when youre writing an essay; in the end, essays should be objective, factual and balanced, which doesnt, initially glance, feel considerably like story-telling. However, youll apply a number of the principles of story-telling to create your writing more interesting.

consider your own opinion

Take the time to figure out what its that you think instead of regurgitating the opinions of others.

Cut the waffle

Rambling on and on is dull and almost bound to lose the interest of your reader. Youre in danger of waffling if youre not completely clear about what you wish to mention or havent thought carefully about how youre visiting structure your argument. Doing all your research correctly and writing an essay plan before you begin will help prevent this problem.

Editing is a vital part of the essay-writing process, so edit the waffle once youve done a primary draft. Read through your essay objectively and eliminate the bits that arent relevant to the argument or labor the purpose.

employing a thesaurus isnt always a decent thing

Avoid using unfamiliar words in an essay; theres too great a likelihood that youre misusing them.

You may think that employing a thesaurus to seek out more complicated words will make your writing more exciting or sound more academic, but using overly high-brow language can have the incorrect effect.

Avoid repetitive phrasing

Please avoid using the identical phrase structure again and again: its a recipe for dullness! Instead, use a variety of syntax that demonstrates your writing capabilities and makes your writing more interesting. Mix simple, compound, and complicated sentences to avoid your paper becoming predictable.

Use some figurative language

Using analogies with nature can often make concepts more accessible for readers to know.

As weve already seen, its easy to finish up rambling when youre explaining complex concepts  mainly after you dont know it yourself. One way of forcing yourself to think about a couple of pictures, present it more simply and engagingly is to form figurative language. This implies explaining something by comparing it with something else, as in an analogy.

Employ rhetorical questions

Anticipate the questions your reader might ask.

One of the ways ancient orators held the eye of their audiences and increased the dramatic effect of their speeches was by using the statement. A decent place to use a statement is at the top of a paragraph, to steer into the following one, or at the start of a replacement section to introduce a brand new area for exploration.

Proofread

Finally, you may write the top interesting essay an instructor has ever read. Still, youll undermine your good work if its plagued by errors, which distract the reader from the particular content and can probably annoy them.
Kerry warns: Don't point finger at religion for Orlando shooting 15 June, 2016 by Reuters , |

WASHINGTON (Reuters)  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday warned Americans against pointing a finger at one religion or another after a gunman who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State militant group massacred 49 people at a gay night club in Orlando.

"The worst thing we can do is engage in trying to point fingers at one group or one form of sectarianism or another or one religion or another. Those are not the values of our country," Kerry told reporters as he posed for pictures before a meeting with Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.
Obama rips critics over term 'radical Islam' 15 June, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , |

WASHINGTON (Christian Examiner)  President Barack Obama doesn't like it when he and his administration are vilified for not using the term "radical Islam." That much was clear June 14 after the president devoted a significant amount of a speech on counter-terrorism to presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump's criticism of his handling of the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).

Obama was speaking at the conclusion of a terrorism summit on ISIS (which he calls ISIL) at the U.S. Treasury Department. At the conclusion of the speech, he took on Trump  though without naming him  as well as other Republicans who have been critical of how the president has described terrorists and terror attacks.

That's the key, they tell us  we can't beat ISIL unless we call them 'radical Islamists.' What exactly would using this label accomplish? What exactly would it change? Would it make ISIL less committed to trying to kill Americans? Would it bring in more allies? Is there a military strategy that is served by this? The answer is none of the above. Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away. This is a political distraction.

Just hours after the terror attack on the Pulse nightclub, a gay bar in Orlando, early Sunday morning, in which ISIS-loyalist Omar Mateen killed 49 people, Trump took to social media with his characteristic politically incorrect style.

"Is President Obama going to finally mention that words radical Islamic terrorism? If he doesn't he should immediately resign in disgrace!" Trump said via Twitter.

And during an address on foreign policy and terrorism at St. Anselm College June 14, the New York billionaire blasted presumptive Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton.

"Hillary Clinton  for months and despite so many attacks  repeatedly refused to even say the words 'radical Islam,' until I challenged her yesterday to say the words or leave the race," Trump said.

"However, Hillary Clinton  who has been forced to say the words today after policies she supports have caused us so much damage  still has no clue what radical Islam is, and won't speak honestly about what it is. She is in total denial, and her continuing reluctance to ever name the enemy broadcasts weakness across the world."

But in his response, Obama said whether or not the term is used is of little consequence in the fight against al-Qaeda, ISIS and other groups.

"That's the key, they tell us  we can't beat ISIL unless we call them 'radical Islamists.' What exactly would using this label accomplish? What exactly would it change? Would it make ISIL less committed to trying to kill Americans? Would it bring in more allies? Is there a military strategy that is served by this? The answer is none of the above. Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away. This is a political distraction," Obama said.

The president added that he described how "extremist groups" have perverted Islam" with the use of terrorism from the early days of his presidency. He also said he had worked with allies to "reject this twisted interpretation of one of the world's great religions."

Obama said the use of the term serves no purpose in fighting against ISIS or other terror groups and its lack of use has not affected or degraded the U.S. military's ability to pursue and kill terrorists.

"So if someone seriously thinks that we don't know who we're fighting, if there's anyone out there who thinks we're confused about who our enemies are, that would come as a surprise to the thousands of terrorists who we've taken off the battlefield," Obama said.

Obama also said there is "no magic in the phrase 'radical Islam.'"

"It's a political talking point; it's not a strategy," the president said. "And the reason I am careful about how I describe this threat has nothing to do with political correctness and everything to do with actually defeating extremism. Groups like ISIL and al Qaeda want to make this war a war between Islam and America, or between Islam and the West. They want to claim that they are the true leaders of over a billion Muslims around the world who reject their crazy notions. They want us to validate them by implying that they speak for those billion-plus people; that they speak for Islam. That's their propaganda. That's how they recruit. And if we fall into the trap of painting all Muslims with a broad brush and imply that we are at war with an entire religion  then we're doing the terrorists' work for them."

Obama also said the kind of "yapping" being done by Trump is particularly dangerous because it cuts Muslims off from the remainder of U.S. society and threatens those who are immigrating to America. The president said he rejected the notion that the entire religious community is complicit in terrorism.

"Where does this stop? The Orlando killer, one of the San Bernardino killers, the Fort Hood killer  they were all U.S. citizens," Obama said, adding that fear of Muslims will lead the nation toward the oppression of Muslim Americans.

"We've gone through moments in our history before when we acted out of fear  and we came to regret it. We've seen our government mistreat our fellow citizens. And it has been a shameful part of our history," the president said.
Christian communities have been reaching out to victims and their families, including a Southern Baptist Church two blocks away from the Orlando nightclub where 49 were killed and 53 were injured after a mass shooting incident in Orlando, Florida early Sunday morning.

The Sunday worship service at Delaney Baptist Church began with prayer for the victims' families, law enforcement agencies and first responders, pastor of Delaney Baptist Church Troy Peeples told The Christian Post.

After an announcement was made that blood donors were needed, many members of Delaneys 1,900 member congregation gave blood, Peeples said.

We are looking into ways that we can minister to the various groups impacted by this tragedy," he continued.

We are looking forward to the soon return of Jesus Christ to make things right in this world. We are encouraged to know that Christians around the world are praying around the clock for the hurting families in Orlando. Here, locally, we want to do whatever we can to love on these families and care for them during this desperate time, a statement on the churchs website reads.

A candlelight vigil was held on Monday at the First Parish Church.

Other churches in the community have extended offers to hold free funeral services for the victims families, including Florida Hospital Church, Metro Church, and Forest City Spanish Adventist Church, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

This was not a part of Gods plan, Pastor of Metro Church Seth Cain said in a video message on Monday. So if theres anything we can do for you to help you through this time, please let us know.
An Anglican priest in Kenya has sided with LGBT advocates in a lawsuit against the state's alleged discriminatory laws which the community says is inhibiting liberties of gay people in the country, according to a report by Religion News Service.

Rev. Mark Odhiambo of Maseno South diocese, and four other plaintiffs including two gay men and two lesbians are fighting a case in Kenyan court claiming that they are vulnerable to violent attacks, and are not treated fairly by government authorities.

One of the female plaintiffs was gang-raped, assaulted, and arrested, while a male plaintiff was denied HIV medicine because he was gay.

Odhiambo said that gay people are subjected to both physical and sexual violence.

"I serve in the city and I have seen many of them facing serious challenges because their sexual orientation does not conform to that of the general society," he said.

However, the Anglican community in Kenya vehemently rejects homosexuality. Bishop Julius Kalu of Mombasa criticized Odhiambo, telling Religion News Service that he thinks that Odhiambo is working on the case for monetary benefits.

However, the lawsuit is not demanding compensation for abuse or discrimination, but only seeking protection of rights of people under the country's laws.

Meanwhile, the Anglican Church of Kenya is purging clergy suspected of involvement in homosexual activity.

Five priests were investigated on suspicions of engaging in sex with other men, and were found guilty. They are now prohibited from serving in any Anglican Church in the country.

Their names were not disclosed by the church, as they are given the right to appeal, repent, and reform.

"It has been our desire to resolve this issue as a church through the established structures without blowing the whistle. However, it must be noted that the Anglican Church of Kenya and particularly the Diocese is totally against any kind of gay practice and marriage," said Bishop Joseph Kagunda from Mt. Kenya West diocese.

Kagunda said the five priests were investigated after "a young man came seeking prayers for deliverance from a guilty conscience after he was lured into participating in homosexual activities by one of our senior clergy."
At Christianity Today we try to cover festivals all over, as much as we can manage. Just in the last year, we've reported extensively from the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah; the Berlin International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany; True/False in Columbia, Missouri; South by Southwest in Austin, Texas; the New York Film Festival in upper Manhattan; and the Tribeca Film Festival in downtown Manhattan.

We believe film festivals are a vital place to take the pulse of our culture and to sample the broad spectrum of creativity, imagination, and earnest questioning on offer. They're a great place to develop your palate as a discerning filmgoer while also supporting artists, many of whom poured years of their lives and their savings into their film. They're also an important place for aspiring filmmakers and critics to begin joining the guild, so to speakto see the breadth of filmmaking that goes way beyond the Hollywood genre-movie factory and develop an imagination and a community. (Plus a lot of these movies will make their way to your local cinema or streaming service of choice.)

So with that prelude: BAM stands for Brooklyn Academy of Musicit's the oldest continually operating performing arts center in the country, home to some of the best performances in New York City every year, and, importantly, one of my favorite places to see a movie (that it's close to home doesn't hurt). Each year BAM puts on the BAMCinemafest (opening June 15), a small festival that hosts the New York premieres of a number of independent films, most of which made the festival circuit earlier in the year and a handful of outliers as well.

Perusing the list is a delight; the programmers obviously know ...

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For a Latino, Pentecostal megachurch just 10 minutes south of the Orlando nightclub Pulse, the scriptural call to mourn with those who mourn has become their heartbreaking reality in the wake of Sundays deadly rampage. This week, Iglesia El Calvario prepares to host funerals for victims, offer grief counseling, and conduct ongoing outreach for their city and its LGBT community.

The nearly 4,000-person Assemblies of God church prayed, gave blood, and passed out water on Sunday, while death counts climbed from 20 to 30 to 40 to 50. That evening, they heard from Governor Rick Scott and Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera in a citywide vigil held in their sanctuary to remember the lives lostmany of them Hispanic and gay, at the club for Saturdays Latin night.

Gabriel Salguero, a pastor at Iglesia El Calvario and founder of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, joined his LGBT neighbors in relief efforts. He offered prayers in Spanish and English at an 8,000-person event hosted this week by Equality Florida, a gay advocacy group. When local reporters inevitably asked about the tension between evangelicals and the gay community, he responded, Were called to be Christ to everybody, and were called to love our neighbor, every neighbor.

Its not the first time Salguero has pastored a community devastated by tragedy. He moved to New York a few months prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks. He had only been living in Orlando for six months before this weekends shooting. In between vigils and community events, Salguero spoke to CT about the churchs response to the attack that has left their city overwhelmed by grief.

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Southern Baptists adopted a resolution this morning encouraging fellow believers to offer care, compassion, and the gospel to refugees, while at the same time calling on the American government to implement the strictest security measures possible in the refugee screening and selection process.

While on the floor of the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), Resolution 12 on refugee ministry was amended to encourage Southern Baptists to welcome and adopt refugees into their churches and homes as a means to demonstrate to the nations that our God longs for every tribe, tongue, and nation to be welcomed at his throne.

Were of course very encouraged by this, Matthew Soerens, US director of church mobilization for World Relief, told CT. One of World Reliefs core programs is helping local churches (including many Southern Baptist congregations) welcome refugees.

(Last year, CT reported ...

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In an unusually contested race, Southern Baptist messengers elected Tennessee pastor Steve Gaines as their next president this morning.

Gaines replaces Ronnie Floyd, who has served the maximum two consecutive terms. SBC presidents are elected one year at a time; the post is largely honorific, except for its ability to fill certain leadership positions.

The SBC actually meant to elect a new president yesterday. But a rare tight race between the top two out of three candidatesNorth Carolina pastor J. D. Greear (45%) and Gaines (44%)led to a runoff vote. (A candidate must receive just over 50 percent of the vote to win.)

Image: Bill Bangham / Baptist Press

Yesterdays runoff vote was also too close to call, with Gaines receiving 49.96 percent of the votes and Greear receiving 47.8 percent. (More than 100 ballots were disqualified, yet were included in the determination of the total number of votes needed for a victory.)

This morning, in a surprise move, Greear pulled out.

I spent a good amount of time last night praying, and believe that for the sake of our convention and our mission we need to leave St. Louis united, he told the messengers. In this room, we have various minor points of difference between us  but we are united by a gospel too great and a mission too urgent to let any lesser thing stand in our way. And one of the candidates leaving the convention with a 51 to 49 victory on a third ballot is just not going to serve our mission well. So I am respectfully withdrawing my candidacy as president.

Image: Bill Bangham / Baptist Press

Gaines and Greear both said they felt the urge to pull out after the runoff vote in order to preserve denominational unity. They prayed together, and decided that Gaines should take the leadership position. The messengers approved the move with a near-unanimous standing affirmation.

Gaines is a traditionalist on evangelism, the need for personal commitment to Christ in salvation, and the commonly held Baptist soteriology of the past century, noted Eric Reed, editor of the Illinois Baptist,while Greears leadership is more contemporary and more Reformed.

Reed continued:

Yes, this election may appear to be about the passing of boomers and the ascendance of Gen-X and Millennials to top leadership in the convention. But more important, its about theology and the breadth of the SBC tent. The denomination took a decided step to the right when Patterson, Rogers, and the leaders of the 1970s and 80s planted a firm stake for biblical inerrancy and social conservatism. But the convention has continued inching right as a generation of pastors inspired by Southern Seminary president Al Mohler and other reform theologians assumes leadership.

A 2012 survey found that about equal numbers of SBC pastors identify their congregations as Calvinist/Reformed (30%) or Arminian/Wesleyan (30%). More than 60 percent of pastors were concerned about Calvinisms influence on the denomination.

Gaines has spent the last 11 years as pastor of Bellevue, the largest church in the Memphis area.

"I would like to continue [Floyd's] emphasis on seeking God for a spiritual awakening and revival, Gaines told Baptist Press (BP) when he was nominated. I've been praying for an awakening for a long time, and that's really my heart. I want the manifest presence of God in our churches and also in our denomination.

The SBC has a real problem with our baptisms, Gaines told BP. "We need to get back to personal evangelism and soul winning.

Not only have baptisms declined the last 9 years out of 11, but weekly attendance has also dropped to 5.6 million, according to the SBCs annual church profile. On the other hand, 2015 was the 17th year that the number of SBC churches has grown, and undesignated giving was up by more than $400 million.

Greear is pastor of The Summit Church, which has grown in worship attendance from 350 to almost 10,000 during his 14 years there. Summit is a member of the Acts 29 church planting network, and has planted 26 churches in conjunction with the SBCs North American Mission Board.

"One of the things God has put on my heart is that my generation needs to take personal responsibility for the agencies and the mission boards of the SBC and not just think of them as the SBCs, but think of them as ours, Greear told BP after he was first nominated.

Missions is more effective when done in cooperation with like-minded churches, and we feel really good about the [entities] of the Southern Baptist Convention and how theyre leading, he told BP.

Greear had laid out his four biggest passions for the SBC in a blog accepting his nomination: to continue and deepen the focus on gospel-centeredness in theology and mission; to engage culture with grace and truth; to encourage congregations to engage in the entities and boards of the SBC; and to equip non-Anglo pastors and members.

Greear released a rap video promoting his presidential run, which led International Mission Board president David Platt to say he didnt intend his participation to be an endorsement of the candidate, but would be thrilled to serve alongside Greear or Gaines.

Greear, 43, would have joined David Platt, 36, and Ethics and Religious Liberty president Russell Moore, 44, in a trifecta of younger SBC leaders.
Where else could we go? That was the hard truth of our Wednesday nights. This was the 1950s and my family was black, so we didnt have much choice of where to go for a mid-week break.

We went to church. Life stopped for Wednesday night prayer meeting, as we called it thenand God knows, if black folks needed anything in the 1950s when the sun went down, we needed prayer.

Each Wednesday, Daddy came home about four from his weekday government job as an auditor, walking through the front door of our Denver bungalow and exhaling probably for the first time in a long day. Mama, not needing to ask him how work went, would have already cooked our family dinner. My big sister and I did our daily job of washing up the dishes afterwards, always without complaint.

Then, with Daddy, we all waited on the front porch for our evening ride. Some good church brothermaybe Brother Bell or Brother Cunningham or Brother Wheeler, or one of the other Negro men in our church who was blessed to own a carwould stop and pick up my family for the five-minute ride to the church.

Unlocking the door with his church trustee keys, Daddy flicked on the lights, and all was right with our hating world. We were back home. We melted into the second-hand church building with some combination of desperation, anticipation, appreciation, intoxication.

We loved our Wednesday night.

And our church?

Summer or winter, spring or fall, nothing in life satisfied all of the things we, as colored people, needed so achingly in this anti-black nation as the safety, autonomy, and affirmation rendered so graciously inside the sanctuary we called churchespecially on Wednesday. This was our place. Even more, this was our night.

No, thats wrong: this was Gods house, and God said we counted. On Sundays, of course, God said this. Crowds of folks showed up Sundays to ecstatically worship him. But on Wednesday evenings, as the sun was setting and the faithful core of the church came back for a mid-week spiritual refresher, God confirmed our place in his kingdom, in this unique sanctum organized by usand where white people were not in charge.

Nobody said it like that. But we all felt it in our bones. Understood it. Relaxed in it. Unlike my public elementary schoolwhere white principals and teachers ran the show, even if kindlyat our humble Cleaves Memorial CME Church in Denver, every person in authority was black like me. And they adored me unconditionally, showing me thats how Jesus loved: never mind that I hardly deserved such elaborate acceptance.

Let me look at you, Patricia! a church sister gushed, smiling and hugging me, just because I had walked through the church door on this evening when I mightve stayed away.

My un-churched school friends didnt get it. You guys go to church? On Wednesday night?

How could I explain? I couldnt. Im sure I didnt talk about it at school the next day. What would I say? Wednesday night church is my oxygen?

Which it was. Those Wednesday nights helped make it possible to be black in white America the rest of the week.

The Roots of Wednesday Night Church

Says my current pastor, the Reverend Dr. Timothy E. Tyler at Denvers Shorter Community AME Church: The mid-week prayer meeting was always a very intimate atmospherea place of renewal, love, and connectedness. As a child, when my mother and father dragged me there, I remember noticing that the large crowds of Sunday were much smaller on Wednesday. This group was the spiritual core of the church. The people would testify, petition God, and pray for each other. I finally understood it as a mid-week check-in on your spiritual self. Then you were ready for another Sunday.

I listen to his words, realizing I like reflecting on such things with my own pastor: as I would on a Wednesday night.

He reminds me how Methodism itself, including its practice by African Methodist Episcopalians worldwide, finds its origins in the weeknight prayer meetings and love feasts organized by Methodist movement founder John Wesley.

Sunday worship became an outgrowth of what happened at the prayer meeting, not the other way around.

Wesley said, Were still Anglican, but lets go beyond the ritualistic worship of Sunday and meet God in prayer here tonight, my pastor explained. In that way, prayer meeting and Bible study became the bedrock of our church. Sunday worship became an outgrowth of what happened at the prayer meeting, not the other way around.

Doug Thompson, a professor of Southern Studies at Georgias Mercer University and editor of the Journal of Southern Religion, points to other origins of the Wednesday night Bible study. Across Protestant America in the 20th century, the Wednesday night tradition took root as changing agrarian patterns left people with more leisure time. This allowed for mid-week Bible study and corporate prayer.

For African Americans, howeveras Thompson told ReutersWednesday night church goes back further to slave days, when blacks could meet to talk about spiritual matters in front of white overseers but used coded language to talk simultaneously about other urgent topics.

Weekly meetings, like the Wednesday Bible studies, have a fairly recent creation, Thompson said, but they would also have been understood in that larger historical arc of resistance and slave traditions.

In that manner, after the shooting in Charleston, the pastors at Emanuel AMEand at black churches throughout the USurged their members to return to their Wednesday night church meetings with intention: not despite the tragedy, but because of it.

As the Reverend Joseph Darby, the presiding elder of the Beaufort District of the AME Church (which includes Charleston), explained to Reuters, Bible study is best when its somehow applicable to daily life, and thats the subject of the day right now.

No Matter What

Which brings us to Dylann Roof.

I considered not mentioning the confessed shooters name in this article, out of respect for the nine he killed. Yet one of the pastors who counseled Roofs family, the Reverend Herman R. Yoos of St. Pauls Lutheran Church of Columbia, South Carolinaand also a bishop of the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Americahas called for the United States to address the deep serious issue of racism in our society.

Yooss plea is well-placed, of course. In Christendom, however, where might believers best engage the anti-racism conversation?

On Wednesday nights.

Gathered together in our church basements, fellowship halls, and Sunday school rooms, we are disciples of God in a particular way on our Wednesdays. Plowing through our sacred Word as determined learners, not as Sunday morning people on a pew, we dive between the lines of our sacred text for relational, personal, and ecclesiastical context.

So whether a potluck supper, movie or game night, lecture series, or open-mic dialogue, our Wednesday night gatherings offer an opportunity to dig deep.

Indeed, my pastor argues that if we eschew Wednesday church as too traditional, as some say, we miss its value. When he switched prayer night to Tuesdays at our church last year, the church pushed back, but so did my spirit. Halfway in the week, I found I needed the spiritual check-up.

Thus, the writer of Hebrews still issues the urgent invitation: And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near (Heb. 10:25, NLT).

These gatherings help get us ready for heaven. In that way, the Emanuel AME group opened their Bible study last June 17 to a confused 21-year-old white man who acknowledged he felt welcomed by the prayer circlebut who turned his gun on them anyway.

Then a week went by.

The site of the slaughter was patched up and cleaned. In the ceiling, according to CNN, at least one bullet hole was covered with tape.

When the 6 p.m. hour arrived, some 100 people packed into the Bible study room.

"It was crowded, they had to bring in extra seating, Rosetta Loving, who attended the service, told NBC News. But everybody seemed to be on the same page."

Some regular church members havent returned to Wednesday night prayer service.

The show of support is noteworthy, my AME pastor in Denver says. He is saddened, however, by one rarely mentioned outcome of the Charleston church shooting: some regular church members havent returned to Wednesday night prayer service.

Visiting there recently, the new pastor [the Reverend Dr. Betty Deas Clark] shared with me that some of the people are still grieving, still hurting, still in so much pain, he said. They havent returned to Bible study yetbecause they cant. Some wont even go down to the basement.

When they are ready, however, their prayer-meeting circle will be gathered and ready, still on Wednesdaythat night in churches that will not die. Not even murder can kill it.

Wednesday night will always hold out the energy of faith for people who receive it, Tyler said. As long as there are grieving, hurting people, Wednesday remains important. No matter what.
home World Canadian rescuers recover body of drowned Christian summer camp exchange student

After two days of searching, Canadian authorities have recovered the body of the South Korean exchange student who went missing on June 8 during summer camp in British Columbia.

"On June 8 a camper tragically drowned in the waterway adjacent to camp," Young Life Mission, the organization that was running the retreat, said in a statement on June 11. "We are grateful to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Coast Guard and Malibu camp staff for their tireless professional search and successful recovery efforts. We continue to grieve with and for this young man's family and to do all we can to care for and support them at this difficult time."a

Hanwoo Lee, an exchange student at Challis Junior-Senior High School, was attending a Christian youth camp at the Malibu Club, close to the Prince Louisa Inlet. Paul Kim told CBC News that his teenaged cousin was playing volleyball near a cliff, but when he tried to catch the ball, he fell beyond a safety net.

"There are a few witnesses who saw him fall off, however, they couldn't catch him," he said.

According to Kim, Lee loved going to school in Challis, Idaho, but because he did not yet have many friends, he went to church. Lee went on a trip to the Malibu Club along with 14 others from a church group. There were reportedly around 350 youth at the camp, which, according to CTV News, is located 150 kilometers north of Vancouver and can only be accessed by either plane or boat.

"The purpose of the camp was worshipping and making friends," Kim said.

Using sonar, authorities found Lee's body on Friday. The RCMP, according to an update on CTV News, said that the remains were found at a slack tide, at a time when there was less turbulence in the rapids between the Princess Louisa and Jervis inlets.
home World Chinese Christians give service in church ruins after surprise demolition attack

Defiant Christians in Wenzhou, Zhejiang gathered for worship service amid the ruins of their church building on May 22 following the demolition of their government-sanctioned church that took members by surprise.

In an unprecedented church demolition, about 100 officers took down Zhuyang Church unannounced on the evening of May 20, disregarding the fact that this was a building authorized to operate by the government. Church members also claim that the head of their church was in the middle of talks with local authorities for the relocation of the building and the fees it would require.

The officials only reasoned that the demolition was brought about because they were "transforming the villages in the city." The communist state's "Three Rectification and One Demolition" beautification campaign was often cited by authorities as they demolished churches. More than 2,000 church crosses taken down in Zhejiang province were deemed too high or in violation of the country's policy on buildings. In March, 50 of the demolished churches were from Wenzhou.

"Before, the government said that religious matters would be handled with care, but now it doesn't care about religions at all," a church member told China Aid.

The church member added, "Even churches with full legal documentation, if they fail to reach an agreement, will be brutally torn down by the government. The brothers and sisters of this church wonder if justice still exists."

The protesting church members held protest banners that conveyed their strong sentiments.

"We are strongly opposed to this brutal, violent forced demolition," China Aid quoted one banner as saying.

"The illegal principles of law enforcement are intolerable," another read.

And another one stated, "The powerful are headstrong."

The church members also reportedly exposed the demolition incident through pictures and texts uploaded on Chinese social media site Sina Weibo, but the website promptly blocked their posts.
home World Christian groups in Ghana call for Electoral Commission to follow Supreme Court ruling to clean voter's register

Two Christian groups in Ghana are urging the Electoral Commission to implement the ruling by the Supreme Court regarding the voter's register. This is to make certain that it is cleaned prior to the November polls.

In a communique issued after a meeting in Accra, the Christian Council of Ghana and the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council said that the EC needs to clean the list and get rid of names of people who registered using their National Health and Insurance cards.

"So far as the EC has not given us any impression to believe that it doesn't understand the Supreme Court's ruling, it has to implement it," said CCG general secretary Rev. Dr Opuni Frimpong, according to Ghana Web. "If the EC understands what the Supreme Court has asked it to do then as the ruling said immediately, it has to do so."

The ruling issued by the Supreme Court in May says that the EC needs to delete the names of persons not qualified to be included in the voter's register and to give them another opportunity to register using means that are considered lawful.

According to Graphic Online, the communique, signed by GPCC chairman Apostle Dr Opoku Onyina and CCG chairman Rev. Dr Ernest Adu Gyamfi also says that the groups are worried because of the opinions held by some political parties with regard to some of EC's decision, i.e., the National Democratic Congress seems to almost always support EC decisions while the New Patriotic Party seems to be almost always opposed to the them. The Christian groups reminded the electoral body to ensure of an election that is free, fair, transparent, and credible.

Ex-President John Agyekum Kofour, meanwhile, called for all faith groups to participate in the upcoming elections, saying that it is everyone's civic responsibility to vote, regardless of religious background.

According to another report by Ghana Web, a representative delivered the speech in behalf of Kofour during the 40th anniversary of the Akosombo Anglican Church of Resurrection at Akosombo.

The Ghana General Elections 2016 will take place on Nov. 7, wherein a new president and members of parliament will be elected.
home World Christian teen crucified by bullying co-workers in UK, men face trial for assault and harassment

A Christian teenager in the United Kingdom suffered from a series of bullying acts, including having been tied to a cross, allegedly carried out by his co-workers at a shopfitting firm.

According to Herald Scotland, four men, namely: Andrew Addison, 30; Joseph Rose, 21; and Christopher Jackson, 22, all from Yorkshire; and Alex Puchir, 37, from Edinburgh, are accused of sustained bullying from July 2014 to April 2015, and are facing trial at the York Crown Court. They worked at Direct Interior Solutions, a shopfitting firm located in Selby, North Yorkshire, where the complainant had an apprenticeship.

Prosecuting attorney Austin Newman told the court that the bullying happened while the group were on field work, fitting out premises in different parts of the country.

"These counts cover what the prosecution contend was sustained bullying of a young man in the work place," said Newman, as quoted by The Telegraph. "From an early stage with this team he was subjected to acts of bullying that went beyond anything that could be described as banter or hi-jinx in the workplace."

The first incident, according to the report, happened in London, after the men went out drinking. The young man, who stayed behind and was in bed when the men returned, was allegedly awakened by Rose. Rose had a deodorant spray on one hand and a lighter on the other. The boy managed to hide his head under the duvet; otherwise, the flame from the spray would have hit his head. Addison was reportedly in the room taking pictures with his mobile phone.

Another incident allegedly took place in November 2014 in York. Addison and another man named Bruce Potter are said to have taken hold of the teenager, tied him to a chair with duct tape and a cable, and put a child's dummy in his mouth. He was taken outside the premises, then taken back inside and locked in a room.

The men also drew crosses on the boy "as a reference to his religious observance." He was also given bruises and cuts on his backside.

The final incident took place in Hull, where Addison, Jackson and Puchir allegedly mimicked a crucifixion.

"In January 2015 while the team was undertaking another bank refit in Hull, Addison, Jackson and Puchir forced the complainant onto a cross fashioned out of two lengths of wood and put him onto a square of plasterboard," said Newman. "[The youngster] was tied down to the plasterboard by duct tape. He was suspended a metre above the ground in a way that resembled a crucifixion. The crown say the acts of drawing on [the teen] were assaults and these assaults were aggravated religiously. The crown say the crosses were put on there as a reference to his religious observance."

The young man, now 18, filed a complaint with the police in May 2015.

Jackson, Rose, and Puchir admitted to the police of their involvement in the incidents but said they were just pranks and workplace banter. They denied to one count of racially aggravated assault by beating and one count of putting someone in fear of violence by harrassment. Addison, meanwhile, denied two counts of racially aggravated asault by beating and one count of putting someone in fear of violence by harrassment.
home World College bans Christian Union, justifying move as a counter-terrorism strategy; UK Prime Minister calls it 'ludicrous'

A college in the United Kingdom has banned a Christian club from meeting in its campus because of the government's Counter-Extremism Strategy, but Prime Minister David Cameron finds this "ludicrous."

According to Premier, Christian Conservative MP Fiona Bruce asked Cameron during the Prime Minister's Questions, "This week we hear of a Christian Union being banned from holding prayer and Bible study meetings, purportedly on the grounds of the Government's anti-terrorism Prevent Strategy. Does the Prime Minister agree that such action was never the purpose of a strategy intended to address terrorism and extremism?"

"Of course, what my friend says is right," Cameron replied, "the point she makes about the Prevent duty being misused: I haven't heard of that exact example, but it's clearly ludicrous, and people do need to exercise some common sense in making these judgements, because it's quite clear that's not what was intended."

The identity of the college has not been disclosed, but it is believed to be the first to impose such ban based on the Prevent strategy. The Times first broke the news, with Festive director Toni Coulton saying that the academic institution's senior management was not happy with Christians having prayer meetings and fellowship, citing the Prevent initiative as the reason.

Festive is a non-profit organization that support Christians in the United Kingdom's further education and sixth-form colleges. Coulton told Christian Today that a number of factors could be involved, but it could be added up to "health and safety" culture.

She said that while FE colleges, in general, are balanced, "you do get these instances a and there are colleges that say you can't set up a Christian group because there isn't a Muslim one, and you get secularists saying, 'We don't do God here.'"

Prevent Strategy, the government's initiative to counter terrorism, tries to keep people from being radicalized. For instance, school staff can refer a student or child to a government agency if they think that that child is being drawn toward terrorism or extremism.

"Something has gone seriously wrong in this country if young people are not allowed to meet for normal Christian fellowship," Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre, said. "It is difficult to believe that they could pose a security threat."
home US Hillary Clinton pushing 'radical agenda', policies a 'slap in the face to traditional values' - Concerned Women for America founder says

Democrat Hillary Clinton is pushing a "radical agenda" in her drive for the White House, and her policies would be a "slap in the face to traditional values", the founder of Concerned Women for America (CWA) has said.

According to Town Hall, author Beverly LaHaye said during her speech at the recently held Faith & Freedom Coalition gala that she founded the organization Concerned Women for America in the '70s after watching broadcast journalist Barbara Walters interview feminist Betty Friedan. Friedan reportedly said that she basically wanted to have America's moral code upended.

"I pledged to prevent Betty Friedan from turning America into a humanist nation," she said.

She then compared Friedan to Clinton, saying that if one listens to the presumptive Democratic nominee, they will hear her radical agenda for the United States, which includes abortion-on-demand -- "a slap in the face to traditional values."

"Hillary is going to wake up women across America," she said.

LaHaye was honored with the 2016 Winston Churchill Lifetime Achievement Award, having been lauded by current CWA President Penny Nance and Rep. Michele Bachmann for her tenacity and courage.

In other news, Clinton has reportedly been criticized by Republicans for changing her tone regarding terrorism. According to Fox News, not only is she now willing to use "radical Islam," she is also taking a more aggressive stance in the campaign against the Islamic State.

According to the report, she expressed confidence in President Barack Obama's way in confronting the terrorist organization six months ago, but on Monday following the Orlando shooting, she said that there is a need to do more.

"As ISIS loses actual ground in Iraq and Syria, it will seek to stage more attacks and gain stronger footholds wherever it can, from Afghanistan, to Libya, to Europe. The threat is metastasizing," she said. Also, "Here at home, we must harden our own defenses."

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Monday, "I am confident that she agrees 100 percent with the president's approach to fighting ISIL and strongly supporting this goal of making clear that Muslims in the United States should not be stigmatized or marginalized."
home World Islamist militants behead second Canadian hostage in the Philippines

The Philippine government confirmed that Canadian Robert Hall was beheaded by the militant group Abu Sayyaf after the deadline for the payment of ransom had passed on the afternoon of Monday, June 13.

Local residents found a person's head wrapped in a plastic bag in front of a cathedral in Jolo, an island town in southern Philippines, at around 8:45 p.m. Monday. The following day, the Philippine military confirmed the victim's identity as Hall, according to local news platform GMA.

"We strongly condemn the brutal and senseless murder of Mr. Robert Hall, a Canadian national, after being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu for the past nine months," presidential spokesman Sonny Coloma said in a statement. "We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to his bereaved family."

Hall was taken captive by the Abu Sayyaf on Sept. 21, 2015, together with his Filipina partner Marites Flor, fellow Canadian John Ridsdel and Norwegian national Kjartan Sekkingstad, while they were in a resort on Samal Island near southern Mindanao. The militant group asked for a ransom of P300 million, or around $6.6 million, for each of them.

Hall's execution came after the beheading of John Ridsdel, who had been executed on April 25 hours after the deadline for his ransom payment had lapsed. Flor and Sekkingstad are believed to be alive.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada holds the Abu Sayyaf responsible for the "needless" and "cold-blooded and senseless death" of Hall.

"On behalf of the government of Canada and all Canadians, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Hall," Trudeau said, as reported by CNN. "They have suffered a terrible loss, and this is a devastating moment for them."

The Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf, which is linked with the Al-Qaeda, is believed to have no connection with ISIS, although some of its leaders had pledged allegiance to ISIS two years ago.

SITE Intelligence Group, a nongovernment counterterrorism organization, posted a video of Hall's beheading on its website. The video, released by the Abu Sayyaf, showed Hall and Sekkingstad in orange shirts a something that appears to be strikingly similar to ISIS victims wearing orange jumpsuits a and pleading with the yet to be inaugurated president-elect Rodrigo Duterte, CNN reports.

Trudeau emphasized that the Canadian government does not give in to terrorists' demands because it would "endanger the lives of more Canadians," The New York Times reported.
home US Oregon court allows man to legally change gender to a third sex

An Oregon judge has legally changed the gender of a biological man to the third sex, or non-binary.

Army veteran Jamie Shupe is the first known person in the U.S. who petitioned to change his gender to the third sex and was allowed by the court to do so. The ruling was announced Friday, June 10 by Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Amy Holmes Hehn.

Shupe was born a biological male but has always felt like he did not fit in as a male. In 2013, he transitioned into female, the gender he identifies with. However, he still felt like he was "stuck" with being male owing to his gender at birth, and it made him feel like he did not fit either as male or female.

He adopted the gender-neutral name "Jamie" and preferred to be addressed by that name instead of a pronoun.

"My gender identity is definitely feminine," Oregon Live quoted Shupe as saying. "My gender identity has never been male, but I feel like I have to own up to my male biology. Being non-binary allows me to do that. I'm a mixture of both. I consider myself as a third sex."

Shupe, accompanied by his legal counsel Lake Perriguey from Law Works, filed for a legal sex change as "non-binary" in April.

According to state law, the court can grant legal sex change to a person who has "undergone surgical, hormonal or other treatment appropriate for that individual for the purpose of gender transition and that sexual reassignment has been completed," and no medical certification is required, Law Works explained in a blog.

Still, Shupe brought to court documents from Oregon Health & Science University and the Veterans Affairs Hospital.

The judge's ruling states that Shupe's sexual reassignment has been completed.

"No person has shown cause why the requested General Judgment should not be granted," Hehn wrote in the ruling, according to Oregon Live.

Shupe said the ruling was "liberating."

"I'm not under pressure anymore to conform to either thing," Shupe said.

Although the case is hailed as a court victory by groups that support transgender individuals, it is just the first step, as people with "non-binary" gender still need to overcome other legal hurdles.

Nancy Haque, co-executive director for Basic Rights Oregon, said the organization is working with state officials to allow Oregon residents to enlist themselves as neither male nor female in their driver's license, state IDs and other legal documents.

"In all the ways our lives are gendered in ways they frankly don't have to be, it can be a barrier for people whose identities aren't easily put in a box," Haque said.
home US Orlando shooter's wife Noor Salman could face criminal charges soon

The wife of the gunman who killed 49 people at an Orlando gay nightclub could face criminal charges as early as Wednesday after a federal grand jury was convened to study possible wrongdoing by her, a law enforcement source said.

Omar Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, knew of his plans for what became the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, said the law enforcement source, who has been briefed on the matter.

U.S. Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which received a briefing on the investigation into Sunday's massacre, told CNN it appeared Salman had "some knowledge" of what was going on.

"She definitely is, I guess you would say, a person of interest right now and appears to be cooperating and can provide us with some important information," King said.

Salman was with Mateen when he cased possible targets in the past two months, including the Disney World resort in April, a shopping complex called Disney Springs and the Pulse nightclub in early June, CNN and NBC reported.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer was due to open a family assistance centre at a stadium on Wednesday where those directly affected by the tragedy will be able to get information, support and other resources, city officials said.

Mateen, who was shot dead by police SWAT team members after a three-hour standoff, called 911 during his rampage to profess allegiance to various militant Islamist groups.

Federal investigators have said he was likely self-radicalised and there was no evidence he received any help or instructions from outside groups such as Islamic State. Mateen, 29, was a U.S. citizen, born in New York of Afghan immigrant parents and worked as a security guard.

"He appears to have been an angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalised," President Barack Obama told reporters.

Salman's mother, Ekbal Zahi Salman, lives in a middle-class neighbourhood in Rodeo, California, about 25 miles (40 km) north of San Francisco. A neighbour said Noor Salman only visited her mother once after she married Mateen.

Noor Salman's mother "didn't like him very much. He didn't allow her (Noor) to come here," said neighbour Rajinder Chahal. He said he had spoken to Noor Salman's mother after the Orlando attack and she "was crying, weeping."

"I'M NEXT"

Mateen's rampage at Pulse was systematic as he worked his way through the packed club shooting people who were already down, apparently to ensure they were killed, said Angel Colon, a wounded survivor.

"I look over and he shoots the girl next to me and I was just there laying down and thinking, 'I'm next, I'm dead,'" he said.

Mateen shot him twice more, one bullet seemingly aimed for Colon's head striking his hand, and another hitting his hip, Colon said at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he is one of 27 survivors being treated.

Vigils continued on Tuesday in Orlando. Hundreds of students gathered to pray and sing in the evening at the University of Central Florida. They shone cellphone flashlights during a reading of the names of the dead including two alumni.

The shooting raised questions about how the United States should respond to violent extremists at home and abroad. The Federal Bureau of Investigation questioned Mateen in 2013 and 2014 for suspected ties to Islamist militants but was unable to verify that he posed a threat.

Obama slammed Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for his proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States, joining fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton in portraying Trump as unfit for the White House.

Trump criticized Obama for not using the term "radical Islamic terrorism" to describe Islamist militants. Obama replied that using that label would not accomplish anything.

ISLAMIC STATE PLEDGE

Mateen made 911 calls from the club in which he pledged loyalty to the leader of Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, whose organization controls parts of Iraq and Syria.

"We could hear him talking to 911 saying that the reason why he's doing this is because he wants America to stop bombing his country," said Patience Carter, 20, who was trapped in a bathroom stall at the nightclub as Mateen prowled outside.

U.S. officials were investigating media reports that Mateen may have been gay but not openly so, and questioning whether that could have driven his attack, according to two people who have been briefed on the investigation and requested anonymity to discuss it.

Barbara Poma, the owner of the Pulse nightclub, speaking through a representative, denied reports Mateen had been a regular patron.

"Untrue and totally ridiculous," spokeswoman Sara Brady said in an email when asked about the claim.

A former wife of Mateen, Sitora Yusufiy, said her ex-husband had facets of his life that he did not share with his family, such as drinking and going to nightclubs.

"He did have a different side to him that he could not open up to his father about," Yusufiy told CNN. "It doesn't surprise me that he might be gay."

She has previously said he was mentally unstable and beat her and that she fled their home after four months of marriage.
home US Paula White: Donald Trump wanted to attend Orlando shooting prayer vigil for victims

Televangelist Paula White said her friend and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump reached out to her in the wake of the Orlando shooting on Sunday, June 12.

White said she received a text message from Trump through his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski between her church's morning services, asking her what Trump could do to help. White pastors the 10,000-member New Destiny Christian Center, which is just 20 minutes away from Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

"'He'll be there if you need him to for a prayer vigil,'" read the text message from Trump's campaign manager, as White told TIME in an interview. She added: "It was not, what can we do for political advantage, it was what can we actually do. His call to me was genuine concern, care and compassion."

She said Trump also asked her how the city was doing and even mentioned a possible visit.

White has known Trump for 14 years. She has helped him with his campaign, connecting him with other evangelical church leaders.

When asked about Trump's controversial tweets following the Orlando shooting, White said she has not seen the tweets personally. However, she commented that the U.S. has a "very open door policy."

"The bottom line is there is a crisis in our city, and there are hurting people," White said.

Trump earlier called on Pres. Barack Obama to "resign in disgrace" for not calling the tragedy an act of "Islamic terrorism."

Omar Mateen, an ISIS sympathizer, opened fire at Pulse nightclub, a known hangout for gays. The shooting left 50 dead, including Mateen, and 53 others injured.

"Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!" Trump said in a tweet. The post immediately caught public attention, with Pres. Barack Obama reacting to the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism."

"The reason I am careful about how I describe this threat has nothing to do with political correctness and everything to do with defeating extremism," Obama said, according to ABC News.

Trump called for the resignation of Obama after the Orlando massacre. He said such tragedies happen because the leaders are "weak." He emphasized that Americans can no longer afford to be politically correct, The Telegraph reported.

Trump initially planned to attend a prayer vigil that was supposed to be held on the evening of Monday, June 13. Pastor Mark Burns told TIME that Trump asked him to lead the prayer rally, which will be a time used purely for prayer and not campaigns.

However, Trump later canceled the Monday night prayer vigil, citing the "horrific tragedy" that took place in Orlando.
home World Assyrian human rights activist detained in Turkey

A human rights activist has been detained in Turkey since February on charges of participating in an "armed organization."

Sawo Oshana Ide, an Assyrian who has been jailed since Feb. 18, was "abstractly accused of doing research in accordance with the objectives of an organization and forming lists about ammunition," his lawyer Erkan Metin said, according to Gatestone Institute.

The charge can keep him in prison for at least five to 10 years. However, the authorities did not specify which organization Ide was being accused to be a part of.

The accusations were based on photos seen in his computer, some of which were taken during the campaigns of Erol Dora, the Assyrian MP. There were also photos of the Kurdish YPG members, and also of the commemoration of the death of a Kurdish politican named Sakine Cansiz's death, Metin explained.

He said notes that were found in Ide's computer also led to the charge, such as those about immigrant smuggling, Yazidis and Assyrians in Iraq. He also had some research notes about Syria and writings about his visit to the bishop at Kocanis church.

Metin said Ide also had "an outline drawing of a ruined church in Hakkari, as well as his notes about the weapons stockpile of the Assyrian forces he received during his visit in Iraq."

On Feb. 17, Turkish security personnel raided Ide's apartment in Midyat. They confiscated some of his belongings, including his notes and his computer, and took Ide and his wife for interrogation. His wife was later released but Ide was jailed. The authorities said he was "collaborating" with a terror group, according to Assyria TV.

"Sawo loves his people," Metin said, "and researched their problems....His detention might aim to intimidate Assyrian rights advocates in Turkey."

Metin said the conflicts in the Turkey's southeastern region have increased since June last year, and state security has put greater pressure on Assyrians.

"The fears and concerns of Assyrians have skyrocketed in the face of the jihadist terror attacks against Assyrians in the Middle East, the rise of the anti-secular policies across the country and the policies of the AKP government that have paved the way for that," Metin said.
Abu Sayyaf beheads 2nd Canadian hostage in Philippines, says it was meant to embarrass President-elect Duterte

The Philippine government confirmed on Tuesday that the notorious Abu Sayyaf group has beheaded a second Canadian hostage after their demands for a $1.3-million ransom was not met.

The gang of Muslim bandits with alleged ties to the Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaeda issued a statement earlier saying that the killing of Robert Hall, the Canadian hostage, was meant to embarrass incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.

"This is for Duterte, the new President. This is for you to know what we will do to the Canadian," Abu Raami, the Abu Sayyaf spokesperson, told the Inquirer in a phone interview on Monday.

Seven other hostages are still being held by the bandits including Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, Dutchman Ewold Horn and Hall's partner, Filipino Maritess Flor. They were abducted from a marina in Mindanao last September. The other Canadian, former mining executive John Ridsdel, was beheaded by the bandits on April 25 in Sulu province.

In the telephone interview with the Inquirer, Raami noted that Dutertethe tough-talking Davao City mayor who is to formally assume the presidency on June 30 after winning in the May 9 electionshad verbally promised Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he will get the hostages alive and that what happened to Ridsdel will not be repeated. "Let's see if you will not be embarrassed," Raami said.

Duterte apologised to Trudeau for Ridsdel's death during a press conference last month in Davao City.

The President-elect has not issued any statement to the media for almost two weeks now after announcing his decision to stop talking to reporters.

Asked about Duterte's plans for the Abu Sayyaf, the President-elect's spokesman Salvador Panelo said "the concern about the Abu Sayyaf should be addressed to the present administration because he [Duterte] is not yet the President."

"What I know is President-elect Duterte will not tolerate or condone the illegality in this country. He will do everything in this power to stop all these ... . That's his commitment, to stop all these cases of criminality," Panelo added.

Incoming Philippine national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon said the Duterte administration would "take a stronger action against lawlessness in the South."

"We cannot allow this situation to continue. This should end once and for all," Esperon told Reuters.

Outgoing President Benigno Aquino III informed Trudeau about the latest killing in a late-night call on Monday, soon after the government verified Hall's death.

"We strongly condemn the brutal and senseless murder of Mr. Robert Hall, a Canadian national, after being held captive by the Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu for the past nine months," Aquino told Trudeau in a statement.

In response, Trudeau said that despite the deaths of two Canadian hostages, his government would not give in to demands of paying ransom to terrorist groups, like the Abu Sayyaf.

"I want to reiterate that terrorist hostage-takings only fuel more violence and instability. Canada will not give into their fear-mongering tactics and despicable attitude toward the suffering of others," Trudeau said in a statement.
Aleppo: ISIS militants kidnap more than 200 young Kurds

More than 200 "young and healthy boys and girls" were abducted by ISIS militants in the Aleppo region of northern Syria, on Tuesday, according to eyewitnesses.

ARA News was told that jihadists raided six villages near the city of al-Bab in Aleppo, and purposefully targeted Kurdish homes.

"They drove young people out of their homes, including men and women, and they moved them away by large trucks. We don't know where they've been taken," an eyewitness in Tel Jarja village told ARA News.

"ISIS fighters left behind the elderly and children, they only took the young and healthy boys and girls."

A Kurdish lawyer in Aleppo, Omran Mansour, said activists were concerned that the hostages, who number more than 210, would be used as "human shields" by Islamic State, whichis engaged in an ongoing battle with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

"ISIS extremists are now carrying out a revenge campaign against Kurds and other communities in northern Aleppo, accusing them of supporting the SDF," he added.

He also said that the kidnapped women may be used as sex slaves, and the men forced to fight for Islamic State. "We have seen this scenario before, especially with the Yezidi community at the hands of ISIS jihadis, and we would apparently see this over and over again as long as those terrorists exist in this region."
Archbishop of York clashes with Piers Morgan over gay marriage

The Archbishop of York became embroiled in a live TV argument over same-sex marriage on Wednesday morning as ITV presenter Piers Morgan accused him of homophobia.

Archbishop John Sentamu was appearing on Good Morning Britain when Morgan compared homophobia and racism. Sentamu, who is originally from Uganda, was visibly irritated at Morgan's suggestions.

"This is the trouble I have with the people who argue that the question of sexuality is equal in terms of argument to the question of slavery.

"No, some of my relations died on the ships. Slavery was a very wrong thing."

The second most senior cleric in the Church of England insisted that an opposition to gay marriage was not homophobic.

"I've got a lot of gay friends and they see me as a friend, as someone who wants to support and defend them against homophobia."

The archbishop was invited onto the programme to defend his intervention on the referendum after he declared his support for remaining in the European Union. However the heated discussion quickly moved onto the aftermath of the Orlando shooting and Morgan argued it was time the Church of England changed its position on gay marriage.

The Archbishop responded: "You can still have your view, in terms of teaching the church's position on marriage and at the same time be intolerant of those who are homophobic.

"The church's teaching on marriage between a man and a woman is very clear. I support civil partnerships because for me that's a matter of equality, a matter of fairness.

"My upholding of Christian marriage as I understand it goes hand and hand with saying to people that to diminish homosexual people is anathema to the Christian faith because God loves us all equally."

Morgan accused Sentamu of choosing certain bits of the Bible to apply today and ignoring others but the Archbishop said "the whole Bible" must be read in context and properly understood.

"You can't pick up a verse and just say it says this," said Sentamu. "That would be a nightmare.

"What I would say to you is please, for heaven's sake, don't always have a view that if someone holds a view on the understanding of marriage, they must therefore be homophobic."

However Sentamu refused to say whether he thought homosexuality was a sin.

"I would never say that [homosexuality was a sin]," he said. "Because sin is doing something consciously against God."

The exchange came after Sentamu issued a statement alongside the Archbishop of Canterbury calling on all Christians to support LGBTI people.

"We must pray, weep with those affected, support the bereaved, and love without qualification," they said on Monday.

"The obligation to object to these acts of persecution, and to support those LGBTI people who are wickedly and cruelly killed and wounded, bereaved and traumatised, whether in Orlando or elsewhere, is an absolute call on our Christian discipleship.

"It arises from the unshakeable certainty of the gracious love of God for every human being."
Argentina, Pope Francis and the Number of the Beast

Is the Argentine government in league with the Devil?

That's certainly what Pope Francis seems to think. He's reported to have told one of his favourite charities to turn down a massive donation from the government because the amount includes the number 666.

On the face of it, it seems pretty unlikely. I'm sure I've telephoned people whose numbers include the dreaded digits and I've never lost any sleep over it. They're just numbers, as Pope Francis surely understands.

However, there's a bit more to it than that. The pope and Argentina's president Mauricio Macri are at odds politically, with Francis opposed to the right-wing president's stringent austerity programme, which he believes harms the poor. The donation by Macri's government of 16,666,000 pesos (860,000) was hailed in Argentina's media as a sign of rapprochement. However, in a letter to the Schola Ocurrentes charity, Francis said: "The Argentine government needs to address so many needs you shouldn't be demanding a single penny from it."

But why did he actually tell the charity to turn down the donation? Vatican Insider, which reported it, says his note to the charity concluded with the postscript, "I did not like the 666."

Pope Francis is not superstitious; he's a scholar and a pastor, as well as being acutely aware of how the world works. So his objection to the numbers may have been because he saw them as a deliberate provocation, a childish attempt to mock the Church by suggesting it was taking money from its enemy. After all, a charitable donation is likely to be in round numbers. Why on earth would anyone donate such an odd amount?

Or it may have been an expression of irritation at the suggestion that the government could buy his goodwill by such a large donation. If this is the case, the '666' reference could have been to the power of the state, and a deliberate linking of Macri's government to a very specific theological concern.

In chapter 13 of the book of Revelation, John speaks of the "mark of the beast", without which no one could buy or sell anything, and of the "number of the beast". "This calls for wisdom. Let the person who has insight calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. That number is 666," he says (Revelation 13:15-18).

The likelihood is that the mark of the beast was the head of the emperor on a coin. It is awarning of the power of a godless economic and political system which seeks to dominate everyone.

The number of the beast is in all probability a reference to the Emperor Nero, one of the first to persecute Christians systematically. In New Testament Greek, the language of Revelation, the letters of the alphabet doubled as numbers. The first nine letters of the alphabet stand for one to nine, the next as 10-90 and so on.

In Aramaic, Nero Caesar would have been pronounced something like Neron Qaisar. And if you use the Aramaic numbering system, which works like the Greek, Nero's number adds up to 666.

Furthermore, if you miss off the final N in Neron  an alternative spelling  you get a numerical value of 616. Some early Greek manuscripts give the number of the beast as 616.

So if the pope objected to the apparently deliberate inclusion of the number '666' in the government's donation, it was either because he objected to the joke, or because he saw behind it an attempt to compromise the Church by buying it off. In the book of Revelation, the state is portrayed as violent and oppressive. It's the enemy of the Church. It is too strong to be defeated, though it won't gain the ultimate victory. But there must be no compromise with it.

Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods
BHS collapse: When sorry seems to be the hardest word

'What have I got to do to be heard?

What do I say when it's all over?

Sorry seems to be the hardest word.'

The 11,000 people facing unemployment after the collapse of BHS would be well justified in singing Elton John's infamous song of heartbreak at the top of their lungs, as revelations about how the company was run continue to leak.

When I listened to owner Dominic Chapell as he was questioned by MPs last week on what happened in the year he ran the British retail outlet, I began to feel nauseous.

While refusing to say just how much he personally profited from his little venture into retail, although it's certainly in the millions, he also shrugged off enquiries into the 1.5 million loan which was taken out of the business and given to his father. The ex-chief executive of BHS, Darren Topp claimed that when he challenged this, Chappell threatened to kill him. An allegation which of course, Chappell denies.

Instead, Chapell preferred to lay blame at the retail billionaire giant Sir Philip Green who sold BHS to him for 1. Now, I'm not going to defend Green, far from it; the TopShop owner has more than enough to answer for. His hugely successful company is 'owned' by his wife who just happens to be a resident of that lovely tax haven Monaco. In fact, in 2005 she received her own dividend of 1.2 billion from the now-bankrupt BHS.

Today, Philip Green is due to face his own grilling from MPs.

After an interview during which Chappell blame-shifted, denied allegations and dodged questions, Michelle Thompson, an independent MP, asked him: 'Knowing what you know now, is there anyone you would like to apologise to?'

While stating that what happened was a travesty, and avoidable, as well as saying how personally upset he was, he didn't actually use the magic word 'sorry'.

Thompson asked him if he'd just made an apology, to which Chapell said, 'Yes'.

Whatever did or didn't happen in the last year of trading, you might think he'd have something slightly humbler to offer to his employees, particularly considering the 571m pension deficit. You might hope, albeit naively that he takes some responsibility for the huge losses and uncertainty which individuals and families are now facing.

But he can't bring himself to actually apologise. He just can't.

Or worse still, perhaps thinks he has said sorry, when it's clear to everyone else that he didn't.

Maybe his life is so deeply entrenched in denial, he can no longer knows what is true and what is not.

We see it all the time. Politicians who change their minds, who make mistakes, spinning the story just to come out of it with their reputation vaguely intact. Unfaithful celebrities who only fall to their knees in shame when cornered with the unequivocal facts.

Whether the allegations are true or not, Chappell did still hold overall responsibility for BHS. So far, I have failed to see him have the courage to look at the collapse with brutal honesty and ask himself what he could have done better.

Because once you say sorry, you have to admit that whatever happened, was at least in part, your fault. You have to acknowledge the mess you've caused. And that hurts. It might even mean you lose out on something or have to let go of what you wanted. If Chappell were to apologise and admit his role in the bankruptcy, who knows what further investigation he would face.

Yet, if you never get to that point, if you can't take any ownership over what has happened and admit your own brokenness, there's no way you can change.

Without humbly looking at the reality of what we are, we'll never grow. Change is often birthed from a death of sorts. That can be the death of what we thought we were. It is only from that point we can then ask: who do I authentically want to be, and allow God's merciful spirit to transform us.

Maybe many of our leaders don't get what grace is, because if they did sorry would be a much easier word to say.
Cameron, Brown, Blair and Major 'to share platform' in last-ditch bid to keep Britain in EU

David Cameron is seeking to bring together his three predecessors as prime minister in a last-ditch effort to persuade voters to keep Britain in the EU, multiple sources have told Christian Today.

Plans are well developed for the Prime Minister to appear on a platform next week alongside Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and Sir John Major.

The remain camp is pinning its hopes on what one source described as "a last minute swing to the status quo", as occurred in the final week of the Scottish independence referendum of 2014.

It is believed that the unprecedented display of one serving and three former prime ministers will impress the electorate.

This week, Cameron has stood back from the campaign to allow senior Labour figures to make the case, amid fears that traditional Labour voters are swinging behind the Leave campaign fronted by Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Nigel Farage.

Brown has emerged as a key player in the push, delivering a speech in Leicester on Monday which followed a Youtube video last week making the elevated case for preserving peace on the Continent while walking through the remains of Coventry Cathedral, bombed by the Nazis in World War Two.

However, sources say that Brown has been reluctant to agree to share a platform with the Prime Minister because Cameron was slow to grant 'devolution max' following the Scottish referendum in which Brown played a pivotal role.

Further, Brown disagrees with the way in which Cameron has led the remain campaign. "Gordon would have fought a campaign on the basis of a reform agenda in Europe, with Britain leading that, not all this defensive stuff about the economy," one source said. "You make the positive, patriotic case then the economic case."

Attempts to persuade Brown to appear alongside Cameron and his old rival Blair as well as Major are being made by Alastair Campbell, Blair's former director of communications, according to sources. Asked by Christian Today about the plan for the four prime ministers to appear together, Campbell declined to comment but did not deny it. "You can authoritatively say that talks are well under way," a separate source said.

The leave campaign has been gaining momentum in the polls in recent weeks, and the latest survey shows those backing 'Brexit' with a seven point lead. A YouGov poll for The Times shows the leave side on 46 per cent support compared with 39 percent support for remain, 11 per cent undecided and 4 per cent planning not to vote.

The British media have been broadly balanced towards Brexit, with the Sun this week backing leaving and the Daily Mail expected imminently to follow suit.

Cameron's future as prime minister depends on the vote next Thursday. If Britain votes to leave the EU he is expected to resign within 24 hours. Johnson is tipped to succeed him as prime minister following a Conservative party leadership contest and there is speculation that there could then follow an early general election later this year.
Elderly Christian man can't afford ISIS tax, forced to convert to Islam

An elderly Christian man has been forced to convert to Islam in Raqqa, Syria, because he can no longer afford to pay the tax levied by ISIS on non-Muslims.

Islamic State's Amaq news agency released a video in which a man named Mostafa Abu Alzer recites the Shahada, the Muslim profession of faith. He then says that he has freely chosen to convert.

According to The Foreign Desk, Syrian sources said that Abu Alzer had previously chosen to stay in Raqqa, which has been a major stronghold for ISIS since it overran the city in January 2014, because he could afford to pay the 'jizya' tax, and wanted to stay to protect his home.

Christians in cities controlled by ISIS have been given the option to flee, convert to Islam, pay a tax or risk "death by the sword".

In 2014, ISIS released a list of seven rules dictating how Christians who still remained in Raqqa should behave.

The document said the jihadist group would guarantee the safety of Christians, and their "children, money and churches" provided the rules were followed.

Christians were forbidden from publicly showing their crosses, from building or repairing churches and from openly reciting the Bible or performing acts of worship.

They were also warned not to "make a mockery" of Islam, and not to stop Christians from converting.

According to activist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, (RBSS) there are now fewer than 50 Christian families living in the city.

In March, ISIS forbade all Christians and Armenians from leaving Raqqa under any circumstances.

A spokesperson for RBSS cited concerns that they may be used as "human shields or hostages".
Evangelical Tim Farron hammers Brexit campaign: The ignorance of Trump is mirrored in Britain

The evangelical head of the Liberal Democrats visited London Central Mosque and challenged the racism he said was within the campaign to leave the European Union.

Tim Farron attacked "online hooligans" as he marked the Islamic month of fasting with a trip to one of the capital's biggest mosques. Donald Trump and Brexiteers also came under criticism in his remarks as he said the campaign to leave the EU "mirrored" Trump's campaign.

"The world is reeling in the wake of the homophobic terror attack in Orlando. And in amongst the sadness and the horror we are seeing an all too common trait in online hooligans; taking the actions of a deeply disturbed individual, and applying them to an entire race or faith.

"The ignorance of Trump, is unfortunately being mirrored by campaigners in Britain. Some of the people who want us to turn our backs on Europe are stoking fear and terror, and trying to pitch community against community."

Farron went on to say it was "disgusting" of the leave campaign to suggest an attack similar to Orlando would happen in the UK if it did not leave the EU.

"It was a cynical move to tar the Muslim community with the actions of one deranged gun-man intent on inflicting violence of unimaginable horror," he told those gathered.

"We have come to expect such bad judgement from these campaigners. Threatening posters and leaflets make claims about Turkey and Turkish Muslims that are not only untrue but also intentionally designed to fan the flames of hatred.

"The racist dog-whistle is growing into a foghorn. I am seriously concerned about the social cohesion of Britain after the referendum, whatever the result."

A poster was circulated by Leave.EU that suggested an Orlando-style atrocity would happen in the UK if it did not choose Brexit on the June 23 referendum. The tweet was later deleted but came under heavy criticism from both sides of the debate.
Kenya: Anglican priest defies bishops to support LGBT lawsuit

An Anglican priest in Kenya has joined LGBT advocates in a lawsuit against the state demanding greater rights for gay people, according to RNS.

Rev Mark Odhiambo joined two gay men and two lesbians in fighting Kenyan laws that they claim encroach on the freedoms of sexual minorities, who are allegedly routinely raped, attacked and arrested.

"I serve in the city and I have seen many of them facing serious challenges because their sexual orientation does not conform to that of the general society," said Odhiambo, who is serving as a curate in Maseno South, by Lake Victoria.

"They are subjected to all sorts of violence, both physical and sexual."

One of the female plaintiffs said she was gang-raped, attacked and arrested. A male plaintiff said he was denied his HIV medicine because he was gay.

The Anglican Church in Kenya is vocal in its rejection of homosexuality and it is possible Odhiambo could lose his job over supporting an LGBT cause.

Anglican Bishop Julius Kalu of Mombasa has criticised Odhiambo, suggesting he was supporting the cause for financial gain.

"I know some clergy and other people in the church who support homosexuality for money," he said.

"I think the priest is driven by material gains. I don't think he is serious."

The suit, which is not asking for remuneration, is asking for the rights of gay people to be protected, claiming Kenya's current laws are illegal under international law.

"This is what we have been fighting for all these years. These rights belong to everyone," said Rev Michael Kimindu, president of a group that advocates for LGBT people, Other Sheep Africa.

"Gay people are everywhere. They are in churches, in farming communities, in schools, in the army... Kenyans cannot reject their own because of one aspect."

Homosexual sex is currently illegal in Kenya.
Obama attacks Trump's ban on Muslims: It is 'not the America we want'

Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban was attacked by President Barack Obama on Tuesday as "not the America we want".

An angry Obama savaged the plans and said if Muslim-Americans were treated differently it would create a divide between the West and the Muslim world and so make the US would become less safe. The President's intervention came after Trump extended his suggestion to ban people from any country with a history of terror attacks against the US.

Trump said the attack on an Orlando nightclub, the worst mass shooting in American's history, justified his plans. He said the proposals could be put into place given the President's power to "suspend entry into the country of any class of persons that the President deems detrimental to the interests or security of the United States".

The President's strongly worded attack on Trump's plans did not name the presumptive Republican nominee for president. But he said religious freedom was fundamental to the US's history and said having a "religious test" for immigration would be against the constitution.

Obama also pointed out that the recent terror attack in Orlando had been carried out by a US citizen.

In a statement less than 24 hours after the shooting in Florida, Trump called for President Obama to resign because he would not use the words "radical Islam" in his response.

But Obama ignored his call. "If we fall into the trap of painting all Muslims with a broad brush and imply that we are at war with an entire religion, then we are doing the terrorists' work for them," he said.
Pakistan council condemns 'honour killing,' says it's against Islam and anybody who does it is a heretic

In a rare edict, an Islamic council in Pakistan has issued a fatwa condemning the practice of "honour killing" over perceived harm done to a family's reputation, saying it is against the teaching of Islam and that anyone who resorts to this practice is a heretic, the Religion News Service reports.

The Sunni Ittehad Council, which includes more than 100 prominent Pakistani Muslim clerics, issued the fatwa on Sunday following a series of shocking killings, including last month's incident when a mother burned to death her own 16 year-old daughter who eloped with a young man from another ethnic group.

Hundreds of Pakistani women are brutally murdered every year by relatives after being accused of besmirching their family's honour, according to reports. Most cases involve young women eloping with their boyfriends against their family's wishes.

"It seems we are moving towards an age of barbarism," the council said in its fatwa.

"Burning women alive for marrying by their choice is against the teachings of Islam," said the council, which is affiliated with the Barelvi sect of Sunni Islam, the largest sect in Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country of 190 million people. The sect reportedly holds significant influence in Punjab province, where half of Pakistanis live.

"Considering any killing in the name of honour to be justified is heresy," the council declared in press statement.

Another "honour killing" took place last Friday when a father in the eastern city of Lahore, the capital of Punjab, killed his own daughter and her husband because he disapproved of their marriage.

Last year, more than 500 men and women were murdered on the basis of "honour killing," according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

The toll this year, as of Monday, was 233 dead, the group said.

Those who engage in honour killings are never prosecuted because of laws that allow family members to "forgive" the killers, which results in charges being dropped.

The religious council called on the government to amend these laws.
Pan-Orthodox Council: 1,000 scholars urge Churches to go ahead

More than 1,000 Orthodox scholars have urged the primates of the Orthodox Churches to continue with the Pan-Orthodox Council in Crete.

The council, scheduled to begin on Saturday, has been hit by the withdrawal of five of the 14 autocephalous Churches, including the powerful Russian Orthodox Church. Among their concerns are the tone of some of the documents to be addressed at the council and unresolved issues about procedures and precedence.

The scholars, who include members of the Churches that have withdrawn, say in their letter: "We believe that there are no insurmountable difficulties to beginning the Council in June, despite the significant questions that have been raised regarding the drafts of the conciliar documents and conciliar proceedings."

It acknowledges the "legitimacy of some questions", but says: "Nevertheless, we are convinced that the best venue for settling significant disputes today, as in the times of old, is the Council itself. To postpone the Council once again, is to fail to live up to the principle of conciliarity on a global level."

It continues: "Nobody can expect the Council to settle all important questions and to heal all jurisdictional disputes in 10 days. But we hope that this Council will be a beginning of the healing process and that it will usher in a new era of global conciliarity and unity."

The letter accuses some Churches of attempting to intimidate the Orthodox leaders who wish to continue the council. It says: "The Holy and Great Council occasions an opportunity to commence a new phase of Orthodox witness. As the eyes of the whole world are upon the Orthodox Church, we beseech all of our leaders to hear the Spirit's call to conciliar unity."
Pope turns down Argentinian President's donation because it included the figure 666

Officials have tried to soften reports that relations are strained between the Pope and the Argentinian government after Francis turned down a significant donation from the Argentinian President because the sum included the figure 666.

Foreign minister Susana Malcorra on Monday insisted that "there was no animosity at all toward the president" from Pope Francis.

On Saturday it emerged that the Pontiff had rejected the charitable donation of 16,666,000 pesos (860,000), which Argentinian President Mauricio Macri had offered to the Scholas Occurentes educational foundation.

According to Italian newspaper the Vatican Insider, the Pope  who is from Argentina  reportedly wrote "I don't like the 666" in a letter explaining his rejection.

The number 666 is considered to be the "mark of the beast", mentioned in the Book of Revelation. The Vatican Insider said to include the figure in the sum seemed "a joke in bad taste for Francis".

"The Argentine government needs to address so many needs you shouldn't be demanding a single penny from it," the Pope added in a letter to the educational charity that was to receive the donation.

However, Malcorra said that she and Francis had since had a "really rich and very natural" conversion at the UN's World Food Programme, at which the Pope spoke on Monday.

"It was a very good meeting in which we talked about multiple topics. I started talking about his message this morning at the WFP and that gave rise to us talking about the big problems of the world," Malcorra said, according to Merco Press.

"Basically the Holy Father expressed to me his clear concern that poverty is a reality and it is important to maintain a form of social coverage for those people who need it most," she added.

The Buenos Aires Herald reports that tensions have been strained between the Pope and Macri since the latter refused to appeal a ruling that legalised same-sex marriage.

Francis has also been a forceful voice in the campaign to eradicate sweat shops in Argentina.
Priest who stole 96k to fund gambling addiction jailed for ten months

A Catholic priest who stole 96,000 from his parish to fund his online gambling addiction has been jailed for ten months.

Father Graeme Bell, 41, admitted at Kilmarnock sheriff court that he embezzled almost 100,000 from his parish during a two month period of addictive online gambling.

Bell had reportedly been "paralysed" by his addiction to online roulette, according to the Daily Record.

Bell's lawyer, Gerard Brown, described the priest - who had been priest at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church Ayrshire - as "a good man who had given his life to God, to the church and to his parishioners" and asked the sheriff not to jail him.

He told the sheriff the priest's "anxiety and depression reached a stage where he was not behaving as a law-abiding individual."

Almost all of the 96,000 has been returned to the church. Bell returned 25,000 personally, 30,000 was returned through insurance, and another 42,500 was donated by friends and family.

Sheriff Alistair Watson sentenced the priest to 10 months, saying "this is a very significant breach of trust and a substantial amount of funds.

"All the difficulties you have did not remove your free will - you deliberately undertook the actions."
Southern Baptists repudiate Confederate flag: 'We march under the banner of the cross'

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) at its annual meeting has decisively repudiated the use of the Confederate flag.

An ovewhelming majority of 'messengers' or delegates voted in favour of a resolution that urged a resolution that urged "brothers and sisters in Christ to discontinue the display of the Confederate battle flag as a sign of solidarity of the whole body of Christ, including our African American brothers and sisters".

The move marks further progress toward racial reconciliation in the denomination, which was established in 1845, partly in support of slaveholding missionaries, before America's Civil War.

The action came four years after the denomination elected its first black president, Fred Luter, a pastor and civic leader from New Orleans.

In 1995, a Southern Baptist committee issued a resolution apologizing to African-Americans for condoning slavery and racism during the early years of the denomination's 171-year history.

"This denomination was founded by people who wrongly defended the sin of human slavery," said Russell Moore, head of the convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. "Today the nation's largest Protestant denomination voted to repudiate the Confederate battle flag, and it's time and well past time."

The original resolution brought to the meeting called for "sensitivity and unity" regarding displays of the flag, reported Baptist Press. It also said the flag "serves for some not as a symbol of hatred, bigotry, and racism, but as a memorial to their loved ones who died in the Civil War, and an emblem to honor their loved ones' valor". However, this sentence was deleted after an intervention by former SBC president James Merritt, who also called for a halt to displaying the flag altogether.

Merritt, who said two of his great-great-grandfathers had fought for the Confederacy, said no one could deny that the Confederate battle flag is "a stumbling block" for many African Americans to the witness of Southern Baptists.

Some messengers stood to applaud him when he said that "all the Confederate flags in the world are not worth one soul of any race". "This is not a matter of political correctness," he continued. "It is a matter of spiritual conviction and biblical compassion. We have a golden opportunity to say to every person of every race, ethnicity and nationality that Southern Baptists are not a people of any flag. We march under the banner of the cross of Jesus and the grace of God."

The flag carried by the South's pro-slavery Confederate forces during the 1861-65 US Civil War re-emerged as a flashpoint in America's troubled race relations after the massacre of nine blacks by a white gunman at an historic church in Charleston, South Carolina, in June 2015. The assailant was seen afterward in photographs posing with the flag.

Additional reporting by Reuters.
U.S. presses U.N. to fight for LGBT rights: 'Condemning Orlando terrorist attack that victimised gays is not enough'

The United States said the nations of the world should do more than just condemn the massacre in a Florida gay nightclub on Sunday, telling the United Nations on Monday that it's about time to fight for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

Being gay is a crime in at least 74 countries, the U.N. has said, according to Charisma News.

In a statement, Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. David Pressman told the world body that "if we are united in our outrage by the killing of so many  and we are  let us be equally united around the basic premise of upholding the universal dignity of all persons regardless of who they love, not just around condemning the terrorists who kill them."

A 29-year-old Afghan-American pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) carried out the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history on Sunday at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

The ISIS has gained added notoriety with its practice of killing homosexuals by throwing them from buildings or stoning them.

Pressman pointed out that there is just one General Assembly resolution referring to "sexual orientation" and "gender identity"a resolution that urges U.N. member states to protect the right to life of all persons and investigate killings.

The U.S. ambassador noted that every year "there is a pitched fight over whether it is appropriate to include sexual orientation in that protection."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has long championed the cause of gay rights but has faced stiff opposition from African, Arab and Muslim states backed up Russia and China. On Sunday Ban was among leaders who condemned the Orlando mass shooting.

In 2014, Ban announced that the United Nations would recognise all same-sex marriages of U.N. staff, allowing them to receive benefits. Russia spearheaded a move to overturn it with support from 43 states including Saudi Arabia, China, Iran, India, Egypt, Pakistan, and Syria. However, the Russian-led campaign failed to override Ban's order.

Last February, a large coalition of African and Middle East countries protested the launch of six U.N. stamps promoting LGBT equality.

Just last week, a group of 51 Muslim states blocked 11 gay and transgender organisations from officially attending a high-level U.N. meeting on ending AIDS, sparking a protest by the United States, Canada and the European Union, according to Charisma News.
Jillian Bartolome is apparently no longer with the Common Bond Bakery & Cafe team. The former executive chef, who was promoted from executive sous chef in February 2015 after the sudden departure of Common Bond co-founder Roy Shvartzapel, is apparently moving on to other projects.

On Tuesday afternoon Common Bond posted this statement from Bartolome on its Twitter account:

"Common Bond is a special place that I have been lucky enough to a part of for the last 3 years. Though I will not be continuing to be a member of the Common Bond team, I am confident in its growth and continued success under the guidance of George Joseph and Johnny Carrabba. I will be taking some time to relax and reflect before embarking on my next adventure, and I'm looking forward to enjoying Common Bond from the other side."

The post went on with its own statement from Common bond: "We will miss you, Jillian, and wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Sincerely, Your Family at Common Bond."

Earlier in the day, Bartolome said she felt "lost" on an Instagram post:

"I'm looking forward to taking some time to relax, learn some new things, cook at home more, and finally go to this party. I don't know what the next step in my career will be, and I do feel a little lost right now, but I'm excited to figure it out what's next. #unemployment"

During the day Tuesday the Common Bond website still had her photo up as executive chef. By the afternoon her photo was removed. The site continues to list Drew Gimma as chief boulanger and Tony Stein as sous chef.

A spokesperson for Carrabba said that he was out of town on business and unable to respond. We reached out to Bartolome via Facebook but have not received a response.

In January Carrabba, owner of two Carrabba's restaurants in Houston as well as Mia's and Grace's, bought the bakery along with his business partner George Joseph." At the time Carrabba said he hoped to improve operations of bakery/restaurant.
West Texas may not be known for opulent housing, but a mansion just listed in Lubbock is bound to impact the area's luxury home market.

Situated in the exclusive gated community of The Enclave at Orchard Park is a custom mansion at 11201 Norfolk Ave., No. 5.
A police bomb squad determined a suspicious bag posed no threat Wednesday morning in a residential neighborhood in northwest Houston.

The bag was spotted about 11:15 a.m. at 8042 Ellinger near Guhn, according to the Houston Police Department. The HPD Bomb Squad was sent to investigate.

Initial reports from the police scanner indicate officers saw a bag and heard what was believed to be ticking coming from inside it.

Police said the bag was later found to be safe. It contained an anti-theft tag that might be found on merchandise in a store.

Traffic was diverted away from the scene while crews investigated the bag.
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A 16-year-old boy died at the hospital Tuesday a day after after he was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting outside an apartment complex in south Houston.

The teen, identified as Marcus Cherry, was wounded about 11:30 p.m. at the Scott Plaza Apartments at 4235 Barberry near Ferdinand, according to the Houston Police Department.

Sgt. Joshua Horn said Cherry and two men, ages 18 and 20, were sitting on the front porch outside an apartment when a dark-colored, four-door car pulled up in the cul-de-sac near them. Someone inside the car fired several gunshots, wounding the victims.

Cherry was in critical condition when he was rushed to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Police said he later died. The other two victims were taken to Ben Taub General Hospital. Their conditions were not released, but police said they had non-life-threatening wounds and were expected to survive. Their names have not been released.

Horn said so far investigators have no motive or suspects in the case. Investigators, police said, are looking at the possibility that the shooting may be gang-related but so far they have not confirmed any gang connection.

No description of the driver or anyone else who may have been inside the car was available.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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In Houston's earliest days, the city's exports - mostly cotton and timber - moved to market on the shallow waters of Bufffalo Bayou, carried by flat-bottom boats to Galveston, where they were loaded on ships bound for distant ports. The bayou was later dredged to improve maneuverability and accommodate shallow-draft steamships when they began making the run to Galveston in the late 1800s.

By the early 20th century, however, as the young oil industry and local economy boomed, city leaders realized that Houston needed a more direct connection to national and international markets. That spurred years of planning, fundraising, and more dredging of Buffalo Bayou, culminating on Nov. 10, 1914, with the opening of the Houston Ship Channel.

The 52-mile waterway brought oceangoing ships to Houston, shifting commercial power from Galveston and, in the process, making Houston the capital of the modern energy industry. As the old expression goes, said Patrick Jankowski, senior vice president of research at the Greater Houston Partnership, "Houston is a village that created a port that created a city."

"It was the first economic driver of the region," said Jankowski, "and it remains as important today as it was when in opened."

More Information TIMELINE: 1900: Galveston hurricane. 1901:Spindletop oil discovery in Beaumont. 1902: Congress appropriates $1 million to begin building port. 1909: Texas Legislature approves creation of navigational districts. 1911: Voters approve $1.25 million bond issue to finance Ship Channel project. 1914: Ship Channel and Port of Houston open. 1915: First oceangoing, deep-water steamship. See More Collapse

Today, the Port of Houston is the nation's largest in foreign waterborne tonnage, according to the port. More than 8,000 vessels and 200,000 barges move 200 million tons of cargo through the port each year, according to the Port of Houston.

Shipping, warehousing, finance and other businesses that support the seagoing activity generate nearly 1.2 million jobs in Texas, according to a 2015 study commissioned by the port to measure its economic impact.

When the Ship Channel opened 102 years ago, thousands of Houstonians lined its banks near the new Port of Houston, a scene the Houston Chronicle described as "pandemonium." A floating band played the national anthem. The mayor's daughter dropped white rose petals into the water. A 21-gun salute sounded. In Washington, President Woodrow Wilson pushed a button to fire a cannon in Houston by remote control and officially open the channel to traffic.

More than a decade earlier, two key events had come together to spur the development of the canal. In 1900, the devastating Galveston hurricane, which killed 6,000 to 8,000 people, destroyed the port there. Until then, Galveston was the center of commerce for Texas; afterward, money and influence shifted to Houston.

The following year, the discovery of the Spindletop gusher in Beaumont launched the Texas oil industry and positioned Houston at the center of the oil rush. As new inventions like automobiles and airplanes demanded more and more petroleum, Houston found that it needed better access to national and global markets in the new age of liquid fuels.

To make the Ship Channel happen, Houston's leaders came up with what was then a novel idea: forming a partnership between the local and federal governments.

Fortunately, Houston had a civic-minded and influential congressman in Washington, Rep. Tom Ball, said Erik Eriksson, chief legal officer at the Port of Houston and its unofficial historian. Ball was able to persuade Congress to allocate $1 million for initial dredging, but the project needed another $2.5 million.

A local delegation, led by then-Mayor Horace Baldwin Rice, traveled to Washington to make an unusual proposal: If Congress paid half of the $2.5 million, local taxpayers would cover the balance.

City leaders launched an all-out campaign to convince voters to assume $1.25 million in debt to dredge the Ship Channel to 25 feet, a project that would take three years. The vote in 1911 was considered so important to the city's economic future that many companies gave their employees a half-day holiday to cast ballots, according to news reports.

Voters overwhelmingly approved issuing bonds to finance the project, but investors were skeptical of buying securities issued by a new type of authority called a navigation district. Bankers were reluctant to sell the bonds because of small commissions, according to the 1968 book, "The Port of Houston: A History," by Marilyn McAdams Sibley. Houston businessman Jesse Jones stepped in and persuaded several bankers to sell the bonds, according to Sibley's account.

It didn't take companies long to realize the implications of the new port. Less than two weeks after voters gave the green light, the meat packing firm Armour & Co. announced it would spend $125,000 to build a three-story plant and smokehouse on the corner of Fannin and Commerce, according to a Houston Chronicle report.

The Texas Co., a maker of steel tanks, said it was looking for space to move its manufacturing operations from Sour Lake to Houston because of the port access. A representative of a Dallas maker of steam pipes and fittings was spotted inspecting sites along the soon-to-be deepened Ship Channel, drawn by export opportunities to Mexico, according to the news story.

Refineries and petrochemical plants also were drawn to the banks of the new Ship Channel to take advantage of the lower cost of transporting liquid fuels.

The first oceangoing deep-water ship, the Satilla, arrived in 1915 and launched regular service between New York and Houston, according to Hurley. Because of the shipping disruption caused by World War I, Houston didn't see its first foreign shipment until 1919, according to the Texas State Historical Association's, "Handbook of Texas."

Over the next decade, oil shipments replaced cotton as the top export. By 1930, nine oil refineries had established operations on the banks of the Ship Channel, according to the Texas Handbook.

In later years, city leaders raised more money to further deepen the channel and added new freight terminals. They traveled to Latin America to tout the port and its freight services.

"We always think of Houston as the oil capital," said Eriksson, "but we were first conceived as a commercial trading capital."
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Five Cy-Fair ISD thespians earned recognition for theatrical design when they advanced to the state finals in University Interscholastic League competition last month at the University of Texas.

Kiara Curtis, 15, a sophomore at Cypress Ranch High School, qualified as one of 25 finalists in costume design for Division 2, the state's top tier, which is for schools with larger enrollments. She designed costumes for a hypothetical production of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth," which she called "The Scottish Play," per a theatrical superstition that speaking the title "Macbeth" inside a theater will cause certain calamity.

"My concept was to set the play in Transylvania in the 1920s," said the daughter of Anthony and Nicole Curtis in accordance with competition instructions to create a hypothetical production of "Macbeth" with the time and/or setting changed from the original script.

The Cy-Fair High School quartet of Bri Baiza, Kellie Laflin, Peyton Tavares and Sydney Woods was one of 11 group entries to reach the state finals in Division 2. Each group member focused on either costumes, set design, publicity or hair and makeup for a hypothetical production of "Macbeth."

The group set its "Macbeth" in 1970s Las Vegas, Cy-Fair theater teacher Candice Koern said.

"The conflict in their 'Macbeth' isn't political at all, but rather deals with unrest among mobsters, a Mafioso-type takeover," Koern said.

Curtis said her research on Transylvania revealed that, beginning in 1920, Romania and Hungary began fighting over the region, which is supposedly home to vampires, as in Bram Stoker's "Dracula." That provided the conflict that Curtis needed for her vision of "Macbeth."

Preliminary judges catapulted Curtis' renderings of Banquo, Duncan and King Macbeth to state, where those critiquing the finalists peppered finalists with questions about their design choices.

"We work a lot on the justification of our designs," Cypress Ranch technical theater teacher Charles Page said. "Kiara worked on this until it was rock-solid. She put her heart and soul into the work."

"Kiara is quite a talent," added Cheryl Bradford, the Cypress Ranch fine arts chair. "Her designs and insight with the 'Macbeth' costume designs were far beyond her years. It is very cool to see her succeed."

Koern said this is the first year for Cy-Fair to offer a specialized design class. Its 15 students worked individually or in groups pursuing the UIL prompt for "Macbeth" designs as a class assignment.

"In the past, most of the design work fell on teachers," said Koern, but as theater education has evolved, so have opportunities for students to learn skills beyond acting.

"The design process is not about instant answers," Koern said, explaining that successful designers continue challenging the choices they make until their work is ready to present.

If Koern's students wonder whether a professional career could lie ahead or whether they might one day be nominated for Broadway's highest honor, they need look no further than Robert Askins, a former Cy-Fair student whose play, "Hand to God," was nominated last year for five Tony Awards including best play.

Koern said she is looking forward to seeing "Hand to God" performed this fall at the Alley Theatre in Houston.
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Horses have always been the primary inspiration for artist Olva Steward Pharo of Cypress.

"I grew up in love with horses," she said. "Drawing was just part of that. It was a way to have horses always around me, and I just thought they were the most magnificent creatures."

Luckily, even though she was a city kid growing up in Houston, she was able to spend time around horses. Her uncle Lawrence LeTulle Stewart bred palominos and along with her father, Mortimer Henry Stewart, had a family farm in Bay City.

Pharo also was exposed to art early in life. Her mother, Mary Kent Stewart, had a friend, Bonnie Seaman, who worked in bronze and would allow the teen to spend time in her studio and learn techniques.

More Information Horse sculptor Olva Stewart Pharo creates horse sculptures in bronze. For more information: www.olvastewartpharo.com; 281-373-9304; portraits@texhorseman.com; www.facebook.com/olva.pharo/about See More Collapse

"Art was all I wanted to do - and ride horses," Pharo said.

She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1969. She and one of her friends in the program were the first students to cast in bronze at the college.

"We built a little foundry, melted bronze and cast our pieces," she said. "It was very exciting."

In 1970, Pharo returned to Houston and started working in advertising, mainly for oil and industrial companies. She also started taking hunt seat English riding lessons, learning to jump at the Edgepark and Parish stables.

"I bought a horse and started getting serious," she said. "I wanted to learn how to jump, and that changed my life."

Pharo also started doing design work for stables and in 1980 started a magazine called "The Horse Sheet," which covered hunter jumper and dressage events in the region.

"I did everything," she said. "I wrote the articles and took the photographs."

After the economic downturn in the 1980s, the magazine took a hit.

"Just about everyone was bankrupt, including me," Pharo said.

But she decided to become a full-time mother for the next few years, raising her son Alexander. A year after the family moved to Cypress in 1992, Pharo sat down to see if she could still draw. She was pleasantly surprised when her sketch turned out well and she donated a framed print of the drawing as an award for the Houston Dressage Society.

It wasn't long before she started getting requests from equestrians who wanted portraits of their horses.

"I've done 200 or 300 pencil drawings," she said. "I lost count, and then I started doing them in color. Then, I thought, 'I really like bronze.' "

Pharo found a Houston foundry that would work with her. She built a clay model and took it to a horse show to test the waters and see if anyone would be interested in commissioning a sculpture.

"Right away, the first time I ever tried, a woman walked up to me and said, 'I want one,' " Pharo said.

She has since shifted her efforts almost completely to casting commissioned horse portraits in bronze. She also has created trophies for horse shows across the country.

"I've got enough work to keep me busy through the middle of next year," she said.

Pharo will also cast portraits of dogs, cats and people in bronze.

"But my art is definitely propelled by horses," she said.

Pharo prefers spending time with her model before she gets to work. She likes to visit the horse and try to get a sense of its personality.

"What makes it a portrait is what is unique about them," she said. "And there's a lot in their eyes."

If a horse or pet is no longer around, however, Pharo is able to work from photographs.

The sculptures take six months to a year to complete. Pharo uses a wax process, and each piece is unique.

Prices for a commissioned bronze start at $2,000 for a 10-inch-tall horse head. A 10-inch-tall full body of a horse can cost $5,000.

"A bronze is forever," Pharo said. "It's the kind of thing that gets passed down. It's something I hope people will cherish."

Pharo said presenting horse owners with the finished artwork has been enjoyable and rewarding.

"I can't imagine doing anything else," she said.

Michele Miles commissioned a bronze of her son's Welsh Cob named Madoc All Dun.

"I wanted a bronze keepsake, a family heirloom for my son," Miles said. "I looked at Olva's work on her website and was really impressed."

After calling Pharo, Miles said the two spent time working together on a vision for the finished piece.

"Olva was very quick to understand exactly what I was looking for," Miles said. "She takes the time to get it right and keeps you very involved in every step along the way."

Miles was more than pleased with the final sculpture.

"I love it," she said. "She couldn't have done a better job. It's just incredible."
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Angela Y. Rice had never written a play and seen it performed until last summer, when her entry in "Fade to Black" debuted, winning the audience vote at the Houston-based, national competition for black playwrights.

Rice is back this year as the only Texan among the 10 finalists.

The plays will be performed at the fourth annual event at 8 p.m. June 16-18 at Queensbury Theatre, 12777 Queensbury Lane.

"I love it. I can represent Texas," said the Houstonian, who graduated from Ross S. Sterling High School in 1991.

More Information Want to go? What: "Fade to Black" Where: Queensbury Theatre, 12777 Queensbury Lane When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, June 16-18 Cost: $22 Information: Call 832-877-7609 or visit www.fadetoblackfest.com nim vullut nulla facidunt nim exerilisim ver sim volenisit ip eugue ver summolor ipiscil landiamet ipis aliquating etuero core See More Collapse

Now 43, Rice wrote "And A Child Shall Lead Them" about a teenager, Claudette Colvin, whom Rice said "was denied her place in history" as a catalyst for the civil rights movement.

On March 2, 1955, about nine months before Rosa Parks ignited a crippling bus boycott in Montgomery, Colvin refused to give up her seat to a white woman on a bus in the same city, said Rice.

"Rosa Parks was hailed as a heroine, but she was handpicked for that role," the history buff said. "It was just recently that I read about Claudette Colvin. I read, read, read constantly. But as I read, I thought, 'That's Rosa Parks' story.' Then I looked at a picture of Claudette Colvin, and the light came on."

Colvin didn't "fit the bill" for a protester whom civil rights leaders thought would "appeal to the masses," said Rice.

"She was too dark-skinned, not educated enough, and the texture of her hair was more kinky," she said.

Spotlighting Parks instead might have seemed politic at the time, Rice added, "but later down the line, I think it caused more divisiveness in our own community."

In contrast, Rice said that "Fade to Black" unifies theater fans.

"I completely love the idea," she said. "It is a forum for African-American writers to present our work, and it's all designed to uplift, encourage and teach."

Rice's high school theater teacher, Yvonne Phillips-Dupree of Montrose, is directing "And A Child Shall Lead Them;" she also helmed Rice's play last year.

"The Vessel By Which" was a fictionalized account of how 19th-century abolitionist Harriet Tubman struggled over whether to stay with her husband, a free man, or escape to freedom and, ultimately, her role in history.

Last year's panel of judges chose scripts by four Houston playwrights among the 10 winners, said "Fade to Black" executive director Denise O'Neal, who feels that black playwrights are under-represented in other Houston festivals of original works.

"This is why 'Fade to Black' was created. Some judges just can't relate," said O'Neal.

Rice teaches theater and creative writing at Houston's Ensemble Theatre, whose audience is 90 percent African-American, according to its website.

She said she's glad that "Fade to Black" is being presented in the Memorial area.

"Black people already know about black people. This is an opportunity to tell our stories to other cultures and show them what black writers have to offer," she said.

This year's playwrights, in addition to Rice, include Tina Burnside of Minneapolis, Minn.; Kim El, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Joe A. Lewis, Silver Spring, Md.; Russell Nichols, Vallejo, Calif.; Anthony Roberts, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Stacey Rose, Bronx, N.Y.; Dana Stringer, Atlanta, Ga.; Caron Tate, Los Angeles, Calif.; and Marlow Wyatt, Los Angeles, Calif.

Burnside, Lewis, Rice, Rose, Stringer, Tate and Wyatt "will be attending this year's festival," said O'Neal.
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AUSTIN -- Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump will hold rallies at a Woodlands hotel and a Dallas nightspot when he returns to the Lone Star State this week for a series of private fundraisers, his campaign has announced.

At 7 p.m. on Friday, Trump is scheduled to attend public rally at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center after he concludes a private fundraiser at the River Oaks home of prominent attorney Tony Buzbee.

On Thursday, Trump has scheduled a 7 p.m. rally at Gilley's Southside Ballroom in Dallas that will pair with a previously scheduled private fundraiser the same day hosted by investor Ray Washburne, who is vice chair of Trump's national Victory Committee

The visits will be Trump's first since he appears to have cinched the GOP presidential nomination to face Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November general election.

READ MORE: Trump to discuss terrorism watch lists with NRA





A statement by Trump's campaign on Wednesday indicated that security at both public events will be tight, as it has been at previous appearances since protesters have been showing up en masse at events in other states to disrupt Trump's speeches over his statements about immigration and other issues.

Anti-Trump protests already are had been announced in Dallas and Houston, outside of where the private fundraisers were to be held.

"Please limit personal items and arrive early to expedite entrance into the venue - please note, NO homemade signs, banners, professional cameras with a detachable lens, tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, back packs or large bags will be permitted into the venue," the campaign announcementstates.

PEAK INSIDE: At home with Donald and Melania Trump

Trump campaign officials offered no additional details on either public event.

While in Texas, Trump also is slated to appear at a private fundraiser on Friday in San Antonio, the same day the state convention of Texas Democrats will begin at the Alamodome. On Saturday, he is to fly to rallies in Las Vegas and Phoenix.

Wednesday's announcements of the two rallies came within hours after various Texas media outlets in Austin and Dallas had reported that Trump had scrubbed plans for a public events while in Texas because he had been unable to find venues, an unusual twist for the presumptive GOP nominee in one of the most-Republican states in America.

Officials at large-capacity civic centers in Fort Worth, Irving and Garland said they were unable to accommodate Trump because they would not adequately plan security and logistics for the crowds his visit was expected to attract, with just 48 hours' notice.

Convention center officials in Houston and surrounding cities said Wednesday they had not been contacted or did not have availability to accommodate a Trump rally without additional planning time that would be needed.

Venues for this week's two public rallies have a much smaller crowd capacity than the location of his last visit in February, which drew more than 10,000 people to the Fort Worth Convention Center.The Woodlands center says on its website that it can seat about 5,000, and Gilleys said its capacity is about 3,800.

TWITTER FINGERS: Donald Trump tweets that he was 'right' about terrorism after Orlando mass shooting
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A petition drive, social media posts and protests by some Humble school district parents were unsuccessful in dissuading the school board from hiring Elizabeth Fagen, a controversial educator from suburban Denver, as superintendent.

The board on Tuesday unanimously agreed to hire Fagen, Houston Public Media reported. She will start July 5, with an annual salary of $298,000.

Parents in Douglas County, Colo., celebrated the news that Fagen was stepping down from the leadership of that school district after being named the sole finalist for the job in Humble, according to the Denver Post.

"YES!!! YES!!! YES!! Like watching an invader finally leave the township where they've done so much damage!! Leave and never return!!!" one person commented in a Facebook post.

In Douglas County, Fagen was criticized for her role in developing a voucher program, a teacher evaluation system and other initiatives that have been contentious in public school systems across the country, including Texas.The voucher -- or "school choice" -- issue is likely to resurface in the Texas Legislature next year.

Vanessa Fuentes, the Humble ISD parent who started the petition drive seeking to prevent Fagen's appointment, told the Chronicle's Brian Kirk that her Google search on Fagen turned up "nothing positive."

In a May 25 letter to the "Humble ISD community," school board members said they were aware of these concerns.

"That said, we want to clear up any perception that our selection of Dr. Fagen implies that we are aligned or interested in the policies that the Douglas County Board has chosen to pursue," the letter states.
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Juneteenth has long held special significance for the residents of Tamina, a Montgomery County community founded by freed slaves that is struggling for survival, as I explored in my Tuesday column.

Juneteenth celebrates the events of June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers landed at Galveston bearing the news that the Civil War had ended and the slaves had been freed. (President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation more than two years previously.)
A Houston man could spend 80 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in a child pornography case, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced on Tuesday.

William Lee Niver, 48, admitted to one count of production of child pornography, two counts of distribution of child pornography and a single count of possession of child pornography, authorities said.
A federal jury in Houston began deliberating in a civil suit on Tuesday whether Harris County is liable for injuries sustained by a suicidal high school student who shot himself in the back of a squad car in December 2012.

The jurors must determine if deputy constables who failed to find the boy's handgun in patdown searches at North Shore High School also failed to accommodate his disability, bipolar depression, under the Americans With Disabilities Act.
A federal jury in Houston Wednesday ruled that Harris County was not liable for injuries sustained by a suicidal high school student who shot himself in the back of a squad car in 2012.

The boy, Deavyn Gordon, and his father, Lynn, sued the county for failing to accommodate his disability of clinical bipolar depression under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The jurors found that Deavyn clearly had a disability as defined by federal law, however they determined that county law enforcement officers did not know he had a disability as defined by the ADA.

"The Harris County Attorney's Office believes the jury reached the correct verdict today," said Robert Soard, first assistant to County Attorney Vince Ryan. " While what happened to Mr. Gordon was tragic, we agree with the jury that Harris County did not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act since the deputy constables did not know Mr. Gordon suffered from a mental disability."

The family's attorney, Eric Nielsen, said he was disappointed with the verdict, noting it meant the county was admitting its police officers didn't know depression was a disability.

Three Precinct 3 deputy constables who responded to the call at North Shore High School had an opportunity to search Deavyn, then 17, and find a relative's handgun in his possession. Two of them did pat downs, but no one did a full body search before placing the star center fielder in the back of a patrol car.

The family's attorney, Eric Nielsen, asked jurors on Tuesday to come back with a multimillion-dollar verdict that would teach police not to put officers, bystanders or the public at risk.

Deavyn Gordon, now 21, sustained injuries to his right arm and leg and has difficulty thinking and speaking.

The county's attorneys argued in their closing that the shooting was a tragic event, but deputies did not know Deavyn had been diagnosed as bipolar nor did they intentionally discriminate against him by not performing a proper search.
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Years of Houston's cracked, clogged or flooded sewer pipes belching raw waste into residents' yards and city streets have City Hall facing a federal decree that sources say could force the city to invest $5 billion in upgrades.

As in dozens of cities across the country, the looming Environmental Protection Agency mandate likely will force Houstonians to pay sharply higher water bills to fund the improvements.

Many of Houston's sewer overflows reach local bayous and breed bacteria. These violations of the Clean Water Act create health risks severe enough that experts advise against swimming in local waterways, 80 percent of which fall short of water quality standards for fecal bacteria.

Rather than face a lawsuit from the EPA, which enforces the Clean Water Act, city officials have spent the last few years negotiating a so-called consent decree, a binding agreement that specifies projects aimed at reducing spills by upgrading pipes, ramping up maintenance and educating the public on how they can avoid clogging Houston's 6,700 miles of sewers, such as not pouring grease down the drain.

Mayor Sylvester Turner acknowledged the negotiations are "significant" and said he has discussed the decree directly with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

"We are not opposed to making improvements, but we want the costs to be reasonable and spread out over the next 20 years so we can avoid any dramatic spiking of ratepayer rates," Turner said. "Negotiations are ongoing on all fronts."

Brent Fewell, an environmental consultant and former top official in the EPA's water division, said Houstonians should expect to pay more, noting some cities under consent decree have seen rates increase two to 2.5 times.

The decree would be only the latest state or federal mandate forcing Houston to upgrade its sewer system, which has lagged since the city's postwar boom and even resulted in a "sewer moratorium" that restricted the city's growth in the 1970s.
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Last month Houstonians and the rest of the country learned about Alexandria Vera, the 24-year-old teacher accused of entering into a sexual and romantic relationship with an underage male student at Aldine Independent School District's Stovall Middle School.

Veras story made national news and was profiled on CNN. Photos from her Facebook page also began to proliferate.

According to court documents related to the case, Vera and the young man began chatting on Instagram and the relationship progressed from there, leading to alleged sexual abuse and even Vera at one point becoming pregnant by the young man.

RELATED: Middle school teacher accused in sex case ordered to stay away from schools

With just three months to go until the fiscal year is over, as of last week some 162 cases of educators in Texas engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student have been reported to the Texas Education Agency.

In the 2014-2015 fiscal year, 188 cases were reported, according to information obtained from the Texas Education Agency. Senate Bill 9, passed in 2007, made it so educators across the state were fingerprinted and now, every time an educator is arrested, the TEA is alerted.

Many began to wonder after this latest Houston-area case if educators should be barred from interacting with their students via social media, a practice which seems innocent enough, but can have consequences that can sometimes prove a bit more problematic.

With more and more millennials who have grown up with social media entering the teaching force, sometimes very important boundaries can get crossed.

Michael Keeney with the Aldine Independent School District, where Vera taught, noted that the district's administrative guidelines indicate that only district-approved means of social media are to be used in communicating with students and only with a parent's permission.

Employees are also held to the same professional standards in their own public use of electronic media. Obviously, according to court documents, Vera was using social media in a way that was directly in violation of their rules and standards.

According to some area teachers, educators are given specific instructions by their school districts not to interact with students via social media, be it Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or anything else.

Others said that they are told to do so at their own risk.

The Houston Independent School District states in its policy manual that they understand how powerful social media can be in 2016.

The district recognizes the powerful impact that social media can have on education. The user participation and sharing of information inherent in these media can be beneficial to students and teachers; and when used responsibly and safely, they may be effectively integrated into the educational environment to support traditional instruction, the districts policy reads.

In accordance with administrative regulations, a certified or licensed employee, or any other employee designated in writing by the Superintendent or designee, may use social media to communicate with currently enrolled students about matters within the scope of the employees professional responsibilities.

One local teacher, Dan Binder, teaches at a private high school where he says teachers are told to use the website Remind to interact with students outside of school hours.

Remind.com, formerly known as Remind101, is a free communications platform built for teachers that is in use in nearly half of all U.S. public schools. It allows teachers and students to communicate safely and efficiently about school functions and classroom activities. There is no exchange of personal information, and all communication is logged. Messages cannot be edited or deleted within a teacher's account, which teachers like because it creates accountability.

"It works pretty well, although it's a bit clumsy. The point I suspect is that there's a record of every communication," Binder says.

RELATED: TEA says social media may contribute to rise in student-teacher relationships in Texas

Another teacher in the Houston area, Geoff Widmier, prefers to use district email and the Remind website.

"Personally, as a male teacher in this day and age, I feel like I have to be extra careful to not even give people a reason to suspect anything. I keep my worlds very separate," he said.

Trevi Biles is a high school teacher with Spring Branch ISD and when he's not trying to get teens to grasp calculus, he's the bassist for Houston doom metal act Venomous Maximus. He has colleagues that use Facebook and Twitter as a tool in the classroom but he declines to use it for work purposes.

"I try to keep my personal and professional lives as separate as possible. However with me being in a band and kids being as resourceful as they are, sometimes my alter ego is revealed," Biles said.

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD's employee handbook states that teachers are in fact allowed to communicate with parents and students via cell phone or other applications regarding only school or extracurricular activities.

They are prohibited from sending messages, though, between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. to their students.

A social media app like Snapchat, which is designed to virtually erase every photo and conversation had within a few days, is definitively something that teachers should steer clear from.

DeEtta Culbertson, the Texas Education Agencys information specialist, said the steady rise in cases can be attributed to social media.

"Unfortunately, social media has also made it more prevalent," she told the San Antonio Express-News.

"(Social media gives) more access to students."

When things like what happened at Aldine ISD occur, the TEA can take action. Officials can revoke a teaching certification and do, especially when the improper relationship is a physical one, Culbertson said.

Culbertson said that although social media makes access to students at all hours easier than before, it can help in reporting improper relationships.

"There is more awareness, so there is more reporting," she said.

This past week the Association of Texas Professional Educators warned educators that inappropriate communications, including electronic communications on social media, are a violation of the Texas Educators Code of Ethics.

Our number one priority is to keep kids safe. Its never okay for a teacher to prey on a student, ATPE Media Relations Specialist Stephanie Jacksis said in a statement. Even one incident is one too many. Thats why our association takes every opportunity presented to educate teachers and to prepare teachers before they get in the classroom.

The ATPE reminded teachers that keeping parents involved in the process can be very helpful, and that encouraging them to monitor their childs activity on the internet can make a difference.

They also recommend teachers create separate accounts strictly for classroom purposes away from their own personal ones.

Area teacher Melissa Brubaker said that she only communicates with students through work email and educational, district-approved apps, like Remind. She's also turned off the private chat function.

RELATED: Texas high school employee accused of playground sex admits to relationship with 2nd student

"It then becomes one-way communication to my entire group of students. Reminders to turn in homework, tutorial times and things like that. Any private communication is only done through my work email," Brubaker says.

She once created an Instagram account for a class pet -- a guinea pig named Hemingway -- but had to get it approved by the campus administrator first.

Like most teachers she prefers to keep all her personal social media private.

Brubaker says that there has been another sad side effect of the recent rash of student-teacher sex incidents. She and other teachers that she has spoken to say that in some sense the profession has been tarnished by the actions of a few teachers that crossed a line.

"It's not always seen as a reputable career anymore," Brubaker says. "Young teachers have an ugly stigma in the media because a few have done such awful things."

"My priority is to educate children, and for me, I've always seen students, even the seniors in high school, as children."
In late March, three tiny green bush vipers were born at the Houston Zoo, which released a series of photos of the trio Tuesday.

Pit vipers are actually neonates, meaning that they are born live instead of being hatched from eggs, like many other snake varieties.
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If you plan on visiting the Mount Rushmore National Memorial on your next family vacation there is one part of the iconic monument to some of our greatest presidents that wasn't quite completed, at least not to the artist's expectation.

A large chamber was to serve as a repository for some of our country's priceless charter documents, but it ended up holding a descriptive "postcard" for civilizations far in the future.

The man who envisioned the Mount Rushmore sculpture, Doane Robinson, tapped artist Gutzon Borglum to sculpt something grand to attract people from all over the country to South Dakota's Black Hills. Borglum and his family had immigrated to the United States when he was a young boy, eventually settling in Nebraska.

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For Borglum, it was thrilling to be able to create something that would honor the country that embraced his family. After sculpting the head of Robert E. Lee in Stone Mountain, Ga., he was freed up to work in South Dakota.

He started work on Mount Rushmore in 1924, at age 57. Sculpting began in earnest in 1927 when the first piece of stone was chipped away and President Calvin Coolidge presided at the official dedication.

The inspired sculptor had a grand design for the monument, one that would include a Hall of Records to hold all the important documents in American history inside a hollowed-out cave behind Abraham Lincoln's stone head.

The National Park Service details the Hall of Records plan on its official site.

It sounds like a lofty proposition, relocating things like the Declaration of Independence and such into the Hall of Records. Despite logistical hurdles of wresting those documents away from Washington, D.C., the federal government even approved the idea but soon decided that getting the heads completed was a better use of the artist's time.

Borglum wouldn't see the monument to completion, dying in 1941 a few days shy of his 74th birthday. His son Lincoln continued the work.

RELATED: This is what Texas looked like the year you were born

The Hall of Records was finished in the 1990s, sans those original charter documents, but its precarious position makes public viewing impossible.

Finally in 1998, in place of the documents, a collection of tablets telling the story of our nation were sealed into a vault in the Hall of Records, according to the National Park Service.

Also included is a description of the presidents whose heads are carved into the stone and why they came to be immortalized in the middle of South Dakota.

It's not a time capsule, meant to be opened in a few decades, but is supposed to remain there for thousands of years for identification purposes.

HIDDEN TEXAS: The Republic of Texas' somewhat-hidden embassy in London, England

"You might as well drop a letter into the world's postal service without an address or signature, as to send that carved mountain into history without identification," Borglum had said.

The whole package is sealed in a teakwood box inside a titanium vault and covered with a one-ton granite capstone.

One day in thousands of years when apes finally take the reins of Earth from humankind, some distant relative of us all might stumble upon the tablets in the vault -- maybe revealed by an earthquake -- behind the collection of weathered stone heads and find out that at one time we went to the moon and rode around in four-wheeled chariots.

Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. He's an intolerable native Texan with too much ink in his skin and too much brisket stuck in his teeth.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
BNM anunta concurs pentru postul vacant de expert principal, pe durata determinata, responsabil de elaborarea/actualizarea cerintelor metodologice de reglementare a procesului de raportare la BNM
Across the street from San Franciscos main jail, business is booming at Auto Glass Now where more than a dozen motorists show up on an average day to replace windows broken by thieves.

Its been insane, said Julio Lara, the shops manager who says nearby competitors are busy as well. Its nonstop.

San Francisco, Calif., is in the grips of an auto burglary epidemic. No other place in the country  not New York, Chicago or Los Angeles  had as many smash-and-grabs per capita as San Francisco did last year.

We have an auto burglary problem in San Francisco, then-Police Chief Greg Suhr said in October after a California Highway Patrol officers personal gun was stolen from his car.

The gun was recovered, but the burglaries have grown far beyond a simple annoyance. They are fueling a bitter political feud between the citys police department and district attorneys office, who blame each other for not doing enough. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee recently put some of the blame on local judges, who he said needed to get tougher on those arrested for the break-ins.

Now is not the time for one branch of government to be pointing the finger at one another, Presiding Judge John K. Stewart said in a statement late last month. We should be able to work together to remedy these problems.

The nearly 26,500 reported burglaries have also become a flashpoint in the debate over Proposition 47, a big portion of Gov. Jerry Browns prison reform package that reduced some nonviolent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. There were 19,871 reported auto burglaries in 2014, almost double from the 10,369 in 2011  and not everyone calls the police when they wake up to a burglarized vehicle.

Police say they believe many suspects are affiliated with organized gangs or are among the citys ubiquitous homeless, but they struggle to stem a crime that afflicts tourist haunts and neighborhoods throughout the city.

Investigators say experienced burglars use homemade hammers to quickly smash auto windows and clear out the contents of a vehicle in minutes. Thieves make off with a variety of goods, including electronics, gym bags and loose change. On nearly 60 occasions last year, guns were stolen from burglarized cars  and several of them belonged to law enforcement officials.

One of those guns belonged to a federal agent, who had his car broken into in June 2015. The next month, a homeless man living in the country illegally and recently released from jail is alleged to have found the gun under a bench on a San Francisco pier and used it to fatally shoot Kate Steinle, 32, as she enjoyed an evening walk with her father on July 1.

Last year, an Oakland muralist also was killed with a handgun stolen from a vehicle in San Francisco. And so were a Canadian tourist in Golden Gate Park and a yoga teacher on Marin County hiking trail.

San Franciscos police say combating auto burglaries is a priority, but the department needs more officers. Before he resigned as chief last month, Suhr said he was hopeful 200 vacancies will be filled shortly. Suhr also created a special investigative unit, beefed up patrols throughout the city and ordered every burglarized auto dusted for fingerprints.

Evidence has shown this increase is due in part to repeat offenders, Suhr said in a written order last month to all officers.

The stepped-up law enforcement attention has resulted in several recent arrests and convictions of prolific burglars, including Shawn Gibson who was sentenced in February to 5 years and 8 months in prison after he was convicted of breaking into 15 autos. Officials are hopeful the burglary rates will show a decline at the end of the year.

Police are making arrests in about 2 percent of the reported burglaries. The district attorneys office says 80 percent of the arrests end in some form of punishment for the suspect.

The San Francisco police officers union has run radio ads blaming Proposition 47 for the spike and noting that District Attorney George Gascon helped draft the law. Gascons office counters that other California cities havent experienced the same increase in auto burglaries.

Proposition 47 is not to blame for the surge, district attorney spokesman Max Szabo said. The measure made a theft of valuables worth less than $950 a misdemeanor. Previously, a felony could be charged for stealing goods with a value of $400.

The district attorney, the governor and other supporters of Proposition 47, which also turned some felony drug crimes into misdemeanors, say the new law provides treatment instead of incarceration for drug addicts and the mentally ill, saving the state money by reducing the prison population.

Whatever the reason for the break-ins, frustration is mounting = at community meetings and repair shop waiting rooms.

One recent Thursday, Lauren Smith was waiting at Auto Glass Now for her Lexus SUVs rear window to be replaced  at a cost of $350 out of her own pocket

The day before, someone had broken the window while Smith was shopping at a grocery store. A witness chased off the man before he could steal anything.

Smith was particularly galled that the window was a new one  a replacement for one smashed outside her apartment in tony Pacific Heights a few months ago.

There should be something the police can do, Smith said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Vacation Time! Enjoy a warm 'Tropical Infinito' Courtesy Antonio Adolfo, AAM Music [REVIEW]

Pianist/Composer Antonio Adolfo's 'Tropical Infinito' is a time trip back to 1960s Brazil. (Photo : Alexandre Moreira)

Last year, Antonio Adolfo's Tema was an alternative to actually traveling to Rio de Janeiro and soaking up Brazilian samba. This year, his Tropical Infinito (AAM Music), with his new octet, pinpoints an early 1960s samba groove revitalized and reimagined but keeping the essential DNA that makes this music so earthy, swaying, satisfying and sensual.

The five covers and four originals are so meticulously arranged that all nine could be considered original. Adolfo is a master of the genre. He's been teaching, composing, arranging and performing on piano for more years than I'm sure he'll care to admit yet he's not yet 70.

To open, AA turns two gems by bebopper Benny Golson -- "Killer Joe" and "Whisper Not" -- into samba with in-your-face solos by electric guitarist Leo Amuedo, tenor saxophonist Marcelo Martins and, of course, some syncopated/percussive AA pianistics.

Samba was the furthest thing from Oliver Nelson's mind when he wrote "Stolen Moments" for Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis in 1960. Yet AA does it more than just justice. It's a highlight. Conversely, Horace Silver's "Song For My Father" did, indeed, have a Latin-tinged flair when originally recorded in 1965 and, thus, is a perfect inclusion. The piece has become a jazz standard, having been covered an estimated 200 times, most famously by Steely Dan as the intro to "Rikki Don't Lose That Number."

Since this project is rooted in the 1960s, Adolfo is hip enough to include the "gafieiras" dance music popular in that era. To that end, trumpet/flugelhorn man Jesse Sadoc lends his expertise on the subject to four tracks.

As long as Antonio Adolfo keeps putting out keeper CDs like his last two, I can hold off on Bucket List entry #4 of traveling to Brazil.

 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

TagsAntonio Adolfo, REVIEW, AAM Music, Benny Golson
CLEVELAND, Ohio - A late Byzantine icon, made around 1450 with gleaming touches of gold leaf, headlines the latest round of acquisitions at the Cleveland Museum of Art, which roam the globe and nearly 600 years of art history.

Although painted when the Italian Renaissance and the rediscovery of ancient classical Greek and Roman art were in full swing, the icon, which depicts the Holy Trinity, is painted in a classic late style popular in the Byzantine Empire since the 1200s.

Dual figures of Christ, depicted as himself, and as "The Ancient of Days" -- a stand-in for God the Father, as the museum describes it -- are painted in a bold, visually flat style against a background of gold.

The lively drapery folds on their elongated bodies are painted in a crisp, linear manner that crackles with visual energy. And their delicately painted faces are largely intact and free from damaging abrasion.

"This is the biggest-ticket item," Heather Lemonedes, the museum's newly appointed chief curator, said in an interview, describing the icon. "It will be absolutely transformative to our Byzantine collection."

The museum owns one other Byzantine icon, the "Icon of the Mother of God and Infant Christ," acquired in 2010, which dates from around 1425 to 1450.

The Cleveland Museum of Art's newly acquired Byzantine icon joins this example, purchased in 2010, the "Icon of the Mother of God and Infant Christ (Virgin Eleousa)," c. 1425-1450.

Lemonedes described the period as the moment of the final flowering of Byzantine art before the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople and the fall of the eastern Roman Empire in 1453.

"It was the moment when the art was shining brightest," she said.

Outstanding acquisitions announced by the museum include a trio of glass objects designed by Rene Lalique: A table ornament in the form of a standing Bacchus, a goblet with a stem in the shape of an elegantly sculpted owl, and a coffer or presentation box surfaced with five elaborate translucent panels.

The latter two items are gifts from Los Angeles collectors, Yassi Mazandi and Craig Castilla.

The museum acquired two photographs by Zanele Muholi of South Africa, including a self-portrait of the artist and activist wearing a wig that evokes the mane of a lion, and an image of two women bathing, part of a series documenting lesbian couples in moments of intimacy.

"LGBT life in South Africa is very difficult, and there's a lot of violence against gay communities," Lemonedes said.

A description of the photograph by the museum quotes Muholi as having said, "it is through capturing the visual pleasures and erotica of my community that our being comes into focus, into community and national consciousness."

Other works acquired in the latest round by the museum include a rare and elaborately decorated 16th-century Momoyama period Japanese lacquer writing box, an early 20th-century sculpted male figure from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a 17th-century French allegorical drawing by Gregoire Huret, and a Rembrandt etching donated by the Print Club of Cleveland in honor of former print curator Jane Glaubinger on the occasion of her recent retirement.

The Rembrandt depicts a scene in which a woman fries pancakes for sale as street food amid a hungry crowd. At her feet, a toddler holds a pancake in both hands and tries to protect the food from a dog, which greedily lunges toward the treat.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - George W. Bush edged John Kerry in Ohio, 51 percent to 49 percent, en route to winning re-election in the 2004 presidential race.

Bush's re-election marked the 11th consecutive time that the winner of Ohio also won the national election.

Kerry defeated Bush in Ohio's largest county, Cuyahoga, by 226,903 votes. Bush won the combined vote in Ohio's 87 other counties by 345,504 votes.

Overall, Bush won in 72 of Ohio's 88 counties.

Results by county

Scroll over the map to see the vote in each county of Ohio.

The darker shades on the map are counties won by at least 20 percentage points. Counties shown in red voted Republican; blue counties voted Democrat.

This is part of a series detailing presidential election history in Ohio. See results for 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2008 and 2012 at these links.

The counties shaded in below were won by Kerry.
Cleveland Beerfest on tap to draw 10K Organizer foresees even bigger 2017

The first rooftop Summer Beerfest is scheduled for Cleveland. It's put on by the organizers of Cleveland Beerfest, which has been held the last three years in downtown Cleveland in the winter.

(Marc Bona, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Tickets go on sale Sunday, June 19, for Cleveland's first Summer Beerfest, Friday-Saturday, Aug. 19-20.

Cleveland Summer Beerfest - put on by Festivals Unlimited - will be at Mall B, the rooftop park of Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland just north of Public Square.

"I'm pretty sure we have to be the only beer festival in the country that will take place in a rooftop park," organizer Craig Johnson said in an email.

Ticket pricing, session details and participating breweries have not been announced, but organizers anticipate 100-plus breweries and 300-plus craft beers will be part of the fest, with proceeds going to Animal Rescue Partners, Inc.

The Cincinnati-based Festivals Unlimited puts on beer fests in Cincinnati, Columbus, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. This will be the company's first summer and outdoor fest in Cleveland.

Winter Beerfest is held at the convention center in January. This year's attracted 10,500 attendees over two days, up from about 8,500 in 2015 and 6,500 in 2014. Johnson said 396 different beers were part of this year's event, which drew several local brewers as well as Mary MacDonald, executive director of the non-profit Ohio Craft Brewers Association, who makes it up to Cleveland for several fests a year.

Timing looks good for the organizers. All About Beer magazine pulled out of its World Beer Festival this year in Cleveland. It had been held the past three years downtown - the last two in the Flats.

Johnson said other factors are key in coming to Cleveland during the summer. Having at least two major annual beer events in one city helps with visibility, which could "loosen" a brewery's grip on specialty kegs, he said, and proximity to hotels and transit hubs is a plus.

Hopefully, the weather will hold out. Last Aug. 19, it hit 89 degrees in Cleveland with .21 inches of rain. The high the next day was 76 with a trace of rain.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The muscle car movie "Fast 8" recently wrapped up filming here in Northeast Ohio, and we decided to take a look back at the history of movies shot in Cleveland.

The history is a long one, and includes both indie darlings and mega-blockbusters. Some of the more successful movies of the last decade brought camera crews to Northeast Ohio.

Cleveland has become a haven of sorts for comic-book movies, and was the site of several scenes in "Spider-Man 3," "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," and "Marvel's The Avengers."

Viewers from Northeast Ohio no doubt recognized a scene from "Avengers" shot in Public Square and an action sequence from "Winter Soldier" that was filmed on the Shoreway.

Cleveland has also been the site of action movies. Re-watch the Harrison Ford thriller "Air Force One" and you'll no doubt recognize that a scene was filmed on the top of Severance Hall.

Various crime dramas have been shot here. The John Travolta vehicle "Criminal Activities" was filmed in Cleveland, as were scenes from "Alex Cross," a 2012 crime film starring Tyler Perry and Matthew Fox.

A few award-winning classics are also on the list of movies shot here in Northeast Ohio.

A wedding scene from the acclaimed 1978 drama "The Deer Hunter" was filmed in the St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Church in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood. Although the scene took place in Pittsburgh, according to the movie's script.

The list includes a few comedies, including the 2002 heist-spoof "Welcome to Collinwood."

The first big-budget movie shot in Cleveland was 1966's "The Fortune Cookie," which also has the distinction of being the first film to star both Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, whose later movies together would reach near-mythic status.

Cleveland suburbs have also been the location of some movie shoots. The critically acclaimed drama "Take Shelter," which stars Michael Shannon as a paranoid construction worker with apocalyptic visions, was filmed in Lorain County.

Scroll through the gallery above to see pictures of movies filmed in Cleveland.

With so many movies filmed here, we undoubtedly left out a few favorites. Let us know in the comments which movie you wish we had included in our gallery.
FYI

Marybeth and Anthony Catullo's story is this week's installment in a periodic cleveland.com series chronicling how local couples met. We're teaming up with a group of local wedding photographers for the series, featuring weekly posts and photo galleries from Cleveland weddings and engagements. If you are a Cleveland-area wedding photographer and would like to be part of the project, please reach out to Nate Paige (NPaige@cleveland.com) or Patrick Cooley (PCooley@cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Marybeth and Anthony Catullo met five years ago while working their first jobs out of college.

The two were employed at a home for young children and teenagers on the autism spectrum and ended up working closely together, developing an intimate friendship in a stressful but caring atmosphere.

Their friendship evolved into a romantic relationship and they moved in together in 2012. Anthony proposed on the Terminal Tower observation deck the same year.

Following the proposal, the couple was delighted to discover that they could use the observation deck for intimate ceremonies and decided to hold their wedding there.

A mutual friend and coworker became an ordained minister and married the couple in front of their close friends and family in a small ceremony in October of 2014.

They traveled to Italy in 2015 for a late honeymoon, and today they have embarked on a remodeling adventure of their first home.

Anthony is a manager at the autistic center where the couple worked when they first met. Marybeth is pursuing a master's degree in social work.

"We always reflect on how one of the hardest jobs brought us together and taught us so much about ourselves and each other," Marybeth said.

Photographer info: TraciLin Photography. Tracy is Cleveland-based, Kent State-educated, photojournalist and portrait photographer, and has been shooting wedding, events and still-life professionally for more than 8 years. You can see her portfolio or view more photos on her Facebook page.

Reception: Michaelangelo's in Little Italy.

Theme: Purple, black, gray, sparkles and skylines, Autism Awareness (Hand-made puzzle piece and Ohio-shaped soap for the guests' favors by consumers at the Monarch Adult Autism Program.



Cake: Michael Angelo's Bakery, Broadview Heights, Ohio. Red Velvet. Cake topper was dark chocolate Terminal Tower from Sweet Moses in Cleveland.



Catering: Michaelangelo's, Little Italy, Cleveland, Ohio



Dress/Tux: Dress from Vera's Ladies Apparel at Summit Mall in Akron. Tuxes from Men's Warehouse.




Lakewood City Council Dan O'Malley.jpg

Lakewood City Council President Sam O'Leary, left, and Councilman Dan O'Malley, right, discuss anti-discrimination legislation before City Council.

(Bruce Geiselman, special to cleveland.com)

The American flag and the rainbow flag fly at half-mast in front of Lakewood City Hall Monday.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- City Council expects to vote June 20 on human rights and anti-discrimination legislation protecting members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Following this weekend's shooting deaths at a nightclub in Orlando that targeted the LGBT community, Lakewood City Hall's American flag flew at half-mast Monday with a rainbow flag beneath it. Inside City Hall, the council met in committee with representatives of Equality Ohio and numerous Lakewood residents who spoke in favor of the ordinance.

Many of those appearing at Monday's meeting wore black and white ribbons in remembrance of those killed in Orlando.

Alana Jochum, executive director of Equality Ohio, credited Lakewood with fostering "a culture that is welcoming to the LGBTQ community." However, she said the city could do more by passing the anti-discrimination legislation before it. She worked with city officials on preparing the ordinance.

"We also know that extending nondiscrimination protections to include all Lakewood community members, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, is an important step to protecting and valuing vulnerable members in this city," Jochum said in a written statement delivered to council.

Lakewood has the opportunity to become the 15th city in Ohio to provide nondiscrimination protections in housing, employment and public accommodations to the LGBT community, she said.

One resident, a transgender male, said he selected Lakewood as a home because of its reputation for respecting diversity. However, he said he has faced intimidating behavior including questioning, judgmental and humiliating stares and glares.

"We were shocked to learn that in Lakewood I had no legal protection against discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations or protections against intimidation," he said.

Councilman Dan O'Malley introduced the legislation, which would extend protections to those patronizing Lakewood businesses or looking to buy or rent homes in the city. It also would protect employees of businesses with four or more workers from discrimination. Similar protections against discrimination already exist on the state and federal level based on factors including race, age, and gender, city officials said. But there is a lack of language offering protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This ordinance could fill that gap as well as create a local commission to hear a variety of discrimination cases.

O'Malley's legislation, which is likely to be amended slightly before coming before the full council Monday, is similar to an ordinance introduced last year but never voted on.

The ordinance would create a three-member human rights commission to hear complaints of discrimination. A number of remedies would be available, including hiring, reinstating or awarding back pay to persons found to be victims of discrimination. In addition, damages could be awarded as well as fines of as much as $500 for each violation. Each day a violation occurs could be considered a separate violation.

Types of matters that could be addressed by the commission would include discrimination based on age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or physical characteristics.

Lakewood Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Patricia Ryan said she hoped the city and chamber could work together to educate businesses about the ordinance and the steps necessary to comply. The employment provisions of the ordinance would only apply to businesses with four or more employees.

Council is expected to discuss the ordinance further at a committee meeting June 20. It could then vote on the ordinance at a meeting scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. that night. The committee of the whole unanimously recommended passage during Monday's meeting.

A draft version of the ordinance City Council will consider later this month appears below this story.

Follow cleveland.com on Facebook and @LWOhio on Twitter
Cleveland police tape 3

Cleveland police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old man on Cleveland's East Side.

(File photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An argument with a drug dealer known in the neighborhood as "Bones" preceded a 25-year-old man being shot to death on Cleveland's East Side, according to a police report.

Mister Jackson, 25, died after being shot about 11 p.m. Tuesday at a home in the 600 block of East 99th Street.

Cleveland police reported Jackson, also known as Bart, argued last week with the drug dealer.

Jackson was upset the drug dealer was selling drugs in front of his home, according to a police report. The house was shot at three times since. No one reported those shootings to police.

Two men on Tuesday ran through an alley and fired several shots at Jackson as he walked out of his neighbor's home. The gunmen then ran back to a gray car and sped off with two other men in the car.

A woman called 911 and begged for police to help Jackson, who was found in the near the front steps of his next-door neighbor's home.

Police performed CPR on Jackson until emergency medical personnel arrived. Jackson was taken to University Hospitals, where he died, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner.

Cleveland police found two loaded guns at the scene. Police believe they belonged to the shooters, including a .40-caliber handgun that was reported stolen from Ashtabula County, according to police.

Police also towed a gray SUV and a Jackson's Dodge Caravan for investigative purposes, according to the police report.

No arrests have been made.

To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section.
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MSCI's decision to keep mainland-listed shares out of its key emerging markets index was a blow to China's regulators, who had stepped up reforms in recent months to win over the index provider. But the initial reaction from China was largely pragmatic, with state news agency Xinhua commenting that inclusion was "purely just a matter of time." The Shanghai composite and the Shenzhen composite opened down more than 1 percent each, but then retraced their losses to trade up 0.33 percent and up 1.44 percent respectively by mid-morning SIN/HK.

MSCI announced on Tuesday evening ET that it had once again decided not to include A shares in its EM index. The index operator said, "International institutional investors clearly indicated that they would like to see further improvements in the accessibility of the China A shares market before its inclusion in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index." MSCI said investors needed more time to assess the effectiveness of the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor program (QFII) investment quota allocation, capital mobility policy changes and the effectiveness of the new trading suspension policies.

"The 20 percent monthly repatriation limit remains a significant hurdle for investors that may be faced with redemptions, such as mutual funds, and must be satisfactorily addressed," the index operator said.

Remy Briand, MSCI's global head of research said in a conference call after the decision was announced that even though there had been moves by the Chinese government to improve market operations, it was still lacking in some areas. The high number of voluntary suspensions also need to be brought down, Briand added. He told the call that 6-10 percent of the A-share universe was suspended at any given time, compared to an average of 0.2 percent across all emerging markets. "The number of [A share] suspensions hasn't gone down significantly," he said. Chinese stocks currently listed in MSCI's EM index are traded in Hong Kong or the U.S., which means the world's second-largest economy makes up only about one-fourth of the benchmark index, while projected full inclusion of A shares would bring that ratio to more than one third. With about $1.5 trillion in assets under management tracking the index, China is keen to tap those funds as foreign investors search for returns outside their home markets.

Men look an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Beijing, China, January 5, 2016. Kim Kyung-Hoon | Reuters

Adrian Mowat, JPMorgan's chief emerging market and Asian equity strategist, said that recent talk about inclusion missed the point that China's markets needed to meet "very specific criteria the MSCI has set out - which it has not fully met." "This is not a judgment issue, they are not snubbing China. It's simply you have to meet certain requirements for the benchmark and those requirements haven't changed," said Mowat.

And JPMorgan's chief China economist Haibin Zhu said that inclusion could take "a few more years." In the case of South Korea, it took six to seven years to be included in the EM index, he noted, adding, "In China's case, 10 years is probably not surprising."

But Goldman Sachs' global macro research analysts wrote in a note after the decision that they were surprised by MSCI's call. On May 30 the analysts had raised their estimate of the probability of inclusion from 50 percent to 70 percent, given the strides Chinese regulators had recently made in addressing investors' concerns.

Goldman Sachs said that if reforms continued apace, it expected MSCI to do a special, out-of-cycle, review of inclusion before the next annual review was due in June 17, and that that review would likely find "significant breakthroughs" on the remaining hurdles.

Angus Nicholson, market analyst at spreadbettor IG, was pointed in his analysis of the decision.

"In some ways, it was more surprising how many investment banks came out saying inclusion was more likely than not. I think this may reflect just how aggressive Chinese government campaigning was for inclusion at this round," he wrote in a note on Wednesday.

"But very recent changes to stock suspension laws was unlikely to make everyone forget about the massive state intervention in the market of the past year. Or the disastrous introduction of trading 'circuit-breakers' in January that did an excellent job of accelerating the market selloff, and eventually cost Xiao Gang his job as the head of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC)."



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At the weekend Xavier Rolet, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, had called for A-shares to be added to the MSCI EM index, saying it was critical for global investors. At the same time, Qi Bin, head of the international cooperation department at the CSRC, said that a global index was incomplete without Chinese stocks, warning that MSCI could not wait until Chinese markets were "perfect" to include A-shares in the index. After MSCI's decision was announced, the CSRC reiterated Qi's point about the need for Chinese shares in any benchmark index.

"It is MSCI's business decision as to whether or not to do so," CSRC spokesman Deng Ke said in a statement. "The MSCI decision on postponing to include A-shares will not affect the ongoing reform and open-up process of Chinese capital markets, as well as our direction of marketization and legalization. It is our own need to build a long-term [and] permanently stable and robust capital markets."

News agency Xinhua, which is often read as a proxy for Beijing's opinions, was cautiously optimistic in its response, repeating Qi's argument that any international index that did not include the world's largest emerging market - which Xinhua said was also the world's second-largest capital market and its fastest-growing market overall - was incomplete.

"There is no need to be irritable that A-shares failed to be included in MSCI," Xinhua wrote on Wednesday morning. "This only indicates that the building of the structure and system of A shares must be proceeded. Historically, it will be a 'must' for A shares to be included in MSCI; it's purely just a matter of time."

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"I don't understand why people attack this car. It is made in America, by Americans. It is built local. You know we are becoming like the British  we like noble failures more than we reward success," Leno said.

Leno appeared on CNBC's " Squawk on the Street " after ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday to celebrate " Jay Leno's Garage ," and spoke with Cramer on his opinion on Tesla . But it was the acknowledgement of the undercurrent of gloom within the American business foundation that stuck with Cramer.

"Every once in a while you get a wake-up call about how gloomy things actually are out there. They come in all shapes and sizes. Today's came in the form of Jay Leno," the " Mad Money " host said.

Jay Leno 's commentary on the state of business in America on Tuesday was a wake-up call for Jim Cramer.

Leno compared Tesla CEO Elon Musk to great car legends such as Thomas Edison or Henry Ford for his ability to produce cars against all odds.

"I think Jay has a pretty good point. And he is dead right when he says 'I don't understand why we don't celebrate entrepreneurship more and success in this country'," Cramer said.

While Cramer still maintained that he cannot value Tesla's stock, he did recognize that many underestimate the fact that Tesla has long waiting periods to buy the car, whereas most other cars can be bought on demand and likely at a discount.

Leno added that he believes engineers will save the world one day, stating that Los Angeles has millions more cars than it did in 1972 and has less smog now.

"We often forget that there is such thing as progress, and progress can create a better world. Progress is also the secret propellant of stocks," Cramer said.

Thus, if the success of entrepreneurs like Elon Musk is overlooked, there is clearly a negative backdrop to the stock market. The gloom has permeated stocks for so long; many investors forget that anything can even go up.

"I suggest you use Jay's words, not as a clarion call to go buy stocks, but as a reminder that getting too pessimistic is at odds with reality, and that progress is worth celebrating," Cramer said.

So for those investors that abide by the "sell in May" or any other month mantra, Cramer reminded them that engineers have done amazing things, and companies still create incredible products. Stocks, too, can go higher on this simple notion of progress celebrated by Leno.
It's that time again! Jim Cramer rang the lightning round bell, which means he gave his take on caller favorite stocks at rapid speed:



Wells Fargo : "My charitable trust owns Wells Fargo, it's the biggest bank position we have. We don't like the bank stocks in particular, but we don't like the fossil fuels either. Wells Fargo yields more than 3 percent and I'm going to stick by it. The trust is going to buy more probably at $45, we'll discuss it tomorrow on our conference call."

CF Industries Holdings : "Wow, I'm not a fertilizer fan by any means. I've got to tell you, I think that group is really glutted. The one we have been recommending in the ag space is Agco, and not really pushing that very hard. I wish I could be more bullish but I can't be."

Annaly Capital Managment : "I have been blessing that one lately. I think that they have really done a lot of things right. It's really only one of the high-yield mortgage REITs that I really feel like is doing the right thing."

NGL Energy Partners: "I'm getting a little bit more bullish on that after reading something from RBN this morning, which indicates that the natural gas liquids are doing a little bit better. With an 8 percent yield, let's not overstay our welcome. I am concerned about next week's verdict in the Energy Transfer Enterprises and Williams battle that is going on at the Chancery Court. That could hurt all those stocks. Wait until next week."

Exelixis : "We caught a double in that, and I'm thrilled but I tell you I'm not leaving it. I think Exelixis has more upside."

Boeing : "Boeing I am on the fence with right now. I tell you, if you want aerospace why not buy Honeywell? Why do we need to have Boeing?"

GoPro : "No, it's still too early to buy GoPro. They've got to get their mojo back, and they don't have it."

AIG : "I'm nervous about AIG ... I've got to see them get out of these hedge funds. I'm worried about the long-term care position, and by the way, I think Chubb is a much better acting stock that I think has it together. And AIG, I need to see a little more cleanup."
One Kings Lane, an online retailer, raised money in 2014 at a valuation of close to $1 billion. Now it hardly carries a price tag.

Bed Bath & Beyond said Tuesday that it acquired One Kings Lane in an all-cash deal, and the purchase price was "not material."

The acquisition concludes a rapid downward spiral for One Kings Lane, which sells personalized home decor. After raising $112 million in January 2014 at a value of over $900 million, the San Franciscobased company got caught up in a shakeout of so-called flash sale sites that offered a select few products on a daily or weekly basis.

Fab.com sold for $15 million in 2015 after once being valued at $1 billion, and Gilt Groupe sold to Hudson's Bay in January for $250 million, a quarter of its peak value.

Also in January, Recode reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that One Kings Lane had notified prospective buyers of its willingness to sell for less than the $230 million it had raised in venture capital. Bed Bath & Beyond didn't disclose the purchase price but said the transaction will be "slightly dilutive" to earnings per share this year.
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Your favorite Obamacare plans might not be so attractive in 2017. Some of the most popular types of Obamacare health insurance plans want to raise their prices by an average of 10 percent or more in 14 major metropolitan areas next year, an analysis released Wednesday reveals.

There is a wide variation in the proposed prices of lower-cost so-called silver plans that were analyzed by the Kaiser Family Foundation, which also found that half of the markets it looked at would see a slight drop in the number of insurers selling plans. The price changes range from a high of an 18 percent premium increase proposed for the second-lowest-cost silver plan in Portland, Oregon, to a low of a 13 percent price cut for such a plan in Providence, Rhode Island. But in most of those areas, the proposed prices for the two lowest-cost silver plans would increase by a steeper rate than Obamacare plans have risen in past years  with double-digit hikes being common, Kaiser's report said. Last year, premiums for the second-lowest cost silver plans actually grew by an average of 5 percent in the same cities, after the proposed price increases were reviewed and adjusted in some cases by state insurance regulators, according to the analysis. In contrast, prices for the lowest-cost silver plans in the cities are proposed to increase by an average of 11 percent next year. And insurers want the second-lowest cost silver plans in those cities to increase by an average of 10 percent, Kaiser found. Almost 70 percent of people who buy plans on the government exchanges opt for a silver plan. Such plans cover, on average, 70 percent of their customers' medical costs, with customers owing the rest out of pocket. Silver plans are also the only type of Obamacare plans that give lower-income customers subsidies to lower their out-of-pocket health costs.

"Last year, HealthCare.gov premiums increased an average of just $4 per month after shopping and tax credits, and consumers will benefit from shopping and tax credits again this year," according to Benjamin Wakana, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees Obamacare. "This is just the beginning of the rates process, and despite headlines suggesting double digit increases, proposed rates aren't what most consumers actually pay because the vast majority of consumers qualify for tax credits that reduce the cost of coverage below the sticker price, and people can shop around and find coverage that fits their needs and budget," he said.

The price increases of the silver plans Kaiser analyzed reflect the retail cost of Obamacare plans for individuals and families, particularly those sold outside of government-run online marketplaces. Most customers on Obamacare exchanges get subsidies that insulate them from the effect of the cost hikes.

But an unsubsidized, 40-year-old nonsmoker in Denver who was already enrolled in the lowest-cost silver plan would be looking at a 14 percent price increase, from $266 per month this year, to $304 per month next year if he wanted to stay in the same price tier. If he lived in Portland, staying in the lowest-cost silver plan would go from costing him $240 per month up to $302 per month, a 26 percent hike. But if he lived in Providence, the same plan that costs him $259 per month now would drop to $224 per month next year, a more than 13 percent drop. Kaiser's analysis also detailed the average price change in Obamacare plans in the 14 cities since they went on sale for 2014 through the proposed prices for next year. The average hike for the second-lowest-cost silver plans would be 4 percent in the markets since 2014 if the proposals are approved as-is. For lowest-cost silver plans, the average increase would be 5 percent.

Cynthia Cox, one of the authors of the research, said that she would expect regulators will, as they did in past years, lower at least some of the premium rate increases proposed for 2017.

"I would guess that the average will be slightly lower after rate review," said Cox, associate director of Kaiser's program for the study of health reform and private insurance. But because of losses on Obamacare plans sold by a number of insurers, "I would expect that states would push back less on rate increases this year," Cox said. Obamacare plans for 2017 go on sale Nov. 1.


The interior of one of Bynd Artisan's four outlets in Singapore. Bynd Artisan

Tucked in the heart of Singapore's Holland Village, Bynd Artisan stands as a contrast to the "smart nation" image the city-state is trying to build. The store's concept? Fully customizable paper notebooks that are hand-bound by craftsmen (and women) in the store.

The brand is the brainchild of Winnie Chan, heir to Singapore-grown printing and bookbinding company Grandluxe, and her husband, James Quan.

The store in Holland Village is their fourth outlet since the company was set up in 2014. The shelves are filled with a wide selection of papers, covers and twin-wires. At the center of the store is an island, much like a craftsman's corner, where the notebooks are put together in about 10 minutes. On selected days, the store holds bookbinding classes conducted by a 71-year-old expert in the craft.

Starting at a time when bookstores across the country were shutting down, Chan, who is CEO and founder of Bynd Artisan, wanted her concept to stand out.

"We tried to be very English, in the way we named our collections. We did not want to be seen as Asian," Chan told CNBC. However, the idea backfired and the company faced difficulties getting retail space. So, at the suggestion of renowned New York-based photographer John Clang, Bynd Artisan rebranded to promote its Asian roots and heritage, which include decorating their outlets with old photographs, newspaper cuttings and pages taken from old order books that belonged to her grandfather.

It was the just another step in Chan's learning curve.

Joining an 'analog business' in digital times

Not every young, well-educated upstart, armed with an economics degree from the University of California, Berkeley, would willingly join a family business in an analog industry that many warn is on its last leg.

Different surveys have shown succession planning remains an issue for many family businesses when it comes to convincing the next generation heirs to give up other lucrative job opportunities to take over the helms.

But Annie Koh, a professor of finance at the Singapore Management University, told CNBC there needs to be a nuanced approach to such surveys.

"When you take fresh graduates, you cannot blame them. Because most of them would say it's my first job, why should I go back to the family firm first?," said Koh.

Koh added heirs from previous generations had limited career choices. "It had been instilled in them very early whatever talent you have, whatever investments we made in you, it's at the sacrifice of many other people. So you owe it to the family to return home to work for the family."

For Chan, however, the decision to start her career in the family business came naturally. "I have played in the company since I was young."

From skipping classes to attend exhibitions in Paris, London and Frankfurt, to devoting a computing project in school to build an automated payroll system for the family business, her ties to the family business started off on solid grounds. Chan joined Grandluxe, the former parent company of Bynd Artisan, in 1994 as a third-generation employee.

Bynd Artisan

"My title was sales executive, but nobody really told me what to do because I was the boss's daughter," she said. She is currently a director at Grandluxe.

Not wanting to bank on her inherent privilege to climb the corporate ladder, Chan began to carve her niche within the company by undertaking small projects on her own within the business.

Chan belongs to a generation of entrepreneurs in Singapore that HSBC Private Bank said were largely a product of their upbringing and typically come from a long family line of business owners.

"Entrepreneurs here are retaining connections to the family business," said Sandeep Sharma, head of HSBC Private Bank in Southeast Asia, in a report. "This means they are either starting out on their own using family resources or continuing the family business and placing their own mark on it by introducing new innovations." Grandluxe started off as a small bindery workshop on Singapore's historic Mohamed Sultan road, founded by her grandfather, Chan Koon Song, in 1942. "He started a small outfit and my grandmother was hand-sewing exercise books," said Chan. "That was pre-war in Singapore, so he only registered the company in 1945, after the war." Singapore was under Japanese occupation between 1942 and 1945.

Timeless skill takes on a modern touch

Her grandfather's death handed the helms of the company to her father, Percy Chan, who grew the business by investing in machinery and exploring overseas markets, particularly in the Middle East. If Chan's grandfather laid the groundwork for Grandluxe, and her father who built the pillars, it was Chan who designed the interior and added the finishing touches to the business, turning it from a back-end business-to-business supplier of notebooks and other office paper products to a household brand. "I felt the design element was missing in our business because we were making very functional products, such as boring, blue accounts books," said Chan. "It had a very utilitarian look and it was not attractive in terms of the range of colors and designs." The lack of sophistication in the notebooks had cornered Grandluxe into a market where they sold mostly to wholesalers and retailers, which Chan said, was very "cut-throat," lacked customer loyalty and made it difficult to build a recognizable brand. Koh explained to CNBC that for business heirs such as Chan, today's disruptive environment means they have the pressure to constantly innovate to keep the business afloat. "What has traditionally worked for a lot of the family firms  are not a given anymore." Currently, 70 percent of Grandluxe's business is still in the business-to-business space, selling to wholesalers, retailers, distributors and corporations. The remaining 30 percent are Grandluxe's own branded products including Monologue, which started in 2007 and markets itself as a cheaper competitor to Moleskine.

Winnie Chan, founder of Bynd Artisan.

Family, and government, support helps
For many millennials, a summer vacation abroad may be a luxury, but this hot spot could still be quite the steal for young travelers.

That destination is Mexico, which scored the top ranking over dream locales like France and Italy on most millennials' wish list, according to travel site Virtuoso  specifically, the Riviera Maya located on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

"We know that millennials prefer to be physically active during their vacations and look for destinations that offer a more authentic experience," said Misty Ewing Belles, managing director of global public relations at Virtuoso. "The Riviera Maya does just that."

With everything from cliff diving, zip lining, ancient ruins and sunny beaches, Mexico is a popular destination during winter, but for cash-strapped students or those just starting out, summer is the best time to score a deal.

Americans are expected to spend an average of $941 on summer getaways per person, according to an American Express survey. Despite busy lifestyles and attempts to save, a whopping 89 percent of millennials plan to travel this summer, the survey found, more than any other group.

"Traveling during the low-season [July-October] will save a bundle," Belles said, based on Viruoso's bookings. "Hotel average daily rates are up to 46 percent less than peak season [November-March]."

So pack your bags, here's how to hit Mexico on a budget:

"A good old fashioned strategy is save per [pay]check a certain amount towards travel and use that as your vacation budget," said certified financial planner Kevin Meehan of Wealth Enhancement Group. "Don't borrow any money to travel on credit."
Back from the professional abyss

Sturti | Getty Images

Losing a job can be a bummer, but not the end of the world if you take the right lessons from it. Indeed, a surprising number of business icons survived bad job experiences and went on to billionaire successes. Lululemon founder Chip Wilson had a very high-profile "bad" job experience when comments he made in response to complaints from women that his company's yoga pants were see-through became infamous. Billions were shaved off the company's value. Wilson ultimately resigned. "I feel like I've kind of been in prison," Wilson recently told The New York Times as he attempts a comeback with a new clothing company, Kit and Ace. Alastair Campbell, author of "Winners: And How They Succeed," told CNBC, "Everyone doesn't need to be fired at least once to succeed, but it is important to have a mind-set that tries to get good out of bad. ... Many of the people I interviewed were very clear that they learned more from failure than from success."

Here are nine icons who had bad job experiences before going on to even bigger successes.  By Tim Mullaney, special to CNBC.com

Posted 15 June 2016

Mark Cuban

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in the crowd at their game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on January 27, 2016 in Oakland, California. Getty Images

Cuban said he got sacked from a computer consulting sales job at 25 after disobeying a boss's order not to meet with a potential client. By then, after also talking his way out of an earlier job by being too aggressive for his boss's taste, Cuban says he had figured out that "sales cures all." Now Cuban is worth $3.2 billion. Cuban rolled his share of the sale of start-up Broadcast.com into owning the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, along with other investments. But first he began his own computer-consulting firm  and stole the client his boss fired him over. The lesson: Some people are really just not built to work for other people.

Walt Disney

Portrait of American movie producer, artist, and animator Walt Disney (1901 - 1966) as he sits outdoors, beside a wooden door, California, early to mid 1950s. Gene Lester | Getty Images

Walt Disney famously was fired by the Kansas City Star because an editor thought he wasn't creative enough. He went on to found The Walt Disney Co ., whose $160 billion market cap these days largely reflects assets like ABC Television and the ESPN sports network that were bought after his death. But its foundation was animated characters and movies that sprang from Disney's own mind: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and a menagerie of other cultural icons. The lesson: Few managers are blessed with the ability to recognize true creativity.

Mike Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg eyes run for the presidency. Getty Images

When Mike Bloomberg was let go by the old Salomon Bros. in 1981, he didn't have to worry about his next meal: He had a $10 million severance. But rather than invest in bonds and collect a mid-six-figure income, he bet the ranch on his idea for next-generation data services that began by serving bond traders like Bloomberg himself once was. Now the CEO of Bloomberg L.P. and former New York City mayor, 74, is worth $43.5 billion, good for sixth place among American billionaires, according to Forbes. The lesson: If you have a big idea, don't let one company's inability to exploit it get you down. Or as Bloomberg told New York magazine, "I never, ever, look back. The day I got fired at Salomon, I think I said, '[Expletive] them!' on my way out the door."

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs at Macworld in 2004. Getty Images

Most people would love to have had the life the Apple founder did as he turned 30: Rich, creative and celebrated. But he was also about to be fired by the CEO (John Sculley) and board he had brought in to help him build Apple. During a few months off, Jobs spent time thinking about what to do next and what he really loved. He met his soon-to-be wife, founded NeXT and began Pixar Animation. Apple would acquire NeXT, with Jobs taking his old job back. Then came the iPod, the iPhone and everything else that made Apple. The road to that began with a calligraphy course in college that seemed impractical at the time but charted the way toward the design-conscious sensibility that set Apple apart. "The only way to do great work is to love what you do," Jobs said in his famous 2005 Stanford commencement address. "If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle . ... Keep looking until you find it." The lesson: Take the time to clear your head after a bad job experience. Plan your next move, connect what you do to what you love  and don't settle.





Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey Donna Ward | Getty Images

Oprah was sacked from her job as a local news anchor in the late 1970s and shunted off to a local afternoon talk show in Baltimore called "People are Talking." You could say it turned out all right: The show morphed into the nationally syndicated show that ran for 25 years, becoming the foundation of her $3.1 billion fortune. Now she's running her own cable network and shaking up Weight Watchers as a 10 percent shareholder. Oprah has said this bit of "luck" was in part due to persevering in a bad situation and being under contract. She was unhappy in the news anchor role, but instead of quitting stuck it out. "I lost that job. They said I was too emotional. I was too much. But since they didn't want to pay out the contract, they put me on a talk show in Baltimore. And the moment I sat down on that show, the moment I did, I felt like I'd come home." The lesson: Fit matters. Just because you're bad at one job  and Winfrey has said she wasn't a good anchor  doesn't mean you won't be fantastic at something else.

Lee Iacocca

Lee Iacocca Robert B. Stanton | WireImage | Getty Images

The charismatic CEO saved Chrysler in the 1980s  but only after a humiliating firing as president of Ford, the company he had hoped to lead one day. Accounts differ on how CEO Henry Ford II did the deed and who was at fault: Ford's defenders have painted Iacocca as always scheming to get the top job, while Iacocca himself claimed Ford told him he just didn't like his underling. Either way, Iacocca was out. The lesson: Never pick a fight with a boss whose name is on the door.



Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank

Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus Rick Diamond | WireImage | Getty Images

The two co-founders of Home Depot were top execs at Handy Dan, another home-improvement chain, when they were sacked during what they had expected to be a routine 1978 budget-review meeting. They set out to build a company that was the opposite of where they had left: Where their boss had prided himself on being merciless, they would view spending on employees as a capital investment in the business. "That was definitely a defining moment for my whole life, because it gave myself and my partner the chance to live certain values that we felt  because of our family backgrounds and upbringings and religious orientation  were important to us in terms of making a difference in other people's lives," Blank said in 2012. The pair is worth a total of $6.6 billion today. Blank, 73, owns the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, while Marcus, 86, runs his family foundation. Handy Dan closed in 1989. The lesson: Values matter. If the job doesn't fit your values, you're better off without it.

J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter author JK Rowling arrives at Edinburgh Castle where she will read passages Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince. Getty Images
Shares of AmSurg inched higher, while Envision Healthcare Holdings sank, after the two agreed to merge in an all-stock deal. The combined physicians' services company would be worth $10 billion, pro forma, and would be led by Amsurg CEO Christopher Holden, while Envision CEO William Sanger would stay on as executive chairman of the board. The two companies had been expected to merge this week as consolidation among health insurance companies and hospitals weighed on the industry.

Citigroup's shares surged briefly after a credit rating agency affirmed the bank's long-term prospects. Citi has an "A" rating on its long-term issuer default rating, Fitch Ratings said Wednesday. Citi has solid capital and liquidity levels, Fitch said in a statement, as the financial titan works to make its balance sheet more efficient and become a "smaller, simpler and safer bank."

Apple supplier Jabil Circuit's stock dipped briefly after hours, despite reporting better-than-expected quarterly earnings. The electronics design firm reported fiscal third quarter earnings of 17 cents per share, excluding items, on revenues of $4.31 billion, higher than the 16 cents per share on revenues of $4.18 billion expected by a Thomson Reuters consensus estimate.

Though the company's electronics manufacturing services unit had "near-perfect" execution, CEO Mark Mondello said in a statement that the quarter was impacted by a "soft environment" within the mobility business. Apple's shares were mostly unchanged after the report.

Shares of multilevel marketing company Nu Skin bounced after a Chinese firm agreed to invest $210 million in the company. The funds from Ping An ZQ China Growth Opportunity Limited will help Nu Skin, a skin care and weight loss supplement company, expand in China, the company said in a statement. As a result of the investment, the company now expects second quarter sales at the high end of, or slightly above, the previously stated range of $560 million to $580 million, the company said.

QLogic shares popped after it was acquired for $15.50 per share by rival Cavium , which saw shares stumble in extended trading. The two semiconductor and networking companies will merge in a cash-and-stock deal that will allow Cavium to provide storage solutions, creating an end-to-end enterprise technology product, the companies said in a statement.
In just one day during his current campaign for the Vermont state senate, Chris Pearson raised over $28,000. During dinner alone, he raised $3,000.

However, contrary to the way many politicians typically raise money, the donations did not come from established fundraisers who paid to meet or eat with Pearson. Rather, the money came from an army of small donors across the country, spurred by an email from Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign.



On May 24, the Sanders campaign sent out an email blast endorsing a number of state legislative candidates and asking donors to split donations between Sanders and the local campaigns. One of those campaigns belonged to Pearson, who had worked for Sanders during his 1998 congressional campaign and is currently a state representative.

In a campaign email sent two weeks later, Sanders updated his supporters and wrote that Pearson had received donations from 10,000 people and his campaign was now entirely funded for the rest of the election.

"I feel like I won the political lottery in a way," Pearson said of receiving Sanders' support.

Pundits have marveled at the fundraising network Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described socialist, amassed this cycle as he emerged as Hillary Clinton's chief rival for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Sanders had raised over $200 million through April 30, mostly from small donations by individuals.



Now, as Sanders winds down his campaign in the wake of Clinton being crowned the Democrats' presumptive nominee, the network of activists he has created remains a potent tool for progressives with the potential to have a far reaching impact.



"What's successful here is that there is a large group of people who've been activated and there's a good chance to keep them active, and that's terribly important to rebuild our democracy," said Eric Kingson, a congressional candidate in upstate New York who has also received an endorsement and fundraising email from Sanders. Kingson said that the day of Sanders' email, he received over 5,000 individual donations, whereas the most he had previously received in one day was fewer than 30.



Along with Pearson and Kingson, Sanders has raised funds for a number of congressional and state-level candidates to a degree unprecedented in presidential campaigns. Indeed, as Sanders slows down his campaign, he has continued to raise funds for other candidates as recently as Saturday.



Most of Sanders' email fundraising has gone through ActBlue, an organization that provides a popular fundraising platform for candidates on the left. Its executive director, Erin Hill, said Sanders marked the first presidential campaign she's ever seen split donations with down-ballot candidates in the middle of an election.

Hill said the Sanders campaign is "among the largest committees" ActBlue has ever worked with, and that a lot of Sanders' donors are saving their information with ActBlue through its express program to allow for easier donating in the future.



With many Sanders' supporters now registered with ActBlue, and their names distributed to the lower-level candidates they have donated to, the Sanders network has the potential to remain a political force.



In assessing the potential future of the network of Sanders supporters, one organization brought up by experts as a point of comparison is Democracy for America, which emerged from Howard Dean's 2004 presidential bid and endorsed Sanders in this year's Democratic primaries.
Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen talked about why he feels Hillary Clinton trumps Donald Trump today at the Bloomberg Technology Conference in San Francisco.

Asked why he supports the presumptive Democratic nominee over her likely Republican rival for the White House, Andreessen responded: "Is that a serious question?"



Andreessen said he evaluates candidates across four criteria  their stances on science, free markets, trade and immigration.



"Neither party is very good on science right now, so that's actually interesting," Andreessen said. "I think the Democrats actually backslid on science in the last five or 10 years, with things like opposition to GMOs."



Andreessen spoke about Silicon Valley's immigrant culture  noting that a language other than English is spoken in half of Silicon Valley households and half of companies have a first-generation immigrant founded or co-founder.



"The valley wouldn't be here, we wouldn't be doing any of this if we didn't have the amazing flow of immigrants that we've had in the last 80 years," Andreessen said. "And the idea of choking that off just makes me sick to my stomach."



That appears to be a reference to Trump's immigration policy and the Republican's renewed calls to ban Muslim immigration in the wake of the Orlando terror attack. The shooter, Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando Sunday morning, was born in New York to Afghan immigrants.



While noting that "neither party is great" across all the areas the tech community cares passionately about, Andreessen added, "I think clearly, one of the candidates is way better than the other, interestingly on all four, and so to me, it seems like it's a fairly obvious choice."


The fear that Britain might quit the European Union (EU) has put hiring in the financial services sector on hold in London's financial center. Across the City, employees have decided to stay put as uncertainty around the referendum brings hiring to a halt - in spite of a general trend for abysmal bonus packages this year. Recruitment consultant Joseph Leung told CNBC that both the middle and back office departments have been affected the most as the challenge to hire for these roles is not as great in other countries.

'Horrible first quarter'

Getty Images

"I think it's been a combination of a horrible first quarter and the looming referendum that's contributed to somewhat muted hiring start to the year. That said, Q2 is shaping up to being much better, so let's see how this will play out," said Joseph Leung, Managing Director at Aubreck Leung. While adding that the banking industry has already been hit by regulatory changes and higher costs of capital, Leung adds that if a Brexit happens then it will open a whole "new can of worms" and challenges. London is home to 729,600 financial services professionals, a number that is 14.7 percent above the low seen in 2010, according to a survey conducted in October last year by industry body TheCityUK. Across the UK, this numbers jumps to 2.2 million employed in financial and related professional services. Furthermore, around 35 percent of EU wholesale financial services activity takes place in London and over 126 companies from other EU member states are listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Analysts have warned that if these companies were to consider moving in the event of a Leave vote, or relocate some of their staff or business, the potential impact on the U.K. economy could be huge. This could lead to reducing domestic employment and tax receipts. But for now, the uncertainty too seems to be having a major impact on hiring and remuneration. "The uncertainty surrounding the EU referendum has already led to delayed investment decisions and hiring plans, with many firms waiting for the outcome of the vote on 23 June," said Chris Cummings, Chief Executive of TheCityUK. He explained that in the event of a Brexit, many financial services firms that are already based in the UK to gain access to the EU Single Market and its 500 million customers may consider relocating operations and jobs to other centres across the EU to "enable continued and unfettered access." A number of banks have warned their employees of job cuts if Brexit happened. Recently JPMorgan chief Jamie Dimon said the bank may cut up to 4,000 UK jobs if the U.K. decided to leave. He said Brexit would be a "terrible deal" for the U.K. economy. Citi has also warned its U.K. staff that it could redeploy its British businesses around Europe if it voted to exit the EU - dealing a blow to London's status as a financial hub. In a memo to employees, Citi's U.K. country officer said "we would need to rebalance our operations across the EU in order to access markets enabled through the European passporting regime."



'Many people in finance will lose jobs'

However, Leung points out that while there will be teething problems if the U.K. decides to exit, things will settle pretty quickly since banks have had a lot of time to prepare of this. However, others think it will have a severe impact on the economy. TheCityUK points out that the U.K. economy gains hugely from the free movement of workers into and out of the country, including a boost to consumption and, indirectly, to tax revenues and service-sector employment brought about by the migration of skilled personnel. While the result of the referendum is not known yet, the uncertainty surrounding it has already started to create worries among those working in the city. An employee at a leading bank in the city told CNBC that a vote to leave, will be disastrous for the UK. "Many people in finance will lose jobs (and in turn anyone who provides services to financial sector). JPM, HSBC have already come out saying jobs will be moving from the U.K. in Brexit scenario and am sure it will be same for many other banks, especially the non-UK banks," the source said wishing to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of this issue. Another source said they had seen a massive impact on the business in the first quarter as decisions such as hiring have been put on ice, impacting trading and other areas of the business, the source said, adding that the financial services sector is hoping for a vote to remain in the EU. Meanwhile, Leung told CNBC that the overall hiring numbers at the end of the year may still be the same as the last few years. "The difference will be that there will probably be more hiring in Q3 than we've seen in the past, partly to see what happens with the Brexit vote and some managers waiting for a solid Q2 to embolden them to pull the trigger."
"From the moment Mr. Trump began his campaign calling Mexicans rapists and criminals; they didn't take too kindly to that," said Shannon O'Neil, senior fellow for Latin American studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

It's not surprising that Donald Trump , the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party, has gotten a lot of attention south of the border. The candidate has broadly attacked Mexican immigrants as a group in an effort to play to anti-immigration sentiment in the United States.

The U.S. presidential primaries are essentially in the books and people around the world are watching closely as the general election draws closer. And nowhere may that be more true than in Mexico .

A dummy made by Mexican craftsman Felipe Linares representing US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is seen at his workshop in Mexico City on March 24, 2016.

"He's a person who is not qualified to hold the presidency of the most powerful country in the world, as is the U.S," she told CNBC via telephone. "The racist comments he made when he began his campaign were obviously not received well by us."

"Regardless of where in Mexico, the people here don't want Donald Trump to win," said Eloisa Hernandez, a 29-year-old restaurant owner from Queretaro, Mexico, nearly three hours outside of Mexico City .

Carlos Ramos Linares, a 27-year-old community manager for Tribuna Comunicacion, a media outlet based in Puebla, about two hours outside of Mexico City, told CNBC that a Trump win could have repercussions not only in Mexico, but across all of Latin American.

"If he wins, I think that, because of all his threats  like making us pay for the wall  there would be a political conflict that would take place not just in Mexico, but all over Latin America. Trump's racism isn't just against Mexicans, but rather against all of Latin America," he told CNBC by telephone.

Mexicans' views on Clinton are more mixed.

"I think Hillary Clinton is the best option for Mexico," Hernandez said. "Having a woman as a U.S. president would empower women across Latin America, in terms of politics."

However, a Clinton presidency could stir up bad memories, especially for those living near the border.

"It was the Clintons who put up the fence that we currently have," said Manuel Ocano, a freelance journalist living in Chula Vista, California, just seven miles north of the border. In 1994, President Bill Clinton's administration began the construction of the fence that divides the U.S. and Mexico.

Ocano added, however, that "Donald Trump doesn't know anything about the border. People here live with one foot on each side of the fence."

In 2007, Tecate firefighters crossed the border to put out the wildfires in San Diego County and saved an Anglo woman, Ocano said. She thanked the firefighters by making them a home-cooked meal. "She didn't speak a word of Spanish  but they didn't need words to communicate."

He noted that there are people who go across the border  from both directions  for work, shopping and other matters.

But regardless of who wins, the ongoing election could have serious consequences for relations between the United States and Mexico.

"We have a high-level U.S.-Mexican relationship going back a few years now," O'Neil from the Council on Foreign Relations said. Mexico is one of the United States' biggest economic partners, with bilateral trade totaling at least $500 billion each of the past three years, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

"In the last 10 to 15 years, the U.S.-Mexico relationship has grown exponentially," Peter Schechter, director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center at the Atlantic Council, told CNBC by telephone.

From 2000 to 2015, Mexican-imported goods increased by nearly 120 percent and, from 1990 to 2015, they rose about 882 percent, Census data showed. Exports from the U.S. to Mexico, meanwhile, rose about 112 percent from 2000 to 2015 and more than 730 percent from 1990 to 2015.
Dan Rather, former "CBS Evening News" anchor, said Wednesday that Republican Donald Trump can win the presidency, and Democratic supporters of Hillary Clinton should be "very, very afraid."

"I'm not predicting [Trump] will win, but I will say he's capable of winning in November. He has a path," Rather told CNBC's "Squawk Box," adding he does not expect the real estate billionaire to bow to pressure to be more "presidential."

"Anybody who thinks Donald Trump is going to moderate himself along the way is either slightly 'touched' or 'smoking something very expensive.' It's not going to happen," said Rather, currently host of "The Big Interview" on AXS TV.

"My own opinion again," Rather said, "Democrats who want Hillary Clinton to be president should be afraid. They should be very, very afraid."

Counting himself among the offenders, Rather said the media concentrates too much on the horse race between presidential candidates, and not enough on the substance of their proposals to change the country.

AXS TV describes itself as a partnership between founder Mark Cuban, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media, Creative Artists Agency and CBS.

Rather left CBS in 2006 after a story he did for the program "60 Minutes" about the National Guard service of then-President George W. Bush was questioned over alleged failures in reporting procedures.
Shares of the major department stores moved higher Wednesday amid favorable comments from several management teams that signaled the steps they're taking to boost sales are starting to, or will soon, bear fruit.

Speaking at the Piper Jaffray Consumer Conference in New York City, J.C. Penney CEO Marvin Ellison reiterated his confidence that the department store will be able to achieve its full-year same-store sales goal of 3 percent to 4 percent growth, as trends were positive in the quarter to date through Memorial Day.

His comments followed those from PVH CEO Manny Chirico, who presented earlier and said trends for its Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein brands have gotten "slightly better" at department stores, with the Calvin Klein brand generating positive comparable sales at Macy's.

And though Nordstrom CFO Mike Koppel did not comment on the company's current sales trends, he said it has done a better job aligning its inventory levels with the pace of sales during the first and second quarters.

Nordstrom also will slow the pace of opening off-price Rack stores. Koppel said the company hoped to have 270 Rack stores open across the U.S. by 2020, a goal that was 10 percent lower than its prior forecast of 300 stores during that timeframe.

Shares of all three presenters' stocks, as well as Macy's , rose slightly in afternoon trading, as the broader S&P retail index climbed roughly 2 percent.

"The consumer's in really positive shape from a financial standpoint," Ellison said, citing wage increases, better job stability and appreciating home prices. However, he said, shoppers continue to hold back on apparel spending as they shift their attention  and dollars  toward experiences. They also remain cautious in an unpredictable economic environment, he said.

As such, Penney's is relying on internal initiatives  including a further expansion of its Sephora stores and its reentry into appliances  to drive comparable sales during the second half. The company reported a 0.4 percent same-store sales decline in the first quarter. But on June 1, Penney's said it had generated positive comparable-store sales quarter-to-date through Memorial Day.

PVH's Chirico attributed in-demand merchandise at its Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein brands as drivers behind its relative strength at department stores. As brands including Michael Kors are pulling back on the amount of goods they place in those stores, Chirico said his brands continue to be sought after.

"The reason it's being [reduced] is it's not working," Chirico said of other brands.

Though he does expect more stores to close, wholesale can still be "one of the most profitable channels" for a brand, Chirico said.

In response to Nordstrom's sales slowdown, Koppel said the company has made strides in paring down the amount of merchandise it has on hand, and has likewise reduced its future inventory plans. However, he said that due to the ease with which consumers can compare prices across the internet, "you may be in pretty good shape" with inventories, but if someone else isn't, it can pressure your performance. That's because those with excess inventory may slash prices just to move the products.

Koppel said that sales of its full-price items continue to be in demand, and that it's the clearance merchandise in its traditional stores that has struggled.

The company has made a "slight adjustment" to its growth plans for its Rack division, where sales have slowed over the past several quarters. Koppel attributed the more measured pace of expansion to quicker-than-expected growth in online sales, and the fact that Rack stores can be opened more quickly than its mall-based locations, in roughly a year.

Still, the department store set remains under pressure. According to the latest data from the Commerce Department, sales at department stores fell 5.8 percent last month compared with the prior year, and are down 4.4 percent so far this year.

But on Wednesday, investors appeared to welcome the more positive tone. Penney's shares were recently up more than 5.6 percent, while Nordstrom rose 2.4 percent, and Macy's rose 2.7 percent. Shares of PVH rose more than 5 percent during Wednesday's trading, and were recently trading hands up 4.7 percent.
Gawker Media CEO Nick Denton told CNBC on Wednesday he's received a letter from Hulk Hogan's lawyer on behalf of a hair restoration expert concerning an article about Donald Trump's hairdo.

The article questioning the authenticity of the presumptive GOP presidential nominee's hair was posted last month, around the same time Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, stung by a 2007 Gawker story outing him as gay, revealed he bankrolled Hogan's lawsuit over a sex tape. Under the headline: Is Donald Trump's Hair a $60,000 Weave?  Gawker, known for its controversial reporting, speculated on whether the Ivari International clinic was behind its installation and upkeep.

"It's a letter not a lawsuit at this point. It's a complaint on behalf of the hair restoration expert who's actually in Donald Trump's building," Denton said on "Squawk Box." "It was sort of a deep, speculative investigation into the connections between them."

The New York Times reports it's not clear whether Thiel, a pledged delegate for Trump at the upcoming 2016 Republican convention, is behind the letter. Thiel's representatives did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment.
"The long-term economic plan is working" is one of George Osborne's best known soundbites. Is that the same Chancellor who has been predicting economic doomsday if Britain leaves the European Union (EU) with the same conviction as a sword-wielding harbinger of the Apocalypse? Britain would be "permanently poorer", Osborne cried, with each household 4,300 worse off. House prices could fall by nearly 20 percent (but mortgage costs would rise). A year of "DIY recession" would ensue. You cannot help wondering just what happened to the Chancellor's long-term plan. That plan was a cornerstone of the Conservative 2015 election campaign and his constant refrain ever since. Just weeks ago, delivering his 2016 Budget, he spoke of "an economy set to grow faster than any other major advanced economy in the world". Only now is he telling us that this success is entirely contingent on EU membership. Osborne seems to have got rather carried away in his bid to stop a Brexit. In all the excitement of announcing headline-grabbing numbers he seems to forget the odd fact. As a consequence, he is starting to look more like the would-be knight errant Don Quixote than the bearer of the scroll of seven seals he would have us believe. Osborne's rhetoric romances that Britain is completely dependent on the EU, economically as well as politically. Yet, the underlying numbers the Chancellor uses to back up his points are plain wrong  the EU economy is arguably dependent on Britain. Analysing his claims on the costs of Brexit, one commentator spoke of a "simply breath-taking" dishonesty. The Treasury Select Committee chaired by Andrew Tyrie has highlighted real concerns about Osborne's use of figures, describing the 4,300-worse-off statistic as a "mistaken assertion".



Alarm bells ringing

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne tours the Britvic manufacturing plant near Leeds in northern England April 1, 2015. Leon Neal/pool | Reuters

There is more. We have not yet left the EU or made the decision on whether or not to do so but the future of the UK economy is already uncertain. Growth has stagnated in the second quarter of this year. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has just slashed its forecasts for UK growth this year, suggesting Osborne's plan may not be working so well after all. The horseman of the apocalypse is starting to look like a rather less credible messenger trotting through the dust on his donkey, picking fights with windmills. Alarm bells are even ringing for those of us who agree that the EU can be a force for good. For me, a moderate Remain supporter, the prophecies of doom and gloom have hardly had the effect Osborne hoped for. As a British citizen, I'm bored of the scaremongering, I have  as the saying goes  no need to keep hold of our Chancellor nurse for fear of something worse. With the best will in the world, I cannot trust our Chancellor's sums as a businessman or support the economic polices founded on Number 11's horror stories as a political activist. His cavalier approach to facts has already done real damage to the credibility of our Treasury. This is not just my view  plenty of other leading businessmen supporting our party are getting tired of the Chancellor's propaganda. The business community worshipped Osborne when he first came into office. As they saw him in action, this transformed into disappointment and scepticism towards his "long-term economic plan." Now all the threats are having about as much effect as the hidalgo's chase of the chivalric dream. Voters are bored and unconvinced. Even those of us on the Remain side are tempted to look elsewhere for common sense and real drive. That can actually come from the Leave campaign. Boris Johnson is still the politician who has shown he can connect with people outside the Westminster bubble and has a star quality few politicians or even celebrities can match.



Restoring unity

With all the tales of post-Brexit woe, it is a wonder too that Mr Osborne has not yet scared off the very partners he wants to whom he needs to stay close .Is it just a matter of time until European leaders start asking themselves why they need a Britain whose economy is worth so little outside the EU? June 23 is fast approaching and the decision will certainly be a pivotal one for Britain. However, we must still keep our eye on the bigger picture and look beyond the vote. Whatever the outcome  even though I hope it is Remain  restoring unity to the country and to the Conservative party will be vital after the referendum. The hardest part of all is likely to be restoring faith in our economic policy after the "long-term economic plan" has become an essentially meaningless phrase, little more than a joke. We need a shared vision for the future as well as confidence that it is achievable and realistic. Businesspeople who will ultimately drive our growth forward need to feel the government knows what it is doing on the economy. For that, we need reliable figures from the Treasury and a Chancellor who can be trusted. There are people in our party  be it Michael Gove and Liam Fox on the Leave side or Philip Hammond and Michael Fallon on the Remain campaign  who have demonstrated real clarity of purpose without ever falling for financial fantasies. Any one of them could be better-placed to restore faith in our economic future. In short, it is time to put an end to the politics of scare-mongering and focus on developing a truly credible economic plan. Britain deserves better. Alexander Temerko is a British energy industrialist, politician and leading Conservative Party donor.


The prime minister's office did not immediately answer two emails from CNBC, sent several hours apart, nor did it answer several phone calls. Representatives of Mahathir didn't immediately return emails from CNBC requesting comment.

In the suit, Mahathir, who has repeatedly said he wants Najib removed from office, alleges Najib "actively and deliberately" tried to derail investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd. and into allegations that funds from 1MDB ended up in his personal accounts, the report said.

The report said Najib is seeking to dismiss the case, which was filed in March and led by Mahathir Mohamad, who was Malaysia's prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and has been a fervent critic of Najib.

Malaysia's embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak denied accusations of misuse of power, graft and interference in official investigations of troubled state fund 1MDB, according to documents filed in response to a lawsuit, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

Questions about movement of funds from 1MDB came to widespread attention nearly a year ago, when the Wall Street Journal reported that in 2013 nearly $700 million had flowed from the debt-ridden fund to Najib's personal bank account.

Najib has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and, under pressure from the outcry caused by the WSJ report, said the funds were a private donation from a Middle Eastern country he declined to name. He has denied benefiting personally from the funds.

In January, Malaysia's Attorney General Mohamed Apandi Ali said that Saudi Arabia's royal family gave Najib a $681 million gift, of which Apandi said about $600 million was later returned.

Apandi said that no criminal offense had been committed. But globally, investigations into 1MDB in locales as varied as US, Switzerland, Singapore and the Seychelles have continued.

Last month, the MAS ordered BSI to shut down its Singapore operations, with prosecutors in the city-state and in Switzerland weighing criminal charges against the bank.

While Singapore's authorities did not mention 1MDB at the time of BSI's closure, Swiss authorities said the move was related to its investigation of the fund.

The MAS said the Switzerland-based bank had lost its status as a merchant bank in Singapore due to "serious breaches of anti-money laundering requirements, poor management oversight of the bank's operations, and gross misconduct by some of the bank's staff." It was the first time since 1984 that MAS had withdrawn a merchant bank's approval.

In a related development, Abu Dhabi wealth fund International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) said in a London Stock Exchange filing on Tuesday that it would seek arbitration in London courts over what it called 1MDB's failure to make contractual payments. The Abu Dhabi fund claimed it was seeking around $6.5 billion from 1MDB.

Last year, a 1MDB unit transferred funds owed to IPIC to a British Virgin Islands entity called "Aabar Investments PJS Ltd.," which has a name closely resembling Aabar Investments PJS, an IPIC subsidiary, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

The Abu Dhabi fund said it didn't receive the payments.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban plans to donate $1 million to the Dallas Police Department, in support of its response in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting.

The money will fund about 16,000 hours of overtime for the department as it boosts counterterrorism efforts, according to a Wednesday statement from the city. Police are beefing up their security measures after 49 people were killed at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The gunman later died in a shootout with police.

"I'm proud to be able to help the City of Dallas," Cuban said in a statement.



"It was the right thing to do and I will do more of it in a future," Cuban told CNBC in a Wednesday email.

Mike Rawlings, mayor of Dallas, commended the billionaire for "stepping up in a time of need." Dallas Police Chief David Brown thanked Cuban, saying "These funds will be used primarily to protect the LGBT community. We will earmark and track the expenditure of these funds to ensure its effective use in creating a safe environment."

A spokesman for the City of Dallas declined to provide additional comment.

Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to "Shark Tank," which features Mark Cuban as a judge.


Prince William has appeared on the cover of the latest issue of U.K. gay magazine Attitude, marking the first time a member of the British royal family has been photographed for the cover of a LGBT+ publication.



The prince met with the magazine and members of the LGBT+ community in May to listen to their experiences of homophobic and transphobic bullying and abuse.

"No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives" the Duke of Cambridge said in a statement published by Attitude.
Few people know more about what it takes to pitch a venture capitalist than Brad Feld. He is co-founder of the prestigious Techstars accelerator, which has mentored 762 start-ups to date, helping them garner more than $2 billion in funding. Feld is also managing director of the Foundry Group, an early stage tech fund widely credited with helping to ignite the start-up scene in Boulder, Colorado, and of Mobius Venture Capital, an early stage fund that has backed companies such as Verisign.

Brad Feld at Iconic Devern on June 16, 2016. David A. Grogan | CNBC

Asked how many pitches he's heard in his career, Feld said, "I don't know the number anymore. It's tens of thousands  maybe multiples of tens of thousands." Last week CNBC asked Feld for his tips on pitching a venture capitalist. Here are tips based on his recommendations.

Stow the PowerPoint  for now

Trying to plow through a slide deck in a first conversation with a venture capitalist often isn't the best approach, according to Feld. "A lot of times when I interact with someone for the first time, I don't want to see the presentation," said Feld. Feld often prefers more of a free-flowing conversation. So how do you spark an investor's interest in that conversation? "The pitch should be very clear about what you are doing, why you are doing it and why I should care," said Feld. "If you can cover those things quickly and precisely, it's easy for me to decide whether I want to spend more time with you or not." Coming up with a more conversational pitch can take forethought, he notes. Even with a very early stage company, he said, "you should have some clarity on why it is something people are going to care about."

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Know your audience

It's easy to check out a venture capitalist's background and interests before you pitch  so don't skip doing a Google search or looking on LinkedIn before you meet. It'll show.

"I can't tell you the number of people who pitched something and have no idea whom they are pitching it to," Feld said. "They don't know the background of the investor." Once you've done your homework on an investor, try to get an introduction from someone who knows him or her through your network, he recommended. "It's much easier to get a reception from someone if there is an introduction versus randomly trying to get in front of people," Feld said. The Foundry Group invested $9 million in the 3-D laser printer maker Glowforge in 2015 after Feld met CEO Dan Shapiro, who has some mutual contacts, on a trip they were both on. "It was very obvious from all the work he had done in advance that we were a great fit for him," said Feld. "We'd invested in MakerBot, which was a similar type of business to his. He analogized that well. He knew how to press our buttons and how to lead with a product, not a market opportunity." So far, it looks like Feld made a smart bet. Glowforge went on to raise $28 million by hosting the crowdfunding of preorders on its own website earlier this year.



Ovuline CEO Paris Wallace (center) speaks with investors John Gargasz (left) and James Alvarez (right) during a Techstars event in Boston. Aram Boghosian | The Boston Globe | Getty Images

Deliver some substance

A high-end 20-page presentation on fancy paper stock won't do much for you if there's nothing else to your business, noted Feld. Relying too much on razzle-dazzle can be a red flag that a start-up doesn't have much else to show for itself, he said. "It's much better to be clear about what you've got and where you are going." When Feld first talked to James Park, co-founder of the physical-activity tracker Fitbit , on a conference call, "he walked me through his pitch in a dry, factual way," Feld recalled. "I liked the idea of the business, but I didn't connect with the pitch at all and passed." Then two investors Feld knew "reached out very aggressively" and told him, "You really need to pay attention to this." On the second contact, Feld and Park did a videoconference so they could engage more. Park won Feld over with nine months of data on what the business had already accomplished. "He told clear stories of who was using the product, why, and why there was a much larger opportunity," said Feld. Park also went into what types of products the company planned to build, the experience of the team in building the first product and how that was going to translate into building the next products, Feld added. "I came out thinking, `Yep, this has the potential to be awesome,'" recalled Feld, who became an early investor through Foundry Group in 2012. If you're looking for tips on how to create a great presentation, Feld recommends reading Get Backed by Evan Baehr and Evan Loomis. "That book, I think, does an excellent job of covering a good framework for how to do a presentation," said Feld. "It varies by investor."

Have an honest dialogue
Luke MacGregor | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Islamic terrorists are arming themselves with the technical tools and expertise to attack the online systems underpinning Western companies and critical infrastructure, according to a new study from the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology. The goal of the report was to bring awareness to "a hyper-evolving threat" said James Scott, ICIT co-founder and senior fellow. Dark web marketplaces and forums make malware and tech expertise widely available and  with plenty of hackers for hire and malware for sale  technical skills are no longer required. A large-scale attack could be just around the corner, said Scott. "These guys have the money to go on hacker-for-hire forums and just start hiring hackers," he said.

U.S. authorities are well-aware of the rising threat posed by Islamic terrorists armed with advanced cybertools. In April, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter declared a cyberwar against the Islamic State group, or ISIS.

Ransomware chatter rose to prominence on dark web jihadi forums around the fall of 2015 and continues to be a topic of debate, particularly among members of ISIS and Boko Haram. "I had the same position that I have right now with this in December of last year with regards to ransomware hitting the health-care sector," said Scott. "We were seeing the same exact thing."

Much of the chatter on jihadi chat boards comes from Europeans and Americans, often social outcasts living vicariously through the online reputation of their handle  including disenfranchised teens or jailhouse Muslim converts turned radicals, Scott said. They may not have strong coding skills, but they have access to Western institutions and businesses and are looking to leverage that access to serve ISIS. An example of the sort of conversation that takes place on Islamic dark web forums involved a cleaner in Berlin who worked the overnight shift and wanted to know how they could help, said Scott. Others chimed in, explaining how the janitor could load malware onto a USB device and plug it into a computer to allow them to remotely hack into the network. "That is the kind of insider threat that we are going to be facing," said Scott. "That is what they are seeing as the next step  an army of insider threats in the West."



These guys have the money to go on hacker-for-hire forums and just start hiring hackers James Scott ICIT co-founder and senior fellow

Though not known for being particularly sophisticated in their use of technology  beyond the use of encrypted messaging services and creating malicious apps  Islamic terrorists are now aggressively seeking ways to bridge gaps in their knowledge, said Scott. This may come in the form of hiring hackers, recruiting tech-savvy teens and educating new recruits. "They are rapidly compensating for that slower part of their evolution," said Scott. For example, ISIS operates what can best be described as a 24-hour cyber help desk, staffed by tech-savvy recruits around the globe. There are always about six operatives available to address questions, for example, about how to send encrypted messages, and strategize about how to leverage local access into cyberattacks. They also share tutorials, cybersecurity manuals and YouTube links, and try to recruit other techies, said Scott.
The movements on both sides of the Atlantic are animated by voters' dissatisfaction with the political elite. Nigel Farage, who sparked the recent growth of the UK's anti-European Union movement, and Boris Johnson, who is its highest-profile face, are atypical politicians. Neither is the rebel that Donald Trump is, but all three men share a straight-talking nature and celebrity status, relative to most politicians. They tend to "tell it like it is," and many voters applaud them for it. At times they rely more on persona and organic media interest than on rational arguments.

A second similarity is where their support comes from. Both the U.S. and UK have seen economic growth return following the financial crisis, but in a muted fashion that's almost nonexistent for many middle- and low-income workers. People have begun to look for alternatives. Donald Trump is that alternative in the United States, and Brexit is the option in the UK.

Furthermore, supporters of a Brexit tend to be older, much like Trump supporters. Younger British voters tend to favor a remain vote in the UK, while younger Americans are more opposed to Trump.

Brexit tends to resonate more with small business owners and the self-employed, and Trump tends to with similar voters in the United States. Meanwhile, big businesses have for the most part tried to highlight the economic risks of a Brexit. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon highlighted the risks a Brexit poses to jobs, and exit camp immediately tried to spin that to say that big banks were bankrolling the anti-Brexit campaign. A similar, anti-big bank rhetoric has come from Trump, who has attacked Hillary Clinton for her links to Wall Street.

And then there's immigration. Concern about excess immigration is certainly a topic where both groups share ground, whether it's slowing the flow of Mexicans into California and Texas, or preventing Middle Eastern refugees from entering Britain at the same rate they've entered Germany.

This similarity should not be overplayed, however. The main immigration debate in the UK focuses chiefly on people legally allowed into Britain  EU Passport holders  rather than refugees or illegal immigrants. The refugee crisis in Europe has added spice and column inches to the debate, but since the UK is outside of EU's free border zone (an often overlooked aspect of its special EU status, alongside being outside of the euro currency) refugees cannot move freely into the UK once they are within the EU anyway. Thus, many Brexiteers oppose the severity of Trump's rhetoric on that topic.
California may have Silicon Valley, but a number of other states depend more on software for the health of their economies, according to a new report. Companies such as Apple and Google make up almost 4 percent of California's GDP, and while that's a lot for a single industry, it lags behind states like Washington, Virginia and Massachusetts.

It's not just jobs: Washington, Nebraska and Vermont are ahead of the Golden State in terms of software-related research and development. More than 40 percent of total R&D investment in those states comes from software companies, according to the new study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit and software trade group BSA.

"The data clearly demonstrate that the positive impact that software companies are having is not just in a handful of states as is commonly believed, but across the United States as a whole," said BSA CEO Victoria Espinel. "When we talk about the impact on people's lives, it's much broader than the picture of software that existed 10 years ago."

Overall, the study found that software directly employed 2.5 million people in the United States in 2014, adding more than a trillion dollars to the economy either directly or indirectly. Here's how the direct GDP impact breaks down state by state:
In an extremely rare move for a venture capital (VC) firm, Draper Esprit went public on the London Stock Exchange Wednesday, raising some 103 million ($146.1 million) - and giving retail investors access to investing in high-tech start-ups. Shares were issued at 300 pence and hit highs of 312 pence in early trade. Traditionally, VC firms work on a limited partnership (LP) model, which involves investors such as fund managers putting their money into a fund managed by a VC firm. The LPs would have no direct say in where the VCs invest the money but would reap the returns that the fund gets.

Simon Cook, CEO of Draper Esprit Daniel Jones

But the problem, according to Simon Cook, chief executive and co-founder of Draper Esprit, is that retail investors are shut out from the fast-growing tech start-up space. Crowdfunding platform such as Seedrs or Crowdcube have been on the rise and allow retail investors to get in on seed rounds for fast-growing companies. However, later stage rounds have been shut for these investors, something Draper Esprit is hoping to change. "LPs are specialist categories. Not many institutions and very few retail investors invest there," Cook told CNBC in a phone interview on Wednesday. "A year ago, on the back of the wave of crowdfunding, we felt wouldn't it be amazing to launch a listed vehicle and there is a big gap in the stock market for people to invest in growing tech companies past the risky seed stage." When investors buy shares in Draper Esprit, they are essentially getting exposure to its portfolio companies which include Graze, which delivers healthy snack boxes to your desk or door, and Lyst, an online fashion marketplace. In total, Draper Esprit owns minority interest in 24 companies which as of December 31, 2015, had an aggregate value of 74.8 million. Major institutional investors including Woodford Investment Management, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, China Huarong International Holdings and Baillie Gifford are among Draper Esprit's initial investors.

$1 billion market cap?
Russia's financial and political elite will descend on St. Petersburg this week for the country's flagship economic summit at a time of heightened uncertainty for the world's 10th-biggest economy. The annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will take place from June 16-18, with Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking and around 10,000 participants expected. This year's theme is "capitalizing on the new economic reality"  which for Russia is looking bleak.

The International Monetary Fund forecasts its economy will shrink by 1.8 percent in 2016, having contracted by 3.7 percent in 2015. Two of the reasons for the recession are well-known  the collapse in crude oil prices and the international sanctions levied in response to Russia's incursion in Crimea. In addition, the country must also contend with legislative elections in September that may delay reforms needed to bring public finances into better order.



Andrey Rudakov | Bloomberg | Getty Images

"The parliamentary election in September and also the presidential election in 2018 (will) definitely have an impact on policymaking in the sense that the most difficult reforms are likely to be postponed," Liza Ermolenko told CNBC on Friday via email.

One of the most high-profile proposed reforms was an increase in the pension age from 60-years-old for men and 55 for women, the emerging markets economist said. "Many government officials and independent analysts agree the pension age will need to increase ultimately to put the public finances on to a sustainable footing, but such a sensible decision is unlikely to be adopted before 2018."

Artur Lebedev/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

All seats in the lower house of the Russian assembly, called the Duma, are up for grabs in the September election. However, President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party is expected to maintain its majority. The election was originally slated to be held in December. Some analysts say the Kremlin changed the date on the assumption that opposition parties would find it harder to galvanize support in the summer vacation months.

"The Duma is basically a rubber stamp for Putin. With United Russia tipped to win, there really aren't any policy implications. Putin remains in charge no matter what," Win Thin, head of emerging markets foreign exchange at BBH, told CNBC on Friday via email. Government departments have been told to cut spending by 10 percent this year in an attempt to halt the spiral in the federal budget deficit, according to media reports. In May, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said the deficit would come in at 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2016, assuming oil prices averaged $40 per barrel, according to media reports. In 2015, Russia reported a deficit of 2.6 percent.

Energy Futures


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Billionaire distressed asset investor Wilbur Ross has explained his reasons for backing Donald Trump to be the next U.S. president, highlighting the presumptive Republican nominee's lack of political correctness and attention to middle-class America. "Part of the reason why I'm supporting Trump is that I think we need a more radical, new approach to government  at least in the U.S.  from what we've had before," Ross told CNBC on Wednesday.

"I think the reason why the Trump phenomenon has become so important  is because middle class and lower middle class America has not really benefited by the last 10 to 15 years of economic activity and they're sick and tired of it and they want something different."

He also said that this demographic was "sick and tired of political correctness," something that the outspoken Trump could never be accused of, having polarized U.S. voters with his divisive comments on women and minorities.

Campaign pitches are 'symbolic'

Kevin Winter | Getty Images

Ross said that Trump's approach to politics was refreshing. "His direction will be a less politically-correct direction," he said. "There is nothing in the direction that he is pointing that is different from the Republican platforms."

"You only get to vote for who's on the ballot paper and your choices are between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and I find that an easy choice to make," he said.

Ross conceded that Trump's pledge to wipe out $19 trillion of American debt in two terms  a claim made during an interview with the Washington Post in April  was somewhat fantastical, saying that some of Trump's math when it came to this economic ambition "probably doesn't work."

"If you add up all the promises any politicians makes, the math doesn't work. Hillary Clinton's math doesn't work, Donald's math probably doesn't work. I think you have to listen to their campaign pitches more as symbolic, more as metaphors."

'I believe in the two-party system'
With Microsoft set to make the largest acquisition in its history, many are asking what is it about LinkedIn that made it worth the $26.2 billion? That's a hefty price tag, considering LinkedIn had 2015 revenue of $3 billion and a net loss of $166 million.

In my opinion, the marriage of the leading professional social network and the world's largest software company demonstrates that we are decidedly at the start of a new era in software, where proprietary data is king, and will start to come bundled together with software. Moreover, I think we can expect that enterprise software will start to look and behave more like consumer internet services. It will be based upon the ability to harness behavioral data across the large sample of user inputs available in the cloud, and deliver useful and meaningful insight in a way that's never been done before.



Taking a look back, it's safe to say that software has functioned relatively the same for the last 40 years. It's been a place for users to input information for tracking and reporting, and analysis  if any  was limited to one company's user base. Larger relevance or context of this data as part of a larger network of users has been lacking.



Microsoft is about to bring the software industry forward, as it infuses relevance across its range of Office apps and cloud offerings. It will embed "living" profiles drawn from the proprietary professional information of close to half a billion people. Next, Microsoft and their many rivals will battle for the more granular behavioral activities of users and customers in order to better serve them (and of course earn ever higher margins for this "data-infused" software.) This is where "machine learning" will take center stage. As each of our detailed actions is captured in software, analyzed along with hundreds of thousands of others, and provided back to users in the form of recommended next steps, software will no longer be a place to input data, but a place to go for specifically-tailored advice.



We've seen this rise in the consumer realm, where technology companies are fundamentally aggregating and analyzing user behavior, and providing value back to users (and, of course, advertisers.) For example, with wearable tracking devices like FitBit and others, users are able to receive actionable insight about their health and physical performance. Services like Facebook and Amazon are analyzing user flow and behavior to make the product easier to engage with  often in ways that we don't even notice. There are countless other examples that also demonstrate that consumer technology puts behavioral and user data front and center, in a way that I expect we will start to see from the enterprise as the divide between these two segments starts to collapse. Microsoft's latest move shows that we are already heading in that direction.



Some may say that we've been hearing the promise of machine learning and data-driven insights for a decade now, and yet we are waiting to see the real results when it comes to the promise of software. There are two reasons why I believe that we really are on the brink of a massive disruption in technology. First, Google has proven that server technology now has the ability to scale horizontally and bring unfathomable number-crunching power to each of us. Add this power to the structural change in software over the last 15 years, where Salesforce.com led software into the cloud. Now, data across millions of end users is easily aggregated and analyzed. Taken together, this demonstrates that proven machine learning algorithms have both the horsepower and access to granular datasets that are unprecedented. It was never an issue about machines learning, it was whether machines could ingest and process enough data. Now they can.



The technology world will be watching to see how the Microsoft integration plays out for users. Regardless of its success, the lessons here are plenty. Software without an added layer of data and insights will soon become obsolete.
OSWEGO, N.Y.  Ronald G. Tascarella has been appointed VP and team leader of commercial lending at Pathfinder Bank.

Tascarella will oversee the banks commercial-loan portfolio and management of its commercial-banking team.

Tascarella was previously VP, relationship manager for middle market commercial banking at M&T Bank in Syracuse. He joined M&T Bank in June 2008. Before that, Tascarella was a commercial credit analyst at Community Bank, N.A.

Pathfinder Bank is a New York statechartered savings bank headquartered in Oswego. The bank has nine full-service offices located in its market areas of Oswego and Onondaga counties.

Pathfinder Bank ranks second in deposit market share in Oswego County with a 23 percent share of all deposits, according to the latest FDIC data. However, it has the most branch offices in the county with seven.

Contact The Business Journal News Network at news@cnybj.com


This space for rent



support center[^] which is full of helpful information?

This space for rent



Hello,

I just want to find out if the tollbaricon or the notifyicon ist clicked. I know how to do that in a own class. My problem is, that I have a while-loop and in this one, I must check if one of the button is klicked. (Because only then the while have to break.)



May you help me? May you have other ideas how i can realize it?





The problem is that unless you are explicitly threading your app, the while loop is executing on the same thread as the rest of the UI elements - so the click action won't get honoured until after the loop has finished and the event handler that started it has returned control to the system.

It's like a man who is so busy concentrating on what's in front of him while he is driving, that he doesn't notice the fire engine trying to get past!



You can do it, but you have to change the way your application works, and move the loop into a separate thread. You can then set up an "terminate" variable which you check in the loop, and set in the Click event handler. Have a look at the BackgroundWorker Class (System.ComponentModel)[^] - it provides a safe and easy way to do this, but be aware that you cannot access any UI elements except on the same thread they were created on - if you try to do that inside your loop using a BackgroundWorker you will get a "Cross thread exception" and that means you need to use Invoke to move the access back onto the original thread. This isn't a simple subject and it's probably an idea if you do some background reading on Threading first before you get too complicated.

Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...





Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...



Hi,



C# Copy Code I need to access my gmail contacts to upgrade an Access database. A program in C # manages this basis. I checked on the Internet and appeared several ways, but none worked. I found a video that the speaker creates the code step by step and in the end he managed to access the gmail contacts. I typed the code and is giving an error in word in of code: foreach (Contact contato in f.Entries)



C# Copy Code The following code:



C# Copy Code using System; using System.Data; using Google.Contacts; using Google.GData.Client; using Google.GData.Extensions; namespace ContatosGmail { public partial class Default : System.Web.UI.Page { protected void btnObter_Click( object sender, EventArgs e) { DataSet ds = new DataSet(); ds.Tables.Add( " GmailContacts" ); ds.Tables[0].Columns.Add( " EmailId" ); RequestSettings rs = new RequestSettings( " Taveira" , txtUsername.Text, txtPassword.Text); rs.AutoPaging = true ; ContactsRequest cr = new ContactsRequest(rs); Feed<Contact> f = cr.GetContacts(); foreach (Contact contato in f.Entries) { foreach (EMail email in contato.Emails) { DataRow row = ds.Tables[0].NewRow(); row[ " EmailId" ] = email.Address.ToString(); ds.Tables[0].Rows.Add(row); } } GridView1.DataSource = ds.Tables[0]; GridView1.DataBind(); lblStatus.Text = " Toal de contatos para " + txtUsername.Text + " : " + ds.Tables[0].Rows.Count.ToString(); } } }



C# Copy Code I am in urgent need of this solution. Using Visual Studio Professional 15 and Windows 10 . Thank you.







It is your task to analyze the code, single-step through it and observe the specific error(s). Then, ask specific questions here, giving a clear description of the error message(s). And, unless you understand the code, how will you maintain it in the future when Google changes their API's, or some change in whatever occurs ?

 There is a spectrum, from "clearly desirable behaviour," to "possibly dodgy behavior that still makes some sense," to "clearly undesirable behavior." We try to make the latter into warnings or, better, errors. But stuff that is in the middle category you dont want to restrict unless there is a clear way to work around it.  Eric Lippert, May 14, 2008







I will add that we consider it rude to put "urgent" in a question. It's only urgent for you; you aren't paying us anything for our time and we're all volunteers so it's at our discretion when we answer your question.

This space for rent



Been hearing a lot of people having trouble with icons, I decided to updated my article I wrote back in 2004 Access multiple icons in a single icon file[^] with a long needed update.



New version of the library lets you import pictures and create 32bit icons with multiple sizes of the image. Hopefully, this can help people who are having troubles with icons with this replacement for the icon class.



Grab the library and sample app:

GitHub - hazlema/MultiIcon: Display or Convert 32bit icons.[^]



Written in C#, Community 2015

Matthew Hazlett

Fighting the good fight for web usability.



modified 14-Jun-16 19:29pm.







It's not the place to promote your article. That's the job of the various newsletters, RSS feeds, Twitter feeds, Google+ feeds, and "updated article" lists.



I suggest you remove your message, before trigger-happy members start reporting it as spam.





"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."

- Homer











However, it appears that the only update (I can see) of the article is that you simply added a message in the comments section announcing it, and linking to the project on GitHub. Unfortunately, it is also correct that some people seem to have have a certain latitude for Lounge post content that others do not (welcome to "human nature"); reaction to your post ? ... who knows ?



It appears to me your code is now in C#, rather than VB.NET; I suggest you edit the article, and at least mention that.



Since, I assume, your new code reflects some new/different ideas, or techniques, compared to a year, or more, ago, one can hope you might revise the article.



You also might notify CP staff of the revision; frequently the e-mail updates from CP members subscribe to include mentions/links to revised articles. I suggest you wait to do that until after you have revised the article text. I am not sure of the exact mechanism for this; perhaps revised articles are selected for mention automatically.



All of this is, of course, imho.

 There is a spectrum, from "clearly desirable behaviour," to "possibly dodgy behavior that still makes some sense," to "clearly undesirable behavior." We try to make the latter into warnings or, better, errors. But stuff that is in the middle category you dont want to restrict unless there is a clear way to work around it.  Eric Lippert, May 14, 2008



modified 14-Jun-16 23:40pm.



I want to create three cars from different directions meeting at the junction





Every day, thousands of innocent plants are killed by vegetarians.



Help end the violence EAT BACON





2) Get three drivers, and give them each two mobiles.

3) Get them to call each other so they can all hear each other and coordinate activities.

4) Get them to drive at an appropriate speed into the same junction at the same time. I'd recommend videoing the results for YouTube.



(4) May be the hardest part, unless you find really stupid people who don't realize they may well be injured or killed. Alcohol may help here, but would impair coordination as well as being illegal.

Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...





Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...





Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...





This space for rent





2. Position three lengths of wood in a star like pattern and elevate them 45 degrees on the furthest away from the center.

3. Position the cars at the top of each plank and release them all at the same time.

4. Have a camera handy so you can take a picture when they all crash together.

5. Import that picture to your solution and write the following.



Bitmap CarsCrashingTogether = new Buitmap("CarCrash.jpg");



6. Tada, you now have a Visual Studio application that contains a car crash.



Hope this helps

Matthew Hazlett

Fighting the good fight for web usability.


Types of obituaries

The Missourian publishes two types of obituaries  family obituaries and life stories.

A family obituary is the version submitted by a funeral home or family. Please see the submission form for details on cost and deadlines. Family obituaries

A life story is a closer look at a person's life and involves a reporter contacting family and friends. Life stories are based on newsworthiness and consent of the family. Life stories.
What you need to know ahead of mandatory CWD sampling in Missouri

outdoors
Donna James Leads a Bold Plan to Revive Victorias Secret

James has a proven record as a C-suite executive and adviser. Now, shes guiding the lingerie giant toward a more inclusive, financially sound future.
Computer rendering of state-of-the-art lighting systems installation on the Big River Crossing Boardwalk on the Harahan Bridge. Photo provided by Mayor's office.



By Wayne Risher of The Commercial Appeal

Anonymous donors are committed to spending at least $1 million with minority- and women-owned firms for projects to light the Harahan and Hernando DeSoto bridges, Downtown officials say.

Downtown Memphis Commission president Terence Patterson and Center City Development Corp. attorney Charles Carpenter said minority contracting requirements have figured prominently in negotiations on a development agreement with the donors.

The donors are giving $5 million to put LED lighting on the Harahan, which will include the Big River Crossing pedestrian bridge, and about $7 million to change out older lights with LEDs on the Interstate 40 bridge.

Center City Development Corp. board member Melvin Jones argued Wednesday for a stronger commitment to minority contracting.

The commission's equal business opportunity program, or EBO, calls for entities receiving incentives to make good-faith efforts for 20 percent participation by minority- and women-owned businesses.

While the agency hasn't committed funding to the bridge lighting, it's the project's public face and is devoting staff members' time to details including funding, design and installation of lighting on the bridges, which span the Mississippi River near Downtown.

Said Jones, "We're in charge. We don't have to negotiate. It's 20 percent if you want to put lights on the bridge. It's that simple. If we're going to hold to our core values, it's 20 percent. We should not deviate. I believe we should give specific instructions to our representatives to tell the donor 'Our EBO is 20 percent. Can we make a deal?' "

Other board members said they didn't favor giving the donors a mandate. "I think a soft push, followed by a hard push, is the right approach," said Carl Person.

Jones invited Dorothy Sinclair, president of lighting company Brighter Days & Nites, to attend the meeting to make a point.

"There are no shortage of African-American and women-owned businesses that can handle 20 percent or more of the project, and to be totally clear, why should it matter to the donor?" Jones said.

Sinclair said she hadn't been contacted about being a supplier for the project.

Business opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses from public projects have been a recurring topic in government circles. A disparity study done for Shelby County government found 88 percent of the county's contracts went to businesses owned by white men between Jan. 1, 2012 and Dec. 31, 2014.

The CCDC board last month authorized Patterson to negotiate with donors and the prime contractor, Philips Lighting.

"The project is not underway yet so there is still an opportunity for us to engage minority and women business participation," Patterson said. "It wasn't their intent not to engage minority and women owned business participation."

"It should not be lost that one, we are a leader in the community on this particular tough topic with respect to government and quasi-government agencies, and two, we have asked and made it very clear what our policy is and we are working very hard with those donors partnering with us on this transaction to make sure we get there," Patterson said.
By Erik Larson, Bloomberg News

"Forces of opposition bow down. You are singlehandedly outnumbered."

That's how one advertisement reads for a semi-automatic rifle made by Bushmaster, whose AR-15 is increasingly the gun of choice for America's mass shooters, including the suspect in Sunday's massacre at a gay dance club in Orlando.

"Consider your man card reissued," another one reads, the text adjacent to a black AR-15 against a stark white background.

The bright red logo of the gun's maker stands out: a red cobra coiled around a rifle, bearing its fangs.

Bushmaster refers to the AR-15 as a "modern sporting rifle," conjuring images of hunters in the woods searching for deer, although civilian marketing for the gun seems to focus less on hunting and more on the military, SWAT teams and all-around masculinity. It may end up being the propriety of firearms advertising rather than constitutional rights that moves the needle in the intractable, decades-long standoff over gun rights. Meanwhile, the AR-15 has figured in prominent recent shooting sprees:

Omar Mateen, 29, brought a handgun and an AR-15 to Pulse, the club where the past weekend's shooting took place, said Orlando Police Chief John Mina.

James Holmes used an AR-15 to kill 12 people and wound 70 at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado in 2012.

Adam Lanza was armed with an AR-15 when he slaughtered 26 children and adults in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Like those shootings, the Orlando attack has triggered calls for expanded background checks, bans on sales of military-style rifles, and cuts to ammunition capacity. Opposing such calls has been the gun lobby, which recently scored a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming individual gun rights.

With that landscape in mind, lawyers for the families of children killed in Newtown embarked on a novel legal thrust.

The lawyers contend Bushmaster, a unit of Cerberus Capital Management LP's Remington Arms Co., is negligently selling a weapon of war to untrained civilians, and the advertisements go a long way toward proving that.

"They are doing so with the knowledge that there are no battlefields with enemy combatants in civilian life; there are only schools and movie theaters and Christmas parties and dance clubs that can be transformed into battlefields in an instant," Katie Mesner-Hage, a lawyer for the parents, said in an interview.

The Newtown case has emerged as the strongest legal challenge to the gun industry's claim of immunity under a 2005 federal law.

Lawyers for the parents of the Newtown victims said the AR-15 has become "the weapon of choice for shooters looking to inflict maximum casualties."

They argue in a lawsuit that Bushmaster's "negligent entrustment" of a military weapon falls under an exception to the law, and say that a victory could set a template for future challenges. Bushmaster rejects their arguments and has urged a Connecticut court to throw the case out.

Litigation challenging the gun industry in such fashion has largely failed in the past.

But Connecticut Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis allowed the Newtown case to move forward when she recently set a trial date for April 2018. A hearing on Bushmaster's next bid to toss the suit is set for June 20 in Bridgeport Superior Court.

In the meantime, the plaintiffs can demand internal documents and testimony from Bushmaster officials to prepare for trial. Even if the case is eventually dismissed, such discovery (as the exchange of evidence is called) could fuel future litigation.

Jessica Kallum, a spokesman for Madison, North Carolina-based Remington, and James Vogts, lead defense lawyer in the Newtown suit, didn't return calls seeking comment. Liz Micci, a spokeswoman for Cerberus, declined to comment.

Bushmaster has said in regulatory filings that part of the growth in the market for the AR-15 was due to increased appeal to a "younger demographic of users," according to court papers. In most states, young people can legally purchase an AR-15 before they can drink alcohol, and no safety training is required, the Newtown lawyers said, and at least a dozen states allow kids as young as 14 or 16 to buy the weapon  or have no age limit for buyers  according to court filings.

Victims' lawyers contend the AR-15 is no good for hunting. The weapons are designed to inflict as much damage as possible before law enforcement can arrive, according to the Newtown lawsuit, which claims the guns are "unethically, oppressively, immorally and unscrupulously marketed."
June 14, 2016 - Michael Keeney, managing partner of the Lewis Thomason Law Firm which occupies the top two floors of One Commerce Square, jokingly says his firm has to move out in order to stay. Lewis Thomason is temporarily moving to the old Pinnacle offices as they undergo a renovation of their present space. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)



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By Thomas Bailey Jr. of The Commercial Appeal

The Lewis Thomason law firm's Memphis office, with 35 attorneys and 68 employees total, announced Tuesday that it has recommitted to Downtown by renewing its lease for the top two floors of the One Commerce Square tower.

The firm essentially decided about a month ago to stay after looking "everywhere,'' said managing shareholder Michael Keeney.

But the announcement adds to Downtown momentum, coming 11 days after ServiceMaster revealed its headquarters with 1,200 employees will move from East Memphis to Downtown's long-vacant Peabody Place mall.

"As part of our firm's culture, we really love being Downtown,'' Keeney said. "We love the vibrancy of Downtown. I think there's a great feel to being Downtown, and I think it is important for the city to have a strong Downtown. And if we can help solidify that, we're glad to do it.''

The firm will expand in place, remaining on the 28th and 29th floors.

Lewis Thomason will temporarily move down to floors 11, 12 and 13 -- the short-lived home of Pinnacle Airlines -- while its space is renovated and expanded by 1,300 square feet. Its total space will become 21,200 square feet.

The firm has appreciated the improvements to One Commerce Square made by One Commerce Square Partners, the ownership group that bought the tower out of bankruptcy in 2010.

As a highly respected, successful, loyal and long tenured tenant in One Commerce Square, who had viable options to relocate elsewhere, we are both thrilled and appreciative of the decision Lewis Thomason has made to continue its commitment to Downtown and to One Commerce Square into the future, Bob Worthington said in a prepared statement. He is chairman and chief executive of Worthington Hyde Partners, which is the managing partner of Memphis Commerce Square Partners.

We view this as another significant endorsement of the buildings successful repositioning to prominence...,'' Worthington said.

Built as the National Bank of Commerce tower in 1973, the building has endured the exodus of two major tenants over the years, Pinnacle Airlines and SunTrust Bank, successor to National Bank of Commerce.

The newest ownership invested $10 million in the building. The renovation included the attainment of Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) status.

Earlier this year, the 100-employee Hnedak Bobo Group architecture firm announced it is moving into One Commerce Square, taking 30,000 square feet on the 23rd and 24th floors.

"We hope that our recommitment to Downtown will encourage other businesses to experience the vibrant atmosphere associated with being Downtown,'' Sweeney said.

Lewis Thomason has been an anchor tenant in One Commerce Square for 25 years.

The renovation of the law offices will include new flooring and ceiling tiles, other interior finish upgrades, new restrooms, an internal stairwell and continued use of private balconies facing east and west toward the Mississippi River.

"There's no better view in the city of Memphis than from our office,'' Keeney said. "I'm telling you, we cannot replicate that.''

Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors is the tower's leasing agent and management firm. Phil Dagastino Jr. and Bentley Pembroke of Cushman & Wakefield represented the landlord on the lease. Henry Stratton of Colliers represented Lewis Thomason.

Lewis Thomason is a statewide law firm with offices of about equal sizes in Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville. The Memphis office was established in 1967.
SHARE Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam speaks at an announcement at the state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, March 17, 2015, that Nissan Motor Co. plans to build a $160 million supplier park in Tennessee. (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

By Dave Boucher and Joel Ebert, USA TODAY NETWORK  Tennessee

Gov. Bill Haslam and other Republican governors are in New York City today to meet with presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.

"Gov. Haslam joined several other governors in New York today to meet with Mr. Trump and discuss state and federal issues," said Jennifer Donnals, a spokeswoman for Haslam.

She didn't provide any other details about the meeting.

Haslam and six other governors are set to meet with the outspoken tycoon, according to several media reports. Haslam hasn't officially endorsed Trump, instead repeatedly saying in recent weeks he'd like to meet with the likely nominee.

Continue reading at The Tennessean, a USA TODAY Network partner.
March 13, 2015 - Correctional officer William Dyson watches the gate separating the kitchen from the dining area after morning meal service inside the Shelby County Corrections Center. (Brandon Dill/Special to The Commercial Appeal)

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By Linda A. Moore of The Commercial Appeal

Officers from the Shelby County Correctional Center packed a County Commission committee meeting Wednesday in a show of solidarity as they petitioned for higher pay, forcing officials to move the meeting to a larger space in the full commission chambers.

The officers have asked the commission for a pay increase that aligns their pay with that of deputy jailers, who work for the sheriff's office.

The county administration, in a presentation to the commission's law enforcement, fire, corrections and courts committee, acknowledged that there was an "unprecedented" $8,000 pay raise given to jailers in 2002 after the jail was placed under U.S. Department of Justice supervision.

That created the disparity, county Chief Administrative Officer Harvey Kennedy told the commissioners.

The 821 jailers will receive minimum pay of $33,983 and maximum of $48,096, based on the 2 percent county pay increase recommended in the fiscal 2017 budget.

The 340 corrections officers for fiscal 2017 will be paid a minimum of $33,853 and a maximum of $37,637.

Kennedy noted that while the jobs are similar, jailers deal with anyone who has been brought in off the street and committed crimes at all levels.

Inmates at the Correctional Center, however, are sentenced to no more than six years and are typically not violent offenders.

There are also amenities for workers at the Correctional Center's "open-air campus" near Shelby Farms versus the high-rise jail at 201 Poplar, Kennedy said.

The county is in the process of conducting a compensation study and will likely find that some pay adjustments will need to be made, Kennedy said.

In an "act of good faith," Commissioner Mark Billingsley asked if the administration could begin closing the gap prior to the study.

"What I will pledge to you, we're going to, with all diligence, move forward with this compensation plan," county Mayor Mark Luttrell said.

Corrections officers are also law enforcement officers, but work without weapons, cell phones or bulletproof vests and often supervise inmates while alone, said DeShara Johnson, a corrections officer for two years.

"Our job is really not safe," corrections officer Carmen Robinson said. "We have in the Division of Corrections a mass movement of inmates on a daily basis. That's not just in the facility. That's out here in the community."

They do it all, she said, unarmed.

Both groups are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and a sizable contingent of jailers were also present at the meeting to show support for their fellow professionals.

Alan Lee, deputy director of AFSCME's Southern region argued that the county's presentation seemed to pit corrections officers and jailers against each other and that the county did not need a study to do the right thing.

Bill Gupton, Corrections Division director, advised Commissioner Heidi Shafer that the division is looking at arming "a particular portion of the staff" that needs to be armed to carry out its duties.

"We're looking at getting that done pretty quickly," Gupton said.
SHARE Bill Haslam

By Richard Locker of The Commercial Appeal

NASHVILLE  Gov. Bill Haslam stopped short of endorsing Donald Trump on Wednesday after Haslam and five other Republican governors met a day earlier with the presumptive Republican nominee in New York.

The governor said the meeting went well and dealt mostly with state-federal issues. Asked if he's ready to endorse Trump after the long-planned meeting, Haslam said: "To be honest, we never even talked about it. He asked me what I think will happen in Tennessee, and I said: 'I think you'll win.' And then the conversation moved on, and we ended up talking about a lot of other things."

The Tennessee governor acknowledged he's had concerns about the tone of Trump's rhetoric, which was discussed Tuesday.

"We did have a conversation about that. Remember, there were six different governors so everybody has different opinions there. But I think several of us expressed a real concern that what we say and how we say it matters.

"I think what a lot of us said is, we're at the point where it's really important to bring all the Republicans onto the ship that you can, and the importance for the candidate to do that I think will mean the difference between winning and not winning in November," he said.

Other governors who attended were Arkansas' Asa Hutchinson, Mississippi's Phil Bryant, Mary Fallin of Oklahoma, Chris Christie of New Jersey and Doug Ducey of Arizona. Haslam helped arrange the meeting, which he and the Trump camp have tried to schedule for weeks.

Asked if he left with a better feeling about the campaign, Haslam said, "I'm one of those people that it really helps to sit down and talk. It's no secret that there have been things that I haven't agreed with. It's also no secret that's not who my first pick was. But I appreciate him sitting down and talking with us. It's a long road between here and November. There'll be a lot of twists and turns."

Haslam endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio before the March 1 Tennessee presidential primary but Rubio ended his candidacy after losing his home state's primary to Trump on March 15.

"It was an interesting meeting, to say the least, when you have six governors and Donald Trump in one room. I think it's safe to say there's not a lot of empty airtime. The purpose of the meeting was to make certain that governors had a chance to explain some things that matter to states, and obviously, he had some things that he wanted to share with us as well.

"We talked a lot about the impact of the (federal) departments on state government  who the secretaries are, who they appoint  those Cabinet-level officials bring a philosophy to the departments that impact the states on a day-to-day basis."

Although it wasn't specifically discussed with Trump, Haslam called the mass slaying at the gay Orlando nightclub a tragedy that should prompt a national conversation about a variety of issues.

"As a country we need to sit down and talk about why are we seeing that so much more than any other nation at this point in time," Haslam said. " ... Have those hard conversations and see if we can find out the best we can why it's happening and why it's happening in such an extraordinary amount in our country."

Asked if that conversation should include gun control, the governor said there is already conversation about a 72-hour wait period to buy guns for people on FBI watch lists and no-fly lists.

Reporters also asked Haslam if he agrees with Trump's statements that all Muslims should be banned from entering the U.S. "Do I disagree that we need to ban all Muslims from entering the country? Yes, I disagree with that strongly," he said.
Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

By Joel Ebert, USA TODAY NETWORK  Tennessee

After reportedly receiving death threats from a previously unidentified Memphis-based male, Rep. Andy Holt is planning on pressing charges and moving forward with a criminal investigation into the matter.

On Tuesday, Holt, R-Dresden, said he identified the caller as "Democrat activist Michael Barrach."

"We spoke with law enforcement and other staffers here at the Capitol and they say the number and behavior matches that of Mr. Barrach," said Michael Lotfi, an assistant to Holt.

On Monday, Lotfi reportedly fielded multiple threatening phone calls from a previously unidentified male caller who said he would "beat our a--es" while the caller also indicated he had multiple guns. Holt classified the phone calls as "death threats."

The phone calls came hours after The Tennessean and other media outlets reported that Holt intends to move forward with his plans to give away two AR-15s, a semiautomatic rifle similar to the one used in the Orlando, Florida shooting, at an upcoming fundraiser.

On Tuesday, Lotfi said the calls from Barrach came after he has made similar threats to other Republican lawmakers and their staff.

"According to other staffers, he's called at least three other Republican legislators recently and made similar threats," Lotfi said.

Although the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation could not immediately provide The Tennessean an investigative file for Barrach, Holt's office said state troopers and investigators have had Barrach on a "watch list."

Efforts to reach Barrach on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Also on Tuesday, Connecticut-based Friends of Animals took issue with Holt's plan to hold a turkey shoot during his fundraiser.

"Tennessee's Rep. Holt is a public nuisance posing as a public servant. And he's acting crazier than our society can afford right now," said Priscilla Feral, the organization's president.
June 15, 2016 - Memphis Police Department 911 dispatcher Wykela Holliday looks for a supervisor while handling an emergency call at the 911 Call Center at 201 Poplar. The department has recently tried to add staff but high turnover in the stressful position has made it difficult. (Jim Weber/The Commercial Appeal)

By Kayleigh Skinner of The Commercial Appeal

The 12th floor of 201 Poplar was filled with emergency dispatchers Wednesday morning, clad in black polo shirts speaking with calm, controlled voices into headsets.

"Oh, your boyfriend stole your television? You will have to file a report," one woman said. "You need an officer to come out? What's your address ma'am?"

The Memphis Police Department's 911 call center is staffed with dispatchers who field phone calls from distressed Shelby County residents. However, communications manager Marvin Pender said finding people to do the job has been difficult.

In February, MPD employed 119 operators; Pender said there are currently 125.

"It's been a long year," Pender said.

Fifteen full time operators were hired in February to help adequately staff the center, but many struggled with the stress of the job, Pender said. Some "had no idea what the job actually entailed, the working hours."

"There's been turnover," he said. "It goes to the fact that for one, it's a stressful job. We have a couple of trainees that have come in and realized it wasn't the job for them and they couldn't handle it. Some said they came to work with knots in their stomach."

In April, city chief operations officer Doug McGowen said Memphis will hire 20 full-time 911 dispatchers by the end of January 2017, and 30 new part-time 911 call-takers by the end of October this year with the ultimate goal of 145 employees total. Both full- and part-time dispatchers start at $19 an hour, Pender said.

Pender said there are seven part-time employees training at the Memphis Police Training Academy who will start on-the-job training Monday, which lasts five to six months. MPD also offered 10 people full-time jobs; should they accept, their training class begins June 27, he said.

"When you're taking stressful calls, it's a lot for some people to handle," Pender said. "That's what you have to deal with during this hiring process."

More employees are needed to reduce the wait time  in February, Pender said the average wait when someone dials 911 in Shelby County was 110 seconds. In March, calls were answered in an average of 27.8 seconds, compared to the national goal of 20 seconds and to the average 59.7 seconds in December, according to McGowen.

"It has decreased," Pender said, adding that the current wait time was not immediately available. "We still hit our high peak times when you get flooded with high incident calls."

The wait may also be caused by people dialing in for non-emergency situations; Pender said in 2015, the center handled two million calls and dispatched police to one million of them.

"You get those calls coming in on 911 a lot of times, but you have to look at it in the eyes of the person calling in," Pender said. "It's the easiest number to remember."

The non-emergency number is 901-545-2677.
The Tennessee State Capitol stands apart from newer buildings in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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By Jason Gonzales, USA TODAY NETWORK  Tennessee

The Metro Nashville Public Schools board voted Tuesday to sue the state for a greater share of education funding, saying Tennessee is not providing enough money to help teach English to children for whom it is a second language.

With the district suing the state for education funding, it joins Shelby County Schools and seven Hamilton County-area districts in their pursuit of more Basic Education Program funds.

The subject of suing the state for education funds came to a head after Metro Law Director Jon Cooper sent a letter June 1 asking the state why Nashville received less money for its English language learners, or ELL, this year.

Read more at our USA TODAY Network partner The Tennessean.
June 14, 2016- Candidates for Congress David Maldonado, Mark Luttrell, Tom Leatherwood, David Kustoff, Brian Kelsey, Raymond Honeycutt and Dr. George Flinn stand as the Star Spangled Banner plays at the start of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Memphis 8th Congressional District Candidate Forum. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal)

By Daniel Connolly of The Commercial Appeal

Retired banker Raymond Honeycutt and businessman David Maldonado said at an 8th Congressional District candidates' forum at the Agricenter Tuesday night that they support Donald Trump for president. Shelby County Register Tom Leatherwood said the same.

State Sen. Brian Kelsey likewise said he backs Trump, "And I will do everything in my power to ensure we do not have a President Hillary Clinton." Former prosecutor David Kustoff said he'll campaign for Trump. So did Dr. George Flinn, who said he was even wearing a Donald Trump tie  he held up the red fabric.

The only candidate who expressed any reservations about backing the presumptive Republican nominee was Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell. "I do hope that we start to see a little bit more civility in public discourse," he said.

Trump has made comments that offended numerous ethnic and religious groups over the past few months. His statements about the Mexican-American judge handling a civil lawsuit involving Trump University were criticized by several prominent Republicans.

The embrace of Trump by most illustrated the tone of the candidate's forum  the seven candidates, all Republicans, expressed similarly conservative views.

The seven candidates present at the forum were among 13 Republicans in the race to replace incumbent U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher of Frog Jump, who is not running for re-election. Candidate Brad Greer of Jackson complained he was left out. Sam Goff, with forum sponsors Mortgage Bankers Association of Memphis, said the group decided to limit participants to Shelby County candidates. None of the Democratic or independent candidates appeared.

Several candidates called for lower taxes and deregulation of business. Leatherwood called for abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency. "The Number One issue I hear from the farmers as I travel across the district is the EPA," he said.

District 8 stretches from Memphis suburbs through a wide swath of rural west Tennessee. It's a mostly white and largely Republican district.

The turnout for the forum was small, around 75, and Luttrell pointed out that many in the audience wore campaign stickers or other gear that identified their preference for the candidates they're backing. This audience stayed silent throughout most of the forum, although they gave a trickle of applause at the end.

A question from moderator Joe Birch of WMC-TV focused on how the nation should respond to violence like the mass shooting in Orlando.

Honeycutt said the country should screen immigrants and that immigrant parents whose children commit crimes should face consequences. "Well, I think that any immigrant whose issue commits an act of terror should be deported from this country . . . I'm the one who wants to cut out the cancer, not treat the symptoms."

Kelsey said the government should take the fight to ISIS. "Currently we have a president who has chosen not to have that plan."

Kustoff likewise criticized President Barack Obama: "Obama needs to be a little bit less like Jack Black and more like Jack Bauer. . . Get to the head of the snake and cut it off."

Leatherwood said, "We do need to secure our borders. We do need to stop the flow of refugees into the country," but added the person believed to have committed the shootings in Orlando was a U.S. citizen. He, too, criticized the president and called for attacks on ISIS.

Flinn and Maldonado made similar calls for a hard response. "It's about time Congress declares war on ISIS, ISIL," Maldanado said.

Luttrell struck a different tone, saying that the federal government should try to better coordinate the work of various intelligence agencies. "I think the best thing we can do as congressional leaders is to force collaboration. . . Our responsibility is to collaborate and collect our thoughts."

Less than two months remain until the Republican primary on Aug. 4, which is expected to decide the race. The general election is Nov. 8.

InforMemphis team editor David Royer contributed to this story.
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Henry Brenner

Memphis

In reference to the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, Amendment II to our U.S. Constitution and the rest of the first 10 amendments were ratified Dec. 15, 1791.

Amendment II: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

In 1791, we did not have assault rifles with magazines to hold many rounds of ammunition. There have been too many senseless killings by these weapons.

The time has come to ban assault rifles to any individuals. The only place for this weapon is in the hands of law enforcement.
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By Eli Lake

If past is prelude, then the massacre in Orlando this weekend will benefit Donald Trump's campaign for the presidency. As the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has boasted, he gained significant support in December when a husband-and-wife Jihadist duo shot up a government building in San Bernardino, California.

Now Trump is crowing. His tweets and interviews since the shooting are a series of told-ya-so's. He is quite pleased with himself for observing that President Barack Obama doesn't call these mass shootings "radical Islamic terrorism."

For Trump's supporters, this kind of talk makes their guy appear brave and thoughtful. If we cannot name the enemy, the reasoning goes, then how can we defeat it?

But as I wrote in January after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris, there are good reasons Obama  and President George W. Bush before him  did not describe jihadists in explicitly Islamic terms. It was not because they are cowed by political correctness. Rather it was because the wider war on radical Islamic terrorism requires the tacit and at times active support of many radical Muslims.

To illustrate this point, consider the Iraq war counterinsurgency campaign known as the surge. In 2007, the U.S. military formed an alliance with sheiks in Anbar province who had aided al Qaeda's Iraqi franchise in the first years of the war. These sheiks were pious Muslims. Many believed that apostates should be punished by the state and that fathers had an obligation to arrange marriages for their daughters.

If Bush had been more like Donald Trump and proposed banning all Muslims from entering the U.S., there is a good chance these Anbari sheiks would have concluded that the U.S. was as much of a threat to their villages as al-Qaida. The sheiks who've survived the Islamic State today are reluctant to join the fight against them because they see the Shiite militias leading the Iraqi campaign against the Islamic State as a greater threat.

Obama, admittedly, was slow to learn this lesson. He let the U.S. partnership with the Anbari sheiks wither after withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq in 2011. But is this really something Trump is going to criticize? He has been on the campaign trail falsely claiming that he opposed the Iraq war all along. Will Trump now say Obama was too quick to pull U.S. forces out of Iraq?

At the end of his second term, Obama is trying to re-create in Syria the success of Bush's alliance with the Anbari sheiks. This is why the Pentagon has redoubled its efforts to train Sunni Arab fighters for the majority Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces who this month launched a campaign to cut off the supply lines to the Islamic State's capital in the town of Raqqa. Senior U.S. war planners understand that the prospect of a Kurdish force liberating Raqqa risks alienating the local population  the very people the West needs to hold the city after the Islamic State is defeated there.

Finally in the case of the Orlando mass shooting, there's much we don't know about what motivated Omar Mateen to go on a rampage at a gay night club. It's possible that he had been in contact with terrorist groups for months or years, like the San Bernardino shooters. But it's also possible that the first time he mentioned his allegiance to the Islamic State was when he called a police operator during the attack. As the New York Times's Rukmini Callimachi wrote, the Islamic State intentionally blurs the lines between the acts of terror it plans and the acts of terror it inspires.

None of this is to say Obama has waged the war on terror with competence. For too long he did nothing as the collapse of Syria and Iraq created a vacuum filled by the Islamic State, which has inspired young loners from all over the world to commit barbarism in the name of their faith.

The best way to stop these terrorists is to enlist as many Muslims as possible in a fight against them. The last two American presidents grasped this lesson. Unfortunately, the presumptive Republican nominee to replace them has not.

Eli Lake is a Bloomberg View columnist.
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By Leonid Bershidsky

According to Donald Trump, he has been congratulated "for being right on radical Islamic terrorism" after 49 people died by a lone gunman's hand in an Orlando, Florida, nightclub. The shooting, however, proves him wrong on several major points that unite his supporters. Even though they will ignore the proof, it's worth laying out.

During the primary campaign, Trump kept using the November terror attacks in Paris to make the point that strict gun regulations increase the casualty count. France, he said over and over, had "the toughest gun laws in the world." Because of them, only the bad guys had guns. Had it been otherwise, fewer people would have died, Trump told applauding audiences.

At the Bataclan concert hall in Paris, 1,500 people were in the audience and, as Trump said, nobody had guns. Three gunmen killed 89 of the concert-goers.

But at the Pulse club in Orlando, about 320 people were present when Omar Mateen went on the rampage. A security guard  a cop working extra duty  opened fire, and two other officers who had been nearby backed him up. Even so, the lone attacker managed to kill 49 people, a much bigger proportion of those present than in Paris.

Florida, with a permissive attitude to the National Firearms Act, is ranked 12th among the "best states for gun owners" by Guns & Ammo. Last year, the magazine gushed that:

"For many years, Florida's gun laws have been the envy of gun owners nationwide. The Sunshine State places no restrictions upon modern firearms, magazines or NFA items, and the state has a healthy competitive shooting network."

I have heard U.S. gun advocates claim that allowing more "good guys" to be armed serves as a deterrent to criminals, who are looking for victims, not a fight. The argument has always struck me as theoretical: It depends on the criminal and on how angry, skillful and indifferent to his survival he may be. Mateen has proved the theory wrong. As someone who carried a gun as part of his job, he was confident he'd do enough damage even if confronted.

If the Paris tragedy proved anything, it's that the relative looseness or toughness of gun laws is not the deciding factor. Criminals will still be able to get guns even if you limit magazine size or stop gun sales to people who, like Mateen, have been scrutinized by the Federal Bureau of Investigations for terrorist connections. Stricter French rules didn't stop the attackers there. Nevertheless, Florida's permissive gun culture probably helped Mateen more than it hindered him.

The other point Trump is missing is about "radical Islamic terrorism" and its relationship to bigotry. The Orlando shooter clearly targeted gays. The shooter's father has said Mateen had hated gays for kissing in front of his own kid. That didn't necessarily have anything to do with his brand of Islam or whatever Islamic State connection he may have had. Homophobia isn't imported into the U.S. by Muslims, whom Trump still wants to ban from entering the U.S.: Even at its most violent, it's prevalent in countries with Christian majorities, too, and in the U.S. itself.

Last year, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a report on anti-gay discrimination and violence. Global statistics on hate crimes against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people are not compiled, but the report cited data from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights about 594 hate-related killings of LGBT people in the 25 members of the Organization of American States between January 2013 and March 2014.

In the U.S., the FBI reported 999 hate crimes against LGBT people in 2014, the latest year for which data are available. It's not clear how many of these were murders  probably very few, since the FBI only registered four hate-motivated murders that year  but there were plenty of violent assaults.

U.S.-born Mateen didn't have to be a Muslim or an Islamic State fighter to make the leap from gay-bashing to spraying bullets in that nightclub. Whether Trump likes it or not  and, for electoral purposes, he does appear to like it at times  hate transcends religions and affiliations. Just ask Dylann Roof, who shot up a black congregation in Charleston, South Carolina, a year ago.

Trump's recipes for the prevention of further tragedies like the one in Orlando  branding of terrorism as "Islamic," restricting entry for Muslims, maintaining lax gun laws  are at best inefficient. At worst, they lead to more hatred. As it is, in 2014, there were 154 anti-Islamic incidents in the U.S.; Muslims are the second most-attacked religious group after Jews. Keeping gun laws soft does nothing to complicate access to the most gruesome way of venting one's bigotry.

Leonid Bershidsky, a Bloomberg View contributor, is a Berlin-based writer.
Android and Chrome OS are in the midst of coming together like never before. If you use both platforms and want to take the synergy up a notch, this creative Android home screen setup is just the thing for you.

It's a little something I like to call the Chrome Phone -- and it does exactly what you'd expect: It brings a taste of the Chrome OS interface onto your Android device.

Submitted by an Android user who goes by the name "Wall Breaker," the Chrome Phone gives you a Chrome OS-inspired Apps button on the bottom-left of your home screen along with a Chrome OS-inspired status bar on the bottom-right. Throw in a few docked shortcuts of your choice, and you've got a setup that's practically dripping with Chrome-flavored syrup.

(Got a creative home screen setup of your own? Send some screenshots to AwesomeHomeScreens@gmail.com. Fleeting fame, gaggles of groupies, and a $10 Google Play gift card could be yours!)

To fill out the space and keep some Android-specific touches in place, our buddy Mr. Breaker uses a time and date widget at the top of his home screen and a lovely ocean skyline as his background, as shown above. But being Android, of course, you can switch things up easily and change the style of those elements to suit your own personal taste:

You can even tweak the status bar to give it a Chrome OS-like notification box with a live counter for your unread text messages or emails:

It's a match made in mobile platform heaven. Seriously -- would someone get these two a room already?

Want to try it for yourself?

The Chrome Phone setup is super simple to implement -- and also customize, if you're so inclined. Here's the lowdown:

The ingredients

To get the Chrome Phone home screen on your own device, you'll first need to install the following apps from the Google Play Store:

Nova Launcher (free). One of the most customizable home screen replacements for Android; it serves as the foundation for this setup and allows everything to function the way it should. If you want extra features, including the ability to have the email or text message counter box, you'll also need to grab the Nova Launcher Prime key ($4.99).

Zooper Widget Pro ($2.99). A versatile widget app that powers all of the Chrome Phone's primary on-screen elements.

Europa Zooper (free). The specific Zooper widget (think of it like a skin) for the bottom-of-screen app/status bar.

Fox for Zooper (free). The specific Zooper widget for the top-of-screen time and date widget.

So all in all, we're talking about three bucks for the home screen's basic functionality -- $8 if you want to go all in with Nova and take advantage of its full set of features.

Remember, too, that Zooper Widget is incredibly versatile and has tons of user-made skins available in the Play Store -- many of which are free. And Nova, of course, can be used for all sorts of custom creations beyond this one setup. So whether you spend $3 or $8, you're investing in apps that are well worth their cost and capable of opening up many more possibilities for your home screen in the future.

The recipe

Once you have the above ingredients installed on your device, follow these steps to get your new home screen up and running:

(Fair warning: This may seem like a lot to do, but that's only because I'm breaking everything down into detailed individual steps. If you follow these exact instructions, the process is actually pretty straight-forward and shouldn't take more than a few minutes to complete.)

1. Hit your device's Home button, then select Nova Launcher and tell the system to do that same thing every time. (You can always change this in the "Home" section of your main system settings if you later decide you want to go back to what you were using before.)

2. Open up Nova Settings, which should be available as an app either on your home screen or in your app drawer. Tap "Desktop," then "Desktop grid." Set both of the values to 7 and make sure "Subgrid Positioning" is checked. Tap "Done" when you're finished.

3. While still in the "Desktop" section of Nova Settings, tap "Icon layout." Set the "Icon size" value to 70% and tap the toggle next to "Label" to turn that option off. Tap your device's Back button when you're finished.

4. While still in the "Desktop" section of Nova Settings, look for the option labeled "Page indicator" and set it to "None." Next, tap "Dock," then tap the toggle in the top-right corner of that screen to disable the dock entirely.

5. While still in the "Desktop" section of Nova Settings, scroll all the way down and tap the line labeled "Advanced," then turn on the toggles for both "Widget overlap" and "Overlap when placing."

6. Head back to your home screen (either by pressing your device's Home button or pressing the Back key a couple of times). Then, one by one, touch and hold each item that's there -- including all shortcuts and the Google search bar at the top -- and remove all of the items by dragging them one at a time up to the "x" at the top of the screen. You want a completely blank canvas to start.

7. Once everything's gone, tap and hold in a blank space on your home screen, then select "Widgets" and scroll down until you see the line for Zooper Widget Pro. Scroll horizontally on that line to the very end, then tap and hold the item labeled "Zooper Widget 7x1" and drop it on your home screen's bottom-most line.

8. You should now see a placeholder box on your home screen instructing you to tap to start. Tap that box, then select "Europa" from the list that appears and scroll down until you find the widget labeled "Europa_027." Tap that widget to select it -- or, if you want your bottom-of-screen status bar to show your unread email or text message count, select "Europa_029" (for email) or "Europa_030" (for text messages) instead.

9. Once you've selected your widget, you'll be taken to a screen that'll let you configure it. Tap "Layout," then scroll to the bottom of the list. Tap the option labeled "Bitmap Icon Set: Material Wifi Signal," then find and tap the option labeled "Module OnTap." Swipe over twice until you're under the "Shortcuts" header, then find and tap "Settings shortcut" and select "Wi-Fi" from the list that appears.

10. Tap your device's Back button once, then repeat the same exact step -- only with the option labeled "Bitmap Icon Set: Material Battery," and this time, select "Battery" instead of "Wi-Fi" at the end.

11. Tap your device's Back button once, then tap the option labeled "Text" (with the current time beneath it). Find and tap the option labeled "Module OnTap," then swipe over once until you're under the "App List" header and select "Clock" from the list that appears.

12. If you don't want the clock to put a zero in front of single-digit times (i.e. you want it to show "9:00" instead of "09:00"), scroll down and find the option labeled "Text Content." Tap "Time," then select "AM/PM short clock."

13. Tap your device's Back button once, then tap the very last option in the list -- the one simply labeled "Bitmap." Then scroll down and find the option labeled "Bitmap" (yes, again), and find and select an image that you like. This image will be used as the profile picture in the bottom-of-screen status bar. (Note that if you're using the status bar that shows your unread email or text message count, this element won't be displayed -- so you really don't need to bother setting it.)

14. Tap your device's Back button a few times to get back to your home screen. Ta-da: Your app/status bar widget should now be in place and functioning! If you want to add any docked shortcuts between the Apps icon and the status bar, tap the Apps button and then simply drag whatever icons you want onto the proper places on your home screen.

15. All that's left now is to add the top-of-screen clock widget. To get the one our pal Wall Breaker uses, tap and hold in any blank space on your home screen, then select "Widgets" and scroll down until you see the line for Zooper Widget Pro. Scroll horizontally on that line to the very end, then tap and hold the item labeled "Zooper Widget 7x2" and drop it toward the top of your home screen.

Tap the widget's placeholder box, then select "Fox For Zooper" from the list that appears and scroll down until you find the widget labeled "fox_widget17." Tap that widget to select it.

If that particular design isn't your cup of tea, there are plenty of other interesting top-of-screen widget options you can find within the Zooper Europa and Zooper Fox packages. I like this minimal one, which is listed as "fox_widget26" under the Fox section:

Or, of course, you can use any other widget you like -- or no widget in that area at all.

The result

That's it! Your Chrome OS-like Android home screen should now be fully configured and functional.

Two platforms overlapping in sweet, geeky harmony. Ain't life grand?!

Check out more Android expert profiles below or in the official Google+ collection -- and send your own creative home screen submissions to AwesomeHomeScreens@gmail.com!
Raise your hand if you thought ISPs were gonna go down without a fight.

Yeah, me neither.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld that the FCC had the right to reclassify broadband as a common-carrier telecom service, thereby limiting the ability of ISPs to selectively block or slow down internet traffic.

Naturally, the ISPs are less than thrilled with the decision. This won't be the last we see of them.

In IT Blogwatch, we have the lowdown on the showdown.

In case you've been living under a rock for the last few years, here's the background on net neutrality, courtesy of Marguerite Reardon in What's everyone saying about net neutrality?

For more than a decade, the issue of net neutrality...has pitted the broadband and internet industries against consumer advocates, who have called on the government to enact rules to make sure the open internet is protected.

...

On Tuesday, the FCC scored a major legal victory when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the FCC's...contention that it had the authority to reclassify broadband as a public utility.

So that's it, right? End of story. (Not quite.) Grant Gross explains in Net neutrality rules upheld by appeals court, but fight is not over

Rejecting challenges by ISPs and broadband trade groups, an appeals court...upheld the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's controversial net neutrality rules...prohibit[ing] broadband providers from selectively blocking or slowing internet traffic.

...

The appeals court decision is probably not be the end of the decade-long net neutrality debate...Republicans in Congress have...attempted to kill the rules several times and are likely to try again.

Decade-long -- and going to get longer? But really, what can the ISPs do? Joe Ravi tells us in After net neutrality loss, ISPs get ready to take case to Supreme Court

The FCC won a 2-1 decision...from a three-judge panel...but ISPs and their lobby groups are not out of legal options: they can ask the same court for an "en banc" review in front of all of the court's judges instead of...a three-judge panel. If that fails, they could appeal to the Supreme Court, or they could skip the en banc step and go straight to the nation's highest court.

So settle in, kids, it looks like we are going to be watching this one for a while. Or as AT&T General Counsel David McAtee said (via Jim Puzzanghera in In victory for Obama, court backs strict Internet regulation):

We have always expected this...to be decided by the Supreme Court, and we look forward to participating in that appeal.
Adobe Systems warned users Tuesday that an unpatched Flash Player vulnerability is currently being exploited in targeted attacks. The company expects to deliver a patch as soon as Thursday.

The exploit was discovered by researchers from antivirus vendor Kaspersky Lab in attacks attributed to a cyberespionage group known in the security industry as ScarCruft.

The group is relatively new, but is apparently quite resourceful, as this is possibly the second zero-day -- previously unknown and unpatched -- exploit that it used this year.

The other exploit targeted a critical remote code execution vulnerability in Microsoft XML Core Services that was tracked as CVE-2016-0147 and was patched by Microsoft in April.

ScarCruft has been exploiting the new Flash Player zero-day flaw, which Adobe tracks as CVE-2016-4171, as part of a cyberespionage campaign against high-profile victims that was launched in March.

Kaspersky Lab has dubbed this campaign Operation Daybreak and has detected victims in Russia, Nepal, South Korea, China, India, Kuwait and Romania.

ScarCruft is also behind a separate cyberespionage campaign dubbed Operation Erebus that exploits a critical vulnerability in Flash Player patched in May. That vulnerability was also a zero-day when it was discovered in the wild by researchers from security vendor FireEye.

In a security advisory published Tuesday, Adobe said that it will address the new vulnerability in its monthly security bulletins, which will be available as early as Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Kaspersky Lab researchers have confirmed that Microsoft's Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) blocks the attack so companies should consider using this tool on their endpoint systems, if they aren't already.
The U.S. has charged a Chinese national, Xu Jiaqiang, with economic espionage and theft of the source code of a clustered file system belonging to his former U.S. employer, which he is alleged to have stolen for his own benefit and that of the National Health and Family Planning Commission in China.

The charges against Xu highlight the intellectual property risks faced in other countries by development operations of U.S. companies, particularly in those countries the U.S. suspects could be involved in economic espionage.

Xu, who was initially arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in December and was charged with one count of theft of trade secrets, is scheduled to be arraigned on a superseding indictment of charges of economic espionage on Thursday in a federal court in New York, the Department of Justice said.

The company whose source code he is alleged to have stolen has not been named in court filings or the DOJ statement, but a Reuters report said he was employed by IBM.

LinkedIn lists a developer with the same name as employed with IBM in China during about the same period. The company has 2,300 developers located in Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei at its China Development Lab (CDL) that was founded in 1999. IBM could not be immediately reached for comment.

Xu worked as a developer for the U.S. companys branch in China from November 2010 to May 2014. He had full access to proprietary source code, including the ability to download it to a computer or storage device, according to the original complaint in December in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

He resigned voluntarily in May 2014 and was allegedly caught trying to sell the code to U.S. undercover agents, who claimed they were starting a large-data storage company. Xu told the agents in May 2015 that he would consider downloading the code to the new startup for testing its functionality if they would set up a small network of computers for the purpose.

By August 2015, the files were remotely uploaded to the network set up the FBI agents and by the assessment of one of the "victim companys" employees appeared to contain a functioning copy of the proprietary software. On Dec. 7, 2015, Xu met with one of the agents at an hotel in White Plains, New York, where he is alleged to have stated in sum and substance, that he had used the proprietary source code to make software to sell to customers.

Xu was arrested on Dec. 7 by the FBI. The three counts of economic espionage each carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison while the three counts of theft, distribution and possession of trade secrets each have a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Economic espionage not only harms victim companies that have years or even decades of work stolen, but it also crushes the spirit of innovation and fair play in the global economy, said Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, in a statement Tuesday.

The software is described as a key component of one of the worlds largest scientific supercomputers and of commercial applications that require rapid access to large volumes of data, according to the original complaint.

Xu is charged with the intent to benefit the Chinese agency but no specific charges relating to actual transfer of the code to the National Health and Family Planning Commission are mentioned in the superseding indictment.
Rebecca Coulson is a freelance classical musician and writer, and was Parliamentary Candidate for the City of Durham at the 2015 General Election.

Like most of us, I have a thing about justification. Of course, we wont be won over by any old argument simply because it seems right to the person making it. Rather, were wary of people  and particularly politicians  who dont feel the need to bother. Im not asking for ideology in the sense of an overriding normative system; I just want deeper explanations for individual political priorities than the catch-all undertones of, say, saving money for saving moneys sake.

Having argued in last fortnights column that classic liberalism should be better exploited as a justification for Conservative policy, now might be the time to consider its traditional alternative: paternalism. If liberalism warrants state action through the consent of its citizens (the tacit contract that they enter into to gain protection of their liberty), then paternalism warrants it by proposing that the states role is to protect them as members of a hierarchical society. Paternalism implies this is a fatherly role. But, as the newly-knighted Roger Scruton points out in his Dictionary of Political Thought, the term can be used as one of praise or abuse, depending on whether the responsibilities or the advantages of a father are emphasised.

Sometimes, paternalisms motivation is moral: providing for the poor is an obligation for those informed by certain social traditions such as feudally-inspired noblesse oblige, or by religion, in the case of Christian democrats. Sometimes it is pragmatic: if the ruling class doesnt help those who struggle, they will cost it more in the long run, and might rebel. Typically, paternalism is encouraged by a mixture of these motivations.

The leading paternalist movement within British conservatism is one-nationism. I was talking with a friend the other day about the growing prevalence of this term: its everywhere (remember Ed Milibands full-on flirtation?), yet nobody seems keen to clarify its meaning. Like liberal, it has become an ambiguously virtuous sound bite. Its conventional definition, therefore (assuming the politicians who use it are aware of that) needs restating, not least to counter obfuscation.

It is increasingly unusual for MPs to have a background in the arts. Disraeli not only wrote novels, but those novels grounded his politics. Sybil, his most famous, sets out a view that Britain faces being divided into two nations  the rich and the poor  unless it is united through establishment support of the disadvantaged. Again, this was motivated by pragmatism as much as morality: the novel was written at a time of pronounced poverty, when unrest over similar conditions had led to European revolt.

Regarding the conservative nature of one-nationism, my view is that  as with liberalism  it has evolved as part of the Conservative tradition, here. To me, conservatism isnt inherently anything: it is practical and situational, seeking to conserve what works; its followers accept that change is inevitable, but favour gradual reform over radical solutions.

Disraelis theoretical one-nationism  a response to the opposing Liberal Partys individualism  was realised in his legislation for the working-class vote, and reforms that brought improvements to health and housing. This paternalism was continued in Lord Randolph Churchills Tory Welfare strategies to make social institutions accessible, but Conservatives had become progressively liberal by the end of the nineteenth century.

A return of one-nationism peaked following the Second World War, with consensus over the nascent welfare state. This was exemplified by Rab Butlers paternalist intellectual approach (and his Butskellism), and in Harold Macmillans middle way, which offered a balance between the extremes of individualism and state planning, and was exercised in the aim of achieving full employment and an embrace of nationalisation and advanced welfare provision. While Margaret Thatcher led a backlash against the extended state and reinstated economic liberalism, certain of her policies demonstrated a continuing paternalism, and there have been prominent one-nationists within every Conservative government or opposition, since.

But what about the present party leaderships espousal of this word? Should they do this  in terms both of expediency and accuracy? Well, when clarified, One Nation can prop up programmes with wide-spread appeal. And there are many Cam-borne policies that fit its rationale, including: the concentration on employment, or jobs miracle; the living wage (at least in its messaging); upping the personal tax allowance (ditto); greater state provision of childcare; the updating of a state institution in the introduction of equal marriage; and measures to help people buy homes. However, few of those were explicitly put forward under a well-explained One Nation slogan.

We saw a recent nod towards highly paternalist social engineering in Matt Hancocks suggestion that employers should ask job applicants which kind of school they had attended. Thankfully, this idea has been widely acknowledged as counter-productive. But the question of why it was proposed now  and why we might see increased paternalism over the coming years  brings us to the current leaderships most overt One-Nation instantiation: the abandoned Big Society initiative.

Some consider this initiative to be original: in Jesse Normans The Big Society: the Anatomy of the New Politics, he describes a society connected by affection rather than personal gain, in which the state promotes charity and community activism by launching an audit of government and policies focused on decentralisation, intermediate institutions, and culture. The Big Society is also interpreted more broadly, however, as classic paternalism in the Red Tory tradition. Regardless, it is often felt to be Camerons forgotten aim  a worthy aim that was sidelined for the election-winning single-issue rhetoric of fixing the economy.

An escalating governmental use of One Nation can be seen as a rebranded attempt to solidify that lost legacy: a modernised form of the middle way  pragmatic, centrist, well intentioned, and popular. And as a moral and practical fight against inequality, or as a method of reinforcing the vote when a shouty minority cares more about neo-Marxist economists than the fact that capitalism has, in absolute terms, improved conditions across the globe.

It is also a reaction to unpopular decisions. There are excellent arguments for reducing over-extended welfare, but to save money is not one of them. Justification has been missing in approaches that, to many, contradicted a supposed desire to promote societal cohesion through compassionate conservatism: the removal of the spare-room subsidy, planned disability benefit cuts, and other attempts to curtail (yes, ballooning) welfare. That lack of reasoning was compounded by the common view that politicians are always ideological, whether they admit it or not: in advancing controversial policies without a clear explanation aside from economic return, the party was left open to attacks from those suspicious of some secret drive based on greed and elitism.

Disillusioned voters want change; they want politicians who are different. Recently, that disillusionment has given power to someone purely because he exudes principle, no matter what that principle is (Jeremy Corbyn), and to someone purely because hell stand up to the establishment, no matter what platform he uses (Donald Trump). They are early products of a dangerous void in Western politics.

Whether Conservatives should turn to liberalism, paternalism, a mixture of both, or something else to justify their actions, is not the point. Id prefer the first for the reasons I set forth last week, yet agree that a combination of the two traditions would be most electorally successful, and seems to offer a decent explanation for many of this governments decisions. It is not sufficient  or easy  to bring about good effects without justifying your intentions.
Sir Peter Marshall was Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General 1983-88 and UK Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva 1979-83. He is a former Chairman of the Royal Commonwealth Society.

Surprise! The Leave campaign has discovered that its best chance is to play the migration card for all its worth. Its emotive power helps to obscure the blunt truth that, with just over a week to go, we still do not know what form or shape or path our liberation from Brussels will take.

The original idea of the referendum was that we would vote to leave or stay in the light of the Prime Ministers renegotiation of our terms of membership. Leave rubbished these in advance, and has contrived instead to keep the discussion focussed on the shortcomings of the EU, from which they draw their disproportionate conclusion that the only possible answer is to leave.

We must get our country back and take control: whos we? What, on leaving, would we go to, and how would we get there? To these and other questions, Leaves answer is: we dont know. We disagree among ourselves. Anyway, all thats the Governments job, not ours. Were not responsible. But not to worry: just vote for us now, and you will be told why later.

Pot was quick to call the kettle black. Leave swiftly launched the slogan Project Fear to undermine any questioning of their own campaign, which itself has become ever-more dependent on inspiring fear. The most craven of their claims is that if we vote Remain, Brussels will regard it as capitulation. Once emancipated, however, our future will be roses, roses all the way. As long as we are in the EU, in other words, John Bull is a mere Reggie Perrin: yet freed from durance vile, he at once becomes a mix of Batman and Walter Mitty.

Leave could of course be relied on to trot out the hackneyed trick question: If we were not in [here insert name of current hated organisation] would we want to join it? (During the 1980s, it was the Commonwealth: but Leave isnt telling you that: it may not even know it. History isnt its strong suit.) One answer in the case of the EU is simple: if there had been no 1707 Act of Union, would the Scots want to link up with a Brexit England?

In his a recent speech, William Hague, himself a well-known Eurosceptic, made two key points: first that, beginning with the actions of the Coalition Government in 2010, and continuing up to the Prime Ministers renegotiation, the Government won most of the battles of concern to the Leavers. We now have the benefits of EU membership without most of the drawbacks.

Leave does not attempt to contest the point. It ignores it, and hopes that the rest f us will do likewise. Once Leave admits that Britain is being offered a unique position in the EU, its whole myth about the unreformability and implacable hostility of Brussels starts to unravel.

Secondly, the world has changed around us. Amid new uncertainties and threats  climate change, demographic balance, universal mobility, global terrorism, pandemics, crises on the eastern and southern borders of Europe, and Putin  the great danger is of Western fragmentation, undermining the capacity to cope. Britain has a crucial role in preventing it.

Western security and co-operation is a team game. As they are not a team, but rather a job lot, permeated with mutual suspicion, Leave doesnt get the point. It is no surprise that responsible opinion around the world is greatly disturbed by the implications of a British withdrawal from the EU. Leave dismisses this near-unanimous international concern as a conspiracy of the elitist permanent governing class,

Migration is a multi-purpose propaganda weapon. It has implications and overtones about far more than mere numbers coming in or going out, for which the EU in any case accounts for only about one half. It is a handy scapegoat for just about all our problems and deficiencies at home, and for our persistent unwillingness to face up to them. To name a few:

Demographic trends.

Low productivity.

Sluggish manufacturing and export performance.

Shortage of skills.

Loss of social mobility.

Welfare dependency.

Ethnic tensions.

Why do other EU countries, subject to the same Brussels tyranny, manage to do better than we do?

Arising from the referendum, and irrespective of its outcome, we must delve more deeply still into what troubles people most. . What is wanted is a high-level inquiry, perhaps a Royal Commission, into migration, with a mandate to investigate exhaustively its ramifications , international as well as national.

It would be the most important and broad-based inquiry into our affairs since the famous Beveridge Report of 1942 Social Insurance and Allied Services, Beveridge spoke of societys battle against the five giants  of idleness, ignorance, disease, squalor and want. What would todays giants be? Like Beveridge, such an inquiry would be a catalyst for bringing us closer together. It would be the positive outcome to this wearisome campaign which we all most want.

How many of the picnickers in the Mall last Sunday felt that their lives  the time of which they were then having  are blighted by Jean Claude Juncker and his henchpersons? Like the rest of us, that happy breed know that what primarily makes this country such a marvellous place to live in does not stand or fall by where exactly our laws are made. It springs from the way we treat and trust one another, and the importance we attach to being fair. Our democracy, unsurpassed anywhere in the world, is organic, rather than legal or administrative. That goes for the Commonwealth too.

We have learned the hard way that eternal vigilance is the price of safety. Eternal participation is the basis of that vigilance. Dont let anyone fool you into believing that quitting the EU will make us any more prosperous or secure or influential or even democratic. It would mean we had fallen for demagoguery.
Contractor numbers in the UK and European Union (EU) have undergone a marked and prolonged period of growth since 2008. The rise, which has occurred in spite of a largely stagnant labour market, acts as proof that attitudes are changing towards work and more people are recognising the benefits of flexible working.

This is according to new research commissioned by the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE). Understanding Independent Professionals in the EU, 2015, shows that the number of contractors and freelancers in the EU rose by almost a quarter from 7.7m to 9.6m between 2008 and 2015 and by 99% since the start of the millennium.

Right across the EU, huge numbers of people are seeing the benefits of being their own boss and theyre finding the confidence to launch new business. An increase of almost a quarter in just seven years is making these professionals a force to be reckoned with, comments IPSE CEO Chris Bryce.

Contractor growth in the EU  an overview

When comparing these statistics with the fact that the EU workforce as a whole reduced in size from 223m to 218m in the same timeframe, the value of the contracting sector to the economy becomes self-evident.

Western Europe has contributed most to the growth, with trailblazing countries France, the Netherlands and the UK accounting for 1.2m new contractors and freelancers. The UK, which already accounted for the largest share of contractors of any member state, has enjoyed 49% growth during this time. As a result, the UK, along with Italy and Germany, now makes up more than half of the entire EU contingent workforce.

The emergence of contingent working in the UK was long attributed by some to economic instability caused by the 2008/09 financial crisis and the subsequent lack of permanent jobs, notes ContractorCalculator CEO Dave Chaplin.

However, the continued growth of the contracting sector since then - not only in the UK but in multiple other successful EU economies - goes to show that this is an increasingly popular way of working which offers exponential benefits to both worker and client.

Contractors continue to benefit the economy

It is little coincidence that the more successful EU economies account for so much of the overall contractor workforce. Previous IPSE research, Exploring the UK Freelance Workforce in 2015, estimates that the UKs contingent workforce contributes roughly 109bn to the economy each year.

Independent professionals are usually highly educated and in highly-skilled positions, and theyre vital to a booming economy, Bryce continues. The biggest countries have the most established services sectors, so theyre naturally seeing the most new independent professionals. But the newer EU entrants are catching up fast. The trend towards working this way looks set to continue well into the future.

However, as Bryce highlights, innovation is far from limited to the largest member states. The amount of contractors and freelancers in Latvia has almost tripled in seven years whilst Romania and Slovenia have both more than doubled their headcounts.

Demographic swings as more women enter the market

Core contracting disciplines make up a significant portion of the overall contingent market, with three in ten contingent staff operating in professional, scientific and technical activities. Meanwhile 8% work in information and communication whilst 5% work in the finance sector. Other service activities account for 13% of this workforce.

There has also been a marked rise in the number of women entering the contractor market with a 29% increase since 2008. This has contributed towards a substantial narrowing of the gender divide, with women now making up 47% of contractors and freelancers.

When compared sector-by-sector, women still dont have a great deal of representation in traditionally male-dominated industries such as information and communication where eight in ten staff are men. However, they do now account for 38% of contingent staff operating in professional, scientific and technical activities.

Its great to see greater gender balance in the contracting sector, adds Chaplin. Whilst divides still clearly exist in sectors such as construction and IT, women are evidently making up the ground in other areas.

Contractors more likely to work into their elder years

Notably, 60% of contractors across the EU fall within the 25-49 age bracket. Almost a third are between the ages of 50 and 64 whilst a significant portion work way into their elder years  7% being 65 or over.

Only 3% are aged 24 or younger, suggesting that a substantial portion of this workforce have taken years to harness their skills before choosing to go it alone. This is supported by the finding that 57% of this workforce are considered to be highly skilled, meaning they hold a degree at graduate, post-graduate or doctorate level.

The rise in contractor and freelancer numbers in the EU correlates with a steady rise in highly skilled individuals in the workforce as a whole. Since 2004, the EU has seen 19.5m more highly skilled workers enter the market, averaging a 3% increase each year. This suggests that a growing portion of the workforce are recognising their own expertise and their ability to command more lucrative fees in exchange for their skills.

With these trends significantly more pronounced in the contracting and freelance sectors than within the EU workforce as a whole, the report concludes that they are likely to continue unabated:

It would be reasonable to conclude that because the growth of independent professionals is driven by demography, the trend is set to continue as the EU-28 workforce can only be expected to get older, have more female participation and become more highly skilled.
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Climate, Consciousness And Social Change

By Asoka Bandarage

15 June, 2016

Globalresearch.ca

Climate change is a complex phenomenon involving unknown changes in planetary biophysical systems. However, there is now scientific consensus, that climate change is caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil fuel combustion is considered the primary cause of carbon emissions and climate change worldwide. Scientists warn that unless we are able to bring down carbon emissions rapidly to below 350 ppm in this century, the effects on planetary life will be catastrophic. We are at 400 ppm (parts per million molecules) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and are adding 2 ppm of carbon dioxide every year. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) reports that last month, April 2016, was the warmest month recorded and that 2016 is likely to be the hottest year ever, surpassing the previous annual record of 2015, by the largest historical margin.

We are seeing the realities of climate change: rising temperatures, declining Arctic sea ice, extreme weather events, heatwaves wildfires, floods, droughts, stronger storms and hurricanes and so on. The number and range of species on Earth are expected to decline greatly as temperatures continue to rise. Biodiversity is declining at a rate of more than 100 per million species every year with as many as 30 to 50 percent of all species possibly headed towardextinction by mid-21st century. Due to rising sea levels, five islands in the South Pacific have sunk. The Pacific islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean are also preparing for extinction seeking to relocate their populations.

Given intimate connection of their livelihoods to their ecosystems, indigenous people and farming communities worldwide are the most vulnerable to climate change. According to UN estimates, there will be 1 billion climate refugees, i.e. victims of disasters induced by climate change in the world by 2050. India is now experiencing the highest temperatures ever with a heatwave and drought which has left many people with little access to water. Bangladesh got pummeled again by heavy rains leaving two million people homeless. Sri Lanka which has experienced significantrise in sea levels in recent years just faced unprecedented floods and landslides which have left some 500,000 people homeless and over 200 families buried in the landslides. Those most affected by climate change are those least responsible: the poor nations and communities of color that have historically provided the natural and human resources for the enrichment of the privileged classes in the industrialized nations. While responsibility for climate change is spread across the global society, the industrialized and rapidly industrializing countries account overwhelmingly for carbon emissions. In 2011, China, the USA and the EU account for more than 50% of total global carbon emissions: China, 28%, USA 16% and the EU 10%.

Fossil Fuel Economy

The extraction, refining and distribution of fossil fuels is an enormous industry representing the engine for global economic production and growth. Five of the top six companies in the Fortune Global 500 including BP, ExxonMobil and Shell are in the petroleum refining industry. As a July 2015 Report by the Union of Concerned Scientists points out, the fossil fuel industrys concentration is as remarkable as its size. Almost two thirds of the worlds industrial carbon emissions over the past two and a half centuries is attributable to just 90 coal, oil, and natural gas companies which have produced and marketed fossil fuels and cement (which has very high carbon intensity). Almost 30 % of all industrial emissions since 1850 is traced to just 20 investor and state owned companies. Even more significantly, the Report by the Union of Concerned Scientists points out that

more than half of all industrial carbon emissions have been released into the atmosphere since 1988, after major fossil fuel companies indisputably knew about the harm their products were causing to the climate.

Based on an eight month investigation of internal documents of the major fossil fuel corporations, the environmental publication, Inside Climate News has revealed that the fossil fuel companies, especially Exxon which was doing cutting-edge climate research, were already aware of the connection between fossil fuel combustion and global warming by the late 1970s.Inside Climate News argues that without revealing what their own scientists confirmed, the worlds largest fossil fuel companies sought to manufacture uncertainty and deceive the public about climate change. The companies put in place a massive campaign to fund climate denial scientists and organizations (many fake astroturf groups) and lobby Congress to block climate action. Corporate funding, lobbying and the silence of the mainstream media have enabled polluting companies to project an environmentally friendly public image while at the same time contributing to derailing legislation for emissions reduction. Indeed, there is still no comprehensive U.S. federal policy to address climate change.

Notwithstanding growing demands for corporate accountability and government action, the U.S. and other governments are providing massive subsidies to companies for fossil fuel production and exploration. According to July 2014 estimates of the activist group, Oil Change International, the U.S. fossil fuel subsidies were $37.5 billion annually. Multilateral Banks including the World Bank which is backed by governments also provide billions of dollars each year to oil, gas and coal production internationally. According to the latest 2016 estimates of Oil Change International, global fossil fuel subsidies are between $775 to $1 trillion annually. Since 2011 a number of proposals have been made in the U.S. Congress, such as, the Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act and the End Polluter Welfare Act to cut tax payer handouts to fossil fuel companies, But, none of them have passed.

The U.S. is estimated to spend anywhere from $10.5 to $500 billion annually to militarily defendits oil interests overseas. As US energy experts point out, military activity is a direct production component of the trade and as necessary for imports as are pipelines and supertankers. Oil is an important driver of U.S. military force in the Persian Gulf, the political destabilization and loss of lives in the region being casualties of the relentless pursuit of oil. Heavy use of jet fuel for military activities is a major source of carbon emissions worldwide. The Pentagon is estimated to be the largest institutional user of petroleum products and energy in general, but is exempt from all international climate agreements.

The short-term costs of ending dependence on fossil fuels are significantly less compared to the staggering long-term environmental and social costs of accelerating climate change. However, the international policy frameworks in place are far from adequate to address the urgency of the climate crisis.

International Policy Frameworks

The Kyoto Protocol, linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changeadopted in 1997, though flawed and never fully implemented, committed parties to internationally binding emission reduction targets. Recognizing that developed countries are principally responsible for the high levels of greenhouse gas emissions, it placed a heavier burden on developed nations based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

In the decades following the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol, conflicts intensified between the global North and South. Even minimal efforts to address climate change became derailed by international economic competition. Industrializing countries such as China, India, and Brazil wanted the rich, powerful and deeply fossil-fuel addicted countries in the Global North to take the lead in drastic emissions reductions allowing them room to industrialize and advance economically. Fearing loss of their economic edge, the Global North wanted to move away from the targets and obligations to which they had previously agreed. Lobbied heavily by the fossil fuel industry, The United States government never even ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

Pointing out that the ability of populations to adapt and mitigate against climate change are shaped by political and economic realities, civil society organizations mostly from the global South declared the Bali Principles of Climate Justice in 2002. It framed the climate crisis as apolitical and ethical issue, http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=3748not simply an environmental and physical phenomenon. The countries of the global South demanded the rich Northern nations to pay their climate debt, that is, compensation for their historically disproportionate emission of greenhouse gases which has contributed to extensive environmental and societal damage in poor countries.

The global South, however, is not a monolithic group. Emissions from developing nations now exceed those of developed countries, with China being the largest contributor of greenhouse gases. Heavy polluters like China and India have refused to take on specific reduction goals while the poorest and most vulnerable countries have demanded them. The lack of a coherent set of tactics and strategy towards climate justice has also created confusion and differences within the global civil society movement over climate action.

Given these on-going contentions, the U.S. China bilateral Climate Deal of November 2014 has been welcomed as an important achievement by the two most polluting nation states. Unfortunately, however, this Deal is merely a statement of aspirational goals: it has no binding targets, no specific plans to cut emissions and no penalties for non-compliance. According to this Deal, China will not begin reducing emissions until as late as 2030. While the US agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 26%-28% below 2005 levels by 2025 is significant, it is not considered sufficient to reach the target of below 2 C increase in temperature by the end of the century. There is no guarantee that President Obamas successor who will have to implement the deal will do so. Likewise, the multilateral Paris Climate Agreement adopted in December 2015 fails to provide the significant changes in energy use required for climate stabilization.

Paris Climate Agreement

The Climate Treaty signed in Paris in December 2015 is hailed as a historic achievement in international consensus and a turning point in climate policy. Practically all countries in the world opted to sign agreeing to hold the increase in the global average temperature increase to 1.5 C.175 countries have already signed the Agreement which will go into effect in 2020. US Secretary of State John Kerry signed on behalf of the United States holding his little granddaughter in his arms.

Symbolism and rhetoric aside, the Paris Agreement, unlike the previous Kyoto Protocol,provides no detailed timetables or country-specific goals for emissions reduction. It leaves every country to decide its own cuts in pollution (so-called Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) according to its own criteria. It provides no clear, measurable targets, no accountability no legal obligations. Each country that ratifies the agreement will be required to set a target for emission reduction, but the amount will be voluntary. There will be neither a mechanism to force, a country to set a target by a specific date nor enforcement measures if a set target is not met.

The Agreement was a victory for the United States given its opposition to mandatory emissions reduction targets and the Kyoto Protocol. It was, however, a failure for the smaller nations most vulnerable to the effects of climate change who wanted to include stricter emissions targets and enforcement mechanisms. Apparently, the U.S. gained their compliance through backdoor diplomacy and offers of international funding for climate adaptation. The United States also succeeded in ensuring that the Agreement was not legally binding and countries were not open to litigation for non-compliance of the Agreement.

The Paris Agreement will not be binding on its member states until 55 parties who produce over 55% of the worlds greenhouse gases ratify it. Thus far, only 17 countries, overwhelmingly vulnerable small island nations, have ratified the Agreement. There is doubt that given global economic competitiveness if some countries, especially high polluters, such as, China, the US, India, Brazil, Canada, Russia, Indonesia and Australia will do so. There is also no guarantee that the developed countries will honor the pledge to mobilize $100 billion per year for climate financing for the poor countries starting in 2020.

The Paris Climate Agreement does not even mention fossil fuels let alone the need to leave 80% of it in the ground which many experts consider a requirement to mitigate climate change. It does not address the need to cut government fossil fuel subsidies, military expenditures, air travel, shipping, etc. as keys to global de-carbonization. Hardly anyone expects countries to do much for climate protection under this arrangement. No wonder fossil fuel companies were thefinancial backers of the Paris Climate Conference which was dominated by market based solutions to climate change, notably emissions trading.

Carbon Trading

Carbon trading, which constitutes the bulk of emissions trading was introduced as the main mechanism for meeting emissions reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. Within this system, a country having more carbon emissions can purchase the right to pollute more if it exceeds its cap by purchasing the permits of less polluting countries. As Carbon Trade Watchexplains: emissions trading partitions and privatizes the atmosphere and institutes the buying and selling of permits to pollute just as any other international commodity. This strategy for commodification of emissions was pushed by the US in response to heavy corporate lobbying.

Critics argue that there have not been measurable reductions in carbon emissions attributable to the mechanisms established under the Kyoto Protocol. They point out that the two most important carbon markets, the EU Emissions Trading System and the UNs Clean Development Mechanism have essentially failed. They argue that the market-based cap and trade system, designed to reduce carbon emissions has http://www.carbontradewatch.org/downloads/publications/PathsBeyondParis-EN.pdf actually aggravated the problem by giving unfair financial advantages to major polluters to continue polluting while putting the onus of climate protection and maintenance of carbon sinks on the poorer countries and inhibiting their economic development. Moreover, emissions trading takes attention away from the search for less complicated strategies, such as, a straightforward carbon tax on polluters and changes in patterns of economic production and energy use.

Despite these problems, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change still strongly supports carbon trading. International financial interests are now gearing up to expand carbon trading under the new Paris Agreement. They see a huge new market and business opportunity in carbon trading. The World Bank has established a Carbon Finance Unit to create an international system to price carbon. The World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim recently stated that there is an obvious consensus among World Bank economists studying the problem, and that putting a price on carbon pollution is by far the most powerful and efficient way to reduce emissions Christine Legarde, the director of the International Monetary Fund has called carbon pricing the crown jewel of efforts to mitigate climate change.

Many environmental justice activists, however, are deeply concerned about the possible effects of this approach motivated by profit. As scholar-activist Patrick Bond from South Africa states, carbon trading will lead to increasing financialization of nature, the commodification of everything that can be seen as a carbon sink, especially forests but also agricultural land and even the oceans capacity to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) for photosynthesis via algae. The Popes June 2015 Encyclical also voices the grave concerns that many people have over the status-quos push for carbon trading:

The strategy of buying and selling carbon credits can lead to a new form of speculation which would not help reduce the emission of polluting gases worldwide. This system seems to provide a quick and easy solution under the guise of a certain commitment to the environment, but in no way does it allow for the radical change which present circumstances require. Rather it may simply be a ploy which permits maintaining the excessive consumption of some countries and sectors.

The limits and failures of the dominant neoliberal approach requires that we look beyond the climate crisis at the broader trajectory of global political and economic development and its underpinning consciousness and values.

Global Political Economy

The capitalist economy has advanced since the Industrial Revolution integrating the entire world within one interconnected market and technological system. Driven by private accumulation and modern technology this economic system has now become a monolithic global market fundamentalism. Trade liberalization in the last few decades has led to a consolidation of corporate control in every sector of the global economy contributing to deepening economic inequality. A few large transnational corporations control greater shares of global wealth and resources and wield more power over peoples lives and the environment than most nation states. So-called, world empires of the 21st century, they have increasingly captured governments and multilateral institutions compelling governments to adjust their policies to suit corporate interests, as in the case of the fossil fuel industry.

The capitalist system has brought forth tremendous advances in material development but without balanced human inner development. When corporate profit prevails over social, environmental and ethical criteria, production and marketing of goods and services with negative use values become common. Thus, defense has become the biggest sector of the global economy and fossil fuel extraction continues despite overwhelming evidence of its harm to life on the planet. Even when solutions are sought to problems created by market expansion, economic growth and the profit motive prevail as evident from the trade in carbon pollution poised to become a highly profitable financial sector.

As the market values seep into all areas of life, the environment and humanity increasingly become mere resources and outlets for production and consumption. (Figure 1.1 in Bandarage,Sustainability and Well-Being).The modern economy disrupts and dissects the natural integration of planetary life seeking instead to reintegrate, recreate and control human society and the environment through modern science, technology, and the market. The extension of this approach is clearly evident in current technological and market developments to redesign life and to create, what some scientists call a post-nature, post-human world.

Genetic modification is projected to become the norm as more and more bioengineered transgenic fruits, vegetables, trees, and animals are released into the environment. According to some scientists, in 50 years there could be more lab-created forms of plant and animal life on the planet than those identified in nature. Is this, then, the technological and market based solution to species extinction resulting from climate change, deforestation and other human induced changes to the environment? Likewise, as earth-based indigenous people and communities in low lying coastal areas are extinguished from the face of the Earth, genetic engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence and other new types of cognitive tools are being utilized by some scientists to design a new human species increasingly merged with technologyand more and more divorced from nature.

As the environment and humanity become mere resources and appendages of technology and the economy, we face an existential crisis of what it means to be human in nature. The visions of technological domination over nature fail to recognize that if the climate is not stabilized, we will unleash long term planetary forces far beyond our capacity to control. Human induced natural forces, such as droughts, wildfires and floods will once again come to dominate and radically curtail our activities, as they appear to be doing already. As Karl Polyani warned in The Great Transformation:  To allow the market mechanism to be the sole director of the fate of human beings and their natural environmentwould result in the demolition of society.

The contemporary global crisis, however, is more than a crisis of capitalism, a competition between capitalism and socialism, or a clash between modernity and tradition. Our challenge today is not merely political, but human and ecologicalhow we see and conduct ourselves personally and collectively toward both the environment and each other.

Technology and the market per se are not the problems. It is the underlying consciousness and the intention that determine their advancement. Is the motivation, profit for a few or the sustainability and well-being of all? At the root of the crisis we face is the disjuncture between the exponential growth of the profit-driven economy and the lack of an equivalent development in human consciousness, ethics and morality, compassion, generosity and wisdom.

Psycho-Social Change

The environmentplanet Earthencompasses human society and the economy within its fold. The economy, the production and distribution of the material means of existence, is only one subsystem of society (Figure 1.3 in Bandarage, Sustainability and Well-Being). The environment has primacy over the human-created spheres of society and the economy. The natural world does not need humanity for its survival, but humanity cannot survive without the natural environment, the soil, water, air, sunlight, etc. The central idea of the ecological approach is that we are part of the Earth, not apart and separate from it. This does not negate the fact that in the process of adaptation and evolution humanity has made a great impact on the environment.

Today, ego consciousness and its ethics of individualism, domination, and competition is the driving force at the personal level as well as at the societal levels of nations, ethno-religious groups, and in how humans relate toward other animal and life forms. This myopic consciousness is leading to massive destruction of the environment, widening economic disparities and social conflicts. The alternative to ego consciousness, rooted in the psychology of fear and self vs. other mentality, is a universal consciousness grounded in the truth of unity within diversity. This higher consciousness sees the other as an extension of the self and the well-being of the self and the other as inherently interdependent. It contributes to an ethic of partnership.

The challenge today is not to tear apart the dominant social and economic system through left or right political extremism but to shift to an ethical, balanced and sustainable path that upholds genuine climate protection, environmental sustainability, social justice and democracy. We need to shift to a path of socio-economic development grounded on compassion, courage and generosity instead of fear, anger and hatred. The dominant egoistic consciousness overlooks the capacity of the human mind for conscious transformation. Even Charles Darwin who popularized the idea of the survival of the fittest, paid homage to the importance of empathy and altruism in human evolution.

Instead of attempting to dominate and subsume society and the environment within the logic of unbridled economic growth (Figure 1.1 in Bandarage, Sustainability and Well-Being), the components of the economytechnology, property relations, the market, and financemust be redesigned to serve the needs of environmental sustainability and human well-being. Rather than upholding and extending the extremist growth oriented system through new strategies, such as, carbon trading, the worlds economic structures must be transformed so that the exploitation of people and plunder of the Earth and the relentless pumping of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere are replaced by systems that honor environmental sustainability and social justice. The Green Party of the United States succinctly sums up the kinds of changes required for a transition to renewable energy:

a complete reorientation of our national energy priorities, beginning with the elimination of subsidies for petroleum and coal energy, divestment from fossil-fuel companies, enactment of carbon fees and dividends to reflect the true cost of fossil fuel extraction, and phasing out of off-shore drilling, mountaintop removal mining, hydrofracking, and new pipeline construction. Ending dependence on fossil fuels requires massive investment in hybrid and electric vehicles, low-cost public transportation and new ecologically sound electricity transmission infrastructure. We must develop safe and clean energy technologies  excluding nuclear power, which has its own risks  and retrofit homes and buildings for energy efficiency

There is plenty of evidence that the shift to solar, wind and other renewable sources of energy can be achieved soon. Leading scientists and organizations have put forward plans for transforming the United States from dependence on fossil fuels to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. Germany, which is the fourth largest economy in the world has a plan in place to obtain 45% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, showing that other countries too can make the shift.

Such changes do not come by themselves but through increased citizen participation. It is only by building social movements and strengthening political will that the required qualitative changes can be achieved. As the climate reporter and activist, Johann Hari puts it:

At least we know now: scientific evidence and rationality are not going to be enough to persuade our leaders Nobody is going to sort this out  unless we, the population of the warming-gas countries, make themThe time for changing light bulbs and hoping for the best is over. It is time to take collective action.The cost of trashing the climate needs to be raised.

It must be emphasized that while the shift to renewable energy is most urgent, it will not suffice for addressing the interrelated environmental and social crises. Ecological worldviews and environmentally progressive legislation have coexisted with social class, ethnic and gender oppression in modern times including in Nazi Germany. We have to be careful that eco-fascist views and movements do not gain ground as economic conditions deteriorate and social and environmental dislocations worsen around the world. Changes towards renewable energy has to be accompanied with changes in the control over resources and production and access of wider groups of people to economic opportunities. Bioregionalism, local entrepreneurship and other approaches to economic decentralization, economic diversity and democracy carry within them a critique of corporate monopoly capitalism and unsustainable technological growth. However, the strategies for broader social and economic restructuring require much greater exploration from a climate justice perspective.

Social Movements

There is growing fear, anger, despair among people about the political and economic realities and the future of our planet. Some of it is undoubtedly misplaced and expressed in violent and destructive ways as ethno-religious fundamentalism and hatred towards others. There is also climate denial, climate fatigue, emotional paralysis and escapist behavior on the part of some people who are numbed by excessive exposure to the combined effects of consumerism, technology and the modern media.

Still, there are also thousands of organizations and people all around the world engaged in positive nonviolent and collective action. Indigenous people have been at the forefront of struggles to protect Mother Earth from the very beginning of their encounter with European colonization. There are hundreds of indigenous environmental struggles around the world, from the US and Canada to Central and South America and Asia and Africa, resisting fossil fuel and other corporations from building pipelines, mining terminals and other controversial projects. Indigenous people have faced and continue to face backlash, often violent reprisals, in protecting their land and natural resources. For example, there has been a spate of killings of environmental activists in Honduras following the U.S. backed regime change there in 2009, which calls for international attention.

Climate consciousness and the global movement for climate protection have expanded greatly since the historic Peoples Climate Mach which brought hundreds of thousands of people to New York City in September 2014. President Obamas rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline in November 2015 was a historic victory for the climate movement. One of the most catalytic global movements today is 350.org which is focused on solving the climate crisis by reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere to the 350 ppm threshold. The movement uses online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions in nearly every country in the world to bring bottom-up pressure to cut down fossil fuel usage.

In the face of dramatic recent acceleration in the warming of the planet, the failure of the Paris Agreement to address divesting from fossil fuel and the support of governments for new fossil fuel projects, climate action is intensifying around the world. The small Himalayan kingdom ofBhutan has committed itself to a carbon neutral policy in its constitution setting an important global precedent. The largest global civil disobedience on behalf of the climate justice concluded in May 2016 after 12 days of action in six continents. Under the banner of Break Free from Fossil Fuel,

Tens of thousands of activists took to the streets, occupied mines, blocked rail lines, paddled in kayaks and held community meetings in 13 countries, pushing the boundaries of conventional protest to find new ways to demand coal, oil and gas stay in the ground

As a Nigerian activist from the Health of Mother Earth Foundation put it, Breaking free from fossil fuels is a vote for life and for the planet. The fossil fuel industry is being weakened by financial and political uncertainty and the revelations that it knowingly hid the scientific evidence linking fossil fuels and global warming from the public for many decades. Currently, there areinvestigations underway in the US by the Attorney Generals of 17 states including New York, California, Massachusetts and the Virgin Islands on Exxons role in the alleged climate deception. The US Department of Justice has also requested the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine if ExxonMobil violated federal laws by publicly denying climate change for decades.

Activists are confident that just as the struggle against the tobacco industry, which hid the connection between smoking and health from the public, was won, the peoples struggle against the fossil fuel industry can also be victorious. We must believe that the larger goals of environmental sustainability and social justice can be achieved and that Another World is Possible if we work together to Change the System, not the Climate.

Asoka Bandarage, Ph.D. is the author of Sustainability and Well-Being: The Middle Path to Environment, Society and the Economy (Palgrave MacMillan, 2013) and many other publications. She serves on the Board of the Interfaith Moral Action on Climate. This article is based on her presentation at the Embrace the Earth Conference in San Francisco in May 2016. www.bandarage.com








NATO Orders Four Additional Battalions To Russian Border

By Thomas Gaist

14 June, 2016

WSWS.org

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is sending 4,000 additional troops to Eastern Europe in the name of reassuring Poland and the Baltic states, the alliances Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed on Monday. We will agree to deploy by rotation four robust multi-national battalions in the Baltic states and Poland, Stoltenberg told NATO officials.

The US, Germany and Britain will each contribute 1,000 soldiers, with Canada expected to confirm its own contingent of 1,000. The deployments are among the most provocative actions taken by the NATO high command in the course of its anti-Russian buildup, now well into its second year. With ever greater recklessness, the US and European ruling elites are sowing the seeds of war across the width and breadth of the Eurasian landmass.

The announcement of new troop deployments comes in the midst of Operation Anaconda 2016, involving more than 30,000 NATO forces in the biggest war drill held in Poland since the end of the Second World War. Some 12,500 of the 30,000 soldiers are American.

In Eastern Europe, under the guise of rotational deployments, NATO has established a permanent military force. Put forth for public consumption as a response to Russian meddling in Ukraine and alleged provocations by Russias military along the frontiers of NATOs eastern member states, the real purpose of NATOs spearhead force is to prepare for a ground invasion across Russias western border.

Beginning with the February 2014 coup detat in Kiev, the US-dominated imperialist alliance has relentlessly stoked confrontation with Moscow and laid the foundations for a continental-scale war aimed at breaking up and conquering the Russian Federation.

The continued massing of Western troops along Russias border makes good on US President Barack Obamas September 2014 promise that the US and NATO powers would provide eternal military assistance to the Baltic states. In effect, Obama committed the most powerful military alliance in the world to waging all-out war against Russia should one of the tiny Baltic states claim to be under attack from Moscow.

Such a war, which would immediately raise the prospect of a showdown between the worlds two biggest nuclear powers, would ostensibly be launched to defend some of the smallest and least populated countries in Europe, which are ruled by far-right and rabidly anti-Russian regimes.

The Baltic governments are actively encouraging the deployments and calling for still more NATO military hardware over and above the vast stocks of tanks, artillery and heavy weapons pre-positioned throughout Eastern Europe by NATO since 2014. Backed by the Western alliance, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are placing their societies on a war footing. They are putting their armed forces on high alert and awaiting the call for mobilization against Russia.

On Monday, Lithuanian defense official Juozas Olekas told the UKs Daily Express that Russia might exercise on the borders and then switch to invasion in hours. At stake in Lithuania is the credibility of the whole alliance, said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius.

NATO defense of Estonias air space must be first and foremost on the alliances agenda, Estonias military chief said, before demanding a permanent presence of NATO troops in Estonia. These forces are in Estonia to send a clear and unequivocal message to the adversary: do not quarrel with NATO, he said.

The charge of Russian aggression against Europe is among the central lies employed by present-day imperialism. Seizing on the secession of Crimea from post-coup Ukraine and the enclaves integration into the Russian Federation, the NATO establishment has sought to justify its war preparations as a defensive precaution in the face of a Putin government supposedly primed to invade Central Europe.

While Russias military saber-rattling, which alternates with attempts at compromise with the West, only adds to the war danger, it is essentially of a defensive character.

On Monday, citing unnamed NATO sources, British media accused Russia of circumventing the Vienna accord and building up troop numbers in sensitive locations on Europes doorstep. Announcing plans to boost military expenditures by $3 billion annually, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg declared: This will send a clear signal that NATO stands ready to defend any ally.

US and European imperialism are committed to defend the Baltics because it supplies them with a pretext and a staging area for covert and military operations along Russias flanks.

In Washington and some European capitals, powerful elements within the imperialist bourgeoisie are actively conspiring to engineer further provocations and destabilization operations against Russia.

The integration of former Soviet republic Georgia into NATO is slated to be a core issue at next months NATO summit in Warsaw. Russia and the pro-Western government of Georgia fought a brief war in 2008, and Moscow has vociferously opposed the countrys joining the US-dominated military alliance.

The integration of Georgia would greatly facilitate the projection of US and NATO power against Russias southern flank in the Caucasus and Caspian Sea Basin. Last weeks announcement of intensified US military operations in Afghanistan is bound up with preparations to use that country as well to strike against Russias soft underbelly in Central Asia, in particular against Russian interests in Kazakhstan.

The NATO buildup in Eastern Europe is producing levels of militarist frenzy not seen in Europe since the 1930s. During war drills in Lithuania this week, as the German and Danish militaries rehearsed marching on the Russian border, Danish Colonel Jakob Larsen told the media, You see it differently when you live here. We need to learn to fight total war again.














150616 AUSTRALIA WILL SUPPORT

By Aloysius Laukai



The Australian government will continue to support Bougainville as the region prepare for the referendum in 2019.



TIM Bryson from the Australian High Commission office responsible for Bougainville affairs told the Hutjena celebrations that Australia will continue to support ABG build its capacity in areas of Education Health Law and Order as it has done in the past.



He said that Bougainville has come a long way since its inception and it can only move forward into a bright future.



MR. BRYSON said that Australia is committed to ensuring that peace and stability is maintained through the Pacific including PNG and our neighboring island states.



Ends


Demand The Intervention Of Telangana Chief Minister In Resolving HCU Crisis

By Justice for HCU

15 June, 2016

Countercurrents.org

Please sign this petition, and share with colleagues and allies. We are trying to strengthen efforts to push the Telangana Government to put an end to the escalating repression of Dalit students and faculty in HCU.

Earlier this year you may have heard about the wave of outrage expressed by academics, writers and artists from across the globe as they stood in solidarity with students at the University of Hyderabad (HCU), India. Many voices condemned the institutional murder of Dalit Student, Rohith Vemula, and the police atrocities, arrests, and withholding of water and food supplies from student dormitories at one of India's most renowned public universities.

Since then the crack down at HCU has continued unabated. Appa Rao Podile refuses to step down from his position as the University's Vice Chancellor despite the student body unanimously voting to have him removed. In recent days the police have begun targeted evictions of students from dormitories and from the Velivada (Dalit Ghetto) - the site of peaceful protest over the last five months. While students continue their vigilant opposition to these underhanded tactics, the state government has deflected all responsibility in the matter. Thus, on the occasion of the second anniversary of the formation of the Telangana State, we write to you with a request to help us hold Chief Minister, Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and other state legislators accountable. Demand their urgent intervention on behalf of HCU students.

Please endorse the petition to Telangana State officials by clicking here, and sharing widely. Let them know the international community is watching.

Link to Petition: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/an-open-letter-to-kcr-and-ktr-on-the-occassion-of-telangana-formation-day

Thank you for your continued support.

In Solidarity,

Justice for HCU












The Orlando Massacre: Time For Pondering And Not Populism

By M. Adil Khan

15 June, 2016

Countercurrents.org

The terrible massacre that took place in Orlando gay club, Pulse that killed 50 and injured another 50 or so must be condemned in no uncertain terms. The killer, Omar Mateen, who happens to be a Muslim was shot dead by the police was apparently a psycho and a homophobic.

Reactions to this horrific incident have been quick, some cautious, some not so cautious, some outright irresponsible. For example, even before the dead of Omar Mateen's killing spree were counted, the presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump took to Twitter and claimed that the massacre was the work of radical Islamic terrorists that he argued are endangering the American way of life and re-iterated his now familiar fear mongered campaign demand that Muslims in general are a threat to America and thus be banned from entering the county.

President Obama has been prompt in denouncing Trump and said that Trump was peddling dangerous mindset. Arguing that Omar Mateen was no different than other American lone gunmen that perpetrated similar killings in Bernardino, California, Ford Hood, Texas Obama said that focusing on the faith of one particular killer and asking for differential treatment for the entire community that belongs to the faith of the Orlando killer is not only an affront to Americas democratic values but something that is likely to make America less and not more safe.

Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate also criticized Trump for his reckless comments and echoed Obama and termed the mayhem as an act of terror and demanded greater security for America against threats from both home and abroad and specified gun control as key to stopping such mindless mayhem by lone lunatics in future.

Bernie Saunders, the Democratic nomination contender has reacted strongly by saying that Trump is unfit for president.

These responses illustrate just how varied if not confused the political response have been on the issue and in this regardthe Guardian contradicts Trump and the right wing US media and suggeststhat Whatever else this is, its not about immigration.

Omar Mateen, the killer, was born in America and thus Whatever compelled him to commit such a terrible act cannot be laid at the border of a foreign nation and that His hatred was home-grown. Incidentally,that there were 330 such killings in America last year alone indicate that something rather deep-rooted such as the way the American society operates may have something to with such lone gun mass killings in that country.

One thing is clear such killings cannot be attributed to one single reason  as far as Orlando is concerned motivation is not necessarily Islamic injunctions against homosexuality though that seems to get more media space (homophobia has existed in other religions including Christianity), nor is it an act of Islamic terror (terrorist killings are not unique to Islam and are happening all over the world on a daily basis of whichonly very few are Islamic) and neither it is due to lack of gun control in US though this is important (in France gun control is stringent and yet acts of terrorism have become quite regular in that country these days). The Guardian says The truth is it is, most likely, about lots of things. And the bolder the claim that it is about any one thing, the more vulnerable it will be to contradiction and qualification.

Joe Brewer in his article, Connecting the Dots between Terrorism and Mass Shooting looks at the phenomenon from a very different perspective. He argues that Our media fails to connect the dots between an exploitative global economic system and violence around the world and criticizes the US medias efforts to link the mass shooting in America which is in epidemic form as part ofglobal terrorism. Brewer argues that, Terrorism and mass shootings are intimately connected to global architecture of wealth extraction and that I am sick and tired of Islam being blamed for harms arising through the combination of Western Imperialism abroad (yes, the invasion of Iraq really was about oil) and the gutting of social infrastructure at home (tax cuts = wealth transfer from working people to the top echelon of financial elitism).

These are valid points. Indeed, the rise of neoliberalism since mid-eighties has witnessed the rise and dominance of profiteering morally bereft rich that are contributing to gross inequality marginalizing people and denting democratic political norms such that political systems are now regularly manipulated by the wealth hoarders to become wealthier (gun lobby is a good example and as they both represent Wall Street, the choice of Hillary and Trump as presidential candidates is no exception either) at the cost of others have coincided with steady rise in terrorist acts both by the state and non-state actors, in a cyclic motion. Thus in many ways rise in globalconflicts and killings in many parts of the world where both governments  local and international  and non-government actors kill each other on a daily basis are nothing but manifestations of self-seeking policies of political elites that on the one hand organize killings to suppress opposition to extractive capitalism and on the other,the suffocated peopleresort out of desperation to acts of terrorism of many kinds.

In the globalized world of terrorism, governments go out and kill dissenting voices without any justice. Foreign drones and bombs dropped from above the sky kill hundreds and thousands in many countries. Religious terrorists posing themselves as crusaders of religious purity kill each other without remorse. Killings are happening all around us without reprieve. We try to remedy killing by more killing and the result is obvious  a bonanza of killing.

Thus in order to stop repeat of all forms of killings, mass or targeted that are perpetrated by both non-state and state actors we must look at the issue more holistically and not confine ourselves to one particular country or a group. Instead we need to go beyond the superficial and start looking at causes that connect the dots between terrorism and mass killings that on the one hand manipulate the system to kill to keep its control on wealth accumulation and on the other and as result, create the conditions for desperate acts such as witnessed in Orlando lately. If we keep on going the way we are going and not reflect, no one will be safe.

Time for pondering, not populism.

M. Adil Khan is a Professor at the School of Social Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia and former senior policy manager of the United Nations










Muzaffarnagar +Dadri + Kairana=Love Jihad+Beef+"Hindu" Exodus=Hard Communalism=Votes



By Ram Puniyani



15 June,2016

Countercurrents.org

Just before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections Muzaffarnagar erupted in violence in which nearly 80 Muslims died, and thousands fled their villages. Now with the 2017 Assembly elections due in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP seems to have activated its machinery yet again.

BJP MP Hukum Singh from Kairana claimed that hundreds of Hindu families are being forced to leave Kairana, a Muslim majority area in UP. The campaign revved up with BJP President Amit Shah personally referring to the alleged exodus from Kairana at the party national executive meeting in Allahabad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke, but as has become the practice, focused on development leaving Shah to raise the communal temperatures. Shah attacked the Samajwadi party government in the state urging the audience to throw out the government that had not stopped this exodus from Kairana.

BJP leaders at the meet described Kairana as a Kashmir in the making referring to the exodus of Kashmiri pandits.

Hukum Singh had released a list of 346 persons last week claiming that Hindu families were leaving Kairana. A complaint was also filed with the National Human Rights Commission that immediately sent a notice to the state government.

A day after the BJP meet Singh has retracted somewhat. He has now said, "by mistake someone in my team mentioned Hindu families. I asked them to change that. I stick to my stand that this is not a Hindu-Muslim issue. This is just a list of people who have left Kairana under duress."

Two major national dailies took up the list of those who have been alleged to flee this place. The UP government has also set up an investigation. The findings show that the list includes names of people who have died, of those who have left 10 years ago and still others who say that they migrated for a better school for their children or for better job. (IE 14 June 2016) It is alleged that Muslim gangs are threatening Hindus. One of the gang named is that of criminal Mukhim Kala. Interestingly, when this criminal was arrested last year he had 14 murder charges against him, three of Hindus and 11 of Muslims. As per another report local administrations verification of 119 names given by Hukum Singh found that 66 of them left their homes five years ago. (HT 14 June 2016)

So what are we witnessing? In a novel way BJP is manufacturing a divisive issue of exodus-migration from a Muslim majority area in the UP mainland, and seeking to further inflame it with a comparison to the mass migration of Kashmiri pandits to stoke passions across the country. More so as supposedly responsible leaders of the ruling party have made public statements supporting a claim from which---in the face of media reports---it is backing off now with Singhs statement serving as a tame disclaimer.

On the contrary Muslim ghettos have been deliberately created in cities like Mumbai and Ahmedabad. After the 1992-93 violence in Mumbai, the process of ghettoisation was accelerated particularly in Mumbra, Bhendi Bazar, Jogeshwari. Builders stopped selling/renting flats to Muslims in cosmopolitan Mumbai. In Ahmedabad similar and deeper discrimination resulted in the creation of ghettos like Juhapura. Derogatorily these localities are referred to as mini Pakistan by communal elements, with civic and other services abysmal.

In Karanas neighborhood, Muzaffarnagar, large scale migration of Muslims took place due to the violence, which took place around the issue of love jihad, and through the circulation of a video clip by a BJP legislator showing two young men being beaten by a mob appearing to be Muslims. This video clip was found to be from Pakistan. Muslim looking mob. This video clip was from an event in Pakistan. This was followed by the maha-panchayats in which Bahu-Beti Bachao (Save daughters, daughter-in-laws) was the main plank.

The result was the horrific violence which has led to Muslim households being destroyed. Many a villages have been converted to Muslim free areas. In UP itself the issue of beef again has been used leading to the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq. This issue is being revived by a second laboratory report---over 8 months later--- saying that the meat found in Akhlaqs house was beef. Maha-panchayats are being activated again around this issue.

In the current scenario some TV channels and newspapers are taking up baseless propaganda, adding to the communal poison being spread in the state. A Yale University study shows that after the acts of communal violence, BJP usually gains electorally. Kairana is yet another effort to stoke the fires, but given the media exposure it remains to be seen whether Hukum Singh and the BJP will retract from the exodus propaganda, or take it further.

Ram Puniyani was a professor in biomedical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, and took voluntary retirement in December 2004 to work full time for communal harmony in India. He is involved with human rights activities from last two decades.He is associated with various secular and democratic initiatives like All India Secular Forum, Center for Study of Society and Secularism and ANHAD. Response only to ram.puniyani@gmail.com








US-Modi Bonhomie

By Abdul Majid Zargar

15 June, 2016

Countercurrents.org

There has been a steady increase in Indo-US bonhomie ever since Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister of India. During his two years in chair, he has taken long strides than his predecessors in reducing the distance and increasing convergence in the strategic perspectives of the two supposedly democracies . During his latest visit to US, Modi has received a thunderous applause to his forty five minute speech to the joint session of US congress during which he is reported to have received extraordinary number of clappings & standing ovations.

The rousing reception begs a very important question. Has the US, which positions itself as a champion of human rights around the world ,forgotten or forgiven Modi for his complicit role in killing minority Muslims thus committing grave crimes against humanity during Gujrat riots 2002 .The question is important because in its answer lies the future survival of democracy as a best model which respects human rights. I will explain that a little later.

That Modis Complicity in Gujrat riots is well researched & adequately documented. The latest addition to the existing implicative material on the subject is Rana Ayubs book Gujrat files- Anatomy of a cover-up. Prior to that Manoj Mithas book The fiction of fact finding & Sreekumars Book Gujrat behind the Curtain have provided ample evidence of Modis involvement through his acts of omission & commission. Not to speak of Teesta Setalvads material compiled after untiring efforts and Tehlkas sting operations conducted in 2007.In an open letter published in the Guardian,(10th April 2014)most respected global intellectuals of Indian Origin held him culpable for the massacre of Muslims under his watch when he was chief Minster in 2002 According to Ashish Nandy, Indias most reputed political psychologist & social theorist, The Gujarat pogroms were not just about the number of helpless victims killed (over 3000) and rendered homeless (several hundred thousand). It was about the sheer planning, the brutality, the maniacal genocide that was perpetrated over a population for days on end. Narendra Modi, according to Nandy, did not only shamelessly preside over the riots and act as the chief patron of rioting gangs, the vulgarities of his utterances have been a slur on civilised public life. His justifications of the riots, too, sound uncannily like that of Slobodan Milosevic, the Serbian president and mass murderer who is now facing trial for his crimes against humanity. I often wonder these days why those active in human rights groups in India and abroad have not yet tried to get international summons issued against Modi for colluding with the murder of hundreds and for attempted ethnic cleansing. If Modis behavior till now is not a crime against humanity, what is?

Following Gujrat riots in 2002 & widespread allegation of State complicity, a US Commission for international religious freedom (USCIRF) established that Gujrat Chief Mister, Modi was linked to communal riots in a significant way. It also noted that Modis Minsterial Colleauge, Maya Kodnani fully involved in the massacre of Muslims was actually a fall Guy for Narendra Modi. Following its findings, the Commision recommended a US Visa ban for Modi. The Chair person of the Commision ,Katrina Lantos Swett went further to recommend India to be placed in Tier 2 Countries on religious freedom along with that of seven other countries Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos and Russia. Tier 2 countries are those Countries where religious persecution and other violations of religious freedom are either promoted with State connivance or tolerated by the governments in chage

According to a report of British High Commission in India, the pogroms in Gujarat in 2002, had all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing and that reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims is impossible while the chief minister,Modi remains in power.The report further said, far from being spontaneous this massacre, was planned, possibly months in advance, carried out by an extremist Hindu organisation with the support of the state government headed by Modi.

Now reverting back to the earlier question, it is important to seek an answer as to whether Modi has been forgiven or his crimes relegated to the dustbins of history? America may say that Modi is an elected chief executive of a largest democracy and it was for Indian people to punish him through electoral calculus or for the Indian judiciary to indict him. But that is a specious argument to say the least. Immediately after riots, Modi won elections in Gujrat and irrespective of that favorable result, Modi was treated as a persona-non-grata by America and his entry to USA banned. So taking shelter under this alibi will be self defeating for USA. Should it take the Indian judiciary argument, then none better than USA knows that the whole criminal Justice system in India is slow & heavily loaded against minorities. And even the remote chances of getting justice are scuttled by influencing and/or threatening honest Judges & bureaucrats. Does USA need to be reminded that for anti Sikh riots of 1984, no political heavyweight has been punished so far by Indian system? Recently an Indian Court acquitted all the accused policemen (Provincial armed constabulary personnel) responsible for murdering 42 innocent Muslims of a non-descript UP village in broad daylight in 1987.

And if it is presumed that USA has forgiven Modi, then we can only mourn the sad demise of core values from American hearts. Slobodan Milosevic must be wondering in his grave for the differential treatment he got at the hands of those whose priorities are guided more by revenue & market valuations. Whatever be the case, a caveat is in order. America by its odious behavior has undermined & debased the structure of democracy, it so enthusiastically promotes in rest of the world.

(The author is a practicing chartered Accountant. E mail: abdulmajidzargar@gmail.com)














150616 ABG DAY

By Aloysius Laukai

The people of Bougainville throughout Bougainville and Bougainvilleans in other parts of Papua New Guinea and overseas today commemorated the ABG Day 15th June 2016 as the day the Autonomous Bougainville Government was established eleven years ago on 15th June, 2005.

Despite the economic downturn, all districts commemorated the day as patriotic citizens of the region.

The ABG was established as a government that would unite its people who were divided by the terrible war that torn Bougainville apart between the years 1988 and 1998.

In Buka the celebrations were held at Kahule for the Council of Elders and at the Hutjena Government station.

The main guest of honor was the ABG vice President, PATRICK NISIRA whilst the ABG President with ministers, WILLIE MASIU and JACOB TOKE accompanied the President at the Buin celebrations.

Ends

Pictured is the ABG Vice President, PATRICK NISIRA inspecting the Police Parade in Hutjena.
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Credit President Obama for finally using the words he has desperately tried to avoid during his presidency. He correctly called the mass shooting in an Orlando gay nightclub Sunday morning, which killed 49 and injured 53, "an act of terror."

It was, writes The New York Times, the "deadliest attack on a gay target in the nation's history."

Discredit to the president for avoiding linking the attack to ISIS and Islamic terrorism, even though the shooter, Omar Mateen, reportedly called 911 during the rampage and "pledged loyalty to the Islamic State." Jihadists everywhere quickly celebrated the carnage on the internet and, reports israelnationalnews.com, " ... the al-Amaq agency  which functions as ISIS's propaganda and media wing  claimed that 'the attack ... was carried out by an Islamic State fighter.'"

The president used the tragedy to make another pitch for stronger gun laws. Does he believe that someone who claims to be on a mission from Allah would not be able to obtain guns and explosives illegally?

Mateen had been on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's radar in 2013 and 2014, but reports The Daily Beast, the FBI "subsequently closed the case when it produced nothing that appeared to warrant further investigation." NBC News learned that Mateen traveled twice to Saudi Arabia in 2011 and 2012 "to perform a pilgrimage to Mecca," according to a spokesman for Saudi Arabia's Ministry of the Interior. Once again, we are reactive rather than proactive.

The pattern following these terrorist attacks is now familiar. First comes extreme caution in which we say very little and refuse even to speculate about what seems obvious, followed, after the fact, as in the Fort Hood shooting, which was dubbed "workplace violence," by an attempt to quickly change the subject. Next comes the obligatory news conference in which a quickly produced imam or "expert," speaking for the Muslim community, is trotted out to say that the latest incident has nothing to do with Islam, which is a peaceful religion, and that we should all embrace unity.

Omar Mateen's father, Seddique Mateen, initially claimed there was no religious motivation behind the killings, but The Washington Post reported the father "is an Afghan man who holds strong political views, including support for the Afghan Taliban."

Muhammad Musri joined law enforcement officers at the news conference in Orlando. He is connected to the Islamic Society of Central Florida, which is connected to the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), an Islamic umbrella organization that some believe has ties to terrorist groups.

Muhammad Musri's mosque was even used for a fundraiser that collected $55,000 for Hamas. There is also a 2011 video of Musri in which he blames the United States for Sept. 11.

People like Omar Mateen are not so much "lone wolves" as "known wolves." But before law enforcement can legally act, it's often too late.

In wartime, certain liberties have been suspended in order to protect the country. This may be one of those times. Or should we wait until our enemies obtain a weapon of mass destruction?

Congress should declare war on all terrorist groups. Websites that promote ideologies that encourage terrorist acts should be shut down. No more mosques should be built in the U.S. until we gain an upper hand against radical Islamists. It does no good to say most Muslims are peaceful if you have no mechanism in place to act against or even identify those who are not.

On "American Idol," Randy Jackson would often say of a contestant that he or she was "in it to win it."

We don't appear to be in it, but our enemies are.
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By Kellie Mccown, USA TODAY NETWORK

SACRAMENTO  In response to the shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub early Sunday morning, a California pastor praised the massacre, stating "they deserve what they got."

Forty-nine people died at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando after suspected gunman Omar Mateen, 29, of Fort Pierce, Fla., engaged in a shoot-out with police. An additional 53 people were injured. Mateen was killed by police.

A recording of the sermon, given by Pastor Roger Jimenez of Verity Baptist Church in Sacramento, was posted to YouTube on Monday, the day after the tragedy.

In the video, Jimenez preached to his congregation that they should not be grieving the homosexual victims of the shootings, comparing those killed to pedophiles.

"Are you sad that 50 pedophiles were killed today?" asked Jimenez. "Um no. I think that's great. I think that helps society. I think Orlando, Florida, is a little safer tonight. The tragedy is that more of them didn't die. The tragedy is I'm kind of upset he didn't finish the job  because these people are predators. They are abusers."

Initial reports said 50 people were killed at the nightclub. Law enforcement officials clarified Monday that 50 dead included the gunman.

Jimenez went on to criticize the government, saying he wished homosexuals would be put in front of a firing squad.

"I wish the government would round them all up, put them up against a firing wall, put the firing squad in front of them and blow their brains out," Jimenez said.

Jimenez is clear to point out that the congregation should not advocate for killing gay people.

"You don't mourn the death of them. They deserve what they got. You reap what you sow. But we don't advocate it either. We're not calling people to arms  and if somebody goes out and says I'm going to go kill sodomites  you don't listen to those people. That's not what we're saying."

Jimenez did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

The video has since been removed from YouTube. A note on the video says it "has been removed for violating YouTube's policy on hate speech."
James Wesley Howell, 20, of Indiana, appears in Superior Court in Los Angeles Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Howell faces felony weapons charges after authorities say they found assault rifles and explosive chemicals in his car in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 12, before a major Los Angeles gay pride parade. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

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By Michael Anthony Adams, Jill Disis And Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY NETWORK

On the same day that Los Angeles County authorities charged James Wesley Howell with multiple felony weapon charges in California, police in Southern Indiana announced Howell as a suspect in a sexual assault investigation involving an underage victim.

Howell is accused of sexually abusing an underage girl in his car on May 31 after exchanging online messages, family members of the victim told IndyStar. IndyStar typically does not name people who are or may have been victims of sexual assault.

The sexual assault investigation is happening in Indiana's Clark County, where Howell lives. The Clark County Sheriff's Office is cooperating with the FBI, according to a Tuesday news release.

The FBI served a search warrant Monday night at Howell's home in the 3100 block of Timber Lake Court in Jeffersonville, FBI officials confirmed to IndyStar. They would not say what agents were looking for, or if anything was taken from the home.

Howell, 20, faces three felonies and a misdemeanor in connection with his arrest in Santa Monica, California, on Sunday. He was charged with possession of an assault weapon, possession of explosives on a public highway and possession of a high-capacity magazine, said Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney. The misdemeanor charge was for possession of a loaded weapon.

Howell told police he was traveling to a gay pride event in Los Angeles when they found several weapons and explosives:

Twenty-five pounds of Shoc-Shot, an explosive used for blowing up targets. The two components needed to make it explosive had been mixed.

An Anderson Manufacturing AM-115 .223 caliber assault rifle. The rifle had a round in its chamber, and additional rounds in a 30-round magazine attached to it. There also was another 30-round magazine taped to the rifle.

A .30-06 caliber bolt-action rifle with a round in its chamber.

A .22-caliber Ruger semi-auto.

Police said they also found a black hood, Taser, handcuffs, buck knife, security badge, additional ammo for the rifles and a five-gallon container of gasoline, according to court documents.

During Howell's arraignment on Tuesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz labeled him as a potential danger to the community by driving a car filled with explosives.

"I cannot think of any good reason for someone to be traveling across the country with these items," Schwartz said.

He also noted that Howell had apparently violated a probation requirement from Indiana that he surrender all weapons. Howell was sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to forfeit all weapons in April after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor intimidation charge in Clark County.

Three days after his plea deal, a grand jury across the river in Louisville indicted Howell on separate charges of speeding, fleeing police and reckless driving. That case is pending.

Howell's arrest in California attracted national attention because it occurred Sunday, just hours after a gunman burst into a gay nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 before he was shot to death by police. Police later said, however, that Howell has not voiced any threats toward the L.A. Pride festival that he said he would attend.

Friends who spoke with IndyStar on Monday said Howell harbored no violent feelings toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. An ex-boyfriend, 17-year-old Zach Hambrick of Charlestown, said Howell wasn't open about his sexuality.

Still, in arguing for higher bail at Howell's arraignment, Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney said Howell presented a clear risk to the community. Carney noted how the explosive components were already mixed.

"Target enthusiasts don't mix these substances until they are ready to use them," Carney said.

Howell's attorney argued that the black hood was just an article of clothing and that the Shoc-Shot is a commercially available product. Another hearing date was set for reconsideration of bail.

Howell remains in jail there on a $2 million bond.
Jedediah Smith, famous mountain man, trapper, explorer and map maker, may not have been the first white man to enter the Nevada area  some Spanish conquistadors most likely had crossed the same deserts and mountains before him  but Smith certainly was the first to spend any significant time exploring the region. He made two trips across Southern Nevada and one across sections of the central part of the state when all of it was just a blank area on any maps of the day.
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By Zach Osowski, zach.osowski@courierpress.com

INDIANAPOLIS  The committee tasked with replacing Indiana's suite of statewide tests, including ISTEP, has had some meaningful discussion but hasn't decided what the end goal of a new test should be.

Tuesday marked the second time the panel to replace ISTEP met in Indianapolis to come up with a new way to evaluate students, teachers and schools. Panel members discussed at length what the vision of the new testing system should be.

The main argument emerging from the meeting is the idea of summative tests versus formative tests.

Formative tests, which tend to be shorter, with lower stakes, monitor student growth and let teachers know how a student is progressing. Summative tests, such as ISTEP, are high-stakes tests that evaluate student knowledge against a pre-determined benchmark.

From the discussion, teachers seem to prefer formative tests.

One teacher gave an example of a student who comes into third grade at a first-grade reading level. Getting that student up to a second-grade reading level would be a major improvement, but the student would still fail a summative test for third-grade reading.

State Superintendent Glenda Ritz said summative tests tend to do nothing more than cause stress for students, and demonstrate for teachers what those students already know.

"In my opinion, we waste millions of dollars on ISTEP every year," Ritz said. "Our teachers can already tell you who's going to pass."

The new federal Every Student Succeeds Act requires schools to be held accountable for student proficiency.

Committee member Rep. Rob Behning, R-Indianapolis, said ESSA requires schools to test at certain grade levels to measure that proficiency. He said with that requirement, a summative test has to be a component of the new testing system.

Chairwoman Nicole Fama, an elementary school principal, said formative tests tend to be electronic, which can be impossible for cash-strapped or rural schools.

The summative-versus-formative debate is happening too soon for some panel members. Fort Wayne Community Schools Superintendent Wendy Robinson said the committee needs to agree on a broad vision for the new testing system before getting "into the weeds."

"I'm a little bit frustrated," Robinson said. "We can resolve the technical issues when we decide 'What do we want?'"

Fama asked each of the panel members to email a vision statement for the group to decide on at the panel's next meeting, scheduled for July 19.
By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON  The wife of the Orlando nightclub gunman feared that Omar Mateen was planning an attack and sought to dissuade him from going forward, a federal law enforcement official said Tuesday.

In interviews with federal investigators, Noor Salman also allegedly acknowledged driving Mateen to the Pulse nightclub at least once before her husband launched the assault, according to the official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

The attack, which now stands as the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, left 49 dead and 53 others wounded.

Salman allegedly told investigators that she drove Mateen to Pulse, a popular gay club in Orlando, about a week before Sunday's shooting, suggesting that the gunman had identified the target for some time before moving forward.

The development was first reported Tuesday by NBC News.

The federal official said authorities were seeking to substantiate the wife's account, along with other witness reports that Mateen had frequented the club often before returning with a rifle and handgun.

It is unclear whether Salman may face criminal charges, as authorities are seeking to determine whether she possessed enough detailed knowledge to alert authorities of Mateen's plot.

Among the possible charges available to federal authorities includes misprision of a felony, which was notably used in the prosecution of Michael Fortier, an associate of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. Fortier pleaded guilty to the offense and other weapons charges as part of deal in which he testified against McVeigh, offering crucial details about the bomber's prior planning leading up to the 1995 bombing that killed 168 people, then the deadliest act of terrorism on U.S. soil.

The FBI's focus on Salman and other family members is part of an extensive effort to construct a timeline of Mateen's activities in the weeks and days leading to Sunday's massacre.

Following a briefing by his National Security Council, President Obama Tuesday reasserted the government's belief that Mateen was not directed by a terror organization, even though the shooter expressed allegiance to the Islamic State during a standoff with police. Mateen also has professed solidarity with other extremist causes, some of them contradictory, creating a muddled portrait of the grievances that may have inspired him to lash out.

Federal investigators believe Mateen had been in the Orlando area, on and off, for at least several days before the assault, the federal official said, adding that authorities were reviewing whether the gunman considered other targets, including the area's main tourist attraction, Disney World. It was entirely possible, however, that any association the gunman may have had with Disney was as a visitor.

Federal authorities also are reviewing past investigations in which Mateen surfaced as both a possible terrorist suspect and a suspected associate of a Vero Beach, Fla., man, who later died as a suicide bomber in Syria.

In each case, including a 10-month investigation into radical claims Mateen expressed to co-workers in 2013 in which he expressed interest in martyrdom, the matter was closed without charges.

FBI Director James Comey defended the bureau's work in those cases, saying that investigators found nothing to substantiate Mateen's rhetoric or an association with the suicide bomber Moner Abu-Salha.
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By Thomas B. Langhorne of the Courier and Press

Republicans have filled a ballot vacancy for a nominee in the Vanderburgh County coroner's race.

Having failed to attract a candidate before Indiana's May 3 primary elections, Republicans took advantage of state law giving them until June 30 to appoint a standard-bearer.

He is Evansville resident Brian Claspell, a self-described former deputy in the coroner's office who now works as a part-time deputy for Warrick County's coroner. Claspell also works full time as an emergency medical technician at St. Mary's Emergency Room, Level 2 Trauma Center.

The 48-year-old Claspell, an Evansville native, said he left the Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office in 2013 to work at St. Mary's.

Claspell pledged to be more accessible to victims' families than past Vanderburgh County coroners.

"I want to be more accessible to their needs and more compassionate as far as what these people are going through," he said. "We have a big prescription medicine overdose issue.

"I've noticed that heroin's been on the rise here. I'd like to get more education programs out there for the youth, whether it's in grade school or high school, to give them more information and options."

Democrats have nominated current Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Lockyear. The general election is Nov. 8.
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By Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY NETWORK

As U.S. agriculture and food companies struggle to attract enough workers, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack hopes a Northwest Indiana farm and tourist attraction can help.

Vilsack traveled Wednesday to Fair Oaks Farm  the nation's largest agritourism attraction  to preview the farm's newest exhibit, the "WinField Crop Adventure."

The first reaction of young people who go through the exhibit will be, "Geez, I didn't know that," he said.

Then they'll want to learn more.

"And the third reaction is, 'I want to be that,'" Vilsack predicted. "`I want to be the scientist, the farmer.  I want to figure out the new economy that is displayed here.'"

A study funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and released by Purdue University in 2010 estimated 54,400 jobs would be created annually in agriculture, food and renewable resources over the next five years. But only about 29,300 students were expected to earn degrees in traditional agriculture and life-science related fields each year. Other workers would have to be drawn from fields such as biological sciences or businesses where students would have an array of choices.

The agriculture industry hopes Fair Oaks Farm will make the choice of agriculture more attractive.

"What we see here at Fair Oaks is the broad scope of opportunity," Vilsack said.

The WinField Crop Adventure and its more than 100 exhibits explores the history of farming and modern practices  such as the use of drones  and imagines how agriculture might look in the future.

WinField Solutions, a subsidiary of Land O'Lakes, is a crop- and seed-production company.

Land O'Lakes commissioned a survey of teenagers and found few considered farmers to be technologically advanced.

"We need to excite and engage people in a broader discussion about what it takes to produce the food needed to feed a growing global population," said Chris Policinski, Land O'Lakes president and CEO.

Fair Oaks Farms already offers agritourism experiences about raising cows and pigs. An exhibit about growing crops was the big missing piece, said Mike McCloskey, one of the founders of Fair Oaks Farms.

Growing up, McCloskey said, everyone he knew had a family member in agriculture.

"Unfortunately, we have lost that," he said. So McCloskey and other dairy farmers felt a need to communicate with the 98 percent of the population not involved in agriculture about their world because the stories being told "were really not our stories."

For every farm operator under the age of 35, the U.S. has six farm operators over 65, many of whom are on the verge of retirement.

The latest farm census shows the biggest drop in farmers in Indiana between 1997 and 2012 were in the 35 to 54 age group. The average age of a Hoosier farmer has increased to 56.

Food and agriculture companies have been aware of a worker shortage for years. Agribusinesses have been working to shed a stodgy and outdated image to help draw employees.

Vilsack said Wednesday most people don't realize how important agriculture is to national security. Remarking on recent trips he's made to Vietnam and Cuba, Vilsack said both countries used to be enemies of the United States and now agriculture sales are building bridges between them.

"I make the case to young people, there's no more innovative, no more exciting, no more passionate place to be than agriculture," he said, "no better opportunities to change the economy of this country  and no better way to make the world a safer place."
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By Zach Osowski, zach.osowski@courierpress.com

INDIANAPOLIS  An Indiana Senate Committee charged with studying the impact of illegal immigration heard Wednesday just how confusing and difficult the current immigration system in America is.

And there might not be much Indiana lawmakers can do to fix the problem, even if they wanted to tackle the astronomical cost of doing so.

Immigration Attorney Angela Adams testified before the committee about just how big an impact deporting illegals from Indiana would bring. She said the state would lose $2.8 billion in economic activity if all undocumented workers were removed. In addition, she said illegal immigrants pay between $89 and $109 million a year in taxes.

Members of the U.S. and Indiana Chambers of Commerce also testified before the committee, which focused on the current problems businesses face when it comes to immigration and what can be done. Because the federal government ultimately decides immigration policy, Jon Baselice, with the U.S. Chamber, warned that Indiana's ability to do anything about illegal immigration might be limited.

"Our current immigration system is outdated. It's a sub-optimal system that has contributed to the large number of undocumented immigrants," Baselice said. "But real change needs to come from Washington D.C."

Baselice said perhaps the most important thing Indiana lawmakers could do would be to keep pressure on their Washington counterparts to make changes.

The main complaint from the business community is that the database for checking potential employees' immigration status is time-consuming, disorganized and easily beaten. Baselice spoke at length about making the E-verify system  a database some businesses use voluntarily  mandatory. He said in order for that to work, the system would have to be run at the national level.

Ideally, a well-run national database would prevent illegal immigrants from being able to obtain jobs, thus cutting down on their desire to come to the U.S. in the first place, he said.

But that doesn't do anything about the millions of undocumented workers currently in the U.S.  the population of which is similar to Ohio, Baselice said.

"Mass deportation and self-deportation are not viable options," Baselice said. "We could be looking at a loss of $1.6 trillion nationwide."

Wednesday's meeting was the third for the committee led by Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel. The committee is tasked with discovering if legislative action could and should be taken on illegal immigration.
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By Jeffrey Brauer And Colleen Christmas, The Baltimore Sun (TNS)

The anti-LGBT "bathroom" issue has been featured extensively in the news media since North Carolina passed a law requiring transgender people to use facilities that coincide with their birth sex. What has inexplicably fallen below the radar, however, is the recently enacted Tennessee law that allows mental health counselors and therapists to decline to care for certain patients if it would violate the clinician's "sincerely held principles." Although this stipulation is nonspecific, the law was enacted solely with LGBT patients in mind.

The Tennessee Legislature passed it, and Gov. Bill Haslam quietly signed it on April 27. As physicians, not to mention citizens of the United States, we find this law unethical and immoral, and nearly matched in repugnance by the relative silence with which this law has been met. While a few groups have denounced the law and diverted their conferences from the state, we believe there should be increased publicity, more vigorous backlash against the move and a concerted effort to get it repealed.

As health care practitioners, we are professionally and ethically bound to care for every patient who seeks our care. Clinicians care for every imaginable demographic, without, we hope, any prejudice or outward discrimination (though many studies have demonstrated certain inherent biases in various treatment patterns, which certainly should be discouraged and minimized). We also frequently care for people with whom we disagree or by whom we are offended, whether it be someone with opposing political views, a racist or even an enemy combatant. We still must attempt to give each person the best treatment possible.

Tennessee is the only state to have enacted such a law. Rep. John Ray Clemmons, a Nashville Democrat, tried to weaken the legislation through amendments, but failed. "It's intriguing to me that this body is wanting to stand in the way of people seeking help in the state of Tennessee," Clemmons said.

Now, the American Counseling Association and several other groups have announced plans to move their conventions out of Tennessee next year, stating that this law violates its code of ethics. This new legislation is especially problematic with psychiatric care, as much of the mental conditions that LGBT patients experience are precisely because of this kind of discrimination, and the effects of this new legislation can only add to their distress. Clinicians who follow such a law may therefore be actively inflicting harm on the individual seeking their care.

Although it is easy to say that care could simply be transferred to another counselor who is more comfortable with LGBT people, this is a very dangerous and slippery slope to begin to descend. What about rural areas, where very few counselors practice? What if none of the therapists in a group practice wants to take on these patients? What other "sincerely held principles" will health care workers choose to use to deny care to patients?

What we are discussing is not a specific treatment or procedure that a practitioner is uncomfortable performing because of their belief system, such as an abortion or physician-assisted suicide. This is a patient, a human being, who is being denied health care simply because of their innate sexual orientation. Businesses, celebrities and the federal government as well as regular citizens should aggressively respond to this egregious law with the same vigor and pressure as they have with the North Carolina "bathroom bill."

Would we react differently if care providers were given the right to refuse to care for black people? Oh wait, we've already been down that horrible road.
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This editorial appeared in the Orlando Sentinel on Monday:

Words cannot adequately convey the depth of the horror and grief in Central Florida in the wake of what now ranks as the worst mass shooting in American history.

Orlando now tragically sits atop a list of infamy, sharing the sorrow of Virginia Tech, Newtown, Conn., and Aurora, Colo.

We will not  we must not  let Sunday's heinous act of brutality and cowardice define our community.

As terror has struck other cities around the world in recent months  Paris, Brussels, San Bernardino  our shock and anger have been mixed with a growing sense of unease. Orlando, as one of the world's most popular and iconic destinations for travelers, and a community that proudly cherishes its diversity, has long been considered a high-value target for would-be terrorists.

Now it appears our worst fears have been realized.

Investigators on Sunday were sorting out the details of the massacre following the carnage in the early-morning hours at Pulse Orlando, a gay-themed nightclub. They were studying what could possibly have motivated the shooter, identified by police as 29-year-old Omar Mir Seddique Mateen of Port St. Lucie, the U.S. born son of Afghan parents. He is said to have been investigated by the FBI for possible ties to Islamic extremism, though he had not been charged. He reportedly declared his allegiance to the Islamic State, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida said the terror group had claimed responsibility for the massacre. But Mateen's father insisted his son was motivated by hatred of homosexuals.

Whatever conclusions investigators might reach, the loss of at least 50 souls, and the wounding of dozens more innocents, is an unbearable blow for any community. We join with the families, friends and neighbors of victims in mourning them. An outpouring of love and support from Central Florida is the bare minimum due them.

Beyond offering our abundant prayers and sympathy, we must ensure that those who survive  who will forever carry the scars from the trauma  know that they are not alone today, tomorrow or in the months and years to come.

Let our community define itself by our unequivocal response: United.

How we come together to remember and honor the dead, and comfort their families and friends.

How we help heal the victims wounded in body and spirit.

How we work with our leaders and our neighbors to close gaps in security and make Central Florida safer.

How we stand in defiance of anyone who would provoke fear and division in our community.

How we proudly reaffirm Orlando's identity as a welcoming, inclusive place for people who live here or visit, no matter their background or orientation.

We will unite, in an affirming bond that is more mighty, and enduring, than the twisted thoughts of a young man who allegedly unleashed this atrocity.

It's inevitable, and healthy, that the lead-up and immediate reaction to the shooting will be scrutinized for any shortcomings. But local, state and federal leaders deserve credit for responding in cooperation and solidarity. Gov. Rick Scott quickly declared a state of emergency to remove any barriers to federal and state assistance.

Lest we forget, we have heroes. They are the people who stepped up as community treasures in the midst of tragedy.

The police who converged on an active crime scene in the middle of the night to confront the shooter.

The trauma teams at area hospitals who responded to the overwhelming crush of gravely wounded victims.

The crowds of caring people who stood patiently in lines snaking from area blood-donation centers.

The neighbors who spontaneously provided food and drinks to the first responders on the scene.

Let us sustain and build on these efforts.

Central Florida is tested as never before. Our heartfelt response will grow stronger every day. #OrlandoUnited
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John Bambenek III

Evansville

As a fellow physician, I feel the need to sound the alarm about our former physician turned political operative Larry Bucshon. It appears congressman Bucshon has been rendered mute and is completely unable to verbally respond to several key questions about the presumptive Republican nominee, whom he has reportedly pledged to support. I do have a few questions for him, to wit:

1. Do you fully support Donald J. Trump as the Republican nominee?

2. Do you fully support building a wall between us and Mexico?

3. Do you support banning all Muslims from traveling into our country?

4. Do you support Trump getting a different judge in his civil suit because the present judge has a Mexican heritage and is undoubtedly prejudiced?

5. Do you support Trump's trade strategies with China?

6. Do you feel that President Obama is a secret Muslim and is conspiring to overthrow the United States?

7. Do you agree with Trump barring members of the media (like The Washington Post) from his rallies?

8. Do you agree with Trump's assertion that women should be punished for having abortions?

Please respond to your constituents and break your deafening silence. Your lack of response is alarming. Please represent your district and stand up for yourself (and us).
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Cloud News

Partners Approve Of CenturyLink's ElasticBox Acquisition For Hybrid IT, Multi-Cloud Management

Gina Narcisi

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CenturyLink has scooped up startup ElasticBox to take the pain out of multi-cloud management for both partners and business customers.

Most businesses today are working with hybrid IT environments, consisting of a variety of cloud services across multiple cloud providers. The addition of the ElasticBox technology for cloud application management, in conjunction with CenturyLink's global network, will help free up partners and end customers from managing increasingly complex cloud environments, according to the telecom giant.

Monroe, La.-based CenturyLink has recently been positioning itself as an IT company instead of a carrier thanks to its large IaaS cloud and hosting footprint and robust network. That mindset needs to be applied to its latest acquisition because applying "old world" telecom thinking to the cloud won't work, said Michael Bremmer, CEO of TelecomQuotes.com, a telecom consultancy firm and solution provider based in Moreno Valley, Calif.

[Related: Partners Cheer CenturyLink's Energy-Efficient Data Center Efforts ]

"CenturyLink shouldn't try to change the DNA of the company it bought," he said. "As long as they dont apply the old thinking to the new company and let Elastic be as they are, the synergies should be fantastic."

ElasticBoxs platform complements CenturyLink's cloud technology that the provider has been actively developing and operating, a CenturyLink spokesperson told CRN.

"Weve thought through the partner angle prior to the acquisition, which will enable greater cloud access and management options for partners and their customers. Our support and the excellent partner and end-customer experience our current CenturyLink Cloud platform provides will be enhanced by ElasticBoxs ability to enable a great experience across multiple clouds," the spokesperson said.

Avnet, a Phoenix-based technology distribution provider and CenturyLink Premier Partner, is pleased that ElasticBoxs multi-cloud technology will be integrated with the CenturyLink Cloud platform, said Tim FitzGerald, Avnet's vice president of cloud solutions and channel ecosystem strategist.

"This frees up businesses to focus on issues that are central to their organization rather than spending time and resources managing multiple clouds," FitzGerald said. "Directionally, we see it as a positive move because having options for multiple cloud platforms  and making it easy to use them  is aligned with the hybrid IT strategies and needs of many customers."

San Francisco-based startup ElasticBox provides a cloud application management platform to help end customers -- and now, CenturyLink partners -- orchestrate application deployment. ElasticBox's application orchestration is available today for more than 12 different cloud providers, including Amazon Web Services, IBMs SoftLayer and Microsoft Azure. The startup recently added support for the CenturyLink Cloud platform, as well as additional support for the Google Compute Engine and OpenStack. ElasticBox also supports Docker and Amazon ECS containers, according to CenturyLink.

CenturyLink expects to put additional resources behind the ElasticBox technology to improve their capabilities at managing multi-cloud environments, as well as performing hybrid IT managed services, the provider said.

The management platform should be easy for partners and business customers to be able to use right away, Avnet's FitzGerald said.

"With CenturyLinks stated desire to improve and leverage the ElasticBox technology to deliver end-to-end network, multi-cloud and hybrid IT managed services, this looks really exciting  for Avnet and we expect it will be for other channel partners, too," he said.
Networking News

As Net Neutrality Wins in Court, Partners Applaud Open Internet Efforts

Gina Narcisi

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The hotly debated Net Neutrality doctrine was upheld by a federal appeals court Tuesday, marking high-speed internet services as a utility. The decision has frustrated broadband and cable providers, but the channel partner community isn't sharing their pain.

Yesterday's victory for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) bans Internet service providers (ISPs) from prioritizing specific traffic  also known as creating "fast lanes" -- or blocking or slowing certain websites or content, a practice known as throttling. The ruling also reclassifies wireless or fixed-line broadband providers as common carriers, which gives the FCC permission to regulate them as it regulates telephone service providers.

Many partners are standing in favor of Net Neutrality. By putting a stop to anti-competitive behaviors, such as paid prioritization, the ruling ensures that the internet will remain open, partners say.

[Related: Telecoms Battle Net Neutrality With New Initiatives While Channel Remains Split On Debate]

"Net neutrality is good for everyone, unless you're a major provider," said Michael Bremmer, CEO of TelecomQuotes.com, a telecom consultancy firm. "The carriers continue to [take] government money to build and support the internet. Everything has a cost, and this cost is regulation when you take Uncle Sam's money."

Telarus, a Sandy, Utah-based master agent, has a large supplier portfolio with a number of broadband and cable provider partners, and agrees with Bremmer's outlook.

"We are glad to see that the internet will remain open, with equal access for all, at least on the surface," said Patrick Oborn, co-founder of Telarus.

TelecomQuotes.com, based in Moreno Valley, Calif., partners with many of the major internet service providers (ISPs). Bremmer believes that if broadband providers aren't being held in check, content providers like Netflix can't exist.

"The irony of this is, without all the content companies, the internet doesn't grow," he said.

The FCC is also pleased with the court's decision.

After a decade of debate and legal battles, todays ruling affirms the commissions ability to enforce the strongest possible internet protections  both on fixed and mobile networks  that will ensure the Internet remains open, now and in the future, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the large ISPs, including AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon, are already pledging to contest the most recent ruling, claiming that the FCC doesn't have the authority to reclassify broadband providers as common carriers, especially mobile broadband providers.

Net Neutrality was shot down in 2014 when the federal court ruled that the FCC couldn't regulate broadband providers because they weren't common carriers.

Regarding the latest court decision, David McAtee, AT&T's senior executive vice president and general counsel, said in a statement, "We have always expected this issue to be decided by the Supreme Court, and we look forward to participating in that appeal.

Comcast, for its part, said that although the appellate court's decision is unlikely the final word, it will review the decision before it determines next steps.

"Though disappointed in todays result, we are particularly gratified by Judge Williams recognition of the watery thin and self-contradictory nature of the FCC arguments used to justify the imposition of common carriage laws on Internet networks," Comcast said in a statement on the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) website.

Verizon did not return CRN's request for comment on the Net Neutrality debate prior to publication.

One of the arguments against Net Neutrality implies that the latest ruling will discourage ISPs from investing in their infrastructures, a supposition that is largely a "smokescreen," according to Telarus' Oborn.

Broadband and cable providers have to invest in their networks to keep pace with the growing demand for quality bandwidth, or they can expect defections, he said.

"Considering that the monthly recurring revenue derived by fiber access is among the most margin-rich in their portfolio, it would reason that carriers will do everything in their power to protect their fiber market share  which means investing in their back-end networks, regardless of what their spokespeople say in front of the news cameras," Oborn said.

The nonprofit Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), like Comcast, also took issue with ISPs being labeled as common carriers, and called the court's ruling "disappointing."

"Classification of broadband as a common carrier  was a mistake. Common carriage is simply a very poor fit for regulating the rapidly evolving technology that underpins todays broadband networks and allows them to adapt to the changing demands we place on them," according to Robert Atkinson, ITIF president.

"We hope the Supreme Court or Congress will now put us back on the right track. As it stands, we are dooming ourselves to stagnant, one-size-fits-all networks," Atkinson continued.

To that end, some business users are okay with the idea of traffic prioritization. For those customers, "fast lanes" can still be created using a combination of multiple providers simultaneously and software-defined networking (SDN) technology, Telarus' Oborn said.

Because SDN can help direct traffic to the best route on the fly, this technology could be "the great equalizer" if a provider tries to throttle certain traffic, he added.

"By leveraging SDN, which is now affordable even to smaller businesses, and circuit monitoring technology that can measure and archive [internet provider] performance, small businesses will have the information they need to pick and choose the [providers] that are doing it right," Oborn said.
Power Players

At the CRN Test Center, we've recently been focusing a lot on productivity-focused laptops -- especially the most portable ones. But we know there are still plenty of workers out there who have no need to trade horsepower in exchange for portability -- the power is what they're after.

For those users -- such as graphic designers, video editors and other high-power multitaskers -- we wanted to look at two of the latest tower workstations.

And we're focusing on towers that particularly target the budget-conscious -- the Lenovo ThinkStation P410 Workstation, rolled out Tuesday, and the Dell Precision Tower 3620 (Mini Tower), which debuted near the end of 2015. Which is a better fit? Here is the CRN Test Center's breakdown of how the towers from Lenovo and Dell compare on specs and price.
Russian hackers managed to breach the computer network of the Democratic National Committee and stole opposition research on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The hackers had access to email and chat traffic as far back as last summer, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday. No financial data was stolen, however, suggesting that espionage was the motive.

The hackers belong to two separate groups that have been linked to the Russian government, according to security firm Crowdstrike, which was hired to mitigate the data breach.

Codenamed "Cozy Bear" and "Fancy Bear," the two groups are both notorious for hacking governments across the world, Crowdstrike said in a blog post. Cozy Bear, for instance, infiltrated networks used by the White House and U.S. State Department last year. It was the first group to breach the DNC network last summer, while Fancy Bear conducted its own attack in April.

"They were looking for information on policy, political campaigns and strategies, foreign policy plans, etc.," Crowdstrike added in an email.

It isnt clear how the hacking groups managed to breach the DNC network. But both groups have used sophisticated phishing attacks to target their past victims, Crowdstrike said.

Both groups were also persistently working to clear their tracks and avoid detection from the DNC, but the hacking was stopped over this past weekend. The groups didn't appear to be working together.

The DNC, the coordinating body of the U.S. Democratic Party, confirmed the breach on Tuesday.

When we discovered the intrusion, we treated this like the serious incident it is and reached out to CrowdStrike immediately," Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Florida Democrat and the DNC chairwoman, said by email. "Our team moved as quickly as possible to kick out the intruders and secure our network."

In May, U.S. intelligence chief James Clapper warned that cyber hackers were targeting presidential candidates for reasons including espionage. The attacks could intensify, he said.

Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear are among the best hacking groups in the world, according to Crowdstrike. In addition to the U.S., the groups have targeted victims in Europe, China, Japan and attacked a variety of sectors including defense, aerospace, and energy.

"Their tradecraft is superb, operational security second to none," Crowdstrike said.




A hacker claiming responsibility for the DNC hack that made headlines earlier this week has slammed the security company responsible for the incident response, and leaked several documents compromised during the incident  including a 235-page opposition memo on Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that hackers  believed to be Russian  compromised the Democratic National Committee network and walked off with opposition research on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

CrowdStrike, the security firm that was brought in to do incident response, suggested espionage as the likely motive. In fact, later that day, CrowdStrike published reports on two different "APT" groups in Russia, giving them the names Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear.

Overall, the Washington Post story actually read more like a promotion for CrowdStrike's incident response offerings than actual security news.

But the fact is, someone targeted the DNC directly and that is news worth watching. At the same time, many experts felt it was a stretch to hype the incident as some sort of massive international conspiracy.

The hacker claiming responsibility for the DNC attack (using the alias Guccifer 2.0) mocked CrowdStrike's assessment that he was a sophisticated hacker group, noting that he was pleased the company "appreciated my skills so highly. But in fact, it was easy, very easy."

"Guccifer may have been the first one who penetrated Hillary Clintons and other Democrats mail servers. But he certainly wasnt the last. No wonder any other hacker could easily get access to the DNCs servers. Shame on CrowdStrike: Do you think Ive been in the DNCs networks for almost a year and saved only 2 documents? Do you really believe it?"

As proof, he published the full opposition report on Donald Trump, which describes the GOP presidential candidate having "no core."

The 235-page memo is essentially a timeline and collection of comments and speeches given by Trump, as well as an overview of his political stance and mindset.

A 2-page memo to the DNC was included in the cache of posted files, which outlines the suggested positioning and public message strategy around the national election and the match-up between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

In response to DNC comments that no financial information was accessed during the attack, several donor lists were also published on Wednesday by the hacker, showing millions in financial contributions from Hollywood elites, businesses, trade groups, and unions.

The hacker ended their disclosure with a notice that a bulk of the compromised documents, including memos marked confidential and secret  allegedly taken from Hillary Clinton's personal email server  were delivered to WikiLeaks.

"The main part of the papers, thousands of files and mails, I gave to WikiLeaks. They will publish them soon. I guess CrowdStrike customers should think twice about companys competence," they wrote.

Salted Hash reached out to CrowdStrike for comment, but the company wasn't able to respond before this article was published. It will be updated with additional details as they become available.

Update:

CrowdStrike didn't respond to questions directly, but issued the statement below.
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As Gov. Dannel P. Malloy expounded this week at Stamford Government Center on a renewed commitment by the city to energy efficiency, he need only have led a tour a few blocks north or south on Washington Boulevard to point out a several examples in the private sector of the ultimate commitment to green building.

Whether that commitment is sustainable could take months or years to determine.

Near the mid-year point of 2016, just four commercial or institutional buildings in Connecticut had been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standard, with LEED representing the toughest standard in efficiency standards in the United States. Developers and building owners can seek the LEED logo tailored to a number of different settings, from homes and retail interiors to big commercial buildings, and to varying levels of stringency.

If Connecticuts four certifications to date in 2016 seems like a small number, it is  in Massachusetts, more than 50 buildings were certified in the first half of 2016, coming off two consecutive years of LEED designations topping the century mark for Bay State property owners and developers.

By comparison, 15 Connecticut buildings were certified LEED in the first half of 2015 en route to 28 total for the year, down slightly from 35 for all of 2014.

Is LEED losing its luster in Connecticut? Not yet  about 175 more commercial and institutional projects are in the pipeline seeking certification. Still, that represents just a quarter of the total number of projects in Massachusetts chasing LEED status. Earlier this year, the U.S. Green Building Council ranked Massachusetts third nationally on a per-capita basis for the amount of property space that is LEED certified, at just over 3 square feet per person, with Connecticut not ranking among the top 10.

Connecticut does not lack for inducements  the state has offered corporate tax credits since 2012 for the construction or renovation of buildings that qualify for LEED status, covering up to 10.5 percent of eligible expenses (Connecticut collects a $10,000 fee from corporations applying for the credit).

And the state has plenty of proponents. The Connecticut chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council runs an annual awards program recognizing successful projects, and arranges tours of buildings and forums on the topic including two on Thursday, one in Hartford covering innovative technologies for sustainable buildings and the other in New Haven giving an overview of programs to help spur energy reduction in buildings.

Speaking last November at the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in Washington, D.C., U.S. Green Building Council CEO Rick Fedrizzi said more than a third of all new construction dollars spent by 2018 will be on green buildings.

The truth is there is a powerful, conservative, pro-business case for conservation, Fedrizzi said. The green building industry has shown the world that sustainability is profitable  and profitability is sustainable.

 Includes prior reporting by Martin B. Cassidy.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-964-2236; www.twitter.com/casoulman
BRIDGEPORT  Can this city, with its history of corruption, afford to water down bidding rules for lucrative, tax-payer funded municipal contracts?

A recent movement to strip contracting documents of seven questions about bidders criminal backgrounds lost some steam this week.

Proponents, worried that such background questions discriminate against ex-felons, admit the need for a more careful look at the broader implications of doing away with them.

We may want to leave some questions in there, City Councilwoman Eneida Martinez said.

Last week, Martinez submitted a proposal to the City Council to eliminate the seven questions after they damaged efforts by a small, minority-owned business from her neighborhood to manage the citys dump. The vice-president of that company, East End Developers Inc., is community leader Ernie Newton, an ex-state legislator who was incarcerated for corruption.

East End was the lowest of three bidders vying for the transfer station contract. According to Public Facilities Director John Ricci, the firm was disqualified because Newton, who signed the bid documents, did not acknowledge his criminal past in the submission.

Safeguarding public trust

Newton said his attorney advised him that the questions did not pertain to his crimes and to answer no to each of them. The questions focus on illegal activities involving public or private contracts and subcontracts, agreements, transactions, bids, proposals and joint ventures.

Newton was convicted in 2005 of taking a $5,000 bribe to push through a state grant, diverting $40,682 in campaign contributions to himself and others, and failing to report the money on his income tax return.

The city has not specified which of the questions Newton should have marked yes. One that could be interpreted to apply to Newton asks about convictions for violating state or federal bribery laws indicating a lack of business integrity or business honesty.

But Newton insisted, None of my crimes ever dealt with bidding of contracts.

Initially, Newton and Martinez portrayed eliminating those bid document questions as an evolution of Bridgeports change in municipal employment applications to give ex-offenders a break. Those applications no longer ask job candidates about prior arrests, criminal charges or convictions.

But others argue say it is important to have some questions of criminal history on city bidding documents.

It benefits the integrity of the process, ex-Mayor John Fabrizi said.

Fabrizi recalled being involved in strengthening Bridgeports purchasing procedures to make it easier to disqualify companies for prior criminal activities related to public or private contracts. Those changes, he said, were made following the 2003 conviction of then-Mayor Joe Ganim for running a pay-to-play operation out of City Hall. Ganim won re-election last year.

It was such an explosive issue at the time  how people got certain contracts, Fabrizi said. At the time, everybody felt that was the right thing to do.

Considering intent

Fabrizi also said the questions were not intended to weed out all felons, and that they may have been wrongly applied to Newton.

They were geared at specifically bidding and contracting  Have you ever been convicted of a crime in a previous bidding or contractual manner?  as opposed to just a blanket, Have you ever been convicted of a crime?  Fabrizi recalled.

Paul Timpanelli, retiring head of the Bridgeport Regional Business Association, recently joined with Ganim in announcing an initiative to convince more private employers to hire ex-offenders.

But Timpanelli said that while he favors stripping questions about criminal history from employment applications, removing similar inquiries from bidding requirements is a bit more complex.

Its probably fair in that situation to ask for more specific background experience, he said.

Connecticut bid documents also ask about criminal convictions related to the procurement or performance of any public or private construction contract or efforts to win contracts. But the state specifies within the past ten years.

Newton said that while he understands the reasons for the questions in Bridgeports paperwork, they were misinterpreted to disqualify his effort to run the transfer station. For now, he wants them eliminated.

Im a good example of what happens if you dont, Newton said. You play by the rules, do everything right, and they find an excuse. If the questions werent there, we wouldnt be having this conversation.

Ricci said the city may manage dump itself or rebid. Newton said if the city changes its mind and awards East End the dump work, then there is no problem.

The city cant do it in-house, Newton said. Trust me. The city has no money. They can barely keep our parks and streets clean.
Orlando Florida: Westboro Baptist Church celebrates Orlando shooting

Submitted by: Juana

Religion

United States

06 / 14 / 2016



The largest mass shooting in the history of the United States took place during the night of Sunday, and is now known that the gunman Omar Mateen is responsible for at least 63 dead and some 43 others injured in Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

And while it's sad what happened, there is a church that celebrates this horrible act of terrorism. Westboro Baptist Church used social networks to celebrate the shooting and posted "God sent the shooter."

Westboro Baptist Church believes this was a message from God, and also that the mass shooting is "fair punishment for the Sodom of America!"




Teams and players to watch in the District 5 boys soccer playoffs

Check out the teams and players to watch and the District 5 Class 1A and 2A boys soccer playoffs open.
Cajun time: Buster Tubbs brings the spice to Tavares

Longing for some Louisiana fare? Consider Buster Tubbs in Tavares, where the secret is in the rue, according to chef and spice-master Pernell Stewart.
Opinion Wordle

The next day I woke to find myself in a WhatsApp group titled Quordle is Awesome!! A small group of three. There was no getting out of it now.
Next week the British people will make one of the most important decisions of our lifetimes.

It seems increasingly possible that they will vote to leave the EU, a leap into the unknown of which no one is sure what will be the consequences.

If we believe the Outs, Britain will welcome a new dawn, freed from the chains of Eurocracy. Not another unwanted immigrant will get past Calais. Some Ins make almost equally rash claims, suggesting that Brexit means our fingers will turn green.

David Cameron has had the better of the economic arguments, especially on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 on Sunday. Unfortunately, many people take no heed, because we become fed up with listening to all prime ministers after theyve been in the job six years.

David Cameron has had the better of the economic arguments. Unfortunately, many people take no heed, because we become fed up with listening to all prime ministers after theyve been in the job six years

This happened to Asquith, Churchill (yes), Attlee, Macmillan and Major.

Tony Blair was able to win three elections only because the Tories were convulsed over Europe.

Some of my own friends intend to vote Leave, because they seek to regain lost control over our own destinies, even at a cost to their pockets.

Yet I do not believe absolute sovereignty is retrievable from the halcyon era when Britain ruled the waves and half the world. I recoil from isolationism, which is what Leavers are really peddling, however they dress it up.

They share the sentiments of George VI, when he wrote with a sigh of relief after the fall of France in 1940: I feel happier now we have no allies!

Yet no one  save fantasists  is selling a simpler world, in which John Bull can decide his own destiny without a lot of expletive-deleted Europeans getting in the way.

Abroad is hell and foreigners are fiends!, shouted Nancy Mitfords black comic fictional creation Lord Alconleigh, more than 70 years ago.

That is no slogan for 21st- century Britain.

In our chaotic world, responses to most problems must be sought through joint action between nations, however exasperating the process.

JCBs Anthony Bamford and vacuum cleaner billionaire James Dyson (pictured) have come out as Leavers

The Euro-fanatics drive towards political integration is crazy, but we have a much better chance of protecting our interests against this if we are EU members than as impotent neighbours of what would become effectively a German empire.

The shock of a departure vote would be tremendous.

Fury among our partners will persist through a long, tortured exit negotiation.

David Cameron would perforce be consigned to the final departure lounge, even if his take-off from Downing Street was delayed by a Tory civil war. Scotlands departure from the UK would become almost inevitable.

And would this represent only short-term pain before long-term gain? Or, instead, a retreat from reality  above all economic reality  that will cost our children and grandchildren dear?

We should disbelieve anyone who says the choice is easy, when there are no hard facts, only rival speculations.

An overwhelming majority of British people want to see immigration far more tightly controlled, and I count myself among them.

Yet we need some newcomers. A friend in social services pointed out last week that care homes and hospitals would grind to a halt without immigrant staff.

It is ironic that many elderly people will vote Leave, because as we become progressively more infirm we shall depend on Nigerians or Greeks rather than jolly Yorkshire girls to help us to the bathroom.

Young British people are not deprived of this kind of work by foreigners: they simply refuse to empty bedpans.

I passionately sympathise with English families who see the streets around their homes taken over by people who espouse alien values and culture. Instead of denouncing anger about immigration as racism, we should call it tribalism, and almost all of us subscribe to it: we want to live among our own.

But we cannot stop the clock  or, as I fear some Brexiters wish  turn it back.

Globalism does many things that benefit us all, making most of Britain better off than ever in history. Part of its price, however, is that hundreds of millions of people come and go every day from country to country, making it fantastically difficulty to seal borders.

If we leave the EU, we shall achieve some reduction in unwanted arrivals.

But I believe the curbs will be nothing like as effective as Brexiteers promise, because of practical difficulties.

Escape from the pernicious excesses of human rights law is vital, but almost impossible to achieve unilaterally.

As for the economics, Leavers talk airily about Britain becoming part of a massive free trade zone outside the EU. Fat chance. Too many governments are too fond of tariff walls.

While we should play the ball and not the man, it seems impossible to ignore the fact that among the political leaders of the Brexit campaign, Michael Gove (pictured) can alone be considered a man of substance

Those who parade tempting comparisons with Switzerland and Norway talk nonsense: both are small nations whose circumstances bear no comparison with ours.

I do not believe the economy will collapse if we leave Europe  we shall face a recession pretty soon, whether we stay or go. But common sense, as well as most economic pundits, argues that we shall pay a cash premium, perhaps very stiff, for going it alone.

We live in such a massively complex, intertwined financial and industrial world that we cannot fail to lose by separating ourselves from one of its largest blocs. We may become marginally freer, but we shall be significantly poorer.

JCBs Anthony Bamford and vacuum cleaner billionaire James Dyson have come out as Leavers.

But most exporters whom I meet highlight the difficulties of trading with India and China compared with the ease of selling into Europe.

As for America, an acquaintance who does big mail-order business there describes his nightmare experiences at the hands of U.S. Customs, whose officers grin vacuously through interminable meetings and shrug that it is not their job to interpret rules to help foreign exports.

Even if there is a narrow Remain vote, David Cameron must treat it as a mandate for a massive campaign to change the EU as he should have sought before calling this referendum.

But whether inside or out, never again shall we enjoy absolute discretion to do everything our way, because no one has it.

Finally, while we should play the ball and not the man, it seems impossible to ignore the fact that among the political leaders of the Brexit campaign, Michael Gove can alone be considered a man of substance. Boris Johnson is a dangerous adventurer.

If the Leavers triumph next week, propelling their group to the top of the political heap, we should tremble for Britains governance, delivered to false prophets.

If Cameron loses, and wants to extract a delicious revenge, he will remain a caretaker leader while dispatching Gove and Johnson to Brussels to negotiate the terms of our departure.

Such a step would serve rough justice: it would put the foremost Leavers on the bed of nails they have seduced the British people into accepting.

We cannot recapture a lost past. We must instead cope with the messy but  let us never forget  amazingly prosperous here and now.

I once felt furious with David Cameron for forcing this referendum on us.

Yet now I feel that it may be for the best that we should be forced to think  and to choose.

Despite many misgivings, I shall vote Remain next week, because I believe this offers the best prospect for future generations.

But we should hope that, whatever the outcome of this historic ballot, both camps accept the nations verdict without rancour or recriminations.
They really dont get it. Senior Labour figures still dont understand how shamefully out of touch they are with their own voters on the profoundly troubling question of EU immigration.

Unbelievably, Alan Johnson, leader of Labours In campaign, claimed yesterday that staying in the EU will help us to control our borders.

His assertion will be treated with the derision it deserves, for Brussels insists on free movement  enabling millions of EU citizens to settle in Britain in the past decade.

Unbelievably, Alan Johnson, leader of Labours In campaign, claimed yesterday that staying in the EU will help us to control our borders

Meanwhile, former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown refused even to take questions about immigration.

In 2010, Mr Brown conveyed the boundless scorn felt by the Labour high command for its own followers when he dismissed Gillian Duffy, a lifelong Labour voter concerned about immigration, as a bigoted woman.

Jeremy Corbyn refused to allow immigration to be mentioned in Labours referendum literature, and in his speech yesterday instead urged voters to back Remain to defend our NHS.

Almost farcically, he was simultaneously rebuffed by Tom Watson, his deputy leader, former Cabinet minister Ed Balls, and former frontbenchers Rachel Reeves and Tristram Hunt.

After a decade of ignoring Labour voters entirely reasonable concerns about immigration, the partys credibility on this issue is shot to pieces.

No wonder Labour voters are flocking to vote for Brexit. Its their chance to show theyre fed up with being ignored by the remote, hampered and insufferably arrogant Westminster elite.

Project Fear (cont.)

Really, you dont know whether to laugh or cry. In recent weeks, David Cameron and George Osborne have predicted a vote for Brexit will lead to  among other disasters  genocide, war, recession, migrant camps in Kent, house price collapse and the end of cheap holidays.

During this period, the polls have moved towards Leave, as growing numbers of voters reject the increasing hysteria being whipped up by Project Fear.

But far from recognising the folly of treating the public like children, the Remain campaign will today deliver its most lurid and apocalyptic warning yet.

Standing alongside former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling, Mr Osborne will say the shock of Brexit would be so great that, in an emergency Budget, he would be forced to raise the basic rate of income tax by 2p, the higher rate by 3p and inheritance tax by 5p.

A gargantuan black hole in the public finances would also, he will insist, mean 15 billion of spending cuts, with the NHS, defence, education and pensions hit.

Typically, Mr Osborne singles out cherished services for the chop and ignores his sacred foreign aid budget which, at more than 12 billion, could make up much of the imagined shortfall.

The Chancellor would do well to remember his terrible track record of incompetent Budgets failing to meet their woefully inaccurate targets.

In recent weeks, David Cameron and George Osborne have predicted a vote for Brexit will lead to  among other disasters  genocide, war, recession, migrant camps in Kent, house price collapse and the end of cheap holidays

As for Mr Darling, we should remember he presided over the biggest economic crash in Britains post-war history.

Not for a minute does the Mail accept their ludicrously bleak prognosis for the future. The irony is that several countries in the EU  Greece, Spain, Portugal and increasingly Italy and France  are the very economic basket cases the Chancellor says Britain will become if we break away. The ever-more mighty Germany is, of course, an exception.
Guardian columnist Owen Jones, 31, flounced out of a Sky News studio, complaining that a discussion about the killings in Orlando, Florida, didnt focus on them being a homophobic terrorist attack.

Gay activist Jones seemed out of sorts in the Green Room prior to the show, claimed fellow panellist Julia Hartley-Brewer.

She described him as seeming tired and emotional, saying hed complained of being scratched by his cat. However, anxious to mollify gay viewers, Sky apologised to Jones.

Gay activist Jones (right) seemed out of sorts in the Green Room prior to the show, claimed fellow panellist Julia Hartley-Brewer (left)

Prince Harry apologised profusely to guests at the rain-sodden Patrons Lunch on Sunday for the lack of umbrellas, banned for security reasons.

He and other royal males were allowed to carry their personal brollies.

Prince Charless tailors, Turnbull and Asser, sell an approved one with a chestnut handle for 150.

Following his March marriage to leggy Texan firecracker Jerry Hall, 59, media giant Rupert Murdoch, 85, told his Twitter followers: No more tweets for ten days or ever! Feel like the luckiest and happiest man in world. He hasnt tweeted since.

The fourth Mrs Murdoch must be keeping him busy.

Following his March marriage to leggy Texan firecracker Jerry Hall, 59, media giant Rupert Murdoch, 85, told his Twitter followers: No more tweets for ten days or ever! Feel like the luckiest and happiest man in world

Former Labour frontbencher Rachel Reeves, 37, came off second best against Brexit-supporting business leader Lord (Digby) Jones, 60, during an EU debate on BBC2s Daily Politics.

She didnt take it well, snapping: Youre a typical middle-aged bloke who loves interrupting women. You really just dont know how to conduct yourself. Is whingeing Rachel typical of Labour women?

Some mourners at Carla Lanes funeral were surprised to see her referred to as the holder of an OBE.

In 2002, she returned the 1989 honour to premier Tony Blair as a protest over the CBE awarded to Brian Cass, head of a laboratory using animals for medical research. But she never got round to writing to the palace saying so.

Blair said hed hold onto the bauble in case she changed her mind. So she never stopped being Carla Lane OBE.

Royal Ascots stewards have an additional task this year: ensuring that no EU referendum logo or insignia (for either side) gets into the Royal Enclosure, possibly on elaborate Ladies Day hats tomorrow. Incidentally the Queen has a gold brooch in the shape of the EU stars. She appears never to have worn this gift. Wonder why!?
A domestic abuse survivor has spoken out after she was violently attacked by a jealous boyfriend who was obsessed with a revealing selfie that she had taken long before they met.

Sokha Nuon, 34, from Melbourne, was thrilled to be asked out by auto-electrician John Grima when she took her car to the garage in 2012.

But he soon became possessive which culminated in a brutal, sustained attack in which he beat her with a meat tenderiser - leaving her suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Sokha Nuon, 34, from Melbourne, has bravely spoken out after she survived a sustained attack from a jealous and controlling ex boyfriend who was convinced she was cheating on him

She was thrilled to be asked out by auto-electrician John Grima, 39, when she took her car to the garage

The selfie that started it all: John found a selfie with some cleavage showing (pictured) that Sokha had taken before their relationship began but he became obsessed with it

But he gave no hint of his violent tendencies at first and Sokha couldn't resist the spark she felt with the 39-year-old.

The pair quickly became serious and a few weeks later Sokha moved into John's place.

She also learned more about her new boyfriend, including that he had lost his pregnant wife in a car crash three years earlier.

'My heart broke thinking what hed been through,' she said. 'He was a real gentleman. Always opening doors and giving me compliments.

But soon things began to change.

John became increasingly controlling and obsessed with looking through the photos on her phone.

One day he found some pictures she had posted on Instagram before they had started going out together. One was a selfie of Sokha capturing her in a low cut top.

'He angrily asked me "Who have you sent that to?",' Sokha said. 'I told him "no one" but he was enraged. Eventually I calmed him down, but the selfie became his obsession.'

Sokha says the physical scars have healed but she had to have counselling to cope with the legacy of being beaten, abused and controlled by her ex-boyfriend

Then, a few weeks later, John was in a bad mood when he picked Sokha up from her job as a carer at an old people's home. When they got back to the house he accused her of cheating.

'He thought I was sending photos to someone while I was at work,' she said. 'Then he head-butted me in the nose.'

John left her with serious injuries including a brain haemorrhage and dark bruising on her face

After leaving Sokha shocked and in pain, with tears streamed down her face. John just stalked outside for a cigarette.

Despite the viciousness of the attack, Sokha admits that she forgave him, believing that it was 'a one-off'. She said: 'Part of me hoped his jealousy meant he loved me. But his anger got worse.'

He also became extremely controlling and isolated his girlfriend from everyone else in his life.

She said: 'I was avoiding my friends and family. John was obsessively clean. I would spend hours mopping floors and polishing, only to be shouted at by John saying it wasnt good enough.

'Eventually, I sought help in a refuge and got a family violence intervention order issued against him.'

Then John contacted Sokha on Facebook promising he was sorry and things would be better.

'I decided to give him another chance,' she said. 'But what a mistake that was.'

In April 2013, John's violence became so bad that Sokha feared for her life. He took her phone and driver's licence off her and encouraged her to give up her job.

And one day his rage exploded into a sickening beating that left her fearing for her life.

He launched into a tirade of abuse, once again accusing her of cheating.

She said: 'He punched me in the face. I fell to the ground, and he carried on kicking and punching me.

In April 2013, John's violence became so bad that Sokha feared for her life. He took her phone and driver's licence off her and encouraged her to give up her job

'In the end I had no strength to protect myself and just cowered in the corner as he rained down punches on me.

'Then I heard the door shut as John left. I couldnt believe my perfect man had turned into such a monster.'

When John returned, instead of saying sorry he launched into another attack.

This time he grabbed a meat tenderiser from the kitchen and beat Sokha over the legs and bottom before locking her in the house.

'I was only let out of the bedroom when John wanted the house to be cleaned,' she said.

'He attacked me countless times, bashing my head against the wall and yanking my hair out. I lost hope of ever being able to leave.'

On the fourth evening, Sokha was cleaning when she noticed John wasnt around. Seeing her opportunity, she ran out into the yard and jumped the fence.

She still has scars on her legs after he beat her limbs with a meat tenderiser

She banged on her neighbours' door, begging for help. When they saw what state she was in they wrapped her in a blanket and took me to the police, where they called for an ambulance.

Once in hospital, Sokha finally felt safe and told the police what happened.

Sokha had suffered a brain haemorrhage with deep purple bruising over her forehead, eyes, cheek, jaw and shoulder. She also had defensive cuts and bruises over her forearms.

'Recovery was slow and I still have scars on my legs and the outline of a bite on my arm. But its not just the physical scars. I had weekly counselling sessions for a long time before I was able to go back to work,' she said.

In October 2014, John Grima, then 37, pleaded guilty to one charge of intentionally causing serious injury and one charge of contravening a family violence intervention order. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment with a non-parole period of four years.

A year on, Sokha is still recovering both physically and mentally but she has found a new man, Daymion, 34,

The court heard how after the sustained assaults, Sokha made a list of 'chores' she had done that day and wrote a note that said: 'Sorry John but I have to go. You are either going to kill me or I am going to keep copping bashings.'

The Local Age reported that in her sentencing remarks, Judge Campton told Grima his violent behaviour was 'appalling, cowardly and brutal and showed a total disrespect for her as a person'.

The judge also praised Sokha's 'considerable courage' in escaping John and raising the alarm.

In May 2015, Sokha successfully sued John and he was ordered to pay $70,000 (49,478) in compensation for pain and suffering.

A year on, Sokha is still recovering both physically and mentally but she has found a new man, Daymion, 34, and feels happy.

'Im telling my story to warn other women about staying with a violent partner. Walk away the first time he hits you. Thats what I wish Id done,' she said.
In 2014, mummy blogger, Meg Ireland, shared private bump photos in a mother's group on social media.

But the 25-year-old experienced the darker side of social media when her pregnancy photos were taken and shared on a 'preggophilia' website - a porn website for 'people who like pregnant women.'

Now, the the Sydney-based 'Shut Up Meg' blogger has posted about her experience in a bid to raise awareness about the websites and encourage people to think carefully about what they share online.

'This bump pic along with around 15 other pictures of mine ended up on an online "preggophilia" site': When pregnant mummy blogger Meg Ireland shared private bump photos on social media, they were taken

Awful: The Sydney-based 'Shut Up Meg' blogger wrote about how she experienced the darker side of social media when her pregnancy photos were taken and shared on a 'preggophilia' website

'That time my bump went viral in a not so good way. This bump pic along with around 15 other pictures of mine ended up on an online "preggophilia" site,' Ms Ireland wrote on her Facebook page on Monday.

'I see so many people upload their bump pics and now I just gasp and hope to god they don't get into the hands of someone they shouldn't.

'We shouldn't have to worry about people stealing our photos, but unfortunately it happens ALL THE TIME!'

Ms Ireland said she was 'scrolling through the god awful site' trying to find the thread and detailed the horrific things she came across.

Not okay: 'I see so many people upload their bump pics and now I just gasp and hope to god they don't get into the hands of someone they shouldn't,' she said

'People who were uploading pictures of their wife to other users, brother in laws uploading pictures of their sister in laws and women uploading pictures of their work colleagues!!! I literally couldn't believe what I was seeing,' the shocked blogger wrote.

'Who was I to blame for this? People would say I should only blame myself for uploading "personal pictures" and that it was my own fault (even though my profile was then private).

'I see it differently. I didn't care that someone had screen shot my photo to show someone, it's was what they did with my photo/s that made me physically sick to my stomach.'

Who's at fault? 'Who was I to blame for this? People would say I should only blame myself for uploading 'personal pictures' and that it was my own fault (even though my profile was then private),' she wrote

Ms Ireland then questioned why people should have to 'sit and worry' about things like this happening when uploading photos on social media.

'Please be cautious about who follows/adds you. Block them if they look like a creepy MF,' she concluded.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Ms Ireland said she first saw the pictures six to eight months ago after they were stolen from a regular online mother's group.

'One person in the group was a fake and was using my picture to encourage other ladies to post pictures of their bellies so they could steal them and post them on these bizarre sites,' Ms Ireland said.

Be careful: 'Please be cautious about who follows/adds you. Block them if they look like a creepy MF,' she concluded

'I emailed the website after having to go through all the horrible content to try and find it... they took it down after I threatened legal action.

'I just want to spread awareness and make sure others realise there are these people out there targeting innocent pregnant women online.'

A number of people have shared their own opinions on Ms Ireland's experience - some advising mothers to never share photos and others agreeing with the blogger.

'Gorgeous photo, sad that sick people do that with other people's photos!!' One woman wrote.

'This is a thing? What the hell people. Preggophilia?' Questioned another.

'Sad that sick people do that': A number of people have shared their own opinions on Ms Ireland's experience - some advising mothers to never share photos and others agreeing with the blogger

Others said Ms Ireland's experience was simply an unfortunate side effect of sharing photos.

'Well you girls will put up pics like this for ALL 1000 of your friends or non friends to see. What do u expect ? Keep personal photos personal .. period [sic],' a woman wrote.

'When will people understand that if you post a photo on social media you lose control of it. How on earth can you then be upset about where it ends up?! Honestly!' Another agreed.

Ms Ireland is aware that these things happen but she simply hopes to help others who may not be aware of these websites.

'I'm not 80 and I am aware that people will be like "that's what she gets for sharing photos" and I understand that... but this can happen to anyone,' Ms Ireland said.
Viscountess Weymouth is never one to blend into a crowd.

Emma McQuiston, 30, attended a concert by Sir Elton John at her husband Viscount Weymouths ancestral home, Longleat, clad in a red dress slashed almost to her navel.

She threw her hands up in the air as if she were at an Ibiza nightclub, forcing those seated behind her to crane their necks to see the stage.

Emma McQuiston, 30, attended a concert by Sir Elton John at her husband Viscount Weymouths ancestral home, Longleat, Wiltshire, clad in a red dress slashed almost to her navel

After the show the couple appeared to have an intense chat with Elton, with Lady Weymouth even clasping the ageing crooners hand.

Sadly her father-in-law Lord Bath, with whom she has a fractious relationship, was nowhere to be seen.

No doubt Elton and the polyamorous 84-year-old, who used to boast a coterie of wifelets in spite of his 47-year marriage to Ceawlins mother, Lady Bath, would have had plenty to chat about.

After the show the couple appeared to have an intense chat with Elton, with Emma even clasping his hand

Back in his James Bond days, Sir Roger Moore would be more likely to be seen with a magnum of champagne. Nowadays the veteran star, who has reluctantly had to give up the booze due to a diabetes diagnosis, confesses to an addiction for a rather different kind of Magnum. The 88-year-old smoothie rather endearingly confesses: My guilty treat is a Magnum Espresso ice cream in the afternoons. Especially on a hot day.

Licensed to chill . . .

Newsnight's Emily loses her cool on Florida trip

Fragrant Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis is clearly feeling the heat out in Florida.

She was snapped by her BBC producer Vara Szajkowski as she put her head in a cooling jet of air before she went on camera.

Air-conditioning Florida style, joked Szajkowski who posted the image. For anyone who ever thought TV was glamorous.

Maitlis, 45, whose hair always seems well-primped whatever the weather, was not so amused to be caught unawares. These are the photos that get taken when my back is turned, she retorted.

Fragrant Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis (right) is clearly feeling the heat out in Florida. She was snapped by her BBC producer Vara Szajkowski as she put her head in a cooling jet of air (left) before she went on camera

Not content with a summer holiday visiting ten more of Scotlands lighthouses, Princess Anne is to travel to Cape Spear lighthouse in Newfoundland, Canada, later this month. The Princess Royal has been fascinated by lighthouses since the age of five when the Queen took her to Tiumpan Head on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides.

Since then her ambition has been to bag all 205 lighthouses in Caledonia.
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Pictures on Monday showed a glowing Crown Princess Mary laughing and smiling broadly as she christened a ship alongside the chairman of Weco, Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg.

The giggling and almost flirtatious exchange captured on camera left many wondering: just who is the handsome businessman that put a smile on Marys face?

Baron Wedell-Wedellsborg is the wealthy 47-year-old chairman and ship owner at Weco-Shipping - and has been close friends with Mary's husband Crown Prince Frederik for years.

The dashing businessman has been married since 1996 to Rebecca Alexandra Wedell-Wedellsborg, and the couple have four children, Baroness Mathilde, Baron Niclas, Baron Julius and Baroness Madeleine.

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Making friends: Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg and the Crown Princess Mary of Denmark shared a moment during the christening of tanker ship Stenaweco

The Baron is the 47-year-old chairman and ship owner at Weco-Shipping; he is married to Rebecca Alexandra Wedell-Wedellsborg, with whom he has four children (Baroness Mathilde, Baron Niclas, Baron Julius and Baroness Madeleine)

Ladies man: Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg has been pictured in the past with his wife, Rebecca (pictured right), and Danish entrepreneur, Caroline Fleming

Johan is a fixture in Danish high society circles, and attended the christening of Mary and Frederik's twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine in 2011.

Known for being something of a party boy, he also flew the royal couple, along with other aristocrats, out to his lavish 40th birthday party in Verbier in 2009 for a party that reportedly cost half a million kroner (AUD102,296, GBP53,279).

Rumours were flying when various forums posted that while both Princess Mary and Prince Frederik were present at the three-day party, the Crown Princess allegedly seen partying on two of the nights without Frederik.

One particular blog alleged that Princess Mary was photographed without her husband (who was reportedly on a 'boys' night') on both Thursday and Friday, when she partied at Coco Club and Farm Club respectively with her close friends.

The blog alleges that she was later photographed with Frederik and the other party-goers on the Saturday, the culmination of the Wedell-Wedellsborg 40th celebrations.

Super suave: It's clearly not only Mary he has turned on the charm with - however, he has been close friends with both Mary and Prince Frederik for some time

Looking sharp: Baron Wedell-Wedellsborg invited Princess Mary out to Verbier in 2009, along with Prince Frederik, for his lavish 40th birthday party, which reportedly cost as much as half a million kroner - the party was a glamorous three-day affair

Balloons: The pair seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves between the speeches during the ceremony - the pair seemed comfortable in each other's company

Say cheese: The Baron even made a music video for his wife's 40th birthday party, in which he sings suggestively to camera

Baron Wedel-Wedellsborg also hosted the Royal couple at a notorious dinner party in 2010, which reportedly landed the Australian-born princess in hot water after it was revealed that Rigmor Zobel was also a guest at the party; a socialite known locally as the 'Jetset Queen', who unbeknownst to Princess Mary was later convicted of possessing cocaine.

And Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg's love of a good party doesn't stop there.

In 2011, a music video surfaced which he made for his wife, Rebecca's, 40th birthday, which was later celebrated in Morocco.

In the clip posted to YouTube, the Baron sings some very risque lyrics, while wearing a pair of sunglasses, showing off his musical skills, tattoos and cheeky sense of humour.

YouTube famous: In the clip posted to YouTube, the Baron sings and dances to camera while wearing a pair of sunglasses, showing off his musical skills, tattoos and cheeky sense of humour

Party continues: Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg later celebrated his wife, Rebecca's, birthday in Morocco

Past times: Princess Mary and Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg were both present at a notorious dinner party the Baron hosted in 2010, at which the Crown Princess was a guest along with Rigmor Zobel, who unbeknownst to Princess Mary was later convicted of possessing cocaine

Business man: Behind the glitz and glamour, Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg is also a good business man

Cool concept: As well as being in charge of Weco-Shipping since 2005, when his father - Ebbe Baron Wedell-Wedellsborg - died, the Baron has also invested in the US and UK-based cafe concept, Joe and the Juice , in 2013, with his childhood friend, Kaspar Basse

Besides all of the glitz and glamour, Baron Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg also has a good nose for business.

As well as being in charge of Weco-Shipping since 2005, when his father - Ebbe Baron Wedell-Wedellsborg - died, the Baron has also invested in the US and UK-based cafe concept, Joe and the Juice, in 2013, with his childhood friend, Kaspar Basse.

The business-minded pair have since made a tidy fortune on the private equity fund they bought into, and the cafe chain continues to flourish.

Good money: The business-minded pair have since made a tidy fortune on the private equity fund they bought into, and the cafe chain continues to flourish

Well dressed: Both the Crown Princess and the Baron were praised for looking smart - Princess Mary looked elegant for the occasion in a pink dress and large beige hat and completed her look with simple heels

Last year, it was reported that the Baron and friend of Prince Frederik and Princess mary put his house in Vedbk up for sale for 35 million kroner - the property came complete with park-like grounds, a swimming pool and access to a private lake.

The dark-haired business man now lives elsewhere in Denmark with his Baroness wife and family, having spent stints in both London, Germany and the United States throughout his life.
A Canadian mother-of-two has shared the moment a complete stranger became the first person to congratulate her on the birth of her 18-month-old daughter Sophia, who has Down Syndrome.

Pam De Almeida was so touched she shared the story on her Facebook page,Slice of Life, where she blogs about the life she shares with her two girls.

'I sat in Tim Hortons with my daughters as I do often. Two ladies sitting near us started to stare and whisper. This is a pretty frequent occurrence for us you see; because my daughter Sophia was born with Down Syndrome,' the Ontario-based photographer wrote.

Touched: Pam De Almeida, a Canadian mother-of-two, has shared the moment a complete stranger became the first person to congratulate her on the birth of her 18-month-old daughter Sophia, who has Down Syndrome

Moving moment: The touched mother shared the story on her Facebook page, Slice of Life , where she blogs about the life she shares with her two girls

'I sat there and watched these two women crane their necks to get a better look at her; completely oblivious to the fact that I was staring right back. Today it bothered me. It really bothered me.

'Just then, a couple approached me, and I thought, "Oh great! More people who want to take a closer look!"'

But instead, the proud mother watched as the man greeted Sophia with a 'high five and a handshake' - the little girl smiling and waving back.

Worth sharing: Pam said the experience brought her to tears immediately

'He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I have a story I would really like to share with you. But I am afraid I wont get through it without choking up." I gently encouraged him to share, because now I was curious. This interaction was not what I was expecting,' the blogger continued.

'He told me that he had watched the news last night. There was an interview of a mother who had recently given birth to a child with a major disability. She was on the news defending her decision to keep her baby.

'She was defending her choice NOT to terminate despite her doctors encouraging her to do so.'

Pam said what happened next brought her to tears.

Adorable: 'In a world where my daughters life is whispered about, where she is stared at, this man saw her IMPORTANCE,' she wrote

Impacting thousands: The heartwarming post has been liked close to 50,000 times, with thousands commenting on it and thanking Pam for sharing her story

'He said, "The point is, you never know a person's impact on the world. You can never know what a person is able to do unless you give them a chance",' she wrote.

'He looked at me just before he turned to walk away and said, "You are a beautiful person. Your daughter is beautiful. Congratulations!"

The touched mother said she teared up immediately and 'sat in the middle of a coffee shop crying into a paper napkin'.

'That man was the first complete stranger to ever congratulate me on the birth of my daughter Sophia. He was the first complete stranger to recognize her WORTH. Her VALUE. Her BEAUTY,' she wrote.

'In a world where my daughters life is whispered about, where she is stared at, this man saw her IMPORTANCE.'

Impacting thousands: 'Congratulations! You are blessed. She is beautiful and will bring love to your heart that you could never have imagined and that those who don't understand that won't ever know,' one woman wrote

The heartwarming post has been liked close to 50,000 times, with thousands commenting on it and thanking Pam for sharing her story.

'Congratulations! You are blessed. She is beautiful and will bring love to your heart that you could never have imagined and that those who don't understand that won't ever know,' one woman wrote.

'Amazing she is beautiful and is very important. She will spread immeasurable amounts of joy to her family and those she comes to make as friends. Don't hide from those whispers let them empower you,' another said.
She explains she is pretty normal, and is happiest at home being a mum

Ms Obermeder also discusses her approach to food and her personal style

She says that she has learned to only take on important projects

She talks to FEMAIL about being a mum and juggling what's valuable to her

Sally Obermeder has been signed up as the Jeans for Genes ambassador

Between being a mum, writing a cookbook, running a lifestyle website, co-hosting a TV programme, among a million more things, one can only imagine that a day in the life of 42-year-old Sally Obermeder is full on.

And despite confessing to days when she looks around her house and finds herself 'surrounded by a week's worth of laundry', the inspirational media personality says she's not about to stop just yet.

Instead, she has recently been signed up to be the ambassador for Jeans for Genes Day 2016, a charitable role which Ms Obermeder doesn't take lightly:

'A friend of mine has a child born with a genetic disease,' she tells Daily Mail Australia.

'And so when they asked me to be the ambassador, I couldn't have been more keen. The campaign was meaningful as it had a personal connection, you know?

'Since becoming a mum, I've realised you've only got a certain amount of hours every day. You have to say no to a few things, and instead just do what you value and what is satisfying.'

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Busy lady: Sally Obermeder has a lot on her plate - as well as being a mum, she has written a cookbook, co-hosts a TV show and runs a lifestyle website - she is the new ambassador for Jeans for Genes 2016 (pictured)

Most at home: But despite have myriad roles to fill, Ms Obermeder says she is happiest being a mum to four-year-old Annabelle (pictured)

For Ms Obermeder, this often means working when her adorable four-year-old daughter, Annabelle, is in bed:

'I'm lucky as often I have that flexibility with my work,' she says.

'I'm happiest at home being a mum. Just pottering around with Annabelle and making cupcakes. Nothing compares to it.'

Nothing compares: She explains to Daily Mail Australia that nothing compares to just pottering around with her, messing around (pictured) and making cupcakes

What's important: Ms Obermeder also says that she has learned what is important since being a mother, and to only take on projects that are valuable and meaningful to her

Normal girl: While Sally Obermeder may look like an Instagram pro, with her 52,000 followers, she says she is normal and doesn't feel a pressure to act a certain way in front of the camera

Though Sally Obermeder is an Instagram pro (with 52,000 followers and counting), she insists that she's pretty normal deep down:

'Don't believe everything you see on social media,' she says.

'Sometimes, when I'm super busy, I spend seven days doing laundry; I just don't post about it on Instagram. I'm pretty normal, really. And I don't feel any pressure to be a certain way online.'

Honest snapshot: She posts honest updates from her life, complete with her family and depictions of her job (pictured)

On the subjects of style and food, Ms Obermeder says she has a similar approach to both, and it's one which operates day by day rather than with a rigorous plan:

'I dress very much on my mood, rather than feeling inspired by any one person,' she says.

'So sometimes it's all boho maxi skirts and another day I'm all about sharp tailoring.

'My approach to food and what I eat is similar - people who know me say I'm always thinking about food and what my next meal will be.

'I just like food. My go-to, quick, healthy meal is a 15-minute prawn curry with basmati rice. It's delicious and really lean and good for you.'

Quick go to: She explains that her approach to food is similar - it's day to day and goes by what she feels like rather than any rigorous plan

Work hard: She works hard, and confesses that last year, she worked particularly hard, but Sally Obermeder says she takes business year by year - 'You have to take each day as it comes,' she says

Sally Obermeder also says that she doesn't have a plan when it comes to her career. Confessing that she spent most of 2015 working really hard, Ms Obermeder says that this year is more about reaping the benefits:

'I work with a year-to-year plan rather than a broad 10-year overview,' she explains.

'If I've learned anything from everything I've gone through it's that you just don't know what tomorrow has in store. You have to take each day as it comes.

'Your mum can tell you lots of things, but at the end of the day you can't fast forward age. Everything you learn, you have to learn it yourself.'

Sally Obermeder is the new ambassador for Jeans for Genes Day 2016. Jeans for Genes Day will take place on Friday 5 August.

Participants can share their denim outfit using #JeansForGenesAU. For more information or to register your support, click here.
At just 16 he was a worldwide Instagram hit, impersonating the photo shoots of celebrities from Miley Cyrus to Justin Bieber.

But online fame and more than two million followers of his waverider_ account took its toll on Liam Martin, with the New Zealand social media star being diagnosed with depression at 17.

Repeated cyber bullying eventually became too much for Martin, who left his fans in the lurch when he shut down his page without warning in mid-2015.

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Fame to rock bottom: Instagrammer, Liam Martin, parodied celebrity photo shoots including one of Justin Bieber in a Calvin Klein Jeans ad campaign (pictured)

Now 19, Martin has written a book about his experiences, and despite the fact that he continues to suffer bouts of depression he has re-opened his Instagram page.

'I think people thought my life was really good but it really wasn't, but they were being quite negative about it. It was hard to cope with at times,' he told the Sunshine Coast Daily.

The teen hit rock bottom when he got into a routine of living in his car and spending money he didn't have.

Social media sensation: The celebrity copy cat, pictured above impersonating the Caitlyn Jenner's Vanity Fair debut, abruptly shut down his Instagram page in mid-2015

Targeted: Now 19, the celebrity impersonator, who has taken on the likes of Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj, revealed the abuse he got from haters became too much when they aimed it at his family

His rise to online fame came after teaming up with his mum, who would take the photos before he edited them.

While he could initially deal with random haters, it all became too much for the teenager once trolls began to target his family.

'People can get quite personal about your personal life... it was quite hard for me at the time because I was dealing with a lot of personal abuse as well,' he said.

'So I kind of found the online comments a lot more hurtful, but I had to find comfort with my friends and people that supported me.'

'Guess who's back, back again': The 19-year-old pictured with Ed Sheeran, said that online comments were hurtful and he said he found comfort in his friends and supporters

Finding comfort: Liam (above copying Katy Perry and Snow White) has released a book about his experience and hopes to raise awareness about mental illness and cyber bullying

After a long hiatus Martin returned to Instagram 14 weeks ago with a post mimicking Caitlyn Jenner which he titled: 'Guess who's back, back again'.

However, he has again taken a break from posting photos, having not uploaded an image for nearly three months.
A man who underwent the world's first successful penile transplant operation has revealed how he's finally getting used to his new member.

Thomas Manning, 64, appeared on This Morning to talk about the operation and life with his new donor penis.

He told hosts Holly Willoughby and Rylan Clark-Neal that he was terrified about looking at his new penis but that it was 'starting to look pretty good.'

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Thomas Manning, 64, from Halifax, Massachusetts, appeared on This Morning to talk about his recovery from the world's first successful penile transplant operation

The 64-year-old told Holly Willoughby and Rylan Clark-Neal that he'd finally dared to look at his new manhood

In May this year, Manning, 64, underwent the revolutionary operation at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, enduring an incredible 16-hours on the operating table.

In 2012, doctors had first noticed Mr Manning was suffering from cancer after he suffered severe injuries in an accident at work involving heavy equipment.

During his treatment, medics noticed a growth on his penis and he was later diagnosed with an aggressive form of penile cancer.

Talking to presenting duo Holly and Rylan, Manning said he fought hard to ensure the operation went ahead but was also scared at the prospect of such ground-breaking surgery.

He said: 'You can't get too many volunteers [for the operation] - I was the president, the secretary and the treasurer of this club. One is a very lonely number.

He added: 'It sure as hell doesn't make you feel good when they take your manhood away.'

Manning, who is single and doesn't have children, had been left with a one-inch stump and had to sit down on the toilet to urinate.

The 16-hour operation, performed by some of America's top surgeons, left Manning with a fully functioning penis but for weeks after the operation, which started at 6pm on a Sunday and ended at 10am the following day, he was too scared to look inside his underpants.

When he finally did, he told the hosts: 'It looked like I got mugged, it was black and blue and swollen.

'You don't know what you're going to look at and it's the human condition to say "should I look or shouldn't I look?"'

He added: 'It's starting to look pretty good now.'

Thomas Manning, 64, (pictured) underwent America's first penis transplant at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, enduring 15-hours on the operating table

Manning said Boston was the 'medical capital of the world' and that he was 'pretty happy' with the way his manhood now looked. He said initially his new penis had appeared 'black and blue'

The operation nearly didn't happen, he explained, after the discovery of a heart condition almost scuppered it.

However, Manning's determination to press ahead with the pioneering surgery meant he fought to get the earliest available appointment with a cardiologist for treatment of a calcified aortic heart valve.

It looked like I got mugged, it was black and blue and swollen. You don't know what you're going to look at and it's the human condition to say 'should I look or shouldn't I look?' Thomas Manning

Asked how he felt about the operation, he said: 'They amputated my penis. Unless they amputate yours, you'll never understand. I confronted my own issue. I always believed and I kept fighting for it [the operation].

He said he'd been 'lucky' to have some of the best surgeons working on his body and said that veterans who'd suffered penis injuries during military action might benefit from the surgery.

In particular, armed forces veterans are a concern in the United States due to the alarming rise in suicide rates that effect those with damage to their penises - from 2001 to 2013, 1,367 suffered such injuries.

When he first had the operation, Mr Manning said it had 'quite literally saved his life'.

'In 2012, my life changed forever when I suffered a debilitating work accident, followed by a devastating cancer diagnosis,' he said, in a statement.

'Today, I begin a new chapter filled with personal hope and hope for others who have suffered genital injuries, particularly for our service members who put their lives on the line and suffer serious damage as a result.'

He added that the ground-breaking surgery allowed him a 'second chance' he had never believed was possible.

Recovery: Manning says he fought hard to get the operation, even with an added complication of the discovery of a heart condition

During surgery doctors connected nerves, veins and arteries from the donor penis to Mr Manning and nerves are expected to grow into the organ at the rate of an inch per month

Dr. Curtis L. Cetrulo (pictured), a leader of the surgical team, at Massachusetts General Hospital said transplants can transform and even save lives

While it is rare, there are bout 2,030 new cases and 340 deaths expected in the US in 2016, the consequences of the cancer can destroy a sufferer's life.

Many find the loss devastating for their confidence and sense of identity, a feeling Mr Manning can relate to.

He said: 'Men judge their masculinity with their bodies.'

Dr. Dicken Ko ,a leader in transplants at the hospital, said that not only did genital amputee patients suffer loss of urinary and sexual function, they also suffered a 'loss of identity.'

'Many of these patients suffer in silence. And this patient has now found his voice,' he said at a press conference at Massachusetts General today.

To save his life doctors were forced to remove most of Mr Manning's penis, leaving him with just a stump about one-inch in length.

The circumstances of the amputation would be life-altering, he would have to urinate sitting down and could not be intimate with anyone.

During surgery doctors at the hospital (pictured) connected nerves, veins and arteries from the donor penis to Mr Manning

He said: 'I wouldn't go near anybody. I couldn't have a relationship with anybody. You can't tell a woman, 'I had a penis amputation.'

However, Mr Manning never gave up hope of a transplant - despite the fact surgeons had not even considered such a procedure at the time - and a year after his surgery, doctors got in touch.

He endured a grueling year of tests and psychological evaluations, but was eventually put on the waiting list and after just two weeks a donor with the right blood type and skin color was found.

During surgery doctors connected nerves, veins and arteries from the donor penis to Mr Manning.

Nerves are then expected to grow into the penis at a rate of about one inch per month, eventually enabling sexual function.

'We are cautiously optimistic,' said Dr. Curtis L. Cetrulo, a leader of the surgical team at Massachusetts General Hospital, 'It's still early days but we're hopeful.'

He added that the patient was already out of bed while emotionally, he was 'doing amazing.'

However, it was by no means plain sailing from there - after the operation Mr Manning began to hemorrhage and was taken back to the hospital for treatment.

Thankfully, the complication did not prove to be fatal and after recovering he began to dream of getting his love life back and working again.

However, he admits he is still too scared to check out the results of the surgery.

He said: 'If I'm lucky, I get 75 percent of what I used to be,' he said. 'Before the surgery I was 10 percent. But they made no promises. That was part of the deal.'

Mr Manning, who will be on immuno-suppressants for the rest of his life, has thanked his 'extraordinary medical team' at Mass General, 'who helped not only make this possible, but quite literally saved my life.'

He also thanked the family of the donor, 'whose wonderful gift has truly give me the second chance I never thought possible.'

'I thank my mother for standing by my side and helping me through each step of the way,' he added. 'In sharing this success with all of you, it's my hope we can usher in a bright future for this type of transplantation.'

Alexandra Glazier, president and CEO of the New England Organ Bank, said that the transplant was made possible because the donor family had the strength to look past its own grief and see the ability to help someone in need.

'To this donor family, we offer our thoughts as they struggle with their loss and our humble thank you, deep appreciation and admiration for the humanity they showed,' Glazier said at the conference.
Everyone involved played a role based on a scene from the movies

A Star Wars-mad couple who fell in love after discovering their intergalactic connection have renewed their wedding vows with a 100-strong Storm Trooper honour guard.

Sam and Mark Techer, both 44, from the Gold Coast, met through a dating app and were drawn together by a mutual love of the sci-fi franchise.

They initially married in 2011 but their nuptials only featured subtle references to the films only the most loyal of fans would recognise.

Star Wars-mad Sam and Mark Techer, both 44, from the Gold Coast, renewed their wedding vows with a 100-strong Storm Trooper honour guard

The couple are members of the the Redback Garrison - a group of volunteers who give up their time to dress up in Star Wars costumes and raise money for a variety of children's charities

But in May this year they renewed their vows with-bells-on Star Wars ceremony that was out of this world.

'Before I met Mark, I'd always kept my love of Star Wars to myself,' Sam said.

'It wasn't cool for a girl to be into sci-fi movies when I was younger, so I never really indulged it.

'But on one of our first dates, Mark invited me to watch a movie at his house and told me to pick one from his collection.

'Before I met Mark, I'd always kept my love of Star Wars to myself,' Sam said

'When I chose A New Hope, his eyes literally lit up. It was the start of our very own Star Wars adventure together.'

Not long after, Mark showed Sam, a single mum of three, his merchandise collection featuring original figures from 1978, including the rare Princess Leia.

'Luckily for him, I found the fact he was a sci-fi geek really cute,' Sam said.

'My favourite characters were the Stormtroopers, as I found their clumsy nature funny.

'But Mark preferred the bigger stars, like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. I'd obviously been looking for love in Alderaan places.'

The pair married a year later, but were banned by Sam's eldest child, Caitlyn, from going Star Wars crazy at the wedding.

'We had a pretty normal wedding day. I wore a fluffy gown and Mark was in a tuxedo. It was rather boring to be honest,' Sam said.

They initially married in 2011 but their nuptials only featured subtle references to the films only the most loyal of fans would recognise

The couple are already married but were banned by Sam's eldest child, Caitlyn, from going Star Wars crazy at the wedding

'Luckily, we did manage to slip in the Love Theme song from the movies, which no one even noticed. But we always used famous quotes from the films affectionately with one another.

'My favourite was when Mark would say 'I know' if I told him I loved him. It wouldn't work for other couples, but I found it endearing.'

The fanatics later heard about the annual Storm Trooper Weekend at Dream World on the Gold Coast where Mark was working as a rides operator and decided to check it out.

'Seeing over 100 people marching in Storm Trooper costumes was amazing. I couldn't take my eyes off them,' Sam said.

After purchasing a $1,200 Storm Trooper kit online, Sam painstakingly spent over four months building the iconic white costume.

'We had a pretty normal wedding day. I wore a fluffy gown and Mark was in a tuxedo. It was rather boring to be honest,' Sam said

When they realised that their fifth wedding anniversary fell on the annual Stormtrooper weekend in Dream World, in May this year, they knew they had to do something special to mark the occasion

'It was the helmet that was the trickiest to put together. You had to sand and glue different sections,' she said.

'But as soon as my costume was complete, it was worth it. I looked just like my favourite characters.

'After, Mark built himself an Imperial Guards outfit and we'd join the group on charity events and even visited sick kids in hospitals.

'When a group of Stormtroopers walk around, it turns a lot of heads and makes people smile. We loved doing it.'

When they realised that their fifth wedding anniversary fell on the annual Stormtrooper weekend in Dream World, in May this year, they knew they had to do something special to mark the occasion.

'I guess we wouldn't want our life to get boring, would we? So we decided to renew our vows with the ultimate Star Wars themed ceremony,' Sam said.

'Every year, we take part in a march that goes through the park, so it was the perfect opportunity to do something romantic. It would be our kind of white wedding.'

'I guess we wouldn't want our life to get boring, would we? So we decided to renew our vows with the ultimate Star Wars themed ceremony,' Sam said

The vow renewal was kept true to Star Wars and everyone involved played a role based on a scene from the movies

On the day, the celebrant - who was dressed as Queen Amidala - was declared a spy and 'arrested' in front of a growing crowd

The vow renewal was kept true to Star Wars and everyone involved played a role based on a scene from the movies.

On the day, the celebrant - who was dressed as Queen Amidala - was declared a spy and 'arrested' in front of a growing crowd.

'That's when Mark and I were marched up to the front with her and we played out a famous scene between Luke and Leia,' Sam said.

'She looks a bit short to be a Stormtrooper' and the whole crowd burst out laughing,' 'Mark said.

'Then we started reading our special Star Wars vows to each other. It was so much fun.'

After declaring they loved each other to the Death Star and back, the couple tucked into a wedding cake featuring the moon-shaped planet destroyer on and shared their first order, a dance to the Star Wars theme tune.

'It wasn't the most conventional big day, but for us it was perfect,' Sam said.

'Mark may not be the droid I was looking for, but I'm glad I found him.'
Controversial photographer Terry Richardson enjoyed a stroll through New York City with his girlfriend Alexandra 'Skinny' Bolotow as they took one of their twin boys grocery shopping.

The 50-year-old, who became a first time father when 33-year-old Skinny gave birth to their nearly three-month-old sons Rex and Roman on March 19, looked relaxed on Tuesday afternoon as he walked through the city with a grocery bag in one hand and a coffee in the other.

While their other little boy was presumably with their nanny at home, Skinny lovingly rested her hand on her son's bottom as she held him in a baby carrier across her chest.

Happy family: Terry Richardson and his girlfriend Alexandra 'Skinny' Bolotow took a stroll around New York City with one of their newborn twin sons on Tuesday afternoon

Looking relaxed: Skinny held the little boy in a carrier on her chest as she and the 50-year-old fashion photographer enjoyed coffees and went grocery shopping

The first-time mom dressed casually in a striped T-shirt and mauve pants that cuffed at the ankle, throwing on sunglasses and cream penny loafers for the rare family outing.

Terry and Skinny took a moment to sit down and relax as they drank their coffees outside. As they enjoyed the weather, their little boy's head was protected by a white hat that blocked the sun.

Since becoming a father, the fashion photographer and doting dad has turned his camera lens on his little boys, sharing a photo or two of Rex and Roman every few weeks.

Last month, Terry captured an adorable image of his sons wearing onesies that undoubtedly showcase their parents' unique sense of humor.

Get it? Terry took to Instagram last month to share this photo of his newborn sons Rex and Roman wearing matching onesies with the words 'Made in Vachina' splashed across the front

Family outing: The 50-year-old and his 33-year-old girlfriend were pictured taking both of their sons for a walk in Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood in May

The playful snapshot sees his sons modeling matching gray onesies that feature a bar code and the words 'Made in Vachina' splashed across the front.

And while most parents would shy away from dressing their children in clothes that feature any kind of word that could be linked to vagina, it's safe to say that the celebrity photographer is far from the average father.

'Happy Hump Day!' he captioned the photo, which sees his twin boys lying on a polka dot blanket, happily lounging in their onesies, which feature a pun-filled play on the phrase 'Made in China'.

In the image, one of Terry's sons is looking directly at the camera while his brother turns away to gaze at him.

Terry also recently celebrated Skinny' first Mother's Day by sharing a topless snapshot of her breastfeeding Rex and Roman, who are curled on her lap as they nurse.

Motherly duties: Terry shared this picture of Skinny breastfeeding he sons on Instagram to celebrate her first Mother's Day last month

Proud moment: Terry posted this image of actor Jared Leto cradling Rex and Roman the day after the Met Gala, describing the Hollywood star as the babies' 'uncle'

When he posted the image that Sunday, he simply wrote: '#1 Mom.'

In addition to slowly becoming regular features on Terry's Instagram page, his sons have also met some of their dad's famous friends.

In early May Terry shared an image of his then-six-week-old twin boys being cradled by their 'uncle', actor Jared Leto, who looked pleased as punch to be spending time with the precious infants, which he proudly held in his arms.

Sitting in a grey chair in what appears to be the babies' nursery, the actor happily beamed away at the camera, looking quite content to balance the two boys in his arms.

The Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman has been close friends with Terry since they first began collaborating on shoots together as far back as 2010.

Terry has frequently photographed Jared, both for his own portfolio, and for several editorial campaigns, and the pair have been spotted out and about together in New York on a number of occasions during the past few years.

Doting dad: Terry took to Instagram in April to share this adorable photo of his then-one-month-old twins Rex and Roman wearing sunglasses

'Hard-working mama': Terry paid tribute to his girlfriend in April by posting this photo of her pumping breast milk for the twins

Although Terry shared many moments throughout Skinny's pregnancy with his one million Instagram followers, he has been slightly more restrained when it comes to posting pictures of his baby sons, posting just a few snaps of the adorable duo since their birth.

In April, just a few days after he posed a picture of Skinny using a breast pump, the doting dad shared a precious photo of his little boys modeling matching black sunglasses.

'Future's so bright we gotta wear shades,' he captioned the image of his boys cuddled together wearing complementary white onesies.

Skinny has stood by Terry's side among many alleged scandals, starting as his intern while a student at New York University before dropping out to become his full-time assistant.

While she was an intern in 2004, she was photographed performing oral sex on the photographer while wearing a tiara labeled 'slut'.

Double the love: Terry announced that his girlfriend gave birth to twins on Saturday, March 19, by sharing this sweet photo on Instagram

'TGIF': Terry took to Instagram on March 18 to share a photo of his heavily pregnant girlfriend giving the middle finger to the camera while wearing only her bra and underwear. The twins were born the next day

Other explicit photos of her that were taken by Terry appear in his 2005 book, Kibosh. After the famed photographer received countless accusations of sexual misconduct by multiple models, for which he was never actually charged, Skinny came to his defense.

'I think part of being a strong woman is owning the decisions that youve made in your life,' she told New York magazine for their cover story on the photographer in 2014. 'Trying to put the onus onto someone else for your own decisions is really cowardly and kind of dishonest.'

Terry has photographed countless celebrities, including Beyonce and Miley Cyrus, however, the photographer, who is known to many as 'Uncle Terry', has been accused of pressuring models into posing for sexually explicit photoshoots and performing unwanted sexual acts with him on set.

The photographer has continued to deny the allegations, writing on his blog that he was 'really hurt by the recent and false allegations of insensitivity and misconduct'.
She may be 36th in line to the throne and hailed as the most beautiful royal but Lady Amelia Windsor has to earn her keep just like the rest of us.

According to the Evening Standard, the 20-year-old granddaughter of the Queen's cousin offered her waitressing services at the Rook & Raven gallery in Fitzrovia on Tuesday night for the launch of Sunsoul, a new natural energy drink.

The tipple is the brainchild of Sir Richard Branson's entrepreneurial children, Sam and Holly Branson, who are great friends of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

According to the Evening Standard, Lady Amelia Windsor, the 20-year-old granddaughter of the Queen's cousin, offered her waitressing services at the Rook & Raven gallery in Fitzrovia on Tuesday night

She was spotted helping her friends out by handing out canapes including tuna carpaccio at one of the events.

The bash came a week after she attended a swanky handbag launch at Kensington Palace's Orangery.

And just a few days ago, the Duke of Kents granddaughter joined the Queen's extended family for a celebration of her 90th birthday at St Paul's cathedral.

The stylish star, who is studying at Edinburgh University, lived up to expectations in head-to-toe Chanel. She paired an elegant front-pleated dress with tweed sleeves, skyscraper shoes and a quilted yellow bag. The ensemble cost 8,000.

The young royal shot to global fame in April, when she appeared on the cover of Tatler magazine, who hailed her 'the world's most beautiful royal', and instantly became the darling of high society.

This isn't the first time that Lady Amelia (pictured at the queen's 90th) has hinted at a working life revealing that she had already done an internship with Chanel in Paris

Lady Amelia also recently revealed that she had already done an internship with Chanel in Paris.

She said of her time with the fashion house: 'It was one of the best experiences Ive ever had. To see how much goes into making a fashion business is quite exciting.'

But Lady Amelia is no mere vacuous socialite in the making. On the contrary. She is vocal about her love for Latin, saying she is 'crazy' about it after studying it for A-level and is rather bookish in nature.

She's currently reading French and Italian at Edinburgh University. Indeed, a friend of hers insists that, despite appearances, she's 'quite quiet'.

Tatler magazine even dubbed the brunette 'the most beautiful member of the Royal Family'

Fashion-loving Amelia Windsor joined Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer at the Christian Dior Cruise collection at Blenheim Palace on May 31

The Earl Of St Andrews with wife, Sylvana, and their children, Lord Downpatrick Edward Windsor, Lady Amelia Windsor (centre) and Lady Marina Windsor were snapped on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour when they were little

Religion was an important part of the children's formative years, and both Amelia's elder siblings converted to Catholicism, ruling themselves out of the line of succession, allowing Amelia to become 36th in line to the throne.

Amelia studied art history, French and Latin for A-level. But that Windsor love for glamour kicked in at an early age.
Forget over-priced face creams and expensive serums. Apparently, the real, celebrity-endorsed, must-have, anti-ageing beauty panacea costs just 2.99 for a 200ml tub.

Even better, it can be picked up at your local supermarket along with your weekly shop.

This week, 70-year-old actress Joanna Lumley attributed her ever-youthful looking skin to Astral cream, an innocuous looking little blue pot of moisturiser that is deeply ingrained in our national consciousness.

This week, 70-year-old actress Joanna Lumley attributed her ever-youthful looking skin to Astral cream, an innocuous looking little blue pot of moisturiser that is deeply ingrained in our national consciousness

Most people can remember their mother or grandmother dipping a finger into a pot of Astral. Its distinctive perfume, too, can evoke childhood memories with one sniff - not surprising given that Astral launched in 1952 and the recipe hasnt changed in 64 years.

Originally, it was sold as a bit of a cure-all, a multipurpose beauty nurse for moisturising, sun-bathing, soothing babies bottoms and husbands razor chapped face.

In 1961, there was a relaunch in the little blue plastic pots with white writing which, today, are so ubiquitous. Fifty-odd years later, nothing has changed.

Two pots are sold every minute in the UK. Besides Joanna Lumley, other celebrity fans include actress Kate Beckinsale and TVs Amanda Holden, who are not known for their low-maintenance, low-budget beauty routines, yet still swear by it.

So what amazing secret ingredients are in this wonder cream that make it so popular?

According to Astral, none. Thats right, the main selling point is that its just a moisturiser. Astral cream doesnt contain any miracle ingredients, its makers declare proudly.

The rich formulation of Astral Original is a simple water in oil emulsion. It acts as a barrier cream, stopping the moisture already held in the skin from evaporating, while simultaneously delivering extra moisture, leaving skin feeling plumped, pliable and less dry.

Other celebrity fans include actress Kate Beckinsale and TVs Amanda Holden (pictured), who are not known for their low-maintenance, low-budget beauty routines, yet still swear by it

The two key oil ingredients are glycerin and lanolin.

Glycerin is the common element in all fats and has been an integral part of the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries since the 18th century. Lanolin is a wool wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep and used for centuries by sheep farmers to ease chapped hands.

Experts are right behind this minimalist, back to basics concept. We dont need overpriced expensive creams, says Dr Ross Perry, a cosmetic consultant at national skin clinic Cosmedics. The thinking is - and its a fair, but incorrect, assumption - that the more expensive a cream, the better it will be. This is, he says, rubbish.

Ageing is 95 per cent down to your genetics and lifestyle. Moisturisers play a part, but thats all, he adds. You need a barrier cream, to stop moisture evaporating from skin, and hydration provided by soaking into the skin.

The better effects are with heavier, greasier products, he points out. There is no such thing as a very good light moisturiser. In order for it to work, it must be greasy.

Other creams with such qualities include Sudocrem, Doublebase and Epaderm - none of which youre likely to find in the fragrant make-up halls of department stores.

SAVING FACES 501million was spent on skincare in 2014. Anti-ageing creams made up 42 per cent of sales. Advertisement

In addition, Dr Perry advises being highly sceptical of anything that claims much more than basic moisturising or sun protection. Creams advertising their contents including stem cells, gold and diamonds are not clinically proven to be of benefit. Id be dubious that the concentrations in the creams could make any possible difference.

So Astral - priced from 99p for 50ml and up to 7.99 for 500ml - with its two basic ingredients, falls firmly into the inexpensive and effective skincare bracket.

Skin may look and feel dry when the water content in the top layer of the epidermis, the stratum corneum, falls from around 15 per cent to less than 10 per cent.

Hester Grainger is only 38, and started using Astral two years ago. She admits that the fuddy-duddy image initially put her off

Glycerin is whats known as a humectant, which means that it can attract water into the epidermis, increasing its water content.

Lanolin is a thick, natural oil from a sheeps fleece. It is extracted after the sheep has been shorn. It holds up to 400 times its weight in water, locking in moisture and making it very effective at hydration.

Some people have an allergy to lanolin. Kirsten Carriol, creator of Lano, a lanolin-based brand, points out that it is always thoroughly cleansed. Lanolin is used in hospitals after surgery and by breastfeeding mothers.

Perhaps you are feeling hoodwinked. Doesnt every cream need to have some magic? Well, according to the youthful fans of Astral, it does.

Take book editor Judy Hanson, 58, who lives in East Yorkshire. She has the dewy skin of a woman two decades younger and fully credits Astral for her youthful visage.

Aged 18, in 1981, I developed very dry skin, so I borrowed my mothers face cream. The difference was near instant and started a life-long love affair

My mother has always been an advocate of Astral. Now in her 80s, she looks amazing for her age. Aged 18, in 1981, I developed very dry skin, so I borrowed my mothers face cream. The difference was near instant and started a life-long love affair.

Judy adds: A big part of the appeal is that its incredibly cheap. I buy one big pot and save up my little pots, so I can have one in the bathroom, one in my bedroom, one in my handbag and one to take travelling.

Her younger sister, Beverley, 53, has more disposable income. But we look the same age - and she buys the expensive creams, says Judy.

The sole problem for Astral is its image. But the company is working on this with its Kick-Astral campaign targeting millenials.

Hester Grainger is only 38, and started using Astral two years ago. Ive always had very dry skin and tried everything from Clinique and Elemis to Superdrug and Boots own creams. She admits that the fuddy-duddy image initially put her off.

I did think of Astral as being old-fashioned, as my mother used to use it. Hester, who works in communications in Reading and is married with two children, noticed an immediate difference, though admits that colleagues find it amusing.

When I admit it, theyre horrified. If I were younger and bothered about peoples opinions of my anti-ageing products, Id probably steer clear. As it is, Im a devoted fan.
A woman who was left with a 'uniboob' after terrible plastic surgery on her chest recently appeared on TV's Botched asking for help.

The woman, a 28-year-old named Serena from Minnesota, appeared on Tuesday night's episode of the E! reality show, and explained to Los Angeles-based doctors Dr. Terry Dubrow and Dr. Paul Nassif how she went for a breast augmentation several years ago after becoming sick of her old flat-chested look.

But the moment she woke up from the surgery, she told the doctors, she knew that something was wrong.

Scroll down for video

Asking for help: Serena, a 28-year-old nurse from Minnesota, appeared on the latest episode of Botched in hopes that the doctors could cure her of her 'uniboob'

Not a good look: She had the surgery after becoming sick of her flat chest, but was left with symmastia, which happens when the surgeon lifts the breast pockets too close together

'I could feel the ripping of my muscles off my sternum,' Serena told the doctors. 'And they said: "No, you're just really swollen."'

Serena claims that not only did the doctor deny the mistake while knowing 'full well what he did', but when she came back for her three-month post-op it was clear to everyone that the surgery had not been a success.

The issue, which Serena had since researched is called symmastia, which occurs when the surgeon lifts the breast pockets too much towards the center and cause the pockets to have 'communicated', as Dr. Terry describes it.

Then, to add insult to injury, Serena claims that the doctor told that he could not fix the problem, and added: 'At least you're not going to be a stripper!'

Making her case: Serena told the doctors of how her surgeon denied the problem, but later said it couldn't be fixed

No comfort at all: The surgeon also told her 'At least you're not going to be a stripper!'

Getting it done: The doctors told filmmakers in the episode that they think the doctor who botched Serena's surgery should lose his license

The years after the botched surgery, Serena eventually became so self-conscious that she stopped dating, which brought her to seek help from the doctors on Botched, who said that her previous doctor should 'lose his license' for what he had done to her.

Despite having little breast tissue, the doctors were able to give Serena what she wanted and she was later seen showing off the results in a dress out with her friends.

Elsewhere in the episode, ex-Playboy model Kathy told of how her worries over wrinkles on her neck led her to go to Ecuador for plastic surgery.

Before going under, the surgeon recommended she also get her nose done as there was a 'lump' he was concerned about.

Under the knife: The doctors agreed to perform the surgery and got working on giving Serena the chest she dreamed of

A change for the better: Despite not having much breast tissue, Serena's surgery was successful

Taking them out: Serena was so happy with the results that she showed off her new cleavage in a plunging dress out with her friends

Covering up: Former Playboy model Kathy came to the doctors on Botched for help eight years after a botched nose jobs and face-lift she received in Ecuador

'When I woke up I just remember being in excruciating pain,' she told the doctors, adding that she was 'vomiting blood' and she thought she might die there.

She was left with an extremely up-turned nose and a hatchet job face-lift than left her with even more wrinkles than before.

Asking the doctors for help eight years since, they told her that: 'No matter what, we cannot make your nose perfect. Better, but not perfect.'

They aimed to give her back her old nose and in doing so had to make it larger and lower on her face.

Recovering: Kathy claims that she was sure that she was going to die after waking up vomiting blood after the surgery

Looking back: Kathy hoped to get her old nose back she had before the Ecuadorian misadventure

All done: Though they couldn't get the nose as low as they had hoped, the doctor's were able to give Kathy a much more normal look

A big difference: Kathy's neck also looked much tighter with much less wrinkles after the surgery

Though the doctors weren't able to get the nose as low as they were hoping, the result was dramatically better than what Kathy had come in with.

Kathy herself was utterly delighted with the results.

'It's been eight years since I made the worst mistake of my life, going to Ecuador to have my nose and neck done,' Kathy said.
Many had an enlarged left ventricle - a sign the heart is working too hard

Most people living on a flight path learn to block out the sound of aeroplanes as they fly overhead.

But long-term exposure to aircraft noise could increase the chances of having a heart attack, new research suggests.

With rising air traffic, expanding airports and the ever-growing need for housing, more people than ever are being exposed to the racket.

Now researchers in Poland found flight noise is linked to high blood pressure and alter the structure of the heart.

People who lived in an area of high aircraft noise had more hypertension than those who lived in a low aircraft noise area

Researchers in Krakow investigated how it could be affecting the health of those who are living in the midst of it.

The study assessed the effects of airport nose on blood pressure as well as organ damage linked to it.

It looked at more than 200 adults, aged between 40 and 66, who had lived for more than three years in an area with high or low aircraft noise.

Of these, half were exposed to more than 60 decibels (dB) of aircraft noise, the equivalent to conversation levels in a restaurant.

The remaining participants were exposed to less than 55 dB and acted as a control group.

The researchers matched the groups in pairs by gender, age, and amount of time living in the area.

All had their blood pressure measured.

Asymptomatic organ damage (where there are no symptoms) was assessed by measuring stiffness of the aorta, the main artery to the heart as well as the mass and function of the left side of the heart, the left ventricle.

They found four in ten of those who lived in an area of high aircraft noise had higher blood pressure, compared to less than a quarter of those who lived in a low aircraft noise area.

People who live on a flight path were found to have higher blood pressure than those who didn't

Many of those who lived near high aircraft noise also had some enlargement to the left side of the heart - responsible for pumping blood around the body - another sign of high blood pressure.

Marta Rojek, of Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow and lead author of the study, said there was increasing evidence living near to an airport can increase the risk of high blood pressure, particularly at night.

Many who live on a busy flight path had damage to the structure of their hearts, researchers found

She said it has been linked to hospitalisation for cardiovascular diseases  but more evidence is needed.

'Our results suggest living near an airport for three years or more is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure and hypertension,' she said.

'These changes may then lead to damage of the aorta and heart which could increase the risk of having a heart attack.'

Figures from the International Civil Aviation Organisation show there were 64 million take-offs and landings in 2013.

This figure is set to double in the next 20 years.

'European Union regulations say countries must assess and manage environmental noise, and there are national laws on aircraft noise,' she said.

'Poland stipulates a maximum of 55 dB around schools and hospitals and 60 dB for other areas.

'Noise can be kept below those levels by using only noise-certified aircraft, redirecting flight paths, keeping airports away from homes, and avoiding night flights.'

She said it was vital to people's health these laws are enfourced.

Ms Rojek concluded: 'More work is needed to enforce laws on exposure to aircraft noise as it is detrimental to our health.
This stomach-churning video shows a baby girl having a 4cm long needle removed from her throat after she swallowed it whole.

The one-year-old, from Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China, was rushed to hospital hours after she gulped down the metal spike.

The scary clip shows doctors pointing to X-rays of the needle lodged in the infants throat.

'This needle is 4cm long and one end is poking into the tonsil,' a medic says.

'The other end is at the bottom of the throat.

'If it not removed it might cause internal bleeding or an infection. '

They perform an endoscopy, where a thin, flexible tube with a camera at one end is put down her gullet in order to retrieve the needle.

During the video, one doctor holds a small camera while another locates the needle in her oesophagus and pulls it out.

Throughout the procedure the girl is screaming and spluttering.

The medic lays the needle down next to a plastic syringe to show it is around 4cm long.

The surgery only last 30 seconds and the girl is now fine, according to local reports.

A Chinese baby girl swallowed a needle which doctors had to remove from her throat or it could cause bleeding and infection. A doctor said X-rays showed one end of the needle was poking the girl's tonsils

After removing the needle from the baby's throat, medics lay it out next to a syringe, show it is 4cm long

A paper published in the journal BMJ Case reports said swallowing foreign objects is mostly reported in children younger than three years of age.

Coins and bones are the objects most commonly ingested.

Normally, the objects are passed naturally, but there is a high risk thin, sharp objects can perforate parts of the body such as the bowel.

If the object is too big to be removed in an endoscopy, doctors may have to operate.
A teenager was forced to give up school because of a mystery illness which means she struggles to keep food and water down.

Anna Giles, 17, has dropped two dress sizes from a ten to a six since the sickness took hold of her nearly three years ago.

She has endured scans, tests and multiple hospital visits but medics are baffled by her mystery illness.

Doctors have ruled out a variety of illnesses including meningitis, a brain tumour, allergies and cyclical vomiting syndrome.

The straight-A student was forced to leave school while studying for her AS levels because she is too weak to get up in the morning.

Now she is desperate for help to find out what is causing her illness - which can leave her vomiting up to 50 times a day.

Anna Giles, 17, says she thought she had food poisoning when she started being sick at 14 but it has continued for years. She is now desperate to find out what is causing her mystery illness

She has been admitted to hospital suffering from severe dehydration but a variety of tests have failed to establish what was wrong with her

'I can't keep down water or even crackers or dry toast, and it's a struggle to concentrate because I'm so weak.

'This condition is taking my teenage years from me. It is ruining my life.

'So it's exasperating when anyone tries to suggest I have an eating disorder. I don't want pity. I want medical help.'

She claims that doctors frequently ask her if she has an unhealthy relationship with food linked to an eating disorder.

But she is adamant she loves to eat and says she finds this line of enquiry frustrating.

'They questioned my relationship with food, asking if I had an eating disorder or found the idea of food traumatic in some way.

'It was ridiculous. Sometimes I'd sit with a bowl at the dinner table because I'd projectile vomit before even getting through a whole meal so I clearly wasn't making myself sick.

'They tried suggesting I had emotional issues with eating that meant my body rejected food, but I've always loved eating.

Anna's illness has left her feeling so weak and unable to concentrate that she's had to give up school

She has lost more than a stone and dropped two dress sizes from a 10 to an eight since developing the mystery condition

'I watch food shows all the time and love cooking and socialising over dinner.

'I kept insisting there was something else wrong with me, but it felt like I had fight to be heard.'

Anna who lives with her office manager mother Karen Giles, 55, in Wapping, London, said when she first got sick aged 14, her family put it down to severe food poisoning.

She said: 'I was really queasy for no reason, then I started throwing up.

'We all assumed I had severe food poisoning or an allergy as I vomited up to 30 times a day for the next four weeks.

'I was admitted to the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel for rehydration treatment as I couldn't keep anything down.'

The teen, who's 5ft 6ins now weighs 8.5st having lost a stone to the illness.

She is hoping that by raising awareness of her illness, someone might be able to find a cure.

'I want people to realise what I - and others with chronic vomiting - are going through.
Embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya was on Tuesday declared a proclaimed offender by the special Indian court dealing with money laundering cases.

The move comes after a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate( ED), related to the investigation against Mallya in the alleged Rs 900 crore IDBI Bank loan fraud case.

The ED application is allowed and a proclamation is issued against Vijay Mallya, Special Judge PR Bhavke observed in his order.

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya left India for the UK on March 2, and the Enforcement Directorate is now calling for his extradition

A person can be termed a proclaimed offender in the investigation of a criminal case if the court has reason to believe that the accused - against whom a warrant of arrest has been issued - has absconded or is concealing himself so that such a warrant cannot be executed.

According to Section 82 of the CrPC, the court can publish a written proclamation requiring such an accused to appear at a particular place and at a specified time, not less than 30 days from the date of publishing such a proclamation.

ED officials said the order would help them to get Mallya extradited from the UK and also make it easier to attach his personal properties.

The agency had urged the court to issue an order under Section 82 CrPC and term Mallya a proclaimed offender, as he has multiple arrest warrants pending against him including a non-bailable warrant under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED has told the court about the status of investigations in the case and the need to get Mallya to join the probe.

The ED has written to Interpol asking it to issue a red corner notice against Mallya - resulting in his passport being revoked.

The liquor tycoon and Formula 1 boss has not disclosed his whereabouts since flying first class from Delhi to London on March 2, leaving the Indian government and bankers red-faced as they try to crack down on high-profile defaulters.

Mallya, traced by Indian reporters to a country residence in Hertfordshire, has indicated that he is in no hurry to return to India.
Bihar education minister Ashok Choudhary addressed the Union HRD Minister (pictured) as "dear"

Union HRD minister Smriti Irani and Bihar education minister Ashok Choudhary were locked in a war of words over the latter addressing her as dear.

Dear@smritiraniji, when will we get new education policy..? when will year 2015 end in your calender..? Choudhary tweeted.

The use of the word did not go down well with the minister.

Mahilaon ko dear keh ke kab se sambodhit karne lage Ashokji? Irani replied in her tweet.

Choudhary answered, Not to disrespect but educate...professional emails start with dear.

'Make yoga a part of your daily life'

Ahead of the International Yoga Day on June 21, PM Narendra Modi has sought the support of all Union ministers and department heads to make yoga a mass movement for better physical and mental wellbeing.

In a letter to all ministers, Modi said the International Day of Yoga is not simply an event.

It is a way of making yoga an integral part of our lives. It is a means of popularising yoga among masses, across social strata, in different age groups so that we can enhance our mental and physical well-being, he said.

Captain comes to Nath's rescue

Faced with sharp attacks from both SAD and AAP for making Kamal Nath the AICC in-charge of Punjab, state Congress chief Amarinder Singh came out to defend the party veteran saying the move will not adversely impact the partys prospects in the Assembly elections next year.

Nath has been targeted over allegations related to his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Amarinder said the issue is being played up politically and it is unfair to tarnish Naths image.

Badal hits out at Rahul Gandhi

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has accused Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi of carrying forward his familys notorious legacy of anti-Punjabism and anti-Sikhism.

On the sidelines of his Sangat Darshan programme in Malout Assembly constituency, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader said: Right from late Prime Minister Indira to Rahul, the entire Gandhi family has treated Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular as their bitter enemies.

Nihalani lauds Kashyap's efforts

Censor Board chief Pahlaj Nihalani, who was pulled up by the Bombay High Court over the 89 cuts that he had suggested for film Udta Punjab, has welcomed the courts order and congratulated producer Anurag Kashyap for his effort.
For Union minister Babul Supriyo, it was love at first sight - 35,000 ft above sea level.

The BJP leader is all set to tie the knot for a second time, and his bride-to-be is Rachna Sharma, a Delhi-based air hostess with Jet Airways.

The couple are engaged and are gearing up for an August wedding.

It was love at first sight for Union minister Babul Supriyo and his fiancee Rachna Sharma

Racha met her husband-to-be on a Kolkata-Mumbai flight

In an interview with Ananda Bazar Patrika, Supriyo bared his heart, saying: For the last two years, my fate seems to have been circling in the air. Strange things are happening, 30- 35,000 ft above the sea level. Seems like someone is sitting up there and writing the script of my life.

It was a few minutes conversation with an air hostess on board a Kolkata-Mumbai flight that saw Babul lose his heart. He asked for Rachnas name and phone number within a few minutes of talking to her.

The fateful meeting took place in 2014, before the musician-politician got his Cabinet role as a Minister of State for Urban Development, and for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.
Priyanka Gandhi has so far limited herself to campaigning in the family bastions

Desperate to improve its footprint across Uttar Pradesh, which goes to the polls in 2017, the Congress is grappling with how to get the caste equation right while deciding whether or not to announce a face for the chief ministers post.

While the party has traditionally refrained from announcing its chief ministerial candidate before the polls, the issue has gained significance after the remarks of newly-appointed AICC in-charge of UP affairs, Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Popular face

Noting that the party may choose a popular candidate ahead of the polls, Azad acknowledged that there was overwhelming demand from state leaders for Priyanka Gandhi to be the face of the UP Congress, or at least that she should campaign for the party.

Priyanka has refrained from active politics so far, while extending full support to her brother and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

She has limited herself to her mother Sonia Gandhi's constituency Rae Bareli, and Rahul's - Amethi.

Strategist Prashant Kishor, roped in by the Congress to tilt the scales in its favour, has also suggested Priyanka and Rahul could attract voters - but the idea has not found favour with the party's central leadership.

Kishors second idea, of reverting to the Congresss traditional Brahmin vote, has generated buzz within the party. The names of veteran Sheila Dikshit and younger face Jitin Prasada are doing the rounds as potential state unit chiefs.

Rajya Sabha member Pramod Tiwari may be made the chief of the campaign committee.

The section which supports this line of thought within the party believes that winning over the Brahmins, who constitute around 13 per cent of the voters, may help the Grand Old Party shore up its electoral fortunes in an election where the BJP is aggressively trying to polarise voters.

The issue of having a new state unit chief has gained momentum after the sudden induction of Azad, who replaced Madhusudan Mistry as the state in-charge.

UP Congress chief Nirmal Khatri (left) is likely to be shown the door. Sheila Dikshit (right) is in the fray to be state Congress chief

For the past few years, Nirmal Khatri, a sober and non-controversial leader, has been holding the fort as UP Congress chief - but has not been able to curb infighting among state leaders.

However, it remains doubtful whether a new person in the saddle would be able to perform a miracle when the party has yet to address the issue of strengthening the organisational muscle.

Another challenge is to deal with the pro-Dalit image of Rahul, which has been projected in the state to counter the BSP supremo Mayawati, who will be a force to reckon with.

Another section of the party believes the Congress should opt for an OBC face, keeping in mind their voter percentage and the need to counter the SP, but this may in turn put off the upper caste voters.
Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajpathi Raju won praise from industry figures

The stake holders in the aviation industry have given their thumbs up to civil aviation minister Ashok Gajpathi Raju.

He scores most points for his polite nature and manners, which have often helped break the ice within the industry.

The observation was made as the civil aviation ministry came up with a new policy catering to the industry.

The long-awaited policy document is meant to shake up the sector.

Streamlining the I-T department's probe wing

The investigation wing of the income tax department is being streamlined.

Some of the sensitive cases have been moved out of the criminal investigation and intelligence wing of the department, which was created under the UPA government.

The wing will only carry out surveys and not conduct searches, said sources. These sensitive cases will now be handled by the investigation wing.

Mamata eyes Tripura now

After securing her second term, West Bengals ruling Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee is planning big for Tripura - the only communist-ruled state in North eastern India.

Recently, six Tripura MLAs had defected from the Congress and joined the Trinamool Congress.

A senior Trinamool leader confirmed that Mamata is slated to visit Tripura on August 9, where she will address a rally at Agartalas Asthabal ground.

Sources said the move is also being seen as a step forward for the Trinamool Congress towards getting national party status.

Kanishka still in RaGa's good books

Contrary to media reports that Rahul Gandhis controversial aide Kanishka Singh has fallen out with the Congresss first family, the buzz is that he is very much in business.

Sources said that Kanishka Singh still remains a key figure and forms a crucial part of the inner circle despite recent controversies.

Central duty for 178 new babus

As many as 178 new IAS officers will be appointed as assistant secretaries in different ministries, as part of a new initiative by the Union government to groom these bureaucrats at the Centre before they move out to their respective state cadres.

These officers of the 2014 batch will start their careers from Delhi, instead of the cadre states allocated to them, on central deputation for three months beginning August 1.
Never before has an Indian prime minister gained so much popularity in his homeland for his relationship with a foreign superpower.

This dangerous showmanship smacks of a leader and a party with no sense of direction or specific plan of action.

How else will our heroic prime minister distract the people from empty promises he made before coming to power?

Modi's visit to the US went down well in his homeland, but in reality America remains a uncertain ally and India should be wary

One needn't go far to see the razors edge on which we will be treading if this trend continues.

Dictators

This is exactly how the dictators of Pakistan have fooled their countrymen.

We too will bleed like them - and many others who have chosen this path. Because to the US, the Third World remains a wretched place.

Americas understanding of its engagement with any developing country is clear, and its policy has been demonstrated repeatedly.

Juice the relationship till the sweetness runs pure. When done, put it aside and forget about it.

This is how it is - and historically - how it has always been.

There are two types of dictators/leaders who sway their own peoples opinion using America as a pivot.

In 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini did it, by raising the slogan Death to America - and he managed to rally all Iranians.

Modi's dangerous showmanship smacked of a leader who has no sense of direction or specific action plan

Around the same time, Saddam Hussein did likewise and his nation stood as one behind him - or so they say.

Most recently, Venezuelas Hugo Chavez did it and rallied support around his Left-leaning politics.

But of all these people, the most remarkable results went to the relatively young and seemingly inexperienced dictator from North Korea - Kim Jong Un.

Then there was Yahya Khan, followed by Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, who in turn are now followed by every other Pakistani general/prime minister. They were seen as allies of America for nearly half a century before the 9/11 attacks happened.

For example, Zia orchestrated Charlies War in 1979 against the Russians in Afghanistan, using his leverage with both the US and Pakistan to solidify his position from a usurper to a political leader.

Yahya Khan opened the gates of his highly secret hangars in Peshawar to let in the American U2 spy plane which Gary Powers flew and was shot down in the erstwhile Soviet Union.

So is every potential Pakistani leader's ticket to power the idea of being a friend of America and that the US 'needs' him?

Is our prime minister merely attempting to distract people from the empty promises he made before coming to power?

Britain has been resented by Europe for being America's 'friend' for a long time.

It is this very image that Turkeys Erdogan is trying to live down after hosting the Incirlik airforce base in the Middle East, and for amping-up the pressure in the Adriatic and the Black Sea against the Russians.

But America is no friend to anyone. And Erdogan has seen it most recently in Syria and Iraq, where the US is playing the Kurds against Turkey, much to his displeasure.

Terrorism

Look at Pakistan. When it was convenient, it was Americas ally in its 'war on terror'.

But, both the CIA and other US planners realised that Americas meddling in Pakistan was isolating it across the world. And so it began distancing itself from Islamabad. So much so that even the F16s that Pakistan was promised for so long are finally not being delivered.

President Erdogan of Turkey (left) and former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf (right) have found themselves being used by the US for strategic means

Being Americas friend is fraught with dangers, especially if you are a Third World country.

It is horrifying to note that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are faltering economically, and they have both been fully integrated into the American system.

In the case of Pakistan, the tail had begun to feel that it was wagging the dog.

But the country has been learning a hard lesson of late, and has been given the cold shoulder to the point of humiliation.

Connect

In the past, various countries have found ways to get the US to move or act in their favour.

In the case of Pakistan, 'terrorism' could always be leveraged so America would yield a little to silence it.

Saudi Arabia has always been able to leverage petrol and petroleum products. But ever since petrol prices have crashed, Saudis have been losing their importance.

Pakistan has long been a 'friend' of the US, but where is the economic and social stability?

With limited resources, a huge population, extreme poverty and a window of opportunity that is not going to remain open for a very long time, you can either open it to Americans or you can open it to your countrymen.

Our PM is choosing to open it to the Americans and not to his own countrymen.

Indeed, the rich in India will only become richer, but the middle class and the poor will be hit badly.

But Modis propaganda machinery is so well-oiled that every problem that he faces is a legacy of the past.

How long has Pakistan been a so-called 'friend' of America? And where is its economy and socio-political stability?

Has America found a new Pakistan? Is Modi the new Zia/Musharraf?

I shudder to think of the consequences. It is up to India whether it wants to be the isotope or the singular element.
In the month of Ramzan, Kashmir bears witness to a historic event as Kashmiri Hindus arrive to celebrate Darshar Maha Kumbh.

The religious gathering is held at Shadipora every 75 years at the meeting of two rivers, the Jehlum and the Sindh.

With the help of scores of local Muslims, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits have gathered in Ganderbal.

After 75 years, thousands of Kashmiri Hindus arrive at the place where the rivers Jehlum and Sindh meet to celebrate Darshar Maha Kumbh

This is happening after 75 years. We are happy that we have been able to see it happen in our lifetime, said Suneeta, an excited young devotee.

The event comes during a time of controversy on the settlement of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

While many outside the Valley have been advocating separate townships for Pandits, the idea has been met with opposition within the Valley.

Several Valley-based organisations have said Kashmiri Pandits should settle down in their original areas, instead of separating the population.

However, for the devotees who have come to this Kumbh, all the controversies seem to be manufactured to ensure divisions.

Why is the government talking about separate colonies? We don't need this. This Mela has taken place after 75 years. Muslims are shoulder-to-shoulder with us here. They are giving us flowers, they are helping us cross this river on their boats. They are doing all this while fasting. We appeal to everyone to end the hate, says a Kashmiri Pandit Maharaj Krishan Bhat.

These sentiments are echoed by the Muslims helping in this Kumbh.

Kashmiri Hindu (Pandits) claim that they shouldn't be separated from the Muslim communities in the valley

Farooq Ahmad has been fasting all day himself, but that hasnt stopped him from helping devotees cross the river.

He has ferried scores of pilgrims to the sacred tree.

This landmark is a Chinar which stands right in the centre where the two rivers meet, and is known as Prayag.

We are helping in many ways. Many people are even staying in our houses for last few days. These Pandits should come back, says Ahmad.

The help and hospitality that the local community has given the pilgrims has clearly been appreciated by the devotees.

This has come after 75 years and has great importance for us. We are very thankful to the local people here. They are fasting themselves, and yet still helping us, says Param.
News that Sainsburys respected finance chief John Rogers is off to head up Argos once the grocers 1.4billion takeover is complete set analysts tails wagging.

They reckon the carrot-topped bean counter is being groomed to eventually succeed Mike Coupe as Sainsburys chief executive.

Rogers, 46, never applied for the post when Justin King departed in 2014, despite being widely tipped for the job. John and Mike have a Tony Blair/Gordon Brown Granita-style pact in place, claims a source. With a happier ending, I hope.

Goldman Sachs partner Andrea Vella is due in the High Court this week to answer questions on the banks entertaining battle with the Libyan National Investment Fund.

I trust handsome, happily-married Signor Vella, 43, who is based in Hong Kong but hails from Rome, will dress accordingly when up before the beak.

While working in London, he gave an interview claiming he liked to look sexy around Goldmans Fleet Street offices.

If I look good in a shirt and it makes me look like Ive been working out even though I havent, of course, I buy it, opined the frisky Italian stallion.

Financial lawyer Owen Clay, 48, a partner with City bigwigs Linklaters, was recently grilled by MPs on his role advising Sir Philip Green on his sale of BHS to thrice bankrupt Dominic Chappell.

Je ne regrette rien, was the gist of the well-manicured advocates testimony. Indeed not. Hes listed the BHS sale among his recent achievements on the firms website.

Apropos BHS, will Sir Philip Green be able to keep his febrile temper in check during his appearance in front of the Treasury Select Committee today?

Im told colleagues are running a book on how long it takes the potty-mouthed retailer, 65, to swear.

Standard Chartereds American boss Bill Winters says he has hired ex-FBI agents to root out corrupt practices in his London offices.

Despite his heavy-handed mien, colleagues report granite-jawed Bill, 53, to be a surprisingly cultural soul, not quite the silver-haired martinet to which his sobriquet nuclear Winters might allude.
City panjandrum Lord (Jacob) Rothschild, 80, has broken his silence on the referendum, saying a vote to leave would lead to a damaging and disorderly situation.

This puts him firmly at odds with his wayward son, Nat, with whom (friends report) hes not close. Hedge fund boss Nat, 44, is a vocal Brexiteer  all the more surprising given his close relationship to Euro cheerleader Peter Mandelson.

The former business secretary and his Brazilian partner Reinaldo rent a bijou weekend cottage on Nats Wiltshire estate.

Burberrys Halifax-born chief executive Christopher Bailey, who avoided journalists when his company recently posted a 10 per cent drop in profits, will be interviewed by Vogue editrix Anna Wintour at next weeks Cannes Lion Advertising Festival.

He promises to explain his secrets to standing out in the crowd. Fascinating! Burberry shareholders would prefer to hear what secrets preening, ee-by-gum Bailey, 45, has for turning around the firms cascading share price, down 30 per cent this year.

Rubenesque financier and EU enthusiast Nicola Horlick casts aspersions over Boris Johnsons support for Brexit, remarking: Ive known Boris for a very long time, he went to the same college as me at Oxford.

'He has never been anti-Europe  so you could suggest that there may well be a political agenda. Erstwhile City Superwoman Nicola, 55, left Balliol a year before Boris, 51, arrived. Some feel she lost her sheen after one of her funds invested heavily with mega fraudster, Bernard Madoff.

Business Select Committee Chairman Iain Wright will not be invited to Sir Philip Greens next tasteful party following their terse, six-hour joust yesterday.

The Labour no-nonsense Northerner wont give two hoots. After Green finally shuffled off, Wright mockingly held up a copy of the retailers 2005 biography, Top Man, and joked: Oh dear, I forgot to get him to sign it.

An ex-Goldman Sachs intern has become a YouTube sensation.

Gorgeous, London-born Jess Greenberg, 21, who has also done holiday stints at Morgan Stanley and Barclays, has racked up 70m views, performing well-known pop ditties and flaunting her admirable embonpoint.
I have had several problems with Scottish Power since it started supplying energy to my home nearly two years ago.

In January 2016, I received a statement suggesting it had never received an electricity reading, even though a meter-reader comes around every three months.

A meter-reader was supposed to visit on February 17, but failed to turn up. The firm then wrote saying it had received gas, but not electricity, readings.

It proposed we start with opening readings that were considerably lower than the closing readings I had agreed with my previous supplier. This would have resulted in me paying for the same electricity twice.

The invoice was corrected and I was offered a 20 goodwill payment.

I then received an estimated invoice claiming I owed 508.37 for electricity and my direct debit was increased from 47.52 to 278 per month.

I have supplied actual readings and my meter has been read since, but I can still get no sense out of Scottish Power.

Incidentally, it has put me on a business account even though it knows I work from home. I was told this would be cheaper.

D. H., Cumbria.

Shock: Scottish Power were trying to make one customer pay 500 for the same electricity twice

Scottish Power scores two out of five stars on the Which? website for customer service and it's not difficult to see why.

The firm admits it made 'highly over-inflated' estimates of your electricity use between January and March this year, which led to your direct debits being increased.

As a result, your account went 471.18 into credit. Scottish Power has now refunded 200 and, as agreed with you, credited the remainder to your account.

The direct debit for electricity has been reset at 26 a month. Your gas account is correct.

For these errors, Scottish Power made a 50 goodwill payment. It also paid 60 into your bank account to apologise for failing to keep the appointment on February 17.

But it struck me there was a further issue. Residential customers benefit from rules preventing energy firms billing more than a year in arrears if it has failed to ask for or collect a meter reading.

Similar rules apply to very small businesses. These are defined by the energy industry as those using no more than 293,000kWh of gas or 100,000kWh of electricity each year; or those having fewer than ten employees and an annual turnover of less than 2 million (1.56 million).

You qualify on both counts. It appears no electricity readings were taken between when you signed up in September 2014 and when Scottish Power woke up this year. I asked it to apply these rules and it has refunded a further 372.56.

Energy firms operate different time limits for micro-businesses, ranging from the one year used by British Gas Business, Scottish Power, EDF and most others, to the less generous four years on gas bills by Gazprom and Corona Energy.

One final point: Scottish Power says you have a business account because you were registered under your business name - and it confirms this is cheaper than having a residential tariff.

YOU HAVE YOUR SAY - CHEAP TRAVEL INSURANCE POLICIES Every week Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters and emails. Heres what you had to say about our story on cheap travel insurance policies that can leave families facing bills of hundreds of pounds: As a local insurance broker, I always tried to obtain the best deal for my client  which is not necessarily the cheapest deal. As you rightly point out, the comparison sites push forward the cheapest deals. Because of this I no longer sell travel insurance. I cannot compete with whats online. J. M., Hertfordshire. The solution is to read the small print and dont just take the first policy you see. Take responsibility for your actions on holiday. When I go to the beach, I might take the equivalent of 5 in a waterproof pouch I wear round my neck. B. T., via email. A good insurer is essential. If you go to the bottom of the market, dont be surprised if there are problems. My wife and I are OAPs and pay just 160 for an annual worldwide travel policy. This is despite having to make a claim for several thousand pounds when I was ill just before a trip to Australia. I. S., Southampton. I did the right thing and shopped around, ensuring that my cover suited my needs, but I lost a bag at Christmas and am still waiting for part of my claim to be settled. I had taken out additional gadget cover for my phone which had to be dealt with by a different firm. I sent off all the documents, but it kept asking for more information. H. H., Norfolk. When I go away, I never wear jewellery. I always leave valuables in the safe, only take out enough cash for the day and take a cheap phone. We all know insurance companies will try to wriggle out of paying for anything. C. T., via email. With travel insurance, like most things, you broadly get what you pay for. If it is cheap, it is for a reason and the cover invariably is restrictive. This obsession with choosing the cheapest premiums can result in a claim being rejected. R. Y., Oxford. Does any firm sell an insurance product with no exclusions? They should. Im sick of small print. I would love insurance to just cover you no matter what  within clear boundaries for the product type, of course. There is a market here for simple, no-quibble insurance. M. B., Chatham, Kent.

I Want to transfer 1,000 from my wife's tax allowances to my own using the marriage allowance.

I sent the Notice of Transfer of Surplus Income Tax Allowances for the Tax Year 2014/15 form to HMRC, which was returned with a note saying I had to apply online.

When I did, I received a reply saying we should hear within 14 weeks. But I have had no further response despite writing again.

W. C., Chesterfield.

You sent a form that relates to the blind persons and the married couples allowances. These are different from the marriage allowance.

The married couples perk gives an extra tax allowance if one of the partnership was born before April 6, 1935. It is worth up to 835.50 per year but is gradually reduced for those with higher incomes to just 322 per year.

The marriage allowance allows someone with a low income to transfer part of their tax allowance to their higher-earning partner.

For the current tax year it is possible to transfer up to 1,100, which could cut the taxpayer's tax bill by up to 220.

The person giving away their allowance must be a non-taxpayer, so their income must be less than 11,000 a year. The person receiving the allowance must be a basic-rate taxpayer, which means having an income of up to 43,000 per year.

The email you received was sent out to those who registered an interest in the marriage allowance. HMRC is keen for people to apply via their website  it's very straightforward.

You have now applied successfully and are receiving the allowance. Congratulations.

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT I paid Currys 20 to deliver and install my new washing machine, but the engineer didnt do it properly and I had to pay a plumber 45 to fix it. Its been difficult getting my money back  can you help? P. C., Stamford, Lincs. Currys has apologised for the delay and promised to reimburse you the 20 as well as the cost of the plumber. I received a letter saying I had won 725,000 on the Euromillions Fifa World Cup Super Lottery. I called the number given but there was no answer. Is this a scam? D. F., Suffolk. You were right to be suspicious. ActionFraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre, says this is a known scam thats been around at least since 2010. Victims are told to call and send a processing fee to unlock winnings. Never do this. If you havent entered a lottery, you cant win one. Is income tax due on interest earned from money in a savings account? K. N., Durham. Since April, basic-rate 20 per cent taxpayers have been able to earn 1,000 interest without paying any income tax. Higher-rate 40 per cent taxpayers are able to earn 500. You will need to pay tax at your usual rate on any interest over this, either from your salary or pension, or you can fill in a self-assessment form. For queries, contact HMRC on 0300 200 3300. Ive found some old share certificates with Tadpole Technology, but I cant find any information about where the company is now. Are the shares worth anything? M. H., Blackpool. I asked the investment expert Hargreaves Lansdown. It said the firm went bust in August 2008 and your shares have no value. My husband died last year. I was 60 and working full-time. Since then I have been receiving a weekly payout from the Government. Will this continue? M. W., Surrey. Unfortunately, no. The payment you are receiving is called Bereavement Allowance, which is awarded to those aged between 45 and state pension age for up to 52 weeks following their loved ones death. The amount depends on your age when your husband passed away. A 45-year-old will receive 33.77 a week, while a 55-year-old will receive 112.55. Your spouse must have paid NI contributions for you to qualify.

I had a cash value of 713 on my Littlewoods card. I did not buy any goods for six months and now it has told me without any prior warning that I have lost this credit. I protested without success.

T. C., Middlesex.

Shop Direct, which runs the Littlewoods catalogue, won't budge.

The Rewards loyalty scheme gives members who regularly purchase products a reward to spend at Littlewoods. The rules have, I am told, 'appeared in every Littlewoods catalogue since the launch of Rewards in 2009'.

They can also be found online and through customers' accounts.

These rules say that members' rewards will lapse if they do not make a purchase for a six-month season (from January to June and July to December). Your last purchase was in April 2014, so your rewards lapsed in January 2015.

I feel Shop Direct's attitude is pedantic. It would be better to write to customers warning that their rewards are expiring.
People's appetite for smearing snail gel on their faces while quaffing a glass of coconut water helped Holland & Barrett achieve its seventh consecutive increase in annual earnings.

The health conscious high street retailer saw its annual earnings increase by 12.2 per cent to 146million in the 12 months to the end of last September, after it enjoyed a 10.4 per cent rise in like-for-like sales across the UK.

As well as its snail gel face cream, the retailer said manuka honey and its coconut-based products were among the most popular products, including jams, sugars and flour.

Getting results: Snail gel helped Holland & Barrett's annual earnings increase by 12.2 per cent last year

Holland & Barrett said so-called ancient grains also made a comeback, with amaranth, teff and freekeh becoming the 'new quinoa'.

On a global level, the group saw its total like-for-like sales rise 7 per cent in the year to September, while revenues climbed 11.7 per cent to 573.8million.

Online sales increased by 27.5 per cent, while those via mobiles more than doubled, rising by 127 per cent.

The group said it had invested 50million in the business over the last financial year, adding 55 new locations to its international portfolio.

As part of its expansion aims, the retailer is also investing in new warehousing in Dublin to help boost sales in Ireland.

Christian Keen, chief financial officer for Holland & Barrett International, said: 'We have set ourselves a challenging target to become a 1billion business by 2020, drawing on plans for further international growth and our ability to leverage our position as part of the NBTY Group.'

Surge in demand: Popular products at Holland & Barrett include a range of snail gel-based creams

At present, the group has over 770 stores in the UK and over 1,070 worldwide, spanning the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and China.

Founded in 1870 as a grocery and clothing store, Holland & Barrett International was snapped up in 1997 by US health group NBTY, which is now owned by buyout firm Carlyle Private Equity.

Earlier this year, reports surfaced suggesting the retailer had demanded its suppliers pay an extra 5 per cent on invoices and a contribution towards a 3million CCTV system.
The owner of high street fashion chain Zara, Spanish retail giant Inditex, has seen its net profits rise 6 per cent to 438million in the three months to April 30.

The profits boost came as sales improved across all the group's markets, rising by 17 per cent once currency movements are stripped out.

With like-for-like sales on the up, Inditex's total sales rose to 3.9billion. The group said sales in the second quarter so far to June 13 were 15 per cent higher on a constant-currency basis.

Dressing up: The owner of high street fashion chain Zara, Spanish retail giant Inditex, has seen its net profits rise 6 per cent to 438million in the three months to April 30

Pablo Isla, chairman of Inditex, said: 'Thanks to the group's strong growth we are able to generate jobs in all our business markets, most notably, in Spain.'

As well as Zara, Inditex owns a string of other brands, including Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho and Zara Home.

Inditex said it added another 72 stores in 31 markets to its intentional portfolio in its first quarter, taking its total to 7,085 stores in 91 markets.

It recently opened its first stores in Aruba, Nicaragua and Paraguay.

Analysts at Liberum Capital said Inditex's success comes from its 'relentless focus on full price sales.'

They added: 'The company's continued delivery of the fashions that customers demand is underlined in today's sales update.'

Network: As well as Zara, Inditex owns a string of other brands, including Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho and Zara Home

Last month, Zara's Swedish-based high street rival H&M posted a 9 per cent rise in sales, after suffering months of weak results.

On Monday, high-end fashion retailer Ted Baker posted an 11.3 per cent increase in first quarter revenues.
There have been months of clandestine meetings, multi-million-pound fees for advisors and a public relations blitz.

Now the bosses behind a German takeover of the London Stock Exchange are increasingly confident their 21billion deal will go ahead.

Both LSE and Frankfurt-based Deutsche Boerse call it a merger of equals  but the new company will be led by German chief executive Carsten Kengeter and report profits in euros. Deutsche shareholders will get a 54.4 per cent controlling stake.

LSEs French boss Xavier Rolet has stressed he will not benefit financially from the takeover.

Payday: But LSE boss Xavier Rolet, pictured with wife Nicole in their vineyard in the south of France, has stressed he will not benefit financially from the takeover

He will step aside if it goes ahead but continue to provide advice for up to a year afterwards. It is not known how much he will be paid for this.

Rolets shares in the 215-year-old institution have risen in value by more than 700,000 since the deal was announced and are now worth 12.7million.

And the tie-up is triggering a 235million fee bonanza for the lawyers, bankers and spin doctors.

Although bosses are increasingly bullish about their ability to overcome critics warning the deal is against Britains national interest, five key hurdles could derail it.

BOARDROOM BUST-UP IN FRANKFURT

Deutsche shareholders will signal their support or opposition for the deal during an acceptance period.

This runs until July 12 and 75 per cent of independent shareholders must give their backing. It could be extended to August 1 if the threshold is missed.

The deal is widely expected to sail through, although some German politicians are opposed as the new companys corporate headquarters will be in London instead of Frankfurt.

They see this as a missed chance to give Germany greater control of financial markets.

And there has already been opposition from the workers union representatives who sit on the board of Deutsche Boerse concerned it would mean the UK making decisions about German workers. Business leaders have also joined in a chorus of dissent.

A UK VOTE TO LEAVE THE EU

Perhaps the biggest risk of all comes from Britains EU referendum on June 23.

German shareholders are being asked to swap their shares in Deutsche for a 54.4 per cent stake in a bigger company.

The deal therefore says LSE will contribute 45.6 per cent of value in the new business.

If Britain votes to quit  and the polls currently give Leave a seven-point lead  they may decide the merged business makes less economic sense, LSE is a less valuable target and they would lose money.

A study by the Economist Intelligence Unit suggests the deal would be an early casualty of a so-called Brexit. But Deutsche and LSE claim a leave vote would make no difference.

RIVAL BID FOR THE STOCK EXCHANGE

Bosses at LSE feel their plan will command strong support from investors  a view boosted by activist hedge fund boss Christopher Hohn.

He helped block an earlier Deutsche takeover of the LSE through his Childrens Investment Fund but said he does not oppose the tie-up this time round.

So far, no shareholders have come out against the deal  but if an alternative was on the table, they might change their tune.

This explains why Rolet was desperate to see off a rival offer from the Intercontinental Exchange group in America.

He publicly savaged the firm, calling it a slash and burn organisation.

ICE later backed away from the deal and British takeover law forbids the Americans from coming back with a new offer until November  and with shareholders due to vote on the Deutsche proposal on July 4, it looks likely to be too late.

But veteran market watchers have pointed out that big deals always take longer than expected.

Target: The bosses behind a German takeover of the London Stock Exchange are increasingly confident their 21bn deal will go ahead

WATCHDOGS WHO HATE MEGA MERGERS

The takeover would create a stock market behemoth more than ten times larger than its closest European rival, Euronext.

This is likely to raise eyebrows among the 40 global watchdogs which must give their approval.

And the increasingly interventionist European Commission is seen as the biggest potential stumbling block. Competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager has already blocked a mega merger between mobile phone giants Three and O2 this year.

And the French government has raised concerns. Finance minister Michel Sapin said the deal would pose a competition problem.

REGULATORS WHO FEAR A BAILOUT

As key marketplaces, stock exchanges play a crucial role in their national economies.

They handle payments, offer vital intelligence and provide critical infrastructure which keeps the system running smoothly.

When the takeover was first announced, City grandee Lord Paul Myners warned more work was needed to understand the implications.

And he said if the new company collapsed, British taxpayers could be left to foot the bill. In Britain, the Bank of England is responsible for making sure the system runs smoothly.

Sources believe financial regulators are nervous about the deal. They said even if it was not blocked, shareholders might be asked to put in more cash to ensure the new firm was in a rock-solid position.

This could make the takeover less attractive  particularly as cost-cutting will only save around 350million a year, a relatively low amount compared to the pairs 21billion total size.
Hundreds of staff at British Airways are to lose their jobs after an Indian firm was hired to manage its computer systems.

The airline has begun flying in staff from India to replace UK workers after signing a contract with Tata Consultancy Services to provide IT support, the GMB union claims.

British Airways confirmed it has started a formal consultation process and it is thought up to 200 staff could be cast off in the latest round of redundancies.

Reshuffle: BA has begun flying in staff from India to replace UK workers after signing a contract with Tata Consultancy Services to provide IT services, the GMB union claims

A raft of IT workers were already made redundant in February when Tata signed the contract with BA.

Philip Pitt, acting head of news at British Airways, said it was impossible to disclose the number of IT workers in the business or the number of job losses because it was commercially sensitive.

The GMB say as many as 800 IT jobs could be lost over the next two years.

British Airways workers staged a picket line and demonstration outside the Home Office yesterday claiming it is abusing the immigration system by allowing foreign workers into the country on Tier 2 visas for skilled workers.

Mick Rix, GMB National Officer for distribution and transport said: Multinationals like British Airways are displacing UK based IT workers with Indian workers by moving jobs from the UK to India.

'This is gross hypocrisy by the Home Secretary.

She is talking tough in successive speeches but dragging her feet on action to stop the abuse of tier 2 visas.

The jobs at risk are at BAs Waterside Headquarters in West London (pictured), BAs IT Department in Newcastle, as well as at locations in Manchester, Cardiff and Scotland

British Airwayss owner International Airlines Group, which also owns Spains Iberia, and Irelands Aer Lingus has been amalgamating the buying, IT and finance departments as a cost cutting measure.

In February it set up its Global Business Services division in Krakow, Poland.
Britain's blue chips are dishing out billions more in dividends to shareholders despite a crisis in their pension funds.

Analysis by investment group AJ Bell shows that 54 companies in the FTSE 100 index have handed out 48billion to investors in the last two years  despite having a 52billion pension black hole.

And 35 have been paying out more in dividends than the total size of their pension deficit.

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell, for example, last year handed 8billion to shareholders despite figures showing it had a 6.7billion funding gap in 2014.

Shortfall: Royal Dutch Shell last year handed 8bn to shareholders despite figures showing it had a 6.7bn funding gap in 2014

Drug company AstraZeneca had a 1.9billion deficit in 2014 but threw off 2.4billion of cash last year. Fellow pharmaceuticals firm GlaxoSmithKline handed out 3.9billion in 2015, despite a 1.7billion gap for the previous year.

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said: Insufficient contributions to the pension fund could leave the company with hefty liabilities which could drag on future performance and ultimately lead to staff receiving lower pensions if the business runs in to difficulties and enters administration.

It came as official figures revealed pension funds have plummeted almost 25billion further into the red.

Falling bond yields piled pressure onto defined benefit pension schemes, which are meant to guarantee a solid income when members retire.

It means the 5,945 large schemes watched by the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) had a combined deficit of 294.6billion at the end of May  24.4billion higher than a month earlier.

Today, 4,864 of the schemes watched by the PPF are in deficit, but PPF bosses insist their scheme is robust and has reserves of 3.6billion.

But the figures highlight the extent of Britains pension crisis after fears for failed retailer BHS, which has a 571million black hole.

And they come as a separate study reveals some of Britains biggest companies are paying shareholders a dividend bonanza despite huge deficits of their own.

The Pensions Regulator has issued a similar warning in the past. Andrew Warwick-Thompson, executive director of regulatory policy, said: It is important that employers treat their pension scheme fairly.

'We expect trustees to question employers dividend policies where debt recovery contributions are constrained.

Experts have warned Britain faces a looming pension crisis.

Huge deficits mean around 600 pension funds are certain to collapse in the next decade, according to the Pensions Institute at Cass Business School. It says another 400 are also at risk.
Major banks are locking savers into accounts that pay less than 1 per cent if they fail to move their money when their old deal ends.

When a fixed-rate bond expires, many banks and building societies automatically move your cash into the newest version of the same account - unless you tell them to move it somewhere else. But these accounts pay as little as 0.7 per cent for one year or 0.9 per cent for two years.

The roll-over tactic, which has been slammed by watchdogs, is costing savers as rates have plummeted.

Lock-up: When a fixed-rate bond expires, many banks and building societies automatically move your cash into the newest version of the same account - unless you tell them to move it elsewhere

Deals on one-year fixed accounts have fallen 38 per cent from 1.51 per cent to just 0.94 per cent in the past year, according to Bank of England figures.

Two-year rates are down 29 per cent at 1.15 per cent compared with 1.61 per cent 24 months ago.

Customers who thought they had signed up for a decent deal are finding their money is being ploughed into an account paying a more meagre return.

And once your money has moved in, you have between just 14 and 30 days to get it out before it is stuck there for the full term. Otherwise youre charged a hefty penalty to withdraw it.

The details of what happens at the end of your fixed-rate term are often hidden in small print.

Big providers that auto-renew your deal include Barclays, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and National Savings & Investments (NS&I).

NatWest and RBS customers with a one or two-year fix due to expire will end up in an account paying a miserly 0.7 per cent fixed for one year or 0.9 per cent for two years.

You have 30 days to get out without paying a penalty - after that you are charged a fee equivalent to 90 days interest.

You can more than double your money in the top deal from Charter Savings Bank.

Customers with NS&I may end up with 0.9 per cent for two years in its fixed-rate certificates. If you reinvest in the five-year deal, you will earn just 1.6 per cent a year.

These certificates were withdrawn from sale in 2010, but if you already hold them, you can roll them over for another term.

These were once the bedrock of any savings plan because you were automatically exempt from paying any tax on the interest.

But since the cash Isa allowance has shot up - and the arrival of the personal savings allowance - they could have lost their appeal to some savers.

Justin Modray, from financial website Candid Money, says: Savers need to reassess whether NS&I Fixed-Rate Certificates are still a good deal in the light of the personal savings allowance and a higher cash Isa allowance.

They could get a better deal without paying tax elsewhere.

Barclays also rolls you over into a new bond. If you do not want it, you must tell the bank before your current bond matures.

Once in the bond you have just 14 days to get out. Barclays currently pays 1 per cent for one year.

Among the largest building societies, Skipton, West Bromwich and Coventry also put your money into a new bond unless you tell them not to.

Skipton and West Bromwich pay 1.15 per cent for one year and 1.25 per cent for two years. Coventry offers 1.5 per cent for two years.

This practice of rolling your money into another fixed deal is under review by city watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority and could be banned.

It is part of its investigation into the cash savings market where, it says, competition does not work well for many consumers.
A British mother who claims she had a baby by her Maasai warrior husbands teenage son is a fantasist, the boy and his father have told MailOnline.

Rebekah O'Brien revealed her week-old baby Kito belongs to her 19-year-old stepson Lawrence Sanare after she had separated from his cattle farmer father in Kenya.

Rebekahs bizarre story began four years ago when she worked as a theatre volunteer and met Lawrences father Rempesa Ole Kirkoya when he performed with his dance troupe in Norwich.

Paternity: Rebekah O'Brien claimed that her stepson Lawrence Sanare, (left) is the father of her baby son, Kito. Lawrence is her former husband, Maasai warrior Rempesa Ole Kirkoya (right)

'Fantasy': Rebekah, 26, from Canterbury, in Kent, cradles one-week-old Kito (pictured), whom she insisted in the son of the teenager following a relationship after she separated from his father

Denial: Rebekah claimed she and Lawrence Sanare (pictured) had a relationship after she separated from her Maasai warrior husband. But the teenager denied he is Kito's father

Curse: The family are outraged by the claim and Rempesa, 40, pictured with Rebekah, said he wishes he had never met the theatre volunteer as she has been a 'curse' on his family and livelihood

She moved to Kenya and to live with Rempesa, 40, and his first wife, Joyce.

Rebekah, from Canterbury, in Kent, cradled newborn Kito last week and gushed about how the little boy is the result of an intense sexual relationship with Lawrence.

She spoke of her idyllic life in Kenya with the spiritual Maasai tribe.

But Lawrence claims the mother-of-one is telling a web of lies about time in the east African country.

In an exclusive MailOnline interview Lawrence insisted he has never slept with Rebekah and denied that he is her baby's father.

He said his close-knit family was happy before Rebekah moved in to become his fathers second wife - and that she brought with her nothing but trouble.

Lawrence said she would have tantrums and threaten to self-harm if Rempesa did not do as she said.

Speaking from his home, a tin hut in Kimuka village in Ngong district, on the outskirts of Nairobi, Lawrence said: She is lying. I am not the babys father because we didnt have sex.

'I hate her now for what she has said. I am so mad because it is not true. It is embarrassing for me and my family.

She has brought shame on our community. Maybe she is saying it to get money. When I saw the story online I called her and told her she was lying. She just hung up.'

A friend of Lawrence also revealed he slept with Rebekah several times in August - and that she asked him to be in a relationship after discovering she was pregnant.

Love: Rebekah cradled newborn Kito last week and gushed about how the little boy is the result of a sexual relationship with Lawrence. She also told of her idyllic life in Kenya with husband Rempesa and first wife Joyce

Fling: Rebekah's love affair with Kenya began in October 2012 when she volunteered as a steward at the Norwich theatre, where Rempesa and his Osiligi warrior troupe performed their songs and dances

Denials: Seen here in his home in Kisame village, Rempesa, who moved Rebekah into his tin hut on the outskirts of Nairobi, says it is not true that his son fathered her baby son

False: But Lawrence claims the mother-of-one is fantasising about her time in the east African country. He told MailOnline that he cannot be the baby's father because he and Rebekah did not have sex

Deceit: Lawrence said he was just trying to be nice to Rebekah after her relationship with his father broke down. Most importantly, he insists she never made a move on him - and they never slept together

Rebekah's love affair with Kenya began in October 2012 when she volunteered as a steward at the Norwich theatre, where Rempesa and his Osiligi warrior troupe performed their songs and dances.

She claims she fell for him almost instantly, but the villagers tell a different tale.

They say she was actually engaged to another man, a relative of her host, on her first, nine-week trip. It was short lived, and she ended it because 'he was asking for money'.

I saw her as a mother. I hate her now for what she has said. I am so mad because it is not true. She has brought shame on our community. Lawrence Sanare

It was only when she returned to the UK that Rebekah began speaking to Rempesa on the phone and, even though he spoke no English and she no Swahili, they grew close.

Almost a year later, in September 2013 Rempesa returned to the UK for another three-month tour and Rebekah ended up in his hotel room.

Three months later, she returned to Kenya, this time to stay at Rempesa's home with his first wife Joyce and children.

Rebekah says she arrived to a happy and harmonious home and that Joyce even met her at the airport.

'We drove back and she kept playing the Backstreet Boys in the car so we could sing along to make me feel at home,' she recalled. 'She said the song was all about love and thats what we shared.'

However, Rebekah's rose-tinted version of the story, in which Joyce was happy to play second fiddle to her, is far from the truth, say the family.

Secrets: Rempesa revealed to MailOnline he didn't think of his relationship with the 26-year-old as anything more than a fling, and so didn't tell his wife Joyce, mother to his five children, what was going on

Rempesa called Rebekah a curse and said he wishes he never met her. He told MailOnline it hadn't even occurred to him that they would get married

Demands: But when Rebekah arrived in Kenya, it became clear she wanted more than a short-term relationship. When Rempesa went to work or go out with Joyce, she threw tantrums

Tantrums: Lawrence recalls how she would get angry if his father tried to leave the house without her. He said: 'We would tell her to stop and she would shout back at us. We used to think she was crazy'

Rempesa called Rebekah a curse and said he wishes he never met her.

He told MailOnline it hadn't even occurred to him that they would get married, and his wife, the mother of his five children, had no idea that was what was going on.

The father-of-five said hes been dropped by the Osiligi troupe because Rebekah created problems for him and that Joyce, who took an overdose while Rebekah was living there.

Rempesa said Rebekah demanded half of his money and did not want him buying presents for his four young daughters and son, Lawrence.

'She was not my wife because I hadn't taken a dowry to her parent's place, said Rempesa. In my tribe, you can have five or six wives and it's easy to manage. But we kept it as a secret because I never thought I wanted to get married to her.

But the family soon learned Rebekah wanted to be more than a house guest: when Rempesa went to work or go out with Joyce, she threw tantrums.

'We would tell her to stop and she would shout back at us,' Lawrence revealed. 'We used to think she was crazy.

'She would threaten him saying, "if you leave I will hurt myself". She didn't want my father living here with anyone else.'

Tragedy: While Rebekah was living with the family, Rempesa's first wife Joyce died from an overdose and he ended the relationship with Rebekah. But when Rebekah discovered she was pregnant, they got back together

Devastated: Rebekah's baby tragically died atsix weeks and the relationship crumbled for good. Rebekah then began talking to Rempesa's son, Lawrence (pictured together)

Contradictions: She claimed they began dating when she returned to Kenya, but Lawrence told MailOnline Rebekah is telling untruths and that he only ever saw her as a friend and mother figure

Joyce's death not long after Rebekah's arrival proved to be the final straw for Rempesa.

'I was heartbroken and I decided I didn't want anything to do with a woman or get married, I just wanted to take care of my kids,' he said.

But when Rebekah discovered she was pregnant in May 2014, he took his role as father seriously and he spoke of marriage.

Rebekah returned to the UK to give birth but their baby, named Arya Nalang'u, meaning 'someone important' in Maasai, tragically died at six weeks.

Her death prompted Rempesa to cut all ties with Rebakah.

He said: 'If the baby lived, Rebekah would be my wife. We had discussed her coming back to Kenya. In our community we love children and when the baby died I was very upset. But I didn't miss Rebekah. I deleted her number and didn't want any communication.'

However, it seems Rebekah was not willing to give up on her African dream.

She remained in contact with Lawrence, who was vulnerable after his mother's death.

Rejected: Villagers also cast doubt on her story, saying it is against Maasai culture for a son to sleep with his stepmother and Lawrence never would have dared do such a thing

Shock: 'I don't believe it. In Maasai culture I have never seen anything like it, it is impossible to sleep where your father slept,' said Rempesa (pictured)

Broken trust: Lawrence told MailOnline: 'I hate her now for what she has said. I am so mad because it is not true. It is embarrassing for me and my family'

Her stepson revealed how he was depressed and had dropped out of school, and Rebekah offered to help him financially.

She returned to Kenya last year, Lawrence arranged for Rebekah to stay with his friends, and the two began to work on music videos together.

Anger: An Osiligi dance troupe organiser said Rebekah caused 'upset' in the community

It was then that Rebekah met Lawrence's musician friend, who claims he slept with her.

'She stayed at my house for a week and we slept together about five or six times. I made a pass at her and we ended up in bed,' the friend said.

'But she became intense. In September she wrote on Facebook telling me she was pregnant. I was worried I was the father. She wanted to get serious with me.

'She asked me to settle down with her and the baby. I told her I wasn't interested and we argued.'

The musician doesn't know who Ktio's father is but, like all the other villagers, cannot believe it would be Lawrence.

'Lawrence is a village boy,' he told MailOnline.

'I don't think that would happen. He described her as a stepmother. She treated him like a son.'

Remepesa is equally convinced.

'I don't believe it. In Maasai culture I have never seen anything like it, it is impossible to sleep somewhere where your father slept.

'I don't understand why she would say something like this and why she would bring this problem to my boma [house].'

Others in the community are also appalled by the allegation.

Village elder George Kailel, 65, said: 'As Maasai, as a culture, the biggest thing is respect. This is the first time I have seen something like this, it has never been seen in history.'

Damaged: An organiser from the Osiligi dance troupe, of which Rempesa was a member, said: 'She was warned and warned and warned not to get involved but she wouldn't have it'

Broken: The organiser added Rebekah has damaged relations between the two countries. Rempesa said the drama has cost him his position in the dancing troupe

Reputation: 'It makes it seem that the Maasai community allows that and it damns us. It's unfair. We have a reputation out here we want to keep. What she has done is so damaging to the Maasai,' added the organiser

Lawrence also denied he is the father and said photographs she claims shows their burgeoning relationship are misleading.

'She would ask me to have photos taken with her. She never made advances. We spoke as friends,' he said.

What Rebekah has done now is causing more stress. She has dirtied my name. I thought my life would be better with her but it is now in tatters. Rempesa Ole Kirkoya

'I saw her as a mother. She called me when she was in hospital with Kito and said I was going to have a brother now because I only have sisters.'

One of the coordinators of the Osiligi dance troupe said Rebekah had caused 'tremendous upset' in the community and damaged relations between the UK organisers and the Kenyans.

'It makes it seem that the Maasai community allows that and it damns us. It's unfair. We have a reputation out here we want to keep. What she has done is so damaging to the Maasai.

'She was warned and warned and warned not to get involved but she wouldn't have it,' the organiser said.

Meanwhile Rempesa said the drama caused by Rebekah over the years has cost him his position in the dancing troupe, leaving him unable to pay his children's school fees.

Nothing: Rempesa added: 'What Rebekah has done now is causing more stress. She has dirtied my name. I thought my life would be better with her but it is now in tatters'

His four daughters, aged six to 14, are now living with a relative who is paying their school fees, while he and Lawrence left the family home and have moved in with other family members.

'What Rebekah has done now is causing more stress. She has dirtied my name. I thought my life would be better with her but it is now in tatters.
A 24-year-old investment banking analyst who worked at Goldman Sachs died shortly after completing a triathlon over the weekend.

Samuel Fisher, a Harvard University graduate, collapsed after he received a medal for competing in the KIC IT Triathlon in Stamford, Connecticut on Sunday morning.

An autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of Fishers death, which is being investigated by police.

Samuel Fisher, 24, collapsed and died shortly after he completed a triathlon event in Stamford, Connecticut

Paramedics were on scene and began working on Fisher as soon as he collapsed but were unable to revive him, the Stamford Advocate reported.

'They really worked on him very hard,' police Lt Diedrich Hohn told the newspaper. 'I went up there and they did everything they possibly could do for this poor kid. They used electric shock, CPR and medicines. Unfortunately, it was his time.'

Fisher, who was competing with colleagues from his New York office as a team-building exercise, was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Hohn said Fisher swam nearly a mile before he took a 90-minute rest and waited for his colleagues to complete the bike ride.

He completed the 3.2-mile run even though he wasn't supposed to and finished the race with no apparent problems, the newspaper reported.

Athletes can participate in the race as an individual or as part of a relay team.

Goldman Sachs said in a statement it was deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague Samuel Fisher

Fisher collapsed and did not regain consciousness after changing his clothes and receiving his participation medal.

'We have started an investigation. We want to see if it is a medical episode, or it was secondary drowning type thing,' said Hohn.

He said someone who inhales too much water could have a life-threatening episode up to two hours later, although such an occurrence is rare.

Fisher grew up in the Boston suburb of Newton, Massachusetts, and was a recent graduate of Harvard.

When he was at Harvard he was president of the undergraduate steering committee of Harvard Hillel, a center for Jewish students.

'We are reeling and deeply grieving at the news of the sudden passing away of Sam Fisher '15,' said a statement on Harvard Hillel's website.

'Sam's election as President of our Undergraduate Steering Committee at Harvard Hillel was just one indication of the great admiration and affection for him in our community, and of the degree to which he helped to make Harvard Hillel warm and welcoming for others.'

After graduating from Harvard, Fisher moved to New York City and began working for Goldman Sachs last July.

The company said in a statement it was deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague Samuel Fisher.

First held six years ago, the triathlon raises funds and awareness for Kids in Crisis, the states only free, around-the-clock crisis counseling center and emergency shelter for children up to 17.
bags in the trunk of a car

Pictures show piles of U.S. cash in

Along with having U.S. dollars, there were

Police then found wads of cash and expensive watches at the monastery

Lopez was initially arrested for having a .22 caliber rifle

He was caught allegedly hiding more than $7 million in a

A former Argentinian government official was arrested as he allegedly tried to hide millions in dollars and other currencies at a monastery on Tuesday.

A neighbor of the monastery called authorities after seeing a man throwing bags onto the property near Buenos Aires early Tuesday.

Officers arrived and arrested a man who turned out to be former public works secretary Jose Lopez.

Police initially detained him for possession of a .22 caliber rifle.

Former Argentina public works secretary Jose Lopez was arrested for allegedly trying to hide millions of dollars (pictured) in a monastery

It is believed Lopez was hiding more than $7 million (pictured) and other foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, yen, Euros and Qatari Rial

They then discovered wads of cash as well as the watches in more than 160 packages inside the bags.

Other money had been taken to the monastery kitchen and some was found in the trunk of a car.

Security Minister Cristian Ritondo of Buenos Aires Province told a news conference that Lopez was 'in a state of shock' when he was arrested and alleged that he tried to bribe police.

'He later told the nuns that police had tried to steal the money that he was trying to donate,' Ritondo said.

'There are dollars, yen, euros and a currency from Qatar... It's a lot of money.'

Police initially detained him for possession of a .22 caliber rifle before discovering wads of cash and watches

Lopez (pictured, center) is escort by police outside the police station in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Lopez was arrested after allegedly trying to hide millions in cash and jewels in a monastery, captivating Argentina in what the cabinet chief said seems more like the plot of a Hollywood movie

He did not give an exact amount because the money was still being counted.

Dario Kubar, the area's mayor, told reporters earlier Tuesday that authorities had found more than $7 million at the monastery that is home to nuns devoted to Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima.

The monastery is about 35 miles west of the capital, Buenos Aires.

Local TV stations showed images of the piles of cash, while the news became a trending topic on Twitter in Argentina.

'It's almost out of a movie,' said Marcos Pena, President Mauricio Macri's Cabinet chief.

'We're shocked because it's not a minor official... He led public works, which were so questioned, where we saw so much daily corruption.'

After being questioned at a police station in Buenos Aires, Lopez was seen under armed guard, wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest as he was led away from the station.

Since Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez ended her term in December, Macri's administration has promised to root out corruption that has plagued Argentina.

Analysts say that has emboldened judges who are now freer to pursue sensitive cases against the former leader and her friends without fear of retribution.

Cristina Fernandez has been included in investigations involving allegations of money laundering and possible illegal enrichment.

Lazaro Baez, a once seemingly untouchable friend of Cristina Fernandez and her husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner, was arrested earlier this year.

The millionaire businessman, who got public works contracts under both presidents, is accused of embezzling and laundering about $5 million.

Agustin Beltram, a journalist for Telenoche Argentina, looks at a monitor showing the view from his drone flying over a monastery blocked off by security in Buenos Aires

Prosecutors began looking into Baez after a 2013 journalistic investigation named him as Kirchner's figurehead in an elaborate scheme.

Prosecutors have also said they are looking into the financial transactions at several hotels owned by the Kirchner family in the southern province of Santa Cruz, where Cristina Fernandez has lived since leaving office.

'Our most energetic condemnation against the shameful actions of Jose Lopez,' opposition lawmaker Juan Manuel Abal Medina, who served as Cabinet chief under Cristina Fernandez, said on Twitter.

'Corruption is stealing from all, especially those who have the least.'
Colgate has been banned from using a misleading 'much' whiter claim about one of its toothpaste products.

Watchdogs banned the internet ad for Colgate Max White One Optic toothpaste following a complaint by rivals Procter & Gamble.

Colgate claimed the toothpaste had a 'statistically significant' immediate whitening effect - but the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the claim breached rules regarding exaggeration.

Colgate has been banned from using a misleading 'much' whiter claim about one of its toothpaste products. Watchdogs banned the internet ad for Colgate Max White One Optic toothpaste following a complaint by rivals Procter & Gamble

The brand said a study conducted on Max White One Optic found a 'statistically significant' immediate whitening benefit of the toothpaste when compared with a placebo.

Four points about claims for the toothpaste on Colgate's own website were investigated, one of which was upheld by the ASA.

The firm also provided results from a consumer research survey, in which 151 people used the product as their normal toothpaste for two weeks and who were then asked questions about the product.

They highlighted that 67 per cent of those surveyed were satisfied with its whitening ability while 58 per cent agreed that the product made their teeth visibly whiter.

But the ASA found the 'much whiter' claim breached rules regarding misleading advertising as well as substantiation and exaggeration.

An ASA spokesman said: 'We considered consumers would interpret the claims that using the product would result in 'instantly whiter' teeth to mean that their teeth would immediately appear noticeably whiter.

'We further considered that in the context in which it appeared the claim 'much whiter' would also be understood to relate to the product's instant whitening effect.

Colgate claimed the toothpaste had a 'statistically significant' immediate whitening effect - but the Advertising Standards Authority said the claim breached rules regarding exaggeration

'However, we considered that consumers would interpret the claim 'much whiter' as a stronger claim than the other claims - that teeth would appear very significantly whiter.

'Notwithstanding that we considered the evidence showed that the instant whitening effect would be noticeable to consumers, because the magnitude of the improvement in whiteness as measured by the indices was small we considered the claim 'much whiter' as it would be interpreted by consumers exaggerated the extent of the instant whitening effect.

'We concluded the claim 'much whiter' was therefore misleading.'

He added: 'The ad must not appear again in the form complained about.
She wrote in a diary that Simpson beat her even when they had

The second episode of the extraordinary new documentary OJ: Made in America takes a close look at the tragic romance of Simpson and Nicole Brown.

The episode features never-before-seen photos of the horrific abuse Nicole suffered, her terrified calls to 911 and entries from her diary detailing the beatings she would receive - even when she and Simpson were having sex.

And one of Nicole's closest friends claims during her interview that Simpson told Nicole he was having an affair with Tawny Kitaen because she got fat after giving birth.

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OJ: Made in America has revealed new diary pages from Nicole Brown Simpson, which show her writing that OJ Simpson beat her relentlessly, even during sex

The episode goes on to reveal an abusive relationship between the couple, as diary pages reveal Simpson 'beat' Nicole as she tried to escape his attacks

The episode opens with the couple in happier times at their 1985 wedding, which was held at their Rockingham home in Brentwood.

Footage even shows the emotional speech that Simpson delivered to his bride on their big day.

'Nicole came into my life at what, for any athlete, is a difficult time. It was at the end of my career, said Simpson.

'I was also going through a divorce at the time, and all my life I wanted to be a father, I never really thought about being a husband.

'And I thought I had given that up, the opportunity to watch my kids grow. And then you came into my life and you made this house a home, brought my kids in, your brought love into my house.

'I love you.'

The children he is speaking about were Arnelle and Jason from his first marriage to his wife Marguerite. The couple's other child, Aaren, died after drowning in the pool shortly before her second birthday.

'I certainly felt bedazzled by OJ and Nicole and their lifestyle, and I was very charmed by him,' said Robin Greer, a friend of the couple.

'But I always did sense that part of it was not sincere.'

The episode opens with the couple in happier times at their 1985 wedding, which was held at their Rockingham home

During an emotional speech given at their wedding, Simpson can be heard telling Nicole: 'And then you came into my life and you made this house a home, brought my kids in, your brought love into my house'

'Nicole came into my life at what, for any athlete, is a difficult time. It was at the end of my career,' Simpson can be heard saying during the wedding speech featured in the episode

She went on to say: 'He cornered me a couple of times and tried to make sexual, you know, advances, and i kind of pushed him off.

'I think OJ felt entitled to anything OJ wanted, and I think that he really needed that adulation from other women.'

Simpson's affairs with other women were frequent according to those who knew the couple, and now kept very secret.

'[Nicole] knew he had affairs and it drove her crazy. Most of their big fights were about his affairs with other women,' said Greer.

'He was pretty darn brazen. He blamed his affair with Tawny Kitaen on the fact that Nicole got fat when she was pregnant and he didn't want to have sex with her.

'I certainly felt bedazzled by OJ and Nicole and their lifestyle, and I was very charmed by him,' said Robin Greer, a friend of the couple

'Something as superficial and as cold as that.'

A friend of Simpson, Thomas McCollum III, said: 'He went out of his way to almost rub it in her face. We'd be in Las Vegas at a show and he'd be holding hands with another woman.

'I don't know how she put up with it.'

Then in 1989 on New Year's Day, Nicole called police to the house after a fight that started days earlier during a holiday trip to Hawaii turned violent.

'The 89 thing, the way I saw him act in Hawaii convinced me that there was something really, really wrong with him,' said McCollum.

'He freaked out when Nicole was sitting there with their little son next to a homosexual in a restaurant they were at.

'I mean he just freaked. And they fought all the way back. The next day I got a call that he freaked out on New Year's Eve and that he beat the hell out of her.'

Kris (left) and Robert Kardashian were close friends of the Simpsons and appeared in the video of their wedding

But a dark underside was looming in the relationship between Nicole and OJ Simpson and soon she was calling police during his violent outbursts

John Edwards of the Los Angeles Police Department was the officer who arrived that night, and he detailed the scene.

Nicole dialed 911, but was unable to speak to the operator at the time, with only screams being heard in the background at first.

'When you have a call come out and the 911 operator puts out on the call that she can hear the woman being beaten in the background, that's serious,' said Edwards.

'When I got there, I saw an electronic buzzer system so I pushed the button. Almost simultaneously a tall, female blonde came running out of the bushes.

'She's wearing nothing but a bra and sweatpants covered in mud and she kept yelling "he's going to kill me, he's going to kill me."

'When that gate opened she just ran up and put her arms around me and clasped on me. She was so wet and cold that you could feel her shivering to her bones.

'And i said, "well who's going to kill you?" And she said, "OJ."

'She said you guys have been up here eight times before, all you do is talk to him, you never do anything.

In 1989 on New Year's Day, Nicole called police to the house after a fight that started days earlier during a holiday trip to Hawaii turned violent

'The 89 thing, the way I saw him act in Hawaii convinced me that there was something really, really wrong with him,' a friend of Simpson, Thomas McCollum III, said

'Her face had already swollen - she actually had an imprint on one side of her face and her forehead - so I said, "do you want him arrested for beating you" and she said, "yes."

'About that time OJ Simpson came right up to the fence and he started yelling, "I don't want her in my bed anymore. I got two women. I don't want her in my bed anymore."

'I told him, "I'm placing you under arrest for beating your wife. You're going to have to go get dressed so I can take you to jail

'He turned around and went back in the house to get dressed.

'Suddenly, I saw a Bentley pull out the other driveway. I never found him.'

Simpson later said it was Nicole who attacked him and he was just trying to protect himself, but once the case became public he faced the very real possibility of losing all his endorsements.

'You want to know who called me to tell me it was a false arrest? Nicole,' said Frank Olson, the head of Hertz.

'Nicole calls me and said, "Frank, it didn't happen that way. We had a terrible argument but he wasn't abusive, I just overreacted."

After speaking with a detective about OJ's abusive behavior, Nicole later recanted, saying: 'It didn't happen that way. We had a terrible argument but he wasn't abusive, I just overreacted'

That company had been using Simpson for over a decade in one of the most successful advertising campaigns of all time.

'OJ was the income producer for the family,' said Olson.

'Not only just Nicole and OJ, but for Nicole's father, mother, sisters. He was the money man.

'I had always suspected that they had violent fights,' said Greer.

'The day of my wedding, I found out that Nicole and OJ would not be attending and he said it was because Nicole was having very bad cramps from her period.'

Greer said she later found out he had beaten her so badly she could not leave the house that day.

In one diary entry Nicole even writes with no explanation: 'Hit me while we f***ed.'

Once Nicole decided to leave Simpson she stared to date again, meeting restaurateur Keith Zlomsowitch.

The restaurateur met her in Aspen and soon they began to spend time together.

'Her and her friends came by [the restaurant] Mezzaluna one night and then, all the sudden, I see the Bentley come screeching up to the front of the door,' said Zlomsowitch.

Simpson later said it was Nicole who attacked him and he was just trying to protect himself, but once the case became public he faced the very real possibility of losing all his endorsements. Pictures later showed Nicole's bruised face from an attack

Greer said: 'The day of my wedding, I found out that Nicole and OJ would not be attending and he said it was because Nicole was having very bad cramps from her period.' It later turned out Nicole had been badly beaten and couldn't appear in public

'OJ walks in, comes straight over to our table, slams his hands down, looks me straight in the eye and says: "I'm OJ Simpson and she's still my wife."'

After that episode, Nicole began to open to him, he said.

'He would beat her and lock her in closets at hotels because she asked where he was at when he was out cheating on her.

'She was told how to look, how to wear her hair, told how to dress, told where to be, told what time to be there, how to be everything for OJ Simpson.'

Zlomsowitch said he was only able to stand up to Simpson because he was so love struck.

'There are two sides of OJ. The OJ that everybody sees on TV, that's not the OJ there was behind closed doors and certainly not with her, and she told me that,' said Zlomosowitch.

Nicole also told him: 'Don't ever be left alone with him because you don't know what he's capable of.'

Greer said he soon began to stalk Nicole, or have people follow her.

'He would plant people in our group that would call him and tell him where we're going every night,' said Greer.

'He would either show up or have a spy planted there at the club so they could watch her every move.'

One night, Nicole and Zlomsowitch saw him at the Roxbury, a popular Los Angeles club, and decided that they should just leave and go back to her house to avoid a scene.

Nicole could not escape the violence from her husband. In one diary entry Nicole even writes with no explanation: 'Hit me while we f***ed'

In one 911 call Nicole made to police she can be heard speaking to the operator while OJ could be heard in the background screaming

'We go inside and we became romantic. We're off in a private area in one of the living rooms, and the next day he came over and pushed in the back door and confronted both of us, but he wanted to talk to her alone,' said Zlomoswitch.

'She was trembling standing next to me, holding my hand shaking, and she said, "Keith, I think you need to leave me alone with him for a couple of minutes."

What followed was a loud fight and some nasty words, but that was not as shocking as what happened when Nicole came back out and OJ left.

'She was white as a ghost,' said Zlomsowitch.

'And she turned to me and said: "Oh my God Keith, he watched us."'

The couple got back together once again, but that all changed on October 25, 1993 after a violent episode between the pair.

Nicole called 911 and as her terrified voice speaks to the operator OJ could be heard in the background screaming: 'OJ worked his ass off for this family - for Keith?

'A drug addict, his girlfriend is a f***ing Heidi Fleiss girl. For Keith you let this s*** happen.

'Do you understand? Keith is a nothing, a skunk. And he still calls you!'

Nicole can then be heard sounding like she is trying to quiet Simpson down because the children are sleeping.

He then said to her: 'You didn't give a s** about the kids when you were s***ing his dick in the living room.

'They were here. Did you care about the kids then?'

Once Nicole decided to leave Simpson she stared to date again, meeting restaurateur Keith Zlomsowitch

She told friends soon after it was over for good, and her sister Tanya had high hopes for her future.

'I think for the first time in her life she just felt free,' said Tanya.

'Like she had just come into that sense of self that she was really ready to do life for her, and her kids.'

Nicole was murdered just months later.
A 20-year-old Indiana man who was found with guns and explosive chemicals in his car on the way to a California gay pride parade has been formally charged.

James Wesley Howell, who was ordered held on $2million bail, faces three felony counts of unlawful possession of an assault weapon, high capacity magazines, and explosives.

Howell told police he was headed to the pride festival in Santa Monica around 5am on Sunday, just hours after the Orlando massacre began. Authorities have said there is no apparent link.

James Wesley Howell (pictured left on Tuesday, right in mugshot) was found with guns and explosive chemicals in his car on the way to a California gay pride parade

Howell, who was ordered held on $2million bail, faces three felony counts of unlawful possession of an assault weapon, high capacity magazines, and explosives

There was increased LAPD presence at the event (pictured on Sunday), including undercover officers in the crowd. Howell's arrest came just hours after the Orlando shooting, but authorities said they were unrelated

Howell appeared at the Airport Courthouse in Los Angeles Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty.

In addition to the three felonies, he also faces a misdemeanor for the possession of a firearm in a car.

Officers responded to reports of a suspected prowler knocking on a window and found Howell sitting in his white Acura on Sunday morning, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks initially wrote on Twitter that Howell told officers he intended to inflict harm, but she later said that information was inaccurate.

Other than telling officers he was going to the pride festival, Howell did not clarify what his intentions were, Lietenant Saul Rodriguez said on Sunday.

Howell was found with a high-capacity assault rifle, two other loaded rifles, magazines, a Taser, buck knife, handcuffs and security badge in his car when he was arrested.

Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz said on Tuesday: 'I cannot in good conscience think of any reasonable reason that somebody would be traveling across the country with all of these things'

There was also a five-gallon container of gasoline in the white Acura, and a 25-gallon container of a commercially sold explosive that was two-thirds full, the LA Times reported.

The explosive Shoc-Shot is used as a firing target and consists of two components that are mixed together before it is used. The Shoc Shot found in Howell's car had already been combined.

Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney said gun enthusiasts don't mix Shoc Shot until it's ready to be used, as federal regulations require, and the amount that Howell had 'far exceeds any amount that would reasonably be used.'

The assault rifle in his car was also loaded with a 30-round magazine, which had another inverted 30-round magazine taped to it, according to police.

Howell recently drove from Indiana to Los Angeles because of pending charges against him in his home state, according to statements he made to police, and friends described him as a gun enthusiast with a short temper

Alone, each item found in Howell's car might not indicate anything sinister, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz said. But together, they 'just don't pass the common sense test'.

'I cannot in good conscience think of any reasonable reason that somebody would be traveling across the country with all of these things,' he said.

Howell recently drove from Indiana to Los Angeles because of pending charges against him in his home state, according to statements he made to police.

Friends in Indiana described Howell as a gun enthusiast with a short temper. In October, he twice was accused of pulling a gun and making threats, once against his then-boyfriend and once against a neighbor.

Howell was convicted in April of misdemeanor intimidation for the incident with his neighbor. Under the terms of his probation, Howell was not allowed to have weapons or leave Indiana.

Howell's attorney, Pamela Jones, told the judge there was no evidence Howell planned to detonate the chemicals.

She said a black hood found in his car was 'just a clothing item,' and nothing indicated Howell planned to use it as a mask, as police contended was a possibility.

Howell was convicted in April of misdemeanor intimidation for the incident with his neighbor. Under the terms of his probation, Howell was not allowed to have weapons or leave Indiana. (Pictured, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti)

On Tuesday, the sheriff's office in Clark County, Indiana, said Howell also is the subject of a sexual assault investigation. The alleged incident occurred May 31 (pictured, the FBI on June 12 in Los Angeles, California)

Authorities have said Howell is completely unrelated to the Orlando massacre which claimed the lives of 49 people and injured 53 more in what is now dubbed the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history

James Wedick, a former longtime FBI agent, said the manipulation of the gun magazines would allow someone to reload 30 rounds in less than 2 seconds.

'It doubles your killing capacity by 100 per cent,' he said. For a civilian to have a weapon rigged as such, 'it suggests his purposes are deadly'.

The FBI took the lead in the investigation and its probe continues, spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.

Federal agents searched Howell's Jeffersonville, Indiana, home Monday but declined to release any details.

On Tuesday, the sheriff's office in Clark County, Indiana, said Howell also is the subject of a sexual assault investigation. The alleged incident occurred May 31, about two weeks before Howell's arrest in California.

Howell can face a sentence up to nine years and four months if found guilty on all charges, the LA Times reported.
Winds of more than 90km/h and more than 100mm of rain is expected as the east coast braces for another low pressure system just two weeks after a superstorm left a trail of destruction.

This time around New South Wales's south coast will bear the brunt of the most severe weather from this event but Sydney and Brisbane will not be spared.

Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said inland areas of Australia's east would see significant rainfall during the week and over the weekend, but the most severe weather would happen when the system moves to the coast.

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New South Wales's south coast will bear the brunt of the most severe weather from this week's low pressure system but Sydney and Brisbane will not be spared

Winds of more than 90km/h and more than 100mm of rain is expected as the east coast braces for another low pressure system just two weeks after a superstorm left a trail of destruction and caused huge waves (above)

He said Sydney would experience wind gusts at speeds between 80km/h and 90km/h, and rainfall of more than 50mm was very likely on Sunday.

Mr Dutschke predicted the same amount of rain for Brisbane but winds would not impact the Queensland capital.

'On Monday once that system comes off to the coast it will intensify and cause the wind to strengthen. Anything south of that low near the coast will have the most intense rain,' Mr Dutschke told Daily Mail Australia.

'If we're talking in general terms it will be heavy rain then strong winds for most places.

A weather map show the rainfall forecast for Sunday when areas will see 100mm of rain on the east coast

A keen surfer was wiped out by a huge wave at Shark Beach in Vaucluse as the wild weather battered the state

A resident at Narrabeen is seen wading through flood waters after the suburb was battered with torrential rain

An enormous tree was uprooted on Napier Street in Paddington on Sunday, completely crushing a small car parked on the street

'There's likely some places getting more than 100mm on the NSW South Coast and chances are that's the wettest area... I wouldn't rule out some areas to get 150mm.

'There's [also] potential for wind damage, I wouldn't rule out speeds exceeding 90km/h.'

A repeat of Sydney's last weather event two weeks ago that took chunks out of the northern beaches was unlikely.

Mr Dutschke said the waves caused by this low pressure system would be big for only a short time and there would only be two peaks - one on Sunday night and another a couple of days later.

Melbourne will escape relatively unscathed from the wild weather but parts of Victoria and Tasmania will be affected.

Leading up to the weekend, a small low and trough will move from southern Western Australia to eastern New South Wales and Victoria, causing patches of rain.

An intense upper cold pool, or an upper trough, will enhance the surface trough over northern NSW, southern and central Queensland, and south-eastern Northern Territory on Friday and Saturday.

This will cause areas of rain to become more widespread and heavier.

NATIONAL SEVEN-DAY FORECAST Sydney Melbourne Brisbane Canberra Adelaide Perth Hobart Darwin Wednesday 20C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain 16C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain 23C, possible shower, 1-5mm rain 15C, frost then sunny, <11mm rain 20C, cloud increasing, 1-5mm rain 20C, cloudy, <1mm rain 14C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain 34C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain Thursday 21C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain 14C, rain developing, 1-5mm rain 22C, possible shower, 1-5mm rain 15C, frost then sunny, 1-5mm rain 16C, rain, 5-10mm rain 20C, mostly cloudy, <1mm rain 15C, late shower, 1-5mm rain 33C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain Friday 21C, possible shower, <1-5mm rain 16C, showers, 1-5mm rain 24C, possible shower, 1-5mm 15C, showers, 1-5mm rain 16C, possible shower, 1-5mm rain 19C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain 13C, clearing shower, <1mm rain 33C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain Saturday 20C, showers, 10-20mm rain 14C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain 25C, late shower, 5-10mm rain 15C, possible shower, 5-10mm rain 15C, possible shower, <1mm rain 20C, sunny, 1-5mm rain 13C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain 33C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain Sunday 20C, showers, 20-40mm rain 14C, late shower, 5-10mm rain 20C, rain, 20-40mm rain 15C, showers, 20-40mm rain 16C, mostly cloudy, <1mm rain 21C, showers, 10-20mm rain 13C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain 33C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain Monday 20C, showers easing, 1-5mm rain 15C, possible shower, 1-5mm rain 22C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain 15C, shower, 1-5mm rain 15C, mostly sunny, 1-5mm rain 19C, possible shower, 10-20mm rain 13C, late shower, 10-20mm rain 33C, mostly sunny, <1mm rain Tuesday 19C, possible shower, <1mm rain 15C, possible shower, 1-5mm rain 21, mostly sunny, <1mm 14C, possible showers, 1-5mm rain 17C, possible shower, 5-10mm rain 19, possible shower, 1-5mm rain 13C, possible shower, 1-5mm rain 33C, sunny, <1mm rain

Huge waves batter the clifftops at Vaucluse in Sydney's east

A digger starts the clean up at Collaroy where parts of the coastline were swallowed by the sea

The Beach Club at Collaroy Beach had to be demolished due to structural damage

Farmers across these areas should see widespread 20-50mm, with isolated falls near 100mm, according to Weatherzone.

'On Sunday, a low pressure system will form within the deepening trough over land as rain moves from central Australia towards the coast,' meteorologist Rob Sharpe said.

'This is a similar pattern to what occurred during the previous event. Rain will intensify, with flooding a risk in areas where heavy rain fell in the earlier event.

'When the inland low pressure system reaches the coast on about Monday, we are likely to see the most severe weather from this event.

'There is considerable uncertainty as to which areas will be worst affected, but early indications are that the NSW south coast could bear the brunt.'

Mr Sharpe said the main difference between the coming system and the previous one was the high sitting over New Zealand would be much weaker.

'The slacker pressure pattern will allow the low pressure trough to move off the coast more quickly on Sunday night into Monday, bringing clearing,' he said.
Senior Tory Cabinet ministers today publish six pieces of legislation they would pass to restore Britain's border controls and end the supremacy of EU law in the event of a Brexit.

In an audacious challenge to the Prime Minister, Michael Gove, Chris Grayling and Boris Johnson set out what is effectively a manifesto for a 'government in waiting'.

They pledge that the new laws would be in place by the next General Election in 2020.

In an attempt to take charge of what would happen if the UK votes out on June 23, the leading Conservatives also say that Labour MPs and senior figures from the world of business and law should be involved in thrashing out a new deal with Brussels.

In an audacious challenge to the Prime Minister, Michael Gove (pictured left), Chris Grayling (right) and Boris Johnson set out what is effectively a manifesto for a 'government in waiting' in the event Britain leaving the EU

SENIOR TORY MINISTERS' BLUEPRINT FOR AN INDEPENDENT BRITAIN Finance Bill: This would abolish the 5 per cent rate of VAT on household energy bills. Paid for by savings from the UKs contributions to the EU budget. National Health Service (Funding Target) Bill: Requirement that by the next general election, the NHS receives a 100million per week real-terms cash transfusion on top of current plans. Paid for by savings from the UKs contributions to EU budget. Asylum and Immigration Control Bill: Ends the automatic right of all EU citizens to enter the UK by the next election. Criminals refused entry and a non-discriminatory Australian points-based system, based on skills, introduced for those wishing to enter from inside and outside the EU. European Union Law (Emergency Provisions) Bill: This would end the European Court of Justices control over national security, allow ministers to remove EU citizens whose presence is not conducive to the public good  including terrorists and serious criminals  and end the growing use of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights to overrule UK law. Free Trade Bill: The UK would leave the EUs common commercial policy. That would restore the UK Governments power to set its own trade policy. UK would take back seat on the World Trade Organization. European Communities Act 1972 (Repeal) Bill: Ensures the European Communities Act 1972  the legal basis for supremacy of EU law  is repealed. EU Treaties will cease to form part of UK law and European Courts jurisdiction will end. UK would cease to contribute to the EU budget. EU law to be transferred into domestic law with Parliament choosing what to keep, remove or amend. Advertisement

The most striking proposal is for a new Asylum and Immigration Control Bill that would end the automatic right of all EU citizens to enter the UK by the next election. There would also be a new 'non-discriminatory' points-based immigration system to ensure that people entering the UK had skills the economy needed. The European Court of Justice would be stripped of all control over asylum policy.

In the current session of Parliament, a European Union Law (Emergency Provisions) Bill would be rushed in to end the rogue European Court of Justice's control over national security, allow the Government to remove EU.

Pro-Brexit ministers said there would also be a special Finance Bill that would abolish the 5 per cent rate of VAT on household energy bills. A National Health Service (Funding Target) Bill would require that by 2020, the NHS receives a 100 million-a-week real-terms cash transfusion over and above current plans. Vote Leave said this will be paid for by savings from the UK's contributions to the EU budget and other savings from leaving  a claim fiercely contested by the Remain camp.

A Free Trade Bill would require that by the next election, the UK leaves the EU's 'common commercial policy'.

They pledge that the new laws would be in place by the next General Election in 2020. Pictured: Boris Johnson

Finally, and significantly, a European Communities Act 1972 (Repeal) Bill would scrap the legal basis for the supremacy of EU law in the UK. The European Court's jurisdiction over the UK will come to a permanent end, and we would stop making contributions to the EU budget.

Mr Grayling, Leader of the House of Commons, said: 'After we Vote Leave the public need to see that there is immediate action to take back control from the EU. We will need a carefully managed negotiation process and some major legislative changes before 2020. A vote to leave on June 23 is a vote for action, and the Government will need to respond quickly.'

Employment minister Priti Patel said the Government would have 'options and choices' after Brexit, with 'more than enough money' to go around.

Britain Stronger in Europe said the Leave campaign had made 24 spending commitments totalling more than 113 billion.
Hillary Clinton creamed Bernie Sanders in the Washington, D.C. primary, with the race being called for the presumptive Democratic nominee less than an hour after polls closed.

Once 100 percent of the votes were counted, the former secretary of state had bested the Vermont senator 79 percent to 21 percent  that's a 58 point margin.

The quick win for Clinton was expected, as the capital city's demographics are ripe for her to win big.

Clinton soon sent out a tweet thanking supporters: 'We just won Washington, D.C.! Grateful to everyone who voted.'

The D.C. primary was Sanders' last chance to pick up a fresh victory, while Clinton has already been heralded as the presumptive Democratic nominee after winning the popular vote in the party primary and a majority of pledged delegates last Tuesday.

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It's finally over: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were on the ballot together one last time today, as Democrats in Washington, D.C. make their presidential pick

Hillary Clinton sent out a victory tweet shortly after the Washington, D.C. race was called for the former secretary of state who was expecting a win in tonight's capital city primary

President Obama formally endorsed her in a video released last Thursday after taking a meeting with Sanders at the White House.

Sanders, so far, has refused to quit the race.

He will not concede to Clinton tonight, his campaign said earlier today, even though there's no plausible path to the Democratic nomination.

'It was made very clear today he definitely doesn't have the c-word in his vocabulary,' a senior campaign aide told DailyMail.com.

Instead, Sanders will talk to his supporters via livestream on Thursday night to address 'what's next for our campaign.'

'He definitely will not be dropping out tonight,' the aide told DailyMail.com. 'And when he does finally give a 'speech' it won't be what folks are expecting.'

Sanders had no campaign events on his calendar today, aside from tonight's meeting with Clinton.

Both Democrats arrived at the Capital Hilton in downtown D.C. as the results of the primary were being announced.

Sanders also showed his face this afternoon, giving a brief press conference.

Outside his D.C. campaign headquarters, he doubled down on his plans to stay in, though didn't articulate them directly.

'Let me be as clear as I can be,' Sanders said. 'That I think the time is long overdue for a fundamental transformation of the Democratic Party.'

Sanders said he wanted to open up the party to working people and younger people, two constituencies that often voted for him.

Sen. Bernie Sanders competed in the Democrats' last primary today in Washington, D.C., though didn't have a rally scheduled with supporters tonight

While D.C. voters headed to the polls today, Hillary Clinton was paying to the general electorate by speaking in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a blue state of late that Donald Trump could turn red

Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders talked to reporters today (pictured) and met with his Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill before tonight's meeting with Hillary Clinton

Bernie Sanders brought up a number of issues he had with the Democratic Party today during a brief press conference. He later reiterated those points on Twitter

He also said he wanted to rid the party of superdelegates, the party insiders who also get to cast a vote at the Democratic National Convention.

Sanders has complained about the 400 or so superdelegates who were already pledged to Clinton before he even started his underdog campaign.

He also said he's like to see fresh blood at the top of the Democratic National Committee. Sanders had previously backed the primary challenger of DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Later on, he tweeted about both of these issues.

Following the lead of Clinton and President Barack Obama, Sanders also swatted at Donald Trump today.

'We know that one hateful person committed this terrible crime, not an entire people, or an entire religion,' Sanders began, speaking of Sunday's massacre in Orlando.

'The Muslim people did not commit this horrific act, a man named Omar Mateen did,' he added.

'To blame an entire religion for the acts of a single individual is nothing less than bigotry, and that is not what this country is supposed to be about,' Sanders stated.

He made a couple more statements before directly linking that bigotry to the presumptive Republican nominee.

'Our goal must not be to allow politicians, Donald Trump or anyone else, to divide us up based on where our family came from, the color of our skin or our religion,' Sanders said.

Bernie Sanders briefly talked to the press today. He hit Donald Trump and he also talked about the changes he would like to see in the Democratic Party

The Vermont senator said he's like to see the Democratic party open its door to working people and young people - two groups that often vote for Bernie Sanders - and he'd like to see new leadership at the top

Bernie Sanders went after Donald Trump in his brief remarks today, saying that Muslims - as a religion - are not responsible for the horrific Orlando terror attack

Campaign sources tell Dailymail.com that Bernie Sanders will not be dropping out tonight - even if he loses the Democratic primary in Washington, D.C.

Besides his chat with reporters, Sanders met with his Senate Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill today.

'He mentioned he has every intention of being involved in the platform process and making sure his 2,000 delegates have the opportunity to have their voices heard,' Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., told USAToday, referring to Sanders' plans for the Democratic National Convention in July.

Sanders received a 'warm welcome, a friendly welcome,' as he returned to the Senate, Carper said, with some reporters on the Hill reporting that the Vermont senator received a standing ovation.

Tonight Sanders decided against holding another rally in Washington, D.C., like he held last week, and will meet with Clinton as the District's voting results pour in.

D.C. had 20 pledged delegates up for grabs, while Clinton was ahead by 375 in the latest count.

Altogether, when superdelegates  the party officials and other hand-picked Democrats who have a vote at the convention  are tossed into the mix, Clinton has a delegate lead of 907.

As of this morning Clinton had 2,784 delegates in her column, per the Associated Press, to Sanders' 1,877. Party rules say a candidate needs 2,383 delegates to win.

She's short 180 pledged delegates of winning the nomination in her own right via the popular vote, but is certain to make up the difference at the convention when the superdelegates officially have their say.

Tonight Bernie Sanders will not hold a rally, like he's done on practically every primary night. Instead he'll meet with his longtime rival Hillary Clinton, who became the Democrats' presumptive nominee last week

Sanders has said for months that he would take his candidacy all the way to the Democratic National Convention in late July.

He seemed to waiver last week on Thursday after meeting with Obama at the White House.

As he spoke to reporters outside the West Wing, Sanders said he'd compete through D.C.

His only mention of the convention was in the context of the platform and what he'd like to see in it.

'These are the issues that we will take to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia at the end of July,' he said, after rattling off a list of concerns on which he's based his campaign.

The Vermont lawmaker suggested in the statement that he could soon endorse Clinton as he said he looked forward to meeting with her 'in the near future to see how we can work together to defeat Donald Trump.'

That conversation began as tonight's race was being called for Clinton.

Her campaign confirmed the meet-up Monday night in a statement that said: 'Secretary Clinton and Senator Sanders agreed to meet when she called him last Tuesday night.

'She looks forward to the opportunity to discuss how they can advance their shared commitment to a progressive agenda, and work together to stop Donald Trump in the general election.'

NO CONCESSION: Bernie Sanders won't give into Clinton tonight his campaign says - even though there's no plausible way for him to win the nomination. He's seen here Monday in Burlington, Vermont

Monday Sanders stayed in his home town of Burlington as the country mourned the 49 people killed at a gay night club on Sunday morning. He attended a vigil for them there, as Clinton continued to campaign. She's seen here in Cleveland on Monday

Previewing their talk on Sunday, Sanders said, 'I simply want to get a sense of what kind of platform she will be supporting, whether she will be vigorous in standing up for working families and the middle class, moving aggressively on climate change, healthcare for all, making public colleges and universities tuition-free.'

'And after we have that kind of discussion and after we can determine whether or not we are going to have a strong and progressive platform, I will be able to make other decisions,' he said on Meet the Press.

The show's host, NBC's Chuck Todd, had asked Sanders whether he was still an 'active' candidate.

'Well, let me just say this, I am doing everything that I can and will continue to do everything that I can to make sure that Donald Trump does not become president of the United States,' the senator said.

Asked again, in the context of whether or not it's fair to say he is 'winding down' his campaign, Sanders gave a different, and perhaps telling answer as it pertains to his future plans.

'Well, no. What's fair is that what our campaign has always been about are addressing the many crises facing this country. And there are millions of people who want bold change in this country.'

'And what we have got to determine between now and the Democratic convention, and by the way Chuck, we're going to have well over 1,900 delegates at that convention, is what kind of platform and what kind of agenda there will be if Secretary Clinton gets elected, if she wins the election,' Sanders said.

Sanders' campaigning since last Thursday, when he held what is likely to be his final rally, in S.E. Washington, D.C., has mostly been through activity on his social media account

Monday Sanders stayed in his home town of Burlington as the country mourned the 49 people killed at a gay night club on Sunday morning. He attended a vigil for them there, as Clinton continued to campaign.

She called into several morning shows and delivered a speech on national security and gun control in Cleveland.

Her campaign did however cancel a fundraiser in Cincinnati and an appearance with President Obama in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which was supposed to take place on Wednesday.

The event has been indefinitely postponed. Clinton will give a national security speech in Virginia, instead, her campaign said today.

Both Democratic candidates meanwhile pushed their supporters to the polls today in the District of Columbia.

'Make our country work for everyone, not just a handful of billionaires. Let's bring it home. Washington, D.C.  go vote. #FeelTheBern,' Sanders said this morning in a tweet.

D.C. had already gone through a week long period of early voting.

'But if you haven't had a chance to vote yet, there's still time -- and Hillary is counting on all of us today!' said a reminder email to her supporters today.

Sanders' campaigning since last Thursday, when he held what is likely to be his final rally, in S.E. Washington, D.C., has mostly been through activity on his social media account.

'Reminding ordinary people that government can work for them and can speak with their voice is, I believe, the hope for America's future,' he said on Monday, the day before the D.C. primary.

Another recent tweet read: 'The question of our time is whether we will take on the enormous power of the billionaire class, or do we slide into political oligarchy,' he tweeted.

Sanders tweeted this Monday morning while he was in his home town of Burlington, Vermont, attending a vigil after the Orlando terrorist attack

And he sent this tweet out on Saturday, a day before he met with supporters advisers and told them he would take his campaign to convention

Back at home over the weekend in Burlington, Vermont, Sanders met with friends and top supporters and promised he would not end his campaign.

'We are going to take our campaign to the convention with the full understanding that we are very good at arithmetic and that we know, you know, who has the received the most votes up to now,' he said, according to the New York Times.

Yet Sanders also said he'd put his energy into 'transforming the Democratic Party.'

Clinton leads Sanders by 3.7 million votes. D.C.'s population is less than 700,000.

Sanders believes that he can make up ground in California when outstanding votes are counted.

He said last Thursday at the White House that the final accounting 'I suspect will show a much closer vote than the current vote tally.'
Retail guru and TV personality Mary Portas (pictured with her son Horatio) said restrictions on maternity leave were holding back too many women from having children

Mothers should be able to take as long as they want off work on maternity leave and be paid in full, the governments former High Street Tsar said yesterday.

Retail guru and TV personality Mary Portas said restrictions on maternity leave were holding back too many women from having children.

The self-proclaimed Queen of Shops said mothers should not even have to tell their employer when they will return to work.

But last night her radical solution to help empower women in the workplace attracted ridiculed from the business community.

One business leader said Ms Portas proposal for unlimited fully paid maternity leave would bankrupt most of British business.

A top economist said her plans would put off firms from hiring women of child-bearing age.

Speaking to an audience of business leaders at the annual Fortune Most Powerful Women International Summit, Ms Portas said: I genuinely believe we need to sort out maternity.

I think you should be paid fully. Ive just done it with two of our directors, Ive just paid them [in full], and you see the love that comes back.

They come in with a baby under their arm, breast-feeding, they hold meetings  you dont put a time-scale on this.

Ms Portas, who was made the governments shops tsar in 2011, added: I do think its the one biggest thing that stops women from taking that big leap and it shouldnt do, because the most important thing, that so many of us do, is have children.

I would absolutely say to businesses, pay them while theyre off, and then theyll have to work out how, and where, support gets given at home.

Her comments received short shrift from business leaders.

John Longworth, the former boss of the British Chambers of Commerce who served on the board of Asda, said: I imagine it would bankrupt most of British businesses if we do that.

It is not economically practical. If Ms Portas wants to eliminate huge swathes of the economy  particularly small and medium sized businesses she is going the right way about it.

Ruth Lea, a veteran economist, said: This would make employers a tad reluctant to take on women of child-bearing age.

If employers want to pay the full rate because then fine -to impose this in employers would be ultimately counterproductive.

The self-proclaimed Queen of Shops said mothers should not even have to tell their employer when they will return to work

Currently firms have to offer statutory maternity pay for 39 weeks.

Mothers must receive a minimum of 90 per cent of their average weekly earnings for the first six weeks.

For the remaining 33 weeks, they are entitled to a minimum of 139.58 or 90 per cent of weekly earnings  whichever is lower.

Ms Portas has three children, including two from her first marriage.

She came out as a lesbian in her forties when she met her long-term partner and now wife Melanie Rickey.

In 2012 they announced the birth of their son Horatio, who was conceived using IVF treatment.
Novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, 83, says she simply responds with a yes, thats fine when she disagrees with Robert, her husband of over 50 years

She has famously written a guide called How To Be The Perfect Wife.

And having been married for more than 50 years, novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford is a walking example of practising what she preaches.

Yesterday she shared the key to her successful marriage to Robert: she simply responds with a yes, thats fine when they disagree.

The best-selling author, 83, said of their union: Weve had our bumpy rides  hes very strong-willed. We argued more when we were younger, because Ive learnt its better to say, Yes, thats fine.

The author added: My goddaughter once said to me "How do you deal with men?"

'And I said, "Well, look, theyre not like women at all so the best thing is to say yes and then do your own thing." Im very acquiescent, I walk away but there are days when I could strangle him. But everybody who has been married a long time feels that.

The couple, who do not have children, live in an apartment in Manhattan, having sold their New York penthouse to actress Uma Thurman two years ago.

Mrs Bradford has written 30 bestselling novels at the rate of one a year and explained that her success is partly down to a supportive husband who was content with remaining childless and admits she may not have been such a prolific writer had she had offspring to raise.

Speaking to Hello! Magazine, she said: Its common knowledge that I had two miscarriages and never got pregnant again.

There was one moment when I thought, "Should we adopt?" but I was in my early 40s and we were very fussy.

She added: Ive always had a very optimistic nature, my glass is always half full, so I thought, "It hasnt happened but Ive got Bob."'

The couple married in 1963 and German-born Mr Bradford has adapted several of his wifes books into TV series and films, including To Be the Best and Voice of the Heart.

The Leeds-born author, who is regarded as the doyenne of womens fiction, spoke about how her husband championed her career even before she became a household name.

I never thought that [I was talented], until Bob said to somebody, "Barbara has a gift  she was born with it. What other kid do you know who sold a story, aged ten, and got paid?", she said.

Mrs Bradford has written 30 bestselling novels at the rate of one a year and explained that her success is partly down to a supportive husband who was content with remaining childless

Her first international blockbuster, A Woman Of Substance, sold 88 million copies and made her a multimillionaire but Mrs Bradford said she is determined to continue working.

People say "why do you still work?" and I reply, "Its actually none of your business." I dont know what Id do if I didnt work  Id get bored. It keeps my brain going and I enjoy it, she said.

The writer said she had found that after going through the menopause aged 43 she had found post-menopausal zest.

I have this energy, drive and ambition that most people dont have at my age. I dont want to offend anybody here but I find that Im more on a level intellectually with women who work because I think you have to be sharp and on your toes, she said.

Her first international blockbuster, A Woman Of Substance, sold 88 million copies and made her a multimillionaire but Mrs Bradford said she is determined to continue working (pictured receiving her Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2007)

The author, who boasts former Prime Ministers Sir John Major and Tony Blair among her friends, has just published her 31st novel and said she is still full of energy.

She said: Im probably the worlds greatest multi-tasker. I can do about six things at the same time. I make dinner, edit a book, answer the telephone, go and sit for ten minutes with Bob. Im very disciplined, very quick and always tell people to hurry up.
In the wake of the last week's Orlando tragedy firebrand politician Pauline Hanson has compared Muslim refugees to pit bull terriers.

The One Nation party leader has issued a bizarre social media response to the massacre, urging Australians to pressure the Turnbull Government to put a halt on Muslims migrating into the country.

Hanson wears a rose coloured blazer and stares point blank into the camera throughout the tirade, which has sparked furore on social media and been labelled 'bigoted' and 'disgusting'.

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Pauline Hanson has called for an end to Muslims entering Australia and likened refugees to pit bull terriers

'Let's have a serious chat about the latest terrorist attack that's happened in America,' Ms Hanson begins.

'We have laws here that we don't bring in pit bull terriers because they're a danger to our societyIf we know this is the case with terrorists radicalised by Islam and what it teaches, why does our government ignore that fact?'

She declares the need to 'take a strong stance' to ensure whoever enters Australia is compatible with the Australian laws and way of life.

'Pressure the government to say no more Muslims in Australia, no more Muslim refugees in Australia, take a strong stance to protect our security, our safety and our people.'

The comments echo that of US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who spoke out after the deadliest mass shooting in America history by vowing to ban Muslim immigration to the U.S.

The video has drawn over 500,000 views and 10,000 likes since being posted on Monday.

The video has divided social media with claims with widespread outrage as well as messages of shows of support

Her comments come in the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in America history (pictured: police direct family members away from a mass shooting in Orlando)

The One Nation leader is crusading to win back a Queensland Senate seat at the next Federal election

Her comments echo that of US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who vowed to ban Muslim immigration in the wake of the attack

The video has divided commenters with a many slamming her over her views but others pledging their support.

Ms Hanson is crusading to win back a Queensland Senate seat at the next Federal election.

The anti-immigration campaigner was controversially elected on a Liberal ticket in 1996, despite being disendorsed by the party prior to the election.
The Donald acknowledged the US Army's 241st birthday on social media

Trump had dinner with Melania and son Barron, 10, Monday night in New York

Tiffany also posted photo of her and her father in birthday post

Sons Eric and Donald Jr. used old photo including their mother Ivana

She wrote: 'I still learn from you daily and love you dearly'

Ivanka Trump posted an old photo in birthday tribute to her dad

Ivanka, Eric and Donald Trump Jr. celebrated their father's 70th birthday with tributes on social media Tuesday as the Republican presidential candidate rallied in North Carolina.

Posting an old photograph of herself with her father, Ivanka wrote on Instagram: 'Happy birthday to my amazing father and first mentor! I still learn from you daily and love you dearly.'

Trump's adult sons both shared an old family photo including their mother Ivana, while the 70-year-old acknowledged the US Army's 241st birthday instead.

Ivanka (above as a child with her father) wrote on Instagram: 'Happy birthday to my amazing father and first mentor! I still learn from you daily and love you dearly'

Eric and Donald Jr both posted a photo with their parents Donald and Ivana and sister Ivanka (above)

Eric and his wife Lara Trump (right), who works at CBS' Inside Edition, chimed in to celebrate the Donald's 70th birthday

Tiffany Trump, the Donald's daughter with second wife Marla Maples, was the last to chime in. She posted these childhood photos and wrote: 'Happy Birthday dad! I love you!'

Ivanka, who works as an executive for her father's Trump Organization overseeing global real estate development and acquisitions, credited her father as her mentor.

The 34-year-old mother of three has become a key figure in her father's presidential campaign, speaking out and defending Trump from accusations of sexism and misogyny.

Donald Trump Jr kept it short and sweet, posting an old family photograph featuring himself and his two siblings along with their parents..

Eric Trump used the same photograph and wrote on social media: 'Happy Birthday to my amazing father @realDonaldTrump. You have been a great dad, mentor & boss! Love you very much!!'

Eric's wife Lara Trump, who works as a producer at CBS' Inside Edition, also posted a tribute that read: '70 years ago a man was born who would change politics & the world forever #HappyBirthday @realDonaldTrump #BestYearYet'

Tiffany Trump, the Donald's daughter with second wife Marla Maples, was the last to chime in. She posted a childhood photo and wrote: 'Happy Birthday dad! I love you!'

On the eve of his 70th birthday, Donald Trump enjoyed a quiet night out for dinner with his wife, Melania, and youngest son, Barron, at Ralph Lauren's The Polo Bar in New York City.

Today, the presumptive Republican nominee rallied in Greesboro, North Carolina and posted a tribute to the US Army, which is celebrating its 241st year

On the eve of his 70th birthday, Donald Trump (left) enjoyed a quiet night out for dinner with his wife, Melania, and youngest son, Barron (right), at Ralph Lauren's The Polo Bar in New York City

On Tuesday the presumptive Republican nominee rallied in Greensboro, North Carolina and posted a tribute to the US Army, which is celebrating its 241st year.

Trump has been strongly criticized for his response to the Orlando nightclub shooting on Sunday morning.

His tweet, which began 'Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism,' caused an outcry from followers who said he was using the deaths of innocent Americans to score points and 'bask in congratulations.

On Trump's 70th birthday, a celebratory hashtag #LGBTQHatesTrumpParty began trending on Twitter.

But in India, a Hindu fringe group celebrated Trump's birthday complete with party hats and cake.

The far-right group Hindu Sena, or Hindu Army, called Trump the 'savior of humanity' who could end the global threat posed by Islamist militants.

They observed a minute's silence for the victims of last weekend's shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, before a large birthday cake was cut to shouts of 'Long Live Donald Trump'.

Should Trump clinch the election in November, he will overtake Ronald Reagan as the oldest president to be sworn into office.

Hillary Clinton, who will turn 69 in October, trails close behind in age.

The far-right group Hindu Sena, or Hindu Army, celebrated Trump's birthday in India, complete with party hats and cake
A ten-year-old-boy from Indiana has been killed after a branch fell from a tree, after it was struck by lightning, sending it crashing through the tent where his family were camping.

The youngster, Blaike P. Glassburn, from Mishawaka, was with his mom and two brothers at an Indiana Beach campground when things suddenly turned tragic on Tuesday morning

The incident happened as a thunderstorm passed through the area. The wild weather dislodged a loose portion of a tree, which saw it ending up on top of the tent below.

Killed: Blaike P. Glassburn, 10, died on Tuesday morning after a tree branch came crashing down on his tent

Mamma's boy: Blaike and his mom, Delmarie, were camping at Indiana Beach campgrounds when lightning struck a tree, sending a loose branch crashing to the ground

Camping: Last night, the family were sleeping in a tent and lightning struck a tree which landed on Blaike. It caused him to go into cardiac arrest and he didn't make it

White County police were called to the campground at around 8.25am.

Police saw that the branch had pierced through the canvas of the family's tent while they were still inside.

The branch ultimately struck the boy who went into cardiac arrest, and was not breathing when the emergency services arrived.

Staff from the Indiana Beach Campground began performing CPR on the boy until paramedics arrived.

The youngster was rushed to IU Health White Memorial Hospital in Monticello, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Single mom: Delmarie is a single mother and so friends say she can't afford much of a funeral. A GoFundMe page states: @She is a wonderful mother who loves her children very much and would do anything for them.'

Sad day: Indiana Beach security officers began CPR on the boy, who was not breathing when emergency medical responders arrived. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter

On the resort's Facebook page a post read: 'All of us at Indiana Beach and Apex Parks Group are saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the family.'

Blaike's aunt, Jackie Fisher Wiseman, has started a GoFundMe account to help family raise money for funeral expenses.

Wiseman writes Blaike's mother, Delmarie Hershberger, would take her children every year on a vacation to Indiana Beach.

'She is a wonderful mother who loves her children very much and would do anything for them,' Wiseman said.

'I will never forget this sweet boy. His gazing eyes and how his laugh sounded when I talked to him,' one person wrote on Facebook. 'In the short time I knew this little guy he stole my heart!'
A proposed law change that would allow children aged three-and-a-half years to start kindergarten in Tasmania has been attacked in an online campaign.

The Tasmanian Government announced a plan to lower the compulsory school starting age from five to four years and six months in March.

The change to the Education Act would also allow kids aged three years and six months to be enrolled in kindergarten from 2020.

The Tasmanian Government plans to lower the school starting age to three years and six months for kindergarten children

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff has said the measures will improve educational outcomes by giving children access to early learning sooner.

But Jannette Armstrong, a union representative from United Voice and the creator of social media campaign challenging the changes, disagreed.

The proposal is contrary to all the latest evidence and research about the optimal school starting age, Ms Armstrong said, adding the plan would not help disadvantaged students.

Ms Armstrong said increasing support for disadvantaged families would have better outcomes.

Dozens of parents have taken to social media to back the campaign.

Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff says the changes will improve educational outcomes

Those young children who need and would benefit from early intervention need to be nurtured so they can have the opportunity to develop the language skills and the social and emotional resilience essential to ensure readiness for academic learning, Margaret Collis wrote on Facebook.

They do not need to be educated via a curriculum ... Let our children be children!'

Michael Taylor said: As an early childhood teacher for over 30 years and a parent I reckon Jeremy Rockliff has got this one WRONG!

Tasmania has the oldest minimum starting age in Australia and the government argues the planned law change would update the outdated Education Act.

The curriculum would not be changed and it would continue to focus on play-based learning for kindergarten students.

Changes to the Education Act would also include increasing the leaving requirements to completion of Year 12, a Certificate III, or reaching 18-years of age.

The changes will be debated in Tasmania's parliament over the next few months.
A married lawyer has been caught on camera having sex with his female colleague at work.

He was found out after his wife had cameras secretly installed inside a Brisbane law firm, The Courier Mail reported.

News of the romp has been widely circulated in the city's legal circles.

A married lawyer has been caught on camera having sex with his female colleague at a Brisbane law firm. Pictured is a stock image

But the pair may not face consequences any more serious than embarrassment.

'[The man] would be more trouble with his wife than anybody else,' The Workplace Employment Lawyers principal Patricia Ryan told Daily Mail Australia.

Ms Ryan said the amorous couple may not be fired from their jobs unless there were breaches of the contractual terms of their employments.

She said the consequences depended on whether or not the sexual relations were consensual and what workplace policies were in place about personal relationships.

But the pair may not face consequences any more serious than embarrassment unless there was a breach of the contractual terms of their employment. Above is another stock image

Ms Ryan said it also depended if the sex took place during working hours or outside of hours.

'If it was 10.30 in the morning, it's not appropriate workplace behaviour,' she said.
The judge who has faced an enormous backlash for his lenient sentencing in the Stanford rape case has been removed from another sexual assault case.

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen removed Judge Aaron Persky from presiding over a hearing to determine if a former male nurse should stand trial on charges of sexually abusing a sedated female patient.

It's the latest problem in Persky's courtroom since he sentenced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to just six months in jail for sexually assaulting a young woman after she passed out from drinking too much.

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Judge Aaron Persky, who has faced an enormous backlash for his lenient sentencing of Brock Turner (right) in the Stanford rape case, has been removed from another sexual assault case

Late last week, several potential jurors were excused after telling Persky they couldn't serve on a jury in his courtroom because of the sentence.

The decision was made because the DA now lacks confidence in Judge Persky's ability to fairly take part in the sexual assault hearing after he recently dismissed another case before the jury could deliberate, a statement from Rosen's office said.

It said: 'We are disappointed and puzzled at Judge Persky's unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate.

'After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient.

'This is a rare and carefully considered step for our Office. In the future, we will evaluate each case on its own merits and decide if we should use our legal right to ask for another judge in order to protect public safety and pursue justice.'

The sentence, handed down on June 2, gained attention after the victim's statement to the court was made public, prompting widespread outrage and a petition calling for Persky to be recalled

Activists from UltraViolet, a national women's advocacy organization, hold a rally before delivering over one million signatures to the California Commission on Judicial Performance calling for the removal of Judge Aaron Persky from the bench on Friday

The sentence gained attention after the 23-year-old victim's statement to the court was made public, prompting widespread outrage.

'A prison sentence would have a severe impact on him,' Persky said, while handing down the sentence on June 2. 'I think he will not be a danger to others.'

Persky has since received death threats at work, and is the subject of a petition, signed by more than a million people, to have him recalled.

One of the jurors who helped convict Turner has slammed the judge for his 'ridiculously lenient' prison sentence, which the juror said made a mockery of the panel's verdict.

In scathing letter to the judge that was published in Palo Alto Weekly, the juror, who remained anonymous, said: 'It seems to me that you really did not accept the jury's findings.

'We were unanimous in our finding of the defendant's guilt and our verdicts were marginalized based on your own personal opinion.'

'Clearly there are few to no consequences for a rapist even if they are caught in the act of assaulting a defenseless, unconscious person.'

The juror ended the letter with the words: 'Shame on you.'

But Persky has not commented on the case as Turner's attorney has indicated he may appeal his conviction.

A plane flies over Stanford University's graduation ceremony on Sunday with a banner reading 'Protect Survivors. Not Rapists. #PerskyMustGo'

Students who participated in the protest posted held signs that read: 'Stanford protects rapists' and 'Brock Turner is not an exception'

Turner, 20, of Dayton, Ohio, had claimed that the victim had been conscious when he attacked her and had signaled her consent by saying 'yeah' in January last year.

But jurors were unconvinced by his claims after witnesses, including heroes Peter Jonsson and Carl-Fredrik Arndt, pointed out that the victim was motionless on the ground at the time and could not be woken up.

He was sentenced to six months, despite prosecutors recommending six years. And Daily Mail Online revealed that Turner will serve just three months of his sentence and is slated for release on September 2.

Earlier this week, Stanford University's graduation ceremony was overshadowed by Turner's case and prompted a protest by students.

Students held signs that read 'Stanford protects rapists' and 'Brock Turner is not an exception' during the so-called 'Wacky Walk' processional into the university stadium.

A plane hired by a women's activist group earlier flew overhead, trailing a banner that read 'Protect survivors. Not Rapists. #PerskyMustGo.'
Admitted that he broke his arm just 10 seconds into his first bike ride

He also said he is training for a triathlon, but has already hit an obstacle

'I didnt know a human could make those noises,' he said about the child

Mark Zuckerberg is not known to be frank about his private life.

But the Facebook CEO and co-founder seemed to open up when Jerry Seinfeld interrogated him at the company's Menlo Park headquarters in California.

The billionaire father-of-one told the legendary comedian on Tuesday that he checks his social media website as soon as he wakes up in the morning and compared his daughter Max to a 'pterodactyl'.

He answered the questions as part of what he says will be the first of many Q&As on Facebook's new feature, Live.

Mark Zuckerberg revealed that he checks Facebook when he wakes up and compared his daughter Max to a 'pterodactyl' during an interview with Seinfeld

Facebook's CEO answered the questions as part of what he says will be the first of many Q&As on Facebook's new feature, Live

Seinfeld started the part of the clip by asking: 'I want to know the very first thing you do. You get out of the bed, you go to the bathroom...'

'Oh no, the first thing I do is look at my phone,' Zuckerberg said.

'I do that, too,' Seinfeld said. 'I want to know, did the Mets win or not?'

Zuckerberg responded: 'I look at Facebook. Before I put my contacts in, I look at what's going on at Facebook... That's not my best moment.'

He revealed that on Tuesday morning he woke up at 6am because his daughter Max was crying.

The billionaire later posted a picture of him sitting in a '57 Chevy Bel Air with Seinfeld that they had 'turned into a meeting room in Facebook HQ'

'Max is like a pterodactyl,' he said. 'I didnt know a human could make those noises.'

Zuckerberg then went on to reveal that he is training for a triathlon, but has already hit an obstacle in his preparation.

He described how he bought a brand new bike, but crashed within ten seconds of starting his first ride.

'I forgot to clip out and fell over... I broke my arm.'

He wasn't wearing a cast or sling, as he said the best way for it to heal is to leave it out.

After the interview, Zuckerberg uploaded a picture alongside the message: 'Thanks to Jerry Seinfeld for stopping by my first Live Q&A today.

'Afterwards, we had coffee in a '57 Chevy Bel Air that we turned into a meeting room in Facebook HQ.'
Donald Trump celebrated his 70th birthday in North Carolina with a serenade from an estimated 9,000 people and a vicious rebuttal to an afternoon of attacks lodged by Hillary Clinton and the president they both hope to replace.

'Happy birthday? Ah, don't tell me about my birthday!' he grinned as the singing started.

Trump's smile turned quickly into a pointed glare, though, as he blamed 'weak, ineffective people' in President Barack Obama's administration for what he said was an out-of-control immigration problem linked to the weekend's gun massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

In a rare break from the no-drama-Obama voters have come to expect, the president unleashed an angry lecture on Trump in the afternoon, painting him as a know-nothing poseur whose lack of nuanced foreign policy knowledge and china-shop-bull approach to diplomacy would threaten to turn the Arab world against Americans and radicalize a new generation of Islamist jihadis.

Trump scoffed.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TRUMP: The presumptive Republican presidential nominee turned 70 on Tuesday and celebrated in Greensboro, North Carolina by clobbering Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as too weak to handle terror threats against the U.S.

PICKING A FIGHT: Trump said Obama sounded more angry at him during his noontime remarks than he did at the Islamist radical who killed more than four dozen people Saturday night at a gay nightclub in Florida

HE'S BACK: Trump recaptured the primary election magic for a crowd estimated at 9,000

'I watched President Obama today. And he was more angry at me than he was at the shooter!' he marveled.

'The level of anger  that's the kind of anger he should have for the shooter, and these killers that shouldn't be here.'

And the presumptive Republican presidential nominee dismissed Obama's law-school oration questioning the value of branding extremist attacks as the work of 'radical Islamic terrorism'  a seldom-heard turn of phrase Trump has used for months to clobber reticent Democrats.

Trump said the U.S. had no hope of maintaining homeland security 'if you don't know what the term is, and if you don't discuss what the problem is, and if you can't say the real name.'

'We have a radical Islamic terrorism problem, folks,' he argued. 'We can say we don't. We can pretend like Obama that we don't, where Obama spent a long time talking about it and nobody at the end of that speech understood anything other than, "Boy, does he hate Donald Trump".'

Trump has sought for the past 48 hours to tie the Orlando murders to a lax immigration program that admits too many loosely screened Arabs, and to Clinton's pledge to increase America's commitment to resettle Syrian refugees by 550 per cent.

'Every year we bring in more than 100,000 lifetime immigrants from the Middle East, and many more from Muslim countries outside of the Middle East,' Trump said.

'A number of these immigrants have hostile attitudes toward women, toward gays and people of different faiths,' he added, claiming that 'Hillary Clinton's immigration plan would bring in millions of unvetted immigrants  or very poorly vetted  and how can you vet somebody when you have no idea where they come from, you have no idea about the paperwork?'

'It doesn't take a big percentage' to be deadly, he said. 'Look what one whack-job  look at this one whack, this one horrible savage  look what he did in a short period of time to great young people!'

CLASS IS IN SESSION: President Obama lectured Trump during public remarks on Tuesday afternoon about America's war against the ISIS terror army and the Republican candidate's desire to link Saturday night's terror attack with the White House's immigration policies

WEDGE ISSUE: Trump continued to blast Hillary Clinton as a weak ally of women and gays because she advocates immigration policy that he says would result in importing more radical Muslims who oppress both groups

Trump extended his circle of suspicion on Tuesday night to the Orlando attacker's in-laws, likely unaware that FBI agents were raising their California home as his motorcade was en route to the arena.

'Now there are reports that ... the second wife knew about the attack but may have not told the authorities,' he said of the Florida massacre.

'Nobody really knows. Her family reportedly is from Afghanistan.'

Clinton and Obama spent part of Tuesday arguing that the Muslim man who killed more than four dozen people in the wee hours of Saturday night was himself a native-born American.

But 'the killer's parents emigrated from Afghanistan,' Trump told his crowd, citing news reports that 'the children of Muslim immigrant parents are responsible for a growing number, for whatever reason, a growing number of terrorist attacks.'

'The killer's Afghan father supported the Taliban, which believes in violently oppressing women and gays,' Trump fumed.

'Once again we've seen that political correctness is deadly. They don't want to talk about the problem,' he said.

Trump continued to wind a thread from his Monday speech in New Hampshire, where he argued that Clinton is a poor representative for women and homosexuals because she has enabled a wave of immigrants from countries known for oppressing and abusing both groups.

'We want to live in a country where gay and lesbian Americans and all Americans are safe from radical Islam  which, by the way, wants to murder and has murdered gays, and they enslave women,' Trump said.

EARLY ADOPTER: North Carolinians stood in line all afternoon to hear Trump, including this teen who came dressed for the occasion

'THE KING' BACKS 'THE DONALD': NASCAR racing legend Richard Petty embraced Trump onstage Tuesday night after the Republican presidential hopeful announced his endorsement

And he heaped scorn on Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, for accepting millions in donations to their family foundation from Saudi Arabia and other nations in the Middle East.

They collected '$25 million from certain countries  and much more than that when you add it up  that treat women horrendously, that kill gays,' he said, calling on them to return the money while shouts of 'USA! USA!' ramped up in intensity.

'Since 9/11 the United States has admitted more than a half-million immigrants from countries where being gay is punishable by death,' Trump claimed.

'Hillary Clinton  Crooked Hillary as we all know her, which she is  wants to increase these immigration numbers very, very substantially. She's no friend of women and she's no friend of LGBT Americans.'

'How can you be a friend when these countries are oppressive to LGBT, when they're oppressive to everybody?' he said, directing the crowd's attention once more to the Clinton Foundation's fundraising.

'How can you be a friend to women when you take money from people that enslave women?'

'And then women like Hillary better than Donald Trump?' he asked. 'I don't think so. I'll be honest. I don't think so.'

Trump drew wild applause before he began his speech by announcing the endorsement of NASCAR racing legend Richard Petty, who came on stage to be acknowledged but did not speak.

The rally was interrupted a handful of times by protesters, with Trump urging police and his supporters each time to be gentle with them.

Greensboro Police Department Deputy Chief Brian Cheek said after the rally that a total of 20 people were ejected from the event. Seven of them, he added, were rrested for trespassing when they refused to leave the premises.
Both were convicted of murder and possessing drugs on Wednesday

They dumped his body at sea but it was found six days after the murder

Former policemen shot him before stealing three kilograms of ice

The 20-year-old was lured there by Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara

Jamie Gao was murdered in 2014 at a storage unit in Padstow, Sydney

Disgraced policemen Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara have been found guilty of murdering Sydney university student Jamie Gao in a drug deal gone wrong.

The pair were convicted at NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday of killing the 20-year-old at a storage unit in Padstow, south west Sydney, two years ago.

The court heard that the pair had made a drug deal with Mr Gao who they lured to the Rent A Storage unit on May 20, 2014.

They shot him dead to steal three kilograms of ice he had brought with him before dumping his body at sea using McNamara's boat the next day.

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Roger Rogerson (left arriving at court today) and Glen McNamara (right) have been found guilty of murdering 20-year-old university student Jamie Gao in 2014

They will be sentenced in August. Throughout the four-month trial both men denied the killing, blaming each other for Mr Gao's death.

McNamara said it was Rogerson who shot the 20-year-old twice after arranging to exchange cash for drugs with him.

Rogerson, 75, said he arrived at the unit to find McNamara had killed him in self-defence.

Their testimonies were undermined by CCTV footage taken on the day of the murder which showed them arriving at the storage unit after Mr Gao.

McNamara entered first before Rogerson arrived at the scene. Within minutes McNamara emerged to retrieve a surfboard bag from a white station wagon parked outside.

TIMELINE OF JAMIE GAO MURDER May 19 2014: Jamie Gao and Glen McNamara are seen on CCTV at the Meridian Hotel in Hurtsville May 20: Both men are seen arriving separately at storage unit in Padstow. Roger Rogerson arrived moments later. They killed Mr Gao by shooting him twice and left with his body in a surfboard bag May 21: Rogerson and McNamara dump it at sea using his boat May 24: Police seize a white station wagon at McNamara's Cronulla apartment and find three kilograms of ice May 25: McNamara is arrested on suspicion of murdering Mr Gao and possession of drugs May 26: Mr Gao's body is found floating in water wrapped in tarpaulin May 27: Rogerson is also arrested for murdering the 20-year-old Advertisement

They placed the victim's body in the bag and drove away with it in the boot, later visiting McNamara's Cronulla apartment where they stashed the corpse in his boat.

The following day they used the boat to dispose of his body at sea after venturing on to the water under the pretense of a fishing trip.

Three days after the murder police seized the car used by McNamara at the storage unit lot from his garage and discovered three kilograms of drugs in it.

He was arrested three days before the student's body was found floating in the water near Cronulla wrapped in tarpaulin.

Rogerson was arrested the following day at his home in Padstow.

Throughout the trial the two men blamed each other for the student's killing.

McNamara, who had met up with Mr Gao 27 times in the months before his death, said he had been researching Asian gangs in Sydney for a new book and was using the youngster as a source.

The pair were seen on CCTV at a hotel the day before Mr Gao's death in one such meeting.

He claimed he had only been at the storage unit on the day in question to fix a door at the request of Rogerson.

When he arrived he said Rogerson shot the student and forced him to help get rid of his body, allegedly telling him: 'I'll do you. Get up and help you weak c*** or you will be on the floor next to him.'

He also claimed the 75-year-old threatened his two daughters.

But prosecutors said he had never taken enough notes to prove he was conducting research and that the pair were organising a drug deal.

Gao was shot twice at a storage unit in Padstow, south west Sydney, in May 2014. He had been lured there by the men for a drug deal

McNamara's daughter Jessica (centre) is seen leaving the Supreme Court in Sydney on Wednesday after her father's conviction

CCTV footage (above) showed McNamara retrieving a surfboard from a car outside the unit on the day of Mr Gao's death

Rogerson (above in February) said he arrived at the storage unit to find McNamara had already murdered the man

McNamara had 27 meetings with Mr Gao in the months before his death. They are seen above leaving the Meridian Hotel the day before his death

Police discovered three kilograms of methamphetamine in a white station wagon at McNamara's apartment on May 24

The pair exchanged a number of phone calls in the months leading up to the attack. They were seen in the days after it enjoying drinks with friends.

Rogerson was a celebrated officer with NSW Police in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1981 he killed Warren Lanfranchi, claiming to have shot the robber in the line of duty.

The man's partner, a prostitute called Sally-Anne Huckstep, later claimed he had shot him in an act of revenge for robbing a heroin dealer who was under police protection. She was later murdered.

The 20-year-old apparently told friends he would be rich in the run-up to his death

He was also implicated in the attempted murder of fellow police officer Michael Drury who was shot twice in 1984 to protect another drug dealer.

He was acquitted of his involvement in 1989, three years after being dismissed by NSW Police.

During the trial he said he arrived at the storage unit to find McNamara had already killed Mr Gao by shooting him twice.

He said McNamara pleaded with him to help dispose of the body because they would otherwise be killed themselves by 'Chinese assassins'.

Mr Gao's body was found near Cronulla, south Sydney, days after his death. It had been wrapped in tarpaulin with rope.

A pillowcase containing three kilograms of ice found in McNamara's car is what he is thought to have promised the men in exchange for cash.

Friends of the student told the court how he had boasted that he would seen be rich in the run-up to his death.

The men were found guilty of murdering the student and possessing a supply amount of drugs on Wednesday after a four-month trial.

The pair will be sentenced on August 25.

After the conviction on Wednesday Mr Gao's family said no amount of time spent in jail would bring their son back.

'No matter what today's findings are or the sentence that is given, it won't change the fact that Jamie remains absent from the lives of our family - the people who love him - and we miss him every single day,' they said in a statement.

'Today the legal system worked. Two very dangerous criminals have been found guilty.

Detective Chief Inspector Russell Oxford commended the investigators involved for their work, describing it as a 'tremendous' effort to unravel what had happened to the student

'But while this is the verdict our family were hoping would be delivered, true justice can never really be served. Yes, Jamie was a young man who had made some mistakes - but what young person hasn't?

'No 20-year-old deserves to lose their life over a stupid mistake.'

Detective Chief Inspector Russell Oxford commended the investigators involved for their work, describing it as a 'tremendous' effort to unravel what had happened to the student.

'Today's decision, the jury's verdict today, is very pleasing for us; it's a culmination of many, many months of hard work and I think from the outset I'd just like to praise all the efforts of police.

'I feel for the family, for Jamie Gao's family, I feel for him; regardless of what was said about young Jamie, he's still a human being.

'If you follow the evidence, this was a carefully planned and executed operation and poor old Jamie Gao was lured into the shed and simply executed, simple as that.'




Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders met for nearly two hours in Washington tonight as the Democratic primary season came to a close.

Neither Democratic candidate gave a clue to how the conversation went to the legions of reporters staking out the meeting at the Capital Hilton, a downtown D.C. hotel located on the famed K Street just steps from the White House, a residence that both politicians had sought.

At stake  cohesion in the Democratic Party, with Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, and Sanders, her rival refusing to get out, attempting to hash out some sort of treaty so that they might take on the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, as a united front.

Clinton came into the meeting armed with another win  she soundly beat Sanders in today's District of Columbia primary by a whopping 58 points, once all the precincts were in.

The former secretary of state arrived via the back entrance and brought along campaign manager Robby Mook, campaign chairman John Podesta and her longtime aide Huma Abedin, according to an NBC News embed on the scene.

Sanders arrived at the front entrance alongside wife Jane, and likely came to the 'summit,' as it was being called, with at least four demands.

The Vermont senator had his campaign manager Jeff Weaver and his wife sit through the meeting, while Podesta and Mook stayed by Clinton's side, according to the New York Times.

One Sanders adviser told the Times that the Vermont senator felt no pressure to endorse the former secretary of state quickly, setting up a five and a half week wooing period for Clinton in advance of the party's late July convention.

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Hillary Clinton arrived at the Capital Hilton for her meeting with Bernie Sanders as the results for the D.C. Democratic primary were coming in. Clinton won the primary overwhelmingly

Bernie Sanders showed up with his wife Jane to the Capitol Hilton to meet for two hours with Hillary Clinton, the Democrats' presumptive nominee. Sanders has yet to exit the race

Tonight the Capital Hilton in downtown Washigton, D.C. became quite the political hotspot as Bernie Sanders, who arrived with wife Jane, met with Hillary Clinton for about two hours

A mass of people awaited Bernie Sanders and his entourage tonight at the Capital Hilton as he and Hillary Clinton attempted to hash out some sort of Democratic treaty so that they might together fight Donald Trump

Hillary Clinton is photographed leaving the Capital Hilton after her meet-and-greet with rival Bernie Sanders who has yet to get out of the Democratic race and will address supporters Thursday night

In a statement, the Sanders campaign confirmed the meeting's attendees and called the get-together a 'positive discussion about how best to bring more people into the political process and about the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation.'

'Sanders congratulated Secretary Clinton on the campaign she has run and said he appreciated her strong commitment to stopping Trump in the general election,' it continued.

The issues they discussed included raising the minimum wage, 'real' campaign finance reform, universal healthcare, college affordability and student debt, the statement said.

'Sanders and Clinton agreed to continue working to develop a progressive agenda that addresses the needs of working families and the middle class and adopting a progressive platform for the Democratic National Convention,' it concluded.

As for Sanders' demands, he articulated some earlier today at a Washington, D.C. press conference.

'We have to replace the current Democratic National Committee leadership,' Sanders said.

He's long held a grudge against current DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, suggesting that the party had favored his rival throughout the primary process.

He even went as far as to endorse Wasserman Schultz's primary opponent for her House seat in Florida.

Sanders looked toward the convention and said he wanted to see the Democratic Party approve of 'the most progressive platform ever passed.'

He also hoped to see open primaries and same-day registration, voting mechanisms that  had they been in place in every state  might have given a boost to Sanders campaign, which was often aided by independents who chose to vote in the Democratic primaries.

Finally, he wanted the party to get rid of superdelegates, party faithful that cast a vote at the Democratic National Convention.

Without the help of superdelegates, Clinton wouldn't technically be the presumptive nominee, though she has the majority of pledged delegates and won the Democrats' popular vote.

Earlier in the day, Clinton had previewed the conversation on Telemundo, suggesting it would be a 'wide-ranging conversation.'

The Democratic duo chose to meet on neutral ground at the Capital Hilton, a large D.C. hotel located on K Street and just steps from the White House

The Capital Hilton was Democratic central tonight in Washington, D.C., as it hosted the highly publicized meeting between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders

'We're going to discuss our common goals and how we can work together,' she said of the planned conversation with her longtime rival.

'Senator Sanders and I have a lot to talk about we have a lot in common,' she said.

While just 10 days ago, Sanders was set on the Democratic race ending with a 'contested convention' in Philadelphia, terminology he used at a Los Angeles press conference on June 4, he was more nebulous about the conclusion of his campaign in the aftermath of his meeting with President Obama last Thursday.

Outside the White House, Sanders simply mentioned the convention as a means to get the platform he would like to see.

'These are the issues that we will take to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia at the end of July,' he said, after listing off some of his trademark issues he's discussed throughout the campaign.

Though campaign aides told Dailymail.com today that Sanders had no plans to drop out tonight.

'It was made very clear today he definitely doesn't have the c-word in his vocabulary,' a senior campaign aide told DailyMail.com, referring to the term 'concede.'

Instead, Sanders will talk to his supporters via livestream on Thursday night to address 'what's next for our campaign.'
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was all smiles and snaps on Tuesday as he headed to Perth for the back-end of a grueling eight-week winter election campaign.

Flanked by his two main women, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and wife Lucy, the 61-year-old showed he could still kick it with the younger generations as he posed in a number of selfies.

Mr Turnbull was met by a sea of about 150 blue-t-shirt-wearing supporters gathered in Maddington, to the southeast of Perth, for the launch of the Western Australian Liberal Party campaign rally.

They cheered and clapped as Malcolm Turnbull - the headline act - bounded onto the stage.

'We will win on July 2,' a revved up prime minister told the gathering at the Burt/Hasluck campaign headquarters, with all of the party's WA candidates.

'Our values are right, our plan is right. This is our time. Let's go for it - July 2 - the day of decision.'

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was in Perth for the Western Australian Liberal Party campaign rally launch

Mr Turnbull mingled with the crowds at a Liberal party fundraiser, held at the ritzy Cottesloe Beach Hotel

Mr Turnbull was happy to oblige with selfie requests as he moved across venues on Tuesday

Selfie inception: Surrounded by media and supporters Mr Turnbull used his iPhone to take a number of selfies

Mr Turnbull arrived in Maddington, southeast of Perth, on Tuesday morning for the Western Australian Liberal Party campaign rally

One of a number of appearances, Mr Turnbull met with Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett on Tuesday night for a Liberal party fundraising dinner in the ritzy suburb of Cottesloe.

'Our values are right, our plan is right. This is our time. Let's go for it - July 2 - the day of decision': Mr Turnbull addressed party members during a campaign launch in Perth

A history of Australian politicians taking selfies: Pictures is Opposition Leader Bill Shorten during 2016 election campaign in Mackay, Queensland

Deposed PM Tony Abbott was also a fan of selfies, posing for a snap here during a trip to Melbourne last year

Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott butted heads for a staged selfie just a week before the 2013 federal election

Earlier that morning Mr Turnbull hosted a youth employment forum in the Liberal-held seat of Cowan, spruiking his government's internship program.

As he worked the ring of chairs like a television show host, he met aspiring lawyer Godfrey Kenyi.

The Perth student recently undertook work experience at the local Magistrates Court and loved it.

'I'll have a quiet word to you and talk you out of it later,' Mr Turnbull, a former lawyer himself, joked of Godfrey's ambition.

'Don't you dare,' his wife Lucy chimed in.

'I was kind of nervous when I was talking to him, but he's very friendly,' the 17-year-old later told AAP after taking a group selfie.

'He's got a good sense of humour.'

Australian politicians have a long history of taking selfies with voters during campaigns in the lead-up to the federal election.

People person: Mr Turnbull is often seen stopping to take selfies with strangers
English tourists travelling in the Northern Territory had a lucky escape when they were found by police after walking for 10km in searing heat after their hire car became bogged trying to cross a river.

The group were found walking along a Litchfield National Park 4WD drive track 10km from their vehicle by police after attempting to drive through the Reynolds River Crossing on Tuesday afternoon, the NT News reports.

They made the decision to make the river crossing despite the fact the track was closed to the public at the time and the area is filled with crocodiles.

The English tourists had to walk for 10km after their 4WD became bogged at Reynolds Crossing in Litchfield National Park (pictured)

Police said that the tourists had failed to work their vehicle's 4WD properly, and they found the group 10km from their car at around 5.30pm after they messaged for help.

'They had an EPIRB [[Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon] on them,' Territory Duty Superintendent Brendan Muldoon said.

'They activated that and Canberra contacted us and we called the police on duty to find them.

'We got them out of the bog, gave them a few 4WD tips and sent them on their way.'

They were found walking along a Litchfield National Park 4WD drive track (pictured) 10km from their vehicle

Supt Muldoon said the group were lucky to survive the situation unscathed as things could easily have taken a turn for the worse if they hadn't been found.

'If they didn't have an EPIRB there's potential there for them in this tropical environment for dire outcomes,' he said.

'So it's probably saved them a lot of heartache and possibly their lives.'
Climate change has driven a rodent species to extinction, in what has been first deemed the world's first case of a mammal being wiped-out by the man-made phenomenon.

University of Queensland research on the Bramble Cay melomys, a rat-like species native to an island on the Great Barrier Reef, suggests the animal has vanished entirely due to rising sea levels.

The study's author told Daily Mail Australia the research is a grave alarm call about the threat climate change poses to the countries native species.

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The Bramble Cay melomys are belved to be first mammal driven to excinction due to climate change

University of Queensland's Luke Leung was alerted after local indigenous islanders suggested he research the island the species occupied - a 350m-long cay in the Torres Strait.

'Extensive research could not find any evidence the species still exists. The key factor responsible for their death is almost certainly high tides and surging seawater,' he said.

'This is the first documented extinction of a mammal because of climate change.'

Global sea levels have risen by 20cm between 1901 and 2010 due to anthropogenic climate change.

Rising levels rises have been particularly noticeable in the Torres Strait region, where the sea levels appear to have risen twice the global average between 1993 and 2014.

He said the research should be a wake up call for people about the threat of Australia's extinction crisis.

The species are native to the Bramble Cay island on the Great Barrier Reef (pictured) but scientists believe rising water levels have wiped the species out

The study's author Luke Leung says the research is grave alarm call about the growing threat climate change

'The recent coral bleaching scandal brought climate change into the spotlight, and this is another testament to the impact climate change is having.'

'We often hear it as a global issue but this is a very local problem. When we hear of it as a global problem, it makes it easier to dismiss the threat.'

The melomy, deemed the Great Barrier Reef's only unique mammal species, was first found in 1845 by Europeans who shot them for sport.
Aldi's plans to expand its alcohol sales has hit a snag after its application to sell wine, beer, spirits and ciders in-store was knocked back.

Western Australia's Liquor Authority voiced concerns over the low prices of the German-owned chain's alcohol when it rejected Aldi's liquor license application for its Harrisdale store, in Perth's south-east.

Aldi shoppers have their pick of 22 varieties of wine that are under $5 a bottle, including its award winning South Point Estate rose, and three brands are priced as low as $2.79.

Aldi's plans to expand its alcohol sales has hit a snag after its application to sell wine, beer, spirits and ciders in-store was knocked back

In the same ruling, the Liquor Authority granted Woolworths the right to open up one of its BWS bottle shops at the same shopping centre.

The Director of Liquor Licensing's delegate Peter Minchin said it was not in the public's interest or necessary for two outlets selling alcohol to open at the new Harrisdale Shopping Centre.

He also cited the Executive Director of Public Health's objection to Aldi's application.

The EDPH said there was a strong relationship linking price, consumption and harm in the community.

'ALDI also proposes to offer a range of very cheap liquor... and packaged liquor sales are linked to alcohol-related harm and ill-health,' the EDPH said.

Aldi shoppers have their pick of 22 varieties of wine that are under $5 a bottle, including its award-winning South Point Estate rose (right), and three brands are priced as low as $2.79. Left is a stock image

Western Australia's Liquor Authority voiced concerns over the low prices of Aldi's alcohol when it rejected its liquor license application for its store at the new Harrisdale Shopping Centre (pictured is its construction site)

'Research indicates that limiting the sale of alcohol from within supermarkets is an important harm minimisation strategy.'

Mr Minchin agreed with the EDPH's assessment of the situation.

'A large percentage of ALDI liquor products are at the lower end of the price scale,' he said.

'[For example], 22 wine varieties are listed at a price below $5.00 a bottle, with three priced at $2.79 and 48 per cent of wine products are priced at less than $10.00 a bottle.

In the same ruling, the Liquor Authority granted Woolworths the right to open up one of its BWS bottle shops at the same shopping centre

'In comparing the risks associated with each application, the ALDI application poses a greater risk from a broad public health perspective.'

An Aldi spokeswoman said they strived to give their shoppers the best value for their liquor and were responsible when it came to the sale of alcohol.

'We are consistently looking at market trends and innovations to ensure our products are in line with consumer demand and preference, and we are committed to ensuring that our wine and beer products offer high value at their respective price points,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'As a responsible and experienced retailer, ALDI observes all regulations for the purchase of alcohol. We partner with DrinkWise Australia as part of this commitment.

'Unlike other supermarkets that sell alcohol, we do not have separate, large format stores and our stores do not carry any chilled alcohol products for immediate consumption.

'Our range is limited to a delineated area within store, approximately one quarter of the size of a standard bottle shop.

'This means alcohol purchases must be made during the limited opening hours of the store and customers must enter a supermarket environment to purchase liquor.'

The spokeswoman added Aldi was looking to apply for a limited number of liquor licenses for potential store locations in Western Australia.

Western Australia Police and the McCusker Centre For Action On Alcohol And Youth also objected to Aldi's application.
A 16-year-old girl was shot to death and another three people were wounded at a vigil for two boys who drowned last month in Oakland, California.

Reggina Jefferies, 16, died at Highland Hospital a short time after the shooting on Tuesday near Venue in the downtown area of the city, according to KNTV,

Jefferies, who had been reportedly shot in the neck, was one of the 3,000 people attending a vigil for 15-year-old best friends Josiah Pratt Rose and Jamari Wilson.

Witnesses said that there was some sort of altercation minutes before two men shot into the crowd in the area of 13th and Franklin streets in front of Golden Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant around 6pm before fleeing.

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Heartbreaking: Reggina Jefferies, 16, died at Highland Hospital in Oakland a short time after the shooting on Tuesday

Jefferies, who had been reportedly shot in the neck, was one of the 3,000 people attending a vigil for two teen boys who died over Memorial Day

The incident happened in the area of Golden Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant (above) one block away from where a vigil for 15-year-old Josiah Pratt Rose and Jamari Wilson was being held at Venue in Oakland

'I heard several shots, probably six in a row,' Joyce Mitch told the television station. 'Then I saw a bunch of kids running.'

The number of people shot fluctuated throughout Tuesday evening. Oakland police initially said five people had been shot and then corrected the number to say four were shot.

Authorities say the shooting happened after many of the vigil attendees spilled out into the street.

The other three shooting victims range in age from mid-teens to early 20s and are currently listed in stable condition.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported the broad-daylight shooting sent people ducking for cover.

Mason Stone told the newspaper people were running 'every which way.'

'The really scary thing, coming on the heels of the shooting in Orlando, you wonder is it gang related or is it a crazy gunman,' he said.

'I guess you figure sooner or later if you live in a city like that you ... realize anything can happen at any time.'

The boys, who were best friends, died last month when they drowned in a Stanislaus County reservoir. They jumped into the water from a boat without life jackets on. Above left is Josiah Pratt and right is Jamari Wilson

Witnesses said that there was some sort of altercation in the street minutes before two men shot into the crowd before fleeing. The other victims range in age from mid-teens to early 20s and are in stable condition

Oscar Edwards, a security guard at Venue, said that he was shocked at the timing and location of the shooting.

'This is very strange,' Edwards said. 'Downtown Oakland has changed a lot.

'Downtown is one of the safest places now. This was an isolated incident.'

It's unclear if any arrests have been made and police have not released the names of the other victims who were wounded in the shooting.

The two teen boys died over Memorial Day weekend when they jumped from a boat without life jackets on into a Stanislaus County reservoir.

Jefferies had reportedly just finished performed a memorial dance for the boys at their funeral before heading to the vigil.

Several people have taken to Facebook to mourn Jefferies' tragic death.

One person wrote: 'My sincere condolences to The family of Reggina Jefferies family on there lost today at my nephew repast.

Oscar Edwards, a security guard at Venue, said that he was shocked at the timing and location of the shooting. 'This is very strange. Downtown Oakland has changed a lot. Downtown is one of the safest places now. This was an isolated incident'

'We have got to stop the gun violence and senseless act. We have lost another angel today. She was the Praise dancer at my family services today. May God put his loving arms around her family.'

Donnie Briggs, a relative of one of the drowning victims, took to Facebook to express outrage over the young girl's tragic death.

'You want to talk about STUPID and SENSELESS? Ok let's do it: Today Kim and I were in Oakland to attend the memorial service for my little cousin Josiah Pratt-Rose #Jojoworld and his best friend Jamari Wilson#Mariworld who tragically passed away two weeks ago,' the post reads.

'After the service we attended the repass in Downtown Oakland.

'Tragically during that repass service where people should have been reflecting on the memory of their friends and loved ones, some IDIOTS started fighting over a dice game, someone pulled out a gun, shots were fired.

'Reportedly 6 people were wounded, including a young teenage girl named Reggina, the very same girl who served as a praise dancer at the memorial we were at earlier. Sadly she did not survive her injuries.

'When will we wake up and realize that we must do a better job at raising our children. Fighting, smoking weed, drinking, disrespecting adults, disregarding God.

'Doing whatever seems right in our own eyes. Who are we? Where are we? Are we the children of Israel who grew up in the time after Joshua died. Are we Barbarians? This is ridiculous! #RIPRegginaJefferies'
Four school children from Western Australian suffered minor injures after the bus they were travelling on rolled over on Wednesday morning.

The accident took place at Busselton and five people  the driver and four primary school students  were taken to Busselton Regional Hospital with minor injuries.

As it was travelling along Queen Elizabeth Avenue the bus rolled on to its side near Busselton Bypass at about 8.25am, the West Australian reports.

A school bus full of children rolled on Wednesday morning in Busselton, Western Australia

A witness told the ABC that the 12-seater bus was clipped by a four-wheel drive, which caused it to roll off the road.

Ten school children were reportedly on board the bus when the accident took place.

Noone was seriously injured in the accident, with the children suffering only cuts and bruises.

St John Ambulance, firefighters and police attended the crash scene and the traffic was soon travelling normally again on the stretch of road.
Since the incident, trappers have caught and killed five gators, which they have

Meanwhile, Walt Disney World officials have closed all of the beaches at their lakefront properties

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The search for a toddler who was snatched by an alligator at a Walt Disney World lake turned to a recovery effort on Wednesday, as police announced that there was no hope the boy could have survived.

The two-year-old boy - who has not been identified - was attacked while wading in about a foot of water outside the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Tuesday night. The Seven Seas Lagoon behind the upscale hotel is off limits to guests, and there are 'no swimming' signs posted nearby - but none of them warned about possible alligators in the water.

The boy's father witnessed the attack and ran into the water to save his son, but was unsuccessful in wrestling the boy from the four- to seven-foot gator, whose razor-sharp teeth left him with lacerations on his arms.

At an afternoon press conference, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said that rescue efforts had been called off and that emergency personnel are now only looking to recover the boy's body. Demings expressed his condolences for the family, and said that his team would be making every effort to find the boy's body soon so that they could have some closure.

Since the incident, more than 50 emergency personnel have been scouring the lake, searching for the boy by helicopter and in boats outfitted with sonar technology. Dive teams were also brought in to search underwater. Meanwhile, Walt Disney World resort officials closed all of the beaches at their resorts, and a spokesman says they are working with law enforcement in what they are describing as a 'tragic accident'.

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A two-year-old boy is presumed dead after he was snatched by a alligator at a Walt Disney World lake Tuesday night. Above, search crews combs the lake for the missing boy Wednesday morning

The two-year-old boy was wading in about a foot of water outside of the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa around 9:20pm when he was attacked by a four to seven-foot-long alligator. Above, sheriff's deputies search for the boy in a boat and by helicopter on Wednesday

Following the incident, Walt Disney World closed all of the beaches at their hotels. Above, a beach at the Polynesian Village hotel, which is located next door to the Grand Floridian (pictured across the water)

The boy's father raced into the water and tried to wrestle his son from the gator, but was not successful. Above, Cinderella's Castle at Magic Kingdom is seen in the background of the Seven Seas Lagoon on Wednesday

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings (pictured) said on Wednesday that there was no more hope the boy had survived the attack

The boy's father suffered lacerations to his arm trying to pry his son from the alligator's clenches. Above, law enforcement officials at the Seven Seas Lagoon on Wednesday

The Nebraska boy, his parents, and his two siblings were on a vacation to Walt Disney World. It's unclear whether they were staying at the Grand Floridian (pictured) Wednesday, one of the most expensive hotels at the resort

More than 50 people were brought in overnight to search for the boy by boat and by helicopter. Divers suited up and searched for the boy's body underwater, with emergency crews scouring the lake bed using sonar technology. Above, a search boat on Wednesday

Alligator trappers were brought in to hunt down the reptile responsible for the attack. So far, they have captured and killed five alligators, which they have determined is not the gator in question after dissection. Above, law enforcement on the scene on Wednesday

Alligators are a relatively common sight at the resort but are removed and relocated when they reach four feet and get too close to guest areas. In addition to the Grand Floridian, Disney's Polynesian Village resort is also located on the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon. The lagoon itself is connected to the larger Bay Lake - home to Disney's Contemporary Resort and Wilderness Lodge hotel.

Since the incident, wildlife officer have trapped and killed five alligators in the lagoon, but none of them were the one that grabbed the boy.

It is not known if the child or his family are guests at the Grand Floridian. With standard rooms starting at $569 a night, the Victorian-style resort is one of the most expensive hotels at Disney World.

During the Wednesday afternoon press conference, Sheriff Demings and wildlife officials defended Disney, saying the company has worked with law enforcement to make sure that their properties are safe for guests by locating and removing dangerous indigenous creatures from the resort. In the resort's 45 year history, Demings says there hasn't been a single similar incident.

Earlier, Demings said the toddler, who was part of a family of five, arrived in Orlando on vacation from Nebraska on Sunday.

He told a news conference last night that the parents and their three children had been on the beach at the time of the attack.

At an afternoon press conference on Wednesday, law enforcement officials said the rescue operation had been called off since there's no hope the boy could have survived the attack. Above search boats in the Seven Seas Lagoon on Wednesday

The Orange County Sheriff said his deputies are working diligently to find the boy's body so that the family can have some closure. Above, an aerial view of the man-made lake on Wednesday

Sheriff Demings remained hopeful that they would locate the boy's body by the end of the day. Above, a search boat on Wednesday

In Disney's 45 years in Florida, Sheriff Demings says there has never been a similar incident. Above, divers work at the site on Wednesday

Sheriff's deputies are using sonar technology to sweep the floor of the man-made lake for signs of the boy's body or the gator. Above, a sheriff's search boat on Wednesday

A spokeswoman for Disney also spoke at an early plress conference, saying: 'Everyone here at Walt Disney World is devastated by this tragic accident

Chad Weber, with Florida Fish and Wildlife, said that the agency had sent alligator trappers to aid the operation. Officials are dissecting the creatures for signs of human remains

In 2015, three people were killed in alligator attacks in the U.S. - two of them in Florida, the other in Texas. Above, search efforts on Wednesday

Demings said: 'The father entered the water and tried to grab the child but he was not successful in doing so. I'm told that at some point, the mother also entered the water.'

The hotel was hosting a movie night on the beach, and the boy's parents had set up a play-pen just 20-30 yards away from the shoreline, witnesses said.

Later, as the boy played, he waded in about one foot of water with his mother and the alligator - believed to be anywhere between four and seven feet long - attacked.

'As they waded into the water along the lake's edge at the time, that's when the alligator attacked,' he said.

He added that the family alerted a nearby lifeguard but they were not able to save the boy. The father was left with scratches after the ordeal.

'We are not leaving until we recover the child,' Demings added, saying there were more than 50 law enforcement personnel who are actively searching the lake.

'The sad reality of it is it's been several hours and we're not likely going to recover a live body.'

An aerial image showing the spot on the beach where the two-year-old boy had been wading in the water before he was snatched by an alligator

The child had been paddling with his parents and four-year-old sister despite the 'no swimming' signs, pictured, which were posted nearby. However,the signs do not warn that alligators might be in the lagoon

Disney World's flagship resort, the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is on the waterfront and a stop away from the Magic Kingdom on the monorail

The Seven Seas Lagoon is connected to another body of water, Bay Lake. Disney's Wilderness Lodge and other hotels are located on the shores of the lake

ALLIGATOR WARNING SIGNS POSTED AT HYATT RESORT JUST MILES FROM DISNEY'S SEVEN SEAS LAGOON The Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, which neighbors the Walt Disney World resort, has signs warning of alligators in its lake Signs warning visitors to beware of alligators were previously posted at a tourist resort just miles from the Walt Disney World lagoon where the two-year-old boy disappeared. The clearly-marked signs, which say No swimming, Beware and Please be aware of alligators in the lake, are located around the edge of the water at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando. Photos of the alligator warnings at the Hyatt resort were shared on the Disney fan website Mouse Steps, and the signs have been there for at least three years. The person who posted the photos online wrote: 'No swimming signs are very common at resorts here - I don't see many alligators in Orlando, but it's always a good idea to do any swimming in pools, not lakes.' The Hyatt resort neighbors Walt Disney World and has a lagoon similar to the one where Tuesday nights attack occurred at Disneys Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. There are hundreds of lagoons in the immediate area surrounding the two resorts, with many just a few hundred feet apart or linked by small streams. Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has No swimming signs at its beach on the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon, but they carry no warning about alligators. The boy disappeared at the beach where the signs are posted. Visitors to the resort told TMZ they spotted an alligator in the same lagoon as recently as a few days ago. It was unclear whether the visitors had reported the sightings to resort staff. With a depth of approximately 15ft, the lagoon is used for boating activities and fishing, while a ferry service transports visitors to and from Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. The lake at Orlando's Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is just miles from the Walt Disney World lagoon where the boy disappeared Advertisement

'As a father, as a grandfather, we are going to hope for the best in these circumstances but based on my 35 years of experience, we know that we have some challenges ahead,' he said.

Asked about the recent tragedies that have rocked Orlando in recent days, including the murder of singer Christina Grimmie after a concert and the massacre at Pulse nightclub that left 49 people dead at the hands of a lone gunman, Demings replied: 'Our staff are very resilient.'

'They are very focused, if you will, on assisting this family,' he added.

A spokeswoman for Disney also spoke at the earlier conference, saying: 'Everyone here at Walt Disney World is devastated by this tragic accident.

'Our thoughts are with the family. We are doing everything we can to help law enforcement.'

In a statement issued late on Tuesday night, Orange County Sheriff's Office's spokeswoman Rose Silva said the Sheriff's Office received a call about an emergency at the scene at 9:21pm.

Florida Fish and Wildlife, Reedy Creek Fire Rescue and the Sheriff's Office responded and a search and recovery operation for initiated.

Shortly afterwards, authorities were pictured sealing off the area with crime-scene tape and searching the water by helicopter and by boat.

Police sealed off the area where the boy was grabbed by the reptile and dragged into the Seven Seas Lagoon

The boy was dragged into the Seven Seas Lagoon near the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa around 9.20pm on Tuesday. Above, police officers and emergency teams at the scene

A two-year-old boy was dragged into the water by an alligator near a Disney World hotel in Orlando - despite his desperate father's attempts to wrestle his son from the reptile's jaws

Police officers search for a child who was reportedly being pulled into the water by an alligator near Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando

Late on Tuesday night, a man named Christian wrote on Twitter: 'Just overheard a group talking about how the father was wrestling with the alligator. This just gets worse and worse.'

Guests were all asked to leave a hotel balcony overlooking the area by staff, he added.

A hotel spokesman declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Online.

Christal Hayes, a reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, wrote on Twitter: 'A lot of the crowd says the boy was on a beach area along the Seven Seas Lagoon when he was dragged in. No eye witnesses, though.'

'I'm just here to say a prayer,' AJ Jain, 51, who is on holiday from Georgia, told Hayes.

'I can't imagine what those parents are going through. It's been one tough week in Orlando.'

The Grand Floridian Resort is one of three luxury hotels located along the lagoon's edge. It is a stop away from Magic Kingdom Park on the monorail line.

DOZENS OF ATTACKS BY ALLIGATORS ARE REPORTED IN FLORIDA EVERY YEAR Wildlife officials wrestle with an alligator and load it on to the back of a truck after it killed a swimmer in Florida last year Millions of alligators live in the 10 southern states of America with 1.3million alone in Florida. Since the 1940s officials in Florida have recorded attacks by alligators against humans, with around a dozen reported each year. There have been at least 41 unprovoked alligator attacks in Florida since 2010, according to the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission records. Last year there were three fatal alligator attacks, one in Texas and two in Florida. In November, Matthew Riggins, 22, was drowned by an alligator before being eaten while trying to hide from police. He was reported missing shortly after he and another man had made a plan to rob houses in Barefoot Bay according to his girlfriend. Both Matthew Riggins, left, and James Okkerse, right, where killed in alligators attacks in Florida last year His body was found 10 days later floating in Barefoot Bay pond - closely guarded by an 11-foot alligator. While a month beforehand, 61-year-old James Okkerse was the first fatality in an alligator attack since 2007. Mr Okkerse had been snorkelling with friends in Blue Spring State Park when he went missing. Several hours later his body was found near a 12-foot alligator that had previously been spotted and caused a swimming area at the park to close twice. Around 1.3million alligators live in Florida, with an average of a dozen attacks against humans recorded each year (file pic) Officials then decided to kill the animal because of the threat it posed to park guests. However, attacks by alligators are considered to be relatively rare as they generally shy away from humans. But if provoked, they are prone to attack as they can become defensive and aggressive. Advertisement

An aerial shot shows the scene over Disney World's flagship resort as authorities continue their search

Alligators are understood to be fairly common on Walt Disney World property as the resort lies in the middle of Florida's swamp land.

If alligators get larger than four feet in size, they are caught and relocated to an area close to the resort called Gator Alley.

But as alligators are often considered as shy creatures, they can be extremely hard to round-up and it is not unheard of for them to be spotted on golf courses at Walt Disney World.

According to the blog Hidden Mickeys, one guest was waterskiing on the Seven Seas Lagoon several years ago when he dove in to cool off.

When he asked the boat driver if there were any gators in the water, he replied 'Yep, we pulled an eight footer out last week!'

The guest was assured that they are generally timid and scared of boats and metal screening is installed before the shorelines to prevent any of them from getting into the swimming areas of the resorts.

It is also not the first time that an alligator has attacked a small child at the Disney World resort in Florida.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, then eight-year-old Paul Santamaria was bitten by a reptile at the Fort Wilderness hotel in 1986.

However, the boy from Bristol, New Hampshire, escaped without being seriously injured after his older sister managed to pull him from the creature's grip.

He was taken to hospital but only suffered cuts to his thigh, knee and leg.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, there have been 41 unprovoked alligator attacks in the state since 2010.

Authorities were pictured sealing off the beach area with crime-scene tape (above) after the attack Tuesday night in Orlando, Florida

One man said that there was a 'movie night' on the beach on Tuesday night, which is where the alligator may have attacked the toddler before dragging the child into the lagoon
Disgraced blogger Belle Gibson has called for a police escort from her home after claiming an 'aggressive' news crew had a history of 'intimidating' her young son.

Police were called to Gibson's Northcote home, in Melbourne's north-east, on Wednesday morning after a Channel Seven news team stationed themselves in a car outside her house.

The former wellness blogger has attracted attention from the media since it was alleged she made half a million dollars by falsely claiming she had cancer and cured her illness with natural remedies.

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Disgraced blogger Belle Gibson called for a police escort from her home after claiming an 'aggressive' news crew had a history of 'intimidating' her young son (Pictured outside her house)

Victoria Police confirmed they attended a home in the area following complaints of media causing a 'disturbance' but no arrests were made.

'Police attended the scene and no offences were detected. There will be no further investigation,' a police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

But Gibson, 24, claims she was justified in calling the police as the media had harassed and intimated her when her five-year-old son Oliver was present.

The pair moved out of Gibson's million-dollar three-bedroom in Elwood late last year but reporters tracked her down at her new, modest two-bedroom home in Northcote, the Herald Sun reported.

The pair moved out of Gibson's million-dollar three-bedroom in Elwood late last year but reporters tracked her down at her new, modest two-bedroom home in Northcote (pictured)

Belle Gibson was seen getting into a car outside her home in Northcote, Melbourne, on Wednesday

'Channel Seven have previously been quite aggressive when we have been putting Oli (pictured) in the car, or otherwise in public and simply didn't want a repeat of past experiences,' Gibson said

'Channel Seven have previously been quite aggressive when we have been putting Oli in the car, or otherwise in public and simply didn't want a repeat of past experiences,' Gibson told news.com.au.

'The only thing they  Channel Seven and other media  are achieving is the intimidation of a five-year-old old who is just trying to get to school,' Gibson added a day after she was pictured outside her home with dark hair and wearing casual exercise attire.

But Channel Seven news director Simon Pristel backed his news crew, adding that their presence at her home was warranted due to the charges she is facing in court.

'Seven News was doing its job and attempting to get Ms Gibson to answer the questions her victims, authorities and the courts all want answered,' Mr Pristel told new.com.au.

'Unfortunately Ms Gibson believes legitimate questioning is harassment.'

Disgraced blogger Belle Gibson (pictured), who claimed to have cured her terminal cancer, has been given one more chance to file a defence against a Federal Court action made by Victoria's consumer watchdog

In an interview with reporter Tara Brown on 60 Minutes (pictured) in 2015, Ms Gibson was unable to explain her web of lies and would not even confirm whether her age was 23 or 26

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Seven News for comment.

This comes as Gibson was pictured was given one more chance to file a defence against court action claiming she made profits by deceiving people into thinking the health regime she sold had cured cancer she did not have.

Barrister Catherine Button, for Consumer Affairs Victoria, said liquidators of Gibson's company, Inkerman Road Nominees Pty Ltd, told the Federal Court they would not appear, but Gibson had given no such notice.

A case management hearing was held at the Federal Court in Melbourne on Friday and this is the second time she and her liquidators failed to appear.

Justice Debra Mortimer gave Gibson one more chance to file a defence on the case - by 4pm on July 10.

Gibson had made claims that she believed she only had four months to live - because of terminal cancer - before rejecting conventional treatments and healing herself naturally. She continues to evade questioning

She told the court: 'These are serious allegations and I want to make sure Ms Gibson knows the consequences of not contributing in this case.'

Gibson made more than half a million dollars after claiming to have cured her illness with natural remedies which she published online, in a book and on an app called The Whole Pantry

She also refused a suggestion by Ms Button that Gibson's address be suppressed in affidavits that will be made available to the media.

Gibson is accused of falsely claiming she healed herself from terminal cancer naturally while promoting her Whole Pantry app and book.

Court documents release late May said Gibson made $578,005 from sales of her app The Whole Pantry, book with the same name and a deal with Apple Watch.

Watchdog Consumer Affairs Victoria want Gibson to pay a fine - possibly more than $1 million - and publish in newspapers an apology that acknowledges her lies.

They have also asked for Gibson to advise cancer patients to seek information from medical professionals, according to the court documents.

The regulator says Gibson engaged in 'unconscionable conduct' by claiming she had been diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009.

The blogger had said that she believed she only had four months to live, before rejecting conventional treatments and healing herself naturally.

They also say she engaged in misleading or deceptive commerce by making these claims to promote her app and book.

This deceptive commerce was repeated when Gibson said she would donate a portion of her app's revenue to charities or other humanitarian causes.

The Whole Pantry app made by Gibson (pictured)was available for purchase between August 2013 and May 2016. By March 2015, it had been downloaded 115,324 times from iTunes

The consumer regulator say Gibson's company was paid $263,947 by publisher Penguin for her The Whole Pantry book, released in October 2014 and withdrawn from sale five months later

This included the Birthing Kit Foundation, One Girl, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, and the family of a seven-year-old boy who is battling terminal brain cancer.

However in 2015, in an interview with The Australian Women's Weekly, she revealed that her incredible story of healing her terminal brain cancer with wholefoods and alternative therapies had been made up.

In an interview with reporter Tara Brown on 60 Minutes in 2015, Ms Gibson was unable to explain her web of lies and would not even confirm whether her age was 23 or 26.

The Whole Pantry app was available for purchase between August 2013 and May 2016.

By March 2015, it had been downloaded 115,324 times from iTunes.

Gibson received $20,725 from Apple, while her company Inkerman Road Nominees - formerly known as Belle Gibson Pty Ltd - was paid $264,881.

It's believed Gibson and her company also received $28,452 from sales of the android version of Whole Pantry.

The consumer regulator say Gibson's company was paid $263,947 by publisher Penguin for her The Whole Pantry book, released in October 2014 and withdrawn from sale five months later.
Michelle Obama has revealed the first thing she wants to do when her husband's term ends is go shopping in Target and sit in a public park.

The First Lady told Oprah Winfrey she wants to return to a normal life during the first White House State of Women summit on Tuesday night.

Oprah also grilled Mrs Obama about her thoughts on the challenges of being a modern woman: She said: 'I am always irritated by the You can have it all statement. Its a ridiculous aspiration. I dont want women out there to have the expectation that if theyre not having it all, then somehow theyre failing.'

And she said that the reality of life as one on the world's most famous females is often challenging, but drew a laugh when she admitted her husband looks 'swagalicious' when walking off Marine One.

Michelle Obama has revealed the first thing she wants to do when her husband's term ends is go shopping in Target and sit in a public park during an interview with Oprah Winfrey

Michelle started the interview by paying tribute to the victims of the Orlando massacre.

'It's time for us to come together, to love each other,' she told the crowd of 5,000 people.

The First Lady then talked about how proud she was when she saw her husband step off a plane and walk into the White House for the first time.

She then went on and described how she told him to be 'authentic' during the presidency.

'I told people from the very start, Barack Obama is exactly who he says he is.

'He's an authentic man as he came in and he's going to leave as the same person,' she said.

She revealed in the frank interview that she told him to 'chill' when he said he considered running for the White House, and was immediately concerned for her daughters, who are now aged 17 and 15.

'It moves me to tears to think about the first day I put them in the car with the Secret Service agents to go to their first day of school.

'I saw them leaving and I thought: "What on earth am I doing to these babies?'"

The First Lady told the chat show host she wants to return to a normal life during the first White House State of Women summit on Tuesday night.

'I knew my first job was to make sure they were going to be whole and normal and cared for in the midst of all this craziness.'

Michelle started gushing about her spouse, saying: 'When I see him get off Marine One and walk into the White House

'It's mm, mm, mm! And you know, he has that walk, right?'

'He's got the swag,' Oprah said.

'He was very swagalicious,' Mrs Obama then said.

When discussing the end of their White House stay in November, she said: 'I want to walk down the street, I want to sit in a yard that is not a national park. I want to go to Target, again.

'I've heard so many things have changed,' she joked.

'I tell my friends they will have to give me re-entry training. What do you do now at [pharmacy] CVS, how do you check out? I've been living in a cave.'

She was candid when speaking about how it felt to watch her children, Malia and Sasha, drive to school with the Secret Service for the first time. But she also made the audience laugh, admitting that she thinks the president is 'swagalicious'

When discussing the end of their White House stay in November, Michelle said: 'I want to walk down the street, I want to sit in a yard that is not a national park. I want to go to Target, again'

The summit included hundreds of speakers including the president, vice president Joe Biden, Gloria Steinem and president of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards.

Michelle had advice for the men in the audience: Be better.

'Be better at everything. Be better fathers.

'Just being good fathers who love your daughters and are providing a solid example of what it means to be a good man in the world. That is the greatest gift that the men in my life gave to me.'

She urged the men to do the dishes and not 'babysit' their children.

'Be engaged. Don't just think going to work and coming home makes you a man,' Mrs Obama said.

'Be better. Just be better. I could go on, but I'm not. You get the point, fellas,' she said.

For the women in the audience, the first lady tried to reassure them that it's hard to 'have it all', especially at the same time.

She mentioned compromises that she made for her family during her life and career, even with all the help and resources available to her.

'I don't want young women out there to have the expectation that if they're not having it all that somehow their failing,' Mrs Obama said.
Omar Mateen could have been targeting another gay club in Orlando which went out of business last week, its owner has claimed.

Micah Bass expressed gratitude that his venue, Club Revere, closed, saying it 'could have been even worse' given it was bigger than Pulse.

Bass said the FBI told him the mass shooter had visited Revere on several occasions, and asked him to keep security videos from his club, the NY Post reported.

Domestic terrorist Omar Mateen may have been targeting another gay venue, Club Revere (pictured) in Orlando

Micah Bass (pictured) expressed gratitude that his venue, Club Revere, went out of business last week, saying it 'could have been even worse' given its capacity was about double that of Pulse's

Bass said he received a Facebook friend request from Mateen, 29, on Thursday or Friday morning, News6 reported.

When he watched the news coverage identifying Mateen as the killer of 49 people after Sunday's mass shooting, Bass told the NY Post: 'I saw that Facebook picture and I said, 'Holy f***.'

'My heart sank and I swallowed my tongue,' he added.

Bass said it wasn't uncommon for him to receive friend requests from patrons, performers and gay allies, but he declined Mateen's request after looking through his friend's list.

'I looked through his friends first and rejected it. A few of his friends were just Arabic writing and I didn't even know.

'It was just nothing that would relate to an LGBT club. It just didn't make sense,' Bass told News6.

Bass contacted authorities and told them about the friend request, and spoke with FBI agents for the second time on Tuesday.

Revere, which is about eight miles southwest of Pulse, was closer to Mateen's home in Fort Pierce, Florida, and Bass noted it would have 'made sense' for him to target his venue.

Bass said he received a Facebook friend request from Mateen on Thursday or Friday morning and notified the FBI after he watched news coverage of the shooting. FBI told Bass Mateen had visited Revere several times

Revere, which is about eight miles south west of Pulse (pictured), was closer to Mateen's home in Fort Pierce, Florida, and Bass noted it would have 'made sense' for him to target his venue

Revere (pictured), which went out of business and shut on Thursday, had a maximum capacity of 750 people. There were about 300 people were at Pulse, which was reported to be at full capacity during Sunday's shooting

The nightclub, which went out of business and shut on Thursday, had a maximum capacity of 750 people.

There were about 300 people were at Pulse, which was reported to be at full capacity during Sunday's shooting.

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35, was a professional dancer who performed at Revere. He was among the 49 victims and died with his partner Leroy Fernandez at Pulse.

Rosadom, who went by the stage name 'Eman Valentino', was a professional dancer for Disney and Universal specializing in Salsa.

'He would have worked here that night if we hadn't shut down,' Bass told the Post.

'At the same, I'm counting my blessings. Maybe we saved a couple hundred lives by shutting down. I'm glad for my failed success.'

A federal law enforcement source said Omar Mateen and his wife Noor Zahi Salman visited Walt Disney World in April, and the 20-year-old scouted the theme park as well as gay club Pulse.

Walt Disney World has not commented on this report.
He has been banned from owning or using a computer without permission

Wallace, who began spamming in 1990s, dubbed himself the Spam King

Facebook obtained a court order banning him but he soon breached it

He accessed 500,000 Facebook accounts between Nov 2008 and Mar 2009

The infamous 'Spam King' who pioneered junk email has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for sending more than 27million unwanted messages to Facebook users.

Sanford Wallace, 47, from Las Vegas, had also disobeyed a court order banning him from the same social media platform.

A judge in San Jose, California also ordered him to pay $310,000 and undergo mental health treatment and five years of probation once he is released from jail.

Judge Edward Davila also banned him from possessing or using any computer without the permission of his probation officer.

Sanford Wallace, pictured, breached an order banning him from Facebook only a month after it was handed out

Wallace - who called himself the Spam King - was arrested in 2011 and had faced up to 40 years in jail and a fine of $2million.

Last year Wallace admitted accessing 500,000 Facebook accounts between November 2008 and March 2009 and sending unsolicited ads disguised as posts from friends over a three-month period.

Prosecutors say Wallace collected Facebook user account information by sending 'phishing' messages that tricked users of the social networking site into providing their passwords.

According to the indictment, he then used that information to log into their accounts and post spam messages on their friends' Facebook walls.

In 2009 Facebook sued Wallace under federal anti-spam laws known as CAN-SPAM, prompting a judge to issue a temporary restraining order banning him from using the website.

Spam is the bane of most internet users' lives, clogging their inboxes with unwanted emails but those behind it can make a lot of money

A month later he broke the order and a judge in the civil lawsuit issued ordered him to pay $711million but he is not thought to have paid a cent yet.

But he was also liable for a criminal prosecution and it is that which has reached its conclusion this week.

Wallace, who was also known as Spamford, ran a company called Cyber Promotions which sent as many as 30million junk emails per day in the 1990s.

According to the indictment he used the aliases David Frederix and Laura Frederix and around 1,500 fake internet domain names.

In 2013 Italian researchers estimated that spammers can earn around $200million a year.
A Vermont state senator forced his legislative assistant into oral sex and raped her at his farm when she was just 16, a court has heard.

Sen. Norman McAllister, on trial on two counts of sexual assault, sat at the defense table as the 21-year-old woman said she went through 'hell' when she worked for the politician.

The 69-year-old Republican lawmaker maintains his innocence, and last month declared his candidacy for re-election.

Suspended from his legislative post in January, he could get up to two life sentences if convicted on the two sexual assault charges.

Vermont state senator Norman McAllister allegedly forced a legislative assistant into oral sex and raped her at his farm. He is pictured listening to the accuser, who is now 21, testifying

The 69-year-old Republican lawmaker maintains his innocence, and last month declared his candidacy for re-election. Suspended from his legislative post in January, he could get up to two life sentences if convicted on the two sexual assault charges

'I was in hell,' the alleged victim told the court. 'I didn't want it happening.'

The woman said she continued to work for McAllister after the assaults until April 2013.

She told the court she needed the money the upkeep of her car, and she took the position in Montpelier because 'it was something new, something bigger'.

The woman also accused McAllister of raping her in his Montpelier apartment, which he shared with other lawmakers, the Burlington Free Press reported.

In all, she claims McAllister could have sexually assaulted her up to 20 times.

During cross examination, the defense argued that there were inconsistencies in stories the woman had told police and in depositions before the trial.

Franklin County Deputy State's Attorney Diane Wheeler said the accuser wanted to keep the assaults a secret, even when police questioned her during the investigation

The woman also accused McAllister of raping her in his Montpelier, Vermont, apartment, which he shared with other lawmakers. In all, she claims she was attacked up to 20 times

Judge Robert Mello listened to the alleged victim describe what she went through as 'hell' during the first day of the trial in St Albans, Vermont

"She just wanted a job," Wheeler said. "She didn't know what to do other than to wish it would never happen again."

The trial is expected to include testimony from some of McAllister's legislative colleagues. And he also faces another trial in the case this fall on sex offenses involving two other women.

The start of the trial Wednesday was delayed when the state requested that McAllister's accuser be neither video- nor audiotaped.

A lawyer for the media members objected, particularly to any ban on audio recordings of her testimony.
The men spent the stolen money at a strip club before getting caught

They then attempted to rob a Domino's store when they were chased out

A group of friends who robbed a service station using a car rented under one of the men's real name drove straight to a strip club and spent the entire $800 they stole in one night, a court has heard.

Alexander James Beckman, 19, Daniel James Rogers, 22, and Reace Gordon Reed, 25, faced Ipswich District Court, south-east Queensland on Thursday.

The men, who were caught on the way home from their night out in Brisbane, had earlier attended two service stations and a Domino's Pizza shop in an attempt to rob them, The Queensland Times reported.

Alexander James Beckman, 19 (Pictured) was one of three men who pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court on Thursday to armed robbery and two counts of attempted armed robbery of a service station

Reed was considered to be the ring leader having hired a car under his real name to travel to the stores they wanted to rob.

The group first entered a 7 Eleven in Inala, Brisbane, with a carjack wrapped in fabric to disguise it as a gun.

After three of the men entered the store with the disguised weapon, the remaining men pulled into the service station in two vehicles to fill the cars with petrol before fleeing.

The group of men then moved onto another petrol station around 300m away where they placed the carjack on the counter before robbing the store.

'The attendant believed he was looking at a gun and heeded to their demands,' Crown prosecutor James Marxson told the court.

'They fled the store with $800, 15 packets of cigarettes and two chocolate bars.'

A group of young men spent the $800 they stole from a petrol station using a carjack disguised as gun at a strip club in Brisbane before they were caught on the way home (stock image)

The five men fled the second service station they attended with $800, 15 packets of cigarettes and two chocolate bars (stock images)

The final destination, a Domino's Pizza store in Bundamba a suburb in Ipswich, did not go to plan after they yelled 'gun' and requested employees to follow orders or be shot.

A worker managed to chase the men out of the store after threatening them with a broom.

The men then headed to a strip club in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, where they spent the $800.

'They were caught the following morning on their way home where they confessed to the crimes immediately,' Mr Marxson said.

Beckman, Rogers and Reed pleaded guilty on Thursday to armed robbery and two counts of attempted armed robbery.

Beckman was sentenced to two years behind bars but was granted him immediate parole.

Rogers received three years behind bars but was granted him immediate parole after the 228 days he served in pre-sentence custody were taken into account.

Whereas Reed was sentenced to two years and ten months behind bars with immediate parole after the 181 days spent in pre-sentence custody were accounted for.

The remaining two friends will be sentenced in August.
He added his daughters find it weird there hasn't been a female president

During the speech the president said he is what a feminist looks like

The talk comes just after Obama had to cancel a Clinton campaign spot

President Barack Obama said his daughters see no reason why they couldn't follow in their father's footsteps one day and think it's strange there hasn't been a female president yet.

During a talk about women at a White House-sponsored forum, Obama said today's generation doesn't see gender as a restriction.

He specifically said daughters Sasha and Malia feel being female doesn't prevent them from achieving any goal or holding any office.

'They think it's weird we haven't already had a woman president,' Obama said. 'They expect the world to catch up to them. And I have no doubt that we will.'

He also went on to praise Hillary Clinton for making history as the first woman to lead a presidential nomination ticket.

The talk comes just after the president canceled his first campaign appearance with Clinton.

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Obama spoke at a women's summit on Tuesday where he talked about Hillary Clinton and his daughters Sasha and Malia

Although he couldn't join her on the trail due to the Orlando shooting, he continued to praise her presumptive nomination for raising the expectations of 'our sons and daughters of what is possible'.

He added that Clinton is the latest in a long line of women securing equal rights for the genders including Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott.

Obama was unflinching when he said he is a supporter of women's rights.

'I may be a little grayer than I was eight years ago, but this is what a feminist looks like,' he said.

Obama's speech at the summit was littered with references to Clinton, CNN pointed out, as he noted that more women in corner suites  the Oval Office included  are needed.

He said while he remains in office he will continue to work toward pro-women policies.

'This is what a feminist looks like': Obama was unflinching when he said he is a supporter of women's rights

The president went on to say that the younger generation doesn't feel that their gender restricts them and even said his daughters agree. Pictured: Obama hugs 11-year-old Mikailia Ulmer who introduced him at the summit

'They keep waiting for this whole lame duck thing to happen. Let me tell you, it will happen as soon as I have elected a really good successor to carry on our policies,' he said. 'Until then, we're working pretty hard.'

Obama said our culture needs to be challenged when it 'punishes women for their sexuality but gives men a pat of the back for theirs'.

He gave an example, saying fathers shouldn't be given a pat on the back for 'changing a diaper'.

The president then said first lady Michelle Obama has to worry about her public perception as a woman and worries if she's 'acting the right way, or looking the right way, or too assertive, or too angry'.

The president said our society's views need to be challenged and that men shouldn't earn praise for 'changing a diaper'

But as the new generation makes its voice heard in the U.S., those feelings of uncertainty are shifting.

He said of Sasha and Malia: 'They believe every door is open to them.

'They're not engaging in any kind of self-censorship. They're not going to hold themselves back.

'It wouldn't occur to them they couldn't rise to the top of whatever field they choose.'
His daughter died while he was in jail and his wife has fallen

An Australian businessman jailed in China for white-collar crimes then transferred back to Australia to serve out his sentence has been freed.

Former high-flying entrepreneur Matthew Ng was sentenced to 11.5 years jail in April 2012 by a Chinese court for commercial transactions he handled with a Communist-owned business.

After serving four years in a Guangzhou prison he was transferred to Sydney's Silverwater Correctional Complex in 2014 through a first-ever prison transfer agreement.

Mr Ng has now walked free early after applying for a reduced sentence on the grounds of exceptional family circumstances, reports ABC.

Matthew Ng was sentenced to 11.5 years jail in April 2012 for white-collar crimes by a Chinese court

While he has been incarcerated his 14-year-old daughter died and his wife has now fallen seriously ill. In his application for early release, he voiced his desperation to care for his stricken family.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan revealed in a statement on Wednesday he approved the early release bid on licence.

'I am satisfied exceptional circumstances exist to justify Mr Ng's early release from prison,' he said in a statement.

Mr Ng was born in China, became an Australian citizen, then returned to China to run a tourism company.

He ran into strife after an acrimonious dispute with his Chinese business partner, facing charges of embezzlement, corruption, bribery and falsifying company records.

Among the allegations was that he offered a board seat to the principal of a company his firm took over. That's a standard western business practice, though Chinese authorities treated it as bribery.

The former high-flying businessman has now walked free early after applying for a reduced sentence on the grounds of exceptional family circumstances

In December 2011, he was jailed for 13 years, though that was subsequently reduced to 11 years and six months.

Mr Ng was returned to Australia in November 2014 to service out his sentence, the first Australian returned from China under a 2011 prisoner transfer agreement.
A young woman who suffered a double cardiac arrest following a terrifying road rage incident in northern Queensland is still in a critical condition in hospital.

Kaylah Bennett-Martincevic, 21, from Cooloola Cove, was left fighting for her life after she suffered two heart-attacks following the road rage attack at Rainbow Beach on Tuesday.

Graham Michael Hughes, 22, from Rainbow Beach was arrested and charged over the attack on Wednesday morning. It is alleged that he produced a knife and stabbed the car Bennett-Martincevic was riding in along with a male passenger and two children.

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Kaylah Bennett-Martincevic from Cooloola Cove was left fighting for her life after she suffered two heart attacks following the road rage attack

He has been charged with threatening violence and wilful damage, and will appear at Gympie Magistrates Court on Thursday for a bail application.

The altercation took place on Tuesday at 11.30am at Rainbow Beach when the woman's car was stabbed several times with a knife by the alleged attacker after he had tailgated her for several blocks beforehand, 7 News reports.

After producing the knife and attacking the other motorist's car, the man then drove off towards Inskip Point.

The 21-year-old suffered a heart attack afterwards at the scene, but paramedics were able to successfully resuscitate her.

The 21-year-old suffered a heart attack afterwards at the scene and again in the ambulance on her way to hospital

Graham Michael Hughes was arrested and charged in northern Queensland on Wednesday morning for the road rage incident

Bennett-Martincevic is now receiving further treatment at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital

She then suffered a second heart attack however on her way to hospital in the ambulance, but once again she was successfully revived. The young woman is now receiving further treatment at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.

'She stopped the car and the man came up to the car and started stabbing the car with a knife,' an eye witness told the Gympie Times.

The man and two young children who were also in the car were not physically harmed during the incident.

It is believed the two men involved are known to each other.

The incident took place on Tuesday morning at Inskip Avenue, Rainbow Beach, in northern Queensland




Kate and Gerry McCann were 'horrified' last night as it was claimed the late Sir Clement Freud  who befriended them in Praia da Luz - was a child abuser.

Two women have dramatically come forward to say Sir Clement molested them when they were children.

The celebrated broadcaster and former MP, who died in 2009, had a villa in the Algarve resort where Madeleine disappeared nine years ago.

The late Sir Clement Freud (left), who has been accused of being a child abuser, befriended Kate and Gerry McCann, pictured in Praia da Luz after their daughter Madeleine's disappearance

After the little girl vanished, he invited her parents around to his villa - bizarrely teasing Mrs McCann about whether she was a 'nymphomaniac', she later wrote in her book.

The revelation that Freud was in Praia da Luz the year Madeleine went missing, and is now named as a child abuser, will be a 'shock' to the McCanns.

A source close to the couple said: 'It certainly raises a lot of questions. They will be appalled to hear the details.'

Freud's whereabouts around the day when Madeleine vanished, May 3, 2007, could potentially be the subject of police inquiries, if it has not already been so.

There is no sign that his name featured in the botched Portuguese police investigation. And the Metropolitan Police, which launched Operation Grange in 2011 to re-examine the Madeleine case, has never said anything about him.

After the little girl (pictured) vanished, he invited her parents around to his villa - bizarrely teasing Mrs McCann about whether she was a 'nymphomaniac', she later wrote in her book

Last night his son Matthew Freud said his father had been in the UK on the night Madeleine vanished in Portugal, adding that his father was 83 at the time.

He said the Madeleine detectives had not asked the family anything about their father.

Asked if there was any information that might help police with their inquiries, in terms of people his father might have known in Praia da Luz, Mr Freud said it was 'a totally inappropriate line of questioning given an ITV allegation of teenage groping in 1956'.

Sylvia Woosley, who first met Freud when she was 10 and later went to live with him when her mother's marriage broke down, has claimed in an ITV Exposure documentary to be aired tonight that he molested her over several years.

A second woman, who wants to remain anonymous, alleged that the Liberal politician also abused her as a child and raped her when she was 18.

Private investigators hired by the McCanns in the months after the three-year-old's disappearance said Praia da Luz and the Algarve were 'awash' with paedophiles.

Freud had owned a beautiful family home, complete with a lemon tree, in the resort since the 1980s.

Among the unanswered questions are why someone who has now been named as a child abuser would have invited the McCanns around to his villa.

Mrs McCann wrote in her book, about her daughter's abduction, of the times when she and Gerry went round to see him.

The first meeting, a lunch, took place in July 2007.

Freud had written them a letter saying he was 'ashamed of the intrusion to your lives by our media'.

He went on to offer: 'If you would care to come to lunch/dinner at any time before Wednesday next, do ring and let me know. I cook decent meals.'

The former MP, who died in 2009, had a villa in the Algarve resort where Madeleine disappeared nine years ago

At his villa the next day, Mrs McCann recalled his 'razor-sharp intellect' and said he treated them to a strawberry vodka followed by chicken and mushroom risotto.

He wore 'so many hats' that he was hard to pin down, Mrs McCann noted, and was 'incredibly warm, funny and instantly likeable', cheering the couple up with his 'lugubrious wit', she wrote in her book on her daughter's disappearance.

She said Freud kept in touch by email after his return to England, and called them again when he was back in Luz that August.

The next time they saw him, after the McCanns had been made suspects by bungling Portuguese police, he joked with them about the useless police investigation.

Offering Mrs McCann a brandy, he also teased her about the press coverage, saying: 'So, Kate, which of the devout Catholic, alcoholic, depressed, nymphomaniac parts is correct?', she wrote in her book Madeleine.

A source close to the McCanns said: 'Clement Freud invited them round for drinks, just to show some sympathy.

Pictured are police officers searching an area of scrubland close to where Madeleine vanished in 2007

The Ocean Club, where the McCann family were staying. Private investigators hired by the McCanns after the three-year-old's disappearance said Praia da Luz and the Algarve were 'awash' with paedophiles

'He had a family home in Praia da Luz and the invitation came as a bolt from the blue. They were grateful for his sympathy. It was a chance for them to take time out and have a drink by someone being friendly.'

The Metropolitan Police have not commented on how the new information about Freud might relate to Operation Grange, the ongoing investigation into Madeleines disappearance.

Former murder squad detective Colin Sutton told the Telegraph: 'If this is something that investigators had not been aware of then it would be certainly a potential line of inquiry that would be worth pursuing.

'It is not something that ought to be taken lightly and you would also want to look any connections he may have had in the area at the time.'
A Sydney design college student accused of poisoning her friend with a cyanide-laced iced coffee was driven by 'revenge', an Indonesian Court has been told.

It was alleged that when Jessica Kumala Wongso, 27, saw her friend collapse and begin to froth at the mouth after drinking a coffee, she looked on and did nothing.

An hour later Wayan Mirna Salihin, also 27, was pronounced dead.

Jessica Kumala Wongso is accused of poisoning Wayan Mirna Salihin - the former Sydney design college student was driven by 'revenge', according to prosecutors

Australian resident Jessica Wongso (at left) is accused of murdering her friend Mirna Salihin (right) by allegedly slipping cyanide into her iced coffee at a cafe in Jakarta in January

Wongso pictured on day one of her trial - she allegedly put cyanide in the victim's iced coffee

On the first day of Wongso's trial on Wednesday, Jakarta Central District Court heard how the pair had studied together at the design college Billy Blue in Sydney.

They had a falling out about the middle of last year when Mirna discovered Wongso was in a relationship with a man in Australia.

No details were revealed in court about the boyfriend but prosecutors allege Mirna objected to him, saying he was 'rough', treated Jessica badly and was a drug user.

She eventually broke off the relationship and to avenge her pain, 'the defendant planned to take away Mirna's life', according to prosecutors.

Jessica Kumala Wongso - the woman accused of killing her friend by slipping cyanide in her iced coffee could face the death penalty in Indonesia

The judges speak with Jessica Kumala Wongso's lawyers during her trial for the alleged murder of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin at the Central Jakarta Court

Edi Darmawan Salihin (left), the father of Wayan Mirna Salihin, is seen in court during Jessica Kumala Wongso's trial for the alleged murder of her friend

Jessica Kumala Wongso sits in front of the presiding judges at her murder trial in Jakarta

Jessica Kumala Wongso consults with her lawyers during the first day of her trial

To implement this plan, they allege Wongso reconnected with Mirna through the online messaging service WhatsApp on December 5, 2015 - one day before she arrived in Indonesia from Australia.

Sometime between December 7 and 15, the pair, along with Mirna's husband Arief Setiawan Soemarko met in a restaurant in North Jakarta.

Then Wongso organised a catch-up with Mirna and another friend - Boon Juwita (known as Hani)- who also studied at Billy Blue.

On the day of the alleged murder on January 6, Wongso arrived at Olivier Restaurant in the Grand Indonesia mall well before the other women and ordered Mirna's favourite drink - an iced Vietnamese coffee.

After it was placed on the table, she allegedly moved to the middle of the table's booth seat, placed the coffee to her right and arranged three gift bags around it so no witnesses could see the coffee.

Soon after she returned to her original seat, pushing the drink towards the middle of the table and moving the three gift bags to the side.

Mirna Salihin (pictured), 27, died in January after police believe her iced coffee was spiked with cyanide a few weeks after she was married to Arief Soemarko (left)

As part of the investigation Wongso participated in a police reenactment of the alleged killing at Olivier Grant Cafe earlier this year (pictured above)

Jessica Kumala Wongso talks with her lawyers at the Central Jakarta Court. They have criticised the prosecution's case, saying they had not provided evidence as to where the cyanide was allegedly purchased

When Hani and Mirna arrived, she said: 'This (coffee) is for you Mir, you said you wanted (it).'

Mirna drank it, exclaiming: 'This is really not good, this is awful.'

Two minutes later, prosecutors say, Mirna collapsed.

Her head fell to the back of the sofa and she began foaming at the mouth and had a 'blank look' on her face.

Jessica Kumala Wongso is seen in a prisoner transport vehicle after her trial at the Central Jakarta Court

Jessica Kumala Wongso consults her lawyers during her trial for the alleged murder of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin at the Central Jakarta Court in Jakarta

Wongso, accused of murdering a friend by slipping cyanide into her coffee at an upmarket Jakarta cafe

Hani called her name and tried to wake her up but Wongso, prosecutors alleged, just sat there quietly without reacting or helping.

An autopsy later found an anomaly in her stomach caused by a corrosive agent while the amount of cyanide found in the iced coffee - 298mg - was well over the lethal dose for a woman of Mirna's size, prosecutors say.

But Wongso's legal team criticised the prosecution's case, saying they had not provided any evidence as to where the cyanide was allegedly purchased or how their client allegedly administered it into the drink.

Wongso's legal team criticised the prosecution's case, saying they had not provided any evidence as to where the cyanide was allegedly purchased or how their client allegedly administered it into the drink

Wongso's legal team argued their client had passed a lie detector test - which had not applied to any other witnesses, and should be let go

The autopsy also didn't establish the amount of cyanide found in Mirna's body.

They argued their client had passed a lie detector test - which had not applied to any other witnesses.

'If Jessica passed the lie detector test, why is she still a suspect?' lawyer Sordame Purba asked, calling for their client's immediate release.

The matter will return to court next week.
A father and son who became Australias most wanted fugitives following a shootout with police last year have pleaded guilty to murder.

Gino and Mark Stocco pleaded guilty on Wednesday to shooting dead 68-year-old farmer Rosario Cimone last October.

The two men were arrested in NSW at Pinevale, near Elong Elong northeast of Dubbo, on October 28 last year and were later charged with murdering Mr Cimone, the Italian-born property caretaker.

Gino (right) and Mark Stocco (left) have pleaded guilty to one count each of murder and of destroying property by fire

The two men were arrested in NSW at Pinevale, near Elong Elong northeast of Dubbo, last October

Mr Cimone's body was discovered in a shallow grave on the property.

The father and son were charged with a string of offences including shooting with intent to murder, after they allegedly opened fire on two police vehicles near Wagga Wagga.

The had been wanted in relation to property offences in Queensland and had evaded capture for eight years. The pair allegedly preyed on isolated farmers, taking advantage of their kindness and trust.

But the shots they allegedly fired at police on October 16 last year prompted authorities to ramp up efforts to find the pair, triggering a weeks-long manhunt across parts of Victoria and NSW.

Both men appeared in Dubbo Local Court in Brisbane on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to one count each of murder and of destroying property by fire.

They will be sentenced in the NSW Supreme Court at a later date.

Gino Stocco looking battered and bruised in the back of a police vehicle after he was arrested last year

Mark Stocco pictured arriving at Dubbo Police Station after his arrest last October

NSW Police captured Gino (right) and Mark (left) Stocco after eight years on the run
A British tourist is in a coma in hospital in Ibiza after reportedly taking drugs and going berserk on a beach in Ibiza.

The 20-year-old holidaymaker, named only as D.A.R, was rushed to hospital after being overcome by police.

Witnesses said he was 'screaming and struggling' and officers had to bring in extra resources to get him into an ambulance.

It is understood he finally collapsed with heatstroke and suffered a cardiac arrest brought on by ingesting some sort of toxic substances, say police.

'He was screaming and struggling with police': A British tourist is in a coma in hospital in Ibiza after reportedly taking drugs and going berserk on a beach in the bay of San Antonio in Ibiza (pictured)

He is now in the intensive care unit of Can Misses hospital where his condition is described as serious.

The incident happened in the bay of San Antonio, the Ibiza resort favoured by young Britons but, like Magaluf, desperate to get away from its 'anything goes' image and negative publicity.

The 20-year-old was staying in a local hotel and at one stage, was reportedly thrown out of a bar on the beachfront for reasons which have not been specified.

Then, apparently under the influence of drink or drugs, he marched into a dive centre, forced his way in and caused damage.

He was spotted by a police patrol car who managed to control him whilst they called for an ambulance.

'The young man kept struggling and screaming so reinforcements were called in,' said local newspaper Diario de Ibiza.

He is now in intensive care at the Can Misses hospital (pictured) where his condition is described as serious

He was then taken to a local health centre where he suffered a cardiac arrest but medics managed to revive him after one minute of resuscitation and he was stabilised.

He was then transferred to the intensive care unit of Can Misses hospital.

A spokesman said his temperature had reached 41.5C.

'We believe these symptoms were caused because he was under the influence of toxic substances,' he added.
Orlando shooter Omar Mateen pledged allegiance to ISIS on on Facebook the morning of his attack before buying ammunition with his wife then murdering 49 people.

Those are the details federal investigators have clobbered together as they try to map out Mateen's final movements.

Surveillance footage obtained by the FBI shows the 29-year-old and his wife Noor Salman, 30, going to a shop to buy bullets days before the attack, CBS reported.

The next piece of concrete information is a series of 911 calls Mateen made during his rampage.

In those calls he declared his allegiance to various Islamist militant groups, some of which are at odds with one another.

He also called a friend and a local 24-hour cable news channel, News 13, to say he was tied to ISIS, the station revealed on its website on Wednesday.

The FBI is now reviewing all those calls and clips, as well as the location data in Mateen's cell phone. They are also interviewing his widow, Noor Salman, to find out what she knows.

And despite already being flooded with tips from the public, the agency released an appeal poster on Wednesday appealing for citizens to help them shed light on Mateen's movements.

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Appeal poster: Despite already being flooded with tips from the public, the agency released this appeal poster on Wednesday appealing for citizens to help them shed light on Omar Mateen's movements before his attack

Hours before the attack: Surveillance footage obtained by the FBI reportedly shows the 29-year-old and his wife Noor Salman, 30, (pictured with their three-year-old son) going to a shop to buy bullets

FBI agents gave a press conference with Orlando police on Wednesday appealing to the public for help

'We need your help in developing the most complete picture of what he did and why he did it,' FBI agent Ron Hopper said.

An official who was briefed on the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation said authorities believe that Salman knew ahead of time about Sunday's attack, but they are reluctant to charge her on that basis alone.

Investigators have spoken extensively with her and are working to establish whether she recently accompanied Mateen to the gay dance club, said a second official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly.

The FBI has also recovered Mateen's phone and will use location data to verify whether he previously visited the club, the official said.

At a news conference Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley repeatedly refused to say whether any charges might be brought against anyone. He said authorities are talking to hundreds of people and investigating everyone associated with Mateen, including family, friends and business associates.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said Mateen drove around the Orlando area Saturday evening, going from one place to another, before he opened fire at the gay nightspot about 2 a.m. Sunday. The attack ended with the 29-year-old American-born Muslim being killed by a SWAT team.

Orlando is nearly a two-hour drive from Mateen's home in Fort Pierce, Florida.

'What I know concretely is that he was driving around that evening and visited several locations,' Dyer said.

When asked exactly where Mateen visited, and whether the locations included theme parks as reported in news accounts, the mayor said: 'I think it's been pretty accurately depicted on the news.' He gave no further details.

In Fort Pierce, Florida, where Salman and Mateen lived, Salman made a brief visit to their first-floor apartment late Monday, escorted by police and her brother-in-law. Her father-in-law said she came to retrieve clothing. She did not speak with reporters.

She has otherwise been in seclusion.

Three people identifying themselves as FBI agents visited Salman's childhood home in Rodeo, California, on Tuesday and spoke with her mother, said Jessie Rojas, a next-door neighbor. Rodeo is in the dry hills near the oil refineries 25 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Salman and Mateen married in 2011 and have a 3-year-old son. Marriage documents on file in the Contra Costa County Recorder's office list Salman's parents' birthplace as Palestine. Their naturalization papers allowing them to stay in the country were approved in 1984.

The shooter is believed to have made the phone call to News 13 while he was hauled up in the bathroom of Pulse nightclub (pictured on Sunday after the attack)

Omar Mateen, who opened fire at Pulse nightclub killing at least 49 people on Sunday, called News 13 and spoke to producer Matthew Gentili (pictured) mid-rampage

In other developments Florida documents obtained by The Associated Press under open-records laws show that Mateen passed a psychological evaluation in 2007 as part of his application to be a security guard. The records say he took a written psychological test or was evaluated by a psychologist or psychiatrist.

On Tuesday, a survivor of the massacre, 20-year-old Patience Carter, shed more light on Mateen's thinking, saying he talked about wanting America to 'stop bombing my country'  a possible reference to his father's native Afghanistan.

A number of possible motives and explanations have emerged, with Mateen calling 911 to profess allegiance to the Islamic State group, his ex-wife saying he was mentally ill and his father suggesting he hated gays.

The picture grew more complex when a U.S. official said the FBI was looking into a flurry of news reports quoting people as saying Mateen frequented the nightspot and reached out to men on gay dating apps. The official was not authorized to discuss the investigation and also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Some psychologists raised the possibility that Mateen was sexually conflicted and lashed out, or else was casing the nightclub and trying to find potential victims online.

Mateen's father, Seddique Mateen, denied his son was gay and said that if he had been in the nightclub before, he may have been 'scouting the place.'

Mateen's ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, said earlier in the week that he was mentally ill and abusive. Amid the latest reports about his club-going, she told CNN: 'Well, when we had gotten married, he confessed to me about his past that was recent at that time and that he very much enjoyed going to clubs and the nightlife and there was a lot of pictures of him.'
He told police he knew it was wrong but had not had sex for four months

An Iraqi asylum seeker who had not had sex for four months and said it was a medical emergency when he raped a ten-year-old boy in a swimming pool changing room has been jailed.

The 20-year-old migrant, who had been taken to the Austrian swimming pool to be taught how to integrate into his new community, was found guilty of serious sexual assault and rape of a minor and was sentenced to six years in jail.

The man, who had fled to Austria through the Balkan refugee route in September last year, hung his head in shame before he was sentenced for the horrific crime which left his victim suffering post-traumatic stress.

The accused hung his head before the court process begins, having admitted he knew what he did was wrong in any country

The migrant was jumping from the diving board at Theresienbad pool (pictured above) when police came to arrest him with the man now sentenced to six years jail

The migrant had been taken to the pool in December 2015 with a 15-year-old helper and translator who was helping him to integrate into life in the Austrian capital Vienna.

But while there, the 20-year-old man dragged a boy, 10, into the change rooms and attacked him.

The boy, known only as Goran, was also the son of an immigrant family from the Balkans who grew up in Austria with his Serbian mother.

The horrific attack was so violent that the young boy needed to be treated at the Children's Hospital, and is now plagued by massive post-traumatic stress disorder.

Goran went to a lifeguard in tears after the attack but the Iraqi involved in the attack was so brazen that he had not even left the swimming pool.

Instead, he was jumping off a three-metre diving board when police arrived to arrest him.

He told police the attack was a sexual emergency as he had not had sex for four months after leaving his wife behind and coming to Austria as an asylum seeker in September 2015.

Court Psychiatrist Gabriele Woergotter confirmed the 10-year-old victim now suffers frequent panic attacks.

The courts awarded the victim 4,730 EUR (3,750 GBP) compensation.

The man faced up to 15-years in prison under Austrian law - but was given a lower sentence apparently due to his young age, and previous good behaviour. The court also took into account the man's 'adverse living conditions' when deciding on the sentence.

The sentence can still be appealed with the man's defence lawyer Roland Kier asking for some time to consider the sentence.

The mother of the boy, identified only by her first name Dunja, who arrived in Austria herself as an immigrant from Serbia during the Civil War that saw the breakup of former Yugoslavia said she had always taught her five children to offer the same hospitality to new arrivals that she had herself received.

She said: I now regret that.

She added that her son could only sleep at night with the aid of Trittico tablets (Trazadone), and suffered from panic attacks.

She said: Often he wakes up in the night screaming and crying.

The young victim loved going swimming at the local pool in Vienna but now suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks

Previously, the mother of the boy described the man's defence as 'just monstrous'.

The boy's mother Dunja, who arrived in Austria as an immigrant in the 90s from Serbia during the Civil War, said she had always taught her five children to offer the same hospitality to new arrivals that she had herself received.

Upon hearing her son's attacker's claim he had 'too much sexual energy', Dunja criticised his defence as 'just monstrous' and insisted he should be sent to prison and then be deported. She said she 'regretted' teaching her children to be welcoming to migrants.

Speaking to local media, Dunja revealed how she was a single mother, who had struggled with little money but had always encouraged her five children not to judge other people.

However when she heard the Iraqi migrant's claims that it was a 'sexual emergency', she immediately wished she had warned her son about the dangers of trusting strangers.

'I couldn't believe it when I heard that. I come from Serbia, and I spent five years living in a Caritas home together with people from many different nations.

'You certainly can't call me a racist, but to try and defend himself in that way is just monstrous. It's like me saying I'm going to go to a bank tomorrow and rob it because I don't have enough money for my five children.

'I know that the physical wounds will heal, but the wounds to his soul may never heal,' she said.

The Iraqi migrant told police that he knew such an act was 'forbidden in any country of the world', and he was not 'always sick', as he has a wife and a daughter in Iraq.

The Iraqi, who had been working as a taxi driver in Vienna, told police he knew it was 'a mistake' and did not mean to 'scar the boy', reports Kronen Zeitung.

At first, Austrian did not release details of the rape, on December 2 at the Theresienbad pool, to protect the victim.

The pool's lifeguard immediately called police who immediately hand-cuffed the man

The boy's mother revealed how her son loves swimming and that she gave him three euros so he could go to the local Theresienbad swimming pool in the Meidling district of Vienna.

'He was so happy at having the money, and after school went there straight away so I wasn't expecting him back home immediately.

'Three hours after school finished, I got a phone call from him and he was crying into the phone. I couldn't understand a word he said, but then somebody came on the phone and told me: "Please come straight away, your child has been sexually assaulted".'

She said that she had rushed there straight away and was devastated when she looked through a glass window and saw her crying child sitting in a room with a man in swimming trunks who had handcuffs on.

She said her sister was with her, and the police had to stop her from attacking the man straight away.

The man had been in the swimming pool with a 15-year-old boy who was in some way connected to the man that attacked her son, and her son had been talking to the teenager.

Through the teenager, the boy had been introduced to the man, and when he later went to the cabin the man knocked on the door.

She added: 'I know that the physical wounds will heal, but the wounds to his soul may never heal. I don't want the man to be deported, I want him to be jailed because I have heard what they do to child sex attackers in jail.

'I want him to experience everything in jail that child sex attackers can experience from the other convicts. And then I want him deported.'

Reports emerged on Facebook and police said they must be sensitive about cases involving migrants, who have 'been through a lot', but that there would be zero-tolerance.
Caroline Wyatt has spoken of her 'relief' at her MS diagnosis and her sadness at having to step down as the BBC's religious affairs correspondent

BBC correspondent Caroline Wyatt says she is 'utterly overwhelmed' by the support she has received since she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

It was announced yesterday that the veteran reporter is stepping down as the corporation's religious affairs correspondent due to the impact of the neurological condition.

The 49-year-old was diagnosed with MS late last year but has revealed that she has lived with its impact for 25 years and is relieved to be getting treatment.

Ms Wyatt, who has reported from around the world during her career, said last night: 'I have been utterly overwhelmed by the support I've had from my colleagues, friends and family in recent days and months, and am so grateful for the support the BBC is giving me while I recover from my current relapse.

'After being diagnosed with MS late last year, I feel very lucky to live in a country where the NHS is able to do much to help people with MS, and where so much research is being done.

'I have lived with the condition for the past 25 years, so the diagnosis came as a relief as it enables me to have treatment and to do all I can to manage it.'

After telling of her sadness at stepping down from her current role, she added: 'I feel incredibly blessed in having been able to work as a BBC correspondent for the past 23 years.

'When I return to work in the autumn, I am really looking forward to starting a new chapter as a presenter for BBC radio, and I hope in the future to raise both awareness and money for more research into MS.'

She will be returning to the airwaves on Radio 4 and World Service after a break for the rest of the summer following medical advice, the BBC said yesterday.

Ms Wyatt is a respected correspondent who covered wars in Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan (pictured)

Ms Wyatt tweeted this message to her 10,000 Twitter followers last night

The respected news reporter has worked in a number of roles since joining the corporation as a trainee in the early 1990s.

She has reported on fall of the Berlin Wall and covered wars in Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan.

WHAT IS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition, which means it affects the nervous system including the brain and the spinal cord. It affects around 100,000 people in the UK and most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20-40. Roughly three times as many women have MS as men. In the human body, all the nerve fibres are surrounded by a protective coating called myelin. It works like an insulating cable, helping messages from the brain get to the spinal cord and other parts of the body quickly. In MS, the body's immune system turns inward and starts to attack the myelin. When the myelin becomes damaged, the messages from the brain slow down or have trouble getting through. Damage to the nerves responsible for movement can lead to poor co-ordination and damage to the nerves in the eye can result in blurred vision. Advertisement

More recently she has presented a number of programmes on Radio 4, including The World Tonight, From Our Own Correspondent and the Saturday edition of PM.

BBC colleagues showed their support for the popular reporter on Twitter yesterday.

Producer Callum May wrote on Twitter: 'Can't pretend I'm not v sad about the news that Caroline Wyatt is to step down as BBC News's religious affairs correspondent.

'Caroline has been one of my heroes since I started in journalism - and it's been brilliant to work as her producer. Wishing her every success as a radio presenter - and the best health possible.'

New York correspondent Tony Brown replied: '@callummay a hug for @CarolineWyatt from me please'

Commenting on the diagnosis, Ed Holloway, Director at the MS Societysaid: 'There are more than 100,000 people living with multiple sclerosis in the UK.

'MS is an unpredictable condition and that can make it really hard to manage.

'People with MS have to deal with a range of symptoms including pain, sight loss, fatigue and disability, they can vary and fluctuate over time, and that can make work a challenge.

'Making a decision about what to do after diagnosis is really personal and we'd urge anyone facing these issues to get in touch with our helpline on 0808 800 8000.'
A Sydney truck driver charged over a hit and run incident that killed a grandmother laughed off a witness's comments about blood coming from under his vehicle, a court has heard.

After the truck he was driving allegedly hit 60-year-old Jo-Ann Thwaites, pushing her into the path of another truck, Emmanuel Xiberras, 36, was stopped by a witness who asked, 'did you see what you ran over?', the Manly Local Court heard on Wednesday.

Police prosecutor Cheryl Jimmieson told the court the person said to Xiberras that 'there looked like blood coming out from the back of your truck'.

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Sydney truck driver Emmanuel Xiberras (centre) leaves the Manly Local Court in Sydney, on Wednesday

Police prosecutor Cheryl Jimmieson told the court the person said to Xiberras that 'there looked like blood coming out from the back of your truck', which he laughed at

Jo-Ann Thwaites, 60, (above with her late husband) was killed after being hit by a truck in Sydney's north

Mrs Thwaites (above with her husband) had dropped her own car to a garage for servicing earlier that day and chose to walk before she was hit and killed

'The defendant laughed,' she said.

'He laughs that off and leaves.

'He looks under the vehicle and sees material wrapped around the drive-shaft - that's clothing, that's the victim's clothing.

'So he drives off.'

Ms Thwaites was struck while crossing a pedestrian crossing on Old Pittwater Rd, Brookvale, on May 20.

Xiberras has pleaded not guilty to failing to stop and render aid after an impact causing death, and to negligent driving occasioning death.

Xiberras allegedely dumped Mrs Thwaites' clothing into a skip after finding it wrapped around his truck's drive shaft following the incident

His lawyer asked the magistrate to lift a driving ban imposed on Xiberras as part of his bail conditions, so the truckie could return to work, but the request was refused.

Sgt Jimmieson said Xiberras, who had a history of traffic offences, threw the clothing he found under his truck in a skip bin and failed to notify police despite the incident being 'all over the radio' that day.

He allegedly ran over Ms Thwaites while in a slip lane and was probably looking right to merge instead of giving way to Ms Thwaites, who tried to steady herself against his truck but went under the wheels.

'How he could not have seen this woman is beyond belief,' she said.

Earlier, defence lawyer Leonardo Premutico said it was a weak case and involved an element of negligence, not a deliberate act.

'Horrible things happen in life every day, and sometimes they're accidents, sometimes they're deliberate,' he said.

But Magistrate Andrew George refused to allow the truck driver back behind the wheel, saying he had decided in the interests of public safety that the ban remain until Xiberras is acquitted or otherwise gets his licence back.

The case is due to return to court in August.

Xiberras has pleaded not guilty to failing to stop and render aid after an impact causing death, and to negligent driving occasioning death

Defence lawyer Leonardo Premutico said the case against Xiberras (pictured) was weak and involved an element of negligence, not a deliberate act
Many cat owners would proudly boast that their pet is house-trained.

But Plomo has gone one stop further and learnt how to use the toilet.

Owner Myriam Alcayaga said the former stray - called Plomo - asks her to open the door to the bathroom when it has to answer the call of nature.

She told a local paper in the northern Chilean city of Antofagasta her partner hated the animal when she first took in it because it marked its territory by urinating all over their house.

She first spotted her pet using the toilet around three months ago after noticing it made regular trips to the bathroom - and said it had now become a habit.

To her amazement she found Plomo leaping up onto the open toilet bowl and carefully peeing over the edge into the water.

Plomo has learnt to use the toilet - her owner Myriam Alcayaga first spotted it making trips to the bathroom three months ago

Myriam Alcayaga said her husband first hated the cat because it urinated everywhere - but it has now learnt to use the toilet

The cat crouches over the toilet adopting the technique it has learnt - it has become an overnight sensation in its native Chile

Miriam said: 'He made me laugh when I first saw him sat down weeing. He now uses the toilet every time he has a call of nature.

'He asks me to open the bathroom door for him so he can urinate and I wait for him to finish.'

She added: 'He used to be a stray cat. He was very territorial and bad. He was always fighting and getting up to mischief in the local neighbourhood, until one day he began to come into the house and stayed.'

The ten-year-old animal has made headlines in his native Chile with his feat.

Its owner added how it also prefers to drink milk and water out of a glass rather than a saucer.

Plomo had been a mischievous cat but has become well-trained as it has grown older
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A judge has dramatically agreed to release graphic pictures of Reeva Steenkamp's gunshot wounds after her parents begged for the 'world to see' the pain Oscar Pistorius had inflicted on their daughter.

The 29-year-old model was struck in the head, elbow and hip as she cowered behind a toilet door at the runner's house three years ago.

Pistorius shot her with three military-grade Black Talon bullets that are designed to expand upon impact, wreaking devastating damage to the flesh it strikes.

Some of the pictures show her hair matted with blood and severe bruising around her eye which a pathologist said during his trial was caused by the impact of the bullet on her skull.

Judge Thokozile Masipa allowed six crime scene images to be released after Mr and Mrs Steenkamp went through the torturous process of choosing which ones they wanted to be shared with the public.

A source told MailOnline: 'There were scores for them to look at and they bravely chose the ones that showed the horrific impact of her injuries.

'It was a very painful process for them, but they are very anxious that people know exactly what their daughter went through on the night she died.'

MailOnline has chosen to publish some of the pictures, which we have muzzed, but the others are far too graphic to show.

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Shown to the world with her parents' blessing: A judge has agreed to release shocking pictures of Reeva Steenkamp's gunshot injuries after her father begged for the 'world to see' the pain Oscar Pistorius had inflicted on his daughter when he shot her dead three years ago

Pistorius shot the model with three military-grade Black Talon bullets that are designed to expand upon impact, wreaking devastating damage to the flesh it strikes. Six images were released after her parent chose which ones they wanted to be shared with the public

Humiliated: Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius walks across the packed courtroom on his stumps in a desperate last bid to convince a judge he was too vulnerable to have killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp intentionally when he shot her at his home three years ago

Distressing: Oscar Pistorius teeters on his stumps in front of a packed court room after taking off his prosthetic limbs in a desperate plea for leniency in a hearing that will determine his sentence for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

The sensational ruling came during the Paralympian's murder sentencing hearing where he had earlier teetered on his stumps in the courtroom in a desperate last bid for leniency.

The athlete, known as the Blade Runner, looked humiliated when he was asked to remove his prosthetic limbs during the televised hearing which will decide his murder sentence.

There was an awkward moment when Barry Steenkamp was forced to stand to make way for his daughter's killer as he left the dock for the dramatic demonstration.

The spectacle of the one-time sporting superstar's demonstration across the court room prompted a number of family members, fans and members of the public to break down in tears.

His T-shirt wet with sweat and his red eyes filled with tears, Pistorius paused at the side of the court to remove his prosthetic limbs in the full view of the packed court.

Loud sobs echoed around the wood-pannelled room as all eyes watched Pistorius move unsteadily, and much dramatically reduced in height, towards the front of the court.

As he struggled to stand still in front of the judge, and in the glare of live television coverage, a cameraman had to step forward to support him.

His therapist leapt to his aid, guiding him towards the front bench of the court which he clutched to maintain his balance.

Pistorius, 29, appeared so humiliated by the demonstration that he could only stare at the floor, tears flooding down his cheeks, as his lawyer told the court how he did not wish 'to hide behind his fame'.

When the strain became too much, he knelt down on a cushion before wiping his eyes with a tissue passed to him by one of his legal team.

Pistorius's sister Aimee, and his close friend Jenna Edkins, wiped tears from their eyes at the excruciating demonstration of the athlete's vulnerability.

Mr Steenkamp, 72, then had to stand for a second time to allow the wretched Pistorius to return to the sanctuary of the dock where he bent over, his powerful shoulders shaking as he sobbed.

Aimee Pistorius stands by her brother sharing an embrace with the South African athlete during the third day of his sentencing

Can't bear to look: Oscar Pistorius, with his prosthetic legs visible in the dock, holds his head in his hands during the hearing

Pistorius prepares to walk across the courtroom without his prosthetic legs during the third day of the sentencing hearing for murder

The spectacle of the one-time sporting superstar tottering across the court room prompted a number of relatives to break down in tears

The Paralympian is consoled by his sister during his resentencing hearing for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

Closing his powerful argument in favour of leniency, Mr Roux reminded the judge that punishment was 'not meant to break the offender'.

Pistorius was born without fibulas  calf bones  and at 11 months old, his parents made the difficult choice to have both of his legs amputated below the knee, enabling him to be fitted with prosthetic legs.

Doctors told his parents that the operation would be less traumatic before their son learned to walk.

During his evidence in the witness box, Pistorius described the discomfort of wearing prosthetic legs, or his iconic carbon blades, and the sores that he had to tend on a regular basis. His sentencing hearing heard how his stumps became infected while in jail.

State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel later said he would support Mr Steenkamp's demand for the 'world to see' the extent of Reeva's injuries.

He made an application for the graphic crime scene pictures  which showed Reeva's bloodied, broken body  to be made public after consulting with her parents.

'Isn't it time for the world to see what Oscar Pistorius did with Black Talon rounds to Reeva Steenkamp's head?' he told the court, referring to the expanding bullets used by Pistorius in the killing.

The deadly ammunition is used by the military and designed to expand upon impact, wreaking devastating damage to the flesh it strikes.

The application immediately prompted the runner's family and supporters to shake their heads and clutch one another in horror.

Pistorius slumped forward in the dock, grasping his red face in his hands at the suggestion. And his brother Carl was quick to express his disgust at the prosecutor's application on Twitter.

Loud sobs echoed as all eyes watched Pistorius move unsteadily, and much dramatically reduced in height, towards the front of the court

When the strain of tottering became too much, he knelt on a cushion before wiping his eyes with a tissue passed to him by his lawyer

He tweeted: 'This application is distasteful to all parties. Except perhaps some parties who stand to profit from such.'

Mr Nel said the pictures were handed into court and should be made available as public documents.

He said the only reason he had asked for them to be banned from being shared during the murder trial was 'to protect the integrity of the deceased'.

Now that the Steenkamps wanted the restriction to be lifted, Mr Nel said it would be left to the discretion of the media to use their own judgment about whether to publish them or not.

Mr Nel also questioned Pistorius's claim of remorse, despite giving no consistent explanation for what happened on the night Reeva was shot dead.

'Remorse without a credible explanation is impossible - remorse for what?' he demanded to know.

'There is a difference between I am very sorry Reeva is dead and I am sorry for myself that Reeva is dead,' Mr Nel argued.

Challenging the defence's request to spare Pistorius a return to jail and hospitalising him instead said was too far from the prescribed sentence for murder which is 15 years.

Judge Masipa said Pistorius would be sentencing on July 6.

Earlier, Reeva Steenkamp's cousin today described the enduring 'scars' left by the model's death on her family as she gave evidence at a hearing to decide Oscar Pistorius's sentence for murder.

Kim Martin, who gave evidence as Miss Steenkamp's 'voice', told the court how 'every celebration' had 'become a funeral' in the wake of the fatal shooting three years ago.

Oscar Pistorius weeps in court as Reeva Steenkamp's cousin Kim Martin gives moving evidence about how the model's death has affected the family during testimony at the Paralympian's sentencing for murder

Sobbing: South Africa's minimum jail term for murder is 15 years, but Pistorius's lawyers will argue that his disability and his successful rehabilitation should be taken into account and a lesser punishment handed down

Reeva's 'voice': Miss Steenkamp's cousin Kim Martin gives evidence at the athlete's sentencing hearing

The mother-of-three told Pretoria's High Court that 'every single day, no day goes by where I don't think about her' as she sought the harshest punishment for the Paralympian.

She added: 'I am coping, getting on with my life, but the scars and the effects runs very, very deep.

'We will never get over it. But I am the mother of three children, I have to give them hope for the future.'

Mrs Martin previously told how Miss Steenkamp's shooting had 'ruined our whole family' during the runner's sentencing hearing for manslaughter.

That conviction was upgraded to murder in December last year and punishment for that more serious crime is now being debated at the High Court in Pretoria.

Pistorius is facing a minimum of 15 years behind bars for the murder of his 29-year-old girlfriend on Valentine's Day three years ago.

Mrs Martin, whose father is the brother of Reeva's father, told Judge Thokozile Masipa how Valentine's Day was a painful time for her family.

'It's the worst day for us,' she said.

Watched from the dock by Pistorius, Mrs Martin said 'it was very unfair' that the one-time hero had chosen to give a television interview rather than speak at this week's proceedings.

'I am not happy about that at all, it's very unfair to want to talk to the world when you have had the opportunity in court to do so. It's hurtful and I can't understand why.'

Oscar Pistorius arrives at the Pretoria High Court for the third day of his sentencing hearing for murder

Pistorius faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars for murdering his girlfriend on Valentine's Day in 2013

Pistorius watched her keenly from the dock in contrast to Barry Steenkamp whose evidence he could barely bring himself to watch.

She described the 'guilt' of her uncle Barry  who gave moving testimony to the court yesterday  who had been left 'broken' by his terrible loss.

'He is a broken man. He lives day to day on his phone watching the posts about Reeva.

'He has the guilt of a father not being able to protect his daughter. It is very difficult for him,' she told the packed court house.

She also said she first saw her own father cry for the first time ever when he learned of Miss Steenkamp's death at the hands of the Paralympian.

During brief cross-examination, the sprinter's lawyer Barry Roux told Mrs Martin that although he had not subjected her uncle to questioning he said 'there comes a point when we have to draw a line'.

He then proceeded to read from interviews close friends of the model had given in the days and months after her murder in which they had spoke positively about Pistorius and his relationship with Reeva.

Since then, however, the double amputee had become 'a villain' and everyone had changed their versions, he added.

Barry and June Steenkamp, parents of Reeva Steenkamp, arrive for the Oscar Pistorius sentencing hearing

Oscar Pistorius's father, Henke Pistorius, arrives at the high court in Pretoria for his son's sentencing hearing

The shamed athlete, 29, will not return to the witness box in a desperate bid to convince the court that he is a 'changed man' since the Valentine's Day slaughter of model Reeva because he is 'too depressed'

He quoted from an interview with Reeva's close friend Samantha Greyvenstein, who told a reporter: 'She told me Oscar was amazing and he treated her like gold.

'She told me she really liked Oscar... she often mentioned how happy she was,' the court heard.

Arguing for a reduction in the recommended 15 year sentence, Mr Roux told the judge that there is 'substantial and compelling evidence allowing for deviation from minimum'.

He referred to the case of a former Springbok rugby player, Vleis Visagie, who accidentally shot and killed his own daughter, also believing she was an intruder, did not even stand trial.

He said the case was charged with 'emotion' which meant objective facts were being ignored.

The ranks of Pistorius's extensive family nodded keenly as Mr Roux made an impassioned appeal for leniency from the judge, who presided over the sprinter's seven-month murder trial.

Her application of the law in the case was later criticised by the Supreme Court of Appeal when they overturned the manslaughter conviction she had handed down and replaced it with one of murder.

Despite her 'flawed' ruling, the judge now has the sole responsibility for deciding the athlete's punishment.

Emotional: Reeva Steenkamp's father, Barry, breaks down on the witness stand as he urges the judge to show the world pictures of his daughter's body so everyone could see the pain Oscar Pistorius had inflicted on her

Oscar Pistorius leaves the North Gauteng High Court after the second day of his sentencing hearing yesterday

If Pistorius's lawyers regard the sentence handed down as too severe, they are likely to launch an appeal against it.

The state also has the right to challenge a punishment they believe to be too light.

Yesterday, Mrs Martin's uncle, Barry Steenkamp, Reeva's father, broke down repeatedly as he also shared the impact of her murder with the hearing.

In heart-wrenching testimony, he urged the judge to show the world pictures of his daughter's gunshot wounds so everyone could see the pain Pistorius had inflicted on her.

Mr Steenkamp, 72, also described how he repeatedly self-harmed himself with this diabetes needles in order to 'feel some of the pain' that his daughter had suffered as she bled to death.

The retired racehorse trainer broke down repeatedly in the witness box as he laid bare the devastating impact his only daughter's death had had on his life.

'I think of her every day of my life, morning, noon and night, in the early hours of the morning, I think of her all the time,' he told a sentencing hearing that will decide what punishment Pistorius will face for killing the 29-year-old.

He described his wife June's devastation, adding that 'people say that June is 'stone-faced' but I know that June grieves like I do all the time.
Two Russian gay men claim to have been arrested by police for trying to leave a banner outside the American embassy in Moscow to commemorate the victims of the Orlando shooting.

The two men, Islam Abdullabeckov and Felix Glyukman, said they had been detained on Monday after trying to leave a handwritten banner reading 'Love Wins' and that the police had accused them of breaking Russian protest laws.

'When we came to put the poster on the ground the policeman grabbed the poster and told us we must leave,' Glyukman said in a video interview he posted to social media yesterday.

A Russian police officer detains one of the men as he tries to show a poster reading 'Love wins' at an impromptu memorial for the victims of the Orlando nightclub attack at the U.S Embassy in Moscow

A Russian police officer walks to a gay rights activist showing a poster reading 'lesbophobia is fascism' outside the U.S, Embassy in Moscow, at a memorial for the Orlando nightclub attack victims

'We are in shock. This is very strange and very sad.'

He said they had been held for about three hours and that a charge sheet was drawn up accusing them of failing to give notice for what the police called a public event.

However the pair said it was nothing of the kind and in no way political.

A woman lays flowers in memory of the 49 people killed by a gunman at a nightclub in Orlando

There was no immediate confirmation of the episode from the police, but photographs of the incident clearly showed the men being led away by a policeman and then sitting inside what looked like a police car.

Russians have left flowers and notes outside the U.S. embassy in Moscow since Sunday to express their condolences over the shooting at a gay nightclub in Florida in which 49 people were killed.

Western governments and human rights activists have criticised the Russian authorities in the past for their treatment of gay people and in particular for a 2013 law banning the dissemination of "gay propaganda" among young Russians.

At least 49 people were killed and 53 were injured in a shooting attack in the early hours of Sunday

LGBT activists say they have struggled to get permission to hold gay pride marches and that when they have succeeded police have deliberately stood aside as ultra-nationalists have attacked participants.
A man was shocked to discover what he described as a 'circular band aid' stuck to the lid of his Milo yoghurt on Tuesday.

The man, from Nambour in Queensland, was on his lunch break when he decided to indulge in the dairy treat.

But while he was licking the lid he came across the shocking sight of a band aid beneath a layer of yoghurt.

A man posted this photo to Nestle's Facebook page after he found what he said looked like a ban daid in his Milo yoghurt

'On removing the lid, I did what every sane person does, and licked the top to get all the goodness that I could,' he wrote on the Nestle Facebook page.

'Imagine my complete and utter surprise when I looked down and saw what I can only describe as a small, circular band aid, half covered in yoghurt, while the other half was still sitting on my tongue.'

The man described the incident as 'terrifying'.'

'Unfortunately I didn't get to search the rest of the container for more free 'goodies' as it was hastily thrown into the bin.'

He then asked the company to contact him so they could discuss how they would replace the yoghurt.

Nestle responded to the man and explained that Parmalat make the product under license by Nestle

Nestle replied to the man's post 15 hours later and forwarded the blame to another company.

'Hi Sam, thanks for getting in touch and alerting us to this. We're concerned and sorry to see you've had this experience.

'This product is manufactured by Parmalat under license by Nestle, which means Parmalat will be able to assist you in this matter,' their reply said

Nestle responded to questions by Daily Mail Australia and said they do not own the product.
Engineer Technician Charles Warrender (right) was found dead behind the national library in the capital city of Victoria on May 30 last year

A Royal Navy sailor who died from a fatal dose of heroin in the Seychelles was 'injected by a third party', and inquest has ruled.

Engineer Technician Charles Warrender was found behind the national library in the capital city of Victoria on May 30 last year after a night out with the crew.

He died from a fatal cocktail of alcohol and drugs, the inquest ruled, but was afraid of needles and had no history of substance use.

Someone had sprinkled high-grade heroin on the chest of the sailor, whose ship was on a mission to disrupt the drug trade.

At his inquest today, Coroner Paul Kelly ruled that the heroin was 'likely administered by a third party' in a narrative verdict.

His mother, Kate Warrender, who believes her son was murdered, said the verdict offered some closure but left questions unanswered.

She said: 'Our son was targeted - he was targeted because he was ultimately a serviceman.

'We are disappointed with the conclusion. We expected a verdict of unlawful killing.'

ET Warrender, better known as Charlie, was serving on HMS Richmond, which was on a mission called Operation Kipion to disrupt the drugs trade and terrorism in the Indian Ocean.

The crew of 240 had been on a night off as part of the Queen's birthday celebrations and accompanied his friend Junaid Asif, who was on his first tour, back to ship in a taxi

ET Warrender then went to rejoin his friends on the island - breaching'shark watch' rules preventing servicemen from going anywhere alone - but never made it back.

He was found dead in a park with his socks, shoes and wallet laid beside him, but his money had gone.

Experts suspected his body had been dumped there sometime between midnight, when he was last seen, and 6am, when his body was spotted by a police officer.

Ministry of Defence investigators found that his bank card had been used three times at ATMs on the island - once before the group went out and twice after he went off on his own.

Local police said there was no evidence of foul play but his inquest heard the sailor (pictured), whose ship was on a mission to disrupt the drug trade, was found with high-grade heroin sprinkled on his chest

Forensic patholigist Dr Cary said he could not find any marks to show evidence of injection of heroin, but the powder on his chest was of a high-grade

He also said there was no evidence of duress or dragging, so it was likely he had been dumped from a vehicle, closer to midnight than six when he was found.

Mrs Warrender said: 'He was obviously killed somewhere and then dumped.

'If he had wanted to do drugs and go to a club - then he would have been safe because he would have been with other people.

'But he didn't die because of drugs - he died because he was in the Royal Navy.'

Regulating Petty Officer Darren Mack said more than 25 hours of CCTV from the island had been examined - but there was no trace of the serviceman after he went off in the taxi.

Serviceman: Charles Warrender was serving on board HMS Richmond in the Seychelles when he died

However, he had witness statements from two people who had seen him.

Sheila Esparon said she had seen him with two men and two women.

Another witness Didier Dorizo told investigators he had seen him with three men and three women - one man brandishing an iron bar angrily at the scene.

Today, Mrs Warrender described her son as a loyal friend who was 'often a leader rather than a follower.'

She added: 'Our Charlie was kind and generous - he was a happy and optimistic person.

'He was 6ft 5' and very handsome - with a big personality to match.

But despite ruling the dose was 'likely' administered by a third party, Coroner Paul Kelly did not record a verdict of unlawful killing

'He was always smiling and had a beautiful, huge smile. He had a wonderful, often irreverent sense of humour - he loved to make others laugh.

'He enjoyed earning money in his job and spent it as quickly as he earned it.

'He was a kind and caring person who was good with children, the elderly and people with disabilities.'

Mrs Warrender, who is married to Charlie's father, Steven Plaskitt, 63, says her son would never touch the Class A drug heroin because he didn't like needles.

She said: 'My son would not take part in illicit drug taking - he had far too much respect for the Royal Navy.

MOTHER REVEALS MORE MILITARY DEATHS IN THE SEYCHELLES Mrs Warrender said she had researched a total of six deaths on the Seychelles islands over a 17-month period, including the death of her son among other servicemen who died while visiting the islands. She said she felt there 'remained a lot of unanswered questions' about her son's death. Mrs Warrender highlighted Foreign Office advice to people travelling to the Seychelles. In a statement issued last year, ministers said: 'Most visits to Seychelles are trouble-free, but tourists have been robbed. Crime levels are rising, with an increase in both targeted burglaries and opportunist thefts against residents and tourists. 'The inability of the authorities to catch and prosecute offenders is a concern.' She received an email following her son's death from the brother of US Seal Mark Kennedy who had lost his brother in the Seychelles to alleged case of bad heroin. In an email from Guy Kennedy to Kate - he spoke of his own suspicions of a cover up which led to his brother's death. Mrs Warrender added: 'It was obviously a shock - but then I started to look deeper and deeper into other servicemen's death on the island.' The family say they now want to warn others of the dangers of travelling to the Seychelles. ET Warrender's father, Steven Plaskitt, said: 'Well, if you are going to the Seychelles - I'd say be very careful. 'We want to share our experience so Charlie's death doesn't go unnoticed. 'It's a small island and people do go missing. 'If heroin can be to blame and not using weapons - then it can be easy to cover up.' Advertisement

'Charlie would serve for Queen and Country and be prepared to die for them. And even though he knew this - it did not deter him.'

Now the family have spoken of their relief following the inquest drawing some closure on what happened to their son.

Charlie's father Steven Plaskitt said: 'It was nice to get the inquest over with to be honest.

'Kath has been searching non-stop for the past year to get all the pieces of evidence together.

'We think we got what we wanted from what was said at the hearing.

'We don't have 100 per cent closure on this - we'd have wanted 'unlawful killing' but the pathologist's comments about what happened to Charlie and a third party being involved gave us what we wanted.'

Mr Palskitt, talking about the 'sprinkling of heroin' on his son's chest, said: 'It seems a bit mafia-esque - but I think that is what they wanted.

'The people who did that to our Charlie wanted to send a message.

'A message because they [Royal Navy] were taking heroin from them.

'To say: 'This is our island' type of threat.

'We think Charlie was targeted - there is no question.

'We researched the two Americans had died from bad heroin - which could obviously just be a cover up.

'Mark Kennedy was one of the Americans who was found in a cabin - but then were found dead half-an-hour before their shifts.

'The same happened with Charlie - there was enough heroin in Charlie to kill five people.

'Heroin is a progressive drug - you just don't start on it when you're 22 years old.

'You naturally start on cannabis and work up to the more dangerous substances.'

Charles studied at King Edward VI Grammar School and then left to join Franklin College and later studied at the Humberside Engineering Training Association.

Mrs Warrender added: 'He was just so fit and healthy, he could run for miles. The difference between the pictures since he first went in the navy and the beginning of last year are remarkable.

'He was clever and hardworking, a good, kind person with a lovely personality.

'He had excellent manners and was always extremely polite and well spoken.
Orlando shooter: Omar Mateen had declared his loyalty to the Islamic State - and may have been a 'closeted homosexual', friends said

The coming out stories and struggles of gay Australian Muslims can be revealed - as it emerges a 'closeted homosexual' was behind this week's bloody Orlando shooting.

US man Omar Mateen this week killed 49 innocent people and wounded scores more at Florida's The Pulse gay club. Mateen's ex-wife and friends believe he was gay himself.

The extremist fanatic often used a gay dating app, Jack'd, and regulars at the nightclub said he turned up at the bar at least a dozen times.

His father has also told reporters Mateen was infuriated at the sight of men kissing in public.

In the wake of the massacre, several of Australia's most high-profile Muslims have signed an open letter on Wednesday condemning the homophobic killings.

'Whilst investigations are still on foot, the mass shooting in Orlando was a targeted attack on that community. There is no justification for such homophobia,' said the statement, signed by writer Susan Carland and comedian Nazeem Hussein.

'We would like to send a message to LGBTQI Muslims who may be experiencing a deep sense of shock and grief. This is an opportunity for us to cultivate a deeper compassion for each other - regardless of our differences.'

But the statement comes after several LGBT Muslims this year revealed how difficult it is to reconcile the hardline views of Islamic preachers with who they love. In May, Melbourne imam Nur Warsame revealed he was gay in a television interview with SBS's The Feed.

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Out and proud: Melbourne imam Nur Warsame came out in a television interview with SBS's The Feed this year

Imam Warsame (pictured centre) told The Feed it was 'difficult' to come out in the Muslim world 'because the losses are too high'

Alice Aslan (right) from the Muslims Against Homophobia group has ran floats at Sydney's Mardi Gras - where participants wear sparkly burqas. Earlier this year, she said: 'The majority of Muslims think homosexuality is not natural or accepted'

'There will always be ppl (sic) within Islam who don't accept LGBTIQ and Muslim' said Alyena Mohummadally, Australia's first publicly out gay Muslim

Married to a woman and with a child, he said he had a 'very difficult' journey reconciling his deeply held faith and his attraction to men, including attempted suicide.

'The reason it's difficult for people to come out in the Muslim world is because the losses are too high,' Mr Warsame told the program.

'The risks are too great. The conservative school of thought 'in Islam to counter homosexuality is to be killed. That's your repentance.'

Grand Mufti of Australia Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed has described homosexuality as a 'perversion' in old writings. He did not sign the open letter this week.

And it has been revealed revealed Islamic preacher Dr Farrokh Sekaleshfar - who called for homosexuals to be executed - had given a lecture in Orlando in the months before the shooting.

LGBT woman Alyena Mohummadally, told Daily Mail Australia ten years ago she believed was the only out Muslim in the country. 'Now there are more. It's happening,' she said.

'Yes, there will always be ppl (sic) within Islam who don't accept LGBTIQ and Muslim but we exist and are growing in numbers world over. Haters gotta hate but LGBTIQ won't take the bait!'

Former Islamic Council of Victoria youth worker Mo Elleissy worked with LGBTIQ Muslims in his role. He told Daily Mail Australia most queer Muslims he had met had left the religion.

Orlando shooting: Devastated family members are directed away from The Puls nightclub on Sunday

People pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting at a U.S. vigil

Dr Farrokh Sekaleshfar fled Australia this week after it was revealed he said death was a 'compassionate sentence' for homosexuals

Every gay Muslim I've met has basically walked away from the faith because they just can't see in their mind any place for them.

That in itself is quite traumatic because these people don't willingly want to leave their faith. They can't see any way where they're able to reconcile it.'

He said many of the young queer Muslim men he knew 'lived in fear and a lot of mental stress comes from that'.

He said the Islamic experience with homophobia was similar to that faced by Orthodox Jews, Mormons and members of far-right Christian sects.

Mr Elleissy said too many Muslim leaders believed homosexuality was a choice, when it was not.

They say it's like gambling, that "we'd allow a gambler into the mosque". What they don't realise is, it's not like gambling, it's not like drinking, it's not just a sin that people choose.

'It's their entire being.'
High-profile Australian Muslims have spoken out against homophobia and 'abhorrent' violence after a radicalised lone gunman killed 49 people and injured 53 in the Orlando nightclub massacre.

Waleed Aly's wife Dr Susan Carland was among about 44 prominent Muslim people and a further 12 organisations to condemn the violence in a joint statement on Wednesday.

'The LGBTQI community has a long history of experiencing prejudice, vilification and violence,' the statement reads.

'Whilst investigations are still on foot, the mass shooting in Orlando was a targeted attack on that community. There is no justification for such homophobia.'

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Dr Susan Carland (right), the wife of Channel Ten's The Project host Waleed Aly (left) has condemned the homophobic massacre at Orlando's Pulse nightclub by a radicalised Muslim (they are pictured at the Logies in May)

Dr Carland (pictured) was among about 55 prominent Islamic organisations and people to condemn the violence in a joint statement on Wednesday

Comedian Nazeem Hussain, lawyer Mariam Veiszadeh, human rights activist Omeima Sukkarieh, and NSW Greens politician Dr Mehreen Faruqi were also among those to sign the joint statement.

'We reject the hatred and anger that leads to this kind of abhorrent violence,' it continues.

They say the tragedy should not be used to foster division and fear.

'We would like to send a message to LGBTQI Muslims who may be experiencing a deep sense of shock and grief. This is an opportunity for us to cultivate a deeper compassion for each other.'

'This tragedy should not be used to foster division, fear, hatred or prejudice.'

It comes after controversial Islamic cleric Sheikh Farrokh Sekaleshfar visited Sydney this week.

49 people were killed and 53 were injured by Omar Mateen in the early hours of Sunday morning in the worst massacre in US history (emergency services are pictured attending the scene)

Pictured: Orlando police officers direct family members away from the shooting scene

Authorities are pictured outside Pulse nightclub, where the gunman was killed in a shoot-out with police

The sheikh three years ago made comments at an American university supporting the death penalty for public homosexual sex in countries abiding by Islamic law, but says they were taken out of context.

He left Australia on Tuesday night following a public outcry at his entry into the country for a speaking tour.

Mr Sekaleshfar said he made the 'voluntary decision' to leave Australia and his visa, which had been under review by the immigration department, had not been cancelled.

'All I want to say, because I know this got caught up in the political area and everything, that never have I incited hatred or violence against human beings,' he told the ABC at Sydney Airport.

The cleric had been slated to give a talk at the Imam Husian Islamic Centre in Earlwood, but he said they asked him to leave.

'It is a decision that IHIC thought it was in my best interests and for the best interests of the community and I didn't want to go against the committee's decision,' he said.

British-born Sheikh Farrokh Sekaleshfar flew out of Sydney Airport on Tuesday night after videos surfaced of him calling for the death penalty for homosexuality

Mr Sekaleshfar said he made the 'voluntary decision' to leave Australia and his visa, which had been under review by the immigration department, had not been cancelled

Mr Sekaleshfar condemned the Orlando attack, where 49 people were killed and more than 50 others injured by a gunman.

He clarified he believes the death penalty should only apply in Islamic countries when homosexual sex was committed in public view.

In a 2013 YouTube video titled 'Islam and Homosexuality', the cleric delivered a talk at the University of Michigan where he said if homosexuals died they would sin less.

'Out of compassion let's get rid of them now, because he's contaminating society ... his eternal life will be saved to some degree rather than if we were to let him continue with his ways,' he said in the video.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull earlier said he had zero tolerance for hate preachers wanting to come to Australia.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the man was not welcome in Australia with his abhorrent views.

'I don't know how on earth that fellow got a visa,' he told reporters in Perth.

Pictured: Omar Mateen, the 29-year-old lone gunman who killed 49 people and injured 53 at LGBT nightclub, Pulse

Omar Mateen is pictured with his ex-wife Noor Zahi Salman and their son

'The LGBTQI community has a long history of experiencing prejudice, vilification and violence,' the statement from prominent members of the Australian Muslim community reads (pictured at the Logies with husband Waleed Aly in May)

'Whilst investigations are still on foot, the mass shooting in Orlando was a targeted attack on that community. There is no justification for such homophobia,' the statement said (Dr Carland pictured with husband Waleed Aly at Logies in May)

Comedian Nazeem Hussain was one of the prominent Australian Muslims who signed the statement (pictured at Logies in May)

NSW Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi (far right) was also among those to condemn the attack (pictured with Greens MPs John Kaye, Jamie Parker, Jenny Leong)

Human rights activist Omeima Sukkarieh also signed the statement, released on Wednesday

Lawyer Mariam Veiszadeh was among those prominent Australian Muslims to condemn the attack

People in Newtown in Sydney's inner-west hold banners during a candlelight vigil calling for an end to both homophobia and Islamophobia in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting

LGBT people and allies joined at Newtown's Neighbourhood Centre for a vigil for those killed and injured in the massacre

People mourn the deaths at Pulse nightclub at Sydney's Taylor Square at a candlelight vigil with rainbow gay-pride flags

Christine Forster (right), the sister of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and her partner Virginia Edwards, attend a vigil in solidarity with the victims
Late Show host Stephen Colbert shocked TV audiences with a comic sketch about Donald Trump's reaction to the Orlando nightclub massacre which ended with him drawing a swastika on a chalkboard.

Colbert was reacting to a speech Trump made on Monday in which he blasted President Obama's reaction to the incident at The Pulse gay club in Florida in which Omar Mateen gunned down 49 people before being killed in a shootout with police.

Trump had said: 'Were led by a man that either is not tough, not smart, or hes got something else in mind... There is something going on.'

Later Trump said in a radio interview: 'Ill let people figure out for themselves.'

Colbert said he considered himself one of those 'people' and he strode up to the chalkboard and said he was drawing out a 'Figure-It-Out-Atron' to work out what Trump was getting at.

He wrote the words Muslim, Bad Thing, Not Smart, Radical Islam, Something Going On, Inconceivable, Obama, Trump in a clockwise configuration on the chalkboard.

Then after a short monologue he connected several of the words to create a swastika shape.

The sketch drew a big response from Trump opponents on Twitter.

Stephen Colbert shocked audiences when he drew this swastika to mock Donald Trump's reaction to the weekend's nightclub massacre in Orlando, Florida

The skit was in response to an interview, in which Trump said something was suspicious with President Obama's failure to call the Orlando gunman a radical Muslim. Colbert said he would figure out what was going on on the show, and to get in Trump's mindset, the first thing he did was through out his medication

Then he started drawing lines between the terms Trump used in his Orlando speech. Saying perhaps 'Trump' meant 'Obama' is 'not smart' because he won't use the term 'radical Islam'

Then he started connecting the other words, saying 'Trump says this is "inconceivable" so "something must be going on".....probably that Obama is "Muslim" and that is a "bad thing"'

When he connected the two thoughts, the lines formed a swastika, the offensive symbol of the Nazi movement

Harold Itzkowitz wrote: 'Colbert just basically called Trump a Nazi and an a**hole on CBS, with a swastika and the word a**hole.'

Andrew Hight, a Canadian, tweeted: 'Stephen Colbert just drew a swastika on his show in comparison to Trump. I'm screaming with joy.'

But Pundit16 was not amused: 'Monologue on Trump and was the most ignorant and offensive hit piece I've seen. Is Colbert a paid Dem?'

Last year the Hollywood Reporter carried out a survey which suggested that Republicans had deserted the Late Show since Colbert - known for his acerbic imitation of a Right-wing TV host - took over from David Letterman.

Earlier Trump celebrated his 70th birthday in North Carolina and gave a vicious rebuttal to an afternoon of attacks lodged by Hillary Clinton and the president they both hope to replace.

Some viewers reacted angrily to Colbert's satire. Most of the reaction on Twitter to the sketch was positive but that may be because few Republicans watch the show

A few of the reactions came from Trump supporters, who called for Colbert to be suspended from CBS

Trump blamed 'weak, ineffective people' in President Barack Obama's administration for what he said was an out-of-control immigration problem linked to the weekend's gun massacre in Orlando.

The presumptive Republican nominee told the crowd in Greensboro: 'I watched President Obama today. And he was more angry at me than he was at the shooter.'

'The level of anger  that's the kind of anger he should have for the shooter, and these killers that shouldn't be here.'

Trump said the U.S. had no hope of maintaining homeland security 'if you don't know what the term is, and if you don't discuss what the problem is, and if you can't say the real name.'

He said: 'We have a radical Islamic terrorism problem, folks. We can say we don't. We can pretend like Obama that we don't, where Obama spent a long time talking about it and nobody at the end of that speech understood anything other than, "Boy, does he hate Donald Trump".'

Trump told a crowd of 9,000 in North Carolina on Tuesday that Obama sounded more angry at him than he did at Omar Mateen, who had killed 49 people
Three elderly women were injured by police bullets during the shooting

NSW Police has defended the decision to open fire in Westfield Hornsby

Officers opened fire on him and shot him multiple times at the centre

23-year-old has been charged over the incident that took place last week

Jerry Sourian had a bedside hearing from his hospital bed on Wednesday

The man who was shot by police outside a packed shopping centre last week after allegedly threatening people with a knife has been charged with attempted murder.

Jerry Sourian remained in his hospital bed for a hearing on Thursday after officers shot him multiple times at Westfield Hornsby in Sydney's north-west last week.

The 23-year-old, who has been charged with attempted murder, was refused bail during his bedside appearance and ordered to appear in Hornsby Local Court next week, Nine News reports.

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The man (pictured) who was shot by police outside a packed shopping centre last week after allegedly threatening people with a knife has been charged with attempted murder

Jerry Sourian (pictured on the ground) remained in his hospital bed for a hearing on Thursday after officers shot him multiple times at Westfield Hornsbury in Sydney's north last week

It comes after senior police officials have defended the decision made by two officers to open fire on a man wielding a knife and 'shouting Allahu Akbar' in the Sydney shopping centre.

When officers shot Jerry Sourian, 23, three women aged between 60 and 80 were struck by bullets and fragments and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Police swooped the shopping centre after reports a man was behaving erratically and was armed with a large carving knife.

Sourian had escaped from a nearby psychiatric facility a few weeks ago, with police saying they were told he was missing the day before the shooting.

The 23-year-old, who has been charged with attempted murder, was refused bail during his bedside appearance and ordered to appear in Hornsby Local Court next week

But NSW Police has defended the officers behaviour, saying they were forced to confront a 'life or death' situation.

'In a life and death situation police had to make a very critical decision on the actions they took,' Assistant Commissioner Denis Clifford told reporters at the scene.

'It's alarming (that innocent bystanders were injured) but I wonder what may have happened had the police not intervened and stopped this person with a knife.'

Footage obtained by Nine News revealed police had asked Sourian to drop the knife before the man appeared to lunge at them. Two police officers then fired several shots.

Three women aged between 60 and 80 were also struck by police bullets. Blood is pictured on the ground after a woman was mistakenly shot

Blood is seen smeared on the tiles outside of the shopping centre as police tape cordons off the area
Prince William has become the first royal to feature on the front of a gay magazine.

His Royal Highness appeared as this month's cover star of Attitude, a lifestyle magazine for the LGBT community, as he spoke out against homophobic bullying.

The colour cover shot, taken by photographer Leigh Keily, shows a relaxed William in an open-necked white shirt, laughing as he rests his chin on his left hand.

In an interview to go with the cover shoot, he hits out at bullies who target the gay community, saying: 'No one should be bullied for their sexuality.'

Prince William is this month's cover star of Attitude magazine. It is the first time a member of the Royal Family has been photographed for the cover of a gay publication

He then called on young people being bullied for their sexuality to seek help.

The Duke revealed yesterday that would be appearing in Attitude after signing a book of condolence for victims of the gay nightclub shooting in Orlando which left 49 people dead and dozens of others wounded.

He said: 'The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now.

'Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it.

'What I would say to any young person reading this who's being bullied for their sexuality: don't put up with it.

'You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of.'

William had invited the magazine to bring members of the LGBT community to Kensington Palace in May to listen to their experience of bullying and the mental health affects it can have.

During the meeting, the group spoke with William about how bullying over their sexuality had led to low self-esteem, suicide attempts, eating disorders, depression and drug addiction.

They spoke about the case of one young man who died after an unintentional overdose.

Matthew Todd, editor of the magazine, added: 'During my time as editor of Attitude I have met parents whose child has taken or lost their life after being bullied for being LGBT+ or even just perceived to be LGBT.

'I am very happy that the future King of The United Kingdom agrees this must stop and I would urge parents in particular to raise their voices in their communities to ensure that every school protects  really protects  all children.'

His Royal Highness met with nine members of the LGBT community at Kensington Palace (pictured) to discuss bullying and the mental health implications

Attitude was founded in 1994 and is the UK's biggest-selling gay magazine with a circulation of around 60,000 issues per month, including digital.

It was previously owned by Vitality Publishing but has since been sold to private investors, with Attitude Media Ltd listed as the current owner.

The magazine has featured just as many straight celebrities on its cover as those who are openly gay over the years, with iconic figures such as David Beckham, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Lady Gaga and Prime Minister David Cameron all appearing.

Attitude also became the first gay publication to feature an interview with the prime minister in 2005 when it spoke to Tony Blair.

Alongside celebrity interviews, the magazines covers serious topics such as the issues facing gay asylum seekers, US presidential elections and male rape.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: 'The Duke of Cambridge is working hard to support the fight against bullying and to help break the stigma around mental health. He has established a taskforce on the prevention of cyberbullying and along with The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry is leading the Heads Together campaign on mental health and well-being.

'He knows that LGBT young people suffer unacceptably high rates of bullying and he was grateful to Attitude for facilitating such a serious conversation on this topic. He was moved by the stories he heard and impressed by the positivity and courage of the people he met.'

The Duke has set up a taskforce to tackle cyberbullying and, with the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, has launched the Heads Together campaign on mental health and well-being.

Research from last year found that 33.9 per cent of young LGB people had made at least one suicide attempt compared to 17.9 per cent of young straight people. In total, 48.1 per cent of trans young people had attempted suicide.
The number of babies surviving late-term abortions and being left to die has more than tripled over the past decade, new figures reveal.

The statistics were gathered across Queensland hospitals, showing 27 babies survived late-term abortions in 2015.

The new figure revealed a significant increased since 2005, when the number of late-term abortion survivals was eight, the ABC reports.

The numbers related to babies that were of more than five months gestation.

The number of babies surviving late-term abortions being born and then left to die has more than tripled over the past decade, new figures reveal (stock image)

Queensland Health Minister Cameron Dick released the findings on Wednesday, but said the number could be much higher when non-confirmed incidents are taken into account.

'I am advised these numbers represent less than 0.05 per cent of the total number of live births each year (including all hospitals in Queensland, both public and private hospitals combined),' Mr Dick said, according to the ABC.

The Health Minsiter also said late-term procedures are usually done in the wake of extreme circumstances that cause women to have an abortion after 20 weeks, before adding the number of babies born with 'signs of life' are very low.

'The number of termination procedures where babies are born with signs of life at this stage is a very small proportion of the total live births each year in Queensland.'

Queensland Health Minister Cameron Dick (pictured) released the findings on Wednesday, but said the number could be much higher when non-confirmed incidents are taken into account

Greens Senator Larissa Waters (pictured) called on abortion to be de-criminalised, saying that doing so would reduce the number of late-term procedures

Political response to the release of the figures was mixed, with Greens Senator Larissa Waters calling on abortion to be de-criminalised, saying that doing so would reduce the number of late-term procedures.

WHAT IS A LATE-TERM ABORTION? Late-term abortion is when a woman has her pregnancy terminated once she was passed the twentieth week. Live-births after late-term abortion are very uncommon, however in some cases women who have a procedure to terminate their pregnancy in the womb after the 18th week will give birth to a live fetus that can survive for a short amount of time. The potential survival time increases if the fetus is born after the 22nd week. The fact that in some cases a fetus has to be terminated during a late-term procedure makes it more controversial than earlier abortions. Previous research revealed less women have abortions after the twentieth week, and only do so is severe circumstances such as maternal illness, diagnosis of a severe fetal anomaly, sexual assault or other exacerbating circumstances, according to Children by Choice. Advertisement

However, a spokeswoman for the Cherish Life Queensland called for an inquest into the 'abortion industry' after the statistics were released.

Late-term abortion is when a woman has her pregnancy terminated once she was passed the twentieth week.

Live-births after late-term abortion are very uncommon, however in some cases women who have a procedure to terminate their pregnancy in the womb after the 18th week will give birth to a live fetus that can survive for a short amount of time.

The potential survival time increases if the fetus is born after the 22nd week.

The signs of life fetus can show include: breathing, a heart beat, pulsation of the umbilical cord and movement of voluntary muscles.

The fact that in some cases a fetus has to be terminated during a late-term procedure makes it more controversial than earlier abortions.
Sacked teacher Michael Davies outside the tribunal hearing in Cardiff

A deputy headteacher has denied leaving a disabled pupil alone while riding a rollercoaster four times - claiming the case was a conspiracy against him.

Primary school teacher Michael Davies, 39, was sacked for leaving the ten-year-old boy on his own because he was 'too short' to go on the ride at the Oakwood theme park in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

Instead of staying with the youngster, Davies allegedly went on the rollercoaster with other pupils - and told the boy to wait and 'practice his height'.

A disciplinary hearing in Cardiff was told Davies left the boy with spinal problems and a metal rod in his back for 20 minutes at the theme park.

Davies was then alleged to have gone on the Megafobia wooden rollercoaster ride at the Oakwood theme park in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, up to four times.

But Mr Davies today denied abandoning the boy - and claimed there was a conspiracy against him.

Mr Davies, sporting slicked back peroxide blonde hair, said the allegations against him were part of a 'conspiracy' to get him out of the profession.

'There are people on that school who have come together and made up stuff about my conduct,' he said.

'These people thought if they could get rid of me I'd keep quiet.

'I came out as a gay man when I was 25. Before, I was living a lie. I will not lie again.'

Mr Davies claimed the boy had been left with another teacher while he went on the rollercoaster ride.

He said: 'I spoke to his mother before the trip and she was more than happy for him to come along.

'That child was happy on the trip. There is no question of him being left alone.

'When we arrived at Megaphobia another teacher was waiting for one of her pupils. I left him with her.

'When we finished I collected him. It was never mentioned there was a problem.

'I know he was supervised properly because of the person that I am, and knowing how important it is that all children are looked after and are safe.

'I know I was 100% looking after pupils in my group.'

Oakwood theme park in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, where the deputy head left a student, 10, on his own while riding the rollercoaster, a disciplinary tribunal in Cardiff has heard

Julia Roche, a teacher at Caerau Primary School in Maesteg, Bridgend, had earlier told the hearing in Cardiff that she witnessed Mr Davies walk towards the ride with the special needs students before leaving one on their own.

She said she was looking after a class of 30 students and Mr Davies was looking after a special needs class.

One witness said he went on four times going round and round Investigation boss Peter David Ellis

The student was left for about 20 minutes so Mr Davies could join other students on the Megafobia ride.

However, Mr Davies has denied acting with 'unacceptable professional conduct' during his time at the school between November 2013 and June 2014.

The incident triggered an independent investigation which involved interviews with 20 staff members.

Investigation head Dr Peter David Ellis told the Wales Education Workforce Council that Mr Davies should have made arrangements for that child to be looked after and that the claims were substantiated.

Caerau Primary School in Maesteg, Bridgend, Wales, where Mr Davies taught. The school today said he does not work there any more

'One witness said he went on four times going round and round,' he said.

A staff member at the school today told MailOnline: 'He is not at the school and he doesn't work here any more.'

The ride at the centre of the incident at Oakwood theme park in Pembrokeshire, Wales

Other allegations against Mr Davies include that he secretly recorded a staff meeting on his iPad without permission in November 2013, that he did not maintain confidentiality on or around April 2014 when he divulged to members of staff the outcomes of other teachers' lesson observations by a former inspector and that he did not maintain confidentiality on or around May 2014 when he told staff of the head teacher's draft plans for future staffing before they were agreed.

The final case centred on June 6, 2014, when he was alleged to have failed to properly supervise a pupil during a school trip.

The hearing was told the pupil alleged to have been left alone had a spinal problem.

Ms Roche said that Mr Davies had left the child alone when he should have arranged for another teacher to look after them.

She said she had arranged to look after the child after witnessing the events.

'Before the trip Michael Davies spoke to all the staff attending the trip regarding health and safety and how staff should behave,' she told the hearing.

'Mr Davies told the pupil he was too short to go on the ride and said he should stay where he was to practise measuring his height.

'Michael Davies then left the pupil and went to queue for the ride.'

A child was left alone in the theme park Teacher Julia Roche

Representing Mr Davies at the hearing, David Browne said to Mrs Roche: 'He didn't leave him on his own. You were in the vicinity, he was with you.'

Mrs Roche replied: 'Had he wanted me to look after Pupil A, I would have.'

'A few seconds after Michael Davies had left, I asked the pupil to join my group of pupils until Michael Davies returned.

'He should have asked another teacher to watch the pupil.

'I tried to speak to him after he came off the ride but he was dismissive of me. He walked away with the children.

'I do find it concerning as a parent. I wouldn't want my child unsupervised in a theme park.

'A child was left alone in the theme park.'
A mother faces a long road to recovery after her entire scalp was torn off in a freak accident at the factory where she works.

Stephanie Adkins, 30, was rushed to hospital when her hair was caught in a sheet metal cutting machine in Columbus, Ohio.

She had bent down to pick something up from the floor when the drive shaft pulled her hair, tearing off the skin around her head and neck, as well as her ear, as she screamed.

Ms Adkins underwent a gruelling seven-hour operation and surgeons were able to reattach her ear and her scalp.

Stephanie Adkins is recovering in hospital after last week's accident. She cannot open her eyes and it is not clear if she will recover her eyesight

She underwent a skin graft yesterday in which surgeons took blood vessels and veins from her leg to help repair the damage to her skin.

But she is expected to need further reconstructive surgery and may also need an operation on her eyes.

Ms Adkins' corneas have been scratched and it is not clear if her vision will return. She is currently unable even to open her eyes.

Her father, Mike Adkins, 53, said: 'She was screaming and they had to unravel her hair and scalp from the machine then she was driven to hospital.

Stephanie's sister Jennifer is pictured at her bedside, left; the injured mother is pictured right before her accident

Her father Mike Adkins, pictured, said it will be a long road to recovery and it may be many months, if ever, before Stephanie can work again

'When I first saw Stephanie she was very scared. I said ''Dad's here - everything is going to be alright".'

He said: 'I've always instilled that in my kids. I'm their rock, their security. When dad is there, everything is going to be alright.

Mr Adkins said of his daughter: 'She's in and out of it, she can barely talk.'

The victim's 11-year-old daughter Angel is being looked after by the family and is distraught over what has happened.

'Angel has been crying for her mom. We took her to the hospital but she hasn't be allowed to see Stephanie yet as it's too graphic,' said Mr Adkins.

Stephanie's 11-year-old daughter Angel (pictured) has been crying for her mother but the family have kept her away because the injuries are so graphic

He said the medical team were doing a great job and added: 'They have got the most updated medicine and tech in the world.

'I have to give kudos to her doctors and cosmetic surgeon. She's in excellent hands.'

Ms Adkins' relatives are now worried about the medical costs, as they are facing huge bills and do not know whether or not it will be fully covered by her insurance.

She had worked at the company for only eight months.
Animals unleashed their claws, swiping and showcasing their power

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This is the incredible moment two male lions slugged it out in a battle for supremacy and mating rights in their pride in Kenya.

The formidable pair snarled, swiped and sunk their teeth into each other during the vicious dust-up.

Photographer and designer Ingo Gerlach, 63, from Cologne, Germany, captured the striking images while on a trip to Masai Mara reserve.

'When I'm taking photos I'm unemotional and just focus on taking the best possible picture,' he said.

'I only get really excited when I look back on them and realise I've captured something special.'

Ingo has been snapping animals for 40 years and had been desperate to return to Kenya.

He said: 'I took some of my favourite photos while I was out there - I would love to go back and take some more.'

Who's the king of the jungle? The two male lions battle it out in the Masai Mara reserve in Kenya, biting and swiping at each other

The male lions sank claws and teeth into each other while battling for supremacy of the pride

Photographer and designer Ingo Gerlach from Cologne, Germany, captured the fight while on a trip to the African game reserve

The big cats fought viciously for supremacy and mating rights in their pride, holding nothing back

Photographer Ingo was unemotional and focused when taking the pictures. 'I only get really excited when I look back on them and realise I've captured something special,' he said
Some scrambled across railway lines, while others sprinted under tunnels

Around 20 men then dashed across busy road in footage filmed by tourist

This astonishing footage shows the dramatic moment a dinghy carrying migrants landed on a tourist beach on the Costa del Sol - before they sprinted off in different directions.

The video was filmed by a couple who were sampling the views from the balcony of their hotel near Fuengirola in Spain when they spotted the packed inflatable boat bobbing to the shore.

After landing on the beach, approximately 20 men dashed across a busy road and then scrambled across railway lines, under tunnels and through barbed wire fencing.

The men scurried along the road clutching backpacks after running up a hill towards the hotels and out of sight.

It is unclear where the men came from and it is not known what their motives were once they landed on the southern Spanish coast.

Footage showed the migrants arriving in an overcrowded boat and then dashing across the busy road (right)

Having landed on the shore near Fuengirola in Spain, the migrants then sprinted off in different directions

The footage was captured by a tourist from Bristol who was staying at the Hotel Holiday Hydros spa resort with his girlfriend, 23, last week.

The 25-year-old, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'My girlfriend was on the balcony first and she saw the boat come in.

'At first she thought it was kids on a school trip.

'They [the migrants] were packed into the boat. She said they looked really happy and were smiling.

'Then she called me and said "come and see this" because as soon as they started running it looked strange.

'They were running the up the beach, across the road and over the railway tracks. It was quite shocking to see. I'd never seen anything like it before.

'You hear about it happening elsewhere, but not so much in Spain.'

Some of the migrants headed for the train tracks and crawled underneath the barbed wire running along it

Two migrants were spotted walking up the road after their boat landed on the beach at Fuengirola

The migrants arrived near Fuengirola on the southern Spanish coast on June 7

An estimated 210,643 migrants and refugees have arrived in Europe by sea so far this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The main route is from Turkey into Greece and Italy.

This compares with the estimated 146,083 arrivals across the Mediterranean and along the Western African routes between January 1 and June 30 last year.
A woman who has amassed 157 demerit points and who has pleaded guilty to a range of traffic offences has denied she is a bad driver and says she can't wait to get back behind the wheel.

Michelle Chaffey, 32, has racked up an incredible 157 demerit points against her name  prompting one officer who pulled her over to claim he'd 'never seen a record like it'.

But the woman from Healesville in northeast Melbourne plans to get back behind the wheel next month after pleading guilty to a range of traffic offences on Tuesday, A Current Affair reports.

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Michelle Chaffey (pictured), 32, has racked up an incredible 157 demerit points against her name  prompting one officer who pulled her over to claim he'd 'never seen a record like it'

The charges include driving while suspended, failing to remain in marked lanes, not indicating, speeding, not leaving enough distance between cars and driving in an emergency lane.

Police have claimed they once caught her breaking six road rules in a matter of minutes.

Despite her colourful driving history, Ms Chaffey has denied she's a bad driver.

'Of course I'm a good driver, otherwise I wouldn't still have my license!' she told A Current Affair reporters outside court.

But the woman from Healesville in northeast Melbourne plans to get back behind the wheel next month after pleading guilty to a range of traffic offences on Tuesday

'Hell yeah, I get my license back next month,' Ms Chaffey told an A Current Affair reporter

When the reporter said she was a dangerous driver, Ms Chaffey responded: 'Is it dangerous driving though?'

'How do you know?'

She was then asked if she would begin driving again soon.

'Hell yeah, I get my license back next month,' Ms Chaffey said, A Current Affair reported.

Australian Road Safety Foundation chief executive Russell White said 'anybody who disobeys the laws to this sort of extent is clearly demonstrating a lack of concern for not only their own safety, but for other people's safety, and it is incredibly irresponsible.'
Dozens of dogs and cats have been rescued in China, where there is just one week to go until the launch of the infamous Yulin festival.

The animals were rescued from certain death at a squalid Yulin slaughterhouse where they would have been killed and sold at the annual dog-meat eating festival.

Activists from Humane Society International joined with their Chinese partners to negotiate the release of 29 dogs and puppies, and five cats and kittens in the dramatic rescue.

Desperate: The animals were discovered being held in tiny cages in squalid conditions in the slaughterhouse, where they were set to be beaten to death and eaten at this year's Yulin dog-meat eating festival

Deaths: Although the size of the festival has been reduced, hundreds of animals are still slaughtered in the days leading up to it

Vulnerable: Charity Humane Society International's China policy specialist described the atmosphere in Yulin as 'very tense' with a heavy police presence, so the rescue was 'not easy'

Upsetting photographs show the animals crammed into tiny cages as they waited to be killed.

But the animals are all now being held safely in a temporary shelter where they are receiving veterinary care before being put up for adoption.

'The police presence is heavy in Yulin right now and the atmosphere is very tense, so this was not an easy rescue,' said Peter Li, HSI's China policy specialist.

'But we were determined to save the animals from their gruesome fate at Yulin, and it was such a relief to leave the slaughterhouse cages empty for one day at least.

'The dogs and cats were clearly afraid, especially the older dogs who looked very fearful. But once they realised we weren't there to hurt them, but in fact we would make their suffering stop at last, they very quickly responded with licks and wagging tails.

'It's shocking to think that if we hadn't been there, all these animals would have been beaten to death and eaten.'

Effort: International and national protesters have managed to reduce the number of animals slaughtered for the festival from 15,000 to around 3,000 since 2010

Rescue: These dogs and cats were among the dozens of animals rescued from the squalid Yulin slaughterhouse by activists from International Humane Society

Help: According to the charity, some of those animals rescued were still wearing collars indicating that they were family pets that had been snatched by dog-thieves

Some of the dogs were wearing collars, according to the charity, suggesting that these were pets stolen by thieves to fuel the dog-meat trade - an increasingly common crime in China.

Most of the animals will find new homes within China but some will also be flown to families in the UK and the US to start their new lives after quarantine.

Thousands of dogs and cats are still set to be slaughtered and eaten at the annual festival in Yulin, which kicks off on June 21.

International activists have joined the voices risen in protest within China against the brutal festival.

They have already seen some success, with the number of dogs killed at the festival falling from 15,000 to an estimated 3,000 in just five years.

But hundreds of animals are still killed every day in the weeks leading up to the festival.

Saved: The animals are now being cared for by vets and staff at a temporary shelter, where they are receiving medical attention before being put up for adoption

Freedom: Once they are healthy again, the animals will be put up for adoption both in China, and in the UK and US to start their new lives

Lucky: Although these animals will live, thousands more will be slaughtered for the festival which launches on June 21, in just one week's time

Protest: Humane Society International last week submitted a petition to Yulin and Chinese governments calling for an end to the brutal dog-meat trade, signed by 11million people worldwide

Warnings: The World Health Organisation has also criticised the dog-meat trade, which it claims contributes to the spread of rabies and the increased risk of cholera

Humane Society International last week submitted a petition to the Yulin and Chinese governments that was signed by more than 11million people worldwide, calling for an end to the dog meat trade.

According to HSI, Yulin had no history of mass dog slaughter and consumption before 2010, when the festival was first launched.
A Gambian asylum seeker has been jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering an American au-pair he met on a couch-surfing website in Austria.

The man - who under Austrian law can only be identified as Abdou I - was living illegally in the country when he suffocated and killed Lauren Mann.

Ms Mann, originally from Colorado, was found naked at her apartment in the Wieden district of Vienna on January 25 after her employers told police she had not picked up their child from school.

Abdou I (pictured, centre) appears in court and awaits the start of his murder trial. It is not known how he came to know Lauren Mann

Lauren Mann, 25, was found naked at her apartment in the Wieden district of the Austrian capital on January 25 after her employers told police she had not picked up their child from school

Austrian police have claimed he may have acted out of jealousy after finding Ms Mann lying next to a 15-year-old Afghan boy.

His trial only began earlier today but the jury unanimously found Abdou I guilty of murder and he was jailed for life.

Passing sentence the judge in the case Ulrich Nachtlberger said: 'In a case like this, after all we have heard only the very highest punishment is appropriate.'

He said that the accused had 'shamelessly abused the caring nature and trust' of his 25-year-old victim, and then lied about what he had done in order to escape the punishment.

He added that his motives for killing her were nothing other than of the 'lowest possible order.'

Abdou I is pictured (left) being brought to court in Vienna and (right) sitting in the courtroom awaiting the start of his trial. He denies murder

Ms Mann had offered Abdou I a place to stay through a couch surfing website after he was threatened with deportation by authorities. The pair allegedly started a sexual relationship a short while later.

The day before she was killed, Abdou I found her after a party in her flat lying next to a teenager from Afghanistan. According to DNA evidence, Ms Mann had had sexual contact with both men.

Prosecutors believe he was driven by jealousy to carry out the murder the next day.

Ms Mann's body was found by firemen who broke down the door to her flat after her employee realised the normally reliable nanny had not picked up her child from school.

Her half-undressed body was found in her flat surrounded by candles face down on a mattress.

Abdou I, from Gambia, is led in handcuffs into the coutroom. He is accompanied by his lawyer Astrid Wagner. He denies murder and says he was in Switzerland at the time Lauren Mann was killed

Investigators now believe Abdou I. killed her in a jealous rage after entering her flat and finding her with her arm around a 15-year-old boy from Afghanistan. Police officers work at the scene of the grisly slaying

Forensic experts say she was forcibly suffocated while having sex, by a pillow that was pressed into her face.

After the murder, prosecutors believe the Gambian tried and failed to set fire to pieces of her clothes in the bathroom, then took some valuables and fled to Switzerland.

He was caught nine days after her body was discovered at a Swiss refugee home and was eventually deported back to Austria in early April.

Abdou I. denied the accusations but as well as the DNA evidence, there was also mobile phone records that showed despite denying that he was in Vienna when she was killed - he had been travelling around the city with her mobile phone.

He had insisted that he was either in Switzerland or Milan at the time of the murder but could not remember exactly which one.
Ma has been accused of allowing counterfeit items to be sold online

Billionaire Jack Ma says counterfeit items made same way as luxury goods

Counterfeit goods are even better than the products they are copying, Chinas richest man has said.

Self-made billionaire and Chinese businessman Jack Ma said there was little difference in the way luxury goods and knock-off products are made, with many made with the same materials in the same factories.

Speaking from his Alibaba headquarters in Hangzhou, China, Mr Ma said: We have to protect (intellectual property), we have to do everything to stop the fake products but OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) are making better products at a better price.

The 51-year-old billionaire's company has been accused of encouraging the sale of fake products

The problem is the fake products today are of better quality and better price than the real names.

They are exactly the (same) factories, exactly the same raw materials but they do not use the names.

Instead, luxury brands need to accept that the way to do business has changed, he told investors at a company event on Tuesday.

The 51-year-old billionaire later defended his remarks, saying: This is simply my observation of the issues facing brands and OEMs. Counterfeiting is not a quality problem; counterfeiting is an intellectual property problem.

A founder of one Italian luxury goods company who asked to be anonymous told The Financial Times: I am stunned by his comments.

Other luxury companies, including Kering, which owns Gucci and Saint Laurent, and LVMH declined to comment.

Gucci is just one luxury brand that has been plagued by knock-offs with the company refusing to comment over Ma's latest claims

Mr Ma also spoke out about problems facing Chinese manufacturers.

He said many Chinese groups wanted to make products and sell them directly to consumers after being frustrated by the global division of labour in which Chinese companies made high quality goods only to see much of the money pocketed by brand owners.

His controversial claims over luxury and counterfeit items come after the company was last month suspended from the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition, a global non-profit that fights fakes.

Kering launched a lawsuit against Alibaba, alleging that the Chinese company encouraged and and profited from the sales of fake products.

His suspension took place after a number of top brands, including handbag designer Michael Kors and Gucci, dropped out of the coalition in protest of the company not being removed.

Mail Online has approached International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition for comment regarding Ms Ma's claims.

Kering, which owns Gucci and Saint Laurent has alleged Ma's company are encouraging and profiteering from fakes

Mr Ma, who is worth more than USD$33.5 billion as of June 2016 according to Bloomberg, was the founder of China Yellowpages as well as starting up Alibaba.com, a business-to-business site established in the late 1990s.

Alibaba has been plagued by questions around how it would clean up its platforms long before 2016.

When Mr Ma floated his company on Wall St for $22billion in 2014, he was catapulted into the public eye in the West.

He made headlines with his bizarre behaviour  including marrying his employees and performing songs live.

Earlier this year, the billionaire has snapped up two historic French vineyards for 9.5million (12million euros).

He bought the Chateau Guerry and the Chateau Perenne, dating back to the 18th century, in the heart of the famous Bordeaux wine-growing region.
claim she is one of 'the heads of foreign-linked hostile networks'

A British mother who has been held in an Iranian jail since April was 'seeking to overthrow the regime', the country's elite Revolutionary Guard have claimed.

Charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was accused of being 'involved in the soft overthrow of the Islamic republic through... her membership in foreign companies and institutions' - a charge her husband Richard Ratcliffe has dismissed as ridiculous.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who holds dual British-Iranian nationality, was arrested at Tehran airport on April 3 as she prepared to return to Britain with her two-year-old daughter after visiting family in Iran.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (left), an employee of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was arrested at Tehran airport in April as she prepared to return to Britain with her daughter Gabriella

The Iranian authorities have now acknowledged they are holding Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, pictured with her husband Richard Ratcliffe, and say she is accused of being 'involved in the soft overthrow' of the government

The Revolutionary Guards said Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was 'identified and arrested after massive intelligence operations' as one of 'the heads of foreign-linked hostile networks', the Mizan news agency reported.

According to the Guards statement, she was alleged to have conducted 'various missions... leading her criminal activities under the direction of media and intelligence services of foreign governments'.

'Further investigations are being done and her case has been sent to Tehran for legal proceedings,' the statement added.

Iran does not acknowledge dual-citizenship so she will be charged as a citizen of the Middle Eastern country.

The statement - the first time the Iranian authorities have officially acknowledged they have detained Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe - also confirmed she is being kept in a furnished room in a prison in the southeastern city of Kerman, 621 miles away from her daughter Gabriella, whose passport has also been confiscated.

But Mr Ratcliffe, who last spoke to his wife on May 30 and has said she was held in solitary confinement for 45 days, scoffed at the charges levelled against her.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, pictured with her husband Richard, is alleged to have conducted 'various missions'

'It's complete nonsense. It's taken them 70 days to come up with this, and it's still not clear what it means anyway,' he said.

Amnesty International UK has also hit out at the 'trumped-up' charge after weeks of 'appalling' treatment.

Individuals At Risk Campaigns Manager Felix Jakens said: 'This case has all the hallmarks of another spurious, trumped-up case designed to exert diplomatic pressure on a Western country - in this case Britain.

'Unless she is charged with an internationally-recognisable offence and tried in line with international fair trial standards, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe should be released as soon as possible and allowed to travel with her daughter back to the UK.'

Mr Ratcliffe, of London, said his father-in-law has appointed a lawyer, and he planned to reapproach the Iranian embassy.

Meanwhile, the couple's two-year-old daughter is still in Iran under the care of her grandparents. Mr Ratcliffe has been advised not to travel to the country.

Britain's Foreign Office said it has raised the case of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe 'repeatedly and at the highest levels' and will continue to do so at 'every available opportunity'.

'We have also been supporting Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family since we were first made aware of her arrest. Minister for the Middle East, Tobias Ellwood, has met personally with the family to reassure them that we will continue to do all we can on this case.'

Mr Ratcliffe has dismissed the charges as 'complete nonsense'. He was initially told it was a passport problem

Mr Ratcliffe was initially told a 'passport problem' was the cause of his wife being detained at Tehran airport, organised a rally outside the Iranian embassy in London on Friday demanding her release.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a charitable organisation coordinating training programmes for journalists around the world.
Two more huge British firms endorsed a Remain vote today as the campaign to keep Britain inside the EU scrambled to stop a slide in the polls to Brexit.

Rolls Royce wrote to staff and warned them a Brexit vote next Thursday would mean having to postpone crucial new projects.

Elsewhere, John Lewis issued a warning to shoppers that prices would rise if Britain left the European Union following the referendum.

The new endorsements come after BT backed Remain in a letter to 81,000 staff and a week after JCB chief Sir Anthony Bamford told his 6,000 employees he backed Brexit.

Rolls Royce chief executive Warren East has written to the firm's staff to warn Brexit would be 'bad for business' because of the uncertainty it would create

Rolls-Royce chief executive Warren East said it would 'better for employees, customers and suppliers' if there was a Remain vote.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the uncertainty of Brexit would be bad for business.

'Our US competitors don't have to cope with that uncertainty,' he said.

The engineering firm is increasing its manufacturing capacity but Mr East said decisions about where to invest were being put on hold.

He said not knowing whether government and EU funding would still be available in the future might affect any decision to invest in the UK over other countries.

He said: 'The uncertainty and the putting decisions on hold is the problem. It's something our competitors don't have.'

John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield said prices would probably rise after a Brexit - but the retailer's chairman insisted the firm was not taking sides.

He told the BBC: 'As a businessman and looking at the economic issues, I do think that the economy will remain stronger if we remain in the European Union and that does matter.

'It matters to things like jobs, wages and public services because they do depend on how the economy is performing.

'From conversations I've had with a number of the banks, we're seeing activity slowing in the build-up to the referendum, so I do think that it's the case that this is beginning to have an impact on the economy.

John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield also publicly opposed Brexit today, warning the debate was already slowing down the economy

'We're not taking sides in the debate. It is up to people to decide.

'But equally we have been asked to decide by our partners - that's 90,000 people who work in our business - what this means for their business because understandably they're interested.'

Shadow business secretary Angela Eagle said: 'This is yet further evidence of the benefits membership of the largest single market brings to British workers and businesses. Nine out of ten economists agree that Britain is better off in and that a vote to leave the EU is a threat to jobs and the economy.

'Rolls Royce is a world-leading engineering company and employs 23,000 staff in the UK. This letter to staff makes clear that the uncertainty of a vote to leave the EU would be unsettling for the company.

'This referendum is a vote about jobs and workers' rights, which would both be threatened by Brexit. Labour believes passionately that working people are better off in the EU.'
A student has shamed fashion chain H&M by posting a changing room snap of her struggling to fit into a size 16 pair of jeans - despite being a size 14.

Ruth Clemens, who is studying for a PhD in Comparative Literature at Leeds Trinity University, took the photo after visiting the Leeds H&M store on Monday.

Despite being a size 14, she picked up a pair of 10 size 16 jeans in the hope they would easily fit.

Student Ruth Clemens took the photo of the ill-fitting clothes after visiting the Leeds H&M store on Monday

As she tried to tug the jeans up, however, she realised they were 'inches short' on the waist - making it impossible to do up the top button.

The 25-year-old also tried on a medium vest top, but found it only came to her midriff.

The viral Facebook post has racked up 65,000 likes, nearly 7,000 comments and has been shared more than 8,000 times,

She wrote in a message to bosses at H&M saying they made jeans 'unrealistically small'.

The post said that she had spotted a 'bargain' pair of jeans at the store and gone to the changing rooms to try them on - only for them to not fit.

'As I'm sure you're aware, size 16 is the largest size you stock (apart from in your plus size range, which is very limited in store and does not offer the range of styles for the fashion-conscious that are available in smaller sizes),' she wrote.

'I am not overweight (not that that should matter) and although I'm 5 foot 11 my body is pretty average shape-wise.

'It's already difficult enough for me to find clothes that fit well because of my height, why are you making jeans that are unrealistically small?'

She then goes on to question the store, asking 'am I too fat for your everyday range?'

Among the thousands of comments included Kay Aspey who wrote: 'Unbelievable!!! It comes as no shock that many people including children/teens have low self esteem when it comes to their body.

'Will H&M sort this out?? I highly doubt it, and that is the upsetting thing!!! Fantastic that you have posted this x'

Ms Clemens (pictured), 25, slated the high street store for making its clothes 'unrealistically small'

Courtney Burgess wrote: 'This so ridiculously true!! I am typically a size 12 and some of the size 16 clothing didn't even fit me.

'I am never shopping there again because I will not be made to feel bigger than what I am!'

Brett Whyman said it wasn't just women that were affected by the sizing policy, adding: 'Doesn't just happen to lasses, they don't do clothes to fit me in H&M.

'Think max size in jeans is a 34, and I'm a xxl shirt and they never have them.'

A spokesman for H&M - a Swedish firm with more than 250 stores in the UK and nearly 4,000 worldwide - replied to the post saying it valued her feedback.

'I THOUGHT I'D TRY THEM ON. IT DID NOT GO WELL': THE VIRAL POST IN FULL 'Dear H&M, I was browsing your sale items in your Leeds store and spotted this pair of kick flare jeans. 'They were only a tenner - bargain! - and a size 16. 'I'm normally a size 14 on my hips (occasionally 16 if buying trousers) so I thought I'd try them on. It did not go well. 'As I'm sure you're aware, size 16 is the largest size you stock (apart from in your plus size range, which is very limited in store and does not offer the range of styles for the fashion-conscious that are available in smaller sizes). 'I am not overweight (not that that should matter) and although I'm 5 foot 11 my body is pretty average shape-wise. 'It's already difficult enough for me to find clothes that fit well because of my height, why are you making jeans that are unrealistically small? 'Am I too fat for your everyday range? Should I just accept that accessible and affordable high street and on-trend fashion isn't for people like me? You might recognise the top I'm wearing - it's one of yours and it's a size Medium. Sort it out would you.' You might recognise the top I'm wearing - it's one of yours and it's a size Medium. Sort it out would you. #whatdoesplussizeevenmean #bodypositive #fashionforall Also vote remain Advertisement

'We are sorry to hear about your experience in store recently,' it read.

'We always want our customers to have an enjoyable time when shopping in store and to leave feeling confident in themselves.

'At H&M we make clothing for all our stores around the world, so the sizing can vary depending on the style, cut and fabric.

'We value all feedback and will take on board the points you and other customers have raised.'

And a spokesman told MailOnline: 'Everyone is welcome at H&M and we value all feedback.

'H&M works with the same measurements and sizes within all concepts, across all 62 markets and online, however the fit of a garment may vary depending on the style, cut and fabric.'

H&M were one of the many high street chains slammed for using ultra-skinny mannequins in their stores.

They measured just 23.5ins last year - but the average British woman has a waist size of 33ins.

Even young women who wear size eight clothes generally have a 28in waist.
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Rival flotillas headed by Nigel Farage and Sir Bob Geldof clashed on the Thames today with the rock star facing criticism for yelling insults and making obscene gestures.

In the most bizarre scenes of the EU referendum so far, the Ukip leader took to the waves with dozens of fishing boats as he urged a vote to cut ties with Brussels next week.

But they were greeted by boats carrying Remain supporters including the rock star, and loud speakers blasting out the song 'In With the In Crowd'.

The fleets chased each other along the river for several hours - while at one point hoses were deployed by the trawlers to try to settle the argument.

Sir Bob Geldof could be clearly seen making V signs and obscene gestures at the opposing flotilla as they motored past on the Thames

Large fishing boats pass under Tower Bridge as smaller speed boats race around them with the 'IN' signs getting in the way

Dozens of vessels passed under Tower Bridge, holding up traffic while it was raised, in what developed into a large flotilla

Sir Bob seemingly infuriated some pro-EU activists on his own vessel by flicking a V sign and making other rude signs at Mr Farage's crew.

One passenger took to Twitter to make clear her displeasure, saying she was 'disgusted' at the insults against their opponents.

Bethany Pickering wrote: 'Left Bob Geldof's boat in disgust. Fishermen, the Labour Remain presence sincerely apologises.'

Geldof berated Mr Farage over a PA system as his vessel, the Sarpedon, pulled alongside the boat carrying the Ukip leader.

The Ukip leader and the rock star traded insults with each other in the shadow of Tower Bridge standing on top of their respective ships

Calling Mr Farage a 'fraud', Geldof said: 'You are no fisherman's friend.'

He said that while Mr Farage was on the European Parliament fisheries committee he attended just one out of 43 meetings.

In more than three years as a member of the European Parliament's fisheries committee, Mr Farage turned up for just one of 42 meetings, said the environmental group.

'You are a fraud, Nigel. Go back down the river because you are up one without a canoe or a paddle.

'Stop lying. This election is too important.'

Speaking to reporters on a boat on the Thames, Mr Farage branded the Geldof protest 'just disgusting'.

He said: 'These are communities that have been devastated. These are communities that no-one has listened to for years.

Calling Mr Farage a 'fraud', Geldof said: 'You are no fisherman's friend' as he traded insults with the Ukip politician

Two leave supporters carry flags on top of a boat within the flotilla as they stand defiant in protest at the regulations of the EU

Mr Farage also had time for a friendly wave with his supporters as he stood all suited up on top of one of the larger boats

A Labour activist claimed to have left Geldof's boat in disgust after he flicked a V sign and made other rude gestures at fishermen protesting against EU membership

'They are here today, they have taken - some of them - several days out of their working week to come and make their protest, to say 'look, we want to take back control of our seas, we want to get jobs back in this industry'.

'To see multi-millionaires frankly mocking them is a pretty shameful sight.'

Speaking to reporters accompanying him on the Thames, Mr Farage branded the Geldof protest 'just disgusting'.

He added that Geldof was 'deeply ignorant about how the Common Fisheries Policy works' and 'it ill befits multi-millionaires coming to drown out ordinary men and women from the fishing industry who have come to have a fair say'.

Bob Geldof, dressed in jeans, a purple jacket, and wearing dark sunglasses, shouted at Mr Farage through loud speakers on his boat

Mr Farage was trolled by Remain supporters who made their way past him as he posed for photographs by the edge of his boat

Speaking to reporters accompanying him on the river , Mr Farage branded the Geldof protest 'just disgusting' as Geldof waved

Mr Farage said: 'We used to protest against the establishment and now the establishment protests against us. We must be getting something right.'

He added: 'The Common Fisheries Policy works on the principle of equal access to the common resource. What that means is that we have to share the fish in our waters with the rest of the European Union.

'Sensible countries like Norway, the Faroes and Iceland do no such thing. These industries, these communities have been devastated now for decades and they have come here today to be heard.'

The flotilla, which involved around 30 vessels, passed Parliament as David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn engaged each other at Prime Minister's Questions.

Pro-EU campaigners also unfurled a huge banner on a bridge as Mr Farage's flotilla passed underneath the green structure

Rival boats in the Brexit and Remain flotillas clashed on the Thames today and insults were hurled back and forth between the two

Opposing the 'vote leave' signs of the Ukip leader Sir Bob unveiled his giant 'IN' signposts with his own team of supporters around him

The Prime Minister said the UK fishing industry had grown by around 20% thanks to Government reforms, and insisted it would be hit with tariffs on the sale of fish if Britain pulled out of the EU.

Mr Cameron spoke after Mr Corbyn criticised the Government for giving the majority of its fishing quota to large companies, urging people to 'stop blaming Brussels'.

Fisherman Aaron Brown, from Ayrshire, accompanied Mr Farage on the protest voyage.

He said the industry and his community had been badly hit by the EU rules and added: 'I hope my countrymen have the courage, like the men who went into the trenches, to say 'we are going to be a free nation again and we are going to flourish great and free'.'

Despite the occasionally rowdy scenes on the water, a Metropolitan Police spokeswoman described the event as 'good natured on both sides'.

Tory MP Johnny Mercer appeared less than impressed with Mr Farage's expedition on the Thames today

The Port of London Authority (PLA) oversaw the vessels and spoke to Leave and Remain campaigners about excessive noise near HMS Belfast in the Pool of London.

Greenpeace accused Mr Farage of 'cynical opportunism', saying that as a Ukip MEP he had failed to vote on three major measures designed to fix flaws in the Common Fisheries Policy.

Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said: 'When Nigel Farage had a chance to stand up for UK fishermen in Brussels, he bunked off. His no-show voting record proves he's no fisherman's friend but a cynical opportunist exploiting the harsh predicament of many fishermen for political gain.

'What's threatening the livelihoods of thousands of sustainable, family-run businesses is the grossly unfair division of fish quota overseen by successive UK governments. The root of the problem lies in London, not Brussels.

'Quitting the EU will only condemn the industry to years of wrangling over new fisheries agreements, with no guarantee of a better deal for fishers or stronger protections for our seas.'

A leave supporter waves a flag as she watches the flotilla pass from Westminster Bridge wearing a United Kingdom party hat

Mr Farage and Labour MP Kate Hoey appeared to be reenacting scenes from the film Titanic during the event in London

A pro-EU dinghy passes the Brexit flotilla on the Thames this morning as they docked up together by the river bank

Shadow environment secretary Kerry McCarthy said: 'Our EU membership provides access to Europe's fishing waters worth 100 million to the UK and British fishing boats are able to land and sell their catch in any EU country.

'If we left the EU we would still want to trade with EU countries, negotiate access and quotas outside our own territory and share fishing rights for UK waters.

'To protect fish stocks and the livelihoods that depend upon them, we need a European-wide collective approach. We cannot risk a return to the bad old days where fish stocks were declining so fast that there were species on the verge of extinction.'

The 'Fishing for Leave' grouping apparently turned their hoses on some of the Remain boats to settle the confrontation

The Ukip leader and his allies were demanding a return to the terms we had in the common market multiple decades ago

BACK BREXIT FOR A PAY RISE! TORY VETERAN JOHN REDWOOD CLAIMS ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHERE THE ECONOMY WILL BE IN 20 YEARS BUT FOR NOW WE'RE MUCH BETTER OFF OUT Tory veteran John Redwood, writing for MailOnline, said Britain could get a pay rise from backing Brexit Writing exclusively for MailOnline, Tory veteran John Redwood says backing Brexit next week will mean a pay rise and more jobs. Leaving the EU should boost pay and create more jobs. Spending our own money on our own priorities ensures that is true from the first post Brexit budget onwards. The dreary gloomy predictions of Remain are all based on the absurd idea that the rest of the EU will want to impose new barriers on their trade with us, and will be able to do so. As we are more the customer than the supplier and as we and they live under World Trade Organisation rules this is pure fantasy. The issue in dispute is will be even better off if we leave or stay? 2030 is too far ahead to be sure. I do think it more likely we will be better off out, as I think the UK following an independent and outward looking global policy we will be able to adapt more quickly and positively to events. In the EU we are being slowed down and enchained by having to agree any response with 27 other differing and bickering countries. It is easier forecasting the next two or three years than trying to guess the longer term. Forecasting the next fifteen as the Treasury claims to do is just about impossible. Will China be the world's largest economy in 2030, still growing well, or will there have been a China crisis as some fear? Will there be major new breakthroughs in technology, or will still be adapting and using the main internet, materials and biotechnologies we already know about? These huge questions are difficult to forecast. Changing your assumptions about any of them can make a big difference to the results of the analysis. It seems likely that if we leave the EU we can look forward to a better pay rise at the bottom end of the income scale than if we stay in. Lord Rose, the Chairman of Remain, said as much in a rare honest forecast from that campaign. We will also have 10bn a year to spend at home that we have to give way to EU in contributions we don't get back. This will enable us to hire more people for the NHS and schools who will tend to be better paid people with more skill. There is also the stimulus effect of the first post Brexit budget, spending that money and removing VAT on fuel to boost people's spending power. Large companies who say they would rather we stay in have also usually said they will continue to invest here either way. Nissan, Toyota and Land Rover have no plans to pull out if we leave. The UK is likely to enjoy a modest pay rise from leaving. Leaving will also cut some of the pressures on housing and public service. If house prices went up less or even got a bit cheaper, that would be great news for all those people under 40 who cannot afford a home of their own but would like one. I am sure we will be a bit better off this decade from leaving. I have little idea how much better we will be by 2030. Nor can the Treasury, who had to make large revisions to this year's forecasts between November and March publications. Advertisement

The Brexit boats: A Fishing for Leave pro-Brexit 'flotilla' makes its way smoothly along the River Thames in central London

Another one of the ships had a large sign that read out 'sold down the river but some of us survived Vote Leave'

This small fishing boat trundled along with a couple of sailors steering the boat upstream as one of the crew looked out to shore

This sturdy boat even had a pirate flag with the 'vote leave' message spread around a skull and crossbones picture on a black background

Another ship powers up the river as its fisherman joined in with the vote to leave the EU protest sitting outside in the breeze

Another small ship shows its passengers making the most of the nice weather as well to enjoy a refreshing drink

A larger boat passes through central London on the Thames with the financial district and the Gherkin in the background

A smaller boat accompanies the bigger vessels in a display of defiance against the current state of affairs in the European Union

A blue and white ship with vote leave messages floats past the watching photographers and luxury apartments on shore

One of the smaller 'fishing to leave ships' coloured entirely in yellow motors along up the Thames with its own flags blowing in the wind
This is the terrifying moment a pair of scuffling rhinos decided to charge head-first at a couple out on safari in South Africa.

The two massive beasts had been going head-to-head in the middle of a dusty road, surrounded by eager wildlife enthusiasts at the Hluhluwe Park in KwaZulu-Natal.

But after exchanging blows with each other, one angry rhino spotted a keen photographer snapping away from a nearby car and decided to abandon the fight and charge straight towards him.

The horned beasts turned to face the car and charge at the South African couple head-on

The nail-biting footage was taken by Peet van Schalkwyk, 68, while watching a group of rhinos at the roadside with his wife Lynn van Heerden, 61.

'I watched them for some time, before two of the males started fighting,' said Peet, a university professor from Potchefstroom.

'I started to record the incident - and then one of them gave up fighting with his fellow rhino and started running towards me.

The rhinos had been part of a group before two males began fighting in the middle of the road

'They didn't notice me at first, but when they passed our car the dominant rhino became angry and tried to chase me away by jumping up and down in front of the car.

'I held the camera very steady the entire time, and I wasn't afraid at all - that's because it was my wife's car.

'Lynn and I love wildlife, and we often go out to the South African national parks like Kruger and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park to take pictures of the animals.'

The rhinos head towards the car while photographer Peet van Schalkwyk captures the incredible scenes

'I wasn't afraid at all': Peet and wife Lynn van Heerden often go to wildlife parks to photograph animals
A British tourist has been found dead in the toilet of his Indian hotel room with mystery surrounding the mans sudden death.

John George Dawson, 32, was staying with an American friend at Dynasty Guest House in Varanasi - one of the oldest cities in the world  when he was found dead on the toilet floor about 2am.

The British national had been travelling through Nepal before reaching Varanasi on June 12, checking into the hotel for an intended three day stay before going sight-seeing through the city.

John Dawson's body was found on the toilet floor of the Indian guesthouse he was staying in

The 32-year-old went to the toilet after arriving back at the guest house but when his friend realised he had been gone for more than an hour, raised the alarm.

When hotel staff bashed the door down they found the keen mountaineer lying unconscious on the floor.

He was rushed to the trauma centre of Banaras Hindu University but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Munir Ahmed, 55, the guest house owner, said: I received a call from my staff at 2am informing me about John's condition. I reached the hotel and we immediately rushed him to a hospital but sadly he had died by then. I informed the police about the incident.

I cannot believe he is no more. He looked absolutely healthy in the morning.

Local police have now handed Johns body to the British Embassy after a preliminary investigation.

A foreign office spokeswoman said: We are in contact with local authorities in Northern India following reports that a British national has died in Varanasi.

Varanasi police inspector Ajit Mishra is in charge of the case and said: We have handed over his body to the British Embassy and are waiting for their nod for the post-mortem. As of now, it is difficult to say under what circumstances he died.

The body had no injury marks. There were some medical pills in the dustbin but we cannot say if he died because of overdose. It is not right to say that as we are yet ascertain the cause of the death.

John had plans to travel to other parts of India and their next leg of the journey was Agra.

John had expressed his desire of seeing the world famous Taj Mahal to Munir and how excited he was to sit outside it.
The man, who is in his 30s, was arrested in April on suspicion of the murder of Rikki Neave (pictured) who was found dead in woodland close to his home in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, in 1994

A man who was arrested on suspicion of the murder of six-year-old Rikki Neave in 1994 has been rebailed.

The man, who is in his 30s, was arrested in April on suspicion of the murder of the schoolboy, who was found dead in woodland close to his home in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, in 1994.

The youngster was last seen by his family leaving for school at around 9am on the morning of November 28.

His naked body was found in nearby woodland the following day and a post-mortem examination found he had been strangled.

Rikki's clothes - including grey school trousers, a jacket and a white shirt - were later found in a dustbin yards from the wooded area.

Following a cold case review into his murder, detectives from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, visited a property in Peterborough on April 19 and arrested a suspect.

Later that week he was released on police bail and today he was re-bailed by officers until September 20.

Rikki's mother Ruth Neave, 47, was charged with her son's murder but was later found not guilty by a jury at Northampton Crown Court.

She admitted child neglect and cruelty and was sentenced to seven years in prison

Following the arrest in April her husband Gary Rogers, 55, said the couple were left 'speechless and numb' when two liaison officers knocked on their door to say they had a man in custody.

Speaking from a hotel in March, Cambridgeshire - just miles from where Rikki was killed - he revealed he and his wife heard a knock at the door at 6.55am.

In November last year police released an artist's impression of two people they wanted to speak to in connection with the murder of six-year-old Rikki Neave

Rikki (left) was found in woodland near his home in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, on November 29 1994. His mother Ruth Neave, 47, was initially arrested (right) and charged with his murder - but was later cleared by a jury

Mr Rogers, who is Ruth's full-time carer, said: 'At five to seven in the morning, to have two liaison officers standing on your doorstep after being woken up by them is a shock.

'They said "we need to come in and talk to Ruth". They very nicely insisted to come in, it was a case of "we do need to come in".

'So we got her out of bed quickly, put the dogs in the kitchen and went and sat down.

'They sat us down in the front room and told us straight away they had made an arrest within the last five to ten minutes.'

The couple, who live in Cambridgeshire, revealed they do not know who has been arrested.

Ms Neaves declined to speak, instead nominating her husband to comment for her, but looked sombre throughout while wearing black sunglasses to cover her eyes.

Gary Rogers (left) revealed he and his wife Ruth (right) were left 'speechless' and 'numb' when two liaison officers knocked on their door at 6.55am this morning to make them aware of the arrest

During the murder trial, jurors heard Ms Neave (right) said Rikki (left) was in was in danger if he stayed at home, and one social worker reported witnessing her threatening to 'hang her son from the ceiling'

RUTH NEAVE: THE MOTHER'S TRIAL THAT SHOCKED THE NATION Northampton Crown Court heard allegations of terrible abuse dished out to Rikki, pictured, by his mother Northampton Crown Court heard heard how Rikki's mother called police on 28 November 1994 when the child failed to come home from Welland Primary School and still hadn't returned home by 6pm that night. The court heard how the youngster was found strangled and stripped naked in woodland near his home at around midday the next day by PC Thomas Graham. Rikki's clothes, including his grey school trousers, white shirt and jacket, were found in a bin just 150 yards from his body. Initially charged with Rikki's murder, plus five counts of child cruelty between 1986 and 1994, and a further drugs charge, Neave denied them all at first. She later changed her plea to admit all the charges bar that of murder. Prosecutors told the jury that Rikki was killed in a sacrifice by his mother, who had an interest in the occult and black magic. James Hunt QC told the court the child's body was found in a pose mirrored in books found in her home. It was also alleged that Neave had a fascination with murderers and their minds, and told neighbours on the Welland estate that she was a high priestess of the occult who dabbled in black magic. Jurors heard that she had pleaded with social workers to take her son into care, saying he was in danger if he stayed at home, and one social worker reported witnessing her threatening to 'hang her son from the ceiling'. Another social worker said Neave threatened to kill her son the day before he was reported missing, and a witness reported seeing her walk 'hurriedly' towards the spot where his body was found on the day he went missing. Lawyers for the defence said a sex attacker who had not been found could have been responsible for Rikki's death. They told the court that another child was attacked and tied to a tree five months before Rikki died, and said that a 10-year-old girl said she had seen the boy alive after he had been reported missing. Neave was cleared of murdering her son, but jailed for seven years for cruelty to Rikki, her daughter Rebecca, and one other child. Ms Neave was photographed holding Rikki as a baby in the late 1980s. She was accused of killing her son, but was cleared by a jury. She admitted she wasn't a 'perfect mother' Advertisement

Mr Rogers added: 'All they told us is that it's a man in his 30s from Peterborough.

'We always hoped this day would come. We are speechless and numb, but it's a good day.'

Detectives from Cambridgeshire Police re-launched a fresh investigation into the murder inquiry last year following pressure from Ms Neave, who argued that her son's killer remains at large.

The new investigation found four possible sightings of Rikki on the day he was murdered, including two boys who were seen walking out of the woods where his body was found.

Police then released an artist's impression of the pair, who were teenagers at the time, because they wanted to speak to them in connection with the murder of the six-year-old.

Ruth Neave (right), the mother of murdered schoolboy Rikki Neave, was photographed at his funeral near Kings Lynn, Norfolk, on February 14 1995. She was cleared of his murder at Northampton Crown Court

The case involving Ms Neave's arrest caused a national outcry in 1995 after details of the horrific abuse Rikki suffered at his mother's hands became public.

She was once dubbed the UK's most evil mother after she admitted charges of causing child cruelty to Rikki and his two sisters, Rebecca, then eight, and Rochelle, three.

She was initially charged with Rikki's murder, plus five counts of child cruelty between 1986 and 1994, and a further drugs charge, but she denied them all at first.

Ms Neave later changed her plea to admit all of the charges except the allegation that she killed her son.

During the murder trial, the court heard Neave had a fascination with killers and their minds, and that she had pleaded with social workers to take her son into care.

Following her release from prison in 2000, she and her husband Gary Rogers fought a bitter campaign to have the murder inquiry re-opened.

Ms Neave called a press conference in 2014 to urge the force to reopen their investigation.

She said at the time: 'I loved Rikki, he was a wonderful child.

'For the last 20 years, I have been going through living hell from the public opinion of me caused by all the lies.'

'I wasn't a perfect mother but I never hurt my children and I should never have admitted to those offences.

'All I want now is justice and for his killers to be caught.

'I know people out there think I'm a murderer but I'm determined to prove that somebody else did this to my boy.'

Speaking after it was re-launched in June 2015, she said: 'We've waited for far too long for this day.

'I am longing for the moment someone tells me they've found the person who murdered my son.

'My son died and that is unforgivable. The torment and heartache I have suffered in all these years needs to be put to bed properly for Rikki's sake as well as mine.'
Tourists sipping cocktails while lounging beside infinity pools at popular beachfront bars have been wiped out by tidal waves as flooding and high tides batter South Bali and kill two tourists.

The surf has been off-limits due to dangerous conditions, but even those on land at idyllic hot-spot Ku De Ta in Seminyak have been endangered by the giant waves this week.

Shocking footage shows the waves crashing over tourists by the pool, while The Rock Bar at Ayana Resort 20km south has been deserted and damaged, WA Today reports.

Two tourists, from Hong Kong and Singapore, died after they were dragged out to sea at Padang Galak Beach in Sanur, local newspaper Tribun Bali reported on Wednesday.

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Tourists sipping cocktails while lounging beside infinity pools at popular beachfront bars have been wiped out by tidal waves as flooding and high tides batter South Bali (Pictured: Ku De Ta)

Shocking footage shows the waves crashing over tourists by the pool (pictured: Ku De Ta)

The dangerous conditions forced tourists on a ship to evacuate to the top level.

Earlier this month, a woman from Two Rocks, Perth, was one of five people swept out to sea and killed while she was on her honeymoon.

Brad and Lestari Williams were walking along the beach at Angel's Billabong beach at Bali island Nusa Penida, when a rogue wave swamped them from behind and washed them out to sea, 9News reported.

Pictured: the tidal waves flood a swimming pool at Seminyak Beach

The Rock Bar at Ayana Resort is smashed by enormous waves - leaving the hot-spot deserted and damaged

Mr Williams made it back to shore but Mrs Williams and her eight-year-old sister vanished in the surf.

Nearly 1,300 people fled Java's Lumajang and Pekalongan in recent days ahead of forecasted tidal waves along the southern coast of Bali and Sumbawa and the western coast of Sumatra Island.

Social media has been awash with terrifying footage of the waves hitting coastal areas in South Bali.

'Dude, where's my beach!?' one tourist wrote alongside footage of the terrifying waves. 'Global warming working its charms.'

'King tide has hit Seminyak too! Pool usually has a huge beach in front of it, now it has a beach IN it!' another wrote.

'Everything was so calm, so blue & the weather were just perfect [sic]. THEN a small scale of tsunami wiped our food and our clothes and our hair and everything away,' another said.

'Everything was so calm, so blue & the weather were just perfect [sic]. THEN a small scale of tsunami wiped our food and our clothes and our hair and everything away,' one person wrote on Instagram. (Pictured: Ku De Ta)

There is normally sand between Ku De Ta bar beachfront bar in Seminyak and the surf (pictured: abnormally high tides battering the coastline at Ku De Ta)

Pictured: Ku De Ta without the freak high tides and giant waves

Mr Williams and wife Lestari were honeymooning on the Indonesian island of Nusa Penida after their traditional wedding in front of Lestari's Balinese family
More than 2,500 people have signed a petition to lower grade boundaries for an 'impossible' chemistry A-level exam.

Thousands of students left their chemistry unit 4 exams confused yesterday, complaining that the questions were obscure and there was not enough time to answer them.

Many now fear their future plans as vets or doctors are in jeopardy, with one joking: 'Doesn't look like there's going to be any medic, veterinary or dentistry students this year.'

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition to lower grade boundaries for an 'impossible' chemistry A-level exam. File image

The students first set up a Facebook complaint group and it was then followed by an online petition (pictured) calling for AQA to lower the grade boundaries

Kemi Bello, from London, wrote: That paper was just ridiculous. No previous AQA Chemistry unit 4 papers could have prepared you for that exam.'

Hundreds joined a complaint group on Facebook, which criticised the 'vague' phrasing and said there were too many one and two-mark questions, followed by a 'sly' nine-mark one at the end.

The page described it as: 'An embarrassment for AQA. So many application questions, many 1-2 mark questions which were time-consuming, sly placement of a 9 marker at the end.'

The students have now created a petition encouraging AQA to lower the grade boundaries, with many claiming the paper has ruined their chances of getting into university.

More than 2,500 people have now signed the petition and hundreds have left comments on the site.

Dana Settle, from Manchester, wrote on the page: 'I am really concerned that I will now not make my entry requirements for veterinary medicine in uni.

'My hard-earned university offers (including 19 weeks of work experience) will go to waste.'

Some students posted jokes about how hard the exam was, with one joking that the solution to the difficult exam was to go into clearing, often used by students who don't get the grades to accept their offers

An anonymous student wrote: 'I couldn't have revised any more for this exam. Yet you still have ruined my chances of getting into university due to this awful paper!'

Another said: 'After achieving 95%+ in AS and going to a high-achieving grammar school, everyone came out of this exam shocked.

'It's understandable to add a few hard questions in like 2015 but this paper's whole structure and type of questions were changed with only a small percentage actually familiar!'

Another student said: 'Overall this exam was way too difficult compared to previous years and deserves lower grade requirements.'

A parent, Vanessa, from London, write: 'Daughter was distraught. What an unfair representation of the students' knowledge. '

Some students joked about how hard the paper was (top, Facebook) but others thought it had ruined their chances of going to university on the comments section of the petition (below, from the petition)

Some students posted jokes about how hard the exam was, with one joking that the solution to the difficult exam was to go into clearing, often used by students who don't get the grades to accept their offers.

However, AQA said that a decision on grade boundaries will not be made until they have seen the papers, and it will take into consideration the overall performance of students.

An AQA spokesman said: 'Exams arent meant to be easy and students are obviously going to talk about that on social media, but everything in the paper was on the syllabus.

'Theres no need for anyone to worry about grade boundaries because these arent decided until weve marked all the papers and know how everyone got on.
WARNING: Footage contains scenes some viewers may find upsetting

A 25-year-old victim of the Orlando nightclub shooting - whose final moments were captured in a Snapchat video that was recorded when gunfire erupted - could have made it out alive but went back to find her best friend, says her brother.

Amanda Alvear whispers 'shooting' as a rapid succession of gunshots are heard in terrifying footage of the moment the gunman began his rampage that left 49 dead and more than 50 wounded.

Her brother, Brian, said she could have escaped but didn't want to leave the Pulse nightclub without her friend, Mercedez Flores, who was also killed in the deadliest mass shooting in US history.

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Amanda Alvear, 25, (left) and friend Mercedez Flores, 26, (right) were killed in the Orlando nightclub shooting

Amanda's (pictured before the attack) brother said she could have escaped but didn't want to leave the Pulse nightclub without her friend, Mercedez Flores

The woman in the video (left) is 25-year-old victim Amanda Alvear, who filmed people partying (right) in Pulse

Amanda Alvear and Flores, both from Davenport, Florida, were found dead in a bathroom after a police SWAT team stormed the nightclub and killed the gunman, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, in a shoot-out.

'I found out earlier today from another friend of hers that Amanda and her had a chance to escape, but Amanda went back in because she wasn't going to leave without Mercedez,' said Brian Alvear in an interview with ITV News. 'She almost made it out.'

He said his sister, a nursing student at the University of South Florida, 'was one of the sweetest, most caring girls you'd ever meet,' and inspired 'fierce loyalty' from her many friends.

Brian Alvear struggled to watch the video after it was circulated in the wake of Sunday morning's terror attack.

'The fear in her eyes once she realizes what's going on ... I'm her big brother, I wanted to jump in and save my sister but you can't,' he said.

He said offered sympathy to the killer's family because 'they lost a son just like we lost a daughter and sister.'

Brian Alvear said his sister, Amanda, 'was one of the sweetest, most caring girls you'd ever meet'

Mourning: The brief video clip was posted on Facebook by Amanda Alvear's brother Brian

Other clips posted on Snapchat show people having a good time, raising their drinks and dancing to music

Night out: Alvear had gone to the club's Latin night with her friend Mercedez, who is also on the victim list

A friend of Amanda Alvear holds up her photo at a memorial service the day after Sunday's mass shooting

Jose Hernandez holds hands with Victor Bayez as they grieve the loss of Amanda Alvear and Mercedez Flores

People console each other as they grieve the loss of their friends Amanda Alvear and Mercedez Flores

LEST WE FORGET: THE 49 VICTIMS OF OMAR MATEEN THE 49 GUNNED DOWN BY ZAHI WERE: FIRST ROW (LEFT TO RIGHT) Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34; Stanley Almodovar III, 23; Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20; Juan Ramon Guerroro, 22; Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36; Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22; Luis S. Vielma, 22. SECOND ROW Kimberly Morris, 37; Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30; Darryl Roman Burt II, 29; Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32; Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21; Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25; Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35. THIRD ROW Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50; Amanda Alvear, 25; Martin Benitez Torres, 33; Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37; Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26; Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35; Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25. FOURTH ROW Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31; Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26; Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25; Miguel Angel Honorato, 30; Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40; Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32; Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19. FIFTH ROW Cory James Connell, 21; Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37; Luis Daniel Conde, 39; Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33; Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25; Jerald Arthur Wright, 31; Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 SIXTH ROW Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25; Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24; Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27; ; Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33; Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49; Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24; Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32. SEVENTH ROW Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28; Frank Hernandez, 27; Paul Terrell Henry, 41; Antonio Davon Brown, 29; Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24; Akyra Monet Murray, 18; Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25. Advertisement

During the night Alvear had posted a series of upbeat videos that showed her and friends dancing to Latin music.

But in the final clip on her profile, the night turns into a horror scene. Amanda tries to explain to the camera what is happening as quickfire gunshots blast in the background.

Clutching her face and looking fearful, she whispers 'shooting' then turns as the video cuts.

She was later confirmed as one of the 49 people killed in the massacre.

The brief video clip was posted on Facebook by Amanda's brother. It shows people raising their glasses and dancing to loud music before the ominous last scene.

In a status, Brian Alvear wrote: 'People keep asking? Yes this is Amanda, she was creating a snapchat story though the night this is the last time anyone saw her, after this she did receive and answer one call.'

Law enforcement officials conduct an investigation at the Pulse nightclub where the shooting occurred

An aerial view of the scene of the mass shooting that killed at least 49 people and injuring 53 others

ORLANDO NIGHTCLUB VICTIM PATIENCE CARTER PENS POEM ABOUT SURVIVING THE MASSACRE The guilt of feeling grateful to be alive is heavy. Wanting to smile about surviving but not sure if the people around you are ready, as the world mourns the victims killed and viciously slain,I feel guilty about screaming about my legs and pain...Because I could feel nothing Like the other 49, who weren't so lucky to feel this pain of mine. I never thought in a million years that this could happen. I never thought in a million years that my eyes could witness something so tragic. Looking at the souls leaving the bodies of individuals. Looking at the killer's machine gun throughout my right peripheral. Looking at the blood and debris covered on everyone's faces. Looking at the gunman's feet under the stall as he paces. The guilt of feeling lucky to be alive is heavy, it's like the weight of the oceans walls crushing uncontrolled by levies. It's like being drug through the grass with a shattered leg and thrown in the back of a Chevy. Being rushed to the hospital and told you're going to make it, when you laid beside individuals whose lives were brutally taken. The guilt of being alive is heavy. Advertisement

One of Alvear's friends was wounded in the attack and was recovering in hospital, her brother said.

According to the FBI, Mateen, from Fort Pierce, Florida, reportedly laughed as he sprayed bullets into the crowded club before he was shot dead by a police SWAT team around three hours later.

Mateen, who was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and handgun when he attacked the nightclub, lived in an apartment with his wife, Noor Salman, and their three-year-old son.

Salman, his second wife, had some knowledge of her husband's plans and is being investigated for possible wrongdoing for allegedly failing to warn authorities, according to sources.

It was claimed Salman, who was Mateens second wife, told investigators she was present when her husband purchased firearms and ammunition, and drove him on scouting missions to Pulse, Disney World and the Disney Springs shopping complex.

Mateen exchanged gunfire with more than a dozen police officers at the club, which is said to have had more than 300 people inside.

Victim Patience Carter, who was wounded, told reporters Mateen was quick to follow the victims into a bathroom where she sought refuge, and started unleashing a barrage of bullets - striking the man that had closed the door to their stall.

Omar Mateen, 29, was armed with two firearms when he killed 49 people and wounded more than 50 others

'We were all scrambling around in the bathroom, screaming at the top of our lungs,' said Carter, a 20-year-old college student from Philadelphia who was at Pulse with friends.

She soon realized that she and her friends had been shot.

'At that point we knew that this wasn't a game. This was very real and this was something that was really happening to us right now,' she said. 'It was a shock. We went from having the time of our lives to the worst night of our lives all within a matter of minutes.
and charged after girl's father files case against him

A teenage girl has been killed by her brother in Pakistan for insisting on marrying a man of her choice.

Anum Ishaq Masih, in her late teens and from a Christian family, was murdered while she slept in Sialkot, south-west of Lahore, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Rana Zulfiqar, the officer in-charge of the city's police station, told AFP that Saqib Ishaq Masih, 23, had 'smashed his sister's head with a wooden log'.

Pakistani mother Perveen Rafiq in the custody of Pakistani police after she allegedly burnt her 18-year old daughter Zeenat Rafiq alive last week in a separate honour-killing case

Rana said the girl was insisting on Saturday that she would marry a Christian neighbour, infuriating her sibling.

Her brother has since been arrested and charged with murder after the girl's father filed a case against him.

Shamoon Gill, a Christian activist, told AFP that honour killings were very rare among the Christian community in Pakistan.

'It has nothing to do with religion but is part of a social issue that is deeply rooted in the eastern societies,' he said.

'Most of the Christians and even Hindus are converts. They have converted but there are still some elements of tribal society.'

Hundreds of women are murdered by their relatives in Pakistan each year on the pretext of defending what is seen as family honour, and this latest incident follows a spate of recent attacks.

Zeenat Rafiq, 18, was allegedly burnt alive by her mother in Lahore recently in a separate incident

Zeenat Rafiq, 18, died after her mother and brother allegedly tied her to a cot, doused her in kerosene and set her alight in the family home in Lahore.

Parveen Rafiq was arrested on the same day and has since confessed to killing her daughter for refusing to have a traditional wedding.
Donald Trump has found a home in Texas after all.

After Trump's team had reached out to three different venues in North Texas and had been rebuffed, the presumptive nominee's Texas swing disappeared from his official schedule earlier today.

But now, Trump will appear tomorrow night at Gilly's in Dallas, in the venue's South Side Ballroom, which can fit 3,800 people, a much smaller crowd than what Trump entertained in Dallas before.

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Donald Trump was supposed to head to Texas after today's rally in Atlanta, Georgia, but two planned rallies - in Dallas and Houston - have disappeared from his schedule after venue problems were reported

The presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump was expected to make a three city swing in Texas and hold rallies in Dallas and Houston and hold a fundraiser in San Antonio too

According to the Dallas Morning News, Gilly's is located conveniently near the Dallas police headquarters, as protests are expected at tomorrow's 7 p.m. event.

Trump's troubles in Texas were first reported by the Dallas Morning News.

The newspaper said that Trump's campaign organizers were 'scrambling' to find a venue that could accommodate a large and safe Trump rally.

Grand Prairie, a town just to the west of Dallas, declined to host a rally in the Verizon Theater, a city spokeswoman confirmed to the Dallas Morning News.

The theater sits 6,350 people and was not large enough for the Trump event, the spokeswoman added.

'It's not only providing security for the rally and itself, it is providing security for the unknown,' Lyle Gensler, the Grand Prairie police spokesman, also told the paper, explaining that to handle a Trump rally the department would have needed help from neighboring cities.

Irving, Texas, the municipality directly north of Grand Prairie, which is near the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, also couldn't accommodate a request from the Trump team.

The Trump campaign reached out to city officials just 48 hours before the event, which wasn't enough lead time to get something off the ground.

The police and city officials decided there wasn't enough time to 'ensure the safety and security of those attending such a large-scale, high-profile event,' city spokesman Susan Rose, told the Dallas Morning News via a prepared statement.

The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas also declined an offer to host Trump.

Several North Texas Hispanic groups were planning to protest at the Trump events, which has become par for the course at the Republican's rallies.

Trump visited the area in September and took over the downtown Dallas' American Airlines Center, the home of Mark Cuban's Dallas Mavericks.

That event attracted a crowd of 15,000 people, though didn't break the record crowd that now-President Barack Obama brought forth in 2008 of 17,000 people.

Trump was also expected to attend high-dollar fundraisers in Texas on Friday too.

There's a luncheon in San Antonio planned with tickets ranging from $500 for young professionals to $250,000 for couples in the 'chairman's circle.'

Those six-figure packages include 10 tickets to the luncheon and four tickets to the photo session and VIP conversation with Trump, according to the San Antonio Express- News.

Friday evening, Trump is due in Houston for a dinner fundraiser hosted by Tony Buzbee, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's lawyer in his abuse of power case.
A former keyboardist for Brian Wilson's band has been sentenced to five years in prison after a jury convicted him of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman after a show at an Oklahoma casino.

Scott Montgomery Bennett, 51, was convicted in April of rape by instrumentation and sexual battery for the December 2014 incident at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino near Tulsa.

On Tuesday, District Judge J Dwayne Steidley sentenced Bennett to five years in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender.

Scott Montgomery Bennett, 51, (pictured) a former keyboardist for Brian Wilson's band was sentenced to five years in prison Tuesday after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman after a show at an Oklahoma casino in December 2014

Bennett was also ordered to register as a sex offender. He was convicted in April of rape by instrumentation and sexual battery for the December 2014 incident at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino near Tulsa (pictured)

Bennett, of Los Angeles, performed on many of the former Beach Boy's albums, including 2004's Brian Wilson Presents Smile.

At trial in April, jurors were shown a surveillance video that was also described in a police affidavit.

The video shows Bennett encountering the woman in an elevator, then preventing her from leaving, and instead takes her up to the hotels 12th floor, according to Tulsa World.

The video then shows Bennett pulling down the woman's pants on a hotel hallway floor and engaging in sexual contact.

'It is clear from watching the video that the victim is extreamly (sic) intoxicated and is unaware of her surroundings,' a Catoosa police officer wrote in the affidavit.

'The subject however appears to be in complete control of his faculties.'

Bennett and the woman then went to a hotel room and leaving about 35 minutes later, prosecutors said.

The end of the surveillance video showed Bennett leaving the woman in a hallway on the seventh floor, where she was later discovered and interviewed by police.

'It was in this line of questions I realized I had no recollection of how I got back to my hotel room or even how the evening ended,' the woman said in court on Tuesday.

Bennett, of Los Angeles, performed on many of Brian Wilson's albums, including 2004's Brian Wilson Presents Smile (Wilson pictured in June 2015)

Following the incident, it was previously reported that the womans underwear was found in Bennetts room, and his DNA was found on her during an exam.

Bennett's attorney, Shannon McMurray, immediately filed a notice of appeal after sentencing Tuesday. She said she was not surprised at the sentence.

'I was certainly hopeful given the extensive information we put before the court on his history of being a really good person and this being an incident with two drunk people,' she said.

The judge set a hearing for July 5 on Bennett's motion for a new trial and ruled that the surveillance video not be released to the public before then.

Attorney Gloria Allred, who attended Tuesday's sentencing, said she is serving as a private lawyer for the victim and that they are considering all legal options.

'The point was that she was vulnerable,' Allred said.
A child psychiatrist allegedly held over 400 pictures and 12 videos of 'child exploitation material' on his electronic devices including footage of young boys urinating in public toilets.

Perth psychiatrist Aaron Voon, 41, is facing child porn charges in Western Australia and Canada.

It is alleged that 409 child exploitation pictures and a dozen videos were found on his devices.

Prosecutors told Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday that many of the 12 videos were of young boys urinating in public toilets, according to Perth Now.

The court heard that Voon's face allegedly appeared in some of the recordings as he returned to turn the camera off.

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Perth psychiatrist Aaron Voon, 41, (pictured) is facing child porn charges in Western Australia and Canada

Prosecutors told Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday that many videos were of young boys urinating in public toilets

The 41-year-old was arrested in Canada last month after allegedly filming a young boy on his mobile phone in a shopping centre toilet.

He was confronted by the boy's father and bystanders who filmed the confrontation.

Voon was charged with making child pornography but released on bail and allowed to return to Western Australia under strict conditions.

Voon is a director of Successful Development and Therapy Centre in Cockburn Central where he specialised in treating prepubescent children with social, emotional and behavioural issues.

Following his arrest in Canada, he sent an email addressed to his patients, colleagues and family saying he had closed his practice.

'A most terrible thing has happened with me in the past week whilst overseas which I will need to manage urgently... I will have to cease practice immediately indefinitely.

The 41-year-old was arrested in Canada last month after allegedly filming a young boy on his mobile phone in a shopping centre toilet. He was confronted by the boy's father (pictured) and bystanders who filmed the confrontation

'For patients and family I am so sorry for leaving you so suddenly. I can honestly state that these issues have been TOTALLY separate from work and I have always provided you and your children with the best possible, safe and appropriate care.

'For colleagues, I seek your urgent support in taking over care ... my deepest apologies again and grateful appreciation for the past opportunity to work together.

'I hope that I will have the chance to work solidly on my personal issues and start afresh some time in the future.'

Voon made his second appearance in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday but was not required to enter a plea to the charge.

He was granted bail with a $50,000 personal undertaking and a $50,000 surety.

The bail conditions include surrendering his passport, not having a mobile phone, staying away from children and reporting to police twice a week. Voon is due back in court on July 13.
They have now begun test drilling at the site in what was once East Prussia

Museum officials claim to have used geo-radar to uncover a hidden bunker

Exactly where it was taken still remains one of the war's greatest mysteries

The room, worth 250million, was looted when the Nazis invaded Russia

A museum in Poland believes it has discovered the legendary Amber Room

Drilling for one of the greatest missing treasures of the Second World War  an Amber Room worth 250million  has begun in northeast Poland.

Local experts arrived at the rain-drenched complex of Nazi bunkers in a forest close to the small town of Wegorzewo near the Russian border, where they spent all day drilling through 5 metres of solid concrete to what is believed to be a hidden room where the treasure was stashed.

In April, director of the Mamerki Museum which owns the complex, Bartlomiej Plebanczyk, said he had discovered a secret room buried inside an uncompleted bunker using ground-penetrating radar.

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Polish workers start test drilling at the former headquarters of the German Land Forces in Mamerki, eastern Poland. Museum officials are hoping they will break through to a secret chamber containing the Amber Room

Workers show off what could be the first glimpse of the underground chamber, potentially containing long-lost treasure. Their suspicions are partly based on a testimony of a former Nazi guard

The Amber Room (pictured in 1932) was located in Catherine Palace near St Petersburg before the Nazis seized control of the area and looted it. It took them 36 hours to dismantle it

He told MailOnline: 'We think there is a very good chance that the Amber Room is here for a number of reasons.

'Of course there were no such devices as ground-penetrating radar in the 1950s, so examining and finding hidden spaces wasn't possible.

Polish workers begin test drilling at the site deep in the forests of the Masuria region, which was once Nazi-dominated East Prussia

'Inside may be elements of the Amber Chamber, but also other looted art. But there is no doubt that the room was created specifically for the purpose of treasure.'

The suspicion that it could contain parts of the Amber Room is partly based on a testimony of a former Nazi guard.

In the 1950s he told a Polish bomb squad unit that in the winter of 1944 he saw heavily-guarded trucks driving up to the bunker and unloading a large cargo.

After the trucks had been emptied, the room they had been placed in was sealed. It is thought parts of the Amber Room were stored in the bunker complex for later transportation.

Throughout the the next two decades, Polish bomb squads searched the bunkers for evidence of the hidden room, but failed to find anything.

The Amber Room was originally supposed to have been an amber cabinet  a gift from Friedrich-Wilhelm I of Prussia to Peter the Great.

But instead, it was decided to use the panels as wall coverings, surrounding them with gilded carving, mirrors and yet more amber panels.

In total, the room contained 450kg of amber and was finally completed in 1770.

The Nazis dismantled the room at Catherine Palace, near St Petersburg, when they arrived at the palace in October 1941.

The Russians had tried to conceal the grand room by covering it in wallpaper, but their plan was foiled.

The precious contents were then taken by the Germans by rail to Koenigsberg Castle, in what was then East Prussia. Now, the castle is found in the city of Kaliningrad.

US soldiers, who are in the area as part of a Nato military exercise, look on as test drilling starts at the former German Land Forces (OKH) headquarters at Mamerki in eastern Poland

Missing: The Amber Room was completed at Catherine Palace in 1770, but was stolen by the Nazis in 1941. It was taken to Koenigsberg Castle, in what was then in East Prussia, but disappeared in January 1945. Mamerki museum staff say they are convinced it was buried in the secret room in the Masurian region

Lost: The room's whereabouts remains one of the Second World War's greatest mysteries. However, officials in Poland believe they have found it behind a false wall that was sealed shut inside an old wartime bunker

In September last year geo-radar suggested there was a secret underground room. The workers, following guidance from museum officials, are now conducting test drilling

But it disappeared in January 1945, after air raids and a savage ground assault on the city.

While some claimed it had been destroyed in the raids, others reported seeing 40 wagons moving away from the castle under a cloak of secrecy after the city fell to the Red Army.

In the 1950s, Erich Koch, the Nazis' chief administrator in East Prussia who is believed to have overseen the Amber Room's transportation from the city of Koenigsberg to Wuppertal in Germany, was taken from prison to the museum site to show Polish officials where the room was.

However he was unable to identify the location.

'In the 1960s, Koch was driven from prison to Bunker 31 and they tried to find it,' Mr Plebanczyk said. 'But they didn't know the exact location, and he couldn't specify where it was. But he was the last person to see the Amber Room in Koenigsberg.

'Historians agree that Mamerki is the logical place to look as transporting it from Koenigsberg, they would have to come here and this place is perfect because it was heavily guarded.

'Bunker 31 hadn't been completed so they could hide it there and then pretend building was still going on.'

It is thought the site being investigated used to be the eastern headquarters of the German Army and close Hitler's infamous Wolf's Lair - his first Eastern Front military headquarters

Evidence: Pictured is the geo-radar reading the museum claims shows the existence of the hidden bunker. A former Nazi guard said that in the winter of 1944 he saw heavily-guarded trucks driving up to the bunker and unloading a large cargo

Second World War: The museum site used to be the eastern headquarters of the German Army. Mamerki museum bosses say the Amber Room may have been hidden behind a false wall that was sealed shut inside an old wartime bunker

HOW AN AMBER CABINET BECAME THE AMBER ROOM The Amber Room was a gift from Friedrich-Wilhelm I of Prussia to Peter the Great (pictured) The Amber Room was originally supposed to have been an amber cabinet, a gift from Friedrich-Wilhelm I of Prussia to Peter the Great, who admired the work on a visit to his castle in 1716. But instead of a cabinet, it was decided to use the panels as wall coverings, surrounding them with gilded carving, mirrors and yet more amber panels. In total, the room used 450kg of amber, and was finally completed in 1770. Russians tried to hide the walls behind wallpaper. But the Nazis knew what was behind the mundane covering, and went about dismantling the room - a process which took 36 hours. They believed, as a Prussian gift, it belonged to them. But the room, taken back to the castle where it had originally been created for Friedrich-Wilhelm, was never seen again after 1945. Some claimed it had been destroyed in the bombings, but others say the panels were spirited away by the Nazis keen to keep hold of their loot. Sources: Catherine Palace and the Smithsonian Advertisement

The site used to be the eastern headquarters of the German Army and close Hitler's infamous Wolf's Lair - his first Eastern Front military headquarters.

In 1982, the Russians began building a replica of the Amber Room.

It took more than 20 years and cost more than $12million, but visitors to Catherine Palace, near St Petersburg, can now see the grand room for themselves.

Bartlomiej Plebanczyk told MailOnline: 'I am very excited about all of this and very optimistic.

'If the room is here it will be one of the greatest finds of the century.'

'Earlier today we thought we had found something.

'Our drills came across something that wasn't concrete and we thought it was possibly a wooden crate.

Gift: The room was built for Russian tsar Peter the Great in the 1700s and was packed with amber, gold and precious jewels. It was a gift from Friedrich-Wilhelm I of Prussia

Looted: Catherine Palace in Russia pictured after it was taken over by the Nazis. The Amber Room (not pictured) was dismantled

'But it was just some old wood.

'The team has now moved on to another location just a few metres away where we hope we will find something.

'The radar reading definitely shows something is there.'

He added: 'If it's not here then we will carry out another survey with better ground penetrating radar and hopefully that will turn up something.'




By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor For Mailonline.com

Donald Trump won't prevent reporters he doesn't like from covering the White House, the real estate mogul said, even as he defended his decision to disallow the Washington Post from covering his rallies.

'In my case, I'm a person running for office. I rent these large arenas, so I have an option,' Trump told CNN Tuesday.

'When I'm representing the United States, I wouldn't do that,' he said told media reporter Brian Stelter.

'But I would let people know if somebody's untruthful,'  Trump added, an indication that he might continue to blast reporters who cover him as 'disgusting' and 'not nice.'

'Whoever chooses the people that get the press credentials, I wouldn't even tamper with that, frankly,' Trump said.

Donald Trump says he'll 'let people know' if a reporter is being 'untruthful,' but won't ban reporters he doesn't like from the White House if elected

At the White House, a staff of political appointee press aides determine who gets a 'hard pass' granting regular access to the White House, although credentialed media who clear security are allowed into the building.

Asked what the Post could do to get its credentials back, Trump didn't slam the door on negotiation. 'All I want is to be treated fairly,' he said.

Trump told Stelter he didn't have it in for all reporters.

'Just so you understand, I have great respect for professionals in your profession, in your business, in your world,' he said. 'I have great respect. There are many I have such great respect for.'

'But when people write false stories  when they write lies, when they write stories that have no bearing on the truth, when they say things that are so wrong, and they know they're wrong, and they tell me that they know they're wrong, but they refuse to change them, then I say, they're not going to come anymore.'

The Post joins Politico, the Des Moines Register, the Daily Beast, National Review, Univision, Buzzfeed, Mother Jones and the Huffington Post in Trump's penalty box

Post reporter Jenna Johnson, who wrote the article that prompted the flare-up, covered Trump's rally in North Carolina Tuesday evening, but only by getting in with the public. Press access lets reporters be guaranteed admittance, and have access to electrical power and workspace. The Trump campaign doesn't allow credentialed reporters to mingle with the crowd.

Trump said he the Post's credentials were being 'revoked' after the paper published an article online Monday morning titled, ''Donald Trump suggests President Obama was involved with Orlando shooting.'

By early afternoon, editors softened the headline somewhat to say, ''Donald Trump seems to connect President Obama to Orlando shooting.'

Trump had said on Fox News Monday morning, in comments that prompted the story, ''Look, we're led by a man that either is not tough, not smart, or he's got something else in mind ... There's something going on. It's inconceivable. There's something going on.'

Trump's blasts against the media are a crowd favorite at his rallies

BANNED: Trump announced his decision on Facebook, effectively cutting Washington's most storied newspaper franchises out of the presidential race's biggest show

Trump has compiled a long list of insults to go after the press  although he also has been known to dole out praise and send hand-written notes to reporters who write stories he likes.

Trump has gone after reporters as 'not nice,' 'phony,' 'third-rate,' a 'real beauty,' a 'sleaze,' 'bad people,' and 'very unprofessional.'

Other outlets who have been banned for a period of time during the campaign have included Politico, the Des Moines Register, BuzzFeed, the the Huffington Post, and the Daily Beast.
Man strips to his jeans, covers himself with butter while

A man who covered himself in butter to make it harder for police to arrest him before threatening to kill two officers with a knife has been given a suspended sentence.

Michael Rooney, 35, stripped down to his jeans and covered himself in butter before threatening police with the 35cm knife while barricaded in his home in Ireland.

The father-of-two had been inspired by the 2008 movie Bronson, a film based on the notorious UK prisoner Charles Bronson, which saw actor Tom Hardy strip bare and cover himself in butter before attacking police during his portrayal of the eponymous criminal.

Tom Hardy played Charles Bronson, including the scene where the dangerous inmate covered himself in butter to fight prison guards

Rooney, from OConnell Avenue, Listowel, Co Kerry, had been drinking heavily and was on medication at the time of the attack, the Irish Examiner reported.

The Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee was told the gardai had been called to Rooneys house, arriving to find most of the furniture broken.

The 35-year-old had barricaded himself into the home that he shared with his partner, using two chairs to jam the door before stripping down and covering himself with butter.

The court heard he then waved a 35cm knife and roared at gardai: Come in ye bastards on October 20 2014.

He faced charges included threatening to kill the two gardai, Sgt Tim OKeeffe and Garda Colin McCarthy, as well as having a knife.

Rooney, who pleaded guilty to the offences, wrote an apologetic letter and has already given up alcohol to rehabilitate himself.

Bronson reportedly covered himself in butter and lashed out at prison guards, inspiring the scene in the biopic film

Rooneys barrister, Katie OConnell, said he was still with his partner and two children.

The court heard from a psychiatrists report that the unemployed 35-year-old had been drinking due to boredom after having had work in the UK and was on medication.

Judge Thomas E ODonnell said police had struggled to arrest the man due to his being covered in butter.

He said: The accused was subdued and arrested with difficulty due to the fact he had covered his body with butter.

This was a very frightening incident.

Violence was proffered and a weapon was involved and the butter aspect did not help in any respect.

But he said he believed Rooney when he said he was remorseful and trusted the gardaiwhen they said this behaviour on the day was totally out of character for the accused.

Rooney had no previous convictions.

Judge ODonnell sentenced Rooney to two years on each of the three counts, concurrently, but backdated to May 2015 when he had pleaded guilty and suspended the sentence for two years, binding him to the peace.

Judge ODonnell said: Mr Rooney, I am giving you a chance. I dont want to see you here again.
Veteran journalist Liz Hayes has broken down during an emotional interview with a former police officer who was shot in his home after rejecting an offer of a bribe from former officer turned murderer Roger Rogerson.

Retired undercover drug squad detective Michael Drury told Channel Nine's 60 Minutes he rejected a bribe from Rogerson to tamper with evidence in a case against Melbourne heroin dealer Alan Williams more than 30 years ago.

'I knew if I reported Rogerson for attempting to bribe me, perhaps my life was in danger... I became edgy. I had a premonition and a very strong feeling that my life was in serious danger,' Mr Drury told 60 Minutes.

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Veteran journalist Liz Hayes (right) has broken down during an emotional interview with a former police officer (left) who was shot in his home in front of his breastfeeding wife after Roger Rogerson tried to have him killed

The officer's intuition was proved correct, when on June 6, 1984, he was shot through the kitchen window in his Sydney home as he fed one of his daughters while his wife and other child were in the next room.

'I remember getting up and I could see the blood down this side of the wall,' Mr Droury said.

'I walked into the lounge room and said to my wife, "I think I've been shot". And then I told her to take the girls, go into the bedroom and stay there no matter what.

'My only regret was both my daughters were babies and they were both crying and all I wanted to do was go kiss them... Thats all I wanted to do and just stop them from crying.'

Hayes struggled to fight back tears (right) while speaking to Retired undercover drug squad detective Michael Drury during an interview for Channel Nine's 60 Minutes

Michael Drury told Channel Nine's 60 Minutes he rejected a bribe from Rogerson to tamper with evidence in a case against Melbourne heroin dealer Alan Williams more than 30 years ago

The retired officer struggled to hold back tears as he turned away from the camera after sharing the highly-charged memory.

As he attempted to regain his composure, Hayes wiped tears from her eyes - clearly moved by the emotional story.

'I feel more angry than you,' the journalist said.

Drury was shot through the kitchen window in his Sydney home while his wife and young children (pictured) were inside on June 6, 1984

Mr Drury said he knew he was in danger after returning home to find the initial AW scratched into a wall of his house - which he believed we those of drug dealer Alan Williams

Mr Drury went on to detail how he was stuck in the coma for more than 10 days after the shooting, however once he woke up he was convinced Rogerson and notorious hitman Chris Flannery drove to his suburban home to kill him on the night he was shot.

Bravely, he told police investigators what he believed.

As a result, Rogerson was charged with conspiring to commit murder and trying to bride a police officer - however he was later acquitted.

Roger Rogerson, Australia's most corrupt policeman, was found guilty of murder on Wednesday

The 75-year-old Rogerson is escorted to a prison van after being convicted of the killing Sydney university student Jamie Gao

NSW detective Roger Rogerson speaks to the media at Police Headquarters, 19 June 1985

However, despite believing he was nearly killed by Flannery and Rogerson, Mr Drury said he can still forgive the now-convicted murderer.

If he tells the truth, I will forgive him,' he told Hayes.

The interview was aired just hours after Rogerson and fellow disgraced police officer Glen McNamara were found guilty of murdering Sydney university student Jamie Gao in a drug deal gone wrong.

Rogerson and fellow disgraced police officer Glen McNamara (pictured) were found guilty of murdering Sydney university student Jamie Gao in a drug deal gone wrong on Wednesday in Sydney

CCTV footage (above) showed McNamara retrieving a surfboard from a car outside the unit on the day of Mr Gao's death

Jamie Gao was shot twice at a storage unit in Padstow, south west Sydney, in May 2014. He had been lured there by the men for a drug deal

The pair were convicted at NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday of killing the 20-year-old at a storage unit in Padstow, south west Sydney, two years ago.

The court heard that the pair had made a drug deal with Mr Gao who they lured to the Rent A Storage unit on May 20, 2014.

They shot him dead to steal three kilograms of ice he had brought with him before dumping his body at sea using McNamara's boat the next day.
A British family say they were lunged at by a large alligator at a Disney World Hotel beach just weeks before a two-year-old boy was dragged into the lagoon.

The toddler remains missing after after he was pulled into the Seven Seas Lagoon by the alligator just outside the upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando at around 9.20pm yesterday.

The boy was dragged into the water as he paddled in a foot of water with his parents and four-year-old sister - despite 'no swimming' signs posted nearby.

Disney World's flagship resort, the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is on the waterfront and a stop away from the Magic Kingdom on the monorail

Sheriffs say there is little hope of finding the boy alive after his father's unsuccessful struggle with the four- to seven-foot reptile, which also left him with lacerations to his arm.

Today, a British family from Liverpool have revealed they had a terrifying encounter with an alligator just yards from where the as yet unnamed toddler was snatched.

Carl, 34, and Karen Davies, 37, and their two children were at the beach at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort to watch the late night fireworks display when their eight-year-old daughter said she could hear a jet ski.

Seconds later they saw a large, dark shape emerge from the water as another family shouted 'Alligator!' and the group began running from the creature and up the unlit beach.

Search and rescue crews continued to comb a lake at the Walt Disney World Resort Wednesday morning, hours after a two-year-old boy was dragged into the water by an alligator

Sheriff's deputies were using sonar technology to sweep the floor of the man-made lake early Wednesday morning

Mr Davies, a litigation executive, told The Mirror: 'My wife, our two children and I were sitting on the edge of the beach on the walkway kerb to watch the show when my daughter said, 'What's that noise?'

'It sounded like a jet ski in the water. We sat there for a while longer and dismissed her concern. The next thing, a Canadian family sitting a little way up ran over and shouted, 'Alligator!'.

'It was directly in front of us, around 40 feet away. It lurched out of the water and we had to run. It was pitch black with no lighting on the actual beach section.'

He said as they ran from the alligator, which he believes was at least 4ft long, his eight-year-old daughter was screaming.

Luckily the family escaped the incident, which took place in April, unscathed, although the little girl refused to visit any of the beaches following the incident.

Alligator trappers and even dive teams were called in to help look for the missing boy

The boy was snatched in front of the Grand Floridian Resort, one of two hotels on the lake. Above, is an aerial view of the Polynesian Village hotel on Wednesday during the search efforts

Dive teams were brought in to search the man-made lake at the Disney World resort

Today, the search for the missing toddler continues with about 50 emergency personnel searching the man-made lake by boat and helicopter - aided by sonar technology, dive teams and alligator trappers.

Alligators are a relatively common sight at the resort but are removed and relocated when they reach four feet and get too close to guest areas.

In addition to the Grand Floridian, Disney's Polynesian Village resort is also located on the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon.

The lagoon itself is connected to the larger Bay Lake - home to Disney's Contemporary Resort and Wilderness Lodge hotels - by a narrow strait.

Wildlife officers today confirmed that they had already captured and killed four alligators in the lagoon while searching for the child, but none of them were the one that grabbed the boy.

It is not known if the child or his family are guests at the Grand Floridian. With standard rooms starting at $569 a night, the Victorian-style resort is one of the most expensive hotels at Disney World.
Hillary Clinton broke about even with 36 percent of respondents saying they approved and 34 percent saying they

Donald Trump is not getting high marks from the American public for his response to Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando, nor are voters approving of his Muslim ban.

A new poll from CBS News shows that Trump received the lowest grade for his remarks post-Orlando, compared to President Obama and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Just 25 percent of adults surveyed said they approved of The Donald's response, while 51 percent disapproved. Another 24 percent had no opinion.

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Donald Trump's response to the Orlando shooting - and his Muslim ban - took a hit this week, according to a new CBS News poll

Hillary Clinton (left) and President Barack Obama (right) both had higher marks than Donald Trump in their handling of the tragedy in Orlando, Florida

Additionally, 62 percent of those surveyed said that the U.S. should not temporarily ban Muslims from the United States, a policy that Trump first floated in December in the aftermath of the San Bernardino terror attack.

Another 31 percent stood behind Trump's ban, which Obama intensely criticized yesterday when giving remarks at the Treasury Department.

The President's behavior after Orlando was greeted with the most enthusiasm.

On Sunday, Obama gave a statement calling the attack, which killed 49 people, 'an act of terror and an act of hate.'

He also pushed better gun control.

'And to actively do nothing is a decision as well,' he said.

When respondents were asked if they approved of his response 44 percent said that they did, while 34 percent didn't. Another 22 percent said they didn't know.

In describing the attack a majority of Americans, 57 percent, said they believed that the attack was both a hate crime and a terrorist attack, as the shooter, Omar Mateen, pledged allegiance to ISIS while he was inside Pulse, though also specifically targeted a gay club.

President Obama got the highest marks for his handling of the Orlando shooting, followed by Hillary Clinton, how had a net positive. Donald Trump came in last of the three

Another 25 percent of respondents said the attack was mostly a hate crime, while another 14 percent considered it terrorism.

When party lines are drawn, Democrats were more likely to believe it was a hate crime, while more Republicans thought it was terrorism.

Looking at the GOP, 65 percent said the Orlando massacre was both a hate crime and terrorism, 10 percent thought it was just a hate crime and 22 percent thought it was just terrorism.

For Democrats, 53 percent thought the mass shooting was both a hate crime and terrorism, while 37 percent said mostly a hate crime and another 8 percent said mostly terrorism.

The survey was taken by telephone on Monday and Tuesday in the direct aftermath of the horrific event.

On Sunday, Trump responded by tweeting quite a bit, including a tweet that said he 'appreciate[d] the congrats' for being right about radical Islamic terrorism.

'I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!' he added.

Just 50 percent of members of his own party approved of his response, while independents were more likely to approve of Clinton's response than The Donald's.

Clinton had a small net positive, within the poll's 4 point margin of error, when people were surveyed about her post-Orlando behavior.

For Clinton, 36 percent of respondents approved, while 34 percent disapproved of her actions, with another 30 percent saying they didn't know.

On Sunday, Clinton tweeted in both English and Spanish, she reached out to the LGBT community. She continued campaigning on Monday and Tuesday but talked about national security instead of the economy like planned.
lied to cops and said she'd hired baby sitter

A mother has been charged with causing the death of her toddler daughter who was killed in a fire while home alone as the woman was performing at a strip club.

Leila Aquino, 20, was originally charged with misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child for leaving two-year-old Kalenah Muldrow by herself in the Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment.

The charges were upped to criminally negligent homicide by a Brooklyn grand jury on Tuesday.

The child's body was found under her bed, where she had apparently crawled after the fire started on February 23.

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The body of two-year-old Kalenah Muldrow, pictured, who was left home alone by her mother, was found under her bed. Her mother left her home alone while stripping and the house caught on fire while the mom was gone

Leila Aquino, 20, was charged with criminally negligent homicide for her role in the death of her toddler

CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE PUNISHABLE BY 4 YEARS IN PRISON Criminally negligent homicide is a Class E Felony in New York. In criminally negligent homicide, there is no intention of causing death or serious physical injury. Rather, it entails that one individuals reckless, inattentive, negligent, or careless actions or inaction, accidentally causes the death of another individual. Criminally negligent homicide is punishable by up to four years in prison. Source: Dietrich P. Epperson, Attorney at Law Advertisement

Firefighters were not aware that the girl had been in the apartment until her distraught mother returned from her pole dancing gig at the Cityscapes Gentlemans Club in Queens, holding a box that contained $980 in one-dollar bills, the New York Post reported.

By 9:30am, when Aquino returned and notified firefighters that her baby was in the apartment, the fire had already been extinguished for two hours.

'Where's my baby? I just want to find my baby,' Aquino wailed, according to a neighbor who spoke to the Post.

After lying to cops that she hired a babysitter for the evening, Aquino was later forced to admit she left her daughter home alone.

It was suspected the fire started because a portable heater had been left on in the apartment.
Former MP Sir Clement Freud could have sexually abused dozens of victims, it has been claimed.

Two women have dramatically come forward to tell an ITV documentary that the politician and broadcaster molested them when they were children.

Now, prompted by news of the abuse allegations, more people have come forward to say they know of other potential victims.

Craig Murray, 57, (left) a former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, says more people have come forward to claim they know of other abuse allegations against Sir Clement Freud (right)

Craig Murray, 57, a former British ambassador to Uzbekistan, was instrumental in the making of the documentary, Exposure: Abused And Betrayed - A Life Sentence, which airs tonight, putting programme makers in touch with one of the two women featured.

And he said today that he has now been told about further allegations relating to Freud, not from the victims themselves, but from people who claim to know them.

'I have been contacted by seven people this morning. I dont have concrete intelligence, but it seems there are a lot of claims that there is more stuff out there,' he told The Independent.

'The same as with Jimmy Savile. This stuff comes pouring out once the gates are opened.'

Writing on his blog, Mr Murray revealed that a 2009 obituary he had written for Freud after the former Liberal MP's death had attracted an anonymous comment which read: 'Writing as one of his 1000s of sexual "victims", still surviving, terrified as I write for fear he is not yet quite yet dead  the man was an evil, conniving, ruthless user for his own bottomless ego of all he came into contact with.

Sylvia Woosley, pictured, claims she was just ten when she was groomed and abused by Clement Freud

Miss Woosley (pictured as a young girl), told ITV that she first met Freud when she was ten, went to live with him when her mother's marriage broke down and that he molested her over several years in the 1940

'Our children  boys and girls are all that much safer for his demise.

'And that is just the tip of an iceberg of political and media dirty dealings that reaches into the heart of the broken Britain he has left behind him.

'His family will now, unfortunately, reap the rage and revenge of those he destroyed and their much needed justice for his many heinous  still untold  actions.'

Later, when an ITV journalist contacted him about the documentary he was able to put the woman, who wrote the comment in touch with programme makers.

The woman, who has not been named, told the ITV team that she first met Freud in 1971 at her family home when she was a 'lonely, neglected and socially isolated' 11-year-old.

Then a celebrity, he would call her on the phone and tell her she was special and intelligent, and he was treated as a surrogate father figure by her parents, she said.

Two years later, after he was elected as an MP, he would take her on trips to Parliament and his home, and would kiss her on the mouth and hug her.

She said: 'I felt sick but grateful at the same time. Frightened and unable to move or react in any way.'

The other woman, who has not been named, told the ITV team that she first met Freud (pictured) in 1971 at her family home when she was a 'lonely, neglected and socially isolated' 11-year-old

Clement Freud, centre, pictured receiving an award at Buckingham Palace along with his family in 1987

When she was 14, she claims Freud asked her and another friend of the same age: 'Would you like to get naked and have some fun?'

Four years later, in June 1978, when she was 18, the woman alleges that he came over to her parents' flat and 'brutally and perfunctorily' raped her.

She told the broadcaster: 'I live in constant terror that I'll be found out, exposed. I've already suffered across nearly 40 years. It's not simply to be labelled as depression or mental illness - this is disempowerment, self-destructiveness and grief. This is what real suffering looks like.'

Another woman, Sylvia Woosley, told ITV that she first met Freud when she was ten, went to live with him when her mother's marriage broke down and that he molested her over several years.

Mr Murray said he had witnessed unsavoury behaviour from Freud when he was a First Year Rep on Dundee University Students Association Council and Freud was the Rector.

Clement Freud, pictured here at Royal Ascot in 2006

On his blog post, Clement Freud, My Part in his Downfall, Mr Murray said that the President of the Students Association had been asked to line up female students for Freud, who was 'trying to use him as a "pimp"'.

'This was not paedophilia but it was unpleasant,' he said. Freud was 35 years older than the students he was targeting.'

Mr Murray said he had spoken to one young woman who had found Freud 'aggressive' during a job interview, and said that senior figures in the Liberal party must have been aware, at least of his behaviour towards adult women.

'He certainly shouldnt have been in politics,' he told The Independent. 'There has to be very serious questions about what people knew.'

Peter Saunders, chief executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, told the Mail last night that Sir Clement had been on the radar of the charity.

He added: About 12 years ago, before his death, something was said to me about an allegation of rape concerning him. I was given no name of the woman, but it was given to me with absolute sincerity. At the time, I never thought it would go anywhere because he was rich and powerful. Later I spoke to a friend at Rape Crisis, and she said his name had come up in her world too, a long time ago, but she couldnt remember the details.

A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats said the party, formed from a merger between the Liberal Party and the Social Democrat Party in 1988, the year after Freud lost his North East Cambridgeshire seat, was 'shocked' by the allegations.

'These allegations are horrific,' he said. 'We are desperately sorry to learn that lives have been ruined by a man whose public face was so greatly at odds to his true character. It has clearly taken a lot of courage for these women to speak out, after a lifetime of having to hide it.

'This is the latest in a terrifying line of cases where high-profile figures have systematically used their status, celebrity and power, to abuse and to rape.

'Clement Freud was a senior figure in the Liberals, our party's predecessor, and we are deeply shocked and horrified by this news. Our party was never aware of what happened, and our hearts go out to the women who were affected.'#
Donald Trump says he'll talk to the National Rifle Association about introducing new restrictions on guns for suspected terrorists at an upcoming meeting.

Trump said Wednesday morning in a tweet: 'I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns.'

The NRA confirmed the meeting in a statement and said its 'position on this issue has not changed.'

Guns should not be sold to individuals on the terror watch list until they are investigated by the FBI.

'If an investigation uncovers evidence of terrorist activity or involvement, the government should be allowed to immediately go to court, block the sale, and arrest the terrorist,' the gun rights group said in a statement.

Law-abiding Americans wrongly included on the list should receive due process protections, the group's executive director, Chris Cox said.

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Donald Trump says he'll talk to the NRA about gun restrictions for suspected terrorists at an upcoming meeting. Trump said last year after the Paris terrorist attack that he was in favor of that congressional legislation.

Earlier this week Trump hit presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton over her support for an assault weapons ban and accused her of trying to to not only ban guns, but get rid of the Second Amendment. Clinton had also called for a block on firearms purchases for Americans on Homeland Security's threat lists

And that is the position of a 'majority of the U.S. Senate' and Texas Senator John Cornyn, who has proposed a bill that would give the government 72 hours to come up with evidence or take them off the list, it proclaimed.

'Sadly, President Obama and his allies would prefer to play politics with this issue.'

Trump's move is being seen as a significant shift and gained support from some advocates of gun reform - including Daily Mail Online columnist Piers Morgan, who had previously called for precisely such a measure.

Morgan tweeted a link to his column on Monday, saying it was time for Trump - and the NRA - to 'show whose side they're on' and said: 'Trump just agreed.'

Earlier this week Trump hit presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton over her support for an assault weapons ban and accused her of trying to to not only ban guns, but get rid of the Second Amendment.

Clinton had also called for a block on firearms purchases for persons on the TSA's no fly list and the FBI's terror watch list.

Trump said last year after the Paris terrorist attack that he was in favor of congressional legislation that would do just that.

'If somebody is on a watch list and an enemy of state and we know it's an enemy of state, I would keep them away, absolutely,' Trump told ABC's George Stephanopoulos.

Piers Morgan tweeted a link to his column on Monday, saying it was time for Trump - and the NRA - to 'show whose side they're on' and said: 'Trump just agreed'

Two weeks later, he shifted his position ever so slightly and said it was something he would 'certainly take a very look at it.'

'I'm very strongly into the whole thing with Second Amendment. But if you can't fly, and if you have got some really bad -- I would certainly look at that very hard,' he said to John Dickerson on the December 6 episode of Face the Nation.

He was mum on the issue this week as he pummeled Clinton and President Barack Obama for their responses to the Orlando terrorist attack.

He said on Monday in a New Hampshire speech that Clinton wants to 'disarm law-abiding Americans' yet has no qualms with allowing thousands of Syrian refugees into the country who could be Trojan-horse terrorists.

'Hillary Clinton says the solution is to ban guns. They tried that in France....and 130 were brutally murdered by Islamic terrorists in cold blood,' Trump said.

The presumptive Republican said Clinton's 'plan is to disarm law-abiding Americans, abolish the Second Amendment, and leave only terrorists...with guns.

'She wants to take away Americans guns, then admit the very people who want to slaughter us,' he said.

Trump revealed from the podium at St. Anselm College in Manchester that he would be meeting with the NRA soon to discuss how to ensure Americans have the means to protect themselves in this age of terror.'

He did not, at that time, bring up his support for legislation that would block Americans on the no fly or terrorist watch lists from buying guns.

Hillary Clinton has already called for a block on firearms purchases for persons on the TSA's no fly list and the FBI's terror watch list this week following the Orlando attack

A bipartisan bill was making its way through Congress that would have introduced those restrictions into the system when Trump commented on the issue but the effort fell apart last year in the face of conservative opposition.

The Senate version, which was broader than what is now being proposed, failed in the form of an amendment in February of 2015.

After the Paris massacre in November, Democrats attempted unsuccessfully to breathe new life into the bill.

The House bill's Republican sponsor, Peter King, a former chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, blamed the NRA for standing in the way at the time.

'Anything which they feel restricts the use or the ability to retain a gun theyre opposed to,' he told the New York Daily News.

King said, 'The National Rifle Association is strongly opposed to it, and the fact is we have only a handful of Republican co-sponsors.'

That was in mid-November, roughly two weeks before the Dec. 2 San Bernardino terrorist attack in California.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled this week at a news conference that he would be willing to consider new watch list legislation, making way for Trump's announcement this morning.

'Nobody wants terrorists to have firearms,' McConnell said. 'Were open to serious suggestions from the experts as to what we might be able to do to be helpful.'

At a news conference this afternoon the top Democrat in the House, Nancy Pelosi, said Republicans in Congress can disprove that they are 'a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Rifle Association' by passing proposed 'no fly, no buy' legislation.

The NRA, she said, is what's 'standing in the way of our being able to protect the American people.'

Democrats have also renewed their calls for an assault weapons ban, with President Obama and Hillary Clinton leading the charge nationally.

This afternoon Connecticut lawmaker Chris Murphy staged a filibuster that Murphy said would not end 'until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together' on the issue of gun violence.

Murphy's state was rocked by the most horrific massacre in recent memory when in 2012 a deranged shooter unloaded on a grade school, killing 21 children and their principal, in Newtown.

'For those of us that represent Connecticut, the failure of this body to do anything, anything at all in the face of that continued slaughter isn't just painful to us, it's unconscionable,' Murphy said today.

The White House gave Murphy and other Democrats participating in the filibuster the green light this afternoon.

We're supportive of any effort to try to get Congress to act on common sense gun safety legislation, press secretary Josh Earnest said, adding, And you wouldn't think it would be so hard.

Monday on CNN, Clinton said, 'We can't fall into the trap that is set up by the gun lobby that says, if you can't stop every shooting and every incident, you should not try to stop any.

'We did have an assault weapons ban for ten years. I think it should be reinstated.'

At an event in Cleveland later that day Clinton admitted that passing new firearm regulations would be tough given the Republican position.

Still, she urged lawmakers on the other side of the aisle to consider passing legislation that would prevent Americans with terrorist ties from purchasing weapons.

'If the FBI is watching you for suspected terrorist links, you shouldn't be able to just go buy a gun with no questions asked,' she stated.

She added: 'And yes if you're too dangerous to get on a plane, your'e too dangerous to buy a gun in America.'

The no fly list and terrorist watch list are not the same.

The latter is much longer and has 800,000 name on it, according to USA Today. The no fly list has about 64,000 people and is automatically included in the terrorist watch list, the news publication explained in a fact check this week of Clinton's claims.

Even if the ban that Clinton and Trump are pursuing were in place, it would not have stopped the Orlando shooter from purchasing a gun.
Republican Scott has been an outspoken critic of the president in the past

He says President Obama has not called him since the

calls of condolence from former president George Bush and Donald Trump

Florida Governor Rick Scott says President Obama has not called following the worst mass shooting in recent history.

America was rocked by the Orlando massacre on Sunday when Omar Mateen burst into gay club Pulse and opened fire, killing at least 49 people and injuring more than 50 others.

Gov. Scott said that he had received calls from Donald Trump and former President George Bush to give their condolences over Sunday's terrorist attack.

Yet, while it is common for presidents to call the governor of state after such a tragedy, he said he had heard nothing from Obama.

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Florida Governor Rick Scott (right) says President Obama (left) has not called following the worst mass shooting in recent history

'No. He has not called,' Gov. Scott told Fox & Friends.

The Republican governor said that he had received a call from a White House staffer but insisted that Obama has 'not called.'

However, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a Democrat, received a call from his 'good friend' Obama shortly after the tragedy.

Scott has been an outspoken critic against Obama and his administration - which he has repeatedly sued over the years.

During his first weeks in office in 2011, he rejected the president's offer of $2.4 billion for a high-speed rail network between Tampa and Orlando.

And he attacked the president recently over his lack of action on Zika in Florida and said Obama had ignored his two-week old request for emergency funding to tackle the virus.

But it appears his animosity may have had an impact after he was given the cold shoulder by the White House.

His Monday letter to Obama asking for a federal emergency declaration in Orlando after the attack has not yet been granted.

Gov. Rick Scott said that he had received calls from Donald Trump (right) and former President George Bush (left) to give their condolences over Sunday's terrorist attack

The Republican governor (pictured at the scene of the shooting on Sunday) said that he had received a call from a White House staffer but insisted that Obama has 'not called'

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Scott will be invited to the president's arrival in Orlando on Thursday.

'As we always do, we will invite the governor to be a part of the president's arrival,' Earnest said, 'and hopefully the president will have the opportunity to see Governor Scott there.'

Scott said had had spoken to Republican former President George W. Bush following the shooting who had told him that he and former first lady Laura Bush 'were praying for us.'

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Trump had also called him.

'He called. He called to just ask how I was doing, say, you know, like everybody else is praying for us,' Scott told Business Insider.

Scott has also clashed with Obama after he called for more gun control following the atrocity,

The president called the shooting spree a reminder of how easy it is for someone to get a hold of a weapon that could kill people in a 'school, or a house of worship, or a movie theater, or in a nightclub'.

'And we have to decide if that's the kind of country we want to be,' Obama said. 'And to actively do nothing is a decision as well.'

Obama has also refused to call the attack an act of 'radical Islamic terrorism' saying: 'We have reached no definitive judgment on the precise motivations of the killer.'

'What is clear is that he was a person filled with hate.'

However Scott insists that guns were not to blame for the shooting, but 'radical Islam was.'
This is the humorous moment a father terrifies his two daughters by making them believe they are about to be wiped out by a truck.

The footage was captured by the parents of the two girls, who were filmed sitting in the back of the family car while travelling on a highway in America.

In the video, the girls appear to be occupied by an electronic device and are completely unaware that their father has a rather cruel trick up his sleeve.

Pranked: The father spots a truck being towed in front of the car and decides to play a trick on his daughters

Terror: The dad shouts at his daughters not to look, causing them to notice the truck and scream in panic

He suddenly yells: 'Oh my God, don't look,' causing them to both look up in panic.

They automatically stare out the windscreen and see a huge truck hurtling down the road and heading straight for them - causing them to scream.

It would seem that the vehicle is seconds away from smashing into them, but the vision is in fact nothing more than an optical illusion.

The truck is being towed backwards by a recovery vehicle, which had presumably been travelling in front of them for some time before the father had his brainwave.

Relief: One of the daughters appears to realise that the truck hurtling towards them is in fact an optical illusion

After their initial screams one of the girls settles down and appears to have worked out that the truck is not about to wipe them out.

But her sister is not so convinced and continues to scream with a look of pure terror on her face, before saying: 'What the hell.'

The video concludes with the parents giggling at the success of their impromptu prank and briefly filming the truck being towed in front of them.
11,000 people have been arrested in recent crackdown on extremism

Police in western Bangladesh have armed villagers with bamboo sticks and whistles in an effort to deter radical militants from attacking people of minority faiths.

Officers say they want to empower people to act against militants who have killed dozens of secular activists, Hindus and other minorities across the country in recent years.

The move comes after a Hindu priest was found slaughtered in a rice field in western Bangladesh - the latest in a series of gruesome murders targeting secular campaigners and religious minorities in the mainly Muslim country.

Members of a village vigilante group pose for a photograph alongside police in the village of Govindapur, in the western district of Magura, armed with bamboo sticks

'We want to change the scenario. We want the people to be cautious, safe and united against militancy and other crimes,' said Ehsan Ullah, police chief in the western district of Magura, which has a large Hindu population.

Ullah said the sticks and whistles were aimed partly at raising morale among local people.

'Almost all recent [militant] attacks took place during a time when roads were empty and the local community was busy with farming or asleep,' he told AFP.

Police denied the scheme could be open to abuse, despite concerns from some human rights activists that the move could trigger mob lynchings.

Although ISIS has claimed responsibility for the Hindu priest's murder and other recent attacks, authorities have blamed home-grown militant groups, claiming ISIS and other international groups have no presence in Bangladesh.

Last Friday the police launched a crackdown on militant groups in Bangladesh in the wake of the violence, arresting more than 11,000 people in recent days.

Monastery worker Nityaranjan Pande, 62, was walking to a monastery when he was hacked to death by Islamic extremists last week.

Locals surround the body of Hindu holy man Nitya Ranjan Pandey, 60, after assailants hacked him to death in Pabna, 170 miles from Dhaka, on Friday. Radical Islamists are suspected of carrying out the attack

The attack triggered a special week-long crackdown on militants by Bangladeshi police as they ramp up their efforts to stem the killings.

The number or murders has spiked in recent weeks with a gruesome wave of killings that has spanned from the capital Dhaka to remote parts of the north and coastal south.

In the past two weeks alone a Christian grocer was hacked to death near a church while the wife of an anti-terrorism officer was found stabbed and shot.

Her husband had led several high-profile operations against the banned Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), an Islamist militant group, in the south-eastern city of Chittagong.

Some experts say a government crackdown on opponents, including a ban on Bangladesh's largest Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami following a protracted political crisis, has pushed many towards extremism.

Victims of the attacks by suspected Islamists have included secular bloggers, gay rights activists and followers of minority religions.
The Australian Idol contestant who went on to host Video Hits but was cut for exposing himself and simulating masturbation on a trophy at the ARIAs has joined a Liberal candidate's campaign.

Axle Whitehead has endorsed Liberal candidate Duncan McGauchie in the Murray electorate in northern Victoria with a bizarre video in which he teaches locals how to pronounce the surname  'Mer-gekky'.

Whitehead was unsuccessful in the debut Idol season in 2003, and went on to host Video Hits on Channel Ten before his television career went balls-up when he exposed his genitals at the 2006 ARIAs.

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Axle Whitehead is endorsing Liberal candidate Duncan McGauchie for the Murray electorate in Victoria. Whitehead is famous for exposing his genitals at the 2006 ARIAs (pictured at the 2006 ARIAs with fellow Video Hits host Fuzzy)

He had been presenting an award to Aussie hip-hop group Hilltop Hoods at the time, though it was fortunately not aired on television.

After he was shafted from the position, Whitehead has made appearances on The Secret Life of Us, Home and Away, Shameless and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., according to IMDB.

His political engagement follows the announcement fellow Idol alumnus James Mathison would be running against Tony Abbott in the north shore, Sydney, electorate Warringah.

A spokesperson for the Liberal campaign said Whitehead was a groomsman at Mr McGauchie's wedding, as old friends from school, Buzzfeed reported.

Mr McGauchie was preselected by the Liberal Party for the Murray electorate after the current Liberal MP, Sharman Stone, announced her retirement.

Whitehead has endorsed Liberal candidate Duncan McGauchie in the Murray electorate in northern Victoria with a bizarre video in which he teaches locals how to pronounce the surname  'Mer-gekky'

A spokesperson for the Liberal campaign said Whitehead was a groomsman at Mr McGauchie's wedding, as old friends from school

Whitehead is pictured arriving at the MTV Australia Awards in 2008
A two-year-old boy allegedly abducted by his grandfather was found when a member of the public alerted authorities after seeing an alert about the incident.

Footage of the moment the boy was found at Snapper Rocks, Queensland, shows a policewoman holding the boy while officers lead the grandfather away.

A witness told 9 News how police 'came from everywhere' and 'ran out of their cars' as an ambulance also arrived at the scene.

The two-year-old boy, allegedly abducted by his grandfather, was found when a member of the public alerted authorities after seeing an alert about the incident

The two-year-old boy who was abducted on Tuesday

The boy was found safe and well near Coolangatta, on Wednesday morning after being taken from a Mudgeeraba property on Tuesday.

He'd spent the night without nappies or food, and there was no phone contact with his parents who had a stressful night without their child.

The tipoff that led to their discovery near a beach came from a member of the public who had heard a police report about the incident and recognised the vehicle described in it.

The person followed the vehicle while contacting police.

A 43-year-old Gold Coast man, whom 9 News reported was homeless and had an alcohol problem, has been charged with abducting his grandson.

It was also reported by 9 News that after the grandfather was arrested, he underwent a breath test and was found to have been drink-driving.

Footage of the moment the boy was found at Snapper Rocks, Queensland, shows a policewoman holding the boy while officers lead the grandfather away

A police officer holds the two-year-old boy

The toddler went missing from a Mudgeeraba property in a red four-wheel drive on Tuesday afternoon, sparking an abduction alert and a public appeal.

He had been listening to music in the car with his grandfather before his mother noticed him missing.

The boy's young mother said a member of the public followed the 4WD and called police.

She initially thought the pair had gone for a drive to a park but raised the alarm when they didn't return by nightfall.

'They are going to take him to hospital to assess him to make sure nothing happened and he will be returned by police,' she told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

'(We are) very, very relieved.'

Late on Wednesday police charged a 43-year-old man with one count each of abducting of a child under 16 and failing to ensure a child was in a child restraint.

He is expected to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday.
A Sydney design college student accused of poisoning her friend with a cyanide-laced iced coffee was driven by 'revenge' over comments made about her former boyfriend in Australia, an Indonesian Court has been told.

It was alleged that Jessica Kumala Wongso, 27, saw her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin, also 27, collapse and begin to froth at the mouth after drinking a coffee, but did nothing, and an hour later Ms Salihin was pronounced dead.

The court heard an indictment that said in 2015 Ms Salihin had allegedly told Wongso to end her relationship with a then-boyfriend because he was a drug dealer and 'rough', The Age reported.

She eventually broke off the relationship and to avenge her pain, 'the defendant planned to take away Mirna's life', according to prosecutors.

Australian resident Jessica Wongso (at left) is accused of murdering her friend Mirna Salihin (right) by allegedly slipping cyanide into her iced coffee at a cafe in Jakarta in January. The pair were once good friends

Wongso pictured on day one of her trial. she and Ms Salihin allegedly fell out over an argument about Wongso's boyfriend at the time

Jessica Kumala Wongso is accused of poisoning Wayan Mirna Salihin - the former Sydney design college student was driven by 'revenge', according to prosecutors

Jessica Kumala Wongso - the woman accused of killing her friend by slipping cyanide in her iced coffee could face the death penalty in Indonesia

The judges speak with Jessica Kumala Wongso's lawyers during her trial for the alleged murder of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin at the Central Jakarta Court

Edi Darmawan Salihin (left), the father of Wayan Mirna Salihin, is seen in court during Jessica Kumala Wongso's trial for the alleged murder of her friend

Jessica Kumala Wongso sits in front of the presiding judges at her murder trial in Jakarta

Jessica Kumala Wongso consults with her lawyers during the first day of her trial

To implement this plan, they allege Wongso reconnected with Mirna through the online messaging service WhatsApp on December 5, 2015 - one day before she arrived in Indonesia from Australia.

Sometime between December 7 and 15, the pair, along with Mirna's husband Arief Setiawan Soemarko met in a restaurant in North Jakarta.

Then Wongso organised a catch-up with Mirna and another friend - Boon Juwita (known as Hani)- who also studied at Billy Blue.

On the day of the alleged murder on January 6, Wongso arrived at Olivier Restaurant in the Grand Indonesia mall well before the other women and ordered Mirna's favourite drink - an iced Vietnamese coffee.

Mirna Salihin (pictured), 27, died in January after police believe her iced coffee was spiked with cyanide a few weeks after she was married to Arief Soemarko (left)

As part of the investigation Wongso participated in a police reenactment of the alleged killing at Olivier Grant Cafe earlier this year (pictured above)

Jessica Kumala Wongso talks with her lawyers at the Central Jakarta Court. They have criticised the prosecution's case, saying they had not provided evidence as to where the cyanide was allegedly purchased

After it was placed on the table, she allegedly moved to the middle of the table's booth seat, placed the coffee to her right and arranged three gift bags around it so no witnesses could see the coffee.

Soon after she returned to her original seat, pushing the drink towards the middle of the table and moving the three gift bags to the side.

When Hani and Mirna arrived, she said: 'This (coffee) is for you Mir, you said you wanted (it).'

Mirna drank it, exclaiming: 'This is really not good, this is awful.'

Two minutes later, prosecutors say, Mirna collapsed.

Her head fell to the back of the sofa and she began foaming at the mouth and had a 'blank look' on her face.

Jessica Kumala Wongso is seen in a prisoner transport vehicle after her trial at the Central Jakarta Court

Jessica Kumala Wongso consults her lawyers during her trial for the alleged murder of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin at the Central Jakarta Court in Jakarta

Wongso, accused of murdering a friend by slipping cyanide into her coffee at an upmarket Jakarta cafe

Hani called her name and tried to wake her up but Wongso, prosecutors alleged, just sat there quietly without reacting or helping.

An autopsy later found an anomaly in her stomach caused by a corrosive agent while the amount of cyanide found in the iced coffee - 298mg - was well over the lethal dose for a woman of Mirna's size, prosecutors say.

But Wongso's legal team criticised the prosecution's case, saying they had not provided any evidence as to where the cyanide was allegedly purchased or how their client allegedly administered it into the drink.

The autopsy also didn't establish the amount of cyanide found in Mirna's body.

They argued their client had passed a lie detector test - which had not applied to any other witnesses.

'If Jessica passed the lie detector test, why is she still a suspect?' lawyer Sordame Purba asked, calling for their client's immediate release.

The matter will return to court next week.

Wongso's legal team criticised the prosecution's case, saying they had not provided any evidence as to where the cyanide was allegedly purchased or how their client allegedly administered it into the drink

Wongso's legal team argued their client had passed a lie detector test - which had not applied to any other witnesses, and should be let go
Cambridge University students have killed five ducklings and a cygnet in their 'May Bumps' rowing race - just one day after decapitating another duckling.

A cyclist travelling along the tow path revealed how the little ducklings' heads were left 'bobbing in the water' after rowers ploughed through a young family and fled from the scene.

The deaths came a day after an eight-man crew from Lucy Cavendish College rowed through a family of ducks on the River Cam and killed one with their oars.

Cyclist Mark Wilkinson said he scooped two of the ducklings up (pictured) and took them to his home to be buried

In the latest incident, a local claims they saw four duckling smacked into the air by the rowers' blades as they sailed down the River Cam.

The traditional races take place every year in the university city and sees undergraduate crews from rival colleges trying to catch the boat ahead by bumping it.

Cyclist Mark Wilkinson said he saw the incident take place as he was travelling along the tow path on Saturday.

He said the mother duck and two babies managed to swim away, but that the bodies of the other four ducklings were left floating on the water.

'I was on a cycle ride and I saw a boat with eight rowers stopped in the middle of the river. Then I spotted the mother duck and six babies swimming in front of the boat,' he said.

'The rowers must have seen the ducks as they were right by them, but they started rowing really aggressively and went right through them.

'It was horrible to watch. When I looked back I could see two little heads still bobbing and four bodies floating on the water. The mother must also have got away as she was bigger.

'The poor ducklings just didn't stand a chance.'

This is the moment one duckling was killed on Friday when rowers ploughed into a family of ducks

The student rowers were heading to the starting line of the May Bumps races on Friday when the mother duck and her ten babies bobbed past

Mr Wilkinson said he scooped up two of the ducklings which floated to the edge of the river and took them home to be buried.

'I was absolutely furious and shouting at the boat afterwards. Other people who saw it were also shocked and tearful,' he added.

'It is really upsetting as the river is the ducks' home. I don't understand why they have the Bumps races at this time of year. Why not wait until the ducklings are a little older and could move out of the way?'

The deaths come a day after a crew of eight rowers from Lucy Cavendish College rowed right through a family of ducks on the River Cam - killing one of them with their oars.

The student rowers were heading to the starting line of the May Bumps races on Friday when the mother duck and her 10 babies bobbed past.

Onlookers yelled at the college team to move out of the way - but instead the rowers ploughed straight through the feathered family.

The baby ducklings became tangled in the oars and one of the brood was killed as the rowers raced ahead.

Onlooker Jane Carvell, 53, described the moment as 'heartbreaking' as the mother looked for her missing baby on the Friday

'It was horrible to watch. I saw the family of ducks crossing from one side of the river to the other and the next moment the boat of rowers was racing towards them,' said spectator Jane Carvell, 53, from Cambridge.

'We were all shouting at the students to watch out for the ducks, but they took absolutely no notice and just ignored us.

'It made me feel sick as the oars clipped the baby ducklings and one of them didn't survive. After the boat had gone there were only nine babies swimming after the mother duck.

'She spent a while swimming around looking for her missing baby, then headed back to her nest on the river bank, it was absolutely heartbreaking.'

Three years ago local resident Lee Culley claimed he saw at least two ducklings being killed during one race.

And last year rower Katie Matthews, who rowed for town club Cambridge '99, said she saw two ducklings drown after being hit by two training teams from Cambridge colleges.

Cambridgeshire Police confirmed the incident at the races (pictured, general shot of event) had been reported and they had referred it to the RSPCA

This photo shows spectators lining the River Cam in Cambridge to watch the races last weekend

A Cambridge University spokesman said today: 'Sadly we have been informed that one of our crews may have accidentally rowed through a group of ducklings at the weekend.

'We are sorry for the impact on wildlife and any upset caused to spectators. We worked closely with Natural England, The Cam Conservancy and the Queen's Swan Marker to ensure that everything possible was done to protect wildlife both leading up to and during the bumps and we will continue to review our procedures in view of this reported incident.

'We have strict guidelines which are issued to all crews regarding wildlife on the Cam and we will ensure that all club captains remind crews of the importance of these guidelines.'

Cambridgeshire Police confirmed the incident had been reported and they had referred it to the RSPCA.

The RSPCA said: 'While the death of these ducklings appears to have been a very sad accident, it shows how important it is for rowers to be careful around local wildlife.

'This incident must have been very upsetting to witness and has understandably caused some distress to people observing the race.
Shocking body camera footage has been released showing the moment a MMA fighter as paralyzed during a violent arrest in Colorado.

Donovan Duran, 24, was arrested outside his father's home in December in La Junta after family reported him being drunk and disorderly, and the footage shows him willingly being handcuffed and placed in a police cruiser.

However secondary footage later shows Duran non-responsive after two officers pull him out of the cruiser and lift him from the ground into a wheelchair, his legs apparently not moving.

Duran suffered a fractured neck in the arrest, which left him paralyzed from the chest down.

Violent arrest: Graphic footage has been released of the arrest of Donovan Duran, 25, who was left paralyzed after he was taken into custody by two officers in December 2015

Duran claims police used excessive force during the arrest, while the officers said he tried to wriggle out of his handcuffs

The body camera footage shows a non-responsive Duran being propped up in a wheelchair and dragged through the hospital

The graphic footage was released this week by the 16th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

A grand jury in April found there were no fileable charges against sergeant Vince Fraker or another officer involved in the encounter, the Denver Post reported.

The grand jurors deemed Fraker responsible for Duran's injuries, but said that 'cannot be the basis of any criminal charges'.

The officers said that Duran moved his handcuffed hands behind his back as he was lifted out of the police cruiser, in an apparent attempt to free himself.

Fraker then rolled him out the car and onto the ground head-first.

However Duran said the officers attacked him.

Paralyzed: Duran has a spinal cord injury which will likely end his MMA fighting career

Duran was paralyzed after being slammed to the ground by cops last December. He's now filed a lawsuit against the police department over the incident

'They ruined my whole life,' Duran told The Denver Post in January.

Duran said that, once he was at the hospital, staff did not believe him when he complained of neck pain and not being able to feel his legs.

'He picked me up real fast,' Duran said of a hospital staffer.

'He got me all the way up to my feet, and I remember him being behind me. He had me by my waist and he just let go. I was dead weight. It was a hard fall. I remember my legs being two separate directions  like noodles dropping. I was like a sack of potatoes.'

Duran's father said his son was quite troubled and had been arrested numerous times in the lead up to the incident that left him paralyzed.

A grand jury declined to indict the officers involved in the arrest of Duran. He is now suing for damages

He believes police assaulted his son.

'I think they just got so frustrated with dealing with my son over the span of the weekend that one of them just went off and speared him from behind,' Eddie Duran told The Post.

Duran's attorneys filed a federal lawsuit Monday in Denver against the city of La Junta and Fraker seeking unspecified damages for Duran's injuries.

'La Junta Police Department training of officers does not include proper training in responding to calls involving persons in crisis or with obvious mental health problems, including use of force policies and de-escalation strategies,' the lawsuit says.
First year students at one of Britain's top universities will be given a compulsory lesson on sexual consent from next year.

York University have announced that freshers' week events will include 'gender-neutral sexual consent briefings' by the campus's women's officers.

The talk will be among a number of safety briefings issued to new students, with non-attendance leading to a fine.

The University of York is bringing in a new system where freshers will have to have to attend a 'consent' talk

A university spokesman said: 'The University has agreed to support the Students' Union's request to incorporate gender-neutral sexual consent briefings for all new students as an aspect of the health and personal safety induction we give at the start of the academic year.

'The aim is to help raise awareness and to help reduce the likelihood of harassment.

'We will also continue to collaborate with city-wide initiatives in the area of health and personal safety so that York students are well informed and enjoy a safe experience.'

The university's women's officers trumpeted the move as an 'amazingly positive step forward' and 'well-being officer' Scott Dawson hailed the 'amazing' work being done.

But some students branded the new scheme 'ridiculous' on the website of student newspaper,York Vision.

One wrote: 'I sincerely hope that many students will boycott this talk; 30 is a fair price for freedom of thought and opposing Feminazis.'

Students have criticised the move, which will see newcomers have to sit through a talk by women's officers

Another added: 'What a stupid idea. How about we have "not murdering" classes or "don't punch people" classes.'

The move comes amid fears that a culture of obsessive political correctness is taking over university campuses and inhibiting freedom of speech.

Earlier this year, an Edinburgh University student was told that raising her arms at meetings violated the 'safe space' of others.
Squeezed in among storage boxes, another lorry load of migrants sneak into Britain.

It is believed that the lorry arrived in the United Kingdom from Belgium.

The 11 stowaways  three of them children  were intercepted by police in east London yesterday.

Asked where they were from, they replied: 'Iraq' and 'Kuwait'.

The dramatic pictures emerged as the Tories were accused of being in referendum chaos over border controls. George Osborne insisted there would be no change to European Union rules on freedom of movement.

Lorry full of migrants: The moment was captured on video by electrician Tom Andrews who was passing the lorry as officers made the discovery yesterday - eight days before Britons vote in the EU referendum

Halted: The truck was stopped in Harold Hill, East London, shortly after midday with eight migrants and three children, including a baby, inside. They were arrested on suspicion of illegal entry into the UK

But only hours later Theresa May declared further reform was needed.

Brexit campaigners said the Home Secretary had blown a huge hole in the case to Remain by effectively admitting the Government's renegotiation with Brussels was inadequate.

Under the free movement edict, 500million EU citizens enjoy free access to the UK. This will continue if Britain votes to Remain on June 23.

Mr Osborne faces open revolt from Tory MPs for unveiling a so-called 'emergency Budget' that he claimed would be needed in the event of a vote to Leave.

Michael Gove led more than 65 MPs in saying his plan for 30billion of tax rises and spending cuts would never be implemented.

Senior Conservatives claimed the Chancellor's credibility was shredded and his career was finished, regardless of the referendum result.

Iain Duncan Smith accused Mr Osborne of behaving 'more irresponsibly' than any chancellor in history. Scores of Tories warned his position was becoming untenable. Also yesterday:

The European Commission announced Turkey's application to join the EU was being 'accelerated';

Labour's infighting over the need for tighter immigration controls went into a third day;

A rattled Gordon Brown and Neil Kinnock warned that Brexit would turn the north of England into a 'wasteland';

Leave and remain campaigners were involved in angry clashes on boats sailing up the Thames;

Mr Gove reacted furiously to an attempt to 'belittle' the suffering of his father over the closure of his fishing business;

Support for the Remain campaign in Scotland  crucial to the overall outcome  slumped by 13 percentage points.

On the scene: A Metropolitan Police spokesman said eight adults and three children were taken into custody on suspicion of entering the UK illegally

In a television interview last night, Mrs May broke days of near silence on immigration to call for curbs on the free movement of people from the EU.

She said leaving the EU was not the 'single answer' to addressing public concern about mass immigration.

But she suggested Mr Cameron's modest reforms to welfare benefits for EU migrants did not go far enough. She told the BBC: 'There's no silver bullet, there's no one thing you can do that is suddenly going to deal with all the problems and concerns people have with immigration  and that includes leaving the EU, that's not the single answer to this issue.

'There are some changes coming up in free movement rules  we should look at further reform in the future.'

Her dramatic intervention came after Mr Osborne ruled out making any changes to free movement laws. Asked if further changes were possible, he said: 'The short answer is no.'

The Chancellor added: 'We have a plan. And the plan is to restrict the welfare that people get when they come to this country.'

Downing Street denied a split with Mrs May. A No 10 source said: 'Reform of freedom of movement is under way in relation to criminals, sham marriages and access to welfare.

'The Prime Minister has always said the process of reform continues after June 23. Theresa May was right to refer to this as an ongoing process.'

Senior Labour figures called for a further look at rules on free movement.

But leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is in favour of mass immigration, slapped them down. He told Buzzfeed he would fight to defend the right of EU workers to migrate to the UK.
PR Guru Matthew Freud has cancelled a party due to be held tonight for senior staff of his company and their families - just hours after his father was exposed as a paedophile.

Mr Freud, 52, the founder of Freud Communications, was set to host the party at his 20m six-bedroom home in Primrose Hill, north London, this evening.

But he has now contacted guests to call off the get-together, in light of this morning's revelations that his late father Sir Clement Freud was a serial child abuser who targeted girls over four decades.

The bash was due to coincide with ITV's Exposure documentary detailing Sir Clement's dark past.

PR Guru Matthew Freud has cancelled his party after his father Clement (with whom he is pictured) was exposed as a paedophile

Tonight's event at Mr Freud's house was for senior members of staff at Freud Communications and not his annual summer party, which is a star-studded affairs and previous guests have included his long-term friend Kate Moss, Tilda Swinton and Bob Geldof.

It was also where Jemima Khan - who is now said to be dating Mr Freud - and Russell Brand began their doomed relationship after meeting in 2013.

Tonight's party coincided with the release of an explosive documentary, called Exposure: Abused And Betrayed - A Life Sentence, which airs tonight on ITV and paints the former MP as a vicious sex attacker.

Guests received an email from Andrew McGuinness, chief executive of Freud Communications, this morning which read: 'With everything that's going on we think it's best to postpone this evening.'

Mr Freud's summer parties are star-studded affairs. Previous guests at some of his events have included his long-term friend Kate Moss (pictured arriving on crutches)

Naomi Campbell (left), Noel Gallagher, Muse front man Matt Bellamy, Justin Timberlake and Idris Elba (right) are some of those who have been on the guest list at his recent parties

Mr Freud's mother, Lady Freud - who is said to have had an affair with writer Will Selfs brother Jonathan when he was 16 and she was 47 - has already apologised to Sir Clement's victims, saying she is 'shocked, deeply saddened and profoundly sorry' for what he did to them.

She had been shown an early-release version of the documentary which alleged that Sir Clement - described as a national treasure by Gordon Brown at his funeral in 2009 - had abused two girls.

ITV's Exposure programme, due to air at 11.05pm, includes the revelation that the broadcaster and former Liberal MP who died in 2009 had been 'on the radar' of child abuse charities even before his death.

One woman, Sylvia Woolsey, said she was just 11 when Sir Clement began abusing her. She was later invited into his marital bed alongside his actress wife Jill, and also claims he had touched her breast in front of his spouse.

The second woman alleges Sir Clement - then an MP - groomed her from 11, abused her at 14 and violently raped her at 18.

The exposure includes the revelation that Sir Clement (pictured), who died in 2009, had been 'on the radar' of child abuse charities before his death

But Mr Freud - who is divorced from Rupert Murdoch's media executive daughter Elisabeth and fathered a love child with a mutual friend in the dying years of his marriage - is yet to comment on the exposure.

Mr Freud's parties have become known in A-list circles as one of the highlights of the calendar year.

Naomi Campbell, Noel Gallagher, Muse front man Matt Bellamy, Justin Timberlake and Liv Tyler are some of those who have been on the guest list at his recent parties.

But the gathering have also caused a stir in his upmarket neighbourhood, with residents complaining about the 'deafening' noise coming from the property.

Earlier this year, neighbours said they were kept awake until 3am by loud music, doors slamming and guests singing along to the hit Rolling Stones song I Can't Get No Satisfaction when Mr Freud hosted a party to coincide with London Fashion Week.

Others said the celebrities had blocked the road with limos and other flash cars.

Mr Freud, the great-grandson of Sigmund Freud, later apologised, saying he was 'profoundly sorry' for the disturbance.

Sir Clement, brother of artist Lucian Freud, was known to millions as a chef, comedian, writer and journalist.

He was a regular on BBC shows such as Radio 4s Just A Minute.

When he died aged 84 his funeral was attended by George Osborne and stars including Bono, Stephen Fry, Paul Merton, Nicholas Parsons and Richard Curtis, the partner of his daughter Emma, 54.

But according to the ITV documentary, Sir Clement took dark secrets to the grave.

After viewing the programme in advance, his widow, who is 89, gave a statement saying: This is a very sad day for me. I was married to Clement for 58 years and loved him dearly.

I am shocked, deeply saddened and profoundly sorry for what has happened to these women. I sincerely hope they will now have some peace.

Lady Freud, 89, (pictured with her husband in 2003) has issued an apology last night, saying she was 'shocked, deeply saddened and profoundly sorry'

Sir Clement, left is father of TV presenter Emma, right, and PR supremo Matthew, who had no comment




A man has been found not guilty of breaking into a cafe and making off with almost $4000, an EFTPOS machine and an iPod, despite a pair of his faeces-stained underwear being left behind.

Wesley Matthew King was found not guilty in an ACT Supreme Court ruling released on Wednesday, after being charged with breaking into Lonsdale Street Roasters in December 2014, the Canberra Times reports.

The newspaper claims Mr King was alleged to have stolen $3900, an iPod, an EFTPOS machine, a cash drawer, and keys to a Jeep parked nearby during the alleged break-in.

A man has been found not guilty of breaking into a Canberra cafe (pictured) and making off with almost $4000, an EFTPOS machine and an iPod, despite a pair of his faeces-stained underwear being left behind

The cafe's owner discovered the messy crime on January 1, 2015, when he went to work at the cafe only to find 'diarrhoea-like faeces smeared across papers on the floor next to a pair of stained underpants' (stock image)

The cafe's owner discovered the messy crime on January 1, 2015, when he went to work at the cafe only to find 'diarrhoea-like faeces smeared across papers on the floor next to a pair of stained underpants', court documents stated.

After taking evidence the soiled underpants, investigators discovered Mr King's DNA - along with evidence at least one other person had worn them.

As a result of the second DNA discovery, Chief Justice Helen Murrell ruled it was not proven beyond doubt Mr King carried out the robbery as someone else could've been wearing the unwashed undergarments and left them at the scene.

'There is  a reasonable, albeit small, possibility that the burglar was someone else who was wearing unwashed underpants that had previously been worn by the accused,' Judge Murrell said, the Canberra Times reports.

'I am not satisfied that guilt is the only available rational inference.'

Police were not able to track down the other man whose DNA was found in the underwear.

Wesley Matthew King was found not guilty in an ACT Supreme Court ruling released on Wednesday, after being charged with breaking into Lonsdale Street Roasters (pictured) in December 2014

Mr King was alleged to have stolen $3900, an EFTPOS machine, a cash drawer, and keys to a Jeep parked nearby during the alleged break-in (stock image)

The man was alleged to have stolen an iPod during the break-in - which was discovered when the cafe manager went to work and found the store smeared in 'diarrhoea-like faeces'
Tory councillor Elfan Ap Rees has criticised Britons for holding vigils for the Orlando victims because he said they did not mourn those killed by the IRA

A veteran Tory councillor has criticised Britons for holding vigils for the Orlando nightclub shooting because he says the US did not mourn those killed by the IRA.

Elfan Ap Rees, the deputy leader of North Somerset Council, made the comment as more than 1,500 people gathered in Bristol to show solidarity with the 49 victims killed in the attack.

Writing on his official Twitter page, Mr Ap Rees wrote: 'Hmmmm I'll get into trouble for this but I don't recall the Americans organising vigils when the IRA was bombing us.'

When one follower congratulated him on his outspoken post, the councillor responded: 'Well, thank you. I'm still waiting for the backlash, but perhaps they're all out marking the end of the Falklands War today.'

There have now been calls for Mr Ap Rees - who has been a councillor since 1977 - to stand down over his comments. One person wrote on Twitter: 'Are you going to resign over this tweet? 49 people died.'

Mr Ap Rees, a helicopter fanatic who runs his own publishing business and edits a specialist aviation magazine called Helicopter International, wrote the comment after Bristol's Lord Mayor tweeted about the vigil.

Jeff Lovell, who became the new mayor last month, wrote: 'Very proud to be at College Green with so many others remembering those who've so tragically lost their lives &showing our support #Orlando.'

The Bristol event, which took place on Tuesday, had been organised by Bristol Pride and Bristol Hate Crime Services.

Elfan Ap Rees, the deputy leader of North Somerset Council, made the comment after the city's Lord Mayor tweeted about the 1,500 people who have gathered in Bristol to show solidarity with the 49 victims

He responded happily when one Twitter user praised him for his comments - but admitted he was expecting a 'backlash'

It included a two-minute silence for the victims of the tragedy, as well as rainbow-coloured ribbons and flags which were waved in unison.

The shooting at the Pulse nightclub in the early hours of Sunday also injured 53 people and is the worst mass shooting in recent American history.

Events have been held across the globe to show their support and solidarity with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community following the attack.
Chancellor George Osborne, pictured visiting the Hitachi factory today, denied the Government was trying to unpick free movement rules

Home Secretary Theresa May tonight said 'we should look at further reform in the future' in free movement rules if Britain votes to remain in the EU next Thursday.

The rare intervention on the referendum battle came hours after Chancellor George Osborne played down reports Britain would seek a new settlement with the EU just a week before the crunch referendum.

It emerged overnight Downing Street was considering a new push on free movement as the Brexit campaign surged ahead in the polls.

In a BBC interview this morning, Mr Osborne insisted there was a a plan in place to deal with abuses of free movement.

But in a separate interview with the broadcaster tonight, Mrs May said further reform should be pursued if Remain defy a string of bad polls and win the June 23 referendum.

European leaders, led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, refused outright to deal on free movement during Mr Cameron's lengthy negotiations before they concluded in February.

Amid a slide in the polls for Remain, campaign sources suggested to the Guardian Downing Street was looking at how to reopen the issue.

But Mr Osborne denied the story to the BBC today.

He said: 'The short answer is no, because we have a plan and the plan is to restrict the welfare that people get when they come to this country so you don't get out until you put in.

'That is the plan we will implement, with the agreement of our partners.

'It is part of a multi-pronged attack to deal with people's concerns about immigration, controlling it from outside the EU, dealing with abuses of free movement, also crucially seeing the European economies now growing actually at roughly the same rate as the British economy.

'I think all of those things will help address those concerns.'

The Chancellor insisted the Government had a plan to deal with 'abuse' of free movement via welfare reform.

And he added: '(We are) making sure that the European economies grow and in the most recent quarter of economic activity, actually the Eurozone economies were growing faster than the American economy, or indeed the British economy.

'You don't in the end deal with people's perfectly legitimate concerns about immigration by wrecking your economy, putting people out of work, cutting their incomes.

'These are not the right answers to the perfectly legitimate concerns people have.'

Mrs May told the BBC: 'I completely understand why people are concerned about immigration.

'There's no silver bullet, there's no one thing you can do that is suddenly going to deal with all the problems and concerns people have with immigration.

'That includes leaving the EU - that is not the single answer to this issue.'

She added: 'There are some changes coming up in free movement rules, we should look at further reform in the future.'

In a BBC interview tonight, Home Secretary Theresa May said 'there are some changes coming up in free movement rules, we should look at further reform in the future'

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson moved to steady Labour's position on the referendum today, using a speech to warn urgent action is needed to stop EU rules 'undercutting British workers'.

Addressing widespread concern among Labour supporters over the consequences of long term mass migration, Mr Watson said people were being deliberately misled by the Out campaign.

Mr Watson insisted the UK could take action now to ensure a fair deal for British workers by reviewing all EU directives.

'The Tory Government has failed to stop employers advertising UK jobs only abroad. They should do.

'And there is a loophole in the Posting of Workers Directive that allows employers to import workers from another country at lower rates of pay.

'That's undercutting British workers and could be stopped. We are pushing the Government to work in Europe to close that loophole.'

Tom Watson today demanded the Government take further steps to end abuse of free movement as he tried to drag the party back on message with just eight days until the referendum

Mr Watson continued: 'But we must listen to what voters are telling us on the doorsteps. In my view we must go further.

'There should be a root and branch review of all directives, to ensure UK workers are not undercut and migrant workers are not exploited,' Mr Watson said at a campaign rally held outside upmarket food store Waitrose in London.

SCOTS 'COULD KEEP ENGLAND IN THE EU AGAINST ITS WILL' Strong Scottish support for Remain could keep England in the EU against its will, experts warned. Tory MPs said a result in which Leave sentiment in England and Wales was overruled could damage the Union. Professor John Curtice, a political scientist at Strathclyde University, said: 'Scotland is certain to Remain... also in Northern Ireland. We're looking at polls in England and Wales where the Leave side are ahead. If we only get 51 per cent support for Remain, almost undoubtedly Scotland and Northern Ireland would have been pivotal in keeping the UK in the EU.' Tory MP and Out campaigner Bernard Jenkin said: 'Unionists in Scotland and Northern Ireland should vote Leave to prevent this damaging the unity of the UK. It would add to the strain between different parts of the UK.' Advertisement

The party's deputy leader said concerns on the impact of immigration needed to be listened to.

'My worry is that the Leave campaign have convinced some people that voting leave will end immigration. Labour is determined to fight the Leave campaign's bogus claim that all the problems of immigration can be solved by leaving the EU. It won't,' he said.

Mr Watson blamed Tory employment laws for low wages, not foreign workers.

'Now we have a deregulated labour market and that allows unscrupulous employers to undercut pay and exploit migrant workers. And unscrupulous businesses can undercut good businesses by pursuing a race to the bottom.

'It isn't migrants to blame for lower wages, this has been going on well before Polish plumbers and Spanish care workers came here.

'And let me also talk directly to those workers who are concerned about job security and their weekly wage: don't let the hard right Tory ideologues who are pulling the strings of the leave campaign fool you. They're not interested in you or your family.

'To them you are a commodity, a mere unit of Labour. They have no intention of protecting you, investing in you, or helping you. They just want your vote and they'll tell you anything you want to hear before next Thursday,' he said.
A new academic study has rocked the government in Berlin as people call for a 'dictatorship in the national interest' with one in ten wanting a new Fuhrer to lead them to glory.

The University of Leipzig's research team found that nearly 34 per cent of people quizzed thought Germany is 'dangerously overpopulated by foreigners.'

A total of 21.9 per cent agreed that Germany needs 'a single strong party that embodies the national community as a whole'.

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Thirty per cent claimed Germany had been 'infiltrated by too many foreigners in a dangerous way'

One in every ten Germans wants their country to be led by a 'Fuhrer' applying 'a firm hand for the common good.'

And 71 years after Nazism was vanquished and the horror of the death camps revealed to a stunned world, 11 per cent of people questioned by the university researchers said Jews have too much influence in society.

Overall 12 per cent think Germans are by nature 'superior' to other people - a central plank of the ideology of Adolf Hitler and the original Nazis.

71 years after Nazism and the Hitler Youth (pictured) was vanquished, 11 per cent of people questioned by the university researchers said Jews have too much influence in society

Other findings included four out of every ten people thinking Muslims should be prohibited from immigrating to the country and half of respondents in a survey of 2,240 people saying they feel like 'foreigners in their own country.'

Thirty per cent claimed Germany had been 'infiltrated by too many foreigners in a dangerous way.' And three out of every five Germans believe migrants who have arrived in the country seeking sanctuary from war and terror are bogus.

'They are not really at risk of any persecution in their home country" was the question they agreed with.

The rise of the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party delivered hammer blows to Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU conservatives in regional polls in March

'There has been no increase in extreme right attitudes, but in comparison with our study from two years ago people who have far-right attitudes are more prepared to use violence to achieve their aims,' said Dr Oliver Decker, one of the reports authors.

'There is a clear polarisation and radicalisation in German society, with more respondents also likely to completely reject violence this time around.

'The two groups exist next to each other. We have people who actively engage to help refugees and there are people who actively reject refugees, said Decker.

The study entitled 'The uninhibited middle' argues extremist thinking has become more acceptable in mainstream German society - one reason for the rise of the hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

It delivered hammer blows to Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU conservatives in regional polls in March and looks set to send MPs into national government in the general election in the autumn of next year.

'Most AfD voters have a hostile attitude to the world,' said report co-author Dr Elmar Braehler.

'The potential for extreme right or populist right-wing parties is still higher than what electoral results have yet shown,' he added.

The survey noted an increase in negative attitudes towards gyspy communities, with half of respondents saying such people should be banned from city centres.

Gypsies were persecuted by the original Nazis with hundreds of thousands of them murdered in the Holocaust.
The mother of a gay teenager in Texas claims a local school teacher made an unsettling reference to the Orlando terrorist massacre in a bizarre Facebook message.

Cassie Watson's daughter Ali Chaney, 13, made headlines in May when she got in trouble at school for wearing a T-shirt with an LGBT-friendly message.

The openly gay teenager felt SC Lee Junior High School in Copperas Cove discriminated against her when administrators tried to prohibit her from wearing a shirt that said 'Some people are gay. Get over it!'

On Monday, Watson said she woke up to a teacher's message that seemed to imply her daughter could become the next victim of an atrocity like the one in Orlando on Sunday, where 49 people were shot dead at a gay nightclub by a gunman who authorities said was inspired by extremist ideologies.

Casie Watson said she got the message on the left from a teacher at a local elementary school after her daughter made headlines for wearing an LGBT-friendly T-shirt

Ali Chaney (pictured) was told to change her 'disruptive' clothing after she wore a t-shirt in support of the gay community

'In light of the Orlando incident wear [sic] all gay people were openly slaughtered, I wonder if you'd still let your daughter wear the t-shirt to school that caused public controversy and may have subjected her to possible harm by others?' the message began.

'Being gay isn't a crime but publicly forcing your opinion upon others, and to do it through your child at school, will always be offensive to others.'

The message was sent from an account by the name Janice Williams. A teacher by that name works at an elementary school in the nearby Killeen Independent School District, a school website shows.

Cassie Watson is pictured right, sitting next to her daughter Ali Chaney who caused controversy with an LGBT-friendly T-shirt

Ali Chaney felt SC Lee Junior High School in Copperas Cove discriminated against her when administrators tried to prohibit her from wearing a shirt that said 'Some people are gay. Get over it!'

On Tuesday, Williams reached out to local news station KCEN to say that her account had been 'hacked.'

'My FB account was hacked yesterday and I was not responsible for the message sent to the lady causing her to believe that her child would be harmed. It took several attempts to delete the account after notifying FB that my account had been hacked,' the teacher wrote in a statement.

'I have lived my life protecting the rights of others and being an advocate for ALL children. I'm saddened that a hacker can cause such negativity and division among so many people. Please give my sincerest apology to this woman and her child. Thank you.'
A bomb squad was dramatically scrambled to a 'suspicious package' attached to a car today  but later stood down after it turned out to be a GPS tracker a jealous wife had secretly fitted to her husband's car.

West Yorkshire Police were called to a residential street in Leeds, West Yorkshire, after the man reported finding the suspicious-looking device inside his vehicle at around 10am today.

It is understood that officers set up a police cordon around the vehicle and were prepared to evacuate nearby homes when his wife confessed to planting the tracker herself.

Police were called to a residential street in Leeds, West Yorkshire (pictured), after the man reported finding the suspicious-looking device, which turned out to be a GPS tracker, attached to his vehicle at around 10am today

A police spokesman said: 'This morning officers were called to a suspicious package in a car and an operation was put in place.'

Leeds City Council's emergency planning team was contacted to set up temporary accommodation for evacuated residents in a nearby community centre.

A council spokeswoman said council officers also assessed which other places, including schools and public buildings, may have needed evacuation if the device proved 'to be an actual danger'.

Contact with Ministry of Defence bomb disposal experts had been made by police before the device was identified as a tracker at around 11am.

The team of experts were stood down and the police cordon was eventually removed.
President Barack Obama hosted the Dalai Lama at the White House today behind closed doors - a now familiar ritual that takes place off-camera and out of the public eye to avoid irking China.

Since coming to office, Obama has hosted the Dalai Lama three previous times.

On each occasion, Obama has tried to limit the fallout by keeping the meeting private.

But today, after the Tibetan leader had departed, he posted to Instagram a photo of himself and Obama in a warm embrace. Alongside the post was a caption crediting the official White House photographer for taking the photo.

The White House attempted to downplay the significance of the photo, with the president's spokesman saying during his daily briefing that the White House always distributes a photo of the Dalai Lama after his visits.

That the Dalai Lama sent it out, and not the White House, gave it the feel of another carefully orchestrated political statement, however.

President Barack Obama hosted the Dalai Lama at the White House today behind closed doors - a now familiar ritual that takes place off-camera and out of the public eye to avoid irking China. After the Tibetan leader had departed, he posted to Instagram a photo of himself and Obama in a warm embrace. Along side the photo was a caption crediting the picture to the official White House photographer, raising eyebrows

Actor Richard Gere accompanies the Dalai Lama during a meeting with members of Congress on Tuesday on Capitol Hill. The White House is careful about the president being seen with the Tibetan spiritual leader but Congress is less concerned

The photo caption when the picture was posted said, 'President Barack Obama greets His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the entrance of the Map Room of the White House on June 15, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) #dalailama'

This morning Obama carried out what has become a political rite in Washington, spiriting the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader into the White House through the back door and prompting the usual Chinese denunciations.

Souza, the official White House photographer, was the only lens in the room. News outlets were banned as usual from attending the meeting, even for a few minutes at the top during what is known as a pool spray so that they can catch a glimpse.

This latest confab took place in the Map Room, not the Oval Office.

'The personal nature of their meeting would explain why the president received the Dalai Lama in the White House residence,' White House Press Secretary told reporters today, as he talked up the president's warm feelings for the Dalai Lama.

The 80-year-old Buddhist monk did not appear to enter the White House through the usual West Wing entrance, which is the route for most -- although not all -- visitors.

The White House told reporters after the meeting today that he was not received in the Oval Office because he is not a head of state. The Dalai Lama's status was also used by the White House as an excuse not to let reporters in - he's a private citizen.

'The president has spoken publicly in the past about his warm personal feelings for the Dalai Lama, Earnest said today, saying later in his briefing that the president also has a 'personal affection' for his teachings.

Obama calls the monk, who is revered by Tibetans but portrayed by Beijing as a dangerous separatist, 'a good friend.'

He made a high-profile public appearance with the Dalai Lama last year at a prayer breakfast in Washington, calling him 'a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion.'

But Obama was criticized in 2010 for obliging the 80-year-old, clad in his characteristic red robes and flip flops, to leave the White House through a back door and walk past piles of snow and bags of rubbish - the one moment that was captured by the press.

The United States' official position is that it does not support independence for Tibet. Earnest reiterated that today as he spoke to reporters about the visit.

EMBARRASSING: In 2010 the White House sent the Dalai Lama right out the back door and through an area accessible to press and right by bags of trash that had not been picked up after a snow storm

Dalai Lama's high-profile meetings over the years in spite of Chinese threats

An official White House statement after the meeting said Obama 'accepted the Dalai Lamas condolences for the shooting in Orlando, Florida.'

The president likewise 'commended the Dalai Lama for his efforts to promote compassion, empathy, and respect for others.'

As is the U.S. policy, Obama 'emphasized his strong support for the preservation of Tibets unique religious, cultural, and linguistic traditions and the equal protection of human rights of Tibetans in China' and he lauded the Dalai Lama for his 'commitment to peace and nonviolence.'

'The President encouraged meaningful and direct dialogue between the Dalai Lama and his representatives with Chinese authorities to lower tensions and resolve differences,' the statement said.

In terms of Tibetan independence, 'the Dalai Lama stated that he is not seeking independence for Tibet and hopes that dialogue between his representatives and the Chinese government will resume.'

Even before the meeting today, Beijing made its displeasure felt, warning it would 'damage mutual trust and cooperation.'

'China's foreign ministry has launched solemn representations with the US side, expressing our firm opposition to such an arrangement,' foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters.

Lu added that the meeting would 'send a wrong signal to the separatist forces seeking Tibet independence.'

Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of using 'spiritual terrorism' to seek independence for Tibet.

The spiritual leader -- who has lived in exile in India since a failed 1959 uprising -- has for decades called for more Tibetan autonomy rather than independence.

Beijing maintains he is a 'wolf in monk's clothing' and vigorously lobbies -- often successfully -- against foreign leaders meeting him.

Senior members of Congress have gone one step further, meeting both the Dalai Lama and Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Tibetans 'feel happy about His Holiness meeting the president,' said Sonam Dagpo of the Tibetan government-in-exile, adding they hoped the US would support 'the struggle of Tibetans.'

U.S. President George W. Bush is seen above welcoming he Dalai Lama to the White House on May 23, 2001 and U.S. President Bill Clinton meets the Tibetan spiritual leader at the White House on April 23, 1997 below

China has ruled Tibet since the 1950s, but many Tibetans say Beijing represses their Buddhist religion and culture -- charges China denies.

More than 130 ethnic Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 in protest at Beijing's rule, campaign groups and overseas media have said. Most of them have died.

The Dalai Lama has described the protests as acts of desperation that he is powerless to stop.

Many observers believe China is confident that the Tibetan movement will lose much of its potency and global appeal when the charismatic Dalai Lama dies.

The Dalai Lama has also increasingly spoken of succession and has not ruled out picking his reincarnation before his death, fearing that China would instead pick its own boy whom it would use to advance its agenda.

His stance has led Chinese communist rulers, who are officially atheist, to insist that the Dalai Lama can only reincarnate after his death.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has taken a swipe at Boris Johnson as she condemned the Brexit campaign's 'nasty, mean-spirited' focus on immigration.

Mrs Morgan said the only thing she had in common with the former London mayor was 'we both dye our hair'.

The jibe came as Tory infighting escalated again after George Osborne unveiled a post-Brexit 'punishment' Budget.

The Chancellor faced the unprecedented backlash from scores of his own colleagues as he warned against opting for 'austerity' with dramatic hikes on income tax and fuel duty.

Nicky Morgan, right, said she did not have anything in common with Boris Johnson except dying their hair

He insisted the poorest would 'pay the price' if we decide to take a 'leap in the dark' - and also risked further inflaming public anger over immigration by dismissing the prospect of curbs on free movement from the bloc.

But the Conservative MPs quickly released a statement pledging to block any such package and warning his position would be 'untenable' if he tried to impose it.

Even Mr Osborne Remain allies in Labour disowned the drastic measures, saying they would be the 'wrong thing to do'.

Taking aim at the tactics deployed by Vote Leave during the referendum campaign, Mrs Morgan criticised claims that immigration would put intolerable pressure on public services.

'It ties in with this nasty, mean-spirited vision of Britain as a place that doesn't welcome people to come to these shores,' she told The House magazine.

'I represent a seat in Leicestershire  Leicester is the first majority non-white city in the UK and actually we see that people come here to work and pay their taxes and contribute to our education and health systems.

'Let's have a sensible debate about immigration in this country. I get it, I hear it on the doorsteps, but I refuse to buy into the Vote Leave, mean-spirited vision of this country, where we set immigrants against each other.

'Some of the Vote Leave people are saying 'we'll say no to these immigrants so these immigrants can come into the country' and what people want to have is a serious debate about the whole issue and the impact it has on communities and cohesion.'

Ms Morgan also said she had been disgusted by the behaviour of Brexiteers on the campaign trail.

She said: 'I was out in Loughborough Market last Saturday and there is a contrast with both campaigns. We've got people coming out campaigning for the first time  young people motivated by the drive to remain in.

George Osborne unveiled 'emergency' Budget measures that he said would be needed to fill a 30billion black hole in the public finances after a Brexit vote

'And then we have the Vote Leave lot  shouty, loud, getting in the way of market traders, people doing their Saturday shopping and trying to be very forceful about saying people must agree with them.'

Mrs Morgan was also asked about the way her Cabinet colleague Amber Rudd targeted Mr Johnson during an ITV referendum debate last week.

At one point Ms Rudd said: 'Boris is the life and soul of the party, but he's not the man you want driving you home at the end of the night.'

Asked if she would get in a car if the former London Mayor was behind the wheel, Ms Morgan said: 'I'm not sure that that's an offer I'm ever likely to get.

'The only thing that Boris and I appear to have in common is that we both dye our hair.'

The remark was a reference to Mr Johnson's apparent admission over the weekend that he dyed his famous blonde mop - although he later insisted he had been joking and it was natural.

All aboard! Bizarre naval battle over Brexit on the Thames descends into fight over Bob Geldof making rude gestures at Nigel Farage

Rival flotillas headed by Nigel Farage and Sir Bob Geldof clashed on the Thames today with the rock star facing criticism for yelling insults and making obscene gestures.

In the most bizarre scenes of the EU referendum so far, the Ukip leader took to the waves with dozens of fishing boats as he urged a vote to cut ties with Brussels next week.

But they were greeted by boats carrying Remain supporters including the rock star, and loud speakers blasting out the song 'In With the In Crowd'.

The fleets chased each other along the river for several hours - while at one point hoses were deployed by the trawlers to try to settle the argument.

Sir Bob could be clearly seen making V signs and obscene gestures at the opposing flotilla

Sir Bob seemingly infuriated some pro-EU activists on his own vessel by flicking a V sign and making other rude signs at Mr Farage's crew.

One passenger took to Twitter to make clear her displeasure, saying she was 'disgusted' at the insults against their opponents.

Bethany Pickering wrote: 'Left Bob Geldof's boat in disgust. Fishermen, the Labour Remain presence sincerely apologises.'

Geldof berated Mr Farage over a PA system as his vessel, the Sarpedon, pulled alongside the boat carrying the Ukip leader.

Calling Mr Farage a 'fraud', Geldof said: 'You are no fisherman's friend.'

He said that while Mr Farage was on the European Parliament fisheries committee he attended just one out of 43 meetings.

In more than three years as a member of the European Parliament's fisheries committee, Mr Farage turned up for just one of 42 meetings, said the environmental group.

'You are a fraud, Nigel. Go back down the river because you are up one without a canoe or a paddle.

'Stop lying. This election is too important.'

Speaking to reporters on a boat on the Thames, Mr Farage branded the Geldof protest 'just disgusting'.

Dozens of vessels passed under Tower Bridge, holding up traffic while it was raised

Ministers will NOT try and get a new deal on free movement in the EU just a week before the referendum despite Brexit's growing poll leads, George Osborne insists

George Osborne today denied there would be any attempt to change the rules on free movement in the EU as the Remain campaign scrambles to save its referendum hopes.

The Chancellor denied reports which emerged overnight there would be a last-ditch bid to change a deal with the EU.

European leaders, led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, refused outright to deal on free movement during Mr Cameron's lengthy negotiations before they concluded in February.

Amid a slide in the polls for Remain, campaign sources suggested to the Guardian Downing Street was looking at how to reopen the issue.

But Mr Osborne denied the story to the BBC today.

Chancellor George Osborne, pictured visiting the Hitachi factory today, denied the Government was trying to unpick free movement rules

He said: 'The short answer is no, because we have a plan and the plan is to restrict the welfare that people get when they come to this country so you don't get out until you put in.

'That is the plan we will implement, with the agreement of our partners.

'It is part of a multi-pronged attack to deal with people's concerns about immigration, controlling it from outside the EU, dealing with abuses of free movement, also crucially seeing the European economies now growing actually at roughly the same rate as the British economy.

'I think all of those things will help address those concerns.'

The Chancellor insisted the Government had a plan to deal with 'abuse' of free movement via welfare reform.

And he added: '(We are) making sure that the European economies grow and in the most recent quarter of economic activity, actually the Eurozone economies were growing faster than the American economy, or indeed the British economy.
A construction worker has been killed after a 40-metre newly-built section of a German highway bridge crumbled and fell 20 metres onto workers.

Police say six others have also been seriously injured and rescuers are searching for more workers buried under the rubble in Schweinfurt, Bavaria.

Firefighters surrounded the site littered by scaffolding rods, where around 20 workers were constructing the Schraudenbach bridge before the freshly-concreted section buckled.

The wreckage of the collapsed Schraudenbach bridge in Germany which fell down 20-metres onto 20 workers

The scaffolding around the bridge also fell down onto the workers, but it is not immediately clear what caused the collapse.

Police spokeswoman Kathrin Thamm confirmed several workers were also slightly injured in the downfall of the new bridge, running parallel to the A7 highway near the town of Werneck.

Work on the new 236-metre long structure began last year and was due for completion in 2017. Due to fatigue the old bridge was being demolished and rebuilt.

Initial reports had suggested that two people had been killed, but still it cannot be ruled out more workers will be discovered in the wreckage.

Five rescue helicopters, dog units and more than 150 members of the emergency services were on hand to assist with the recovery efforts, reports German news site BR 24.

Firefighters stand near the collapsed scaffolding at the highway bridge near Werneck northern Bavaria

Five rescue helicopters, dog units and more than 150 members of the emergency services were on hand

Work on the new 236-metre long structure began last year and was due for completion in 2017

The 50-year-old bridge is being renovated for a reported nearly 15 million euros, and due to overloading the ramshackle bridge has been banned since 1965 to heavy goods vehicles.

Bavarian Interior and Transport Minister Joachim Herrmann expressed his 'deepest condolences' and wished the injured a 'speedy recovery', he said in a statement.

The new bridge runs parallel to an existing bridge on the A7 highway near Werneck in northern Bavaria.

Bavarian politician Gerhard Eck said that by Wednesday night companies involved in the construction said no one was missing, reports German daily newspaper Die Welt.
A Democratic senator waged a nearly 15-hour filibuster into the early hours of Thursday morning to force a vote on gun control legislation three days after 49 people were killed at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy said he would remain on the Senate floor 'until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together,' as he also evoked the Sandy Hook school shooting, which left 20 children and six adult staff members dead, in his state in 2012.

He ended the marathon filibuster at 2:11am, saying he had won commitments from Republican leaders that they would hold votes on amendments to expand background checks and ban gun sales to suspected terrorists.

However, it is unlikely that those amendments will pass.

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Senator Chris Murphy spoke of the Sandy Hook school shooting in his home state during the filibuster

Murphy (D-CT) speaks to reporters after waging an almost 15-hour filibuster on the Senate floor

Murphy (left, seen here conferring with Illinois senator Richard Durbin) launched a 'talking filibuster' of a spending bill. He said he'll keep talking 'until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together'

His plea came as presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would meet with the National Rifle Association to discuss how authorities could block gun purchases by people on terrorism watch lists or no-fly lists.

At a rally in Georgia, Trump told his supporters: 'I'm going to save your Second Amendment.'

Murphy spent most of the 15 hours speaking about the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, which shocked the nation and renewed the gun control debate.

'For those of us that represent Connecticut, the failure of this body to do anything, anything at all in the face of that continued slaughter isn't just painful to us, it's unconscionable,' Murphy said.

He finished his filibuster by talking at length about one of the young boys who died in Newtown.

As Murphy had been standing on the floor for more than nine hours, his own young sons, ages four and seven, briefly appeared in the Senate gallery.

'I hope you'll understand some day why we're doing this,' Murphy said, addressing his oldest son from the floor. 'Trying and trying and trying to do the right thing is ultimately just as important as getting the outcome in the end.'

Democrats have revived the gun debate after the massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando early Sunday, the worst such incident in modern history.

The fight pits strong proponents of the Second Amendment right to bear arms against those arguing for greater restrictions on the ability to obtain weapons.

Anti-gun activists marched on the U.S. Capitol as Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) waged his fillibuster

An anti-gun activist holds up an image showing photos of the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre

Robert Bowers Disney (right), organizing director of the Brady Campaign and Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, marched with anti-gun activists to the U.S. Capitol

Twenty children and six educators died in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012. Murphy said he cannot look into the eyes of those children's relatives and tell them that Congress has done nothing since.

He was joined by more than 30 Democratic colleagues on the floor, many of whom angrily told stories of mass shootings in their own states and called for action.

'The next time someone uses a gun to kill one of us, a gun that we could have kept out of the hands of a terrorist, then members of this Congress will have blood on our hands,' said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., asked: 'Where is our spine?'

Attempts at compromise appeared to collapse within hours of surfacing in the Senate Wednesday, underscoring the extreme difficulty of resolving the divisive issue five months from November's election.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who had been involved in talks with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said there was no resolution.

Murphy, 42, began speaking at 11:21am, and was showing few signs of fatigue when the filibuster ended.

By Senate rules, he had to stand at his desk the entire time to maintain control of the floor.

Other massacres have not led to new national gun control legislation, although some Democrats are hopeful the killings at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando could be different

President Obama has called for reinstating the ban on certain assault-style weapons, which expired in 2004

When asked by another senator how he was feeling just before 7:30pm, Murphy said rehabilitation from a back injury in his 20s had helped him build up endurance.

Tourists and staff filled the galleries past midnight, and Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Cory Booker of New Jersey stayed with Murphy on the floor for most of the debate. Like Murphy, Booker did not sit down for the full 15 hours.

It's been nearly a decade since Congress made any significant changes to federal gun laws.

In April 2007, Congress passed a law to strengthen the instant background check system after a gunman at Virginia Tech who killed 32 people was able to purchase his weapons because his mental health history was not in the instant background check database.

Murphy is seeking a vote on legislation from Feinstein that would let the government bar sales of guns and explosives to people it suspects of being terrorists.

Feinstein offered a similar version of the amendment in December, a day after an extremist couple killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, but the Republican-run Senate rejected the proposal on a near party-line vote.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was added to a government watch list of individuals known or suspected of being involved in terrorist activities in 2013, when he was investigated for inflammatory statements to co-workers.

But he was pulled from that database when that investigation was closed 10 months later.

In a statement, the NRA reiterated its support for an alternate bill from Cornyn that would let the government delay firearms sales to suspected terrorists for up to 72 hours.

Prosecutors would have to persuade a judge to block the transaction permanently, a bar Democrats and gun control activists say is too high.

Cornyn and other Republicans argue that Feinstein's bill would deny due process to people who may be on the terror list erroneously.

In an attempt at compromise, Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey introduced legislation that would direct the attorney general to create a new list of suspected terrorists who could be barred from buying weapons.

But Democrats immediately rejected that idea, saying it would create too much of a backlog.

Trump announced on Wednesday he would meet with the head of the powerful NRA.

Trump told a crowd in Atlanta Wednesday: 'Im gonna save your Second Amendment, okay?'

His move is being seen as a significant shift and gained support from some advocates of gun reform - including Daily Mail Online columnist Piers Morgan, who had previously called for precisely such a measure.
Aspiring model: Anielka Jennings, 17, pictured, was found dead in her home in February 2015

An aspiring teenage model hanged herself after struggling with a relationship with a 39-year-old drug user, an inquest heard.

Anielka Jennings, 17, who had battled with depression since she was 12, was plagued by suicidal thoughts in the weeks leading up to her death in February 5, 2015.

The schoolgirl, from Tedworth, Gloucester, also told mental health professionals she had abused cannabis, tried to smoke mephedrone and had self-harmed in the past.

She had been seen by a range of different professionals throughout her life, including psychiatrists, education psychologists, neuro-psychologists and pastoral carers.

A child psychiatrist said the lack of a single, lead professional meant Anielka didn't receive all the help she could. Her parents also said they believed more could have been done for their daughter.

Senior Gloucestershire coroner Katy Skerret recorded a combined short-form conclusion of suicide and narrative conclusion.

She said: 'Multiple agencies were involved in Anielka's care and her complex needs were identified. However, no lead professional was identified to coordinate her care.

'On more than one occasion the agencies did not communicate with each other. This led to missed opportunities to provide a structured care plan for Anielka.'

Anielka, a pupil at St Peter's Catholic High School in Gloucester, was found dead by her father at her the family home. She left a suicide note addressed to her parents in a notebook, it was heard.

She had previously expressed suicidal notes through social media posts and graffiti on her bedroom wall, it was heard.

In an appointment with a practitioner 20 days before her death, Anielka had spoken of being in an exploitative relationship with a 39-year-old drug user.

Her mother Aleksandra said: 'When that happens, you have to act immediately. It's like someone is drowning. You have to save that person straight away. I felt that Anielka didn't have the help she needed.'

Anielka suffered cardiac problems and a heart transplant four years ago, triggering a stroke which left her with neurological difficulties.

Treatment: Anielka was seen by specialist staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital, in London. Above, file image

Mrs Jennings had requested two emergency mental health appointments for Anielka in the six months before her death, it was heard.

According to her social worker Caroline Guy, Anielka refused to engage with local mental health services. 'Anielka was a vulnerable young lady and she had tendencies to act on the spur of the moment,' Mrs Guy said. 'She said "I am not mad" and refused to engage with the service.'

Anielka was taken off her Child Protection Plan on December 2, 2014, two months before her death, after she said she no longer wanted to use social services.

That same month a report from Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Anielka received much of her treatment, recommended that she be kept under the review of mental health professionals, saying it was 'vital' that support was kept in place.But this review was not forwarded to local mental health services because she wasn't working with them at the time, it was heard.

It's like someone is drowning. You have to save that person straight away. I felt that Anielka didn't have the help she needed Mother Aleksandra Jennings

Anielka later saw mental health services on January 16, 2015, and was referred to a doctor but no fixed appointment was made with a psychiatrist. She died less than three weeks later.

Her father Michael said: 'I personally was always prepared to engage with health professionals around Anielka's care. I did not once refuse to engage.

'Anielka's willingness to engage with professionals was always difficult and a balancing act. We had to act very carefully to keep her on board.'

Children's psychiatrist Dr Judith Barnsley said that professionals involved with the teenager's welfare should have taken more notice of the recommendations, adding she needed a single professional who viewed her as a 'whole person'.

'Anielka had complex difficulties that no single agency would be able to meet,' Dr Barnsley said.

'She needed a professional who had her in mind as a whole person and that requires a lot of understanding. The different reports were lost in translation. People did not understand what they meant and what the implications were.

'With suicidal people, there's a part of them that wants to die but also a part of them that wants to live. Health professionals have to work with the part of the person that wants to survive.'

The inquest heard that she had missed an appointment at Great Ormond Street Hospital on the day before she died because of train delays after somebody stepped out on the tracks.

Dr Barnsley said: 'The train delays and death on the tracks may well have been the last straw. The negativity surrounding her future will not have helped.'

Dr Paul Winterbottom, medical director of the NHS foundation trust in Gloucestershire at the time, accepted the health service had made failings.

He said: 'We could have certainly made improvements. Anielka was a challenging person to deal with. She was very much engaged with services at Great Ormond Street.

'Whether she would have engaged with local mental health services I don't see any evidence that that's the case.'

The coroner will decide whether a report to prevent further deaths is necessary.
Union rep was also secretly filmed telling undercover reporters posing as a friend of a teacher with a drug problem saying he would not tell the school

'I'm the teacher. I'm not f***ing up my life'

He also seemed aware of the consequences of getting busted saying

Klein said his job had taught him how to avoid getting caught with drugs

He described himself as a 'good host' for having cocaine at his home

Klein is seen on the video asking if the reporters wanted a 'bump' of 'blow'

to his hotel room during an education conference

physical education and health teacher at Howell Middle School had invited the

A New Jersey middle school teacher has been caught on hidden camera offering drugs to undercover reporters.

Robert Klein, a physical education and health teacher at Howell Middle School, was filmed asking the journalists whether they wanted cocaine after he invited them to party in his hotel room during an education conference.

Klein, who was also captured telling his students at school to try exercise to 'give yourself a natural high, instead of doing drugs', said he had drugs at his house before offering the reporters a 'bump' of 'blow'.

Robert Klein, a physical education and health teacher, was filmed asking the journalists whether they wanted cocaine after he invited them to party in his hotel room during an education conference (pictured)

'If you want some (cocaine), you can have some. Dude, if you want some I'll give you a taste, don't be embarrassed. Have some.'

He also described himself as a 'good host' for having a supply of cocaine at home.

'You come to my home at night, you come to my room now. I have booze, I have water, I have blow at the house, whatever it is, whatever anybody wants, I have it there,' he said.

'I'm a good host and I have this s*** at my house when you come.'

He even boasted how his job as a health teacher, tutoring kids on the dangers of drugs, had taught him how to avoid getting caught with them by the police.

'Like I work with the police in the school district with the drug dogs and they teach us, and they teach you how the drug dogs sniff out drugs

'We're not putting drugs in my car. Now blow - different. You put it in your pocket, it's nothing.

'Blow, people mix it with different things so it has different scents.'

Klein said he had cocaine at his house before offering the reporters a 'bump' of 'blow'

At one point during the video, Klein appeared to become suspicious that the pair were wearing a wire - which they were - but despite checking the reporter (pictured) the teacher did not discover it

Klein was attending the 2015 New Jersey Education Association Conference in Atlantic City (pictured) when he invited the Gonzo journalist James O'Keefe and a female reporter, both undercover, up to his Borgata Hotel room

Robert Klein is a physical education and health teacher at Howell Middle School (pictured) Howell School District said it was unaware of the allegations

Klein was attending the 2015 New Jersey Education Association Conference in Atlantic City when he invited a male and a female reporter, both undercover, up to his Borgata Hotel room.

At one point during the video, Klein appeared to become suspicious that the pair were wearing a wire - which they were - but despite checking the reporter the teacher did not discover it.

Despite his open discussion of drugs, the teacher was aware of the consequences his coke possession could have on his career.

'I'm the teacher. I'm not f***ing up my life,' he said.

The teacher was later filmed at his school giving a hypocritical speech to his students where he advised them to avoid drugs and try exercise instead.

'We want you to have this opportunity to give you the education as far and health and drugs and all the programs that we run to keep you drug free,' he told the high schoolers as he was awarded a fake prize for excellence in drug abuse awareness by Gonzo journalist James O'Keefe - posing as an educator.

'Think about then exercising, try a sport find something that makes you feel good about you, give yourself a natural high, instead of doing drugs.'

Howell Schools District Superintendent Joseph Isola declined to comment on the video telling Dailymail.com he was not at liberty to discuss any details regarding personnel.

Isola said that he had been unaware of the allegations but said the board would be investigating.

The teacher was later filmed at his school giving a hypocritical speech to his students as he was awarded a fake tongue-in-cheek prize for excellence in drug abuse awareness by O'Keefe

Klein explained how his job as a health teacher at the school (pictured), tutoring kids on the dangers of drugs, had taught him how to avoid getting caught with drugs by the police

Howell Police Department was unavailable for comment.

The almost nine minute video also shows the Project Veritas journalists reporting their concerns to a teachers union representative.

Posing as a friend of a teacher with a cocaine habit, they claimed that the teacher had begun using drugs at school.

But officials seemed more concerned with keeping the drug abuse quiet from the union member's school than the welfare of his students.

New Jersey Education Association UniServ field rep, Ron Villano, urged the 'teacher friend' of the journalists to get help and go to rehab but he said the union would not inform the school - even if the teacher refused help and carried on using while teaching kids.

'I'm never going to tell (the school),' he said. 'I'm not going to tell anyone whether he goes or not.

'We do not reveal any records to schools, nor do we allow files to leave the school. They stay at this office, they might as well get a court order.'

He also warned the teacher not to talk to anyone else about his drug habit as he was 'jeopardizing his job.'

Throughout the video, the official appeared unconcerned whether the teacher's drug habit could pose a danger to his students.

The Project Veritas journalists reported their concerns to a union representative, posing as a friend of a teacher with a cocaine habit, who advised them to keep quiet

The union official's response echos that of another undercover video released by Veritas Project earlier this month, which shows shows Yonkers, New York, teachers union officials advising fraud and violations of workplace rules to protect a teacher who had hit a student.

O'Keefe explained that he'd been tipped off that union officials would go to 'extraordinary lengths' to protect their members.

'What would a teachers union president do if presented with a scenario where a teacher hit and possibly bloodied a student in an act of racial animus?' O'Keefe asked.

'And what if the teacher had then taken off for a two-week vacation in Mexico without telling the school?'

Officials, who did not inquire if the student was hurt, appeared more concerned about the teacher keeping his job and even suggested excuses for the impromptu vacation, telling them to say they had gone to rescue a kidnapped family member.

Dailymail.com has reached out to New Jersey Education Association for a statement.

Klein was unavailable for comment.
The friends are totally at ease with one another as they show affection

They may be mortal enemies in The Jungle Book, but a bear named Baloo and a tiger called Shere Khan have been spotted nuzzling in an animal sanctuary.

A touching video shows the loving pair rubbing against each other as they enjoy one another's company at Noah's Ark in Georgia.

American black bear Baloo rubs his face against the Bengal tiger's neck before Shere Khan too reciprocates - a far cry from the fierce jungle baddie in Rudyard Kipling's classic stories.

A touching video shows the loving pair rubbing against each other as they enjoy one another's company at Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary in Georgia.

American black bear Baloo rubs his face against the Bengal tiger's neck before Shere Khan too reciprocates - a far cry from the fierce jungle baddie in Rudyard Kipling's classic stories.

And as the bear moves forward to examine the camera the tiger nuzzles against's his pal's tummy in an affection.

Sadly neither break into song to make the Disney dream really come true.

The sanctuary posted the clip to Facebook, saying, 'Shere Khan & Baloo taking a little time out of their day to demonstrate "how to mark your bear."

'Please note, unless you are a special, one of a kind tiger, we strongly advise that you NOT attempt this at home.

Baloo and Shere Khan, along with Leo the African lion, are known as 'The BLT' at Noah's Ark.

They arrived back in 2001 after they were discovered by police officers in a basement of an Atlanta home during a drug raid, according to the sanctuary's website.

Only three months old, all three cubs were frightened, malnourished, and infected with internal and external parasites.

The sanctuary posted the clip to Facebook, saying, 'Shere Khan & Baloo taking a little time out of their day to demonstrate "how to mark your bear"

The pair, along with Leo the African lion, are known as 'The BLT' at Noah's Ark. They arrived in 2001 after they were discovered by police officers in a basement of an Atlanta home during a drug raid

Only three months old, all three cubs were frightened, malnourished, and infected with internal and external parasites. Shere Khan was underweight and malnourished, but Baloo was in the worst condition

Shere Khan was underweight and malnourished, but Baloo was in the worst condition.

According to the website, he had 'a severely ingrown harness digging into his flesh because it was never loosened as he grew in size.

'The harness was so ingrown that his flesh had begun to grow over and around it, and surgical intervention was required to remove the harness and clean his deep, infected wounds.'

When Baloo had his surgery was the only time the trio have been separated and the other two become incredibly agitated during this period.

It's said they are completely inseparable and rarely fight - their trauma so early in life bonding them eternally.

They frequently display great affection to each other, grooming and licking one another as well as sleeping and playing together.

Baloo has grown to be a relaxed and confident bear, the sanctuary says, whereas Shere Khan is the most mischievous, often pouncing on his friends - but always seeking affection.

Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary is home to over 1,500 creatures, both exotic and farm animals.




A cake maker has been attacked by animal rights activists after posting photos online of her stunningly realistic creations of animals being cut with a knife.

Hannah Edwards, who has a six-month waiting list, uploaded images of cats, dogs, penguins and other creatures onto Facebook which received dozens of likes.

But extremists objected to shots where customers did what theyre supposed to do with a delicious cake  and chopped it up.

What a grrrreat cake: The creations of Hannah Edwards are so lifelike animal activists have said they're cruel

Lifelike: But the mum-of-two Hertfordshire baker has laughed off the criticism of her decorative treats

Even better, her commute is just down the stairs and she gets plenty of time to bring up her children

One commented under an image of a husky dog: Disgusting idea. Maybe do a sweet baby child, then see if you get any likes for that.

Miss Edwards, 33, said: I was getting a huge number of enquiries after I made a husky cake and someone had a go at me saying it was cruel to do as it was encouraging violence to animals.

I have had other stuff where there have been pictures of cut cakes and they have been reported to Facebook for encouraging animal cruelty.

You have to cut it as it is a cake. I just think when they get realistic it weirds people out.

Facebook has not removed any of the images that provoked complaints.

Hannah said how she had to rise up from the ashes after losing her job as a photographer, and her marriage

Just one cake can cost between 150 - 2500, but it can take around 80 painstaking hours to complete

The 33-year-old said business is booming and that their is currently a six month waiting list

The baker says she cannot imagine doing anything else other than using her brilliant baking skills

It contacts her whenever a photo is reported for graphic violence but each time has said: Since it doesnt violate the community standard, it was not removed.

Miss Edwards, a mother-of-two from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, cooked up her new career after losing her job as a professional photographer and her marriage fell apart.

She works alone and now charges between 150 and 2,500 for her cakes, which can take up to 80 hours to sculpt.

It all began on my sons birthday. We made him a lion cake, as we called him a little lion as he was always rolling around on the ground roaring, she said.

I hated it but everyone loved it and my friends started saying can you do such and such and its just gone further.

Hannah uses fresh ingredients to make the sponge base before trimming it into shape, often requiring a circular saw and even a drill

She also said that she is working in the one industry where she does not have to do any marketing

When I got my redundancy my marriage fell apart and I thought What am I going to do?

Luckily my friends said Bake your cakes and someone will buy them. I thought Id give it three months  that was three years ago.

The cakes are moulded around a sponge base, which is trimmed into shape.

Despite the hard work that goes into each one  and the brickbats from some animal lovers  she has no plans of looking for another job.

Its the only industry I have been in where you dont have to do any marketing. Its fantastic, I cant find a downside to doing it, she said.
He also pointed out that Rinaldi had a

he walked into court, carrying a can of Coke

The man charged with stalking actress Brooke Shields was seen grinning as he entered a Manhattan courtroom on Wednesday.

John Rinaldi smiled for the cameras as the man shortly before the third day of the trial got underway, where he is facing charges of misdemeanor stalking and harassment.

Court papers claim that Rinaldi, 49, has been stalking Shields since at least 2003, and once attempted to gift her young daughters with teddy bears.

Shields, 51, fought back tears earlier in the week as she spoke about fearing for the safety of her family while testifying in the non-jury trial.

Smile big: John Rinaldi (above) has been a fan of Shields for years and according to court papers he has been stalking here since at least 2003

Defense: Rinaldi (above) had a friendship with Brooke's late mother Teri for years

Long suffering: Rinaldi began writing fan letters to Shields (above on Tuesday) in the 80s

Shields took the stand for the second day of the trial on Tuesday where Rinaldi's lawyer spoke about the alleged stalker's long-time friendship with the actress' late mother Teri.

'She was a woman with dementia and alcoholism,' explained Shields according to the New York Post.

'She gathered people. If you were more broken down, if you were homeless, if you were, whatever, she brought you into the fray. She wanted to be a savior for everyone.'

She also testified that she did her best to be polite to Rinaldi, but eventually was forced to tell her husband, Funny or Die creator Chris Henchy, to speak with the man.

'My husband said, "Youre freaking my kids out. You got to stop, you got to back off!"' Shields said on the stand.

Shields made the decision to to police and report Rinaldi in May of last year after he notice he had been parked outside her West Village townhouse for days, and even signed her name in a manner similar to her autograph into the dirt on the vehicle.

Prior to that he had approached her with gifts for her daughters - 13-year-old Rowan and 10-year-old Greer.

In 2013 he came to her home with stuffed animals and teddy bears for the girls Shields said on the first day of the trial Monday.

'It made me feel so violated and terrified,' said the actress.

Tough case: Shields (above leaving court on Monday) fought back tears describing how Rinaldi came to her home and dropped off presents for her daughters

Legal team: Rinaldi's attorney (on right) said Monday: 'The one thing that you cant say about Mr. Rinaldi is that his acts are such that they rise to the level of criminality'

Then, just a few months later, he went to her house to give her a picture frame - one that her mother had made for the actress' 18th birthday.

'Instead of giving it to me, he said, "I want Rowan to have it,"' said Shields as she fouSght back tears.

At that same time he was also allegedly sending letters and messages on Twitter that were concerning for the actress.

The unwanted fan mail goes all the way back to the 80s according to Shields' legal team.
Surveillance video from a 2014 shooting at Seattle Pacific University was released on Tuesday, showing a student pepper-spraying an alleged shooter, seizing his gun and detaining him.

The King County Prosecutor's Office released 18 DVDs of video from days before and during the June 5, 2014, incident that left one student dead and two others wounded, KING-TV reported.

Three minutes of the footage shows the take-down of a 27-year-old Aaron Ybarra, who has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in the case.

The footage shows the moment Jon Meis, a student safety monitor, heroically tackles Ybarra to the ground and manages to wrangle the shotgun out of his hands.

Hero: This is the moment that Seattle Pacific University student Jon Meis (right) lunges at shooter Aaron Ybarra (left), who is armed with a shotgun, during the campus shooting on June 5, 2014

Surveillance footage: Acting on a court order, the King County Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday released surveillance video of the 2014 shooting at Seattle Pacific University

Brace: Meis manages to get the shooter on the ground and grab the shotgun from his hands. He also pepper sprayed Ybarra and held onto him until police arrived

First court appearance: Shooting suspect Aaron Ybarra, left, is led in chains to a court hearing at a King County Jail courtroom Friday, June 6, 2014, in Seattle. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges

Hero: Jon Meis, 26, is credited with stopping the would-be murderous rampage by tackling the gunman. Meis is seen here with his fiancee Kaylie Sparks

That portion of video shows Ybarra entering the lobby of a building on the small private Christian school's campus. Ybarra is holding a shotgun. He points it at a student who is sitting at a table reading and doesn't seem to notice Ybarra.

Ybarra waves the gun around, and another student who doesn't seem to notice him can be seen sitting at a different table. A female then can be seen descending a set of stairs. When she reaches the ground floor, the video shows Ybarra pointing the gun at her and firing. She seems to flinch and stands for a few seconds before running out of the room. The other two students at separate tables then flee.

At the moment the woman who is shot turns to leave the room, Meis can be seen running into the lobby, approaching Ybarra from behind.

As he enters the room and charges Ybarra, Meis sprays Ybarra with what police have said was pepper spray. Ybarra falls to the floor as Meis grapples with him. Meis then disarms Ybarra and runs out of the room with the weapon.

Ybarra is seen rolling on the floor as Meis reenters the room and tackles Ybarra again as Ybarra struggles to pull out a knife. A male student comes down the stairs and walks over to Meis and Ybarra, kicking away the knife and helping Meis hold Ybarra down.

Police say Ybarra killed one male student outside before entering the building. Police said pellets from that shot also injured another student.

This is the scene of the deadly shooting inside a science building at Seattle Pacific University. Shotgun shells can be seen littering the ground

Ybarra later described to police how he had planned the shooting. Police say Ybarra told them he had a general hatred for the world and battled alcoholism. Ybarra had stopped taking his medications and seeing a psychotherapist before the shooting.

He was not a student at the college and had no affiliation to it.

The Washington state Court of Appeals in December upheld a ruling ordering the footage released under Washington's Public Records Act.

The school said in a statement Tuesday they were disappointed with the release of the surveillance videos.

'We, along with others, have pursued legal action to stop the videos' release in order to protect individual privacy and prevent the emotional distress these images will have on our community, the school said.

'Seattle Pacific University remains strong and resilient as a result of God's faithfulness to us. Our foremost concern continues to be the welfare and safety of not only our students, faculty, and staff, but of the victims and witnesses of the tragedy.'

Medics work on one of the victims from the deadly Seattle Pacific University shooting before taking the subject to the hospital for treatment
Crackdown: German justice minister Heiko Maas

Germany will no longer allow migrants to have multiple wives or child brides, the justice minister has said.

Heiko Maas told German newspaper Bild that no one has the 'right to place their cultural values or religious beliefs above our laws'.

There has been increased concern over polygamous marriages in the wake of a rise in the number of migrants arriving in Germany, many from Muslim countries.

While polygamy is already banned in Germany, many officials 'turn a blind eye' to migrants who arrive in the country with more than one wife, the newspaper reports.

This is also true of forced and underage marriages.

Mr Maas told the tabloid: 'We need to look very carefully. Forced marriages, we can not tolerate, and certainly not when underage girls are involved.

He added: 'Everyone must abide by rules and laws, whether they grew up here or are new. The law is equal for all.'

Referring to migrants arriving with underage brides, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees told local media: 'If the wife is underage, the youth authorities are alerted and they decide if the family stays together or not.'

It comes as a new academic study by researchers at the University of Leipzig found that nearly 34 per cent of people quizzed thought Germany is 'dangerously overpopulated by foreigners.'

Overall 12 per cent think Germans are by nature 'superior' to other people - a central plank of the ideology of Adolf Hitler and the original Nazis.

Other findings included four out of every ten people thinking Muslims should be prohibited from immigrating to the country and half of respondents in a survey of 2,240 people saying they feel like 'foreigners in their own country.'

Growing resentment: Protesters carry signs saying 'refugees not welcome' during a march earlier this year

Thirty per cent claimed Germany had been 'infiltrated by too many foreigners in a dangerous way.' And three out of every five Germans believe migrants who have arrived in the country seeking sanctuary from war and terror are bogus.

'There has been no increase in extreme right attitudes, but in comparison with our study from two years ago people who have far-right attitudes are more prepared to use violence to achieve their aims,' said Dr Oliver Decker, one of the reports authors.

'There is a clear polarisation and radicalisation in German society, with more respondents also likely to completely reject violence this time around.
A North Carolina man who impersonates movie characters as an entertainer at children's parties, has been arrested for soliciting children for sex online.

Michael Robert Geressy, 36, was arrested by Lincolnton Police on June 10 for trying to have sex with a child by a computer and showed up dressed like a 'Men in Black' character for the meeting.

Authorities conducted an undercover sting operation involving the man, as an officer posed as a 14-year-old on social media, Fox 46 reported.

Geressy, who used the name 'Doc' while in character, allegedly talked about meeting in Lincolnton to engage in sexual activity with the teen.

Scroll down for video

Michael Robert Geressy, 36, was arrested on June 10 for soliciting sex online with children. He impersonates movie characters, as he is pictured in his mugshot dressed in a black suit like in hit movie 'Men in Black'

Geressy (above) also impersonates characters from 'Ghostbusters' as he often worked at children's parties

Geressy (second left) was arrested by Lincolnton Police when he showed up allegedly thinking he was going to have sex with a child. Instead it was a sting operation by police

Police arrested Geressy once he showed up to the meeting spot that he drove to in the exact replica car, a 1987 Ford Crown Victoria, used in the 'Men in Black' movie.

The black colored car had an after-market toggle switch and emergency light equipment to replicate the one in the movie, authorities say.

To impersonate the characters in the movie starring Will Smith and Tommie Lee Jones, Geressy would wear a black suit with black sunglasses and a black tie.

Authorities say that he also had replica vehicles from 'Blues Brothers' and 'Ghostbusters' as part of his business as an impersonator for parties.

Geressy was also an instructor at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Charlotte.

Courtesy WSOCTV

Authorities conducted an undercover sting operation involving Geressy (right), as an officer posed as a 14-year-old on social media, Fox 46 reported

Authorities say that he also owns replica vehicles from 'Blues Brothers' and 'Ghostbusters' as part of his business as an impersonator for parties. Above is the Ghostbusters replica vehicle he owns

In a statement obtained by Fox 46, the school said:

'The part time employee in question has agreed to part ways with the school, pending the outcome of this incident,' it reads.

'He had been affiliated with the school for over a year. There is no indication the allegations had anything to do with the school or students in any way'.

Geressy was charged with one felony count of soliciting a child for unlawful sex act and appearing to meet the child.

He posted the $75,000 secured bond and was released from the Lincoln County Jail.

Authorities are asking the public if anyone has had any inappropriate contact with him in the past to please come forward.

If anyone has any information about this case or any other criminal or narcotics case please contact the Lincolnton Police Department at (704) 736-8900 or contact the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Crimestoppers at (704) 736-8909.
Ian Devlin, pictured was convicted of the racist killing of Shiblu Rahman in April 2001

A racist killer who severed nine years in prison for manslaughter has worked for the past five years at a school for troubled youngsters just yards from where his victim bled to death.

Ian Devlin was one of three teenagers convicted of killing Shiblu Rahman in London in April 2001.

Devlin was 17 when he and two friends stabbed Mr Rahman to death outside his home in Rounton Road after the chef parked his car on his way home from work.

Devlin and his friend Terry Cooper from Bow where jailed for nine years in a young offender's institution after being convicted of Mr Rahman's manslaughter.

Stephen Hansen from Poplar, who was 15 at the time of the attack was convicted of murder.

However, Devlin, who, according to the Independent, was released 2005, has been working at the Ian Mikardo school in Tower Hamlets - just 500 metres from where Mr Rahman was stabbed.

Before securing a job as an assistant in 2010, Devlin worked in the construction industry.

Despite his manslaughter conviction, Devlin was offered a job at the school after undergoing an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and risk assessment.

His work at the school has been described as 'satisfactory' and 'without incident' for a number of years.

The school deals with troubled youngsters in the Tower Hamlets area aged between 11 and 16.

The trial judge in 2001 described the killing of the father of two as 'racially motivated'.

Head teacher Claire Lillis told the BBC: 'Ian Devlin has worked at the school for the last five years. He has been an excellent example of how a rehabilitated offender can contribute to his community and he is a valued member of our school community.

'The school took all appropriate checks and advice in appointing Mr Devlin and wish to support him in continuing to do the work which he has been legally appointed to perform.

'I am concerned that the reaction of the community to this news presents more of a safeguarding risk to our vulnerable children than his presence at the school and would urge local people to react in a calm and measured way.'

It is understood that a number of demonstrations are planned to protest against Devlin's employment at the school.

Ian Devlin works at the Ian Mikardo High School, top right, just 500 metres from where Shiblu Rahman was stabbed in April 2001 by Devlin and two friends in what was described in the Old Bailey as a racist attack

Devlin has worked at the Ian Mikardo School, pictured, in Tower Hamlets for the past five years

Devlin runs a course at the school where he teaches people how to learn basic DIY skills

Former Tower Hamlets council leader Helal Abbas, who was among 2,000 people who attended Mr Shiblu's funeral in 2001 said: 'We fought racism in the Seventies and Eighties and to now have a racist killer back working with children within a few hundred yards of where it happened is simply appalling.

'Of course, Im in favour of rehabilitation but some things have to be handled sensitively and we have to find out how this decision was taken and why it was kept quiet for the past few years.'

One witness said they heard 'squealing noise like a dog being kicked' during the attack.

Mr Shiblu was stabbed in the chest and died in hospital.

A spokeswoman for Tower Hamlets council said: 'Ian Mikardo School has employed a rehabilitated offender who was subject to enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subsequent risk assessment. This helps employers make safe recruitment decisions and prevents unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. The member of staff has worked satisfactorily in his role and without incident for a number of years.

'Ian Mikardo school deals with some of our boroughs more challenging children and young people and the individual in question has been contributing positively to this school and the wider community where he lives.

'The council recognises that this issue is one which may cause concern within the wider community. We are confident that the relevant checks were made prior to the individuals appointment and there is no risk to children at the school. We would urge the community around the school to respond to the news of his employment calmly, taking into account the years of service (in both a voluntary and paid capacity) during which this individual was found to be an exemplary employee.

'Families with children at Ian Mikardo school are welcome to discuss any concerns they may have with the head teacher or chair of governors.'

When contacted by Mail Online, Devlin said he was 'unavailable for comment' and said to contact Tower Hamlets council.
Michael Gove was tonight told by a working Spanish migrant that she is not the enemy of Britain.

The Justice Secretary was lashed by a BBC Question Time audience in live TV special for a negative campaign on immigration.

With just eight days to go until the referendum, another woman told him his overall case sounded plausible but that he could be a wolf in sheeps clothing.

Mr Gove declined to put a time scale on meeting the Tory ambition of getting migration down to the tens of thousands but insisted it was impossible inside the EU.

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An audience member, pictured, told Michael Gove she had been working and paying taxes in Britain for 14 years but was made to feel used by the Vote Leave campaign

And a woman who identified herself as Spanish slammed the Vote Leave champion.

She said: The more you speak, the more offended I feel. I have been working in England for 14 years now, paying my taxes day in, day out  unlike others I am not going to mention.

I helped build this economy and this country and thats how you treat us?

Its a pity I cant vote.

We are not the enemy, Mr Gove, we are not the enemy  we are your friends.

Mr Gove replied that he entirely understood the womans point of view.

He said: You make your case with great passion and force.

I am in favour of migration, I simply want to control the numbers.

The woman interjected to say I cannot believe that, I am sorry.

She added: The message you are sending is not the message I dont receive the message.

Unfortunately for you, it comes to me like we are not welcome, you us to your convenience when we are useful.

Mr Gove, pictured with host David Dimbleby, defended his message during the BBC Question Time referendum special and insisted he was in favour of immigration - so long as overall numbers were controlled

After asking the woman where she was from and being told Spain, Mr Gove replied: I have a brother in law who lives in Spain.

I value the fact there are people who come here like you, who contributed so much to our national life.

He added: One thing is undeniable. If we are going to continue to have support for migration, we need to be able to control the numbers.

One of the reasons why Australia and Canada have support for migration is because they control the numbers.

The critical thing is to maintain support for our multi-racial, multi-ethnic, success story. We need to take back control.

Furious Michael Gove accuses Remain supporters of exploiting his elderly father in a bid to skew the EU referendum result

A furious Michael Gove has accused EU membership supporters of exploiting his elderly father in a bid to skew the referendum.

The Justice Secretary lashed out at media outlets for 'putting words into the mouth' of the 79-year-old and 'belittling his suffering'.

The angry response came as the Tory politician appeared in a BBC Question Time special with just eight days to go until the crucial poll.

The Guardian reported that Ernest Gove had contradicted his son's claim that the family fishing business in Scotland went to the wall because of the EU.

Mr Gove told the family story for the first time in a live TV debate on Sky News earlier in the campaign and was left clearly furious by the reports which emerged this afternoon.

Michael Gove, pictured with David Dimbley at his BBC Question Time special tonight, hit out at Remain supporters for trying to exploit his father

A clearly incensed Mr Gove said tonight: My dad was rung up by a reporter from the Guardian who tried to put words in his mouth  my dad has been clear... he was clear to me when I was a boy.

The business he invested so much care and time in had to close as a result of the common fisheries policy.

He added: I remember when my dad ran his business. Two of his employees were lads who were in a care home.

They didnt have parents. My dad took them in, gave them a job and allowed them to work in his business and to sleep there in a spare room that he made for them.

That business closed. Those boys lost their home as a result of what happened.
Authorities have charged a Maryland woman in a Valentine's Day crash that killed a newlywed couple.

Lauren Renee Scott, 27, has been charged with homicide by motor vehicle while impaired, criminally negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle and other offenses, Anne Arundel County police said.

She was arrested on Tuesday and charging documents state Scott acknowledged using marijuana and heroin before the crash, with medical records showing she tested positive for the drugs.

Lauren Renee Scott, 27, has been charged with homicide by motor vehicle while impaired, criminally negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle and other offenses in a Valentine's Day crash that killed a newlywed couple

Police said Scott's car struck the couple's car head-on, killing the driver, 21-year-old Daniel Amos (left), and his 20-year-old wife, Kayla (right). The California, Maryland, couple was celebrating their six-month anniversary

On February 14, the couple was traveling southbound on Solomons Island Road in Edgewater when Scott's Toyota Camry crossed the centerline and struck their Honda Civic head-on - killing the driver, 21-year-old Daniel Amos, and his 20-year-old wife, Kayla, police said.

A third car then hit both vehicles.

Daniel Amos was pronounced dead at the scene while his wife died at an area hospital.

Scott was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center in a serious condition, and the driver of the third car - a Ford - had minor injures and refused medical treatment at the scene.

An investigation revealed the primary cause of the crash was Scott's failure to remain right of the centerline, police said.

It also found that Scott being under the influence of drugs directly contributed to the crash and deaths of the couple, according to police.

Daniel and Kayla Amos pictured at their wedding in August. Charging documents state Scott acknowledged using marijuana and heroin before the crash, with medical records showing she tested positive for the drugs

Soul mates: Despite family and friends saying they were too young to be married, the couple wed last summer

Among the charges filed against Scott include two counts each of homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, homicide by motor vehicle while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance, negligent manslaughter by automobile and criminally negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle.

She is also charged with single counts of reckless driving, negligent driving and failure to remain right of center.

Scott's attorney said she will be pleading not guilty. She is being held on $1 million bail.

The California, Maryland couple - who were active members of Chesapeake Church, where Daniel was an arts staff leader and guitar player - was celebrating their six-month wedding anniversary on the day of the crash.

Kayla worked at Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts and was training to be a barista.

After the crash, family and friends of the couple acknowledged the heartbreaking irony in the pair's death, after many said they were too young when they married last August.

'They were meant to be together,' Daniel Palmer, an executive pastor at the Chesapeake Church in Huntingtown, where the couple attended services, previously told The Capital Gazette.

'All us old people said, ''You have to wait. You're too young''. We were proven wrong.'

Matthew Wright, Daniel's best friend, said in an interview at the time that the two connected immediately during Kayla's last year at Patuxent High School. She was 17; he was 18.

The California, Maryland couple were active members of Chesapeake Church, where Daniel was an arts staff leader and guitar player. Kayla worked at Maertens Fine Jewelry & Gifts and was training to be a barista

Friends of the couple previously said the two were so close 'you couldn't imagine seeing one without the other'

'It took him a month to figure out he loved her,' Wright told The Capital Gazette.

'Six months in, he's talking about marrying her. They just fit together.'

'You couldn't imagine seeing one without the other.'

Kayla's younger sister, Samantha Cosner, paid a touching tribute to her sibling on Facebook, posting photos from their childhood and a lengthy note.

'I know this was Gods plan. Kayla and Dan were soul mates from heaven,' she wrote in the post the day after the crash.

'The moment they began to know each other they fell for each other.

'Dan and Kayla are together in heaven now.

'Never pass up a moment with your family, it's priceless and when it's gone, it's only a memory.'

Larry Patin, the stewardship pastor at Chesapeake Church, said Kayla and Daniel were meant to be together.

While tragic, Patin said there was something right that the two left life together.

'They were soul mates,' Patin said.
Orlando shooter Omar Mateen appeared in an award-winning documentary about the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Mateen was working as a security guard for G4S when he was filmed undercover by the director of The Big Fix, which won a coveted spot at Cannes Film Festival in 2012.

Director Rebecca Tickell pretends she is an oblivious passer-by, and asks Mateen about the relief efforts.

Unprompted, he hit out at his colleagues and employers as he was filmed by a hidden camera.

'No one gives a s***, no one gives a s*** here,' Mateen says to Tickell.

Omar Mateen was a security guard for G4S when he was filmed undercover by The Big Fix (pictured)

'Like, everybody's just out to get paid. They're, like, hoping for more oil to come out and more people to complain so they'll have job.

'Cause once people get laid off here, it's gonna suck for them. They want more disaster to happen. That's where they're money-making is.'

Tickell, who had apparently just met Mateen, replies: 'It's all about the money, right?'

Mateen says: 'All about the money. Exactly.'

The documentary's producers confirmed to CBS News that the man in the footage is Mateen, who was shot dead by law enforcement after he murdered 49 people in an Orlando nightclub last week.

Mateen was investigated by the FBI while working at G4S after he was reported for making 'inflammatory' comments.

No details have been released about the nature of that investigation.

An American of Afghan descent, Mateen is believed to have been radicalized online.

On June 12, 2016, he burst into the Pulse nightclub in Orlando early Sunday armed with a .223 caliber AR-15 assault rifle and a handgun.

By the time his shooting rampage ended, 49 people were dead and 53 others injured.

Mateen, who was probed in recent years for suspected extremism, is believed to have made the phone call to News 13 while he was holed up in the bathroom of Pulse nightclub - with his effective hostages.

It followed a call he had made to 911 where the terrorist had once again pledged his allegiance to ISIS.

He had also called a friend to say goodbye during the attack, according to law enforcement officials.
A Virginia boy was bitten by his grandmother's dog last May - and lost one of his ears.

Youngster Sean Fitz, 5, told WQAD of the May 24, 2015, incident that took place in the bathroom at his grandmother's house: 'He was still just biting me.

'I was holding onto him like this. I was trying to hit him but he still got me.'

Sean now has a prosthetic ear, thanks to the help of Robert Barron with Custom Prosthetic Designs Inc. It's attached everyday and removed before going to sleep, according to the TV station.

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Sean Fitz was bitten by his grandmother's dog last May - and lost one of his ears

Sean now has a prosthetic ear, thanks to the help of Robert Barron with Custom Prosthetic Designs Inc.

Barron and Sean are seen together. Barron is a 'former Senior CIA Disguise Specialist,' according to the website for Custom Prosthetic Designs Inc. in Ashburn, Virginia

The boy's father Chris Blackwell had said in a 911 call obtained by the TV station: 'The dog just bit the f*****g shit out of my son!

'His f*****g ear is hanging off the side of his head.'

The dog was put down, WQAD reported.

Barron is a 'former Senior CIA Disguise Specialist,' according to the website for Custom Prosthetic Designs Inc. in Ashburn, Virginia.

Sean is seen wearing his prosthetic ear. The boy had lost his left ear due to the dog attack

Barron and Sean were filmed embracing one another in a sweet moment

He created Sean's ear and said in an interview with WTVR: 'When I was in the CIA I mastered the technique of making silicone look like skin.'

Barron recalled: 'In the agency, you know, you couldn't say anything about how you made a difference in someone's life or how you saved someone.

'But that was self-satisfaction. But now it's satisfaction in another way. You can enjoy it and you can talk about it.'

Sean had his new ear on when he was filmed by WTVR smiling and looking at himself in the mirror.

It also captured Barron asking Sean 'We friends forever?' with the two embracing.

The boy's mother Samantha Fitz told the news outlet: 'As a parent it's hard for us to explain what has happened to have to listen to your five-year-old explain to people that a dog attacked him and the words that he uses it's heartbreaking.

'I hate that the first thing that children, people, that meet Sean ask him is what happened.

'Now people might see the scar and wonder, but it's not going to be as noticeable.

'We're excited to take him out in public and show him off a little bit.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Barron for comment.

Sean Fitz, 5, told WQAD of the May 24, 2015, incident that took place in the bathroom at his grandmother's house: 'He was still just biting me. I was holding onto him like this. I was trying to hit him but he still got me'
A High Court judge today begged a Laura Ashley boss and his beauty queen ex-wife to 'declare an armistice' after lawyers' bills for their long-running divorce settlement exceeded 6million.

Mr Justice Mostyn, sitting in London's High Court, said the legal costs were 'stratospheric' as he urged Khoo Kay Peng, 77, and his 69-year-old ex-wife Pauline Chai to finally reach an agreement.

Dr Khoo, a non-executive chairman of Laura Ashley Holdings who has a 440million fortune, married the former beauty queen and Miss Malaysia in 1970 and the pair have five children.

Mr Justice Mostyn, sitting in London's High Court, said the legal costs were 'stratospheric' as he urged Khoo Kay Peng, 77 (left), and his beauty queen ex-wife Pauline Chai, 69, (right) to finally reach a divorce settlement

Following the breakdown of their marriage three years ago, they have been locked in a bitter dispute about whether the decision to divide their assets should be made in a British or Malaysian court.

Dr Khoo, who is based in Malaysia, said the marital home was situated in Malaysia and said that meant a judge in south east Asian country should make decisions about the division of money.

He claimed Ms Chai wanted to fight in England because an English judge would give her a more generous award.

Ms Chai said they moved their home to Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, before separating and therefore decisions should be made in an English court.

In December, Ms Chai claimed victory in the fight over jurisdiction following a ruling by three Court of Appeal judges in London.

Former beauty queen Pauline Chai (pictured) earlier claimed victory in the fight over jurisdiction following a ruling by three Court of Appeal judges in London

Now, a High Court judge in England will make decisions on who should get what - if Dr Khoo and Ms Chai cannot agree.

Speaking today, Mr Justice Mostyn said the legal costs were 'stratospheric' and told Dr Khoo and Ms Chai: 'It really is time for an armistice to be declared.'

He was speaking at a private hearing, attended by both parties, in the Family Division of the High Court after analysing preliminary issues in that dispute over the division of money.

Ms Chai estimates that Dr Khoo is worth at least 440million and says he has failed to give a 'proper account' of his assets. However, Dr Khoo disputes her claims.

Mr Justice Mostyn was told that Dr Khoo had run up legal bills of 1.7million while Ms Chai's bills amounted to 4.4million.

Several High Court judges have analysed the pair's dispute over jurisdiction in London.

Lawyer Ayesha Vardag, who represents Ms Chai, said last December that the appeal court decision made in her favour confirmed that England was the 'proper place' for the fight to be staged.

Speaking at the time, Ayesha Vardag, president of law firm Vardags which represents Ms Chai, said: '[The] decree nisi is the end of a long battle for our client. It confirms she can have her divorce in England.

'It could have happened long ago had Dr Khoo not fought the jurisdiction of the English courts for nearly three years over two hemispheres.

'The Court of Appeal's finding that Mr Justice Bodey's original judgment was 'unimpeachable' has finally put a stop to that.

'We can now get on with the financial proceedings and push hard to bring this dispute to an end, as Ms Chai so dearly wishes.'
A drunk customer left a whopping $1,000 tip after enjoying a meal at a Colorado Thai restaurant, but returned the next morning to take the money back.

Bee Anantatho, who owns Thailicious in Edgewater with her husband, Surachai Surabotsopon, said the waiter who served the man was delighted after discovering he had been left a $1,088 tip.

'He said he'd read a lot of stories like this, but usually the tip is a couple hundred dollars, not $1,000,' she told The Denver Post. 'He was so happy.'

Husband and wife owners Bee Anantatho (left) and Surachai Surabotsopon (right) of Thailicious in Edgewater, Colorado pictured above. A waiter at their restaurant received a $1,000 tip but the customer took it back

The server had discovered the large cash tip left in the checkbook after clearing the table, and then brought it to Anantatho who told staff to hold onto the money in case the man came back to the restaurant (pictured)

Anantatho, who opened the restaurant serving up Bangkok-style Thai cuisine a few years ago, was seemingly happy too - as the restaurant has been building a loyal fan base and she thought the tip seemed to validate their efforts.

The server had discovered the large cash tip left in the checkbook after clearing the table, and then brought it to Anantatho who told staff to hold onto the money in case the man came back.

The bills left inside the check book included some $100 bills, which Anantatho suspected the customer might have left thinking they were $1 bills, according to the Denver Post.

While Anantatho is disappointed her staff missed out on the big tip, she is pleased with how she handled the situation, and thinks the customer will come back to the restaurant

The next morning, the man returned to Thailicious and apologized for the confusion before taking the money back.

'He said, "I'm sorry, I was drunk,"' Anantatho told the Denver Post. 'He didn't know he put all the money he had in the checkbook.'

The owner gave him the money back and the man left $100 - $60 to cover his bill and $40 for a tip.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio's close pal and favored successor Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera is now saying Rubio should run again if he wants to  a blessing that will make it easier for Rubio to accede to the wishes of party leaders and making another run.

'You should reconsider running for your seat,' Lopez-Cantera told Rubio Sunday, reported.

The green light gives Rubio space to do a U-turn if he decides to change his mind and run for reelection.

What makes the friendly advice even more unusual is the location: Lopez-Cantera said the two men had the conversation inside Rubio's pickup truck after viewing the grisly scene of the Orlando massacre at Pulse nightclub Sunday evening.

'I don't want you to feel like you have to say that because of outside pressure,' Rubio told Lopez-Cantera, he told the publication.

Senator Rubio's friend Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera is telling Rubio he should run for reelection if he wants to

Rubio addressed the media in Orlando Sunday alongside Lopez-Cantera

The human toll that both men witnessed prompted the conversation about both men's political future, according to Lopez-Cantera's account.

'This is bigger than me. And this isn't about me. And it's not about you. It's about our country and this election,' he says he told Rubio

He says he told the Senator that, 'In the current field, I'm the best candidate in the general election. But I'm not looking at this through rose-colored glasses.'

Rubio told reporters Monday he will let people know about any change of status next week after spending some time with his family. The state's filing deadline is June 24.

On Monday, Rubio reflected on the pull of public service when discussing the Orlando massacre.

Speaking on Hugh Hewett's radio show, Rubio said: 'I haven't even given a thought in that perspective other than to say that I've been deeply impacted by it and I think when it visits your home state, when it impacts a community you know well, it really gives you pause to think a little bit about your service to your country and where you can be most useful to your country.'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is among other GOP power-brokers urging Rubio to reconsider his decision.

'We hope our candidate will end up being Marco Rubio,' McConnell told the Huffington Post Tuesday.

Rubio announced during the presidential campaign that he would resign his seat whether he won or lost his presidential run.

Pickup line: Lopez-Cantera told Rubio 'You should reconsider running for your seat' while seated in Rubio's truck Sunday night

The two friends spoke about their political future inside Rubio's pickup truck

He was considered a leading establishment-backed candidate, though he ended up getting ridiculed by Donald Trump as 'little Marco' and pummeled in a GOP debate in New Hampshire by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

Senate Democrats are already firing warning shots in Rubio's direction. Montana senator Jon Tester,who runs the Senate Democratic campaign arm, told CNN Tuesday, 'If Marco decides to run, it's going to be tough.'

Democrats would recycle many of the attacks that Donald Trump used to knock him out of the presidential race, including hitting him for skipped Senate votes.

He warned: 'If he gets beat twice in one year, it's not good for him,' he added, a reference to Rubio's defeat in his home state during the Republican presidential primary fight.

Democrats like their candidate, Rep. Patrick Murphy, and believe if they pour resources into the race they can cripple Rubio's future national prospects.

Rubio last month called Lopez-Cantera a 'very good candidate' and a 'really good friend.'

'I think Carlos Lopez-Cantera is a very good candidate so I understand the argument and the people who are coming forward and asking me to reconsider are people I respect and enjoy serving with,' Rubio told reporters.
County attorney said his behaviour directly contributed to Haban's death

forced her to leave treatment for mental health

Haban was eventually driven to suicide in December after he allegedly

A father-of-two who allegedly drove his partner to suicide after a decade of physical and mental abuse has been charged with her murder.

Long Vang, 34, of Stewartville, Minnesota, is charged with third-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and stalking over the death of his girlfriend and mother of his children, Jessica Haban.

In a historic ruling, County Attorney Mark Ostrem said that Vang's behavior directly contributed to Ms Haban taking her own life in December.

Long Vang (right) 34, of Stewartville, Minnesota, is charged with third-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter and stalking over the death of his girlfriend and mother of his children, Jessica Haban (left)

The court heard that Vang had forced his long term partner to leave an in-patient mental health treatment just three days before she died.

Ms Haban had been receiving treatment following a traumatic brain injury six months before her death.

Investigators also said that she had suffered increasing levels of domestic abuse at the hands of her partner.

She was knocked unconscious, had her hair pulled and was thrown against a wall during their relationship, court documents reveal.

This is thought to the first time in Minnesota that an abuser has been charged with murder over another person's suicide.

'This is the first case [in the state] that we are aware of, where a prosecutor actually charged when it's clearly been ruled a suicide,' Liz Richards, executive director of the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Woman, Star Tribune.

The court heard that Vang had forced his long term partner Haban (left and right) to leave an in-patient mental health treatment just three days before she died

The victim's family day they are pleased with the ruling.

'There is finally going to be some justice for Jessica,' Ms Haban's mother, Rita Prinzing, said.

'While we know that it won't bring her back, he will be held accountable,' Prinzing told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Despite the allegations of abuse said that she refused to be 'consumed with anger or revenge.'

Vang and Haban were 'culturally married,' according to her obituary, and had two children together.

The murder charges were filed after authorities investigated the couple's 11-year relationship, Olmsted County sheriff's Sgt. Kirby Long said.

County Attorney Mark Ostrem said that Vang's (pictured on his arrest) behavior directly contributed to Ms Haban taking her own life in December

Early on May 11, 2015, Haban called 911 to report Vang was throwing things at her. A deputy found Vang hiding behind a vehicle near the garage.

Haban said her boyfriend had overturned a coffee table and used it to restrain her on a couch. When she tried to call police, Vang broke the phone.

A no-contact order was issued against Vang in August, but a witness told law enforcement in November that Vang was contacting Haban.

According to the complaint, the woman 'was concerned for (Haban's) safety and well-being, and expressed fear that Vang would seriously injure or kill' Haban.

Haban told officers that Vang had been calling and texting her nearly daily.

'The abuse and surrounding circumstances were beginning to exact a significant mental toll,' on Haban, court documents say.

During a meeting with a social worker December 7, Haban said she felt like Vang had 'killed her' and she was at a loss as to what to do, according to the complaint.

The social worker learned that Vang had been 'pressuring (Haban) to leave treatment and go back to work,' threatening that she would lose custody of their children if she stayed, the complaint said.

On December 10, she called her social worker asking to leave treatment. Haban killed herself six days later.
The father of the only American to be killed in the Paris massacre are suing Twitter, Facebook and Google, claiming they allowed terrorism to spread.

Reynaldo Gonzalez has decided to sue the internet giants following the death of his daughter Nohemi on November 13.

The 23-year-old was shot dead as she dined with friends in La Belle Equipe, one of 19 people who lost their lives in the Parisian restaurant when two ISIS gunmen opened fire.

Reynaldo Gonzalez has decided to sue the internet giants following the death of his daughter Nohemi, 23, pictured, in a Parisian cafe on November 13 last year. A total of 130 innocent people were killed in the attack

According to TMZ, Mr Gonzalez is now suing Google, which owns YouTube, Facebook and Twitter for an undisclosed sum, claiming they were negligent in allowing ISIS propaganda to be spread through their channels.

The documents allege they were negligent in allowing the beheading videos be posted, and did little even after governments highlighted the problem.

The suit goes as a far as to claim the sites profited from adverts on the pages containing ISIS material.

The nine Paris attackers had pledged allegiance to ISIS, and killed 130 people during more than three hours of terror across the city.

Ms Gonzalez was a senior majoring in industrial design and one of 17 California State University, Long Beach, students attending the Strate College of Design in Paris as part of a study abroad program when she was killed.

Mr Gonzalez, left, has now decided to sue Facebook, Google, which owns YouTube, and Twitter for failing to halt the propaganda shared through their channels

Last month, her parents accepted her bachelor's degree.

The industrial design major also received the Outstanding Graduate Award.
The Senate has passed a defense bill that includes an amendment to allow women to register for the draft when they turn 18.

The National Defense Authorization Act passed 85-13 on Tuesday, despite some protests from Republican senators who were against the inclusion of women for the military draft, which is also known as the Selective Service system.

Under the Senate bill, women who are turning 18 years old on or after January 1, 2018, will be forced to register for Selective Service, just like men.

According to CNN, Sen. Ted Cruz was against the bill and slammed it last week during a Senate session by calling it 'a radical departure from American history.'

The Senate has passed a defense bill that includes an amendment to allow women to register for the draft. Above female Army soldiers participate in rappel training during the Ranger Course in Georgia last year

The National Defense Authorization Act passed 85-13 on Tuesday, despite some protests from Republican senators who were against the inclusion of women for the military draft. Above Marines at ease during a march

'The idea that we should forcibly conscript young girls into combat to my mind makes little or no sense,' Cruz said.

However, Sen. John McCain, who is the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, disagreed with Cruz's sentiments and said that it's 'simply fair' to include women in the draft.

'Every uniform leader of the United States military seemed to have a different opinion from the senator from Texas, whose military background is not extensive,' McCain, who served in the Navy and was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, countered against Cruz, who has never served in the military.

The $602billion defense bill still needs to go 'through a reconciliation process with a different House version of the legislation,' CNN reported.

The major policy change does have support in the House, however, it wasn't included in the version of the bill for that chamber.

It's now expected that a debate the two versions of the bill will be reconciled in a conference committee between the Senate and the House.

'It may well be a topic of great controversy,' Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, said. 'But it should not be.'

Sen. Ted Cruz (above) was against the bill and slammed it last week during a Senate session by calling it 'a radical departure from American history'

However, Sen. John McCain (above), who is the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, disagreed with Cruz's sentiments and said that it's 'simply fair' to include women in the draft

According to The New York Times, in 1981 the Supreme Court ruled that women didn't have to register for the draft.

The reasoning was that women shouldn't face the same requirements as men because they did not participate on the front lines of combat.

Female service members no longer face any barriers when they participate in combat roles, thanks to a move by the Pentagon opening all military roles.

Since Defense Secretary Ashton Carter voiced to make the move in December, military officials suggested to Congress that women should sign up for the draft.

In February, two high level military officials voiced their support to have women included in the draft.

The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Robert Neller, and the chief of staff of the Army, Gen. Mark Milley, both supported the inclusion of women in the Selective Service, especially since combat roles are now open to both sexes.

In 1862 during the height of the Civil War, the United States first attempted the requirement for mandatory military service.

The draft was reinstated during both of the World Wars, as a modern system was established during the Cold War in 1948.

Under the Senate bill women turning 18 on or after January 1, 2018, will be forced to register for the draft. Above 1st Lt. Shaye Haver (left) is one of two women who made history last year becoming the first females to graduate from ranger school

During the Vietnam War, the draft was very unpopular until the end of the United States involvement there in 1973.

In 1980, the system was reinstated not long after the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union.

The Selective Service system maintains contact information for Americans who are eligible to serve in the military.

'Almost all male US citizens and male immigrants, who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service,' according to the Selective Service website.

The mission for Selective Service is to 'furnish manpower to the Defense Department during a national emergency.'
Donald Trump accused Hillary Clinton on Wednesday of presiding over her family foundation as it benefited from 'tens of millions of dollars' in donations from foreign governments that persecute gays and lesbians and 'enslave' women.

'if you look at what Hillary Clinton has done with women, number one  from certain countries  her foundation has taken millions, tens of millions of dollars from countries that want to enslave women. Enslave! Want to enslave women!' he said during a campaign rally in Atlanta.

'As far as the gay community, they kill gays! And she's taking [their] money,' he added, blaming her for catering to oppressive regimes while seeking political approval from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lobby.

The broadside was his third on the subject in three days.

WHERE'S ALL MY GAY FRIENDS? Donald Trump is trying to drive a wedge between Hillary Clinton and LGBT Americans by highlighting the Clinton Foundation's donations from regimes that oppress gays and lesbians

'TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS': It's unclear exactly how much money the Clinton Foundation got from foreign governments while Hillary was secretary of state, and the FBI is reportedly investigating claims of pay-for-play arrangements while she was in office

Tuesday night in Greensboro, North Carolina, Trump said the former secretary of state is 'no friend of LGBT Americans. No friend, believe me.'

'Since 9/11 the United States has admitted more than half a million immigrants from countries where being gay is punishable by death,' he said then.

'Hillary Clinton  crooked Hillary, as we all know her, which is what she is  wants to increase the immigration numbers very, very substantially. She's no friend of women and she's no friend of LGBT Americans. No friend believe me.

How can you be a friend when you take millions and millions, tens of millions of dollars, $25 million from one country they think? And how can you be a friend when these countries are oppressive to LGBT, they're oppressive to everybody?'

He claimed in North Carolina that 'every year we bring in more than 100,000 lifetime immigrants from the Middle East, and many more from Muslim countries outside of the Middle East.'

'A number of these immigrants have hostile attitudes toward women, toward gays and people of different faiths,' he added, claiming that 'Hillary Clinton's immigration plan would bring in millions of unvetted immigrants  or very poorly vetted.

Hillary Clinton has steered clear of the topic of foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation as the FBI investigates the thorny question of whether those contributions were traded for official favors while she was secretary of state.

Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, said in March that money showered on his family philanthropy from Middle Eastern nations was worth accepting in service of a greater good.

'The UAE gave us money. Do we agree with everything they do? No, but theyre helping us fight ISIS,' the former president said.

'Do I agree with all the foreign policy of Saudi Arabia? No. You gotta decide when you do this work whether it will do more good than harm if someone helps you from another country.'

Oman also contributed to the Clinton Foundation, according to the organization's records.

On Saturday night in Orlando, Florida, a Muslim radical armed with a rifle and a handgun killed 49 people and wounded dozens more at a gay nightclub.

The fallout has left Democrats and Republicans alike scrambling to prove their bona fides on gay rights  with some surprising results.

Faith & Freedom Coalition chairman Ralph Reed spoke at Trump's Atlanta rally on Wednesday.

'I want to make it abundantly clear,' said Reed, 'that this attack on gay Americans in Orlando was an act of hatred and bigotry and violence that those of us of Christian faith totally reject as antithetical to our faith in almighty God.'

VICIOUS ATTACK: Trump is hammering home the fact that Saturday's mass-killing in Florida was an Islamic terror attack on a gay nightclub, tying Clinton and Barack Obama to the policies that led to the carnage

DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING: Evangelical Christian leader Ralph Reed was on hand in Atlanta to help Trump make the case that the Orlando attack 'was an act of hatred and bigotry' against gays and lesbians

Reed's group heard Trump pledge last week that he would appoint conservative judges to federal courts as president, focusing on 'marriage and family as building block of happiness and success'  code words for a traditional view of marriage that sidelines same-sex couples.

And Trump, gambling that he can turn fighting jihadis into a civil-rights issue for LGBT Americans, projected confidence when he took the stage in Atlanta.

'The LGBT community, the gay community, the lesbian community  they are so much in favor of what I've been saying over the last couple of days,' he insisted.

At that, a woman in the back of the hall who declined later to give her name but said she was gay, yelled 'F*** you!' and tore a Trump rally sign in half in view of reporters.

During a dramatic policy address in New Hampshire on Monday, Trump laid out the argument that 'radical Islam is anti-woman, anti-gay and anti- American.'

'I refuse to allow America to become a place where gay people, Christian people, Jewish people are targets of persecution and intimation by radical Islamic preachers of hate and violence,' he said then.

The amount of overseas money the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton foundation has scooped up in recent years is unclear despite its annual tax returns being a matter of public record.

The Daily Caller News Foundation reported Wednesday that the foundation revised some of its annual regulatory findings with the office of the New York attorney general, disclosing that between 2010 and 2013 it received more than $17.6 million from 'foreign governments.'
A 20-year-old Indiana man charged with taking explosives to a California gay Pride parade last week has now been charged with having sex with a 12-year-old girl in Indiana.

James Wesley Howell remains in custody on a $2 million bail in California after being indicted on Tuesday.

But on Wednesday, an Indiana prosecutor filed one felony charge of child sex assault against him, and a bid to extradite him for a trial.

Howell assaulted the child, whom he met through an adult friend, at a state forestry property on May 31, Indiana prosecutor Jeremy Mull told The Associated Press.

Investigators 'strongly believe' Howell drove to California to escape being charged with child sex abuse.

Indeed, when he was detained at a gay Pride parade after police found an assault weapon and explosives in his car, Howell told officers he was fleeing pending charges against him in his home state.

His arrest sparked fear nationwide just hours after the worst massacre in US history in a gay club in Orlando.

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New charges: James Wesley Howell (left on Tuesday, right in mugshot) has been charged with child sex abuse in Indiana - a day after he was charged with taking guns and explosives to a California gay pride parade

Howell, who was ordered held on $2million bail, faces three felony counts of unlawful possession of an assault weapon, high capacity magazines, and explosives

There was increased LAPD presence at the event (pictured on Sunday), including undercover officers in the crowd. Howell's arrest came just hours after the Orlando shooting, but authorities said they were unrelated

Howell appeared at the Airport Courthouse in Los Angeles Tuesday, where he pleaded not guilty.

In addition to the three felonies, he also faces a misdemeanor for the possession of a firearm in a car.

Officers responded to reports of a suspected prowler knocking on a window and found Howell sitting in his white Acura on Sunday morning, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

Howell told police he was headed to the pride festival in Santa Monica around 5am on Sunday, just hours after the Orlando massacre began. Authorities have said there is no apparent link.

Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks initially wrote on Twitter that Howell told officers he intended to inflict harm, but she later said that information was inaccurate.

Other than telling officers he was going to the pride festival, Howell did not clarify what his intentions were, Lietenant Saul Rodriguez said on Sunday.

Howell was found with a high-capacity assault rifle, two other loaded rifles, magazines, a Taser, buck knife, handcuffs and security badge in his car when he was arrested.

Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz said on Tuesday: 'I cannot in good conscience think of any reasonable reason that somebody would be traveling across the country with all of these things'

There was also a five-gallon container of gasoline in the white Acura, and a 25-gallon container of a commercially sold explosive that was two-thirds full, the LA Times reported.

The explosive Shoc-Shot is used as a firing target and consists of two components that are mixed together before it is used. The Shoc Shot found in Howell's car had already been combined.

Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney said gun enthusiasts don't mix Shoc Shot until it's ready to be used, as federal regulations require, and the amount that Howell had 'far exceeds any amount that would reasonably be used.'

The assault rifle in his car was also loaded with a 30-round magazine, which had another inverted 30-round magazine taped to it, according to police.

Howell recently drove from Indiana to Los Angeles because of pending charges against him in his home state, according to statements he made to police, and friends described him as a gun enthusiast with a short temper

Alone, each item found in Howell's car might not indicate anything sinister, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz said. But together, they 'just don't pass the common sense test'.

'I cannot in good conscience think of any reasonable reason that somebody would be traveling across the country with all of these things,' he said.

Howell recently drove from Indiana to Los Angeles because of pending charges against him in his home state, according to statements he made to police.

Friends in Indiana described Howell as a gun enthusiast with a short temper. In October, he twice was accused of pulling a gun and making threats, once against his then-boyfriend and once against a neighbor.

Howell was convicted in April of misdemeanor intimidation for the incident with his neighbor. Under the terms of his probation, Howell was not allowed to have weapons or leave Indiana.

Howell's attorney, Pamela Jones, told the judge there was no evidence Howell planned to detonate the chemicals.

She said a black hood found in his car was 'just a clothing item,' and nothing indicated Howell planned to use it as a mask, as police contended was a possibility.

James Wedick, a former longtime FBI agent, said the manipulation of the gun magazines would allow someone to reload 30 rounds in less than 2 seconds.

'It doubles your killing capacity by 100 per cent,' he said. For a civilian to have a weapon rigged as such, 'it suggests his purposes are deadly'.
Susana Malcorra, currently Argentinas foreign minister, pictured, is understood to have received top-level backing for the job from the U.S.

Britain is on course for a showdown over the Falkland Islands after a leading Argentine politician threw her hat in the ring to become the next UN Secretary General.

Susana Malcorra, currently Argentinas foreign minister, is understood to have received top-level backing for the job from the U.S.

If she won the diplomatic prize, it would threaten to generate friction over the sovereignty of the windswept South Atlantic outcrop, which has been under British control since 1833.

Britain has been embroiled in a long-running dispute over the Falklands which both Buenos Aires and the UN say must be decolonised and returned to Argentina.

Sources in Washington said 61-year-old Ms Malcorra  a late entry to the contest  was enthusiastically supported by the White House.

Britain has called repeatedly for a woman head up the UN for the first time in its 70-year history.

But an Argentinian candidacy threatens to expose disagreements with the US over the Falklands  and could even be seen as a snub to the UK.

Despite the so-called special relationship, the UK has bristled over Washingtons conspicuous failure to back the Falkland islanders right to self-determination  even after a 2013 referendum in which 99.8 per cent voted in favour of remaining Britain.

One diplomat said: Its a really tough call for the UK. There is obvious concern at having someone heading up the UN who firmly believes that the Falklands should belong to Argentina.

But at the same time, Downing Street doesnt want to appear petty by blocking an otherwise excellent candidate, just for her countrys claim.

Britain has insisted that those living on the Falklands - called Las Malvinas by Buenos Aires - have the right to decide which country they want to govern them.

Britain triumphed when the two nations fought a ten-week war after Argentina invaded the islands in 1982.

Ms Malcorra has insisted she sees no incompatibility with her position on the Falklands question and the role of being UN Secretary General, which will be vacated by Ban Ki-moon on December 31.

Ms Malcorra has insisted she sees no incompatibility with her position on the Falklands question and the role of being UN Secretary General, which will be vacated by Ban Ki-moon (pictured) on December 31

But Lord West of Spithead, a former First Sea Lord who was captain of HMS Ardent which was sunk during the Falklands War, said Britain must demand assurances over the future of the Falklands.

He said: Britain must make it quite clear sovereignty will not be discussed. Argentina invaded another country. If Ms Malcorra is a good, competent, candidate then okay, but it would be extremely disappointing if she was running a domestic agenda.

Michael Poole, the chair of the Legislative Assembly on Port Stanley, said there were questions over whether a UN Secretary General could come from the foreign ministry of a country that appeared to reject the principle self-determination.
'Boozy lunch': Graeme Stening, 52, was accused of sexually assaulting a QC

A solicitor will not be charged with sexually assaulting a female barrister after police found two witnesses who said she was a willing partner in the drunken romp.

Graeme Stening, 52, was accused of sexual assault six weeks after the pair were caught in a clinch outside Waterloo station in London.

After both were held overnight in the cells, the woman QC, who was found with her knickers round her ankles, accepted a police caution for outraging public decency.

Mr Stening refused to do so and faced trial  meaning the female barrister would have been named publicly in court.

But six weeks after the evening rush-hour liaison on August 20, she tried to retract her acceptance of the caution, claiming that following a boozy lunch with Mr Stening she would not have been able to consent to sexual activity and must have been assaulted by him.

This gave her lifetime anonymity as a potential sex assault victim.

Mr Stening, a father of three whose wife Sian is standing by him, insists their encounter was consensual. But as a result of the allegations, he spent months in fear of prosecution until police confirmed yesterday that he would not be charged.

His solicitor said yesterday that the woman should be investigated for perverting the course of justice.

A source told the Mail Mr Stening and the QC met for a boozy lunch at her instigation  and ended up so drunk they were found by police at 7pm leaning on a wall outside Waterloo.

The source said: 'She had her knickers round her ankles, while he was exposed and touching himself with one hand, and her with the other.'

After her night in the cells to sober up, he refused to accept a caution for outraging public decency, but the QC signed it.

Along with being a leading lawyer herself, she had legal advice before signing the caution  in which a suspect admits a criminal offence and accepts a police warning without going to court.

She later said alcohol and medication had left her incapable of consenting to sexual activity. But officers found two independent witnesses who confirmed Mr Stening's claim that she played a willing part in the sexual activity.

Police decided there was not enough evidence to give to the Crown Prosecution Service after rejecting an appeal by the barrister last month for them to reconsider her allegation.

Knickers around her ankles

The source said: 'The witnesses said they saw this incident going on  but this woman seemed to be consenting to everything. The two police who caught them assumed the same.'

Mr Stening, who lives in a 2million house in Windlesham, Surrey, has now accepted a caution for outraging public decency, meaning he will not appear in court and risk jail.

But his solicitor, Amarjit Bhachu, said the barrister should be investigated over whether she made the sex assault claim to keep her name a secret.

He told the Mail: 'It was apparent from the outset that the complainant's motive was to obtain anonymity. Despite the police taking the decision not to take any further action, the complainant has achieved what she wanted by taking this calculated course of action.

Family man: The 2million house in Windlesham, Surrey, he shares with his wife, who stands by him

'I hope the police will review the complainant's actions and the independent evidence with a view to bringing charges against her for attempting to pervert the course of justice or at the very least wasting police time.'

He added that his client had initially refused to accept a caution because he disputed the details of the what the police wanted him to admit. Those issues have now been resolved.

An active participant

The female barrister said through her solicitors Bindmans: 'I reported an incident to police in good faith having carefully considered the implications and only because I believed it was the right thing to do.

'I would never make a deliberately false allegation of a serious criminal offence and any suggestion that I did so is deeply offensive and upsetting.'

She is still fighting to quash her caution, while facing a Bar Standards Council investigation into her behaviour.

Critics have expressed concern that the anonymity law could have been used to keep the woman's name secret  and pointed out that a prosecution of Mr Stening for sexual assault would have been fatally flawed by the caution she signed admitting consensual sexual activity.

A source familiar with the case told the Mail: 'I can't believe the police will accept her attempt to withdraw her acceptance of the caution. If her attempt were to be successful, she would surely have to be charged with outraging public decency  and appear in court after all. Witnesses claim she was an active participant in this 'romp'.'

Mr Stening is understood to have reported himself to the Solicitors Regulation Authority and could be disciplined for lowering the profession's standing.
Food waste from Britains biggest supermarket increased last year to 59,400 tonnes  the equivalent of 119m meals.

The rise seen by Tesco came despite a series of initiatives to tackle the problem, including donating huge quantities to food banks.

The figure represents a 4 per cent increase on 2015 with its beers, wines and spirits aisles and bakeries blamed for the rise.

Tesco wasted 59,400 tonnes of food last year which is the equivalent of 119 million meals, file photograph

Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis has called for collective action to tackle the problem of food waste

The amount wasted was the equivalent of one in every 100 food products sold by Tesco during the last financial year.

The food most commonly thrown away is from the bakery department, followed by fresh fruit and vegetables and convenience items like pre-packaged sandwiches and salads.

The French parliament has voted for a new law that makes it illegal for supermarkets to dump food and campaigners in the UK are calling for a similar law in this country.

The new figures from Tesco came as its chief executive Dave Lewis issued a call for collective action to tackle food waste from farms to supermarket operations and customers homes.

Tesco, along with other stores, have reduced or eliminated multi-buy deals on fresh produce. In the past, these deals encouraged shoppers to buy products which went off and ended up in the bin before they could be eaten.

Mr Lewis said: When I arrived at Tesco, we were the only UK retail company to publish our food waste data.

What the data shows is that its clear where we need to focus our efforts  nearly three years after we announced it, we are still the only UK retailer publishing our data.

Tesco has signed a partnership with FareShare, the UK food distribution charity, and FoodCloud, which has devised an app to put store managers in contact with charities.

Using the FareShare FoodCloud app, store managers alert charities to the amount of surplus food they have at the end of each day. The charity then confirms it wants the food, picks it up free of charge and turns it into meals for those in need.

Beneficiaries come from the wide range of charities FareShare works with including homeless hostels, womens refuges and breakfast clubs for disadvantaged children.

Mr Lewis, said: No one wants to throw away food which could otherwise be eaten.

He called on companies, in the short term, to do more to redistribute their surplus edible food waste to people in need.

Tesco has published its food waste figures since 2013, but no other retailer has followed suit. The retail giant says the transparent approach has helped it to identify hotspots and develop programmes to tackle the problem.

While the problem got worse in its bakery departments last year, Tesco said it had managed to cut produce waste by 2 per cent.

Mr Lewis told the Global Summit of the Consumer Goods Forum: Tackling food waste makes sense for business, it will help people and our planet, and its also the right thing to do.

To cut waste, Tesco has tried to reduce the time that food sits in its supply chain so that it can sell produce that lasts longer. It has also widened specifications to sell more of a crop with a range of wonky fruit and vegetables called Perfectly Imperfect, which launched in February.

A Tesco spokesman said: We are confident that despite the small increase in our waste this year we have the right plans in place to see a reduction in future years and are proud of the work we have already done to redirect surplus food to provide millions of meals for those in need.
A 10-year-old boy has been severely injured after he was stabbed 12 times by a man on his way to school in China on June 13.

The attacker was a disgruntled patient who had been in disputes over money with the victim's father who works at a hospital in the city of Yiyang, Hunan Province, reports Huanqiu, affiliated with the People's Daily Online.

The boy named Weiwei, who sustained stab wounds across his body, has undergone emergency treatment and is said to be in a stable condition.

Horrifying: The suspect sat in front of the boy before he launched his attack, stabbing him 12 times, in China

Tragic: The boy was taken to hospital and will need further operations to wounds on his legs and torso

Shocking: In the footage, the boy is sat behind the man and is on his way to school

According to reports, the boy is the son a member of staff at Yuejiaqiao Hospital.

He was taking the bus to school when the attacker pulled out a knife and stabbed the boy repeatedly.

On surveillance footage, passengers are seen panicking and running off the bus as the man continues to stab the boy.

Eventually, the bus driver steps in and stops the attacker.

The boy's mother surnamed Wu says her son is introverted, obedient and well behaved. She said that her son is never naughty and gets up in time for school.

The mother told reports that she heard someone shouting at her window 'Come out, your son is covered in blood!'

Wu said: 'At first I thought he was hit by a car, I did not think of the wounds.'

She accompanied her son in the ambulance to hospital.

His eyes were closed the entire time and she says that she was afraid that her son was in a coma due to excessive bleeding and shook him all of the way to hospital.

When he opened his eyes he told his mother: 'I'm not in hospital. I'm going to school.'

They arrived at the hospital at 7.20am.

After three hours of surgery, Weiwei was admitted to the intensive care unit.

The boy had suffered severe blood loss.

The attacker stabbed at the boys lungs and fingers and doctors say that there may be some issues with gripping as a result of the attack.

Doctors also say that he was stabbed in the legs and torso and may need a further two to three operations.

Weiwei is currently under close observation and will have another operation once his condition stabilizes.

He will also be offered counselling.

Traumatic: The man stabbed the child twelve times while the other passengers ran off the bus in terror

Appalling: The boy sustained large injuries over his body including to his lungs and fingers

Wu says the suspect was expecting his hospital treatment to be reimbursed entirely however this didn't happen.

The man returned to the cashier's desk which was being run by the boy's father at the time and quarreled with him.

The cashier told the man not to come back and cause trouble again. However the man hit him, causing the cashier to be hospitalised.

Wu says that the suspect was discharged on June 11.

When she went shopping with friends in town, she realised that she had been followed by the suspect.
A village in China has been left overrun with hundreds of macaques after a plan to introduce them and increase tourism to the area backfired.

Xianfeng village in south-west China's Sichuan province decided to give a boost to their visitor numbers in 2003 by introducing 73 of the monkeys to the area, reported the People's Daily Online.

However over the past 13 years, the numbers have increased dramatically to 600 leaving the village swamped with the animals.

Maybe not a good idea! A village's attempts to use monkeys to bring tourism to the area backfired

A real tourist attraction: In 2003, 73 macaques were introduced to the area from nearby mountains

In 2003, villagers in Xianfeng decided to boost their tourist figures by enticing macaques to the area from nearby mountains.

They were inspired by Emei Mountain, a famous tourist spot which is inhabited by wild macaques.

They spent 48 days transporting 73 apes to the area, reports CCTV News.

In the beginning, the business model seemed to work with many people coming to the area to see the monkeys.

According to some villagers, the village welcomed thousands of visitors every weekend.

But things began to go wrong when Zhou Zhenggui, the main investor in the initiative passed away. The company supporting the tourist business then collapsed.

However the macaques remained and bred until they reached a number of around 600. The group were so large that the company could not afford to feed them anymore.

Locals were hoping the monkeys would disappear without food however the macaques seemed to like their new home.

They wreaked havoc in the village, eating crops , causing damage to homes and even biting visitors.

Macquaes are a class 2 national protected species and so the problem has to be treated delicately.

Experts were brought in to trap 300 of the animals and send them away however the rest are determined to stay.

Now what do we do?! The monkeys have wreaked havoc damaging crops and even biting tourists
It has faithfully served the British Army for 18 years in wars and troubled hotspots around the globe.

But now the Challenger 2 battle tank is to have its life span extended to 2035 with a major technology upgrade.

BAE Systems, which built the tank when it was still known as Vickers Defence Systems, has proposed adding new thermal imaging, new targeting and weapons control systems.

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BAE Systems designed and built the Challenger 2 tank in 1998, with a mission to give the British Army the best tank in the world. Now the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is planning a programme to extend the tank's life to 2035, and BAE Systems wants to be part of that

CHALLENGER 2 VITAL STATISTICS Crew: 4 Length: 11.55m (gun forward) Width: 3.5m Height to turret roof: 2.49m Combat weight: 62,500kg Main armament: 120mm L30 CHARM (CHallenger main ARMament) Gun Ammunition: 50 rounds - APFSDS, HESH, Soke (Typical) Secondary armament: C-axial 7.62mm chain gun, 7.62mm GPMG (turret mounted) Ammunition: 4000 7.62mm rounds Engine: 1200bhp Perkins-Condor CV12 Maximum speed: 59kph Source MOD Advertisement

It will also be given new high tech electronic controls and displays to bring the 68 ton tank into the 21st century.

The UK's Ministry of Defence chose to upgrade the Challenger 2 after deciding it would be too expensive to purchase a new battle tank.

Russia recently unveiled its new T-14 Armata battle tank, giving new impetus to the need to upgrade the Challenger 2 to counter strategic threats.

The MOD is now taking bids from defence companies for the 700 million upgrade.

BAE Systems has propsed upgrading the tank's thermal imaging system to give it the ability to pick out targets during both the day and night.

The commanders primary sight will integrate this thermal imaging to give a 24-hour hunter/killer capability.

The gun control and fire control systems will also be upgraded in improve accuracy of the weapons.

The company also wants to completely overhaul the internal electronics and control system.

It also said it hoped to propose further 'capability enhancements' to the Challenger 2.

In 2006 the MOD fitted a single Challenger 2 tank with a new L55 120mm main gun for a trail and found it outperformed the current L30 CHARM gun currently fitted.

Although it has not been announced that the main gun will be changed as part of the upgrade, it is estimated it would cost 386 million to fit all operating Challenger 2 tanks with the new weapon.

BAE Systems has now passed through the first stage of the selection process, a spokesman for the company told MailOnline.

Along with BAE Systems, 'Team Challenger 2' is made up of seven key players in the defence industry - General Dynamics Land Systems-UK, General Dynamics Mission Systems-International, Leonardo-Finmeccanica, Moog, QinetiQ and Safran Electronics.

The next stage will involve a two-year assessment in which the bidders will test the plans they put forward for developing the tank.

Two bidders are expected to be selected for that by the end of the year, the spokesman said.

Since the tank came into service in 1998, the company has continued to support the vehicle to ensure it is always ready for action. BAE Systems has provided emergency operations and upgrades to respond to emerging threats and changing battle scenarios, it said

Three Challenger 2 main battle tanks firing their 120mm guns during a night firing exercise by the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry at Lulworth, Dorset. In order for the tank to continue its operations to 2035, as the MOD announced last year, several key systems will need to be replaced

Since the tank came into service in 1998, the company has continued to support the vehicle to ensure it is always ready for action.

BAE Systems has provided emergency operations and upgrades to respond to emerging threats and changing battle scenarios, it said.

But in order for the tank to continue its operations to 2035, as the MOD announced last year, several key systems will need to be replaced.

Jennifer Osbaldestin, Managing Director of BAE Systems Land (UK), said 'We have taken an innovative approach in teaming for this bid to enable the best and most experienced partners to develop and deliver a winning solution.

'This approach gives us access to capabilities and facilities that will sustain Challenger 2 through life and offer a value for money solution for British taxpayers.

HOW THE CHALLENGER 2 EXTENSION PROJECT WILL UPGRADE THE TANK BAE Systems designed and built Challenger 2, and now the company is leading the team bidding to keep it battle-ready for the next two decades. Its proposed updates include: 1. Thermal Imaging System. This provides day and night surveillance and target engagement. The company now have the opportunity to provide an up-to-date system which will deliver improved, 24-hour performance. 2. Commanders Primary Sight. The current sight gives the Commander 360 degree independent surveillance, electronically handing over targets to the gunner and looking for new targets. The new system will include thermal imaging and give the Commander a full 24-hour, day and night hunter/killer capability, delivering greater situational awareness and flexibility. 3. Gun Control Equipment. This sub-system moves the turret and the gun under direction from the fire control system, ensuring timely and accurate fire. The company will future proof the sub-system with up-to-date technology. 4. Electronic Architecture. This connects the vehicles sub-systems. Once upgraded, it will allow a new Commanders crewstation to be installed and give the vehicle an expandable architecture hosting new interfaces, reconfigurable displays and controls. 5. Fire Control System. This acts as the brain of the weapon system, orchestrating the sighting, gun control and sensor sub-systems to provide accurate and dynamic weapon aiming. The company will modernise and future proof this system. Source: BAE Systems BAE Systems designed and built Challenger 2 when it first entered service in 1998. Now the company is leading the team bidding to keep it battle-ready for the next two decades with a series of upgrades (illustrated) Advertisement

'BAE Systems designed and built Challenger 2, we are now excited about the opportunity to use our expertise with the rest of Team Challenger 2 to update and integrate new technology to further extend the capability for the British Army.'

Vice President of General Dynamics Land Systems-UK, Kevin Connell said: 'This is a great opportunity to leverage the capabilities of AJAX.

'We would deliver the Challenger 2 Mark 2 vehicles from our new manufacturing facility in Merthyr Tydfil, helping to sustain and create new jobs at the site. With the skills we have developed designing and producing AJAX, we are well positioned to be part of Team Challenger 2.'

David Ibbetson, Vice President, General Dynamics Mission Systems-International added: 'As a supplier to the original Challenger 2 tank, I am delighted that General Dynamics Mission Systems is a member of Team Challenger 2.

'With our skills and expertise, we can offer the UK MOD value for money, whilst providing the most technologically advanced and proven systems available.'
A rock that plummeted to Earth 470 million years ago has been identified as the first ever known meteorite of its kind.

Named Ost 65, it was discovered in a marine limestone quarry in Sweden and is believed to have fallen during one of the most violent collisions to occur in the past three billion years ago.

Researchers believe this rock holds clues to the history of the solar system including any 'large-scale astronomical perturbations affecting both Earth and the solar system'.

Named Ost 65, it was discovered in a marine limestone quarry in Sweden and is believed to have fallen during one of the most violent collisions in the past three billion years ago. Researchers believe this rock holds clues to the history of the solar system

WHAT DOES RESEARCHERS KNOW ABOUT OST 65? Named Ost 65, it was discovered in a marine limestone quarry in Sweden and is believed to have fallen during one of the most violent collisions in the past three billion years ago. Researchers believe this rock holds clues to the history of the solar system including any 'large-scale astronomical perturbations affecting both Earth and the solar system' It is about 8 centimetres long and is the remains of the smaller asteroid involved in the cosmic collision that sent L chondrites to Earth. Advertisement

'The single meteorite that we now found... is of a type that we do not know of from today's world,' study co-author Birger Schmitz of Lund University in Sweden told AFP.

Lund University believes this rock is a piece of the second space orb, supporting the theory of an ancient collision between the two asteroids.

Over 500 million years ago, a small asteroid crashed into a larger one, 100 km to 150 km long, between Jupiter and Mars.

This impact resulted in the creation of many fragments that eventually found their way into our planets atmosphere and fell to the Earth, these are known as L chrondrites --the second most common type of meteorite on the planet.

It's believed this cosmic collision may have kickstarted the resurgence of biodiversity on planet Earth, when life became more varied and complex.

This occurred during the Ordovician period, a time when the first coral reefs were appearing on the planet.

Researcher have never found any remains of the smaller body that crashed into the large asteroid, but the team at Lund University think they finally have.

Ost 65 is about 8 centimetres long and was unearthed in the Thorsberg quarry near the Swedish village Osterplana, along with more than 100 L chondrites.

Researcher have never found an remains of the smaller body that crashed into the large asteroid, but the team at Lund University think they finally have. Ost 65 is about 8 centimetres long and was unearthed in the Thorsberg quarry near the Swedish village Osterplana along with more than 100 L chondrites

WHAT'S THE ORDOVICIAN PERIOD? The Ordovician period covers the time on Earth between 485 and 443 million years ago. During those 45 million years the area north of the tropics was almost entirely ocean. Most of the worlds land, meanwhile, was part of a southern supercontinent called Gondwana. The period is synonymous with a general biodiversity of life on Earth - in the early Ordovician period life on Earth thrived. The reason for this is unknown, but some theories suggest the arrival of meteorites such as the L chondrites could have kickstarted the resurgence. It wasnt all fun and games during the Ordovician period, though - towards its end massive glaciers formed on Gondwana as it shifted towards the South Pole. This drained shallow seas and caused sea levels to drop, ultimately resulting in the mass extinction of 60 per cent of marine invertebrates on Earth. Another theory for the mass extinction, however, suggests a ten-second gamma ray burst blasted Earths atmosphere, exposing life to deadly levels of radiation. Advertisement

'The object contains very high concentrations (compared to Earth materials), of elements such as iridium, which is very rare on Earth,' Schmitz explained by email.

'The meteorite also contains high concentrations of rare isotopes of the element Neon'and in different proportions than in chondrites.

The team measured telltale signs of cosmic radiation in the meteorite to determine how long it had flown around in space before crashing to Earth.

They used cutting-edge chemical analyses to classify the meteorite and highlight how it its different from the rest found in the quarry.

Using a technique called cosmic-ray exposure, the team found the rock's age is within a million years of the L chondrite collusion.

This information suggests that it is in fact remains of the asteroid which was responsible for the break up.

'The cosmic ray exposure age of Ost 65 shows it may be a fragment of the impactor that broke up the L-chondrite parent body,' Schmitz told Mirror.

'This may be the first documented example of an'extinct' meteorite, that is, a meteorite type that does not fall on Earth today because its parent body has been consumed by collisions,' said Schmitz, which is basically the same time the chondrite fragments came to Earth.

'Our meteorite fell 470 million years ago.'

The mysterious morsel 'may be a fragment of the impactor that broke up the (chondrite) parent body,' concluded the study.

Ost 65was unearthed in the Thorsberg quarry near the Swedish village Osterplana along with more than 100 L chondrites

Over 500 million years ago, a small asteroid crashed into a larger one, about 100 km to 150 km, between Jupiter and Mars This impact resulted in the creation of many fragments that eventually bombarded Earth , which are known as L chrondrites (pictured) --the second most common type of meteorite on the planet

Researchers are calling this one-of-a-kind meteorite an example of an 'extinct meteorite, becauise since the space body it derived from was destroyed in the collision, there will not be any more fragments like this falling to the Earth today.

The findings mean that today's meteorites, on which scientists base much of their assumptions about our Solar System's formation, are not fully representative of what is, and once was, out there.

'Apparently, there is potential to reconstruct important aspects of solar-system history by looking down on Earth sediments, in addition to looking up at the skies,' wrote the study authors.
In the 1997 drama, Dante's Peak, Pierce Brosnan arrives in a town only to discover that the long dormant volcano may wake up at any moment.

Of course, the hero and his family survive, and the volcano ceases erupting.

But a podcast by Flash Forward suggested that if the 1,500 potentially active volcanoes worldwide really did all erupt at the same time, it could lead to a devastating doomsday scenario.

A massive volcanic plume is seen as Mount Etna erupts. Explosions and ash emissions were seen from Mount Etna's Voragine crater in what was the first eruptive activity from the crater since 2013

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? Pyroclastic flows - fast moving clouds of rock, ash and gas - that reach 1,000C and travel at 450 miles per hour, would cause destruction for up to 100 miles around each volcano

Volcanic ash would travel for thousands of miles, affecting engines, sinking buildings and causing health problems when inhaled

Communication channels would be down as volcanic ash disrupts satellite dishes and blocks radio waves

Worldwide temperatures would crash, causing heavy rain and affecting crops Advertisement

The Earth currently has 1,500 'active volcanoes' - meaning they have had at least one eruption during the past 10,000 years.

This is aside from the continuous belt of volcanoes on the ocean floor, about 500 of which have erupted in historical time.

However, not all eruptions are the same.

Dr Matthew Watson, a volcano specialist from the University of Bristol told MailOnline: 'You can broadly categorise eruptions into two different types.

'The first, effusive, produces lava flows and lots of gas. The second, explosive, produces ash and gas.

'The difference in activity is controlled mostly by the viscosity of the magma.

'The more viscous the magma, the more difficult it is to get gas out of the system and the more likely you are to have an explosion.'

Despite the type of eruptions differing massively, if all the world's volcanoes erupted at the same time, the results would be catastrophic in a number of ways.

The Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica erupted unexpectedly in 1968, destroying the small town of Tabacon. Since October 2010, Arenal has become dormant, with no explosions since December 2010

In the 1997 drama, Dante's Peak, Pierce Brosnan arrives in a town only to discover that the long dormant volcano may wake up at any moment

Initial damage in areas near the volcanoes

Firstly, the people in the firing line of the eruption would be affected, not only by the flow of magma from the volcano, but also from the huge ash clouds expelled.

Pyroclastic flows are fast-moving clouds of rock, ash and gas that are very hot, with temperatures rising up to 1000C.

These would be impossible to outrun or even drive, as they can travel up to 450 miles per hour.

As well as affecting people near the volcano itself, pyroclastic flows can cause destruction for up to 100 miles from the site.

The number of people living near volcanoes that this would affect is massive.

For example, around three million people live near Mount Vesuvius, while 130 million people live on the island of Java which alone has 45 active volcanoes.

The far-reaching damage

But the destruction close to the volcanoes would just be the beginning.

The eruptions would send plumes of volcanic ash into the sky that could travel for thousands of miles.

Dr Watson said: 'Ash is pretty unpleasant stuff. Its comprised of tiny fragments of glass, crystals and rock.'

Pyroclastic flows, are fast-moving clouds of rock, ash and gas that are very hot - with temperatures rising up to 1000 degrees centigrade. Pictured here, a pyroclastic flow from Mount Oyama on the island of Miyakejima, some 200 kilometers south of Tokyo, heads into the sea

You may remember the worldwide flight cancellations caused by the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland, in the fears of damage to airplane engines.

As well as the potential damage to engines, volcanic ash is so heavy that it could actually collapse buildings, by piling up and slowly sinking the foundations.

Breathing in ash can cause massive problems to our lungs, including silicosis, and damage that sends our immune systems into overdrive, leading to a range of secondary problems.

Essentially, there would be no buildings, no vehicles run by an engine, and you would not be able to go anywhere without a gas mask.

To add to this, communication channels would be out of the question - ash can disrupt satellite dishes and block radio waves.

Volcanic ash is made of small rocks, which can cause huge damage, especially to engines where it can settle into clumps of rocks. This can cause damage to vehicles with engines when rocks get trapped

Long-lasting climate change

The volcanic eruptions would cause long-lasting changes to the Earth's climate.

While we usually associate volcanoes with being hot, the huge amount of ash and gas released into the atmosphere would actually lower the temperature globally.

Dr Watson said: 'The initial injection of sulphur dioxide, converted to small particles called aerosols in the presence of water, would reflect sunlight back out into space. This would cool the planet significantly, potentially even to get to ice-age like conditions.'

However in the longer term, we could see a reverse effect with temperatures rising.

Dr Watson added: 'Over hundreds of years, carbon dioxide released by volcanoes might heat the planet up, noting that currently, mankind is producing between 50 and 100 times as much carbon dioxide as volcanoes.'

In 1815, Mount Tambora in Indonesia erupted. This one eruption can be seen in global climate records, lowering temperatures worldwide and causing heavy rain worldwide, ruining crops

In 1815, Mount Tambora in Indonesia erupted. This one eruption can be seen in global climate records, lowering temperatures worldwide and causing heavy rain which ruined crops.

If one eruption can have that effect, we can only begin to imagine what destruction would be caused if all 1500 active volcanoes went off simultaneously.

How to survive

WHAT WOULD YOU NEED TO SURVIVE? Food supplies for up to two years

Water supplies for up to two years

Vitamin D and calcium supplements to combat the lack of sunlight

5-HTP food supplements which boost your serotonin levels to prevent you becoming anxious or depressed

Warm clothes to help you when global temperatures drop

A gas mask to prevent you inhaling volcanic ash which can cause respiratory and immune issues Advertisement

While planning can help, unfortunately much of your chance of survival is down to luck. If you are unlucky and happen to be in the vicinity of an erupting volcano, no amount of prepping can save you.

In the short term, the best place to survive could actually be a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean.

Cruise ships are armed with food, medical supplies, and clean water, but most importantly, are usually not near any volcanoes.

While you would eventually need to return to land for supplies, at least in the short term you would survive the initial impact.

To prepare for any catastrophic event, the most important thing is having adequate supplies of food and water.

However, with a volcanic eruption, there are a few other necessities to factor in.

The skies will be covered in ash, making it very dark, and inhibiting sunlight reaching us. This lack of sunlight could prevent us getting enough Vitamin D which is crucial for calcium absorption.

Additionally, a lack of sunlight could also affect your serotonin production, resulting in anxiety and depression.

With global temperatures dropping, a good supply of warm clothes would also be crucial.

However, Dr Watson added: 'Hypothetically, if every volcano on Earth erupted simultaneously, you could argue that all life might well be wiped out. In that sense it is a doomsday scenario, just very very unlikely.'
The data also reveal which parts of the country are searching most for 'leave' or 'remain'

Many Brits are turning to Google for straight answers to what could happen

It may well be the biggest decision the UK has to make, as voters head to polling booths next Thursday to vote on whether they want Britain to stay with Europe, or go it alone.

But the ceaseless political commentary, back-biting and figure-fudging has left Brits understandably confused about the facts, leaving many to turn to Google for an answer.

Google has released data showing the terms Brits have been searching for in the run up to the Brexit vote on 23rd June, with immigration and NHS top of the list.

Zoom in on the map below to see regional sentiment on the vote

WHAT BRITISH VOTERS ARE ASKING Google's data cover searches over a seven day period from 31st May to 7th June. The top search terms were immigration, NHS, economy, sovereignty and national security. But the question most people across the UK have been asking is What is Brexit?, referring to the term coined for Britain's exit from the EU. Advertisement

With so many conflicting points on such a complex issue, the data show many Brits are simply seeking a straight answer, searching for Why should we leave/stay in the EU?, followed closely by What will happen if?.

But the top question across the UK concerning the EU referendum is What is Brexit? referring to the term coined for Britain's exit from the EU.

The data, which cover searches over a seven day period from 31st May to 7th June, provide a tantalising insight into what is most concerning people across the UK in the run up to the big vote.

While opponents of the Remain camp claim staying in the European Union will mean more bureaucracy and handing over the countrys decision-making to Brussels, opponents of Leave warn that going it alone could have a huge impact on the economy, workforce and future of the country.

An interactive heat map of search terms shows more people are searching for leave in built up metropolitan areas (pictured). But rather than any indication of voter preference, this could be explained by people searching for the more information into the potential impact of a British exit from the EU

Googles data reveal that for British voters, immigration is the burning issue, barely shifting from the top spot since February.

Other top search terms show voters are concerned about the impact of leaving the EU on the UKs the economy - which jostled with immigration for the top spot - as well as the health service, British sovereignty and national security.

An interactive heat map of search terms shows more people are searching for leave in built up metropolitan areas. But rather than any indication of voter preference, this could be explained by people searching for the more information into the potential impact of a British exit from the EU.

Beyond the UKs borders, Googles data provides an insight into what other countries in Europe are searching for, ranking countries by interest in Britains EU referendum.

Maps show the trend of 'Leave the EU' versus 'Stay in the EU' searches on Google by region

The top search terms were immigration, NHS, economy, sovereignty and national security. But the question most people across the UK have been asking is What is Brexit?, referring to the term coined for Britain's exit from the EU (pictured)

Malta, Luxembourg and the UKs nearest neighbour, Ireland, have shown the most interest, with fellow EU members Italy and Greece taking an interest. Germany, Belgium and a host of non-EU nations follow.

But way down the list, ranked 47th by search interest, is Russia. However, the lack of interest isn't shared, with the UKs top question about the European Union asking if Russia is a member.

The latest poll data from YouGov show that the 'Leave' campaign is gaining support, nudging past 'Remain'. At the start of the week, 46 per cent of voters polled intended to vote 'Leave', while 39 per cent declared they intended to vote 'Remain'.

A heat map of the UK shows whether areas have been searching more or less for 'Leave'. Built up metropolitan areas, such as London (pictured), showed the highest proportion of leave searches. But rather than any indication of voter preference, this could be explained by people searching for the more information into the potential impact of a British exit from the EU

Scotland's western isles show a spike in interest, as do Glasgow, Edinburgh and the border regions and Northumberland on the English side of the border (pictured)
of volcanic lighting in an ash cloud over the Calbuco volcano in Chile

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It is a phenomenon of terrifying beauty  the flash of lightning within the dark, brooding clouds of ash thrown out by erupting volcanoes.

But scientists now believe they have unraveled the mystery of what causes these dramatic discharges of electrical power from the heart of volcanic ash clouds.

Their findings could help volcanologists to monitor and track the progress of powerful eruptions, allowing them to predict how ash and gas will travel through the atmosphere.

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Volcanic lighting (Calbuco volcano in Chile pictured) is one of the most awe-inspiring natural phenomena on the planet, but scientists have puzzled over its chaotic nature. New research has shown turbulence created above the volcanic crater causes ash particles to rub together, generating an electrostatic charge that discharges along paths determined by the turbulence

WHAT IS VOLCANIC LIGHTNING? Volcanic lightning forms in plumes of ash rather than thunder clouds. These tend to follow chaotic paths and will often travel sideways or even upwards through an ash cloud. The lightning paths tend to be more chaotic than those seen in thunderstorms. Scientists have long debated whether this lightning is caused by the electrostatic charge of the ash itself or of ice particles forming within the plumes. The new research shows that both mechanisms create very different forms of lightning within erupting volcanoes. Advertisement

One study discovered that friction created by ash particles as they are ejected as high pressure from crater led to a build-up of static electricity, leading to chaotic low level lightning bolts.

These often do not discharge downwards towards the ground as seen in traditional thunderstorms, but can travel sideways and even upwards.

A second study by a separate group also showed that when ash clouds extend high enough into the atmosphere, ice particles can build up within it and lead to a different sort of electrical discharge.

In this case the ice particles generate the electrical charge as they rub together and the resulting lightning follows the path of the ice particles through the ash cloud.

Together the findings suggest that volcanic lightning can form in even relatively small eruptions as the charge begins to build up as soon as ash is flung into the air.

But in very large eruptions when ash clouds reach high into the atmosphere, the development of ice can enhance these storms to produce some of the most dramatic lightning.

Dr Corrado Cimarelli, a volcanologist at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany, who led the first study, said these differences could help to predict the amount of ash being discharged by an eruption and so give warnings to nearby aircraft about the potential risks.

He said: 'Regardless of the size of the eruption, any ash emissions are associated with electrical discharges.

'This we could measure and use to estimate the amount and distribution of the ejected ash - and from a safe distance of several kilometers and even in poor visibility.

'So we could estimate the ash distribution in the atmosphere early on and warn the aviation authorities.'

Dr Cimarelli and his colleagues, whose research is published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, used high speed video footage eruptions from the Sakurajima volcano in Kyushu, Japan.

They combined this with infrasound and measurements of the electromagnetic build up in the ash cloud.

The researchers used high-speed cameras, infrasound and electromagnetic monitoring to study how the electrical charge built up in ash clouds thrown out by the erupting Sakurajima volcano in Kyushu, Japan. They showed most of the lighting occured within just a few hundred metres of the volcano's crater where jets of gas created turbulence and led to chaotic lightning paths (illustrated)

The slow motion video showed lighting bolts forming just above the crater, moving in often random directions sideways and even upwards (pictured) as the electrostatic charge in the ash cloud was discharged

HOW LIGHTNING BOLTS FORM IN THUNDERSTORMS Most people are familiar with lightning that comes from thunderstorms which form from cumulonimbus clouds. The Earth experiences around 40 to 50 lightning strikes every second and there are an estimated 1.4 billion flashes per year. Friction between ice particles in the cloud causes a build-up of electrostatic charge. Most discharges travel from the cloud to the ground, following channels of ionized air. Some scientists believe these channels are created by the collision of high energy cosmic rays or neutrinos from deep space with the Earths atmosphere. Traditional lightning bolts can also travel from cloud to cloud, creating a variety of different types, such as sheet lightning. Advertisement

Their footage shows the lightning seemed to be restricted to the lower part of the ash plume within a few hundred metres of the crater.

Here they say turbulent jets created by the gas thrown out by the volcano create huge pressures that electrify the ash particles by causing them to rub together.

Writing in the journal, Dr Cimarelli and his colleagues said: 'The chaotic distribution of charges in the growing plume, promote short discharges with tortuous paths and no preferential direction of propagation.

Only once the ash cloud became high enough did researchers see vertical lightning strikes (pictured) extending down from the top of the ash cloud, suggesting that ice may have played a role in this type of lightning

The researchers say monitoring the lightning from ash clouds of erupting volcanoes could help them predict the size and spread of plumes which can pose a hazard to air traffic, such as when the Eyjafjallajokul volcano in Iceland (pictured) erupted in 2010

'The maximum length of lightning flashes increases with time from the onset of the explosion.'

However, they also found that later in the eruption, as the ash cloud increased in size, the lightning bolts changed to the more familiar vertical cloud to ground flashes.

In previous work Dr Cimarelli showed it was possible to recreate 'volcanic lightning' in the laboratory with similar effects.

The second study, also published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, looked at this lightning in greater detail on the Calbuco volcano in Chile when it erupted in April 2015.

Led by Dr Alexa Van Eaton, a volcanologist at the US Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Washington, the research team mapped lighting generated in the eruption.

Many of the lightning strikes recorded by the scientists were just above the volcanic crater and moved sideways (pictured)

They found that far downwind of the volcano, lightning bolts appear to follow the movements at the very top of the ash plume.

According to the team, this is where it was cold enough for ice crystals to develop.

Dr Van Eaton told the American Geological Union: 'The lightning basically decoupled from all the other ash particles that were falling to the ground.

'Instead, they seem to follow the ice crystals that stayed high in the atmosphere.'
While our ocean here on Earth reaches as deep as 7 miles (11km), oceans on some alien planets are believed to be much deeper.

In fact, a planet with the same mass as Earth, could have an ocean 15 times deeper than our own.

New research is now suggesting that there could be life hidden under layers of high-pressure ice in these foreign oceans.

Kepler-62f, shown here in an artist's rendering, could host such oceans. New research is now suggesting that there could be life hidden under layers of high-pressure ice in these foreign oceans

WHAT IS KEPLER-62F? The planet, which is about 1,200 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Lyra, is approximately 40 percent larger than Earth. At that size, Kepler-62f is within the range of planets that are likely to be rocky and possibly could have oceans. Nasas Kepler mission discovered the planetary system that includes Kepler-62f in 2013, and it identified Kepler-62f as the outermost of five planets orbiting a star that is smaller and cooler than the sun. Advertisement

The research was led by Dr Lena Noack from the Royal Observatory of Belgium, who modelled the rocky worlds with very deep oceans.

The researchers found that on a planet with the mass of Earth, a layer of high-pressure ice can form in oceans at depths of around 100 miles (170km).

Despite the layer of ice, if there is enough heat given off by the planet's interior, water can remain a liquid under the ice, which could allow life to take hold.

In their paper, published in Icarus, the researchers said: 'We find that heat flowing out of the silicate mantle can melt an ice layer from below, depending mainly on the thickness of the ocean-ice shell, the mass of the planet, the surface temperature and the interior parameters.'

The model applies to planets up to 10 times the size of Earth. Anything larger than that will have too great a pressure of gravity which will prevent a layer of water from forming below the ice.

Nasa's Kepler launched in 2009 with the purpose of hunting for Earth-like planets. It discovered a planetary system featuring Earth-size planets in a 'habitable zone.' Kepler-62f, pictured right on this illustration, is 1.4 times the size of Earth, while Kepler-62e, pictured bottom left, is estimated to be 1.6 times larger

Two exoplanets that could have these oceans are Kepler 62e and 62f.

Kepler 62e is estimated to be 1.6 times bigger than Earth, while 62f is estimated to be 1.4 times bigger.

Although their masses are uncertain, their predicted densities suggest that they could have a high water content.

While this type of modelling is only theoretical, it could also apply to worlds within our solar system.

In their paper, the researchers note that Jupiters moon, Ganymede, has a lot of water as a proportion of its mass.

Depending on heat from the interior, it is possible that Ganymede could have thick ice covering a layer of liquid water which could be home to life.
Female banana fiddler crabs can find themselves in a pinch when it comes to resisting the advances of amorous males - their prospective partners trap them in their burrows to mate with them.

Scientists witnessed some male crabs lurking outside burrows they had dug waiting for females to go inside to inspect them.

The lusty crustaceans, which sport a single enlarged claw to help see off rivals, then move in behind the curious females, cutting off their escape and increasing their chances of being able to mate.

Male banana fiddler crabs usually try to attract a females attention by waving their enlarged claw before leading them into their burrow. But researchers saw some crabs lurked outside the burrow and waited for females to go inside (pictured) first before following them in. This resulted in a far higher copulation rates

Researchers believe the strategy may help those crabs who have been too lazy to dig and clean out their burrow properly.

CRAB SIZE AND BURROW QUALITY Males can acquire mates by competition, courtship or coercion, a strategy found in animals from insects to mammals. In some crab species, a male may pin a female to the ground or grab and hold her in place and in these species, the males tend to be larger and stronger. Despite predicting otherwise, the researchers did not find a relationship between the size of males and the use of coercion to mate in the case of Uca mjoebergi. They wrote: 'Female fiddler crabs have already exhibited a certain level of choice by approaching a male's burrow as he waves her in. However, females reject a large proportion of males after entering and assessing burrow quality 'Therefore, one possibility for the evolution of step aside behaviour is that males with burrows of poor quality perform these tactics as a way of securing mates, because females would be less likely to stay and mate after initial burrow entry and inspection.' Advertisement

Female fiddler crabs are notoriously fussy about the state of a mate's burrow, preferring those that were of high quality.

Male banana fiddler crabs usually try to court females by wafting their enlarged yellow claw in the air - giving the animals their name.

Usually the male will then enter their burrow first and if she is convinced, the female will then follow him in. But only around half stay to mate with the males.

Females will often visit up to 20 males before making her choice.

But the new research, published in Public Library of Science One, reveals a darker side to the sex lives of these Australian sea creatures, which are also called Uca mjoebergi.

In some instances, a courting male steps aside rather than entering his burrow first.

Usually in this situation most females decline to enter, making the researchers wonder why males sometimes adopt this strategy.

The answer, the researchers suggest, is that when a female does enter first and is followed by a male, mating is more likely to occur than when the order of arrival is reversed.

Dr Patricia Backwell, a biologist at the Australian National University, Canberra, who led the research said: 'Mate-searching female fiddler crabs are fussy about the quality of a male's burrow, so they enter it to check its suitability as an incubation site before selecting the male as a mate.

'Some males trap the female inside the burrow, coercing them to mate.'

The scientists found that although a significantly lower percentage of females will enter a burrow first - just 41 per cent - upon entry 79 per cent females that enter will become trapped.

In these situations, around 90 per cent of females that entered lay a clutch of eggs  many more than those that entered second.

The experts suggest this may indicate females that entered ahead of the males were coerced - or forced - into mating.

The researchers found that when females entered the burrow first there was a far high rate of copulation between the creatures (illustrated). It suggests the males trap the females in there and force them to mate

The researchers wrote: 'We found that the mating tactic performed by a male crab as a female approaches his burrow has a significant effect on the probability that the female will enter the burrow and a marginally significant effect on whether she will remain in the burrow to mate.'

The study shows that even though males that step aside from the burrow entrance entice fewer females to go in, their cunning strategy may pay off in a higher rate of mating than when these females enter second and are free to leave without mating.

'Females were more than 3 times less likely to enter a male's burrow when he stepped aside and waited for her to enter first, compared to occasions when a male entered the burrow first,' the experts wrote.

Male fiddler crabs (pictured) use their enlarged claw to help them attract a female, which have normal sized claws, and to fight off rivals. But the research has revealed a dark side to the animal's sex life

The banana fiddler crab is not the only arachnid to use this sneaky strategy - another crab called the Perplexing fiddler crab employs similar tactics.

The study says: 'Males stepping aside and waiting for females to enter the burrow has also been observed in several other ocypodoid crab species.
First it was text, then pictures and videos - and now Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg envisions a world where users share their thoughts and experiences telepathically.

During a live Q&A yesterday, Zuckerberg described a world that goes beyond virtual reality, which allows users to capture thoughts and share in a format that makes them available to the world.

The tech tycoon believes this technology could be available in just 50 years, but also noted it isn't something Facebook is currently working on.

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During a live Q&A yesterday, Zuckerberg described a world that goes beyond virtual reality, which allows users to capture thoughts and share in a format that makes them available to the world. The tech tycoon believes this technology could be available in just 50 years

WHAT DID ZUCKERBERG SAY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FACEBOOK? 'The question you need to ask is video the end of the line? Is that as good as we can do in terms of capturing the scene and what someone is experience at that point in time? And I think the answer to that question is definitely no,' Zuckerberg shared in the Facebook Live video. 'You're going to just be able to capture a thought, what you're thinking or feeling in kind of its ideal and perfect form in your head, and be able to share that with the world in a format where they can get that,' Zuckerberg said During the segment focused on the future of Facebook, Zuckerberg describes the act of capturing raw emotion or thoughts and having the power to share them directly with the world  when and how you want. Zuckerberg describes current research that is working on removing the memory of solving a maze from a rat's brain and transferring it to another rodent. And an experiment from Berkeley University was also brought up during the discussion that 'can predict what you're thinking about' just by looking at a MRI scan. Advertisement

'The question you need to ask is video the end of the line? Is that as good as we can do in terms of capturing the scene and what someone is experience at that point in time? And I think the answer to that question is definitely no,' Zuckerberg shared in the Facebook Live video.

'You're going to just be able to capture a thought, what you're thinking or feeling in kind of its ideal and perfect form in your head, and be able to share that with the world in a format where they can get that,' Zuckerberg said in a live video Q&A broadcast from his Facebook page.

The Q&A was hosted on the firm's new live video feature, which lets anyone create live broadcasts using webcams or even their smartphone cameras and share them globally.

During the segment focused on the future of Facebook, Zuckerberg describes the act of capturing raw emotion or thoughts and having the power to share them directly with the world  when and how you want.

He also mentions there is 'crazy brain research' underway that could bring this futuristic idea into the present.

However, he notes it will take decades and more scientific breakthroughs must occur before any of this technology can be released to the masses.

Zuckerberg discusses current research that is working on removing the memory of solving a maze from a rat's brain and transferring it to another rodent.

'They were actually able to take that representation of the memory, zap another mouse and put that memory into that other mouse,' he explained.

'That mouse, without ever being through the maze, was able to go do it.'

'That is just straight out of the Matrix and far off, but no one is doing that on humans.'

An experiment from Berkeley University was also brought up during during the live video that 'can predict what you're thinking about' just by looking at a MRI scan.

According to Zuckerberg, Facebook isn't working on this technology right now, he made it appoint to mention that during the Q&A, but he does think telepathy could be a reality within 50 years.

Zuckerberg discusses current research that is working on removing the memory of solving a maze from a rat's brain and transferring it to another rodent. And an experiment from Berkeley University was also brought up during during the live video that 'can predict what you're thinking about' just by looking at a MRI scan

Zuckerberg is not known to be frank about his private life, but during the live segment, he seemed to open up when Jerry Seinfeld interrogated him at the company's Menlo Park headquarters in California.

The billionaire father-of-one told the legendary comedian on Tuesday that he checks his social media website as soon as he wakes up in the morning and compared his daughter Max to a 'pterodactyl'.

He answered the questions as part of what he says will be the first of many Q&As on Facebook's new feature, Live.

Mark Zuckerberg revealed that he checks Facebook when he wakes up and compared his daughter Max to a 'pterodactyl' during an interview with Seinfeld and answered the questions as part of what he says will be the first of many Q&As on Facebook's new feature, Live

Seinfeld started the part of the clip by asking: 'I want to know the very first thing you do. You get out of the bed, you go to the bathroom...'

'Oh no, the first thing I do is look at my phone,' Zuckerberg said.

'I do that, too,' Seinfeld said. 'I want to know, did the Mets win or not?'

Zuckerberg responded: 'I look at Facebook. Before I put my contacts in, I look at what's going on at Facebook... That's not my best moment.'

He revealed that on Tuesday morning he woke up at 6am because his daughter Max was crying.

The billionaire later posted a picture of him sitting in a '57 Chevy Bel Air with Seinfeld that they had 'turned into a meeting room in Facebook HQ'

'Max is like a pterodactyl,' he said. 'I didnt know a human could make those noises.'

Zuckerberg then went on to reveal that he is training for a triathlon, but has already hit an obstacle in his preparation.

He described how he bought a brand new bike, but crashed within ten seconds of starting his first ride.

'I forgot to clip out and fell over... I broke my arm.'

He wasn't wearing a cast or sling, as he said the best way for it to heal is to leave it out.

After the interview, Zuckerberg uploaded a picture alongside the message: 'Thanks to Jerry Seinfeld for stopping by my first Live Q&A today.

'Afterwards, we had coffee in a '57 Chevy Bel Air that we turned into a meeting room in Facebook HQ.'
Japanese researchers have created a marmoset genetically engineered to have Parkinson's disease.

The controversial research was revealed at an Austrian conference.

The primates were born three years ago, and have developed the same tremors as human patients - and also responded to the same drugs.

The primates were born three years ago at the Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo, and have developed the same tremors as human patients - and also responded to the same drugs. Stock image shown.

PARKINSON'S FACTS An estimated seven to 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson's disease. Incidence of Parkinson's increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with PD are diagnosed before the age of 50. Men are one and a half times more likely to have Parkinson's than women. Advertisement

It is hoped they will offer a new way for therapies to be tested on primates rather than humans.

Other monkeys created as part of the same project mimic Alzheimer's disease and motor neurone disease, according to New Scientist.

The controversial study is set to reignite the debate on animal testing.

In Japan and China, the opposition to such tests is far less vocal.

Primate brains are extremely similar to humans, so offer a far more accurate way to test new drug compounds before they are given to humans.

Hideyuki Okano at the Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo revealed his team's marmoset model of Parkinson's at the State of the Brain meeting in Alpbach, Austria.

The team modified marmosets to have mutated copies of a human gene called SNCA, which is linked to Parkinson's disease, New Scientist said.

When this gene is faulty, a protein called alpha-synuclein builds up in the brain, disrupting and then killing the brain cells that make dopamine, a signalling chemical vital for movement.

'By their third year, the monkeys began to show the characteristic tremors of the disease,' said Okano.

The researcher could eventually lead to new drugs to treat Parkins's disease in humans. Here, actor Michael J. Fox campaigns for stem cell research with Iraq War veteran and Democratic Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth.

'With these diseases, it's very difficult to investigate what's happening in living people, so knowledge of the brain circuits responsible are mostly unidentified.

'We hope to find ways to predict the onset of each symptom, and develop drugs to slow down disease progression.'

However, campaigners have hit out at the work.

Dr Jarrod Bailey, Senior Science Advisor at Cruelty Free International, said: 'The superficial similarity between human and monkeys is of little benefit when it comes to research into neurological diseases like Parkinson's.

'You cannot overcome the massive differences between humans and non-human primates by modifying one or two genes.

'Applying data from monkeys to humans is highly unreliable and of questionable value, especially when alternative methods are available to scientists.

'Instead of persisting with such a poor and cruel approach, scientists should be focussing their efforts on the greater use and development of more human-relevant methods, such as ethical studies on patients or using 'brain on a chip' and 3D tissue cultures.'

As many as one million Americans live with Parkinson's disease, which is more than the combined number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig's disease.
Nordic folklore speaks of a massive creature that haunted the icy seas of the North Sea, where it attacked passing vessels with gigantic tentacles.

And conspiracy theorists claims to have spotted this mythical Kraken swimming off the coast of Deception Island near Antarctica.

Using Google Earth, this sea monster appears to be 120m from head to end, with the mid area of a giant squid.

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Aconspiracy theorists claims to have spotted this mythical Kraken swimming off the coast of Deception Island near Antarctica. Using Google Earth, this sea monster appears to be 100 feet from head to end, with the mid area of a giant squid

WHAT WAS SEEN USING GOOGLE EARTH? A well-known conspiracy theorist claims to have spotted the Kraken causing a massive disturbance in the ocean. The sighting occurred on April 9, 2016, when Waring looked at the coordinates 63 2'56.73"S 6057'32.38"W in Google Earth. Another conspiracy theorist has posted about the find, suggesting it could be an underwater UFO coming out of the ocean. Advertisement

It looks like the Kraken, Scott C Waring shared on UFO Sightings Daily.com.

I used Google ruler and it says this is 30 meters (100 feet) from head to end, but the end looks like just the mid area of a giant squid, which means it could be 60+ meters long with tentacles.

'That sounds like the Kraken to me.

The sighting occurred on April 9, 2016, when Waring looked at the coordinates 63 2'56.73"S 6057'32.38"W in Google Earth  although it is not clear how or where he obtained these exact coordinates.

Waring also thought of the extinct prehistoric animal Plesiosaur when he spotted the massive beast causing a massive disturbance in the ocean.

Another conspiracy theorist has posted about the find, but with a different opinion about the large object.

But if you look more closely it looks like an artificially made object, an underwater UFO coming out of the ocean, the unknown author shared on UFO Sightings Hotspot.

A video of the unusual sighting was posted on YouTube by uploader Wowforreeel.

THE LEGEND OF THE KRAKEN The Kraken would snag ships with it long, very strong tentacles According to Nordic folklore, the Kraken haunted the seas from Norway through Iceland and all the way to Greenland. This massive creature would snag ships with its long, very strong tentacles and drag them deep into the ocean  never to be heard from again. Some sources say it would have been at least 100 feet long and could be mistaken for an island. The history of this mythical monster dates back to 1180 to Kind Sverre of Norway and sightings have been reported since. And like most legends the legend of the Kraken started with sightings of a real giant squid, but over time it blew up into a gigantic man eating beast. The giant squid can reach 18 meters in length and has been rarely seen by humans as it lives in very deep waters. Advertisement

Waring also thought of the extinct prehistoric animal Plesiosaur when he spotted the massive beast causing a massive disturbance in the ocean. Kraken, Plesiosaur, underwater UFO or maybe even a massive whale, whatever is lurking in the dark fridge waters near Antarctica is a massive creature creating quite a stir

Kraken, Plesiosaur, underwater UFO or maybe even a massive whale, whatever is lurking in the dark fridge waters near Antarctica is a massive creature creating quite a stir.

Another mysterious sea monster was said to have been spotted last week.

In a new twist, a holidaymaker has shared a short video of a possible sighting of the Loch Ness Monster.

The sighting occurred on April 9, 2016, when Waring looked at the coordinates 63 2'56.73"S 6057'32.38"W in Google Earth, which is off the coast of Deception Island near Antarctica  although it is not clear how or where he obtained these exact coordinates.

Tourist, Tony Bligh shot a video which reportedly shows mysterious humps emerging from the Scottish waters and posted it on YouTube.

The curious footage has already racked up more than 22,000 views.

The video was filmed from the Wellington lay-by on the A82 overlooking the famous Highlands loch, on June 1.

But locals are dismissing the footage of the five-humped figure as an 'optical illusion' caused by waves left behind by a passing boat.

Another conspiracy theorist has posted about the find, but with a different opinion about the large object. But if you look more closely it looks like an artificially made object, an underwater UFO coming out of the ocean, the unknown author shared on UFO Sightings Hotspot. Google ruler said it was over 100 feet long

Nordic folklore speaks of a massive creature that haunted the icy seas of the North Sea, where it attacked passing vessels with gigantic tentacles. And conspiracy theorist believe this finding deems the legends true

Bligh said: 'While visiting Loch Ness I noticed this weird formation on the loch near to Inverness end of the loch. Could it be the elusive Nessie?

'It was quite long. The humps were consistently the same length apart. I don't know what it was. It was very unusual.'
Drunk passengers, lazy airport staff and dealing with attempts at the mile-high club are all in a day's work for cabin crew.

Ask any flight attendant for tales of their job and they will be able to list endless stories about bizarre moments thousands of feet up in the sky.

Now, people claiming to be Ryanair and former Emirates staff have taken to the internet to share some of their most interesting moments, shedding some light on previously unknown practices.

Flight attendants have shared memorable experiences of their jobs online (file image)

On the online forum Reddit, the anonymous workers have released alleged details on everything from how stewards are paid according to how much they sell on board, to how much of an aphrodisiac their uniforms are.

They were quizzed by members of the public on everything from the sex life of a flight attendant to their pet hates.

While there might be some decent perks in the job, they are offset against the difficult customers that show up on flights.

A man claiming to be a former Emirates air steward with the username exekcrew, who worked for the company for two years before being fired for misconduct, revealed that one female passenger his colleagues had served refused to talk to the cabin crew directly.

He said: 'Her husband would talk for her instead, "My wife wants this, my wife doesn't like that," etc.

'Any questions the crew asked her, she would not respond to them and would go through her husband only.'

Passengers who stand up before the seatbelt light has gone out to collect bags are a real bugbear for staff (file image)

He continued: 'Eventually the crew got annoyed at this and asked the husband why she wouldn't talk to them, and his response was that she didn't talk to servants, so they refused to serve her after that until she acknowledged them.'

Even more annoying though, according to the professionals, are the passengers who stand up before the seatbelt light has gone out.

Exekcrew said: 'One very annoying habit for crew are passengers who get up right after landing to collect the belongings from the hat rack.

'Some captains would be happy to apply the brakes a little harder when pulling into the gate if we requested it. It's the only way they'll learn.'

Another inevitable consequence of working in the industry is travel sickness.

Another man, who went by the username Noggnoskill and claimed to work for Ryanair, said: 'On one flight into Paris Bauvais, a guy spewed all over the passengers in front of him, the wall and the floor, because he was at a window seat so couldn't do a thing to get out in time.

'We had to spend about 45 minutes just cleaning up that area. The poor guy was mortified.'

Sometimes you just can't fight nature, which is why plenty of cabin crew have seen their fair share of passengers giving birth.

The work of cabin crew is far more than just serving drinks during the flight (file image)

Ex-Emirates employee Exekcrew said: 'Cabin crew go through some intense training, stuff that I think the general public don't realise.

'One of my best friends from Emirates has delivered three babies on three separate flights, happens a lot more often than people think. There are also a lot more deaths on board than people realise, enough to have body bags on each flight especially for such an occasion.'

For every nightmarish experience there is a heart-warming story, though, like when Ryanair steward Noggnoskill helped a passenger propose.

He said: 'We're about half way through our flight on New Year's Eve and this guy comes up to us in the back with absolutely zero English and passes us a piece of paper that says "I want to ask my girlfriend to marry me, can you please make PA".

'So I went to the front and [announced the man had something to say]. He asked, she said yes.

'They got a couple of free bottles of prosecco for their troubles and the guy had a massive grin for the next 3 hours and she was just crying her eyes out. I still have the piece of paper with the message!'

Romance on a Ryanair flight is a little tough to imagine, but both the Ryanair and the Emirates staff admitted there was a certain allure to air travel.

Passengers often suffer from bouts of nausea during a flight (file image)

While the Emirates employee had attempted to have sex in the cabin bunks during a flight, they were even more prolific when off the plane.

Exekcrew revealed the uniform staff wore was a real aphrodisiac both among other crew members and passengers.

He said of how easy it is to sleep with female cabin crew, in his job: 'Compared to a normal everyday working situation, very, very, very, easy.

'And passengers would always try it, so you'd usually never even have to try.

'I didn't keep a list, but I cannot count how many flight attendants I slept with. And it's not just the girls you work with, you obviously meet passengers, ground crew, party in every city etc. It's pretty easy.'

Another flight attendant on the forum then shared that two passengers got so fruity on one of her flights that they ended up indulging in a sex act in the toilet - while the female passenger's husband stayed in his seat.

Jillianjo said: 'When we finally boarded up, a couple in the back asked someone to switch seats so they could sit together.

'A few minutes later, I walk from the back of the plane to the front, and I hear the woman say "ok she's leaving!" then I walk to the back and realize that neither the man or the woman are in their seats.'

A steward revealed that he had helped a passenger propose, by making an announcement on the PA (file image)

She continued: 'So I give a good bang on the toilet door to scare them and then unlock it from the outside and open the door to see the lady giving the guy a [sexual favour].

'A little bit later we saw the lady go up to the front to talk to a guy in 15A... Turns out the guy in 15A was her husband.'

The flight attendants also shared some of the differences between salaries on the long-haul and short-haul flight companies.

With Ryanair, selling products on board gives staff an income boost.

Noggnoskill said: 'Our salaries are slightly based off sales. Our little computers calculate what we sell and give us commission.'
A passenger plane was forced to abort take-off at the last minute because the cockpit window opened.

The Air Arabia Maroc Airbus A320 - the same model as EgyptAir Flight 804, which crashed in the Mediterranean in May - was about to fly out from Amsterdam to Tangier when the flight crew rejected the take-off.

The plane, which was said to be 'travelling at low speeds', stopped about 3,000ft down the runway.

Air Arabia Maroc Airbus A320 was about to fly out from Amsterdam to Tangier when the flight crew had to reject take-off, because a cockpit window came open

One serving pilot, who wishes to remain anonymous, believes the blame lies squarely with the flight crew.

'The fact that the window opened was a very bad reflection on the crew, who obviously had not completed their checks correctly,' he told MailOnline Travel.

'All pre-flight and before take-off check lists mention closing windows.

'Indeed the windows have a double lock, with a safety latch. So they should never be able to be opened in flight.'

However the pilot adds that the flight crew 'did exactly the right thing to abort the take-off', as 'getting airborne with an open window would create a huge amount of noise and vibration and would be a huge distraction for the pilots as they attempted to close it'.

The cockpit windows must be able to be opened as they act as the emergency exit for pilots on the ground

The Aviation Herald reports that the control tower instructed emergency vehicles to attend to the aircraft, but that 'the crew advised no assistance was needed, just their cockpit window had opened during the takeoff roll'.

The problem was fixed and flight 3O-128 departed for Morocco around 15 minutes later.

The fact that the window opened was a very bad reflection on the crew who obviously had not completed their checks correctly

Speaking to MailOnline, Dai Whittingham, chief executive of the UK Flight Safety Committee, highlighted the need for cockpit windows to be able to be opened 'as this is a process that can be used to evacuate smoke from the flight deck'.

'On the ground, the windows become an emergency escape route for the flight crew,' Mr Whittingham said.

'For every day operations, opening the window is for the same reason anyone opens a window in a car on a hot day  to get some fresh airflow going through for comfort purposes.'

However, while acknowledging that the window could have been closed once airborne, Mr Whittingham highlighted the dangers a mid-air opening could pose.

'The only danger with windows opening at higher altitudes is from depressurising the cabin, which might require the short-term use of supplemental oxygen until a safe altitude is reached,' he added.
Rock band The Foo Fighters are suing insurers for failing to reimburse them for concerts they cancelled in Europe following the Paris terror attacks last November.

The group filed suit on Monday in federal court in Los Angeles against Lloyd's of London and loss adjuster Robertson Taylor.

The complaint claims the band is due payment for show called off in Turin, Italy, Paris and Lyon in France, and Barcelona.

Suing: the Foo Fighters have claimed they are owed reimbursement for concerts in Europe cancelled in the wake of the Paris terror attacks in November 2015. From l-r, Franz Stahl. Chris Shiflett, Dave Grohl, Pat Smear, Taylor Hawkins and Nate Mendel, pictured at the Grammys in LA in February

The Foo Fighters were scheduled to perform in those cities immediately after the attacks by Islamic State radicals that killed 130 people in the french capital on November 13.

The band says the website, www.foofighterstours2015.com , had been hacked the day after the attacks to display an ISIS flag, automatic weapon and the threat: 'Be prepared.'

Claiming money: The suit also seeks reimbursement for European shows they cancelled after Grohl injured his leg in a fall from a stage in Sweden. He's pictured in July 2015 performing with his leg in a cast in New York

The suit states that the musicians believe they will be paid for the Paris and Lyon cancellations but alleges that Robertson Taylor advised underwriters against paying for canceled shows in Italy and Spain despite ISIS releasing a video threatening additional attacks in Europe.

The band is also suing the insurers for not paying for three canceled shows related to Grohl's injured leg after a fall from a stage in Sweden last June.

Both Lloyd's and Robertson Taylor did not respond to requests for comment.
He's made a name for himself playing some of the film world's best known mobsters.

But Harvey Keitel, 77, showed that he shares no traits with his iconic characters as he put on a loving display with wife Daphna Kastner, 55, on Tuesday.

Striding out hand in hand, the Reservoir Dogs star seemed in good spirits as he lead his glamorous wife into the 62nd annual Taormina Film Festival in Sicily.

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Sensitive soul: Harvey Keitel, 77, showed that he shares no traits with his iconic mobster characters as he put on a loving display with wife Daphna Kastner, 55, on Tuesday at the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily

Cutting a dapper figure, the Oscar-nominated actor opted for a tailored black suit that he teamed with rose-tinted sunglasses.

Meanwhile, Daphna looked effortlessly elegant in a satin paisley print dress that flashed a hint of her tanned and toned pins.

Featuring a halter neckline, the gown clung to her slender curves, whilst a beige pashmina was draped across her shoulder.

Leggy lady! Daphna looked effortlessly elegant in a satin paisley print dress that flashed a hint of her tanned and toned pins. Featuring a halter neckline, the gown clung to her slender curves

Back in black: Cutting a dapper figure, the Oscar-nominated actor opted for a tailored black suit that he teamed with rose-tinted sunglasses whilst he slicked his silver locks away from his face

Harvey and Daphna enjoyed a night out without their son, Roman who admitted he was pleased he hadn't lost his silver locks.

The actor told the Plymouth Herald: 'My 11-year-old son said to me the other day, "Im lucky Dad because you have your hair. It means Ill have mine!"'

Harvey also has two other children Stella, 30, and Braco, 14, from previous relationships.

Glamorous guests: (L-R) Tiziana Rocca, Thierry Fremaux, Harvey Keitel, Daphna Kastner Avi Lerner seemed in good spirits as they huddled together for a snap at the prestigious event

Boys are back in town: Harvey Keitel and Renato Scloza (R) took to the stage at the respected festival

Sharing's caring: Renato Scloza handed over the box to the respected Hollywood actor

The 1970s icon famously made a name for himself in Mean Streets opposite Robert De Niro in 1973.

He went on to star opposite De Niro again in Taxi Driver as Jody Foster's pimp in 1976.

He is now well-known to UK audiences as Winston Wolfe in Direct Line adverts, reprising his role as the fixer in the 1994 classic Pulp Fiction.
As one of the highest paid models around, Joan Smalls sure has a lot to smile about.

The Puerto Rican beauty flashed her long legs and bright smile as she posed for photographs on Tuesday in Brooklyn, New York.

Joan donned a casual yet chic look, wearing just the right amount of color over her white and khaki outfit.

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Smiley Smalls! Joan was out and about in Brooklyn, New York on Tuesday while posing in a casual chic get-up

The 27-year-old wore long and flowy khaki shorts which were propped up on her waist, sending the eyes down to her toned thin pins.

Her bright white top, laced in the middle, was tightly tucked into her shorts, accentuating her skinny waist. Her white sneakers matched her top as well as the stripes on her sleeves and collar of her bright orange jacket.

A light pink embroidery of flowers adorned the right and left top of the jacket, which appeared similar to the look of a Letterman jacket.

Working the streets: Smalls carried herself well in cute khaki, high-waisted shorts while pairing it with a fitted laced top that she tucked in

Stylish and sexy: The IMG model paired her white and beige outfit with a bright orange jacket that had pink embroidered flowers on the top

The brunette model kept her hair styled in a halfway-up intricate braid, giving flavor to her image, while the other half was long and straight behind her ears.

Jewelry was kept at a minimum with the exception of a simple gold chain and small dangling earrings.

Posing as the natural beauty she is, Joan kept it bold with a dark cinnamon lip, bronzed eye-shadow and dark eyeliner.

Bold and beautiful: Joan's makeup was dark and mysterious as she wore a dark cinnamon lip paired with dark bronzed eyes. Her hair was styled in a half-way braid, leaving her straight hair behind her ears

Joan started her highly successful fashion career since graduating college and moving to New York in 2007.

She earned her credit as the first Puerto Rican fashion model to front the fashion brand's advertising campaigns, including Estee Lauder cosmetics, interviewing newcomer Kendall Jenner when she joined.

She has walked the runway for the most celebrated designers and fashion houses, featured on the most prestigious covers and appeared in popular music videos, including Beyonce's Yonce video.

In 2014, Joan topped models.coms ranking of the 50 most sought-after models, and appeared on the Return of the Supermodel cover of American Elle.

Joan, who recently walked in the star-studded Victoria's Secret Show, has been dating entrepreneur Bernard Smith since 2011.

Smouldering Smalls: The Puerto Rican beauty dazzled on the red carpet at the Tony Awards on Sunday, June 12
She's always said family is exceptionally important to her, and that she's planning on expanding hers with her fiance Sam Wood.

And on Tuesday, Snezana Markoski took some time out of her night to hang out with her older sister Lidija.

Sharing a snap to Instagram, the 35-year-old Bachelor star showed off her crystal clear skin in a sultry pose while her sibling struck poked her tongue out.

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Sisters are doing it for themselves! The Bachelor's Snezana Markoski shows off her pristine visage in a selfie with her older sibling Lidija

The Macedonian beauty pouted for the photo while striking a sexy side-glance for the camera, while Lidija made a peace sign with her baby pink manicure.

'Sisters,' wrote the stunning mother-of-one in the caption, adding love heart emojis.

The lookalike sisters have had their fair share of selfies shared to social media, including when the Science graduate celebrated her engagement to the man she fell in love with on The Bachelor.

Happy birthday! The lookalike sisters have had their fair share of selfies shared to social media, including this snap taken on Lidija's 37th birthday earlier this year

'About last night': In March, Lidija shared a glowing photo of her and her sister at Snezana's engagement party in Melbourne

In March, Lidija shared a glowing photo of her and her sister at the Melbourne celebration that took place at Pop Up Patch in the CBD.

'About Last Night, a little sneak peek,' Lidija wrote in the caption.

'Me and my little sis at her engagement, what an amazing night.'

'A nice sisterly pic': When Snezana decided to make the move from Perth to Melbourne to be with her man, Lidija wanted to take a nice snap together to keep in each other's homes and 'this is what happened'

The ombre-haired beauty has always been supportive of her sister's relationship, gushing with pride at the announcement of their engagement.

Even before they made the decision to tie the knot, Lidija was posting to Instagram after the finale of The Bachelor in which Sam picked Snezana.

'Australia's Hottest New Couple @snezanamarkoski and @samjameswood Congratulations On Your New Found Love,' captioned Lidija with a snap of the pair.
Most people start the day with a coffee, some with a workout and others simply rolling over and pressing the snooze button.

But Imogen Anthony's morning routine is not what most would consider conventional.

While road-tripping around the US with her boyfriend Karl Sandilands, the 25-year-old girlfriend teased her fans with a seductive dance in her underwear, asking: 'How do you start your day?'

'How do you start your day?' Imogen Anthony teases her fans with a seductive dance to Metallica in her underwear

Wearing skimpy navy lingerie, the glamour model snapped the strap on her right hip as she swayed and bent her left leg.

She had pulled up a black sweater to reveal her enviably flat stomach, appearing to almost rub herself up against the wall while Metallica's Sad But True.

The pink-haired beauty played with her long tresses, having pushed a thick far over her face.

Skimpy: Wearing skimpy navy lingerie, the glamour model snapped the strap on her right hip

Whatever happened to a coffee and a piece of toast? The 25-year-old's 'morning routine' is a little less than what most would consider conventional

'Morning metal routines on #Snapchat - how do you start your day?' she wrote in the caption of the video.

While her start to the day might be a little unusual, it's pretty much the status quo for Imogen who often posts racy photos to social media.

Over the weekend, the fashion designer certainly seemed to be making the most of her US getaway as she posed for a bikini-clad photo underneath a lemon tree.

Stock standard really! While her start to the day might be a little unusual, it's pretty much the status quo for Imogen

'When life hands you lemons': Over the weekend, the fashion designer posed for a bikini-clad photo underneath a lemon tree

'When life hands you lemons, go for a holiday in #PalmSprings,' wrote the 25-year-old socialite as she posed in the skimpy swimwear with a lemon in each hand.

The busty bombshell jetted to Los Angeles on Friday to surprise her longtime lover for his 45th birthday and their fifth anniversary.

Imogen, who is 20 years younger than Kyle, has previously stated that her man can't wait to have children.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Imogen said: 'He's clucky, trust me he's clucky', adding that Kyle had become increasingly adamant about having children over the past couple of years.
Amy Schumer posted a photo to her Instagram page on Tuesday snuggling up to her sister's pooch.

The comedienne is seen in the snap lying face down on top of a bed, canoodling with her younger sister Kim's precious dog Abbott.

She captioned the photo: 'John and Yoko.'

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Spooning! The stand-up comedian snuggles up to Abbott, who is her younger sister's dog

The funny woman looked cozy in a white cotton t-shirt and dark coral colored sweat pants with her blonde hair pulled back in a high bun.

Abbott is looking straight at the camera for the photograph and even appears to smile for the birdie.

The Trainwreck actress's sister, Kim Caramele, has previously revealed that Amy really only visits her to see the brindle and white pup.

Best friends: It's safe to say Abbott and Amy make an adorable couple



The Inside Amy Schumer star is not only known for her edgy and laugh-out-loud comedy, but also her love for dogs.

She is always showing off her cute paw friends on social media and even helps with dog rescue organizations.

Schumer recently bought a new puppy with her beau Ben Hansich soon after they announced they were dating in January of this year. The two cuddled together with their new pup and captioned the photo, 'It's a girl.'

It's a girl! The couple announced they are dating in January and have already adopted their first dog

Schumer is currently on tour which coincides with the fourth season of her hit Comedy Central show Inside Amy Schumer.

Her first book The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo will hit bookstores in August.

In addition, the busy star recently penned a screenplay with her best pal Jennifer Lawrence, in which they play sisters, and has signed on to play Goldie Hawn's daughter in an upcoming comedy.
Nadiya Hussain is planning to get married in Britain to her husband of 11 years, Abdal (together above)

When Nadiya Hussain made herself a wedding cake in The Great British Bake Off final, many viewers were moved to tears.

The 31-year-old winner, who had not enjoyed a cake at her own nuptials because they took place in Bangladesh where it's not the custom, will soon have another opportunity for a mouth-watering creation.

Nadiya says she is planning to get married in Britain to her husband of 11 years, Abdal.

'We're married Islamically, but we've never done the proper vows here,' she says. 'So we're talking about making it all official. It's a great excuse for a party!' Muslim couples need to take part in a civil ceremony as well as a religious wedding for their marriage to be recognised under British law.

Her creation for the final of the hugely popular BBC series was a lemon drizzle cake  her husband's favourite  adorned with icing jewels and decorated with a red, white and blue sari.

Mother-of-three Nadiya, who baked the Queen's 90th birthday cake, had an arranged marriage with Abdal, but the union has worked out well.

'Marriage isn't easy, especially when you don't know each other very well,' she admits.

'We got married six months after meeting. There were definitely times when I could have said: 'I'm done. I'm not enjoying this any more.' But we've always been very happy. We're one of the lucky ones.'

Abdal was admired for his handsome looks when he appeared on the Bake Off. 'He got a lot of attention about his look after appearing,' Nadiya says. 'He finds it funny. He's had the odd strange tweet from middle-aged men saying: 'Are you in London? Fancy meeting up?'

'But he's not vain and I don't think he realises how good-looking and lovely he is. He's definitely been my biggest support and, since Bake Off, he irons clothes, feeds the kids and does the dishes.'

Nadiya, who was previously a housewife, has signed a multi-book publishing deal and landed her own travel cookery show.

And of her meeting with Her Majesty, she recalls: 'The Queen said: 'This is the young lady who won the Bake Off', and Prince Philip said: 'Yes, dear, I know who she is, now, what flavour's the cake?' '

The 31-year-old winner, who had not enjoyed a cake at her own nuptials because they took place in Bangladesh where it's not the custom, is pictured being comforted by Mary Berry after winning Bake Off

When Nadiya made herself a wedding cake in The Bake Off final (pictured), many viewers were moved to tears

Rona Fairhead, the BBC Trust Chairman, is pining for Tom Hiddleston.

'I have to confess, I became addicted to The Night Manager, as did my family,' she admits.

'Our children came from miles around, often with their friends, to watch it together with us. It was so compelling. So when the final episode coincided with the first day of our family holiday in France, we gave very serious consideration to postponing that holiday.'

If only someone in authority could nudge the BBC into allowing licence-fee payers to log in to the iPlayer abroad.

Marr's art earns new fans

Andrew Marr had to give up painting landscapes after his devastating stroke, but his abstract oils are winning acclaim.

A picture he submitted for a blind auction in aid of Royal Brompton & Harefield hospitals charity has fetched 150, which was 100 more than the figure pledged for a work by professional artist Emma Tennant. Called April Laundry, Marr's painting was a colourful image of a coat rack. The auction raised a total of almost 28,000.

'As I really don't have the use of my left arm, and my left leg is wonky, it's very, very hard to paint outside,' Marr told me. 'You have to carry everything, so I had to give it up, which was very sad.'

Eugenie keeps Dad's pal at arm's length

Princess Eugenie co-hosted the UNAids Gala in Basel, Switzerland, on Monday, attended by her fathers socialite chum Goga Ashkenazi.

Ever since she brokered the controversial sale of his former marital home Sunninghill Park to her lover for 15 million  bizarrely at 3 million over the asking price  friends of Prince Andrew have urged him to distance himself from Goga. So that might explain why Princess Eugenie, 26, and Ashkenazi, 36, were not photographed together.

While Eugenie, left, sported a red Alexander McQueen dress, Goga, right, wore a striking see-through outfit revealing her bra and pants. If only her business dealings with Prince Andrew were so transparent.
She's the socialite daughter of rock God, Rod Stewart.

And Kimberly Stewart was back to doing what she does best as she attended the first birthday party of exclusive bar, Black Dice - situated underneath London Moroccan restaurant MOMO - on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old looked stunning for the event as she cut an ethereal figure in a flowing floral gown that showed off her dainty decolletage with a plunging neckline, which put her at risk of a wardrobe malfunction.

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Doing what she does best! Kimberly Stewart risked a wardrobe malfunction in her plunging boho mini dress as she attended the first birthday party of exclusive bar, Black Dice, on Tuesday night

Kimberly made the most of her fabulous figure in the billowing boho dress, as she cinched in her tiny waist with a thick leather belt that featured golden embroidered detailing.

She also shunned the heels as she showed off her already never ending legs in a pair of knee-high flat boots.

And the blonde beauty maintained her low-key glamour in the hair department as she sported a wistful side fringe that added extra volume to her luxurious golden waves.

Boho chic! The 36-year-old cut an ethereal figure in a flowing floral gown that showed off her dainty decolletage with a plunging neckline

Glamorous! Kimberly (pictured with party organiser, Paul Rowe) made the most of her fabulous figure as she cinched in her tiny waist with a thick leather belt

Meanwhile the mother-of-one accentuated her striking features with carefully placed contouring and drew attention to her piercing blue peepers with a shimmering bronze eyeshadow.

And she showed off her credentials as a model and fashion designer as she smoldered in front of the camera with the perfect nude pout.

The leggy blonde is currently single, although she co-parents her four-year-old daughter Delilah with Benicio Del Toro.

Indie chic: Jo Wood cut an extremely alternative figure for the party as she wore a navy and black maxi dress that flashed just a hint of her heeled boots underneath

Cover up! Jo gave a nod to the bomber jacket trend with a satin coat that she wore in extravagant shades of gold red and black

Three's a party: Jo Wood, Lily Hodges and Carole Siller smouldered in front of the camera as they enjoyed the party

Benicio and Kimberly had just a brief romance and were never in a committed relationship, but they are both very devoted to their daughter.

She previously revealed to Hello! magazine that Benicio was at her bedside while she gave birth.

Kimberly said: 'The whole family, including Benicio, was at the hospital and my mom and Benicio were in the delivery room with me'.

Standing out from the crowd: Pam Hogg looked exuberant as she styled her canary yellow hair into a wildly back-combed quiff

Mingling: Jo Wood socialised with party planner, Yasmin Mills and her daughter, Maddie

Dream team: The crowd enjoyed the anniversary party of the club, which is based on Regents Street in London

She was also joined by a number of other big names at the event, such as Jo Wood, Pam Hogg and party planner, Yasmin Mills.

Jo cut an extremely alternative figure for the party as she wore a navy and black maxi dress that flashed just a hint of her heeled boots underneath.

She also gave a nod to the bomber jacket trend with a satin coat that she wore in extravagant shades of gold red and black.

Eye-catching Camilla Rutherford (left) stood out from the crowd in a vibrant red jacket

Family affair: Yasmin and her daughter Maddie looked beautiful in shades of cream and gold

And the model rounded off her laid back style with a single gold pendant and simple black shoulder bag.

Meanwhile, Pam looked equally exuberant as she styled her canary yellow hair into a wildly back-combed quiff and shrouded her frame in an androgynous tailored grey coat, with red velvet detailing around the pockets and collar.

Black Dice is based on bustling Regents Street in London and prides itself on paying tribute to rock icons such as Rod Stewart and The Clash.
Their union only last eight short months.

But Jodie Marsh has once-again lashed out at her estranged husband, James Placido, on social media, saying the thought of them being together now 'makes her sick'.

Taking to her Instagram page on Tuesday, the 37-year-old body builder let her 393,000 followers know her feelings towards James by re-captioning several snaps of herself and her husband from happier times.

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'This now makes me feel sick - I bought him these trousers, jumper and shoes. My parents bought him this dinner jacket': Jodie Marsh has lashed out at her estranged husband, James Placido, on social media again

Jodie - who announced her split from James in April - lashed out at her former Mr. Right, editing the captions on two posts featuring herself and James looking loved up and happy.

In one of the snaps a beaming Jodie can be seen in a plunging floral maxi dress, with her arm wrapped around her dapper husband - who is wearing a maroon smoking jacket.

But clearly feeling extremely uncomfortable with the picture now, the former glamour girl edited the words accompanying it to read: 'This now makes me feel sick - I bought him these trousers and jumper and got him these shoes. My parents bought him this dinner jacket.'

And clearly in need of a vent, Jodie changed the words below a picture of the couple and two of her dogs to read that he was 'clearly punching' above his weight.

'Clearly punching': Taking to her Instagram on Tuesday, the body builder, 37, let her 393,000 followers know her feelings towards James by re-captioning several snaps of herself and her husband from happier times

And it seems James isn't the only one to have caught her ire, as the glamour model took to her Twitter account later on in the day to blast the cast of ITV's Love Island for their amorous antics.

Jodie - who has already expressed her affections for Terry Walsh in a cheeky naked selfie - she expressed her doubts his relationship with Malin Anderson would last.

However, it seems the bedroom based antics featured on the show have irked the fitness fanatic, as she lashed out at the Islanders' behaviour on the nation's TV screen.

'On a serious note, I still CANNOT believe that these people actually have sex on TV!! It's too much! This is not normal!!!! #LoveIsland,' she began.

Not a fan! And it seems James isn't the only one to have caught her ire, as the glamour model took to her Twitter account later on in the day to blast the cast of ITV's Love Island for their amorous antics

Adding to her 606,000 followers: 'If they were Porn stars then fair enough but they're just normal people who are happy to openly have sex on TV! Wtf?What about their family [sic]?'

And clearly warming to her theme she had another dig at James, writing: 'I've done some dodgy & very embarrassing things in my time (like get married) but my god if I'd had sex on TV my parents would disown me!!

'I must be getting old. It really shocks me that these people are happy to shag on TV knowing that their families are prob watching....[sic].'

Jodie's latest outburst came after the model launched an epic rant on Twitter at the start of the month, threatening to tell all about her relationship and breakup.

Saucy snaps: The comments came after Jodie - who has already expressed her affections for Terry Walsh in a cheeky naked selfie (pictured) - said she had her doubts his relationship with Malin Anderson

Jodie told her fans that she couldn't stay silent anymore after her estranged husband allegedly 'made monetary demands from me' despite signing a prenup before their marriage.

While neither the former glamour model or James has revealed why they are heading for divorce, according to Jodie it won't be long before the truth comes out.

The blonde posted a string of messages on her social media account, telling her fans: 'So James has been making monetary demands from me (after signing a pre nup). If he carries on I WILL be telling everyone why we REALLY split.'

Speaking out: Jodie's latest outburst came after the model launched an epic rant on Twitter at the start of the month, threatening to tell all about her relationship and breakup

Hitting back: Jodie told her fans that she couldn't stay silent anymore after her estranged husband 'made monetary demands from me' despite signing a prenup before their marriage

Jodie alleged that the real reason for the breakup was so bad, James would have to leave the country, as she explained:

'He really really won't want the truth coming out about him. Believe me, I reckon he'd have to leave the country if people knew the truth...I'm only sparing him for now as it's my ammunition in the divorce..... If he plays nice, signs the papers & f**** off then I'll play nice.' (sic)

'He's got NOTHING on me & nothing bad to say about me. I was the perfect loving wife (who stupidly fell for him). Yes I feel an idiot now,' she continued.

Divorce: Jodie announced her split from James in April, less than eight months after they tied the knot

'Perfect wife' Jodie insists she did nothing wrong throughout her brief marriage

'For him to say anything bad about me he would have to make it up and lie as I literally didn't put a foot wrong in our marriage.'

She added: 'I am so so so embarrassed & hurt that I fell for his lies & trickery. I will never be so stupid again.'

I'm embarrassed to even KNOW him, let alone have married him,' she said adding the hashtag 'cringe'.

Moving on: The blonde posted a string of messages on her social media account, telling her fans she is 'embarrassed' to have fallen for the personal trainer

Jodie even claimed that James 'recently threatened to drive a truck through my gates to get onto my property'.

She also claimed to be adding extra security measures to her house to protect herself from James, tweeting: 'You know you have trust issues with your ex when you have 10 more CCTV cameras installed.'

She went on to warn other women off her soon-to-be ex husband, tweeting: 'Anyway I've done my charity work for the last year or so. The next boyfriend I get needs to be on MY level (success & finance wise)

Claims: Jodie even claimed that James threatened to force his way onto her property

'And ladies: BE WARNED: this is not sour grapes. I'm sitting here laughing. I couldn't care less. Just STAY AWAY from him. He's dangerous,' later adding:

'Oh & if any ladies are having the "pleasure" of sex with James right now; don't give him any money, don't leave him alone in your house....don't leave him alone with children or animals, don't trust his lies when he tells you everything you wanna hear & be savvy!!!!'

Bodybuilder Jodie announced her split from personal trainer James on social media in April, just eight months after their surprise wedding in Barbados.

Warning: The former glamour model was keen to warn other women off her ex

She later took to Twitter to say that the end of her marriage would not signal the end of her family dreams and she'll do it alone if need be.

She wrote: 'The future is this: I'm making 2 more shows for @tlc_uk then I'm going to revisit having a baby via sperm donation #itsallaboutME.'

Jodie made the announcement of her split via Instagram too, saying: 'It is with sadness that I bring you the news that James and I have separated.'

'I will be keeping all the dogs with me. I won't be taking calls on the matter as I'd like to be left alone. I thank you in advance for your sensitivity on this subject...'
Kyle Sandilands isn't one to hole back and that was once again the case for the controversial KIIS FM radio host on Wednesday.

During Jackie 'O' Henderson's take on Vogue's 73 questions, the 45-year-old left his co-host speechless after he revealed two shocking self-confessions.

After being asked by the 41-year-old 'what's the best compliment you've ever received', Kyle replied: 'Your penis tastes like biscuits'.

Say what! Kyle Sandilands left his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson speechless on Wednesday after he revealed two shocking self-confessions during her take on Vogue's 73 questions

Seemingly thrown by the reply, Jackie quickly moved on to the next question.

She went on to ask the disc jockey what his favourite television show of all-time was to which he answered 'Little House On The Prairie'.

Jackie was quick to burst into laughter and call fibs on the comment, replying 'I call b*******. I feel like you just said whatever first came to mind.'

'I love that show,' Kyle added in a bid to defend his answer.

Shocking: After being asked by Jackie 'what's the best compliment you've ever received', Kyle replied, 'Your penis tastes like biscuits,' leaving her quickly moving on to the next question

Kyle's comments come a month after his sex life became a hot topic during one of their breakfast shows, after his co-host asked when he last got hot and heavy with his lady love, Imogen Anthony.

'It was the weekend,' Kyle admitted to Jackie, 41. 'I got up and went to feed the animals and she grabbed my arm and said "no, no" and I know what that means.'

Adding to his confession, Kyle added somewhat distastefully: 'So I thrashed her in there and then went to feed the animals.'

Lies? She went on to ask Kyle what his favourite all time television show was, which he answered 'Little House On The Prairie'

Earlier that month Imogen spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her partner's inability to hold censor himself, saying: 'He blurts out everything, but it's fine.'

The model did admit her beau does speak to her in advance if he plans to reveal an extremely private matter to fans on the show.

'He has kind of spoken to me beforehand,' she confessed.
The staid suit was exchanged for something a little more colourful on Tuesday afternoon as TV presenter Andrew OKeefe paid a visit to Bondi Beach.

Wading into the choppy water with five-year old daughter Olive, the Deal Or No Deal presenter appeared to be making waves of his very own thanks to the vibrantly patterned budgie smugglers he sported for the outing.

With a colourful mosaic design the snug fitting beachwear ensured OKeefe stood out as he enjoyed a spot of body surfing with Olive the youngest of his three children with social worker wife Eleanor.

Fetching: The staid suit was exchanged for something a little more colourful on Tuesday afternoon as TV presenter Andrew OKeefe paid a visit to Bondi Beach with his daughter Olive

The 44-year old appeared to be in high spirits on the day, and he kept a watchful eye on his daughter as she splashed around in the surf.

Returning to the beach, OKeefe - a former intellectual property lawyer - kept Olive entertained as they played on the sand.

The presenter's appearance comes after a recent confession to being arrested while on holiday with his family in Cuba.

Hard to miss: Wading into the choppy water with five-year old daughter Olive, the Deal Or No Deal presenter appeared to be making waves of his very own thanks to the vibrantly patterned budgie smugglers

Steady on: O'Keefe kept a watchful eye on his daughter as she splashed around in the surf

I'll take you hand: The presenter made sure his daughter was close as they made their way into the water

The family were enjoying some downtime in Nueva Paz when they were involved in a car accident which eventually landed the presenter in jail.

'We had a car accident one day,' he told New Idea last month.

'Unfortunately, we ran into a government minister and his flunkies  which meant no matter how much I argued, it was all our fault!'

Here we go: O'Keefe dived into the frothy water as another wave crashed against them

But, the TV star says eventually, after some fast talking, he was released, 'In the end, I managed to persuade the police that I wasnt a flight risk.'

Andrew's once hit game show Deal Or No Deal, which ran for ten years, has been on repeat since 2013.

He also co-presents daily breakfast show Sunrise and has hosted The Chase Australia - a version of the hugely popular British game show - since September 2015.

Let's go: O'Keefe eventually padded back onto the sand with Olive after a swim in the ocean

Fun: The presenter appeared to got through some stretching exercises on the sand

Dad duty: OKeefe - a former intellectual property lawyer - kept Olive entertained as they played on the sand
Love conquers all.

And in the case of Greg Rikaart, The Young and the Restless actor brought to life a miracle with his husband and TV writer Robert Sudduth on Sunday evening.

The couple celebrated the birth of their baby boy, Montgomery Argo Rikaart-Sudduth, who was born via surrogate on Sunday, June 12 at 5:01 pm in Roseville, California.

Congratulations! Actor Greg Rikaart and husband Robert Sudduth welcome their first child on Sunday, June 12 as they posed with their precious son on Instagram

The 39-year-old shared a timeless black-and-white photo of himself and Robert cradling their baby son.

In a well-worded and poignant caption, Greg welcomed their first child, but also addressed the heartbreaking shootings that occurred earlier that day at the gay club, Pulse, in Orlando, Florida where 49 innocent people died.

'We fight hate, fear, bigotry, homophobia and injustice in the world with love, intellect and enlightenment,' wrote the soap opera star. 'In the truest and most pure definitions of the latter words, it is with full hearts that Rob and I take great pride in introducing our son, Montgomery Argo Rikaart-Sudduth.'

Greg continued the post writing, 'He was born in Roseville, CA at 5:01pm on 6/12/16. He is light and love and magic. Monte, Rob, myself and Marcela, our trooper of a surrogate, are all doing fantastic.'

Holy Matrimony: The Hollywood couple married in May of 2015 on a beautiful beach in Maui

Good-lookin! The Young and the Restless actor came out only three years ago, the day after the Supreme Court overturned the Defense of Marriage Act

The delightful news came a little over a year ago since the good-looking couple exchanged wedding vows in a breathtaking marriage ceremony in Maui during the month of May.

The actor shared on Instagram a beautiful moment between the loving couple at sunset. He captioned the photo, 'Holy matrimony.'

The Young and the Restless fans would know Greg by his portrayal of Kevin Fisher on the CBS soap where he's starred since 2003. The actor won an Emmy Award for his role in 2005.

Young and in love: Rikaart came out a day after the 2013 Supreme Court ruling and captioned the photo with then-boyfriend Robert saying, 'Not getting married anytime soon, but celebrating #equality tonight nonetheless'

Emmy winner: The 39-year-old won an Emmy award for his portrayal of Kevin Fisher since he's starred in 2003

However, it was only three years ago when Greg came out publicly on Twitter in June 2013. He posted on his social media a picture of him and Robert one day after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Defense of Marriage Act.

During an interview with Gay Stars News, Greg expressed his hope that his character on the CBS soap opera would come out as gay.

'I think it would be a super interesting story to tell,' he shared. 'I think it would be more socially responsible than just bringing on a gay characterto have someone on the canvas that the audience knows and thinks of as family and takes that (coming out) journey.'
She's been sporting a series of statement dresses in Italy this week, and Natasha Oakley wore the most revealing of them all on Wednesday, while exploring Florence.

The Sydney-born model flashed her toned thighs as she twirled in a high slit gown in a photo shared on Instagram.

The black and white floor-length number featured a plunging neckline which revealed a hint of her ample assets.

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Poser: Natasha Oakley flashed her toned thighs in a high slit gown in a photo shared on Instagram on Wednesday

With one hand running through her silky blonde mane and the other appearing to hike up her dress, 25-year-old Tash could be seen striking a sultry pose.

Her deeply tanned skin and svelte physique didn't go unnoticed as her followers wasted no time double tapping the image.

Just one day prior, the blonde beauty stepped out in a head-turning evening gown while celebrating her first anniversary with her boyfriend Gilles Souteyrand.

Eye-catching: Exposing a hint of side-boob, Tash's dress perfectly accentuated her voluptuous curves as she celebrated the first anniversary of her relationship with boyfriend Gilles Souteyrand

The couple has enjoyed a three-week jaunt across several cities including Venice and Tuscany but Tash said recently that the city of Florence was the most captivating.

'I spent the afternoon strolling around the streets of the city, which is known as one of the most outstanding economic, cultural, political and artistic centers of Italy,' she wrote via her personal blog.

'Being from Australia which is a fairly young country, it is always very humbling to be surrounded by a place that is more than 2000 years old, rich in history and culture.'

Flashing her pins: Tash was beaming while enjoying a date with London-based Gilles Souteyrand in Venice

Cheers! Gilles also took to social media and posted a snap as they enjoyed a drink together while on a romantic gondola ride in Venice

Tash and London-based Gilles confirmed their relationship to Daily Mail Australia in November.

'We are very much in love and have been together for six months, the bikini blogger said at the time.

Their trip started with a stay at the luxurious Grand Hotel Tremezzo, where she was pictured showing off her bikini-clad figure as she lazed by the side of a hot tub with the sweeping views of Lake Como behind her.

Pretty in pink: The Sydney-born model has enjoyed a three-week jaunt across Italy recently

The couple explored Venice and its neighboring island, Burano, before heading inland to Florence.

Having secretly broken up with her former boyfriend, French Big Brother star Martin Medus some time this year, Natasha's new relationship took social media by surprise.

As a model and personal trainer, Gilles has worked with high fashion brands such as Burberry, and graced international magazine covers such as Men's Fitness.

Picture perfect: The bikini blogger looked every inch the tourist while exploring Europe

He has also worked in several campaigns for Swiss luxury watchmaker, Patek Philipe, and has even included her in his new modelling portfolio for Select Models.

Running his personal training business out of Core Collective in Kensington, London, the fitness guru focuses his methods on CrossFit, core exercise and calisthenics.

Tash and her best friend Devin Brugman rose to stardom in 2012 after launching their popular blog A Bikini A Day, and they now have a combined 2.9million Instagram followers.

BFFs: Tash and her best friend Devin Brugman rose to stardom in 2012 after launching their popular blog A Bikini A Day

Bikini lover: The blonde beauty regularly models swimwear on Instagram

Posting two snaps across social media, she wrote: Arrived in Florence. Having another anniversary dinner, because why not?!

Natasha, 25, has been enjoying an extended European break with Frenchman Gilles seven months after confirming their romance to Daily Mail Australia in November.

'We are very much in love and have been together for six months, she said at the time.

Looking good: The Australian swimwear designer was celebrating the first anniversary of her blossoming relationship with London based Gilles, and she dressed to impress in a stunning silk evening gown

Their trip started with a stay at the luxurious Grand Hotel Tremezzo, where she was pictured showing off her bikini-clad figure as she lazed by the side of a hot tub with the sweeping views of Lake Como behind her.

The couple have since explored Venice and its neighbouring island, Burano, before heading inland to Florence.

Having secretly broken up with her former boyfriend, French Big Brother star Martin Medus some time this year, Natasha's new relationship took social media by surprise.

Cause for celebration: Posting two snaps across social media, she wrote Arrived in Florence. Having another anniversary dinner, because why not?!

Lavish lifestyle: Their trip started with a stay at the luxurious Grand Hotel Tremezzo, where she was pictured showing off her bikini-clad figure as she lazed by the side of a hot tub with the sweeping views of Lake Como behind her

As a model and personal trainer, Gilles has worked with high fashion brands such as Burberry, and graced international magazine covers such as Men's Fitness.

He has also worked in several campaigns for Swiss luxury watchmaker, Patek Philipe, and has even included her in his new modelling portfolio for Select Models.
She publicly came out as a gay woman a year ago.

And Faustina "Fuzzy" Agolley was on hand to lend her support to the LGBT community in Los Angeles on Sunday while marching in the annual pride parade.

The 32-year-old presenter was among hundreds of activists who took part in the march as part of Pride month in the US.

Celebration: Faustina "Fuzzy" Agolley marched in the Los Angeles pride parade on Sunday

Sea of colour: The Video Hits host attended the event as part of Pride month in the US just hours after the Orlando shooting

The event was held just hours after a deadly nightclub shooting in Orlando left 50 dead and the former Video Hits host said there was a sombre tone.

'... You couldnt help but think about the people in Orlando and eventually the weight of the news got onto me and once we finished the parade, I just wanted to leave, I wanted to go,' she told SBS.

'... The best way to fight terrorism is to show up ... This is the whole reason why we march and why theres a pride parade.

Beaming: The London-born Australian media personality looked upbeat although she did admit that there was a sombre tone at the event following the deadly shooting in Orlando

Proud: Hundreds showed up to support the LGBT community after it was revealed that Orlando shooting occurred at a gay nightclub

'For the longest time weve been treated as second class citizens or unworthy so its important to show up, its important to go out and its shame that other [people] who found out about [the attacks] overnight didnt show.'

The London-born media personality, who is of Chinese and Ghanaian descent, appeared to be in good spirits while posing in a series of pictures shared on Instagram.

Sporting her trademark fro and a beaming smile, Faustina wore a while LGBT t-shirt with the word PRIDE emblazoned across the chest in various colours.

Happy: The former model came out as a gay woman last year on her 31st birthday

She handmade a dozen of the shirts the night before what she referred to as 'gay Christmas' on social media.

'Gay Christmas Eve! My first hand painted tee! 7 more to go! #lapride,' the former The Voice correspondent captioned an image of the shirts.

Last year, the former model surprised fans with news of her sexuality while celebrating her 31st birthday.

Supportive family: She has received strong support from friends, family and fans since revealing her sexuality

'As a child I always knew I was gay, but somewhere the feeling got lost,' she wrote in a candid blog post.

'For those reading this who are LGBT and havent come out  even when society may not deem you equal because of your sexuality  know that you are.'
She isn't shy of declaring her love for her husband on social media.

And Nicole Trunfio once again appeared affectionate with her musician beau Gary Clark, Jr. in a snap she shared to Instagram on Wednesday.

The newlyweds were enjoying a date night at the iconic topless cabaret show Crazy Horse in Paris - often referred to as Le Crazy.

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Date night: Nicole Trunfio, 30, enjoyed a date night with her husband Gary Clark, Jr., 32, at legendary Parisian cabaret Crazy Horse on Tuesday night

The 30-year-old Australian model captioned the shot: '#datenight at the Crazy Horse Thank you @alimahdaviparis for being so brilliant and special #paris (sic).'

Nicole pouted for the camera while holding a champagne glass and cosying up to her long-time love Gary.

Her brunette locks appeared tousled and she sported a freshly coated dark manicure that drew attention to her supersized engagement ring and wedding band.

The beauty kept her makeup look simple in the hazy shot with a smooth complexion, defined cheekbones and nude lip.

Touching: The Australian model posted a tribute to Instagram of her late father following his death, last month

The date would no doubt be a pleasant distraction for the media personality who is coming to terms with a death in the family.

Nicole's father passed away earlier this month after a long battle with cancer.

Describing herself as being 'more heartbroken than I could have ever imagined possible', she wrote on Instagram: '#thegreatest soul I have ever known, so blessed and humbled you are my father.

'I love you more than words can describe, you taught me everything I know, with your grace, honesty and loyalty'.

Family: Nicole is seen here with her late father Joe

The mother-of-one continued: 'You touched everyone in your path, so deeply, so vividly. A character so wild, so true.

'I am more heartbroken than I could have ever imagined possible, to know I cannot feel your warmth and call you for wisdom and love, or even just a laugh anymore.

'No words can describe the fact you're not here with me, but your legacy and strength will live on, always.

'I know you live in my heart and will guide me always through this life, I will see you in another.

'I love you dad. #mysoulmate #mybestfriend #thisangelismyfather Giuseppe Antonio Trunfio #RIP 01.06.2016 #letuspray.'

This past April Nicole married Gary in a beautiful ceremony in Palm Springs.

She and son Zion are regular fixtures when Gary and his band travel the world performing.



Newlyweds: This past April the media personality married her long-time love in a beautiful ceremony in Palm Springs

'You are all so special in your own individual way': Nicole made sure to praise her five bridesmaids, including Jessica Gomes and Gemma Ward, for attending her fantasy nuptials in a gushing Instagram message

Happy family: Gary has a fan club consisting of his biggest supporters, his wife Nicole and their son Zion. Pictured at Falls Festival 2015
Miley Cyrus reunited with Liam Hemsworth for a dinner date at the member's only Soho House in Manhattan's Meatpacking district on Tuesday evening.

The 23-year-old pop diva prominently displayed the $100K 3.5-carat Neil Lane sparkler her 26-year-old former fiance gave her back in 2012.

As they headed back to their Midtown hotel, the 5ft5in Grammy nominee even held hands with the 6ft3in Australian actor in a rare show of PDA.

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Love in the Big Apple: Miley Cyrus reunited with Liam Hemsworth for a dinner date at the member's only Soho House in Manhattan's Meatpacking district on Tuesday evening

Wedding bling: The 23-year-old pop diva prominently displayed the $100K 3.5-carat Neil Lane sparkler her 26-year-old former fiance gave her back in 2012

Miley - born Destiny - and Liam reportedly rekindled their on/off romance in December, but only confirmed their relationship in March.

Hemsworth has since discussed having children with Cyrus, saying they'll go down that road one day when it feels right.

'For now, I still feel very young and there's a lot of things to do without kids weighing in on situations. I'll leave that until later on in life,' the Dressmaker heartthrob told NW magazine last week.

According to Us Weekly - the dog-loving millennials plan on marrying this summer on a beach Down Under, and Miley's father Billy Ray Cyrus has already offered to preside over the nuptials.

Hand-in-hand stroll: As they headed back to their Midtown hotel, the 5ft5in Grammy nominee even held hands with the 6ft3in Australian actor in a rare show of PDA

Still going strong: Miley - born Destiny - and Liam reportedly rekindled their on/off romance in December, but only confirmed their relationship in March

'I'll leave that until later on in life': Hemsworth - wearing a black Cotton Citizen T-shirt - has since discussed having children with Cyrus, saying they'll go down that road one day when it feels right

Tying the knot: According to Us Weekly - the dog-loving millennials plan on marrying this summer on a beach Down Under, and Miley's father Billy Ray Cyrus has already offered to preside over the nuptials

For their hot night out, the Bernie Sanders supporter - who relies on stylist Simone Harouche - donned orange Adidas shower slides with loud-patterned trousers and a black tank top.

Cyrus finished off her busy, outrageous ensemble with a a fully-rooted top bun, trendy choker, sunglasses at night, and a jean jacket.

Liam, meanwhile, looked stylish in black jeans and a top teamed with a cool burgundy Bally jacket.

The Space Boots songstress and the Hunger Games alum fell in love on the 2009 set of the Nicholas Sparks teen drama The Last Song, which managed to amass $89M despite dismal reviews.

'We were together five years,' Liam said in the July edition of Men's Fitness UK.

Nice slippers: For their hot night out, the Bernie Sanders supporter - who relies on stylist Simone Harouche - donned orange Adidas shower slides with loud-patterned trousers and a black tank top

Artist formerly known as Hannah Montana: Cyrus finished off her busy, outrageous ensemble with a a fully-rooted top bun, trendy choker, sunglasses at night, and a jean jacket

'It wasnt just a fling': The Space Boots songstress and the Hunger Games alum fell in love on the 2009 set of the Nicholas Sparks teen drama The Last Song, which managed to amass $89M despite dismal reviews

'So I dont think those feelings will ever change. And thats good because that proves to me that it was real. It wasnt just a fling. It really was an important part of my life and always will be.'

The Muppets hunk will next star opposite Jeff Goldblum in Independence Day: Resurgence, which hits UK theaters June 23 and US theaters June 24.

In the Roland Emmerich disaster flick, Hemsworth plays Jake Morrison, a US pilot and son-in-law of former President Thomas J. Whitmore (Bill Pullman).

Playing US pilot Jake Morrison: The Muppets hunk will next star opposite Jeff Goldblum in Independence Day: Resurgence, which hits UK theaters June 23 and US theaters June 24

You killed my father, prepare to die: Liam will also play Texas Ranger David Kingston opposite Woody Harrelson in the 1880s-set western The Duel, which hits US theaters June 24

Liam will also play Texas Ranger David Kingston opposite Woody Harrelson in the 1880s-set western The Duel, which hits US theaters June 24.

Meanwhile, Miley will next join Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton on the 11th season of The Voice, which likely premieres in September on Fox.

The Golden Globe nominee will also play a hippie in Woody Allen's six-episode, half-hour series for Amazon Studios, which is set in New York during the late sixties.

Season 10 key advisor: Meanwhile, Miley will next join Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton on the 11th season of The Voice, which likely premieres in September on Fox (pictured February 4)
She was from a notorious family, often scantily clad.

So perhaps no surprise that Daisy Duke's style would be a go-to for Kylie Jenner, when she was spotted on Tuesday afternoon.

The 18-year-old reality television star wore tiny denim shorts as she joined her half-sister Kourtney's ex-boyfriend Scott for lunch in Los Angeles.

Leggy display: Kylie Jenner was spotted wearing tiny Daisy Dukes on Tuesday afternoon

She teamed them with a bright blue sweatshirt, featuring the husband of her half-sister Kim, Kanye West's album The Life of Pablo, as they headed for a sushi lunch together in Calabasas.

Most people don't try to dress to match their car, but Kylie and Scott had chosen their hue to key in with the aqua Ferrari which was their ride.

The brunette beauty was also out driving with Scott, with him at the wheel, earlier in the day.

Hanging out: The 18-year-old reality television star joined her half-sister Kourtney's ex-boyfriend Scott for lunch in Los Angeles

He was seen on her Snapchat pulling up in his car, next to Khloe Kardashian, and they both looked remarkably flirtatious.

She had changed her outfit from earlier in the day when she wore a beighe hoodie while she snapped a selfie with Scott.

Kylie also joined Scott's ex, Kourtney, for a Faceswap session on Snapchat.

Keeping it in family: She teamed them with a bright blue sweatshirt, featuring the husband of her half-sister Kim, Kanye West's album The Life of Pablo, as they headed for a sushi lunch together in Calabasas

The 37-year-old reality television star was wrapped in a black satin robe as she joked about with the teenager.

Unsurprisingly, the half sisters look so much alike that it was hard to tell the difference once they had Faceswapped.

Kylie was heard exclaiming: 'Look at you', at the digital transformation.

Co-ordinated: Most people don't try to dress to match their car, but Kylie and Scott had chosen their hue to key in with the aqua Ferrari which was their ride

heading to lunch: The brunette beauty spent most of Tuesday with Scott, sharing images of their day on Snapchat

Stepping out: She got some sun on her pins as she wore white sneakers

Daisy Duke style: The Levi cut off shorts left little to imagination

Ready to share: Her cell phone was appropriately stowed close by, in her front pouch pocket

Supportive sister-in-law: Her sweater advertised Kanye's album

At the wheel: She got into a bright blue Ferrari ready to drive them both away

Sun's out, pins out: The star was clearly enjoying the warm temperatures in LA as she dressed skimpily

Flashy ride: She took the driver's seat of the Ferrari after being driven by Scott earlier in the day

Scott seems to have been fully accepted back into the family fold since splitting with Kourtney and spending time in rehab.

The outing comes fresh off the heels of a tarot card reading he attended after a conversation with Kylie Jenner convinced him that bad things happen to all the men who date anyone in the Kardashian family.

Kylie explained to KUWTK viewers: 'The Kardashian curse is every male figure that comes and dates a Kardashian, their life just goes downhill after that.'

True blue: It was hard to miss their aqua Ferrari, which they had changed their clothing to match

The woman reading the cards told Scott and Kendall Jenner there was a lot of negative energy surrounding him and pointed out the devil card which came up in the centre.

She explained: 'Definitely there's an energy that's been following you around and is inside everything you try to do. You have a tendency to have many obstacles in front of you. To answer your question, I would probably say you do have a curse.'

The psychic advised Scott to perform a ritual with a rooster, which would require him to dress all in white and set the rooster free before clearing his energy in a herbal bath.
She's known for stunning on the red carpet.

And Kelly Bensimon did not disappoint as she arrived in support of Seth Meyers at the TV Guide celebration in Times Square, New York.

She sure knows how to make 48 look fabulous as her flawless face shimmered with just the right amount of make-up while wearing a form-fitting LBD.

Smiley Kelly! Kelly Bensimon did not disappoint as she arrived in support of Seth Meyers at the TV Guide celebration in Times Square, New York

Her smoky eyes and bronzed colored cheeks went well with her dressy wardrobe.

Her brunette silky hair, cut in sharp layers and highlighted blonde, framed her smiley face.

She finished off the outfit with a simple gold choker necklace that sat high on her neck.

Adorable and chic: The mother-of-two looked elegant as her toned arms and calves were on display. She paired her outfit with simple black sandal heels and a gold chain

Sauve Seth: The host of Late Night with Seth Meyers was dressy casual at the TV Guide event, celebrating his front-cover issue on the revamped television magazine

The mother-of-two deserved to smile as she recently revealed that her two-year postpartum depression left her a lot of anxiety in raising her first daughter.

The 48-year-old gave birth to her first child Sea Louise in 1998 and explained in the newest installment of People Mom Talk that she struggled on and off for two years until she became pregnant with her second daughter, Thaddeus Ann, who was born in 2000.

'I had postpartum really badly  like really bad,' she recalled. 'I mean I couldn't drive. I had so much anxiety. I didn't want to be by myself.'

Sexy cleavage: The Real Housewife of New York made a statement on the carpet with a low-cut black dress flaunting her ample cleavage. She paired it with a turquoise medallion necklace and nude-colored strapped heels

British babe: 23-year-old fashion model Louisa Warwick strutted the carpet in a daring gladiator dress that was adorned with black and gold jewels

Her depression was worsened by her ex-husband and fashion photographer, Gilles Bensimon, who she said ditched her and traveled, leaving her alone with her daughter.

She rose through the challenges and is a proud mother of two teenage daughters.

Now, she's been keeping busy promoting her latest book A Dangerous Age, which hit bookstores last week.

Speaking to Bravo, Kelly said her book, which follows a group of New York women, was partially based on her experiences of entering the wild world of reality TV in her 40s.

Looking smart: Rich Kids of Beverly Hills star Bianca Espada, who is good friends with Louisa (above) looked smart on the carpet in a white blazer, ripped black jeans, and a high fashion bun

'Now I feel that I've learned so much, and I've grown so much, and I have to thank Housewives for that,' she said of her post-reality TV life.

The author has published multiple others including: I Can Make You Hot, The Bikini Book, and In the Spirit Of The Hamptons.

Joining Kelly was honoree Seth Meyers, who will be featured on the cover of the revamped TV Guide Magazine for the June 20 issue. The magazine will hit the stands on June 16.

Media Post reported on the new sections and designs of the magazine. The president of TV Guide Magazine stated, 'TV Guide Magazine has refreshed itself to serve as the ultimate resource for TV enthusiasts looking for in-depth and behind-the-scenes coverage of the best programming available.'

Exclusive content includes a guest column by Bill O'Reilly as well as contributors including Chris Wallace and Chris Matthews who will educate readers on this summer's Democratic and Republican conventions.

The carpet was filled with other celebrities who made their way to the W Hotel in Times Square including Luann de Lesseps, Louisa Warwick, and Bianca Espada.
Kerry Washington went to the nation's capital on Tuesday to take part in the first United State Of Women summit hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama at the white House.

The Scandal star, 39, who confirmed last month she's expecting her second child, cradled her baby bump as she posed for pictures at the event.

She wore a stylish off-white frock with a round neck and a full skirt that fell to just above her ankles.

Baby on board: Kerry Washington cradled her baby bump as she arrived for Tuesday's United State of women summit at the White House. She confirmed last month's she's expecting her second child

The actress added a cream zipper jacket and a pair of embellished heeled sandals.

She is already a mom to two-year-old daughter Isabelle with husband Nnamdi Asomugha, whom she secretly wed in 2013.

Kerry was one of a number of high-profile women invited to speak during the one day event attended by an estimated 5,000 people.

Maternity chic: The star of TV's Scandal wore an off-white frock with a round neck and full skirt that fell to just above her ankles and paired it with a jacket and some heeled embellished sandals

Something to say: The actress, 39, spoke on the issue of domestic violence and urged women who are victims of abuse to become financially self-supporting as a way of becoming empowered

The conference focused on six topics: equal pay; womens health care; education; violence against women; entrepreneurship and leadership, and civic engagement.

The actress spoke about the issue of domestic violence and told CNN earlier in the day that it's a topic that is close to her heart.

'I have known more than one person [that was] the victim of domestic abuse,' she said. 'The reality is most of us have ... whether that's in the public eye or someone close to us.'

'The most important thing to know is there is a way out....That there is a way to learn how to become financially self-supporting and take care of yourself so that you can make decisions for yourself that are empowering.'
He originally left Home And Away to launch his acting career in the United States, but two years after bidding farewell to the show Dan Ewing was back - and in fine form - as cameras prepared to roll on Wednesday morning.

The 31-year old actor idled between takes on the Palm Beach set while preparing for his comeback scenes as popular character Heath Braxton.

Opting to go shirtless, Dan showed off his muscular, tattooed physique ahead of filming commitments on the long running show he originally joined in 2011.

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Comeback: He originally left Home And Away to launch his acting career in the United States, but two years after bidding farewell to the show Dan Ewing was back - and in fine form - as cameras prepared to roll on Wednesday morning

Leaning against a low wooden fence, the Australian star looked contemplative as he gazed out at the ocean during what appeared to be a rare moment alone.

Dan was making a return to the show little more than a month after announcing his separation from wife of four years Marni, with whom he is a parent to two-year old son Archer.

At the time a source close to the pair told Daily Mail Australia that the couple had called time on their marriage weeks before going public.

A welcome break: The 31-year old actor idled between takes on the Palm Beach set while preparing for his scenes as popular character Heath Braxton

Looking good: Opting to go shirtless, Dan showed off his muscular, tattooed physique ahead of filming commitments on the long running show he originally joined in 2011

Here to stay: The actor returned to Home And Away in December for their feature length special, An Eye For An Eye, but is now understood to be taking a more permanent role

Despite ending their marriage the source insisted they remained on good terms.

The split came shortly after the family returned to their native Australia from Los Angeles, where Dan signed up with a talent agency in an attempt to carve out a career in Hollywood.

Talking to The Fix shortly after returning to Sydney, he said he wanted to base his family in their home country because it 'will always be home.'

'To be honest, with a family, we're not overly big fans of living in the US just because of the medical system, education and whatever,' he said. 'We live in the best country in the world and home is where the heart is for us.'

The actor returned to Home And Away in December for their feature length special, An Eye For An Eye, but is now understood to be taking a more permanent role.

He first had a brief role on the show as Reuben in 2007, before later coming back as Heath.

Over: Former Home And Away star Dan Ewing has split from wife of four years, Marni




She's expecting a baby girl.

And Nicky Hilton's baby appears to be growing by the day a she stepped out in New York City on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old dressed her belly in a thigh skimming blue mini dress for the casual outing.

Bumping along: Nicky Hilton's baby appears to be growing by the day a she stepped out in New York City on Tuesday

Completing the heiress' ensemble was a fedora and dark sunglasses as she wore comfy flats for the day of errands.

Last Friday the blonde was seen wearing a loose white blouse over her growing belly as she ran errands in Noho.

The 32-year-old is expecting her first child, a girl, with husband, banking heir James Rothschild.

Casual chic: The 32-year-old dressed her belly in a thigh skimming blue mini dress for the casual outing

Completing the heiress' ensemble was a fedora and dark sunglasses as she wore comfy flats for the day of errands

The handbag designer looked engrossed in a phone conversation as she strolled around Manhattan on Friday.

Nicky kept her look low-key in a summery linen blouse and black skinny jeans.

She pulled her long blonde hair back in a ponytail, and added large tortoiseshell sunglasses as she stopped to pick up a healthy green juice.

Mom-to-be: Pregnant Nicky showed off her growing baby bump while out in New York City on Friday

Stylish: The 32-year-old added white Adidas sneakers and over-sized tortoiseshell sunglasses

The mother-to-be skipped heels in favor of comfortable Adidas sneakers, and carried a stylish black-and-white handbag that matched her monochrome look.

Nicky and her British husband wed in a lavish ceremony at Londons' Kensington Palace in July, and announced they were expecting in January.

And she shared a flashback photo of their Seychelles honeymoon on Instagram this week.

Gorgeous spot: Nicky shared a flashback photo with husband James Rothschild from their Seychelles honeymoon. They wed in a lavish ceremony in London in July.

Nicky and James are all smiles as they sit perched at a scenic spot overlooking the gorgeous coast in the rare snap of the couple.

'Honeymooning in the Seychelles,' she wrote, adding a kissing emoji.

While Nicky has been focusing on motherhood, her younger brother Conrad Hilton,22, was this week sentenced to two months in prison after admitting to using drugs while on probation.

Baby girl on the way: Nicky and her husband James Rothschild are expecting their first child, a daughter

Busy day: Nicky stayed glued to her phone while out running errands in Noho

But the heiress - whose older sister is socialite Paris Hilton - has been putting the family drama behind her and throwing herself into preparing for her daughter's arrival.

Nicky told People she's been busy decorating the baby's room with plenty of cute kitty designs.

'I love cats. So there are lots of vintage cat motifs and prints - Ive been online and Im trying to do it all myself,' she said.

The 32-year-old also recently had a second baby shower in New York, after attending her first shower in Bel-Air with sister Paris, parents Kathy and Richard Hilton and her aunt, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kim Richards.

Lovely: Nicky celebrated her first baby shower in Bel-Air last month
Last month, Charlotte Crosby shocked fans when she revealed that she recently suffered an ectopic pregnancy, after falling pregnant with ex-boyfriend Gary Beadle's child.

But the 26-year-old former Geordie Shore star is now more determined than ever to attain her dream of motherhood - and she's even setting herself a deadline.

'I would love to have a family one day. I'd like to start trying got a baby before I'm 30. I feel like I've grown up a lot over the past year,' she told Reveal in a newly-released interview.

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Motherhood goals: Charlotte Crosby has revealed plans to become a mother before the age of 30

'I'm moving into my own house and thinking about more serious things,' added the TV personality.

While the bubbly brunette has shared her details of her parental goals, she's currently single after a five-year on-off romance with her former Geordie Shore co-star Gaz.

And last year, her romance with Mitch Jenkins came to an end - leaving her determined to find and settle down with the man of her dreams in 2016.

She said: 'I want to be in a happy relationship, and I'm on the look out for The One. I've been single for a year now. I don't have a type. I'd like to date all different kinds of men to find out which one would be the best.'

Devastation: The reality star suffered an ectopic pregnancy after falling pregnant with ex Gary Beadle's baby

Earlier this month, Charlotte launched into an angry tirade, which was targeted at her former flame Gary, on Twitter as she dubbed the 28-year-old a 'liar and a cheat' after he slammed her for speaking publicly about her pregnancy.

'Sadly because a certain some1 can't admit to being in the wrong and have to write a short story full of excuses. I have made the very hard decision to Leave the show, it's something I have went back and forth with for a while now (sic),' she began her lengthy tirade.

'But I am willing to sacrifice that part of my career in order to be well away from. A liar and a cheat, I'm actually excited to watch the ex on the beach...to see the numerous girls emerge from the water who you slept with behind lillies back. You no the girl you all thought he wasn't cheating on?!'

'Am also really excited to see the show you went off to film before that with your grandad, the one you spoke to me every day on, and f**ked some1 else on! While I was sat waiting for you! You may have fooled every else with your victim act!'

Single lady: The former Geordie Shore star is currently single, following her split from Mitch Jenkins

The 2013 Celebrity Big Brother winner, who had been on Geordie Shore since it began in 2011 until quitting this year, continued: 'I am hugely sad and it kills me to write this, I will miss Geordie shore with all of my heart, it was my life and I [love] you all so much'.

But Gary wasn't about to go down without a fight as the Ex on the Beach star hit back at Charlotte's comments almost instantly on the social network.

Their latest heated exchange comes after Gaz broke his silence on Charlotte's ectopic pregnancy revelation, which was made public during an emotional interview with Heat magazine.

Gaz had kept quiet on Twitter as the news broke on the day, but told his Twitter followers 24 hours later that he had to say something to clear his name.

On and off: Charlotte and Gary have been on and off since meeting on their show Geordie Shore in 2011

Gaz posted a link a his Daily Star column on Twitter, telling his followers: 'I was quiet all day yesterday then last night decided to write this... Felt like I needed to say something... Gaz X.'

In a lengthy and passionate post, the star detailed months of his on/off relationship with Charlotte, insisting he was keen to get serious with his co-star but she was the one who was holding back.

He then revealed that Charlotte jeopardised any hope of a monogamous relationship by kissing their Geordie Shore co-star Marty McKenna during a night out.

The pair did make up, though, and after being reunited following Charlotte's trip to Australia, Gaz says they enjoyed an 'amazing' time together.

Antipodean adventures: The brunette is currently spending time on the other side of the world in Australia

But despite being keen to again get serious with Charlotte, Gaz reveals it was her who was reluctant, even telling press that they weren't together and she couldn't trust the party-loving star.

'You had your say I had mine.... Just leave it.... Or this will never end... Don't get angry if you don't like what I had to say my victim act are you f**king kidding you did a huge article on something THAT SHOULD OF NEVER BEEN MADE PUBLIC....,' he raged.

'Only reason you did it was to turn people against me and for once I have spoken up and u can't handle it... Lashing out on Twitter likemy normally do... I am done.

'Both need to move on... and if you are leaving Geordie Shore that is your own choice don't put it on me.....'

Moving on: The star recently announced that she was quitting Geordie Shore after five years on the show

Gaz writes that he was then contracted to shoot Ex On The Beach in Thailand with the couple telling each other they would see what happened when he returned to the UK.

'The next day, I was around the pool and got told I needed to take an emergency phone call. It was MTV saying that Charlotte had been rushed to hospital,' Gaz writes.

'Straight away, I was like, 'I need to go home immediately.' I was told I could speak to Charlotte, which calmed me down.'

Gaz insisted he spoke to Charlotte every day and was keen to be updated about her condition, but she soon discovered he had slept with a fellow EOTB contestant on day one of the show, before he found out about the pregnancy leading to a huge argument.

She's a winner! The bubbly brunette won Celebrity Big Brother in 2013 after proving poplar with viewers

The reality star adds that both his management and Charlotte's agreed they wouldn't do any press about the pregnancy when he returned to the UK, and he only told a 'handful of my closest friends'.

'At the end of the day, I was going to be a dad. We were going to be parents, then this happened. It's bloody awful. I am devastated for the both of us,' he stated.

Charlotte opened up in an emotional interview about the devastating incident, which happened in April and saw her being rushed to hospital in pain.

The star, who had been filming Geordie Shore: Big Birthday Battle at the time, said she wasn't even aware she was pregnant at first, and that she though the pain was down to a heavy period.

Rift: Charlotte's decision to open up about her pregnancy caused a greater rift between her and Gary

'I thought I had a really bad period because I was bleeding and cramping - I can't describe the pain, it was awful,' Charlotte explained, adding that it felt like she was 'being stabbed in the side'.

She also explained that things were also going really well between herself and Gaz, despite the on-off nature of their tempestuous relatoinship.

'We'd had a couple of fall-outs, but we were the closest we'd ever been,' she claimed, as she revealed he was due to jet off to Thailand to film the MTV programme after the pain began, which came with - she said - bleeding that was not at all like a normal period.

Charlotte then divulged that she had actually come off her contraceptive pill - not by choice, but because she hadn't had the time to renew the prescription - and took a morning after pill.

Hopeless romantic: Despite her series of heartbreaks, Charlotte has remained positive about finding love

Charlotte's full interview appears in the new issue of Reveal Magazine

It was when she arrived at the St John and Elizabeth Hospital in London, after being rushed to their A&E department, that she found out she was pregnant, and doctors told her she was lucky to be alive.

'I didn't know what the hell was going on and I was in so much pain,' she explained. 'Then the X-ray showed how much damage had been caused. Because I'd left it a week, it'd torn open my fallopian tube and I was bleeding internally. He said: 'If you'd have left it any longer, you could have died.''

Charlotte - who was described as being in floods of tears during the emotional interview - had to be rushed for an emergency operation after testing positive for pregnancy, adding that she 'collapsed' after being put into a wheelchair to be taken to theatre.

An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in the fallopian tube, meaning a baby is unable to develop and leaving the mother's health in danger.

While there is a chance of conception again, it is advisable for the woman to wait a while due to damage caused in the fallopian tube.

Charlotte also confessed that she is now in fear that she won't be able to have children following the distressing ordeal.
Her love life has been the subject of much debate after she was spotted getting cosy with businesswoman Harley Gusman last week.

And Ruby Rose continued to keep her fans guessing when she shared a photo of herself cuddling up to actress Tracey Grave during a wild girls' night out this week.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the 30-year-old Australian star shared a photo of herself partying with Tracey in a dimly-lit bar, her arm wrapped around her stomach.

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'Good vibes': Ruby Rose, 30, sparked romance rumours when she shared this photo of herself cuddling up with actress Tracey Grave in a dimly-lit bar on Wednesday

'Good vibes' the striking beauty wrote in the caption before tagging her companion Tracey.

Clad in black cardigan emblazoned with skull-shaped embroidery, Ruby pulled a sultry expression as she stared at the camera, while Tracey cheekily poked out her tongue.

Tracey also shared a photo of herself and Ruby posing up a storm alongside a squad of beaming girlfriends, including 24-year-old Harley Gusman, Ruby's rumoured new flame.

Wild night out! Tracey also shared a photo of herself and Ruby posing up a storm alongside a squad of beaming girlfriends

According to People Magazine, Ruby sparked romance with businesswoman Harley recently, with the couple spotted on a sushi date in Hollywood on Saturday.

The Australian model-turned-Hollywood star was seen smiling broadly as she arrived at Japanese restaurant Katsuya with the stunning brunette, who was dolled up for the date night.

Ruby has so far remained silent on the status of her rumoured new relationship.

New love? According to People Magazine, Ruby has sparked romance with businesswoman Harley (left), with the couple spotted on a sushi date in Hollywood on Saturday

Ruby announced her split from long-term partner Phoebe in December last year after being engaged to her for 20 months.

Shortly after the split, Ruby announced that she had no ill feelings toward fashion designer Phoebe, Tweeting: '(Phoebe Dahl) Remains very dear to my heart.

'I will forever treasure our time together. Im a better person because of all we shared'.

Phoebe responded: 'You have brought me to my best and I will always love you. I can't wait to see what the future brings for us.'
He surprised fans when he was pictured looking tired and dishevelled earlier this year.

But Matthew Perry appeared the picture of health and happiness while filming new TV miniseries The Kennedys After Camelot in Toronto, Canada on Monday.

The 46-year-old actor, who is playing Ted Kennedy in the programme, was reminiscent of his days as Chandler Bing in Friends, looking dapper in a cream polo shirt with a bright blue collar.

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Total transformation: Matthew Perry looked fresh-faced on the set of his new miniseries The Kennedys After Camelot in Toronto, Canada on Monday (left). He was pictured looked tired and disheveled during his London stay in January (right)

Freshly-shaved Matthew sported a deep tan and wore his hair combed back as he filmed scenes alongside his glamorous co-star Katie Holmes.

Matthew sparked concern due to his changed appearance during his stay in London several weeks ago.

He spent several months in the capital working on his play The End Of Longing, a dark comedy written by and starring the actor at the Playhouse Theatre.

The popular star is best known for playing Friends joker Chandler - renowned for his sarcastic comments and less that lucky love life.

Last seen: Matthew spent several months in the capital working on his play The End Of Longing, a dark comedy written by and starring the actor at the Playhouse Theatre

At the height of his fame: The actor shot into the limelight in the nineties for his role on the global hit

Beloved character: Pictured in 2002, Matt starred opposite Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston in Friends whichbecame one of the most successful sitcoms of all time in its run from 1994 to 2004

Last year: Matthew was looking clean cut in April 2015 at the premiere of Ride

Opposite Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow and Jennifer Aniston, Friends became one of the most successful sitcoms of all time in its run from 1994 to 2004.

Despite the triumph of his working life, Matthew battled drug and alcohol addiction, entering rehab during his stint on Friends and suffering drastic weight loss and gain - all visible in the show.

Meanwhile, Katie has been slipping into different period costumes to make herself resemble Jacqueline Kennedy.

In action: Matthew was joined by his glamorous co-star Katie Holmes on the set of the new programme

Colour splash: Katie added a turquoise wrap to keep warm, while Matthew was looking smart in a polo shirt

Youthful: Matthew had peeled back the years for the shoot, looking clean-shaved and tanned

But on Sunday the 37-year-old actress gave on-lookers a little more than they bargained for as she suffered a wardrobe malfunction during filming.

The star was shooting a scene alongside Matthew and revealed the top of her pantyhose as she crouched down.

Only just covering her dignity, the star's mini-dress rode up flashed a lot of derriere.

Katie looked especially like the American icon as she wore a belted, white double-breasted coat with black-and-gold buttons while shooting in a park.

So Jackie O! Katie Holmes was a dead ringer for Jacqueline Kennedy as she shot scenes for the new TV miniseries

Oops! The 37-year-old actress gave on-lookers a little more than they bargained for as she suffered a wardrobe malfunction during filming

Matthew puffed on a cigarette in character as Ted Kennedy. His hair was parted to the side as he portrayed the senator, who was the younger brother of JFK.

Also on set was actor Alexander Siddig, 50, who is playing the part of her second husband, Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

Like a gentleman, he pretended not to notice Katie's indiscretion.

Careful! The star revealed the top of her pantyhose as she crouched down

Revealing: Only just covering her dignity, the star's mini-dress rode up flashed a lot of derriere

Scene: Katie and Matthew took food from a BBQ and pointed to the distance

Kennedy and Onassis were wed from 1968 until 1975. So this scene shot in a park must have taken place within those years.

Holmes was wearing a brown wig to resemble the late wife of President Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963 while in office.

The ex-wife of Tom Cruise added a vintage brown and white Gucci hobo purse to her look and white chunky heels that were fashionable in the late 1960s.

Not friendly: Matthew puffed on a cigarette in character as Ted Kennedy

Sixties styling: The former Friends actor was wearing a white and blue polo shirt

Staying in character: The actress slipped on some Uggs in-between takes

The mother-of-one also wore heavy eye makeup and bushy eyebrows, and could have had on some prosthetic work done to look more like the former First Lady.

Onassis looked nicely dapper in a double-breasted grey suit with a gold tie and white shirt. The Greek superstar had a flair for dressing well in expensive clothes.

Siddig, a Sudanese-British actor, also had on Ari's signature oversized glasses.

Here's Ari: Also with the Ohio native was actor Alexander Siddig, who is playing the part of her second husband Aristotle Onassis

Shocking couple: Kennedy and Onassis were wed from 1968 (pictured) until 1975

At peace: In the scene the two were also arm-in-arm suggesting this was set in the early part of their marriage

The hair is just right: Holmes was wearing a brown wig to resemble the late wife of President Kennedy, who was assassinated while in office

The Jackie O look: The New York resident was known for her love of white coats, which she wore here in 1970

Alexander has also starred in Game Of Thrones and Atlantis. He studied theater in England after arriving from Sudan as a child.

On October 20, 1968, Kennedy married Onassis, who she had been friends with for many years.

It was suggested she fell for the multi-millionaire because he could provide the privacy and security she sought for herself and her children after Kennedy had been shot dead.

The wedding took place on Skorpios, Onassis's private Greek island. The union brought her bad publicity and there was even a discussion if she should be excommunicated by the Roman Catholic church.

With her daughter? In this photo Holmes is seen taking care of her child who looked to be a young Caroline

Role reprisal: Katie played Jackie in the 2011 miniseries The Kennedys

Instead of moving to Greece for Onassis, she spent a lot of time in New York City as well as her apartment in Paris.

Onassis' health began deteriorating rapidly following the death of his son Alexander in a plane crash in 1973. He died of respiratory failure at age 69 in Paris in 1975.

The Kennedys After Camelot also stars Friends vet Matthew Perry as Ted Kennedy and Erin Agostino as Christina Onassis, Aristotle's daughter from his first marriage.

The series, which will debut in 2017, portrays the life of the former First Lady of the United States, Jacqueline, in the aftermath of the assassination of her husband as she becomes Jackie O.

Ready for a hot dog and cola: Here Katie is seen standing next to a vendor in the park




She said goodbye to her beloved Mad Men character Joan Holloway just over a year ago after eight years on the show.

However, it looks like Christina Hendricks's career is continuing to go from strength to strength as she dazzled at the premiere of her latest movie.

The actress, 41, was joined by her actor husband Geoffrey Arend, 38, at the Los Angeles screening of The Neon Demon on Tuesday night.

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Terrific in teal: Christina Hendricks showcased her fabulous figure in a teal sequinned Jenny Packham dress at the Los Angeles premiere of The Neon Demon on Tuesday night

The redhead beauty showcased her fabulous curves in a figure-hugging teal, sequinned Jenny Packham Spring/Summer 2015 dress.

She completed her fun look with a playful Anya Hindmarch 'Boom' box clutch and blue metallic heels as she arrived at the ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome in Hollywood.

The new movie sees Christina play Roberta Hoffman, head of a modelling agency who signs Elle Fanning's aspiring model character Jesse.

Support: The 41-year-old actress was joined by her husband, actor Geoffrey Arend, who wore a black and bronze tunic over a pair of black trousers

The film tells the story of Jesse, who ends up sharing an apartment with fellow wannabe models, who are shape-shifting vampires.

The movie also stars Keanu Reeves, Alessandro Nivola and Bella Heathcote and is directed by Nicolas Winding Refn.

Christina and Geoffrey wed in New York in 2009 after three years of dating, having been introduced by her Mad Men co-star Vincent Kartheiser.

Her leading lady: Christina looked pleased to see her young co-star Elle Fanning, who plays an aspiring teenage model in the movie

What's so funny? The two actresses share a joke as they pose together on red carpet

In an interview two years ago, the redhead beauty admitted the couple had decided not to have children.

She told Health magazine: 'We've decided that we are not really interested in having children.

'We got a puppy, and thats my idea of starting a family.

'People say, "Oh, thats practice for parenting," but if its practice for anything its to be a mom to another puppy.'

The Neon Demon is released in the US on 24 June and in the UK on 8 July.

The gang's all here: Christina and Elle join their co-stars (L-R) Keanu Reeves, Alessandro Nivola and Bella Heathcote and director Nicolas Winding Refn

Scary! Psychological horror film The Neon Demon is released in the US on 24 June
Spanish model and actress Elsa Pataky has just enjoyed a trip around Australia with husband, actor Chris Hemsworth and their children.

And on Friday, the 39-year-old Fast and Furious star was back to work when she was the focus of a fashion photoshoot near her Byron Bay home.

The blonde mother-of-three channeled her inner biker chic wearing motocross pants and boots bizarrely teamed with a white lace dress as she posed on a dirt bike.

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Hitting the dirt bike: Spanish model and actress Elsa Pataky completed a fashion photoshoot near her Byron Bay home on Friday, wearing an interesting mix of motocross pants and boots with a white lace dress

Elsa also had on chunky jewellery, wearing a dangling necklace and bohemian arm cuff.

For the day, her hair was out and over her shoulders in a messy style and her make-up included a bright pink lip.

She seemed to be enjoying being outdoors for the shoot, where she was perched on her and Chris' bike.

The personality has previously posted online about the bike, that sits in their garage.

In her element: Elsa also had on chunky jewellery, wearing a dangling necklace and bohemian arm cuff

Familiar: For the shoot, Elsa sat on her and Chris' dirt bike, which she posted on Instagram about before (pictured, showing one of her twin sons)

She had a helmet sitting on her lap as she posed and at one point could be seen grasping the handlebars as she moved the bike to get a better shot for the photographer.

Also on set was a male photographer and a female who held up lighting equipment.

The also helped her move the bike around for more frames, helping her balance as she did so.

Safety first: She had a helmet sitting on her lap as she posed

Going for a ride? At one point could be seen grasping the handlebars as she moved the bike to get a better shot for the photographer

Family: Elsa is married to Thor star Chris Hemsworth (seen together at an event in April in LA)

Elsa has just returned from a quick trip around Australia, where she and Chris visited some idyllic locations in Australia including Hayman Island in the Whitsundays.

They stayed at the exclusive One&Only Hayman Island resort, with the getaway being in partnership with Tourism Australia, for whom Chris is a global ambassador.

Their children, daughter India Rose, four, and twin boys Sasha and Tristan, two, were also on their trip.

Elsa has recently returned back to set to work on the upcoming Fast and Furious film, Fast 8.

In the franchise, she plays the policewoman Elena.

It also stars the likes of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Vin Diesel.

Escape: Elsa has just returned from a quick trip around Australia, where she and Chris visited some idyllic locations in Australia including Hayman Island in the Whitsundays (seen left in the destination, with a pal)

Elsa has recently returned back to set to work on the upcoming Fast and Furious film, Fast 8
She's beem embroiled in a spat with former TOWIE star Mario Falcone.

But Stephanie Davis is attempting to move on from the incident, enjoying a girls' night out on Tuesday to take her mind off the latest drama, as well as her ongoing feud with ex-boyfriend Jeremy McConnell.

The 23-year-old actress - who is expecting a child with her CBB co-star Jeremy - was catching up with friends over a soft drink, appearing to be having the time of her life.

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No drama: Stephanie Davis was having a great time, enjoying a girls' night out on Tuesday to take her mind off her recent Twitter spats

'Meffy laughing face feed me I'm Hank MARVIN! laughter is good for the soul', she captioned the black and white image.

Stephanie is seen in fits of giggles, clad in a denim shirt and her hair pulled back in a top knot.

The brunette was joined by her former Hollyoaks co-star Kelly-Marie Stewart, who appeared to have done a great job of cheering her up.

Stephanie retweeted her pal's message of support, which read: 'loved having a catch up today Hun,Great 2see you smiling and giggling love you lots Mrs see you tomorrow #onwards upwards xx (sic)'.

New feud: Stephanie's outing comes after Mario Falcone voiced concerns over her mental health, hitting back after she claimed he 'begged to date her'.

She also shared a video of herself larking around in the car with her friends, which she captioned: 'My two cheeky girls @h_clarke93 brim.#laughs'.

This comes after Mario voiced concerns over Stephanie Davis' mental health, hitting back after she claimed he 'begged to date her'.

Since the alleged messages were unveiled last month, the 28-year-old tailor has now spoken to Daily Star about his worries for the CBB star, who he has dubbed 'deranged'.

Troubled: Mario voiced his worries for the CBB star, who he has dubbed 'deranged', in a new interview

Stephanie announced her pregnancy last month, revealing she is expecting Irish model Jeremy McConnell's child, after they met on CBB in January and subsequently split.

In one of their many social media feuds, she turned her attention to friend Mario and insisted that the reality Lothario 'begged to date her'.

Stunned Mario discussed the situation with the Daily Star, saying: 'Where she has got this whole thing about me calling her up crying I do not know, but as you can see from most of her tweets and outbursts she is quite deranged.

'I used to be friends with her so I'm not going to s**g her off, but the way she is right now I think alarm bells should be ringing and her family should be helping.'

Off she goes: Since the alleged messages were unveiled last month, the 28-year-old tailor has now spoken to Daily Star about his worries for the CBB star, 23, who he has dubbed 'deranged'

Earlier this year, Stephanie called the reality TV star out for allegedly 'begging' her to date him while she was still with her former flame Sam Reece, whom she split from in February, and then again when she started dating Jeremy.

Taking to her Twitter account at the time, Stephanie tweeted: "Oooo mario u a bit dry from trying it on with me when I was with Sam, THAT I know he would back me up on saying u love me and all the s*** I have on you.... U want me to print your messages BEGGING me then ..

"Standard i was close to jezz so u get closer, did u ever tell him of the dates u took me on? Meeting buddy and trying to get me a when every time I said....NO.

Not happy: In one of their many social media feuds, she turned her attention to friend Mario and insisted that the reality Lothario 'begged to date her'

"The way u treated [ex girlfriend] Lucy [Mecklenburgh], your a fine one for advice.. Oh wait... Another coke head wasn't u pictured but called me for help s*** on someone who has helped u and heard you cry...I'll destroy u. @samreece even he will say how much of a sly p**** u are. (sic)."

To which Mario responded: "You actually need medical help... I have screen shots of everything... Please leave me out of your melt down.

"Not even going to bother responding.. I actually feel really sorry for the girl... How many more red flags till her family help her? Shame x (sic)."

Atop Mario's comments, on Monday night, the embattled actress's fury was ignited by a complete stranger, when a Twitter troll accused the screen star of faking her pregnancy.

Fury: Stephanie blasted a Twitter troll on Monday night, after she was accused of faking her pregancy

After Stephanie shared a throwback video of her slender physique, a troll sniped: 'You're not even pregnant. We're all just waiting for the inevitable "miscarriage horror" story. You're a mess.'

The harsh words soon prompted the former Hollyoaks star to fire back: 'Absolutely disgusting! This is why I'm not sharing any photo as there's so many vile people! I've been under enough.'

An army of Stephanie's fans soon chimed in with their support, attacking the man in question, with one disgusted user branding him 'just wrong in so many ways'.

Soon after the uproar, the actress wrote: 'Stress! I'm very happy settled and over the whole thing now, but seeing comments like that, makes me sick. how do some of u sleep at night. (sic)'

'Vile': The former Hollyoaks star was horrified as she was hit with the harsh words - and quickly hit back

Lost love: Stephanie has said she is carrying former flame Jeremy McConnell's child yet the couple, who met in the Celebrity Big Brother house in January, are currently locked in a bitter feud

Stephanie has said she is carrying former flame Jeremy's child yet the couple, who met in the Celebrity Big Brother house in January, are currently locked in a bitter feud.

Her body appears to be very much on her mind, as she shared a stunning throwback image on Instagram on Monday.

Stephanie was seen stripped down to just a leotard for the snap from around two years ago.

Throwing it back: Stephanie shared a stunning throwback image on Instagram on Monday

As the war of words rages on between the pair, the Liverpool-born beauty will no doubt catch the eye of her lost love as she looked simply incredible in the throwback shot.

Posing in a high-leg leotard with a plunging back and halterneck, Stephanie exhibited her incredibly slender frame while proffering a cheeky glimpse of sideboob.

Beaming into the camera, Stephanie held one hand aloft her head while the other clutched the camera to capture the image of her body contorted into a flattering shape.

Baby daddy? Heavily tattooed Jeremy has publicly denied the actress' claims that she is carrying his child

Stephanie, who is yet to unveil an image of her pregnancy belly, added a caption on the shot reading: 'Body goal for next year might go back red!'

Shortly before her throwback snap, Stephanie revealed to her 399,000 Twitter followers that she had visited a medium in the hope of contacting her late grandfather in the afterlife.

After her acrimonious break-up from Jeremy, the pair have now been locking horns in an Internet feud as Stephanie has lambasted her former flame for failing to support her.

Now the pretty starlet has turned to Staffordshire-based medium Sandrea to try and contact her late grandfather for spiritual help.

Seeking help: The actress revealed to her 399,000 Twitter followers that she was hoping to contact her grandfather in the afterlife and the visit was 'just what she needed'

War of words: Stephanie appears unlikely to stop the feud anytime soon, as she launched her latest attack seemingly directed at her 'toxic' former partner Jeremy

She tweeted her thanks to Sandrea in a gushing Tweet reading: 'Thankyou so so sooo much @sandrea27 for the reading you are amazing #Mygrandad #justwhatineeded big love xxx'

Sandrea lists herself on the microblogging site as: 'Psychic to the stars. International Medium and author of Vanquishing Ghosts and Demons.'

She responded to Stephanie's tweet saying: 'It was my absolute pleasure darling X he's always with you and remember you have an amazing year ahead.'

Soon after their meeting Sandrea spoke to The Sun about the emotional reading in which they discovered the sex of the baby, saying: 'Her grandad told me.'

Adding: 'There was such happiness from her grandad, her mum and from Steph.'

But saying that, Sandrea explained: 'I don't really want to say about the sex, because I don't want to break her confidence, but yes [the grandad] did give a clear indication and yes, I am sure.'

Aside from her praise to her spiritual aide, Stephanie has remained relatively coy in regard to images of herself or her bump - a bizarre move from a former selfie lover.

Coy: On Sunday night she simply shared an image of her strappy heels and added the caption: 'Out for din dins... lets go'

On Sunday night she simply shared an image of her strappy heels and added the caption: 'Out for din dins... lets go'.

Stephanie has taken to sharing a host of thinly-veiled attacks on her 'toxic' ex Jeremy on social media, as she launched her latest attack via a meme on Friday, which read: 'When a toxic person can no longer control you, they will try to control how others see you.'

'The misinformation will feel unfair, but stay above it, trusting that other people will eventually see the truth, just like you did.'

Stephanie seemed to be in a good place, despite her ongoing problems with Jeremy, as she captioned the shot: 'Never read anything so true. Ahh so relaxed and breathing easy.'

She added: 'Can't wait to see friends, me my beautiful bump and laughs.' (sic)

'Me and my beautiful bump': The Celebrity Big Brother star seemed in a reflective mood as she took to her Instagram page to rant about her former flame

Support: She received many messages of support, with one follower writing: 'Steph you are a beautiful person inside and out. I have loved you ever since Hollyoaks. Ignore what people say about you'

Earlier this month, Jeremy provoked fresh outrage after he posted a snap of himself and a busty mystery woman on Instagram.

But despite the pair's close pose, Jeremy insisted that he was only friends with the woman, as he simply captioned the image: 'Buds.'

The tattooed hunk could be seen smiling broadly as he places a hand on the glamorous lady's shoulder, while showing off his muscular physique in a form fitting T-shirt.

Just 'buds'? Jeremy posted a snap of himself and a busty mystery woman on Instagram earlier this month

But despite gaining thousands of likes on the social media site, the photo has sparked controversy amongst Jeremy's followers with some saying the image is disrespectful to ex Stephanie Davis.

And Jeremy proved his former Celebrity Big Brother love interest couldn't be further from his mind as he cosied up to a mystery girl last week.

Jeremy previously insisted that Stephanie is not pregnant with his child and has even called for a DNA test if she gives birth to prove she is lying.

The reality star called Stephanie's claims 'ridiculous,' and added she would look like a 'mug' when it is revealed any child is not his after a paternity test, Ireland's TV Now Magazine reports.

No love lost: The Irish hunk has insisted that Stephanie is not pregnant with his child and has even called for a DNA test if she gives birth to prove she is lying

Following a bitter war of words between the former couple, the 26-year-old again said: 'I'm not going to be a dad. If she is pregnant, it's not mine.

'If I was a dad, I'd be 100 per cent no, 110 per cent, the best dad in the world. But you'll see in the future that it's not my kid, and she'll look like a mug.'

A representative for Stephanie said in a statement to MailOnline: 'Our client is categorically pregnant. We do not need to continue repeating this.'

Despite their strained relationship, Jeremy showed he still cared for the former Hollyoaks actress and dismissed her behaviour as a tactic to secure media coverage.

'I still love Steph and Id never bad mouth her, but I just think the whole thing is a media approach and its ridiculous,' he said.

Two weeks ago Stephanie alleged her ex had a serious drug problem and begged him to go to rehab.

'Healthy mind and body': The Irish male model posted a lengthy statement on Twitter last week, denying he had a drug problem and accusing her of having an affair with her ex Sam Reece

In response, Jeremy denied he was abusing narcotics and accused Stephanie of having an affair with her ex-boyfriend Sam Reece during their rocky four-month romance.

The former Beauty School Cop-Out star also denied Stephanie's claims again that he is the father of her unborn child.

Posting a lengthy statement on Twitter, he wrote: 'Was gonna stay quiet about the whole thing and just let it come out normally, first of all I'd like to let people know I'm perfectly healthy mind and body and have took the break up privately, but when me and my family are effected by what I'd call a person with no shame, she is slandering me and trying to portray me in a certain light for a reason, to make me look like a terrible lad.

'People can choose to believe or not. I do not care. For months she was seeing Sam behind my back and now in Ibiza together. It will all unfold in time.

'People don't know what I put with in that relationship. I was never perfect but please, don't believe 90 per cent of what she says. I've messed up but I'd never be as evil. This will be my last message about her #bookclosed.'

The night before his lengthy post, he tweeted: 'I'm as shocked as all you are at this whole saga, I'm sure you can join the dots yourself #letmelive.

Concerns: The former Hollyoaks actress accused Jeremy of being a drug addict and urged him to go to rehab

Former flame: Jeremy accused Stephanie of having an affair with her ex-boyfriend Sam Reece, who she dumped to date the Irish male model in January

'She's not pregnant with my child come on. It's all lies I've been told by her friends.'

The following morning, an angry Steph hit back: 'Tell me I'm not pregnant and keep denying your child, and I#ll throw u right under that bus as the s**t I have in u, u would never survive!'

Responding to the Irish model's claims she's in Spain with her ex - who she dumped on TV after falling for Jeremy on Celebrity Big Brother - Stephanie posted a photo of her legs on a balcony in Liverpool.

She wrote: 'Sorry does his tweet not show how f**ked he is... I'm in Ibiza with Sam.......... Sure I'm in Liverpool.

'Let's look positively he needs this to sort his life out , for all u to understand what I've been through with his crazy mind. It's all good.'

Jeremy's statement came an hour after Stephanie posted her own lengthy essay, accusing her ex of failing to turn up for baby scans.

She wrote: 'I think it's disgusting that Jeremy hasn't turned up for scans and is constantly drunk and partying, the stress he has had me under. I've already been in hospital once with pains and stress.

'I don't hate the lad I feel very VERY sorry for him the fact no one is getting him the help he needs. His management should have him in rehab and sorting his life out so he can then be there for his child before he dies.

'I wouldn't mind but don't WANT to get someone pregnant and have a family. To not be there. I'm happy doing it alone. Off for a chilled week away with bump.

'Been doing this since his act from Big Brother was over after sleeping with what 9 girls now? Boy need help. Sort it out and be a dad. Bye for now, Steph.'
Since the smoking ban came into force in England nine years ago, it's not so easy to have a pint and a smoke anymore.

So it looks like Scott Maslen decided to trade the enclaves of the pub for his own car as he enjoyed a beer and a puff in his Land Rover Defender.

The EastEnders actor, 44, was spotted sinking a pint of Peroni while smoking a cigarette outside The Princess Of Wales pub in Primrose Hill, North London on Tuesday.

Cigarettes & Alcohol: Scott Maslen was spotted sinking a pint of Peroni while smoking a cigarette outside The Princess Of Wales pub in Primrose Hill, North London on Tuesday

A beer to takeaway? It looks like the actor decided to trade the cosy enclaves of the pub for his own car as he enjoyed a beer and a puff in his Land Rover Defender

The South London-raised star looked like he was enjoying having a relaxing afternoon on a break from his busy schedule filming the BBC soap.

However, it appears Scott was listening to something on the radio so decided to bring his beer into the car so he could hear properly.

With London suffering bad weather on Tuesday, the vehicle would have been rather more comfortable than sitting out in the elements.

Moving on: After finishing his cigarette and beer, the father-of-one returned the empty glass to the pub before climbing back into his vehicle

After finishing his drink, Scott dutifully handed back the empty glass into the pub before getting back into his Land Rover to drive off.

Of course, after only one beer, it was perfectly legal for Scott to drive as he wouldn't be over the limit.

Scott originally joined the cast of EastEnders in October 2007 as retired police officer Jack Branning, before leaving the show in 2013.

He briefly returned to the soap in late 2015, before rejoining as a full-time castmember this March.

Nicotine fix: The actor was listening to something on the radio as he enjoyed his pint in his car

On the go: After returning the glass to the pub, the 44-year-old climbed back into his Land Rover to carry on his day

Meanwhile, although Jack's lovelife has always been complicated, Scott's real-life domestic situation couldn't be happier.

The actor has been with his musician wife Estelle for 17 years and married for eight after meeting on Primrose Hill during a solar eclipse.

The couple have a 15-year-old son Zak Alexander Maslen together.

Scott has been close friends with his EastEnders co-star and on-screen love interest Samantha Womack since they were teenagers.

Off he goes: The actor appeared to be enjoying some time out of his busy EastEnders filming schedule

He is even godfather to Samantha's children Lily-Rose and Benjamin.

In an interview with the Daily Mirror earlier this year, Estelle said: 'No way is he a wide boy like Jack. Hes genuinely a very good husband, very responsible and takes it very seriously.

'When he puts the clothes on he becomes Jack, and plays an alter ego. Maybe he gets the rogue and womaniser out of his system so he doesnt need to really behave like that. Ive never seen that in Scott.'
Geordie Shore's Charlotte Crosby recently announced she was leaving the MTV reality show that made her a household name.

And after suffering an ectopic pregnancy and losing the baby she shared with ex and fellow Geordie Shore star Gary 'Gaz' Beadle, it seems she's considering another life changing decision.

The star - who is currently in Australia on a promotional trip for a local fashion brand - told The Herald Sun she's considering moving Down Under from the UK.

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Adopted Australian? Ex Geordie Shore star Charlotte Crosby has revealed she's considering relocating from the UK to Australia

'I have always said, that when I'm in my mid 30s I'll probably move here,' Charlotte said.

'It's [Australia] a great lifestyle, the weather is amazing, I would sure like to do something like that,' the brunette added.

Charlotte has been in Sydney since Saturday, but is expected to leave on Sunday.

Tough few months: The blonde recently suffered an ectopic pregnancy while she was with ex and fellow Geordie Shore star Gary 'Gaz' Beadle (seen together London in October last year)

'It's a great lifestyle': The 26-year-old said she wants to move to Australia in her mid thirties (seen here at Sydney's Bondi Beach in 2013)

If she moves Down Under, she will follow in the footsteps of former Geordie Shore cast member, Ricci Guarnaccio, 29, who is currently living in Sydney.

Another cast member of the show, Sophie Kasaei, has said she wanted to move to Australia, but is still based in the UK.

Sophie previously told MTV Australia she wants to move to Australia in 2016.

'I feel like I want to pack up and move to Australia. I think I'm just going to do it next year, 100%. You just watch this space,' she said in November.

The cast also filmed a series of the show in Australia.

A friend Down Under: If she moves, she will follow in the footsteps of former Geordie Shore cast member, Ricci Guarnaccio, 29, (R) who is currently living in Sydney

Considering the move? Another cast member of the show, Sophie Kasaei, has said she wanted to move to Australia, but is still based in the UK

Charlotte's trip to Australia comes after she revealed to Heat Magazine she suffered an ectopic pregnancy after falling pregnant with ex Gary Beadle's baby.

She confessed that it happened in April while Gaz was away filming Ex On The Beach, and that she was rushed to hospital for an operation.

Charlotte, who had been filming Geordie Shore: Big Birthday Battle at the time, said she wasn't even aware she was pregnant at first, and that she thought the pain was down to a heavy period.

I thought I had a really bad period because I was bleeding and cramping - I can't describe the pain, it was awful,' she explained, adding that it felt like she was 'being stabbed in the side'.

Its been a hard few months for the star, who also recently split with Gary.
She lost four stone last year, dropping an impressive five dress sizes after sculpting her body thanks to regular exercise.

And Lauren Goodger has now sparked debate about body image, revealing that she thinks there is such a thing as being too big or too skinny - and it's not healthy.

Citing the example of plus-sized model Ashley Graham's clothing range, the 29-year-old star said she doesn't believe companies should be catering to 'extreme sizes' because it sends out a bad message to 'impressionable girls'.

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Speaking out: Lauren Goodger has sparked a debate about body image, revealing that she thinks there is such a thing as being too big or too skinny in hew new! magazine column

Lauren, 29, explained she's a huge fan of brunette beauty Ashley, a poster girl for body confidence and women with curves.

She wrote in her new! magazine column: 'I love her confidence and think its great shes inspiring women of a larger size to embrace their bodies.'

However, despite Lauren thinking Ashley looks incredible in her own swimwear range, which was released earlier this month, she doesn't agree with the extreme sizes her line caters for.

Poster girl: While Lauren, 29, explained she's a huge fan of plus-sized model Ashley Graham, she doesn't agree with the extreme and 'unhealthy' sizes the US beauty's line - which goes up to a size 28 - caters for

The former TOWIE favourite said: 'Her range caters up to a size 28 and I dont believe its safe to be so big. In my opinion, anything above a size 18 is unhealthy.

Lauren insisted she feels the same about being extremely underweight, and is horrified by 'size zero' clothing.

'I think it sends out the wrong message to girls', she continued.

'Its unhealthy to be overweight or underweight, and making clothing ranges in such extreme sizes will encourage impressionable girls.

Transformation: Lauren dropped an impressive five dress sizes last year after sculpting her body thanks to regular exercise, revealing that a photo of her in an orange bikini taken in February 2015 motivated her to make a positive change

Lauren has become interested in health and fitness over the last year, sculpting her body with the help of her DVD, Lauren's OMG! Workout.

She previously confessed that trolls encouraged her to change her lifestyle after mocking pictures of her in a bikini taken in February 2015 on a holiday to Egypt, branding her a 'beached whale.'

The reality star has been working hard to maintain her slimmed down, healthy figure ever since.

She previously told MailOnline: Im proud of what Ive done, Ive achieved it slowly. I never want to look like that ever again.

Im not skinny, Im strong and fit  theres a difference. I look healthier than ever.'I am a lot stronger in my mind, I dont take anything negative, I feel so much better because of this.
She's best known for her role as the complex and sassy Joan Holloway in American drama Mad Men.

But Christina Hendricks, 41, was all about the fun, on Tuesday, when she headed to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, with her husband Geoffrey Arend, 38.

The loved-up couple were spotted riding the Radiator Springs Racers, California Screamin' Rollercoaster, Thunder Mountain Rollercoaster, the Matterhorn Bobsleds and a gentle merry-go-round.

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Fun in the sun: Christina Hendricks, 41, was all about the fun, on Tuesday, when she headed to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, with her husband Geoffrey Arend, 38

Christina dressed down for the outing in a shortsleeved black and white striped top which she wore with torn blue jeans and dainty black shoes.

The actress tied back her famous red tresses into a ponytail and covered her eyes with a pair of oversized shades.

She carried her essentials in a petite red over-the-shoulder bag which she tied a patterned headscarf around.

Having a whale of a time! : Christina appeared to be in her element as she rode alone on the carousel, picking a whale out to perch on

As she sauntered through the park by Geoffrey's side, she playfully pulled jazz hands at the cameras.

Meanwhile, Geoffrey was equally as casual in a loose white t-shirt emblazoned with the outline of a man's head.

Similarly to his wife, he teamed it with some blue jeans and black trainers, while a sizeable camera hung over his shoulder so that he could capture all the fun.

Wind in their hair: Christina gazed adoringly at her man as they enjoyed a ride on one of the rollercoasters

Relaxed: Christina dressed down for the outing in a shortsleeved black and white striped top

Christina gazed adoringly at her man as they enjoyed a ride on one of the rollercoasters. She leaned over a safety bar and smiled as the wind rushed through Geoffrey's hair.

And she appeared to be in her element as she rode alone on a carousel, picking a whale out to perch on.

Christina might have said goodbye to her beloved Mad Men character Joan Holloway just over a year ago after eight years on the show, however, it looks like her career is continuing to go from strength to strength as she dazzled at the premiere of her latest movie.

The actress was joined by her actor husband at the Los Angeles screening of The Neon Demon on Tuesday night.

Terrific in teal: Christina showcased her fabulous figure in a teal sequinned Jenny Packham dress at the Los Angeles premiere of The Neon Demon on Tuesday night

The redhead beauty showcased her fabulous curves in a figure-hugging teal, sequinned Jenny Packham Spring/Summer 2015 dress.

She completed her fun look with a playful Anya Hindmarch 'Boom' box clutch and blue metallic heels as she arrived at the ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome in Hollywood.

The new movie sees Christina play Roberta Hoffman, head of a modelling agency who signs Elle Fanning's aspiring model character Jesse.

Support: The 41-year-old actress was joined by her husband who wore a black and bronze tunic over a pair of black trousers

The film tells the story of Jesse, who ends up sharing an apartment with fellow wannabe models, who are shape-shifting vampires.

The movie also stars Keanu Reeves, Alessandro Nivola and Bella Heathcote and is directed by Nicolas Winding Refn.

Christina and Geoffrey wed in New York in 2009 after three years of dating, having been introduced by her Mad Men co-star Vincent Kartheiser.

Her leading lady: Christina looked pleased to see her young co-star Elle Fanning, who plays an aspiring teenage model in the movie

What's so funny? The two actresses share a joke as they pose together on red carpet

In an interview two years ago, the redhead beauty admitted the couple had decided not to have children.

She told Health magazine: 'We've decided that we are not really interested in having children.

'We got a puppy, and thats my idea of starting a family.

'People say, "Oh, thats practice for parenting," but if its practice for anything its to be a mom to another puppy.'

The Neon Demon is released in the US on 24 June and in the UK on 8 July.

The gang's all here: Christina and Elle join their co-stars (L-R) Keanu Reeves, Alessandro Nivola and Bella Heathcote and director Nicolas Winding Refn

Scary! Psychological horror film The Neon Demon is released in the US on 24 June
If anyone knows how to juggle multiple projects at once, it's ever-busy Lena Dunham.

The 30-year-old, who is the star and creator of HBO's hit series Girls, was spotted putting her balancing abilities to the test when she stepped out in Brooklyn on Tuesday.

Lena carried a bundle of items, including an orange juice, a black high heel, and her sparkling pink cell phone.

It's a balancing act! Lena Dunham had her hands full when she stepped out in Brooklyn on Tuesday

Yet the actress seemed little fazed by her cumbersome load, and instead looked to be in great spirits as she continued her way out into the sunshine.

The star was dressed in her summery best, keeping her cool in a pretty floral print dress teamed with brown ankle boots.

As usual it has been a particularly busy time for the hard working actress.

Aside from continuing to wrap up the final season of her hit HBO series Girls, she recently teamed up with her Girls co-stars to share a powerful video speaking out against sexual assault in the wake of the Stanford swimmer rape case.

Summer stylin': The 30-year-old kept her cool in a blue floral print dress paired with brown ankle boots

The actress also appeared at The Wrap's Power Women Breakfast in New York last week, where she gave her two cents on the Republican Party's presumptive Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The actress rained down abuse, calling him a 'maniacal, misogynist, racist, Islamophobic, ableist, transphobic hell hound.'

Lena, who was one of the speakers at the event, lamented: 'I didn't think we'd be having a real serious conversation about Donald Trump.

Making the rounds: The actress also appeared at The Wrap's Power Women Breakfast in New York last week, where she gave her two cents on the Republican Party's presumptive Presidential candidate Donald Trump

'I still laugh when I see him on TV. It's not funny, it just makes me laugh. I think we all have to get used to it, talk about it in a serious way, which is hard.'

The actress also continued to rave about the Kardashians, who she has previously praised.

'I love the Kardashians, I love to look at them,' she said.

She later added: 'Every version of being female and feeling powerful is f**ing great with me. I don't have a problem with it.

'I have no interest in getting on a soap box and making decisions about what should make other women feel beautiful, or feel healthy, or feel strong.'

Powerful: Dunham and her Girls co-stars Jemima Kirke, Allison Williams, and Zosia Mamet starred in a powerful video speaking out against sexual assault in the wake of the Stanford swimmer rape case
As shooting for his acclaimed TV series Sherlock continues, Benedict Cumberbatch is getting accustomed to working through many late nights and early mornings.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning - ahead of the sun fully rising over the British capital - the 39-year-old actor was spotted filming scenes as the titular character for the BBC production.

Wrapped up in a black woollen coat, Benedict acted out scenes described by onlookers as 'dramatic and emotional' as he stood on central London's imposing Hungerford Bridge.

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Back to work: Benedict Cumberbatch was seen shooting scenes for Sherlock in London on Wednesday

Given the decidedly early start to the day's production schedule, extra lights were in place to aid with visuals as the crew scurried about to capture the best shots.

Production on the anticipated series has pressed on in a variety of locations this summer, including the British capital and Cardiff.

Filming has continued at full-pace following Sherlock co-creators Steven Moffat and Gatiss' confirmation that the show was returning, following the New Year's special earlier.

Warming up: The acclaimed actor wrapped up in a black woollen coat as she shot pre-dawn scenes

'Emotional scenes': Onlookers described the scenes bring shot on the day as 'dramatic and emotional'

A river runs through it: The cast and drew gathered on central London's imposing Hungerford Bridge

In a statement, the duo said at the time: 'Sherlock series four - here we go again! Whatever else we do, wherever we all go, all roads lead back to Baker Street - and it always feels like coming home.

'Ghosts of the past are rising in the lives of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson bringing adventure, romance and terror in their wake.

'This is the story we've been telling from the beginning. A story about to reach its climax.'

Acclaimed: Benedict is returning for the fourth series of the BBC series, which has won acclaim from critics

The final countdown? The show's co-creators recently stated that the story is 'about to reach its climax'

Anticipated: Benedict as assured devoted fans of the show that the next series 'will be worth' the wait

Oscar-nominated screen star Benedict said he was 'thrilled' to be returning as the detective.

He said: 'I can't wait for everyone to see season four. But you will have to wait... though not for long... And it will be worth it.'

Series four will return to BBC later this year with three feature length episodes, while Benedict will also grace the big screen in Marvel's mystical action romp, Doctor Strange.

Location, location, location: Scenes were shot in a variety of locations, including the English capital and Cardiff

All of the lights: The crew used extra lighting to capture the perfect shots as production rolled on
Her career in showbusiness has spanned nearly 25 years.

So LeAnn Rimes certainly knows how to work it in front of the cameras, as illustrated by her radiant display as she headed to the BBC Radio Two studios in London on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old How Do I Live? hitmaker nailed summer chic with a biker edge as she sported a billowing yellow skirt paired with a touch leather jacket.

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Mellow yellow: LeAnn Rimes certainly knows how to work it in front of the cameras, as illustrated by her radiant display as she headed to the BBC Radio Two studios in London on Wednesday

LeAnn looked incredible for her trip out in the capital as she clashed two contrasting trends to create a striking look which no doubt wowed admirers.

Her finely pleated canary yellow skirt was bold in colour while swishing at the base and adding volume to the already stunning bottom.

She wore a thin knit striped top underneath, with a scooped neckline which flashed just a hint of her bare skin.

Layering a leather biker jacket over the top and pairing the look with chunky leather boots gave the ensemble a measure of edge to prevent looking overly twee.

Tough stuff: The 33-year-old How Do I Live? hitmaker nailed summer chic with a biker edge as she sported a billowing yellow skirt paired with a touch leather jacket

Jewels: LeAnn kept her accessories minimal yet ensured they added an extra dynamic to the look as she rocked a dangling pendant on a long chain

LeAnn kept her accessories minimal yet ensured they added an extra dynamic to the look as she rocked a dangling pendant on a long chain.

Her only other item of jewellery was her eye-watering diamond engagement ring which was given to her by her now-husband Eddie Cibrian upon his 2011 proposal.

The legendary songstress also toted an envy-inducing clutch bag designed by Chanel and adorned with the luxury label's iconic CC logo.

She kept her hair and make-up minimal with beachy waves worked through and a natural beauty regimen comprising of dewy foundation.

Striking: Her finely pleated canary yellow skirt was bold in colour while swishing at the base and adding volume to the already stunning bottom

Sharing: LeAnn was documenting her trip to the UK with her 597,000 Twitter followers, with whom she revealed she was playing new music to record label Sony while she was over

Grateful: The thankful star also wrote: 'I'm so grateful for another wonderful day in this life of mine! #london #grateful'

LeAnn was documenting her trip to the UK with her 597,000 Twitter followers, with whom she revealed she was playing new music to record label Sony while she was over.

She wrote on the microblogging site: 'So excited! I get to perform three new songs for the first time tonight! #newmusic #secrets #TheStory @SonyMusicUK #party'.
He will have his pick of a bevvy of beauties on the upcoming series of The Bachelor.

And Richie Strahan has dropped some hints about what he looks for in a woman, revealing his dream girl would be 'fiery' and ready to push his boundaries.

The 31-year-old hunk, from Perth, said he is hoping to fall in love and spend the rest of his life with one woman - two weeks after filming wrapped for the new series.

Heart-throb: The Bachelor's Richie Strahan (pictured) has revealed what he looks for in a woman

'I want all the good stuff, a girl who is going to be passionate, someone fiery who is going to challenge me,' he told The Daily Telegraph.

'So it is about someone who is going to be my equal and push my boundaries as much as I push hers.'

The final rose ceremony was filmed in Bali earlier this month, with Channel 10 implementing extreme measures to ensure spoilers were not leaked.

Dashing: The 31-year-old hunk, from Perth, said he is hoping to fall in love and spend the rest of his life with one woman - two weeks after filming wrapped for the new series

And Richie did not give anything away from the new series, refusing to confirm his relationship status.

'I hope I fall in love and spend the rest of my life with her,' he said.

Richie captured the hearts of the nation after making it to Sam Frost's final three in The Bachelorette last year.

He is believed to have undergone media, acting and dialogue training to 'combat his nerves' for the upcoming series.

Good looking pair: Richie did not give anything away from the new series, pictured with host Osher Gunsberg (left)

Shy star: He is believed to have undergone media, acting and dialogue training to 'combat his nerves' for the upcoming series

But the shy star insisted he was not nervous because he has 'nothing to hide'.

'There are no bad sides. I'm just a regular guy, a regular Aussie bloke,' he said.

His new life in the public eye is a far cry from his old job as a rope access technician on oil rigs.

Richie told The Daily Telegraph that he used to find it difficult to meet women because of the nature of his work.

Filming wrapped for the new series on June 1, it is understood.

Producers reportedly called in the Indonesian military to keep paparazzi from snapping shots while they filmed the final episode in Bali.
She's got a lot on her plate at the moment as her businessman husband awaits sentencing after being found guilty of a charge of 'insider dealing.'

But on Wednesday, 36-year-old PR maven Roxy Jacenko was focused on the family as she took her son Hunter, two, and daughter Pixie, four, to the Finding Dory premiere.

The businesswoman doted on her children, whom she dressed in matching Burberry macs on the chilly evening as they posed at the opening night at Event Cinemas in Sydney on Wednesday.

Family snap: Roxy Jacenko and son Hunter Curtis and daughter Pixie Curtis arrive at the Finding Dory Australian Premiere at Event Cinemas in Sydney on Wednesday

The well-behaved little duo posed dutifully on the blue carpet as flashbulbs popped until Hunter decided it was time to go and sauntered off.

Roxy was swaddled against the cold in a black coat and jeans and ballet pumps and posed with a caring arm around her little ones.

Hunter kept a firm grip of his baby blanket as Pixie kept a close eye on him before he walked off mid pose.

Wrapped up: Roxy was swaddled against the cold in a black coat and jeans and ballet pumps and posed with a caring arm around her little ones

Earlier this month, Roxy's husband Oliver Curtis was found guilty of conspiring to commit insider trading.

He could face up to five years imprisonment and a $220,000 fine over the charge and is awaiting sentencing scheduled for Friday.

It will no doubt be a difficult day for the 30-year-old and the Sweaty Betty executive who has remained steadfastly by his side amid his legal woes.

Where you going Hunter? Once he had fill, HUnter was off with his baby blanket

United: While Roxy and Oliver do not know what the future holds, the are staying strong for their two children

Earlier this week, Roxy shared a photo of her and Oliver's matching outfits ahead of his sentencing hearing.

'Twinning... Except for the shoes,' she captioned the snap uploaded to Instagram.

Meanwhile, the blonde entrepreneur appears have had more collagen injected into her lips prompting one social media fan to declare: 'Some serious plumping Kylie Jenner vibes going on there.'

Fuller pout: Fans have questioned whether Roxy Jacenko has had lip fillers once again after she displayed a plumper lips in a number of Instagram snaps

Pout and about: She previously revealed she used temporary lip fullers to boost her pout, before (left) and after (right)

Has she had work done? The mother of two flaunts what appear to be plumper lips when she clocked off from work on Wednesday

Another Instagram user said: 'Your lips look great'.

She also posted a selfie rocking noticeably plumper lips on Wednesday in the lift on the way home from work.

The mother-of-two previously admitted to having collagen injected into her lips saying she was pleased with the results.

I like it  something fun which doesnt last forever! Im all about trying everything once, okay, maybe twice ;).

In June 2015 Roxy opened up about undergoing rhinoplasty, telling WHO magazine, 'I was over the droopy end and bump on the top of my nose, so it made sense to get it tweaked.

'My nose is already looking one hundred times better and being able to breathe [properly] is a luxury.'
James Franco is clever at finding new ways to shock people.

On Wednesday the 38-year-old movie star took to Instagram to get attention as he dressed up in a vintage-looking woman's bra top and shorts.

'Summer is here!' wrote the Spring Breakers star without mentioning his attire. The star appeared to be in great shape with ripped abs and sculpted arms.

In bloom: James Franco modeled a bra top and shorts in this Instagram snap shared on Wednesday

Silly man: 'Summer is here!' wrote the Spring Breakers star without mentioning his attire. The star appeared to be in great shape with ripped abs and sculpted arms

The Freaks & Geeks vet also had on a lovely red floral headpiece that looked unusual next to his shaggy hair and messy mustache.

The writer was standing in what appeared to be a New York City showroom.

This comes after Franco was seen with his arm around a mystery woman outside Fiat Cafe in Manhattan, something the star poked fun at on Instagram on Tuesday.

Cuddled up: The movie and TV actor was spotted leaving Fiat Cafe in New York City on Monday with a mystery woman

The two seemed to be more than just friends as James put his arm around her and even snapped a few selfies on the outing in Little Italy.

James and his lady friend seemed to be enjoying each other's company as they shared a few giggles as the pretty girl tucked her head under the 127 Hours star's bicep.

The Oscar-nominated actor was dressed comfortably in a baggy black T-shirt, relaxed fit indigo-washed jeans and blue and orange New Balance trainers.

Cosying up: The 38-year-old actor looked happy to be on the outing as he wrapped his arm around her

He wore an on-trend The Strokes dad hat over his long hair as he sported a bushy moustache.

The pair looked like the picture perfect hipster-chic couple as his female pal sported a white retro The Velvet Underground T-shirt tucked into blue high-waisted jeans.

She also sported a pair of black leather loafers with a matching belt as she accessorised with black Ray-Bay Clubmaster shades.

His 90210 pal: He has also worked with Tori Spelling on Mother, May I Sleep With Danger?

Her brunette tresses were worn mostly down as the top was put in a messy updo as she sported minimal make-up on her face.

James was last romantically linked to model Erin Johnson as the two were spotted out in Los Angeles together back in August 2014.

The Spider-Man star has been keeping busy as always as he has 17 projects on the horizon on both the big screen and television.

What's that you say? The two got into a conversation about the remake while at a NYC screening on June 7

Perhaps his most anticipated venture is upcoming HBO drama The Deuce, which he will both star as the lead in as well as produce.

It is centred around 1970s and 1980s New York in the midst of rampant prostitution and pornography in Manhattan.

Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Carr, Margarita Levieva, Lawrence Gillard Jr, Dominique Fishback and Emily Meade all star.

The Deuce will premiere sometime next year on HBO.
Nowadays, she's rarely seen without her handsome fiance Joshua Sasse by her side.

But loved-up Kylie Minogue flew solo when she stepped out for a spot of shopping in Chelsea, London, on Wednesday afternoon.

While the 48-year-old's is best known for glamorous displays, the Spinning Around hit-maker instead decided to keep things more relaxed for her daytime jaunt.

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Nowadays, she's rarely seen without her handsome fiance Joshua Sasse by her side but loved-up Kylie Minogue flew solo when she stepped out for a spot of shopping in Chelsea, London, on Wednesday afternoon

While her look was uncharacteristically casual, Kylie's ensemble still embodied a chic feel as she sauntered along the streets in a white slogan T-shirt.

The Australian pop princess smartened up the top with high-waisted black trousers that were slightly flared around the hem.

Kylie seemingly forgot to check the weather forecast before leaving home as she wrapped up in an over-sized black knit despite the relatively warm city climes.

Pared-down: While the 48-year-old's is best known for glamorous displays, the Spinning Around hit-maker instead decided to keep things more relaxed for her daytime jaunt

While she's seldom seen out of a stiletto, Kylie embraced her small stature and opted for comfort in simple ballet flats.

She instilled a pop of colour into the style with a tan leather handbag.

The Better The Devil You Know hit-maker chose to showcase her natural beauty as she tied her blonde locks into an easy up-do and modelled a neutral make-up palette beneath her sunglasses.

Her solo outing comes after Kylie and her fiance Joshua shot down reports that they had wed on the Greek island of Sifnos.

Monochrome magic: While her look was uncharacteristically casual, Kylie's ensemble still embodied a chic feel as she sauntered along the streets in a white slogan T-shirt

Super chic: The Australian pop princess smartened up the top with high-waisted black trousers that were slightly flared around the hem

It comes after the Galavant star shared the two verse To My Wife, written by William Ernest Henley, along with a series of hashtags promoting poetry.

However, the English actor took to Twitter on Tuesday to set the record straight, after it was claimed the pair wed in secret.

He tweeted: 'Apparently I was at a big fat Greek wedding... wish I'd been there!'

Joshua tagged Kylie in the post and added the hashtag 'rumours, rumours, rumours,' with the pop princess then retweeting him.
She announced her split from husband James Placido two months ago.

And Jodie Marsh appeared to be still reeling from the break-up as she took the time to edit the captions of every photograph of the pair she had posted to Instagram.

Offering a glimpse into their short-lived romance, the 37-year-old model made a point of writing down exactly what she had paid for during the relationship, pointing out items of his clothing she had bought and the cost of their days out together.

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Turning back time: She announced her split from husband James Placido two months ago. And Jodie Marsh took the time to edit every photograph of the pair she had posted to Instagram

Accompanying what had been snaps taken in happier times she added captions such as 'I paid for this entire outfit', and 'My parents bought him this dinner jacket.'

Significantly, she claimed her estranged husband - who she was married to for eight months - did not have 'anything to his name' before he met her.

Adding to the caption of the pair on a racing day experience, she wrote: 'James wearing his brogues with his race suit - not such a great look hahaha. Good job I bought trainers for him eh!'

'Punching': Taking to her Instagram on Tuesday, the body builder, 37, let her 393,000 followers know her feelings towards James by re-captioning several snaps of herself and her husband from happier times

She continued: 'And even when I gave him the trainers he didn't want to wear them as they weren't good enough!

'I was quite shocked at that to be honest as it's not like he had ANYTHING to his name before he met me so to be turning his nose up at brand new trainers was bad really.'

The body builder made her feelings perfectly clear for her 393,000 followers, telling them that looking at old photographs made her 'feel sick'.

'This now makes me feel sick - I bought him these trousers, jumper and shoes. My parents bought him this dinner jacket': Jodie Marsh has lashed out at her estranged husband, James Placido, on social media again

Not holding back: Jodie did not mince her words when it came to adding some extra words on the captions

In one of the snaps a beaming Jodie - who announced her split from James in April - can be seen in a plunging floral maxi dress, with her arm wrapped around her dapper husband - who is wearing a maroon smoking jacket.

But clearly feeling extremely uncomfortable with the picture now, the former glamour girl edited the words accompanying it to read: 'This now makes me feel sick - I bought him these trousers and jumper and got him these shoes. My parents bought him this dinner jacket.'

And clearly in need of a vent, Jodie changed the words below a picture of the couple and two of her dogs to read that he was 'clearly punching' above his weight.

'Dinner attire': Whilst Jodie's original caption was sweetly worded she added: 'all paid for by me, including every single thing James is wearing'

'Obvs I paid for these': Christmas not such a cheery affair according to Jodie

'Ponce': Jodie was very direct with her one-word description of her estranged husband

Charitable: Jodie captioned the snap 'That was us doing an abseil for @ssafa_armedforcescharity. I donated a load of money this day too. James did not'

And it seems James isn't the only one to have caught her ire, as the glamour model took to her Twitter account later on in the day to blast the cast of ITV's Love Island for their amorous antics.

Jodie - who has already expressed her affections for Terry Walsh in a cheeky naked selfie - she expressed her doubts his relationship with Malin Anderson would last.

However, it seems the bedroom based antics featured on the show have irked the fitness fanatic, as she lashed out at the Islanders' behaviour on the nation's TV screen.

'On a serious note, I still CANNOT believe that these people actually have sex on TV!! It's too much! This is not normal!!!! #LoveIsland,' she began.

Adding to her 606,000 followers: 'If they were Porn stars then fair enough but they're just normal people who are happy to openly have sex on TV! Wtf?What about their family [sic]?'

Bridal bliss: Jodie explained she had bought James' outfit for their wedding but firmly explained she did 'NOT choose' his hair to look that way

Homesick: Jodie said that James looked 'very miserable' in that snap, asking if he was 'perhaps missing caravan/rat life?'

And clearly warming to her theme she had another dig at James, writing: 'I've done some dodgy & very embarrassing things in my time (like get married) but my god if I'd had sex on TV my parents would disown me!!

'I must be getting old. It really shocks me that these people are happy to shag on TV knowing that their families are prob watching....[sic].'

Jodie's latest outburst came after the model launched an epic rant on Twitter at the start of the month, threatening to tell all about her relationship and breakup.

Not a fan! And it seems James isn't the only one to have caught her ire, as the glamour model took to her Twitter account later on in the day to blast the cast of ITV's Love Island for their amorous antics

Saucy snaps: The comments came after Jodie - who has already expressed her affections for Terry Walsh in a cheeky naked selfie (pictured) - said she had her doubts his relationship with Malin Anderson

Jodie told her fans that she couldn't stay silent anymore after her estranged husband allegedly 'made monetary demands from me' despite signing a prenup before their marriage.

While neither the former glamour model or James has revealed why they are heading for divorce, according to Jodie it won't be long before the truth comes out.

The blonde posted a string of messages on her social media account, telling her fans: 'So James has been making monetary demands from me (after signing a pre nup). If he carries on I WILL be telling everyone why we REALLY split.'

Speaking out: Jodie's latest outburst came after the model launched an epic rant on Twitter at the start of the month, threatening to tell all about her relationship and breakup

Hitting back: Jodie told her fans that she couldn't stay silent anymore after her estranged husband 'made monetary demands from me' despite signing a prenup before their marriage

Jodie alleged that the real reason for the breakup was so bad, James would have to leave the country, as she explained:

'He really really won't want the truth coming out about him. Believe me, I reckon he'd have to leave the country if people knew the truth...I'm only sparing him for now as it's my ammunition in the divorce..... If he plays nice, signs the papers & f**** off then I'll play nice.' (sic)

'He's got NOTHING on me & nothing bad to say about me. I was the perfect loving wife (who stupidly fell for him). Yes I feel an idiot now,' she continued.

Divorce: Jodie announced her split from James in April, less than eight months after they tied the knot

'Perfect wife' Jodie insists she did nothing wrong throughout her brief marriage

'For him to say anything bad about me he would have to make it up and lie as I literally didn't put a foot wrong in our marriage.'

She added: 'I am so so so embarrassed & hurt that I fell for his lies & trickery. I will never be so stupid again.'

I'm embarrassed to even KNOW him, let alone have married him,' she said adding the hashtag 'cringe'.

Moving on: The blonde posted a string of messages on her social media account, telling her fans she is 'embarrassed' to have fallen for the personal trainer

Jodie even claimed that James 'recently threatened to drive a truck through my gates to get onto my property'.

She also claimed to be adding extra security measures to her house to protect herself from James, tweeting: 'You know you have trust issues with your ex when you have 10 more CCTV cameras installed.'

She went on to warn other women off her soon-to-be ex husband, tweeting: 'Anyway I've done my charity work for the last year or so. The next boyfriend I get needs to be on MY level (success & finance wise)

Claims: Jodie even claimed that James threatened to force his way onto her property

'And ladies: BE WARNED: this is not sour grapes. I'm sitting here laughing. I couldn't care less. Just STAY AWAY from him. He's dangerous,' later adding:

'Oh & if any ladies are having the "pleasure" of sex with James right now; don't give him any money, don't leave him alone in your house....don't leave him alone with children or animals, don't trust his lies when he tells you everything you wanna hear & be savvy!!!!'

Bodybuilder Jodie announced her split from personal trainer James on social media in April, just eight months after their surprise wedding in Barbados.

Warning: The former glamour model was keen to warn other women off her ex

She later took to Twitter to say that the end of her marriage would not signal the end of her family dreams and she'll do it alone if need be.

She wrote: 'The future is this: I'm making 2 more shows for @tlc_uk then I'm going to revisit having a baby via sperm donation #itsallaboutME.'

Jodie made the announcement of her split via Instagram too, saying: 'It is with sadness that I bring you the news that James and I have separated.'

'I will be keeping all the dogs with me. I won't be taking calls on the matter as I'd like to be left alone. I thank you in advance for your sensitivity on this subject...'
He recently split from Taylor Swift, but Calvin Harris has been using his solo time rather wisely and posted a few pictures of his very chiseled body on Snapchat.

The 32-year-old Scottish musician is sure to be setting his fan's pulses racing with the images which shows how hard he has been working out in the gym.

But clearly feeling a little bashful, the handsome chap covered his own face with a frog emoji, surely giving Kermit a run for his money.

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Move over Kermit! Calvin Harris showed off his incredibly sculpted body in a new Snapchat post on Wednesday... but covered his face with a frog's head

Going about his business: Calvin was pictured heading to the gym to keep his buff physique in check on Saturday

A source told E! News that he and Taylor are both feeling rather positive following their recent break-up.

They said: 'Taylor is not sad anymore about the breakup. She knows it was for the best. They are not on bad terms.

'They have communicated since the breakup, but getting back together is something thats not in the cards for either of them.'

Looking to meet Miss Piggy! No doubt the musician will be sending his fan's pulses racing with the new post

Calvin's transformation into hunky male model type has taken a lot of hard work and his Los Angeles lifestyle has clearly helped.

He told The Sun back in 2012: 'The food is fantastic over here. You can eat healthily, theres a lot more healthy options than in the UK  thats a fact.'

His daily routine now involves eggs for breakfast ('egg-white omelette with smoked salmon and spinach for protein, fibre and omega-3') and a trip to the gym before hitting the studio.

What a guy! He's had quite the transformation since he first emerged on the music scene - pictured on stage at the Good Vibrations Festival in Australia in 2008

In 2009 the 1.97m tall lad said: ' 'It was hard being the tallest person in class. Especially when you are a teenager. You want to keep your head down. I did anyway.

'When you are a spotty awkward teenager, you don't want people to look at you. It's a self-conscious thing. Everyone looks at you because you are extra gangly.

'It's only in the last five years that I have come to terms with the fact that I am a big tall b******.'
They have been there for every big moment of this famous family lives, but looks like someone's sweet tooth has her considering other options.

On Tuesday Kim Kardashian put out the call to help find a new bakery, causing fans to question what longtime bakers Hansen's had done to led to a dessert desertion.

The 35-year-old took to Twitter just a day ahead of daughter North's birthday to track down a new patisserie.

No so sweet: On Tuesday Kim Kardashian (pictured 2011) put out the call to help find a new bakery, causing fans to question what longtime bakers Hansen's had done to led to a dessert desertion

Kim asked: 'Ok guys my family is looking for a new bakery. What are the yummiest cake spots in la that makes amazing cakes & cupcakes?'

With just hours before her first born's birthday, going somewhere new seemed risky and very unusual leading to some fans demanding to know what had occurred.

Many also tried to recommend other top cake spots, with a very experienced expert weighing in too.

Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro tweeted Kim offering to help out, cheekily tweeting: 'I think I might know a guy...'

Dessert-ion : The 35-year-old took to Twitter just a day ahead of North's birthday to track down a new patisserie spot

Bad timing: With just hours before her first born's birthday, going somewhere new seemed risky and very unusual leading to some fans demanding to know what had occurred

Changing things up: Last year, the star had the Los Angeles' cake markers create a frosted Minnie Mouse and cupcakes for her little girl's second birthday

As Buddy is in New Jersey, Kim will still need to find someone local.

Considering Hansen's has been at every big Kardashian milestone, Kim's hunt for something new is shocking.

But fans of the Kardashian and Hansen's dessert love story need not fear too much, according to the bakery they remain the family's go-to cake place.

Seizing the opportunity: Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro tweeted Kim offering to help out

Not completely cooked yet: But fans of the Kardashian and Hansen's dessert love story need not fear too much, according to the bakery they remain the family's go-to cake place, with a representative telling the DailyMail.com there has been no falling out

Always there: The bakery have been with the family through the best and worst of times with the store making cakes for both Kim and Khloe's weddings which no doubt stayed edible longer than the marriages

Impressive: Khloe's amazing cake was multi-tiered and the store has long had a picture of Khloe and Lamar cutting the cake in the store's window

A representative from Hansen's told the Dailymail.com that everything is sweet between the business and the family: 'We are still baking for the family.

'We have had no falling put with them.'

As for why Kim is trying to cheat on them, the rep seemed unconcerned: 'Maybe she just wanted to try something new?'

The bakery have been with the family through the best and worst of times with the store making cakes for both Kim and Khloe's weddings which no doubt stayed edible longer than the marriages.

Always used them: The 35-year-old and then-husband Kris Humphries used the bakery for their wedding in 2011. They caused tongues to wag when the top of the cake was found dumped in a bin

Family tradition: They have also made birthday cakes every year for Kylie Jenner since she was born

Memories: The cake store's last Instagram is even a flashback of Kanye West's birthday cake which Kim had specially made for him

There for the special moments: In October Kim enlisted the bakery's help to make a cake for her baby shower

They have also made birthday cakes every year for Kylie Jenner since she was born.

They recently expanded their cake reach to the newest member of the Kardashian clan, Blac Chyna.

Rob had a number of cakes made for his fiancee to celebrate her emoji release and Hansen's also sent the couple a cake to congratulate them on their engagement.

The cake store's last Instagram is even a flashback of Kanye West's birthday cake which Kim had specially made for him.

New member: They recently expanded their cake reach to the newest member of the Kardashian clan, Blac Chyna - who is engaged to Rob
Eva Longoria gushed about Rita Moreno as she presented the iconic actress with an honorary doctorate of fine arts on Wednesday in Los Angeles, during the AFI Conservatory Commencement.

The newlywed 41-year-old gave a speech to the new graduates of the American Film Institute before introducing the 84-year-old.

Eva told the graduates that they'd be wise to use Rita as a guiding light to use myriad points of view.

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Honoured: Eva Longoria presented Rita Moreno with an honorary doctorate of fine arts on Wednesday in Los Angeles, during the AFI Conservatory Commencement

The Desperate Housewives star added to the audience at TCL Cinese Theatre that 'Rita Moreno is the American Dream'.

The West Side Story star then came on stage, where a cheering Eva presented her with her honorary doctorate and helped place a hood over her robes.

As she addressed the crowd, Rita recalled her discouraging early days in Hollywood where she was called on by studios to play any and every ethnicity. She called them 'dusky maiden roles.'

And yet, the iconic star said, that those directors and studios 'could not succeed in drowning this Puerto Rican.'

Cheering: The Desperate Housewives star helped place a hood over the iconic actress's robe

'Never stop dreaming': Rita delivered an inspiring speech after admitting she was called on by studios to play any and every ethnicity

'She is the American Dream': Eva told the new graduates to use Rita as a guiding light

Rita, who told the graduates to 'never stop dreaming', of course would rise above that early stereotyping, winning Emmys, a Grammy, Tony and Oscar.

This makes her one of just 12 people who have all four of the highly coveted awards, known as an EGOT.

After giving a powerful speech to the new graduates, Rita then launched into a rendition of Dream When You're Feeling Blue.

Just married: The 41-year-old was appearing at the ceremony shortly after marrying Jose 'Pepe' Baston

Thrilled: Eva, who like the others wore black robes, was more than happy to be a part of honouring Rita

Peace out: Quentin Tarantino was also given an honorary degree during the Commencement ceremony

Quentin Tarantino also received an honorary degree during Wednesday's ceremony.

In his inspiring speech, the iconic director told the students: 'Your best is to be part of the artistic conversation.'

The 53-year-old was introduced by film critic Elvis Mitchell, who said that Quentin's movies 'leave us hungry with an appetite for more'.

'Your best is to be part of the artistic conversation': Like Rita, the famed director delivered a powerful speech
It is the episode upon which the reputation of this season of Game Of Thrones rests.

And the epic nature of the Battle Of The Bastards becomes clear in new stills released ahead of this Sunday's eagerly awaited show, entitled The Winds Of Winter.

With show bosses refusing to release any details of this, the penultimate episode, ahead of time - not even one of the show's typically bland synopses - fans will be eagerly scanning the pictures for hints of what is to come.

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Rocking the man bun! Kit Harington in character as Jon Snow prepares to go to war against Ramsay Bolton in Games Of Thrones' upcoming Battle Of The Bastards

Can he fix it? In the shots the Wildling Giant Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun tears across the battleground at the head of Jon Snow's army, as they take on Ramsay Bolton massive force in dramatic scenes

Ready for battle: The epic nature of the battle becomes clear in aerial shots

In the shots the Wildling Giant Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun tears across the battleground at the head of Jon Snow's army, as they take on Ramsay Bolton massive force in dramatic scenes.

Wun Wun has a scowl on his face as he throws himself towards the lines of waiting soldiers.

There are also close ups showing the emotions of the episode, as well-loved characters including Kit Harington's Jon Snow - rocking a rather attractive man bun - prepare to meet their fate.

Stark raving mad: Sansa is not happy when Jon insists he has 'fought worse beyond the wall'

Evil come to life: Ramsay Bolton sits atop his horse at the heads of an enormous

Jon talks darkly to Melisandre before going into battle against Bolton in the previously released teaser for the upcoming show.

He is understandably fearing for the life of both himself and his men as he gets ready to engage the superior forces of the Lord Warden Of The North in the aptly named Battle Of The Bastards.

Jon said: 'If I fall, don't bring me back.'

Facing their fate: It seems surely probable that at least one of the show's much loved characters will die

His right hand man: Snow's Davos trusty lieutenant Seaworth

Don't hurt the horses! Will Snow survive to live another day?

He is also heard telling his half-sister Sansa Stark, in what is perhaps a display of false braggadocio, that he has nothing to fear from the forthcoming clash.

He said: 'Battles have been won against greater odds. I've fought beyond the wall against worse than Ramsay Bolton.'

But his words do not cut any ice with his sibling, who knows all about the warmonger's love of torture and destruction.

Oh dear: The Bolton army is of a rather intimidating size while they also burn the crosses on the family flag

Speaking across the table in their war tent, she replies: 'You don't know him.'

To be fair to the jolly former Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, he has gone head-to-head with both the King Beyond The Wall's Wildling army and the White Walkers in the past few years.

It also seems that Jon again shows his much vaunted leadership by challenging Ramsay to single combat.

He says: 'Thousands of men don't need to die. Only one of us.'

However it seems his offer falls on dead ears, as the massive forces are then shown clashing into each other.

Adding some ginger spice to the battle: While Jon's army is only just over 2,000 strong, Sansa sent a letter begging for help from Petyr Baelish and the Knights Of The Vale

Playing the averages: Ramsay seems to turn down the opportunity for one-on-one combat with Jon

Clash: Steel clashes against steel as the epic battle finally gets underway

The Stark forces certainly have large odds to overcome if they are to emerge victorious and retake Winterfell, with Jon having just over 2,000 men to Ramsay's 5,000.

To make matters worse, Brienne Of Tarth was a failure yet again on Sunday's episode, her quest to recruit the Tully forces ending with her usual level of success after Lord Edmure ordered his forces surrender without a fight to Jaime Lannister the castle his uncle the Blackfish won on the battlefield.

Luckily Sansa may have a joker left to play, as it is thought she has sent a letter begging Petyr Baelish to come to her aid with the powerful Knights Of The Vale, which she had initially turned down in a strop over him marrying her off the the sadistic Ramsay.

Brienne's wild thing: Tormund and his Wildling warriors have to face off against a better trained and larger force

Slicing Onion Knight: Ser Davos shows his courage despite his self-confessed lack of sword fighting skills

Horseplay: A spear sends a knight flying from the back of his faithful steed
There was said to be 'no drama' in their break-up, but Calvin Harris now reportedly believes that Taylor Swift cheated on him with Tom Hiddleston while they were still together.

Pictures emerged on Wednesday of the Scottish DJ's ex passionately kissing Brit actor Tom during a beach trip this week, just two weeks after Calvin confirmed he had split from the singer.

While at the time time Calvin insisted the split was amicable, a source has now told E! News that the star feels 'betrayed' and believes Taylor may have been cheating with Tom while they were together.

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Blowing off steam: Calvin Harris was spotted out on Wednesday as he headed to a gym in Los Angeles. The outing came as pictures emerged of ex his Taylor Swift cuddling up to British actor Tom Hiddleston this week

'He is so angry and feels betrayed,' the insider claims. 'He is convinced that Taylor was cheating with Tom while they were still together.'

The 32-year-old Scottish DJ - who split with the songstress late last month - was pictured in camouflage sweatpants and a grey hoodie as he arrived for a workout at a gym in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Perhaps he was there to blow off a little steam as it was revealed he unfollowed Taylor Swift and deleted all traces of her on social media. The 26-year-old Shake It Off hitmaker also deleted snaps of them together, but still follows him.

Keeping busy: The 32-year-old DJ split from the Blank Space hitmaker just over two weeks ago

Meanwhile another source has claimed to The Sun that Calvin was blindsided by the news of Taylor and Tom, and allegedly didn't know for sure anything was going on until just hours before the photos were published on Wednesday.

Calvin seemed to suspiciously Tweet and then delete a social media post that read: 'Oh boy its about to go down' on Wednesday at 2pm, according to Pop Crave and The Sun.

The outing came as photos emerged showing Taylor, 26, enjoying a romantic outing with British actor Tom Hiddleston, 35 almost three weeks after her split with the producer.

In pictures obtained by The Sun, the Blank Space hitmaker kisses and cuddles up to The Night Manager star on a windswept beach on Tuesday.

Getting ugly? Calvin has unfollowed Taylor on Twitter and some of the singer's fans reported that he blocked them from seeing his page

Tweet and then delete: Calvin is said to have preempted the drama on Wednesday and posted this message, before deleting it

They were seen locking lips and taking selfies during the outing on Misquamicut beach, near Taylor's Rhode Island mansion.

The secret romance has reportedly been blossoming since the duo hit it off and danced together at the Met Gala on May 9.

A source told MailOnline: 'Tom wasted no time in asking Taylor out after he learned she was single. They were texting quite a bit and he asked her out.'

Low-key: Calvin seemed to want nothing more to do with the blonde

Over it: There has been the suggestion that he is 'humiliated' by the relationship

Moving on: He hit the gym, turning a blind eye to any more questions on the subject

Reveal magazine also wrote: 'Tom has had the hots for Taylor since the Met Gala. When he learned she was single, he texted her loads and even sent her flowers.

'It was so charming and really put a smile on her face.'

No doubt the news came as a blow to Calvin - the pair were last pictured together on May 20, enjoying a passionate kiss.

The EDM producer had suspicions that something was going on with Taylor before these pictures had surfaced, according to a Wednesday report from TMZ.

Insiders for the gossip site say that the two were in a 'committed' relationship but Calvin had suspected something a month before their break-up.

The source added about Calvin: 'He's pissed and feels betrayed by her.'

She moves on quick! The 26-year-old songstress was pictured kissing and taking selfies with actor Tom Hiddleston on Tuesday

Instant connection: Taylor and Tom, 35, have reportedly been enjoying a secret romance since hitting it off at the Met Gala on May 9

Romantic location: Taylor and Tom were seen on Misquamicut beach near Taylor's Rhode Island mansion enjoying the view of the Atlantic

Over it: Results from a twitter tracking website showed that Calvin had unfollowed the songstress on Wednesday. She still appears to follow him

On Wednesday it was revealed that Calvin has now unfollowed his former girlfriend on Twitter and even took things a step further by blocking her fans from his page.

He also deleted his June 2 tweet in which he confirmed their amicable breakup.

The post read 'The only truth here is that a relationship came to an end & what remains is a huge amount of love and respect.'

It was later revealed that both Calvin and Taylor have deleted all traces of each other on their social media.

The How Deep is Your Love hitmaker also unfollowed Taylor's brother Austin.

Taylor and Calvin dated for 15 months before announcing the split.

So childish: Some Taylor fans tweeted their frustration that they'd been blocked by the Scottish DJ

Funniest thing ever: Another disgruntled social media user thought it was very amusing

It's over: Taylor and Calvin called it quits after 15 months. They are pictured in a now-deleted Instagram she shared from their romantic holiday together in March
She plays Queen Aslaug in the History Channel's hit series Vikings.

And Alyssa Sutherland certainly looked regal as she stepped out at the Max Mara Women In Film gala at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Flashing just a hint of side-boob in a striking black jumpsuit, the 33-year-old carried her head high along the red carpet with poise fit for a queen.

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Back in black! Vikings star Alyssa Sutherland flashes some side-boob in a striking black jumpsuit

The stunning jumpsuit by the luxury Italian fashion house was typical of the designer, simple but with elegant detailing in the form of knotted straps over her shoulder blades.

The Vogue Australia cover girl wore simple black sandals to complement the sophisticated ensemble which showed her bright red pedicure.

Her natural beauty was on display with very little makeup, with light peach blush to highlight her high cheekbones and a nude lip.

Natural beauty: Her natural beauty was on display with very little makeup, with light peach blush to highlight her high cheekbones and a nude lip

Devil's in the details: The stunning jumpsuit by the luxury Italian fashion house was typical of the designer, simple but with elegant detailing

Simple: The Vogue Australia cover girl wore simple black sandals to complement the sophisticated ensemble which showed her bright red pedicure

She wore her long, strawberry blonde locks in natural loose curls styled with an elegant side-part.

The strawberry blonde beauty enjoyed the evening with fellow model Jessica Gomes, Australian actress Lucy Fry, E! Australia host Ksenija Lukich and Kiwi actress Rose McIver.

Alyssa joined the cast of Vikings in 2013 as the wife of Ragnar Lothbrok, played by fellow Aussie Travis Fimmel.

Down Under beauties! The strawberry blonde stunner enjoyed the evening with fellow model Jessica Gomes Australian actress Lucy Fry, E! Australia host Ksenija Lukich and Kiwi actress Rose McIver

Earlier this year, the former guest judge of Australia's Next Top Model spoke to News.com.au about her perceived double standards in the world of television.

'For some reason, society has this thing where women arent allowed to do terrible things on screen,' she said.

'Men can do it, thats OK and can be understood. But people are getting used to women doing questionable things.'
She's best known for playing sassy sexpot Samantha Jones in HBO series Sex And The City - and Kim Cattrall was looking incredibly youthful when she stepped out on Wednesday.

The 59-year-old actress attended the Edinburgh Film Festival, where she looked effortlessly chic in a navy trouser suit.

She teamed her two-piece with a chiffon floral blouse, draping her jacket over her shoulders in a display of elegance.

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She's best known for playing sassy sexpot Samantha Jones in HBO series Sex And The City - and Kim Cattrall was looking incredibly youthful at the Edinburgh Film Festival on Wednesday

Adding a couple of extra inches to her height, she wore a pair of leather sandals which complemented her outfit perfectly.

With slightly tousled hair, Kim was also joined by Sadie Frost on the red carpet.

While there, she gave a talk on her role in 2010's Meet Monica Velour as well as her other work for film, TV and stage.

Suited and booted: While there, she gave a talk on her role in 2010's Meet Monica Velour as well as her other work for film, TV and stage

Monica Velour tells the story of an awkward teen, who meets his favorite porn star, whose career peaked in the '80s.

An unexpected friendship follows as the young man gets a glimpse inside Monica Velour's current life as a single mom struggling to make ends meet.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday, the English-born star, was asked by host Piers Morgan what she thought about the Kardashians.

Dancing their socks off: Pictured in the Sex And The City Movie 2 as Samantha (second from right)

She said: 'I don't really watch the Kardashians. But I don't think you can avoid them.'

When Piers asked about the naked selfies, after Kardashian, 35, posed in the buff twice in recent months on her Instagram, Cattrall said she didn't see the point.

The former Mannequin star replied: 'I think it's a bit boring. It's a one-off situation. I don't know how you build a career on that. But they seem to have done that.'
She's been hard at work on the set of horror flick, Habbit.

But Roxanne Pallett managed to take a break from her blossoming film career, as she put on a very flirty display in a floral dress at London's Beach Blanket Babylon, on Wednesday night.

Heading to the swanky eatery in the heart of Notting Hill for an evening with, the 33-year-old actress ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived thanks to her flesh-flashing frock.

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Flirty in floral: Roxanne Pallett managed to take a break from her blossoming film career, as she put on a very flirty display in a floral dress at London's Beach Blanket Babylon, on Wednesday night

Heading to the luxury restaurant for an evening with beauty guru Deborah Mitchell, the brunette beauty opted for a sassy take on this season's style.

Roxanne - who first shot to fame in ITV's Emmerdale - opted for a floaty floral midi dress, which featured an extremely low-cut neckline, allowing the rising star to flash a glimpse of her pert cleavage.

Featuring a tapered A-Line cut, the knee-length cut of the dress allowed The Violators actress to showcase her lithe legs.

Flashing fashion: Heading to the swanky eatery in the heart of Notting Hill for an evening with, the 33-year-old actress ensured all eyes were on her as she arrived thanks to her flesh-flashing frock

She rounded her summery look off with a pair of white stilettos, which added further definition to her legs.

Keeping her look uncluttered, the Carlisle-born beauty opted to only wear a small black and gold watch.

Thanks to her choppy box fringe and the teased and wavy style of her long brown hair, Roxanne ensured her pretty and striking featured were framed to perfection.

Pert and perky: Roxanne - who first shot to fame in ITV's Emmerdale - opted for a floaty floral midi dress, which featured an extremely low-cut neckline, allowing the rising star to flash a glimpse of her pert cleavage

Summer's here: Featuring a tapered A-Line cut, the knee-length cut of the dress allowed The Violators actress to showcase her lithe legs

A well-heeled display: She rounded her summery look off with a pair of white stilettos, which added further definition to her legs

Choppy chic: Thanks to her choppy box fringe and the teased and wavy style of her long brown hair, Roxanne ensured her pretty and striking featured were framed to perfection

And keeping to her stripped back theme, the former Waterloo Road actress wore a natural and subdued palette of make-up.

Choosing to subtly highlight her plump lips with a flash of nude lipstick, Roxanne also ensured her eyes popped thanks to a swish of eyeliner.

And the former Emmerdale actress wasn't the only star in attendance at the beauty soiree, as the likes of Gail Porter and Pascal Craymer also made their way into the eatery.

Ex On The Beach's Megan Rees also showcased her sassy take on summer style at the event, wearing a plunging, figure-hugging number which left little to the imagination.

And Deborah herself had pulled out all the stops for the evening, opting for layered black number which she teamed with a pair of complementary black heels with gold detailing.

In good company: And the former Emmerdale actress wasn't the only star in attendance at the beauty soiree, as the likes of Gail Porter and Pascal Craymer also made their way into the eatery

Sassy style: Ex On The Beach's Megan Rees also showcased her sassy take on summer style at the event, wearing a plunging, figure-hugging number which left little to the imagination
President Barack Obama will host the Dalai Lama at the White House today behind closed doors, continuing a years-long tradition that allows him to meet with the Tibetan spiritual leader - just not in public.

China on Wednesday warned Obama against meeting with the Dalai Lama, saying that hosting the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader could damage mutual trust.

Obama has met the Dalai Lama several times before and calls the monk, who is revered by Tibetans but portrayed by Beijing as a dangerous separatist, 'a good friend.'

The tete a tete, planned for Wednesday will -- as usual -- take place in a private setting at the White House in an effort to avoid angering China, which accuses the Nobel peace laureate of using 'spiritual terrorism' to seek independence for Tibet.

The Dalai Lama addresses followers and supporters on the campus of American University on June 13, 2016 in Washington Chip Somodevilla (Getty/AFP)

'China's Foreign Ministry has launched solemn representations with the US side, expressing our firm opposition to such an arrangement,' foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters.

'If such meeting goes through, it will send a wrong signal to the separatist forces seeking Tibet independence and it will damage mutual trust and cooperation,' he added.

The spiritual leader -- who has lived in exile in India since a failed 1959 uprising -- has for decades called for more Tibetan autonomy rather than independence.

Beijing maintains he is a 'wolf in monk's clothing' and vigorously lobbies -- often successfully -- against foreign leaders meeting him.

Obama made a high-profile public appearance with the Dalai Lama last year at a prayer breakfast in Washington, calling him 'a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion.'

But three prior meetings were held privately, and Obama was criticised in 2010 for obliging the 80-year-old, clad in his characteristic red robes and flip flops, to leave the White House through a back door and walk past piles of snow and bags of rubbish.

Obama's schedule indicated the Wednesday meeting would be held away from the cameras in the White House Map Room, not the Oval Office.

-- Tibetans applaud --

Tibetans 'feel happy about His Holiness meeting the president,' said Sonam Dagpo of the Tibetan government-in-exile, adding they hoped the US would support 'the struggle of Tibetans.'

China has ruled Tibet since the 1950s, but many Tibetans say Beijing represses their Buddhist religion and culture -- charges China denies.

More than 130 ethnic Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 in protest at Beijing's rule, campaign groups and overseas media have said. Most of them have died.

The Dalai Lama has described the protests as acts of desperation that he is powerless to stop.

Many observers believe China is confident that the Tibetan movement will lose much of its potency and global appeal when the charismatic Dalai Lama dies.

The Dalai Lama has also increasingly spoken of succession and has not ruled out picking his reincarnation before his death, fearing that China would instead pick its own boy whom it would use to advance its agenda.

His stance has led Chinese communist rulers, who are officially atheist, to insist that the Dalai Lama can only reincarnate after his death.

Dalai Lama's high-profile meetings Gal ROMA (AFP)

US President Barack Obama has met the Dalai Lama several times before and calls the monk 'a good friend' Yuri Gripas (AFP/File)
Documents shed light on CIA torture program

CIA lawyers sought guarantees the US spy agency would never be prosecuted for torturing suspects after the September 11, 2001 attacks, while other staff warned the program was an impending "train wreck," documents showed.

The correspondence provides a new glimpse into tussles within the CIA as it implemented its notorious "enhanced interrogation" techniques aimed at thwarting further attacks.

Fifty documents, released under a freedom of information request from the American Civil Liberties Union, detail the early days of the CIA's use of torture, after then-president George W. Bush directed the agency to detain terror suspects around the world.

Newly released documents provide a glimpse into the tussles within the CIA as its agents tried to thwart further attacks after September 11, 2001 Saul Loeb (AFP/File)

A July 2002 draft letter from CIA lawyers to the attorney general sought legal protections before agents interrogated Abu Zubaydah, an alleged Al-Qaeda member who is still detained at Guantanamo Bay.

"The use of more aggressive methods is required to persuade Abu Zubaydah to provide the critical information we need," the letter states.

"I respectfully request that you grant a formal declination of prosecution, in advance, for any employees... who may employ methods in the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah that otherwise might subject those individuals to prosecution."

The Justice Department at the time ruled that certain detainees could be subjected to enhanced interrogation, including the use of the simulated drowning technique known as waterboarding.

The CIA hasn't used these methods since December 2007, and President Barack Obama banned them when he took office in January 2009.

But the newly released documents describe how some agency employees had misgivings much sooner.

"I will no longer be associated in any way with the interrogation program," an agency employee stated in a January 2003 memo. The CIA blanked out the name of the sender and the recipient.

"This is a train wreck waiting to happen, and I intend to get the hell off the train before it happens."

- 'No evidence' waterboarding worked -

The documents show the CIA believed it extracted details from Zubaydah of a purported plot to detonate a "dirty bomb" in the Washington area.

However, a top CIA medical official later said any information could have been obtained through regular interrogation.

"In retrospect, (doctors) thought (he) probably reached the point of cooperation even prior to the... institution of 'enhanced' measures," the official said.

"There was no evidence that the waterboard produced time-perishable information which otherwise would have been unobtainable."

The CIA claims evidence acquired through torture yielded vital intelligence, but a Senate committee later found the brutal methods produced no useful information.

The documents included new details in the case of detainee Gul Rahman, who died half naked -- probably from hypothermia -- at a secret CIA prison in Afghanistan in 2002.

"Prisoners who possess significant or imminent threat information are stripped to their diapers during interrogation and placed back into their cells wearing only diapers," a death investigation stated.

"This is done solely to humiliate the prisoner for interrogation purposes. When the prisoner soils a diaper, they are changed by the guards."

The ACLU, which represents Rahman's family in a lawsuit, blasted James Mitchell and John "Bruce" Jessen, two psychologists who designed the program.

"We're seeing just how much Mitchell, Jessen and their CIA co-conspirators knew that what they were doing was wrong and illegal," Dror Ladin, a staff attorney with the ACLU National Security Project, said in a statement.

"They talked about seeking a get-out-of-jail-free card for torturing people, and then discussed how to make sure their victims were silenced forever, even if they survived their torture."

Key to the CIA's detention and interrogation program was its use of "rendition" -- the secret transfer of detainees to countries outside the United States that had a more lenient attitude toward torture.

One man, German citizen Khalid al-Masri, was held captive for five months in a case of mistaken identity.

"His rendition and long detention resulted from a series of breakdowns in tradecraft, process, management and oversight," according to an investigative report.

America's experiment with torture is not necessarily a closed chapter, as presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has said he would "bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding."

The documents are available at: http://u.afp.com/ZRcx

Nature reclaims the US militarys Camp X-Ray at Guantanamo Bay Naval base, Cuba, which closed 14 years ago when inmates were moved to more permanent facilities Thomas Watkins (AFP/File)
British anti-gay cleric has Australian visa cancelled

A British Muslim cleric who once preached that gays should be put to death has left Australia after his visa was cancelled, with authorities Wednesday saying it is unlikely he will ever be allowed back.

Farrokh Sekaleshfar was in Sydney as the guest speaker of an Islamic centre for the holy month of Ramadan.

But it emerged this week that in a 2013 lecture he suggested that death was a "compassionate" sentence for homosexuals, sparking an outcry in the wake of the Orlando gay nightclub killings.

A British Muslim cleric who once preached that gays should be put to death has had his Australian visa cancelled and has left Sydney Peter Parks (AFP/File)

Sekaleshfar flew out on Tuesday evening, coinciding with his visa being revoked.

"I made the decision last night to cancel his visa," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told Sky News.

"It will be very difficult, if not impossible, for him to return back to our country.

"We're not going to tolerate people who want to come here to preach hate and we will cancel visas, we will act as quickly as humanly possibly where we're made aware of radical views," he added.

The Australian newspaper revealed Sekaleshfar's presence in Sydney as the world reeled in shock after 49 people were killed by Omar Mateen when he opened fire in a popular gay Florida club on Sunday.

US President Barack Obama branded it an act of terror and hate.

The paper reported that during a lecture at the University of Michigan in 2013, which is available online, Sekaleshfar said "death is the sentence" when asked about homosexuality, adding: "Out of compassion, let's get rid of them now."

- No connection -

In a rambling interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation before leaving Sydney, Sekaleshfar denied his comments could be connected to the Florida massacre, and called Mateen "an animal".

"No speech, especially when you're not inciting any hatred and it was given three years ago, that would never lead to such a massacre," he said.

"That animal, they are connecting me to him (Omar Mateen). Not at all. He was an ISIS sympathiser, a follower of Baghdadi, these people are criminals," he added, referring to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The cleric also said he respected any action taken by the Australian government.

"But I just want to give that assurance that it's not a theme, my themes don't revolve around this area," he said, referring to punishing homosexuals.

Labor opposition leader Bill Shorten said Sekaleshfar should never have received a visa in the first place.

"Let's be clear -- this government has allowed a visa to be issued to someone with despicable and abhorrent views of gay hate ... homophobia of the most violent and vile nature," he told reporters.

"The government needs to explain how the fellow got in here to begin with."

Dutton defended the cleric's arrival, saying it was "difficult for the department to go through the Facebook or social media postings of millions of millions of people each year who seek visas".
Clinton wins final 2016 primary as debate turns to terror fight

Hillary Clinton captured the mostly symbolic Democratic primary in the US capital, the final vote of the 2016 presidential primaries, as the race shifts to her showdown with Republican rival Donald Trump.

Clinton won nearly 79 percent of the vote against 21 percent for Bernie Sanders, with nearly all votes counted, according to US networks.

It marked a deflating finish for the Vermont senator, who captivated liberals and independents with a grassroots campaign that mounted a surprisingly strong challenge to Clinton.

Hillary Clinton won nearly 79 percent of the vote, compared with just 21 percent for Bernie Sanders, with most votes counted in the mostly symbolic Democratic primary in Washington DC Chris Kleponis (AFP)

The attention of the candidates -- and the nation -- however has shifted to the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, the deadliest terror attack on US soil since September 11, 2001.

Clinton and Trump traded verbal blows and presented dramatically different approaches for fighting terrorism following the massacre at the Florida gay nightclub.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, on Monday said that if elected he would "suspend" immigration from areas with a "proven history of terrorism."

He also suggested that US Muslims were complicit in domestic attacks because they failed to "turn in the people who they know are bad."

In contrast, former secretary of state Clinton called on Americans to "stand together" to defeat terrorism.

But after Trump suggested in a TV interview that Obama sympathized with terrorists, Clinton on Tuesday slammed her rival's approach "dangerous" and "un-American."

"Even in a time of divided politics, this is way beyond anything that should be said by someone running for president of the United States," she told supporters in Pittsburgh.

"What Donald Trump is saying is shameful ... more evidence that he is temperamentally unfit and totally unqualified to be commander in chief," she said.

- Healing party divisions -

Washington's primary was an afterthought as Clinton reached number of delegates needed to lock up the nomination last week.

Sanders however refused to concede, though he steadily softened his tone in recent days.

Sanders and Clinton met at a Washington hotel "and had a positive discussion about their primary campaign, about unifying the party and about the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation," a Clinton campaign official said after the meeting.

Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said the two "had a positive discussion about how best to bring more people into the political process" and about the threat posed by Trump.

Clinton and Sanders also discussed what would be on the Democratic Party platform ahead of the national convention next month in Philadelphia.

Sanders told reporters ahead of the meeting that he wanted to see "the most progressive platform ever passed" at a convention, one which "makes it crystal clear that the Democratic Party is in fact on the side of working people."

Sanders met with President Barack Obama last week and emerged from the White House declaring his intent to work with Clinton to defeat Trump in November.

Obama endorsed Clinton later that day.

Republicans in Washington held their party convention in March, with Senator Marco Rubio emerging as the top vote-getter.

Tuesday's vote wraps up a spectacular primary season that saw conservatives flock to Trump, a celebrity billionaire and political novice, and liberals propel Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, into the national spotlight.

Sanders tapped into a deep well of anger among voters disillusioned with the current political system and eager to see action on issues such as reducing income inequality and campaign finance reform.

Clinton ultimately prevailed, becoming the first female presumptive presidential nominee of any major US political party.

Congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz congratulated both candidates for having "energized voters across the country."

"Now that our 2016 primaries are officially at their end, Democrats are ready to unify and take on both Trump and the Republican Party that he represents," Wasserman Schultz said in a statement.

Sanders is scheduled to address supporters live via webcast Thursday.

People visit a memorial for the Pulse nightclub shooting victims on the grounds of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida Brendan Smialowski (AFP)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump proposed stark changes to existing immigration policy, saying that if elected he would "suspend" immigration from areas with a "proven history of terrorism" Timothy A. Clary (AFP)
Chinese spy ship entered Japan waters: Tokyo

A Chinese spy ship entered Japan's territorial waters on Wednesday as Tokyo conducted a joint exercise with the United States and India, Japanese officials said.

Japan quickly voiced "concerns" over the intrusion as it came less than a week after another Chinese naval vessel sailed near islands at the centre of a Tokyo-Beijing sovereignty dispute in the East China Sea.

"The Chinese military vessel moved in after an Indian ship sailed into Japan's territorial waters as it participated in a Japan-US-India joint exercise," Gen Nakatani, defence minister, told reporters.

An apparent rise in China's military presence in Asian waters has sparked concerns in Japan, which administers islands in the East China Sea also claimed by Beijing Ted Aljibe (AFP/File)

Japanese defence ministry officials declined to speculate why the 6,000-ton "information gathering" vessel sailed into the area, but Nakatani said China, as Japan's neighbour, must act "carefully".

A Japanese navy surveillance aircraft spotted the Chinese ship around 3:30 am (1830 GMT Tuesday) in territorial waters near Kuchinoerabu island in southern Japan, said Hiroshige Seko, a government spokesman.

Tokyo did not immediately say by how much the Chinese ship breached its territorial waters, which international law stipulates are a 12-nautical-mile band offshore.

The area is part of a Japanese island chain that divides the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, and is not subject to the territorial dispute.

China's navy was conducting a "normal exercise" and passing through international waters in the Tokara Strait where "all countries can have the right of innocent passage," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in Beijing.

"There is no need to provide notification or to get authorisation in advance," Lu told a regular briefing.

"So if Japan insists on hyping up this issue in the media, we have to question its motives."

China's defence ministry also said in a statement that its ship's actions were in accordance with international law.

The Chinese ship sailed southeast and exited Japanese waters around 5 am heading into the Pacific, Japan's Seko told a press briefing.

Wednesday's incursion came less than a week after another Chinese naval ship sailed close to the disputed islands further south in the East China Sea, though it did not enter what Japan sees as territorial waters.

- 'Thorough measures' -

Japan said last week that a Chinese frigate sailed into "contiguous waters" surrounding the contested East China Sea islands last Thursday.

Contiguous waters are a 12-nautical-mile band that extends beyond territorial waters. Under international rules, they are not the preserve of any single country, although the resident power has certain limited rights.

It marked the first time a Chinese navy ship had approached so close to the disputed islets and an angry Japan summoned Beijing's ambassador to protest.

Separately, China sent three coastguard ships inside territorial waters of the disputed isles on Wednesday afternoon, hours after Japan complained about the naval intrusion.

China does not recognise Japan's claim to the disputed islands -- known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China -- and says its ships have the right to sail freely in Chinese territorial waters.

International laws allow ships of all states to exercise the right of "innocent passage" -- cited by Lu -- through territorial sea.

A Chinese nuclear submarine entered Japanese waters in 2004.

Concerns over China's rising military presence in Asian waters have sparked worries in Japan.

Relations deteriorated in 2012 when Tokyo "nationalised" some of the disputed uninhabited islets. The countries have taken steps to mend fences but relations remain tense.

The response from Japan this time was more muted, however, with the government conveying its "concerns about the Chinese military's activities in general", Seko said.

"The government will continue to take thorough measures to patrol the air space and waters surrounding our nation," he added.

Japan has expressed concern over Chinese land reclamation and expansion of military facilities in the South China Sea, where Beijing has disputes with countries including Vietnam and the Philippines.

Dissected skies, disputed islands Adrian Leung (AFP)
Former Australia detectives guilty of student murder

Two former Australian police detectives, including a once decorated cop who has spent time in prison and been linked to underworld figures, were Wednesday found guilty of murdering a university student during a drug deal.

Roger Rogerson, 75, and Glen McNamara, 57, had pleaded not guilty to killing 20-year-old Australian Jamie Gao, whose body was found floating off Sydney in 2014.

Both men blamed each other for shooting Gao dead, but a New South Wales Supreme Court jury found each man guilty of murder and supplying a large commercial quantity of the drug ice.

Two former Australian police detectives, including a once decorated cop who has spent time in prison and been linked to underworld figures, have been found guilty of murdering a university student during a drug deal in 2014 William West (AFP/File)

"While this is the verdict our family were hoping would be delivered, true justice can never really be served," a statement from Gao's family read, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

"No 20-year-old deserves to lose their life over a stupid mistake."

The court heard that the former policemen lured Gao to a meeting at a small storage unit in suburban Sydney, shot him, and stole the 2.78 kilograms (6.1 pounds) of ice the business student had brought with him to sell.

After stuffing his body into a surfboard bag, they drove it to McNamara's boat and dumped Gao at sea in a plan which was undone by a fisherman spotting it six days later.

During the hearing, both men claimed the other had fired the fatal shots, with Rogerson reportedly saying he entered the storage unit to find "an Asian man lying on the floor... and he was dead".

McNamara said that Rogerson, who fatally shot a drug dealer in 1981 while trying to arrest him, had shot Gao and then threatened to hurt his family unless he helped dispose of the body.

Prosecutors described these versions as "far-fetched and unbelievable" and said Gao had told his cousin he was involved in a drug deal with a man called "Glen" which would make him rich, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said.

Detective Inspector Russell Oxford, who led the investigation, said the case had complexities but ultimately boiled down to a simple crime.

"It simply came to a case of three men walking into a unit and two coming out. It's as simple as that," he said.

Neither Rogerson or McNamara, who will face sentencing hearings next month, have been police officers for years.
Soweto uprising proved turning point against apartheid

On June 16, 1976, thousands of black students spilled into the streets of Soweto against a government order that South African schools could only teach in the Afrikaans language used by whites.

Forty years on, it is still unclear how many people died that day, but within a few months, at least 500 people were dead as a result of reprisals.

Those images of violence and death brought the injustices of the apartheid regime to the world's attention and marked a turning point in the anti-apartheid struggle.

South African students gather in Soweto on the weekend at a march held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising Marco Longari (AFP)

As protests spread across South Africa, a new era of black activism emerged that eventually led to the collapse of the regime and Nelson Mandela's election as president in 1994.

Every year since that election, South Africa has commemorated the students' sacrifice.

Thursday, the 40th anniversary of the protest, President Jacob Zuma will address the nation from the township where it all began.

Imposing Afrikaans to the black majority - which spoke it badly or very little -- "was a strategy by the apartheid regime to hamper our progress, education wise, so that we wouldn't achieve anything," Joy Rabotapi, a student protester in 1976, told AFP.

Dan Montsitsi, a student leader who was there that day, said the march had been planned for months.

But "our parents did not know about it, our teachers did not know about it, even the police did not know about it," he told AFP.

"We were amazed with the number of students that we had been able to put in the streets to protest against Afrikaans," he said.

The students, most of whom were in their school uniforms, carried placards reading: "Afrikaans stinks", "To hell with Afrikaans" and "Afrikaans needs to be abolished".

"We were singing and dancing just at the corner of Orlando West High" Montsitsi said. "Suddenly, the police came."

"They did not talk to us to begin to negotiate," he said. "They gave us five minutes to displace. Of course we refused to displace."

Montsitsi said the police released a dog into the crowd, which ended up "dead at the feet of the police".

"The police were very angry obviously and they decided they would use teargas."

"We began to attack with stones and they started to shoot," Montsitsi said. "Apartheid police shot at us, mostly at the back when we were running away."

The first to fall was Hector Pieterson, a 13-year-old boy.

The black-and-white photo of his body being carried away by a student in tears, Pieterson's clearly distressed sister alongside him, became the iconic image of the Soweto uprising.

The photo, broadcast all over the world, came to define South Africa's liberation struggle.

"We did not expect that somebody could just die from marching with a fist clinch," said survivor Trofomo Sono.

"I saw some boys trying to shield themselves from the bullets with dust bins lids."

- 'Country on fire' -

The next day, "the whole country was on fire," Montsitsi said. "Our own community no longer feared the police, no longer feared the Afrikaners. They were prepared to fight on."

The world jolted into action and in 1977, the United Nations imposed a mandatory arms embargo against South Africa.

Granny Seape, a student at Fort Hare near Cape Town at the time, travelled to the capital Johannesburg and heard about the Soweto uprising.

On arriving in Soweto, "we could see the buildings on fire and the smoke," she told AFP.

She immediately tried to locate her brother, Hastings Ndlovu, a 17-year-old student in the township.

"We looked for him and found him after 5 days at the morgue, in a pile of bodies," Seape said.

Among the first victims killed, the boy was shot dead between the eyes.

Seape said she was harassed by the police and decided to go into exile. She wouldn't return to her native country until Mandela walked out of prison in 1990.

"I have a great respect for those kids," said Reverend Frank Chikane, who survived an assassination attempt by poisoning during apartheid.

"Those kids changed South Africa," he said. "The South Africa we have today, it is because of them."

"South Africans are able now to vote," Montsitsi said. But "transformation in South Africa is very very slow."

Trofomo, who is unemployed, doesn't hide his bitterness.

"There are times where poverty makes you think some people might have sacrificed their life for nothing," he said.

More than a quarter of the working population, half under 35, remain unemployed.

"Overall, you still say it was worth it, because here we are," Trofomo added. "There is democracy."

A survivor of the June 1976 uprising holds a placard as worshippers attend a religious service at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto Gianluigi Guercia (AFP)

This file photo taken on October 1976 shows demonstrators running away from a police charge during racial riots in Cape town - (AFP/File)
Aid workers hit by increased South Sudan violence: UN

Aid workers in South Sudan have suffered an increase in attacks in recent weeks, the UN warned Wednesday, with three killed in May since the formation of a unity government.

Violence continues despite efforts to end a civil war that broke out in December 2013, a conflict that has now seen 55 aid workers killed.

"Violent incidents -- including shooting, ambushes, assaults, harassment and robberies -- increased during May," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement.

More than 158,000 civilians remain in UN-guarded camps across South Sudan, down from a peak of more than 200,000 at the height of the war Albert Gonzalez Farran (AFP/File)

The three were killed in the Central and Eastern Equatoria regions, areas that escaped the worst of the violence in the war but that have now seen an increase in conflict.

This year, at least 29 aid worker vehicles have been stopped and robbed, and 74 aid agency compounds or offices looted, the UN added.

Civil war erupted in South Sudan in December 2013 but rebel chief Riek Machar returned to the capital in April as part of a peace deal which saw him become vice-president, forging a unity government with President Salva Kiir.

But fighting continues between multiple militia forces who now pay no heed to either Kiir or Machar.

UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous, speaking to reporters on Monday in Juba after a four-day visit to South Sudan, spoke hopefully of a "new page" for the troubled country.

But he also warned of "spoilers" on both sides wanting to "throw a spanner in the works" of the peace process.
Pistorius walks on stumps ahead of murder sentencing

A sobbing Oscar Pistorius on Wednesday walked on his stumps across a court to demonstrate his physical vulnerability to a judge who will decide his prison sentence for murdering his girlfriend.

The double-amputee removed his prosthetic limbs at the request of his lawyer Barry Roux who is pleading for leniency, but state prosecutor Gerrie Nel sought a minimum 15-year jail term for Pistorius for killing Reeva Steenkamp.

Wearing shorts, the Paralympic athlete held onto wooden benches for support as he limped through the courtroom, and appeared in distress as a cushion was provided for him to rest on.

Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius walks across a courtroom in Pretoria without his prosthetic legs on June 15, 2016 Siphiwe Sibeko (POOL/AFP)

Pistorius, 29, shot his girlfriend in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013, claiming he mistook her for a burglar when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet.

"It is three o'clock in the morning, it is dark, he is on his stumps," said Roux, whose client had both legs amputated below the knee as a child.

"His balance is seriously compromised and... he would not be able to defend himself. He was anxious, he was frightened.

"He believed the person in the toilet was an intruder and (the) deceased was at the time in the bed," Roux said.

In March, the Supreme Court of Appeal found Pistorius guilty of murder -- irrespective of whoever was behind the door when he opened fire with a pistol he kept under his bed.

Roux urged judge Thokozile Masipa to "entertain the correct facts and not to be drowned by the many perceptions" that Pistorius had killed Steenkamp deliberately.

"The accused has lost everything. He can never ever resume his career," Roux said.

"He has paid physically... he has paid financially, he has paid socially. He is paying constantly."

- No remorse? -

The minimum jail term for murder in South Africa is 15 years, but Pistorius's sentence may be reduced due to the year he has already spent in prison and mitigating factors, including his disability.

However state prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued that Pistorius should be jailed for at least the minimum term, saying the disgraced athlete had failed to show remorse.

"He knew there was someone behind the door," Nel said.

"Using a lethal weapon, a loaded firearm, the accused fired not one but four shots to the toilet door.

"He failed to provide any acceptable version for his conduct."

Nel also repeatedly criticised Pistorius for giving a television interview but not giving evidence at the hearing. The interview will be broadcast next week.

Pistorius was convicted of culpable homicide in 2014 -- the equivalent of manslaughter -- before the appeal court upgraded his crime to murder earlier this year.

Judge Masipa, who gave the original verdict, is due to hand down a new sentence after final arguments are completed.

Thursday is a national holiday in South Africa, and the sentence could be given on Friday -- with Pistorius facing an immediate return to jail.

Earlier Wednesday, Kim Martin, Reeva Steenkamp's cousin, gave the last state evidence in the hearing.

"I never ever heard him say that 'I apologise for shooting, murdering Reeva behind that door'," she told the court.

"We just wanted the truth."

She added that she was uncertain whether Pistorius and Steenkamp were in a truly loving relationship.

Barry Steenkamp, 73, Reeva's father, had broken down in court on Tuesday as he said Pistorius must "pay for his crime" of shooting Reeva, 29, a model and law graduate.

Pistorius was released from jail last October to live under house arrest at his uncle's mansion in Pretoria after serving one year of his five-year sentence for culpable homicide.

He has always denied killing Steenkamp in a rage and, during his seven-month trial in 2014, vomited in the dock as details of his lover's death were examined in excruciating detail.

The year before he killed Steenkamp, Pistorius became the first double-amputee to race at Olympic level when he appeared at the London 2012 games.

The Pistorius affair INFOGRAPHIE, jmc/vl/pld (AFP)

Oscar Pistorius (right) shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013 Lucky Nxumalo (AFP/File)

South African paralympian Oscar Pistorius looks on during the third day of his hearing at the High Court in Pretoria on June 15, 2016 Alon Skuy (Pool/AFP/File)

Paralympian Oscar Pistorius prepares to walk across a courtroom in Pretoria without his prosthetic legs on June 15, 2016 Siphiwe Sibeko (POOL/AFP)

Reeva Steenkamp's parents attend Oscar Pistorius's sentencing trial at the High Court in Pretoria on June 15, 2016

Barry Roux -- the defence lawyer for Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius -- delivers his closing statement during his client's resentencing hearing for the 2013 murder of Reeva Steenkamp, at the High Court in Pretoria on June 15, 2016 Siphiwe Sibeko (Pool/AFP)
Indonesia cites error as ASEAN meeting ends in confusion

Indonesia said Wednesday that a bold statement from Southeast Asian nations raising concern over Beijing's island-building in the South China Sea was issued in error, as a meeting over the issue ended in confusion.

In a statement released late Tuesday by Malaysia's foreign ministry, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) warned that recent actions in the disputed waterway had "the potential to undermine peace".

The statement described "a candid exchange" - language that hinted at a diplomatic confrontation -- between the bloc's foreign ministers and their Chinese counterpart at a meeting in Kunming, China.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd L) and foreign ministers from ASEAN-member nations attend a special meeting in Yuxi, southwest China's Yunnan Province on June 14, 2016

But just hours later a Malaysian foreign ministry spokeswoman said the ASEAN secretariat had retracted the statement headlined "Media statement by the ASEAN foreign ministers", pending "urgent amendments".

The text released by Malaysia was merely a "media guideline" for ASEAN ministers to refer to at a post-meeting press conference, and not an agreed final statement, Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told AFP.

Analysts gave various theories, with one saying ASEAN had backtracked after coming under pressure from China, while another said Malaysia appeared to have released the statement prematurely by mistake.

Either way, the disarray was another example of the bloc's perennial inability to present a united front toward China, which observers say has allowed Beijing to expand its sway over much of the South China Sea despite overlapping claims.

ASEAN members the Philippines and Vietnam have come into direct confrontation with China over territorial disputes, while non-claimants such as Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar have maintained closer ties with Beijing.

Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei, meanwhile, have generally walked a delicate line somewhere in the middle.

Nasir said the meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers and China had run over schedule, meaning that "the press conference was cancelled and a number of ASEAN foreign ministers had to leave immediately.

"The ASEAN foreign ministers did not have a chance to discuss how they would release the content of the media guideline to the media."

Malaysian officials could not be reached for comment, but the ASEAN secretariat in Jakarta said no official statement was issued after the meeting.

Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asian politics analyst currently at Turkeys Ipek University, said the affair seemed to stem from a Malaysian misstep.

She said ASEAN countries, several of which are highly dependent on smooth trade relations with China, have been wary of commenting on the South China Sea issue ahead of a UN tribunal's imminent ruling in a case brought by the Philippines against China.

China does not recognise the arbitration and has reacted angrily to Manila's pursuit of legal action over the Beijing-controlled Scarborough Shoal.

"I think they (ASEAN) want to wait until the arbitration decision comes out before making any sort of clear joint statement as a group," Welsh said.

However Southeast Asia expert Carl Thayer said that China appeared to have reacted to reports about the statement.

"China obviously objected to the wording of the joint statement," said Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia. "This led to the ASEAN secretariats decision to rescind the earlier release."

China claims nearly all of the strategic South China Sea and has bolstered its claim by building artificial islands including airstrips in the area, some of which are suitable for military use.

In 2012, an annual meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers ended in chaos and unprecedented rancour, with the Philippines accusing hosts Cambodia of blocking a strong statement accusing China of raising tensions in the region.

The gathering ended with no joint ministers' communique for the first time in the bloc's 45-year history.

However, in recent years ASEAN has hardened its language amid the Chinese island-building, while taking pains not to mention China by name.
Donors slow to honor Syria refugee pledge: UNHCR official

In February, the richest world powers pledged more than $11 billion to help frontline states in the Middle East cope with the Syrian refugee crisis.

But four months later, less than a quarter of the headline sum has been turned over and five million people are still at risk in an unstable region.

Countries like Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey are struggling with the influx -- and the displaced populations face the threat of radicalization in their ranks.

A Syrian child plays at a refugee camp in Lebanon's town of Bar Elias in the Bekaa Valley, on May 13, 2016 Joseph Eid (AFP/File)

"So I think there's a collective failure that will have to addressed," Amin Awad, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in an interview.

Awad said that since February, when foreign ministers from around the world gathered at a London donor conference, only $2.5 billion have been disbursed.

- Frontline states -

This is in the form of loans, grants for specific uses like student bursaries and straight-forward humanitarian aid, but it has not proved enough.

"I think the frontline states are disappointed and they feel they're left alone," he said in Washington, where he is meeting US officials and experts.

Quite simply, the world is facing an unprecedented refugee crisis with at least a dozen protracted wars and crises ongoing at the same time.

There are more refugees worldwide than ever before -- around 60 million -- and more than a third of these are from the broader Middle East region alone.

"If you look at the Middle East population compared the world's seven billion people, it is about five to seven percent," he said.

"And yet they've produced 35 to 40 percent of these cases," he added. "It's a region that has seen a lot."

Iraq has been evolving through periods of instability and of outright civil war since the US-led invasion of 2003 ousted long-standing dictator Saddam Hussein.

Syria was plunged into chaos five years ago when Bashar al-Assad moved to crush anti-government protests, and Yemen and Libya are in the grip of conflict.

Last year, Europe faced what Awad called a "great march" of up to a million refugees who crossed the Aegean on rafts and walked north through the Balkans.

As that route has become closed off, refugees are turning again to boats to take them from the North Africa coast to Italy -- often with tragic consequences.

- Ban on Muslims -

The purpose of conferences like the one in London was to internationalize the issue, as frontline Middle East states were facing the worst burden.

But -- despite a generous attempt by Germany to resettle many thousands of refugees -- if anything the mood has moved further from collective action.

In the United States, White House challenger Donald Trump has damned Syrians as potential terrorists and proposed banning all Muslim immigration.

In Britain, supporters of a vote to quit the European Union have stirred fears of boatloads of economic migrants arriving to feast off the welfare state.

And in continental Europe, reports of mass sexual assaults by migrant gangs have fed the rise of populist parties and angry anti-immigrant rallies.

Awad does not want to see the UN refugee agency dragged into any national debate, but he is very clear about what is at risk if pledges are not met.

"There is a difference between a refugee and a migrant, and here I must stress this very loudly; words matter," he said.

"A migrant is a person who is moving due to economic reasons... A refugee is a refugee who is fleeing conflict or persecution."

States are bound by international humanitarian law and practive to accept refugees and to treat even unqualified economic migrants with humane dignity.

- Radicalization risk -

But if this pact breaks down, it is not merely a moral stain: governments have hard-nosed, self-interested security reasons to head off the refugee crisis.

"We have to look at the security issues that we're looking at globally now," Awad said.

"We have to look at radicalization, we have to look at the massive movement of people, and we have to look at the despair that those refugees face."

Would it be legal to refuse to accept Muslim refugees? "No. The international instruments we have basically say you can not discriminate against anybody."

And is there any hope in sight? "It depends on the leaders of our generation -- the political leaders."

Syrian refugees

Amin Awad, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' director for the Middle East and North Africa, gives an interview to AFP in Washington DC, on June 14, 2016 Dave Clark (AFP)

Syrian Kurdish children at a UNHCR (United Nations Refugee Agency) refugee camp in Sanliurfa, Turkey Bulent Kilic (AFP/File)
Indonesian accused of cyanide coffee murder on trial

An Indonesian woman accused of murdering a friend with cyanide-laced coffee went on trial Wednesday, in a case that has caused tensions between Indonesia and Australia over the death penalty.

Jessica Kumala Wongso, who is an Australian permanent resident, denies the premeditated murder of her college friend Wayan Mirna Salihin, who collapsed and died after drinking the coffee at an upmarket Jakarta cafe in January.

The case has attracted huge national attention and hundreds of journalists attended the start of the trial, while dozens of the victim's supporters held a small rally outside court demanding her alleged killer be handed a tough sentence.

Indonesian suspect Jessica Kumala Wongso (centre) is guarded by her lawyers after her trial in Jakarta, on June 15, 2016 Adek Berry (AFP)

"The defendant has deliberately taken someone else's life," said prosecutor Ardito Muwardi.

It has also caused tension between Jakarta and Canberra after Indonesian police sought help from their Australian counterparts. Wongso, 27, lived in Sydney until last year, where she studied at a college with Salihin.

Australian authorities agreed to assist after an Indonesian minister guaranteed that Wongso would not be handed the death penalty if found guilty of murder, a capital crime in Indonesia.

However Indonesian officials have since given out mixed messages, with some suggesting the guarantee will not be honoured.

Canberra is sensitive about the death penalty in Indonesia after Jakarta last year executed two Australian drug smugglers. Australia temporarily withdrew its ambassador in Indonesia in protest.

Australian police also faced criticism for tipping off the Indonesian authorities about the drug smuggling syndicate the two men were involved in.

Prosecutors alleged Wongso decided to kill the victim after Salihin, also 27, advised her to break up with boyfriend as he was using drugs.

She invited Salihin to the cafe, where she slipped cyanide into her Vietnamese iced coffee, the court heard.

Salihin collapsed and began convulsing after drinking the coffee, dying soon afterwards in hospital.

Police say that Wongso placed bags on the table to prevent CCTV cameras in the cafe from filming her slipping the poison into the coffee.

Wongso's lawyer, Elizabeth Batubara, said the case against her client was weak.
Ugandan opposition chief to face treason trial in court

Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye should be tried for treason in court and not a high security prison as the prosecution had requested, a judge ruled on Wednesday.

Besigye, who claimed fraud after coming second in February's presidential election, was arrested last month for holding a mock swearing-in ceremony and charged with treason.

He appeared briefly in court on Wednesday before being returned to the maximum security Luzira Prison in the capital Kampala, with his next court appearance set for June 29.

Kizza Besigye (centre) rejected President Yoweri Museveni's February 18 election victory, alleging fraud

"The court ruled that Besigye continues to be tried in the court where he was arraigned," judiciary spokesman Solomon Muyita told AFP Wednesday.

It turned down an application, "to have him tried inside Luzira prison over what the state calls security concerns," he said.

Besigye was arrested in Kampala on May 11 after staging his own inauguration ahead of President Yoweri Museveni's swearing in.

He was then whisked to a northern town and charged with treason before being brought back to the capital a few days later.

Treason is a capital offence in Uganda, but the death penalty has not been carried out for years. Besigye was earlier charged with treason in 2005 and the case was eventually dropped.

A long-standing opponent of Museveni, Besigye has been frequently jailed, placed under house arrest, accused of both treason and rape, tear-gassed, beaten and hospitalised over the years.
At least 70 fighters dead in clashes around Syria's Aleppo

At least 70 fighters have been killed in less than 24 hours of fierce clashes between pro-regime forces, jihadists and rebels in Syria's Aleppo province, a monitor said Wednesday.

Pro-regime fighters -- backed by regime and Russian air strikes -- retook the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa to the southwest of Aleppo city after losing control of them hours earlier, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

But Al-Nusra Front, Syria's Al-Qaeda affiliate, launched a counterattack to retake Khalasa on Wednesday morning, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said.

A rebel fighter prepares to fire artillery during clashes with Syrian pro-government forces in Aleppo province Omar haj kadour (AFP/File)

"Khalasa is on a high hill overlooking large parts of the south of Aleppo province," he said.

The area overlooks the regime's supply road around the south of Aleppo city, linking the government-held Nayrab airport to the city's southeast and areas controlled by regime troops to its west, he said.

Rebel- and jihadist-held areas in the south of Aleppo province faced heavy strikes and shelling overnight, said the Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria to gather its information.

The regime also pounded a key supply route and areas north of Aleppo city overnight, the Observatory said.

The Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the regime, reported Russian air strikes on the province on Wednesday.

"Russian fighter jets resumed their missions in Aleppo with force, targeting positions of Al-Nusra Front and allied militias," it said.

Moscow launched air strikes in support of the Damascus regime in September.

Aleppo was once Syria's commercial powerhouse, but it has been a battleground since 2012 when rebels seized the east of the city confining the army to the west.

In western Aleppo, rebel shelling killed two people and injured another three on Wednesday, official news agency SANA reported.

Syria's war has killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

The battle for northern Syria
Japanese man loses finger in latest bear attack

A Japanese man lost his little finger after being attacked by a bear in western Japan on Wednesday, police and reports said, the latest attack by the animals on humans.

It came two days after human flesh and hair were found inside the stomach of a bear suspected of attacking at least one of four people in northern Japan who apparently died from such assaults.

On Wednesday morning, a bear believed to be 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) tall, attacked a 63-year-old man who was at a river in Shimane prefecture, area police told AFP.

Japan has seen a number of bear attacks in recent weeks

"His face and left hand were injured," police spokesman Masuhiko Ito said, without giving details of the injury.

But the Asahi Shimbun daily reported that the man had his little finger severed in the attack. He was conscious and sent to hospital, it added.

"The injury isn't life-threatening," Ito said, adding the bear ran away after attacking the man.

Bear sightings in rural Shimane in April and May reached 139, up from 115 in the same period last year, according to the local government.

"There have been no fatal attacks these past few years," prefectural official Michiko Kamoto said.

But according to Kamoto, people tend to see bears especially in spring and summer as the animals become active after hibernation.

On Saturday, a tourist was slightly injured by a bear in central Gifu prefecture, while a woman was bitten on the face by one in northern Iwate prefecture last week while she was picking edible wild plants.

Last month, three men -- two in their seventies and one in his sixties -- died in apparent attacks while harvesting bamboo shoots in three separate incidents in a mountain forest of Akita prefecture.

The body of a fourth victim, a badly mauled 74-year-old woman, was discovered Friday. The woman had reportedly been picking wild plants.

Hunters killed a bear just 10 metres from the spot where her remains were discovered. Human flesh and hair were found in the bear's stomach but it remains unclear if it was responsible for her death.

Following the four deaths, Akita officials issued warnings to avoid the mountain forest but some are ignoring them to seek popular seasonal bamboo shoots and wild plants.
Kenyan lawmakers held for hate speech

Eight Kenyan politicians are behind bars on suspicion of hate speech in the latest sign of rising political tensions a year ahead of elections.

Three lawmakers from the ruling Jubilee party, and four plus a senator from the opposition CORD alliance, were ordered to be detained for four days by Kenya's High Court to allow investigations into alleged hate speech and incitement.

The detained Jubilee MPs, Moses Kuria, Kimani Ngunjiri and Ferdinand Waititu, are loyalists of President Uhuru Kenyatta and members of his Kikuyu tribe.

Kenyan opposition activists set fire to barricades during a protest against the election commission in Nairobi, on May 23, 2016 Carl De Souza (AFP/File)

The CORD politicians are MPs Timothy Bosire, Aisha Jumwa, Junet Mohammed and Florence Mutua, and senator Johnson Muthama.

They all spent Tuesday night in detention.

The arrests follow weeks of occasionally deadly opposition protests against the election commission that CORD leader Raila Odinga believes cheated him of victory in 2013.

Ordering their detention late Tuesday, magistrate Daniel Ogembo said the eight's influence and power meant they might interfere with investigations, and remanded them in custody until June 17.

Jubilee MPs Kuria and Waititu are accused of making public statements threatening the life of Odinga, a Luo, while Ngunjiri is said to have called for Luos in the central town of Nakuru to return to western Kenya, their traditional homeland.

On the CORD side Mohammed, Mutua and Muthama are accused of inciting the storming of police headquarters, while Bosire and Jumwa are alleged to have predicted chaos and violence as a result of Kenyatta's failure to unite the country in the wake of widespread and deadly political violence following the 2007 elections.

More than 1,100 people died and half a million were forced from their homes after that vote as politically-motivated tribal violence mainly pitting Kikuyus against Luos and Kalenjins.

Kenyatta and his now-deputy William Ruto were charged with crimes against humanity for allegedly directing the violence, but the International Criminal Court subsequently dropped both cases.
Italy extends custody for 'people smuggler'

An Italian public prosecutor has rejected a request to release from custody an Eritrean man who says he was mistakenly arrested on suspicion of heading a major people smuggling network.

The prosecutor in Palermo, Sicily, ruled late Tuesday that there was sufficient evidence against the man, who was extradited from Sudan to Italy on June 6, to warrant his continued detention, according to media reports Wednesday.

Authorities identified the man as Medhanie Yehdego Mered, thought to be a 35-year-old trafficking kingpin known as "the general" accused of sending thousands of migrants to Europe and hundreds to their deaths at sea.

Italian police escort Medhanie Yehdego Mered, afte the alleged people smuggler was extradition from Sudan to Rome, on June 6, 2016

But people claiming to be family and friends of the arrested man have come forward to say that he is Mered Tesfamariam, a carpenter who was trying to get to the United States and had nothing to do with trafficking.

His lawyer told a judge last week that his client did not even speak Arabic, unlike the alleged smuggling mastermind.

Mered has been on an international wanted list since last year after being identified as the man who organised the packing of migrants onto a boat that sank in 2013 off the Italian island of Lampedusa, claiming at least 360 lives in one of the worst disasters in the Mediterranean.

He is accused of smuggling up to 8,000 migrants a year into Europe and his arrest had been hailed by Italy, Sudan and Britain had hailed his capture as a significant blow to the people smuggling business.
Philippines' Aquino says aiming to rescue Abu Sayyaf hostages

Philippine's outgoing President Benigno Aquino insisted Wednesday a Norwegian man and other hostages being held by Islamic extremists on a remote southern island could be rescued, after the militants beheaded a second Canadian captive.

Aquino flew on Wednesday to Jolo island, where the Abu Sayyaf group is based and believed to be holding Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, to meet with troops tasked with tracking the militants through hostile jungle terrain.

"We are getting a clearer picture of what is happening here. We saw today how to refine our operations so we can successfully rescue the remaining hostages," Aquino told reporters travelling with him.

The Philippine military has been hunting Abu Sayyaf Islamic militants who have earned many millions of dollars from kidnapping foreigners and locals since the early 1990s Therence Koh (AFP/File)

Aquino also said he apologised to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the murders of the two Canadian men, who were abducted along with Sekkingstad and Filipina Marites Flor from aboard yachts at an exclusive southern marina nine months ago.

Retiree Robert Hall was beheaded on Monday after the Abu Sayyaf's demands for a ransom of 300 million pesos ($6.5 million) were not met. His friend, John Ridsdel, was beheaded in April after a similar ransom demand was not paid.

The Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of a few hundred Islamic militants formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network that has earned millions of dollars from kidnappings-for-ransom.

It is a radical offshoot of a decades-long Muslim separatist insurgency in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines that has claimed more than 100,000 lives. The main Muslim rebel groups do not generally engage in kidnappings-for-ransom.

The Abu Sayyaf's strongholds are Jolo and nearby Basilan, small but mountainous islands roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) from Manila with mainly Muslim populations.

Aquino, who is due to step down on June 30, said he had found it difficult to end the Abu Sayyaf threat during his six years in office.

Among the problems, he cited the Abu Sayyaf's support of the local Muslim communities, many of whom have received money from the militants, he said.

"They (the militants) have many resources. They can buy sympathy and we are in their place of origin. They have knowledge of the terrain. All of the advantages are theirs," Aquino said.

He also said the military and police were understaffed, not having increased in size since 1986 despite the huge rise in population since.

The Abu Sayyaf is believed to be holding at least eight hostages, according to Pacific Strategies and Assessments, a regional security analysis firm.

These include a Japanese treasure hunter kidnapped in 2010 and a Dutch bird watcher abducted in 2012.
Alligator snatches toddler at Florida Disney resort hotel

An American family's Disney vacation turned into a nightmare when an alligator snatched their two-year-old boy at the shore of a resort lake and the father was unable to pry the toddler from the animal's jaws, officials said Wednesday.

A search and rescue operation launched after the attack Tuesday night at the Grand Floridian hotel not far from the Magic Kingdom was ongoing, but police said they held out little hope the boy would be found alive.

Walt Disney World said it has shut down all of its Florida resort beaches and marinas out of precaution after the incident.

A view of the Grand Floridian hotel on June 15, 2016 in Orlando, Florida where a two-year-old boy was attacked by an alligator at the Seven Seas Lagoon near the hotel Brendan Smialowski (AFP)

"We are keeping some hope alive, but it is looking more grave every moment, every hour," Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jeff Williamson told AFP.

The mauling was yet more terrible news for a vacation town still reeling from the weekend shooting massacre of 49 people at a gay nightclub in downtown Orlando -- the worst mass shooting in American history. Another 53 were wounded.

"We determined this two-year-old child was playing at the edge of the water, a foot or so into the water, when this alligator came up and attacked the child," Sheriff Jerry Demings told a sunrise news conference.

"The father did his best, tried to rescue the child -- however, to no avail."

The child belonged to a family of five from the Midwestern state of Nebraska that was relaxing on the shore of the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon at the hotel, Demings said.

The alligator emerged and snatched the boy around 9:00 pm Tuesday (0100 GMT Wednesday).

The Grand Floridian is part of the massive Disney resort complex that includes several theme parks, water parks, hotels and golf courses.

"Everyone here at the Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by this tragic accident," Disney communications executive Jacquee Wahler said.

"We are helping the family and doing everything we can to assist law enforcement."

- All-out search -

Rescuers used sonar and floodlights overnight to pursue their search, as a helicopter hovered overhead. Firefighters stood on the water's edge with infrared cameras scanning the water for the child.

Four gators have been captured and are being analyzed but there was no sign of the child, the Orlando Sentinel reported. A professional gator trapper has been brought in to help, it added.

"We are very hopeful, hoping for the best," Demings said early Wednesday.

"Sometimes you get the worst, but we're certainly hoping for the best."

Alligators are common in Florida, where they can be found in bodies of fresh water across the state, Nick Wiley from the Florida fish and wildlife service told reporters.

However, it is very rare for an alligator to attack a human, Wiley said. There have only been 22 deaths from unprovoked alligator bites documented in Florida since 1948, according to the fish and wildlife service.

There was a no swimming sign at the lake, but no warning about alligators, he added.

- 'Horrendous' few days for Orlando -

Two days before the nightclub massacre, singer Christina Grimmie, a former contestant on the popular TV show "The Voice," was shot and killed by a gunman at Orlando's Plaza Live Theater during a meet and greet event with fans. The gunman later killed himself.

"The past three or four days have been horrendous for our community," Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Wednesday as she addressed the town's latest crisis, the missing boy.

"I can't comprehend, I can't comprehend what any of this would be like as a parent," said Jacobs, who has a 20-year-old son.

This 2008 photo shows the beach at the Grand Floridian hotel at Disney World in Orlando, Florida where a boy was attacked by an alligator Jim Watson (AFP/File)
Syrian activists accuse UN of 'capitulating' to regime on aid

Dozens of activist groups opposed to Syria's regime accused the United Nations on Wednesday of "capitulating" to Damascus on aid access to desperate civilians.

The UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Yaacoub El Hillo, said however that while aid access was not ideal, the UN continues to "assist Syrians based on need".

The scathing 50-page report by The Syria Campaign advocacy group was signed by 55 Syrian organisations opposed to the government, including the White Helmets organisation made up of emergency responders in rebel-held areas.

A UN aid convoy delivers food, health and emergency items to the rebel-held town of Douma, east of the Syrian capital Damascus Abd Doumany (AFP/File)

Based on testimonies from current and former UN staff and other aid workers, the report alleged that the UN in Syria was "in breach of its humanitarian principles and therefore at risk of fuelling the conflict".

"There has been a systematic failure in the UN-led response," said Roger Hearn, who headed the UN's Palestinian refugee agency in Damascus until December 2011 and contributed to the report.

One anonymous UN official interviewed for the report called the organisation's work in Syria "a profoundly flawed and one-sided operation."

By the UN's count, nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas, most surrounded by government forces.

Earlier this month, the UN said the government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas, after one was taken off the UN's list.

- 'Undue influence' -

Damascus requires aid agencies to go through an authorisation process to deliver aid to these areas -- a request that is frequently rejected.

Since Syria's conflict erupted in 2011, government officials have threatened to revoke the visas of UN staff in Damascus if they deliver aid to areas without regime permission, TSC's report said.

It accused the UN of "choosing to prioritise cooperation with the Syrian government at all costs," allowing the regime to unduly influence UN aid strategy.

As a result, most assistance goes to government-held territory where permission is granted, instead of opposition areas where aid is most needed, the report said.

In April "88 percent of food aid delivered from inside Syria went into government-controlled territory," it said.

Reacting to the report during a visit to Beirut on Wednesday, the UN's Hillo told journalists the organisation does "not assist Syrians based on location. We assist Syrians based on need."

Sending an aid convoy to a besieged town without proper authorisation would be a "suicide mission for humanitarian workers", he said.

The report recommends that UN agencies publicly lay out conditions for continued cooperation with Damascus and halt work with the government if they are not met.

"A UN operation that violates its humanitarian principles becomes party to the conflict and stands accused of doing harm," it said.

Hillo admitted the government had "obstructed" access to some besieged areas.

"But because of it, do we condemn the rest to starvation?" he said.

Bissan Fakih, a spokeswoman for The Syria Campaign, countered: "A UN with the backbone to stand for its principles would help get aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians under siege, many of them only a few minutes' drive from where the UN is based in Damascus."

The Syria Campaign says the UN's "acquiescence" has also downplayed the desperate humanitarian situation for civilians living under government siege, including underestimating the numbers.

According to the UN, a total of 592,000 people live in besieged areas across Syria, but the report says that the number is closer to one million.

Earlier this year, an assessment by the UN's own aid coordination body, OCHA, also found that Damascus-based humanitarian agencies were "protective of their relationship with the GoS (government of Syria)."

It was "becoming clear that the Government was hindering the establishment of a proper humanitarian operation from quite early in the crisis," the March report said.

But "UN agencies were simply not willing to jeopardise their operations in Syria by taking a tougher stance with the Government."

A Syrian Arab Red Crescent lorry delivered food aid to the rebel-held town of Douma, on June 10, 2016 Sameer Al-Doumy (AFP)

The UN estimates that nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas, such as these residents in the rebel-held town of Daraya Fadi Dirani (AFP/File)

Syria's hard-to-reach areas
US warns Russia, Assad to respect 'frayed' Syria truce

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Russia and the Syrian government on Wednesday to respect a "frayed" ceasefire, as vicious fighting south of second city Aleppo left dozens dead.

The vital northern province of Aleppo has been ravaged on multiple fighting fronts in a devastating war that has killed more than 280,000 people.

The conflict has also drawn in world powers who back opposing sides -- including the United States which broadly supports the opposition and Russia on the side of President Bashar al-Assad.

A man sits on the rubble of a destroyed building following reported air strikes by Syrian government forces in a rebel-held neighbourhood of Aleppo on June 8, 2016 Karam Al-Masri (AFP)

"Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable," said Kerry.

"We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition," he said after a meeting in Norway with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

UN-hosted peace talks aimed at ending the five-year conflict have been stalled since April, and a fragile ceasefire deal between the government and non-jihadist rebels has all but collapsed.

Washington and Moscow have tried to reinforce the broader truce with temporary, local freezes on fighting, but to no avail.

"It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place," said Kerry.

Efforts were underway, he said, to reach a new agreement "in the next week or two" to reinstate the ceasefire across Syria, leading to more humanitarian aid deliveries and a resumption of the peace process.

- Fresh Aleppo clashes -

In Aleppo province, dozens of fighters were killed in a fresh bout of fighting between the regime, rebels, and jihadists south of Aleppo city, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Backed by Russian and government air strikes, pro-regime fighters are locked in battle with rebel groups and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front for a string of villages lying in hilly terrain between strategic routes.

"To the west there is an opposition supply route that reaches Idlib province, and to the northeast there is the last regime supply route out of Aleppo city," said the Observatory's Rami Abdel Rahman.

Since fighting erupted on Tuesday, at least 70 fighters in total have been killed and the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa have changed hands twice.

The strategic border province is criss-crossed with supply routes for various sides of the conflict, including rebels, regime, Kurds, and jihadists like the Islamic State group.

Aleppo was once Syria's commercial powerhouse, but it has been a battleground since 2012 when rebels seized the east of the city confining the army to the west.

A hospital in eastern Aleppo supported by Medecins du Monde was heavily damaged in an air strike on Tuesday, the France-based charity said, without reporting casualties.

Three other hospitals in Syria were hit in bombing at the start of June, leaving 10 dead.

As opposing forces close in from either side, residents of both halves of the city fear a potential total siege on the northern metropolis.

The UN says nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas, most surrounded by government forces.

Earlier this month, it said the government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas, after one was taken off the UN's list.

- Activists accuse UN -

Dozens of opposition activist groups accused the UN of "capitulating" to Damascus on aid access.

The scathing report, authored by The Syria Campaign (TSC) advocacy group, was based on testimonies from current and former UN staff and other aid workers.

It accused the UN of "choosing to prioritise cooperation with the Syrian government at all costs," allowing the regime to unduly influence UN aid strategy.

The UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Yaacoub El Hillo, said however that while aid access was not ideal, the UN continues to "assist Syrians based on need".

TSC spokeswoman Bissan Fakih countered: "A UN with the backbone to stand for its principles would help get aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians under siege, many of them only a few minutes' drive from where the UN is based in Damascus."

Syria's government condemned "the presence of French and German special forces" in the country's north, including the flashpoint towns of Kobane on the border and IS-held Manbij.

Paris recently admitted its special forces were deployed alongside an Arab-Kurd alliance backing the offensive to expel IS from Manbij.

But German defence ministry spokesman Boris Nannt denied his country's troops were in Syria, telling journalists "there is absolutely nothing (to) it".

The battle for northern Syria

US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at the Oslo Forum, on June 15, 2016 Lise Aserud (NTB Scanpix/AFP)

A rebel fighter prepares to fire artillery during clashes with Syrian pro-government forces in Aleppo province Omar haj kadour (AFP/File)

Syrians line-up waiting to receive meals being distributed by a charity during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, in a rebel-held neighbourhood of Aleppo Thaer Mohammed (AFP/File)
India snares 'man-eating lion' after human tissue found

Forestry officials in western India may have identified a man-eating lion suspected of a spate of attacks, they said Wednesday, after finding traces of human hair and tissue in the animal's faeces.

Seven lion attacks in villages near the Gir wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat state have killed three people since March, while four victims have suffered serious injuries.

A pride of 17 endangered Asiatic lions, which only live in the forest in Gujarat, have been captured in the past month.

The Asiatic lion was listed as endangered in 2008, with 523 recorded in the latest census by India's Gujarat state government Sam Panthaky (AFP/File)

Officials have been monitoring the big cats' behaviour and examining their faeces to identify the culprits.

"The scat analysis, that is an analysis of lion excreta, has shown remains of human hair and tissue in at least one of the lions captured," U.A. Vora, a forest conservator, told AFP.

"This lion has been isolated and will be kept in isolation in captivity forever," he said.

Vora said that even with the discovery of human tissue, the animal would undergo further investigations to establish whether it deliberately attacked humans.

He said forestry officials have undertaken a "massive" awareness drive to warn people living in villages about the lions, telling them not to sleep in open fields.

One wildlife expert told AFP the lions may have attacked because a rising human population had blocked their natural corridors -- the route by which lions move from one area to another in search of prey.

"The government needs to come up with a long-term plan to open these blocked corridors to stop human-animal conflict," independent expert Divyabhanu Singh said.

In May a 14-year-old boy was killed by a lioness in a mango orchard in the district's Ambardi village, with his father also injured in the attack.

In April a lion killed a 50-year-old woman in a nearby village as she slept in an open field.

Asiatic lions, slightly smaller than their African cousins and with a fold of skin along their bellies, have been increasing in numbers in Gir, with 523 recorded in the latest census.

Conservationists have suggested some of the lions be relocated to a different sanctuary, to reduce human-animal conflict and avoid their being wiped out by disease or natural disaster.
China bans exports of nuclear-use technology to N. Korea

China has banned exports to North Korea of a range of technologies that could be used to build weapons, the latest move to deter Pyongyang's internationally condemned nuclear programme.

Prohibited goods include ring magnets, high strength aluminium alloys, laser welding equipment, and an array of compounds that can be used to produce nuclear and chemical weapons, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement late Tuesday listing restricted "dual use" items.

China is North Korea's largest trading partner and has been its key diplomatic protector for decades. But relations have soured over the North's nuclear tests and long-range missile launches, with Beijing supporting UN sanctions in a security council vote in March.

North Korean missiles roll through Pyongyang's Kim Il-Sung Square in 2015

The ban comes in the wake of UN resolution 2270, which aims to prevent the production of nuclear weapons and imposed fresh sanctions on the pariah state after Pyongyang's nuclear test at the start of the year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with a visiting North Korean official earlier this month and stressed the importance of keeping "friendly relations" between the countries. The envoy reportedly told Chinese officials Pyongyang would continue its nuclear programme.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has not visited China since coming to power and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping has not been to Pyongyang.

North Korea held its first party congress for nearly 40 years in early May, formally endorsing leader Kim Jong-Un's policy of expanding the country's nuclear arsenal.
The Islamic State group battled Iraqi forces and held civilians hostage Wednesday to defend its bastion of Fallujah, where three weeks of fighting has forced tens of thousands from their homes.

Security forces have retaken significant parts of southern Fallujah since the start of the month and are now attacking the jihadists in the Jbeil neighbourhood, officers said.

"Counter-terrorism forces as well as federal and Anbar police continue the operation to liberate Jbeil, in southern Fallujah, and face fierce resistance from Daesh (IS)," a police colonel said.

Displaced Iraqi families, who fled their homes in and around Fallujah, take refugee at a camp in the town of Amriyat al-Fallujah Ahmad Mousa (AFP/File)

Ground forces backed by Iraqi and US-led coalition air strikes alternated barrages of artillery fire with attempts to move forward in street battles, engaging with light weapons sometimes only metres (yards) away from IS fighters.

A photographer employed by the Iraqi interior ministry's elite forces was killed when a mortar round struck in Shuhada neighbourhood, which was recently retaken from IS.

A police officer and an AFP photographer on the scene confirmed that Fadhil al-Garaawi, 45, was among four members of the security forces killed in the incident.

Baghdad-based US military spokesman Colonel Chris Garver said counterterrorism fighters, commandos and federal police units were inside Fallujah's southern edge but stressed progress remained slow.

"They have a foothold in the southern corner or the southern edge of the city. But it's been a significant fight to grab that foothold, and so they're continuing to try to expand," he said in a video call with Pentagon reporters.

In an apparent attempt to distract Iraqi forces in Anbar province, where Fallujah is located, IS fighters attacked positions near Ramadi, the provincial capital that was retaken earlier this year, officers said.

Fallujah is a medium-sized, densely built-up town that lies only 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad. It is one of the last two major Iraqi cities IS controls, the other being Mosul.

US forces suffered some of their worst losses since the Vietnam War when they battled one of IS's previous incarnations in the city in 2004 and it is one of the jihadists' most emblematic bastions.

Going against US advice to focus efforts on the northern city of Mosul, Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced an offensive to retake Fallujah in late May.

The advance of pro-government forces has since been slow, with Fallujah's status as a symbolic IS stronghold and a tight siege by Iraqi forces ensuring holdout jihadists have few options other than fighting to the death.

Progress against the massively outnumbered jihadists has also been hampered by IS's systematic use of civilians as human shields.

- 'No safe passage' -

According to the International Organization for Migration, at least 48,000 people have been displaced since the start of the operation.

But most of them were fleeing IS rule in outlying areas while residents of central Fallujah have found it very difficult to escape.

Attempting to do so has proven extremely dangerous, with roadside bombs and IS gunmen killing dozens of civilians in recent days.

The Iraqi army opened a corridor last week to facilitate the flow of civilians seeking to leave.

It has allowed thousands to escape but remains hard to reach from some neighbourhoods and dangerous to use.

On Tuesday, a man was killed and several other people wounded when an explosive device went off just metres (yards) away from the end of the corridor, where government forces receive fleeing civilians, said the Norwegian Refugee Council.

"Let's be absolutely clear: there is no safe passage out of Fallujah to speak of," NRC country director Nasr Muflahi said in a statement.

Thousands of men among those trying to flee were being held for screening by pro-government forces and allegations of abuses were mounting.

In the displacement camps of nearby Amriyat al-Fallujah, those men who made it through the screening said Shiite militiamen from the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary umbrella group were torturing suspects.

A 35-year-old man from an area just west of Fallujah displayed deep cuts on his wrists.

"That's from having my hands cuffed for four days, with nothing to eat or drink," he said.

"When they eventually pushed me off a moving pick-up truck, I was so exhausted I didn't even feel anything."

Abadi's office has promised to investigate allegations of abuses committed by the security forces during the operation.

Joining the US-led coalition fighting IS, Poland said Wednesday it plans to send F-17 warplanes plus 210 soldiers and military personnel to Iraq and neighbouring Kuwait.

The battle for Fallujah

A member of Iraqi government forces flashes the sign of victory in the back of an armoured vehicle during an operation, in Fallujah's southern Shuhada neighbourhood to retake the area from the Islamic State (IS) group on June 15, 2016 Ahmad al-Rubaye (AFP)

Iraqi government forces drive in the village of Albu Huwa south of Fallujah as smoke billows from the city on June 14, 2016 Sabah Arar (AFP)
US urges NATO allies to do more against IS

US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter on Wednesday urged NATO allies to do more to help the US-led anti-Islamic State coalition finish the job in Iraq and Syria and destroy the jihadi group.

NATO defence ministers earlier agreed to extend training of Iraqi troops from Jordan to Iraq itself and to consider deploying AWACS surveillance aircraft.

"I would like to see NATO do more," Carter told reporters after ministers met at the alliance HQ in Brussels.

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told a meeting in Brussels, "I believe there is still more NATO can do to hasten the destruction of ISIL" John Thys (AFP)

"I believe there is still more NATO can do to hasten the destruction of ISIL," he said, using another name for IS.

IS seized large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, scattering government and rebel troops with ease, but Washington has marshalled its allies inside NATO and out to help force the jihadists back from key areas.

Most of the 28 NATO member states contribute to the anti-IS coalition individually but the alliance itself as an organisation has no direct role in the campaign.

With IS increasingly on the defensive and losing ground, Carter said NATO could make a "meaningful contribution," helping consolidate coalition gains while government forces press on.

Asked if NATO's offer to increase training of Iraqi officers and the possible AWACS deployment were modest compared with what others were doing, Carter insisted that was far from the case.

"There is no way that is secondary, that is very important... it is not peripheral," he said.
Pistorius walks on stumps ahead of July 6 sentencing

A sobbing Oscar Pistorius on Wednesday hobbled on his stumps across a courtroom to demonstrate his physical vulnerability to a judge who will decide next month how long he goes to prison for murder.

The double-amputee removed his prosthetic limbs at the request of his lawyer Barry Roux who is pleading for leniency, but state prosecutors sought a minimum 15-year jail term for the killing of Reeva Steenkamp.

Wearing shorts, the Paralympic athlete held onto wooden benches for support as he walked unsteadily through the courtroom. He appeared in distress as a cushion was provided for him to rest on.

Oscar Pistorius walks without his prosthetic legs during his resentencing hearing for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the Pretoria High Court on June 15, 2016 Alon Skuy (Pool/AFP)

Pistorius, 29, shot his girlfriend in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 2013, claiming he mistook her for a burglar when he fired four times through the door of his bedroom toilet.

He was convicted of culpable homicide in 2014 -- the equivalent of manslaughter -- before the appeal court upgraded his crime to murder earlier this year.

His murder sentence will be handed down on July 6, judge Thokozile Masipa told the High Court in Pretoria after a three-day hearing.

Pistorius's lawyer Roux tried to stress the effects of the athlete's disability, saying: "It is three o'clock in the morning, it is dark, he is on his stumps.

"His balance is seriously compromised and... he would not be able to defend himself. He was anxious, he was frightened.

"He believed the person in the toilet was an intruder and (the) deceased was at the time in the bed," Roux said.

In March, the Supreme Court of Appeal said Pistorius was guilty of murder, irrespective of whoever was behind the door when he opened fire with a pistol he kept under his bed.

Roux urged judge Masipa to "entertain the correct facts and not to be drowned by the many perceptions" that Pistorius had killed Steenkamp deliberately.

"The accused has lost everything. He can never ever resume his career," said Roux, whose client had both legs amputated below the knee as a child.

"He has paid physically... he has paid financially, he has paid socially. He is paying constantly."

- No remorse? -

The minimum jail term for murder in South Africa is 15 years, but Pistorius's sentence may be reduced due to the year he has already spent in prison and mitigating factors, including his disability.

State prosecutor Gerrie Nel argued that Pistorius should be jailed for at least the minimum term, saying the disgraced athlete had failed to show remorse.

"He knew there was someone behind the door," Nel said.

"Using a lethal weapon, a loaded firearm, the accused fired not one but four shots to the toilet door.

"He failed to provide any acceptable version for his conduct."

Nel also repeatedly criticised Pistorius for giving a television interview but not giving evidence at the hearing. The interview is due to be broadcast next week.

Earlier Wednesday, Kim Martin, Reeva Steenkamp's cousin, gave the last state evidence in the hearing.

"I never ever heard him say that 'I apologise for shooting, murdering Reeva behind that door'," she told the court.

"We just wanted the truth."

She added that she was uncertain whether Pistorius and Steenkamp were in a truly loving relationship.

Barry Steenkamp, 73, Reeva's father, had broken down in court on Tuesday as he said Pistorius must "pay for his crime" of shooting Reeva, 29, a model and law graduate.

Pistorius was released from jail last October to live under house arrest at his uncle's mansion in Pretoria after serving one year of his five-year sentence for culpable homicide.

He has always denied killing Steenkamp in a rage and, during his seven-month trial in 2014, vomited in the dock as details of his lover's death were examined in excruciating detail.

The year before he killed Steenkamp, Pistorius became the first double-amputee to race at Olympic level when he appeared at the London 2012 games.

The Pistorius affair INFOGRAPHIE, jmc/vl/pld (AFP)

Paralympian Oscar Pistorius prepares to walk across a courtroom in Pretoria without his prosthetic legs on June 15, 2016 Siphiwe Sibeko (POOL/AFP)

South African paralympian Oscar Pistorius looks on during the third day of his hearing at the High Court in Pretoria on June 15, 2016 Alon Skuy (Pool/AFP/File)

South African chief state prosecutor Gerrie Nel argues that Pistorius should be jailed for at least the minimum term Themba Hadebe (Pool/AFP/File)
Digital is not rescuing troubled US newspapers

The grim news for newspapers: digital is doing little to rescue them from their deepening woes.

Reeling from weak circulation and ad revenue, the traditional newspaper world faces an ugly picture while social media and tech firms benefit from the shift to digital, a Pew Research Center study released on Wednesday found.

Average weekday newspaper circulation -- print and digital combined -- fell seven percent in 2015, the greatest decline since 2010, Pew's annual "State of the News Media" report found.

Average weekday newspaper circulation -- print and digital combined -- fell seven percent in 2015, the greatest decline since 2010 Justin Sullivan (Getty/AFP/File)

Although digital circulation gained a slight two percent, that amounted to just 22 percent of total circulation, and online subscriptions have done little for the overall revenue picture, Pew said.

It found that total 2015 advertising revenue among publicly traded newspaper companies declined almost eight percent, reflecting weakness in digital as well as print.

To make matters worse, newspaper newsroom employment fell 10 percent last year, the biggest drop since 2009, the researchers found.

"Newspapers had a near recession-level year," Pew researcher Jesse Holcomb said.

- Tech firms reap gains -

Major tech companies are reaping most of the revenues from online news, Pew found.

"There is money being made on the web, but news organizations have not been the primary beneficiaries," the report said.

Total digital advertising spending grew 20 percent last year to around $60 billion, a higher growth rate than in 2013 and 2014, Pew said.

"But compared with a year ago, even more of the digital ad revenue pie -- 65 percent -- is now swallowed up by just five tech companies," the report said, naming Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and Twitter.

"Increasingly, the data suggest that the impact these technology companies are having on the business of journalism goes far beyond the financial side to the very core elements of the news industry itself."

Facebook took in some 30 percent of digital display ad revenue last year, or $8 billion, according to Pew. Google accounted for 16 percent.

Some news publishers still make profits "but it's a mixed picture," while a handful of digital companies "are sucking up the oxygen," Holcomb said.

Part of the reason for the revenue shift is due to how people discover news -- often by happenstance on social networks or by searching online -- the researcher added.

"Our relationship with news is in a state of change," he said.

"Most people who say they get news on a platform like Facebook are not necessarily looking for news, news is just one of the things they stumble across."

Since the Newspaper Association of America stopped reporting revenue figures for the newspaper industry as a whole in 2013, Pew tracked data from the seven publicly traded newspaper groups, which owned some 300 dailies at the end of last year.

The data accurately tracks the sector even though a majority of newspapers are privately held, the research firm said.

- Mixed news -

The picture was more nuanced elsewhere in the media industry.

Some digital news startups appear to be generating revenues and profits, although data has been spotty, Holcomb said.

"Even among these promising digital news startups, there is a feeling of uncertainty," he said.

"The market hasn't become clear nor has the business model," he added.

"These companies are still experimenting, they are still pivoting. There are some superstars, but it's not entirely clear if there is a wider path to profitability."

Those digital news operators include BuzzFeed, Vox Media and Business Insider. Although several have raised capital from investors, as private firms they are not required to report financial results.

In television, network broadcasters increased ad revenue by six percent in the evening and 14 percent in the morning. Cable news channels were projected to increase their revenues by 10 percent and experience profit gains, Pew said.

It also found radio remains an important news source for around 25 percent of Americans, and is getting some help from digital technologies and podcasts.

But overall radio revenues were flat in 2015, with a three percent decline in traditional AM/FM spot advertising offset by gains in digital and off-air advertising, the report said.

Facebook took in some 30 percent of digital display ad revenue last year, or $8 billion Justin Sullivan (Getty/AFP/File)
Libyan forces face jihadist fightback in Sirte

Fighters of the Islamic State group intensified their counter-attacks Wednesday to try to regain ground lost to forces allied to Libya's unity government in the jihadists' coastal stronghold of Sirte.

Government of National Accord (GNA) forces backed by air strikes entered the Mediterranean city last week, aiming to drive the extremist group out of its bastion on Europe's doorstep.

But the advance has been stalled since Sunday on the outskirts of Sirte's residential areas where the jihadists are holed up.

Forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed unity government patrol the city of Sirte during an operation to recapture the city from the Islamic State (IS) group

The focus of IS counter-attacks has been aimed at retaking Sirte's port and western sectors of the city, the hometown of ousted dictator Moamer Kadhafi, military sources said.

"Our forces have not lost an inch and have not pulled back by a single step," the pro-GNA's military command said on its Facebook page.

"Our forces have confronted Daesh elements trying to reach the port, causing them heavy losses in manpower and equipment," it said, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

The pro-GNA forces also said the jihadists had carried out a suicide bombing in southern Sirte, leaving two wounded.

IS said on Twitter that it had repelled an attempted GNA incursion in the same sector, killing at least seven pro-government fighters and seizing four armoured vehicles.

Jihadist groups took root in Libya in late 2014, taking advantage of the chaos and power struggles that followed the fall of Kadhafi's regime in 2011.

Established in Tripoli more than two months ago, the UN-backed unity government has been struggling to exert its control over the North African country, which is awash with weapons.

On Tuesday the UN Security Council unanimously authorised a European Union naval mission to enforce an arms embargo on Libya and expand Operation Sophia which has been combating migrant-smuggling.

- New front -

Loyalist forces have battled since mid-May to oust IS from Sirte, 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of the capital Tripoli, and the mix of militias and army units have seized control of its port and airport.

But their advance slowed at the end of last week as they reached central and northern parts of the city where IS fighters are holed up in residential areas, having laid booby-trapped bombs and posted snipers on rooftops.

The operation to retake Sirte has so far left 145 pro-GNA fighters dead and 500 injured, according to medical officials.

The pro-GNA forces said that five of their fighters were killed and 37 wounded on Tuesday as IS jihadists hit positions west of the city with tank, mortar and sniper fire.

Pro-government forces said they had also opened a new front around the east of the city, and hit targets in the vicinity of the city's vast former conference centre, now used by IS as a battlefield headquarters.

The operation against IS in Sirte enjoys wide support in western Libya, where many welcomed the GNA's installation in the capital on March 30.

Unity government head Fayez al-Sarraj said Tuesday that the GNA forces' advances in Sirte should be a model for "a national initiative to fight terrorism".

His task is complicated by the presence of a parallel government operating out of eastern Libya, backed by local militias and units of the national army loyal to a controversial general, Khalifa Haftar.

Haftar, who is also a fierce opponent of Islamists, refuses to recognise the GNA and considers its forces "militias outside the law".

The scene of a car-bomb attack nearby carried out by an Islamic State (IS) jihadist at the western entrance of Sirte on June 2, 2016 Mahmud Turkia (AFP/File)
Hindu lecturer wounded in latest Bangladesh attack

A Hindu college lecturer was seriously wounded after being hacked by three men in Bangladesh Wednesday, police said, in an attack that resembles a recent spate of brutal assaults on religious minorities.

Ripon Chakrabarti, 50, a mathematics lecturer, cried out as he was attacked at the door of his home in the southern town of Madripur at around 5:00 pm, leading locals to catch one of the assailants, police said.

It comes amid a week-long police crackdown on militant groups in Muslim-majority Bangladesh following recent violence by suspected Islamists, with more than 11,000 people arrested since Friday.

Bangladeshi authorities have arrested thousands of people in a crackdown on militant groups

"He was hacked in his head, neck and shoulders. He has been sent to a big hospital in the nearby city of Barisal after his condition deteriorated," police inspector Kamrul Ahsan told AFP.

Police were questioning the alleged attacker for clues as to the motive, he said, adding that he is a college student who hails from the northeast of the country.

"So far, he has not said anything on why they attacked the lecturer," Ahsan said.

However, the latest attack appeared to bear the hallmarks of recent attacks on minorities and secular activists by suspected Islamist militants.

Nearly 50 people have been killed over the past three years in a wave of gruesome murders targeting Hindus, Christians, Sufi Muslims, secular activists and foreigners, with most blamed on or claimed by Islamist militants.

Many of the victims were hacked to death with machetes.

This month alone, an elderly Hindu priest was found nearly decapitated in a rice field and a Hindu monastery worker was hacked to death, while a Christian grocer was found murdered near a church.

Other victims have included liberal activists and secular bloggers, along with two foreigners and two gay rights activists.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the Hindu priest's murder and other recent attacks.

But authorities instead blame homegrown militant groups and say IS and other international groups have no presence in Bangladesh.

Police in western Bangladesh said Wednesday they have armed villagers with bamboo sticks and whistles in an effort to deter Islamist militants from attacking people of minority faiths.
US toddler believed dead after gator attack at Disney resort

One US family's Disney vacation has turned to tragedy -- a two-year-old boy snatched by an alligator at the shore of a resort lake and dragged underwater is believed dead, authorities said Wednesday.

The nightmare at the Disney World complex is the latest horror to hit the central Florida vacation town already reeling from Sunday's massacre at a gay nightclub in which 49 people were killed -- the deadliest mass shooting in American history.

Walt Disney World said it has shut down all of its Florida resort beaches and marinas out of precaution after the incident -- the first such death in its 45-year history.

A boat belonging to the Orange County Sheriff's office searches the Seven Seas lagoon ouside Disney's Grand Floridian Resort on June 15, 2016 Gregg Newton (AFP)

The boy's father tried frantically to save him after the attack Tuesday night at a lakeside beach at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, but could not pry the toddler from the gator's grasp.

"We are dealing with this family now who, there is no question, will lose a two-year-old child," Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told reporters.

"It certainly is not survivable at this point for him to have been submerged for this period of time. We know that this is a recovery effort at this point," Demings said, speaking when the child had been in the water for 15 hours.

He said rescuers would continue to search until the child's body is found.

The gator struck at around 9:00 pm Tuesday (0100 GMT Wednesday) as the child was playing in roughly a foot of water at the Seven Seas Lagoon outside the Grand Floridian, which is right across the lake from the Magic Kingdom.

The lagoon is man-made but connected to a natural lake. And alligators -- common to Florida -- can travel over land. Both help explain why there were gators in the body of water.

The boy's father fought the alligator -- estimated to be between four and seven feet (1.2-2.1 meters) long, according to reports -- but the animal and child disappeared underwater, officials said.

- Over in one minute -

Bill Wilson, visiting from Indiana, saw the incident from the balcony of his Grand Floridian room and said the attack unfolded in less than 30 seconds. Within a minute, the gator and boy were gone.

He said it first sounded like a fight had broken out.

"I looked over and here comes one of the lifeguards. He said 'Everybody get out of the water.' The mother was there and she was frantic, running up and down looking," Wilson told the Orlando Sentinel.

A search and rescue operation was launched right after the attack, but to no avail.

Wilson said Disney staff and first responders reacted quickly.

The child belonged to a family of five from the Midwestern state of Nebraska that was relaxing on the shore of the lagoon.

The Grand Floridian is part of the massive Disney resort complex that includes several theme parks, water parks, hotels and golf courses.

"Everyone here at the Walt Disney World Resort is devastated by this tragic accident," Disney communications executive Jacquee Wahler said Wednesday.

"We are helping the family and doing everything we can to assist law enforcement."

- All-out search -

Rescuers used sonar and floodlights to pursue their search overnight, as a helicopter hovered overhead. Firefighters stood on the water's edge with infrared cameras scanning the water for the child.

At least five gators have been captured and are being analyzed but there was so far no sign of the child, authorities said.

"Remember, it is Florida. And alligators are indigenous to this region of the country," Demings said.

"Disney has a wildlife management system that is in place and they have worked diligently to ensure that their guests are not unduly exposed to the wildlife here in this area," he added.

Professional gator trappers have been brought in to aid the recovery effort, the sheriff said.

Alligators are common in Florida but it is very rare for them to attack humans, Nick Wiley from the Florida fish and wildlife service told reporters.

Before this incident, there had only been 22 deaths from unprovoked alligator bites documented in Florida since 1948, according to the service's website.

There was a no swimming sign at the lake, but no warning about alligators, he added.

- 'Horrendous' few days for Orlando -

Two days before the nightclub massacre, singer Christina Grimmie, a former contestant on the popular TV show "The Voice," was shot and killed at Orlando's Plaza Live Theater during a meet and greet event with fans. The gunman later killed himself.

"The past three or four days have been horrendous for our community," Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Wednesday.

"I can't comprehend, I can't comprehend what any of this would be like as a parent," said Jacobs, who has a 20-year-old son.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings speaks at a press conference near the scene where a two-year-old boy was attacked by an alligator at Disney's Grand Floridian resort on June 15, 2016 in Orlando, Florida Brendan Smialowski (AFP)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Nick Wiley speaks on June 15, 2016 in Orlando, Florida Brendan Smialowski (AFP)

A boat belonging to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is parked at a dock at the Seven Seas Lagoon outside Disney's Grand Floridian Resort on June 15, 2016 Gregg Newton (AFP)
Trump signals could bar gun sales for terror suspects

Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump signalled Wednesday he could support banning people on terror watch lists from purchasing guns, a move that would place him in opposition to members of his own party.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, regularly touts his support for the constitutionally enshrined right to bear arms.

He has said after terrorist attacks, including the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida Sunday, that death tolls would have been lower if private citizens had been armed and able to shoot back.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally on June 15, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia Branden Camp (Getty/AFP)

But he suggested he is prepared to consider restrictions on gun purchases, after it was revealed the Orlando shooter legally bought a rifle and handgun in Florida despite having been investigated by the FBI about possible extremist ties.

"I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns," Trump tweeted Wednesday.

Trump's announcement may place him on a collision course with the National Rifle Association, which tweeted Tuesday that "restrictions like bans on gun purchases by people on 'watch lists' are ineffective, unconstitutional, or both."

But the group opened the door to the Republican flagbearer Wednesday, saying they would be "happy to meet" with Trump.

According to Senate Democrat Bill Nelson of Florida, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said Orlando nightclub gunman Omar Mateen was placed on a terrorism watch list from 2013 until 2014.

Republican lawmakers and the National Rifle Association have refused to support legislation that would deny weapons to people on such lists, arguing that such a bill would infringe on the Second Amendment rights of everyday Americans, including those who may have been placed unfairly on watch lists or no-fly lists.

Frustrated Democrats took to the Senate floor Wednesday to launch a filibuster -- a procedural obstruction -- and call for action to restrict suspected terrorists' access to guns.

"I'm at my wits' end," said Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, where a 2012 school shooting left 20 children dead, as he began what could amount to a day-long roadblock.

"I've had enough of the ongoing slaughter of innocents, and I've had enough of the inaction of this body."

A Senate measure that would have prevented FBI terror suspects from purchasing firearms and explosives failed last December, with every Senate Republican but one voting in opposition.

President Barack Obama, speaking Tuesday on the Orlando tragedy, reiterated his backing for so-called "no-fly, no-buy" legislation.

"People with possible ties to terrorism who are not allowed on a plane shouldn't be allowed to buy a gun," Obama said.

A US government report shows that known or suspected terrorists have passed background checks for gun sales more than 90 percent of the time.
Iraqi forces edge into Fallujah: US

Iraqi security forces have entered Fallujah as they continue their battle to wrest the besieged city from the Islamic State group, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Baghdad-based military spokesman Colonel Chris Garver said Iraqi counterterrorism fighters, commandos and federal police units are now inside the city's southern edge, but stressed that progress remains slow.

"They have a foothold in the southern corner or the southern edge of the city. But it's been a significant fight to grab that foothold, and so they're continuing to try to expand," he said in a video call with Pentagon reporters.

A member of the Iraqi government forces flashes the victory sign from the back of an armoured vehicle during an operation, backed by air support from the US-led coalition, in Fallujah's southern Shuhada neighbourhood on June 15, 2016 Ahmad al-Rubaye (AFP)

Fallujah is a medium-sized, densely developed town that lies only 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of Baghdad.

Along with Mosul, it is one of the last two major Iraqi cities still under IS group control.

Iraqi security forces, supported by US-led coalition air strikes and advisors, have been fighting to retake the city for more than three weeks.

The Fallujah fight remains slow and difficult, with the "hundreds" of remaining jihadists putting up stiff resistance using machine guns, shelling and homemade bombs, Garver said.

"It's a tough fight and it gets tougher the closer you get into the city, the harder it gets," he said.

"The distances that they move on a daily basis, the closer they get in, they get smaller and the meters that you gain become tougher to gain, they become more significant as we get them."

The IS group's systematic use of civilians for human shields has helped hamper progress against the massively outnumbered jihadists.

IS group fighters have killed dozens of civilians as they tried to flee Fallujah despite the Iraqi army's creation of an evacuation corridor for residents.

The battle for Fallujah has also seen allegations of human rights abuses perpetrated by Iraqi forces against fleeing men.
IS mortar round kills Iraqi photographer in Fallujah

A photographer employed by Iraq's elite interior ministry forces was killed Wednesday by a mortar round during fighting in the jihadist bastion of Fallujah, officers said.

An AFP photographer on the scene said the incident took place in the city's southern neighbourhood of Shuhada, which the Iraqi government recently retook from the Islamic State group.

"Photographer Fadil al-Garaawi was killed when a mortar round struck near a group of journalists and members of the security forces in Fallujah," a senior federal police officer said.

Iraqi journalist employed by Iraq's elite interior ministry, Fadil al-Garaawi (2ndL) talks to a soldier as he covers the operation of the Iraqi government forces against the Islamic State (IS) group on June 15, 2016 Ahmad al-Rubaye (AFP)

Three armed members of the security forces were also killed in the same incident, the officer said.

The 45-year-old photographer also contributed to Iraqi news outlets.
Four dead, four abducted in Boko Haram raid: Nigerian army

Boko Haram killed four people and abducted four women from a village in northeast Nigeria, the military said on Wednesday, dismissing the Islamists as weakened and increasingly desperate.

Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman told AFP the attack happened on Tuesday morning in Kutuva, in the Damboa local government area of Borno state, which has been hardest hit by seven years of fighting.

"Boko Haram terrorists riding on six motorcycles attacked the village. They killed four residents and abducted four women," he said.

A file picture taken on May 25, 2015 shows Nigerien soldiers patroling near Bosso, Niger Issouf Sanogo (AFP/File)

"Residents of neighbouring Kaya village mobilised and pursued the terrorists. They traced them to Sabon Garin Baale but unfortunately they lost track of the gunmen."

Such hit-and-run attacks were a regular feature of the Islamic State group affiliate's tactics in the remote region but have become increasingly rare since the beginning of 2015.

Thousands of women have also been seized in the conflict, including more than 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok, which is some 70 kilometres (44 miles) away by road.

A military counter-insurgency has recaptured swathes of territory seized and controlled by the militants in 2014, pushing them out into border areas around Lake Chad.

The army has since April been mounting a push against Boko Haram's stronghold in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno, which is near Damboa local government area.

Usman said soldiers and civilian militia had been deployed to the area of the kidnapping but it was unclear whether the gunmen were heading for the Sambisa Forest or elsewhere.

"They are doing their best to track them down and rescue the women," he added.

"Boko Haram have been severely weakened. But they are trying to save face. That's why they're trying to launch attacks on soft targets.

"They're now facing lots of challenges. Our troops are mounting pressure on them, which has cut off most of their supply routes.
Canada wrongly detained, abused Afghan prisoners: military police

Nearly half of the Afghans captured by Canadian troops in 2010 and 2011 had no links to the Taliban and were illegally held far longer than Ottawa has publicly acknowledged, military police said Wednesday.

In an open letter published by La Presse newspaper, the police officers called for accountability for the wrongful detention and mistreatment of Afghan farmers and others who "found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time in the middle of urban warfare."

A military police complaints commission launched an investigation last November into the allegations first raised by an interpreter and Canada's former ambassador to Afghanistan. It continues.

Canadian military police officers have called for accountability for the wrongful detention and mistreatment of Afghan farmers and others Ed Jones (AFP/File)

The police officers said they want the true version of events to be made public and for senior officials to testify in front of the complaints commission.

The police officers who offered corroborating evidence said they witnessed "reprehensible acts" committed against prisoners at the Canadian base at Kandahar province.

Military police were ordered to "terrorize" the detainees to make them more amenable to interrogation, they said.

Detainees, they said, would be awakened in the middle of the night, visibly "frightened and in a panic" to find up to 50 soldiers in their cell.

Almost half would turn out to be villagers or farmers with no ties to the Taliban insurgency, and were released.

But this came only after being held for up to two months, they said, far longer than the average 48-96 hours of detention claimed by the Canadian government of the day.

Canada also had a secret deal with Afghan forces who would claim to have the detainees in their custody, they added.

"Almost 50 percent of the prisoners held by military police were just people like you and me, husbands, fathers, farmers, who had nothing to apologize for. Why and how could this contempt for our laws and Canadian values have occurred," the police officers said in the letter.

The mass roundups, they concluded, were motivated by a desire to kill or incarcerate the largest possible number of Taliban and bring a swift end to the conflict in which 162 Canadians died and more than 2,000 were wounded.

The wrongful imprisonment, however, just aggravated tensions with local villagers, causing bitter resentment against the Canadian troops, they said.

In parliament, Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said: "We take this very seriously. Our government stays committed to upholding our Canadian and international law obligations.

"My officials will be looking into these allegations," said Sajjan, who deployed to Afghanistan in 2006, 2009 and 2010.

The opposition New Democratic Party called for a public inquiry.
Picassos settle sculpture custody battle in New York

An international custody battle for a Picasso sculpture worth more than $100 million has been settled in favor of a New York billionaire, forcing the artist's family to pay agents of the Qatari royal family.

The out-of-court deal required Pablo Picasso's heirs to make an undisclosed payment to London-based agents Pelham Europe, who initially negotiated to buy the sculpture for $47 million on behalf of their Qatari clients.

A family dispute prompted the Picassos to renege on the deal and sell the sculpture to New York art dealer Larry Gagosian for more than $100 million instead. The Gagosian Gallery then sold it to billionaire Leon Black for an undisclosed sum.

People view Picasso's "Buste de Femme (Marie-Therese)," at The Museum of Modern Art in New York in 2015 Kena Betancur (AFP/File)

The sculpture in question, the 1931 "Buste de Femme (Marie-Therese)," was last seen in public at New York's Museum of Modern Art earlier this year.

The tortured legal dispute involved courts in France, Switzerland and the United States, exposing a damaging breakdown in communications and bitter rivalry among the descendants of one of the 20th century's greatest artists.

The parties said in a joint statement on Wednesday that they were "pleased" to have reached "a good faith global settlement" resolving the dispute in all courts for good.

The Gagosian Gallery said the settlement was "a complete vindication" of its position and that Black would now receive his sculpture.

"The Gagosian Gallery purchased and sold this sculpture in good faith and without any knowledge of Picasso and Pelham's prior dealings, as we have said all along," it said in a statement.

Pelham Europe had gone to court seeking damages from Gagosian and Picasso's granddaughter Diana Widmaier-Picasso.

The agents' lawyers confirmed Wednesday that Maya Widmaier-Ruiz Picasso, Picasso's daughter whose mother is depicted in the sculpture, had settled.

"The amount of the payment is confidential, but Pelham and its client are very happy with the settlement," they said in a statement.

They had claimed that Maya agreed to sell the sculpture to Pelham in November 2014 for $47 million to go on public display in a Qatar museum.

But she pulled out of the deal days before the final payment was due.

Pelham alleged that her daughter, Diana, had objected to the deal and negotiated the Gagosian sale in May 2015.

The settlement heads off a trial scheduled for September.

Forbes magazine estimates Black, a private equity magnate, to be worth $4.7 billion.
Boeing confirms talks with Iran on aircraft sale

US aerospace giant Boeing confirmed Wednesday that it was in talks with Iranian airlines seeking to buy its airplanes.

"We have been engaged in discussions with Iranian airlines approved by the USG (US government) about potential purchases of Boeing commercial passenger airplanes and services," the company said in an email to AFP.

"We do not discuss details of ongoing conversations we are having with customers, and our standard practice is to let customers announce any agreements that are reached," it said.

In February, Boeing was granted approval from the US government to explore resuming sales to Iran after US sanctions were partially lifted in January following a deal on Tehran's nuclear program Stephen Brashear (Getty/AFP/File)

The Iranian news agency Fars reported Tuesday that Iran's minister of roads and urban development, Abbas Akhoundi, said that Iran had reached an agreement with Boeing and the details would be announced "within (the) next few days".

People close to the US aircraft manufacturer had said in April that Boeing officials visiting Iran had discussed the sale of new versions of the 737, 777 and 787 jetliner families.

In February, Boeing was granted approval from the US government to explore resuming sales to Iran after US sanctions were partially lifted in January following a deal on Tehran's nuclear program.

Iran has ordered about 200 planes from three Western manufacturers since nuclear-related sanctions were lifted.

European planemaker Airbus, which has had far more freedom since the sanctions were removed to negotiate with Tehran, secured a deal to sell Iran 118 planes.

Western manufacturers were barred for nearly two decades from selling aircraft or equipment and spare parts to Iranian companies.
China criticises US over Obama meeting with Dalai Lama

China criticised US President Barack Obama on Thursday for hosting the Dalai Lama at the White House, despite efforts to avoid irking Beijing by holding the meeting off-camera and out of the public eye.

Obama carried out what has become a political rite in Washington, spiriting the exiled Tibetan religious leader into the White House through the back door -- and prompting the usual Chinese denunciations.

"No matter in what way the US leader met with the Dalai Lama, the meeting violated the US promises of acknowledging Tibet as a part of China, not supporting Tibet independence and not supporting separatist activities," Lu Kang, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, told reporters in Beijing.

The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in the north Indian town of Dharamsala since a failed 1959 uprising David McNew (AFP/File)

"Such a meeting will hurt China-US mutual trust and cooperation."

Since coming to office, Obama has hosted the Dalai Lama four times. Each time, Obama has tried to limit the fallout by holding the meeting behind closed doors.

Obama was criticised in 2010 for obliging the 80-year-old, clad in his characteristic red robes and flip flops, to leave the White House through a rear entrance and walk past piles of snow and bags of rubbish.

This latest confab took place in the Map Room, not the Oval Office, and the press was not invited -- which meant no images of the two Nobel peace laureates emerged from the meeting.

"The personal nature of their meeting would explain why the president received the Dalai Lama in the White House residence, as opposed to the Oval Office," said White House press secretary Josh Earnest.

Obama calls the monk, who is revered by Tibetans but portrayed by Beijing as a dangerous separatist, "a good friend".

He made a highly-publicised public appearance with the Dalai Lama last year at a prayer breakfast in Washington, calling him "a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion".

- 'Strong stand' -

The spiritual leader -- who has lived in exile in the north Indian town of Dharamsala since a failed 1959 uprising -- has for decades called for more Tibetan autonomy rather than independence.

Beijing maintains he is a "wolf in monk's clothing" and vigorously lobbies -- often successfully -- against foreign leaders meeting him.

In a statement after the meeting, the White House said Obama had "encouraged meaningful and direct dialogue between the Dalai Lama and his representatives with Chinese authorities to lower tensions and resolve differences".

Obama also "emphasised his strong support for the preservation of Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions, and the equal protection of human rights of Tibetans in China", according to the White House statement.

But some exiled Tibetans questioned the value of such meetings, urging bolder action from Washington.

"This will be the fourth time President Obama and His Holiness the Dalai Lama are meeting, yet there has been no significant change on the issue of Tibet," said Tenzing Jigme, head of the Dharamsala-based Tibetan Youth Congress, which lobbies for independence rather than greater autonomy.

"The situation inside Tibet is dire and requires immediate intervention and so I urge President Obama to take a strong stand and pressure the Chinese government to resolve the issue of Tibet."

Many Tibetans consider any criticism of the Dalai Lama to be heresy, but some younger exiles argue that his long campaign of diplomacy has achieved little and call for more assertive policies.

China has ruled Tibet since the 1950s and many Tibetans say Beijing represses their Buddhist religion and culture -- charges China denies.

More than 130 ethnic Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 in protest at Beijing's rule, campaign groups and overseas media have said. Most of them have died.

The Dalai Lama has described the protests as acts of desperation that he is powerless to stop.

Dalai Lama's high-profile meetings Gal Roma (AFP)

Buddhist Monks wait in the hallway while the Dalai Lama attends a meeting at the US Capitol on June 14, 2016 Mark Wilson (Getty/AFP/File)

US President Barack Obama has hosted the Dalai Lama four times since coming to office Saul Loeb (AFP/File)

US President George W. Bush welcomes the Dalai Lama to the White House on May 23, 2001 and US President Bill Clinton meets the Tibetan spiritual leader at the White House on April 23, 1997
UN inquiry unable to fault peacekeepers for shooting deaths in C. Africa

A UN board of inquiry was unable to determine whether UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic were responsible for the deaths of a teenager and his father last year, the UN spokesman said Wednesday.

The two civilians were shot dead in Bangui on August 3, a day after UN peacekeepers carried out an arrest operation in which a Cameroonian blue helmet was killed and several others injured.

The suspect escaped arrest and the peacekeepers had returned to the area to pull down barricades put up by his supporters when the shooting broke out.

This photo taken on May 29, 2013, shows a United Nations peacekeeper Junior D. Kannah (AFP/File)

"The board was unable to establish the origin of the shots which killed the two CAR civilians," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The panel concluded "there were flaws in the planning and execution of the arrest operation" and made a series of recommendations on handling arrest warrants, he added.

Amnesty International quoted witnesses who said the father was shot in the back as he stepped out of his house to warn his daughter, while his son was shot in the chest when he came to his father's assistance.

The board of inquiry found that the peacekeepers came under attack when they tried to dismantle the barricades.

The house of the two victims was located "close by to where the violent demonstration was taking place," said a UN official.

Amnesty said a 12-year-old girl was raped during the peacekeeper operation, but an investigation by the UN office of internal oversight found that the allegations were unsubstantiated.

The UN mission in the Central African Republic, known as MINUSCA, has been hit by a wave of allegations of rape and sexual exploitation by its peacekeepers.

MINUSCA and the UN peacekeeping department "deplore the loss of life in this tragic incident," said Dujarric.

The Central African Republic is struggling to recover from the bloodshed that engulfed the country following a March 2013 coup that ousted long-serving president Francois Bozize.
LRA rebels step up attacks, abduct children in C.Africa: UN

The rebel Lord's Resistance Army is stepping up attacks, expanding into new areas and abducting more children in the Central African Republic, a UN envoy said Wednesday.

The LRA "appears now to be deviating from what had been for a certain period of time a low-profile posture," Abdoulaye Bathily told the UN Security Council.

Bathily said there had been "attacks against larger and less isolated population areas" and an increase in the number of children "kidnapped and kept."

Soldiers of the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) patrol in the northerneastern part of the Central African Republic to secure the area from rebel groups' possible attacks, on June 25, 2014 Michele Sibil Oni (AFP/File)

Attacks in the Central African Republic have increased in the first three months of the year, with 42 incidents, six deaths and 252 abductions, according to a report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

For all of 2015 there were 52 incidents, five deaths and 113 abductions blamed on the LRA.

Bathily expressed concern about the pullout of Ugandan troops fighting the LRA from the Central African Republic, saying it will create a "vacuum" that will fuel arms trafficking, illegal mining and forced recruitments.

The LRA first emerged in northern Uganda in the mid-1980s when it took up arms in the name of the Acholi ethnic group against the government of President Yoweri Museveni.

Over the years, it has moved freely across borders, shifting from Uganda to southern Sudan before heading into northeastern DR Congo in 2005, finally crossing into the southeastern Central African Republic in 2008.

LRA commander Dominic Ongwen will face trial in December at the International Criminal Court on charges of keeping sex slaves, recruiting child soldiers and other crimes.
Black box recovered from EgyptAir crash site

A search team on Thursday recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the EgyptAir plane that crashed into the Mediterranean last month, in a major step towards establishing the cause of the tragedy.

The device was found broken into pieces but the salvage experts managed to retrieve the recorder's crucial memory unit, Egypt's civil aviation authority said.

Officials are preparing to transfer the recorder from a search vessel to the city of Alexandria on Egypt's Mediterranean coast for analysis, a statement said.

An EgyptAir Airbus A320 went down in the Mediterranean with 66 people on board nearly a month ago Khaled Desouki (AFP/File)

The cockpit voice recorder keeps track of up to two hours of conversations and other sounds in the pilots' cabin.

Upon arriving in Egypt, the prosecutors would receive the device and hand it over to the investigators to access and analyse the recordings, the authority said in the statement.

The breakthrough came hours after a deep-sea robot located pieces of the main body of the Airbus A320 at the bottom of the Mediterranean.

An investigator from France's BEA air safety agency is to travel to Cairo on Friday to offer "technical expertise on taking readings from the recorder," the agency said.

Airbus said the flight recorders held the key to unlocking the mystery of why the plane went down with 66 people on board en route from Paris to Cairo nearly a month ago.

"The first photos of the wreckage do not allow to establish any scenario of the accident," an Airbus statement said.

"Only the black boxes could contribute to a full understanding of the chain of events which led to this tragic accident."

Investigators have said it is too soon to determine what caused the plane operating flight MS804 to crash on May 19, although a terror attack has not been ruled out.

The search vessel John Lethbridge, equipped with an underwater robot, arrived in Egypt last week to begin searching an area about 290 kilometres (180 miles) north of the Egyptian coast.

The robot discovered pieces of the fuselage at "several sites", the Egyptian board of inquiry said.

A source close to the investigation told AFP the robot, operated by Mauritius-based Deep Ocean Search, had found "small fragments" of the plane.

Some wreckage had already been pulled out of the Mediterranean by search teams last month, along with belongings of passengers.

- Limited battery life -

Search teams are still looking for the flight data recorder, which gathers information about the speed, altitude and direction of the plane.

The area where the plane crashed is believed to be about 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) deep and the black boxes should have had enough battery power to emit signals for four to five weeks.

France's aviation safety agency has said the EgyptAir plane transmitted automated messages indicating smoke in the cabin and a fault in the flight control unit minutes before disappearing from radar screens.

On Monday, Egyptian investigators confirmed the aircraft had made a 90-degree left turn followed by a 360-degree turn to the right before hitting the sea.

Investigators were able to narrow down the search site thanks to an emergency signal sent via satellite by the plane's locator transmitter when it hit the Mediterranean.

The passengers on the plane were 30 Egyptians, 15 French citizens, two Iraqis, two Canadians, and citizens from Algeria, Belgium, Britain, Chad, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. They included a boy and two babies.

Seven crew and three security personnel were also on board.

The crash came after the bombing of a Russian airliner over Egypt's restive Sinai Peninsula last October that killed all 224 people on board.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for that attack within hours, but there has been no such claim linked to the EgyptAir crash.

IS has been waging a deadly insurgency against Egyptian security forces and has claimed attacks in both France and Egypt.

In October, foreign governments issued travel warnings for Egypt and demanded a review of security at its airports after IS said it downed the Russian airliner over the Sinai with a bomb concealed in a soda can that had been smuggled onboard.

Pieces of EgyptAir plane found

Search teams look for debris in the sea after the EgyptAir Airbus A320 crash, according to the Facebook page of a military spokesman

Some wreckage has already been pulled out of the Mediterranean by search teams last month, along with passengers' belongings
US charges two Japanese auto-parts firms with price-fixing

The United States charged two Japanese auto-parts companies and five executives with price-fixing Wednesday in a long-running investigation into illegal competitive practices in the parts industry.

A federal grand jury in Ohio indicted Tokai Kogyo and Maruyasu Industries and their US subsidiaries on charges of participating in international conspiracies to rig bids and fix prices in the sale of auto body sealing products and steel tubing, the Justice Department said in a statement.

A total of five executives were also charged in the scheme.

The United States charged Tokai Kogyo and one executive with conspiring to rig bids and fix prices on automotive body sealing products for sale to Honda Omar Torres (AFP/File)

"We will not be deterred from holding those involved -- both corporations and individuals -- accountable for their actions, and we welcome the opportunity to prove our cases to a jury," said Brent Snyder, deputy assistant attorney in the Justice Department's antitrust division.

The department charged Tokai Kogyo and one executive with conspiring to rig bids and fix prices on automotive body sealing products for sale to Honda for cars made and sold in the United States.

In a separate indictment, Haruyasu and four executives were charged with price fixing and bid rigging for automotive steel tubes sold in the US and elsewhere.

The charges are the latest in the US government's sprawling crackdown on illegal competitive activity in the automotive parts industry, which has mainly hit Japanese parts companies.
In Orlando killer's hometown, Muslims endure slurs, insults

Since the Orlando massacre, the small Muslim community of Fort Pierce, Florida -- the killer's hometown -- has found itself the target of hate-filled insults and abuse.

"Scumbags!" -- the phrase is hurled from a pickup truck rolling by the Fort Pierce Islamic Center, housed in what was once a church.

As the faithful arrive at the center, passing cars honk and their occupants fling out profanity-laced slurs against Islam and the prophet Mohammed -- including not-so-veiled death threats.

A woman arrives for prayers at the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce where Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen had attended mosque, on June 14, 2016 in Fort Pierce, Florida Brendan Smialowski (AFP/File)

Fort Pierce's only other mosque, located along a highway, is in a totally anonymous building behind an auto dealership.

But anyone who didn't know of the Islamic Center's existence before Sunday's bloodbath at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, can't miss it now.

Journalists and TV crews are camped outside for several hours a day, drawing attention to the center where the killer, Omar Mateen, attended mosque as recently as last Friday.

"We're scared," said Bedar Bakht, a taciturn Pakistani in his 50s who prepares the evening Iftar dinner at which the faithful break their daylong fast during this Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Many stay until nearly midnight for what is normally a time of celebration, but now they leave the building in groups when it is time to go home -- as a precaution, Bakht said.

"A couple of weeks down the line, things will be back to normal. But right now it's new. People are calling, leaving stupid messages," he said.

- 'Ashamed' -

This is the second time this house of worship has received unwelcomed publicity.

Moner Muhammad Abusalha, the first American suicide bomber in Syria's civil war, used to frequent the center before leaving for Syria where he was killed in May 2014.

Mateen, who apparently knew Abusalha, claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group after opening fire in Pulse, a popular Orlando gay club, early Sunday.

The bodies of 49 people were recovered after police stormed the club and shot and killed Mateen.

"We're cool people. We never had any problems. But because of what that guy did, we're ashamed," said a man in his 50s as he left the building.

"It used to be a night where everybody would celebrate. Now look, there's nobody. Only three people," said the man.

In the end, several dozen people turned out for the Iftar dinner, well shy of the hundred or so people who normally attend.

"I think I cooked too much," said Bakht.

Yussef Thorne, one of only a few black Muslims in the Fort Pierce community, alluded to Mateen as he arrived: "I'm a Muslim and I'm one of no fear. I come to pray. (...) And I pray for him, too."

- 'Destroyed almost the whole family' -

Not even Mateen's father, Seddique Mateen, is so forgiving.

"If he hadn't done this horrible act probably I would, but right now I don't forgive him," Mateen, dressed in a coat and tie, told reporters.

"I don't know what, why he did it, but it's unforgiven to hurt their own family, we live in the United States as a family," he said.

Mateen said his thoughts are with the victims, and also with his three-year-old grandson.

"He destroyed almost the whole family," he said.

Omar Mateen's wife, Noor Zahi Salman, went to the family's apartment late Monday to retrieve some belongings.

In this low-rent apartment complex, brightened by the glittering sun and palm trees, few knew Mateen, except by sight.

"He didn't talk to anybody, to my knowledge. He was just passing," said Herbert Johnson, a resident of the Woodlawn Condominium.

Mateen's psychological state remains a mystery, as was the nature of his connection to homosexuality.

Several witnesses have described him as a young man who used gay dating aps, who had made advances to another man and was a regular at Pulse.

But he was totally unknown at Tattle Tails, one of the few gay bars in the St Lucie and Fort Pierce area, adjoining cities on the Florida's Atlantic coast.

Patrick, a bartender at Tattle Tails who did not want to give his full name, said he had never seen Mateen in his 10 years as a patron and employee of the bar.

The bar's owner and other servers didn't remember having crossed paths with Mateen either, he said.

In fact, Patrick said he could not remember a customer who had said they were Muslim.

The Orlando massacre exposed, tragically for families who were learning for the first time the sexual orientation of their deceased loved ones, that gays are not always accepted in the Hispanic community.

But among Muslims, the taboo is often even more pronounced.

While he expressed solidarity with the victims, Seddique Mateen publicly condemned homosexuality.

At the Islamic Center, Bakht considered the question. "Gay Muslims? I haven't met any. Maybe they're hiding."

People arrive for prayers at the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce on June 14, 2016 Brendan Smialowski (AFP)

Omar Mateen claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group after opening fire in Pulse, a popular Orlando gay club, early on June 12, 2016

Photos and flowers at a memorial to honor the Pulse nightclub mass shooting victims, pm June 14, 2016 in Orlando, Florida Brendan Smialowski (AFP/File)
Anne Hathaway to help UN shine spotlight on working mothers

Oscar winner Anne Hathaway has been named a goodwill ambassador for UN Women to help shine a spotlight on the unequal burden shouldered by working mothers, the UN said Wednesday.

"The 'motherhood penalty' -- which means that when they become mothers, women's pay and opportunities at work suffer -- is a particularly insidious demonstration of gender inequality in the workplace," said the director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

"For too long it has been difficult or impossible to view raising a child as being truly an equal responsibility for both parents."

Actress Anne Hathaway attends the premiere of Disney's "Alice Through The Looking Glass," May 23, 2106 at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California Robyn Beck (AFP/File)

Hathaway, who won an Academy Award for her role as Fantine in "Les Miserables," recently gave birth to a boy, Jonathan.

UN Women enlisted Hathaway to help promote parental leave equally for men and women and develop child care services in the 193 countries at the United Nations.

"To make the case for how this will increase opportunities for women we needed an advocate who had the intellect and passion to tackle this complex issue," said Mlambo-Ngcuka.

"Within moments of meeting Anne, I realized that we had found our woman. We are truly honored to have her onboard."

The 33-year-old actress served as an advocate for the Nike Foundation, traveling to Kenya and Ethiopia to raise awareness about child marriage.

In 2013, she narrated "Girl Rising," a documentary on the power of education for girls worldwide.

Hathaway said she felt "honored and inspired" to help advance gender equality.
Russia announces new ceasefire for Syria's Aleppo

Russia announced a last minute 48-hour ceasefire for Syria's war-torn Aleppo, just hours after Washington warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his ally Moscow that they must respect the nationwide truce agreed in February.

The vital northern province of Aleppo has been ravaged on multiple fronts in a devastating war that has killed more than 280,000 people.

Dozens of fighters were killed in a fresh bout of fighting between the regime, rebels, and jihadists south of Aleppo city on Wednesday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The vital northern province of Aleppo has been ravaged on multiple fronts in a devastating war that has killed more than 280,000 people Karam al-Masri (AFP/File)

Backed by Russian and government air strikes, pro-regime fighters are locked in battle with rebel groups and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front for a string of villages lying in hilly terrain between strategic routes.

"On Russia's initiative, a 'regime of silence' has been introduced in Aleppo for 48 hours from 00:01 16 June (2101 GMT Wednesday) with the goal of lowering the level of armed violence and stabilising the situation," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.

The statement did not specify who Russia has discussed the two-day ceasefire with.

It accused Al-Nusra of attacking various Aleppo neighbourhoods with multiple rocket launchers, as well as mounting a tank attack southwest of the city.

The five-year conflict has drawn in world powers who back opposing sides -- including the United States which broadly supports the opposition and Russia on the side of Assad.

"Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable," said US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday.

"We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition," he said after a meeting in Norway with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

UN-hosted peace talks aimed at ending the conflict have been stalled since April, and a fragile ceasefire deal between the government and non-jihadist rebels has all but collapsed.

"It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place," said Kerry.

Efforts were underway, he said, to reach a new agreement "in the next week or two" to reinstate the ceasefire across Syria, leading to more humanitarian aid deliveries and a resumption of the peace process.

- Fresh Aleppo clashes -

Since fighting erupted in Aleppo province on Tuesday, at least 70 fighters in total have been killed and the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa have changed hands twice.

The strategic border province is criss-crossed with supply routes for various sides of the conflict, including rebels, regime, Kurds, and jihadists such as the Islamic State group.

Aleppo was once Syria's commercial powerhouse, but it has been a battleground since 2012 when rebels seized the east of the city confining the army to the west.

A hospital in eastern Aleppo supported by Medecins du Monde was heavily damaged in an air strike on Tuesday, the France-based charity said, without reporting casualties.

Three other hospitals in Syria were hit in bombing at the start of June, leaving 10 dead.

As opposing forces close in from either side, residents of both halves of the city fear a potential total siege on the northern metropolis.

The UN says nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas, most surrounded by government forces.

Earlier this month, it said the government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas, after one was taken off the UN's list.

Dozens of opposition activist groups accused the UN of "capitulating" to Damascus on aid access.

The scathing report, authored by The Syria Campaign (TSC) advocacy group, was based on testimonies from current and former UN staff and other aid workers.

It accused the UN of "choosing to prioritise cooperation with the Syrian government at all costs," allowing the regime to unduly influence UN aid strategy.

The UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, said however that while aid access was not ideal, the UN continues to "assist Syrians based on need".

TSC spokeswoman Bissan Fakih countered: "A UN with the backbone to stand for its principles would help get aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians under siege, many of them only a few minutes' drive from where the UN is based in Damascus."

Syrians line-up to receive meals distributed by the "Syria charity" NGO to impoverished families during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in a rebel-held neighbourhood of the northern city Aleppo Thaer Mohammed (AFP/File)

A man holds his son at a hospital where newborns were evacuated by staff into the basement following a reported government bombardment which hit within a few hundred metres in rebel-held eastern Aleppo Karam al-Masri (AFP/File)
Judge in Stanford sex assault case removed from new trial

A US judge facing seething criticism for handing a light sentence to a former Stanford University student convicted of sexual assault has been removed from a similar case on grounds he may be biased.

Prosecutors in Santa Clara County, in northern California, on Tuesday filed a challenge against Aaron Persky in a case involving a male nurse accused of sexually assaulting a sedated woman.

Persky has been at the center of a firestorm over a six-month jail sentence he handed down earlier this month against Brock Turner, who had been convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on the campus of the prestigious university.

Judge Aaron Persky has been at the center of a firestorm over a six-month jail sentence he handed down earlier this month against a former Stanford University student convicted of sexual assault Gil Cohen Magen (Pool/AFP/File)

The request to have him removed from the new case came after he suddenly dismissed a misdemeanor theft case before deliberations started, arguing prosecutors had not made their case.

"We are disappointed and puzzled at judge Persky's unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate," Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement to AFP, confirming Persky's removal from the new sex assault case.

"After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient.

"This is a rare and carefully considered step for our office. In the future, we will evaluate each case on its own merits and decide if we should use our legal right to ask for another judge in order to protect public safety and pursue justice."

The judge could not immediately be reached for comment.

Rosen had disagreed with Persky's ruling in the Turner case, stating at the time that the lenient sentence did not "factor in the true seriousness of this sexual assault, or the victim's ongoing trauma."

"Campus rape is no different than off-campus rape," he said. "Rape is rape."
US Senate to vote on gun control as Trump softens stance

Democrats claimed victory Thursday after persuading the US Senate to hold a vote next week on legislation that would bar terror suspects from buying firearms.

The debate -- with the potential to turn vicious in a contentious presidential election year -- comes with Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump signaling he could back moves to prevent people on terror watch lists or no-fly lists from buying guns.

The possible breakthrough in the Republican-controlled Senate could end a years-long logjam on how to reduce US gun violence, following last weekend's massacre of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida -- the deadliest mass shooting in US history.

Mourners hold up signs during a vigil in Washington, DC on June 12, 2016, in reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida Andrew Caballero-Reynolds (AFP/File)

Senate Democrats brought their pressure to bear by mounting a 15-hour marathon focused on reducing gun violence.

With support from a small number of Republicans, Democrats have questioned how a man investigated for suspected extremist ties and who previously figured on an FBI watch list was able to commit mass murder with a legally purchased assault rifle.

They got a strong boost from President Barack Obama who met Thursday with relatives of the Orlando victims, and urged lawmakers to "rise to the moment and do the right thing."

It will be a tall order: Republicans largely oppose legislation that would limit gun rights in any way.

"We don't take away citizens' rights without due process," House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters Thursday.

"And so if you have a quick idea in the heat of the moment that says let's take away a person's rights without their due process, we're going to stand up and defend the Constitution."

The Democratic filibuster, which started Wednesday and ended early Thursday, was led by Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

"I'm going to remain on this floor until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together."

Murphy and other went well past midnight discussing ways to reduce gun violence -- a tactic that eventually prompted leaders to schedule a vote on gun measures.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office said votes on Democratic and Republican amendments will begin Monday, including on Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein's "no-fly, no buy" amendment, under which people on US terror watch lists or no-fly lists would be barred from acquiring firearms.

Similar legislation failed last December, with all but one Senate Republican voting no.

Also getting a vote are measures that would extend background checks to sales at gun shows and on the Internet.

Despite the broad support such measures enjoy from most Americans, they remain controversial in Congress, and passage is seen as being unlikely in the toxic 2016 election climate.

- Trump and NRA -

Meanwhile Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, made waves Wednesday when he tweeted that he would meet with the National Rifle Association "about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns."

The shift may put Trump on a collision course with the powerful NRA, which has said that restrictions "like bans on gun purchases by people on 'watch lists' are ineffective, unconstitutional or both."

But on Wednesday it said it would meet with Trump, and suggested in a statement it would be open to changes in the law to prevent certain gun purchases.

Trump's Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton said she supports the limits pushed by Murphy.

"Surely we can agree, if the FBI is watching you for suspected terrorist links, you should not be able to buy a gun with no questions asked," Clinton said.

The renewed push comes after a US government report showed that known terror suspects have passed background checks for gun sales 91 percent of the time since 2004.

"I do think our filibuster made a difference," Murphy told CBS television.

"Let's be honest. The Senate was not going to debate these measures, had no plans to talk about ending gun violence this week on the floor of the Senate," Murphy said.

Among the Republicans who appear to be giving the measure support is Congressman Bob Dold, who is facing a tough re-election fight in Illinois.

"Thoughts and prayers are not enough," Dold said this week on te House floor. "It's time for action."

Senator Chris Murphy speaks during a press conference held by Democratic senators calling for action on gun violence, on June 16, 2016 at the US Capitol in Washington, DC Win McNamee (Getty/AFP)

After the massacre by Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people in Orlando, Florida at a gay nightclub, the issue of gun control has returned to the top of the US political agenda Erike Santelices (afp/AFP/File)

People visit a memorial for the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts, June 14, 2016 in Orlando, Florida Drew Angerer (Getty/AFP/File)

The NRA have endorsed Donald Trump as the Republican's presidential candidate Scott Olson (Getty/AFP/File)
34 migrants, including 20 children, found dead in Niger desert

The bodies of 34 migrants, including 20 children, who were abandoned by people smugglers while trying to reach neighbouring Algeria were found in the Niger desert last week, authorities said.

"Thirty-four people, including five men, nine women and 20 children died trying to cross the desert," Niger's interior ministry said in a statement.

"They probably died of thirst, as is often the case, and they were found near Assamaka," a security source told AFP, referring to a border post between Niger and Algeria.

Migrants on pick-up trucks leave the outskirts of Agadez, Niger, heading across the Niger desert towards Libya and, ultimately, Europe Issouf Sanogo (AFP/File)

"(The migrants) were abandoned by people smugglers," the statement added, and only two of the bodies have so far been identified -- a man and a 26-year-old woman both from Niger.

Temperatures in the region can reach a brutal 42 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit), with blinding sandstorms tearing across the desert.

The hostile conditions mean that only a fraction of those who die trying to cross the area are ever found.

Thousands of illegal migrants have arrived in Algeria in recent years, mostly from neighbouring Mali and Niger.

Libya used to play host to the majority of migrants in sub-Saharan Africa, but since that country descended into chaos following the ousting of Moamer Kadhafi, Algeria has become the main destination for the region's migrants.

Many transit through Algeria headed for Europe, but more than 7,000 migrants from Niger, mostly women and children, were returned to their home country in 2015 as part of an agreement between the two countries' governments.

Europe has recently turned its attention to trying to curb the number of illegal arrivals from Africa, after a deal with Ankara in March slashed the number of people trying to cross from Turkey.

More than 2,814 people have drowned trying to reach Europe since January, according to the UN refugee agency, prompting urgent efforts to tackle the problem.

A new proposal mooted last week involves using EU funds to promote private investment of up to 60 billion euros ($68 billion) in countries where many migrants come from -- Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Mali and Senegal, as well as Jordan and Lebanon.

The European Commission also wants to speed up readmission deals with African countries, and with Pakistan and Afghanistan, to make it easier to send back people who do not win refugee status.

The Commission is also set to unveil a plan for a "blue card" system for skilled migrants to come to Europe legally.

The aim is to reduce the incentive for people to try to smuggle themselves into the continent on flimsy boats and put their lives at risk.
El Salvador confirms Zika-linked microcephaly case

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  Health officials in El Salvador have confirmed the first case of a severe birth defect associated with the Zika virus.

Public Health Minister Violeta Menjivar said Tuesday that the baby boy with microcephaly was born recently to a 20-year-old mother.

El Salvador confirmed the presence of the Zika virus in December 2015. The government had identified 278 pregnant women suspected of having the virus. Of those, 118 have already given birth to babies without microcephaly.
Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton criticize election rhetoric

ATLANTA (AP)  Put two former presidents in a room, and the conversation is bound to turn to politics. Even if one of those men is married to a current candidate for the office.

Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter appeared onstage together Tuesday in Atlanta, the 42nd president quizzing the 39th on global politics and making only vague reference to the ongoing presidential campaign. The event closed out the Clinton Global Initiative's annual America meeting.

Neither specifically mentioned presumptive nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Clinton took pains not to, advising Carter "don't say anything about America" after asking him to discuss "harsh rhetoric" in politics.

Former President Bill Clinton, left, listens to former President Jimmy Carter during a discussion at a Clinton Global Initiative meeting Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

"The truth is they're being mirrored everywhere in the world," Clinton said, referring to backlash from the European refugee crisis and Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's recent comments that appeared to justify the killing of journalists if they are corrupt or overly critical.

Carter though, blasted a proposal by a major candidate as "the violation of human rights." He didn't get more specific.

"I think there's going to be a reassessment in America by individual citizens and collectively after this election experience that we are involved in now," Carter said. "I think a lot of people feel not only alienated, but kind of disgusted, with some of the campaign rhetoric and the violation of human rights as a public proposal by major candidates. And that's something that I think is going to be corrected in the United States."

Carter blamed the "radical nature" of political campaigns in the U.S. and abroad on many peoples' belief that government is treating them unfairly and doubts that their children will have a better life than they do.

Carter is among Georgia's 15 superdelegates, elected officials and party leaders free to support the nominee of their choice, at the July Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Carter hasn't committed to Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders but has said he will support the party's nominee.

Carter took a similar approach during the 2008 Democratic primary between Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama. Although he hinted late in that race that he supported Obama, Carter didn't publicly support until Obama clinched the required number of Democratic convention delegates. Hillary Clinton reached that milestone June 6 according to an Associated Press count of delegates, and she declared victory the next day.

Carter made only a vague reference to Hillary Clinton on Tuesday. After discussing a program pairing volunteer business leaders with people on probation during his time as Georgia governor, Carter suggested it could work again and at a larger scale.

"I think that the government, the governors or the president himself  or herself  can very well expand that," Carter said, prompting laughter from the crowd.

Bill Clinton chuckled, before complimenting the volunteer idea and steering Carter in another direction. Clinton spent much of the 50-minute event asking Carter questions, occasionally adding to or complimenting the 91-year-old's responses.

"You got me answering all the questions, but I don't mind," Carter said at one point, prompting more laughter as Clinton defended himself.

"I'm boring," he said.

Former President Bill Clinton, left, speaks to former President Jimmy Carter during a discussion at a Clinton Global Initiative meeting Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Former President Bill Clinton, left, listens to former President Jimmy Carter during a discussion at a Clinton Global Initiative meeting Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Former President Bill Clinton, left, speaks to former President Jimmy Carter during a discussion at a Clinton Global Initiative meeting Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Former President Bill Clinton listens as former President Jimmy Carter speaks during a discussion at a Clinton Global Initiative meeting Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Latest: Murder charge dropped against 1 brother

SEATTLE (AP)  The Latest on the investigation into the killing of a rural Washington state couple (all times local):

5:35 p.m.

Authorities have dropped murder charges filed against one of two brothers in the killings of a rural Washington state couple.

FILE - These undated booking photos provided by the Snohomish County Sheriff'S Office shows Tony Reed, left and his brother John Reed. Sheriff's detectives in Washington state say they've arrested the elderly parents of the Reed brothers, accused of fleeing to Mexico after killing a couple and burying their remains in a remote forest clearing. The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office says the parents admitted they gave their sons money and a vehicle they used to flee the state. (Snohomish County Sheriff Office via AP, File )

Tony Clyde Reed and John Blaine Reed were each charged with first-degree murder in the April disappearance of 45-year-old Patrick Shunn and his wife, 46-year-old Monique Patenaude, of Oso.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Shari Ireton said Tuesday that upon further investigation, detectives have determined that Tony Reed is "likely responsible only for rendering criminal assistance in the first degree." Investigators previously said they saw both victims' vehicles being driven up a logging road near where the bodies were eventually discovered.

The Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday dropped the murder charges against Tony Reed, who surrendered at the U.S.-Mexico border. He is now charged only with rendering criminal assistance.

____

1:07 p.m.

Sheriff's detectives in Washington state say they've arrested the elderly parents of two brothers accused of fleeing to Mexico after killing a couple and burying their remains in a remote forest clearing.

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday it arrested 81-year-old Clyde Reed and 77-year-old Faye Reed in Ellensburg for investigation of rendering criminal assistance. Investigators said that they admitted providing the vehicle in which their sons, John and Tony Reed, fled the state and giving them money.

Tony Reed turned himself in at the U.S.-Mexico border last month and led authorities to the grave of 45-year-old Patrick Shunn and his wife, 46-year-old Monique Patenaude. The two were former neighbors of John Reed in Oso, a rural community northeast of Seattle that was devastated in a 2014 landslide.
After 3 years, saga of Wyoming town without gas could end

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP)  The tiny and isolated southeast Wyoming town of Chugwater could finally get a gas station more than three years after the only one for miles around burned in a bizarre car wreck.

Those plans could become clear Friday, when town officials open bids to build a new gas station. After the owners of Horton's Corner decided not to rebuild, the town bought the vacant lot with a $400,000 federal grant.

The winning bidder will assume full ownership after five years in operation. Mayor LaDonna Sand counts herself among those looking forward to filling up locally again.

FILE - This April 29, 2013 file photo shows all that remained of the Horton's Corner convenience store, foreground, in Chugwater, Wyo., after a Dec. 30, 2012 fire caused by a sport utility vehicle that crashed into the store. After three years, the saga of this Wyoming town without gas could end. By the end of this year, the tiny and isolated town of Chugwater could finally get a replacement when officials open bids to build a new gas station Friday, June 17, 2016. (AP Photo/Mead Gruver, File)

"We're really tired of storing gas in our garages," Sand said Tuesday.

Horton's Corner not only was the only place nearby to get gas and groceries, it was one of Chugwater's biggest employers. A dozen people worked there.

The saga began the night of Dec. 30, 2012, when a man drove off an Interstate 25 exit ramp and straight into Horton's Corner. Witnesses said he didn't appear to brake and when he got out, his face was covered in black stuff.

Local resident Jim Crawford said the man told him his face was smeared with shoe polish, for keeping him warm. The driver told a sheriff's deputy he crashed into the convenience store "because the hot dogs were cold, the chili was cold, the bathrooms were dirty and the girls needed to be warmed up," according to an affidavit.

But ever since, locals have had to buy gas in Wheatland, 25 miles north, or Cheyenne, 45 miles south. The 70-mile stretch of Interstate 25 without gas often causes even bigger problems for drivers whose phone apps show gas available.

"We probably have anywhere from one a day to three a day that stop for gas," Sand said. "We've had some people who have been on fumes. We've had some people who never even got into town. They've been stuck."

The crash was a significant budget blow to Chugwater, population 215 and named for the "chug" sound bison made when American Indians drove them over a cliff into a local creek.

The town lost at least $15,000 a year in gasoline and cigarette taxes. That's out of a town budget of $739,000 this year, according to Sand.

Only one building bid had been submitted as of Tuesday, but Sand expected more. The town will require the new business to be fully operational by November.

"They have to hustle and get going. We have to get fishing here," Sand said.

___

Follow Mead Gruver at https://twitter.com/meadgruver
Michelle Obama urges men at women's summit to 'be better'

WASHINGTON (AP)  It was a summit on the "United State of Women," but Michelle Obama had advice for the men in the audience: Be better.

"Be better at everything. Be better fathers," she said during a conversation with one-time talk-show host Oprah Winfrey. "Just being good fathers who love your daughters and are providing a solid example of what it means to be a good man in the world. That is the greatest gift that the men in my life gave to me."

She urged the men who were among the estimated 5,000 people who attended the daylong, White House-organized conference to be part of their family's lives, to do the dishes and not "babysit" their children.

First lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey have a discussion on Trailblazing the Path for the Next Generation of Women during the White House Summit on the United State of Women in Washington, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

"Be engaged. Don't just think going to work and coming home makes you a man," Mrs. Obama said.

"Be better. Just be better. I could go on, but I'm not. You get the point, fellas," she said.

For the women in the audience, the first lady tried to reassure them that it's hard to "have it all," especially at the same time. She mentioned compromises that she made for her family during her life and career, even with all the help and resources available to her.

"I don't want young women out there to have the expectation that if they're not having it all that somehow their failing," Mrs. Obama said.
Leaders ask Oregon, Washington governors to ban oil-by-train

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Portland and Multnomah County leaders on Tuesday urged the governors of Oregon and Washington to push Congress for a permanent ban on oil-by-rail in the wake of a fiery train derailment along the Columbia River.

The June 3 derailment in the town of Mosier showed transporting oil by train is dangerous and unnecessary and should be prohibited by the federal government, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales and Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury said at City Hall, alongside other government and health officials.

Nobody was injured in the derailment, but it affected water and sewer systems and forced evacuations.

FILE--In thisJune 3, 2016, file frame from video provided by KGW-TV, smoke billows from a Union Pacific train that derailed near Mosier, Ore., in the scenic Columbia River Gorge. Oregon's Multnomah County Chairwoman Deborah Kafoury and Portland, Ore., Mayor Charlie Hales are calling on Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to oppose oil-by-rail projects like the Tesoro-Savage terminal proposed in Vancouver, Wash., and to work for a permanent ban on oil-by-rail--a request that comes in the wake of the Mosier derailment. (KGW-TV via AP, file) MANDATORY CREDIT

The officials called on Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to work with the Obama administration and Congress on a permanent ban, and to block permits and oppose the several oil-related projects proposed in their states. They cited plans for the Tesoro-Savage oil terminal in Vancouver, Washington.

"At a time of acute concern about toxins in our water and in our air, we do not need to add to that list," Hales said. "No transportation system is ever 100 percent safe. ... That's why it's a fundamentally wrong idea to be moving explosive fossil fuels by rail."

Portland, Cascade Locks and Mosier are among several localities that recently passed resolutions calling for bans and rallying higher-ranking government officials to get behind them.

One million gallons of Bakken crude oil  the type involved in the Mosier derailment that Kafoury characterized as "much more volatile" than conventional oil  roll along the Multnomah County train tracks every week. A half-million Oregonians live nearby, plus thousands more around the tracks in Washington.

Officials said the U.S. and Canada have seen more than a dozen oil train derailments in the past two years. They said the Tesoro-Savage terminal in Vancouver would bring an additional 15 million oil gallons to the area and could lead to many more derailments over the years.

"With so many people in Portland living near the tracks, we can't close our eyes to the risks of these trains and hope that we, again, get lucky  if you can call it that," Kafoury said.

Following the Union Pacific derailment in Mosier, Brown called for a temporary moratorium on oil trains in the Columbia River Gorge until it's confirmed the rails are safe. In a statement Tuesday, Brown expressed concerned about the Tesoro proposal and said she is closely monitoring its developments.

As for pressing a ban, Brown said federal rules that would enhance rail safety are either in litigation or are yet to be completed.

"I will continue to push the U.S. Department of Transportation and other federal authorities to take action that puts fewer Oregonians at risk of a dangerous crash in their backyards," she said.

Inslee spokeswoman Tara Lee said it's unlikely the governors even have authority for a moratorium on railways.

"Last week, Gov. Inslee spoke by phone with CEOs of Union Pacific and Burlington Northern," Lee said. "He made the push for the same three things we've been pushing the federal government on: Trains need to slow down; electronic brakes; quicker phase-out of older cars."

Union Pacific spokesman Justin Jacobs said transporting crude oil to the company's customers is a federal mandate.

"If a customer delivers a crude oil tank car in conformity with U.S. Department of Transportation requirements, Union Pacific is obligated to transport the rail car to its destination," Jacobs said in a statement.

FILE--In this June 3, 2016, file photo provided by Silas Bleakley, tank cars, carrying oil, are derailed near Mosier, Ore. Oregon's Multnomah County Chairwoman Deborah Kafoury and Portland, Ore., Mayor Charlie Hales are calling on Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to oppose oil-by-rail projects like the Tesoro-Savage terminal proposed in Vancouver, Wash., and to work for a permanent ban on oil-by-rail--a request that comes in the wake of the Mosier derailment. (Silas Bleakley via AP, file)
Snowboarders aren't giving up fight against ski resort's ban

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  A group of snowboarders isn't giving up its legal fight against a ban on the sport at a Utah ski resort.

The group called Wasatch Equality has asked the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider a ruling that upheld the rule at Alta Ski Area, according to court records.

Most of the resort's slopes are leased public land, and the snowboarders argue banning snowboarders from federally owned property is discrimination.

FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2013 file photo, young skiers ride the conveyor belt on Little Grizz at Alta Ski Resort in Little Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City. A group of snowboarders isn't giving up its legal fight against a ban on the sport at a Utah ski resort. The group called Wasatch Equality has asked the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider a ruling that upheld the rule at Alta Ski Area, according to court records. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP, File) MANDATORY CREDIT

Alta argues that they're a private company, and made a valid business decision to be a skiers-only mountain. The U.S. Forest Service has backed the resort.

A three-judge panel sided with Alta in April, ruling the federal government didn't encourage or enforce the ban by granting the resort a lease.

Snowboarders are asking all 12 judges on the appeals court to reconsider.

In the petition for re-hearing filed June 3, they argue that their arguments have been painted as simply a "constitutional right to snowboard." The snowboarders say dismissing the case could create a chilling effect for other people challenging discrimination on federal land.

Alta attorney Rick Thaler disagreed. He said it was a narrow ruling that won't have a slippery slope effect and there's no need to hear it again.

No deadline was set for the appeals court to decide.

Alta is one of the last resorts in the country to prohibit the sport, standing out from the other 119 ski areas that operate on public land and allow snowboarding.

Snowboarding bans were once the norm at ski resorts, but they fell away as the new sport revitalized the industry starting in the 1980s.
Body of boy snatched by gator found in Disney lagoon

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP)  The body of a 2-year-old Nebraska boy who was snatched off a Walt Disney World beach by an alligator and dragged underwater was recovered Wednesday, ending a ghastly search at one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.

Divers found the body of Lane Graves about 16 hours after authorities first got the call that a reptile had taken the boy from the water's edge at Seven Seas Lagoon despite his father's frantic attempt to save the child.

Sheriff Jerry Demings said it appeared the gator pulled the child into deeper water and drowned him, leaving the body near the spot where he was last seen. An autopsy was planned.

Orange County Sheriff's officers search the Seven Seas Lagoon between Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom theme park, left, and the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., after a two-year-old toddler was dragged into the lake by an alligator. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

"Of course the family was distraught, but also I believe somewhat relieved that his body was found intact," Demings told a news conference.

The boy's parents were identified as Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska, a suburban area of Omaha. A family friend released a statement on behalf of the couple thanking well-wishers for their "thoughts and hope-filled prayers."

CEO Michael Iaccarino of Infogroup, a marketing company where Matt Graves is chief data officer, said Grave's family "is the light of his life."

In a statement from Disney World Resort President George A. Kalogridis, the company said it was "doing what we can" to help the family.

Disney World closed beaches around Seven Seas Lagoon during the search, and it was not immediately clear when they would reopen.

While "no swimming" signs are posted at the beach where the boy was attacked, no signs warn about alligators. A company representative said it would "thoroughly review the situation for the future."

Demings said his agency and state wildlife officials would look into the issue of warning signs. The sheriff told The Associated Press that investigators would also review whether the boy's parents should be charged, but it's not likely.

"There nothing in this case to indicate that there was anything extraordinary" in terms of neglect by the parents, Demings said.

Wildlife officials said the attack was a rarity in a state with a gator population estimated at 1 million. But it still spooked visitors in a city built on tourism.

"We have been to Yellowstone and encountered grizzly bears, but this is just freaky," said Minnesota tourist John Aho, who was staying at the park with his wife, Kim, and their 12-year-old son, Johnny.

The child had waded no more than 1 or 2 feet into the water around nightfall Tuesday when he was taken from a small beach, authorities said.

The boy's father desperately tried to fight off the gator, suffering lacerations on a hand, but he could not save his son. Neither could a nearby lifeguard, officials said.

No other alligator attacks have been reported on the man-made lake, according to Demings.

Some visitors were surprised to learn the reptiles lived on the property.

"My question is why are there alligators in there?" said Michelle Stone, who lives near Detroit and was visiting Disney for 10 days with her two children.

The sheriff said the company has a wildlife management system and has "worked diligently to ensure their guests are not unduly exposed to wildlife here in this area."

Nick Wiley with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said witnesses estimated the alligator was 4 feet to 7 feet long. Crews removed five gators from the lake during the search, and officials said one could have been the animal that attacked the boy.

The beach where the reptile grabbed the child is part of the luxury Grand Floridian resort, across the lake from Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park. The lake stretches over about 200 acres and reaches a depth of 14 feet. It feeds into a series of canals that wind through the entire Disney property.

Though Florida has grown to the nation's third-most populous state, fatal alligator attacks remain rare. Since 1973, 23 people had been killed by wild alligators in Florida, according to data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The boy makes 24.

The grim news was only the latest for a city buffeted by tragedy in the past few days.

On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, leaving 49 people dead in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. On Friday night, Christina Grimmie, 22, a contestant on season six of "The Voice," was fatally shot as she signed autographs after a show in Orlando.

___

Associated Press writers Jason Dearen and Joshua Replogle in Lake Buena Vista; Freida Frisaro and Jennifer Kay in Miami; and Margery Beck in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report.

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings speaks to reporters during a news conference Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., after a toddler was dragged into the lake by an alligator Tuesday evening outside Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, left, and Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings answer questions from reporters during a news conference Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., after a two-year-old toddler was dragged into the lake by an alligator Tuesday evening outside Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

An Orange County Sheriffs helicopter searches for a young boy early Wednesday, June 15, 2016, after the boy was dragged into the water Tuesday night by an alligator near Disney's upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT

In the shadow of the Magic Kingdom Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers search for the body of a young boy Wednesday, June 15, 2016 after the boy was snatched off the shore and dragged underwater by an alligator Tuesday night at Grand Floridian Resort at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, left, and Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings answer questions from reporters during a news conference Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., after a toddler was dragged into the lake Tuesday eveningby an alligator outside Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, left, and Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings answer questions from reporters during a news conference Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., after a toddler was dragged into the lake Tuesday evening by an alligator outside Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Kerry: US open to further clarifying Iran sanctions relief

OSLO, Norway (AP)  The Obama administration has met its sanctions relief obligations to Iran under last year's landmark nuclear deal but is willing to further clarify what is and isn't allowed in response to renewed Iranian complaints that it's not getting all the benefits it deserves, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday.

Speaking after meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Oslo, Kerry said the administration had lived up to both the letter and the spirit of the agreement and had gone the extra mile to explain to foreign firms what they are now permitted to do.

"We have lifted the sanctions we said we would lift and we have completely kept faith with both the black-and-white print as well as the spirit of this effort," Kerry said. "In fact, I have personally gone beyond the absolute requirements of the lifting of sanctions to personally engage with banks and businesses and others who have a natural reluctance after several years of sanctions to move without fully understanding what they are allowed to do and what they are not allowed to do."

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during a news conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Oslo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)

The meeting, at which Kerry also raised the importance of Iran influencing Syria's government to ensure humanitarian aid deliveries and respect a fragile truce, came just a day after Iran's supreme leader and Zarif renewed accusations that the U.S. is not living up to its commitment to ease sanctions under the agreement that gave Iran the relief in exchange for curbing its nuclear program.

U.S. officials have said repeatedly that the sanctions have been eased and that Iran's complaints are due to foreign firms' wariness to do business with the country for other reasons, including ballistic missile testing, support for Syria's government and anti-Israel groups, and poor banking regulations.

Kerry told reporters he has repeatedly explained to the Iranians that there are limits on what the United States can do to encourage businesses to deal with Iran and said he thought "the supreme leader and Foreign Minister Zarif are pressing to make sure" Iran gets what it is entitled to under the deal "as rapidly as possible."

To that end, he said he believed there were areas where the U.S. could do more to show it is a good faith negotiating partner.

"I think there are places where the United States could give confidence where there is doubt," Kerry said. "And, I feel that it is important for us if we're going to have future dealings (with Iran) or we want to have a reputation for good faith in negotiations we conduct anywhere. It's important for us to show good faith in executing this agreement and I intend to see to it that we do that."

On Syria, Kerry said that the truce endorsed by the U.N. Security Council was "frayed and at risk" mainly due to violations by Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces with Russian air support on cities like Aleppo and that the United States is losing patience. "Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited," he said.

"We have made it very clear that unless we get a better definition of how this cessation is going to work, how it will be enforced, who it applies to, how it is applied, we are not going to sit there while Assad continues to assault Aleppo and while Russia continues to support that effort," he said.

"The United States is not going to sit there and be used as an instrument that permits a so-called cease-fire to be in place while one principal party is trying to take advantage of it to the detriment of the entire process," Kerry said. "We're not going to allow that to continue. So Russia and others have to make a decision whether or not they care about the course of events in Syria and whether or not they are serious about implementing a United Nations Security Council resolution."

Kerry also spoke of the challenge of combating extremist groups and terrorism, while rejecting claims that the world is engaged in a "clash of civilizations" between the West and Islam.

"No, this is not a clash of civilizations, this is a struggle between civilization itself and barbarism, between civilization and fundamental raw political exploitations and mix of medieval and modern fascism, together at the same time," he said.

Kerry rounded out his visit to Oslo by meeting Norwegian officials and will visit an Arctic research station on Wednesday. He then travels to Denmark and Greenland.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, laughs with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg during a news conference, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Oslo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)

Secretary of State John Kerry and Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment Vidar Helgesen hold up an agreement between the two countries to enhance collaboration to fight deforestation and climate change, during the Oslo REDD Exchange conference, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Oslo. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)
North Dakota primary voters turn aside GOP establishment

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  In both the governor's race and a farming referendum, North Dakota primary voters turned aside the Republican establishment.

Former Microsoft executive Doug Burgum pulled off something of a surprise win Tuesday in the GOP primary for the state's top job, defeating longtime Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem  the endorsed candidate of the state's GOP convention who had overwhelming support from the state's Republican-controlled Legislature.

And voters overwhelmingly rejected a new law that would have exempted pork and dairy operations from a Depression-era ban on corporate farming.

Republican governor candidate Doug Burgum talks to supporters at an art gallery in downtown Fargo, N.D., after Burgum won the GOP primary vote on Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Burgum, a Fargo businessman, defeated Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who was endorsed at the state Republican Party convention. (AP Photo/Dave Kolpack)

The battle between Burgum and Stenehjem featured a spirited and expensive debate about which candidate was better suited to revive a state economy that is slumping due to depressed oil and crop prices.

Burgum, a millionaire Fargo businessman, was expected to be a heavy favorite in November over Rolla Rep. Marvin Nelson, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and is seen as a longshot in a state that has not had a Democratic governor since 1992.

Burgum thanked his supporters, volunteers and voters.

"This is an exciting night for the future of North Dakota, and it's a tremendous honor to have you support and your trust," Burgum told cheering supporters at a Fargo art gallery.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Stenehjem said he had no regrets.

"We worked tirelessly and presented that vision we have for North Dakota that is one of optimism, and I continue to believe that," he said. "We can hold our heads high."

Burgum is the latest in a line of wealthy businesspeople who have made the leap to the governor's office. Rick Snyder and Bruce Rauner did it in Michigan and Illinois, respectively, in recent years.

The North Dakota Farmers Union led the campaign to reverse the Legislature's decision last year to exempt pork and dairy operations from the state's anti-corporate farming law. Campaign disclosure filings show the Farmers Union, which has more than 40,000 members, has spent more than $1 million to overturn the law.

Supporters of the so-called ham-and-cheese law say the exemption is needed to save the two dying industries by giving them more access to capital and opportunities to expand.

Opponents said family farming had served North Dakota well and that the law was an invitation for big, out-of-state corporations to set up operations in the state.

Eight other states have laws restricting corporate farming, though all allow exemptions for some livestock operations.

Republican Sen. Terry Wanzek, who farms near Jamestown, and Sen. Joe Miller, R-Park River, also a farmer, were primary supporters of the legislation.

Wanzek said he was not surprised at the result Tuesday.

"It's a lot easier to mislead people than to tell the truth  this wasn't going to open the state up to corporations to buy everything up," he said. "The opponents defended the status quo and offered no solutions to help the swine and dairy industries in our state."

Mark Watne, president of the North Dakota Farmers Union, was elated with the vote.

"The citizens of North Dakota do not support corporate farming, and we should respect that," he said.

Stenehjem, who was elected attorney general in 2000, won the Republican convention delegates' endorsement for governor in April though Burgum vowed to stay in the race, crisscrossing the state in a 42-year-old bus with a leaky roof that logged some 16,000 miles and lost its muffler twice along the campaign trail.

Burgum is known in North Dakota as the godfather of software for building Fargo's Great Plains Software into a billion-dollar business, which he later sold to Microsoft.

Burgum's late brother, Brad, was Stenehjem's roommate at the University of North Dakota law school. Brad Burgum also served as treasurer for Stenehjem's successful bid for state House in 1976.

The latest campaign filings show Stenehjem raised more than $1 million in campaign donations for the primary race, including shifting $145,000 from his past attorney general campaign treasury within the past week. Burgum raised about $1.1 million, or about $60,000 more than Stenehjem's total, filings show, but he also has personally funded his campaign.

Burgum had a much greater presence in television, radio and internet advertising. Stenehjem is a native of Mohall who grew up in Williston and had a wide geographic base, having lived in western, eastern and central North Dakota.

Burgum also promised in television advertisements to refuse a salary and a state pension if he's elected to be North Dakota's governor, even though state law does not allow that move and similar ones in the past have drawn criticism.

But state law specifies the salary of the governor  $133,000 annually at the moment  and does not say they have the option of taking less. Previous opinions by two North Dakota attorneys general have been critical of potential officeholders promising on the campaign trail to take less money.

Stenehjem, who is in the middle of his four-year term as attorney general, will continue to serve with the next governor and the agriculture commissioner on the state Industrial Commission, which regulates North Dakota's oil industry.

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Associated Press writers Blake Nicholson in Bismarck and Dave Kolpack in Fargo contributed to this report.

FILE - In this May 10, 2016, file photo, North Dakota Republican gubernatorial hopeful Doug Burgum speaks during an editorial board meeting in Bismarck. North Dakota Republicans nominated former Microsoft executive Burgum Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in a primary likely to decide the next governor, and voters also overwhelmingly rejected the Legislatures move to loosen the state's Depression-era rules prohibiting corporate farming. (Tom Stromme/The Bismarck Tribune via AP, File) MANDATORY CREDIT

North Dakota Republican governor candidate Doug Burgum fills out his primary election ballot at the Fargo Public Library, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. The longtime Fargo businessman and philanthropist says he feels good about his campaign because he traveled 16,000 miles across the state in a 1974 GMC bus. He's running in the primary against Wayne Stenehjem, the endorsed candidate of the state Republican Party, and Paul Sorum. (AP Photo/Dave Kolpack)

North Dakota Republican governor candidate Doug Burgum waits to take the stage after defeating Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem in the GOP primary on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Fargo, N.D. Burgum is a former Microsoft Corp. executive who decided to run in the primary despite being passed over for Stenehjem for the party's nomination at its state convention. (AP Photo/Dave Kolpack)
Man arrested in California faces Indiana charge

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  An Indiana man facing weapons and ammunitions charges in California after telling officers he was headed to a gay pride event was charged Wednesday in Indiana with child molestation  allegations that apparently spurred his cross-country journey to Los Angeles, a prosecutor said.

James Wesley Howell, 20, faces one count of child molesting in southern Indiana's Clark County. If convicted, the Jeffersonville, Indiana, man could face up to 16 years in prison.

Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull told The Associated Press that Howell took a 12-year-old girl to a state forestry property May 31 and had sex with her. Mull said Howell met the girl through an adult friend.

James Wesley Howell, 20, of Indiana, appears in Superior Court in Los Angeles Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Howell faces felony weapons charges after authorities say they found assault rifles and explosive chemicals in his car in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 12, before a major Los Angeles gay pride parade. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

The girl's mother reported the allegations to police June 2 after learning about them.

A message seeking comment was left Wednesday for Howell family lawyer Bobby Boyd of Louisville, Kentucky. Telephone calls to Pamela Jones, Howell's public defender in the California weapons case, rang unanswered.

Mull said Howell was interviewed on June 7 by a police detective in the molestation case and apparently left Indiana at some point after speaking to the officer.

He said it's a "logical conclusion to draw" that Howell traveled to California to flee the child molestation investigation. But he said he doesn't know what Howell's intentions were in California.

"He did flee and go to California, where he was apprehended on June 12. So there was a very short window of time between the time he became aware he was under investigation here and when he ended up in California," Mull said.

He said he intends to have Howell extradited to Indiana to face the molestation charge.

California authorities charged Howell on Tuesday with three felony weapons and ammunition charges after he was found in Santa Monica with a loaded assault rifle with magazines rigged to allow 60 shots to be fired in quick succession, plus 15 pounds of chemicals mixed and ready to explode.

Howell has pleaded not guilty to those charges. A Los Angeles County judge set Howell's bail at $2 million.

He was arrested in Santa Monica early Sunday, hours after an attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida left 49 people dead.

Howell told police he was headed to a gay pride event in West Hollywood that attracts hundreds of thousands of people. It's unclear whether he intended any violence at the LA Pride event, but his arrest put police and event organizers on heightened alert.

Friends in Indiana described Howell as a gun enthusiast with a short temper. In October, he twice was accused of pulling a gun and making threats, once against a boyfriend and once against a neighbor.

Howell was convicted in April of misdemeanor intimidation for the incident with his neighbor. Under the terms of his probation, he was not allowed to have weapons or leave Indiana.

Court documents in the Indiana molestation case state that the 12-year-old girl had "developed a crush on (Howell) and wanted to go to a car event with him." Howell, the girl's brother and the brother's girlfriend were all members of the same "car club" and periodically attended meetings where people show off their cars, documents say.

The girl's mother gave Howell permission to attend the car event and afterward, Howell offered to take the girl to the home of a family friend she considered her grandmother, court documents say.

According to the affidavit, he first took the girl to the state forestry property before taking her to the family friend's house.

Federal agents searched Howell's Jeffersonville home on Monday but declined to release any details.

James Wesley Howell, 20, of Indiana, appears in Superior Court in Los Angeles Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Howell faces felony weapons charges after authorities say they found assault rifles and explosive chemicals in his car in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 12, before a major Los Angeles gay pride parade. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Judge Keith Schwartz presides at the arraignment of James Wesley Howell, 20, of Indiana, in Superior Court in Los Angeles Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Howell faces felony weapons charges after authorities say they found assault rifles and explosive chemicals in his car in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 12, before a major Los Angeles gay pride parade. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney speaks after the arraignment of James Wesley Howell, 20, of Indiana, in Superior Court in Los Angeles Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Howell faces felony weapons charges after authorities say they found assault rifles and explosive chemicals in his car in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 12, before a major Los Angeles gay pride parade. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

James Wesley Howell, 20, of Indiana, appears in Superior Court in Los Angeles Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Howell faces felony weapons charges after authorities say they found assault rifles and explosive chemicals in his car in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 12, before a major Los Angeles gay pride parade. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Investigators view items removed from a car, left, after a heavily armed man was arrested in Santa Monica, Calif., early Sunday, June 12, 2016. The man reportedly told police he was in the area for West Hollywood's huge gay pride parade. Authorities did not know of any connection between the gay nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., early Sunday and the Santa Monica arrest. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Australia releases prisoner convicted in China of fraud

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Australia has granted early release to an Australian businessman who was convicted in China of financial crimes and transferred home under a prisoner exchange agreement, an official said Wednesday.

Matthew Ng was the first of only two Australian citizens who have been able to come home to Australia under a 5-year-old prisoner swap deal with China.

Ng had applied for early release "based on his exceptional family circumstances," Justice Minister Michael Keenan said.

"I am satisfied exceptional circumstances exist to justify Mr. Ng's early release from prison," Keenan said in a statement, without giving details.

Ng was arrested in Guangzhou in 2010 and sentenced the next year to 11 1/2 years in prison for fraud and bribery convictions related to a corporate takeover of a state-owned enterprise.

He was transferred to an Australian prison in November 2014 to serve out his sentence.

His lawyer Tom Lennox said he has filed applications for early release since early 2015 on various grounds, including a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and the disproportionate nature of the sentence for behavior that would not be criminal in Australia.

Lennox said he thinks the decline in the health of Ng's Sydney-based wife Niki Chow in the last two months prompted the decision.

"His wife has been very unwell and he has a family in need of care," Lennox said. "Matthew's emotional, I'm emotional. We're delighted with the minister's decision."

Ng was released from Sydney's Silverwater Correctional Complex within hours of the minister's announcement.

Soon after his release, Ng warned Australians against doing business in China.

"Don't do it. Don't do it. Because not only will you lose your money, you'll lose your life and your family. And that is what happened to me," he told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

"What they've done to me, they can do to anybody," he added.

A Chinese Embassy spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

Lennox described Ng as a political prisoner who had done nothing that would be considered illegal in Australia.

"It was a state enterprise in China that used the criminal justice system in China to both expropriate all of Matthew's property and put him in jail," Lennox said. "I think that meets the test of political prisoner."

Lennox said the case was brought by a Guangzhou Communist Party official who objected to Ng's travel company, GZL, taking over a state-owned enterprise.
More gunfire at Pakistan-Afghan border, Afghan guard killed

ISLAMABAD (AP)  Renewed clashes overnight at a Pakistani-Afghan border crossing killed an Afghan border guard and wounded five, an Afghan official said Wednesday, as Islamabad dispatched more troops to the volatile boundary amid an escalation between the two neighbors.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have traded blame for the latest violence while calling for a peaceful resolution. However, intermittent shooting continued throughout the day Wednesday, according to two Pakistani officials.

The Afghan guard is the third fatality since Sunday night, when clashes erupted at the Torkham border crossing over the construction of a gate by Pakistan on disputed territory. Over two dozen border guards from both sides have been wounded so far.

Pakistan's army spokesman Lt Gen. Asim Bajwa speaks during a press conference addressing the ongoing military offensive in tribal area's and clashes at a Pakistan-Afghan border crossing, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Renewed clashes overnight at a Pakistan-Afghan border crossing killed an Afghan border guard and wounded five, an Afghan official said Wednesday, as Islamabad dispatched more troops to the volatile boundary amid an escalation between the two neighbors. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Afghan border police official Jamal Khan said the guard was killed late Tuesday. Another Afghan guard was killed the first night of the violence and a Pakistani officer wounded in the border clashes died on Tuesday.

Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, which lies along the border, called on Pakistan to stop shooting toward the Afghan side, adding that fighting "is not the solution."

In Pakistan, the two security officials who confirmed the latest exchanges said there was some damage on the Pakistani side. They did not elaborate and they spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

The Torkham crossing remained closed Wednesday.

Intelligence and defense officials briefed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the situation Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and speakers of the upper and lower houses of parliament, a statement issued by Ghani's office said. The statement called for a "diplomatic solution" while expressing support for the security forces.

Afghanistan does not recognize the present boundary, the so-called Durand Line, as an international border, and has denounced Pakistan's plans to erect a fence at the crossing. Pakistan's army says it is constructing a gate on its own side of the border as a necessary measure to check for unwanted and illegal movement.

Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary summoned the Afghan ambassador to lodge a protest, demanding Kabul take immediate steps to end the "unprovoked firing," a statement said.

Pakistani army spokesman Lt. Gen. Asim Bajwa told reporters that efforts were underway on the political, diplomatic and military level to halt the escalation, saying "it will get resolved."

He said Pakistan has seen incursions by militants from across the Torkham border lately, which prompted authorities to implement more effective border control. He said he didn't know why the Afghan side initiated fire after Pakistan started construction work on its territory but Pakistani troops "effectively responded" after coming under attack.

Last month, the Torkham crossing was closed over a similar incident and reopened following a meeting between Pakistan's army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif and Afghan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal.

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Shah reported from Kabul, Afghanistan.

Pakistan's army spokesman Lt Gen. Asim Bajwa speaks during a press conference addressing the ongoing military offensive in tribal area's and clashes at a Pakistan-Afghan border crossing, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Renewed clashes overnight at a Pakistan-Afghan border crossing killed an Afghan border guard and wounded five, an Afghan official said Wednesday, as Islamabad dispatched more troops to the volatile boundary amid an escalation between the two neighbors. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistani army spokesman Lt Gen. Asim Bajwa briefs the media regarding the Torkham Border Terminal construction on the Pakistan-Afghan border crossing during a press conference addressing the ongoing military offensive in tribal areas and clashes at the border crossing, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. The renewed clashes overnight at the Pakistan-Afghan border crossing killed an Afghan border guard and wounded five, an Afghan official said Wednesday, as Islamabad dispatched more troops to the volatile boundary amid an escalation between the two neighbors. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistani army spokesman Lt Gen. Asim Bajwa briefs the media regarding the Torkham border gate construction on the Pakistan-Afghan border crossing during a press conference addressing the ongoing military offensive in tribal areas and clashes at the border crossing, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. The renewed clashes overnight at the Pakistan-Afghan border crossing killed an Afghan border guard and wounded five, an Afghan official said Wednesday, as Islamabad dispatched more troops to the volatile boundary amid an escalation between the two neighbors. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
Iraq says senior military commander killed while fighting IS

BAGHDAD (AP)  Sniper fire by Islamic State militants killed a senior Iraqi commander near the northern IS-held city of Mosul, the extremist group's main bastion in Iraq, as the U.N. refugee agency warned that thousands of civilians have been newly displaced from that area.

Iraq's Defense Ministry said late Tuesday that Brig. Ahmed Badr al-Luhaibi, the commander of Brigade 71st of Division 15, was killed by a sniper during an operation to retake a village south of Mosul.

The statement lauded al-Luhaibi as a "knight" and said his death would "increase our determination to clear" the entire province of Nineveh, where Mosul is the provincial capital, of IS militants.

Iraqi security forces evacuate an injured soldier during heavy fighting against Islamic State militants in Fallujah, Iraq, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Fallujah has been locked in a cycle of conflict since 2003, when it emerged as a bastion of the insurgency against the Americans. Militant attacks and bombings were followed by sweeping arrest raids, which further stoked local grievances. In 2004, U.S. troops launched two massive assaults on the city, where they fought their bloodiest battles since Vietnam. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

Mosul  Iraq's second-largest city  fell to the Islamic State group during the militants' June 2014 onslaught that captured large swaths of northern and western Iraq and also almost a third of neighboring Syria. The city, about 360 kilometers (225 miles) northwest of Baghdad, became also the largest city in the extremist group's self-declared caliphate on the territories the militants control.

Along with a major offensive to retake Fallujah, a city in western Anbar province, Iraqi troops have this week resumed small-scale operations to dislodge IS militants from areas to the south and southeast of Mosul.

In late March, the government forces launched a military operation aimed at clearing areas between Makmour and the adjacent Qayara areas outside of Mosul, to the east of the Tigris River, and to cut one of the supply lines to the nearby IS-held Shirqat area.

But retaking Mosul itself is not likely to come anytime soon. It will be an enormous undertaking for the Iraqi troops, even though they are backed by airstrikes from the U.S.-led coalition and have been joined by pro-government fighters, mostly Shiite militias.

Iraqi and U.S. officials have refrained from giving a specific time for a Mosul operation, saying it would take many months to prepare Iraq's still struggling military. Some of the U.S. and Iraqi officials have said it may not even be possible to retake it this year, despite repeated vows by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

The UNHCR said on Tuesday the fighting outside Mosul has displaced over 14,000 Iraqis since March. Of that number, more than 8,000 people left from villages east of the Tigris, putting additional pressure on existing camps for refugees and the displaced.

Since April, 6,700 more Iraqis have crossed into Syria's northeastern Hassakeh province using local smuggling networks. Some of those refugees managed to escape Mosul.

Frederic Cussigh, head of UNHCR's field response unit in the northern, semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region, warned that there are no safe routes for those escaping war.

The civilians and "families use secondary routes, mostly at night, crossing dangerous terrain," he said, adding that the U.N. refugee agency has reports that some of the people have been "trapped, severely injured or killed in minefields on their way to safety."

The UNHCR warned that the eventual assault on Mosul could result in a massive displacement of about 600,000 people.

In Fallujah, the United Nations says about 50,000 civilians remain trapped inside the city while about 42,000 people have fled since the military operation began in late May. Aid groups such as Doctors Without Borders and the Norwegian Refugee Council say the number of those who have fled Fallujah is closer to 30,000, lower than the U.N. estimate.

The conflict in Iraq has forced 3.3 million people to flee their homes. Iraq is also hosting up to 300,000 refugees who have fled the civil war in neighboring Syria. Most are living in camps or informal settlements.

Iraqi security forces evacuate an injured soldier during heavy fighting against Islamic State group militants in Fallujah, Iraq, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Fallujah has been locked in a cycle of conflict since 2003, when it emerged as a bastion of the insurgency against the Americans. Militant attacks and bombings were followed by sweeping arrest raids, which further stoked local grievances. In 2004, U.S. troops launched two massive assaults on the city, where they fought their bloodiest battles since Vietnam. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

Iraqi security forces fight against Islamic State group militants in Fallujah, Iraq, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Fallujah has been locked in a cycle of conflict since 2003, when it emerged as a bastion of the insurgency against the Americans. Militant attacks and bombings were followed by sweeping arrest raids, which further stoked local grievances. In 2004, U.S. troops launched two massive assaults on the city, where they fought their bloodiest battles since Vietnam. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

In this Tuesday, June 14, 2016 photo, Iraqi security forces fight against Islamic State group militants in Fallujah, Iraq. Fallujah has been locked in a cycle of conflict since 2003, when it emerged as a bastion of the insurgency against the Americans. Militant attacks and bombings were followed by sweeping arrest raids, which further stoked local grievances. In 2004, U.S. troops launched two massive assaults on the city, where they fought their bloodiest battles since Vietnam. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

Iraqi security forces fire their weapons at Islamic State group militants in Fallujah, Iraq, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Fallujah has been locked in a cycle of conflict since 2003, when it emerged as a bastion of the insurgency against the Americans. Militant attacks and bombings were followed by sweeping arrest raids, which further stoked local grievances. In 2004, U.S. troops launched two massive assaults on the city, where they fought their bloodiest battles since Vietnam. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

In this Tuesday, June 14, 2016 photo, Iraqi security forces patrol as they fight against Islamic State group militants in Fallujah, Iraq. Fallujah has been locked in a cycle of conflict since 2003, when it emerged as a bastion of the insurgency against the Americans. Militant attacks and bombings were followed by sweeping arrest raids, which further stoked local grievances. In 2004, U.S. troops launched two massive assaults on the city, where they fought their bloodiest battles since Vietnam. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

In this Tuesday, June 14, 2016 photo, smoke rises after an airstrike by a U.S.-led coalition warplane as Iraqi security forces advance their position during heavy fighting against Islamic State militants in Fallujah, Iraq. Fallujah has been locked in a cycle of conflict since 2003, when it emerged as a bastion of the insurgency against the Americans. Militant attacks and bombings were followed by sweeping arrest raids, which further stoked local grievances. In 2004, U.S. troops launched two massive assaults on the city, where they fought their bloodiest battles since Vietnam. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

In this Tuesday, June 14, 2016 photo, Iraqi security forces advance their positions during heavy fight against Islamic State group militants in Fallujah. Fallujah has been locked in a cycle of conflict since 2003, when it emerged as a bastion of the insurgency against the Americans. Militant attacks and bombings were followed by sweeping arrest raids, which further stoked local grievances. In 2004, U.S. troops launched two massive assaults on the city, where they fought their bloodiest battles since Vietnam. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

Iraqi security forces prepare to evacuate an injured soldier during heavy fighting against Islamic State egroup militants in Fallujah, Iraq, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Fallujah has been locked in a cycle of conflict since 2003, when it emerged as a bastion of the insurgency against the Americans. Militant attacks and bombings were followed by sweeping arrest raids, which further stoked local grievances. In 2004, U.S. troops launched two massive assaults on the city, where they fought their bloodiest battles since Vietnam. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)

Iraqi security forces prepare to evacuate an injured soldier during heavy fighting against Islamic State group militants in Fallujah, Iraq, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Fallujah has been locked in a cycle of conflict since 2003, when it emerged as a bastion of the insurgency against the Americans. Militant attacks and bombings were followed by sweeping arrest raids, which further stoked local grievances. In 2004, U.S. troops launched two massive assaults on the city, where they fought their bloodiest battles since Vietnam. (AP Photo/Anmar Khalil)
Details emerge about nightclub shooter's wife

RODEO, California (AP)  She was a sweet, pretty California girl with Palestinian roots who left an arranged marriage only to find love with a man who committed the worst mass shooting in modern U.S history.

Little by little, details have begun to emerge about 30-year-old Noor Zahi Salman, who grew up in the small suburb of Rodeo, California, tucked in the dry hills near the oil refineries 25 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Her romance with Omar Mateen  security guard, bodybuilder and Muslim  began online, according to a neighbor, and they were married on Sept. 29, 2011, near her hometown, according to public records. The couple has a 3-year-old son.

FILE - This undated file image shows Omar Mateen, who authorities say killed dozens of people inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday, June 12, 2016. The gunman opened fire inside the crowded gay nightclub before dying in a gunfight with SWAT officers, police said. With news that Mateen killed dozens of people in a gay nightclub in Florida and was born to Afghan immigrant parents, the Afghan-American community is expressing horror, sorrow and disbelief that one of their own could commit the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (MySpace via AP, File)

Early Sunday, the 29-year-old Mateen opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded.

Authorities believe Mateen's wife knew about the plot ahead of time, said an official who was briefed on the progress of the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation. The official said investigators are reluctant to charge her only on the basis of possible advance knowledge of her husband's plans.

Three people identifying themselves as FBI agents visited Salman's childhood home in Rodeo on Tuesday and spoke with her mother, said Jessie Rojas, a next-door neighbor.

In Fort Pierce, Florida, where Salman and Mateen lived, Salman made a brief visit to their first-floor apartment late Monday, escorted by police and her brother-in-law. Her father-in-law said she came to retrieve clothing. She did not speak with reporters. She has otherwise been in seclusion.

According to marriage documents on file in the Contra Costa County Recorder's office, Salman was born in the United States while her parents' birthplaces were listed as "Palestine."

It's unclear when her parents, who served as witnesses for the wedding, came to the United States, but their naturalization papers allowing them to stay in the country were approved in 1984.

No one answered the door at the Salman home Tuesday, but neighbors who know the 2004 graduate of John Swett High School in nearby Crockett said they find it hard to believe she had anything to do with the massacre.

Jasbinder Chahal, who has lived across the street from Salman's childhood home for the last 15 years, said Salman is "very nice...not the smartest, but she was beautiful.

"You know, some kids after high school, they open up the box and the world is theirs. She was inside the box, just pack it up and get married," said Chahal.

"They had a small wedding and took lots of pictures here at the house," said Chahal. The marriage license says the ceremony took place in Hercules, California, and that an imam officiated.

Of Mateen, Chahal said, "He was shorter than her and did not seem very friendly."

Chahal said Salman's mother, Ekbal Salman, was deeply upset when she visited her Monday night and said she feared for the safety of her daughter and grandson.

Salman's parents tried to shelter their four girls as they grew up.

"Noor never played in the street, and the girls were never allowed to drive," Chahal said.

The neighbor quoted Salman's mother as saying Mateen also kept her daughter from driving, until he recently allowed her to take a test to get her driver's license.

Salman's marriage to Mateen was her second, said Chahal. Mateen had previously been married as well.

Her first marriage had been arranged in the Palestinian Territories by her parents, said Chahal, adding that the union did not work out.

"He was in Chicago and they were living there, but they were not married long," Chahal said. "They had cultural differences since she grew up here and was American."

Mateen had met his first wife, Sitora Yusufiy, online, too. They married in 2009 after a whirlwind romance.

Yusufiy, who immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan, has told reporters that Mateen was mentally unstable and abusive during their brief relationship.

She said she knew quickly that the marriage had been a mistake and she left him a few months later. The couple didn't divorce, though, until June 21, 2011  just three months before Mateen married Salman.

On one of her sister's Facebook pages  next to a family photo  there is a box with the words: "Solidarity with Gaza."

Salman rarely came home to visit after she married because Mateen would not let her, Chahal said. She quoted Salman's mother telling her that Mateen even tried to keep the daughter from traveling home to see her father when he was sick.

The younger Salman managed to scrape together the money to visit before her father died in a local hospital, Chahal said.

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Associated Press writers Russ Bynum and Mike Schneider in Florida and AP researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.

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The AP National Investigative Team can be reached at investigate@ap.org.
French mourn and hunt for accomplices after police attacked

PARIS (AP)  France's president and prime minister warned on Wednesday that the world faces a long war to defeat terrorism.

President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls spoke following the death of two police officials killed by an Islamic State extremist. Anti-terrorism investigators are questioning three suspects and are seeking to determine whether the attacker was working with a larger network.

The attack revived French concerns about the IS threat after the group targeted Paris last year. It continues to warn of attacks, and French authorities are on especially high alert around the European Championship soccer tournament taking place across the country through July 10.

A French police officer lays flowers while paying tribute to his colleagues killed in a knife attack near their home in Magnanville, west of Paris, France, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. French President Francois Hollande says that the stabbing attack that left two police officials dead was "incontestably a terrorist act." (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Fighting terrorism is "a long war to wage not just in a few countries but in the whole world, everyone can be concerned," President Francois Hollande said in a speech at the Elysee Palace.

"I said we were at war, that this war will take a generation, that it will be long," Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on France Inter radio.

"Other innocent people will die. It is very hard to say. People can accuse me  and I completely understand  of making the society even more fearful than it already is today with these events. But unfortunately, this is the reality. It will take a generation."

Attacker Larossi Abballa, who had a past terrorist conviction, recorded a video during the attack and posted it online, before being killed in a police raid.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve paid homage to the slain police couple Wednesday in a ceremony in Paris, and a moment of silence was held in many sites.

The Paris suburb of Magnanville is holding a memorial ceremony for Jean-Baptiste Salvaing, the 42-year-old police commander who was stabbed outside his house Monday night, and his 36-year-old female companion Jessica Schneider, a police administrator.

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This story corrects the last name of victim Jean-Baptiste Salvaing.

French police officers block the road leading to a crime scene the day after a knife-wielding attacker stabbed a senior police officer to death Monday evening outside his home in Magnanville, west of Paris, France, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. The attacker and a female companion of the police commander were later found dead after police commandos stormed the home and rescued the couple's three-year-old son. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Smart money is looking to the bookies to guess UK vote

LONDON (AP)  To gauge whether Britain will vote to leave the European Union, the smart money is looking to the bookies.

After polls missed badly in measuring sentiment before some of Britain's most recent votes, bookies' odds have become the point of reference for anyone trying to guess the outcome of the June 23 referendum on the country's EU membership.

And it's not just your average Joe plunking down a bill at the local betting shop. Big investors including Morgan Stanley, BlackRock and UBS have all turned to the gamblers for guidance on this seismic vote.

Graham Sharpe, spokesman for betting shop chain William Hill points to the odds for Britain's EU referendum in a William Hill shop in London Monday June 13, 2016. To gauge whether Britain will vote to leave the European Union, the smart money is looking to the bookies. After polls missed badly in measuring sentiment before some of Britain's most recent votes, bookies' odds have become the point of reference for anyone trying to guess the outcome of the June 23 referendum on the country's EU membership.(AP PhotoJonathan Shenfield)

Pollsters failed to see the defeat of Scotland's independence referendum coming in 2014 and said last year's general election was too close to call  when in fact the Conservative Party won a clear victory. Even so, predictions were never going to be simple: Much of the vote hinges on the undecided and on whether the wavering will feel strongly enough about the outcome to go to the polls.

"There is no version of 'don't know' with the bookies," said Bill O'Neill, head of UBS Wealth Management's U.K. investment office. "It's a clear either/or choice."

In today's world, bookmakers like Ladbrokes, Paddy Power and William Hill take wagers on everything from local elections in the London borough of Tooting to the U.S. presidential vote, as well as the latest sporting events. Similarly, investment firms such as IG Group offer spread betting on political issues in addition to movements in financial markets.

The bookies and investors agree: based on the flow of money into these bets there is about a 60 percent chance that U.K. voters will cast their ballots in favor of staying in the EU. By contrast, the latest aggregate of public opinion polls by the respected pollster John Curtice's "WhatUKthinks.org" site, shows the electorate split 51-49 for leave  too close to call.

"Our political binaries have shown a high success rate in predicting the correct outcome in previous elections and referendums," said Matt Brief, head of dealing at IG Group, referring to trades that let investors bet on either side in a political contest. "The pattern we are seeing is similar to the Scottish Referendum when markets remained solidly for a no victory throughout the campaign."

Investors argue that betting markets are a more accurate predictor of results because the odds are based on where people put their money, not simply on how they answer questions from a pollster.

Experts say the main problem with polls is that they ask samples of people how they would vote  a question that can shift quickly depending on which campaign lands a good punch in any given week. Gamblers, on the other hand, analyze all the information available, incorporating polling data, and place bets on the eventual outcome. Betting is particularly popular in Britain, meaning the odds are the result of a high number of individuals' views.

"In an information age where the cost of trading is very low and so much information is available, the betting markets are going to be very efficient predictors," said Leighton Vaughan Williams, director of the political forecasting and betting research units at Nottingham Business School.

If the polls say one thing and the betting markets another, you should trust the betting markets, Vaughan Williams said. In a study published in the Journal of Forecasting, Vaughan Williams studied data related to U.S. elections going back to 2004, and found that the bookies outperformed the polls in every case.

"Nobody can step directly into the future," Vaughan Williams said. "But your best guess as to what that future will be is given by the betting markets."

Even without their recent stumbles, pollsters would have had a tough time dealing with the EU referendum.

Britain has held very few plebiscites, and that makes it difficult for pollsters who generally look at past elections to provide clues about how people will vote in the future. In the EU referendum, for example, there are no "safe districts" that can be used as bellwethers of opinion as there are in parliamentary elections.

Pollsters have to keep tweaking their survey groups and making adjustments. Their main problem is whether people who don't really care will take part. Those who feel strongly are more likely to want to vote leave, said Ben Page, chief executive of the respected polling firm Ipsos MORI. So getting the balance right in the sample is a challenge when things are close.

"Polling is a mix of science and art," Page said. "There isn't much of a track record to determine how these things are going to go."

Fogging the picture further is the number of undecided, which Page estimated at between 5 percent and 10 percent of those questioned. The wavering tend to go with the status quo  in this case, remain in the EU.

I can't tell you what they're going to do in the voting booth because I'm not there with them," he said. "They're making up their minds while they're there."

But even with the markets, the discussion is about probability rather than certainty. The markets will change as the vote draws near and can be influenced by events  such as the decision by the influential Sun newspaper on Tuesday to endorse an exit, known as Brexit.

The odds have narrowed in recent days as the vote approaches. Betfair said Tuesday that while "remain" had been a solid 1/3 favorite (78 percent) last week, the odds have weakened to 4/6 (60 percent). Millions of pounds were traded overnight.

And while "remain" is a solid favorite at the moment, Vaughan Williams stressed that information could come out in the coming days that might change the market.

"Betting markets tell us our most likely future, and they are better than any other way of doing that," Vaughan Williams said. "But they are not a crystal ball."

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Jordan detains professor for criticizing anti-IS air strikes

AMMAN, Jordan (AP)  An activist says Jordan has detained a prominent Islamic law professor after he criticized the kingdom's participation in U.S.-led airstrikes against the extremist Islamic State group.

Prisoners' rights activist Mohammed Hadid said on Wednesday that Jordan University professor Amjad Quorsheh was ordered held for 15 days for questioning.

Quorsheh had posted a video online in which he says Jordan's military commanders "made a mistake" by participating in the airstrikes.

Quorsheh says the strikes have killed innocents, including "the brothers in al-Nusra," referring to the Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of the al-Qaida terror network. He warns the commanders that those killing innocents will go to hell.
Group accuses UN of giving in to Syrian government

BEIRUT (AP)  An international advocacy group on Wednesday accused the United Nations of prioritizing its relationship with the Syrian government over delivering aid to civilians in need, saying the world body is "in serious breach of its humanitarian principles."

The Beirut-based Syria Campaign said in a scathing report that the U.N. has "allowed the Syrian government to direct aid from Damascus almost exclusively into its territories," at the expense of establishing regular aid access to hundreds of thousands of Syrians besieged by government forces.

A spokesman for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the accusation "discredits the work of national and international humanitarian aid workers."

FILE - This file picture taken on Thursday, April. 24, 2014 and provided by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), U.N relief workers with blue helmets and vests stand next of residents of the besieged Palestinian camp of Yarmouk, right, who stand in line to receive aid food distributed by UNRWA, on the southern edge of the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria. An international advocacy group accused the United Nations of not being neutral in the Syrian conflict in a trenchant report on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, claiming the world body is prioritizing its relationship with the Damascus government over delivering aid to civilians. (AP Photo/UNRWA, File )

"The U.N. has never shied away from calling out the parties in the conflict, including the Syrian government, for hampering the humanitarian work of the UN in Syria," Stephane Dujarric told AP.

"We have to work with the Syrian Government. We have no choice," he told reporters later in New York. "U.N. humanitarian convoys cannot shoot their ways through checkpoints. They're not tanks. They're humanitarian trucks."

The U.N. estimates that some 500,000 Syrians are trapped across 18 besieged areas in the country, most of them encircled by government forces, while the monitoring group Siege Watch puts the tally at 1 million.

In press briefings and reports to the Security Council, U.N. officials regularly acknowledge that President Bashar Assad's government refuses to allow critical aid to enter the areas it besieges -- or, at the last moment, it forces relief workers to offload food and medical supplies from their convoys.

The U.N. and its partners nevertheless reach over six million people with aid every month, according to the Secretary-General's office. The U.N.'s resident coordinator in Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, said the world body would not "condemn people in non-besieged areas to starvation," just because besieged areas are beyond reach.

But U.N. reports and former officials question the world body's accounting.

In a March 2016 self-evaluation of its Syria crisis response, the U.N.'s humanitarian coordination office OCHA said it had no systematic means to assess "needs within Government territory, nor the impact of work done to date, or even, arguably, where the majority of assistance has gone."

Though humanitarian principles call on impartial parties to deliver aid in conflicts, the U.N. and other Damascus-based international relief organizations rely on the government-affiliated Syrian Arab Red Crescent, according to the former chief of the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee relief agency in Syria, Roger Hearn.

"Once they give aid to the SARC or to other agencies, they lose control," said Hearn, who said most requests to monitor aid distributions are rejected by Damascus. The U.N. and other NGOs "literally don't have that line of sight about where (the aid) is going," he said.

El Hillo said just 2 percent of the aid distributed by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent does not reach beneficiaries.

The Syria Campaign report, which relies on anonymous testimony from U.N. officials as well as public reports, recommends that the world body "suspends cooperation" with Damascus if the Syrian government continues to infringe on the U.N.'s independence.

It accuses the U.N. of failing to use its leverage with Assad's government. "The government needs U.N. aid to support vast numbers of citizens," the report said.

The Campaign says the U.N.'s deference to Assad's government plays into the latter's "surrender or starve" tactic, pointing to a U.N.-brokered truce in which residents of rebel-controlled central Homs were evacuated in exchange for badly needed food and medical aid in 2014. Hundreds were then arrested by the government, and most of the city, once seen as the epicenter of the 2011 uprising, has since returned to government control.

A 2011 government crackdown on popular demonstrations calling for reforms sparked a violent civil war that has drawn fighters from around the globe and divided the U.N.'s Security Council. The U.N. says only a political solution can resolve the conflict.

"It was only in November 2015 that key member states agreed to come to the same room and discuss Syria, face to face. This in itself is a failure," said El Hillo. "All member states with influence are responsible, and chiefly the Security Council."

A Syrian government official meanwhile denounced the presence of Western troops in northern Syria, singling out French and German special forces advising the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces battling Islamic State militants in the Manbij and Kobani areas. The official called their presence an "aggression on Syria's independence and sovereignty," in comments carried by state media, which did not broadcast the official's name.

Germany's Defense Ministry said in comments to The Associated Press Wednesday that it had not deployed any forces to Syria.

However, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said there were nearly two dozen German military personnel in the area working alongside French and U.S. special forces. The head of the Observatory, Rami Abdurrahman, said locals and fighters have reported the presence of the German military advisers. He had no further details.

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Associated Press writers Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and David Rising in Berlin contributed to this report.

FILE - This file picture taken on Jan. 31, 2014, and released by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), shows residents of the besieged Palestinian camp of Yarmouk, queuing to receive food supplies, in Damascus, Syria. An international advocacy group accused the United Nations of not being neutral in the Syrian conflict in a trenchant report on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, claiming the world body is prioritizing its relationship with the Damascus government over delivering aid to civilians. (UNRWA via AP, File)

FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 11, 2016 file photo, a convoy of cars loaded with food and other supplies heads toward the besieged town of Madaya, northwest of Damascus, Syria. An international advocacy group accused the United Nations of not being neutral in the Syrian conflict in a trenchant report on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, claiming the world body is prioritizing its relationship with the Damascus government over delivering aid to civilians. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2014, file photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, speaks with United Nations envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura in Damascus, Syria. An international advocacy group accused the United Nations of not being neutral in the Syrian conflict in a trenchant report on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, claiming the world body is prioritizing its relationship with the Damascus government over delivering aid to civilians. (AP Photo/SANA, File)

In this photo taken on June 5, 2016 provided by the Syrian Civil Defense Directorate in Liberated Province of Aleppo, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Syrian citizens walk between damaged buildings that attacked by warplanes, in Aleppo, Syria. After four years of grinding battles, Aleppos divided residents face a common fear as the prospect of a total siege looms. Syrias largest city used to be its economic locomotive, now it is has become an emblem of its stalemated civil war. (Civil Defense Directorate in Liberated Province of Aleppo via AP)
Libyan official: 9 fighters killed in battle to take IS city

CAIRO (AP)  A Libyan hospital spokesman says nine pro-government fighters have been killed and 50 wounded in latest fighting for the Islamic State group's bastion of Sirte.

Libyan forces loyal to the unity government have been waging an offensive since last month to dislodge the militants from the coastal city.

The spokesman, Abdel-Aziz Essa, said on Wednesday that the fatalities occurred the day before and that the anti-IS militiamen died either from sniper fire, direct gunfire or in road bomb explosions.

The fighting in Sirte, the only remaining IS stronghold in the oil-rich North African country, started in early May. It's being led mostly by militias from the western city of Misrata, which is aligned with the U.N.-brokered government in the capital, Tripoli.
Israel culture minister probes troupes that shun settlements

JERUSALEM (AP)  Israel's polarizing culture minister has dispatched a contested questionnaire to theaters and dance troupes to find out whether they are performing in Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a first step toward changing regulations that will allow her to penalize cultural institutions that refuse to perform there.

Miri Regev's office said Wednesday she is proud to lead a "revolution" that shuns boycotts and makes culture accessible to all Israeli citizens. Critics, however, say it's politicizing the art world and impinging artistic freedom.

Regev has had a fraught relationship with the cultural community since her appointment last year and has been accused of attempting to bring Israeli artists in line with her hawkish political ideology.

Last year, Regev froze funding for a theater that staged a play depicting Palestinian security prisoners and was inspired by the life of a man who kidnapped, tortured and killed an Israeli soldier in 1984.

Israeli artists, like their counterparts worldwide, tend to lean liberal, and have long been some of the country's most vocal critics of the settlements.

In the circulated document, various artistic institutions are asked whether they have refrained from performing in the northern and southern peripheries of the country as well as in West Bank settlements.

Regev has said these results will influence the organizations' future government funding.

"Minister Regev is leading a policy of incentivizing state-supported cultural institutions to perform in the periphery and Judea and Samaria, based on a view that culture is a basic right of all citizens," her office said in a statement.

Dov Khenin, an opposition lawmaker, said Regev is cynically exploiting the public's positive sentiments toward northern and southern Israeli communities to boost the settlements instead.
Egypt FM: Parliament can annul president's deal on islands

CAIRO (AP)  Egypt's foreign minister says the country's parliament has the power to annul a decision by the president to hand over two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

The minister, Sameh Shukry, is being quoted by the state MENA news agency Wednesday as saying that President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi's decision on the two islands would be considered "non-existent" if the parliament  which has constitutional rights to review and endorse international accords  votes against it.

Shukri's comments come at a time when a high court in Egypt is reviewing a lawsuit against el-Sissi's decision to hand over Tiran and Sanafir islands to the kingdom.
Cyprus' top diplomat: gas finds could partly fund peace deal

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  Cyprus' foreign minister says potential offshore gas discoveries could partly fund the cost of reunifying the ethnically divided island as a federation.

Ioannis Kasoulides said Wednesday future gas finds could possibly underwrite funding that would be needed to compensate individuals who  under specific criteria  wouldn't get back properties lost during the 1974 conflict that cleaved the island.

Breakaway Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci made a similar remark in an interview with the AP in April.

Kasoulides said newfound gas would also boost Europe's energy security.
DIVIDED AMERICA: In Montana, neighbors at odds over refugees

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP)  For the world, the photograph of a Syrian 3-year-old in a red T-shirt and black sneakers, his lifeless body washed up on a Turkish beach, was a horrific symbol of the desperation of hundreds of thousands of refugees.

For Mary Poole, a young mother haunted by "those little shoes ... the little face," it was an inspiration.

She and members of her book club asked: Why not bring a small number of Syrian families to Missoula?

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EDITOR'S NOTE  This story is part of Divided America, AP's ongoing exploration of the economic, social and political divisions in American society.

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She knows now that this was a "romantic" notion. "It wasn't even a grain of sand in my brain that people wouldn't want to help starving, drowning families. I didn't do this to be controversial. I didn't do this to stir the pot."

But it did. And what started as a disagreement over whether to welcome dozens of refugees to this peaceful corner of western Montana soon erupted into something much larger, encompassing wildly divergent views of Islam, big government and whether Americans should "take care of our own" before worrying about newcomers.

Neighboring counties  and in some cases, neighbors  locked horns.

Demonstrators took to the streets: "No Jobs, No Housing, No Free Anything," proclaimed some opponents' signs. Some warned that Islamic State terrorists could infiltrate their communities; others suggested that the federal government, long accused of tyranny in its dealings with the West, was at it again.

The refugees' supporters did not back off. "Rise Above Fear, Refugees Welcome" they declared.

Missoula's mayor, John Engen, was among them. "I think that the war on terror has produced an internal war on compassion," he says. "We have been programmed to be very afraid since 9/11 and to think of people who aren't white Anglo-Saxon Americans as 'other' and we should be afraid of people who are 'other.'"

This did not occur in a vacuum. What's happened here reflects what's happening across the nation in an election year dominated by inflammatory rhetoric over immigration, including calls for building a border wall, the mass deportation of immigrants living in the country illegally, and temporarily banning Muslims from entering the U.S.

And more generally, Montanans are like other Americans who ask: How are we to live together, as one nation, when we are so estranged?

At a time when the public is polarized over issues ranging from gay marriage to guns, the Rev. Joseph Carver, pastor at St. Francis Xavier Parish, sees this as just another "incarnation of the larger divide in the country." His congregation, which gathers in a towering 124-year-old brick structure with frescoes, ornate scroll work, is overwhelmingly in favor of refugees.

Carver, like others here, believes the spark that ignited this conflict is fear. "Refugees," he declares, "are seen as a threat to our way of life."

Montana is a place of great beauty, with its snow-capped mountains, Ponderosa pines, bighorn sheep, bison and elk. Fly fishermen reel in trout from shimmering streams. College kids can be spotted kayaking on the Clark Fork River on cool spring nights. And a bookstore owner can point to the park down the street where a moose is known to frequent.

It is not, however, a diverse place. Though the sparsely populated state is home to seven Indian reservations, nearly nine of 10 residents are white, according to Census figures. Only about 2 percent are foreign-born. Since 2012, the state has welcomed just 13 refugees from Cuba and Iraq, according to officials.

But Missoula, site of a World War II detention center for Japanese-Americans, Italian merchant seamen and others, has a recent history of embracing refugees. The International Rescue Committee resettled the Hmong in the late 1970s and through the 1980s; some remain as farmers. Later, another agency brought Ukrainians and Belarusians here.

With its coffee houses, murals and bike trails, Missoula has a laid-back feel. It is home to the University of Montana, as well as a peace center named for Jeannette Rankin, a pacifist who was the first woman member of Congress  and the only vote against declaring war on Japan after the Pearl Harbor attack. The center's philosophy is captured on a wall lined with bumper stickers  "Peace is Patriotic," ''Books Not Bombs" and "Practice Nonviolence"  and a stenciled message on a front window: "Refugees Welcome."

When Poole, a jewelry maker, and others formed a group called Soft Landing, they quickly expanded their plan to include not just Syrians but all refugees and turned to the International Rescue Committee to lead the resettlement. Their efforts were endorsed by the mayor, most council members and the three Democratic county commissioners, who sent letters to federal officials.

But Missoula is an island of progressive blue surrounded by a sea of conservative red, and often diverges politically from other communities in Montana.

Just to the south, in rural and Republican Ravalli County, a county commissioners' hearing over the issue was moved to a middle school gym to accommodate the hundreds who showed up for what turned into a raucous meeting. Several pro-refugee speakers were jeered .The commissioners formalized their opposition in their own letter to federal officials and Flathead County, nearly 130 miles north of Missoula, did the same weeks later.

In testimony and letters in Ravalli County, those saying "no" outlined their objections. They argued that Muslims or others from the Middle East could create the kind of chaos seen in Europe, impose an enormous tax burden and wouldn't be able to assimilate because they don't share American values. Many said their biggest fear was the U.S. government couldn't conduct adequate screening. Some spoke of apocalyptic visions of terrorists posing as refugees making their way to the quiet countryside.

"There's no 800 number you can call into Morocco or Libya or any one of those places ... and say, 'Can you check the identity of this person?' Without the ability to properly vet them, it's literally putting Americans' lives at risk," says Eli Anselmi, who felt compelled to write a letter even though he lives three hours away in Bozeman.

The risk may be minimal, he says, but the potential harm is great. "Let's say that you have a bowl of M&Ms ... and there are two that have cyanide. Will you eat from that bowl?"

Ray Hawk, a Ravalli County commissioner, has similar worries. "These are folks that have declared war on the United States," he says. "Their war is terrorism and that's the way they're going to do it. And I don't feel that we need to give them that chance. Now, if the government gets a handle on this thing and has a way to vet these people, I'm all for them. I love to see anybody come into America and succeed."

Supporters of the refugees weighed in with reminders of America's tradition of providing sanctuary to those who've fled war and oppression; some cited their own family history. They spoke of empathy, pointed to a lengthy screening process and noted the other refugees who resettled here successfully in recent decades.

Shawn Wathen, a bookstore owner in Ravalli County, was appalled his 18-year-old son was booed when he testified in support of the refugees and then later cursed by some opponents. Wathen wrote the commissioners, accusing them of "xenophobic grandstanding." One replied that he was "ignorant."

Wathen, who has called the sprawling Bitterroot Valley home for 20 years, sees the rejection of refugees as a blend of misinformation, economic anxiety and fear of the unknown.

"It surpasses any notion of reason ... that kind of idea that they are not us, and therefore they pose a threat," he says. "There's just that sense the horde is out there and if we don't circle the wagons ... we're going to be overrun and poor white America is going to suffer."

America has a long history of wariness of refugees.

Last November, shortly after the Paris terrorist attacks, a Gallup poll found that Americans, by 60 to 37 percent, opposed taking in refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war. In 1978, there was a 57 to 32 percent opposition to accepting Indochinese boat people, and in 1946, after World War II, the public was against welcoming displaced people from Europe, including Jews, by 72 to 16 percent.

Generally, Americans tend to favor refugees with whom they share some connection  political, religious or personal  and the public has little interaction with Muslims, says David Haines, a professor emeritus at George Mason University who has written extensively about refugees.

He says the public doesn't understand the rigorous vetting process. "The risks from refugees are really low because it's an extremely well-screened population," he says. "But it's hard for people to settle down on this issue, especially in a highly politicized context."

In Missoula, academics and religious leaders have expressed alarm about the harsh tone of the presidential campaign, especially comments aimed at Muslims by Donald Trump. In April, they sponsored "Celebrate Islam Week" at the university in hopes of countering the trend.

Among the participants was Samir Bitar, an Arabic studies professor who arrived at the University of Montana in the 1970s as a 16-year-old freshman, raised a family and has spent most of his adult life here.

Bitar has lectured for decades across the state without controversy  until this year, when about a dozen people in the nearby town of Darby objected to his planned talk at the library. The reason: They didn't want a Muslim in their town, according to the librarian. The library board voted. Bitar spoke and received a warm reception.

But the tone and atmosphere are decidedly different now, he says.

"This is the first time I actually look behind me as I walk. I've been here 42 years," he says. "It's like every part of my identity is coming under attack, including my American identity."

Recently, two students accepted Bitar's challenge to walk around wearing Muslim head gear to see how people would react. One young man donned a kufi, or skull cap, and classmates wouldn't sit next to him, Bitar says. While working at a deli, the student was rebuffed by a customer's wife who said: "'We're not going to have a Muslim help us.'"

Bitar, who is Palestinian, finds it all disheartening. People now are "motivated by pure emotion and not really thinking in logical terms," he says. "Fear turns into hatred."

Jameel Chaudhry, the campus architect, a native of Kenya and another member of the small Muslim community, says he, too, senses a new hostility.

"All of a sudden WE are the problem," he says. "We've never had this before, and I've been here 20 years. We didn't have this even after 9/11."

Chaudhry attributes this attitude to Trump, accusing the presumptive Republican nominee of stoking fears for political gain.

"He's become the champion of the anti-Muslim, anti-refugee movement," he says. While that group talks of being tired of political correctness, Chaudhry sees something else: "They don't want the other races coming in here."

But those who've publicly spoken out against refugees bristle at suggestions they're racist. They say they're trying to protect their communities.

"It doesn't make any difference if they're Muslims, Russians, whatever. You have to know who they are, what they've been doing in the past," says Jim Buterbaugh, a construction worker who organized three opposition rallies, including one at the state Capitol. "Are you going to go downtown and take five people off the streets and move them into your house without knowing who they are? Nobody in their right mind would do that."

He and others are upset they have no vote on this issue. State and local governments legally don't have authority to bar refugees, though they can refuse to directly provide local services, according to Haines. Last fall, more than half the nation's governors declared their opposition to accepting Syrian refugees, saying a pause was needed until security concerns are addressed.

That sense of being shut out of decision-making reflects a wider distrust of the government in parts of the West, where federal policies involving land, water and endangered species often clash with energy, timber and grazing interests. Though the refugee debate is different, it exposes the same raw nerves among opponents, who also question the economic and social impact.

In a letter to her commissioners, Ravalli County resident Birte Nellessen said, "to fool ourselves that we are helping 'poor folks driven out of their homeland by war' is ridiculous. They openly and blazingly state that they are coming to destroy us and our culture. ... Why we would spend any of our hard earned money on people like that?"

Nellessen, who moved to the U.S. from Germany 20 years ago, says officials should instead support local folks in need and that a smarter course would be to send supplies or money to help refugees rebuild in their homeland.

"I mean, what's a Syrian or Kenyan going to do in winter in Montana? Seriously."

The answer is coming. The International Rescue Committee has met with Missoula's mayor, police chief and others to prepare for the refugees  about 100 will come over a year's time. The agency plans to reopen a resettlement office here this fall, after a 25-year absence. Those most likely to be relocated include Congolese, Afghans and Syrians who will have no family ties, so they'll have to live within a 50-mile radius of the office.

Mary Poole is looking forward to their arrival.

About 750 people have signed up to help refugees make the transition, she says. One former Missoula resident now living in Mongolia wants to get involved when she returns.

Poole is already thinking ahead, too, about how this could change the life of her 17-month-old son, Jack.

She envisions a day, she says, when he "will be able to sit in a school next to someone of a different color, of a different language, of a different culture  and be able to learn that he lives in a global world. ... I don't think we can be insulated anymore."

Poole knows resistance remains, and still meets with those who don't want refugees here. She says she's even made friends with some vocal opponents, recently inviting them to her house for a barbecue.

"We're asking for compassion," she says, "and must be able to give that ourselves."

And there's always a chance to win some over.

"They are us,' she says of the opponents. "They are part of our community, and in order for this to be as successful as it possibly can be, it's about being in it together."

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US troops staying in Afghanistan? New look at reduction plan

BRUSSELS (AP)  U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has told NATO allies America will take a new look at its plans to withdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year, a British official says, a fresh indication that U.S. involvement in the country is not waning in the final months of Barack Obama's presidency.

British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said Wednesday that "Carter told us the troop numbers and the dispositions are being looked at again."

The American reassurance to NATO allies comes on the heels of Obama's decision last week to give the military wider latitude to support Afghan forces against the Taliban, both in the air and on the ground.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter speaks during a media conference after a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. NATO concluded a two-day meeting on Wednesday with discussions on the situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Far from ending the two wars he inherited from the Bush administration, Obama is wrestling with an expanded set of conflicts as his presidency nears an end, from Iraq and Afghanistan to Libya and Syria, with no end in sight. In Afghanistan, a Taliban resurgence has upset Washington's exit strategy, which called for troop reductions from 9,800 to 5,500 by the end of 2016.

But Carter told reporters that Obama has indicated his willingness to re-examine force levels based on the intensified fight against the Taliban and Carter expects Obama to do that as the year goes on.

Carter's comments came as NATO allies agreed to extend their Afghanistan training mission and keep troops in all four sections of the country in 2017.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the allies "will have what we call a flexible regional approach, meaning that we will continue to be of course in Kabul but also out in the different regions."

The alliance also is "now working on the final decisions for our exact force numbers into 2017. So that's something we will decide later on this year," Stoltenberg said.

The U.S. troop-cutting plan is facing renewed scrutiny in light of the Taliban's resurgence. Former U.S. commanders have urged Obama to keep 9,800 troops in Afghanistan into next year.

NATO's decision to maintain a regional presence essentially shelves earlier plans to consolidate forces in and around Kabul, the national capital, next year. NATO will retain its hub-and-spoke system, which has headquarters in Kabul and Bagram, German troops working with Afghan forces in the north, Italian troops doing the same in the west, and U.S. forces in the southern region around Kandahar and in the east in Jalalabad.

A senior NATO diplomat said officials believe NATO will get commitments for the $5 billion needed to fund the current number of Afghan security forces through 2020. The diplomat was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Asked about the plans, Fallon told reporters, "Nobody wants to see all the spokes collapse. I think we're all aware of the fragility of the Afghan forces. They're fighting hard, but taking very heavy casualties."

He also said that Britain will maintain its funding of the Afghan advisory mission at nearly $100 million a year through 2020.

The moves cement NATO's commitment to the training and advising mission in Afghanistan as the conflict drags on. They follow Obama's announcement of expanded U.S. military authority to support the Afghan forces.

The U.S. is now free to conduct airstrikes against the Taliban when needed in critical operations, and American troops can accompany and advise Afghan conventional forces on the ground, much as they have with Afghan commandos.

Afghan forces are struggling against the stubborn Taliban, who have made gains this year, particularly in the south. Islamic State fighters also have tried to gain a foothold in the country.

While there have been no changes yet to the decision on reducing troop levels, Obama has shown a willingness in the past to adjust troop cuts when conditions call for it. As the fighting season rages on, now is an assessment period, the NATO diplomat said, adding that keeping the four regions open will provide greater flexibility in future decisions.

So far, the diplomat said, the U.S. has not asked other allies to increase their troop commitments to make up for any U.S. reduction.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, second right, walks with members of his delegation prior to a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. NATO concludes a two-day meeting on Wednesday with discussions on the situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter speaks during a media conference after a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. NATO concluded a two-day meeting on Wednesday with discussions on the situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a media conference after a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. NATO concludes a two-day meeting on Wednesday with discussions on the situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
The Latest: Lawmaker: Gays turned away from donating blood

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  The Latest on the massacre at a gay Orlando nightclub (all times local):

6:50 p.m.

A Florida lawmaker says members of the gay, lesbian and transgender community in Orlando were turned away from donating blood after the massacre of 49 people at Pulse nightclub.

Law enforcement officials gather outside the Pulse nightclub, the scene of Sunday's mass shooting Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Florida Rep. Mike Miller said Wednesday in a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that hundreds of individuals from the LGBT community were turned away because of FDA guidelines restricting blood donations from individuals who have had same-sex relations in the past 12 months.

Miller asked FDA Commissioner Robert Califf to lift the restriction if it's not based on strong scientific fact.

The state lawmaker says the Orlando area still has a blood shortage despite the outpouring of donors in the days since the shootings.

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6:30 p.m.

A Senate committee is asking the FBI to turn over its files on Orlando gunman Omar Mateen.

In a letter Wednesday to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs asked the FBI to provide records related to two previously closed investigations concerning Mateen.

The committee also requested details of the placement and removal of Mateen from a terrorist watch list, any prior visits to the Pulse nightclub or Walt Disney World before the attack and his travel to Saudi Arabia.

In addition, the committee said it wanted information about Mateen's use of social media before and during the attack, and the FBI's communication with state and local law enforcement about Mateen's comments about terrorism prior to the attack.

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6:10 p.m.

A U.S. official says the FBI has determined that nightclub shooter Omar Mateen was in the area of Disney World at some point before the attack unfolded, though it's unclear for what purpose.

The official briefed on the investigation who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said Mateen drove around the Orlando area Saturday evening, going from one place to another, before he opened fire at the gay nightspot about 2 a.m. Sunday. Forty-nine people were killed and more than 50 injured.

Eric Tucker, Washington

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5:55 p.m.

Ricky Martin is calling for unity, love and tougher gun laws.

In a lengthy statement released Wednesday, the singer is urging his fans to call their elected representatives "10 times each day until they act." Martin says to "set a timer if it helps, but make the calls."

He released the statement, titled "I Will Never Cease to Fight for Love," in English and Spanish.

Martin called the Orlando shooting an act of hate that has profoundly affected him as a human being and a gay person. He said the United States has an "undeniable problem with gun violence."

He said that even more important than contacting elected officials is to love wholeheartedly.

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5:30 p.m.

Singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge responded to the mass shooting at a Florida nightclub by doing one thing she felt she could do, which was write a song.

Etheridge told the Rolling Stone that she titled the song "Pulse" after the club where 49 people were killed and dozens more wounded in Orlando on Sunday. The song was written almost immediately after she heard the news and recorded on Monday with producer Jerry Wonda.

The song features a thumping, heartbeat-like rhythm and lyrics about how love will always win, but also seems to directly address the gunman when she sings, "Who you gonna gun down? If you can't kill the truth."

Etheridge said the song will be available for purchase soon and proceeds will go to a LGBT charity.

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A Missouri sheriff says he's waiving fees for the rest of June for residents seeking concealed carry permits after last weekend's nightclub massacre in Florida.

Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson announced the move Monday on the department's official Facebook page.

The county has charged residents $100 for their first five-year permit and $50 to renew one. The department also will hold a free concealed carry class for new applicants July 9.

Authorities say Omar Mateen opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando early Sunday. The attack left 49 people dead and 53 wounded.

Anderson says in the Facebook posting that while he continues praying for peace in the U.S. and worldwide, he "will not put blinders on and act like this cannot happen here to people we know and love."

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2 p.m.

The Homeland Security is set to issue a new terror alert system bulletin that will highlight the threat environment facing the United States.

The bulletin will be effective Thursday, the same day a bulletin issued in December expires.

DHS Secretary Jeh (jay) Johnson announced in December the addition of bulletins to the National Terrorism Advisory System. At the time, he said the bulletin was being issued to keep the public informed in a "new phase off the global threat environment."

That global threat environment, he says today, hasn't changed and U.S. authorities remain worried about homegrown violent extremists "who could strike with little or no notice."

A gunman attacked a nightclub early Sunday, leaving 49 people dead and wounding 53 others.

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1:50 p.m.

A federal prosecutor says he won't speculate on whether any charges may be brought in the investigation into the nightclub shooting in Orlando.

U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley said during a news conference Wednesday that it would be premature to speculate about any charges. He also asked people to not make threats against members of the Muslim community, saying in most cases that the threats are illegal. He did not talk about any specific threats.

The FBI urged people who have had any contact or know anything about shooter Omar Mateen to please contact them. FBI agent Ron Hopper said no piece of information is too small.

An official who was briefed on the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation said authorities believe that 30-year-old U.S.-born Noor Salman knew ahead of time about Sunday's attack, but they are reluctant to charge her on that basis alone.

 Associated Press writer Mike Schneider

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1:45 p.m.

The White House says President Barack Obama's visit to Orlando on Thursday is about offering comfort and support to a community that's grieving.

Spokesman Josh Earnest says many details about the president's trip are still being worked out, but Obama will meet with and offer condolences to the families of those who were killed and will seek to comfort those who survived.

Earnest tells reporters at Wednesday's press briefing that the president will also meet with first responders, doctors and nurses who acted heroically to try and save innocent lives. He says their efforts were successful in saving dozens of people, and the president wants to thank them personally.

Earnest says the trip will be an emotional one for Obama and that he will speak publicly about the experience.

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12:30 p.m.

A newly unearthed documentary clip shows Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen talking cynically about people who make money off disasters.

The clip from 2012's "The Big Fix" shows Mateen chatting with an undercover film crew while working as a security guard at a BP oil spill cleanup site on the Florida panhandle.

Mateen tells a woman who pulls up to his guard booth that everyone is "hoping for more oil to come out and more people to complain so they'll have the jobs."

Security firm G4S confirmed Wednesday that the guard in the clip is Mateen.

G4S spokeswoman Sarah Booth says Mateen was stationed in Pensacola, Florida, for several months in 2010 to assist with the oil spill cleanup.

"The Big Fix" chronicles the effects of the Deepwater Horizon spill that sent more than 200 million gallons of oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010.

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11:55 a.m.

Democratic state lawmakers want to pass emergency legislation requiring a ban on gun purchases by people on watch lists.

The Florida lawmakers called on Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday to hold a special session on the legislation in the wake of the massacre of 49 people at an Orlando nightclub in what is the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

The proposal would require the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct an extensive background check on individuals who have been on watch lists before they can legally purchase or own firearms.

Gunman Omar Mateen was questioned three times in 2013 and 2014 by the FBI but the cases never went anywhere.

A special session could only be held if either the Republican governor wants one or Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli agree to hold one.

Neither is likely to happen since Scott has said the shooting in Orlando isn't about gun rights, and the speaker and president, both Republicans, said Tuesday they have no plans to call a special session to address gun laws.

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11:50 a.m.

An Orlando hospital says six people wounded in the nightclub shooting are still in critical condition.

The Orlando Regional Medical Center said Wednesday that four people are in guarded condition, an improvement from a day early when five people were in that condition.

The hospital says they are still treating 25 people there. Doctors have warned that the death toll from the shooting could rise.

Forty-nine people were killed and more than 50 people wounded when a gunman opened fire on the Pulse nightclub early Sunday.

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11:45 a.m.

Senate Democrats are proposing a funding boost for the FBI's counterterrorism efforts and local active shooter training in the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando.

The proposed amendment to a Justice Department spending bill would increase the number of special agents related to counterterrorism and boost surveillance.

Democrats are also expected to introduce an amendment to allow the government to deny firearms and explosives to people known or suspected of being involved in terrorist activities. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein offered the amendment in December, a day after an extremist couple killed 14 people in her state. It was rejected on a near party-line vote.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has focused on the need to beef up defense, intelligence and law enforcement efforts against extremist groups.

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11:30 a.m.

Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen passed a psychological evaluation in 2007 as part of his application to be a private security guard.

Florida records show Mateen was determined to be mentally and emotionally stable in September 2007 so he could work for The Wackenhut Corp., later renamed G4S Secure Solutions. The records state he took a written psychological test or had an evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Mateen also stated in his 2007 firearm application that he neither had been diagnosed with a mental illness nor had a history of alcohol or substance abuse.

The documents were obtained by The Associated Press under open records laws. They are part of paperwork he filed to the state agency that issues firearms and security officer licenses.

Records show Mateen also scored well on his firearms tests.

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The families of the 49 victims who died and survivors of the nightclub shooting can now turn to a victims' assistance center to get death certificates and retrieve cars they have been unable to get to because the area is a crime scene.

The assistance center opened Wednesday at the Camping World Stadium, previously known as the Citrus Bowl.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs say the center will provide grief counseling, legal information, funeral-arrangement assistance, translators and help with the transportation needs of the survivors and their families.

Dyer says they have use of the entire stadium and can accommodate as many people as needed.

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11:15 a.m.

Orlando police and the FBI have scheduled a news conference to update the media on the investigation into nightclub shooter Omar Mateen.

Investigators are looking into the motives of Mateen, who attacked the Pulse dance club early Sunday, leaving 49 people dead. Mateen died in a gun battle with police.

Mateen called 911 and pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State during the attack.

The news conference is set for 1:30 p.m.

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An Orlando television station says nightclub shooter Omar Mateen called during his standoff with police and declared his support for the Islamic State.

Matt Gentili, a producer at CFN 13 in Orlando, says a man called him and said "I'm the shooter. It's me. I am the shooter."

Gentili says the man started to say he did it for the Islamic State and started speaking in Arabic.

The call came in about 2:45 a.m., roughly 45 minutes into the massacre, according to NY 1 News, the station's sister operation in New York.

Gentili was interviewed by FBI agents and NY 1 says the Orlando station's managing editor traced the call back to a number associated with Mateen.

The Orlando Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Officials have previously said Mateen called 911 twice during the shooting.

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10:55 a.m.

Orlando officials are giving the families of the 49 victims from the Pulse nightclub massacre the option of being buried together in a city-run cemetery.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said Wednesday that there is enough space at the city's Greenwood Cemetery to accommodate 49 plots together if their families desire.

Dyer says the spot in the 82-acre cemetery is near a road which would make it a good spot for some kind of memorial for the victims of the Pulse nightclub since people could leave flowers and cards.

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10 a.m.

An official says the Orlando shooter's threats that he had strapped explosives onto hostages and clubgoers' belief that he had explosive vests caused a delay of "significant time" in sending paramedics into the nightclub.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said Wednesday that shooter Omar Mateen falsely told negotiators that he was strapping explosive onto four hostages, and club-goers trapped inside thought he had explosive vests, based on texts they sent and remarks to 911 dispatchers.

No explosives were found in the club. A battery pack that SWAT members initially thought could be an explosive ended up being a fire alarm or piece of an exit sign.

Dyer said he didn't know exactly how long a delay that caused.

Officials have said 11 victims either died at hospitals or on their way to hospitals.

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9:20 a.m.

An official says the gunman in the massacre at a gay nightclub was driving around the Orlando area the night before the mass shooting.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said Wednesday that Omar Mateen drove around on Saturday night before he opened fire at the Pulse club about 2 a.m. Sunday.

Dyer says, "What I know concretely is that he was driving around that evening and visited several locations."

When asked exactly where Mateen visited, and whether the locations included theme parks as reported in some media stories, Dyer said, "I think it's been pretty accurately depicted on the news." He did not give further details.

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7 a.m.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter has issued a statement about the death of a U.S. Army Reserve soldier in the massacre at a gay Florida nightclub, and says officials there support the people of Orlando and the LGBT community.

Ash says Capt. Antonio Davon Brown served for nearly a decade to protect others  "the noblest thing a young person can do."

The statement says the Defense Department grieves with Brown's families and all the loved ones affected by the shooting. It also says: "We stand with the people of Orlando and the nation's LGBT community during this difficult time."

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6:50 a.m.

German federal investigators say they're looking into a Duesseldorf bank account held by the father of the gunman who attacked an Orlando nightclub, and are in contact with their American counterparts.

Germany's Rheinischen Post reports Seddique Mateen posted the bank information in a 2013 video soliciting donations. The newspaper says the account is now closed and only received two payments, of 100 euros ($112) and 70 euros.

Mateen, the father of Omar Mateen, has multiple videos online in which he chats about Afghan political issues in Farsi. He calls himself the "Afghan revolutionary president" but isn't a known name in Afghanistan.

Federal Criminal Police Office spokeswoman Barbara Huebner said Wednesday that her office was investigating to see whether there was any relevance to the Orlando case, but refused to give further details.

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6:45 a.m.

The London-based security company that employed the Florida nightclub shooter says it received one complaint about him during his nine years of employment.

The 2013 complaint prompted G4S to transfer Omar Mateen. It came from St. Lucie County Courthouse, where he was a security guard. The FBI then investigated Mateen.

G4S spokesman Nigel Fairbrass said Wednesday that it was the only complaint about Mateen since he was hired in 2007. GS4 wouldn't give details on the complaint.

Former G4S employee Daniel Gilroy has told the New York Times and other news outlets that he had alerted G4S about Mateen's behavior. G4S says it has no records of any complaints by Gilroy. Gilroy has called Mateen loud and profane and accused him of threatening violence.

Fairbrass says of Gilrory: "We reached out to him and have since confirmed that he did, in fact, not file any formal complaint."

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3 a.m.

Investigators trying to find out what motivated nightclub killer Omar Mateen are casting a wide net.

The FBI is checking reports that Mateen frequented a gay dance club in Orlando before going on a murderous rampage there. Investigators also are looking at whether his wife knew anything beforehand about the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history. The attack left Mateen and 49 victims dead.

On Tuesday, a U.S. official said the FBI was looking into news reports quoting patrons of Pulse as saying Mateen frequented the nightspot and reached out to men on gay dating apps. The official wasn't authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

President Barack Obama said investigators had no information to suggest a foreign terrorist group directed the attack.

Law enforcement officials gather outside the Pulse nightclub, the scene of Sunday's mass shooting Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Mourners embrace as they visit a makeshift memorial for the victims of Sunday's mass shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Mourners embrace as they visit a makeshift memorial for the victims of Sunday's mass shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

People embrace during a memorial service for victims of the Orlando mass shooting in Shanghai, China, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. A gunman killed dozens of people in a massacre at a crowded gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday, making it the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (Chinatopix via AP) CHINA OUT

Jennifer Johnson, right, leans on her boyfriend Jeansem Sambolin while standing with her son Tyrone Clarke, 8, as they visit a makeshift memorial for the victims of the mass shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez was one of those killed and had worked with Johnson. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

The congregation joins hands during an interfaith service at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, June 14, 2016. A gunman killed dozens of people at a gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday, making it the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

FILE - In this Sunday, June 12, 2016 file photo, Orlando Police officers direct family members away from a fatal shooting at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla. With news that Omar Mateen killed dozens of people in a gay nightclub in Florida and was born to Afghan immigrant parents, the Afghan-American community is expressing horror, sorrow and disbelief that one of their own could commit the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

A photo of Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez is held up as the names of all those killed in the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub are read aloud during an interfaith service at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, June 14, 2016. A gunman killed dozens of people at a gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday, making it the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Balloons are left at a makeshift memorial near the scene of the mass shooting of the Pulse nightclub, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Jean Dasilva sits next to a makeshift memorial for the victims of Sunday's mass shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub as he mourns the loss of his friend Javier Jorge-Reyes Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Wife, son of former senior Chinese leader jailed for graft

BEIJING (AP)  A Chinese court on Wednesday jailed the wife and a son of a former senior politician sentenced to life in prison a year ago for corruption amid an ongoing anti-graft campaign.

The fall of Zhou Yongkang and his family is one of most powerful examples in recent years of how families of Chinese politicians who used their positions to enrich themselves can fall spectacularly once their power has dissipated.

A former security chief and member of the ruling Communist Party's all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee, Zhou was the highest-level ex-official to fall in Chinese President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign launched in 2012.

FILE - In this March 9, 2012, file photo, Zhou Yongkang, then Chinese Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee member in charge of security, attends a plenary session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. A Chinese court on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, jailed the wife and a son of Zhou, a former senior politician sentenced to life in prison a year ago for corruption amid an ongoing anti-graft campaign. The fall of Zhou and his family is one of most powerful examples in recent years of how families of Chinese politicians who used their positions to enrich themselves can fall spectacularly once their power has dissipated. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

State broadcaster CCTV said a court in the central city of Yichang sentenced Zhou's son, Zhou Bin, to 18 years in prison for taking 222 million yuan ($34 million) in bribes and running an illegal business trading in restricted commodities.

The court confiscated Zhou Bin's illicit gains and levied fines against him totaling of 350 million ($53 million), CCTV said.

The same court announced on Wednesday on its official microblogging site that Zhou Yongkang's wife, Jia Xiaoye, will serve nine years for taking bribes. She was fined 1 million yuan ($150,000).

Both Jia and Zhou told the court they would not appeal the verdicts, according to the reports.
Migrant group says 3,400 dead or missing so far this year

BERLIN (AP)  More than 3,400 migrants died or were recorded as missing as they tried to cross borders around the globe in the first five months of the year  over 80 percent of them trying to reach Europe by sea, the International Organization for Migration said Wednesday.

The number is 12 percent above the 2,780 deaths or disappearances recorded during the same period in 2015. Over the whole of last year, the IOM estimated Wednesday that 5,400 migrants died or were reported missing worldwide.

Frank Laczko, director of the IOM's Global Migration Data Analysis Centre in Berlin that tracks missing migrants, said the Central Mediterranean route between Northern Africa and Italy has become the world's most dangerous passage for migrants. In the last week of April, some 1,100 migrants died or went missing off Libya in nine separate incidents.

Medecins Sans Frontieres and SOS Meditarrenee personal carry out training aboard the "Aquarius" Tuesday June 14, 2016 in the Mediterranean Sea. The two humanitarian organisations have joined forces on the vessel to rescue migrants on their way from North Africa to Europe. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)

The IOM said its new data analysis center receives information on a daily basis from its 400 offices all over the world and from various international organizations to help collect information on missing migrants.

Laczko pointed out that available data is often shaky and vague and that the identification of dead migrants is being neglected in many countries. Often bodies washed to the shores are simply buried in anonymous mass graves.

"What happens to those who die? Who are their families and will they ever know what happened?" Laczko said. "Caught between grief and hope, their search can take years, even a lifetime."

The IOM called on governments to do more to help trace the missing and identify the bodies of the dead  especially to assist the distressed families.

"For every migrant who dies, there are probably 20 people affected," said IOM spokesman Leonard Doyle, adding that family members are not only distressed by the loss, but also were hoping the migrant would financially support them financially.

Currently, a majority of migrant bodies are never found, and of those that are, many are never identified, the IOM said. In the Mediterranean Sea in 2015, bodies for fewer than half of those thought to have died were recovered.

The organization also reported that over 60,000 migrants are estimated to have died or gone missing on sea and land routes worldwide in the last 20 years.

Haydn Williams, right, the project coordinator for Medecins Sans Frontieres watches as MSF and SOS Meditarrenee personal carry out training aboard the "Aquarius" Tuesday June 14, 2016 in the Mediterranean Sea. The two humanitarian organisations have joined forces on the vessel to rescue migrants on their way from North Africa to Europe. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)

Medecins Sans Frontieres and SOS Meditarrenee personal carry out training aboard the "Aquarius" Tuesday June 14, 2016 in the Mediterranean Sea. The two humanitarian organisations have joined forces on the vessel to rescue migrants on their way from North Africa to Europe. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)

The Aquarius, a former coast guard boat, which is used for rescuing migrants on the Mediterranean sea, as it carries out training off the Libyan coast where it has saved more than 2,200 migrants so far. Medecins Sans Frontieres and SOS Meditarrenee personal attended a medical training course aboard the "Aquarius" on Tuesday. The two humanitarian organisations have joined forces on the vessel to rescue migrants on their way from North Africa to Europe. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)

Doctor Erna Rijnierse holds a training session for crew on how to move injured migrants from the sea to the vessel. "Aquarius" Tuesday June 14, 2016 in the Mediterranean Sea. Medecins Sans Frontieres and SOS Meditarrenee personal attended the course The two humanitarian organisations have joined forces on the vessel to rescue migrants on their way from North Africa to Europe. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
Poland ignores deadline for replying to EU criticism

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Poland will not meet the European Union's deadline of Wednesday to respond to concerns about the country's political crisis, the government spokesman said.

The European Commission earlier this month wrote to Poland criticizing the conservative government's actions concerning the composition and functioning of the Constitutional Tribunal, and set Wednesday as the deadline for a response.

The letter of some 20 pages was considered a warning for a recalcitrant EU member to address the criticism and prevent more serious steps from being taken, such as stripping Poland of its EU voting rights.

But government spokesman Rafal Bochenek said Wednesday a reply should not be expected immediately.

Bochenek told The Associated Press that a reply will be offered at a time when it is possible to show progress in the ongoing efforts by lawmakers to solve the internal conflict surrounding the tribunal. The lawmakers are working on three different proposals for a solution, and a report on their work is to be published by early July.

The EU is concerned that the Polish government refuses to accept the appointment of some new judges to the tribunal and insists on appointing those of its own choice. It is concerned that the government, which took power in November, has adopted new rules for the appointment of judges and refuses to publish and implement some of the tribunal's rulings.

The government's actions have led to massive street protests within Poland, as well as censure from the EU and a European body of constitutional law experts.

Bochenek would not set any date for a response to the commission, but stressed that Poland wants to maintain dialogue and mutual trust with the Commission.

The head of the ruling party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said that the EU's "rule of law" procedure is not included in any treaties and places no obligations on Poland. Kaczynski has made it a point of his policy to stress that Poland is a sovereign country and is not dependent on decisions taken in Brussels, the EU headquarters.

"It is only an act of our good will that we respond" to the procedure, Kaczynski said.

If it fails to convince the Commission that it is abiding by the key principles, Poland could face the first-ever sanctions against any EU member under the new "rule of law" procedure.

On Wednesday, the Council of Europe rights watchdog also criticized Poland for the stalemate over the tribunal and for other new legislation, saying they erode the rule of law and threaten the protection of human rights.

Speaking in Warsaw, the council's Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks, said new laws that raise concern include a law that widens police powers of surveillance, one that merges the position of the justice minister with that of the prosecutor general and one that puts public radio and TV under direct government control. He also encouraged more effort in advancing gender equality.

"Recent far-reaching changes to Poland's legal and institutional framework threaten human rights and undermine the rule of law, on which the protection of human rights ultimately depends," Muiznieks said as he presented a report on his February visit to Poland. "Lawmakers and the government should urgently change course."

Poland's government reacted by saying the report was one-sided because it was based on the views of non-governmental organizations, without the government's opinion or generally accessible data being consulted.
Iranian-British woman held in Iran faces coup charge

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  An Iranian-British woman detained in Iran faces charges of trying to cause the "soft toppling" of the government, a state-run news agency reported Wednesday, the latest in a series of cases in which dual nationals have been detained since last year's nuclear deal with world powers. Her husband dismissed the charges as "extraordinary and untrue."

IRNA's report marks the first official acknowledgment of the detention of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of the news agency.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard detained Zaghari-Ratcliffe on April 3 at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport and later transferred her to a prison in Kerman province, according to the IRNA report. It said she had phone calls and met regularly with her family.

This undated photo made available by the Free Nazanin Campaign, shows Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe holding her daughter Gabriella. Iran's state-run news agency is reporting that the Iranian-British woman held there faces charges accusing her of trying to cause the soft toppling of the Islamic Republic's government. The IRNA report Wednesday marked the first official acknowledgment of the detention of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of the news agency. (Free Nazanin Campaign via AP)

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained while trying to fly out of the country with her toddler daughter, Gabriella, who remains in Iran with family after authorities seized her passport, according to Amnesty International.

The Guard said Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, had participated in the "design and implementation of cyber and media projects to cause the soft toppling of the Islamic Republic." It did not elaborate. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Her husband, Richard Ratcliffe, said his wife took her daughter to visit family for Nowruz, the Iranian New Year. Ratcliffe described his wife as "not political ... but someone with a sincere moral core and great integrity. It is to Iran's shame that people like her are subjected to this treatment."

"If these are indeed the allegations, this is of course farcical  the idea that there is some malevolent network headed by Nazanin and her 2-year-old daughter is nonsense," Ratcliffe said in a statement.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation said it had "no dealings with Iran whatsoever, does not operate and does not plan to operate in the country." The foundation focuses on providing journalism training and working on human rights issues like ending slavery and providing legal assistance to those who need it.

"Nazanin has been working at the Thomson Reuters Foundation for the past four years as a project coordinator in charge of grants applications and training, and had no dealing with Iran in her professional capacity," foundation CEO Monique Villa said.

Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement that it was "urgently seeking information from the Iranian authorities on the reported accusations."

It said British officials had raised the case "repeatedly and at the highest levels and will continue to do so at every available opportunity," including contact between Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and his Iranian counterpart.

It said Britain has not been granted consular access to Zaghari-Ratcliffe because Iran does not recognize dual nationality.

Iran's government harbors deep suspicions about both Britain and the United States, linked in part to their role in a 1953 coup. A billboard put up in Tehran before February's parliamentary election showed the face of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II replaced with that of a camel, warning voters about "foreign meddling."

The Revolutionary Guard, a paramilitary force charged with protecting the Islamic Republic, increasingly has targeted those with Western ties since the nuclear deal in which Iran agreed to limit its uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

A prisoner swap in January between Iran and the U.S. freed Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian and three other Iranian-Americans.

But at least two Iranian-Americans, businessman Siamak Namazi and his 80-year-old father, Baquer Namazi, remain in detention. Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese internet freedom advocate who is a U.S. permanent resident and has done work for the American government , is held as well. The whereabouts of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, are still unknown.

Also held is Homa Hoodfar, a Canadian-Iranian retired university professor who had been on a trip to see family and do research after the death of her husband, according to her family.

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Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.
The Latest: Greek fisherman arrested for ferrying Syrians

BERLIN (AP)  The Latest on Europe's response to the influx of refugees (all times local):

6:45 p.m.

Greek police have arrested an elderly fisherman suspected of illegally ferrying back to Turkey Syrian refugees fed up with being stuck in the financially struggling country.

Medecins Sans Frontieres and SOS Meditarrenee personal attend a medical training course aboard the "Aquarius" Tuesday June 14, 2016 in the Mediterranean Sea. The two humanitarian organisations have joined forces on the vessel to rescue migrants on their way from North Africa to Europe. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)

Police say the 70-year-old was caught Tuesday near the border town of Didymoteicho. He was allegedly trying to carry nine refugees across the Evros River, which forms the Greek-Turkish frontier, in his eight-meter (26-foot) boat.

Police said he charged 50 euros per passenger. The arrest was announced Wednesday.

About 57,000 refugees and other migrants have been trapped in Greece since Balkan border closures in March shut down the migrant route towards Europe's prosperous heartland. Over a million migrants had taken that route over the previous year. All entered through Turkey, and didn't want to stay in Greece.

Several Syrians are now trying to return home.

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4:30 p.m.

New European Union figures show that member states have relocated just over 2,000 refugees from Greece and Italy over the past nine months.

The figures were released Wednesday, nine months after the EU pledged to jointly take in 160,000 refugees. The EU says that 6,000 refugees must be relocated each month for the plan to work.

The EU's top migration official Dmitris Avramopoulos said the figure "clearly falls short," and he repeated past warnings that "member states have to speed up their efforts. There is no time to lose."

As of June 14, the total number of people relocated was 2,280, including 1,503 from Greece and 777 from Italy.

The plan was meant to help the overburdened entry countries cope with hundreds of thousands of migrants who entered Europe last year.

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3:25 p.m.

The European Union says its agreement with Turkey to stem the flow of migrants is producing results but more remains to be done.

Top EU migration official Dmitris Avramopoulos said Wednesday that "we have seen some positive progress," including the return of 462 migrants from the Greek islands to Turkey since March 20.

But he added: "Work still has to be done. Both sides need to deliver."

Human rights group Amnesty International said the results are nothing to be proud of.

Iverna McGowan, head of Amnesty's EU office, said "the results are thousands of people stranded in dire conditions in Greece, refugees being forced back across Turkey's border with Syria, and Syrians being at risk of deportation from Greece to Turkey."

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1:30 p.m.

A Turkish official says a deal with the European Union to curb illegal migration has led to a "sharp decline in irregular crossings."

Speaking to journalists in Istanbul, the official said Wednesday some 462 migrants of various nationalities had been sent from the Greek islands back to Turkey. In line with the agreement, 508 Syrians who were living in Turkish refugee camps have been relocated to Europe since April 1.

The EU has agreed to receive one Syrian refugee from Turkey for each Syrian that Greece sends to Turkey.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly on the issue.

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1:15 p.m.

More than 3,400 migrants died or were recorded as missing as they tried to cross borders around the globe in this year's first five months  over 80 percent of them trying to reach Europe by sea, the International Organization for Migration said Wednesday.

The number is 12 percent above the 2,780 deaths or disappearances recorded during the same period in 2015. Over the whole of last year, the IOM estimated Wednesday that 5,400 migrants died or were reported missing worldwide.

Medecins Sans Frontieres and SOS Meditarrenee personal carry out training aboard the "Aquarius" Tuesday June 14, 2016 in the Mediterranean Sea. The two humanitarian organisations have joined forces on the vessel to rescue migrants on their way from North Africa to Europe. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
Israeli official warns Hezbollah against another war

JERUSALEM (AP)  Israel's head of military intelligence says Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon should be wary of another war with Israel.

Marking 10 years since the monthlong 2006 summer war with Hezbollah, Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi says Wednesday that Israel is more prepared than ever and that Hezbollah would suffer a great deal if it initiated another battle.

Speaking at the Herzliya Conference, Halevi said that if Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah "knew our abilities, our knowledge, our preparedness, he wouldn't risk another conflict."
Beach patrol head faces sanctions over locker room email

OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP)  An official in Maryland says the longtime head of the Ocean City Beach Patrol could be disciplined for an email instructing employees to use the locker room that "corresponds to your DNA."

News outlets report that Capt. Butch Arbin wrote in an email to dozens of patrol members Sunday, "If you're NOT SURE go to Target." The retailer's policy allows transgender customers to use the restrooms that match their gender identity.

Arbin says he wasn't trying to make a political statement about transgender people. He says he was responding to female employees' complaints about men who aren't transgender using women's changing facilities out of convenience.
Berlin police seize heroin haul worth $3.6 million

BERLIN (AP)  Berlin police say they've arrested two men on narcotics charges and are seeking a third after finding 80 kilograms (176 pounds) of heroin worth an estimated 3 million euros ($3.6 million).

Police said Wednesday the heroin was brought in from outside Germany. It was found Friday in suitcases and stashed inside rolls of industrial plastic wrap in the back of a car.

A 36-year-old Lebanese man suspected of importing the drugs was arrested, along with his 23-year-old German-Lebanese accomplice who is accused of being responsible for the storage and trafficking of the heroin. A 46-year-old Lebanese man is still on the run.
Feds propose shutting down big for-profit college accreditor

BOSTON (AP)  The U.S. Department of Education proposed on Wednesday to shut down the nation's largest accreditor of for-profit colleges, a rare move that could put dozens of schools at risk of losing federal funding.

The recommendation from the department's staff would sever ties with the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, a national group that oversees 900 campuses and wields the seal of approval that colleges need to receive federal aid. The group has been under intense scrutiny after critics, including attorneys general in 13 states, accused it of overlooking deception at some schools.

Anthony Bieda, the council's chief, said it takes the education department's recommendation "very seriously."

"The recommendation to deny recognition is disappointing, and must be addressed directly and decisively by the board and senior management of the agency," he said.

The group was up for a routine review this month after last passing federal inspection in 2013, but this time federal officials said they found major problems with its standards.

A 27-page report slammed the council's handling of institutions like the now-defunct Corinthian College, a chain of schools that continued to receive accreditation even as it was being investigated for fraud.

It also blamed the council for failing to stop schools from falsifying data about the success of students, failing to stop misleading recruitment tactics and failing to punish schools that employed those practices.

"Its monitoring regime appears insufficient to deter widespread misconduct regarding placement, recruiting and admissions," according to the report.

The recommendation is only the first step in a broader process to decide the council's fate. Next, a bipartisan advisory committee will issue its own proposal before top education officials make the final decision. The council's leaders said they plan to make their case to the advisory committee at its meeting next week.

By attempting to revoke the council's authority, the Education Department is taking the strongest action it can against an accreditor. Education officials could recall only one other time when they had recommended a shutdown.

If the council is forced to close, its schools would have 18 months to find new accreditors or lose access to federal funding, the top source of revenue for most for-profit colleges. The council's schools received $4.7 billion in federal aid last year.

Some of the council's critics celebrated the recommendation, saying it's a sign that the Education Department is taking a firmer stance against accreditors.

"This decision sends a strong and unambiguous signal that accreditation must do a better job acting as a gatekeeper to federal funds," said Ben Miller, senior director for postsecondary education at the Center for American Progress, a liberal public policy organization in Washington, D.C.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, who led a push against the council, urged the department to follow through on its recommendation.

"We have no time to waste when it comes to ensuring a quality, affordable education for students, and providing the regulatory oversight these schools so desperately need," she said in a statement.

But some warn that closing the accreditation group could bring unintended consequences.

Terry Hartle, senior vice president of the American Council on Education, a group representing the heads of colleges and universities, said it could take more than 18 months for some colleges to gain accreditation elsewhere. If they miss that deadline, schools and their students would be ineligible for federal financial aid, but students would still be responsible for existing federal loans.

"It's going to set off a mad scramble for the schools to find a new accreditor," Hartle said. "There could be a significant number of students who find themselves caught up in this as well."
An autistic man who was coaxed by two men into jumping into a freezing ocean for $20 and cigarettes surprised a courtroom by asking the judge to spare one of them from jail - because the bully's girlfriend 'was crying'.

Nicholas Formica, 22, and Christopher Tilton, 21, had dared Parker Drake, 20, to eat a hamster for money, walk into the ocean for two packs of cigarettes or jump from the jetty for the cigarettes and $20.

Drake, of Howell, New Jersey, declined the first two options but agreed to jump into the jetty in a prank that was filmed and posted online last February.

Formica and Tilton were convicted of endangering the welfare of an incompetent person in the prank that was filmed and posted online.

Above, Christine Marshall with her son Parker Drake after Nicholas Formica and Christopher Tilton were found guilty in Manasquan, NJ, municipal court Tuesday. The two men were convicted of endangering the welfare of an incompetent person by coaxing Drake, who is autistic, to jump into a freezing ocean for $20 and cigarettes

Tilton (left) and Formica (right) were sentenced to probation and community service. Municipal prosecutor Anthony Vecchio initially asked for a 90-day jail term for Formica because of his prior criminal record - until Drake asked the judge to show him leniency

They were found guilty on Tuesday and sentenced to probation and community service.

However, municipal prosecutor Anthony Vecchio had initially asked for a 90-day jail term for Formica because of his prior criminal record.

Drake then stood up and said, 'Do you think [Nicholas] Formica should really go to jail?', according to Asbury Park Press.

'You're telling me not to send him to jail?' the judge asked Drake.

'I think there should be something else,' Drake replied.

The judge instead ordered Formica to perform 90 days of community service at a facility for disabled children, and suspended a 90-day jail term.

Formica, who was placed on probation for a year, had been out on early release from a three-year prison term for conspiring to commit theft when Drake was subjected to the bullying.

Drake wanted Formica to be spared jail because the bully's 'girlfriend was crying, and she doesnt need that', he said after the trial

Formica also had a conditional discharge for a previous offense, he said.

Capotorto sentenced Tilton, who has no prior criminal record, to perform 60 days of community service at a facility for the disabled. Tilton, 21, of Howell, also was fined $506.

When asked later why he asked the judge to show leniency, Drake said, 'His girlfriend was crying, and she doesnt need that'.

Drake had testified last month that the water was so cold and his body became so numb that he thought he was going to die.

Defense attorneys argued that Drake made a choice that could have been avoided.

'A series of choices were presented ... and there was a fourth choice: Just don't do it,' Formica's attorney, Alton Kenney, said. 'Nobody compelled, nobody forced and nobody threatened Mr. Drake. He was given a series of choices.'

But the judge said there was a possibility that Drake didn't know he could have refused the options.

'It turned out that this prank was well more than that,' he said. 'Fortunately for them, this prank didn't turn out to be something deadly.'
40 years after students sparked apartheid's end, a new anger

JOHANNESBURG (AP)  The day was a key moment in the long campaign to end South Africa's harsh apartheid system of white-minority rule. Forty years ago, black students in Johannesburg's Soweto township marched in protest and some were gunned down by police, appalling the world.

South Africa has changed dramatically since June 16, 1976 , when the high school students defied being forced to study in Afrikaans, the language of their white rulers, and hundreds were killed as the protests spread across the country. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, later winning the Nobel Peace Prize and becoming the country's first black president. In 1994, blacks got the right to vote. "Whites only" barriers fell.

But a new wave of student protests, over fees charged for higher education, show the country remains starkly divided between the haves and have-nots. Although living conditions have improved, many blacks are still in poor neighborhoods without electricity or running water in their homes. Meanwhile, concerns are growing that a new black elite is plundering the country's wealth.

In this photo taken Saturday, June 11, 2016, children pass a wall mural displayed at a museum opposite the Isaac Morrison School in Soweto. South Africa has changed dramatically since June 16, 1976 , when the high school students defied being forced to study in Afrikaans, the language of their white rulers, and hundreds were killed as the protests spread across the country. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, later winning the Nobel Peace Prize and becoming the country's first black president. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

"What has changed? Nothing has changed," said Seth Mazibuko, one of the organizers of the 1976 Soweto protest who is today the head of the June 16 Youth Development Foundation. "When we were fighting, we were saying doors must be opened to all. Now these doors, when they open, they're closed for those who do not have money."

Economic stress is widespread. In a country where the well-off, including most whites, live behind high walls and enjoy sleek malls and international chains including the newly arrived Starbucks, more than a quarter of the 55 million people are unemployed, official statistics say. Unofficially, it's higher. Government management of the economy is a concern. South Africa's credit rating is near junk status.

Many of those who supported the Soweto uprising 40 years ago are troubled by the protests of today, in which students or others have burned schools and other community structures. Student protests since October have caused property damage of more than $30 million, the country's minister for higher education said last week.

"You can fight whatever you want to fight, but don't burn down what belongs to you," said Peter Magubane, whose photographs of the students' clash with police in 1976 helped rivet the world's attention on the apartheid regime.

At the nearby Apartheid Museum, where visitors receive tickets that randomly designate them as white or black and enter through corresponding doors, archivist Jacqui Masiza says she gets emotional putting together the narrative of the 1976 uprising. She was a 10-year-old student in Soweto at the time.

Economic equality is not yet where South Africa's people want it to be, she said. She understands why this generation of students is angry and says that promises made have not yet been fulfilled.

But 40 years ago, the student protest leaders were more disciplined, Masiza said. "If you can find leaders like that among our youth right now, that would be so greatly appreciated."

To today's generation of students, that sounds like a challenge.

Students once again marched through Soweto last weekend, following one of the routes used by the protesters in 1976. This time the students, as well as church leaders and survivors, were protected by police, both black and white.

Sizwe Makhubo, 17, expressed optimism for South Africa, mixed with frustration.

A high school like his in Soweto can have about 1,000 students, and yet the government offers it just three scholarships, he said. "So only the top three students get to go to university, and what does that say about the rest?"

Such competition for a decent future can breed hatred, he said. Undaunted, the slightly built Makhubo said he hopes to become a lawyer, a politician, and make South Africa a better place.

"Let's show this old generation we're not as lost as they think we are," he said.

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Associated Press videographers Nqobile Ntshangase and Renee Graham contributed.

In this photo taken Saturday June 11, 2016 church members pray for victims of the June 1976 uprising as they prepare to march to mark the 40th anniversary in Soweto, South Africa. The day was a key moment in the long campaign to end South Africa's harsh apartheid system of white-minority rule. Forty years ago, black students in Johannesburg's Soweto township marched in protest and some were gunned down by police, appalling the world. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

In this photo taken Saturday, June 11, 2016, a child pushes a wheelbarrow beneath a giant photo by photographer Peter Magubane displayed at a museum opposite the Isaac Morrison School in Soweto. South Africa has changed dramatically since June 16, 1976 , when the high school students defied being forced to study in Afrikaans, the language of their white rulers, and hundreds were killed as the protests spread across the country. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, later winning the Nobel Peace Prize and becoming the country's first black president. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 file photo, students burn portable toilets during their protest against university tuition hikes outside the union building in Pretoria, South Africa. Many of those who supported the Soweto uprising 40 years ago are troubled by the protests of today, in which students or others have burned schools and other community structures. Student protests since October have caused property damage of more than $30 million, the country's minister for higher. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

FILE - In this April 27, 2011 file photo South African photographer, Sam Nzima, poses with his iconic photo showing 13-year-old Hector Pieterson, being carried after being shot by police during the 1976 Soweto uprising. The day was a key moment in the long campaign to end South Africa's harsh apartheid system of white-minority rule. Forty years ago, black students in Johannesburg's Soweto township marched in protest and some were gunned down by police, appalling the world. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell, File)

In this photo taken Friday June 3, 2016, students from the Isaac Morrison school listen as a defence force recruitment drive is held at their school in Soweto. South Africa has changed dramatically since June 16, 1976 , when the high school students defied being forced to study in Afrikaans, the language of their white rulers, and hundreds were killed as the protests spread across the country. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, later winning the Nobel Peace Prize and becoming the country's first black president. In 1994, blacks got the right to vote. "Whites only" barriers fell. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

In this photo taken Saturday June 11 2016 a former pupil from the Madikane High School in Soweto passes a plaque in memory of victim Abiel Lebelo ahead of a march to mark the 40th anniversary of the June 1976 uprising in Soweto, South Africa. The day was a key moment in the long campaign to end South Africa's harsh apartheid system of white-minority rule. Forty years ago, black students in Johannesburg's Soweto township marched in protest and some were gunned down by police, appalling the world. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

In this photo taken Sunday, June 12, 2016, Seth Mazibuko, one of the organisers of the 1976 uprising and today the head of the June 16 Youth Development Foundation is photographed at the Hector Pieterson memorial in Soweto. South Africa has changed dramatically since June 16, 1976 , when the high school students defied being forced to study in Afrikaans, the language of their white rulers, and hundreds were killed as the protests spread across the country. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, later winning the Nobel Peace Prize and becoming the country's first black president. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

In this photo taken Friday June 3, 2016, pupils from the Isaac Morrison school listen as a defence force recruitment drive is held at their school in Soweto, South Africa. South Africa has changed dramatically since June 16, 1976 , when the high school students defied being forced to study in Afrikaans, the language of their white rulers, and hundreds were killed as the protests spread across the country. In 1990, Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, later winning the Nobel Peace Prize and becoming the country's first black president. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)
Turkey IS trial ends in life sentences for 3 foreigners

ISTANBUL (AP)  A Turkish court handed down multiple life sentences to three foreign Islamic State militants on Wednesday after finding them guilty of murder, according to a lawyer.

The men were arrested in 2014 after killing a soldier, a policeman and a truck driver in an armed attack in Nigde, central Turkey.

The incident is viewed as the first act of violence carried out by members of the Islamic State group inside Turkey and raised awareness of the threat the organization poses to the country.

Since then, authorities have blamed IS for major bombings in the border town of Suruc and the capital Ankara, as well as attacks on tourists in Istanbul.

The men were identified as Cendrim Ramadani, a Swiss citizen; Benyamin Xu, a German; and Muhammed Zakiri, a Macedonian.

Ali Cil, the lawyer of the civilian victim, said they were also found guilty of wanting to overthrow the government by force.

Ramadani received five aggravated life sentences, Xu four, and Zakiri one. An aggravated life sentence is the worst possible penalty in the Turkish criminal code. Prisoners serving such sentences are kept in solitary cells and have only one hour exercise per day. They are not eligible for pardons or conditional release.

The three men were also sentenced to more than 124 additional years each behind bars and fined $77,000 each.

"I hope they rot in jail," said the killed soldier's mother, Hatice Kozanoglu.

Media reports said the court also found a fourth suspect, Fuad Movsumov, guilty of membership in a terrorist organization, a lesser charge. Movsumov, identified by the private Dogan news agency as a Macedonian national, was sentenced to 13 years and 9 months in jail.

Turkey shares long borders with Syria and Iraq, two war-torn nations where IS controls large pockets of territory.

The porous nature of those borders has made Turkey a natural stepping stone for jihadi fighters.

Turkey, a member of the U.S.-led coalition against IS, has stepped up controls at airports and land borders and deported thousands of foreign fighters. But it is struggling to tackle the threat of IS militants who have cells inside Turkey and sometimes fire into the country from across the Syrian border.
The Latest: Gawker posts anti-Trump playbook; is it DNC's?

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Latest on campaign 2016 (all times Eastern):

9:20 p.m.

The website Gawker has published what it says appears to be the Democratic National Committee's anti-Donald Trump playbook, which was accessed by hackers in a data breach.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump greets former Georgia football coach Vince Dooley during a rally at the Fox Theater, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

The 200-plus-page document is largely a compilation of Trump's past statements and aims to paint the presumptive GOP nominee as a divisive liar and bad businessman.

People familiar with the breach say sophisticated hackers linked to Russian intelligence services broke into the DNC's computer networks and gained access to confidential emails, chats and opposition research on the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

The DNC would not confirm Wednesday that it had produced the document posted by Gawker.

Trump is accusing the DNC of inventing the "hack" to provide a distraction from Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's issues.

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5:00 p.m.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who grew weary of being asked whether he would vote for Donald Trump as president, says he doesn't plan to vote for his party's presumptive presidential nominee.

The Republican governor visited to Prince George's County on Wednesday to meeting with elected officials, tour business and talk with constituents.

The Washington Post reports that during the visit, he was asked if he would vote for Trump.

"No, I don't plan to," Hogan said. The governor said he's not sure who he will vote for.

Hogan has made no secret of his disdain for Trump, and has said he won't attend next month's Republican National Convention.

Hogan is a Republican governor in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1.

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2:30 p.m.

Republican Donald Trump has a message to his fellow Republicans: I'm happy to go it alone.

The presumptive GOP nominee told a rally crowd in Atlanta, Georgia on Wednesday afternoon that Republicans can "either stick together or let me just do it by myself."

And he predicted that he can do it "very nicely' alone.

Trump has faced growing backlash from many in his party over various proposals, including his call to temporarily bar foreign Muslims from entering the country.

But Trump brushed off that criticism, insisting his approach will win in November.

He said, "I think you're going to have a very good result. I think we'll be very happy. I'll run as a Republican."

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2:05 p.m.

Republican Donald Trump has been interrupted repeatedly by protesters while holding a rally in Atlanta.

The presumptive GOP nominee for president is delivering one of his signature speeches at the historic Fox Theatre in Atlanta.

Numerous individuals have been escorted out by Trump security staffers and police after interrupting.

One of the protesters had shouted: "You lie!"

Trump urged his supporters not to harm the disruptors, saying: "We even have to love our protesters."

Trump also noted how polarizing his candidacy has become.

"My problem is they love me or they hate me," Trump said.

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1:55 p.m.

Hillary Clinton is continuing to frame Donald Trump as unfit to be commander-in-chief in an era of international unrest.

The presumptive Democratic nominee said at a Virginia campaign event Wednesday that Trump's proposals, particularly his call to block non-citizen Muslims from entering the United States, proves he's "temperamentally unfit" for the presidency. She said the Republicans' ideas are "dangerous" and would make Americans less safe by damaging U.S. partnerships within the Muslim community.

"Not one of Donald Trump's reckless ideas" would have prevented the Sunday massacre at a gay night club in Orlando. As he killed at least 49 people, shooter Omar Mateen, pledged loyalty to several militant Islamic groups, including camps that oppose one another.

Clinton said anti-immigrant policies would not keep people like Mateen, an American citizen, from becoming radicalized. And she noted Mateen was born in Queens, New York, "only miles from where Donald Trump himself was born."

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1:50 p.m.

Republican Donald Trump is again warning of the dangers of Islamic extremism in the wake of the Orlando attack.

The presumptive GOP nominee told supporters at a Wednesday rally in Atlanta that the United States is taking in thousands of refugees when they "don't think like us" and we don't know "who the hell they are." He's renewing his call for a temporary ban on Muslim immigrants.

Trump also said authorities need to "respectfully" surveille mosques.

Without specifically mentioning Muslims, he also repeated his claim that some people are "not reporting" others who pose a risk.

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10:00 a.m.

Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump says he will be meeting with the National Rifle Association to discuss ways to block people on terrorism watch lists or no fly lists from buying guns.

Trump announced the meeting via a tweet Wednesday, without providing any details on the time or place. The meeting follows a mass shooting in Orlando in which the gunman, Omar Mateen, had been on the government's terrorist watch list for 10 months before being removed.

The NRA endorsed Trump last month. The nonprofit group advocates for gun rights.

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3:00 a.m.

The raw, boisterous Donald Trump who stormed to victory in the Republican primary season has been seen more frequently in the days since a gunman killed 49 people at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

And since the Orlando shooting rampage early Sunday, there's been no sign of the more measured Trump who politely celebrated on the final night of the GOP campaign season.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee said Tuesday that "we cannot continue to be politically correct."
NATO ponders getting more involved in anti IS-fight

BRUSSELS (AP)  The NATO alliance says it is considering getting more involved in efforts to combat the Islamic State extremist group.

Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says NATO defense ministers on Wednesday ordered the alliance to draft a proposal for training the Iraqi military inside Iraq, and helping build its capacity.

NATO brass will also advise how alliance AWACS surveillance aircraft could help the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition by monitoring Syrian and Iraqi airspace.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter speaks during a media conference after a meeting of NATO defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. NATO concluded a two-day meeting on Wednesday with discussions on the situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter welcomed the development, but said it should go further.

Following a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Carter said he'd "like to see NATO do more."

As examples, he cited NATO's proven ability to assemble a multinational military force and integrate contributions from smaller countries in a collective effort.
4th person dies as a result of food riots rocking Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  A wave of lootings and food riots in crisis-hit Venezuela claimed a fourth life Wednesday and security forces stepped up their presence in a coastal city where more than 20 businesses were violently ransacked.

Officials confirmed that a 17-year-old had died in a hospital in the restive mountain town of Merida after being shot Tuesday during disturbances there.

On Venezuela's coast, security forces patrolled the streets of Cumana after businesses were looted. Luis Acuna, the socialist governor of Sucre state, said that more than 400 people, some of them minors, were detained during protests on Tuesday that witnesses said were sparked by food shortages.

A woman argues with the police during a protest for food at the Catia neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Tensions rose after customers waited in line for hours and their frustration turned into a street protest. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Following the vandalism, the city's mayor suspended the use of motorcycles for 72 hours. There were reports that two people were killed during clashes but Acuna said the deaths were unrelated to the disturbances.

At least 10 looting incidents, many of them dispersed by tear gas and riot batons, are occurring daily across Venezuela, according to the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence.

On Tuesday, dozens of residents of a working-class Caracas neighborhood blocked a major thoroughfare less than 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the presidential palace to protest a lack of food. They chanted: "We want food, not mangos," a reference to the increasing dietary dependence on Venezuela's tree-grown tropical fruits when basic staples like flour and milk are impossible to come by.

The government blames the chronic food and medicine shortages on the opposition and an "economic war" it says is being waged in league with the U.S. government.

To avoid the threat of unrest associated with long food lines, it has assigned neighborhood committees linked to the ruling socialist party to distribute food. The move has angered some residents and the opposition, who equate it to rationing and an attempt to force loyalty among Venezuela's poor  traditionally the government's most steadfast constituency but one hard hit by triple-digit inflation and a tanking economy.

"The looting is going to continue because there's hunger," Roberto Briceno Leon, director of the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, told the AP. "The government's response appears to be insufficient or politicized, so people are resorting to robbery."

On Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela advised American citizens living in the country that protests and unrest are likely to continue over the coming weeks and urged them to take extra precaution.

A police officer talks to an angry crowd during a protest for food at the Catia neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Tensions rose after customers waited in line for hours and their frustration turned into a street protest. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

A man kisses his baby during a protest for food at the Catia neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Tensions rose after customers waited in line for hours and their frustration turned into a street protest. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
GOP-led House committee pushes through censure of IRS head

WASHINGTON (AP)  A Republican-run House committee Wednesday voted along party lines to censure IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, saying he failed to provide information demanded by Congress and lied under oath as lawmakers investigated allegations the agency targeted tea party groups that had applied for tax-exempt status.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Koskinen had made untrue statements to investigators examining the IRS' treatment of conservative groups, including testimony the agency had turned over emails requested by Congress when it had not.

"Mr. Koskinen failed to testify truthfully before Congress," said Chaffetz, R-Utah, charging that the agency under Koskinen dragged its feet in producing key evidence and in reporting that employees had destroyed emails sought.

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, right, talks to the committee's ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, during the committee's hearing to consider a censure of IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

The 23-15 party-line vote doesn't mean the measure will get a floor vote, however. Two other committees have jurisdiction and Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has not rushed to embrace the idea.

Koskinen erroneously testified that the IRS had preserved emails relevant to the investigation when in reality hundreds of backup computer tapes had been destroyed. Republicans said he did not do enough to preserve and turn over the emails by a former IRS official, Lois Lerner, that involved scrutiny of conservative groups seeking tax-exempt donations.

Chaffetz said Koskinen was slow to correct testimony after the agency learned of the backup tapes.

Democrats said Republicans had jumped to conclusions unsupported by the evidence. They cited testimony by the agency's own watchdog, a Republican appointee, who did not find evidence of political targeting of tea party groups or obstruction of the investigation.

"Your core accusation against Commissioner Koskinen is that he was deceitful, that he misled Congress. But you completely disregard the difference between a misstatement and a lie," said the committee's top Democrat, Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings. "You ignore the fact that Commissioner Koskinen testified before us based on what he knew at the time. You suggest this distinction does not matter, but it does."

Chaffetz and other conservatives have pushed since last summer to impeach Koskinen and remove him from his job. Koskinen says the impeachment charges without merit.

The censure resolution under consideration calls for Koskinen's resignation and for his pension to be taken away, but measure is not binding.

GOP leaders have displayed no enthusiasm for impeaching Koskinen, and any such move would be the responsibility of the House Judiciary Committee. Even if the House were to pass an impeachment resolution, it would take a two-thirds vote by the Senate to convict Koskinen.

Republicans in Congress have long detested the IRS and have slashed its budget in recent years. The agency apologized in 2013 for subjecting conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status to unusually tough scrutiny.

The IRS says it has fully cooperated with four congressional committees investigating the agency.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, right, and the committee's ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., left, confer with staff members on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, during the committee's hearing to consider a censure of IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, left, presides over the committee's hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, to consider a censure of IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
Planned leadership change at Great Books college stirs angst

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  Tiny St. John's College offers the most venerable of liberal arts educations: a course of study founded firmly on discussions of the Great Books of western civilization.

These days, though, some say the college's Board of Visitors and Governors strayed from the college's spirit of inclusive dialogue as it made plans to consolidate leadership. The board proposes naming one president over the college's two campuses in Annapolis, Maryland, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, instead of the current two presidents.

Board members say they aim to improve the college's fiscal health, not change its unique curriculum. They say the plan is driven by the need to trim expenses and confront financial challenges that many colleges face, especially small ones, following the Great Recession.

The campus of St. Johns College is seen in a June 10, 2016 photo in Annapolis, Md. The colleges Board of Visitors and Governors proposes naming one president over the colleges two campuses in Annapolis, Maryland, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, instead of the current two presidents. Board members say they aim improve the colleges fiscal health by being more efficient, not change its unique curriculum. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)

"College boards have become very sensitive to the fact that they have to be running efficient operations," said St. John's board chairman Perry Lerner. "These are not times to ignore the priority of running an efficient operation."

But critics say the plan took shape behind closed doors without sufficient student and faculty input, contrary to St. John's tradition.

"To me, this is an example of a larger trend in colleges and universities where boards have shut out the people who truly comprise the college from decisions that affect them and, in St. John's case, it's a particularly pernicious thing to do, because we pride ourselves on deliberation and openness in the classroom in faculty meetings and in our governance," said Mary Duffy, a 2004 Annapolis campus alumna. She has been following developments closely and publishing internal board documents online.

One of the nation's oldest institutions of higher learning, St. John's boasts that Maryland's four signers of the Declaration of Independence helped found it in Annapolis in 1784, and its roots trace back to an earlier school founded in 1696. The Santa Fe campus was established in 1964.

Undergraduates at the two campuses, numbering fewer than 1,000 altogether, study classic texts from Plato to Einstein, participating in small seminars with the faculty.

With the announcement that Christopher Nelson is retiring as president after 25 years at the helm of the leafy campus nestled in Maryland's historic capital beside the U.S. Naval Academy, the board is weighing a proposal to put both campuses under Santa Fe president Mark Roosevelt, who was appointed in January.

A great-grandson of former President Theodore Roosevelt, he had been president of Antioch College in Ohio since 2011. While there, he raised more than $80 million to revive the liberal arts institution.

Critics say Annapolis faculty members weren't consulted in discussions leading up to the proposal, which was made public in May and is scheduled for a vote on Friday by the college's board. While the college has recently been accepting comments from student and faculty, opponents question how much that input will affect the outcome. They fear the process is setting a bad precedent.

"The reason why these proposals are concerning is because even though dialogue permeates our entire school and our school's culture, the manner and nature of these proposals seem to run the risk of allowing this culture to be moved from the forefront in the future," said Sawyer Neale, secretary of the student government group in Annapolis, in a message to a reporter on Facebook. That group opposes the change because of insufficient notice and opportunity for participation.

Nelson, who is remaining in Annapolis through the next school year to ease the transition, says the issue of the two campuses' governance has arisen before during a president's retirement, and the campuses have had one president in the past. The plan, he said, is to streamline operations and save money by consolidating offices that are duplicated on both campuses.

"It appears that we can do this work with a smaller more efficient staff, because there's less backing-and-forthing with people who have different ways of doing things, who have different opinions, different judgments and so on," said Nelson  and he notes that he graduated from the Santa Fe campus.

Nelson also said the change isn't expected to alter the curriculum or student life at the campuses. It's also far from decided how the final proposal will look when the board votes.

Jonathan Tuck, who began teaching on the Annapolis campus in 1979, said there are fears that the board considers the college an anachronism in need of change. The college is so unlike others, it takes a while to understand it, said Tuck, who retired in 2013 but still serves as a tutor there.

"I worry that people who only have an incomplete knowledge of the principles of the college may make peremptory decisions about what we're going to do, and we won't have any power to resist that," he said.
Kosovo premier says deal reached on EU's rule of law mission

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  Kosovo's prime minister has confirmed that the government has reached an agreement with the European Union to extend by two years its rule-of-law mission, known as EULEX.

Isa Mustafa said Wednesday the agreement was concluded a day earlier, the last day of the EULEX mandate, in a meeting with the EU office head in Pristina, Samuel Zbogar, and a U.S. embassy representative.

After a response letter from EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, the Cabinet will pass two laws that also need to be approved at the parliament.
NATO ministers approve expanded aid package for Ukraine

BRUSSELS (AP)  NATO defense ministers have approved an expanded assistance package for Ukraine, whose military forces are battling a Russian-backed insurgency in the country's east.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the package approved Wednesday aims at helping Ukraine "establish more effective defense and security structures," and strengthen civilian control of the Ukrainian armed forces.

The U.S.-led NATO alliance has already been assisting Ukraine in many areas, including in improving logistics, cyberdefense and rehabilitating wounded soldiers.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, second left, is greeted by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, second right, prior to a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. NATO concludes a two-day meeting on Wednesday with discussions on the situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, Pool)

NATO officials said the expanded program will add new projects on countering hybrid warfare and booby traps and other explosive devices, as well as strategic communications.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is expected to attend next month's NATO summit in Warsaw to discuss the next steps for the projects' implementation.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, right, is greeted by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter prior to a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, June 15, 2016. NATO concludes a two-day meeting on Wednesday with discussions on the situation in Afghanistan and Ukraine. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, Pool)
US Attorney steps down months before church shooting trial

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles is stepping down as South Carolina's top federal prosecutor.

Nettles announced in a statement that his final official act as U.S. Attorney would be a Wednesday afternoon address to a Charleston drug court program. He says he's going back to private practice, where he spent more than 20 years before his appointment in 2010.

Nettles opposes the death penalty and spent much of his private practice career on criminal defense, at times fighting to keep defendants off death row. His decision comes just months before the government's prosecution of Dylann Roof, charged with the Charleston church shooting last year. The government is seeking the death penalty.

When he took office, Nettles told The Associated Press he would "follow the law as it's dictated by Washington."

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Twice-caught fugitive, 80, is out of Ohio prison on parole

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A now-80-year-old man who disappeared from an Ohio prison camp in 1959 while serving time for manslaughter and was captured last year in Florida walked away from an Ohio prison facility Wednesday, this time with permission.

Frank Freshwaters was released on parole from a Nelsonville facility to a relative in West Virginia, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, which wouldn't disclose details. The conditions of his parole include five years of supervision.

Freshwaters' attorney, Gordon Beggs, said the parolee was glad to be out.

"He's looking forward to re-entering his retirement years," Beggs said. "Because it's not easy to serve time when you're 79 and 80 years old in state prison."

Freshwaters was caught not once but twice in the decades he was considered a fugitive. He first was found in West Virginia in 1975, but its governor concluded Freshwaters had a "flawless 16-year residency" there and refused to extradite him.

Investigators tracked him down again last year and found the widower living off Social Security benefits under the name William Harold Cox at a trailer in rural Brevard County, Florida. Freshwaters had used the Cox name since the 1970s, and why he wasn't located for so long is a mystery.

Freshwaters was speeding when he fatally struck 24-year-old Eugene Flynt in 1957. The Akron man was imprisoned at the Ohio State Reformatory after violating his probation in the manslaughter case, and he disappeared from a Sandusky prison camp months later in 1959.

Prosecutors who argued against parole acknowledged that Freshwaters has suffered health problems but also said that he had changed his name, avoided accountability and never paid the restitution ordered for his victim's family.

Flynt's son, Richard, took a softer tone, telling parole board members that he didn't believe Freshwaters had paid for what happened but that holding him more accountable was up to them.

Beggs said Freshwaters had worried about being sent back to the Reformatory and subsequently lived a clean life, adopting a new name as a fresh start.

By Wednesday afternoon, Beggs said Freshwaters was back in West Virginia, where folks just know him as Bill.

And Bill was taking a nap.

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Croatia's deputy premier resigns amid government deadlock

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP)  A Croatian deputy prime minister has resigned amid a government deadlock, fueling prospects of early elections in the country.

Tomislav Karamarko announced he was stepping down Wednesday after a state commission found he was in conflict of interest due to his "friendly relations" with a lobbyist for Hungary's state oil company MOL, which has been in conflict with the Croatian government.

Karamarko is the leader of the senior partner in Croatia's governing coalition. His conservative Croatian Democratic Union party has been embroiled in a dispute with the smaller partner, the Most group. It has filed a motion to replace Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic in Parliament on Thursday, with an aim to reshuffle the government.
The Latest: Prosecutors rest case in officer's murder trial

BALTIMORE (AP)  The Latest on the trial of a police van driver facing a second-degree murder charge stemming from the in-custody death of a 25-year-old black man (all times local):

4:20 p.m.

Prosecutors have rested their case against a Baltimore police officer charged with murder in the in-custody death of a man whose neck was broken in the back of a police van.

The prosecution rested Wednesday in the case against Officer Caesar Goodson after calling Stanford O'Neill Franklin to testify as an expert on police training and practices. Franklin is a former commander of education and training for the Baltimore Police Department.

Franklin says Goodson missed opportunities to put Freddie Gray in a seat belt in the back of the van during several stops, instead of leaving him shackled on the floor. But under defense cross-examination, Franklin said officers have discretion "in extreme circumstances" and that regulations didn't allow Goodson to enter the back of the van when he was the only officer there.

The trial is scheduled to continue Thursday.

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1:15 p.m.

A Baltimore paramedic has testified about seeing Freddie Gray at the police station where he was taken after his neck was broken in a police van.

Angelique Herbert testified Wednesday that Gray didn't appear to be breathing. As officers stood nearby, she testified, "I said 'what the F did you guys do?" She says officers hunched their shoulders and said they didn't know what happened.

Herbert spoke of efforts to resuscitate Gray. She said his eyes were open, but he wasn't blinking or responding. She described touching his neck, which she said "felt crumbly, like a bag of rocks."

Herbert also noted she saw blood on Gray's upper lip. Gray died about a week after his arrest in April 2015. The black prisoner's death sparked days of civil unrest in Baltimore.

Officer Caesar Goodson, who is also black, is charged with murder and other offenses in Gray's death.

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12:10 p.m.

A judge says a detective can testify for the defense in the trial of a Baltimore police officer charged with murder in the in-custody death of a man whose neck was broken in the back of a police van.

Judge Barry Williams ruled Wednesday that prosecutors did not turn over material regarding the detective to the defense in a timely manner, and violated discovery rules.

The ruling means Detective Dawnyell Taylor could be called to testify by the defense. Taylor has notes about her conversation with Dr. Carol Allan, the assistant medical examiner who prepared Freddie Gray's autopsy report.

Allan has testified that she had an open mind about Gray's cause of death, but after reading the medical records and performing the autopsy, she determined his death was a homicide and not an accident. Taylor's notes may suggest that at one point, Gray's death was discussed as a possible accident.

Officer Caesar Goodson, the driver of the police transport wagon, faces second-degree murder, manslaughter and other charges stemming from Gray's death.

Gray's death last year sparked days of civil unrest in Baltimore.

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4:45 a.m.

Testimony will resume for the fifth day of trial for a Baltimore police officer facing a murder charge in the in-custody death of a man whose neck was broken in the back of a police van.

The wagon driver, Caesar Goodson, is facing second-degree murder, manslaughter and other charges stemming from the death of Freddie Gray.

Prosecutors say Goodson gave Gray a "rough ride" when he left him unrestrained by a seatbelt but handcuffed and shackled in the back of the wagon. Prosecutors also say Goodson was negligent when he failed to call for medical help.

Goodson's attorneys say the officer didn't give Gray a rough ride, and did nothing wrong.
Great Lakes officials release plan to boost maritime trade

DETROIT (AP)  An organization representing states and Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes region released a $3.8 billion plan Wednesday designed to improve their shared maritime transportation system and make cargo shipping more competitive.

Aside from doubling maritime trade, the region's first-ever waterborne transportation strategy is intended to support industry and reduce environmental damage, said Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan and Premier Kathleen Wynne of Ontario, who released it on behalf of the Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers.

"The maritime system connects regional markets with one another, and with the world," Snyder said. "By leveraging maritime transport on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River, we can boost the region's $5 trillion economy and create jobs throughout the region."

A preliminary analysis suggests the plan would take about 10 years to carry out, the officials said.

Among the proposals:

Building a second lock at Sault. Ste. Marie, Michigan, that can accommodate the largest freighters hauling iron ore, coal and other bulk raw materials.

Clearing a backlog of dredging projects to make sure fully loaded vessels can get through shallow channels and harbors.

Dredging the St. Marys River, the link between Lakes Huron and Superior, to its authorized depth of 27 feet.

Developing a U.S.-Canadian treaty or other binding agreement for managing the regional maritime system and making regulations more consistent.

Streamlining the process of clearing customs for cruise passengers and maritime cargo.

The governors and premiers put together the strategy in collaboration with representatives of government agencies, industry, environmental groups and others, officials said.

"These investments will make it easier, faster and cheaper to move iron ore and other goods from here to other U.S. and overseas markets," said Gov. Mark Dayton of Minnesota.
Prisoner in solitary confinement for 36 years seeks reprieve

FRACKVILLE, Pa. (AP)  A grade-school dropout from Philadelphia sentenced to life in prison for his role in a fatal 1970 gang fight is trying to win his release from solitary confinement, where he has been kept for more than 35 years.

Arthur Johnson, now 63, was accused of taking part in two escape attempts during his early years in prison, the last time in 1984.

But lawyers trying to get him moved to the general prison population say the second claim of an escape attempt seems farfetched because he was already in solitary at the time. In any case, they say, he has had only three minor infractions in the past 25 years.

Bret Grote, an attorney at the Pittsburgh-based Abolitionist Law Center, which fights for prisoner rights, said the punishment amounts to torture. In a federal lawsuit, he argues it violates constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

It's "unthinkable, unimaginable," he told The Philadelphia Inquirer (http://bit.ly/1WN5ihF ).

Prison officials wouldn't discuss Johnson's case but said grounds for placement in solitary include a history of assaults in prison, sexual abuse and escape attempts.

Johnson wrote in a declaration that is part of his lawsuit that prison officials have not allowed him to work, take classes, or participate in prison activities for 36 years.

Solitary, he wrote, "has caused me to not feel emotions like I once did. I can no longer understand the feelings of others. I feel flat and depressed." His cell is "smaller than many cages used to hold animals at zoos," he wrote.

Johnson is now held at the State Correctional Institution in Frackville, about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia. A teenager at the time of the crime, he was placed in what is officially known as "restricted housing" in 1979, when he was 27.

According to his lawsuit, he lives in a 7-by-12-foot space where the lights stay on day and night. He can't see or talk to other inmates. He leaves the cell only to shower, alone, three times a week, and for hour-long outdoor recreation in a caged area about the size of his cell five days a week.

There is only one other Pennsylvania inmate in solitary longer than Johnson: An inmate who killed a guard has been in restricted housing since 1973.

Johnson got involved in a fatal gang fight in 1970. An accomplice who passed a polygraph test blamed Johnson, who court records show confessed, was tried and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He later claimed police beat him and that the confession should not have been admitted because he was classified as "educable mentally retarded," but his appeal failed.

His lawyers said he became a target for "severe state repression" when he began associating with imprisoned members of the black liberation movement in the 1970s.

He has been moved around nearly a dozen state prisons since 1979, but always in solitary, except for six months in 1989-90, when he was housed in federal custody for space reasons, the Inquirer reported.

His lawyers speculate that institutional inertia may play a role in why Johnson is still stuck in solitary.

"This person has been locked down for so long, that sends the message to the guards, to those who run the institution ... that this is where Mr. Johnson belongs," Grote said.

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Poland to send F-16 fighters on mission against IS

WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Poland's defense minister says his country is prepared to deploy four F-16 fighters in a NATO reconnaissance mission against Islamic State fighters in the Middle East.

It would be Poland's first contribution to the effort, though the minister, Antoni Macierewicz, said they would not take part in combat.

Macierewicz spoke Wednesday in Brussels, following a meeting of defense ministers from NATO countries.

He said the F-16s are to go on a "reconnaissance mission in the area" and should arrive in the Middle East before the July 8-9 NATO summit, to be held in Warsaw. He did not say in which country they would be based.
Obama, Dalai Lama anger China with White House meeting

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Barack Obama thanked the Dalai Lama on Wednesday for offering condolences after 49 people were killed in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, as the pair once again angered China by meeting at the White House.

It was Obama's fourth White House meeting with Tibetan spiritual leader, whom Beijing accuses of leading a campaign to split the region off from the rest of China. The Dalai Lama says he simply wants a higher degree of autonomy under Chinese rule.

China condemned the meeting after the White House listed it on Obama's public schedule. The meeting was closed to news media coverage, but the White House released on its Flickr account a photo by the president's official photographer of the two men greeting each other.

White House Press secretary Josh Earnest speaks to the media during the daily briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Earnest said President Barack Obama has warm personal feelings toward the 80-year-old Dalai Lama and fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Obama also appreciates his teachings and believes in preserving Tibets unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Obama has "warm personal feelings" toward the 80-year-old Dalai Lama and fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Obama also appreciates his teachings and believes in preserving Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic traditions, Earnest said.

The Dalai Lama led a minute of silent prayer for the shooting victims during a visit at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington on Monday, the day after a gunman opened fire at an Orlando, Florida, nightclub, killing 49 people and wounding dozens more.

"The president thanked the Dalai Lama for his expression of condolences about the terrorist attack in Orlando over the weekend," Earnest said.

China strongly disapproved of the meeting. Its Foreign Ministry said it had made "solemn representations" to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and expressed its "firm opposition."

"We need to emphasize that the Tibetan issue is China's internal affairs and other countries do not have any right to interfere with this," spokesman Lu Kang told a daily media briefing.

"The 14th Dalai Lama is not simply a religious figure but a political figure in exile who has been conducting secessionist activities internationally under the pretext of religion," the statement said. "If President Obama meets with Dalai Lama, it will send the wrong signal to Tibetan separatist forces, and it will undermine the mutual trust and cooperation between China and the U.S."

Lu urged Washington to "stick by its promise of recognizing Tibet as part of China, and not support Tibetan independence or any separatist activities."

Earnest reiterated Wednesday that U.S. policy toward Tibet remained unchanged.

"Tibet, per U.S. policy, is considered part of the People's Republic of China, and the United States has not articulated our support for Tibetan independence," he said. "Both the Dalai Lama and President Obama value the importance of a constructive and productive relationship between the United States and China. All of those were policy positions of the United States before the meeting occurred. Our policy hasn't changed after the meeting."

China also blames the Dalai Lama and others for inciting a wave of self-immolations among Tibetans in recent years. Dozens have set themselves on fire while calling for the return of the Dalai Lama or for Tibetan independence.

Obama held the meeting in the Map Room, instead of the Oval Office, because the Dalai Lama is not a head of state.

The president had been scheduled to travel to Wisconsin on Wednesday for his first campaign appearance with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton following his formal endorsement of her last week. But the event was postponed after the Orlando shooting, creating room on Obama's schedule to meet with the Dalai Lama, who was already visiting Washington.

Obama planned to visit Orlando on Thursday to pay tribute to the victims and meet with their loved ones.

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FILE - In this June 13, 2016 file photo, the Dalai Lama waves during an event at American University in Washington. President Barack Obama thanked the Dalai Lama on Wednesday, June 14, 2016, for offering condolences after people were killed in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, as the pair once again angered China by meeting at the White House. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
Hummus in land of gumbo: Israeli restaurant standout in NOLA

NEW ORLEANS (AP)  Chef Alon Shaya's unlikely love affair with Louisiana started years ago.

"My first cookbook was Emeril (Lagasse's) 'Louisiana Real & Rustic,'" said the chef, who was born the Tel Aviv, Israel suburb of Bat Yam. "I always thought that one day I could come and cook in Louisiana. It just seemed like this mystical place to me."

While Lagasse made his name by excelling at the city's classic Creole cooking, Shaya has forged a different path since arriving in New Orleans more than a decade ago. In 2015, he opened his namesake restaurant , a bustling Israeli eatery on chic Magazine Street that the James Beard Foundation last month named the Best New Restaurant in the U.S. The food harkens back to dishes he grew up with, drawing on culinary influences from places as diverse as Yemen, Bulgaria, Morocco and Turkey.

In this Tuesday, May 31, 2016 photo, Chef Alon Shaya, proprietor of Shaya Restaurant, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at his restaurant in New Orleans. In 2015, Shaya opened his namesake restaurant, a bustling Israeli eatery on chic Magazine Street that the James Beard Foundation in May named the Best New Restaurant in the U.S. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

There's the lutenitsa, a spicy Bulgarian relish Shaya learned to make from his grandmother, and the shakshuka, a North African dish of eggs, chili peppers, tomatoes and onions.

"The fact that Israel is made up of so many people from so many backgrounds allows that food to attract several different types of people from different backgrounds," Shaya said. "That's kind of the magic of it."

Shaya's family moved to the U.S. when he was 4, settling in Philadelphia. He attended the Culinary Institute of America and then honed his craft at various restaurants. But a friend encouraged him to move to New Orleans in 2003. With a fulltime job at Harrah's Hotel, Shaya also worked on his days off at Restaurant August for famed New Orleans chef John Besh .

Then came Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Shaya evacuated with Besh and the two watched as the city was consumed by water from the failed levees. He quickly returned, doing what he could to help. Shaya recalls cooking red beans and rice with ingredients from a looted Wal-Mart, feeding volunteers who were helping rebuild Willie Mae's Scotch House , and struggling to reopen the steakhouse where he was then the head chef. At times, he slept in Besh's car.

"Those moments throughout those few weeks changed my life forever," Shaya said. "It made me very loyal to the city because I felt like I was really needed down here, like I was a part of something that was just way bigger than myself or way bigger than some cool recipe that I could pick up along the way."

A city that could have been just another became home and Shaya decided to open his first restaurant, Domenica, in 2009, and its sister eatery, Pizza Domenica, five years later. As he describes it, he was "gung-ho, 100 percent Italian." His wife even called him Alonzo.

Then in 2011, he traveled to Israel with other chefs.

"I'm walking through the markets and listening to people talking and I can almost hear my grandmother's voice. I see the foods I grew up eating. ... This light went off inside saying 'Why do I never cook any of this stuff?'" he said.

When he returned, he started sneaking Israeli influenced dishes onto the menu at Domenica  a head of roasted cauliflower served with whipped feta cheese was extremely popular. He also served a lamb Bolognese on a bed of whipped tahini with crostini sprinkled with za'atar.

"I was calling hummus 'ceci puree,'" he said, referring to the Italian word for garbanzo beans. "Before you know it, the menu at Domenica was looking very emotionally torn."

Eventually, he decided it was time to open an Israeli restaurant, imagining a small, neighborhood eatery in the Mid-City area. Instead his partner, Octavio Mantilla took him to the chic  and expensive  Magazine Street locale, complete with a courtyard and an upstairs private dining room.

A little over a year later, the hummus seems to be paying the bills.

It can take weeks to get a prime dinner reservation. The restaurant is only the second in New Orleans to win the James Beard Foundation's Best New Restaurant award (Peche Seafood Grill won in 2014).

The restaurant's success is no surprise to Liz Williams, the head of the city's Southern Food & Beverage Museum, who said New Orleans has a long history of embracing food from other regions.

Snowballs, seen as a quintessential New Orleans dessert, came from Sicilians who emigrated during the 1800s, bringing with them flavored syrups at a time of newly manufactured commercial ice, she said. Many of the city's po boy shops now offer pickled vegetables, and Williams says she's found shrimp Creole flavored with lemongrass  both reflections of the city's Vietnamese influence.

Shaya says he isn't done yet  there's another part of his upbringing he wants to embrace in the town he calls home.

"Deep down inside I would love to open a Philly cheesesteak place someday, but that's not going to happen anytime soon."

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Follow Santana on Twitter @ruskygal.

In this Tuesday, May 31, 2016 photo, Chef Alon Shaya, left, proprietor of Shaya Restaurant, fist pumps a customer who complimented him at his restaurant in New Orleans. In 2015, Shaya opened his namesake restaurant, a bustling Israeli eatery on chic Magazine Street that the James Beard Foundation in May named the Best New Restaurant in the U.S. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

In this Tuesday, May 31, 2016 photo, lunchtime customers sit at the bar at Shaya Restaurant in New Orleans. In 2015, Shaya opened his namesake restaurant, a bustling Israeli eatery on chic Magazine Street that the James Beard Foundation in May named the Best New Restaurant in the U.S. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

In this Tuesday, May 31, 2016 photo, Chef Alon Shaya, proprietor of Shaya Restaurant, talks to customers at his restaurant in New Orleans. In 2015, Shaya opened his namesake restaurant, a bustling Israeli eatery on chic Magazine Street that the James Beard Foundation in May named the Best New Restaurant in the U.S. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

In this May 31, 2016 photo, Shakshouka, which is chermoula, Jerusalem artichokes, spicy chilies, tomato and egg, sits on a table at Shaya Restaurant, in New Orleans. In 2015, Shaya opened his namesake restaurant, a bustling Israeli eatery on chic Magazine Street that the James Beard Foundation in May named the Best New Restaurant in the U.S. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

In this Tuesday, May 31, 2016 photo, from left, Moroccan carrots with chermoula and mint, labneh, lutenitsa, lamb ragu hummus with crispy chickpeas and pita bread, sit on a table at Shaya Restaurant, in New Orleans. In 2015, Shaya opened his namesake restaurant, a bustling Israeli eatery on chic Magazine Street that the James Beard Foundation in May named the Best New Restaurant in the U.S. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

In this Tuesday, May 31, 2016 photo, lamb ragu hummus with crispy chickpeas, sits on a table at Shaya Restaurant, in New Orleans. In 2015, Shaya opened his namesake restaurant, a bustling Israeli eatery on chic Magazine Street that the James Beard Foundation in May named the Best New Restaurant in the U.S. In 2015, Shaya opened his namesake restaurant, a bustling Israeli eatery on chic Magazine Street that the James Beard Foundation in May named the Best New Restaurant in the U.S. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

In this May 31, 2016 photo, Chef Alon Shaya, center, proprietor of Shaya Restaurant, works with his kitchen staff at his restaurant in New Orleans. In 2015, Shaya opened his namesake restaurant, a bustling Israeli eatery on chic Magazine Street that the James Beard Foundation in May named the Best New Restaurant in the U.S. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Senate Dems finish nearly 15-hour filibuster on gun control

WASHINGTON (AP)  A Democratic senator frustrated with congressional inaction on gun violence led a nearly 15-hour Senate filibuster before yielding the floor early Thursday, making a pledge that he and his colleagues would press hard for more gun control three days after 49 people were killed at a Florida nightclub.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy ended a series of speeches with his Democratic colleagues at 2:11 a.m EDT after promising at the outset that he would remain on the Senate floor "until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together." At the end, he said he had won commitments from Republican leaders that they would hold votes on amendments to expand background checks and ban gun sales to suspected terrorists. It is unlikely that those amendments will pass.

Murphy evoked the Newtown school shooting in his state in 2012, and ended his long day with a story of a young boy who was killed in that massacre. Twenty children and six educators died in a shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012. Murphy, 42 and the father of two young boys, said he cannot look into the eyes of those children's relatives and tell them that Congress has done nothing since.

This frame grab provided by C-SPAN shows Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. speaking on the floor of the Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, where he launched a filibuster demanding a vote on gun control measures. The move comes three days after people were killed in a mass shooting in Orlando. (Senate Television via AP)

"For those of us that represent Connecticut, the failure of this body to do anything, anything at all in the face of that continued slaughter isn't just painful to us, it's unconscionable," Murphy said.

Murphy's filibuster started Wednesday as presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would meet with the National Rifle Association about the terror watch list and gun purchases. The tragedy in Orlando, Florida early Sunday was in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

The election-year fight over gun control in the wake of the shootings pits strong proponents of the Second Amendment right to bear arms against those arguing for greater restrictions on the ability to obtain weapons. Trump, who has the endorsement of the NRA, told a rally in Georgia, "I'm going to save your Second Amendment."

Attempts at compromise appeared to collapse within hours of surfacing in the Senate Wednesday, underscoring the extreme difficulty of resolving the divisive issue five months to the election. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who had been involved in talks with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said there was no resolution.

Murphy began speaking at 11:21 a.m., and he showed few signs of fatigue as it ended. By Senate rules, he had to stand at his desk to maintain control of the floor. When asked by another senator how he was feeling just before 7:30 p.m., Murphy said rehabilitation from a back injury in his 20s had helped him build up endurance.

As tourists and staff  and at one point in the evening, Murphy's two sons  looked on from the galleries, the senator maintained his filibuster to a mostly empty chamber, save for a series of Democratic senators who joined him and made their own speeches through the day. Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Cory Booker of New Jersey stayed with Murphy on the floor for most of the debate.

For those following from afar, Democrats gave updates on Twitter using hashtag "#enough."

It's been nearly a decade since Congress made any significant changes to federal gun laws. In April 2007, Congress passed a law to strengthen the instant background check system after a gunman at Virginia Tech who killed 32 people was able to purchase his weapons because his mental health history was not in the instant background check database.

Murphy is seeking a vote on legislation from Feinstein that would let the government bar sales of guns and explosives to people it suspects of being terrorists. Feinstein offered a similar version of the amendment in December, a day after an extremist couple killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, but the Republican-run Senate rejected the proposal on a near party-line vote. Murphy also wants a vote to expand background checks.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was added to a government watch list of individuals known or suspected of being involved in terrorist activities in 2013, when he was investigated for inflammatory statements to co-workers. But he was pulled from that database when that investigation was closed 10 months later.

Trump said he would meet with the NRA to discuss ways to block people on terrorism watch lists or no-fly lists from buying guns. That wouldn't have blocked Mateen from buying a gun, however, since he'd been pulled from the watch list.

In a statement, the NRA said it was happy to meet with Trump and reiterated its support for a bill from Cornyn that would let the government delay firearms sales to suspected terrorists for up to 72 hours. Prosecutors would have to persuade a judge to block the transaction permanently, a bar Democrats and gun control activists say is too high.

Cornyn and other Republicans argue that Feinstein's bill denies due process to people who may be on the terror list erroneously and are trying to exercise their constitutional right to gun ownership.

Separately, Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control group backed by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said it was working on a compromise with Pennsylvania Sen. Patrick Toomey, a Republican in a tough re-election race this year who has sought compromise in the past on gun control measures.

By the end of the day, Toomey had introduced legislation that would direct the attorney general to create a new list of suspected terrorists who could be barred from buying weapons. But Democrats immediately rejected that idea, saying it would create too much of a backlog.

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This story has been corrected to reflect filibuster lasted nearly 15 hours.

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Associated Press writers Erica Werner, Matthew Daly and Andrew Taylor in Washington, Jonathan Lemire in New York and Jill Colvin in Atlanta contributed to this report.
Man who spent 21 years in prison sues police, claims framing

BOSTON (AP)  A man who spent 21 years in prison for a killing he says he didn't commit filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Wednesday against the city of Lynn as well as city and state police officers he accuses of framing him.

Angel Echavarria was convicted of murder in 1996 in the shooting two years prior of Daniel Rodriguez in Lynn and sentenced to life in prison.

He was freed by a judge last year based largely on the investigative work of the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University. The judge cited flawed evidence and an ineffective defense lawyer.

The federal suit seeking unspecified damages was filed one year to the day after Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett decided not to retry the case.

The suit alleges that city and state police who investigated the 1994 shooting death of Rodriguez manipulated evidence.

"The evidence used to convict Angel Echevarria was invented out of whole cloth," attorney Steven Art said.

A state police spokesman and Lynn's city lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Some of the officers are now retired, Art said.

"Defendants subjected plaintiff to arbitrary governmental action that shocks the conscience in that plaintiff was deliberately and intentionally framed for a crime of which he was totally innocent, through defendants' fabrication and suppression of evidence and their use of unduly suggestive identification procedures," the suit says.

The only eyewitness to the shooting, which took place in a known drug den, was the victim's brother, and he twice identified another man as the shooter, Art said.

"That man had been arrested two months prior literally blocks away for the attempted murder of a drug dealer," Art said.

The victim's brother also said the shooter was a clean-shaven Puerto Rican man with a "stocky" build. The 5-foot-10 Echavarria is Dominican and in 1994 weighed 135 pounds and had a full mustache.
Rules on GMO crops in Hawaii heads to US appeals court

HONOLULU (AP)  The fight over regulating genetically engineered crops in three Hawaii counties was back in a federal courtroom Wednesday as some agricultural giants look to protect their farms from bans against modified food.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in Honolulu on ordinances that seek to regulate or outlaw genetically engineered crops in Hawaii, Kauai and Maui counties.

Agrichemical companies and trade associations sued each county, and federal court rulings sided with the businesses. The counties and interested environmental groups want the 9th Circuit to overturn the decisions.

In this Sept. 10, 2014 file photo, Monsanto crew members Gerard Manuel, left, and Rommel Angale, right, count corn sprouts in a field of test hybrids in a breeding nursery near Kihei, Hawaii. The fight over regulating genetically engineered crops and pesticides in three Hawaii counties will be back in a federal courtroom Wednesday, June 15, 2016, as some agricultural giants look to protect their research farms from bans against modified food in the islands. (The Maui News, Matthew Thayer via AP, File) MANDATORY CREDIT

There is scant scientific evidence to prove that foods grown from engineered seeds are less safe than their conventional counterparts. But in the islands, some are still concerned, especially about the use of pesticides.

Lawyers representing the counties argued that state laws do not specifically address genetically engineered crops relevant to the proposed regulations. The counties, which have policing powers to protect their residents, assert that they have the right and obligation to regulate the industry.

They also argued that the Hawaii Supreme Court should have taken up the issue as there is no written opinion specifically on genetically engineered crops in the state.

"This matter should have been turned over via certified question to the Hawaii Supreme Court because it's an important issue for the entire state of Hawaii," said David Minkin, representing the county of Kauai at the hearing.

The state Department of Agriculture regulates harmful plants in Hawaii, however, and attorneys representing the agrichemical companies said the state could and would specifically regulate genetically engineered plants if they felt it was warranted. The department has not said genetically engineered crops are harmful.

"The issue in this case isn't whether pesticides or GE plants should be regulated or what those regulations should be. The only question here is who does the regulating. Under current Hawaii law, the answer is clear," said Chris Landau, representing the companies in the Kauai and Big Island cases. "The state has comprehensive schemes in place."

While the state gives counties some power to regulate issues on a local level, those ordinances cannot conflict with state laws.

In Kauai, the county wants to require the companies to report exactly where and what they are growing and seeks to ban the use of pesticides. The companies argue that the reporting process itself is a form of regulation, and the farms would risk both vandalism and espionage if that reporting were required.

Alika Atay, 62, who is a certified natural Hawaiian farmer who has lived on Maui his entire life, said his major concern is the heavy usage of pesticides.

"In a very short period of time these people have come to our island and they have poisoned our island, "Atay said.

"They are killing the Hawaiian people... if they kill us  or kill our land, kill our water  where do we have to go? This is our home. We must protect our home,"Atay said.

Companies that develop new types crops are drawn to Hawaii's warm weather, which allows them to grow more generations of crops and accelerate their development of new varieties.

Monsanto and Dow Chemical have research farms in Maui County.

U.S. District Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway ruled last June that federal and state law pre-empts that county's ban on cultivating genetically engineered crops, making it invalid. She stressed then that her order addressed only the question of county authority.

Two years ago, Kauai and Hawaii counties adopted measures regulating GMO crops and pesticides. U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren struck them down, saying state law superseded them.

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Lesley Miller(HOUSTON)  Lesley Miller has wrestled with body image issues all her life. Her struggles, which she says evolved into self-harming and eating disorders, kept her from enjoying many simple things in life, including buying a bikini. Until now.



Miller, a rising senior at Rice University in Houston, recently revealed in a poignant Facebook post that after being "continually ashamed and silent," she finally purchased a multi-colored two piece.



"When I was twenty, I lost half my body weight in nine months, my worth for the day solely determined by the number on the scale being lower than the day before," she wrote, referencing her battle with eating disorders. "And then I got tired of waiting. So now I'm twenty one and I bought my first bikini. EVER."



Miller, 21, ended the post, writing, "I want to learn to love all of myself, not just the parts I've been told are acceptable. Because the secret is, I was always enough. And you are too."



The post has gone viral with more than 500 likes and dozens of comments.



Miller, who had lap-band surgery at age 11 to manage her weight, said she shared her story after undergoing treatment for her issues.



"As Ive done that I realized there are so many people going through the same thing as well," she told ABC News. "Not everyone does get help and I realized that when I share my story with other people they can say, 'Me, too. Ive been through that,' and its really nice."



The college student said it wasn't easy to post a picture of herself in a bikini.



"It exposes everything I'm self-conscious about, but I realized that if people feel the need to tear me apart, it's likely they have their own stuff going on," she said.



Instead, she chooses to focus on what she has learned, which is to love herself.



"Were always getting the message that we need to look a certain way or act a certain way and that kind of implies that youre not OK the way that you are," Miller said. "Were inherently valuable the way that we are now."



She continued, "It mightve taken me this long to acknowledge that I am enough, but that doesnt mean that when I weighed 300 pounds that I wasnt acceptable then too."



Miller, who is now writing a memoir about her experience, said she's studying clinical psychology at Rice University so that she can "help other people who are struggling."



Indeed, she has a message for those battling eating disorders.



"I have good body-image days and bad ones, and I still have times when I find myself breaking down in a dressing room or obsessing over the nutrition content in a cookie," Miller said. "I am continually working toward being at peace with my body and loving myself unconditionally. But I want people in the depths of body image or eating struggles to know that it gets better."

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Temperatures hit dangerous levels in parts of South, Midwest

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  Temperatures are climbing to dangerous levels in several Midwestern and Southern states.

The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories for parts of Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Cities where cooling centers are operating include the St. Louis suburb of Arnold and southwest Missouri's Joplin.

Thursday was expected to be the hottest day, with temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s. In the Kansas City area, the humidity will make it feel closer to 110 degrees. National Weather Service meteorologist Jonathan Welsh says "it will be a cooker."
Texas' top criminal court blocks Waco biker case gag order

WACO, Texas (AP)  Texas' highest criminal court reversed a gag order Wednesday in the case of one of the nearly 200 bikers arrested after a police-involved shooting last year outside a Waco restaurant that left nine dead.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals released the decision a year after a lawsuit was filed by Matthew Clendennen against the city of Waco, the local district attorney and the Waco police officer who drafted a warrant for his arrest. Clendennen, a landscape-lighting designer from nearby Hewitt, argued that the warrant lacked probable cause.

The gag order, which was requested by prosecutors, barred parties in the case from speaking about it publicly. Sixteen news organizations, including The Associated Press, told the court last summer they supported Clendennen's request to overturn the gag order  which investigators have repeatedly cited when declining to comment on ongoing investigations related to the shooting.

Prosecutors did not return messages Wednesday seeking comment on the court ruling, but police suggested they would continue to be cautious in discussing the shooting.

"We don't want to possibly hinder the court process by discussing further evidence or information about the case," Waco police spokesman Sgt. Patrick Swanton said.

Prosecutors and Swanton gave a flurry of news conferences and interviews in the initial weeks after the shooting, which authorities have described as a melee between rival biker gangs. But at least two of the nine people killed were fatally wounded by the same caliber of rifle fired by Waco police, according to a review of ballistics evidence by the AP late last year.

Investigators have largely stayed silent since then about the criminal investigation. Since November, a grand jury has indicted 154 people on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity, meaning they're accused of being complicit in the shooting that also left 20 people injured. They face 15 years to life in prison if convicted. No trial dates have been set.

Swanton confirmed Wednesday that the officers involved in the shooting remained on administrative duty. But he and other investigators had repeatedly cited the gag order to not comment on the investigation or any of the individual bikers' cases.
2 new marine sanctuaries for sharks created in Caribbean

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  The Caribbean boasts two new shark sanctuaries as the Cayman Islands and St. Maarten on Wednesday declared their territorial waters covering some 49,190 square miles (119,631 square kilometres) closed to all commercial shark fishing.

During a three-day shark conservation meeting in the Dutch Caribbean country of St. Maarten, the popular diving destinations announced protected areas for the endangered marine predators along with officials from Pew Charitable Trusts and billionaire ocean advocate Richard Branson.

The two new protected areas for sharks in the Caribbean brings the global number to 14, according to Pew, a Philadelphia-headquartered nonprofit that has worked with governments around the world since 2009 to establish shark sanctuaries.

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2012 file photo, tourists walk along the shore of Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman Island. The Caribbean boasts two new shark sanctuaries as the Cayman Islands and St. Maarten on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, declared their territorial waters covering some 49,190 square miles (119,631 square kilometres) closed to all commercial shark fishing. (AP Photo/David McFadden, File)

Half of the protected zones for sharks are now in the Caribbean. And the islands of Grenada and Curacao are vowing to pass legislation to create sanctuaries in their waters as well.

Virgin Group founder Branson applauded the Caribbean governments for creating new protected areas and he encouraged other nations and territories to follow suit to establish a region-wide shark sanctuary in the region of scattered islands that has 10 percent of the world's coral reefs and over 1,000 species of fish and marine mammals.

"The bold action taken by Caribbean governments to fully protect sharks in their waters is truly commendable," Branson said in an email.

Pew said other regional shark and ray sanctuaries have been created in the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Honduras, Saba and Bonaire.

Luke Warwick, director of Pew's global shark conservation campaign, said sharks play a critical role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. He said catching the top predators for their fins, liver oil, cartilage and other parts can have serious impacts on "more commercially significant fish species and the overall health of the marine environment."

The slow-growing creatures are a far cry from the insatiable human-killing machines portrayed in some movies, he said.

"Sharks pose little danger to humans, but they do support profitable dive and snorkel tourism worldwide wherever they are still found in significant numbers," Warwick told The Associated Press.

Irania Arrindell, St. Maarten's minister of tourism and economic affairs, agreed. In a statement, she said the newly declared shark sanctuary will help to ensure that local shark populations "exist for future generations and continue to benefit St. Maarten's marine ecosystem and ecotourism."

Roughly 100 million sharks are killed every year and Pew states that without strong action worldwide species could vanish in coming decades.

It wasn't immediately clear precisely how Cayman and St. Maarten intends to enforce the rules of the sanctuaries. But Warwick said trainings for law enforcement, port officials, and customs personnel will be conducted "to ensure that these essential new laws are fully enforced."

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Mexican teachers block shopping malls, streets, train tracks

MEXICO CITY (AP)  Unionized teachers protesting against teacher testing blockaded streets, a shopping mall and even train tracks in the western state of Michoacan on Wednesday.

State police confirmed that protesters blocked entrances to the Plaza Escala shopping mall in the state capital. And the rail company Kansas City Southern de Mexico said protesters blocked at least one at-grade rail crossing, snarling rail traffic.

The teachers also blocked streets on Wednesday to demand authorities free two union leaders arrested last week on money laundering and other charges.

Protestors with the CNTE teachers union demonstrate along Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. The teachers union is striking against plans to overhaul the country's education system which include federally mandated teacher evaluations. (AP Photo/Nick Wagner)

The teachers oppose mandatory evaluations enacted under Mexico's education reform, and have staged protests in Mexico City and the colonial city of Oaxaca.

In Oaxaca, a popular tourist destination, highways north were blocked for a third consecutive day. Some bus lines canceled trips forcing passengers to stay put or find flights.

At the Oaxaca airport, federal police maintained a perimeter allowing access only to those who could show they were passengers.

Ten years ago this month, the teachers started a six-month takeover of Oaxaca that didn't end until police stormed the barricades.

Mexico City transit police form a safety line as CNTE teachers union protestors advance along Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. The teachers union is striking against plans to overhaul the country's education system which include federally mandated teacher evaluations. (AP Photo/Nick Wagner)
Congress urged to release secret pages from 9/11 inquiry

WASHINGTON (AP)  Lawmakers backing the release of the 28 still-secret pages of a 2002 congressional report about the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, are asking House Intelligence Committee leaders to declassify them by simply publishing them in the Congressional Record.

President Barack Obama has promised to release at least part of the documents, which are believed to address possible Saudi connections to the hijackers. James Clapper, national director of intelligence, was to review the classified pages  a review that was ordered in the summer of 2014. So far, they have remained secret, kept in a secure room in the basement of the Capitol.

"I have read these pages and can say that while their release will not harm national security, the contents are critical to our foreign policy moving forward," Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., said in a statement Wednesday. "That is why I have introduced a resolution that would enable the House Committee on Intelligence to declassify the 28 pages. ... It is more critical than ever for the American people to know what led to the tragic attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and I urge my colleagues on the House Intelligence Committee to release the pages."

Reps. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., co-sponsored the resolution, which calls for publishing them in the Congressional Record under the protection of the Constitution's speech or debate clause. The purpose of the clause is to protect lawmakers from intimidation by the executive or judiciary branches and reinforce the separation of powers among the three branches of government.

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said that while the Constitution's speech or debate clause protects members of Congress, it does not protect sources and methods that may be compromised by inappropriately revealing classified information.

"I support release of the 28 pages, but only after appropriate redactions are made to safeguard intelligence sources and methods," Schiff said. "It is also important to note that the 28 pages are also a Senate document, so it would be inappropriate for us to act unilaterally and without their concurrence."

Asked for comment about the resolution, Jack Langer, communications director for the House Intelligence Committee, said: "There's no need for this action now because, as the White House has said, the declassification review is underway."

Neither the congressional inquiry nor the subsequent 9/11 Commission found any evidence that the Saudi government or senior Saudi officials knowingly supported those who orchestrated the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. But lawmakers and relatives of victims think there is reason to further probe possible Saudi links to the attacks.
Chaos in all corners: club gunman sprayed bullets everywhere

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  "Please, don't let my hand go," Eddie Justice begged Demetrice Naulings. The two best friends huddled together in the women's bathroom with about 40 other terrified club-goers.

Panic welled in Naulings' chest. "I was like, 'I can't be in this bathroom,'" he recalled, feeling it meant certain death. "Because they closed the door, but we could still hear the gun. And people were yelling, 'Let me in, please!' And I was like, 'Let me out!'"

So clutching Justice's left hand in his right, Naulings and his friend bolted from the bathroom at the Pulse nightclub. When Justice implored him to hold on tight, Naulings said: "The face that he gave me was just, 'I'm afraid. And I know with you, you gonna get me out.'"

FILE - In this June 12, 2016 file photo, Jermaine Towns, left, and Brandon Shuford wait down the street from Pulse nightclub where a gunman opened fire in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 12, 2016. Towns said his brother was in the club at the time. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

Inside the club, dozens of people wailed and screamed in pain. Shots, seemingly endless, continued to ring out. Some club-goers  stained with their own blood, or with the blood of others  hid under a bar, while others ran wildly in every direction.

Dozens tried to push toward a hallway leading outside. Naulings had hosted parties at Pulse and knew there was a gate just beyond that. Could they reach it?

And then it happened. Somehow, in the crush of panicked people clogging the narrow hallway, Naulings let go of his friend's hand. Eddie was gone.

As Naulings looked back for him, a woman directly behind him was shot. People were "stumbling over her and walking over her," he said.

He dashed outside and ran across the street to a Dunkin Donuts, where he received a text from his friend. "I've been shot," he recalled Justice writing. "I'm going into shock."

All around the club, people dialed 911 and reached out to relatives any way they could. One of them was Justice, who made his way back to the bathroom and sent his first text to his mother at 2:06 a.m. Sunday, just a few minutes after Omar Mateen first entered Pulse and started spraying the crowded dance floor with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle.

"Mommy I love you," the 30-year-old accountant wrote. "In club they shooting."

Luis Burbano joined the crush of humanity trying to push through the hallway to safety, but few could: Club-goers had toppled atop each other and there was no way out.

"I can't begin to describe," Burbano said. "People were ready to force themselves through, but they couldn't."

As the sound of the gunshots came closer, Burbano made a decision that now haunts him: He briefly closed the door leading from the club to the hallway to give people time to wriggle out. If the killer knew where they were stacked up, "we were all going to be done," he said.

When Burbano finally pushed through the hallway and escaped through a hole in a perimeter fence, the first thing he saw was a man with his arm virtually destroyed by a barrage of bullets.

Back in two of the bathrooms, the hell wore on for almost three hours. People tried to be as still as possible and many played dead as the shooter stalked the club, firing and reloading.

"Over and over and over again" is how Angel Santiago described the shooting, reverberating as he hid in a stall. "It kept getting louder and closer."

And then the shooter was there: Bullets punched through the wall of the stall where Santiago had taken shelter, ripping into his left foot and right knee.

The shots stopped. Santiago heard the gunmen enter a nearby bathroom: More gunfire. More screaming. He and others shushed the petrified people around them, fearing their panic would draw the gunman back.

After the gunman shot Patience Carter in the leg in the second bathroom, she tried to wedge herself into the next stall. As she cowered, she heard him call 911 and say he wanted America to stop bombing his parents' native Afghanistan.

Then he spoke to the club-goers in the bathroom directly, she recalled. "He said, 'Are there any black people in here?' I was too afraid to answer, but there was an African-American male in the stall where most of my body was ... and he said, "Yes, there are about six or seven of us.' And the gunman responded back to him saying that, 'You know, I don't have a problem with black people. This is about my country. You guys suffered enough.'"

The gunman walked out, but he returned and ordered everyone inside to silence their phones.

"Hey, you," he said to one man. Then he shot him. And he kept shooting people.

Justice, still hunkered down in one of the bathrooms, continued texting his mother periodically. At 2:39 a.m., he wrote that the gunman was near: "He's coming. I'm gonna die."

Mina Justice texted back, asking her son if anyone was hurt and which bathroom he was in. "Lots. Yes," he responded at 2:42 a.m.

When she didn't hear back, she kept reaching out. She asked: Was he with police? "No," he responded four minutes later. "Still here in bathroom. He has us. They need to come get us."

At 2:49 a.m., she told him the police were at the club and to let her know when he saw them. "Hurry," he wrote. "He's in the bathroom with us."

At 2:50 a.m.: "He's a terror."

Then, the final text from her son a minute later: "Yes."

At some point in those final, excruciating moments, Mateen lied to hostage negotiators, telling them he was strapping explosives onto four of his hostages. Before that, some club-goers had indicated in 911 calls and texts to loved ones that they believed Mateen brought explosive vests into the club as part of his arsenal.

So the injured lay wounded and dying for hours while law enforcement grappled with what might be happening inside the club, as paramedics stood by helplessly.

The end came shortly before 5:15 a.m., when Carter heard a voice: "Move away from the walls."

Police ripped through the wall with a battering ram. "Put your weapon down! Put your weapon down!" one SWAT officer yelled. "Get guns in that hole!" another screamed.

The officers punched through the wall a second time. "Nobody move!"

In a club where hundreds had danced and drank and laughed just hours before, 49 people lay dead or dying  50, including Mateen.

Naulings learned that Justice had died when he turned on the TV later that day.

"We were in our safe zone. Our own comfort. It was where we felt happy," he said. "That place will never be the same. It will be a memorial site now."

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Follow Tamara Lush on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tamaralush

These photo combination shows victims of the mass shooting that occurred early Sunday, June 12, 2016, at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Top row from left are: Amanda Alvear, Angel L. Candelario-Padro, Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, Antonio Davon Brown, Christopher Leinonen, Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, Darryl Roman Burt II, Edward Sotomayor Jr., Enrique L. Rios Jr., Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera and Frank Hernandez. Second row from left are: Franky Jimmy De Jesus Velazquez, Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, Jason Benjamin Josaphat, Javier Jorge-Reyes, Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, Joel Rayon Paniagua, Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, Juan Ramon Guerrero, Kimberly Morris and Leroy Valentin Fernandez. Third row from left are: Luis D. Conde, Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, Luis S. Vielma, Martin Benitez Torres, Mercedez Marisol Flores, Miguel Angel Honorato, Oscar A Aracena-Montero, Paul Terrell Henry, Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz and Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala. Bottom row from left are: Shane Evan Tomlinson, Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, Stanley Almodovar III, Tevin Eugene Crosby, Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, Geraldo Ortiz-Jimenez and Juan Chavez Martinez. (AP Photo)

This March 2016 photo made available by Demetrice Naulings shows his friend Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30, who was killed Sunday, June 12, when a gunman opened fire inside a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Justice sent a series of text messages to his mother from a bathroom at the Pulse nightclub before he was killed. (Courtesy of Demetrice Naulings via AP)

FILE - In this June 12, 2016 file photo, family members wait for word from police after arriving down the street from a shooting involving multiple fatalities at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

Patience Carter, a victim in the Pulse nightclub shooting from Philadelphia, becomes emotional after giving her story during a news conference at Florida Hospital Orlando, Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. Carter, a 20-year-old Philadelphian, was visiting Florida for the first time, vacationing with her two friends. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Kelly Greenwood, co-owner of Cardinal Casket Company, inspects a casket painted in the colors of the University of Miami for a victim of the Pulse nightclub shooting who was also a fan of the university as a casket for another victim waits in the background for finishing touches Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. "It hits you, it hits everyone here," said Greenwood who lost a friend in the shooting. "I feel proud knowing that I made something for my friend's mother that will be with them the last time their family sees him." The locally owned company has so far received orders for 23 caskets ahead of the upcoming funerals for the victims. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Demetrice Naulings pauses while recalling in an interview how he survived the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub that claimed the life of his friend Eddie Justice Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. "I'm not going to get a chance to get another friend like that anymore," said Naulings. "Eddie was my angel." (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Demetrice Naulings recalls in an interview how he survived the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub that claimed the life of his friend Eddie Justice Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. "I'm not going to get a chance to get another friend like that anymore," said Naulings. "Eddie was my angel." (AP Photo/David Goldman)

FILE - In this June 12, 2016 file photo, people wait outside the emergency entrance of the Orlando Regional Medical Center hospital after a shooting involving multiple fatalities at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Foreign ownership of US debt falls for 1st time in 6 months

WASHINGTON (AP)  Foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury securities slipped for the first time in six months, led by declines in Ireland and the Cayman Islands, the third and fourth largest owners of U.S. debt.

The Treasury Department says total foreign holdings declined 0.7 percent to $6.24 trillion.

The Cayman Islands, a Caribbean banking center, reduced its holdings 2.5 percent to $258.5 billion, while Ireland cut back 2.4 percent to $257.9 billion.

China, the largest overseas owner of U.S. debt, also reduced its holdings by a slight 0.1 percent, to $1.24 trillion. Japan, the second largest, raised its ownership 0.5 percent to $1.14 trillion.

The national debt is more than $19 trillion and projected to grow. That means the United States will need to see continued strong foreign demand for Treasury debt.

Of that amount, $13.7 trillion is publicly traded on financial markets and $5.3 trillion is debt that the government owes itself in the form of holdings in trust funds such as the Social Security trust fund.
The Latest: Man arrested in California faces Indiana charge

LOS ANGELES (AP)  The Latest on an Indiana man who faces weapons and ammunitions charges in California after telling officers he was headed to a gay pride event (all times local):

1:15 p.m.

An Indiana man facing weapons and ammunitions charges in California after telling officers he was headed to a gay pride event now faces charges in Indiana for allegedly molesting a girl.

James Wesley Howell, 20, of Indiana, appears in Superior Court in Los Angeles Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Howell faces felony weapons charges after authorities say they found assault rifles and explosive chemicals in his car in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 12, before a major Los Angeles gay pride parade. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Prosecutors in southern Indiana's Clark County charged 20-year-old James Wesley Howell with one count of child molesting Wednesday.

Prosecutor Jeremy Mull tells The Associated Press that Howell took a 12-year-old girl to a state forestry property May 31 and had sex with her. Mull says Howell met the girl through an adult friend.

He says a police detective in that case interviewed Howell on June 7.

Mull says it's a "logical conclusion" that Howell traveled to California to flee the child molestation investigation. He says he intends to eventually have Howell extradited to Indiana.

A message left for Howell family lawyer Bobby Boyd of Louisville, Kentucky, seeking comment on the allegations wasn't immediately returned.
Orlando gunman raged against 'filthy ways of the west'

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  Orlando gunman Omar Mateen apparently made a series of Facebook posts and searches before and during his attack on a gay nightclub, raging against the "filthy ways of the west" and blaming the U.S. for the deaths of "innocent women and children," according to a Senate committee letter released Wednesday.

The killer whose rampage left 49 people dead also searched for "Pulse Orlando" and "Shooting" online on the morning of the carnage Sunday and said on Facebook: "America and Russia stop bombing the Islamic state," according to the letter.

The Senate Homeland Security Committee sent the letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, asking the company to produce information on Mateen's online activity and to provide a briefing to the panel.

These photo combination shows victims of the mass shooting that occurred early Sunday, June 12, 2016, at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Top row from left are: Amanda Alvear, Angel L. Candelario-Padro, Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, Antonio Davon Brown, Christopher Leinonen, Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, Darryl Roman Burt II, Edward Sotomayor Jr., Enrique L. Rios Jr., Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera and Frank Hernandez. Second row from left are: Franky Jimmy De Jesus Velazquez, Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, Jason Benjamin Josaphat, Javier Jorge-Reyes, Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, Joel Rayon Paniagua, Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, Juan Ramon Guerrero, Kimberly Morris and Leroy Valentin Fernandez. Third row from left are: Luis D. Conde, Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, Luis S. Vielma, Martin Benitez Torres, Mercedez Marisol Flores, Miguel Angel Honorato, Oscar A Aracena-Montero, Paul Terrell Henry, Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz and Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala. Bottom row from left are: Shane Evan Tomlinson, Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, Stanley Almodovar III, Tevin Eugene Crosby, Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, Geraldo Ortiz-Jimenez and Juan Chavez Martinez. (AP Photo)

The letter illuminating Mateen's state of mind in the final hours of his life was released as the long, sad procession of memorials and funerals for the victims began in Orlando and as the FBI appealed for the public's help in reconstructing the killer's movements. The FBI is also trying to establish how much Mateen's wife may have known about the attack at Pulse dance club.

"We need your help in developing the most complete picture of what he did and why he did it," FBI agent Ron Hopper said at a news conference.

In its letter, the committee said staffers have learned that five Facebook accounts were associated with the 29-year-old American-born Muslim.

"The real muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the west," Mateen wrote, according to the letter from committee chairman Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican. Johnson did not say how he learned of the posts other than to cite "information obtained by my staff."

As he did in his call to a 911 operator during the massacre, Mateen pledged his allegiance on Facebook to the leader of the Islamic State and, in his final post, warned: "in the next few days you will see attacks from the Islamic state in the usa."

A person familiar with the situation who is not authorized to speak publicly, said the posts came moments before the attack began.

Despite his professed loyalty to the extremist group, the Obama administration has said it has seen no evidence that the shooting rampage was directed by the Islamic State.

A spokesman for the FBI did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday evening, and Facebook had no immediate comment.

The three-hour rampage began at 2 a.m. Sunday and ended with Mateen being killed by a police SWAT team. The FBI said it is still gathering evidence at the Pulse and analyzing cellphone location data to piece together Mateen's activities leading up to the massacre, while also interviewing people who had any dealings with him.

On Saturday night, hours before the rampage, Mateen visited Disney Springs, an outdoor restaurant, retail and entertainment complex at Walt Disney World, an official who was briefed on the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss the continuing investigation told The Associated Press.

The official said it is not clear what Mateen was up to.

Meanwhile, drag queens and motorcyclists turned out to pay their respects at an evening visitation at a funeral parlor for Javier Jorge-Reyes, a 40-year-old salesman and makeup artist.

Members of the SWAT team underwent a stress-management debriefing Wednesday, as hundreds of others involved in the response to the shooting have done, Orlando Police Chief John Mina said. Further counseling is being made available.

"These are some of the bravest toughest men I know," Mina said. "No one can prepare you for what those officers encountered that night. They stood toe-to-toe and went face-to-face with a mass murderer, and I'm extremely proud of that."

A key topic for investigators is how much Mateen's Palestinian-American wife may have known about the plot.

An official who was briefed on the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation said authorities believe 30-year-old U.S.-born Noor Salman knew ahead of time about the attack.

Investigators have spoken extensively with her and are working to establish whether she recently accompanied Mateen to the club, said a second official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly.

U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley repeatedly refused to say whether charges might be brought against the wife or anyone else. He said authorities are talking to hundreds of people and investigating everyone associated with Mateen, including family, friends and business associates.

Salman has been in seclusion for days.

In other developments:

 Florida documents obtained by the AP under open-records laws show that Mateen passed a psychological evaluation in 2007 as part of his application to be a security guard. The records say he took a written psychological test or was evaluated by a psychologist or psychiatrist.

 Orlando TV producer Matt Gentili of CFN 13 said Mateen called during his standoff to say he was doing it for the Islamic State. The station's managing editor traced the call back to a number associated with Mateen, according to NY 1 News, CFN 13's sister operation in New York. The FBI's Hopper declined to comment on calls Mateen made during the rampage.

 A newly unearthed clip from a film documentary about the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico shows Mateen  then working security for the cleanup  talking cynically about people making money off disasters.

The excerpt from 2012's "The Big Fix" shows Mateen telling a woman that everyone is "hoping for more oil to come out and more people to complain so they'll have the jobs." Security firm G4S confirmed that it's Mateen, saying he was stationed in Pensacola in 2010 to assist with cleanup.

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Tucker contributed from Washington. Associated Press writers Jack Gillum in Washington; Michael R. Sisak in Philadelphia; Jay Reeves, Allen G. Breed and Tamara Lush in Orlando; Holbrook Mohr in Port St. Lucie, Florida; and Brandon Bailey in San Francisco contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to show that mourner Tiffany Clark was not referring to Javier Jorge-Reyes but to another victim.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer speaks during a news conference update about the recent mass shootings at the Pulse nightclub, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

The names of victims from the Pulse nightclub shooting are stitched into an American flag as it's displayed at a makeshift memorial Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Kathleen Kerr, of Orlando, Fla., holds flowers before placing them down at a makeshift memorial for the victims of the mass shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Orlando. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Jennifer Johnson, right, leans on her boyfriend Jeansem Sambolin while standing with her son Tyrone Clarke, 8, as they visit a makeshift memorial for the victims of the mass shooting at the Pulse Orlando nightclub Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez was one of those killed and had worked with Johnson. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

The congregation joins hands during an interfaith service at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, June 14, 2016. A gunman killed dozens of people at a gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday, making it the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

FILE - In this Sunday, June 12, 2016 file photo, Orlando Police officers direct family members away from a fatal shooting at Pulse Orlando nightclub in Orlando, Fla. With news that Omar Mateen killed dozens of people in a gay nightclub in Florida and was born to Afghan immigrant parents, the Afghan-American community is expressing horror, sorrow and disbelief that one of their own could commit the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
Backers of Israel boycotts protest New York governor's order

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  Critics of Israel's treatment of Palestinians are protesting New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order prohibiting state investments in any company that support a boycott of Israel.

A group of more than 100 people gathered outside the Democratic governor's office Wednesday, chanting loudly before attempting to deliver a petition to Cuomo seeking the reversal of his executive order.

Speakers at the rally say the state is violating the constitutionally protected free speech of business owners by treating them differently than others simply because of their political opinions.

People hold signs during a rally in the War Room at the state Capitol on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. Critics of Israel's treatment of Palestinians protested Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order prohibiting state investments in any company that supports a boycott of Israel. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Cuomo's executive order was issued this month. He has said it is intended to support Israel and protect it against the threat of boycott or sanctions.

He says his executive order is the first of its kind anywhere in the country.

Mary Anne Grady Flores of Ithaca, N.Y., wears tape over her mouth during a rally in the War Room at the state Capitol on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. Critics of Israel's treatment of Palestinians protested Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order prohibiting state investments in any company that supports a boycott of Israel. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
Writers, scientists decry mining, logging in Mexico reserve

MEXICO CITY (AP)  Dozens of writers, scientists and activists have signed an open letter to the presidents of the United States, Mexico and Canada warning that logging and mining threaten the reserve where monarch butterflies winter in the mountains west of Mexico City.

The letter by Mexico's Group of 100 warns that plans to revive an old gold and silver mine threatens water supplies in the reserve.

The head of the group also warned that small-scale illegal logging has increased in the wake of the butterflies' annual departure for the U.S. and Canada, where they breed.

Homero Aridjis said Wednesday that authorities must implement tight, year-round security to prevent logging, not just when monarchs are present.
Evangelical church collapses in Brazil, at least 5 injured

SAO PAULO (AP)  An evangelical church collapsed in Sao Paulo on Wednesday and at least five people were injured, the fire department said.

The Assembly of God church collapsed in the industrial suburb of Diadema. Fire authorities say those injured included three children who were rushed to a local hospital and released shortly afterward. Three other slightly injured people were pulled from the debris.

The department's press office said rescue teams were searching for other people who may have been trapped under the rubble.

It was unclear how many people were inside the church when it collapsed.

The cause of the collapse was not immediately known.
Argentina: Ex-official caught with millions now in hospital

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)  An official in the former government of President Cristina Fernandez who was arrested as he allegedly tried to hide $9 million in cash at an Argentine monastery has been transferred to a local hospital.

Police officers arrested former Public Works Secretary Jose Lopez Monday at a monastery on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. They discovered wads of cash in dollars and three other currencies in more than 160 packages.

The case has outraged Argentines who are frustrated with endemic corruption.

Former Public Works Secretary Jose Lopez, left, is escort by police outside the police station in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Lopez, an official in the former government of President Fernandez was arrested on Tuesday while trying to hide millions in cash and jewels in a monastery, captivating Argentina in what the cabinet chief said seems more like the plot of a Hollywood movie. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Local TV stations showed images of Lopez being escorted by police Tuesday to a hospital wearing a helmet and a bulletproof vest.

His lawyer said Wednesday that he's suffering a "psychotic episode." Fernanda Herrera also tells reporters that Lopez is "hearing voices, is delirious and is suffering from panic attacks."

BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE - In this photo released by the Buenos Aires Province Security Ministry, wads of cash sit in the back of a vehicle shortly after former Public Works Secretary Jose Lopez was caught by police hiding millions at a monastery in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Lopez, an official in the government of former President Cristina Fernandez was arrested while trying to hide millions in cash and jewels. (Buenos Aires Province Security Ministry via AP)
AP FACT CHECK: Is Trump right that US soldiers stole loot?

WASHINGTON (AP)  It's not every day a presidential candidate will question the actions of the troops, and it may not make for smart politics. But that's what Donald Trump did at a rally in North Carolina, when he seemed to accuse U.S. soldiers of making off with aid money meant for Iraq's reconstruction.

The claim may have been eye-popping  but he was right.

Trump was on less solid ground when addressing a theory that the Obama administration worked with the group that grew into the Islamic State, which he did in a tweet.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a rally at the Fox Theater, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

A look at those claims and the facts behind them:

TRUMP: "Iraq, crooked as hell. How about bringing baskets of money, millions and millions of dollars and handing it out? I want to know, who are the soldiers that had that job, 'cause I think they're living very well right now, whoever they may be."

THE FACTS: Fraud and financial crime were rampant in Iraq during the 2003-11 war, and at least a few U.S. military members were involved.

His broader point: The Obama administration should not have delivered the aid in easy-to-steal cash.

Investigators after the war concluded that the whereabouts of billions of dollars in U.S. money for reconstruction projects remained unknown.

The U.S. government, including the military, handed out huge sums of cash to reconstruct and run the country. Initially this included billions of dollars in Iraqi oil revenue that flowed into a U.S.-administered account called the Development Fund for Iraq, or DFI. "In 2003 and 2004, more than $10 billion in DFI cash was flown to Baghdad on U.S. military aircraft in the form of massive shrink-wrapped bundles of $100 bills stored on large pallets," the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction wrote in the final report in 2013.

Dozens of criminal cases of fraud, waste and abuse of U.S. reconstruction funds were documented in the ensuing years by the special inspector general. The accused included not just Iraqi and American government officials but also U.S. and other contractors and subcontractors.

In what the special inspector general called the most significant criminal conspiracy case uncovered involving Iraq reconstruction funds, a U.S. contracting officer based in Kuwait, John Cockerham, was accused of receiving more than $9 million in kickbacks from companies or individuals in return for contract awards. Cockerham, a former U.S. Army major, pleaded guilty to bribery and money laundering and in December 2009 was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison and ordered to pay $9.6 million in restitution.

U.S. Army Major Charles E. Sublett, 46, of Huntsville, Alabama, was convicted on charges related to his smuggling of more than $100,000 in currency, concealed in a shipping package, into the United States from Iraq in January 2005.

Trump's comment infuriated some veterans. His spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, said later that Trump was referring to Iraqi soldiers. But he's brought up theft by U.S. military personnel before and his latest comment was in the context of soldiers bringing "baskets" of money from Washington.

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TRUMP: "Media fell all over themselves criticizing what DonaldTrump 'may have insinuated about @POTUS.' But he's right."  In tweet linking to a story alleging the Obama administration supported al-Qaida in Iraq, forerunner of the Islamic State. POTUS means President of the United States.

THE FACTS: With his tweet, posted either by Trump or someone on his staff, he endorsed a theory that is not supported by the document cited in the report by Brietbart News. Nowhere does the secret 2012 Defense Intelligence Agency analysis state that the U.S. was directly in league with al-Qaida in Iraq. Instead, it states generally what was widely known at the time  that "the West, Gulf countries, and Turkey support the opposition" to the Syrian government of Bashar Assad.

That opposition included al-Qaida in Iraq, along with many other anti-Assad factions. But whether the U.S. cooperated with figures from that group or steered around them is not addressed in the document. IS has since become the primary target of the U.S. in the region; at the time, Assad was.

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AP News Researcher Monika Mathur contributed to this report.
Man pleads not guilty in shooting of Minneapolis protesters

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A 24-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he shot five demonstrators protesting the shooting death of a black man by Minneapolis police in November.

Allen Scarsella of Lakeville faces assault and riot charges in Hennepin County. In a court filing Wednesday, defense attorneys said Scarsella will argue he acted in self-defense.

Prosecutors allege Scarsella and three other men meant to cause trouble on Nov. 23 when they went to an encampment of demonstrators protesting the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Jamar Clark in a confrontation with two white officers. Charges allege Scarsella, who is white, shot and wounded five men.

Minnesota Public Radio News (http://bit.ly/21n1jqz ) reports Scarsella's lawyers argue the men were only filming the protest when they were confronted.

The three other men haven't yet entered pleas to riot charges.

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Marco Rubio suggests he's reconsidering leaving Senate

WASHINGTON (AP)  Sen. Marco Rubio confirmed Wednesday that he may reconsider his plans to leave the Senate at the end of this year and run for re-election instead.

Rubio told reporters that he will let everyone know about any change of status next week after spending some time with his family. The filing deadline for the Florida Senate race is June 24  a week from Friday.

Rubio has been under huge pressure from GOP leaders to run for re-election. They believe he has the best shot of keeping his Florida seat in GOP hands. The race is critical in a year when Democrats hope to retake control of the Senate.

FILE - In this March 14, 2016, file photo, then-Republican presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., speaks during a campaign rally at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fla. Rubio suggests he is reconsidering his plans to leave the Senate at the end of this year, and may run for re-election instead. Rubio tells reporters that he will let everyone know about any change of status next week after spending some time with his family. The filing deadline for the Florida Senate race is June 24. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

Since exiting the GOP presidential race Rubio, who has four young kids and is not independently wealthy, had been expected to enter the private sector and run again for president in 2020.

"Obviously, I take very seriously everything that's going on, not just Orlando, but in our country. I've enjoyed my service here a lot," Rubio said. "So I'll go home later this week, and I'll have some time with my family, and then if there's been a change in our status I'll be sure to let everyone know."

Rubio made his comments after Politico published an interview with Florida's lieutenant governor, Carlos Lopez-Cantera, a close friend of Rubio's who is one of several candidates already in the Senate race. Lopez-Cantera revealed that he had encouraged Rubio over the weekend to reconsider his retirement plans, a report Rubio confirmed.

In the past, including while running for president, Rubio had made little secret of his disdain for the Senate, its slow pace and general dysfunction. He began missing numerous Senate votes, which he justified by suggesting he was doing something more important. But recently he's revised his views on the Senate, disputing suggestions that he hated it, and instead insisting he found the work important.

Members of both parties are closely watching Rubio's decision. It is hugely expensive to run a Senate race in Florida, and Republicans are concerned about the existing field of little-known members of Congress and others. These candidates are eyeing Rubio as they weigh their own futures. One of them, Rep. David Jolly, told reporters Wednesday that he would announce his plans Friday, and might leave politics or run for a different House seat rather than pursue the Senate race.
Women infected with the Zika virus late in their pregnancies had babies with no apparent birth defects, a study has found.

The greatest risk to infants comes from infection early in pregnancy, the research seems to confirm.

However, the study found troubling cases of severe birth defects in babies born to women who never realised they had contracted Zika - and had no symptoms.

Commenting on the findings, experts today warned pregnant women: 'You're not out of the woods if you don't have symptoms'.

Women infected with the Zika late in their pregnancy had babies with no apparent birth defects, a study found

Ever since a Zika virus outbreak in Brazil was linked to severe birth defects late last year, health experts have been trying to understand when developing foetuses are most vulnerable.

They were also seeking to find out whether foetuses are at risk if the mother is infected but never experiences symptoms.

The Colombian researchers tracked 1,850 pregnant women with Zika. They knew which trimester these mothers-to-be had become infected.

Of the 600 women infected during their third trimester, 90 per cent have delivered their babies, and none gave birth to a child with microcephaly or other obvious birth defects, researchers found.

The Zika virus is spread mainly through the bite of a tropical mosquito, the Aedes Aegypti - but can also be spread sexually as the virus can live for months in semen.

And studies showing Zika can also survive in saliva raised concerns the virus could be passed through kissing or sharing cutlery or toothbrushes with people who are infected.

Most people with the virus never develop symptoms. Others get a fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes, and recover within a week.

There is no vaccine so in outbreak areas, the main defense is to avoid mosquito bites.

Brazil, which has suffered the largest outbreak of Zika, has had more than 500 cases of Zika-linked microcephaly, a severe birth defect in which a baby's skull is much smaller than expected because the brain hasn't developed properly.

Severe birth defects were seen in babies born to women who didn't know they had Zika and never experienced symptoms. Pictured is a baby with microcephaly - a birth defect linked with Zika

Experts have been watching to see if the epidemic would play out in Colombia, Brazil's northern neighbor, in similar fashion.

The study's authors call the report 'preliminary' as most of the women followed by researchers were still pregnant at the time the report was completed.

Researchers want to track both the pregnancies and the children who have already been born, said one of the study's authors, Margaret Honein, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

WOMEN MUST DELAY PREGNANCY IN ZIKA-RAVAGED COUNTRIES: WHO SAYS IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID DEVASTATING BIRTH DEFECTS Women who live in areas where Zika is spreading should consider delaying pregnancy, leading health experts urged. The World Health Organization issued the advice as it said there is no certain way to avoid the devastating birth defects caused by the virus. It echoes advice already given by several countries where the virus is in widespread transmission. The warning came just weeks after officials said sexual transmission of the virus is more common than first believed. Zika is primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, but research shows it can also be transmitted sexually  and possibly through saliva from kissing or sharing cutlery. The agency released a correction to its guidance for preventing sexual transmission of Zika to clarify the difference between people who live in the Zika-affected areas and people who visit them. 'In order to prevent adverse pregnancy and foetal outcomes, men and women of reproductive age, living in areas where local transmission of Zika virus is known to occur, be correctly informed and oriented to consider delaying pregnancy,' it said. Advertisement

It's possible that the babies who have been born and appear not to have any defects may still develop problems, she said.

And Colombian officials have only been reporting on live births.

They have not said how many Zika-affected pregnancies developed birth defects but ended in stillbirth, miscarriage or abortion.

It's not surprising that infections later in pregnancy did not lead to apparent defects, because Zika and other viral infections early in pregnancy are more likely to cause defects like microcephaly, said Dr Neil Silverman, a UCLA professor of obstetrics who has been advising the California Department of Public Health on Zika issues.

He said the total number of defects out of Colombia appear to be surprisingly low, however.

Colombia saw only four confirmed Zika-related microcephaly cases between August and April, when the study was conducted. Two more have been reported since then.

The researchers don't know at what trimester the mothers of the four microcephaly cases were, because none of the women experienced symptoms, Ms Honein said.

That means that while it is unlikely, a third trimester infection could not be completely ruled out in each of those cases.

It also 'really heightens' the concern that even women who don't feel sick can pass a Zika infection to their babies, and the babies can develop defects, Ms Honein said.

'You're not out of the woods if you don't have symptoms,' said Dr Ian Lipkin, a Columbia University infectious diseases expert who was not involved in the research.

Most Zika-caused birth defects have been reported in mothers who said they developed Zika symptoms while they were pregnant.

The study was conducted by Colombian and American health officials, tracking reports of Zika infections and of birth defects seen between early last August and early April.

It was published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Trucking company, driver indicted in crash that killed 5

ATLANTA (AP)  A grand jury has indicted a tractor-trailer driver and his employer accused of causing a fiery interstate crash that killed five Georgia Southern University nursing students.

The Bryan County grand jury on Wednesday indicted John Wayne Johnson of Shreveport, Louisiana, on nine counts and truck company Total Transportation on seven counts in the April 22, 2015 crash. A tractor-trailer on Interstate 16 slammed into the students' car during stop-and-go traffic backed up by an unrelated wreck.

The victims included Amber DeLoach, Emily Clark, Caitlyn Baggett, McKay Pittman and Morgan Bass. All of the women who died were between 20 and 21 years old.

Johnson and Total Transportation of Mississippi were charged with five counts of homicide by vehicle in the first degree and serious injury by vehicle, the indictment stated. Johnson was also charged with one count of reckless driving, one count of failure to exercise due care and one count of following too closely.

Total Transportation is also separately charged with one count of serious injury by vehicle in the first degree and one count of criminal responsibility of corporations. A second indictment seeks to hold Total Transportation criminally responsible under a Georgia law that allows charges to be brought against corporations.

Vehicular homicide in the first degree carries a penalty of three to 15 years in prison for each count.

David Dial, an attorney for Total Transportation, declined to comment. An email to the lawyer of Johnson was not immediately returned.

After civil lawsuits were filed in the crash, legal depositions revealed that Total Transportation hired Johnson even after the truck driver disclosed he was fired by a previous employer for falling asleep at the wheel. Johnson acknowledged under oath the deadly I-16 crash was his fault, but insisted he was awake.

The Georgia crash happened just before 6 a.m. He said the cruise-control on his truck was set at 68 mph and other vehicles had been passing him before the collision.

Johnson said his truck was equipped with a collision warning system that was supposed to beep if he got too close to other vehicles, but he never heard it. Johnson also told lawyers he didn't recall crashing into the two vehicles carrying the nursing students, just hitting the back of a tanker truck that had been idling in front of them.

Johnson walked away from the crash uninjured.

In April, attorney Render Freeman, who represents the mother of crash victim McKay Pittman, said the Pittman family alone would receive $14 million in a settlement with Total Transportation.

___
Woman testifies state senator sexually assaulted her at farm

ST. ALBANS, Vt. (AP)  A former legislative assistant to a Republican state senator testified Wednesday that he forced her into oral sex and intercourse at his home farm where she worked.

Sen. Norman McAllister, on trial on two counts of sexual assault, sat stoically at the defense table as the woman testified that he forced her to have oral sex in a barn at his farm and intercourse at his home.

Later, one of McAllister's defense lawyers, David Williams, got the woman to acknowledge she had changed key aspects of her story from what she told police on the day McAllister was arrested, to pretrial sworn statements to lawyers, to her testimony to the jury earlier Wednesday.

Vermont state Sen. Norman McAllister sits in court during the first day of his trial on two counts of sexual assault Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in St. Albans, Vt. The 69-year-old Republican lawmaker was suspended from his legislative post in January, and could get up to two life sentences if convicted on the two sexual assault charges. (Gregory J. Lamoureux/County Courier via AP, Pool)

The 4-foot-11 woman, who weighs less than 100 pounds, spoke of up to 30 incidents in which she said the 64-year-old McAllister, a foot taller and 230 pounds, overpowered her.

"He put me on the bed. He was holding me down," the 21-year-old woman said. "I was still saying I did not want this to happen."

She said there was "so much weight" and "I'm not very strong."

Williams contrasted her statements to police about up to 30 assaults with her statements to him in a sworn pretrial deposition that there were four.

McAllister has maintained his innocence throughout. Williams asked a series of questions toward the end of the day Wednesday aimed at persuading jurors that the woman was worried her then-boyfriend was upset about her having a sexual relationship with McAllister and that the rape allegations were aimed at placating him.

One question not directly answered in Wednesday's testimony was whether there had been a consensual sexual relationship between McAllister and the woman.

Williams devoted much of the afternoon to highlighting what the woman acknowledged were numerous inconsistencies in her sworn statements.

Williams pointed to a pretrial deposition in which the woman said McAllister first sexually assaulted her "the very first day I started" working on his farm. He contrasted that with her testimony earlier Wednesday that the first sexual assault didn't occur until two or three weeks into her employment on McAllister's farm.

He also questioned why she continued working for McAllister, including volunteering on his 2014 re-election campaign, if he had been sexually assaulting her repeatedly.

The trial is expected to include testimony from some of McAllister's legislative colleagues. And he faces another trial in the case this fall on sex offenses involving two other women.

The start of the trial Wednesday was delayed when the state requested that McAllister's accuser be neither videotaped nor audiotaped. A lawyer for the Burlington Free Press and other media members objected, particularly to any ban on audio recordings of her testimony.

A hearing on the issue stretched through the morning before Judge Robert Mello ruled that audio recordings would be allowed but not video or still photos of the woman

In another media-related issue, lawyers agreed that the testimony of two reporters would not be needed, because the state and defense were able to agree on introduction of evidence the reporters would have been called to provide. Both of the journalists, Mark Davis of the Burlington weekly newspaper Seven Days and Peter Hirschfeld of Vermont Public Radio, had been slated to testify about interviews they had had with McAllister.

Vermont state Sen. Norman McAllister, left, sits in court with his defense attorney Brooks McArthur during the first day of his trial on two counts of sexual assault Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in St. Albans, Vt. The 69-year-old Republican lawmaker was suspended from his legislative post in January, and could get up to two life sentences if convicted on the two sexual assault charges. (Gregory J. Lamoureux/County Courier via AP, Pool)

Vermont state Sen. Norman McAllister stands in court during recess on the first day of his trial on two counts of sexual assault Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in St. Albans, Vt. The 69-year-old Republican lawmaker was suspended from his legislative post in January, and could get up to two life sentences if convicted on the two sexual assault charges. (Gregory J. Lamoureux/County Courier via AP, Pool)

Brooks McArthur, defense attorney for Vermont state Sen. Norman McAllister, sits in court with his during the first day of McAllister's trial on two counts of sexual assault Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in St. Albans, Vt. McAllister was suspended from his legislative post in January, and could get up to two life sentences if convicted on the two sexual assault charges. (Gregory J. Lamoureux/County Courier via AP, Pool)
North Dakota's outsider candidate ready to tackle bad news

FARGO, N.D. (AP)  Hours after North Dakota Republicans put former Microsoft executive Doug Burgum on track to become governor, another grim report about oil production underscored the challenges awaiting the next leader of a once-thriving state now enduring an economic downturn.

With his resounding primary victory over longtime state Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who had the GOP convention's endorsement, Burgum will be heavily favored to win again in November in a state that hasn't had a Democratic governor for nearly a quarter-century.

Donald Trump bucked the Republican establishment to become the presumptive presidential nominee, and Burgum  a Trump supporter  is just the latest Republican to turn business experience into political success on the state level. Govs. Rick Snyder of Michigan and Bruce Rauner of Illinois took similar paths to office in recent years.

Republican governor candidate Doug Burgum talks to supporters at an art gallery in downtown Fargo, N.D., after Burgum won the GOP primary vote on Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Burgum, a Fargo businessman, defeated Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who was endorsed at the state Republican Party convention. (AP Photo/Dave Kolpack)

"The voters in North Dakota made a statement which is loud," Burgum said Wednesday. "They want to have business leaders that are from outside of the political system. That's to me how I read it. That's part of a national trend, and it's a trend that wasn't immune here in North Dakota."

Unlike Rauner, who immediately found himself at odds with Democratic supermajorities in the Legislature after he won office in 2014, Burgum will have the luxury of working with legislators from his own party.

But like Rauner, if Burgum becomes governor, he'll face some serious economic hurdles.

Depressed crude prices and a drop in drilling has North Dakota policymakers finally contemplating a dose of austerity  including an order by current Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple that agencies cut their budgets by 10 percent. That comes in stark contrast to the record amounts of money approved the past two legislative sessions, including $1.5 million to buy a rare mummified dinosaur and $4 million for a new governor's mansion.

The oil report released Wednesday showed the state's oil production decreased again, by about 70,000 barrels a day, in April  the latest month on record.

"This again is going to put further pressure on us and we are going to have to really work together as a team, both the executive branch and the Legislature, to make sure we are delivering services to North Dakota," Burgum said. "But our potential is unlimited."

Burgum got an MBA from Stanford and worked as a business consultant before moving back to Fargo in 1983 to buy into a company that specialized in business accounting software. Eighteen years later, Burgum sold Great Plains Software to Microsoft for $1.1 billion, then ran Microsoft's business software division from Fargo. Since quitting in 2007, he's been involved in other startups and restoring downtown Fargo buildings.

He infuriated the GOP-controlled Legislature with television ads that claimed lawmakers squandered the state's oil bounty before the bust hit two years ago. He claimed he was a proven job-creator uniquely qualified to help diversify the state economy. The 59-year-old native of Arthur also has been critical of the GOP-led Legislature's stance on social issues, including its failure to pass a bill that would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Burgum plans to take his 1974 GMC bus  held together with duct tape, bungee cords, and bailing wire  back on the highway to finish the deal against Democratic candidate Marvin Nelson of Rolla. During the primary, Burgum racked up some 16,000 miles crisscrossing the state, most of it on the bus.

Despite Burgum's support of Trump, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Mac Schneider of Grand Forks said Burgum's perceived liberal leanings on some social issues likely appealed to many Democrats, who crossed party lines to cast votes for him in the primary.

"North Dakota is changing and people are getting open to new ideas," Schneider said. "If the majority refuses to acknowledge that, I think you're going to see the majority change pretty quickly."

House Majority Leader Al Carlson of Fargo and his Republican Senate counterpart, Rich Wardner of Dickinson, said lawmakers have some tough spending choices when the Legislature reconvenes in January.

"There is no question that Burgum's allegations of runaway spending and cronyism stuck with voters and people felt they needed someone from the outside for the governor's seat," Wardner said. "But I'm still trying to figure out who the cronies are and the runaway spending because I disagree with that."

Dickinson state Sen. Kelly Armstrong, who heads the state GOP, said most of his colleagues were surprised, if not shocked, by Burgum's victory. He expects GOP lawmakers to support Burgum now, albeit grudgingly.

"Doug Burgum ran as a political outsider and worked his tail off," Armstrong said. "Fiscal restraint plays very well with North Dakota voters, and he captured that."

North Dakota Republican governor candidate Doug Burgum, right, and running mate Brent Sanford appear at a news conference at a hotel in Fargo, N.D., on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, to talk about their victory in the GOP primary. Burgum is a onetime Microsoft Corp. executive and Fargo philanthropist who is making his first foray into politics and will likely be a heavy favorite to win the general election. (AP Photo/Dave Kolpack)

North Dakota Republican governor candidate Doug Burgum waits to take the stage after defeating Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem in the GOP primary on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Fargo, N.D. Burgum is a former Microsoft Corp. executive who decided to run in the primary despite being passed over for Stenehjem for the party's nomination at its state convention. (AP Photo/Dave Kolpack)

North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem announces he is conceding the race for governor to Doug Burgum at a Republican Party gathering in Bismarck, N.D., Tuesday, June 14, 2016. At right is Stenehjem's wife, Beth. (Tom Stromme/The Bismarck Tribune via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT
Md.'s GOP governor says he doesn't plan to vote for Trump

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  Maryland's Republican Gov. Larry Hogan said Wednesday that he will not vote for his party's presumptive presidential candidate, Donald Trump.

The governor was visiting Prince George's County, east of Washington, when he was asked about voting for Trump.

He replied, "No, I don't plan to," The Washington Post reported. Hogan elaborated: "I guess when I get behind the curtain I'll have to figure it out. Maybe write someone in. I'm not sure."

Hogan had endorsed and campaigned for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to be the GOP's presidential nominee. But when a reporter asked Hogan if he would support Trump if he puts Christie on the ticket, Hogan said no.

Hogan has made no secret of his disdain for Trump, and has said repeatedly he won't attend next month's Republican National Convention.

In March, Rep. John Delaney, a Democrat, sent a truck with a large sign on it to drive around the statehouse, demanding Hogan say whether he supported Trump.

Earlier this month, Hogan was asked about the presumptive GOP nominee three times at a news conference. He replied, "I'm not interested in talking about Donald Trump any further."

Hogan is a Republican governor in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1.
Longoria asks film grads to use Rita Moreno as guiding light

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Eva Longoria has some advice for the new graduates of the American Film Institute: Use Rita Moreno as a guiding light to use myriad points of view.

Longoria presented the legendary stage and screen actress with an honorary doctorate of fine arts Wednesday in Los Angeles.

"As you go on to write and direct and produce ... rise above caricature, as she does. Create complete and complicated characters, as she does," Longoria told the audience of students and their family members  including Denzel Washington, whose son was graduating. She stressed how important it was to her as a young Latina girl to see Moreno lighting up the big screen in "West Side Story."

Speaker Eva Longoria, right, puts a hood on honoree Rita Moreno during the 2016 AFI Conservatory Commencement at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Moreno took the podium with a little spin and a kick after the "America" song and dance scene from "West Side Story" played on the big screen behind her at the TCL Chinese Theatre.

"All I can figure is that the powers that be are giving me credit for 70 years of not giving up," Moreno said. "The trick is just to live for 84 years and wear them the hell down."

Moreno recalled her discouraging early days in Hollywood where she was called on by studios to play any and every ethnicity  and how she'd use the same accent for all. She called them "dusky maiden roles," and usually they would involve her character ending up devastated after being rebuffed by white men.

"I had to deliver lines to my white lover like, 'why you love Ula no more?'" Moreno said, referring to the 1955 film "Seven Cities of Gold."

And yet, Moreno said, that those directors and studios "could not succeed in drowning this Puerto Rican." She of course would rise above that early stereotyping, winning Emmys, a Grammy, Tony and Oscar.

Quentin Tarantino was also on hand to pick up an honorary doctorate, laughing about the fact that he never even graduated high school.

"I actually did try to enroll in AFI in the early 80s," he said. "I actually tried to get a job at Grauman's Chinese Theatre and that didn't work out either."

He urged the graduating students to use their work to contribute to the conversation "on race ... on culture ... on America ... on the world ... on politics."

"We need you," he said.

Honoree Quentin Tarantino acknowledges applause during his speech at the 2016 AFI Conservatory Commencement at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Honoree Rita Moreno, second from right, waves to the crowd as, from left, fellow honoree Quentin Tarantino and speakers Elvis Mitchell and Eva Longoria, right, applaud during the 2016 AFI Conservatory Commencement at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
US hands over drug lord 'El Guero' Palma to Mexico

MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexican drug lord Hector "El Guero" Palma, one of the founders of the Sinaloa Cartel, returned to his native country Wednesday after serving almost a decade in a U.S. prison and was transported to another maximum-security lockup where he will await trial on two murders.

U.S. authorities handed over Palma in Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas, according to a statement from the Mexican Attorney General's Office. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico confirmed Palma's transfer in a statement.

Palma had been released from federal prison in California on Friday and put into the custody of U.S. immigration officials. He was flown to Mexico City and then transported to the Altiplano prison outside the capital, the same prison that Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman escaped from in 2015.

FILE - In this June 1995, file photo, convicted drug lord Hector "El Guero" Palma is presented to the press holding an assualt rifle following his June 25, 1997 arrest in the city of Guadalajara, state of Jalisco, Mexico. Palma, one of the founders of the Sinaloa cartel, has returned to his native country after serving almost a decade in a United States prison. A Mexican federal government official said Wednesday, June 15, 2016, that U.S. authorities handed over Palma in Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas. (Jorge Zamora/Siglo 21 via AP, File) PLEASE CREDIT SIGLO 21

Palma was detained under an arrest order from the western state of Nayarit. No additional details were provided about the two murders.

Earlier, Mexican officials had said they did not know whether authorities in Mexico planned to bring new charges against Palma. If not, Palma would go free.

Attorney General Arely Gomez had said her office was reviewing whether there were any pending cases against Palma. "We are in the process of carrying out an exhaustive review, checking all the prosecutors' offices."

Palma was arrested in June 1995 in western Mexico and later extradited to the U.S. where he pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking charges and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. The U.S. Embassy said Palma received early release for good behavior.

Some experts believed that Palma could have returned to drug trafficking if allowed to walk free, but would have faced a world that has changed since he helped Guzman found the Sinaloa cartel in the early 1990s.

"He could try to get involved, but I don't know how directly," said Mexico City-based security analyst Alejandro Hope. Palma may have lost much of his money and his connections since he was arrested following a plane crash.

Once released, he could have just disappeared into Mexico's hinterlands, "just like Caro Quintero," Hope noted, referring to the last major old-guard drug lord released, Rafael Caro Quintero.

Freed by apparent judicial misconduct in 2014, and currently sought on a re-arrest warrant, Caro Quintero hasn't been seen since. Given that he participated in the 1985 torture-slaying of U.S. DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, Caro Quintero's release was a major embarrassment for the Mexican government.

Palma's return threatens to be another headache.

Even before he was extradited to the United States in 2007, Palma had compiled an excellent track record of beating charges in Mexico. He was acquitted, or had the charges dismissed, for accusations including multiple counts of murder, kidnapping, robbery and drug possession.

In Mexico, Palma, known as "El Guero" for his fair hair, served only a 2 1/2-year sentence for minor convictions including weapons violations.

Like his business associate, "El Chapo," Mexico appears unable to do a very good job of keeping Palma in jail. He essentially fell into the hands of law enforcement in 1995 after his plane crashed.

And with all the trouble that Mexico is currently going to to get "El Chapo" Guzman extradited, Palma's return raises the unnerving possibility that some day, Guzman could be sent back.

"If we extradite narcos to the United States, we should demand they not send them back," read a cartoon in the newspaper La Jornada, depicting Palma's return.

That's not just an idle jibe, says Mike Vigil, a former head of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

"There are a lot of individuals in Mexico, government officials, that are a little bit perplexed because they feel that if the United States wanted Palma, that he should have remained in prison here for a lot longer time ... And then you're letting him go very quickly," Vigil said.

"That is their concern, so that is going to throw a little bit of a bar into the extradition process between Mexico and the United States, which has been sporadic at best since the inception since the extradition treaty was signed between the two nations in 1978."

Vigil says Palma is likely to cause trouble if he's released. "In my opinion based on 13 years in Mexico ... Palma's release will translate to more drugs in the U.S. and more violence for Mexico."

"The thing, the only business that 'El Guero' Palma understands is the drug trade, he's an expert when it comes to trafficking and distributing drugs," Vigil said.

And as Vigil notes, Palma "is extremely, extremely, extraordinarily vicious."

He became vicious after his wife was seduced by a rival trafficker, who had her withdraw a purported $7 million from Palma's bank accounts, then beheaded her and sent her severed head to Palma. Venezuelan trafficker Rafael Clavel then allegedly took Palma's two children, aged four and five, and threw them off a bridge.

Police stand guard outside the entrance gate to the airport hangar of Mexico's Attorney General office, in Mexico City, during the arrival of drug lord Hector "El Guero" Palma, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Palma, one of the founders of the Sinaloa Cartel, returned to his native country Wednesday after serving almost a decade in a U.S. prison. U.S. authorities handed over Palma in Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas, before flying him to Mexico City for transfer to Altiplano maximum security prison.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

A police officer stands guard as a vehicle leaves from the airport hangar of Mexico's Attorney General office, in Mexico City, after the arrival of drug lord Hector "El Guero" Palma, Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Palma, one of the founders of the Sinaloa Cartel, returned to his native country Wednesday after serving almost a decade in a U.S. prison. U.S. authorities handed over Palma in Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas, before flying him to Mexico City for transfer to Altiplano maximum security prison.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Government should give parenting lessons, says public health expert

The Government should give parents lessons on how to raise their children, according to Britain's leading public health expert.

Professor John Ashton, the outgoing president of the Faculty of Public Health, said today's children are being neglected by schools and bad parents.

He said the state must step in to help prevent the next generation being crippled by conditions such as anxiety, anorexia and obesity.

Professor John Ashton, the outgoing president of the Faculty of Public Health, said the Government should give parents lessons on how to raise their children.

One in 10 children has a mental health problem, and a poor relationship with parents is among the main causes, Prof Ashton told The Times.

He said: "We've done remarkably well in terms of producing live, healthy babies over the last 60, 70 years, but, by the time children are leaving school, between 10% and 15% of them are in trouble emotionally or mentally, and (suffer from) things like obesity, eating disorders, anxiety and stress.

"So having produced healthy babies we then set about neglecting them. I can't imagine a sensible farmer doing this with livestock."

He added that to prevent children from turning to online porn, parents should talk to their children about sex at the breakfast table.
Iran overthrow claims are 'crazy', says husband of detained charity worker

Accusations that a charity worker detained in Iran was trying to overthrow the country's government have been branded "crazy" by her husband.

Richard Ratcliffe said he reacted in "shock and horror" at the allegations announced on Wednesday by Iranian authorities.

His British-Iranian wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been held in an Iranian prison for more than two months without charge.

The Government is investigating reports that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is to face charges of trying to cause a "soft toppling" of the country's government.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard alleged Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, had participated in the "design and implementation of cyber and media projects to cause the soft toppling of the Islamic Republic".

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of the news agency, was stopped on April 3 at Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran with her daughter Gabriella as she tried to return to the UK after a family holiday.

Mr Ratcliffe, from West Hampstead, London, said he was only alerted to the accusations by a press release on Wednesday morning.

He told the Press Association: "It is crazy and it is nonsense. I don't quite know what it means."

He said the allegations appeared to come from the provincial agency, rather than from a national authority, and called the charges "vast and vague".

Mr Ratcliffe added: "If these are indeed the allegations, this is of course farcical - the idea that there is some malevolent network headed by Nazanin and her two-year-old daughter is nonsense. It is a struggle enough for me to take Gabriella shopping."

He added: "Nazanin is not political.

"She is not an activist, but someone with a sincere moral core and great integrity. It is to Iran's shame that people like her are subjected to this treatment."

A UK Foreign Office statement said they were "urgently seeking information from the Iranian authorities on the reported accusations being made."

It added: "We have raised this case repeatedly and at the highest levels and will continue to do so at every available opportunity. We have also been supporting Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family since we were first made aware of her arrest."

Monique Villa, chief executive of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, said Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe had "no dealing with Iran in her professional capacity".

She added "We have heard today from the Mizan news agency that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been accused - literally of 'being involved with foreign companies and networks in planning the overthrow of the Islamic regime in Iran through projects involving media and cyber networks'.

"The Thomson Reuters Foundation has no dealings with Iran whatsoever, does not operate and does not plan to operate in the country."

She added that the organisation remained in "close contact" with the family and the Foreign Office.

Mr Ratcliffe confirmed his wife was moved from a prison in Kerman province to the capital Tehran on Monday, meaning she should have access to a lawyer.

The couple's daughter, who turned two last week, had her British passport confiscated by the Iranian authorities and is staying with her grandparents.

Earlier this month Mr Ratcliffe left a birthday card on the doorstep of the Iranian embassy in London and sang Happy Birthday over Skype to mark Gabriella's birthday.

Under Iranian law only her father or mother can bring her home.

In a bid to reunite the family, thousands of people have sent cards to Iranian embassies across the world.

A Change.org petition has topped 764,000 signatures and Mr Ratcliffe hopes to have it sent to Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei once it passes one million names.

A spokesman for Amnesty International said the allegations were part of a "spurious, trumped-up case designed to exert diplomatic pressure" on Britain.

It added: "The Iranian authorities have already treated Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe appallingly - holding her for weeks on end in solitary confinement, denying her access to a lawyer and making it nearly impossible for her to properly communicate with her desperately-worried family."
Gove account of family fish business sale questioned by newspaper

Questions have been raised over claims by Justice Secretary Michael Gove that EU policies ruined his family's fish processing company

The Cabinet Minister's father, Ernest, sold the firm for a variety of reasons, including the Icelandic cod wars, dockworkers' strikes, and the introduction of 200-mile limits to control over-fishing, The Guardian reports.

The Justice Secretary has repeatedly stated during the referendum campaign that the firm "went to the wall" and was "destroyed" because of EU fisheries policy.

Michael Gove is a prominent Brexit campaigner

The prominent Brexit campaigner told Sky News earlier this month: "My father had a fishing business in Aberdeen destroyed by the European Union and the common fisheries policy."

Stating that the industry in Scotland "more or less collapsed down" following the EU's involvement in fisheries policy, Mr Gove Snr told The Guardian: "It wasn't any hardship or things like that. I just decided to call it a day and just sold up my business and went on to work with someone else.

"I couldn't see any future in it, that type of thing, the business that I had, so I wasn't going to go into all the trouble of having hardship. I just decided to sell up and get a job with someone else. That was all."

After the newspaper approached the Cabinet Minister for reaction to his father's remarks, a clarification was issued.

Mr Gove Snr said he would be voting Leave and was proud of his son for standing-up for people who lost their jobs due to the EU.

"I don't know what this reporter is going on about," Mr Gove Snr said, according to The Guardian.

"Everybody in the north-east knows it was Europe that did such damage to the fish trade. The common fisheries policy was a disaster not just for Aberdeen but all of Scotland. There wasn't any future for my business. It closed as a direct result of Europe," the statement added.

A spokesman for the Justice Secretary told the newspaper: "It is well documented how the EU and the Common Fisheries Policy destroyed the fishing industry, particularly in the north-east of Scotland. EE Gove and Sons was one of the companies directly affected. It closed as a result of the damage inflicted on the fishing industry by the EU."

However, Tory former Scottish MEP, and ex-chairman of the European parliament's fisheries committee, Struan Stevenson, accused the Minister of "trotting out an emotional story as propaganda" to help the Leave campaign.

Mr Stevenson said overfishing had needed to be controlled in order to save stocks.

"I'm dismayed, frankly, because with all the hard work that we put into trying to reform the fisheries industry and trying to get sustainable fishing back on the agenda, and trying to save fish stocks from their inevitable collapse they were heading towards, all that work is being traduced," he told The Guardian.

SNP Scottish parliament member Gillian Martin said: "Michael Gove has been caught out - he should call it a day on his attempts to spin a tale about his family history.

"If Mr Gove was as concerned by the plight of the Scottish fishing industry as he says, then he'd never have joined the political party that viewed it "expendable" in the first place. It's not the EU that's to blame for the difficulties of the fishing industry, but the indifference of the UK Government who sold the industry out."
Plan to use drone to fly abortion pills to Northern Ireland gets mixed reaction

Pro-choice campaigners are planning to fly abortion pills into Northern Ireland using a drone.

The unusual move, scheduled for next Tuesday, has been described as an act of solidarity between women on both sides of the Irish border to highlight the strict laws on terminations that exist in both countries.

Rita Harrold from Rosa which is helping to co-ordinate the "abortion drone" said: "The action is an act of solidarity from women in the south where abortion is criminalised and women in the north where abortion is also criminalised and unfortunately there have recently been a number of prosecutions.

Bernadette Smyth vowed to use legal means to stop the pills being distributed

"We will be sending the drone over the border and bringing the pills into Northern Ireland to show women that they are still available and they are still safe."

The flight will start at Omeath in Co Louth and land close to Narrow Water in Co Down.

A number of women, who are not pregnant, are expected to swallow the tablets - mifepristone and misoprostol - which can be taken up to nine weeks into a pregnancy and have been approved for use by the World Health Organisation since 2005.

"Obviously there have been prosecutions and the threat looms large but the women who will be taking the pills won't be pregnant at the time," she added.

"This is an act of protest against the Eighth Amendment in the south and the lack of abortion rights in the north."

A number of pro-choice groups, Alliance For Choice; Rosa; Labour Alternative and Women On Waves which staged a similar flight from Germany into Poland, have collaborated on the issue.

The groups say legislation permits the drone to fly abortion pills lawfully from jurisdiction to the other.

They said in a statement: "The 'abortion drone' will mark the different reality for Irish women to access safe abortion services compared to women in other European countries where abortion is legal."

The maximum penalty for the crime of administering a drug to induce miscarriage under the relevant law in Northern Ireland, namely the Offences Against The Person Act 1861, is life imprisonment.

In the Irish Republic, the offence of procuring an abortion carries a potential 14-year jail term.

Pro-life campaigners have vowed to do all in their power to stop the drone.

Bernadette Smyth from the Belfast-based group Precious Life said: "I am currently seeking legal advice and may very well be in contact with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to ensure that these pills will be confiscated and to ensure that they are not used to destroy the lives of unborn children.

"These people are hell-bent on destroying lives but we will be doing everything in our power, legally, to protect lives."
Euro 2016 hosts France score late to beat Albania and reach Round of 16

France needed last-gasp goals from Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet to snatch a 2-0 win over Group A minnows Albania and secure their passage to the Round of 16.

The hosts looked anything but Euro 2016 favourites as they struggled past a side ranked 42nd in the world, and were very nearly on the end of a major upset with Albania rattling a post.

But just as Albania looked set to register their first ever point at an international tournament, substitute Griezmann came to France's rescue with less than a minute to go.

Dimitri Payet scored France's second goal in an unconvincing win over Albania

Then in stoppage time West Ham star Payet, back on his old Marseille stomping ground, curled in his second goal in two matches to secure their place in the knockout stages.

All France had to show for a worryingly flat first-half performance were two Payet free-kicks, both headed over by Olivier Giroud, and a blocked shot from Anthony Martial after he was put through by Payet.

Albania predictably began by defending deep but, perhaps sensing some French nerves, they began to venture forward and Ermir Lenjani tried his luck from 30 yards but his effort flew high and wide.

Moments later full-back Elseid Hisaj went on the overlap and pinged in a low cross which Hugo Lloris had to gather as Armando Sadiku threatened to get a toe onto the ball.

Ten minutes before half-time Albania won a corner and Ledian Memushaj's low delivery caught the French by surprise, with Lenjani only denied a shock goal by a deflection.

Martial was sacrificed at the break with Paul Pogba, a surprise exclusion from the starting line-up, summoned from the bench.

France improved immediately - not that they could get much worse - and just 30 seconds into the second half Giroud swung in a cross and youngster Kingsley Coman glanced a header just past the post.

Yet they still had to survive another major scare in the 52nd minute when Memushaj beat Hugo Lloris but saw his effort come back off the foot of the post.

The ball rebounded to the floored striker but he knew little about it as it bounced off his head and narrowly wide.

Pogba had a chance to break the deadlock shortly after when he slid on to meet an inviting cross from Payet only to blaze over.

Giroud then headed wide before the Arsenal striker went closer still when he nodded Patrice Evra's cross against the Albanian woodwork.

A late onslaught saw Laurent Koscielny fluff a close-range header, N'Golo Kante denied by a deflection and Andre Pierre Gignac nod wide.

But with 90 minutes almost up Albania's rearguard finally slipped up, leaving Griezmann unmarked to head home Adil Rami's cross.
After bombings, strikes test not just Belgian govt but unity

By Robert-Jan Bartunek

BRUSSELS, June 14 (Reuters) - A strike by prison guards is now in its eighth week and a rash of walkouts from the railways to garbage collections, buses and the law courts has thrown down a gauntlet to Belgium's cost-cutting centre-right coalition.

But while a backlash against austerity is familiar across Europe, notably in big southern neighbour France, what worries Belgians is how industrial action is dividing trade unions, rare bastions of unity among French- and Dutch-speakers, and testing the government's ability to broker any national compromise.

At the capital's rail hubs, where troops still stand guard after Islamist attacks on Paris and Brussels, boards have listed cancelled services to French-speaking Wallonia to the south while trains have run as normal to strike-free Flanders; it has been a stark image of the division as Walloon labour leaders push on with sporadic action disavowed by Flemish colleagues.

The CGSP/ACOD trade union insists it is not following the nation's political parties and governing institutions into a split along linguistic lines. The different outcomes to talks in Flanders and Wallonia reflect regional conditions, it argues.

The government says southerners are being unreasonable.

"Why does a railway worker strike if he lives in Charleroi and work if he lives in Ghent, when they have the same conditions?" asked French-speaking foreign minister Didier Reynders, warning strikes could fuel new communal conflicts.

Koen Geens, the Dutch-speaking justice minister, warned Walloon prison warders, against "the break-up of the country".

"PUPPET PREMIER"

Politicians and analysts play down chances that the richer Flemish half of the country might renew the push for secession from once dominant Wallonia that has dogged Belgium in the decades of industrial decline for the French-speaking south.

But exasperated headlines in the Dutch-language press over the Walloons' perceived misbehaviour put pressure on mainstream Flemish leaders facing a surge in the separatist vote while the new fracture within organised labour adds a layer of complexity to Prime Minister Charles Michel's conundrum.

Hanged in effigy by Walloon CGSP trade unionists last month, an act that provoked shocked warnings from commentators about the poisoning of the national debate, the liberal leader is denounced as a "traitor" by some of his fellow French-speakers.

They call him a puppet of the Flemish nationalists and conservatives who dominate a coalition which, for the first time in a quarter of a century, excludes the Socialists though they remain the top party in the south and lead Wallonia's regional government.

Michel's Flemish allies in the N-VA, meanwhile, are being harried into critical attitudes to the south by their hard-right rivals of the Vlaams Belang, who have doubled their poll rating to 14 percent in a year of migration chaos in Europe.

With Belgium's debt outstripping its annual income, ratings agencies, the IMF and OECD all back reforms that aim to balance the budget by 2018 and ease a "tax wedge" on jobs that eats 56 percent of wages, 60 percent above the OECD average.

But efforts to trim back state spending by, for example, raising pension ages for public employees or even scrapping a special holiday for rail workers have hit problems in Wallonia, where unemployment now runs at twice the rate in Flanders.

So far, investors are not reacting to the tensions; growth is above 1 percent, despite the hit to tourism from the attacks.

"The situation is manageable for now," said economist Philippe Ledent at bank ING. "If after the summer there are more strikes and demonstrations it will ... become a big problem."

BALANCING ACT

Bart Van Craeynest, economist at wealth manager Econopolis, reckons the hard part has yet to come as the Michel government seeks more cuts: "It will be very difficult to find those billions without igniting new strikes," he said.

Communal bickering in 2010-2011 when it took a record 541 days to form a new government saw borrowing costs soar.

Then, the N-VA, as the biggest party nationally, demanded more powers for Flanders as its price for joining a coalition and in the end stayed in opposition. But in 2014, the N-VA muted devolution calls to govern with Michel seeking economic reform.

But with the Socialists ruling Wallonia and in opposition in the capital, that is a delicate balancing act: "In French-speaking Belgium, they already see Charles Michel as a traitor," said Carl Devos of Ghent University, who warned that any more pressure for Flemish interests could bring down the coalition.

Conscious of losing votes to his right, N-VA leader Bart De Wever has savaged Walloon strikers. But he has stopped short of renewing pressure for separation that might provoke an early election at a time when his own ratings have softened.

One union has called a general strike for June 24 and a national strike day is been scheduled for Oct. 7, the second anniversary of Michel's coalition being formed.
company CEO pleads guilty in New York over Iran exports

By Jonathan Stempel

June 14 (Reuters) - A New York City man who runs a metallurgy company pleaded guilty on Tuesday to having conspired to illegally export missile-grade metallic powder to Iran, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Erdal Kuyumcu, 44, admitted to one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act at a hearing before Chief Judge Dora Irizarry of the U.S. district court in Brooklyn.

Patrick Mullin, a lawyer for Kuyumcu, declined to comment on the plea.

Kuyumcu, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Turkish descent, is the chief executive of Global Metallurgy LLC, also in New York.

Prosecutors said he conspired to obtain more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg) of cobalt-nickel metallic powder, which can be used in aerospace, missile production and nuclear applications, for export to Iran.

The Justice Department said the U.S. government closely regulates the powder to combat nuclear proliferation and protect national security, and that exporting it requires a license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

According to prosecutors, Kuyumcu and a co-conspirator hid the final destination of their powder by arranging for it to be shipped through Turkey, before being sent on to Iran.

"We vehemently dispute the notion that the coating powder sold by my client can be used for either missile production or nuclear application," Mullin said in a phone interview. "It is rather used primarily for industrial purposes."

The defendant faces a maximum 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 21.
El Salvador says confirms first case of microcephaly linked to Zika

SAN SALVADOR, June 14 (Reuters) - El Salvador confirmed on Tuesday its first case of microcephaly in a baby linked to the Zika virus, the health ministry said.

"Year-to-date 48 cases of microcephaly have been reported, of which one has been determined to be due to Zika," Health Minister Violeta Menjivar told reporters.

U.S. health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies. The World Health Organization has said there is strong scientific consensus that Zika can also cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome that causes temporary paralysis in adults.
Brazil congressional ethics committee strips Cunha of his seat

By Maria Carolina Marcello

BRASILIA, June 14 (Reuters) - Brazil's congressional ethics committee voted to strip suspended Speaker Eduardo Cunha of his seat on Tuesday for allegedly lying about undeclared Swiss bank accounts, the latest in a series of political earthquakes to rock Latin America's largest country.

Cunha insisted on his innocence and vowed to appeal the decision to another congressional committee. To remove him from office, a majority of the lower house of Congress still needs to affirm the decision.

If he loses his seat, Cunha, the architect of suspended President Dilma Rousseff's impeachment, will also lose the partial immunity enjoyed by elected politicians. He could then be arrested and prosecuted by lower courts in several corruption cases brought against him.

Cunha has warned that if he is arrested he will take other politicians down with him, signaling a danger for interim President Michel Temer that a Cunha plea bargain could implicate more members of his government and ruling PMDB party in corruption.

Cunha is the only sitting Brazilian lawmaker to face trial in the massive bribery investigation focused on state oil company Petrobras, in which he was indicted for receiving a $5 million bribe related to contracts for two drillships.

The ethics committee voted to eject him from Congress for lying about holding bank accounts in Switzerland with his wife, who has also been indicted by prosecutors for receiving bribe money from a Petrobras purchase of an oil field in Benin.

Federal prosecutors who are unraveling the Petrobras kickbacks scheme ordered the freezing of Cunha's assets.

The fall of Cunha, one of Brazil's most divisive public figures, adds to sweeping political upheaval in Brazil as it struggles with its biggest graft scandal ever, the impeachment of Rousseff and the worst economic recession in decades.

The powerful speaker's downfall was in the cards since the Supreme Court suspended him in May for using his position to obstruct the ethics committee hearings for months on end.

A wily backroom dealmaker, Cunha and his supporters have used every rule in the book to delay proceedings against him. Tuesday's tight 11-9 decision in the 21-member committee hinged on the vote of a little-known evangelical congresswoman and former bible studies teacher known as Aunt Eron.

As an evangelical Christian, Cunha mustered strong support from the religious right in Congress. But as bribery accusations mounted, allies began to abandon him in recent weeks.

Cunha denied he had accounts in Switzerland, saying they were trust funds that he did not control, even though Swiss prosecutors had linked him to the bank accounts.

His case was not helped by credit card data showing his wife and daughter had spent tens of thousands of dollars in purchases of clothing in luxury shops from Milan to Paris and New York.

Cunha's departure is not likely to help Rousseff survive her impeachment trial in the Senate, where she is expected to be convicted of breaking budget laws and definitively removed from office in mid-August.

Rousseff was suspended last month and replaced by Temer, her vice president, whose government could have used Cunha's clout in Congress to pass tough measures needed to plug a growing fiscal deficit and restart economic growth.

However, corruption allegations against members of Temer's cabinet and leaders of his Brazilian Democratic Movement Party have put the new government on the defensive and forced it to keep a distance from Cunha.
WIDER IMAGE-Never too old to learn; Nepal's 68-year-old student

By Navesh Chitrakar

PHEDIKHOLA, Nepal, June 15 (Reuters) - Nepalese grandfather Durga Kami brushes his bushy white beard, puts on his school uniform and, with the aid of his walking stick, trudges for over an hour to class for another day of learning.

Poverty prevented Kami finishing his studies as a child and achieving his goal of becoming a teacher.

Now 68, the father of six and grandfather of eight goes to school six days a week to complete his studies and escape a lonely home life following the death of his wife.

Walking into the Shree Kala Bhairab higher secondary school and the buzz created by 200 children is a welcome contrast to the hush of the isolated one-room home, with its leaking roof and frequent power cuts, where Kami lives in Syangja district, some 250 km (155 miles) west of Nepal's capital Kathmandu.

"To forget my sorrows I go to school," Kami, one of the oldest students in Nepal, told Reuters in the classroom where he studies alongside 14 and 15-year-olds.

Kami, whose children have all left his hilltop home, first went to Kaharay primary school where he learnt to read and write with the seven and eight year olds before leaving after finishing grade five with the 11-year-olds.

Shree Kala Bhairab teacher D.R Koirala then invited Kami to his school, which provided the grandfather with stationary and a school uniform including grey trousers, blue striped tie and white shirt.

"This is my first experience teaching a person who is as senior as my father's age," Koirala said. "I feel very excited and happy."

The school scholarship does not stretch to cover food, though, meaning Kami's breakfast of rice with a fermented green vegetable known as 'Gundruk' must sustain him until dinner.

The 20 children in his grade 10 class have dubbed Kami 'Baa', which means 'father' in Nepali, but despite his age their elderly class mate joins in all activities, including volleyball in the schoolyard.

"I used to think 'why is this old man coming to school to study with us?' but as time passed I enjoyed his company," Kami's 14-year-old class mate Sagar Thapa said.

"He is a little bit weak in studies compared to us but we help him out with that."

Kami said he wanted to studying until his death, adding he hoped it would encourage others to ignore age obstacles.
Boko Haram kidnaps three women near Chibok town in north Nigeria

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, June 14 (Reuters) - Boko Haram jihadists killed at least four villagers on Tuesday and kidnapped three women near the northeastern Nigerian town of Chibok where the group snatched more than 200 girls two years ago, residents and survivors said.

Boko Haram fighters attacked the Kautuva village at dawn, set houses ablaze and fired on residents, according to villagers and a member of a vigilante group working with the army.

"Some of us were lucky to survive and ran to Chibok," said a man who gave his name as Ali Pagu. Another resident said the jihadists had kidnapped three women.

Kautuva lies near Chibok, a town from where Boko Haram seized 276 girls from a school in April 2014, part of a seven-year-old insurgency to set up an Islamic state in the north. It has left some 15,000 people dead and more than 2 million displaced.

In May, authorities said a first of the missing Chibok girls had been found, and President Muhammadu Buhari vowed to rescue the rest of them.

Dozens of the girls escaped in the initial melee in 2014 but more than 200 remained missing. Parents accused former president Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria's leader at the time of the kidnappings, of not doing enough to track down the girls and bring them home.

Boko Haram, which last year pledged loyalty to the radical group Islamic State, has kidnapped hundreds of men, women and children in their campaign to carve out an Islamist caliphate.
Obama to meet the Dalai Lama at White House on Wednesday

By David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will meet the Dalai Lama at the White House on Wednesday, a move certain to anger China which considers the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader a dangerous separatist.

Obama and the Dalai Lama will meet privately at 10:15 a.m. (1415 GMT), a White House statement said.

Earlier on Tuesday, China warned the United States to stick by its promises not to support any separatist activities.

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, the Dalai Lama had said it was possible he would meet Obama and on Tuesday Taiwan announced that its new president would make a transit stop in the United States next week.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said both issues touched on the "one China" policy, a basic diplomatic tenet referring to both Taiwan and Tibet being part of China that Beijing insists foreign governments recognize.

Lu said the United States had said it opposed Taiwan's independence and recognized that Tibet was an inseparable part of China.

"We demand the U.S. government earnestly stands by its promises, conscientiously handle the relevant issue in accordance with the one China principle and not give any space to any individual or behavior which tries to create two Chinas, one China one Taiwan, or to split China," he said.

Obama met the Dalai Lama when the latter visited Washington in 2014 and angered China then when he vowed "strong support" for Tibetans' human rights.

The Dalai Lama says he wants genuine autonomy for Tibet rather than independence.

He told Reuters Obama was a "a long-time friend" whom he admired for his work to normalize relations with Cuba, on Iran and for his recent visits to former U.S. foe Vietnam and the site of the Hiroshima atomic bombing in Japan.

Asked how Beijing (Peking) might respond to a meeting, the Dalai Lama said: "I don't know - you should ask them. I think in Peking, we cannot as of now ... generalize. In Peking there are different views. Some people there have a more realistic view. Some are more hardline, which is more narrow-minded."

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will transit in Miami on her way to Panama, one of the island's few diplomatic allies, and stop over in Los Angeles on her return, Taiwan's deputy foreign minister, Javier Ching-shan Hou, said.

China is suspicious of Tsai, who assumed office last month, as she is also head of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party.
Food riots kill one more in Venezuela - legislator

CARACAS, June 14 (Reuters) - A man was shot dead on Tuesday during looting and food riots proliferating round crisis-hit Venezuela, an opposition legislator said, bringing to at least four the number of fatalities from this month's wave of unrest.

Milagros Paz said that as well as the fatality, another 27 people had been injured during a day of chaos and violence in the eastern Caribbean coastal town of Cumana that she represents for the Justice First party.

"It was all very confusing. There were simultaneous lootings in different parts of Cumana. They looted more than 100 establishments," she told Reuters from the National Assembly in Caracas, basing her information on contacts with constituents.

There was no confirmation from President Nicolas Maduro's government, though videos and photos on social media purporting to be from Cumana showed National Guard troops confronting crowds swarming round damaged shops.

With crowds baying "We want food!" and security forces struggling to keep order, protests and melees at shops have been spreading around the recession-hit South American oil-producing nation in recent weeks, fueled by shortages of basic foods.

Three other people were shot dead in the past week. A policeman and a soldier have been arrested.

According to a local monitoring group, the Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, more than 10 incidents of looting are occurring daily across the nation of 30 million people.

Venezuela's political opposition says Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez are to blame for failed socialist economic policies. They are seeking a recall referendum this year to try to remove him from office.

But Maduro, 53, says his foes are waging an "economic war" against him and seeking a coup. Government officials say there is not time this year to organize a referendum.
Kurds ready for new oil deal with Baghdad if they get $1 bln a month

By Maher Chmaytelli and Isabel Coles

ERBIL, Iraq, June 15 (Reuters) - Iraq's Kurds are ready to strike an agreement with the central government in Baghdad on a deal to increase oil exports, if it guarantees them a monthly revenue of $1 billion, a spokesman for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said.

Iraq's central government in March stopped oil exports through a Kurdish pipeline to pressure the local authorities to resume talks about an oil revenue sharing agreement.

Iraq's state-run North Oil Company normally exported 150,000 barrels a day through the pipeline that comes out at the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, in Turkey. The pipeline also carries oil produced in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq and sold independently from the central government.

KRG spokesman Safeen Dizayee said in an interview in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Erbil on Tuesday that the Kurdish authorities would be willing to sell the oil through Baghdad if they get a share from the federal budget amounting to a $1 billion a month.

"If Baghdad comes and says ok, give me all the oil that you have and I'll give you the 17 percent as per the budget, which equals to one billion, I think, logically it should be the thing to accept," he told Reuters, specifying later that the amount referred to a monthly payment in dollars.

"Whether this oil goes to the international market or first to Baghdad and then to the market, it doesn't make any difference," he said. "We are ready to enter dialogue with Baghdad."

The KRG stopped delivering crude oil to the central government a year ago, a decision taken when Baghdad's payment fell under $400 million a month, according to Dizayee.

The Kurdish region exported an average of 513,041 barrels in May through the pipeline to Turkey, generating about $391 million, of which about $75 million was paid to oil companies that produce the crude, according to KRG official estimates.

"The companies have been assured that certain amounts will be made on a monthly basis," said Dizayee, referring to the three foreign oil producers in the KRG region - DNO, Gulf Keystone and Genel.

"We have started to pay some of it, at least it has rebuilt that confidence between the government and the IPCs (oil companies," he said, referring to arrears owed to the companies.

The KRG in February said it will be paying international oil companies in 2016 according to the terms of their contracts, after making ad-hoc payments last year.
Thai military cadets drilled for role on constitution referendum day

By Aukkarapon Niyomyat

BANGKOK, June 15 (Reuters) - Preparations by Thailand's junta for a referendum in August over a new constitution that critics fear will entrench the military's influence were stepped up on Wednesday as military cadets were shown what do at polling stations on the day.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's junta has ordered some 100,000 cadets - high school and university student volunteers - to carry the message to people that they have a responsibility to vote.

Critics among civilian politicians, however, fear that the cadets are being used to convince Thais to vote in favour of the military-backed charter, in contravention of rules issued in May that bars anyone from campaigning for either side in the run up to the referendum on Aug. 7.

The junta has threatened to jail anyone who violates that rule for up to 10 years.

Opening the training session at a Bangkok hotel, Prawit Rattanapian, an Election Commissioner, said the cadets' role was only to encourage people to vote.

"The student volunteers will not explain whether the constitution is good or bad but will invite people to exercise their right to vote," Prawit told Reuters.

As he spoke, cadets, in their green uniforms, were familiarised with mock polling booths, where they will be expected to assist voters, particularly the elderly and disabled, on polling day.

Chatree Pensomboon, a second year student soldier from Marialai School in Bangkok, said he did not think he was being asked to do anything political.

"I look at this as a kind of social work," he said.

Thailand's generals seized power in bloodless coup two years ago, saying their action was needed to end months of street protests that had paralysed the government and hobbled the economy.

During a decade of unrest, political divisions in Thailand have broadly pitted the military, bureaucrats and the middle class against supporters of populist governments that were overthrown by coups in 2006 and 2014.
Turkey may soften stance on Assad exit as Kurdish gains force shift

By Tulay Karadeniz

ANKARA, June 14 (Reuters) - Turkey's determination to prevent an autonomous Kurdish region emerging in northern Syria could see it ease up on demands for President Bashar al-Assad's immediate exit, as it overhauls a foreign policy that has left it more isolated than influential.

Days after taking office last month, new Prime Minister Binali Yildirim - a close ally of President Tayyip Erdogan - said Turkey needed to "increase its friends and decrease its enemies", in what appeared a tacit admission that his predecessor's policies had left the NATO member sidelined.

Under former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Ankara was insistent on Assad's departure as the only way of stabilising Syria, setting it at odds with Assad's ally Russia and distancing it from a U.S.-led coalition more focused on the fight against Islamic State.

Erdogan - who wields ultimate power in Turkey, including over foreign policy - has been one of Assad's fiercest critics but analysts say changing circumstances on the ground could force a softening of his rhetoric.

Turkey's worst nightmare in Syria has come true: Russian support has enabled Assad to remain in power, while Kurdish militia fighters have benefited from U.S. support as they battle Islamic State, bolstering their position in territory adjacent to the Turkish border.

Yildirim's government has outlined four areas of policy where it wants to take new steps: Israel, Russia, the European Union and Syria, the last motivated in part by a realisation that Assad's demise could benefit the Kurdish militia.

"Assad is, at the end of the day, a killer. He is torturing his own people. We're not going to change our stance on that," a senior official from the ruling AK Party told Reuters, requesting anonymity so as to speak more freely.

"But he does not support Kurdish autonomy. We may not like each other, but on that we're backing the same policy," he said.

Ankara fears that territorial gains by Kurdish YPG fighters in northern Syria will fuel an insurgency by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged an armed struggle in Turkey's southeast for three decades.

The groups do not deny links. The PKK founded the YPG as a Syrian organisation a decade ago and both are inspired by Abdullah Ocalan, who led the PKK from its inception and lived in Syria shortly before his capture in 1999. He remains in jail.

Conflict in Turkey's southeast has flared anew since a ceasefire with the PKK collapsed last July - fuelled in part, according to the Turkish authorities, by weapons and fighters crossing the border from Syria.

That leaves Turkey with few easy options, according to Mehmet Yegin, an analyst at Ankara-based think-tank USAK: relaunching peace talks with the PKK, which the government has so far ruled out, or indirectly relying on Assad as a buffer.

"The only thing that can change is Turkey can stop insisting that Assad must go," he said.

OVERTURES TO MOSCOW

A softer stance on Assad could in theory help smooth relations with Russia, which have been severely strained since Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border last November. The dispute has cost Turkey billions of dollars in lost tourism revenues and trade sanctions.

Erdogan sent President Vladimir Putin a message on Sunday, to mark Russia's national day, expressing a desire for an improvement in ties, Turkish presidential sources said. Turkey's EU affairs minister Omer Celik meanwhile said on Tuesday that Turkey had not known the jet was Russian when it was shot down after entering Turkish air space near the border.

But such efforts to assuage Russian anger look unlikely to bear fruit until Putin himself is ready.

"Russia insists on the conditions it set at the beginning. They expect Turkey to apologise and pay damages. Reconciliation looks hard unless Russia takes a step back," said Sinan Ulgen, chairman of Istanbul-based think-tank EDAM.

As Yildirim and his team adjust foreign policy in the wake of Davutoglu's departure, there are also few signs of significant progress in relations with the European Union, despite Brussels' reliance on Ankara to maintain its side of a landmark deal on migration.

Turkey's decade-long accession talks with the EU have largely stalled, with some leaders in Europe increasingly concerned about what they see as a creep towards authoritarianism as Erdogan seeks to broaden his powers.

The migrant deal, criticised by rights groups, has sharply cut the number of refugees and migrants reaching Greece, giving EU leaders breathing space after more than a million arrived last year. But the bloc is treading a difficult line, facing accusations of compromising its values by failing to be critical enough of Turkey's record on rights and freedoms.

In a sign of tensions, the EU's top envoy to Ankara quit on Tuesday after displaying what Celik said was disrespect for Turkish values and for Erdogan. The envoy had made critical comments in the Turkish media about Ankara's implementation of the accord.

Of the new government's four foreign policy priorities, that leaves only efforts to restore ties with former ally Israel showing any immediate signs of progress.

Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said last week Turkey was just one or two meetings away from normalising relations, after diplomatic and military ties were cut in 2010 when Israeli commandos stormed a Turkish ship in an aid flotilla to Gaza, killing 10 Turks.

Turkey wants Israel to end a sea and air blockade of the Gaza Strip but Israel has ruled out ending its embargo of the Palestinian territory.

"There are creative solutions to be found, and I think that both sides have the political will to find a solution," a Turkish official familiar with the efforts said, adding a deal could be within reach.
French regulator doubts need for France-Spain Midcat gas pipeline

PARIS, June 15 (Reuters) - A new gas pipeline between France and Spain would not boost the security of French or European gas supply and could raise gas prices for consumers, French regulator CRE said on Wednesday.

In a report about France's cross-border gas and power interconnections, CRE said it saw little need for a new pipeline, which the European Union says would help reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas imports by relieving a gas bottleneck across the Pyrenees between the two countries.

Italian gas transport group Snam has said its French unit, TIGF, wants to invest in a new Midi-Catalonia (Midcat) interconnector in the eastern Pyrenees that would more than double the cross-border gas exchange capacity.

The Commission de Regulation de l'Energie (CRE) said the Midcat project would cost nearly 3 billion euros ($3.36 billion), of which 2 billion euros for France, to boost the gas import-export capacity to about 15 percent of gas consumption in France and Spain.

"In light of stable demand and overcapacity in recent years, such a costly project should not create excessive risk for consumers," CRE said.

The CRE said gas grid operators should establish whether there is a need for new infrastructure capacity, which it said is unlikely given the current market environment.

It also said costs and benefits for each country should be outlined and that each should allocate financial support proportional to the benefits they could expect from the project.

CRE president Philippe de Ladoucette told Reuters that in the past five years Spain had not exported one single cubic metre of gas to France.

"The Spanish energy commissioner pushes this project, but today there is no economic need for it," he said, adding that Midcat would also not boost the security of EU gas supply.

EU Climate and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete, a Spanish national, met with French and Spanish energy ministers in Paris last year to discuss new power and gas infrastructure across the French-Spanish border.

Spain has the potential to reduce Europe's reliance on Russian gas, as its chain of LNG terminals and its gas pipelines from Africa have a combined import capacity of about 80 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas per year, more than three times Spain's annual consumption.

Spanish energy companies have long complained that France is not doing enough to boost interconnections across the Pyrenees.
Restaurant Group names ex-Monarch finance head as CFO

June 15 (Reuters) - Restaurant Group Plc named Barry Nightingale, ex-finance head of Monarch Airlines, as its finance chief on Wednesday, over a month after the owner of Mexican food chain Chiquito first said its CFO would leave and warned on profit.

During his time at Monarch Airlines, Nightingale played a considerable role in the turnaround of the company, said Restaurant Group, which is looking to revive its own fortunes.

Restaurant Group's shares have almost halved in value this year as it battles increased competition from food-led pubs and branded restaurant chains and a drop in visitors to retail shopping parks, where many of its outlets are located.

"(Nightingale) will be able to contribute to and support the implementation of the ongoing review of our operating strategy and brands," Chief Executive Danny Breithaupt said.

Nightingale would start with Restaurant Group on June 20, the company said.
Aveva says tie-up talks with Schneider Electric end

By Noor Zainab Hussain

June 15 (Reuters) - Aveva Group Plc said on Wednesday talks over a possible tie up with France's Schneider Electric SE had ended, sending the British software maker's shares down as much as 20 percent.

Aveva said on Monday it had received a revised, conditional proposal from Schneider Electric, six months after the French company pulled out of a deal to buy a majority of the company.

The companies have since been in talks over the merits of the proposed deal, that would have be a reverse takeover under UK listing rules.

Schneider Electric declined to comment on the end of the talks on Wednesday. Aveva declined to give a reason for the breakdown in discussions.

A source close to the talks said the hurdles that derailed the deal in December, such as the complexity of integrating the two operations, still loomed large in the new proposal.

Aveva, founded in 1967 as a spin-off from Cambridge University, had agreed to a deal in July under which Schneider was to pay 550 million pounds ($779 million) for new shares in the British company.

But the companies called off the transaction in December, saying the combination would have been too risky due to the complex structure of the deal.

JP Morgan analyst Stacy Pollard said of the collapse in talks on Wednesday: "If we had to guess, we would say Schneider lowered the price between July and December of last year, and then Schneider came back this week with a similar price thinking it would look relatively better now that Aveva's financial forecasts have been reduced by 9-15 percent."

Analyst George O'Connor at Panmure Gordon, meanwhile, said he had hoped Schneider would have sweetened the deal in order to move it along faster than the last time, when the French company had been considered slow.

Aveva shares closed down 12 percent at 1,628 pence. Schneider Electric closed up 2.1 percent at 53.84 euros.

Aveva, which makes software used to design oil rigs, ships and nuclear power stations, reported in May an 18 percent drop in full-year profit, reflecting tough conditions for its customers in South America and South Korea.

It gets 40 percent of its revenue from oil and gas markets, where companies have cut spending sharply.

"They are now holding something that looks a bit wounded from a structural standpoint ... potential trade buyers will just want to see some progress in terms of how Aveva grinds it out through these difficult times," O'Connor said.

($1 = 0.7058 pounds)
PRESS DIGEST - Bulgaria - June 15

SOFIA, June 15 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

-- Bulgaria's rhythmic gymnastics athlete Tsvetelina Stoyanova, member of the national team, has been rushed to a hospital after a jump from a sixth-storey residential building in Sofia. (Standart, Telegraph, 24 Chasa)

-- Bulgaria is ready to send 400 troops to a multinational brigade of NATO in Romania, which could coordinate training and possibly play a deterrent role, Defence Minister Nikolai Nenchev said. (Standart, Sega, Capital Daily, Trud, 24 Chasa)

- The constitutional court ruled that legal provisions that ban shareholders in a bank which the court has declared insolvent to appeal the ruling, do not breach the constitution. (24 Chasa, Capital Daily, Telegraph, Trud)

STANDART - Chinese company Porter City Holdings plans to set up an economic cooperation zone near the central Bulgarian city of Plovdiv. The zone will provide platform for business, e-commerce, logistics and finance, allowing direct contact between customers and manufacturers.
European shares rebound, with Zodiac zooming up

LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - European shares rose early on Wednesday after a five-day losing streak caused by jitters about next week's British referendum on European Union membership, with Zodiac Aerospace surging after posting higher sales.

The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index rose 0.9 percent, as did the pan-European STOXX 600 index.

Zodiac shares rose 8.1 percent after the company reaffirmed financial targets for 2015/16 as it posted a 5.9 percent rise in nine-month revenues.
Coalition air strikes, Turkish artillery kill 10 Islamic State militants in Syria -sources

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, June 15 (Reuters) - Ten Islamic State militants were killed in northern Syria by coalition air strikes and cross-border artillery fire from Turkey, military sources said on Wednesday.

A total of seventeen targets, including mortar positions, were hit in the operation, which was carried out on militants thought to have been preparing for an attack on Turkey, the sources said.
French PM urges hardline union to halt anti-reform rallies in Paris

PARIS, June 15 (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Wednesday urged the hardline CGT union to stop organising mass rallies in Paris against a contested labour reform after fresh clashes between masked youths and riot police at a demo.

On the sidelines of a CGT-led march on Tuesday, gangs of black-clad youths hurled makeshift firebombs at police and broke windows, including at Paris' main children's hospital.

"When you cannot organise a demo and take responsibility, leaving thugs in the middle of the march ... then you don't organise this sort of demonstration that can degenerate," Valls said on France Inter radio.

Police fired dozens of rounds of teargas and used water cannons to disperse the groups of youths during the rally, which police said had a turnout of 75,000-80,000 in Paris alone, roughly three times more than at recent big demos.

The Paris police department reported 58 arrests, including many foreigners, with 24 police and 17 protesters injured.

"We cannot have a general ban (on demos), but we will take our responsibilities. We can no longer have this disgraceful show with things getting out of control," Valls said before visiting the Necker children's hospitable to inspect the damage.

Despite the latest violence, Valls repeated his refusal to back down on the reform to make hiring and firing easier, saying that the bill had already been watered down to take into account more moderate unions views.

Backed by smaller militant unions, the CGT is battling to be France's top union with the CFDT, which supports the reform that would also devolve the setting of pay and working conditions to the company level.

Valls also pledged his support for the police force after the killing this week of a policeman and his wife by a Frenchman who pledged allegiance to the militant Islamist group Islamic State.

The government has called the killing a terrorist attack, and Valls said there would be inevitably be more deaths.
Germany denies presence of German forces in Syria

BERLIN, June 15 (Reuters) - Germany's Defence Ministry denied on Wednesday that German special forces were in northern Syria and said repeated claims by the Syrian government to this effect were not and had never been true.

"There are no German special forces in Syria. The accusation is false," a ministry spokesman said.
Rolls-Royce tells British staff EU membership is best for company

LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - The chief executive of Rolls-Royce has told his British staff that the aerospace and industrial power engineering group is better off in the EU, warning that leaving could result in some investment decisions being put on hold.

"We have taken the public position that as a company Rolls-Royce believes our customers, suppliers and employees benefit from the UK's membership of the European Union and that it is in the company's interests to remain a member," CEO Warren East said in a letter to the group's 23,000 staff in Britain.

Britons vote on June 23 on whether to stay in the 28-member EU, with polls suggesting a tight race. Rolls-Royce joins many other big companies, including telecoms group BT and airline easyJet, in throwing its weight behind the campaign to remain in the bloc.

Rolls-Royce warned that an "out" vote, or Brexit, could result in it delaying decisions like whether to invest in a new aero-engine testing facility at its plant in Derby, northern England, East told the BBC in an interview on Wednesday.

"We're making investment decisions all the time about where to place different parts of our operation," he said.

"Uncertainty created by Brexit puts a lot of those decisions on hold and that pause is something that our U.S. competitors don't have to cope with."

Rolls-Royce, one of Britain's biggest manufacturers, has fallen behind U.S.-based General Electric in recent years, with the bigger rival outperforming Rolls on the margins it makes from aero-engines.

The British company is now in the middle of a turnaround plan aimed at cutting costs and increasing profit, after its bottom line was hit in the last two years by cancelled orders from oil industry customers and a slowdown in demand for the high-margin servicing it provides for older aircraft engines.

Any delay to its investment plans, such as the new testing facility in Derby, which would be similar to a 65 million pound ($92 mln) facility recently built in Germany, could upset the pace of that turnaround.

"Uncertainty is what we can't cope with," East said in the interview.

In the letter to staff, East also said that whatever the outcome, Rolls-Royce would remain committed to Britain, which counts on Rolls-Royce for one pound in every 50 pounds of its exports.
Damascus says German special forces in Syria, Germany denies

BEIRUT, June 15 (Reuters) - The Syrian government said on Wednesday that German special forces were present, alongside French and American military personnel, in northern Syria, an accusation denied by Germany.

Syrian state media said the government strongly condemned the presence of French and German forces in Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobani, and Manbij.

"Syria ... considers it explicit and unjustified aggression towards (Syria's) sovereignty and independence," state news agency SANA quoted the foreign ministry as saying.

The U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) are staging an offensive against Islamic State near Manbij, while Kobani is under the control of the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, part of the SDF.

Germany's defence ministry said repeated claims by the Syrian government that German special forces were in northern Syria were not and had never been true.

"There are no German special forces in Syria. The accusation is false," a ministry spokesman said.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the Syrian civil war now in its sixth year, said French special forces were building a base for themselves near Kobani.

France's defence minister said last week that there were special forces operating in Syria helping the SDF advance towards Manbij.

The Observatory also said German, French and American military advisers, and French and American special forces, were assisting the SDF in its fight against Islamic State but had so far remained in a support role and not fought on front lines.
Tycoon Green to fix BHS pensions after admitting mistakes

By James Davey and Sarah Young

LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - Retail tycoon Philip Green admitted to British lawmakers on Wednesday he had erred in selling BHS to a former bankrupt and promised to help fix a gaping hole in the pension scheme of the collapsed department store chain he owned for 15 years.

The loss-making BHS fell into administration in April, little more than a year after Green sold it to Dominic Chappell's Retail Acquisitions Ltd for a nominal sum, resulting in the likely loss of 11,000 jobs as it is wound down. Chappell was a serial bankrupt with no retail experience.

BHS's demise left its pension fund with a deficit of 571 million pounds ($809 million), while Topshop-owner Green's reputation as a leading British businessman was tarnished.

In a six-hour session in front of parliament's Business and Work and Pensions committees, Green was at times contrite, at times exasperated and at one point came close to walking out.

He apologised for BHS's "sad ending" and his role in it.

"It was an honest mistake and unfortunately we sold it to the wrong guy," said the 64-year-old billionaire. "I'm a big boy, I'm going to take a punch on the chin."

He said he was working on a plan to plug the pension deficit, calling the situation "resolvable, sortable".

But there were also flashes of annoyance as Green was probed more deeply. Exchanges were often heated and he frequently interrupted lawmakers and complained about their lines of questioning.

Green said he had trusted Chappell as a buyer because he had been approved by Green's adviser Goldman Sachs and was being represented by law firm Olswang and financial adviser Grant Thornton, names he called "reputable, well-regarded".

He said Chappell's status as a former bankrupt was not a reason not to do business with him. "Walt Disney was bankrupt, HJ Heinz was bankrupt, they did OK," he said.

Last week, Chappell told lawmakers he accepted partial responsibility for BHS's collapse, but said Green and the retailer's management should share the blame.

PENSION REGULATOR

Green was critical of the pension regulator for failing to engage with BHS as its deficit increased and said the retailer's pension trustees were also responsible.

He said he had not received one phone call or email from Lesley Titcomb, the pension regulator's CEO, calling for a meeting in the three years since 2013 when it started examining BHS.

Green also denied he scuppered a last-ditch rescue of BHS by Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley and said he considered buying back the business.

He did not provide details on the plan he is working on with Deloitte to plug the pension deficit - a figure based on how much it would cost to address the shortfall between assets and future liabilities with either insurance or a buyout - as he sought to reassure BHS's 20,000 pension-holders.

"We will sort it, we will find a solution," he said.

He told lawmakers the plan would offer BHS pensioners a "better outcome" than compensation available from the Pension Protection Fund, the levy-funded UK lifeboat scheme that helps finance pensions after company insolvencies.

The deficit compares to the 423 million pounds of dividends Green paid out during his ownership of BHS from 2000-2015, mainly to his family.

STOP STARING

Some politicians have called for the tycoon to be stripped of his knighthood if he does not make good the deficit.

Feeling the heat from lawmakers, Green asked Richard Fuller from the ruling Conservative party not to stare at him and complained a whispering committee clerk was putting him off. Filling a plastic cup of water, Green spilt it over his table.

Iain Wright, the opposition Labour party lawmaker who chairs the business committee, said Green had a "dominant personality" and that could have had implications for BHS's culture.

"You seem extraordinarily thin-skinned to quite courteous questions, as if you don't want to be challenged in any way shape or form," Wright said. Green refused to respond.

The marathon session was not, however, without humour. At one point Green's phone went off, prompting Wright to say: "It's the regulator."
India dials back chip ambitions as investors spurn plant funding

By Himank Sharma

MUMBAI, June 15 (Reuters) - India's ambitious plan to be a major player in semiconductors, taking on the Chinese and churning out locally-made chips for a new generation of smartphone users, has proved to be a little too ambitious.

The government boldly announced three years ago it would host two new $5 billion chip plants as part of a project to become a global manufacturing powerhouse, creating thousands of jobs, reducing its need for imports and taking on global rivals such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing and GlobalFoundries.

But potential investors have not materialised, put off by India's wobbly infrastructure, unstable power supply, bureaucratic red tape and poor planning, according to analysts and industry insiders.

Just weeks after Jaypee Infratech, which was partnering IBM Corp and Israel's Tower Jazz, abandoned plans for one of the big chip plants, STMicroelectronics NV is set to scrap plans to build the other $5 billion plant as its main local partner failed to raise enough money from skeptical investors, government officials said.

"We've had a lot of issues with the original (semiconductor) plan," a top official at India's Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY) told Reuters. "The technology curve has moved ahead in the last three years, the global environment has changed and China has emerged as a big player."

Two other officials at the department said a consortium led by Indian start-up Hindustan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (HSMC) with STMicro and Malaysia's Silterra had not been able to raise the funding for the plant, and it might be scrapped.

Investors doubted the potential of the Indian government's plan to set up a 22 nanometer (nm) chip fabricator as the industry's cutting-edge manufacturing has already shifted to smaller 14 nm chips, and is expected to move to sub-10 nm in the next three years, the officials said.

"Our original estimates for chip demand were incorrect, and we decided to postpone our plant until 2020 since there's no market for semiconductors in India yet," HSMC founder Deven Verma told Reuters.

Verma said the consortium had not yet closed financing for the plant, but had commitments for only 40 percent of the required funding. Operations had been expected to start this year.

STMicro declined to comment.

LOWERING AMBITIONS

India is now toning down its ambitions and setting its sights on low-end chip making, the government officials said.

DEITY plans to attract low-tech component companies including makers of printed circuit boards (PCBs), integrated circuits and analog chips.

"If we target manufacturers of electronic components to look at India for their global production, we can start by manufacturing components such as PCBs and ICs locally, and that will give a much-needed boost to manufacturing in India," said one of the two top government officials.

To that end, the government has courted foreign manufacturers including Apple Inc to set up plants in India, though analysts say the country needs first to bulk up its component making capabilities.

"It's crazy if India thinks it can compete with China on something like chip manufacturing when our electronics industry is a shambles," said Ganesh Ramamoorthy, an analyst at research firm Gartner.

India's ambitions in electronics manufacturing include cutting net imports to zero by 2020, from about $40 billion last year. It is the world's fastest growing smartphone market with over 100 million sold last year - but almost all of those phones' chips and circuits are imported.
Steinhoff buys Poundland stake ahead of possible takeover bid

By Tiisetso Motsoeneng and Freya Berry

JOHANNESBURG/LONDON June 15 (Reuters) - South Africa's Steinhoff has bought 23 percent of Poundland and is considering a full cash bid for the British no-frills homeware chain in its latest attempt to expand in Europe.

Steinhoff, a $22 billion furniture conglomerate which has lost out in two high profile takeover battles already this year, said on Wednesday it had acquired 22.78 percent of Poundland, which sells every item at a single price point of 1 pound.

Under UK takeover rules, Steinhoff has until July 13 to announce a firm intention to bid for all of Poundland, whose main shareholder had been private equity firm Warburg Pincus, which said on Tuesday it had sold down its 15 percent stake.

Steinhoff, which has lost out to rivals in two battles for Britain's Home Retail and France's Darty in the last three months, bought just over 61.2 million Poundland shares, which would be worth around 120 million pounds at the closing price. Poundland has a market capitalisation of around 537 million pounds ($761 million).

Poundland shares closed up 2.2 percent higher at 200 pence, after rising around 25 percent on Tuesday. The stock is still down about 7 percent so far this year.

News of the South African company's latest move raised questions about its approach to expansion in Europe, where it already runs chains such as white goods retailer Conforama in France and furniture chain Harveys in Britain.

"There's seem to be no obvious strategic fit but it might just be a matter of adding discounted chains to its stable because that's essentially what they are: a discount retailer," said Vestact's Sasha Naryshkine in Johannesburg.

South African retail mogul Christo Wiese, Steinhoff's chairman and biggest shareholder, told Reuters he was interested in Poundland because it would be a "good fit" for Steinhoff, adding it had a disciplined approach to acquisitions.

POUNDLAND PRESSURE

Steinhoff, which sells beds and cupboards to lower-income shoppers in Europe, southern Africa and Asia, is keen to expand further in Europe, where pressure on consumer income has made German's Aldi the continent's fastest growing supermarket chain.

Poundland, which is due to report annual earnings on Thursday, would give Steinhoff a company with more than 900 shops in Britain, Ireland and Spain but also one whose 1 billion annual sales have been under pressure.

Poundland's 2015 purchase of rival 99p Stores for 55 million pounds has raised questions over its price model.

"Although Steinhoff has a proven track record of integrating businesses and improving their margins over time, we would see this acquisition as higher than average risk given the increasingly crowded UK variety discount space," said RBC Europe Ltd's analyst Richard Chamberlain.

Poundland, which competes with B&M, Home Bargains and Wilko and Bargain Buys, told shareholders to take no action, noting that there was no certainty an offer would be made.
Opposition candidate detained in Congo Republic - party

BRAZZAVILE, June 15 (Reuters) - A former army chief and candidate in Congo Republic's presidential election earlier this year was arrested overnight, his opposition party said on Wednesday.

Authorities did not immediately comment on why they had detained General Jean-Marie Michel Mokoko, 69, a power broker in the former French colony's 1990s civil war.

The government of President Denis Sassou Nguesso has accused Mokoko, a one-time security advisor to the president, of involvement in an alleged coup attempt in 2007. Mokoko's supporters say the president is trying to stifle dissent.

"This is clearly a desire to harm the general, who stood up to Sassou during the last presidential election," spokesman for the l'IDC-FROCAD party Guy Romain Kinfouissia said.

"It is just another demonstration of force to muzzle the opposition," he said.

Sassou Nguesso has ruled the oil producing central African nation for all but five of the past 37 years and won a disputed election in March. Most opposition parties boycotted the vote, although Mokoko ran and came third.
China says Dalai Lama-Obama meeting will damage bilateral ties

BEIJING, June 15 (Reuters) - China has lodged diplomatic representations with the United States over a planned meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama at the White House on Wednesday saying it would damage Chinese-U.S. ties, the Foreign Ministry said.

China considers the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader a dangerous separatist, and ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing the meeting would encourage "separatist forces".

"If the United States plans this meeting, it will send the wrong signal to Tibet independence and separatist forces and harm China-U.S. mutual trust and cooperation," Lu said.

Any attempt to take advantage of the Tibet issue and undermine stability would not succeed, Lu said, saying China "resolutely opposed" the plan.

China urged the United States to abide by its promises to recognise that Tibet is part of China and cease any support for Tibet independence, Lu said.

Obama met the Dalai Lama when the latter visited Washington in 2014 and angered China then when he vowed "strong support" for Tibetans' human rights.

China describes the incorporation of Tibet into its territory in 1951 as a "peaceful liberation", and says it has brought development to what was a backward region.

The Dalai Lama, who fled from Tibet into exile in India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, says he wants genuine autonomy for Tibet, not independence.

China says Tibet already has genuine autonomy, and exile groups seek to split the country. Tibetans accuse China of eroding their Buddhist culture and flooding the region with ethnic Han Chinese.

The Dalai Lama told Reuters on Monday that Obama was a "a long-time friend" whom he admired for his work to normalize relations with Cuba, and on Iran, and for his recent visits to former U.S. foe Vietnam and the site of the Hiroshima atomic bombing in Japan.
Southeast Asian countries retract statement expressing concerns on South China Sea

By Rozanna Latiff

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian countries withdrew a statement that expressed the region's deep concerns over tension in the South China Sea, where China is involved in protracted territorial disputes with some of its neighbours.

The strongly-worded statement by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), released by the Malaysian foreign ministry, did not name China directly but warned against raising tension in the waters, where Beijing has been building artificial islands and increasing its military presence.

"We expressed our serious concerns over recent and ongoing developments, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and which may have the potential to undermine peace, security and stability in the South China Sea," said the statement, which was issued following a meeting in the Chinese city of Kunming between foreign ministers from ASEAN and China.

But just hours later, a Malaysian ministry spokeswoman recalled the statement, saying "urgent amendments" needed to be made and an updated version would be distributed.

However, no updated joint statement was later issued and the spokeswoman said countries would now issue individual statements.

China lays historical claim to most of the South China Sea, with its "Nine Dash line" stretching deep into the maritime heart of Southeast Asia, covering hundreds of disputed islands and reefs, rich fishing grounds and oil and gas deposits. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims over the region, through which trillions of dollars in ship-borne trade passes every year.

China said the media was hyping up the issue, and that the original statement was not an official ASEAN document.

"This meeting was a closed-door meeting and from the beginning there was no preparation to make a joint statement," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang at a regular briefing.

"PERHAPS TOO MUCH" TO HANDLE

Ian Storey, an analyst at Singapore's ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, said the retraction of the initial statement showed the lack of unity between ASEAN members on the South China Sea disputes.

"The initial statement repeated ASEAN's existing concerns over China's artificial island building and the militarization of the dispute, but also countered China's position that the dispute should be settled by the parties directly concerned and that it is not an issue between ASEAN and China.

"Perhaps this proved too much for some of the member states and the statement was withdrawn."

The ASEAN-China meeting was held ahead of a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on a case brought by the Philippines contesting Beijing's claims in the South China Sea.

China has refused to recognise the case and says all disputes should be resolved through bilateral talks.

The case has become the centre of an international diplomatic arm wrestle, with the United States and its allies insisting on international law being obeyed and China saying it has widespread support for its position, including from some ASEAN members.

Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on the Kunming meeting, made no reference to the earlier ASEAN statement but echoed its concerns over increased military build-up in the South China Sea, "especially the large-scale accretion and embellishment and construction of the reefs, the militarization of the artificial islands and actions of sovereignty claims that are not based on international law".

Singapore and Indonesia, meanwhile, took a softer tone, calling on ASEAN and China to "continue working together to maintain the peace and stability of the South China Sea".

An Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman said the initial statement was a "media guideline" which had been prepared for a planned press conference for the conclusion of the meeting.
EU proposes cutting wholesale roaming rates

By Julia Fioretti

BRUSSELS, June 15 (Reuters) - The European Union on Wednesday proposed cutting wholesale roaming rates telecoms operators pay each other when customers surf the Internet abroad to pave the way for the abolition of retail roaming charges by summer next year.

The EU struck a deal a year ago to abolish mobile roaming charges across the 28-country bloc by June 2017 but that hinges on wholesale prices being competitive enough to allow firms to offer customers free roaming without operating at a loss.

The European Commission, the EU's executive, proposed cutting the maximum amount operators can charge each other to 4 euro cents a minute for calls, 1 euro cent per text message and 0.85 euro cent per megabyte of data.

"In a year from now, we'll say goodbye to roaming charges," Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip said.

However, the proposal is likely to run into many of the disagreements that hampered the law to abolish roaming charges, which was eventually agreed after much wrangling over the date.

Operators in countries with lots of incoming roaming traffic such as Spain, Greece and France want wholesale rates to be high enough to compensate them for handling the extra tourist traffic and ensure they can keep investing in networks.

Operators in countries with cheap domestic rates and whose customers travel a lot, such as Baltic and eastern European countries, fear removing retail roaming rates without lowering wholesale prices first will force them to raise prices at home to recoup the cost.

Wholesale prices are currently 5 euro cents a minute for calls, 2 euro cents for text messages and 5 euro cents per megabyte of data.

The Commission considers that cutting wholesale prices to the level proposed on Wednesday would ensure retail charges can be abolished without distorting the market.

Once retail charges are abolished on June 15, 2017 operators will be able to apply a "fair use" policy to stop users roaming permanently with a cheaper foreign contract.
Strong expectations of improvement in Turkey's relations with Russia, Erdogan adviser says

ISTANBUL, June 15 (Reuters) - There are strong expectations about an improvement in Turkish relations with Russia, and Turkey's economy and tourism should benefit positively, an aide to President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

Cemil Ertem also told broadcaster NTV in a live interview that he doesn't expect a change in monetary policy in the short-term.
Australian casino firm Crown may split assets as cushion against Macau slump

By Swati Pandey

SYDNEY, June 15 (Reuters) - Australian casino firm Crown Resorts Ltd may split most of its domestic assets off into a new listed company, seeking to cushion those operations from the slide in business at Asian gambling hub Macau which has hammered its shares.

In a statement on Wednesday, Australia's No.1 casino company said it's considering setting up a new listed property trust for its Melbourne and Perth hotels, while demerging its international investments into a separate listed firm. It didn't say how much the businesses might be worth.

The move comes after months of speculation about majority-owner James Packer's plans for the company after Australia's third-richest man stepped down as chairman in August. As the firm suffered in the Macau downturn and invested away from its core gaming business, shares tumbled 17 percent in that time, squeezing the firm's market value to A$8.2 billion ($6 billion).

"We believe that Crown Resorts' extremely high-quality Australian resorts are not being fully valued and the Crown Resorts share price has been highly correlated to the performance of its investment in Macau," Crown chairman Robert Rankin said in the statement.

In February, Crown reported a 35 percent slump in first-half profit due to a drop in Chinese high-rollers at its Macau casinos. The Macau venture - Melco Crown - accounted for more than 30 percent of the company's total net profit for the year-ended June 2015.

In May this year Crown Resorts lowered its stake in Melco Crown to about 27 percent from 34 percent previously. On Wednesday, Crown Resorts said that stake was worth A$2.7 billion, and said it continued to have "great faith in the long-term development of the Macau market".

The company said it planned to hold a news conference on its plans at 08.30 local time on Thursday (21.30 GMT Wednesday).

INVESTOR CONCERNS

In a move likely to be welcomed by investors, Crown Resorts also revised its dividend policy to boost cash returns to shareholders, offering to pay 100 percent of net profit effective immediately.

The new dividend policy will not alter its intention to maintain a strong balance sheet and credit profile, it added. Crown Resorts is currently rated two levels above junk grade by the three major credit ratings firms.

Investors have grown concerned about the company's move away from non-gaming assets, including last October's $100 million purchase of 20 percent of the Nobu restaurant chain part-owned by movie star Robert De Niro.

In May, Australian fund manager Colonial First State exited its investment in Crown Resorts citing concerns about governance and board independence, as well as the investment in Nobu.

"I suspect some shareholders would be concerned to understand the strategy of the company, now that it seems to be diverting capital to things that bear no relationship to what it has done previously," said David Green, a consultant at Macau and Australia based Newpage Consulting, speaking to Reuters before Wednesday's announcement.
Pakistani transgender woman shot for refusing sex with attackers - police

By Zeeshan Haider

ISLAMABAD, June 15 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A transgender woman in Pakistan was shot for refusing to have sex with attackers who broke into her home, in the latest in a series of assaults on trans people, police said.

The victim, in her mid-twenties, suffered a gunshot wound to her thigh after three armed men broke into her home in the northwestern town of Mansehra on Monday and tried to rape her.

"They opened fire on her and wounded her on refusing to have sex and then fled the area," police official Ammar Niaz told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Mansehra, in the socially conservative province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

"We are conducting raids to arrest the attackers. We hope to arrest them soon," he said late on Tuesday, adding that the victim had been discharged from hospital and was now recovering.

The incident - the latest in a string of attacks targeting Pakistan's transgender community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province - sparked protests in Mansehra on Monday.

Scores of members and supporters of country's transgender or "hijra" community took to the streets demanding authorities find the perpetrators and ensure their prosecution.

The protesters also called for increased security and protection for transgender people in the face of such attacks.

Trans people technically enjoy better rights in Pakistan than in other countries around the world, but in practice they are marginalised and discriminated against in accessing health, education and jobs, and they often face violence and stigma.

The country's Supreme Court ruled in 2009 that "hijras" - which include transvestites, transsexuals and eunuchs - could get national identity cards as a "third sex."

Yet many hijras in Pakistan as well as other South Asian nations such as India and Bangladesh are attacked, raped or forced to work as sex workers to support themselves. Others beg for alms at traffic lights or on the streets.

According to transgender rights groups, there have been at least five attacks on the community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone in recent months.

In May, a transgender activist died in hospital after being shot multiple times by a male friend in the city of Peshawar. Her friends accused the hospital of delays in her treatment and deciding whether to admit her in a male or female ward.

Almas Bobby, president of SheMale Foundation Pakistan, said despite the Supreme Court decision, the community continues to face discrimination and abuses mainly because the government had put in place biased regulations.

"We are not being issued ID cards showing our genders because authorities want us to undergo a medical examination to ascertain our gender," Bobby told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
U.S. Third Fleet expands East Asia role as tensions rise with China

By Idrees Ali and David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy's Third Fleet will send more ships to East Asia to operate outside its normal theater alongside the Japan-based Seventh Fleet, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, a move that comes at a time of heightened tensions with China.

The Third Fleet's Pacific Surface Action Group, which includes the guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance and USS Momsen, was deployed to East Asia in April.

More Third Fleet vessels will be deployed in the region in the future, said a U.S. official who requested anonymity. He and a second official said the vessels would conduct a range of operations, but gave no details.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims, as well as close military ties with the United States.

China has been angered by what it views as provocative U.S. military patrols close to islands that China controls in the South China Sea. The United States says the patrols are to protect freedom of navigation.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry said if U.S. actions had a destructive impact on regional peace and stability and the interests of countries in the region, then China would "definitely be opposed and concerned".

"How the U.S. military uses its taxpayers' dollars to carry out deployments is its own affair," ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing. "I'm not concerned about it. What I'm concerned about is regional peace, security and stability."

The Third Fleet, based in San Diego, California, traditionally has confined its operations to the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean's international dateline.

Japan's Nikkei Asian Review quoted the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Scott Swift, as saying on Tuesday that the move came in the "context of uncertainty and angst in the region," an apparent reference to China's behavior.

Swift argued that the Navy should utilize the "total combined power" of the 140,000 sailors, over 200 ships and 1,200 aircraft that make up the Pacific Fleet.

The Seventh Fleet consists of an aircraft carrier strike group, 80 other vessels and 140 aircraft. The Third Fleet has more than 100 vessels, including four aircraft carriers.

Chinese officials have blamed the rising tension on the United States. "I think before Americans' so-called 'rebalancing in Asia-Pacific,' the South China Sea was very quiet, very peaceful," Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to Britain, told Reuters in an interview last week.

"China was talking to the neighboring countries. We had a Declaration of Conduct. And the Philippines was talking to us. Once the Americans came in, so-called `rebalancing,' things changed dramatically."

"They want to find an excuse to have their strong military presence in the South China Sea and in the Asia Pacific. If it is so quiet, what is the reason for them to be there?" he asked.
Brexit would knock half a percentage point off German growth - DIW

BERLIN, June 15 (Reuters) - A British exit from the European Union would likely lead to higher export tariffs, reducing German trade and knocking half a percentage point off growth in Europe's biggest economy next year, economic institute DIW said on Wednesday.

"Economic growth in Germany is likely to be relatively robust this year and next, provided Brexit is avoided," DIW head Marcel Fratzscher said.

"Brexit could reduce growth in Germany by 0.5 percentage points next year alone because of fewer exports," he said, referring to the possibility that Britons will vote in a June 23 referendum to exit the EU.

The institute slightly raised its 2016 forecast for German growth to 1.7 percent, mainly due to a surprisingly strong increase in industrial production at the beginning of the year.

For 2017, DIW expects German growth to slow to 1.4 percent, partly because of extraneous effects such as more public holidays falling on normal week days next year.

On the Brexit risk, a study by DZ Bank has shown a British departure from the EU could cost Germany up to 45 billion euros ($50.5 billion) by the end of 2017 as exports from Europe's economic power house would likely be hit at a time of already waning demand from emerging markets like China.

In 2015, German companies exported goods worth some 89 billion euros to Britain, making the UK their third most important export destination. At the same time, Germany imported British goods worth some 38 billion euros, leaving a trade surplus of around 51 billion euros.

With a total trade volume of 127.5 billion euros, Britain is Germany's fifth biggest trading partner behind the United States, France, the Netherlands and China. For the UK, Germany is the most important trade partner, ahead of the United States.

Several recent opinion polls have shown the 'Leave' campaign taking the lead in Britain's referendum campaign, despite warnings from Prime Minister David Cameron, the Bank of England and others that Brexit could cause significant economic disruption.
Aluminium premiums adjust to life after the queues: Andy Home

By Andy Home

LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - Japanese aluminium buyers are locked in talks with producers over the level of physical premiums to be paid for shipments in the third quarter.

The opening salvoes suggest the premium will fall slightly from the second-quarter level of $115-117 per tonne over London Metal Exchange (LME) cash prices. nL4N18Z2L4

Wherever it settles, it will be within the $90-117 range that has held since the third quarter of last year.

This marks a return to some sort of normality after premiums went supernova over the course of 2014. Japanese premiums hit a record high of $425 in the second quarter of 2015.

It's the same with physical aluminium premiums elsewhere. The Midwest U.S. premium, as assessed by S&P Global Platts, is currently 7.75 cents per lb ($171 per tonne), down slightly from 8.90 cents at the start of the year. The decline has been both gradual and orderly.

That is also a far cry from the volatility of 2014 and 2015, when the Midwest premium peaked at over $500 per tonne.

Aluminium premiums show every sign of reverting to the relatively low, relatively stable conditions that prevailed prior to the fireworks of the last five years.

They have, in other words, fully de-linked from the queues to load out metal from LME warehouses.

Graphic on physical aluminium premiums:

http://tmsnrt.rs/1PtnUeN

ATTACKING THE QUEUES

The exact linkage between aluminium premiums and waiting times at key LME good-delivery locations such as Detroit and the Dutch port of Vlissingen remains a contested issue.

Aluminium users were never in any doubt that the aggressive queue-management schemes of LME warehouse operators such as Metro (Detroit) and Pacorini Metals (Vlissingen) were the direct cause of the explosion in physical premiums.

Producers and warehouse owners argued that there was more than just queues in the mix, pointing to both shifts in the physical market, such as the steady contraction of U.S. smelting capacity, and rampant demand for financing aluminium.

It was, after all, financiers rather than manufacturers who were caught in the queues as they sought to move large tonnages of metal to cheaper off-market storage.

The LME itself has always taken a cautious middle ground in the debate, accepting queues were indeed one element, but not necessarily the only one, in the premium explosion.

But the LME has repeatedly tweaked its rules to reduce and eliminate queues in its warehouse network, lifting load-out requirements, introducing a linked load-in-load-out obligation on operators with queues and more recently moving to cap the amount of rent payable in a queue.

The ratcheting up of these measures has largely worked. There is now only one load-out queue for aluminium in the system.

THE LAST QUEUE

As of the end of last month the queue to get aluminium out of warehouses operated by Pacorini Metals at Vlissingen stood at 336 days.

It has flexed considerably wider over the last couple of months from just 116 days at the end of February.

That's down to the shuffling of metal in reaction to spread tightness on the LME's aluminium contract over the course of February and March.

Vlissingen received 120,325 tonnes of fresh warranting activity in those two months, all of it flowing into Pacorini warehouses. At the same time 174,150 tonnes of aluminium was re-warranted, reducing the amount of metal in the load-out queue.

That pattern reversed once the spread tightness passed, the Dutch port seeing 656,000 tonnes of aluminium cancellations over the second half of March and April, all of them acting to lift load-out times again.

Vlissingen now holds 944,725 tonnes of aluminium, of which 756,325 tonnes, or 80 percent of the total, is in the form of cancelled warrants awaiting load-out.

The key take-away from all this toing and froing, however, is that there has been minimal impact on physical premium levels.

That may reflect a change of operating model by warehouse operators in reaction to the LME's increasingly draconian measures.

Consider, for example, the other queue at Detroit, which has somewhat mysteriously disappeared over the last two months.

Detroit currently holds 189,825 tonnes of LME-registered aluminium, of which 154,200 tonnes is in the form of cancelled warrants.

The LME's most recent monthly report detailing stocks by operator showed Metro holding 153,375 tonnes (all metals) at the end of May, by some margin the largest concentration in the city. Of that total all but 350 tonnes was in the form of cancelled warrants.

Quite evidently, Metro still has a lot of aluminium sitting in its sheds, most if not all of it in the form of cancelled warrants but certainly enough to form a load-out queue.

But as of the end of last month there was no queue at Detroit, according to the LME.

The only plausible inference is that the owners of that cancelled aluminium haven't allocated delivery times to collect their metal.

Which suggests some sort of rental deal has been struck with the warehouse operator. That would be in stark contrast to the days when those in the queue would be forced to pay the maximum rental charge.

Queues, it seems, are no longer the only revenue metric when it comes to warehousing LME-registered aluminium.

A HEDGEABLE FUTURE

So is that it? Will premiums revert to their previous rather boring pre-queue norm, immensely important for physical buyers and sellers the world over but with only marginal influence on the "all-in" aluminium price?

Not quite because it is clear that it is not just warehouse operators who have changed their behaviour.

The new aluminium premium contracts launched by CME in response to manufacturers' distress about the widening disconnect between LME basis and "all-in" price are flourishing.

The Midwest U.S. contract <_0AUP:_>, for example, has already notched up 740,175 tonnes of trading in the first five months of this year.

Proof that the market has started to hedge its exposure to the physical premium despite the relative calm of the last few quarters.

And these contracts may yet prove to be valuable tools because the entire aluminium market is adjusting to life after the queues.

LME stocks are still steadily falling. Off-market inventory is almost certainly rising.

As these two trends play out, the aluminium market is becoming more opaque, which means that a physical squeeze, whatever its origins, may be hard to spot in advance.
Venezuela in talks with China for grace period in oil-for-loans deal -sources

By Corina Pons, Alexandra Ulmer and Marianna Parraga

CARACAS/HOUSTON, June 14 (Reuters) - Venezuela is in talks with China to obtain a grace period in its oil-for-loans deal that would improve the OPEC nation's capacity to make bond payments amid an economic crisis, sources briefed on the proposal have told Reuters.

Venezuela has borrowed over $50 billion from China under the financing arrangement created by late socialist leader Hugo Chavez in 2007, in which a portion of its crude and fuel sales to the world's second-biggest economy are used to pay down loans.

The two-year rout in oil markets has left the government of President Nicolas Maduro struggling to meet the original terms of the agreement, which require that state oil company PDVSA set aside more barrels for debt services when prices fall.

Venezuela is now seeking a one-year grace period in which it would only pay interest on the loans, according to two oil industry sources and one finance industry source who asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to speak about the issue.

The sources said state oil company PDVSA would receive cash payments for shipments that currently go to pay principal. The change would improve PDVSA's 2016 cash flow by $3 billion if it took effect this month, two of the sources estimated.

That would make it easier for PDVSA to meet heavy bond payments this year amid an ongoing collapse in a socialist economy facing Soviet-style scarcity and daily food riots. It could also ease investor concerns of a default that have made its paper the riskiest of any emerging market debt.

Maduro denies his government will default and accuses adversaries of spreading rumors to that effect in order to destabilize his government.

The potential cash-flow benefits of the proposed deal, however, could be offset by Venezuela's falling oil output.

Consulted by Reuters about the proposal, PDVSA President and Oil Minister Eulogio del Pino responded: "We're working on all of this." He added that he planned to travel to China following a trip to Russia, which is expected this week. He declined to provide additional details.

On Wednesday, China's Foreign Ministry said the funds would be used in projects bringing practical benefits to both sides.

"We are willing to work with Venezuela on the basis of mutual benefit to continue to conduct all forms of cooperation, including in the realm of financing," ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing.

BETTER TERMS

Economy Vice President Miguel Perez said in an interview last month Venezuela had reached a deal to improve the terms of the arrangement, but declined to provide details.

Under the proposal, the interest-only payment terms would remain in place as long as Venezuelan crude is below $50 per barrel, according to the three sources. If crude prices continue to rise, China would apply a sliding scale under which Venezuela would steadily increase payment on the principal portion of the loans, one of the sources said.

Venezuela's basket of oil and fuels this year has traded at a discount of around 25 percent to the benchmark Brent crude price, which was trading around $49.55 a barrel on Tuesday.

The proposed change in terms of the agreement has not derailed negotiations for the renewal of a $5 billion tranche of the financing deal, according to two of the sources.

The proposal has been slowed in part because China has requested that the change be approved by Venezuela's Congress, according to one of the sources. The legislature has been locked in a power struggle with Maduro since January, when an opposition majority took control of parliament following a sweeping electoral victory in December.

Venezuela in 2014 shipped 630,000 barrels of oil and fuel to China according to PDVSA's 2014 financial results, which are the most recent available. Around 45 percent of the value of those shipments was used to pay down debt, with PDVSA receiving the remainder in cash, according to Reuters calculations based on information released by PDVSA.

Rising oil prices have boosted investor optimism that PDVSA will be able to pay off $3 billion in bonds that come due in October and November, helping fuel a rally in PDVSA and Venezuela bonds in recent months.
Indonesia detains hundreds of Papuans ahead of minister's visit

By Kanupriya Kapoor and Gayatri Suroyo

JAKARTA, June 15 (Reuters) - Indonesia on Wednesday briefly detained more than 1,000 pro-independence demonstrators in its eastern province of Papua, ahead of a visit by a top security official to look into claims of human rights violations.

Papua has been gripped by a long-running and often violent separatist conflict since it was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely-criticised U.N.-backed referendum in 1969. Dutch colonial rule ended in 1963.

Security forces still maintain a strong presence and are often seen as taking a heavy-handed approach to peaceful demonstrations, activists say.

The protesters took to the streets in Sentani, near Papua's provincial capital, to demand that an independent body conduct human rights investigations rather than the Indonesian government. They were detained for protesting without a permit.

"We localised them so their movements were limited," said Papua police spokesman Patridge Renwarin. "We did not arrest anyone."

The police action was backed by Atmadji Sumarkdijo, an aide of Chief Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who is set to visit the province on Thursday.

Asked about the police response at a time when President Joko Widodo wants to reduce tension in the region, Sumarkdijo said, "It doesn't mean you can do anything you want. Rallies need police permits."

The protesters also called for an internationally monitored referendum for independence.

Widodo faces an uphill battle in attaining his key goal of easing the tension in Papua, aimed at through measures such as stepping up investment, freeing political prisoners, and resolving cases of human rights violations.

Although there were no reports of violence, activists fear growing numbers of detentions over the last six weeks could change the picture.

"Tensions are getting high now," said Veronic Koman, a lawyer for the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, which focuses on Papuan issues. "More police are arresting them and more of them are fighting back."

Last month, more than 2,000 Papuan activists were detained on the anniversary of Dutch New Guinea's 1963 integration into Indonesia.
Small banks help Iran slowly restore foreign financial ties

By Tom Arnold and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin

DUBAI, June 14 (Reuters) - Iran is gradually restoring banking links with the rest of the world by forging ties with smaller foreign institutions, even though large global banks are still holding back because of legal risks, Iranian officials and foreign bankers say.

Since international sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme were lifted in January, the world's big banks have continued to stay away because they fear being penalised by remaining U.S. sanctions over issues such as money laundering. This has slowed Iran's efforts to rebuild its foreign trade and lure investment.

But in the last few weeks, the officials and bankers say, Tehran has begun making a dent in its financial isolation by forging banking channels via small institutions, many of which do little or no business in the United States and so feel less legally exposed when they engage with Iran.

"Two hundred small and medium-sized international banks have started correspondent relationships with Iranian banks," Iran's central bank said in an emailed response to questions by Reuters.

Two foreign commercial bankers in the Gulf, who declined to be named because of commercial sensitivities, said that number was roughly in line with their understanding of the scope of Iran's banking links at present.

Under the nuclear sanctions, Iranian companies used methods such as transfers of funds through money changers and barter to conduct trade, which was expensive, time-consuming and sometimes unreliable. Normal banking channels make trade much easier by cutting costs and reducing risk.

The smaller banks cannot provide as much financing as the top global institutions and may offer a narrower range of services. But their activities appear to be supporting a gradual revival of trade between Iran and Europe.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said trade between the EU and Iran increased by 22 percent in the first four months this year - though that still leaves trade far below pre-sanctions levels. Two-way trade plunged 72 percent from 2011 to 7.7 billion euros ($8.6 billion) last year.

Giovanni Castellaneta, chairman of Italy's export credit agency SACE, told Reuters that some small European banks without business ties to the United States had begun doing transactions with Iran to support trade.

Iranian banks are now opening accounts and letters of credit with foreign banks and conducting "currency transfers in the form of issuing payment orders for foreign exchange services and imports", Iran's central bank said.

It added that Iran's main banking relationships had been formed with institutions in Asia and Europe, and to a lesser extent in the Americas and Africa.

WESTERN BANKS

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said last month that Europe's top banks had nothing to fear from resuming business with Iran, as long as they checked that their trading partners were not on remaining U.S. sanctions lists.

But Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Tuesday that the "psychological remnants" of restrictions on Iran were still deterring business, and that Washington needed to do more to encourage banks to engage with Tehran.

"Despite showing interest in cooperating with Iran and having correspondent relationships, the big banks are postponing normalisation of relations to the future," the Iranian central bank said in its statement to Reuters.

"They are mainly afraid of the imposition of new sanctions since the initial (American) sanctions still remain. They also have the fear of being fined by the United States."

Nevertheless, the central bank said Germany-based Europaeisch-Iranische Handelsbank AG (EIH) and two Italian lenders, Mediobanca and Banca Popolare di Sondrio, were among the 200 with business links to Iran.

"EIH handles the bulk of Europe's letter of credit business, which gives European exporters an appropriate financial instrument to get their money from Iranian clients," said a spokesman for EIH, a German company which is majority-owned by Iranian interests.

EIH has also been providing letters of credit of between 180 and 360 days with deferred payment for business with Iran and other banking services between Iran and Europe, the spokesman said.

Mediobanca, which has commercial ties with Iran dating back to 1952 and an office in Tehran, is looking at opportunities in Iran including the privatisation of companies, investment into and out of Iran, and lending and debt capital market activity, a source close to the bank told Reuters.

A source close to Popolare di Sondrio told Reuters that the bank had an Iran team and was operating in the country; the source did not elaborate.

Oman's Bank Muscat is another institution doing business with Iran, the Iranian central bank said. The Omani lender, which in April received regulatory approval to open a representative office in Iran, did not respond to requests for comment.

Banks view U.S. dollar business with Iran as particularly risky because the remaining U.S. sanctions prohibit trade with Iran in dollars and Iranian access to New York's financial system.
Libyan forces say Islamic State attacks repelled in battle for Sirte

By Ahmed Elumami

TRIPOLI, June 15 (Reuters) - Forces backed by Libya's unity government said on Wednesday they had consolidated positions on the edge of Sirte, repelling sniper, tank and mortar attacks as they seek to oust Islamic State from its North African stronghold.

Fighting resumed on Wednesday near Sirte's port, which government-backed forces captured last week. There have also been intense clashes in the "700" neighbourhood and around the Ouagadougou conference hall, just south of a 5 km by 5 km area still controlled by Islamic State, security sources said.

The campaign in Sirte is led by brigades from the western city of Misrata that are aligned with Libya's U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). They launched a counter-attack against Islamic State just under a month ago, rapidly recapturing positions on the coastal road west of Sirte and advancing to the outskirts of the city.

A brigades' statement on Wednesday said they had "resisted Islamic State attacks that used mortar fire and tanks backed by snipers positioned on tall buildings".

They said they had been working to clear areas now under their control from mines and explosives and were preparing to launch a radio broadcast that would "respond to the widespread lies and deceptions of Daesh (Islamic State)".

Five brigade members were killed and more than 30 wounded on Tuesday, officials said. More than 120 have died in the past month's fighting, with more than 500 wounded.

The brigades say they have inflicted heavy losses on Islamic State, though the militant group is still thought to have hundreds of fighters inside Sirte.

Most of Sirte's residents have fled, with dozens more families leaving the city last week as the GNA-backed forces advanced.

The GNA is meant to replace two competing governments that were set up in Tripoli and eastern Libya in 2014 during a conflict between loose alliances of rival armed factions.

Islamic State exploited the political turmoil to start building a presence in Libya the same year. It took full control of Sirte in 2015, but has struggled to retain territory elsewhere in the country.

The GNA has been gradually trying to extend its authority since arriving in Tripoli in March. It has received backing from many groups in western and southern Libya, but has struggled to win support from key figures in the east.

Western powers see the GNA as the best chance of uniting Libya's factions and defeating Islamic State, and have been providing intelligence assistance to the brigades advancing on Sirte.
Cybercrime market sells servers for as little as $6 to launch attacks

By Eric Auchard

FRANKFURT, June 15 (Reuters) - A major underground marketplace acting like an eBay for criminals is selling access to more than 70,000 compromised servers allowing buyers to carry out widespread cyber-attacks around the world, security experts said on Wednesday.

Researchers at Kaspersky Lab, a global computer security firm based in Moscow, said the online forum appears to be run by a Russian speaking group. It offers access to hacked computers owned by governments, companies and universities in 173 countries, unbeknownst to the servers' legitimate owners.

Access goes for as little as $6 for a compromised server. Each comes pre-equipped with a variety of software to mount denial-of-service attacks on other networks, launch spam campaigns, illicitly manufacture bitcoin currency or compromise online or retail payment systems, the researchers said.

Starting at $7, buyers can gain access to government servers in several countries, including interior and foreign ministries, commerce departments and several town halls, said Costin Raiu, director of Kaspersky's research and analysis team.

He said the market might also be used to exploit hundreds of millions of old, stolen email credentials reported in recent months to be circulating in the criminal underground.

"Stolen credentials are just one aspect of the cybercrime business," Raiu told Reuters in an interview. "In reality, there is a lot more going on in the underground. These things are all interconnected."

The marketplace goes by the name xDedic. Dedic is short for dedicated, a term used in Russian online forums for a computer under remote control of a hacker and available for use by other parties.

XDedic connects sellers of compromised servers with criminal buyers. The market's owners take a 5 percent up-front fee on all money put into trading accounts, Raiu said.

Kaspersky found the machines run remote desktop software widely used by network administrators to provide technical support for Microsoft Windows users. Access to servers with high capacity network connections may cost up to $15.

Low prices, searchable feature lists that advertise attack capabilities, together with services to protect illicit users from becoming detected attract buyers from entry-level cybercriminals to state-sponsored espionage groups.

An unnamed Internet service provider in Europe alerted Kaspersky to the existence of xDedic, Raiu said.

High-profile targets include a U.S. aerospace firm, banks in the United States, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Ghana, Cyprus, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, chemical firms in Singapore and Thailand and oil companies in China and the United Arab Emirates, Kaspersky found.
Can coffee cause cancer? Only if it's very hot, says WHO agency

By Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent

LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - There is no conclusive evidence that drinking coffee causes cancer, the World Health Organization's cancer agency said on Wednesday in a reverse of its previous warning, but it also said all "very hot" drinks are probably carcinogenic.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) had previously rated coffee as "possibly carcinogenic" but has changed its mind.

It now says its latest review found "no conclusive evidence for a carcinogenic effect" of coffee drinking and pointed to some studies showing coffee may actually reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

"(This) does not show that coffee is certainly safe ... but there is less reason for concern today than there was before," Dana Loomis, the deputy head of IARC's Monograph classification department told a news conference.

At the same time, however, IARC presented other scientific evidence which suggests that drinking anything very hot - around 65 degrees Celsius or above - including water, coffee, tea and other beverages, probably does cause cancer of the oesophagus.

Lyon-based IARC, which last year prompted headlines worldwide by saying processed meat can cause cancer, reached its conclusions after reviewing more than 1,000 scientific studies in humans and animals. There was inadequate evidence for coffee to be classified as either carcinogenic or not carcinogenic.

IARC had previously put coffee as a "possible carcinogen" in its 2B category alongside chloroform, lead and many other substances.

The U.S. National Coffee Association welcomed the change in IARC's classification as "great news for coffee drinkers".

The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee, whose members are six of the major European coffee companies - illycaffe, Jacobs Douwe Egberts, Lavazza, Nestle , Paulig, and Tchibo - said IARC had found "no negative relationship between coffee consumption and cancer".

LET IT COOL

In its evaluation of very hot drinks, IARC said animal studies suggest carcinogenic effects probably occur with drinking temperatures of 65 Celsius or above. Some experiments with rats and mice found "very hot" liquids, including water, could promote the development of tumours, it said.

The agency said studies of hot drinks such as mate, an infusion consumed mainly in South America, tea and other drinks in several countries including China, Iran, Japan and Turkey, found the risk of oesophageal cancer "may increase with the temperature of the drink" above 65 Celsius.

"These results suggest that drinking very hot beverages is one probable cause of oesophageal cancer and that it is the temperature, rather than the drinks themselves, that appears to be responsible," said IARC's director, Christopher Wild.

Oesophageal cancer is the eighth most common cause of cancer worldwide and one of the main causes of cancer death, with around 400,000 deaths recorded in 2012.

The WHO's official spokesman in Geneva, Gregory Hartl, stressed that smoking and drinking alcohol were among the most serious risk factors for oesophageal cancer and urged people to focus on reducing these as a priority. He said IARC's evaluation of hot drinks was based on limited available evidence in humans and animals and more research is needed.

"We say: be prudent, let hot drinks cool down," he told Reuters, adding that the WHO's advice was to "not consume foods or drinks when they are at a very hot - scalding hot - temperature".

Drinking very hot beverages is now classified as probably carcinogenic in IARC's group 2A category, alongside red meat and nitrogen mustard.

But David Spiegelhalter, a professor of the Public Understanding of Risk at Britain's University of Cambridge, said he was concerned that IARC's review would confuse people.
NATO approves keeping expanded Afghan basing, in nod to long fight

By Phil Stewart and Robin Emmott

BRUSSELS, June 15 (Reuters) - The NATO alliance agreed on Wednesday to hold onto its broad geographic layout of bases in Afghanistan, a move that could make it easier for the United States to keep more troops there as Kabul struggles with a resurgent Taliban threat.

President Barack Obama has planned to slash the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan from about 9,800 to 5,500 before he leaves office in 2017, despite calls from former commanders and envoys to halt the drawdown.

NATO defence ministers gathered in Brussels signaled a willingness to stay, with Britain's Michael Fallon saying flatly at a news conference: "This is the wrong time to walk away from Afghanistan."

He warned that any collapse of the country would send thousands more migrants heading to Europe at a time when the continent already faces uncontrolled migration flows.

Fallon said U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told the ministers during closed-door talks that U.S. troop levels were again being reviewed.

Carter declined to confirm that at a news conference, saying it was "not a topic of discussion." He said Obama would be willing to consider security conditions in Afghanistan and their impact on force levels later in the year.

"I expect he will do that again as the year goes on," Carter said.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Carter did not tell NATO allies during the closed-door discussions that troop levels were being reexamined.

Obama has shown a willingness in the past to alter his plans in Afghanistan and last week approved giving the U.S. military greater ability to accompany and enable Afghan forces in offensive operations, including carrying out air strikes.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said several nations on Wednesday committed to a troop presence next year in Afghanistan, underscoring a theme likely to figure prominently at next month's NATO summit in Warsaw.

"With a regional presence, we will continue to advise, train and assist the Afghan national forces because we are very committed to continuing to support Afghans," Stoltenberg said.

The United States contributes 6,800 troops to NATO's training mission in Afghanistan, which will fall to 3,400 under the current plan, a senior NATO diplomat told a small group of reporters on condition of anonymity. Washington also carries out a unilateral counter-terrorism mission in Afghanistan.

NATO's so-called hub-and-spoke model for troops training and advising Afghan forces extends well beyond the capital Kabul to allow an international military presence at regional hubs. But NATO policymakers had been examining whether it was possible to keep those posts open, even as force levels fall.

"I believe we'll have sufficient resources, and our military commanders have told us we'll have sufficient resources, to stay in the basic posture," the NATO diplomat said.

The diplomat also said NATO leaders are expected to agree to some $5 billion in funding to sustain Afghan security forces at the current levels through 2020.

The current NATO commitment to fund the Afghan security forces extends through 2017.
Gamesa says no deal yet with Siemens on wind energy merger

MADRID/FRANKFURT, June 15 (Reuters) - Spain's Gamesa said it has not reached any deal with Germany's Siemens on a planned merger of their wind energy businesses and negotiations remained open.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Siemens and Gamesa were close to announcing a deal after pending questions had been resolved "in principle."

"As of today, no decision has been made and no agreement has been reached," Gamesa said in a statement to Spain's stock market regulator.

Gamesa and Siemens said in January they were discussing a possible deal that would create the world's biggest wind power business and bolster the German engineer's weak position in the onshore market.

But the talks have stalled because of concerns linked to an existing joint venture between the Spanish company and France's state-owned energy company Areva.

A source familiar with the talks said a draft agreement had now been found on Adwen but details were still being discussed. Two other sources said talks were ongoing to resolve "several" questions which were still open.
Philippine general urges martial law to rein in southern militants

MANILA, June 15 (Reuters) - A senior Philippine army general on Wednesday resumed a push for martial law to be imposed on a troubled southern island where Islamist militants beheaded a Canadian captive, despite a recent decision by President Benigno Aquino not to adopt such curbs.

On Monday, militants of Abu Sayyaf, a small but brutal group linked to al Qaeda, executed Robert Hall on the remote island of Jolo, the second Canadian captive to be killed following John Ridsdel, after their ransom demand went unheeded.

"Declare martial law, that is a right move," said a senior Philippine army general, who declined to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

"If you want to immediately solve the problem, there should be a total control by the military in the area."

Emergency powers were needed because the Abu Sayyaf was using its ransom proceeds to buy the loyalties of the surrounding community, he added.

Aquino said he considered declaring martial law on Jolo three weeks ago but decided against it because there was no guarantee it would work.

"You would need a large force to implement martial law and there is no guarantee it will produce positive results," he told reporters on a visit to Jolo to inspect troops pursuing Abu Sayyaf militants.

"It might generate more sympathy for the Abu Sayyaf."

Aquino said he spoke with the prime ministers of Canada and Norway by telephone, thanking them for their understanding and support of his government's no-ransom policy.

He said he apologised to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for the death of Robert Hall and John Ridsdel, who was executed in April.

Trudeau has condemned Hall's execution, but said Canada cannot, and will not, pay ransom in such cases because it could encourage additional kidnappings.

Abu Sayyaf had initially demanded one billion pesos ($21.7 million) for each of the detainees, but cut that to 300 million early this year.

Hall's family backed the Canadian government's policy.

"Our family, even in our darkest hour, agrees wholeheartedly with Canada's policy of not paying ransom," it said in a statement.

Abu Sayyaf, based in the south of the mainly Roman Catholic Philippines, is known for kidnapping, beheadings and extortion.

Security is precarious in the southern Philippines despite a 2014 peace pact between the government and the largest Muslim rebel group that ended 45 years of conflict.
ADB pledges $1.75 bln in loans to Myanmar over 5 years from 2017

YANGON, June 15 (Reuters) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will lend Myanmar about $1.75 billion in low-interest loans from 2017 over five years to improve infrastructure, education and for rural development, it said on Wednesday.

The ADB's president, Takehiko Nakao, told reporters in Yangon on Wednesday the bank would increase its annual lending to $350 million from about $150 million from 2017.

The spending will be aligned with the government's priorities, still being hammered out for inclusion in a five-year economic plan, he said.

"She stressed the importance of infrastructure-building, especially power and road connectivity," Nakao said after talks with de-facto government leader, Nobel Peace prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi.

He said the bank's projects would also focus on educating workers and providing jobs for Myanmar's young and numerous working-age people.

"We share the importance of building electricity network to provide energy to all villages and households, not just for economic development but also for empowering people," said the former Japanese vice finance minister for international affairs.

About 70 percent of Myanmar's 51.5 million people live in rural areas, according to the United Nations, but basic infrastructure like roads and electricity is poor in many places.

Coming from a low base after decades of economic mismanagement by the military, Myanmar boasts one of the world's fastest growing economies, expanding at 7-8 percent in the years since the military relinquished direct control in 2011.

Myanmar held credible parliamentary elections in November, when Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won a landslide. The party took power in April following a largely smooth transfer of power.

The ADB, which is based in Manila and is dominated by Japan and the United States, is focusing in Myanmar on investment in electricity, roads, irrigation, telecoms and urban infrastructure, including water and sanitation.

Nakao said the bank would also support curriculum reform in secondary education and technical and vocational education and training.
Pakistan artillery fires at Afghan forces on Khyber Pass border

By Jibran Ahmed

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, June 15 (Reuters) - Pakistani troops fired heavy artillery at Afghan forces at their main Khyber Pass border crossing on Wednesday, the Pakistani military said, an escalation after days of clashes that have killed four people and stranded thousands on both sides.

Afghanistan's ambassador to Islamabad Omar Zakhilwal on Wednesday said he met Pakistani officials and the countries had "agreed on a ceasefire". Previous ceasefire deals announced over the last two days were swiftly broken.

Relations between the U.S. allies have never been close but have been strained over the past 15 years by Afghan accusations that Pakistan supports the Taliban who are fighting to unseat the U.S.-backed government in Kabul. Pakistan denies that.

The countries have blamed each other for the fighting that broke out on Sunday at the main crossing point between them over the construction of a new border post on the Pakistani side.

"When our people began construction work on the gate on Wednesday, Afghan forces again opened fire at our troops and construction workers," said a Pakistani security official who declined to be identified.

He said Pakistan had retaliated with long-range artillery and mortars. There was no word on any casualties.

The Pakistani military spokesman's office confirmed the Wednesday fighting.

Afghan officials, however, denied any fighting on Wednesday, but said an Afghan border guard was killed and five were wounded overnight on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear if the officials were talking about the same incident.

Pakistan's foreign ministry summoned ambassador Zakhilwal to demand that Afghanistan put an end to the "unprovoked firing" and to protest against the death of a Pakistani army major, shot on the border in a clash this week.

A diplomatic source and a Pakistani security source confirmed a fragile ceasefire had been agreed. On his Facebook page, Zakhilwal said the two sides had agreed on "de-escalation of tension, draw down of military build up and steps forward to an amicable solution".

U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Washington was "concerned" by the clashes and by reports that heavy weapons were present. He urged the two sides to "resolve their disagreements ... and to de-escalate tensions."

"Good relations between the two countries are key to the stability of the region," Kirby added.

By Wednesday, trucks carrying goods to Afghanistan had been stranded on the Pakistani side of the border for four days. A Reuters journalist at the scene said trucks lined the road all the way from the northwestern city of Peshawar to the Torkham border.

Pakistan says the border gate it is building is well on its side of the border and will help stop militants from crossing and help fight drug trafficking.

Pakistan's foreign policy chief, Sartaj Aziz, expressed concern over what he called the Afghan army's attempts to "disrupt border management efforts" by Pakistan.

Afghanistan objects to all Pakistani construction on a 2,200-km (1,370-mile) border it says was unfairly imposed by British colonialists in the 19th century and which it has never recognised.
Singapore calls on Indonesia for information on suspected polluters

SINGAPORE, June 15 (Reuters) - Singapore appealed to Indonesia on Wednesday for information on companies suspected of causing cross-border pollution, saying stopping smoke from fires set by plantation firms was not an issue of "sovereignty".

Fires in Indonesia, often set in the dry season by companies clearing land for plantations, causes an annual "haze" crisis over large parts of the region. Indonesia has often promised action but the problem persists.

Singapore passed a cross-border haze act in 2014, making those who cause haze both criminally and civilly liable, but it has been having trouble getting information.

"Singapore has repeatedly asked for the information on companies suspected of illegal burning in Indonesia from the relevant Indonesian authorities. We have yet to receive any information," Singapore's ministry of environment and water resources said in a statement.

Indonesia's environment and forestry minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said this week Singapore could not "tread on the realm of law that was under Indonesia", and Singapore "did not respect Indonesia", media reported.

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla was also quoted as saying that Indonesia would not allow Singapore to prosecute its citizens over forest fires that blanketed the region in toxic smoke.

Singapore said its law complied with international law to "deter and prosecute entities that are responsible for transboundary haze pollution in Singapore, whether Singaporean or foreign, as well as persons holding positions of responsibility in these entities".

"It is not directed at any individual nor company based on nationality. This is therefore not an issue of sovereignty or national dignity," the ministry said.

Singapore's National Environment Agency had summoned the director of Indonesian company suspected of pollution but he failed to turn up for an interview.
Dutch govt to issue draft decision on Groningen in two weeks

AMSTERDAM, June 15 (Reuters) - The Dutch government will publish its preliminary view on whether output at Groningen, Europe's largest gas field, needs to be reduced further in about two weeks, a Ministry of Economic Affairs spokesman said on Wednesday.

Small earthquakes linked to production have damaged buildings and already forced operators to cut output by nearly a third since 2014 to 27 billion cubic metres (bcm) this year.

On June 30 or July 1, the ministry will publish a preliminary view based on recommendations by Groningen operator NAM, a JV of Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon, the National Mines Inspectorate, plus six other parties, the spokesman said.

A final decision due in mid-August will determine production ceilings at Groningen for the next gas year, which starts on October 1.

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported on Wednesday that the National Mines Inspectorate, which has tended to favour bigger cuts, will propose lowering the cap on Groningen output to 25 bcm.

The National Mines Inspectorate's recommendation to the government ought to be made public next Friday, a source told Reuters.

Citing sources at the Inspectorate, the newspaper said NAM had proposed keeping production at 27 bcm but allowing for a rise to 33 bcm in the event of a cold winter.

The draft decision will be circulated to all eight parties making recommendations, including local governments, for further comment, the spokesman said, adding a final decision would then take six weeks.

DAMPENED IMPACT

"The 25 bcm decline in Dutch production during the past two years is comparable in scale to the increase in gas demand in Japan in the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi accident," which sent global gas prices spiking, the International Energy Agency said in its latest medium-term gas market outlook.

"The absence of any notable price response to the Dutch supply shock is a good illustration of the extent of oversupply that has accumulated in the market," it said.

Three gas traders surveyed by Reuters largely agreed with this assessment, pointing to record high Russian gas exports, up 15 percent this year, helping compensate for Dutch declines.

"It looks like Groningen production so far has already been low ...If they keep production at current pace, they won't exceed 25 bcm this year," coming in below the potential new ceiling, one trader said.

Yet even a cut of 2 bcm could constrain the field's ability to meet winter demand, he said.

Thierry Bros, senior gas and LNG analyst at Societe Generale, says lost Groningen gas will be replaced by Russian supply.

"This will help prices to recover earlier than expected," he said.

Gas prices across Europe rose several percentage points on Wednesday mainly on the back of reduced supply from Norway.
Croatia Deputy PM resigns, seeks new parliamentary majority

By Igor Ilic

ZAGREB, June 15 (Reuters) - Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Karamarko resigned on Wednesday and said his HDZ party, the biggest in the ruling centre-right coalition, aimed to form a new government after a scheduled vote of no-confidence set for Thursday.

His resignation brings to a head a political crisis that has dogged the five-month-old administration of technocrat Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic and has hampered plans to improve Croatia's business climate and revive a moribund economy.

Parliament is expected to back the motion of no-confidence filed by the conservative HDZ in Thursday's vote.

Earlier on Wednesday a state monitoring body accused Karamarko of a conflict of interest due to his wife's business ties with a consultant of Hungary's energy group MOL . Karamarko said his resignation had nothing to do with that ruling and that he would seek redress in court.

"Tomorrow we will hold a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Oreskovic as this government is dysfunctional," Karamarko told reporters.

If Oreskovic loses the vote the government must resign.

"I hope Croatia will get a government aware of the (economic) difficulties Croatia is facing at the moment," Karamarko said.

Croatia has one of the weakest economies in the European Union, with high unemployment and public debt.

The Most ("Bridge") party, a junior coalition partner, has been pressing Karamarko to leave the government over the MOL affair.

MOL and Croatia jointly run the country's energy firm INA but are at odds over management rights and investment policy. They are involved in two separate international arbitrations. Karamarko has previously said he fears Croatia could suffer financially if it loses the arbitration cases.

"By expressing his personal views and suggestions on Croatia's withdrawal from arbitration with MOL, we found that Karamarko was in a conflict of interest," said Dalija Oreskovic who heads the state commission that handles such cases.

The HDZ has voiced confidence it can build a new parliamentary majority, but analysts believe this will be difficult to achieve without Most. The HDZ wants to nominate Finance Minister Zdravko Maric as prime minister-designate.

The main opposition party, the Social Democrats, have said they will support Thursday's no-confidence motion as they want a snap election as soon as possible.

If the government is voted out and no one can secure the support of a majority of deputies for the formation of a new cabinet within 30 days, President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic must call a snap election.
Zimbabwe expects power supplies from Kariba expansion to start in Dec 2017

KARIBA, Zimbabwe, June 15 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe, which endured power cuts almost daily last year, is on track to start generating additional power supplies at its Kariba hydro plant in December 2017, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

Construction of two new generating units at the country's biggest power plant to add 300 megawatts of capacity is halfway complete and the first 150 MW unit is expected to produce electricity in December 2017, Partson Mbiriri, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Power and Energy, said.

China's Sinohydro is expanding Kariba power station at a cost of $533 million.

"Work on Kariba south expansion is 48 percent complete. We are on course to meet the 24 December 2017 deadline for the first unit," Mbiriri told reporters in Kariba town.

Power cuts in Zimbabwe last year often lasted 18 hours a day after output at Kariba slumped due to low dam water levels.

Kariba is only producing 285 MW out of its capacity of 750 MW but the country has increased power supplies this year by importing from South Africa and Mozambique.

Peak power demand in Zimbabwe has fallen over the last decade to 1,600 MW from 2,200 MW, Mbiriri said. Zimbabwe's economy contracted by nearly half during a 1999-2008 recession, causing a decline in manufacturing and commercial agriculture production, sectors that are among the largest consumers of electricity.

Mbiriri said Chinese-backed China Africa Sunlight Energy was expected to begin work later this year on its 600 MW coal-fired electricity plant in Gwayi, western Zimbabwe, after holding talks on financing the project in China last week.
Israeli official praises Saudi king for stance on Iran, economy

By Dan Williams

HERZLIYA, Israel, June 15 (Reuters) - Israel's top intelligence official offered Saudi Arabia rare public praise on Wednesday for what he deemed its efforts, under King Salman, to lead "pragmatic" Sunni Muslim states confronting Iran and to overhaul Riyadh's oil-dependent economy.

The tribute by military intelligence chief Major-General Herzi Halevy at an international security forum followed years of veiled references by Israel to back-channel contacts with Gulf Arab powers - despite their lack of formal bilateral ties.

But Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, sees itself as a champion of Muslim rights, rejects recognition of Israel short of a wider settlement satisfying Palestinian demands for a state in Israeli-occupied territory, and has always vehemently denied reports of any secret communications.

"This is not the same Saudi Arabia that we saw a year and a half ago. There is a different king, with a support network around him," Halevy told the Herzliya Conference, referring to Salman's accession.

"Saudi is much more proactive, aspiring to lead the Sunni camp in the Middle East. It is the country that has perhaps taken the strongest stand in the face of Iran in the Middle East, and it is carrying out very deep structural reforms whose bottom line is to bring about a Saudi Arabia in 2030 with a different economy that is not dependent on oil, etcetera."

Riyadh and other Gulf Arab states shared Israeli unhappiness with last year's U.S.-led nuclear deal with Iran, saying it failed to sufficiently cap the Islamic Republic's capacity to build a bomb while granting it a windfall in sanctions relief that could be used to buy arms for its regional allies.

"There is an interesting phenomenon here: Some of these pragmatic Sunni countries are getting close to our interests," Halevy said. "This is an interesting matter. There is an opportunity here." He did not elaborate.

Israel has long talked about a "new horizon" in the Middle East, in which has had common ground with Sunni Arab states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia in their wariness towards Iran. Israel has also talked recently about its openness to a 2002 Saudi initiative for a comprehensive agreement with the Palestinians, although there appears to be little momentum in that direction.

Under Salman, Saudi officials still say they cannot work with Israel, pointing to its rejection of the Riyadh-sponsored peace plan offering normal relations in return for an end to occupation and solution to the Palestinian refugee problem.

In a separate address to the Herzliya Conference, Dore Gold, director-general of Israel's Foreign Ministry, said there was dialogue under way with Arab countries that he could not name, given the interlocutors' worries about domestic public opinion.
Israeli authorities approve new settler homes in E.Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, June 15 (Reuters) - Israeli municipal authorities on Wednesday approved the construction of a three-storey residential building for Jewish settlers in a Palestinian neighbourhood of East Jerusalem.

Hundreds of Jews, armed or protected by Israeli security forces, already live among 50,000 Palestinians in the Silwan neighbourhood. Pro-settlement groups have been seeking to reclaim property there that was under Jewish ownership in the 19th century.

Wasel Abu Yousef, a senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, condemned the Jerusalem municipality's decision.

"This government is moving forward to implement its programme to bring Israeli settlers and settle them in the place of the Palestinian residents to change the demographic situation in the Holy City," Abu Yousef told Reuters.

Israel captured East Jerusalem in a 1967 war and considers all of Jerusalem its indivisible capital, a claim that has not won international recognition.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a state they seek to establish in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, and fear that Israeli settlements - regarded by most countries as illegal - will deny them a viable country.

Israel's anti-settlement Peace Now group said Palestinians who live next to the site where the new dwelling is to be built plan to appeal against city hall's move. The plot was previously administered by an Israeli government agency which sold it to settlers.

In a statement after the building permit was issued, the Jerusalem municipality said the city was "united and any resident can live wherever he or she pleases".
MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi drops after MSCI disappointment; Egypt sinks

By Andrew Torchia

DUBAI, June 15 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's stock market led falls in the Gulf on Wednesday after MSCI decided not to consider the country for emerging market status, while Egypt fell sharply as blue chip Orascom Telecom Media continued sliding.

In its annual classification review, MSCI praised market reforms announced by Saudi authorities but did not set a date for a review that could place the country in its emerging market index. It said that once implemented by mid-2017, the reforms would "bring the Saudi equity market closer" to inclusion.

This appeared to suggest that the Saudi market was unlikely to be included before mid-2018 at the earliest. In a research note, investment bank EFG-Hermes noted that if MSCI followed its standard time frame - which it does not always do - May 2019 would be the earliest possible inclusion date.

Investors had not been betting heavily that Saudi Arabia would be placed on the review list, fund managers said, but MSCI's decision was nevertheless disappointing and the index dropped 0.9 percent.

MSCI is an international compiler of equity indexes and inclusion in its emerging market index would draw billions of dollars of passive funds - those that track benchmarks - to Saudi Arabia.

Dar Al Arkan, which soared last week on hopes it would benefit from a house building programme in Saudi Arabia's economic reform programme, fell back 5.7 percent and was the most heavily traded stock.

Retailer Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co, which had been rising sharply on its plan to sell its investment in Spanish clothing retailer Blanco for 350 million riyals ($93 million), fell back 7.3 percent.

But Saudi Electricity, which has surged this week on news of a novel financing method for two planned solar power plants, gained a further 1.0 percent.

MSCI also decided on Tuesday to delay including Chinese A-shares in its emerging markets index. This was modestly positive for the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, since Chinese inclusion would have diluted their weightings in the index.

With MSCI's decision to remove Pakistan, and possibly Nigeria and Argentina, from frontier market status, "Kuwait and the Middle East and North Africa could dominate the benchmark (60 percent), potentially prompting more MENA allocations by frontier market managers", EFG-Hermes said.

However, on Wednesday investors in the Gulf focused mainly on weak oil prices and global markets, and most regional bourses dropped.

Dubai's index slipped 0.2 percent as Emaar Properties lost 0.6 percent. However, smaller real estate developer Deyaar climbed 3.0 percent as it posted the market's largest volume.

Abu Dhabi's index fell 1.0 percent as blue-chip banks sagged, with First Gulf Bank down 2.9 percent. Qatar's index edged up 0.1 percent as Mesaieed Petrochemical , the most heavily traded stock, jumped 8.5 percent.

Egypt sank 2.1 percent as billionaire Naguib Sawiris's Orascom Telecom, the most active stock, dropped 3.2 percent, bringing its losses this week to 15 percent.

The slide was triggered by the decision of Orascom subsidiary Beltone to drop its effort to buy the investment banking arm of Commercial International Bank , after the deal failed to win regulatory approval.

The regulatory debacle was seen by some investors as a blow to Sawiris and the investment environment in Egypt in general. Commercial International Bank dropped 3.5 percent on Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

SAUDI ARABIA

* The index dropped 0.9 percent to 6,567 points.

DUBAI

* The index fell 0.2 percent to 3,325 points.

ABU DHABI

* The index slid 1.0 percent to 4,341 points.

QATAR

* The index edged up 0.1 percent to 9,769 points.

EGYPT

* The index sank 2.1 percent to 7,415 points.

KUWAIT

* The index retreated 0.4 percent to 5,390 points.

OMAN

* The index lost 0.2 percent to 5,826 points.

BAHRAIN

* The index dropped 0.5 percent to 1,118 points.
Kerry accuses Russia, Assad over Syrian government assault on Aleppo

By Lesley Wroughton

FINSTADJORDET, Norway, June 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russia of selectively enforcing a nationwide "cessation of hostilities" agreement in Syria while a government campaign to retake Aleppo continued unabated.

Speaking in Oslo, where he also met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for talks on Syria and the Iran nuclear deal, Kerry said Assad's forces had not abided by the truce for a single day in Aleppo.

"Unless we get a better definition of how this cessation is going to work ... we are not going to sit there while Assad continues to offensively assault Aleppo and while Russia continues to support in that effort," Kerry told a news conference.

"The United States is not going to sit there and be used as an instrument that permits a so-called ceasefire to be in place while one principal party is trying to take advantage of it to the detriment of the entire process," he added.

Earlier, Kerry said he was seeking ways to renew the "frayed" agreement and discussed it with Zarif, who had indicated "how this can be achieved".

The February truce has largely collapsed and there has been little progress in negotiating a political transition that is supposed to begin on Aug. 1.

Backed militarily by Iran and Russia, Assad has shown no willingness to compromise, much less step aside to allow a transition Western powers see as the solution to the conflict.

At Wednesday's meeting Zarif had "indicated to me possibilities of how this can be achieved", Kerry said.

"It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk," Kerry told delegates at the Oslo Forum near Oslo.

"Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, and in fact very limited, with respect to whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable," he said.

The opposition-held sector of Syria's divided city of Aleppo has been cut off by an escalation of air and artillery strikes on the only road in, putting hundreds of thousands of people under effective siege.

A government campaign to fully capture Aleppo would most likely bury what little hope remains of reviving a diplomatic effort to end the five-year-old civil war, after talks and a ceasefire sponsored by the United States and Russia fell apart earlier this year.

Aleppo, Syria's largest city with a pre-war population of more than two million people, has been divided for years into rebel and government sectors, and capturing all of it has been one of Assad's biggest goals.

CLARIFYING IRAN SANCTIONS

On the nuclear deal the United States and other major powers struck with Tehran, Iran has complained that concerns among banks about breaking remaining sanctions had deterred investment since the deal was signed in July. Washington says Iran needs to do more to make itself attractive to Western companies.

Kerry said the United States - and he personally - had gone to lengths to try to clear up misunderstandings among banks and businesses.

"If banks are reluctant of their own caution, or misunderstanding, then I think it is important for us to appropriately clarify things in a way that can allow what is entitled to happen," Kerry said. "If you don't do that then you wind up putting your very agreement at risk."
Iran accuses British-Iranian woman of trying to "overthrow" government

By Babak Dehghanpisheh

June 15 (Reuters) - The Iranian Revolutionary Guard accused a British-Iranian aid worker who has been detained since early April of trying to "overthrow" the government in a statement published on Wednesday.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a 37-year-old program coordinator with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a London-based charity.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials detained Zaghari-Ratcliffe on April 3 when she arrived at an airport to fly back to Britain, according to her husband Richard Ratcliffe.

"This person had membership in foreign companies and organizations and planned and carried out media and cyber projects with the intent of a soft overthrow of the holy Islamic Republic government," the statement said. It was published by a Guard office in Kerman province, where Zaghari-Ratcliffe is being held.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe "carried out criminal activities with the guidance and protection of media and spy services of foreign governments," according to the statement. She was arrested after "massive intelligence operations" by the Guard.

Monique Villa, the Chief Executive of the Foundation, said in a statement in early May that the Thomson Reuters Foundation has no operations in Iran. A spokesman for the Foundation said in an email message that it is "assessing the situation." The Foundation operates independently from Reuters News.

Britain's Foreign Office said it is following up the allegations made in the statement.

"We are urgently seeking information from the Iranian authorities on the reported accusations being made against Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe," a spokesperson for the Foreign Office told Reuters. "We have raised this case repeatedly and at the highest levels and will continue to do so at every available opportunity."

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 last month.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe's file has been sent to Tehran to begin judicial proceedings but officials from the intelligence wing of the Revolutionary Guard are still interrogating her, according to the statement.

Iran does not recognize dual-citizenship and if Zaghari-Ratcliffe is charged she will be tried as an Iranian citizen.

The Guard statement said that Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested by the intelligence wing of the Revolutionary Guard at the Imam Khomeini international airport in Tehran and subsequently transferred to Kerman in southeast Iran.
Kurds ready for new oil deal with Baghdad if they get $1 bln a month

By Maher Chmaytelli and Isabel Coles

ERBIL, Iraq, June 15 (Reuters) - Iraq's Kurds said they are ready to strike an agreement with the central government in Baghdad on a deal to increase oil exports if it guarantees them monthly revenue of $1 billion, more than double what they make currently from selling oil.

The Iraqi central government in March stopped oil exports through a Kurdish pipeline to pressure the local authorities to resume talks about an oil revenue-sharing agreement.

Iraq's state-run North Oil Company normally exported 150,000 barrels a day through the pipeline that comes out at the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, in Turkey. The pipeline also carries oil produced in the Kurdish region in northern Iraq and sold independently from the central government.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) spokesman Safeen Dizayee said in an interview in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Erbil on Tuesday that the Kurdish authorities would be willing to sell the oil through Baghdad if they received a share from the federal budget amounting to $1 billion a month.

"If Baghdad comes and says OK, give me all the oil that you have and I'll give you the 17 percent as per the budget, which equals to 1 billion, I think, logically it should be the thing to accept," he told Reuters, specifying later that the amount referred to a monthly payment in dollars.

"Whether this oil goes to the international market or first to Baghdad and then to the market, it doesn't make any difference," he said. "We are ready to enter dialogue with Baghdad."

A government spokesman in Baghdad did not return telephone calls seeking comment.

The KRG stopped delivering crude oil to the central government a year ago, a decision taken when Baghdad's payment fell under $400 million a month, Dizayee said.

"The Kurds are offering a win-lose deal for Baghdad: a win for them and a loss for Baghdad," said Baghdad-based oil analyst Hamza al-Jawahiri. "What's the point of asking the central government to pay double the value of the region's oil?"

The Kurdish region exported an average of 513,041 barrels in May through the pipeline to Turkey, generating about $391 million, of which about $75 million was paid to oil companies that produce the crude, according to KRG official estimates.

"The companies have been assured that certain amounts will be made on a monthly basis," said Dizayee, referring to the three foreign oil producers in the KRG region - DNO, Gulf Keystone and Genel.

"We have started to pay some of it, at least it has rebuilt that confidence between the government and the IPCs (oil companies)," he said, referring to arrears owed to the companies.

The KRG in February said it would pay international oil companies in 2016 according to the terms of their contracts, after making ad-hoc payments last year.

The foreign operators have been reluctant to invest without the promise of regular payment, while the cash-strapped KRG needs production to increase to avert an economic collapse caused by a sharp decline in oil prices since 2014.

The KRG is also in a dispute with the central government over Kirkuk, where the North Oil Company produces its crude and which the Kurds claim as part of their territory.
Poland starts work on legislation to boost power generation capacity

By Anna Koper

WARSAW, June 15 (Reuters) - Poland will produce draft legislation by the autumn designed to help its coal-fired power producers to invest in new generating capacity, the energy ministry said on Wednesday.

Coal power plants currently generate more than 80 percent of electricity in Poland, but many are old and need to be replaced to avoid power shortages in the future.

And Poland's conservative government, worried about the country's energy security, wants coal to play a major part in power generation for decades to come.

State-owned power plant operators have said wholesale electricity prices are too low to justify new investments so the government is working on a scheme to provide them with incentives. But this will need approval from the European Commission as it might count as state aid.

"The ministry has started to work on the capacity market and once we have the draft bill we will address the European Commission," Polish Energy Minister Krzysztof Tchorzewski told journalists on a sidelines of an energy conference.

"I think that the draft bill will be ready after the summer holidays," he said.

The scheme under consideration would pay producers to keep power plants online to generate electricity as and when needed.

There are about 4 gigawatts (GW) of coal power capacities under construction in Poland, compared with 39 GW installed, but producers say more is need.

Remigiusz Nowakowski, head of Poland's second biggest power producer Tauron, said he favoured a mechanism similar to one in Britain, which uses a scheme called contracts-for- difference (CfD) to support renewable energy.
Czech minister shakes government with swift approval of police reform

By Robert Muller

PRAGUE, June 15 (Reuters) - The Czech interior minister on Wednesday signed a contested plan merging top anti-corruption units in the police that is at the centre of a row shaking the centre-left government.

The plan to reshuffle police top structures, bringing together organised and economic crime units, is testing the three-party coalition after more than two years of relatively smooth rule.

Finance Minister Andrej Babis's ANO party has rejected the plan and said it would seek changes to the coalition agreement after the reform was signed over its objections.

Babis, who had first threatened to quit the coalition last week after the police reforms were suddenly announced, has called for more debate on the plan, saying its approval violated the government's coalition agreement.

"We need to make a restart and to say whether we will begin anew," Babis said after a meeting of the ANO leadership.

Milan Chovanec, the interior minister and a member of the prime minister's Social Democrat party, denied the reforms, due to take effect Aug. 1, violated coalition rules when he spoke at a news conference on Wednesday.

He said he had consulted Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, who left earlier in the day for a planned trip to China to last until June 21, before signing the plan.

"I resolutely reject politicising the police," Chovanec said. "We are prepared for a factual debate... We reject this political game with the police."

Babis said he would wait for Sobotka's return to negotiate a new coalition deal, saying repeated coalition agreement violations made it difficult to continue in the grouping.

The police reshuffle has surprised ANO and state prosecutors worried over the impact it will have on open cases and risks of evidence leaking. The head of the organised crime unit has resigned in protest.

Czechs have grown used to political instability, with cabinets since 2002 either switching prime ministers or collapsing during their term.

But, thanks to low debt and strong institutions, the European Union member maintains the best credit rating and lowest bond yields among central European neighbours.

The Social Democrats and ANO are the two most popular political parties and will contest regional elections this fall. The Christian Democrats are a junior partner in the coalition.
Middlesbrough agree deal for Colombia defender Espinosa

June 15 (Reuters) - Middlesbrough have agreed to sign Colombia defender Bernardo Espinosa on a free transfer when he leaves Sporting Gijon at the end of the month, the Premier League club said on their website (www.mfc.co.uk) on Wednesday.

Espoinosa is 'Boro manager Aitor Karanka's second signing of the close season, with winger Viktor Fischer having already agreed a move from Ajax Amsterdam last month, as they prepare for their return to the top flight.

Espinosa, 26, opted to join Middlesbrough after rejecting advances from other English teams including Everton, Bournemouth and Watford, according to British media reports.
Merkel backs Georgia visa-free travel to EU, but suggests Ukraine link

BERLIN, June 15 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday endorsed swift approval of visa-free access to the European Union for Georgia, but suggested the move could be linked to visa liberalisation for Ukraine.

Both the south Caucasus country and Ukraine have met the criteria for the EU visa waiver, but Berlin earlier this month led last-minute opposition to the process.

Germany and a handful of other EU countries want the European Parliament to support a beefed up suspension mechanism that makes it easier to suspend visa waivers before granting the privilege to more countries, EU diplomats say.

"We would like this process to be concluded quickly. It is with the European Parliament now, " Merkel told a joint news conference with Georgian Prime Minister Georgy Kvirikashvili.

"I expect that we can agree swiftly on the issue of visa liberalisation for citizens of Georgia," she said.

EU diplomats say that, in addition to waiting for the parliament to approve the emergency brake, European governments want to pressure Ukraine and Russia to implement the Minsk peace deal for eastern Ukraine.

Visa liberalisation is a bargaining chip to press the government in Kiev to move. However, Ukraine has appealed to the EU not to grant Georgia visa-free access first, for fear of weakening the standing in Kiev of the pro-western President Petro Poroshenko, EU diplomats say.

Merkel made a connection between the Georgia and Ukraine bids for visa-free travel to the EU, without going so far as to say that they must proceed at the same pace.

"For me, it is significant that association agreements between the EU and Georgia and also with Ukraine were signed at the same time," she said.

"It is not very easy to explain to one country how things are with another," she added. "However, I understand that each country wants to be treated on its own merits."
Venezuelan ex-president and author Gallegos' grave desecrated

CARACAS, June 15 (Reuters) - Vandals have desecrated the tomb of Romulo Gallegos, a revered former president and author of Venezuela's most famous novel "Dona Barbara," his family said on Wednesday.

"They took the marble, and they took his and my grandmother Teotiste's remains. They've robbed my history and part of every Venezuelan's history," his granddaughter Theotiste wrote on Facebook.

Gallegos, of the Democratic Action party, won a presidential election to take power in February 1948 but was kicked out in a military coup nine months later.

His signature work "Dona Barbara," a story about the life and intrigues of a ruthless female landowner in the central cattle-ranching plains, was published in 1929.
EU still split on banking union plan as finance ministers set to meet

By Francesco Guarascio and Jan Strupczewski

BRUSSELS, June 15 (Reuters) - European Union states remain deeply split on how to move toward the completion of their banking union, EU officials said on Wednesday, on the eve of a two-day meeting of finance ministers aimed at making progress on the plan.

In 2012, a plan was drawn up in the wake of the euro zone sovereign debt crisis and the 2007-08 global financial crisis that forced euro zone countries to spend billions of euros to prop up their failing banks.

After agreeing on a common supervision plan for euro zone lenders and a joint privately funded scheme to wind down ailing banks, the 19 countries of the single-currency bloc have lost momentum and have been stuck for six months in talks on how to set up a European deposit insurance scheme (EDIS) to better protect savers, the third and last pillar of the plan.

"There is no agreement at this stage on how to go forward," an EU official told Reuters on Wednesday at the end of talks among EU envoys preparing for the finance ministers' regular meeting on June 16-17 in Luxembourg.

On Friday, ministers will try to agree at least on the next steps to take, but countries do not want to set deadlines and are divided on which measures should be carried out first, a second official said.

The draft conclusions of the meeting, seen by Reuters, do not include a date on when an agreement on the common insurance scheme should be reached.

Germany is leading the group of countries demanding more "risk reduction" before steps are made towards "risk-sharing".

In EU jargon, risk-sharing implies using common resources to increase financial stability. A single fund to insure depositors in euro zone countries would be a risk-sharing measure.

But Germany fears that this would disproportionately expose its banks to risks caused by weaker lenders in other European countries. Berlin is urging a reduction in banks' risks first, such as by introducing caps on lenders' exposure to the debt of their own sovereigns.

These requests are opposed by Italy and other euro zone countries, however, who worry that the move would cause market turbulence as banks would be forced to sell off assets at fire-sale prices and sovereigns' borrowing may become more costly.

The draft conclusions of the meeting, prepared by the Dutch presidency of the EU, deferred any decision on sovereign exposure to at least the beginning of 2018, when ministers are called to "take stock" of progress made on the issue by the Basel Committee, a body of banking supervisors from nearly 30 countries.
Turkey jails three Islamic State members for 2014 killings -lawyer

By Humeyra Pamuk

ISTANBUL, June 15 (Reuters) - A Turkish court sentenced three members of Islamic State to more than 120 years in jail on Wednesday for the 2014 killing of a truck driver and two security force personnel, a lawyer for one of the victims said.

Since the attack, seen as the first by Islamic State inside the country, Turkey has become a target for the militant group, which was blamed for two suicide bombings in Istanbul this year.

Turkey, a NATO member and part of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, has previously come under fire from its Western partners, who said it was not doing enough to monitor its 900 kilometre (560 miles) border with Syria and prevent Islamic State members from crossing into its territory.

Ankara has beefed up security over the last year, especially as Islamic State has repeatedly attacked its border towns.

The men sentenced - a German, a Macedonian and a third man, Cendrim Ramadani - entered Turkey illegally from Syria in March 2014 and were travelling to Istanbul in a taxi when they opened fire on security forces at a checkpoint near the southern city of Nigde, according to a court indictment seen by Reuters.

A member of the gendarmerie and a police officer died and eight members of the gendarmerie were injured in the shoot-out, according to the indictment, which said the truck driver was killed after the three men hijacked his vehicle.

The trio, who were captured within 24 hours of the incident, were handed fines and sentences by the Nigde court ranging from 124 to 179 years in jail for murder and attempting to topple the constitutional system by force, Ali Cil, the lawyer representing the truck driver, told Reuters.

In his testimony to the prosecutor, German national Benyamin Xu said he had met Ramadani and Macedonian Muhammad Zakiri in Syria where they spent about nine months at an Islamic State training camp, according to the court documents.

Xu alleged Ramadani had opened fire on both the gendarmerie and the truck driver, according to the documents.

There was no testimony from Ramadani or Zakiri included in the documents seen by Reuters. Ramadani's nationality was not clear as he was alternately referred to as a Swiss and Serbian national in the documents.

Police seized rifles, guns and hand grenades in their vehicle at the scene of the attack, the documents said.

The men said they were en route to Macedonia at the time of the shoot-out, although the prosecutor alleged in the indictment that they had been plotting an attack in Istanbul.

A fourth man, who according to the indictment was linked to the others, was sentenced to 13 years in jail on charges of fraud and membership of a terrorist organisation, Cil said.
Obama meets Dalai Lama in spite of China protest

WASHINGTON, June 15 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama met the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, at the White House on Wednesday in spite of a warning by China that this would damage diplomatic ties, a White House official said.

The meeting was due to take place in the White House Map Room, where diplomatic functions are often held, instead of the Oval Office where the president normally meets world leaders.

A White House official confirmed the meeting had taken place, but gave no other details.

China's Foreign Ministry said earlier it had lodged diplomatic representations with the United States over the planned meeting, saying it would damage Chinese-U.S. ties.

China considers the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader a dangerous separatist, and ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular briefing the meeting would encourage "separatist forces".

The meeting comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and China over Beijing's assertive pursuit of territorial claims in East Asia.

Obama met the Dalai Lama at the White House when the latter visited Washington in 2014 and angered China then when he vowed "strong support" for Tibetans' human rights.

Lu said China urged the United States to abide by its promises to recognize that Tibet is part of China and cease any support for Tibet independence.

The Dalai Lama, who fled from Tibet into exile in India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, says he wants genuine autonomy for Tibet, not independence.
Rebels in Central African Republic stepping up attacks - U.N.

By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS, June 15 (Reuters) - Lord's Resistance Army rebels, who mutilate civilians and kidnap children to use as fighters and sex slaves, stepped up attacks and abductions in Central African Republic during the first three months of this year, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

The U.N. envoy for Central Africa, Abdoulaye Bathily, also told the U.N. Security Council that the world body was concerned about the potential Ugandan withdrawal of some 2,500 troops from a military operation hunting down the brutal rebel movement.

"The LRA appears now to be deviating from what had been for a certain period of time a low-profile posture, with attacks against larger and less isolated populations areas being noted and an increased number of children kidnapped," he said.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for the LRA's messianic leader, Joseph Kony, and other senior commanders. The rebels were relatively unknown outside Central Africa until KONY 2012, a successful social media campaign, raised international awareness about the reclusive warlord.

The latest U.N. report to the Security Council, citing LRA Crisis Tracker data, said the rebels were responsible for 42 incidents, six civilian deaths and 252 civilian abductions in Central African Republic in the first quarter of 2016.

This compares with 52 incidents, five civilian deaths and 113 civilian abductions for all of 2015.

"The LRA has demonstrated increased boldness," according to the report. "The surge could be attributed to the dry season, the alleged forced withdrawal of LRA groups from the Kafia Kingi enclave, and some LRA groups operating independently from Joseph Kony's command."

Uganda leads a U.S.-supported African Union regional task force tracking the LRA rebels, but said last week it plans to withdraw its troops by the end of the year. Most of its soldiers are in eastern Central African Republic, while a smaller contingent is based in South Sudan.

"The withdrawal of the Ugandan troops may create a vacuum which may be used not only by the LRA but also the other armed groups which are in the region," Bathily told reporters.
Exxon asks U.S. court to throw out subpoena in climate change inquiry

By Terry Wade

HOUSTON, June 15 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp asked a federal court on Wednesday to throw out a subpoena that would force the oil company to hand over decades of documents as part of a wide-ranging inquiry into whether it misled investors about climate change risks.

In its filing in a U.S. district court, Exxon said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey overreached with her April subpoena and that it violated constitutional amendments on free speech, unreasonable search and seizure, and equal protection.

The move by the world's largest publicly-traded oil company is the latest in its high-stakes battle with a coalition of state attorneys general who said in March they would go after Exxon and try to force Congress to tackle climate change.

Exxon also pushed back against a raft of shareholder proposals last month asking it to show how it will react to the Paris agreement among 195 governments that aims to limit the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) by curbing carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

The subpoena from Healey is part of an inquiry looking at why Exxon's executives over several years appeared to contradict papers published by company scientists about the threats of climate change. The subpoena also seeks any Exxon communications with free-market business groups that doubt the efficacy of clamping down on emissions or climate science itself.

Exxon, for its part, said in its filing it has acknowledged the reality of climate change for years and that activist groups encouraged attorneys general to start their inquiries.

In the past, current or former Exxon CEOs have said climate models are not entirely perfect, that curbing emissions could condemn the world's poor to darkness, and that humans may need to adapt to changing weather and rising sea levels.

The attorneys general have based their inquiries on whether Exxon's alleged soft-pedaling of climate risks or carbon regulation amounts to securities fraud. Exxon has denied the allegations.

At a seminar in May on legal action around climate change, Columbia Law School professor Merritt B. Fox said Exxon's comments, regardless of their content, might not be deemed material for investors.

That is because investors get information on climate change from many sources and Exxon would probably not be able to single-handedly alter the "total mix" of publicly available information.

"The market was well supplied with information about climate change from a variety of sources," said Fox, who acknowledged the importance of climate change but expressed skepticism about the legal strategy of prosecutors.

On Monday, five Republican members of Congress sent U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch a letter saying the inquiries by state attorneys general were wrongly treating a public policy issue as a law enforcement matter.
Algeria court blocks buyout of newspaper, TV channel

ALGIERS, June 15 (Reuters) - A court in Algiers ruled on Wednesday that a takeover by the country's richest businessman of its largest Arabic-language newspaper and an affiliated TV channel should be halted.

The case was brought by the Algerian communications ministry against Ness-Prod, a subsidiary of the agribusiness group Cevital, after it acquired a 80 percent stake in the private media group El Khabar.

Cevital's founder and chief executive, the billionaire Issad Rebrab, has said the attempts to block the takeover are politically motivated. The ministry rejects that accusation.

Rebrab is not directly involved in politics, but he has taken positions critical of the government. In addition, El Khabar is one of the more independent voices in the Algerian media, and critics see the government's effort to block the takeover as a threat to press freedom.

The ministry's case is based on a law that bans ownership of more than one newspaper. Rebrab already owns the French-language newspaper Liberte.

After announcing the verdict, Judge Mohamed Dahmane said both sides had one week to respond.

"This judgment is not final because we will appeal to the state council," Sadek Chaib, a lawyer for El Khabar, told reporters outside the court.

Lawyers for the ministry expressed satisfaction. "Our efforts were fruitful," said lawyer Nadjib Bitam.
Hindu teacher assaulted in latest attack on Bangladesh minorities

DHAKA, June 16 (Reuters) - A Hindu college teacher was seriously injured on Wednesday when he was assaulted by suspected Islamists, police said, the latest in a string of attacks on minority members and liberal activists in the mainly Muslim nation.

The attack came amid a week-long crackdown on Islamists begun on Friday, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina vowed to halt a wave of targeted killings, in which more than 11,000 people have been arrested.

Ripon Chakraborty, a mathematics teacher, was attacked by three knife-wielding assailants on Wednesday when he opened the door at his home in Madaripur, 70 km of the capital, Dhaka, police said.

"The 50-year-old teacher was hacked in his head and neck as he opened the door," police officer Ziaul Murshed said.

Police are questioning one of the attackers who was caught by local people as he fled, he added.

Militants have killed more than 30 people in Bangladesh since early last year. Among those targeted were atheist bloggers, liberal academics, gay rights campaigners, foreign aid workers, members of minority Muslim sects and other religious groups.

Islamic State or al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for most of the killings, but the government denies either group has a presence in Bangladesh. Police say home-grown militants from Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and Ansarullah Bangla Team are responsible.

In the past week alone, an elderly Hindu priest, a Hindu monastery worker and a Christian shopkeeper were hacked to death, and the Muslim wife of a counter-terrorism police official was also killed
Iran files complaint with ICJ to recover $2 billion frozen in US

BEIRUT, June 15 (Reuters) - Iran has filed a formal complaint with the International Court of Justice to recover nearly $2 billion in assets frozen in the United States, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in April that the assets must be turned over to American families of people killed in the 1983 bombing of a U.S. Marine Corps barracks in Beirut and other attacks blamed on Iran.

The Iranian complaint was filed on Tuesday, Rouhani said at an "iftar" evening gathering in Tehran to break the Islamic Ramadan fast, according to the website of Iranian state television.

"The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran officially complained about America to the International Court of Justice for the confiscation and theft of two billion dollars of the property of the central bank," Rouhani said.

"And demanded the condemnation of Washington's anti-Iranian action and compensation for damages."

More than 1,000 plaintiffs in the case have accused Iran of providing material support to Hezbollah, the Shi'ite Islamist political and military group responsible for the 1983 truck bomb attack that killed 241 U.S. service personnel in Beirut.

They also sought compensation related to other attacks including the 1996 Khobar Towers truck bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 U.S. service personnel.

After the April Supreme Court ruling, Caragh Fay, a lawyer representing the victims of the Beirut attack, said it could take from three months to a year for the funds to be dispersed to plaintiffs.

Money will go to the estates of service members who were killed, their families and to those who survived the attacks. Payouts will range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, Fay said.

The assets held in New York were part of the Iranian bank's foreign currency reserves. They were traced to a Citibank account in New York held by Luxemburg-based Clearstream Banking, which acted as a intermediary for Banca UBAE, an Italian bank of which the Iranian central bank, Bank Markazi, is a customer.

It is unclear how Iran's complaint to the International Court of Justice may affect the payments.
Exxon asks U.S. court to throw out subpoena in climate change inquiry

By Terry Wade

HOUSTON, June 15 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp asked a federal court on Wednesday to throw out a subpoena that would force the oil company to hand over decades of documents as part of a wide-ranging inquiry into whether it misled investors about climate change risks.

In its filing in a U.S. district court, Exxon said Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey overreached with her April subpoena and that it violated constitutional amendments on free speech, unreasonable search and seizure and equal protection.

The Massachusetts attorney general's office said it was reviewing the motion.

The move by the world's largest publicly traded oil company is the latest in its high-stakes battle with a coalition of state attorneys general who said in March they would go after Exxon and try to force Congress to tackle climate change.

Exxon also pushed back against a raft of shareholder proposals last month asking it to show how it will react to the Paris agreement among 195 governments that aims to limit the rise in global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) by curbing carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

The subpoena from Healey comes amid claims by prosecutors that Exxon executives contradicted papers published by company scientists about the threats of climate change. The subpoena also seeks any Exxon communications with free-market business groups that doubt the efficacy of clamping down on emissions or climate science itself.

Exxon said in its filing the subpoena seeks documents outside of the statute of limitations and that activist groups encouraged opening inquiries.

"The great irony here is that we've acknowledged the risks of climate change for more than a decade, have supported a carbon tax as the better policy option and spent more than $7 billion on research and technologies to reduce emissions," said Exxon spokesman Alan Jeffers. "It should make people question what this is really all about."

The attorneys general have based their inquiries on whether Exxon's alleged soft-pedaling of climate risks or carbon regulation amounted to securities fraud.

In the past, current or former Exxon chief executives have said climate models are not entirely perfect, that curbing emissions could condemn the world's poor to darkness, and that humans may need to adapt to changing weather and rising sea levels.

At a seminar in May on climate change law, Columbia Law School professor Merritt B. Fox said Exxon's comments might not be material for investors.

That is because investors get information on climate change from many sources and Exxon would probably not be able to alter the "total mix" of publicly available information.

"The market was well supplied with information about climate change from a variety of sources," said Fox, who acknowledged the importance of climate change but expressed skepticism about the legal strategy of prosecutors.

On Monday, five Republican congressmen told U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch in a letter the states' inquiries were wrongly treating a policy issue as a law enforcement matter.
UN won't disclose sources for report critical of Saudi coalition

By Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS, June 15 (Reuters) - The United Nations will not disclose to a Saudi Arabia-led coalition sensitive sources of information that led the world body to briefly blacklist it for maiming and killing children in Yemen, a U.N. spokesman said on Wednesday.

Saudi U.N. Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, in a June 8 letter on behalf of the coalition to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, asked the United Nations to reveal details on the sources of information for its report on violations of child rights during armed conflicts.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the world body has yet to respond to the letter, though he made clear the U.N. will not disclose details of its sources for the report.

"Protecting the sources of information that are used in this report, or any other report, is paramount, especially in a conflict area," he told reporters. "But we obviously welcome any information that the Saudi-led coalition may want to share with us."

The U.N. report on children and armed conflict said the coalition, which began an air campaign in March 2015 to defeat Iran-allied Houthi rebels, was responsible for 60 percent of child deaths and injuries in the conflict last year, killing 510 and wounding 667.

Riyadh, a key U.N. donor, had threatened to cut off funding to a Palestinian aid program and other U.N. initiatives. Saudi Arabia denied using threats, although Ban himself confirmed the initial Reuters report.

The coalition's removal from the blacklist prompted angry reactions from human rights groups, which accused Ban of caving in to pressure from powerful countries. They said that Ban, in the final year of his second term, risked harming his legacy as U.N. chief.

Saudi Arabia's powerful deputy crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is in the United States for meetings with President Barack Obama and other U.S. officials and is also scheduled to meet with business leaders on the West Coast and in New York this week and next.

Salman is expected to be in New York on Tuesday, diplomatic sources told Reuters. Dujarric said it has not received any requests for a meeting with Ban or his deputy.
Niger says 34 migrants, including 20 children, found dead

NIAMEY, June 15 (Reuters) - Thirty-four migrants, including 20 children, have been found dead in Niger's vast desert after being abandoned by their smuggler, the government of the West African nation said in a statement read on national television on Wednesday.

Agadez in the landlocked country's arid north is a popular waystation for migrants attempting to traverse the Sahara Desert and reach Libya and eventually Europe.

Of the adult migrants, nine were women and five were men. They died between June 6-12, Interior Minister Bazoum Mohammed said, adding that President Mahamadou Issoufou expressed his condolences to their families.

Two victims had been identified as citizens of neighboring Nigeria, Mohammed said. It was not immediately clear what the nationalities of the other victims were.
The FBI is investigating a threatening message posted on Craigslist that praised the deadly shooting rampage at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

The sickening post, titled 'We need more Orlandos' [sic],' was uploaded in the men-seeking-men section of the San Diego personal ads.

In the message, the user says, 'San Diego you are next', and urges others to: 'Cleanse your community of the filth that gives decent gay men and women a bad name.'

It also claims that the terrorist attack carried out by ISIS sympathizer Omar Mateen at Pulse nightclub was 'long overdue' and described the 49 victims as 'walking diseases, bug chasers'.

The FBI is investigating a threatening message (above) posted on Craigslist that praised the deadly shooting rampage at a gay nightclub in Orlando. The sickening post, titled 'We need more Orlandos' [sic],' was uploaded in the men-seeking-men section of the San Diego personal ads

Darrell Foxworth, a spokesman for the FBI, confirmed the agency was looking into the post and attempting to identify the person responsible.

Local Orlando broadcaster KGTV reported that the message had been posted.

A viewer took a screenshot of the message, which included a picture of a revolver being fired, and sent it to the news outlet before it was flagged and removed from the website.

It reportedly read: 'Orlando was long overdue. Cleanse your community of the filth that gives decent gay men and women a bad name.

'Those people were walking diseases, bug chasers, and thank god for AIDS and 9-11 and now Orlando. San Diego you are next,' the message went on.

The post also claims that the terrorist attack carried out by ISIS sympathizer Omar Mateen at Pulse nightclub (pictured) was 'long overdue' and described the 49 victims as 'walking diseases, bug chasers'

Mateen (left and right) was shot to death by police after a three-hour rampage through the nightclub.

In Houston, police said on Wednesday they were investigating a threat made on Twitter of a mass shooting against the city's Gay Pride parade, scheduled for June 25.

The threat was made on Monday, police said, though there were no plans to cancel the event.

In Seattle, the FBI said on Wednesday that they were investigating threats against Muslims and LGBT bars in the area, though none had been identified as specific or credible. Seattle police arrested a man on Tuesday who had threatened a city mosque.

In the attack in Orlando on Sunday, a gunman opened fire at the Pulse club, killing 49 people and wounding dozens more in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
MSCI brush-off for China shares spells more pain for Hong Kong brokers

By Denny Thomas, Saikat Chatterjee and Michelle Chen

HONG KONG, June 16 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stock brokers' year has gone from bad to worse after index provider MSCI decided not to add mainland Chinese shares to a benchmark indexed tracked by $1.5 trillion in global assets, dashing the hopes of a sector struggling with tumbling business.

Average trading volumes on the Kong Kong stock exchange in the first five months of 2016 are down 43 percent on a year ago, and the stock market is down 30 percent, its worst performance since the global financial crisis.

Without any external shocks to account for the weakness, analysts fear a longer-term structural decline for the city's finance sector, which acts as a conduit for investment into the mainland, including 'A' shares listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen.

The hoped-for inclusion of those shares in MSCI's Emerging Markets Index, which could draw up to $400 billion into Chinese markets, had been a glimmer of light for brokers in Hong Kong.

Indeed nearly $8 billion had flown into various China access products in recent weeks ahead of the decision, according to UBS calculations, mostly through Hong Kong.

"The MSCI decision is yet another blow to what has been a very challenging environment for banks and financial institutions in the sales and trading business," said John Mullally, director of financial services at Robert Walters in Hong Kong.

"Recruitment picks up when banks feel confident about their operating environment, and current market conditions are the worst I have seen in a while," he said.

On some days, trading across the entire Hong Kong stock market floor is lower than trading volumes for Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group on the New York Stock Exchange, Thomson Reuters data show.

Hong Kong's prosperity is intrinsically linked to the mainland, its dominant trading partner, where growth has slowed to a 25-year low.

Its own GDP shrank for the first time in nearly two years in the first quarter of 2016, as China's slowdown hit its neighbour's property market and retail industry.

Weakness in the finance sector, which accounts for 17 percent of GDP, claimed a first major victim earlier this month, when family-run Hong Kong lender Bank of East Asia Ltd closed its entire stock-broking unit, laying off 180 people.

Another local firm, AMTD, laid off almost 100 employees in their wealth management division, according to local media reports.

IPO DROUGHT

In addition to falling volumes, brokers who have been slow to embrace new technology are feeling the pressure of a shift towards automated trading, which cuts into fees and bypasses traditional trading staff.

About 44 percent of retail trading in Hong Kong is now online, up from just 13 percent a decade ago, according to Greenwich Associates.

There has also been a sharp fall in new listings on the local bourse. The city has seen only $5.4 billion of initial public offerings (IPOs) this year, compared with $13.3 billion at this time last year.

"People are going to revisit their whole cost base in the next six to nine months because the revenues are settling at a much lower level, and there aren't many IPOs either," said Rahul Chada, co-chief investment officer at Mirae Asset Global Investments.

"Bank of East Asia is just one example. You will see others trying to reduce structure, unless the volumes pick up."

Some foreign banks, including Barclays plc, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, have cut a combined 100 or so research analysts and equity trading jobs in recent weeks alone, according to four sources.

Others are looking beyond their home turf to keep their heads above water.

"I am trying to save my job by following different Asian markets than just focusing on Hong Kong," said one head of institutional equities at a European bank.

"While that means longer hours on the desk, it means I am slightly more valuable."

As Wall Street banks and Hong Kong brokers struggle, however, mainland Chinese brokers are grabbing market share, albeit from a low base.

State-backed firms such as CITIC Ltd and Haitong Securities have expanded into Hong Kong and taken prime offices, betting they can ride out the downturn with strong backing from their mainland parents.

A spokeswoman for CITIC Securities International said the company has no plans to lay off staff. Quite the opposite - it said it was hiring in legal and compliance and fixed-income sectors.
Never before has an Indian prime minister gained so much popularity in his homeland for his vociferously tom-tommed proximity with a foreign superpower.

This dangerous showmanship smacks of a leader and a party having no sense of direction or specific action plan. How else will our "heroic" prime minister distract the people from empty promises he made before coming to power?

One does not have to go too far to see the razor's edge we are treading on if this trend continues.

Dictators

One must realise that this is exactly how the dictators of Pakistan have fooled their countrymen. We too will bleed like them and many others who have chosen this path. Because of the US, the Third World remains a wretched place today.

America's understanding of its engagement with any developing country is clear and its policy has been demonstrated repeatedly. Juice the relationship till the sugar keeps coming.

When done, stick it in some corner and forget about it. This is how it is and has historically been.

Narendra Modi and Barack Obama during the NSG meet. (Reuters)

There are two types of dictators/leaders who sway their own people's opinion using America as a pivot. In 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini did it, by raising the slogan "Death to America" and managed to rally all Iranians behind himself.

Around the same time Saddam Hussein did the same and his nation stood as one behind him, or so they say. Most recently Venezuela's Hugo Chavez did it and rallied support around his Left-leaning politics.

But of all these people the most remarkable man with amazing results is the relatively young and seemingly inexperienced dictator from North Korea - Kim Jong-un.

Then, there was Yahya Khan, followed by Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, who in turn are now followed by every other Pakistani general/prime minister.

They were seen as allies of America for nearly half a century before the 9/11 attacks happened. Zia orchestrated Charlie's War in 1979 against the Russians in Afghanistan using his leverage with both the US and Pakistan, to solidify his position from a usurper to a political leader.

Yahya Khan opened the gates of his highly secret hangars in Peshawar to let in the American U2 spy plane which Gary Powers flew and was shot down in the erstwhile Soviet Union - the incident which Steven Spielberg recently showcased in the film Bridge of Spies.

So what is every potential Pakistani dictator's ticket to power? That he is a "friend" of America and the US needs him. It is the same image Britain has had for a very long time and for which the rest of Europe has resented it.

It is this very image that Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to live down. In spite of having hosted the Incirlik airforce base for American sorties all over the Middle East and for amping up the pressure on the Adriatic and the Black Sea against the Russians.

But America is no friend of anyone. And Erdogan has seen it most recently in Syria and Iraq where the US is playing the Kurds against Turkey, much to his displeasure.

Terrorism

Look at Pakistan. When it was convenient, it was an ally in America's war on terror. But, both CIA and other US planners realised that America's meddling in Pakistan was isolating it across the world.

And so it began distancing itself from Islamabad. So much so that even the F-16s that Pakistan was promised for so long are finally not being delivered to it.

Therefore, being America's friend is fraught with dangers, especially if you are a Third World country. It is horrifying to note that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are faltering economically and they have both been fully integrated into the American system.

In case of Pakistan, the tail had begun to feel that it was wagging the dog. But the country has been learning a hard lesson, of late. It has been given the cold shoulder almost to the point of humiliation.

Connect

In the past, however, there have been levers that countries connected with America would use to get the US to move or act in their favour. In the case of Pakistan, it was always the terrorism lever. So America would yield a little to silence it.

In case of Saudi Arabia, the lever was petrol and petroleum products. But ever since petroleum prices have crashed, Saudis have been losing their importance.

With limited resources, a huge population, extreme poverty and a window of opportunity that is not going to remain open for a very long time, you can either open it to Americans or you can open it to your countrymen.

Our PM is choosing to open it to the Americans and not to his own countrymen. Indeed, the rich in India will only become richer, but the middle class and the poor will be hit badly.

But Modi's propaganda machinery is so well-oiled that every problem that he faces is a legacy of the past. Do think about how long Pakistan been a so-called friend of America?

And where is its economy and socio-political stability? Has America found a new Pakistan? Is Modi the new Zia/Musharraf? I shudder to think of the consequences.

It is up to India whether it wants to be the isotope or the singular element.
ISTANBUL - Turkey - Britain is clearing the path for Turkey's accession to the EU which will occur after June 23.

Commenting on revelations that Turkeys accession to the EU is being accelerated, Vote Leave Chief Executive Matthew Elliott said:

This is the second time this week that the Governments plans to accelerate visa-free travel and EU membership for Turkey have been revealed. David Cameron said he wants to pave the road from Ankara and the Brussels negotiations to make this happen are well underway. It is now abundantly clear that the only way to take back control of our borders is to Vote Leave on 23 June.

The Financial Times reports that David Cameron has just sped up Turkish accession, with talks to begin as early as the day after the referendum.

This is just the latest example of Turkeys accession being fast-tracked.

David Cameron strongly supports Turkish accession at the earliest moment.

Turkey is set to join the EU in the near future: we are paying them 1 billion to join.

David Cameron has just sped up Turkish accession, with talks to begin as early as the day after the referendum.

The Financial Times reports that: Turkeys EU membership talks are set to be given a boost within a fortnight, after Britain abandoned its attempt to freeze the process of opening a new negotiating chapter with Ankara until after its EU referendum At a meeting of diplomats on Tuesday morning, Britain was the only member state to refuse to give its consent for talks to begin with Ankara on financial and budgetary issues, in spite of its traditional standing as one of the biggest champions of Turkish membership talks. However, Londons resistance only lasted a few hours, which means the formal opening of talks is expected on June 24 or 30, in line with the Turkey-EU deal.

This is just the latest example of Turkeys accession being fast-tracked.

On 29 November 2015, the EU welcomed a re-energizing of the accession process as part of its attempt to contain its migrant crisis.

A new Chapter of the accession negotiations, on Economic and Monetary Policy, was opened on 14 December 2015. This represented a quickening of Turkish accession talks.

In May 2016, the Commission announced that progress towards accession would accelerate.

David Cameron strongly supports Turkish accession at the earliest moment.

David Cameron strongly supports Turkish accession. In 2010, Cameron said he was angry at the slow pace of Turkish accession, that he was the strongest possible advocate for EU membership for Turkey, and that I want us to pave the road from Ankara to Brussels. In 2014, he said that: In terms of Turkish membership of the EU, I very much support that. Thats a long-standing position of British foreign policy which I support.

The Government admitted it supported Turkish accession during the campaign. In April, the Europe Minister, David Lidington, said: The UK supports Turkeys EU accession process.

The British public will not get a vote on the accession of Turkey to the EU. The European Union Act 2011 allows the Government to ratify EU accession treaties without a referendum. There was no referendum on the accession of Croatia to the EU in 2013.

The Government opposes giving the British people a say. As the Minister for Europe, David Lidington, said in 2011: A few years ago, 10 new member states joined the European Union at the same time. I believe that their combined population then was 73 million, which is slightly greater than Turkeys population is now. I do not believe that anybody in this country argued at that time that a British referendum on those accessions was right.

Turkey is set to join the EU in the near future: we are paying them to join.

Turkey is due to join the EU in the next few years, having already signed a deal with the EU to prepare for accession.

It is set to receive over 1 billion of UK funds to help prepare it for membership.

The new European Council building contains chairs and building space for Turkey when it joins.
The agreement includes several benefits and schemes for employees and their families.

New Delhi: Renault Nissan Automotive India on June 15 said it has signed a wage settlement pact with workers at its Chennai plant under which their salaries will be hiked by Rs 18,000 a month, spread over the next three years.

The company has formally signed a three year settlement agreement with its employee representative union, Renault Nissan India Thozhilalar Sangam (RNITS), Renault Nissan Automotive India Pvt Ltd (RNAIPL) said in a statement. The agreement will be effective from April 1, 2016 until March 31, 2019, it added.

"With this agreement the plant technicians will receive a salary increase of Rs 18,000 (per month) progressively over the next three years. The agreement includes several benefits and schemes for employees and their families," the statement said.

RNAIPL CEO & Managing Director Colin MacDonald said: "The wage agreement with the employee union goes a long way in building a sustainable and performing organisation. We have carefully ensured that the employees and families receive best benefits and schemes." T

he Chennai plant is one of the largest in the Renault and Nissan Alliance. It started operation in March 2010. The alliance has invested Rs 6,100 crore till date and introduced 32 new Renault, Nissan and Datsun models and derivatives to its production line.

The plant caters to both domestic and international markets and has exported more than 6 lakh units to 106 countries since 2010. It had crossed the production milestone of one million cars and recently, started third shift operations in response to increasing demand for its products, the company said.

RNAIPL said the manufacturing plant and the company's R&D facility in Chennai have created more than 40,000 direct and indirect jobs.
An official of the All-India Service Engineers Association of Air India said they would be calling a meeting of all unions to decide on further action.

Mumbai: The NITI Aayogs proposal to sell off the sick PSUs including Air- India (A-I) has rallied all the central trade unions, who have threatened to go on strike against the proposal.

The unions including the RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh said they would seek the intevention of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BMS opposes NITI Aayogs proposal to close sick PSUs... BMS demands that the government call a meeting of all stakeholders to discuss the revival plan of sick PSUs before proceeding to decide on the proposal of NITI Aayog. Otherwise, we will be compelled to come on to the street to oppose the move, BMS general secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said in a statement.

An official of the All-India Service Engineers Association of Air India said they would be calling a meeting of all unions to decide on further action. He said that the government should go into the wrong decisions taken by the higher ups in the Air India management that have led to losses. He pointed out to the decision to set up the maintenance, repair and overhaul unit in Nagpur. The hangars are lying empty as no airline wants to go to Nagpur.

The government should take the Unions into confidence before taking any decisions he said. Meanwhile Mr Vishwas Utagi, convenor of Trade Union Action Committee of Maharashtra said the All India Bank Employees Federation will be meeting in Chennai on Thursday to decide on action against governments decision on Wednesday to merge the State Bank of Indias associate banks with SBI.
The tyres were included as "World's Most Expensive Set of Car Tyres" in the Guinness Book of Records.

Dubai: Embedded with 24-carat gold and specially selected diamonds, a set of four tyres made by an NRI-owned firm here was sold for more than Rs 4 crore, setting the Guinness world record for most expensive set of car tyres.

The first and only set of tyres of this kind, the gold- plated tyres were developed by Z Tyres in Dubai. They were decorated by the world's most exclusive jewellers -- artisan jewellers in Italy -- and designed in Dubai, the company said in its website. The application of gold leafing was done in the UAE by the same craftsmen who have worked on the new presidential palace in Abu Dhabi.

The tyres were included as "World's Most Expensive Set of Car Tyres" in the Guinness Book of Records, the company claimed. They were sold for 2.2 million dirhams (USD 600,000 or Rs 4.01 crore) at REIFEN trade fair in Dubai, it said. The company will donate the money to the Zenises Foundation.

"We've always treasured the outstanding skills and dedication involved in developing our Z Tyre range so we thought what better way to celebrate this achievement than with a record-breaking special set of tyres especially commissioned for a unique buyer," Harjeev Kandhari, Founder and CEO of Zenises which ownes Z Tyres said.

"In keeping with the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, Z Tyres will donate all profits from the USD 600,000 sale to the Zenises Foundation which focuses on improving access to education across the world," he added.
It was decided that the Centre will release more pulses from its stock to states, wherever there is a demand to be sold at not more than Rs 120 per kilogram. (Representational image)

New Delhi: With prices soaring and crucial elections coming in UP and Punjab, the Central government is in a combative mode to arrest sharp rise in food prices, especially pluses.

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday held an inter-ministerial meeting with his Cabinet colleagues where it was decided to import more pluses from Myanmar and Africa to increase its buffer stocks.

It was also decided that the Centre will release more pulses from its stock to states, wherever there is a demand to be sold at not more than Rs 120 per kilogram. A team will be sent to Myanmar and Africa to explore government-to-government imports of pulses as supplies are estimated to be short by around 70 lakh tonnes due to two straight droughts in many agriculture producing states.

The Centre has also tried to shift a part of the blame on price rise on states, saying that they are also equally responsible for keeping the rates of essential commodities under control.
Established as Hyderabad State Bank in 1941 by the erstwhile Nizam regime, the bank opened its first branch at Gunfoundry in the city in 1942.

Hyderabad: With the union cabinet approving merger of five associate State Banks including State Bank of Hyderabad, with SBI, Telangana is set to lose its Nizamera bank.

SBH employees have decided to go on strike on July 28 and 29 against the merger. They demanded that Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao get a unanimous resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly against the merger.

SBH employees claimed that the people of Telangana consider SBH as a bank of Telangana and the state government should not allow the Centre to wipe out SBH, which has been the identity of Telangana in the banking sector for about 75 years. Employees fear that their career growth prospects will also be hit after the merger as their present seniority would not be considered for promotion and other benefits.

Established as Hyderabad State Bank in 1941 by the erstwhile Nizam regime, the bank opened its first branch at Gunfoundry in the city in 1942. Among all subsidiary State Banks, only SBH posted profits last year and it has the capacity to remain and function as an independent bank. There is no reason to merge SBH with SBI. It also results in revenue loss for Telangana government. Being located in Telangana, some portion of the banks profits are shared with the Telangana government. After merger, the share will go to Maharashtra as SBI headquarters are located in Mumbai, said Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, honorary president of AP and Telangana Bank Employees Federation.

S.B.Rajasekhar, president, SBH Staff Association, said, SBH should not be looked at as a mere bank. It has emotional and psychological attachment with the people of Telangana since it was set up by the erstwhile Nizam regime.
Delhi High Court today told the producers of 'Udta Punjab' to remove from the film's promos a scene which the Bombay High Court has ordered to be cut. A bench of justices Sunil Gaur and P S Teji directed the movie's producer, Phantom Films, to modify the promos accordingly and ensure that the scene in question is also withdrawn from online sites like YouTube.

The Bombay HC had ordered removal of one scene which showed the film's protagonist urinating in public. You withdraw it from your end, the bench told the producers regarding online promos, with Phantom Films agreeing to comply with the Bombay High Court direction. With this direction, the Delhi High Court disposed of the petition filed by an NGO which apart from seeking removal of the scene had also sought that it be heard by the censor board and its appellate authority before certifying the film.

The Delhi High Court, however, did not go into the other prayers sought by the Punjab-based NGO, Human Rights Awareness Association, as the Bombay HC order has been challenged by it in the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, central government standing counsel Rajesh Gogna, appearing for the censor board and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, told the court that the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) would not be challenging the Bombay HC order in the Supreme Court. Gogna also said that CBFC would be certifying the film for public exhibition.
Mumbai: The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has raised objection over the 'inappropriate use' of kirpan in a song from Rohit Dhawan's 'Dishoom'. The body has requested Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to remove the song from the film and has also demanded an apology from the makers.

The members of the Sikh community feel that the Kirpan, one of the five compulsory Kakaars worn by a practising Sikh, dangles inappropriately around Jacqueline Fernandez's waist, thus making a mockery of the sacredness of the religious symbols of the Kirpan.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, The Gurdwara Management Committee's general secretary has written a letter to Pahlaj Nihalani and has asked him to remove the song 'Ishq Ka Marz' from the movie.

Manjinder took to his social media handle and wrote, "Objecting strongly to the 'Beadbi' of Kirpan, a pious symbol of Sikhism we asked Sh. Pehlaj Nihlani, the chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification, to instruct the removal of the video of a song titled "ishq ka marz" from the upcoming movie "Dishoom". The song depicts a semi-clad actress, Ms. Jacqueline Fernandez, dancing with a Kirpan, one of the five compulsory Kakaars worn by a practising Sikh; dangling in front of her legs and supported by a cloth belt worn around the waist by the actress and thereby made the mockery of the sacredness and respect of the religious symbols of Kirpan."

He further wrote, "This act is hurting sentiments of Sikhs as we are already numerous complaints in this matter from various Sikh bodies. I request CBFC to instruct director Rohit Dhawan to immediately remove all the trailers/videos of the aforesaid song uploaded at youtube.com or other websites; either delete the song from the movie or re-shoot its video sans the wearing of Kirpan supported by the actress and to instruct the director and cast of the movie to make public apology to the Sikh community for the deliberate insult done to a respectable Sikh religious symbol. If CBFC fails to take appropriate action in this context, DSGMC will be compelled to initiate criminal proceedings against the director and case of the 'Dishoom' as well as against the CBFC."

Watch the teaser here.
After consecutive hits  Yevade Subramanyam, Bhale Bhale Mogadivoy and Krishnagadi Veera Prema Gaadha, Nani will be next seen in Indraganti Mohana Krishnas Gentleman.

It was Indraganti who introduced Nani and the two have teamed up after eight years. Nani says, Yes, it was a bit emotional on the first day of the shoot as some of the technicians who had worked for my first film also worked in this film. But, mostly we enjoyed the shoot.

He also says this was a challenging role for him. Its easy to play a character who is suffering with a disease or has a psychological problem. Gentleman is completely opposite. There are both positives and negatives in the role and it is the most challenging role I have done so far. And I feel that this is the right time for me to take up challenging roles, explains Nani, terming the film as a romantic thriller.

Before Yevade Subramanyam, Nani had faced a draught of nearly three years. But now, he has become unstoppable with many consecutive hits.

The actor has also stopped doing Tamil films, which he says was a conscious decision. I took the decision after Aha Kalyanam. Though the film released in Telugu, people felt that my lip sync was bad. They didnt connect to the character because it felt like a dubbed film. It wasnt helping my career, so I decided to stop doing Tamil films. But in the near future I will do a bi-lingual, my Telugu film will release in Tamil, he says.

The reason he choose Tamil in the first place was to work with good technicians. When I entered the industry, I wanted to work with good directors like Mani Ratnam and Gautam Menon; thats why I did Tamil films. I realised later that I was not adding anything to the Tamil scripts and that it was a waste of time for me. During my rough patch, I learnt many things, I realised my strong points and my weaknesses, reveals the actor.

He, however, adds that he doesnt regret acting in flop films like Paisa and Aha Kalyanam. I believed in the scripts and I give my 100 per cent. And people appreciated my performance in those films, even if the films were a flop, he says.

He also realised that apart from performance, a films content and the entire team is important for a films success. Thats what I learn from my films, he says. Nani says that he never does any homework and doesnt believe in workshops.

I personally believe that they wont work for me. I am not against it if someone does homework or workshops, but I came to the industry without any proper training. So I go according to what the director narrates to me. Once the scene is over I come out of it. I dont carry the character with me for long as many actors do, he reveals.

On the personal front, he says that his wife Anjana is busy with her own work and does not involve with his work and the film industry. She is working on her own with her friends and is not related to the film industry. My mother is also a central government employee and is busy with her work, No plans for kids yet, theres still time, he concludes.
Washington, United States: The first Italian restaurant to be named the best in the world celebrated its win as controversy erupted over the selection, with several big name chefs not making the list.

The Osteria Francescana in Modena in the north of the country -- which was praised for its use of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese -- pipped last year's winner, Spain's El Celler de Can Roca, to top the World's 50 Best Restaurants list, after coming second in 2015.

Chef Massimo Bottura was overcome with emotion as he accepted the award at a glitzy ceremony in New York late Monday. "I want to thank everyone because it's been so hard, our job is all about art," Bottura told his cheering supporters.

But even as Bottura and his team celebrated, a row blew up about the exclusion of a raft of top French chefs, including Joel Robuchon -- a fixture of the list since it was launched 14 years ago.

And Andrea Petrini, who chaired 50 Best's French arm for more than a decade until his departure in September, questioned how only two French chefs working in France could have made the grade.

Problem with France

"It is a massive surprise. It's inexplicable," he told AFP. "Are they really saying there are twice as many great Mexican and Peruvian restaurants as French ones?

"If you look at the place occupied by Latin American restaurants, you have to ask some questions," he said, referring to allegations of lobbying and cosy deals between restaurants and jury members that have dogged the awards. And he claimed that the British-based list "has always had a problem with France."

Even so, he said he was shocked that "a major figure such as Robuchon had been relegated from the field".

Last year Robuchon, himself a former 50 Best judge, had criticized its transparency, claiming the list had become prone to "cronyism, 'flip a coin' voting, geopolitical influence and lobbying."

Hard to believe

50 Best editor William Drew hit back strongly at the allegations, telling AFP that it was "France that had a problem with 50 Best" rather than the other way around, and that voting had been overseen by consultancy firm Deloitte.

This year's French results were "a surprise for many people, including us," he said. "But there are signs in our 51 to 100 Best list that French restaurants are coming back.

"French restaurants haven't suddenly become bad. It is just to get into the list you have to get a lot of votes, and French votes may have been spread" since the country has so many good restaurants.

While Italian-born Petrini hailed the four chefs from his homeland who had made the top 50, he said it was "difficult to believe... that Parisian restaurants recognised as important and inventive by the rest of the world (such) as Le Chateaubriand and L'Astrance" had not.

He said that 50 Best's problem was that it began as a "snapshot, a playlist of the most interesting, intriguing restaurants and it never claimed to be scientific ... It did not demand any rigour or exactness.

"But then it became very important economically for chefs and certain countries in terms of tourism..." Drew admitted 50 Best "was a snapshot. It is not scientific. But it is based on the opinions of experts all around the world."

But he rebutted claims that sponsors could sway results. "They have nothing to do with tourist boards or where we hold our events." Despite the row, Petrini said Bottura was a worthy winner, and the choice appears to have won support from an unlikely quarter -- French President Francois Hollande.

The chef told La Repubblica daily that after the French leader dined with his Italian opposite number Matteo Renzi at the Osteria Francescana last year, Hollande said, "Italy 2, France 0. This is not cuisine, this is art."

The rival French-based La Liste put the restaurant 18th in its classification, which aggregates the ratings of the world's most prestigious guides. Three French chefs, however, won individual honours from 50 Best, with Alain Passard of Arpege (rated 19th overall) given a lifetime achievement award, French-born Dominique Crenn named best woman chef and Pierre Herme best pastry chef.
Even for a 60-year-old patient with a long history of smoking, 12% of family physicians said they would not recommend any screening. (Photo: Pixabay)

Many family physicians dont believe lung cancer screening can reduce deaths from these tumors, and some dont offer tests even to longtime smokers, a U.S. survey suggests.

Nearly all agreed that early cancer detection is more likely with low-dose computed tomography (CT) than with traditional x-rays. But only 41 percent believe low-dose CT scans in asymptomatic individuals can reduce deaths from lung cancer, the survey found.

Even for a 60-year-old patient with a long history of smoking, 12% of family physicians said they would not recommend any screening and another 9% said they would suggest only an x-ray.

Study author Jan Eberth, a public health researcher at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, and colleagues note in the journal Cancer that the American Academy of Family Physicians has said there isnt enough evidence yet to recommend or discourage these tests.

But the government-backed U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), along with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services and multiple professional societies and organizations, do support the use of CT scans for high-risk patients including some current and former smokers, the authors note.

The researchers analyzed data from surveys completed by 101 family physicians in South Carolina in 2015. Most of the doctors were white, male and had graduated from medical school at least a decade ago.

When asked about the risks of low-dose CT scans, 88% expressed concern about unnecessary diagnostic procedures, and about half said they worried about exposing patients to stress and anxiety or radiation.

About half would screen a 70-year-old former smoker who quit more than 20 years ago  a situation when groups like the USPSTF and Medicare recommend against it.

In another situation where screening isnt recommended  a 50-year-old nonsmoker with 30 years married to a smoker  22% of family physicians said they would offer screening. The survey was started in 2015 before Medicare changed its payment polices to cover CT scans for lung cancer screening and counseling sessions discuss test with patients, Eberth noted.

One limitation of the survey was that researchers changed it later in the year to follow up with participants and ask about how Medicare coverage might influence screening decisions, the authors note.

Primary care physicians may be overwhelmed with the amount of new information required to understand the data regarding lung cancer screening, potential benefits, and with discussing risks, Dr. Ticiana Leal, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health who wasnt involved in the study, said by email.

Chest x-rays for screening is a failed strategy, said Dr. Vinay Prasad, a researcher at Oregon Health and Science University who wasnt involved in the study.

Low-dose CT screening for lung cancer showed a strong benefit in one randomized trial, though there are a number of caveats and nuances there that may give one pause, Prasad added in an email. At a minimum, the potential benefits and potential limitations should be discussed with appropriate patients as part of shared decision making.
As part of this project, ANA focused on the fact that Fukui is a home to plums and developed a drink using a new kind of fruit.

Kyoto: Well-known as dinosaur kingdom, Fukui Prefecture in Japan is also famous for its culinary delights.

It was ranked number one in the happiness ladder of Japan in 2014 because of its food culture.

Now, All Nippon Airlines (ANA) has announced to introduce the food of Fukui Prefecture as per its project for promoting the 'charms of Japan'.

Yuji Ishii, GM, Kanazawa Sales Office, ANA, said, "Among the various services provided at ANA, through this service, we would like to send a message on the attractions of Fukui Prefecture. We would like to promote it both domestically and internationally and would like to have the foreign guests to dine here and physically visit Fukui Prefecture."

As part of this project, ANA focused on the fact that Fukui is a home to plums and developed a drink using a new kind of fruit.

This project is the result of collaboration with a producer in the Wakasa area in Fukui Prefecture.

Two ANA flight attendants participated in the development process.

According to Akira Shinya, President, Ecofarm Mikata Corporation, "Last August, two flight attendants who were interested in creating the processed plum drink in Fukui were chosen and have been working extensively over multiple occasions in Fukui."

The product was named ' Rogue Eclat' meaning 'glittering red', which came from the plum ingredients raised in Fukui.

Shinya further said, "Since the red in Red Points is also used for lipstick or rouge, the name was created by emphasizing the prettiness of the colour as well as the attractiveness of females. Rose was used to create this luxurious feeling. The taste was fine-tuned by adding a little bit of rose essence. The ordinary plum syrup was used as the sweetener and little bit of honey was added to make the taste elegant. We have been striving to promote Fukui by introducing this processed plum drink to the overseas guests."

In ' Sado' (tea-ceremony), the host makes tea for the guests with the spirit of hospitality."

In May, the harvest season begins at the foot of Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka prefecture. The harvest of tea is usually done by hands.

However, nowadays many farmers are using machines.

The harvested tea leaf is processed at the factories, which includes steaming, rubbing, and drying. The production is well operated under computerized control.

On the other hand, there are many small scaled yet unique tea factories.

With its healthy ingredients, tea has got a lot of attention from overseas. In this store in Shizuoka Prefecture, it is given free to the visiting guests.

There are many different types of teas in Shizuoka Prefecture. Among which, Matcha is the special tea used in ' Chado' or tea-ceremony.

Tencha, the ingredient of Matcha, is raised differently compared to other types of tea. Kyoto city produces Tencha.

Traders touch the tea leafs or test drink before they make the bid.
Climate change plays a huge role in the possible extinction of certain species of animals.

Washington: Human-caused climate change has wiped out the first species of mammal, according to Australian researchers.

The Bramble Cay melomys was native to the Great Barrier Reef and lived on a tiny island in the eastern Torres Strait off the coast of Queensland. Scientists from the University of Queensland and the Queensland Government led a survey in March 2014 that failed to find any evidence of the Bramble Cay melomys in their last known environment. The animals were last seen in 2009, according to records.

The study, first reported by the Guardian, concluded the habitat was destroyed following rising sea levels, resulting in the loss of 97 per cent of the animals habitat.

The key factor responsible for the death of the Bramble Cay melomys is almost certainly high tides and surging seawater, which has traveled inland across the island, Luke Leung, a scientist from the University of Queensland who was an author of a report on the species apparent disappearance, told the Irish Times.

The seawater has destroyed the animals habitat and food source. This is the first documented extinction of a mammal because of climate change, he said.

Climate change plays a huge role in the possible extinction of certain species of animals.

The WWFs most recent State of the Planet Report in 2014 found that the largest reduction of species is in the tropics, where 63 per cent of wildlife has declined since 1970.

The worst affected areas it found were central and South America, with a regional decline of 83 per cent. Species in Australia and New Zealand are also considered to be highly at risk as they have a high level of animals that are not found anywhere else in the world.

Australias white lemuroid ringtail possum is also threatened by climate change. The species is vulnerable to temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, and would not be able to survive in this heat for more than four or five hours.

Professor Adrian M Lister, a researcher at the Natural History Museums Earth Sciences department, told The Independent that extinction from climate change is just the tip of the iceberg.

Habitats are being threatened and are disappearing due to drought and rising temperatures and sea levels caused by climate change.

Ecologist John White said species that are restricted to small islands like the melomys will be the first one to be wiped out due to climate change, adding this is just the first but certainly not the last.
If one were to encompass Bengaluru-based Saritha Hegdes foodie moments it would probably fill up a whole book. Listening to this senior vice-president, Li & Fung, speak about her career with so much passion, is almost like a lesson on how every woman can eke out her life and instill a whole new meaning. She is also the founder of The Friday Convent, a dynamic group of women professionals and entrepreneurs who meet to bring the change they wish to see and likes to be in the thick of action.

Since my dad was in the army, I studied all over the country and completed my degree from National College. A corporate career came by accident when I got a job at a Canadian firm. I loved my job and learnt everything on the job. I joined my company seven years ago. My job involves a lot of travel in India and abroad since I have to meet vendors and customers. I believe that if you, Do what you love, youll never work another day in your life. Since my head office is in Hong Kong, I go there quite often. Two of my favourite passions include food and travel. I love to explore local cuisine and witness the evolution of culture wherever I go, shares Saritha of how it all shaped up for the best.

Ask her about some of her favourite places and she says, I love Madagascar. Its so fascinating to visit this island that drifted from Africa and evolved on its own. Its truly a world apart and due to its geographic isolation, its flora and fauna are rare and exclusive to that place. I also took a small plane for a tour of the island and stayed in a hotel that used to be a kings palace. I like to take helicopter trips to explore remote areas when I travel. You can actually find some hidden gems that can be reached by a helicopter ride. I always learn to cook new cuisines everytime I travel and some of my signature dishes have been inspired from my visits to Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and even Tirupur. Next on my bucket list is Patagonia. I visit some unexplored places referred to by the locals and sometimes even go with them to their homes.

Sarita likes to dish up simple, tasty fare for her friends whenever shes back from her trips. I love to cook and shop for local ingredients, cooking utensils, pots and pans and bring back recipes from locals and replicate them with my own touch to it.

Thats not her only claim to fame. The founder of The Friday Convent wants to empower women by getting them to work and give them opportunities. Whenever they need to connect with other women, theres this space dedicated to them, not just online, but also a real time space. Its now a members only space for women entrepreneurs where we meet once a month, conduct workshops and working labs. We believe in giving back and have adopted a few schools and colleges. We are sisters for these underprivileged girls.
Chennai: A 37-year-old alone at home was found murdered with her throat slit in her apartment bedroom in Chromepet by her cousin on Tuesday evening.

The deceased, Krishnaveni, wife of Jaya Murugan, software professional, was alone at her first floor flat on Nellaiyappar street Bharathipuram when the killer gained entry.

Police said they are yet to ascertain the motive behind the murder and that they are ascertaining the details of valuable missing from the house.

Krishnaveni was supposed to pick her two children from school in the evening. As she failed to turn up, the school authorities contacted her husband at his office. He, in turn, informed her cousin who was staying in the same neighbourhood.

Krishnaveni's cousin, Sundar, who went to check found her dead with throat slit. Police said there was no forced entry into the house. Her son Kamal Karthik is a class VII student while daughter Anuksha is in class II.

Police whisked them away to their grandparents' house when the kids were brought back from school. A police sniffer dog went to a flat in the same neighborhood and came back.

Neighbours said that somebody had visited the house around noon and nearly one hour later they could hear Tamil songs at high volume from the TV of the victim's house, which was rare. Police have not ruled out sexual assault and it could even be a person known to her. The ornaments she was wearing were found intact.
Yogeesh Goudar was hacked to death by a group of men at a gym on Wednesday, police said. (Photo: Representational Image)

Dharwad: A BJP Zilla Panchayat member was hacked to death by a group of men at a gym on Wednesday, police said. The deceased has been identified as Yogeesh Goudar, a member of Hebballi constituency, police said.

He sustained injuries on the head and neck after being attacked with lethal weapons, they said, adding that a special team has been formed to probe the case.

Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar demanded an "impartial" probe into the incident. He also expressed "doubts" about a political conspiracy behind the murder.

Speaking to reporters at Bengaluru, State Home Minister G Parameshwara said, "Investigation is on in this murder. I have directed officials to nab the culprits as soon as possible. One suspicion is that there was a land dispute he was involved in."

Dharwad District in-charge Minister Vinay Kulkarni said the Chief Minister was aware of the incident.

"Investigation is going on and action will be taken against those involved," he said.

Asked about a tiff some Congress leaders had with him during the local body elections recently, he said, "During elections, blame game is common from both sides, but that should not be counted as enmity." His brother was also murdered by a group of men few years ago.
Hyderabad: A new multi-level marketing scam (MLM) has surfaced in Hyderabad with around a 100 victims losing money in the controversial QNet scheme.

Several people have come out alleging that they have lost lakhs in the dubious scheme and has demanded arrest of the managers, who have fled with crores.

After receiving the complaint from a group of people, the central crime station is now investigating the scam. The Singapore-based QNet Private Ltd had already run into trouble with the law in Bengaluru and Mumbai police due to the same scam.

The victims, mostly fresh graduates and college dropouts, alleged that they were lured by some people claiming to be company officials who offered them a high salary and commission to do e-commerce for QNet products.

Company officials asked them to pay around Rs 1 lakh as charges for registration, investment and training fee. However, the QNet officials neither provided them any job nor gave back their money even after a year.

After several complaints poured into S.R. Nagar police station cops found out that a QNet office was operating in Ameerpet, where most of the victims had paid their money. An FIR was registered in S.R. Nagar police station against company officials and later it was transferred to CCS.

A person named Ramesh Kurmetti and his associates run the firm. He and others had been avoiding us for the last one year whenever we asked our money back, said P. Vishwa Teja, one of the victims from Ameerpet.

The youngsters came to know about the company through Facebook and by word of mouth. We were told that we will be getting around Rs 30,000 as salary as we add more customers and agents into the scheme. They asked us to get trained and promised that we would be selling their products like Bio Disc, Bio Light etc. However, nothing of that sort has happened so far, said another victim M. Avinash.

Many people have paid Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh while some paid Rs 1 lakh. The company officials had promised their commission would be higher according to the investment they put in.

While it is yet to be calculated how much money has been looted by the company officials victims claim that it would be around Rs 5 to Rs 8 crore.

Meanwhile, the police has not made any arrest so far in the case.

We had registered a case after taking the complaint. Since it was an economic offence with a lot of money involved the case was transferred to CCS, said S.R. Nagar inspector Md. Waheeduddin.
The sources said the army has officially reported that there was only a "mild scuffle" between the Army and PLA at east of 'Shankar Tikri'. (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: A scuffle had broken out between troops of Indian Army and Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) when the 276 Chinese personnel entered the Indian side from four different border points in Arunachal Pradesh last Thursday, according to an official account of the incident.

The incident occurred at 'Shankar Tikri' on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) of Yangtse area in Arunachal Pradesh with the PLA claiming the area belonged to China.

The area, which is being guarded by the Indian Army, was immediately covered and army moved in its men to prevent the aggressive PLA troops from crossing the perceived LAC in the region.

An estimated 215 PLA troops reportedly tried to push their way at 'Shakar Tikri' and simultaneously 20 each from 'Thang La' and 'Mera Gap' and another 21 from 'Yanki-I' of Arunachal Pradesh made similar attempts.

During the normal banner drill, the PLA troops striking an aggressive posture tried to attack the Indian army personnel physically but were overpowered immediately, official sources said today.

The sources said the army has officially reported that there was only a "mild scuffle" between the Army and PLA at east of 'Shankar Tikri'.

Tensions reportedly eased only after four PLA officers accompanied by an interpreter met Commanding Officer of the Indian army formation in the area and presented him with two packets of chocolates and one gift packet to the in-charge of Yanki-I post.

Yangtse is one of the identified disputed pockets between the two countries and is an Indian territory. PLA carries out unusually big patrols as compared to other areas along the LAC.

The area has been reportedly witnessing transgressions by the Chinese side at regular intervals since 2011.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the scuffle had ended with exchange of chocolates. "The Chinese troops went back with a sweet note," he told reporters in New Delhi.
Animal rights activist Siddh Vidya, in an email to Devendra Fadnavis, urged him to move the apex court regarding beef ban laws.

Mumbai: A month after Bombay High Court struck down two sections of Maharashtra Animals Preservation (Amendment) Act which criminalised possession of beef of animals slaughtered outside the state, some activists here have urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to challenge the decision in the apex court.

The high court had last month struck down two sections -- 5D and 9B -- of the Act, which criminalised possession of beef of animals slaughtered outside Maharashtra, while upholding the ban on slaughter of bulls and bullocks in the state.

Soon after the court order, Fadnavis had said that if required, the government will approach Supreme Court against the high court decision of striking down the "unconstitutional sections" of the Act.

Animal rights activist Siddh Vidya, in an email to the CM, today urged him to move the apex court. "Please take a very serious note of the fact that with the removal of the said two sections from the statute book, the entire Act has become toothless," she said in the email.

"Removal of section 5D from the statute would provide cover to offenders who would slaughter cow progeny in Maharashtra and defend themselves with an excuse that it was slaughtered outside the state," she said.

She pointed out that when the onus to prove the offence is on the state, it would be difficult for prosecution to ascertain as to when and in which part of the country, a cow and its progeny were slaughtered and all the offenders would go unpunished. "Hence, the state must challenge the order before the apex court," she said.

Activist Rajendra Joshi said, "I have followed up this issue with the government. We have prepared a draft to challenge the order in Supreme court and sent it to state legal department."

Another animal rights activist Chetan Sharma said he has also requested the chief minister to act on the issue at the earliest.
Identified as Yasir, the accused is a resident of J&Ks hilly district of Doda and is 'mentally disturbed'. (Photo: Video grab)

Srinagar: Mobile internet services were suspended in Jammu amid heightening tensions over alleged desecration of a temple in Roop Nagar area of Srinagar.

The incident took place late Tuesday afternoon, sparking off protests by irate crowds that attacked a police station with stones and torched two police school buses, three cars and two motorbikes, officials said.

The police used mild force to bring the situation under control, the officials added.

Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, who was on a scheduled visit of Jammu for the inauguration of a new examination block at Jammu University said that she and deputy Nirmal Singh were personally monitoring the situation arising due to the alleged desecration.

Highlighting the secular outlook of the state, Mufti said, I hope the emancipated people of Jammu would continue to uphold the greatest traditions of amity and communal harmony, which they have practised over the years, she said.

Reports from Jammu said that on Wednesday morning, groups of youth went round forcing the traders to suspend work.

Read: Attempts being made to vitiate atmosphere in state: Omar Abdullah

Though many of them obeyed the diktat, shops reopened later and the town wore a normal look.

However, the authorities have ordered closure of all bars and liquor shops till further orders. Police and CRPF reinforcements have also been fanned out to in and around the city to strengthen security.

Jammus Deputy Commissioner (DC) Jammu, Simrandeep Singh said that the decision to suspend the mobile Internet services was taken to stop any further flare-up of the situation.

He said if the situation remained normal, the suspension would be revoked by the evening.

The police has arrested the man who allegedly damaged the temple.

Identified as Yasir, the accused is a resident of J&Ks hilly district of Doda and is mentally disturbed.

Witnesses said that Yasir was brought to the clinic of Jammus well-known psychiatrist Dr Jagdish Thapa from Doda with his hands tied behind him with a rope late Tuesday afternoon.

Before entering the clinic at Roop Nagar, his hands were untied by his relatives accompanying him but Yasir gave them a slip and rushed into the nearby temple and turned violent when a group of devotees tried to overpower him.

He broke a few glass panes of the place of worship and pushed murtis of different deities.

After knowing about the mental condition of the youth, the people didnt protest over what he did in the temple. It was the mishandling of the situation by the police and particularly when a police ASI Rahmat Allah misbehaved with a pujari Sanjay Kumar that they became angry and started protesting, said a resident Amit Kumar.

Officials, however, alleged that the pujari and some other locals tried to stop the policemen from discharging their duties and that some of those who indulged in violence were under the influence of alcohol.

The State Assembly, now in its budget session here, witnessed a ruckus as the BJP members demanded a statement from the government.

It is a matter of serious concern as some anti-social elements have carried out an anti-social act, said BJP MLA Ravinder Raina.

The situation in Jammu is bad. The government should make a statement, he added. Opposition National Conferences Altaf Ahmad Kaloo and Independent Sheikh Abdur Rasheed also joined in, demanding that the government ensure safety of Kashmiris in Jammu region.

Four boys from Pahalgam area have been arrested in Jammu. What is their fault? Kaloo asked.

The BJP MLAs took offence to intervention from Kaloo and Rasheed leading to a heated exchange.

CPI (M) MLA M Y Tarigami later intervened, saying the entire House should condemn the incident and appeal for maintaining calm and brotherhood.

Let us not divide this State along communal lines, he said.

Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, endorsed Tarigamis view saying, It would have been better if the suggestion had come from the Treasury Benches.

He added, Usually, the Chief Minister comes here (Assembly) and intervenes but today neither she nor the Deputy Chief Minister is here when the situation in Jammu is on the brink.

Abdullah also said that instead of fighting over the issue, the lawmakers should set an example for the people to follow on ground. What we do here will be cue for the people in Jammu, he asserted.

Making a statement in the House, Minister for rural development Abdul Haq Khan said that the police had used mild force in dispersing protestors gathered outside the Janipur police station where Yasir was detained.

The unruly mob was dispersed by resorting to mild lathi-charge and tear smoke. Three police personnel including the concerned station house officer received injuries while trying to disperse the mob. The minister said that police has registered two cases and taken up the investigations into the incidents.

Some accused have been arrested. The preliminary investigations suggest that the accused person who entered the temple is a lunatic patient, the minister said and also informed the House that Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister were in Jammu to oversee the situation following the incident.
The SC/ST Teachers Forum had also alleged that the university's action against the two faculty members was taken in a fit of vindictiveness and sought revocation of their suspension. (Photo: Representational Image/PTI)

Hyderabad: Even as the relay hunger strike by two suspended faculty members of University of Hyderabad entered the second day on Wednesday, the varsity said the duo had "failed" to intimate the authorities about their arrest earlier this year.

Two faculty members, Associate Professor K Y Ratnam and Assistant Professor Tathagat Sengupta had on Tuesday launched the indefinite strike outside the university protesting against their suspension by the varsity on the ground that they had been detained (arrested) by police for more than 48 hours in March this year.

Ratnam, Head of Centre for Ambedkar Studies and faculty member of Department of Political Science and Sengupta, faculty member of Department of Mathematics, were on Monday served with suspension notice for allegedly not informing the university about their detention by police for more than 48 hours on March 22.

"It is an unjust suspension and we (Ratnam and Sengupta) are continuing with the relay hunger strike," Ratnam told PTI, adding that students, faculty members and civil society have expressed solidarity with them. Meanwhile, six students from different city-based universities joined the faculty members in their protest today.

The SC/ST Teachers Forum had also alleged that the university's action against the two faculty members was taken in a fit of vindictiveness and sought revocation of their suspension.

K Y Ratnam and Tathagat Sengupta were suspended from the services at the University of Hyderabad strictly in accordance with the Rule 10 of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, a release from UoH said.

UoH said as per the rule "a government servant, shall be deemed to have been placed under suspension by an order of Appointing Authority with effect from the date of his detention, if he is detained in custody, whether on a criminal charge or otherwise, for a period exceeding forty-eight hours".

The suspension orders were issued after the approval of the Executive Council of the university in its meeting held on June 6, the first meeting since the episode of vandalism and disruption at the Vice Chancellor's lodge (official residence) on March 22 while a high-level meeting was going on inside the VC's camp office cum residence, the UoH said.

The two faculty members were arrested on March 22 in connection with the episode and consequently a case of criminal offence is under investigation against them, the university said.

Besides, in accordance with the Ministry of Home Affairs' letter under the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964, it is the duty of an employee, who is arrested for any reason, to intimate the fact of their arrest and the circumstances connected therewith to their official superior promptly, even though they might have subsequently been released on bail.

"The two faculty members in question have failed in this respect and hence were issued a memorandum on June 13 requesting them to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them in terms of the CCS(CCA) Rules 1965," UoH said.

University of Hyderabad, being a Central University created by as Act of Parliament, is bound by the Central government rules, the release added.

The University of Hyderabad, popularly known as HCU, witnessed sporadic protests over the suicide of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula, with protesting students demanding removal of Appa Rao Podile from the VC's post.

Appa Rao was booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and for abetment of Vemula's suicide. The university has been on the boil since Vemula committed suicide on the campus on January 17, subsequent to which Podile went on a leave amid protest by students.
New Delhi: Seeking to enhance cooperation to fight the black money menace, India and Switzerland on Wednesday said a team would soon visit the Alpine nation to expedite pending information requests on Indians with Swiss bank accounts, while an automatic exchange of details would begin in 2018.

Following up on the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann in Geneva on June 6, a high-level delegation from Switzerland today met top Finance Ministry officials here to discuss wide ranging bilateral and multilateral tax and financial issues.

In his meetings with Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia and Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, Swiss State Secretary for International Financial Matters, Jacques de Watteville also said that "Switzerland now has the necessary legal bases to begin with the implementation of automatic exchange of information (AEOI)" and a bilateral agreement can be reached by the end of this year.

"Once this agreement is signed, it will be possible for India to receive from 2018 financial information of accounts held by Indian residents in Switzerland on automatic basis," a Finance Ministry statement said, while adding "fighting the menace of black money stashed in offshore accounts has been a key priority for the government".

Experts of both the countries will meet by mid-September 2016 to further discuss the modalities for the reciprocal bilateral implementation of AEOI between India and Switzerland with a view to reaching an agreement at the earliest, possibly by the end of the year.

In a joint statement after the meeting, the two sides said they agreed that regular contacts "facilitate a common understanding of each other's concerns so as to ensure that the requests are dealt with quickly and efficiently.

"To begin with, a team of officers from India would visit Switzerland for bilateral discussions towards expeditious resolution of pending exchange of information requests."

On requests based on what Switzerland considers as data obtained in breach of Swiss law, Adhia reaffirmed India's position that Switzerland should share information in all cases in accordance with the treaty and "noted the progress made in a number of Indian requests based on investigations carried out independently of the 'stolen data'."

Later, Adhia said in a tweet: "To begin with, Switzerland would facilitate expeditious resolution of pending information requests".

The need for expeditious implementation of automatic exchange of information was discussed at the meeting between Modi and the Swiss President in Geneva.

Adhia also welcomed the decision of the Swiss Federal Council to amend the Tax Administrative Assistance Act in accordance with the OECD standard and provide administrative assistance in requests based on data obtained in breach of Swiss law.

"The amended proposal is now with the Swiss Parliament. An early revision of the Swiss law in respect of stolen data would take the Indo-Swiss tax cooperation to a new level," the joint statement said.

The discussion on stolen data was significant in view of India stepping up its efforts to trace details of Indians having offshore accounts that came to be known after the so-called leaked HBSC List.

Besides, today's meeting assumes significance in the wake of the recent publication of leaked 'Panama Papers' where voluminous information on offshore accounts has been placed in the public domain, including of hundreds of Indians.

It also follows up on the visit of a high-level Indian delegation, led by Das, which State Secretary Jacques de Watteville received in Swiss capital Bern in October 2014. The joint statement after today's meetings said that the "discussions showed a convergence of views with regard to tackling offshore tax evasion".

It further said that a timely revision of the Swiss law in respect of stolen data would take the Indo-Swiss tax cooperation to a new level.

Reiterating their countries' commitment to combat tax fraud and evasion within the applicable legal framework, both Adhia and de Watteville expect that the progress made by Switzerland in the field of administrative assistance in tax matters would be appropriately reflected in Switzerland's Phase-2 review by the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (Global Forum).

Both the countries acknowledged the work of the Global Forum towards establishing a genuine worldwide level playing field for tax transparency.

They also recognised the need to take firm collective action on improving basic, legal and beneficial ownership information of legal persons and legal arrangements, while underlining the importance of full implementation of FATF standards in this regard, the statement said.

Switzerland, which has always been at the centre of the debate on black money allegedly stashed by Indians abroad, used to be known for very strong secrecy walls till a few years ago around its banking practices.

However, a huge global pressure has resulted into Switzerland relenting on the tough secrecy clauses its local laws gave to the banks. In recent months, it has also shared details about several Indians who had accounts in Swiss banks, while several such information requests are still pending.

Describing the talks as constructive, the two parties said their "joint declaration underlines the good cooperation between Switzerland and India in tax matters and which reiterates the willingness of the two countries to combat tax evasion and fraud".

The two sides shared the view that coordinated global actions, as in the case of tax base erosion and profit shifting, are central to achieving a sustainable development path, especially for developing countries.

They also agreed to work closely together under the new Inclusive Framework of base erosion and profit shifting to ensure a smooth implementation of the minimum standard.

Adhia and Watteville shared their expectation that the results achieved in the BEPS Project should prevent the proliferation of uncoordinated unilateral defensive measures.

In the context of transfer pricing and the resolution of cases of possible double taxation, they agreed that efficient and swift procedures are essential to foster cross-border economic exchanges, the statement said.

"Both representatives stressed the importance of reaching a worldwide level playing field as regards fair corporate taxation and concurred that all relevant and interested jurisdictions should commit to the new minimum standards and participate in the framework," it added.
Chennai: Chief Minister, J. Jayalalithaa has urged Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to expedite clearance for Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) phase II and phase I extension by taking up the matter with finance and urban planning departments.

The Phase I Extension from Washermanpet to Tiruvottriyur, a further 9.51 km at a cost of `3,770 crore, has been recently approved by the Centre. There is a need to substantially expand Metro Rail network in Chennai to improve public transportation.

The Chief Minister also requested the Prime Minister to support the integration of CMRL with Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), a project implemented by railways, as the state government has substantially funded MRTS.

According to her, such an integration would enable effective synergies between various modes of public transport and increase share of public transport. She also brought to Modis notice that CMRL has taken railway lands on long lease basis for Metro Rail Project on payment of 99 per cent of market value for 35 years extendable by 35 years. In spite of payment of 99% of land value, railways have retained the surface rights, which, she said, was unfair.

She urged him to take a policy decision in the matter. If railways need the surface rights, then they should charge only nominal/token lease rent for the land. Alternatively, full rights including surface rights should be given to CMRL by transferring the land valued at full market value as Central Governments equity contribution to the project.
The girl and Sheikh Sharukh, who hailed from Belda and was a tenant at her Surat house, had developed an affair. (Photo: Representational Image)

Midnapore: A teenaged girl on Tuesday left for Surat after a local court allowed the Gujarat police to take her back as she was short of attaining the age of 18 by a few days at the time of fleeing here.

The girl had arrived at Belda in West Midnapore district to join her lover on June 6 last when she was short of attaining 18 years by a few days.

The girl and Sheikh Sharukh, who hailed from Belda and was a tenant at her Surat house, had developed an affair. But when it became public, Sheikh Sharukh who worked as a plumber was thrown out of work and evicted from their house two years ago.

They kept in touch with each other and the girl boarded a train from Surat on June 6 last to join Sheikh Sharukh at Belda. Her parents filed a complaint with the police on grounds that she was a minor following which a Gujarat police team came to Belda and sought her remand.

The CJM had given a four-day remand but when her attention was drawn to the fact a lady constable was not accompanying the Gujarat team, she directed them to come back with a woman member. The girl was remanded to Vidyasagar Balika Bhavan here till then.

The Gujarat police team returned to Belda with a lady constable and sought her remand again. Meanwhile, the girl attained 18-yr and pleaded that she was no more a minor and had come here on her own.

CJM Manjushree Mandal said in her order on Monday that since she was a minor at the time the case was filed, the 4-day remand has to be executed.

Upon reaching her hometown, she can give a deposition to the magistrate that she has become an adult and it was a matter of her personal choice following which the law will take its own course, the court said.
New Delhi: Amidst concerns over wild poliovirus (P2 strain) being found in a Hyderabad drain, the Union Health Ministry today said it was a vaccine derived virus and does not change the polio-free status of India.

However, as a precautionary measure, the ministry will hold a special immunization drive in the high-risk areas of Telangana.

"India continues to be polio free as the country has eradicated wild polio virus and the last case was seen on January 13, 2011 and it is more than 5 years that no wild polio virus has been detected," it said in a statement.

The Health Ministry said the detected polio virus strain, which was was found in a sewage sample collected near the Secunderabad railway station, is vaccine derived polio virus (VDPV).

VDPV are rare strain of the polio viruses that have genetically mutated from the strain contained in the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).

The OPV contains live virus particles that get excreted by babies who are given the vaccine and gets into the sewage.

While the OPV protects children, these excreted virus particles can at times regain neurovirulence (the tendency or capacity of a microorganism to cause disease of the nervous system) including through contaminated drinking water, and can cause paralysis if consumed by humans.

"No children have been found to be affected by the detected VDPV isolate in the nearby areas. Last case of Wild Polio Virus Type 2 in country was reported 17 years back in 1999," the Ministry said.

The special campaign will be held from June 20 covering high-risk areas of Hyderabad and Rangareddy districts of Telangana, where an estimated 300,000 children will be protected against polio using Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV).

Under the special campaign, children between the age group of six weeks and three years will be given an additional dose of the injectable polio vaccine (IPV). Vaccination booths will be set up in the areas being covered in these campaigns.

"The special immunisation campaign will ensure all vulnerable children living in high-risk areas are given protection against polio," it said.

It said that a rapid surveillance review of the area revealed that the population immunity against polio type 2 is high as trivalent oral polio vaccine (tOPV) was in use in the state until 24 April and two mass vaccination campaigns were conducted in January and February.

"As per recent sample survey in the area, 94 per cent children were found to have received at least 3 doses of OPV.

Therefore, chances of its transmission in concerned area are unlikely," the ministry said.

"Parents of children living in these areas will be encouraged to ensure that their children get the IPV dose from the nearest vaccination booth which will provide additional protection against all types of polio," it said.

The last case due to wild poliovirus in India was detected on 13 January 2011 and the country was certified polio-free by WHO in March 2014.

"The polio-free certification pertains to the absence of wild poliovirus and thus country remains polio-free," the ministry said.

It said the detection shows the robustness of the surveillance system and the willingness to detect any kind of polio virus even from the environment (sewage).

"All cases of paralysis with sudden onset in children up to 15 years (which is called Acute Flaccid Paralysis or AFP) are picked up by the polio surveillance network. Each of these cases is followed up and their stool samples tested for poliovirus in WHO accredited laboratories. In addition, sewage samples are collected from over 30 sites spread across the country for poliovirus detection at regular intervals," it said between Jan 2015 and May 2016, a total of 14 sewage samples collected from different parts of the country tested positive for VDPVs.

"All of these have been responded to urgently and appropriately with polio vaccination campaigns. None of these VDPVs detected in the sewage infected any children, so far," it said.

The response by the health authorities to the VDPV in Hyderabad is in accordance with World Health Organization protocols to mitigate any risk of spread of the virus.

The Ministry said that strong measures have been put in place in India to mitigate the risk of an importation and spread of the virus from countries with continued circulation of polio virus.

Intensive efforts are also being undertaken in India to improve routine immunization coverage that involves administering polio vaccines, in addition to other vaccines, to infants under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), it said.
Even though India has scrapped the earlier multi-billion contract for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme and decided to go in for only 36 Rafales, the government will select at least one more aircraft besides Tejas to be built in India. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Swedish defence major Saab is keen to partner with India for the next version of LCA Tejas even as it has offered its own newly-launched Gripen E fighter aircraft under 'Make in India' initiative, but with over 49 per cent stake in a joint venture with a private firm.

Based on a Request for Information released by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the makers of Tejas, Saab is in talks with them to finalise the latest avionics and radar system for the Tejas 1A, the version of the indigenous plane that the IAF is interested in.

"Yes, we are in talks with HAL. We have the latest avionics, best active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and technology in the Gripen which we would be happy to share with HAL for the Tejas programme," Jan Widerstrom, Chairman Saab India, said.

He argued that it will be a win-win situation if the Indian Air Force (IAF) decides to get Gripen also. "From a user perspective, maintenance, knowledge build up and Make in India, this will have lot of advantages," he said. Asked if the offer to help the Tejas programme was conditional to IAF selecting Gripen, he said both are independent programmes.

He also made it clear that Saab is looking at more than the automatic limit of 49 per cent FDI in defence in the joint venture that will make Gripen in India. Under the rules, a company can seek even 100 per cent FDI if it brings in high-technology under the 'Make in India' initiative.

Even though India has scrapped the earlier multi-billion contract for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) programme and decided to go in for only 36 Rafales, the government will select at least one more aircraft besides Tejas to be built in India.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that India will decide between American F-18, French Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and Gripen by the end of this fiscal. Incidentally, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha visited the Saab facility in Sweden last week and even flew the Gripen.

"Our concept of technology transfer is real as we are willing to give India comprehensive systems and software control. In short, Saab is not only looking at setting up a base here but also helping in the development of aerospace capability for many more years to come," Widerstrom said.

He added that Saab will not simply move an assembly line but will build development capability. "We will design, develop, produce and maintain in India," he said.
Kolkata: The family members of Judith D'Souza, who was abducted from Taimani area of Kabul last week, on Wednesday said they were satisfied with the efforts by both Indian and Afghanistan governments to secure her release.

"On a regular basis we have conversation with MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) officials thrice a day. They are very cooperative. They share with us some information which is only for the consumption of my parents and family. We can't share that. But all I can say is, we are happy with the efforts made by the Indian and Afghanistan government to bring my sister back," Judith's brother Jerome told PTI.

40-year-old Judith, working for Aga Khan Foundation as senior technical adviser, was kidnapped by suspected militants from outside her office in the heart of Kabul on June 9 and was scheduled to return home this week.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had earlier called up Judith's family here and assured them of making all-out effort to bring her back.

Judith's family had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urging him to do his "utmost" in securing her release from the abductors in Afghanistan.
New Delhi: Citing precedents, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday strongly defended the appointment of 21 parliamentary secretaries, wondering how similar posts under Congress and BJP rule were not considered "unconstitutional" and targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

The Chief Minister dug out appointments of parliamentary secretaries by Congress and BJP governments in the national capital in the past and said many of them including Ajay Maken, who had held the post, even had his own staff and access to important official files.

"I want to request Modiji with folded hands not to trouble the people of Delhi. Your fight is with me. Beat me or take as much revenge as you want against me. But do not try to stop good work in Delhi which is being praised world-wide including by the UN," Kejriwal told a press conference.

In 1953, he said, Delhi had three parliamentary secretaries -- HKL Bhagat, Kumari Shanta Vasisth and Shiv Charan Dasgupta while governments headed by BJP's Sahib Singh Verma and Congress' Sheila Dikshit appointed a number of MLAs to the posts.

"Then it was constitutional and when we do it, it turns out to be unconstitutional. What is this, if not double standards?" Kejriwal asked and went on to assert that the 21 Parliamentary Secretaries are "eyes, ears and hands" of the AAP government who have been tasked with important duties.

"They are highly qualified people in different fields, starting from MBA to engineering and not illiterates like in other parties. Mohalla Clinics are product of their hard work so is the mapping of schools," said Kejriwal.

Reacting to Kejriwal's assertion, Dikshit wondered whether the Delhi CM was implying that the President is "also hostile" to him.

Maken, in his reaction, said appointing 21 MLAs to the posts was unprecedented and Kejriwal cannot hide behind a few appointments in the past.

The fate of 21 AAP MLAs, appointed as Parliamentary Secretaries, hangs in balance after President Pranab Mukherjee refused to give his assent to a bill passed by the Delhi Assembly last year seeking amendment to the existing law to insulate the legislators from the purview of the office of profit law.

The Election Commission is currently examining petitions seeking disqualification of the legislators. The Commission had sought replies from the MLAs in question. In their defence, some of the MLAs are known to have conveyed to the EC that they were acting like interns in assisting the ministers in various works of the government.

When asked to respond, AAP's Delhi convenor Dilip Pandey said their submissions have taken into account the moral, ethical and legal aspects and there should not be any room for doubt that they were acting as Parliamentary Secretaries.

Fresh elections will have to be held if the 21 MLAs are disqualified on the ground of holding office of profit. The AAP has 67 MLAs in the 70-member assembly. The remaining three are BJP legislators.

Meanwhile, the Congress stepped up its demand for disqualification of the 21 AAP MLAs and said not receiving salary alone did not shield them against provisions of 'office of profit' law.

"AAP has cried hoarse saying that these 21 MLAs/Parliamentary secretaries received no salaries. As they clamber to save themselves, it appears AAP have not bothered to read Supreme Courts judgements which have clearly stated that office of profit is not deemed by salary alone," the party said in a commentary.

In the commentary posted on its website, the AICC insisted that the office of profit is determined by perks too. "It is determined by perks, which undoubtedly these 21 MLAs were enjoying under Kejriwals Government and at the cost of the Delhi tax-payer," it said in the commentary titled "Kejriwal has the 'Office', AAP MLAs enjoy the 'Profits'".

The party said that after winning 67 seats in the Delhi Assembly, Kejriwal had to accommodate many party colleagues in "positions of power".

Delhi BJP leader Vijender Gupta said the 21 MLAs must quit. The AAP termed as "purely political" the refusal of assent to the bill by the President, saying it was part of BJP's ploy to trouble the Delhi government as Modi was "scared" of Kejriwal.

The party told a news conference that the President's decision, "based on the Centre's recommendation", was not on technical grounds "as being projected" as BJP and Congress too had appointed their lawmakers as parliamentary secretaries in Delhi and other states.

The Delhi government released an order dated May 7, 1997 through which the then BJP government under Sahib Singh had appointed Nand Kishore Garg as parliamentary secretary, AAP said and accused the ruling party at the Centre of "doublespeak".

Kejriwal tweeted, "Modi is only scared of AAP. He sees AAP everywhere - in the morning, evening, during daytime and in night."

Pandey claimed that earlier Supreme Court orders "make it clear" that a post will be considered office of profit only if monetary gains are involved and that AAP's parliamentary secretaries never drew salaries or allowances.
Patna: The Patna Civil court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against former Bihar State Education Board (BSEB) Chairman Lalkeshwar Singh for his involvement in forging intermediary mark sheets.

An arrest warrant was also issued against his wife and former JD (U) MLA Usha Sinha.

Singh had gone into hiding after his resignation last week while his wife and former JD (U) MLA Usha Sinha is untraceable after her role in toppers scam was established during an investigation.

Sinha was the principal of Ganga Devi College and was removed from the post on Tuesday by the authorities.

Earlier the mastermind behind toppers scam Bacha Rai was taken into custody by the SIT after he had surrendered on Saturday.

Meanwhile in order to expose the nexus between Lalkeshwar Singh and the education mafia, the board on Wednesday suspended several of its employees.

Police claimed that the action was taken after SIT found evidences against Singh and several employees.

According to Patna SSP Manu Maharaj, Efforts are on to nab the absconding former BSEB chairman.

The investigative team has also found out that Singh had the knowledge that answer sheets were being tampered, he added.

The thriving education mafia in Bihar was exposed after video of two toppers Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shrestha showed them struggling to answer some very basic questions on their subject of study, putting the entire education system in dock.

Interestingly both the students who had topped the state belonged to Bacha Rais Vishun Rai College in Vaishali district.

Though Bacha Rai is not an isolated case, it has been established that he was using political connections and power on BSEB to get his work done, educationist and former Patna college principal Prof Nawal Kishore Chaudhary said.

Last year the state education system was globally criticized after an image of a government school in Vaishali district showed people scaling up windows shades and walls to hand over answer chits to students appearing for board exams while police on duty helped them.
Amaravati: In exactly 12 days from today, Andhra Pradesh government's offices are supposed to relocate from Hyderabad to the state's transitional headquarters at Velagapudi in the capital region but not a single block of the new buildings under construction here is ready.

But Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu exuded confidence that everything would be in place by June 27 to move "at least some offices" to the transitional headquarters.

"On the 22nd we will notify the Secretariat departments that need to shift here in the first round," the Chief Minister said after inspecting the construction activity here this afternoon.

Already, offices of some heads of departments started moving to the capital region in Guntur and Vijayawada, he pointed out.

Two days ago, the government had issued guidelines for the relocation of government staff from Hyderabad to Amaravati but did not specify the secretariat departments that would shift.

In the meantime, the two construction majors  Shapoorji Pallonji and L&T -- informed state Chief Secretary Satya Prakash Tucker that construction of the six blocks (of one lakh sqft each) would be completed only by August. The original deadline set for them ended today.

Following this, the Chief Secretary announced that shifting of secretariat departments would be possible only by August.

When asked about this, the Chief Minister remained evasive and only said they would announce on June 22 the departments that would shift in the first round on June 27. "When you are constructing a house, everything will not be ready at a time," Chandrababu remarked.

When pointed out that there is no proper road to reach the transitional headquarters, he said foundation for a new road would be laid on June 20. "We will first create one approach and later develop other roads according to the master plan," the CM added.
Union Minister Arun Jaitley briefing the media with West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, and the Revenue Secretary, Hasmukh Adhia on the meeting of the Empowered Committee on GST, in Kolkata. (Photo: PTI)

Hyderabad: The two Telugu states are wary of the impact on their revenues on account of the Centres plans to implement the Goods and Service Tax (GST), from the next financial year (2017-18).

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said that the Centre would go ahead with the implementation of GST since all states, barring Tamil Nadu, have reached consensus on the issue.

Though both TS and AP have agreed to be part of the GST regime, they wanted a Constitutional guarantee and a clear-cut roadmap on the mode of payment towards compensation for the revenue loss they will incur on account of GST.

The apprehension of the two states has a basis: When Central Sales Tax (CST) was introduced in 2002, the Centre had promised to compensate states for the revenue loss they would incur on account of the new tax regime. However, successive governments at the Centre failed to keep the promise. The Centre still owes over Rs 600 crore in CST arrears to TS. The two Telugu states want the Centre to clear the CST arrears first before implementing GST.

TS Finance minister Etela Rajender said, The Centre should first take measures to build confidence among the states that it would take care of the states in case they incur revenue losses on account of GST. There are apprehensions among all the states on this issue. This is because, when CST was introduced earlier, the Centre had promised to compensate states for revenue loss. But that was not done. When Telangana state was formed, the Centre owed over `4,000 crore CST arrears. After repeated reminders, the Centre released the arrears but it still owes over Rs 600 crore.

Finance ministers of all the states met in Kolkata on Wednesday to discuss the implications of GST. AP government also expressed similar views in the meeting, which projected fears that it would lose revenue of nearly `1,000 crore per month, if GST is implemented.
In the last two days, the task force committee, headed by joint collector-2, seized about 60 schools as of Tuesday. (Representational image)

Visakhapatnam: The district task force committee cracking a whip on unrecognised schools across the district has the parents of the students, caught in a quandary. In the last two days, the task force committee, headed by joint collector-2, seized about 60 schools as of Tuesday, including some in Gajuwaka, Pedagantyada, Sriharipuram, RH Colony, Kancharapalem, HB Colony, Relli Veedhi, etc., and sent the students home.

Even after admitting their wards in a (unrecognised) private school paying hefty fee and purchasing all stationery and uniform, the parents are now left with no option other than transferring their kids to another private school or a government school. But it would cost them a fortune if they opt for another private school as it triggers another cycle of big expenditure. The district education officials identified 142 unrecognised schools in the run up to the new academic year and put the details of those schools on their website. But unknowingly, some parents were caught in the trap of these schools.

District Educational Officer, M.V. Krishna Reddy, advised the parents not to ruin the future of kids by admitting them in unrecognised schools. The newly introduced CCE system does not allow the students to write exams privately under Without School Category. The kids in unrecognised schools should move to another recognised private school or a nearby government school, he added. Dukka Sankar, a parent, commented that he was left in the dark as there was no clear information regarding refund of school fee. I may have to spend another `10,000 to admit my kid in another school, he added.

HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao informed that they will direct the unrecognised school managements to refund the school fee and others. Not obtaining recognition is purely a mistake on the part of the schools. So now it is their responsibility to refund the school fee, he added. When this correspondent spoke to representatives of various seized schools, some informed that they requested the parents to wait for some more days before they get recognition and some are in talks with other schools to shift the students. AP Private Schools Association State President, K.S.N. Murty, commented that while rules prescribed by the government should be followed, steps must be taken to regularise these schools instead of closing them as they played a crucial role in increasing the literacy rate of the state.

Infographics:

Thousands of parents are left with no idea regarding the refund of school fee and opting for another school.

The district education officials identified 142 unrecognised schools in the district, apart from tutorial centres.

Last year, the officials seized about 106 schools.

The newly introduced CCE system does not allow the students to write exams privately under Without School Category, leaving no option for unrecognised schools.
Lucknow: With elections knocking at the doors, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is preparing to go in for another cabinet reshuffle  one that will help solve caste equations in the upcoming assembly elections.

The chief minister met UP Governor Ram Naik in this regard on Tuesday and the cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place in the coming days. If sources are to be believed, former RLD MP Jayant Chaudhary is expected to be made a cabinet minister in order to seal an alliance between the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal. Mr Jayant Chaudhary, at present, is not a member of the state legislature and can remain minister for a period of six months.

The two parties have been in touch with each other for the past one month but RLD President Chaudhary Ajit Singh refused to accept the SP condition for a merger of his party into the SP.

However, RLD MLAs voted for SP candidates in the recent Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Parishad elections. The Samajwadi Party now feels that if not a merger, it should at least cement its friendship with the RLD.
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hinted at a few ministers being dropped in a Cabinet reshuffle at a meeting of the Council of Ministers here on Wednesday.

Sources said Mr Siddaramaiah will leave for Delhi on Thursday at 2 pm and is likely to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi at 11 am on Friday to discuss the reshuffle.

While complimenting the ministers for doing good work during the last three years, he reportedly indicated that some of them would have to be content with doing party work in future.

You have done good work in your departments. But as the next election is just two years away, there will be a minor reshuffle. Some of you will be involved in the party organisation, Mr Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying.

He however, did not elaborate how big or small the shake-up would be, leaving everyone guessing about who could be inducted or dropped.

Reshuffle now or by July end? Uncertainty persists

Three years into his government and less than two years before the next Assembly elections, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has clearly made up his mind about reshuffing his Cabinet, but will he be able to pull it off any time soon?

While he is said to have the backing of AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh, many believe it may not be possible to carry out the reshuffle till the end of July owing to the schedule of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who is expected to return from Shimla on Wednesday and then fly out of India for three weeks on Friday.

I am not sure if Mr Singh has taken her permission for the reshuffle and even if he has, he has to consult her by Wednesday evening and then Mr Siddaramaiah has to both get an appointment with her and her approval on Thursday. Otherwise, it could be postponed for three weeks. By the time she returns, the state legislature could begin its monsoon session, which means the reshuffle may take place only by the end of July,'' said a senior Congress leader .

Some leaders, meanwhile, remain sceptical about a Cabinet reshuffle taking place. KPCC president, Dr G Parameshwar claims he is not aware of any such move. Another senior minister also says he is not sure a Cabinet reshuffle will take place. I know that Mr Digvijay Singh has approved it, but it has to be discussed at various levels. Apart from the AICC general secretary, senior leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Oscar Fernandes and Veerappa Moily will also have be consulted,'' he said.

But going by sources the high is planning an overhaul of the party organisation, including appointing a new KPCC chief, by the end of July. IT and BT minister, S R Patil and energy minister, D.K. Shivakumar, are favourites for the coveted post.
Hyderabad: IT minister K.T. Rama Rao told the press here on Wednesday that the states startup incubator, T-Hub, had become a hot topic worldwide. He also disclosed officially that Telangana state was establishing an outpost for the T-Hub at Silicon Valley, California, the global hub of innovation and home to tech giants.

He said T-Hub was providing the best outputs alongside innovative ideas. Impressed by this programme, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has given assurance to work with TS on some projects. Our startups are enjoying international exposure. Big companies like Cisco, Google, Microsoft, Amazon and others have tied up with startups at T-Hub and are funding innovations there, he said.

He said that TASK (Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge) was a successful programme taken up by the government. We are now expanding the programme to rural areas. We have signed an MoU with Singapore for developing TASK further and it will be multi-faceted in some aspects, he said.

Mr. Rao added that three IT parks would be established at Budvel near Rajendranagar, Miyapur and on the outskirts near Shamshabad airport under PPP mode.

What KTR said:

Transparent development of IT sector

Growth in state over 1 per cent of national average

Rs 66, 276 crore exports in FY 2014-15

In FY 2015-16, exports worth `75,070 recorded

IT-policy announced by the government got a global reorganisation

Training given to 45,000 students through TASK

T-Hub, a startup incubators center became role model to the rest of India
New Delhi: The Centre has withdrawn the paramilitary security cover to Amar Singh, newly-elected Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh, while asking the state government for a fresh threat assessment.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Home Ministry after which armed commandos of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) deployed with Mr Singh for long, were withdrawn earlier this week, official sources said.

The sources said the decision was taken based on a threat analysis report prepared by central security agencies.

The Uttar Pradesh government had been asked to make a fresh threat assessment of Singh and provide state security, if need be.

Singh was recently elected as a Rajya Sabha member from Samajwadi Party.

The CISF was entrusted with Mr Singh's security after changing his protection category a few times. He was last enjoying the 'X' category central security cover which has about 10 armed commandos, out of which two accompany the protectee round-the-clock.

CISF has an exclusive unit called Special Security Group to provide VIP and VVIP cover to eminent personalities.
Ahmedabad: Three of the 17 lions, captured last month for killing three people near Gir sanctuary, have been identified as 'man-eaters' and will be kept at a zoo or Gujarat forest department's rescue centre, an official said on Wednesday.

After analysing their pug marks and faeces during a 25-day captivity, one adult male and two sub-adult female lions were found to have turned man-eaters and 'guilty' of killing locals, as human remains were found from the excreta of these three lions, Chief Conservator of Forest for Junagadh division, A P Singh, said.

"Out of the 17 lions captured by us last month, one was a male adult, and it turned out to be the main culprit. We found considerable amount of human remains in that lion's faeces, while very small amount was found from the faeces of two sub-adult females," he said.

"It brought us to the conclusion that the male lion attacked, killed and ate humans while two other sub-adults only ate some leftover body parts. These sub-adults were not involved in attacking and killing humans, as they only ate the leftover parts," said Singh.

"Now, the male lion will be kept for its entire life in a cage at Sakkarbaug zoo on the outskirts of Junagadh city, while the two lionesses will be kept locked in any of forest department's rescue centre for their lives," he said.

"All the three lions have to spend their lives in captivity now. The other 14 lions of the pride, including several cubs, will be released in the (Gir) sanctuary. As a precaution, they will be released in deeper pockets of the sanctuary, far away from where they were captured," he said.

The pride of 17 lions was caged last month outside Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Dhari taluka of Amreli district, on the border of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.

A major portion of the Gir sanctuary falls in the adjoining Junagadh district. Dhari taluka lies on the border of the sanctuary.

The forest department had started the drive to cage the lions after three persons - a 14-year-old boy, a woman aged around 50 and a 61-year-old man - were mauled to death by the felines in the same region in April and May.

Prior to these incidents, the man-lion conflict was rare in and around Gir, the only abode of Asiatic lions where there are around 523 lions, as per the last census.

These incidents sparked anger among the locals, who along with some political leaders, including former Amreli MLA Dilip Sanghani, demanded action against man-eater lions.
Hyderabad: The responsibility to maintain the country's largest flag will be handed over to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority. The yearly cost to maintain the flag is likely to be around Rs 50 lakh.

Though the Roads and Buildings department was responsible for erecting the flag, as it is located in Sanjeevaiah Park, which is under the control of the Buddha Purnima project authority i.e. HMDA, the state government has asked HMDA to take over its maintenance.

Roads and Buildings executive engineer Mr S. Ashok said they were in the process of handing over the maintenance of the flag-post to HMDA authorities. The formalities would be completed in a day or two.

HMDA officials said the annual expenditure to maintain the flag post would be about Rs 50 lakh, including the cost of making spare flags. HMDA officials said three home guards would be on duty on eight-hour shifts each in the flag area. The Rs 50 lakh would also include their salaries, lawn maintenance, flag repairs, high mast lights, electricity bills, generators and fuel etc.
Hyderabad: Nalgonda Congress MP Gutta Sukender Reddy, Miryalguda Congress MLA N Bhaskar Rao and lone CPI Devarkonda (ST) MLA Ravindra Kumar Ramavath on Wednesday joined the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) party here.

Former Congress Peddapally MP G Vivekanand, his brother and former Congress minister G Vinod (both sons of G Venkataswamy) also joined the party along with his followers in the presence of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at the party's headquarters here.

"These leaders are joining the party as they are very much impressed with the developmental work that the government has undertaken. This should not be seen in political light. Besides, Congress and TDP do not have moral right to raise the issue of defections.

"Congress, when YS Rajasekhar Reddy was the Chief Minister poached some of our (TRS) MLAs. These leaders who talk about moral did not raise their voice then," Rao said after formally inviting the leaders into the party by honouring them with a 'pink scarf'.

The Chief Minister also alleged that Congress and TDP had conspired to bring President's rule in the state soon after the election despite the fact that TRS party emerged as a clear winner in the polls.

Sukhender Reddy had earlier said he took the decision of joining TRS to extend full cooperation to the party and the government in the interest of irrigation projects and the development of his district, Nalgonda.

Congress won only two Lok Sabha seats in the state in the 2014 elections. The other Congress MP is Nandi Yellaiah from Nagarkurnool constituency.

Vivek had joined the TRS ahead of the formation of separate Telangana but went back to Congress after the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Bill was passed in Parliament in 2014. He contested the Lok Sabha elections on a Congress ticket, but lost.
New Delhi: With a controversy surrounding his three-day-old appointment, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Wednesday night quit as party in-charge of poll-bound Punjab in view of a canard regarding the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

He wrote a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi who immediately accepted his resignation and relieved him of his charge as party General Secretary.

Nath, who was appointed as the General Secretary in-charge of Punjab as well as Haryana only three days back, said in his letter to Gandhi, I request that I may be relieved of my charge (of Punjab) to ensure that the attention is not diverted from the real issues facing Punjab.

The former Union Minister said he was hurt by the developments of the past few days wherein an unnecessary controversy has been created around the tragic 1984 riots in New Delhi.

His step came as Akali Dal, BJP and AAP had kept up attack on him and the Congress over his alleged role in the anti-Sikh riots which followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi.

Describing his appointment as sprinkling of salt on wounds of Sikhs, the three parties were set to rake up the issue in the run up to the Assembly polls slated next year.

Kamal Nath insisted that there was not even any public statement, complaint or FIR against him till 2005 in the riots case and that he had been absolved by the Nanavati panel set up by the previous NDA government.
Hyderabad: TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao created a flutter on Wednesday, saying that the MIM helped him to become the Chief Minister after his party won the 2014 Assembly elections while the Congress, TD and others hatched a conspiracy to prevent him from taking oath. This was despite the TRS winning 63 seats and losing 14 seats by just 500 to 1,000 votes, Mr Rao said.

Asserting that the TRS will win the 2019 elections, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday defended the entry of leaders from other parties into the TRS, saying they were joining the ruling party impressed by the rapid strides all sectors were making besides ensuring political and economic stability in the state.

I want to tell you something which I never told you before. Do you remember before I took oath as CM, Chandrababu Naidu said AP, Telangana will rejoin like the breaking of Berlin wall? Bhatti Vikramarka, T-Congress working president, said this government will fall. I was CM designate and police officials informed me about this, he said.

Mr Rao said that MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi telephoned and subsequently met him and revealed the conspiracy. TD and Congress wanted to prevent me from taking oath as CM at any cost and impose Presidents rule. But MIM stood by me, he said.

The CM was speaking at a function at the Telangana Bhavan after welcoming Nalgonda Congress MP Gutta Sukhender Reddy, Miryalguda Congress MLA N. Bhaskar Rao, CPI Deverkonda (ST) MLA Ravindra Kumar Ramavath, former Congress Peddapalli MP G. Vivekanand, former minister G. Vinod and Congress leader Juvvada Narsing Rao from Korutla into the TRS.

He hit out at CLP leader K. Jana Reddy asking why he remained silent when a conspiracy was hatched against him and when Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy took away 10 out of 16 TRS legislators including Vijayashanti and Arvinda Reddy.

Referring to Mr Jana Reddys comments that he was destroying the state and indulging in unethical practices, Mr Rao asked whether what the Congress leader and his team had done in the past was ethical.

If they do it, it is justified, if we do it, its injustice. Naidu opposes TS irrigation projects but Congress has an electoral tie-up with it in Khammam and Achampet. Was that justified? I am not scared of threats or comments that I have purchased them. We should not fall prey to Samaikhya protagonists, he said.

Mr Rao said he faced insults, abuses and conspiracies all through Telangana movement from 2001 to 2014. I escaped from jaws of death. Telangana suffered for 100 years. TRS, Congress, TD, BJP etc. formed TJAC. Except TRS MLAs and one BJP MLA, no MLA quit for Telangana. he said.
Last weekend, the world woke up to yet another mass shooting. This time, it was a gay night club in Orlando, Florida, that took the hit. The massacre left around 50 people dead and 53 more injured. Omar Mateen, 29, a US citizen, who used an AR-15-style rifle and a handgun, was killed on the scene. The entire world is once again asking one question. Why?

In the viciously polarised times we live in, how one frames the Orlando shooting depends on the questions one asks as well as the questions one leaves out. Was it anti-gay bigotry or radical Islam? Or was it that American bugbear: gun violence. Thousands of miles away in India, what lessons can we draw from Americas deadliest mass shooting? Preliminary investigations revealed some facts. US President Barack Obama said the shooter was possibly inspired by extremist exhortations available online. FBI director James Comey said Mateen was on a watchlist over an inquiry, but hed been taken off it after the inquiry was closed in 2014. In propaganda statements, the Islamic State hailed Mateen as a soldier of the Caliphate. The killer reportedly declared allegiance to ISIS in a last-minute call to emergency number 911. There is no evidence yet that he was in fact directed by ISIS or that it was part of a larger plot. But Orlando, unsurprisingly, is now part of Americas electoral joust, with both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton weighing in. While Ms Clinton said it involved terrorism, homophobia, and easy access to guns, Mr Trump zoned in with his signature Islamophobia. Justifying his earlier threat to ban all Muslims from the US if he became President, Mr Trump attacked Ms Clinton, insinuating while he was a friend of gays and other sexual minorities, Ms Clinton would bring in more people who threatened their freedoms and beliefs.

In all likelihood, all pieces of the Mateen story played some role or other in precipitating the bloodbath. But dont expect polarisers to admit that, especially in poll season. Radical Islam poses a huge danger. No doubt about that. Nor do Indians need reminding of the horrors of terror attacks. Investigations will eventually reveal if Mateen was indeed self-radicalised and what led the Afghan-born American to be swayed by extremist ideology. It will also reveal if he was drawn into a bigger external plot. But acknowledging the dangers Islamic extremism poses doesnt mean being blind to the other factors. There is no point pretending, as some are doing, that US gun laws didnt play a huge role in the massacre. Irrespective of what the US National Rifle Association or its supporters say, it seems amazing to someone living outside America that it is perfectly legal for someone under FBI scrutiny to buy an assault rifle.

Last, but not least, the attack shows acute homophobia. Was Mateen a homophobe because he became a radical Islamist? Many argue Islamic extremism and homophobia go hand in hand, that Mateen was a fundamentalist Muslim first, and everything else followed. Some have even suggested that he was a closet gay. Islamic extremists have killed gay activists in Bangladesh. But neither homophobia nor mass shootings are the result of Islamic extremism every time. How does one explain all other horrific mass murders? Like the burning of the UpStairs Lounge, a New Orleans gay bar, in 1973. An arsonist set fire to the bar, killing 32 people in less than 20 minutes. Or the 100,000 hate crimes reported to the FBI between 1991 and 2007 where sexual orientation ranks as the third-biggest factor in triggering violent prejudice, according to the website Salon. It is fair to ask how many Muslims were involved in those crimes.

Gays have a terrible time in Islamic nations, as elsewhere, but Americas homophobia didnt begin with ISIS emergence. What does all this have to do with India? Lots. The common denominator in all hate crimes is bigotry, which translates into extreme intolerance of everyone and everything which clashes with a bigots imagined ideal society. It is true all bigots dont pick up a gun and start shooting. But its also true that no one really knows when a bigot will turn violent. Past instances tell us that bigots who cannot deal with clashing views are attracted to and are susceptible to extremist ideologies.

There is serious bigotry of all kinds in this country. With India still criminalising gay love, sexual minorities are not only harassed, they have been attacked and killed many times. Thankfully, we havent seen the kind of mass shootings of gays like elsewhere. But everyday violence and the discrimination they experience shows the bigotry within. Pehchan, an initiative of India HIV/AIDS Alliance, an NGO which works with sexual minorities, has collated statistics of attacks on them. There were over 3,300 acts of violence against sexual minorities between 2010 and 2015 in 18 states. Perpetrators included family members, local thugs, partners, the police and healthcare providers. Many of these dont get reported to the police for obvious reasons. Things have only worsened after the Supreme Court set aside the Delhi high court verdict decriminalising gay sex. Homophobia is not the only form of bigotry that can lead to attacks and even murder in this country. Killing in the name of cow protection is another.

Think Dadri. Even today the website of one Gau Raksha Dal spells out its objective  protection of all cows  can only be achieved by killing all killers of cows. Then theres the bigotry of racism. Africans and people from Indias Northeast have been attacked, sometimes killed. Bigotry must be nipped in the bud, before it takes a violent avatar. The antidote is education, in the widest sense of that word, which teaches tolerance.

Till we widen our mental horizons through truly liberal education, we always run the risk  including in India  that somebody will kill in the name of faith, another egged on by homophobia, and yet another simply because he/she never learnt how to cope with people whose worldviews differ. All it takes is a fanatic and a weapon of destruction.
Twenty-one AAP MLAs in Delhi could lose their Assembly seats if the Election Commission decides against them. Last year they were appointed parliament secretary by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. This position is deemed an office of profit as it is thought to bring pecuniary gains. These expressions need greater clarity though, and the EC might do well to reflect on this aspect of the matter as the CM has maintained that the parliamentary secretaries have received no pay or perks from the government, not even individual cars.

Although there have been parliamentary secretaries in the past at the Centre, in more recent times a constitutional provision has brought that designation in the category of office of profit, which a legislator is prohibited from holding as an MP or MLA is not supposed to earn material gains from the executive.

Traditionally, however, a parliamentary secretary has been seen as a sub-junior minister, or more accurately as a position which permits a young politician to be groomed as a future minister. Possibly in Indian conditions, given the aya Ram, gaya Ram political culture that developed here, the fear arose that leaders of government might be tempted to distribute positions as a political necessity in order to retain their flock, and a constitutional provision was created discouraging the creation of parliamentary secretaries.

To ring-fence the MLAs in question from any penal action, the Kejriwal government had taken the precaution of passing a bill in the state legislature that would exclude the position of parliamentary secretary from being considered an office of profit, but President Mukherjee did not okay it.

It is this which has set off speculation about the MLAs imminent disqualification and a mid-term mini-election in Delhi as the affected MLAs constitute nearly a third of AAPs legislature strength of 67 in a House of 70. BJP and Congress cant believe their luck as it gives them a try at improving their score in Delhi. Whichever way it might turn, all concerned need to ponder that many states still have parliamentary secretaries, and this includes BJP-run states. It is imperative that all states follow the same practice. In the last decade, the Himachal Pradesh, Calcutta and Bombay (Goa Bench) high courts have ruled against parliamentary secretaries. One of these rulings was challenged in the Supreme Court in 2005. The SC has not spoken yet. Its interpretation would be the law on the subject. Until then, the Election Commission should hold off. The Supreme Court must not display any further lassitude.
President Pranab Mukherjee shakes hands Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara after being honoured with the National Order of the Republic of Ivory Coast. (Photo: AP)

Abidjan: Scouting for new avenues for Indian businesses, President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said that a considerable amount of the capital generated in India seeks new destinations outside the country, including in resource-rich Africa.

Recalling ancient trade and economic linkages between India and Africa, the President said business and economic activity has always been a major driver of India's close and friendly ties with Africa.

Addressing the Business Forum of local businessmen, Mukherjee said Cote d'Ivoire is expected to grow at a rate of 9.6 per cent which makes it a prime destination for investment in Africa and second fastest growing economy after Ethiopia.

"For Ivorian businessmen, the opportunities offered by India are not new. India has recorded a steady growth at the rate of 7.6 per cent each year for over a decade now. The comprehensive reforms introduced in key areas of our economy have enhanced the ease of doing business in India," he said.

The President said country's foreign investment regime has been liberalised through simplified procedures and the removal of several restricting provisions. Mukherjee said in 2014, India recorded 32 per cent growth in investments and late it emerged as emerged as one of the biggest global investment destinations.

"India as economy has grown and matured; a considerable amount of the capital generated in India seeks new destinations outside the country, including in Africa. Indian investors are aware of the potential of Cote d'Ivoire; with its large land mass, rich natural resources and youthful demography, as an important investment destination," he said, Mukherjee said India looks forward to partnering Cote d'Ivoire particularly in the agricultural processing sector and the exploration and mining of minerals.

He asked businessmen of Cote d'Ivoire to take advantage of the Indian Government's initiatives such as Make in India.

"India is the 5th largest trading partner of Ivory Coast and yet, we continue to see that despite the positive environment of growth in our two countries, our bilateral trade has remained at modest levels. It has not grown beyond USD 840 million, which is far below the true potential that we can and must fully realise," he said.
A screen grab of the website that has been launched by the SAWelcomesModi committe for registering members for secure access to the venue.

Johannesburg: Cultural groups representing expatriate Indians and the South African Indian descendants are planning a grand reception for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to South Africa next month.

A cultural programme incorporating Indian and African dance and music is being planned for the event organised by SAWelcomesModi committee.

"This visit marks a turning point in the special relationship between South Africa and India," a statement by the SAWelcomesModi committee said, adding that it is the first time when an Indian Prime Minister will address a public gathering of this magnitude.

"South Africa's deep and revered bond with India spans five generations during which two global icons, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, gave birth to new ideals of freedom and democracy, further entrenching the shared histories of the two countries," the statement said.

"Gandhi in particular started his Satyagraha campaigns in South Africa as a leader in the struggle against oppressive colonial policies of discrimination and carried them back to India a century ago to lead that nation to freedom from the shackles of colonialism, " it said.

"Mandela acknowledged how Gandhi's thinking had influenced his own reconciliatory approach to bringing about a peaceful transition to democracy in South Africa after decades of apartheid domination," the statement added.

A website has been launched by the SAWelcomesModi committe for registering members for secure access to the venue where Modi is expected to address a grand community reception on July 8.
Officers responded to an active shooter call at the store around 11 a.m., amid reports that an armed person was inside and may have had hostages. (Photo: AP)

Amarillo: Officers fatally shot an armed man inside a Wal-Mart store in Amarillo, Texas, on Tuesday after he took two people hostage, including a manager with whom he had a work-related dispute, according to police.

Amarillo police identified the suspect as 54-year-old store employee Mohammad Moghaddam and said neither hostage was injured. Police said the incident began over a dispute related to a promotion and called the incident a "workplace violence event."

"This individual had an ongoing difference, dispute or feud with a manager at Walmart," said Amarillo Police Sgt. Brent Barbee. "There is absolutely no information or reason to believe that this is a terrorist event."

Officers responded to an active shooter call at the store around 11 a.m., amid reports that an armed person was inside and may have had hostages.

According to investigators, Moghaddam entered the store and fired at least one shot toward the ceiling. Police don't believe the suspect, who was armed with a handgun, fired any other shots.

Authorities initially believed he took a hostage and went into an office in the back of the store, according to a police statement.

"We knew there were hostages inside the business, so (SWAT) went in with the intent to free the hostages," Barbee said.

Around 12:20 p.m., SWAT officers watched what they had believed was the only hostage come out of the office. The officers entered the room and discovered the second hostage.

"The suspect was still armed with a handgun and was a threat to the hostage and the officers. Two SWAT officers fired shots which hit the suspect. Initial information is that the suspect died immediately," police said in a statement.

It was not immediately known if the other hostage was a store employee or how that person became a hostage, Barbee said. No other injuries were reported.

Wal-Mart spokesman Brian Nick released a statement earlier Tuesday saying all store associates and customers were safe. Nick thanked officers, saying, "This was a very difficult situation and we are thankful for the quick response from law enforcement."

Authorities said the investigation was ongoing in Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle. Some nearby streets were closed as a precaution during the incident, including an off ramp to Interstate 27.

The Randall County Sheriff's Office said later Tuesday afternoon that all roads around the store at Interstate 27 had been reopened to traffic. The area around the Walmart was still closed but officers were letting people retrieve their cars from the parking lot.
Washington: President Barack Obama will meet the Dalai Lama at the White House today, in a move likely to enrage China, which sees the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader as a separatist.



Obama's official schedule indicated that the pair, who have met before several times, would talk behind closed doors in the Map Room at 10:15 am (1415 GMT). The president usually speaks with dignitaries in the Oval Office.



They last met in the same room in February 2014, though they have had encounters since.



Beijing has routinely accused Washington of meddling in its domestic affairs after such encounters.

China says the Dalai Lama is seeking to split Tibet from the rest of China and calls him a "wolf in sheep's clothing." But the spiritual leader has pressed more for Tibetan autonomy rather than outright independence.



Beijing vigorously lobbies against foreign leaders meeting the Dalai Lama "in any form."



Many Tibetans say China in turn is repressing their Buddhist religion and culture, and preventing them from benefiting from the region's economic development.



Since becoming president, Obama has made a "pivot to Asia" a cornerstone of his foreign policy.



Although the meeting will certainly draw China's ire, the concrete consequences remain unclear.



The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since 1959 after a failed uprising in Tibet.
The incident posed a new challenge for Facebook and other social networks seeking to keep an open platform without allowing users to promote violence.

Washington: Facebook said Tuesday it was cooperating with French authorities probing the killing of a police commander and his partner in a live-streamed video on the leading social network.

"We are working closely with the French authorities as they deal with this terrible crime," Facebook said in a statement following Monday's fatal stabbing of 42-year-old police commander Jean-Baptiste Salvaing and his 36-year-old partner Jessica Schneider in a town near Paris.

"Terrorists and acts of terrorism have no place on Facebook. Whenever terrorist content is reported to us, we remove it as quickly as possible. We treat takedown requests by law enforcement with the highest urgency."

The assailant, a known radical claiming allegiance to the Islamic State group, was slain by police after the attack, but his video was posted on Facebook Live, a new feature that enables any user to stream a live event.

The incident posed a new challenge for Facebook and other social networks seeking to keep an open platform without allowing users to promote violence.

"We do understand and recognize that there are unique challenges when it comes to content and safety for Live videos," a Facebook spokeswoman said.

"It's a serious responsibility, and we work hard to strike the right balance between enabling expression while providing a safe and respectful experience. We're deeply committed to improving the effectiveness of how we handle reports of live content that violates our Community Standards."

Facebook, which has over 1.5 billion members worldwide, last year updated its so-called "community standards" to make clear it does not want the platform used to incite attacks or violence.

Other social networks have made similar efforts, but monitoring and policing the feeds is a difficult task, and the platforms are often unable to prevent sensitive content from being posted.

The stabbings came on the heels of a gunman claiming to be acting in the name of IS shot dead 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida on Sunday in the worst mass shooting in US history.
Washington: Democratic President Barack Obama denounced Donald Trump for his proposed US ban on Muslim immigrants on Tuesday, joining Hillary Clinton in portraying the Republican presidential candidate as unfit for the White House.



Clearly annoyed, Obama responded to Trump's proposed suspension of immigration from countries with a "history of terrorism" after Sunday's killing of 49 people in an Orlando, Florida, nightclub.

Obama and Clinton, the Democrat he has endorsed to succeed him in a November 8 election, made nearly simultaneous speeches. The gunman was US-born Omar Mateen, 29, whose parents immigrated from Afghanistan.



Trump had criticized Obama for not using the term "radical Islamic terrorism" to describe ISIS terrorists.

"What exactly would using this label accomplish, what exactly would it change?" Obama replied. "Someone seriously thinks we don't know who we're fighting? ... There's no magic to the phrase 'radical Islam.' It's a political talking point. It is not a strategy."



"Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away.

This is a political distraction," said Obama, criticizing the "yapping" and "loose talk" he said he hears from Republicans.



Trump Unrelenting



Obama, who cancelled a joint campaign appearance with Clinton planned on Wednesday in Wisconsin due to the events in Orlando, appeared to be enjoying his role in the campaign to select his successor. He tangled with Trump in 2011, producing his birth certificate to refute Trump's claim that the president was not born in the United States.



"We now have proposals from the presumptive Republican nominee for president of the United States to bar all Muslims from immigrating to America. We hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests entire religious communities are complicit in violence," Obama said. "Where does this stop?"



On Tuesday, Trump was unrelenting in his criticism of Obama, saying in a statement that Obama "claims to know our enemy, and yet he continues to prioritize our enemy over our allies, and for that matter, the American people."



"When I am president, it will always be America first," said Trump. Aides said Trump, who on Monday said Obama should resign for failing to handle the threat properly, would have more to say at a rally later in Greensboro, North Carolina.



The crossfire overshadowed the last Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday in Washington, DC. Clinton was to meet rival Bernie Sanders late in the day with Sanders apparently inching toward ending his candidacy.



Clinton, Obama's former secretary of state, addressed supporters in Pittsburgh. The candidate said Trump's proposal bolstered her case that he was temperamentally unfit to serve as president, saying the commander in chief "is a job that demands a calm, collected and dignified response" to events like the Orlando massacre.



Clinton said Trump seemed to suggest on Monday in a television interview that Obama might have somehow been responsible for the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, a point that Trump said he did not make.



"I have to ask: Will responsible Republican leaders stand up to their presumptive nominee or will they stand by his accusation about our president?" she said.



The biting criticism was likely to increase the discomfort among many establishment Republican leaders about Trump with little more than a month until party figures gather in Cleveland July 18-21 to formally nominate him.



Ryan Critical



House Speaker Paul Ryan, the top US elected Republican who was his party's 2012 vice presidential nominee, on Tuesday distanced himself from the proposed Muslim ban in a further sign of establishment unease with Trump's agenda.



"I do not think a Muslim ban is in our country's interests," said Ryan, who last year criticized Trump's original proposal for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States.



Ryan and like-minded leading Republicans have struggled to reconcile their desire to unify the party before a tough fight against Clinton while at the same time separating themselves from some of the positions and rhetoric of Trump, who defeated 16 rivals to win the presidential nomination battle.



US Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, who sources say is among the Republicans that Trump is considering for his vice presidential nominee, said he was "discouraged" by the way the Trump campaign was going.



"It wasn't the type of speech one would expect," Corker said of Trump's Monday speech in New Hampshire.



Trump has been resolute in demanding tighter immigration policies, and the Orlando attack has prompted him to intensify his rhetoric as he tries to win more support from Americans with deep security fears.



Trump noted that Mateen's parents were born in Afghanistan. Pointing to specific incidents such as the September 11, 2001, attacks, he said threats were posed by people with roots in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Somalia.



Trump on Tuesday met at Trump Tower in New York with a host of Republican governors, including Oklahoma's Mary Fallin, who a source close to the campaign said was also on Trump's short list to be his vice presidential running mate.



A Republican official said others in the meeting included the governors of Mississippi, Arizona, Arkansas, Nebraska and Tennessee, as well as New Jersey's Chris Christie, a close Trump adviser and former presidential rival.



Trump was celebrating his 70th birthday on Tuesday. Clinton is 68.
Wal-Mart employees huddle together in a parking lot waiting for details as officers respond to a reported shooting inside the store. (Photo: AP)

Amarillo: Officers responding to a reported shooting Tuesday at a Wal-Mart store in Amarillo found no confirmed gunshot victims and described the incident as a possible workplace violence event.

The Amarillo Police Department released a statement saying officers made their way inside the store and there was no shooting ongoing at this moment. Police said officers responded to the scene amid reports that an armed person was at the store and may have had hostages.

The city released a statement saying emergency officials were on the scene of an active shooter incident at the store and there was no immediate word of injuries. Police urged residents to avoid the area.

Authorities didn't immediately say what may have prompted the incident in Amarillo, a city in the Texas Panhandle. Some nearby streets were closed as a precaution, including an off ramp to Interstate 27.
The Third Fleet, based in San Diego, California, traditionally has confined its operations to the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean's international dateline. (Representational Photo: AFP)

Washington: The US Navy's Third Fleet will send more ships to East Asia to operate outside its normal theatre alongside the Japan-based Seventh Fleet, a US official said on Tuesday, a move that comes at a time of heightened tensions with China.

The Third Fleet's Pacific Surface Action Group, which includes the guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance and USS Momsen, was deployed to East Asia in April.

More Third Fleet vessels will be deployed in the region in the future, said a US official who requested anonymity. He and a second official said the vessels would conduct a range of operations, but gave no details.

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims, as well as close military ties with the United States.

China has been angered by what it views as provocative US military patrols close to islands that China controls in the South China Sea. The United States says the patrols are to protect freedom of navigation.

The Third Fleet, based in San Diego, California, traditionally has confined its operations to the eastern side of the Pacific Ocean's international dateline.

Japan's Nikkei Asian Review quoted the commander of the US Pacific Fleet, Admiral Scott Swift, as saying on Tuesday that the move came in the "context of uncertainty and angst in the region," an apparent reference to China's behaviour.

Swift argued that the Navy should utilize the "total combined power" of the 140,000 sailors, over 200 ships and 1,200 aircraft that make up the Pacific Fleet.

The Seventh Fleet consists of an aircraft carrier strike group, 80 other vessels and 140 aircraft. The Third Fleet has more than 100 vessels, including four aircraft carriers.

Chinese officials have blamed the rising tensions on the United States. "I think before Americans' so-called rebalancing in Asia Pacific, the South China Sea was very quiet, very peaceful," Liu Xiaoming, China's ambassador to Britain, told Reuters in an interview last week.

"China was talking to the neighbouring countries. We had a Declaration of Conduct. And the Philippines was talking to us. Once the Americans came in, so-called `rebalancing,' things changed dramatically.""They want to find an excuse to have their strong military presence in the South China Sea and in the Asia Pacific. If it is so quiet, what is the reason for them to be there?" he asked.

Greg Poling, director of Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said on Tuesday that the move appears to be part of President Barack Obama's plan to shift 60 percent of US naval assets in Asia as part of his rebalance of resources to the region in the face of China's rise.
Omar Mateen was shot dead by police after a three-hour standoff at the Pulse club early on Sunday.

Orlando: The wife of the gunman who killed 49 people at an Orlando gay nightclub knew of his plans for the attack and could soon be charged in connection with the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, a law enforcement source said on Tuesday.

The source told Reuters that a federal grand jury had been convened and could charge Omar Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, as early as Wednesday.

"It appears she had some knowledge of what was going on," said US Senator Angus King, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which received a briefing on the attack on Tuesday.

"She definitely is, I guess you would say, a person of interest right now and appears to be cooperating and can provide us with some important information," King told CNN.

Mateen, who was shot dead by police after a three-hour standoff at the Pulse club early on Sunday, called 911 during his rampage to profess allegiance to various militant Islamist groups.

Federal investigators have said he was likely self-radicalised and there was no evidence that he received any instruction or aid from outside groups such as Islamic State. Mateen, 29, was a U.S. citizen, born in New York of Afghan immigrant parents.

"He appears to have been an angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalised," President Barack Obama told reporters after a meeting of the White House National Security Council.

During his rampage, Mateen systematically made his way through the packed club shooting people who were already down, apparently to ensure they were dead, said Angel Colon, a wounded survivor.

"I look over and he shoots the girl next to me and I was just there laying down and thinking: 'I'm next, I'm dead,'" he said.

Mateen shot him twice more, one bullet apparently aimed for Colon's head striking his hand, and another hitting his hip, Colon said at Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he is one of 27 survivors being treated

FoxNews.com, citing an FBI source, said prosecutors were seeking to charge Mateen's wife, Salman, as an accessory to 49 counts of murder and 53 counts of attempted murder and failure to notify law enforcement about the pending attack and lying to federal agents.

NBC News said Salman told federal agents she tried to talk her husband out of carrying out the attack. But she also told the FBI she once drove him to the Pulse nightclub because he wanted to scope it out, the network said.

A former wife of Mateen, who was a security guard, has said he was mentally unstable and beat her. The ex-spouse, Sitora Yusufiy, said she fled their home after four months of marriage.

Obama slams Trump

Obama denounced Donald Trump for his proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States, joining fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton in portraying the Republican presidential candidate as unfit for the White House.

Trump had criticized Obama for not using the term "radical Islamic terrorism" to describe violent Islamist militants.

"What exactly would using this label accomplish, what exactly would it change?" Obama replied. "Someone seriously thinks we don't know who we're fighting? ... There's no magic to the phrase 'radical Islam.' It's a political talking point. It is not a strategy."
Phrae/Bangkok: When former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrived in this sleepy corner of northern Thailand and flashed her familiar smile, waiting supporters gasped and spoke of a political revival.



But as she cradled babies, hugged grannies and posed for selfies in Phrae province, Yingluck was also thinking of political survival, say aides.



In the two years since the military overthrew her government, Yingluck has been on trial for corruption over a multi-million-dollar rice subsidy scheme. She denies wrongdoing and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Thailand's former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra meets with fans in Bueng Kan Province. (Photo: AP)

Phrae was one stop in a series of provincial trips aimed at keeping Yingluck, Thailand's first female prime minister, in the public eye and making the junta think twice about jailing her.



"It's a fight for survival," Chayika Wongnapachant, her niece and aide, told Reuters.



The trips take place in the run-up to an August referendum on a new draft constitution that critics say will stymie party politics and enshrine military power.

The junta has threatened to jail anyone campaigning against the constitution, which is meant to pave the way for a general election in 2017.



Yingluck cannot run because the junta banned her from politics for five years, but her star appeal would boost any campaign by her Puea Thai Party.



Thailand's Wider Dysfunction



However, many Thais despise Yingluck almost as much as her billionaire brother Thaksin, who was prime minister until deposed in a previous military coup in 2006.



Both his supporters and opponents have taken to the streets in a decade of often-violent protests.



Thailand remains broadly divided, with the Shinawatra clan enjoying heavy support in the mostly poorer north and northeast.



Yingluck's resilience and popularity is a symptom of Thailand's wider dysfunction, says Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political analyst at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.



"She can't run in the next election yet remains a leading newsmaker among politicians because her opponents have failed to provide a viable electoral alternative," he said. "The military government would like Yingluck to go away and the Thaksin era to be extinguished."



The opposite Democrat Party remains weak and the junta still struggles for legitimacy after two years in power, he said. "So Thailand really is in this prolonged limbo."



Popularity Contest



Ostensibly, Yingluck's tour of the countryside came after she asked her five million Facebook followers to name tourist attractions in their home provinces, and to cast votes for the five she should visit. But the trips are also an attempt to "test the waters", Chayika said.



The junta, which banned gatherings of five or more people after the 2014 coup, has made no public objection to what look and feel like political rallies.



"The junta cannot stop her from doing so because when she goes there are no problems," government spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said of Yingluck's trips. "But every time she goes, one of our officials will follow her and send reports back to us."



The government was also being cautious, said Suranand Vejjajiva, Yingluck's former chief of staff. "The public might rebel if they think she is being treated unfairly," he said.



Yingluck's trips have become part of an intensifying popularity contest with the army general who deposed her: Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.



Yingluck's relaxed style in Phrae contrasts with Prayuth's tetchy public appearances. He has lashed out at reporters, vowing in 2015 to "execute" those who didn't report the truth.



At a recent event promoting fitness, Prayuth wrapped a scarf around a gym instructor's neck and pretended to hang him.



Lethal Beauty



August's referendum on the draft constitution will also be the first real test of the junta's popularity since the coup.



Both Yingluck's Puea Thai Party and the Democrat Party say the draft constitution is undemocratic and will do little to soothe Thailand's political instability.



Despite the junta's threat to jail critics of the charter, Yingluck used her trip to Phrae to inject a note of doubt.



"I'm worried about the constitution and that it will lead us nowhere," she said after a tour of two picturesque Buddhist temples. "I would like a constitution that ... gives maximum rights to the people."



Critics have accused Yingluck of playing on a "soft" feminine side and turning on the tears to elicit sympathy. In private, however, she is forceful and eloquent.



"Do you know the Thai phrase suay prahan?" asked her niece Chayika. "It means 'lethal beauty'." Then she drew her finger across her throat.
The accused received funding and guidance for the attack from Bahrum Naim, a radical Islamist linked to the January suicide attacks in Jakarta that left eight people dead. (Photo: AFP/Representational Image)

Jakarta: An Indonesian bomb maker inspired by an Islamic State extremist was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for plotting to blow up a Buddhist temple on Java island.

The court heard that Ibad, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, received funding and guidance for the attack from Bahrum Naim, a radical Islamist linked to the January suicide attacks in Jakarta that left eight people dead.

Three others, Sugiyanto, Saifudian and Yus Karman were also found guilty of terrorist offences in a Jakarta court and sentenced to four years and eight months over their role in the failed bomb plot.

Ibad's lawyer said his client had been lured by Naim through social media to carry out an attack. The two had known each other for many years before Naim travelled to Syria and rose to notoriety among Indonesian extremists fighting for the so-called Islamic State group.

"Ibad is Bahrun Naim's childhood friend," the lawyer Kamsi told AFP outside the East Jakarta courtroom.

"Naim lured Ibad to join him by saying it was easy to get a job in Syria, and told him to detonate a bomb in Solo."

Naim sent cash via an Indonesian bank to fund the operation, the court was told. Ibad handled the cash and recruited the others to find a suitable target in Solo, a midsize city on the main island of Java.

The group assembled a bomb but were arrested by police just days before launching their attack.

A sustained crackdown in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, weakened many of the most dangerous extremist networks responsible for a string of deadly homegrown attacks during the 2000s.

But the attack in downtown Jakarta earlier this year, the first claimed by IS in Southeast Asia, sparked fears of a resurgence in militancy.

Police alleged Naim masterminded the attack from Syria, where his exact whereabouts remain unknown. Four militants and four civilians died in the coordinated suicide bomb and gun attacks carried out in broad daylight in the Indonesian capital. Police believe hundreds of Indonesians have travelled to Syria to fight with militant groups including IS.
French police work at the crime scene the day after a knife-wielding attacker stabbed a senior police officer to death outside his home in west of Paris. (Photo: PTI)

Magnanville, France: A convicted radical who killed a French police couple in an ISIS-inspired stabbing was carrying a hit list of VIPs and urged followers to turn Euro 2016 into a graveyard, officials said on Tuesday.

Mondays assault in a small town northwest of Paris was the first deadly strike in France since the coordinated attacks in the capital by an Islamic State cell in November, which killed 130 people.

Larossi Abballa, who was under surveillance after serving time for links to jihadist networks, first stabbed 42-year-old Jean-Baptiste Salvaing outside his home.

He then holed up inside the house with Salvaings 36-year-old partner Jessica Schneider and the couples three-year-old son. Shortly afterwards he killed Schneider by slitting her throat.

Abballa then posted on Facebook a live 13-minute video of himself inside the house with the child in which he admits the murders and urges fellow jihadists to carry out more bloodshed.

He was later killed during a police raid which ended the standoff in the town of Magnanville. The child escaped unharmed but in shock.
Chinese troops often transgress into Indian territory as both countries have different perceptions of the line of actual control (LAC) demarcation in J&K and Arunachal sectors which they have never mutually agreed upon. (Representational image)

Beijing: China on Wednesday rejected allegation of incursion by its troops in Arunachal Pradesh, saying the Sino-India border has not yet been demarcated and the soldiers of the People's Liberation Army were conducting "normal patrols" on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control.

"China and India border has not yet been demarcated," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang told media briefing here answering a question of reports of 250 Chinese troops entering Yangste, East Kameng district on June 9.

"It is learnt that China's border troops were conducting normal patrols on the Chinese side of the LAC (Line of Actual Control)," Lu said.

The big contingent of PLA soldiers stayed in the area for few hours and left for their base, the reports said.

The incursion into Arunachal Pradesh came at a time when China is opposing India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) on the ground that India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Beijing, which is reportedly backing Pakistan's application into the 48-member nuclear club controlling the nuclear commerce, is calling for consensus about admission of the new members.

On the issue of incursions, China has been maintaining the same stand whenever its troops crossed into the Indian side of the LAC stating that both countries have difference perception about it.

While both sides in recent years managed to reduce tensions between the troops patrolling the disputed areas with various mechanisms, China has not responded positively to India's proposal to demarcate the 3,488 km of the LAC to avoid border tensions.

The two countries have so far held 19 rounds of boundary talks by Special Representatives.
Army said 992 militant hideous were destroyed, 253 tonnes of explosives confiscated, 7,500 bomb factories dismantled, 2,800 mines removed and 3,500 rockets and mortars recovered during the operation. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

Islamabad: Nearly 500 Pakistani soldiers and 3,500 militants were killed during two-year long 'Operation Zarb-e-Azb' launched by the military to clear the restive tribal region of terrorists, army on Wednesday said.

"The FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Region) has been cleared of all militants and the troops have reached upto the border (with Afghanistan)," Military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said, marking the second anniversary of the Zarb-e-Azb.

Operation Zarb-e-Azb (Sharp and cutting strike) was launched on June 15, 2014 to clear the North Waziristan of al-Qaeda linked militants. Bajwa said more than 3,500 militants were killed while around 490 soldiers lost their lives during the operation.

He said 992 militant hideous were destroyed, 253 tonnes of explosives confiscated, 7,500 bomb factories dismantled, 2,800 mines removed and 3,500 rockets and mortars recovered during the operation.

"The militants had enough explosives to continue bombing for 15 years with upto seven bombing every day," he said.

He said 4,304 sq/km was cleared in the tribal region and all militant networks in North Waziristan and Khyber were smashed, which were main source of terrorism.

He said the operation was done indiscriminately and all militants groups were targeted. He said the operation was still going on in the shape of combing operations.

Bajwa said that Pakistan suffered USD 107 billion of financial losses since 9/11 due to militancy in its region. He said border management with Afghanistan was serious issues as Pakistan wants to plug all points on the 2,600 kilometer long border to stop illegal movements.

He said in the initial phase eight recognised crossing points will be managed and later presence of forces on the border will be increased.

"We are having new recruits to increase manpower of Frontier Corps and border management troops to improve the security and bring all movement under control," he said.

Bajwa said that success in the tribal region had major positive impact on the security in the country. He also mentioned Karachi where over 1,200 militants were captured and several killed.
Suspected Islamists killed a number of secular activists, four Hindus and other minorities across the country in recent months, prompting authorities to launch a nationwide anti-militant clampdown since Friday. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

Dhaka: A Hindu lecturer on Wednesday survived an assassination attempt in southwestern Bangladesh when suspected Islamists barged into his home and attacked him with lethal weapons, wounding him seriously, the latest in a series of attacks on minorities and secular activists.

The attackers stormed the residence of Ripon Chakrabarty, a Mathematics lecturer at the Nazimuddin Government University College in Madaripur, and attacked him with lethal weapons this evening, police said. The residents at the neighbourhood grabbed one of the attackers while others fled from the scene.

"The detained attacker is now being grilled in our custody. We suspect he could be a member of a militant group," Madaripur police superintendent Sarwar Hossain told PTI.

A police sub-inspector told reporters that three assailants knocked at Ripon's house and attacked him soon after he opened the door. Ripon is being treated at a state-run hospital in southwestern Barisal.

Suspected Islamists killed a number of secular activists, four Hindus and other minorities across the country in recent months, prompting authorities to launch a nationwide anti-militant clampdown since Friday.

Bangladesh authorities have detained nearly 12,000 people in a nationwide crackdown to halt a spate of deadly attacks on minorities and secular writers in the Muslim-majority nation. Some of those arrested were linked with outlawed Jamaatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh.

"If tallied, the number of people detained in the crackdown since Thursday midnight stands at 11,648. Around 145 among them are suspected militants mostly belonging to JMB," a police headquarters spokesman said.

Authorities are under mounting international pressure to halt the violence, which in the past three years have claimed nearly 50 people - Hindus, Christians and secular bloggers - many of them by machete-wielding attackers.

Though most of the attacks were claimed by the Islamic State or its affiliates and other similar extremist groups, the Bangladesh government has repeatedly dismissed the claims and said the attacks were carried out by homegrown outfits linked to the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The Afghan guard is the third fatality since Sunday night, when clashes erupted at the Torkham border crossing over the construction of a gate by Pakistan on disputed territory. (Photo: AP)

Islamabad: Renewed clashes overnight at a Pakistani-Afghan border crossing killed an Afghan border guard and wounded five, an Afghan official said Wednesday, as Islamabad dispatched more troops to the volatile boundary amid an escalation between the two neighbours.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have traded blame for the latest violence while calling for a peaceful resolution. However, intermittent shooting continued throughout the day Wednesday, according to two Pakistani officials.

The Afghan guard is the third fatality since Sunday night, when clashes erupted at the Torkham border crossing over the construction of a gate by Pakistan on disputed territory. Over two dozen border guards from both sides have been wounded so far.

Afghan border police official Jamal Khan said the guard was killed late Tuesday. Another Afghan guard was killed the first night of the violence and a Pakistani officer wounded in the border clashes died on Tuesday.

Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, which lies along the border, called on Pakistan to stop shooting toward the Afghan side, adding that fighting "is not the solution."

In Pakistan, the two security officials who confirmed the latest exchanges said there was some damage on the Pakistani side. They did not elaborate and they spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. The Torkham crossing remained closed Wednesday.

Intelligence and defense officials briefed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the situation Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and speakers of the upper and lower houses of parliament, a statement issued by Ghani's office said. The statement called for a "diplomatic solution" while expressing support for the security forces.

Afghanistan does not recognize the present boundary, the so-called Durand Line, as an international border, and has denounced Pakistan's plans to erect a fence at the crossing. Pakistan's army says it is constructing a gate on its own side of the border as a necessary measure to check for unwanted and illegal movement.

Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary summoned the Afghan ambassador to lodge a protest, demanding Kabul take immediate steps to end the "unprovoked firing," a statement said.

Pakistani army spokesman Lt. Gen. Asim Bajwa told reporters that efforts were underway on the political, diplomatic and military level to halt the escalation, saying "it will get resolved."

He said Pakistan has seen incursions by militants from across the Torkham border lately, which prompted authorities to implement more effective border control. He said he didn't know why the Afghan side initiated fire after Pakistan started construction work on its territory but Pakistani troops "effectively responded" after coming under attack.

Last month, the Torkham crossing was closed over a similar incident and reopened following a meeting between Pakistan's army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif and Afghan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal.
Hafiz Hamdullah of Jamiat Ulema-e-Isla Fazal (JUI-F) used foul language against the activist and tried to attack her. (Photo: Screengrab)

Islamabad: An influential lawmaker of Pakistan's ruling coalition has been booked for allegedly verbally abusing and trying to physically attack a woman rights activist during a live TV debate on honour killing.

The ugly incident happened during a private TV talk show last week when Hafiz Hamdullah of Jamiat Ulema-e-Isla Fazal (JUI-F) became furious at Marvi Sarmad for speaking against honour killing.

According to the footage widely circulated on social media, the bearded lawmaker used foul language against the activist and tried to attack her. Marvi lodged a complaint with the Margalla police station and the case was registered on Tuesday, a police official said.

The lawmaker's JUI-F party is an ally of the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. At least 1,100 women were killed in the name of honour in Pakistan last year by their relatives on the pretext of defending what is seen as family honour.

Police on Tuesday arrested the brother of a Pakistani woman for alleging burning her to death in an honour killing last week. An Islamic religious body in Pakistan yesterday declared that killing of women in the name of honour is un-Islamic, days after 40 influential clerics issued a fatwa against honour-killing.
Pakistan had been enraged at the May 21 US drone strike which killed Taliban chief Mullah Mansour in Balochistan. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday said it has raised at the UN Human Rights Council the issue of US drone strike in the country and asked the international community to take note of rights violations taking place as a result of such illegal attacks.

The Foreign Office (FO) said that Pakistan has taken the issue of drone attacks by the US to the UN Human Rights Council.

Speaking at the Human Rights council in Geneva, Permanent Representative of Pakistan, Ambassador Tehmina Janjua stressed that the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms should respond to human rights violations and the loss of precious lives as a result of drone strikes on the territory of Pakistan in violation of its sovereignty.

"She emphasised that these drone strikes are also a violation of UN Charter, International Law including Human Rights and Humanitarian Law," the FO said.

Pakistan has been stressing repeatedly that use of armed drones or remotely piloted aircrafts is a breach of human rights, in particular, the right to life, which is non-derogable, it said.

The ambassador urged the international community and the Human Rights Council to remain seized of human rights violations taking place as a result of illegal drone strikes, according to the FO. Pakistan had been enraged at the May 21 US drone strike which killed Taliban chief Mullah Mansour in Balochistan.
Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary summoned Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and lodged strong protest over the killing of Major Ali Jawad Khan. (Photo: AP)

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday summoned Afghan ambassador and lodged a strong protest over the killing of an army Major in a recent border clash.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary summoned Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and lodged strong protest over the killing of Major Ali Jawad Khan, Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.

Khan was injured on June 13 due to the unprovoked firing by Afghan security forces over the contentious fencing issue at north-western Torkham border crossing. He died of injuries on Tuesday.

FO also asked Afghanistan to take immediate steps to bring the unprovoked firing to an end. The Foreign Secretary stressed that the Pakistani side was undertaking construction works on its side to regulate the movements of people as well as vehicles with the prior agreement of the Afghan Government.

Chaudhary expressed concern over the continued firing by the Afghan forces for last few days with a view to disrupt the construction works aimed at strengthening effective border management.

He rejected allegations of Afghanistan that the construction work being undertaken by Pakistan was violation of the agreements and understandings reached between the two countries.

It was reiterated that these works are being undertaken on Pakistani side and were started after the two sides had agreed on them during the meetings held last month.

Underscoring the importance of border management for strengthening mutual security and checking infiltration of terrorists and militants, Chaudhary emphasised the need for resolving this issue through constructive engagement, FO said.

In the firing between security forces, an Afghan border guard was killed while two Pakistani soldiers and nine civilians were injured. One of the injured soldiers has died.

Pakistan alleged that unprovoked firing was started by Afghanistan's security forces when construction work began on a new gate on the Pakistani side.

Last month, the border crossing was sealed for several days over the construction of the gate, causing hardships to thousands of people who cross it every day. Afghan government does not recognise the border, which is also known as Durand Line, and it opposes permanent structure.
The move came after a spate of recent attacks against transgenders in the province, culminating in last month's killing of an activist known as Alesha. (Photo: Representational Image)

Peshawar: A Pakistani province has allocated nearly USD 2 million for transgenders after a series of violent attacks, with officials saying the money will be used to provide training and support for the vulnerable community.

The funds were announced this week in budget plans for Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

"The main purpose is to make them contributory members of the society while earning a livelihood for themselves," provincial finance minister Muzaffar Sayed told on Wednesday.

Sayed said 200 million rupees (USD 2 million) have been allocated for the capacity building and skill development of the vulnerable groups.

The move came after a spate of recent attacks against transgenders in the province, culminating in last month's killing of an activist known as Alesha, who was shot multiple times and succumbed to her injuries in hospital in Peshawar. Hundreds of transgenders later rallied in Peshawar and demanded protection.

"At least 45 transgenders have so far been killed in the past two years," said Farzana Jan, president of the "Shemale" association in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that up to 50,000 transgenders live in the province.

In conservative Muslim Pakistan, where sexual relations outside marriage are taboo and homosexuality is illegal, transgender dancers and musicians often perform at weddings and birth celebrations.

When the Supreme Court in 2009 recognised them as a "third gender", ordering they be issued with separate identity cards, it was hailed as a landmark decision in a nation battling enormous human rights abuses and chronic violence.

But they are also treated as sex objects and often become the victims of violent assault, ending up as little more than beggars.

Sayed said the government would also provide them with loans. "We want them to have alternate sources of income, we will also financially support them in establishing small business," he said.

While Mushtaq Ghani, provincial minister for information, said transgenders will soon get free health care as well as separate rooms in hospitals. The plan also includes free vocational training, skills development and text books, and will secure employment opportunities in the future, Ghani added.
A court here has ordered initiation of proceedings against real estate major Unitech and its top bosses in a case of cheating lodged by an investor for not giving him possession of a flat boo-ked in 2006 in Greater Noida, adjacent to the national capital.





Unitech , its Chairman Ramesh Chandra, Managing Directors Ajay Chandra and Sanjay Chandra and four other Directors have been named as accused in the complaint.



Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sandeep Yadav passed the order against them for the offence of cheating under section 420 of IPC saying they had guilty intention to cheat the petitioner from the beginning.



The complaint was filed by Gurgaon resident Paramvir Singh Narang claiming that he had booked a flat in Unitech Cascades at Greater Noida in 2006 for which he had paid a total sale consideration of Rs 39.07 lakh.



The flat was to be handed over by April 2008 but the company failed to abide by its agreement, following which he lodged a complaint. His plea was dismissed by a magisterial court after which he filed a revision petition before sessions court.



Since respondents after receiving total agreement payment of Rs 39.07 lakh neither offered possession of apartment nor refunded the amount with simple interest at 10% per annum, it can be safely concluded that they were having guilty intention to cheat the petitioner from the very beginning of transaction, the ASJ said.



Even the legal notice issued by complainant to accused persons was not replied. Hence, section 420 of the IPC gets attracted to the facts of present case, the judge said.



The court has ordered proceedings against M/s Unitech Ltd, its Chairman Ramesh Chandra, Managing Directors Ajay Chandra and Sanjay Chandra and Directors Anil Harish, Minoti Bahri, Ravinder Singhania and Sanjay Bahadur.



It is clear from the averment of complaint and testimony of the complainant that respondents have neither handed over possession of the apartment to petitioner within stipulated period nor have they refunded the amount with interest. In fact, legal notice issued by petitioner in this regard went unheeded. Therefore, a clear case of cheating is made out against respondents as respondents cheated the complainant and dishonestly induced him to pay a sum of Rs 39.07 lakh to them on the promise of handing over the possession of apartment, the court said.
A 14-year-old girl was raped by her neighbour for months resulting in her pregnancy. The accused has been arrested, the police said.





The accused has been identified as a Dharamveer (35), a driver of a local Congress leader. The girl used to refer to him as chacha.



The incident came to the fore when one day the mother of the victim questioned her about the reason of her constant pain and deteriorating health. The girl initially tried to evade the topic but upon further probe revealed that she was being raped several times by the man.



Following the revelation, angry parents of the girl confronted the accused, the police said.



Dharamveer summarily rejected the accusation and offered to take the girl to a hospital to get her checked and prove his innocence. In the hospital the girl went through a medical examination after which the doctors told the girls parents that she was 2-month-old pregnant.



After the news, a startled Dharamveer first tried to win the family over by offering to give them monetary help. When it was rejected he offered to get her pregnancy aborted, which was also flatly rejected by the girls parents. When the man realised that he is in trouble he fled from the spot, the police said.



Following the fleeing of the accused, the victims parents informed the matter to the police, and after medical examination, an FIR was registered in Dwarka sector-23 police station under section 376 of IPC and POCSO Act, and the accused was arrested.



The police said that the accused was very close to the family of the victim and the children of the family used to call him chacha. He works as a driver of a Congress leader who is a former MLA of the area.



In another case of sexual crime against woman in Delhi, a minor girl who had gone missing from her house in south east Delhis Sarita Vihar returned home after few hours and said that her neighbour attempted to rape her.



The minor was taken to the hospital where her medical examination was done after which the accused was apprehended by the police.



The incident took place on Monday night when the girl who lives in Ali village went missing from her house. Her parents raised an alert after she did not return home. Nearby residents gathered around the house and went to find the girl around the village.



A few moments later the girl came back crying after which their parents inquired about the reason of her weeping. The girl told her mother that she was lured on the pretext of sweets after which the accused took her to a desolate spot to rape her.



As the accused was undressing the girl, she raised an alarm which was heard by a person who was passing by. When the passerby spotted them he immediately rushed to her aid, after which the accused fled from the spot.
The police on Tuesday registered a case in connection with the attack on SRCC professor Vineet Mehta by DUSU president Satender Awana when he was being asked to pay fee for using the colleges swimming pool.





The police also lodged a non-cognizable report on the basis of a complaint of Awana, who said that the professor too held his collar and assaulted him following a verbal altercation, a senior police official said.



On the basis of the professors complaint, we have registered an FIR under IPC sections 323 (causing hurt) and 341 (wrongful restraint). There was a cross-complaint too, on the basis of which a report under IPC Section 323 has been lodged, DCP (North) Madhur Verma said.



Mehta had on Monday said that Awana had come along with a group of students to the swimming pool of the college and had beaten him when he was asked to pay fees for it.



When asked to pay fee of Rs 200, he argued saying he is student union president and why is he being asked to pay the fees. When I told him that similar rules apply to all students, he attacked me with a rod, he said.



Awana rubbished the charges as baseless and said he had gone to college to seek permission for some other students. Some students had approached me saying they cannot afford the Rs 200 per day fees for swimming pool. Being DUSU president, I met the principal to request him to allow these students to use the pool at Rs 20 per day, which is the charge for SRCC students, he said.



I was asked to meet the teacher-incharge (Mehta) who did not agree to it and started abusing me and held me by collar. We did have an argument but I did not attack him, he added.



While both IPC sections are bailable in nature, Section 341 is cognizable, under which a police officer has the authority to make an arrest without a warrant and to start an investigation with or without the permission of a court, a senior official said.



Congress affiliated National Students Union of India (NSUI) on Tuesday staged a protest at North Campus demanding that the university take an action against Awana.



Earlier in the day, 70 members of the SRCC Staff Association members also marched to Maurice Nagar police station demanding that police registers an FIR on Mehtas complaint.
Power Minister Satyendar Jain wrote to industrialist Anil Ambani, who owns two power utilities in the city, criticising the performance of Reliance Infrastructure-owned BSES here on Tuesday.





The letter pointed out at alleged financial irregularities, including siphonng off funds, by Ambanis companies. The CAGs draft report and Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) further corroborates this, the letter says.



The city government has now invited him for a meeting next week to discuss the companies roadmap for improving power distribution as per the privatisation blueprint prepared almost a decade ago. The expectation was that you will bring down tariffs and instal a world class power system in the captal city of Delhi...



Accusing the Chairperson Reliance ADA Group of having a cosy relationship with the previous city governments, the minister wrote that the new government would not hesitate to take strong decisions.



You might have had a cosy relationship with previous governments in Delhi at the expense of public interest, kindly note that the new government is fully committed to protecting the interests of public and their welfare, the letter read.



Despite the availability of adequate power, Delhi has seen severe outages in the past few weeks, said Jain in the letter.



The minister claimed in his letter that senior officials of the company were now fudging data to show improvement on the companys performance.
As many as 10 bills sent by the Delhi government that include one to give a 400 per cent hike in basic salary of MLAs are pending with the Central government.





After President Pranab Mukherjee withheld his assent to a legislation that sought to protect 21 AAP MLAs, who have been appointed Parliamentary Secretaries, from office of profit, Home Ministry officials said 10 Bills sent by the Kejriwal government are at various stages of examination.



During the examination of the bills, certain queries were aroused. Some of these queries are curable and some are incurable, an official said.



The Finance Ministry is examining the bill, which seeks to give Delhi MLAs and Ministers a whopping 400 per cent hike in basic salary besides hefty increase in perks and allowances, catapulting them among the highest paid lawmakers in the country.



Certain clarifications have been sought by Finance Ministry and queries forwarded to Delhi government, official said.



There are minor queries on the Delhi (Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery of Services) Amendment Bill 2015 and another Bill related to upgrading Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology to a university.



When the clarifications of these two Bills come from Delhi government, we will send them to the President for his assent, the official said.



There were total four Bills sent by the AAP government till Dec 2015 that include the bill that sought to protect 21 AAP MLAs, who have been appointed Parliamentary Secretaries, from office of profit. Seven more Bills were sent in April 2016. After the President withheld his assent to the office of profit Bill, 10 Bills of the Delhi government are now pending with the Central government.



While in case of a few Bills, clarifications have been sought from the Delhi government and returned them, in case of a few others, opinion have been sought from different Central ministries and departments.



The pending Bills include the Janlokpal Bill 2015, the Minimum Wages (Delhi Amendment) Bill 2015, Delhi School (Verification Of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee) Bill 2015, Delhi School Education (Amendment) Bill 2015, Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Delhi Amendment) Bill 2015 and a Bill related to working journalists.
A Punjab based NGO today moved the Supreme Court seeking stay on the release of controversial Bollywood film 'Udta Punjab', saying it depicted the state in "bad light".





The NGO in its plea also challenged the Bombay High Court order clearing the decks for the release of the movie after deleting a urination scene and displaying a revised disclaimer.



The plea for urgent hearing was mentioned before a vacation bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and L Nageswara Rao, which asked the NGO, Human Rights Awareness Association to first get the petition cleared from the registry.



During a brief hearing, counsel appearing for the NGO said "the movie depicts the state in bad light."



He said that Bombay High Court should not have quashed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) order for deletion of objectionable scenes.



The High Court had earlier this week cleared the movie, scheduled for release on June 17, after deleting only one scene.



In the High Court, Anurag Kashyap's Phantom Films had challenged the CBFC's revising committee order of June 6 directing for a total of 13 changes in the movie.



It has noted that the CBFC is not empowered by law to censor films, as the word censor is not included in the Cinematograph Act.



As per the revised disclaimer, the 'Udta Punjab' makers will have to delete reference to Pakistan. They will also have to make additions to the disclaimer to the effect that the movie, its characters and the filmmakers do not promote the use of drugs and abusive language, and that the film is only attempting to depict the reality of drug abuse.



The Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh starrer delves into how a large number of youth in Punjab have succumbed to drugs.
Delhi High Court today told the producers of 'Udta Punjab' to remove from the film's promos a scene which the Bombay High Court has ordered to be cut.





A bench of justices Sunil Gaur and P S Teji directed the movie's producer, Phantom Films, to "modify" the promos accordingly and ensure that the scene in question is also withdrawn from online sites like YouTube.



The Bombay HC had ordered removal of one scene which showed the film's protagonist urinating in public.



"You withdraw it from your end," the bench told the producers regarding online promos, with Phantom Films agreeing to comply with the Bombay High Court direction.



With this direction, the Delhi High Court disposed of the petition filed by an NGO which apart from seeking removal of the scene had also sought that it be heard by the censor board and its appellate authority before certifying the film.



The Delhi High Court, however, did not go into the other prayers sought by the Punjab-based NGO, Human Rights Awareness Association, as the Bombay HC order has been challenged by it in the Supreme Court.



Meanwhile, central government standing counsel Rajesh Gogna, appearing for the censor board and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, told the court that the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) would not be challenging the Bombay HC order in the Supreme Court.



Gogna also said that CBFC would be certifying the film for public exhibition. The Bombay HC on June 13 had cleared the decks for the release of 'Udta Punjab' after ordering deleting of a urination scene from the movie and displaying a revised disclaimer.



The high court had also directed the CBFC to certify the drug-themed film within 48 hours to enable the makers to release it on its scheduled date of June 17.



It also quashed the June 6 order passed by the CBFC's revising committee directing for a total of 13 changes in the movie.



As per the revised disclaimer, the 'Udta Punjab' makers will have to delete reference to Pakistan.



They will also have to make additions to the disclaimer to the effect that the movie, its characters and the film- makers do not promote the use of drugs and abusive language, and that the film is only attempting to depict the reality of drug abuse.




The number of foreigners arriving in Indian on e-Tourist Visa stood at 43,833 at the end of May, a rise of 179.9 per cent compared to the same month 2015, a report by Assocham says.





A total of 43,833 tourists arrived this May on e-Tourist Visa compared to 15,659 during May 2015, the report said today.



During the January-May period this year, a total of 4,34,927 tourists arrived on as compared to 1,10,657 during the same period last year, registering a growth of 293.0 per cent, the report said.



Commencing from November 27, 2014, the e-Tourist Visa facility was available until February 25, 2016 for citizens of 113 countries arriving at 16 airports in India.



After that, the Government of India has extended this facility for citizens of 37 more countries from February 26, 2016 taking the tally to 150 countries.



This high growth may be attributed to introduction of e-Tourist Visa for 150 countries as against the earlier coverage of 43 countries, the report stated.



The US, with 18.52 per cent, stands top of the list among the top 10 countries availing e-Tourist Visa facilities during this May, the report said.



The UK with 15.63 per cent is second on the list while China is third with 8.17% per cent availing e-Tourist Visa facilities during the same period.



France contributed 5.16 per cent, followed by Germany (4.91%), Australia (4.50%), Canada (4.49%), UAE (3.01%), Russian Fed (2.79%) and Malaysia (2.12%), the report said.



On the percentage shares of top 10 airports in the tourist arrivals on e-Tourist Visa during the same period, New Delhi Airport is the leader with 45.11 per cent while Mumbai recorded 22.50 per cent and Bengaluru 9 per cent.



Among other airports, Chennai registered 6.63 per cent, while Kochi witnessed 3.68 per cent, Goa (2.86 per cent), Hyderabad (2.75 per cent) Kolkata (2.63 per cent) with Trivandrum (1.42 per cent) and Ahmadabad (1.26 per cent), the report said.


Three of the 17 lions, captured last month for killing three persons near Gir sanctuary, have been identified as 'man-eaters' and will be kept at a zoo or Gujarat forest department's rescue centre, an official said today.





After analysing their pug marks and faeces during a 25-day captivity, one adult male and two sub-adult female lions were found to have turned man-eaters and 'guilty' of killing locals, as human remains were found from the excreta of these three lions, Chief Conservator of Forest for Junagadh division, A P Singh, said.



"Out of the 17 lions captured by us last month, one was a male adult, and it turned out to be the main culprit. We found considerable amount of human remains in that lion's faeces, while very small amount was found from the faeces of two sub-adult females," he said.



"It brought us to the conclusion that the male lion attacked, killed and ate humans while two other sub-adults only ate some leftover body parts. These sub-adults were not involved in attacking and killing humans, as they only ate the leftover parts," said Singh.



"Now, the male lion will be kept for its entire life in a cage at Sakkarbaug zoo on the outskirts of Junagadh city, while the two lionesses will be kept locked in any of forest department's rescue centre for their lives," he said.



"All the three lions have to spend their lives in captivity now. The other 14 lions of the pride, including several cubs, will be released in the (Gir) sanctuary. As a precaution, they will be released in deeper pockets of the sanctuary, far away from where they were captured," he said.



The pride of 17 lions was caged last month outside Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Dhari taluka of Amreli district, on the border of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.



A major portion of the Gir sanctuary falls in the adjoining Junagadh district. Dhari taluka lies on the border of the sanctuary.



The forest department had started the drive to cage the lions after three persons - a 14-year-old boy, a woman aged around 50 and a 61-year-old man - were mauled to death by the felines in the same region in April and May.



Prior to these incidents, the man-lion conflict was rare in and around Gir, the only abode of Asiatic lions where there are around 523 lions, as per the last census.



These incidents sparked anger among the locals, who along with some political leaders, including former Amreli MLA Dilip Sanghani, demanded action against man-eater lions.




China today rejected allegation of incursion by its troops in Arunachal Pradesh, saying the Sino-India border has not yet been demarcated and the soldiers of the People's Liberation Army were conducting "normal patrols" on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control.





"China and India border has not yet been demarcated," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang told media briefing here answering a question of reports of 250 Chinese troops entering Yangste, East Kameng district on June 9.



"It is learnt that China's border troops were conducting normal patrols on the Chinese side of the LAC (Line of Actual Control)," Lu said.



The big contingent of PLA soldiers stayed in the area for few hours and left for their base, the reports said.



The incursion into Arunachal Pradesh came at a time when China is opposing India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) on the ground that India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).



Beijing, which is reportedly backing Pakistan's application into the 48-member nuclear club controlling the nuclear commerce, is calling for consensus about admission of the new members.



On the issue of incursions, China has been maintaining the same stand whenever its troops crossed into the Indian side of the LAC stating that both countries have difference perception about it.



While both sides in recent years managed to reduce tensions between the troops patrolling the disputed areas with various mechanismS, China has not responded positively to India's proposal to demarcate the 3,488 km of the LAC to avoid border tensions.



The two countries have so far held 19 rounds of boundary talks by Special Representatives.


A nine-member BJP team today visited this village in Uttar Pradesh to review the situation over alleged migration of Hindus that has set off a political slugfest even as Congress said the BJP leadership has been "totally exposed" after a party MP's U-turn on the issue.





The fact-finding team was announced by BJP president Amit Shah on Monday during the course of its National Executive meeting in Allahabad after BJP MP Hukum Singh alleged there was a communal angle to the 'migration' from Kairana village in Shamli district in UP where elections are due next year.



Singh, who had recently alleged that several Hindu families have been forced to migrate from Kairana following atrocities from "one particular community", did a volte face yesterday, saying that it was "not communal" in nature but had more to do with the law and order situation.



The team met some families of Hindus who had allegedly migrated, said Suresh Rana a BJP MLA, adding it also had an interaction with officials of the district administration.



"We have been raising the same issue in Vidhan Sabha for three years now. We only talk about migration when the atmosphere of fear is at its peak. Had the CM of UP wanted, he could have controlled the situation long back," Rana said, adding a report will be sent to the party leadership.



Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should visit Kairana village and assess the situation rather than accusing BJP of lying on this "sensitive matter", he added. The team was led by Suresh Khanna, BJP's legislature party leader in UP assembly.



Besides Khanna, the other members of the delegation included Baghpat MP Satpal Singh, Saharanpur MP RLP Sharma, Bulandshahr MP Bhola Singh, Aligarh MP Satish Gautam, Aonla MP Dharmendra Kashyap and former UP DGP Brij Lal.



"There has been mass exodus(from Kairana) due to gunda raj" of the SP government," Sharma alleged.



Congress's in-charge of UP Ghulam Nabi Azad said the BJP leadership stood "totally exposed" on how they wanted to exploit the situation and tell the people that the alleged migration is on religious lines while it was for economic reasons.



"Exactly that is what we are afraid of because they(BJP) are having an eye on assembly elections. They might even turn small issues into big issues. They will try to polarise the situation. This is what people in UP should be cautious about," he added.



JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav cautioned against any attempts to foment communal tension ahead of the assembly polls.



"People from Kairana did come to me. They told me that what all they(BJP) are saying is a lie. It is nice that they (BJP)have taken a U-turn from what they have earlier said. Soon there will be elections in UP, there should not be any tension on communal divide," he said.



Shamli District Magistrate Sujeet Kumar has already ruled out any communal and law and order issues behind some people leaving the area.



"[The] party president has set up a committee, which will go there and study the situation. Such a migration is not good for democracy. The party is sensitive about it and proper steps will be taken after the report comes, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday, a Shah expressed serious concern over "migration" from Kairana area in Shamli district, which had witnessed communal riots in 2013.




A 24-year-old Marine, who served in Afghanistan, is being hailed as a hero for helping scores of people escape from an Orlando club targeted by a terrorist who killed 49 people in the deadliest shooting in the US history.



Imran Yousuf, a bouncer at the Pulse nightclub, heard the gunfire break out early Sunday morning.



"The initial one was three or four (shots). That was a shock. Three of four shots go off and you could tell it was a high caliber," Yousuf, a former sergeant who just left the Marine Corps last month, told CBS News.



That's when his Marine Corps training kicked in, he said.

"Everyone froze. I'm here in the back and I saw people start pouring into the back hallway, and they just sardine pack everyone."



Yousuf knew just beyond that pack of panicked people - was a door - and safety. But someone had to unlatch it.



"I'm screaming 'Open the door! Open the door!'" Yousuf said. "And no one is moving because they are scared."



"There was only one choice  either we all stay there and we all die, or I could take the chance, and I jumped over to open that latch and we got everyone that we can out of there."



By creating the exit, Yousuf estimated that about 70 people were able to get out of the nightclub safely.



"I wish I could've saved more," CBS News quoted him as saying. "...There's a lot of people that are dead."



Yousuf served as an engineer equipment electrical systems technician in the Marine Corps from June 2010 to May 2016, according to service officials. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. He was last assigned to 3rd Marine Logistics Group.



He posted a message on his Facebook page saying he "just reacted."

"There are a lot of people naming me a hero and as a former Marine and Afghan veteran I honestly believe I reacted by instinct," he wrote.



"I have lost a few of my friends that night which I am just finding out about right now and while it might seem that my actions are heroic I decided that the others around me needed to be saved as well and so I just reacted."



While he appreciates the support he has received, Yousuf stressed that people should focus on the victims families, not him, he wrote.



"We need to show our love and profound efforts to the families and friends who have lost someone and help them cope with what happened and turn our efforts to those who truly need it," he wrote.



"Once again I sincerely thank everyone and bless all those who are recovering and trying to make sense of it all."
In a historic move, the NDA government on Wednesday cleared the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP).





Among 24 other clauses, NCAP replaces 5/20 rule by 0/20 rule. The 5/20 rule mandates that airlines need to fly at least five years domestically and possess 20 aircraft, in order to have international operations. This has been a bone of contention among the many players.



While the old players wanted to retain this rule, new players were hopeful that the government would scrap it. Now airlines only need to possess 20 aircraft in order to fly abroad.



Vistara has a fleet of 11 aircraft at present, and plans to expand it to 20 by June 2018. AirAsia India, which began operations in June 2014, has been slow in its fleet expansion due to lack of clarity on the international flying norms and possesses eight planes at present.



Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the policy is a game changer and that the countrys aviation sector is poised to become the worlds third largest by 2022.

Welcoming the decision, AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes tweeted, Almost an end to vested interests. Power to the people. Well done @narendramodi . You kept your word. Initial reports on India is superb. Of course I think 20 aircraft is to many but thank you @narendramodi. Big day for Indian aviation.



Though a 0/0 or 0/10 would have been more than welcome, the amendments that have been made to the policy are encouraging. The NCAP gives us clear direction to ramp up our operations in India and grow our business in the domestic segment before we scale our operations to fly international, said Amar Abrol, CEO, AirAsia India.



We would have preferred, of course, that the 5/20 rule be completely abolished to ensure that Indian aviation achieves its full potential. As an Indian airline, we are committed to our expansion plans in India and are now looking forward to providing connectivity to travellers to/from India promising a new feeling in global skies as well, said Phee Teik Yoeh, CEO, Vistara.



For us, there is a contradiction here. They say that there is a cap of Rs 2,500 for a one-hour flight. Now the duration of various flights depends on the aircraft manufacturers. There needs to be a bit more clarity on this, said Shyson Thomas, Managing Director of Air Pegasus, a young regional carrier.



IndiGo, Jet Airways and SpiceJet, who were opposing the scrapping of 5/20 rule, declined to comment.



The highly illogical and anti-competition 5/20 rule has been replaced with 0/20, which effectively translates to 3/20, as it will take at least 3-4 years to have a 20 aircraft fleet, said Amber Dubey, Head of Aerospace and Defence at KPMG India.




In 1952, George Jorgensen, a Bronx-born GI, underwent surgical and hormonal treatment in Denmark to become Christine Jorgensen, a nightclub entertainer and advocate for gender identity rights. Ever since, health professionals and lay people alike have debated the origins of gender identity, the wisdom of altering ones biologically determined sex, and whether society should accept the transgender community as a fact of nature.





There is even disagreement over whether the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination because of sex, also protects gender identity, a persons inner sense of being male or female. Many more transgender people, whose identity does not match their biological sex, have come forward in recent years. Some seek sex change treatment. Olympic gold-medalist Bruce Jenner made a high-profile announcement last year of his transition to Caitlyn Jenner, including a cover story in Vanity Fair.



Yet the controversy over the rights of transgender students to use bathroom and locker room facilities that match their gender identity rather than their birth sex reflects the persistence of prejudice and misinformation about the nature and behaviour of people who identify as transgender.



Those who insist that people should use only the facilities that match the sex on their birth certificates may not realise that most states allow those who change their sexual assignment to change the sex on their birth certificates. Furthermore, a transgender individual using a facility matched to his or her gender identity is no more of a sexual threat to others than anyone else using that bathroom might be. Psychosocial distress or embarrassment can be avoided simply by providing closed-door toilet and changing areas in public bathrooms and locker rooms.



I recently read a most illuminating article, Care of Transsexual Persons, that answered many of the questions and concerns that have been raised about what is now more commonly referred to as being transgender. Written by Dr Louis J Gooren, an endocrinologist at VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam and a leading expert in the field, it was published in 2011 in The New England Journal of Medicine.



Perhaps the most important point Gooren and others make is that a mismatch between gender identity and biological sex is not something people choose. The most common description given by transgender individuals is a persistent, painfully distressing belief that they are females trapped in a male body, or vice versa.



Although being transgender is classified in the psychiatric literature as gender identity disorder, Gooren pointed out that a substantial proportion of the transgender population does not have a clinically significant coexisting psychiatric condition other than chronic suffering from feeling they are not what their bodies tell them they are.

No chromosomal or hormonal causes of being transgender have been identified. Also lacking is convincing evidence that it is caused by some aberration of family dynamics  how a child is treated or dressed by mom, dad or anyone else.



Being transgender simply happens, possibly in the womb. All brains start out female; if the foetus is male, testosterone normally programmes both the genitalia and the brain to develop as male. But autopsies of a small number of male-to-female transgender people found that two important areas of the brain had a typical female pattern, suggesting an alteration in the brains sexual differentiation.



In individuals who transition from female to male, it is possible that excessive production of androgens during pregnancy could have programmed the brain to be male.



Among adults, male-to-female transitions are nearly three times more common than female-to-male ones. It has not been unusual for people born male to first acknowledge and express their female gender identity in midlife, often after having married and fathered children.



In young children, girls who are tomboys and boys who act more like girls are quite common and should not be assumed to be transgender. Such behaviour often changes by adolescence.



However, when bodily changes at puberty differ from a childs gender identity, they are typically a source of extreme distress. Still, experts warn that at any age, and especially in adolescence, great caution must be taken before irreversible treatments are provided.

Persons with gender identity disorder may have unrealistic expectations about what being a member of the opposite sex entails, Gooren wrote. Therefore, he and others say that before starting hormone treatments, the person should live for at least a year as the desired sex.



Studying the risks

Surgical sex reassignment may then follow to remove and reconstruct the genitalia, breasts and internal sex organs to more closely resemble the desired sex. Some people also undergo facial reconstruction. Even after surgery, hormone treatments must continue indefinitely to maintain the desired gender characteristics.



It is especially important for transgender individuals seeking treatment to know the risks involved. Long-term studies of people who underwent sex reassignment surgery have been conducted in Sweden and Denmark, where exc-ellent population-wide medical records are kept.



A Swedish team from the Karolinska Institute and the University of Gothenberg followed 324 people who underwent sex reassignment surgery and compared them with matched controls in the general population. After an average follow-up of 11.4 years, men and women who had sex reassignments had death rates three times higher from all causes.



Suicide rates were especially high, suggesting the need for continued psychiatric follow-up among those undergoing sex change, the authors wrote. Cancer deaths were doubled in the surgical group, though they appeared to be unrelated to hormone treatments.



The recent Danish study, by researchers in Copenhagen, investigated postoperative diseases and deaths among 104 men and women representing 98% of those who underwent sex reassignment surgery in Denmark from 1978 through 2010. One person in three had developed an ailment, most often cardiovascular disease, and one in 10 had died, with deaths occurring at an average age of 53.5.



The authors suggested that a host of soc-ietal factors, including social exclusion, harassment and negative experiences in school and at work, could largely contribute to the patients health problems. The findings underscore the importance of better postoperative support and closer attention to factors like smoking and alcohol abuse.


The Department of Public Instruction has decided to include 51 schools in Puttur taluk under Gubbachchi Speaking, a spoken English class for students from first to fifth standard in government schools in the taluk.



G S Shashidhar, Puttur block education officer, told Deccan Herald that the innovative and successful project enables students of government Kannada medium primary schools in Puttur to develop spoken English skills. When the project was launched last year, it had 12 schools on card, however, within a few months, the number of schools increased to 33. This year, the number has increased to 51. As a BEO, I want all government primary schoolchildren to be able to converse in English. The government school should become a branded school and attract the students, he explained.



The curriculum for Gubbachchi Speaking has been developed by 16 teachers. The core team comprises Vimal Kumar, a science teacher of Government Higher Primary School at Nellyadi. Dr Madhav Bhat, retired principal of Vivekananda College, is also part of the team. It was Vimal Kumar who came up with the name Gubbachchi (sparrow), to signify the childhood in of the session, the officer said.



The BEO said that efforts are being taken to make the learning interactive for the students. All the rhymes have been developed by the core team. Through this Gubbachchi Speaking exercise, I want the government school children be able to read and speak in English by the time the child reaches fifth standard, he added.



Planning for copyright



Encouraged by the success of the project, the team now plans to copyright for the content of spoken English used for teaching children. A team from Kerala visited us recently and has taken up our model to implement it in their jurisdiction. The copyright of the content will ensure that no one will use it for profit and should be used with the permission from the Department of Public Instruction, Puttur, said the BEO.



The contents of the curriculum are divided into five segments: singing and drilling time, which focuses on sentence structure; talking time, where one speaks; and story time, where students recite stories told by the teachers.



The teachers in these school are appointed by the School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC). They are also paid their salaries by the committee, old students or philanthropists in the area.



The schools where Gubbachchi speaking is introduced have cut five minutes from each period to include the additional spoken-English class for the kids.



The rhymes are very popular with the students. Even the parents are happy when their children speak sentences in English. Parents are also happy that their children identify the names of fruits in English and repeat whatever they have learnt in schools in front of their parents after reaching home. It is a learning process for parents as well, said Shashidhar.



Vision Puttur



Speaking of additional projects, the BEO said that Vision Puttur has been prepared to improve infrastructure in government schools in the taluk.



Forty of the 182 government schools in Puttur were identified as vision schools last year. Under the Vision Puttur, the walls of the schools are adorned with Warli paintings. All the 40 schools have Takshashila Kuteera, a place for students to hold discussions during free time. During 2015-16, 10 schools have been included in the project, the officer added.


There is a growing buzz in the Congress circles for a larger role for Priyanka Gandhi in politics, particularly in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.



After Congress poll strategist Prashant Kishor floated Priyankas name as a possible chief ministerial face for Uttar Pradesh there are growing voices in the party for expanding her role in electoral politics. However, the Congress has steadfastly maintained that any decision of joining electoral politics has to be taken by Priyanka.



Even Rahul Gandhi has said that it was for Priyanka to decide, senior All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesman Ajay Maken told reporters here.



Asked about a larger role for Priyanka, leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said: I hope that she will definitely campaign in other places if time permits.



Though Priyanka has been active behind the scenes in the party, she has confined her public role to Amethi and Rae Bareli, the Parliamentary constituencies of her brother Rahul and mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.



There have been reports of Priyanka contesting the next Lok Sabha elections from Amethi, while Rahul shifts to neighbouring Rae Bareli. But these are not confirmed.

Recently, posters had come up in front of the Rajasthan office of the Congress drawing similarities between Priyanka and her grandmother late prime minister Indira Gandhi.



Azad, who was recently appointed as AICC general secretary and given the charge of Uttar Pradesh, said there was an overwhelming desire among party workers to see Priyanka work along side Rahul in the Uttar Pradesh elections.



The Congress is in political wilderness in Uttar Pradesh since 1989 following emergence of divisive Mandal-Mandir politics and rise of the Bahujan Samaj Party, which took away its crucial Dalit vote base.


Three Asiatic lions from the Gir National Sanctuary near here have been sentenced to live in captivity for life, after they were found to be man-eaters.



The authorities have decided to put the key accused male lion behind bars for life.



Two other sub-adult female lions will be kept at the Gujarat forest departments rescue centre, or observation home, till they breathe their last.



The male lion will be sent to Sakkarbaug Zoo on the outskirts of Junagadh city and two lionesses will be locked up in one of the forest departments rescue centres, Junagadh division chief conservator of forest, wildlife circle, A P Singh, told the media on Wednesday. We shall send our report to the Centre with findings and suggestions, he said.



The forest department officials had laid a trap and captured 17 lions in the past one month, after three people  a 14-year-old boy, a woman aged around 50, and a 61-year-old man  were reportedly mauled to death by the felines in the region during April and May near the Gir sanctuary in Amreli district.



Of the 17, three were identified as man-eaters. The police took the paw prints of the suspect lions and ordered a laboratory test of their excreta to pinpoint the real culprits.



After analysing their pug marks and faeces during a 25-day captivity, one adult male and two sub-adult female lions were found to have turned man-eaters, as human remains were found in the excreta of the three lions, Singh said. The male lion attacked, killed and ate humans, while two other sub-adults appear to have eaten leftover body parts.



According to the 14th lion survey, carried out in May last year to collate the exact population of lions in the Gir sanctuary, the number of big cats in the region had risen 27% from 411 in 2010 to 523. Of these, 109 are males, 201 females and 213 cubs.



Survey data



The survey for the lions was conducted over 20,000 sq km, covering the districts of Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, Devbhumi Dwarka, Bhavnagar and Amreli in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.



According to the survey figures, Junagadh has the maximum number of lions at 268, with Amreli district having 174 lions roaming in its boundary, recording the highest increase in their numbers. The incidents of man-lion conflict in the region have generally been rare. However, with the area where lions roam rising dramatically, it is only in recent times that the conflicts have been making headlines.



The other 14 lions of the pride, including several cubs, will be released in the (Gir) sanctuary. As a precaution, they will be released in deeper pockets of the sanctuary, far away from where they were captured, the forest official said.


The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry on Wednesday said there will be no retrenchment of faculties in the universities with the implementation of the revised promotion rules.





There is no question of retrenchment of teachers on account of API (Academic Performance Index) scores. The classroom teaching hours will be restored (to what it had been so far), Higher Education Secretary Vinay Sheel Oberoi told reporters here, apparently to allay apprehensions of the Delhi University teachers association (DUTA), which has been protesting the revision of the regulations by the university grants commission (UGC) for the last several days.



The higher education secretary also assured that there will be no cap on working hours spent by the university faculties on tutorials, practicals, field works, direct classroom teaching and project supervision.



All caps in API scores have been removed except for invited lectures. Its because this sub category in API scores should not remain open ended. I want to reassure that achieving a minimum API score in direct teaching will be possible, he said, after the full commission meeting of the UGC.



The UGC recently introduced an increase of two hours per week in classroom teaching for assistant professors and associate professors.
Amid signs of strains in Indias relations with China, New Delhi on Wednesday moved to further boost its ties with Taiwan with two pacts in agriculture and aviation sectors.





A meeting of Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved signing of the Air Services Agreement between India and Taiwan. The government also gave its ex post facto approval to a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Taiwan for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors, official sources said after the meeting. India  like most of the countries  maintains a One-China policy and does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.



The Peoples Republic of China does not recognise Taiwan  officially the Republic of China  as a separate nation. It also does not maintain ties with the nations that maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan. India and Taiwan do not have formal embassies in each others capitals. The India Taipei Association in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in New Delhi serve as representative offices of the two nations in each others capitals.



The air services between India and Taiwan were so far governed by a MoU exchanged between Air India Charters Limited (AIRL) and Taipei Airlines Associations (TAA), the government stated in a press-release issued on Wednesday. The new Air Services Agreement signifies an important landmark in the civil aviation relations between India and Taiwan, and has the potential to spur greater trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two parties, it added.



The other MoU approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday provides for cooperation in agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, aquaculture and food processing.
The BJP state executive meeting will be held in Bengaluru on June 18 and will draw an action plan to take on the ruling Congress government.





BJP state spokesperson Suresh Kumar and party General Secretary Shobha Karandlaje told reporters on Wednesday in Bengaluru that party legislators, office bearers, district presidents and heads of various morchas will participate in the meeting. This will be the first state executive to be held after B S Yeddyurappa was appointed as president of the state BJP.



Suresh Kumar said the party would strive to make the state mafia-free. The present government was protecting various mafias, including those pertaining to sand, liquor and education, he charged. The state executive would pass a political resolution on the failures of the state government, he said. Karandlaje said the BJP would provide full support to the state government when it comes to safeguarding the language, land and water resources of Karnataka.


Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has started preparing the ground for a reshuffle of the state Cabinet. At a meeting of the council of ministers on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah told his colleagues that he will take up the reshuffle in consultation with the party high command.





According to information compiled after speaking to several ministers who attended Wednesdays meeting, Siddaramaiah said the government had completed three years in office and the time had come for a reshuffle to provide an opportunity to others party members to serve in the government. Siddaramaiah will leave for New Delhi on Thursday afternoon. He has sought an appointment with All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Sonia Gandhi, who is expected to return to Delhi from Shimla on Friday.



Siddaramaiah told the ministers that some of them would be drafted for party work and sought their cooperation. The chief minister also said it was important that they all remain united since elections were just two years away. Siddaramaiah also thanked his colleagues for their cooperation in the last three years and for discharging their responsibilities dutifully. A minister said it looked like the chief minister was giving them their farewell speech.



However, Siddaramaiah did not drop any hints on who would be shown the door and the aspirants who are going to make it. Sources in the Congress said the reshuffle could see as many as 15 new faces being inducted. Siddaramaiah has not tinkered much with his ministry ever since he took over in May 2013. This would be his first major Cabinet rejig.



Political circles were abuzz for the last few days about a major reshuffle soon. Aspirants are many and ministers are in no mood to make way for new comers. All the 33 ministerial berths are full. On speculation that a few senior ministers would be assigned party work and their positions would be assigned to youngsters, H K Patil, R V Deshpande, S R Patil and Roshan Baig camped in New Delhi lobbying for their continuation in the Cabinet.



Names of new entrants doing the rounds for a place in the Cabinet include Rizwan Arshad, K Sudhakar, Priya Krishna and Priyank Kharge. The ministers in the non-performers list, who may be shown the door include Qamarul Islam, Baburao Chinchansur and Kimmane Ratnakar. The reason why a Council of Ministers meeting (where those with minister-of-state rank also attend) was convened on Wednesday instead of the state Cabinet (where only Cabinet ministers attend) was to ensure participation of all ministers.




Less than 10 minutes after the Jet Airways flight 9W 2839 from Bengaluru to Mangaluru took off from the Kempegowda International Airport, the aircraft was filled with smoke, recalled Mukesh Kumar Jain, a business development manager at Novo Nordisk India Pvt Ltd, a pharma company in Bengaluru.





Soon after landing at Mangaluru airport, Jain told Deccan Herald he was on a business trip to Mangaluru when the aircraft developed a technical snag mid-air. When I peeped outside the window, the engine too had stopped. However, the pilot and crew were extremely good and they safely made an emergency landing back at the Bengaluru airport, Jain said and added that he was the first one to jump off the aircraft as soon as it stopped.



Two to three of us helped many passengers jump out of the aircraft before the ladder arrived, he said.



Meanwhile, 64-year-old Haresh Soali, who deals with engineering tools and represents Oriental Tool Company in Bengaluru said that initially he presumed that the crew had sprayed some perfume or the cooling system was emitting smoke. But soon, I realised that it was something else and serious. Within seconds, the situation turned scary, but we were lucky nothing untoward happened and we landed safely, he said and added that he saw ambulances and fire tenders waiting near the aircraft.



Parag, who was going to Mangaluru with his parents from Delhi for his admission at Manipal University, said they were scared for a few minutes when smoke engulfed the aircraft and when one of the two engines stopped, but they were relieved as the aircraft landed safely.



Interestingly, many passengers refused to speak when they realised this correspondent was from the media. One elderly woman said: I did not see anything. Another middle-aged woman accompanying her too added that both of them did not see anything!



Mangaluru International Airport director J T Radhakrishna told Deccan Herald that there was only smoke and no fire. As 9W 2839 returned to Bengaluru and made an emergency landing, all the passengers were accommodated on the next flight and the flight landed at Mangaluru airport at 2.28 pm.


The BBMP Pourakarmikas (civic workers) Association has rejected the proposal, mooted by Mayor B N Manjunatha Reddy, to employ the contracted civic workers through the self-help groups.





The office-bearers of the association termed it another way of exploiting the contracted Pourakarmikas at a public meeting at the Institution of Agricultural Technologists (Next to KPCC) office on Queens Road on Wednesday.



About 500 sanitation workers from all over Bengaluru, Mandya, Hosapete, Koppal, Tumakuru and other districts participated in the meeting, also attended by chairperson of the Karnataka Safai Karamachari Commission Narayana.



Narayana assured the Pourakarmiaks that the government would soon notify minimum wages of Rs 14,000 per month. He further said that he would pressure the state to regularise the jobs of contracted civic workers by March next year.



Venkatamma, a Pourakarmika from Koramangala, highlighted the hardships of the civic workers. She said they (civic workers) start their day as early as 6 am everyday and toil 7 days a week and 365 days a year, without a single day off, and they do it for a very meagre wage, she added.


This brain-dead donors organs saved the lives of three. What makes it unique is that all three transplants were conducted within a span on 18 hours. The liver, heart, and one kidney were all transplanted on the same day.





Keerthi, 26, a nurse by profession was rushed to Manipal Hospitals due to cardio-respiratory arrest. She suffered hypoxic brain damage, following which she was declared brain-dead on May 2.



It was just hours later that doctors had to prepare themselves for a tough challenge. Three organ transplants were to be done, all in the same hospital within the golden period.



Four doctors Dr Devananda N S, HoD and Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr Anand Shenoy, Consultant Cardiologist, Dr Vishwanath Siddini, Consultant Nephrologist and Dr Olithselvan, Chairman and Hepatalogist, Manipal Hospitals, worked for 18 hours to ensure that the transplants were successful.



Simultaneous transplant

According to doctors at Manipal Hospitals, heart and liver were transplanted simultaneously and this was followed by the kidney transplant.



While the victims liver, heart, and one kidney were allotted to Manipal Hospitals, the corneas were allotted to Narayana Nethralaya and the other kidney to Victoria Hospital.

A 34-year-old IT professional who was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy (a heart condition in which chambers of the heart increase in size and heart muscles progressively weaken) was the beneficiary of the heart transplant.



A diabetic with renal failure underwent the renal transplant and a 52-year-old bank employee who was suffering from end-stage liver disease underwent liver transplant.


The Karnataka High Court has been functioning with less than half of the sanctioned strength of judges, leading to an increase in the pendency of litigations.





Of the total 62 sanctioned posts of judges in High Court, only 26 are functioning. Of these 26 judges, two will be retiring by the year-end leaving only 24 judges to sit in the High Court, including Dharwad and Kalaburagi benches. The last appointments of judges to the High Court were made in December 2014.



The High Court has more than 2.50 lakh pending cases as in April 2016. The average number of days a case is pending before the court is 1,011 days. Karnataka High Court ranks sixth on this count in the country, according to Bengaluru-based NGO Daksh India which analyses the functioning of the judiciary and political system.



According to sources, the High Court collegium had sent 18 names, 10 from the Bar and eight from the Bench for appointment as judges. The state government has not approved five names from the Bar, sources said.



Union Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda told Deccan Herald that there is absolutely no delay from the Centres end in processing the recommended names. Of the 18 names recommended, the Chief Minister has not approved five. We will ensure that other 13 names are processed at the earliest. The credentials of the recommended candidates have to be verified before other procedures for appointment are followed.



Vacancies are not the only reason for the huge pendency of cases in the courts.

There are many more reasons for it. If the collegium recommends to bring back the retired judges, the government will support it, Gowda added.



One of the practising advocates in the High Court said shortage of judges is not the only reasons for the accumulating pendency. Efficiency of the judges and time taken to hear and dispose of the cases also matter. Frequent adjournments, unnecessarily prolonging the hearing and unavailability of the advocates to make their submission when the case is called are the other reasons, he explained.



Solving pendency

Senior counsel S P Shankar says that earlier, one of the chief justices of Karnataka High Court had issued administrative directions to the sitting judges with regard to embargo on adjournment of cases. There was a quota given to each judge with targets on the number of cases that have to be heard and disposed of. In many instances, judges performed beyond the quota and there was implementation of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC),1908. But now, the CPC is not practised in the courts effectively. The larger responsibility falls on the administrative head of the judiciary in its implementation, he opined.



In his foreword to Shankars book, the sixth edition on CPC, senior High Court judge Justice N Kumar writes: The amendments to CPC were brought in on the assumption that the provisions of CPC were coming in the way of speedy disposal of civil cases. But if things have not changed at the ground level then it is a case for introspection and to find the real cause. The real cause is not following the provisions of the Code literally or in strict sense.




By Gayathri Vaidyanathan

9 June 2016 (ClimateWire)  In an armchair experiment where humans are thought of as no wiser than animals, scientists have found that climate change could empty some nations by 2100. A warming of 2 degrees Celsius would cause 34 percent of the worlds population to migrate more than 300 miles, to places on the fringes of the tropics where the temperatures are milder. Dramatic population declines might occur in Mexico, Central America, Africa, and India. The results were published today in Scientific Reports. The scientists are cautious about the predictive power of their thought experiment, particularly as it relates to humans. People, unlike animals, can adapt to higher temperatures through technologies such as air conditioning. They also face barriers to long-distance migration, such as land borders, language barriers or even buying an air ticket. The scientists stressed that they are only exploring a hypothetical response to rising temperatures.

Were not making specific predictions about migration patterns of individual species, but the geophysical constraint is that, as the tropics get hotter, youll have to go far, essentially leaving the tropics, to cool off, Adam Sobel, a professor of applied physics and math at Columbia University and a co-author of the study, said in a statement. Some of the regions that the study suggests would be worst affected currently have the lowest migration rates in the world, said Valerie Mueller, a senior research fellow who studies migration at the International Food Policy Research Institute. They try to cast this paper as a way of thinking about not just human, but the migration of other species, she said. For birds that have very little costs in moving 500 and 1,000 kilometers [300 to 620 miles], it might work. But this framework for monitoring human migration doesnt recognize the formidable barriers we face in moving. [more]

What If Global Warming Emptied India?

ABSTRACT: Evidence increasingly suggests that as climate warms, some plant, animal, and human populations may move to preserve their environmental temperature. The distances they must travel to do this depends on how much cooler nearby surfaces temperatures are. Because large-scale atmospheric dynamics constrain surface temperatures to be nearly uniform near the equator, these displacements can grow to extreme distances in the tropics, even under relatively mild warming scenarios. Here we show that in order to preserve their annual mean temperatures, tropical populations would have to travel distances greater than 1000 km over less than a century if global mean temperature rises by 2 C over the same period. The disproportionately rapid evacuation of the tropics under such a scenario would cause migrants to concentrate in tropical margins and the subtropics, where population densities would increase 300% or more. These results may have critical consequences for ecosystem and human wellbeing in tropical contexts where alternatives to geographic displacement are limited.

Potentially Extreme Population Displacement and Concentration in the Tropics Under Non-Extreme Warming
La Habana

La Habana

Coffee, growing on bushes in tropical regions, of the genus Coffea, came to Cuba from La Espanola, just like cattle did. Don Jose Antonio Gelaber brought it in 1748, founding the first coffee plantation in Wajay.

In the 1760s Havana's oligarchy set its sights on a new objective: to make Cuba the world's leading producer of sugar and coffee. In this effort several factors converged: Cuba's soil, suitable for the cultivation of these beans, enough land to produce it, and the Haitian Revolution of 1791, which drove away thousands of French settlers who knew how to grow coffee. Arriving in Cuba, they settled in the country's eastern region, especially in mountainous areas of Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo and Baracoa, where they founded large coffee plantations that today produce more than 85 percent of the nation's coffee.

Thanks to these initiatives coffee plantations spread, as evidenced by the following data: in 1803 there were about 108,000 coffee plants on the island, while by 1807 there were 1,110,000; exports increased tenfold between 1790 and 1805; and Cuba ended up determining coffee prices in many European capitals. In 1827 Cuban agriculture boasted 2,067 coffee plantations, and in 1830 Cuba was the world's biggest exporter of coffee, a position held by Haiti until revolution broke out there.

Its massive coffee production generated the habit of drinking coffee several times a day on the island, which became a hallmark of Cubans' daily lives. This practice, coming to form part of Cuban culture, boosted demand at such a rate that the island's production was entirely dedicated to domestic consumption, and it was necessary to resort to importing to make up for the shortage of beans.

Beginning in 1925 governments enacted several protectionist measures that served to modify the relationship between production and importation. In 1930 Cuba managed to cover domestic demand and to start exporting again. According to sources at the Ministry of Agriculture, in the 40s Cuba was once again the world's largest exporter of coffee.

Government measures and the efforts of Cuban coffee growers led to increases in production. In 1946 the figure was 573,713 quintals (26,390.7 tons); in 1951 it rose to 714,000 quintals (32,844 tons); and peaked with the 1960-1961 coffee harvest, when the country produced 60,000 tons.

50 years after this achievement, the 2010-2011 harvest produced just 6,000 tons (10 times less). The effect of this drastically-reduced production was addressed by the President of the State Council, General Raul Castro, at the National Assembly of the People's Power on December 18, 2010: "next year we cannot afford to spend almost 50 million dollars on coffee imports to maintain the quota at present distributed to consumers, including newborn children. We plan, as this is an unavoidable necessity, as we did until 2005, to mix it with peas, much cheaper than coffee, which costs us almost three thousand dollars a ton, while peas cost only 390."

For the following harvest, that of 2011-2012, without taking into account all the factors involved in the decline, government authorities issued some measures yielding an increase in production. 7,100 tons (1,100 tons more than the previous harvest) were produced. However, one of those measures taken was to extend the harvest time, with the consequent damage to the following harvest. Despite the cost paid to achieve this growth, at this rate it would take 48 years of steady growth to equal the 60,000 tons harvested in 1960-61.

Events sufficed to demonstrate the inadequacy of the measures taken to achieve sustained growth. For example, in the municipality of Niceto Perez, Guantanamo, at one of the largest producers of beans production fell by more than two thirds.

Again, instead of attacking the root causes, the useless tactic of ideological appeal was employed: on September 20, 2012, Orlando Lugo Fontes, then president of the National Association of Small Farmers, an organization representing State interests, called for an organized coffee harvest. But the producers' lack of interest, the plants' ageing, and the longer harvest time rendered the leader's harangue useless. The result was another drop in coffee production.

During the 2013-2014 harvest production fell to 6,105 tons, less than the previous year, and ten times less than 1960-61. It was an amount that proved insufficient to meet domestic demand, making it necessary, as had happened in the early 20th century, to buy coffee on the foreign market. The same thing happened in 2010 and 2011, years in which 18,000 tons had to be imported, at a cost of tens of millions of dollars.

For the 2014-15 harvest two of the country's eastern provinces predicted that the result would vary little from that of the previous harvest. Unwilling to streamline economic relations, the State has taken a series of measures to boost production in the 2015-16 harvest to 15,000 tons; a figure which, if achieved, would still fall far short of the 24,000 that the country needs to consume and export.

The State's monopolistic control, storage prices, the countless restrictions to which producers are subjected, restrictions on marketing a portion of crops outside commitments imposed by the State, land ownership relationships, the lack of an economic model capable of producing efficiently, and the State's fear that a middle class will develop, are among the main causes for the decline of Cuba's coffee industry.

The clearest manifestation of the Government's unwillingness to reverse this decline was the negative response by the National Bureau of the Association of Small Farmers - without even consulting producers - to a proposal by the US State Department to allow producers to directly export Cuban coffee to America.

With typically totalitarian obstinacy, and ignoring the real causes of the problem, the Cuban government insists on producing about 24,000 tons of coffee annually by the year 2020.
Hioshi Lockheimer, Android's Senior Vice President, has posted a series of tweets related to Nutella, and may be hinting at the name of Android N

Googles Senior Vice President for Android, Hiroshi Lockheimer really wants people to believe that Android N will end up being named Nutella. In a series of posts on Twitter, he dropped a number of hints related to the product. One of his posts reveal that he was searching for the brand on Google, while another shows a menu for a restaurant that features a Nutella based dish. When asked about the tweets, he simply said that it could be because he simply like Nutella.

This isnt the first time Lockheimer has hinted his preference for the name. When Google introduced the developer preview for Android N, he said in a separate blog post, what will the N release be named? Were nut tellin you yet. For all we know, Lockheimer could be trying to pull wool over our eyes and the final name could be something completely different.

For now though, Google hasnt yet finalised the name for the new version of its mobile operating system and the company had asked people to suggest names during Google I/O 2016. One of the suggested names on the website was a South Indian dessert called Neyyappam. Through their Twitter account, the Kerala Government even encouraged its followers to vote for the name. However, the wait may soon be over as Google has announced that it will soon be releasing the official name for Android N in the coming weeks.

Just testing some stuff out... pic.twitter.com/6KPTEgXl9K  Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) June 15, 2016

There's one specific dish on this menu that I'm keenly interested in. pic.twitter.com/3y5oj9c40x  Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) June 6, 2016
Republican presidential candidate vows to suspend immigrations from any countries with history of terrorism

Donald Trump has said that he will suspend immigration to America from any country with a history of terrorism , at a press conference on national security following the mass shooting in Orlando in which 49 people were killed.

Trump was speaking in response to opponent Hillary Clinton's refugee policy. The Democratic candidate's attitude towards immigration is vastly different to that of Trump.

"When Im elected, I will suspend immigration from areas of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies until we fully understand how to end these threats," he said at the conference.

3 of the perpetrators of the 7/7 bombings which devastated London in 2005 were carried out by British citizens

Trump's assertion appears to be incredibly vague, as there are various states, includign most of the United States' allies, that have Trumps' so-called "history of terrorism".

3 of the perpetrators of the 7/7 bombings which devastated London in 2005 were carried out by British citizens born in Leeds, and the 4th moved tio Britain when he was 5 years old. So, Brits would be ruled out of Trump's America.

Ireland's complex history with the United Kingdom has led to various bombings and assassination attempts on British political figures, including the Brighton Bombing in 1984 which was an attempt on the life of Margaret Thatcher. So that's Ireland gone too then.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has previously declined to be exempted from Mr Trump's plan to ban all Muslims from entering the United States. Time will tell whether Trump offers a similar exemption to all citizens of Britain, or others for that matter.
Defence ministers of treaty organisation formally acknowledge impact of internet warfare

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation recognised on Tuesday that modern military conflicts are not only fought in the air, sea and land, but also through the internet.

Pressure had been put on world leaders in recent times to apply the same criteria to cyberspace warfare as is placed on traditional methods of conflict.

The declaration was made following a meeting for NATO's defence ministers on Tuesday, with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stating that it has become clear that dangerous attacks can be launched on the internet and among computer networks just as easily as they can on the battlefield.

The Democratic National Committee announced on Tuesday that their computers had been hacked by the Russian government, with files being acquired about their research on Donald Trump.

David Gibson, vice-president of strategy and development at data protection firm Varonis, welcomed the news.

This is a welcome, if long overdue, recognition that cyber warfare is in fact an important and lethal domain," Gibson said. "We would urge NATO and participating governments, as well as their technology providers, to take a modern approach that prioritises securing the data itself from unauthorised access."

This is a welcome, if long overdue, recognition that cyber warfare is in fact an important and lethal domain," David Gibson

Gibson stressed the strategic importance of this recognition further, and it believes it will allow companies like his to better secure their clients.

"The threat of intruders taking over control of sensitive systems and commands by gaining access through legitimate accounts is a massive concern. Protecting the physical perimeter of any network has proven to be insufficient.

Simon Crosby, co-founder of Bromium, a start-up that tackles internet viruses and security issues, is not so sure about NATO's ability to utilise the tools correctly.

"The organisation was founded to protect the members by, in extremis, deploying conventional non-cyber assets to effectively combat a threat on any member of the coalition. But NATO has no assets to deploy in the cyber domain."

"NATO has no assets to deploy in the cyber domain." Simon Crosby

Crosby asserts that NATO, in essence, is helpless to prevent most cyber attacks.

"Each member has carefully managed its own cyber attack techniques, tools and strategies. They each know the vulnerabilities and weak spots of their foes, and all of their peers in NATO. NATO cannot deploy assets to mitigate a cyber attack  the organisation is an anachronism from the era of the cold war, and has zero capacity to act in the cyber domain".
Staff email predicts "significant retail downturn" in case of British exit from EU

Daunt told employees a victory for Brexit campaigners would potentially reverse much of the hard-won gain of the last few years at the bookseller. He made the warning in an email sent to thousands of its store staff, managers and head office staff.

Waterstones boss James Daunt has warned that the company could well have to cut a number of jobs if Britain votes to leave the European Union in next Friday's referendum.

Various business leaders have expressed their wariness of a British EU exit, with many foreseeing job cuts as part of an uncertain economic period for the area. JP Morgan chief executive Jamie Dinon predicted up to 4,000 jobs could depart the US owned bank, and just today British car and aeroplane manufacturer Rolls-Royce warned employees of potential losses of investment.

Various business leaders have expressed their wariness of a British EU exit

In his email Daunt writes: Many companies are telling their employees of the likely impact of a Brexit vote in the referendum. For Waterstones, I believe it will be adverse. To borrow the assessment of Christine Lagarde, the impact will be pretty bad to very, very bad.

In a saturated market which has seen a move towards electronic books and online sales, Daunt referred to the gains that the company has made in recent years.

For Waterstones, the impact on sales will reverse much of the hard-won gain of the last few years. To survive, we will have to return to cost-cutting; return, that is, to the brutal reality of job losses and stagnant wages.

For Waterstones, the impact on sales will reverse much of the hard-won gain of the last few years.

Most informed judgment is that Brexit will provoke a period of great economic uncertainty, and a significant retail downturn in consequence. Those who deny this are blithe in their reassurance.

Daunt is the former owner of Daunt Books, as well as having worked as a banker. He became boss of Waterstones after it was sold by HMV to Russian billionaire Alexander Mamut in 2011.

You may wonder why I offer no argument beyond this stark warning. The EU, after all, has much to recommend it as well as, in the opinion of many, considerable defects. My concern, however, is to be clear about the probable consequence of Brexit for Waterstones.
Property investment trust Segro has transferred a portfolio of continental European big box warehouses and development land to its 50%-owned joint venture in exchange for 89.4m (71m).

The transaction is part of the FTSE 250 company's strategy of holding continental big box warehouses and development land primarily within its logistics-focused SEGRO European Logistics Partnership (SELP) vehicle, which is half owned by Canada's Public Sector Pension Investment Board.

Segro, which acts as asset, property and development manager of the JV, created the JV with PSP Investments in 2013 to use the third party capital to accelerate growth of its continental European logistics portfolio and leverage its capital and management platform across a wider asset base.

The properties transferred on Wednesday included four fully-let, modern warehouses containing 133,000 square metres of space, three of which are located in Italy and were acquired as part of a deal in 2015.

The fourth asset is located within the Segro Logistics Park in Prague and it let to a pharmaceutical client.

The weighted average lease length of the tenancies across is 11 years, with the sale price of the built assets 81.2m and a topped-up initial yield of 6.3%, a net initial yield of 2.3% according to book values at 31 December.

The portfolio also contains 18.1 hectares of land capable of supporting approximately 66,000 sq m of big box warehouse development in Prague and Tychy, Poland.

In addition, Segro has also exchanged contracts with SELP to sell a 4.7 hectare development site near Schiphol Airport, in Amsterdam, with completion expected early in the second half of 2016.
Wincanton has renewed its distribution contract with Sainsburys, bringing the long-standing relationship between the two to over 25 years.

The provider of supply chain solutions said the extension will see further ongoing efficiency and performance improvements in the logistics operations for four key Sainsbury's sites, supporting its supermarket and convenience stores across England and Wales for up to five years.

Chief executive Adrian Colman said: The renewed contract is testament to the strength of our relationship and the shared vision Wincanton has with its clients to add value and deliver excellent service.

Sainsbury's has been a key client of ours for over 21 years already and we are thrilled to see this long-standing relationship develop further."
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RSV: Nationwide Children's Hospital helping find new treatments

Experimental RSV vaccines and possible treatments are being tested in preclinical studies at Nationwide Children's Hospital and other hospitals.
DCI Engineers

Grimm

DCI Engineers hired Roxanne Grimm to lead a new division in the civil engineering department that will offer right-of-way consulting in Spokane and Seattle. Grimm is an associate principal and right of way division manager, and will work in the Spokane office. She was with Epic Land Solutions, and has worked with Spokane and the Washington State Department of Transportation. She is a mediator and real estate broker. DCI has offices in Washington, Oregon, California, Texas and Alaska.




Power Engineers

Scott Harm of Power Engineers was elected to the executive council of the Western Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Harm is an architectural client relations manager in the facilities business development group of the global consulting engineering firm. The Western Council is the largest region in the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Harm chairs the Washington State Board of Architectural Registration.




LaGuardia rehab would cost $4B

By VERENA DOBNIK

Associated Press

[enlarge] Skanska-Walsh is the design-build joint venture.

NEW YORK  Two years after likening LaGuardia Airport to a Third World country, Vice President Joe Biden commended a $4 billion redevelopment project for it at a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday.

Biden joined Gov. Andrew Cuomo to announce the overhaul of the aging and cramped facility.

The plan calls for the remaking of the airport's footprint and a new 1.3 million-square-foot, 35-gate central terminal, which officials said should be completed by the end of 2021. There are also plans for ferry access and rail service that would connect to the Long Island Rail Road, the nation's busiest commuter rail system. More than two-thirds of the overall cost will be paid by private financing and passenger fees, officials said.

This is not going to just be a rebuilding of what it was, this is going to be a whole new airport, Cuomo said. We're not just building an airport, we're building an airport that's part of a new vision that revitalizes New York.

Since Biden's unflattering remarks about LaGuardia in 2014, he and Cuomo have provided numerous updates on improvements being planned there.

When he said, and we kid him about it, that if you landed in LGA and you were blindfolded and they took off the blindfold you'd think you'd be in a Third World country, it was his way of saying the king has no clothes, and he was right, Cuomo said of his fellow Democratic politician. I'm proud to be the governor who heeded his words and stepped up to the plate, because he was right.

Biden said he wasn't so sure when I said that that people would be clapping. He commended Cuomo for taking action and said other governors should be following suit to improve infrastructure.

The greatest city in the world  and New York is, it's not hyperbole  needs and deserves the greatest infrastructure in the world, he said, noting that the United States ranks only 26th in the world in its infrastructure.

Cuomo and state officials also held a ceremonial groundbreaking Tuesday afternoon.

Here is the project team: Vantage Airport Group, Skanska and Meridiam for development and equity investment; Skanska-Walsh as the design-build joint venture; HOK and WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff for design; and Vantage Airport Group for management of operations.




Psychology students from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) gained valuable insight into Taiwanese culture on a #DMUglobal trip.

DMU and Ming Chuan University students visiting the National Palace Museum

The group of 25 formed friendships with local students while broadening their knowledge on a visit that will benefit their studies and could even impact on their careers.

Senior Lecturers Dr Mei-I Cheng and Dr John Song led the trip to expose students to a culture that is very different from their own, describing the result as "priceless".

Students said it was "amazing" and felt "blessed" to be involved.

Psychology with Health Studies student Maneshia Johal said: "The cultural difference when learning is totally different to when you experience it first-hand.

"The lecturers showed us exactly how special the country was. I feel so incredibly lucky and blessed to have been given this opportunity."

A Chinese meal prepared for DMU by the host university

Second-year Psychology student Shannon Woolman had an "amazing" time, saying: "It was really insightful. Because we had Taiwanese students helping us about, I had an even better experience as they helped us travel, translate, relate and compare cultures."

Fellow Psychology student Amy Wright added: "I have gained many skills, knowledge, friends and worldwide contacts. I feel our trip has allowed me to improve my employability for when I complete my studies.

"These gains will stay with me for life."

Dr Song said the trip was organised to complement a psychology lecture series that looked at cultural differences and international perspectives on both personality and intelligence.

"We thought it would benefit the students to experience how people think and behave in a different culture," he said.

"Taiwan is an interesting place and one of the trip leaders came from Taiwan, so provided insider knowledge. Both trip leaders could speak Mandarin - a great asset when communicating with the local people.

"We also wanted to establish contact with a local university to increase our Psychology division's international collaboration."

Dr Song said the visit, organised as part of the university's international experience programme #DMUglobal, benefited the group of mainly year two students in many ways.

He said: "We believe education should include experiences beyond the books and we have seen these students learn about important life skills, communication skills - both speaking and listening - and general broadening of their outlook on life.

DMU students with staff and students at Ming Chuan University

"They have also experienced the friendliness and warmth of the local people to a degree that they reflected upon their own British background.

"This will definitely help their careers, as they began to see possibilities of working more globally instead of only in the UK."

The trip included visits to cultural and historical sites including the National Palace Museum, the Taipei 101 skyscraper and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. It was hosted by Ming Chuan University students.

Dr Song added: "Our students told us that informal language lessons have been offered over social networking sites by their buddies, and many are even planning a follow-up visit of their own accord!

"This group has developed very strong bonds and we can feel the energy and enthusiasm they have for studies, and for supporting each other. These are priceless."
Foreign ministers from Southeast Asia have retracted a joint statement voicing "serious concern" over rising tensions in the South China Sea just hours after its release, underlining the lack of unity from the ASEAN bloc under mounting diplomatic pressure from Beijing. Following a summit at a lakeside resort in south-western Yunnan province, top diplomats from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries issued a statement on Tuesday warning the territorial disputes had the potential to "undermine peace, security and stability". They urged respect for international law in resolving disputes, in a thinly-veiled reference to Beijing's boycott and planned refusal of an imminent ruling from an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague. "We emphasised the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities, including land reclamation, which may raise tensions in the South China Sea," the statement said. But late on Tuesday, just hours after the statement was issued, Malaysia's foreign ministry said the statement would be retracted, with "urgent amendments" to be made. This was despite the statement, made on Chinese soil, being carefully worded to only include language that had been used in previous statements, including at summits in Vientiane and with US President Barack Obama in Sunnylands in February. ASEAN had yet to issue an amended statement this morning, by which time sources said the bloc might eschew a joint statement altogether, with individual countries free to release their own statements if they wished. China has ramped up its diplomatic offensive ahead of an imminent tribunal ruling over the South China Sea brought by the Philippines, with many expecting the ruling to come down against Beijing. China, which has reclaimed artificial islands and installed military equipment on disputed reefs in the waters, has refused to take part in proceedings and said it would not accept the tribunal's ruling. Beijing has instead aggressively courted support from predominantly economically dependent countries in the Middle East and Africa, and said last month 40 countries support its stance so far, including Afghanistan, Sudan and Vanuatu. ASEAN has long struggled to agree on a united voice on South China Sea disputes, with member countries torn between pushing for a tougher response and remaining wary of angering their key economic partner. The countries also failed to agree on a joint communique in 2012 due to differing positions on the South China Sea. Of the 10 member countries, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have competing territorial claims against China in the South China Sea.










A man who broke windows at a church and parochial house told a court he did it because he is God's messenger.

At Donegal Circuit Court , Fr Cathal O Fearrai, PP, Kilbarron parish in Ballyshannon, described locking himself in his room out of fear during the prolonged attack.

Stephen Clarke, pictured, (46), a native of Belfast who now resides at Glen Easton Close, Leixlip, Co. Kildare, pleaded not guilty to burglary and criminal damage at St Patrick's Parochial House, College Street, Ballyshannon and criminal damage at St Patrick's Church, Chapel Street, Ballyshannon, on July 19 last.

Fr O Fearrai told the court that, around 2am, he heard the doorbell ringing and knocking on the front door of the parochial house. He looked at the CCTV and saw a man going back and forth to the parish office, knocking and shouting. "I didn't answer the door because I was afraid," the priest told the court . He tried to ring Ballyshannon Garda Station a number of times but was ringing an old number.

The man went away but returned after 4am and started throwing stones at windows again.

Fr O Fearrai found the correct number and rang the gardai. By this stage, he said, all the windows in the parochial house and the stained glass windows in the oratory were smashed, , the Blessed Sacrament was thrown on the ground, the lock on the tabernacle was broken. and the oratory was a complete mess. The cost of repairs, Fr O Fearrai stated, was 5,520.

Garda Diane Hamilton and Gda Hubert Gilvarry arrived shortly after 5am and found the defendant seated in the study reading a book. He told them, "The priest wouldn't open the door so I smashed the windows".

As he was being arraigned, Mr Clarke, who represented himself, replied "I plead not guilty, by reason of necessity". Mr Clarke later told the court, I got arrested to get the right to motu proprio, a Roman Catholic legal term which the defendant claims gives a man the right to speak the truth in court.

In summing up, Joseph Barnes JC, instructed by Ciaran Liddy, said the prosecution had proven its case because the facts were not in dispute.

Mr Clarke agreed that he'd absolutely broken the windows but said he did so in order to be heard. He'd been trying for three years to get governments to listen to him. With references to the Kings of David, the Ark of the Covenant, his ancestors who helped write the Annals of the Four Masters and climate change, he warned, There is a master change happens every 7,200 years. There are 8bn people on a train in the world with Satan at the top and no one is shouting 'Stop'.

The jury took 20 minutes to return a verdict of guilty on all three charges. Judge John O'Hagan ordered a Prob ation Report to assess suitability for community service. He adjourned sentencing to October and remanded the defendant on continuing bail.
On this page earlier this month, we recounted several alarming recent events locally in which arrests had been made in connection with charges of abuse and neglect of some of our elderly residents.

Most of the cases involved financial exploitation and theft. One man was arrested after threatening to feed his elderly mother to the alligators.

Those cases, and the increasing frequency of similar incidents, particularly resonate today, recognized as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Alabamas Department of Human Resources investigated more than 8,000 cases of elder abuse in Fiscal Year 2015. Thats a stunning figure of 1 in 93, considering the U.S. Census estimates about 743,423 Alabamians are over age 65.

Today, there will be proclamations from elected bodies, and many people will wear purple ribbons to signify their support in the stand against elder abuse.

As for state law, the Alabama Legislature passed laws in 2013 that more clearly defined elder abuse and strengthened protection with felony charges for financial exploitation.

Senior citizens are often targeted for financial exploitation, so its a good idea to be aware of any unusual transactions they may become involved in. Neighbors and family members should watch out for elderly loved ones, and talk to them regularly to determine if theyve been contacted by itinerant workers or phone solicitors, as these inquiries can be fraudulent.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day highlights these potential pitfalls for senior citizens, but the threats exist every day. Be vigilant.
dpa ElectionsData

With dpa ElectionsData you get access to a unique collection of data. Via a programming interface (Rest-API), your developers can access detailed information, candidate profiles and live results for all national elections in the European Union and important international elections, like the US Midterm elections etc.

The data pool also includes all heads of state and government as well as about 20,000 elected members of parliament throughout the EU. In addition to their data (name, party, constituency or list position), we collect social media profiles and official websites of individuals and parties.
Volvo's high-performance Polestar division has released details on its hottest hybrid SUV.

The Swedish car maker has confirmed performance figures for the Polestar Performance Optimisation pack offered on the range-topping hybrid version of the XC90 seven-seat SUV.

The tuning arm has tweaked the T8 Twin Engine powertrain - which combines a 2.0-litre turbo charged four cylinder with an electric motor - to increase power to 313kW and 680Nm (a 13kW and 40Nm bump over the standard outputs) and reduce its ability to sprint from 0-100km/h to just 5.5 seconds.

The improved performance makes the T8 Polestar pack the most powerful Volvo ever, but it does not the plug-in hybrid's claimed fuel consumption of 2.1L/100km or its 43km electric-only driving range.

Volvo Polestar claims to have also improved the whole drivetrain package to enhance the vehicle's sporting character, including optimising the throttle response and sharpening the transmission with more precise shift action and holding gears for longer when driving on twisty roads, prevented unwanted mid-corner upshifts that unbalance the car and promoting faster acceleration out of the bends.

The Polestar package is due to be available to Australian owners later this year.

Volvo has also indicated it will develop a genuine Polestar version of the XC90 in the future, following a full acquisition of the tuning division last year.
Drives lab will help users to test combos of motors and VSDs

ABB has set up a test laboratory at its drives factory in Helsinki, Finland, where customers can have their own motors tested with ABBs variable-speed drives (VSDs) to verify their impact on performance and energy consumption.

The laboratory is aimed mainly at high-volume drives users such as machine-builders and system integrators. It offers an easy and reliable way for them to test various motor/drive combinations before using VSDs in volume production.

The laboratory includes equipment for precision measurements of drive/motor dynamic performance, load capabilities and efficiency, that will assist customers in finding the optimal drive system for their applications, thus helping them to cut costs, save space and reduce energy consumption.

This investment really supports the process of establishing the ideal drive/motor combination and demonstrates how we can help customers test their equipment up to 400kW with a minimum amount of effort, explains Morten Wierod, managing director of ABBs Drives and Controls.

ABB's new laboratory in Finland will test the performance of its drives with customers' motors

ABBs drives business also has customer laboratories that provide local support in the US, China and India. This new laboratory in Helsinki is the centre of excellence for our business unit from where we support global customers with the most demanding requirements, Wierod adds.

The decision to create the new facility was based on ABBs experience with a customer application laboratory for crane and winch applications that it opened in 2011. This facility, also located in Helsinki, allows OEMs to test the compatibility of ABB drives with cranes and winches in an environment that simulates real applications.
Home Four wheelers Skoda Reveals Kodiaq Design Sketches oi-Abijith Vilangil

Skoda has been planning to launch its biggest SUV yet, the Kodiaq for a while now and what you see here, could be the best look at the upcoming crossover SUV yet.

The Czech brand had first previewed the SUV at Geneva Auto Show. The new model is said to slot above the Yeti and it will be Skoda's biggest model yet.

The crossover's design will follow fairly closely to the concept, with sharp edges, strong shoulder and C-shaped LED taillights.

The shape was designed by Skoda's legendary chief designer Jozef Kaban, who previously headed the exterior design for Audi and designed the bodywork on the Bugatti Veyron.

The design on the Kodiaq is inspired from Czech crystal glasswork, with sharp lines, stretched over the SUV.
Make a hassle-free home move with Part Exchange at Balham Walk

Property-seekers in South London can enjoy a quick and easy move to their dream home at Taylor Wimpeys Balham Walk development in Balham, thanks to the fantastic Part Exchange scheme.

Homeowners trading up to a new apartment at this in-demand development can take advantage of this incredible initiative, which sees them receive an agreed offer price for their existing property, based on the average of independent professional valuations.

With Taylor Wimpey as their cash buyer and no danger of the property chain collapsing, Part Exchange customers are free to sit back and relax until their brand new home is ready to move into.

Susan Joseph, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey South Thames, says: Part Exchange takes away the hassle buyers can experience when trying to sell their current property, so they can move into their dream home much quicker than they ever expected.

Instead of worrying about selling, customers trading up to a new property at Balham Walk can use Part Exchange and relax in the knowledge that they have a cash buyer  so theres no property chain, no fuss and no stress!

Id urge anyone interested in securing their dream home at Balham Walk to get in touch without delay to find out more and take advantage of this great opportunity while its still on offer!

Among the properties currently available with Part Exchange is the magnificent three-bedroom Plot 1 split-level duplex apartment, priced at 799,950, which features a spacious open-plan kitchen/living/dining room that leads to a private terrace, plus a bedroom which could alternatively be used as a study, and a shower room.

Upstairs the landing leads to two luxurious double bedrooms  both boasting access to a private balcony  and a main bathroom. Parking is also available outside.

Alternatively, theres a superb range of two-bedroom apartments available at Balham Walk, priced from 650,000.



A desirable neighbourhood in the London Borough of Wandsworth, Balham has undergone extensive regeneration and its town centre boasts high street shops, independent boutiques and supermarkets. It also has a thriving nightlife, with a good selection of pubs, restaurants and bars catering for a wide range of tastes with cuisines from around the world.

Parents will appreciate that there is a choice of schools for children of all ages, while Balham Leisure Centre boasts a gym, two workout studios, a sauna and a steam room.

Balham Walk is just a short journey on foot to Balham underground station, which is on the Northern Line, while there are also Overground services to Waterloo and regular bus services into central London. Its less than four miles from the River Thames, five miles from the West End and six miles from the City.

To discover more about the fabulous apartments available with Part Exchange at Balham Walk, property-seekers should visit the Sales Information Centre, located at 18-20 Boundaries Road, Balham, SW12 8HU, and open daily from 11am to 6pm (Thursdays from midday to 7pm). Alternatively, the taylorwimpey.co.uk.
Memorandum of Understanding paves way for joint projects with fund set up to support Chinas Belt and Road Initiative

A cooperation agreement has been reached between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Silk Road Fund, established to implement Chinas Belt and Road initiative, inspired by the ancient Silk Road connecting China and Europe.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed today in Beijing, China, was a further step forward in the Banks cooperation with China which became the EBRDs 67th shareholder on 15 January this year.

In the MoU, the Silk Road Fund and the EBRD agree to boost cooperation at an institutional level and to inform each other of any potential co-investment opportunities in their common regions of operations.

Phil Bennett, EBRD First Vice President, said at the signing: Todays Memorandum is a new step in an already close working relationship with the Silk Road Fund which we regard as a key partner in China and potentially in the EBRD countries of operations. Our regions have a funding gap of about US$ 400 billion a year for necessary infrastructure investments. A joint effort by all stakeholders is needed to bridge that gap and we see working with partners like the Silk Road Fund as the most efficient way forward.

For the Silk Road Fund the MoU was signed by Wang Yanzhi, Board Member and President of the Fund, who said: We are glad that our working relationship with the EBRD is signified with the signing of the Memorandum today. Stretching from central Asia to central and eastern Europe to northern Africa, the EBRDs areas of operation cover many strategic nodes along the Belt and Road Initiative, and are important investment destinations for Chinese corporates. We look forward to seeing the two institutions co-finance important projects soon and together promote regional and global connectivity for common development.

The Silk Road Fund is a development and investment fund dedicated to supporting infrastructure, resources and energy development, industrial capacity cooperation and financial cooperation in countries and regions involved in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative.

The Belt and Road Initiative runs through Asia, Europe and Africa. It is aimed at promoting the orderly and free flow of economic factors; the highly efficient allocation of resources and deep integration of markets; encouraging the countries along the Belt and Road to achieve economic policy coordination and carry out broader and more in-depth regional cooperation of higher standards; and jointly creating an open, inclusive and balanced regional economic cooperation architecture that benefits all.
At 4:23 p.m. on April 25th of this year, Eastern Michigan Universitys Director of Purchasing issued a request for proposals (RFP) for food campus food services. The RFP included a requirement to RSVP to a mandatory meeting by 5 p.m. the same day as the RFP came out. That mandatory meeting was scheduled for the following day.

37 minutes. Applicants were given 37 minutes to indicate their interest and RSVP to a meeting happening less than 24 hours later. And, by some miracle, several groups including Chartwells, a subsidiary of a British firm called The Compass Group, managed to RSVP by the 5 p.m. deadline. Why, its almost as if they had been given advance notice that the 30-page RFP was coming!

I mention Chartwells because they are widely expected to be awarded the business at the next EMU Board of Regents meeting on June 21st at 1 p.m. in Welch Hall (2nd floor). Chartwells is an interesting choice given their history. A year and half ago, students at a Connecticut high school began boycotting school lunches served by Chartwell for an assortment of disgusting reasons:

Awful, according to [17-year-old Christy] Rosario and other student organizers behind the boycott, doesnt mean a tad bland or a bit too spicy. Since Chartwells replaced the districts in-house meal program in 2012, according to the students, it has meant an increasingly unpalatable menu, with food that sometimes features mold, human hair, dangerously undercooked meats, insects and portion sizes fit for a small, starving child.

Chartwells was also busted for malfeasance in the Washington, D.C. school system:

Chartwells was one of the vendors who settled a $19 million lawsuit involving their food services for the Washington D.C.s school system, in which it was alleged the vendor overcharged the city and mismanaged the school meals programs, with food often arriving at schools late, spoiled or in short supply.

Last year, students at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan voiced complaints about Chartwells, as well.

The big question is why? Why was this RFP done so hastily, particularly since the EMU administration has admitted that the food service program as it exists now is cost-effective, bringing in a surplus of several million dollars a year and has been making more money than ever for that past several years.

Yesterday, students and campus workers held a press conference to shine a light on the highly irregular situation and issued an open letter to the Regents asking them to slow down and to seek input from students, faculty, workers and their unions before making a final decision.

When the majority of student stakeholders are absent from the table, then we are on the menu, said Steve Kwasny, a student majoring in history and political science at EMU. We eat this food. I strongly believe students should be considered before a major change in food services.

Jason Crispell, president of AFSCME Local 3866, the union representing food service and maintenance workers at EMU, went further. Whats the big rush? he asked. There are millions of public dollars at stake here, as well as the health and well-being of thousands of students  and the jobs of our members. What were saying is, this is a big decision. Lets take some time and get it right.

EMU spokesman Geoff Larcom is now trying to pretend that the mandatory meeting was not mandatory:

Larcom debunked the claim through the RFP, noting that attendance of the pre-proposal meeting was not mandatory and did not preclude you from participating in the proposal process, which had a submission deadline of May 13.

Despite his comments, its hard to see it as anything else. Heres how it was phrased in the RFP:



Screenshot from EMUs RFP for campus food services released on April 25, 2016

Im sorry, Mr. Larcom, but theres something about mandatory being in BOLD ALL-CAPS that suggests that it was  you know  mandatory.

Organizers have started an online petition, calling for EMU Regents to NOT outsource food services to a private for-profit corporation. You can sign the petition HERE.

There will also be a rally in front of Welch Hall at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 21st just prior to the Regents meeting. All are welcomed.

Finally, they are asking supporters to send a signed copy of the letter to the Regents. You can do this a couple of ways. First, you can make a PDF of your signed copy of the letter and send it to the Regents Board Secretary, Vicki Reaume at [email protected] with a request that she forward it on to all of the Regents. Alternatively, you can send a signed copy of the letter by U.S. Postal Service to: Eastern Michigan University, Board of Regents Office, 207 Welch Hall, Ypsilanti, MI 48197.

The privatizing of essential services has a sordid history in Michigan lately. From the prison food services scandals surrounding Aramark to the shockingly terrible treatment of retired veterans at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, its been proven time and again that corporations cut corners to enhance their taxpayer-funded profits and those who utilize or are recipients of those services are the ones who suffer (along with the workers who lose their jobs, of course.)

Given that the EMU Regents are appointed by the governor, its not particularly surprising that they share Gov. Snyders misguided and thoroughly-debunked belief that corporations can provide better services than government employees, even when their taxpayer-funded profits are on the line.
Raised in an affirming family, this transgender woman now works to lift up marginalized communities.

This is part of a story series about the lives of transgender people. Read the introduction here.

Lilianna Angel Reyes has never felt like a woman trapped in a mans body. To her, transitioning from a boy into a woman felt like something very natural. As she matured into adulthood, she simply decided to embrace exactly who she is.

Growing up in a tight-knit Mexican family with her parents and older brother, Reyes was shaped by principles of faith and feminism. She witnessed racial tensions in her hometown of Saginaw, but also saw her parents acceptance of others, including their gay friends. Reyes was raised to believe you can do anything you want in life if you work for it.

I had a healthy childhood  very loving and affirming. I was allowed to express myself however I wanted, whether I was playing with dolls or trucks. My parents just saw them as toys. I was raised with a lot of love and strength.

Reyes would put on her moms makeup and wigs when she wasnt home, knowing it was forbidden but never thinking at the time that shed do it as she got older. She admits she always felt very feminine, even though she hung out with the boys in her neighborhood.

When wed play X-Men Id be Catwoman, she says. I never thought I had to be outwardly masculine or act like a boy or even date girls. But I didnt think about transitioning, either. I never thought it was something I could do.

When she realized at the age of 15 or 16 that she was attracted to boys and not girls, Reyes decided she must be gay. She told a few friends but didnt say anything to her parents. They were pretty open, she says, but having a gay child is a lot different from having gay friends.

After graduating from high school at 17, Reyes says she had an awakening at Cedar Point.

I met my first transsexual. I met drag queens. I met so many people I never knew existed  a world tucked within a world I didnt know existed. I worked at Cedar Point for the summer and did drag until I started college. Thats where I started figuring out who I was. I liked being a drag queen but I wasnt sure I could do it every day.

While she was attending University of Michigan-Flint, Reyes lived at home. One week after her 18th birthday, her mother found all her girl clothes and makeup, as Reyes puts it. Her mother called her brother, who was quick to defend Reyes.

He called and asked me about it and I came out. I said Im gay and I want to live my life as a woman. My brother is a real mans man, but he accepted me from day one, even though he struggled with it at first. He said, Youre still my little brother and you decide your life.

Reyes expected her father to take the news much harder than her mother, but the exact opposite happened. Its not that she thought either of them would be judgmental  and they werent  but they each responded in surprising ways.

My father told me, You have to live your life and be happy. If you think God is with you, thats on you and Ill support you as a father. But you have to go to college and be a productive member of society, Reyes says. They thought being gay was a big party thing or people were dying. They were mis-educated.

Her mother had a much harder time coming to terms with the revelation. Reyes says she was not okay with it at first, but mostly because she didnt understand. After a few weeks, the tension between them was too much to bear and Reyes moved in with her brother. After that, she had very little contact with her mother and father for the next two years  even though her father would fill up her gas tank and give her money every week.

He wasnt judgmental but he stood with my mother, Reyes says. It hurt, but I was like, Im going to be who I am and I dont care if I never talk to my parents. Looking back now, those two years were just a drop in the bucket of all the amazing years with my family.

During those two years, Reyes mother slowly came around and learned to value her for the woman she is.

My mother always wanted a daughter, so she began to love the fact that we could share some clothes and Id do her hair and makeup. In the end, she felt like I would rather gain a daughter than lose a child completely. She became a huge advocate.

Reyes transitioned during those two years, and by the time she was 19 years old she was legally female. She changed the gender marker on her state identification and her name  the only thing her father ever pushed back on.

My father said my name meant something  and it did, because I was named after my grandfather, who was a great man, and I enjoyed being a little boy with a name attached to those memories, Reyes says. So I kept my given name as my middle name. My first name is Lilianna Angel and my middle name is Lazaro Chappins.

In the meantime, Reyes studied hard in college. She says she always felt she had to work that much harder because shes both transgender and a person of color. She has a bachelors degree in anthropology, sociology and history  with minors in international and global studies, and womens and gender studies. She went on to earn a masters degree in public administration focused in nonprofit leadership, and is also a certified substance abuse prevention specialist.

She considers herself privileged, because unlike many transgender people, shes always had a job. Theyve all been in the social justice arena: Reyes has worked at Planned Parenthood, and has served many oppressed communities by working to create positive change in the areas of domestic violence, racism, HIV and substance abuse.

Reyes is also a founding mother of the Trans Sistas of Color Project, and believes understanding and dissecting the high level of murders of trans women of color to be a critical area of focus.

Its easy to lump everyone together in one cause  trans rights. Trans people, in general, are going to feel some type of marginalization. But when you add racism, poverty and lack of education, it looks much different. Its important to show the diversity of trans people. Were not hearing the voices of young trans people of color. Theyre getting killed at higher rates than other trans people. More Latina trans people have been killed than any other population in the world. In the U.S., its black trans women. When we talk about trans disparity we talk about bathrooms and name changes and thats all important. But its a privilege to say you want to use the bathroom. There are trans women who never get that chance because theyre murdered.

Having worked her entire adult life to make the world a better, safer place for LGBT people and others, its no surprise that the 30-year-old Reyes works as the Youth Program Manager at Affirmations in Ferndale. She describes her role as sustaining, creating and evaluating new programs working with youth. Reyes feels a special affinity for marginalized youth and those with higher health disparities, such as young people with HIV/AIDS or disabilities.

She has created two curriculum-based, evaluation-driven programs. One is a workforce program for youth ages 13 to 24, teaching them both soft skills, such as resume writing, and hard skills, such as running the cafe at Affirmations. This program is conducted in conjunction with local companies and nonprofits, which send some of their top leaders to work with the programs participants.

The second program is a leadership program for youth ages 13 to 20. In this program, young people learn about societal issues facing LGBT youth, and includes activities ranging from working with art advocates to hosting Affirmations youth prom and HomoComing.

According to Reyes, the programs have a 100 percent retention rate, with youth committing six hours a week during the six-month programs. Theres also a drop-in center on Friday and Saturday for youth ages 13 to 20 who arent ready to make a commitment but want a safe, affirming space to spend their free time.

I always thought Id work with adults, but youth have really responded to me and I love working with them, Reyes says. I want to help give a voice to people that already have a voice but no one is listening to them.

She adds that society has always made life challenging for LGBTQ youth, but its harder than ever today.

With all the new movements that are pushing toward equality, its starting to make visible the invisible hatred thats always been there. But now were paying more attention. We have more support now. Youth are having a space to be vocal and were seeing organizations being allies to youth more than ever.

Reyes points out that youth and all LGBTQ people have many resources in Michigan, including Affirmations, Ruth Ellis Center, Equality Michigan, and the Trans Sistas of Color Project. You can get anywhere with those resources in Michigan, she says.

Knowing how vitally important it is to have the support of family and friends, Reyes is passionate about lifting up everyone in the LGBTQ community. Rather than tolerance, she believes in embracing and celebrating people for who they are as a way forward.

All trans lives have to matter, she says. When we start to devalue people based on their moral beliefs, we start to dehumanize people. Only when our lives are valuable will one murder spark mass chaos and people will say No more. But thats not where we are. Hundreds have to die before we talk about this. We have to see the value within everyone. Every person has value.

Note: The interview for this story was conducted before the massacre at the LGBTQ Pulse nightclub in Orlando.



Read all the stories in this series HERE.



[Photos courtesy of Lilianna Angel Reyes, shown in the second photo with her father.]
The GOP is using the worst kind of political correctness to keep us from doing anything to reduce gun deaths

President Obama is sick of you pretending that we can crush ISIL by just employing the perfect slur.

What exactly would using this label accomplish? he asked. What exactly would it change? Would it make ISIL less committed to kill Americans? Would it bring in more allies? Is there a military strategy that is served by this? The answer is none of the above.

Its obvious hes angered by Donald Trump and conservatives pressing him toward language that implicates 1.6 billion Muslims in the ISILs crimes.

And its a brave stand.

Demonizing Muslims polls well, especially among Republicans. But the president understands that by the groups entire aim is to erase the gray zone where Islam can co-exist with the world. And if you look at the psychology of new recruits  who are drawn to the adventure and glory of the cause  it makes perfect sense to avoid doing anything that encourages the fantasy that ISIL actually is provoking a global clash of civilizations.

But there are some words hes saying that really matter.

You probably saw this clip of the president trying to explain to a gun owner that he didnt want law-abiding gun owners guns. He just wanted to be able to treat gun violence for what it is  a deadly and hugely perplexing combination of a public health and national security issue. And he very nearly predicted exactly the kind of horror we saw in Orlando:

But Congress wont allow that.

Last year, the president ended the official ban on the Centers for Disease Control studying gun violence in 2013. Nothing changed because Congress wont fund new research.

And the rights hard line stance has a chilling effect across all of academia, the Washington Post explained.

The CDC was not alone in avoiding firearm studies. The National Institute of Justice, an arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, funded 32 gun-related studies from 1993 to 1999, but none from 2009-2013, according to Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Private nonprofits, with some notable exceptions such as the Joyce Foundation, skipped over gun-related research proposals. Sponsors were spooked to fund stuff that had to do with guns, said Swanson at Duke. He said younger colleagues got the message: Studying firearms was not a way to attract vital grant funding. It was a field without a future.

Could studying gun violence the way we do smoking and car accidents change this nation? Maybe!

The city of Wilmington, Delaware sidestepped the controversy by directly requesting that the CDC look at an outbreak of murders involving guns.

The CDCs research helped show that its analysis can help identify persons most at risk of perpetrating or being victimized by gun violence, Rita Landgraf, the Delaware secretary of health and social services, said in a statement.

The NRAs stance is that in order to preserve absolute freedom it cannot allow the government to even try to do something about the 10,000 homicides and 22,000 other gun deaths every year. And it enforces this policy with what I would call real political correctness.

The right often accuses the regressive left of trying to limit debate, when what theyre actually objecting to is the expansion of rights to LGBT people or college students, people with almost no actual institutional power, organizing against what they see as hate. Maybe students eagerness toward justice goes too far on occasion  but their influence is minuscule to the most powerful lobbies in America.

Real political correctness is the right using its actual real power to destroy the careers of academics who dare study forbidden topics like gun violence and climate science. And its starving the discourse by cutting off the most important funder of academic research in America  the government.

Democrats focusing on the need to study gun violence can build a sensible case for gun safety legislation. We genuinely dont know what works. We dont know exactly why gun murders have actually declined in the last two decades  beginning coincidentally right around the time the first background checks went into law  because the NRA wont even let us research it.

Thats right: The NRA doesnt want us to know what works when it comes to fighting gun violence because it is afraid well do more of it. How sick is that?

Most Americans support universal background checks and probably support an assault weapons ban. Neither is going to happen in the current political environment unless NRA-backed politicians in swing states and districts lose. And the way to start making that argument is to let people know how far the right is going to make sure we cant keep guns out of the wrong hands.
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(Photo: Ecumenical News / Peter Kenny)Iranian dissident Marina Nemat testifies during a side event at the United Nations in Geneva on October 30, 2014

Hundreds of Muslims have had their claims accepted as asylum seekers in Britain after converting to Christianity, says a newspaper report.

The converts, who are mainly from Iran, argue that their new faith would expose them to persecution, including the death penalty, if they were returned to their home country, The Sunday Times (London) reported June 12.

The report said senior clerics in the Church of England said last week that some asylum seekers might be getting baptized to take advantage of a loophole in the system.

The Anglican Dean of Liverpool, Rev. Pete Wilcox, whose cathedral has baptized about 200 asylum seekers in the past four years, said: "Mixed motives are not unheard of" when it comes to asylum seekers choosing to be baptized."

Wilcox said, "Holding a baptism certificate significantly enhances the strength" of asylum claims.

He told The Times: "Holding a baptism certificate significantly enhances the strength of their claim for asylum. Once you are a baptized Christian it is really not conceivable that you would be deported to a Muslim country."

The newspaper said that in a number of countries conversion to Christianity is punishable by harsh penalties, including the death penalty and what it does not say is the crime of apostasy can earn capital punishment in some nations..

"God alone knows the person's heart and we try to be consistent about that and not to set the bar at one height for middle-class aspiring parents seeking the best for the education of their children and the bar at another height for converts from Islam looking for asylum," Wilcox said.

"Refuse Jemima baptism and she goes to school somewhere else. Refuse Mohammed baptism and he gets deported."

The newspaper cited a number of churches across England which said they had also baptized hundreds of Muslims over the past few years.

Rev. Lionel Canter, pastor of the Liverpool Iranian Church, part of the Elim Pentecostal movement, said around 300 Muslims had been baptized since 2010.

Of these a third of whom used their baptism to gain asylum in the UK.

"I can understand people questioning how genuine it is because they can be integral to being able to stay in the country. It's a valid question," said Carter.

Wilcox said that an individual cannot simply turn up for a baptism service and the cathedral holds a mandatory five-week course for candidates, and they are expected to attend services.

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "A document such as a baptism certificate would not automatically lead to a conversion claim being accepted as genuine but is given appropriate weight when considering all the evidence."
(Photo:  Peter Kenny / Ecumenical News)United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye in Geneva on June 18, 2015.

Geneva  U.N. Human Rights Council member Saudi Arabia faces accusations by eight senior world body experts of launching a wave of repression against free speech and promoting public flogging and execution.

In a Dec. 16 statement the experts called on the desert kingdom to free all its prisoners of conscience.

They spoke out through a statement issued by the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein.

It came as efforts were under way around the world to convince the Saudi authorities to lift the death sentence on a well-known poet for "apostasy," or leaving Islam.

Saudi Arabia is one of 13 countries, all Islamic, which prescribe the death penalty for the offence or for blasphemy against religion, according to a report issued last week by the International Humanist and Ethical Union.

The U.N. statement, written by special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye was endorsed by seven others.

It cited "a string of severe punishments against individuals for the holding and expressing of opinions, including human rights defenders and bloggers Raif Badawi and Mikhlif al Shammari, and the poet Ashraf Fayadh."

It noted, "As the world struggles to fight terrible forms of violence, national authorities everywhere should avoid targeting freedom of expression, especially against those who advocate tolerance, respect and human rights."

The 39-year-old Badawi, was recently awarded the international Sakharov Human Rights Prize named after the late Soviet scientist Andrei Sakharov who publicly challenged his country's Communist rulers in the 1970s and 1980s.

Badawi was sentenced in 2014 to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes on charges of "insulting Islam" by his creation of a "Free Saudi Liberals" website.

50 LASHES

Since the first 50 lashes were administered in front of a crowd early this year, the Saudi authorities have kept him in jail but given no indication they will bow to international protests and free him or even cancel the sentence.

Apparently, however, he has not been subject to further corporal punishment.

His wife said after a recent visit that he looked "like a skeleton."

Al Shammari, 60, a Sunni Muslim and former businessman and journalist has been in and out of jail for years for arguing for better treatment for the country's Shia Muslim minority by the country's hardline Sunni rulers.

He had his latest sentence of two years and 200 lashes confirmed by the judicial authorities early this month.

Saudi-born Fayad, won his reputation as a Palestinian poet and was first arrested by the country's religious police in 2013 and rearrested last year on charges based on poems and allegedly blasphemous comments on the social networking site Twitter.

He was originally sentenced to four years in prison and 800 lashes but last month an appeal court changed the sentence to death, and family members and friends say he could be executed at any time.

He once said he was being accused of atheism, a philosophy classified as "terrorist" under Saudi law.

Kaye, whose statement was backed among others by U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief Heiner Bielefeldt, the actions by the Saudi authorities "promote fear and intolerance which can resonate beyond Saudi Arabian society."

This was a clear reference to suggestions by human rights groups that the group known as Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, which has published videos of its own mass executions and other atrocities, takes much of its inspiration from Islamist hard-liners in Saudi Arabia.

Kaye said international law "protects everyone's right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds through any media and regardless of frontiers."

But it does not allow governments to restrict free expression "merely because a person expresses an opinion contrary to popular views or officially-sanctioned beliefs," he added.
Joseph DiMartino has consulted on hundreds of high school redesign effortsand hes seen nearly as many abandoned after falling short of their goals.

As the former director of the Secondary School Redesign program of the Education Alliance at Brown University and the founder of the Center for Secondary School Redesign, DiMartino has had a firsthand look at the ups and downs of the national push to reinvent secondary education over the past 20 years.

Weve been trying to change high school since 1996, he said. I can point to two or three [districts] that have made dramatic change.

Boston hopes to become another.

In the city thats home to Boston Latin, the nations first high school, city and school leaders hope their push to reimagine high schools for the future can beat the odds. Mayor Martin Walsh launched the redesign plan for the 53,500-student, city-run school system in May 2015. City leaders hosted public forums, plotted timelines, and scoped out success stories in an attempt to address rising, but mediocre, graduation and college-attendance rates.

This fall, the district and city hope to reveal their shared redesign vision, one that the community helped shape. The unveiling follows dozens of work sessions that drew more than 2,000 students, parents, educators, and residents offering suggestions on how to transform the citys high schools.

The more [community involvement] happens, the more likely that youll have a successful redesign, said DiMartino, who is not involved in Bostons effort.

The sessions explored how schools can develop relationships with outside organizations, encourage students to take ownership of their education, and enhance that education by using Bostons historical and cultural resources to supplement the standard classroom experience.

All the work is geared toward a simple end.

We want people to walk into a high school and have them say it looks a lot different than it used to, said Rahn Dorsey, the Chief of Education for the city of Boston, a cabinet-level adviser to Walsh.

But even the best-laid plans are often upended by one or more of the three Ts that DiMartino has identified: tradition, tenure, and time.

Bucking Tradition

A hallmark of high school redesign is looking at the possibilities of education in a fresh way. That can prove challenging when educators eyes are the only ones envisioning it.

Having people involved in traditional high schools as the only people in the conversation really limits the options on what you can do and how you can change your school, DiMartino said.

To try to avoid that, Boston began its redesign process by conducting public meetings and inviting dozens of organizations, colleges, and other institutions to host their own conversations. Participants expressed interest in schools using the city as a classroom; having a more deliberate focus on life skills such as financial literacy; and doing more project-based, student-led learning, Dorsey said.

If were just thinking about this inside the silo of K-12, well continue to lag behind and wont have an accurate read on future trends, he said.

In assuming that educators know whats best for students, districts can shut down opportunities for free-flowing, two-way conversations. Thats why community involvement is playing a large role in local and national redesign efforts, DiMartino said.

You need to think about how to influence people within the community while also being influenced by the community, DiMartino said.

XQ: The Super School Project, a philanthropic undertaking led by Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, is forging a similar path on a broader stage: It aims to jump-start a national conversation about how to rethink high schools.

As part of the initiative, XQ will give multimillion-dollar redesign grants for at least five schools.

Seeking Input

The competition kicked off with a 10-city circuit last fall that is designed to drum up excitement and tap the public for ideas and suggestions. Now, the staff is in the midst of a 16-stop, cross-country bus tour. The stops have drawn interest even in communities that are no longer in the running for the prize, largely because high school is a universal experience for most Americans, said Marlene Castro, the manager of student and community relations at XQ Institute.

Almost everyone in this country has ideas for education, ones that they base on their own high school experience, Castro said. Communities hold these answers, and nothing beats an actual [face-to-face] conversation.

Despite efforts to be inclusive in Boston, the process hasnt come without criticism. Residents have raised concerns about how accessible the meetings are for all residents.

Jack Schneider, an assistant education professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., has emerged as a skeptic of the high school redesign initiatives underway in Boston and elsewhere. Change happens organically, Schneider said.

Some of the best improvements in education are often unanticipated by individuals who are trying to see into the future, he said.

A superintendents shelf life can play an outsized role in determining the fate of a high school redesign.

The average urban superintendent stays on the job for about 3 years, which means leaders often dont stick around long enough to see a redesign mature. When a school chief leaves, the ideas developed during his or her tenure are often dumped because the new boss wants to put a personal stamp on the job. The most successful school redesign that DiMartino saw happened in Pittsfield, N.H., a small, rural district with one high school where the superintendent has been in place for two decades.

In Boston, new Superintendent Tommy Chang has embraced the redesign effort that began before he arrived last July. Mayoral control of Bostons schools may have played a role in the smooth transition because it provided some continuity. Continuing that cooperation with the local community will be paramount in Boston, a city with dozens of high schools, because families already have a slate of choice options, DiMartino said.

Not evolving and not innovating is a threat to the survival of districts, said Ross Wilson, the chief of staff for the Boston public schools.

Ticking Clock

Tenure isnt the only time concern for high school redesign efforts. The process can take years to yield tangible results.

Bostons mayor laid the groundwork for the redesign process during his January 2015 State of the City address, hinting about the need to improve pathways to college and careers for students. Federal data show that nearly a third of students in the city dont graduate in five years.

Dorsey, the mayors point man on education, hopes Bostons strategies can bear fruit in three to five yearsat least at pilot schools if not the entire city.

In DiMartinos experience, though, implementing redesign takes at least five years, and more like seven to eight if its going to stick. The slow-moving process can grind not only on educators, but also on the residents and students who are participating.

It takes longer than anyone thinks, he said.

Schneider, the Holy Cross professor, said thats a point hes tried to hammer home in Boston. As a student of history, he argues that meaningful, long-lasting change is more likely to be incremental, not the sort of sweeping transformation that redesign can demand.

If there were really simple fixes out there, we wouldve tried them, Schneider said. There arent really simple solutions. Its messy because the system is complicated.
One of the hottest topics in early-childhood education is the word gap"the division in pre-literacy skills between children who are immersed in rich language from their earliest days and children who do not get that experience.

High-quality child care and preschool are supposed to help close that gap. But those programs often may be relying on a workforce that has a literacy gap of its own.

We spend hundreds of millions on professional development without testing the language competency of early-childhood employees, said Elizabeth Gilbert, who was the director of an early-educator-workforce program that ran for five years. Resources should go to supporting literacy skills not only in children, but also in the adults who care for them, she said.

Gilberts concerns are part of a national conversation about what child-care workers and preschool teachers should be expected to know and be able to do. Policymakers and those who represent child-care workers are trying to develop appropriate measures for those workersalong with incentives and rewards for being highly skilled.

When Gilbert wrote about the issue in a Washington Post opinion piece last year, she struck a nerve with numerous readers, including Libby Doggett, the U.S. Department of Educations early-learning chief. Doggett said on Facebook that it shines a light on a problem no one wants to acknowledge: the low skills of many who care for our youngest children.

These womenthe early-childhood workforce is almost entirely femalework hard, said Gilbert, the director of the Early Childhood Educator Project at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. She found that many would like to improve their academic skills, often because a credential or college credit could mean up to an extra $1 an hour in state reimbursement for child-care services.

But so many early-childhood educators who are trying to educate millions of children are our least- educated professionals, Gilbert said.

Searching for Data

There have been limited studies on the topicmost research has focused on the interactions between children and their parents or the preschools they attend, leaving out the role of child-care providers. But a 2003 paper found an association between child-care providers literacy and the quality of the language interactions they had with the young children in their care.

The paper in 2003 came from the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, based at the University of California, Berkeley. Researchers gave literacy tests to a sample of 98 child-care workers in Alameda County, Calif. Nearly a third of those providers scored at the limited proficiency range on a test of English literacy. (The researchers also noted that about a third of the sample did not speak English as their first language, though they all used English in their work.)

The study found that workers with higher levels of literacy spent more time in reading and pre-reading activities, provided children with a wider selection of age-appropriate books, and engaged in more give-and-take communication with the children.

It concluded, In light of the tremendous learning that occurs during the preschool years and the nations commitment to ensuring that all children enter school ready to learn, it is time to acknowledge and address the highly variable English-literacy skills of those upon whose shoulders the successful attainment of this goal depends.

To address the issue of provider qualifications, some state-run programs and federal programs, such as Head Start, are focusing on academic credentials.

When Congress reauthorized Head Start in 2007 it said that by 2013, at least half of Head Start preschool employees must have a bachelors degree or higher in early-childhood education, or have a degree in a related field with experience. As of 2015, the program had surpassed the requirement, with 73 percent meeting the educational bar.

But for child-care workers who take care of children younger than preschool agea prime age for learning, researchers agreequalifications are often much lower. A high school diploma or a GED suffices for licensing in many states. Another popular certificate is the child development associate certificate, which requires 120 hours of course work as well as child-care experience.

Yet obtaining more academic credentials often means a very modest increase in pay. The 2013 report Worthy Work, Still Unlivable Wages, which also came from the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, found that nationally, child-care workers are paid a bit over $10 an houron par with workers who dish out fast-food burgers or take care of pets.

Teachers with bachelors degrees or higher in school-sponsored prekindergartens earned an average of about $21 an hour when the report was written; preschool teachers with bachelors degrees in other child-care settings earned about $14 an hour, and bachelors degree holders who work with infants and toddlers earned about $11 an hour.

Value of Credentials

More credentials, in the form of college degrees, are not the answer, said Conor P. Williams, a senior researcher in New Americas Education Policy Program. Williams acknowledges that he stands out from others in the fieldincluding some of his colleagues at the Washington-based think tankin this stance. He said states and policy makers should move to a licensing credential that relies more on teachers demonstrating the skills that researchers know are valuable to young children.

We should at least be insisting on inputs that are proxies for teacher interactions, Williams said. And then take all the money that you were going to invest in helping people getting [bachelors degrees,] and give that to them in take-home pay.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children recently launched an initiative called Power to the Profession, which is attempting to move the discussion away from licensing agencies and back to the providers themselves. The association wants to develop a standardized set of competencies for early-childhood providers, similar to what one might see with speech and language therapists. All qualified child-care providers would have a floor of qualifications, and be paid for demonstrating those skills.

Our goal is that there is not only agreement but that we work with states to enact model legislation"including wage parity, said Rhian Evans Allvin, the executive director of NAEYC.

Under current systems, more training comes with its own costs to providers, both in tuition and in time. And credentials cant measure love and nurturing, said Rae-Ann Rogers, who works with home-based day-care providers in western Massachusetts for an organization called the Valley Opportunity Council. The providers she works with care for children who are homeless, in foster care, or come from very low-income families.

They care about whats happening to these kids, she said.

Measure of Encouragement

But some providers have found that the small boost in payand potentially in respectis enough encouragement to make the effort to return to school.

From 2010 until 2015, when grant funding ran out, Gilbert oversaw Learn at Work, a program aimed at boosting the academic skills for child-care providers. Based at a western Massachusetts community college, the providers, all of whom offered licensed care for children in their homes, took classes that introduced them to college coursework, improved their math and English skills, and prepared them for further higher education.

Lora Reyes, a child-care provider for 12 years who lives in Westfield, Mass., took advantage of the opportunity. Reyes is a subcontractor with the Valley Opportunity Council, which refers parents to child-care providers; handles child-care payments, conducts inspections, and offers professional development.

Through the council, Reyes heard about the Learn at Work program. A high school graduate, I had always planned on going back to college. But I just didnt have the time, didnt have the money, so when the program came up I jumped at the chance, she said. Reyes is now 19 credits into a 60-credit associate degree program in psychology.

For me personally, my math skills were horrible. My writing skills were great, said Reyes, who started caring for children in her home when her daughter, now 14, was a toddler. But she believes the extra credential will also help parents understand and respect all that she does for their children. Shes required to have a curriculum and to provide food and emotional support. And she has to offer all of that for children from toddler-age up through elementary school.

Parents think of us as babysitters, Reyes said. I want to be thought of as a professional.
Being told youre appreciated is one of the simplest and most incredible things you can ever hear.

I read this quote for the first time during an Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers (ECET2) conference. Sponsored by the Gates Foundation, the conference is designed to bring teachers from across the U.S. together to celebrate the great work they do and elevate the profession through professional development and collaboration.

The conference resonates with me, and hundreds of my colleagues, because of its primary focus on telling teachers how much they are appreciated. With the exception of Teacher Appreciation Week, these are messages teachers rarely receive at a local building level. I enjoy the lunches and cards from the parents and students, but Im not naive. I perform a job in return for a paycheck, which I could earn just about anywhere. However, a little appreciation has an immeasurable impact on my job satisfactionand that matters as well.

I have never felt unappreciated in the work that I do. Underutilized, maybe, but never taken for granted. I have been fortunate to work with administrators who consistently show they value my colleagues and me. My wish would be for all teachers to feel that same satisfaction. But where do we start?

Appreciation Starts at the Top

I started with the assumption that some administrators dont always know where to start building this culture. I contacted two principals I have worked withone retired and one currentto ask for their advice. Here are some of the practices that they shared.

R-e-s-p-e-c-t. Commit yourself to policies and procedures that demonstrate your respect for the time and professionalism of teachers and staff. Encourage teachers to attend workshops, conventions, or take on leadership positions during school time. Meet their personal needs by allowing the use of flexible scheduling for family situations. Hold meetings only when necessary and stick to a timed agenda. When appropriate, filter requests from outside entities (PTA/PTO, business partners, parents, etc.) and empower office staff to handle situations with a focus on protecting teacher time. Establish an open door policy and make sure you follow through.

Create Your Own Sunshine. Create a bulletin board visible to staff, students, and visitors in a high-traffic area of the office. Whenever you receive a positive note about a teacher, post it on the board with a large sunshine cutout. Leave extra suns close by so anyone can leave a compliment for any staff member. (Remember to respect student privacy and use discretion. Mark out the identifying information before posting.)

Friday Reflection. Send out a reflective email every week that highlights stories from the field. Anything that helps to break down the silos between teacher classrooms is a plus. Include pictures of class programs or stories from parents, students, or other teachers. Highlight observations youve made throughout the week that promote best practices and positive school culture.

Ask Me Why My Teacher Is a Rock Star. Check the local office supply store for blank stickers and create your own ask me message. During informal walk-throughs, listen and watch for something interesting that engages the children, or ask students what it is that makes their teacher different or memorable. The teacher is declared a rock star, and the students get to wear the sticker, proudly telling anyone who asks why they love their teacher.

Miss Manners. Treat your staff as you would your family and friends. Handwritten birthday cards or thank you notes are a rarity in our digital world, but they make an immediate positive impact. Staff parties are great social events, but parties for the staffs children reinforce the idea of family.

Whats Right With ______? During non-evaluative walk-throughs, look for behaviors that support your schools vision or the climate you want to encourage. Post a chart in a highly visible area and write down anything any staff member did throughout the week that goes above and beyond. Label the chart, Whats Right With ______? It has to be authentic, and its not necessary to find every person every time, but it should highlight outstanding behaviors you want to encourage in others.

Flip the Script

Appreciation goes both ways, though. If teachers dont feel like theyre getting what they need from the top, perhaps its time for them to treat their administration like students and model good behavior. Here are a few suggestions for teachers to model appreciation for their administration.

Do Your Job. You are the professional and the head of your classroom. Unless it is a legal or an ethical issue, try to keep your administrator out of the daily grind. Whether you are having a conflict with a coworker or working through issues with a students parent, do whatever you can to resolve the problem on your own. Enlist the aid of colleagues to brainstorm solutions or act as mediators. Communicate your expectations to others and be prepared to compromise.

Treat Your Administration as Youd Like to Be Treated. One thing that hurt my previous principals feelings was being taken for granted. No one likes to be told what to do. Whether you need a letter signed or to take a personal day off, ask and say please. When your principal protects your time by running interference with a parent or canceling an unnecessary meeting, thank them. Respect their time. If you cant ask your question in five sentences, dont send it in an email but ask for a personal meeting.

Come With a Solution. There are situations that require the input or approval of an administrator, but that doesnt mean the principal has to develop the solution as well. If possible, bring two to three acceptable outcomes to the conversation with your administration and be open to other suggestions.

Ask for What You Really Want. Understand what you really need from your administrator. Maybe you dont want your principal to solve your problem for you, but to just act as a sounding board or point out things you may not have thought about.

Agree to Disagree. There are so many legal, moral, and economic factors that go in to the decisions made during the school day. Many times, decision-making is out of the control of the principal, or they may not be able to explain their reason. You are welcome to disagree with decisions, but be respectful and keep your complaints out of the public eye.

Practice Willful Obedience. Be ready to work together to solve the problem. But understand that once youve brought an issue to an administrator, youve given them your power. When you involve your principal in developing a solution and then ignore the advice given, youve just wasted everyones time, and you nurture hostility and distrust. Unless you are asked to do something immoral or unethical, make the commitment to carry out the solution and see it through.

Appreciate Yourself (and Others)

If you dont feel like youre being appreciated by your administration, appreciate yourself. Reward your successes with small treats and kind words. Share your stories with your colleagues and celebrate their successes as well. Avoid negative, toxic conversations and promote unity. And most of all, if you are truly unhappy and feel unappreciated, update your resume and make your plans to move on to a position you feel treats you right.

In my ideal world, conferences like ECET2 would be unnecessary. Teachers and administrators would consistently receive the support and appreciation they need to be effective. However, were just not there yet. At the very least, I would love for teachers to share these practices with their administrations and to begin a dialogue about this topic. We can and should do better for each other.
Postcolonial Asia offers at least seven types of states and nations. In their somewhat uncritical pursuit of total nationalism, territorial Asian states compete with their archipelagic cousins. The sea gypsy nations--spread across the South China Sea and other East Asian states--reject the monopoly of land as the only inhabitable space, discounting territory as an essential constituent of a nation. Ironically, while history kept them outside the fold of the territorial states, the present attempts to co-opt them. Only by challenging, as the Asian sea gypsies do, land's claim to being the sole inhabitable territory within law, and rethinking the sea as a place of danger can we truly vernacularise our statist imaginations.

Could we conceptually displace territoriality as an essential element in the construction of sovereignty as understood within international law? Decolonisations prime irony is that postcolonial governments have set upon themselves, perhaps inadvertently, the task of constructing a colonial state. However, what is central to the continuities of colonialism in postcolonial times? Antony Anghie (2005: 243) argues that colonialism is germane to the formation of international legal doctrines. Matt Craven, however, charges Anghie with essentialising colonialism. He suggests that the regime of unequal treaties between the Western powers and the East Asian (China and Siam or Thailand, for instance) and not colonialism proper, is central to understanding the postcolonial continuities of informal empires (Craven 2005: 382). Be that as it may, while Anghies approach contributes to international legal theory, Cravens is to international legal history.

Yet for a conceptual rethinking of colonialism, the indigenous, and the law in postcolonial Asia, both approaches leave serious issues unaddressed. To meet the ends of justice for the indigenous peoples, the above-mentioned debate, nevertheless, eggs on lawyers to think outside of law. Perhaps a composite lens of anthropology, history, linguistics and semantics could offer what I call the vernacularisation of Westphalia in Asia as a way forward.
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The behaviour of social groups, when confronted with modernising state power, seems akin to that of marginalised indigenous in postcolonial societies. Such resistance, it is argued, is often backed by an indigenous subjectivity that derives its strength from a knowledge system much different from the one that drives modern nation states. With Sikkim's biodiversity acclaimed as the richest in the country, the state's government has been celebrating the rich traditional knowledge of the three indigenous ethnic communities of Sikkim: the Lepchas, Bhutias and the Limbus. Discourses of Limbu literature and Lepcha traditional knowledge practices pertaining to biodiversity conservation in east Himalayas are analysed here. The paper also dwells on minority groups, whose response to modernising state power is much different from the stated positions of "benevolent recognition" or "pleas for inclusion." In doing so, it explores the possibility of a different modernity in the political position of the Adivasi Indian.
Researchers have discovered a handful of 'bright spots' among the world's embattled coral reefs, offering the promise of a radical new approach to conservation.

In one of the largest global studies of its kind, researchers conducted over 6,000 reef surveys in 46 countries across the globe, and discovered 15 'bright spots' - places where, against all the odds, there were a lot more fish on coral reefs than expected.

"Given the widespread depletion of coral reef fisheries globally, we were really excited to find these bright spots that were doing much better than we anticipated," says lead author Professor Josh Cinner from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University.

"These 'bright spots' are reefs with more fish than expected based on their exposure to pressures like human population, poverty, and unfavourable environmental conditions.

"To be clear, bright spots are not necessarily pristine reefs, but rather reefs that have more fish than they should, given the pressures they face.

"We wanted to know why these reefs could 'punch above their weight' so-to-speak, and whether there are lessons we can learn about how to avoid the degradation often associated with overfishing."

Co-author, Professor Nick Graham of Lancaster University says globally, coral reefs are in decline and current strategies for preserving them are insufficient.

"Our bright spots approach has identified places we did not previously know were so successful, and the really interesting thing is that they are not necessarily untouched by man," he says.

"We believe their discovery offers the potential to develop exciting new solutions for coral reef conservation."

"Importantly, the bright spots had a few things in common, which, if applied to other places, might help promote better reef conditions."

"Many bright spots had strong local involvement in how the reefs were managed, local ownership rights, and traditional management practices," says co-author Dr. Christina Hicks of Lancaster and Stanford Universities.

The scientists also identified 35 'dark spots' - these were reefs with fish stocks in worse shape than expected.

"Dark spots also had a few defining characteristics; they were subject to intensive netting activities and there was easy access to freezers so people could stockpile fish to send to the market," says Dr. Hicks.

This type of bright spots analysis has been used in fields such as human health to improve the wellbeing of millions of people. It is the first time it has been rigorously developed for conservation.

"We believe that the bright spots offer hope and some solutions that can be applied more broadly across the world's coral reefs," says Prof. Cinner.

"Specifically, investments that foster local involvement and provide people with ownership rights can allow people to develop creative solutions that help defy expectations of reef fisheries depletion.

"Conversely, dark spots may highlight development or management pathways to avoid."

Bright spots were typically found in the Pacific Ocean in places like the Solomon Islands, parts of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Kiribati. Dark spots were more globally distributed and found in every major ocean basin.

The study has been published in the journal Nature. Thirty nine scientists from 34 different universities and conservation groups conducted the research.

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Paper:

(http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature18607)

Available video:

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDpPeB2XUzI&feature=youtu.be

Dive into a Coral Reef Bright Spot with "Valens Reef

More photos:

https://ci.tandemvault.com/lightboxes/aIpkT2gSn?t=77nzUCePk

For interviews please contact:

Josh Cinner

mobile +61 417714138

email: Joshua.cinner@jcu.edu.au

Nick Graham

Office: +44 1524 595054

Mobile: +44 7479438914

Email: nick.graham@lancaster.ac.uk

Christina Hicks

Office: +44 1524 595089

Mobile: +44 7479434791

Email: christina.hicks@lancaster.ac.uk

Images: Please click on our dropbox link: bit.ly/25Qrvgo

Further information:

Kylie Simmonds

Communications Manager

ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies

James Cook University, Townsville

+61 (0)7 4781 6067, +61 (0)428 785 895 or kylie.simmonds1@jcu.edu.au
The use of Camelid antibodies has important implications for future development of reagents for diagnosis and therapeutics in diseases involving a group of enzymes called serine proteases.

Antibodies have many applications, in areas ranging from basic molecular biology and biochemistry to clinical medicine. Recently, much interest has been focused on a special group of antibodies from Camelids (camels, dromedaries, llamas). Due to their small size and unique structures, these Camelid antibodies are ideal building blocks for the generation of novel biological drugs, with multiple competitive advantages over other therapeutic molecules. Moreover, Camelid antibodies offer many technical applications in basic biochemistry and structural biology.

Now, a group of Danish, Belgian, and Chinese researchers have used the Camelid antibody technology to explore basic principles of catalysis and inhibition of a group of enzymes called serine proteases, using X-ray crystal structure analysis. Serine proteases catalyse important processes in blood coagulation, fibrinolysis, tissue remodeling, and other physiological functions.

The research team has developed Camelid antibodies against serine proteases, thereby allowing a structural characterization of a long standing problem concerning whether a certain peptide segment will behave as an inhibitor or a substrate for a serine protease. The results also have important implications for future development of reagents for diagnosis and therapeutics in diseases involving serine proteases.

The results have been obtained in a collaboration between researchers from Aarhus (Denmark), Leuven and Brussels (Belgium) and Hong Kong (China). In particular, Serge Muyldermans, Vrijes Universiteit Brussels, who originally pioneered the development of the Camelid antibody technology, has contributed with his expertise. Tobias-Kromann-Hansen, as part of his Ph.D.-study, spent four months in his laboratory. Tobias Kromann-Hansen is currently developing these studies further as a Carlsberg Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of California San Diego, USA. The results are being published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The publication is one of the achievements of the Danish-Chinese Centre for Proteases and Cancer, headed by Peter A. Andreasen.

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A Camelid-derived antibody fragment targeting the active site of a serine protease balances between inhibitor and substrate behavior. Kromann-Hansen, T., Oldenburg, E., Yung, K.W.Y, Ghassabeh, G.H., Muyldermans, S., Declerck, P.J., Huang, M., Andreasen, P.A., and Ngo, J.C.K. (2016) J. Biol. Chem. (http://www.jbc.org/content/early/2016/05/23/jbc.M116.732503.full.pdf).

For further information, please contact

Professor, dr. scient. Peter Andreasen

Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics

Aarhus University, Denmark

pa@mbg.au.dk - Mobile: +45 23492837
There may soon be a new way to make molecules to form the basis of pharmaceuticals, fuels, agrochemicals, materials, and an array of other products in our modern life. Chemists at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have successfully married chemistry and biology to create reactions never before possible.

They did this by replacing the iron normally found in the muscle protein myoglobin with iridium, a noble metal not known to be used by living systems. They then tested the iridium-enhanced myoglobin and found that it led to a new type of chemical reaction for this protein, the conversion of a carbon-hydrogen bond to a carbon-carbon single bond. The bionic enzyme, an artificial metalloenzyme, was thus capable of catalyzing a reaction for which there is no known natural or engineered enzyme.

This work, led by John Hartwig, a senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab's Chemical Sciences Division, is described in a study published online this week in the journal Nature.

"We have blended two different types of catalysts in a way that has not been done before," said Hartwig, who is also a UC Berkeley professor of chemistry. "By doing so, we are opening the door to the conversion of complex structures in biomass to single products; of natural gas to higher value materials; and molecules for drugs to treat human disease. Because the scope of catalysis in the chemical industry is so broad, this discovery could have an impact on almost every aspect of our lives."

Getting the best of both worlds

The study authors noted different pros and cons between biological and chemical catalysts. Chemical catalysts include the catalytic converters that detoxify pollutants in exhaust emissions, solids that are used to make some of the most common plastics like polyethylene; or soluble molecules used to make some of the most common medicines that treat diseases from diabetes or depression.

Enzymes, or biological catalysts, are proteins that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms. Biological catalysts are prepared from renewable materials, operate near room temperature and atmospheric pressure, in water at neutral pH, and can be evolved in the laboratory using the modern methods of molecular biology to be more active, more selective or longer-lived.

Because enzymes are highly specific, more direct synthetic routes to desired molecules can be conceived, and as a result, less waste is produced in the course of producing those molecules. In the biosynthetic pathway to the creation of cholesterol, for instance, there are more than 50 different chemical bonds present - many of them almost identical to each other - and an enzyme would cause a reaction to occur at just one of those bonds.

Although enzymes possess many advantages over chemical catalysts, the researchers noted that chemical catalysts built from precious metals enable a much larger set of reactions than enzymes.

"Many enzymes contain metals, but that metal is usually iron or copper, and the set of reactions catalyzed by iron or copper is much smaller than the set of reactions catalyzed by the precious metals," said Hartwig. "Enzymes catalyze reactions necessary for life, not the reactions needed to create the everyday objects around us. We found a way to replace the iron in the protein myoglobin with a precious metal which resulted in an artificial enzyme that has the diverse reactivity of the precious metal combined with the high selectivity and capability to function under mild conditions found in an enzyme."

Evolving new functions

Hartwig worked with Doug Clark, faculty scientist at Berkeley Lab; Hanna Key, a UC Berkeley graduate student in chemistry; and Pawel Dydio, a postdoctoral fellow at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley. Key and Dydio are co-lead authors of the study.

The iron ions in myoglobin, a type of heme protein, binds to an organic compound called porphyrin. The resulting ferroporphyrin complex captures oxygen to nourish muscle tissue.

The researchers started by manipulating E. coli bacteria to create myoglobin that lacked iron. They then incorporated iridium into the muscle protein at the site where iron would normally be. Experiments showed that iridium could be bound at the site typically occupied by iron so that myoglobin could function as a new enzyme.

"Perhaps most important, this new artificial enzyme can be evolved in the laboratory to selectively form one product over another," said Hartwig. "We want to take the catalysts that chemists have created and combine them with naturally occurring enzymes. We can use that structure to control the selectivity of the products created."

The work was funded through Berkeley Lab's Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program designed to seed innovative science and new research directions.

"This is the first proof of principle of a new strategy to catalysis," said Hartwig. "We've synthetically changed a protein to give it the functionality of a chemical catalyst while keeping in enough of the biology to allow us to use methods of molecular biology to evolve new functions. The long-term potential of this approach seems limitless."

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Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory addresses the world's most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab's scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. For more, visit http://www.lbl.gov.

DOE's Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.
[Summit, New Jersey and Geneva, Switzerland, June 15, 2016] The biopharmaceutical company Celgene has become the fifth company to join the "Neglected Tropical Diseases Drug Discovery Booster" consortium, a new initiative to accelerate and cut the cost of early stage drug discovery for two of the world's most neglected diseases, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.

The Drug Discovery Booster was launched one year ago by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) with the participation of three Japanese companies and one from the United Kingdom: Eisai Co Ltd, Shionogi & Co Ltd, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, and AstraZeneca plc. The Booster circumvents early stage commercial barriers between pharmaceutical participants, allowing DNDi to search millions of unique compounds simultaneously in the hunt for new treatment leads.

"We welcome Celgene into the Drug Discovery Booster, which increases the chance of discovering desperately-needed new treatments for these two diseases by adding another compound collection to the Booster project," said Dr Charles Mowbray, Head of Drug Discovery at DNDi. "In its one year of operation, the Booster has already launched seven screening projects, which have all identified improved anti-parasitic compounds - proving that our concept delivers as we had hoped."

This agreement builds on Celgene and DNDi's long-standing collaboration to mine Celgene's compound library for a range of neglected tropical diseases. In September 2014, DNDi and Celgene Global Health, a division of Celgene Corporation, signed a four-year collaboration agreement to identify and optimize new drug candidates for the most neglected diseases, including, among others, leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, river blindness, and elephantiasis.

Celgene was founded on the belief that patients should have the opportunity, regardless of their location or financial resources, to benefit from advances in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Celgene Global Health was created in 2009 to partner with like-minded institutions to specifically extend this commitment to diseases of the developing world.

Traditionally, early stage drug discovery has been an expensive and time-consuming process. The Drug Discovery Booster uses a multilateral, simultaneous search process across participating companies, allowing DNDi to access compounds generated over many decades of research.

"Each project has already saved tens of thousands of dollars in compound synthesis costs, and has sped up the drug discovery process by two or three times," added Dr Mowbray.

The Booster project has made excellent and exciting progress in the first twelve months of activities and is on track to deliver new series into DNDi's lead optimization portfolio in 2016 and 2017. Initial results from the project will be published soon.

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CONTACT: DNDi North America: Ilan Moss, Communications Manager +1 646 266 5216 imoss@dndi.org

About DNDi

A not-for-profit R&D organization, DNDi works to deliver new treatments for neglected diseases, in particular leishmaniasis, human African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, specific filarial infections, paediatric HIV, mycetoma, and hepatitis C. DNDi is actively engaged in developing new treatments and screening new compounds, notably for Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. http://www.dndi.org

About Celgene

Celgene Corporation, headquartered in Summit, New Jersey, is an integrated global biopharmaceutical company engaged primarily in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases through next-generation solutions in protein homeostasis, immuno-oncology, epigenetics, immunology and neuro-inflammation. For more information, please visit http://www.celgene.com. Follow Celgene on Social Media: @Celgene, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists have combined biology and 3-D printing to create the first reactor that can continuously produce methanol from methane at room temperature and pressure.

The team removed enzymes from methanotrophs, bacteria that eat methane, and mixed them with polymers that they printed or molded into innovative reactors.

The research, which could lead to more efficient conversion of methane to energy production, appears in the June 15 edition of Nature Communications.

"Remarkably, the enzymes retain up to 100 percent activity in the polymer," said Sarah Baker, LLNL chemist and project lead. "The printed enzyme-embedded polymer is highly flexible for future development and should be useful in a wide range of applications, especially those involving gas-liquid reactions."

Advances in oil and gas extraction techniques have made vast new stores of natural gas, composed primarily of methane, available. However, a large volume of methane is leaked, vented or flared during these operations, partly because the gas is difficult to store and transport compared to more-valuable liquid fuels. Methane emissions also contribute about one-third of current net global warming potential, primarily from these and other distributed sources such as agriculture and landfills.

Current industrial technologies to convert methane to more valuable products, like steam reformation, operate at high temperature and pressure, require a large number of unit operations and yield a range of products. As a result, current industrial technologies have a low efficiency of methane conversion to final products and can only operate economically at very large scales

A technology to efficiently convert methane to other hydrocarbons is needed as a profitable way to convert "stranded" sources of methane and natural gas (sources that are small, temporary, or not close to a pipeline) to liquids for further processing, the team reported.

The only known catalyst (industrial or biological) to convert methane to methanol under ambient conditions with high efficiency is the enzyme methane monooxygenase (MMO), which converts methane to methanol. The reaction can be carried out by methanotrophs that contain the enzyme, but this approach inevitably requires energy for upkeep and metabolism of the organisms. Instead, the team separated the enzymes from the organism and used the enzymes directly.

The team found that isolated enzymes offer the promise of highly controlled reactions at ambient conditions with higher conversion efficiency and greater flexibility.

"Up to now, most industrial bioreactors are stirred tanks, which are inefficient for gas-liquid reactions," said Joshuah Stolaroff, an environmental scientist on the team. "The concept of printing enzymes into a robust polymer structure opens the door for new kinds of reactors with much higher throughput and lower energy use."

The team found that the 3-D-printed polymer could be reused over many cycles and used in higher concentrations than possible with the conventional approach of the enzyme dispersed in solution.

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Other Livermore team members include: Jennifer Knipe, Craig Blanchette, Joshua DeOtte, James Oakdale, Amitesh Maiti and Jeremy Lenhardt. The LLNL team collaborated with Northwestern University researchers Sarah Sirajuddin and Professor Amy Rosenzweig.

The Laboratory Directed Research and Development program funded the research.

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a national security laboratory, with a mission to ensure national security and apply science and technology to the important issues of our time. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
The protoplanetary disc around the young star TW Hydrae is the closest known example to Earth, at a distance of only about 170 light-years. As such it is an ideal target for astronomers to study discs. This system closely resembles what astronomers think the Solar System looked like during its formation more than four billion years ago.

The Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA - http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/alma/) is the most powerful observatory in existence for mapping the chemical composition and the distribution of cold gas in nearby discs. These unique capabilities have now been exploited by a group of astronomers led by Catherine Walsh (Leiden Observatory, the Netherlands) to investigate the chemistry of the TW Hydrae protoplanetary disc.

The ALMA observations have revealed the fingerprint of gaseous methyl alcohol, or methanol (CH3OH), in a protoplanetary disc for the first time. Methanol, a derivative of methane, is one of the largest complex organic molecules detected in discs to date. Identifying its presence in pre-planetary objects represents a milestone for understanding how organic molecules are incorporated into nascent planets.

Furthermore, methanol is itself a building block for more complex species of fundamental prebiotic importance, like amino acid compounds. As a result, methanol plays a vital role in the creation of the rich organic chemistry needed for life.

Catherine Walsh, lead author of the study, explains: "Finding methanol in a protoplanetary disc shows the unique capability of ALMA to probe the complex organic ice reservoir in discs and so, for the first time, allows us to look back in time to the origin of chemical complexity in a planet nursery around a young Sun-like star."

Gaseous methanol in a protoplanetary disc has a unique importance in astrochemistry. While other species detected in space are formed by gas-phase chemistry alone, or by a combination of both gas and solid-phase generation, methanol is a complex organic compound which is formed solely in the ice phase via surface reactions on dust grains.

The sharp vision of ALMA has also allowed astronomers to map the gaseous methanol across the TW Hydrae disc. They discovered a ring-like pattern in addition to significant emission from close to the central star [1].

The observation of methanol in the gas phase, combined with information about its distribution, implies that methanol formed on the disc's icy grains, and was subsequently released in gaseous form. This first observation helps to clarify the puzzle of the methanol ice-gas transition [2], and more generally the chemical processes in astrophysical environments [3].

Ryan A. Loomis, a co-author of the study, adds: "Methanol in gaseous form in the disc is an unambiguous indicator of rich organic chemical processes at an early stage of star and planet formation. This result has an impact on our understanding of how organic matter accumulates in very young planetary systems."

This successful first detection of cold gas-phase methanol in a protoplanetary disc means that the production of ice chemistry can now be explored in discs, paving the way to future studies of complex organic chemistry in planetary birthplaces. In the hunt for life-sustaining exoplanets, astronomers now have access to a powerful new tool.

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Notes

[1] A ring of methanol between 30 and 100 astronomical units(au) reproduces the pattern of the observed methanol data from ALMA. The identified structure supports the hypothesis that the bulk of the disc ice reservoir is hosted primarily on the larger (up to millimetre-sized) dust grains, residing in the inner 50 au, which have become decoupled from the gas, and drifted radially inwards towards the star.

[2] In this study, rather than thermal desorption (with methanol released at temperatures higher than its sublimation temperature), other mechanisms are supported and discussed by the team, including photodesorption by ultraviolet photons and reactive desorption. More detailed ALMA observations would help to definitely favour one scenario among the others.

[3] Radial variation of chemical species in the disc midplane composition, and specifically the locations of snowlines (http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1333/) , are crucial for understanding the chemistry of nascent planets.The snowlines mark the boundary beyond which a particular volatile chemical species is frozen out onto dust grains. The detection of methanol also in the colder outer regions of the disc shows that it is able to escape off the grains at temperatures much lower than its sublimation temperature, necessary to trigger thermal desorption.

More information

This research was presented in a paper entitled "First detection of gas-phase methanol in a protoplanetary disk", by Catherine Walsh et al., published in Astrophysical Journal, Volume 823, Number 1.

The team is composed of Catherine Walsh (Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands), Ryan A. Loomis (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA), Karin I. Oberg (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA), Mihkel Kama (Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands), Merel L. R. van't Hoff (Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands), Tom J. Millar (School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK), Yuri Aikawa (Center for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan), Eric Herbst (Departments of Chemistry and Astronomy, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA), Susanna L. Widicus Weaver (Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA) and Hideko Nomura (Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan).

The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), an international astronomy facility, is a partnership of ESO, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS) of Japan in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. ALMA is funded by ESO on behalf of its Member States, by NSF in cooperation with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the National Science Council of Taiwan (NSC) and by NINS in cooperation with the Academia Sinica (AS) in Taiwan and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI).

ALMA construction and operations are led by ESO on behalf of its Member States; by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), managed by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), on behalf of North America; and by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) on behalf of East Asia. The Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO) provides the unified leadership and management of the construction, commissioning and operation of ALMA.

ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world's most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and is the world's largest survey telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope is the largest telescope designed to exclusively survey the skies in visible light. ESO is a major partner in ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre European Extremely Large Telescope, the E-ELT, which will become "the world's biggest eye on the sky".

Links

* Research paper - http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8205/823/1/L10/meta

* Earlier ALMA observations of organic compounds in discs - http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1513/

* Photos of ALMA - http://www.eso.org/public/images/archive/search/?adv=&subject_name=Atacama%20Large%20Millimeter/submillimeter%20Array

* Other press releases featuring ALMA - http://www.eso.org/public/news/archive/search/?adv=&facility=36

Contacts

Catherine Walsh

Leiden Observatory

Leiden University, The Netherlands

Tel: +31 71527 ext 6287

Email: cwalsh@strw.leidenuniv.nl

Richard Hook

ESO Public Information Officer

Garching bei Munchen, Germany

Tel: +49 89 3200 6655

Cell: +49 151 1537 3591

Email: rhook@eso.org
Research conducted in major Canadian cities shows that refugee newcomers with large families struggle to find suitable housing. Organizations that settle government-assisted Syrian refugees have had to deal with this problem in Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, and other cities. In a recent Policy Options article, Professor Damaris Rose of the INRS Urbanisation Culture Societe Research Centre sheds light on certain issues affecting refugee housing.

Access to affordable housing represents a major challenge for refugees, who are generally traumatized by their experience and possess few material resources. Often underprivileged compared to other immigrants, refugees remain longer in overcrowded housing. However, this is not the case for every type of refugee. Better educated and with smaller families, privately sponsored Syrian refugees under the "Welcome Syrians" operation will no doubt have less trouble getting settled, provided they receive proper support from their sponsors in the form of mentoring and material assistance.

Damaris Rose also highlights the importance of urban geography for refugee resettlement. It is often easier to find affordable housing in smaller cities, which explains the decision to resettle refugees there. For example, in Quebec, 75% of government-sponsored Syrian refugees have been resettled in Quebec City, Gatineau, or in other small cities. Yet this policy does give rise to other problems concerning specialized assistance needed by refugees and often scarce public transport in the regions.

"Providing refugees with affordable and decent housing also may give them the necessary breathing room to take time for retraining, language skills development, and other strategies so they can move faster out of the ranks of the working poor," argues Professor Rose.

In her view, building social housing for large and multigenerational families as well as residential rehabilitation programs for private rental housing are the two best ways to improve the housing situation of low-income newcomers and certain refugees unable to enter the labour market in the near future.

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About INRS

Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS) is a graduate-level research and training university and ranks first in Canada for research intensity (average funding per professor). INRS brings together some 150 professors and close to 700 students and postdoctoral fellows at its four centres in Montreal, Quebec City, Laval, and Varennes. Its basic research is essential to the advancement of science in Quebec and internationally, and its research teams play a key role in the development of concrete solutions to the problems faced by our society.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A pair of studies led by Indiana University researchers provide new evidence that when it comes to evolution, the testes may play a key role.

The research, led by Kimberly Rosvall, assistant professor in the IU College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Biology, finds that the testes -- or gonads -- have a greater impact than previously thought in evolution. The research was conducted in two subspecies of dark-eyed junco, a type of American sparrow.

The white-winged junco, or Junco hyemalis aikeni, is found in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The slate-colored junco, or Junco hyemalis carolinensis, is from the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia. The first is larger and more aggressive; the other is smaller and more docile.

The studies are published in the journals of Hormones and Behavior and of Integrative and Comparative Biology.

The first paper compares the subspecies in their expression of enzymes that make testosterone within the gonad. The second paper investigates how the subspecies' gonads differ in the expression of stress hormone receptor genes, which are known to lower testosterone.

"The majority of endocrinologists will tell you that testosterone-mediated traits such as physical appearance or behavior are regulated in a top-down fashion -- that the brain acts as the 'CEO,' telling the rest of the body what to do," Rosvall said. "But our data suggest that this CEO model is oversimplified, and that the workers in the testosterone 'factory' -- the gonad -- may actually play an important role in trait divergence."

Compared to the Virginia juncos, the South Dakota birds are not only larger and more aggressive, they also boast flashier plumage, including more white tail feathers and prominent white bars on their wings. All these traits are influenced by testosterone, which is widely recognized in biology to influence traits important in natural selection, such as survival and reproduction.

Within a population, some males produce more testosterone, others produce less. Over evolutionary time, average levels of testosterone -- and the traits that testosterone regulates, such as aggression, body size, and even parental care or sex drive -- may evolve to suit a given environment. The genomic mechanisms that allow testosterone levels to evolve, however, are not well understood.

To conduct their research on the topic, Rosvall and colleagues studied the gonads of the two subspecies in the wild and in captivity. In the case of the South Dakota juncos, the results suggested the brawnier birds' gonads simply had more abundant testosterone-producing machinery. When the researchers treated the birds with a testosterone-stimulating hormone, the South Dakota birds were able to make more testosterone faster and keep it elevated longer.

"An animal that keeps testosterone elevated for longer should have greater expression of these testosterone-mediated characteristics," Rosvall said.

In the second study, Rosvall and colleagues found an additional cause for lower testosterone levels in the Virginia juncos. The smaller birds' testes expressed higher levels of stress hormone receptors -- known inhibitors of the production of testosterone.

The mechanism by which testosterone results in different traits involves hormone receptors found in the brain and body. When testosterone binds to these sites, it affects the expression of genes that influence characteristics such as behavior, body size and plumage.

"At the genomic level, you can really see a significant difference between these big, sexy juncos and their smaller, less aggressive cousins," Rosvall said. "Because we still saw some of these differences in males that we captured as juveniles, our research suggests that these differences in the gonad are genetic, or programmed very early in life."

The results are significant because they challenge the prevailing theory that hormonally regulated trait differences between species are controlled largely by the brain. In earlier studies, the IU team looked at various aspects of the brain and the pituitary, a gland that acts as an intermediary between the brain and the gonad, with results that suggested some difference between the gonads in high- versus low-testosterone males.

"These studies identify those differences," Rosvall said. "It has real implications for the growing fields of evolutionary endocrinology and ecological genomics.

"Whether it's birds or mice or people, testosterone influences a lot of traits in nature -- traits that impact who lives or dies, who mates or doesn't," she added. "Our research suggests that the gonad itself is an important player in the evolutionary process."

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Other authors on the papers are Ellen D. Ketterson, IU Distinguished Professor of Biology, whose work on juncos began over 40 years ago at IU; Christine M. Bergeon Burns, who received her Ph.D. at IU in 2012 and serves as the lab director at IU's Center for Integrative Study of Animal Behavior; Sonya P. Jayaratna, a medical student at the IU School of Medicine who did her undergraduate thesis with Rosvall; and Emma K. Dossey, a research associate in Rosvall's lab who contributed to the second study as an undergraduate.

This research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the Indiana Academy of Sciences.
Combining two emerging large-scale technologies for the first time -- multiplexed mass spectrometry and a mouse population with a high level of natural genetic diversity --researchers at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) can crack an outstanding question in biology and medicine: how genetic variants affect protein levels.

Proteins are chains of amino acids that comprise the structural and functional "parts list" of all cells and organisms. Understanding the regulation of protein expression is therefore critical to understanding normal development and disease. The central dogma of molecular biology describes this transfer of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein - the DNA sequence is first transcribed into messenger RNA, or mRNA, and then the cell's protein-building machinery translates the mRNA sequences into the amino-acid sequence of the protein.

Given this direct relationship between RNA and proteins, it was widely assumed that protein expression would track closely with mRNA expression. Yet several studies comparing cellular mRNA levels and protein levels have shown a surprising high level of discordance between the two, suggesting that one or more mechanisms act to buffer protein levels from genetic variants that affect mRNA levels. Previous experiments in mice and human cell lines aimed at identifying these mechanisms have been inconclusive.

JAX Professor and Karl Gunnar Johansson Chair Gary Churchill, Ph.D., a pioneer in developing the Collaborative Cross and Diversity Outbred mouse populations, joined forces with Steven Gygi, Ph.D., professor of cell biology at Harvard Medical School, a leader in the rapidly advancing field of quantitative proteomics (the study of an organism's entire complement of proteins), to address this puzzle.

Diversity Outbred mice, bred from eight founder strains, contain extensive genetic variation. "Our mouse populations have more than 50 million SNPs [single nucleotide polymorphisms, variations in individual DNA building blocks]," Churchill says, "and Steve can measure the levels of thousands of proteins instead of dozens. This makes an entirely new scale of analysis possible."

Gygi and Churchill are co-senior authors of an advanced online publication in Nature, "Defining the consequences of genetic variation on a proteome-wide scale," in which they compared mRNA and protein levels in the livers of 192 Diversity Outbred mice.

The researchers identified 2,866 genetic markers that correlate with differences in protein levels across mice (protein quantitative trait loci, or pQTL), and observed two striking patterns. Most proteins with "local" pQTL - the genetic variant influencing protein abundance is located close to the DNA sequence that encodes that protein - showed strong evidence of transcriptional regulation where protein levels tracked closely with mRNA levels. In stark contrast, proteins with "distant" pQTL - the genetic variant influencing protein abundance is located far away from the DNA sequence that encodes the protein - appeared completely uncoupled from their corresponding mRNA's abundance. By applying a novel statistical approach, they showed that the post-transcriptional effects of many distant pQTL could be attributed to a second protein, revealing an extensive network of direct protein-protein interactions and tightly regulated cellular pathways. The researchers confirmed their findings in Collaborative Cross mice.

"We can now uncover relationships among genes, transcripts and proteins not previously known," Gygi says. "Our findings suggest a new predictive genomics framework, combining quantitative proteomics and transcriptomics to infer the proteome-wide effects of a specific genetic variant." Within this framework, he says, researchers can explore and fine-tune pathways associated with their physical process, disease or characteristic of interest.

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Joel Chick of HMS, and Steven Munger of JAX were co-lead authors on the study, while Edward Huttlin of HMS and Petr Simecek, Kwangbom Choi, Daniel Gatti, Narayanan Raghupathy and Karen Svenson of JAX contributed as coauthors.

The Jackson Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institution based in Bar Harbor, Maine, with a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center, a facility in Sacramento, Calif., and a genomic medicine institute in Farmington, Conn. It employs 1,700 staff, and its mission is to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community in the shared quest to improve human health.
On December 26, 2015 at 03:38:53 UTC, scientists observed gravitational waves--ripples in the fabric of spacetime--for the second time.

The gravitational waves were detected by both of the twin Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors, located in Livingston, Louisiana, and Hanford, Washington, USA.

The LIGO Observatories are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and were conceived, built, and are operated by Caltech and MIT. The discovery, accepted for publication in the journal Physical Review Letters, was made by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (which includes the GEO Collaboration and the Australian Consortium for Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy) and the Virgo Collaboration using data from the two LIGO detectors.

Gravitational waves carry information about their origins and about the nature of gravity that cannot otherwise be obtained, and physicists have concluded that these gravitational waves were produced during the final moments of the merger of two black holes--14 and 8 times the mass of the sun--to produce a single, more massive spinning black hole that is 21 times the mass of the sun.

"It is very significant that these black holes were much less massive than those observed in the first detection," says Gabriela Gonzalez, LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) spokesperson and professor of physics and astronomy at Louisiana State University. "Because of their lighter masses compared to the first detection, they spent more time--about one second--in the sensitive band of the detectors. It is a promising start to mapping the populations of black holes in our universe."

During the merger, which occurred approximately 1.4 billion years ago, a quantity of energy roughly equivalent to the mass of the sun was converted into gravitational waves. The detected signal comes from the last 27 orbits of the black holes before their merger. Based on the arrival time of the signals--with the Livingston detector measuring the waves 1.1 milliseconds before the Hanford detector--the position of the source in the sky can be roughly determined.

"In the near future, Virgo, the European interferometer, will join a growing network of gravitational wave detectors, which work together with ground-based telescopes that follow-up on the signals," notes Fulvio Ricci, the Virgo Collaboration spokesperson, a physicist at Istituto Nazionale di Nucleare (INFN) and professor at Sapienza University of Rome. "The three interferometers together will permit a far better localization in the sky of the signals."

The first detection of gravitational waves, announced on February 11, 2016, was a milestone in physics and astronomy; it confirmed a major prediction of Albert Einstein's 1915 general theory of relativity, and marked the beginning of the new field of gravitational-wave astronomy.

The second discovery "has truly put the 'O' for Observatory in LIGO," says Caltech's Albert Lazzarini, deputy director of the LIGO Laboratory. "With detections of two strong events in the four months of our first observing run, we can begin to make predictions about how often we might be hearing gravitational waves in the future. LIGO is bringing us a new way to observe some of the darkest yet most energetic events in our universe."

"We are starting to get a glimpse of the kind of new astrophysical information that can only come from gravitational wave detectors," says MIT's David Shoemaker, who led the Advanced LIGO detector construction program.

Both discoveries were made possible by the enhanced capabilities of Advanced LIGO, a major upgrade that increases the sensitivity of the instruments compared to the first generation LIGO detectors, enabling a large increase in the volume of the universe probed

"With the advent of Advanced LIGO, we anticipated researchers would eventually succeed at detecting unexpected phenomena, but these two detections thus far have surpassed our expectations," says NSF Director France A. Cordova. "NSF's 40-year investment in this foundational research is already yielding new information about the nature of the dark universe."

Advanced LIGO's next data-taking run will begin this fall. By then, further improvements in detector sensitivity are expected to allow LIGO to reach as much as 1.5 to 2 times more of the volume of the universe. The Virgo detector is expected to join in the latter half of the upcoming observing run.

LIGO research is carried out by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC), a group of more than 1,000 scientists from universities around the United States and in 14 other countries. More than 90 universities and research institutes in the LSC develop detector technology and analyze data; approximately 250 students are strong contributing members of the collaboration. The LSC detector network includes the LIGO interferometers and the GEO600 detector.

Virgo research is carried out by the Virgo Collaboration, consisting of more than 250 physicists and engineers belonging to 19 different European research groups: 6 from Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France; 8 from the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) in Italy; 2 in The Netherlands with Nikhef; the MTA Wigner RCP in Hungary; the POLGRAW group in Poland and the European Gravitational Observatory (EGO), the laboratory hosting the Virgo detector near Pisa in Italy.

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The NSF leads in financial support for Advanced LIGO. Funding organizations in Germany (Max Planck Society), the U.K. (Science and Technology Facilities Council, STFC) and Australia (Australian Research Council) also have made significant commitments to the project.

Several of the key technologies that made Advanced LIGO so much more sensitive have been developed and tested by the German UK GEO collaboration. Significant computer resources have been contributed by the AEI Hannover Atlas Cluster, the LIGO Laboratory, Syracuse University, the ARCCA cluster at Cardiff University, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the Open Science Grid. Several universities designed, built, and tested key components and techniques for Advanced LIGO: The Australian National University, the University of Adelaide, the University of Western Australia, the University of Florida, Stanford University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Louisiana State University. The GEO team includes scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute, AEI), Leibniz Universitat Hannover, along with partners at the University of Glasgow, Cardiff University, the University of Birmingham, other universities in the United Kingdom and Germany, and the University of the Balearic Islands in Spain.

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Employment more likely for those who can change their thinking

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Unemployed people were more likely to land a job if they used skills commonly taught as part of cognitive therapy for depression, a new study found.

These skills included identifying negative thoughts and countering them with more positive responses and planning enjoyable activities to improve mood.

This study is the first to show that cognitive behavioral (CB) skills not only predict changes in depression symptoms, but also real-life functioning, said Daniel Strunk, co-author of the study and associate professor of psychology at The Ohio State University.

"Searching for a job is difficult in any circumstance, but it may be even more difficult for people who are depressed," Strunk said.

"But we found that there are specific skills that can help not only manage the symptoms of depression but also make it more likely that a person will receive a job offer."

Strunk conducted the study with Benjamin Pfeifer, a doctoral student in psychology at Ohio State. Their results appear in the June 2016 issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

The study involved 75 unemployed people, aged 20 to 67, who participated in two online surveys taken three months apart.

The participants completed a variety of questionnaires that measured depressive symptoms and a variety of psychological variables, such as dysfunctional attitudes, brooding and a negative cognitive style. They also completed an instrument that measured how often they used CB skills such as countering their own negative thoughts.

About a third of the sample reported symptoms that would put them in the moderately to seriously depressed category, although they were not formally diagnosed. The remaining two-thirds had scores that ranged from mild depression to no symptoms.

The results showed that participants who reported more use of CB skills were more likely to show an improvement in depressive symptoms in the three months between the surveys - and were more likely to report they had received a job offer.

Many of the skills taught by cognitive behavioral therapy involve rethinking one's negative automatic thoughts, which are maladaptive thoughts that often pop into one's head without effortful reflection. Other skills focus on behavior, like breaking up daunting tasks into smaller parts in order to help a person get started.

"The people who got jobs in our study were more likely to be putting into practice the skills that we try to teach people in cognitive therapy," Strunk said.

The researchers didn't ask specifically if participants were receiving therapy, but it is likely that few if any of them had received any training in cognitive behavioral therapy, he said.

"Some people just naturally catch themselves when they have negative thoughts and refocus on the positive and use other CB skills. These are the people who were more likely to find a job."

Strunk said most job seekers probably feel some discouragement as they look through job ads and get rejected for jobs. But those who keep persisting and use CB skills to boost their mood were the ones who were most likely to succeed.

"Rejection is so much a part of the process of job seeking. Using cognitive behavioral skills are an important way one can deal with that."

The other variables that the researchers studied, such as dysfunctional attitudes and negative cognitive style, did not predict improvement in depressive symptoms or higher odds of receiving a job offer. Strunk said this was surprising, but it will take further research to figure out why.

But the results do offer a way for job seekers - especially those who are depressed - to improve their chances of finding work.

"Using cognitive behavioral skills, people can overcome some of the negative thinking that may be holding them back and making it less likely to succeed in their job search," Strunk said.

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Contact: Daniel Strunk, 614-688-4891; Strunk.20@osu.edu

Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu
Gravitational waves from a second pair of colliding black holes has validated the landmark discovery from earlier this year that confirmed Einstein's general theory of relativity. Rochester Institute of Technology scientists contributed to the initial breakthrough and to the second discovery announced today by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory.

The second gravitational wave was observed by the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the Virgo Collaboration on Dec. 26, 2015, toward the end of the first science run of the Advanced LIGO detectors. The findings, which will appear in the journal Physical Review Letters, validate the new field of gravitational wave astronomy and reveal diversity of size and spin among black holes in the universe.

"This detection corroborates our previous one," said Richard O'Shaughnessy, assistant professor in RIT's School of Mathematical Sciences and a member of RIT's LIGO group. "We can now demonstrate with complete confidence that it wasn't a fluke because we saw something again. And, critically, we're going to see sources that are not just like the first sources but include a wide range."

O'Shaughnessy and several of his colleagues in RIT's Center for Computational Relativity and Gravitation are members of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. Scientists at RIT's center simulate extreme astrophysical scenarios on supercomputers to predict and validate gravitational wave signals, analyze gravitational wave data and estimate astrophysical implications.

The landmark discovery occurred on Sept. 14, 2015, and was publicly announced on Feb. 11. The scientific breakthrough confirmed predictions in Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity and involved the merger of black holes that weighed 29 and 36 solar masses.

The binary black holes in this event weighed 14 and 8 times the mass of the sun and were one-third the size of the first pair of black holes LIGO observed. The orbiting black holes merged to form gravitational waves 1.4 billion years ago. The merger produced a single, more massive spinning black hole, weighing 21 times the mass of the sun. The impact converted the energy equivalent of the sun's mass into gravitational waves, or ripples in the fabric of space-time.

The LIGO detectors captured the final seconds before the landmark merger in September. This time, LIGO observed a longer, murkier signal from the smaller masses, including the last 27 orbits of the black holes before the merger. The signal is three times longer than the previous one but quieter and not as visible in the data.

"This signal isn't obvious," John Whelan, principal investigator of RIT's group in the LIGO Scientific Collaboration. "We had to use a more sophisticated technique to find it called matched filtering."

Critical parts of the matched filtering strategy used to discover this new signal were prototyped in a project co-led, under Whelan's supervision, by then-RIT post-doctoral researcher Satya Mohapatra, now part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's LIGO group.

"We know what inspirals look like, and we'll search for systems of different masses and we'll see if one of them fits well," said Whelan, associate professor in RIT's School of Mathematical Science and graduate program coordinator of RIT's astrophysical sciences and technology program. "When you change the mass of binary black holes, you change the frequency at which these things happen and that changes which parts of the wave form are most important."

This time, LIGO captured earlier stages of the "chirp" signal. The black holes were less massive than those in the landmark Sept. 14 merger and radiated at a higher frequency upon impact. The frequency fell within LIGO's sensitivity band and resulted in a longer signal.

Besides being smaller, one black hole is nearly twice the size of its companion. Because the larger, spinning body was not perpendicular to the orbital plane, the orbit wobbled, or precessed, and produced a complicated gravitational wave signal.

Carlos Lousto, professor in RIT's School of Mathematical Sciences, and James Healy, postdoctoral researcher in the Center for Computational Relativity and Gravitation, produced numerical simulations to track the spin-effect of the oddly aligned black hole and helped identify the astrophysical properties of the massive black hole formed at the end.

"We also contributed to the formula for determining the final properties of the merged black hole and specific simulations to reproduce the precessing event, which is a project we have worked on for the last few years," said Lousto, an American Physical Society Fellow.

Lousto used supercomputers in RIT's Black Hole Lab and at national laboratories to model the astrophysical scenarios. "Keeping track of black holes moving, changing directions and speeds is more demanding computationally," he said.

The first gravitational wave signal took 10 days to simulate on a supercomputer, while the more complicated signal in the second event took two months to produce. Lousto used the techniques from the 2005 landmark research led by Manuela Campanelli, director of the RIT's Center for Computational Relativity and Gravitation and a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.

The Center for Computational Relativity and Gravitation is a research hub in the College of Science and an RIT Research Center of Excellence. Campanelli has positioned the center to become a leader in gravitational wave and multimessenger astronomy, which combines information from gravitational waves and the electromagnetic spectrum. Under her leadership, RIT is supporting a gravitational wave astronomy research initiative at the center as part of new strategic investments designed to promote areas of interdisciplinary, frontier research at the university.

"We are working to push the frontiers in multi-messenger astronomy and will pursue opportunities to play a role in developing next-generation gravitational wave detectors," said Campanelli, professor in RIT's School of Mathematical Sciences and an American Physical Society Fellow. "This is an exciting new era for astrophysics and for science in general that will be remembered in history."

Several RIT scientists and students in the Center for Computational Relativity and Gravitation, are authors on the LIGO paper that will appear in the journal, Physical Review Letters. They are John Whelan, Richard O'Shaughnessy, Carlos Lousto, James Healy, post-doctoral research fellow, graduate students in RIT's astrophysical sciences and technology program Jacob Lange and Yuanhao Zhang, and physics undergraduates Monica Rizzo, a second-year student, and Jackson Henry, who recently graduated.

The LIGO Observatories are funded by the National Science Foundation and were conceived, built and are operated by Caltech and MIT. The observatory consists of twin detectors located in Livingston, La., and Hanford, Wash. The LIGO Scientific Collaboration includes the GEO Collaboration and the Australian Consortium for Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy.

Advanced LIGO's next data-taking run will begin in the fall. Further improvements in detector sensitivity could increase the volume of the universe sampled by an additional one-and-a-half to two times. The Virgo detector in Italy is expected to join in the latter half of Advanced LIGO's second observing run.

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Troy, N.Y. - A few snippets of protein extracted from the fossil of an extinct species of giant beaver are opening a new door in paleoproteomics, the study of ancient proteins. Ancient proteins can be used to place animals on the evolutionary tree, and could offer insights into how life and Earth's environment have evolved over time. Typically, paleoproteomics relies on fossils collected for the purpose. But in a paper published today in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) used a fossil collected more than 170 years ago in central New York, and housed at the New York State Museum.

"Paleoproteomics is a young field. We don't yet know the full potential of the information it may offer us, and one barrier to that is the supply of fossils we can call upon for research," said Deepak Vashishth, professor of biomedical engineering and director of the Rensselaer Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies. "In developing these techniques, we're creating new value in fossils that are already on exhibit, or sitting in storage waiting for a purpose."

The team of researchers extracted proteins from the first skull of the species Castoroides ohioensis ever found. Collected in 1845, the giant beaver skull is the oldest museum-curated bony specimen to have been studied using paleoproteomic tools. The researchers were searching for proteins, chains of amino acids assembled from instructions encoded in DNA that perform a wide variety of functions in living organisms. Using mass spectrometry analysis, researchers detected many samples of collagen 1, the most common protein in bone.

"This research not only provides exciting information about a New York State Museum specimen of unique significance--the first discovered and documented giant beaver skull in the world--it also highlights the critical role museum collections play in research and discovery," said Robert Feranec, New York State Museum curator of vertebrate paleontology. "Without maintaining collections rich in diversity of specimens, both ancient and modern, similar research that examines these windows into our past would not be possible."

The big challenge to drawing upon existing fossil collections is that they weren't collected for the purpose of paleoproteomics, and they may not have been stored in conditions optimal to protein extraction and analysis techniques, said Timothy Cleland, a postdoctoral researcher formerly at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and now at the University of Texas-Austin.

"In paleoproteomics we've generally looked at specimens collected recently and carefully stored in climate-controlled conditions. In this case, we're looking at a specimen that sat on a shelf collecting dust for most of its life," Cleland said. "So we wanted to know - can we look at these historically collected specimens and pull out protein information?"

When researchers studied the giant beaver skull, the first thing they noticed was that it appeared to have varnish, a common treatment used to preserve fossils, applied to the outside of it. To avoid the varnish (which is itself organically based), they took samples from the nasal cavities of the skull. They removed a small sample of bone, extracted the preserved proteins, digested with enzyme, and analyzed the protein pieces with mass spectrometry.

The analysis determined the primary sequence of amino acids in the protein detected, as well as post-translational modifications, chemical changes on the surface of the protein that are not defined by DNA. Both the primary sequence and post-translational modifications have value to researchers, and that value will increase as more specimens are analyzed and more information becomes available, said Cleland.

A database of primary protein sequences, for example, could be useful in clarifying evolutionary trees, in reverse engineering proteins to understand how particular proteins evolved over a period of time, or in "reviving" a sequence that may be nonexistent now for therapeutic use.

Cleland was particularly excited about being able to detect fossil post-translational modifications, a finding that has little precedent in the emerging field. Post-translational modifications are such a recent addition to paleoproteomics that he said researchers are just scratching the surface of what can be done with it.

"Collagen, for example, is a really long-lived protein - we retain some of the collagen we're born with for our entire lives. By studying the post-translational modifications to collagen, we can learn what an organism is doing to its collagen so it can function better - for example become more rigid or more flexible," said Cleland. "Now imagine if we were able to build up a database of post-translational modification to ancient organisms, we could begin to make inferences about evolutionary changes, or use them in protein engineering to look at how function in the ancient protein compares to that same protein in living animals."

At Rensselaer, the research exemplifies the work being done at The New Polytechnic, addressing difficult and complex global challenges, the need for interdisciplinary and true collaboration, and the use of the latest tools and technologies, many of which are developed at Rensselaer.

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Hurricane Sandy, later to be renamed Superstorm Sandy, made landfall near Atlantic City, New Jersey, on October 29, 2012. Over 1000 miles wide, the storm impacted 24 states, with the greatest impact felt by New Jersey and New York City. The damage and destruction that followed made Sandy the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, whose financial impact was second only to Hurricane Katrina. The damage to buildings and other infrastructures is well documented in the media, but there was less documentation of the impact on public health following the storm.

While natural disasters like Superstorm Sandy cannot be prevented, each event provides learning opportunities that can be used to alleviate the impact of future disasters. However, much of this learning can only take place during the response and recovery phase. As a result, the New York Academy of Medicine quickly convened a group of subject matter expects in November 2012 to identify priority needs for research. Questions like what factors contributed to community resilience, how were health care systems impacted, and what was the effect on at-risk individuals were identified.

In response, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 allocated funding to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to commission research to investigate the many areas of concern following the storm. Funding was channeled through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). From this, 31 initial projects and 13 additional companion projects were funded.

The Guest Editors for this special collection published as the June 2016 Special Issue no. 3 of Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness (http://bit.ly/21kEAeA) are Michael J Reilly, Center for Disaster Medicine, New York Medical College; Linda C Degutis, The Avielle Foundation; and Stephen S Morse, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, with Eric G Carbone of CDC and Marcienne M Wright of ASPR also contributing an editorial.

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About the Journal

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness is the first comprehensive and authoritative journal emphasizing public health preparedness and disaster response for all health care and public health professionals globally. The journal seeks to translate science into practice and integrate medical and public health perspectives. DMPHP is an official journal of the Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, and is produced by Cambridge University Press. About the Society

The Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health aims to evolve a discipline around disaster medicine and public health. The society's goal is to improve global health security, with the involvement and development of global health professionals and others who are involved in responding to and or managing significant events. The mission of the SDMPH is to advance and promote excellence in education, training and research in disaster medicine and public health for all potential health system responders based on sound educational principles, scientific evidence and best clinical and public health practices.
A team from Swansea University which is developing a new 'smart release' corrosion inhibitor, for use in coated steel products, has won the Materials Science Venture Prize awarded by The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers.

Led by Professor Geraint Williams, the team, including doctorate student Patrick Dodds, is working on an alternative to hexavalent chromate, the commonly used corrosion inhibitor which is facing an EU ban in 2019. The discovery by Mr Dodds, in late 2015, of a material and manufacturing process for a smart release coating which outperforms hexavalent chromate in laboratory tests could lead to the product taking a significant slice of a multi-million pound market. The market for coiled coated steel is potentially worth 3billion per year in Europe alone.

"This is a significant breakthrough, showing a smarter and safer way of reducing corrosion. The new product is environmentally sound, economical and outperforms the market leader in laboratory tests. It illustrates that Swansea, with its close links between research and industry, remains at the heart of innovation in steel" said Professor Geraint Williams.

Corrosion inhibitors are commonly used in a wide range of sectors, including: coated steel products used to construct industrial, commercial and other buildings; aerospace and aircraft; and the car industry.

Dodds' discovery contains a stored reservoir of corrosion inhibitor. It works by channelling aggressive electrolyte anions into the coating, triggering the release of the inhibitor 'on demand', thus preventing corrosion.

"The system has been shown to prevent the onset of corrosion for over 24 hours compared to less than two hours for the current market leader," said Patrick Dodds. "We have also been able to demonstrate that the rate of corrosion can be slowed down significantly once it has started. This is by far the best result seen in 15 years of research on this topic."

"This is a significant discovery and shows how the UK is still a driving innovation force in industry," said Professor Bill Bonfield, chairman of the Armourers and Brasiers Venture Prize judging panel. "Our prize looks to encourage scientific entrepreneurship in the UK and provide funding to help discoveries like this realise their potential."

"The 25,000 prize win will be used to purchase a Jet Mill system, an essential tool for overcoming the remaining technical barriers preventing commercialisation," explained Professor Williams. "All the laboratory tests have been most encouraging and the next stage is to demonstrate technical viability and commercial scalability."

The research was carried out at Swansea University using a scanning Kelvin probe, specially built by the team, which can detect the state of the metal beneath a coating without touching it. This allowed them to test different products much more quickly, with each test taking around 24 hours, rather than 500 hours as was previously the case.

The intellectual property is owned by Swansea University, having been developed under a project co-funded by Tata Steel Colors. Swansea University has also filed a GB patent application relating to the technology. Ownership will be transferred to the spin-out company in exchange for a minority shareholding which will include a package of on-going scientific, technical and business support to ensure the company is investable.

The spin-out company will be co-located with the SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre at Swansea University in its company incubation area. The centre's strategic partners include Tata Steel and BASF Chemicals, and it is funded by EPSRC, Innovate UK and the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

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Notes to Editors:

About Armourers and Brasiers' Company

Alongside Professor Bonfield on the judging panel were Cambridge based Materials Scientist Professor Sir Colin Humphreys, representatives from the venture capital industry and members of the Armourers and Brasiers' Company.

The Armourers and Brasiers' Company is a leading supporter of Materials Science education and research in the UK. Its Venture Prize is aimed at helping scientists commercialise the early stage research and the exploitation of new and exciting ideas. The Company also seeks to encourage education in science from primary to postdoctoral levels supporting schools and universities throughout the UK.

http://www.armourershall.co.uk/venture-prize/

Swansea University and steel

Founded to help meet the needs of the metal industries, Swansea University remains at the heart of innovation in steel. Swansea-led innovations are already demonstrating that steel is a 21st century industry, with academics and the industry working hand in hand on tomorrow's technologies, including:

New steel-based products which turn buildings into power stations that store and release their own energy

Using nano-level technology to develop lighter steel for more energy-efficient cars

Improving the way blast furnaces are loaded and stirred, already saving over 5 million a year at Port Talbot Brand-new research and testing facilities at the University's new Bay Campus, which is situated across the bay from the giant Port Talbot steelworks, cement Swansea's role as the natural home for innovation in steel.

More information

http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media-centre/latest-news/steelisa21stcenturyindustry-swansearesearchontomorrowstechnologies.php
PHOENIX, Ariz. -- June 15, 2016 -- Antibiotic-resistant infections should be easier to detect, and hospitals could become safer, thanks to a technology developed by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Northern Arizona University (NAU), and protected under a patent issued by Australia.

Soon, similar patent approvals are expected by the U.S., Canada, European Union, Japan, Brazil and other nations for this "superbug" test developed by TGen and NAU, and licensed to DxNA LLC, a company based in St. George, Utah.

"This rapid, 1-hour test will precisely identify a family of antibiotic-resistant Staph infections we broadly refer to as MRSA," said Dr. Paul Keim, Director of TGen's Pathogen Genomics Division, or TGen North, based in Flagstaff.

"We hope this technology will be adopted worldwide by hospitals and clinics, and will help identify and isolate these dangerous and difficult-to-eliminate infections that have come to plague our medical institutions," said Dr. Keim, who also is the Cowden Endowed Chair of Microbiology at NAU, and Director of NAU's Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics (MGGen). "The result should be more rapid diagnosis, improved treatment of patients, and reduced medical costs."

MRSA -- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus -- is an antibiotic-resistant form of the Staph bacteria that annually kills more Americans than HIV.

While MRSA technically refers to one particular strain of Staph, the genomics-based test developed by TGen, NAU and DxNA can precisely detect multiple types of drug-resistant Staph bacterial infections, including drug resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus (CNS), a much more common infection than MRSA.

Staph infections are the most common hospital-acquired or associated infections. While most of the focus over the past few years has been on MRSA, in terms of incidence and total cost, strains of Staph other than MRSA are a much more common problem.

Due to the increasing use of implantable biomaterials and medical devices, infections are increasingly caused by CNS. This is a type of Staph that is often resistant to multiple antibiotics and has a particular affinity for these devices.

"Rapid identification and differentiation of these resistant bacteria is key to optimizing treatment decisions that significantly impact patient outcomes and cost of care," said David Taus, CEO of DxNA LLC. "Given that resistant CNS is a frequent pathogen in surgical site infections, orthopedic and cardiac device infections, and blood stream infections -- among others -- it is critical that we be able to rapidly identify and determine antibiotic resistance to provide for appropriate pre-surgical antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infections and early and effective treatment when these infections do occur."

Current molecular tests for MRSA all ignore CNS, rendering their results significantly less useful in treating patients given that drug resistant CNS infections are many times more common than MRSA.

DxNA's Staphylococcus Test identifies and differentiates resistant and non-resistant strains of Staph and CNS. The test uses three separate proprietary biomarker targets and a proprietary methodology to determine which types of Staph are present, and which carry the gene that causes antibiotic-resistance in these bacteria.

"The test also is effective in identifying infected specimens where there are multiple types of Staph. The test will rapidly provide broader clinically-actionable results, improving antibiotic prophylaxis, early targeted intervention resulting in more effective treatment at lower costs," Taus said.

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About TGen

Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused on helping patients with neurological disorders, cancer, and diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial contribution to help our patients through efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process. For more information, visit: http://www.tgen.org. Follow TGen on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @TGen.

Media Contact:

Steve Yozwiak

TGen Senior Science Writer

602-343-8704

syozwiak@tgen.org

About DxNA LLC

DxNA is a privately held company located in St. George Utah. It is a molecular diagnostics company that develops and distributes portable, fully-integrated systems and tests for infectious disease in the medical, agricultural, food safety, and biosecurity markets. The Company's systems and technologies enable rapid and precise molecular testing to take place on-site by allowing for otherwise complex laboratory procedures to be performed almost anywhere. DxNA's patented GeneSTAT portable Real Time PCR molecular diagnostic testing system will allow individuals with minimal training to conduct accurate real-time diagnostic testing in virtually any location including laboratories, clinics, physician offices, emergency rooms or field settings. Designed with economy in mind, GeneSTAT is inherently less costly than the real time PCR systems typical of clinical laboratories.

About Northern Arizona University

Northern Arizona University is a high-research university with a statewide enrollment of 28,000 students. More than 20,000 students attend the Flagstaff campus, with 8,000 students enrolled online and at Extended Campus sites statewide. Research in genetics, forestry and ecology has drawn international recognition to the university, which also is highly regarded for its education, business and engineering programs. NAU launched competency-based Personalized Learning in 2013, the first self-paced, online education program that cuts the cost and time to an undergraduate degree.
A team from the University of Bristol has shed new light on the creatures that inhabited the tropical seas surrounding Britain at the start of the age of the dinosaurs.

Some 210 million years ago, Britain consisted of many islands, surrounded by warm seas. Europe at the time lay farther south, at latitudes equivalent to North Africa today. Much of Europe was hot desert, and at this point was flooded by a great sea - the Rhaetian Transgression.

Published in Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, the Bristol team's work is the most extensive study yet, based on more than 26,000 identified fossils, of the Rhaetian shallow sea sharks, bony fishes, marine reptiles, and other creatures. Unusually, five members of the team were undergraduates when they did the work, and this was part of a series of summer internships.

The team was led by Ellen Mears, now a postgraduate at the University of Edinburgh, and Valentina Rossi, now a postgraduate at the University of Cork.

Ellen Mears said: "I studied the shark and fish teeth, and found remains of at least seven species of sharks and four of bony fishes. The sharks were all predators, but some were quite small. The bony fishes were unusual because many of them were shell crushers."

Valentina Rossi, who worked on the reptile remains, added: "We found teeth and bones of ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs, the classic great sea dragons of the Triassic and Jurassic, as well as some other reptiles, including a tooth possibly from a dinosaur - but it was heavily worn."

Professor Michael Benton, who supervised the students' work over the summers of 2014 and 2015, explained: "The students came to the project with no prior knowledge, but each one took on the task of identifying and documenting their group of fossils. They had to look at thousands of specimens and assign them to species, and then each contribute their part of the paper to proper professional standards. This is the eighth paper published from this internship scheme."

The new work has emphasized the complexity of major global changes, like this remarkable rise in sea level ten million years ago. It has been documented from dozens of localities in England, but also from central Europe. Careful measurement of the rock sections, and documentation of the fossils bed-by-bed allow us to reconstruct the to-and-fro of major animal groups over a few million years.

The fossils even include dozens of examples of coprolites, pellets of dung, hat were deposited by the various fishes and reptiles - some of these even contain bones and scales of fishes, and one even shows small bones of a marine reptile - clear evidence of who was eating whom in those ancient seas.

###

Paper:

'The Rhaetian (Late Triassic) vertebrates of Hampstead Farm Quarry, Gloucestershire, UK' by Ellen Mears, Valentina Rossi, Ellen MacDonald, Gareth Coleman, Tom Davies, Caterina Arias-Riesgo, Claudia Hildebrandt, Helen Thiel, Christopher J. Duffin, David I. Whiteside, and Michael J. Benton in Proceedings of the Geologists' Association
Shells from the Pacific Northwest are nearly a third thinner now than specimens collected in the 1970s

Shells of California mussels collected from the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Washington in the 1970s are on average 32 percent thicker than modern specimens, according to a new study published by University of Chicago biologists.

Shells collected by Native Americans 1,000 to 1,300 years ago were also 27 percent thicker than modern shells, on average. The decreasing thickness over time, in particular the last few decades, is likely due to ocean acidification as a result of increased carbon in the atmosphere.

"Archival material provided by past researchers, the Makah Tribal Nation, and the Olympic National Park allowed us to document this intriguing and concerning pattern in shell thickness," said Cathy Pfister, PhD, professor of ecology and evolution at the University of Chicago and lead author. The study was published June 15, 2016, in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

As humans burn fossils fuels, the oceans absorb a large portion of the additional carbon released into the atmosphere. This in turn causes pH levels of ocean water to drop, making it more acidic. Mussels, oysters, and certain species of algae have difficulty producing their calcium carbonate shells and skeletons in such an environment, and can provide an early indicator of how increasing ocean acidification affects marine life.

In previous studies, Pfister and her colleagues documented declining pH levels in the waters surrounding Tatoosh Island off the coast of Washington state. In 2011 they further analyzed carbon and oxygen isotopes taken from modern mussel shells, shells collected by the local Makah tribe between AD 668 and 1008, and shells collected by biologists in the 1970s.

For the new study, the researchers compared the thicknesses of the same sets of shells. On average, the shells provided by the Makah Cultural and Research Center were 27.6 percent thicker than modern counterparts. Shells from the 1970s were 32.2 percent thicker. Shells collected from a different Native American site in Sand Point, WA, dating between 2150 and 2420 years old were almost 94 percent thicker than modern shells.

The long-term decline in thickness likely shows a response to ocean acidification, though the researchers also consider other environmental drivers including changes in food supply (e.g. plankton) for mussels.

The researchers also point out that their findings raise concerns about the California mussel's ability to retain its role as a foundational species in these waters. Decreased shell thickness makes them increasingly vulnerable to predators and environmental disturbances. This in turn could affect interactions with hundreds of other species of organisms that live near mussel beds in tidal waters.

"The California mussel is a common species along the entire west coast of the United States, and their fate will be linked to that of a rich diversity of predators, including sea stars and sea otters, as well as myriad species that are part of the mussel bed habitat," Pfister said. "It is imperative that we understand more about how these species will change as ocean conditions change."

###

The study "Historical baselines and the future of shell calcification for a foundation species in a changing ocean," was supported by the SeaDoc Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the United States Department of Defense. Additional authors include Timothy Wootton from the University of Chicago; Kaustuv Roy from the University of California, San Diego; Sophie McCoy, who conducted the work as a graduate student at UChicago, now at Florida State University; Robert Paine from the University of Washington; Thomas Suchanek from the US Geological Survey and the University of California, Davis; and Eric Sanford from the University of California, Davis.

About the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences

The University of Chicago Medicine & Biological Sciences is one of the nation's leading academic medical institutions. It comprises the Pritzker School of Medicine, a top 10 medical school in the nation; the University of Chicago Biomedical Sciences Division; and the University of Chicago Medical Center, which recently opened the Center for Care and Discovery, a $700 million specialty medical facility. Twelve Nobel Prize winners in physiology or medicine have been affiliated with the University of Chicago Medicine.

Visit our research blog at sciencelife.uchospitals.edu and our newsroom at uchospitals.edu/news.

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URBANA, Ill. - Adding carbon dioxide gas to water, a process similar to making carbonated soda water, could help control the movement and behavior of invasive carp in the Great Lakes basin, according to a recent study.

"This study demonstrates the ability of carbon dioxide to act as a non-physical barrier on a large scale," says University of Illinois researcher Cory Suski. " Work on this topic to date has primarily been performed in small, laboratory studies, and so this work showed the potential for CO2 to be effective at larger scales more relevant to field applications."

Bighead carp and silver carp are species of invasive Asian carp that threaten the Great Lakes. Scientists with the University of Illinois and U.S. Geological Survey tested the effectiveness of infusing water with recycled CO2 gas to discourage the movement of bighead and silver carp. Both carp species avoided CO2-infused water in a research pond at the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center in La Crosse, Wis.

"These fish responses provide evidence that CO2 could be used as a tool to deter the movement of bighead and silver carp," says Michael Donaldson, a U of I researcher and the study's lead author. "The results are encouraging because there is a need for additional methods to prevent the entry of Asian carp into the Great Lakes."

The scientists gradually added light plumes of CO2 gas to one end of the USGS test pond. They monitored the behavior of individual bighead and silver carp, as well as the behavior of native fish species such as bigmouth buffalo, channel catfish, paddlefish, and yellow perch before, during, and after the addition of CO2.

The findings include:

Each fish species except for paddlefish avoided the areas of the pond with CO2-infused water.

Certain bighead and silver carp movements slowed down after CO2 was injected.

Bighead carp used a smaller area of the pond furthest from the injection sites after CO2 was added.

"Further tests are needed before CO2 can be used in Asian carp management," says Jon Amberg, a USGS scientist and co-author of the study. "Understanding the effects of long-term, elevated CO2 exposure on fish and other organisms can help assess its risks to native species." The next research step is to test the usefulness of CO2 gas in controlling bigheaded carp movement in a natural river.

Non-native Asian carp have the potential to damage ecosystems in the Great Lakes basin by competing with native fish and mussels for food. Large silver carp are also hazardous to boaters because they can leap up to 10 feet out of the water when startled.

"Carbon dioxide as a tool to deter the movement of invasive Bigheaded Carps" co-authored by Michael Donaldson, Shivani Adhikari, Adam Wright , and Cory Suski from U of I, Jon Amberg, Aaron Cupp, Nathan Jensen, Mark Gaikowski, and Jason Romine from the U.S. Geological Survey. The study is published in Transactions of the American Fisheries Society and is available online.

###

The study was supported by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources through funds provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
3 EU Parliament votes to boost EuroGroup !

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After EuroZone Paris Summit's succes, Sarkozy calls to "think anew how to re-construct Europe !

"EuroZone and EU Institutional debates pave the way to 2009 discussions on EU Future, including Enlargment, Turkey etc. ?





23 October 2008



After EU Parliament strongly suppported in 3 successive Votes this week in Strasbourg French EU Chairmanship's move to boost Euro-Group at EU's core, while ideas on EU Institutional problems are awaited on December, "it's an open Question now" if this may lead to a debate on EU's Future, or not, told us French President, Nicolas Sarkozy''s Spokesman, Pierre-Jerome Henin.



MEPs voted on Thursday fresh Funds to support EuroGroup, after adopting on Wednesday a Resolution asking a "further Evolution" to "the 1st ever meeting of Heads of State and of Government of the Euro-Zone, taking decisions in that capacity", while earlier this week a Report asked "a stronger Institutional setting" for "EuroGroup", extended from "competitiveness/industry" to "environment, employment and education", with "increased powers for Political decision-making", according to a text drafted by French MEP Francoise Beres and German MEP Werner Langen, "10 Years after the creation of Euro" (1999 - 2009).



- Brussels' subsequent "EU Council ..(simply)..ratified the measures decided by EuroGroup on October 12" in Paris, which "were necessary to contain the current Financial Crisis", Resolution observes, expressing also support to the new process succesfully initiated by Sarkozy and due to be completed by agreements with USA and other countries at a Global level.



From now on, it's between two differend but parallel moves : EU's delay, and EuroZone's acceleration, that Enlargement and particularly Turkey's controversial EU bid, will have to search its way :



Indeed, EU's 27 expect a "Roadmap on how to deal with the Irish problem" on Lisbon Treaty ratification after December, risking to pass even 2009 Elections and next Commission with the old Nice Treaty of 2000, out-dated and unfit even for 2004's Enlargement...



On the contrary, EU's core launches a real "Economic Governance for EuroZone at the highest level of Heads of State/Government" of the 15, which started in Paris on October 12 and was strongly supported this week in Strasbourg by Sarkozy and EU Parliament.

----------

- "It's a good idea, to launch such a debate ("on EU's Future") in EU Parliament in view of 2009 Euro-Election : Perhaps some MEPs will seize an opportunity", told us mainstream French MEP Alain Lamassoure, former EU Minister and EU Spokesman for France's governing party UMP.



- "All MEPs' debates on such EU Councils are also part of the larger debate on Europe's future : Now with EuroZone, and even more when, on December, Irish Prime Minister is due to table proposals in Strasbourg on how to deal with EU Treaty's ratification", replied earlier to our question EU Parliament's Press Director and Spokesman, Jaume Duch.

--------------------------------------

Sarkozy has formally anounced his intention to open EU Debates on Economy, Identity/Enlargement (i.e. mainly Turkey), etc. both linked to a popular Political view of Europe, since his Historic speeches on EU in Strasbourg, on February and July 2007, when he stressed that "Europe needs a New Renaissance". At the beginning of the French EU Presidency, on July 2008, replying to a MEP, he suggested that EU Parliament takes an active part in Debates on EU's Future.



- Now, in 2008, "Crisis are an opportunity to re-think how to re-construct Europe", Sarkozy stressed. At any case, the Historic 1st EuroZone Summit of Heads of State/Government, which started replying to the Financial crisis,"is a Turning Point : After that, Europe cannot be governed as before, but differently" : People "like a Europe with Strong Will".



- "We must make the System move !", "Europe needs Innovation" and free political debates. EU "Elections are in a few Months", Sarkozy warned.



He invited EU Parliament to fully play its role as "the Democratic Heart of the Europe we want : United, Independent and Voluntarist, because the World needs Europe's voice".



- "It's no more possible for Euro-Zone to continue without an Economic Government" at the Highest Level of Heads of State/Government, who provide "Democratic Legitimity" and can take important decisions, he announced, strongly supported by EU Parliament's Economic Committee which just voted to boost the "Institutional" aspects of "EuroGroup".



Plasticity offered by the current absence of a special Treaty on EuroZone's Institutions "made it easy to adapt the organization of the 1st Summit with imagination, to efficiently meet urgent needs", he observed, on the occasion of Brittish Prime Minister's exceptionnal presence at the greatest part of EuroGroup's Paris Summit.



- "In EuroZone we have the same Bank, the same Money, and, thus, a same duty for Unity" : "By bringing together EuroGroup's 15 members States we suceeded to find a solution and prepare a Giant Plan of 1.800 Billion euros", Sarkozy reminded of Paris' 1st Historic EuroZone's Summit.



Afterwards, Brussels' EU Council followed the move, and USA's Paulson II Plan was inspired from that. "Europe must promote the idea of Global Economy's Refoundation", he stressed.







- "I was frankly astonished when I found, at the EU, a rigid system, where any New Idea was seen from the outset as a sacrilege, while, on the contrary, Europe needs Innovation !", he described.



F.ex. ,"'When we first spoke about the "Union for the Mediterranean", it was misunderstood as something extraordinary.. When later we had the Russia -Georgia crisis, it seemed against EU's custom to act "in the middle of August", instead of staying a passive spectator ! And when, in front of the Financial ciris, we gathered the 1st EuroZone Summit of the "15", some thought of it as a lese-majeste", he denounced.

----------------------

On Geo-Political Principles :

----------------------

- But, by moving resolutely, "EU obtained the ...withdrawal of Occupation Troops in 2 Months !", reminded Sarkozy, observing that Russia "fulfilled its commitments", in the Georgian crisis, where a "disroportionate reaction" from Moscow followed a "totally inappropriate action" from Tbilisi's troops. "It would be crazy to reply by military means : EU should not become accomplice of another Cold War, imposed by lack of cool heads".. as he said.



In future, "the creation of a common European Economic Area with EU and Russia, would also obtain a raprochment on our Human Rights and Democratic Values", added Sarkozy, in a statement which should logically be applied, a fortiori, to controversial EU "candidate" Turkey..



Particularly when, the same week that EU Parliament voted 2009 EU Funds for Turkey's controversial EU bid, ECHR took a series of judgements condemning Turkey for grave Violations of Human Rights, such as : Torture, death of a political prisoner in unclear circumstances followed by failure to conduct a proper Investigation, "enforced Disappearance" of a youngster aged 17, Killing of a sepherd with Tank Shells, persecuting Journalists for articles on "Missing" People, even a former President of Human Rights' Association, (etc)



- "We (EU) can defend our ideas on respect of Sovereignity and territorial Integrity, on Human Rights and other differences ... without confrontation", Sarkozy stressed, on the occasion of Russian/Georgian conflict, reminding that : "we were only 2 steps from catastroph", when a Peace agreement brokered in Moscow prevented, at the last minute, Russian troops' advance towards Tbilisi.



An EU Parliament Resolution adopted Wednesday in Strasbourg on the occasion of Russia - Georgia conflict, outlines a set of Principle which apply elsewhere too, (particularly when EU Rapporteur for Russia and Turkey is one and same person ; Dutch MEP Ria Oomen-Ruijtanen !)



Clearly rejecting any "military solution to the conflicts", MEPs "condemn ..all those who resorted to force and violence". They denounce a "disproportionate military action", "as well as (an) unilateral decision to recognise the independence" of brekaway regions, "calling.. to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of the concerned country, "and the inviolability of its borders recognised by all EU Member States". They warn that "EU must review its policy towards" a 3rd Country, "should .(it)...not comply with its commitments", and "stress that the withdrawal of.... troops from the areas ....is an essential additional step".



EU Parliament "calls for the safe and quick return of refugees, (accepted by Russian President Medvedev) accompanied by the deployment of EU observers on the ground", and "regrets ...that ..EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) is not allowed to enter the ...breakaway regions". Moreover, "It's important to ensure that persons and NGOs ..engaged in defending human and civil rights can operate". "Until ...all remaining issues (are) resolved..., and notably the continuing ...Military presence", "relations with the EU ..cannot be fully normalised", MEPS warned.



As nobody likes to be accused to practice "Double Standards", this should be regarded as "Principles" applicable to any Third Country at EU's Neighborhood.. No ?

-------------------

On Economy :

-----------------------

- "When Financial crisis shook US and EU's Banks, without result from the 1st (American) Paulsen plan, it was the common reply of the 1st EuroZone's Summit, involving some 1800 Billion euros, which started a positive move in the markets, soon strengthened by the follow-up of the US Paulson 2 Plan, noted Sarkozy.



- "Europe should not be only on the defensive, but, if necessary, know also how to take an offensive", he said, brushing away hesitationsto act on Economy: - "I'm for a refondation of Capitaliism, but against Speculators, who betray its values" : "Lack of Rules was profitable to speculators, Not to businessmen !" We must make sure to prevent any such crisis in future". "We, the rest of the World, cannot continue to bear the deficits of the 1st World power without saying anything !", the French President said, applauded by EU Parliament. All this needs "a New Global Governance", on which EU Parliament must debate. That's why "we proposed together with USA, several Summits from mid-November", to which G-8, enlarged to China, India a.o. countries, should participate. UNO's SG; Ban Ki Moon, the IMF, etc.



Financial crisis lowered shares' prices even for healthy companies, sometimes to 1/3 of their initial price, so that strangers might buy EU industries for only a portion of their real value, and Europeans may wake up one day with their main industries sold out to foreigners !



That's one of the reasons for which EU should debate about creating "Golden Shares" for States to jointly take Strategic participations to help European Industries until the end of the Crisis, particularly against distording competition, he suggested, pointing at USA's 35 billion $ plan for American Car Industry."We shall struggle for Europe to be able to build Airplanes, Ships, Trains, Cars, because we need a strong Industry", he concluded.



"F.ex. as we did back in 2004, when as Finance Minister, we bought Alsthom's shares for 800.000 euros, and, after restructuring, we sold them for 2 Millions : Help a company and make money is not so bad"...



As for the UK, "when Ireland announced that it would guarantee only Irish Banks, London City emptied from liquidities in 24 hours : It's the EU which helped to restore the situation, Not the UK alone !", reminded Sarkozy to nationalist British MEP Nigel Farage.







On the contrary, in a last-minute attempt for the EU to catch-up with its Institutional delay "before the European Elections" of June 2009, MEPs simply voted a call for a "set of proposals" to be made for the "Irish public opinion" at the end of the year...

- "As long as Lisbon Treaty is not ratified by all 27 EU Member States, there is an unanimous decision to stop Enlargement, reminded Wednesday in Strasbourg the French Minister for EU affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet..

Added to an indirect but clear warning that, without Lisbon Treaty, all 27 EU Member Countries may not have a Commissioner in the 2009 resuffle, MEPS in the Constitutional/Foreign affairs Committees applauded hoping that this might motivate their Irish friends..
Written by ACM





*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- Speaking to "Eurofora" after her Keynote Adress to CoE's PanEuropean Conference on Human Rights in Culturally Diverse Societies, OSCE's High Commissioner on National Minorities, Astrid Thors, a Swedish ethnic from Finland, an Experienced former long-time MEP at EU Parliament and EU Affairs Minister at Helsinki, warned about "Risks" for "Somebody" to be "Attempting to Divide our Societies", as she said in reference to the latest Deadly Terrorist Attacks in USA and France on Sunday and Monday, and various possible SocioPolitical Exploitations vis a vis the Wider Public, which might provoke Fear, Hate and further Conflicts, that should be prevented.



- Pointing at those Terrorist Attacks by "ISIS"-affiliated Violent Islamist Extemists at Orlando ( the Deadliest in USA since 9/11) and MagnanVille (France), which Killed 50 People Wounding another 53 by GunShots, and atrociously Murdered a Husband and Wife with a Knife in front of their 3 years old Child at their Family Home, respectively, and reminding what she had just evoked at the CoE a need to "Prevent Conflicts" often provoked by those who create "Fear", in order to "Exploit" it, "Eurofora" asked OSCE's High Commissioner if she felt that, in Addition to those Mass Killings of unarmed People, Somebody might try, through such Inhuman Atrocities, to Provoke deep Divisions inside our Societies, from All Sides, which may have even Wider Negative Repercussions.



- "Yes, I think that there is always a Risk that Somebody really is Attempting to Divide our Societies", Thors clearly agreed with "Eurofora", speaking at a Unique moment, when the Dust has not yet settled down, in the Immediate Aftermath of those ISIS' related Aggressions (to which was Added also Today even another Knife Attack that Wounded a Young Student Girl in France by a mentaly deranged Islamic Extremist), while the PanEuropean Organisation for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law was just unfolding in Strasbourg an International Conference on Culturaly Diverse Societies and Human Rights, (including to Life and Free Speech, but also Non-Discrimination, etc), which naturaly refered to current Debates on Muslim Migrants, Segregation or Integration, Democratic Security and Social Cohesion, as well as Conflict Prevention.



- Today, "We caN't Exclude that" risk, she stressed.





=> - 'That's why it's important to realize that and Not Fall into Traps", OSCE's High Commissioner advised in this regard Everyone involved, from "All Sides", (as "Eurofora" had specifically asked).



" Nobody of us Knows Well how Radicalisation" works, she regretted now. But, currently, the"Conflict Potential is Higher", particularly because of various "Divisions", she Warned Earlier Today.



- Therefore, "Both Sides shouldn't think in Stereotypes" of any Kind. "But", on the Contrary, "Know More about EachOther", (f.ex.in History and Culture, etc), she added in Conclusion to her Reply to "Eurofora"s above mentioned Topical Question. "And have as Many (Common) Discussions as possible", as she earlier said.



-------------------------------------------



+ "Eurofora" also observed that in her Speech to CoE's PanEuropean Conference, Astrid Thors had Focused on "Integration", and stressed that a "Key" for it was "Participation", both "Socio-Economic" and "Political", as well as "Access to Justice", etc., and asked her to explain further what she exactly meant by that.





- "Yeah. In all Countries, it's useful to have a Contribution also of Poor and/or Migrant People living in certain areas, for whom it is of course Important to Have a Say on how a Municipality or a Program would develop", she Positively Replied from the outset.



- "People want to be Consulted, to Contribute to the Society, to Participate, and Have a Say, which, I think, has an Important Value", OSCE's High Commissioner on National Minorities added.



- Because "Participation is one Step towards creating a Sense of Common Belonging in a Society", the Experienced former MEP, MP and Minister explained.



+ "There are also Many Other Things", in this regard : F.ex. "to be Ready to Listen to EachOther, but also for various Communities to hold Common Discussions, on the Ways and Means for those Communities to Live Together", etc.



+ Moreover, "many Migrants are rather "Entrepreneurs", and might contribute also, f.ex. on how to make a City Planning Less Sterile", but more Entrepreneur-Friendly, particularly on SMEs, etc, Thors concluded smiling, on anOther, lighter but practical matter of everyday life.





(../..)

--------------------------------

***

("DraftNews", as already send to "Eurofora"s Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version might be Published asap).

***
NATO is back on the centre stage of international affairs and the Warsaw summit will demonstrate whether it is capable of handling the challenges this brings.

In and around Europe various threats have broken a quarter of a century of relative tranquillity. Europeans, who for a long time have not felt threatened at home, have been caught off guard, short on military resources and capabilities. They have had found it difficult to adapt their mindsets to the numerous, complex and overlapping threats facing them and to the fact that there are not clear adversaries but rather a blurring between friend and foe.

NATO has to confront Russia in Europe and contain it in the High North, Middle East and in the Mediterranean. While both sides share common enemies such as Islamic State (IS) this does not make for a perpetual alliance but it does point to the possibility of an alliance of convenience. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union and the West were in a clear confrontation. The situation today is different. Failed states, instability and civil wars in the MENA region and beyond now pose a threat to all. The core defensive business that NATO was created for  responding to the direct security challenges facing its members  is again in focus. Is NATO up to the task given the complexity of the threats? Or is it only capable of preparing for only one kind of threat: a conventional, state-on-state conflict?

This is the subtext to the current NATO debate. The issue raised in some quarters, about NATO being obsolete because it cannot fight terrorism, notably by the Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump deserve consideration. Mr Trump has oversimplified the issue but he is on to something. His argument about NATOs usefulness not only resonates in the US but also relates to some European perceptions that the Alliance is now entirely Russia focused and pays only lip-service to problems in the Mediterranean and Middle East. When individual Allies choose to operate outside of NATO such as the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria against ISIS; or when the North Atlantic Council doesnt meet for political consultations in the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks, the question what is NATO for inevitably rises both in Europe and North America.

If NATO is missing in action in dealing with the threat from ISIS and from systemic state failures in the Middle East and North Africa, NATO can no longer claim a central role in Western security. Others will have to fill the vacuum. This will most probably be NATO Allies themselves but operating in different formats. The drawbacks of this approach are mainly political. First and foremost, if NATO ceases to be a holistic guarantor of security, why should allies in one region care about threats in others? Second, where but in NATO would the United States, Europeans and Turkey sit at the same table and discuss security?

In Warsaw, NATO will carry out the measures decided at the Wales summit in response to Russias annexation of Crimea and its support of rebels in Eastern Ukraine. The limited rotational presence of NATO troops in the Baltic States and in other Eastern Allies territory is a deterrent, not an escalatory measure. For example, in spite of the heightened rhetoric from Moscow the Aegis Ashore missile defence system is not a threat to Russia. It would hardly make a dent in Moscows large arsenal of ballistic missiles. NATO has little choice but to show firmness, unity and solidarity and reassure Allies who feel threatened by Russias readiness to bend the rules to its advantage.

But NATOs policy toward Russia needs to go beyond simple deterrence. It must seek dialogue, at least in order to establish military transparency and ground rules to avoid unwanted incidents and provocations. Engagement is not appeasement. Nor is it a reward for Russia. In traditional East-West relations diplomacy has a good track record. It is high time to reactivate, together with deterrence, the negotiating track  Russia permitting of course.

Any Russia policy, firm and farsighted as it might be, will leave NATO as a one-sided alliance unless it is coupled with a parallel Southern strategy where NATO also reclaims ownership of collective security for the threats emanating from the Mediterranean, the Middle East and from Africa. This does not mean NATO has to do it all. The security tasks can and should be shared and coordinated among stakeholders. The Southern challenge is very complex, politically and militarily. NATO is a political-military alliance. Given the strong terrorist component, NATO also has to equip itself for counterterrorism, especially to respond to an Islamic State that combines a territorial base with international terrorism. Tasks can be outsourced. Responsibilities can be shared with the European Union. NATO can leverage and enhance existing partnerships, like the Mediterranean Dialogue, the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) and its growing outreach to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It should be imaginative in developing relations and practical cooperation with the African Union and with individual African countries. An effective Mediterranean and Southern strategy requires a security network: NATO should place itself at the centre of it.

NATO leaders will meet in Warsaw on July 7 and 8, in the aftermath of the UKs pivotal referendum on membership of the EU. Brexit would gloomily overshadow the summit, making NATO the only remaining example of European and Atlantic solidarity. The EU will also have made its decision on sanctions on Russia that are due to expire in July. President Obama at his final NATO meeting will call on Allies to shoulder increased defence spending. Europeans should listen. The next President will have less patience with free riders.

Come what may, Warsaw will be the ultimate test of the unity of the West. NATO cannot mould the context but can shape the reply. It must combine firmness, balance and flexibility, sending a message of Western cohesion to Moscow and signalling its commitment to face threats from the South as well as from the East. There cannot be Eastern or Southern Allies, only Allies. Security for all Allies  whatever it takes.

The opinions articulated above represent the views of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Leadership Network or any of its members. The ELNs aim is to encourage debates that will help develop Europes capacity to address the pressing foreign, defence, and security policy challenges of our time.
An eloquent post from Terry Teachout, the Wall Street Journal theater critic, might as well be a commentary on Doug Axes observations this morning (Public Opinion Is the Ultimate Peer Review). Teachout (whom I had the privilege of working with at National Review long ago) laments the divorce between cultures symbolized by Red and Blue states. He recalls a time before half the country was so fiercely committed to regarding itself as Enlightened while dismissing the other half as Benighted, hopelessly so, or worse. Anyway thats how I would characterize it.

Many, perhaps most Americans of my generation (I was born in 1956) lived in places whose residents included people who read, liked, listened to, and thought all sorts of things, and who voted differently, even unpredictably, on election day. As a result, we learned to get along with one another, and sometimes we even learned from one another. At the very least, we learned  up to a point  to be reasonably tolerant of each others crotchets. More and more, though, we dont live together and we dont listen to each other. As a result, the modest but real tolerance of the past is increasingly giving way to attempts at outright repression, or (more often, at least for now) [a] sniggeringly dismissive attitude

He refers to a Washington Post story deploring a prominent persons well-known appetite for fast food:

This news story is, in its minor but nonetheless revealing way, illustrative of the condition that now increasingly prevails in American society, which is that those who disagree no longer have anything to say to each other. Fact-based argument has been replaced by reflexive contempt. Nor should this be in any way surprising. In a totally polarized political environment, persuasion is no longer possible: we believe what we believe, and nothing matters but class and power. We are well on the way to becoming a land of jerking knees. Never before have I felt so strongly that Americans are talking past instead of to one another.

The dividing line extends from food to faith, from politics to science. Oh, most certainly it includes science. Doug Axe, in his post, responds to a Caltech commencement address by Atul Gawande, the surgeon and New Yorker staff writer. To someone like Gawande, these sentences by Dr. Axe are a counterintuitive shot across the bow: People arent stupid. Science is a public enterprise, and public acceptance has always been its most significant seal of approval.

The theme of Axes forthcoming book, Undeniable  How Biology Confirms Our Intuition That Life Is Designed, is the validity of ordinary intuition as a tool in judging science. That idea is anathema to Americans on the other side of the worldview divide that Terry Teachout describes. For them, people  mere people, as Axe puts it ironically  are indeed stupid.

In fact the deplorable stupidity of half the population is a pillar of faith for the Enlightened. The Benighted show their benightedness by trying to have a conversation with the Enlightened, not realizing that their conversation partner isnt even listening. For the Enlightened, it often seems, nothing matters but class and power.

We see this in the discussion, such as it is, of intelligent design versus unguided Darwinian evolution. In this debate about an ultimate question, the mystery of human and biological origins, for one side Fact-based argument has been replaced by reflexive contempt.

I would only offer this addendum to Terrys observations, from our experience in the context of the evolution controversy. Scientists open to evidence for design offer abundant fact-based arguments, only to be greeted by a sniggeringly dismissive attitude. They are not talking past us. By that I mean, design advocates genuinely register and understand, even if they reject, arguments from the other side. The reflexive contempt does not operate equally in both directions.

H/t: Rod Dreher.

Photo credit:  Sdenness  stock.adobe.com.
Youre in a herd of deer when a mountain lion is seen approaching. Whats your safest retreat? Is it to run directly away? Is it to scatter in all directions? Or is it to run according to a predetermined orientation?

Scientists in Europe were intrigued that roe deer seem to orient in a north-south direction when grazing and when startled, so they decided to investigate. What they uncovered was a novel case of magnetic navigation in the animal kingdom. A Springer news item says:

Why do deer in a group, when startled, suddenly bolt away together and never collide with each other? Its because these deer have an inner compass that allows them to follow a certain direction in order to make their escape. Their getaway is almost always along a north-south axis, thanks to their ability to sense the magnetic field, says Petr Obleser of the Czech University of Life Sciences in the Czech Republic. He and Hynek Burda of the University Duisburg-Essen, Germany, are lead authors of a study in Springers journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. [Emphasis added.]

This is a first for large mammals. Illustra Media has shown in Metamorphosis how butterflies use the magnetic field to get to Mexico. They showed in Flight how Arctic Terns navigate from pole to pole, and in Living Waters how salmon and sea turtles use magnetosensing in their long-distance migrations. Suggestions of magnetosensing had been reported for bats and mole rats, but large mammals like deer  who would have thought they use an inner compass for everyday safety?

One of the authors of the new paper, Dr. Hynek Burda of University of Duisburg-Essen, had contributed to a 2008 study published in PNAS that used Google Earth to find cattle and deer preferentially orienting on a north-south axis. BBC News commented on this finding, saying that this phenomenon has apparently gone unnoticed by herdsmen and hunters for thousands of years. At the time, the function of this orientation was unknown. One biologist remarked, We need to think about some really fundamental things that this sensory ability provides in animals.

Since then, Obleser and Burda monitored roe deer from April to August 2014. This species of deer tends to congregate in flat areas on agricultural land, making them easy to observe with binoculars. From 60 locations, they recorded data on the deers orientation at rest and when startled, monitoring 188 escape behaviors under a variety of conditions.

It was found that roe deer tend to align their bodies along the north-south axis when grazing. When startled, the animals generally fled away from observers. They did not merely make their getaway in the direction directly opposite to the approaching threat, but consistently did so north- or southwards. In fact, they seemed to actively avoid escaping westwards and eastwards, says Obleser. Wind direction or the position of the sun had no influence on the direction of their escape route.

The authors took note of the time of day, odor, wind and other factors; the magnetic orientation still prevailed. If a forest shelter was nearby, however, the herd could override the magnetic tendency and escape directly toward the shelter.

Is there a reason for this behavior? The north-south escape strategy was especially pronounced when the deer were congregated in groups. The authors feel the strategy helps the deer avoid collisions that would be more likely to occur if each animal took off in a random direction. Other possible functions include keeping group cohesion, guiding the deer get back to the previous grazing spot after the danger has subsided, and helping a mother find its fawn it left hiding in the grass.

For the strategy to work, an animal needs hardware and software programmed into its body and brain.

The researchers believe that the tendency of deer to align their bodies with respect to a north-south magnetic field line confirm that they are magnetosensitive and magnetoreceptive. This assists the animals to read and comprehend the mental maps they hold of the landscapes they occupy.

The authors did not speculate about the predator. What if it has a compass, too? What if it knows the strategy? Just speculating, it would seem the deer still have an advantage. The lion cant run north and south at the same time, and would have no way of knowing in advance which direction the deer will choose to run. If they split directions, the deer in both groups would still have some safety in numbers. Most of the advantages would appear to accrue to the prey; the wide angle of 180 degrees would maximize the distance between the animal and the danger, the authors say.

The authors feel this pioneering study points to magnetosensing being common in mammals. It might even reside in us humans!

This is the first study of escape behavior in animals which considers also the role of absolute compass direction. Our findings confirm existence of magnetic alignment and thus magnetosensitivity in the roe deer and provide first evidence for its role as the so-called direction indicator in control of escape behavior in roe deer in particular and in mammals in general. Our results make the speculations more plausible that the magnetic alignment helps to organize and read the mental (cognitive) map of space. (In analogy, humans are more efficient in reading and commenting the map, if it is held in an accustomed direction: with north pointing upwards and if the person aligns with the map and with the visible landmarks.)

Many of us can probably relate to that: facing north and holding a map to try to find our way around when vacationing in an unfamiliar city. Its just by analogy the authors say we might also have directional sensing. That deserves further study. Could a latent human ability for magnetosensing be trained? Could it augment orienteering by the sun and the stars? Fascinating thought. Maybe it will put compass makers out of business.

In the new open-access paper, the authors make no use of evolutionary theory to explain the coordinated escape strategy of roe deer with its requirements for magnetosensing equipment. Theres no mention of natural selection, fitness or phylogeny. Why would that be, if nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution?

As design theorists, we can identify prerequisites for magnetically-based escape strategy in roe deer and other mammals:

Construction of crystals of iron or protein that respond to the earths magnetic field. Neurons that can sense the response of the crystals. Brain receptors that can process the neural inputs and interpret them. Mental maps to place the interpretations in a regional context. Brain regions that can coordinate the magnetic data with other sensory data. Stored instincts to activate body systems to respond appropriately. Genes to encode the construction of all the above. Epigenetic systems to guide the development of the genetic information.

Thats a bigger parts list than in the classic mousetrap model of irreducible complexity. In fact, each item on the list could itself be called irreducibly complex.

Needless to say, magnetosensation presupposes a planet with a strong magnetic field. Of the rocky planets in our solar system, the Earth is unique in that regard; Mercurys magnetic field is too weak, Venus has none, and Mars has only patches of magnetism. Many regard a strong magnetic field as a requirement for habitability, to act as a shield from stellar and cosmic radiation. Its one of at least twenty improbable factors listed in The Privileged Planet that point to fine-tuning for habitability.

Intelligence is the only cause we know that is capable of arranging multiple independent factors for a function. The design inference strengthens with the improbability or specified complexity of each factor. With Darwinian evolution apparently of no use in explaining why roe deer know how to escape along a north-south axis, an inference to intelligent design beckons.
The mood towards the British pound has been increasingly bearish due to worries over the future of the UK, while the Franc has simultaneously benefitted from an increase in safe-haven demand.

Both the Bank of England (BoE) and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) kept respective benchmark interest rates unchanged.

The GBP/CHF exchange rate edged lower, however, thanks to safe-haven demand. Positive British retail sales growth limited GBP/CHF losses, however.

The Swiss Franc exchange rate complex was shored up by a general increase in safe-haven demand on Thursday morning, bolstered further by the Swiss National Banks (SNB) decision to leave interest rates on hold.

As the Bank of England (BoE) reiterated its warnings over the potential negative impacts of a vote to leave on the UK economy, however, the GBP/CHF exchange rate began to trend narrowly higher.

Tonights Federal Reserve policy decision could also have a tangible impact on the GBP/CHF exchange rate, with safe-haven demand expected to remain weak if the Fed appears unlikely to raise interest rates in the near future.

A more confident tone from Fed policymakers, however, could see the Franc regain some strength as a result of resurgent risk aversion

Brexit fears have started to weigh more heavily on the Pound (GBP) as the referendum campaign enters its final stretch, particularly as opinion polls have increasingly pointed towards a Leave campaign lead.

As markets have been inclined to price in higher odds of the UK voting to leave the EU on the 23rd of June the Pound Sterling to Swiss Franc (GBP/CHF) exchange rate consequently weakened to a two-month low.

A heightened atmosphere of risk aversion helped to buoy the Swiss Franc (CHF), particularly as gold prices climbed to a fresh high at the start of the week.

Latest Swiss Franc Exchange Rates

On Wednesday the Pound to British Pound exchange rate (GBP/GBP) converts at 1

The live inter-bank GBP-GBP spot rate is quoted as 1 today.

At time of writing the pound to euro exchange rate is quoted at 1.155.

FX markets see the pound vs us dollar exchange rate converting at 1.155.

NB: the forex rates mentioned above, revised as of 26th Oct 2022, are inter-bank prices that will require a margin from your bank. Foreign exchange brokers can save up to 5% on international payments in comparison to the banks.

Confidence in the Pound rebounded somewhat on Wednesday morning, however, in the wake of a better-than-expected raft of UK employment data.

Investors were pleasantly surprised to find that the ILO Unemployment Rate had dipped from 5.1% to 5.0% in the three months to April, with demand for the Pound shored up further by a steady rate of growth in average weekly earnings.

This offered further evidence that referendum uncertainty has not been having an overly negative impact on the UK economy, helping to push the Pound higher against rivals after two days of sharp losses.

Nevertheless, the impact of this data is likely to be short-lived thanks to the persistent worries surrounding the imminent EU referendum and its uncertain outcome.

Dovish SNB Commentary May Fail to Boost GBP/CHF Exchange Rate

Volatility could be in store for the Franc on Thursday as the Swiss National Bank (SNB) meets for its latest policy decision, although investors do not expect any particular change in policy at this juncture.

Even if policymakers do opt to take a dovish tone on the SNBs outlook this may not have a substantially detrimental impact on the Swiss Franc, given the increasing scepticism with which markets regard the possibility of further monetary easing.

Following this weeks stronger-than-expected Swiss Producer and Import Prices data the SNB could be prompted to take a more optimistic view of the domestic economy, with the Franc likely to strengthen in the wake of the meeting regardless.

Bank of England Meeting Minutes Forecast to Prompt Pound Volatility

Also in focus for the GBP/CHF exchange rate will be the Bank of Englands (BoE) June policy meeting, in spite of the fact that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has already indicated that action would be inappropriate ahead of next weeks referendum.

Even so, markets will be interested in the contents of the accompanying meeting minutes, as Jane Foley, Senior FX Strategist at Rabobank, notes:

Last month the Bank cited that the most significant risks to the MPCs forecasts concern the referendum. At the June MPC meeting policy makers may release more information as to the preparations that have been made to cope with the early ramifications of a vote to leave to EU. Policymakers may also add colour to the risks to the economy which they perceive could derive from a Brexit.

Should the BoE manage to assuage some of the fears relating to the economic uncertainty potentially stemming from a Brexit this could see the GBP/CHF exchange rate extending its gains further.

The near-future will bring a pair of central bank announcements, with both likely to influence pairing movement

In an early announcement, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) will bring its interest rate decision, which is forecast to remain at -0.75%. Later on at midday, the Bank of England (BoE) will bring its version; as with the Swiss version, the current 0.5% rate is forecast to remain unchanged.
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MILWAUKEE  You wont hear anti-Walmart talk from Wisconsin manufacturers Tailor Made Products and Rockline Industries.

Both are among companies enjoying increased business as a result of a public pledge by the worlds largest retailer to step up purchases of U.S.-made goods by $250 billion over 10 years.

Tailor Made added a production cell at its Elroy factory in 2014 after winning a contract to manufacture kitchen utensils  potato mashers, ladles, turners and such  that Walmart Stores Inc. formerly sourced from China.

Sheboygan-based Rockline expanded its factory in Springdale, Ark., within the last year, in part to produce facial wipes for the mega-retailer.

Walmart has made this commitment, and I dont know if a lot of the general public believe it, but it is true, it is happening, and it is improving American life by offering high-quality jobs with competitive benefits, Jeff Wittkopp, senior vice president of product development at Tailor Made, said.

Others are less enthusiastic. This is, after all, Walmart, the $478 billion firm whose relentless drive to offer its customers rock-bottom prices is widely viewed as having helped push factory jobs from the U.S. to China and other low-wage countries in the first place.

Reminds me of when you were a kid and someone took your candy and you got it back, and they wanted credit for giving it back to you, said Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, a lobbying and research group founded by the United Steelworkers union and domestic manufacturers.

Cindi Marsiglio, the Walmart executive spearheading the initiative to buy more American-produced goods, has heard the candy-theft critique before.

My general sentiment, she said, is that does not preclude me from continuing to enthusiastically bring American jobs back as a retailer. Its kind of a so-what. So as a maker of nothing, as a manufacturer of nothing, if Walmart can accelerate this resurgence and play a role in bringing any American jobs back, were going to do that.

Walmart announced its effort in January 2013, as rising factory wages in China were helping make U.S. production of some goods more attractive, and with manufacturing employment here rising for the first time since the late 1990s.

Since 2010, the rebound has added nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs. But 5.7 million were lost from 2000 to 2010  1 out of every 3 manufacturing jobs the country had at the start of the decade.

Most of that huge loss came before the 2007-2009 recession set in and as imports from China soared.

With the Asian giant admitted to the World Trade Organization for most of the period, the value of its shipments to the U.S. have increased nearly sixfold since 1999.

Walmarts import volume from overseas has increased, too, though not as steeply. Last year, the company brought in nearly 795,900 containers of ocean-borne goods, more than three times the level of 1999, according to annual estimates by the Journal of Commerce, part of IHS Inc.

Walmart is easily Americas largest importer in terms of number of seaborne shipping containers. Over the three years since the firm announced its domestic sourcing initiative, the number of seaborne containers it imports has increased by 10 percent, the Journal of Commerce estimates show.

Walmart says that according to data from its suppliers, items made, sourced or grown domestically account for about two-thirds of its spending on products for its U.S. operations.

Walmart wont specify where it stands on progress toward its $250 billion goal, other than to say the company is on target.

If we were behind, we would say that were behind, spokesman Scott Markley said. If we were ahead, wed certainly say that were ahead on the goal. And where we are is right on schedule.

On its website, the company lists 40 suppliers it links to the initiative. Some have made major announcements.

Giti Tire is building a $560 million plant in South Carolina that will produce tires for Walmart. Giti has said it expects the factory to create 1,700 jobs over 10 years.

Walmart supplier Element Electronics Corp. has begun assembling television sets in a South Carolina factory that, according to the state commerce department, is expected to create 500 jobs.

Another supplier, Impact Innovations Inc., bought a shuttered Memphis, Tennessee, factory and started making gift wrap for Walmart there last year. The plant now has 90 full-time employees and hires the equivalent of another 125 for seasonal work March through November, CEO John Dammermann said. Before opening the Memphis factory, he said, Impact made all of its gift wrap for Walmart in China.

Wisconsin figures prominently in Wal-Marts made-in-America commitment. No state outside the South has more suppliers on the retailers list.

Besides Tailor Made and Rockline, Walmarts cites: NUK USA, which makes baby pacifiers and infant spoons in Reedsburg; Uniek Inc., which produces photo frames in Madison; and Hampton Products International, a California company with a facility in Shell Lake, in northwestern Wisconsin.

A NUK spokeswoman said by email that the company strongly supports Walmarts initiative and had moved production to Reedsburg from Germany and China.

Given that Walmart already devotes two-thirds of its purchases to U.S. goods, natural growth in the companys sales could contribute significantly toward the $250 billion goal.

Still, even for a company as huge as Walmart, $250 billion in added spending over 10 years is a big number. If achieved, it could create 1 million jobs, the Boston Consulting Group has said.

The firm has been a prominent voice predicting a return of manufacturing to the U.S., saying that rising Chinese wages, higher American productivity and other factors will close the cost gap for many goods destined for North America.

It is about the pendulum swinging, said Harold Sirkin, a senior partner at Boston Consulting. When China entered the World Trade Organization in late 2001, they had a massive advantage, Sirkin said. In a matter of 15 years, that advantage is becoming very small.

But another management consulting firm, A.T. Kearney, says re-shoring of manufacturing by U.S. companies continues to lag behind the shifting of production out of the country.

Still, Kearney notes that foreign firms are increasingly investing in manufacturing capacity here, attracted by the enormous U.S. consumer market, the countrys political and economic stability, and its engineering skills.

Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Add it all up, Harry Moser says, and the U.S. now is roughly breaking even  domestic manufacturers still are moving jobs to other countries, but the jobs gained from re-shoring and foreign investment here roughly offset the losses.

That, said Moser, founder of the Reshoring Initiative, stands in sharp contrast to the early 2000s, when the U.S. was registering huge net losses of manufacturing jobs to foreign soil.

A former machine-tool executive, Moser started his nonprofit organization in 2010 to help bring back manufacturing, in part by providing free software companies can use to compare total costs of production here and abroad. Hes a consultant to Walmart on its effort.

His job, he said, is to help them improve the odds on what he called a monumental challenge. Moser estimates - and he stresses that the calculation is his, not Wal-Marts - that the companys purchases will have to be spread across thousands of products to meet the $250 billion goal.

It just tells me that its a superhuman struggle to make it happen, and Im doing my best to help them make it happen, he said.

Moser praises Walmart for its commitment. Through its efforts, he wrote in a blog post in December, the company already has spurred creation of at least twice as many U.S. manufacturing jobs as any other company the Reshoring Initiative tracks, and has the potential to do much more.

Marsiglio, the Walmart executive, said shes optimistic. While Walmart -Mart will not pay suppliers more for U.S. goods, companies should re-evaluate the relative costs of production here and abroad, she said.

What were asking them to do is do the current math, because if you havent done it in the last five to six years, you might be surprised, Marsiglio said.

For Tailor Made, the math worked. In 2013, Wittkopp said, the company analyzed whether it could offer Walmart -Mart a competitive price on nylon-and-stainless-steel kitchen utensils the retailer had been getting from a Tailor Made competitor that sourced them from China.

We quoted it, Wittkopp said. They said, yes, youre competitive. They actually flew in on their corporate jet to Elroy, Wisconsin, toured our facility, and ended up signing a commitment for us to build this production cell.

Tailor Made invested $2 million in the plant, adding injection presses, robots and packaging automation, Wittkopp said.

By 2014, the company was turning out the potato masher and five other items for Walmart. Last year, Tailor Made added a seventh item, a pasta server. Walmart is looking at two more pieces for next year, Wittkopp said.

Twelve jobs isnt many, and Wittkopp wouldnt say what they pay. But in any case, the addition increased Tailor Mades employment by about 20 percent and supported work elsewhere.

Wittkopp said the stainless steel shafts of the utensils are stamped in Wisconsin, using tooling from Tailor Mades sister company, Strohwig Industries of Richfield. The automation machinery in the new production cell at Elroy came from Pennsylvania, he said.

So we not only created these 12 jobs internally, he said, but they led to . employment in other ways.

Twelve down, hundreds of thousands to go. Its a start.
On Tuesday, the San Antonio Water Systems board of trustees voted to allow shutoff of water to customers who do not submit inspection reports proving their backflow preventers work correctly.

An external backflow preventer is a set of valves that stops nasty, used water from septic tanks, irrigation systems and other sources from flowing back into a utilitys water pipes. An internal backflow preventer keeps water from ice machines, fire sprinklers, carbonators and a slew of other sources from mixing with drinking water.

State law requires annual inspections of such devices, and San Antonio ordinances mandate customers submit inspection and testing reports to SAWS. The city delegated enforcement of the rules to SAWS in 2012, resource protection and compliance director Scott Halty told the board.

The ordinance also allows SAWS to shut off service, but only after board approval. SAWS officials and board members stressed they would do so only as a last resort.

In late February, SAWS sent 12,592 letters to commercial and residential customers who it says failed to submit annual reports, Halty said.

Its important we have the inspection and testing of these on an annual basis to make sure our water supply is protected, he said.

The notices included a set of SAWS-approved plumbers and backflow servicers. The Express-News asked several of them for quotes on a typical residential inspection and found they ranged from about $50 to $100.

About 79 percent of those who received the letter complied, Halty said. This month, the utility will send roughly 3,800 final notices. About 10 percent of those are residential, SAWS Chief Operating Officer Steve Clouse said.

Are you one of the customers getting final notices?

These residential customers have irrigation and septic systems together, making them a higher risk for backflow, SAWS spokeswoman Anne Hayden said.

If SAWS does not hear back in 30 days, its staff and third-party contractors will then visit homes and businesses, Halty said. They will talk to the owner and inspect the site and, if necessary, set up a 10-day agreement when the work needs to be done.

After those 10 days, SAWS could shut off water service and charge a fee to have it restarted.

The utility released a 97-page list of addresses it says are in need of inspection reports. It also set up a dedicated phone number, email address and website for backflow issues. Those are 210-233-2910, backflowprevention@saws.org and www.saws.org/backflow.

The board also heard an update on the planned 142-mile Vista Ridge pipeline SAWS hopes will deliver up to 16.3 billion gallons a year from Burleson County. Scott Parrish, chief operating officer for Western pipe operations for Garney Construction, said his company officially inked a deal with Spanish conglomerate Abengoa on Friday to buy 80 percent of the project.

The project kind of slowed after Abengoa announced pre-insolvency proceedings in Spain in November, Parrish said. Garney has paid contractors that Abengoa owed, moved some employees to San Antonio and resumed efforts to secure rights-of-way agreements with landowners along the route, he said.

On Tuesday, the utilitys board also approved a resolution that will eventually allow it to use a full 4,000 acre-feet of water from Lake Dunlap, treated and distributed by the Canyon Regional Water Authority. An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons. SAWS obtained the water supply when it took over the former BexarMet water utility in 2012.

The lake water treated at Canyon Regionals treatment plant did not mix well with regular SAWS water because of the chemicals used in treatment, SAWS water resources director Darren Thompson said. The utility was only able to deliver it to an isolated island on the Northeast Side, he said.

After a new agreement involving Canyon Regional and several water utilities, and after Canyon Regional builds a new ozone treatment plant, SAWS can use the full amount of Lake Dunlap water, along with 2,800 acre-feet from Wells Ranch, Thompson said. The latter is a Canyon Regional well field in Guadalupe and Gonzales counties that taps the Carrizo Aquifer.

bgibbons@express-news.net, Twitter: @bgibbs
The city and the San Antonio Police Officers Association have settled on terms of a new collective-bargaining agreement, ending more than two years of intermittent and often contentious negotiations.

Under the negotiated terms of the five-year deal, police officers will receive salary increases, share in the cost of health care and agree to a shorter evergreen clause, while the city would drop its lawsuit over the constitutionality of that clause.

Mayor Ivy Taylor is slated to announce the agreement at a news conference Wednesday morning.

This is a great day for our community, she said in a statement released exclusively to the San Antonio Express-News. The city of San Antonio and the San Antonio Police Officers Association have come to an agreement and achieved some key objectives. Our police officers will get a pay raise; weve addressed issues like personal legal expenses; and weve brought their health care plans more in line with what we offer our civilian employees.

Though the two sides have struck a deal, it must first be ratified by SAPOAs membership of 2,150 officers and then by the full City Council. The process is expected to take about two months.

For two years we have been negotiating a contract. Yes, it has been challenging and at times very difficult, SAPOA President Mike Helle told the Express-News. Our goal was to protect our police officers and their families. We also wanted to protect the financial stability of the community we serve. We believe this settlement agreement does both of those items and puts a contentious negotiation process behind us.

I want to extend my thanks to Mayor Ivy Taylor, who stepped up and exemplified the leadership necessary to bring both sides together. Now its time for us to move on to rebuilding the morale and well-being of our department to ensure we are protecting the community we serve.

A key term in the deal is that the city would drop its lawsuit, currently pending in the 4th Court of Appeals, over the so-called evergreen clause, which keeps the contract in force minus negotiated salary increases  until a new contract takes its place. The city has argued, unsuccessfully so far, that the clause is a violation of the Texas Constitution and of public policy.

Under the terms of the deal, negotiated through court-ordered mediation, all officers would receive a 3 percent lump-sum bonus in the first year and 14 percent wage increases over the rest of the life of the five-year contract.

Theyd have two options for health insurance: a consumer-driven plan that has high deductibles but no monthly premiums for officers, their spouses or their children, or a standard plan with lower deductibles that would include monthly premiums for dependents but not the officers themselves.

Officers would also receive an $800 increase in their annual clothing allowance.

Union negotiators have agreed to reduce the term on the evergreen clause from 10 years to eight, and health care premiums would increase by 10 percent annually for each year that the new contract remains in evergreen status.

The negotiators have also agreed to eliminate the citys $1.5 million annual contribution to a legal fund for officers personal matters, but only if a similar agreement is reached between the city and the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association.

According to city figures, the new contract would help keep public-safety costs under 66 percent of the $1 billion General Fund for the first three years of the contract. In the fourth and fifth years, the city estimates that spending will increase to 66.3 percent and 67.6 percent, respectively. The City Council previously set a policy to keep public-safety spending under 66 percent of the General Fund.

While city and SAPOA officials had been meeting in mediation sessions, Taylor also met privately with union leaders in an attempt to hash out a deal. There have been concerns among some at City Hall that going into the 2017 municipal election without a contract could be harmful to Taylor and would give SAPOA a reason to campaign against the citys expected $850 million municipal bond program.

The two sides were close to an agreement last fall, but after reaching consensus on hot-button salary and health care issues, the city pushed to essentially kill the contracts evergreen clause, causing negotiations to fall apart.

The contracts between the city and both the police and fire unions expired Sept. 30, 2014. The police union began negotiations before that date, but the fire union never started its talks. In recent months, officials from the fire union have said theyre eager to get started  but they issued the same mandate as SAPOA  that they wouldnt negotiate a new contract while the city continued its lawsuits.

The city plans to continue its litigation against the fire union.

Now that the SAPOA negotiating team has reached a set of terms with the city, union leaders will have to sell the proposal to the rank and file, which had voted not to support any negotiations while the lawsuit was underway.

Since well before the most recent collective bargaining agreement expired, City Manager Sheryl Sculley had been warning that the city could face financial woes if it didnt rein in spending on health care for public-safety personnel.

For decades, they had been receiving health insurance for themselves, their spouses and their dependents virtually for free. Sculley has pushed hard to implement monthly premiums, shifting some of the burden to the uniformed employees, whose health care costs significantly outpace those of their civilian counterparts.

For two years, the negotiations and court cases have been a media spectacle, causing consternation in the city. SAPOA launched a series of personal attack ads on Sculley. But rank-and-file officers and firefighters say its they and their livelihoods that have been attacked.

We consistently stated from the beginning three years ago that we want a contract that is fair to our employees and affordable for taxpayers, Sculley said. Health care expenses are the fastest growing portion of the public safety budget, and by having our officers share in the cost of health care, we can better manage public safety expenses and address the many other needs of our community, including streets, sidewalks, parks and libraries.
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A century after President Woodrow Wilson established Flag Day, veterans and others in San Antonio paid tribute to the Stars and Stripes by ceremoniously retiring old, worn flags Tuesday.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Helotes Post 7108 was one of numerous gathering places to formally dispose of flags according to protocol of the U.S. Flag Code. The post held a morning ceremony with an honor guard and Boy Scouts as it retired its weathered flag and raised a new one.

While the event showed respect for the nations symbol, only three flags were ceremoniously burned. The rest were taken to San Antonio to the Dixie Flag & Banner Co., which retired and replaced its own flag, and disposed of others throughout the day that had been brought in by San Antonians.

They do it efficiently, and they do it the right way, Webber said.

Flag Day began to emerge in the late 1880s, as communities in New York and Pennsylvania held ceremonies on the anniversary of the June 14, 1777, passage by the Second Continental Congress of a resolution adopting the 13-star U.S. flag as a national symbol.

Wilson established Flag Day with a May 30, 1916, proclamation. On Aug. 3, 1949, President Harry Truman signed a joint resolution of Congress to declare a national Flag Day.

At Dixie Flag, about 30 employees gathered early Tuesday to lower and retire the companys 30-by-60-foot banner and replace it with another one, flown at half-staff in observance of the mass shooting in Orlando. Vanessa Van de Putte, vice president of sales and marketing, said the company had retired about 30 flags by midmorning, in a daylong activity that was open to the public, and would dispose of more in the afternoon.

The day began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. Each flag was folded properly into a triangle with the stars exposed before being retired.

It should be disposed of in a respectful, dignified manner, Van de Putte said. Each flag gets retired on its own. We dont throw them all in at one time.

Depending on the number of worn flags collected, the company occasionally retires some of them on Sept. 11  the 9/11 anniversary, she said. That date is observed as Patriot Day, through a congressional act approved by President Barack Obama in 2014, as a national day of service and remembrance.

shuddleston@express-news.net

Twitter: @shuddlestonSA
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WASHINGTON  Growing conservative unease with Donald Trumps outspoken pronouncements on race and a host of other hot-button issues is giving life to a fledgling movement to throw open the Republican convention to rein in the presumptive nominee or find an alternative general election candidate.

The long-shot push includes several top former supporters of Texas Republican Ted Cruz, who suspended his presidential campaign after losing the Indiana primary in early May.

Although the first-term U.S. senator is one of the most conspicuous GOP figures not to endorse Trump, he has disavowed any connection to the effort, saying through a spokeswoman that he plans to stay in the Senate to fight for the same conservative values he campaigned on.

However, some of the leading figures in what some have dubbed a coup or a delegate revolt are former Cruz campaign officials who see Trump as an impending disaster for the party. They are encouraging delegates to the national convention in Cleveland in July  no matter who they are pledged to  to press the presumptive nominee on his conservative credentials or reject him.

Unbinding the delegates is a revolt, said Steve Lonegan, Cruzs former New Jersey state director, now one of the leaders in the national movement to challenge Trumps nomination. Call it whatever you want. Its a revolt. Its an uprising.  The fact is, our delegates have a moral obligation to nominate the candidate best suited to defeat Hillary Clinton and also carry the banner of the Republican Party.

Lonegans unusual call-to-arms has been backed by conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt, who compared Trump to stage-four cancer, and conservative activist Erick Erickson, who has questioned Trumps pro-life conversion. It also has been taken up by Christian talk radio host Steve Deace, a former member of Cruzs Iowa leadership team.

Ive had delegates from at least a dozen states reach out to me for help, Deace said. This is not something Cruz people are organizing. Its something people are doing on their own because they see that this guy is morally unqualified and hes going to lose, and probably lose bad.

The Trump campaign, which trails presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in most national polls, declined to comment on the anti-Trump effort. Some Trump backers privately questioned whether the scattered grass-roots movement has the funding or organization to gain much traction at the convention.

The anti-Trump drive, which Deace said is trending up, comes as the former reality TV star prepares to meet with national evangelical leaders in New York next Tuesday to discuss concerns among faith-based voters, who largely broke for Trump in the southern primaries.

Among those attending the private meeting will be Iowa Christian leader Bob Vander Plaats, who endorsed Cruz over Trump in the primaries. Vander Plaats wrote in an essay over the weekend that every accountability option needs to be on the table at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Mr. Trump, Vander Plaats added, should be held accountable for his profanity, for his vulgarity, and for mocking anyone and everyone, including the disabled and prisoners of war.

Drew Zahn, a spokesman for Vander Plaats group, The Family Leader, said he is not advocating for a coup, but rather that Republican delegates use whatever leverage they have to influence him to be a principled conservative leader.

The anti-Trump activists recognize that their chances of blocking him are slim, particularly as the real estate mogul has locked in a sufficient number of pledged delegates to secure the GOP nomination. While some are pressing for the national party rules committee to release the delegates bound from the primary elections, others argue that they already have the freedom to cast ballots as they choose, regardless of state party rules.

Deborah DeMoss Fonseca, a spokeswoman for Conservatives Against Trump, one of the groups spearheading the effort, argues that party delegates, as members of a private organization, are legally free to vote their conscience.

She sees opposition to Trumps nomination building in all factions of the party as the maverick billionaire has continued to make inflammatory statements and lash out at potential Republican allies, including popular New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez.

The more he talks, the more concerned the delegates get, the more concerned voters get, and the more concerned people get that Republicans cant win with him on the ticket, Fonseca said.

Fonsecas group is led by influential conservative activist Bob Fischer, a South Dakota businessman who has sought unsuccessfully since at least March to recruit a conservative Republican to run an independent candidacy against Trump.

Some of the more recent impetus comes from Trumps controversial remarks suggesting that the judge in the lawsuit involving the billionaires now-defunct business school could not be fair because of his Mexican heritage.

Conservative activists involved in the campaign to release Trumps delegates say their unhappiness stems from more deep-seated resentment of his attacks on Cruz and other conservatives during and after the primaries. Some also question Trumps commitment to conservative orthodoxy on abortion, the Second Amendment and limited government.

The problem is that there are too many people out there who are not Trump supporters who are in a position of having to defend him, said Rick Shaftan, who headed the pro-Cruz Super PAC Courageous Conservatives.

Shaftan now is part of a national network of disparate groups lobbying to unbind the delegates at the Republican convention, if only as a corrective action against Trump.

Nobody has said it has to be for one other candidate or another, or that its not going to be Trump, Shaftan said. The question is, unbind the delegates and make Trump have to go through six weeks of not making a complete fool of himself, be a more credible candidate for president, and unite the party. So far, all hes done since Indiana is make it worse.

Organizers of the effort say it is not directed at installing Cruz or any other specific candidate. The Texas Republican, however, would have to come into the picture by dint of the 559 delegates he won in the primaries, the biggest delegate haul after Trump. Just because of that Cruz would likely have to be part of that play, Fonseca said.

Cruz, whose backers see him as the leader of the partys conservative wing, branded Trump a pathological liar at the end of his campaign. He has remained silent about Trump since then, even as many top Republican leaders in Congress have come around to endorsing him.

A grass-roots revolt against a presumptive nominee, absent a close delegate race, would be virtually unprecedented in modern American politics.

The 2012 GOP convention faced a walkout by Ron Paul supporters infuriated by decisions to weaken their delegate count, and the Democratic convention faces potential disruptions this summer by disgruntled supporters of Clinton rival Bernie Sanders.

If few see a door open to the GOP nomination to anyone but Trump, some also say they have learned to expect the unexpected in this election. Weve seen a lot of unprecedented things happen, said JoAnn Fleming, a Texas tea party activist who worked on Cruzs campaign. Whatever happens will be based on what the delegates themselves want to do.

Even if Trump stops the effort dead in its tracks, some delegates see it as a statement Trump can ill afford to ignore.

The talk is symptomatic of just how passionately unhappy people are with him, said former Texas state Rep. Steve Toth, a delegate from Montgomery County who supports Cruz. Hes got some work to do.

kevin.diaz@chron.com

twitter/DiazChron
AMARILLO  Officers fatally shot an armed man inside a Walmart store in Amarillo on Tuesday after he took two people hostage, including a manager with whom he had a work-related dispute, according to police.

Amarillo police identified the suspect as 54-year-old store employee Mohammad Moghaddam and said neither hostage was injured. Police said the incident began over a dispute related to a promotion and called the incident a workplace violence event.

This individual had an ongoing difference, dispute or feud with a manager at Walmart, said Amarillo Police Sgt. Brent Barbee. There is absolutely no information or reason to believe that this is a terrorist event.

Officers responded to an active shooter call at the store around 11 a.m., amid reports that an armed person was inside and may have had hostages.

According to investigators, Moghaddam entered the store and fired at least one shot toward the ceiling. Police dont believe the suspect, who was armed with a handgun, fired any other shots.

Authorities initially believed he took a hostage and went into an office in the back of the store, according to a police statement.

We knew there were hostages inside the business, so (SWAT) went in with the intent to free the hostages, Barbee said.

Around 12:20 p.m., SWAT officers watched what they had believed was the only hostage come out of the office. The officers entered the room and discovered the second hostage.

The suspect was still armed with a handgun and was a threat to the hostage and the officers. Two SWAT officers fired shots which hit the suspect. Initial information is that the suspect died immediately, police said in a statement.

It was not immediately known if the other hostage was a store employee or how that person became a hostage, Barbee said.

No other injuries were reported.

Walmart spokesman Brian Nick released a statement earlier Tuesday saying all store associates and customers were safe. Nick thanked officers, saying, This was a very difficult situation and we are thankful for the quick response from law enforcement.

Authorities said the investigation was ongoing. Some nearby streets were closed as a precaution during the incident, including an off ramp to Interstate 27.

The Randall County Sheriffs Office said later Tuesday afternoon that all roads around the store at Interstate 27 had been reopened to traffic. The area around the Walmart was still closed but officers were letting people retrieve their cars from the parking lot.
Shropshire

A Full-Time position is available for an assistant herdsperson on a family dairy farm in mid Shropshire. We have a 250 dairy herd rearing own replacements together with a b...
Both sides of the EU referendum debate are leaving lots of questions unanswered for the farming community, NFU President Meurig Raymond will say at Cereals 2016 today.

Raymond said both Leave and Remain should provide 'real answers' to referendum questions being asked by farmers at the debate.

He added that the NFU economists have scrutinised spending promises made by the Vote Leave campaign.

The Bank of England has said that the debate surrounding the referendum is already slowing UK economic growth.

The IFS study examine that a vote to leave could result in a 20bn to 40bn hit to the public finances in 2019/20, if GDP was 2.1% to 3.5% lower over the period.

"In the week before the EU referendum, the questions we have been asking from the outset remain unanswered by both sides," he said.

If we stay in, how will our concerns about EU regulation, a better CAP and science-based product approvals be met? If we leave, the Vote Leave campaign stated all current payments to the UK from the EU budget - including those to farmers - would be maintained until 2020.

"How can the Vote Leave campaign guarantee that their promises would be delivered?"

10 times net Budget contribution

The NFUs own rough calculations on Vote Leaves spending promises suggest that more funding for the NHS, removal of VAT on fuel, reduction in Council Tax would amount to 112 billion. More than 10 times the net EU budget contribution.

"This calculation ignores the potential reduction in GDP as a result of Brexit.

"According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies a one per cent reduction in GDP would require 14 billion of public spending cuts or tax increases.

In the final days before the vote, the NFU is calling for real answers to questions, not empty rhetoric.

Whatever the outcome on the morning of the June 24, the NFUs overall aim is to ensure that British farming can thrive, with fair access to markets, labour and the same levels of support as is available to its competitors.

"We will work with the government following the EU referendum to make certain of this."
An initiative which provides a more efficient way for farmers to inform beekeepers of their intention to apply an insecticide  was on display at Cereals for the first time this year.

The notification system  launching in September, to coincide with autumn spraying  is being promoted by the Voluntary Initiative (VI), who have worked closely with the Crop Protection Association (CPA), the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) and the National Farmers Union (NFU). The development of the site has been funded by the CPA.

"Weve been impressed by the interest the Hertfordshire pilot has generated," says Nick von Westenholz, CEO of the CPA.

He continues: "Its really important that farmers and beekeepers sign up to the system ahead of the launch.

"The more that use it, the more useful it will be. If we can generate enough interest in each region across the UK we can certainly help farmers meet best practice in the spraying of insecticides."

Following the September launch, BeeConnected will operate on a very simple, yet efficient, two-way communication process: with a few simple clicks, farmers across the UK will be able to identify their fields and inform local beekeepers when they intend to spray an insecticide in particular fields.

"Similarly, beekeepers across the UK will be able to plot the location of their hives, whether permanently or temporarily placed.

"Feedback from beekeepers in Hertfordshire has been positive. They found the process to register the location of hives straightforward and believe that the system will be incredibly useful, said Tim Lovett of the BBKA.

"Beekeepers simply receive a notification telling them when a spray event is happening nearby and what type of insecticide is being used, which helps them decide what action to take.

"BeeConnected is a much more direct way for beekeepers to communicate with farmers, and our members will certainly be using it."

Andrew Watts, who manages 2500 hectares in Hertfordshire, was one of those involved in the trial of the website. He says: "The pilot testing was an important process in the development of the website, and farmer feedback should ensure this will be a really useful tool for farmers when its launched nationwide.

"Its a simple, easy-to-use system that, with just a couple of clicks of the mouse, can notify local beekeepers that Im planning to spray an insecticide.

"We all have a responsibility to use insecticides responsibly and to protect pollinators. BeeConnected is a simple tool that will allow me to do that, and Id encourage as many farmers to register now so they can use the system when its up and running later in the year.

Once launched, the website will give farmers the ability to retain anonymity by default but they can choose to communicate directly with their local beekeepers if they wish.

Richard Butler, Chairman of the Voluntary Initiative said: "Were delighted with the success of the Hertfordshire pilot.

"Farmers are committed to best practice use of pesticides and protecting pollinator health.

"This voluntary scheme is a simple tool that supports them in that aim. Id encourage all farmers to sign up and be ready for the nationwide launch in the Autumn."

Chris Hartfield of the NFU has been involved with the initiative from the beginning. He comments:

"Current best practice requires farmers to give notice 48 hours before spraying an insecticide, and BeeConnected will provide a far quicker and more efficient method than has been available in the past. Given the success of the pilot we cant wait to offer this system to farmers across the UK."

Tim Lovett of the BBKA added: "BeeConnected is based on a proposal put forward by the BBKA to bring spray-alerting into the 21st century.

"BeeConnected is a timely and hugely important initiative, and I encourage beekeepers across the country to register now in order to take advantage of the initiative."
Pig producers are making progress in the sector's commitment to record and control the use of antibiotics in the industry, new data shows.

In less than two months, antibiotic data for over 1.2m pigs has already been contributed by pig producers to the British pig industry's new on-line medicine book.

"The levy-funded on-line electronic medicine book is the most important strand of the Stewardship Programme," said Dr Georgina Crayford, who leads the National Pig Association's recently-launched Pig Industry Antibiotic Stewardship Programme.

"It will allow the industry to capture and collate accurate antibiotic-use data, and this will be followed by benchmarking of each farm's antibiotic use against other farms of a similar type."

NPA recognises and shares society's concerns about the level of antibiotic use in human and livestock medicine, and it acknowledges some risk of antibiotic resistance developing in bacteria in pigs and this resistance spreading to humans.

It is urging all producers to contribute antibiotic data to the electronic medicine book, developed by the levy body AHDB Pork in association with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, and launched April 20 with the support of the Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales levy bodies.

"Recognising and addressing society's concerns about antimicrobial resistance is one of the most important challenges the pig industry has ever faced and collecting accurate data on current use is pivotal to the industry Stewardship Programme," said Dr Crayford.

To date, data for 1,240,000 growing/finishing herd pigs has been entered, along with data for 37,000 sows.
A farmer has spoken of her fear of pollution after a local authority gave the go-ahead for fracking operations in the UK for the first time in five years.

North Yorkshire County Council has granted energy company Third Energy permission to use the controversial gas extraction technique on a site at Kirby Misperton in Ryedale, despite strong opposition from local people, from the local district council and parish councils.

Sarah Houlston, whose farm is just a mile from the drilling site, appeared before the North Yorkshire planning committee to voice her opposition to Third Energys application, along with other opponents.

She told Farming UK TV that her cattle were reliant on water from a borehole, which she feared could be contaminated by the fracking operations.

Fracking involves forcing a chemical mixture underground to break apart rocks and release gas.

The farmer said that evidence was emerging from the United States, where fracking has been used for some years, that water sources had been polluted.

More and more farmers would now be approached by energy companies looking to carry out seismic surveys is search of other gas deposits, she said.

She urged them to think very carefully before allowing them onto their land.

Friends of the Earth (FoE) labelled the councils decision to frack in Yorkshire as 'unacceptable'.

FoE campaigner Simon Bowens said: "This is an absolute travesty of a decision, but the battle is very far from over."

Fracking effects on farmland

The NFU is lobbying government to address three key asks concerning the phases of operation  exploration, commercial extraction and aftercare.

The three key asks are:

 A standardised process for negotiating underground access, with an agreed minimum level of compensation  as for other major infrastructure schemes

 Effective regulation, backed by industry good practice, to minimise the effect on farmland and farming

 Government or industry underwriting of landowner compensation and possible long-term liabilities
Farmers will be speaking to consumers this Saturday (18 June) in Aberdeen to promote Scottish produce, working with retailer Aldi to inform and interact with shoppers.

Over the last 12 months NFU Scotland has worked with Aldi interact with shoppers at similar events across the country giving them the chance to taste some of the finest quality produce available to them from Scotland.

The tasters available boast high quality through renowned assurance standards such as Red Tractor, Specially Selected Pork and British Lion Eggs, among others.

Farmers who have previously taken part in these events have found that shoppers are enthusiastic about buying and eating food produced in Scotland and are interested in talking more to the farmers responsible for growing the nations fine produce.

Speaking ahead of the event, North East Farmer and NFU Scotlands Pigs and Poultry Chairman Kevin Gilbert commented: "Its always great to be able to go out and meet many of the shoppers buying our produce.

"As farmers we are delighted about the huge amount of public support for the hard work that we do producing high-quality, tasty food.

"This has been a challenging year for farmers in a number of sectors. Pig prices continue to be at a real low but we want to be optimistic.

"Thats why its so important that we promote our products and ensure that people think local.

"Our activity this weekend, and at similar events elsewhere in the past, is important to ensure we are more visible than ever and get our messages across to the people that matter, the consumers buying our produce.

Marion MacCormick, Buying Director for Aldi Scotland said: "Aldi is committed to supporting Scottish producers to continue to give our customers the best quality Scottish food at the best possible prices.

"These sampling sessions will give Aldi shoppers the chance to try some of Scotlands tastiest fresh produce and we are delighted to support this ongoing initiative with the NFUS."
The income for farmers and contractors from Contract Farming Agreements fell by 23% in 2015, with big yields failing to offset lower commodity prices and a fall in costs.

Provisional results from Strutt & Parkers annual contract farming survey for 2015, which covers more than 10,000ha of arable land in England, show a 19% fall in commodity prices, which caused gross income per hectare to fall to 1,175/ha, the lowest since 2009.

Dr Jason Beedell, rural research partner at Strutt & Parker, said although variable costs fell by 8% to 447/ha, their lowest level for four years, it was not enough to offset the slump in commodity prices.

"Variable costs fell in 2015, however they are still nearly 100/ha higher than they were five years ago.

"Within that, it is also clear that the battle against resistant weeds and diseases is forcing up spray costs, from around 140/ha in 2007-09 to 190/ha now."

Mr Beedell said overall the average income to the farmer was 328/ha in 2015, 23% lower than in 2014 and the lowest level since the survey began in 2007.

The average income to the contractor was down by the same percentage to 319/ha, of which 269/ha was the contractors charge - the fixed payment the contractor receives for providing labour and machinery as part of the agreement.

Pressure on commodity markets

Robert Gazely, partner in the farming department at Strutt & Parker, said the fall in income was not unexpected given the pressure on commodity markets but contract farming agreements remained a good option for many people.

"If you examine the long-term performance of agreements, farmers have received an income slightly above a typical rent for a three-to five-year Farm Business Tenancy and have retained the active involvement, management control and tax benefits associated with being a trading farmer.

"In a good year, a farmer has made more from a contract farming agreement than renting out the land and even in what has proved to be a bad year, the farmer made 328/ha which is more than many others will have made elsewhere.

"In addition, farmers have also benefited from needing lower working capital requirements.

"The landowner has paid an average income to the contractor of 422/ha since 2007, which is 150/ha lower than a typical power, machinery and labour cost of 575/ha for a cereal farm.

"What is more, as a farmer, as opposed to a landlord, you have much more control over how the land is managed which means you can work together on problems such as blackgrass control.

"This avoids storing up problems for the future and protects the value of the land."

Mr Gazely added that the agreement needed to work for both parties and be sustainable, requiring a realistic contractors charge and farmers retention.

"In well-structured agreements, both sides should be incentivised by the same outcomes  producing high yields, controlling costs and meeting the farmers objectives for sustainable land management."
"It's such a serious issue in regional Australia - suicide rates amongst men are double those in urban areas. Farmers are more than twice as likely to die by suicide than the rest of the community, yet psychiatrists in the cities out-number those in rural areas three to one- this has to change."
What was it like to be an Oath Keeper? John Zimmerman can tell you

John Zimmerman said he was active with the Oath Keepers from September to November 2020, then left after a falling out with founder Stewart Rhodes.
In my family we knew two of the young people murdered at the Pulse Club in Orlando in the worst mass shooting in American history, with 49 killed and 53 wounded.

If you live in Florida, you might have kids at school in Orlando; lots of people here know the Pulse as a favorite area club, especially for LGBT kids to hang out in a safe spot for company and fun. Latino night at the Pulse brought together American diversity: straight and gay kids, and Floridas wonderful mix of ethnic communities.

The kids at Pulse are like my kids and not just because they are mixed gay and straight and multi-ethnic. I think about their common dreams: good times, making something of your life, love and marriage, kids and family. I was like that.

Firing an assault weapon, the carnage built up over three hours as kids texted pleas for help and good byes. Suddenly it is two decades ago on 9-11. Im hearing the last cell phone calls from the Twin Towers and the planes.

The vigil in Floridas state capital is one of many around the world. Its in an old church. LGBT folks and families surround me. Police are here but I still feel threatened, checking the exits just in case. Is this the way LGBT kids feel; why they go to Pulse to feel normal, have fun, not be another target after so many? Its crazy. They shouldnt have to live this way. Slaves from near-by plantations made the bricks and built this church long ago. America can do better.

Experts from many disciplines, politicians and ordinary citizens around the world, are getting the facts and thinking about what it means.

Why did the killer pick this club, on Latino night, to strike? FBI and police professionals will do that work. A brave off-duty officer made first contact and a SWAT team freeing many hostages ended it. You have to admire their professionalism.

At the church vigil, we hear the names of the 49 kids who are not going home after a night at Pulse. My wife says its like after the World Trade Center 9-11 tragedy; there are too many names. The bright eyed daughter, the quick son  So many names, there is barely room on the walls of the heart. After the 9-11 tragedy U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins made a poem of names, the work of his profession, to help us understand, to find room in our hearts for grief and moving forward. Together.

I have to believe my compliance work is relevant to this tragedy. I have to believe the mission of compliance can help. Things must change and compliance officers can help.

If you stay in this transformative work in progress called Compliance 2.0, you have a sense of mission that makes it worth it. After 9-11, the DOJs new compliance expert, Hui Chen, takes time off from her career to assess what is important. She goes to divinity school, decides to change fields and takes up compliance for companies.

Later, Chen returns to the DOJ to radically upgrade compliance standards, backed up by the full resources of the DOJ. It sounds like mission-driven strength. I see it in many veteran COs like Donna Boehme, who led the field for a decade against the status quo and into Compliance 2.0.

Under Compliance 2.0, COs are subject matter experts for the compliance program, including sustaining an ethical business culture, and the new frontier using Board-approved Codes of Conduct to fight back against lawful but awful company conduct, (discussed in prior posts here and here.

The world is different in 2016: Business is forevermore intertwined with the welfare of the community and society.

The powers of companies can be used for ill (bribery) or for good. CEOs have led reluctant communities to put segregation behind them; they have banded together after the murder of nine congregants at prayer in a South Carolina church to ban old symbols of slavery and lynching; many companies cancelled business investments in North Carolina rather than appear to ignore or countenance discrimination against LGBT youth. Last year Walmart, the largest seller of guns and ammunition, stopped selling assault rifles like the one Pulse club killer used. These companies took action for moral and business reasons where none was legally required.

Compliance officers can address that moral gap of lawful but awful conduct  the gap between illegal and legal conduct where dangerous trouble grows. Its not illegal today, though certainly morally questionable, to sell assault weapons to suspicious characters or to do business with communities that apparently support discrimination or the persecution of LGBT youth.

COs know and love their companies. They are empowered under Compliance 2.0 to debate with management and the Board the hard questions, starting with: Its legally permitted but is it who we are?

_____

Michael Scher is a senior editor of the FCPA Blog. He has over three decades of experience as a senior compliance officer and attorney for international transactions. Hell be a speaker at the FCPA Blog NYC Conference 2016.
Marc Hodak, an NYU Adjunct Professor and compensation consultant, spoke at the Ethical Systems event in New York a few weeks ago. He talked about incentive time bombs, where bad behavior can hide behind good performance, and how those behaviors can go unnoticed and unobserved by management until its too late.

Listening to Marc, I thought of how sales managers, finance personnel, and forward-based sales teams engage in channel stuffing, keeping bad debt on the books, and not writing down obsolete inventory, all to keep the quarter on track.

None of that necessarily violates the FCPA. But it show how organizations might bend the rules when necessary, and that sends a loud yet

unspoken message that overshadows sound accounting procedures.

Thats not outlier behavior. When I proffered to the SEC in 2007 and shared my own experiences (and guilt) with these practices, the SEC attorney responded, Well, we hear and see a lot of that.

Last week, the DOJ indicted two former employees of Insys Therapeutics (the makers of fentanyl) on federal anti-kickback charges. There was an e-mail in the Indictment. A sales manager wrote, There is no excuse for any of your [doctors] not to take care of you at this crucial time of the quarter (emphasis added).

The email also said its time for the doctors to give back for all the hard work, long days and late nights you have spoiled them with. Apparently, those late nights included strip clubs and bottles of whiskey.

(As the DOJ says, an indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.)

Back to Marc Hodak. He cautions organizations to look for the ethical and legal time bombs by asking if incentives are encouraging gamesmanship that hurts the company.

Ultimately, he says, bad behavior will become obvious when the tide recedes.

The tide apparently receded last week for Insys. The indictments raise the question: Who was signing those expense reports for the strip clubs and the whiskey bottles?

When I work with audit groups, we talk a lot about expense reports. Auditors often look at expense reports as vehicles for corporate theft, including foreign bribery. But I encourage them to look at those documents as behavioral fingerprints. The trail of expense reports can tell you a lot about what people in the field are doing, even if they arent stealing.

The Insys-related indictments also demonstrate how quarterly goals and incentives can push front-line behaviors in the wrong direction. Regardless of the tone at the top, when it comes to sales performance, its the voice of the direct report, the supervisor, who is the tone at the top.

A command for the troops to get the business done without interjecting how you get business done is one of Marc Hodaks incentive time bombs. When the tide recedes, the damage will be easy to see. And in the worst case, it could lead to straight to the DOJ.

_____

Richard Bistrong is a contributing editor of the FCPA Blog and CEO of Front-Line Anti-Bribery LLC. He was named one of Ethispheres 100 Most Influential in Business Ethics for 2015. He consults, writes and speaks about compliance issues. He can be contacted by email here and on twitter @richardbistrong. Hell be a speaker at the FCPA Blog NYC Conference 2016.


Image courtesy of UnaoilUnaoil said in a statement Tuesday that it has instructed its lawyers to start legal action against Fairfax Media and its partners for malicious and damaging allegations negligently published by them.

A report in late March by Fairfax Media and the Huffington Post said Monaco-based Unaoil paid bribes on behalf of large companies in the oil and gas sector.

Unaoil said it is filing a criminal complaint with law enforcement in Monaco for the theft of company data.

HuffPo said in an April 11 report that its story was based on leaked internal Unaoil documents.

Unaoil said Tuesday,

Since the exposure in the press of a criminal conspiracy to extort the company, Unaoil has continued to receive serious and personally threatening communications from persons seeking to unlawfully damage Unaoil and its operations.

HuffPo named about a dozen companies it said were beneficiaries of Unaoils network in the Middle East.

The leaked documents mentioned Core Laboratories, FMC Technologies, Rolls-Royce, and Weatherford, HuffPo said.

Also named were Saipem, MAN Turbo, SBM Offshore, ABB, Cameron/Natco, Leighton Offshore, and Petrofac.

Unaoil said its estimated damages from the story are more than $100 million. It said it intends to hold Fairfax Media and its partners to account for their irresponsible and injurious reporting.

UK-based Petrofac said in April it launched an investigation into allegations of bribery to win contracts in Kazakhstan and the Middle East.

KBR and FMC Technologies said in early May the Justice Department had contacted them with questions about Unaoil. Both said they were cooperating.

Police in Monaco raided Unaoils offices after the Fairfax Media / Huffington Post report appeared.

* * *

Heres the full June 14, 2016 statement from Unaoil:

Unaoil has instructed its lawyers to commence legal action against Fairfax Media and its partners in relation to the malicious and damaging allegations negligently published by these media organisations and repeated by other media organisations globally.

In the months following the publication of sensationalist allegations against Unaoil by Fairfax Media and its partners, Unaoil, its directors as well as its staff, have sustained unprecedented reputational and financial damage.

Unaoil estimates its damages to be over $100m and intends to hold Fairfax Media and its partners to account for their irresponsible and injurious reporting.

Unaoil is also filing a criminal complaint with law enforcement in Monaco in relation to the theft of company data and awaits the outcome of the investigation.

Since the exposure in the press of a criminal conspiracy to extort the company, Unaoil has continued to receive serious and personally threatening communications from persons seeking to unlawfully damage Unaoil and its operations.

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Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. Hell be the keynote speaker at the FCPA Blog NYC Conference 2016.
Naomie Harris says that she 'hopes' that she will be in the next Bond film.

Naomie Harris

Harris was introduced as Moneypenny for the first time in Skyfall back in 2012 - reprising the role last year in Spectre.

Bond 25 is on the horizon but it seems that Harris doesn't know if she will be returning to the franchise.

Speaking to Hello! magazine about the role, the British actress said: "I hope I am in the next film because I love playing Moneypenny.

"I will be eternally grateful for having been able to be a part of this incredible franchise. It has had an incredible impact on my career."

Rumour still rages about who will be playing James Bond in the upcoming film - it has not been officially announced that Daniel Craig has stepped down from the role.

And Harris reveals that she would like to see Craig back as 007. She continued: "I love Daniel Craig and I really, really hope he is going to come back."

Earlier this month, Aidan Turner became the bookies favourite to land the role with Tom Hiddleston just behind. Tom Hardy is not as strong a favourite as he once was, while Idris Elba and Damian Lewis have fallen off the pace.

As for Harris, she returned to the big screen earlier this year with thriller Our Kind of Traitor, which saw her star alongside Ewan McGregor.

The actor has completed work on Collateral Beauty, which is directed by David Frankel. Harris is part of a terrific ensemble cast as Will Smith, Kate Winslet, Keira Knightley, Edward Norton, Helen Mirren, and Michael Pena are all set to star.

by Helen Earnshaw for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Wiley says he and Dizzee Rascal don't speak because he believes Dizzee blames him for getting stabbing in Ayia Napa.

Wiley

The two British rappers broke through on the grime scene at the same time in the early 2000s and were pals, but that all changed when the 'Bonkers' hitmaker was stabbed six times in August 2003 on the holiday island in Cyprus while he was there performing with Roll Deep Crew.

Wiley, 37, is certain that Dizzee, 31, holds him partly responsible for being hospitalised in the near-fatal attack.

In an interview with Time Out London magazine, Wiley said: "The reason we haven't spoken for so many years? Basically, me and Dizzee went out one night and there was some fighting with another crew - I won't say who, but basically everyone knows. Then the next day, I decided to carry it on - I didn't pull out a knife. I was just fighting ... Well, after we started it up again, those guys came looking for us. But the person they found was Dizzee. The thing we done the next morning led them to go looking for us, but see him and stab him.

"Now I'm older, I can see: Dizzee in his head will always be thinking, 'I know we got into a beef. I know something started. But you lot carried it on the next day. If you had left it I wouldn't have got stabbed.' That is the reason me and Dizzee haven't spoken all these years."

Wiley does accept his behaviour contributed to the incident and he has regret about what happened, however, without the notoriety of that incident he doesn't think that grime would have gone mainstream in the UK.

The 'Heatwave' hitmaker said: "Look, that is the reason me and Dizzee haven't spoken all these years. If he wants to blame me, if he wants me to take some responsibility for the situation, then I'll say, 'Yes.' But you know what the sad truth of all that business with Dizzee getting stabbed is? I hate saying this, but I always say it, he got stabbed and then bro, the whole of England was talking about it. It took that to get our sound into the nation's ears. That's the sad side of things."

Dizzee has now responded to Wiley's claims on Twitter and insists he doesn't blame Wiley for him being attacked.

And the rap star admits he is disappointed that Wiley has brought up the incident again while promoting the music festival Culture Clash.

Dizzee tweeted: "I understand people need to create hype for their events but they need to be a bit more careful about what they write.

"I don't blame Wiley for me being stabbed and this whole thing is to promote Culture Clash and that's fine good luck ... I'm tired of people trying to manipulate the truth. All I know is nobody wants any violence in 2016 so just let me be a "Pop star".
Britain's Prince William has urged young LGBT to not "put up" with bullying.

Duke of Cambridge

The Duke of Cambridge, who is the first royal to grace the cover of gay magazine Attitude which is out today (15.06.16), thinks lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youths should be "proud" of who they are and stand up for themselves if they are faced with abuse.

He told the magazine, which was founded in 1994: "The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now. Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it.

"What I would say to any young person reading this who's being bullied for their sexuality: don't put up with it. You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of."

Matthew Todd, editor Attitude, insists the prince - who is married to the Duchess of Cambridge - has made history as a royal by appearing in the magazine and doggedly campaigning for LGBT youngsters who have suffered bullying.

He said: "During my time as editor of Attitude I have met parents whose child has taken or lost their life after being bullied for being LGBT+ or even just perceived to be LGBT.

'I am very happy that the future King of The United Kingdom agrees this must stop and I would urge parents in particular to raise their voices in their communities to ensure that every school protects - really protects - all children."

Attitude has featured Liam Payne, David Beckham, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Lady Gaga and Prime Minister David Cameron on its cover.
Queen Letizia paid tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting during an official visit to Salamanca.

Queen Letizia

The Spanish monarch visited the city in the north west of Spain and gave a speech which condemned the deaths of the 49 people killed by a gunman at gay nightclub Pulse on Saturday (11.06.16).

She insisted such heinousness crimes could be overcome by "working together", before she was given the honour of escorting the national flag to the Engineer's regiment.

The monarch was joined by senior members of the royal family and greeted fans and well wishers

The Queen and her husband King Felipe VI - who succeeded Spain's thrown in 2014 - sent a telegram to US President Barack Obama which declared in "the strongest terms" that it was an attack "against all principles".

Governments and royals around the world have offered their support and condolences to the victims of the tragedy, including Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The couple attended the US embassy in Westminster in central London on Tuesday (14.06.16) to sign a book of condolence for victims.

With his wife stood beside him, Prince William penned "With our deepest condolences and with our thoughts and prayers to all those affected" and Catherine also signed her name.
While most 25-year-olds would be checking out new watering holes in which to hang out, Mitali Tandon has just found what she says is a cure for a hangover. The entrepreneurs offering? Morning Fresha hangover cure that you have after your last drink, which she has developed with her father.



Morning Fresh happened quite by accident. Our parent company, Sericare, founded by my father, is a pioneer in the field of sericulture, using silk as a bio-material. Our research found that certain amino-acids in the silk protein resembled a particular naturally occurring liver enzyme that breaks down alcohol and helps prevent a hangover. I was quick to gauge the gap in the market (for a hangover remedy), as binge drinking is on the rise, and there is a proliferation of bars and restaurants in the city. Mitali started her research in 2014, and by the end of 2015 Morning Fresh was developed.



That Mitali is the CEO of Morning Fresh is no surprise, since she comes from a family of successful entrepreneurs. In high school she was a part of the Young Enterprise group, an international program that encourages students to develop viable business ideas and a sustainable business model. She loves to see her ideas come to life and has many under her hat. Like this one: I helped kick-start an education program at Tihar Jail and added to their curriculum development. I also initiated a Shop For A Cause a community-based concept that deals with the re-distribution of resources and Burger Riot, a fun and young fundraising platform that encourages friendly competition and interaction between restaurateurs and food enthusiasts alike, where all proceeds were donated to charity.



Mitali says she is inspired by a lot of things like music, art, the ocean, real stories, travelling, silence, dancing, eating a great burger and her grand-parents. Her advice to young women who want to be entrepreneurs is simple. Believe in yourself, spend time reflecting, get your hands dirty, and dont be afraid of making mistakes, of dreaming big, of doing something wildly different. Put on your favourite pair of pants and go conquer the world.
Summers are all about sun-kissed brunches, afternoon gossip session with your gal pals or a late night movie date with your loved one. Deciding what to wear can be difficult, especially when you have so many plans on your radar. We help you revamp your look with just one accessorythe statement clutch. Step up your summer wardrobe game with these 10 colourful clutches this summer. Metallic, embellished, bejeweled or boxywe have got one for every occasion.

Freida Pinto made a guest appearance recently in a ladylike blue Dsquared2 gown. She paired her look with a metallic Emm Kuo clutch which added some oomph to her elegant look.

Give your head-to-toe pastel look a break with a quirky box-clutch.

Leather clutch, Rs 3,955, Accessorize

Shine bright in the sun with this floral printed version.

Leather bag, Rs.3,685, Aldo

Remember to carry this one for high-tea sessions with the girls.

Leather clutch, Rs 33,378, Ahikoza

Add an edge to your look with a hot pink studded wallet.

Leather and metal clutch, price on request, Christian Louboutin

Get set to turn some heads with a bejeweled clutch.

Crystal clutch, Rs 3,400, Boga

Polkadots add a playful touch to your favourite summer dress.

Synthetic clutch, Dune London

Give your casual Fridays a sophisticated feel with an all-white travel pouch.

Leather pouch, price on request, Michael Kors

Sometimes your summer wardrobe needs an ultra-modern spin. Let a geometric shape clutch do it for you.

Leather box clutch, price on request, Louis Vuitton

Pair your summer basics with a geometric patterned clutch to step up your casual style.

Leather sling, price on request, Furla

Saturday night clubbing necessitya pocket sling. Perfect to fit your iPhone 6s.

Leather clutch, price on request, Salvatore Ferragamo
Its officially the end of a nearly 13 year volatile marriage for Karisma Kapoor and her Delhi-based industrialist husband Sunjay Kapur. On Monday, the estranged couples divorce was settled with the Bandra family court in Mumbai accepting their consent terms agreed upon by the couple in April this year. According to sources close to the 41-year-old actor will continue to have the custody of their children Samaira and Kiaan Raj and Sunjay and his family will have visitation rights. A house owned by Sunjay and his family has been given to Karisma and her children, and the monthly interest from bonds of Rs 14 crore bought by Sunjay for his children will be used to pay towards the maintenance and other expenses of his children. Additionally, Karisma has agreed to withdraw the case of domestic violence and harassment that she had earlier filed against Sunjay and his mother.

Karisma and Sunjay had an arranged marriage in 2003 after they were introduced to each other by family friends. Their relationship turned volatile in 2005 when claims surfaced that Sunjay reportedly deserted Karisma before the birth of their daughter Samaira. In August 2005, Karisma told Delhi High Court that she was compelled to move back to Mumbai as Sunjay had made no financial contribution towards her pre-natal, delivery and post-natal care, and played no part in the upbringing of their five-months-old daughter. She shared the information with the court in response to Sunjays petition to restrain Karisma from taking Samaira with her to New York where she was participating as grand marshal in the silver jubilee celebrations of India Day Parade in Manhattan.

Despite their difficult marriage for a year, Karisma and Sunjay had arrived to a place where there was no drama at all and the couple were dividing their time between Delhi and Mumbai. Their families rallied around them and after a few visits to a marriage counsellor, they had agreed to work out their marriage, says a family friend of Sunjay Kapur. In 2010, their son Kiaan Raj was born and both the families were thrilled at the fact that their family was getting bigger. In 2011, they were involved in supervising the wedding preparations of Saif Ali and Kareena Kapoor Khan. All was going well except for a few differences that kept coming in between them. Things started to get worse in 2012 when they decided to stay separately, adds the family friend.

In 2014, Karisma and Sunjay filed a mutual consent divorce petition. But in November 2015 Karisma withdrew her consent from the divorce in November 2015 because of a disagreement over financial issues. Things took an ugly turn in their divorce battle when Sunjay claimed that Karisma married him on a rebound after breaking up with Abhishek Bachchan in 2002 and had failed as wife, daughter-in-law and mother. He also accused her for not allowing his unwell father to meet their children for monetary purposes. Karisma in turn filed a dowry harassment case against Sunjay and her mother. Soon thereafter, Sunjay requested transfer of their divorce proceedings from Mumbai to Delhi, alleging that he was getting threat calls from the underworld. In March 2016, the Supreme Court in a personal hearing asked the couple to resolve their differences amicably and also directed their legal counsels to work out the terms of settlement.

Photograph: Yogesn Shah
On its 20th anniversary, Euratex - the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, which is the political voice of the textile and clothing industry in Europe, hosted its international conference 'Best in Partnerships' devoted to inter-sectoral partnerships to boost European manufacturing.European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Elzbieta Bienkowska in her key note address said, Textile and fashion industry is a strategic sector in the EU and it is really performing well. The European Commission is undertaking a number of actions to meet three main challenges of the sector: innovation, international competition and skills shortage.

On its 20th anniversary, Euratex - the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, which is the political voice of the textile and clothing industry in Europe, hosted its international conference 'Best in Partnerships' devoted to inter-sectoral partnerships to boost European manufacturing. European Commissioner for Internal #

The Commissioner underlined that the European institutions are expecting full engagement of industry, because knowledge about the companies' needs should drive the development of new policies and programmes.Euratex's President Serge Piolat emphasized that textile and fashion sector is appreciating the European Commission's willingness to build a dialogue with the industry, the organization said in a press release.Euratex proposed a concrete action plan to the European Commission to strengthen internationalisation of the SMEs, assure fair conditions for the European companies through stricter market surveillance, provide better access for SMEs to EU research funds and boost innovation investments at regional level through RegioTex initiative. We are strongly committed to show meaningful results and we have equally high expectations of concrete actions from the policy-makers, said Piolat.The textile and fashion industry invited other sectors to identify common challenges and discuss new areas of cooperation. The conference was organised in a new format of Industrial Dialogues when two at a time representatives of different sectors had a free discussion between them and with the audience. The topics addressed were circular economy, creative industries, education and skills and international trade Ietje Klaver, sales director at Ecoalf, the Spanish sustainable fashion brand making all its products with recycled materials, discussed the challenges of the circular economy with Isabelle Spiegel, a director in charge of Environmental Business Line in Arcadis  a global design, engineering and management consultancy. The circular economy is a concept of closing the loop of product lifecycles which is beneficial for the environment and profitable for companies. Both speakers agreed that to build circular economy in Europe, silos between different sectors should be broken. With companies' creativity and innovation, the waste of one industry can become the raw material for the other.
Philippines based JG Summit Holdings will increase its ethylene and propylene production capacity to 500,000 tons by 2019 from its current capacity of 320,000 tons.

The company will invest up to $600 million over the next three years to increase its petrochemical production capacity, JG Summit president Lance Gokongwei told mediapersons after the company's recent stockholders meeting.

JG Summit Petrochemicals Group (JGSPC), which has a manufacturing complex in Barangay Simlong, Batangas City, 120 km south of Manila, intends to begin production of butadiene as well as aromatics compounds like benzene, toluene and xylene isomers. This will reduce Philippines' dependency on imports of these items.

Philippines based JG Summit Holdings will increase its ethylene and propylene production capacity to 500,000 tons by 2019 from its current capacity of 320,000 tons. The company will invest up to $600 million over the next three years to increase its petrochemical production capacity, JG Summit president Lance Gokongwei told mediapersons #

Currently, exports contribute nearly 50 per cent to the revenue of JGSPC's petrochemical division. Ethylene and propylene are majorly exported to North Asia while resin has demand in Europe, Gokongwei said. (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Centric Software, the market leader in product lifecycle management (PLM) for fashion and retail companies, has opened its first office in Tokyo, Japan, bringing its market leading PLM solutions to local fashion, footwear, luxury and consumer goods companies.

Centric with the opening of new office in Tokyo aims to develop closer bonds with leading Asian companies by supporting the market with intuitive, easy to use, mobile and cloud-based PLM software that provides a single actionable version of the truth for planning, design, development, sourcing, production and retail teams.

It will be a great benefit to the Japanese market to have access to PLM based on worldwide industry best practices and Silicon Valley driven innovations. Traditional solutions take one year or more to implement; Centric, with its Agile Deployment methodology, can go live in less than six months, providing significant financial benefits, faster, said Shoji Nishimura, sales director, Centric Japan.

Centric Software, the market leader in product lifecycle management (PLM) for fashion and retail companies, has opened its first office in Tokyo, Japan, bringing its market leading PLM solutions to local fashion, footwear, luxury and consumer goods companies. Centric with the opening of new office in Tokyo aims to develop closer bonds with leading Asian #

Building on the recent partnerships with several major Japanese brands, we are very excited to announce the opening of our operations in Japan. Our team will continue to build on innovations made with great companies in the region and we look forward to wide-spread adoption in this market, said Chris Groves, CEO of Centric Software. (NA)

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
The Government of Malaysia has donated FJD$52,907.45 to the Prime Ministers National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Fund.



The Malaysian High Commissions Charge dAffaires Mr Hamizan Hamishi presented the cheque to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Rt Inoke Kuabuabola on behalf of his Government. The funds will be used for those directly affected by Cyclone Winston.



Minister Kubuabola thanked Mr Hamishi for the donation on behalf of the Fijian Government adding that the donation was indicative of the strong friendship between Fiji and Malaysia.



Please pass on our gratitude for the assistance and reconstruction that will be carried out by the Fijian Government. It will go a long way to bringing relief to our people, said Minister Kubuabola.



Mr Hamishi commended the Fijian Government for the recovery efforts undertaken since Cyclone Winston.


A week-long meeting is currently underway in Suva to discuss global challenges faced in ozone protection.



The meeting was opened yesterday by the Minister for Local Government, Housing, Environment, Infrastructure and Transport Hon. Parveen Kumar Bala.



Minister Bala urged ozone officers and environmentalists to address all aspects of ozone protection, including the mechanism of its operation, reporting, monitoring and methods of tracking down illegal ozone depleting substances (ODS).



The participants will also dwell on the successful and effective implementation of the Montreal Protocol 1989 in the Asia-Pacific region.



The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was designed to reduce the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances to reduce their abundance in the atmosphere.



Minister Bala called on the participants to understand their roles and responsibilities to the environment and to the general public.



An important factor that we have to remember is that we are all consumers, your decisions or advice today will have a large impact on the economy tomorrow. This is noting the importance of Hydro - Chloro Fluro Carbons [HCFCs] in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector, cooling; storage; comfort; transportation and food production, Minister Bala said.



Challenges faced in the phase-out HCFCs in the fishing sector, destruction of ozone depleting substances, counterfeit products and use of flammable alternative refrigerants will feature strongly in the deliberations over the next few days.



Some of the common interests I would like to highlight include reliable, available, energy saving, safe and affordable ozone friendly alternatives that are also friendly to the climate. Such meetings as these are important to understand and discuss synergies of Montreal Protocol implementation to climate change and energy efficiency.



It is also important to note that National Hydro Chloro Fluoro Carbon Phase-out Plans or policies must be consistent and compliment Government Policies, specifically those that relate to the protection of the environment and our borders, Minister Bala said.



Close to 100 ozone officers and environmentalists from the Asia-Pacific region are taking part in the joint meeting organised by United Nations Environment Programme, the Australian Government and the Department of Environment.


School-based activities can be employed as a tool to help in the eradication of child labour with a collaborative approach from all stakeholders.



This was highlighted today by the Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, Hon. Dr Mahendra Reddy during the Student Leadership Seminar in Labasa.



Minister Reddy said, Programmes such as, Scouts, Girl Guides, celebration of significant international events, celebration of cultural activities in schools, oratory contests, debates, essay competitions and other activities are organised to provide a range of opportunities to our children so that they further develop their potential, Minister Reddy said.



When children are given the opportunity to participate in such activities, they are given the privilege to expose themselves to new experiences and learning attributes, which in turn essentially develops their self-confidence and motivates them to comprehend situations in their life and that of others.



We have made Scouts and Girl Guides programmes compulsory in primary schools through funding by the Ministry of Education. These activities will enable our children to engage in a range of experiences and when these children go through these experiences, they become bold and adapt to the ability of speaking out.



This year, all schools across Fiji have been asked to observe this important day and organise school based activities to disseminate important information to the children on Child Labour, Minister Reddy added.


HON PM BAINIMARAMA SPEECH AT THE DISBURSEMENT OF MICRO AND SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS IN VALELEVU, NASINU (SECOND BATCH OF SUVA RECIPIENTS)





The Honourable Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism,Honourable Ministers,Distinguished Guests,My Fellow Fijians,Bula Vinaka and a very good morning to you all.The Micro and Small Business Grants Scheme is one of my Governments most important initiatives.Because we are empowering thousands of ordinary Fijians by giving them the means to start their own businesses.Since this program began at the beginning of 2015, we have done a great deal to trigger an enterprise culture in Fiji. We have given the recipients of these grants the means to improve their own lives and the lives of those around them. And we have also provided an important boost to the Fijian economy as a whole. Because as these business grow from the seeds which we have sown with this scheme, the benefits flow to the wider economy.There is increased activity across the board. More people are being given a leg-up and the means to help themselves. More jobs are being created as these people hire others to help their businesses grow. And that means this scheme is an important way in which Fiji is combatting poverty and improving the living standards of our people.It represents a great deal of bang for our buck, as the Americans say. For every dollar spent on this scheme, more wealth is being generated through the hard work of the recipients. All which is why I am so delighted to be here in Valelevu this morning in the biggest population corridor in the country, to roll out the next phase of the Governments Micro and Small Business Grants scheme.The 903 men and women who will be receiving their grants of $1000 each this morning are among the 7,744 successful applicants last year. I must apologise that it has taken so long to reach you and another thousand or so who have yet to receive their allocation. But the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Winston has required a lot of time, energy and resources to assist those most in need. And I want to begin by thanking you all for your patience.Your wait has ended. And now that you are receiving your money, you can start investing in the businesses that you have approval for without any further delay and I know that you will all be very keen to do so.As I have said before to previous recipients of these grants: the Fijian people through their Government are placing their trust in you to use these funds for the purposes for which they are intended. They are placing their trust in you to be honest, not to cheat and to use the money wisely. And in return for that trust, we look to you to work as hard as you can to make your businesses work and play your part in growing our economy.You are not alone. The Government through our Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, is here to assist you with practical advice and I urge you all to take advantage of that service. Because if you do, you will have a much better chance of succeeding. Starting a new business or investing in an existing one isnt easy. You will face many challenges. But I want you to know that my Government is with you all the way. I am with you all the way.Today is the 14th such disbursement across the country at a total cost so far of $5.5-million. It is money very well spent. Because we estimate that for every Fijian we help, an average of five family members benefit. So the total number of people to benefit now stands at nearly 30-thousand, with many more to come. And as I have also said before, we intend that this scheme will continue as an important component of the Governments overall effort to grow the national economy.The way the scheme works should be pretty well known by now. Your application has been approved by the Ministry for Industry, Trade and Tourism and the Fiji Development Bank. You dont get cash but a cheque made out to the supplier of the goods you have asked for. And in this way, the system is much more transparent and much less open to abuse.As I have also stressed before, you are now part of the Fiji Development Banks system. The FDB knows that the Government has given you a tick of approval. So down the line, the possibility exists to raise a loan with the FDB to expand your business even further. Its an important way that we are opening up the mainstream banking system in Fiji to people who were once excluded. And keeping them out of the clutches of loan sharks and other unscrupulous people.Before I introduce some of the successful applicants today, I want to make an important announcement about people who may have already received Micro and Small Business grants but who suffered damage because of Tropical Cyclone Winston.This includes recipients in Ovalau, Koro Island, Vanuabalavu, Savusavu, Taveuni, Rakiraki, Tavua, Lautoka and Tailevu North  all areas which were hit hard by Winston.The Government recognises that you may now need additional assistance. Some, or in some cases, all of what you invested your $1000 in may have been damaged or destroyed. And so we are currently working on a way to assist you by providing you with the financial relief you need to get back on your feet again.Teams of assessors have toured the affected areas to gauge the extent of the damage to these recipients and the Attorney General and Minister for Finance will have more to say on this in the Budget. But I want to stress again that we are relying on people to do the right thing and not try to rip off their fellow Fijians. So there will of course be heavy penalties for those who try to make fraudulent claims.But if you have honestly suffered a setback in the cyclone, we intend to give you a further leg up. Because having invested in your business in the first place, it is in the interests of the Government on behalf of every Fijian for you to succeed. And we are going to give people who need it a second chance to do so.Ladies and Gentlemen, before we proceed to hand over the cheques to the 903 recipients today, I want to introduce some of them and ask you all to give them a big round of applause. Mr. Abu Talib of Lami will utilize his grant to purchase electrical appliances for his existing Electrical Workshop Business; Ms. Rusila Vaseremudu of Raiwai, will purchase food stocks for her existing Food Vending Business; Mr. Tevita Vakacegu of Waibau, will utilize his grant to buy farming implements and stock for his Market Vending Business. And Ms. Sunila Devi Prasad of Nausori, will use her grant to purchase a deep freezer for her canteen business.Please give all those wonderful people a round of applause. We wish them every success. And please put your hands together for an even bigger round of applause for each and everyone of you!My fellow Fijians, even though this is the 14th of these occasions since the beginning of last year, I still get a huge thrill out of them. Because I can see on the faces of our people just how much this leg-up means to them. One step closer to achieving their ambitions. Their dreams. And in the individual success stories that are coming through, our nation is taking another step forward to achieving our vision of a thriving, prosperous economy in which every Fijian has a stake.Were planning to have a function at which our micro and small business champions are properly recognised and have their stories told. And Im sure those stories will be an inspiration to other Fijians to follow their lead. Because they are already proving the truth of what I said when I first launched this scheme last year. That from little things, big things grow.Well also soon be announcing the next phase of the Micro and Small Business Scheme. So if you want to start a business or expand an existing one, look out for the advertisements for the new round of applications in the coming weeks.But to all our recipients today: Congratulations on having had your ideas and proposals approved and all the very best as you put those ideas into practice. Every Fijian joins me in wishing you the very best of luck. But remember that the most important thing in business is to work as hard as you can and constantly be on the lookout for opportunities. Heres to good business for all of our 903 recipients today and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.Vinaka vakalevu. Thank you. Furthermore, I wish to confirm that the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism will be soon advertising for the next phase of the MSBG. Whereby, MSB that are interested in expanding their business or Fijians who wish to start a business will be able to apply. The dates for new applications will be announced in due course.
Aryan Khan and Navya Naveli Nanda recently graduated from the Sevenoaks School, London. They attended their graduation ceremony along with their parents and posted several pictures from the event on their social networking sites. Now both the star kids are on their summer break and enjoying every moment of it.

Both Aryan Khan and Navya Naveli Nanda went to Thailand with their friends, after partying in London. And now they have extended their vacation and are in Mumbai. Click on VIEW PHOTOS to see their pics.



Many stories came out recently which said that Aryan Khan and Navya Naveli Nanda have plans to join Bollywood. When Shahrukh Khan was asked about the same, he said that Aryan should focus on his studies first, and after completing his studies, he can concentrate on his career. The actor also said that he will be happy if his son would joins Bollywood.

Also Read: Is Abhishek Bachchan & Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Marriage In Trouble? Read The Truth Here!

According to the recent reports, Aryan Khan will head to the University of California to pursue his degree.

When Amitabh Bachchan was asked about Navya Naveli Nanda's Bollywood plans, he told a leading news agency in an interview, "That news is incorrect. She is busy with her advanced studies just yet, having recently graduated from school."

Both Aryan Khan and Navya Naveli Nanda share a very close bond and are thick friends. And we must say that both the kids are stars in the making! Bollywood, are you ready?
The CBFC chief, Pahlaj Nihalani, is facing heat from all corners after the Bombay High Court allowed Udta Punjab to be released with just one cut, and upheld the freedom of expression which we rightly enjoy in our country.

Now the question on everyone's mind is, will Pahlaj Nihalani quit his job? Will he stay put? Or will the Government sack him instead? Well, Mr, Nihalani has answered all the questions above in an interaction with the media and was quoted as saying,

"I am not answerable to the film industry. If the government asks me to step down, I'll do so. I've been doing my job honestly and sincerely. No producer can claim his film was delayed because of the CBFC. There is zero corruption in the CBFC and we are working towards online certification. I am happy with my performance in the CBFC. For those who are unhappy with what I've done I've no apology to offer. Don't target me for doing my job."

Stunning! Evelyn Sharma Chilling By The Beach In A Bikini

When asked what really went wrong between the CBFC and the film-makers of Udta Punjab, Pahlaj Nihalani quipped,

"Nothing went 'wrong'. We were following the guidelines given to us. It is unfortunate that though the Censor Board is now called the Central Board Of Film Certification, the guidelines remain the same as before. This is the root cause of all the problems that have cropped up between the CBFC and the film industry. We are following outdated guidelines. Now, after the Bombay high court's verdict, the CBFC guidelines need immediate revision. If we continue to follow the existing guidelines, the CBFC will be reduced to a state of mockery and redundancy."

Well, what do you guys think should happen? Should the Government sack Pahlaj Nihalani or should he resign by himself, or should he continue heading the CBFC? Leave your comments below!

Hrithik Roshan Will Compete With Aamir Khan On Mohenjo Daro!
Controversies over Kalabhavan Mani's death investigation are not over yet. The actor's family is deeply disappointed about the investigation team's inattention towards the case and complained to the Chief Minister.

However, the recently released national lab report confirm that Kalabhavan Mani's death investigation surely needs extra attention. It has been confirmed that it was not a natural death; but a clear case of homicide.

Click here for Kalabhavan Mani's best pictures.....

According to the lab report, about 45 milligrammes of methanol was present in Mani's body, which confirms that he had consumed toxic liquor. The national lab dismissed the suggestions of Kakkanad lab report as well.

The Kakkanad lab report had suggested that the chemicals entered the actor's body through vegetables. But the national lab rejected the findings and confirmed that the chemical substances in vegetables are not sufficient to kill a person.

As Mani's family and friends firmly believe that the actor will not commit suicide, the investigation team has come to a conclusion that it was a well-planned murder. However, the vital details investigation are not revealed yet.

As per the latest reports, Kalabhavan Mani's family is planning to approach the court, requesting a CBI investigation. If things fall in place, Kerala police will soon hand over the investigation to the special CBI team.
Parvathy, the versatile actress is all set to play yet another different role. Reportedly, Parvathy is all set to play a nurse who works in Iraq, in editor Mahesh Narayanan's directorial debut.

The untitled movie depicts the story of nurses who gets trapped in Iraq during the war time. Kunchacko Boban essays the lead role in the movie, which will be majorly shot in Baghdad.

Earlier, it was reported that Fahadh Faasil will play the central character in the movie. But later, it was revealed that Kunchacko Boban and Parvathy have been finalized for the lead roles.

As per the latest reports, Fahadh will appear in a pivotal role in the movie. The team is expected to announce the rest of the star cast and the title of the project, soon.

Kunchacko Boban and Parvathy are sharing the screen for the first time in their careers. It is the first Malayalam film to be shot in Baghdad. Ernakulam, Hyderabad, and Dubai are the other locations.

The movie is jointly scripted by Mahesh Narayanan and PV Shaji Kumar. Sanu handles the cinematography. Anto Joseph produces the movie, under the banner Anto Joseph Film Company.
Television actors are quite miffed over the clause that their production houses are introducing these days. Although, a few clauses seem exclusive and limited to the actors of the particular shows; they may soon be adopted by other production houses, owing to the competition!

Recently, Comedy Nights Live actress Upasana Singh was annoyed when she was asked to sign a contract, even after quitting the show! And now, the recent topic in debate is 'No Dating Clause'. Recently, the production house of the show Baazigar got its actors Vatsal Sheth and Ishita Dutta to sign on an agreement that said the actors cannot date each other or anybody else from the cast and crew, while they are a part of the show!

Ankita-Sushant, Divyanka-Vivek, Sanaya-Mohit, Vivian- Vahbiz... Check Out TV Jodis Who Fell In Love At Work

Aamir Ali, who is married to Sanjeeda Sheikh after dating for many years, was quoted by a leading daily as saying, " It's funny! Sanjee and I were doing two different shows made by the same production house. Luckily, no one stopped me or I didn't get arrested when I went to meet her on her set, which was in the same compound."

He further said, "On a serious note, actors who are dating must take care to not disrupt or delay shoots. And if they ever break up, they have to make sure that work doesn't suffer."

Vivian Dsena was quoted by the leading daily as saying, "We can't control or keep tabs on our feelings. I met my wife Vahbiz while working on 'Pyar Ki Ek Kahani'. If there was a clause like this at that time, I would have laughed it off. Clauses can't be put on emotions and relationships."

He further added, "What actors do in their personal lives outside the set is their decision. However, decorum has to be maintained on the set. Even if co-stars fall in love, they should not disturb the shoot or unit in any way."

Producer Saurabh Tewari says that although this clause cannot stop two people from dating, there are situations, where it can help. He says, "There are instances where the lead pair has fallen in love and things have got affected on the set. For instance, they prefer coming and leaving together and the schedule goes for toss. If they end up fighting in real life, they refuse to enact any romantic scene on the show. Lunch breaks tend to become extra long, causing delays and financially affecting the producer."

Another producer Yash Patnaik said 'dating is not an issue but when they break up, the problems starts'. He says, "They stop talking to each other. The unit and cast get divided; some support one actor and some, the other. The couple stops shooting much with each other and this has an effect on the creative execution of scenes."

Well, Mr Producer, when the lead couple date and the show gets good TRPs with their chemistry, you get double profit!
In Zee TV's primetime favourite soap Tashan-E-Ishq, Twinkle (Jasmin Bhasin) is managing the wedding planning business, with the help of her family members. Yuvi (Zain Imam) wins Twinkle and her family's trust back by assisting them in the business.

On the other hand, Kunj (Sidhant Gupta) is gearing up for his plastic surgery after which he wants to return to his family. Meanwhile, Yuvi refuses to bail Anita out from the jail which leaves Anita upset.

Click on View Photos to see the pictures

In the last episode, Twinkle thanks Yuvi for supporting them in the business. She suddenly faints after which the doctors declare that she is pregnant! All the family members rejoice on hearing this good news.

In the upcoming episodes, Twinkle will be happy on hearing this good news, but at the same time, she will miss Kunj badly, cry. Yuvi and other family members want to console her, but, Yuvi stops them and tells them that Twinkle will have to compose herself, all alone.

Also, Leela and Bebe will think of getting her married again as they think that it is difficult to raise her child alone. They will even speak to Twinkle about it, but she will flatly refuse them.

A source states that, "Twinkle will clearly state that she feels the presence of Kunj near her, and that she will go ahead in her life by assuming he is with her."

A new entry is expected in the show. Child artist Palak Dey is all set to enter the show as a kid staying with Dr. Pallavi. Pallavi will be seen taking care of the kid after the death of her parents.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/14/16 -- Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc. ("Dynasty" or the "Company") (TSX: DMM)(OTCQX: DMMIF) announces that, as a result of its ongoing negotiations to resolve the work stoppage at the Zaruma Project, its subsidiary Elipe S.A. ("Elipe") reached an agreement with workers with the aim of financing a partial payment of their outstanding wages.

Under this agreement, workers were permitted to extract ore from the Zaruma mine for a 10 day period ending today. The material extracted will be processed at third party mills in Ecuador at the workers' risk and cost. Over the next few days, Elipe's staff members together with workers' representatives will monitor processing at such mills to ensure that mineralized material is processed effectively in accordance with industry standards in order to maximize purity, as well as subsequent sales of processed gold and silver in order to ensure that sales are completed on a commercially reasonable basis, and that net proceeds of such sales are fully applied towards outstanding wages.

"We are very pleased to announce this innovative agreement reached by Elipe with workers at the Zaruma mine and look forward to achieving favourable results that will assist in our efforts in restarting operations," commented Robert Washer, CEO of Dynasty. "We believe our good faith efforts at finding solutions for our workers and re-starting operations will contribute to resolving the labour interruption with workers and Government officials."

About Dynasty Metals & Mining

Dynasty is a Canadian based mining company involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties in Ecuador.

The Company is currently focused on developing its Zaruma Gold Project, at which the Company is engaged in intermittent production. The Company also has the following non-producing assets: the Jerusalem Project and Dynasty Goldfield Project.

For further information please visit the Company's website at www.dynastymining.com.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking information" which are prospective in nature. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "projects", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events o r results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such information in this news release includes, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's efforts at resolving the labour interruption at the Zaruma Project. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Dynasty's actual results, revenues, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Important risks that could cause Dynasty's actual results, revenues, performance or achievements to differ materially from Dynasty's expectations include, among other things, that the Company will be unable to resolve the worker stoppage at the Zaruma Project, that the Company will be unable to re-commence operations at the Zaruma Project, that equipment will no longer function as intended, that alternative transactions or arrangements to fund the Company will not be available on terms acceptable to the Company or at all, and other risks found in Dynasty's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2015, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Other than in accordance with regulatory obligations, Dynasty is not under any obligation and Dynasty expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts:

Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc.

Robert Washer, CEO

Quito Office: 011-593-2-226-1170

Vancouver Office: 604-687-7810

Toll Free: 1 888-735-3881 (North America only)

info@dynastymining.com



Dynasty Metals & Mining Inc.

Ruben R. Gellibert, CFO

Quito Office: 011-593-2-226-1170

Vancouver Office: 604-687-7810

Toll Free: 1 888-735-3881 (North America only)

info@dynastymining.com




BENGALURU, SINGAPORE and DUBAI, UAE, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Gartner 'Cool Vendor' Sanovi, the leading provider of Cloud Migration, Business Continuity, and IT Recovery software, announced that the company has signed up multiple global and regional partnerships for its Cloud Migration Manger software. Sanovi Cloud Migration Manager2.0 (CMM) is a leading edge enterprise software platform that enables managed service providers and enterprise customers to accelerate deployment of large-scale cloud transformation projects.

"Cloud Migration Manager has received very positive response from the ecosystem. Several global as well as 'born in the cloud' consulting partners have already signed up for Sanovi Cloud Migration Manager and we are in talks with several others," said Raji Iyengar, VP Global Alliances and Partners, Sanovi Technologies.

"It's exciting to note that with Sanovi CMM, we no longer need to wing itand fly into the cloud," said Varun Mathur, AVP & Head Hybrid IT Practice, Zensar Technologies. "With its structured lifecycle approach, Sanovi CMM provides the instruments for monitoring and managing the migration SLA and ROI metrics. It provides a complete cloud migration flight navigation plan for flying a modern enterprise application into public cloud.The speed of migration with the tool is a compelling case for business nod.We are happy to partner with Sanovi Technologies," he added.

"Sanovi's CMM's complete lifecycle approach, visibility and control of all phases of migration are a great advantage," said, Veeraj Thaploo, Chief Technology Officer, Blazeclan. "The software provides ability to migrate theentire application stackalong with features like non-intrusive automated testing and optimization of cloud resources based on workload analysis. These features are truly beneficial. We have evaluated the product and are happy to partner with Sanovi Technologies," he added.

"Sanovi CMM helps in quickly identifying the optimal-sized infrastructure on AWS cloud, based on policy knobs, including cost and performance," said Seema Sinha, VP Operations, Crimson Cloud, a frontier company that signed up as a partner with Sanovi. "Some of the major benefits from the product include faster migration and huge savings in deployment and operational costs," she added.

About Sanovi:

Gartner 'Cool Vendor' Sanovi Technologies provides Cloud Migration, Business Continuity, and IT Recovery solutions using its innovative Application Defined Continuity (ADC) technology for workloads across physical, virtual and cloud infrastructures. Sanovi has over 350 customers, including fortune 500 companies, service providers and multi-billion dollar enterprises across vertical industries.

Media Contact:

Rohit Thakur

+91-9899294868

rohit.thakur@sanovi.com

Director marketing


UNION (dpa-AFX) - Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) announced an all cash purchase of One Kings Lane, Inc., an authority in home decor and design that offers a unique collection of select home goods, designer and vintage items. The purchase price was not material to Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., and the Company expects this transaction to be slightly dilutive to its net earnings per diluted share for fiscal 2016, after transaction and integration costs. One Kings Lane works directly with home furnishings brands, vintage dealers, designers and tastemakers to offer a curated merchandise assortment. Additionally, they deliver design inspiration and expert style advice. They also offer complimentary interior design services at its two design studios located in San Francisco and New York. Bed Bath & Beyond noted that the purchase of One Kings Lane did not affect its fiscal 2016 first quarter ended on May 28, 2016, as the transaction occurred during the fiscal 2016 second quarter. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. is scheduled to release its fiscal 2016 first quarter financial results after market close on June 22, 2016. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Business / Economy

by Stephen Jakes

Zimbabwe has intensified its commitment to reengage with the international financial institutions namely, the IMF, World Bank and ADB among others.In a statement the National Association of Non-governmental Organisation stated that due to a huge debt overhang, Zimbabwe has not been getting financial support from these institutions."The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development has developed a strategy for clearing Zimbabwe's external arrears to IFIs as was presented Hon P Chinamasa, at sidelines of the October 2015 Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Lima, Peru," reads the statement."Zimbabwe has since been implementing the IMF Staff Monitored Programme (SMP) whose objective is to support the implementation of key economic reforms needed to foster development and reduce poverty. A key requirement for full re-engagement with the IFIs is the development of a Poverty Reduction Strategy Plan (PRSP), which provides the framework for targeted interventions to reduce poverty and promote economic development."Nango stated that the initial phase will be implemented for two years until 2018 resulting in an Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Plan (iPRSP), and thereafter a comprehensive PRSP will be developed which will probably be a five-year period.The development of the PRSP is being done through wide consultations.Mandi Chimene, the Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister was the Guest of Honour at the Provincial iPRSP Consultative Meetings held in Mutare on the 19th of May 2016 also attended by the Manicaland Provincial Administrator and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic DevelopmentIn this regards, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and the National Association of Non Governmental Organizations (and its partners) jointly hosted national, provincial and district consultative meetings nationwide to gather opinions to inform the development of the IPRSP."Due to time and resource limitations it was not possible for the consultations to be held in all the provincial and districts within Zimbabwe. However a random sample of the following provinces was selected Midlands, Matebeleland, Manicaland, Mashonaland West and Masvingo for hosting the provincial level consultations. In addition district level consultations were held in Umzingwane, Nkayi, Mudzi and Centenary," Nango stated."The thematic issues were categorised in to five pillars which are: Pillar 1: Social Sector Policies and Expenditures, Pillar 2: Agriculture Productivity, Growth and Rural Food Security and Nutrition, Pillar 3: Private Sector, Pillar 4: Environment and Climate Change, and Pillar 5: Strengthening Governance and Institutional Capacity. The national, provincial and district consultative meetings are now complete."Accordingly, Nango invites interested individuals and organizational to make written submissions on or before the 22nd of June 2016 of priority areas for consideration in the development of the iPRSP.All submissions must be directed to Mr. L. Mandishara, the NANGO Head of the Poverty Reduction and Development on leonard.mandishara@gmail.com copying the IPRSP National Coordinator Dr. J. Chipika on jchipika@gmail.com.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been projected as the winner of the District of Columbia's Democratic primary in the final contest ahead of next month's nominating convention. The outcome was viewed largely as anticlimactic, since Clinton had already locked up enough delegates to clinch her party's nomination. Nevertheless, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has vowed to take his fight all the way to the convention - set for July 25 to 28 in Philadelphia. The Republican convention, with business mogul Donald Trump ensconced as the presumptive nominee, is set for July 18 to 21 in Cleveland. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
BENTONVILLE (dpa-AFX) - Walmart (WMT) spokeswoman Deisha Barnett said that all customers and two associates who were held hostage are safe. As soon as the company heard about the situation at its store in Amarillo, Texas, the company acted immediately. 'As soon as we heard about the situation at our store in Amarillo, Texas, we acted immediately. All customers and our two associates who were held hostage are safe. This was a very difficult situation and we are thankful for the quick response from law enforcement,' Deisha Barnett said. Randall County Sheriff's Office said that the Amarillo Police Department has identified the suspect in today's hostage standoff as 54-year-old Mohammad Moghaddam. The Sheriff's office confirmed that there were two people taken hostage today...one of whom was a manager who reportedly had a dispute with Moghaddam prior to the incident. The hostages were freed within the past half hour after the suspect was shot and killed by Amarillo Police Department SWAT team members. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - June 15, 2016) - B&H Photo would like to share the announcement of the Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH lens for Micro Four Thirds from Panasonic, which was designed to fulfill the demanding requirements of adventurous landscape photographers. Offering a 35mm-equivalent focal length of 24mm, this wide-angle lens can capture vast scenes with ease, and thanks to splash- and dust-proof metal construction, users will be able to explore the outdoors without worrying about the lens. Also, the fast f/1.4 aperture benefits users working in low-light situations, and helps to produce shallow-depth-of-field imagery.

Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH Lens

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1259339-REG/panasonic_h_x012_leica_dg_summilux_12mm_f1_4.html

To maintain a compact form factor while maintaining quality, this lens uses two aspherical elements and one extra-low dispersion and two ultra-extra-low dispersion elements to minimize distortion and aberrations. The external design supports intuitive operation with a physical aperture ring, a manual focus ring, and an AF/MF switch. Additionally, it has smooth aperture adjustment and silent autofocus for capturing high-quality 4K video, and a nine-blade circular aperture for smooth bokeh.

B&H Photo is an authorized Panasonic dealer, with the most up-to-date Panasonic product information, product pricing and promotional offers.

Follow B&H Photo on Social Media: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/socialLanding.jsp

https://www.facebook.com/bhphoto/

https://twitter.com/BHPhotoVideo

https://plus.google.com/+BandH

Google App

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bhphoto&hl=en

Apple iTunes App

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/b-h-photo-video-pro-audio/id390928219?mt=8

About B&H Photo Video

As the world's largest source of photography, video, audio, and the latest trending technologies, including drones, virtual reality, and 3D Printers, B&H Photo Video is known worldwide for its attentive, knowledgeable sales force, excellent customer service, and fast, reliable shipping. Visitors to the website can access a variety of enlightening articles and educational videos. B&H has been satisfying customers worldwide for over 40 years.

Latest Trending Technologies

Virtual Reality: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/360-spherical-virtual-reality-production/ci/29185/N/3705627361

Drones: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse/aerial-imaging/ci/27989/N/3765401970

Gaming Gear: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/xbox-360/ci/26268/N/3838122491

Customers making purchases on the B&H website can now make a split payment with multiple credit cards, a useful feature for those with limited credit on their individual cards. Previously, this method of payment was only available to customers when purchasing by phone or in store.

Many items can now be ordered online and picked up at our NYC Superstore. Add any qualifying items to your shopping cart and select STORE PICKUP. You will then have an opportunity to indicate who will be making the pickup, if it is someone other than yourself. You'll receive an email (up to 45 minutes) after completing your order, indicating that your order is ready for pickup at the B&H SuperStore.

The B&H YouTube Channel has an unmatched wealth of educational photographic content. Our entertaining and informative videos feature product overviews from our in-house specialists, as well as photography industry experts. You can even view the B&H Event Space presentations from many of the world's foremost photographers and interviews with some of photography's most dynamic characters. Tap into this exciting resource by subscribing to the B&H YouTube Channel here. In addition to these videos, the B&H Explora blog presents new product announcements, gear reviews, helpful guides, and tech news written by product experts and industry professionals.

When you're in Manhattan, take a tour of the B&H Photo SuperStore, located at 420 Ninth Avenue. The expo continues all year round in the camera kiosks at B&H. Featuring the newest cameras, the kiosks are manned by manufacturer representatives, who are there to guide you and demonstrate the latest photographic technology. With hundreds of products on display, the B&H Photo electronics store is the place to test-drive and compare all the latest technology gear.

Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/6/14/11G102769/Images/Panasonic_12mm_Lens-4955426ac85c84dc803375c8ffe18c5f.jpg
Negotiations between SAS and the Swedish pilot union SPF are now concluded. The parties have agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement and all flights in Sweden will resume as soon as possible.

Regulatory News:

SAS has been in negotiations with the Swedish pilot union (SPF) since the middle of April. After a pilot strike that commenced on Friday, the parties today reached an agreement and the strike is called off. The pilots will resume work and the air traffic is expected to normalize during the next days.

- It has been a difficult process and we are relieved that the strike is called off and that our customers can take their flights as planned. I deeply regret that so many customers have been affected by this strike, says Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO of SAS.

The strike has until today resulted in about 1,000 cancelled flights and a total of 100,000 passengers affected by the disrupted traffic. The financial effects from the strike are yet too early to quantify.

The new agreement between SAS and SPF are affective from 1 April 2016 and is valid for one year. SAS has also reached new agreements with the Norwegian pilots unions and consequently, this year's negotiations with pilot unions are concluded.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160614006520/en/

Contacts:

Bjorn Tibell

Head of Investor Relations

Phone: +46 70 997 14 37

E-mail: bjorn.tibell@sas.se
Regulatory News:

ASSA ABLOY (STO:ASSAB) has signed an agreement to acquire Nassau in Denmark, an important European supplier of industrial overhead sectional doors.

"I am very pleased that Nassau is joining the ASSA ABLOY Group. I welcome this addition that further reinforces the ASSA ABLOY Group's leadership in entrance automation, where our sales have grown from SEK 3 billion in 2008 to SEK 18 billion in 2015", says Johan Molin, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY.

"Nassau has a good foothold in a number of European markets and brings additional competence in Sectional Doors and Service. I welcome the Nassau team to actively participate in our exciting journey", says Juan Vargues, Executive Vice President of ASSA ABLOY and Head of Division Entrance Systems.

Nassau was established in 1970 and has some 360 employees. The company is headquartered in Ringe, Denmark.

Sales for 2016 are expected to reach DKK 440 M (approx. SEK 540 million). The acquisition will be neutral to EPS from start.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close during Q3 2016.

About ASSA ABLOY

ASSA ABLOY is the global leader in door opening solutions, dedicated to satisfying end-user needs for security, safety and convenience. Since its formation in 1994, ASSA ABLOY has grown from a regional company into an international group with about 46,000 employees, operations in more than 70 countries and sales of SEK 68 billion. In the fast-growing electromechanical security segment, the Group has a leading position in areas such as access control, identification technology, entrance automation and hotel security.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160614006521/en/

Contacts:

ASSA ABLOY

Johan Molin

President and CEO

tel. no: +46 8 506 485 42

or

Carolina Dybeck Happe

CFO and Executive Vice President

tel. no: +46 8 506 485 72
Company announcement no. 8/2016Aalborg, Denmark, 2016-06-15 08:41 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --SUMMARYResults for the first quarter of 2016/17The results before tax amounted to DKK -4.1 million in Q1 2016/17 against DKK -5.9 million in Q1 2015/16. The results after tax amounted to DKK -3.7 million against DKK -6.7 million in Q1 2015/16.The balance sheet total amounted to DKK 2,855.1 million at 30 April 2016 against DKK 2,808.8 million at 31 January 2016. Consolidated equity totalled DKK 1,281.4 million, and the solvency ratio stood at 44.9 %.Breakdown by segment:DKKm Property Asset Unallocate development management d -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Profit/loss -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Profit/loss before tax 2.6 -4.1 -2.6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Balance sheet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Development projects 753.6 - - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Completed properties under asset - 1,173.0 - management -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other asset management projects - 138.3 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other assets 413.3 293.6 83.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets 1,166.9 1,604.9 83.3 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tied-up equity 644.9 573.0 63.5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Outlook for 2016/17Management still expects consolidated results before tax for 2016/17 to total DKK 10-30 million.This profit estimate is based on the expectation that a number of ongoing small and medium-sized projects will be executed before the end of the current financial year. TK Development is recording good progress on the individual projects. The time horizon for the projects means that the majority of them are expected to be completed, handed over to the investor and thus recognized in income in Q4 2016/17. The Group's most significant development projects are not expected to contribute to consolidated results until subsequent financial years.Property developmentThe results for this business area amounted to DKK 2.6 million before tax in Q1 2016/17. At 30 April 2016 the balance sheet total came to DKK 1,166.9 million, and the equity tied up represented DKK 644.9 million.As from the 2017/18 financial year, the return on equity from this business area is expected to amount to 15-20 % p.a. before tax.The sales completed by TK Development in Q1 2016/17 included a superstore of about 2,150 m in Rdekro.Major development projects in progress:-- Construction of the new shopping centre, BROEN Shopping, in Esbjerg, Denmark, is progressing according to plan, and the opening is scheduled for spring 2017. The current occupancy rate is 73 % of the premises.-- Construction of Strdet in Kge, Denmark, is now on schedule and expected to be completed in autumn 2017. The retail project, of which 74 % has been let, has been sold conditionally to the Finnish company Citycon together with the parking facilities.-- The second phase of the residential project in Bielany in Warsaw, Poland, was completed in the period under review, and an occupancy permit was obtained immediately after the reporting date. 93 % of the units have been sold in advance, and the handover to the buyers of the individual units has begun.-- The project pipeline is looking strong, and the projects are moving ahead at a good pace due to robust tenant and investor interest.Asset managementThe results for this business area amounted to DKK -4.1 million before tax in Q1 2016/17. At 30 April 2016 the balance sheet total came to DKK 1,604.9 million, and the equity tied up represented DKK 573.0 million.The portfolio of completed properties in this business area consists of 156,200 m, amounting to DKK 1,581.8 million at 30 April 2016. This amount includes joint venture projects. The annual net rent from the current leases corresponds to a return on the carrying amount of 4.4 %. Based on full occupancy, the return on the carrying amount is expected to reach 6.1 %.Detailed development and operating plans have been drafted for each property, and good progress is being made in their realization in a number of areas.The expectations mentioned in this Interim Report, including earnings expectations, are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties, which may result in deviations from the expected results. Expectations may be impacted by factors generally applicable to the sector as well as the factors referred to in the Group's 2015/16 Annual Report under Risk issues and note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, Accounting estimates and judgments, including the valuation of the Group's project portfolio.Further information is available from Frede Clausen, President and CEO, on tel. +45 8896 1010.Attachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=575627
COPENHAGEN (dpa-AFX) - Denmark's producer prices declined at a faster pace in May, figures from Statistics Denmark showed Wednesday. The producer price index fell 3.9 percent year-over-year in May, which was worse than the 2.5 percent decrease in April. Prices have been falling since June 2014. Producer prices in the domestic market slid 4.2 percent annually in May and foreign market prices went down by 3.5 percent. On a monthly basis, producer prices dropped 0.4 percent in May, reversing a 1.2 percent rise in the preceding month. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Online printer now offers Thread-stitched Books, ultralight Flyers and much more

The online printer UNITEDPRINT SE to which one of its most well-known brands, print24.com, belongs - is extending its product range to include Thread-stitched Books and ultralight Flyers, and will also be offering posters in single quantities in A0 and A1 formats. In addition, the already attractive prices for Folded flyers in quantities of 50,000 und Brochures with Perfect binding starting from 2,500 pieces will be reduced by a further 10%.

Ali Jason Bazooband, Managing Director for Innovation/Marketing of UNITEDPRINT SE, says:

"We receive daily requests from customers for new products and services, and we strive to offer these as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. I'm therefore very excited to be able to now also offer our customers Books with Thread-stitching, which in comparison to our Books with Perfect binding, are up to 50% less expensive. Furthermore, we have supplemented our product range to include ultralight Flyers of 70 gsm and 90 gsm and Posters in single quantities in A0 and A1 formats. We have also been able to reduce the price of our Top sellers by 10%, such as the 135 gsm Folded flyers in A4 and A5 formats starting from 50,000 pieces, and A4 and A5 Brochures with Perfect binding in quantities from 2,500."

In comparison to Books with Perfect binding, Books with Thread-stitching are clearly more durable and of higher quality. They can be ordered from print24.com in single quantities or more. With their extremely low weight of 70 gsm or 90 gsm, the ultralight Flyers are ideal for reducing postage costs and perfect as advertising inserts. Posters in single quantities in A0 and A1 formats are in high demand for use as advertising support such as customer stoppers and displays.

print24.com is a UNITEDPRINT SE brand, a global and innovation-oriented e-commerce company for print and media. As one of Europe's leading online printers, UNITEDPRINT SE is represented in the marketplace by the renowned brands print24, Easyprint, Unitedprint, getprint, printwhat, FIRSTPRINT, DDK PRINT BIG, infowerk, and Unitedprint Shop Services (USS). The company employs a staff of over 700 people at 26 locations worldwide (in Germany, 21 other European countries, and in Brazil, China, Canada, and the US). In addition to the standard print products, the company provides its customers with high-quality products ranging from the textile printing, photo printing, advertising equipment printing and gastronomy sectors. Customers can also benefit from their 24-hour availability as well as their 30/60/90-payment model, which is unique in this sector.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615005490/en/

Contacts:

unitedprint.com SE

Maria Lehmann

0049 (0)351 27225388

presse@unitedprint.com
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Imperus Technologies Corp. ("Imperus" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: LAB) (FRANKFURT: ISX) (FRANKFURT WKN: A12B58), a leading developer and operator of social casino games, has reached an agreement to integrate a selection of the best Akamon slot games onto 'Jackpot Poker by PokerStars', a free-to-play mobile poker app by PokerStars, the world's largest online poker brand.

This agreement is aligned with the co-branded and game distribution program strategy of Akamon, to which the company attributed 27% of its revenues during 2015, reaching a potential audience of more than 500 million users through its owned portal and those of its partners. Those partners are distributed in several sectors: 76% are gaming sites, 12% belong to the telecom sector such as Orange and its Latin American sister Starmedia or UOL in Brazil, and another 12% to other media.

The set of slot games to be initially provided by Akamon on Jackpot Poker are: 'Fire Wheel 7s', a classic slots game with a wheel bonus, which will be available both in the main slots lobby and as a side game; 'Monte Carlo', which combines an innovative reel layout and expanding wilds feature with a classy casino theme; and, 'Salsa Nights', mixing a special wilds feature with a rich free spins with an elegant Caribbean theme.

According to Vicenc Marti, President of Imperus: "The agreement not only illustrates the popularity of our slot game titles but also shows our enormous potential to the rest of the industry as a way to increase social gaming market share."

"Players have told us they want the ability to play slots while enjoying our jackpot tournaments and cash games," said Lloyd Melnick, Director of Social at PokerStars. "The addition of Akamon's slots to Jackpot Poker by PokerStars is the next evolution of Jackpot Poker, and we will continue to add the features and capabilities our players want."

Imperus is focused on maintaining its social gaming leadership position by offering customers the most engaging, social gaming content with exciting new titles that are expected to perform on fast growing mobile platforms such as Android and IOS.

About Imperus

Imperus Technologies Corp., the parent company of Diwip and Akamon, is a developer of social and mobile gaming for PC, Mac, iOS and Android platforms. Diwip and Akamon design, develop and distribute their top ranked social casino-themed games within online social networks (such as Facebook) and mobile platforms (such as Android and iPhone). All of the Diwip and Akamon games are free to play and generate revenue primarily through the in-game sale of virtual coins.

About Jackpot Poker

Jackpot Poker is a fun and exciting free-to-play social gaming app made by PokerStars, the world's largest online poker site which is now available for download for iOS and Android mobile devices. It features fast and authentic poker action, exciting graphics and lots of all-in opportunities. Jackpot Poker is the only social game offering to feature PokerStars' wildly popular Spin & Go tournaments in a new format that is made specifically for mobile devices and aimed at casual gamers. Spin & Go tournaments are three-handed, 'winner-takes-all' poker tournaments with a variable prize pool that can turn a small buy-in tournament into a massive prize pool. With hundreds of tables and hundreds of thousands of real poker players daily, Jackpot Poker provides an authentic poker experience with more excitement, more thrills, and more poker.

Jackpot Poker and PokerStars are ultimately owned by Amaya Inc. Further information on Jackpot Poker is available online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM6uhhRkpSk

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking information" which involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. When used in this press release, such forward-looking information may use such words as "may", "will", "expect", "believe", "plan" and other similar terminology. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the distribution agreement with PokerStars; accessing emerging markets; release of new games and the potential performance of such games. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations relating to the future events and the operating performance of the company, and readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability of the company to finance the Acquisition, regulatory requirements, general economic, market or business conditions and future developments in the sectors of the economy in which the business of Imperus or the Acquisition target operates. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Please see the Company's short form prospectus dated March 27, 2015, the Company's Annual Information Form dated November 11, 2015 and other documents available on www.sedar.com, for a more detailed description of the risk factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether a result of new information, future results or otherwise, except as required by law.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Contacts:

Isabel Guerrero

Akamon PR & Communication

+34 687 55 28 55

Isabel.guerrero@akamon.com



Spyros Karellas

Pinnacle Capital Markets Ltd.

Investor Relations

416-433-5696

spyros@pinnaclecapitalmarkets.ca




BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Greece's import prices continued to decline in April, data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority showed Wednesday. The import price index dipped 7.9 percent year-over-year in April, slightly faster than the 7.8 percent decrease in the previous month. In February, the rate of fall was 9.5 percent. Among the main industrial groups, energy prices plunged the most by 28.5 percent annually in April. Prices for intermediate goods slid 2.6 percent, while those of capital goods rose by 0.2 percent. On a monthly basis, import prices went up 1.3 percent in April, following a 1.4 percent rise in March. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
News / Africa

by Staff Reporter

THE Siavonga Magistrates Court has passed two controversial judgements in a case involving 21 Zimbabwean fishermen who were arrested for straying into Zambian waters on Lake Kariba.Daily Nation reported that eleven of the 21 fishermen who appeared before Magistrate Victoria Chitobangoma were ordered to K600 each or in default serve 8 months in imprisonment with hard labour while the other group of 10 who appeared before a different Magistrate were last week sentenced to 12 months in prison.In the first count the 21 Zimbabwean fishermen are charged with the one count of failing to appear before the Zambian immigration officers when they entered Zambia through the international waters of Lake Kariba on 20th march this year,In count two the accused are charged with the offence of fishing in Zambian waters without a license contrary to the laws of Zambia.It was alleged that between 16 and 20 march this year the 21 fishermen entered Zambia and docked their fishing rigs near twin islands in Siavonga District without authority which is against the immigration ACT. It is also alleged that the Zimbabwean Fishermen where found fishing without fishing licenses from the Department of fisheries.Cases of Illegal entry by both Zambian and Zimbabwean fishermen on the international waters has become rampant between the two long time southern Africa neighbours which residents in the two countries blame non-availability of proper boundary markings.Some residents have also accused the Zimbabwean authorities of heavy handedness in dealing with Zambians that were caught fishing and poaching in that country.On Friday two Zambians were allegedly shot dead by Zimbabwe Parks warders in Kariba Town while four others were arrested and sentenced to 14 months to imprisonment with hard labor for fishing on the Zimbabwean side of Lake Kariba.
EAGLE POINT, OR -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Grow Condos, Inc., a fully reporting publicly traded company under the trading symbol (OTC PINK: GRWC). Grow Condos, Inc. is a real estate purchaser, developer and manager of specific use industrial properties providing "condo" style turn-key grow facilities to support the cannabis industry. Grow Condos, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has aligned with CAN LEASE, LLC to partner in providing equipment leases for equipment sales.

This association allows Grow Condos to provide another unique solution for our clients while potentially providing an additional profit center for Grow Condos. One of the major issues and for marijuana growers is reliable access to expansion capital for equipment (lighting, structural components, irrigation). CAN LEASE, LLC is a specialist in this area and has tailored its business specifically to the marijuana industry allowing them to be the "best of breed" solution to marijuana businesses.

"CAN LEASE can be a great opportunity for the company in that one of the biggest challenges for growers is how to find a reliable source of expansion capital when it's required. This relationship allows the company to provide a solution for our customers and participate in an additional source of income in providing a one stop solution for them," said Wayne Zallen, CEO Grow Condos, Inc.

"We are extremely excited and privileged to be able to participate with the Grow Condo's roll out of their complex at Nuggetville as well additional projects," said Gene Tully for CAN LEASE, LLC.

About: CAN LEASE, LLC

Based in Lakewood Ranch Fl. (www.canleases.com), CAN LEASE specializes in the financing needs of the cannabis industry. They provide unique solutions specifically tailored to each client allowing CAN LEASE, LLC to become an industry leader to the marijuana industry.

About: Grow Condos, Inc.

Grow Condos is a fully reporting publicly traded company listed under the symbol GRWC: Pink Sheets. It is a real estate purchaser, developer & manager of specific use industrial properties providing "condo" style turn-key grow facilities to support the cannabis industry. We own, lease, sell and manage multi-tenant properties.

Like during the Gold Rush days in California, Grow Condos is focused on a pick-and-shovel approach to participating in the exploding marijuana industry. We finance the purchase and/or development of properties by offering to investors private placement sponsorships, debt instruments, or limited partnerships. We believe there is a significant investor demand for such opportunities. Currently we own and manage a 15,000 square foot warehouse in Eagle Point, Oregon, own and developing a property in Eugene Oregon and are currently looking into other acquisitions in Oregon, Colorado, Washington, California and Nevada with like-minded investors who want to share in the growth of this dynamic new industry.

Additionally the company is currently an additional line of products and services to offer our partners, customers and tenants.

Safe Harbor: This release contains statements that constitute 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. These statements appear in a number of places in this release and include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Grow Condos, Inc, its directors or its officers with respect to, among other things: (i) financing plans; (ii) trends affecting its financial condition or results of operations; (iii) growth strategy and operating strategy. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "can," "believe," "potential" and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Grow Condos, Inc. ability to control, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. More information about the potential factors that could affect the business and financial results is and will be included in Grow Condos, Inc. filings with the OTC Markets, Securities and Exchange Commission and/or the company's website.

CONTACT:

Grow Condos, Inc.

Corporate: www.growcondos.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowCondosInc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrowCondosInc

Investor Relations: ir@growcondos.com




BRUSSELS, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research by scientists at the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition - part of Mars Petcare - and the University of Sydney, Australia shows flavour and nutrition both influence how cats choose their food

A study unveiled today by Mars Petcare has revealed that while flavour is important initially, domestic cats learn to choose their food based on nutrition rather than flavour. The study published in Royal Society Open Science (http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/lookup/doi/10.1098/rsos.160081) today confirms that over time cats learn about the fat and protein content in their food and regulate their intake to reach a target ratio of these nutrients.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160530/373317 )



Scientists at WALTHAM Centre of Pet Nutrition, Mars Petcare, and the University of Sydney, Australia offered cats foods with various ratios of fat and protein flavoured with fish, rabbit or orange. When first presented with the foods, the cats showed a preference based on flavour. However, over time they learnt about the nutrient composition and selected foods in order to reach a target ratio of protein and fat, regardless of flavour.

Adrian Hewson-Hughes from the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition at Mars Petcare, and lead author of the study said the findings have implications for the development of foods for cats: "This research has enabled Mars Petcare to understand more about developing foods for cats with both appealing flavours and the appropriate nutrient composition that ensures cats continue to eat foods in the long-term. This in turn feeds into what we already know about nutrition - and through our brands such as WHISKAS, SHEBA and ROYAL CANIN we are committed to developing pet foods that first and foremost ensure cats have access to the right nutrition in a format they enjoy."

WALTHAM is the global scientific research centre for Mars Petcare delivering breakthroughs in pet nutrition and the science of human-animal interactions.

About the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition:

Celebrating over 50 years of innovative science, the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition serves as a leading scientific authority in advancing the frontiers of research into the nutrition and health of companion animals. Located in Leicestershire, England, the renowned state-of-the-art science institute for Mars, Incorporated generates knowledge that enables the development of innovative products that meet pets' needs in a practical way. Since the publication of its first original research in 1963, WALTHAM has pioneered many important breakthroughs in the field of pet nutrition and human-animal interaction, resulting in more than 1,700 publications, including over 600 peer-review scientific papers. Today, WALTHAM continues to collaborate with the world's foremost scientific institutes, driving Mars' Petcare vision to create A Better World for Pets and providing the science and expertise that underpins leading Mars brands such as PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, ROYAL CANIN, Banfield Pet Hospital, and IAMS, CESAR, NUTRO, SHEBA, DREAMIES and EUKANUBA.

About Mars, Incorporated:

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders" - this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance. For more information, please visit http://www.mars.com. Follow us: http://facebook.com/mars, http://twitter.com/marsglobal, http://youtube.com/mars .

Source: [http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/lookup/doi/10.1098/rsos.160081]
LONDON, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

An Cuong Wood Working Joint Stock Company ("An Cuong" or "the Company") - one of Vietnam's leading wood-working and decorative materials companies - announces the strategic investment and development partnership with VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund ("VOF"), a London Stock Exchange Main Market traded investment fund, and DEG - Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH ("DEG"), a member of the KfW Group. At an event held today in Ho Chi Minh City, An Cuong said it is finalising the investment of close to USD30 million by the consortium led by VinaCapital.

Established in 1994, An Cuong manufactures a wide range of products including wood and laminate panelling, flooring and furniture. The company is a manufacturer and exporter for well-known brands in the Japan, South East Asia, USA and Europe. Recognized as the top wood-based surface specialist in the country, the company's products meet international standards for design and quality. Its sustainable environmental and social ("E&S") practices have been recognized with an ISO 14001:2004 certification and its products are certified by Green Label Singapore. As part of its commitment to continuous improvement in E&S practices, An Cuong is implementing an E&S action plan with the objective of compliance with the International Financial Corporation Standards.

Employing approximately 1,300 people, An Cuong operates 10 showrooms across Vietnam, as well as representative offices in Malaysia, Japan, US, Canada and Australia. Products are manufactured in a 90,000 m2 state-of-the-art facility using the latest manufacturing technology from Germany and Italy. An Cuong's wood-based materials (MFC/ Melamine MDF; Laminates; High Gloss Acrylic; Veneer and auxiliary products) are used extensively in modern interior design and decoration such as indoor furniture, door, flooring and kitchen door/cabinets. An Cuong currently supplies its products to Vietnam's largest developers and the Company has been working with thousands of interior design firms, contractors and local carpenters across the country.

With consistent growth rate of 30%-35% over the past several years, An Cuong has reached an annual turnover of over USD70m in 2015 with dominant market shares of over 50% in branded MFC panel and 70% in branded laminate panel.

Le Duc Nghia, CEO of An Cuong, said, "We are delighted to welcome VinaCapital and DEG as strategic shareholders. One of the reasons we have entered into this transaction is because these two organisations bring not only capital, but expertise and a track record of working with their investees. They share our commitment to building this business to the next level. We are also gratified that our efforts to operate the company to the highest standards, be it in our environmental, sourcing or labour practices, have been recognized by DEG, which attributes great importance to these issues when considering an investment."

Don Lam, VinaCapital CEO, said, "An Cuong has been on our radar for some time. It's well managed, ambitious and innovative, and always looking at how it can expand in a sustainable way. We are pleased to be partnering with DEG to help An Cuong further build on its leading position in the industry and enter a new phase of growth."

Dr. Herbert Baumgartner, director of DEG's representative office in Bangkok, stated, "DEG is excited about its cooperation with such an innovative and dynamic company like An Cuong that shows strong commitment to E&S issues. DEG looks forward to working with VinaCapital in supporting the company as it expands its operations thus creating employment opportunities in Vietnam."

About VinaCapital

Founded in 2003, VinaCapital is a leading investment and asset management firm headquartered in Vietnam, with a diversified portfolio of USD1.4 billion in assets under management. The firm has three closed-ended funds that trade on the London Stock Exchange: VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Limited, which trades on the Main Market, as well as VinaLand Limited and Vietnam Infrastructure Limited, which trade on the AIM. Further, VinaCapital manages the Forum One - VCG Partners Vietnam Fund, Vietnam's largest open-ended UCITS-compliant fund. VinaCapital's expertise spans a full range of asset classes including capital markets, private equity, venture capital, real estate and fixed income.

About DEG

DEG, a subsidiary of KfW, finances investments of private companies in developing and transition countries. As one of Europe's largest development finance institutions, it promotes private business structures to contribute to sustainable economic growth and improved living conditions. DEG's current portfolio in Asia amounts to EUR 2.6 billion.

About An Cuong Wood Working JSC

The An Cuong Wood - Working Joint Stock Company is a leading company in wood-working and decorative materials in Vietnam's since 1994. We are manufacturer and distributor for various well-known brands from USA, Germany, Italy, Spain and Australia in wood and plastic based panels widely used in interior decoration of houses, apartment buildings, schools, supermarkets, and offices. Currently, An Cuong has more than 1,300 employees, 10 showrooms across the country and a factory in Binh Duong province with an area of more than 90,000 m2, alongside representative offices around the world, including Cambodia, Malaysia, Japan, Canada, USA, and Australia.

All of An Cuong's products are certified by Green Label Singapore. The company has also received International Certificates for our product quality including CQ (Certificate of Quality from Malaysia), SA 8000:2008, ISO 9001-2008, and ISO 14001:2004.

With technology and products of international standards, An Cuong confidently satisfies all the diverse furnishing needs, ensuring material durability and consumers' health.

Enquiries:

For VinaCapital:



For VinaCapital:

Jeremy Greenberg

Investor Relations

+84-8-3821-9930

jeremy.greenberg@vinacapital.com





Joel Weiden

Communications

+84-8-3821-9930

joel.weiden@vinacapital.com





Daniel Jason, Peregrine Communications

Tel (Direct): +44-(0)20-3040-0872

Tel (Mobile): +44-(0)770-2954-837

daniel.jason@peregrinecommunications.com





For An Cuong :

Nguy Thanh Vi (Mr.)

PR Marketing Manager, An Cuong Wood Working JSC

Tel +84(0)909-626-516

Email: viacc@ancuong.com




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Johnson Publishing, a family- owned company, is quitting publishing business as it sold its iconic African-American lifestyle magazine Ebony after more than 60 years of ownership, media reported Tuesday. The company also sold its now digital-only Jet magazine, which was started in 1951. The deals were for an undisclosed amount. Texas-based Michael Gibson's African-American-owned Clear View Group is the new owner of the magazines.



Ebony, first hit newsstands in 1945, has documented the African-American and cultural heritage, and now boasts some 1.2 million circulation. However, in a digital era, the magazine has seen declining media revenues as it struggled to evolve from print to digital platforms. Jet magazine, also aimed at people of color, has played a vital role in covering the African-American experience during the Civil Rights Movement. It was published weekly in a digest size until it was transitioned into a digital-only format in 2014.



Following the sale, Ebony will remain in print for the foreseeable future.



The new publishing entity, Ebony Media Operations, will maintain the magazine's Chicago headquarters and its New York editorial office, together with much of the current staff, Gibson said. For Clear View, it is the first investment in a publishing business.



Linda Johnson Rice, chairman of Johnson Publishing and daughter of founder John Johnson, will serve as chairman emeritus on the board of the new company.



Cheryl McKissack, who was chief operating officer since 2013, will assume the role of CEO of the new publishing entity. Kyra Kyles, who has headed up digital content for Ebony and Jet since last June, will add the role of editor-in-chief of Ebony as Kierna Mayo is stepping down as editor-in-chief of Ebony to pursue other opportunities.



Meanwhile, Johnson Publishing will retain its Fashion Fair Cosmetics business, which is marketed for African-American women, and its historic Ebony photo archives. In January 2015, Johnson Publishing put its entire photo archive, which spans seven decades of African-American history, up for sale, aiming to raise $40 million.



Desiree Rogers, the former social secretary for President Barack Obama, will remain CEO of Johnson Publishing, focusing on the cosmetics business, which represents nearly half of the company's total revenue.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department Joe Kainz Tel: +852 2584 4216 Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org

HONG KONG, June 15, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today announced its HKTDC Export Index for the second quarter of 2016 (2Q16), which, at 37.2, was little changed from the previous quarter. Despite early signs of stabilisation in the global economy, and in view of lacklustre export figures in the first half of this year, HKTDC Research projects that Hong Kong exports in 2016 will shrink by four per cent compared to last year, down from its previous forecast of zero growth at the end of 2015.Mixed Signals: Exports projected to decline but bright spots identifiedSpeaking at today's press release, HKTDC Director of Research Nicholas Kwan said, "Against the backdrop of a choppy trade environment and sluggish global demand in 2016, Hong Kong's export performance has so far been below expectations and total exports in the first four months fell 5.6 per cent year-on-year. At the beginning of this year, triggered by fears over a disruptive slowdown of the Chinese economy, aggravated by waning growth in the United States and sustained deflationary pressures in the European Union and Japan, both business and consumer confidence fell in most parts of the world alongside plunging crude prices."Yet, it is expected that the global trade environment may stabilise in the medium term. There are signs that the US economy is regaining momentum, the Chinese economy has found a firmer footing, while firmer oil prices are also giving some breathing space for commodity exporting countries. It can therefore be inferred that overall external demand is going to revive gradually and, in the medium term, the global trade environment should improve."The HKTDC Export Index, which measures the sentiment of local exporters, was 37.2 in 2Q16, slightly lower than the previous quarter's recording of 37.3. A reading below 50 indicates sluggish export performance over the short-term. However, the prospects for various industries are mixed, according to Mr Kwan. "The signs of stabilisation in the Export Index reflect that Hong Kong exporters' confidence is stabilising. Still, a pessimistic sentiment on market prospects prevails as far as short-term export performance is concerned," he said.Although the Export Index for 2Q16 was virtually unchanged from 1Q16, the performance of some industries is seen as more encouraging. For the machinery and toys industries, the indices rebounded to above 40 for the first time this year. However, jewellery exporters see strong headwinds with the jewellery index falling to 21.6, its lowest level since the second quarter of 2009. "From a macro perspective, there is a good chance that the external environment as a whole would stabilise gradually and become more conducive to Hong Kong's exports," said Mr Kwan. "The sales outlook should thus improve somewhat over the medium term, although different industries will still have their share of difficulties and challenges."Exporters' confidence in the performance of major markets remained cautious. Among Hong Kong's four major markets, the export index for Japan stood at 47.4, unchanged from 1Q16 and the highest reading among major markets, followed by the US (45.8) and the Chinese mainland (45.8). The index for the EU was 44.3.Gradual recovery seen for major markets while emerging markets continue to show potentialAfter a shaky start to 2016, the global economy has recently seen early signs of stabilisation. In the developed world, the US will continue to lead the pack as the slowdown in recent months appears to be temporary. Consumer spending will remain a key driver, aided by low unemployment, steady payroll gains, an improving housing market, better household balance sheets and stronger consumer confidence.In the EU, economic recovery, while slower than that of the US, will be led by domestic demand on the back of low crude prices, bold quantitative easing measures and a rebound in investment. Nevertheless, HKTDC Principal Economist (Global Research) Daniel Poon cautioned that the EU economy is still facing substantial downside risks. The United Kingdom's referendum on EU membership on 23 June is a cause for concern, as an exit vote will likely hurt the wider EU by disrupting well-established economic and trade relations between the EU and the UK.In Japan, economic growth will remain subdued, with the impact of Abenomics and quantitative easing measures apparently waning. A stronger yen should weigh on Japanese exports, and the gloomy sales outlook is expected to drag on business investment. On a more positive note, consumer sentiment may get a temporary lift by the postponement until October 2019 of the second round of consumption tax increases.Mr Poon also pointed out that developing Asia will remain the world's most dynamic region. "The Chinese mainland is pursuing a more sustainable and steadier growth based on consumption while striving to achieve a moderately prosperous society by 2020 under the 13th Five-Year Plan," he said. "It is expected that supply-side reforms would free up market vitality gradually." He asserted that the mainland's various strategies, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative, should facilitate economic upgrading and increased integration in the world economy.Regarding other emerging markets, India is a bright spot not to be overlooked, with rising domestic demand expected to boost economic momentum while its huge population provides an ample supply of labour. Meanwhile, the economic growth of ASEAN is expected to continue, underpinned by greater regional integration, growing inward foreign direct investment and robust domestic demand. Mr Poon suggested that ASEAN countries, particularly Vietnam due to its inclusion in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), as well as Indonesia and Myanmar are attractive manufacturing locations for Hong Kong and foreign companies, as the production environment on the mainland becomes increasingly challenging.Myanmar: Smooth political transition underscores enormous manufacturing potentialAs production costs on the mainland continue to rise, more manufacturers from the Pearl River Delta region and Hong Kong are relocating their production lines to Southeast Asia. The smooth transition to a new government in Myanmar in April should usher in national policy reforms and lay the groundwork for the development of the country's manufacturing sector. HKTDC Research recently embarked on a field trip to Myanmar to study the production environment and market conditions of the country and to assess its potential as an emerging production base.Subsequent to the lifting of sanctions against Myanmar by the West, the National League for Democracy Party won a landslide victory in the national parliamentary elections in November 2015, thus injecting new momentum into the country's economic and political reforms. The new democratically elected government has promised to further liberalise the market to attract international businesses. Dickson Ho, HKTDC Principal Economist (Asian and Emerging Markets), said, "The market expects that the receding of political risks and the smooth transition of government will attract a new wave of investment from overseas. During our fact-finding trip, both government departments and private companies that we met were invariably quite optimistic about the economic prospects of the country."In actively carrying out economic reforms, the Myanmar government is strategically shifting the country's development focus from agriculture to industry. The country's sizeable population of over 54 million people offers a ready pool of young workers for manufacturing industries including garment, footwear, timepieces and food processing. Furthermore, with the aim of creating a positive business environment for investors, the Myanmar government has adopted export- and FDI-led development strategies and is introducing special economic zones and more industrial areas.Myanmar also enjoys a geographical advantage due to its location between China and India, two of the world's biggest emerging markets, while bordering three other Asian countries, namely Bangladesh, Thailand and Laos. China's Belt and Road Initiative is also expected to fast-track infrastructure development such as transport, energy and telecom networks along various trade routes. Therefore, Myanmar could serve as an important logistics hub for regional trade and investment.Mr Ho added that, despite Myanmar's low labour costs, there is much room for improvement in training management and technical personnel. Also, Hong Kong companies should note that Myanmar's water supply and sewage systems, as well as its power supply are still in an early stage of development. In terms of infrastructure, the country is still at a starting point compared with more advanced ASEAN countries. Nevertheless, with the government's commitment to reform and economic development, Myanmar is expected to become ASEAN's next low-cost manufacturing powerhouse, a hotspot increasingly drawing the attention of international sourcing companies.Conversations with the economists:Podcast: Export Performance http://bit.ly/1UyTwkEPodcast: Market Outlook http://bit.ly/1XWAonVPhoto Captions: http://bit.ly/1UufYQ2Media Registration: Media representatives wishing to cover the event may register on-site with their business cards and/or media identification.To view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tcAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and services providers. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in overseas markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdcTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdcLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-councilSource: HKTDCContact:Copyright 2016 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
RED BANK, NJ -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- The Devon Group, a public relations and marketing services firm, today announced that its founder and CEO, Jeanne Achille, has been named by New Jersey SmartCEO as a 2016 Brava Award winner, which celebrates the achievements of 40 of New Jersey's top women business leaders.

"Having launched a high-tech PR firm at a time when there were very few women in the tech space, I fully understand the challenges of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Devon's success can be attributed to perseverance, the ability to adapt to always-changing market conditions and a great team that rises up to meet challenges and drive the business forward," said Achille. "It's an honor to be recognized as a 2016 Brava Award winner."

Achille founded The Devon Group in 1994, recognizing the opportunity to apply a systematic approach to public relations that results in positive outcomes. Drawing on an extensive background in IT, sales, marketing and product management, as well as her HR, healthcare and retail industry knowledge and connections, she built a fully customer-funded, women's business certified organization that has weathered economic downturns, stayed ahead of market trends by offering innovative programs and services, and earned the respect of clients, colleagues and competitors.

Widely considered by industry analysts, journalists and influencers to be one of the world's leading tech public relations experts, Achille nurtures her employees to be experts as well. Under her leadership, The Devon Group maintains its longstanding ability to help its clients translate their corporate, product and services messages into distinct revenue-generating advantages and present their messages to the right audiences at the right moment. To date, the Agency has made thousands of high-profile trade, business and broadcast media placements for its clients, winning numerous awards for these media placements as well as its social networking campaigns, by-lined articles and special events.

In addition to leading The Devon Group, Achille works with a wide range of organizations to provide leadership guidance for other entrepreneurs. She has served on the board of directors for Lunch Break, a soup kitchen in Red Bank, N.J., and the Eastern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce's Educational Foundation. Achille also believes in offering The Devon Group's services pro bono to causes that can benefit from its work. Most recently, this included supporting the HR Gives Back to a Future Without Parkinson's event during the 18th Annual HR Technology Conference, which raised funds for The Michael J. Fox Foundation to help find a cure for Parkinson's.

"Brava winners possess the hallmark qualities of successful leaders -- vision, passion, compassion, dedication, perseverance. Each winner in this year's class exhibits these qualities in all facets of her life, from running her business to tending to her family and donating time and resources to philanthropic initiatives," says Jaime Nespor-Zawmon, president of SmartCEO. "We are honored to recognize a group of women who are truly making a difference in the world."

The New Jersey Brava Awards ceremony on June 23, 2016 is an expected sell-out event where more than 350 local executives and guests will gather and celebrate their noteworthy achievements. Past Brava winners will also be in attendance to welcome the new class of winners into the Brava community. The event will kick off with a cocktail reception, followed by a video-packed awards ceremony and a final, inspirational toast to the female leaders of New Jersey.

About the Brava Awards

The Brava Awards program celebrates high-impact female business leaders in three categories: CEOs, Executive Directors of Nonprofits, and C-suite executives. Brava award winners combine their irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for giving back to the community, and are exemplary leaders of both their companies and their communities. They encourage local philanthropy, mentor up-and-coming leaders and set their companies on the path to tremendous growth. Each year, an independent committee of local business leaders selects winners based on company growth, community impact and mentoring. SmartCEO shares their inspiring stories in SmartCEO magazine and celebrates their success at a high-energy awards gala.

About SmartCEO

SmartCEO's mission is to educate and inspire the business community through its award-winning magazine, connections at C-level events and access to valuable online resources. SmartCEO's integrated media platforms reach decision makers in the Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Long Island, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, metropolitan areas.

About The Devon Group

The Devon Group delivers expert public relations and marketing results to global companies and organizations. Committed to fully engaged partnerships with clients, The Devon Group has one of the highest client retention rates in the PR industry. Devon has also won numerous awards for branding, feature stories and press releases, and local, national and global print and online media campaigns.

The Devon Group is headquartered outside New York City in Red Bank, N.J. For more information about The Devon Group, please visit www.devonpr.com or follow the Company on Twitter: twitter.com/devongroup.

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TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Eurocontrol Technics Group Inc. (TSX VENTURE: EUO) ("Eurocontrol" or the "Company"), a Canadian public company specializing in the acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative authentication, verification and certification technologies, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, XwinSys Technology Development Ltd. ("XwinSys") will be participating in SEMICON West 2016, the world's marketplace for microelectronics innovation and largest conference and exhibition for the Semiconductor industry. The Conference and Exhibition is being held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on July 12 - 14, 2016. XwinSys will be exhibiting at the South Hall, booth #2245.

Doron Reinis, Chief Operating Officer of Eurocontrol stated, "The global industry looks to SEMICON West for the most up-to-date information on the tools, technologies, and trends driving the design, manufacture, and business of microelectronics. XwinSys is proud and looking forward to present for the first time its innovative in-line non-destructive inspection and metrology analysis solution for the semiconductor industry. XwinSys's unique hybrid configured system enables a wide range of analysis of advanced features with unsurpassed precision; height and critical dimension monitoring, volume measurement, 3D structure analysis, misprocess voids, surface defects, thin film multi-layer analysis and materials composition inspection. SEMICON West is the one event that connects the extended supply chain in one place at one time. We are looking forward to the opportunity to meet and connect with our customers, partners and some of the best minds in the manufacturing and packaging business."

About XwinSys Technology Development Ltd.

XwinSys was founded in 2012 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eurocontrol. The company is located in the hi-tech industrial park at Migdal Haemek in Israel. XwinSys is led by an outstanding team of senior managers, board members and global advisers with significant accumulated experience in high technology industries. XwinSys is dedicated to the design, manufacture and marketing of novel solutions based on leading x-ray technology combined with automated optical 2D Microscope and 3D scanning technologies, for the semiconductor and related industries.

The XwinSys novel XRF technology, named NMT, was designed to offer an innovative cost effective technological solution to the rapid-growing semiconductor industry. It offers a new approach that meets the challenge of roadmap requirements for inspection and metrology of 3D structures in the semiconductor industry. 3D-IC is the fastest growing segment of the semiconductor industry and leads the way to vertical stacking that is evolving as the disruptive force of the industry. For more information on XwinSys, visit www.xwinsys.com.

About Eurocontrol Technics Group Inc.

Eurocontrol is a TSX Venture listed company that specializes in the acquisition, development and commercialization of innovative authentication, verification and certification technologies. Eurocontrol has two wholly owned subsidiaries, Xenemetrix Ltd. and XwinSys Technology Development Ltd.. Xenemetrix is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of ED-XRF systems, a technology that is the most accurate and economic method for determining the chemical composition of many types of materials, including the analysis of petroleum oils and fuel. Xenemetrix has an exclusive long-term supply, maintenance and support agreement with SICPA/GFI to supply SICPA/GFI with Xenemetrix products and services related to the oil and gas marking and monitoring field. XwinSys is in the final stage of developing a fully automated metrology system for the semiconductor industry that combines 2D and 3D image processing technology with Xenemetrix's ED-XRF technology.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

Contacts:

Eurocontrol Technics Group Inc.

Bruce Rowlands

Chairman and CEO

(416) 361-2809

browlands@eurocontrol.ca

www.eurocontrol.ca




Center brings together Accenture's digital expertise, methodologies and technologies to provide clients an immersive environment that promotes rapid innovation and development

Accenture (NYSE:ACN) has launched an Innovation Center in Paris to help organizations explore future innovations, rethink their digital strategies, and create new products and services by developing new business models in an immersive ideation environment. Through collaboration with multidisciplinary Accenture teams, the new center offers clients personalized routes to innovation according to their specific objectives.

"The establishment of our latest Innovation Center in Paris demonstrates Accenture's continued commitment to France and our commitment to contribute to the innovation momentum in the country," said Christian Nibourel, country managing director for Accenture in France and Benelux. "No organization is immune to disruption and the best defense remains innovation. Through the Innovation Center, we bring Accenture's full breadth of innovation capabilities, including our proven ideation methodology, digital technology expertise, and deep industry knowledge, which together will help our clients in their race toward innovation."

The Center provides a proven innovation approach that leads to real results by rapidly testing and implementing ideas in an immersive accelerator environment. For example, clients will use the center to work on tangible proof-of-concepts and prototypes through a start-up mode workshop that will span from two to five days. They can also benefit from Accenture's industry knowledge and experience in developing business cases, project plans and deployment approaches, all of which can be used if they decide to implement the new ideas that will have emerged during the innovation process.

"Innovation has always been critical to remain competitive, but today it needs to be delivered at speed, at scale and yield business results rapidly," said Pascal Delorme, managing director for Accenture Digital in France and Benelux. "While most companies understand this imperative, some don't know where to start and others have launched many innovation initiatives with limited tangible business outcomes. By focusing innovation sessions on each client's specific objectives, accordingly applying our result-driven ideation methodology and leveraging our other capabilities, such as our analytics assets, our Labs and Open Innovation initiative, we provide organizations with a unique innovation accelerator, with end-to-end services."

The Center features select capabilities and resources from other Accenture businesses and locations, which are used to nurture the ideation process and ensure implementation-ready innovations:

Fjord, design and innovation from Accenture Interactive, which delivers design-led digital transformation services.

Accenture Analytics, which provides the Accenture Connected Analytics Experience, a capability that can be used for economic viability testing or analytics-specific innovation sessions.

Accenture Liquid Studio, a new facility in Silicon Valley that helps client adopt rapid application prototyping, development and delivery.

Accenture Labs, a global R&D network of more than 200 researchers across six locations who identify and scale innovative solutions and bring new opportunities to clients.

Accenture Open Innovation, a global program that enables highly curated start-ups to work with clients in an environment that brings together Accenture's digital innovation expertise and assets.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions underpinned by the world's largest delivery network Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 373,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615005199/en/

Contacts:

Accenture

Francois Luu, 33 1 53 23 68 55

francois.luu@accenture.com

or

Accenture

Helene Knopf, 33 1 56 52 74 32

helene.knopf@accenture.com
OTTAWA, ON -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- MediaMiser Ltd., a leading media monitoring and analysis firm, has proudly joined the International Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC).

MediaMiser was initially conceived in 2003 to help improve media analysis through technology for PR professionals and, over time, developed a strong culture of helping clients understand their media relations efforts through analytics and data. With a dedicated Media Research Group specifically focused on media intelligence reporting and analysis, it only made sense for the firm to join other companies from more than 80 countries as an AMEC member.

AMEC acts as the voice for public relations research and measurement, providing a forum and international network for sharing knowledge and best practices on communications research, media intelligence and insights. They instigate new industry research, best practices and standards supporting the consistent progression of the industry.

"We are thrilled to have MediaMiser join our membership," said AMEC CEO Barry Leggetter. "As a Canadian firm making a reputation in our industry, we look forward to the intelligence they can bring to the organization and the media measurement sector in general".

This year's AMEC Summit in London, England, June 15 to 16 will bring companies from 40 countries together to address one of the key business issues organisations face: how to make measurement relevant. The Summit has won an international reputation as not only the biggest measurement conference of its type, but also for helping to spawn new thinking to advance the practice of research, measurement and analytics in communications. It will feature top international speakers to discuss future trends in the industry.

"MediaMiser has grown exponentially over the last 13 years, bringing us from a small start-up to a company that serves over 400 clients around the world. We felt it was time for us to bring our voice to the international community and share our knowledge, expertise and insights in the media measurement space," said President Chris Morrison, who will attend this year's Summit.

About MediaMiser

MediaMiser (https://mediamiser.com) is a leading provider of media monitoring and analysis software and professional services for organizations of all sizes. Through innovative web-based and mobile solutions, MediaMiser reduces the time and effort it takes to gather, analyze and distribute valuable business intelligence extracted from traditional and social media sources. For organizations that prefer to outsource, MediaMiser also provides detailed analysis reports and daily media briefings through an expert client services team.

Media Contact:

Jim Donnelly

Director of Content

MediaMiser

jim.donnelly@mediamiser.com

(613) 232-7797 x117

866.545.3745




BOXBOROUGH, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Lightower Fiber Networks, the premier provider of all-fiber, high-performance networking solutions delivered over its own network, announced a new network expansion in New York City, throughout Staten Island, that will serve hundreds of new locations in the borough. The expansion also creates a new, shorter path around Manhattan from New Jersey to points north and east of New York, perfect for businesses wanting to reduce latency along this route or those needing geographic diversity.

The bypass route offered by the expansion is a more direct route between Brooklyn and New Jersey, avoiding Manhattan entirely. For landing stations on Long Island, services can be routed more directly, and with lower latency, to data centers in central New Jersey and areas beyond. This path also offers valuable latency savings, as well as geographic diversity, for services running along the east coast that do not need a hop in New York City.

Staten Island businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies have access to the new network and all Lightower solutions, including Ethernet, wavelengths, dark fiber, Internet access, video transport, and managed private optical networks. Customers also gain access to the entire Lightower Network with over 30,000 route miles and over 15,000 service locations throughout the Northeast, Midwest, and Mid-Atlantic

"Continued expansion of our New York City network underscores Lightower's ongoing commitment and investment in the New York Metro market," commented Rob Shanahan, CEO of Lightower. "As Lightower continues to expand our overall footprint, we also continue to invest and expand in our existing markets. The Lightower Network is now within reach for over 71% of enterprises in the New York Metro market. The density of our service locations within our markets is one of the top reasons customers choose Lightower for the networking solutions that run their businesses."

Lightower has a remarkably dense network throughout the New York Metro market, including through all five boroughs of New York City, Upstate New York, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Lightower utilizes 16 different river crossings and two special utility conduits in the New York City area to offer customers unique and diverse routing options. Lightower also constructed a unique Hudson River crossing that is geographically diverse from the typical crossing at the Tappan Zee Bridge, which is now being rebuilt.

Lightower's complete suite of all-fiber solutions is available to customers in the expansion areas. Lightower's high-performance network services include:

Ethernet service from 10 Mbps to 100 Gbps

Wavelength service from 1 Gbps to 100 Gbps

Dedicated Internet access to 10 Gbps

Dark fiber

Ultra-low latency solutions

Video transport solutions

Managed private optical networks

Wireless backhaul and small cell solutions





Lightower has expanded rapidly over the past seven years throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Northeast. Over those seven years, Lightower has successfully closed and integrated nine acquisitions to complement its strong organic growth.

Learn more about Lightower Fiber Networks:

About Lightower

Why Choose Lightower?

Map of the Lightower Network





About Lightower Fiber Networks

Lightower Fiber Networks is the premier provider of all-fiber, high-performance networking solutions delivered over our own network, enabling award-winning customer support and service reliability. Lightower delivers customized solutions to thousands of customers in health care, financial services, media and content, cloud infrastructure, carriers, government, education, and other large enterprises. The Lightower Network extends over 30,000 route miles throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest, providing dense connectivity to over 15,000 service locations including 250+ data centers and 5,000+ wireless towers. For more information, visit www.lightower.com or call 1.888.LT.FIBER.

CONTACT:



Jaymie Scotto & Associates

+1.866.695.3629 x13

Email Contact




News / Local

by Staff Reporter

Ten Masvingo Teachers' Savings Credit and Cooperative Society (MTSACCOS) employees whose contracts were unlawfully terminated by their employer have won $90 000 in termination benefits at the Masvingo Labour Tribunal.Masvingo Mirror reported that the 10 were represented by Collen Maboke of Ruvengo, Maboke and Partners.They would soon register their award at the High Court for writ of execution.MTSACCOS is a long-serving banking society for teachers under the Ministry of Small to Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development."The retrenched MTSACCOS employees have since lodged their case with the Labour Tribunal in Masvingo. I therefore cannot comment on the matter since this would prejudice the outcome of the proceedings", said Edwin Maseva.The award which is in the hands of The Mirror says the employer erred by retrenching the employees without compensation for loss of employment as stipulated under Section 12C of the Labour Act Amendement 5 of 2015.Maboke warned that the Society's property could soon go under the hammer if the employer fails to pay the workers.MTSACCOS properties include a seven-roomed house in Chiredzi, a supermarket in the Mapanzure area of Masvingo, two electrical grinding mills  one in Bikita and the other one in Zaka,a motorbike and Kombi for staff programmes.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Highlights:

-- Drill hole SDB-004 expanded mineralization associated with the Sourdough deposit approximately 350m down-plunge from the historic deposit; -- A Borehole Pulse ElectroMagnetic survey ("BPEM") completed on SDB-004 identified a large and highly conductive off-hole geophysical target; -- The modeled size and conductivity of the new BPEM target far exceeds that from the BPEM response associated with the known Sourdough and Pine Bay deposits; and -- Plans are to test this and other high-priority targets in upcoming drilling campaigns.

Callinex Mines Inc. (the "Company" or "Callinex") (TSX VENTURE: CNX)(OTCQX: CLLXF) is pleased to announce results from drill hole SDB-004 which expanded the down-plunge extension of the Sourdough deposit located at the Company's 100% owned Pine Bay Project near Flin Flon, Manitoba (see Figure 1). Drill hole SDB-004 intersected 4.9m grading 1.76% Cu Eq., located approximately 105m below drill hole SDB-001 which was drilled during the 2015 Summer Drilling Campaign and 350m down-plunge from the Sourdough deposit. A BPEM survey completed in drill hole SDB-004 identified a large, highly conductive off-hole anomaly located approximately 200m north along strike and appears to lie within the same horizon as the Sourdough deposit (see Figure 2). This geophysical anomaly is a high-priority target that will be tested during the upcoming 2016 Summer Drilling Campaign.

Max Porterfield, President and CEO, stated, "Mineralization encountered over a significant area between drill holes SDB-001 and SDB-004 indicate that the system is more robust than previously interpreted. The highly conductive geophysical drill target, located within favorable host rocks, represents a compelling exploration opportunity."

The large BPEM anomaly detected in drill hole SDB-004 is modeled to have an approximate strike length of 750m and vertical extent of 400m. A BPEM survey completed on behalf of Callinex by Koop Geotechnical reported that this new anomaly has a Tau of greater than 150 milliseconds as compared with 50-60 milliseconds for the Pine Bay deposit and less than 10 milliseconds for the Sourdough deposit. Tau is a unit of measurement for conductivity and high readings are indicative for massive concentrations of chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and/or graphite. The anomaly also has a coincident magnetic signature, which suggests the conductive source is attributable to sulphides and not graphite. This target will be drill tested during the upcoming 2016 Summer Drilling Campaign.

A second large and highly conductive target, which was initially identified in 2015 but remains untested to date, is modeled to have an approximate strike length of 310m and a vertical extent of 260m. This target, which has a Tau of approx. 40 milliseconds and is about 370 meters along strike to the south of the intersection being reported in drill hole SDB-004, is considered a drill target for the winter season due to its distance from the shoreline and needs to be drilled off ice.

The Sourdough area is located approximately 2km north from HudBay's past-producing Centennial Mine and has not been subjected to significant modern exploration. Prior to Callinex completing four drill holes between mid-2015 and early-2016, there had been no drilling on the Sourdough deposit since 1980. Furthermore, all of the historic drilling had been relatively shallow and pre-dated the commercial use of borehole geophysical surveys. Modern BPEM surveys coupled with a much better understanding of the geological controls for Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide ("VMS") mineralized systems have more fully demonstrated the potential of the area and provided valuable support for the recent exploration success.

Drill Results from the Sourdough Zone

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From To Interval Cu Eq. Cu Au Ag Zn Hole (1) (m) (m) (m) (2) (%) (g/t) (g/t) (%) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SDB004 683.60 688.45 4.85 1.76 1.04 0.60 8.47 0.45 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- including 683.60 684.25 0.65 3.97 2.11 1.09 21.60 2.01 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes:

1. Dip and azimuth for hole SDB-004 is -76 degrees and 300 degrees Az. The 945m deep diamond drill hole is located at the following Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) coordinates using the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) within UTM Zone 14N: 329812m East and 6067470m North. The collar of the hole is 307m above sea level. 2. Copper equivalent grades are based on the following metal prices: zinc US$0.95/lb, copper US$2.55/lb, gold US$1225 per oz, silver US$16.65 per oz, lead US$0.90/lb. Metal recoveries of 100% are applied in the copper equivalent calculation. The copper equivalent calculation is as follows; Cu Eq = Cu grade + ((Zn grade%/100(i)2205 x Zn price) + (Au grade/32.15 x Au price) + (Ag grade/32.15 x Ag price))/Cu price/20). 3. True width is not currently known.

QA/QC

Individual samples were labeled, placed in plastic sample bags, and sealed. Groups of samples were then placed in security sealed bags and shipped directly to SGS Canada Inc in Vancouver, B.C. for analysis. Samples were crushed to 75% passing 2mm and pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns in order produce a 250g split. All copper, zinc and silver assays were determined by Aqua Regia digestion with a combination of ICP-MS and ICP-AES finish, with overlimits (greater than 100 ppm Ag, greater than 10,000 ppm Zn, and greater than 10,000 ppm Cu) completed by fire assay with gravimetric finish (Ag) or Aqua Regia digestion with ICP-AES finish (copper and zinc). All samples were analyzed for gold by Fire Assay of a 30 gram charge by AAS, or if over 10.0 g/t were re-assayed and completed with a gravimetric finish. QA/QC included the insertion and continual monitoring of numerous standards and blanks into the sample stream at a frequency of 1 per 10 samples, and the collection of duplicate samples at random intervals within each batch at a frequency of 1 per 10 samples.

SGS Canada Inc carried out some or all of following methods to obtain the assay results for Callinex: G_LOG02 Pre-preparation processing, G_WGH79 Weighing and reporting, G_PRP89 Weigh, dry, crush, split, pulverize, G_SCRQC QC for crush and pulverize stages, G_CRU22 Crush greater than 3kg, G_DRY11 Dry samples, GE_FAA313 @Au, FAS, AAS, 30g-5ml (Final mode), GE-IC14A Aqua Regia digestion/ICP-AES finish, GE_IMS14B Aqua Regia digestion/ICP-MS package, GE_IMS14 Aqua Regia digestion, GO_FAG303 30g, Fire assay, gravimetric finish (Au)(Final Mode), GO_FAG313 30g, Fire assay, gravimetric finish (Ag)(Final Mode) and G0_ICP13B Ore Grade, Aqua Regia digest/ICP-AES. Ag greater than 10ppm was analyzed by ICP.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by James Pickell, P.Geo, a Consultant to the Company, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

To view Figure 1: Sourdough Overview Map, visit the following link: http://www.callinex.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Emerging-Callinex-Discovery.jpg

To view Figure 2: Longitudinal Section of the Sourdough Deposit and BPEM Anomaly, visit the following link: http://www.callinex.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sourdough-Off-hole.jpg

About The Pine Bay Project

The Pine Bay Project is located 16km east of HudBay's 777 Mine and processing facilities near Flin Flon, MB. The project area spans 6,000 sq. ha. and covers a significant portion of the Baker Patton Felsic Complex, one of the largest and most highly altered packages of felsic volcanic rocks within the Flin Flon Greenstone Belt. Historic exploration activities have outlined four mineral deposits, three of which are located within a mineral lease that has advanced permitting status and includes the right to conduct mining activities. The Pine Bay deposit, the largest of the four historic deposits, has a 212m vertical shaft with significant underground workings from previous exploration activities.

The project has two distinct areas with VMS mineralization, the northern Pine Bay area and the southern Sourdough area. These areas are each related to historic deposits and occur along an approximate 10km NE-SW VMS trend near the top of the Baker Patton Felsic Complex. The Sourdough area is immediately adjacent to HudBay's past-producing Centennial Mine. Callinex has recently intersected new VMS zones in both the Pine Bay and Sourdough areas.

During the 1990s, majors including Placer Dome Inc. and Inmet Mining Corporation conducted limited exploration programs in the Pine Bay area to define a large VMS deposit at depth. A review of historic work has confirmed that several proposed drill holes and targets outlined by Placer Dome there were never completed. The property position was recently consolidated for the first time combining several large claim blocks previously operated by companies including Placer Dome, Inmet, Newmont, HudBay and Cameco.

Previous to Callinex' modern geophysical and geological exploration programs, very limited work was conducted between 1996 and 2014. Callinex has digitally compiled more than 1,000 mostly shallow drill holes and has completed large airborne and ground geophysical surveys to identify and evaluate the most prospective drill targets.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pine Bay Historic Resources(1)(2) (3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cu Eq Cu Zn Au Ag Deposit Tons %(2) % % g/t g/t ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pine Bay 1,113,200 2.76 2.76 N/A N/A N/A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sourdough 291,150 2.98 1.46 1.71 1.03 29.8 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cabin 125,000 2.18 0.84 4.02 N/A N/A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Baker Patton 95,000 3.66 0.80 5.28 0.83 56.0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 1,624,350 2.81 2.26 0.92 0.24 8.9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes: (1) Values have been converted from the imperial to metric system (2) Historical resource estimates include (a) a Cerro-Mining-Guggenheim Joint Venture report titled "Feasibility Study for 550 ton per day mine & mill", prepared by Wright Engineers Limited in 1971, reported a "geological ore reserve" 1,113,200 tons at 2.76% Cu at the Pine Bay deposit, (b) a Keys report in 1963 reported a historical resource estimate of 291,150 tons at 1.46% Cu at the Sourdough deposit, (c) a Pine Bay Mines report in 1976 reported a historical resource estimate of 125,000 tons at 0.84% Cu at the Cabin deposit and (d) a Macmillan report in 1968 reported a historical resource estimate of 95,000 tons at 0.80% Cu at the Baker Patton deposit. The historical "geological ore reserve" and resource estimates cited above is mentioned for historical purposes only and uses terminology not compliant with current reporting standards. The reliability of these historical estimates is unknown but considered relevant by the Company as it represents a significant target for future exploration work by the Company. The assumptions, parameters and methods used to calculate this historical resource estimate are not known to the Company. The qualified person has not made any attempt to re-classify the estimates accordingly to current NI 43-101 standards of disclosure or the CIM definitions. In order for these resources to be current, the Company will be required to conduct additional drilling on the Pine Bay Property. The Company is not treating this estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves as defined in NI 43-101. Although the Historical resource estimate was also designated as "ore" it cannot be compared to mineral reserves as it is not supported by at least a current pre-feasibility study. (3) Copper equivalent grades are based on metal prices of: copper US$3.00/lb, zinc $1.00/lb, gold US$1200 per oz, silver US$20 per oz. Metal recoveries of 100% are applied in the copper equivalent calculation. The copper equivalent calculation is as follows; Cu Eq = Cu grade + ((Zn grade%/100(i)2000 x Zn price) + (Au grade/32.15 x Au price) + (Ag grade/32.15 x Ag price)/Cu price/20).

About Callinex Mines Inc.

Callinex Mines Inc., a Canadian mineral exploration company, is focused on discovering the next copper-zinc rich VMS mine within Manitoba's prolific Flin Flon mining district. The Company's flagship project is the Pine Bay Project which hosts significant historic VMS deposits that are within close proximity to a processing facility. The Flin Flon district has yielded more than 145 million tonnes of production from 32 mines.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to future expenditures. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, among others, the ability to complete contemplated work programs and the timing and amount of expenditures. Callinex does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Contacts:

Callinex Mines Inc.

Max Porterfield

President and Chief Executive Officer

(604) 605-0885

info@callinex.ca

www.callinex.ca




OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. ("Cornerstone" or "the Company") (TSX VENTURE: CGP)(OTCBB: CTNXF)(FRANKFURT: GWN)(BERLIN: GWN) announces that the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the granting of annual stock options totaling 3.2 million to directors, officers, consultants and employees of the Company effective June 14, 2016. These options have been priced at $0.05 and have an expiry date of June 13, 2021. As per the Company's approved Stock Option Plan, these options vest in three equal tranches over an eighteen-month period from the date of issue.

About Cornerstone:

Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. is a well-funded mineral exploration company with a diversified portfolio of projects in Ecuador and Chile, and a proven ability to identify, acquire and advance properties of merit. The company's business model is based on generating exploration projects whose subsequent development is funded primarily through partnerships.

Further information is available on Cornerstone's website www.cornerstoneresources.com and on Twitter.

Cautionary Notice:

This news release may contain 'Forward-Looking Statements' that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of Cornerstone's plans, objectives, strategies, intentions and expectations. The words "potential," "anticipate," "forecast," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "may," "project," "plan," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify 'Forward-Looking Statements.' Although Cornerstone believes that its expectations reflected in these 'Forward-Looking Statements' are reasonable, such statements may involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our regulatory filings, viewed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets, predicting natural geological phenomena and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of an environmental, climatic, natural, political, economic, business, competitive, or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes the facts and information contained in this news release to be as correct and current as possible, Cornerstone does not warrant or make any representation as to the accuracy, validity or completeness of any facts or information contained herein and these statements should not be relied upon as representing its views subsequent to the date of this news release. While Cornerstone anticipates that subsequent events may cause its views to change, it expressly disclaims any obligation to update the Forward-Looking Statements contained herein except where outcomes have varied materially from the original statements.

On Behalf of the Board,

Brooke Macdonald, President and CEO

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

For investor, corporate or media inquiries:

Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc.

Investor Relations

(613) 421-6923

ir@cornerstoneresources.ca

www.cornerstoneresources.com




Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

10 September 2016 - 12 February 2017

Kunsthal Rotterdam presents major retrospective on Peter Lindbergh

Opening September 10th, the first exhibition in the Netherlands devoted to German photographer Peter Lindbergh, which is initiated, produced and toured by Kunsthal Rotterdam will feature more than 220 photographs. This spectacular overview of Lindbergh's extensive oeuvre will also present exclusive material varying from previously unseen material from personal notes, storyboards, props, polaroids, contact sheets and films to monumental prints, in a large-scale retrospective of the photographer's work. Lindbergh's pure black-and-white photographs have determined the course of fashion photography since the early 1980s.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160615/379530 )



The exhibition 'A Different Vision on Fashion Photography' is an ode to Lindbergh's multi-faceted oeuvre from 1978 to the present day. Regarded as one of the most influential fashion photographers, the multimedia exhibition is presented in a thematic approach marking his creative development and focusing on his themes, imaginary world and passions through the years, into nine different sections: Supermodels, Couturiers, Zeitgeist, Dance, The Darkroom, The Unknown, Silver Screen, Icons and an exclusive Rotterdam gallery. The 'Rotterdam Gallery', photographed for the October Issue of Dutch Vogue, shows the results of Lindbergh's shooting with Dutch top model Lara Stone and emerging talent Elise Hupkes in the Port of Rotterdam. Film excerpts and interviews with collaborators, models and actors throw light on Lindbergh's oeuvre on the basis of their collaboration with the photographer.

Peter Lindbergh introduced a new realism into photograph with timeless images redefining the norms of beauty. Lindbergh's visual idiom is influenced by the language of film and by playing with the type of the strong, self-willed woman, from the femme fatale to the heroine, but also the female dancer and the actress. His oeuvre is characterised by portraits that radiate a certain lack of inhibition and physical grace.

Press preview Friday 9 September, 1 pm - Opening Saturday 10 September, 5:30 pm*

The press conference will be held on Friday 9 September in the presence of Kunsthal Director Emily Ansenk, Peter Lindbergh, curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot and the supermodels.

*Accreditation is mandatory as capacity is limited for both events. Please register via: communication@kunsthal.nl

Please visit http://www.kunsthal.nl/en/exhibitions/peter-lindbergh/ for the complete press release and available press images.

http://www.kunsthal.nl

Golden partner: Swarovski
Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Turkey Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Market Forecast Analysis, 2016 2022" report to their offering.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is an important part of the overall building system and is necessary to maintain a balance in the internal environment of the designated area. Turkey, being located at the junction of the Middle East and European region, experiences diverse climatic conditions with extreme summers and winters. Hence, there is an essential requirement of HVAC products in the region.

Turkey has a robust HVAC industry base with strategic tie ups with the educational and research institutions which contributes to the development of energy efficient HVAC technologies. Factors such as a growing urban population and decent growth in economy will further increase the consumption base in the coming years. Apart from this, the recent international treaties on climate change will further create opportunities for green technologies like usage of R-32 refrigerant in the HVAC products.

The market study includes both qualitative and quantitative analysis of the Turkey HVAC market. Under qualitative analysis, drivers, restraints and opportunities, porter's five forces analysis and supply chain analysis develop a comprehensive analysis of the market. For understanding the market competitiveness of the Turkey HVAC market, a Porter's five forces analysis and supply chain analysis provides an in-depth investigation of the industry.

The report includes profiles of Daikin, United Carriers, Zamil AC, Samsung, Midea Group, among others in the market players section and it answers all the major aspects which include market dynamics, Macro and Micro factors which may lead to growth of HVAC market in Turkey.

The answers to the following key questions can be found in the report:

What are major types of HVAC products prevalent in Turkey HVAC market?

Who are the major players in Turkey HVAC market?

What are the company details of the key players in the Turkey HVAC Market?

What are the key market developments and strategies of leading players in Turkey HVAC market?

What are major drivers, challenges and opportunities for Turkey HVAC market?

What is the Turkey market size (value and volume) of window and portable air conditioners?

What is the Turkey market size (value and volume) of mini-split systems?

What is the Turkey market size (value and volume) of single packed systems?

What is the Turkey market size (value and volume) of chillers?

What is the Turkey market size (value and volume) of air handling unit and fan coil unit?

Companies Mentioned:

Daikin Industries Ltd

Gree Electric Appliances

LG Corporation

Midea Group

Panasonic Corporation

Samsung Electronics

United Technologies Corporation (Carrier)

Zamil Air Conditioners

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/l44lmw/turkey_heating

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615005748/en/

Contacts:

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

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Sector: HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM and CHELMSFORD, MA--(Marketwired - June 15, 2016) - Kewill, a leading provider of innovative software for supply chain execution, announces the addition of Patrick Maley as Chief Marketing Officer effective July 18 th .

"Patrick is a well-known talent in the logistics solutions market, a strategic thinker who is skilled at marketing and product strategy," said Kewill CEO Doug Braun. "With Patrick's help, we will be able to accelerate our global go-to-market initiatives and drive more growth."

Maley comes to Kewill with a wealth of supply chain industry experience, having previously served in executive roles at MAM Software and RedPrairie (now JDA). Prior to RedPrairie, Maley served in sales and marketing roles at Kinaxis, Manhattan Associates and Logility.

"Patrick's ability to create global strategies and then articulate them to our prospects, customers and the marketplace is clear," said Jim Hoefflin, COO of Kewill. "Adding Patrick to Kewill's executive team is a major accomplishment. We are thrilled to have him join our team and anticipate immediate and substantial contributions."

Maley will focus on all aspects of global marketing and product strategy for the purpose of organic growth. He will drive enhancement of go-to-market strategies, marketing messaging and execution, sales operations, and global product management.

"I am thrilled to work with Doug and Jim again along with the team they built," Maley said. "This business is all about people. Talented teams make great companies and Kewill has the potential to become the industry's market leader. And with the recent acquisition of LeanLogistics, it is in the best position to do so."

About Kewill

A worldwide leader in logistics software, Kewill empowers organizations to efficiently MOVE goods and information across the global supply chain.

Kewill delivers quantifiable value to our customers by forging long-term partnerships that enable them to minimize risk, grow their business and respond to changing market dynamics. The Kewill MOVE platform helps companies collaborate, reduce costs, manage volatility and automate processes across the entire supply chain -- from transportation and warehousing to compliance and visibility.

Kewill, a Francisco Partners portfolio company, supports supply chain execution activities for 7,500 companies in more than 100 countries. To learn more about the company, visit kewill.com, follow us on Twitter @Kewill_Ltd or check our LinkedIn page for company updates.

www.kewill.com

For additional information, contact:

PAN Communications

+1 617-502-4300

Kewill@pancomm.com


NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

According to market research "Global Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Battery Market Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast to 2022 - Industry Insights by Type (Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH), Lithium-Ion (LIB)), by Application (Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), Plugin Hybrid Electric vehicle (P-HEV), Electric Vehicle (EV)" by P&S Market Research, the global hybrid and electric vehicle battery market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.0% in terms of value during 2016-2022. Among the various applications, the electric vehicle segment accounted for largest share (46.5%) in the hybrid and electric vehicle battery market in terms of value in 2015.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150727/756778 )

Access Report Description with Detailed TOC at:https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/hybrid-and-electric-vehicle-battery-market

Electric vehicle require battery for their operation, while hybrid electric vehicle use conventional fuel along with an electric propulsion system. Hybrid electric vehicle accumulate energy, when the vehicle decelerates. The power stored in batteries of hybrid electric vehicle is used for forceful tasks, such as accelerating from standstill. Once the vehicle is in motion, the combustion engine later runs the vehicle's movement

Majority of European countries import hybrid and electric vehicle battery from China, Japan, and South Korea. Despite slower economic growth in Europe, countries such as Norway, France and Sweden are expected to witness growth in the hybrid and electric vehicle market during the forecast period. The increasing penetration of hybrid and electric vehicle is expected to drive the growth of the hybrid and electric vehicle battery market during the forecast period.

Explore Related Research at:https://www.psmarketresearch.com/industry-report/semiconductor-and-electronics

China accounted for the largest market share of electric vehicle in 2015. With newly built smart cities and modern infrastructure, China is giving significant attention to the emission free public transit system. The government of China offers subsidies on the purchase of emission free vehicles that has assisted the growth of the electric vehicle market in the country. China is expected to lead the global hybrid and electric vehicle battery market during the forecast period. The average cost of lithium-ion battery is expected to decline significantly by the end of 2022.

Battery is a major factor in determining the cost and range of the battery driven hybrid and electric vehicle. Due to the high cost of the batteries, the overall cost of the vehicle is also high, and it acts as a hindrance for hybrid and electric vehicle battery market, but only the initial purchase cost is high, as the vehicle runs on electricity and the price of electricity to run an electric vehicle is a small fraction of the cost of liquid fuel needed to produce an equivalent amount of energy; therefore, the operating cost is cheaper. The range up to which an electric vehicle can run on a single charge is also determined by the battery's capability

The major players operating in the global hybrid and electric vehicle battery market include, Panasonic Corporation, Automotive Energy Supply Corporation, BYD Company Limited, Mitsubishi Corporation, LG Chem., Wanxiang EV Co. Ltd., Tianneng Power International Co. Ltd, Hitachi Vehicle Energy Ltd., Shenzhen Bak Battery Co. Ltd., and Zhejiang Tianneng Energy Technology Co. Ltd.

Browse Other Published Reports by P&S Market Research

Electric Bus Market -https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/electric-bus-market

Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Market -https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/electric-vehicle-charging-station-market

Low Emission Vehicle Market -https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/low-emission-vehicle-market

About P&S Market Research

P&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.

As one of the top growing market research agency, we're keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.

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Web:https://www.psmarketresearch.com
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Arena Minerals Inc., (TSX VENTURE: AN) (the "Company") has entered into a binding letter of intent with Rouge Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE: ROU) ("Rouge") for the disposition of the Pampas el Penon gold project in Chile. Arena's interest consists of two option agreements (the "Option Agreements") with Sociedad Quimica Y Minera de Chile S.A. ("SQM"). In exchange for transferring its interest in the Option Agreements to Rouge, Arena will receive consideration of 8,650,000 common shares of Rouge. Rouge will also assume all of Arena's outstanding commitments under the Option Agreements, which include $750,000 in cash payments and an expenditure commitment on the project of $1,830,000, both due by July 27, 2017.

"We are very pleased to enter into this transaction with Rouge. The disposition of Arena's interest in Pampas el Penon is consistent with Arena's prospector generator model of leveraging partners' capital to advance projects while still generating economic benefit for Arena shareholders. This is the fourth transaction Arena has entered into with outside partners. The focus for Arena is the Atacama copper property, and the transaction with Rouge will enhance that focus while creating value," said William Randall CEO of Arena.

The Pampas El Penon property consists of 13 mining claims totaling 3,400 hectares located approximately 130 kilometres southeast of Antofagasta, Chile. The property consists of two separate blocks, lying immediately to the west and north of Yamana Gold's Pampa Augusta Victoria mine complex that forms part of El Penon mine complex. El Penon mine began production in 1999 and has an established history of exploration success. The mine produced 227,000 ounces of gold and 7.7 million ounces of silver in 2015 with reported cash costs of US$621 and $8.38 an ounce respectively (Yamana Gold 2015 Annual Report).

Over $1,000,000 has been spent on the Pampas el Penon property by Arena and SQM, with most of the work completed consisting of mapping, sampling, trenching and limited near-surface drilling designed to define the location of epithermal gold-silver veins with characteristics similar to those in the neighbouring Pampa Augusta Victoria complex.

The letter of intent with Rouge is legally binding but is subject to completion of certain conditions, including the closing of a private placement financing by Rouge for gross proceeds of not less than $2.5 million, completion of due diligence by Rouge for period of up to 60 days, entering into of a definitive agreement and stock exchange approval.

The technical and scientific aspects of this news release have been reviewed and approved by Mr. Vernon Arseneau, P.Geo, who is a qualified person pursuant to NI 43-101. As the Vice President of Exploration of the Company, Mr. Arseneau is not considered independent.

About Arena Minerals

Arena Minerals is a prospect generator that has two properties under option covering approximately 95,400 hectares within the Antofagasta region of Chile. The properties are at low altitudes, within producing mining camps in infrastructure rich areas. The Company's flagship asset is the Atacama Copper Property, consisting of 92,000 hectares, following a contractual land reduction on July 27, 2015, of essentially undrilled ground in the heart of Chile's premier copper mining district. Currently, approximately 85% of the Atacama Copper Property is under option to third parties. Pursuant to option agreements entered into between Arena and the parties B2Gold Corp, Japan Oil, Gas and Minerals National Corporation and Teck Resources Chile Limitada, each have the right to earn into 60% of the respective land holdings within the property, by collectively spending over $60 million in exploration expenditures, amongst certain other commitments. In addition the Company has the Pampas El Penon project, comprising a total of 3,400 hectares which is less than 1 km from Yamana's Agusta Victoria project which forms part of the El Penon mine complex. The Pampas El Penon and Atacama Copper properties comprise Arena Minerals highly prospective copper and gold properties within an active mining region.

To view the website, please visit www.arenaminerals.com.

In addition to featuring information regarding the Company, its managements and projects, the website also contains the latest corporate news and an email registration allowing subscribers to receive news and updates directly.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Arena Minerals Inc.

William Randall, President, and CEO

Cautionary Note Regarding Accuracy and Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements, projections and estimates relating to the disposition and sale of the Pampas el Penon project; future development of any of the Company's properties" the prospectivity of, and planned work programs on, such properties, the ability to enter into any additional joint venture partnership agreements as proposed, or at all, the ability of any potential partner to accelerate drill programs, increase the development of any of the projects or prospects of the Company, the results of the exploration program, future financial or operating performance of the Company, its subsidiaries and its projects, the development of and the anticipated timing with respect to the Atacama project and the El Penon project. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The statements made herein are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of the Company's interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; other risks of the mining industry and the risks described in the annual information form of the Company. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Arena Minerals does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Arena Minerals Inc.

William Randall

President, and CEO

(416) 309-2697




ROUYN-NORANDA, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Radisson Mining Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE: RDS) ("Radisson") is pleased to announce the hiring of Tony Brisson, P. Geo., B. Sc., as consultant geologist and Independent Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

During his career of over 20 years, M. Brisson has worked with several significant mining companies, including Goldcorp Inc. (Eleonore Mine - Exploration Manager), Cogitore Resources Inc. (Vice-President of Exploration) and Cambior Inc. (Senior Geologist / Chief Geologist). In 2009, he was on the team who won the Prospector of the Year award from the Quebec Mining Exploration Association for the discovery of the Scott Lake deposit, when he was working for Cogitore Resources Inc.

Radisson's President Mario Bouchard adds: "M. Brisson has strong expertise in different geological context, including the one of Bousquet-Cadillac mining camp. His venue will be beneficial for Radisson allowing our corporation to optimise its exploration activities. It will allow Radisson to pursue exploration and development of the O'Brien project where main objective remains to increase resources in order to establish an underground exploration program. Considering latest results obtained in the Pontiac Group sedimentary rocks it is also exciting to begin the geophysics program with Abitibi geophysics Inc. in order to define additional exploration targets within this sector of the O'Brien project".

Phase II of drill program underway and geophysics work

On June 7, 2016, one drill-rig was mobilized at the O'Brien project with purpose of completing 3,400 metres of surface drilling. Drilling program targets the extension and discovery of ore shoots within current mineral resource area (See figure 1).

Drill holes completed are orientated North, thus before reaching their target, all drill holes must cross Pontiac Group sedimentary rocks located south and outside current resource area. Many intersections of interest containing visible gold within Pontiac Group were analyzed during Phase I of the drill program (See figure 2). Following these results the corporation tested Abitibi Geophysics Inc.'s "Orevision IP technology" inside DDH 16-3, which returned 12.73 g/t Au over 1 metre within Pontiac Group sedimentary rocks. "Orevision IP" response was positive; hence, the corporation established a geophysics program within Pontiac Group sedimentary rocks to generate additional drill targets.

Additional exploration drilling target to be defined with historic drill core

Radisson owns more than 50,000 metres of drill core completed by the corporation and its predecessors at the O'Brien project. Many of the drill holes completed intersected sedimentary rocks without being analyzed by the past. With results obtained in 2016, the corporation will revisit and analyze some of these intersections to increase its knowledge of ore shoots within the Pontiac Group.

Qualified Person

Tony Brisson, P. Geo., B. Sc., acts as a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

About Radisson Mining Resources Inc.

Radisson is a Quebec-based mineral exploration company. The O'Brien project, cut by the regional Larder-Lake-Cadillac Fault, is Radisson's flagship asset. The project hosts the former O'Brien Mine, considered to have been the Abitibi Greenstone Belt's highest-grade gold producer during its production (1,197,147 metric tons at 15.25 g/t Au for 587,121 ounces of gold from 1926 to 1957; InnovExplo, April 2015).

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Twitter: @RDSMining

For more information on Radisson, visit our website at www.radissonmining.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain certain forward-looking information. All statements included herein, including the scheduled Closing date, but other than statements of historical fact, is forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Radisson's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Contacts:

Radisson Mining Resources Inc.

Mario Bouchard

President and CEO

819-277-6578

mbouchard@radissonmining.com




News / Local

by Staff Reporter

A Chivhu Primary School teacher has been discharged by the Ministry after he was found guilty of misusing funds mobilised of a trip by pupils.A disciplinary hearing held at the school found Edmore Muzariri guilty of misusing $470 after he failed to account for the money. Chikomba District Education Officer Ngoni Mujuru confirmed the dismissal."I can confirm that the teacher was expelled from the Ministry. He was found guilty of misusing the school trip funds," said Mujuru.Masvingo Mirror reported that Muzariri was the organiser of the school trip to Kariba. It is alleged that his child, a pupil at the school, also went for the trip without paying the $125 which others were paying. Efforts to get a comment from Muzariri were futile.The Mirror established that only four of the teachers who went to Kariba were approved at the provincial education offices in Marondera but seven teachers, including the headmistress of the school, Mildred Muguti, went together for the trip with 29 children on September 16 2015.It is alleged that the other three went under Muguti's authorisation. The three teachers were ordered to reimburse the school $94 each.The government audit of November16 and 17, 2015 unearthed the embezzlement of the school trip funds
MANCHESTER, England, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

EDM, a leading global provider of training simulators to the civil aviation and defence sectors, welcomed a group of engineering students from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) last month.

Accompanied by lecturers from the university's School of Engineering, the students spent an afternoon at EDM's 100,000 square feet manufacturing facility in Newton Heath, east Manchester where they were given a guided tour by some of the company's graduate engineers.

Witnessing first-hand the manufacturing processes of a world-leading UK company, the group saw some of EDM's product range including Door Trainers and Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainers for various airline customers as well as training simulators currently in production for defence sector clients. Most of the UCLan students also enjoyed piloting EDM's G-cueing seat demonstrator which simulates the experience of flying a Hawk jet training aircraft at high speed and low level through the valleys of Wales. This was the second visit this year to EDM by a group of engineering students from UCLan.

"Inspiring the next generation of British engineers is very important to us," said Tony Bermingham, Managing Director of EDM. "The country needs more engineers to help power the manufacturing sector and broader economy and we also hope by building close links with leading universities such as UCLan we can attract the best young talent to help EDM retain its position as a world-leading manufacturer."

Dr Martin Varley, Academic Lead in Electronic and Robotics Engineering at UCLan commented: "EDM has recently approved a placement programme and we hope to have UCLan students working at EDM for summer placements and year-long placements starting this summer. These opportunities for hands-on industrial experience will clearly enhance the students' learning and personal development."

Academic Lead in Mechanical Engineering, Dr Sabuj Mallik, added: "The students truly enjoyed the visit to EDM which was a great opportunity for them to learn, explore and interact in a real industrial environment."

For more information about UCLAN visit: http://www.uclan.ac.uk

For more information about EDM visit: http://www.edm.ltd.uk

About EDM

EDM is a leading global provider of training simulators to the civil aviation, defence, rail and other industries. Combining the highest engineering standards with leading-edge technologies, EDM provides airlines with Door Trainers, Cabin Service Trainers, Cabin Emergency Evacuation Trainers and Full Size Mockups and defence organsiations with Procedure Trainers, Maintenance Trainers, Ejection Seats, Simulators and Full Size Replicas. Serving organisations worldwide from its UK headquarters, EDM is committed to delivering exceptional quality and value to its clients to help them enhance safety and operational efficiency.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- The Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) today announced that it declined to approve charges against a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in relation to his role in an arrest in Whitehorse, Yukon, on April 5, 2015.

The incident was investigated by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which subsequently submitted a Report to Crown Counsel to the PPSC. When investigating a complaint against a police officer in the Yukon, ASIRT does not recommend whether charges should be laid.

Counsel from the PPSC's British Columbia Regional Office was assigned conduct of the charge assessment to avoid any actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest.

The decision not to approve charges was made applying the standard in the PPSC's policy on Decision to Prosecute, Chapter 2.3 of the PPSC Deskbook, a public document. Under this policy, when deciding whether to initiate a prosecution, the PPSC must first determine if there is a reasonable prospect of conviction. If there is, the PPSC must then determine if a prosecution would best serve the public interest.

After a thorough review of the investigation, including witness statements and video, the PPSC determined that there was not a reasonable prospect of conviction based on the available evidence. The PPSC would not be able to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer used excessive force or otherwise committed a criminal offence.

In arriving at this decision, the PPSC took into account sections 25 and 26 of the Criminal Code, which provide a defence to peace officers for the use of force in the course of their duties so long as it is necessary, proportionate and reasonable. These provisions were considered in the light of the circumstances of the arrest, the officer's training, and the opinion of an independent expert from the Calgary Police Service on police use of force techniques.

The PPSC is responsible for prosecuting offences under federal jurisdiction in a manner that is free of any improper influence and that respects the public interest. The PPSC is also responsible for providing prosecution-related advice to law enforcement agencies across Canada.

(Version francaise disponible)

Contacts:

Elizabeth Armitage

PPSC Communications

613-946-3821

www.ppsc-sppc.gc.ca



Media Relations

613-954-7803

media@ppsc.gc.ca




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Aldrin Resource Corp ("Aldrin" or the "Company"); (TSX VENTURE: ALN)(FRANKFURT: OAA)(OTC PINK: AOUFF) is pleased to announce commencement of the 2016 field exploration program on the Triple M Property ("Triple M") in the Patterson Lake area of the Athabasca Basin. Aldrin is beginning the 2016 Triple M exploration program with a deep penetrating electromagnetic (EM) and magnetic airborne geophysical survey, covering the projected extension of the highly mineralized structural trend that hosts Fission Uranium Corp's high-grade Patterson Lake (Triple R) uranium deposit, 15 km to the northeast. The same structural trend also host's Nexgen Energy Ltd's another 5 kms further northeast.

Aldrin contracted Geotech to fly the geophysical survey using their helicopter-borne, deep-penetrating ZTEM system, which is already in the area conducting similar surveys for nearby uranium exploration groups. The primary goal of the survey is to identify potential deep-seated basement conductors that may be associated with uranium mineralization where the high-grade structure hosting both Fission Uranium and Nexgen's Patterson Lake projects intersects the western claims block of Aldrin's Triple M Property.

Aldrin's primary focus remains completion of a follow-up drill program on the Anticline Target in the southeast claims block of the Triple M Property, located adjacent to Fission Uranium's Patterson Lake (PLS) Property and its contained Triple R uranium deposit. Aldrin's first drill hole into the high-priority Anticline Target demonstrated uranium mineralized at multiple levels. Drill hole ALN14-008 intersected uranium mineralization over significant intervals including (see details in a news release dated June 27, 2014):

1. 53.4 ppm U over 10.0 m between 178.0 and 188.0 m, including a higher value zone of 148.7 ppm U over 1.5 m between 182.5 and 184.0 m; 2. 273 ppm U over 0.5 m between 235.0 and 235.5 m; 3. 97.4 ppm U over 3.5 m between 243.0 and 246.5 m, including a higher value zone of 144.8 ppm U over 2.0 m between 243.5 and 245.5 m

Aldrin believes the initial drill results on the Anticline Target are consistent with being in the halo of a potential high-grade uranium discovery. To date, only the margin of the Anticline Target basement conductor has been drill tested. Aldrin remains focused on a summer/fall drill program to test the heart of the 2.5 km long conductor target.

Key Lake Property Package JV Option terminated

Aldrin has chosen to terminate the JV option agreement with Fission 3.0 Corp. on the Key Lake Property Package in the southeastern Athabasca Basin Region, in order to focus on our Triple M Property. Aldrin considers the Triple M Property our highest priority, due to its advanced and mineralized Anticline drill target, as well as its proximity to the new high-grade deposits at Patterson Lake. Aldrin thus has elected to focus its resources on the 2016 Triple M drill program to follow-up our initial success at the Anticline Target.

Harrison Cookenboo, Ph.D., P.Geo., is a Qualified Person (QP) by the standards of National Instrument 43-101. He has reviewed the technical data described above and approves the contents of this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Rob Dardi, Chairman and Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Aldrin Resource Corp.

646-661-0409




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Ten Peaks Coffee Company Inc. ("Ten Peaks") (TSX: TPK) today declared a cash dividend of $0.0625 per share for the quarter ended June 30, 2016. The dividend will be an 'eligible dividend' for Canadian income tax purposes, and will be paid on July 15, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2016.

Company Profile

Ten Peaks is a publicly traded company that owns all of the interests of the Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company Inc. (SWDCC), a premium green coffee decaffeinator located in Burnaby, BC. It also owns and operates Seaforth Supply Chain Solutions Inc. (Seaforth), a green coffee handling and storage business located in Metro Vancouver.

About SWDCC

SWDCC employs the proprietary SWISS WATER Process to decaffeinate green coffee without the use of chemicals, leveraging science-based systems and controls to produce coffee that is 99.9% caffeine free. The SWISS WATER Process is a 100% chemical free water process for coffee decaffeination, as well as the world's only consumer-branded decaffeination process. It is certified organic by the Organic Crop Improvement Association.

SWISS WATER Process decaffeinated green coffees are sold to many of North America's leading specialty roaster retailers, specialty coffee importers and commercial coffee roasters. SWDCC also sells coffees internationally through regional distributors.

About Seaforth

Seaforth provides a complete range of green coffee handling and storage services, including devanning coffee received from origin; inspecting, weighing and sampling coffees; and storing, handling and preparing green coffee for outbound shipments. Seaforth's warehouse and handling operation is certified organic by Ecocert Canada.

Contacts:

Ten Peaks Coffee Company Inc.

Sherry Tryssenaar

Chief Financial Officer

604.444.8780

stryssenaar@tenpeakscoffee.ca

www.tenpeakscoffee.ca




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Goldrea Resources Corp. ("Goldrea" or the "Company") (CSE: GOR)(FRANKFURT: GOJ)(OTC PINK: GORAF) announces that it has signed a definitive agreement with Ram Exploration for the acquisition of the Cannonball property (the "Acquisition"), located approximately 15 kilometres northeast of the former Snip mine in the Iskut River district of northwestern British Columbia, in an area often referred to as "the Golden Triangle". (see release dated May 27, 2016)

According to the British Columbia Ministry of Mines, previous exploration work in the late 1980's identified gold-bearing quartz veins and stockwork zones within the claim area now covered by the Cannonball property. A ground work exploration program will commence in the near term to validate previous results.

"We are looking forward to an active summer in the Iskut River district, with several companies commencing exploration and drill programs," states Jim Elbert, President/CEO. "With the recent change in the junior mining market, the company is reviewing several other opportunities with the goal of adding value to its portfolio."

Goldrea is raising up to $360,000 via a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of up to 6 million units at $0.06 each. Each unit will be comprised of one common share and half of a one-year common share warrant with an exercise price of $0.12. There is no minimum amount for the Private Placement. Proceeds from the Private Placement will be expended on a work program on the Cannonball property and for general administrative expenses. All securities issued pursuant to the private placement will have a four-month hold period. There is no material fact or material change about the Company that has not been generally disclosed.

The Private Placement and the Acquisition is subject to acceptance by the Canadian Securities Exchange.

GOLDREA RESOURCES CORP.

James Elbert, President and CEO

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain "forward-looking statements", which are statements about the future based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate or true. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.

Contacts:

Goldrea Resources Corp.

James Elbert

President and CEO

(604) 559-7230

info@goldrea.com

www.goldrea.com




LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Hemp, Inc. (OTC PINK: HEMP) executives update shareholders and potential shareholders on hemp "industry material news" as it continues to evolve and surface on the media circuit from state to state.

Last week, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Kentucky Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul introduced a bipartisan resolution "recognizing the important role industrial hemp could play in boosting the nation's agricultural industry and economy." Passed by a unanimous vote, the resolution officially backed the 7th Annual "Grow Our Future" Hemp History Week June 6 - 12, 2016.

Sen. Wyden commented, "Another year has gone by and industrial hemp somehow remains on the controlled substances list. The United States is the world's largest consumer of hemp, but current restrictions on growing industrial hemp in the U.S. force American businesses to import about $76 million worth of hemp to make retail products like clothing, food, soaps, paper products, and construction materials that are made in America."

Bruce Perlowin, CEO of Hemp, Inc. (OTC PINK: HEMP), said, "Industrial hemp is breaking down barriers with legislation in support of the industrial hemp industry, due to the enormous benefit it brings to the economy. There is a continual increase in demand for this environmentally friendly natural fiber. The bipartisan resolution passed with a unanimous vote which tells us that Industrial hemp is being recognized more and more throughout the state level, which in turn will make a huge impact on the Federal level."

According to the article, the Senators stated that while "Oregon and Kentucky are among the 28 states that have already defined industrial hemp as distinct from marijuana and removed barriers to production, under current federal law, farmers in states that allow industrial hemp research and pilot programs must still seek a waiver from the Drug Enforcement Administration."

Due to federal restrictions, the largely untapped billion-dollar hemp industry has been distorted because of vague distinctions from its cousin plant, marijuana. Hemp History Week, however, for years now, has remained steadfast in banding grassroots organizers, farmers, producers, individual and business advocates from all walks of life to change Federal policy on hemp in the U.S. This year, the week-long awareness campaign focused on the role hemp plays as a sustainable crop in regenerative agriculture, green technology, public health and environmentally friendly products. (To be a sponsor of Hemp History Week's hemp awareness campaign, click here).

Many are wondering how industrial hemp continues to remain on the Federal government's controlled substance list. With the many uses for hemp, this economical, sustainable plant can yield a very viable crop. Hemp, Inc. (OTC PINK: HEMP) plans on growing 50,000 acres of hemp in North Carolina in order to fulfill customer needs. Business opportunities continue to unfold for Hemp, Inc. as more awareness is brought to industrial hemp by stout organizations such as the National Hemp Association (NHA) that is dedicated to the re-birth of industrial hemp in America. The NHA helps to connect farmers, processors, manufacturers, researchers, investors and policy makers to accelerate the growth of the industrial hemp industry in America. To become a member of the NHA, click here.

Patagonia, which grew out of a small company that made tools for climbers, made a strong case for legalizing Industrial Hemp Cultivation with 'Harvesting Liberty' Documentary. "Industrial hemp is a crop that has the potential to lower the environmental impacts of textile production, empower small-scale farmers and create jobs in a wide variety of industries. Two non-profit groups, Fibershed and Growing Warriors, are working to reintroduce industrial hemp into Kentucky -- and eventually U.S. agriculture." Watch the short film, Harvesting Liberty, by Patagonia.

On July 4, 2016, a petition will be delivered urging Congress to pass the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015/2016 (S.134 and H.R. 525) legalizing the cultivation of industrial hemp in the United States. If you, or anyone you know, want to take action, connect with the National Hemp Association.

While the official week of Hemp History Week may have ended, awareness continues and momentum still builds to de-classify hemp as a Schedule 1 drug. In fact, according to Agweek.com, the first Science of Industrial Hemp conference will be held July 28-29, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The event is sponsored by the Crop Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy. Scientists and other agriculture officials from throughout the United States and Canada are participating. For more information on this event, visit the Crop Science Society of America.

While hemp gains momentum, Hemp, Inc. is processing Kenaf, the cousin plant to hemp in the hibiscus family. The company has already sold 7,000 pounds of raw Kenaf to a Tennessee company involved in the biofuel industry, as mentioned in a previous press release. According to David Schmitt, COO of Hemp, Inc.'s wholly owned subsidiary, Industrial Hemp Manufacturing, LLC (IHM), the company purchased the raw Kenaf for testing and evaluation. "We are extremely optimistic that this sale will lead to even more sales of our raw Kenaf," said Schmitt. "We are also currently working with several Fortune 500 companies on various projects involving either Kenaf or industrial hemp."

According to CEO, Perlowin, "These sales don't happen overnight because they are multi-year sales. But because of this 7,000-pound sale of raw Kenaf, product sales for Hemp, Inc. have been kicked into high gear." Company executives say they are currently negotiating a five-million-pound potential sale of raw Kenaf. "We received a serious inquiry and price request for five million pounds of the raw Kenaf we have on hand. If we finalize this sale, we could be looking at $1,250,000."

Kenaf fiber, while great for the textiles industry, can also be used to make end products such as paper, grass mats, fiberglass substitutes, fiber composites for the automotive industry, animal bedding, chicken litter, animal forage, particle board, potting soil, and more.

Moreover, in Nevada, the Nevada Hemp Association (a diverse group of Nevada citizens from the public and private sector dedicated to the research, education and full economic development of Industrial Hemp in Nevada) is excited to announce the start of their industrial hemp pilot projects: "Desert Climate/Heat Tolerance" and "Seed Acclimation." To join in the effort to maximize the vast potential of Industrial Hemp, visit the Nevada Hemp Association.

Michael Whalen, President of Nevada Hemp Association, said, "With the generous support of Hemp, Inc. and assistance from the University of Nevada (Reno) Cooperative Extension's Las Vegas Campus, we will be moving forward with our research on several certified imported cultivars of Industrial Hemp. We will find out which cultivars perform best in extreme desert conditions here in Southern Nevada. Our Industrial Hemp Research Center, located in Pahrump between Las Vegas and Death Valley National Park, is one of the hottest places on Earth during the summer. We should have seed in the ground by the 4th of July and then we'll see what happens."

Whalen also commented, "We will be working hard to develop a Certified Nevada Hemp Seed program to benefit the Industrial Hemp Program in the state of Nevada. We are grateful to Bruce Perlowin and his genuine commitment to the Industrial Hemp industry." If interested in getting involved with the Nevada Hemp Industry, contact Michael Whalen.

"We have also been in negotiations with several CBD manufacturers who want to rent 1,000 to 3,000 square feet in our 70,000 square-foot facility to process CBDs. They want to be where the largest supply of hemp will be grown in America. We suspect we'll be growing a lot more in North Carolina than we originally anticipated, so we're considering expanding this model of creating space in our facility or building additional buildings on or near our existing campus as we quickly become America's first Hemp Hub. With rapid technological advances in CBD extraction, CBD manufacturers will want to have a place to showcase their manufacturing equipment for sale, and create a somewhat turnkey solution for the production of their CBD oils and other products. Our North Carolina Hemp Hub is the perfect place for this," concluded Perlowin.

SUBSCRIBE TO HEMP, INC.'S VIDEO UPDATES

"Hemp, Inc. Presents" is capturing the historic, monumental re-creation of the hemp decorticator today as America begins to evolve into a cleaner, green, eco-friendly sustainable environment. What many see as the next American Industrial Revolution is actually the Industrial Hemp Revolution. Join "Hemp, Inc. Presents" and join the hemp revolution.

Watch as Hemp, Inc., the #1 leader in the industrial hemp industry, engages its shareholders and the public through each step in bringing back the hemp decorticator as described in the "Freedom Leaf Magazine" article "The Return of the Hemp Decorticator" by Steve Bloom. Freedom Leaf Magazine, a leading cannabis industry magazine is published by the public company, Freedom Leaf Magazine, Inc. "Hemp, Inc. Presents" is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by visiting www.hempinc.com. To subscribe to the "Hemp, Inc. Presents" YouTube channel, be sure to click the subscribe button.

Subscribers will automatically get an email from YouTube every time a new Hemp, Inc. video update is posted along with suggestions of other similar videos. Stay up-to-date with the progress of Hemp, Inc.'s multipurpose industrial hemp processing plant while being educated on the industrial hemp industry. Our video update views are collectively reaching over a thousand views per week. Stay informed by subscribing to Hemp, Inc.'s video updates. Hemp, Inc. is positioning itself to be the avant-garde of the industrial hemp industry and processing industrial hemp.

HEMP NATION MAGAZINE

HempNationMagazine.com (HNM) is published by Hemp, Inc. and focuses on informing, educating, raising awareness and connecting the public to the powerful world of HEMP. HNM reports on Politics, Industrial Growth, Banking, Distribution, Medical, Lifestyles and Legalization. HNM is your source for all things HEMP and news about this emerging multi-billion-dollar industry. For more information on HNM, visit www.HempNationMagazine.com.

ABOUT INDUSTRIAL HEMP

Hemp is a durable natural fiber that is grown as a renewable source for raw materials that can be incorporated into thousands of products. It's one of the oldest domesticated crops known to man. Hemp is used as a nutritional food product for humans and pets, building materials, paper, textiles, cordage, organic body care and other nutraceuticals, just to name a few. It has thousands of other known uses. A hemp crop requires half the water alfalfa uses and can be grown without the heavy use of pesticides.

Farmers worldwide grow hemp commercially for fiber, seed, and oil for use in a variety of industrial and consumer products. The United States is the only developed nation that fails to cultivate industrial hemp as an economic crop on a large scale, according to the Congressional Resource Service. However, with rapidly changing laws and more states gravitating towards industrial hemp and passing an industrial hemp bill, that could change. Currently, the majority of hemp sold in the United States is imported from China and Canada, the world's largest exporters of the industrial hemp crop.

HEMP, INC.'S TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE

Hemp, Inc. (OTC PINK: HEMP) seeks to benefit many constituencies from a "Cultural Creative" perspective, thereby not exploiting or endangering any group. CEO of Hemp, Inc., Bruce Perlowin, is positioning the company as a leader in the industrial hemp industry, with a social and environmental mission at its core. Thus, the publicly traded company believes in "up streaming" a portion of its profits back to its originator, in which some cases will one day be the American small farmer -- cultivating natural, sustainable products as an interwoven piece of nature. By Hemp, Inc. focusing on comprehensive investment results -- that is, with respect to performance along the interrelated dimensions of people, planet, and profits -- the triple bottom line approach can be an important tool to support its sustainability goal.

SOCIAL NETWORKS:

http://www.twitter.com/hempinc (Twitter)

http://www.facebook.com/hempinc (Facebook)

SAFE HARBOR ACT

Forward-Looking Statements are included within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, including words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements and involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. We are under no obligation to (and expressly disclaim any such obligation to) update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Hemp, Inc.

(855) HEMP-OUT

info@hempinc.com

http://www.hempinc.com



For Investor Relations, please send correspondence to:

ir@hempinc.com




WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Donald Trump celebrated his 70th birthday with a speech at an election rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, hitting back at attacks lodged by his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama. At a noontime lecture Tuesday, Obama blasted Trump for his anti-Muslim rhetoric. Trump dismissed it by saying he sounded more angry at me than he was at the (Orlando) shooter. 'Happy birthday? Ah, don't tell me about my birthday!' he grinned as an estimated 9,000-strong crowd began singing. 'I would have been very happy had Obama been a great president. He's been one hell of a lousy president. He's done a terrible job. What's happening to our country is devastating and embarrassing and our lives will never be the same', Trump told his cheering supporters. Obama and Clinton are too weak to handle terror threats against the U.S, according to the businessman-turned politician. Trump said Clinton is a weak ally of women and gays because she advocates immigration policy that would result in importing more radical Muslims who oppress both groups. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
PUNE, India, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new market research report "Vaccine Adjuvants Market by Product Type (Particulate, Emulsions, Pathogen, Saponin), Route of Administration (Subcutaneous, Intramuscular), Disease Type (Infectious, Cancer), Application (Research, Commercial) & Application Category - Forecasts to 2021", published by MarketsandMarkets, The global market is expected to reach USD 769.4 Million by 2021 from USD 467.0 Million in 2016 at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2016 to 2021.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )



Browse 90 market data Tables with 42 Figures spread through 156 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Vaccine Adjuvants Market"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/vaccine-adjuvants-market-152603894.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

The major factors driving the growth of this market are high prevalence of infectious and zoonotic diseases, increasing focus on immunization programs by various government bodies, and growing focus on improved and long-lasting immunization against existing and emerging diseases.

The report segments this market into product type, route of administration, disease type, applications, and application categories. On the basis of product type, the Vaccine Adjuvants Market is segmented into pathogen components, adjuvant emulsions, particulate adjuvants, combination adjuvants, and others. Particulate adjuvants are expected to account for the largest share of the market. Adjuvant emulsions, on the other hand, are projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2016 to 2021 due to factors such as the proven efficacy and relatively fewer safety issues involved in the use of adjuvant emulsions.

Talk To Our Research Experts:

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=152603894

On the basis of route of administration, the Vaccine Adjuvants Market is segmented into oral, subcutaneous, intranasal, intramuscular, intradermal, and others. The intramuscular segment is expected to account for the largest share of the global Vaccine Adjuvants Market in 2016. The rapidly growing geriatric population and increasing need for development of better vaccines for improved immunization are the key factors propelling the growth of this market.

On the basis of disease type, the Vaccine Adjuvants Market includes infectious diseases, cancer, and other diseases. The infectious diseases segment is expected to account for the largest share of the global Vaccine Adjuvants Market in 2016. High incidences of diseases and research investments in life sciences are the major factors driving the growth of this market.

Based on applications, the global Vaccine Adjuvants Market is segmented into research and commercial applications. Research applications are expected to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. Growth in this segment is driven by factors such as increasing need for better immunization for the increasing geriatric population and increasing government funding in research to meet the unmet needs for safe and effective vaccine adjuvants.

On the basis of application categories, the Vaccine Adjuvants Market is segmented into human and veterinary adjuvants. Adjuvants for humans are expected to account for the largest share of the global Vaccine Adjuvants Market in 2016 and are expected to grow at a higher CAGR in the application category segment.

The key players in the Vaccine Adjuvants Market include Brenntag Biosector (Denmark), CSL Limited (Australia), SEPPIC (France), Agenus, Inc. (U.S.), Novavax, Inc. (U.S.), SPI Pharma, Inc. (U.S.), Invivogen (U.S.), Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc. (U.S.), MPV Technologies (U.S.), and OZ Biosciences (France).

Browse Related Reports:

Vaccines Market by Technology (Live Attenuated, Toxoid, Conjugate, Subunit, Synthetic, Dendritic Cell, Inactivated), Type (Preventive, Therapeutic), End User (Pediatrics, Adults), Disease Indication (Infectious Disease, Cancer, Allergy) - Forecasts to 2019.

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/vaccine-technologies-market-1155.html

Veterinary / Animal Vaccines Market by Product (Livestock, Companion, Poultry, Equine, Porcine), Diseases (Rabies, Distemper, Foot & Mouth, Gumboro, Swine& Avian Influenza, Strangles) & Technology (Live attenuated, DNA, Inactivated) - Global Forecast to 2020.

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/animal-veterinary-vaccines-market-1233.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.

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NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Telehouse, a global leader for data centers, international Internet exchanges, and managed IT services, and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce today announce they will co-host the Beyond the Ferry Business-to-Business Expo. A collaborative effort to promote the economic growth and vitality of the technology sector in Staten Island, this event will take place on Thursday, June 23, 2016 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Telehouse New York Teleport data center located at 7 Teleport Drive, Staten Island.

The Beyond the Ferry Business-to-Business Expo will converge representatives from local, national and international businesses to expand awareness of the thriving economic landscape of Staten Island. Guest speakers and individual breakout sessions will provide attendees with the opportunity to learn more about innovative technologies, the evolving cloud landscape and data security trends as they relate to the commercial growth and vitality of Staten Island's telecommunications and technology sectors. In addition, this event generates an opportunity for IT, telecommunications, media and financial services professionals to network and share insights with one another as they enjoy provided refreshments.

"I applaud the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce for putting this event together," states Borough President James Oddo. "It will provide us with an opportunity to demonstrate to the world how attractive Staten Island is to the tech sector. The fact is we have a number of technology firms already based here, we have a broadband infrastructure that is among the best in the nation, and we have a large inventory of affordable industrial space available for tech startups. Our tech ecosystem continues to grow and mature, and every opportunity we have to show it off is time well spent."

Sponsors of Beyond the Ferry Business-to-Business Expo include multinational business technology services provider Fujitsu; leading global Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions provider Huawei; global specialist in energy management and automation Schneider Electric; innovative provider of heating and air-conditioning solutions Trane; Staten Island-based IT, cloud and infrastructure provider Digital Edge; and leading local media group The Staten Island Advance. A variety of keynote speakers from these and other organizations will address the importance of technology in today's business world. Dr. William Fritz, President of the College of Staten Island (CSI), will give a presentation concerning the CSI Technology Incubator, which seeks to build on the growing technology and business community on Staten Island.

"Many high-profile technology projects are currently underway on our shores and interest in Staten Island's business landscape is at an all-time high," comments Linda Baran, President and CEO of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. "Beyond the Ferry will capitalize on this momentum by strengthening the synergy between local businesses and off-Island organizations as industry professionals come together for a vibrant networking and learning experience."

"From start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, data management is at the core of every business," remarks Aki Yamaguchi, Telehouse COO. "Telehouse predicted this shift over 25 years ago and has built a global footprint of 48 international data centers to support enterprises everywhere they do business. We are excited to co-host the Beyond the Ferry Business-to-Business Expo at our Telehouse New York Teleport data center and expand awareness of the flourishing economic climate of Staten Island," Yamaguchi added.

To register for the Beyond the Ferry Business-to-Business Expo, click here. Admission to the event is free and open to business owners and leaders in Staten Island. A complimentary lunch will be served, and shuttle service will be available to and from the Staten Island St. George Ferry Terminal. Preregistration and photo ID is required for admission. For more information about sponsoring or exhibiting at Beyond the Ferry, contact Meagan Devereaux of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce at 718-727-1900, or visit www.sichamber.com.

About Telehouse

A stable and trusted pioneer of carrier-neutral data center services, Telehouse provides secure, power-protected environments, where clients house and operate their telecommunications and network resources. Among the many benefits of co-locating with Telehouse is the ability to connect to state-of-the-art peering exchanges in New York (NYIIX) and Los Angeles (LAIIX). Additionally, the global availability of 48 Telehouse-branded data centers -- in 23 cities throughout Asia, Africa, North America and EMEA -- delivers continuous, cost-effective operation of network-dependent, IT infrastructure to businesses around the world. Please visit www.telehouse.com, or email at sales@telehouse.com to learn more about the Channel Partner program. Connect with TELEHOUSE on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce

The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce was established in 1895 by a small group of Staten Island merchants and professionals "to promote the general business interests of Staten Island." Since then, it has grown into the largest business organization on Staten Island representing nearly 700 separate businesses and 20,000 employees. Every major industry sector is represented in the Chamber's membership, with businesses ranging in size from "mom and pop" stores to large public corporations.
News / Local

by Staff Reporter

Another local textile company has retrenched workers after the Zimbabwean government banned importation of textile products into their country in order to resuscitate their own depressed textile industry.Mmegi reported that the company, Puma Trading (Pty) Ltd trading as Bolex Weaving Mills, confirmed the job cut in a telephone interview with Mmegi yesterday.Following unfavourable market conditions that were mainly caused by the Zimbabwe authorities' decision to ban textile imports in order to safeguard their local garments industries, the company moved to retrench.Bolex finance manager, Mohan Pratapa told Mmegi that they have reduced their workforce of about 40 workers to around 20.The main reason for reducing staff and production, Pratapa explained, is due to "poor sales because of the new law implemented in Zimbabwe that bans the imports of blankets for 24 months effective from September 1, 2015".Pratapa said their woes are also compounded by the fact that their customs agreement with the government does not allow them to sell their blankets in the local market hence their current predicament.He said: "We import raw materials from overseas then process them into blankets, which we then sell to SADC countries such as Zimbabwe and Zambia, but we import 99% of our blankets to Zimbabwe".The depressed manager said that all their workers are Batswana save for a few scarce skills cadre that is not readily available in the country.He said that they retrenched their workers in phases stating that the last batch of workers they let go left the company last December.A former employee of Bolex showed Mmegi his notice of non-renewal of contract dated November 18, 2015. He said that he was happy for what the company did for him, however, was left with no choice but to job hunt."If you experience things like this there is no use to keepon pointing fingers, but to look for another job. I was retrenched from work because of factors that are beyond the control of my former employers," said the former worker, who requested anonymity.According to a Zimbabwe newspaper, The Herald, the Zimbabwe textile and leather industry has taken a serious battering following the adoption of the American dollar as one of the currencies that are used there.The influx of textile products from other countries forced a lot of similar companies to collapse which then prompted Zimbabwe's Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinamasa, to enforce wide economic measures that would reduce competition between imports and locally produced products.The move to implement the measures followed great pressure from the Zimbabwe Clothing Manufacturers Association (ZCMA), which lobbied the government to impose a ban on textile imports. ZCMA said they were heavily compromised by cheap goods from Asia, especially China and secondhand clothing from neighbouring Mozambique, according to The Herald.The paper added that Chinamasa was not wrong to impose the new measures since the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement has a safeguard clause that protects small industries from heavy competition from imports.Bolex's move to cut its workforce follows 90 retrenchments that took place at Nortex Textiles due to economic pressures fuelled by the weaker rand in March.In April, another textile manufacturer based in Tonota near Francistown, B&M Garments (Pty) Ltd, cut 300 jobs at the beginning of the year saying that it was struggling to get out of the woods and may be forced to totally shut down operations or further reduce its workforce if the economic situation does not improve.
Highlights:

Advanced network boosts bandwidth 300%

Increases internet speed onboard six ships

Utilizes Harris CapRock's uncontended TDMA network architecture to ensure consistent performance

Genting Corporate Services (HK) Limited has selected Harris CapRock Communications (HCC) to transform communication services onboard the Star Cruises' fleet of six ships. Star Cruises is one of the largest cruise lines in the world and is the leading cruise line in the Asia Pacific region.

Harris CapRock will use its advanced technologies and equipment to boost bandwidth nearly 300% onboard Star Cruises' Superstar Virgo, Superstar Gemini, Superstar Libra, Superstar Aquarius, Star Pisces and Taipan ships. The solution uses Harris CapRock's uncontended Time Divisional Multiple Access (TDMA) network. Unlike traditional TDMA networks, the uncontended network ensures access to committed bandwidth levels at all times, providing an innovation over conventional TDMA networks.

Star Cruises recognizes and caters to the unique needs of guests from the Asia Pacific region. For example, internet users in China spend five to six more hours online per week than Americans and an average of almost 90 minutes per day on social networks.* With this enterprising project, Star Cruises will satisfy guests' who desire premium connectivity and accompanying services.

*http://makeawebsitehub.com/chinese-social-media-statistics/

About Harris CapRock Communications

Harris CapRock Communications is a premier global provider of managed satellite, terrestrial and wireless communications solutions for primarily the maritime and energy markets. Harris CapRock provides One Clear Path for its customers by utilizing a robust global infrastructure that includes teleports on six continents, five 24/7 customer support centers, a local presence in 24 countries and hundreds of global field service personnel supporting customer locations across North America, Central and South America, Europe, West Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific. Learn more at harriscaprock.com.

About Harris Corporation

Harris Corporation is a leading technology innovator, solving our customers' toughest mission-critical challenges by providing solutions that connect, inform and protect. Harris supports customers in more than 125 countries, has approximately $8 billion in annual revenue and 22,000 employees worldwide. The company is organized into four business segments: Communication Systems, Space and Intelligence Systems, Electronic Systems, and Critical Networks. Learn more at harris.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615005945/en/

Contacts:

Harris CapRock

Phillip Parker, 832-668-2227

phillip.parker@harris.com

or

Harris Corporation

Jim Burke, 321-727-9131

jim.burke@harris.com


OAKVILLE, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Saint Jean Carbon Inc. ("Saint Jean" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: SJL), a carbon science company engaged in the exploration of natural graphite properties and related carbon products, is pleased to announce the company has started its summer mining claims work programs to be carried out over all of the Company's south western Quebec graphite mining claims, including our newly acquired Bell property. The work program will include; beep-mapping, multiple sampling points, drilling and flying over the claims to search and locate strong and wide graphite mineralization.

Paul Ogilvie, CEO, commented: "We are pleased to get back on to our properties to continue working toward and better understanding the characteristics of the graphite and associated minerals throughout our vast holding of prospective exploration properties. Our material is performing very well in lithium batteries, (as previously announced in April 7, 2016 press release). Our goal now is to demonstrate that we can reproduce the same results with a much larger sample and blended material from about 95 different areas. It is important to duplicate the success we have previously had so we can then scale these processes".

Christian Derosier, PGeo, PhD., who is the qualified person (QP) acting on behalf of Saint Jean Carbon has reviewed and approved the information in this news release, and commented: "We look forward to completing this work. This is the first step in a four step process that will lead us in the future to determine our mineral resources. We hope to discover new zones that could increase the economic potential. The first, of the four work programs should be completed within four weeks."

The company also would like to announce that it has entered into agreements for various other graphite property claims that should be announced by June 30th.

About Saint Jean

Saint Jean is a publicly traded carbon science company, with interest in graphite mining claims in the province of Quebec in Canada. For information on Saint Jean's properties and the latest news please go to the website: http://www.saintjeancarbon.com/

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Saint Jean Carbon Inc.

Paul Ogilvie, CEO and Director

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, concerning Saint Jean's business and affairs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "intends" "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved".

These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ materially. The forward-looking statements in this news release assume, inter alia, that the conditions for completion of the Transaction, including regulatory and shareholder approvals, if necessary, will be met.

Although Saint Jean believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct.

Statements of past performance should not be construed as an indication of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, 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. A number of factors, including those discussed above, could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this press release, and Saint Jean assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Contacts:

Saint Jean Carbon Inc.

(905) 844-1200

info@saintjeancarbon.com




BEVERLY HILLS, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Teles Properties -- the fastest growing luxury residential real estate firm in Southern California -- is pleased to announce that Jacquelyn Woods, a seasoned professional with nearly 30 years of real estate experience, will be the new managing director of its Carmel office. The strategic Carmel office serves as a link between Teles' Southern California presence, California Central Coast and parts of Northern California. Teles' deepening presence in the Carmel region is part of a critical expansion plan to add value to the real estate consumer and allow for cross-marketing and referral opportunities up and down the coast.

"Teles Properties serves some of the most luxurious markets in California," says Sharran Srivatsaa, president of Teles Properties. "From Carmel to Pebble Beach to Monterey, our top-rated area agents specialize in selling high-end residential homes. Jacquelyn is not only an expert in the luxury real estate market, but also in the Carmel region -- she's an active and vibrant Carmel resident with decades of leadership experience. We could not have chosen a more worthy candidate to serve as managing director of the Carmel office."

A resident of Carmel for nearly 25 years, Woods began her real estate career in 1985 with Wells Fargo Builder Division. Two years later she became a licensed realtor and worked with the locally owned Mitchell Group, sold to Sotheby's International Realty where she served as assistant brokerage manager, overseeing more than 130 agents and a dozen staff members. She's been actively involved in the Carmel community since moving to the city, including being a part of the Carmel Chamber of Commerce, Dance Kids of Monterey, Carmel Academy of Performing Arts and The Forest Theatre Foundation.

"I am thrilled to join the Teles family and be able to grow and cultivate the Carmel office to further its success," says Woods. "Teles is known for its impeccable customer service, experienced and knowledgeable agents and high tech tools -- and I will continue that tradition and perpetuate their stellar platform."

Teles' Carmel office serves the luxury markets of Monterey County including Carmel, Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach, Monterey, Pacific Grove and key surrounding luxury markets.

"Our Carmel realtors and real estate brokers are second to none," says Peter Hernandez, Teles president and founder. "Jacquelyn is the perfect addition to our newest Teles Properties office and I look forward to all that our Carmel-based team will accomplish together."

On Thursday, June 16 from 1 to 3 p.m., Hernandez and Srivatsaa will host a Carmel Listing Presentation Workshop at the Carmel office (26135 Carmel Rancho Blvd, Ste. E105). A valuable educational experience for Teles agents and outside agents alike, Teles' two presidents will discuss and answer questions about listing presentation best practices. The workshop will be followed by a reception from 3 to 5 p.m.

To learn more about Teles Properties and its Carmel office, please visit www.telesproperties.com.

ABOUT TELES PROPERTIES: Teles Properties is a luxury real estate firm in California, ranked and recognized for three consecutive years by the prestigious Inc. 500|5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in America. Leading with intelligence, the brand brings together the state's most elite and successful agents and provides them with an unparalleled technology platform to simplify and elevate every aspect of a real estate transaction. Headquartered in Beverly Hills with strategic offices located in California's most prestigious markets -- from Carmel to Coronado -- Teles is renowned for its profound local market experience as well as a comprehensive global division that links international investors to properties in the U.S. and around the globe. For more information, go to www.telesproperties.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Leslie Licano

Beyond Fifteen Communications, Inc.

949.733.8679

leslie@beyondfifteen.com




SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwired - June 15, 2016) - Graduation ceremonies are not only for high school and college students. Pre-K toddlers and kindergarteners also finish the end of the school year wearing a cap and gown, warming the hearts of parents and grandparents while celebrating their progression in education.

With graduation top-of-mind this month, ScholarShare, California's 529 College Savings Plan, encourages parents to take the small step of opening a college savings account or contributing to an existing 529 Plan. Soon these grads will be young adults walking across the stage toward a professional certificate or college degree.

Starting early, and saving to offset the cost of higher education is a gift with lasting impact that instills value for higher education along the way. For as little as $25, the cost to open an account with ScholarShare, friends and family members who wish to help alleviate the costs of a child's future college or vocational education can open a new account or make an eGift contribution to an existing account.

Multiple ScholarShare resources are also available to help parents and grandparents develop clear college savings goals, identify the best college savings plan portfolio and make continued savings simple.

Automatic contribution plans can help keep families on track with as little as $15 per pay period using automatic payroll deduction.

Feel confident in your decision with easy-to-understand reasons to save with the California college savings plan, one of the top-rated 529 college savings plans in the country by Morningstar, an independent investment research firm. ScholarShare also has no annual account maintenance fee and is considered one of the most competitively priced 529 plans in the country. Anyone with a valid Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number can open a new account.

About the ScholarShare 529 College Savings Plan:

To sign up for an account or for more information about the plan, visit www.scholarshare.com. For information about the ScholarShare Investment Board (SIB), visit www.treasurer.ca.gov/scholarshare. Like ScholarShare on Facebook at www.facebook.com/scholarshare529 and follow us on Twitter at @ScholarShare529.

Named for the section of the IRS code under which they were created, 529 plans offer valuable tax advantages. Contributions are made with money that has already been taxed. Once funds are placed in the account, investment earnings, if any, are not federally or state taxed, if withdrawn to pay for qualified higher education expenses.

The ScholarShare 529 College Savings Plan Twitter and Facebook pages are managed by the State of California.

For more news, please follow the Treasurer on Twitter at @CalTreasurer, and on Facebook at California State Treasurer's Office.
Regulatory News:

In connection with AP Alternative Assets, L.P.'s ("AAA"; Euronext Amsterdam: AAA) equity investment in Athene Holding Ltd. ("Athene"), AAA, the largest shareholder of Athene, informs its investors that Athene plans to release its GAAP financial results for the first quarter of 2016 on June 16, 2016, prior to the start of trading on Euronext in Amsterdam. A summary of these results will also be included in an Athene presentation that will be posted on AAA's website at www.apolloalternativeassets.com.

In addition, AAA will host a conference call on June 16, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. CEST (Amsterdam) 3:00 p.m. BST (London) 10:00 a.m. EDT (New York). During this call, members of Athene's senior management team will review information relating to Athene. All interested parties are welcome to participate. The call can be accessed by dialing 20-717-6857 within the Netherlands or +31-20-717-6857 outside of the Netherlands. Please dial in approximately 5 to 10 minutes prior to the call. When prompted, callers should reference "Athene". A presentation including a summary of Athene's financial results will be referenced during the conference call and will be available on AAA's website at www.apolloalternativeassets.com prior to the call.

Athene will take questions via email in advance of the call at inquiries@apolloalternativeassets.com

An archived replay of the conference call will be available until July 16, 2016, via AAA's website at www.apolloalternativeassets.com.

About AP Alternative Assets

AP Alternative Assets was established by Apollo Global Management, LLC and its subsidiaries ("Apollo") and is a closed-end limited partnership established under the laws of Guernsey. Apollo is a leading global alternative investment manager with 26 years of experience investing across the capital structure of leveraged companies. AAA is managed by Apollo Alternative Assets, L.P. For more information about AP Alternative Assets, please visit www.apolloalternativeassets.com.

This announcement does not constitute or form part of an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to future events and circumstances. Such statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from the historical experience and expressed or implied expectations of AAA. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and AAA does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements unless required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615005976/en/

Contacts:

AP Alternative Assets, L.P.

(New York)

Gary M. Stein, +1-212-822-0467
Free, Innovative Observatory Experience App and Free Wi-Fi Now Available

NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --TheEmpire State Building (ESB) Observatory today announced the launch of its official Empire State Building Observatory Experience App, which guides visitors through the icon's extraordinary exhibits and views with additional in-depth information on the building's history. Created by industry leader Antenna International, the free app is available via the Apple Store and Google Play and will replace the device-dependent, self-guided multimedia tour previously given to each guest upon admittance to the World's Most Famous Building.

As guests travel through the building, the app is designed to ensure visitor engagement for the entirety of their experience, becoming an audio and visual companion for four specific areas: the Sustainability Exhibit, the "Dare to Dream" Exhibit about the history and construction of the building, and the world-famous 86th and 102nd floor Observatories. Additionally, videos, image galleries, quizzes, and an "Info" section with maps showing points of interest, give the user an all-access pass to ESB and its position in pop culture and the world. The app is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and German.

"We are expanding upon the already unforgettable experience of visiting our world-famous Observatory by offering our millions of visitors from around the world access to our audio tour through their personal devices and free Wi-Fi," said Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT).

Visitors can download the app before their visit, or connect to the free Wi-Fi at the beginning of their experience at the Empire State Building. To purchase tickets online in advance of visiting ESB, visit http://www.esbnyc.com/buy_tickets.asp.

About the Empire State Building

Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna), the Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., is the "World's Most Famous Building." With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper's robust broadcasting technology supports major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America's favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects, and the Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world's most beloved attractions as the region's #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.empirestatebuilding.com, www.facebook.com/empirestatebuilding, @EmpireStateBldg, www.instagram.com/empirestatebldg, http://weibo.com/empirestatebuilding, www.youtube.com/esbnyc or www.pinterest.com/empirestatebldg/.

About Empire State Realty Trust

Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESRT), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the world's most famous building. Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company's office and retail portfolio covers 10.1 million rentable square feet, as of December 31, 2015, consisting of 9.4 million rentable square feet in 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut and two in Westchester County, New York; and approximately 723,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "estimates," "contemplates," "aims," "continues," "would" or "anticipates" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements: the factors included in (i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, including those set forth under the headings "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Business," and "Properties" and (ii) in future periodic reports filed by the Company under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. While forward-looking statements reflect the Company's good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, or new information, data or methods, future events or other changes after the date of this press release, except as required by applicable law. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could impact the Company's future results, performance or transactions, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and other risks described in documents subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to the Company (or to third parties making the forward-looking statements).
IRVINE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Representatives from the Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certificate Program at University of California, Irvine Extension will be attending the Anime Expo to share information about the emerging career field of teaching English abroad. Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on July 1-4, the TEFL team (located at booth number 4125) is on-hand to offer interested Expo attendees what they need to know to live and work overseas. By being a part of the demand for qualified English teachers around the world, participants are opening doors to diverse professional career opportunities, and expanding their world view while living abroad.

"For more than 30 years, UC Irvine Extension has prepared thousands of individuals to pursue careers as English as Foreign Language teachers," said Bradley Gilpin, associate director of International Programs at UC Irvine Extension. "Through our experience, we have found that many interested in working in the anime industry do so by immersing themselves in the Japanese culture and subsequently, support themselves by becoming an English teacher as they pursue their passion in anime. The TEFL certificate program is a great way to build valuable experience, all the while traveling the world and making a difference by helping others."

The Certificate Program in Teaching English as a Foreign Language is an intensive 11-week program with 180 hours of specialized training designed to provide those with little or no teaching experience the practical teaching skills and confidence to transition into a new international adventure with ease. Benefits include being taught by highly qualified teacher-trainers who have lived and taught abroad, access to career and job counseling during and after completion of the program, and a 20-hour course designed to foster effective country and job research.

The program is offered each quarter from Mondays through Fridays at the UC Irvine campus. The summer program runs from June 20 through Sept. 2, while the fall cohort program will be offered from Sept. 26 through Dec. 9. For more information or to apply for the TEFL Certificate Program, please visit here or call 949-824-5414.

About UC Irvine Extension: University of California, Irvine Extension is the continuing education arm of UC Irvine, serving adult students online, at the UC Irvine campus, and at employer sites nationally and worldwide. Since 1962, UC Irvine Extension has offered open enrollment learning opportunities to the Orange County community, providing open access to the resources of the university, through Certificate and Specialized Studies programs (found here) and free, open educational resources (http://ocw.uci.edu/). Connect with UC Irvine Extension on the institution's social media channels.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 28,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. Located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities, it's Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $4.8 billion annually to the local economy.

CONTACT:

Vivian Chan-Slater

714-573-0899 x.235

Email Contact




The "Galerie-Geant Pessac" (33) shopping center received the Trophee CNCC* "engagement" award for an existing site at the 2016 Siec gala evening.

Regulatory News:

This recognition highlights the work accomplished and engagement shown by all the teams from Mercialys (Paris:MERY) and Union Investment, which own this site jointly. It marks the culmination of the environmental best practices shared and rolled out in connection with the ambitious environmental strategy defined for this asset, including better monitoring and management of consumption levels, an environmentally-friendly management plan for green spaces and renewable energy production.

This high level of environmental performance was highlighted in November last year when the center was awarded BREEAM In Use certification, with the highest rating of "outstanding" for operational aspects and an "excellent" rating for the building's intrinsic quality. Through a pilot project with the BRE***, Mercialys is looking to extend this certification to cover its entire portfolio, with 30% already BREEAM In Use "outstanding" certified.

In addition to this recognition, Mercialys has been awarded the "Janus du Commerce" label by the French design institute for its "G La Galerie" brand. This Janus award rewards the "G La Galerie" brand's innovative features and customer-centric approach, closely aligned with consumers' new expectations: accessibility, visibility, practicality and proximity.

CNCC: Conseil National des Centres Commerciaux (French national council of shopping centers)

** SIEC: Salon du Retail et de l'Immobilier Commercial (Retail and commercial property trade show)

*** BRE : Building Research Establishement

This press release is available on www.mercialys.com

About "La Galerie Geant Pessac

The Galerie-Geant Pessac center (formerly Bois de Bersol) is located in Pessac, to the south of Bordeaux. This site, which recently changed over to the new "G La Galerie" concept, offers 60 stores and a range of restaurants and services, as well as a retail park. It is a shopping center on a human scale for a comprehensive family-friendly shopping experience.

About Union Investment Real Estate

Union Investment is one of Europe's leading real estate investors. With its extremely diverse international real estate portfolio, spanning 25 national markets, the company enables its customers to benefit from all the opportunities offered by global market cycles. With 50 years' experience of real estate management, the group manages a total portfolio valued at over 24 billion euros worldwide.

Present in France for 16 years, Union Investment Real Estate France has a portfolio of 18 office buildings, shopping centers and hotels across the country, representing over 300,000 sq.m. It aims to significantly develop this portfolio, currently estimated at nearly 2.4 billion euros.

About Mercialys

Mercialys, one of France's leading real estate companies, owns, manages and is constantly transforming a portfolio of 59 shopping centers throughout France. Through their proximity, human scale, innovative features and local engagement, the centers represent a different way of looking at retail, with agility and pragmatism, creating value for all the stakeholders involved.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements about future events, trends, projects or targets.

These forward-looking statements are subject to identified and unidentified risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Please refer to the Mercialys shelf registration document available at www.mercialys.com for the year to December 31, 2015 for more details regarding certain factors, risks and uncertainties that could affect Mercialys' business.

Mercialys makes no undertaking in any form to publish updates or adjustments to these forward-looking statements, nor to report new information, new future events or any other circumstances that might cause these statements to be revised.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615006101/en/

Contacts:

Mercialys press contact:

Communications

Tel: 33(0)1 53 65 24 78
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Mason Graphite Inc. ("Mason Graphite" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: LLG)(OTCQX: MGPHF) is pleased to announce that Ms. Genevieve Pichet has joined the Company as Director, Technical Studies and Special Projects. Ms. Pichet, M. Sc., P. Eng., a Laval University graduate, joins the Mason Graphite team from Hatch where she has held several positions since 1996, notably Associate, Process Department Director and Process Engineer. Her experience includes project management, in-plant annual CAPEX management, process engineering in specialty minerals, process simulation and process optimization. Ms. Pichet will first be focusing on the detailed study for the large scale processing of value-added graphite products..

The value added products study continues to progress, in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada, Hatch and COREM. The first phase, product benchmarking, was completed in December 2015 while the current phase is focusing on products and processes development. A thorough product testing and validation phase will follow and will be conducted simultaneously with the industrialization. A more complete update will be provided in the near future.

Benoit Gascon, CEO of Mason Graphite, commented: "We are very excited to have Genevieve joining our team and look forward to utilizing her unique experience. As the Company intends to start the detailed engineering work this summer in anticipation of the construction debuting shortly after obtaining the authorizations, Genevieve will also strengthen our project team through her vast engineering expertise."

The Company also announces that it intends to issue an aggregate of 185,820 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a deemed price per share of $0.67 in payment of $124,500 in interest due and payable under the Company's 12% convertible debentures (the "Debentures"), which are held by Sodemex Developpement, a subsidiary of the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, Fonds de solidarite FTQ and the Fonds regional de solidarite FTQ Cote-Nord. The Debentures are due June 11, 2019. Under the terms of the Debentures, the Company has the option to pay 50% of the semi-annual interest due on the Debentures in Common Shares. The balance of the interest owing under the Debentures, being $124,500, has been paid in cash. The issuance of the Common Shares in payment of interest on the Debentures is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and the Common Shares will be subject to a four month hold period.

About Mason Graphite and the Lac Gueret Project

Mason Graphite is a Canadian mining and processing company focused on the development of its 100% owned Lac Gueret natural graphite deposit located in northeastern Quebec. The Company is led by a highly experienced team that has over five decades of experience in graphite production, sales, and research and development. For more information, visit www.masongraphite.com.

Mason Graphite Inc. On Behalf of the Board

"Benoit Gascon, CPA, CA", President & Chief Executive Officer

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Simon Marcotte, CFA

Vice-President Corporate Development

+1 (514) 289-3580

info@masongraphite.com



For more information relating to local communities:

Luc Veilleux, CPA, CA,

Executive Vice-President and CFO

+1 (514) 289-3582

info@masongraphite.com

www.masongraphite.com




News / National

by Staff reporter

Hacktivist group Anonymous Africa said it has also launched attacks on a website belonging to Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party.Anonymous Africa claimed responsibility for the SABC websites' downtime with the hacktivist group saying it carried out the attack because of creeping censorship at the broadcaster.On Tuesday, Anonymous Africa further claimed responsibility for downing the website of political party the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Anonymous Africa said it targeted the EFF for the party's alleged 'racism'."While teaching racist EFF trolls a lesson we have also decided to knock on their Godfathers door as well. http://www.zanupf.org.zw/ is down," Anonymous Africa tweeted.Both sites were offline for a few hours.Anonymous Africa said via Twitter on Wednesday that it had targeted taking down several websites of companies falling under the Oakbay Investments umbrella.The attacks that the group has carried out this week have typically taken the form of 'Distributed Denial of Service' (DDoS) methods.These types of attacks tap compromised computers on networks to launch thousands of requests at website's web servers, which typically results in service disruptions for those targeted sites.
MONTREAL, CANADA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- (NYSE: CAE)(TSX: CAE) - CAE today announced it has been awarded contracts by the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces valued at approximately C$145 million. The contracts are for CAE to design and develop a comprehensive Naval Training Centre (NTC) for the UAE Navy and to provide the UAE Joint Aviation Command (JAC) with a suite of helicopter simulators and training devices for the NorthStar Aviation 407 Multi-Role Helicopter (407MRH) as well as the Sikorsky UH-60M Armed Black Hawk (ABH).

Comprehensive Naval Training Centre (NTC) for individual, team, whole ship, and joint/collective mission training capabilities

CAE was awarded contracts by the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces to design and develop a comprehensive Naval Training Centre (NTC) for the UAE Navy. The value of the initial contract for Phase A is included in the C$145 million total mentioned above. With potential phases, the UAE NTC program could be worth approximately C$450 million over the next 15 years.

The purpose-built NTC facility will feature a range of integrated ship simulation-based training suites as well as maritime aircraft sensor stations that will be used to deliver training for individuals, command teams, and whole ship crews. In addition, the overall naval training system for the UAE Navy is being designed for networking and interoperability to enable distributed multi-platform and joint mission training.

"This is a major strategic win for CAE and clearly demonstrates our capabilities to serve as a training systems integrator across all defence domains," said Gene Colabatistto, CAE's Group President, Defence & Security. "The UAE Navy selected CAE as its training partner because of our focus and expertise in training, and the result will be a comprehensive naval training enterprise that helps the UAE Navy achieve a high level of fleet operational readiness."

The UAE Naval Training Centre will be located in Taweelah with connectivity to several other naval and air bases throughout the UAE. The UAE NTC is expected to be complete and ready-for-training by early 2019.

More information on this program is available in a separate trade press release on www.cae.com

CAE to develop 407MRH and UH-60M helicopter simulators

CAE was also awarded a contract to provide the UAE Joint Aviation Command (JAC) with a suite of helicopter simulators and training devices for the NorthStar Aviation 407 Multi-Role Helicopter (407MRH) as well as the Sikorsky UH-60M Armed Black Hawk (ABH).

For the NorthStar Aviation 407MRH, a modified variant of the Bell 407GX specifically designed for light attack, close air support, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, CAE will design and manufacture a high-fidelity, fixed-based Level-7 equivalent flight training device (FTD). In addition, CAE will provide a suite of desktop trainers and brief/debrief systems. The full suite of 407MRH training systems will be delivered to the UAE during 2017. CAE will be working closely with NorthStar Aviation, who last year signed a collaboration agreement with CAE to conduct flight test data collection and support the development of high-fidelity training devices for the 407MRH.

"We are extremely pleased to be selected to support the helicopter training and mission rehearsal requirements of the UAE Joint Aviation Command," said Gene Colabatistto, CAE's Group President, Defence & Security. "The UAE as well as other Gulf Cooperation Council countries are making significant investments in simulation-based training. These will be the first simulator and training devices developed for the 407MRH so our partnership with NorthStar Aviation along with CAE's extensive experience with helicopter simulation will help ensure we deliver world-class training systems on-schedule."

CAE will also design and manufacture a UH-60M ABH full-mission simulator for the UAE JAC to be delivered in 2018. The UH-60M/ABH full-mission simulator representing the armed variant of the Black Hawk helicopter will feature a six-degree-of-freedom motion system, vibration platform, and extreme field-of-view display system.

The simulators and training devices for both the 407MRH and UH-60M will include the CAE Medallion-6000 image generator with Common Database (CDB) architecture, which will further enhance networked, interoperable mission training across platforms.

About CAE

CAE's Defence & Security business unit focuses on helping prepare our customers to develop and maintain the highest levels of mission readiness. We are a world-class training systems integrator offering a comprehensive portfolio of training centres, training services and simulation products across the air, land, sea and public safety market segments. We serve our global defence and security customers through regional operations in Canada; the United States/Latin America; Europe/Middle East/Africa; and Asia/Pacific, all of which leverage the full breadth of CAE's capabilities, technologies and solutions.

CAE is a global leader in delivery of training for the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets. We design and integrate the industry's most comprehensive training solutions, anchored by the knowledge and expertise of our 8,000 employees, our world-leading simulation technologies and a track record of service and technology innovation spanning seven decades. Our global presence is the broadest in the industry, with 160 sites and training locations in 35 countries, including our joint venture operations, and the world's largest installed base of flight simulators. Each year, we train more than 120,000 civil and defence crewmembers, as well as thousands of healthcare professionals. www.cae.com

Follow us on Twitter @CAE_Inc and @CAE_Defence

Contacts:

CAE contacts:

Helene V. Gagnon, Vice President,

Public Affairs and Global Communications

+1-514-340-5536

helene.v.gagnon@cae.com



Trade media:

Chris Stellwag, Director,

Marketing Communications - Defence and Security

+1-813-887-1242

chris.stellwag@cae.com



Investor relations:

Andrew Arnovitz, Vice President,

Strategy and Investor Relations

+1-514-734-5760

andrew.arnovitz@cae.com




UANI Hails Cancellation of the Global Forum on Export of Natural Gas to Europe

United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), the nonpartisan, not-for-profit advocacy organization known for its efforts to heighten awareness of the danger the Iranian regime poses to the world, applauded the cancellation of the Global Forum on Export of Natural Gas to Europe, which was to be held June 16-17 in Barcelona, Spain. UANI's pressure campaign successfully dissuaded Forum participants, partners, and organizers from attending or supporting the event due to the severe reputational and business risks associated with Iranian entities slated to participate at the Forum.

"The cancellation of the Global Forum on Export of Natural Gas to Europe is a reflection of the serious trepidation that exists among members of the global community regarding potential business opportunities in Iran," said UANI co-founder and CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace. "UANI's efforts have sent a clear signal to Tehran that responsible businesses remain unwilling to put their money and their reputation at risk in pursuit of deals with an outlaw regime."

In the weeks leading up to the conference, UANI sent letters to all Forum partners as well as the event organizers, alerting them to the fact that the participating National Iranian Gas Export Company has deep ties to the internationally sanctioned Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The National Iranian Gas Export Company, a partner of the Forum, is controlled by Iran's Ministry of Petroleum. The current Minister of Petroleum, Bijan Zangeneh, has vowed to accommodate IRGC interests.

The IRGC operates through a series of front companies, making it virtually impossible for international companies and investors to discern legitimate business partners in Iran. Foreign investors could unintentionally funnel money directly to the IRGC, which is just one of many severe risks that define the Iranian market today.

In response to UANI's letter, the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SAM) informed UANI's New York office that it had been invited to deliver a talk about Azerbaijan's future gas projects, but had never confirmed its participation even though it was listed as a partner of the Forum. In subsequent communications with various Forum participants, partners, and organizers, UANI learned that the event had been cancelled due to its efforts.

"We are pleased to see business leaders acknowledge and distance themselves from the environment of risk and uncertainty in Iran," said UANI Chairman and former Senator Joseph Lieberman. "There is a growing consensus among the global community that these risks far outweigh any potential benefit from investment in Iran."

About UANI

UANI is an independent, not-for-profit, non-partisan, advocacy group founded in 2008 by Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, former CIA Director Jim Woolsey, and Middle East Expert Ambassador Dennis Ross that seeks to heighten awareness of the danger the Iranian regime poses to the world.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615006214/en/

Contacts:

United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI)

Steven Cohen, 212-922-0063

press@uani.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- T5 Data Centers (www.t5datacenters.com), innovators in providing state-of-the-art, customizable and highly reliable computing support environments, has announced that a global enterprise software company has purchased 8.5 acres of the T5@Colorado campus for construction of the first of two Colorado Springs-based data centers. The company broke ground earlier this month for construction of the first of its synchronous pair of data centers. The enterprise software company chose T5@Colorado after an extensive search for a suitable location in the Central US region. The Purchaser noted that T5@Colorado data center campus is ideal because of its location, utility resiliency, and the security offered by a dedicated data center campus with restrictions on use that ensure similar uses nearby.

"Having one of the top 10 technology companies sign as the first occupant of the T5@Colorado campus is a coup for T5@Colorado and offers validation for the data center park location and infrastructure," said Vince Colarelli, T5's Colorado representative. "Now that they have broken ground, we can continue to develop the infrastructure that will be the foundation of future data center success for the T5@Colorado location."

T5@Colorado is a pre-planned, pad-ready data center campus with restrictions that specify land use for data centers only. The 64-acre campus has dual, independent power feeds, expandable to deliver 100 MW of critical electrical capacity. Plans also call for the campus to accommodate up to 15 telecom providers with dual independent routing and low latency. The geographic location was chosen because it offers low risk for both natural and manmade business disruption, and because of regional zoning and economic incentives that promote construction of Tier II, Tier III, or Tier IV single and multi-tenant data centers.

For more information about T5's data center services, visit www.t5datacenters.com.

About T5 Data Centers

T5 Data Centers (T5) is a leading national data center owner and operator, committed to delivering customizable, scalable data centers that provide an "always on" computing environment to power mission critical business applications. T5 Data Centers provides enterprise colocation data center services to organizations across North America using proven, best-in-class technology and techniques to design and develop facilities that deliver the lowest possible total cost of operations for its clients. T5 currently has business-critical data center facilities in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, Portland and Charlotte with new projects announced in New York, and Colorado. All of T5's data center projects are purpose-built facilities featuring robust design, redundant and reliable power and telecommunications, and have 24-hour staff to support mission-critical computing applications.

For more information, visit www.t5datacenters.com.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=3022385



Contact:



Aaron Wangenheim

T5 Data Centers

(415) 292-7700

aaron@t5datacenters.com




PETERSBURG, VA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- To honor the Battle of the Crater's 152nd anniversary, Pamplin Historical Park founder and owner Robert B. Pamplin Jr. invites visitors to an educational lecture about the historical battle from A. Wilson Greene, executive director of Pamplin Historical Park. Greene's presentation will take place on July 30 at 1:00 p.m. in Pamplin Historical Park's Education Center. The event is free with membership or regular park admission.

The Battle of the Crater began on July 30, 1864, in Petersburg at a part of General Robert E. Lee's Confederate line known as Elliot's Salient. That day a Union mine was exploded under Confederate lines in an attempt to create a breakthrough. Shortly after the explosion, there was a chaotic and deadly battle.

"We want our visitors to learn about this very important battle and its role in the Civil War," said Pamplin. "Mr. Greene will educate people of all ages about the historic significance of this unusual battle."

For more information, visit http://www.pamplinpark.org/events.html.

About Pamplin Historical Park

One of "Virginia's Best Places to Visit" according to the Travel Channel and designated as a National Historic Landmark, Pamplin Historical Park & The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier is a 424-acre Civil War campus located in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, offering a combination of high-tech museums and hands-on experiences. The park has four world-class museums and four antebellum homes. The park is also the site of the Breakthrough battle of April 2, 1865, and America's premier participatory Civil War experience, Civil War Adventure Camp. For more information, please call 804-861-2408 or visit www.pamplinpark.org.

About Robert B. Pamplin Jr.

Robert B. Pamplin Jr. has earned eight degrees -- including two doctorates -- in business, economics, accounting, education and theology. He has been honored nationally as a businessman, philanthropist, ordained minister, educator, historical preservationist, and author of 23 books and comic books, including two book-of-the-month club selections. Pamplin's business interests include media (the Portland Tribune and 25 community newspapers), textiles, construction and agriculture. He has been awarded many honorary degrees and featured in national magazines, in newspapers and on television. He has served on presidential and state commissions, and he has been chairman of the board of trustees of three colleges. Pamplin is widely recognized as America's leading historical preservationist and foremost diversified entrepreneur. National and local publications have written of Dr. Pamplin -- "Not since the late Victorians has any person accomplished so much in a...single concentrated life." For more information, visit www.pamplin.org. For more information about Pamplin's preservation efforts, visit www.pamplincollection.org.

Contact:

Wendy Lane Stevens

503-546-7898

wendy@lanepr.com






WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Senate Democrats are pushing for an increase in funding for the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the heels of the weekend massacre at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida.



Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., filed an amendment to an appropriations bill to fully fund the FBI and help prevent domestic terror attacks.



The amendment would provide an additional $190 million to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal 2017.



Of the amount, $175 million is dedicated to the FBI's counterterrorism efforts and $15 million to active shooter training.



The amendment would raise funding for the FBI to $73 million above President Barack Obama's request and $24 million above the amount provided by House Republicans.



'We need to get the FBI the tools it needs to keep up with those trying to recruit Americans to extremist ideologies or spread messages of hate to inspire others,' Mikulski said.



'We also need our first responders on the front lines to be prepared to keep victims safe, get them out of danger, and get them the medical help if they need, should the unthinkable happens,' she added. 'That's what our amendment does.'



Nelson introduced separate legislation Wednesday designed help the FBI detect and prevent attacks such as the Orlando shooting before they happen.



The legislation would ensure any individual who has been investigated for possible ties to terrorism is entered into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.



Additionally, the bill would require the NICS system to automatically notify the FBI if a background check is conducted for a prospective gun buyer who has been investigated for potential ties to terrorism.



'We're not saying: don't sell guns to someone just because they were investigated,' Nelson said. 'But having a system in place that alerts the FBI if someone they once investigated is suddenly trying to purchase multiple assault weapons is just common sense.'



Nelson introduced the legislation after it was revealed that the gunman responsible for the Orlando shooting was interviewed by the FBI at least three times.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Technavio analysts forecast the global nuclear decommissioning market to grow at a CAGR of over 36% during the forecast period, according to their latest report.

The research study covers the present scenario and growth prospects of the global nuclear decommissioning market for 2016-2020. The report takes into account only the countries that have planned nuclear decommissioning during the forecast period. Other countries that have nuclear power reactors, but are not decommissioning during the forecast period, have not been considered.

Technavio energy analysts highlight the following three factors that are contributing to the growth of the global nuclear decommissioning market:

Stringent regulations post-Fukushima accident

Public and government support for decommissioning of nuclear reactors

Increase in use of renewable energy

Stringent regulations post-Fukushima accident

Due to the sensitive nature of nuclear energy, governments and utilities have always been vigilant regarding the safety of nuclear operations. However, the Fukushima incident was more of a natural calamity related accident than a man-made one. The tsunami that ensued after the severe earthquake destabilized the core of the reactor, resulting in the leak of nuclear material into the atmosphere. The accident revealed the danger and vulnerability of nuclear power to natural as well as man-made calamities.

Governments across the world reviewed their nuclear power generation related regulations to ensure the safety of the reactor. In some countries such as Japan and Germany, the period between regular checks of the reactors was decreased so as to take timely action. The countries came up with updated regulations to enforce better safety standards on the reactors.

Almost all countries have checked their nuclear fleet post-2011 and upgraded the reactors based on new sets of rules. According to Sayani Roy, a lead analyst at Technavio for power research, "The stringent regulations have resulted in the closing down of low-performance nuclear reactors and is expected to drive the nuclear decommissioning market in the next ten years."

Public and government support for decommissioning of nuclear reactors

Fatal nuclear accidents of the past have put a huge question mark over the safety of nuclear power reactors. In 2011, Japan's Fukushima accident severely damaged the interest in nuclear power worldwide. This incident took place 25 years after the Ukraine Chernobyl disaster.

Nuclear energy had regained importance because of an increased demand for power in the emerging markets and developing countries and the need to reduce the use of fossil fuels to tackle the climate changes. Following the Fukushima disaster, stringent safety regulations and emergency measures have been put in place by governments worldwide. Increased public opposition has pressurized countries to revisit their nuclear power development plans.

Many countries halted their nuclear project plans, while some plan to phase out nuclear power. Germany and Switzerland have announced the shutdown of all their nuclear reactors by 2022 and 2035, respectively. Japan and Germany were the first two countries to impose a moratorium on its nuclear reactors. In France, a nuclear cap of 65 GWe has been imposed. Canada has decided to decommission its costlier reactors. This will increase the number of nuclear reactor shutdowns globally, driving the growth of the global nuclear decommissioning market.

Increase in use of renewable energy

The Fukushima disaster has revoked nuclear development plans in many countries. Nations worldwide are preferring renewable power technologies such as the wind and solar.

Growing subsidies and incentives, as well as efficiency in technology, have reduced the cost per kilowatt for these technologies.

Post the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) in 2015, all the participating countries decided to decrease carbon emissions. Germany is banking on its renewable energy resources to meet its lost nuclear capacity. France, which relies more than 76% on nuclear, is now turning toward renewable capacity and aims to grow its renewable capacity to 40% by 2030.

Despite being proficient in nuclear technology, Brazil is looking towards harnessing its wind capacity to meet its energy requirements. India and China are strongly promoting the use of renewables especially the wind and solar to lower its dependence on fossil fuels. "The increased focus on renewables along with governments across multiple countries resolving not to increase nuclear power, will be favorable for the nuclear decommissioning market in the short to mid-term future," says Sayani.

Browse Related Reports:

Global Nuclear Reactor Construction Market 2015-2019

Global Nuclear Power Market 2015-2019

Global Surveillance Market for Hazard Protection 2015-2019

Purchase these three reports for the price of one by becoming a Technavio subscriber. Subscribing to Technavio's reports allows you to download any three reports per month for the price of one. Contact enquiry@technavio.com with your requirements and a link to our subscription platform.

About Technavio

Technaviois a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615005040/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
NEW YORK, June 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Maison Mumm is proud to announce the official launch in the US of Mumm Grand Cordon, its revolutionary new champagne bottle. True to its motto - "Dare. Win. Celebrate." - the pioneering Champagne House staged its most daring champagne delivery ever, with the new bottle arriving in Manhattan in spectacular style...

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7860051-mumm-grand-cordon-arrives-in-the-us/

BREATHTAKING

Maison Mumm officially unveiled its revolutionary bottle Mumm Grand Cordon at Lightbox, the premier creative tech space in New York. The new bottle was presented in a breathtaking sequence that segued from a digital film to real life, and featured the noted actor Kellan Lutz and Mumm Cellar Master Didier Mariotti. Maison Mumm offered an immersive experience to the public who lived almost in real time Kellan Lutz racing against the clock to deliver the bottle to the celebration venue. In the final sequence of the film, attendees saw Kellan Lutz on a motorcycle arriving at the venue, which also coincides with his grand entrance with the bottle on a motorcycle in real life to the party for one of the most daring deliveries of a champagne bottle ever.

CUTTING-EDGE

The Daring Delivery was shot using cutting-edge techniques - in particular first-person POV - to create an immersive experience that engrosses the audience in the action from the beginning. Viewers are transported through both Kellan and Didier's journeys, actually feeling what it is like to be Didier Mariotti as he makes a daredevil skydive - a world first for a champagne cellar master! -, or Kellan Lutz as he races through the streets of Manhattan on a motorcycle.

"I consider myself a very daring person - I regularly rock climb and ride motorcycles - so when Mumm asked me to take part in the most daring champagne delivery I was up for the challenge!" said Kellan Lutz. "I tend to seek out projects that challenge me to push my boundaries so the Daring Delivery project opened me up to new experiences I have not done before, like parkouring across Brooklyn rooftops and driving a speedboat through the New York harbor."

CELEBRATION

To celebrate this spectacular delivery moment at the celebration, the House gathered more than 120 VIPs, including supermodel Chanel Iman, DJ/model Alexandria Richards, DJ Chelsea Leyland and various other New York athletes and celebrities. Maison Mumm once again enhanced the delivery moment as staff pretended that the champagne was not available until Kellan Lutz arrived at the event with the new bottle in hand. The evening was an example of Maison Mumm's on-going commitment to unexpected and high-energy moments with the exclusive participation of DJ Chelsea Leyland and the reveal of the most disruptive bottle in the history of champagne.

The "Daring Delivery" starring Kellan Lutz is now available on YouTube , where audiences will be invited to re-live the daring delivery for themselves.

REVOLUTIONARY

Mumm Grand Cordon is the most innovative design in the 189-year history of Maison Mumm.

Breaking with convention, the bottle has no front label - instead, the G.H.Mumm signature and eagle emblem are printed in gold directly on the glass. Another striking feature of the design is its shape, which necessitated a whole series of innovations to the traditional champagne production process.

Perhaps the most eye-catching feature of the Mumm Grand Cordon bottle is its reinterpretation of the famous Cordon Rouge red sash, which is celebrating its 140thanniversary this year. On Mumm Grand Cordon, the red sash is transformed into a genuine red ribbon, which - in a feat of technology - is actually indented in the glass.

The bottle of Mumm Grand Cordon was created by multi-award-winning designer Ross Lovegrove, with whom Maison Mumm previously collaborated on a limited-edition sabre.

PIONEERING

With the launch of its daring new bottle, Maison Mumm is setting out to reclaim its US leadership position of the 1980s. The House was a pioneer of champagne in North America, with its first shipment dating back to 1830, just three years after it was founded. In 1881, the Cordon Rouge label - with its diagonal red sash - was registered in New York, while in 1900, the House launched its famous advertising slogan "Mumm's the Word". So successful was it, that by 1913, Mumm was selling an impressive one million bottles of champagne in the US.

To relive the Daring Delivery adventure: https://youtu.be/IKG2TQ5i2LI



(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160613/378430 )



Video:

http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7860051-mumm-grand-cordon-arrives-in-the-us/


VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- B2Gold Corp. (TSX: BTO)(NYSE MKT: BTG)(NAMIBIAN: B2G) ("B2Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the voting results from the election of its Board of Directors at the Company's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") held on Friday, June 10, 2016.

The director nominees listed in the Management Information Circular dated Wednesday, May 4, 2016 were elected as directors of B2Gold at the Meeting. Detailed results of the vote are set out below:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name Total Votes in Favour (%) Total Votes Outcome Withheld/Abstained (%) of Vote ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clive Johnson 687,696,539 (96.18%) 27,334,407 (3.82%) Approved ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Cross 670,998,065 (93.84%) 44,032,881 (6.16%) Approved ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Gayton 528,384,309 (73.90%) 186,646,637 (26.10%) Approved ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Barry Rayment 706,021,989 (98.74%) 9,008,957 (1.26%) Approved ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jerry Korpan 691,901,192 (96.77%) 23,129,754 (3.23%) Approved ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bongani Mtshisi 713,820,836 (99.83%) 1,210,110 (0.17%) Approved ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin Bullock 448,545,158 (62.73%) 266,485,788 (37.27%) Approved ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- George Johnson 684,154,844 (95.68%) 30,876,102 (4.32%) Approved ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The resolutions with respect to the Appointment of Auditors was also approved by the shareholders of the Company at the Meeting.

About B2Gold

B2Gold is a Vancouver-based, international gold mining company with four operating mines, one mine under construction and numerous exploration projects across four continents in various countries, including Nicaragua, the Philippines, Namibia, Mali and Burkina Faso. Construction of B2Gold's Fekola mine in southwest Mali is on schedule and on budget, and is projected to commence production at the end of 2017. As a result, B2Gold is well positioned to maintain its low-cost structure and growth profile, with production increasing to approximately 800,000 to 850,000 ounces annually by 2018.

ON BEHALF OF B2GOLD CORP.

Clive T. Johnson, President & Chief Executive Officer

For more information on B2Gold please visit our website at www.b2gold.com.

Contacts:

B2Gold Corp.

Ian MacLean

Vice President, Investor Relations

604-681-8371

imaclean@b2gold.com



B2Gold Corp.

Katie Bromley

Manager, Investor Relations & Public Relations

604-681-8371

kbromley@b2gold.com

www.b2gold.com




QUEBEC, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) and Department of Canadian Heritage

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED, and the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, have announced funding for the Corporation des fetes historiques de Quebec.

The New France Festival is a major event that includes historical activities and welcomes over 200,000 visitors each year. The festival brings an outstanding boost to media and tourism for Quebec and to its international prestige. This year's festival will take place from August 3 to 7 under the theme "Imagine America." For five days, over 200 artists and as many volunteers will converge upon Old Quebec, mainly at the Fortifications of Quebec National Historic Site, one of the testaments to Canada's rich history.

CED is granting $750,000 in financial assistance to hold the 2015, 2016 and 2017 editions of this historic event. It has been awarded as a non-repayable contribution under the Quebec Economic Development Program. Among other things, this funding supports promotion of the Festival in the Canadian, American and European markets.

Canadian Heritage is providing funding of $102,100 for 2016 New France Festival under the Local Festivals component of the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program. This support will help support a diverse lineup that includes concerts of traditional, Aboriginal and youth music, historical re-enactments, and non-stop activities that make it possible to discover our heritage.

Quotes

"Tourism is one of the most rapidly developing sectors around the world. By supporting events such as the New France Festival, we are showing our commitment to promoting growth in this industry, the significant benefits of which boost the health of the Canadian economy. "

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister responsible for CED

"As we prepare to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada's Confederation, it seems more important than ever to support events that help Canadians discover their rich heritage in an entertaining and original way. Thanks to the talent of the artists, artisans and historical performers showcased during the New France Festival, citizens can dive into the heart of what life was like in the time of their ancestors."

The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

Related links

New France Festival website: http://www.nouvellefrance.qc.ca/en/

For more information on the QEDP: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/programs/qedp/index.html

To learn more about the Local Festivals component of the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program: http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1455305048765/1455311886269

Stay Connected

Follow CED on Twitter @CanEconDev

Follow Canadian Heritage on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Flickr

Contacts:

Media Relations

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

514-283-8818

dec.media.ced@canada.ca



Pierre-Olivier Herbert

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage

819-997-7788



Media Relations

Canadian Heritage

819-994-9101

1-866-569-6155

pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca




Opinion / Columnist

If 2018 elections are rigged; MDC lot will walk the plank to join Mutambara - will put them to the sword!MDC-T is scheduled to hold a demo in Bindura on Friday with another one chalked in on 25 June 2016 in Mutare."This came as the MDC-T continues to roll out protest marches in all parts of the country as part of efforts to force President Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF-led government to quit over its failed policies. To date, MDC-T supporters have held similar demonstrations in Harare and Bulawayo," Bulawayo 24 reported."On June 25, the party plans to hold another protest march in Mutare where members have reportedly embarked on a door-to-door campaign to ensure a large turnout."What exactly is MDC hoping to accomplish with these demos? Zanu PF had its own one-million man march last month where the party faithful called on President Mugabe to not only stay on president but to stand as the party's presidential candidate for the 2018 elections. So these follow up MDC demos call on President Mugabe to go will be of no real political consequences and will be ignored.The next pertinent question is why is MDC-T wasting time in this rat-race, especially when the party has done nothing to implement the democratic reforms designed to stop Zanu PF rigging elections  the real political game changer?The primary purpose of the 2008 GNU was to implement the raft of democratic reforms everyone agreed were necessary to ensure Zimbabwe's future elections were free, fair and credible and not a repeat of that year's elections which were marred by vote rigging and wanton violence. SADC Heads of State reminded MDC leaders to implement the reforms but were ignored. President Mugabe went on to blatantly rig the 2013 elections precisely because not even one of the democratic reforms had been implemented.MDC leaders complained that Zanu PF had rigged the 2013 elections and vowed to boycott all future elections until the reforms are implemented. We are two years away from the next elections and yet there have not been any moves to get the reforms finally implemented. Needless to say that with no reforms implemented, Zanu PF will once again blatantly rig the next elections!If the 2018 elections are rigged then Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends will walk the plank to join Arthur Mutambara into political retirement because they would have proven beyond doubt that they corrupt, incompetent and useless! I will put them to the sword myself just to be absolutely certain that this time these useless politicians finally retire from all public life for good!


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - In response to the mass shooting in Orlando over the weekend, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., has taken control of the Senate floor and is demanding action on gun control.



Murphy launched the filibuster late Wednesday morning as the Senate prepared to debate amendments to an appropriations bill.



The Connecticut Senator claimed he will continue to hold the floor until Republicans are willing to work with Democrats to prevent suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms and to expand background checks.



In his opening remarks, Murphy noted that the people of Connecticut feel the pain of the people of Orlando after the Newtown shooting in December of 2012 claimed the lives of 20 elementary school children.



'So, I'm going to remain on this floor until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together on these two measures, that we can get a path forward on addressing this epidemic in a meaningful bipartisan way,' Murphy said.



'Orlando is the worst mass shooting in American history,' he added. 'Having come through the experience of Newtown, I've had enough.'



Other Democratic Senators have joined in the filibuster by asking questions, although Murphy is not yielding the floor.



Sens. John Cornyn, R-Tex., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., are reportedly exploring a possible deal to prevent individuals on the FBI's terrorist watch list from purchasing guns, but an agreement on expanding background checks is likely to be more elusive.



In an interview with Politico, Cornyn argued that the filibuster is just 'filling the dead air' while the two parties negotiate.



The developments on the Senate floor come after the shooting at a gay nightclub left 50 people dead and dozens of others injured.



A CBS News poll released Wednesday found that 89 percent of Americans support universal background checks, including vast majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Canada Border Services Agency

The Government of Canada remains committed to a strong, secure, and efficient border with the United States.

The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, today introduced legislation in the House of Commons that will allow the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to collect routine biographic information on all travellers exiting Canada.

Canada will ensure effective security measures are in place that both protect the safety of Canadians and safeguard their individual rights and freedoms, without impeding the vital flow of legitimate travel and trade across the border.

This initiative builds off the significant progress made during Canada's state visit to Washington, where Prime Minister Trudeau and President Obama announced that both countries would further deepen the longstanding cooperation along our shared border.

Quotes

"We are committed to protecting Canadians and their individual rights and freedoms. It's important that we have a clear picture of who is entering and exiting our country so we can ensure the efficient movement of legitimate trade and travel and keep our border secure."

- Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"Entry/exit information is a key part of a traveller's history that will help to make more informed decisions, improve program integrity and reduce fraud. For example, through these changes our officials would have more information available to accurately verify residency across multiple lines of business."

- Hon. John McCallum, Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Quick Facts

- On March 10, 2016, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Barack Obama announced that both countries will fully implement a system to exchange basic biographic entry/exit information at the land border and build off the process already in place.

- Today, the Government of Canada collects biographic information on travellers entering the country, but has no reliable way of knowing when and where travellers leave the country.

- Once this legislation is passed, Canada will now know when and where someone enters the country, and when and where they leave the country.

- The Government of Canada will achieve this ability by working closely with our American counterparts and exchanging information at the land border.

- The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the individual rights and freedoms of Canadians, and has built privacy protections into the core of the Entry/Exit initiative.

- Exit information will only be disclosed in accordance with Canadian law, and would adhere to the disclosure provisions pursuant to both the Privacy Act and the Customs Act.

- Effective border management requires Canada to closely align its practises with our international partners. Recording this basic information will ensure the safety of Canadians, while also enhancing the ability of law enforcement, national security, and immigration agencies to make informed and timely decisions.

- Currently, Canada and the U.S. are exchanging biographic entry information on third-country nationals, permanent residents of Canada and lawful permanent residents of the U.S. at land ports of entry.

- This collection and exchange has proven to be seamless to the traveller. There are no delays at the border and no impact on traveller experience.

- For those travelling by air, no information exchange is necessary between the two countries because each country will independently collect what they need directly from airline passenger manifests.

- The process of collecting and sharing personal information has been, and will continue to be done, in accordance with each country's privacy laws and policies.

Related Products

Backgrounder

Associated Links

- Entry/Exit Initiative

Follow us on Twitter (@CanBorder), join us on Facebook or visit our YouTube channel.

Backgrounder

Entry/Exit initiative

The Government of Canada remains committed to a strong, secure, and efficient border with the United States.

Current situation

Today, the Government of Canada collects biographic information on travellers entering the country, but has no reliable way of knowing when and where travellers leave the country.

Canada and the United States (U.S.) are exchanging biographic entry information on third-country nationals, permanent residents of Canada and lawful permanent residents of the U.S. at land ports of entry. Entry into one country serves as an exit record from the other.

Both countries are securely sharing entry records of approximately 16,000 to 19,000 travellers daily. This collection and exchange has proven to be seamless to the traveller. There are no delays at the border and no impact on traveller experience.

However, Canada does not have a complete picture of who has left the country since the exchange of information is limited to non-citizens of Canada and the U.S. and is limited to the land mode.

The proposed changes to collect basic departure information (found on page 2 of a passport) on all travellers will strengthen the security and integrity of Canada's border. These changes will not impact the movement of legitimate travel (i.e. no anticipated delays at the border).

Benefits of the Entry/Exit initiative

This initiative to collect basic exit information builds off the commitment made during Canada's state visit to Washington, where Prime Minister Trudeau and President Obama announced that both countries would further deepen the longstanding cooperation along our shared border. It also aligns Canada with international partners who have or are in the process of implementing exit systems.

The initiative will benefit Canadians by strengthening the efficiency and security of our shared border. It will enable the CBSA and its federal government partners to:

-- Respond to the outbound movement of known high-risk travellers and their goods prior to their actual departure from Canada by air (i.e. fugitives of justice, registered sex offenders, human/drug smugglers, exporters of illicit goods, etc.); -- Respond more effectively in time sensitive situations such as responding to Amber Alerts and helping find abducted children or runaways; -- Help prevent the illegal export of controlled, regulated or prohibited goods from Canada; -- Identify individuals who do not leave Canada at the end of their authorized period of stay (i.e. visa overstays) and provide decision- makers with an accurate picture of an individual's travel history; -- Focus immigration enforcement activities on persons still in Canada and eliminate wasted time and resources spent on issuing immigration warrants and conducting investigations on individuals who have already left the country; -- Verify whether applicants for permanent residency or citizenship have complied with residency requirements; and -- Verify travel dates to determine applicable duty and tax exemptions and continued entitlement to social benefit programs.

Privacy safeguards and information sharing to better protect Canadians

The Government of Canada is committed to keeping Canadians safe while protecting individual rights and freedoms and has built privacy protections into the core of the Entry/Exit initiative.

Exit information will only be disclosed in accordance with Canadian law, and would adhere to the disclosure provisions pursuant to both the Privacy Act and the Customs Act.

Information sharing arrangements must be in place between the CBSA and all partners before any information can be shared. These arrangements would include safeguards and protections on information management and privacy protection clauses.

The Government will continue to engage the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) on the Entry/Exit initiative. All federal partners are required to submit Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) to the OPC to ensure that potential privacy risks are identified and effectively mitigated before personal information is disclosed by the CBSA.

Future deliverables

Once this legislation is passed, Canada will now know when and where someone enters the country, and when and where they leave the country.

The Government of Canada will achieve this ability by working closely with our American counterparts and exchanging information at the land border.

Legislative and regulatory changes are required before future deliverables can be fully implemented.

Future deliverables would include the exchange of basic biographic entry data on all travellers (including Canadian and U.S. citizens) with the U.S. at land ports of entry.

The process of collecting and sharing personal information has been, and will continue to be, done in accordance with each country's privacy laws and policies.

The CBSA would also collect biographic exit information on all air travellers leaving Canada. Exit records in the air mode would be obtained through electronic passenger manifests received directly from air carriers.

The CBSA would not exchange passenger manifest information collected in the air mode with the U.S.

Stakeholder consultation will be undertaken as part of the regulatory development process to ensure Canadians and industry stakeholders have the opportunity to submit their views and comments.

Definitions

Biographic entry information (land mode)

Biographic information includes: first name, middle name(s), last name, date of birth, citizenship or nationality, sex, travel document type, document number, and name of the country that issued the travel document. In addition to the biographic information that Canada and the U.S. currently collect on travellers at ports of entry, the date and time of entry, as well as the port through which the traveller entered, will be exchanged as part of the Entry/Exit initiative.

Biographic exit information (air mode)

Biographic information includes: first name, middle name(s), last name, date of birth, citizenship or nationality, sex, travel document type, document number, and name of the country that issued the travel document. In addition, the date, time, and location of departure as well as flight information will be collected from air carriers for passengers leaving Canada on board outbound international flights.

Contacts:

Canada Border Services Agency

Media Line

613-957-6500




BOSTON, MA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- The New Ireland Fund, Inc. (NYSE: IRL) held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on Tuesday, June 14, 2016.

The only proposals before the meeting were for the re-election of Mr. David Dempsey and Mr. Michael Pignataro as a director of the Fund. The proposals were carried by a significant majority.

The New Ireland Fund, Inc. is a closed-end diversified investment company that seeks long-term capital appreciation through investing at least 80% of its assets in a portfolio of Irish securities. The Fund is managed by Kleinwort Benson Investors International Ltd., a subsidiary of Kleinwort Benson Investors Dublin Ltd. and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol - IRL. For further information, please contact the Fund at (800) 468-6475 or investor.query@newirelandfund.com.

The New Ireland Fund, Inc.

(800) 468-6475

investor.query@newirelandfund.com




Philippa Newman promoted to President, Accessories and Footwear

Michele Chan promoted to President, Women's Ready-to-Wear

Michael Kors Holdings Limited (NYSE:KORS) (the "Company"), a global luxury lifestyle brand, today announced two internal promotions. Philippa Newman will be promoted to President, Accessories and Footwear, reporting to Anna Bakst, Group President, Accessories and Footwear. In addition, Michele Chan will be promoted to President, Women's Ready-to-Wear, reporting to Gia Castrogiovanni, Group President, Women's Ready-to-Wear.

Ms. Newman joined the Company in 2003 and currently serves as Senior Vice President, European Sales and Merchandising for Accessories, Footwear, Women's Ready-to-Wear and Menswear. She was previously Director of Sales for Women's Collection in the United States. Prior to joining Michael Kors, Ms. Newman held various sales and merchandising positions at Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Alexander McQueen and Tory Burch.

Ms. Chan joined the Company in 2007 and currently serves as Senior Vice President, Retail Merchandising. She was previously Vice President, Retail Merchandising for the Company. Prior to joining Michael Kors, she spent more than a decade in various merchandising positions at Lord Taylor and Ann Taylor.

John D. Idol, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are very pleased to announce the promotions of Philippa and Michele, both of whom have already made strong contributions to the Company during their tenures. Philippa has contributed significantly to the growth of our European business over the past seven years, as she worked to solidify partnerships with department stores and specialty stores across the region. Michele has been instrumental in growing our Retail business, as she built the infrastructure in our retail stores both domestically and internationally. The promotions of Philippa and Michele are the result of our succession planning process as well as our training and development initiatives designed to foster a team of best-in-class leaders."

Mr. Idol continued, "Anna and Gia will remain with the Company in their current positions to facilitate a smooth transition of roles and responsibilities to their successors over the next year. Their exemplary leadership and expertise will continue to be instrumental in developing our talent and driving sustainable growth for our organization."

About Michael Kors

Michael Kors is a world-renowned, award-winning designer of luxury accessories and ready-to-wear. His namesake company, established in 1981, currently produces a range of products under Michael Kors Collection, MICHAEL Michael Kors and Michael Kors Mens, including accessories, footwear, watches, jewelry, ready-to-wear and a full line of fragrance products. Michael Kors stores are operated, either directly or through licensing partners, in some of the most prestigious cities in the world, including New York, Beverly Hills, Chicago, London, Milan, Paris, Munich, Istanbul, Dubai, Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on such statements because they are subject to numerous uncertainties and factors relating to the Company's operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning the Company's possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of its business strategy. These statements often include words such as "may," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "seek," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or similar expressions. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on assumptions that the Company has made in light of management's experience in the industry as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors that it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. You should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although the Company believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect its actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements. These factors are more fully discussed in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 2, 2016 (File No. 001-35368), filed on June 1, 2016 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615006313/en/

Contacts:

Michael Kors Holdings Limited

Investor Relations:

Krystyna Lack VP, Treasurer, 201-691-6133

InvestorRelations@MichaelKors.com

or

ICR, Inc.

Jean Fontana, 646-277-1214

jean.fontana@icrinc.com

Media:

Alecia Pulman, 646-277-1231

KorsPR@icrinc.com
Weekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft).

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/15/16 -- Calian Group Ltd. (TSX: CGY) is pleased to announce that its Systems Engineering Division (SED) has signed a contract renewal to provide Satellite Operations Support services to the Canadian Space Agency. The contract spans a two year period, with options to renew into the future.

SED's Satellite Flight Operations team, which has successfully supported the Canadian Space Agency since the very beginning of the Agency's direct involvement in the operation of Earth Observation satellites with the launch of Radarsat-1 in 1994, will carry out day-to-day Satellite Engineering, Flight Dynamics, Spacecraft Planning, Real-Time Console Operations and Ground Systems Maintenance for the CSA's current fleet of satellites: Scisat-1 and NEOSSat, as well as preparing for the operation of future missions as they come online.

"We are very pleased that the Canadian Space Agency has selected SED to continue supporting their satellite mission operations," said Patrick Thera, President of Calian's SED division, "Working together with the CSA over these many years, we have created a center of excellence for multi-mission support of Canada's science missions in space."

This contract represents 23 years of a successful partnership between the Canadian Space Agency and SED, which has fostered the continuous evolution Canada's capability in low-earth orbit satellite operations with an enviable record of achievement in maximizing the useful life of supported missions.

About Calian

Calian employs over 2,500 people with offices and projects that span Canada, U.S. and international markets. The company's capabilities are diverse with services delivered through two divisions. The Business and Technology Services (BTS) Division is headquartered in Ottawa and includes the provision of business and technology services to industry, public and government in the health, training, engineering and IT services domains. Calian's Systems Engineering Division (SED) located in Saskatoon plans, designs and implements complex communication systems for many of the world's space agencies and leading satellite manufacturers and operators. SED also provides contract manufacturing services for both private sector and military customers in North America.

For further information, please visit our website at www.calian.com, or contact us at ir@calian.com

DISCLAIMER

Certain information included in this press release is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties. The results or events predicted in these statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Such statements are generally accompanied by words such as "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" or similar statements. Factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things: the impact of price competition; scarce number of qualified professionals; the impact of rapid technological and market change; loss of business or credit risk with major customers; technical risks on fixed price projects; general industry and market conditions and growth rates; international growth and global economic conditions, and including currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the impact of consolidations in the business services industry. For additional information with respect to certain of these and other factors, please see the Company's most recent annual report and other reports filed by Calian with the Ontario Securities Commission. Calian disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No assurance can be given that actual results, performance or achievement expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking statements within this disclosure will occur, or if they do, that any benefits may be derived from them.

Calian . Head Office . 340 Legget Drive, Suite 101 . Ottawa . Ontario . Canada . K2K 1Y6

Tel: 613.599.8600 . Fax: 613.599.8650 . General Info email: info@calian.com

Contacts:

Calian Group Ltd.

Kevin Ford

President and Chief Executive Officer

613-599-8600



Calian Group Ltd.

Jacqueline Gauthier

Chief Financial Officer

613-599-8600

www.calian.com




Yotpo, a New York City-based content marketing platform, closed $22m in funding.

The round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from existing investors Innovation Endeavors, Marker LLC, Vintage Investment Partners, Blumberg Capital and Access Industries alongside other angels. In conjunction with the funding, Adam Fisher, a partner at Bessemer, joined Yotpos board.

The company, which has raised $50m in total funding to date, intends to use the funds to add more features, integrations and more forms of user-generated content to its platform, expand globallly with multiple offices outside the US and Israel, add 250 people and the option to explore strategic acquisitions.

Led by CEO Tomer Tagrin, Yotpo provides a platform for businesses to transform user generated content into a customer content marketing engine that drives qualified traffic back to the site.

Along with the funding, the company also announced the hiring of a new Vice President, Jeff DiBartolo, formerly of Salesforce Marketing Cloud.

FinSMEs

15/06/2016
Dacor, a Southern California-based manufacturer of ultra-premium kitchen appliances, received a $13.5m credit facility.

Lateral Investment Management provided the growth capital.

The company intends to use the funds to ramp up our manufacturing and to expand its national marketing efforts.

Led by CEO Chuck Huebner and chairman and co-owner Michael Joseph, Dacor is a manufacturer of proprietary, branded ultra-premium kitchen appliances, which integrate function and technology.

The companys appliances are designed and built in California.

FinSMEs

15/06/2016
Relay Network, a Philadelphia, PA-based secure customer messaging company, raised $12 million in funding.

The round was led by existing investors NewSpring Capital with participation from First Round Capital, as well as a new strategic investment through the Independence Health Group organization, the parent company of Independence Blue Cross.

The company, which has now raised $28m in total funding, will use the funds to continue scaling the platform and operations.

Led by Matt Gillin, CEO and co-founder, Relay Network provides businesses with a private, secure communications network to engage and service their customers, and enable more digital interactions by connecting customers to personalized information and support.

Companies using the platform include Independence Blue Cross and Citizens Bank.

FinSMEs

15/06/2016
Singaporean venture capital firm Golden Gate Ventures closed its second early stage fund, at $60M.



The fund was oversubscribed by $10 million, after initially targeting a size of USD $50 million. Investors included Temasek, a European-based media conglomerate, Korean Hanwha Life Insurance and Thi Siam Commercial Bank.

Led by Vinnie Lauria, Managing Partner, Golden Gate Ventures will continue to focus on investing in early stage startups across Southeast Asia, which has seen the emergence of its own unicorns, including Singapore-based gaming company Garena, transportation platform Grab, and Rocket Internets e-commerce company Lazada.

Since 2011, the firm has invested in over 25 companies across more than 7 countries in Asia with a focus on internet & mobile startups across such e-commerce, payments, marketplaces, mobile applications, and SaaS platforms.

The team also includes Jeffrey Paine, Paul Bragiel and Michael Lints.

FinSMEs

15/06/2016
STOCKHOLM/NEW YORKAs AVN reported last night from New York, Charlie Sheen has joined forces with pleasure brand LELO to unveil what experts describe as one of the most important innovations in sexual health for 70 years: LELO Hex, the condom re-engineered.

The company released the following detailed information on Sheen and the new condom's innovative design:

LELO Hex launched globally today on LELO.com at midnight EST, commencing a two-month Hex Appeal project that aims to revolutionize the world of condoms for good. For this period, up to 10,000 backers are able to order LELO Hex before anyone else, with Charlie Sheen endorsing the project as the first major innovation in condoms for 70 years. Having attended an exclusive launch event for Hex in NYC on June 13, Charlie Sheen will now travel to London to attend the U.K. event on June 16.

In an exclusive interview for LELO, Charlie Sheen speaks candidly for the first time on condoms, why he feels condom usage continues to decline, and why LELO Hex can revolutionize safe sex for good. The footage shows:



 Charlie Sheens personal views on condoms and the healing that came from the huge surge in STI-awareness after he announced his HIV-condition in November 2015.

 His personal process of change since announcing his condition, and the role he can play in supporting LELO HEX.

 His surprise at the lack of innovation in the condom industry, and personal opinions on how Hex can help remove the stigma that surrounds condoms today.

See the whole interview on YouTube.com.

Of the launch, Charlie Sheen said, Announcing my HIV condition gave me a new sense of purpose in speaking actively on sexual health. Thats why LELO Hex is such an important project for me. Not only is it a revolutionary product that is ready to go, its something radically different that can help curb the rise of STIs and reduce the stigma on condom usage. If you want to change how people see condoms, a great place to start is by changing the condom itself!

LELO Hex is a condom that is structurally different, aimed at addressing the most common complaints people have with condoms today: that they reduce pleasure, slip frequently and break too easily. It stands as the first major step forward since the reservoir tip was added almost 70 years ago.

According to Filip Sedic, inventor of LELO Hex and founder of LELO Were building a better future and improving the worlds sexual health through innovations in technology and design. The challenge was to make something radically different with a material already approved for condom use. We did this because people need to be having great, safe sex today, not 10 years from now. Thats why all the talk of new condoms has never resulted in a revolutionary design making it onto store shelves. Talk is talk, but innovation is what really changes things.

LELOs engineers spent seven years developing LELO Hex, fueled by one important discovery: to upgrade the condom it wasnt the material that needed to change, but the structure itself. (See video)

LELO Hex integrates 350 individual hexagons through its ultra-thin latex surface to help it perform differently from other condoms today.

Sedic continued, Theres a reason why honeycombs are the shape they are, and why snake scales move the way they do. Its because hexagons are strong, symmetrical, and tessellate perfectly. Theyre one of natures go-to shapes for anything needing to be at once lightweight, and incredibly strong. Thats why the structure of Graphenethe thinnest, strongest material we know of todayis  you guessed it, hexagonal. (See video)

The LELO Hex design is unique in that it combines a 0.55mm hexagonal web with ultra-thin 0.45mm latex panels for thinness and strength combined. This allows Hex to flex and mold to the uniqueness of the wearer, while it channels unwanted stress through the structure itself.

Another feature of LELO Hex was even inspired by Formula 1 wet tires, which have a texture to reduce the chances of slippage. Sedic adds that he has never understood why other brands are emphasizing ribs and dots on the outside, when applying texture on the inside would have such a clear benefit.

Sheen, once the highest paid star on television, announced that he is HIV positive in November last year, having battled the disease since 2011. This sparked a huge surge of interest online in issues surrounding HIV and condoms, quickly becoming a trend dubbed the Charlie Sheen Effect by experts.

While Sheens new link-up with LELO Hex might be a surprising one, its also one that is desperately needed.



Among the many professionals speaking out in favor of Hex, having received samples in advance, is Dr. Sara Nasserzadeh, a thought leader in the field of sexual health and AASECT Certified Sexuality Counselor.



"Early this year (February 19) CDC published a reminder regarding the effectiveness of condoms in preventing unintended pregnancies, viral hepatitis, STIs and increasingly concerning viruses that could be transmitted through sex such as Ebola and Zika. This is if and when male condoms are used in the right way and every time. Hex is a timely intervention by LELO that upgrades condoms to a more appealing level. With its enhanced durability and innovative design, it promises to offer a safer and more pleasurable experience for both partners.

Similarly the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior by the University of Indiana, where only 1 in 4 acts of sexual intercourse are protected. Meanwhile further studies show 1 million people a day contract an STI, and there are no less than 2 million new cases of HIV each year.

LELO CMO Steve Thomson said, STIs are on the rise and new ones are appearing at an alarmingly frequent rate. Meanwhile the condom has failed to keep upin terms of design, its basically the same as in the 1920s. Something needs to change, and for that we wanted a partner who was truly engaged on the topic.

Charlie's personal condition is a tragic reflection on sexual health today, but he is also a symbol of change with the strength and courage to confront the key issues head on. He has gone out of his way to fully involve himself in the Hex project, and we hope his participation will put innovation at the center of the debate. Hes been a pleasure to work with, far beyond all expectations.

Hex Appeal is the first ever global launch of a condom. The 2-month Hex Appeal project offers 10,000 backers around the world the chance to be among the very first to order Hex to see and feel the difference. By engaging these early backers in advance, and allowing them to be the first to experience Hex, LELO hopes to create a mass of positive discussions on safe sex, and drive innovation in the condom industry as a whole.



LELO Hex will be available to order globally June 13 through August 12 with a promotion price of more than 40 percent off retail and free global shipping.

Set up with multiple offers to encourage customers to try Hex, LELO will run the same campaign in partnership with renowned crowdfunding site Indiegogo to inform as wide an audience as possible.

LELO Hex can be ordered on LELO.com for $12 USD (12-pack) with free global shipping, which will change to the regular price of $19.90 USD once Hex Appeal is over.

Those ordering in bulk in advance of the launch enjoy significant discounts and gift cards which can be used on future condom purchases. Equivalent pricing applies globally.

Follow the launch via these Twitter hashtags:

#LELO

#LELOCondoms

#HEXAPPEAL
TactoTek, a Finnish manufacturer of 3D injection molded structural electronics (IMSE) solutions, received a 2.5m EU Horizon 2020 award.

The company will use the funds to mass produce (performed TactoTek itself or licensed production partners) its injection molded electronics (IME) solutions.

Led by Jussi Harvela, CEO, TactoTek is advancing solutions that integrate printed circuitry, printed touch controls and discrete electronic components, such as LEDs and ICs, into light, 3D injection molded plastics as thin as 2mm. By incorporating circuitry and electronics directly into plastic structures, the solutions enable brands to design innovative form factors and consolidate electronics into a single 3D structure.

The company, which prototypes and manufactures products in its Kempele, Finland, factory that includes a vertically-integrated production capability, is funded by Conor Venture Partners, Leaguer VC, VTT Ventures, private angels, and TEKES.

Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument of Innovation Union, a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europes global competitiveness and whose charter includes supporting new industrial technologies that strengthen Europes industrial capabilities.

FinSMEs

15/06/2016
New Delhi: The Civil Aviation Policy, which was released on Wednesday, could prove to be a mixed bag for stakeholders. For incumbent airlines, it means heightened competition in the near future on lucrative international routes. For ground handlers, it means ceding some business to airlines themselves since the policy allows for self handling by airlines.

The two airlinesAirAsia and Vistarawhich were expected to rejoice at the amendment to the 5/20 rule could not however jump in joy. At the end of the day, the new policy turned out to be a mere dilution instead of a complete scrappage of this condition. This restricts their overseas operations.

A clear winner may well be the small towner, the aam aadmi who wants to fly but does not have an airport close enough to take a flight from and even when the airport exists, cannot afford air fares. The policy lays down a broad framework for enhancing regional connectivity with a fare cap, and if it does get implemented, should mean far greater connectivity to India's hinterland. The key to this would be enthusiastic participation from state governments and viability of such routes. But flyers doing Delhi-Mumbai or other trunk routes will have to shell out a little more as the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) will be funded by a cess on such air tickets.

All in all, the policy is big on vision but implementation will remain key to transforming India's aviation landscape.

Also, the fact that various pronouncements of the policy may not please all has not been lost on the government. Perturbed by the hints some incumbent airlines have been dropping over the last few weeks, of dragging the policy to the courts, the government tried hard to woo them. In fact, Civil Aviation Secretary RN Choubey on Wednesday held a meeting with the chiefs of all airlines operating in India, hours before the policy was to be cleared by the Union cabinet, to appeal to them against criticising it in public. The grouse of incumbents like Jet Airways, SpiceJet, IndiGo and GoAir has been the dilution of the regressive 5/20 rule and this is the most likely reason for them to approach the courts, in case they decide to.

Here is a list of 10 proposals which could well change the face of India's aviation business in the next few years:

1. 5/20 to 0/20: All airlines can now commence international operations provided that they deploy 20 aircraft or 20 percent of total capacity (in terma of average number of seats on all departures put together), whichever is higher for domestic operations. This is a departure from the current rule which restricts new airlines from overseas operations unless they have completed five years of domestic operations too apart from the 20 aircraft stipulation. VIstara, the Tata-Singapore Airlines JV, is expected to now commence international operations before it completes three years of existence. It has 11 aircraft now, will take the fleet size upto to 20 in less than a year. AirAsia India's CEO Amar Abrol said a 0/0 or 0/10 stipulation for overseas flying would have been more than welcome but the new policy now "gives us clear direction to ramp up our operations in India and grow our business in the domestic segment before we scale our operations to fly international. We will now focus on aggressively investing in India and increasing the fleet size from six at present and achieving the target of 20 aircraft." As for the incumbent airlines, it remains to be seen how they take this pronouncement.

2. Regional connectivity: This scheme will come into effect in the second quarter of 2016-17. Airfare will be capped at Rs 2,500 per passenger for a one-hour flight and will be applicable if at least one of the airports involved is an under-served airport. This means flights from smaller towns in each states (not the state capital in most cases) can fly passengers to metro cities for a song.

3. Airports' revival: For RCS, the policy proposes revival of airstrips/airports as No-Frills Airports at an indicative cost of between Rs 50-100 crore. Hundreds of our airports have been lying unused because airlines do not find such destinations viable and no flight operations exist at these locations. Over the next few years, at least 50 such airports would be developed.

4. Viability Gap Funding: VGF would be available to airlines which decide to fly on regional routes. This will be in a ratio of 80:20 between the Centre and the respective state government and will be funded through a cess levied on domestic air tickets on trunk routes. VGF should persuade airlines to try their luck on these unviable regional routes.

5. States' offer: RCS will only work in those states which reduce VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel to 1 percent or less, provide other support services such as no airport charges, reduced service tax on tickets (on 10 percent of the taxable value) for one year initially, reduced excise duty at 2 percent on ATF picked at RCS airports. State government will also have to provide police and fire services free of cost besides offering power, water and other utilities at concessional rates at such airports.

6. Route Dispersal Norms: Besides dilution of the 5/20 rule, incumbent airlines will surely have another grouse. The policy says category I (trunk routes) will be increased from 12 to 18. This means proportionate number of seats offered by scheduled commercial airlines on less lucrative Cat II, IIA and Cat III routes will have to be increased. Revised categorization will apply from the upcoming winter schedule of 2017.

7. Bilaterals: It will be Open Skies (no restrictions on number of flights) on a reciprocal basis with Saarc countries and countries located beyond 5,000 km from Delhi. But for countries within 5,000 km radiuswhich means the Gulf nations, Singapore, Turkeywhere the Indian carriers have not utilised 80 percent of their capacity entitlements but foreign carriers/countries have utilised their bilateral rights, a panel will decide on future modalities. This panel will be headed by the Cabinet Secretary and will devise a mechanism for the allotment of additional capacity entitlements. The earlier proposal of auctioning bilateral rights has obviously been scrapped.

8. Ground Handling: Airlines have been allowed to do self handling and this could come as a big blow to ground handlers, some of whom brought in FDI into the sector. The policy also says that every airport operator will ensure that there be three Ground Handling Agencies (GHA) including Air India's subsidiary/JV at all major airports. Also, in another move likely to raise industry hackles, hiring of employees through manpower supplier or contract workers will not be permitted for security reasons.

9. MRO: The MRO business of Indian carriers is around Rs 5,000 crore, 90 percent of which is currently spent outside India. In the budget for 2016-17, customs duty has been rationalised and the procedure for clearance of goods simplified. Under the policy, the Ministry of Civil Aviation will persuade state governments to make VAT zero-rated on MRO activities. Airport royalty and additional charges will also not be levied on MRO service providers for a period of five years from the date of approval of the policy.

10. Silence: The policy is silent on the fate of loss laden Air India and has not put forward any proposal to list Airports Authority of India. It also does little to bring down the cost of operations of existing airlines.
(Editors note: This is an updated version of an earlier article being reproduced in the context of cabinet clearing SBI associates merger with the parent)

The elephant in the Indian banking sector is set to grow even bigger, officially. On Wednesday, the Union cabinet approved the merger of five associate banks  State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Hyderabad as well as Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) with State Bank of India (SBI).

Post the merger, the combined entity will have a total asset size of Rs 28.68 lakh crore as compared with SBIs standalone asset size of Rs 22.63 lakh crore now. That would also mean the difference between the new SBI and its nearest competitor, ICICI Bank, in terms of assets would be a whopping Rs 21.48 lakh crore.

Why this merger now?

Looking at the broader angle, the governments move to merge SBI five associates and BMB with SBI has all the signs of a forced merger. Remember, until recently, SBI chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya wasnt too sure about the merger plan as a priority item on the agenda. This is what Bhattacharya said in August last year.

I dont think this is the right time. Because today there are a lot of challenges and those challenges are more immediate than merging banks. The conversion to digital that is happening at such a fast pace, thats a very big challenge. The fact that we have so many other layers coming in like payments banks, universal banks, licence on tap, disintermediation happening through the crowd funding platforms, crypto currency popping up here and there, so, challenges are multi-fold today, Bhattacharya said.

Even if I merge them, my balance sheet will not go up, the group balance sheet remains the same. And therefore, the valuation I get will remain almost the same. Only thing that will happen is, I can bring about greater efficiency. But I can do that even without merging, she said.

So what has changed since then to say now that time is right for the grand merger? None of the elements Bhattacharya listed above has suddenly become a non-challenge. They are still around, may be even bigger in nature. So, that leaves us with the assumption that the merger idea has come from the government, the owner of Indias public sector banks (PSBs) including the SBI family. Now, why would the government want SBI to merge all its associates and BMB?

The only reason could be to create a big-size bank (SBI is the largest in India by assets but not so big if seen globally) that can compete with global banking giants. Bhattacharya told CNBC TV18 in an interview recently that SBIs total balance sheet size will go up to Rs 37 lakh crore from Rs 28 lakh crore presently post the merger.

But, this raises another key question. Is SBI, often dubbed as the elephant among Indian banks, growing too big in relation to its competitors? This is something former RBI governor, D Subbarao had highlighted in August, 2013. Presently, (there is) significant skewness in the size of banks. The second largest bank in the system is almost one-third the size of the biggest bank. This creates a monopolistic situation, Subbarao said. The problem has grown even bigger since then.

The concern of policymakers worldwide about the 'oversized' financial institutions is justified since if something goes wrong with them, this can have serious ramifications on the whole financial system. This is something that prompted the US federal reserve to finalise a rule in November, 2014 that prohibited any financial company from acquiring another, if the resultant entity's liabilities exceeded 10 percent of the total liabilities of the financial services system.

The rule - Section 622 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act - says once a particular entity reaches the specified concentration limit, that bank cannot acquire control of another entity. Logically, the new rule intends to shield the US financial system from the foibles of 'too big to fail' banks, which could then spark a crisis like the one in 2008 following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, which triggered a global financial meltdown. That meltdown showed that when banks become too big, they can bring down the whole financial system when they lend or invest imprudently.

There is no comparison between US and Indian banking systems in terms of size. But, the concerns apply here as well. In July, 2014, the central bank released a framework to identify domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs) and later classified both SBI and ICICI as systemically important banks. SBI has five remaining subsidiaries - State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Hyderabad and State Bank of Patiala - of which first three are listed. The bank merged two of its subsidiaries State Bank of Saurashtra and State Bank of Indore during former chairman O P Bhatts time, in 2008 and 2010, respectively.

In SBIs case, given the enormous size of the bank compared to its domestic peers, there is an obvious concentration risk that is building up. This is what the RBI has to monitor. If anything goes wrong with SBI, it would have repercussions not only for the bank, but the whole financial system. In a worst case scenario, if a major crisis grips the domestic banking system, a fiscally-constrained government may find it difficult to capitalise SBI, especially if it keeps growing its book at least as fast as the economy. Considering its size and appetite, the elephant is not easy to feed.

Yet again, Subbaraos caution assumes importance. "We don't need monopolies, instead we need four-five banks of big size, as large banks can become too-big-to-fail, leading to moral hazard problems."

Capital to feed bigger state-run banks is another concern. Already, a rapid growth in bad loans coupled with higher capital requirements under Basel-III norms, has necessitated for additional capital of Rs 2,50,000 crore by 2019. Of the Rs 70,000 crore government planned for PSBs over four years, it has already infused Rs 25,000 crore last fiscal. The government wants PSBs to go the market for the remaining amount. If too-big-to-fail banks meet with a crisis situation, can the government support them is a question.

As for BMB is concerned, the idea was a failure form day-1 since creating bank for women and by women assumed that the so-called weaker section would always remain weak and cant be accommodated in the mainstream.

The bottom line is this: As former SBI chairman Bhatt pointed out earlier, it would have made more sense to de-link SBIs associates with the parent since they are doing good on their own. Letting the elephant grow too big can make it much difficult to control.

(Data support from Kishor Kadam)
NEW DELHI India on Wednesday eased a rule restricting when newer airlines can start flying overseas, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said.

Raju said on Twitter that airlines would no longer need to wait for the five years of operations earlier required before they can begin flying abroad, but must still have 20 jets in their fleet.

India's cabinet approved the new national civil aviation policy earlier on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Aditi Shah; Writing by Tommy Wilkes; Editing by Douglas Busvine)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the state government on a petition seeking higher compensation to families of children who died in the Kumbakonam school fire accident in 2004.

The First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan, which heard the plea by one of the deceased's father, K Inbaraj, issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Secretary, State School Education Department, and posted the matter to 13 July for further hearing.

The bench also directed the petitioners' counsel to serve notice on the schools where the tragedy occurred.

The matter relates to the fire tragedy that had occurred on 16 July, 2004 at the compounds of Sri Krishna School and Saraswathi Nursery school where 94 children and a teacher were killed and several others were injured.

Earlier, the court had appointed a retired High Court Judge, Justice K Venkatraman, as one-man commission to determine the compensation to the victims' families.

The commission fixed the compensation as Rs five lakh each to the families of the deceased. With respect to the injured children, the commission found it very difficult to find out the injuries/scars at a later stage.

Apart from Rs 25,000 already paid by the government, the commission fixed an amount of Rs 50,000 more to them.

The petitioner had filed the petition, aggrieved by the compensation, and sought a direction to enhance it to Rs 25 lakh to each deceased's kin, and Rs 20 lakh, instead of Rs six lakh, recommended by the commission, to six seriously injured students, and Rs five lakh from Rs 50,000 to those who suffered minor injuries.

The petitioner prayed that a direction may be issued to the state government to grant the relief within a reasonable time, including nine per cent interest from the date of occurrence of the tragedy.
The state of Telangana declared a "high alert" for polio after an active strain of the virus was found in samples of sewage water in the state capital, Hyderabad.

Rajeshwar Tiwari, Telangana's top health official, said on Wednesday that a vaccination drive will be launched next week after tests revealed the Type-2 polio virus in sewage samples.

The virus was found in regular lab tests conducted on samples of sewerage water collected at Amberpet on 17 May, he added.

He said about 350,000 children ranging from 6 weeks to 3 years old will be vaccinated in the weeklong campaign, which will start on Monday.

Two lakh vaccines were airlifted from Geneva immediately after the virus was detected, Hindustan Times reported. The government will bear the entire cost of medicines and vaccines to be administered to the children in these areas.

The virus strain was detected during random tests of sewage that have been carried out regularly since India was formally declared polio-free in 2014.

On 27 March, 2014, India along with 10 other countries of the South East Asia region was certified polio-free. After almost two decades and Unicefs initiatives, polio was eradicated from the country.

This recent case in Telangana is a cause of worry and concern over the resurfacing of Polio in India. However, Hindustan Times quoted CK Mishra, additional secretary, health ministry, as saying there is no need to panic.

India maintains its polio-free status as we have scanned the area and no polio case has been found, he said.

This is not the first time that a strain has been found but it is a vaccine-derived polio strain that is found commonly in children with low levels of immunity. They excrete it, which is why it is found in the sewage samples, Mishra added.

The last case of the crippling disease in the country was detected in the eastern state of West Bengal in 2011.

With inputs from agencies
LOS ANGELESModelCentrowhich now has more than 10,000 website owners on its platformis launching its next contest, the Share Your Independence Referral Contest.

From now until July 4, ModelCentro is running the Share Your Independence Referral Contest. Participants who tweet at new models about ModelCentro with the tag #ShareModelCentro and include a referrer link from their site (Model'sURL/signup link), as well as mention @ModelCentro and follow ModelCentro on Twitter will be entered to win one of 10 $100 Amazon gift cards. Winners will be drawn at random and announced before July 7. For more information about the contest, visit the ModelCentro blog.

The Share Your Independence Referral Contest gives models even more of a reason to spread the word about the platform and the independence it can provide models who want to run their own business, said Natalie Pannon, head of sales and marketing manager for ModelCentro. On top of the limited-time $100 bonus, the model will get the standard 10 percent of ModelCentro's earnings on each and every account referred.

ModelCentro enables models and studios/agencies to create and run solo membership sites; recent additions include sites for Dani Daniels and Valentina Nappi, who join clients like Kylie Morgan and Tanya Tate.

ModelCentro, now available in the app store on the iPhone and iPad, provides models with a plethora of functionalities in order to manage a successful site. The platform includes social media integrations, hosting, billing, live cam and chat integrations. Models are able to track their revenue on their site as well as through the app, and interact with fans on a deeper, more personal level. With the recent additions of the crowd-funding and pay-per-minute cam show functionalities, ModelCentro models can do even more to reach their career goals.

Ive been working closely with models and helping them build their sites so they can make great strides in their modeling careers. Im so happy that ModelCentro has reached this milestone of over 10,000 models, said Pannon. It is exciting to see the continuous and steep growth of the platform, and hopefully the new treat we have in stock for referrals will attract even more attention!

ModelCentro will soon launch MCProfits, an affiliate program with a myriad of model managed sites available for promotion. The program will feature unique and unsaturated solo sites, cutting-edge technology and promo tools, 50 percent revenue share for joins and rebills, and weekly payouts.

For more information, visit ModelCentro.
United Nations: India is in the process of implementing a project to provide a unique ID card to persons with disabilities aimed at creating a national data base that will enable the government to have real time information on their level of education, income and employment status, the UN was told.

"Data and statistics on persons with disabilities is key to their inclusion in the implementation of the Agenda 2030," said Vinod Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities here on Tuesday.

He said the Indian government is in the process of implementing the 'Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities' project with a view to create a national data base for persons with disabilities, and issue them a unique ID card.

"This would also enable the government to have genuine and real time data on disability covering various aspects such as level of education, income, employment status," he said, adding that the government has also decided to establish the first Central University for Disability Studies and Research

in Kerala.

Aggarwal said the explicit inclusion of persons with disabilities in the global vision of the people-centric,

universal and transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a "significant" achievement for the international community.

"Disability is recognised as a consequence and cause of poverty. Eradication of poverty, the overarching objective of the Agenda 2030, will remain a distant dream without fully realising their potential and contribution in the vision of sustainable development," he said.

Aggarwal noted that an estimated billion people out of the world's population are disabled and 80 per cent of them live in the developing world.

About 27 million persons with disabilities live in India, constituting about two per cent of its population.

He said India is in the process of harmonising the main legislation of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and a new bill 'Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill' is under consideration in the Parliament.

"The proposed law will increase the rights and entitlements for persons with disabilities, protect them from discrimination, facilitate mainstreaming, access to care and treatment and also strengthen enforcement mechanisms," he said.

Aggarwal stressed that the empowerment of persons with disabilities is an inter-disciplinary process, covering various aspects like early detection, intervention, education, vocational training, rehabilitation, accessibility and social integration.

India will launch the National Action Plan for skill development of 2.5 million persons with disabilities by the year 2022 through various schemes and financial assistance to improve accessibility, rehabilitation, education, vocational training and self-employment.

"Raising awareness among public to promote legal rights of persons with disabilities and also to generate affirmative public perception towards them is a priority," he said.

"The private sector and civil society are valued partners in the endeavour to empower persons with disabilities and to build a more inclusive society that is more sensitive to their needs, as envisioned in the Agenda 2030 and the SDGS.

"India remains committed to building an enabling environment so that all persons with disabilities are able to enjoy their rights equally with others and realise their full potential," he said.

Marking the 10th anniversary of a United Nations treaty that protects the rights of persons with disabilities, senior UN officials today highlighted the critical role people with disabilities play as invaluable partners to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

"Through the power of music and the arts, these talented women and men are living examples of our core message: disability is not inability," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a video message, referring to artists from the Beautiful Mind Charity, '4WheelCity' and the Samulnori team who performed at UN Headquarters.

"Let us work together for a world of opportunity and dignity for all, a future of inclusion, one in which we all gain by leaving no one behind," he added.

Implementing the new Sustainable Development Goals for all persons with disabilities is the main focus of the Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) as they meet in New York from Wednesday through Thursday.

Gathering hundreds of disability advocates and government delegates, the 9th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD constitutes one of the largest and most diverse international meetings on disability in the world.

The UN is underlining that the annual review of the Convention will examine the implementation of the binding agreement adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006 to reaffirm that the one billion persons with disabilities - 15 per cent of the world's population- must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and Kanpur, were inducted in the latest top-50 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) University Rankings 2016, pushing the total number of Indian institutes to feature in the list, to a respectable five.

IIT Madras jumped 13 ranks and was placed at 43, while IIT Kanpur stood at 48th position, jumping 10 ranks from its previous position, reported Business Standard. The other Indian universities to have been ranked in the top 50 are Indian Institute of Sciences Bangalore (IISc), IIT Bombay (35) and IIT Delhi(36).

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, this year rose one rank to reach the 33rd position. It achieved a perfect score for 'papers per faculty' , demonstrating the importance research work

Delhi University (DU), which had secured 91st position last year, has jumped several ranks and was ranked 66th, this year.

University of Calcutta was ranked 108th, a big jump from 149th last year, University of Mumbai 145th, while Banaras Hindu University is placed at 155th position. Punjab University is in the 251 to 300 bracket.

India, performance wise, ranks fifth best, from all the 17 countries that feature in this rating. While India has 23 universities in the extended list of the top 350 universities, it is falls behind Taiwan (34), South Korea (54), Japan (72) and China (82), reported The Hindu.

The National University of Singapore and University of Hong Kong retained their first and second positions, respectively.

The London-based education and career consultancy Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Ranking system uses

six performance indicators to assess universities in four areas: research, teaching, employability and internationalization.

The six indicator are: Academic reputation, employers reputation, student-to-faculty ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio and international student ratio.

QS has added another metric this year - staff with a PhD - in order to add another dimension to its analyses of teaching quality.

NUS, that ranked No. 1 for the third year running, acquired a perfect score in four metrics: academic reputation; employer reputation; citations per paper,and international faculty, reported StraitsTimes.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) broke into the top three of the QS Ranking systems, a mere 0.1 points behind Hong Kong University, which was ranked second. NTU performed extremely well in research, being number one for citations per paper in India. NTU's president proclaimed that the higher rank accorded to the university was proof of the extensive investment made in Research, as reported by TodayOnline.

Closer to home, the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) every year, releases a list of the top universities, engineering colleges, architectural institutions and management institutions in the country.

The Indian Institutes of Technology and National Institutes of Technology this year too dominated the engineering category, while the Management category is dominated by Indian Institutes of Management. In the university category, IISc Bengaluru and Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) in Mumbai top the list, followed by Jawaharlal Nehru University and University of Hyderabad.

While the importance of these ranks has often been scrutinized, a national ranking system, will propel institutions into higher world rankings, said a Firstpost report. According to a study on the importance of national rankings, a combination study of the national and international rankings of universities will help create better research policies and help universities become better.
Two grenade blasts took place at two separate places in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday evening, injuring three civilians. The attacks occurred two days after militants targeted a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) post in Udhampur.

The first attack occurred at Shopian police station and the second one at Batapora Chowk. The attacks were timed 10 minutes apart, reported Times Now.

The first attack took place at 5.30 pm when militants lobbed a grenade at the police station building complex in Shopian, a police official said.

The grenade exploded in the compound of the police station without causing any damage, he said.

In the second attack, the ultras hurled a grenade at Batapora chowk, about 200 metres away from the police station, resulting in injuries to three civilians.

The injured persons have been admitted to District Hospital for treatment, the official said.

Security forces have launched an operation to track down the assailants, he added.

A week ago, a grenade was hurled at a CRPF vehicle, injuring four paramilitary troopers and three policemen, in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, reported Hindustan Times.

According to India.com, this is the fourth instance of militant assault in Kashmir in the past one week.

While no outfit has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks on Wednesday, earlier this month Hizb-ul-Mujahideen's top commander Burhan Wani released a video urging the youth to join his outfit and help in the profiling of police officers of their respective areas. If any policeman, army or anybody supporting the Indian cause tries to enter any home at any place in any corner of Kashmir, kick them out. Every Kashmiri has our support, Inshallah. And pelt stones to quell army when they come to your areas because this land belongs to us, he said in Urdu in the video.

With inputs from PTI
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala government on Wednesday made it clear that the state would oppose any proposal to raise the water level of Mullaperiyar dam, a bone of contention between it and neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

State Minister for Water Resources Mathew T Thomas said further steps in this regard would be taken after consulting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other officials concerned.

The minister's statement comes amid reports about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the water level to 152 ft during her New Delhi visit on Tuesday.

"There are media reports that Tamil Nadu chief minister submitted such a request before Prime Minister. There is no official communication in this regard so far. But, we will oppose any move to raise the reservoir's water level," Thomas told PTI.

There were also reports that Jayalalithaa had sought the Centre's support to implement the linking of inter-state rivers of Achankovil, Pampa and Vaipar.

Thomas said the linking of rivers was against the interest of Kerala and the government would raise strong objection against it also, if there was any such move.

"Kerala has always objected to the proposal to link rivers. We will continue to object it," the minister added.

Meanwhile, state Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said the proposal to link inter-state rivers would "adversely" affect the state.

Most of the rivers of the state would become dry and the Kuttanadu and Upper Kuttanadu, areas known for the scenic backwaters, would be the worst affected.

Chennithala also wanted the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the Prime Minister.

Based on the report by the Empowered Committee, the Supreme Court had allowed Tamil Nadu to raise the water level to 142 feet in 2014.
LOS ANGELESRebel Lynn is featured on the box cover of Slutty Times at Innocent High 10, and shows her lust for educational authority in the studios newest DVD release.

In Slutty Times at Innocent High 10, Rebel Lynn is going to France, and asks her teacher to teach her some French. He agreesbut soon, she asks to learn how to talk dirty in the romantic language. He's hesitant at first, but soon he isnt able to resist her tight body.

Im a high school good girl gone bad when I get slutty and act on my hot for teacher impulsesit was a lot of fun, Rebel said. The whole power dynamic is very hot: whos seducing who? Am I being taken advantage of, or is this what Ive really wanted the whole time? You decide.

Slutty Times at Innocent High 10 also stars Alaina Dawson, Elsa Dream, Iggy Amore and Molly Manson. To view the trailer, box cover, cast list and synopsis, as well as purchase the DVD or stream individual scenes, visit AdultDVDEmpire.com.

Fans may follow Rebel Lynn on Twitter and on Instagram.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a review meeting with senior officials of AYUSH Ministry on the preparations of International Yoga Day on 21 June even as the main event at Chandigarh has recorded more than a lakh registrations.

During the meeting, Modi, who will be participating in the event at the Chandigarh Capitol complex, was briefed about various arrangements being made for the function.

"The venue can accommodate 30,000 people but registration has reached 1,20,000. So there will be a deep selection. The fact that people are competing to participate in a yoga event is itself commendable," Secretary AYUSH, Ajit Sharan, told PTI.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh Ajit Balaji Joshi, the registration for the event started on 14 May and was open till 8 June. "Ninety-six thousand people registered online for the event," he said.

Vinita Gupta, director of the department in Chandigarh, said people participating at Capitol Complex have already been earmarked. All those who have registered for the event but are not able to participate at the main venue will be doing yoga at various other locations across the city, she added.

"During the dress rehearsal if we see that someone is not performing up to the mark we can always replace him/her from among those who have registered," Gupta said.

A total of 180 training centres has been set up across Chandigarh and will also be serving as a venue for the event.

Sharan also said that no request has been received so far to declare a holiday on June 21. As it is summer vacations are on and schools and colleges are closed and offices start by 9 am and Yoga event will be over by 8 am, he added.

Last week, Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik had said if demands were made to declare 21 June a holiday he would request the Prime Minister to do so.
Mumbai: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will chair a meeting of home ministers, chief secretaries and directors general of police of coastal states and Union Territories on Thursday.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju and senior officers of the ministry will attend the meeting organised by the Department of Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs.

Dignitaries from the nine coastal states (West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat) and four Union Territories, (Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Inter-State Council Secretariat (ISCS), Registrar General of India, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Shipping, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and

Fisheries and Indian Coast Guard are participating in the meeting, a release stated.

During the pre-lunch session of the meeting, there will be discussions on expeditious implementation of coastal security scheme, institutional set up in states/UTs to review coastal security, constitution of State Maritime Boards, security of non-major ports and single point mooring, coastal mapping, security of islands, distribution of Biometric Identity Cards and Card Readers, colour coding of boats, monitoring of fish landing points and crossing of International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) by fishermen.

There will also be presentations by the Indian Coast Guard and the Coastal States and UTs in which they will be highlighting, before Singh, Rijiju, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Rajiv Mehrishi, Union Home Secretary and Susheel Kumar, Secretary (BM), the steps being taken for ensuring coastal security and their requirements/suggestions for further strengthening it.
Madrid: "Making parents out of our patients," reads an ad in Madrid's metro for one of Spain's many fertility clinics that have opened their doors to husbands and wives, same-sex couples and single women thanks to lenient laws.

Every year, more than 5,000 people walk through the glass doors of the Madrid IVI clinic, where couples sit in a hushed atmosphere, English, Spanish and French wafting through the waiting room to help foreign customers, 20 percent of all its patients.

Sitting in his office behind the reception, where black-and white photos of babies' hands hang on the wall, director Juan Antonio Garcia Velasco says that Spain has become a "reference point" for infertility treatment.

He points for instance to "being able to provide treatment that is banned in many countries."

Up to 50 years old

A law that came into force in 2006 allows women aged 18 or over  be they single, in heterosexual or same-sex couples  to access assisted reproductive technology such as artificial insemination or in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

By contrast, the legislation in neighbouring France bans single women or same-sex couples from undergoing such treatment.

The identity of sperm and egg donors is also kept secret in Spain.

And unlike in other countries such as Britain or France, there is no shortage of eggs in Spain, which already has a strong tradition of organ donation.

Last but not least, Spanish clinics accept women wanting to conceive aged up to 50.

As such, in the latest figures available, some 15,600 treatments took place in Spain in 2011, compared to 3,300 in the Czech Republic, 2,100 in Britain and 1,100 in Belgium, according to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Emmanuelle Lino, whose name has been modified as have those of other women who would only talk on condition of anonymity, is one such satisfied customer in Spain.

The 45-year-old Frenchwoman has only just given birth to a little boy conceived in a Barcelona clinic thanks to an egg donation.

Married, she had tried IVF in Paris, to no avail.

And by the time she wanted to try again, she was unable to as she was older than the 43-year-old age limit fixed by the French social security system. Egg donations in France are also rare.

She had initially thought about going to Belgium, another prized destination for women with fertility problems, but "I was told there would be a huge wait."

So she settled for Spain, where her treatment cost nearly 7,000 euros ($7,800), excluding travel costs.

Mother tongue

Many of the Spanish clinics' foreign customers are women in their forties, in relationships with men, who come for egg donations and associated IVF treatment.

Others ask for their eggs to be frozen  a technique that allows them to conceive later in life.

And Spanish clinics make it as easy as possible for potential foreign customers, with services in their mother tongue.

"I filled in the contact form online and they called me back the very next day, in German," says Silke Khrause.

This 46-year-old single woman who lives near Dusseldorf in Germany had initially thought about going to Denmark for an egg donation, but "everything was in English, it was really complicated."

So she chose Barcelona.

The clinics are also competitive price-wise.

Maria Smith, a 46-year-old British woman, said she had been quoted 7,000 euros for an egg donation in Spain, compared to 13,000 euros in London.

But she eventually settled for her home country, where unlike Spain the donors' identity can be revealed to children born from this procedure once they turn 18  an option she wanted to have for her future son or daughter.

'Uphill struggle'

Spain has some 200 gynaecological centres, more than any other European nation.

According to research firm DBK Informa, the sector is doing well, helped by a general trend of Spanish or foreign women wanting to get pregnant later in life, lenient legislation and foreign demand.

The sector earned 365 million euros in 2014  a turnover that is expected to increase five to six percent a year, it says.

As a result, Spanish fertility clinics have expanded abroad.

IVI for instance has clinics in Portugal and Italy as well as Spain.

But French gynaecologist Joelle Belaisch-Allart warns that allowing pregnancies for older women carries many risks, such as diabetes, premature birth and miscarriages.

"For me it's 45 years old maximum," she says, pointing out that once a woman gets treated abroad and comes home, she and other doctors are left having to follow their potentially-risky pregnancies.

And far from being a walk in the park, such procedures are difficult, and not always successful.

"For patients, it's an uphill struggle," says fertility expert Jacques de Mouzon.

So it was for Sabrina Ferrant, a single French woman who resorted to crowdfunding to collect some of the 5,500 euros she needed for IVF.

Suffering from endometriosis, a condition that can lead to difficulties in getting pregnant and even infertility, she did it in Spain as France only allows such treatment for couples.

And it was worth it. Now 33, she is pregnant with twins.
With the monsoon approaching, you might definitely have seen many frogs bobbing around you. But have you ever wondered how frogs mate? A group of researchers have presented a study on an entirely new mating position seen among Bombay night frogs of the Western Ghats.

The study published in the journal PeerJ explains the breeding behavior of this particular species  Nyctibatrachus humayuni  of frogs. According to the study, the mating takes place as night falls during the monsoons on the overhanging vegetation. The male frog calls out to its female counterpart from the ground. The female approaches the male frog giving her consent by touching the male's head with her feet and then the action begins.

The male mounts the female's back in an embrace  this new mating position or mode of amplexus has been named as dorsal straddle by the researchers. It is different from the other positions as the male frog loosely sits on top of the female, without really grasping her.

According to the study, unlike most other frogs, males of Bombay night frog species ejaculate sperm on the females back, which trickles down and fertilises the eggs immediately after deposition. Thus, the eggs of this species are fertilised without any physical contact between the male and female frogs. The process is quick as the female frog lays eggs in a single bout.

"This is remarkable," said SD Biju, one of the members of the research team from University of Delhi. "Until now scientists believed that male fertilises the eggs by sitting on them after female moves away. This mating position has been seen only in the Bombay night frogs."

Another interesting observation is that of the uncommon occurrence of the female calls in the Bombay night frogs. While it is very common for the male frogs to respond verbally in all species, such behavior in female frogs is reported in only 24 out of more than 6,500 frogs worldwide.

A rare event like predation of eggs by snakes from India for the first time has also been documented in the report. Watch the interesting video below to learn the nightlife of Bombay night frogs:
Mumbai: In a fresh salvo at BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday accused them of being anti-labour and "protecting" interests of industrialists.

"The government protects interests of industrialists and not of workers," Pawar said, addressing a labour convention organised by NCP.

"Till now, government permission was needed to wind up industrial unit having more than 100 workers. Now the limit has been raised up to 300," Pawar said. Such changes will lead to workers losing jobs on a large scale, the former Union minister said.

Taunting state labour minister Prakash Mehta, Pawar said, "When I heard his name, I wondered what is his connection with workers."

Workers should unite in large numbers against this government, Pawar said. "Show them your collective power," he added.
New Delhi: At a time when BJP is aggressively wooing Dalits with an eye on the UP assembly polls, a former head of the party's Scheduled Castes Morcha has faulted its strategy, saying the organisation should go beyond "rhetoric" and the "tokenism of sitting, eating and meeting" with the community as what it wants is "parity not charity".

In an apparent criticism of party chief Amit Shah's much-publicised 'Kumbh Snan' with Dalit sadhus and sharing meal with the members of the community in UP, Sanjay Paswan, also a former union minister and currently a BJP National Executive member, called them a "myopic" exercise which "irritates" Dalits as issues like these were no longer relevant to them.

He also said the party should go beyond honouring Dalit icon B R Ambedkar and acknowledge contributions of his "progeny" like BSP founder Kanshi Ram and former deputy prime minister Jagjivan Ram if it wanted to increase its penetration among Dalits in politically crucial states like UP and Bihar.

"All sorts of rhetoric is going on. We will do this and that for Dalits. We will eat and bathe with them. It is no longer relevant. Issues like entering temple or eating together do not exercise the minds of people. It irritates them. It is myopic. People think Dalits will be happy with such tokenism or symbolism. it is not like that. The aspirations of the new generation of Dalits is different.

"We should go beyond 'sitting, eating, meeting' gesture. Dalits are not merely a vote bank but also thought bank. There should be talk about parity and not charity," he told PTI without naming Shah.

Pitching for the party to include Kanshi Ram in the pantheon of leaders it has adopted from outside its fold, he hailed the "integrationist approach" of BSP founder, who unlike Ambedkar, he pointed out, did not leave Hinduism while fighting for the rights of the SCs.

Paswan noted that even Sardar Patel was not "ours" and had even banned the RSS but has been now appropriated by the party.

"If you do not want to own Kanshi Ram, at least do not disown him. Make at least a passing reference to his works, his speeches," he said.

He recalled that he had put up a photograph of Kanshi Ram in the BJP office when he headed its SC Morcha but it was removed after he was replaced with another leader in the organisational reshuffle in 2014 when Shah took over.

Jagjivan Ram, Kashiram and former President K R Narayanan are held in high esteem by the disadvantaged community, he said.

Over 50 per cent of Dalits had voted for Narendra Modi during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, claiming that the party lacked leaders to win them over to its side in state polls and the community remained behind BSP chief Mayawati in large numbers in UP.

BJP can counter it by projecting a Dalit leader in a big way in the state which is going to the polls early next year, the leader from Bihar said.
WASHINGTON President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande discussed on Tuesday a knife attack outside Paris and the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida - attacks for which Islamic State claimed responsibility, the White House said.

"Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to degrading and destroying ISIL and standing against the broader scourge of terrorism," the White House said in a statement, using an acronym for Islamic State.





(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Chris Reese)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Mumbai: In a fresh salvo at BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad

Pawar on Wednesday accused them of being anti-labour and "protecting" interests of industrialists.

"The government protects interests of industrialists and not of workers," Pawar said, addressing a labour convention organised by NCP.

"Till now, government permission was needed to wind up industrial unit having more than 100 workers. Now the limit has been raised up to 300," Pawar said.

Such changes will lead to workers losing jobs on a large scale, the former Union minister said.

Taunting state labour minister Prakash Mehta, Pawar said, "When I heard his name, I wondered what is his connection with workers."

Workers should unite in large numbers against this government, Pawar said. "Show them your collective power," he added.
Brussels: Belgium's security threat analysis center said on Wednesday it is keeping the security alert status at its current level despite reports that fighters from Syria could pose an imminent threat.

"We are still on level three, quite a high level of threat," said Benoit Ramacker, spokesman for the Crisis

Center. Level three out of a possible four means the threat is considered serious, possible and probable.

The Derniere Heure tabloid reported Belgium's anti-terror office has warned police that fighters with access to weapons could have left Syria about 10 days ago bound for Belgium and France.

The paper, which said it had obtained an alert message, said fighters traveling without passports were believed to be trying to reach Europe by boat via Turkey and Greece.

A Brussels shopping mall, an American fast-food chain and police could be among their targets.

Ramacker said, "these kinds of potential targets are under protection anyway" and that "nothing has changed in terms of security."

He declined to comment specifically on the reports, saying only that "there is a lot of information coming in."

Brussels police said they had not seen any such warning from the anti-terror office.

Belgium has been on level three or above since November, in the wake of the massacres in Paris that killed 130 people, with extra police and military mobilized.

It's not the first report that fighters might have been dispatched to Europe since the 22 March suicide attacks on the Brussels airport and subway that killed 32.

On 19 April, crisis center chief Paul Van Tigchelt said there were signals from Islamic State that fighters were sent to Europe, including Belgium.
Los Angeles: Security has been stepped up at Disney theme parks following reports that the gunman behind the massacre in Orlando may have scouted Disney World in Florida as a possible target.

"Unfortunately, we've all been living in a world of uncertainty, and during this time we have increased our security measures across our properties, adding such visible safeguards as magnetometers, additional canine units and law enforcement officers on site, as well as less visible systems that employ state-of-the-art security technologies," Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler said in a statement.

Authorities have said they were trying to confirm whether gunman Omar Mateen had scouted the park in Orlando, Florida, as well as other locations before his rampage at the Pulse nightclub on Sunday that left 49 people dead and 53 wounded.

Citing a law enforcement source, People Magazine reported earlier that Mateen's wife - Noor Zahi Salman - told investigators that the couple had recently visited Walt Disney World as a potential target.

"Salman told federal authorities on Sunday that her husband had more recently been 'scouting Downtown Disney and Pulse for attacks,'" the magazine said.

A Disney manager in Florida told AFP that Mateen had visited the park in April.

Disney has two theme parks in the United States, one in California and one in Florida.

The company in December had announced new security measures at the two parks following the terror attacks in San Bernardino, California, and in Paris.

Joined by several other popular theme parks, including Universal Studios, it said at the time that it was banning toy guns, adding metal detectors and bringing in specially trained dogs to patrol key areas.
Washington: Orlando shooter Omar Mateen who gunned down 49 people at a gay club in Orlando was a "lone actor" influenced by the ideologies of Islamic State militant group, US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday.

"Terrorist groups like ISIL have called on people around the world and here in the United States to attack innocent civilians. Their propaganda, their videos, their postings are pervasive and more easily accessible than we want," Obama said at the Treasury Department after his meeting with his national security team.

"This (Orlando shooter) individual appears to have absorbed some of that and during his killing spree, the shooter in Orlando pledged allegiance to ISIL. These lone actors or small cells of terrorists are very hard to detect and very hard to prevent," he said.

Mateen killed 49 people and wounded another 53 before he was killed when police stormed the Pulse, one of Orlando's most prominent gay venues, on Sunday.

Obama said that the government is doing everything it could to stop these kinds of attacks.

"But across our government at every level, federal, state and local, military and civilian, we are doing everything in our power to stop these kinds of attacks. We work to succeed 100 percent of the time. An attacker, as we saw in Orlando, only has to succeed once," he said.

Obama said extremist groups have perverted Islam to justify terrorism.

"As President, I have called on our Muslim friends and allies at home and around the world to work with us to reject this twisted interpretation of one of the world's great religions," he said.
The death toll at the Pulse nightclub shooting could have been far higher than 49 if one man had not acted with presence of mind. Imran Yousef, a 24-year-old former Marine Corps sergeant, risked his life to save more than 60 people that night, reported CBS News.

Yousef, who has served in Afghanistan, was employed as a bouncer at the club. On the night of the shooting, he was doing his rounds and had reached the back when he heard the shots go off. Having served in the Marines, he immediately recognised the sounds as gunfire from a high caliber weapon, even as others who heard it initially thought it was fireworks.

He told CBS News that he was at the back of the club and he saw people pouring into the back staff hallway. There was an exit door and he yelled at them to open it but they were too shocked to do so. I am here in the back and I saw people pouring in the back staff hallway.

There was only one choice: either we all stay there and we all die or I could take the chance of getting shot and save everyone else. And I jumped over and opened the latch and we got everyone we could out of there, he said in the interview.

Despite that, he broke down when talking to CBS News. I wish I could have saved more, to be honest. Theres a lot of people that are dead.

According to Marine Corps Times, Yousef served as in the Marine Corps from June 2010 to May 2016 and he deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. He has also received several medals for his service.

The publication also quoted Yousef as writing on his Facebook page (in a post that has since been deleted) that he just reacted by instinct and he was not a hero. In fact, he lost quite a few friends that night and he firmly believes that people should focus on the victims families and friends instead of him.

He later deleted the posts and put up a new one on Wednesday, in which he wrote that the CBS News interview has given him closure. I believe I am finally able to move on from this and get focused back on my goals and my life.

Yousefs brother Ameer told The Daily Gazzette that those goals include being a certified personal trainer. Yousef had quit the Marine two months ago and joined a Pulse a month back. He was also regularly training at National Personal Training Institute in Orlando. In fact, Ameer and other family members were going to be at the Pulse that night but changed their plans at the last minute.

My aunt all of a sudden just said, No, guys, lets not go, and I dont know why but we all listened to her, Ameer was quoted as saying.

It was only when Yousef called them later and told them about what had happened that they realised how fortunate all of them had been.
Baghdad: Sniper fire by Islamic State militants killed a senior Iraqi commander near the northern

Islamic State-held city of Mosul, the extremist group's main bastion in Iraq, as the UN refugee agency warned that thousands of civilians have been newly displaced from that area.

Iraq's Defence Ministry said late on Tuesday that Brig Ahmed Badr al-Luhaibi, the commander of Brigade 71st of Division 15, was killed by a sniper during an operation to retake a village south of Mosul.

The statement lauded al-Luhaibi as a "knight" and said his death would "increase our determination to clear" the entire province of Nineveh, where Mosul is the provincial capital, of IS militants.

Mosul - Iraq's second-largest city - fell to the Islamic State group during the militants' June 2014 onslaught that captured large swaths of northern and western Iraq and also almost a third of neighbouring Syria.

The city, about 360 kilometres northwest of Baghdad, became also the largest city in the extremist group's self-declared caliphate on the territories the militants control.

Along with a major offensive to retake Fallujah, a city in western Anbar province, Iraqi troops have this week resumed small-scale operations to dislodge Islamic State militants from areas to the south and southeast of Mosul.

In late March, the government forces launched a military operation aimed at clearing areas between Makmour and the adjacent Qayara areas outside of Mosul, to the east of the Tigris River, and to cut one of the supply lines to the nearby IS-held Shirqat area.

But retaking Mosul itself is not likely to come anytime soon. It will be an enormous undertaking for the Iraqi troops, even though they are backed by airstrikes from the US-led coalition and have been joined by pro-government fighters, mostly Shiite militias.

Iraqi and US officials have refrained from giving a specific time for a Mosul operation, saying it would take many months to prepare Iraq's still struggling military. Some of the US and Iraqi officials have said it may not even be possible to retake it this year, despite repeated vows by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

The UNHCR said on Tuesday the fighting outside Mosul has displaced over 14,000 Iraqis since March. Of that number, more than 8,000 people left from villages east of the Tigris, putting additional pressure on existing camps for refugees and the displaced.

Since April, 6,700 more Iraqis have crossed into Syria's northeastern Hassakeh province using local smuggling networks. Some of those refugees managed to escape Mosul.
Amarillo: Officers fatally shot an armed man inside a Wal-Mart store in Amarillo after he took two people hostage, including a manager with whom he had a work-related dispute, according to police.

Amarillo police on Tuesday said neither hostage was injured and identified the suspect as 54-year-old Mohammad Moghaddam. Police didn't release any details about Moghaddam, including whether he was former employee or what may have led up to the incident.

Officers responded to a reported shooting at the store around 11 am, amid reports that an armed person was inside and may have had hostages.

Police later said officers made their way inside the store and that a police SWAT crew shot the suspect, though they didn't immediately say whether the man had died. No other injuries were reported.

In a brief statement late yesterday afternoon, police confirmed that Moghaddam had been fatally shot. Police called the incident a "workplace violence event," saying Moghaddam had a work-related dispute with a manager he took hostage.

Wal-Mart spokesman Brian Nick released a statement earlier saying all store associates and customers were safe.

Nick thanked officers, saying: "This was a very difficult situation and we are thankful for the quick response from law enforcement."

Authorities said the investigation was ongoing in Amarillo, a city in the Texas Panhandle. Some nearby streets were closed as a precaution during the incident, including an off ramp to Interstate 27.

The city released a statement earlier in the day, saying only that emergency officials were on the scene of an "active shooter incident."
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Copenhagens most miserable, most brilliant detective is back for his third big-screen outing with A Conspiracy of Faith though the noirish adventures of Carl Mrck are hitting US movie lovers all at once, with all three of his appearances  including also The Keeper of Lost Causes and The Absent One  getting simultaneous releases. Mrck is the creation of novelist Jussi Adler-Olsen in his internationally bestselling crime novels, a stereotypical cynical cop given authentic depths of torment by actor Nikolaj Lie Kaas (A Second Chance). (The novel this film is based on is titled Redemption in the UK; the US version shares a title with the film.) Carl is an even worse mess of existential angst as Faith opens, though he is drawn out of himself by the latest mystery handed to Department Q, the forces cold-case office squad, which he heads. An actual message in a bottle has washed up on Danish shores, and damn if it doesnt look as if it is written in blood, which leads Carl and his partner, Assad (Fares Fares: Zero Dark Thirty) into some horrifying intrigue concerning kidnapped children in a close-knit religious community deep in the quiet Danish countryside. Very dry humor battles with tense creepiness as Scandinavian notions of enlightenment and well-being are challenged: Carl notes that just two kids have gone missing in Denmark in the past 10 years  which might not be accurate but does reflect presumptions about low levels of crime in the Nordic world  but what he and Assad uncover suggests that there could be a chillingly nefarious reason behind such a small number. The religious nature of the case also sees Carls atheism undermined or does it? Menacing, creepy, and morbidly engaging, this is catnip for crime fans.
A new report from the FAIRR investor network has evidenced the increased focus by retailers to provide more affordable plant-based meat and dairy alternatives to meet... Read More
Wal-Mart (WMT 0.47%) recently announced that it will no longer accept Visa (V 1.92%) cards at its Canadian stores after failing to reach an agreement on "acceptable" swipe fees. The new policy will take effect on July 18 in its Thunder Bay, Ontario locations before rolling out in phases across more than 370 stores nationwide.

Visa's swipe fees in Canada range from 1.42% to 2.08%, which seems comparable to Mastercard's (MA 1.90%) 1.44% to 2% fees. However, Mastercard offers much lower rates (as low as 1.26%) to larger retailers if they exceed a net purchase volume of $3 billion. Wal-Mart Canada didn't address those figures in its press release, but noted that it paid "over $100 million in fees to accept credit cards" every year, and that lower swipe fees were "necessary" to keep prices low.

Why Wal-Mart and Visa can't get along

Back in 2013, a U.S. federal judge approved a $5.7 billion class action settlement between merchants and Visa and Mastercard. But Wal-Mart, Target, and Amazon opted out of the settlement for the freedom of pursuing damages on their own.

The following year, Wal-Mart sued Visa for $5 billion in a U.S. District Court. The two sides seemed to be negotiating a settlement last October, but Wal-Mart's new ban on Visa cards in Canada suggests that those talks have fallen apart.

Wal-Mart's ban in Canada suggests that it might even dump Visa's cards in other markets like the U.S. Losing the world's top retailer would hurt Visa, but Visa likely thinks that Wal-Mart can't block the world's biggest payments processing network without alienating customers. Wal-Mart sued Visa again this May, claiming that the payments network was preventing it from having an extra safeguard against fraud, by disallowing shoppers to enter PIN codes for chip-enabled debit cards.

How this affects mobile payments

Wal-Mart's ongoing battles with Visa have greatly shaped its attitude toward NFC (near field communications) mobile payment solutions like Apple Pay and Alphabet's Android Pay. Wal-Mart still blocks NFC payments at its stores because they are processed as credit card transactions with the standard swipe fee.

That's why Wal-Mart and a consortium of retailers called MCX launched their own QR code-based mobile payments platform called CurrentC in 2012. CurrentC bypasses credit card networks and uses an older platform called an automated clearinghouse, which is much slower but can cost 90% less than credit card swipes.

However, CurrentC never caught on because the app had to be linked to personal checking accounts, gift cards, or retailers' private-label payment cards. The QR codes were also considered inefficient compared to the simple tap-and-pay function of NFC chips.

Mixed signals from Wal-Mart

Last December, Wal-Mart seemingly gave up on CurrentC by unveiling Walmart Pay, a new mobile app for iOS and Android which works with all credit cards, debit cards, and Walmart gift cards across the U.S.

The app still uses QR codes instead of NFC, but its compatibility with major credit cards indicates that it's willing to pay credit card companies swipe fees from its mobile app. However, by integrating Walmart Pay with its core app, which had 22 million users at the end of last year, the retailer hopes to track customer purchases and offer targeted promotions. Wal-Mart probably believes that data will provide its credit card swipes with more added value than simple card transactions. Wal-Mart also insists that it still hasn't given up on CurrentC entirely.

It's all about the margins

Wal-Mart popularized "everyday low prices", but that strategy now faces intense pressure from e-tailers with lower overhead costs. Wal-Mart already matches the prices of any online retailer, including Amazon, but it's also spending billions on wage hikes and e-commerce investments.

Wal-Mart finished last quarter with an operating margin of 4.5%, compared to 4.9% a year ago. Total operating income fell 7.1% annually. The company expects those contracting margins to cause its earnings to decline up to 12% this year.

Cutting costs in areas like swipe fees could offset those declines. Wal-Mart is clearly declaring war against Visa with its ban in Canada, but it's unclear if the company is bold enough to implement that ban in a bigger market like the U.S. Therefore, investors in both companies should keep a close eye on this game of chicken to see which company flinches first.


Pastor Maldonado could scent blood - and more importantly a Grand Prix podium - as the chequered flag drew near, and rightly so. Lewis Hamilton had held second for much of the race, but his tyres had gone off the edge of the cliff - the Briton would later say it was "almost like I had flat tyres at the back". Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen had already taken advantage, and now Maldonado was closing rapidly in. Down the main straight and through the first turns the pair went side by side, inches apart, and while Maldonado managed to get his nose in front, Hamilton ultimately held sway. The Williams man was undeterred though, and launched another attack down the back straight, attempting to stick around the outside of Turn 13 and thereby gain the inside line for the coming left-hander. Hamilton was wise to the move and tried to run Maldonado out of track, but the latter refused to back down - and disaster ensued.

"I don't know why he drove like that," Maldonado would later complain - "he was struggling too much with tyres". The stewards disagreed, giving Maldonado a post-race penalty that dropped him from 10th to 12th. Unlike Maldonado, Hamilton was unable to continue - but he was unrepentant about his staunch defence. "You never let people past," was his mantra. "You've got to race for every position you can get..."
In February 2016, professional services firm Accenture (NYSE:ACN) made history by being the first firm to release its internal diversity statistics. But it wasnt because the consulting giant was proud of the results and wanted to flaunt them. Accentures North America CEO Julie Sweet made the decision to publish the data because she wants to improve the numbers and was not happy with the current progress.

It was for me a contradiction to say we want everyone to understand how its important but were not sharing where we are said Sweet to FOXBusiness.com.

Accenture has over 40,000 employees in the U.S. In releasing the numbers, the firm revealed that it is composed of approximately 36% females and 64% males. The numbers are similar for executives, with approximately 31% of women holding executive roles and 69% of men in executive roles.

When it comes to ethnicity, just about half of Accentures employees are Caucasian, with the second and third next largest racial groups being Asian and African-American, respectively.

Accenture has committed to building on its existing employee base of over 1,000 veterans by hiring 5,000 more by 2020.

Sweet says that releasing the statistics was meant to disrupt things.

We invest a great deal in programs and awareness and training and yet we werent making the progress we wanted to make she says. And one of the most important changes is behavioral, according to Sweet, which she hopes to achieve through both internal and external dialogue.

Releasing diversity statistics, though, isnt just a public relations stunt. The benefit to businesses is tremendous. Sweet told an anecdote about how diversity helped gain Accenture a client once. Before the firm was selected for a project, a competitor put forward a team made up of all white men. The client turned down the team, citing that the program they were launching was cutting edge and needed innovation by way of a diverse group.

Business leaders understand this and theyre making changes and we see that says Sweet.

Sweet also noted that this transparency helps attract and retain top talent. Am I in a place where my diversity is not only tolerated, but also welcomed and celebrated? says Sweet.

Both the internal and external reaction to the statistics has been extremely positive says Sweet. While she wouldnt comment on other firms, Sweet said that outside of Accenture, theyve been cheering us on.

What Sweet says has been the biggest affirmation in releasing the statistics is the number of white, male managing directors who have reached out to Sweet either in person or via email to thank her.

Now that Accenture has released its statistics, the professional services firm is in the post-learning period with the hope of entering the next fiscal year with new, concrete steps. Were not going to change overnight that we have a majority of all white male leaders Sweet says.

Already, Accenture is implementing an employee referral system, offering higher monetary bonuses for referring diverse candidates who are hired.

One thing Sweet learned from her male MDs is that they have a desire to mentor diverse employees, but find it to be uncomfortable to have to pick a mentee. A couple of leaders said Im not always comfortable picking someone myself to foster or mentor. It doesnt feel like a natural act to them to go pick a diverse person says Sweet.

While Accenture does have employee mentoring programs, theyre not present in every office yet; Sweet is working to change that. Expanding the mentoring programs is a direct result of Sweet listening to employees, something shes focused on doing to develop plans for building a diverse workforce.

What Sweet wants to emphasize though is that, yes, tone at the top and employee programs are important, but whats most crucial is behavioral change.
Image sources: Sierra Wireless, Movimento.

Automakers are facing a problem of increasing complication, and Sierra Wireless Inc. wants to help them simplify.Last week, the Internet of Things company announced a new partnership with car software specialist Movimento Group to provide original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for autos the first commercially available cloud-based platform to streamline vehicle software installation and updates.

So what's the draw of such a solution? According to Sierra Wireless, every vehicle has "numerous software programs running on an network of electronic control units (ECUs) that need to be individually managed and maintained." By contrast, the Sierra Wireless-Movimento platform allows automotive OEMs to perform an over-the-air update to all ECUs simultaneously.

Of course, this isn't necessarily a problem for vehicles leaving the factory. But Sierra Wireless also points out thatover the past five years alone, 189 separate software recalls have been issued by automakers encompassing 13 million vehicles. "With the Sierra Wireless-Movimento solution," the company states, "these recalls could be easily and efficiently resolved over the air, and without missing any vehicles."

Mahbubul Alam,Movimento chief technology officer and chief marketing officer, elaborated,

That's not say such a platform wasn't already on automakers' radar. In fact, IHS already predicts the majority of automakers will introduce an over-the-air software update solution to their vehicle lineups in the next three to five years. So more than anything, Sierra Wireless' and Moviemento's solution represents an early effort to ensure their OTA software platform will serve a central role in accelerating adoption.

This should also serve to further diversify Sierra Wireless' own revenue streams early in its own long-term growth story. Most recently, last month, Sierra Wireless managed to exceed expectations for both revenue and earnings per share in its latest quarter, despite seeing the former decline 5.1% year over year. For that, Sierra Wireless partly blamed shifts in the timing of orders from a single automotive customer, and soft demand from a few other auto customers given the current uncertain macroeconomic environment.

And though Sierra Wireless simultaneously reported solid design win activity in the automotive space -- which indicates it may enjoy an advantage given its existing relationships with automakers -- let it suffice to say Sierra Wireless would love for incremental revenue from a new automotive solution to help smooth out similar sector-specific hiccups going forward.

At this stage, however, keep in mind this new automotive over-the-air software product is also still in its early stages, as the two companies only just demonstrated their solution for the first time at Sierra Wireless' fourth annual Innovation Summit on June 14. As such, investors would be wise to listen for any color from Sierra Wireless management in future conference calls regarding automakers' initial response to this innovative offering. If that response is largely positive, you might have Sierra Wireless to thank for bringing a more seamless software experience to your vehicle in the coming years.

The article Sierra Wireless, Inc. Wants to Beam Software Updates to Your Car originally appeared on Fool.com.

Steve Symington has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Sierra Wireless. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
TheS&P 500might be flirting with all-time highs, but that doesn't mean that every stock has benefited from the prosperity. In fact, several healthcare stocks likeAlexion Pharmaceuticals(NASDAQ: ALXN),Opko Health(NASDAQ: OPK), andNovo Nordisk(NYSE: NVO)have taken a drubbing over the past year. Do their discounted prices make them worth buying? Let's take a closer look.

Image source: Getty Images.

Corner office controversy

Investors in rare-disease focusedAlexion Pharmaceuticals have faced numerous setbacks that have resulted in a collapsing share price. Fromdisappointingclinical trial results to allegations of fraud that lead to a few executivesbeing shown the door, it isn't hard to figure out why shares have dropped 23% over the past year.

Despite all of the negativity, Alexion's business continues to hum along. Last year the company's top-line rose 18% to more than $3 billion thanks to healthy growth in Soliris and increasing demand forStrensiqand Kanuma. Management expects the good times to continue and is guiding for double-digit gains in revenue and EPS for 2017. When combined with the waning share price, the company's board even gave the go-ahead on a $1 billion share repurchase program.

While the executive shuffle doesn't exactlyinspire confidence, Alexion's business continues to impress me. Rare disease drugs are extremely profitable, and the likelihood of competition developing in these niche areas is slim. With shares trading around 23 times the midpoint of management's full-year guidance range, I think there is reason to believe that Alexion's stock could be a bargain.

Down, but not out

Investors in Opko Health had to stomacha punishing dropearlier this year after the company reporteddisappointing late-stage results for its experimental human growth hormone product. Opko's drug failed to demonstrate a statistically significant change in trunk fat mass when compared to placebo. That was seen as a major setback for the company since its partnerPfizerwould have had to pony up millions inmilestone payments had the trial succeeded and led to FDA approval. The disappointment has caused shares to fall more than 33% over the past year.

Does this failed trial blow a hole in the bull case for Opko's stock? I don't think so. While it was certainly a setback, Opko already has several other products on the market that are poised to drive strong revenue growth from here. This includes the company's4Kscore prostate cancer test, which is rapidly gaining reimbursement access. Opko's newly launched drugs Varubi and Rayaldee -- which treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease, respectively -- also look poised for rapid market share gains from here.

Finally,Okpo'smanagementteam isn't convinced that itshuman growth hormone product is dead in the water, either. The company believes that a few outliers in the placebo group might have impacted the trial's result. In response, they said they plan on moving forward with Pfizer to seek approval.

In total, there's ample reason to believe that Opko still has a bright future ahead. If you agree, then picking up shares while they are still on sale might prove to be a savvy move.

The reimbursement squeeze is on

Given the growing prevalence of diabetes, you might be surprised to see that the Danish drug giantNovo Nordisk made its way onto today's list. However, Novo Nordisk has actually the worst performing stock of this group. Shares are down more than 35% over the past year.

What can explain the drubbing? Novo's shares have beensinking because insurance companies have been pressuring insulin makers to reduce their prices in order to remain on formularies. Given the healthy competition from companies likeEli LillyandSanofi, Novo has been forced to play ball with its legacy products. That has put the squeeze on margins, so management cut the company's long-termoperating profit growth target guidance from 10% down to 5%. Wall Street wasn't pleased with the news.

Thankfully, there are reasons to believe that the longer-term picture for Novo still looks bright. The company's newly launched diabetes drugs such as Tresiba, Victoza, and Ryzodeg are all growing rapidly. Novo also has a few exciting new drugs that should be coming to market soon like Fiasp, an ultra-fast rapid-acting mealtime insulin, and Xultophy, a combination of Victoza and Tresiba. These cutting-edge drugs could help to restore the company's long-term growth profile.

While Novo's beat-down hasn't been fun to watch, it could represent a great buying opportunity for patient investors. Shares are trading around 16 times trailing earnings, and the company's dividend yield has been pushed above 3%. Those are attractive numbers for a company that is still posting growth, so I for one believe that the stock could be a bargain.

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Brian Feroldi owns shares of Alexion Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Image source: United Soybean Board/Flickr.

Earlier this month I examined three reasons that the stock of the world's largest producer of potassium nutrients for agriculture, Potash Corp. , could fall. Those reasons included rising North American inventories of potash, uncertainty from China and India in deal structuring, and the potential for further dividend cuts. While I'm currently leaning more toward the pessimistic argument, I also admit that I do not have the ability to predict the future. It's always good to examine multiple points of views of the companies you own or are researching. With that in mind, here are three reasons Potash Corp stock could rise.

Billionaire's bet

The following two things are true: I cannot predict the future and I am not a billionaire (yet?). The same does not apply to Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, who was featured in the recent book "Originals" by Wharton School professor Adam Grant. Dalio can't predict the future, either, but his fund recently disclosed a position in Potash Corp. totaling some 721,000 shares. Apparently, the market's pessimism for anything associated with the fertilizer industry is not enough to scare away Bridgewater.

While it will take at least a few more quarters for global markets to better balance supply and demand of potash, Dalio's move could be good news for investors. It's especially interesting because the fund sold out of its previous position in Potash Corp. in 2Q15 -- a move that avoided a nearly 50% loss had the shares remained in the fund's portfolio. This may not signal anything of significance, but it could be the beginning of a value play by one of the world's top investors and best-managed funds (and company of any kind, for that matter).

Spot markets replacing contracts

The uncertainty injected into the investment thesis for Potash Corp. was listed as a reason the stock could fall in the most recent article. After all, India and China represented 15% of the company's total potash sales by volume in 2015. But the uncertainty could also create a great opportunity for Potash Corp.

That's because the company sells to international buyers through Canpotex, a cartel collectively controlled by Potash Corp., Agrium, and The Mosaic Company. It may turn out that any shuffling of the global status quo favors the logistical and marketing might of Canpotex more than any individual sellers. Of course, the opposite could also be true, but if markets begin to recover there's little reason to believe that Canpotex won't be among the first to benefit.

Increased production capacity

Nothing forces a company to root out operational inefficiencies quite like market turmoil. Potash Corp. has responded to an oversupplied market by closing two facilities -- one temporarily and one permanently -- that represented about 7% of finished product volumes and 8% of raw ore mined by the company in 2015. While investors will take a hit in 2016 from reduced volumes, Potash Corp. successfully increased the volume of finished products by 17% from 2013 to 2015, despite only mining 13% more ore in that time period. That bodes well for the long-term health of the company. Once markets find a new equilibrium, investors may own a company that is stronger than ever before, which could expedite any recovery.

What does it mean for investors?

For investors looking for above-average dividends and value stocks, the fertilizer industry offers intriguing potential. However, it's important to remember that things can still get worse, and average selling prices thus far in 2016 hint that more pain might be doled out by Mr. Market before the situation improves for Potash Corp. Therefore, I see no reason to rush into an investment, but would remind investors to remain patient and have realistic expectations for the timeline of any potential recovery.

The article 3 Reasons Potash Corp. Stock Could Rise originally appeared on Fool.com.

Maxx Chatsko has no position in any stocks mentioned. Follow him on Twitter to keep up with developments in the engineered biology field.The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Image source: Getty Images.

Global spending on cancer medicines topped $107 billion last year, and is expected to reach $150 billion by 2020.Over the past decade our understanding of how different cancers evade the immune system has grown immeasurably.Accordingly, in the past ten years the number of potential cancer medicines in mid- to late-stage clinical studies has grown 63% to 586, involving a whopping 511 companies.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the swarm of incoming drugs, relax. We've got you covered. We asked four analysts from The Motley Fool which cancer drug developers they'll be focusing on most this year. Here's what they had to say:

1. Exelixis: Out of the weeds

Sean Williams: If I were to guide investors to a cancer drug developer that they need to have on their radar this year, I would suggest paying close attention to Exelixis .

Image source: National Cancer Institute.

Exelixis has had a major turnaround in the past year and a half, thanks in large part to cabozantinib -- which is being marketed as Cabometyx and Cometriq. Cabometyx is the company's Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for second-line advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Cabometyx is the only therapy thus far to offer a statistical improvement in three key areas: overall response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival. With Exelixis getting its first large-scale therapy approved (Cometriq's approval for metastatic medullary thyroid cancer only has a global patient pool of around 1,500 patients), we could see revenue really begin to tick higher in the coming quarters. Exelixis no longer has any near-term funding concerns after entering into a licensing agreement with Ipsen Pharmaceuticalsthat gives Exelixis a whole lot of cash and gives Ipsen exclusive rights to cabozantinib everywhere except U.S., Canada, and Japan.

Exelixis is also working on a number of label expansions. The CELESTIAL study is an attempt to get Cabometyx approved to treat advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, with a data readout due in 2017. Additionally, Exelixis recently reported data from the CABOSUN study showing that Cabometyx led to a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival in a first-line head-to-head study in RCC against Sutent, the current standard of care. We could very well hear about the design of a phase 3 study in first-line RCC later this year.

Finally, Exelixis should benefit from the uptake of Cotellic, its FDA-approved metastatic melanoma therapy that's given in combination with Roche's Zelboraf. The collaboration will shift toward Roche taking more revenue (and profit) as sales of the drug expand, but in the initial launch we should see Exelixis netting the lion's share of Cotellic/Zelboraf combination revenue.

Things are starting to look up for Exelixis, and I'd suggest biotech-savvy investors add this cancer drug developer to their watchlists.

2. Celldex Therapeutics: Overlooked and under-appreciated

Cory Renauer:One cancer drug developer I'll be watching closely this year isCelldex Therapeutics . Following the failure of its first drug -- Rintega, meant for treatment of advanced brain cancer -- toundergo a phase 3 trial, the market severely punished this clinical-stage biotech. Rintega performed in line with its earlier trials, but the comparison group receiving standard-of-care outperformed historical averages, and the stock was crushed.

Image source: Celldex Therapeutics.

However, Wall Street has ignored the rest of this company's exciting clinical pipeline. It has three separate programs, one of which is in a trial that could support an application in a large, under-served population: triple-negativebreast cancer patients.

The indication gets its name because the tumor cells don't express the common targets used in existing therapies. However, a large proportion of the 170,000 triple-negative cases diagnosed worldwide do express a target Celldex's glembatumumab vedotin looks for: gpNMB.In a previous study, a small group of women with advanced triple-negative breast cancer that over-expressed gpNMB receiving glembatumumabwent twice as long without disease progressionas patients receiving standard therapies.

Glembatumumab is in a larger study designed to support applications for approval in the U.S and EU. The trial's main goal is delaying disease progression, and it could have results by the end of the year, or shortly after,making this one stock you'll want to keep an eye on.

I think Glemba alone makes Celldex a buy, and additional drugs in its pipeline have also shown encouraging results. I'm not the first to notice, as a handful of billionaire investors have been scooping up shares on the cheap. Maybe they're on to something.

3. Ziopharm Oncology: An exciting new approach

: Ziopharm Oncology isn't just another wannabe player in the crowded chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells (CAR-T) cancer space. The clinical stage biotech has the ability to control genes and CAR-T cells in a way that could eventually vault it to first place. How could that be? Ziopharm's suite of breakthrough technologies, including the RheoSwitch, could lead to safer, more versatile and affordable anti-cancer drugs.

Image source: National Cancer Institute.

CAR-T offer an exciting new approach to cancer treatment, but the treatment often creates highly toxic side effects. Ziopharm's RheoSwitch, however, allows those effects to be tightly controlled in an efficient manner. That's a big plus in the large and growing immunotherapy industry, pegged in 2018 estimates at close to $70 billion.

And there's another plus for Ziopharm: Through its partnership with Intrexon, the company has automated the mass production of CAR-T treatments. Although well behind Juno Therapeutics and Kite Pharma in the commercialization race, its competitors' CAR-T therapies are highly individualized, requiring intensive time and money. By contrast, Ziopharm intends to leverage Intrexon's technology to create an off-the-shelf solution.If it works, this company could stake out a big piece of the market terrain with cheaper drugs.

Ziopharm is only suitable for those with extremely high-risk tolerance, as ongoing cash concerns will keep attracting short sellers. But its cash position is not dire -- there's enough on handto fund planned operations through most of 2017. A high profile endorsement from Merck helps: the Big Pharma handed over $115 million upfront, along with a commitment of $941 million more in milestones, for two CAR-T programs.

Recent news about Ziopharm's leading treatment (currently in Stage1/2 trials) has been positive. All else being equal, though, it's the tiny biotech's use of synthetic biology to produce DNA-based therapies that make it so exciting and worth putting on your radar.

4. Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Already profitible, and poised for growth

Developing a drug that holds promise as a treatment for cancer is risky business, and the failure rate can be quite high. That's why it often takes a strong stomach to put money to work in the space, which keeps many investors away.

However, I think that investors with a moderate tolerance for risk could learn to likeJazz Pharmaceuticals PLC . Unlike most cancer developers, Jazz is already highly profitable thanks to its blockbusternarcolepsy drug Xyrem. But Jazz is also building out its presence in the oncology space. Right now the company markets Erwinaze, a drug used to treatacute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is a type of blood cancer. Sales of Erwinaze are currently hovering around $200 million per year, but the drug's growth has stalled recently.

Image source: National Cancer Institute.

To help reignite growth in its oncology franchise, Jazz recently spent $1.5 billion to acquire Celator Pharmaceuticals , a clinical-stage biopharma focused on cancer. Celator's lead product candidate is called Vyxeos, which is being studied as a potential treatment for the blood canceracute myeloid leukemia.

Jazz believes that Vyxeos holds a lot of potential, and it's not hard to figure out why. In Phase 3clinical trials, patients who used Vyxeos increased their overallsurvival rate to9.56 months, which is a huge improvement over the 5.95 months observed in patients who received current standard of care treatments. In addition, Vyxeos showed a hazard ratio of 0.69, which represents a 31% reduction in the risk of death, and the number of patients alive after 24 months increased to 31.1% on Vyxeos compared to only 12.3% for those who used traditional treatments.

Understandably, these results have excited regulators, and the FDA has given Vyxeos the much coveted "breakthrough therapy" designation. Vyxeos also already holds orphan drug status in both the U.S. and E.U., so it represents a great strategic fit with Jazz's orphan disease focus.

Celator is currently in the process of preparing Vyxeos for a regulatory submission, and if all goes well it could be on the market by the second quarter of 2017. With some analysts believing that Vyxeos could eventually top $1 billion in global sales, Xyxeos could eventually become a blockbuster. Jazz even expects that this deal will be accretive to its Non-GAAP earnings starting in 2018.

Investing in companies that have exciting cancer treatments is usually quite risky, but since Jazz is already highly profitable and we already have Phase 3 trial results for Vyxeos, I think the risk here is about as low as it gets for a cancer treatment developer.

With Jazz's stock trading for about 13 times full year earnings estimate, this is one cancer drug developer that I think is a smart bet.

The article 4 Cancer Drug Developers You Need to Have on Your Radar This Year originally appeared on Fool.com.

Brian Feroldi has no position in any stocks mentioned. Cheryl Swanson has no position in any stocks mentioned. Cory Renauer has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sean Williams owns shares of Exelixis. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Exelixis. The Motley Fool recommends Celldex Therapeutics. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA show car, unveiled last year, is thought to be a preview of the styling of Mercedes' upcoming electric luxury vehicles. Image source: Daimler.

Daimler will unveil a prototype of the first long-range Mercedes-Benz electric car at the Paris Motor Show in October, company officials said on Monday.

What we know about the new electric Mercedes

It's designed specifically for battery-electric propulsion: Officially, the car that will be shown in Paris will be a concept -- meaning that there may be features or aspects of its styling that won't make it to production. But the architecture of the show car won't be fanciful; it will be a genuine prototype. Like Tesla Motors' vehicles, it will be designed from the start for battery-electric propulsion, not modified from a gasoline-powered model.

Its range will be competitive withTesla's Model S and Model X:Daimler promises that the new Mercedes electrics will have ranges of "at least" 500 kilometers (311 miles) as tested by the European Union. As U.S. tests are somewhat stricter, that probably translates into an EPA-rated range of 260 to 270 miles or thereabouts -- right in line with Teslas equipped with the 90 kilowatt-hour battery.

There are (at least) four all-electric Mercedes planned: The new architecture is expected to form the basis of four new Mercedes models: Two sedans (midsize and large), and two SUVs (also midsize and large). The large SUV is said to be larger than any SUV in Mercedes' current lineup.

The show car will probably be a sedan: The midsize sedan is expected to be the first of the four Mercedes-Benz electrics to come to market (possibly in 2018). The show car will probably be a close-to-final version of that sedan. There have been hints that its styling will follow that of the concept car pictured above: Distinctive and different from the company's gas- and diesel-powered models, but still immediately identifiable as a Mercedes-Benz.

It will use battery packs from a Daimler subsidiary: Daimler set up its own battery company, called Deutsche Accumotive, in 2009. Deutsche Accumotive already has one battery-pack factory up and running in the German city of Kamenz, with another set to begin construction this fall. Like Tesla's Gigafactory, the Deutsche Accumotive facility also makes batteries for stationary storage units for residential and industrial use.

But: Deutsche Accumotive builds battery packs and related control systems. It doesn't make the individual lithium-ion battery cells that go into them. Where will Daimler get its battery cells, and how many will it be able to get? That's not currently clear.

It won't use proprietary fast-charging technology: Daimler said that all Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles from 2018 on will use direct current (DC) charging based on the existing Combined Charging System (CCS) standard, common in Europe. "Depending on the vehicle and battery system, this enables a charging capacity of up to 150 kW at fast charging stations," Daimler said in a statement.

For comparison, Tesla's Superchargers currently deliver "up to 120 kW," according to the company's website, though it's expected that Tesla will push that number higher over time.

What we don't know yet about Mercedes-Benz's electric-car plans

How many battery-electric vehicles will Mercedes build? Daimler said that its production of electric vehicles will be "in the six figures by 2020" -- but that figure appears to include plug-in hybrids, as well as shorter-range electrics sold under Daimler's Smart brand. With respect to the Mercedes-Benz battery-electric vehicles, we don't yet know the capacity of the production line(s) that will build them. Will they be serious volume competition to Tesla's Model S and Model X, or expensive limited-production models intended to help the company meet ever-tightening emissions rules? That's unclear right now.

Another view of the Mercedes-Benz Concept IAA electric car. Image source: Daimler.

When will the new electric Mercedes go on sale? Officially, Mercedes is only promising that the cars will hit the market by the end of the decade. It's believed that the plan is to begin producing the first of the series sometime in 2018, but Mercedes hasn't yet committed to that date.

What it means for Daimler, Tesla, and their luxury-car rivals

Tesla's success hasn't had much impact on the mass-market automakers -- at least, not yet. But it has probably taken a noticeable bite out of the sales of Mercedes-Benz and its German luxury rivals BMW and Audi. It's thus not a surprise that Mercedes is gearing up to defend its turf -- or at least to offer high-quality electric cars to its customers who might otherwise be tempted by a Tesla.

Beyond that, it's hard to say "what it means" until we know a lot more about these upcoming Mercedes-Benz electrics. Specifically, how will they compare with Tesla's offerings on price, features, and quality? But given that this is Mercedes-Benz, it's likely that the cars will be quite competitive -- enough to give Tesla something to think about.

The article Daimler Readies a New Electric Mercedes-Benz: What We Know originally appeared on Fool.com.

John Rosevear has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Tesla Motors. The Motley Fool recommends BMW. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Im a big fan of monthly dividend stocks.

Modern life is built around the idea of the monthly billing cycle: the mortgage payment, car payment, health insurance premiums, electricity, water and phone bills.

Bonds usually pay their coupon payments semiannually, and stocks generally pay their dividends quarterly. For retired investors living off of their portfolio income, this creates a mismatch in my opinion.

Lumpy

Expenses are regular, yet income is lumpy.

Now, some obvious, common-sense caveats apply here. I believe you should never buy a stock because its dividend is paid monthly. The health of the underlying business, growth prospects, the quality of management and the stocks valuation are all vastly more important than its dividend calendar in my opinion.

But if I were hypothetically looking at two otherwise identical stocks, Id clearly choose the stock with a monthly payout over the one with a quarterly payout.

In my opinion, here are seven dividend stocks that are worth a serious look.

Dividend Stocks: Realty Income (O)

Dividend Yield: 4.6%

I cant make a list of monthly dividend stocks without including The Monthly Dividend Company itself, Realty Income Corp (O). Realty Income owns close to 5,000 properties leased to 250 scattered across 49 states and Puerto Rico. And all of its properties are leased under triple-net arrangements, meaning the tenant is responsible for all maintenance, taxes and insurance.

As I write this, Realty Income has paid 562 consecutive monthly dividends and has raised its payout for 78 consecutive quarters. And at current prices, it yields a respectable 4.6%.

I own some shares of Realty Income that I expect will pay a good chunk of my retirement expenses a good 20-25 years from now when I actually retire.

For now, Im reinvesting the monthly dividends and watching my share count grow.

Dividend Stocks: Global Net Lease (GNL)

Dividend Yield: 9.5%

Along the same lines, we have Global Net Lease Inc (GNL). GNL is well diversified, with about 59% of its portfolio invested in office buildings, with another 18%, 13% and 10% invested in industrial, distribution and retail properties, respectively.

I believe Global Net Leases tenants are also well diversified. Financial services  the largest tenant industry  make up only 13% of the total. But perhaps the biggest selling point here is the country diversity.

Global Net Lease has about half of its portfolio in American properties with the rest in Europe. The U.K. is largest European allocation, at 22% of the portfolio, but Germany, France and the Netherlands are well represented.

Global Net Lease pays a 18% monthly dividend, which works out to a yield of 9.5% at current prices.

I should note that Global Net Leases dividend should be considered riskier than that of, say, Realty Income, as Global Net Lease has a very high dividend payout ratio (96% of adjusted funds from operations).

But if you dont mind a little risk, GNL is worth a look in my opinion.

Dividend Stocks: EPR Properties (EPR)

Dividend Yield: 5.5%

One of my very favorite monthly dividend stocks is EPR Properties (EPR). EPR is a quirky REIT with properties mainly focusing on the entertainment industry, such as movie theaters, golf courses and ski resorts.

But more than a fifth of EPRs portfolio is in public and private schools and early childhood education centers.

These non-traditional property types are generally shunned by most investors, as they lack the specialized expertise to manage them properly.

The nightmare of every landlord would be to get stuck holding the bag on a vacated specialty property that is hard to repurpose. But this is EPRs niche, and theyve been doing it for nearly 20 years.

Dividend Stocks: AGNC Investment (AGNC)

Dividend Yield: 9.8%

Ill give you one last REIT before moving on, mortgage REIT AGNC Investment Corp (AGNC). AGNC is a lot different than the other REITs on this list. Rather than own physical properties, AGNC invests in mortgage bonds and collateralized mortgage obligations.

Importantly, all of AGNCs investments are guaranteed by the U.S. government or by a government-sponsored entity, so credit risk is essentially nil.

But while credit risk isnt an issue for AGNC, this REIT is certainly not risk-free. Mortgage REITs borrow at cheap short-term rates, using leverage to boost their returns.

This can be a problem when the Federal Reserve is raising rates, as they are today, as it narrows the spread between the REITs borrowing rate and its lending rate.

The ideal time to buy a mortgage rate is when longer-term rates are relatively high and the Fed is just starting to lower rates. In that kind of market, mortgage REITs practically have a license to print money.

Well, thats not today. So you might want to put AGNC on your watch list rather than buy it today. But then again, AGNCs 10.1% monthly dividend is pretty hard to pass up.

Photo Credit: Pictures of Money via Flickr Creative Commons

Charles Lewis Sizemore, CFA, is the principal ofSizemore Capital Management. As of this writing, he was long O, EPR.

The post In praise of dividends appeared first on Smarter InvestingCovestor Ltd. is a registered investment advisor. Covestor licenses investment strategies from its Model Managers to establish investment models. The commentary here is provided as general and impersonal information and should not be construed as recommendations or advice. Information from Model Managers and third-party sources deemed to be reliable but not guaranteed. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Transaction histories for Covestor models available upon request. Additional important disclosures available at http://site.covestor.com/help/disclosures.
Microsoft and LinkedIn both surprised investors Monday when they announced the software giant had agreed to purchase the social network for professionals in what is Microsoft's largest acquisition in history. Nearly tripling its next largest acquisition, the acquisition of LinkedIn represents Microsoft's 2014-elected CEO Satya Nadella's boldest move yet.

As investors attempt to digest the implications of such a costly acquisition, here are 10 metrics to provide some context.

Image source: Microsoft.

$26.2 billion: Microsoft is paying $26.2 billion to purchase LinkedIn. This is equal to 6.6% of Microsoft's $394 billion market capitalization.

$196: The acquisition comes out to $196 per share, which is a 50% increase from where LinkedIn stock closed on Friday. Shares jumped nearly 47% after the deal was announced.

$3.2 billion: LinkedIn's trailing-12-month revenue was about $3.2 billion, or about 3.6% of Microsoft's $87 billion in revenue during the same period.

35%: Both Microsoft and LinkedIn cited LinkedIn's recent growth as a reason for the deal. LinkedIn's 35% year-over-year revenue growth in the trailing 12 months could help mitigate Microsoft's recent growth challenges; Microsoft's revenue during the same period is down about 8%.

105 million: LinkedIn boasts more than 105 million monthly active users, making it the world's largest social network for professionals. Up 9% year over year, LinkedIn's active base of users is still growing at a meaningful rate.

58%: The two companies believe LinkedIn's total addressable market, or TAM, opportunity is huge, pegging it at $115 billion -- a level that would increase Microsoft's estimated TAM by a whopping 58%.

"[Total addressable market, or TAM,] data reflects an internal analysis by Microsoft and LinkedIn from third-party sources including IDC, Gartner, Dell'Oro and ITU," reads a caption for this chart in Microsoft's presentation slides. Chart source: Microsoft.

"While LinkedIn and Microsoft are highly complementary, they participate in unique total addressable markets (TAM)," Microsoft said in a presentation about the acquisition. "In addition to TAM growth, the likelihood of seizing more of the TAM will increase through differentiated experiences."

Beyond metrics

However, numbers don't fully capture the scope of Microsoft's acquisition of LinkedIn. Other tidbits worth understanding include:

Microsoft plans to take advantage of the acquisition by integrating a professional's profile across its products. "In the future, a professional's profile will be unified and the right data at the right time will surface in an app, whether Outlook, Skype, Office, or elsewhere," Microsoft said.

Microsoft's virtual voice assistant, Cortana, will utilize information from LinkedIn profiles in the future.

Microsoft anticipates the acquisition will enable salespeople with better tools. Specifically, Microsoft and LinkedIn are planning for LinkedIn's Sales Navigator to help users of Microsoft's customer relationship management, or CRM, system, Dynamics, and other CRM systems to "transform the sales cycle with actionable insights and the ability for each seller to build deeper relationships with prospects and customers -- all to accelerate results."

In a Monday interview with The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft's Nadella summed up the acquisition from a 10,000-foot level: "It's really the coming together of the professional cloud and the professional network."

Looking ahead, challenges remain. First, though the deal is expected to close by the end of this year, problems could still arise since the deal is still subject to shareholder approval and must satisfy all regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Second, while the two companies' ambitions for the acquisition sound great in theory, these things are often much more difficult in practice. While unanimous approval fromthe two companies' boards is a start, investors should keep an eye out for potential problems.

The article Microsoft's Massive LinkedIn Corp Acquisition in 10 Metrics originally appeared on Fool.com.

Daniel Sparks has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends LinkedIn. The Motley Fool owns shares of Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Image source: Getty Images.

Apple made news last month when it came to light that the tech giant had invested $1 billion in the China-based ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing.

Apple is looking to expand its role in the automotive space by building its own electric car by 2020, and the investment shows that it clearly sees promise in ride-hailing services. But Apple isn't the only one.

China'a largest state-owned insurer, China Life Insurance, just poured $600 million into Didi as well. China Life is starting to become a connoisseur of ride-hailing investments, as the company has also invested UberChina recently.

The latest round of Didi Chuxing's investments have now topped $3.5 billion, putting the company's valuation at around $25 billion. And it's going to need that cash to help fend off Uber's worldwide expansion.

Ride-hailing rivals

There's plenty of competition between Uber and Didi, though Didi has a complete lineup of transportation services including a taxi-hailing service, ride sharing, bus tickets, private ride-hailing, and even new car test drives.

Didi's footprint in China reaches 400 cities across the country, with 300 million customers, and completes 11 million rides every day. All this makes Didi a dominant force in the Chinese ride-sharing market.

But China is becoming increasingly important to Uber as well. The company recently received a $3.5 billion investment from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, and part of the money will go to UberChina operations.

While Uber has expanded its presence worldwide, Didi has mainly made investments in other ride-hailing services in other countries. The company has invested in Uber's U.S. rival, Lyft, and a taxi service app called Grab in Southeast Asia.

A shared mobility future

Didi Chuxing is betting that the future of China's transportation -- and possibly the rest of the world's -- is in shared mobility services. That's because ride-hailing and ride-sharing could see a surge in usage as autonomous cars begin hitting the road.

Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty said Apple is looking to shared mobility by developing a car-as-a-service, and believes the tech giant could grab $400 billion in annual revenue by 2030.

The broader shared mobility market could be worth $2.6 trillion by that same year, and Didi is positioning itself well for this growing market, though it hasn't reaped the financial benefits yet. The company's ride-sharing revenue was $175 million in the first five months of 2015, but had an estimated loss of $1 billion last year.

For now, Didi will have to fend off Uber's growing presence in China and its latest round of investments. Uber's recent funding round puts the company's worth at about $68 billion, compared to Didi's $25 billion. While valuations are hardly a complete picture of how well companies are doing, Uber's recent funds could help it compete much better with Didi in China.

Uber may have recently received more funding recently, but Didi's advantage in China comes from its already strong presence in the country. Its services are already in hundreds of Chinese cities and it enjoys integration with the popular Chinese social media app, WeChat, giving it instant access to hundreds of millions of Chinese users.

China is already the world's largest automotive market -- and it's becoming increasingly clear that Didi Chuxing is poised to benefit from that.

The article On the Heels of Apple's Investment, Didi Chuxing Grabs Another $600 Million originally appeared on Fool.com.

Chris Neiger has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool has the following options: long January 2018 $90 calls on Apple and short January 2018 $95 calls on Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Securities and Exchange Commission filed insider-trading charges on Wednesday against Sanjay Valvani and Christopher Plaford, portfolio managers at Visium Asset Management, and their alleged source Gordon Johnston, a former deputy director of the United States Food and Drug Administration's Office of Generic Drugs. Johnston concealed a paid role as a consultant to the hedge fund and obtained confidential information about anticipated FDA approvals for companies to produce enoxaparin, a generic drug that helps prevent the formation of blood clots, according to the SEC's complaint. Valvani allegedly traded in advance of public announcements concerning FDA approvals for companies such as Momenta Pharmaceuticals , Watson Pharmaceuticals , and Amphastar Pharmaceuticals and tipped off Plaford. Valvani allegedly earned nearly $32 million in unlawful profits and Plaford allegedly made approximately $300,000. In a separate complaint, the SEC charged another manager at Visium Asset management, Stefan Lumiere, with perpetrating a fraudulent scheme to falsely inflate the value of securities held by a hedge fund advised by the firm. The fund reported artificially inflated returns and monthly net asset values, which resulted in more than $5.9 million in inflated management and performance fees being paid to its investment adviser. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York filed parallel criminal charges on Wednesday against Valvani, Johnston, Lumiere, and Plaford.

Copyright  2016 MarketWatch, Inc.
Wal-Mart recently announced that it will no longer accept Visa cards at its Canadian stores after failing to reach an agreement on "acceptable" swipe fees. The new policy will take effect on July 18 in its Thunder Bay, Ontario locations before rolling out in phases across more than 370 stores nationwide.

Image source: Wal-Mart.

Visa's swipe fees in Canada range from 1.42% to 2.08%, which seems comparable to Mastercard's 1.44% to 2% fees. However, Mastercard offers much lower rates (as low as 1.26%) to larger retailers if they exceed a net purchase volume of $3 billion. Wal-Mart Canada didn't address those figures in its press release, but noted that it paid "over $100 million in fees to accept credit cards" every year, and that lower swipe fees were "necessary" to keep prices low.

Why Wal-Mart and Visa can't get along

Back in 2013, a U.S. federal judge approved a $5.7 billion class action settlement between merchants and Visa and Mastercard. But Wal-Mart, Target, and Amazon opted out of the settlement for the freedom of pursuing damages on their own.

The following year, Wal-Mart suedVisa for $5 billion in a U.S. District Court. The twosides seemed to be negotiating a settlement last October, but Wal-Mart's new ban on Visa cards in Canada suggests that those talks have fallen apart.

Wal-Mart's ban in Canada suggests that it might even dump Visa's cards in other markets like the U.S. Losing the world's top retailer would hurt Visa, but Visa likely thinks that Wal-Mart can't block the world's biggest payments processing network without alienating customers. Wal-Mart sued Visa again this May, claiming that the payments network was preventing it from having an extra safeguard against fraud, by disallowing shoppers to enter PIN codes for chip-enabled debit cards.

Image source: Pixabay.

How this affects mobile payments

Wal-Mart's ongoing battles with Visa have greatly shaped its attitude toward NFC (near field communications) mobile payment solutions like Apple Pay and Alphabet's Android Pay. Wal-Mart still blocks NFC payments at its stores because they are processed as credit card transactions with the standard swipe fee.

That's why Wal-Mart and a consortium of retailers called MCX launched their own QR code-based mobile payments platform called CurrentC in 2012. CurrentC bypasses credit card networks and uses an older platform called an automated clearinghouse, which is much slower but can cost 90% less than credit card swipes.

However, CurrentC never caught on because the app had to be linked to personal checking accounts, gift cards, or retailers' private-label payment cards. The QR codes were also considered inefficient compared to the simple tap-and-pay function of NFC chips.

Mixed signals from Wal-Mart

Last December, Wal-Mart seemingly gave up on CurrentCby unveiling Walmart Pay, a new mobile app for iOS and Android which works with all credit cards, debit cards, and Walmart gift cards across the U.S.

The app still uses QR codes instead of NFC, but its compatibility with major credit cards indicates that it's willing to pay credit card companies swipe fees from its mobile app.However, by integrating Walmart Pay with its core app, which had 22 million users at the end of last year, the retailer hopes to track customer purchases and offer targeted promotions. Wal-Mart probably believes that data will provide its credit card swipes with more added value than simple card transactions. Wal-Mart also insists that it still hasn't given up on CurrentC entirely.

Image source: Wal-Mart.

It's all about the margins

Wal-Mart popularized "everyday low prices", but that strategy now faces intense pressure from e-tailers with lower overhead costs. Wal-Mart already matchesthe prices of any online retailer, including Amazon, but it's also spending billions on wage hikes and e-commerce investments.

Wal-Mart finished last quarter with an operating marginof 4.5%, compared to 4.9% a year ago. Total operating income fell 7.1% annually. The company expects those contracting margins to cause its earnings to decline upto 12% this year.

Cutting costs in areas like swipe fees could offset those declines. Wal-Mart is clearly declaring war against Visa with its ban in Canada, but it's unclear if the company is bold enough to implement that ban in a bigger market like the U.S. Therefore, investors in both companies should keep a close eye on this game of chicken to see which company flinches first.

The article Why Wal-Mart Dumped Visa At Its Canadian Stores originally appeared on Fool.com.

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Leo Sun owns shares of Amazon.com. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), Amazon.com, Apple, MasterCard, and Visa. The Motley Fool has the following options: long January 2018 $90 calls on Apple and short January 2018 $95 calls on Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The deadliest mass shooting in American history has refueled the political debate about gun control, with Democrats calling for stricter regulations and Republicans placing blame on radical Islamic terrorism.

Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt said on the FOX Business Networks Varney and Co. Wednesday that tighter gun control laws wont stop terrorists who are committed to killing anyone thats against their ideology.

The states that have the most gun control like California, that already ban assault rifles, thats where San Bernardino happened and we learn this lesson over and over again. Law abiding citizens have guns and theyre former military, theyre law enforcement, they are moms, theyre wives, Laxalt said.

President Obama on Monday spoke at the White House following the shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, which left 49 people dead and 53 injured. He reiterated the importance of regulating access to powerful firearms.

Laxalt shared his frustration with the Obama Administration at a time of national tragedy and said, rather than the President of the United States unifying us in the way we were unified after September 11, instead we have more division after this horrific tragedy than we ever had from a similar attack.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump weighed in on Wednesday by saying he is willing to meet with the National Rifle Association to discuss banning those on a terror watch list from buying and owning a firearm.

I will be meeting with the NRA, who has endorsed me, about not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2016

Weve seen it with the refugee crisis that [FBI] Director Comey said we have no ability to figure out who the good guys and the bad guys are coming in and out of this country, Laxalt told host Stuart Varney.

According to Laxalt, the federal government has lost its central focus and has done a terrible job differentiating who is coming into the United States with good and bad intentions.

"I just find it appalling that we are focusing on everything but the primary threat, which is radical Islamic terrorism, Laxalt said."
Amber Heard's lawyer has filed a declaration withdrawing the actress' request for temporary spousal support from her estranged husband, Johnny Depp.

In court documents, Heard claims she initially asked for temporary spousal support because she thought it was standard operating procedure in a divorce case, but now feels the move is being misinterpreted, according to E! News.

It's being "used against me to distract and divert the public away from the very serious real issue of domestic violence," Heard reportedly claims in the documents.

WATCH: Amber Heard's Friend Recounts the Alleged Abuse That Led to Him Calling 911 on Johnny Depp

The documents also allegedly read, "In light of the coordinated false and negative media campaign falsely depicting my attempts to attain a CLETS Domestic Violence Restraining Order as being financially motivated, I am hereby with drawing the request...for spousal support."

When Heard, 30, filed for divorce in late May, she requested $50,000 per month, but a judge denied it after granting her a temporary restraining order against Depp. In documents filed on May 27, Heard said her average monthly income was $10,000, and claims her expenses to be $43,700 per month.

The actress still has the right to request spousal support in the divorce, after her restraining order against Depp is dealt with. The restraining order hearing is set to take place on Friday.

NEWS: Johnny Depp Auctioning Off Valuable Art Collection Ahead of Divorce Proceedings

Meanwhile, police were sent to Depp and Heards downtown Los Angeles home on Monday, and LAPD confirmed to ET that Heards attorney is the one who placed the call. While Depp, 53, is currently believed to be in the Bahamas, Heards team is reportedly claiming that the actor is in violation of the temporary restraining order that Heard was granted last month, by sending his people to collect items from the house.

The LAPD Central Division added that neither Depp nor Heard were at the scene, however, their reps were eventually able to work things out." They do not believe the court order was violated.
Orlando, San Bernardino, Chattanooga and Fort Hood. The centuries-old radical Islamist ideology is on American soil.

We now have American citizens who are radical Islamists.

Thousands and thousands of illegal aliens from countries other than Mexico have been apprehended while trying to enter the United States.

Illegal aliens with Middle Eastern names, who have adopted Hispanic last names, have now entered America.

The U.S. is at war.

Unfortunately, the world is a much more dangerous place today than it was immediately after 9/11. Technology is changing very rapidly. However, our government remains so flat-footed and stove-piped that as new technologies come on the market, the threats are actually increasing exponentially.

Radical Islamists have used technology and social media to recruit and bring their fascist ideology to American soil. Radical Islamists are much more technologically savvy today and have used it to their advantage. Dont forget that the late Islamic State ring leader, Jihadi John, actually graduated with honors in computer programming from the University of Westminster.

The 9/11 Commission said it best when they reported that 9/11, above all else, was a failure of imagination.

It is time now for the United States to think outside the box, use existing technology and harness the power of social media to take the fight to radical Islam. Here is how we can begin to do it now:

1.Establish a nationwide Situational Awareness Hotline:

We now live in a world where most of our citizens have cellphones with cameras. We must use this to our advantage. We need a phone line where people can report suspicious activity through the phone or text message. Through text message, they can send a photo of someone near a power plant who appears to be suspicious. They can also send a photo of suspicious activity observed on Twitter or other social media.

If we rely only on 911, we might overwhelm the police with potentially false leads. A separate alert number for this purpose must be established. Such a dedicated number should be operated by the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) and have a tie-in to the FBI Terrorists Screening Database (TSDB).

There should also be a link back to State Emergency Management Directors to ensure coordination with local law enforcement and first responders.

If someone saw suspicious activity in their neighborhood they could text a photo or video in real time to the situational awareness hotline allowing the NCTC, FBI and respective State Emergency Management Division (EMD) to connect the dots to existing information and photos they have in their database.

A terrorist attack may be thwarted. In addition, a situational awareness hotline would greatly improve situation awareness during a terrorist attack.

2.Unleash the power of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT):

According to Lt. Gen. Samuel V. Wilson, the former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), 90 percent of intelligence comes from open-sources. Another 10 percent, the clandestine work, is just more dramatic. The real intelligence hero is Sherlock Holmes, not James Bond.

If 90 percent of our information comes from open-sources, we need to focus more of our resources on OSINT. Unfortunately, too many in law-enforcement and intelligence just use Google and the English language for their searches.

Google only gives the most popular searches. There are other much more advanced and sophisticated search engines, using all open-source information, which can help us find the needle in the haystack, connect the dots and prevent a terrorist attack.

For example, the FBI could use such search engines to do a deep dive on those in the US with potential links to ISIS.

In December 2012, using OSINT, I was the first to confirm (on Fox News) that Iranian experts were at North Koreas December 2012 missile launch.

All of this was reported in non-Western media sources and was absent from major western outlets.

OSINT works. The idea of acquiring information from publicly available sources such as newspapers, radio and television actually predates the creation of the CIA. However, the internet has taken OSINT to a new level and we must take full advantage of it to fight radical Islam.

It is time now to harness the full power of technology and social media and take the fight to radical Islam.

A nationwide situational awareness hotline and better use of OSINT are tools we need to help ensure American victory.

Did I say it was time? No, its past time.
Over the past eight years - the Obama administration has never let a crisis go to waste. The Orlando terrorist attack was no different.

President Obama co-opted an Islamic radical terrorist attack and turned it into a campaign to ban assault rifles (their words, not mine).

Click here to join Todds American Dispatch: a must-read for conservatives!

We have to make it harder for people who want to kill Americans to get their hands on weapons of war that let them kill dozens of innocents, the president declared.

So does he plan on confiscating our pressure cookers? What about fertilizer or cutlery or jetliners? Would that make us safer?

Enough talking about being tough on terrorism, the president said in a lecture to the nation on Tuesday. Actually be tough on terrorism, and stop making it easy as possible for terrorists to buy assault weapons.

Click here to get Todds latest book! Its your primer on how to restore traditional American values!

If the president really wanted to be tough on terrorism, he would actually acknowledge the real enemy and he would stop making it easy for the jihadists to cross our borders.

Reinstate the assault weapons ban, he demanded. Make it harder for terrorists to use these weapons to kill us.

How about making sure Americans have the tools necessary to defend themselves and their families against the jihadists? How about you stop being an apologist for the Islamists  and start being a Commander-in-Chief for the United States?

The mainstream media has been more than willing to take up the president's cause.

The New York Daily News leading the charge with a front page headline blaming the National Rifle Association for the Orlando massacre.

In today's edition - they accused NRA members of being traitors. Traitors.

Thanks, NRA. Because of your continued opposition to an assault rifle ban, terrorists like this lunatic can legally buy a killing machine and perpetrate the worst mass shooing in U.S. history, another headline screamed.

Can you believe people actually read this garbage?

The anti-gun crowd has become unhinged. Truth is, most of them would not be able to tell the difference between an AR-15 and a Super Soaker.

They do not understand this central truth: the Second Amendment protects all of the other Amendments.

What happened in Orlando was the work of a jihadist - not a law-abiding NRA member. It was an Islamic radical who slaughtered those people -- not a deer hunter.

Chris Cox, the executive director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action, summed it up nicely in a USA Today editorial:

Its time for us to admit that radical Islam is a hate crime waiting to happen. The only way to defeat them is to destroy them  not destroy the right of law-abiding Americans to defend ourselves.

The enemy is radical Islam, folks -- not the NRA.
Those in America who will do anything to deny the fact that we are at war with radical Islam have begun the public relations work of implying that the carnage wrought by Omar Mateen in Orlando might not have been driven by his political and religious ideology at all, but, instead, by his suppressed homosexuality.

According to this theory, Mateen wasnt really out to kill 49 Americans because he loathed this country and everything it stands for; he was out to kill 49 projections of his inner, gay self. Had he only come out as a gay man, he would have been a loving person, not a mass murderer.

Translation: Forget about Mateens trips to Saudi Arabia and his sworn allegiance to Isis. Focus, instead, on the fact that Mateen may have used the dating app Grinder to flirt or hook up with gay men.

Well, that should be about as interesting right now to the bereaved families in blood-stained Orlando as the theory that Hitlers frustrations over not becoming a successful artist were to the millions of Jews whose relatives died in ovens at Auschwitz and the 407,000 American military who perished to defeat that madman.

Once the shooting or gassing starts, it doesnt matter whether the guy with the gun or the ovens has a mother who screwed him up. Thats for armchair psychologists to debate after the war is over.

Once the shooting or gassing starts, it doesnt matter whether the guy with the gun or the ovens has a mother who screwed him up. Thats for armchair psychologists to debate after the war is over.

Yes, psychiatry can illuminate the unconscious motivations of everything from serial killers to fascist dictators. It constitutes the most remarkable set of tools ever known to peer into the abyss. But understanding the root causes of Mateens bloodlust, or those of Hitlers or Usama bin Ladens, should never be used as a way of talking ourselves out of the existential threat such individuals represent to us once their psychologies manifest themselves in cancerous ideologies.

Once you have lung cancer, the reasons you smoked are interesting, but not relevant to the moment at hand.

All mass killers and all tyrants who hate life and liberty are psychiatrically ill. Mans normal psychology is as an autonomous, freedom-loving being. Everything I have learned from interviewing thugs and killers tells me unequivocally that totalitarians and extremists of every stripe are pathological. But fighting a psychologically diseased enemy doesnt mean that enemy is less organized, less likely to spread or less lethal.

The world has cancer now. It is called radical Islam. And there is a time for psychoanalysis and a time for surgery. Positing psychological reasons why ISIS and Al Qaeda (and their like) exist, and why many millions around the world, including many inside this country, are willing to die for the twisted views they represent, will not change the fact that we will have to defeat them with resolve of steel and weaponry of steel.

Once thats over, with our scalpel well-used, we will have the luxury to get into the whys of their individual or collective motivations.
ISIS throws gay man from roof.

ISIS fighters stone gay man to death.

"ISIS executes gay man."

These are the types of headlines Americans have become accustomed to reading  those which highlight the war on the LGBT community in ISIS-held territory in the Middle East.

Now they're occurring at home. Last weekends Orlando attack  the largest mass shooting in American history  was more than a bias-related assault against the LGBT community (which would have been horrendous enough); it was an act of radical Islamic terror  the worst such attack since September 11, 2001.

If it wasn't before, national security is now undeniably an issue that is (or should be) important to the LGBT community. These strange bedfellows have the potential to bring together traditionally competing interests within the major parties to make for a stronger and safer country. But first, the proper threat must be identified and called by name.

On the Republican side, national security conservatives, some of whose records are have been less than exemplary on LGBT equality domestically, now have the unique opportunity to articulate their foreign policy views through an LGBT lens.

I would argue that after the attacks in Orlando, it is more than an opportunity; it is an obligation.

National security hawk Sen. Marco Rubio, for example, highlighted that the gay community was targeted in the Orlando attack. He continued, Its pretty clear that in addition to wanting to kill innocent Americans, there was an additional inspiration behind this.

On the Democratic side, liberals long fond of calling attention to their record of support for the LGBT community face a daunting choice between competing interest groups.

Hillary Clintons campaign email in the wake of the attack read that we must affirm the rights of LGBT Americansto feel welcome and safe, but also warns against inflammatory anti-Muslim rhetoric that demonize Muslim people. But is pointing out that two-thirds of Muslims in many parts of the world believe that gay people should be executed demonization? Or simply identifying the problem?

It is imperative that leaders from both parties put aside political correctness and call out the aspects of Muslim culture which embrace laws that propagate the systemic and institutionalized mistreatment of LGBT people. They should highlight that these views are unacceptable in a liberal country based on individual rights and freedoms. Meekly tiptoeing around this reality in an attempt not to offend any religious group will not make the LGBT community any safer.

As we forcefully denounce the dark corners of Christianity that call for violence against our community, so too must we denounce the radicalized strain of anti-gay animus in the Muslim faith.

While specific national security policy responses can be debated, the threat itself cannot: radical Islamic terrorists who target LGBT individuals for death simply because of who we are and who we love.

Certainly, any call for absolute prohibition on Muslim immigration is not only likely unconstitutional, but definitely an affront to American values. It is also an ineffective response to the problem at hand  roughly two-thirds of extremist attacks since 9/11 have come not from immigrants or naturalized citizens, but from U.S.-born individuals who have been radicalized through online propaganda.

Log Cabin Republicans, the organization for which I have the honor of serving as president, was the first LGBT advocacy organization to declare our opposition to any outright ban on people immigrating to the United States solely because of their faith. If we are going to call on people to recognize the Orlando attack and others for what it was  radical Islamic terrorism  then we need to remember that the overwhelming majority of Muslims are neither "radical" nor "terrorists".

But how can we reconcile the very real threat which the laws prevailing under religious extremism pose to our communities, with thoughtful action?

Leaders could point out that to this day, Sharia law prescribes that homosexuality is punishable by death in 12 countries and criminalized in 64. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that at least 25 men suspected of being gay were executed by ISIS militants in January of this year: six stoned, three shot, and 16 thrown from multi-story buildings.

Next, they should point out that radical Islamists are now taking this war on LGBT individuals to the West. Orlando is just the latest example. ISIS partially justified its attacks last November on the Paris nightclub the Bataclan because Paris is the capital of prostitution and vice. Those attacks killed 149 individuals.

Or that the recent former president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) based here in the U.S., has said that, Homosexuality is a moral disorder. It is a moral disease, a sin and corruptionNo person is born homosexual, just like no one is born a thief, a liar or murderer. People acquire these evil habits due to a lack of proper guidance and education. Currently ISNAs website says it stands with the victims of this senseless act of violence.
Presumptive presidential nominee Hillary Clinton defeated Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday in the Washington, D.C., Democratic primary -- marking the end of the presidential primary season and bringing the two candidates together for a face-to-face meeting to discuss whats next for the party in the general election.

The Associated Press said with 99 percent of the precincts reporting, Clinton has 74,566 votes, compared to 19,990 for Sanders.

Neither candidate spoke to reporters Tuesday night after their roughly 90-minute meeting in a Washington hotel.

However, the campaigns released separate, but nearly identical statements saying that Clinton and Sanders had a positive discussion about their primary race, unifying the party and their mutual desire to stop presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump from winning in November.

The campaigns also said the candidates discussed issues in which they share common goals, including increasing wages for working families, eliminating undisclosed money in politics and reducing the cost of college.

The meeting, which included the candidates' campaign managers, concluded with the sides agreeing to continue to work on a shared agenda that includes developing a platform for the upcoming Democratic National Convention, each campaign said.

Sanders said hell tell supporters his next steps Thursday via a live, online video.

After today, the voting is done, but our political revolution continues, Sanders said in an email Tuesday to supporters.

Clinton clinched the nomination last week by getting the requisite 2,383 delegates -- a combination of superdelegates and pledged delegates awarded to her in 56 primary and caucus wins, including those in Puerto Rico and six U.S. territories.

Sanders has so far refused to end his campaign despite pressure to do so, suggesting he will keep trying to persuade Clinton superdelegates to instead vote for him at the Democratic convention in July, in a long-shot bid to take the nomination.

However, the Sanders campaign has occasionally suggested that the candidate could end his bid if Clinton, and the entire Democratic Party, embrace key parts of his agenda including better universal health care, a $15-an-hour minimum wage and free tuition at state colleges and universities.

Clinton said earlier Tuesday in an interview with Telemundo that she was very much "looking forward to having (Sanders') support in this campaign, because Donald Trump poses a serious threat to our nation."

Democratic National Committee Chairman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said after the D.C. primary, "Democrats are ready to unify and take on both Trump and the Republican Party that he represents. At our convention in July, were going to nominate a qualified, capable candidate who will build on the hard-won progress of the last seven years."

I think the time is now. In fact, the time is overdue, for a fundamental transformation of the Democratic party, Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, said Tuesday on Capitol Hill. We need a party which is prepared to stand up for the disappearing middle class.

Before Tuesday, Clinton had 2,784 delegates, compared to 1,877 for Sanders.

On Sunday, Sanders told ABC News that the meeting with Clinton will be about what kind of platform we have and  what kind of administration she will have.

Sanders also told ABC that he wants Clinton to also specifically commit to a progressive tax system that makes big banks and corporations pay their fair share of taxes.

That Sanders, 74, even challenged the better-known and better-funded Clinton this far is a remarkable political feat.

The former first lady and secretary of state was expected to breeze through the primary. But Sanders, appearing to tap into voters frustrations with established candidates and money-driven politics, took the race until the second-to-last week of the Democratic primary season.

Along the way, Sanders won 21 primaries or caucuses, backed by legions of young voters and others excited by his promises of higher wages, free college and limiting the influence of big money in elections.

Sanders long-shot bid began with a key win in New Hampshire, an early primary that Clinton had won in her failed 2008 White House bid.

He showed his campaign was for real in March by managing seven straight victories, putting the Clinton campaign on its heels until late April, when Clinton won her home-state of New York.

Clinton nearly put the race out of reach with a series of early wins, including first-in-the-nation Iowa, and in delegate-rich states such as South Carolina, Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas and Virginia.

But Sanders scored a big comeback victory March 8 in Michigan that stopped Clintons decisive run across the South. However, he failed to sustain momentum, with Clinton winning the next seven state contests.

Fox News' Mike Emanuel and Lauren Blanchard and The Associated Press contributed to this report.


Republicans in control of negotiations on long-delayed funding to combat the Zika virus are promising a quick agreement. Behind-the-scenes negotiations have focused on a potential deal in the range of a $1.1 billion measure passed by the Senate last month.

A trickier issue involves whether to pair the Zika funds with cuts to other programs as the House calls for to defray the measure's effect on the budget deficit. Democrats, whose votes may be needed to pass the final measure, are against the idea.

Zika can cause horrible birth defects and can be transmitted by mosquitoes that are common in much of the United States.

Negotiators officially met on Wednesday, but only to make opening speeches to satisfy a requirement for at least one public negotiating session.
Americans in markets across the country could be looking at double-digit premium hikes under ObamaCare next year, according to a new study that's already fueling election-year finger-pointing.

The Kaiser Family Foundation report found premiums for popular low-cost plans under the health care law are projected to increase an average 11 percent in 2017.

Among the sharpest projected increases are: 26 percent in Portland, Ore.; 21 percent in the District of Columbia; and 16 percent in New York City.

The study focused on the two least-expensive -- and very popular -- "silver" policies. It specifically examined the impact of rising premiums on those whose income exceeds the limit to get government subsidies to defray the cost of mandatory insurance.

The income cutoff for those tax credits is $47,520 for an individual and $97,200 for a family of four.

"Several factors will influence how premiums will change in 2017, and there is reason to believe that increases will be higher than in recent years," the report said.

The findings were based on 14 metro areas across the country.

The Portland, New York and D.C. increases were for ObamaCares lowest-cost Silver Premium plan. Costs are projected to decrease in just two metro areas -- Providence, R.I. (13 percent) and Indianapolis (4 percent).

The full picture on 2017 premiums will emerge later this summer as the presidential and congressional elections head into the home stretch. The next ObamaCare signup starts a week before Election Day.

Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton wants to build on President Obamas signature health law while Republican nominee Donald Trump wants to repeal and replace it.

Washington Republicans were quick to point out the projected increases and try to tie them to Democrats seeking re-election in November.

This latest round of double-digit premium increases for consumers is just further evidence that ObamaCare has failed to make health care affordable for Americans, Bob Salera, a National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman, said Wednesday.

House Democrats continued support for ObamaCare is a slap in the face to the families who are facing rising costs as a direct result of President Obamas failed health care law, and voters will hold them accountable in November.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman Meredith Kelly called the NRCC statement a desperate attempt to distract from what this election will really be about: Donald Trump.

The administration remains steadfast that proposed rates are not what consumers ultimately will pay, citing an April 12 Department of Health and Human Services report and arguing that the average premium in 2016 for people with tax credits increased just $4, from $102 to $106 a month, despite headlines suggesting double-digit hikes.

And consumers will benefit from shopping and tax credits again this year, HHS spokesman Benjamin Wakana told FoxNews.com. "This is just the beginning of the rates process ... proposed rates arent what most consumers actually pay."

Wakana also argued the vast majority of consumers qualify for tax credits that reduce the cost of coverage below the sticker price.

The Kaiser analysis examined the impact before subsidies are calculated, however, and found the changes in the second least-expensive plan were almost identical -- with the same three metro areas having similar projected increases and just Providence and Indianapolis showing projected decreases.

Kaiser said the two plans are significant because they are the most common choices in the marketplaces and the second-lowest is the benchmark used for subsidies.

The cheaper plans typically have higher deductibles, with overall costs ranging from market to market. The study found the monthly premium for a 40-year-old nonsmoker in 2017 in the least-expensive Silver plan will range from $192 in Albuquerque, N.M., to $482 in Burlington, Vt.

Final rates may change if regulators push back on the requests from insurers.

Most workers and their families are covered by employers, but about 12 million people get private coverage through ObamaCare insurance markets. Nearly seven in 10 pick the mid-tier silver plans.

About 2 million marketplace customers, though, make too much to qualify for the subsidies. And an estimated 3 million to 5 million who buy their policies outside of markets such as ObamaCare do not receive financial assistance.

For both the subsidized and the unsubsidized, willingness to switch plans may be crucial in keeping premiums more manageable next year.

If they stay in their same plan they may see a higher premium increase, said Cynthia Cox, the analysis lead author.

The premium increases follow major insurers reporting significant losses, enrollment lower than hoped for, new customers being sicker than expected and other problems.

Medicare and Medicaid, federal agencies that oversees ObamaCare, said recently that the health insurance markets are still in an early trial-and-error stage which could go on for another couple of years, or well into the next presidents term.

FoxNews.com's Joseph Weber and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Republican Rep. Joe Heck and former Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto breezed through their primaries Tuesday to set up a pivotal U.S. Senate contest, while state Sen. Ruben Kihuen scored a solid win in a competitive Democratic congressional primary and businessman Danny Tarkanian bested a more moderate state senator in a bitter Republican House contest.

The wins on Tuesday cap a high-spending primary season and end two heated House races that attracted big names -- and dollars -- from the outside. In Tarkanian's 3rd Congressional District race, a dark money group called Ending Spending dumped $1.6 million into last-minute ads attacking him and promoting state Sen. Michael Roberson.

"When they came out with (the commercials), I was concerned that maybe we would lose support," Tarkanian said in an interview after his win. "I've got to thank the voters of CD3 for not believing that."

Roberson held the top-ranking post in the state senate last year and helped shepherd a $1.4 billion, governor-backed tax package through the Legislature that dogged him during the congressional campaign. He congratulated Tarkanian on a hard-fought race.

"I look forward to continuing my work as Senate Majority Leader and working to maintain Republican control of the state Senate in November," Roberson said in a statement.

Tarkanian, who made several unsuccessful bids for office in the past, will now face Democrat Jacky Rosen, a synagogue leader endorsed by Sen. Harry Reid. Rosen beat attorney Jesse Sbaih in the Democratic primary in the southern Nevada district, which is split nearly evenly between Democrats and Republicans.

"I felt confident, but it's a bigger margin than I thought. We were out there and able to get our message out," said Rosen, who later issued a statement criticizing Tarkanian as "ultra-conservative and "an enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump."

In the 4th Congressional District race that includes North Las Vegas and rural central Nevada, Kihuen pulled far ahead of former Assemblywoman Lucy Flores and philanthropist Susie Lee. The primary was competitive and all candidates raised comparable funds, but Kihuen had backing from Reid and President Bill Clinton, and the hospitality workers of the Culinary Union mobilized a massive ground effort to round up the vote.

In a statement, Kihuen thanked the powerful union "for believing in this campaign and working day in and day out in the hot sun and in the pouring rain to get our message out to the voters."

He'll face incumbent Republican Rep. Cresent Hardy, who won an easy primary but has an uphill general election battle in a district that leans solidly Democratic.

Flores was unable to pull out a win even though Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders sent wildly successful fundraising pitches on her behalf.

"We did everything we possibly could," said Flores campaign manager Tony Valdovinos. "Ultimately, low turnout seemed to hurt us the most."

Lee's campaign manager, Jonathan Pattillo, congratulated Kihuen and said Lee would support him in spite of the difficult loss.

"We feel we ran a very strong campaign that ran a strong message," Pattillo said.

The Senate race that now belongs to Heck and Cortez Masto turned out as expected.

Cortez Masto easily defeated a trio of little-known opponents, and Heck scored a comfortable win against conservative activist Sharron Angle in the Nevada primary. They'll compete for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Senate leader Harry Reid.

"It's always humbling to get the support of the voters," Heck said by phone from Washington D.C. on Tuesday night, where he said he was reading bills to prepare for Wednesday's work in Congress.

While Trump's presence could sway his election, Heck, who endorses the presumptive GOP nominee for president, said he's focused on his own race: "We're going to run our campaign according to the plan we've laid out."

Masto issued a prepared statement after her victory, saying it sets up a race between two distinct ideologies.

"I am confident that this November voters will reject Trump and Congressman Heck's reckless agenda and elect me as our next Senator," she said.

In other races, incumbent Democratic Rep. Dina Titus scored an easy win in her heavily Democratic Las Vegas district. Republican Rep. Mark Amodei didn't have any primary opponents in his northern Nevada district.

Voters weighed in on numerous legislative races, including Republican contests that have exposed deep rifts between the party's moderate and more conservative wings.

Republican incumbents who supported Sandoval's tax package mostly survived challenges from anti-tax purists, although several lost their bid for re-election.

Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske said she expected turnout for the primary would be on par with 2014, when 19 percent of voters turned out. Nevada has 1.3 million active voters.
A nasty court fight between film icon George Lucas and Chicago environmentalists over a proposed art museum in the city could have the Star Wars creator saying, Help me, Obi-Rahm, youre my only hope.

Lucas is fighting to build a futuristic art museum on the Chicago lakefront, and has enlisted the help of Mayor Rahm Emanuel to keep the project alive. The mayor and other supporters see it as a huge economic boon and tourist draw.

But a local environmentalist group called Friends of the Park wants to blow it up like the Death Star, and has filed suit. They don't object to The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in theory, but do not want it built on lakefront property they maintain is protected parkland.

A federal court hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday as part of their tortuous legal battle, but has since been rescheduled for Aug. 11.

Museums can save a community, Laura L. Lott, CEO of the American Alliance of Museums, said in a statement last month supporting the project. As Chicago and Illinois face their own budget struggles, a small but vocal group is coming perilously close to blocking a golden opportunity for the community.

Those behind The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art say it will celebrate the power of visual storytelling in a setting focused on narrative painting, illustration, photography, film, animation and digital art -- and create more than 1,800 jobs at no cost to taxpayers in the process.

Lucass wife, Mellody Hobson, also says she finds the environmentalists lack of faith disturbing.

As an African-American who has spent my entire life in this city I love, it saddens me that young black and brown children will be denied the chance to benefit from what this museum will offer, Hobson said, according to the Chicago Tribune.

However, Friends of the Parks says it doesnt object to the museum in principle, just to its positioning on the lakefront.

We continue to remind Chicagoans that we would love to have the Lucas Museum locate in our great city with all of the attendant economic benefits, and there are many suitable sites to make that happen somewhere other than our lakefront, Juanita Irizarry, executive director of Friends of the Parks, said in a statement last month.

Lucas is not fighting for the project alone, and has picked up vital support from the Chicago mayor.

Emanuel's Empire recently struck back against the rebel environmentalists by asking an appeals court to throw out the case. The hearing has been repeatedly postponed.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, Emanuels office also has offered his support to a separate project dear to the hearts of Chicago environmentalists -- which would significantly expand the lakefront parkland -- if the group drops its suit.

There have been reports that Friends of the Parks was mulling dropping the legal action, but the group released a statement last week denying that, apparently taking a lesson from Admiral Ackbar and sensing a trap.

Contrary to recent reports, our board remains fully united on the preservation of our lakefront and ensuring that the public trust doctrine is not ignored," Irizarry said.

Hobson says the legal fight has caused them to look for a new hope in a galaxy far, far away and consider other cities. The Los Angeles Times reported that the San Francisco Bay area was being considered as a possible alternative.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Aided by a screening "surge operation" to speed up the vetting of refugees in Middle Eastern camps, the Obama administration is on track to keep the president's promise to permanently resettle an additional 10,000 refugees displaced by the Syrian conflict by September.

The danger posed by people coming from terrorism-infested regions has been a hotly contested issue, as is the potentially outsized impact on the small American communities often called upon to receive them. What does not appear in doubt is the hefty price tag, which is projected to total some $644 million over those refugees' first five years in the United States.

Unlike other classes of immigrants, refugees are immediately eligible for a full range of welfare benefits.

The figure comes from an analysis performed by the Center for Immigration Studies, which looked at processing and administrative costs of the federal agencies, money for assistance provided to refugees directly or through federally funded nonprofit organizations and consumption of government-assistance programs. Unlike other classes of immigrants, refugees are immediately eligible for a full range of welfare benefits.

"My point was that relative to how many people we could help over there (near their home countries), it's very expensive," the report's author, Steven Camarota, told LifeZette Tuesday.

Camarota, director of research for the Washington-based think tank, estimated costs of the federal welfare programs by examining five-year usage rates contained in a report by the Office of Refugee Resettlement. The most recent figures, show usage rates for welfare programs by refugees from the Middle East that are even higher for most programs than when Camarota first wrote the report.

Refugees from the Middle East use those programs at rates that far exceed participation by refugees from any other region. In five of seven programs, the percentage of Middle Eastern refugees participating are higher than those of refugees from Africa, the region with the next-highest usage rates. In some cases, the rates are substantially higher. Nearly nine in 10 were on food stamps, for instance, compared with 80 percent of African refugees.

"The Middle East really stands out," said Camarota, who speculated that the disparity might be due to deficiencies in eduction, English proficiency or job skills. "There's something special about Middle Easterners in the cost of these programs."

The Office of Refugee Resettlement Report, however, indicates that Middle Easterners arrived with better English skills and more education than those from other parts of the world.

If the latest participation figures hold up for the Syrians admitted between Oct. 1 last year and Sept. 30 this year, Camarota's five-year cost projection -- $64,370 per person and $257,481 per household -- may be low-ball estimates.

Ira Mehlman, a spokesman for the Federation of American Immigration Reform, said it would be more cost-effective for the United States to provide financial assistance to Jordan and Turkey, which are housing the bulk of refugees who fled war-torn Syria. Those refugees also would have an easier time returning home after the fighting ends.

"In terms of helping people, you get far more for your money helping people close to where they live," he said.

Nayla Rush, a Center for Immigration Studies research fellow who wrote a recent report on President Obama's Syrian refugee program, said about 4,000 refugees already have been resettled in the United States. She said the "surge program" included the opening of a "temporary processing center" in Amman, Jordan, in February to condense the resettlement process -- normally 18 months to two years -- to just three months.

That allowed U.S. officials between February and April to interview almost 12,000 applicants referred by the United National High Commissioner for Refugees.

Rush said Obama almost certainly would like to hit the 10,000 target by the time he hosts a refugee summit in New York on Sept. 20.

"They will be coming; all 10,000 will come by the end of September," she said. "They will come by the end of September."

Rush also noted that the Obama administration is encouraging several back-door channels for Syrians who do not come in via refugee relocation. One method is the Priority-2 Direct Access Program, originally set up for Iraqis in 2008 and now available to Syrians. It allows U.S. citizens and green card holders to petition for relatives to come into the country.

Other possible methods of entry are student visas and work visas, Rush said. Her report noted that the president of the nonprofit Institute of International Education estimated that some 200,000 displaced Syrians in the Middle East are "university-qualified."

Rush said there is no telling how many people might enter through one of these back channels, which will not count against the refugee cap or receive the same level of scrutiny applied to refugees.

"These are numbers you have to be watching for," she said.

The government refugee report indicates that refugees struggle in the United States. Even those who had been in the county for five years in December 2104, the most recent year available, trailed their American counterparts. The unemployment rate among that cohort was 8.9 percent, 2.7 points higher than the U.S. rate at the time.

That combined with cultural disruption can lead to radicalization, some experts contend.

"We are seeing evidence that the difficulty is significant when people are coming from places in the Middle East, particularly the second generation," Mehlman said. "The consequences of failure to assimilate can be quite significant."

"It's 10,000 on top of a million and a half people coming here legally and illegally every year," he said.
A Tennessee lawmaker said Tuesday that his office has received threats for planning to give away the same type of semi-automatic rifle used by a gunman in the massacre of 49 people at an Orlando nightclub.

Before the shootings happened, Republican state Rep. Andy Holt had offered the AR-15 as a door prize at a fundraiser scheduled for later this month. When he was heavily criticized following Sunday's shootings, he said he would give away a second one as well.

"In response to people saying I shouldn't do this: No, actually we should  and we should celebrate it," Holt said in a telephone interview. "Not in response to what happened in Orlando by all means, but in response to the bans that have been called for."

Holt, a hog farmer from northwestern Tennessee, was the sponsor of a new law this year to allow faculty and staff at public colleges and universities to be armed on campus. He said that more armed people inside the Orlando club could have intervened before so many people were killed by the gunman.

State Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini in a release on Monday called Holt a reckless gun owner.

"Responsible gun owners don't put guns in the hands of strangers," she said. "Andy Holt doesn't know if he's putting the winning raffle ticket in the hands of the next mass shooter."

Holt dismissed Mancini's comments as misguided, saying that he plans to do all background checks required by law. He also argued that specific weapons shouldn't be targeted for bans.

"It doesn't matter what the physical characteristics of the gun are," he said. "What matters is that in the hands of an unlawful, crazed individual, a person who is motivated by hate, any instrument can be used as a weapon of destruction."

Holt said his office was contacted repeatedly by an anonymous caller who said he was armed and threatened to pay him a visit. He said he had forwarded the recorded calls to the Tennessee Highway Patrol's Capitol security unit because the threats were made to a staffer.

Holt said it has become a "fairly regular occurrence" for him to receive threatening emails, text messages and phone calls to his home. None has resulted in a personal confrontation.

"But I'm prepared if it does," he said.
A congressional push to ban or restrict gun sales for those on terror watch lists gained bipartisan momentum Wednesday, with everyone from key Republican lawmakers to Donald Trump to the National Rifle Association opening the door to discussing the idea.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee indicated interest in the push in a tweet Wednesday morning announcing a meeting with the NRA.

The meeting comes as discussions are underway on Capitol Hill on whether lawmakers might be able to proceed on a measure to crack down on firearms sales to those on terrorism watch lists or no fly lists, in the wake of the Orlando terror attack that left 49 people dead at Pulse nightclub.

The shooter, Omar Mateen, had been on a watch list for 10 months before being removed.

The congressional proposal, in some form, may be one narrow area where Trump and presumptive Democratic rival Hillary Clinton find common ground. At an event in Virginia, Clinton said, "If you are too dangerous to get on a plane, you are too dangerous to get a gun."

The NRA, for its part, has walked a fine line on such proposals. On Tuesday, it tweeted that bans for people on watch lists are "ineffective, unconstitutional, or both."

Chris Cox, director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, clarified Wednesday that the NRA "believes that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms, period."

He said those on a watch list who try to buy a gun "should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing." If there's evidence of terrorist activity, he said, the sale should be blocked and the suspect arrested. But he added, "At the same time, due process protections should be put in place that allow law-abiding Americans who are wrongly put on a watchlist to be removed."

That falls in line with a plan from Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn to let the government delay firearms sales to suspected terrorists for up to 72 hours.

A Cornyn aide confirmed to Fox News that the senator is now in talks with California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein over her revived proposal to outright ban gun sales to those on such lists. Feinstein's plan goes further than Cornyn's and is the legislation most Democrats are backing.

"We all agree on stopping known or suspected terrorists from purchasing a weapon, the question is whether we do it in a way that's constitutional," the Cornyn aide said.

Republicans' main point of contention with the Democrats' approach has been that one incorrect entry could deny someone their Second Amendment rights. But the Orlando attack has spurred renewed interest on both sides in exploring revised legislation.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday he was "open to serious suggestions from the experts as to what we might be able to do to be helpful.

Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey announced late Wednesday he will draft his own legislation on the issue Thursday that he said will help ensure that dangerous terrorists are denied a firearm, while providing sufficient due process to protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

Toomey, a Republican, seemed optimistic that meaningful firearms legislation could be approved in the near future. We have now come to a moment in which I am hopeful that the logjam [in Congress] can be broken and we can move forward for the safety of the American people, he said in a statement.

On Tuesday, Maines Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King said theyd be ready to support a measure to prevent those on watch lists from buying a gun.

Any similarities between Trump and Clinton on gun laws, however, end on this issue. Trump told an Atlanta crowd Wednesday that some of the "carnage" in Orlando could have been avoided if others in the club that night were armed.

It's unclear whether all sides can find common ground on the watch list issue in the coming days. Feinstein's proposal was defeated in the Senate last December, a day after the San Bernardino shootings left 14 dead.

That same day, the Senate also fell short of the necessary votes for the rival plan by Cornyn.

A Democratic senator, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, on Wednesday also launched a filibuster to force a vote on Feinstein's gun control legislation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Some 1,800 years ago, Roman troops used "whistling" sling bullets as a "terror weapon" against their barbarian foes, according to archaeologists who found the cast lead bullets at a site in Scotland.

Weighing about 1 ounce, each of the bullets had been drilled with a 0.2-inch hole that the researchers think was designed to give the soaring bullets a sharp buzzing or whistling noise in flight.

The bullets were found recently at Burnswark Hill in southwestern Scotland, where a massive Roman attack against native defenders in a hilltop fort took place in the second century A.D. [See Photos of Roman Battle Site and Sling Bullets]

These holes converted the bullets into a "terror weapon," said archaeologist John Reid of the Trimontium Trust, a Scottish historical society directing the first major archaeological investigation in 50 years of the Burnswark Hill site.

"You don't just have these silent but deadly bullets flying over; you've got a sound effect coming off them that would keep the defenders' heads down," Reid told Live Science. "Every army likes an edge over its opponents, so this was an ingenious edge on the permutation of sling bullets."

The whistling bullets were also smaller than typical sling bullets, and the researchers think the soldiers may have used several of them in their slings  made from two long cords held in the throwing hand, attached to a pouch that holds the ammunition  so they could hurl multiple bullets at a target with one throw.

"You can easily shoot them in groups of three of four, so you get a scattergun effect," Reid said. "We think they're for close-quarter skirmishing, for getting quite close to the enemy."

Sling bullets and stones are a common find at Roman army battle sites in Europe. The largest are typically shaped like lemons and weigh up to 2 ounces, Reid said.

Smaller bullets shaped like acorns  a symbol the Romans considered lucky  have also been found at Burnswark Hill and other sites in Scotland.

About 20 percent of the lead sling bullets found at Burnswark Hill had been drilled with holes, which represented a significant amount of effort to prepare enough ammunition for an assault, Reid said.

"It's a tremendous amount of work to do, to just chuck them away," he said.

Sling weapon secrets

Whistling sling bullets haven't been found at any other Roman sites, but ceramic sling bullets with holes punched out have been discovered at battle sites in Greece from the second and third centuries B.C, Reid said. [Photos: Ancient Roman Fort Discovered]

Many archaeologists had assumed that the holes in the Greek bullets were reservoirs for poison, he said.

But in slinging experiments using about 100 replicas of the whistling bullets, Reid found that they would have been little use as poisoned weapons.

"The holes are too small, and there's no guarantee that these are going to penetrate skin," Reid said. "And they are ballistically inferior: They don't fly as far, don't fly as fast and don't have the same momentum [as larger sling bullets]  so why put poison holes in only the little ones?"

Reid's brother, a keen fisherman, offered some insight into their possible purpose when he suggested the bullets were designed to make noise in flight.

"I said, 'Don't be stupid; you've no idea what you're talking about. You're not an archaeologist,'" Reid joked. "And he said, 'No, but I'm a fisherman, and when I cast my line with lead weights that have got holes in them like that, they whistle.'"

"Suddenly, a light bulb came on in my head  that's what they're about. They're for making a noise," Reid said.

Deadly in expert hands

At the time of the Roman attack on Burnswark Hill, slings were used mainly by specialized units of auxiliary troops ("auxilia") recruited to fight alongside the Roman legions.

Among the most feared were slingers from the Balearic Islands, an archipelago near Spain in the western Mediterranean, who fought for the Roman general Julius Caesar in his unsuccessful invasions of Britain in 55 B.C. and 54 B.C.

"These guys were expert slingers; they'd been doing this the whole of their lives," Reid said.

In the hands of an expert, a heavy sling bullet or stone could reach speeds of up to 100 mph: "The biggest sling stones are very powerful  they could literally take off the top of your head," Reid said.

Burnswark Hill lies a few miles north of the line of Roman forts and ramparts known as Hadrian's Wall, built during the reign of the emperor Hadrian between A.D. 117 and 138.

Reid said the Roman attack on the Burnswark Hill fort was probably part of the military campaign ordered by Hadrian's successor, the emperor Antoninus Pius, to conquer Scotland north of the wall.

"We think it was an all-out assault on the hilltop, to demonstrate to the natives what would happen to them if they resisted," Reid said.

But the Scottish tribes fought back hard for more than 20 years, and in A.D. 158, the Romans gave up their plans to conquer the north and pulled their legions back to Hadrian's Wall.

"Scotland is rather like Afghanistan in many respects," Reid said. "The terrain is pretty inhospitable, certainly the farther north you go, and the isolation and long supply lines would make it difficult for servicing an army that far north."

Original article on Live Science.

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The co-founder of the security firm that investigated the dual cyber breaches of the Democratic National Committees computer network told Fox News on Tuesday one of the Russian-government linked intelligence groups responsible for the cyberattack had access to all email communications coming into the organization.

According to CrowdStrikes Dmitri Alperovitch, those actors, who were found to have been present on the DNCs system since last summer, were privy to all content included in those communications  including email signatures and associated contact information, as well as the to and from address of the sender and recipient.

The information gained in the DNC cyber intrusion allows for further Russian based phishing attacks, which, as Fox News previously reported, has led to similar intrusions into the White House, State Department, and U.S. private sector companies.

As was outlined in CrowdStrikes blogpost on Tuesday, the Russian group responsible for the intrusion into the DNCs email system is the same one implicated in the breaching of unclassified networks belonging to the White House, State Department and U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The second DNC intrusion detected by CrowdStrike targeted the organizations research department, and subsequently seized opposition research on presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Alperovitch told Fox News that CrowdStrike has evidence implicating the second group as being affiliated with Russias military intelligence arm known as the GRU.

According to the security companys co-founder, this hacking group was found to have been present on the DNCs network since April of this year.

Fox News was told it does not appear as though the two Russian espionage groups responsible for the breaches collaborated, and that both had different objectives.

While he did not have any direct evidence to support the claim, Alperovitch added that he would not be surprised if the RNC was targeted by Russian government-linked hackers in the same fashion. He added that the Kremlin has just as much desire to seize information housed within that organizations network as it did the DNC.

Fox News was also told CrowdStrike was contacted by the DNC in early May of this year after determining something was off with their computer system.

Alperovitch said the company was able to rid the organizations network of both intruders and was asked to continue monitoring the DNCs system under the assumption that the Russians would try to come back.

Both FBI and DHS declined to comment on the incident to Fox News.
Faena District, make room for Brickell City Centre, the all-new mega-development reshaping downtown Miamis Brickell neighborhood.

With a $1.05 billion price tagjust a notch above that of Alan Faenas still-unfolding $1 billion arts districtBrickell will have all the trappings of a commercial/residential mammoth, from rows of luxury retail shops (Saks Fifth Avenue and Valentino among them) to a flagship hotel called East, Miamiofficially opening next week.

East, a division of Chinese conglomerate Swire, was, like Faena, a blue-chip brand abroad before making its U.S. debut. With locations in Hong Kong and Beijing advertised as lifestyle business hotels, the Miami expansion will incorporate visual flairs and flavors befitting its leisure-obsessed surroundings.

Brickell City Center to include this three-story food hall in its shopping center https://t.co/Je8QNLHZKV pic.twitter.com/PY8aDqc5gi  Roger Charland (@roddge) April 26, 2016

The 40-floor hotel, designed by Miami-based firm Arquitectonica (exteriors) and New York-based Clodagh Design (interiors), flaunts an ethereal gray-and-blue palette throughout, from the 20,000-square-foot poolscape to the slate-colored interiors. Inside, charcoal-gray wood floors, floor-to-ceiling views, and furnished king-size balconies come standard, while 89 residential suites boast periwinkle crushed velvet sectionals, fully equipped kitchens, and laundry services for the ultramodern pied-a-terre.

Like East, the hotels tentpole restaurant brings its own international pedigree: Quinto La Huella is the first spin-off of Uruguays prized beachside grill Parador La Huella, which made S.Pellegrino and Aqua Pannas list of Latin Americas 50 Best Restaurants in 2015.

While the sleek, 9,700-square-foot proxy, designed by Los Angelesbased Studio Collective, adds some urban polish to Paradors beachy vibes, the parilla (a 20-seat, Benihana-style wood-fire grill that yields a distinct smoky finish)and several toques plucked from South America including executive chef Nano Crespo (who collaborated with Parador's chef Alejandro Morales on the menu)promise distinctly original flavors among Miamis fusion-heavy fare.

There may be no shortage of hotels making colorful splashes on Miamis cityscape, but East, Miamis blend of awe-inspiring construction and fine-tuned tranquility is bound to make waves this summer. From $259/night; east-miami.com
The bodies of two men and two women were found Tuesday as firefighters searched a burned out two-story vacant office building near downtown Los Angeles, bringing the death count in the blaze to five.

One man was declared dead at the scene while the blaze was still burning on Monday night.

The Fire Department said that all five of the dead appeared to be homeless.

Los Angeles police arrested a homeless man on suspicion of murder for intentionally starting a fire with the intent of killing at least one person.

Billy Hayes, commanding officer of LAPD Robbery-Homicide, said Tuesday that 21-year-old Johnny Sanchez was among a group of homeless people who had been living in the building and was in a dispute with the others.

Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said the blaze broke out at approximately 7 p.m. local time in the Westlake section of the city, Fox 11 reported.

Approximately 145 firefighters battled the blaze, which was declared a major emergency. Humphrey told reporters that firefighters had to assume a defensive posture due to the intensity of the blaze.

Firefighters rescued three people from the building during the fire.

The building was officially vacant, but neighbors say they saw homeless people coming and going from there.

Click for more from FoxLA.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Federal prosecutors have convened a grand jury to investigate the wife of the Orlando nightclub shooter, seeking to charge her as an accessory to 49 counts of murder and 53 counts of attempted murder as well as with failure to notify law enforcement about the pending terrorist attack and lying to federal agents, a federal law enforcement source confirmed Tuesday to FoxNews.com.

FBI agents have interviewed Omar Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, in the days since Sunday's massacre that killed 49 and wounded 53 more.

A federal law enforcement source additionally told Fox News that Salman knew of her husband's deadly plans and did nothing to stop him.

Mateen died in a shootout with police early Sunday morning. While Salman has been widely referred to as Mateen's wife, the only proof of their marriage is her listing as his wife on a 2013 mortgage document and family members who said the two were married and had a 3-year-old son.

Salman told investigators that Mateen shared his plans with her to carry out an attack and Mateen may have even called her from the gay club Pulse during the slaughter, a source told Fox News. Salman also confirmed details of Mateen's gun purchases prior to the assault.

A separate source told Fox News that Salman was cooperating with investigators and had shared information about her husband's violent aspirations. She had taken a polygraph, CBS reported.

Salman is likely to be arrested, a source told Fox News.

Mateen allegedly scouted an alternate location for the shooting -- Downtown Disney -- in April and again in early June, CBS reported.

Fox News also learned on Tuesday that investigators seized two phones that belonged to Mateen, one of which was a Samsung mobile device.

A law enforcement source told Fox News the FBI was able to access both devices, and that investigators are currently going through the data on the phones.

The second device was described to Fox News as an older model, although the exact make could not be specified.

Fox News reported previously that investigators had been scrubbing computers in Mateen's possession for evidence of any communications with individuals known to FBI, photos and video of areas he may have been scouting for attack, as well as traces of terrorist propaganda.

Meanwhile, the FBI is investigating reports that Mateen visited Pulse several times before the attack, a U.S. official told The Associated Press on Tuesday. A law enforcement source told Fox News that Salman drove Mateen to Pulse on at least one prior occasion.

One man also said he recognized Mateen from an app used to arrange dates and hookups for gay men, adding a new layer of complexity to the investigation of the worst mass shooting in modern American history. The U.S. official said the FBI would look into that claim as well.

The Orlando Sentinel cited four Pulse regulars who said they had seen the 29-year-old Mateen there before.

"Sometimes he would go over in the corner and sit and drink by himself, and other times he would get so drunk he was loud and belligerent," said Ty Smith, who claimed to have seen the gunman at Pulse at least a dozen times.

"We didn't really talk to him a lot, but I remember him saying things about his dad at times," Smith added. "He told us he had a wife and child."

Smith's husband, Chris Callen, told the Canadian Press that Mateen had been to Pulse regularly for "at least three years."

Jim Van Horn, 71, told the Associated Press he was a frequent patron at Pulse and said another "regular" there was Mateen.

"He was trying to pick up people. Men," Van Horn said late Monday outside the Parliament House, another gay club.

Van Horn said he met Mateen once. He said the younger man was telling him about his ex-wife.

"My friends came out from the back and said, 'Let's go take pictures on the patio,'" Van Horn said. "So I left. And then they told me they didn't want me talking to him, because they thought he was a strange person."



At around 1 a.m. Sunday, Kevin West was dropping a friend off at Pulse when he saw Mateen crossing the street. West told the Los Angeles Times Mateen had messaged him on and off for the past year using the gay chat and dating app Jack'd.

"He walked directly past me. I said, Hey, and he turned and said, Hey,'" West said. I could tell by the eyes."

About an hour later, wielding an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a handgun, Mateen began a three-hour shooting rampage and hostage siege that ended with a SWAT team killing him. During the attack, he called 911 to profess allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) group.



In contrast, the Wall Street Journal reported that Mateen had expressed anti-gay views that horrified his classmates at Indian River State College, where he received an associate's degree in 2006. A person who worked at the school during that time said some students would try to "educate" Mateen on his views.

The Journal also reported that Mateen never discussed religion during class.

At Pulse, Smith and Callen told the Canadian Press they had decided to keep their distance from Mateen after an incident during which he pulled out a knife after taking offense to a joke told by one of the couple's friends.

"He said if [the friend] ever messed with him again," Callen said, "you know how it'll turn out."

Fox News' Rick Leventhal and Matt Dean, FoxNews.com's Malia Zimmerman, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dive teams on Wednesday afternoon recovered the body of a toddler snatched by an alligator in a Disney World lagoon, the Orange County sheriff confirmed.

The body was "completely intact," Sheriff Jerry Demings told reporters. He estimated that it was in water roughly six feet deep, 10-15 yards from the edge of the lagoon where the child had been wading Tuesday night.

The sheriff identified the boy as 2-year-old Lane Graves, who was on vacation with his parents, Matt and Melissa Graves, and his four-year-old sister. They had traveled to Disney World from Elkhorn, Nebraska. The sheriff said he and a Catholic priest delivered the grim news to the family.

By Wednesday morning, a search team of up to 50 people was scouring the Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney Worlds The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. At least five other alligators were caught and cut open before they found the killer.

Disney announced it was closing all of the beaches at its resorts out of an abundance of caution.

The president of the Walt Disney World Resort isued a statement following the killing of a 2-year-old boy by an alligator at the resort's Seven Seas Lagoon.

Deputies searching for 2 year old taken by alligator at Seven Seas Lagoon near Grand Floridian. #Fox35 pic.twitter.com/LmbsdWaEFt  Keith Landry (@Fox35Keith) June 15, 2016

George A. Kalogridis said "there are no words to convey the profound sorrow we feel for the family and their unimaginable loss.

"We are devastated and heartbroken by this tragic accident and are doing what we can to help the family during this difficult time. On behalf of everyone at Disney, we offer our deepest sympathies."

The attack happened at an area of the lagoon where "no swimming" signs were posted. The signs make no indication of a possible alligator threat.

The boy wasnt swimming in the water, but playing on the edge, about a foot or two into the water, sheriff's spokesman Jeff Williamson said.

The boy's father tried and failed to pry his son from the alligator's jaws, leaving him with cuts and scratches, Demings said. The parents quickly alerted a lifeguard, but the lifeguard was too far away from the scene of the attack to help the father.

"The mother was there and she was frantic, running up and down looking," witness Bill Wilson told the Orlando Sentinel.

The alligator was estimated to be 4 feet to 7 feet long, according to Demings.

Crews searched for the body with a sonar boat, because sending divers in would be like "seeking a needle in a haystack," Williamson told Fox News.

A.J. Jain, a guest at The Grand Floridian right outside Disneys Magic Kingdom, told the Sentinel he and his children were playing at the same beach earlier Tuesday.

"Im just here to say a prayer," he said. "I cant imagine what those parents are going through. Its been one tough week in Orlando."

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney is helping the family.

Demings said there had been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks on the lake. "Disney has operated here now for 45 years and theyve never had this type of thing happen here before," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from the Orlando Sentinel.
More than 30 years after a mafia hit man was gunned down in Chicago, his own son on Tuesday pleaded guilty to two murders in Idaho that had gone unsolved for several years.

Michael Dauber, 47, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder as part of a deal to drop first-degree murder charges that carried a possible death sentence. The guilty plea could send him to prison for the rest of his life.

Prosecutors said Dauber killed two of his own friends: 25-year-old Joshua Reddington, in 2000, and 42-year-old Steven Kalogerakos, in 2007. He also may have been involved in the heroin overdose death of friend David Fishback in 2011, relatives reportedly said.

Dauber's father, hit man Billy Dauber, was shot and killed in 1980, the Chicago Tribune reported. Investigators said Chicago mobsters may have arranged the killing.

Michael Dauber, who was living in Nampa, was arrested in October 2014 after crews finally found Reddington's skeletal remains, the Idaho Statesman reported.

Reddington and Dauber worked together in logging, the newspaper added. His remains surfaced in the crawl space of a cabin in Idaho City where Dauber had stayed.

Kalogerakos' dismembered body turned up in late 2013 outside Idaho City in a sack in a shallow grave. He and the suspect were friends who had moved to Idaho from Chicago.

Dauber is scheduled to be sentenced in October.

Nampa is roughly 20 miles southwest of Boise.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Im always annoyed when the typical newspaper travel article takes up space describing three meals a day eating cuisine that can be found in any major U.S. city. In between, the writer shops for something that almost sounds worth the customs hassle, lies on a beach with the same sand that can be found at home, and reviews bars that have drinks that be concocted anywhere.

If Im going to travel halfway around the planet, I probably am never coming back, so I want to experience what is unique about the place: a world-class art museum, a religious festival, a stunning vista, the site of a major historic event. Its important for our trade, politics, and cultural enrichment to get outside Fortress America once in a while, yet most Americans seem to think that if they can get to London, Paris, or Rome, theyre done. Here are a few unusual memories of the 34 countries Ive visited (many with my wife, Sandra).



Northern Ireland Mythology. In 1991, I toured Navan Centre in Armagh, from which Ulsters ancient rulers generated history and legends as exciting as those of King Arthur. They were brought alive by immersive audiovisual presentations and the Centre continues to use the latest technology to illuminate everything from Celtic spirituality to ancient warfare. The beautiful north of Ireland remains one of the great undiscovered destinations, now that political violence is very rare.



Renaissance Italy. In 1996, I was stunned to discover that Italy has 40% of the worlds art, but I wasnt prepared to fully understand it, being rusty on the Greek mythology on which so much is based. And it was only when I listened to a record of the relevant volume of Will Durants The Story of Civilization that I came to fully appreciate that the Renaissance was a cultural supernova. Some memories need to be enhanced afterwards.



Cubas Tropical Communism. In 1998, I had State Department permission to go to Cuba to interview Fidel Castro. However, by the time I was ready to go in July, my PR contact was on a long vacation and everyone else on the staff was terrified to make a decision without his approval. I went without a press pass to write a travel article, risking arrest, which put us in the same paranoid mindset as the Cuban public. We did get to listen to Castro speak for several hours on Revolution Day, participated in Mardi Gras, and our fortunes were read by a Santeria priest.



The Glory of Greece. In 2001, we wrote a background piece for those who were preparing to go to the Olympics in Athens three years later. On the flight there, we read Edith Hamiltons The Greek Way, which explained how the Golden Age of Greece became the fountainhead of western civilization. Modern Greece may be dysfunctional, but the people are fiercely and justly proud of their heritage and we came back with a new perspective on history.



Eternal Egypt. We thought we were going to see the pyramids, which turned out to be rather boring and very difficult to get into. But we left the tour group that was going snorkeling to visit the legendary temple at Abydos, whose walls are covered with paintings that are still vivid, and it is the only place where the symbols of all the pharaohs are inscribed. On our last night, we were put into a trance by Cairos uniquely colorful version of the Sufi whirling dervishes.



Sacred and Secular India. In 2004, we toured Northern India with some trepidation, after decades of stories about health hazards. What we found were not beggars, but street entrepreneurs. The ambition and educational values of Indians have resulted in some of the worlds best medical schools and the ability to occupy of a quarter of the CEO seats at Silicon Valley tech companies. At the same time, religion remains intertwined with daily life, whether on the sidewalk or in the boardroom.



Turkey, Crossroads of History. In 2005, we spent three weeks in Turkey, which has 40,000 historical sites (most excitingly me Troy, since I aspired to be an archaeologist as a boy). It also has a modern Muslim culture, the perfect introduction to a modern Islamic society for Americans. Istanbul is an extraordinarily dynamic (and clean) city (despite the news, youre less likely to be killed there than if you stay home).



Glorious Samarkand. In 2008, we finally made it to Uzbekistan (my original visa application was denied because my name is the same as a reporter who been critical of the government). Samarkand, the legendary ancient capital, is full of stunning Islamic tile art and metalwork, alone worth the price of a trip.



Mighty Malta. We visited this tiny Mediterranean island in 2009, which has been the site of battles that changed the course of history. The Knights of Malta inflicted the first defeat on the Ottoman Empire in 1565 and in 1943 was bombed for 100 days by the Nazis, as the Allies used it as the staging ground for the invasion of Sicily. It has a fascinating history, starting with the worlds oldest freestanding buildings, temples that were constructed around 3600 B.C., a millennium before the Great Pyramid.



Underrated Toronto. As we prepared to go to Toronto in 2011, we kept hearing that it was like New York City run by the Swiss: the good news was that it was clean; the bad that it was boring. It turned out to be the first, but not the second. It is an economic powerhouse that provides a high quality of life and lots of cultural options, while doing an excellent job of preserving its history. Two museums sounded worth skipping, but were glad we didnt: the Bata Shoe Museum (the history of footwear is quite fascinating) and the Gallery of Intuit Art (powerful sculptures of shamans in the act of turning into animals).



South African Safari. In 2013, we flew to South Africa, but had only two days for a safari at the Sabi Sabi Game Reserve, which was nevertheless supposed to be the centerpiece of the story. Wed heard stories of tourists who saw little except gazelles in a week. We neednt have worried: we literally came face-to-face with a leopard, were nearly charged by a mother rhino protecting her baby, and got trapped in the middle of a ferocious cave buffalo herd. The animals reminded us that all living things flourish when they adapt to their environment, something humans seem determined not to do as we refuse to change our ways in the face of climate change.



The Maya of Guatemala. I was a guest lecturer at UCLA on the Maya of Central America for years. The one press trip I had signed up to see their cities was cancelled. I finally had a chance to go to Guatemala in 2015 to visit Tikal, but equally fascinating was that Mayan shamanism is continues to be practiced by Catholics. For many reasons, I see Guatemala as the next hot Latin destination.



By focusing on whats unique about each destination, we extract its essence and never have to come back until we run out of countries.


Police were on the hunt for a shooter Wednesday after they said a father was gunned down outside a barbershop in Boston -- while his 4-year-old son was sitting in the barber chair getting a haircut.

Detectives took surveillance video from the shop in the Mattamapn neighborhood for possible clues, owner Neil Decoteau told the Boston Herald. Authorities said they believed the father knew his killer, but did not release the names of any possible suspects.

A church leader said the dad, 31-year-old Marcus Hall of Dorchester, was working to develop a program combating youth violence before he was shot dead.

Hall had just arrived at the shop, Hair It Is, with his son on Tuesday afternoon when somebody approached him. The two people went outside when the shooter fired several shots at the father, then escaped, according to investigators.

Decoteau said the boy was safe, but did not give any details on his whereabouts.

Police declared the shooting an active homicide investigation and were scouring the neighborhood for any witnesses.

The shooting marked the 14th homicide in Boston this year, up slightly from the same period last year, the Herald added.

Friends and loved ones gathered Tuesday evening at Morning Star Baptist Church to mourn the loss of Hall, according to the newspaper.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The FBI on Wednesday called for the public's help in nabbing the state's "most prolific serial killer," who committed at least 12 homicides, 45 rapes and dozens of burglaries across the state in the 1970s and 1980s.

The FBI and Sacramento County officials announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man known as the "East Area Rapist" and "Golden State Killer" who has eluded authorities for 40 years.

At a press conference Wednesday in Sacramento, authorities called him the "most prolific" serial killer in the state's history.

"The victims and their families deserve justice," FBI Special Agent in Charge, Monica Miller, told reporters.

The unknown man -- who authorities say is between 60 and 75 years old today -- began his brutal crime spree in the summer of 1976 by breaking into homes in Rancho Cordova and Carmichael, California, both suburbs of Sacramento.

The suspect -- described as a white male and approximately 5"10 with blonde hair -- would enter the homes by prying open a window or door while his victims slept. Once inside, authorities said the man would tie up couples and rape his female victim before taking small items from the home -- including coins, cash, identification and jewelry. Some victims reported receiving telephone calls from the suspect after the crimes.

Authorities said Monday the man mainly targeted single women -- many with children -- and young couples. His female victims ranged in age from 13 to 41, and he would often bring his own bindings with him, like shoe laces, officials said.

In 1978, his crimes turned deadly. The man shot and killed a young Sacramento couple, Brian and Katie Maggiore, while they were walking their dog in Rancho Cordova. Evidence left at the scene pointed to the East Area Rapist, officials said. After the murder, the suspect committed rapes in Stockton, Modesto, Davis, and the East Bay Area of California.

Between 1979 and 1981, he raped and murdered several people, including couples, in Southern California, according to the FBI. These victims were tied up in the same manner as the Sacramento area rapes and their homes were also ransacked.

After July of 1981, no additional incidents related to the East Coast Rapist and Golden State Killer were reported until the rape and murder of 18-year-old Janelle Lisa Cruz in Irvine, Calif., in May of 1986.

Cruz's murder was the last known crime related to the Golden State Killer.

Authorities also said Monday that the unknown man may have had an interest or training in military or law enforcement techniques as he was familiar and proficient with firearms.

The digital media campaign launched Wednesday includes a webpage as well as digital billboards throughout the country.

Anyone with information on the Golden State Killer is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit information to the FBI's online tip line.

FoxNews.com's Cristina Corbin contributed to this report.
Dad, papa, papi, father, vader, baba, padre, babbo -- no matter how you say it, the word has the same meaning around the world.

For many, their fathers have had a significant impact on their outlook and perspective of life. They taught them the difference between right and wrong, how to treat others and the values they choose to live by. And for some, their dads played an even bigger role: They inspired them in their business practices.

With Fathers Day just around the corner, we asked several founders the lessons they learned from their dad on how to be an entrepreneur.

Read their stories here and share your own with us on Facebook or Twitter.

Related: 5 Lessons I Learned From My Father -- for Business and for Life

If you dont know it, learn it.

Stella & Dot

Name: Jessica Dilullo Herrin

Company: Stella & Dot

He taught me how to self teach and crack open a book and learn something. You shouldnt expect other people to show up and instruct you. Information is widely available, you just have to go get it and cultivate them.

Ive always been a student of life, and I get that voracious appetite for learning and that spirit of you dont like it, go change it from him.

Measure twice and cut once.

Baked By Melissa

Name: Melissa Bushnell

Company: Baked By Melissa

Measure twice and cut once reminds me that it's important to think before you react. Being Melissa of Baked by Melissa, I'm so passionate about what we do and there are naturally times when something happens at work that triggers an emotional response. It's during those times that I measure twice or give extra thought, before responding. You only have one chance to respond so it's important to take two beats before you do.

Be obsessed with perfection in your craft.

Cleanly

Name: Tom Harari

Company: Cleanly

My father is a home painter and has been self-employed since we moved to the U.S. He never built a scalable business and is not wealthy, but he always taught me to be obsessed with perfection in your craft. It's what he became known for amongst his clients.Perfection is impossible but striving towards that can help you create impressive and beautiful work.

Its okay to be vulnerable.

Omelet agency

Name: Ryan Fey

Company: Omelet agency

He taught me how to be 100 percent vulnerable -- to just be me and to be fearless about showing it. Ive really applied this type of vulnerable thinking to our client relationships. I will never say that I know how to do something if that means Id be lying. Im also not afraid to show them when Im sad, upset, happy or scared. Being able to share your true emotions and thoughts with people you work with and for is a powerful thing.

In business, some might see a vulnerable leader as a weak leader but my dad taught me its the one trait that actually makes a leader strong.

Related: What My Father Taught Me About Getting Started in Entrepreneurship

Act with integrity.

Parachute

Name: Ariel Kaye

Company: Parachute

My fathers unconditional love and support has given me the confidence to pursue big dreams and to take risks  and, at times, to make what many thought were unconventional career choices.

Follow your passion.

Ringly

Name: Christina d'Avignon

Company: Ringly

My dad has a background in engineering but then chose to go to medical school and become a cardiologist. He's always had an entrepreneurial spirit and when I was growing up he started a side business out of our basement creating educational training products online for the medical field. Seeing him juggle his career in medicine along with his second business completely inspired me. I now realize that the only way someone could handle doing both of those things is through hard work and a lot of passion.

Start planning.

#Getfried

Name: Chris Covell

Company: #Getfried

One memorable lesson my father taught me at a young age that turned out to be an important lesson in becoming an entrepreneur was to "plan your work, then work your plan.

He taped this slogan to my desk when I was in middle school, and I have always used this lesson in all aspects of my life. Once I became an entrepreneur the importance of this lesson really came to light.

Teach your kids how to be successful in life through business.

Snip-its

Name: Brian Bodenski

Company: Snip-its

One of the most important lesson I learned from my father on entrepreneurism is to teach your kids how to be successful in life through business. When people ask me what my burning desire is, I say that it is to make my kids better and more successful than I am. So like my father, I take both my young kids into our business and instill in them that they are owners, too.

Related: Father and Son Business Owners Share Their Secrets to Success

Maintain resilience and a positive attitude.

Romp n Roll

Name: Michael Barnett

Company: Romp n Roll

The biggest thing my father taught me in business is the importance of maintaining resilience and a positive attitude. As a business owner, you will often be faced with challenges, but the details always have a way of working themselves out, so long as you stay resilient in finding those solution and stay positive, you will ensure continued success despite any obstacle thrown your way.

Lead by example.

British Swim School

Name: Howard Berkowitz

Company: British Swim School

The lesson I learned from my father is to have a work ethic that I can be proud of and that others can learn from and replicate. As the leader of any business it is important to lead by example. My father taught me to be the first one at work and the last one to leave. He always said good work ethic is contagious and thats definitely proven true in my business today.

Be honest.

Nutanix

Name: Dheeraj Pandey

Company: Nutanix

The biggest lesson from my father is how integrity and success go hand in hand. What's right for the long term is what's always right. Morally ambiguous decisions test you on a daily basis, and yet you realize that shortcuts always show up as hacks in the overall business design. Integrity is about that attention to detail that keeps the ambition honest.

Do the right thing.

Too Faced

Name: Jerrod Blandino

Company: Too Faced

You must do the right thing. Thats the end of everything, at all costs. It doesnt matter how much it may hurt or the risk, you have to do the right thing. Otherwise, you could still be a billionaire but be miserable and have a horrible life.

Related: How This Woman Sourced Inspiration for Fabric From Her Father's Drawings

Value hard work.

Banjo

Name: Damien Patton

Company: Banjo

My dad was an entrepreneur. He built his own company from scratch and taught me the value of hard work and learning the pros and cons as you watch your father go through . through building a business and applying that experience later on in life.

Never give up or let go.

Claessens Kids

Name: Vincent Claessens

Company: Claessens Kids

My father, who was also an entrepreneur, taught me to stay close enough to my business that I knew every angle, every in, every out, so that, like with a family member, I would never want to give up or let go. At the same time, he taught me to take a step back (and a deep breath!) when I need to, so that I could live with my business as long as it took to be successful. And he was right!

Related: How a Father's Love for His Ailing Son Inspired Him to Reinvent the Sneaker

Take risks.

Infanttech

Name: Giuseppe Veneziano

Company: Infanttech

If you know what you are making every month then you will never move up in life. These are words my grandfather passed down to my father, and my father, in turn, passed on to me. And these are the words that drove me to become an entrepreneur, rather than an employee. My father has been an entrepreneur all his life and was able to put two children through private school (while battling cancer on three difference occasions!) with his earnings. I consider these words to live by as I venture to build my own businesses and provide for my own family; words that drive me to constantly think about whats new, whats next, whats coming, and not just rely on what Ive already done.

Respect for an honest day's work

Gusto

Name: Josh Reeves

Company: Gusto

The biggst thing I learned from my father was respect for an honest day's work -- following your passion but living each moment in a way youre proud of. My father was a teacher, and he taught the same subjects every day. He put himself through a Master's program and doctorates on nights and weekends while working full time, because he wanted to grow and develop himself.

This article was edited for brevity and clarity.
Iran's top leader said Tuesday that if the next U.S. president tears up the nuclear deal, Iran will "light it on fire."

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's remarks appeared to be aimed at presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, who has criticized the deal and vowed to renegotiate it. Khamenei referred to a "U.S. presidential candidate threatening to tear the deal up."

"We do not violate the deal, but if the other party violates it, if they tear the agreement up, we will light it on fire," Khamenei said in remarks published on his official website. Khamenei has the final say on all major issues in Iran.

He said Iran has fulfilled its obligations under the agreement but that the U.S. was dragging its feet on lifting sanctions in the banking and insurance sectors, and on unfreezing Iranian assets. "The Americans have not carried out an important part of their commitments," he said.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif plans to meet with Secretary of State John Kerry in Germany later this week to discuss the implementation of the deal, which went into effect in January.

Khamenei reiterated his opposition to a wider rapprochement with the U.S. and other Western nations, saying they remain hostile toward Iran.

"It is a wrong idea that we can reach a compromise with the U.S.," he said. "The main argument is about the existence of the Islamic Republic, and this cannot be resolved through negotiation."

The landmark nuclear agreement reached nearly a year ago lifted sanctions in exchange for Iran curbing its uranium enrichment program.
A 24-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges that he shot five demonstrators protesting the shooting death of a black man by Minneapolis police in November.

Allen Scarsella of Lakeville faces assault and riot charges in Hennepin County. In a court filing Wednesday, defense attorneys said Scarsella will argue he acted in self-defense.

Prosecutors allege Scarsella and three other men meant to cause trouble on Nov. 23 when they went to an encampment of demonstrators protesting the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Jamar Clark in a confrontation with two white officers. Charges allege Scarsella, who is white, shot and wounded five men.

Minnesota Public Radio News (http://bit.ly/21n1jqz ) reports Scarsella's lawyers argue the men were only filming the protest when they were confronted.

The three other men haven't yet entered pleas to riot charges.

___

Information from: Minnesota Public Radio News, http://www.mprnews.org
Police in Connecticut said they would search for new clues Wednesday into the death of a 31-year-old hiker, one day after they found her body near train tracks.

Officers said they believed an eastbound train struck Sarah Addy Monday night, killing her. They found her body around 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.

"Theres nothing investigatively that would lead us to believe" foul play was involved, Branford Police Capt. Geoffrey Morgan told the New Haven Register.

Police initially said she vanished Monday after going for a walk in the woods. Amtrak officers had been assisting in the search.

Shoreline trains in the state were delayed for nearly two hours Tuesday night before full service was restored at about 9 p.m., according to WFSB-TV.

Police launched their search earlier Tuesday after they said they tried and failed to contact Addy on her phone.

Branford police asked anyone with information on her death to call 203-481-4241.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Rachel Dovel, a transgender woman and 10-year Public Library of Cincinnati employee, was hoping gender reassignment surgery would be covered in her health insurance.

"I knew that I wasn't a boy but it didn't click. It didn't mesh until 2014, Dovel told FOX19 NOW.

Dovel wants gender confirmation surgery, but the insurance policy offered to employees at the library doesnt cover it, and it wont cover it anytime soon.

A unanimous vote by the librarys board of trustees reinforced its previous decision to not cover transgender healthcare.

Dovel says the procedure shes seeking will cost about $25,000.

"That's what health insurance is. We cover the health needs of the people who work for this library - that work hard for this library every day, said Dovel.

The board underlined issues with falling state funding and an expected 8.7 percent increase in healthcare costs next year with its 410 employees enrolled in the librarys healthcare plan.

Trustees also struck down other potential additions to its health care coverage including gastric bypass surgery, infertility treatment and prescriptions  saying these additions would add $250,000 in yearly expenses.

Weve never actually added any riders to our core health insurance policy before, said Chris Rice of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Its ultimately a business decision. Its a quarter of a million dollars to add all the bearing riders to our health insurance policy. Its whats best for the library and all of its employees, Rice told FOX19 NOW.

As it stands, of 471 workers eligible for insurance at the library, 410 of them are currently enrolled in the policy.

"The library has chosen not to stand by its LGBT employees in a positive way, said Dovels attorney Josh Langdon.

Langdon tells FOX19 NOW that they plan to pursue legal action.

Its really disappointing that they have subjected themselves to a federal lawsuit by treating this as an elective procedure rather than a civil rights battle, Langdon said. There are no other options except taking it to court at this point.

Dovel says her fight is not over.

"I have to go to work tomorrow. I work here and if I want to see this through to the end, I need to keep being the good employee that I am, she said.

Finding insurances that cover transgender healthcare can be difficult to navigate. Some private firms like Signa, Highmark and Amerigroup cover gender reassignment surgeries. Government health care services like the Veterans Administration are considering covering transgender procedures.

State funding to libraries has certainly taken a hit. According to the Ohio Library Council, funding has been slashed 28 percent since 2008.

The public library fund received 1.66 percent of the revenue from state general revenue sources in 2016, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation.
The father of the shooter who killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando this week said Tuesday that he did not believe his son was homosexual, despite reports that he was a regular at the gay bar.

"I don't know if he was, if that was his way of his life, but I don't believe so," Seddique Mateen told reporters at his home in Port St. Lucie, Fla. "I heard the news that you heard ... to me that is wrong, I didn't see it."

Earlier Tuesday, multiple media outlets reported that Omar Mateen repeatedly went to Pulse in the weeks and months before the massacre. The Orlando Sentinel quoted one patron who said that Mateen would "go over in the corner and sit and drink by himself, and other times he would get so drunk he was loud and belligerent."

Another patron told the Associated Press that Mateen would try to pick up men at Pulse, while a third told The Los Angeles Times that Mateen had messaged him on a gay chat and dating app.

The elder Mateen said Tuesday that he had never seen his son exhibit homophobic behavior except for one time in Miami when he saw two men kissing.

Seddique Mateen told reporters that he last saw his son on Saturday afternoon, approximately 11 hours before the shooting. The elder Mateen said Omar didn't stay at the house long and was acting normal.

He added that his son's second wife, Noor Zahi Salman, returned to the couple's apartment late Monday because she "needed clothes to wear." He said she is in shock, adding that she and his grandson are in Florida, but he didn't say where.



Federal prosecutors have convened a grand jury to investigate Salman, seeking to charge her as an accessory to 49 counts of murder and 53 counts of attempted murder as well as with failure to notify law enforcement about the pending terrorist attack and lying to federal agents.

On Monday, Seddique Mateen partially blamed the nightclub for the massacre, telling Sky News, "The club, [with] 300 or 400 people ... coming - they should have good security. If there was good security, he wouldn't have had this opportunity.

"Why the law enforcement team was so late - they should have neutralised him quick ... This should not have happened ... They should protect people that come in the club."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Lamar Alexander on Tuesday welcomed members of the Tennessee School Boards Association to his Washington office. He told the members, "Tennessee public school classrooms are back in the hands of Tennesseans thanks to the new education law that repeals the federal Common Core mandate, reverses the trend toward a national school board and restores local control of public schools.

We have reversed the trend toward a national school board and are moving decisions out of Washington into the hands of classrooms, teachers and parents, said Senator Alexander. Id recommend that you form a coalition in Tennessee of teachers, principals, parents, superintendents, legislators, along with Governor Haslam and Education Commissioner Candace McQueen, and work together to write a new state education plan, which is necessary to receive federal dollars for your schools. The national coalition that worked to pass the law, is now working to see that it is implemented it as Congress wrote ita state coalition is just as important.

Senator Alexander, who chairs the Senate education committee talked with the school board members about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which was passed by the House 359-64, passed by the Senate 85-12, and signed by the president in December. In addition to ending the National School Board run out of Washington, D.C., the new law ended the federal Common Core mandate, Mother May I? conditional waivers, the highly qualified teacher definition and requirements, teacher evaluation mandates, federal school turnaround models, federal test-based accountability and adequate yearly progress.

Senator Alexander has said the new law was passed thanks to a unique coalition of national, state, and local organizationsincluding governors, teachers, parents, superintendents, chief state school officers, school board members, and principalswho became fed up with Washington telling those closest to the children so much about what to do in our 100,000 public schools.

Senator Alexander encouraged the school board members "to stay involved and stay in touch with me as we work to ensure Washington stays out of our classrooms. Senator Alexander has said, The law isnt worth the paper its printed on unless it is implemented properly, and I'll use every power of Congress to make sure the law is implemented the way we wrote it for 50 million students and 3.4 million teachers in 100,000 public schools.

The Tennessee School Boards Association traveled to Washington to participate in the National School Boards Associations Advocacy Institute. On Monday, Senator Alexander spoke at the Advocacy Institute and discussed school boards new flexibility under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Federal authorities in Orlando and around the nation are scrambling to connect dots in the wake of Sunday's massacre by an Islamist terrorist, with potential charges looming for the gunman's wife as early as Wednesday and agents tracing possible ties to radical Muslims in the U.S. and abroad.

The all-hands-on-deck probe is aimed at determining whether Omar Mateen acted alone when he gunned down 49 patrons in a gay nightclub or others knew of his deadly plans and possibly aided him. A federal law enforcement source told FoxNews.com Tuesday that prosecutors have convened a grand jury to investigate Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, who could be charged as an accessory.

FBI agents have interviewed Omar Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, in the days since Sunday's massacre that also wounded 53 more. She is reportedly cooperating, but formal charges could help ensure she told the feds all she knows.

Multiple reports said the Rodeo, Calif., home where Salman grew up was visited by the FBI Tuesday. The FBI has refused comment to the press outside of official media briefings.

A federal law enforcement source additionally told Fox News that Salman knew of her husband's deadly plans and did nothing to stop him.

Mateen died in a shootout with police early Sunday morning. While Salman has been widely referred to as Mateen's wife, the only proof of their marriage is her listing as his wife on a 2013 mortgage document and family members who said the two were married and had a 3-year-old son.

On a separate front, the FBI is piecing together Mateens radical Islam roots, and two trips to Saudi Arabia could be a sign of his growing religious devotion. His stated reason for both the 2011 and 2012 trips was umrah, a Muslim pilgrimage to the Kingdom that is not as significant as the hajj, a trip all Muslims must make to Mecca at least once in their lives. Either or both of the trips could also have included a deadly diversion for terror training, according to experts who are dubious that a working-class Muslim-American would make the pilgrimage twice in two years.

The FBI took a computer, camera and other equipment from Mateen's two-bedroom condominium in Fort Pierce, some 120 miles from the scene of the shooting and hours-long hostage situation that culminated in his death.

Although ISIS has taken credit for the attack and lavished praise on Mateen, it is still unclear whether he received direction, or simply inspiration, from the terrorist group. However, Fox News reported Tuesday that Mateen was more than just an acquaintance of another radicalized terrorist who left Florida for Syria where he blew himself up in 2014.

Fox News was told the relationship between Mateen and American suicide bomber Moner Abu-Salha -- who drove 16 tons of explosives into a Syrian government facility on behalf of Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, was "complex." The two frequented the same Fort Pierce mosque.

Authorities are also probing Mateen's ties to Dwayne Robertson, a onetime New York gang leader who resurfaced in Orlando as an imam and is suspected by federal authorities of radicalizing Americans and sending them abroad to kill. Robertson, who was released from prison last year, denies inciting violent jihad.

Finally, more information from relatives and people who knew Mateen in prior years continued to bring into focus a portrait of an angry and volatile bigot with conflicted feelings toward gays. His massacre is being treated as both an act of terror and a hate crime directed at the LGBT community, yet hist first wife reportedly believes Mateen himself was a closeted gay man.

Patrons at Pulse, the nightclub where he killed dozens, say he had been seen there many times and one reportedly said Mateen had contacted him using a dating app popular with the gay community.
A 16-year-old girl was killed and three other people suffered gunshot wounds during a vigil in downtown Oakland Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

The number of people shot fluctuated throughout the evening. Oakland police initially said five people had been shot. The department then corrected the information to six people wounded, and finally said a total of four people had been shot, including the deceased victim.



The three victims who were shot, described as men and women aged from their mid-teens to early 20s, were all listed in stable condition. Three others received unspecified injuries, police said.

The East Bay Times reported that officers responded to the shooting scene at the intersection of 13th and Franklin Streets just after 5:40 p.m. local time. Police spoksman Kyle Hazen said a vehicle was seen fleeing the area of the shooting.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the shooting happened near a theater that was hosting a vigil for two teens who drowned in a Stanislaus County reservoir over Memorial Day weekend.

Oakland Police Lt. Carlos Gonzalez told the paper that witnesses reported seeing two gunmen who opened fire along half of a city block.

A witness who requested anonymity told the paper that vigil attendees were caught in a crossfire.

Another witness Mason Stone, told the San Francisco Chronicle that he was walking a block away when he heard a series of gunshots.

"And then basically there were people running every which way," Stone told the paper.

Click for more from SFGate.com.
An ex-girlfriend of Brock Turner, the Stanford University swimmer convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, called him her "dearest friend" in a letter submitted to the court for his trial, newly released court documents showed on Tuesday.

"He never once pressured me into any situation or decision that I didn't feel true to myself in," the ex-girlfriend, Lydia Pocisk, wrote in the letter obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Posick wrote that Turner was dedicated to his swimming, and that people shouldn't hold his calm nature against him.

"It has been said that due to his calm demeanor, he did not care that this was happening to him, that he intentionally did this, which is simply not the case, he is just very good at being and seeming relaxed."

Posick wrote that they met in middle school and dated during their junior and senior years of high school.

The judge ultimately sentenced Turner to six months in jail for sexually assaulting a young woman passed out from drinking too much at a fraternity party where they had met in January of 2015. Turner is scheduled to be released from Santa Clara County jail in September after completing three months of his sentence due to good behavior.

The judge, Aaron Persky, has endured widespread criticism and calls for his removal from the bench. On Tuesday, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen used a prosecutor's authority to disqualify the judge to block transfer of a new sexual assault case involving a former nurse in San Jose.

In a separate letter to the judge, Turner's mother, Carleen, wrote that prison would damage her son "forever." She described any potential jail time as a "death sentence."

The prosecutor's so-called "papering" of Persky came days after several potential jurors told the judge they couldn't serve on a jury in his courtroom because of the Turner sentence. The prosecutor removed Persky from the new sexual assault case the day after he tossed out a misdemeanor theft trial before it reached the jury. Perky ruled on Monday that prosecutors had not proven their theft case during the two-day trial and dismissed the case and the jury before deliberations started.

"We are disappointed and puzzled at Judge Persky's unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate," the district attorney said in a prepared statement. "After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient."

The district attorney said he hasn't decided whether he will disqualify Persky from all new sexual assault cases that may get assigned to him in the future.

Persky didn't respond to requests for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Kosovo citizen has pleaded guilty to hacking computers to expose U.S. service members' personal data on behalf of the Islamic State.

At a plea hearing Wednesday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, 20-year-old Ardit Ferizi told a judge that he still doesn't know why he committed the crime. He pleaded guilty to providing material support to ISIS and unauthorized access to a computer.

British-born ISIS operative Junaid Hussain later exposed the data Ferizi uncovered in a social media campaign that urged the groups followers to target those service members. A U.S. drone strike killed Hussain last summer.

Ferizi faces up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced in September.

Ferizi admitted hacking the records of a private company and providing names, email passwords and phone numbers of more than 1,300 service members to ISIS last year. Upon publishing the data, the terror network warned it would "strike at your necks in your own lands."

Fox News' Matt Dean and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A North Carolina Navy veteran parked in a spot marked for veterans at a grocery store Monday, but was shocked to find a note criticizing her when she returned.

Rebecca Hayes said she came out of the Concord store and found a note on her car that read, This parking spot is for Veterans, lady. Learn to read and have some respect.

Hayes told WBTV that she only noticed the note after about 30 minutes after she had left the shopping center.

"At first, I thought someone had left a note because they hit my car or something like that," Hayes told the station. She said she thought she was going to have to call someone and exchange insurance information.

However, when she saw the note accusing her of taking a parking spot away from a veteran, she said she began to cry.

Hayes responded to the note in a Facebook message. She said shes sorry the writer couldnt see her eight years in the U.S. Navy, and cant imagine that there are female veterans.

She also said she was sorry she had to explain herself to people like you, and couldnt speak in person to whoever left the note.

She concluded by saying, "I served, did you?"

Hayes told the station she believes the note was left on the windshield because she didnt fit the stereotype of being a veteran because shes a woman and what she was wearing at the time.

Veterans come in all shapes, sizes, genders and colors," she said. "More veterans don't fit that stereotype than do."

Hayes said her husband is a U.S. Army veteran and has parked in the spot before and has never gotten more than a Thank you for your service.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Click for more from WBTV.
The Walmart worker who held two fellow employees hostage at gunpoint at their store in Texas before police shot and killed him Tuesday was an Iranian immigrant who reportedly was cheerful the morning of the attack.



Mohammad Moghaddam, 54, came to Amarillo with his family eight years ago from Iran, relatives told the Amarillo Globe-News. The newspaper reported he bought his home in Amarillo in 2004.

Moghaddam had no criminal history before he engaged in what authorities termed a workplace violence event at the superstore where he was employed for more than a decade.

I saw him this morning, Moghaddams daughter, Adel, 30, told the Globe-News. He was happy and ate breakfast and then went to work.

Officials said Moghaddam had a handgun when he took his manager and another store employee hostage. Both were unharmed.

As far as we know right now, it had something to do with a promotion and the possibility he might be passed over for a promotion, Potter-Randall Special Crimes Unit Coordinator Lt. Erick Bohannon said.

Police said there was no indication the event was tied to terrorism and authorities searched Moghaddams car and home but did not report anything suspicious, The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported.

Moghaddam lived for a time in the Bronx before coming to Amarillo with his wife, Leila Gachlou, his son, Atefeh, 27, and Adel, the Globe-News reported. Gachlou also was employed at the Amarillo Walmart.

A neighbor of Moghaddams described the man as quiet and said he may have had a liver transplant in 2015.

This is very unexpected, she told the Globe-News. You never expect your neighbor to do that.
Florent Groberg tackled a suicide bomber in Afghanistan and lived to tell about it. The Army captain received the Medal of Honor for his brave action, but he says he's "absolutely not" a hero.

"The word belongs to the people that don't come home, he says. I'm just a soldier doing my job."

Still, his heroic act in 2012 has become the stuff of legend.

Groberg, 33, was born in France to an American father and French mother of Algerian descent. He came to the U.S. in 1994 at the age of 11, learned English while growing up in Maryland and became determined to join the military after the September 11 terror attacks.

He became a U.S. citizen and entered basic training in 2008, and one year later he was in Afghanistan, leading a platoon that patrolled villages, fought the Taliban and supported the locals as they built their own government.

He said the war zone made him "a little overwhelmed and nervous at first, because  men could die on my watch.

"In combat, there were definitely some tough parts  where you're under fire, when you realize, holy macaroni, there's a human being that's actually trying to kill me right now. But you have your men next to you, and you're all in sync working together."

On Aug. 8, 2012, during his second deployment to Afghanistan, Groberg was personal security detachment commander of a patrol escorting military officials on foot to the compound of a provincial governor.

They began walking across a bridge, and two men on motorcycles approached from the other side.

An Afghan soldier assisting Groberg's team sensed danger. "As soon as the motorcycles came towards our patrol, he sprinted towards them and raised his rifle and started screaming at them," Groberg said.

The men "dumped their bikes and started running away. That's when we're like, 'What the heck is going on?' Their goal, which they accomplished, was to stop the patrol."

At the same time, Groberg recalled, a young man who "looked odd" came out of a building and moved toward the patrol.

"He's walking backwards, Groberg recalled. I yelled at him, and as I got closer, he never looked at me.

"When I grabbed him by the chest I realized he was wearing a suicide vest."

Sgt. Andrew Mahony helped him shove the suspect away from the other troops. "The only thing you can do is do your job, be a soldier, Groberg said. So I pushed him, threw him as far as I could."

The man detonated his vest as Groberg tackled him.

"I was thrown about 15, 20 feet [and] knocked out for I don't know how long," he said. "I woke and I realized I was injured. It was real and it wasn't a dream.

"[In] eight seconds, my life completely changed."

Meanwhile, another suicide bomber, who had been hiding nearby, set off a second bomb that killed four men in the patrol: Army Command Sgt. Major Kevin Griffin, Army Major Thomas Kennedy, Air Force Major Walter Gray and foreign service officer Ragaei Abdelfattah.

But it would have been worse if Groberg hadnt tackled the first bomber, who detonated his device prematurely.

Grobergs left leg was seriously injured, and it wasnt until later that he learned four had been killed.

"It was a very devastating moment," he said.

"The idea of dying never really crossed my mind. The idea of doing my job was more important to me. My number two looked at me and said, 'You're done, sir. I've got this. Don't worry, gotta take care of yourself.' "

Groberg's calf muscle was half blown off, and his leg will never be the same, even after 33 surgeries. He credits medic Daniel Balderrama for saving his life, and he says he got stellar care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center when he came back to the US.

"You're surrounded by the nation's finest men who have gone through a lot worse than you ... [even] 100 surgeries. I had my dark days  but I feel very grateful and blessed."

Last year, President Obama awarded Groberg the nation's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor.

It was "very emotional and tough, Groberg said, because you're receiving an award for the worst day of your life.

I wear it specifically to make sure I honor my brothers and their families as a reminder of their sacrifice ... and hopefully send a message about people who are truly the heroes.

American Legends  Stories of soldiers who responded to a difficult conflict situation, and did everything they could to defeat the enemy and get their brothers home.
A deaf sign language user has been elected to a key United Nations committee for the first time, but activists say they are troubled that new elections left the committee with only a single female member.

Activists on Wednesday praised the election of Valery Rukhledev, a deaf sign language user from Russia, to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, but they said the new elections leave only one woman among 18 members of the committee, down from six previously.

Advocates also praised the election of Robert Martin, a person with intellectual disabilities from New Zealand.

Priscille Gieser, chairwoman of the International Disability and Development Consortium, said women with disabilities need to be better represented because they face double discrimination.

A U.N. conference on disabilities continues through Thursday.
Collapsed in pools of blood outside a darkened Pulse nightclub, four cartoon bodies lay beside a giant Donald Trump caricature that is screaming anti-immigrant rhetoric  a provocative drawing that adorns the new cover of Frances satirical Charlie Hebdo magazine.

The often-incendiary publication  which itself was the subject of a terror attack in January 2015  used Sundays Orlando nightclub massacre, combined with mockery of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, to grace its June 15 cover.

An angry Trump points and yells in a word bubble at Muslim immigrants who come to kill gay people. Several translations of Hebdos original French wording reveal profane versions for immigrants and gay people.

All the while, a quartet of slumped bodies lay to Trumps left, just outside a building with the sign Pulse. A question asks TRUMP PRESIDENT?

An ISIS-inspired terrorist slaughtered 49 people and wounded 53 more in Sunday mornings shooting at the gay Florida nightclub, investigators said. Police eventually killed the shooter, Omar Mateen, during a 5 a.m. gun battle that followed a three-hour siege inside the club.

Two Islamist brothers killed 11 members of the Charlie Hebdo staff and wounded 11 others in a Jan. 7, 2015 attack.

Trump tweeted several times about the Charlie Hebdo assault in its immediate aftermath, opining that if some members of the staff were armed, they may have been able to fight back against the terrorists.

If the people so violently shot down in Paris had guns, at least they would have had a fighting chance, Trump tweeted.
VBS will be held at St. Elmo Missionary Baptist Church, 3701 W Ave., on June 27-July 1, from 68:30 p.m. The theme will be "Submerged" in God's Word, Psalm 139: 23-24.

All ages are welcome.
An international advocacy group on Wednesday accused the United Nations of prioritizing its relationship with the Syrian government over delivering aid to civilians in need, saying the world body is "in serious breach of its humanitarian principles."

The Beirut-based Syria Campaign said in a scathing report that the U.N. has "allowed the Syrian government to direct aid from Damascus almost exclusively into its territories," at the expense of establishing regular aid access to hundreds of thousands of Syrians besieged by government forces.

A spokesman for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the accusation "discredits the work of national and international humanitarian aid workers."

"The U.N. has never shied away from calling out the parties in the conflict, including the Syrian government, for hampering the humanitarian work of the UN in Syria," said Stephane Dujarric.

The U.N. estimates that some 500,000 Syrians are trapped across 18 besieged areas in the country, most of them encircled by government forces, while the monitoring group Siege Watch puts the tally at 1 million.

In press briefings and reports to the Security Council, U.N. officials regularly acknowledge that President Bashar Assad's government refuses to allow critical aid to enter the areas it besieges -- or, at the last moment, it forces relief workers to offload food and medical supplies from their convoys.

The U.N. and its partners nevertheless reach over six million people with aid every month, according to the Secretary-General's office. The U.N.'s resident coordinator in Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, said the world body would not "condemn people in non-besieged areas to starvation," just because besieged areas are beyond reach.

But U.N. reports and former officials question the world body's accounting.

In a March 2016 self-evaluation of its Syria crisis response, the U.N.'s humanitarian coordination office OCHA said it had no systematic means to assess "needs within Government territory, nor the impact of work done to date, or even, arguably, where the majority of assistance has gone."

Though humanitarian principles call on impartial parties to deliver aid in conflicts, the U.N. and other Damascus-based international relief organizations rely on the government-affiliated Syrian Arab Red Crescent, according to the former chief of the UN's Palestinian refugee relief agency in Syria, Roger Hearn.

"Once they give aid to the SARC or to other agencies, they lose control," said Hearn, who said most requests to monitor aid distributions are rejected by Damascus. The U.N. and other NGOs "literally don't have that line of sight about where (the aid) is going," he said.

El Hillo said just 2 percent of the aid distributed by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent does not reach beneficiaries.

The Syria Campaign report , which relies on anonymous testimony from U.N. officials as well as public reports, recommends that the world body "suspends cooperation" with Damascus if the Syrian government continues to infringe on the U.N.'s independence.

It accuses the U.N. of failing to use its leverage with Assad's government. "The government needs U.N. aid to support vast numbers of citizens," the report said.

A 2011 government crackdown on popular demonstrations calling for reforms sparked a violent civil war that has drawn fighters from around the globe and divided the U.N.'s Security Council. The U.N. says only a political solution can resolve the conflict.

"It was only in November 2015 that key member states agreed to come to the same room and discuss Syria, face to face. This in itself is a failure," said El Hillo. "All member states with influence are responsible, and chiefly the Security Council."

A Syrian government official meanwhile denounced the presence of Western troops in northern Syria, singling out French and German special forces in the Manbij and Kobani areas, calling it an "aggression on Syria's independence and sovereignty," in comments carried by state media.

Last week, Kurdish-led Syrian forces backed by U.S. and coalition airstrikes advanced on an Islamic State stronghold in northern Syria, besieging the town of Manbij. If the advance succeeds it would deal a major blow to the extremist group and sever a key supply route between the Turkish border and IS' self-styled capital, Raqqa.

French officials confirmed that French special forces were with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, offering training and advice. The U.S. has 300 special forces embedded with the SDF as well. The White House has said the forces are there in an advisory capacity.

Germany's Defense Ministry said in comments to The Associated Press Wednesday that it had not deployed any forces in any capacity to Syria.

However, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said there were nearly two dozen German military personnel in the area working alongside French and U.S. special forces. The head of the Observatory, Rami Abdurrahman, said locals and fighters have reported the presence of the German military advisers. He had no further details.
Well, this car certainly purrs.

A fighter pilot for the United Kingdom reportedly found a kitten inside his BMWs bumper after travelling 300 miles.

The pilot, Lt. Nick Grimmer, said he heard meowing from his car after traveling from Birmingham Airport. After he arrived at the Royal Air Station in Cornwall, he finally found the cat in the bumper.

His colleagues from the 814 Naval Air Squadron known as the Flying Tigers named the kitten, fittingly, Tigger, the BBC reported.

While fellow airmen look for its owner, the cat has become something of a mascot and enjoys sleeping in the pilots helmet.

Commander Brendan Spoors, the commanding officer, told The Birmingham Mail he would be happy to adopt the cat and likened its adoption to similar traditions on naval ships. But he did instruct the officers to continue looking for its owner.

"Tigger must have an owner somewhere between here and Birmingham and we are keen to locate them. I instructed my team to launch 'Operation Tiger Kitten.'"
A German rapper who dropped his mic to become a prominent member of ISIS is likely still alive, despite a Pentagon report last fall that he was killed in an airstrike, German officials said Wednesday.

Denis Cuspert, aka Deso Dogg, was believed to have been killed near Raqqa, Syria, last Oct. 16 while traveling in a car with two other people. Now, German authorities believe the performer, who released records and once toured with American rapper DMX, may have cheated death.

We have no evidence that the rapper known as "Deso Dogg"  died in a military action, said Bernd Palenda, head of Berlin State Protection.

Despite being more of a C-lister in his homeland, Cuspert, 40, became a high-profile target when he joined ISIS in 2012, using his rap skills and show-biz persona to attract radical recruits. He was labeled a "specially designated global terrorist" by the U.S. State Department, which called Cuspert "emblematic of the type of foreign recruit" ISIS seeks and a "willing pitchman" for the organization.

"Cuspert was a foreign terrorist fighter and operative for ISIL who used social media to take advantage of disaffected youth and potential Western recruits," Department of Defense spokeswoman Elissa Smith said in a statement last October.

Word that reports of Cusperts demise may have been exaggerated by the Pentagon made big headlines in Germany Wednesday.

The Pentagon had already declared him dead: but apparently a native of Berlin ISIS Terrorist Denis Cuspert is still alive! wrote major German newspaper Bild.

Pentagon officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cuspert was formally designated as a terrorist in February 2015 by the State Department, a rare step against a European citizen, after he appeared in numerous grisly propaganda videos on behalf of ISIS. In one particularly gruesome video, Cuspert was seen with other fighters who shot one person and beheaded another. Cuspert was not shown killing anyone, but holds the severed head and announces that the dead were enemies of ISIS.

"That's why they've received the death sentence," Cuspert announced in German on the video.

German law enforcement and intelligence officials had long marked Cuspert out as a leader of ISIS' German-speaking contingent.

"Denis Cuspert stands in the focus of security circles because of his essential role for Islamic State, a German law enforcement official told FoxNews.com last year. He is propagandist of IS."

The son of a Ghanian father who left Cusperts German mother, he recorded three albums for a Berlin-based gangsta rap label and scored a minor hit with "Willkommen in meiner Welt" (Welcome to my World) in 2010.

Welcome to my world full of hate and blood, went part of the song. Childrens souls weep softly when the black angels sing.

According to a Vice.com report, he converted to Islam in 2010 following a near-fatal car accident. It was then that his music began advocating violent jihad.

In 2011, Berlin prosecutors charged him with illegal possession of weapons after Cuspert appeared brandishing weapons as "Abou Maleeq" in a YouTube video. A police raid on his home yielded weapons and ammunition, and although it did not result in jail time, he was squarely on the radar of German counter-terrorism investigators.

In 2012, Cuspert left Germany for Egypt, before eventually making his way to Syria where he joined Al Qaeda. When Islamic State broke away from the terror group behind 9/11, Cuspert pledged his loyalty to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

He also released a propaganda video where he calls on jihadist sleeper cells in Europe to carry out terrorist attacks, in Britain, Germany and France, rapping 'We want your blood'.

Last year, it was revealed Cuspert was being spied on for the FBI by a Syrian woman he thought was his wife. The spy transmitted critical information about the rapper and his ISIS colleagues before escaping to Turkey  where she was arrested and then turned over to U.S. officials.



If Cuspert dodged death last fall, it was not the first time. Jihadist sources in April 2014 said Cuspert had been killed in Syria but they later retracted the claim.
Two Russian intelligence gathering ships are currently shadowing U.S. Navy and other NATO vessels operating in the Baltic Sea during a major international exercise this month, according to U.S. Navy Vice Admiral James G. Foggo III, leading the exercise.

What we have seen is shadowing by two Russian intelligence vessels since we left port in Tallinn, Estonia on June 5th, Foggo said. He added that the Russian ships have been well behaved but have refused to communicate with the U.S. Navy despite coming as close as one mile at times with U.S. and allied vessels.

Foggo also commands the U.S. Navys 6th Fleet, responsible for the waters around Europe, and spoke to reporters on a conference call Wednesday while on his command ship, USS Mount Whitney, currently steaming off the coast of Poland.

The exercise, BALTOPS 2016, is in its 44th year and includes more than 40 ships from 17 nations and some 6,000 sailors, airmen and marines conducting training operations from June 3-19. Non-NATO counties Finland and Sweden are also participating.

According to other NATO officers on the conference call, Russia normally likes to take a peek at the exercise, but tensions were heightened this year as NATO announced plans to deploy troops to Eastern Europe to deter Russian aggression in the region, which Russia says violates longstanding treaties between Russia and the West.

Russias annual uninvited participation in the large Baltic naval exercise comes with less intensity this year compared to 2015, according to Foggo, but what concerns him is Russias recent announcement to conduct its own large-scale exercise in the near future without sharing any of the details. Western forces are typically more open with Russia about their own exercises.

Last week, a delegation from the U.S. Navy met its Russian counterparts in Moscow to discuss the current Baltic Sea exercise, and had candid and frank discussions about how to operate professionally [and] not get in each others way, Foggo said, calling the meeting productive.

He added, We didnt want any surprises. We actually put our schedule for the exercise on the web. But the Russians have not returned the favor, according to Foggo.

Frankly, it would be nice to see some of that transparency on the Russians part.

Foggo said the Russians have a habit of conducting sudden large-scale surprise or snap exercises in the region that can make people nervous.

Russia announced this week it would be launching one of these snap exercises soon.

Were wondering where thats going to be, Foggo said, adding that hed seen reports on Russias announcement of a big exercise in the coming days.

Previous large-scale Russian exercises have turned into invasions. In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea under the guise of a sudden snap military exercise.

In addition to the large multi-national naval exercise in the Baltics, the U.S. Army and NATO allies are conducting the largest exercise in Poland since the end of the Cold War involving some 30,000 troops from 24 different countries. Foggo said he did not know which exercise was drawing Russias ire.

According to Foggo, Russian activity this time around the Baltic exercise is certainly, nothing like we saw with the close fly-by of USS Donald Cook [in April] right here in the Baltic Sea.

Foggo thought the media attention brought against Russia when its warplanes buzzed the U.S. Navy destroyer in April in the Baltic Sea might have made Russia change course.

I dont think they want to be seen that way, said Foggo. That might have caused the change in their behavior.

When asked if the buzzing of the USS Donald Cook by Russian warplanes in April came up during the meeting between U.S. Navy and Russian officials last week in Moscow, Foggo said that type of interaction was discussed but declined to disclose any specifics.

The vice admiral said he has seen a little Russian air activity operating near his ships.

Foggo said he saw for the first time with his own eyes a Russian Su-24 strike aircraft Tuesday night fly over his command ship and a Royal Navy helicopter carrier nearby. That would have been the same type of Russian jet that buzzed the Navy destroyer in April.

They stayed at altitude and conducted a standard reconnaissance of an at sea flotilla, Foggo said, adding that the Russians operated in a safe and professional manner. He said a Ka-27 Helix helicopter was also spotted Wednesday morning near allied vessels.

I personally think the Russians have changed their calculus, since April, Foggo claimed. He said Russia was still finding other ways to protest the large Baltic exercise.

The operations on Finnish soil were greeted with disdain by the Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, according to Foggo. He said Finlands foreign minister had been meeting with Lavrov in Moscow during an amphibious landing in Hanko, Finland, the first of three landings taking place this month.

U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers also have taken part in the Baltic exercise to launch quick strike mines and give other allied ships the opportunity to practice mine clearance operations, which has uncovered some unexploded mines and torpedoes dating back to the World War II era. It was real world training, said Foggo.

The vice admiral said he had not seen any signs of Russian submarines operating near his forces, but warned in a recent article that the technology gap between Russia and the U.S. was closing fast.

These are not the [Russian] submarines we faced during the Cold War, Foggo said in a recent article in the U.S. Navy Institutes Proceedings Magazine.

There may be fewer of them, but they are much stealthier, carry more devastating weaponry, and go on more frequent and longer deployments than before. The submarines of the Russian Federation are one of the most difficult threats the United States has faced. This threat is significant, and it is only growing in complexity and capacity, he said.

Russian submarine deployments are up 50% in the past few years according to a recent report quoting the former head of the Russian Navy.

Foggo said there is particular concern in the Black Sea where Russia is adding four more Kilo-class submarines to the two already in place. A similar Kilo-class submarine entered the Mediterranean and launched a Kalibr cruise missile into Syria, another concern about the growing Russian military threat in the region.

We need to remain vigilant, Foggo said.

The presence of Russian military forces this month around the large multi-national naval exercise in the Baltics is not new according to NATO officials who say they've seen Russians trailing allied vessels for decades.

When I was a junior officer on a submarine in 1983, the Russian AGI [intelligence ship] used to wait for us when we came out of Charleston, South Carolina and they were right at the limit of our territorial waters, said Faggo.
The U.S. military would take advantage of any opportunity to kill Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, a spokesman based in Baghdad told reporters Wednesday, adding that he could not confirm recent reports that a coalition airstrike killed the terrorist in Syria.

"We don't know for sure" that it happened, Col. Christopher Garver said during a news briefing. Garver added that there were no U.S. airstrikes in Raqqa on June 10, despite multiple reports claiming the strike unfolded there. One of the reports came from ISIS-linked news agency al-Amaq.

Garver said there were "two small strikes" the next day in Raqqa, however. "We've been targeting senior leaders of [ISIS] and if we've got an opportunity to get him, we would take it."

There is currently a $25 million bounty on al-Baghdadi's head.

Meanwhile, Iraqi forces were having a tough time pushing into the heart of the largest concentration of ISIS fighters in western Iraq near Baghdad, Garver told reporters. He said Iraqi forces were inside the "southern edge" of Fallujah, located 45 miles west of the Iraqi capital.

"The fighting remains intense inside the city," he added. Garver said while Iraqi forces were inside Fallujah, they had not yet reached the center of the city.

In the past week, U.S. jets have conducted 19 airstrikes in and around Fallujah, he said. "We have hit tactical units and fighters, heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenade teams, mortar systems, recoil-less rifles, air artillery pieces, and Daesh vehicles," Garver added, using another name for ISIS.

Garver said 40,000 Iraqi civilians have evacuated Fallujah.

When asked by Fox News about Iranian-backed Shia militias carrying out reprisal killings against Sunni Iraqi citizens escaping Fallujah, Garver could not confirm the reports. "We have not seen that specifically," he said.

But he acknowledged such killings between Iranian-backed forces, some of whom killed American troops in the past decade in Iraq, have occurred recently in the ISIS fight around Tikrit. "Clearly, it is a problem, something we're going to watch carefully."

Photos of Iran's Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani and his deputy Abu Mahdi al Muhandis have surfaced on social media showing how the Iranian generals charged leading Shia militias in the Fallujah battle. Iraq's prime minister said last week Soleimani was serving in Iraq as an invited guest of his government.

Garver said the Iraqi government had approved the U.S. Army Apache strike earlier this week against an ISIS car bomb 50 miles south of Mosul before it took place. He told reporters the Apaches were located at various locations inside Iraq, but would not give a specific location when asked if they had been moved to support the Mosul operation.

Garver said there have been 50 airstrikes in northern Iraq in the past week.

In Syria, the U.S.-led coalition has conducted 73 strikes in the last week supporting an operation to liberate the ISIS-held town of Manbij, seen as a key logistics hub for ISIS to ferry troops and supplies across the Turkish border.
Home Care Assistance Announces Expansion in Los Angeles and Southern California Markets

Leading provider of in-home care announces new office openings in the Los Angeles and Southern California area including Pasadena, Santa Clarita, Beverly Hills and Riverside; Announces new VP of Business Development to lead Southern California expansion

June 15, 2016 // Franchising.com // Palo Alto, CA  Home Care Assistance, the leading provider of in-home care for seniors across the United States, Canada and Australia announced an expansion in the Los Angeles area and throughout Southern California. The expansion includes new offices in Pasadena, Santa Clarita, Beverly Hills and Riverside. Home Care Assistance already has a presence in Newport Beach, Dana Point and San Diego, and is in the process of opening 10 more offices on the West Coast. Home Care Assistance operates hundreds of local offices throughout the country. This allows families to meet with a real person when they need to find a caregiver for their aging parent or loved one. Home Care Assistance also has an easy-to-use, convenient website, but believes that storefront education centers, thorough in-home consultations and continuous client care management are critical for the older demographic that they work with for receiving the best care.

Home Care Assistance is proud to expand our services in Southern California in order to make our premier offering available to more older adults, said Home Care Assistance CEO Lily Sarafan. By 2050, Los Angeles County will have one of the largest senior populations in the United States, and were committed to providing our innovating offerings and highly-trained caregivers throughout the region in our quest to help aging adults remain in the comfort of home.

Home Care Assistance has grown from a startup to an industry champion and today employs more than 8,000 team members across 150 global markets, and just celebrated their 150th office opening in San Francisco. The company is consistently recognized as an employer of choice and best-in-class consumer product, and the companys services are distinguished by its high caliber of caregivers.

The company also announced today that is has brought on Ashley Mirone as Vice President of Business Development to lead Home Care Assistances Southern California expansion. Mirone has over a decade of experience in the senior care industry, and extensive knowledge about aging and the important health, social and financial issues that affect the majority of seniors.

We are thrilled to serve Southern California and Los Angeles residents with a high quality of care and amazing caregivers to help older adults remain in their home as they age, said Mirone. Todays senior population differs from that of past decades mainly because older adults are living longer lives due to healthy lifestyle choice as compared to previous generations. However, navigating the healthcare maze is a challenge and having professional Client Care Managers on staff allows us to provide education, resources and peace of mind for all involved.

The Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging has rated the Los Angeles area as one the best for successful aging. Between 2010 and 2030, L.A.s population of people over 65 is expected to nearly double, from 1.1 million to 2.1 million. Home Care Assistance believes that the companys expansion in Southern California will help assist these millions of elderly California age in place. Last month, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Hilda Solis  a former U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Obama  unveiled Purposeful Aging Los Angeles, a three-year plan incorporating civic participation and employment, community support and health services and transportation.

About Home Care Assistance

Home Care Assistance is the leading provider of home care for seniors across the United States, Canada and Australia. Our mission is to change the way the world ages. We provide older adults with quality care that enables them to live happier, healthier lives at home. Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers, the responsiveness of our staff and our expertise in daily care. We embrace a positive, balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults. A 2016 Franchise500, Inc. 5000 Company and one of the 50 fastest growing women-owned companies worldwide in 2016, Home Care Assistance has received numerous industry awards including Entrepreneurs Fastest-Growing Franchises and Franchise Business Reviews Top 50. The company was recognized as a 2016 Endorsed National Provider by the home care industrys leading research firm, Home Care Pulse. Home Care Assistance CEO Lily Sarafan was also named Health Care Executives 2016 Woman of the Year. For more information about Home Care Assistance, our services and franchise opportunities, visit http://www.homecareassistance.com.

SOURCE Home Care Assistance

Media Contact:

Megan Heinen

Director of Marketing

650-462-9501

mheinen@homecareassistance.com

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ShelfGenie Franchisor, Noble Brands, Among 40 Fastest-Growing Companies in Georgia

Company Honored for Exemplifying the Strength and Significance of the Middle-Market Growth in the State

June 15, 2016 // Franchising.com // ATLANTA  Noble Brands, an Atlanta-based franchisor of multiple concepts including, ShelfGenie and Outback Gutter-Vac, was recognized by the Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) in the professional organizations 2016 Georgias Fast 40, recognizing the top 40 fastest-growing middle-market companies in the state.

This is a great honor and serves as a testament to all the hard work weve been doing to create a company that is unique in the way it operates and supports its franchise brands, said Allan Young, founder and CEO of Noble Brands. What began as a rapidly growing Glide-Out shelving company evolved into the need to become a franchisor that was equally as progressive and growth-oriented. To achieve this, we developed an organizational structure where each department operates like its own company as a method to prevent stagnation and keep our employees hungry for success.

Driving the growth of Noble Brands is its flagship franchise concept ShelfGenie, which has been a leading provider of custom-designed Glide-Out shelving since 2000. Since the shelving company began franchising in 2008, the company has grown to 48 franchises that serve 160 territories in the U.S. and Canada and earned such accolades at the Inc. 5000 and Entrepreneur Magazines Franchise 500. The brand reported annual revenue in 2015 of $27million, up 20 percent from the previous year and is ramping up its U.S. expansion behind the unveiling of a new content-driven website. Australian gutter cleaning franchise, Outback Gutter-Vac launched in United States in 2012 under Noble Brands and grew by more than 260 percent in 2015. The company anticipates awarding 20 franchises in 2016.

To be considered for the ACG Georgia Fast 40, applicants were required to submit three years of verifiable revenue and employment growth records. All companies on the list are for-profit, headquartered in Georgia and reported 2015 annual revenues ranging from $15 to $500 million. Noble Brands was listed in the lower middle-market range with revenues of $15 to $60 million.

ACG Atlanta will present the awards at the Georgia Fast 40 Awards Dinner and Gala at the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead on June 23, 2016. For more information, visit: http://www.acg.org/atlanta/.

About ShelfGenie

Based in Atlanta and founded in 2000, ShelfGenie is the industry leader in customized cabinet shelving solutions. With more than 160 locally owned franchise locations operating throughout 29 states and Canada, ShelfGenie solutions are tailored to a consumers needs and lifestyle. Its affordable, high impact shelves are designed to provide homeowners with easy access to their belongings in the kitchen, pantry, bathroom, garage or anywhere there is a cabinet or shelf. For more information on ShelfGenie, visit http://www.ShelfGenie.com.

About ACG Atlanta

ACG comprises more than 14,500 members from corporations, private equity, finance, and professional service firms representing Fortune 500, Fortune1000, FTSE 100, and mid-market companies in 59 chapters in North America and Europe. Founded in 1974, ACG Atlanta is one of the oldest and most active chapters, providing the area's executives and professionals a unique forum for exchanging ideas and experiences concerning organic and acquisitive growth. Programs include Atlanta ACG Capital Connection, The Georgia Fast 40 Honoree Awards and Gala, a Wine Tasting Reception, a Deal of the Year event as well as an active Womens Forum and Young Professionals group.

SOURCE ShelfGenie

Media Contact:

Anne Whealdon

Fishman Public Relations

(O) 847.945.1300, ext. 232

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Starwood Hotels & Resorts Expands Presence in Australia with the Signing of Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park

SYDNEY - June 15, 2016 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Point 1: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced an agreement with joint venture partners, Frasers Property Australia and Sekisui House Australia, to open Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park. Located in the AU$2 billion Central Park urban village at the former Old Kent Brewery site, the 297-room new build hotel is scheduled to open in 2018 as part of a mixed-use development.

Point 2: We are delighted to partner with Frasers Property Australia and Sekisui House Australia to expand the presence of the Four Points brand in Australia, following the recent openings in Perth and Brisbane and the signing of another property slated to open in Melbourne in 2017, said Andrew Taylor, Director, Acquisitions and Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Pacific. Boasting the largest pipeline in Starwoods portfolio, the Four Points brand recently reached 200 hotels globally and continues to experience strong growth around the world.

Point 3: The hotel is close to Sydneys Central Station and will be showcased on the prominent facade of the award-winning Central Park precinct  a spectacular mixed-use project consisting of appealing retail space, stylish apartments, cool office spaces and student accommodation. Situated at the heart of Sydneys trendy and emerging Chippendale and Broadway suburbs, and adjacent to the University of Technology Sydney and University of Notre Dame, the new development will open up the Old Kent Brewery to Sydney residents for the first time in 150 years.

Designed by internationally acclaimed British architecture firm Foster + Partners, Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park will feature 297 guest rooms, a bar and lounge with an outdoor terrace, a restaurant, nearly 550 square metres of function space, a fitness centre, and convenient parking facilities. Reflecting the brands promise to provide what matters most to todays independent travellers, the hotel will offer all of the brands defining touches, including the signature Four Comfort bed and complimentary bottled water, free Wi-Fi in all public areas, an energising breakfast and the brands signature Best Brews programme, helping guests to enjoy their day from start to finish.

Point 4: Frasers Property Australia and Sekisui House Australia are excited to be working with Starwood Hotels & Resorts to launch Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park. Starwoods reputation as a world-class hotel and resort operator is consistent with the high calibre of our current collaborators and well-suited to the iconic nature of Central Park," said Frasers Property Development Director, Mick Caddey.

Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park joins Starwoods robust portfolio in the Pacific with 21 hotels in operation, including three Four Points by Sheraton properties in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. The hotel also joins nine properties under development namely Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Hotel & Bungalows, Four Points by Sheraton Melbourne Docklands, Aloft Perth Rivervale, Westin Perth, Aloft Adelaide, Westin Brisbane, W Brisbane and Sheraton Adelaide.

About Four Points

Travel reinvented. With 200 Four Points hotels in more than 30 countries, travelers can find the timeless style and comfort theyre looking for with genuine service and everything that matters most, all around the world. From Santiago to Shanghai and Milan to Milwaukee, Four Points hotels can be found in big urban centers, by the airport, near the beach, and in the suburbs. A recent $1 billion invested in renovations, conversions, and new-build hotels has made the brand stronger than ever. Each hotel offers a familiar place with an authentic sense of the local, and friendly genuine service where guests can relax and unwind, watch local sports, and enjoy the brands Best Brews and BBQ program. Four Points, like all brands within Starwoods portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest program, the industrys richest loyalty program. To learn more, visit www.spg.com. Stay connected to Four Points on facebook.com/fourPoints.

About Frasers Property Australia

Frasers Property Australia Pty Limited (FPA) is one of Australia's leading diversified property groups and is the Australian division of Frasers CentrePoint Limited. The group has over 90 years heritage in Australia with current activities covering the development of residential land, housing and apartments, commercial, retail and industrial properties, investment property ownership and management, and property management.

Being part of a global group opens up a world of opportunities for FPAs customers. FPA appreciates its customers and rewards their loyalty through Prosperity, a national loyalty program providing residential customers with generous purchase and referral rewards, plus benefits at Frasers Hospitalitys serviced hotel residences and boutique lifestyle hotels around the world.

Sustainability is at the heart of FPAs operations. The group creates places where resources are re-used, recycled and restored. It fosters new ideas to support people and the planet, and undertakes tangible initiatives to help people lead happier, healthier lives. Driven by a highly experienced team of people committed to delivering real places for real people, the core values of the group are passionate, authentic, dynamic and respectful. For more information about FPA, visit www.frasersproperty.com.au

About Frasers CentrePoint Limited

Frasers CentrePoint Limited (FCL) is a full-fledged international real estate company and one of Singapores top property companies with total assets above S$23.5 billion as at 31 March 2016. FCL has four core businesses focused on residential, commercial and industrial properties in the key markets of Singapore, Australia and China, and in the hospitality business spanning more than 80 cities across North Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Middle-East.

FCL is listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (SGX-ST). The Company is also a sponsor and manager of two REITs listed on the SGX-ST, Frasers CentrePoint Trust (FCT) and Frasers Commercial Trust (FCOT) that are focused on retail properties, and office and business space properties respectively, and one stapled trust listed on the SGX-ST, Frasers Hospitality Trust (comprising Frasers Hospitality Real Estate Investment Trust (FH-REIT) and Frasers Hospitality Business Trust) that is focused on hospitality properties.

As a testament to its excellent service standards, best practices, and support of the environment, FCL is the proud recipient of numerous awards and accolades both locally and abroad. For more information on FCL, please visit www.fraserscentrePoint.com.

About Sekisui House

Sekisui House is the worlds biggest residential construction company* having built over 2 million homes since the company was established in 1960. The firms corporate philosophy of creating homes and communities that improve with time and last for generations, underpins all of its operations globally.

Sekisui House has been listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Osaka Securities Exchange since 1970. As at January 2016, the companys market capitalisation is valued at approximately $15.4 billion AUD.

In 2009, Sekisui House expanded into several new international markets. Besides Japan, it now operates in China, Singapore, United States and Australia. Sekisui House works in close cooperation with its partners in respective countries, including governmental agencies, developers and builders who understand and agree with its commitment to creating an ideal living environment.

Since entering Australia, Sekisui House has made significant investments in mid-rise apartment developments as well as house and land estates across the country through a number of strategic acquisitions and joint ventures with a select number of like-minded Australian established developers.

The firm has invested over AUD $2 billion in Australia since 2009 with its portfolio of projects valued in excess of AUD $5.5 billion.

Positioning itself as one of Australias most aggressively expanding residential developers, Sekisui House now operates in the following specialist residential areas:

Development and Communities

Home Building

Construction Projects

Sekisui House is currently planning or developing an extensive diversified portfolio of residential properties. Current projects include The Hermitage, The Address, Central Park, Melrose Park, Jewel and Royal Shores in Sydney and The Coolum Residences, West Village and Ecco Ripley in Queensland. *Bloomberg Research as at 10th March 2016. For more information on Sekisui House, please visit www.sekisuihouse.com.au.

SOURCE: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Contacts:

Lizzy Chadwick

GTI Tourism

On behalf of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific

61 (0) 2 9028 3596

lizzy.chadwick@gtitourism.com.au

Rachel Jones

61 (0) 2 9028 3593

rachel.jones@gtitourism.com.au

###

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Dr. Liz Culler, Medical Director for the non-profit, regional blood donor center Blood Assurance, received the prestigious Lemuel W. Diggs award during the 2016 Tennessee Association of Blood Bankings (TABB) Annual Conference in Chattanooga.

The TABB was established in 1971 as a non-profit organization composed of blood bank and transfusion medicine professionals along with other individuals working in the industry. The organization was created to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information relating to all phases of blood banking. TABB promotes the highest standards of service to the people of Tennessee and surrounding areas and provides guidance, education, publicity, information, and assistance to its members.

Lemuel W. Diggs award recipients are nominated by their peers and selected by the TABB Board of Directors, and are individuals who have made significant contributions to blood banking in the state of Tennessee. The Diggs award has been given annually since 1973.

Dr. Culler obtained her medical degree from Emory. She is the Medical Director of the blood center in Chattanooga, and she is very active with donor recruitment, and very involved with ensuring a safe blood supply, said Dawn Moreau, immediate past president of TABB. She is very knowledgeable about current trends, including emerging infectious agents that may affect the blood supply and affect donor recruitment efforts.

For more information about Blood Assurance, donating blood or hosting a blood drive, please call 800-962-0628.
Soak Creek, a tributary of the Piney River in East Tennessee, has been named Tennessees newest Scenic River  the first designation since 2001.

After unanimous bipartisan approval by the State House and Senate, Governor Bill Haslam signed legislation adding Soak Creek to the list of 15 state waterways designated as Scenic Rivers. Winding through Bledsoe, Cumberland and Rhea Counties, a specific segment of Soak Creek  from its junction with Georgia Branch near Stinging Falls State Natural Area to its intersection with the Piney River near Piney Falls State Natural Area  received the designation.

This scenic river designation will preserve and protect the pristine ecology and waters of Soak Creek, said Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Conservation Brock Hill. It will also provide a high-quality outdoor experience on the water and hiking trails at the adjacent Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park. The opportunities for place-based economic development from tourism in the area have the potential to be significant.

The push for designation came about from the support of local landowners and with the assistance of The Nature Conservancy, American Whitewater, and the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation assisted in preparing the bill filed by The Nature Conservancy. Senator Ken Yager and Representative Ron Travis introduced SB2520/HB2566. The State Scenic River designation provides protection to the river without impacting property rights. The designation also promotes public awareness about river stewardship and long-term protection of the river and its corridor.

As a landowner along Soak Creek and a father of kids who love nature, I am thrilled to see this amazing piece of wilderness receive the recognition it deserves, said George Lindemann, one of the property owners who supported the project. I believe we protect the places we experience and it just makes sense to set aside some of these incredible creeks and rivers so everyone has the chance to experience this part of Tennessee.

This free-flowing creek serves as critical habitat in an area recognized as one of the countrys best remaining examples of a major biotic community. Wildflowers  including the native dwarf milkwort and spotted geranium  are in abundance as well as old growth forests and picturesque waterfalls.

Soak Creek is also known as a mecca for whitewater recreational kayaking. Kayakers rate this wilderness paddling route as one of the premier class III-IV runs in the Cumberland Mountains.

The Soak Creek Scenic River classification will help promote the region as an outdoor recreation area, said Rob Bullard, director of The Nature Conservancys Tennessee/Cumberland Rivers Program. We hope it will serve as a catalyst for future recreational eco-tourism in East Tennessee.

The popular Cumberland Trail, which follows a line of pristine high ridges and deep gorges for approximately 185 miles, is proposed to parallel about four miles of Soak Creek. This section of the trail would connect hikers to Stinging Fork Falls State Natural Area, Piney Falls State Natural Area and the 2,000-acre Piney River Resource Management Area of the Cumberland Trail.

Soak Creek is a truly remarkable scenic river corridor, said Jane Polansky, administrator of Tennessees Scenic Rivers Program. Here you can enjoy the peaceful sound of free-flowing water while watching a great blue heron fly by. We encourage visitors to come and enjoy this area and the more than 400 miles of scenic waterways in Tennessee.
Doormatic Publishes Guide About Heating Garage Space Safety And Within Regulations

Doormatic UK has released a new how-to guide on heating a garage space safely and within regulations. Homeowners and other interested parties can find the guide online at http://www.doormaticgaragedoors.co.uk/how-to-keep-your-garage-heated-safely-this-winter/.

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Many homeowners are considering how to extend homes using the available space to them without costing a fortune, and this includes utilizing the garage space in homes. Garage space can be utilized for many purposes, with some homeowners are considering planning to convert them into office or bedrooms, or even being able to use the garage as a functioning workshop. Whilst converting the garage space into a functioning space, it is essential to properly consider heating the space safely and securly.

This most recent how-to guide from Doormatic UK contains precise and detailed steps and instructions. It is designed to be used by garage owners and others who need it, to help them with the ability to heat their garage space properly and safely, as quickly, easily and with as little stress as possible.

Doormatic UK, has published this new how-to guide dedicated to helping homeowners to heat their garage space properly and safely. The inspiration for creating this guide came from a desire to provide useful, actionable information to anybody facing the challenge of deciding which type of heating to install based on the outside temperatures.

The Full How-To Guide Goes Over The Following Points:

Keeping Garage Space Heated - Considering the most practical type of heating, depending on the space and ambient winter temperatures. Putting Safety First - paying attention to other things that are stored in a garage space. What should be stored away from heaters and in a safe place. Making sure the installation is carried out by a professional - meeting the local building and safety standards is important, as many DIY enthusiasts tend to overlook some of the most common causes of issues.

Marc Sebo, Director at Doormatic UK spoke at length about the guide, excited to share the details, the reason behind creating a guide on keeping the garage space heated safely and what Doormatic UK hopes to accomplish with it: "Many clients call when there is an issue, or something is not working properly. This guide aims to highlight the simple steps necessary to ensuring garage heating is safe and functional without jeopardizing the safety of the home or the contents of the garage."

Homeowners and anybody interested in keeping the garage space heated safely or those facing the challenge of deciding which type of heating to install based on the outside temperatures are invited to review the how-to guide online directly: http://www.doormaticgaragedoors.co.uk/how-to-keep-your-garage-heated-safely-this-winter/

Doormatic UK was established in 1995, and has a vast range of garage doors to offer interested customers. The company offers solutions for all types of homes, that meet all building regulations as well as offering exceptional levels of security. More information about Doormatic UK itself can be found at http://www.doormaticgaragedoors.co.uk/

For more information, please visit http://www.doormaticgaragedoors.co.uk/

Contact Info:

Name: Marc Sebo

Organization: Doormatic UK



Release ID: 119188

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Best Shop Vac Provides Guide And Review Of Top Machines

Best Shop Vac is a new website which offers a wealth of information about the top shop vacs available today. The reviews are comprehensive and informative.

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Best Shop Vac and site founder Andy Evans are pleased to announce that the website offers a detailed description of the top ten shop vacs in 2016. The information which is available is intended to help customers do the necessary due diligence before purchasing a shop vac for a specific purpose. There are many different environments in which a shop vac is particularly appropriate. The details provided on the website help to narrow the options to those which will best suit the owner.

Shop vacs, also known as wet/dry vacs are powerful cleaning tools. They are designed to eliminate dust, sawdust and other dirt particles from workshops, cars, garages and other locations. Unlike other vacuum cleaners, the equipment is specifically designed to carry out a variety of cleaning tasks, offering both dry and wet vacuuming tasks. Different models of shop vacs vary in efficiency and ability to perform. There are many considerations to keep in mind before putting out funds.

There are various features which were reviewed before coming up with the best vac list online. Some models contain all or nearly all of the features including wet and dry cleaning, large capacity tank, horsepower rating of the motor, length of the power cord, carry handles location and whether or not the equipment has on board cord and tool storage. Other considerations by the customer include whether the vac is suitable for car cleaning and whether the vac is portable. There are even wall mounted vacs.

The best vacs are essential appliances in order to maintain a clean and healthy environment around the home and work area. The investment in a shop vac should come after careful consideration of the features and specifications. The research carried out by Evans helps to save time and effort by the customers in order to choose a satisfactory product with high quality.

For more information, please visit http://bestshopvac.net/

Contact Info:

Name: Andy Evans

Organization: Best Shop Vac

Address: 1595 Frederick Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 260-2519

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/best-shop-vac-provides-guide-and-review-of-top-machines/119448

Release ID: 119448

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EZ Shelf Expands Selection Of Products At Lowe's

EZ Shelf has placed twenty of their favorite shelf units at Lowe's stores. Five of the most popular products are in stock and on display at the Boynton Beach, Florida Lowe's store.

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EZ Shelf and founder David Jablow recently announced that customers who are ready to start their spring cleaning project or better organize their lives, will appreciate the availability of a vast array of shelving, organization, and other kits designed to declutter and expand the space in your home. While EZ Shelf previously was found on line at Amazon, now consumers can also find twenty of the hottest items available online at Lowe's shelves. Five of their most popular items, such as closet organizers, are on display and in stock at Lowe's Boynton Beach Florida location.

For EZ Shelf owner and founder David Jablow, the push to put more EZ Shelf products online is all about the customer satisfaction. "We are proud to offer loyal Lowe's customers the best deals on EZ Shelf products". EZ Shelf will continue to expand their selection to make sure all their customers' storage and organization needs are met. The company's goal is to continue to build relationships with distributors such as Lowe's so customers can find competitive pricing on the products they love wherever they shop.

Laundry Room Shelving

Finding EZ Shelf at Lowe's and making the most of small spaces benefits consumers. Whether the customer prefers to shop online at a familiar store with a physical location for ordering and/or returning, or shopping online at a retailer without an actual physical location, it can now be done online at Lowe's. Customers will be able to find everything from closet organizer kits to expandable shelving, garage shelving kits and shoe racks online with free shipping.

At Lowe's Boynton Beach, FL location, customers can see the items before buying, taking advantage of the online measurements made readily available to anyone who visits the EZ Shelf website. Some shoppers also love the displays that make it easier to visualize how these components could fit into the home, ultimately creating more space for an open feeling and more design opportunities as well.

One thing many loyal Lowe's shoppers love most is the price match guarantees and already low prices, whether shopping online or at the local store. With the added benefit of an abundant stock of twenty EZ Shelf products, such as laundry room shelving online, many regular Lowe's shoppers consider it a one-stop shop for all their needs.

By working with Lowe's, vendors like EZ Shelf agree to the most competitive pricing possible, and Lowe's simultaneously provides price matching. So if a customer sees the same item for less at another retailer, they can let Lowe's associates know. They will automatically adjust the price to maximize convenience without having to hop around between stores just to get the lowest price on different items.

With the expansion of more EZ Shelf products on Lowe's shelves, both bargain hunters and those who are trying to stay within a reasonable budget can get the right prices for their storage and shelving needs without ever sacrificing quality. According to EZ Shelf customers and regular reports, EZ Shelf continues to strive for the highest quality in all their products. It's not about providing low prices on low quality products. For Jablow and his team at EZ Shelf, it's about quality Made in USA-certified products American families can rely on at reasonable prices that make sense for your budget. Moving more products to Lowe's is just one part of the process that continues to improve consumer opportunities.

For more information, please visit http://www.ezshelf.com

Contact Info:

Name: David Jablow

Organization: EZ Shelf

Address: 601 N Congress Ave Suite 606 Delray Beach, FL 33445



Source: http://marketersmedia.com/ez-shelf-expands-selection-of-products-at-lowes/119384

Release ID: 119384

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Kamryn Bloh, a high school student in Chattanooga, has been awarded a National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship for 2016-17. Kamryn will study Chinese in China for the Summer.

Kamryn is one of only approximately 600 competitively selected students from across the United States who will receive a scholarship to study Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian, or Turkish overseas this year. While in China, Kamryn will receive formal instruction and informal language practice in an immersion environment.

The NSLI-Y program seeks to increase the number of Americans who can engage with native speakers of critical languages. The goals of the NSLI-Y program include sparking a life-long interest in foreign languages and cultures, and developing a corps of young Americans with the skills necessary to advance international dialogue and cross- cultural opportunities in the private, academic, and government sectors.

NSLI-Y is administered by American Councils for International Education in cooperation with AFS-USA, American Cultural Exchange Service, AMIDEAST, iEARN-USA, Legacy International, Russian American Foundation, Stony Brook University, the University of Delaware, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Wisconsin.

Applications for 2017-18 NSLI-Y programs are expected to be available at www.nsliforyouth.org in the early fall. For information about U.S. Department of State-sponsored exchange programs visit http://exchanges.state.gov.
The Flooring Lady Celebrates Eleven Years In Operation With A Website Relaunch

The Flooring Lady offers the best information on flooring since 2005. The independent business is not owned by a flooring company or a retailer.

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The Flooring Lady website, dating from 2005 has recently relaunched its updated site with the most current and best flooring information available. It has been the preferred source for information about all flooring questions. Users can ask questions about a range of questions, all to answer DIY questions about topics such as how to find the best laminate flooring kitchen options.

The Flooring Lady has been the preferred source for information regarding all flooring questions since 2005. As the flooring industry has grown, the database has also grown. The answers to questions allow users to make decisions about laminate flooring in kitchen areas. The information offered by TFL has helped thousands of individuals to make flooring choices in homes, industry or office locations.

In order to best present the latest information available, The Flooring Lady has redesigned the website and incorporated a number of social media tools in order to reach the audience. High quality information about many flooring-related products is shared actively with readers. The comments section allows readers to ask questions such as how to clean porcelain tile. The experts at TFL will get back with answers and solutions. Comments and reviews from customers help to inform others about their own experience with particular products.

There are many topics covered in the website. In addition to home and office flooring, the information been expanded to reviewing commercial kitchen flooring, gyms and restaurants. The new website is carefully designed and formatted in order to find the desired information without hassles or frustration. The website will consider including brand recommendations or sales pitches in the near future and will only give honest reviews & recommendation that will benefit its readership. The website is not affiliated with any flooring manufacturer.

A flood of new materials, technologies and patterns are always being introduced into the marketplace. The TFL website is designed to help potential buyers make informed decisions about options in flooring.

For more information, please visit http://www.theflooringlady.com

Contact Info:

Name: Rivky Shimon

Organization: The Flooring Lady c/o Minority Affairs Inc.

Address: New York

Phone: (212) 228-5967

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/the-flooring-lady-celebrates-eleven-years-in-operation-with-a-website-relaunch/119506

Release ID: 119506

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Unique Marketing Setup Launched By Chicago Internet Marketing Consultants

Salient Fox is a Chicago internet marketing company made up of consultants. The team of marketing experts just launched their unique approach to marketing for area businesses.

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Salient Fox and co-owners Christina Giordano and Joshua Meyer are pleased to announce the launch of their new business, which has a unique approach to helping business clients improve their presence in the marketplace. The Chicago internet marketing consultants is made up of consultants, with the skills and abilities to help clients market their businesses. There is a myriad of marketing initiatives which are currently available to businesses. The consultants meticulously filter and select the services which produce the most and best results for clients.

According to a spokesperson for the company, "Not every strategy works for everyone, but we're here to help you choose and create the marketing program that can be ideally suited for your brand and seamlessly integrated with your current strategies. Whether you are looking to establish a digital presence, boost profitability, gain online awareness and achieve internet marketing goal we can help you be more effective."

Some of the strategies which are available to clients include SEO consulting, internet marketing, social media and content marketing. Each of these tactics and venues have a place in certain environments. SEO consulting uses organic and local search engine optimization to get the website optimized, while at the same time boost the visibility and reputation to serve as a magnet to new leads and enhanced business.

If the client has a marketing team in place, the Chicago internet marketing consultants can work alongside to streamline and expedite the internet marketing results. Social media is taking an increasing role in marketing. It adds the story of the client's brand to the details about the products and services which are sold. Content marketing is utilized by blogging, email marketing and social media marketing.

The last few years have seen a major shift in which businesses approach online marketing. More businesses recognize that digital technology has made it possible to work with contractors and freelancers rather than paying out employee wages and benefits.

For more information, please visit https://www.salientfox.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Christina Giordano, Joshua Meyer

Organization: Salient Fox

Address: 2335 N Spaulding Ave. #2, Chicago IL 60647

Phone: (312) 702-1255

Source: https://www.salientfox.com/internet-marketing-services/online-consulting-chicago/

Release ID: 119501

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Handsome Genius Publishes A Comprehensive Guide To The Most Common Business Website Mistakes

Copywriter and marketing consultant James Mawson - who trades as "Handsome Genius" - has rounded up the most common business website mistakes, with advice on how to put them right.

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There was a time when a business website was considered to be a virtual business card - a place where important details were written for interested parties to find. In 2016, the bar is set rather higher. A business website must at once encapsulate the brand, engage and hold attention, move potential customers toward a sale, and provide a seamless experience. And along the way, people make mistakes. In nearly a decade of online marketing consultancy, James Mawson has seen many of them time and time again. He has collated a list of the most common mistakes on business websites.

The article (http://www.handsomegenius.com.au/businesswebsitemistakes.html) is presented with a short introduction followed by a hyperlinked list of more than thirty different mistakes. This enables readers to scan the contents and shortlist what they feel they might be doing wrong, before clicking the mistakes to find out what they are, how they happened, and how they can be put right.

This resource is the latest piece of value-added content to hit the site, which regularly provides nuggets of insight and wisdom from consultant James Mawson. The articles themselves demonstrate best practice, in a no-nonsense style that's easy to put into practice. In this way, he demonstrates -at once both showing and telling- why his work is so valuable.

James Mawson explains, "This resource is for any small or medium business or start-up venture that is launching or maintaining a website. These common mistakes can be easily identified, and once you're aware of them they can quickly be put right. This article covers a lot of ground, from technical problems through to user experience issues, and mistakes with how businesses communicate and present themselves online. The one thing these mistakes all have in common is they all cost you money and make your life worse. We look forward to helping a lot of businesses improve how they approach the web."

About Handsome Genius: James Mawson is a freelance copywriter and web marketing consultant from Melbourne, Australia, providing the best in web content and strategy to small and medium businesses in Australia and North America. When he's not too busy with client work, he shares his thoughts, ideas and insights gained over nearly a decade of experience, in a readable, accessible and engaging, no-nonsense style. The website is regularly updated with original, high quality content.

For more information, please visit http://www.handsomegenius.com.au/

Contact Info:

Name: James Mawson

Organization: Handsome Genius

Phone: +61421551080

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/handsome-genius-publishes-a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-most-common-business-website-mistakes/119520

Release ID: 119520

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The chairman of the Senate labor committee Wednesday filed an amendment to block the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from implementing its proposal to increase by 20 times the employment data it currently collects from each of the 61,000 private employers on their 63 million employees.



On Wednesdays amendment, which was filed to the Fiscal Year 2017 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, Chairman Lamar Alexander said, The EEOCs mission is to focus on protecting Americans from workplace discrimination. Instead, its working on a time-wasting rule to force employers to submit new pay data on 63 million private sector employees. This amendment will block the EEOC from implementing its rulehopefully inspiring the commission to refocus on more worthwhile tasks like its massive backlog of more than 76,000 unresolved workplace discrimination cases.



The EEOC requires employers with 100 or more employees to submit to the agency 180 different pieces of information about those employees each year. Under the EEOCs new rule, that number would increase by 20 times, from 180 to 3,660 for each employers establishment.

Senator Alexander noted that its especially ironic that the rule has been submitted for review under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Senator Alexanders amendment would prohibit the EEOC from using any funds to implement or enforce the data collection proposal.



Senator Alexander said the EEOCs new rule is likely to worsen its backlog of more than 76,000 unresolved cases, as the agency cannot handle its current complaints of discrimination and will now be sifting through the millions of pieces of new data.



Senator Alexander in 2014 released a staff report on the EEOC that found the agency was pursuing high-profile lawsuits without a complaint, while facing a backlog of almost 71,000 unresolved complaints of discrimination from individuals who filed charges (that number has since increased to more than 76,000, officials said).



Senator Alexander has also introduced legislation, The EEOC Reform Act, that would require the EEOC to calculate the cost of imposing its own rule on the federal government so that the EEOC better understands the burden the rule adds to private employers. Senator Alexander said the legislation would give the EEOC a dose of its own medicine. The EEOC Reform Act would also require the EEOC to reduce its backlog from 76,000 unresolved complaints to 3,660the same number of unresolved cases as the number of data points required by the new EEOC rulebefore it can impose the proposed rule.
Cleveland State Community Colleges Continuing Education Department will be offering an Equine Science Camp this summer as a part of its summer enrichment program. The camp is scheduled two times this summerthe week of July 11-15 for 11-14 year olds and the week of July 18-22 for 15-18 year olds. The camps will be held at Tri-State Therapeutic Riding Center located at 200 Natures Way in McDonald, Tn.



Equine Science STEM Camp is a week-long in-depth experience with horses going beyond riding, to the management practices and science behind the horse. Campers will have the opportunity to be hands-on with caring and training an equine partner while exploring behavior differences and various disciplines of the equestrian industry. Campers will gain experience dealing with different breeds and ages of horses at an educational equestrian facility.

We are so excited for this collaboration between CSCC and Tri-State Exhibition Center because it provides a unique opportunity for community youth to be immersed in everything equine, said Denise Lineberry, executive director, Tri-State Therapeutic Riding Center. We dive into topics such as horse management, riding, nutrition, horse careers and training.



Some of the learning objectives for this camp include:



? Understanding the history and development of horses;

? Identifying anatomy and bio-mechanics of equine movement;

? Recognizing proper horsemanship and common management practices of equines;

? Exploring different disciplines in horseback riding and training practices;

? Caring for your own equine for a week creating care and maintenance plans;

? Learning correct mounting instruction based on the campers level of experience; and

? Identifying career opportunities.



The cost of the camp is $215. This camp is not recommended for students with animal or hay allergies. For more information on this camp, visit the website at mycs.cc/grow or contact Continuing Education Coordinator Lee Ann Lowe at 423-473-2270 or email her at llowe01@clevelandstatecc.edu.
Founded by Lee Holland in 2012, TAG was previously with another network but moved to Tenet because it offered him the best deal.

He said: From being a little fish, I now feel like an integral part of a team.

Tenet have good panels, equally good procuration levels, offered me the best deal for my business and the right environment to expand organically.

Mr Holland said his experience with his previous network wasnt all it should have been.

TenetLime managing director Gemma Harle said: After a time of relative instability in the industry and against a backdrop of a recent 8.2 per cent increase in business as a whole, we have consistently managed to outstrip the post-recession revival, recording an impressive year-on-year increase of 30 per cent.

We are always on the lookout for firms who have an appetite for growth. In return we can promise them a service with a distinct family feel about it.

And with the launch of an introducer facility for secured lending, our comprehensive new build support and a new commercial lending proposition, the race is now on for our 500th member.

Tenet, which is based in Leeds, was launched in 1999 after the merger of Interdependence and M&E.

It has an investment network, TenetConnect, a support services provider, TenetSelect, and a mortgage and protection network, TenetLime.

Earlier this month the company bought Furness Building Societys financial advice arm for its wholly-owned appointed representative Aspire Financial Management.

Last week Mike OBrien, the managing director of TenetConnect and TenetSelect, said the company will be piloting a programme of buying up the businesses of its retiring advisers.
Fund selectors have begun reacting to a dwindling outlook for UK equity income by turning to enhanced and long/short strategies.

Despite the IA UK Equity Income sectors popularity  with it pulling in 342m of net retail sales in April amid a run on funds in the UK All Companies sector  its prospects are looking less rosy.

City Asset Managements research director James Calder has been pulling back exposure to UK Equity Income funds, as warnings over high-yielding stocks continue to echo in the market. Mr Calder has turned to long/short strategies as a replacement.

Over the past year or so, our conviction for the outlook of that particular subset of the UK asset class is weakening on the back of dividend coverage going down and with dividend cuts.

Were just losing our conviction for the asset class in general, he explained.

Instead, Mr Calder has been building up positions in UK long/short funds from Henderson, BlackRock and Polar Capital in the past year.

I think you can still make money out of UK equities but you can get more visibility and potential returns from long/short managers, he said.

If you thought the market was going to do 18 to 20 per cent then youd still be long-only. But if its going to be flat or marginally down then a mix of long/short.

Others have backed Mr Calders move and foresee a shift into long/short products as another way to produce income. Enhanced income strategies  which use call options to boost income at the expense of rising beta  have also been touted as an option despite sitting in the sector.

John Husselbee, head of multi-asset at Liontrust, said concentration issues in both the UK Equity Income sector, and the stocks it invests in, were driving him and his peers away.

A number of my peers have been looking for diversification within the [UK Equity Income] sector, and therefore looking at funds that perhaps take a different type of market-cap approach.

And beyond that, people are looking to [move] further afield, he said.

Mr Husselbee added that while a number of buyers were looking to allocate more to overseas markets to generate income, he preferred the enhanced income funds. These can include a buy-write strategy, used by funds such as Schroders Income Maximiser.

Such strategies consist of writing call options on an underlying position to generate income from option premiums.

These enhanced income funds  there are about six or seven in the UK Equity Income sector  theyre yielding from around about 7 per cent compared to the majority of funds in that sector at around the 4 per cent mark, Mr Husselbee said.

Jason Hollands, a managing director at Tilney Bestinvest said given some income-stalwart stocks were highly valued, a shift was unsurprising.

The selectors concerns resonate with Capita Dividend Monitor research, which revealed dwindling income from the FTSE 100  and a concentration in stocks with Shell alone accounting for 13 per cent of all dividend payments in 2016.
The Insurance Act 2015 and Enterprise Act 2016 comes into force from 12 August 2016. Key elements are:

 Outlining the remedies available in the event of a fraudulent claim.

 Restricting the use of Warranties by insurers to invalidate cover.

The Enterprise Act 2016 was passed in May 2016. This inserts new provisions into the Insurance Act that will take effect from 4 May 2017. These will impose a duty on insurers to pay claims within a reasonable time, and make them potentially liable for any losses incurred as a result of any settlement that was unreasonably delayed.

The legislation is primarily aimed at issues in the commercial general insurance market. However, it applies to all non-consumer insurance, which includes employee benefit insurance where taken out by employers or pension trustees. There is a duty on the insured to undertake a reasonable search of information

Canada Life does not expect any significant change to Group Risk insurance in practice, as insurers and intermediaries have operated in the manner expected by the Act.

Fair Presentation

In the Group Risk market, intermediaries have generally presented risk using clear specifications that satisfy the duty of fair presentation and we expect this to continue. There is a duty on the insured to undertake a reasonable search of information they have when preparing these.

It is worth noting this particular wording in the Act (emphasis added): an individuals knowledge includes not only actual knowledge, but also matters which the individual suspected, and of which the individual would have had knowledge but for deliberately refraining from confirming them or enquiring about them.

The duty of fair presentation is met if the information puts a prudent insurer on notice that there are some material circumstances that might affect the risk. In these cases the insurer is likely to ask further questions or apply different terms.

Claims

Canada Life Group Insurance already follows the ABI guidelines on non-disclosure developed for individual consumers when considering claims. Provided that a client has not deliberately or recklessly misrepresented the risk, Canada Life will aim to put the client in the position that they would have been if they had disclosed the information.

The Insurance Act establishes a formula that sets out the minimum that must be paid if the premium has been underpaid due to a breach of the duty of fair presentation. This reduces the claim settlement in proportion to the underpaid premium.

However, in the Group Risk industry the claim value is typically very high compared to the extra premium. It has usually been the case that the insurer will accept an additional premium and pay the claim in full. Canada Life will continue to do this where it gives a better customer outcome.
More than 40 Gaffney High students will compete for titles in the 2023 Miss Cherokeean Pageant being held this Saturday, Oct. 22. The pageant will begin at 6 p.m. in ...

How should you pay for short-term financial goals?

As you go through life, you will likely have longand short-term financial goals. But how will your strategies for meeting your long-term goals differ from those needed for your short-term...
Carl E. Colloms, a retired judge, magistrate and attorney in southeast Tennessee has made a $25,000 pledge to fund a scholarship at Cleveland State Community College in the name of the Cleveland Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post 2598.



I owe the start of my college education to a scholarship given to me by the VFW in 1960, stated Colloms. It enabled me to go to Tennessee Wesleyan College and then to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville for my law degree; the beginning of a long and rewarding career in the legal profession. Id like to give deserving local students the same opportunity given to me, and I cant think of a better way to do that than by continuing the tradition of a VFW scholarship at Cleveland State Community College.



Accepting Colloms pledge is Nay Rogers, Post 2598 Commander, and Earnie Griggs, Post Quartermaster. Post 2598 is honored to have this scholarship given in our name, stated Commander Rogers. We salute Mr. Colloms thoughtfulness and generosity.



The VFW Post 2598 Scholarship will be administered by the Cleveland State Community College Foundation as an endowed scholarship with an annual award given to a student with a demonstrated financial need.



Since its founding in 1970 the Cleveland State Foundation has been awarding scholarships to deserving students at Cleveland State, said Rick Platz, Development Office at CSCC. We thank both Mr. Colloms and VFW Post 2598 for their support of education in our community.



For more information or to donate to the CSCC Foundation, contact Platz at (423) 473-2317.
Story Highlights 56% of Americans have confidence in the police, up from 52% in 2015

Confidence in police is third highest of 15 institutions measured

Whites have a substantially higher confidence level than nonwhites

PRINCETON, N.J. -- Americans' confidence in the police has edged back up this year after dropping last year to its lowest point in 22 years. Currently, 56% of Americans have "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the police, four percentage points higher than in 2015. Confidence is essentially back to where it was before a series of highly publicized incidents involving white police officers and young black men in several communities across the country.

The latest update on Gallup's annual measure of confidence in U.S. institutions, conducted June 1-5, finds Americans' overall confidence in most institutions below the historical average, a pattern that encompasses the police, despite the small rise in confidence this year. Still, confidence in the police is high on a relative basis, lagging behind only the military and small business on a list of 15 institutions.

Americans' confidence in the police was at 52% when Gallup first measured it in 1993. This rating reflected the impact of the trial of four Los Angeles police officers for beating Rodney King and violating his civil rights two years earlier. Confidence in the police rose thereafter, reaching 60% by the mid-1990s and a record high of 64% in 2004. In the ensuing years, confidence in police slipped, as it did for most institutions. Last year, confidence tied the record low of 52%, reflecting police actions in Ferguson, Missouri, and other cities, before rebounding modestly this year as these events faded from the news.

At this point, 25% of Americans say they have a great deal of confidence in the police, 31% quite a lot, 29% "some," 13% "very little" and 1% "none." The combined 14% who have very little or no confidence in the police is down from 18% last year, which was the highest negative confidence reading in Gallup's history of rating the police.

As has been true historically, whites have a significantly higher level of confidence in the police than nonwhites, and the gap between the two racial groups widened this year as whites' confidence rose to 62%, while nonwhites stayed at 39% both years. Republicans and independents who lean Republican have more confidence in the police than Democrats and Democratic leaners, although Democrats' confidence rose to 48% from 41% last year, while Republicans stayed the same both years at 68%.

Implications

A slim majority of Americans have confidence in the police as an institution, and that confidence level has risen modestly since last year's low point, which most likely reflected the visibility of police incidents involving black citizens. The continuing gulf between whites and nonwhites in confidence in the police, however, has increased -- reflecting the tension that exists between the police and some communities, a problem that will almost certainly take years to address in meaningful ways.

Historical data are available in Gallup Analytics.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted June 1-5, 2016, with a random sample of 1,027 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on the total sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is 4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 60% cellphone respondents and 40% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.

Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works.
Story Highlights Terrorism topped most important problem list in December, but not since

Orlando massacre may push terrorism back to the top of the list

Push for gun control could cause spike in concern about guns

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Terrorism rose to the top of the list of Americans' concerns about their nation last December after deadly attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, and it could happen again in the wake of Sunday's horrific massacre in Orlando. But if the same pattern occurs this time, terrorism would likely not remain the most important problem for long.

Three percent of Americans named terrorism as the most important problem in the U.S. last November. But after the attacks in San Bernardino and Paris, 16% in December listed terrorism as the top problem, moving it ahead of the economy (9%) and the government (13%). It was the first time in 19 months that the public had named an issue other than the government or the economy as the nation's most important problem.

In January, however, both the government (16%) and the economy (13%) moved back ahead of terrorism (9%) as the most important problem, and they have been the issues most often mentioned in every poll so far this year. In a poll earlier this month, before the Orlando shooting, 18% of U.S. adults said the economy was the nation's most important problem, 13% named the government and only 4% named terrorism.

The Orlando tragedy has been variously described as terrorism, a mass shooting and a hate crime. The likelihood that concern about terrorism will spike again in response to the incident is made more likely by the emphasis political leaders have placed on its role in the tragedy. President Barack Obama called it "an act of terror," as did both Republican presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic presumptive presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Since 9/11 Fears Faded, Terrorism Seldom Seen as Most Important Problem

In Gallup polls from 1939 to the beginning of September 2001, terrorism was never mentioned as the most important problem in the U.S. by enough respondents to be reported as a separate category. But a month after the 9/11 attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., 46% of Americans listed terrorism as the most important problem facing the nation.

The number slowly dwindled through the next two years, falling below 10% for the first time in April 2003 as Americans' concerns gravitated toward economic problems and the Iraq War. Since then, a few events have triggered a spike in mentions of terrorism as the nation's most important problem, but each time, concerns faded within a few months. For four years, from February 2010 through January 2015, no more than 4% in any month considered terrorism the top problem facing the country.

Rise in Mentions of Guns as Most Important Problem Also Possible

The widespread calls for more gun control after Sunday's Orlando shooting could result in a higher percentage of Americans naming guns as the nation's most important problem, as has happened after some past mass shootings:

The highest percentage of Americans listing guns and gun control as the most important problem was 10% in May 1999, a month after two teenagers killed 12 students and a teacher at Columbine High School in Colorado. By January 2000, only 1% listed it as the nation's top problem. From then until late 2012, it was seldom mentioned as the most important problem.

In the months after the December 2012 shooting deaths of 20 children and seven adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, the percentage naming guns as the most important problem rose as high as 7%, but within a year, it fell below 1%.

After a white supremacist killed nine people at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, in June 2015, polls in October showed 7% considered guns the most important problem.

In the same December 2015 poll in which terrorism topped the list of most important problems, 7% named guns.

Bottom Line

Previous mass shootings and terrorist attacks -- with the exception of 9/11 -- have only temporarily increased the likelihood of Americans naming guns or terrorism as the nation's most important problem. That might be the case again this time, but there are some reasons why it might not.

The fact that 49 people were killed in Orlando makes it the worst mass shooting in the nation's modern history and the deadliest terrorist attack in the U.S. since 9/11. It happened in the middle of a bitter presidential contest already marked by harsh exchanges between the candidates on the issues of terrorism and gun control. The combination of these factors almost guarantees that terrorism and gun control will be major, persistent themes in the candidates' campaigns over the next five months.

Survey Methods

Results for this Gallup poll are based on telephone interviews conducted June 1-5, 2016, with a random sample of 1,027 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. For results based on this sample of national adults, the margin of sampling error is 4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All reported margins of sampling error include computed design effects for weighting.

Each sample of national adults includes a minimum quota of 60% cellphone respondents and 40% landline respondents, with additional minimum quotas by time zone within region. Landline and cellular telephone numbers are selected using random-digit-dial methods.

Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works.
'Steven Universe' Season 3 Spoilers: Steven Unlocks New Powers In Episode 6

It is amazing how well-received Cartoon Network's hit show "Steven Universe" is to its audience. While the show is clearly targeted for its younger Cartoon Network audience, it also became a hit even among adult viewers. Now, it is quite common to hear grownups, along with children, wanting to learn about "Steven Universe" season 3 spoilers as well.

Steven Gets New Powers

So what can fans expect to see in the upcoming episode of "Steven Universe?" The clue is right in the title itself, which is already revealed to be "Steven Floats."

The next episode of the hit Cartoon Network show should be an exciting treat for all fans. According to recent "Steven Universe" season3 spoilers, the show's episode 6 could finally see Steven unlock a new power - the ability to float in the air.

However, the Steven's new power could also bring trouble for the lovable hero. According to Ecumenical News, due to his good deeds in the recent past episodes of "Steven Universe" season 3, the Malachite gave him this new ability as a reward.

While Steven has learned to use this new ability to float, he has not fully mastered how to control it yet, according to latest "Steven Universe" season 3 spoilers. In particular, the half-human half-Gem hero will have some problems going down. In fact, he will need the help of his Gem team to get him earth-bound.

Floating would not be the only power that Steven learns in future "Steven Universe" season 3 episodes. Steven's healing powers will also be greatly strengthened, with some even speculating that he may have the power to completely heal the Shards in future "Steven Universe' episodes.

"Steven Universe" Educates Viewers On LGBT Issues Early

While "Steven Universe" is certainly funny and lighthearted, a more profound message can be gleaned in its episodes. For instance, the show wants to impart to its young viewers that love is all-inclusive, regardless of sexual orientation.

Viewers were quite thrilled when two female characters in "Steven Universe," Ruby and Sapphire, flirting with each other. The show's showrunner, Rebecca Sugar, confirms that the two share romantic feelings, reports MoviePilot.

For Sugar, the representation of an LGBT relationship in "Steven Universe" goes beyond mere political battle or taking a stand. She explains that showing the existence of a queer loving relationship is vital to a child's development.

According to "Steven Universe" showrunner Rebecca Sugar, the current idea of waiting for the child to grow up before tackling this issue is wrong. By then, it may be too late. Showing a positive and loving LGBT relationship to a younger audience could conceivable make these future adults more accepting of the LGBT community.

In addition it would certainly ease the burden of LGBT youth when they finally discover for themselves that they are different than their peers. It is a known fact that statistically, the LGBT youth are at a higher suicide risk.

"Steven Universe" Season 3 Airdate

Some episodes of "Steven Universe" season 3 was aired last month in Cartoon Network France. For North American fans, the network has not yet officially confirmed a "Steven Universe" release date but speculations suggest that it could be sometime this month. Stay tuned to GameNGuide for more "Steven Universe" spoilers.
Drs. Kapperman and White Eyecare in Chattanooga announce a fourth doctor to their practice. Dr. Megan Kortum completed her externship with the practice in 2012. We are very pleased to welcome one of our very best student doctors to our team of optometrists, said Dr. Mark Kapperman.



Dr. Kortum is a Nebraska-native and graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She earned her optometry degree from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. She served as a trustee for the American Optometric Student Association, and upon graduation she was awarded Outstanding Clinician and Award of Excellence in Contact Lens Patient Care. Dr. Kortum has also served on five international optometric mission teams.



I knew I wanted to be an optometrist after a medical mission trip to Nicaragua during my sophomore year of college, says Dr.

Kortum. I truly discovered my heart for serving others, specifically through the gift of sight. I'm so thankful to be joining a team with a passion for serving the needs of patients both locally and on overseas missions.After graduating from optometry school, Dr Kortum joined the United States Airforce where she was enlisted as a commissioned officer and optometrist. She served as flight commander of the optometry clinic as part of the 81st Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, MS. In 2014, Dr. Kortum was named the Air Education and Training Command Biomedical Sciences Corps Company Grade Officer of the Year for clinicians.Dr. Kortum will begin seeing patients on July 5. It's been four years since I completed my optometry externship rotation with Drs. Kapperman, White, and McGarvey, and Chattanooga has been on our mind ever since, says Dr. Kortum. Throughout the last few years, my family and I have made several trips back here to hike, bike, and explore the local area. We are looking forward to settling down and reconnecting with Chattanooga and most importantly, the people.Dr. Kapperman set up practice on Gunbarrel Road in 1988. He moved the business in 1995 to its location in the Gunbarrel Professional Center. In 1999, Chattanooga native Dr. Troy White joined the practice and the name was changed to Kapperman and White Eyecare. In 2008 they added Dr. Rob McGarvey.

The business area has grown tremendously and changed so much during my almost 30 years of practice said Dr. Kapperman. We certainly feel blessed and fortunate to thrive as well.



Kapperman and White Eyecare is located at 1720 Gunbarrel Road and is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.-5:45 p.m.
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia was among the right people enshrined on the memorial wall on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Cleveland State Community College will be offering certificates in Electrical Maintenance at the Athens Center and Electrical Maintenance and Welding Technology at its new Monroe County Center this fall. Although these cohorts were offered last year at the Athens Center, CSCC has expanded its technology certificate offerings to the new Monroe County Center.



These cohorts were made possible through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grant for Innovation and Training in Workforce Readiness Programs the college received last year. The grant totaled approximately $100,000 with the college matching funds. The overall purpose of the ARC Grant was to enhance workforce skills through training and education and to maintain collaborative relationships between training institutions and businesses to improve workforce readiness.



We are excited to be able to meet workforce demands by offering these technology certificates in our northern region, said Patty Weaver, director of Off Campus Sites. According to Ms. Weaver, the students who started the certificates in January will be completing in Augustmaking them the first cohort class in technology to graduate from an off-campus site.



The grant allowed the CSCC Business and Technology Division to develop an innovative project at the Athens Center that engaged students through using 'hands-on' workforce simulations combined with online virtual textbooks for the technology cohort programs, said Susan Webb-Curtis, dean of Business and Technology. We plan to continue the work we started with the ARC Grant by using these same technology purchases to sustain the efforts the grant started.



The ARC Grant is assisting the college with a goal in the new 2020 Community First Strategic Plan that states CSCC will establish the Athens Center as the northern hub of Cleveland State.



The certificates will be offered through Advance, Cleveland States block scheduling format, which offers working adults a convenient way to obtain a college certificate or degree by taking classes with the same core group of students, or cohort. Students will also know their scheduling up front for the entire program. They will be able to network with other students and professionals along the way. The courses in these certificate programs will also apply to an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Industrial Technology.



For more information about the technology certificates, contact Tim Wilson, Technology instructor/department chair, at (423) 473-2447 or email advance_technical@clevelandstatecc.edu.
During a recent visit to the Deschutes Brewery Public House in downtown Bend, I opted for their Caesar salad. I was intrigued with the house-made creamy Parmesan dressing. Based on the menu description, there was nothing else particularly unique about the salad, but Deschutes Brew Pub does pay attention to their ingredients and execution, so I thought it would be worth checking out.

Even so, it was a bold move on my part, based on the fact that I had deserted restaurant-made Caesars years ago. My crusade had been to seek out the ultimate, perfect take on the classic Caesar salad. But I had to endure so many bad ones throughout my quest I simply gave up, resigned to remember with fondness the very few perfect experiences I had encountered.

I didnt think it was too much to ask: tender, crisp, hearts of Romaine, tossed with a bold and flavorful dressing combination of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, fresh garlic, a coddled egg, fine olive oil and a whisper of anchovy. Capped off with the cheesy layering of Parmegiano-Regiano shavings and a handful of tender-crisp croutons, the perfect Caesar salad can put you on an enlightened path toward culinary nirvana.

But alas, my typical encounter up until recently has been a pale rendition. Limp lettuce, uninspired dressing and a commercially-prepared crouton-like substance.

The United States Department of Agriculture is partly responsible. Remember, it was the USDA that issued a warning associating under-cooked eggs with salmonella poisoning and stressing that folks with compromised immune systems should not consume raw or under-cooked eggs. So even if a restaurant had good intentions of delivering a knock-your-socks-off Caesar salad, they would forever be thwarted by that pesky food poisoning concern if they attempted a classic approach. This led to the average restaurant response of simply dummying down their Caesars: under-performing-but-safe dressings and bad management of the other ingredients.

A few chefs, however, got creative: Eliminating the under-cooked egg, but finding other ways to maintain the same creamy and rich character that a coddled egg brought to the dressing. In other words, they went back to the drawing board, deconstructing the entire Caesar salad concept, re-evaluating the dressing, figuring out its relationship to the greens and croutons, and producing an entirely new eating experience.

From the few, many followed. In essence, its a Caesar Salad Renaissance, with a whole batch of creative chefs reinterpreting and bringing their own artful twist to the concept. Theres that creamy Parmesan dressing at Deschutes, for example (It was delicious, by the way!). And then, just around the corner, The Blacksmith Restaurant boasts its own special take on what they boldly call Our Famous Caesar: polenta croutons, Parmesan crisp, chopped Romaine and house vegetarian tamarind dressing.

Thats just the tip of the iceberg. No pun intended. This Renaissance has reached beyond Caesars to encompass salad construction over all. To wow diners these days, a salad is a three-dimensional offering, considering flavor, texture and color. Fresh ingredients are a must, and inventive assembly on the plate appreciated. Many are being turned into entrees with the offering of (and this is a new menu term) protein options. Beyond the obligatory chicken, such items include grilled salmon, steak or tempeh, sauteed shrimp or tofu, smokey bacon, and seared ahi. Plus, the toppings have become fun and colorful, ranging from pumpkin seeds and roasted nuts to specialty croutons, like the afore-mentioned polenta croutons at The Blacksmith Restaurant.

My own Caesar salad dressing is zesty, delicious and safe (no under-cooked egg). Its thick enough to be creamy, yet light enough to be tossed with crispy greens. It features fresh lemon juice, a dash of rice vinegar and a splash of tempura sauce. No anchovy, but the tempura sauce (which is a slightly sweetened soy sauce) brings the same sort of umami to the recipe. Im sharing it with you here.

So, with summer being a very appropriate time to explore this salad Renaissance, I thought it would be great to share a few of my favorite dressings and ways to enjoy them. Bon appetit!
Among the ballot measures that Oregon voters likely will get to decide in the November election is Initiative Petition 65, a measure that would essentially mandate that school districts spend a certain amount of their state money on career and technical education, college-readiness programs and initiatives to improve school attendance.

None of those goals, of course, is a bad thing, and Initiative Petition 65 is undeniably well-meaning. Supporters of the initiative recently submitted signatures to the Oregon secretary of states office for verification.

We're open to additional questions and discussion on the measure, but we do have serious questions about it.

Here's our primary concern: We fear that by mandating the areas in which state money will be spent, the measure will tie the hands of local school officials, including school board trustees, who may be more concerned with other priorities in their districts. (We also worry that the measure also would limit the options available to legislators when crafting state budgets.)

The measures proponents say that the money will come from new revenue expected to flow into the states general fund that hasnt already been dedicated to other programs. (The measure does include contingencies in the event that general fund revenues are less than expected.)

Out of that new money  estimated to be about $1.5 billion or so  the measure would require that the Legislature allocate an amount not less than $800 annually for each high school student.

The measure mandates that the additional money would go to one of three areas: Career-technical education programs, college-level educational opportunities and dropout-prevention strategies.

The measure specifies that school districts must use the money to establish and expand programs in all three areas; the money cannot be used merely to maintain existing programs, except in cases in which grants may be about to expire.

Dont misunderstand: We like the idea of finding innovative approaches in all the areas targeted by Initiative Petition 65. Weve cheered the rollout of the Pipeline program launched by the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, for example, which is helping prepare students for careers in mid-valley businesses. And its undeniably true that Oregons dropout rate  1 in every 4 high school students does not graduate on time  is a disgrace.

But were not convinced that Initiative Petition 65 is the best way to go about fixing those problems. Nor do we think that the proponents of this statewide measure, as well-meaning as they are, are necessarily in the best place to make decisions that really should be made on a local level.

We fear that the measure, even though its heart is in the right place, would wind up handcuffing school districts through what amounts to a one-size-fits all approach. And we fear that one unintended result of the measure might be to stymie the sort of education innovation that is so vital right now in our public schools. (mm)
Chicago-Area Mosques Receive Threats In Wake Of Orlando Shooting

By aaroncynic in News on Jun 14, 2016 9:47PM



The Wheaton Islamic Center (via Facebook) in the wake of the horrific mass-shooting in Orlando which killed 49 people, the shooter, and injured more than 50 others.

On Monday, the Council of Islamic Organizations (CAIR) of Chicago said the shooting has lead to at least two threats to suburban Islamic centers in Naperville and Wheaton. According to the Sun-Times, Mohammed Kaiseruddin, Chairman of CAIR-Chicago, the threats, sent via email, were forwarded to the FBI.

Its very unfortunate that some of our mosques have already received hate messages and even threats," Kaiseruddin told NBC5. "The Muslim community should not also be targeted against any hateful thing carried out by one individual over there.

Early Sunday morning, Omar Mateen opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. In the wake of the massacre, the conservative right has been quick to attempt to blame Mateens identity as a Muslim for his motivations, even though its more than obvious that bigotry and hatred towards people in the LGBT community was the prime motivator.

Despite the attempts of various pundits and politicians to drive a wedge between the LGBT and Muslim communities, others have been trying to build bridges. In response, the Gay Liberation Network made a call for unity, saying:

We have in our LGBT community many Muslims and immigrants who catch it from both sides-racist Islamophobes on one side, anti-LGBT bigots on the other. We especially need to stand with them, and stand against scapegoating, period.

CAIR, who sent their condolences to the LGBT community, also made a call for unity. "We recognize that these misguided and evil forces represent a common threat to vulnerable minority communities," the organization said in a statement. "CAIR-Chicago stands in solidarity with the LGBT community."

Both Islamic centers that also received threats expressed solidarity with the victims and condemned the shootings: "We reiterate our position that all killings of innocent men, women, and children are unacceptable," wrote the Wheaton Islamic Center in a statement. "We extend our sympathies to the families of the victims and ask the Most Compassionate God to grant full recovery to the injured and bless them with patience and strength."

The Islamic Center of Naperville urged community members to donate blood.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Bad Godesberg : Demonstrations planned for Saturday 18 June

Bad Godesberg Right wing extremist Melanie Dittmer is planning another rally in Bad Godesberg. The alliance Bonn stellt sich quer has called for counter-demonstrations.

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The right wing extremist Melanie Dittmer is once again using the deadly attack on Niklas P as justification for a demonstration in Bad Godesberg this Saturday at 2pm. After a legal review, police have banned her from starting the demonstration at the circular flower-bed at the junction of Rheinallee and Rungsdorfer Strae. She was allocated another site nearby. She is also forbidden from leading and from speaking at the demonstration, which will go through Bad Godesberg.

As previously reported, the police had already banned Dittmer from speaking at and leading a first demonstration in the middle of May. She tried to have the decisions overturned by the administrative court in Cologne. The judges rejected her request and confirmed the bans.

The alliance Bonn stellt sich quer is calling for counter-demonstrations and according to police is expecting 1000 participants. The alliance said it has registered two places for demonstrations on Saturday 18 June from 12.30pm: Rheinallee at the corner of Rungsdorfer Strae and Durenstrae at the corner of Rheinallee. It welcomed the polices decision to prohibit the start of demonstrations at the flower-bed. Instead, the right wing extremists must now, make do with a demonstration location far from the memorial site and a demonstration route through the Villenviertel in Bad Godesberg.

As a precaution, all the important sites in Bad Godesberg have been registered for counter-demonstrations. The alliance thinks Dittmer will lodge complaints against this. Two other organisations, the DGB Bonn and the Paritatische Wohlfahrtsverband, have also called for counter-demonstrations. According to the alliance, these will form a human chain on Saturday at Bonn University as a statement against racism. The meeting point is in the Hofgarten at 11.30am. They are then calling for counter-protests in Bad Godesberg.

The police currently believe the demonstrations will be peaceful but say there could be traffic problems in Bad Godesberg from 12pm, especially around Rheinallee and in the town centre. Busses will also be affected.
Floods in Bonn and region : Flood victims to get emergency aid

Bonn North Rhine-Westphalia will offer immediate financial help to private households.

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The state government decided on Tuesday that private households in regions that were exceptionally badly hit by the storms will receive between 1000 and 2500 euros of immediate financial aid, depending on the size of the household.

We are helping people quickly and without bureaucracy, said Minister of the Interior, Ralf Jager. Nature really raged in some places. There was a lot of damage and only part can be fixed with money.

The rain in the Lower Rhine, Munsterland and in the Bonn area was particularly heavy and concentrated. In some cases 125 litres per square metre fell within two hours. This caused the Mehlem and Godesberg streams, among others, to burst their banks. The aid will therefore also be provided to those hit in Bonn and the Rhine-Sieg area.

A condition of the aid is that uninsurable damage of at least 5000 euros was incurred. Besides households, the government will also give emergency aid to small businesses and agricultural businesses that incurred damage of at least 10,000 euros. Aid requests can be lodged until 15 July at the Bonn municipal authorities and the regional authorities. They have been informed of the details of the emergency aid.
Dusseldorf court ruling : Three year sentence for Salafist from Bonn

Bonn/Dusseldorf Sabri El-D was convicted on Tuesday of preparing to join a foreign terrorist organisation.

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Whether by car, plane or using foreign passports, Sabri El-D tried every way to join the civil war in Syria as an Islamic jihadist. The fact that, despite numerous attempts, he failed to travel from Bonn to the Levant, was of little help to him in legal proceedings. On Tuesday, the Higher Regional Court in Dusseldorf sentenced him to three years in prison for purposefully preparing to join a foreign terrorist organisation.

Sabri El-D had constant phone calls and chats with jihadists in Syria. The two metre tall man wanted to work as a bodyguard for the terrorist militia Junud al-Sham. Police listened to the calls made by the 30 year old during which he constantly affirmed his wish shortly to join the jihadists.

He followed up on his words with actions, although these often ended at the border controls in Turkey. Even when the authorities in Bonn took his passport away and restricted the validity of his ID card to Germany, he still tried to reach Syria by plane from Belgium and then by car to Turkey via Bulgaria.

Sabri El-D has stood side by side with other known members of the German Islamic scene at least once: on 5 May 2012 he was a ringleader of a mob of violent Salafists that attacked police in Lannesdorf.
Niklas P case : Will Walid S be released?

Bonn A court has to decide next week whether to release the man suspected of killing NIklas P pending trial.

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Walid S, who allegedly killed Niklas P with a blow and a kick to the head, is currently in custody. Senior public prosecutor, Robin Fabender, told the General Anzeiger that Walid Ss defence lawyer has filed an application for a review of his detention. The application will be heard on Monday 20 June. We still consider him under strong suspicion of committing the crime, said Fabender.

The public prosecutors office is investigating on the grounds of suspected manslaughter. The police are still looking for the two other youths who allegedly took part in the attack. As previously reported, 20 year old Walid S was apprehended at the end of May and brought before a custodial judge a day later. He issued an arrest warrant on the grounds of manslaughter.

At an oral hearing to review Walid Ss detention, a judge must now decide whether the conditions in the arrest warrant still apply or whether he can be released pending trial.
Photos: Bridgeport 'Blue Lives Matter' Sign Sparks Graffiti Battle

By Mae Rice in News on Jun 14, 2016 7:25PM

A "Blue Lives Matter" sign displayed in the window of a Bridgeport home sparked confrontational graffiti messages on the sidewalk outside this weekat least one of them from a Black Lives Matter advocate.

An apparent response to the sign had been written out on the sidewalk outside the home's entrance in black paint, reading: "Black Lives Matter! Not Blue !" Former Chicagoist editor Chuck Sudo shared photos with us showing the sidewalk graffiti, in the 3000 block of South Emerald Avenue.



Photo courtesy of Chuck Sudo

Another message on the sidewalk outside the home read "Blue Lives Only End Black Lives," which can be interpreted as a genocidal message: "Blue Lives Only. End Black Lives." It could be also be read as a single sentence, arguing that all cops do is kill black people.



Photo courtesy of Chuck Sudo

The graffiti has since been washed away.

The slogan "Blue Lives Matter" is used to show support for police; the "blue" is an allusion to their blue uniform shirts. The slogan is derived from the Black Lives Matter movement, which sprang up in 2014 in protest of widespread police brutality against black people. The phrase "Blue Lives Matter" has gained traction recently with some aldermen proposing an ordinance that would make attacking a cop a hate crime, even though being a first-responder is not a protected class.

Though it's a national movement, Black Lives Matter has been vocal in Chicago, especially after the city released video footage of police officer Jason Van Dyke shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times, killing him. That shooting prompted widespread Black Lives Matter protests; Van Dyke has since been charged with murder.

Felix Zaczek, who ABC7 reports rents the home with the sign. Zaczek told ABC7 he plans to keep his "Blue Lives Matter" sign up. Zaczek was not available to speak Tuesday afternoon, and the graffiti had been mostly erased by 1 p.m.

Here's the signage that sparked the exchange:



The "Blue Lives Matter" sign in the Bridgeport home's window (photo courtesy of Chuck Sudo)

ABC7 reports that police are investigating the graffiti, but the Chicago Police Department's Office of News Affairs told Chicagoist they have no record of an investigation so far.

Bridgeport has historically been known as a home to many first-responders and Irish-Americans. It also has deep roots in Chicago politics; five of Chicago's mayors, including Richard J. Daley and Richard M. Daley, were born there.

Rachel Cromidas contributed reporting to this story.
Pick A Favorite Chicago Film For Millennium Park's Movie Series

By Stephen Gossett in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 14, 2016 9:26PM



The Color of Money

We Chicagoans love our hard-won summer fun, and we definitely have a healthy sense of competition and thin-skinned defensiveness civic pride. So news that an Audience Choice Night will close out the popular Summer Film Series in Millennium Park, with a screening of voters' favorite Chicago movie, sounds right up our alley.

Voters have until Aug. 16 to cast a ballot online at chifilmfave.org or in person at one of the previously scheduled downtown screenings. The winner will be announced on Aug. 23 and screened Tuesday, Aug., 30, at 6:30 p.m.

Candidates are:

Adventures in Babysitting

Ali

Backdraft

Barbershop

Blues Brothers

Color of Money

Divergent

High Fidelity

Home Alone

Love Jones

My Best Friend's Wedding

Ordinary People

Public Enemies

Risky Business

Road to Perdition

The Dark Knight

The Fugitive

Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon

The Untouchables

While You Were Sleeping

That's a pretty robust and commendably Catholic range of options, with familiar '80s and '90s warhorses sharing the ballot with some solid sleeper picks. We'd love to see an upset by Michael Mann's modern film-buff favorite Public Enemies or maybe (with director Brian De Palma's name back on tongues) The Untouchables. Whatever the outcome, you'll at least have the chance to participate in at least one non-WTF electoral process this year.

Check out the previously announced lineup and schedule here.
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Protecting the worlds oceans  an important goal of Germanys climate diplomacy

The worlds oceans are vital to our survival. They regulate the global climate and are a source of food and income for billions of people. Only a very small part of the seas enjoys legal protection, however. Our diplomats are working in New York right now to change this state of affairs.
Controversial Rideshare Bill Headed Back to Vote

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jun 15, 2016 7:13PM



A yellow cab (Photo by Elena Kovalevich via the Chicagoist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)

Update, June 17: The City Council's Transportation Committee passed this bill in a meeting Friday. It goes up for a vote in City Council proper on Wednesday.

---

A controversial ridesharing ordinance that has Uber and Lyft threatening to leave Chicago is expected to go up for a vote in the City Council's Transportation Committee meeting on Friday.

A spokesperson for the alderman who proposed the ordinanceAld. Anthony Beale (9th)told Chicagoist the alderman is confident it will pass not just committee, but the full City Council. "We have strong commitments from 34 aldermen in support of the ordinance," said Bryant Payne, a member of Beale's communication team.

Beale's measure would require Uber and Lyft drivers to obtain restricted chauffeur's licenses. The process would involve a $115 fee, a one-day training course, fingerprinting, a background check and vehicle inspection. The ordinance would require at least five percent of rideshare cars to be accessible to passengers with disabilities, and prohibit drivers from driving vehicles more than six years old. Lyft and Uber drivers would also have to immediately pony up the $15 million they collectively owe the city in unpaid parking tickets and other fees.

Uber and Lyft continue to vigorously oppose the Beale's ordinance, which they call excessively regulatory, especially for a gig-economy workforce that relies on flexibility. Lyft vice president Joseph Okpaku told the City Council in May, "We cannot operate under a regulatory framework like this. If you cant get part-time, casual drivers on board, the model fails... If you shut off the critical mass of drivers, the whole system starts to crumble." Uber over the past several months has been collecting petition signatures against the plan it labels "anti-consumerist."

The companies also claim to aid underserved minority communities in ways that traditional cab operations have failed, a claim with which Beale vigorously disagrees. "Theyre saying nobodys serving the South and West Sides, which is not true, Beale told the Sun-Times. An African-American cab owner on the King Drive has given data that she provides 6,800 rides-a-month to the South and West Sides. So, they're saying these things, but theyre not giving us the data to back it up.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been petitioning against the bill, perhaps unsurprisingly, as his brother Ari is an investor in Uber. The Illinois Transportation Trade Association, which represents the taxi industry, also remains a staunch opponent, having contributed in excess of $35,000 to Beale and other sympathetic aldermen, according to the Sun-Times.

Update, 4:30p.m.: Uber shared a statement with Chicagoist elaborating the company's position:


Microsoft to launch slimmer Xbox One S News oi -GizBot Bureau

Microsoft officially confirmed on Monday that a slimmer version of its gaming machine Xbox One will be launch in August.

Dubbed the Xbox One S, the new console will be 40 per cent smaller than the existing model, Xbox One, making it the smallest gaming machine Microsoft has produced, Xinhua quoted the company as saying at the E3 Expo.

iOS 10: Here are 10 Great Features It Will Bring To Your iPhone and iPad

The company said out of a new visual design, "the sleekest, most advanced Xbox ever" also comes with 4K Ultra HD video support and High Dynamic Range capabilities for both gaming and video, among other new features.

The new Xbox One S also comes with a slightly redesigned controller, featuring textured grip, increased wireless range and Bluetooth support.

The company also announced another new console, Project Scorpio, which will offer virtual reality and 4K gaming.

Here are 5 amazing apps that can give your profile pics a complete makeover

The console will be backwards compatible with both the Xbox One and Xbox One S, existing alongside both simultaneously.

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'Feels Like Home Season 2' offers something real and tangible to think about; takes home a pertinent point - if your intentions are good, there is nothing in life that isn't achievable.
Credit: Sean MurphyWhen they announced their new album earlier this year, Weezer offered a pre-order package called the "Weezer Experience Bundle." The offer, which cost $25,000, included taking a bus trip to the Galapagos to go on a bird-watching expedition with frontman Rivers Cuomo. Days later, the band revealed that someone had actually purchased the bundle. Now, they've revealed the identity of the buyer. Well, sort of.

In a video for Funny or Die, The Office actor Rainn Wilson says that he purchased the "Weezer Experience Bundle." When he meets Cuomo, the musician tells him, "We didn't think anybody was gonna buy that package." Wilson is then led into a dark room, where a safari hat-wearing Cuomo narrates a Galapagos-themed slideshow. At the end of the "experience," Rivers admits that it was a "fake bus trip," but he and Rainn bond over having "watery names."

Whether or not the "Weezer Experience Bundle" was ever actually real, the band's new album, Weezer (White Album), is very real. And you can see Rivers and company in real life on their tour this summer with Panic! at the Disco, which continues tonight in Tampa, Florida.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
How Many Of These Chicago Landmarks Do You Know?

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jun 15, 2016 2:54PM



Pop quiz, Chicago. We all talk a good civic-pride game, but this nifty illustration of local architectural landmarks, by local duo Cape Horn Illustration, asks you to walk the walk. How many of these iconic structures can you name? Answers below. (Not really. You can figure it out.)

These sorts of illustrations pop up from time to time, but we're particularly fond of this one. There's the clean, crisp style, plus it's very neighborhood-focused, covering a large cross-section of the city with nary a tourist trap in sight. (Sorry, Cloud Gate.)

"For me, Chicago is my inspiration," Cape Horn artist Phil Thompson told Chicagoist. "The built environment in particular. I just wanted to highlight some representative landmarks of the beloved neighborhoods of the city. Whether it's homes or buildings or maps, I really love place. And illustration is great for honoring that."

Thompson started the project by looking at selections recommended by Choose Chicago, but wanted to spin out, beyond the usual suspects. The pink Edgewater Beach Apartments, the metal Puerto Rican flag over Humboldt Park's Paseo Boricua and the South Shore Cultural Center are just a few of the landmarks you can spy in the illustration.

"The aim is to represent a variety of neighborhoods. Spotlight some places that don't always get a lot of attention," he said.

The print is available to purchase through Cape Horn's website, along with other cool, Chicago-centric work and custom-made illustrations for homeowners and business owners.
Update: air strikes against Daesh

13 June 2016

British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh

Latest update

- Thursday 9 June  Tornados provided close air support to Iraqi forces in and around Fallujah.

- Friday 10 June  Tornados provided further support over Fallujah, whilst a Reaper and Typhoons prosecuted multiple Daesh targets in northern Iraq.

- Saturday 11 June  A Reaper attacked mortar and rocket teams near Qayyarah in northern Iraq.

- Sunday 12 June  Typhoons and a Reaper attacked further targets near Qayyarah and Mosul, Tornados provided close air support over Fallujah and destroyed a truck-bomb factory in northern Iraq.

Detail

Royal Air Force Tornado GR4s continued to provide close air support on Thursday 9 June to Iraqi ground forces fighting to liberate Fallujah. One Tornado flight conducted successful attacks using Paveway IV guided bombs against four Daesh-held buildings from which terrorists were directing machine-gun fire at the Iraqi forces. A second Tornado mission used a Paveway IV to destroy a building west of the city, within which a terrorist armed vehicle was reported by nearby Iraqi troops to be concealed.

On Friday 10 June, a Reaper worked in close conjunction with other coalition aircraft to engage Daesh rocket and mortar teams operating near Qayyarah. The Reaper provided support to two coalition strikes on rocket positions, then used its own Hellfire missiles and a GBU-12 guided bomb against a further set of rocket launchers and a mortar. A Typhoon FGR4 flight was also operating near Qayyarah, and they conducted attacks against five targets: three buildings where Daesh extremists had been spotted gathering and two more rocket launcher positions. North-east of Mosul, another pair of Typhoons destroyed a heavy machine-gun team with a Paveway IV. To the south, Tornados again provided close air support over Fallujah, using their Paveways against three strongpoints which housed two machine-gun teams and a group of terrorists armed with rocket-propelled grenades.

An RAF Reaper continued to hunt terrorist rocket and mortar teams around Qayyarah on Saturday 11 June, conducting three attacks with Hellfire missiles.

Another Reaper patrolled over Qayyarah on Sunday 13 June, and also fired three Hellfires, its targets were two terrorist vehicles and a group of Daesh fighters. Typhoons were also active nearby, and used Paveway IVs to attack two groups of terrorists caught in the open and two Daesh-held buildings. A Typhoon mission also joined Tornados operating over Fallujah; the Typhoons used one Paveway IV against a machine-gun position, whilst the Tornados delivered five very precise attacks in very demanding circumstances, with Iraqi troops extremely close to the terrorist targets. Paveway IVs were used to destroy a rocket team, an anti-tank gun, a heavily armed pick-up truck and a heavy machine-gun team, whilst a Brimstone missile silenced a light machine-gun.

During Sunday night, a pair of Tornados armed with 1000lb Enhanced Paveway II guided bombs conducted a carefully planned strike on a factory to the south-west of Qayyarah where truck-bombs were being built by Daesh. Four EPW IIs hit their targets accurately and initial reports suggest the mission was a success.

Previous air strikes

2 May: Typhoons provided further support to the Iraqi forces near Fallujah, striking a machine-gun team in a bunker and a 23mm anti-aircraft gun. In northern Iraq, Tornados used two Paveways to destroy a Daesh-held building and a nearby weapons store north of Mosul, then flew south to the Qayyarah region where Iraqi forces were engaged in a firefight with a group of terrorists manning a fortified position. Despite the close proximity of the friendly forces, very precise strikes with two Paveways and two Brimstones helped destroy the Daesh group.

3 May: An RAF Reaper remotely piloted aircraft conducting reconnaissance over the village of Batnay, north of Mosul. A truck-bomb was identified inside a compound and struck using a Hellfire missile, resulting in a very large explosion. The Reaper then provided targeting support to a successful strike by coalition fast jets against a group of Daesh fighters and their vehicle. Two Tornados were also tasked to operate over Batnay, and they successfully destroyed a further Daesh vehicle with a direct hit from a Brimstone. In western Iraq, Typhoons provided further close air support to Iraqi forces near Fallujah, striking a mortar team and their vehicle hidden under trees south of the city.

4 May: A Reaper identified a truck-bomb, concealed underneath a tarpaulin, next to a road in western Iraq. The crew checked that there were no civilians or friendly forces at immediate risk and used a Hellfire missile to score a direct hit on the vehicle, detonating the explosives safely. South of Fallujah, a pair of Typhoon FGR4s used a Paveway IV guided bomb to destroy a building where a group of extremists, armed with a heavy calibre automatic weapon. In the same area, a Tornado GR4 flight dropped four Paveways on a weapons stockpile, two Daesh-held buildings, and a tunnel entrance. RAF aircraft also supported Kurdish forces in the north of the country, where another Tornado flight bombed a group of Daesh fighters and a mortar team, the latter positioned in a small copse of trees.

5 May: Tornado missions in support of Iraqi and Kurdish operations demolished a terrorist position north-east of Mosul on around Mosul and Fallujah, while Typhoons bombed a tunnel and a mortar south-west of Fallujah.

6 May: Daesh terrorists were spotted unloading rockets and mortar projectiles from a number of small boats and a barge on the Euphrates in Anbar province. A Tornado reconnaissance patrol, armed with Brimstone missiles, was first on the scene and prevented the initial load of weapons from being driven away, hitting the terrorists' truck with a Brimstone while they were still loading it. A Paveway-armed flight of Typhoons then arrived and used its bombs to destroy the weapons on the shore, and sink the barge. The same Typhoon flight also attacked a mortar position south-west of Fallujah. A second Tornado flight destroyed two heavy machine-gun positions on the north bank of the Euphrates, downstream from the recently liberated town of Hit. In northern Iraq, Typhoons struck another mortar, north-west of Mosul.

8 May: Typhoons were active south of Fallujah, where a rocket launcher was identified in the open with three known caches of ammunition stored nearby. All four targets were struck with Paveway IV guided bombs and successfully destroyed.

9 May: RAF Typhoon FGR4s, armed with Paveway IV guided bombs, conducted successful attacks against a group of Daesh extremists hiding in a tunnel network dug into a riverbank north-west of Kirkuk and against two rocket launcher positions north of Mosul.

Other Typhoons, and Tornado GR4s provided close air support to the Iraqi troops operating in the Euphrates valley. The Typhoons struck a mortar position north of the Al Asad airbase, while the Tornados destroyed a terrorist command post situated nearby in a riverside building in the midst of a palm grove.

10 May: RAF Sentry airborne command and control platforms have also been playing their part in the overall direction of the air campaign against Daesh. A typical Sentry mission saw it controlling some 40 coalition aircraft operating over Syria and Iraq, including several RAF reconnaissance missions.

11 May: Tornados again assisted Iraqi ground forces in the Euphrates valley, when they came up against a heavily defended Daesh building, which was demolished with a Paveway.

12 May: A Typhoon flight used three Paveways to hit Daesh positions ahead of a Kurdish offensive to the south-west of Kirkuk.

13 May: Two RAF Reapers provided close air support to the peshmerga as they advanced, conducting a total of four attacks with three Hellfires and a GBU-12 guided bomb. They destroyed mortar teams and a Daesh supply truck, as well as providing surveillance support to a coalition air strike which destroyed a terrorist strongpoint. Tornados were meanwhile again assisting Iraqi ground forces in the Euphrates valley, and destroyed two Daesh-held buildings on the northern bank of the river.

15 May: A pair of Typhoons conducted successful simultaneous attacks north-west of Fallujah, which destroyed a bunker and an engineering vehicle.

16 May: RAF support to Iraqi ground forces along the Euphrates continued when Tornados used a Paveway bomb to destroy a small Daesh bunker containing ammunition supplies.

17 May: Tornados operated north of Mosul and conducted a successful attack with Paveways on a group of three buildings near Bashiqah, which housed weapon stockpiles. The same day, a Typhoon flight used a pair of Paveways to destroy two machine-gun positions which Daesh were attempting to establish on the northern bank of the Euphrates near Hit following their recent defeat by the Iraqis in the town.

18 May: Flights of Typhoons and Tornados both participated in a series of attacks on Daesh installations north of Tal Afar. The Typhoons employed eight Paveways to attack a cluster of buildings used by the terrorists for command and control, accommodation, and vehicle and weapon storage. The Tornados delivered four Paveways to destroy a further command post and three ammunition stockpiles.

19 May: Tornados from RAF Akrotiri patrolled the Mosul area. North of the city, they used a Paveway IV guided bomb to destroy a tunnel in which a group of Daesh extremists were based, then moved to the east of Mosul where 15 rocket launchers had been stored by the terrorists. Three Paveway IVs were used against ammunition stockpiles, before three Brimstone missiles were used to destroy the rocket launchers. The small warhead and high precision of the Brimstones avoided any structural damage being caused to the surrounding buildings.

Typhoons were also active over northern Iraq that day, operating north of Tall Afar where they employed a pair of Paveways to demolish a large weapons store, then two more Paveways against two other Daesh-held buildings.

20 May: Intelligence analysis pinpointed two Daesh headquarters in north-west Syria, located 10 and 25 miles respectively north of Aleppo near the fighting along the Mar'a Line. A pair of Tornado GR4s were tasked with their destruction. One of the command posts was in a very solidly constructed building, this was targeted with two Enhanced Paveway II 1000lb bombs. A pair of 500lb Paveway IVs were used against the second headquarters. Both targets were destroyed by direct hits.

With the Iraqi ground forces preparing to launch their offensive to liberate Fallujah, Typhoons provided close air support to their operations around the outskirts of the city. A stockpile of components for improvised explosive devices was destroyed with one Paveway and a terrorist strong-point with a second.

22 May: Further close air support was provided around Fallujah, when Tornados bombed a tunnel complex where weapons and ammunition were stored.

23 May: Tornados used a Brimstone missile against a further mortar team near Fallujah. Not far away, Iraqi ground forces were in close combat north of Habbaniyah assisted by a pair of RAF Typhoons that struck a mortar team and a rocket position with Paveways. In the north of the country two more Typhoons contributed to a coalition strike on Daesh installations west of Mosul, a workshop preparing truck-bombs was assigned as the RAF target and successfully demolished by a Paveway. Across the border, in eastern Syria, an RAF Reaper identified a terrorist checkpoint north-west of Dayr az Zawr and destroyed it with a Hellfire missile.

24 May: A Royal Air Force Reaper remotely piloted aircraft patrolled near Bayji, where Daesh terrorists were engaged in combat with Iraqi forces. The Reaper used one Hellfire missile to destroy an artillery gun that was firing on the Iraqi troops, it then used a second Hellfire to break up an attempted Daesh attack along a gully. In northern Iraq, Tornado GR4s attacked a Daesh-held building near Qayyarah with a Paveway IV guided bomb. With the Iraqi offensive to liberate Fallujah well under way, a pair of Paveway-armed Typhoons provided close air support west of the city, where they destroyed three stockpiles of terrorist weapons and ammunition.

25 May: Typhoon operations west of Fallujah continued, when they patrolled the area leading to Habbaniyah and on to the outskirts of Ramadi. They conducted a series of Paveway IV attacks, accounting for two Daesh positions, including a heavy machine-gun team, as well as an artillery piece and a bunker.

26 May: They returned to the same area the following day, hitting an ammunition cache that had been spotted near the destroyed bunker. They then struck a building north-east of Fallujah where a large group of terrorists had been reported massing for a counter-attack. In the north, Tornados bombed two terrorist-held buildings and a tunnel near Mosul. Later in the day, a Typhoon flight was tasked with eliminating a group of suicide bombers who had been spotted north of Baghdad, preparing for an attempted diversionary attack on the security cordon around the city; a Paveway IV demolished the building in which they were hiding.

27 May: Intensive air operations along the Euphrates valley around Fallujah and the wider area continued. Typhoons silenced two sniper teams with Paveway strikes, then intervened in a closely fought combat between Iraqi troops and Daesh near Habbaniyah; particular care and precision was needed to avoid causing casualties to the Iraqi forces, but three successful Paveway attacks were accomplished. A second Typhoon flight destroyed a light anti-aircraft gun that was firing on Iraqi personnel near Hit, whilst a pair of Tornados used a Brimstone missile to destroy a truck-bomb in the same area. A Reaper was also active over the Euphrates, using a Hellfire to destroy a vehicle-mounted terrorist team, armed with rocket-propelled grenades, on the outskirts of Fallujah.

29 May: Despite these efforts around Fallujah, the Kurdish forces in the north were not neglected: Tornados bombed a mortar position near Mosul. There were two further attacks near Mosul on Sunday 29 May, conducted by Typhoons against another mortar position and a large truck-bomb that was being prepared for use. In the south, near Hit, a Tornado patrol destroyed a Daesh vehicle with a Brimstone missile.

30 May: Intelligence work had identified two factory sites in northern Syria, between Al Bab and Manbij, producing improvised explosive devices. A pair of Tornados, armed with 1,000lb Enhanced Paveway II bombs, conducted a deliberate strike on the two sites. A Tornado reconnaissance patrol near Mosul used a Paveway to attack a group of terrorists, and a Brimstone to destroy their support vehicle. Typhoons also destroyed three weapon stockpiles to the east of Mosul. Another Typhoon mission maintained a close air support presence over Fallujah, and, working very closely with a coalition surveillance aircraft, used Paveway IVs to attack an armed truck and a Daesh fighting position.

31 May: Tornados used Paveway IV guided bombs to destroy two heavy machine-guns that were threatening the advancing Iraqi forces; one, mounted on a truck concealed in a palm grove north of Fallujah, the second in a building on the southern outskirts of the city. In northern Iraq, a Typhoon and a Reaper provided assistance to the Kurdish peshmerga and Iraqi forces.

The Typhoons destroyed the headquarters of a local Daesh commander to the south-east of Mosul, using Paveway IVs, while the Reaper assisted a coalition aircraft in targeting an engineering vehicle used for constructing defences near Qayyarah, then used its own Hellfire missiles against two terrorist mortar teams. Both the Typhoons and the Reaper then flew south to add their weight to air operations over Fallujah. The Typhoons successfully attacked a third heavy machine-gun position. The Reaper kept close watch on a group of terrorists test-firing and loading weapons, including a heavy machine gun, onto a supply truck. The reaper then destroyed the truck with a direct hit from a Hellfire missile.

Further west, along the Euphrates, near the recently liberated town of Hit, a second Reaper provided support to Iraqi forces consolidating the security of the surrounding area. The Reaper destroyed both a machine-gun team and a vehicle carrying a recoilless anti-tank gun with its Hellfires.

1 June: Reapers were in action again, one patrolled the skies above Qayyarah, where a camouflaged set of loaded rocket launch rails were spotted and destroyed with a Hellfire missile. A second Reaper patrolled over eastern Syria and western Iraq, and located a terrorist check-point on the Iraqi side of the border, west of Al Qa'im, which was stopping the free movement of traffic. Again, a Hellfire missile was employed and the check-point successfully attacked.

Two Tornado missions provided reconnaissance and close air support to Iraqi forces around Fallujah. One pair of Tornados used Paveway IVs to conduct simultaneous attacks on two Daesh-held buildings close to a canal to the south of the city; one building housed a terrorist sniper team, the other a recoilless anti-tank artillery piece. Both targets were destroyed by direct hits. The second Tornado flight successfully silenced a heavy-machine-gun positioned in a third Daesh strongpoint after it opened fire on the advancing Iraqi troops.

2 June: Three successive flights of Tornado GR4s and Typhoon FGR4s provided close air support to Iraqi units on the southern outskirts of the city. One Tornado flight conducted four attacks with Paveway IV guided bombs, striking a bunker and three teams of terrorists armed with an anti-tank gun, rocket-propelled grenades and a heavy machine-gun. A second Tornado mission delivered simultaneous attacks on two Daesh-held buildings, then a third bombing attack on a heavy machine-gun position that had opened fire on Iraqi troops. The Typhoon flight dealt with a further artillery piece, using a Paveway IV.

In northern Iraq, another pair of Typhoons struck a group of terrorists spotted advancing towards peshmerga positions near Kisik, then headed to an area south-east of Mosul where they used three Paveways to attack more extremists mustering in and around a large warehouse.

3 June: Operations over southern Fallujah continued when a pair of Typhoons conducted Paveway attacks on two Daesh strongpoints which had opened fire on Iraqi forces with machine-guns and other weapons. Two Reaper remotely piloted aircraft patrolled over the city the following day, exploiting their long endurance and excellent surveillance capabilities to provide persistent overwatch for the Iraqi troops on the ground.

During the course of Saturday, the Reapers delivered five attacks, using two GBU-12 guided bombs and three Hellfire missiles, against two machine-gun teams, two Daesh firing positions and a tunnel network. They also provided assistance to five other air strikes conducted by coalition fast jets on terrorist positions.

5 June: Tornados were again in action over southern Fallujah. A factory producing improvised truck-bombs was struck with a pair of Paveway IVs, destroying two vehicles that were being prepared for use, and two further attacks with Paveways accounted for two anti-tank weapons.

6 June: Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s continued to provide close air support to the Iraqi operation to liberate Fallujah. A coalition surveillance aircraft spotted a group of Daesh terrorists taking up position in a building to the west of the city, allowing them to be quickly targeted by the Typhoons using a Paveway IV guided bomb. In northern Iraq, intelligence had located a large truck-bomb factory near Mosul and two RAF Tornado GR4s armed with 1000lb Enhanced Paveway II guided bombs were tasked with its destruction. A single EPW II destroyed the factory.

7 June: Operations around Fallujah continued when Tornados successfully attacked a weapons and ammunition stockpile hidden to the south-east of the city.

8 June: Tornados conducted three attacks to support Iraqi ground forces engaged in firefights with terrorists inside Fallujah. Despite the close proximity of the Iraqi forces, the GR4s were able to deliver simultaneous attacks with Paveway IVs against two strongpoints housing Daesh machine-gun and artillery teams. They then struck a further machine-gun position when it also opened fire on the Iraqis.

Typhoons also contributed to the Fallujah operations, using Paveway IVs against two groups of Daesh extremists armed with a light machine-gun and rocket-propelled grenades. In northern Iraq, another Typhoon mission successfully attacked a Daesh-held building east of Mosul, whilst a Reaper used a GBU-12 bomb to demolish a building where another coalition surveillance aircraft had observed terrorists unloading supplies. A second Reaper patrolled over Syria and employed a Hellfire missile to destroy a Daesh truck travelling at speed on the open road south of Raqqa.

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Military Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, June 14, 2016  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

Bomber, ground-attack, attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 16 strikes in Syria:

-- Near Manbij, 13 strikes struck 10 separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions, three ISIL cave entrances, an ISIL weapons cache, an ISIL command and control node, two ISIL vehicles, and an ISIL security headquarters.

-- Near Mara, three strikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL tactical vehicle and an ISIL mortar system.

Strikes in Iraq

Bomber, attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 14 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government:

-- Near Beiji, a strike struck an ISIL weapons factory.

-- Near Fallujah, two strikes struck two ISIL tactical units and destroyed 19 ISIL fighting positions, two ISIL vehicles, four ISIL heavy machine guns, four ISIL rocket propelled grenade systems, eight ISIL light machine guns, three ISIL recoilless rifles and an ISIL mortar system and denied ISIL access to terrain.

-- Near Kisik, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and suppressed an ISIL mortar position.

-- Near Mosul, three strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL supply cache and an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Qayyarah, four strikes struck three separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL headquarters and destroyed an ISIL fighting position, an ISIL assembly area and two ISIL mortar systems and suppressed a separate ISIL tactical unit and denied ISIL access to terrain.

-- Near Ramadi, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and an ISIL fighting position.

Additionally, officials said, two strikes in Syria near Manbij that struck two ISIL tactical units on June 12 were not included in yesterday's strike release.

Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

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Fliers Calling Out Convicted Rapist Brock Turner Are Popping Up In Logan Square

By Mae Rice in News on Jun 15, 2016 4:20PM



Photo by Mae Rice/Chicagoist

Updated at 1 p.m. with artist statement and reader tips: No one likes convicted rapist Brock Turner, except his terrible dadand that's especially true in Logan Square, where the flier above have been cropping up in various public places. We spotted two on the southeast corner of Sacramento and Milwaukee; on Wednesday, Redditor ggrove91 posted a photo of another Logan Square flier to Reddit. Commenters reported seeing the fliers near Palmer Squareand as far away as the Berwyn Red Line stop. Since we posted this, we've heard of more fliers along Milwaukee Avenue and the Red Line.

We've also received an anonymous email containing a statement, allegedly from the "small band of humans" who put up the fliers:

This is a small gesture which we hope conveys to the victim that we hear Her, we read Her testimony, and we loved Her bravery and maturity in spite of the horrors she has had to deal with. We hear all Hers. We hear all Survivors. We support her from Chicago.

Turner, 20, was sentenced in early June to six months in jail for raping an intoxicated and unconscious woman behind a dumpster at a frat party in early 2015. Turner was caught in the act by two Swedish bicyclists and tried to flee on foot; they tackled him, however, and held him until police came.

Turner's case has been a source of public outcry for a variety of reasons. For one, the sentence was extremely lenient, given that Turner had been convicted on three felony counts of sexual assault and could have faced up to 10 years in jail. For another, the unnamed victim's incredibly moving victim impact statement was published on Buzzfeed and read widely.

The flier appears to address yet another source of controversy: Media hesitance to term Turner a rapist. Turner was a first-year at Stanford at the time of the rape, and a star on the school's swim team. Many headlines termed him an "All-American swimmer" or "Stanford swimmer", rather than, you know, a "rapist"a term readily used for less privileged people convicted of the same crime.

If you have further info about these fliers, email tips@chicagoist.com.
U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Release

No. NR-214-16 June 14, 2016

Secretary Mabus Names Destroyer after Pioneering United States Navy Nurse

During a ceremony to honor women who served in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in Arlington, Virginia, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, DDG 123, will be named Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee in honor of the pioneering U. S. Navy chief nurse, who served as the superintendent of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps during World War I and was the first female recipient of the Navy Cross.

"It is a great honor to name this ship in recognition of Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee," said Mabus. "I have no doubt that all who serve aboard her will carry on the legacy of service and commitment exemplified by this pioneer of U.S. Navy Nurse Corps."

The former USS Higbee (DD-806), commissioned in 1945, was the first ship named in her honor and the first U.S. Navy combat ship to bear the name of a female member of the Naval service.

Secretary Mabus honored the service and sacrifice of women who served in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps during a sunset parade on United States Marine Corps Iwo Jima Memorial grounds.

"This ship will be a part of our fleet for decades, and the legacy of Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee and her service to our nation will live on for decades through the ship's voyages across the oceans, and through the lives of the crew who will sail aboard it," said Mabus.

"Higbee's professionalism, leadership and selfless dedication to her nurses and patients reflect the highest standards of naval service. She and her nurses provided the best treatment possible often under some of the worse conditions. Higbee will continue to inspire all who learn of her courage, honor and commitment," said Dr. Regina T. Akers, naval historian.

Arleigh-Burke class destroyers conduct a variety of operations from peacetime presence and crisis response to sea control and power projection. DDG 123 will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and will contain a combination of offensive and defensive weapon systems designed to support maritime warfare including integrated air and missile defense and vertical launch capabilities.

The ship will be constructed at Ingalls Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, in Mississippi and is expected to enter the Navy fleet in 2024. The ship will be 509 feet long, have a beam length of 59 feet and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 30 knots.

Additional information about the Arleigh-Burke class destroyers is available online at http://www.navy.mil/local/DDG/.

Media may direct queries to the Navy Office of Information at 703-697-5342. For more news from secretary of the Navy public affairs, visit www.navy.mil/SECNAV.

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/799194/

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Yemeni Civilians Caught in Taiz Fighting, MSF Says

by VOA News June 14, 2016

Civilians continue to be severely affected by violence in the Yemeni city of Taiz, despite the cease-fire reached two months ago between warring parties, according to the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders.

Some of the fiercest fighting has taken place in densely populated parts of Taiz, including daily shelling, airstrikes, bomb blasts, land mine explosions and sniper fire, an MSF statement said Tuesday.

None of the warring parties appears to be trying to prevent casualties among civilians, the statement said.

MSF called for all parties in Yemen's conflict to take greater measures to protect civilians, reduce the intense level of conflict and facilitate unrestricted humanitarian access in Taiz.

Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad, the U.N.'s envoy to Yemen, met in the framework of peace consultations with senior Yemeni negotiators participating in intra-Yemeni talks in Kuwait. Participants discussed their priorities, he tweeted Tuesday.

Kuwait's KUNA news agency reported that the talks dealt mainly with the security arrangements to maintain the cessation-of-hostilities agreement, withdrawal of armed groups, surrender of weaponry, and release of prisoners of war and detainees.

According to the latest figures released by the U.N. human rights office, more than 3,500 people have been killed and nearly 6,300 wounded in Yemen since the beginning of Saudi Arabia's bombing campaign against Houthi rebels about 15 months ago.

A report issued by the U.N. Children's Fund on March 29 put the number of children killed at 900 and the injured at 1,300 during the first year of fighting.

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South Sudan: UN relief wing reports increase in violence against aid workers

15 June 2016  While thousands of vulnerable people in South Sudan have been reached with assistance and protection in recent months, violent incidents against aid workers increased during the month of May, the United Nations humanitarian wing reported today.

According to a humanitarian update for South Sudan, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) found that 78 humanitarian access incidents were reported by partners in May, 73 per cent of which involved violence against aid personnel or their properties. The figure was higher than in April, when 48 incidents were reported, and also higher than the monthly average of 63 incidents reported from January to March.

"Road and river travel for humanitarians continues to be hazardous," OCHA said in the update.

The violent incidents  including shooting, ambushes, assaults, harassment and robberies  increased during May, and included the killing of three humanitarian workers, bringing the reported number of aid workers killed in South Sudan to 55 since the conflict began in December 2013.

Since January, there have been 29 incidents of robberies of vehicles while traveling to assess, deliver and pre-position vital supplies, 13 of them in the month of May. In Upper Nile, humanitarian partners were shot at while attempting to cross the River Nile to deliver humanitarian assistance between Malakal and Wau Shilluk on 26 and 30 May, OCHA said.

In the update, OCHA also reported that nearly 4,500 internally displaced people departed the Bentiu Protection of Civilians site in May, bringing the population in the site to about 95,000 at the end of the month.

Most of those departing  mainly adult men and women  reported that they planned on engaging in farming activities in Rubkona, Guit and Koch counties.

In addition, OCHA said that thousands of people have received humanitarian assistance in Guit, Koch, Mayom and Rubkona counties in recent months, as partners based in Bentiu took advantage of the dry season to extend aid to parts of Unity previously inaccessible by road.

About 103,400 people have been reached with food rations distributed outside the Bentiu Protection of Civilians site  including in Bentiu Town, Ding Ding, Kuach, Nhialdiu, Nimni, Bil, Kadet and Jazeera  since February, while seeds and fishing kits have been provided to about 7,400 households in Guit County and 10,000 in Koch County, OCHA said.

Nutrition surveys have been conducted in Guit and Rubkona in May, and support for acutely malnourished children and pregnant and lactating mothers is ongoing.

OCHA also highlighted that more than one year following the start of the offensive in south and central Unity in April 2015, which displaced hundreds of thousands of people, more than 310,000 people  including displaced, returnees and vulnerable host community members  are receiving humanitarian assistance and protection in southern Unity.

However, humanitarian partners have reported that their activities are increasingly impeded by under-funding. Ganyiel hospital, the only functioning referral theatre in southern Unity, has shortages of regular primary health-care commodities due to logistical constraints and road insecurities. In mid-April, health cluster partners from Bentiu had to send surgical and anaesthetic kits to the hospital, OCHA said.

In addition, OCHA reported that since August 2015, ongoing insecurity and four major outbreaks of fighting have affected Yambio and Gangura. As a result, civilians were displaced multiple times, including to the surrounding jungle areas and other payams.

Moreover, health partners are investigating an outbreak of haemorrhagic fever syndrome that has affected Aweil North and West counties since December 2015. The latest case was detected on 3 June, although no new deaths have been reported since 28 February, OCHA said.

As the rainy season begins, humanitarian partners are also working closely with relevant authorities to avert an outbreak of cholera.

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UN food relief agency to double aid to Niger's conflict-torn Diffa region

15 June 2016  Faced with a new wave of displacement following recent Boko Haram attacks in Niger's south-eastern Diffa region and with needs on the rise, the United Nations food relief agency plans to double its food and nutrition assistance, aiming to gradually increase its life-saving support to more than 250,000 people in Niger's embattled southern region.

In recent days, the World Food Programme (WFP) distributed 15-day emergency food rations to more than 1,400 newly displaced people finding refuge in Diffa town. This week, food assistance is on its way for thousands more newly displaced people at sites between Diffa and Bosso towns, with 157 metric tonnes on the move.

"Tens of thousands of people have been uprooted this past week following what was the deadliest attack since April 2015," said Belkacem Machane, WFP Niger Deputy Country Director. "More than half of them are women and children. These are people who have already been displaced several times due to the violence spilling across the border with Nigeria. They have now reached the end of their rope."

"Many have walked from 10 to 40 kilometres. They are arriving in a state of shock, and urgently need food, shelter, water  assistance with their most basic needs," added Machane.

As the situation of the newly displaced people becomes clearer, WFP plans to continue reaching those most in need in Diffa town and at displaced people's sites at Ngagam, Kintchandi and Garim Wazam.

More than 240,000 people have been displaced in Diffa region. A total of 450,000 people in the region  nearly 70 percent of the population  face hunger. With the onset of the lean season, WFP is concerned that hunger can only deepen.

To date, WFP provided food and nutrition assistance to some 136,000 refugees, displaced people and vulnerable host communities.

Where markets are functioning and food is available, WFP provides cash assistance so that people can buy the food that they need for their families, and also support the local economy. About 40,000 people have been reached with cash assistance. Each family receives 32,500 CFA, or about $54 per month.

"Many displaced people live outside of formal sites in an extremely difficult situation  both they and the local population taking them in need support. A lack of funding has been forcing us to make tough choices as we cannot fully meet their needs," said Machane.

"We are now facing not only the most difficult period of the year  the lean season when food stocks are low  but also the challenges of responding to a significant number of newly displaced people who need urgent life-saving assistance. Current shortfalls have prevented us these past days from providing a full month food ration to the newly displaced people," added Machane.

WFP urgently requires $20 million for the next six months to assist people affected by the Lake Chad crisis.

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Pakistan, Afghanistan Make Efforts to End Border Clashes

by Ayaz Gul June 15, 2016

Pakistan and Afghanistan have made diplomatic, political and military contacts to try to de-escalate days of deadly border skirmishes, although officials said the situation was relatively calm on Wednesday.

The clashes across the busy Torkham crossing erupted last Sunday and officials have since confirmed the killing of four soldiers on both sides while more than 40 people, including civilians, were wounded.

Pakistan army spokesman, Lt-General Asim Bajwa, said Wednesday his country wants an early end to the violence, and both sides are moving in that direction.

"The engagement [between the two countries] is taking place at [the] political, diplomatic and military-to-military level to try to bring an end to the violence as soon as possible," he told a news conference in Rawalpindi where the Pakistan military is headquartered. He added the issue will get resolved but would not say how soon.

On Wednesday, the Afghan parliament also called for resolving the conflict with Pakistan through diplomatic and political means.

The most frequented Torkham crossing has remained closed since the conflict began, stranding thousands of travelers on both sides and halting trade conveys.

Placing blame

Afghanistan and Pakistan blame each other for starting the skirmishes.

Bajwa reiterated Afghan forces began "unprovoked" firing late last Sunday to disrupt construction of a gate by Pakistan at the Torkham crossing. He dismissed allegations the gate is located in the disputed territory and insisted the new facility being built 37-meters inside Pakistani territory would help prevent terrorist and other illegal movements on either side.

"This border management system is going to benefit Afghans equally well. This is good for both the countries. This will check all kind of movement on either side of the border, so this blame game will eventually end. I think this is going to help all of us and we should get there," he told a news conference in Rawalpindi, where the military is headquartered.

Bajwa went on to say that Pakistan plans to construct similar structures at all the eight established border crossings with Afghanistan to address mutual allegations and concerns that militants involved in subversive activities in both countries freely move across the nearly 2,600-kilometer-long so-called Durand Line.

He said that militant incursions from across the Torkham crossing led to some of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Pakistan in recent years.

The Afghan government, which denounced the construction of the gate, has defended military retaliation, saying no new facility could be erected at the border without mutual consent.

The objection stems from historic Afghan disagreement with a frontier that was drawn by former British rulers of the Indian subcontinent.

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A Quick Vanishing Act at an ASEAN Meeting

by Steve Herman June 15, 2016

Now you see it, now you don't.

The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conducted a clumsy variation of the magician's sleight of hand act by issuing a tough joint statement on the South China Sea and then trying to make it quickly disappear.

"Incredible  and not in a good way" is how former U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank Curtis Chin described it.

The retraction "underscores both the high stakes involved in the South China Sea and how much further ASEAN has to go to come together to address some of the most important issues facing the region," Chin told VOA on Wednesday.

"There's something funny there. It's highly unusual," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University, of the quick retraction. "I don't recall it ever happening."

The ASEAN ministers, meeting in Yuxi, in China's Yunnan province, on Monday and Tuesday, took a thinly veiled swipe at their hosts by expressing "serious concern" about rising tensions in the South China Sea.

The statement called for respect for international law amid a Chinese refusal to accept an upcoming Hague Tribunal ruling expected to favor Manila's challenge of Beijing's claims to most of the South China Sea.

Diplomatic sources Wednesday indicated that Chinese officials in private quickly pressured ASEAN to rescind the document after Malaysia's foreign ministry released a copy to the media.

"This appears to be yet another instance of China using blunt diplomatic force to muzzle ASEAN on the South China Sea," a senior diplomat stationed in an ASEAN capital told VOA.

Laos, which this year holds the rotating leadership of ASEAN, has "assured many stakeholders we wouldn't see a repeat of 2012," Thitinan told VOA.

Four years ago Cambodia, also seen as close to China, held the ASEAN chair and the main leaders' summit ended with no communique  the first time that happened in its 45-year history.

However, the South China Sea dispute "in the last four years has intensified to the point it has to be mentioned in any joint statement," said Thitinan. "The ground is really shifting. It's becoming more frictional."

The issuance and retraction reveals further disorganization and discord among the foreign ministers of ASEAN, long criticized as a toothless body for its failure to address and solve key regional issues.

"It would be a violation of diplomatic protocol to issue [a joint statement] unless it's ready," Thitinan explained. "There would be a deliberation and normally ASEAN members would have a read of the statement before it is issued."

ASEAN is based on consensus and any statement by the regional body must be agreed upon by all ten member states.

The foreign ministry of China, which like the United States is a full dialogue partner of ASEAN, denied any official statement had been issued by the regional body at the foreign ministers' meeting it hosted.

The controversy is merely a delusion of foreign reporters, according to the state-run Global Times, in a Wednesday Chinese-language editorial titled: "Asean slapped China in the face over South China Sea? Western media's crazy thoughts."

The newspaper, however, on its English language website on Wednesday, also carried a staff-bylined article headlined: "ASEAN FMs retract sea dispute statement."

"Cooperation between China and ASEAN is far greater than any specific discord, including the South China Sea," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a briefing for reporters.

A spokesperson for Malaysia's foreign ministry tried to explain the surprise retraction by telling reporters "urgent amendments" were needed despite the ASEAN Secretariat having approved the statement's release. However, no revised joint document was issued, while individual states were to release their own statements, according to ASEAN officials.

The foreign ministry of Singapore, which is the ASEAN-China coordinator, did issue a separate statement noting "the serious concerns expressed by ASEAN foreign ministers over the developments" concerning the disputed South China Sea.

Thailand's foreign ministry, queried by correspondents in Bangkok for a statement, said it had "noted the requests" but hours later still had not issued any comment.

The debacle is "a very bad omen and it's going to ratchet up the tensions," between ASEAN and China, predicted professor Thitinan, the veteran ASEAN specialist at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

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DPRK FM Spokesman Blasts U.S. Plan for "Precision Air Raid Operation" against DPRK

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- We will further bolster up in quality and quantity the nuclear deterrence for self-defence in face of the U.S. reckless war moves and thoroughly foil any slightest military provocation of the enemies with the Korean-style mode of merciless counteraction.

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK Wednesday said this in an answer to a question raised by KCNA as regards a plan for "precision air raid operation" against the DPRK.

He noted:

A strategic information consulting company of the U.S. recently worked out and made public a report titled "Military counteraction to the nuclear issue of north Korea".

The five-chapter report envisages "precision air raid operation" against nuclear and military facilities in the DPRK to disenable its nuclear capabilities.

The report chose nuclear facilities in Nyongbyon, construction site of an atomic power plant, uranium mines and enrichment facilities as targets of air raid, and envisions making a simultaneous precision air raid on ballistic missiles of the strategic force, bombers of the air force and facilities of making submarines in the DPRK to destroy them at one blow.

To this end, scores of B-2 nuclear strategic bombers and F-22 stealth fighters loaded with large underground penetration bombs are supposed to be mobilized and several Ohio-class nuclear submarines and destroyers are to launch hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The spokesman said that the open discussion of "precision air raid operation" against the DPRK in the U.S. reveals its undisguised ambition for a war of aggression against the DPRK that has entered an extremely reckless phase.

The publication of the extremely provocative report on precision air raid on nuclear facilities and nuclear force of the DPRK is a clear proof of the fact that the surprise preemptive attack and armed invasion against the DPRK are in the full-dress process of examination and preparation as it is just an extension of the U.S. administration's extreme sanctions and pressure on the DPRK and moves for a nuclear war against it, the spokesman said, and went on:

What should not be overlooked is that the dangerous "war scenario" against the DPRK was made public with the U.S.-south Korea joint military exercises due in upcoming August just at hand.

The gravity of the situation lies in that the U.S. is just about to fight a large-scale war for militarily stifling the DPRK, foreseeing that its "precision air raid operation" will inevitably spill over to an "all-out war".

The U.S. aggressive war moves which are becoming a reality on the Korean peninsula clearly prove once again the validity and the inevitability of the line of the Workers' Party of Korea on simultaneously pushing forward economic construction and the building of nuclear force. -0-

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Leader: Iran to torch JCPOA if US tears it out

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, June 14, IRNA -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei warned the presidential nominees of the US to be careful about what they say, and said that Iran will torch the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) if they tear it out.

'We do not violate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but if the opposite side violates it as the US presidential candidates are threatening to rip it apart, we will burn it if they tear it out,' Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with the heads of the three branches of power, high-ranking officials and different government bodies and armed forces on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan here in Tehran on Tuesday.

Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks came in reaction to the threats by some US presidential hopefuls to scrap last year's nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), between Iran and the G5+1 group of countries, saying the Islamic Republic will strongly respond to any such move.

"I have repeatedly reiterated that the country must grow in power and that we must promote our potentialities," the Supreme Leader pointed out.

'It is only then that Iranian officials can expect the nation to have peace of mind,' he added.

The Iranian leader reiterated that the US failed so far to fulfill a major part of its commitments under the JCPOA.

On the contrary, Iran has abided by its commitments such as abiding by its 20 percent uranium enrichment as well as Fordo and Arak nuclear facilities.

"The other side was duty-bound to lift the sanctions under the JCPOA which it has not done; The banking issues have not been solved; the issue of the insurance of oil tankers is implemented at a limited level," Ayatollah Khamenei said.

"The oil payment and our assets which we have in other countries are not returned to us," the Leader added.

Ayatollah Khamenei underlined that it is a misconception that the Islamic Republic of Iran can come to terms with the US, and said, 'We cannot rely on illusions."

The Supreme Leader said Washington's problem with Iran is the very existence of the Islamic Republic which cannot be negotiated.

'What has the Islamic Republic of Iran done with France? Why Did France play the role of bad police in the nuclear talks and why the Netherlands and Canada are showing hostility to US,' Ayatollah Khamenei argued.

2050**2050

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Spokesman: Iran-US talks just in context of nuclear deal

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, June 15, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari on Wednesday said Iran's talks with the US are just in the context of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

He told IRNA that recent statement of the US state department has been in line with the nuclear deal.

Ansari said, 'Our talks with the American party were only about ways of implementing the JCPOA.'

He said the American party had in the past and on the sidelines of the nuclear talks, under certain occasions voiced its stances on situation of Syria, Iraq and Yemen but no talks were ever held on the issues.

On the meeting of Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif and the US Secretary of State John Kerry in Oslo, he said the meeting was held behind closed doors for 70 minutes and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif raised Iranian complaint about procrastination of the US Department of Treasury for authorizing online dollar-euro exchange and regulating banking ties.

The statement of US department of state said that Kerry emphasized the important role of Iran and its influence with the Syrian government to secure safe passage of the humanitarian aid and the need for honoring truce with the Syrian moderate dissidents.

1420**1416

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Iraqi Security Forces Enter Fallujah

by Carla Babb June 15, 2016

Iraqi security forces are "inside" Fallujah three weeks after launching an offensive to retake the Islamic State-held city, according to a military spokesman for the coalition battling IS in Iraq and Syria.

"They [Iraqis] have a foothold in the southern corner, the southern edge of the city," Col. Chris Garver told Pentagon reporters Wednesday during a teleconference from Baghdad.

Garver said the Iraqis are working to "seize the center" of Fallujah and then fight outward.

The attack inside the city comes as other Iraqi Security Force brigades, Iraqi police, Anbar tribal fighters and Popular Mobilization Units continue the encirclement of the Fallujah, which is needed to prevent Islamic State fighters from reinforcing or resupplying their fighters there.

Multiple Iraqi brigades from four different Iraqi Army divisions are involved in the fight to retake the city. The coalition estimates hundreds of Islamic State fighters remain in Fallujah.

Garver said the fight will become more difficult now that Iraqi Security Forces are within the city. Islamic State fighters have held Fallujah for about two years, giving them time to plant several explosive belts and other traps.

"The meters that you gain become tougher to gain, and they become more significant as you get them," he said.

Fallujah was the first Iraqi city to fall to Islamic State militants in 2014.

There are reports that as many as 40,000 citizens from in and around the city have fled the fighting in recent weeks.

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A photography exhibition presenting the most beautiful sceneries of Poland and China opened on Tuesday in the Polish Academy of Science.

A Polish guest views an exhibition of photos entitled "Beautiful China" in Warsaw, capital of Poland on June 14, 2016. The exhibition showcases more than 40 photos depicting natural and manmade landscapes of China and Poland, as well as friendly exchanges between the two countries. [Photo/Xinhua]

The exhibition features more than 40 pictures of natural landscapes and cultural monuments in both countries. The opening ceremony was attended by guests including Chinese Ambassador to Poland Xu Jian and former marshal of the Senate of the Polish Republic Longin Pastusiak.

"Events such as the exhibition will contribute to mutual understanding and strengthening bilateral ties. Especially now, when the Belt and Road initiative brings new chances for Poland, while both countries share strategic partnership relations," vice minister of the Chinese State Council Information Office Guo Weimin told the opening ceremony.

Wieslaw Klimczak, president of the civil association Polish House, said the exhibition was closely related to the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Poland.

"We hope that the visit of the leader of China in our country will release new incentives to strengthen cooperation based on Polish-Chinese partnership," Klimczak said.

The event was hosted by the State Council Information Office and the Embassy of China in Poland.
NATO deployments will invoke counter measures: Russia

Iran Press TV

Tue Jun 14, 2016 8:43PM

Moscow has vowed to initiate countermeasures against NATO's plans to deploy four battalions close to Russian borders.

The chairman of the defense committee of Russia's State Duma (the lower house of parliament), Vladimir Komoyedov, made the announcement during an interview with the Interfax news agency on Tuesday.

"We certainly decline to be intimidated by the four battalions. These forces are posing no danger for Russia since our army now is different from what we had twenty years ago," added Komoyedov. However, he noted that the increasing NATO military buildup on Russia's borders is alarming.

"The countermeasures that we undertook, undertake and will be undertaking are such as to make it all clear for our partners from the very start," he stressed.

Noose around Russia?

The first deputy chairman of the defense and security committee of the Russian Federation Council believes that the alliance was following US policies in the region.

"NATO will do what the Americans say, and this is why NATO is enlarging eastward as much as possible and is forming a noose around Russia," said Frants Klintsevich (seen below).

He added that the battalions were being deployed as a beachhead for preparing the infrastructure for military activity against Russia.

"Thank God, we have something to answer with. There is a reason why we are saying today that they are preparing this beachhead. As soon as something begins, we have diplomatic, organizational, political and military means for that," he said.

Klintsevich further added that "these four battalions as such don't mean anything to us," however, they fuel false speculations about Russia's aggressiveness that poses "serious danger to us."

Earlier in the day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the alliance will formally approve the deployment of four "robust" multinational battalions in Poland as well as the Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia.

The four battalions, which would tour through Eastern Europe and conduct drills with national troops, are likely to number 2,500-3,000 troops combined with a small force designed to act as a tripwire, according to diplomatic sources.

The deployment, to be formally approved in a July summit in Warsaw, will be led by the United States, Germany, Britain, and possibly Canada.

Stoltenberg also announced that the alliance is to deploy troops to Romania as part of the plans to expand its presence in Eastern Europe.

"We convey a very strong message about that we don't seek confrontation with Russia. We don't want a new cold war and we will continue to strive for a more constructive and cooperative relationship with Russia," he noted.

NATO recently launched its biggest-ever joint maneuvers in Poland  to the west of Russia, a move that was immediately condemned by Russian authorities. NATO also recently launched a missile system installed in European countries, further enraging Russia.

The alliance has also stepped up its military buildup near Russia's borders since it suspended all ties with Moscow in April 2014 after the Black Sea Crimean Peninsula re-integrated into the Russian Federation following a referendum.

Senior officials in Moscow have repeatedly accused NATO of seeking confrontation, describing its military buildup as a security threat to Europe. Russia has also criticized NATO's expansionist policy to include countries in the Western Balkan region, saying the move directly harms Russia's strategic interests in the area.

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What Can UN Do to Get Aid Into Syria?

by Jamie Dettmer June 14, 2016

The contrast couldn't be greater. International aid reached Syrian government-controlled areas in Latakia and Deir ez-Zor provinces Monday and Tuesday. Those aid deliveries came just three days after the government targeted the town of Daraya for airstrikes, hours after U.N. agencies delivered aid to the rebel-held Damascus suburb for the first time in almost four years.

Opposition politicians say if proof was needed that the government of President Bashar al-Assad manipulates aid, here it is. The city of Latakia is not even besieged, they add.

In most wars, combatants wield aid as a weapon, circumscribing humanitarian access to enemy-held territory, hoping hunger will starve resistance into submission and undermine the morale of foes. In no war is this truer than in Syria, where the horror of a vicious conflict has been compounded by aid being held hostage to politics and combat, according to analysts and Western diplomats.

And, for the most part, it is the Assad government that blocks and restricts humanitarian access.

"This is not an accident, but rather part of a deliberate ploy to use human suffering as a strategy of warfare," said James Denselow, an analyst at the Foreign Policy Center, a U.K.-based foreign affairs research organization.

The Dayara aid delivery followed weeks of international negotiations. U.N. agencies and Western governments had been pressing for humanitarian access to more than 19 towns and districts besieged by Assad government forces. Many have not seen any food or humanitarian shipments in years.

The United States and Britain have been among the foremost Western powers pushing for international relief agencies to be granted unimpeded access, stressing the insufficiency of the small amounts of aid the Assad regime has allowed through to rebel-controlled areas since a cessation-of-hostilities deal was struck in February.

Airdrops controversial

Western powers have urged the United Nations to consider airdrops to towns denied aid by Damascus. But the U.N. envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has been reluctant to endorse that approach, arguing that effective aid delivery will need the blessing of the Assad regime. One of the reasons, his officials say, is that airdropped supplies can easily go astray, missing their target and falling into the hands of those who are not the intended recipients.

What befell Dayara after it received a nine-truck convoy of aid Saturday could well make other towns think twice about receiving aid deliveries. Dayara's opposition council described the government's follow-up as a "violent and concentrated bombing" and says it caused "enormous devastation."

What can the United Nations do to ensure Syria's besieged citizens get food, and then don't get bombed by Assad forces after receiving an aid delivery? Not much, U.N. officials concede.

"This is a political issue for political leaders or peacemakers to sort out," Jane Howard, a spokeswoman for the World Food Organization, said in an interview with a German television outlet. "The World Food Program is really left picking up the pieces."

The lack of adequate medical care, food and shelter has added to the death toll and misery that has made Syria the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe this century. More than 4 million Syrians live in hard-to-reach areas and close to 500,000 people live in besieged areas that are on the brink of starvation, the United Nations estimates. Some NGOs calculate the number of starving could be closer to 1 million.

Repeating past patterns

From the start of the conflict six years ago, the Assad government has controlled the distribution of international aid for its own ends, restricting access to war-torn areas, say U.N. officials.

Damascus has refused to permit U.N. agencies or nongovernmental organization partners from moving supplies across the northern border with Turkey or the southern border with Jordan into rebel-held areas on pain that they will be expelled from Damascus.

Even when permission is granted for an aid convoy, the go-ahead is often withdrawn at the last moment.

Opposition activists complain that by abiding by the government's strictures, the United Nations has in effect allowed aid to be used as a weapon of war. Rebel militias, as well as the Islamic State terror group and Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaida's affiliate in Syria, also block aid convoys or want to oversee distribution among local communities they control. But 90 percent of besieged areas are encircled by government forces, seen as the major culprit.

Even before the Daraya bombing, there had been doubts about the credibility of a regime promise earlier this month to allow aid to flow freely to 15 of 19 designated besieged towns and districts.

Before the delivery, Bouthaina Shaaban, an Assad adviser, insisted, "Nobody is starving in Daraya," which was "producing peas and beans, and food and wild berries that is enough for the entire Syria."

Now the focus again is on whether to start airdropping aid to the starving. That is likely to be on the agenda Thursday, when Russian President Vladimir Putin meets U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and de Mistura in St. Petersburg.

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Kerry tells Russia US patience on Assad fate running out

Iran Press TV

Wed Jun 15, 2016 12:52PM

US Secretary of State John Kerry has warned Russia that American patience on the issue of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's future is running out.

"Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable," Kerry said on Wednesday in Oslo, Norway.

"We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition" who have been involved in carrying out violent attacks against Syrian government forces, violating a ceasefire agreement.

Syria is currently observing a ceasefire brokered by Russia and the United States, which entered into force on February 27.

The truce was reached between the Syrian government and dozens of militant groups operating in the country. The ceasefire does not apply to Daesh and al-Nusra Front terrorist groups.

But recently militants have stepped up attacks against government forces, drawing a strong response from Damascus in the city of Aleppo.

"It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place. We know that, we have no illusion," Kerry said.

"This is a critical moment and we are working very, very hard to see if we can in the next week or two come to an agreement that has a capacity to more fully implement a ceasefire across the country and deliver humanitarian access in a way that then provides for a genuine opportunity to bring people to the table and start talking about a transition," Kerry said.

"I'm not going to make any promises to be delivered on but I do believe the conversation I had with Zarif indicates to me possibilities for how this could be achieved," he said, after meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

The 70-minute closed-door talks between the two diplomats in a downtown Oslo hotel on Wednesday also touched upon Iran's complaints that it's not getting the sanctions relief it deserves under the nuclear agreement it reached earlier this year with the 5+1 group of countries.

US officials have frequently warned of consequences if Assad, Syria's democratically elected president, refused to step down as part of a broader peace agreement to end the five-year conflict.

Last month, Kerry warned the Syrian president of the consequences of a new US approach if he does not accept a political transition in the next few months.

"The target date for the transition is 1st of August," Kerry told reporters at the State Department on May 3.

"So we're now coming up to May. So either something happens in these next few months, or they are asking for a very different track," he added.

Since March 2011, the United States and its regional allies, in particular Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, have been conducting a proxy war against the Syrian people and government.

The years-long conflict has left more than 470,000 Syrians dead and half of the country's population of about 23 million displaced within or beyond the Arab country's borders.

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German, French special forces in Syria 'an aggression'

Iran Press TV

Wed Jun 15, 2016 11:23AM

The Syrian government says French and German forces are present in northern Syria, condemning it as an act of "aggression."

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday French and German forces are deployed to Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobani, and Manbij alongside US military personnel.

"Syria ... considers it explicit and unjustified aggression towards its sovereignty and independence," the official SANA news agency quoted the ministry as saying.

Foreign forces are aiding Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) near Manbij and Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, part of the SDF, in Ain al-Arab, characterizing the aid as part of an offensive against Daesh.

The ministry said any side "wishing to fight against terrorists must coordinate its moves with the legitimate Syrian government, whose army and people are fighting terrorism" across the country.

"Such presence under the pretext of fighting terrorism cannot elude any one," it added.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said French special forces were building a base for themselves near Ain al-Arab.

France's defense minister said last week that there were also special forces operating in Syria helping the SDF advance towards Manbij.

Berlin, however, was quick to deny the presence of German special forces in Syria.

"There are no German special forces in Syria. The accusation is false," a spokesman at the Germany's Defense Ministry said.

The Observatory, however, said German, French and American military advisers, and French and American special forces, were assisting the SDF.

Their presence has raised growing suspicion that the US and Europe are assisting a Kurdish campaign to establish a separate state in Syria.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Turkey would not allow cooperation with terrorist organizations in Syria, referring to Kurdish groups which the US supports.

Ankara and Washington have long been at loggerheads over the role of the US-backed Syrian Kurdish militia.

Turkey says the fighters are a terrorist organization affiliated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) but the US sees them as a partner in Syria operations.

In a speech to his ruling AK Party in parliament, Yildirim said Turkey won't allow formation of new states in Syria.

Syria is currently fighting foreign-backed militants such as Daesh and al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front on several fronts, including in Aleppo which borders Turkey.

On Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fierce battles between government forces and Takfiri terrorists in Aleppo had left 70 fatalities in less than 24 hours.

The monitor said Syrian forces retook the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa to the southwest of the Aleppo city after losing control of them hours earlier.

The area overlooks the government supply road around the south of Aleppo, linking government-held Nayrab airport to the city's southeast and areas controlled by government forces to its west.

The Syrian daily al-Watan said Russian fighter jets resumed their missions in Aleppo, targeting positions of al-Nusra Front and allied forces on Wednesday.

Moscow launched airstrikes against Daesh and other terrorist groups in Syria on September 30 upon a request from the Damascus government.

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Erdogan sends first letter to Putin since Su-24 downing

Iran Press TV

Tue Jun 14, 2016 8:44PM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sent a congratulatory letter to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia's National Day in the first such contact since bilateral relations hit a low after Ankara downed a Russian fighter jet in November last year.

"Dear Mr. President. On behalf of the Turkish people, I celebrate the National Day of the Russian people. I also hope that relations between Russia and Turkey reach the level they deserve in the near future," Erdogan told Putin in the letter to the Russian president, Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News reported.

Russia's Sputnik news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Monday that "the letter came through the Foreign Ministry channels."

Earlier in the day, an unnamed Turkish official confirmed that Erdogan had sent the letter to the Russian leader marking the country's national day on June 12.

The Turkish official described the letter as "a token of Turkey's goodwill", and expressed hope that Moscow would demonstrate "a responsible and constructive" reaction.

He added that a similar letter was also sent by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim to his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev on June 12.

"I hope that the cooperation and relations between our countries reach the level necessary for the common goals of our people soon. I wish health and prosperity to all Russians on behalf of you," Yildirim was quoted as saying by the Turkish daily.

Erdogan's post-November 24 letters, such as the one offering condolences over a fatal Flydubai plane crash in Rostov-on-Don in March, had only addressed the Russian nationals in general and not Putin, according to Russian media.

Tensions between Moscow and Ankara sharply escalated on November 24, 2015, when Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 fighter jet over Syria, claiming that it had entered Turkish airspace, an accusation strongly rejected by Moscow.

Of the two pilots aboard the warplane, one was rescued with the help of the Syrian army, but the other was killed by militants fighting the Syrian government.

Following the incident, Russia suspended all military deals with Turkey and imposed a number of economic sanctions on the country.

Earlier this month, Moscow said Turkey should apologize and compensate for downing the Russian aircraft if it wants to mend bilateral ties, adding that Ankara has taken "no steps" yet toward redressing its "aggressive and treacherous acts."

Peskov said the Russian side "expects apology, explanations of reasons of the incident and payment of compensation for the downed jet and also compensation to the family of the killed pilot."

'Rupture point'

In comments carried by Hurriyet, the Turkish president said although the shooting down of the Russian plane in November had brought bilateral relations to a "rupture point", he hoped ties would restore "in a short time".

"With Putin, we brought bilateral ties to a very advanced level. Our trade volume with Russia was much more than that with America... It is saddening to see such strong ties reach the current state," he said on June 11, adding, "I hope our relations will recover in a short time and we'll get back to our old days again with new vigor."

Surveillance flights

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry has allowed Turkish and Finnish experts to perform unarmed surveillance flights over the Russian territory.

According to Turkey's Daily Sabah, Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Monday that the flights can be performed between June 13 and 17 in accordance with the Open Skies Treaty.

Under the 2002 treaty, Turkey, Russia and 32 other signatories are obliged to allow unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of the treaty's participants. Such flights are meant to gather information about military forces and activities of concern to the member states aimed at boosting mutual understanding and confidence.

The permit, seen as a possible sign of rapprochement, was granted only four months after Sergey Ryzhkov, the chairman of the Russian Defense Ministry's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, said Turkey had breached the treaty by refusing to allow a Russian surveillance plane to overfly its territory near Syria without any prior warning.

"We are not going to leave without proper attention and relevant reaction violations of the Open Skies Treaty on the part of the Turkish Republic," the Russian official warned at the time.

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced that it will auction two lots of 100MHz in the 3.5GHz spectrum band as it looks to accelerate 5G deployment in the country.
Dance opera Faxian debuted in Beijing, featuring the journey of famous monk Faxian, from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), June 11, 2016. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Dance opera Faxian debuted in Beijing on June 11, featuring the journey of famous monk Faxian, from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420).

As the earliest pioneer, who traveled via both the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road, 62 year-old Faxian started his journey from Chang'an (now Xi'an in Shaanxi province). He was on a mission to collected completed texts due to the loss of Buddhist scriptures in AD 399. In his 14-year trip, Faxian passed more than 30 countries. He went back to China on the Maritime Silk Road and completed the book Fo Guo Ji, based on his travel.

Most of the drama happens on a big ship he travelled on to return to China. The opera aims to materialize the spirit of Faxian through music and modern dances.

The production team spent two years creating the opera, basing it on the descriptions in Fo Guo Ji.

After the premier in Beijing, the opera will be staged in Qingdao in Shandong province on July 29-30. The national tour will follow.

The dance opera is a work inspired by China's Belt and Road Initiative.
CHATHAM  After the gun fired, Pittsylvania County sheriffs deputy Nicholas Samuels felt that he was bleeding from the head.

The accused shooter, Brian Bradfield Cundiff, 37, of Keeling, went before a Pittsylvania County General District judge for a preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon. Cundiff is charged with attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer, malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

The case was certified to the Pittsylvania County Circuit Court grand jury.

Samuels testified in court that he went to 129 Blair Lane on the evening of April 26 to respond to a domestic situation. According to a Pittsylvania County General District Court criminal complaint, Cundiffs father stated his son had a shotgun and had shot his cellphone.

Samuels and deputy Matt Reynolds went to the residence and met with the father, who told them my son had a shotgun, according to video played in court from Samuels body camera.

The deputies took for cover, with Samuels going behind a white truck parked in the driveway.

Samuels said in court he saw a man with a long gun in the house, who later fired a round at the ground  not at the deputies. Reynolds ordered the suspect to drop the gun, and Samuels hollered Cundiffs name.

Another shot rang out.

The top right of Samuels head was grazed by a pellet from the shotgun, Samuels testified in court.

Officer shot, Reynolds was heard saying to dispatch on the video from his body camera.

Cundiff would later barricade himself inside his house for hours. The sheriffs office S.W.A.T. team and deputies, as well as Virginia State Police troopers helped apprehend Cundiff in the early morning of April 27.

In his motion to strike, Cundiffs defense attorney, Elmer Woodward, said the deputies approached the house without properly identifying themselves as law enforcement.

No lights, no siren, no this is the police, Woodard said. There was not any inkling that there were any police officers down there.

Seeing as how he just shot at his dad, maybe Cundiffs intended target was his father and not the police, Woodard said.

Pittsylvania County Commonwealths Attorney Bryan Haskins said in response to Woodward that the deputies arrived to the house driving marked vehicles and wearing uniforms.

[Cundiff] saw them running to the house and went back into the house, Haskins said. Then, a shotgun blast hit Samuels.

Samuels was treated at Danville Regional Medical Center and later released.
Alcoa will invest $8.59 million in Henry County to expand its aerospace forging capabilities, adding 15 new jobs in the process.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the expansion at a press conference at the Henry County Administration Building on Tuesday. It was the first of two economic development announcements made at the conference, followed by the announcement that Performance Livestock and Feed Company Inc. will invest $4.2 million to establish operations in Henry County.

Today is not only a great day for Henry County, its a great day for southside Virginia as well as the entire commonwealth of Virginia, McAuliffe said. Im here today to make two economic development announcements. This is the first time, I think, that weve had the honor of doing two at the same location.  I am proud to announce that Alcoa will invest $8.59 million to expand its manufacturing operations here in Henry County. We love to see expansions, because it means theyre here to stay, and theyre here to grow. This announcement today will create 15 new jobs, which will be paying above the average prevailing wage, and thats important.

Alcoa is a global leader in lightweight metals technology, he said, with more than 60,000 employees in 200 locations across 30 countries.

It has been a pioneer in the aluminum industry for more than 125 years, McAuliffe said. The Henry County facility will now produce some of the largest, most complex aerospace components available.  Alcoa will now produce 3D-printed titanium, specialty metals, plastic parts for aerospace, medical and energy applications, all of the needs that are growing dramatically around the globe.

Joe Piccioni, Vice President of Alcoas Titanium and Engineered Products segment, said that the aerospace industry his company serves is in the midst of a boom.

The expansion in Martinsville will double our capability here and enable us to grow with our customers, which are largely aerospace customers in a market that is booming, he said. Our customers in commercial aerospace have a nine-year backlog for orders. Its unprecedented growth, and were part of that growth.  Our investment here in Martinsville is not only a sign of our customers commitment to Alcoa, but a sign of our commitment to this community and to growing right here in this county.

Alcoa is pleased to work with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation and the Commonwealth of Virginia to bring new jobs and new opportunities to the region, Eric Roegner, President of Alcoa Titanium and Engineered Products, said in a press release. Through this investment, we are positioning Alcoa to capture profitable growth and create greater sustainable value for our customers, employees and shareholders.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation to secure the project for Virginia. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $80,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds (TROF). The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

At the press conference, Tobacco Commission representative Don Merricks presented Piccioni with the $80,000 in TROF funds.

I love to read Mark Twain, Merricks said. Mark Twain said, Its not what we dont know that gets us in trouble, its what we know for sure that just isnt so. I think about that, because a lot of people think that Martinsville and Henry County have nothing to offer. I hear that all the time. But you know and I know that just isnt so.

According to a release, Alcoas new investment in Henry County will add a new grinder and two new forge furnaces, doubling the facilitys forging capacity. Alcoa expects to complete the expansion by the end of this year.

Other speakers at the event included Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones, Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation President/CEO Mark Heath and Henry County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jim Adams.

The Governor has been at work now for almost 30 months now, and he has prioritized economic development as the number one priority that hes pursuing, Jones said. The results are in, and theyre fabulous. We recently announced that Virginia has a 3.9 percent unemployment rate. That is the lowest unemployment rate Virginia has experienced since June of 2008. It is the lowest unemployment rate of all states in the southeastern United States.  He has had 700 economic development announcements to the tune of $11.2 billion in capital investment.  That is by far the highest amount of capital investment in the commonwealth in the history of any governor in that period of time.
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Many fans are sighing over Daniel Wu's "ugliest" role in history in the film Warcraft, but they may find more to enjoy in his role in the upcoming sci-fi action Sky on Fire.

Daniel Wu. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Wu played a green-skinned, slouch orc villain in Warcraft, which has raked in around 1 billion yuan ($152 million) after its fifth day of release.

Now, starring as a head bodyguard in the new movie, Wu returns to his familiar zone.

Set about 10 years in the future, Sky on Fire offers a storyline in which scientists successfully develop a new medicine to prolong the human life span. But the medicine is stolen and Wu's character is involved into the crime.

A martial arts practitioner, Wu handled most of the action sequences without using stand-ins.

"I broke my nose the second day," he recalls in a news conference during the 2016 Shanghai International Film Festival.

However, Wu says his biggest concern was not his nose but whether he could continue working in the directorial work of Ringo Lam.

Lam has directed a small number of films, around 10, in a career spanning for more than 30 years. He is known for breathtaking action films, and Sky on Fire marks his return to directing after a seven-year break.

Most of the photography was shot in a 35-story skyscraper in Hong Kong.

In addition to Wu, the celebrity cast includes Chinese mainland actress Zhang Jingchu, Taiwan actress Amber Kuo and Taiwan actor Chang Hsiao-chuan.

The feature is set for a national release during the 2017 Spring Festival holiday.

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Performance Livestock and Feed Company Inc. will invest $4.2 million to establish a feed production operation facility in Henry County, adding 32 new jobs.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the new facility at a press conference at the Henry County Administration Building on Tuesday. It was the second of two economic development announcements made at the conference, preceded by the announcement that Alcoa will invest $8.59 million in Henry County to expand its aerospace forging capabilities in the county.

The new Performance Livestock and Feed facility will be established at the former American Furniture plant on Redd Level Plant Road.

Agriculture is a big deal, McAuliffe said. Its something that I talk about every single day. Its a huge driver of the Virginia economy.  Agriculture contributes $52 billion annually to our economy and is responsible for over 311,000 jobs here in Virginia.  This new facility in Henry County will create 32 new jobs and benefit our local grain producers, as Performance has committed to buying nearly $11 million of Virginia-grown grain and feed ingredients over the next three years.

Jason Pendleton, President of Performance Livestock and Feed, said that his father established the company in North Carolina in 1980, and he has worked side-by-side with his father for nearly 20 years.

The reason for our growth and expansion in Henry County is that I got tired of telling people No, Pendleton said. We built a new plant in Lawsonville (N.C.) in 2005, and the moment that plant opened, it was at capacity.  I heard somebody say  youre either growing or youre dying, theres no third direction in business. We have made a conscious decision to grow, and were going to do it here in Henry County.

Other speakers at the event included Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Todd Haymore, Virginia Tobacco Commission representative Don Merricks, Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corporation President/CEO Mark Heath and Henry County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jim Adams.

I have had the honor and privilege over a 25 year career in both the private and public sectors to work directly with three governors and work indirectly with another four, Haymore told the crowd. I can tell you without hesitation and without question that (Gov. McAuliffe) is the most committed and passionate about economic development, job creation, global trade  as any governor among the seven I just referenced and probably in the history of this great commonwealth.

We have literally traveled the globe, dozens and dozens of countries, to sell our agricultural products, so matter what they may be, McAuliffe said. In March, I announced that in Virginia, agriculture exports had totaled $3.19 billion. Our volumes are consistently up. When I was inaugurated, I promised that I would make Virginia the east coast capitol for agriculture exports; we were in third place, and we have just moved into second place.

North Carolina now is in third place, McAuliffe said, and Virginia now only lags behind Georgia.

Virginia is partnering with Henry County and Performance Livestock and Feed on this project through the Governors Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. To help secure the project for Virginia, McAuliffe approved a $100,000 grant from the AFID (Governors Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development) Fund, which Henry County is matching with local funds.

The company was also awarded a grant from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. Funding and services to support the companys employee training activities will also be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. The company is also receiving Job Creation and Real Property Investment Grants through the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

Based in North Carolina, Performance Livestock and Feed provides customers from Florida to Michigan with feed for cattle, horse and other livestock. Each of its more than 50 products uses a mixture of traditional and nontraditional ingredients to create scientifically tested, high performance animal feed. The companys new production operation will be served by rail, allowing the company to make bulk purchases of key feed ingredients and creating cost savings for customers.

The two announcements today are two very diverse industries, Adams said. You cant hardly get any farther apart than cows and jets. This demonstrates that our economy is improving and our community is poised for great things.
PERTH, Jun 14, 2016 - Mawson West Ltd. (TSX:MWE) ("Mawson" or the "Company") wishes to announce that the ordinary share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") issued by the Company to Galena Private Equity Resources Fund LP ("Galena") on March 2, 2016 in connection with the provision of a US$20.0 million interest free, secured loan (the "Loan") on the same date from Galena to Mawson's subsidiary, Anvil Mining Congo SA ("Anvil"), have been exercised in part.To date, Anvil has drawn down US$12.0 million, or 60%, of the Loan. In accordance with the terms of the Warrants, Galena has exercised 60% of the Warrants to acquire 1,646,520,000 ordinary shares of the Company at the Warrant exercise price of C$0.01 per share for gross proceeds to Mawson of C$16,465,200. Galena continues to hold Warrants exercisable to acquire a balance of 1,097,680,000 ordinary shares of the Company at the exercise price of C$0.01 per share until December 31, 2017.The proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants have been applied and set-off against the US$12.0 million drawn down under the Loan to date and such amount has been repaid and satisfied in full as a result. The balance of proceeds has been used to repay an additional US$569,534 of debt owed to Galena under previous loans.The exercise of the Warrants follows the receipt of disinterested shareholder approval for the issuance of the ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants at the shareholders meeting of the Company held on May 31, 2016.The Loan and the issuance of the Warrants and underlying ordinary shares upon exercise of the Warrants constitute related party transactions for purposes of Canadian Multilateral Instrument 61-101 as Galena is an insider of Mawson, having owned 579,530,761 ordinary shares of Mawson, representing approximately 77.1% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company prior to the provision of the Loan and the issuance and exercise of the Warrants. The Company is relying upon the "financial hardship" exemption to the valuation and minority approval requirements under MI 61-101 in relation to the Loan and the issuance of the Warrants, and the Company's independent directors have determined that the Company is in serious financial difficulty, the transaction is designed to improve the financial position of the Company, and the terms of the transaction are reasonable in the circumstances of the Company. The Company is also relying on the "financial hardship" exemption to the valuation requirement under MI 61-101 in relation to the issuance of the underlying ordinary shares upon exercise of the Warrants. As noted above, however, such issuance was subject to disinterested shareholder approval and the Company also obtained an independent expert's report in connection with seeking such approval.As noted above, Galena (whose address is Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, South Church Street, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-1104, Cayman Islands) acquired ownership and control of 1,646,520,000 ordinary shares of Mawson upon exercise of the Warrants, representing approximately 68.0% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Mawson post-exercise. As a result, Galena now owns and controls a total of 2,244,050,761 ordinary shares of Mawson, representing approximately 92.7% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Mawson.Galena continues to hold Warrants exercisable to acquire a balance of 1,097,680,000 ordinary shares of the Company at the exercise price of C$0.01 per share until December 31, 2017. In the event that Galena exercises these Warrants, it would have ownership and control over 3,341,730,761 ordinary shares of Mawson West, representing approximately 95.0% of the ordinary shares of Mawson West post-warrant exercise.In addition, Galena holds previously issued warrants of Mawson exercisable to acquire 83,333,334 ordinary shares of Mawson (the "2014 Warrants"). In the event that Galena exercises the 2014 Warrants, it would have ownership and control over 3,425,064,095 ordinary shares of Mawson, representing approximately 95.1% of the ordinary shares of Mawson post-warrant exercise.Galena acquired these securities for investment purposes. As a result of the exercise of the Warrants resulting in Galena owning more than 90% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the Company, Galena intends to consider alternatives for taking Mawson private, including the possible acquisition of all of the ordinary shares of the Company not owned by it pursuant to compulsory acquisition provisions available under Australian corporate law. In addition, subject to applicable law, Galena may in the future acquire or dispose of securities of the Company, through the market, privately or otherwise, as circumstances or market conditions warrant. A copy of the early warning report required to be filed by Galena with applicable securities commissions in connection with this acquisition will be available for viewing under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and a copy of the early warning report may be obtained by contacting media relations for Galena, at +41 (0) 22 592 4528 or media@galena-invest.com.Mawson West is a copper and silver-focused resource company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and based in Perth, Australia.The Company's two key projects are the Dikulushi copper-silver mine and the Kapulo copper mine located in the South Eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), both of which are currently on care and maintenance. Mawson West also has a significant land holding of approximately 7,300kmin the DRC's rich copper belt.Galena Private Equity Resources Fund LP is a US$400 million closed end Cayman Islands limited partnership designed to invest in the natural resources sector. Galena is managed by Galena Asset Management S.A., a Switzerland based fund manager operated by independent specialist management as part of the Trafigura Group. Galena seeks to draw on the commodity, metals and mining and technical expertise of the Trafigura Group, investing in late stage and producing assets in a variety of jurisdictions and commodities around the globe.This news release contains certain "forward looking statements". These statements reflect management's current beliefs with respect to future events and are based on information currently available to management of the Company. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including (without limitation) the risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form and other public filings (copies of which may be obtained at www.sedar.com). The results or events depicted in these forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results or events. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this press release.Anthony Lloyd, Non-Executive Chairman and Acting CEO+61 8 9389 2111alloyd@mawsonwest.com
TORONTO, June 14, 2016 /CNW/ - Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX: WDO) (the "Company") announces the results of the Company's postponed annual general meeting held today.

There were 90,066,171 common shares, representing 75.88% of the total issued and outstanding shares, voted at the meeting. Excluding the withhold votes cast by Resolute Fund, each director who was elected received approximately 80% or above support.

The following six individuals were elected as directors of the Company, until the next annual meeting of shareholders, as set out in the table below:

Name of Nominee Votes cast FOR % of votes cast FOR Votes cast WITHHELD % of votes cast WITHHELD Duncan Middlemiss 85,174,493 94.76 4,712,778 5.24 Nadine Miller 89,339,381 99.39 547,890 0.61 Charles Page 48,608,636 54.08 41,278,635 45.92 Barry Smith 83,561,314 92.96 6,325,957 7.04 Rowland Uloth 86,309,351 96.02 3,577,920 3.98 Bill Washington 55,555,375 61.81 34,331,896 38.19

In addition, Grant Thornton LLP, Chartered Accountants, were re-appointed as the Company's auditors for the ensuing year. Please refer to the Company's Report of Voting Results filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for detailed results.

ABOUT WESDOME

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. is in its 28th year of continuous gold mining operations in Canada. The Company is currently producing gold at the Eagle River Complex located near Wawa, Ontario from the Eagle River and Mishi gold mines. The Company's goal is to expand current operations at both mines over the next four years through mill expansion and exploration. The Company has significant upside through ownership of its two other properties, the Kiena Mine Complex in Val d'Or, Quebec and the Moss Lake gold deposit located 100 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, Ontario. These assets are being explored and evaluated to be developed in the appropriate gold price environment. The Company has approximately 129 million shares issued and outstanding which trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WDO".

This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the future financial or operating performance of the Company and its projects. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances, management's estimates or opinions should change, except as required by securities legislation. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
CARDSTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Jun 14, 2016) - American Creek Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:AMK) ("American Creek") is pleased to announce that it has now completed the sale to Tudor Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:TUD) ("Tudor") of certain of its interests in the Electrum property and the Treaty Creek property, both of which are located in the "Golden Triangle" in NW British Columbia (refer to our previous news release dated May 11, 2016).

Pursuant to a joint venture agreement entered into with Tudor, American Creek sold an undivided 60% interest in its Electrum property in consideration for 1,000,000 Tudor shares and the payment of $500,000 cash. Tudor also invested $250,000 into American Creek by way of a private placement under which American Creek issued 3,125,000 shares at a price of $0.08 per share to Tudor. All shares issued under this agreement are subject to both a 4 month statutory/regulatory hold period as well as a voluntary hold period which expires May 10, 2017. A 60/40 joint venture has now been formed and Tudor is the operator of the project.

Pursuant to a separate joint venture agreement entered into with Tudor and Teuton Resources Corp. ("Teuton"), American Creek sold an undivided 31% interest in its Treaty Creek property to Tudor in consideration for 500,000 Tudor shares. A joint venture has now been formed with Tudor holding a 60% interest and each of American Creek and Teuton holding a 20% interest in the joint venture. Both American Creek's and Teuton's 20% interests are fully carried during the exploration period until a production notice is given. Thereafter, each will be responsible for 20% of the costs under and subject to the terms of the joint venture. Tudor is the operator of the project. Under the terms of the agreement, Tudor has agreed to complete a minimum of $1,000,000 in exploration expenditures on the Treaty Creek property during 2016. All shares issued under this agreement are subject to both a 4 month statutory/regulatory hold period as well as a voluntary one year hold period.

Darren Blaney, American Creek's CEO, states: "We are pleased to have closed these two JV transactions with Walter Storm's Tudor Gold Corp. We are very much looking forward to the advancement of both the Treaty Creek and Electrum projects."

The Treaty Creek property is located immediately adjacent to, and on geological trend with Seabridge Gold's KSM project and north of the Pretivm Resources Brucejack project. The Sulphurets Thrust Fault, which has been identified by BC government geologists as being related to all of Seabridge's KSM property gold-copper deposits, continues northeast through the Treaty Creek property.

The Electrum property is located approximately 45km north of Stewart, British Columbia, near past operating mines including the Riverside, Scotty Gold, Granduc, Big Missouri and Silbak-Premier. The Electrum is road accessible and is only 45km from recently upgraded concentrate shipping port facilities located in Stewart. A new electrical power line currently being constructed by Pretivm Resources runs right up the valley beside the Electrum project and may provide a future source of power. The Electrum property encompasses the historic East Gold Mine which has produced extremely high grades of gold, silver and electrum in the past, over 25 years of small-scale hand mining. Past work completed by American Creek has identified several areas on the property which contain very high grade gold and silver vein systems.

About American Creek

American Creek Resources Ltd. is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral deposits within the Province of British Columbia, Canada.

Further information relating to American Creek is available on its website at www.americancreek.com

This press release was prepared by management who takes full responsibility for its contents. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the Company's management discussion and analysis filed with applicable Canadian securities regulators, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - June 15, 2016) -

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Mkango Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:MKA) (the "Corporation" or "Mkango"), a mineral exploration company focused on the Songwe Hill Rare Earths Project in the Republic of Malawi, is pleased to announce that trading in its shares will commence at 8.00am BST today on the AIM market ("AIM") of the London Stock Exchange. Mkango will trade on AIM under the ticker symbol MKA.L. In conjunction with admission to AIM, the Corporation has completed its previously announced placing to raise gross proceeds of 1 million (approximately C$1.8 million) (the "Placing"). Under the terms of the Placing, the Corporation has issued 30,303,030 units (the "Units") at a price of 3.3 pence per Unit. The Corporation's Admission Document, dated 31 May 2016 and prepared in connection with the admission to AIM, is available under the Corporation's profile at www.sedar.com and on its website at www.mkango.ca.

William Dawes, Chief Executive of Mkango, stated:

"We are very pleased to announce the successful AIM listing and placing, which together with our listing on TSX-V, provides the company with a strong platform moving forward. Over the last five years, Mkango has advanced the Songwe Hill rare earth project in Malawi from an early stage exploration target to an updated pre-feasibility in November 2015 (NPV 10 US$345 million), and is now one of the very few listed rare earth companies globally with an advanced stage rare earth project, and the only focused rare earth company listed on the London Stock Exchange."

"Based on extensive benchmarking and industry analysis, I am confident that Mkango has the potential to be a future low capex, lowest cost quartile, sustainable producer of rare earths, thereby providing a strong foundation for entering into partnerships, marketing and offtake arrangements."

"Approximately 50% of global rare earth demand is attributable to clean technologies so we are well positioned to benefit from global growth in this sector, for example hybrid and electric vehicles, wind power and catalytic convertors. Furthermore, in terms of other rare earth applications, we anticipate China, India and emerging economies to fuel a long-term surge in consumer technology demand growth."

"Our shareholders can continue to expect regular communication on developments relating to the company, the rare earths market and Malawi, and we intend to maintain a transparent and clear line of communication with the market."

The Placing

Each Unit consists of one common share of the Corporation (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one Common Share at a price of 6.6 pence for a period of 3 years following the closing date of the Placing.

If the closing price of the Common Shares on AIM exceeds 19.8 pence for at least 20 consecutive trading days following the date that is four months after the date of issuance of the Warrants, the Corporation shall have the right, exercisable within three business days thereafter, to accelerate the expiry of the Warrants to 20 business days after the issuance of a news release announcing the new expiry date.

The expected proceeds of the Placing will provide the Corporation with sufficient working capital for a period of one and a half years from completion of the Placing.

SP Angel is Nominated Advisor and Broker in relation to the admission to AIM, and Jub Capital was placing agent for the Placing. A cash commission of 100,000 was paid in connection with the Placing.

Jub Capital will be paid a corporate advisory fee satisfied by the issuance of 333,333 Common Shares.

The securities issued in connection with the Placing, will be subject to the applicable four month hold periods in Canada, in accordance with applicable securities laws and the rules of the TSX-V.

Pre-Feasibility Study

In November 2015, Mkango announced the results of an updated Pre-feasibility study for the Songwe Hill rare earth project:

After-tax net present value (NPV 10% ) of US$345 million and after-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 37%

) of US$345 million and after-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 37% Initial Capex of US$216 million, including a contingency of US$20 million, remains among the lowest in the rare earth sector

The press release in relation to the Pre-feasibility Study is available to be downloaded from Mkango's website via the following link: http://www.mkango.ca/i/pdf/nr/NR-2015-11-09.pdf. The Technical Report is available to be downloaded from Mkango's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and is also included in the Admission Document.

Stock Options

Subject to regulatory approval, Mkango has granted a total of 6,650,000 new stock options ("Options") to directors and officers of the Corporation. The Options have an exercise price of C$0.06 per common share, will vest over the next two years and are valid for a period of 10 years from the date of grant. Mkango also accepted for cancellation 1,969,999 existing options, as adjusted for the previously announced consolidation, held by directors and officers of the Corporation.

About Mkango Resources Ltd.

Mkango's primary business is the exploration for rare earth elements and associated minerals in the Republic of Malawi, a country whose hospitable people have earned it a reputation as "the warm heart of Africa". Mkango holds, through its wholly owned subsidiary Lancaster Exploration Limited, a 100% interest in two exclusive prospecting licenses in southern Malawi.

The main exploration target in the Phalombe licence is the Songwe Hill rare earth deposit, which features carbonatite hosted rare earth mineralisation and was subject to previous exploration in the late 1980s and for which Mkango completed an updated Pre-feasibility study in November 2015 as discussed above.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, without limiting the foregoing, delays in obtaining financing or governmental or stock exchange approvals.

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Corporation disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law. Additionally, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any equity or other securities of the Corporation in the United States. The securities of the Corporation will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold within the United States to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS RESTRICTED AND IS NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA OR TO BE TRANSMITTED, DISTRIBUTED TO, OR SENT BY, ANY NATIONAL OR RESIDENT OR CITIZEN OF ANY SUCH COUNTRIES OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION MAY CONTRAVENE LOCAL SECURITIES LAWS OR REGULATIONS.

This announcement does not constitute or form part of an offer to sell or issue or a solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy any securities nor should it be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. Investors should not purchase or subscribe for any transferable securities referred to in this announcement except on the basis of the information in the admission document (the "Admission Document") published by Mkango Resources plc in connection with the admission of its shares of no par value ("Shares") to trading on AIM, a market operated by London Stock Exchange plc ("Admission"). Copies of the Admission Document are available under the Corporation's profile at www.sedar.com, on its website at www.mkango.ca and at the offices of SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP, Prince Frederick House, 35-39 Maddox Street, London W1S 2PP free of charge for inspection during normal business hours on any weekday (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excepted) for at least one month after Admission.
OTTAWA, Jun 15, 2016 - Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. ("Cornerstone" or "the Company") (TSX VENTURE:CGP) (OTCBB:CTNXF) (FRANKFURT:GWN)(BERLIN:GWN) announces that the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the granting of annual stock options totaling 3.2 million to directors, officers, consultants and employees of the Company effective June 14, 2016. These options have been priced at $0.05 and have an expiry date of June 13, 2021. As per the Company's approved Stock Option Plan, these options vest in three equal tranches over an eighteen-month period from the date of issue.

About Cornerstone:

Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. is a well-funded mineral exploration company with a diversified portfolio of projects in Ecuador and Chile, and a proven ability to identify, acquire and advance properties of merit. The company's business model is based on generating exploration projects whose subsequent development is funded primarily through partnerships.

Further information is available on Cornerstone's website www.cornerstoneresources.com and on Twitter.

Cautionary Notice:

This news release may contain 'Forward-Looking Statements' that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of Cornerstone's plans, objectives, strategies, intentions and expectations. The words "potential," "anticipate," "forecast," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "may," "project," "plan," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify 'Forward-Looking Statements.' Although Cornerstone believes that its expectations reflected in these 'Forward-Looking Statements' are reasonable, such statements may involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our regulatory filings, viewed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets, predicting natural geological phenomena and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of an environmental, climatic, natural, political, economic, business, competitive, or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes the facts and information contained in this news release to be as correct and current as possible, Cornerstone does not warrant or make any representation as to the accuracy, validity or completeness of any facts or information contained herein and these statements should not be relied upon as representing its views subsequent to the date of this news release. While Cornerstone anticipates that subsequent events may cause its views to change, it expressly disclaims any obligation to update the Forward-Looking Statements contained herein except where outcomes have varied materially from the original statements.

On Behalf of the Board,

Brooke Macdonald, President and CEO







Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.







For investor, corporate or media inquiries:



Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc.

Investor Relations

(613) 421-6923

ir@cornerstoneresources.ca

www.cornerstoneresources.com


QUESNEL, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - June 15, 2016) - Prosper Gold Corp. ("Prosper Gold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:PGX) is pleased announce that it has partnered with CGG Multi-Physics for a comprehensive program of airborne geophysical surveys at both the Ashley Gold and Matachewan Projects (the "Properties") in Ontario.

The CGG surveys will characterize mineralization potential from surface to depth using a variety of proprietary world leading technologies. CGG will deploy their HeliFalcon Airborne Gravity Gradiometer, Dighem Frequency Domain Electromagnetics, and Midas Ultra High Resolution Gradient Magnetic systems combined with Radiometrics; as well as Quantec Geoscience's ground based MT stations. This multi-parameter approach will provide Prosper Gold with a detailed property scale geophysical coverage over a 98 square kilometer area to assist in drill target selection.

Results of the CGG airborne geophysical surveys will be evaluated in conjunction with those from the previously announced comprehensive soil survey (See May 31, 2016 news release) to determine drill targets. The soil sampling is targeting near surface gold and alteration zones. The geophysical survey is targeting to depth and to trace structure trends.

The partnership benefits Prosper Gold by significantly reducing the cost to the company for this state-of-the-art survey and by improving geophysical targeting and through technical collaboration between CGG and PGX personnel.

The Junior Exploration Assistance Program, sponsored by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and the Ontario Prospectors Association, has committed to provide Prosper Gold with a grant of up to $200,000 ($100,000 per project) on approved eligible exploration expenses on both the Ashley Gold & Matachewan Projects. This grant reduces the cash cost to the company.

The partnership with CGG and the JEAP provides the Company with the opportunity to obtain a full suite of high-resolution airborne data that will greatly assist in our understanding and targeting of the Properties.

CGG Multi-Physics is a fully integrated global geoscience company, providing exploration solutions with unique technologies and international expertise. With CGG's unique and comprehensive suite of technologies, exceptional attention to quality control, project management and HSE standards they continue to provide their clients with outstanding service and valuable insight for any exploration challenge.

The Properties are under option. (for further details, please refer to the Company's February 29 & March 1, 2016 news releases).

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed by Dirk Tempelman-Kluit, PhD, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

For a detailed overview of Prosper Gold please visit www.ProsperGoldCorp.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Peter Bernier, President & CEO

Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation; statements about the terms of the Option Agreement, exploration potential of the Properties and the planned exploration of the Properties are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; the Company's ability to satisfy conditions precedent under the Option Agreement; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume and the additional risks identified the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - June 15, 2016) - TMAC Resources Inc. (TSX: TMR) ("TMAC" or the "Company") announces that the Nunavut Impact Review Board ("NIRB") recommended to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada that TMAC's Proposed Amendment to Project Certificate No. 003 for the Doris North Project be allowed to proceed.

TMAC is currently permitted to operate the Doris North Project, located on the north end of TMAC's Hope Bay Project in Nunavut, and to dispose of 458,000 tonnes of tailings (approximately 1  years of currently planned production) into the already permitted tailings impoundment area ("TIA"). The requested amendment increases the number of tonnes that may be disposed in the TIA to 2,500,000 tonnes.

ABOUT TMAC RESOURCES

TMAC holds a 100% interest in the Hope Bay Project located in Nunavut, Canada. TMAC is a fully financed, gold development company. During 2015, TMAC significantly de-risked the Hope Bay Project financially by securing equity and debt financing for gross proceeds of over $350 million providing full funding for the Company to achieve its Path to Production plan, beginning with the Doris Deposit, by the end of 2016. The Company has a board of directors with depth of experience and market credibility and an exploration and development team with an extensive track record of developing high grade, profitable underground mines.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws that is intended to be covered by the safe harbours created by those laws. "Forward-looking information" includes statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking information includes, without limitation, bringing the Hope Bay Project into production,

Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made, Furthermore, such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. See "Risk Factors" in the Company's AIF dated February 25, 2016 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for a discussion of these risks.

The Company cautions that 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 information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

SOURCE TMAC Resources Inc.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - June 15, 2016) -

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Focus Ventures Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:FCV) advises that it has increased its non-brokered private placement announced on June 1, 2016. Accordingly, the Company proposes to issue up to 6,200,000 units at $0.065 each, for total proceeds of up to $403,000. Each unit will consist of one common share and one warrant which will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company at $0.075 for one year from closing. The increased placement is subject to stock exchange approval.

The financing proceeds will be used for general working capital purposes.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of such Act. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell, nor the solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements.

About Focus

Focus is developing the Bayovar 12 phosphate deposit located 40 km from the coast in the Sechura District of northern Peru. Bayovar 12 hosts a large resource of highly-reactive sedimentary phosphate rock - a key raw material input for fertilizers and vital to world food production. Reactive phosphate rock from Sechura is a natural, slow-release source of phosphorus that can be applied directly to crops. Focus aims to supply direct application phosphate rock to the nearby agricultural regions of South and Central America, the fastest growing fertilizer market in the world.

For further information, please call 604-630-5544 or visit our web site www.focusventuresltd.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Simon Ridgway, Chief Executive Officer

Symbol: TSXV-FCV

Shares Issued: 120.4-million

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and include, without limitation, statements about the Company's Bayovar 12 project, the Company's plans to complete the private placement, and how the financing proceeds will be allocated. Often, but not always, these forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate", "estimates", "estimated", "potential", "open", "future", "assumed", "projected", "used", "detailed", "has been", "gain", "upgraded", "offset", "limited", "contained", "reflecting", "containing", "remaining", "to be", "periodically", or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations.

Forward-looking Statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and factors relate to, among other things, information regarding the Company's plans for the Bayovar 12 project; completing the private placement on the terms stated; the expenditure of the financing proceeds as planned; changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; the Company or any joint venture partner not having the financial ability to meet its exploration and development goals; risks associated with the results of exploration and development activities, estimation of mineral resources and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; unanticipated costs and expenses; and such other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's quarterly and annual filings with securities regulators and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to: that the Company's stated goals for the Bayovar 12 project will be achieved; that the Company will obtain all necessary approvals to, and complete, the private placement on the terms stated; that the Company will spend the financing proceeds as planed; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, playfully waves during a photo shoot on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on April 21, 2016. Simpson has lost more than 70 pounds in the last 18 months, using his Fitbit to keep track of daily walks. Now the ninth-term congressman wants to challenge other Idahoans to step it up by starting a "Hike with Mike" challenge, encouraging Idahoans to walk 2,963 miles over the next 14 months, which is equal to a trip from Washington, D.C., to Boise, Idaho. (Tong Wu/McClatchy DC/TNS)

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By Rob Hotakainen McClatchy Washington Bureau (TNS)

WASHINGTON  At 55, Brian Whitlock is like millions of Americans, getting far too little exercise. But hes ready to do something about it, pledging to walk 2,963 miles in the next 12 to 15 months.

I joke that my wife wants me to get healthy, even if it kills me, said Whitlock, president of the Idaho Hospital Association in Boise. Its something new. I tend to get engrossed in my work, and 12 hours later its time to go home and you forget to fit in exercise.

Whitlock is among the more than 300 people who signed up to join Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson on a virtual cross-country walk aimed at helping them get physically fit. Most plan to walk at least 5 miles, or roughly 10,000 steps each day, charting their progress on a website that will show them moving on a trail from the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., to the Idaho State Capitol in Boise.

Simpson officially kicked off his Hike With Mike challenge on Wednesday, declaring himself ready as Ill ever be having lost 72 pounds since November 2014. He now weighs 203 pounds and is aiming to get down to 190.

I did 50 miles this weekend, Simpson, 65, of Idaho Falls, said in an interview. The most difficult part about it is finding the time to do it. Im going to be in California and then on a plane all day Friday, so its going to be tough for me to get my 10,000 steps. But Ill get them in.

Whitlock, who lives in Meridian, said he bought a Garmin fitness tracker to monitor his steps, calling the device a great motivational tool. And he said his strategy over the next year will be to wake up earlier.

If I can get up 30 minutes earlier in the day and get some steps in and finish the day with steps, I think I can meet my goal, he said. There are those of us out there that just need a little bit of motivation and sometimes that can be in the form of a challenge.

Malia Collins, 45, of Boise, said she signed up after seeing newspaper photographs of a trimmed-down Simpson last week. She said she hadnt seen the congressman in person since last year.

The dramatic difference within that year was inspiring  and the way he did it with walking, said Collins, who teaches English at the College of Western Idaho. As soon as I signed up, I got an armband. And Ive lined up hikes every day this week, so Im starting today.

Collins said she hopes that accepting the fitness challenge will get her outside during the winter months, when shes less inclined to exercise. And shes making plans to pressure her parents to take up walking with her when she visits them in Hawaii this summer.

My hope is that I can corral my dad into coming, Collins said. And its something I want to share with my kids, as well.

Corey Surber, 47, state advocacy director for Trinity Health, the national affiliate healthcare organization for the Boise-based Saint Alphonsus Health System, said she decided to join the challenge after losing 40 pounds when she started walking every evening as a way to deal with stress. Now she helps coordinate a weekly fitness walk/run in Boise that draws an average of 60 to 80 people every week, called Meet Me Monday.

I really do believe in what were doing because its worked for me, Surber said. For me, personally, I dont enjoy going into a gym and sitting at a machine and looking at a wall or looking at a mirror. I want to be outside. I will never be a runner, but long-distance walking, I can do that.

She said she just bought herself a new pair of Nikes: Ive got my new shoes and I am ready to put some miles on them.  Im going to do my best. My current average is 11,000 steps a day and hopefully I will increase that.

Simpson, a ninth-term congressman and former dentist, said hes telling those who sign up that the event is not a race, only a challenge to see whether people can complete the course. Some participants are teaming up with a partner so they can participate without walking the entire 2,963 miles.

Simpsons plans will include an attempt to climb 11,815 feet to the top of Idahos Castle Peak in late August, even though hes not sure he can make it.

This is kind of a bucket list thing for me, and well see how it goes, he said. It can be a dangerous climb unless youre a sure-footed mountain goat, which Im not.

Simpson joked that he has not yet disclosed his plans to other members of Congress.

I havent told my colleagues Im going to climb Castle Peak, he said. Theyve had to helicopter a number of people off of that. There are some of my colleagues who probably want me to climb it.
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China on Tuesday released a list of goods banned for export to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), as the items could be used to develop weapons of mass destruction.

The ban, with immediate effect, follows UN Security Council resolutions, said the Ministry of Commerce website.

The list names dozens of banned items including metal hydrides, laser-welding equipment and plasma cutting equipment.

It also bans the exports of a dozen chemicals that could be used in the production of "chemical warfare agents".

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in March in response to the DPRK's nuclear test in January and attempted satellite launch in February.
Leadership San Angelo Class of 2016

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By Ngan Ho of the San Angelo Standard-Times

51st District Judge Barbara Walther called on current and future local leaders to help secure and improve the future of San Angelo.

"I want people to have the courage to speak up, but I want them to understand it's an individual decision," said Walther, who was the keynote speaker Tuesday at the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce's June membership luncheon. "It's something they have to do; you can't just be passive. You can't change and improve our community by just sitting on the outside.

"That's what we need you to do. We need you to act," Walther told the crowd of about 225 attendees at the Pearl on the Concho hotel. "It is not enough to check off another resume builder. We need you to make our future secure."

Also at the luncheon Leadership San Angelo, a 10-month training program sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, graduated 30 professionals who represent a diverse field of professions  including employees from Shannon Medical Center, the San Angelo Police Department, the San Angelo Fire Department, Angelo State University and numerous other local businesses.

Walther asked the 30 graduates which part of the community they would like to invest time in to improve.

The creators of the program wanted to ensure that the future of the community is secure, Walther said, by helping leaders network, giving them the necessary information to identify problems and giving them the skills to solve problems in the community.

"But it is up to you to act," she said. "I think one of the wonderful things about Leadership San Angelo and about our community is we have lots of causes that need to be taken up, and everyone here is a different calling for a cause. They need to find what they feel is their area that they would like to focus on."

David Wagner, president-elect of Leadership San Angelo who has been a part of the program since 2010, said he's happy to add 30 contributing members to the program's alumni association.

"That's what Leadership San Angelo is all about, is ingraining yourself in the community and finding places to plug in and help and make our city a better place," he said. "Hopefully I can follow in their footsteps and do the same things that they have done and hopefully take the alumni association to a bigger and better place."

Wather said an impressive fact about the program is that it has been in existence for more than three decades, training locals to become leaders.

When asked how she felt being a female leader speaking about leadership at the luncheon, Walther said, "Someday I hope that we get introduced just as judges or lawyers or reporters and not by our gender."
Dan Thomasson is a columnist for Tribune News Service and a former vice president of Scripps Howard Newspapers. Contact him at danthomasson@verizon.net.

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WASHINGTON  Several years ago Jim Mullen had a good idea. Actually it turned out to be a great idea, considering the state of American politics today.

As the president of Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania, a 200-year-old institution dedicated to tutoring young men and women not only in the liberal arts but also in the principles of good citizenship, Jim thought about how best to accomplish that goal.

Like a lot of Americans, he was increasingly concerned about the lack of civility in public life  the nastiness and disrespect that seemed to permeate nearly every aspect of every level of our national discourse, almost to the point of threatening the foundations of our democracy.

So Jim decided to use his highly respected school as a model for political decency. He established a national Prize for Civility in Public Life. It would reward those public figures who throughout their careers have promoted the idea that one can disagree without slandering or libeling one's opponent, and that it is possible to run a campaign or comment on one without personal rancor or violent language or hatefulness.

It's hard to think of a more welcome notion at a time when we have watched the races for the presidential nomination of both parties generate more vitriol and unseemliness than at any time in memory. Among the Republicans, debate at times could not have gotten lower, and the presumptive winner has resorted to a level of thuggish behavior unprecedented even in today's uber-partisanship.

As we look forward to the next five months of political warfare, we can hope (if cynicism hasn't utterly overcome us) that the two opponents  Hillary Clinton for the Democrats and Donald Trump for the Republicans  might take a lead from the two longtime public servants who received the Allegheny College award for civility this year.

In a ceremony here recently, Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. John McCain, two who often have found themselves on different sides of the issues and competed with one another strenuously at the top of their respective parties during their many decades in office, spent an hour endorsing the respect and friendship they had for each other throughout it all.

Biden called McCain, a Navy pilot who spent years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, a genuine American hero, with whom he was overawed. He told how embarrassed he was as a young senator from Delaware on a congressional trip when McCain, just back from Hanoi prison and a liaison on Capitol Hill, waited on him.

McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, praised Biden's many kindnesses and said his behavior toward his opponents was always exemplary.

Perhaps what was most refreshing about the exchanges was their genuine quality. These weren't two politicians blowing smoke at one another. They like each another, but more importantly they respect each other no matter the differences.

The scene was a reminder of a time when congressional lawmakers across the aisle would rail at each other all afternoon and then go off to dinner or a party together and never think anything about it. It was a time when those of opposing parties shared rides, took trips together, even shared living quarters. They rarely if ever went after the other party's leader at election time. No one would have dared call the president of the United States a liar during a State of the Union address, as one Republican lawmaker did to Barack Obama.

All that civility suddenly disappeared, leaving us now to face the ultimate example of just the opposite, when it seems all right for a presidential candidate to make racist statements about a judge in a private matter in which he is involved and then try to crayfish out of it.

I recall a Washington affair a number of years ago when one of the speakers, former Ambassador Robert Strauss, once a key official of the Democratic Party, pulled from his pocket a letter from President Gerald R. Ford, written just after he had lost the 1976 election to Jimmy Carter. The letter, while acknowledging Strauss' fierce efforts in behalf of his party's candidate, nevertheless thanked him for his civility and appropriateness throughout the election.

It was what Jim Mullen had in mind. We can only hope that spirit will one day return to Washington.

Dan Thomasson is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service and a former vice president of Scripps Howard Newspapers. Contact him at thomassondan@aol.com.
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Top diplomats from China and 10 ASEAN countries pose for a group photo at the China-ASEAN Special Foreign Ministers Meeting in Yuxi, Yunnan province June 14, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Top diplomats from China and the 10 ASEAN countries agreed on Tuesday that the South China Sea issue should be handled properly, reaffirming the need to "jointly ensure peace and stability" in the area.

The 11 countries also called for "maritime practical cooperation" and for early completion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

The China-ASEAN Special Foreign Ministers Meeting in Yuxi, Yunnan province, was the first of its kind in three years.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the region "should not become another place of turbulence" as the world has already witnessed considerable chaos.

Wang said the closed-door meeting, which was first proposed by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, was timely, significant and involved strategic communication.

He added that it had achieved its expected goals. China is committed to future meetings to build trust and dispel misunderstandings, he added.

On the sidelines of the convention, Wang embarked on a whirlwind series of meetings with his counterparts from ASEAN countries.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh told Wang on Monday that his country is ready to tackle maritime differences properly based on the consensus of the party leaders of China and Vietnam.

Wang said, "Both sides (China and ASEAN) should tackle differences properly and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. They should cherish the hard-won peaceful and stable situation in this region."

Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who co-chaired the meeting with Wang on Tuesday, said it demonstrates that "ASEAN and China are even able to discuss difficult issues  frankly, constructively and openly".

Ruan Zongze, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the meeting shows that most ASEAN members will not be "hijacked" by the South China Sea issue and related problems.

China has played a proactive role in boosting integration and development within the ASEAN Community, and such a role has won support from the ASEAN members, Ruan said.

Wei Ling, a professor of Asian studies at China Foreign Affairs University, said China has provided firm support to ASEAN continuously, with this year marking the 25th anniversary of the China-ASEAN dialogue.

"The strategic mutual trust and cooperation between China and ASEAN is a cornerstone of the region's peace and development," Wei said.
Any mechanic knows that simple systems are harder to break. Digital thinkers apply that ethos to everything they do. It's a core value of every successful technology company: If the user is not happy, or is in any way slowed down or frustrated by the technology, then the whole business crumbles. So they try to design simple and intuitive experiences.A new breed of digital innovators is hell-bent on bringing this ethos into the public sector. "Our government is addicted to complexity in a way that isn't serving us well," says Jen Pahlka, the CEO of Code for America, "and the complexity itself is actually the problem."Pahlka is a rock star in the world of digital government. Code for America, the nonprofit she founded, has helped dozens of governments build better technology solutions by embedding mid-career software developers in city and state agencies. "Coding a Better Government," a TED Talk she gave in 2012, has received more than three-quarters of a million page views. When she was recruited to the White House, her prodding and perseverance spurred the launch of the U.S. Digital Service, modeled closely after the United Kingdom's Government Digital Service (GDS)."I suffer from a disease of enthusiasm for the GDS," says Pahlka with a laugh. "The clarity of mission and clarity of strategy they have in the U.K. make it possible to have an understanding about simplifying the user experience, in addition to simplifying the strategy."Through Code for America and her work in the White House, Pahlka has seen up close how governmental complexity can get in the way of serving citizens, and she is determined to show public officials a better way. "If there's one thing government needs desperately, it's the ability to quickly try something, pivot when necessary, and build complex systems by starting with simple systems that work and evolve from there, not the other way around," says Pahlka.She believes that the best digital services make complex transactions and interactions simple and elegant. Think of Uber, which has made the potentially complex process of getting from place to place without a car as simple as opening an app on your smartphone and pressing "request an Uber." Or consider the Nest thermostat: digital, programmable, self-learning and Wi-Fi enabled. Or Apple's iPhone and iPad. Their design beauty lies in their ability to make the complex very simple.The reason these are successful, says Pahlka, is a singular focus on user needs. She contrasts this with the process of applying for food stamps in some counties in California. "It takes 50 screens to fill out the application," says Pahlka, with fire in her voice. "That's serving government needs, not user needs. It's discriminatory design." To rectify this, a team of her Code for America fellows teamed up with the city and county of San Francisco to redesign its food-stamp application to make it simpler and centered on a good online user experience.Mike Bracken, the co-founder of the U.K's GDS, is another evangelist for simplicity. "Twenty-five years into the era of digital transformation, the internet has a 100 percent track record of success making industries simpler to users while forcing organizations to fundamentally change how they're structured," Bracken says. "These characteristics are not going away."Bracken argues that governments will have to follow the lead of other industries, or they will become increasingly irrelevant to ordinary citizens. "We already have numerous government services so complex that only intermediaries like solicitors and accountants can use them," he explains. "In a world where everything is becoming quicker and easier, if government doesn't become quicker and easier too it will be intermediated away. Not out of existence, but to the point where it's invisible to the public, where engagement with government services will disappear."The United Kingdom's GOV.UK , a one-stop shop for government services including license renewals, pension information, death registry and a host of other tasks, reflects this philosophy. The site replaced an insanely complex array of 750 government websites that delivered similar services and information.One striking thing is howGOV.UK it looks, compared to almost any other website. It looks almost like a wireframe, with a simple text and simple layout, designed to do one thing well: get citizens to the service, transaction or information they need in the fastest, most painless way possible.But there's more at stake than clean design. The massive complexity of government is not just frustrating. It can have tragic consequences, whether it's a veteran trying to navigate his way through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' 1,000-plus websites or a caregiver trying to find the right mental-health services for a loved one. Small and simple will always succeed where bulky and overwrought fail.
Alaska on Tuesday morning lost its only remaining top-ranked credit rating, with Fitch Ratings downgrading the state one notch from AAA to AA+.The announcement from Fitch occurred after the two other big ratings agencies, Moody's and S&P, gave the state similar downgrades earlier this year, and it came as House lawmakers held a hearing to critique a deficit reduction proposal that could fix the state's budget problems.Fitch's downgrade, the agency said in its own report, reflects Alaska's substantial budget deficit combined with "modest reform efforts" taken by lawmakers to match state spending with its "stressed" revenue structure.Alaska has long depended on taxes and royalties from oil production to pay for government services, and the state's current multibillion-dollar deficit stems from the recent crash in oil prices. Fitch described the rating outlook as "negative.""We had put them on rating-watch negative earlier this year in February, and we were waiting to see what the outcome would be in the budget session," said Marcy Block, a Fitch analyst. "And now in the current special session, we have not seen the full Legislature enact sufficient measures to stem the tide. There will be another very large draw on reserves in the upcoming fiscal year."Lawmakers this year have been debating measures that would sharply reduce the deficit, including a proposal from Gov. Bill Walker to restructure the Permanent Fund to generate revenue for state government instead of solely for residents' dividend payments.A rewritten version of Walker's proposal, Senate Bill 128, passed the state Senate last week.In a hearing Tuesday morning, members of the House Finance Committee traded attacks on Walker administration officials presenting the legislation, and offered pessimistic assessments of the bill's chances."Everybody knows the votes are not there for this bill as written," said Rep. Les Gara, D-Anchorage.
Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said she and six other Republican governors discussed national security, refugees and the economy with Donald Trump in New York on Tuesday.She also said they spent time criticizing President Barack Obama."The meeting went very well," she said in a statement. "It was an opportunity for Donald Trump to hear from the governors and for the governors to talk with their political party's presumptive presidential nominee."Also, in the aftermath of a horrific attack upon our fellow Americans in Orlando, we discussed the importance of strengthening national security and building a stronger national defense."Fallin said they also discussed the need to more thoroughly verify the backgrounds of refugees before they enter the United States."And we also agreed that the Obama administration during the past eight years has over-reached by passing cumbersome regulations that amount to a power grab that hurt state economies and destroy jobs," she said.Fallin's name has been mentioned in speculation about the vice presidential selection process, but Trump has not contacted her to talk about being his running mate, said Michael McNutt, a spokesman for the governor.McNutt said one of the other governors arranged the meeting. He didn't have the names of the other governors in attendance. Fallin has been active in the Republican Governors Association.McNutt also said Fallin would be meeting with business contacts in New York to talk about economic development.
As a federal judge ruled Tuesday that the George Washington Bridge lane closure case will go to trial, lawyers for two former allies of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie invoked the Watergate scandal to demand access to Christie's cellphone and phone records.Christie's former deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly, and his former top executive appointee at the Port Authority, Bill Baroni, were indicted last year on charges of conspiracy, fraud and civil rights violations related to the politically-motivated closure of access lanes to the George Washington Bridge.Invoking President Richard Nixon's failed bid to stop the release of White House recordings related to the Watergate scandal, their defense attorneys demanded that lawyers acting on behalf of the governor turn over his cellphone and phone records as well as those of top officials that were used at the time of the 2013 lane closures."President Nixon's tapes were not immune from a subpoena," Baroni's attorney Michael Baldassare said in court papers filed late Monday night. "Neither is Governor Christie's phone."Baroni and Kelly are accused of conspiring to create traffic jams at the Fort Lee entrance to the bridge over five mornings in September to punish the town's mayor, a Democrat, for not endorsing Christie in his bid for re-election in 2013.The pair say that a law firm hired by the governor's office to investigate the lane closures inappropriately held back documents, SMS messages, emails and other evidence from federal prosecutors. Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge, Susan D. Wigenton, who is overseeing the trial, granted defense teams the power to subpoena emails and other materials from the law firm.The firm, Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, rejected the subpoena as overly broad, accusing defense attorneys of "smear tactics and ham-handed maneuverings.""They seem fixated on turning this case into a sideshow about what (this firm) found and did, which has no relevance to the ultimate disposition of this case," Gibson Dunn's lawyers wrote in court documents filed in April.Michael Critchley, an attorney representing Kelly, said in court papers filed Tuesday that his client "should not have her hands tied" because the governor's office refused to produce and federal prosecutors refused to pursue information "critical" to Kelly's defense.Critchley said that Gibson Dunn's failure to identify and turn over evidence raised "serious questions," making it necessary "for defendants to have the opportunity to recover other potentially relevant and admissible information."Critchley also pointed to confusion about who had access to Christie's cellphone records relevant to the lane closures. He cited a statement by the governor that his cellphone was "in the hands of the government," which contradicted statements by federal prosecutors who said that they never had the phone.Matthew Reilly, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey, said Tuesday that prosecutors relied upon Gibson Dunn to review the governor's cellphone records."The governor's telephone was never in the possession of federal authorities," Reilly said. "As is typical in grand jury investigations, where an institution is represented by outside counsel, those lawyers review records, including those contained on mobile phones and computers, to identify and provide material that is responsive to subpoenas. That procedure was followed in this case."Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher was hired by Christie in January 2014 to investigate the lane closures. The firm's lawyers interviewed dozens of people and were given access to thousands of internal communications.The resulting report, which was heavily criticized by New Jersey Democrats, absolved the governor of involvement in the lane closure scandal. The report blamed the closures on Kelly and on David Wildstein, a former Port Authority executive who pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges last year and who is cooperating with prosecutors. So far, the law firm has charged the state about $10 million for its legal work related to the bridge scandal.Baroni's and Kelly's lawyers tried to have the prosecution dismissed, claiming that prosecutors twisted and stretched federal laws to build a high-profile case. They also said that the pair could not have known that their actions were illegal.In a ruling published Tuesday, Wigenton dismissed the defendants' claims. "If true, the facts do not allege a mistake or a misunderstanding of policies or rules," Wigenton wrote, "but rather an intentional desire to subvert existing policies and/or practices in order to achieve an improper end."She said that it was up to a jury to decide whether Kelly and Baroni are innocent.Wigenton also dismissed defense claims that Baroni's testimony before a state legislative committee was improperly used by prosecutors. "Because Baroni was not under oath when he appeared before the Committee, his testimony is not immunized," Wigenton wrote.The trial is scheduled to begin in Federal Court Newark on Sept. 12.
On Tuesday, in the morning, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC ceased duty as Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia and resumed duty as Governor of Queensland, and the Honourable Chief Justice Catherine Holmes ceased duty as Acting Governor of Queensland.

In the afternoon, at Government House, the Governor and Mrs de Jersey hosted a luncheon in support of philanthropy in Queensland. Guests included: Mr Philip Bacon AM; Mr Bob Bryan AM; Mr Peter Johnstone; Mrs Fiona Poschelk; Ms Cecily Person; and Ms Rosie Turnbull.

Following, at Government House, the Governor received Mr Michael Ries, Deputy Clerk of Parliament for the presentation of 5 bills for Assent.

Following, at Government House, the Governor received Commander Peter Tedman DSM OAM RAN and Commander Mark McConnell RAN.
Description

GIS  15 June 2016: Mauritius has put up appropriate structures for the elderly but there is a need to bring amendments to the Protection for Elderly Persons Act 2005. A strategy paper for the coming five years for an elderly growing population is also in the pipeline, announced the Minister of Social Security, National Solidarity and Reform Institutions, Mrs Fazila Jeewa Daureeawoo, this morning at Lady Sushil Ramgoolam Recreation Centre at Pointe aux Piments during a workshop organised in the context of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) 2016.

According to the Minister, WEAAD provides an opportunity for communities to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

Our demographics are shifting, and we will soon have more elder people in Mauritius than ever before, said Mrs Jeewa Daureeawoo, adding that abuse and violence directed at older people take many forms, including partner and stranger violence, psychological and emotional abuse and financial exploitation.

Respect and gratitude towards elderly persons have always been one among the pillars that characterise the Mauritian society, she said and underlined that nevertheless there exist all kinds of abuse; financial, psychological, physical, sexual and negligence, towards the senior citizens. She also lauded Governments acknowledgment of the important role older persons have played in nation-building, rather than portraying them as physically, mentally and socio-economically vulnerable.

The Minister recalled that there is an Elderly Protection Unit at the Ministry and its role, amongst others, is to organise public awareness and sensitisation campaigns on the rights of elderly persons and the need to provide them with assistance and protection; receive complaints from elderly persons who are in need of protection or assistance and take such measures as may be necessary; apply to the Court for a protection order where it deems it necessary in circumstances where there is a real danger to, or threat on, the life of an elderly person; and assist in arranging for the admission of an elderly person to a residential care home, where required.

Speaking of residential care homes, Mrs Jeewa Daureeawoo stated that with the review of the legislation, these homes will be compelled to install CCTV cameras so as to ensure that there is no abuse against the elderly residents.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

WEAAD was launched on June 15, 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. In addition, WEAAD is in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action acknowledging the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. It serves as a call-to-action for individuals, organisations, and communities to raise awareness about elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
(TNS)  Commonwealth Edison will install smart meters at houses and businesses throughout La Grange starting in July.Residents will have the option to refuse the devices, but they will have to pay a monthly charge.Digital meters, which have prompted opposition elsewhere, allow customers to view the amount of energy being consumed and to try to reduce it. The meters also send out radio frequencies to ComEd about power outages and the amount of electricity that customers use each month.The overall program to install the devices and otherwise modernize the system started in 2011 when the Illinois General Assembly enacted the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act, providing $2.6 billion over 10 years to ComEd to modernize its electric grid. The act provides for the replacement of 4 million existing electrical meters in all homes and businesses in northern Illinois with new, digital, smart technology."The smart meters are an important building block of the smart grid program," said Annette Martinez, a ComEd spokesperson.The number of devices that will be installed in La Grange is 6,984. The majority will be replaced over a two-month period.Martinez said modernizing the system should allow ComEd to identify and resolve power outages more quickly because the meters will communicate to ComEd when an outage occurs. Customers will no longer have to call the company."We'll have a better idea of where an outage is automatically," Martinez said.Customers with smart meters will be able to take advantage of a variety of programs to reduce their energy costs and manage their use. Some programs include letting users opt to lower their usage during peak times or to sign up to receive a text or email when their usage is too high.The cost of all smart grid improvements for residential customers is about $3 per month. Smart meters will comprise about $2 of the monthly cost. ComEd officials say they will fully pass on to customers the operational savings that result from smart meters which, over the next 20 years, are expected to be twice the cost of smart meters.Residents of some other communities, most prominently Naperville, have opposed digital meters. Some foes have cited concerns that meters emit radio frequencies that can cause cancer."Our smart meters are safe," Martinez said. "They've been extensively tested."Martinez noted that ComEd didn't install the meters in Naperville. ComEd's meters are certified by Underwriter's Laboratories as safe and reliable, according to the company.Martinez said the improvements made to the smart grid since 2011 have resulted in a reduction in power outages throughout the system. One improvement allows power to be rerouted to where in the system an outage occurs."We've avoided nearly 5 million customer outages since 2011," she said.Residents can refuse a smart meter. They will have to pay a monthly fee of $21.53, according to a ruling in 2014 by the Illinois Commerce Commission."That meter then has to be read manually," said Andrianna Peterson, assistant village manager for La Grange. "Obviously the customer also doesn't get the benefits that the smart meter is meant for."She said the village has not received any calls from residents with concerns about smart meters.
(TNS)  Portland plans to amend Google Fiber's franchise to operate in the city, replacing a requirement that the company offer low-cost Internet service with a new fee that would fund "digital equity" in Portland.The changes extend Google's 10-year franchise, initially approved in 2014, until 2026. And the new franchise agreement calls on Google Fiber to offer free Internet service to some residents, but it does not specifically require the company to do so.The new franchise, pending city council approval on June 29, requires Google to pay 3 percent of its gross revenues for a new "digital equity support fee" to be administered by the city.Google remains exempt from a 3 percent free for public-access, educational and government (PEG) programming that Comcast pays. And it would no longer have to set up free Wi-Fi networks in parts of the city or to offer free service to some nonprofits.Two years after Google Fiber first expressed interest in bringing its hyperfast Internet service to Portland, the company has still not committed to do so. A state Supreme Court ruling late in 2014 made Google subject to an unusual Oregon tax, holding up the project until legislators and state regulators created an exemption.A formal announcement now appears in the offing; Google Fiber has begun hiring Portland employees, talking with neighborhoods about network locations and just this month won approval for its first "fiber hut" to support the project.Changes to the franchise agreement unveiled Tuesday are designed to conform with the "Digital Equity Action Plan" the Portland City Council adopted in April, according to Mary Beth Henry, Portland's director of community technology. With schoolwork, job applications and senior services moving to the internet, Henry said it's imperative that people have broadband access regardless of their financial circumstances or neighborhood."Everything's online so addressing digital equity is really the issue of the future that needs to be addressed now," Henry said.Google Fiber's flagship service offers internet connections at 1 gigabit per second  40 times faster than the federal broadband standard  for $70 a month. Initially, in its first markets, it also offered several years of service at 5 megabits per second for a one-time fee of $300, and Portland required similar service in its 2014 franchise.In April, though, Google began replacing that service with a 25 Mbps connection for $15 a month in neighborhoods with especially low rates of online connectivity.Google's new franchise doesn't require the 5 Mbps service. Henry said that reflected revised thinking on the best way to expand online access to low-income households."Two years is a long time in this business and things change," she said.Google's amended franchise authorizes Portland to use revenues from the digital equity fee to build fiber to connect schools, libraries, public agencies and nonprofits to the internet, or for other projects to expand online access.Portland has no estimate of how much Google's new fee will generate, Henry said, because it's difficult to anticipate how many people will use its service. Google will still be subject to a 5 percent fee on its cable TV service, money that goes to the city's general fund.Other companies pass along such fees to their customers; Google Fiber has given no indication whether it plans to do so in Portland.Portland does not plan to amend its franchise agreement with its two other residential broadband providers, CenturyLink and Comcast, according to Henry. But she said the city has asked Comcast to extend its low-cost internet service for families to seniors and others.And Henry said she expects Google Fiber's rivals will take steps on their own to match the company's public efforts to improve broadband's reach."In a competitive marketplace," she said, "I expect there will be a response."
Technology is steadily solidifying its place in the legislative realm at the state and national level. There is no doubt that in recent years, technology has become a top-shelf issue  up there with health care, prison reform and the like  as it becomes increasingly intertwined with citizens' daily lives and nearly all operations of government.This year, lawmakers across the country have trained their sights on a range of issues, from the police use of cell-site simulators to the recognition of notarized blockchain technology. Heres a look at some of the pending or recently passed legislation from tech-minded states.Some in the banking industry have been singing the praises of blockchain technology as a way to more accurately track financial transactions. But as of May 2016, Vermont is willing to recognize documentation notarized through the technology, according to a recently signed state law relating to miscellaneous economic provisions. Blockchain is a data structure that uses cryptography to create a digital ledger across a network of computers and users. Because of this structure, it's difficult to alter or remove data that has been entered into the ledger. The technology is an acceptable digital record if accompanied by a secondary recognized declaration. Despite the win for the technology at the state level, many argue that it is not perfect  a point that has prevented widespread adoption in both the private and public sectors.There has been more than a little chatter around transportation network companies (TNCs), like Lyft and Uber, and how to best regulate them at the state and local level. In Delaware, lawmakers are reviewing Senate Bill 262 , which is aimed at making these networking companies a safe and regulated mainstay for citizens. As it is currently worded, the legislation would modify the existing rules around TNCs to ensure the safety, reliability and cost-effectiveness of rides provided by Transportation Network Company Drivers within the State of Delaware. Despite some criticism from taxicab companies, drivers would not be required to obtain a special license to operate. Additionally, the vehicles would need to be clearly market for police enforcement purposes and there would be changes to TNC insurance coverage requirements.As autonomous vehicles gain traction in the public spotlight and on populated streets, more states and localities are moving to pre-emptively regulate their operation. In Pennsylvania, stricter insurance and reporting requirements are the meat of Senate Bill 1268 . Additionally, the companies, universities and individuals testing self-driving vehicles would need to get the sign-off of the state Department of Transportation. The bill, introduced May 18, 2016, will likely change in substance as it makes its way through committee, but shows some of the emerging considerations in the autonomous vehicle space.Technology, especially of the mobile variety, has brought about a lot of conversation around privacy and security. Unsurprisingly, much of the discussion revolves around law enforcement and the use of tools like the Stingray, a device that simulates a cell tower to gather data and track the location and usage of mobile devices.The so-called cell-site simulators have garnered significant media attention as their use in some cities stirred criticism and accusations of mass surveillance without due legal process. In Illinois, the Citizen Privacy Protection Act (House Bill 4470) has taken aim at stopping the use of these devices without a warrant or court order and outside of certain conditions. Under the terms of the bill, proposed in early 2016, law enforcement agencies would be required to obtain legal permissions to track cellphones and would be required to immediately delete the data collected from all nontargets.In Nebraska, the conversation is much the same. Legislative Bill 738 targeted the overall usage of the devices. Before the legislation was indefinitely postponed in April, it was geared to disallow the use of the devices within the state, and agencies that already own them would be forced to discontinue their use and discard them.Among its legislative undertakings, Utah is considering a move ahead toward electronic drivers' licenses, which would likely be carried and displayed on a common smartphone. Under the terms of House Bill 227 , a study is to be conducted around the viability of e-drivers' licenses as a means of driver identification. The governor signed the bill in March, and a full report and recommendations are due to the states Transportation Interim Committee no later than Sept. 1, 2016.
Many challenges unite state cybersecurity leaders, starting with recruiting and maintaining the talent needed to protect IT assets from known and emerging threats. At the NASCIO Midyear Conference last month, we talked to chief information security officers (CISOs), who outlined their key workforce challenges and their strategies for taking them on.In the state of Washington, CISO Agnes Kirk outlined several components of her approach, which include encouraging students to pursue cybersecurity as a career path:In Missouri, CISO Michael Roling casts a wide net for cybertalent as well, and is finding much of his success in-house.
 Flash

China and the United States on Tuesday held a second dialogue on cybercrime.

Guo Shengkun, State Councilor and Minister of Public Security, lauded the progress made since the first dialogue in Washington last year.

Cybersecurity cooperation is in the interests of China, the United States and other countries, Guo said, advocating the dialogue as the major mechanism for cooperation.

Under Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Suzanne Spaulding and Bruce Swartz, Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Counselor for International Affairs of the Department of Justice, represented Secretary Jeh Johnson and Attorney General Loretta Lynch who could not attend the meeting following Sunday's events in Orlando.

The United States and China have many common interests in cybersecurity, and the U.S. government believes that the two sides can turn those differences to cooperation, said the officials, and called for continued exchanges along with strengthened hotline contact, information sharing and cooperation on specific cases.

The two sides approved a plan for the hotline and agreed to hold a third dialogue in Washington later this year.

Meng Jianzhu, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee met with U.S. delegation to the dialogue.
Romain Grosjean has urged Haas to get to the bottom of a recurring technical fault in 2016.

More than once this year, the new American outfit has been halted by mysterious and dangerous failures to the front wing.

The latest was in Montreal last weekend, so Grosjean told the French broadcaster Canal Plus: "This is the third time we have lost the front wing in a race.

"I think I'm going too fast for the car!" he joked.

"We have to find the explanation, because we were not very far from points. I was doing the maximum I could, really on the limit everywhere with the car, and then the wing broke all by itself.

"Afterwards I got the most I could from the car so I'm pretty happy with the race, but we need to manage to solve all of these problems," Grosjean added.

(GMM)
F1 drivers have admitted they are not sure how much they will enjoy this weekend's inaugural grand prix on the streets of Baku.

The track in Azerbaijan has been billed as an ultra high speed street layout including an exciting, ultra-narrow run past the old city walls.

But world champion Lewis Hamilton sounds uncertain.

"It has a very long straight," the Briton is quoted by Brazil's UOL.

"Street circuit? I think Monaco is a street circuit. It (Baku) is so wide in some places -- I don't know why they do circuits like this. But I hope it's exciting."

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel said he has tried the layout in the simulator.

"I thought it has a few interesting parts and some other more simple parts," said the German. "At least it will be hotter than in Canada!" he smiled.

Felipe Massa thinks the cars with the most powerful engines will shine because top speeds will rival those seen at Spa-Francorchamps and even Monza.

"It's a bit like Sochi with one quite narrow part," said the Williams driver.

And Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat is quoted by the Spanish daily Marca: "It reminds me a little of Valencia."

Red Bull Racing, meanwhile, has been impressed with Renault's improvements so far in 2016 but is not expecting to enjoy the extremely long straight at Baku.

"In our calculations, we assume we will lose 1.2 seconds on that straight," Dr Helmut Marko is quoted by the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

"We have an excellent car but we can never make all of that (deficit) up in the corners."

(GMM)
Bernie Ecclestone has dismissed the latest reports about Las Vegas potentially joining an F1 calendar of the near future.

Speculation that F1 might host more American races often does the rounds, but the latest word from Las Vegas was that an event on the world-famous 'strip' is more than just fantasy.

However, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport now quotes Bernie Ecclestone as insisting: "The Americans talk a lot, but nothing happens."

The F1 supremo has also given an alarming quote about the future of the Brazilian grand prix, saying of the long-running race at Interlagos: "It could be that the grand prix in Brazil this year is the last."

Auto Motor und Sport said the problem in Brazil is purely financial, as the national broadcaster Globo reportedly struggles with strict austerity measures.

"Ecclestone will have negotiations with the organisers in Sao Paulo soon," correspondent Michael Schmidt revealed, surmising that the Briton's comments might just be "sabre-rattling".

There is better news about the uncertain future of the German grand prix, despite Ecclestone saying not too long ago that the country could fall back off the calendar for 2017.

But he has now declared: "I can imagine there being a race in 2017."

Schmidt said there are rumours that Ecclestone himself will promote a German race next year, and perhaps also leap to the rescue of the embattled Italian GP at Monza.

But Ecclestone played down rumours about Argentina and South Africa.

"I'm afraid they (Argentina) don't have the money," he said. As for South Africa, "It would be good, but Kyalami is too small for us."

(GMM)
In addition to financial support, a number of recipients will receive technical and regulatory assistance through the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) initiative.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) ia awarding more than $82 million to 93 projects that will help push innovative nuclear technologies toward commercialization and into the market. These awards provide funding for nuclear energy-related research through the Nuclear Energy University Program, Nuclear Science User Facilities, and Nuclear Energy Enabling Technology programs.

Nuclear power is our nations largest source of low-carbon electricity and is a vital component in our efforts to both provide affordable and reliable electricity and to combat climate change. These awards will help scientists and engineers as they continue to innovate with advanced nuclear technologies. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz

Nuclear Energy University Program. DOE is awarding nearly $36 million through its Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) to support 49 university-led nuclear energy research and development projects in 24 states. NEUP seeks to maintain US leadership in nuclear research across the country by providing top science and engineering students and faculty members opportunities to develop innovative technologies and solutions for civil nuclear capabilities.

Additionally, 15 universities will receive nearly $6 million for research reactor and infrastructure improvementsproviding important safety- performance- and student education-related upgrades to a portion of the nations 25 university research reactors as well as enhancing university research and training infrastructure.

Public-Private Partnerships; GAIN. The new awards are part of a significant first set of actions to implement the GAIN initiative that was announced November 2015, which provides the nuclear energy community with access to the technical, regulatory, and financial support necessary to move new or advanced nuclear reactor designs toward commercialization while ensuring the continued safe, reliable, and economic operation of the existing nuclear fleet.

GAIN will provide the nuclear community with a single point of access to the broad range of capabilitiespeople, facilities, materials, and dataacross the DOE complex and its National Laboratory capabilities.

The Department is making approximately $2 million available through the Nuclear Science User Facilities (NSUF) to provide access to world-class neutron and gamma irradiation and post-irradiation examination services to General Electric Hitachi. The project will cover the cost of placing selected material samples from additive manufacturing processes into a NSUF-affiliated nuclear reactor to analyze the effects of nuclear reactor irradiation on material property changes.

Additionally, under the innovative GAIN public private partnership model, DOE is supporting a nearly $3 million collaborative effort with Westinghouse as the lead of one project and as a collaborator in two other projects, led by Argonne National Laboratory and Virginia Polytechnic Institute to develop advanced communication methods for nuclear facilities.

These awards complement the Office of Nuclear Energys Small Business Voucher Program that will provide up to $2 million in 2016 to help small businesses overcome critical nuclear technology and commercialization challenges.

Integrated Research Projects. The Department is also awarding $21 million for 6 Integrated Research Projects (IRPs), which include a jointly-funded project between the Office of Nuclear Energy and the Office of Environmental Management for enhanced glass forms for nuclear waste immobilization. The Office of Environmental Management will also fund two IRP projects for advanced nuclearized robotics capabilities. Collaboration between the Offices of Environmental Management and Nuclear Energy is part of Secretary Monizs effort to integrate the Departments research for advanced nuclear R&D and remediation efforts.

Crosscutting Research Projects. Additionally, nearly $7 million will be awarded for seven research and development projects led by Department of Energy national laboratories, industry and US universities to conduct research to address crosscutting nuclear energy challenges that will help to develop advanced sensors and instrumentation, advanced manufacturing methods, and materials for multiple nuclear reactor plant and fuel applications.

Advanced innovative robust communication methods will be developed to demonstrate the ability to transmit greater amounts of data and other signals through physical boundaries in nuclear facilities. Multiple additive manufacturing techniques and a solid-phase cladding process will undergo microstructural and mechanical testing and irradiation evaluation.

A rapid qualification process for laser-based powder bed additive manufacturing will also be examined. Advanced materials characterization techniques and tools will also be developed to provided advanced methods for sample preparation and new tools and techniques for examining and understanding material microstructures in a variety of conditions ranging from as-received to treated and irradiated.

Nuclear Science User Facilities. The DOE selected eight university, two national laboratory, and one industry-led project that will take advantage of NSUF capabilities to investigate important nuclear fuel and material applications. DOE will fund more than $9 million in facility access costs and expertise for experimental neutron and ion irradiation testing, post-irradiation examination facilities, synchrotron beamline capabilities, and technical assistance for design and analysis of experiments through the NSUF.

Additionally, the Department of Energy is awarding more than $1 million for three projects at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory for further materials and instrumentation research.

Since 2009, the Energy Departments Office of Nuclear Energy has awarded approximately $464 million to 113 US colleges and universities to continue American leadership in clean energy innovation and to train the next generation of nuclear engineers and scientists through its university programs.
Darrell Jack Lell, 53, of Rock Springs, passed away June 11, 2016 at his home. A longtime resident of Rock Springs and former resident of Georgia and Virginia, Lell died following a sudden illness.

He was born on Dec. 31, 1962 in Abingdon, Va., the son of Jack Ruey and Minnie Sue Miller Lell.

Lell attended schools in Virginia, Georgia and Wyoming and obtained his GED.

He was employed by IBEW Local 322 Electrician's Union for 18 years.

His interests included playing guitar, camping, fishing, and spending time with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed helping others.

Survivors include two sons, Billy Lell of Webster Groves, Mo., and Alan Lell of Rock Springs; daughter Katiesue Lell of Rock Springs; two sisters, Judy Peterson and husband Brent of Green River and Jane Taylor and husband Ted of Grand Junction, Colo.; two grandchildren Adrian Lell and Bella Lell; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Adrian Lell, sister Debra Kight and a step-brother Martin Doust. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Friday, at Vase Flaming Gorge Chapel, in Green River. Cremation will follow. Friends may call on Friday at Vase Chapel in Green River, one hour prior to services.
David Dwayne Nield, 24, of Rock Springs, passed away June 2, 2016. He was a lifetime resident of Rock Springs.

He was born on Jan. 8, 1992 in Rock Springs, the son of Quentin David Norman and Tally Ann Nield.

Nield attended schools in Rock Springs and the Collbran Job Corps and was a Christian.

He was employed at the Auto Spa for the past five years.

His interests included spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed singing and listening music, writing, reading and playing video games.

He also helped with the Trees of Sharing and loved running races.

Survivors include his parents Tally Lester of Rock Springs and Quentin Norman of Texas and Florida; two step-sisters, Heather Hadley of Rock Springs and Jordy Norman of Cheyenne; two step-brothers, Alec Norman of Cheyenne and Austin Zeglen of Rock Springs; his paternal grandparents David and Marcy Norman of Florida and his maternal grandparents Diane and Dennis Pineda of Reliance; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather Ted R. Nield.

Following cremation, memorial services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, at Vase Funeral Chapel in Rock Springs. Friends may call at Vase Chapel, one hour prior to services.
Watching state legislators debate Medicaid expansion during the budget session was like seeing a driver head full-speed toward a cliff and refuse to hit the brakes.

The fully anticipated plunge adds to the financial pressures faced by many Wyoming hospitals and played a role in Wyoming Medical Center laying off 58 employees in Casper last week.

During the past four years literally everyone who testified before the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee told the panel what would happen if lawmakers did not expand Medicaid. If they had listened, state government wouldnt have kissed off more than $260 million in federal funds that would have greatly cushioned the impact of hospital budget woes during this economic nosedive.

But a majority of Republicans on the committee, led by co-chairman Sen. Charlie Scott, R-Casper, foolishly ignored the warnings from business, industry, labor, hospital, church and social service representatives. They also said no to GOP Gov. Matt Mead, a Medicaid expansion convert who finally saw the light and told lawmakers they must approve the program  not only to get federal funds, but to provide health insurance to nearly 20,000 working poor residents.

The Senate killed the only Medicaid expansion bill this year with only seven Republicans joining four Democrats to support the measure, while 19 GOP members voted no. The House didnt even take up the issue, but there were even more expansion opponents in that chamber.

The Legislatures failure to expand Medicaid was a monumentally stupid decision that has negatively affected all Wyoming residents. The dozens of Wyoming Medical Center employees laid-off and others in the state who will follow them to the unemployment line dont deserve their fate. But the lawmakers who perpetrated this health-care emergency should be removed from office.

Personally, Id like to see them tarred-and-feathered and booted out of Wyoming, but in our civilized society the way to properly punish these reckless fools is at the ballot box. This is such a serious issue that no one who opposed Medicaid expansion should be voted back into office.

The state legislative leaders of the anti-expansion movement had one goal: Deny President Barack Obama any type of victory in the landmark health-care reform he championed. Even though the Affordable Care Act has enabled 20 million Americans to finally obtain health insurance and prevented the industry from not insuring anyone due to pre-existing health conditions, Charlie Scott & Company have been hell-bent on its destruction by any means necessary.

These Republicans did it under the guise of not trusting the federal government to keep its promise to pay at least 90 percent of the cost for Medicaid expansion. Thousands of Wyomingites bought that excuse during the last election, but the GOPs action showed this claim to be a bald-faced lie. Even when an amendment was added that would have automatically withdrawn Wyoming from the program if federal support ever dropped below 90 percent, opponents kept up their charade.

Last week I spoke with Wyoming Hospital Association president Eric Boley, who was and still is one of the main proponents of Medicaid expansion. He thinks the Legislature must address the issue again in 2017, but that will clearly only happen if those who stubbornly drove us off the cliff dont return. If they are rewarded for their asinine behavior by being re-elected, they will see it as evidence the public wants them to double-down on their decision.

Boley said Medicaid expansion wouldnt have fixed all of Wyoming Medical Centers financial problems, but it would have brought in about $2.5 million annually to the facility, which would have made any layoffs much less severe. In addition to the 58 out-of-work medical employees, the hospitals administration also decided it will not fill 57 other positions that are now vacant.

Boley said the hospital was trying to cut about $10 million from its budget before the layoffs, and hoped to do much of it by finding efficiencies.

Wyoming Medical Center has experienced several budgetary hits through no fault of its own, including the loss of its sole community provider status due to competition from other hospitals that set up shop in Casper.

Medicare used to provide about $6 million a year to Wyoming Medical Center because as the only hospital in town it was mandated to treat everyone who sought aid regardless of their ability to pay. The feds have determined the new Mountain View and Summit Hospitals market shares mean Wyoming Medical Center is no longer considered the sole provider, even though it is still the communitys safety net hospital. It has to take all uninsured and underinsured patients. To add insult to injury, the hospital had to repay Medicare nearly $16 million.

While Summit and Mountain View are taking the highly insured  the people who can pay their bills  WMC is forced to take all comers, Boley explained. So theyve seen a huge shift in their patient mix and its had a real effect on their bottom line.

Meanwhile, patients who can pay have seen their insurance premiums go up to pick up the slack.

Because taxes are collected a year in arrears, Boley said he expects the downturn in Wyomings economy to really start hitting hospitals hard in 2017. What happened at Wyoming Medical Center could be repeated at other hospitals across the state.

Our states been lucky, while the rest have struggled over the past several years, the WHA president said. Wyoming always seems to lag behind, but they did predict (lower mineral prices and tax revenues) and you could see this coming.  Its a real drastic downturn and I think its going to take several years for us to rebound from it.

Several factors contributed to Wyoming Medical Centers fiscal woes, but the lack of Medicaid expansion, it can be argued, is the primary driver. Just look at the numbers, which were readily available to lawmakers before the budget session.

Colorado passed expansion in 2013, the first year it was available under the ACA. All of its hospitals, including their small critical-access hospitals, are operating in the black.

The critical-access hospitals have an operating margin of about 8 percent, and its obvious (Medicaid expansion) has worked, Boley said. The other thing weve seen in states that expanded Medicaid is theyre seeing a 63 percent reduction in the amount of uncompensated care thats being written off annually, as opposed to those that didnt expand, which are seeing 3-4 percent increases.

Boley noted the Wyoming Department of Health was recently directed to cut about $117 million from its budget. With federal matching funds, the true number is about $200 million, he added. The across-the-board cuts are going to cripple hospitals and affect providers and physicians. Medicaid expansion would have really plugged a hole in the budget and at least kept the Department of Health whole and given us ($260 million in) General Fund money that could have been re-purposed to other programs throughout the state.

Boley said he feels terrible about Wyoming Medical Center employees who lost their jobs and the difficulties the hospital is facing. But hopefully it will be a wake-up call to the Legislature that this is real and its hitting our state right now, he said.

Im not as hopeful as Boley is that state lawmakers will answer a wake-up call. In my home county, Natrona, voters who want to send a message that what legislators did to hurt Wyoming Medical Center is wholly unacceptable wont have to do much research to find out who should pay the price at the polls. The entire county delegation consists of eight representatives and four senators, all incumbent Republicans who opposed Medicaid expansion. The eight who are seeking re-election shouldnt need to book any hotel rooms in Cheyenne next January.

They drove all of us off a cliff, and we shouldnt be the only ones who crash.

Kerry Drake is a veteran Wyoming journalist, and a contributor to WyoHistory.org. He also moderates the WyPols blog. He has more than 30 years experience at the Wyoming Eagle and Casper Star-Tribune as a reporter, editor and editorial writer. He lives in Casper.
Increases may be 20 percent or more

An Indiana couple who wrote to me a few weeks ago has experienced the ups and downs of Obamacare, and they wanted me to know about one downside they now face---a monthly premium of $836.

No one should have to pay those high premiums unless youre considered high class, and we arent, the woman said.

The couple-she is 59 and he is 62-are self-employed, and their income fluctuates. At first the Affordable Care Act was, a godsend, the woman told me. Before they signed up for Obamacare, they were paying almost $1,000 a month for insurance coverage. Then they bought an Obamacare policy, a Gold plan Anthem sold on the Indiana shopping exchange. It was a good policy with a relatively low deductible, low copays and coinsurance costing about $1,435. Best of all, they qualified for a subsidy.

Their income that year was low, between $23,000 and $28,000. That entitled them to a subsidy of around $1,200, leaving them to pay only about $235, which they could easily swing. Recall that subsidies are intended to help those with the lowest incomes, and because their income was low, their subsidy was generous.

Then, as the economy started to improve, their income went up, but their subsidy went down. As theyre supposed to do, the family regularly reports income changes to the government so they dont get stuck with a gigantic bill at the end of the year, money they would owe for subsidies they were not entitled to.

Now the couples income is about $45,000. In May, Anthem notified them the policy still costs about the same, but their subsidy had dropped to around $600. They would have to pay the remaining portion of the premium, about $836.

Most likely the couple will see a premium increase for 2017. Preliminary rate requests to state regulators have been in the high double digits. As incomes rise, many families will be will be squeezed by a combination of lower subsidies and higher premiums.

Premiums are rising in the so-called individual insurance market where some 24 million Americans get their coverage. About half buy policies on the Obamacare shopping exchanges and receive subsidies, but the other half must shop on the open market and get none. They will be hit particularly hard.

In Colorado, for example, some insurers are asking for average increases as high as 35 or 40 percent. Texas Blue Cross Blue Shield wants an increase averaging nearly 60 percent. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska is seeking an average increase of almost 35 percent, and in Indiana the couples carrier Anthem is asking for hikes averaging between 20 and 41 percent.

Says Indianapolis insurance broker Jonathan Mayo, I think its going to be ugly.

Not every policy will have premiums that high, of course. Increases may apply only to certain policies in certain areas, and regulators are likely to lower many of the companies requests.

But this year insurers are making a strong case they need more money. Some say that since they have to cover everyone no matter how sick those people are, theyve been hit with a lot of claims from people who have costly medical needs.

Federal money called for by the Affordable Care Act to help carriers adjust to the unknowns presented by the new law has gone away. The American Academy of Actuaries points to another factor: increasing costs for prescription drugs, increases the academy says continue to outpace costs for other medical services.

The Academy also notes, There may be less price competition when fewer health plans participate. During this falls open enrollment season for 2017 insurance, more than 650 counties, mostly rural, will have only one carrier offering coverage. Thats up from only 225 counties in that situation last year, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Why the trend? A study by one health technology firm found that rural residents have significantly higher medical costs than those living in urban areas, making insurers gun-shy about selling in rural counties.

What can families do? They can buy cheaper silver and bronze policies that often come with narrow provider networks and high deductibles, high coinsurance and high copays.

The Indiana couple is not willing to do that yet, but they are frustrated by their high premiums and the prospect of even higher ones. The man has just applied for early Social Security benefits. Its going to take every bit of my Social Security to pay for my health insurance, he told me. Hell have to use other income, too. Im going to have to save a year ahead to afford it.

Hes lucky he can.

How are you going to pay for expected premium increases? Write to Trudy at trudy.lieberman@gmail.com.
Simone Keevert demonstrates how to put a braid wrap into hair. This is just one of many items she makes out of leather.

Sometimes finding out about one's past can lead to a hobby they never thought about before.

For Green River resident Simone Keevert, this is a reality.

Keevert was adopted as a child and she searched for her birth parents for years. Eventually, she found her brother and discovered she was part of a Native American tribe. After more research, Keevert found out she was a part of the Delaware Cherokee tribe out of Toronto, Canada.

"I thought 'wow what a rich culture,"' Keevert said.

Keevert learned even more about her cultural background when she was working as a DJ at a radio station. There s...
Learn about Wyomings Red Desert by attending a library-sponsored presentation.

The Sweetwater County Library System is hosting two free presentations by Erik Molvar.

The first is at 6:30 p.m. June 20 at the Sweetwater County Library and the second is at 6:30 p.m. June 22 at Rock Springs Library.

Molvar explores the rich and varied conservation history of one of Wyomings most spectacular and enigmatic landscapes in his presentation Wyomings Red Desert: A Century of Conservation History.

Molvars presentation will also take those in attendance on a virtual tour of some of the...
GREENSBORO - ArtsGreensboro presented the 2016 Arts Education Teacher of the Year Award on Wednesday to Jancie Reinbold, a music teacher who leads the cultural arts department at Western Guilford High School.

Tammy Larrick, art teacher at Millis Road Elementary, was named runner-up.

Reinbold received the award during ArtsGreensboros annual meeting, held at Revolution Mill.

Shortly after joining the Western Guilford faculty in 2000, Reinbold embarked on a journey to enhance learning and provide opportunities for creativity through music.

She created Western Guilfords Piano Lab by submitting grant proposals to various organizations, including ArtsGreensboro.

Since 2002, when she received her first grant for eight keyboards, Reinbold has written nearly 10 other successful grants, continuously expanding the number and caliber of instruments available for students.

She has involved students in developing projects and writing grants for enhancing the piano lab.

Reinbold also is passionate about choral performance. Her students have received superior ratings year after year at North Carolina Music Educators Association Choral Festivals.

One of Reinbolds four-year choral students, Edward Goldman, who recently graduated from Western, said, She has watched me grow over the years and helped mold me into who I am today.

Reinbold received a plaque and $1,000 for professional development.

At Millis Road Elementary, Tammy Larrick not only teaches art classes during the regular school day, but also leads after-school art clubs throughout the school year for students and teachers.

Every year, she engages the entire school in a service learning project, One Day Without Shoes, to show students what life is like for children in third-world countries.

Larrick also produces an annual Art Show that includes one piece of work from every child in the school.

One of her former students, Mackenzie Wheeless, who is now in middle school, called her "the perfect example of a devoted art teacher. I wish everyone could have a chance to have someone like her in their life.

Reinbold and Larrick will be honored at the Guilford County Board of Education meeting on June 30.
WINSTON-SALEM - Smithfield and Lowes Foods partnered to donate more than 35,000 pounds of protein to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina on Tuesday.

The donation was the 11th stop of Smithfields Helping Hungry Homes tour.

The donation will provide more than 140,000 servings and help the food bank continue to provide meals to the 16 percent of families and individuals in northwest North Carolina who are suffering from hunger.

Helping Hungry Homes, now in its eighth year, is Smithfields coast-to-coast campaign to help Americans become more food secure. This year, the program will help fight hunger through more than 30 large-scale protein donations to food banks across the United States totaling more than 3.5 million servings. To date, Helping Hungry Homes has provided more than 38 million servings of protein to food banks across America.
From Inside Higher Ed:

The U.S. Department of Education has recommended the termination of a controversial accreditor, which could threaten access to federal financial aid for 243 institutions  many of them for-profits  that enroll more than 800,000 students.

The departments extraordinary recommendation to eliminate the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, a large national accreditor that was the gatekeeper for $4.76 billion in federal aid spending last year, follows widespread criticism of ACICSs oversight of Corinthian Colleges.

Heres the link to the DOE report if you want to get way down into the weeds.

This is a big, big deal. To get federal financial aid dollars from their students, schools need to be accredited. Without Pell Grants, federal student loans and GI Bill money, these for-profit schools (any school, really) are DOA.

ACICS accredits 17 schools in North Carolina. (Heres the list.) Three of them are local: Virginia College on Holden Road in Greensboro, ITT Tech in High Point and Living Arts Institute in Winston-Salem.

The issue with ACICS is pretty clear: Its supposed to be a watchdog, but its (allegedly) toothless. It was the accrediting body for Corinthian Colleges, and we all know what happened there.

If Corinthian was the only bad actor in the bunch, the feds could have reluctantly written off all of those bad student loans and called it a day. But the feds are smarter than that because they see theyre probably about to be stuck with more bad debt.

Among current ACICS-accredited schools, ITT Technical Institute is facing an SEC investigation for fraud as well as a whistleblower lawsuit, and a California school was roundly mocked online because it abolished the F (and has no permanent full-time faculty for its 6,000 students).

Heres more from the feds on what its action on ACICS might mean for students. The TL,DR is that ACICS' day of reckoning is a ways down the road. It apparently takes a while to drop all those shoes.
GREENSBORO  Additional prayer vigils are being planned locally in honor of the shooting victims of the worst mass shooting in modern day U.S. history.

Police say 49 people were killed and dozens of others injured early Sunday when a gunman wielding an assault-type rifle and a handgun opened fire inside a crowded gay nightclub .

A vigil is planned for 7 p.m., Thursday at First Lutheran Church, 3600 W Friendly Ave. The gathering is from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., to pray, reflect and remember.

The program will include various words and prayers from different faith traditions. There will also be a reading of the names of those who were killed in the tragedy, along with the lighting of solidarity candles. Click here to read a letter from Bishop Tim Smith of the NC Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The Orlando Friends Meeting had asked Quaker communities all over the country to join them prayer. First Friends Meeting will gather at 7 p.m., Friday.

First Friends is located at 2100 W. Friendly Ave.

Other vigils have taken place in Greensboro since Sunday.
After the Orlando massacre, Greensboros LGBT community held a memorial vigil downtown for the victims, and do-nothing Republican Congressman Mark Walker showed up.

Of course, he didnt speak in support of the victims (since most were gay), but he wasnt above using the event to glad-hand the public for political support. (This is the same sort of inappropriate opportunism that Donald Trump has exhibited.)

Since Walker claims to be a Christian preacher, and since homophobia is the Republican party line (wishing to prohibit gays from having the same rights and privileges others have), I wish someone would explain something to me:

Inasmuch as science has proven homosexuality is physiologically determined in the brain prior to birth (thus being a decision made by God), and since Jesus said, Do unto others and Judge not, how can depriving gays of equality  and passing judgment on a decision made by God  possibly be Christian?

How can anyone be both Christian and homophobic/Republican?

Of course, anyone can cherry-pick contradictory verses from the Bible, but does anything else in the Christian Bible overrule the words of Christ?

I suggest Republicans re-read the Gospels.

E.T. Edwards

Greensboro
GREENSBORO  Despite violence in other cities, Donald Trumps rally here Tuesday night was relatively peaceful even with several arrests.

Police escorted 20 demonstrators from the Greensboro Coliseum and arrested seven more inside the venue during the rally.

Police arrested several more people outside the venue after the presumptive Republican presidential nominees speech. Those arrested inside the venue probably face charges of trespassing, Greensboro Police Chief Wayne Scott said. He did not know what charges people arrested outside the venue face.

To help maintain control, police kept protesters across the street from the rally.

As about 200 demonstrators made their way north on Coliseum Boulevard, a car hit one on a bicycle, witnesses said. The male bike rider got up, punched out the cars windshield and punched the driver several times, witness Jeanne Vera said.

The biker put his fist right through the windshield, she said. He was very upset.

The Winston-Salem Police Department provided 19 officers and six supervisors to assist Greensboro police.

Winston-Salem Police Chief Barry Rountee said that the officers and supervisors were provided through a mutual aid agreement with the Greensboro Police Department.

WSPD and other agencies were asked by the Greensboro PD to supply police personnel to assist with the Trump visit in Greensboro, Rountree said.

Some violence has accompanied Trumps campaign speeches in places like Albuquerque, N.M., San Jose, Calif., and Fayetteville.

The Greensboro Police Department set out to avoid those sorts of incidents by employing and deploying a large police contingency, Scott said.

We said were going to let people come down here and protest or show their support, Deputy Chief Brian Cheek said. We wont tolerate lawlessness  thats when people get arrested.

Scores of officers from all around North Carolina sat in staging areas inside the Greensboro Coliseum on Tuesday night, waiting to see if they were called.

When needed, the officers, in groups of 15 to 20 and clad in neon green vests, jogged through the Greensboro afternoon heat radiating off parking lots and streets to be certain Trumps supporters and detractors remained separated. They also stood between officers and traffic along Gate City Boulevard to hopefully prevent traffic accidents.

Thats how Greensboro police  supported by hundreds of officers from Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Guilford County, Gibsonville, Rural Hall, Burlington and other agencies  kept Tuesday nights rally from degenerating into clashes between Trumps supporters and demonstrators.

Dhruv Pathak said he saw four people arrested on Gate City Boulevard as demonstrators walked from the east side of the building to the west side.

We werent in the street, he said. They were telling us to get on the sidewalk. We were all on the sidewalk.

After the rally demonstrators said they were heading over to the Guilford County jail to show solidarity with those who were arrested.

Jennifer Thompson, who was in a group of about 60 demonstrators across Gate City Boulevard from the coliseum, said they just wanted the chance to share their views.

Im all for freedom of speech, she said. I dont care what people believe. Were just glad to be out here.
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GREENWICH  Police Chief James Heavey has completed his training with the FBI National Academy Program at Quantico, Virginia.

Heavey took part in the ten-week program that trains law-enforcement executives on advanced communication, leadership, management, specialized technology and other topics. About 220 men and women from around the country and overseas were enrolled in the recent session, which held its graduation ceremony on June 10. According to the FBI academy, enrollment is by invitation only, through a nomination process.

Besides the focus on leadership, students also study law, behavioral science, forensic science and counter-terrorism. The academy students are also encouraged to share ideas and experiences on law enforcement, learning from each other.

Fitness is also a component of the training, and a final test requires passage of a 6.1-mile run through a hilly, wooded trail.

Heavey was in Greenwich periodically while completing his studies at Quantico.

The academy was founded under the auspices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1935, and its mission was the standardization and professionalization of police agencies across the country through a system of centralized training.

Heavey was not immediately available for comment.

A member of the department since 1981, he joined the force as a dispatcher. He moved to a full-time police officer position in 1986. A veteran of Operation Desert Shield, Heavey was in the military police and spent 20 years with the U.S. Army Reserve. Heavey was named to the top position in the police department in 2011.

Robert.Marchant@scni.com
MILFORD  Two men whose inflatable dinghy was swept into Long Island Sound by strong winds and rough surf were rescued Tuesday by the U.S. Coast Guard after being stranded overnight.

The men had left Monday afternoon from Silver Sands State Park to fish near Charles Island, said Ensign Rodian Mazin, a Coast Guard spokesman. The men were not wearing life jackets, they had no radio or flares and they hadnt left a float plan, informing contacts of where they intended to go.

But the biggest problem the men faced was the wind and currents that pushed them beyond Charles Island and into the Sound, Mazin said. One of them jumped overboard and swam back to the island, where he was stranded overnight.

The other was found (Tuesday) morning near the shore of Long Island, where a Good Samaritan, who happened to be a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, recognized the signs of distress, the spokesman said.

The man in the raft was waving a red flag to signal for help, and he was transferred to the Coast Guards New Haven station, where he was treated for hypothermia and dehydration and then taken by ambulance to the hospital.

On the way, he told Coast Guard officials about his friend, who had made it to Charles Island, Mazin said. Milford police and fire department marine units were dispatched to find the second man, who had walked off the island on the tombolo at low tide and was found next to his car in the beach parking lot.

The second boater is being treated at Milford Hospital for hypothermia and dehydration, the Coast Guard spokesman said. He declined to release the name of either man.

The rescues capped a busy and tragic  several days on the Sound. Mazin confirmed that neither man rescued Tuesday was Shigemune Mori, 32, who was last seen Sunday wearing a white T-shirt and no life jacket in the water in the vicinity of Seaside Park in Bridgeport.

The search for Mori had been suspended Monday afternoon after searches by several agencies, including the Coast Guard and the Bridgeport police and fire department marine units found no sign of him.

Coast Guard crews searched for nearly 24 hours and covered 78 square miles, south of Bridgeport. During the search, the air temperature was 50 degrees with 25 knots of winds.

Another man with Mori was able to swim to shore when the raft capsized off of Seaside Park, officials said.

A Coast Guard spokesman said the men entered the water on their 14-foot raft at about 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Bridgeport police reported to the Coast Guard that one man had made it to shore safely, but that the man had lost sight of his companion in the water.

Chief Armando Perez said Mori and the other unidentified man had earlier purchased the raft, a blow-up type with two oars, and decided to set off in it from Seaside Park.

The strong winds whipped the small boat about, and the men lost one of the oars, Perez said. The unidentified man jumped from the boat to try and get the lost oar and Mori then fell out as the boat capsized.

(Moris) wife is pregnant; this is a terrible tragedy, Perez said.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium and an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from the Coast Guard were launched to search for Mori.

In addition to that incident, one person was pronounced dead in Long Island on Monday morning and two others were taken to the hospital after they were found on a beach in the Suffolk County town of Southold, N.Y., according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protections EnCon Police.
The written word is on its deathbed, croaking its last breath in outmoded syllables and syntax, or so Facebook would have us think.

The social media giants vice president of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) inspired grunts, groans, sad faces and sighs throughout the publishing industry when she boldly predicted that the site would be probably all video within the next five years. Yes, all video. The very thought of it sends shivers down our logophile spines, but not so much that were blinded to the reality that we must embrace it to survive.

Related: How Your Business Can Capitalize on Facebook Live

If I was having a bet, Facebook exec Nicola Mendelsohn said at a Fortune event yesterday, itd be video, video, video. She cited exploding demand for raw, behind-the-scenes content via Facebook Live, a hot, new feature that she described as a bigger, faster phenomenon than her employer originally anticipated.

People comment 10 times more when it's a live video than when it's a regular video. At #egtaSummit says @nicolamen from @facebook  Anne-Laure Dreyfus C (@AnneLaureDreyf) June 9, 2016

Why Facebook has fallen so hard and fast for video, messy live bits and polished pre-recorded clips alike, according to Mendelsohn: Were seeing a year-on-year decline on text. Were seeing a massive increase, as Ive said, on both pictures and video. She said thats because The best way to tell stories in this world where so much information is coming at us actually is video.

Related: 10 Questions to Ask When Creating Your Company's YouTube Channel

Perhaps not all hope is lost for writers, she hinted. Well still play a role, albeit a much smaller one. Youll have to write for the video, she said.

From where Mendelsohn sits, looking over 433 million users in EMEA and privy to all manner of metrics about its residents' insatiable appetite for video content, its a safe bet she knows of what she speaks.

Press play already.

The mobile video revolution has gone viral and video ad money-hungry Facebook is leading the charge, not that we havent seen this coming for some time, though perhaps not this fast.

Image credit: Liz Linder

Publishers arent the only ones who should be quick to follow in Facebook's footsteps, BIGfish PR founder and Emerson College marketing professor David Gerzof Richard told Entrepreneur. Brands outside of the media industry also need to hop on the video bandwagon, and soon. If they dont, theyre risking a lot more than just appearing out of touch and off-trend.

Companies looking to stay competitive in their market space, win new business and attract employees need to embrace video, he said. They need to look at their mobile phones as video cameras and always think about creating relevant and meaningful content when going about their daily business activities.

Related: 6 Big Reasons Small Businesses Need to Be on Periscope

"As video search technologies improve, bandwidth costs for uploading and downloading video drop and humans get better at shooting and posting video files, video will increasingly become a more dominant form of communication for all businesses, from startups to multi-national brands.

And its not just the leadership at those businesses who should be spearheading the push for mobile video, Gerzof Richard said. The entire organization needs to train-up and embrace video.

Training-up quickly yet thoroughly will be key as companies increasingly entrust employees, top to bottom, with churning out videos representing their brands in the moment, when anything can go wrong and anything can be said.

To minimize mistakes and maximize reach and the right messaging, Gerzof Richard offers the following five basic steps businesses can take when creating video for Facebook and the web:

1. Accept that video is the future and act accordingly.

Brands and companies need to accept that they are now always on camera and on record. As such, they need to prepare and act accordingly at all touchpoints of their organizations. This will maximize positive video engagements and minimize negative video outcomes.

2. Know what makes compelling video.

Understand what is post-worthy video. These are videos that answer who, what, where, when, why and how questions about the company and the industry in which it operates and the products and services and the problems they solve.

Related: The 4 Pillars of Stellar Video Marketing

3. Get the right tools.

Download and learn a simple video editing app. Often videos shot on mobile devices have extraneous footage both before and after the post-worthy footage, and a simple video editing app can be used to crop out unwanted frames and shorten videos. I recommend the following good, simple video editing apps: Magisto (iOS, Android), Clipper (iOS), iMovie (iOS), AndroVid (Android).

4. Make it fast and informative.

Video for Facebook should be short and sweet. Under a minute is a good rule.

5. Track your impact.

Businesses need to learn the basics of Facebook video analytics to understand the impact videos have with their communities and be able to adjust their content accordingly.

Related:



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
This does look a little passe. Photo: Tannen Maury/Bloomberg via Getty Images

McDonalds has determined the next phase of its ongoing turnaround plan, and it starts with the very high priority step of  moving company executives into cool new offices. Probably after scouring Apples and Amazons business models for something they could copy, the chain announced Monday that (almost) everyone at its corporate offices in suburban Chicago will be packing up and moving into chicer digs downtown in Oprahs old Harpo Studios. The move-in date is spring of 2018, giving McDonalds enough time to transform the space into a modern setting that fosters collaboration and connectivity.

While its not entirely clear what CEO Steve Easterbrook means when he argues hes turning McDonalds into a modern, progressive burger company, he argues relocating the chains headquarters is a significant step toward achieving it. In a statement about the new location, he says, This world-class environment will continue to drive business momentum by getting us even closer to customers, encouraging innovation and ensuring great talent is excited about where they work.

The company has been based out in Oak Brook since the 70s, and now the headquarters are a sprawling 150 acres. The new address is inside Chicagos West Loop, an area thats home to Google and therefore trendy. Hamburger University, the training facility that grants tens of thousands of Bachelor of Hamburgerology degrees every year, will also relocate to the downtown area, presumably unveiling updated course offerings (The Feminist Critique of the New Hamburglar?) in the process. The new headquarters will be built over the preexisting space, no doubt gutting or razing the studio that held Oprahs couch for an open-office floor plan, nap pods, and some sort of futuristic Big Mac vending machine.

[Sun-Times]
The death of a University of Wisconsin-Stout student on April 16 has been ruled accidental. The students blood alcohol level was .298  nearly four times the legal limit for driving in Wisconsin. No other substances were detected in his body.

The Dunn County Medical Examiner said Rickey A. Hible, 22, of Shakopee, Minnesota bled to death after cutting himself when he fell into the glass marquee in front of Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 910 Ninth St. E. in Menomonie.

An investigation by the Menomonie Police Department reveals that Hible suffered serious lacerations to his right forearm, wrist and the inside of his elbow. There was no indication that he punched the glass and no signs of a struggle.

Hible had spent the evening of April 15 with various groups of friends before visiting some downtown Menomonie bars. Shortly after 2:30 a.m., he was seen at Jeffs Pizza on Main Street where he met a friend and began walking east, arriving at a residence at 919 Ninth Street around 3 a.m. The friend went into the house, leaving Hible outside for about five minutes. When he returned, Hible was no longer in the yard.

A witness, who did not call the police, saw Hible lying on the ground below the sign in front of Our Saviors, then watched as he stood up, yelled and ran across the street toward 919 Ninth Street.

Hible was not seen again until his body was found at 920 Eighth Street East shortly after 7 a.m. by someone doing handy-work at a neighboring house, just a block away from the church.

Chancellor weighs in

Noting that the universitys top priority is to support Hibles family and friends, UW-Stout Chancellor Bob Meyer told the campus, We have a responsibility to learn what we can from the circumstances surrounding Rickeys death in the hopes of avoiding a similar tragedy in the future. I believe a hard lesson to be learned from his incident is that, even though we have made some progress in our efforts to curb high-risk alcohol consumption, more needs to be accomplished in this critical area.

Meyer said that this fall, the Dean of Students office will unveil additional prevention measures aimed at students who live off-campus in its 2016-17 High Risk Drinking Prevention Plan as well as improvements to Stouts Bystander Intervention Program.

There is no silver bullet in our efforts to prevent tragedies that emanate from high-risk behaviors associated with alcohol consumption, Meyer concluded. But we still have a responsibility to do everything we can to help our students have a healthy and safe experience while they attend UW-Stout.
A thriving black market. Photo: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

This time, theres no question that the avocado-toast trend has gone too far: Since January, New Zealand has been overrun by a massive crime spree, but no ones breaking into any banks or stealing rare jewels. Instead, these ruthless thieves have staged an onslaught of high-stakes, high-volume avocado heists, hitting innocent orchards on New Zealands north island in the dead of night and stealing as many as 350 fruit at a time. Nearly 40 raids have been reported, but authorities suspect many others have been committed and gone unreported. In response, some farmers have started installing automatic lights and alarm systems to protect their crops.

The cause of the crime wave is likely the increased price of avocados, which have spiked to roughly $3 to $4 a fruit, a result of a poor growing season coupled with, according to New Zealand Avocado, 96,000 more households discovering avocado toast. Large growers have been unable to keep up with the demand, and the thieves have seized the opportunity so they can sell the avocados themselves at roadside stalls, grocery stores, or small restaurants in Auckland. Though the stolen fruit may have been sprayed recently and so poses a potential risk to unsuspecting customers, the avocado mania is apparently too strong to dissuade anyone. While one small-town police officer believes this is the worst wave of avocado thievery to ever hit New Zealand, the CEO of New Zealand Avocado cautions that this likely isnt the work of an organized avocado-stealing gang.

[Guardian]
Unter, a bare-bones techno after-party, has a cult following among Bushwicks rave freaks. Photo: Rebecca Smeyne

From a German-inspired techno rave to a secret warehouse in Hasidic Williamsburg that bumps till 11 a.m., here are the best places to go when the bar is shutting down but youre just not ready to head home.

The Absolute Best 1. Unter

Monthly at various locations, 2am-9am; $15-$20 Unter is German for under, and it doesnt get much more underground than this bare-bones techno after-party, which began a year ago in the dank concrete basement of a Bushwick cafe. Unter has a cult following among Bushwicks rave freaks, but, really, its for everyone with a weakness for pummeling European techno and unhealthy sleep schedules. The roving party has since taken over a cavernous bar in the outskirts of Queens, a former office building in East Williamsburg, and Market Hotel, where they teamed up with local music label the Bunker to throw a now-infamous rager for 36 hours straight.

2. Sublimate at Space Is the Place

Monthly at secret location, 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. (or later); $10 to $20

Named after the 1974 film Space Is the Place, this near-mythical loft sits on an isolated stretch of industrial Brooklyn where Detroit DJ Mike Huckaby once played a reel-to-reel session of Sun Ra tapes as skaters whizzed by on a hand-built ramp on the roof. According to local legend, in a punk-as-fuck move, the lofts raver-squatters only throw parties on Friday nights, when, according to Shabbat laws, their Hasidic neighbors cant use electricity to call the cops and complain. In exchange, these Hasids have an open invite to party for free. So this monthly party is the best excuse to meet your neighbors and wile away an hour or 12 while dancing to everyone from Japanese house pioneer Soichi Terada to London boogie master FunkinEven.

3. Cityfox/The Brooklyn Mirage

Weekends (time varies), 140 Stewart Ave., at Meserole St., East Williamsburg; $40 to $70

When Cityfox opened a pop-up club called the Brooklyn Mirage last year, it felt like a surreal slice of Ibiza in Brooklyn, complete with swaying palm trees, imported sand, and towering outdoor platforms overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Part of the magic was that the indoor-outdoor space only lasted a summer before it reverted into an empty lot, but now the club is back in a new location, with promoters promising a tropical jungle theme, state-of-the-art sound system, and 3-D-mapped visuals. Best of all, their parties often run past 6 a.m.  sometimes even all weekend  meaning you can stroll in after your morning bagel and still find hundreds of partygoers under the sunshine, locked into a groove of hypnotic house.

4. Bushwick A/V

Every Friday and Saturday at various secret locations, 3 a.m. to noon (or later); $15 to $30

Bushwick A/V might be the most consistent go-to for all of the resilient souls who refuse to call it quits once the citys clubs flip on the lights. Up a narrow flight of stairs in the skylit loft of a warehouse in  where else?  Bushwick, youll find the late-night lurkers here every Saturday and Sunday morning. According to one of its three founders (who prefers to remain anonymous), the DJs are nearly always homegrown stars, selected to emphasize the rich local talent of our native city. Expect an anything-goes crowd on the wilder end of the spectrum, including strangers offering casual romps in the creaky bathrooms, if thats your kind of thing. This den of depravity is not for the weak of heart.
Even since Chinese manufacturer Vivo announced the original Xshot camera-centric handset back in 2014, there have been rumors about a successor. However, information had all but dried out until earlier this month, when the alleged device resurfaced, only this time without the Xshot moniker.

By all account, Vivo is working on a new device, dubbed the X7. This was reaffirmed by the latest company teaser for the smartphone. But even with no obvious reference to the Xshot family, the connection is still reaffirmed by the fact that the X7 will offer users a 16MP front-facing shooter.

This definitely shows major emphasis on camera experience, as is expected from an Xshot successor. As for the name change, that does raise some questions about the design language of the new phone and whether it will take after siblings like the Vivo X6.

According to the same sources, the Vivo X7 will come with a revolutionary new look and some even point to a concept device spotted in the Captain America Civil War movie. However, the latter did also feature the Vivo V3 on screen, so design is still a mystery at this point. Sadly, so are the rest of the specs on the device.

Via
Timeline for One UI 5 rollout revealed: Galaxy S and Z models to get it by the end of the year
Thomas Beranek was just getting crowned and sashed as Mr. Gay Chippewa Valley for the USofA pageant at Scooters Bar late Saturday night when first word of the Orlando shooting broke.

It was around 9 a.m. when the 28-year-old Chippewa Falls man woke up to news across social media that 49 people died, with 53 more injured, during a shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub.

June is considered to be LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) Pride month. It is when cities around the country are hosting Pride parades and events to celebrate gay rights and the community.

This past weekend was designated for Chippewa Valley Pride, where events like the pageant were taking place at Scooters, a gay bar in Eau Claire.

Not knowing what else to do after hearing of the Florida massacre, Beranek said that he went back to Scooters on Sunday with his husband, Mike, to watch the news and be with other gay people, feeling that was the right thing to do.

Then the stories came out with the faces of the victims, Beranek said. You saw the reaction on a couple peoples faces as they recognized one of the victims, and that was really hard.

He said its too early to tell what sort of impact this will have on the gay community in the Chippewa Valley, as many people are still in a state of shock over the largest mass shooting to ever take place on U.S. soil.

Beranek said this was the most anger he has ever seen from the LGBT community  not so much an anger of violence, but more how could this have happened?

Security measures were tightened at gay pride events across the country Sunday due to the shooting in Orlando. The extra precautions being taken at these events is the right course of action, Beranek said, because that in and of itself justifies what pride is: something worth protection.

The couple still plan on going to the Twin Cities Pride Festival at the end of June. Both the Twin Cities Pride and Milwaukee Pride festivals are planning events to memorialize the shooting.

This year more than any other you go because thats what you need to do, Beranek said.

Q2, an LGBTQA Youth Group in the Chippewa Valley, held a Chippewa Valley Stands with Orlando vigil in Eau Claires Phoenix Park Monday night to show solidarity with LGBTQ communities near and far.

The Chippewa Valley also offers support at the LGBT Community Center of the Chippewa Valley.

For the LGBT community, Beranek said they have a unique fear in their demographic: The fear of coming out. The fear of being hated like what was shown in Orlando. And as the Pride motto goes, love wins.

Love them, and dont tolerate hate, Beranek said. Dont be a passive observer.
The April 16 death of a University of Wisconsin-Stout student has been ruled accidental.

According to the Dunn County Medical Examiner, Rickey A. Hible, bled to death after cutting himself when he fell into the glass marquee in front of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Menomonie. His blood alcohol level was .298  nearly four times the legal limit for driving in Wisconsin. No other substances were detected.

An investigation by the Menomonie Police Department reveals that Hible, 22, suffered serious lacerations to his right forearm, wrist and the inside of his elbow. There was no indication that he punched the glass and no signs of a struggle.

The police repeat found that:

Hible had spent the evening of April 15 with various groups of friends before visiting downtown Menomonie bars. Shortly after 2:30 a.m., he was seen at Jeffs Pizza on Main Street where he met a friend and began walking east, arriving at a residence at 919 Ninth Street around 3 a.m. The friend went into the house, leaving Hible outside for about five minutes. When he returned, Hible was no longer in the yard.

A witness, who did not call the police, saw Hible lying on the ground below the sign in front of Our Saviors, then watched as he stood up, yelled and ran across the street toward 919 Ninth St.

Hible was not seen again until his body was found at 920 Eighth Street East shortly after 7 a.m. by someone doing handy-work at a neighboring house, just a block away from the church.

UW-Stout takes action

Noting that the universitys top priority is to support Hibles family and friends, UW-Stout Chancellor Bob Meyer said it also has a responsibility to learn what it can from the circumstances surrounding the students death in hopes of avoiding a similar tragedy.

I believe a hard lesson to be learned from his incident is that, even though we have made some progress in our efforts to curb high-risk alcohol consumption, more needs to be accomplished in this critical area, Meyer said.

He said the Dean of Students office will unveil additional prevention measures this fall aimed at students who live off-campus in its 2016-17 High Risk Drinking Prevention Plan, as well as improvements to Stouts Bystander Intervention Program.

There is no silver bullet in our efforts to prevent tragedies that emanate from high-risk behaviors associated with alcohol consumption, Meyer concluded. But we still have a responsibility to do everything we can to help our students have a healthy and safe experience while they attend UW-Stout.




Haiti - FLASH : Note to the Nation





"The Office of the National Assembly, chaired by the Honourable Cholzer Chancy, President of the Chamber of Deputies, and Ronald Lareche, Vice-President of the Senate has the advantage to advise the Haitian nation that the Haitian Parliament, conscious of its responsibilities as co-custodian of national sovereignty, has initiated consultations with the executive in order to rule and fix the end of the mandate of the Provisional President of the Republic and to order all provisions necessary to safeguard republican institutions, the public peace and the general interest.



The national community will be informed as soon as possible of the conclusion of these discussions.



Given at the Legislative Palace in Port-au-Prince, June 14, 2016.



Cholzer Chancy

President of the Chamber of Deputies



Ronald Lareche

Vice President of the Senate"



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Elections : Chancellor Delienne officially requested assistance of the OAS





Tuesday, at the 46th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), in Santo Domingo, the Foreign Minister of Haiti, Pierrot Delienne formally requested at the first plenary meeting of the General Assembly, the assistance of the OAS and the participation of each Member States to carry out the next elections in Haiti to be held October 9, 2016 and January 8, 2017, regarding: the resumption of the two rounds of presidential elections, the election of the third of the Senate, the second round of complementary legislative and local elections https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17658-haiti-flash-electoral-timetable-2016-2017-official.html



Chancellor Delienne pointed out "[...] we always need the assistance [of the OAS] it is not a financial assistance that we seek, this is the legitimacy of our elections with the support of institutions and friendly countries, as has been done and as is done in many countries right now, this is what we are looking [...]"



He recalled that the electoral timetable was already prepared and published https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/calendrier-CEP-2016-2017.pdf and affirmed that the next elections will be "free", "honest" and "transparent".



Note that in a note dated June 8, on the elections in Haiti, Luis Almagro Secretary General of the OAS had been open to assist Haiti in its elections and had declared that his institution was ready to "continue to play a positive role in the electoral process." https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17686-haiti-elections-oas-will-remains-alongside-haiti-for-the-elections.html



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Agriculture : France from words to deeds





The food security program implemented since 2013 by the South Departmental Directorate (Funded by AFD and delegates funds from the European Union) already bearing fruit and the French Agency is already preparing new projects for the sectors cocoa, coffee and vetiver.



Rural development projects of AFD become reality :



20 kilometers of primary channels of Avezac irrigation system have been renovated and the work of the secondary channels have started from Monday, June 13 ;





Producers have been supported for 5 crop years of corn and beans. They received technical advice and grants and their organization was improved. They now think about the issues of storage, marketing and promotion of their products ;



Producers have been supported for 5 crop years of corn and beans. They received technical advice and grants and their organization was improved. They now think about the issues of storage, marketing and promotion of their products ; Food security of nearly 800 farmers was improved, they produce more for themselves and for sale.



Towards the development of cocoa sectors, coffee and vetiver :

At the request of the Ministry of Agriculture, AFD could finance the development of cocoa sectors, coffee and vetiver (essential oil). The context is favorable, the demand for quality products is strong, particularly from French operators willing to offer remunerative prices.



In addition, these sectors can contribute not only to improving incomes of farmers in the short term but also in the restoration of watersheds and forest cover instead of contributing to their degradation, thanks to ecological agroforestry technologies .



Note that agroforestry present co-benefits in terms of economic development, adaptation to climate change and reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases from agriculture, by sequestering carbon in organic form, in soils and trees. Coffee culture goes beyond mere economic opportunity. Haiti has proposed this approach under the conditional commitments that have been taken at COP 21 climate of Paris. At the request of the Haitian authorities, the AFD will present an extension of support to the coffee sector to the Green Fund, which was established to support countries like Haiti.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping politics...





John Kerry wants that Haiti immediately advances

Tuesday, John Kerry, US Secretary of State, said in his speech at the 46th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), in Santo Domingo that "the time has come for Haiti to move the forward without delay," for the election of a new constitutional President stressing that Haiti can overcome the challenges ahead. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17742-haiti-elections-chancellor-delienne-officially-requested-assistance-of-the-oas.html



Shootout against the HQ of the Democratic Entente

In a note, Evans Paul the Executive Coordinator of the Democratic Entente (ED), group composed in particular of the KID, the PHTK, the National Consortium of Parties Haitians Policy, of Repon Peyizan, of the platfom Viktwa, of National Bloc Right Centre, MONHA, vigorously denounced the shooting on its Headquarter (premises of the KID) where there was a patriotic vigil on the night of Monday to Tuesday, June 14.



"[...] Given this climate of violence and persecution ED postpone the watchworfd of peaceful demonstration which was set for Tuesday 14 June to Thursday 16 June." In addition, the ED "ask the police to do its work in accordance with the law, in the performance of its mission to protect the lives and property of all citizens without distinction."



Only two candidates have confirmed their participation...

As of Tuesday, June 14, the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) confirmed that only two candidates have confirmed their participation in the presidential election scheduled in October: Jean Herve Charles of "Party for National Haitian Evolution" (PENH) [arrived 30th place with 2,151 votes and 0.15% of the electorate] and Maryse Narcisse of the political party "Lavalas" (arrived 4th with 110.049 votes and 7.05% of the electorate].



The process of confirming the participation of presidential candidates should end Wednesday, June 22. Furthermore, "For now, there is only the leader of the Respe Party, Charles Henri Baker, who officially informed the CEP of its decision not to participate in elections," said Nicole Simeon Spokesperson of CEP.



Sauveur Etienne described as criminal the measure of CSPN

Sauveur Pierre Etienne described as criminal intent the action taken by the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN) to suspend temporarily all weapon carry permit on the entire national territory, saying that holders of legal weapons are not the cause of the attacks perpetrated at banks or against the police. According to him, this could be a pretext for the government in place to render dysfunctional the Haitian Parliament.



Declaration by the European Union

Statement by the spokesperson of the External Action Service of the European Union "In view of the sensitive situation in Haiti, it is critical that the authorities, all the political stakeholders and the population in general refrain from violence and express their views in a pacific and democratic manner.



Political stakeholders have a specific responsibility in ensuring a peaceful process."



The Haitian Government condemns attack of Orlando

The Ministry of Culture and Communication informs that the Government of the Republic of Haiti condemns the attack on the night of June 11 to 12, 2016, at a club in Orlando, Florida, that killed about fifty people and left many injured.



The Haitian Government considers such acts as contrary to respect for the lives of others and the fundamental principles of tolerance. While wishing that light be shed on this odious and barbarous act, the Government of the Republic presents its sympathies to the families of victims of the shooting, and the American people, tried by this tragedy.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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If past is prelude, then the massacre in Orlando this weekend will benefit Donald Trumps campaign for the presidency. As the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has boasted, he gained significant support in December when a husband-and-wife jihadist duo shot up a government building in San Bernardino, Calif.

Now Trump is crowing. His tweets and interviews since the shooting are a series of told-ya-sos. He is quite pleased with himself for observing that President Barack Obama doesnt call these mass shootings radical Islamic terrorism.

For Trumps supporters, this kind of talk makes their guy appear brave and thoughtful. If we cannot name the enemy, the reasoning goes, then how can we defeat it?

But as I wrote in January after the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris, there are good reasons why Obama  and President George W. Bush before him  did not describe jihadists in explicitly Islamic terms. It was not because they are cowed by political correctness. Rather it was because the wider war on radical Islamic terrorism requires the tacit and at times active support of many radical Muslims.

To illustrate this point, consider the Iraq war counter-insurgency campaign known as the surge. In 2007, the U.S. military formed an alliance with sheiks in Anbar province who had aided al-Qaidas Iraqi franchise in the first years of the war. These sheiks were pious Muslims. Many believed that apostates should be punished by the state and that fathers had an obligation to arrange marriages for their daughters.

If Bush had been more like Donald Trump and proposed banning all Muslims from entering the U.S. there is a good chance these Anbari sheiks would have concluded that the U.S. was as much of a threat to their villages as al-Qaida. The sheiks whove survived the Islamic State today are reluctant to join the fight against them because they see the Shiite militias leading the Iraqi campaign against the Islamic State as a greater threat.

Obama, admittedly, was slow to learn this lesson. He let the U.S. partnership with the Anbari sheiks wither after withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq in 2011. But is this really something that Trump is going to criticize? He has been on the campaign trail falsely claiming that he opposed the Iraq war all along. Will Trump now say Obama was too quick to pull U.S. forces out of Iraq?

At the end of his second term, Obama is trying to recreate in Syria the success of Bushs alliance with the Anbari sheiks. This is why the Pentagon has redoubled its efforts to train Sunni Arab fighters for the majority Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces, who this month launched a campaign to cut off the supply lines to the Islamic States capital in the town of Raqqa. Senior U.S. war planners understand that the prospect of a Kurdish force liberating Raqqa risks alienating the local population  the very people the West needs to hold the city after the Islamic State is defeated there.

Finally in the case of the Orlando mass shooting, theres much we dont know about what motivated Omar Mateen to go on a rampage at a gay nightclub. Its possible that he had been in contact with terrorist groups for months or years, like the San Bernardino shooters. But its also possible that the first time he mentioned his allegiance to the Islamic State was when he called a police operator during the attack. As the New York Timess Rukmini Callimachi wrote, the Islamic State intentionally blurs the lines between the acts of terror it plans and the acts of terror it inspires.

None of this is to say that Obama has waged the war on terror with competence. For too long he did nothing as the collapse of Syria and Iraq created a vacuum filled by the Islamic State, which has inspired young loners from all over the world to commit barbarism in the name of their faith.

The best way to stop these terrorists is to enlist as many Muslims as possible in a fight against them. The last two American presidents grasped this lesson. Unfortunately the presumptive Republican nominee to replace has not.
Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby.

11:52, 25 OCT 2022
Long-time University of Wisconsin System Regent Charles Pruitts call to colleagues to set aside political allegiances for the good of the university last week rang with passion, but a look at state campaign finance records shows many of the groups members are reliable partisan supporters.

I continue to cling to the hope and belief that this university is best served by regents who when they pass through the doors of Van Hise Hall ... strive not to be Republican regents or Democratic regents, but simply regents of one of the finest public university systems in the country, Pruitt said Thursday in a farewell speech.

Pruitt had been one of a few remaining board members appointed before Gov. Scott Walker took office, and he took the opportunity of the expiration of his term to sound a ringing defense of the Wisconsin Idea that was targeted by the Walker administration.

The Wisconsin Idea was not a drafting error, said Pruitt of the universitys famously aspirational mission statement.

Walker had claimed that it was a drafting error that caused the deletion in his 2015-2017 budget bill of language stating that the UWs mission is to educate people and improve the human condition, and serve and stimulate society, and declaring the search for the truth basic to its every purpose. Those goals were to be replaced by a commitment to workforce development in the Walker version.

Documents released last month after a lawsuit showed Walker budget writers did intend to fundamentally change the mission of the university, at his direction. One document said Walker requested a simplified and clearer mission and purpose statements.

The Wisconsin Idea does not need to be modernized, modified, changed or improved. It is fine just the way it is. Pruitt said June 9 at a Board of Regents meeting at UW-Milwaukee.

That session of the regents, where they approved a $6.2 billion budget, also saw the official seating of Walkers three latest appointments to the board: Brookfield lawyer Tracey Klein, Janesville lawyer Bryan Steil and non-traditional student Lisa Erickson of Osceola.

Klein, who donated $9,639 to Walker between 2010 and 2014, became one of seven of his 14 appointees to the Board of Regents who have given thousands of dollars to his campaign, according to the campaign finance database maintained by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

Sixteen members of the 18-member Board of Regents  two of them students  are appointed by the governor. Two serve ex-officio in their roles on the Wisconsin Technical College System Board and State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Top donor among Walker appointees is Jose Delgado, the retired founder of American Transmission Company (ATC), who contributed $14,000 to the governors campaign fund since 2009, $10,000 of it before he was named to the Board of Regents in 2014.

Gerald Whitburn, a retired insurance executive who also held two state cabinet positions under Gov. Tommy Thompson, gave Walker $10,400; $2,750 for his successful run for governor in 2009 and 2010 and an additional $7,650 after being named to the Board of Regents the following year.

Corporate attorney Michael M. Grebe of Waukesha , a 2015 appointee to the board, donated $1,000 to Walker in 2005 during an aborted bid for the Republican nomination for governor, and $3,000 in 2012, when Walker faced a recall election.

Margaret Farrow, a former lieutenant governor under Scott McCallum, gave $2,575 to Walker in 14 contributions between 1993, when he ran successfully for the state Assembly, and 2014, when he was reelected governor.

Eau Claire attorney John Behling, vice president of the Board of Regents who was appointed in 2012, donated $2,500 to Walker in 2009 and 2010.

Tim Higgins of Appleton, founder of a health care consulting firm, gave Walker $500 in 2010, and another $1,886 after he was named a regent in 2011.

S. Mark Tyler, who serves ex-officio by dint of his position on the WTCS board  to which Walker re-appointed him in 2013  gave the governor $2,600 in 2014 and 2015.

Tyler in December 2015 also donated $700 to state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, the chair of the Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges and member of the Joint Finance Committee that swiftly passed an omnibus bill that spring that cut $250 million from UW System funding and set tenure policies up for revision.

New regent Klein in December 2015 donated $100 to Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who a year earlier grabbed headlines with dismissive remarks about university research on ancient mating habits of whatever.

Others that Walker appointed have made smaller donations to him: Board president Regina Millner gave Walker $600 in 2014.

But its not just Walkers appointees who gave money to the politician who appointed them.

Regent Mark Bradley, a Wausau attorney and former UW System budget analyst appointed by former Gov. Jim Doyle in 2003, gave Doyle $26,052 between 1993 and 2009.

Bradley also supported Walker opponents, giving $9,348.87 to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in 2009 and 2010 when he ran against Walker for the governors mansion vacated by Doyles retirement, and $9,000 to Madison School Board member Mary Burke in her 2013-2014 bid to unseat Walker.

Bradleys term on the Board of Regents expires in May, 2017. So does that of Edmund Manydeeds, the other remaining regent appointed by Doyle, to whom he donated $2,000 between 2002 and 2009.

For his part, Pruitt donated $2,400 to Doyle between 1991, when he was running for reelection as state Attorney General, and 2009, when Doyle announced he would not seek a third term as governor. Pruitt also financially supported Walker opponents, giving $2,800 to Barrett in 2009-2010 and $1,500 to Burke in 2013-2014.

Politics are unavoidable on the governing boards of public universities, where the states governor typically appoints a majority of the members, says Ronald Ehrenberg, director of the Cornell Higher Education Research Institute.

What you dont want is a situation where the governor appoints people just to be a rubber stamp for what the governor wants, said Ehrenberg, who is also a member of the board of trustees of the State University of New York.

UW regents have been under intense pressure from Walker and the Republican- controlled legislature to cut costs, demonstrate greater accountability and focus curriculum to graduate job-ready students.

The board did not fight removal of the tenure from state law in Walkers 2015-2016 budget; its administrative leadership scrapped a planned public airing of difficulties caused by Walkers state funding cuts in April; and this month members unanimously approved a 2016-2017 budget which board leadership and administrators released to the public only when they were ready to vote on it in what some open government advocates are calling a violation of open records law.

Despite the risk of intruding politics, governor appointment is the best process to select trustees to govern public universities, said Michael Poliakoff, vice president of policy for the right-leaning American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a group which advocates for a more activist role by trustees.

Governor appointments leave the behavior of the board as a clear reflection on an identifiable appointing authority, Poliakoff said. We stress that the trustees are primarily answerable to the citizens of the state. Their responsibility as fiduciaries is very clearly to focus on the well-being of the whole, and very clearly transcends political pressure.

Poliakoff said he admonishes university trustees that as handsome as your all are, you are not cheerleaders. Sometimes trustees feel so honored by their posts that they delegate to administrators responsibility they should embrace as fiduciaries, he explained.

Pruitt, in his emotional farewell last week, recalled Vos admonishment to regents in 2013  as legislators attacked them over what they called excessive fund balances  that they need to choose between being cheerleaders for UW or advocates for taxpayers.

That is a false choice, Pruitt said.

Should regents be advocates for the taxpayers? Of course you should. The taxpayers and all stakeholders deserve to expect that every dollar spent here is spent wisely well, he said.

But to suggest that you can do that only at the expense of being a cheerleader for this remarkable university, is utter nonsense.

Pruitt challenged those who say regents should not be cheerleaders to watch a graduation ceremony at UWM, where 39 percent are the first in their family to go to college. Or talk with scientists drawn to UW to do their work trying to find a cure for Alzheimers of cancer or Parkinsons disease. Or watch one of the systems excellent teachers inspire of love of learning in the classroom. Tell me you cant be a cheerleader for that, he said.

Being a cheerleader for this university isnt beneath you as a regent, its your highest calling, Pruitt concluded.

Correction: An earlier version of this story erroneously attributed a donation of $150 from Regent Janice Mueller to Scott Walker. That donation was from another person of the same name. Janice Mueller, the regent, has never contributed to a candidate or party.
t weeks criminal conviction of an employer for the persistent and serious bullying of an apprentice represents a stark warning for employers, according to partner with MinterEllison, Harriet Eager.Wayne Allan Dennert was fined $12,500 by Geelong Magistrates Court under workplace health and safety (WHS) laws for bullying by him and other employees of an apprentice who suffered anxiety and depression as a result of his subjection to physical, verbal and psychological abuse over a period of two years.The case was unusual in that the employer was convicted under the workplace health and safety regime rather than the Fair Work Commission s anti-bullying jurisdiction.While were seeing more successful applications in the anti-bullying jurisdiction of the Fair Work Commission, its unusual for a prosecution under WHS laws for bullying, said Eager.This conviction is one of only a handful of criminal convictions in Australia under WHS laws for bullying in the workplace.The fact this case was unexpectedly prosecuted under WHS laws should serve as a reminder to employers that the consequences of bullying in the workplace can be extremely serious. In this case, bullying included ripping the apprentices shorts, holding a rag soaked in methylated spirits over his mouth and applying hot drill bits to his skin, along with derogatory name-calling.This case confirms that WHS regulators will prosecute businesses and potentially individuals for bullying in the workplace, said Eager, particularly where a business has developed a culture where bullying is tolerated. And it shows that courts will convict.Officers who do not exercise due diligence to ensure that their business complies with its WHS obligations face a maximum fine of up to $600,000 and/or up to five years in jail in jurisdictions with harmonised regimes. Workers can also be fined up to $300,000 and/or imprisoned for up to five years.Eager added that employers can be on their guard against workplace bullying by treating it like any other WHS risk.A good starting point to demonstrate that your business is taking steps to ensure the health and safety of its workers and others, so far as is reasonably practicable, is being able to show that you have a bullying policy that has been communicated to staff, that you are training them that bullying is unacceptable, that you provide a mechanism for staff to raise concerns about bullying and that you have a process for investigating bullying complaints.
The following information is provided by local law enforcement agencies.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Compiled by Jessica Isaacs

The following were provided by the Watauga County Sheriffs Office.

June 6

INCIDENT: A male suspect, 32, of 329 Creek View Lane in Boone, was charged with OFA FTA poss marij >  to 1  oz and M-carry concealed weapon. He was held under a $2,500 bond and will appear in court on June 29.

June 7

INCIDENT: Larceny of auto parts and accessories was reported at 138 Hill Road in Zionville.

ARREST: A female suspect, 19, of 428 Blue Bird Lane in Boone, was charged with trespassing and will appear in court on July 5.

ARREST: A male suspect, 22, of 124 Quail Ridge Lane Apt. B in Boone, was charged with OFA FTA and child abuse. He was held under a $15,000 secured bond and will appear in court on July 1.

ARREST: A male suspect, 50, of 733 Forest Hills in Boone, was charged with simple assault and will appear in court on Aug. 3.

June 8

INCIDENT: Simple assault was reported at Butterfly Place in Deep Gap.

INCIDENT: Possession of drug paraphernalia and probation violation were reported at 179 Lola Perry Road in Zionville.

ARREST: A male suspect, 28,of 325 Mitchell Hill Lane in Elk Park, was charged with DWI and will appear in court on Aug. 1.

ARREST: A female suspect, 47, of 982 Howard Edmisten Road in Sugar Grove, was charged with FTA. She was held under a $750 secured bond and will appear in court on June 28.

June 9

INCIDENT: Calls for service were reported at 201 Isaacs Drive in Vilas.

INCIDENT: Breaking and entering and larceny from buildings were reported at 1119 Brownwood Road Unit 3 in Deep Gap.

INCIDENT: Larceny from buildings and breaking and entering were reported at 220 Owl Rest Lane in Deep Gap.

INCIDENT: Drug violations were reported at 6000 Meat Camp Road in Todd.

INCIDENT: Use foreign license while DWLR in NC, DWLR and possession of marijuana paraphernalia were reported in the parking lot of Smoke Tree Lodge in Banner Elk.

ARREST: A male suspect, 20, of 135 Gene Honeycutt Road in Todd, was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine. He was held under a $5,000 secured bond and will appear in court on July 8.

ARREST: A male suspect, 41, of 995 Snyder Branch Road in Todd, was charged with drug violations and will appear in court on July 8.

ARREST: A male suspect, 40, of 211 Powell Street in Mountain City, was charged with drug violations. He was held under a $500 secured bond and will appear in court on July 8.

ARREST: A male suspect, 38, of 793 Pine View Trail in Kissimmee, Florida, was charged with use foreign license while DWLR in NC, DWLR and possession of marijuana paraphernalia. He was held under a $750 secured bond and will appear in court on Aug. 1.

June 10

INCIDENT: Larceny and vandalism were reported at 1119 Brownwood Road Apt. 3 in Deep Gap.

INCIDENT: Vandalism was reported at 100 Guy Ford Road in Sugar Grove.

ARREST: A male suspect, 35, of 244 Devils Den Road in Banner Elk, was charged with OFA FTA.

ARREST: A male suspect, 40, of 469 Grandfather Road Unit C in Banner Elk, was charged with two counts of M-school attendance law violation and will appear in court on July 15.

ARREST: A female suspect, 42, of 469 Grandfather Road Unit C in Banner Elk, was charged with two counts of M-school attendance law violation and will appear in court on July 15.

ARREST: A male suspect, 29, of 300 Mountain View Baptist Church Road in Deep Gap, was charged with failure to pay child support. He was held under a $1,165 bond and will appear in court on June 16.

June 11

INCIDENT: Larceny from buildings was reported at 5660 U.S. Highway 421 N in Vilas.

June 12

INCIDENT: Calls for service were reported at 220 Sunrise Ridge in Vilas.

INCIDENT: Injury to personal property and underage consumption of alcohol were reported at 892 Fallview Lane Unit 2 in Boone.

INCIDENT: Larceny from motor vehicle was reported at 145 Rocky Road in Banner Elk.

ARREST: A male suspect, 42, of 311 E Circle Drive in Boone, was charged with two counts of contempt of court/perjury/court violations. He was held under a $4,000 secured bond and will appear in court on Aug. 15.

ARREST: A female suspect, 33, of 1251 Brookshire Road in Boone, was charged with felony larceny/remove theft device. She was held under a $3,000 secured bond and will appear in court on July 13.

ARREST: A male suspect, 29, of 7727 Kenneth Lane in Charlotte, was charged with injury to personal property and consumption of alcohol by 19/20. He was held under a $1,500 secured bond and will appear in court on Aug. 1.

ARREST: A male suspect, 18, of 783 Rainbow Mountain Road in Boone, was charged with consumption of alcohol by

ARREST: A male suspect, 19, of 321 Majesco Drive in Boone, was charged with consumption of alcohol by 19/20. He was held under a $500 secured bond and will appear in court on Aug. 1.

June 13

INCIDENT: Damage to property was reported at 190 Bettys Circle in Deep Gap.

INCIDENT: Simple physical assault was reported at 1033 Seven Oaks Road in Boone.

INCIDENT: Missing person was reported at 2132 Hardin Road in Boone.

ARREST: A female suspect, 30, of 338 Brook Hollow Road in Boone, was charged with school attendance law and probation violation. She was held under a $1,000 secured bond and will appear in court on July 15.

ARREST: A male suspect, 64, of 338 Brook Hollow Road in Boone, was charged with FTA OFA. He was held under a $2,000 secured bond and will appear in court on July 25.

ARREST: A male suspect, 34, of 1042 Peak Road in Creston, was charged with simple assault and will appear in court on Aug. 1.

ARREST: A female suspect, 30, of 2114 Longhope Road in Todd, was charged with FTA OFA. She was held under a $428 secured bond and will appear in court on July 7.
By Jessica Isaacs | [email protected]

Photos by Sarah Weiffenbach

Home is a safe place to sleep at night. Its a haven from the busy workday and a quiet place to do homework. Its blank canvas on which we splash our favorite styles and ideas. Its a warm environment for entertaining our friends and a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the world.

Its the one place in which we can truly be ourselves, and its a place to call our own. Its a labor of love, and its where we raise our families. No matter how you look at it, home is where the heart is.

Countless studies show that owning a home has direct, positive impacts on a familys health, wellbeing and stability. Adults who own their homes often perform better at work, and kids raised in healthy, stable families often do better in school.

Many families pour their hearts into building a home thats right for them. Some spend decades saving up to buy a place of their own. Some take a fixer-upper and turn it into their dream home over time. Some work day in and day out to provide for their loved ones and will still never be able to own a home  that is, unless theres someone around to give them a helping hand.

For some families, home ownership is a blessing and a privilege. For others, its a dream theyll never know. Here in the High Country of North Carolina, where living expenses and real estate are costly, achieving it is certainly a challenge.

One local agency, Habitat for Humanity of Watauga County, has been working for nearly 30 years to bridge the gap between poverty and stability that often prevents people from buying a home.

This year, the High Country Home Builders Association, another respected, longstanding organization, has stepped up to the plate and made a colossal commitment to supporting Habitats next project.

Habitat for Humanity

Watauga Habitat is a branch of Habitat for Humanity International, a nonprofit ecumenical housing ministry that seeks to put Gods love into action to build new houses and create safe, healthy, comfortable homes for people around the world.

With local affiliates across the globe, the organization seeks to further the mission its founder, the late Millard Fuller.

A self-made millionaire before the age of 30, Fuller was led by personal struggles to reevaluate the direction of his life, Habitat.org explains. In the early 1970s, he and his wife sold all of their possessions, donated the money to the poor and moved to Africa to establish a housing project that would practically apply the teachings of Christ.

Not long after, Habitat International was born, and his work is still continued today in countless communities.

Habitat homes are built using volunteer labor with the help of the families who receive them, also known in the organization as partner families, who must meet certain criteria before beginning their journey to homeownership through the agency.

In many cases, Habitat families have enough monthly income to make a small house payment but not enough to qualify for a bank loan. Qualifying partner families also go through criminal background checks and must be willing to invest sweat equity, or volunteer hours, into the construction of their own home and the homes of other partner families.

Once complete, the homes are not given away but sold to the partner family as a zero-interest mortgage loan. Even without the expense of labor, Habitat homes cost approximately $100,000 to build in our area, which leaves the average Habitat homeowner with a monthly mortgage payment of $450-$500, including taxes, insurance and property owners association fees. Because of that financial responsibility, interested partner families must have a steady source of income.

First incorporated in 1987 as Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity, the Watauga affiliate stepped out on its own in 1993 when the local chapter separated into two groups to better serve Watauga and Avery counties. Later that year, Watauga Habitat built its first home near the hospital in Boone off of Bamboo Road.

In 2011, after nearly two decades of building in Watauga, a sizeable donation allowed the affiliate to make a down payment on a 20-acre lot in the Green Valley community. This property would soon become home to the agencys first subdivision, named GreenWood.

Since then, four partner families have moved into beautiful, sustainable homes in the neighborhood. Homes in this development also feature energy-saving extras and are built well beyond typical code standards, saving families between $200-$300 each month on utilities.

At Home in the High Country

Home ownership comes with greater challenges here in the High Country, where tourism and part-time residency play important roles in the local economy. Thats why the folks at Watauga Habitat, including Executive Director Alex Hooker, stay hard at work to make it a reality for those who need help finding safe, reliable, affordable living conditions.

Housing costs are so high here due to the competition with students and second home buyers. Thats driven up the costs for Watauga residents, said Hooker. The median price of a home in our county is a lot higher than the North Carolina average. The fair market rent established by HUD is close to $800 for a three-bedroom apartment. For somebody who makes minimum wage to afford that, theyd have to work more than 80 hours a week to keep up with their payments.

Plus, more than 30 percent of our population is below the poverty level, so those three things combined make it impossible for some local people to afford a decent place on their own.

Habitat and its area partners know that helping families build and buy their own homes is an essential part of growing a stronger community.

There are so many studies that point toward the benefit of home ownership and the direct correlation between that and emotional and physical health, Hooker said. When lower-income families are renting and forced to move constantly, it takes so much effort, especially if they have children  it can be so consuming. When you stabilize that family, put them in their own home and take the worry out of the equation, theyre able to focus on themselves and their family.

Parents do better with job opportunities, holding jobs and working their way up, and thats just part of it if they get that opportunity. Thats what we try to create for people, and it really puts them in a position to break out of the cycle of poverty.

The affiliate has established 26 homes for local families since its inception, and, with increased support this year from its friends at the High Country Home Builders Association, it will complete another project in the GreenWood development this summer.

High Country Home Builders

Also a fixture in the High Country, the HCHBA is an organization comprised of members who are general contractors building residential and commercial structures in the area, as well as associate members who serve the homebuilding industry.

If you visit the group online at highcountryhba.com, youll find a complete directory of its membership, which also includes building suppliers, grading companies, plumbers, electricians, painters, carpenters, bankers, developers and other professionals whose livelihoods depend on the industry.

HCHBA President Chuck Perry, who first joined the association in 1999, said the group seeks to serve its members and the community by focusing on its core values.

Whether its political action or economic process, we work to stay involved in things that are good for homebuilding. We also work to support our community in any way we can, said Perry. If we think about our homes, what else do we, as consumers, expect so much from? Our home is a place we feel safe in and its where we raise are kids and where we stay warm and dry. Not everybody has the opportunity to do that, so we, as homebuilders, feel the need to support housing initiatives, and Habitat already has a great program in place.

Habitats mission and its established systems make it a perfect avenue through which the homebuilders association can channel its service.

Its a natural fit for us to work with Habitat. Theyre trying to get people into homes who may not otherwise be able to afford it  a place thats safe and dry and comfortable that they can be proud of  so its always been a good fit for us, Perry said. We want to help the community, and Habitat has a model in place that serves it well, so why not allow our skillset to serve theirs? Then it becomes a win/win.

For many years now, the two longstanding organizations have joined forces to tackle building projects, and the HCHBA has served as a valuable resource that connects Habitat with the building industry.

We have the relationships in place to help with the procurement of materials and provide labor to build a home. Thats not to say that Habitat cant do that on its own  in fact, its been doing that for years all across the country and has done a marvelous job of it, said Perry. Here in the High Country, we are in a unique position to help make things easier on Alex and his group in terms of getting together materials, which can often be the most difficult part.

Working Together

This year, the HCHBA has gone above and beyond to help Habitat reach its goals with the latest project, providing an unprecedented amount of materials and labor during the 2016 construction season.

We went to three of our building supplier  84 Lumber, New River Building Supply and Blevins Building Supply  and asked if they would mind to support us with this initiative. We asked them each for $5,000 worth of products to give, and they said yes, said Perry. Part of the reason they did that is because there are hundreds of us homebuilders here in the county, and were buying products from them day in and day out. I would like to think theyre supporting that relationship by supporting this initiative.

The HCHBA members will not only supply $15,000 or more worth of materials for the next GreenWood home, they will also provide the labor to put those products into action at the jobsite.

That will essentially provide the shell for a brand new house  the framing, the siding and the roof, Perry said. $15,000 worth of materials is big time, and the labor to do that work is a major endeavor.

The time and materials provided by the homebuilders association will bring a level of expertise to the next project that will streamline Habitats construction process and yield the benefits of professional-quality work for the new homeowners.

Theyre getting a house that is essentially professionally built through and through, although the labor is done on a volunteer basis. That can make a big difference, Hooker said. They can go out and do the work a lot quicker and more efficiently than what a normal volunteer team would be able to do. That increases our house production and gets the homeowners in the house faster.

The HCHBAs leadership and the generosity of its members and suppliers have made this venerable partnership with Habitat possible, as well as the expanded contributions for the upcoming project.

Our board of directors have always made it a priority for us to take on a build project every year, said Perry. We have sought to use the skillset of our team of members and serve our community through that skillset, and the Habitat partnership worked out great for us this year. We wish we could do this all of the time, and our board always makes it a priority for us.

The Habitat team hopes to kick off the 2016 build season in GreenWood with work beginning on June 1.

As the two organizations continue to collaborate in service, their strong relationship will continue to make a difference for generations to come.

We all live on this earth together and we all have skills, Perry said. If we can share those skills with other people, thats good, and thats what is important to us at the association. Were all volunteers and we all have jobs, families, businesses and limitations, but together we can achieve more.

For more information on Habitat for Humanity of Watauga County, visit wataugahabitat.org or call 828-268-9696.

To learn more about the HCHBA, visit highcountryhba.com.

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The one-year agreement will according to the network equipment manufacturer enable China Mobile to transition to a flexible cloud network infrastructure and meet the ever-growing data demands of its subscriber base more efficiently.

Nokia has announced that it has signed a frame agreement valued at up to 1.36 billion euros with the largest mobile telecoms operator in the world, China Mobile, in an attempt to reinforce its position in China.

This is a highly significant agreement with our long-standing partner, Mike Wang, the director of Nokia Networks China, says in a press release.

Wang estimates that the agreement will reinforce the position of the former mobile phone giant as a leading provider of next-generation wireless technologies in China and reflects its growing footprint in the country following the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent.

We are committed to delivering mobile broadband capabilities that will allow operators to optimise their networks and open up new opportunities for them and their subscribers, he states.

Nokia reveals that the technology it will deliver to China Mobile, the 5G-ready AirScale Base Station, allows multiple wireless technologies to operate simultaneously in a single base station and offers virtually unlimited scalability to support next-generation wireless speeds and the demand arising from the Internet of Things.

Nokia and China Mobile will work closely to define the products and services that will enable the operator to meet ever-growing demands in a country where the majority of Internet users  620 million of a total of 688 million  use mobile devices to connect, Nokia says in the press release.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Martti Kainulainen  Lehtikuva
I'm very pleased that the competitiveness pact now has the necessary signatures. My only concern is whether or not the coverage target of 90 per cent will be met, he said.

Prime Minister Juha Sipila (Centre) reiterated his determination that the competitiveness pact is a step towards creating 110,000 new jobs in Finland by the end of the current electoral term as the pact was officially inaugurated in his official residence on Tuesday.

It was worthwhile going after the big fish, even if it did take a while.

The Government has promised to introduce income tax concessions worth 315515 million euros depending on the coverage of the competitiveness pact. The Prime Minister estimated yesterday that the pact currently covers 85 per cent of wage earners and would therefore allow the introduction of tax concessions worth up to 415 million euros.

I can say we've hit the 85 per cent mark, he told.

Sipila also reminded that a coverage of 90 per cent, which remains an attainable target in his opinion, would prompt additional tax concessions worth 100 million euros. Labour market representatives, he added, have until the budget session scheduled to take place roughly two months from now to increase the coverage.

The financial and pharmaceutical sectors, for example, would be enough to meet the coverage target of 90 per cent. The Transport Workers' Union (AKT) would also do, said Sipila.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT

Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa  Lehtikuva

Source: Uusi Suomi
A suspected Islamist who stabbed to death a police commander and his wife in France warned in a video he posted online after the killings that Euro 2016 would become a "graveyard".

Larossi Abballa, a 25-year-old known to French security services, pledged allegiance to the leader of Islamic State (IS) in a 13-minute live broadcast on his Facebook.

He also said he was responding to a call last month by Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, an IS spokesman, for followers in Europe and the US to rise up and carry out attacks in its name during the holy month of Ramadan.

The attacker, who went to jail in 2013 for helping Islamist militants go to Pakistan and had been monitored by security services, repeatedly knifed the 42-year-old commander, named locally as Jean-Baptiste Salvaing, in the stomach late on Monday.

He then barricaded himself inside the house in Magnanville, a suburb some 60km west of Paris, taking the policeman's partner and three-year-old son hostage.

Wounds

His partner (36), an administrative police official, was found dead in the house with her throat cut. The boy was unharmed but in a state of shock, officials said. He was taken to a children's hospital.

They found three phones and three knives, including one covered in blood on the table.

In his nearby car, they found a Koran, a white djellaba, and two books - one called "genuine belief" and another "explanation of the three foundations".

The video, posted on his Facebook account as police surrounded the couple's house, reportedly showed the suspect next to his victims, according to French radio station RFI.

The couple's son can be seen in the background. "I don't know what to do with it," the suspect is heard saying of the boy.

Abballa then calls for more attacks in France, particularly against the Euro 2016 stadiums and a list of police officers, prison guards, and journalists he names. He was shot dead by members of an elite police unit after negotiations failed.

Jerome Bonet, police spokesman, said Abballa was "suicidal". He was under surveillance and his phone was tapped but Mr Bonet said there was "no definite indication" of a failure by investigators.

"The negotiation was brief because we were facing an individual who had absolutely no intention of negotiating," he said. "He made no particular demands. He was seeking confrontation and was quasi-suicidal."

A list of targets was found after the attack, which took place between 8pm and 8.20pm, and included the names of people and professions, "rappers, journalists, police and public figures". Three men aged 27, 29 and 44 were detained for questioning.

President Francois Hollande said the killings were "undeniably a terrorist act" and that the terrorist threat in France was very high.
The first report into the death of an expectant mother at Holles Street Hospital as she underwent emergency surgery will be completed next month.

Malak Kuzbary Thawley (34) was just seven weeks pregnant when it was discovered that her pregnancy was ectopic. She was scheduled for emergency surgery in the National Maternity Hospital and passed away during the operation.

The Dublin City Coroner has confirmed that there will be an inquest into her untimely death in due course.

Her husband, Alan Thawley, has returned to the United States to grieve for his wife and his lawyers have advised Holles Street that the family are unhappy with the make-up of the investigation team looking into her death.

Integrity

A letter sent by lawyers for the family highlighted that only one person on the team is not a Holles Street employee.

The investigation must be seen to be independent and proper, according to the correspondence reported by RTE. It is understood that the integrity of the probe is not being called into question.

Solicitor for Mr Thawley, Caoimhe Haughey, previously voiced her own concern about the team that have been elected to investigate the death of the young expectant mum.

"I'm not entirely satisfied with the panel of obstetricians who are reviewing the case, which is made up of doctors from Holles Street and only one external member," she said.

"Ms Haughey said she would prefer more external members involved in the internal investigation "to ensure transparency".

The hospital has been asked to stop the investigation until independent specialists are appointed.

Ms Thawley, a Syrian school teacher, was living in Ireland with her husband at the time of her death.

However, in a statement to the Herald, Holles Street said it still expects to deliver its report in July.

"The National Maternity Hospital is conducting an internal inquiry into the maternal death which took place at the hospital last month, as it is required to do by good governance practice," a spokesman said.

"We understand that the Coroner has confirmed today that an inquest will be held. This is the appropriate statutory process of investigation and will provide an external, independent, sworn public examination of what happened, at which the family will be represented and can call and cross-examine witnesses.

"We expect to complete our own internal inquiry during July and will supply copies to all appropriate people and bodies including the family of the woman who died, the Coroner, the Ireland East Hospital Group, the HSE and HIQA."

Krysia Lynch, chairwoman of the advocacy group AIMs which campaigns for improvements in maternity care, said that an external review process is needed for maternal deaths in Ireland.

"Our opinion would be that in order to make improvements we really need to know exactly what happened and obviously there'll be an internal clinical investigation and that needs to happen so that clinicians working within the hospital can find out what went wrong, if anything went wrong," she said.

Drafted

"Beyond that point, I really think you need an external review of what happened, what recommendations could be put in place and hopefully, once those recommendations are in place and taken on board, the public can feel assured that something like this isn't going to happen again."

Ms Lynch said independent experts should be drafted in from abroad to allow a fully impartial review of the services.
Philip's schoolbag that gardai hope will give up vital DNA evidence to solve the mystery Picture: Damien Eagers

The woman who has provided gardai with new evidence on the disappearance of schoolboy Philip Cairns only did so when she felt it was "safe" to do so.

The woman, believed to be a victim of convicted paedophile Eamon Cooke, came forward last month and give an interview to investigators in which she said the former Radio Dublin DJ knocked the schoolboy unconscious by hitting him with a weapon in his studio in Inchicore.

The witness, who was aged nine at the time, said she saw the schoolboy bleeding and unconscious on the floor, but she then fainted.

Statement

When she came round she was being driven away by Cooke and there was no sign of the boy she believed to be Philip.

The same woman contacted gardai in 2011 following an appeal for help, but she would not give a statement to detectives then and was guarded in what she said.

Officers believe she was terrified of Cooke because of her previous experience of him.

However, when a fresh appeal was issued, the woman made contact again last month through a care worker who had helped other abuse victims, and it is believed she felt in a position to speak more freely as Cooke was on his deathbed.

Cooke was found guilty of 42 counts of sexual assault after a trial in the Central Criminal Court in 2007 and was serving his sentence at Arbour Hill prison.

However, gardai learned he had been transferred from the jail to a hospice.

Cooke said he knew Philip and admitted that the boy had been in his radio station headquarters in Inchicore.

However, he did not admit to killing him, and gardai have yet to establish where the boy's remains were buried after he was murdered.

It has been suggested that the body could have been hidden in a 20-foot container that Cooke was alleged to have buried in south Co Dublin with a radio transmitter to allow Radio Dublin to be heard all across the capital.

Investigating gardai say they expect they will begin digging at selected locations after further inquiries are made.

Cooke was alleged to have initially secured a signal for his radio station by using an RTE transmitter at the Three Rock Mountain in the Dublin mountains.

This allowed his station to broadcast to Inchicore and Ballyfermot.

However, that was later blocked, and he decided to erect a repeater in the Tallaght/Rathfarnham area, which would give coverage to other parts of the city.

Schoolbag

Cooke was said to have buried the container with a connection to an aerial hidden nearby, and this fed off the Three Rock transmitter.

Gardai are also carrying out fresh forensic tests, using the latest technology, on Philip's schoolbag, which was found six days after his disappearance in a lane near Cairns' home in Rathfarnham.

Officers have already said that DNA evidence from the bag could be a crucial aid in solving the mystery of his disappearance.

Philip's mother, Alice, told the Herald this week that she still holds out hope that the truth will emerge.
BREAKING: Steve Gaines elected SBC president by acclamation after J.D. Greear withdraws Editorial Staff | 15 June, 2016 by Joni B. Hannigan

ST. LOUIS (Christian Examiner) Steve Gaines, 59, pastor of the Memphis area Bellevue Baptist Church was elected by acclamation as the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention today following a historic and unprecedented delay the first day of the June 14-15 SBC annual meeting.

The surprise announcement came at the start what was to be a third vote for president at the end of the June 15 morning session.

North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear withdrew his nomination to lead the largest non-Catholic denomination in America after two inconclusive votes, but then made a motion to elect Gaines by acclamation.

"I've said from the beginning it is tricky to lead the SBC," Greear said. "I've spent a good amount of time praying and I believe for the sake of our convention and our election we need to leave St. Louis united. ... We are united by a Gospel too great, and a mission too urgent, to let a lesser message stand in our way. I am respectfully withdrawing my candidacy as president."

When a first vote split three ways between the three nominees for president  Gaines; Greenville, North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear; and New Orleans pastor David Crosby  failed to secure a 50 percent vote for any candidate, a second vote was cast.

At the conclusion of the late afternoon session, SBC President Ronnie Floyd declared that vote, too, was inconclusive.

With 7,230 messengers registered at the time of the runoff, 4,824 ballots were cast.

Gaines received 2,410 votes or 49.96 percent while Greear received 2,306 votes or 47.80 percent. However, 108 votes were considered illegal because the wrong ballot was used or an indistinguishable mark was made.

Gaines followed powerhouse Adrian Rogers at the Memphis-area church after pastoring churches in Alabama, Tennessee and Texas.

He was nominated for president by Johnny Hunt, a former SBC president, and pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Georgia.

Calling Gaines "a man of deep intense prayer," Hunt said in nominating Gaines, the pastor has a "passionate desire for spiritual revival in our churches and nation."

With Gaines' leadership, Bellevue had lead evangelism training in 34 countries since 2007 and has planted 10 churches, including work in the Northwest and with Native Americans.

A unique outreach, Bellevue Loves Memphis demonstrates the church's love for its city and meeting needs while sharing the Gospel, Hunt told Baptist Press. In 33 workdays, 30,000 volunteers have served 106,505 hours to complete 945 projects, resulting in 510 professions of faith.

Leading in service to the SBC, Gaines preached the SBC convention sermon in 2004 and served as president of the SBC Pastors' Conference in 2005. He has served as as a member of the SBC Committee on Nominations, a trustee of LifeWay Christian Resources, a member of the committee that proposed a revision of the Baptist Faith and Message in 2000, and chairman of the SBC Resolutions Committee.

Gaines succeeds Ronnie Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas.
'We Need to Hear the Orlando 911 Calls,' says Senate Candidate Harbach, 'FBI Dropped the Ball'



KENOSHA, Wis., June 15, 2016 /



"Words cannot express the pain that this reckless act of terrorism has caused," Harbach said. "I pray for those that lost their lives and the loved ones left behind by this senseless act."



Harbach is a Security Consultant expert. He is facing former Senator Russ Feingold in the August Wisconsin Democrat primary.



Harbach said about the Orlando massacre, "We all know that the LGBT community was targeted by this Islamic terrorist. But we need to hearno, we need to demand the 911 calls made by this coward. There's something they're not telling us. Let's face it, their track record of being truthful and transparent isn't that good. How many times have they lied to us before?"

"They told us that this was was a 'homegrown American terrorist,'" Harbach continued, "but we found out that he is a first generation born in America. His father is from Afghanistan where he promoted anti-American propaganda. This terrorist might be American born, but his Islam extremism was born much earlier in Afghanistan."



Harbach also expressed concerns about how the FBI handled the investigation. "You heard them (FBI) say it. They don't think they made a mistake by clearing this guy a couple years ago and not continuing to keep him under surveillance. Oh, they definitely made a mistake. They clearly dropped the ball on this one. The proof is in the massacre!"



"Whether they want to admit it or not, this tragedy could have been prevented if the FBI had maintained surveillance on this terrorist." Harbach explained. "We need hearings on this whole FBI investigation to find out why they messed up, and what changes must be made so it does not happen again."

Share Tweet Contact: Scott Harbach, 847-707-2160KENOSHA, Wis., June 15, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- Wisconsin Democrat Senate candidate Scott Harbach demands transparency about the terrorism attack in Orlando last weekend. He wants the three unedited 911 calls of the terrorist to be immediately released in entirety in addition to any videos. He also wants hearings to see why the FBI previously cleared him."Words cannot express the pain that this reckless act of terrorism has caused," Harbach said. "I pray for those that lost their lives and the loved ones left behind by this senseless act."Harbach is a Security Consultant expert. He is facing former Senator Russ Feingold in the August Wisconsin Democrat primary.Harbach said about the Orlando massacre, "We all know that the LGBT community was targeted by this Islamic terrorist. But we need to hearno, we need to demand the 911 calls made by this coward. There's something they're not telling us. Let's face it, their track record of being truthful and transparent isn't that good. How many times have they lied to us before?""They told us that this was was a 'homegrown American terrorist,'" Harbach continued, "but we found out that he is a first generation born in America. His father is from Afghanistan where he promoted anti-American propaganda. This terrorist might be American born, but his Islam extremism was born much earlier in Afghanistan."Harbach also expressed concerns about how the FBI handled the investigation. "You heard them (FBI) say it. They don't think they made a mistake by clearing this guy a couple years ago and not continuing to keep him under surveillance. Oh, they definitely made a mistake. They clearly dropped the ball on this one. The proof is in the massacre!""Whether they want to admit it or not, this tragedy could have been prevented if the FBI had maintained surveillance on this terrorist." Harbach explained. "We need hearings on this whole FBI investigation to find out why they messed up, and what changes must be made so it does not happen again."
Washington County Football: What to watch and who will win in Week 9
Christians in the Crosshairs, Need to Pray and Prepare

Church and Individual Terrorist Shooting Survival Training After Orlando Mass Murder



Contact: Wiley Drake, 714-865-8132



BUENA PARK, Calif., June 15, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- A church and facility security survey and training will be offered at the First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park California on Saturday, June 16, 2016.



Could the deaths and lawsuits following a terrorist attack wipe out your congregation?



Orlando, Florida, June 12, 2016 -- Muslim terrorist, 49 killed, 53 injured, ISIS inspired, assault rifle, pistol, Explosives.



San Bernardino, California, Dec. 2, 2015 -- Mass shooting, attempted bombing. 14 killed, 22 seriously injured.



Who will be sued in these shootings?



Learn to survive and save lives.



Active shooter response, alert system and self defense legal rights class offered July 16, 2016, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 6801 Western Ave., Buena Park, California, 90621.



What is the A.L.E.R.T. Survival System?

Aware of your surroundings Learn how to respond to an immediate threat Escape from the shooter Refuge and barricade in place if escape is not possible Takedown the Shooter as a last resort. Open carry, CCW issues and permits.

Church security survey and training, learn how to protect your patrons and save lives!



For church training we will come to your site, and survey and analyze your current ability to meet a terrorist threat head on, make recommendations for you and train up to 20 members of your staff in our one-day training at your facility for only $900.00. You will be introduced to many years' experience in the art of survival. You won't regret it. Do it now before it's too late!



Individual training offered at First Baptist Church of Buena Park at 6801 Western Ave., Buena Park, CA 90621.



To arrange for a survey or your facility and training for your staff call or text Steven at 951.261.0799 or send an email to jsdllg@gmail.com. For more information please visit LLGESQ.com



Presented in connection with The Center for Second Amendment Studies, Civilian Arms Training Source, the Buena Park Interfaith Disaster Network and the Congressional Prayer Conference of Washington, D.C.
home Tech Apple iPhone 7 release date and specs rumors: Apple's flagship smartphone to come out with Intel's modem chips?

Although there are many people who expected Apple to provide concrete details regarding the development and release of the upcoming iPhone 7, the Cupertino-based company decided to skip the flagship smartphone at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference or WWDC 2016. However, fans and tech observers are pretty positive that the company will reveal the device before this year ends. New reports have also emerged suggesting that Apple will make major changes in the next iPhone iteration, including some specs under the hood.

According to the The Inquirer, the company has decided to end their partnership with Qualcomm's LTE modem chips. The publication added that Apple will start using Intel's modem chips on the next iPhone model. If rumors prove to be true, this partnership between Apple and Intel will certainly improve the performance and capability of the new iPhone smartphone.

However, a report from TechWire suggested that only the future AT&T-released iPhone 7 will get the Intel modem chips. According to the publication, other phones that are going to be released from other major carriers will still have the Qualcomm chips.

Some tech analysts predict that the American multinational semiconductor company, Qualcomm, will no longer be Apple's main supplier of cellular radios. However, the company still dominates the whole market of various handheld devices such as smartphones and tabs.

Senior analyst Stacy Rasgon from Bernstein Research said that people are starting to wonder if iPhones with Intel modems are also going to be available from other carriers.

"I think people were wondering if (Intel's modem) might be in iPhones on other carriers internationally maybe," Rasgon said. "AT&T is a major network. On the surface, would it be good enough for that? We'll see."

He also said that Qualcomms cellular radio technology is still way ahead in terms of competition. Nonetheless, Intel is slowly making their presence felt in the market.

"Maybe it's good. That's the thing we don't know," he added. "We will have to wait and see how the thing performs in six or eight months or whenever it's in the hands of people."
Family in Bloom: Giving kids something to chew on around the campfire
home World Over 8,000 arrested in Bangladesh crackdown after machete attacks on Christians, atheists

Bangladesh police arrested over 8,000 extremists in a nationwide crackdown that began Friday, June 10 as it moves to end the surging violence that has wracked the Muslim nation targeting religious minorities, secular intellectuals, and activists.

"During the anti-crime clampdown we have arrested 8,569 people and of them 119 are suspected militants," AKM Quamrul Ahsan, spokesman for Dhaka Police Headquarters, told reporters Monday, June 13 , according to The Hitavada.

The week-long crackdown on a nationwide scale involved the Border Guard Bangladesh and the Rapid Action Battalion. Authorities have also arrested Shahjahan Robin, whose murder of a top anti-terror officer's wife has prompted the large-scale clampdown.

As the police operation started, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina vowed that "each and every killer will be brought to book."

"It may take time, but God willing, we will be able to bring them under control," she said during a meeting with the Awami League party, as reported by Sky News.

However, the government's opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), feel threatened with the arrests as the prime minister has earlier accused the BNP and its fundamentalist ally Jamaat-e-Islami to be behind the gruesome murders in a bid to destabilize the country.

According to the Daily Observer, Hasina said during a party meeting, "Everybody knows who were behind such killings. The BNP-Jamaat nexus has been engaged in such secret and heinous murders to destabilize the country."

"In the name of an antimilitant drive, the government is arresting opposition activists, including B.N.P. and other antigovernment people," decried BNP's senior joint secretary general, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, as quoted by The New York Times.

"I welcome this special drive. It should have been taken much earlier," said general secretary of the South Asian People's Union, Shahriar Kabir, a widely-considered militant target.

More than 30 individuals have been killed in a series of machete attacks that targeted religious minorities, secular intellectuals, and activists since February 2013. Islamic militants as well as home-grown militant groups have staked claims on the killings.
home Entertainment 'The Bachelorette' season 12 spoilers and updates: Group heads to Uruguay, more drama and scandalous moments for JoJo

ABC's much-hyped reality series "The Bachelorette" recently kicked off with a bunch of interesting personalities, and more drama awaits fans as the 12th season progresses.

According to the official synopsis for episode 5, the 13 remaining men vying for Joelle "JoJo" Fletcher's heart will celebrate after it was announced that the show's most hated contestant Chad gets eliminated following a two-on-one date. However, their happiness is cut short after Chad returns to the house for a more heated confrontation. After the dramatic rose ceremony, two more men were sent home while the rest of the guys prepare for their first international travel. They all head to the South American city of Punta Del Este in Uruguay, where they will have a chance to have an exotic date with JoJo.

A lucky bachelor will have the opportunity to have a one-on-one date with JoJo, and their romantic moment involves a yacht along with the sight of adorable seals. However, there is a rumor about the mystery contestant that he must clarify to JoJo. As noted by Reality Steve, the bachelor mentioned in the synopsis is Jordan Rodgers. He is rumored to be a womanizer, but he might have a good explanation about the rumors since he reportedly gets a rose after the said date. JoJo brings in more drama as well after she finds out that her ex-boyfriend shared some damaging details about her to the press, claiming that JoJo's reason for joining the show was not really to find love. She went to explain her side to the rest of the contestants, and everyone seemed very supportive. Viewers will also see a "heart-stopping" date, but something comes up leading JoJo to cancel the cocktail party.

What led JoJo to her decision of cancelling the party? Find out when "The Bachelorette" season 12 airs this coming June 20, Monday at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
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In the address to the United States Congress on June 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the evolving global situation as a war of multiple transitions and economic opportunities, growing uncertainties and political complexities, existing threats and new challenges which, contrary to his advocacy of closer relations with the US, make it imperative India retains its strategic autonomy, policy options, and the freedom of manoeuvre.

India and the US do share interests and concerns and China is the main worry. Except the US is distanced from China by the Pacific Ocean and inclined, therefore, to accommodate Beijing, while for India it is an immediate and potent threat best kept in check by India joining in a coalition of rimland states  Asean, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, with the US featured as a extra-territorial balancer. Regarding terrorism, the US will pressure Pakistan only about suppressing the Haqqani Taliban active in Afghanistan.

Read | India-US ties: A new symphony in play

In technology cooperation the reality is starker. In a decade of high-flying rhetoric, not a single R&D project has materialised. But expensive technology extraneous to Indias naval needs  the electro-magnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) for aircraft carriers is offered in the hope its sale will help amortise US investment in it. But Indias priority  American assistance in designing and developing a combat aircraft jet engine, is made contingent on India first buying 90 1970s-era F-16s/F-18s off the shelf, and producing another 200 aircraft under licence. This is called Open Sesame for high-technology trade in the future.

Given the thrust of the US technology cooperation, it is imprudent to even contemplate imperilling ties with Russia, and doing without the leased Akula-II nuclear-powered attack submarine and Russian involvement in strategically sensitive programmes, such as the Arihant SSBN. Besides, given that the bulk of the conventional armaments with the Indian armed forces are of Russian origin, an aggravated Kremlin could shut down Indian capabilities if it chose to. Indeed, Moscow has already given notice it will rethink its role in sensitive Indian defence projects and about leasing a second Akula if New Delhi signs the foundational accords formalising a security relationship with Washington.

Read | Pakistan concerned over growing India-US ties, says Sartaj Aziz

But India has pressed ahead and finalised the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). It seems to be only a differently worded version of the standard Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement detailed in the US Defense Departments Directive 2010.9 of April 28, 2003. The reimbursement of costs will require Indian base commanders, as has happened in Pakistan that has a logistics support agreement with the US, periodically to justify to US authorities the quality and costs of the support and services provided. In Enclosure 2 of this directive, Section E2.1.10 spells out the Logistics Support, Supplies, and Services, inclusive of base operations support (and construction incident to base operations support), [and] storage services. This refers to the pre-positioning of stores and supplies and constitutes a basing provision. Implicit is the fact of the US providing security for its assets and personnel, necessitating parts of Indian military bases coming under US control and violating Indian sovereignty. Should India assume the responsibility for protecting such US military presence in India, the Indian intelligence agencies, armed forces, central and state police, and the paramilitaries will face an internal security nightmare to pre-empt and prevent attacks by domestic and international Islamic terrorist outfits on US personnel. The situation could get politically fraught very fast.

The explanation that the Indian military will be able to access far-flung US bases begs several questions: Whether the Indian military mounts many out-of-area operations and, if they mean to, wouldnt a more cost-effective long-term solution be Indian bases in the Agalega Islands of Mauritius and on the northern Mozambiqan coast, an agreement with Sultan Qaboos to stage out of Oman, and independently to use Nha Trang in Vietnam, and Subic Bay and Clark air base in the Philippines  all options available to India?

Read | US cant live without you, Prasad tells Indias IT companies

Americans anticipate that with LEMOA in the bag, the other two foundational accords  Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA)  will follow. Indian officials claim CISMOAs usefulness in counter-terrorism activity. But it is something Russia is wary of, as it will allow the US to plug into the communications system linking Indian aircraft to submarines, enabling remote spoofing of the communications hardware in the Akula SSNs. This is too risky for Moscow not to consider a pull out, which move could end in firming up a formidable Russia-China-Pakistan triad. With India and US getting together, China will be more determined to deny India entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, leave alone as permanent member into the UN Security Council.

The prime ministers appeal for US investment in Indias manufacturing sector too may not work out to our advantage just yet. He seems unaware that the Obama administration initiated the in-sourcing policy using coercive tax measures to compel American companies to bring back capital invested abroad and to create jobs in the US. So, how did India get the impression that Obama means to benefit India? Sure, the US would happily continue importing Indian talent, nurtured at the Indian taxpayers expense, to do technology work.

Read | Defence manufacturing could be Indias biggest job spinner: Modi to WSJ

The problem is with Modis personalised diplomacy wedded to his vision for the country as a subsidiary power. He further believes that India should make friends and that friends mean well. Except, Western leaders will be friendly, but ultimately pocket contracts worth tens of billions of dollars (for six nuclear reactors, in Obamas case), and otherwise advance their national interests, leaving India to wax eloquent about shared democratic values.

Bharat Karnad is professor, Centre for Policy Research

The views expressed are personal
The Supreme Court has reminded the Centre thrice of its obligation to enact a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as enshrined in Article 44 of the Constitution. Similar sharp reminders from the court also came in the past, but the ruling orthodoxy in all religions resisted the idea.

Read: The fight is for basic dignity

The Muslim community, by and large, seems to be hostile to the idea of the civil code and wishes to preserve its own personal law. In this atmosphere, it would not be advisable to enact a UCC, optional or otherwise, though such a code is desirable.

However, not all opponents of the UCC are opposed to reform of their personal law. Many progressive-minded and forward-looking Muslims say that not only is their law as practised in India unfair to women, it is contrary to the tenets of Islam.

Not only Muslim Personal Law (MPL) but also personal laws of other communities are pro-male. For instance, under Hindu law a woman cannot inherit ancestral property. If she is abandoned by her husband, she cannot claim maintenance from her natal family either. A Hindu woman cannot adopt a child in her own name. The wife of a Hindu cannot be her husbands coparcener. The Hindu Succession Act debars the female heirs of a Hindu dying intestate from laying any claim to a portion of residence left by the deceased unless the male heirs choose to partition it for determining their share in the property.

Nor is the position of women any better under Muslim law. While monogamy is the rule of law for a woman, the husband is entitled to have four wives. He can dissolve the marriage at any time. The wife, on the other hand, can divorce only with her husbands consent. Under law, the share of a male heir of the same degree is twice that of a female. Polygamy, unilateral divorce and no maintenance after the iddat period (the period after divorce when a woman is supposed to remain unmarried) to a divorced woman are other disturbing aspects of the law.

Read: The tide seems to turn in favour of Muslim women

Similarly, the Christian laws on marriage, divorce, maintenance and succession appear to be similar. For example, Section 10A(1) of the Christian Divorce Law makes the separation period of two years mandatory for mutual divorce. In other statutes like the Special Marriage Act, Hindu Marriage Act and Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, the requirement of separation is one year. Also, the Succession Act, 1925, gives Christian mothers no right in the property of their deceased kids.

In attempting to reform and codify the Hindu Law in the first instance, the idea was that if it succeeded, other communities would follow suit, but this didnt happen. However, this does not mean that existing personal laws should remain unaltered.

Read: Why not four spouses for Muslim women too, asks Kerala HC judge

While the judiciarys role in attempting to rectify gender and other biases in community-specific legislation is welcome, the legislature cannot escape its responsibility of law making.

The author is an advocate of the Supreme Court and the Delhi high court. The views expressed are personal.
Small time Bollywood actor Alisa Khan was rendered homeless by her family and forced to sleep on Delhis streets, according to reports. The actor, who would be seen in Emraan Hashmi in upcoming film Aaina, was allegedly kicked out of her home by her mother and brother.

According to an India Today report, the actor -- who was last seen in My Husbands Wife  claimed that she was forced out of her house after she complained against her boyfriend who had captured their intimate moments and put them on YouTube.

She approached the Mumbai Police and the sleazy video was taken down. However, her family was against her approaching the police and abandoned her.

Ever since, she is either living in friends houses or temples in the city.

Hindustan Times cannot independently verify the report.

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After the Udta Punjab controversy, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has now objected to inappropriate use of kirpan in a song in Varun Dhawan-John Abraham-starrer Dishoom. The body has requested Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to remove the song from the film.

DSGMCs general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa has written a letter to censor board chief Phalaj Nihalani, requesting that the song Ishq Ka Marz be removed from the film, an Indian Express report said on Wednesday.

Read: Dishoom trailer is out

The songs teaser was shared on Tuesday and it shows actor Jacqueline Fernandez wearing a short kirpan on her waist. Sirsa wrote that the video was highly offensive, mala fide and deliberate insult to the well-established Sikh tenets and customs.

Sirsa told the newspaper that he had watched the song on YouTube.

In his letter addressed to Pahlaj and makers of Dishoom, he has even threatened to initiate criminal proceedings if the song was not removed from the film, the report added.

Read: Dishoom is not like Dhoom, says John Abraham

The song depicts a semi-clad actress (Ms. Jacquelin Fernandez) dancing with a kirpan with other co-stars actor Varun Dhawan & John Abraham, one of the five compulsory Kakaars (articles of faith in the religion) worn by a practising Sikh; dangling in front of her legs and supported by a cloth belt worn around the waist by the actress.

Watch song teaser

Directed by Rohit Dhawan, Dishoom features Varun Dhawan, John Abraham and Jacqueline in the lead roles. It also marks the return of Akshaye Khanna after a gap of four years.

Earlier this week, the Bombay high court overruled the CBFC-recommended 94 cuts in Udta Punjab and cleared it for release with one cut and three disclaimers by the filmmakers. The film is based on drug problem in Punjab.

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Filmmaker Kabir Khans next Tubelight starring Salman Khan will have elements of comedy and drama with politics as its backdrop.

It is about a personal issue. Cant talk about what exactly right now. Needless to say my films always have a political backdrop to them because thats what excites me and I find real. So Tubelight also has a little political backdrop, said Kabir.

Right from his debut Kabul Express, to New York and his last, Phantom, the filmmaker has helmed movies that have a strong political background.

Read: Winning peoples hearts was a victory in itself, says Kabir Khan

Tubelight will mark the third collaboration between Kabir and the 50-year-old Dabangg star after blockbusters Ek Tha Tiger and Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

When asked if their upcoming film will follow the lines of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Kabir said, In terms of its emotional space it is similar to Bajrangi Bhaijaan. But story is very different. It is more of humour and emotional space that we (Salman and I) havent delved into.

Watch: Salman Khan in a song from Bajrangi Bhaijaan

It was reported that Salman will be undertaking a journey of enlightenment from India to China in the film.

The director said Tubelight will have a China element in the story but he will be shooting the film in Ladakh.

Watch: Kabir Khan first directed Salman Khan in Ek Tha Tiger

Tubelight is scheduled to release on Eid next year.

Follow @htshowbiz for more.
NEW DELHI: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has slapped show-cause notices on 10 top drugmakers, including Sun Pharma, Lupin and Aurobindo Pharma, for not submitting relevant information about the names of formulations manufactured and marketed by them. Besides these companies, notices have also been sent to a few other smaller firms.

Sun Pharma and Lupin are Indias top two pharma companies by market value.

Show-cause notices are generally issued by a court or a person in authority, which requires a party to appear and explain why a certain course of action should not be taken against it. If the party cannot convince the authority issuing notice or fails to appear, then the further course of action is taken.

In this case, the NPPA and companies are the party.

Around 95% of drugmakers in India have not complied with integrated pharmaceutical database management system (IPDMS), Bhupendra Singh, NPPA chairman, told HT. The NPPA is now constrained to issue show-cause notices to individual companies for not having registered their products under IPDMS and for not having filed the mandatory returns in form II, III and V.

The countrys 10 top drug makers include Sun Pharma, Lupin, Dr Reddys, Cipla and Cadila Healthcare, among others. We have sent show-cause notices to all of them and it may take two to three days to reach them.

Dr Reddys, Cipla, Glenmark, Abbott, GlaxoSmithline, among others, denied receiving any such intimation from the NPPA yet.

Sun Phar ma, Lupin and Aurobindo Pharma did not reply to HTs requests for comments.

Around 646 companies out of a total 5,000, and 56,400 formulations out of a total 1,00,000, have registered with the NPPA.

The drug regulator has sought detailed information for its latest online platform IPDMS, designed to monitor prices and availability of drugs across the country.

In May last year, the NPPA had issued notices to all pharma associations, warning them of appropriate action against their member companies, who were yet to register into the same system.

The Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), 2013 makes online submission of data mandatory for pharma companies.

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Indias cabinet on Wednesday cleared a new civil aviation policy with some changes in the rules that allow carriers to fly abroad, besides measures to promote regional connectivity and boost cargo operations.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said. said on Twitter that airlines would no longer need to wait for the five years of operations earlier required before they can begin flying abroad, but must still have 20 jets in their fleet.

#NCAP Any domestic airline can start international operations of it puts higher of 20 aircraft or 20% of total capacity on domestic routes  Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) June 15, 2016

#NCAP Airlines no longer need to wait for 5 years before starting international operations  Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) June 15, 2016

#NCAP Domestic Airlines will not require prior approval before entering into international code share agreements  Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) June 15, 2016

Easing the 5/20 rule would mark an important further step towards liberalising Indias aviation market, the worlds fastest growing.

Moreover, in order to boost regional connectivity, airfares have been fixed at Rs 2,500 for one-hour long flights.

The policy seeks to create an eco-system to handle 300 million domestic passengers by 2022 and 500 million by 2027, and 200 million international travellers by 2027. India had seen 139.32 million domestic and over 50 million international air travellers in 2014-15.

The Civil Aviation Ministry had sent the proposed policy to Cabinet for approval on June 3. The aviation policy has 22 points and includes proposals for new airlines to fly international routes before completing five years, regional connectivity and tighter guidelines for grant of bilateral international rights.

The NDA government had for the first time unveiled the policy draft in November 2014, subsequently replacing it with another draft in October 2015.

Initially, the policy was expected to be finalised in the last financial year as certain proposals were to be implemented from April 1, 2016.

Since then, the government has been moving back and forth on the matter, primarily to strike a balance between various stakeholders on their glaring differences over issues like the 5/20 rule that allows a carrier to fly abroad only if it has 20 aircraft and has flown domestic for five years.

The policy aims to bolster the domestic aviation sector by tapping its high growth potential with provisions such as capping airfares at Rs 2,500 for a one-hour flight, auctioning of unilateral traffic rights, tax incentives for airlines, maintenance and repair works of aircraft besides mooting 2 percent levy on all air tickets to fund regional connectivity scheme and providing viability gap funding for airlines to encourage operate on regional routes.

The issue of international flying norm or the 5/20 rule has witnessed extensive debate, with legacy carriers opposing any changes to the rule, while start-up airlines frantically demanding its scrapping.

Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju had last week virtually disapproved the continuance of this rule asking who has benefited from it, indicating that the government could even mull scrapping it.

Interestingly, exactly 10 years ago, on June 8, 2006, then Aviation Minister Praful Patel had said that the draft civil aviation policy is ready and could be taken up by the Union Cabinet for approval this month itself.

Since coming out with the draft policy in October last year, the Ministry has held extensive consultations with various ministries, apart from stakeholders like airlines, airport operators and ground handling agencies
67 year old Hari Prasad (name changed), was on life support system in Amritsar and the chances for his survival were low. He was immediately put on surveillance through an electronic intensive care unit (eICU), when the doctor at Delhi based hospital chain Fortis got an alert that Prasads oxygen levels are going down. The doctor immediately opened up the electronic record of the patient. On assessing it was found that although the set oxygen on ventilator was 100%, just 21% of it was getting delivered, said Sandeep Dewan, director at Fortiss eICU initiative, Critinext.

eICU is run on a virtual connection between the command centre, usually a well built and reputed hospital in metro, and the patients bed, usually in a small hospital in a remote area. The technology allows 24 hour flow of vital facts such as pulse rate, temperature, heartbeat, breath flow apart from a connected monitor, ventilator and audio visual technology to raise alarm, conduct surgeries, medical treatments or emergency procedures.

Lack of expertise in handling intensive care cases and shortage of specialised doctors in smaller towns is opening up a new vista of expansion for the countrys top private hospitals. Fortis Hospitals and Apollo Hospitals, both are planning to increase the number of beds on eICUs considering the high demand in semi urban areas.

Apollo is currently monitoring around 100 beds across India and plans to scale it up to 1000 beds monitored by three to four command centres across various Apollo Hospitals in India in the next 3 years.

Both Fortis and Apollo claim an average occupancy of 85% on eICU beds.There are about 70,000 ICU beds available across India which caters to 5 million patients requiring ICU admissions per year, said Pankaj Gautam, head for eACCESS initiative at Apollo Hospitals, a program which includes e-ICUs initiative. Apollo employs more than 700 critical care doctors.

Fortis has also kicked off remote monitoring of patients in eICU in Bangladesh, its first such cross-border initiative.

Meanwhile, smaller hospitals in metros are also exploring options to enter into the eICU industry. Pinky Yadav, medical superintendent at Delhi based Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, said e-ICU is a state of the art technology for Tier 3 and Tier 4 towns since super specialist are not present to monitor critical cases due to road or airport inaccessibility. Since it is a new dimension for the healthcare industry, we are also looking forward to support this technology.

Hospitals charge between Rs 700 and Rs 2000 a day to virtually monitor a patient from their eICUs, with revenues shared between hospitals and companies such as General Electric, Siemens and Philips that have developed the tracking technology. However, it does not contribute to the revenues much as e-ICUs usually reduce the average length of stay in ICU which balances the cost of treatment, said Dewan. As per Indian medical journals, eICUs have reduced the average length of stay in ICU by 1.02 days and has prevented 114 adverse clinical events in a year.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modis cabinet approved on Wednesday State Bank of Indias (SBI) takeover of several subsidiaries, a government official said, in a first move to consolidate the countrys struggling public sector banks.

As earlier proposed, SBI was to take over five units that had been run at arms-length, as well as state-run Bharatiya Mahila Bank, a bank for women set up in 2013.

The cabinet has cleared SBIs acquisition of subsidiary banks, the official, who did not wish to be named, said.

Policymakers want to recapitalise and consolidate Indias state-run banks so that they can extend fresh credit and help drive an investment-led recovery in Asias third-largest economy that is now being buoyed by state and private consumption.

Indias 27 public sector banks account for 70% of its banking sector assets, as well as the lions share of the countrys $120 billion in troubled assets.

SBI chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya said the merger would help the countrys largest lender by assets expand scale and cut expenses through synergies.

While the network of SBI would stand to increase, its reach would multiply. One can expect efficiencies to be created from rationalisation of branches, common treasury pooling and proper deployment of a large skilled resource base, she said in an emailed statement.

SBIs board had already approved the takeover of State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad , State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Travancore, as well as Bharatiya Mahila Bank.

Shares in all the listed units rallied by between 19 and 20 percent in trading on the National Stock Exchange in Mumbai on Wednesday.


Opposing NITI Aayogs proposal to privatise Air India and shut 28 PSUs, central trade unions, including the RSS-backed BMS, have threatened to go on a strike and sought Prime Ministers intervention on this matter.

One of the bodies has even accused the government of moving on expected lines to sell the country.

BMS opposes NITI Aayog proposal to close sick PSUs... BMS demands that the government call a meeting of all stakeholders to discuss the revival plan of sick PSUs before proceeding to decide on the proposal of NITI Aayog. Otherwise, we will compel to come on to the street to oppose the move, BMS General Secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement follows NITI Aayog submitting its proposal to the Prime Ministers Office on strategic sale, privatisation of PSUs and closure of loss-making units.

The NITI panel, headed by its Vice-Chairman Arvind Panagariya with CEO Amitabh Kant and other members on board, has prepared a detailed blueprint on PSU reforms. The Aayog has already submitted two lists of PSUs for strategic sale and closure or sale of sick units.

Although the panels recommendation has not been made public, some media reports suggest that it has pitched for reducing the governments stake to 49 per cent or below in PSUs at one go under the strategic sale option.

The AITUC Secretariat has taken serious note and condemned the proposal for strategic sale of Air India, Chennai Petroleum, Madras Fertilizer and FACT by NITI Aayog, All India Trade Union Congress Secretary D L Sachdev said in a statement.

AITUC has also condemned Aayogs proposal to wind up 28 PSUs and long-term lease of ITDC hotels. AITUC appeals to the Prime Minister not to accept the proposals as submitted by NITI Aayog on strategic sale and winding up the so-called loss making PSUs and stresses on revival of these units.

Centre of Indian Trade Unions General Secretary Tapen Sen said: We are opposed to it. The government is moving on expected lines to sell the country.

What is surprising is that now the government wants to sell those PSUs on which crores were spent for revival. This will definitely be one of major issues at the nationwide Bharat Bandh on September 2, 2016, Sen further said .

Indian National Trade Union Congress vice-president Ashok Singh echoed his point, saying the union is against the proposal to sell sick PSUs and will oppose this.

The government has set a disinvestment target of Rs 56,500 crore for this fiscal. Of this, Rs 36,000 crore is to come from minority stake sale in PSUs and Rs 20,500 crore from strategic sale.

The government kickstarted the disinvestment programme for the current fiscal with 11.36 per cent stake sale in NHPC. The government raised Rs 2,700 crore through the process.

During 2015-16, the government managed to notch up Rs 25,312 crore through disinvestment, less than half the target of Rs 69,500 crore.

It had raised around Rs 24,500 crore in 2014-15 by selling stake in public companies, about Rs 16,000 crore in 2013-14 and Rs 23,960 crore in 2012-13. It had raised around Rs 14,000 crore in 2011-12 and over Rs 22,100 crore in 2010-11.
NEW DELHI: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of political vendetta, escalating the Delhi governments fight with the Centre over 21 AAP legislators facing disqualification for holding multiple paying positions.

The BJP hit back, saying Kejriwal was obsessed with attacking the Prime Minister and also accused AAP of lying under oath that no per ks were given to the parliamentary secretaries, specially created official posts to help ministers discharge their duties.

The latest confrontation between the Centre and A AP government was sparked by President Pranab Mukherjee s refusal to sign a bill that would allow the 21 ML As to hold the second paying position.

Kejriwal said the Presidents decision was based on the Cent re s recommendation and questioned why similar action was not taken in other states which too have parliamentary secretaries.

There are parliamentary secretaries in Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, West Bengal and across the country. Those in Punjab get `1 lakh per month, car and bungalow as well. But they have not been disqualified. Why only Delhi? Because he (Modi) is scared of Aam Aadmi Party, said Kejriwal, who has repeatedly clashed with the Centre over officers appointment, files and governmental jurisdiction.

Modiji says Sonia Gandhiji isnt allowing Parliament to function because she cant digest defeat. Want to ask Modiji, is he not allowing Delhi government to function because he is unable to digest defeat in Delhi? A 2003 constitutional amendment capped the number of ministerial berths to 15% of the House strength. Since then several states started appointing parliamentary secretaries, using the posts to keep legislators without ministerial berths happy.

The BJP deployed two of its leaders to counter the AAP charges.

In its affidavit to the election commission, AAP had said no emoluments, perks or facilities were provided to the parliamentary secretaries. That amounts to perjury, said party MP Meenakshi Lekhi who released a list of rooms purportedly allotted in the assembly building to the 21 MLAs.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra criticised Kejriwal for questioning the decision of the President.

You (Kejriwal) have certain political ambitions, rightly so under a democratic system, but for gods sake dont demean the credibility of the President of India because in the end you are demeaning the democracy of this country, Patra said.

The Congress also attacked the AAP over the issue, seeking Kejriwals resignation for making false claims.

In no other state, one third of le gislators have been appointed as parliamentary secretaries. The appointments were aimed at providing red beacons to the MLAs, Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said.

Disqualification of the MLAs would come as a major setback for Kejriwal who stormed to power two years ago on an anti-corruption plank. The AAP has 67 MLAs in the 70-member assembly. The remaining three are BJP legislators.

The election commission is examining the petitions seeking disqualification of the legislators, who are said to have replied to the poll panels notices.
NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjees refusal to sign a bill that sought to protect 21 AAP MLAs from disqualification under the office of profit law appears to have put the Delhi government in a spot.

What can the Arvind Kejriwal government do now? Can it send the bill back to the President in its original form? Or can it amend it and send the amended version to the President?

According to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act, 1991, when a bill is passed by the Legislative Assembly, it has to be presented to the lieutenant governor, who can either give his assent to it or send it to the President for consideration.

Section 25 of the GNCTD Act says, the President can either give or withhold his assent to the bill. It further says, the President may direct the lieutenant governor to return the bill to the Legislative Assembly.

The Assembly has the option of passing the bill and sending it to the President again. When a bill is so returned, the Assembly shall reconsider it accordingly within a period of six months from the date of receipt of such message and, if it is again passed by the Assembly with or without amendment, it shall be presented again to the President for his consideration, the GNCTD Act reads.

The provision is similar to Article 201 of the Constitution which deals with bills sent by state assemblies to the President for reconsideration.

Mukherjee has sent back at least 10 bills to various states ever since the NDA came to power.

Former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash C Kashyap said the President may not reconsider the bill sent to him again.

Since in this case, the President has rejected the Bill outright, the question of reconsideration does not arise. It is not a case where the President has sent the Bill back for reconsideration, Kashyap told HT.

The Assembly passing such a bill was a tacit acceptance that these are offices of profit. Since, it is rejected by the President, these legislators may face disqualification, Kashyap said adding the President takes the opinion of the Election Commission before taking any decision in these matters.

Nearly a third of AAP legislators face disqualification after the President refused to sign a bill that allowed the 21 MLAs to hold a second paying position as parliamentary secretary.

The Constitution prohibits legislators or parliamentarians from holding any positions with monetary or other benefits. This clause  known as office of profit  is aimed at reducing conflictof-interest situations for public representatives.

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NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party government on Tuesday accused Reliance ADAG chairman Anil Ambanis two electricity distribution companies of atrocious performance and sought a roadmap to improve the power situation in the Capital.

In a letter to the industrialist, Delhi power minister Satyendar Jain said his BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna discoms have failed to meet the peoples expectations and were allegedly besieged with corruption and financial irregularities.

Performance of BSES has been atrocious so far. They were handed over the responsibility of power distribution of two thirds of Delhi in 2002, roughly 14 years ago. The expectation was that you will bring down tariffs and install a world-class power system in the Capital ... However, you have failed to do so, the letter says.

Besides, the minister pointed to allegations of irregularities such as siphoning off funds by the two discoms. Some of these allegations have been corroborated by the CAGs draft report and in earlier DERC orders, Jain said.

The blistering criticism follows public outrage against the AAP government over frequent outages this summer. Long power cuts hit parts of the city after demand hit an all-time high of 6,188MW on May 20.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal war ned in May that discoms will be made to compensate consumers for even hour-long outages if their supply network is not strengthened in the next six months.

The warning cameo na day the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) issued an order to the discoms to compensate consumers for unscheduled outages that extend up to two hours.

Last few weeks have seen unprecedented power outages in the Capital due to local faults despite availability of adequate power  After stern warnings from the government your companies have now started fudging data to show improvement. If there are 10 out ages, the daily report from your company shows only 7 and deliberately masks out 3, says Jains letter to Ambani.

The AAP government also accused Ambani of a cosy relationship with previous governments in Delhi at the expense of public interest.

The letter says: Kindly note that the new government is fully committed to protecting the interests of public and their welfare. In order to do that, the new AAP government in Delhi will not hesitate in taking strong decisions.

The minister asked Ambani for a meeting to show a roadmap demonstrating his plans to improve the power situation. I hope to see you sometime early next week, he said.

BSES officials declined comment, saying they have yet to see the letter.
NEW DELHI/ KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa on Tuesday as finance minister Arun Jaitley pushed to build consensus over the long-pending Goods and Services Tax bill and seek its passage in the monsoon session of Parliament.

After a meeting with state finance ministers in Kolkata, Jaitley said, virtually all states, except Tamil Nadu, have backed the proposed national goods and services tax (GST), signalling that support may have broadened among states for Indias biggest tax reform.

In her first meeting with the PM after winning the assembly polls, Jayalalithaa placed a slew of demands and maintained that manufacturing states like Tamil Nadu should be compensated for its revenue loss under a GST regime.

The outcome of the meeting was not immediately known but government officials were optimistic that the southern state will come on board.

Tamil Nadu has offered a few suggestions which have been noted, Jaitley told reporters after the Kolkata meeting, which was attended by finance ministers of 22 states.

The Congress maintained that the government must take on board Opposition parties and its suggestions.

We are not opposed to the concept of GST. We created the bill. We only want some amendments. If the government takes us and some other opposition parties on board, the GST bill can be passed in two minutes, said Ghulam Nabi Azad, leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha.

Opposition parties such as Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, JD(U) and Biju Janata Dal are likely to support the proposed tax. Getting the southern state on board could give the government the required strength and may force the Congress to soften its stand, say government managers.

While the Congress alone cant stop the passage of the GST bill, gover nment managers want to take the principal opposition party also on board as any ruckus or disruptions can prevent the passage of the Constitutional Amendment bill.

In a sign that he may have mustered enough support for the GST, Jaitley said the tax bill could be presented for approval in Rajya Sabha during the July monsoon session of Parliament. The bill has already been approved by the Lok Sabha.

Azad also indicated there will be further negotiations with the government. The session is more than a month away. The subject is pre-mature now, he said.

Political differences have held up the GST, with the Congress refusing to allow it through Parliament unless the government agreed to cap the tax rate at 18% and create an independent mechanism to resolve disputes on revenue sharing between states.

Jaitley said after Tuesdays meeting that the states had agreed no cap should be put on the tax rate because exigencies might arise in future to revise the rates. He has already agreed to allow states to impose a 1% additional levy on cross-border transport of goods, an idea rejected by the Congress.

Jayalalithaa also told the Prime Minister that petroleum products should be left out of the GSTs ambit.

The proposed tax seeks to replace a slew of central and state levies, transforming the nation of 1.3 billion people into a customs union. This could boost the rate of growth by two percentage points, economists say.

But for the measure to become a reality, Jaitley needs not only the backing of states but also of the Opposition to secure the required two-thirds majority needed to pass a key constitutional enabling amendment in Rajya Sabha.

The GST ministerial panel is likely to meet again in the second week of July. The government has already missed its initial rollout deadline of April 1, 2016.
WASHINGTON: The FBI is investigating if Omar Mateen used dating apps for gay men and made multiple visits to the nightclub where he massacred 49 people on June 12.

Investigators are also looking closely at Mateens relatives  especially his father and current wife  to ascertain if they had noticed signs of his radicalisation but failed to speak up. The wife, Noor Zahi Salman, knew, according to some source-based media reports, and tried to talk him out of it.

In the wake of the worst mass shooting in US history, the White House is pushing Congress to legislate commonsense steps to curb access to weapons and make it harder for any individual to get their hands on a weapon of war.

Mateen, a 29-year-old American of Afghan descent, gunned down dozens using an assault rifle at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, before being killed in a gunfight with a SWAT team.

In 911 calls from the club, Mateen professed allegiance to the Islamic State, the Boston bombers and a fellow Floridian who travelled to Syria to fight for a local affiliate of al Qaeda.

Investigators believe Mateen was self-radicalised and influenced by multiple individuals and entities with incongruent beliefs and goals, but he was not directed by any outside force.

Mateens father, Seddique Ma teen, and former wife Sitora Yusufiy have said he was not religious in the least. The father has claimed Mateen was a homophobe, thus the targeting of the gay club.

An FBI official told NBC news that investigators are reviewing reports and statements by members of Orlandos gay community who said they recall having seen Mateen at the LGBT club several times.

Yusufiy has said Mateen might have been gay or had gay tendencies but hid that out of shame. According to one report, Mateens father called his son gay in front of her.

She has also said Mateen was bipolar, a mental disorder, and would beat her. They divorced in 2011. He went on to marry Noor Zahi Salman, his current wife. But other accounts were more definitive about his sexual orientation. Hes a homosexual and he was trying to pick up men, Jim Van Horn, a patron of Pulse, told Daily Mail.

He would walk up to them and put his arm around them or something and maybe try to get them to dance a little bit or something and go over and buy them a drink.

Ty Smith, another patron, told the Orlando Sentinel he had seen Mateen at the club multiple times. Sometimes he would go over in the corner and sit and drink by himself, and other times he would get so drunk he was loud and belligerent.

Kevin West, another Pulse regular, told the Los Angeles Times that Mateen had messaged him multiple times over a dating app for gay men.

Though West knew Mateen by sight, they met for the first time an hour before the son of Afghan immigrants started shooting. West had gone to drop a friend at the club when he saw the shooter crossing the road in a dark cap.

He walked directly past me. I said, Hey, and he turned and said, Hey, and nodded his head, West told the Times. I could tell by the eyes.
The English examination of the first -year BA programme of Delhi Universitys School of Learning (SOL) was cancelled on Wednesday after the paper was allegedly leaked.

This is the second time the SOL paper had to be cancelled. The economics paper was cancelled on June 12.

Students were informed that the paper was cancelled half an hour after the examination started. For Wednesdays examination, students had gone to centres as far as Narela and Budh Vihar

The students had been allotted centres in far-flung areas. After students had reached the centres, they were told the paper had been cancelled. This puts physical, mental as well as economic strain on students, said Harish Gautam, a member of Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS)  the student union at SOL.

Some students had travelled as far as 40 kilometres, commuting for at least three hours, to reach the centre. The union will protest against the paper leak on Thursday.

The authorities confirmed the paper had been leaked. The paper, in which around 55,000 students had to appear, has been scheduled for June 24 at 9 am. An FIR has been lodged.

At around 2.15 pm, we got to know about the paper being leaked on WhatsApp. We cancelled the paper and sent SMS to all students regretting inconvenience. The paper has been rescheduled, said CS Dubey, director, SOL.

Teachers at SOL said paper leaks had become frequent because the examination was conducted at government schools. The examination department should conduct the exam at colleges. Also there is no proper monitoring system, said a teacher who did not want to be named.
The Delhi government has decided to take steps to build toilets in outer Delhis Shahbad dairy, where women and children go to a nearby forest because of lack of such facilities, making them vulnerable to crime.

Hindustan Times on Monday had reported that about 66 children from a slum cluster in the area didnt return from a nearby forest where they had gone to answer the call of nature because their shanties lacked lavatories.

Read: In loo-less Delhi slum, kids go missing from forest toilet, some end up dead

The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) sent a team to Shahbad Dairy on Tuesday morning and prepared a plan to make the area free from open defecation.

Two pre-fabricated toilet complexes will be opened by the end of July and four more before January next year.

There are eight toilet complexes managed by north MCD in the area. Three of them are shut and the rest five are in a bad condition. There are four other complexes run by DUSIB; one of them is closed for renovation while the rest three are functional. We have framed an estimate for upgrade and this one will be ready by November this year, said a DUSIB official.

The board has written to the MCD, asking it to improve the condition of toilets in the area. The area requires at least 1,000 toilet seats but has less than 200 for the population of over 50,000.

There is not a single toilet for 500 families living in Shahbad Diary, forcing every resident to rush to the nearby forest, where children and women become vulnerable to criminal attacks.

Overcome by fear, residents have stopped feeding their children after sunset  an ineffective attempt to prevent nature from calling at night.

Middle-aged Sarita, who has been living in the slum since 1986, vouched that the area was crime-free until a year ago. But not anymore.

My daughter-in-law doesnt go there alone  she was harassed by men a few months ago. My grandchildren are underweight but at least they are with us. We dont feed them at night for their safety, she said.

Women skip dinner at night. At times, men guard women and children in the woods.

Our husbands cannot be with us all the time. There is no toilet in the 2km area and despite requesting authorities, we dont see any hope. We have complained to police but they react only after a crime is committed. There is no sense of security at all, said Khushboo, a slum resident.

According to Sakhsham, a local NGO working with Child Rights and You (CRY) NGO in Shahbad Dairy, at least 45% of women and children either do not eat or take less food after evening. Malnutrition has crept in as a consequence; and many children are underweight.

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A contractual IT Cell staffer of the Gurgaon police was arrested on Tuesday on charges of illegally procuring call detail records (CDR) of influential people, including some Bollywood actors.

The accused, identified as 30-year-old Pradeep Kumar, was in touch with an aide who sought call details of celebrities from him in lieu of a job promise.

Police said Kumar used the access provided for the polices IT-related work to procure call details and share it with his accomplice, presently in Mumbai.

Kumar, police said, had made a Facebook account under the name of Deep Bura.

Investigations have revealed that Kumars Mumbai-based aide would ask for call details of personalities, which the he procured and duly handed over during personal meetings at posh hotels of Delhi. The call details of as many as 15 celebrities have been shared between the two, the police said.

Kumar himself didnt know the owner of the phone numbers. He would share the details with the Mumbai man and would occasionally take money in return, said inspector Sajjan Kumar, the investigation officer. Police have recovered a laptop, hard disk, mobile phone and a fake ID card from Kumar.

The matter came to light when a computer operator, head constable Rajesh Kumar, posted at Bilaspur, received a complaint that request for call details of two numbers was sent from the official email id of Crime unit 6, Bilaspur.

During investigation by Haryana state crime branch, police found that the e-mail was not sent by Rajesh Kumar but some other person.
It was reunion time for the cast of Inferno in Singapore on Tuesday when they got together for the promotions of the upcoming film. Internationally-acclaimed Indian actor Irrfan Khan brought a desi flavour while walking the red carpet here with Oscar-winning star Tom Hanks.

The stars added a dash of action and thrill of Hollywood to Singapore at an event, held at ArtScience Museum, located within the Marina Bay Sands resort here, in anticipation of the films release.

Read| Inferno trailer: Well, at least they gave Irrfan Khan a millisecond

Oscar-winner director Ron Howard, who has helmed Inferno, also joined the duo on the red carpet.

Irrfan had a special guest with him on the red carpet -- his son Babil, who was mostly clicking photographs of his father. Irrfan has been sharing pictures with his son on Twitter as well.

Known for his simple and minimalistic style, Irrfan, who gained global recognition with superb performances in films like Slumdog Millionaire, Life of Pi and Jurassic World, added a splash of colour on the red carpet with his dark red jacket, teamed with floral print shirt.

Actor Irrfan Khan speaks to the media as he promotes the film Inferno. (REUTERS)

It was black all the way for Hanks as he wore a simple and sophisticated black suit, and Howard was seen in a blazer teamed up with a shirt and trousers, and completing the look with a cap.

The building of ArtScience Museum turned into a passage to the world of Inferno for the fans and attendees as the building got draped in myriad colours like green, red, purple and an impression of a still from the movie being cast over it.

Actor Tom Hanks speaks to a reporter as he promotes the film Inferno on a red carpet in Singapore. (REUTERS)

It was a moment of joy and excitement for all the fans waiting to catch a glimpse of their favourite actors when the doors opened and Hanks walked out along with Irrfan and Howard.

The film gala ended all too soon for the waiting fans who were left asking for more and pleading with the stars not to go away.

Irrfan Khan. Ron Howard. Some guy. Promoting INFERNO. Let the social media barrage begin! Hanx pic.twitter.com/S6vaeQ3Nmr  Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) June 13, 2016

After giving a visual translation to Dan Browns The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, Howard is yet again infusing life to his popular Inferno.

In the film, based on the 2013 novel of the same name, Hanks will be seen reprising the role of Robert Langdon, a professor of symbology at Harvard University, while Irrfan is playing Harry The Provost Sims, head of the Consortium.

The film will present a trail of clues tied to the great Dante himself. When Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Sienna Brooks (played by Felicity Jones), a doctor he hopes will help him recover his memories. They race across Europe and against the clock to foil a deadly global plot, and Irrfan joins their mission to save the world.

Inferno to premiere in Italy

The Italian city of Florence, birthplace of Italian poet Dante Alighieri, will stage the world premiere of Inferno, Howard said.

Im happy to say it is in beautiful Florence in Italy, he said, adding that the location was appropriate given that the city was the centrepiece of the movie. The premiere will be on Oct. 8.
Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has reportedly rekindled his romance with model Nina Agdal.

The 41-year-old actor was first linked to the Victorias Secret model, 24, in 2014 but the pair were spotted together in Montauk, New York over the weekend where they paid a low-key visit to Goldbergs Famous Bagels and the Montauk Point Lighthouse, reported the New York Post.

Read: Whos the mystery blonde Leo DiCaprio is flying around the world to meet?

The pair are dating again and spent a romantic weekend in the Hamptons, said a source.

 @masha.photo @rommynajor @annakatsanis @riadazar9  A photo posted by Nina Agdal (@ninaagdal) on Jun 4, 2016 at 1:38pm PDT

This is not the first time they have been linked recently as last month DiCaprio and Agdal were spotted partying at Up&Down nightclub in New York.

Never leaving  A photo posted by Nina Agdal (@ninaagdal) on May 22, 2016 at 10:08am PDT

Just a few weeks ago, it was reported that DiCaprio was dating British model Roxy Horner. And in March it was rumoured that he was with Polish model Ela Kawalec.

Read: Meet Leonardo DiCaprios new girlfriend, Ela Kawalec

Follow @htshowbiz for more
After the Himachal Pradesh high court acted tough, Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) employees called off strike on Wednesday morning, after which bus services were back on track.

HRTC employees had went on a strike on Tuesday, keeping all the government buses off road, despite the high courts order on Monday against it. Court also slapped contempt notices on the employees for proceeding on strike despite the court order.

People faced inconvenience till the calling off of the strike as they either had to rely on private buses or walk to reach their destination.

HRTC union leader Khemender Gupta said they received the court order on Tuesday night and held a meeting. We decided to call off the strike, respecting the court order, he said.

On Tuesday evening, a meeting was held between principal secretary transport, HRTC officials and employees but no consensus was evolved. High court on Tuesday had directed employees to call of strike by 5pm but the employee union leaders had refused to receive the court order, said HRTC managing director Ashok Tiwari.
Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi, who has floated a new party, resigned from the Congress on Wednesday.

I hereby resign from the primary membership of the Congress party with immediate effect, Jogi said in a one-line resignation letter addressed to the party president Sonia Gandhi.

The 70-year-old bureaucrat-turned-politician floated a new political outfit on June 6 by releasing the manifesto of the party he is yet to name.

The announcement marks the culmination of the long-drawn factionalism within the Chhatisgarh party unit led by Bhupesh Baghel.

The former Chhattisgarh CMs son, Amit Jogi, was expelled from the Congress in January this year after a leaked telephonic conversation allegedly pointed fingers at him for fixing a by-election in favour of the BJP by putting only a demo fight from the Congress side.

A Delhi court in April acquitted five people, including Amit Jogi in a graft case related to a 2003 sting operation involving former union Minister and senior BJP leader Dilip Singh Judeo.
The BJP has denied links to the posters that have come up in the city with controversial references to the Mathura violence and the state governments handling of the eviction drive that left 29 people dead.

A blooming lotus in the centre and Bharatiya Janata Partys campaign slogan -- Naa goondaraj, naa bhristachar, abki baar BhaJaPa sarkar (say no to lawlessness and corruption, vote BJP this time)  painted at the bottom, one of the posters that have sprung in Prime Minister Narendra Modis constituency reads: Khun se rangi Mathura, so rahi Sarkar (Mathura bloodied as the government sleeps).

On the left side, two persons are sitting with one of them taking a shot at a policeman with a pistol. Mathura links are hard to miss.

Two policemen, one of them a superintendent of police, were among the people killed in a June 2 operation to evict squatters from a public park in the holy city of Mathura, around 670km from here.

The BJP has not put up these posters. We have nothing to do with such controversial things, partys Kashi president Laxman Acharya said. I have no idea about such posters. The BJP doesnt use such cheap language. We will look into the matter and trace the brain behind the posters.

Looking to make a comeback when Uttar Pradesh goes to the polls in 2017, the BJP has targeted the ruling Samajwadi Party on the issue of law and order and alleged poor governance. The Mathura incident was also discussed during the partys national executive that concluded in Allahabad on Monday.

Another billboard that has come up close to a busy traffic intersection reads: Bhumafia kar rahe raj, so rahi sarkar (land mafia has a free run as the government sleeps). It, too, has a drawing with a man perched on a branch training a gun at a policeman.

The Mathura park was encroached by members of a cult led by one Ramvriksh Yadav, who claimed to be a follower of freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose. Yadav died in the violence during the police action.

The state government, which accepted lapses on its part, has been accused of protecting the encroachers.

The BJPs media in-charge for eastern UP Sanjay Bhardwaj said deteriorating law and order situation was indeed a poll issue but the party had nothing to do with the posters.
The Centre has rejected the Arvind Kejriwal governments charge that it is sitting over the bills passed by the Delhi assembly and thus hampering its work.

We have received 11 bills from the Delhi government. Of them, one bill - the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 2015  concerning the appointment of parliamentary secretaries has been rejected by the President. Rest of the bills are in the different stages of processing. We are not sitting over any bill, a home ministry official , requesting anonymity, said on Tuesday.

The official explained that since unlike the previous governments ,the Kejriwal government has started introducing bills without prior scrutiny by the home ministry, the process of clearing bills is taking more time.

Earlier there was no problem with Delhi bills as all legislations were introduced in the assembly after prior scrutiny by the home ministry under the constitutional provisions and rules framed therein. But ever since the Kejriwal government came to power, it did not follow the process which is creating problems, said the official.

The bill regarding the appointment of parliamentary secretaries was sent along with three other bills - The Delhi Netaji Subhas University of Technology Bill, 2015, The Delhi (Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery of Services) Amendment Bill, 2015 and The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (Amendment) Act 2015 .

These bills were received in December. We sought clarifications on the bills concerning the university and time-bound delivery of services on April 13. But the Delhi government is yet to reply, said the official.

The official said a bill pertaining to shelter improvement is also likely to be sent back to the Delhi government.

Its a bit complicated, said the official.

The home ministry received seven bills from Delhi government in April this year. Of these, three are education bills -- The Delhi School (Verification of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee) Bill, 2015, The Delhi School Education (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Delhi Amendment) Bill, 2015.

We have sought response of various government departments to ensure that the proposed legislations are not in conflict with any central law. Once the responses are received, the ministry will process the bills further, said the official.

The other four bills sent for Presidential nod are: Jan Lokpal Bill, Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment Bill, 2015, The Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions (Delhi Amendment) Bill, 2015 and The Code of Criminal Procedure (Delhi Amendment) Bill, 2015.

In the case of journalists and minimum wages bills, clarifications have been sought from the Delhi government while the Jan Lokpal bill and the CrPC amendment bill are being examined by the various Union ministries.

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Taking cognisance of reports on alleged migration of Hindus from Kairana town, an issue flagged by the BJP, the Union Home Ministry on Tuesday sought a detailed report from the Uttar Pradesh government.

The Home Ministry has asked the state government to verify the allegations and send a detailed report at the earliest, an official source said.

The BJP raised the issue at its two-day National Executive meeting in Allahabad and Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju also said such migration, if true was unfortunate.

BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP from Kairana, Hukum Singh has said that the exodus of people from Kairana and other places in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh should not be given communal colour and viewed through a prism of religion.

The BJP leader on Tuesday released a fresh list of people who, according to him, migrated from Kandhla town of Shamli district.

During its meet in Allahabad and also at a rally here, both BJP chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had alleged that the law and order in UP was a matter of concern.

Hukum Singh has said that in addition to Hindus, even some Muslim families also fled Kandhla due to high-handedness of local goons.

Local BJP leaders have recently released a list of over 300 people who according to them were forced to migrate from Kairana to other places.

Shah has also deputed a probe team to reach Kairana on Wednesday to find the truth.

The assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are slated for early next year and the Samajwadi Party government in the state is under attack from the opposition, including the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, over the alleged deteriorating law and order in the state.
China rejected on Wednesday the allegation of incursion by its troops in Arunachal Pradesh, saying the Sino-India border has not yet been demarcated and the soldiers of the Peoples Liberation Army were conducting normal patrols on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control.

China and India border has not yet been demarcated, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Lu Kang said during a media briefing in Beijing while answering a question of reports of 250 Chinese troops entering Yangste, East Kameng district on June 9.

The big contingent of PLA soldiers stayed in the area for few hours and left for their base, the reports said.

The incursion into Arunachal Pradesh came at a time when China is opposing Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) on the ground that India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Beijing, which is reportedly backing Pakistans application into the 48-member nuclear club controlling the nuclear commerce, is calling for consensus about admission of the new members.

On the issue of incursions, China has been maintaining the same stand whenever its troops crossed into the Indian side of the LAC stating that both countries have difference perception about it.

While both sides in recent years managed to reduce tensions between the troops patrolling the disputed areas with various mechanisms, China has not responded positively to Indias proposal to demarcate the 3,488 km of the LAC to avoid border tensions.

The two countries have so far held 19 rounds of boundary talks by Special Representatives.
Cote DIvoirie, the worlds largest producer of cocoa, on Wednesday sought investment from Indias private sector, particularly in processing the main ingredient in chocolates, to further strengthen trade ties with India.

President of Cote DIvoirie Alassane Ouattara expressed interest in Indian private sector investment during his talks with President Pranab Mukherjee, who is on a two-day trip to the West African country as part his three-nation Africa tour.

Ivory Coast Government is very keen to get Indian private sector on board...Another sector he was proudly mentioning was that of chocolates. They produce cocoa. He says that Indian private sector could be useful as they export everything, secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha said while giving details of the talks between the two leaders to reporters.

Cote DIvoirie leads the world in production and export of the cocoa beans used in the manufacture of chocolate, supplying 33% of cocoa produced globally.

Sinha also said as per figures in January this year, the trade between the two countries stood at around $841 million and would have touched $1 billion till March 31.

In one of the important agreements signed, Exim Bank is going to re-open its office in the African country. It was shifted in 1992 to Sudan because of political turmoil in the country.

Headquartered in Mumbai, the bank signed a Headquarter Agreement which will give it some privileges.

Mukherjee also raised the issue of reforms in the UN Security Council and said change is a must, Sinha said.

Ouattara told Mukherjee it was an honour that he took time away from his busy schedule to visit his country and expressed regret that he could not come to India during the India-Africa Forum Summit last year because of elections.

Mukherjee extended an invitation to Ouattara, asking him to visit India anytime, Sinha said.

This is the maiden visit of the Indian President to home of hospitality Cote DIvoirie and is seen as Indias outreach to Africa. Mukherjees visit comes close on the heels of Vice President Hamid Ansaris trip to Morocco and Tunisia.

Cote DIvoirie also known as Ivory Coast, a francophone country, is also the biggest producer and exporter of cashew nuts to India which procures nearly 80 per cent of its total exports of cashew nuts.

The country had gone through a period of turmoil in the last decade due to civil war but its development can be seen from modern expressways crisscrossing the lush green countryside.
The Enforcement Directorate filed a fresh chargesheet over corruption allegations related to the AgustaWestland chopper deal, naming British middleman Christian Michel.

India had earlier approached Britain for extraditing the middleman. Minister of state for external affairs VK Singh told the Rajya Sabha that Indias request for Michels extradition was under consideration of the concerned British authorities.

Read: Christian Michel, UK businessman in the middle of chopper scam storm

Michel, 54, allegedly played a key role in swinging the Rs 3,727-crore deal for AgustaWestland to supply 12 VVIP choppers in 2010. The deal was scrapped by the previous UPA government in 2014.

AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italian defence giant Finmeccanica, allegedly paid more than Rs 375 crore as bribe to secure the deal. The British wheeler-dealer came under the scanner after an Italian court convicted two former officials of the defence giant for corruption.

This is the second chargesheet filed in the case by the ED which goes into the detailed role of Michel in the deal, his multiple visits to India and his transactions. The first chargesheet was filed by the agency in the case in November, 2014.

It is understood that filing a chargesheet against Michel was necessary as the ED has sought his extradition from the UK and hence such a court complaint against an accused is necessary in order to execute the treaty between the two countries.

A non-bailable arrest warrant was issued by a special CBI court against Michel in September while the global police, Interpol, issued a red corner notice against him in November on the agencys plea. The CBI had also sent a request to the British government in January for his provisional arrest.

Read: MEA seeks extradition of Christian Michel, the Agusta middleman from UK

In 2013, CBI registered a case over alleged bribes paid by a British firm to Indians to clinch the deal while the ED initiated a money-laundering probe in 2014.

Michel is among three European middlemen accused of tweaking key technical specifications by then government authorities to favour AgustaWestland.

The names of five Congress leaders, including party chief Sonia Gandhi, figured in the recent judgment by the court, triggering a political row in the country.

With inputs from PTI
The Telangana government launched a special vaccination drive on Wednesday after an active strain of poliovirus was detected in a water sample in Hyderabad last month.

Health minister Dr C Lakshma Reddy said the virus  Vaccinated Derived Polio Virus Type-2  was found in a sample collected from a drain near the Amberpet sewerage treatment plant on May 17 during routine tests by the medical and health department.

There is no need to panic, assured CK Mishra, additional secretary, health ministry, and mission director of National Health Mission. India maintains its polio-free status as we have scanned the area and no polio case has been found.

The health minister held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to review the situation.

This is not the first time that a strain has been found but it is a vaccine-derived polio strain that is found commonly in children with low levels of immunity. They excrete it, which is why it is found in the sewage samples, Mishra said.

Dr Reddy said the virus strain was detected in Delhi in October last year, besides in parts of Gujarat and Bihar.

However, as a precautionary measure, the health ministry has sent a team of specialists from Delhi to help the state conduct a special vaccination drive. We have decided to conduct another round of IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) that will take about two-three days to get over. Look at the positive side, we have a robust surveillance system that is able to pick up the strains in time, Mishra added.

Teams of the health department will inoculate around 300,000 children at the 12 locations in Hyderabad that are mostly likely to be affected the virus.

The government will bear the entire cost of medicines and vaccines to be administered to the children in these areas. We are appealing to all parents to administer vaccines to their children in the age group of six weeks to three years, Dr Reddy said.

The department is learnt to have imported 200,000 vaccines from Geneva, and is planning to rope in trained medical volunteers, anganwadi workers, community resource persons and NGO activists for the special drive.

The last case of polio in the country was reported on January 13, 2011, in West Bengal. The World Health Organisation certified India as polio-free in 2014, three years after no new case was reported from anywhere in the country, as is the protocol.

With inputs from New Delhi

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Ghulam Nabi Azad, the new Congress general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday favoured Priyanka Gandhi campaigning outside Amethi and Rae Bareli for the state assembly elections next year.

I do hope that she will definitely campaign in some other places as per time available to her, he told reporters.

He was asked whether Priyanka, who has been focusing on the assembly segments in Amethi and Rae Bareli parliamentary constituencies so far, would be campaigning outside to help party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

Azad will go to Lucknow on Thursday for a two-day brainstorming session with senior state leaders on the strategy ahead. He has already said the Congress will project a chief ministerial candidate.

Talking separately at the AICC briefing, senior party spokesperson Ajay Maken said it was up to Priyanka to decide when she wanted to get into active politics.

He was asked to react on Azads remarks earlier in an interview that there is an overwhelming desire among party workers to see that Priyanka pitching along Rahul in the Uttar Pradesh electoral battle.

In Uttar Pradesh, Congress had secured just two seats in the last Lok Sabha elections with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi emerging victorious from their traditional seats of Rae Bareli and Amethi.

The Congress is in political wilderness in Uttar Pradesh since 1989 following emergence of divisive Mandal-Mandir politics and rise of the BSP, which took away its crucial Dalit vote base.
A BJP fact-finding team said on Wednesday many more families are ready to leave Kairana, an Uttar Pradesh town at the centre of a political slugfest over alleged exodus of Hindu families hounded by criminal gangs.

The eight-member team led by BJP legislator Suresh Khanna went round the Muslim-dominated town and spoke to people to gather details for a report which could be submitted to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), team members said.

Kairana, with a population of 86,000, shot into the limelight after BJP parliamentarian Hukum Singh raised the bogey of Hindu exodus, releasing a list of 346 families who allegedly migrated over the years from the town, around 100 km from Delhi.

After discrepancies were found in the list, Singh said those who migrated from the town included both Hindus and Muslims and clarified that Kairana was not a communal issue but a law and order problem.

The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) has accused the BJP of giving communal colour to a law and order issue to polarise the state ahead of next years assembly polls.

I believe that many more families other than those mentioned in the list are willing to migrate from the town, Khanna said as he attacked the Akhilesh Yadav government for total breakdown of law and order in Kairana.

He also charged the state government with providing facilities and punishment to the people on the basis of their religion, which had created a sense of insecurity among the masses.

Satyapal Singh, former Mumbai Police commissioner and MP from Baghpat, said the people of Kairana were terribly scared and it appeared that criminals controlled the administration here.

The team also raised questions over criminals operating from within jails and said the matter would be raised in the state assembly and taken to the streets.

The committee members accused officials of pressurising people to give statements as per their wish in the name of verifying details of families mentioned in the list released by Hukum Singh.

Sudhir Agarwal, president of the partys human rights cell, said the party may also seek the judiciarys help to ensure justice to the people.

The committee will submit the report of its findings to the party leadership which will examine it and take final decision for action.

During the teams visit to the Retawal locality, one man who identified himself only by his first name Sompal, said he paid Rs 10 lakh to criminals and they were now mounting pressure on him to pay Rs 5 lakh more.

I sold my house at a throwaway price. My two brothers also want to migrate from here after selling their property, he told the team. Dayaram Sharma of the same locality said he shifted to Shamali due to deterioration in law and order situation.

The team faced opposition during their visit to Chowk Bazar, as a group of people, including Muslims, shouted slogans and accused them of listening to the grievances of a particular community.

The way they wanted to talk to us was improper, said Khanna about the protest.
A Mangaluru-bound Jet Airways flight with 65 passengers and four crew members on board returned to the airport on Wednesday shortly after departure as smoke was deducted in the cabin.

A full emergency was declared at the airport for priority landing of the flight 9W 2839 following which the runway was closed for operations at 10.20 AM and the aircraft landed safely, the Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) said.

Standard emergency procedures were followed and all 65 passengers and four crew members onboard were deplaned and are safe, it said.

Three arrival flights were held on air and five departure flights on ground. Runways resumed operations at 10.51 AM, the BIAL said.

In line with the airports commitment towards passenger safety and prompt and timely action from the Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting team ensured that all passengers onboard the aircraft were evacuated safely, it said.

Jet Airways, in a separate statement, said the flight returned to Bengaluru airport soon after departure due to smoke detection in the cabin.

Precautionary evacuation of guests and crew was carried out immediately on landing, it said.

All 65 guests and 4 crew are safe, the statement added.

.

Jet Airways Statement on flight 9W 2839 from Bangalore to Mangalore: pic.twitter.com/D2SxorsYTa  Jet Airways (@jetairways) June 15, 2016
The Enforcement Directorates ( ED) efforts to have liqour baron Vijay Mallya extradited from the UK received a boost when a Mumbai court declared him a proclaimed absconder on Tuesday. According to the source in the ED, the declaration will streamline the process of his extradition.

The court declared Mallya a proclaimed absconder, which it will help in the process of bringing him back to the country. We now have a court order that declares him an absconder, said an ED officer, who did not wish to be named.

ED officials said they hope the UK government takes this seriously. Bringing back such an offender depends on the political will of the country (UK) to extradite him. Technically, we are on a better footing now as a court has declared him an absconder, the officer added.

Read: Special court declares Vijay Mallya proclaimed offender on EDs plea

Another ED officer said this also means that Mallya will have one more chance to appear before the Indian authorities. He ( Mallya) has one more opportunity to present himself in 30 days, failing which the government can attach his properties. The ED has already attached some properties pertaining to the IDBI Bank loan case. In this case, the total outstanding principal loan amount of Rs 807 crore is considered to be proceeds of crime and we have attached properties worth Rs 1,411 crore, said the officer.

The EDs investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) revealed that IDBI Bank sanctioned a loan of Rs 864 crore for Kingfisher Airlines Ltd (KAL), for which the collateral was the Kingfisher brand, a corporate guarantee from United Brewaries (Holding) Limited and a personal guarantee from Mallya. Of this, Rs 807 crore remains unpaid.

The corporate loan was sanctioned and disbursed despite weak financials, negative networth, low credit rating of the borrower company, and despite the fact that KAL, as a new client, did not satisfy the conditions stipulated in the banks corporate loan policy, the ED stated.

The agency added, The investigation further revealed that the acts of Mallya, UBHL and others indicate that a criminal conspiracy was hatched to sanction a bank loan to KAL in gross violations of established procedure, and KAL had no intention to repay the loan. Further, huge funds of around Rs 423 crore from these loans were sent outside India on the pretext of aircraft lease rentals but no supporting documents have been furnished so far to substantiate their bona fides. Therefore, not only was the bank loan obtained in questionable manner, but part of the loan has been siphoned off abroad in a calculated and pre-designed manner.
The Delhi high court on Wednesday told the producers of Udta Punjab to remove from the films promos a scene which the Bombay HC has ordered to be cut.

A bench of justices Sunil Gaur and PS Teji directed the movies producer, Phantom Films, to modify the promos accordingly and ensure that the scene in question is also withdrawn from online sites like YouTube.

The Bombay HC had ordered removal of one scene which showed the films protagonist urinating in public.

You withdraw it from your end, the bench told the producers regarding online promos, with Phantom Films agreeing to comply with the Bombay high court direction.

With this direction, the Delhi HC disposed of the petition filed by an NGO which, apart from seeking removal of the scene, had also sought that it be heard by the censor board and its appellate authority before certifying the film.

The high court, however, did not go into the other prayers sought by the Punjab-based NGO, Human Rights Awareness Association, as the Bombay HC order has been challenged by it in the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, central government standing counsel Rajesh Gogna, appearing for the censor board and ministry of information and broadcasting, told the court that the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) would not be challenging the Bombay HC order in the Supreme Court.

Gogna also said that CBFC would be certifying the film for public exhibition.

The Bombay HC on June 13 had cleared the decks for the release of Udta Punjab after ordering deleting of a urination scene from the movie and displaying a revised disclaimer.

The high court had also directed the CBFC to certify the drug-themed film within 48 hours to enable the makers to release it on its scheduled date of June 17.

It also quashed the June 6 order passed by the CBFCs revising committee directing for a total of 13 changes in the movie.

As per the revised disclaimer, the Udta Punjab makers will also have to delete reference to Pakistan.

They will also have to make additions to the disclaimer to the effect that the movie, its characters and the film-makers do not promote the use of drugs and abusive language, and that the film is only attempting to depict the reality of drug abuse.
One way to deal with a problem is to sweep it under the carpet.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did exactly the same during its national executive meeting in Allahabad, refusing to get drawn into any debate over its chief ministerial face and keeping the focus largely on building a narrative for the next years assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The party, top leaders told Hindustan Times, will wait for at least three more months to take a call. This will be followed by several rounds of in-house assessments and consultation with its ideological fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Read: Huge Varun Gandhi posters in Allahabad indicate infighting in BJPs UP unit

Till then the saffron party will fall back on the troika of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Rajnath Singh and party chief Amit Shah to lift the campaign through public rallies and keep the BJP pot boiling.

Discussion on the sidelines of just concluded national executive meeting was largely focused on building connect with workers and voters. Each party MP has been told that winning assembly seats in their parliamentary constituency is their duty.

Party leadership reiterated the need for a synergy between MPs and booth committees that is responsible for getting voters out of their home on the poll day and exercise franchise in the BJPs favour. It will assess at frequent intervals, through different ways, the ground situation and partys position vis-a-vis its nearest rival.

Read: 2017 a year of challenge, declares Shah as BJP sets sights on UP victory

These organisational activities in UP will be supplemented with rallies of Modi, Rajnath and Shah. Together they are expected to address about 100 rallies until the polls scheduled to be held in January.

And Modi will address the crowd at least once every month.

All these should give us a better understanding of our strength and weaknesses by August and September. Our campaign will pick momentum after monsoon and by the time we will be in a position to take a call on whether or not to project a face, a BJP functionary told HT.

Senior Union ministers  Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Ravi Shankar Prasad  told reporters over last three days that no decision has been taken on the partys CM face in Uttar Pradesh.

Taking a call is not easy and the indecision is hurting the BJPs prospects.

The strategy, for now, is to keep Rajnath  BJPs last chief minister in Uttar Pradesh  at the forefront.

There are two reasons behind it. First, he is first among equals in Uttar Pradesh and the number two in the Union government. Rajnath at the forefront minimises the scope of discontent among second rung leaders who aspire for the chief ministerial job. He is one of the few BJP leaders with following in every part of the countrys most populous state.

Second, he remains the first choice of the party as the chief ministerial face. Feelers have been sent to him about it, but he remains reluctant to move out of North Block to take up a job he handled more than a decade ago. The benefit of keeping him at the forefront is that if he changes his mind at the RSS request, the investment on him wont be dead.

BJP strategists have another worry. What if Rajnath does not take up the job? Will it be too late by August-September to find a replacement for him? Is exposing PM Modi beyond a point, like it did in Bihar, a right strategy?

The partys options are limited.

Sultanpur MP Varun Gandhi, whom internal surveys have shown as the first choice for the CMs post, is not in the best of terms with partys leadership. His left of the centre politics is not in sync with the BJPs plan of action either.

Union human resource minister Smriti Irani is an outsider and Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath is too polarising a figure to be asked to lead the party.

Others claim Union minister Mahesh Sharma, Lucknow mayor Dinesh Sharma, BJP state president Keshav Prasad Maurya and others do not stand even a chance in front of stalwarts like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati.

The Congress, too, seems to be readying to project a face. That will further bring under pressure to declare ours. We may have little time in hand, a party MP from Uttar Pradesh admitted.

The BJP campaign strategy will largely depend on the choice of its face.

In Allahabad, it presented a mix of development and Hindutva. The PM skirted controversial issues in his speech both in the house and the public rally  while Amit Shah went the whole hog to warn people about entire UP becoming Kairana if the SP government was not booted out.

This is largely going to remain the partys line for some time. And it will be a while before one gets to know whether development or Hindutva will take precedence over the other issues.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modis Swachh Bharat and chief minister Mamata Banerjees Nirmal Bangla (Clean Bengal) campaigns have got a push from a completely unexpected quarter  marauding herds of elephants  in at least three districts of West Bengal.

Scared out of their wits on how to save people from these wild animals that especially target those defecating in the open early in the morning, authorities have now taken up the task of building toilets in thousands of homes as a priority.

We have observed that many who live close to the forests were killed by elephants when they went to the forest for defecation. We will conduct meetings with the district administration of Jangalmahal area for building toilets in every house, Binay Krishna Barman, the state forest minister, told HT.

The Jangalmahal area covers large swathes of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts in the state.

Besides, we will also install lights along the roads so that elephants are visible when they move inside human habitations at night, Barman said.

The minister said that at dawn sleepy villagers are not always alert and when the animals attack them, they cant even see the creatures clearly in the semi-dark hours. Therefore, loss of lives can be sharply reduced if people dont need to go out in the open to respond to the call of nature, he said.

We have also sought permission from the central government to allow us to catch elephants but so far the permission has not been granted, the forest minister added.

Every year the elephants descend from the Dolma hills of neighbouring Jharkhand and roam around in Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore districts. Large tracts of these three districts are covered by forests but the animals regularly stray inside human habitation destroying crops, lives and property.

The mining works in Dolma Hills are also driving away the elephants from their habitat forcing them into neighbouring Bengal, a state forest department officer said.

He said 105 people were killed by the tuskers in 2015, and out of them as many as 71 were in south Bengal. This year, 14 people have been killed in West Midnapore district and agricultural products on many acres destroyed in elephant attacks. The tuskers have often strayed into Midnapore town as well.

At present, there are more than 200 elephants in different parts of forests in Jangalmahal area. Of these, about 180 elephants have come from the Dolma Hills. Earlier, these elephants used to go to Odisha through Bengal, but recently the Odisha government has dug canals and tuskers cant cross these barriers and are staying back in Bengal, the officer added.

During her first administrative meeting outside the state capital on Tuesday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said in Jhargram in West Midnapore district that the forest department can no longer procrastinate in taking strong and effective steps to combat the attack of wild elephants.

She said the department has to devise ways to save lives and property from elephant attacks that are becoming more frequent now.

I have told the forest department to work seriously and the chief secretary will monitor their work, Banerjee said after the review meeting.

The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has been overshadowed in Bengal by Nirmal Bangla plan that was launched by the chief minister a few months before the central programme and getting rid of defecating in the open is a big component of both plans.

The campaign to eradicate defecation in the open got a boost in Bengal when Nadia became the first open defecation-free district in India in 2015. It also won a global recognition from the United Nations.

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The Shahid Kapoor-starrer Udta Punjab that recently won a bitter battle against the censor board may not be out of the woods, yet.

A Punjab-based NGO on Wednesday challenged in the Supreme Court the Bombay high court order that cleared the film on drug abuse in Punjab with just one cut.

The film, which will be for adult viewers only, is scheduled to be released in cinemas on June 17.

Read: Udta Punjab row in Punjab-Haryana HC: Screening held for lawyers, petitioners

The NGO, Human Rights Awareness Association, sought urgent hearing on its petition claiming the movie depicted the state in bad light.

A vacation bench of justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and L Nageswara Rao, however, asked the NGO to first get their petition cleared from the registry.

During the day, the Delhi High Court directed the producers of the film to remove from the movie trailers a scene which the Bombay high court has ordered deleted.

The HC order, which came on a plea by the same NGO, asked the films producer Phantom Films to modify the promos and ensure that the scene in question is also withdrawn from online such as like YouTube.

Phantom Films agreed comply with the HC order.

The Bombay HC on June 13 overturned a controversial suggestion by the censor board seeking 13 cuts to the movie which it deemed offensive to peoples sensibilities and a threat to the countrys integrity.

Do not act like a grandmother. Change as per the times now, a bench of SC Dharmadhikari and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi said in its order, hailed by the film fraternity as a landmark judgment.

Besides asking the producers to delete a scene which shows the lead character, a drug-addicted rock star played by Kapoor, urinating in public, the court also ordered modification of a disclaimer by deleting a reference to Pakistan.

The board had also asked for all references to Punjab be deleted but didnt get its way. The boards suggestions had sparked a debate on creative freedom, with the film fraternity and even politicians joining in.

The border state is due for polls early next year and the ruling SAD-BJP combine are battling anti-incumbency and charges of corruption. The film showed Punjab in bad light and was removed from reality, the Punjab government had said.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi hit back at the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, saying it didnt want to end the drug menace because it was benefiting them hugely.  The Akali Dal and its leaders are reaping huge profits due to drugs every day, Gandhi said.

The Aam Aadmi Party that is presenting itself as the third alternative in the poll-bound state, while denying the charge of funding the film said Udta Punjab reflected the truth about Punjab.
Mukeem Kala, the man suspected to be the reason for the Kairana exodus, shot to infamy in West UP, and in neighbouring states of Haryana and Uttarakhand, for running a bloody extortion racket.

It was this constant threat of being targeted by Kalas gang that allegedly drove Kairana villagers out of the district. A majority of the gang members are today either behind bars or dead, but their reign of terror continues.

Kala was arrested in October last year and sent to Saharanpur jail, police said. He was later shifted to the Maharajganj district jail in East UP, where he is currently lodged. But sources say the dreaded criminal still operates the extortion racket from his cell.

While four members were killed in different encounters, 25 were caught and sent to prison, including Kala, assistant superintendent of police, Shamli, AK Jha said.

One of the gang members, Wajid Kala escaped from police custody in Saharanpur a few months ago and is still at large. But Jha said the police are close to arresting him. Another member of the gang, Dr Israr also escaped from Kairana court but was caught again a month ago in a joint operation of Shamli and Panipat police, Jha added.

HT Interview | I still stand by my list, says Kairana MP on Hindu migration row

Kala entered the world of crime in 2010, when he joined the gang of Mustafa aka Kagga of Gangoh, Saharanpur. His first crime, a robbery in Panipat, Haryana, got him noticed in the gang and Kala never looked back.

(Virendra Singh Gosain/HT Photo)

In December 2011, after Kagga was killed in an encounter, Kala took over the reins of the gang. Today there are more than 30 cases of loot, robbery, murder, extortion and other crimes registered against him in Shamli, Dehradun, Panipat, Baghpat and other districts.

Kala is also accused of killing four police officers, including Rahul Dhaka, a gunner of the circle officer of Saharanpur, a few years ago. The gunner was reportedly shot at point-blank range while attempting to stop the gangsters car during a routine check.

Kalas name surfaced again last year in a jewellery showroom robbery in Saharanpur.

But the Kala gang was not the only one operating in the area. Police said another gang, led by one Furkan, was also running an extortion racket. Former associates of Kala  Shabir, Mehtab and Sader and Dr Israr too ran parallel criminal activities, either by using Kalas name or on the basis of their individual reputation.

Read | Doubts over the communal angle in Kairana exodus

Read | Kairana is an expression of State failure
As 21 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs face the prospect of disqualification on grounds of office of profit, details have emerged of how the appointments of parliamentary secretaries have been quashed by high courts in various states.

Even as the AAP government has attacked the Centre over Presidents refusal to give assent to a bill for amendment of the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997 that has raised the prospects of disqualification of MLAs, government officials said the Kolkata high court had quashed a bill for the appointment of 13 parliamentary secretaries in June 2015.

Similarly, the Goa bench of the Mumbai high court had quashed a bill passed by the state assembly for appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries in 2009.

The appointment of 19 parliamentary secretaries in Punjab was challenged in the Punjab and Haryana high court, which is still hearing the case.

In Haryana too, appointment of four parliamentary secretaries was challenged in the Punjab and Haryana high court and the matter is sub-judice now.

In Himachal Pradesh, the state HC had struck down the appointment of 9 parliamentary secretaries saying their appointments did not owe their origin to any constitutional or legal provision.

The high court in Rajasthan has issued notices to 13 parliamentary secretaries questioning their appointments.

The Telangana HC stayed the implementation of an official order on appointments of 6 MLAs as parliamentary secretaries in the rank of cabinet minister.

In Karnataka, appointment of 10 such secretaries was also challenged in the court.

As per the Constitution, all states, except Delhi, should not have ministers and parliamentary secretaries over 15% of the total strength of the Assembly.

In case of Delhi, where the strength of the Assembly is 70 MLAs, the ministry should be 10% of its strength while the chief minister can appoint just one parliamentary secretary as per an Act enacted by the then Sheila Dikshit government.

Government officials said after President Pranab Mukherjee withheld his assent to the bill that wants to give immunity by excluding the post of parliamentary secretary from the office of profit, it is certain the 21 MLAs will face disqualification under the Peoples Representatives Act by the Election Commission.

The Election Commission will take the final decision but sooner than later, the 21 MLAs will be disqualified as per Constitution, the official said.

In Delhi, on the day of the appointment of these secretaries, there was no Act. Delhi government wanted its action to be covered retrospectively which does not happen unless its a Money Bill.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishads cow protection wing appears to be bearing down on the Centre to create a separate ministry for bovine welfare, urging the government to set a deadline for it.

The renewed push by the Bharatiya Govansh Rakshan Samvardhan Parishad was aimed at reminding the Narendra Modi government of its poll promise to save the countrys bovine progeny, considered sacred by Hindus.

The VHP is affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) -- considered the ideological fountainhead of the BJP -- which too has been championing the cause of cow protection.

Beef consumption has become a controversial issue in the country after fringe groups and self-styled protection groups started targeting people they accuse of slaughtering cow.

Several BJP-ruled states have enacted stringent legislations to stop cow slaughter and beef consumption, which activists and opposition political parties say discriminates against Muslims, Christians and lower-caste Hindus who rely on the cheap meat for protein.

A senior functionary of the cow protection organisation told HT that creation of a separate ministry was essential to ensure a total ban on cow slaughter, beef consumption and protection of Indian breeds, some of which face the threat of extinction.

He said the ministry can be on the lines of the separate department raised to rejuvenate the Ganga, considered the lifeline for millions of people in northern India.

The issue of cow protection will be raised during the monsoon session of Parliament, he said, adding that MPs are being approached to lend their voice to the cause. A similar exercise was launched last year without much success.

Another functionary, HS Savla, stressed the scientifically proved health and environment benefits of rearing cows and said there was a misconception that Indian breeds do not produce milk in quantities comparable to foreign ones like the Jersey or the Swiss cows.

Indian breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal are far superior.

A senior RSS functionary said contemporary problems of global warming, drought and declining food production can be mitigated by encouraging bovine rearing.

India should aspire to be number one in milk production and exports, instead of meat. There are numerous scientific studies that prove the advantages of not consuming beef, he said.

The push for cow protection comes in the wake of forensic tests confirming that beef was found in the house of Mohamad Ikhlaq, a Muslim man lynched by a mob in Dadri last year for allegedly slaughtering a calf and consuming its meat.

With right-wing groups demanding a criminal case against Ikhlaqs family for alleged cow slaughter, the issue is likely to dominate Uttar Pradeshs political landscape in the run up to the assembly polls early next year.

The killing of Ikhlaq had sparked a nationwide debate on growing religious intolerance under the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. Critics often accuse the Modi government of not doing enough to rein in fringe groups targeting cattle traders across the country.

In March, two Muslim cattle-traders including a minor were hanged from a tree in Jharkhand. One among the five arrested over the incident is a member of a cow protection group.

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In a special gesture, President Pranab Mukherjee was on Wednesday accorded honorary citizenship of Abidjan when he was given a key to Ivory Coasts economic capital.

The honour is bestowed upon visiting Heads of States by symbolic conferment of citizenship and handing them with a key to the city.

Mukherjee also was given a traditional tribal name Asito which means example that should be followed by younger generations.

After the ceremony, the President became a member of Committee of Wise Men who advise on effective functioning of the administration of the city.

I am deeply touched by your gesture of presenting to me a key of the city and conferring honorary citizenship on me. I am indeed very thankful to all for this honour bestowed upon me. I am very pleased to be henceforth an honorary citizen of the city of Abidjan, he said.

India sees the city of Abidjan as a melting pot of diverse ethnicities and religions, President said adding that he was happy to see that Abidjan, after suffering extensive damage during the recent civil war, has regained its past splendour.

He said the tradition of making him a citizen reminds him of Indias age-old philosophy of Vasudeva Kutumbakam.

These words in Sanskrit mean that mankind is one large family. I therefore accept the honorary citizenship bestowed by you in the name of the people of India - and as a valued symbol of the friendship of the people of Cote dIvoire, he said.

Mukherjee was also handed over the traditional dress, a golden headgear, sandals, bracelet, a turquoise and yellow-coloured necklace and a golden coloured stick.

In the prelude to the event, the traditional drum playing and dance was also conducted by the tribals.
An animal rights activist has asked the Supreme Court to quash a government order declaring some animals as vermin that allowed them to be culled, a notification that recently saw two cabinet ministers have a go at each other.

The plea filed on Wednesday also wants the court to immediately put on hold the three notifications that declare nilgai (blue bulls), monkeys and wild boars as vermin in the states of Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, respectively.

The impugned notifications have been passed in absolute disregard of the human-wildlife conflict plaguing the country and without any scientific survey backing them, the plea said.

The Centres decisions to classify -- on state governments request -- these animals as vermin put the spotlight back on conservation challenges in India as incidents of man-animal conflict rise with shrinking wildlife habitats.

Appearing for animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi, senior advocate Anand Grover said the Centre didnt have the power to issue such a notification. He said people were being hired for mass killing of the animals declared vermin.

A vacation bench of justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and justice L Nageswara Rao agreed to list the matter during the week.

Starting December 1, the environment ministry has issued three notifications. The most recent was on May 24, declaring monkeys to be vermin in some districts of Himachal Pradesh.

The states had complained they were struggling to pay farmers for crop losses and the growing animal population also posed a risk to human lives.

The vermin tag, the plea said, deprived animals of the shield provided under the wildlife protection act.

The state is no longer responsible for safeguarding the life and well-being of such animals. The indiscriminate killing of these animals will have a detrimental effect on the food chain and in turn lead to an ecological imbalance, the plea said.

Arguing for quashing of the Section 62 of the wildlife act, the petitioner said it gave arbitrary power and unfettered discretion to the government. Section 62 is in complete violation of Article 14 of the Constitution and hence unsustainable, it said.

Women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi, too, has spoken out against indiscriminate killing of animals. Gandhi held her environment ministry colleague Prakash Javadekar responsible and said she could not understand the lust for killing animals.

Javadekar has defended the move, saying the culling was for scientific management of rising animal population.

Every year, crops standing in hundreds of acres are destroyed by animals looking for food. Efforts by people to protect their farmland often leads to fatalities on both sides.
BJP favours holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies and has written to the Standing Committee of Parliament in this regard.

The suggestion was mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help save precious time and money spent in electioneering.

BJP President Amit Shah has written to the Standing Committee on Law and Justice for holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections, a senior BJP leader said.

Shah has also called for a larger debate among various political parties for holding polls to Lok Sabha and state assemblies concurrently and asked the Election Commission to explore such a possibility, the sources said.

The parliamentary standing committee had in its report on the Feasibility of Holding Simultaneous Elections to House of People (Lok Sabha) and State Legislative Assemblies favoured holding of simultaneous polls saying it would help reduce expenditure, end policy paralysis and save time.

The EC is not averse to holding simultaneous polls either and the matter is under consideration of a Group of Ministers headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Making a strong pitch for it, Modi had said that due to frequent elections things get delayed and stalled and a lot of time is spent on elections. He also said a number of opposition leaders have met him and sought a way out.

The Standing Committee had in its report said the prospects of holding simultaneous elections needed to be weighed and deeply considered by all political parties, but admitted that gaining consensus may be difficult.

The AIADMK has supported the idea in principle and so has the Asom Gana Parishad. The SAD said it supports the idea but has doubts on certain issues like mandate delivering a hung assembly.

Congress and Trinamool Congress have rejected the idea, saying ideal as it may sound is impractical and unworkable. The NCP too said that the proposal is not feasible. The CPI said the proposal looks ideal but there are practical problems such as need for mid-term polls.

The Law Commission in one of its reports presented to the government in 1999 had also supported the idea of simultaneous polls.
Trouble mounted for former Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha with a court on Wednesday issuing a warrant against them in the intermediate examination scandal that has rocked the state.

If Singh and Sinha are not arrested or they fail to surrender, the police can plead the court for orders to initiate proceedings for attachment of their property.

Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj, who is monitoring the investigation, said raids were on at various possible hideouts to arrest the former BSEB chairman and his wife.

We have got a lot of evidences about the entire racket and complicity of the board as well as few other institutions. We have carried out raids at Ganga Devi Mahila College, where Sinha is the principal, as well as at her Hilsa residence and gathered a lot of evidences, he added.

Both have been evading arrest even as nine persons, including Bachcha Rai, the principal of controversial VR College, have been arrested in connection with the intermediate examination scam.

The SSP said Anil Kumar, a higher secondary teacher posted at Tarapur (Munger) but deputed at BSEB, had been arrested from Hilsa after he was found involved in selling teachers training certificates.

He was detained for interrogation two days ago. He enjoys a lot of clout. Some students also corroborated how they were given teachers training certificates by Anil Kumar for a hefty sum, said the SSP.

According to police, evidences gathered so far indicated that Singh was involved in the scam in which the answer books of certain examinees were tampered with to increase their scores and push them up in the merit list.
No one in the joint family supported Amita Shukla (36), a mother of two, when she decided to take up an unusual profession. But she was adamant. And very confident.

In May, she headed to Kedarnath  the Hindu shrine nestled amidst snow-clad mountains in the Garhwal Himalayas  and joined the league of tirth purohits, priests at pilgrim places who maintain records of generations of clients and perform religious rituals.

Amitas decision was prompted by one of the most brutal natural disasters in the Himalayan state.

Exactly three years to the day, a cloud burst triggered a massive deluge in the Kedar valley, killing more than 5,000 people and causing widespread devastation across a vast swathe of land.

Among the dead was Amitas husband, who was also a priest at Kedarnath.

On Wednesday, Amita recalled those trying times as she attended to clients  known as jajmans  at her at her village Devli Bhanigram in Rudraprayag district, around 60 km from Kedarnath.

Amita is among only two women who serve as priests at Kedarnath, one of the holiest Hindu shrines visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. Though there was no bar on woman priests, it has remained a male profession over the centuries.

We have a joint family but none of the elders asked how I am surviving with two children. Finally, I took up a call and decided to take up my husbands work, Amita said.

Vishweswari Devi too works as a priest in Kedarnath. (Anupam Trivedi/HT Photo)

Devli Bhanigram was dubbed the village of widows after the 2013 disaster left more than 30 women without husbands. Many of them lost every single member of their families.

Devli Bhanigram has 90 families, most of them Brahmins engaged as traditional tirth purohits.

Jajmans are very supportive but not our own people. I have now decided to hire a male priest as an assistant, said Amita, who has a Masters Degree in Geography.

Amitas inspiration was Vishveswari Bagwari (45)  the first woman priest at Kedarnath -- who hails from the same village.

Four members of Vishveswaris family also died in the deluge forcing her to seek employment as a priest.

An illiterate Vishveswari, a mother of five, said she is now trying to persuade her widowed sister-in-law Sangeeta to join them at Kedarnath.

We are born priests, though some hurdles come but then nothing stops you.

Vishveswari and Amita faced no resistance from Kedarnaths male priests.

Times have changed, women are active in every sphere. We welcome our sisters joining the profession. Its a small step towards a big change, said Durgesh Bagwari, a priest at the shrine.

However, for other widows of the village, survival has remained a challenge.

For instance, Sangeeta, whose husband went missing in Kedarnath, has three small girls. Savitris story is no different. Her in-laws dumped her and she barely has emotional support.

I have no strength and I want to die, Savitri sobbed while remembering husband.

Govindi Bagwaris husband and three sons also died at Kedarnath. She is left with one kid and no hope in my eyes.

The government provided Rs 7 lakh to the next of kin of the dead. Keshav Tiwari, a social activist said three NGOs are active in the village, providing vocational training and financial help to the needy families.

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MUMBAI: Former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, arrested in connection with an alleged money laundering case, on Friday sought bail from the Bombay high court on medical grounds.

Bhujbal said that he was suffering from a terminal illness.

Bhujbals counsel Amit Desai told the Bombay high court thatBhujb al underwent an angioplasty in 2003 and since then, his cardiac health has not been normal. Considering his old age, his enlarged cardiac enzymes, and a list of other ailments, Bhujbal remains in a high risk zone, he said.

Des a is aid that the jail authorities and the court cannot ignore the situation.

Desai also raised questions on the veracity of the medical boards report based on which St George hospital had declared him clinically stable.

Desai said that this report, based on the opinions of nine doctors fromJJ Hospital after tests were conducted on Bhujbal, seemed fabricated.

Desai said the medical tests on Bhujbal had been conducted in May this year, while the report was dated August 28, 2008.

Besides, while the rest of the report has been typed out on a computer, the patients name on it is written by hand. The date of birth on the report is also wrong. Does this mean that the hospital tried to pass of f t he re por t of another physically-fit person as that of Bhujbal? Desai asked.

He also read out a list of other chronic ailments that Bhujbal allegedly suffers from, including diabetes, enlarged prostate, sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

Desai also cited the case of businessman Hasan Ali who has been accused in another money laundering case.

He argued that even though the Enforcement Directorate had accused Ali of laundering much more money than Bhujbal, Ali was granted bail in January this year on medical grounds.

He said that if granted bail, Bhujbal will go to Hinduja Hospital to get himself checked and treated by doctors of his choice.

Just the fact that I am an accused and that a government hospital has declared me clinically fit does not suspend my constitutional right to life and thus, my right to challenge the hospital report and instead choose to get treated by a doctor of my choice, Desai argued. HC is likely to take up the matter for further hearing on Thursday.
MUMBAI: Alleging that the state government lost hundreds of crores of rupees owing to irregularities in the online operations of state lotteries, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer has demanded the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) to look into lottery operations during the Congress-NCP regime.

Anand Kulkarni has also accused senior NCP leader and former finance minister Jayant Patil and senior IAS officer Kavita Gupta, who was commissioner, state lotteries as well as serving as a secretary in the finance department, for irregularities.

Both Patil and Gupta were not available for comment while chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said he will verify the complaint and if it has substance, will take action.

Kulkarni has alleged that there was a nexus between the finance department and private lottery operators and hence lottery operations between 2001 and 2008 need to be investigated.

The ACB is already investigating irregularities in the irrigation department and the Maharashtra Sadan case involving senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal.

Kulkarni referred to a confidential report prepared by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) on lottery operations that was allegedly suppressed during Congress-NCP regime.

The report has exposed the gross violation of guidelines of the central government and a nexus between the finance department and private lottery operators, said Kulkarni on Tuesday.

Patil as chairman of the state lottery board had considered the lone tender of a private operator Martin Lottery Agencies for controlling state lottery operations and also gave repeated extensions. The agency was operating from Chennai with just a sub-centre in Mumbai, which meant it could not be controlled nor had it a mechanism to check its misuse for conducting lottery operations. This resulted in huge revenue losses, Kulkarni said.

The former home minister, late RR Patil, had ordered a CID probe headed by the then Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) SPS Yadav into the scam.

The report pointed to a nexus between officials from the finance department and private lottery operators and recommended the closure of online lottery, he said. However, the report was suppressed, he said.

Kulkarni and Jayant Patil had a fallout earlier this year as Patil had raised certain issues related to Kulkarnis tenure as additional chief secretary of public works department in the state legislature.
MUMBAI: Two persons attempted suicide on the Mantralaya premises around 4pm on Tuesday after they failed to meet chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over their grievances.

In the first case, Aurangabad resident Dilip More, a farmer, was in the city to meet the CM, as he was dissatisfied with the police investigation carried out into the death of his brother in 2011.

Senior inspector Popat Yadav from Marine Drive police station said, His brothers body was found hanging from the ceiling but More claims his brother was murdered and the accused tried to prove it to be a suicide.

More had brought a few photographs to show it to the chief minister and wanted him to order the Usmanpura police to investigate the murder.

More is now out of danger as he was stopped from consuming the rat poison, which he had got along with him.

An officer said, More claimed he had not eaten anything for the past two days. He was admitted to GT Hospital and he is stable.

In the second case, Dinesh Padaya, a resident of Mulund, consumed poison and entered the Mantralaya premises. An officer said, Padaya consumed 100ml poison near the Mantralaya and entered the premises, as he had problems with the Slum Rehabilitation Authority development programme. He owned two shops and a house in a building which has now gone to the SRA. There were irregularities in the area of the shop which was to be given to him.
Students applying for degree courses to colleges affiliated to the University of Mumbai (MU) had problems accessing the website for the mandatory pre-admission registration on Wednesday. Similar problems were reported on Tuesday too, the day the website opened for registration.

My friend logged on to the website (mum.net.in) early in the morning and got through after trying for 15 minutes. I logged in at 12.30pm and got an error notification. On the second day, too, I havent managed to register myself, said Madhura Mahajan, 18, who wants to apply for a BMM course.

While the university officials termed it a minor glitch, students and colleges were worried the process will delay the admission process.

Around 30,000 students registered on Tuesday.

The registration process, which begins immediately after the release of HSC results, was pushed further owing to universitys delay in appointing an online service provider. Last week, the university announced Exxon Automation Pvt Ltd will conduct the process the year.

According to MUs data, 35,000 more students registered for the admission process by Wednesday afternoon. The website is being run by a new company. They are tweaking it in order to cater to lakhs of students who register every year. We are hoping the process will run smoothly soon, said an official from the university.
LUCKNOW: Acting on the report of State party unit, the Congress on Tuesday expelled six UP MLAs for cross-voting in the recently concluded elections to the Rajya Sabha, according to national general secretary of the party, Janardan Dwivedi.

The Congress has 29 MLAs in UP. The six legislators who have been expelled for indulging in anti-party activity by cross-voting in the RS polls are Mohammad Muslim from Amethi, who was the chief whip of the party, Nawab Qazim Ali (Rampur), Dilnawaz Khan (Bulandhahar), Madhuri Verma (Bahraich), Sanjay Pratap Jaiswal (Basti) and Vijay Dubey. Of these, while the three Muslim MLAs gave their first preference vote to BSP candidates, the three others voted in favour of BJP backed independent candidate Preeti Mahapatra.

Mohammand Muslim was removed the same day from the post of party chief whip by the State Congress by CLP leader Pradeep Mathur. State legislature party leader, Mathur when contacted by Hindustan Times confirmed he had submitted the report on the anti-party activities of these MLAs to the party general secretary on Monday for necessary action. Sources in the Congress, however, were tight-lipped when asked whether the party would move the Speaker for disqualification of these rebel legislators.

Meanwhile, an FIR has been filed against JD(S) MLA Mallikarjun Khuba, who in a sting operation was purportedly seen negotiating a money deal in exchange for votes ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls for four seats from Karnataka.

The First Information Report (FIR) was filed by Karnataka Legislative Assembly Secretary S Murthy, also the Returning Officer, on the directions of EC. I have filed a complaint today and an FIR was lodged at Vidhana Soud ha Police station against M LA Mallikarjun Khuba and others under Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 171(B) of the Indian Penal Code, Murthy said.

He said the complaint was filed based on the sting operation by a news channel in which Khuba is seen purportedly discussing an amount of over Rs 5 crore in exchange for votes.

Deciding against cancelling or postponing the elections, the EC had said it cannot ignore to take cognisance of certain illegal activities as appeared in media, including the TV channels.

In its June 9 order, the EC had said that Khuba, being a public servant, may also be deemed to have committed an offence under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, for seeking bribe for performing his constitutional function as such public servant of electing a member of the Rajya Sabha.

The June 2 sting by two channels purportedly showed MLAs negotiating a money deal in exchange for their votes in the biennial elections. JD(S) had demanded cancelling the polls, while Congress and BJP were opposed to change in the poll schedule. (With PTI inputs)
BEIJING: Indias bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) will touch a raw nerve in Pakistan and jeopardise Chinas national interests, the Chinese state media said on Tuesday against the backdrop of Beijings opposition to New Delhis candidature.

Making India a member of the elite nuclear trading club could also trigger a nuclear race in the subcontinent, the state media said. China has spearheaded the move to block Indias bid to become a member of the NSG, a group of 48 countries that control access to sensitive nuclear technology.

The state media piece said Chinas reason to block the move is to maintain peace or the security dynamic in the region.

Without saying it officially, China has clubbed Indias bid with the application of its all weather ally Pakistan to become an NSG member. If India as a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) can become an NSG member, so can Pakistan - that is probably Chinas not-so-subtle argument.

India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers in the region, keep alert to each others nuclear capabilities. Indias application for NSG membership and its potential consequences will inevitably touch a raw nerve in Pakistan, its traditional rival in the region, said an opinion piece in Global Times, a tabloid from the stable of the Communist Party of Chinas mouthpiece, Peoples Daily.

It added: As Pakistan is not willing to see an enlarging gap in nuclear power with India, a nuclear race is a likely outcome. This will not only paralyse regional security, but also jeopardise Chinas national interests.

The piece said Indias motive behind joining the NSG and the USs reason to support the bid miss concerns about regional security. Beyond cooperation in the nuclear sector, Washington views New Delhi as a balancing actor in its pivot to the Asia Pacific strategy. Its supply of nuclear technologies to enhance Indias deterrence capability is to put China in check, the piece said.

What is missing in US and Indian motives are concerns for regional security. So far, South Asia is still facing the harsh reality that the region is mired in nuclear confrontation.
NEW DELHI: The US is likely to open its Global Entry programme for Indians by August that allows speedy airport checkout for pre-approved, no-risk, frequent travellers upon their arrival in the country.

The facility is being provided to Indians following an agreement signed by India and the US when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US recently.

By the end of July or first week of August, Indian citizens can apply before an US consulate for entry under the Global Entry, a senior home ministry official said.

The official added that India, in the next couple of months, may provide a similar facility to the travellers from the US.

The final decision on taking an Indian into Global Entry rests with the US authorities, which screen the background of each applicant before allowing the entry. Also, if required, the US authorities may take help of Indian security agencies for additional information on a particular applicant.

Individuals included in the list can enter the US through automatic kiosks at select airports.

At air ports, programme members will proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration.

The kiosk issues the traveller a transaction receipt and directs the traveller to baggage claim and the exit.

India is only the ninth country with which the US has entered into an agreement in this regard.

The other countries in the agreement with the US for the same include Mexico, Panama, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Germany.
THRISSUR: Considered a medical wonder, Father Paul Vattakuzy is a permanent invitee to most seminars and lectures on organ donation. Despite the life expectancy of a kidney recipient set to 10-15 years, he continues to live a healthy life 31 years after transplant.

But 59-year-old Vattakuzy is among the lucky few in the country who get this second chance at life. In India, a person dies waiting for a kidney every 15 minutes, and another person takes his place on the long list of patients.

Figures from the health ministry show the number of kidneys required each year is between 1.5 and 2 lakh, but legal transplants stand at around 5,000. The long wait and non-availability of organs and stringent restrictions force many to turn to the thriving underground market. Desperate patients are often duped, but are forced to suffer in silence for fear of legal action.

Among vital organs that can be harvested, kidney tops the list. While Tamil Nadu ranks No. 1 in cadaver or deceased kidney transplants (1,233 in 2015), Kerala takes the cake in another  it records the most number of living donations. The country saw just 18 voluntary organ donations in 2015, but in Kerala it was 78.

Doctors and activists who work on the field classify live donations into three categories  voluntary donation, cross-donation and family donation. Family donations are most common but cross-donation is gaining popularity in Kerala. In cross-donation a chain of kidney donors is formed, wherein a relative or a friend of the recipient is required to donate their kidney to a suitable recipient.

Last week, Bishop of Pala diocese Jacob Muricken donated his kidney to a Hindu man who was on dialysis for more than a year after his kidneys failed. The bishop heard about his plight from Kidney Federation of India chairman Father Davis Chiramel, who himself donated a kidney seven years ago.

In Kerala, kidney donation picked momentum after Father Chiramel founded the Kidney Federation of India to help distressed patients. He travelled extensively to popularise the concept and soon bankers, doctors, activists and other philanthropists joined his cause. In 2011, inspired by his story, industrialist and chairman of V Guard group of industries, Kochouseph Chittilappily, donated a kidney to a poor truck driver. It triggered an organ-donation drive in the state. In six years, the organisation has assisted in 600 family donations ,26 cross and 60 voluntary donations.

I dream of a country where not a single person dies for want of organs. We can save many precious lives like this, said Chiramel, who went sky-diving in 2014 to send a message that a donor can live a normal life. And his message appears to have moved manyan entire village in Thrissur district has pledged to donate organs.

If a person can live with your organ after your death, it is almost like you living through him , said a Rosy Sebastian, a home maker who consented to donate her organs.

In India, a person can donate his kidney if he can prove before a government-appointed panel that there is no exchange of money. Also, the donor should be free of diseases and the organ should be compatible to the recipient. Such strict laws often force patients to turn to organ racketeers.

Since it was a life and death case, we spent around Rs 10 lakh to get a matching kidney. At the eleventh hour, the donor and his agent disappeared without any clue. Sad my 28-year-old brother died last year. Since it was illegal we couldnt approach the police also, said a chartered account, who did not want to be identified.

The state has also been witness to a heart wrenching story of a Hindu woman, Lekha Namboodiri, who donated a kidney to save a dying Muslim man. The recipient allegedly faced a lot of humiliation for receiving a kidney from a Hindu. Two years later, when Namboodiri met with an accident and needed financial assistance, the man, who belonged to a well-off business community, refused to help over fears that he would again be targeted.

Religious heads and others should come around to remove unnecessary barriers, otherwise illegal organ trade will flourish, said Father Chiramel, adding the message of organ donation should start from the school-level to curb sale of organs.

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Commuters from Delhi and nearby NCR cities can now travel straight to Pokhara in Nepal from the Anand Vihar bus terminal, without any breaks, from July 11. The Uttar Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) has entered into an agreement with agencies in Nepal to ply direct AC buses between Ghaziabad and Pokhara.

The initiative is an outcome of an agreement signed between India and Nepal for regulation of passenger traffic between the two countries in November 2014. The bus service will undertake a journey of around 1,300km in 28 hours, officials said.

Similarly, the buses will leave from Nepal at 9am. The journey will involve a travel of nearly 300km within Nepal and the rest inside Indian jurisdiction. The fare is Rs 2,200 and tickets can be booked online through the UPSRTC website. The bus would be moving to Pokhara through Sonoli and Gorakhpur. While one UPSRTC bus leaves the Anand Vihar ISBT, another bus will leave from Pokhara (on the return journey), PK Bose, regional manager of UPSRTC, said.

For the service, the Government of Nepal formed a committee on transport that authorised Modern Era Tours and Travels Pvt Ltd to enter into an agreement with UPSRTC.

Pokhara is a major tourism and a trekking destination. Earlier, passengers had to break journey 3-4 times but buses plying under the agreement will move seamlessly without any break in journey. There will be a single check of IDs at the border. The direct bus travel will bring people closer and encourage tourism, Keshaw Prasad Adhikari, chairman of Modern Era Tours & Travels, said.

UPSRTC officials said that the AC buses to Pokhara are fitted with GPS devices and speed governers to check speeding in hilly areas. They said that the plan to install the anti collision devices is also underway.

At present, there are two bus services to Kathmandu in Nepal -- from Delhi and Varanasi -- and these services entail a fleet of high-end Volvo buses. The other operational route -- Delhi to Mahendra Nagar-- and the Anand Vihar-Pokhara route will have normal AC buses.

Both sides have agreed that the buses will ply between Anand Vihar and Pokhara. Earlier, we had thought of starting the service from Kashmiri Gate ISBT but Anand Vihar would be more suitable for commuters from Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and even Delhi, Bose said.

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The Jalandhar police have arrested two Nigerian nationals, including a woman, for drug peddling and seized 4-kg heroin from their possession during a late-night raid on Monday.

The accused have been identified as Agu Emmanuel, 32, of Amokwe city and Okoh Precious, 20, of Asaba city in Nigeria.

Acting on a tip-off, cops from the Rama Mandi police station raided a house at Panchsheel Enclave near Dakoha area in the city late on Monday night. Though Agu Emmanuel was arrested immediately at his rented accommodation, Okoh Precious scaled the boundary wall of the house and escaped. She was later nabbed from a nearby street.

The cops recovered 4-kg heroin from the house. The contraband was reportedly brought from Delhi. Rs 2.45 lakh were also recovered from the accused.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, police commissioner Arpit Shukla said Okoh had reached the city two days ago. He said the duo was planning to move from the house when cops conducted the raid.

Agu had lied to the house owner that he was a student, said the police chief. During interrogation, he refused to share details about his customers, said Shukla.

The police chief said he will be able to comment on the duos modus operandi after further interrogation. As the cops are facing problem during quizzing owing to language barrier, court has sent the suspects to police remand till June 18. They have booked under Section 21-6185 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Rama Mandi and its surrounding areas have a large number of African nationals, studying in various educational institutes, residing as tenants. Sources said the house in which Agu Emmanuel was residing belongs to a Phagwara village sarpanch.

Recently, the Patiala police had arrested a Nigerian national and his accomplice, who were ferrying heroin from Delhi. The two were planning to supply the contraband to youngsters, especially students of schools and colleges.
In a run-up to the assembly polls, the Congress intends to counter Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badals sangat darshans though its own halqe vich Captain programme. The campaign will kick-start from Jalalabad, the assembly constituency of deputy CM Sukhbir Badal on June 19.

As part of the campaign, which is aimed at making Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh accessible to people and workers at the grassroots level, the former CM will hold lokan da darbar to reach out to people and workers by spending an entire day in all 117 constituencies.

Announcing the campaign at a press conference on Tuesday, Amarinder said he would interact with over 5,000 people and understand their problems first hand. I would assure them of a time-bound resolution by setting up a task force in the first 100 days of the Congress government, Amarinder said.

People voicing their concerns will be required to fill out their petitions in a form for record-keeping, which will be submitted against a receipt. An interactive voice response in Captains voice will be sent within 72 hours of grievance submission along with an SMS confirmation. Citizens can use the receipt number to check the status of their grievances online. For people unable to attend the lokan da darbar, an e-version filing the petition has been made available on www.PunjabDaCaptain.com/HVC.

A marinder will also meet other influence groups, such as farmer associations, business associations and the media, in that halqa besides Congress workers of the area.
Every morning at 6am, 78-year-old Jeet Singh rises to head towards a nearby gurdwara, where he meets friends who join him for a brisk walk at a park opposite the gurdwara. After the walk, they sit together immersed in unending conversations, sometimes playing a round of cards, returning once again in the evening around 5pm with their grandchildren this time on bicycles.

Its not an uncommon sight in Surrey, a city in the province of British Columbia in Canada. Yet, in a country that houses one of the largest populations of Punjabis outside India, its heartening to know that these Punjabi elders have found a way to keep the spirit of togetherness and community alive even on foreign land. Seeing them together in every nook and corner from parks, gurdwaras, and bus stops to shopping malls, youd think you were back in Punjab. Mostly left on their own by working children, they have learnt to enjoy and make good use of their alone time.

SAATHS BEST PART OF ROUTINE

Most of them have fond childhood memories of Punjab and hardly miss anything apart from that phase of their lives. (HT Photo)

Our get-together culture, which you may not even see in Punjabs villages these days, has left no room for loneliness. Our saaths are the best part of our routine and we feel incomplete without them. The unity and bond we share is often appreciated by locals here, says Ferozepur-born Chanchal Singh Sidhu (77), who has lived here for 20 years now.

Amrik Khaira (65) who has roots in Tarn Taran, made Surrey his home about eight years back. He adds, We have numerous responsibilities to take care of as well. We drop the kids to school and pick them up. Later, in the evenings, we bring them to the park. This gives our kids space to concentrate on work, while we get a chance to spend more time with our grandchildren.

Resham Singh (80), who hails from Kapurthala, has resided here for 17 years. He says, My wife and I would babysit for long hours when our grandchildren were small. Our children often thank us and say that had we not done so, it would have been nearly impossible for them to concentrate on their careers.

HOLY BOOK FOLLOWED HERE

So, what has Canada taught them? Firstly, all teachings of the Holy Book are actually followed here. For example, the principles of honesty, truth, work is worship, equality, philanthropy, cleanliness and respect towards nature, says 77-year-old Bachitter Singh Dhaliwal, who has spent four long decades over here. He originally hails from Ludhiana.

Dua Singh Malhi (72) from Amritsar, who came here in 1989, says theres a lot to learn from the little ones  their grandchildren. They are quick to remind us if we break a queue at the bank or use terms such as black for a person of African-American origin. Its all thanks to the schools they go to and the society they live in.

JUSTIN TRUDEAU A HERO

They are equally impressed by Canadas prime minister Justin Trudeau, who set an example by celebrating the Punjabi harvest festival Baisakhi in the Canadian parliament in Ottawa for the very first time. They feel such leaders are true and do not discriminate based on community and culture.

Trudeau has praised the Sikh community and religion on numerous occasions. Even our states premier Christy Clark thanked the Sikh community for making Canada richer and better. We have huge respect for them, says 68-year-old Charanjit Singh Randhawa, former president of North Americas oldest Sikh society  Khalsa Diwan Society in Vancouver.

WE MISS THE PUNJAB OF OUR CHILDHOOD DAYS

Most of them have fond childhood memories of Punjab and hardly miss anything apart from that phase of their lives. Many say Canadian Punjabis are more rooted to their culture than those who live in Punjab.We never felt disconnected from our roots. In fact, Punjabi population is on the rise over here. We celebrate all the festivals, speak in our mother tongue, and have numerous gurdwaras around. Banks here have forms in Punjabi and Punjabi employees. Even airports sport signs in Punjabi, says 92-year-old Parduman Singh.

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Former Golden Temple Hazoori Ragi Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala, who was dismissed from his post for revolting against the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) last year, was detained by the Amritsar police during wee hours of Wednesday.

Detained in connection with an Operation Bluestar remembrance march planned by Sikh hardliners in Ludhiana on Wednesday, Wadala was later released in the afternoon. Besides Wadala, a number of Sikh radicals were also reported to be detained at different places in the state.

Wadala, a renowned Gurbani exponent, was on his way to the Golden Temple when the Rajasansi police detained him at his village, Bhittewad , around 3am. After being released around 1.30pm, Wadala was honoured by his supporters with a siropa.

Wadala said the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is trying to scare away all its political opponents and suppress political dissent ahead of the assembly polls.

Also read I Rahul carrying anti-Sikh family legacy: Badal

The duty of the police is not to play as puppets in the hands of the rulers, but to maintain law and order, he said.

Rajasansi station house officer (SHO) Hardeep Singh said police had detained Wadala to quiz him in connection with some case, but refrained from disclosing anything further.

Wadala came into limelight after he opposed the appointment of Harcharan Singh as the SGPC chief secretary. He along with his supporters had staged a dharna outside Teja Singh Samundri Hall, the headquarter of the apex gurdwara body, leading to his transfer to a Sikh shrine in Haryana.

During the last Holla Mohalla festival, he organised a rally at Anandpur Sahib and announced to contest SGPC elections against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), following which he was dismissed. Later, he formed the Sikh Sadbhawna Dal.
Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday said India would not change its nuclear policy under any circumstances.

Addressing the media, the defence minister said the ministry had given a no-objection certificate for according commercial status to the Adampur defence airport in Jalandhar district. The Airports Authority of India and Air India are holding a meeting in July to finalise things, he added.

He said India was a responsible nuclear power and did not need any lessons from the external forces. Replying to queries about Pakistans threat of a nuclear war, he said India knew its job well enough.

Parrikar said Pakistan was burning its own hands in the fire of militancy. We are equipped to counter any attack and give a befitting reply to those who want to destabilise the country, he warned.

Responding to the recent Chinese intrusion in Arunachal Pardesh, Parrikar said the countrys defence forces were keeping a close vigil on the situation. He, however, said that the overall cross-border infiltration had come down in the recent past.

Talking about the Union governments Make in India initiative in the defence sector, Parrikar said that indigenous Tejas had been inducted and a proposal was afoot to manufacture twin engine fighter aircraft in partnership with a foreign company.

Refusing to speak much on AgustaWestland chopper scam, he said the previous UPA government had flouted established norm to strike the deal and the matter was under investigation. The allegations of Congress president Sonia Gandhis sonin-law Robert Vadras links with an arms dealer were also being probed, he added.
A day after a Jujhar company bus mowed down two minor sisters in Jagraon, the Punjab child rights panel has directed the area senior superintendent of police (SSP) to provide it with details about the accident.

Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairman Sukesh Kalia said on Tuesday he has asked Jagraon SSP Upinder Singh Ghuman to send the investigating officer (IO) in the case to Chandigarh on June 21. I told the Jagraon SSP over phone that there is a need to look into all aspects of the case. I will discuss the case with the IO, and then take appropriate action, said Kalia.

Kalia said he will also look into the compensation to be given to the deceaseds kin and direct the authorities concerned to provide it, so that there are no gaps left.

Sneha, 12, and Shrishti, 7, were on way home to Jawaddi in Ludhiana from a relatives home at Ferozepur when the accident occurred on Monday morning. As the driver and conductor abandoned the bus and fled, an outraged public pelted the passenger vehicle with stones. Later, the driver was arrested and charged with murder.
With increased instances of mobile phones being recovered from jail inmates, CCTV cameras will soon dot the walls of the Ludhiana Central Jail. This was announced by minister for jails Sohan Singh Thandal, as he visited the jail premises, on Tuesday. Police had, on Sunday, recovered a mobile phone from one of the inmates during a routine check. Thandal further announced that Rs 15 crore had been allocated for the installation of CCTV cameras in different jails of the state.

Thandal was here to visit Muslim inmates during the month of Ramzan. He said jail authorities face numerous hiccups in absence of proper surveillance, following which they had requested the ministry to install CCTV cameras.

There have been instances of recovery of mobile phones and drugs from inmates that calls for proper surveillance inside jail premises, said Thandal. While talking to the media, Thandal said, I have been informed that jammers that deter the use of mobiles have not been functioning properly. A separate budget for installing new jammers will soon be allocated.

At the beginning of the visit, the minister met inmates and visited the barracks. He also met officials of Punjab Police Housing Corporation to discuss the construction work of new barracks with him. The minister told the officials that the inmates should be paid daily wages on time. This is the first project that is handled entirely by inmates of any jail in the state, said Thandal.
Two days after a Jujhar company private bus mowed down two minor sisters at Jagraon in this district, another crushed to death a fruit-seller on Wednesday.

The accident occurred on the Ferozepur road near Kingsville resort here close to Mullanpur, killing Bihars Sharwan Kumar Sahu (32) on the spot. The migrant was putting up at Bhanor village and he had come to a Mullanpur hospital with his wife, Kiran Devi, and two children (one aged 3 years and the other eight months) to see a friend.

Sahu had alighted from an auto-rickshaw and met a motorcyclist friend, whom he asked to drop his wife and children home. Crossing the road after this, he got hit by the bus coming from the Ferozepur side and fell on the other side of the highway. His neighbour, Ranjit Kaur, said: The man had come to Ludhiana 15 years ago, and two months ago brought his wife and children from Bihar.

A police team from Mullanpur inspected the scene of accident. The victims family agreed to register a case after some reluctance. Accused bus driver Davinder Singh of Ferozepurs Sarhali village had abandoned the bus and fled, said assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Hardeep Singh of the Mullanpur police station.

Police impounded the bus and the victims family claimed his body after autopsy. The case was registered under Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

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The police on Tuesday tightened security at key locations such as bus stand and railway station. The police checked the luggage of passengers at both the places and searched buses with the help of sniffer dogs as well. Though the city police officers termed it as a routine checking, but it was learnt that the cops had gone on alert after the attack in Udhampur on Monday.

The police also scanned the premises of the bus stand complex and surrounding areas and the railway platform.

Police commissioner Amar Singh Chahal said, This is routine checking. For general alertness and keeping a check on the anti- social elements, we do make such checks in routine.

The police Commissioner also said that nakas were put up in the outer ring of the city and efforts were being made to keep a close watch on notorious elements. On Monday, the police parties had searched flats in the Maqboolpura area.
A day after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi led a protest against the Punjab government over drug abuse and law deteriorating law and order, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday accused him of carrying forward his familys notorious legacy of anti-Punjabism and anti-Sikhism.

Speaking on the sidelines of his sangat darshan programme in the Malout assembly segment, Badal said right from late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Rahul, the entire Gandhi family has treated Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular as their bitter enemies.

The young Gandhi family scion was following in the footsteps of his ancestors by defaming the hardworking Punjabis as drug addicts. It was a hard fact that Rahul has inherited the traits of anti-Punjab stance from his family, Badal said.

On Monday, Rahul alleged the Akali government and its leaders of having free hand in the drug trade prevalent in state.

Trading guns at Rahul, the CM said the Congress has no magic wand to eliminate the drug menace. The state government was no leaving no stone unturned to make Punjab a totally drug-free state. Not even an ounce of drug is produced in Punjab, but the state is being defamed just because it was fighting the nations war against this evil, Badal claimed.

He added others states were also facing the same problem but forces inimical to Punjab were hell bent upon defaming it.

Badal said the successive Congress governments at the Centre have tormented the psyche of Sikhs by irrelevantly meddling in their social, economic, political and even religious affairs.

No Punjabi can ever forgive the Congress for attack on Darbar Sahib and for inhuman butchering of thousands of innocent Sikhs in 1984. The Gandhi family has a notorious past of depriving the state of its capital, legitimate share in river waters and Punjabi-speaking areas, Badal said.

He added that the state has suffered a lot from the indifferent attitude of the Gandhi family.

Meanwhile, after recovering from fever, which forced him to postpone his sangat darshan programme last week, Badal addressed gatherings at Lakhewali, Ramgarh Choonga and Bhaagsar villages.
The district police claimed to have arrested as many as 1,386 people in different cases besides having solved seven blind murder cases in less than six months from January to June 14.

Inspector general of police, Patiala range, Paramraj Singh Umranangal said the police have been working day and night to meet the expectations of the public. The IGP was in the town on Tuesday to inaugurate a newly constructed shooting range at the Sangrur Police Lines.

He said the police have managed to solve seven blind murder cases and arrested 17 people in this connection.

Singh said in the past six months, the Sangrur police have busted a total of 24 gangs and have arrested 104 people in this connection. Besides, the police have also recovered 36 pistols, five revolvers, two rifles, ammunition, 34 sharpedges weapons and 20 iron rods from the accused. The police have also recovered seven cars, 26 two-wheelers, two trucks and nearly 200 kg metal, including gold and silver, worth over `58 lakh, said the IGP.

Despite this, under the NDPS act the police have registered 387 cases and have arrested 462 drug smugglers. He said, police have destroyed over 900 quintal of poppy husk, over 6 quintal opium, 500 gm heroin and 20 kg of other drugs recovered in various NDPS cases. He said, in addition to this police have also destroyed 33 lakh drug tablets, 1.30 lakh drug capsules, 18000 drug syrups, 2.5 lakh injections and 41 kg drug powder.

He said, police is on prowl to curb drug trafficking and if anyone comes to police with the information on drugs, then his identity is always kept confidential. The IGP said the police have arrested 264 more persons on charges of gambling and have recovered the cash amounting to Rs 8.5 lakh.

Apart from these, the police have arrested another 539 persons in 518 cases of illegal liquor smuggling. The IGP said police have recovered 17000 liters country made liquor and 6000 litres foreign made liquor.

Inaugurating the shooting range at Police lines, IG said despite keen interest many students choose not to adopt shooting since it is an expensive sport. IG said, after establishing a shooting range at police lines, this will give extensive support to those, who want to make shooting their profession.

DIG Balkar Singh Sidhu said that Rs 18 lakh have been spent to establish shooting range. He said there are nine automatic firing machines and two advances computerised firing machines.
Villagers in Punjabs Faridkot district that hit headlines over the desecration of a bir or copy of the Guru Granth Sahib in June last year are shocked at the recent attack on a Dera Sacha Sauda follower, saying they have a history of peace.

Pages of the holy book that were stolen from Burj Jawahar Singh Walas gurdwara in June last year were found torn at the nearby Bargari village in October. The incident and its aftermath led to violent protests by incensed members of the community in several villages in which two men were killed in police firing.

Its June again and the village is in the news after a shopkeeper Gurdev Singh was shot at on Monday morning. Police said Gurdev was shot in the head by an unidentified man, who was accompanied by two others, soon after he opened his grocery shop at 5.30am.

He remains in a critical state at Ludhianas Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

Gurdevs shop is located near the gurdwara from where the bir was stolen. A follower of Dera Sacha Sauda, he was named as an accused for the theft and desecration by a committee of protesters that also comprised radical Sikh leaders last June.

Sikh radicals and the Sirsa-based Dera have a bloody history of conflict.

The theft-desecration case remains unsolved even as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) declared a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information.

Gurdev was reported to be in a critical state at a Ludhiana hospital on Wednesday. (HT Photo)

Also read I Dera follower shot at in Faridkot village

Living in fear

Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) leader Surjit Singh Rayianwala, who was the member of the committee formed by Sikh agitators last June, declared the list of suspects or accused.

Besides Gurdev, the village gurdwaras granthi (priest) Gora Singh, his wife Swaranjeet Kaur, Gurjant Singh, Ranjit Singh and Sukhwinder Singh were named in the list.

The five other people named on the list of accused now fear for their lives amid speculations even as police grope in the dark about the identity of those who attacked Gurdev.

Gora told Hindustan Times, who claimed that no one from the village raised a finger at him until now, he finally had begun to feel normal after a year of upheaval.

But the attack on Gurdev has shaken my life, he said.

Outsiders to blame

Gurjant, a retired army subedar and a member of the panchayat, said his name was put on the list as he was involved in stopping the radicals from entering the village after the incident last year.

People from outside the village involved in petty politics have tried to harm the social fabric here, Gurjant said.

Dilbag Singh, Ranjits father, said his son and he too stopped some outsiders from assaulting a villager at the gurdwara.

So they decided to take revenge and got my sons name on the list, he claimed.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras being installed on a street leading to the gurdwara in Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village in Faridkot district on Wednesday. (Amit R Joshi/HT Photo)

Harmonious history

Jasvir Singh, 70, claimed a murder was committed in the village in 1961 and no case of violence was reported until June last year.

Superintendent of police (SP), detective AS Sandhu backed the claim and said the village has not seen even a case of preventive arrest.

Issues here are generally resolved with consensus, the SP said.

Unlike many other places, the village has one gurdwara and one cremation ground for all castes.

That may be an issue in other parts of the state, but in our village there is no enmity among followers of any sect, Jasvir said talking about the Dera-radical Sikh row.

Granthi Gora Singh added that Dera followers and people of other sects regularly donated to the gurdwara.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) SS Mann seconded the views of the villagers and stated that residents here were law-abiding.

The village now has a heavy deployment of police personnel requisitioned from various districts, including Patiala, Jalandhar, Muktsar and Moga, besides anti-riot forces. SSP Mann has been camping in the village since Monday.

Cops face questions

Police deployed at the Lal Batti Chowk, Kotkapura, around 25km from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village in Faridkot district on Wednesday. (Amit R Joshi/HT Photo)

Followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda are agitated after the attack on Gurdev and accused police of not acting.

A group of followers gathered at a congregation hall at nearby Kote Hazura Singh village on Wednesday.

Mahender Pal, a member of the state committee of the Dera, said that police were slow to react even after I called SSP Mann within minutes of the attack.

No checkpoints were put up to catch the attackers, he alleged.
Even as the makers of Udta Punjab celebrate the Bombay high court clearing their film with just one cut, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has ordered 100 cuts for a film on Gujarats Patidar quota stir.

Dipak Patel, the protagonist of Rajesh Gohils Gujarati film Salagto Sawaal Anamat.

According to a Times of India report, the CBFC suggested a mammoth 100 cuts for Rajesh Gohils Gujarati film, Salagto Sawaal Anamat, which was slated for a June 17 release. The board has questioned the motive behind selecting the quota stir as the films theme and also expressed concerns that the protagonist bears resemblance to Patel quota activist, Hardik Patel, the report added.

The film is about protagonist, Dipak Patel, facing hardships due to the existing reservation system.

A poster of the film.

Read: How censors made Udta Punjab bleed

The report further said CBFC has asked for removal of all references to BR Ambedkar and the words Patidar and Patel from every scene.

Asserting his right to freedom of expression, director Rajesh Gohil told TOI, The censor board member had told us that since a case of sedition is pending against Hardik, we cannot glorify his character. This is not true because my film is based on the quota agitation, not Hardik. If I will remove the word Patidar, the soul of the film will be gone.

Watch Salagto Sawaal Anamat trailer

We will have to delay the films release now, he added

Hindustan Times could not independently verify the report.

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Now that Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) has opened up to the outside world, it is being seen as the-place-to-go by travel junkies.

Didier Arino, managing director of the travel consultancy and research firm Protourisme, gives a lowdown on what first-time visitors should see in the birthplace of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Discover modern Myanmar in Yangon (formerly Rangoon)

The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. (Istock)

The most populated city in the country, Yangon lost its title as the nations official capital in 2005 to Naypyidaw. While vestiges of its colonial past add to the atmosphere of the city, there is also evidence of the transition to modernity with its fashionable luxury hotels and restaurants.

Read: Move over Seville, Barcelona, visit these Spanish destinations instead

Travellers seeking authenticity should visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist sanctuary in the country. Its 99-metre-high golden stupa (Buddhist religious monument) is a major landmark in the city. Fans of photography will enjoy the light at sunset which gives beautiful colorful images of the monument.

Understand Burmese religious devotion at the Snake Monastery in Bago

The python at Bagos Snake Monastery. (Istock)

Ninety percent of Myanmars population is Buddhist. Religion and philosophy are omnipresent in the country, particularly via the imposing golden stupas dotted across its landscape. There are so many of them that there is no official total number. In any case, Myanmar is the country with the highest number of them.

In Bago, the former capital of the Mon kingdom, the Shwemawdaw Pagoda was built to house relics of the Buddha. While its golden stupa, the highest in Myanmar, is a must-see for tourists, the Burmese devotion to Buddhist principles can be even better understood at the Snake Monastery.

Its legendary occupant is none other than a nine-metre-long python into which a revered monk of the Shan Hills is said to have been reincarnated. The snake is thought to be 110 years old. Every day, pilgrims leave offerings of money or food on its body. Sometimes, visitors are allowed to touch it.

Photograph the Buddha in many forms

Four huge Buddhas facing the four cardinal directions at the Kyaik Pun Pagoda. (Istock)

Myanmar is an ideal location for photography-based vacations. Photographers can immortalize the Buddha in many forms, from the north and the border with China to the Andaman Sea in the south. His mystical presence takes the form of sculptures in various positions, each of which have a particular meaning. Like the Wat Pho in Bangkok, a reclining Buddha impresses visitors to the Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda in Yangon.

Read: In pics: The ultimate Paris city guide for Indian fans heading to Euro 2016

Others, including one dating from tenth century, can be found in Bago. They face the four cardinal directions at the Kyaik Pun Pagoda. Myanmar is home to the largest reclining Buddha in the world, close to Mawlamyine, in the southeast. It is even possible to visit the Buddha with glasses at the Shwe Myet Man Pagoda in Shwedaung.

Immerse yourself in Burmese history

The Royal Palace in Mandalay. (Istock)

History buffs should head to the centre of Myanmar. First stop: Bagan. The old imperial capital has an archaeological zone which is testament to the regions very rich past. Marco Polo visited it and said it was one of the most beautiful places in the world. The medieval remnants are a pleasant backdrop for a bicycle trip, with plenty of temples and stupas to be seen.

Read: Ride to the Land of Thunder Dragons: Bhutan

The Ananda Temple is a must-see for tourists. Take the road to the east, direction Mandalay, for 180km. To kill two birds with one stone, take the road that follows the Irrawaddy, a river which is the spinal column of Myanmars past. The Royal Palace in Mandalay is the highlight of the trip. Its the home of the last Burmese monarchy. The Japanese sheltered there during the Second World War. It was destroyed by bombing in 1945 and rebuilt in 1990. Its worth climbing to the top of the watchtower to appreciate the surrounding area.

Meeting the Intha of Inle Lake

Fishermen on Inle Lake. (Istock)

Many travellers go to Myanmar with a desire to meet the Burmese population. For those people, Inle Lake, in the east, is an ideal destination. The Intha, a Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group, live around and on this stretch of water which is the second largest in the country.

They have adapted to life on water by building houses on posts. Their leg-rowing techniques symbolize an image of Myanmar that is often seen on postcards. They catch fish in the depths of the lake using a conical net. The region around the lake is worth a trip in itself.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more.
Nominating contests for the 2016 US presidential election ended on Tuesday with Hillary Clinton winning the Democratic party primaries in Washington DC, the last fight.

Clinton is the presumptive Democratic nominee with 2,800 delegates, much more than the 2,383 required, but her sole rival for the nomination, Bernie Sanders, has not yet exited the race.

Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump clinched his ticket many weeks ago after Ted Cruz and John Kasich, the last of his 16 rivals, gave up and left the race.

Read | After Orlando attack, Obama slams Donald Trumps loose talk on Muslims

Clinton and Sanders met briefly after the Tuesday primaries in Washington. Sanders campaign described the meeting constructive and the Clinton campaign said it was positive.

But the two of them were never alone in the room. They were joined by Sanderss wife Jane Sanders and his campaign manager Jeff Weaver and Clintons campaign chairman John D Podesta and her campaign manager Robby Mook.

According to The New York Times, Clinton used the meeting to figure out what will it take to acquire Sanderss endorsement, what he will demand in terms of policy and personnel changes.

Presumptive Democratic nominee for president Hillary Clinton greets supporters at the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers Hall on Tuesday. (AFP)

Sanders, on the other hand, tried to gauge Clintons commitment to his pet progressive goals such as higher minimum wages, affordable college education and open Democratic primaries.

Having won nearly 1,900 delegates himself, Sanders feels emboldened to prolong the race to win crucial concessions and commitment from Clinton.

Read | Orlando massacre gives Trump a chance to play his Islamophobia card

The battle for the White House, otherwise, is being waged aggressively by Clinton and Trump, who have traded words, accusations and allegations with growing ferocity.

President Barack Obama, said to be itching to hit the campaign trail for his former secretary of state, lit into Trump over his recent remarks on Muslims.

Obama is scheduled to appear with Clinton at their first campaign event together on Thursday, which has since been cancelled over the mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando.

Read | Obama is fired up for Clinton as Democrats seek to unify party

Clinton reacts as rival candidate Senator Bernie Sanders tries to hand her a piece of paper during a Democratic debate hosted by CNN and New York One in New York on April 14, 2016. (Reuterws file photo)

Read | Were electing a President, not a dictator: Hillary Clinton attacks Trump

But on Tuesday. they gave a taste of things to come by slamming Trump in separate speeches, but remarkably similar in content, that ran almost simultaneously.

Around the same time as their speeches, reports came of Russian hackers breaching the Democratic National Committees computer system and stealing its opposition research on Trump.

Opposition research is a standard US election tool to amass negative, attack-worthy data about rival candidates. The hacking, by Russian government hackers, lasted a year.

Also read | Trump-Clinton battle is all about who is more unfavourable
Nearly 500 Pakistani soldiers and 3,500 militants were killed during two-year long Operation Zarb-e-Azb launched by the military to clear the restive tribal region of terrorists, army said today.

The FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Region) has been cleared of all militants and the troops have reached upto the border (with Afghanistan), Military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said, marking the second anniversary of the Zarb-e-Azb.

Operation Zarb-e-Azb (Sharp and cutting strike) was launched on June 15, 2014 to clear the North Waziristan of al-Qaeda linked militants.

Bajwa said more than 3,500 militants were killed while around 490 soldiers lost their lives during the operation.

He said 992 militant hideous were destroyed, 253 tonnes of explosives confiscated, 7,500 bomb factories dismantled, 2,800 mines removed and 3,500 rockets and mortars recovered during the operation.

The militants had enough explosives to continue bombing for 15 years with upto seven bombing every day, he said.

He said 4,304 sq/km was cleared in the tribal region and all militant networks in North Waziristan and Khyber were smashed, which were main source of terrorism.

He said the operation was done indiscriminately and all militants groups were targeted. He said the operation was still going on in the shape of combing operations.

Bajwa said that Pakistan suffered $107 billion of financial losses since 9/11 due to militancy in its region.

He said border management with Afghanistan was serious issues as Pakistan wants to plug all points on the 2,600 kilometer long border to stop illegal movements.

He said in the initial phase eight recognised crossing points will be managed and later presence of forces on the border will be increased.

We are having new recruits to increase manpower of Frontier Corps and border management troops to improve the security and bring all movement under control, he said.

Bajwa said that success in the tribal region had major positive impact on the security in the country. He also mentioned Karachi where over 1,200 militants were captured and several killed.
Wildlife officials pulled four alligators from a lagoon at Walt Disney World after a 2-year-old boy was dragged into the water by an alligator near the upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa as his father frantically tried to rescue his son.

Meanwhile, Disney closed beaches Wednesday at their resorts in an abundance of caution, divers remained on standby and stunned summer visitors to the Magic Kingdwom waited to hear news of efforts to find the child.

The family of five from Nebraska was on vacation and wading in the Seven Seas Lagoon about 9:20 p.m. Tuesday when the child was taken from an area where no swimming were posted by an alligator estimated to be between 4 feet and 7 feet long, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told a news conference early Wednesday.

The grim news is the latest for a city hammered with tragedy in the past few days. On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, leaving 49 people dead in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. On Friday night, Christina Grimmie, 22, a contestant on season six of The Voice, was killed as she signed autographs after a show in Orlando.

The search for the child was still considered a search and rescue operation, said Jeff Williamson, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriffs Department.

We are very hopeful, he said at a morning news conference. Sometimes you get the worst, but we are hoping for the best.

Florida Fish and Wildlife and an Orange County Sheriffs helicopter search for the boy after he was dragged into the water by an alligator near Disney's upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (AP Photo)

Nick Wiley with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the four alligators were taken from the water overnight, but officials found no immediate indication they were involved in the childs disappearance. He said the alligators will be cut open and their remains examined after they are euthanized.

The beach area is part of the luxury Grand Floridian resort, across the lake from Disneys Magic Kingdom theme park. The man-made lake stretches about 200 acres and reaches a depth of 14 feet. Called the Seven Seas Lagoon, the lake feeds into a series of canals that wind through the entire Disney property.

More than 50 law enforcement personnel searched the well-tended lagoon along with an alligator tracker and two marine units. Williamson said more personnel were being brought in Wednesday to offer some fresh eyes for the search.

More than a million alligators live throughout Florida, though the species remains listed as an endangered species because it closely resembles the endangered American crocodile.

Though Florida has grown to the third-most populous state, fatal alligator attacks remain rare. There have been 23 fatalities caused by wild alligators in Florida since 1973, according to data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Those fatalities were among 383 unprovoked bites not caused by someone handling or intentionally harassing an alligator.

Eight children, ages 2 to 16, are among the fatalities. Five died while swimming in lakes, rivers and canals. The youngest victims were killed near lakes, including a 2-year-old girl who wandered 700 feet from her fenced backyard and a 3-year-old boy who left a roped-off swimming area in a county park to pick lily pads.

Williamson, the sheriffs spokesman, said the boy was at the edge of the water, probably about a foot or two into the water, when the alligator attacked. The water was dark Tuesday night as searchers looked for the boy, he said.

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney is helping the family.

Minnesota residents John and Kim Aho, visiting Disney with their 12-year-old son Johnny, were stunned to hear what had happened to the child, whose name has not been released.

We have been to Yellowstone and encountered grizzly bears, but this is just freaky, John Aho said.

Kim Aho said their son is leery of the water around the park.

Hes a little freaked out about the gator, she said.

The sheriff said there had been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks on the lake.

The wildlife commission said eight of the 15 adults killed by alligators had been swimming in freshwater bodies of water, including a 36-year-old man swimming across a pond while trying to elude police. One 54-year-old woman was seized by an alligator while landscaping near a pond, and an 82-year-old man was killed while walking his dog on a path between two wetland areas.

Alligators are opportunistic feeders that will eat what is readily available and easily overpowered. Its illegal to feed wild alligators because that causes them to lose their fear of humans. According to wildlife commission biologists, alligators seldom bite people for reasons other than food.

Wildlife commission statistics show Florida averages about seven serious unprovoked bites a year, and the frequency of these bites is rising. However, the likelihood of someone being seriously injured by an unprovoked alligator in Florida is roughly one in 2.4 million.
Soldiers from the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) were patrolling the Chinese side of the disputed frontier with India along Arunachal Pradesh, Beijing said on Wednesday, dismissing reports that hundreds of its troops had crossed the border last week.

Around 250 PLA soldiers reportedly crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh on June 9, reports had quoted unnamed Indian defence officers as saying.

The incursion by Chinese troops was temporary and they went back to their own territory within hours, the reports had said.

The India-China border has not been clearly demarcated. This was a regular patrol on the Chinese side of the LAC, foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told a regular news briefing.

It is rare for incursions to take place  or at least to be reported  in the eastern sector along Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims and shows on maps as south Tibet.

Tawang, a major urban centre in the Indian state, is about 400 km from Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The Indian defence officers said this was the first incursion in the region this year.

India and China have an unresolved, heavily militarised border running about 3,488 km. Much of the confusion arises, according to diplomats and experts, because the border is not delineated, leading to competing claims.

Chinas foreign ministry reiterated the same point while dismissing the reported incursion on Wednesday.

China is sensitive about its claims on Arunachal Pradesh and reacts sharply when any Indian VIP visits the state. Beijing had reacted angrily when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state in February 2015, condemning his tour in strong words.

A foreign ministry statement said the Chinese government has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and it was strongly opposed to Modis visit. It said there was a huge controversy in the eastern border region.

Broadly, officials claim incidents of incursions have gone down or are quickly resolved by military-to-military mechanisms put in place to defuse such situations. There are five points along the border for officials from both sides to meet, and a sixth one is being considered.

In 2015, two new meeting points at Daulat Beg Oldie in Ladakh and Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh were opened. The other three points are Spanngur Gap in Ladakh, Bum-La in Arunachal Pradesh and Nathu-La in Sikkim.
Rival camps took to the Thames on Wednesday to enlist support as the Remain in EU camp made a forceful plea to learn from the success of federalism in India and to vote to stay in the 28-nation bloc during the June 23 referendum.

A pro-Brexit flotilla sailed past iconic structures along the Thames, followed by rubber boats with large flags with the word IN.

Four lawmakers  two MPs and two members of the House of Lords  debated the question Would Brexit benefit India in a committee room in parliament. They included Bob Blackman and Archibald Hamilton for Vote Leave, and Stephen Pound and Dolar Popat for Remain.

Making a forceful plea for Britain to remain in the European Union, Labour MP Pound said: Dont be terrified of EUs federalism; look at the Indias successful federalism. Britains bilateralism with India will suffer if we vote to leave the EU.

On claims that Britain was better off trading with the Commonwealth than the EU, Pound said it is not an either, or; we can trade with both by remaining in the EU. He highlighted investments made in Britain by Indian companies in recent years.

Brexit wont cause loss of sleep in India. We are not doing India any favours; those days are gone. India will suffer in the short term if we leave the EU, but not in the long term. India adapts, Pound said.

Hamilton, who was defence minister in the Margaret Thatcher government, said Britain was unable to have a free trade deal with India due to membership of the EU. The EU, he said, will not be able to have such a deal with India.

An EU-India trade deal is out of the question. We have to get out of the EU to have the deal with India. EU does not have a trade deal with the top economies. We have to get control back. Our future lies with the new economies, he said.

Noting that India is the third largest investor in Britain, Popat said the UK thrived within the EU and leaving the bloc will shrink its economy. He highlighted the Make in India programme and said Indian companies came to Britain to access the 500 million-strong EU market.

According to Blackman, the EU had moved since 1975 from being an economic organisation to a political one. He said it was unfair that Indian professionals in Britain have to go through various hoops to get a visa, while unskilled EU nationals could walk into the country.

Meanwhile, chancellor George Osborne said he would have to raise taxes and further slash public spending if the vote is to leave the EU, prompting furious response from more than 50 MPs, who said he may have to consider his position if he delivered a punishment budget after the referendum.

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Nearly 15 years before he became the first Indian-origin premier (the equivalent of a chief minister) of a Canadian province, Ujjal Dosanjh was booked on a flight to travel to India.

Dosanjh had decided to fly Air India as a gesture of defiance against pro-Khalistani elements in Canada that had called for a boycott of Indias national carrier.

But prior to departure, pressed by his wife, Dosanjh cancelled the reservation. Days later, he awoke to the news that the flight, Air India 182 on board the aircraft named Kanishka, had disintegrated mid-air, close to the Irish coast, in what turned out to the worst aviation terror incident before 9/11.

Dosanjh reveals this for the first time in his just published memoir, Journey After Midnight: India, Canada and the Road Beyond. Dosanjh had been criticised by Khalistanis as a traitor and an arch enemy.

We were sure this was sheer coincidence. Surely, the extremists would not have designed their most evil deed around me, a small fry in the scheme of things. Their target was India, the idea of India as pluralistic, secular and united. Then again, killing two birds with one stone would not have hurt the effort, he writes.

Ujjal Dosanjh and his wife Rami at the Gandhi Samadhi in Delhi in December 2005. (David Chan)

In the memoir, Dosanjh details his upbringing in Dosanjh Kalan in Punjab, leaving for England and settling in Canada. Not only did he become premier of British Columbia, but after moving on to federal politics, he became Canadas health minister in 2004.

An opponent of the Khalistan movement in Canada, Dosanjh survived a murderous attack on his life on February 8, 1985. In 1983, he had travelled to India and had an acrimonious exchange with separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the Golden Temple and met then prime minister Indira Gandhi.

Replying to a letter he sent her after Operation Bluestar, which was conducted to flush out extremists holed up in the Golden Temple, Gandhi wrote: Few decisions in my long political career were sadder than the one to ask our troops to clear the terrorist hideout which was misusing the refuge of the Golden Temple. It was a duty I owed to the nation and the Sikh community itself.

As Khalistani extremism again rears its head in Canada, Dosanjh remains concerned, as he said in an interview: This kind of thing is going to remain for a long time. Theres easy money, from temples, from the ISI. It becomes a front for some of that.

Ujjal Dosanjh, while he was federal health minister in 2005, in the Parliament buildings office of then Prime Minister Paul Martin (seen here looking out of the window). (David Chan)

Its reminiscent of the scenario in the mid-1980s, as he writes: In this tragic drama being played out on the soil of India and 15,000 miles away on the western coast of Canada, the unsuspecting Sikhs were being played for suckers. First-generation immigrants were easily exploited by unscrupulous politicians and salesmen promoting the snake oil of terrorism.

Also familiar could be some of the indifference of mainstream Canadian politics to such activity. Though he was a Liberal Party MP, Dosanjh said some pro-Khalistan groups were acting as gatekeepers for (Canadian PM Justin) Trudeau in places like British Columbia and Ontario. This problem is not Indias. Its problematic for Canada that potential terrorists are seen to be living in Canada.

The silence of Canadian politicians was pure platinum for the radical fanatics in securing the silence of those who disagreed, he writes of the earlier period.

While becoming a pioneer in politics in Canada, Dosanjh, now 70 and a resident of Vancouver, always maintained close ties with regular visits to India. He underscores that in the book: Canada has helped shape me; India is in my soul. Canada has been my abode, providing me with physical comforts and the arena for being an active citizen. India has been my spiritual refuge and my sanctuary. Physically, and in the incessant wanderings of the mind, I have returned to it time and again.

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President Barack Obama has said that he cried at the recent high school convocation ceremony of his elder daughter Malia, thinking about how she is graduating at this extraordinary time for women in America.

Some of you may know that on Friday, my elder daughter Malia graduated from high school. And I sat in the back and wore dark glasses, Obama told a gathering of women from across the county at the Women Summit held at the White House.

And only cried once, but it was -- I made this weird sound because I was choking back -- and people looked at me, people sitting in front of us turned back. And then I suppressed it, Obama said describing the incident.

I was thinking about how she is graduating at this extraordinary time for women in America, said the 54-year-old US President.

Malia Obama, 17, graduated from the prominent Sidwell Friends School in Washington DC last Friday, which was attended by the US President.

She has taken admission in the prominent Harvard University, which she would be joining next year after taking a years off from studies.

In an interaction with Oprah Winfrey, First Lady Michelle Obama recollected the childhood days of her two daughters Malia and Sasha, 15.

US First lady Michelle Obama (L) speaks with Oprah Winfrey on a stage at the White House Summit on the United State of Women in Washington, DC on June 14, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / YURI GRIPAS (AFP)

It would take another two years for Sasha to graduate from high school.

As a result, the First Family has decided to live in Washington DC after they leave the White House.

Malia and Sasha were little itty-bitties when we came into office. I mean, it still moves me to tears to think about the first day I put them in the car with their Secret Service agents to go to their first day of school, 52-year-old Michelle said.

See pics: When Sasha Obama borrowed big sister Malias blue dress

And I saw them leaving and I thought, what on Earth am I doing to these babies? So I knew right then and there my first job was to make sure they were going to be whole and normal and cared for in the midst of all this craziness, Michelle said amidst applause from the audience.

And then I started to understand that if I was going to protect them, I had to, number one, protect myself and protect my time, she said and then recollected the graduation ceremony of Malia.

We just went to Malias high school graduation and we were watching Sasha move her way through high school. I am very proud of those two and how they have managed this situation and how they have continued to be themselves, regular little girls just trying to figure it out, she said.

As all mothers do, you breathe that sigh of relief that you didnt mess up your kids. Every day I cross my fingers and hope that Im doing right by them, and Im providing them with a good foundation so that they can be great people, she added.

Also read | Barack Obamas daughter Malia interning on TV show Girls
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard accused a British-Iranian aid worker who has been detained since early April of trying to overthrow the government in a statement published on Wednesday.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a 37-year-old program coordinator with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a London-based charity.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials detained Zaghari-Ratcliffe on April 3 when she arrived at an airport to fly back to Britain, according to her husband Richard Ratcliffe.

This person had membership in foreign companies and organizations and planned and carried out media and cyber projects with the intent of a soft overthrow of the holy Islamic Republic government, the statement said. It was published by a Guard office in Kerman province, where Zaghari-Ratcliffe is being held.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe carried out criminal activities with the guidance and protection of media and spy services of foreign governments, according to the statement. She was arrested after massive intelligence operations by the Guard.

Monique Villa, the Chief Executive of the Foundation, said in a statement in early May that the Thomson Reuters Foundation has no operations in Iran. A spokesman for the Foundation said in an email message that it is assessing the situation. The Foundation operates independently from Reuters News.

Britains Foreign Office said it is following up the allegations made in the statement.

We are urgently seeking information from the Iranian authorities on the reported accusations being made against Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a spokesperson for the Foreign Office told Reuters. We have raised this case repeatedly and at the highest levels and will continue to do so at every available opportunity.

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 last month.

Zaghari-Ratcliffes file has been sent to Tehran to begin judicial proceedings but officials from the intelligence wing of the Revolutionary Guard are still interrogating her, according to the statement.

Iran does not recognize dual-citizenship and if Zaghari-Ratcliffe is charged she will be tried as an Iranian citizen.

The Guard statement said that Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested by the intelligence wing of the Revolutionary Guard at the Imam Khomeini international airport in Tehran and subsequently transferred to Kerman in southeast Iran.

The statement said that Zaghari-Ratcliffe is being held in a suite in Kerman prison. She had been held in a solitary confinement, according to her husband.
Renewed clashes overnight at a Pakistan-Afghan border crossing killed an Afghan border guard and wounded five, an Afghan official said Wednesday as Islamabad dispatched more troops and weapons to the volatile boundary amid an escalation in tension between the two neighbours.

The Afghan guard is the third fatality since Sunday night, when clashes erupted at the Torkham border crossing over the construction of a gate by Pakistan on allegedly disputed territory.

In Afghanistan, border police official Jamal Khan said the Afghan guard was killed late Tuesday. Another Afghan guard was killed the first night of the violence and a Pakistani officer wounded in the border clashes died on Tuesday.

Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor in Afghanistans Nangarhar province, which lies along the border with Pakistan, appealed on Pakistan to stop shooting toward the Afghan side, adding that fighting is not the solution.

In Pakistan, two security officials confirmed the latest exchange of fire on Torkham but said the cease-fire is now holding. There was some damage on the Pakistani side, they said, without elaborating. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

The Torkham crossing remained closed Wednesday.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have blamed one another for the latest escalation.

Afghanistan does not recognize the present boundary, the so-called Durand Line, as an international border, and has denounced Pakistans plans to erect a fence at the crossing. Pakistan army says it is constructing a gate on its own side of the border as a necessary measure to check for unwanted and illegal movement.

Last month, the Torkham crossing was closed over a similar incident and reopened following a meeting between Pakistans army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif and Afghan Ambassador Omar Zakhilwal.
Nepalese grandfather Durga Kami brushes his bushy white beard, puts on his school uniform and, with the aid of his walking stick, trudges for over an hour to class for another day of learning.

Poverty prevented Kami finishing his studies as a child and achieving his goal of becoming a teacher.

Now 68, the father of six and grandfather of eight goes to school six days a week to complete his studies and escape a lonely home life following the death of his wife.

Walking into the Shree Kala Bhairab higher secondary school and the buzz created by 200 children is a welcome contrast to the hush of the isolated one-room home, with its leaking roof and frequent power cuts, where Kami lives in Syangja district, some 250 km (155 miles) west of Nepals capital Kathmandu.

Durga Kami poses for a picture during a volleyball match at Shree Kala Bhairab Higher Secondary School. (REUTERS)

To forget my sorrows I go to school, Kami, one of the oldest students in Nepal, told Reuters in the classroom where he studies alongside 14 and 15-year-olds.

Kami, whose children have all left his hilltop home, first went to Kaharay primary school where he learnt to read and write with the seven and eight year olds before leaving after finishing grade five with the 11-year-olds.

Shree Kala Bhairab teacher DR Koirala then invited Kami to his school, which provided the grandfather with stationary and a school uniform including grey trousers, blue striped tie and white shirt.

Durga Kami answers a question from his teacher as he attends a class. (REUTERS)

This is my first experience teaching a person who is as senior as my fathers age, Koirala said. I feel very excited and happy.

The school scholarship does not stretch to cover food, though, meaning Kamis breakfast of rice with a fermented green vegetable known as Gundruk must sustain him until dinner.

The 20 children in his grade 10 class have dubbed Kami Baa, which means father in Nepali, but despite his age their elderly class mate joins in all activities, including volleyball in the schoolyard.

Kami uses a torch to read a book during a power cut, at his one-room house in Syangja. (REUTERS)

I used to think why is this old man coming to school to study with us? but as time passed I enjoyed his company, Kamis 14-year-old class mate Sagar Thapa said.

He is a little bit weak in studies compared to us but we help him out with that.

Kami said he wanted to studying until his death, adding he hoped it would encourage others to ignore age obstacles.

If they see an old person with white beard like me studying in school they might get motivated as well, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis Twitter-like Chinese Weibo account sputtered to life after a hiatus with his birthday wishes to President Xi Jinping, who turned 63 on Wednesday.

Modi wished Xi a long life and good health, giving some of his 170,000 followers on the microblog something to share and talk about.

Xis response to the warm greeting wasnt immediately known.

Nor could it be confirmed whether following the birthday wishes, Xi had ordered his diplomats to lay out a red carpet for India to nimbly walk on to the other side of the Nuclear Suppliers Groups (NSG) door at the Seoul plenary meeting a week later.

The greeting came against the backdrop of strains between the two countries over Indias bid to gain entry to the NSG. China, apparently acting at the behest of its all weather ally has strongly opposed Indias candidature.

But one thing was sure - the Weibo post got India and Modi considerable goodwill in China.

Within a few hours, Modis post had been shared more than 5,100 times and attracted 7,200 likes  and the numbers were increasing.

The Weibo platforms in China have hundreds of millions of subscribers and celebrities count their followers in tens of millions. Twitter has been blocked under Chinas tough censorship laws since 2009.

By contrast, Modis impact on Weibo is tiny but Chinese users appreciate the fact that he has at least tried to reach out to millions in their language.

The fact that Modi remembered to wish Xi this year  unlike last year  was commented on by some users. Modi though did remember to wish Premier Li Keqiang on his birthday on July 1 last year.

Some Weibo users said it was a nice, diplomatic gesture on Modis part to wish Xi. One user said Modi makes it a point to wish world leaders and corporate bigwigs like Facebooks Mark Zuckerbeg on their birthdays.

Last year, Modi had thanked Xi for greeting him on his 65th birthday in September. I thank President Xi Jinping for his kind wishes on my birthday. I warmly recall my meetings with him and look forward to working with him to further strengthen India-China ties, Modi had then written on Weibo.

Modi has made some 66 posts on his Weibo account since opening it in the run-up to his visit to china in May last year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang pose for a selfie at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. (PMO India Twitter account)

By far, his most popular post has been his selfie with Premier Li at the sprawling Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It featured a smiling Modi and Li.

Till Wednesday, the selfie  which some termed as the most powerful one in the world at the time  had been reposted more than 60,000 times and more than 100,000 had liked it. More than 2,400 people have commented on it so far.

Modis opening Weibo post in May 2015 did some pinch hitting too. Hello China, Im looking forward to interacting with Chinese friends through Weibo has got some 10,000 reposts and comments.

One can only imagine the response from Chinas Weibo users if Modi had got Xis birthday wrong, like he did with that of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in February.

China would have probably, and maybe gladly, let its Great Fire Wall down for the message to be delivered to India.
China warned the US and lodged a diplomatic representation with American officials here on Wednesday over a planned meeting between President Barack Obama and Tibetan leader Dalai Lama at the White House.

The meeting could damage relations, China said as it made it clear that it was against the interaction between Obama and the Dalai Lama.

Beijing considers the Dharamsala-based spiritual leader as a separatist who incites Tibetans living in China to split from the country.

It is reported that Obama and the Dalai Lama will meet privately in the Map Room at 10.15 am on Wednesday, the state media said.

Chinese foreign ministry has already made a representation to the US embassy in China, spokesperson Lu Kang told a daily news briefing.

If the US side arranges such a meeting, it will send a wrong signal to Tibet separatist forces and harm China-US mutual trust and cooperation, Lu said.

The Dalai Lama told Reuters on Monday that Obama was a a long-time friend whom he admired for his work to normalise relations with Cuba and Iran and for his recent visits to former US foe Vietnam and the site of the Hiroshima atomic bombing in Japan.

In a white paper released last year, the Chinese government claimed the Dalai Lama and his followers were hatching a plan towards Tibetan independence.

The 14th Dalai group's separatist activities violate the Constitution of China and its state system, and greatly damage the fundamental interests of all ethnic groups in Tibet, which is why they have met strong opposition from all Chinese people, including those of all ethnic groups in Tibet, and hence why they are doomed to fail, the white paper said.
President Barack Obama lit into presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump and other conservatives over their escalating anti-Muslim rhetoric, telling them in his angriest remarks on the issue yet thats not the America we want.

We now have proposals from the presumptive Republican nominee for President of the United States to bar all Muslims from emigrating to America, Obama said after a meeting of his national security council on Tuesday. He added: We hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests that entire religious communities are complicit in violence.

Trump, who has suggested a temporary ban on immigration from areas of the world with a proven history of terrorism against the US and its allies after the Orlando shootings, hit back at the President, saying Obama was more angry with him than the shooter and implying, as he has before, the President was not as committed to fighting terrorism.

On Monday, Trump had said the President doesnt have a lot of anger at what happened to these wonderful people (the victims of Orlando shooting).

Trump and others in his party have also questioned Obamas counter-terrorism efforts, saying he wont even use the phrase radical Islam to describe the threat. Obama hit back, barely concealing his annoyance: Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away.

And he went beyond, We hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests that entire religious communities are complicit in violence.

Where does this stop? The Orlando killer, one of the San Bernardino killers, the Fort Hood killer -- they were all US citizens. Are we going to start treating all Muslim Americans differently? Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance? Are we going to start discriminating against them because of their faith? Weve heard these suggestions during the course of this campaign.

Malik Mujahid, a Chicago area imam, said Trump is using a general sense of fear and insecurity stemming from the San Bernardino attacks last December and the Orlando shootings to stoke Islamophobia in the hope of rallying his supporters.

But the Republican nominee, Mujahid argued, may have overplayed his hand. The imam said these attacks on the community have strengthened its resolve to fight back  it has encouraged Muslim voters to become more active and the response to Islamophobia is getting organised.

Trump, who first called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US in the aftermath of the San Bernardino attacks, has ratcheted up the rhetoric since the Orlando shootings. After extending his call of suspending entry to Muslims for areas with proven history, he went on to hold the entire community responsible for these incidents. Muslim communities must cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad, he said on Monday, and they do know where they are.

Thats politics. Predictably, politicians with Islamophobic leanings are seeing the Orlando shootings and the deeper malaise it represents, as an opportunity to further advance a divisive and inflammatory rhetoric that does nothing to make us safer, said Musaddique Thange, California-based communications director of the Indian American Muslim Council.

President Obama got it right in his statement yesterday, that the politicisation of terror, and the demonisation of Islam and Muslims only furthers the agenda of the terrorists, he added.

Explaining why he doesn't use the phrase radical Islam despite repeated criticism  he called it yapping  Obama said in his remarks on Tuesday he doesnt want to do the terroristss work by turning this into a fight between Islam and America or Islam against the West.
Americas deadliest ever shooting that killed 49 people and injured 53 others in Orlando was a case of self-radicalisation and was not a terrorist-directed attack, a top US official said on Wednesday.

What we know at this point, it appears that this was a case of self-radicalisation, it was not a terrorist-directed attack, secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson told Fox News in an interview.

As we say, it was more in the nature of a terrorist- inspired attack. He does not appear to have been part of any group or any cell, Johnson said in response to a question on the alleged suspect Omar Mateen.

Afghan-origin Mateen, 29, investigators say was self-radicalised and pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS).

And the environment were in right now is reflected by this horrific attack where we have to be concerned about the homegrown violent extremism, he said.

Read | Omar Mateen: How a playful child became Orlando shooter

For both the President and me, homeland security, the protection of the American people against this type of threat is our number one priority, Johnson said.

Johnson said theres some indication at this point that he self-radicalised based on things he was looking at on the Internet and on social media.

President Barack Obama, centre, speaks to members of the media in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Monday. With Obama are (left to right), Lisa Monaco, assistant to the president for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, DHS secretary Jeh Johnson, vice-president Joe Biden, FBI director James Comey, and US deputy attorney general Sally Q Yates. (AP)

(This) is why one of the things that were focused on in homeland security is how do we encourage Internet service providers to take down prohibited content, content that violates the terms of their own service, he said.

Theyre pretty good about doing this. But it becomes a more and more difficult task as the terrorists become smarter at this, he added.

Read | Omar Mateen and his motivation: Orlando shooter was a homophobe, wife-beater

Johnson said the US needs to be concerned about homegrown violent extremists.

We are taking the fight to the Islamic State pursuant to the Presidents direction. Were killing these guys where they rear their heads in places like Iraq and Syria, he noted.

But weve got to be concerned about those here in the United States who self-radicalise, which is why our whole of government efforts to take them down with law enforcement, to build bridges to the American Muslim community so that they help us help them has become all the more important, he said.

Earlier in the evening, President Barack Obama at a meet with Democratic lawmakers said this has been a difficult week for the country.

Obviously this has been a difficult week for America, because all of us are still grieving for those who were lost in Orlando. All of us still have our thoughts and prayers for the families, those who were killed but also for those who are still recovering and for the city of Orlando, he said.

Read | You are not alone: Barack Obama to Orlando gay community

One of the things I said I emphasised this is something that could happen anywhere. These could be our kids or our brothers or our cousins or our nephews, nieces, Obama said.

And at moments like this its critically important for us to remind ourselves of what binds us together as a people. That regardless of race or ethnicity or religion or sexual orientation, were all Americans and we look out for each other. We celebrate those things we hold dear and have in common, like love of family and love of country, we mourn together when part of that family is hurt, he said.

Meanwhile, Senator Ron Johnson, chairperson of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to G4S Secure Solutions, the security company that employed Mateen seeking more information about him.


US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Russia and the Syrian government on Wednesday to respect a frayed ceasefire, as vicious fighting south of second city Aleppo left dozens dead.

The vital northern province of Aleppo has been ravaged on multiple fighting fronts in a devastating war that has killed more than 280,000 people.

The conflict has also drawn in world powers who back opposing sides -- including the United States which broadly supports the opposition and Russia on the side of President Bashar al-Assad.

Russia needs to understand that our patience is not infinite, in fact it is very limited with whether or not Assad is going to be held accountable, said Kerry.

We also are prepared to hold accountable members of the opposition, he said after a meeting in Norway with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

UN-hosted peace talks aimed at ending the five-year conflict have been stalled since April, and a fragile ceasefire deal between the government and non-jihadist rebels has all but collapsed.

Washington and Moscow have tried to reinforce the broader truce with temporary, local freezes on fighting, but to no avail.

It is very clear that the cessation of hostilities is frayed and at risk and that it is critical for a genuine cessation to be put in place. We know that, we have no illusion, said Kerry.

Efforts were underway, he said, to reach a new agreement in the next week or two to reinstate the ceasefire across Syria, leading to more humanitarian aid deliveries and a resumption of the peace process.

Fresh Aleppo clashes

In Aleppo province, dozens of fighters were killed in a fresh bout of fighting between the regime, rebels, and jihadists south of Aleppo city, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Backed by Russian and government air strikes, pro-regime fighters are locked in battle with rebel groups and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front for a string of villages lying in hilly terrain between strategic routes.

To the west there is an opposition supply route that reaches Idlib province, and to the northeast there is the last regime supply route out of Aleppo city, said the Observatorys Rami Abdel Rahman.

Since fighting erupted on Tuesday, at least 70 fighters in total have been killed and the villages of Zaytan and Khalasa have changed hands twice.

The strategic border province is criss-crossed with supply routes for various sides of the conflict, including rebels, regime, Kurds, and jihadists like the Islamic State group.

Aleppo was once Syrias commercial powerhouse, but it has been a battleground since 2012 when rebels seized the east of the city confining the army to the west.

As opposing forces close in from either side, residents of both halves of the city fear a potential total siege on the northern metropolis.

The UN says nearly 600,000 Syrians live in besieged areas, most surrounded by government forces.

Earlier this month, it said the government had granted preliminary aid access to 15 of 18 besieged areas, after one was taken off the UNs list.

Activists accuse UN

Dozens of opposition activist groups accused the UN of capitulating to Damascus on aid access.

The scathing report, authored by The Syria Campaign (TSC) advocacy group, was based on testimonies from current and former UN staff and other aid workers.

It accused the UN of choosing to prioritise cooperation with the Syrian government at all costs, allowing the regime to unduly influence UN aid strategy.

The UN humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Yaacoub El Hillo, said however that while aid access was not ideal, the UN continues to assist Syrians based on need.

TSC spokeswoman Bissan Fakih countered: A UN with the backbone to stand for its principles would help get aid to hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians under siege, many of them only a few minutes drive from where the UN is based in Damascus.

Syrias government condemned the presence of French and German special forces in the countrys north, including the flashpoint towns of Kobane on the border and IS-held Manbij.

Paris recently admitted its special forces were deployed alongside an Arab-Kurd alliance backing the offensive to expel IS from Manbij.

But German defence ministry spokesman Boris Nannt denied his countrys troops were in Syria, telling journalists there is absolutely nothing (to) it.
ISLAMBAD: A trans gender person is fighting for life in Khyber-Pakhtunkwa province of northwest Pakistan, after being shot multiple times for resisting rape, the latest in a string of attacks against members of the community in the region.

The victim was shot several times by a group of men who barged into the transgender person s home in Mansehra on Monday and demanded sexual favours. Witnesses said the victim refused to comply, triggering a scuffle and the shooting. Police officials said the victim was in a critical condition. The attackers managed to escape while the victim was taken to King Abdullah Hospital for emergency treatment. The victim was later shifted to Ayub Medical Complex in Abbottabad.

The shooting sparked unrest among the community, which took to the streets to condemn the attempted murder and criticised police for not providing security.

The Shemale Association organised a rally that made its way from Mansehra Press Club to the city police station. The rally was led by the association s president, Maria Khan, and general secretary Nadra Khan.

Maria Khan told reporters that after another incident in Peshawar, where a leading transgender activist was shot multiple times over a dispute, the community was feeling increasingly unsafe.

She said police was not acknowledging the danger that transgender people face in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where attacks on the community have increased in recent weeks.
Washington and Islamabad are in the midst of yet another geopolitical divorce. The US National Security Councils South Asia man, Peter Lavoy, and the special representative for AfPak, Rick Olson, were in Islamabad last week in an attempt to salvage what is left.

The US Congress decision to not subsidise the sale of eight F-16 fighters was the latest nail in the coffin. Pakistan responded by saying it wouldnt accept the batch of jets. This, in turn, follows the US drone strike that killed Mullah Akhtar Mansour, the Inter-Services-Intelligences favoured candidate for leadership of the Taliban, in late May.

Read: Spurned by US, Pakistan mulls buying used F-16 jets from Jordan

The New York Times, often a good indicator of Obama administration thinking, set the tone in a May 13 editorial entitled Time to Put the Squeeze on Pakistan, in which it called the country a duplicitous and dangerous partner.

The relationship began going south when US Special Forces assassinated Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad in 2011. Senior US officials told their Indian counterparts of their skepticism that the Pakistani military could not have known of the Al Qaeda chiefs presence  and how Rawalpindi noticeably declined to inquire how he ended up in the cantonment town.

Abbottabad soured the US Congress against Pakistan. The White House, however, continued to bat for Islamabad. It had three reasons for doing so.

One, it saw Pakistan as the indispensable partner of its grand design for a negotiated settlement between the Taliban and the Kabul regime. Two, it sought another deal over Pakistans tactical nuclear warheads that it saw as a burgeoning loose nukes threat. Finally, it felt it had a pair of reasonable interlocutors following the 2013 re-election of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and appointment of Gen Raheel Sharif as the Pakistan Army chief.

On all three counts, US policy is at a dead end.

Rawalpindi has been especially two-faced over Afghanistan. Washington has been wearying, as Christine Fair of George Washington University has written, of Pakistans tactics of extracting rents from Washington while proving itself unable or unwilling to bring the Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table.

The Pakistani military has had no interest in the sort of negotiations that the US seeks  with the US troop presence down to about 10,000 troops, the generals have held to the belief Kabul would fall into their hands anyway. After the US persuaded Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to kowtow to Rawalpindi, the generals rewarded him last year with a renewed spring Taliban offensive.

The past year also saw an increase in attacks on US troops by the Haqqani Network, the Taliban affiliate closest to the ISI. The top American commander in Afghanistan told the US Congress in February, The Haqqani Network remains the most capable threat to US and coalition forces.

When the US took out Mansour, a drone strike that took place inside Pakistani territory and which Rawalpindi was not forewarned about, it was a sign the White House no longer expected the Pakistani military to deliver on the Taliban.

The Obama administration, over the past two years, had been trying to entice the Pakistani military to dismantle its tactical nuclear arsenal. These small, dispersed warheads were seen as prime targets for terrorist capture.

Much to Indias anger, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice had offered Pakistan a nuclear deal on the lines of the one given to India in 2009. At least six versions of the deal were offered, but all were rejected by the Pakistan military as it insisted on a carbon copy of what was given to India. The Obama administration found that impossible and the talks have since foundered.

As for Nawaz Sharif, it soon became clear to Obama, as it has to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that the Pakistani premier had all the right ideas on India and Afghanistan but no authority to implement them.

Gen Sharif, though much feted by the Obama administration during his last visit to Washington in the winter of 2015, proved to be a rigid adherent to Rawalpindis orthodoxy regarding the Taliban, Pakistans A-bombs and India.

The mood in the US Congress, say Indian sources, had begun turning against Islamabad by last November as anger over Pakistan began to come to a head. This was evident when Senator Rand Pauls resolution to ban F-16 sales to Pakistan in February, while abortive, inspired a huge burst of Pakistan-bashing by many congressmen.

When Pakistan asked the US to subsidise the F-16s, as Washington has done in the past, it immediately ran into opposition. As Michael Krepon of the Stimson Center, a Washington think tank, noted, The only choices Congress seriously considered were to block the sale or to require payment in full. Senator Bob Corker of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee decided to opt for the latter as a compromise.

Indian sources say Corkers decision to drop the subsidy caught the White House by surprise but Obamas efforts to salvage the F-16 sale failed to find traction.

With Indias equity in the US rising, Pakistan phobia rampant in the Beltway and Pakistan believing it has a geopolitical white knight in the form of China, the curtain is falling on the latest act of the poisonous Washington-Islamabad drama.
The FBI is said to be considering filing charges against Orlando shooter Omar Mateens wife Noor Zahi Salman, who reportedly suspected he was planning an attack at the Pulse gay nightclub.

Salman, 30, has told FBI investigators she tried to stop Mateen but he left, saying he was only meeting friends, according to NBC News, which first reported this development.

A few hours later, Mateen opened fire at the nightclub, leaving 49 people dead and 53 wounded in the worst mass shooting in US history, before being killed by a police SWAT team.

Read | Last of the 49 bodies removed from Orlando nightclub

But Salman, who married Mateen in 2011, failed to warn authorities. She is now cooperating with investigators, who fear she may stop if criminally charged or placed under arrest.

Salman has told investigators, according to multiple reports, that she had accompanied Mateen on one of his trips to scope out Pulse, and he also bought ammunition and a holster in front of her.

Salman was raised in a Palestinian-descent family in California, and met Mateen on a dating site, as did his first wife Sitora Yusufiy. They married in September 2011 after Mateens divorce and the couple has a three-year-old son.

Mateen, 29, was shot dead by police after a three-hour standoff at the Pulse club early on Sunday. He called 911 during his shooting spree to profess allegiance to various militant Islamist groups.

Federal investigators have said he was likely self-radicalised and there was no evidence that he received any instructions or aid from outside groups such as Islamic State.

Unlike Yusufiy, who has talked about her short-lived marriage to Mateen and called him unstable, bipolar with gay tendencies, Salman has not spoken publicly about their relationship.

She had a sheltered upbringing, according to Jasbinder Chahal, a neighbour who lived across the road from her family and was interviewed by the Associated Press.

You know, some kids after high school, they open up the box and the world is theirs, Chahal said. She was inside the box, just pack it up and get married.

Chahal added: Noor never played in the street, and the girls were never allowed to drive.

Salmans mother, Ekbal Zahi Salman, lives in a middle-class neighbourhood of the suburban town of Rodeo, California. A neighbour said Salman only visited her mother once after she married Mateen.

Her mother didnt like him very much. He didnt allow her (Noor) to come here, said Chahal. He said he had spoken to Noor Salmans mother after the Orlando attack. She was crying, weeping.

Read | FBI investigates reports Orlando shooter Omar Mateen was gay

Mateen made 911 calls from the club in which he pledged loyalty to the leader of Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, whose organisation controls parts of Iraq and Syria.

We could hear him talking to 911 saying that the reason why hes doing this is because he wants America to stop bombing his country. From that conversation from 911 he pledges allegiance to ISIS, said Patience Carter, 20, who was trapped in a bathroom stall at the nightclub as Mateen prowled outside.

US officials were investigating media reports that Mateen may have been gay but not openly so, and questioning whether that could have driven his attack, according to two people who have been briefed on the investigation and requested anonymity to discuss it.

The owner of the Pulse nightclub, speaking through a representative, denied reports that Mateen had been a regular patron.

Untrue and totally ridiculous, Sara Brady, a spokeswoman for club owner Barbara Poma, said in an email when asked about the claim.

(With inputs from agencies)
A Pakistani girl has been killed by her brother for insisting on marrying a man of her choice, police said on Tuesday, marking the countrys latest gruesome honour killing following a string of incidents that have sparked national outrage.

Anum Ishaq masih, in her late teens and from a Christian family, was murdered while she was sleeping at her house in the city of Sialkot southwest of Lahore in the early hours of Sunday.

Saqib Ishaq masih, 23, killed his sister by smashing her head with a wooden log, Rana Zulfiqar, the officer in-charge of the police station in Sialkot said.

Rana said the girl was insisting on Saturday that she would marry the man, infuriating her sibling.

The brother has since been arrested and charged with murder after the girls father filed a case against him.

Shamoon Gill, a Christian activist, told AFP that honour killings were very rare among the Christian community in Pakistan.

It has nothing to do with religion but is part of a social issue that is deeply rooted in the eastern societies, he said.

Most of the Christians and even Hindus are converts. They have converted but there are still some elements of tribal society.

Hundreds of women are murdered by their relatives in Pakistan each year on the pretext of defending what is seen as family honour, and this latest incident follows a spate of recent attacks.

Last week sixteen year-old Zeenat Bibi was set on fire in Lahore by her mother for marrying a man of her own choice. Bibis mother later confessed to the crime.

A Pakistani couple were also murdered in Lahore last week for marrying without their familys consent.

A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness -- a film telling the story of a rare survivor of an attempted honour killing -- won an Oscar for best documentary short in February.

Amid publicity for the film, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed to eradicate the evil of honour killings but as yet no fresh legislation has been tabled.
The Civil War provided many men with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to demonstrate a talent for organization, leadership and combat that otherwise might have lain dormant forever. Throughout four years of war, both sides encouraged and rewarded such individuals with promotions and acclaim. A few of these men, primarily army and corps commanders, achieved a place in the national consciousness that survives to the present day. Others, whose exploits temporarily made them household names, slowly faded from public awareness. Such a man was Francis Channing Barlow, known to his then as the Boy General. Barlow served in all the major wartime operations in Virginia and experienced the war on all levels, from private to general. When he mustered out of the United States Army in 1865, he left behind a record of achievement and bravery on the regimental, brigade and divisional level that few other officers could match and none could exceed.

The future general was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on October 19, 1834. His father, the Rev. David Hatch Barlow, was rector of the towns First Unitarian Church. His mother, Almira Penniman, was a transplanted New Englander from Brookline, Mass. When he was 2 years old, Barlows parents returned to his mothers hometown, where Francis was raised. He entered Harvard at age 17, graduated with honors and then moved back to New York, where he was admitted to the bar in 1858. The following year, he entered into a legal partnership with George Bliss, Jr., which lasted until the outbreak of the war in 1861.

Barlows nationalism, abolitionist sympathies and loathing of secession led him to resign his position with Bliss at the beginning of the war. His decision to enter the army was made just before his marriage to Arabella Wharton Griffith of Somerville, N.J. Barlow left his bride of one day to join his regiment on April 21 as it departed for duty in the defense of Washington. Although Arabella served as a nurse throughout the war and was often in the rear echelon of her husbands units, the exigencies of war generally kept them apart.

Barlows first regiment, the 12th New York, was a three-month unit. Although he was offered a lieutenancy when he joined in April, Barlow declined the commission and began his career as a private. He later thought better of his decision  or of his own capabilities  and accepted the appointment. After the regiment disbanded, Barlow waited three months, then reenlisted as a lieutenant colonel in the 61st New York. He spent the winter with his regiment preparing for the spring campaigning season. The 61st New York was part of the Army of the Potomac, the massive military force that Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan brought to the York Peninsula of Virginia in an abortive attempt to take Richmond. Shortly before McClellan initiated his cautious advance on the Confederate capital, Barlow was promoted to full colonel.

The confidence that Barlows superiors had in him was amply justified during the Peninsula campaign, especially at the Battle of Fair Oaks (May 31-June 1, 1862). During the battle, the 61st New York lost 110 killed and wounded out of 432 men. It was there that Barlows drive, eye for terrain and zest for combat first marked him as a man to watch. As a leader he was aggressive  some would say almost ruthless  and he had already become known for wearing a cavalry saber as a sidearm. The sword seemed incongruous alongside Barlows slight frame and youthful face, but it reflected his military personality  bold, relentless and lethal. Barlow frequently used his saber to whack stragglers into action. Personally fearless, he had no hesitation about throwing himself into the maelstrom of battle, and he expected nothing less from his men.

Barlow was quick to assess leadership qualities in others, including his superiors. He experienced McClellans command style firsthand and found it wanting. Shortly after the Peninsula campaign ended, Barlow wrote to his mother: It is considered generally that McClellan has been completely outwitted.I think the whole army feels that it was left to take care of itself and was saved only by its own brave fighting. Although many Federal soldiers never lost their affection for Little Mac, Barlow was not one of them. He was particularly incensed by newspaper reporters attempts to maintain McClellans aura of an omnipotent field commander. I think the officers and men are disgusted with attempts of the press to make him out a victorious hero, Barlow wrote his mother. The stories of his being everywhere among the men in the fights are all untrue.

Barlow had enlisted to fight, and McClellan gave him another chance at Antietam, where the Federal commander brought General Robert E. Lee to bay on September 17, 1862. Rather than concentrating his superior force against Lee, McClellan fed his men into battle piecemeal, offsetting his own numerical advantages. One of the deadliest sections of the blood-soaked battlefield was the Sunken Road, where Confederate regiments poured withering fire into advancing Union troops, cutting regiments to pieces.

Around noon, it was Barlows turn to try to force the Confederates from their position. Commanding both the 61st and 64th New York, Barlow hit the Southerners at a bend in the road where two Confederate regiments met. Breaking the line at this point, Barlows men poured fire into the startled Rebels from both directions, and the entire enemy line gave way. Barlow sent 300 prisoners to the rear and then faced his men west to help fend off a Confederate counterattack. The attack was broken, but in the ensuing pursuit Barlow went down with a severe groin wound. For his conduct at Antietam, Barlow was promoted to brigadier general.

Barlows wound was so serious that he was forced to take leave while he recuperated. Not for the last time, his wife nursed hits back to health. Barlow missed the December 1862 debacle at Fredericksburg, and when he returned to duty he was given command of a brigade in Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howards XI Corps. Barlow was unhappy with his new assignment and saw little action at the May 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville. Two months later, at Gettysburg, he had his closest brush with death, an encounter that provided the raw material for one of the masterpieces of Civil War apocrypha.

In the late 1890s, a story began to circulate that, after Barlow was grievously wounded on the first day of battle and left for dead, he was found and succored by Confederate Brig. Gen. John Gordon. According to this account, Gordon paused in the middle of directing an attack, conversed with Barlow, read Barlow last letter from Arabella and sent word through the lines to inform her of Barlows condition. In the 1880s, Gordon and Barlow, who each thought the other had been killed in the war, supposedly met at a dinner party and became fast friends. This version of Barlows, experience at Gettysburg probably originated with Gordon, although the most elaborate accounts appeared in McClures Magazine and Campfire and Battlefield. The fable was part of a conscious process to heal the wounds and divisions of the war by emphasizing the common brotherhood of the contending soldiers. Although this was a laudable undertaking, the Barlow-Gordon meeting never actually happened, as Barlow himself revealed in a letter written to his mother on July 7, 1863, four days after the Battle of Gettysburg.

Although the reality of Barlows Gettysburg experience lacked the poignancy of the famous story, it was dramatic enough in itself. Barlow arrived on the field from Emmitsburg, Md., on July 1 and moved into position just west of town to support the I Corps, which was already engaged against Confederates converging from the west and north. Barlow found himself on the extreme right of the makeshift Federal line, alongside Brig. Gen. Alexander Schimmelfennigs division. After the Southerners were reinforced by Maj. Gen. Jubal Earlys division, the Rebels struck the XI Corps from both front and flank, and the Federal line began to disintegrate.

Barlow sped his horse to the front in an attempt to rally his men, but before he could turn the animal he was hit by a bullet in the side. Barlow dismounted and tried to walk off the field in the midst of bolting Federal and pursuing Confederates. Two of his men took him by the shoulders and tried to help, but one was cut down, and Barlow was hit again in the back by a spent bullet. Unable to go farther, Barlow lay down not expecting to survive. A third bullet went through his hat, and his right forefinger was grazed by yet another round.

When the Confederates found Barlow, they were, in his words, very kind. Major A.L. Pitzer of Earlys staff had him carried into some woods and placed on a bed of leaves. He was then given some water and carried in a blanket to a nearby house Barlow was placed in a bed and, after dark, when the days fighting had ended, three Confederate surgeons appeared, gave him chloroform and probed the wound. When Barlow awoke, the Southern doctors told him that the bullet had passed downward through his body, cut the peritoneum and was lodged in his pelvic cavity. They said his chances for survival were slim, dosed him with some morphine and left.

Barlow spent the remainder of the battle in enemy hands. On the second day, he was moved to another house, which was occupied by an elderly woman and her daughter, who were solicitous in their care. Captured Federal surgeons also examined him and delivered the same prognosis as their Confederate counterparts. The only treatment seems to have been washing the wound with cold water. Barlow passed the time reading books, his pain diminished by morphine. Several Confederate officers, including some members of Ewells and Earlys staffs, visited him, and he saw a good many of their men as well. Gordons name is conspicuously absent from Barlows account.

While Barlow was behind Confederate lines as a prisoner, Federal authorities received word of his whereabouts and condition. Arabella Barlow, who was nearby, came to the battlefield and, with the help of General Howard, crossed into the Confederate-controlled town. Arabella found General Barlow and, as she had after Sharpsburg, began to nurse him back to health, confounding the best medical opinions of both armies. Although Barlows convalescence took some time, he was able to rejoin the Army of the Potomac in the spring of 1864. Arabella returned to her duties with the Sanitary Commission.

On January 26, 1864, Barlow reported to Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock for duty at Harrisburg, Pa. He joined the 11 Corps at a time of major reorganization in the Army of the Potomac. The XI and XII corps had been sent to Tennessee to help raise the siege of Chattanooga, and they remained with the western army for the duration of the war. Two other corps, the I and III, had been so decimated at Gettysburg that their divisions were merged with the 11 and V corps. The old 11 Corps regiments were reorganized into two divisions  the 1st, which was given to Barlow, and the 2nd, commanded by Brig. Gen. John Gibbon. Barlows brigade commanders included Colonel Nelson Miles, a close friend from their days together in the 61st New York.

Colonel Theodore Lyman gave this description of Barlow during the Overland campaign: He looked like a highly independent minded newsboy; he was attired in a flannel checked shirt; a threadbare pair of trousers, and an old blue kepi; from his waist hung a big cavalry saber; his features wore a familiar sarcastic smile[yet] it would be hard to find a general officer to equal him. On May 3, 1864, the Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan River. As a portent of things to come, the 11 Corps led the way, with the 1st Division in the van. Barlow crossed the small river at Elys Ford, and the Overland campaign was underway. Seeking to delay the Union advance, General Lee hurled his troops against the Army of the Potomac as it moved through the tangled second-growth woods called the Wilderness. Barlows division was already moving southeast, away from the woods, when the battle began. Barlow immediately retraced his steps and led his troops into position on the left flank of the 11 Corps, along the Orange Plank Road. He attacked the Confederate troops in his front, but darkness soon brought the days action to a close.

Union commander General Ulysses S. Grant determined to push the contest with Lee and sidled toward his left, hoping to outflank the Rebel forces. Lee anticipated the move and won the race to the next point of contact at Spotsylvania.

Lees position at Spotsylvania featured an unusual projection nicknamed the Mule Shoe. The salient was formed when Lee extended his main line to include the high ground in front of his position. Grant, who had seen Colonel Emory Uptons attempt at a massed-penetration attack come close to succeeding at Spotsylvania on May 10, decided to try a similar assault on a grander scale. The idea was to mass columns of men against a single point, break through the exposed Mule Shoe, smash Lees lines and inflict a crushing defeat on the Confederates. Grant chose Hancocks corps to storm the Confederate works, and Hancock, in turn, called upon Barlow to spearhead the operation.

At 7 p.m. on May 11, 1864, Barlow, Gibbon and Brig. Gen. David Birney were summoned to Hancocks headquarters and received word that they were to make an assault on the enemys right flank at daybreak. We were told that it was movement of more than usual importance, and were reminded of the gratitude which the country would feel for those officers who should contribute to the success of the enterprise, Barlow recalled. He and the other divisional commanders soon found out that little information was available regarding their own jumping-off positions, let alone the Confederate lines. No information whatever, Barlow later wrote, was given us as to the strength or position of the enemy, or as to the troops to be engaged in the movement (except that the 2nd Corps was to take part in it), or as to the plan of attack, or why any attack was to be made at that time or place.

Despite the lack of solid reconnaissance and the uncertainties of a night march in the fog, Barlow had his division in line by 1 a.m. When Barlow finished getting his men into position, he went over to Brig. Gen. Gershom Motts headquarters, hoping to obtain more precise information. There he found Lt. Col. Waldo Merrian of the 16th Massachusetts. Merrian, Barlow later explained, used the headquarters wall as a canvas on which he drew a sketch of the [Union and Confederate] position, and this was the sole basis on which the disposition of my division was made. Barlow was thoroughly disgusted by the lack of accurate information regarding the Rebel positions and the ground over which he would have to lead his men. He handed over his personal effects to a friend, having concluded that he had been assigned to lead a forlorn hope.

The general plan of attack was for the II Corps to storm the Mule Shoe from the left-center and the IX Corps to hit it from the right. Barlows division was placed on the left of the assault force and Birney on the right. Motts division fell in behind Birney, while Gibbons men were held in reserve.

Poor visibility caused Hancock to postpone the strike for 35 minutes in hopes of better light. At 4:35, Barlows men launched their assault. Following their commanders orders, the Northerners moved forward silently at quick time, with the division and brigade commanders marching in the center of the column between the first and second lines. Halfway to the Confederate lines they broke into double-quick time, and when they saw the Confederate works, they sent up a yell. Barlows men instinctively swerved to their left to hit the Mule Shoe directly on the angle. The Southern defenders were stunned by the enormity of the blue tidal wave descending upon them, and Barlow later recalled their bewildered look. One Confederate with a premonition of the immediate future yelled: Look out, boys! We will have blood for supper.

Barlows men smashed through the Confederate line, tearing away the abatis by hand and overrunning the salient. The desperate Confederates resisted as best they could, but most of those in the front lines of the Mule Shoe had few choices but flight or surrender. The Federals overran almost a mile of Confederate lines, crushed the defensive formations, mauled the famous Stonewall Brigade and captured a large part of Maj. Gen. Edward Johnsons division, one of the finest in Lees army. Thirty flags and 18 fieldpieces were taken by the Union troops in their headlong assault.

The Federal attack tore a huge gap in Lees line that threatened to break the Confederate position at Spotsylvania. Barlows alleged Gettysburg acquaintance, John Gordon, rushed to organize a counterattack, and Lee himself was so shaken by the Federal success that he personally directed reinforcements into the breach. On the Federal side, the very success of the massed columns became a weakness. After the initial breakthrough, the concentrated troops became increasingly confused, undirected and impossible to re-form. The situation was made worse by the continual arrival of Federal reinforcements, who soon lost their own cohesion and became part of a swirling, unfocused mass. Unable to reorganize his men in the confusion, Barlow rode back to Hancocks headquarters and, in a departure from military etiquette, shouted, For Gods sake, Hancock, do not throw any more troops in here!

The warning came too late. By 6 a.m., the momentum of the Federal attack was spent. Disaster staring them in the face, the Confederates counterattacked frantically, slowly forcing the Federals back to the first line of the Mule Shoes entrenchments. The II Corps refused to be dislodged, and Lee ordered a second line of defense quickly prepared in the rear. In the meantime, the fighting along the old interior line of the Mule Shoe degenerated into perhaps the most ferocious and sustained hand-to-hand combat of the war.

The next few days brought a partial respite after the unrelenting combat of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania. By June 1, the two armies were facing each other at Cold Harbor, near the old Seven Days battlefields. There, Grant made his greatest and most avoidable tactical blunder. With even less reconnoitering than before the Mule Shoe attack, Grant ordered an attack  a move he later admitted he regretted.

Once again, Barlow was given the dubious honor of forming the first wave. If Grant was ignorant of the nature of the Confederate position, his soldiers were not. The assault troops began to write their names on slips of paper that they pinned to their uniforms or stuffed in pockets so they could be identified after they were killed.

When the attack on Cold Harbor commenced on the morning of June 3, Barlows lead brigades scored a quick and deceptive success. His men overran a sunken road in front of the main Southern line and took 200 prisoners and three guns. The second wave moved up too slowly, however, and Barlows men were driven from the position. Confederate fire became absolutely withering; blue-clad troops dropped everywhere. Barlows men clung to a slight crest 75 yards from the Confederate works and hunkered down.

Cold Harbor cost the II Corps 3,510 men, most of whore died in the assault on June 3. In comparison, the corps lost a total of 4,194 men during the three days at Gettysburg. Six colonels and 46 lower-ranking officers died at Cold Harbor. The losses of veteran soldiers and officers would be keenly felt in the coming months. Nevertheless, the corps moved south of the James River with the rest of the Army of the Potomac in Grants attempt to seize the strategic rail center of Petersburg. Barlows division was the last of the corps to cross the James.

The Army of the Potomac soon settled into a quasi-siege of Petersburg. The investment was only partial, since Lee could supply his army from the west and south. As a result, Grant planned to extend his lines against the Confederate railroads, cut Lees supplies and force him from the city. This, in turn, would uncover Richmond.

The heat, tedium and periodic terror that characterized the fighting at Petersburg in the summer of 1864 led Barlow to write home that nothing can be worse than life here. He soon learned otherwise. On July 28, he made a sad journey to Washington because his wife, the redoubtable Arabella, who had resumed nursing in a military hospital in the capital, had contracted typhus and died. Under increasing mental strain, Barlow resumed command of his division on August 13, just in time for the Deep Bottom operation.

Grant had Lee pinned in on the north side of the James as well as the south. By reinforcing his troops on the north bank around an area called Deep Bottom, Grant hoped to make a breakthrough that would drive the defending Confederates farther back to their capital. The II Corps was once again chosen for the attack. Unfortunately, the element of surprise was lost through problems in ferrying troops across the river, and the attack could not be launched until 4 p.m. on August 14, with Barlow commanding both the 1st and 2nd divisions. Barlow stretched his forces to link up with Motts troops on his right, a move that kept the lines unbroken but also cost the attacking Federals the weight necessary to achieve a success, the attack quickly failed. More disconcerting was the performance of the troops. The loss of so many veteran soldiers and experienced officers was beginning to show in the decline of lan  and even competence  of the Army of the Potomacs most renowned corps. What bad previously been some of the best fighting units in the Army were no longer performing at their former levels. The Irish Brigade, Barlow wrote, behaved disgracefully and failed to attack, crowded into shelter of trees. Another old brigade exhibited such signs of timidity and demoralization that Barlow gave up the attempt to use it.

While his leadership at Deep Bottom evinced his usual drive and commitment, Barlows health was shaky. His old wounds were giving him pain, and the loss of his wife further drained his spirits. For several days after the Deep Bottom fiasco, Barlow, in the words of Hancocks adjutant, had been more like a dead than living man. Finally, on August 18, Barlow handed over his division to Miles and went to a military hospital at City Point. Five days later, he returned to his division just as the corps set out to cut the Weldon & Petersburg Railroad at Reams Station. Barlow was simply too played out to shoulder the burden of command, however, and had to be relieved on a stretcher and taken back to headquarters.

In an attempt to, regain his health and to come to terms with his grief, Barlow took an extended trip to Europe. While abroad he kept in touch with Hancock, who wrote him an exultant letter after the II Corps carried the day against the Confederates at the Battle of Hatchers Run on October 27, 1864. In early November, Hancock wrote Barlow that he wanted him back with him when he was well. You will have a magnificent division in the 2nd Corps should you prefer to remain with it, Hancock assured him. It is over 7,000 men present for duty.Now our men as a mass are a little shaky for want of officers. But by Spring the Second Corps will be a power.

But Barlow never served under General Hancock again. By the time he rejoined the II Corps on April 1, 1865, with the new rank of brevet major general, Hancock had left to take over the Veteran Volunteer Corps. Barlow was assigned command of the II Corps 2nd Division on April 6 and was in reserve at the Battle of Saylers Creek. Near Farmingville, he seized and held the only bridge to the north bank of the Appomattox. Lee had hoped to destroy the bridge in order to prevent Grant from using it to overtake Lees rapidly dwindling army. Lees failure to hold or destroy the bridge exposed is own men to attacks from the front and rear, resulting in his surrender. In recognition of this last act of military dispatch, Barlow was made full major general on May 25, and he assumed command of the II Corps during the remaining weeks of its existence.

Barlow later directed the energy and dedication he brought to his military career to public service. He was elected secretary of state for New York in November 1865. As a result, he declined a permanent position in the Regular Army and resigned from his rank as major general of volunteers on November 16. He reestablished his law partnership with George Bliss and opened law offices in New York City in 1866. The following year, Barlow remarried. His new bride was Ellen Shaw of Boston, sister of Colonel Robert Shaw, who had led the ill-fated assault of the 54th Massachusetts on Battery Wagner.

After failing to earn re-election as secretary of state, Barlow was appointed U.S. marshal for the southern district of New York by newly elected President Ulysses S. Grant. He inaugurated a major shake-up of personnel and refused to make political contributions based on the presumed emoluments of the office, offering only to make a donation on the basis of his salary. He also prevented his assistants from receiving any money other than that authorized by law. Grant then placed Barlow in command of the combined military, naval and revenue forces of New England, New York and New Jersey. His assignment was to prevent filibustering expeditions to Cuba, and he did the job well.

Barlows attempt to regain the position of secretary of state in 1869 was successful, and the following year he was elected attorney general of New York state. In the latter capacity, he initiated prosecution of the notorious Tweed Ring. He also became one of the founders of the U.S. Bar Association. Barlows last public service entailed investigating the disputed presidential election of 1876 in the state of Florida, which was still under a Reconstruction government. He then practiced law privately until his death on January 11, 1896. Although he had spent most of his public career in New York, he was buried at his boyhood home of Brookline, Mass.

Dubbed the Boy General because of his slight build and youthful looks, Barlow possessed the sort of aggressive spirit that won the admiration of superiors and common soldiers alike. From the beginning of the war until the last days at Appomattox, Barlow was never less than fearless, energetic and committed to the cause of Federal victory. Throughout the vicious fighting, he and his men were usually in the forefront. All in all, the Boy General did everything required of him  and usually more.

This article was written by Richard F. Welch and originally appeared in the March 1998 issue of Americas Civil War. For more great articles be sure to pick up your copy of Americas Civil War.
Seventy-five years ago, the Allies celebrated V-E Day, closing the Western theater of World War II. Here in their own words, two Americans take stock of what happened.

May 8, 2020, marks the 75th anniversary of V-E Day, the end of World War II in Europe. This will be one of the last major anniversaries before most of our nations veterans from that conflict have passed away. But even when their voices fall silent, their stories can still be heardin the letters and V-mails they wrote to their loved ones during the war. Tucked away in footlockers and scrapbooks, stored on closet shelves and bundled inside old boxes in attics and basements across this country, these correspondences are the first drafts of history and represent our nations great, undiscovered literature.

To the current generation, who are more likely to communicate via Skype or short text messages, letters must seem like quaint, almost trivial artifacts from a bygone era. But captured in these wartime correspondences are riveting, eyewitness accounts of historic moments and incredible stories of courage, honor, sacrifice and resilience.

My own interest in preserving wartime letters began in 1990 when a distant cousin named James Carroll Jordan, who had served in World War II, sent me a letter he had written to his wife after visiting the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald on April 21, 1945. Dear Betty Anne, Jim wrote, I saw something today that reminds me why were over here fighting this war. He then went on to describe in graphic detail what hed seen at the camp. When I told Jim Id return the letter, he said: Keep it. I probably would have thrown it out anyway.

Since then, Americans have generously shared with me more than 100,000 correspondences from every U.S. war, beginning with handwritten missives penned during the Revolution and going all the way up to e-mails sent from Iraq and Afghanistan. The collection is now part of the Center for American War Letters at Chapman University. The following lettersone by a young soldier writing to his brother at the end of World War II, and the other by an artist who sketched wounded troops as they were recuperating back in the Statesare just two from our archives. Millions more are still out there, just waiting to be found.

First Lieutenant William Lee Preston, 65th Infantry Division, wrote to his brother, John, in Monroe, Ga., on May 10, 1945. The 65th, part of General George Pattons 3rd Army, raced through Germany and into Austria during the final weeks of the war.

Dear John,

The war is over. The war in Europe is over. I can hardly believe it, for it seems only yesterday we were seeing our first action in the Siegfried line.

Two nights ago, John, I sat by an open window on the second story of the building my platoon occupies, and listened and watched for over an hour as German prisoners, thousands, passed below me on their way to a prisoner of war enclosure. I listened to the tromp, tromp of Nazi boots, no longer in cadence, no longer marching proudly, a beaten tired mob of German soldierssurrendered.

I recalled the many pictures and newsreels I had seen of the German Wehrmacht on parade, while thousands of cheering civilians watched the spectacle before Adolf Hitler. The super race they werethe worlds best soldiers then. I looked at them nowhungry, shoulders stooped by the heavy equipment on their backs, uniforms dirty, and a haggard expression on their faces. Hitlers soldiers on parade before the Yanks, and the G.I.s watched intently. Then I recalled the scene I had witnessed of those same soldiersthey had left a string of dead and dying from Cherbourg to the Siegfried linefrom the Rhine to Austria, in retreat. I had seen them lying in roads, streets, ditches, fields, wherever we wentsometimes with G.I.s near them. And still they came on the street below me, marching four abreast.

Two afternoons ago I saw another group, a column of Hitlers SS troops who had surrendered. I watched as M.P.s took them to a prison camp. They still wore their insignia, the skull and cross bones, but they were no longer arrogant, their pride had gone with surrender. Hitlers crack troops with the insignia that had meant terror and torture to the people of Europe for years. And not only to Europeans, but terror and torture to American soldiers surrendered. And now I saw them stop for a rest, and was amazed to see them begging G.I.s for a smoke, a cigarette butt. We felt like spitting on them. The terror of Europebegging for a smoke. How things change. The M.P.s moved them off again. They walked with shoulders stooped, head bowed looking at the groundbeaten. I was glad to see them so. We didnt mock them as they passed, for our hatred was deeper than mocking.

Another column of German soldiers came by. I was amazed. Can you imagine Kent Lawrence, Jo, and men dads age fighting the war for America? Most of them were 14, 15, 16 years of age, with an old man here and there in the column. The youngsters were the Hitler youth (Jugend), fanatical boys fighting for der Fuhrer. In America, kids the same age are reading Superman and going to junior high school, I hope. Yet these German boys were old soldiers, prisoners of war. A shame, I agree, but indicative of the desperate measures the Nazi leaders took in a last ditch fight against us.

Yes, the war in Europe is over. I dont know what the reaction was in the states on a whole. Over a patched up radio we heard that ticker tape and paper floated down from New York buildings. We heard that there were wild celebrations in the streets in London by civilians, English and American soldiers. But, John, the front line troops didnt celebrate. Most of the men merely read the story of victory from the division bulletin sent to the troops, said something like Im glad, and walked away. Perhaps it was a different story in their hearts, or perhaps they were too tired, or thinking of home too much, or thinking of their buddies who didnt live to see the victory, to do much celebrating or merry making. But Im sure of one thingthe troops were glad they wouldnt have to fight anymoreI was.

What our future is we dont know, but everyone is sweating out the South Pacific troop movement.

My love to Eleanor and Troy.

Your brother,

Bill

P.S. Some boys who left Camp Shelby with me didnt get to see V-E day. Others are in hospitals in the U.S., England and France who used to be in my company. Im thankful John, to be sitting here writing to you, and Im still a very lucky fellow. Yes, Im thankful.

Lila Oliver was a 22-year-old artist when she volunteered in 1943 for the USO Camp Show, which included a sketching unit that visited recuperating soldiers in military hospitals. Oliver, who continued with the program through 1946, wrote to a female friend, Terry, about her experiences.

Dear Terry,

Time skips by. My work, photography, the canteen, and the local hospital sketching trips, all conspire to keep me busy.

That was a grand long letter. More of the same, please. Youre thinking, of course, of [your husband] Allan when you ask if the boys have changed much. Funny thingbut I dont think they do. Some, having had experiences enough for a lifetime, are older, even have gray hairs. They are a little older, yet have such a great zest for life. Sound contradictory? Tisnt. Theyve seen much, so they are older, but what they have lived through makes them appreciate each day and each hour. To be sure, I never before knew these individual kids, but among my models are the kind of people I knew. There are the students and jitterbugs, the smart kid, the man-about-town, the college smoothie, everybodys kid brother, the pessimist and optimist (more of the latter), and even Mammas boy has retained his individuality.

You ask what I think of the boys coming home changed and different, and, truly, I dont think it happens. They have new ideas, more mature outlooks, enough to make an adjustment a real consideration, but its my conviction that most GIs bring back the same essential structure of character with which they joined the service. I spose others will disagree. Really, the reactions of their families when the boys first come home creates as many problems as the kids bring with them. They want to be treated as normal and left alone. They havent forgotten what home is like, or how to act among civilians. From the time they shipped over, all the little memories they could gather were held carefully together. The kids havent forgotten. Theyll offer a woman a seat in the streetcar as quickly as some of the people who never left town, without lectures, books of instructions, or ten easy lessons in how to be a civilian. Most of them cant understand why people think they need hints on what to do on their first furlough in the States. Theyve told me so.

The disabled ones? They want to be treated squarely and honestly. Most of the boys have more courage than I knew existed. If we dont pity and stare sideways with long sad glances theyll be O.K. They need a chance. I say we shouldnt pity them; I didnt say we shouldnt help them; most assuredly we must not forget them. How can we repay the loss of a leg to a twenty-year-old?

I sketched a hospital corpsman, a patient in one of the Atlantic City hospitals, last Sunday. His two roommates had recently been transferred and he was lonely. Thats why they sent me in. He was a youngster with the most wonderful disposition and bright red hair, with a cowlick in back that stood straight up. This kid was in the midst of a series of neurosurgical operations. He told me how it was to be a medic in the European theatre.

You stay behind the lines mostly. Then when the guys get hit, why, you just go help them, and then pull em out. If things get extra tough, you fight, too. Then theres always one guy who does some fool thing, goes out and gets himself hurt, and you go risk your neck to drag him out. Of course, you swear up and down that you wont do it againisnt your fault if those guys want to take silly chances! But the very next time you go right after em and do the same damn thing all over again.

He told me how he got hit.

We were taking a machine gun nest and there had been a lot of fire. I crawled out to take care of some of our men. Nearby was a wounded Jerry so I inched myself over to give him first aid. He was pretty bad. The Krauts saw me and ceased firing. They waited until I finished bandaging that guy up and then opened up on megot me in the leg! Naturally, our guys were mad as hell cause they could see the whole thing. They took that whole gang and when the few Jerries that were left marched out with hands up they all waited for the one who got me. He was the last one to come out. Then all together our guys yelled to me, Hey, look, kid! and all together they gave it to him. We took the others prisoner.

When I had finished the sketch and he had approved he told me his name. It was Goldblatt. Just call me Goldy.

This has been another long letter. You asked a question which I feel very strongly.

My wisdom tooth is making its presence knownthe one on the upper right side. It hurts when I chew and cramps my eating style. I cant even enjoy a good yawn, but I am sleepy. Bedtime.

Love,

Lila

If you have a letter to share from any American war, please visit the Center for American War Letters at www.WarLetters.us.


On September 17, 1862, a small, stone-arch bridge that spans Antietam Creek outside Sharpsburg, Maryland, became one of the most hotly contested structures in American history. During the Battle of Antietam, an entire Union corps spent most of the bloodiest single day of the Civil War waiting to cross the creek over that bridge, opposed by a contingent of Georgia riflemen. Finally, late in the day, when the Georgians began to run out of ammunition, Union troops rushed across the bridge. The rest of the Union IX Corps followed, but by days end, a Confederate flank attack sent the corps back across the river. Over 23,000 menboth Union and Confederatewere killed or wounded on September 17. The next day, Robert E. Lee began his retreat back across the Potomac River.

Print: Library of Congress
Scientists will soon release robots in the Bay of Bengal in order to comprehend how ocean conditions can affect rainfall patterns.

Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary M Rajeevan disclosed that the Indian Research Vessel Sindhu Sadhana will carry scientists from Chennai on June 24.

"Once out in the ocean, they will release seven underwater gliders to measure ocean properties such as temperature, salinity and current," he said.

Lead researcher Prof Adrian Matthews, from UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, said "The Indian monsoon is notoriously hard to predict. It is a very complicated weather system and the processes are not understood or recorded in science.

"We will be combining oceanic and atmospheric measurements to monitor weather systems as they are generated. Nobody has ever made observations on this scale during the monsoon season itself, so this is a truly ground-breaking project".

The monsoon typically hits India between June and September and is responsible for a major part of its annual rainfall. Millions wait eagerly for its arrival, with delays leading to drought and ruined crops.

However, the monsoons have not been totally understood, as they are affected by the interaction between global atmospheric as well as oceanic movements. Weather phenomena such as El Nino can affect them. Climate change and even air pollution can make monsoons arbitrary in their behavior and occurrence.

"It's such a complex system," said oceanographer Ben Webber at the University of East Anglia's School of Environmental Sciences, the UK university leading the $11 million project. Still, "the processes that occur in the Bay of Bengal are not well understood."

It is not known how water currents work. The "colder and fresher" water tend to stream into the northern region, with warmer, saltier water moving further south from the Arabian Sea. The cold water stays on the surface, even as the warm saline water is active below.

However, with the two streams intermingling, the warm water shifts to the surface, releasing heat and moisture that powers atmospheric storms.

Scientists are aware that minor changes in the surface temperatures might make a large impact, but they have never completely examined these changes in the monsoons. Working on a ship in the severe weather tends to call for navigation of strong winds and high waves.

"We don't know what we're going to find. There's been so little observation," Webber said. "We may confirm what we think theoretically. But we really don't know. It's quite exciting."

This month, in an Indian research ship, British scientists will release seven underwater robots across 400 kilometers, which will navigate to 1,000 meters.

Experts from the University of Reading and the government are expected to take atmospheric measurements. Comparing both sets of data will help scientists to become aware of how ocean conditions affect monsoon patterns.

The Bay of Bengal Boundary Layer Experiment (BoBBLE) is led by two UK varsities, University of East Anglia (UEA) and the University of Reading in collaboration with the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in Southampton.

Indian collaborators include the Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (CAOS), the Indian National Centre for Climate Information Services (INCOIS), the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) and the National Institute of Ocean Technology.

This year's monsoon arrived a week late on June 8. It has been slow in its travel to the north and relieving a drought.

After the government started a program in 2012 to improve its monsoon predictions, it plans to spend at least $43 million through 2017 improving its technology and computing capability for more accurate calculations and models of seasonal weather forecasts, according to the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

"We need to better understand how the monsoon works," said meteorologist D.P. Yadav, who works on monsoon forecasts for the government. "Most of our states' economies depend on it. It is the most important weather event for India."

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
NASA scientists are having some fiery plans to improve their understanding about how flames behave in a microgravity environment.

"Understanding how fire spreads in a microgravity environment is critical to the safety of astronauts who live and work in space. And while NASA has conducted studies aboard the space shuttle and International Space Station, risks to the crew have forced these experiments to be limited in size and scope," explains NASA's website.

Saffire, the controlled experiment, will take place in the "belly" of the Cygnus cargo spacecraft. It was released at 9:30 a.m. ET today from the International Space Station.

The fire was planned to be lit in the afternoon, five hours after the release of the capsule that can ensure that it is at a safe distance from the International Space Station.

Scientists have planned for a cotton and fiberglass composite material, measuring about 3-feet by 1-foot to be inflamed with a hot wire that will lead to the largest controlled fire in space. Within the belly of the spacecraft, the fire is estimated to burn for 20 minutes, even as sensors and cameras are fired to gather information about it.

With the experiment, NASA scientists can learn better ways to detect and manage flames in space, which is vitally important for crew missions in the future.

Cygnus will then remain in space for several days to see that the data from the Saffire experiment comes back to Earth. Other Cygnus capsules can repeat the experiment on earth, according to NASA.

"Saffire seeks to answer two questions," David Urban, Saffire's principal investigator, said earlier this year. "Will an upward spreading flame continue to grow or will microgravity limit the size? Secondly, what fabrics and materials will catch fire and how will they burn?"

After the information is collected, Cygnus, packed with trash from the International Space Station, will just get ignited after re-entering the earth's atmosphere.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
When the Defenders of the 49th Security Forces Squadron are on duty, they are issued a weapon and charged with the protection of the Holloman family.

At the end of their shift they turn in their weapon and their duty is done for the day.

Now, their duty can extend beyond the duty day.

Off-duty Defenders can now be authorized to carry a concealed weapon out of uniform.

The 49th Security forces implemented these changes April 25 to increase their capability to detect, deter and defeat an active shooter.

These changes are not the result of a direct threat, but address the everyday possibility of an active shooter incident occurring here.

The change is the result of guidance from the Secretary of Defense and Headquarters Air Force that stemmed from an after-action review, which took place following the shooting at a recruitment center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

After coordination with Holloman's Staff Judge Advocate office, Qualified Law Enforcement Officers are now permitted to carry their concealed, Privately Owned Firearm on base -- providing they maintain qualifications outlined in the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act and Air Force Manual 31-125.

The LEOSA allows QLEOs to carry their own firearms in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories. Congress enacted LEOSA following the 9/11 attacks after recognizing the need to place more trained law enforcement officers in the public. Armed, off-duty law enforcement officers have been effective in countering active shooters.

By implementing LEOSA on Holloman, security forces has increased the number of trained and armed off-duty law enforcement officers on base who may respond instantly if they encounter an active shooter.

There are two classes of QLEOs: the active serving officer and the retired or separated officer.

At Holloman, only active serving QLEOs are allowed to carry their concealed weapons inside most federal facilities while on-base. However, these law enforcement officers are barred from carrying concealed POFs in facilities that sell on-site alcohol for consumption, dormitories, Holloman school property, medical group facilities, and restricted or controlled areas.

All retired or separated QLEOs must securely store their POF inside their locked vehicle and out of public view while visiting base facilities. All law enforcement officers must declare they have their firearm during a vehicle inspection, search or traffic stop and that they are carrying under the authority of LEOSA.

Active, retired or separated security forces, security police and air police should visit www.leosaonline.com to check requirements and application procedures for their LEOSA credentials. All QLEOs from outside law enforcement agencies must receive their LEOSA credentials from their active or retired agency.

In addition to off-duty qualified officers carrying concealed POFs, Security Forces also implemented Security Forces Staff Arming. This allows Holloman to have more armed and trained police officers throughout the base without placing an additional manpower burden on their augmentee pool. Prior to SFSA, the only personnel carrying weapons day-to-day were those conducting base defense, security and law enforcement operations.

Now, those who work various administrative duties throughout the Security Forces Squadron are armed on a daily basis. This heightens response times to any incidents when additional forces are required.

With the increased frequency in the amount of active shooter incidents across the country and on military installations, QLEOs and SFSA are two ways Holloman is placing more armed Defenders into the base populace that could respond immediately to an active shooter while they conduct their normal day-to-day business.

All of these changes are designed to make Holloman a safer place both on and off-duty.
A warning shot has been fired across the bows of Londoners hoping to boost their income by renting out rooms on short-let sites such as Airbnb and Booking.com this summer.

Kensington and Chelsea council has issued an enforcement notice against the occupants of a flat in St Anns Road, Ladbroke Grove, after fielding complaints from neighbours that the property was regularly being let to a succession of holidaymakers.

Across the capital local residents are finding themselves plagued by streams of noisy visitors disturbing their peace, thanks to the popularity of short-let rentals. In the worst cases, the properties are used for huge parties, disrupting entire blocks.

Experts say the potential profits of short lets are tempting landlords to shun Londoners looking for accommodation for the long term in favour of holidaymakers, thus reducing the supply of rental property in the capital, and pushing up rents.

The St Anns Road flat was offered for rent on booking.com, according to Kensington and Chelsea council, but the listing now appears to have been removed.

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Central London is popular for short lets. There are currently three properties advertised to let in St Anns Road on Airbnb  two offering rooms at 40 and 50 per night respectively, and one offering an open-plan loft apartment for 250 per night.

Other websites, including Onefinestay, also offer the facility to rent out properties for a few nights at a time.

The use of the property for the purposes of temporary sleeping accommodation is unacceptable because it leads to an unsustainable loss of permanent residential accommodation within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, reads the notice issued by Graham Stallwood, the councils executive director for planning. It is also liable to adversely affect the quality of life and amenity of nearby residents, for example by reason of noise and disturbance.

A Kensington and Chelsea spokeswoman confirmed the council had taken the unusual step of issuing an enforcement notice  more commonly issued against home owners making illegal alterations to their properties, and against unlicensed businesses  after being alerted to the situation by complaints from a series of neighbours.

Londoners are legally allowed to rent out their properties for up to 90 non-consecutive nights, but it is thought that the St Anns Road property had exceeded this quota. Breaching the rules could result in fines of up to 20,000 and even court action.

Recent research by the Residential Landlords Association found that almost two thirds of listings for London property on Airbnb offer lets of more than 90 days. And 15 per cent of landlords have discovered their tenants subletting rooms without their permission.

The growing popularity of holiday letting sites raises serious questions about their potential for abuse, said Alan Ward, chairman of the RLA, calling for the Government to step in. Ministers must act to clamp down on those property owners using the website to deny tenants safe, legal and secure accommodation. Landlords also need support to address illegal subletting of properties by their tenants.
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The Little Britain star will reprise his role from last year's Christmas special.

Actor Matt Lucas is set to return to the world of time travel. The BBC confirmed earlier yesterday that Lucas will appear in the forthcoming 10th season of sci-fi show Doctor Who.

Lucas previously appeared in 2015's Christmas special as Nardole, an assistant to Alex Kingston's River Song and with Peter Capaldi as The Doctor. "I'm chuffed to bits that Nardole is returning to the Tardis for some more adventures", Lucas told the BBC.

Remember - a Nardole isn't just for Christmas....  Matt Lucas (@RealMattLucas) June 14, 2016



Showrunner and executive producer for the series Steven Moffat said he is "delighted and slightly amazed" to have Lucas back. He added, "one of the greatest comedy talents on planet Earth is being unleashed on all of time and space".

Lucas will appear as Nardole in the first episode of season 10 alongside Capaldi and Pearl Mackie who plays recently revealed new companion, Bill. The new season will begin filming on June 20 in Cardiff. Doctor Who will return to television with a Christmas special this year while season 10 is due to air in 2017.
A former employee of Radio Dublin has come forward to tell Hot Press about links between the notorious BBC DJ and the former boss of Radio Dublin

The Eamon Cooke story has taken another turn, with one of the paedophile broadcasters former Radio Dublin employees revealing to Hot Press that the discredited UK broadcaster Jimmy Savile (pictured) visited the station in the late 1970s.

Cooke, who ran the pirate radio station  which in many ways sparked the radio revolution in Ireland  was recently linked with the long unsolved disappearance of Philip Cairns. The 13-year-old schoolboy arrived back at his family home in Ballyrowan, Rathfarnham at lunch-time on October 23, 1986  but was never seen again after he left to return to school for the afternoon.

What is clear is that Savile  who escaped being found guilty of paedophilia while he was alive but turned out to be a serial abuser and rapist on a horrendous scale  was in personal contact with Eamon Cooke.

Theres plenty of stuff online about Savile coming across to do charity events, but nothing that mentions that he used to publicise them on Radio Dublin, reveals the ex-DJ, who asked not to be named due to sensitivities with his present job. I have vivid memories of Saville coming into the studios to plug a walk he was doing from the city-centre to Portmarnock for the Central Remedial Clinic, which was about a 10k. You got your sponsorship card and walked with Jimmy.

"This would have been either the Easter or June Bank Holiday in 1979, possibly a little earlier, when the station was still broadcasting from No. 3 Sarsfield Road in Inchicore. Im not sure what the exact nature of their relationship was, but knowing what we know now, you cant help but wonder, Did they get up to anything together? Its horrible to think that there are probably people out there who were abused by Cooke, but are still too traumatised to talk about it. Hopefully now that hes dead, some of the fear factor of coming forward might have gone.

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Asked whether he suspected Cooke of wrong-doing at the time, our source resumes: This was Ireland in 1978. I was 16  we didnt know anything about paedophiles. Adults preying on a child just wasnt discussed, which of course suited Cooke down to the ground.

"The only thing demonstrably odd about him was that he had very poor personal hygiene and was paranoid about security, the source adds. "When the station was in Sarsfield Road, I had a key to get in and open the hall door. There was another key hidden inside, which opened the steel door that got you into the little kitchen/dining-room where the phone was.

"There was another steel door that lead up the stairs to Cookes bedroom, which someone said was electrified. He definitely ran cables to the back door and told An Post, Come in and youll be electrocuted! One or two mornings thered be a note asking me to wake him up, usually because he was attending a court case.

The bizarre and seamy nature of the place is obviously easier to see in retrospect. Whether the fortress aspect of it also made it easier to prey on innocents is a matter of speculation.

"The first time I knocked on his bedroom door and went in, I thought someone had died! the source recalls. "I used the bathroom one day and noticed there was lice control stuff there for his head in it. A lot of the dirt was down to the fact that he was always digging. When we moved from Sarsfield to 58 Inchicore Road, he asked An Post to re-route Radio Dublins famous 758684 phone-line. They said no chance, so he dug a fucking trench on the railway track, from the back of No. 3 to No. 58, overnight or maybe over two nights. I dont know whether he studied the train timetables but this was incredibly dangerous.

During the 1970s, the Radio Dublin boss had been charged and found guilty of fire-bombing the house of someone who was apparently in the process of developing a relationship with a former girlfriend of Cooke's  but, along with his accomplices, got the probation act.

"He was such a lunatic, the former Radio Dublin DJ confirms. "There were rumours that he was involved in trying to blow up the monument in Glasnevin Cemetery in the 60s. Then, of course, he had the CB radio in his car that he used to report crimes happening in the area to the Gardai. Alpha 6 was his call sign. Hed go chasing after the perpetrators in the Radio Dublin white Jaguar which, again, was insane behaviour.

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Something I only found out later was that two girls would come in after school to answer the phones, and he got one of them pregnant. That wasnt necessarily a crime, depending on her age, but it was highly inappropriate behavior from an older man in a position of power.

As previously reported on hotpress.com, Gardai questioned Eamon Cooke while he was receiving palliative care recently over the new allegations that he was involved in the 1986 disappearance and alleged murder of the missing 13 year-old, Philip Cairns.

Anyone affected by this story can contact the Rape Crisis National 24 Hour Helpline at 1800 77 88 88 .
The Fab Four's 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' is brought up on the opening day of the 'Stairway To Heaven' trial.

Led Zeppelin founders Robert Plant and Jimmy Page are facing plagiarism charges of their iconic 1971 anthem 'Stairway To Heaven'.

During the first day of the trial, attorney Larry Iser referenced the Beatles' 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' in his opening statement. Iser, who has represented the Beatles and Michael Jackson, said that the opening guitar riff and descending bass line are a universal musical transition that had been used on 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' and on Zeppelin's 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You'.

Neither Plant, nor Page spoke during today's appearance in court.

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The original complaint was brought by the band Spirit's trustee Michael Skidmore. Skidmore's claim was Spirit's guitarist Randy Wolfe should be given writing credit on the classic Zeppelin song.

The judge remarked that, "While it is true that a descending chromatic four-chord progression is a common convention that abounds in the music industry, the similarities here transcend this core structure," the judge remarked. "What remains is a subjective assessment of the 'concept and feel' of two works ... a task no more suitable for a judge than for a jury."
Cantabio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCMKTS:CTBO, CTBO message board) lost over a third of its market cap yesterday after it got torn to shreds by a popular online stock commenter.

Let's start at the top  SeekingAlpha gave CTBO a thorough thrashing, but was it needlessly vicious and bashful or thoroughly deserved? Let's just take a look and see, shall we?

A single glance at the company's profile page reveals the fact that we're talking about an OTC Markets pharmaceutical penny stock whose price per share is still as high as $2.2 after a horrendous drop. Yes, and multiplied by the 26.8 million shares that the company has outstanding, this gives us a market cap of nearly 60 MILLION dollars.

So what can we find under that market cap?

Well, next to nothing, surprisingly enough. The company's latest financial report looks like this:

Cash & total assets - $100 thousand

Total Current Liabilities - $188 thousand

Quarterly Net loss - $65 thousand

It is interesting to see how CTBO intends to follow its focus on bringing novel, first in class drug candidates into clinical trials and beyond (as the company itself puts it in its PR), with only the pharmaceutical industry's equivalent of spare change to its name.

So maybe the enigmatic and confusingly named StoneFoxCapital was onto something when it stressed that CTBO will likely need more money to fund its projects.

Another point worth always keeping in the back of your head when dealing with OTC Markets pharmaceutical companies is that even if they manage to get their research game on, it may well all end up being an exercise in futility if the science doesn't quite check out or if they get frozen in FDA limbo for too long.

But let's get back to the issue at hand. What is CTBO at the moment? From what we've gathered so far, the most concise description of the company would probably sound something like an idle development stage OTC Markets company with next to nothing to its name.

Which means that the most reasonable question to ask at this point is not why did SeekingAlpha attack this stock or why did CTBO fall on its face in yesterday's session, but rather how is this stock still worth more than two dollars?
Iran is set to unveil terms of a multibillion-dollar deal to purchase about 100 commercial passenger planes from Boeing, in what would be the biggest sale of U.S. goods to Iran since the easing of economic sanctions last October, people familiar with deal said.

Although financing arrangements are not complete, the historic agreement would likely cover deliveries and services over nearly a decade at a cost of more than $17 billion.

Word of an agreement emerged first on Iran's state news agency, which reported that Iran's minister of roads and urban planning, Abbas Ahmad Akhundi, said the purchase would be similar in scope to a $27 billion accord to buy 118 planes from France-based Airbus Group. A Boeing official said a formal announcement was likely to come Wednesday.

Boeing still needs approval and a license from the Treasury Department. But the sale would not have been possible prior to the easing of sanctions after an accord limiting Iran's nuclear program.

"This would be the first time a U.S. aviation company was having a discussion with Iranian purchasers of civilian airliners since the early '70s," said Richard Nephew, a sanctions expert who was on the State Department team negotiating with Iran and who now works at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy.

Financing negotiations are expected to continue over conventional terms as well as political risks and disputes, including possible Iranian violations of the nuclear accord or a "snapback" of sanctions by the U.S. The anti-American rhetoric common in Tehran and election-year politics in the U.S. make this a sensitive time for this type of business deal.

Neither Boeing nor the Obama administration would confirm the specifics.

People familiar with the terms spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal has not been formally announced.
A federal court case could give new meaning to "Don't mess with Texas."

Two portable toilet vendors are engaged in a trademark dispute over using the state's outline and Lone Star to adorn their outdoor loos. Texas Outhouse of Houston, which trademarked its version of Texas-and-star earlier this year, has sued rival Texas Waste, claiming the Alvin company's use of similar images has diluted Texas Outhouse's "iconic" brand, making it difficult for users to distinguish portable toilets and suggesting that the al fresco powder rooms are the same.

It's an argument that legal specialists say may not pass the smell test. Practically speaking, said John Keville, an intellectual property lawyer at the Houston law firm Winston & Strawn, logos -- iconic or otherwise -- don't matter when you gotta go. "Texas Waste will probably flush that famous mark and dilution claims pretty quickly," Keville said.

Texas Outhouse was founded in 1994, building a clientele among construction companies, local sport franchises and public festivals through word-of -- well let's just say user experience. In 2008, the company which is one of the bigger players in the local market, adopted its logo, registering it with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in January, according to the lawsuit, filed in May in U.S. District Court in Houston.

Rodney L. Drinnon, the lawyer representing Texas Outhouse, said the portable potty business is fiercely competitive in the Houston area, where at least 10 companies battle to put fannies in the seats. Texas Outhouse has become "locally famous," according to the lawsuit, its products recognizable, not only by the Texas logos adorning the fronts and the sides of units, but also their beige color scheme, highlighted by green doors.

In addition to adopting a similar logo, the lawsuit alleges, Texas Waste, formerly known as Fresh Can, changed the color of its units from bright blue to tan to benefit from Texas Outhouse's reputation for "high quality portable waste management," the lawsuit alleges. Texas Outhouse is asking the court to prevent its competitor from using an outline of Texas and star on its toilets and marketing materials.

"It's all about protecting the goodwill Texas Outhouse has built over the years," said Drinnon.

Travis Vargo, a Houston lawyer representing the Texas Waste Co., said he only got wind of the dispute after Texas Outhouse filed its lawsuit. He said the companies are trying to settle their differences out of court, but expressed surprise that anyone else would care.

"Who knew poop could be sexy?" he said.

If the case goes to trial, legal experts said, the outcome will likely depend upon the opinions of frequent outdoor toilet renters -construction companies, sporting events and festivals - to determine whether there is brand confusion among customers.

In Bellaire, where the construction company Joslin is installing underground pipes at the new Evelyn's Park, site superintendent Christopher Dean said the freshness date rather than the logo determines which portable toilet workers use. The longer a unit has stayed on site, he said, the less likely it will be a top choice.

Collin Dacus, the assistant superintendent, says that when he shows up at construction sites and sees portable toilets, he never says to himself: "Yeah, this is going to be good." Given the choice between different brands of portable toilets, he said, he'll head to a nearby gas station.

Texas Outhouse v. Texas Waste is not the first tussle over the use of the Lone Star in company logos, said Jane Langdell Robinson, who handles copyright issues at Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing in Houston. In 2010, in a case involving two self-storage companies, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the iconic image of Texas is not inherently distinctive and can't be legally protected as a trademark. She said she expects the courts would have a similar view of using an outline of state.

Jacqueline Lipton, a law professor and codirector of the Institute for Intellectual Property and Information Law at the University of Houston Law Center said the case will come down to two issues: Whether there a protected trademark and whether customers are likely to be confused by the similarities of the logos. As she delved into the doctrines of intellectual property law, she stopped herself for a moment: "I can't believe I'm talking about outhouses."
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If a country wants to attract new businesses that will create jobs, then it needs to attract immigrants.

New people with new ideas from foreign lands inject entrepreneurial energy into cities and towns. Recent arrivals to the United States are twice as likely to launch startups and far more likely to employ U.S. citizens than native-born Americans, according to the Kauffman Foundation, which has studied education and entrepreneurship since the 1960s.

With all of the political rhetoric around immigration - and who should be allowed to cross our borders - Americans should take a moment to consider how immigration built our country and makes it stronger.

A decision to immigrate is in itself an act of entrepreneurship, a person's quest to strike out on his or her own, to build something new. That's how Bin Yu felt when he left China 21 years ago to earn a master's degree at Texas A&M.

Yu fulfilled his dream of owning a business in 2009, when he founded Utegration, a Houston-based software company that now employs 200 people. Succeeding requires courage, hard work and introspection, Yu said.

"You have to adapt yourself into American culture, and there are many ways that you need to integrate. That's the biggest challenge for the immigrant," he added. "Communication is always a challenge. ... It's not just speaking, but also practical communications."

Despite the hard work and long odds, 7.2 percent of immigrants own their own businesses, compared with only 5.8 percent of native-born Americans, the Kauffman Foundation found in its 2015 survey of U.S. entrepreneurship. And while 0.27 percent of native-born citizens started new businesses, 0.52 percent of immigrants launched startups.

Greater Houston ranked eighth in the nation in startup activity, the foundation reported, and 31 percent of small businesses in Houston are owned by immigrants. A little less than 8 percent of immigrants in Houston own their own businesses, compared to about 5 percent of native-born citizens.

Houston is a great place for immigrant entrepreneurs because southeast Texas is the most culturally diverse region in the United States, Yu said. He said he's never felt out of place in Houston, something that he's experienced in other parts of the country.

One problem for immigrant entrepreneurs is knowing what resources are available to help them overcome their unique challenges, such as lack of credit or understanding of the business culture, Yu said. For example, he didn't know about Small Business Administration assistance programs until three years after he launched his company.

That's typical, said Foulis Peacock, CEO of Immigrant Business magazine. His media company is hosting a conference for immigrant entrepreneurs in Houston on Saturday to help them learn what resources are available and to meet the companies ready to help them.

Raising money to start a business can be tough for immigrants who don't have a lengthy credit history, extended family living nearby or professional and alumni networks. They usually also have little experience with American business culture.

"As an immigrant, you're here and looking at the party going on inside, but you don't quite know how to get in there," Peacock said.

Things that Americans seem to understand instinctively are often mysterious to newcomers.

"In the United States, you really have to be out there, up-front and talking about yourself, talking about the advantage of your product and really pushing it. You can't be reticent," Peacock said. "Americans are the best marketers and promoters that you have ever seen ... and that doesn't come naturally for people from other cultures."

When immigrants succeed, though, they boost the economy for all of us. One in 10 Americans employed by a private company works for an immigrant, and 18 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by one.

"Houston should be positioning itself as a magnet city for immigrant entrepreneurs," Peacock said.

Trash talk from Donald Trump and other Republican politicians, though, is hurting the country's reputation as a place where people with big dreams and a strong work ethic are welcomed.

"We need to get the message out there that America wants immigrant entrepreneurs to come set up their businesses here," Peacock said. "All this rhetoric is doing is sending people to Canada, to Australia, or convincing them to stay home."

Support for new immigration restrictions is based on fear of terrorist attacks and crime. Horrible things do happen every day, but we can't give in to pandering politicians trying to turn a tragedy to their benefit. As the world's most successful nation, and the envy of billions of people, we must maintain our perspective and values.

Our nation was built by immigrants coming here from around the globe and demonstrating what free people can accomplish when they reject tyranny and fear. That's what has made the United States and Houston so successful, and that's a promise we must keep.
The great promise of the internet has always been the ability to access any bit information from any place without interference.

While this digital Utopia is far from realized, the decision by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington DC to uphold net neutrality rules is a step in the right direction. The Federal Communications Commission can require internet service providers to follow the same rules as a utility, providing streams of data to customers without favor.

Internet providers will appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, of course, and try again to convince Congress to allow them to futz with their customers' information feed. They want to accept cash from some some content providers to create fast lanes that will deliver that company's content to customers quicker than their competitors' content.

For example, digital streaming company N may pay internet provider C to deliver N's video to customers quicker than digital streaming company H. That also means the customer will have to wait longer for HoustonChronicle.com to load because N's video gets priority.

Additionally, without net neutrality, internet provider C could decide to start a local news website and block HoustonChronicle.com, or at least slow traffic to it.

Most internet customers assume that all data is treated equally, so the rules enshrine consumer expectations. Internet providers, though, say they need the income from creating fast lanes to create a faster Internet. Which is odd, considering Europe and most other developed democracies have already adopted net neutrality, and most of them have faster Internet connections than most Americans.

More upsetting to internet providers, though, is the FCC's position that they are so-called common carriers that can be regulated like other utilities, such as telephone service. Common carrier status is going to put a lot of limits on how internet providers can make money.

A Houston example of a common carrier is a pipeline. We need pipelines to deliver energy where it's needed, so we grant pipeline companies the power of eminent domain to force landowners to give them right of way. In return, we require the pipeline company to behave in the interests of the public good, allowing all oil companies to use the pipeline and to charge all oil companies the same toll.

The FCC has ruled that internet providers must behave like pipelines, treating all digital content providers the same. That limits pricing options, and thereby the provider's profits. Expect the providers to use every legislative and judicial trick in the book to keep fighting Tuesday's ruling.

There will be those who reduce this fight to a battle between big government and private enterprise. Don't buy that hype. This is a battle for the consumers' unfettered access to the internet without corporate interference. Information is now as critical to a home as heat, water and sewage. Providers should get used to being a utility.
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Comicpalooza kicks off this Friday, providing communion and celebration for all the things that trade so well in geek culture.

So, yes, that means an assortment of everything from the original Hulk to the woman who played a bad-girl vampire hunter to simply spending the days at the George R. Brown Convention Center watching the various cosplayers wear wardrobes worthy of Los Angeles FX companies.

But at the centerpiece of this annual event is a birthday party, of sorts.

"Aliens," James Cameron's science-fiction action film, a sequel to Ridley Scott's 1979 science-fiction thriller "Alien," turns 30 this summer. And to celebrate the diamond anniversary, Comicpalooza has managed to stage a reunion of the film's cast.

That gathering of Sigourney Weaver, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Paul Reiser, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn, Mark Rolston and Jennette Goldstein is one of the big convention draws. And for good reason.

The franchise has become a hallmark of horror and sci-fi, built around a character (Weaver's Ripley) that's still hailed as a quintessential female action-film hero.

Through craftsmanship and compelling content, both films have aged fairly well through the decades. It's quite a feat, especially considering each revolves around a central, terrifying creature and, well, cinematic creatures don't typically maintain their terror over time.

More Information Comicpalooza When: 10 a.m.-midnight Friday, 10 a.m.?'midnight Saturday, 9 a.m.?'8 p.m. Sunday Where: George R. Brown Convention Center Tickets: $30-$45 daily, $66 for three-day pass; comicpalooza.com More than 'Aliens' You can't build a Comicpalooza around one solitary thing. And while the "Aliens" reunion is quite cool, it's just one of many bright spots in the convention's constellation of attractions. 1. The stars are bright: The baited hook for all conventions is the guest list. Comicpalooza has an array holding autograph and/or photo sessions throughout the weekend. As of "Star Wars Episode VII," Darth Vader is dead and Chewbacca is in mourning, but the disguised actors who played both will be on hand, David Prowse and Peter Mayhew. "Star Trek" fans will be excited to see Walter Koenig, and those who dig "Rocky" and/or "Predator" and/or "Arrested Development" will be eager to greet Carl Weathers. Character actor Michael Rooker should pull a big crowd. In addition to the actors, there are authors, illustrators, wrestlers and all sorts of other folks whose work has connected with fans. 2. More stars: The "Aliens" cast is a big get, but fans also are excited about the "Boondock Saints" reunion, largely due to the rise of Norman Reedus as TV star thanks to "The Walking Dead." But his "Boodock" buddy Sean Patrick Flannery should have a formidable contingent at Comicpalooza, since he's a native Houstonian. 3. The stuff: The trade-show floor is the ideal place to have a merch table get between you and your wallet. Swords and blades of all sorts, pieces of original art, vintage toys, costumes, the options are endless. There really is something for almost everybody. 4. Panels: The panels break the crowd into niches, but that's where the moments of true fandom emerge. All sorts of events are programmed, including tutorials on costume sewing and photography. There will be a panel on voice acting in Japanese animation by a guy named Chuck Huber. More than 2,000 hours of panels are planned - including "The Book Was Better" and "Bringing Your Cosplay Character to Life." If your niche is "Doctor Who" or "Game of Thrones" or just about anything else, there's a panel for you. 5. Film festival: For the fourth year, Comicpalooza will host a film festival that screens independent feature-length and short films with an emphasis on con-friendly genres like horror, fantasy and science fiction. Films will screen throughout the convention. 6. One more star: Kate Beckinsale's career shouldn't be defined by the "Underworld" series because she's done varied and interesting work outside the vampire juggernaut. But "Underworld" probably gives the actress a certain amount of freedom to do what she wants. I don't typically quote Wikipedia, but this summary says a lot about the "Underworld" sphere: "The four films had a total budget of $177 millionand earned a global box-office return of $458.2 million. All four films were given overall negative critical reviews according to the Rotten Tomatoes website." So there you have it. The critics have spoken ... four times. So have the fans ... four times. See More Collapse

For comparison, consider the titular monster from another '80s sci-fi/horror film, "Predator." The creature was a revelation of fear in 1987. But now it comes off like a silly dreadlocked alien warlord with bad teeth.

Film monsters are replaced by nastier creatures as time and imagination move forward, an evolution of progressively scary entities that render the older ones quaint. But years later, the xenomorph alien creatures of "Alien" and "Aliens" remain enduringly unsettling.

Credit the filmmakers - Scott, especially, whose deft hand making "Alien" reminds of Steven Spielberg's with "Jaws." He slowly teased a sense of terror through his film until it sprang forth from a chest cavity in a bracing, shocking moment.

But equally worthy of attention is H.R. Giger, a Swiss artist who designed the alien and its accompanying environment.

A book of Giger's paintings titled "Necronomicon" had caught the eye of Scott, who hired the artist to work on "Alien." Giger's vision made good on the tension built by Scott and Cameron.

"The world had simply never seen anything like that before," Scott wrote in an introduction for a 1996 book anthologizing Giger's film design work.

Scott pointed out Giger's ability to convey "horror and beauty."

The artist twisted familiar objects - bones, eggs, serpents, reptiles - into something nightmarish and new, and he did so without the aid of computers. The end result was unnerving and difficult to describe: Aspects of his work were mechanical, surreal, sexual and gothic. Giger subscribed to his own biomechanical style that operated in the gray palette between black and white.

Giger deservedly won an Academy Award for visual effects for his work on "Alien."

The influence of Giger's "Alien" work is inestimable. But one place to gauge the design's legacy is on the human body.

The film's creatures themselves are oft-replicated by tattoo artists. Inked Magazine has even assembled a photo gallery of tattoos inspired by Giger's visions.

Ram Perez, owner of Rampage Tattoos in Montrose, recently completed an elaborate "Alien" tattoo on a woman's leg. He says Giger's xenomorphic work "sparked an entire genre of tattoos. There are so many artists who are so clearly influenced by him and everything he did."

Perez first saw Giger's alien as a kid.

"I was terrified of it, but I also was interested in the biomechanical aspect of it, that marriage of machine and man with the spines and the wires and tubes," he says. "The marriage of bones and the other textures. It's grotesque and beautiful."

Giger's vision has also slipped into decades of video games. He was actually involved in the production of the '90s video game "Dark Seed," but his fingerprints are evident elsewhere, in games like "Resident Evil" and "Doom."

He's also been popular with musicians. Giger actually made one of his first iconic images in music, designing the album cover for Emerson Lake and Palmer's "Brain Salad Surgery" in 1973. He's had guitars bear his designs and created album covers or interior art for bands like Danzig and the Dead Kennedys.

Giger died in 2014 after falling down stairs at his home in Zurich. He was 74. Scan any comics convention, though, and his work endures on posters, shirts and toys.

The "Aliens" cast reunion is intriguing, but it is only as good as the antagonist that brought them together. A skeletal, phallic monstrosity with viscous saliva, blood made of acid and teeth that resemble a shattered chandelier. As in the films, the real star surfaces on the periphery and in the corners.

A chilling sight, even three decades later.
A 33-year-old Richmond man died and the suspected gunman is in custody after a shooting Tuesday night at a tattoo parlor in southwest Houston.

The shooting happened about 11:30 p.m. at The Electric Chair Tattoos at 8227 Richmond near Fondren, said St. Thomas Simmons, a homicide investigator with the Houston Police Department.
Police have identified a 48-year-old man who was found dead Tuesday morning in his car parked behind a club in south Houston.

The body of Mark Anthony Thomas was spotted about 9:30 a.m. at 3352 Old Spanish Trail near Allegheny, according to the Houston Police Department.
Who: Adam Dolch, wine director at Brenner's Steakhouse, 10911 Interstate 10 W.

Background: A Houston native, Dolch began working in restaurants in the mid-1990s, when he was 16. His interest in wine was sparked at a very young age, and his fascination has only grown over the past two decades. He's now a Level 1 sommelier. Brenner's, Houston's oldest steakhouse, celebrates its 80th anniversary this fall.

What: 2010 Vall Llach "Idus" Priorat

Why: Priorat, which is in Catalonia in the northeastern part of Spain near France and the Mediterranean Sea, "is one of the lesser-known great wine regions in the world but produces some of the highest-quality wine I've ever tasted," Dolch says. "It's one of only two regions in Spain - along with Rioja - that carry the prestigious DOCa title, the highest possible qualification. The red wines are typically Grenache-heavy and are often blended with carinena, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah.

I like to call the Priorat wines the Chateauneuf-du-Pape of Spain because of the similar latitude, grape varieties and climate. Vall Llach's "Idus" is a fantastic representation of this region, revealing highly concentrated dark blackberry notes alongside roasted espresso beans, mocha and toffee.

This is one of those wines where you discover a new flavor combination with every sip, and the lingering finish leaves you in a trance. I've turned many of our guests into fans of this wine and region and many of them have said this is a wine with a 'wow factor.' I couldn't agree more."

Price: $130 for a bottle - but $65 on Sundays, when all wines on the Brenner's list priced over $100 are half off.

Dale Robertson
Since its inception, Houston has had notoriously bad streets. For that we can thank the founders, who 180 years ago decided to build a city atop a swamp.

Still today, the city's sprawling street network and the traffic that clogs it daily remain a contentious fixture in the public debate.

That debate crossed a major milestone in 2010 with the adoption of ReBuild Houston, a two-decade, multi-billion-dollar plan to revamp roads and drainage. Whereas previous approaches picked repair projects in political fashion, ReBuild used a data-driven process to target the "worst-first."

In 2013, then-Mayor Annise Parker told the Chronicle, "People get the worst-first. What they fail to recognize is they all think their street is the worst. That's a natural reaction."

So how does the city pick the worst streets? They judge based on two criteria: pavement condition and traffic. And they prioritize the major roadways first.

But with 16,000 lanes miles of streets to maintain, the cityspecifically the Public Works and Engineering Departmentfaces a tough task making a thorough assessment. So they use a secret weapon: a high-tech, laser-equipped van that scans the roads and rates their quality.

The city bought that vandubbed the Street Surface Assessment Vehicle (SSAV)in 2008 for $1.2 million. It would make three full assessments between 2010 and 2015 for a total cost of about $5.2 million.

The SSAV scans for cracks, fissures, ruts, potholes or slanted surfaces on roadways and generates a score for each segment. Road segments with the bottom 30 percent of those scores will be considered for improvements in the following year.

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SSAV

The city also assesses traffic by street segment, placing tubes across the roadway hooked to computers that count how quickly vehicles drive over them. They then issue a grade of A-F, for free flowing, to completely congested. Any segment below a C will be considered for improvements.

Potential improvement projects are sorted into categories: major thoroughfares, local streets and intersections.

Within each category, the city prioritizes the projects. They do that based mostly on the condition of the street, but also consider how the project could be combined with other needed drainage improvements.

The city's 2014 manual for infrastructure upgrades said: "Currently it is estimated that more than one billion dollars of improvements would be necessary to bring existing infrastructure up to standards. Because of limited funding, it is important to identify the areas of highest need to develop solutions for those areas first."

How many projects can be completed from each category depends on the available funds. The city projects it should spend 21 percent of its annual improvement project budget on major thoroughfares, 18 percent on local residential streets, eight percent on intersections and five percent on local non-residential streets.

They also devote 44 percent to storm water drainage improvements.

Short of the $650 million estimated need for annual infrastructure investment, the 2016 budget made available about $256.5 million for street and drainage repair.

So the city will pick the top priority projects in each category until estimated costs match their budget allocation.

Those projects are presented at an annual town hall and slated for pre-engineering in the year to come.

Explore this map of ReBuild Houston projects near you:

Below is the rulebook city planners use to decide which streets and drainage projects get rebuilt first.
Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital will establish a pediatric cancer center in Botswana, officials said this week, a new front in their effort to fight disease in the developing world.

The Houston medical school and children's hospital announced Monday that they have signed an agreement with the government of Botswana to build the southern African nation's first pediatric cancer center. Cancer kills roughly 80 percent of the 40,000 sub-Saharan African children diagnosed with the disease annually, compared with less than 20 percent of the nearly 16,000 U.S. children diagnosed annually.
In 1952, George Jorgensen, a Bronx-born GI, underwent surgical and hormonal treatment in Denmark to become Christine Jorgensen, a nightclub entertainer and advocate for gender identity rights. Ever since, health professionals and lay people alike have debated the origins of gender identity, the wisdom of altering one's biologically determined sex, and whether society should accept the transgender community as a fact of nature.

There is even disagreement over whether the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination because of sex, also protects gender identity, a person's inner sense of being male or female. Many more transgender people, whose identity does not match their biological sex, have come forward in recent years. Some seek sex change treatment. Olympic gold-medalist Bruce Jenner made a high-profile announcement last year of his transition to Caitlyn Jenner, including a cover story in Vanity Fair.

Yet the controversy over the rights of transgender students to use bathroom and locker room facilities that match their gender identity rather than their birth sex reflects the persistence of prejudice and misinformation about the nature and behavior of people who identify as transgender.

Those who insist that people should use only the facilities that match the sex on their birth certificates may not realize that most states allow those who change their sexual assignment to change the sex on their birth certificates. Furthermore, a transgender individual using a facility matched to his or her gender identity is no more of a sexual threat to others than anyone else using that bathroom might be. Psychosocial distress or embarrassment can be avoided simply by providing closed-door toilet and changing areas in public bathrooms and locker rooms.

I recently read a most illuminating article, "Care of Transsexual Persons," that answered many of the questions and concerns that have been raised about what is now more commonly referred to as being transgender. Written by Dr. Louis J. Gooren, an endocrinologist at VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam and a leading expert in the field, it was published in 2011 in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Perhaps the most important point Gooren and others make is that a mismatch between gender identity and biological sex is not something people choose. The most common description given by transgender individuals is a persistent, painfully distressing belief that they are females trapped in a male body, or vice versa.

Although being transgender is classified in the psychiatric literature as "gender identity disorder," Gooren pointed out that "a substantial proportion of the transgender population does not have a clinically significant coexisting psychiatric condition" other than chronic suffering from feeling they are not what their bodies tell them they are.

No chromosomal or hormonal causes of being transgender have been identified. Also lacking is convincing evidence that it is caused by some aberration of family dynamics - how a child is treated or dressed by mom, dad or anyone else.

Being transgender simply happens, possibly in the womb. All brains start out female; if the fetus is male, testosterone normally programs both the genitalia and the brain to develop as male. But autopsies of a small number of male-to-female transgender people found that two important areas of the brain had a typical female pattern, suggesting an alteration in the brain's sexual differentiation.

In individuals who transition from female to male, it is possible that excessive production of androgens during pregnancy could have programmed the brain to be male.

Among adults, male-to-female transitions are nearly three times more common than female-to-male ones. It has not been unusual for people born male to first acknowledge and express their female gender identity in midlife, often after having married and fathered children.

In young children, girls who are tomboys and boys who act more like girls are quite common and should not be assumed to be transgender. Such behavior often changes by adolescence.

However, when bodily changes at puberty differ from a child's gender identity, they are typically a source of extreme distress. Still, experts warn that at any age, and especially in adolescence, great caution must be taken before irreversible treatments are provided.

"Persons with gender identity disorder may have unrealistic expectations about what being a member of the opposite sex entails," Gooren wrote. Therefore, he and others say that before starting hormone treatments, the person should live for at least a year as the desired sex.

Surgical sex reassignment may then follow to remove and reconstruct the genitalia, breasts and internal sex organs to more closely resemble the desired sex. Some people also undergo facial reconstruction. Even after surgery, hormone treatments must continue indefinitely to maintain the desired gender characteristics.
I want to talk today about the horrific human tragedy of Orlando. But first I want to talk about Hiroshima - or, more precisely, the profound speech that President Barack Obama gave there May 27 that got lost in all the campaign noise here.

Hiroshima, Obama suggested, represents a world in which for the first time ever a country possessed the power to kill all of us - and if it had to be any country, I am glad it was America. But today, he said, we're entering a world where small groups - maybe even soon a single super-empowered person - will be able to kill all of us; therefore we'd better start thinking about the moral implications of where technology is taking us.

"Science allows us to communicate across the seas and fly above the clouds, to cure disease and understand the cosmos, but those same discoveries can be turned into ever more efficient killing machines," the president noted. "The wars of the modern age teach us this truth. Hiroshima teaches this truth. Technological progress without an equivalent progress in human institutions can doom us. The scientific revolution that led to the splitting of an atom requires a moral revolution as well."

What the president was describing is the central strategic issue of our time: the growing mismatch between the combined rapid evolution of our technological prowess and the power this gives to a single individual or group to destroy, and the pace of our moral and social evolution to govern and use these powers responsibly.

And that brings me to the Orlando massacre - to what happens when, on a smaller scale, we refuse to re-imagine the social and legal changes we need to manage a world where one loser can now kill so many innocent people. The notion that such a person - any person - should be able to buy a military-style assault rifle is insane. That the Republican Party cannot see the wisdom of common-sense guns laws is just begging for bigger massacres.

At the same time, year after year, we keep seeing young Muslim men drawing inspiration and permission from Islam to kill large numbers of civilians in the West and, even more so, killing other Muslims in Muslim lands.

I've lived too long in the Muslim world, and experienced the decency of Muslim communities, to believe that this is the essence of Islam. But I have seen too much of this suicidal violence for too long to believe that it has nothing to do with the puritanical, anti-gay, anti-transgender, anti-female, anti-religious-pluralism versions of Islam that are too often promoted by sources in the Arab world, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The websites, social networks and mosques that promote these intolerant ideas can "light up" lost souls anywhere in the world. Until that stops, we're just waiting around for the next Paris, Brussels, San Bernardino or Orlando.

And the only thing that can stop them is from the inside: a meaningful mass movement by Muslim governments, clergymen and citizens to delegitimize this behavior. It takes a village and stops only when the village clearly says, "No more!" And that has not happened at the scale and consistency it needs to happen.

Finally, in an age when individuals can become super-empowered, we need to ensure our government has all the surveillance powers it needs - under appropriate judicial review - to monitor and arrest violent extremists of all stripes. The bad guys now have too many tools to elude detection.

Obama closed his speech at Hiroshima with words that could easily have been said of Orlando: "Those who died, they are like us.  They do not want more war. They would rather that the wonders of science be focused on improving life and not eliminating it. When the choices made by nations, when the choices made by leaders, reflect this simple wisdom, then the lesson of Hiroshima is done."

We need to make choices appropriate for our age when technology can so amplify the power of one. We need common-sense gun laws, common-sense gender equality and religious pluralism and common-sense privacy laws.

But that takes common-sense leaders, not ones who think the complexities of this age can be bombed away, walled away, willed away or insulted away. Stop for a moment and reflect on what this week would have been like had Donald Trump been president - the carpet-bombing he'd have ordered in the Middle East, the fear and isolation his Muslim ban would have engendered in every Muslim-American, the joy that ISIS would have taken from being at war with all of America, the license this would have given to crazies in our own society to firebomb a mosque. And the backlash that would engender among Muslims around the world, the most radical of whom would be firebombing our embassies. When America goes nuts, the world goes nuts.

I don't agree with Obama on all aspects of this issue, but the guy is thinking deeply and acting responsibly. Trump is shooting from the hip, spraying insults 360 degrees, telling lies, stoking fears and making threats that many in our military and the FBI would refuse to implement. If you Republican senators and congressmen support Trump for president, he will own you - and you will own everything he does.

Friedman is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner for the New York Times.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday asked the federal government to provide $11 million and send health experts to Texas to help in the fight against the Zika virus.

Abbott made the request in a letter to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Like the CDC, the state of Texas, along with our local partners, is taking steps to prevent and prepare for local transmission of the Zika virus," Abbott wrote in the letter. "With the benefit of the CDC assets on the ground in Texas working with DSHS and our Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response, we can ensure that we are developing and implementing the strongest possible Zika virus response."

AS OF FEBRUARY: Fact, fiction and things we don't know about the Zika virus

The letter requested $9.2 million to increase laboratory capacity and improve health information systems, $1.5 million for Zika preparedness and response efforts and $360,000 for Zika-related birth outcomes surveillance. It also asked for a visit by the CDC to review the state's Zika plan.

Zika is not considered fatal, but it has been linked to a broad array of birth defects and neurological disorders. The virus has spread to 46 countries, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Federal money to be allocated to prevent and fight Zika outbreaks in the U.S. is still tied up in Congress, four months after President Barack Obama requested $1.9 billion. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the majority leader, said last week that congressional negotiators are now ready to reconcile funding bills approved by the Senate ($1.1 billion) and the House ($620 million).

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Public health emergency of Zika virus explained

Houston is considered particularly vulnerable to the mosquito-borne virus. It is home to the two types of mosquitoes that transmit the virus and the site of travel back and forth with Latin American countries reporting the most cases. It includes many pockets of poverty, linked to the disease's spread because conditions like dilapidated housing, standing water and poor street drainage help the virus thrive.

Mosquitoes capable of transmitting the Zika virus are already showing up in Harris County mosquito control traps and should increase in numbers in coming weeks because of the rain, humidity and increasing temperatures. The county's mosquito season typically peaks in July and August.

Houston has embarked on an effort to clean up debris that can hold water and acting as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Since February, the city's solid waste department has hauled off 3,000 tons of debris and 19,000 tires as part of its effort to reduce mosquito-breeding sites. Houston and Harris County officials have estimated that together they need an additional $12 million for their prevention efforts.
Houston's homicide rate jumped 25 percent last year, joining a "nearly unprecedented" increase nationwide, according to a federal report released this week.

The number of such deaths in Houston went from 241 to 303, according to a report by the National Institute of Justice that looked at 56 U.S. cities.

The percentage of increase ranks Houston seventh among the top 10 cities nationwide for the largest "absolute increases " for homicides .

The homicides in 18 of the cities studied by the report increased by more than 25 percent, according to the investigation led by Richard Rosenfeld, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Missouri  St. Louis.

"The homicide increase in the nation's large cities was real and nearly unprecedented," the report notes. "It was also heavily concentrated in a few cities with large African-American populations."

Chicago and Milwaukee joined Houston in tallying exactly 61 more homicides each in 2015 as compared to the year before, notes the report, which was released Wednesday.

Houston Police declined to comment on the new report.

Charles McClelland, who retired as chief of the department earlier this year, has noted that the upward tick in murders is consistent with trends in other large U.S. cities.

"We don't know why some years murders go up and some years murders go down," he has previously told the Houston Chronicle.

"Even though they may be up in calendar year 2015 - two, three years ago they were at record lows," he said. "But the dynamics and demographics haven't changed... The basic motive for murder is drugs, some type of money, or passion. And the people who are victims and the people who are suspects are young, minority men. And many times they're carrying guns unlawfully."
Scientists on Wednesday announced they have detected a new set of gravitational waves - actual ripples in the fabric of spacetime - created by the merger of two black holes 1.4 billion years ago.

In February, the same team of researchers rocked the scientific world when they announced they had confirmed the existence of gravitational waves, confirming Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity and giving physicists and astrophysicists a new way to study the universe.

That discovery occurred mere hours after turning on the newly upgraded twin Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors in Louisiana and Washington in September.

A few months later - on Dec. 26 - the detectors again recorded miniscule vibrations that signaled the presence of another set of gravitational waves. That discovery was announced Wednesday at the American Astronomical Society's annual conference in San Diego.

"We could tell within minutes that this was very likely a real event," said Peter Shawhan, an associate professor of physics at the University of Maryland, College Park. "We all just marveled at it for awhile."

The search for gravitational waves kicked off not that long after Einstein proposed his theory of general relativity 100 years ago. He believed that when massive objects crashed into each other, gravitational waves would be created much in the same way ripples in a pond form when a rock is tossed in. In other words, space-time is a dynamic, malleable force.

Scientists said that the merger of the black holes that created the first detected gravitational waves were enormous - about 36 and 29 times the mass of the sun.

By comparison, the black holes that produced the second set of gravitational waves were much smaller, about 14 and eight times the mass of the sun. The detected signal comes from the last 27 orbits of the black holes before they merged.

"It is very significant that these black holes were much less massive than those observed with the first detection," said Gabriela Gonzalez, a physics and astronomy professor at Louisiana State University. "Because of their lighter masses compared to the first detection, they spent more time - about one second - in the sensitive band of the detectors. It is a promising start to mapping the populations of black holes in our universe."

The LIGO detectors work by measuring how long it takes laser light to travel between suspended mirrors. Passing ripples in spacetime change the distance measured by the light beam, causing the amount of light falling on the LIGO detectors to vary ever so slightly.

For example, the detector in Livingston, Louisiana measured the most recent set of waves 1.1 milliseconds before the Hanford, Washington Detector.

The detectors went online in 2002 and received a major upgrade in 2015, which ultimately led to the discovery of gravitational waves.

The LIGO detectors will begin searching for more gravitational waves again this fall. By then, further technology improvements are expected to allow the detectors to reach as much as 1.5 to two times more the volume of the universe.

A new detector in Italy is expected to go on-line about the same time, improving scientists' ability to locate the source of future gravitational waves.
Dave Wilson has spent years as a lone wolf on the Houston Community College board, frequently biting back at the administration and his colleagues - even going so far as to file a complaint with the district attorney saying college leaders had committed criminal acts.

As Wilson sees it, he's speaking out against mismanagement because nobody else will.

His colleagues on the board, however, see him as a liability to the college. They have previously accused Wilson of talking publicly about confidential discussions the board has in closed session.

Now they want him to keep quiet - and they may take action to try and force him to do so this week. The board will vote on Thursday whether to censure the longtime gadfly, contending he has violated board bylaws and racked up a long legal bill for the college.

"I guess what this is, is retaliation," Wilson said. "They want to shut me up."

The censure - a largely symbolic move that is essentially a public reprimand - would be the first for the HCC board in five years. In 2011, the board took action against former trustee Yolanda Navarro Flores after a yearlong investigation concluded she unethically used her influence to get work for her son's contracting business and obtained free consulting services from a vendor.

HCC Board Chair Adriana Tamez, who is leading the effort to censure Wilson, said the move "has been a long time coming."

Wilson, best known in Houston as an anti-gay activist, narrowly defeated an incumbent to win election to the board in 2013 based on a campaign that some said was intended to deceive voters in the largely black district into believing he was black. Wilson is white, but his fliers featured stock photos of black families and an endorsement by Ron Wilson, his white cousin who shares a name with a black former state representative.

Wilson is frequently the lone "no" vote on the administration's pitches to the board. Last year he filed a complaint with the Harris County District Attorney's Office saying college officials unlawfully overpaid when they spent $8.5 million on a former Conn's building. County investigators found no evidence of a crime in the case.

Wilson has also clashed with other college leaders over who would pay roughly $50,000 in legal fees stemming from a lengthy and ongoing dispute over the election that put him on the board. Other trustees did not want the college to be on the hook for Wilson's attorney. In the end, the college's insurance covered the claim.

Most recently, Wilson passed along his attorney's contact information to a group of angry HCC nursing graduates. Wilson's attorney has filed a suit on behalf of 19 nursing students who say the college is withholding graduation documents, keeping them from getting jobs or taking the state licensing exam, in an effort to boost test scores in the program.

The Texas Board of Nursing, which oversees nursing programs in Texas, moved HCC's associate degree-granting program to a "conditional" status in January after fewer than 80 percent of the system's nursing students passed the National Council Licensure Examination over the last three years. HCC was prohibited from enrolling new nursing students as part of the downgrade.

HCC hasn't granted the students the graduation affidavits they need to take the licensing exam because the head of the nursing program doesn't feel they are prepared to take the test or to head into the workforce, said Phil Nicotera, president of HCC's Coleman College, which includes the nursing program. HCC has offered the students free classes to prepare for the test, and Nicotera said if they pass another test, they'll get their graduation materials.

The trustees blame Wilson for the college's latest legal battle, because he helped the students get in touch with his attorney.

"Based on the reactions of my colleagues in the last few weeks and the lack of trust that has been building, this had to be done," Tamez said.

Wilson said he was doing his job as a trustee and advocating for HCC students. He maintains everything he has done has been in the college's best interest.

"Just because we have a difference of opinion on what's best for the college and because they don't like my freedom of speech, they're going to use that rule in the bylaws to try to censure me," Wilson said.
Houston got its monthly dose of bad budget news last week when Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced the city's sales tax allocation was down 1.53 percent from the same month last year.

That's actually a less steep drop from recent months, but it's still nothing to cheer about.

Here's a broader sense of how the city's sales tax collections have kept up with recent years' performance.

One bright spot, however, is that Mayor Sylvester Turner assumed a "worst-case scenario" in the budget that just passed for the upcoming July 1 fiscal year, projecting that oil would stay below $20 per barrel.

In recent days, however, the price has been trading closer to $50 per barrel; Hegar has said in his own projections of state revenue his staff assumed a $49-per-barrel price. Sales taxes are the city's second-largest source of operating revenue (27 percent of general fund revenues) after property taxes.

Given these trends, City Controller Chris Brown said last week, "we'll end up having a little bit of additional revenue next fiscal year."

If so, Brown urged the City Council to "put those toward our longterm payments we need to be making," suggesting they stop deferring payments and using other one-time fixes to balance the city's books.

Despite setting $400 million aside for worker pensions in the coming budget year, for instance, the city was still roughly $60 million short of the amount needed to fully fund the police, fire and municipal retiree systems.

Turner preferred to instead focus on council's quick and unanimous passage of his budget. The mayor reiterated that eliminating all one-time fixes from his budget would have forced the layoffs of more than 1,200 workers in addition to the three dozen he did let go.

"What was the alternative?" he asked Brown. "Let's not highlight something that was never acceptable."

Still, Turner acknowledged in a hearing yesterday the need for pension reform to prevent big trouble in the budget he must assemble next summer.

"Without a deal on pensions, we face the prospect of massive layoffs and service reductions," he said Monday. "We must have a deal."
A Texas appeals court has thrown out a gag order that prohibited bikers and their lawyers, charged in a massive, deadly melee at the Twin Peaks in Waco last year, from being able to speak to the press.

Nine people were killed, about two dozen wounded and nearly 200 charged with conspiring to engage in organized crime as part of a turf war between the Bandidos and Cossacks motorcycle clubs that unfolded last May.

LAWYER: Waco prosecutor should be removed from biker case

The court Wednesday lifted a stay that had been in place since last August when it unanimously ruled that the gag order was wrong, but allowed it to stay in place pending further appeal.

The matter started when biker Matthew Clendennen and his lawyer, Clinton Broden, were told by a state district judge -- months after arrests -- that no one involved in the case would be permitted to any longer speak to the media.

The judge said the order was put in place to safeguard the case, but Broden and others contend the order was actually fueled by prosecutors who sought to stop bikers from telling their side of the story after authorities have had a series of press conferences.

NEED TO KNOW: 12 key unanswered questions Waco biker case

"Today, almost a year after the gag order was entered, the Court of Criminal Appeals, in a unanimous decision, lifted the stay and restored Mr. Clendennen's First Amendment rights," Broden said in a statement.

"While Mr. Clendennen certainly does not welcome the publicity that has surrounded this case, neither will he allow the police and the district attorney's office to manipulate the public unchecked," Broden continued.

Broden said that prosecutors sought the gag order after they had "launched an unprecedented publicity offensive to scare the public with horror stories of roving biker gangs."

DROPPED: Charges dismissed against dozens of Waco bikers

Sgt Patrick Swanton, of the Waco Police Department, said that his department has already said all that needs to be said.

"We don't comment on the rhetoric defense attorneys use trying to protect their clients who have been arrested for criminal offenses," Swanton said.

The gag order challenge was supported by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and several media companies, including the Associated Press and Hearst, which owns the Houston Chronicle.
Noor Zahi Salman is the wife of Omar Mateen.

She is 30 years old. She is a mother. She was raised in northern California, where a resident of her childhood neighborhood told The Associated Press that she was "beautiful" and "very nice."

Salman is now the subject of scrutiny after her husband's attack on a nightclub in Orlando, which left 49 people dead before Mateen was killed by police.

Salman has not been arrested, and she has not made any public statements.

In the wake of Sunday's early morning shooting at the gay club Pulse, though, investigators are taking a closer look at members of Mateen's family as they try to understand the 29-year-old gunman and his attack.

Salman has told the FBI that she accompanied her husband to Pulse at least once prior to the massacre, in a trip that a U.S. law enforcement official described as "reconnaissance."

"With respect to the wife, I can tell you that that is only one of many interviews we have done and will continue to do," Ronald Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge, said at a Wednesday news conference.

Salman grew up in Rodeo, California, a community about 25 miles northeast of San Francisco, in a family with Palestinian roots, the AP reported.

Neighbors of her family in California told The Washington Post that she did not live in the home and had married Mateen a few years earlier. Salman was described as friendly, outgoing and stylish.

Her father died in 2015, and that was the last time the neighbors saw her.

"You know, some kids after high school, they open up the box and the world is theirs. She was inside the box, just pack it up and get married," a neighbor, Jasbinder Chahal, told AP.

Chahal told the wire service that Salman and Mateen had a small wedding and "took lots of pictures here at the house." She described a sheltered childhood for Salman and her sisters, saying, "Noor never played in the street, and the girls were never allowed to drive."

Other neighbors who spoke with The Post, however, recalled her playing softball and described her family as modern Muslims.

Both Salman and Mateen had previously been married. Mateen's ex-wife has described him as abusive and unstable.
HONS

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine officials confirmed on Tuesday that a Canadian man held captive by the militant group Abu Sayyaf had been decapitated, the second hostage from Canada killed in the war-torn southern Philippines this year.

The man, Robert Hall, 50, was abducted in September with three other people - one of dozens of such abductions carried out in the last few decades by Abu Sayyaf, an organization of several hundred fighters that has functioned as a hostage-for-ransom gang. The group has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
West Virginia is starting an experiment that may fundamentally alter how Americans vote. By implementing a policy with the innocuous name of "automatic voter registration," the state is using modern behavioral science to make it easier for residents to be good citizens.

Here's how automatic voter registration works: Instead of having to sign up to vote, eligible citizens would be automatically and securely registered to vote when obtaining or renewing a driver's license, or when interacting with other government agencies. They can choose to opt out -- but they have to make an active choice not to register. Most states now have an opt-in system, where it's up to citizens to register if they want to be able to vote. Automatic registration changes the default - you will be registered to vote, unless you ask not to be.

To a behavioral scientist, though, requiring people to register to vote in advance seems like an obvious way to deter them from turning out. Registering before an election may not sound difficult in theory, but psychology suggests otherwise. Our brains are good at seeing the cost of acting now - but not so good at weighing a benefit that is months or years away. And in states where advance registration is required, voting relies on being able to imagine what one might want to do on the first Tuesday of November, as far as two years off.

Such advance planning requires executive function, the brain's ability to plan and execute. If this morning for breakfast, you chose a pastry instead of fruit that would be better for you in the long term, you chose your immediate pleasure over a long-term health benefit. This ability depends on the prefrontal cortex. Behavioral scientists look for ways to help your prefrontal cortex make better choices when faced with such a trade-off. Opt-out approaches overcome the brain's inertia. In an opt-out system, if you do nothing - which most folks specialize in - then you are registered.

It would be hard to come up with a better place to try an opt-out experiment than West Virginia. Only 46 percent of West Virginians who were eligible to vote in 2012 exercised their right. Only three other states - Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Texas - shared the dubious honor of falling below 50 percent. All four states share a common feature: voters must register 21 to 30 days in advance of an election.

How many more people would vote if they were automatically registered in advance? Although automatic voter registration has not been around long enough to give a direct answer, we can get some idea from another policy that takes a load off the prefrontal cortex: same-day registration, which allows citizens to register on Election Day and cast a ballot.

Eleven states and the District of Columbia allow Election Day registration. In 2012, all 12 jurisdictions saw voter turnout above the national average - 66.4 percent compared to 58.6 percent nationwide. Of the top four voter turnout states, three have same-day registration. Same-day registration crosses party lines: of the 11 states that had same-day registration in 2012, legislative control at the time was Republican in seven states, Democratic in two states, and split-party in two states. On average, same-day registration is associated with 5 to 7 percent higher voter turnout. This is what happens when we allow folks to register in a way that requires no preplanning.

Automatic voter registration may help even more: Only 76 percent of eligible Americans are even registered to vote. A handful of states are making the switch to automatic voter registration: California, Oregon, Vermont, and Connecticut. We do not yet know how much turnout will increase in these states, but in Oregon, the rate of new registrations has quadrupled after just a few months under the new system, according to an analysis from the Brennan Center for Justice.

How high might the rate of registration go? Based on similarly designed interventions, it is near certain that changing the "default option" will substantially increase the number of registered voters. This arises from the principle that if you do nothing -which is what most people specialize in - then you're registered in an opt-out system.

A 2001 study looked at a large U.S. corporation that began automatically enrolling its employees in a 401(k) savings plan. When employees had to opt into the plan, 35 percent were not enrolled even after three years. But among those who had opt-out automatic enrollment, non-participation dropped to 2 percent. Evidently, when your company makes it easy for you to save, taking the plunge is far easier.

The power of the default option can even save lives. In some European countries, you are an organ donor unless you opt out. These countries see a 6 percent rate of people who decline to be donors, compared to 86 percent in countries where you opt in to the program.

In these two examples, compliance rates are 94 to 98 percent. If we assume a 94 percent registration rate is achievable, and 76 percent are currently on the rolls, this would mean close to 40 million more voters registered across the country. We don't know the exact number of new registrants who will actually end up voting, but it should exceed the benefit from same-day registration because it removes even the little effort that is involved to actively register.

Automatic voter registration may sound unromantic to activists who get excited about shoe-leather approaches. As emotionally appealing as it may be to knock on doors and drag supporters to the polls, get-out-the-vote efforts will move the needle just a fraction, typically only a few percentagepoints. Automatic voter registration has the potential to surpass that amount considerably. The idea is not only common sense, it fits well with what we know about how the brain plans ahead -- but often doesn't.

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Sam Wang is professor of molecular biology and neuroscience at Princeton University, where he operates the Princeton Election Consortium.
WASHINGTON - Growing conservative unease with Donald Trump's outspoken pronouncements on race and a host of other hot-button issues is giving life to a fledgling movement to throw open the Republican convention to rein in the presumptive nominee or find an alternative general election candidate.

The long-shot push includes several top former supporters of Texas Republican Ted Cruz, who suspended his presidential campaign after losing the Indiana primary in early May.

Although the first-term U.S. senator is one of the most conspicuous GOP figures not to endorse Trump, he has disavowed any connection to the effort, saying through a spokeswoman that he plans to stay in the Senate to fight for "the same conservative values he campaigned on."

However, some of the leading figures in what some have dubbed a "coup" or a "delegate revolt" are former Cruz campaign officials who see Trump as an impending disaster for the party. They are encouraging delegates to the national convention in Cleveland in July - no matter who they are pledged to - to press the presumptive nominee on his conservative credentials or reject him.

"Unbinding the delegates is a revolt," said Steve Lonegan, Cruz's former New Jersey state director, now one of the leaders in the national movement to challenge Trump's nomination. "Call it whatever you want. It's a revolt. It's an uprising.  The fact is, our delegates have a moral obligation to nominate the candidate best suited to defeat Hillary Clinton and also carry the banner of the Republican Party."

Lonegan's unusual call-to-arms has been backed by conservative talk show host Hugh Hewitt, who compared Trump to "stage-four cancer," and conservative activist Erick Erickson, who has questioned Trump's "pro-life conversion." It also has been taken up by Christian talk radio host Steve Deace, a former member of Cruz's Iowa leadership team.

"I've had delegates from at least a dozen states reach out to me for help," Deace said. "This is not something Cruz people are organizing. It's something people are doing on their own because they see that this guy is morally unqualified and he's going to lose, and probably lose bad."

The Trump campaign, which trails presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in most national polls, declined to comment on the anti-Trump effort. Some Trump backers privately questioned whether the scattered grass-roots movement has the funding or organization to gain much traction at the convention.

'Accountability option'

The anti-Trump drive, which Deace said is "trending up," comes as the former reality TV star prepares to meet with national evangelical leaders in New York next Tuesday to discuss concerns among faith-based voters, who largely broke for Trump in the southern primaries.

Among those attending the private meeting will be Iowa Christian leader Bob Vander Plaats, who endorsed Cruz over Trump in the primaries. Vander Plaats wrote in an essay over the weekend that "every accountability option needs to be on the table at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland."

"Mr. Trump," Vander Plaats added, "should be held accountable for his profanity, for his vulgarity, and for mocking anyone and everyone, including the disabled and prisoners of war."

Drew Zahn, a spokesman for Vander Plaats' group, The Family Leader, said he is "not advocating for a coup," but rather that Republican delegates use whatever leverage they have to "influence him to be a principled conservative leader."

The anti-Trump activists recognize that their chances of blocking him are slim, particularly as the real estate mogul has locked in a sufficient number of pledged delegates to secure the GOP nomination. While some are pressing for the national party rules committee to release the delegates bound from the primary elections, others argue that they already have the freedom to cast ballots as they choose.

Deborah DeMoss Fonseca, a spokeswoman for Conservatives Against Trump, one of the groups spearheading the effort, argues that party delegates, as members of a private organization, are legally free to "vote their conscience."

She sees opposition to Trump's nomination building in all factions of the party as the maverick billionaire has continued to make inflammatory statements and lash out at potential Republican allies, including popular New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez.

"The more he talks, the more concerned the delegates get, the more concerned voters get, and the more concerned people get that Republicans can't win with him on the ticket," Fonseca said.

Concerns growing

Some of the more recent impetus comes from Trump's controversial remarks suggesting that the judge in the lawsuit involving the billionaire's now-defunct business school could not be fair because of his "Mexican heritage."

Conservative activists involved in the campaign to release Trump's delegates say their unhappiness stems from more deep-seated resentment of his attacks on Cruz and other conservatives during and after the primaries. Some also question Trump's commitment to conservative orthodoxy on abortion, the Second Amendment and limited government.

"The problem is that there are too many people out there who are not Trump supporters who are in a position of having to defend him," said Rick Shaftan, who headed the pro-Cruz Super PAC Courageous Conservatives.

Shaftan now is part of a national network of disparate groups lobbying to unbind the delegates at the Republican convention, if only as a corrective action against Trump.

"Nobody has said it has to be for one other candidate or another, or that it's not going to be Trump," Shaftan said. "The question is, unbind the delegates and make Trump have to go through six weeks of not making a complete fool of himself, be a more credible candidate for president, and unite the party. So far, all he's done since Indiana is make it worse."

Organizers of the effort say it is not directed at installing Cruz or any other specific candidate. The Texas Republican, however, would have to come into the picture by dint of the 559 delegates he won in the primaries, the biggest delegate haul after Trump.

Cruz, whose backers see him as the leader of the party's conservative wing, branded Trump a "pathological liar" at the end of his campaign. He has remained silent about Trump since then.

A grass-roots revolt against a presumptive nominee, absent a close delegate race, would be virtually unprecedented in modern American politics.

The 2012 GOP convention faced a walkout by Ron Paul supporters angered by decisions to weaken their delegate count, and the Democratic convention faces potential disruptions this summer by disgruntled supporters of Clinton rival Bernie Sanders.

If few see a door open to the GOP nomination to anyone but Trump, some also say they have learned to expect the unexpected in this election. "We've seen a lot of unprecedented things happen," said JoAnn Fleming, a Texas tea party activist who worked on Cruz's campaign. "Whatever happens will be based on what the delegates themselves want to do."
Come and take it.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted that earlier this month after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals found no constitutional right to concealed carry in public.

The court wasn't taking a brave stance in response to the seemingly endless string of mass shootings. It was merely fulfilling its duty of interpreting the Constitution in the case Peruta v. San Diego.

But as the nation continues to mourn the 49 people gunned down at the LGBT club, Pulse, in Orlando, Fla., this routine decision is probably the most we can hope for while elected officials hide behind their own interpretation of the Second Amendment - one that conveniently ignores the phrase, "well-regulated."

The 9th Circuit has a reputation for liberal decisions, but even the late Justice Antonin Scalia held in the famous 2008 case, D.C. v. Heller, that the Second Amendment leaves room for all sorts of time, place and manner restrictions on gun ownership.

But don't expect to see serious politicians work within those constitutional bounds to make our nation a safer place. You're more likely to see them act like Abbott. Gun crimes consume our nation and our governor tweets out jokes.

No matter what Abbott thinks, law enforcement eventually will come and take it. They took the .223 caliber AR type rifle in the Orlando attack. They took the AR-15 that was used to kill 12 and wound 70 in an Aurora, Colorado movie theater and the AR-15 that butchered 20 schoolchildren and six adults in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012.

These sorts of weapons were designed for the military, and until 12 years ago they were subject to a federal prohibition on their manufacture for civilian use. That law was originally passed with bipartisan support, but today the seemingly routine use of these so-called assault weapons in mass slaughters of innocent civilians cannot persuade Congress even to discuss the policy that it had once supported.

Each passing tragedy is a mournful opportunity to consider reasonable gun safety regulations that burden law-abiding Americans the least and target potential dangers the most, such as universal background checks, banning sales to people on terrorist watchlists or gun buyback programs that help keep weapons out of the hands of criminals. Our nation used to have healthy debates on these topics. Today the slightest suggestion of new safety measures inherently runs up against a cacophonous wall of self-proclaimed gun rights defenders. It is as if the ACLU rose up to defend the First Amendment every time the FBI busted someone for child pornography.

Congress seems content to end its duties at a moment of silence, and our elected officials nearly failed at that. The House of Representatives erupted into chaos after a solemn moment Tuesday when Speaker Paul Ryan shut down an attempt by Democrats to ask when gun legislation would be considered.

Congress didn't act after schoolchildren were slaughtered in Newtown. It didn't act after one of their own, Gabby Giffords, was shot in the head in 2011. And our elected officials don't seem likely to do anything different after the LGBT community was made a target of murderous hate in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

This isn't the fault of the Second Amendment. This is the fault of those in public office who worry more about bowing before the NRA than lowering their heads in mourning. Things won't change until someone else comes and takes their seats.
With runoffs settled, candidates for the State Board of Education have been chosen and now we look forward to the November election. Voters and candidates alike should work hard to see through the smoke produced by inevitable electoral fires between now and November.

The 15-member State Board of Education that I am privileged to lead has been and will remain focused on discharging the responsibility of overseeing the education of the state's school children. Texas enjoys economic success. To continue that success, the state will need to provide employers with a workforce that can compete in the modern and constantly changing economy.

We are off to a good start, but there is plenty left to do.

Since my appointment as chair of the State Board of Education in June 2015, I have traveled the state talking to parents, business leaders, administrators, teachers - anyone who would talk to me, actually - about assessments, accountability and the effective delivery of education to the young people who are often the last voices heard in policy discussions.

We are still compiling the public feedback received at the face-to-face SBOE Community Conversations completed in March. However, when discussing the goals of assessments and accountability, the words that stand out in the feedback received from parents, business leaders and educators are: "individual," "growth," "learning," "readiness," "measure," "goals" and "needs." If we can't figure out a way to understand and meet individual student needs, we won't be able to prepare them adequately for the future.

It is the goal of the 15-member Next Generation Commission on Assessments and Accountability to make recommendations to the Legislature by Sept. 1. The recommendations will be both research- and community-based. The SBOE is contributing to this process by gathering additional community-based feedback online for the commission through June.

In addition, the SBOE hopes to make an even greater impact for our students by updating the Long-Range Plan for Public Education, a duty assigned to the SBOE by law. The last LRP expired in 2006. At the SBOE meeting in April, we approved phase one of a two-phase effort to put an updated plan in place. The LRP will center on arriving at and articulating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges that currently exist and that will exist in Texas public education over the next five to seven years. Our LRP will include a considerable effort at partnering with the commissioner of education and gathering policy maker, post-secondary, K12 educator, business community, parent and general public input.

Finally, the SBOE is partnering with the commissioner of education in holding the second in our series of Learning Roundtables. The upcoming September Learning Roundtable will focus on "Educating the Children of Poverty;" 60 percent of our public school students are economically disadvantaged. We will invite national and state experts to discuss the various facets of poverty and how we can find greater success at helping our students overcome the many challenges to receiving the education they each deserve.

If we succeed in our mission to help all children, we raise generations of Texans who can sustain and noueish the economic success we currently enjoy. We alone determine our success and literally cannot afford to fail. Strong debate will occur, as to be expected with the SBOE affecting so many areas certain to bring out strong passion on all sides. However, our board has worked through many issues over the past several years with professionalism and commitment. Our first and foremost focus has been on positively benefitting the education of the 5.2 million children of Texas.

Our good intentions will be matched with the commitment and drive necessary to sustain that momentum. We owe that to students, their families and to Texas. We have the tools to forge a bright future. Let's put them to work.

Bahorich represents Houston-area District 6 on the State Board of Education. She was appointed chair of the 15-member board by Gov. Greg Abbott.
The Houston Rural Fire Department took another big step last week in its ongoing process of constant improvement, adding a large brush truck to its fleet.

Looking at it now, its not easy to envision that the truck  nicknamed Bigfoot  was less than a year ago a military transport vehicle. After receiving a major makeover, the big red machine is now equipped with the ability to suck and spray water from outside sources (such as ponds or creeks), but can also carry 900 gallons in its on-board tank.

Bigfoots high ground clearance and four-wheel-drive give it the ability to go places smaller brush trucks cant, and its tank has triple the capacity of its less sizable cousins.

Its going to give us much better access in rough terrain, said Houston Rural Fire Chief Don Gaston. It wont be an every day truck used at every fire, but in certain circumstances it will make a huge difference. I can think of a lot of times we would like to have had it.

Houston Rural obtained Bigfoot for free from the Missouri Department of Conservation, which was given about 160 of vehicles by the U.S. Army. After receiving them, MDC distributed the trucks via an application process.

We were very fortunate to get one, said Houston Rural Fire Association board president Jack Watson. This is such a great addition to the department.

Two men were basically responsible for Bigfoots transformation from a mid-1990s model military vehicle to firefighting juggernaut: Kyle Hale and Jon Cook. The two spent thousands of man-hours toiling in Hales shop building on Highway E north of Houston, stripping down the original truck and then rebuilding it with firefighting equipment and finishing it with a sharp red paint job.

The man at MDC who distributes the trucks said this was the best job done on any of them hes handed out, Watson said. Ive seen some of the others that the other departments painted, and they dont even come close to what Kyle did on this one.

He and Jon did an excellent job.

It will be a shame if we get a scratch on it, Gaston said.

Houston Rurals fleet now features four brush trucks, two pumpers, two rescue vehicles and a tanker. The departments roster includes 15 active firefighters.

When a call comes in for a structure fire or something like that, we can usually run with 11 or 12, Gaston said. Thats a lot better than a lot of departments  and Im thankful for that.

And its a lot of top-notch people, too.

Houston Rural Fire Department firefighter Byron Crewse tests Bigfoots ability to suck and spray water from an outside source at Brushy Creek north of the fire station.

Its going to give us much better access in rough terrainI can think of a lot of times we would like to have had it.

DON GASTON
The University of Missouri School of Medicine has opened a physician training campus in Springfield.

The Springfield News-Leader reports that the medical school, CoxHealth and Mercy Springfield hospitals celebrated the opening of the clinical campus on Monday.

Officials say the new campus will allow medical students to complete their last two years of training while spending time learning at the two hospitals.

Chief academic officer for the medical schools Springfield clinical campus and associate professor of clinical medicine Andrew Evans said nine medical students will begin their last two years of training at the start of the 2016-17 year.

According to a news release from the school, more than 90 percent of counties in Missouri lack adequate access to health care professionals.

Uniting our organizations to develop a second clinical campus in Springfield, Missouri, was by far the best way to expand health care and medical education in the communities we serve, he said, in the release.

Chief medical officer for CoxHealth Frank Romero said that giving students more options for clinical training increases the odds of putting more physicians in Springfield and southwest Missouri.

The new campus is part of a larger medical school expansion project taking place in Columbia, including the construction of the $42.5 million Patient-Centered Care Learning Center. The building is expected to open in 2017.

The school said the expansion is expected to add more than 300 physicians, 3,500 new health care jobs and $390 million annually to the states economy.

Springfield News-Leader

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Crops need rain and lower temperatures soon for relief.

Most crops are just a few days away from difficult times, said University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist Bill Wiebold. We can go from not so bad to pretty bad quickly.

Crops need up to 1-2.2 inches of rain weekly to grow well. In June, most areas of the state fell far behind.

Wiebold points to June rainfall amounts in different areas of the state. Atchison and Boone counties reported only 0.04 inch and only 0.12 inch fell in Knox County in northeastern Missouri in the first week of June. Carroll County received 0.58 inch of rain; Pemiscot got 1.4 inches and Barton had 1.66 inches. In the second week of June, only Barton County received rain, and it was a meager 0.32 inches.

Lack of rainfall and temperatures above 90 degrees in the second week of June raise concerns of possible drought.

MU agronomists in much of the state report that corn plants are rolling with dwindling soil moisture and rising temperatures.

Corn leaves roll as a defense mechanism to protect against excessive moisture loss through transpiration. Rolling exposes less leaf surface to the suns heat. Lack of water during the time when ear size is developing can spell trouble. Smaller ears with fewer kernels mean lower yields.

Soybean, too, face stress due to lack of rain. Late-planted soybean lack time to develop strong root systems.

Early rooting problems  whether due to cool weather, nutrient deficiencies or soil compaction  spell trouble for soybean if drought occurs, Wiebold said.

The northeastern quadrant of Missouri faces very dry conditions, MU Extension climatologist Pat Guinan said. That areas high-clay-content soil tends to be more vulnerable to water stress when a dry period emerges. The forecast is not encouraging.

Guinan said May precipitation was below normal in the area and the recent hot spell hastened evaporative demand. Vegetation quickly went into stress mode. Also, a large part of the state, extending from northeastern through southwestern Missouri, reports precipitation deficits of 4-8 inches since Jan. 1.

Guinan encourages Missouri residents to submit drought impact reports to the National Drought Mitigation Center. Use the Drought Impact Reporter, http://droughtreporter.unl.edu, to submit reports. These reports provide local expertise to authors of the Drought Monitor map. Drought impact statements are seen by the Drought Monitor author and the general public.

More participation and input from local Missourians will establish a consensus among folks and hopefully provide a more accurate portrayal of drought in the Show-Me State, Guinan said.

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Zealands fourth-largest employer is battling to iron out admin problems that have left scores of employees underpaid, according to a major union.[There have been] hundreds of complaints of underpayment, incorrect holiday pay, no pay at all in some cases, as well as workers not receiving pay slips, claimed a representative from E tu.Spotless, the contracting company at the centre of the storm, told HRM it had recently introduced a new payroll software system across its operations.This has led to some short-term discrepancies in payment for some of our staff, admitted general manager of marketing Leanne Gough. We have proactively managed this transition, and are confident that the majority of issues have been resolved, she added.Jill Ovens, industry co-ordinator for E tu, pointed to a voice-automated time clock system as the source of many pay problems.Either the system tells them it is busy and to call back later or it does not recognise their voice, she explained. If this happens, they are paid only a fraction of the actual hours worked.The company which processes over 5,000 wage payments for employees in New Zealand every week, has discussed the issues with E tu and is investigating.We take our responsibility to remunerate each individual employee accurately and on time very seriously, stressed Gough.
href="/nz/companies/worksafe/148855">WorkSafe New Zealand has issued a warning to employers around the country  learn from health and safety failings under your control or risk employee injury and eventual prosecution.The comments came after one quarry company and its director were fined a total of $100,000 in relation to the tragic and preventable death of a young employee who was killed in 2015 after being thrown from a fully laden dump truck.Eleven months after incident, WorkSafe halted operations at the same quarry because it discovered similar health and safety failings that had led to the 24-year-olds death.It is almost beyond comprehension that having had a tragic and preventable death under their watch, the quarry operators had not learned the lessons and made sure everyone on that site was safe every hour it was working, said chief investigator Keith Stewart.Oropi Quarries Limited was ordered to pay $80,000 to the deceased employees family while director Catherin Renner was instructed to pay $20,000. The company was also fined $54,000 while Renner was fined $9,600.There were significant issues with vehicle maintenance; failures to train the worker; a lack of policy on wearing seatbelts; and a lack of supervision, Stewart told the court.After the incident, WorkSafe had the vehicle inspected by independent experts  their reports identified 32 faults with the vehicle ranging from mismatched and over-inflated tyres to a missing door on the cab, he continued.The failures by this company and its director to ensure this young worker was able to go home healthy and safe have a left a mother without her only son, a partner who was looking forward to a marriage that will never happen, and a four year-old without a father.The incident occurred prior to the Health and Safety at Work Act coming into force so was prosecuted under the terms of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
OTTAWA  Health Canada will soon decide whether to ease the restriction on gay men to donate blood  but it likely wont go as far as the Liberals campaign promise to end the ban completely, The Huffington Post Canada has learned.

The Canadian Blood Services (CBS) and Hema-Quebec submitted proposals earlier this spring to reduce the number of years men have abstained from having sex with other men in order to give blood. The agencies recommended dropping the blood donation deferral period from five years to one year.

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"We thought that moving to a one-year deferral period would be a reasonable next step," based on scientific information and international practice, said Dr. Mindy Goldman, medical director of donor and clinical services at CBS.

In the U.S., men who have sex with men are prohibited from donating blood within a year of their last sexual encounter.

Strict licensing

A regulatory decision based on those submissions is expected over the summer, Health Canada confirmed.

Canada has one of the safest blood systems in the world due to its strict licensing, inspection and surveillance requirements, wrote Health Canada media relations advisor Rebecca Gilman in an email to HuffPost.

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Under Canadas blood safety regulations, Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Quebec are required to make submissions to Health Canada for any proposed operational changes.

To be authorized by Health Canada, the data must demonstrate that the proposed change will not compromise the safety of the blood system, Gilman wrote.

MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith is seen in the House of Commons earlier this month.

In the House of Commons Tuesday, Toronto Liberal backbencher Nathaniel Erskine-Smith stood to mark World Blood Donor Day, noting that more than 200 of his neighbours had signed up to give blood at a local United church.

Unfortunately, I am unable to thank the thousands of would-be donors across our country because of our continued policy effectively banning donations from gay and bisexual men regardless of whether they are in a long-lasting monogamous relationship, Erskine-Smith said.

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I am proud of the Young Liberals of Canada for raising attention to this issue and of my government for including a commitment in our election platform to end the ban based on science.

Other countries, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Mexico, Argentina and Chile, base donor eligibility on a combination of risk factors, not sexual orientation alone, and Canada should do the same, he said.

Tainted blood scandal

In the early 1980s, some 30,000 Canadians became infected with the hepatitis C virus and approximately 2,000 more contracted HIV from contaminated blood products, in what became known as the tainted blood scandal.

The finger was later pointed at the Canadian Red Cross Society for, among other things, inadequately screening at-risk groups and not doing enough to notify recipients of potentially contaminated blood.

Health Canada was also blamed for failing to recognize the threat and taking a passive approach to blood regulation.

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As a result, the Canadian Red Cross Society banned men who had sexual contact with other men even once since 1977 from giving blood, considering them high risk to spread HIV. That changed in 2013 when Health Canada dropped the ineligibility period to five years.

During the 2015 election campaign, the Liberals promised to end the gay blood donation ban.

Its a ban that ignores scientific evidence, and it needs to end, according to the Liberal party platform, which pointed out that the current five-year ban on sexually active gay men ignores safe and monogamous relationships.

On Tuesday, the offices of Health Minister Jane Philpott and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to comment.

Trudeau has courted support from the LGBT community. Earlier this month, he raised the Pride flag, which flew for the first time, on Parliament Hill. He is also expected to become the first sitting prime minister to walk in Torontos Pride parade on July 3.

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With files from The Canadian Press
Like many air travel passengers, Jerell Smith opted for a physical pat-down over a body scan.

But unlike most passenger experiences, Smith said his penis was accidentally exposed during an aggressive search.

The law enforcement worker was going through security at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in October when he chose to skip the body scanner. He said he was on his way to the Dominican Republic with his girlfriend.

Smith said his rationale was that the pat-down would be faster, but that the screening officer assigned to do it didn't seem too pleased with his decision.

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"I could tell he was a little bit upset," Smith told The Huffington Post Canada, adding the agent repeatedly asked him why he wouldn't just hop in the scanner.

"I think that's the basis of why I was treated the way I was."

Right away, Smith said he noticed the search was very aggressive. The officer was slapping his back, he said.

A member of The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority takes a bag from a passenger at the Vancouver International Airport for testing June 20, 2008. (Photo: John Lehmann/Globe and Mail)

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Smith was wearing a form-fitting T-shirt and sweatpants, and when the agent got to his legs, the sweatpants were pulled down a bit. He told the officer to be careful.

"I can't quote him verbatim... he said that, 'this is what you wanted, this is the search you're going to receive.'"

Then the right side of his pants actually fell down, Smith said. The slit in the front of his underwear was unbuttoned at the time, he said, and his penis was exposed.

He squatted down to pull them up and then stepped away from the officer, who demanded he come back to resume the search.

"I can't quote him verbatim, but he said, this is what you wanted, this the search you're going to receive."

"I said, 'Well, you just pulled my pants down, that's why I stepped away. Take it easy. Be careful,'" he recounted.

"Obviously at this point I'm a little bit upset."

Smith also said a woman behind him may have seen his genitals. He said he looked up immediately after he pulled his pants up and saw a stunned expression on her face.

After, he went to speak to a supervisor, who told him his clothing was to blame for the accidental exposure.

Frustrated, Smith filed an official complaint with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), the organization responsible for screening at Canadian airports. He was told that his claim would be taken seriously.

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An Air Canada passenger jet takes off from Halifax on January 21, 2013.

"I'm a big guy," he told HuffPost Canada. "As I told CATSA, I'm 270 pounds, I'm just over six foot. To physically move my body takes force." The issue isn't about the force used in the search, he said.

"No, I don't have bruises, no, I wasn't injured, but at the same time, I felt disrespected."

Smith received a call back from a CATSA representative, who told him that while the search was aggressive and didn't meet their guidelines, the organization couldn't verify that his pants were actually pulled down.

CATSA says it can't confirm Smith's claim

Spokesperson Mathieu Larocque confirmed that finding in an interview.

"What was claimed in the complaint was not co-operated by what we could see in the CCTV footage as well as statements by screening officers."

Larocque told HuffPost Canada the process of investigating a complaint includes reviewing video as well as conducting interviews with the personnel and passengers involved.

Story continues below

World's Safest Airlines See Gallery

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When Smith asked to see the footage himself, the organization agreed to show him. But he said he was stunned to discover that even from four different camera angles in a passenger screening area, no video evidence existed of his actual search.

"It was like watching an Atari video game. It was ridiculous."

Smith said he was told sometimes the cameras get knocked out of place when they're cleaned. It's an absurd explanation, he said. But CATSA disagrees.

"That is inaccurate," Larocque said of Smith's claim no video exists of his pat-down. "I looked at the video myself, you can clearly see the search from waist to toe. The allegations regarding passenger's pants and skin being exposed is not reflected in the video at all."

It was like watching an Atari video game. It was ridiculous."

Smith filed a complaint with Transport Canada over the worry the lack of footage of the passenger screening area could be a security risk.

He said he got a call back a few days later saying that some corrections had been made to the cameras at the Halifax airport.

A letter eventually arrived that officially confirmed CATSA's finding.

CBC News, which first reported the story, obtained a copy of Smith's initial complaint through an Access to Information request. The report more or less repeats his account of the Oct. 12, 2015 incident.

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Smith said he contacted the public broadcaster after a friend told him his encounter had been included in an earlier roundup of airport security complaints.

He said that despite his experience, he has no hard feelings toward the airport security employees.

"I think they have a tough job. They search people all day, every day," he said, adding he hopes other travellers won't find themselves in a similar situation.
New numbers from Elections Canada appear to have blown apart the myth that young Canadians can't be motivated to vote.

According to a report from the agency, the voter participation rate in the last federal election among those aged 18 to 24 jumped by a whopping 18.3 percentage points from 2011. Elections Canada says it's the "largest increase for this age group" since it began reporting demographic data in 2004.

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Rabbia Ashraf, vice-president internal at the Continuing Education Students' Association of Ryerson (CESAR) talks to 2nd year student Katey Agnitsch about voting on Oct, 7, 2015. (Photo: Marta Iwanek/The Canadian Press)

The percentage of first-time voters in that younger demographic also increased slightly to 58.3 per cent from 55.1. per cent in the 2011 election.

Among those aged 25 to 34, voter participation spiked 12.3 percentage points to sit at 57.4 per cent.

While the participation rates increased for every demographic in the 2015 election, none compare to the spike seen among young voters.

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Among Canadians aged 45 to 54, 55 to 64, and 65 to 74  long considered the kinds of grown-up, serious voters who ultimately decide elections  the participation rate increased by percentage points of 2.1, 2.3, and 3.7 respectively.

Voters aged 65 to 74 had the highest participation rate last fall at 78.8 per cent.

Elections Canada says the numbers are based on the population of eligible voters, rather than registered voters, to provide the clearest comparison of participation rates over time. That explains the discrepancy between the overall turnout of 66.1 per cent presented in their findings and official voter turnout of 68.3 per cent for all of Canada.

Elections Canada graph comparing age groups in the 2011 and 2015 election.

Just as fewer young voters might have contributed to Stephen Harper's Conservative majority in 2011, some will argue these new numbers confirm youth voters helped to sweep Justin Trudeau's Liberals into power.

'Young people really gave the Liberals a majority'

An Abacus Data poll released in April suggests young Canadians were pivotal to the Grit majority. The online poll suggests that 45 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 25 voted Liberal, compared to 25 per cent for Thomas Mulcair's NDP and 20 per cent of the Tories.

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"Young people affected the last election in a way they haven't in the past," David Coletto, the CEO of Abacus Data, told The Huffington Post Canada in the spring. "We see much higher evidence of a higher turnout among those under 34, and, really for the first time since 1997, young people coalesced around one option."

Coletto concluded at the time that while Trudeau's Liberals likely would have won if the so-called youth turnout stayed where it was in 2011, "young people really gave the Liberals a majority."

Trudeau encouraged youth to vote

In one memorable campaign moment, Trudeau told a VICE town hall that many young people in the country don't think their votes make a difference.

He urged young Canadians to buck the trend and cast a ballot, even if it wasn't for his party.

"Don't kid yourself. If a young person doesn't vote, you are still voting," Trudeau said at the time. "You've actually given a double vote to someone who is voting and may disagree with you."

Watch Trudeau's remarks about voting below:

One of the best explanations for the importance of voting that I've ever heard. And I would have given kudos to Harper or Mulcair had they said it too. Posted by Sandenn Killoran on Tuesday, 6 October 2015

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He also targeted his main rival by stating the Tories changed the Elections Canada Act to prevent Elections Canada from actively encouraging groups that typically don't vote to cast their ballots.

"Let's make no mistake about it, Stephen Harper doesn't want you to vote," Trudeau said. "Stephen Harper is counting on it."

The clip has since been viewed more than 2.8 million times.

When he named his first cabinet in November, Trudeau appointed himself minister of youth.

With files from Althia Raj

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:
An H&M shopper has called out the Swedish high street fashion giant over its "unrealistically small" sizing in a recent Facebook post that is going viral.

The open letter, posted by British PhD student Ruth Clemens, comes after the young woman tried on a pair of the brand's jeans in a U.K. size 16 (U.S. size 14)  the largest size the brand stocks.

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Clemens, who notes she is normally a size 14 (U.S. size 12), said the fitting experience "did not go well."

"As I'm sure you're aware, size 16 is the largest size you stock (apart from in your plus size range, which is very limited in store and does not offer the range of styles for the fashion-conscious that are available in smaller sizes)," Clemens wrote in the post which now has nearly 9,000 shares and over 69,000 likes.

The photo shows Clemens in a Leeds H&M fitting room, trying on the pair of jeans.

She continues,

"I am not overweight (not that that should matter) and although I'm 5 foot 11 my body is pretty average shape-wise. It's already difficult enough for me to find clothes that fit well because of my height, why are you making jeans that are unrealistically small? Am I too fat for your everyday range? Should I just accept that accessible and affordable high street and on-trend fashion isn't for people like me?"

To end her letter, the student notes she is wearing a medium size top, also from the brand.

"You might recognise the top I'm wearing - it's one of yours and it's a size Medium. Sort it out would you."

With over 7,000 comments, many Facebook users showed their support for Clemens and her body positive message.

"Unbelievable!!! It comes as no shock that many people including children/teens have low self esteem when it comes to their body. Will H&M sort this out?? I highly doubt it, and that is the upsetting thing!!! Fantastic that you have posted this," one of the top comments read.

Also in the comments was a response from H&M, speaking to the fact that they "want [their] customers to have an enjoyable time when shopping in store and to leave feeling confident in themselves."

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"At H&M we make clothing for all our stores around the world," the retailer wrote. "So the sizing can vary depending on the style, cut and fabric. We value all feedback and will take on board the points you and other customers have raised."

H&M isn't the retailer who has been accused of vanity sizing as of late.

Recently, Missy Rogers, a 19-year-old from New Jersey, took to Facebook to point out American Eagle Outfitter's inability to regulate a universal sizing system. Although the shorts appear to be proportionately the same, their sizes are drastically different: one pair is a size four, the other a size 10.

"A size 2 is never going to be the same in every place or mean the same to every person. A specific size is not a number to describe your beauty, health, and body," Rogers wrote in her post. "It is literally just a number printed on a tag. You are more than a number."

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Every year on Father's Day, Toronto plays host to Hollywood's hottest stars for the annual MuchMusic Video Awards (a.k.a. the MMVAs).

The parking lot at MuchMusic's headquarters on Queen Street gets transformed into an outdoor stage, and the street itself gets shut down for what's possibly the most exciting (and definitely the wildest) awards show in Canada.

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And with the crazy red carpet antics (Billy Talent's ginormous tank, anyone?) comes the equally outrageous red carpet style.

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So in honour of this year's MMVAs (which have now been renamed the iHeartRadio Canada MuchMusic Video Awards), we decided to take a trip down memory lane and look back at the most unforgettable style moments throughout the years.

From Avril Lavigne's bare ass cheeks with M-M-V-A written across to Kendall Jenner's infamous double slit dress, check them all out below:

MMVA Looks Through The Years See Gallery
History has been made.

Just days after a gunman killed 49 people and injured scores of others in an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Florida, a popular U.K.-based gay magazine has published an interview with the Duke of Cambridge.

Prince William posed for the cover of Attitude magazine, making it the first time a member of the Royal Family has appeared on the cover of  and did an interview for  an LGBT publication.

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According to the magazine, His Royal Highness invited Attitude's editors to bring members of the LGBT community to Kensington Palace on May 12 to "hear their experiences of homophobic, bi-phobic and transphobic bullying, and discuss the mental health implications it has." William met with nine members of the LGBT community, including Paris Lees, a prominent British transgender activist and journalist.

William told the magazine: "No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives. The young gay, lesbian and transgender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now. Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it."

He continued: "What I would say to any young person reading this whos being bullied for their sexuality: Dont put up with it  speak to a trusted adult, a friend, a teacher, Childline, Diana Award or some other service and get the help you need. You should be proud of the person you are and you have nothing to be ashamed of."

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The Duke's late mother, Princess Diana, was famous for her support of the LGBT community and challenged the public to change their attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS. In 1989, she opened Landmark Aids Centre in London and gave director Jonathan Grimshaw  who was HIV positive  a handshake, which, at the time, was seen as taboo, as many professionals wore rubber gloves when working with AIDS patients. It was the first attempt by a high profile member of the Royal Family to de-stigmatise HIV/AIDS.

Watch a video of the historic meeting below:

The late Princess of Wales traveled to meet many young HIV/AIDS patients, including a seven-year-old girl, who got a hug from the Princess and a young man at Casey House, an AIDS hospice in Toronto.

For his part, William worked last year with the Diana Award, an organization set up in his mother's name, for which he attended two events aimed at raising awareness about homophobic bullying.

On Tuesday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid their respects to the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting by signing a book of condolence at the U.S. Embassy in London.

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"Go back to where you came from."

It's a phrase minorities fear they'll hear. And sometimes they do.

That's why the City of Toronto and Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) launched their "Toronto for all"campaign Tuesday, targeting racism and Islamophobia.

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Posters that show Muslims standing up against the idea that they don't belong in Toronto have been popping up around the city.

"Muslims are part of Toronto," the ads read.

Debbie Douglas, executive director of OCASI, says the campaign was timed to kick off just before World Refugee Day on June 20.

"It is important that Torontonians from all walks of life take responsibility for not only welcoming refugees but also examining assumptions and stereotypes they may hold about Muslims," Douglas said in a news release Wednesday.

About 4,500 Syrian refugees have settled in Toronto since November 2015, according to the city.

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The initiative earned praise from the National Council of Canadian Muslims' communications director Amira Elghawaby, who called the city's efforts to combat racism "uplifting."

"We all have a responsibility to speak out against all forms of racism, including Islamophobia," Elghawaby said in a statement Tuesday

While many social media users are supporting the campaign, others are less enthusiastic about the message.

Some pointed out that not all Muslims living in Toronto are from the city.

@TONewcomer@OCASI_Policy if this is for the refugees, then they're not really from North York, are they?  Cassandra Priam (@Augeries) June 15, 2016

Douglas says the campaign was meant to encourage a conversation around "erroneous and harmful assumptions" about immigration.

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"Everyone from Toronto is from somewhere else and, as a city, this is a point of pride," she said.

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Canadian Press

Graphic allegations have emerged in the case of three Toronto police officers accused of sexually assaulting a female parking enforcement officer while she was too drunk to consent or stay conscious.

After an application by Postmedia News, CTV, and the Toronto Star, a Superior Court justice lifted a publication ban on the statements used to secure a search warrant in the case.

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While the three officers from the Toronto Police Service's downtown 51 Division  Leslie Nyznik, Sameer Kara, and Joshua Cabero  were charged with sexual assault and gang sexual assault last year, the court documents unsealed this week reveal the shocking nature of the specific claims against them.

The woman's identity is protected under a publication ban.

The three officers were based at Toronto Police's 51 Division, which is pictured. (Photo: Louie Palu/The Globe and Mail/CP)

According to the female officer's account of the night, Kara invited her to a police "rookie night" party on Jan. 16, 2015. She said that Kara told her a hotel room had been rented for the night to avoid anyone drinking and driving.

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After a night of drinking, the four ended up at a room at the Westin Harbour Castle hotel, where the complainant was allegedly assaulted.

She told investigators she was too drunk to move, and had been slipping in and out of consciousness.

The female officer said she remembered Nyznik holding her head up and inserting his penis into her mouth. She also recalled being penetrated vaginally several times in the night, she said.

'Unable to form the words'

She said she did not tell Nyznik and Cabero to stop because she was "unable to form the words," according to the National Post.

The woman told a friend she would never agree to group sex, but was hesitant to report on fellow police officers, according to the Toronto Sun.

The woman went to the hospital the next day, where a sexual assault nurse performed a rape kit on her and found signs of anal penetration, reported The Toronto Star.

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A few days later, she threw up at work and told a supervisor she had been sexually assaulted.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Police used these documents, which included summaries of the woman's interview with police, to obtain warrants for DNA from the accused, because they refused to provide voluntary samples, according to The Star.
A Calgary gay bar's landlord has forced the establishment to remove a massive pride flag that was hung on the building to honour Orlando shooting victims.

"OK so I have some very sad and very angry news for everyone," Twisted Element owner RayJean Fafard wrote on Facebook Tuesday.

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Fafard posted a video of the rainbow flag being removed from the front of the building.

The club owner explained that the building's landlord ordered them to remove the flag, as it covered the upper tenant's windows, despite Fafard's allegation that Twisted is the only active tenant in the building.

This is how we show our support in times of crisis, Fafard told Metro News.

We fly our colours and we fly them high and as big as we can. We assume that everyone would be on the same side, but I was mistaken.

However, Twisted's landlord says he's open to a compromise.

"We are willing to work with Twisted Element and the LGBTQ community to develop a compromise where they can display their pride flag without covering windows of other tenants," read a statement that was sent to CBC News on behalf of building owner Trevor Tomanik.

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We fly our colours and we fly them high and as big as we can."

The flag was put up Sunday in support of the victims of a shooting that killed 49 people and injured dozens more in an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando. It was the largest mass shooting in U.S. history.

Twisted has been a staple in Calgary ever since it opened 13 years ago.

Fafard says the Orlando attack was an important reminder that homophobia is still a serious and terrifying concern for members of the LGBTQ community.

"As a gay club owner, I can tell you that what happened in Orlando  that fear is always, always in the back of my brain," he told the Calgary Herald.

Members of the Calgary community have reached out to Twisted Element in solidarity, including one who left a bouquet of flowers at the club's door.

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A wicked storm drenched West Vancouver on Tuesday night, prompting some families from their homes for several hours.

The weather system which brought heavy rain, hail and lightning to the region started just after midnight and flooded Cypress Creek.

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Ten homes were evacuated in the 4400-block of Marine Drive in the Caulfeild neighbourhood, but those families were allowed to return by the morning.

According to Environment Canada, about 36 millimetres of rain fell in the area in only 12 hours.

Watch the video above to see the storm.

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Topher Seguin / Reuters Crews place signs along restricted areas in the neighbourhood of Timberlea as thousands of evacuees who fled a massive wildfire begin to trickle back to their homes in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada June 2, 2016. REUTERS/Topher Seguin

Alberta RCMP have asked for the public's help in determining whether the Fort McMurray wildfire was started illegally.

The blaze was first spotted by an airborne forestry crew 15 kilometres southwest of the northern Alberta oil hub on May 1, and spread to over 5,800 square kilometres in size. It forced over 88,000 people to flee their homes.

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Wildfire investigators have ruled out lightning as the cause of the fire, meaning it was most likely caused by humans, police said in a statement Tuesday.

Burned-out homes sit in the neighbourhood of Abasand in Fort McMurray. (Photo: Chris Wattie/AFP/Getty)

Now, investigators are hoping to determine exactly how the flames were ignited, and are asking the public for information.

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RCMP are hoping to speak with anyone who was in or near the Horse River Trail system between April 29 and May 5.

"It's not an area that's remote and isolated, it's an area that's frequently accessed by the individuals who reside in and around the Fort McMurray area," Cpl. Hal Turnbull said in an interview with CBC News.

The area is popular with hikers or people operating ATVs.

We are looking for evidence if any criminal offence was the cause of the fire, such as arson. We dont have any reason right now to suspect its that, Turnbull told Fort McMurray Today.

Half of the 1,200 wildfires started each year in Alberta are caused by people, The Canadian Press reported, and causes can range from human error to criminal activity.

Anyone with information is asked to call the RCMP's toll-free wildfire investigation line at 1-844-620-9826, or anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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The Fort McMurray wildfire was over 73 per cent contained as of the government's last update. There are still over 1,500 firefighters tackling the blaze.

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A 'leave' supporter is seen as fishing boats campaigning for Brexit sail down the Thames through central London, United Kingdom on June 15, 2016. (Photo: Kate Green/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Last week in the United Kingdom, the first of two nationally televised debates on Brexit (the proposed British exit from the European Union) aired, with British Prime Minister David Cameron and U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farrage taking pointed questions from a studio audience.

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Cameron stuck closely to his trump card argument, warning of the costs to the British economy if the "leave" campaign wins on June 23.

But he also sought to reframe a debate about Europe in terms of British patriotism, consistently saying that reform of Brussels was hard work, but Britons aren't "quitters." About midway through his presentation, Cameron offered a warning: "Frankly, I do worry about a second Scottish referendum if we vote to leave and you don't strengthen your country by leading to its break-up. So I'm deeply patriotic. I think this is a case for a bigger, greater Britain inside the European Union."

He went on to contrast his vision for further reform of the European Union, saying he hoped voters would reject "the Nigel Farage 'little England' option" in favour of "a Great Britain." (Farage is basically what you would get if you combined Basil Fawlty or Mr. Bean with Donald Trump.) That language of "little England" versus "a greater Britain" no doubt spoke to a sense of patriotism throughout England; in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, it was a brilliantly coded message about the United Kingdom being more than just the English majority.

The divisions within the country are striking and broader than most North Americans realize.

Simmering below the surface of the Brexit debate is a sense of great consternation in the smaller countries that make up the United Kingdom. Eric Grenier, writing in the CBC, suggests, "The most consequential division, however, may be between Scotland and the rest of the U.K.," with support for the EU as high as 58 per cent in Scotland whilst in England, "leave" and "remain" are locked in something of a sea-saw polling battle in the mid-40s.

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Having lived, studied and worked throughout the U.K. for the past two years, the divisions within the country are striking and broader than most North Americans realize.

For instance, one woman in Edinburgh confided to me recently that she and her friends think Cameron only called the EU referendum "to punish us for having our Indy Ref," referring to 2014's polarizing referendum on Scotland's independence from Great Britain.

This sense of the English majority forcing the rest of the country to leave the EU, regardless of how Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales vote, is a legitimate source of irritation across the British Isles.

Indeed, a recent Survation poll found that 60 per cent of Scots believe withdrawal from the EU requires an overall majority vote in each of the four constituent countries of the U.K. Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, has said it would be "democratically indefensible" if a majority vote in England forced Scotland to leave the EU.

In Wales, meanwhile, support for Brexit is lower than in England, but not as lopsidedly pro-EU as in Scotland. Leanne Wood, the leader of Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalist party, even backed Sturgeon, warning of a "constitutional crisis if English voters were to railroad the rest of the United Kingdom into leaving the European Union," according to the Telegraph.

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Northern Ireland, of course, has the unique worry of potentially managing an actual land border with the EU, should the U.K. vote to leave, with fears such a process risks reversing the progress made since the Good Friday Peace Accords in 1998. The Republic's Prime Minister, Enda Kenney, calls Brexit "a strategic risk" for the Irish Republic.

Indeed, the Irish ambassador in London has gone so far as to rather publicly call upon some 430,000 Irish ex-patriots in Britain to vote to remain. As far back as January when I was in Dublin, the front pages of Irish newspapers were raising concern over the EU referendum, with the Financial Times summarizing the situation in the Republic as "Ireland frets about a Brexit vote it cannot influence."

For all the consternation in the smaller countries of the U.K., those in the "leave" campaign, particularly in England, seem blissfully ignorant of concerns from their Scottish, Irish and Welsh compatriots.

An intriguing counter-factual, however, has been raised by Buzzfeed UK: what if the "leave" campaign narrowly wins in England, but the smaller countries overwhelmingly vote to stay, ensuring a narrow win for "remain" across the U.K.?

Canada has dealt with similar issues in our referenda past, with the Clarity Act now allowing for the federal government to enforce the Supreme Court's dictum, "the Constitution ensures that minority interests must be addressed before proposed changes which would affect them may be enacted."

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(I outlined how a British version of the Clarity Act would be a wise piece of legislation to adjudicate referenda results given the multinational nature of the U.K. in a blog for the Federalist Trust.)

Unfortunately, no such guidelines as our Clarity Act exist for adjudicating a referendum in Great Britain, so expect instead to see increasingly dire warnings about national unity from the "remain" camp to English voters as the polls narrow in advance of the referendum on June 23. In that sense, Cameron's comments in this week's televised town hall might represent just an opening salvo.

Jonathan Scott (@J_Scott_) is a Canadian writer studying law in the United Kingdom.

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Zave Smith/Fuse via Getty Images Worried Woman Sitting on Toilet Holding Home Pregnancy Test

I was approached by a med-tech start-up company regarding their self-collection device for at-home screening "to prevent cervical cancer and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)". The Eve Kit's promo video and Indiegogo funding campaign explains the device and their motivation for designing it.

Violeta Cobo, Territory Manager, said that "HerSwab (the device that collects the sample) has been approved for self-collection of cervico-vaginal samples" by Health Canada. The device is to be launched in late 2016.

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The promo video raised a number of questions for me.

The device was registered with Health Canada for "safety, efficacy and intended use", but as I explained to Jessica Ching, co-founder and CEO, the term "approved" is open to interpretation.

But that was only a quibble.

How exactly did they intend to test for cancer, HPV and "STIs which could cause PID"? Was the device a Pap test? An HPV DNA test? A swab for chlamydia and gonorrhea?

Ms. Ching explained that the device is not a Pap test. It can sample for either HPV or gonorrhea and chlamydia depending on which test the woman prefers. To detect HPV, the device collects the sample from the upper vaginal canal. The lab uses PCR amplification to test for high-risk strains of HPV.

However, because Pap tests use cytology when they sample from the cervix, I expressed some concern in case the self-sample result was inaccurate. A meta-analysis concluded that self-sampling and physician sampling were equivalent; but studies are ongoing.

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Regarding the self-sample for chlamydia and gonorrhea a small study (189 women) found their swab for "easy, comfortable" and "suitable for diagnosis".

As to what happens after diagnosis, Ms. Cobo responded:

"When a patient gets a positive result, she gets referred to one of the doctors we are going to work with. The doctor will follow up with her and prescribe treatment or refer to a screening visit (in case of HPV) if needed. She could also grant us permission to share the results with her family doctor if she has one."

However, when I asked about the availability of those doctors, Ms. Ching admitted that to date there were very few with whom they have been able to partner. The ideal, she added, would be to eventually offer follow-up across the country; however, one of the rationales for the product is precisely the dearth of health care providers.

Do women want to do it for themselves?

The promotional material for the $85.00 kit argues that women find testing "awkward" and that they may not have time to see a health professional. They also see at-home privacy as a plus.

I asked Ms. Ching about research they had done into whether and why women would prefer at-home testing. They did focus groups with 20 women and spoke with 50 others from whom they gathered anecdotal information. She also mentioned focus groups conducted by the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and St. Michael's hospital and commented, "Our informal findings did mirror the findings of other published studies". A CMAJ commentary asks whether the time for self-testing in Canada has come.

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The CMAJ commentary poses the question from a public health point of view about women at risk in Canada who might truly benefit.

In Australia, self-testing will be available in 2017 - to targeted women. For me, this is the real public health issue. In Australia,

"Women who don't normally get pap smears - including indigenous women, victims of sexual abuse and those who avoid the test for cultural or religious reasons - have the highest rates of cervical cancer. These are the women who, from 2017, will be able to collect their own tissue samples in world-first changes to the country's screening program".

Targeted self-testing strikes me as an improvement on the selling points of awkwardness, privacy and time constraints.

In Canada as in Australia, the women who get cervical cancer are not screened regularly and/or do not have follow-up and treatment for abnormal Pap tests. They are poor, marginalized and Indigenous. The Canadian government's response has been expensive vaccinations for girls (and in some provinces, boys) against HPV. Women's health advocates would prefer to see better access to screening and follow-up through Pap registries; and improved access to health care, especially in remote areas. According to the CMAJ commentary, some pilot testing of self-sampling has already taken place for these high-risk women.

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The value of health professionals

As someone who worked in a sexual health clinic as a counsellor for three decades, I have one more issue.

When a woman came in for testing, I explained the Pap test, what is was for and how it was done. In fact, I often accompanied her to the examining room to translate (Spanish, French and occasionally very inadequate Portuguese) and in some cases, to hold her hand, especially when there had been past sexual trauma.

Counsellors use an intake sheet which covers not just medical, but also sexual history. We find out if the woman has a history of sexual abuse, if she has been having unprotected sexual activity, if it was vaginal, anal or oral, if she understands the difference between the Pap test and STI testing. We find out which STI she should be tested for depending on her risk factors. We tell her about contact tracing in case we find a reportable STI. We explain that HPV is very common and that only certain types may lead to cervical cancer unless the abnormal cells are treated.

These conversations are critical in helping a woman take control of her health in a way that DIY testing cannot.
Beatrice*, 23, on her way to collect water from an Oxfam water pump in Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania. Photo: Phil Moore/Oxfam

By Melanie Gallant, Oxfam Canada's Media Relations Officer

Whether through civil war or other forms of conflict, natural disasters or climate related disasters such as drought, the global scale of displaced people is unprecedented. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates there are now over 60 million forcibly displaced people around the world including 19.5 million refugees -- the highest number on record!

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Last year I travelled to Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, where I saw firsthand how Syrian families living as refugees in cold and muddy tents were struggling to cope under difficult winter conditions. I remember one Syrian mom, Hanan, tell me "We can't sleep most nights because water leaks in (our tent) and makes everything wet. I am very worried for my children. I think of going back to Syria every day."

Hanan sits in the makeshift tent she shares with her own children and other Syrian refugees in Saide refugee settlement, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon. Photo: Melanie Gallant/Oxfam Canada

Millions of displaced people share that same dream -- they are living in makeshift dwellings, in urgent need of safe drinking water, sanitation services, food, shelter, medicine, education and security, wanting desperately to return home. Many are from Syria, like Hanan, but countless others are from dozens of crisis affected countries across the world.

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Burundi is one of those countries, but one that seldom makes the headlines.

Already one of the poorest places on the planet, more than a decade of wars has left Burundi in an extremely difficult situation. Fear of violence and intimidation is forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. Over 250,000 people have fled, the majority to Tanzania, overstretching the capacity of the local government and aid agencies to respond.

The numbers are so shockingly high and hard to imagine, we can forget that each and every person forced to flee their home has a face, a story, a family, and dreams for the future.

Like many Burundian refugee women, Godeberite* now lives in a makeshift shelter in a crowded Tanzanian refugee camp, trying to nurture a young family in extremely difficult conditions. Having run out of options and forced to flee her home in Burundi, she arrived in the Nduta refugee camp in March. She was heavily pregnant with her first child Victor*, who is now one month old. Before an Oxfam water station was added, she used to have to walk for over an hour to fetch water.

Ejide* (13), a Burundian refugee, collects water at an Oxfam water point in the Nduta refugee camp in Tanzania, on March 24, 2016. Ejide came to the camp with his grandmother; his parents are still in Burundi. Oxfam is providing water to the camp, where around 50,000 Burundian refugees live. Photo: Phil Moore/Oxfam

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Women and children account for more than 75 per cent of displaced persons globally, and are particularly affected by crises and during displacement. For example, in addition to facing an increased risk of violence and sexual violence, women often become the primary caretakers for children, the injured, the sick and the elderly, which substantially increases their workload and emotional burden. Godeberite spoke to Oxfam, giving us a glimpse of how challenging life was for her in Nduta.

"There are more sicknesses here than back home in Burundi because of the large population living together. They did give pregnant women milk but as everything was open people would come and steal it from me. Right now I have access to clean water and that's why I am healthy. If I did not have this it would have been very easy to get infections."

Godeberite* sits for a portrait with her son, Victor* outside their tent in the Nduta refugee camp in Tanzania. Oxfam is providing 47,000+ #refugees with clean drinking water in the Nduta camp, Tanzania. Photo: Phil Moore/Oxfam

Oxfam's work in Nduta and Nyarugusu includes the provision of water and sanitation facilities, emergency food, and most recently, livelihoods programs. These include income generation activities developed to make use of people's existing skills and knowledge, like bee keeping and farming, but also paid work projects to improve the camp infrastructure and protect the environment, like drainage facilities, better roads, and planting trees. In fact, we are even working towards implementing solar pumping stations for water and installing semi-permanent latrines for families.

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On June 20th, World Refugee Day, I will be joining Oxfam Canada and our Humanitarian Coalition* partners in Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square where we will be calling particular attention to the plight of Burundian refugees, and how access to water and sanitation are essential for Godeberite and all other women struggling to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy in times of crisis. Join us to help them dream again.

Oxfam Canada and other members of the Humanitarian Coalition have launched a national campaign in the lead up to World Refugee Day, on June 20th, to raise awareness and funds for the 60 million people displaced around the world. The Humanitarian Coalition is Canada's only joint appeal mechanism. It is comprised of CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Quebec, Plan International Canada and Save the Children Canada.

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In the wake of the Orlando Massecre, we are hearing so many confusing statements and stories from our Canadian politicians and media based on the political correctness.

However, a Pakistani author based in the U.S., Mobarak Haider, wrote something quite meaningful on his Facebook Page:

"Orlando massacre has created another challenge for all good Muslims who side with peace and human rights. In the U.S. it confronts them with a difficult choice: side with this country of your choice or side with the dark medieval concepts of Jihad and Sharia. Islam has to be limited to a spiritual role only. Political issues of a Muslim country are not religious issues. Certain teachings of Islam that threaten co-existence of human societies, have to be declared obsolete. We have to stop sending our children to the Imams and madrassas."

Only a progressive Muslim like Mobarak Haider could comprehend this particular complex mindset.

Otherwise, most politicians, particularly from Muslim populated ridings are more concerned about their voters than their ridings' radical mosques or their leadership.

Such an example is MP Rob Oliphant's article in Ottawa Citizen:

"I have the unique privilege to be an openly gay Member of Parliament representing one the largest Muslim populations in Canada. I knocked on every door in Thorncliffe Park in the last election, and the support I received from the communities there demolishes any misguided belief that Islam or Muslims in general are to blame for the horrendous attack in Orlando."

So I am glad for Mr. Oliphant's victory in the last election due to the "largest Muslim Populations in Canada," but I wish he would have asked the mosque leadership in his riding to denounce jihad and sharia openly and declare LGBT community as their brothers and sisters on their websites and social media pages.

However, I agree with Mr. Oliphant and other politicians to not blame Islam or Muslims for this wave of terrorism. Yes, all Muslims are not terrorists but unfortunately many terrorists, from 9/11 to Orlando Massacre are Muslims.

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More than three dozen Islamists' related terror incidents have taken place so far this year. More than a hundred Islamist related terror incidents took place in 2015 alone.

In this grave concerned situation, Muslims needed to address this jihadi ideology within.

Western media and politicians, out of political correctness, their vote interests, and also the fear of called racists, would keep staying defensive.

In Canada, it's the responsibility of our Muslim Canadian Parliamentarians to denounce jihad, sharia and homophobia mindset within our own communities.

As a Secretary General of The Coalition of Progressive Canadian Muslim Organizations, my conflict with some major Canadian Islamic centres is why don't they denounce groups such as Jama'at-e-Islami, Muslim Brotherhood, Hizbut Tehrir and doctrine of sharia, jihad and homophobia openly in their sermons, statements, and on their websites as well as on social media?

Sadly, there are some Canadian Parliamentarians who are associated with those Islamic Centres and ideology directly and indirectly.

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In short, Canadian politicians of all diverse backgrounds need to recognize and address the jihadi sharia mindset in Canada rather than playing their ethnic background political cards or ethnic vote banks.

After all, they belong to Canadian Parliament not to some foreign such as Pakistan, Syria and elsewhere.
The lawsuit surrounding the iconic Led Zeppelin track 'Stairway To Heaven' is officially underway, with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant having now appeared in court.

The British musicians are accused of plagiarising the instrumental track 'Taurus' by the US band Spirit when they wrote the classic rock song, which was released in 1971.

A lawsuit has been filed by Michael Skidmore, the trustee of Spirits guitarist Randy Wolfe  known by the nickname Randy California  who died in 1997 having never taken legal action over the song.

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Jimmy Page

A jury will rule on the case at the US District Court in Los Angeles, where Plant, Page and their bandmate John Paul Jones are expected to give evidence.

Led Zeppelin were the opening act for Spirit when the British band made their US debut in December 1968 in Denver, according to documents filed with the court.

Led Zeppelin's lawyers have argued that both Stairway To Heaven and Taurus use notes and combinations that have been circulating in music for centuries.

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Robert Plant

The lawsuit comes after a US federal jury found last year that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams had copied a Marvin Gaye song to create their 2013 hit Blurred Lines and awarded Gaye's children 7.4 million US dollars (5.2 million).
If you're planning to vote remain, please take a moment to read this article. It may help you reconsider the most important political decision of your life. Most people I've spoken to say they're planning to vote leave, but of the few who say they'll vote remain, these have been the most common reasons:

The EU is A Force For Good

Last year, shortly after Jeremy Corbyn became leader of the Labour Party, I wrote a piece inspired by the view of the EU from Gambia. Please read it. It sets out just a fraction of the ways in which the EU exploits and harms the poorest countries in the world. If Africa is too far away, consider the youth of Greece, Italy, and Spain, a generation crushed to service the needs of the Euro.

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The EU Pursues Policies Which Harm The World's Poorest

Source: Shutterstock

Leave Voters Are Racist

Earlier in the campaign, I exposed how 2,700 non-EU nurses who had jobs with the NHS were turned away last year. Most of these nurses were from India and Indonesia, and we denied them opportunity because they did not have EU passports. The EU forces us to implement one of the most discriminatory immigration policies in the world. The predominantly white population of Europe can come and go as it pleases, while people from elsewhere in the world are rejected.

A Leave Vote Might Destroy the Economy

There is a safe, secure way for Britain to leave the EU, and it's been set out by Roland Smith of the Adam Smith Institute, here. The EEA Option is an interim step that gives us everything we need in terms of immigration control and economic security. The government has suppressed its Brexit plans, and I've been spearheading a campaign to get them published. David Cameron was forced into this referendum. He and George Osborne never expected to lose, so they thought they could get away with the most outrageous scaremongering. They have tried to deceive us; there is no reason to fear a leave vote.

To Protect the NHS

I've previously noted the strains currently faced by the NHS and why it's the poor who suffer most. Remaining in the EU is probably the biggest single risk to our health service, which also faces the threat of TTIP. If you're clinging to the hope that Jeremy Corbyn will veto TTIP, please read this article. Mr Corbyn might as well have promised to build a marshmallow staircase to the moon - he will simply never be given the opportunity to veto TTIP.

To Reform the EU

The EU is capable of change, but in only one way; to grab more power from the member states. Democratic reform within the EU is an impossibility. Britain, one of the EU's biggest donors, asked for reform, and, even when faced with the prospect of Brexit, the EU could offer us virtually nothing. The Lisbon Treaty gave the EU all the trappings of a nation state, and specifies that the EU is sovereign authority in all areas except those where it has chosen not to legislate. If you're staying in the EU in the misguided belief that you can reform it, you fail to understand sixty years of history; we will be crushed by an unstoppable bureaucracy.

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To Prevent Farage's Britain

A remain vote is the best way of ensuring that Nigel Farage becomes one of the most powerful people in Britain. UKIP will be resurgent because none of the issues that have led to its rise will have been addressed. It will continue its upward trajectory and eat into the vote of both Labour and the Conservatives at the next General Election. If nothing else, this referendum has revealed people's profound anger at being swindled into political union, and it would be folly to ignore it. Vote leave and the European question will be settled once and for all. Vote remain and it will continue to plague British politics for years.

To Protect British Jobs

The EU doesn't care about British jobs. It cares about the success of the European project. If it has the opportunity to quell discontent in Spain by helping fund the move of a factory from Birmingham to Madrid, it will. The EU is a corporatist club, dedicated to serving the interests of huge multi-nationals. Look at this report from the Financial Times on the growth of the car industry in Morocco. Morocco isn't in the Single Market, but it is set to make 16% of all cars sold in France by 2020, because labour costs are 60% lower than they are in Europe. Ford Transits are now made in Turkey, also outside of the EU. Multi-national corporations will go where production is cheapest, in or out of the Single Market, and the EU will facilitate whatever they need to do business.

To Protect Our Rights

The strangest thing I've seen during this campaign is certain unions trumpeting their support of the EU by surrendering the credit they are due for securing workers' rights. Britain has led the world in the implementation of workers' rights, equality rights, and other valuable social initiatives. Not only are we often ahead of the EU, our standards usually exceed theirs. Please don't undermine Britain's progressive history and its compassionate people by thinking that a leave vote will see us regress to the poorhouses of Victorian London.

The UK Has A Long History Of Progressive Thinking

Picture: Shutterstock

To Prevent a Conservative Britain
My word, it is hot. I am standing in small hair salon in the Bugesera region of Eastern Province, Rwanda with barber Aloys, his four children, his wife, my translator Ephron from CARE Rwanda and photographer Georgina Goodwin. It is, to say the least, a squash in this small building, no bigger than 8 square feet. Outside, the sun is beating down on the corrugated iron roof; inside, we are slowly cooking.

Aloys is a kind and gentle young man. He talks animatedly about how the income from his hair salon provides enough money to pay his children's school fees all the way through to secondary school.

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Photograph: (L-R) Aloys with daughters Aline and Greta (Photograph by: Georgina Goodwin)

It was, he said, his CARE Rwanda savings group and Hand in Hand business training that enabled him to leave behind a life where he had "nothing to spend each day" for one where he has established his own business, built his own home and become a family man and respected member of the community.

Aloys wants others to have the same chance he did, which is why he now helps people form savings groups. I asked for his best piece of advice for new business owners. Start small, he said, and your savings and business will grow. Start too big and your ambition will crush you.

We emerged from the heat of the hut into what felt like a cool 28 degrees outside (clearly, my body is not designed for equatorial Africa), said our farewells to Aloys and his family and set off to meet Florida, another old friend and Hand in Hand trainee. As we turned to wave goodbye we realised that what looked like most of the village had lined up to wave us off.

As I watched Florida emerge from her shop to greet us I was immediately struck by how well she looked. Then I realised that this shop is not the small blue building I remember from 2014 but a much bigger, smarter establishment. Clearly, she and her business were flourishing.

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Photograph: Florida, shop owner, Rwanda (Photograph by Georgina Goodwin)

In fact, her little shop with blue walls had done so well she had been able to rent a much bigger shop closer to the road. This meant she could stock a wider range of goods and attract far more passing trade.

When I asked what her bestselling item was, she held up a bicycle tyre wrapped in yellow plastic. Seems her passing trade suffers quite a few punctures. Of course, replacing a tyre can be thirsty work, so customers often buy a drink or a snack as well.

Florida beamed at her success - all the more hard won given the abundance of local competition. To get an edge, apart from relying on her charm and winning smile, Florida makes sure all her goods are beautifully packaged in new, smart bags (paper, not plastic; this is Rwanda). She gave me a demonstration by preparing a bag of sugar, producing an end result that would not have looked out of place in an upmarket deli in the UK.

Rwanda is a country of contrasts: experiencing an economic upturn but with much of the population still living in poverty; the land of 1,000 hills with arid uplands and marsh-like valleys. It is also a country of possibilities. Rural Rwandans are determined not be left behind. All they need is a little help to get started from NGOs like CARE Rwanda and Hand in Hand.

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My final view was of the green hills in the early evening mist stretching as far as the eye could see.
Day 1 of Royal Ascot saw me arrive sporting the largest hat IN ASCOT HISTORY. Paparazzi and film makers clambered for photos; however I was keen to make sure they first stopped to listen to the important message behind the creation - one which is being directed at all those involved in every sector of the racing industry.

The astounding hat, which left race-goers transfixed, towered a staggering one foot above my head, down the nape of my neck and finished by cascading to the ground for well over 6ft. It was clad in black velvet and topped with hundreds of individually hand painted, red, roses to signify the 1400+ racehorses which have died at British races since 2007 (according to The Horse Deathwatch website). Designed and hand crafted by celebrity milliner & Britain's Next Top Model Judge Louis Mariette, I hoped that the creation would do its job of inspiring industry tongues to converse about how horse welfare standards can be improved at British racecourses.

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As a child I innocently dreamed of wearing the largest hat to Ascot and when I grew up, it happened! While wearing previous hats, I have NEVER placed a bet, supported the actual racing, however I decided last year to refrain from attending Ascot at all, as I felt it was ethically wrong, especially as I work with animals. This year I decided to return to use the large amount of publicity I receive in order to raise standards for horses at tracks all over the UK and do some good.

People often just blame the steeplechase races for horse fatalities, but surprisingly Ascot has had its fair share of deaths, it actually ranks as Britain's most dangerous Flat (turf) venue. In 2014, four horses died unbeknown to flamboyant racegoers: Case Statement died from a broken lower leg; Inchila and Sir Graham Wade suffered a fractured pelvis; and Tiger Cliff collapsed and died after the race. Two horses then died in 2015: Stravagante who was destroyed due to a fractured cannon-bone and King Edmund who fell and broke his neck.

So why this hat?

I feel that it's time that the safety of the animals must be put above profits, so I would like to propose:

AN END TO NATIONAL HUNT RACING (racing which involves jumping fences and ditches often referred to as hurdles or steeplechase). The Grand National and Cheltenham festival races are two of the largest and most dangerous steeplechases which have seen 40 deaths in the last ten years.

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AN END TO THE WHIP which has been shown to be ineffective and can cause painful welts. The use of the whip urges the horse to go beyond what it is able to comfortably do, and can result in injuries and stress. Norway banned the whip in 1982 and there is no reason why the UK cannot follow their example.

THE SHORTENING OF COURSES TO UNDER 4.5 MILES. Anything over this is too long and gruelling for most horses. Many horses can suffer stress, strokes and collapse.

I don't think that we will ever see an end to horse racing, as it is deeply embedded in British Culture, however we can certainly bring attention to improvements which so desperately need to be made. By wearing this hat, I am hoping to open up a calm and civilised discussion with MPs and those in the horse race industry on how we can move forward. Sadly the hedonism of the Royal Ascot event is an intoxicating smoke screen to the reality of the death and suffering behind the sport of horse racing and its time we sat up, opened our eyes and realised that Royal Ascot is not simply just the glamorous event we perceive it to be.
Macbeth, Macbeth. You cannot pronounce this in a level tone. It has internal intonation - creepy, deep, polyphonic. Just like the book it titles. Two Shakespeare academics, Ewan Fernie and Simon Palfrey, well-known for their unconventional and deep engagement with Shakespeare, have written a novel based on Shakespeare's Macbeth and inspired by Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov. They have dived into the depths of Shakespeare's play wearing Dostoevskian lenses and emerged with a philosophical novel of their own that shines for its literary and linguistic quality.

The story begins where Macbeth ends but is neither a sequel nor a repetition. The atmospheric Scottish landscape becomes the throbbing wound of the story, the world of Shakespeare's play repeated with surprising originality. In the meanwhile, Tom de Freston's antic illustrations give a fairytale-like tremble to this novel.

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The Porter is on the scene with his three sons, himself cutting a fine father Karamazov figure. A woman, Gruoch, is the pivot for the subsequent actions of all lead men involved in the novel, including Macduff. She is a cross between Lady Macbeth and Grushenka.

But perhaps the most explicit inspiration from the Russian masterpiece is Dostoevsky's 'Grand Inquisitor' scene alluded to with very effective contextual consequences. Macduff is the Inquisitor and Fyn, one of the twin boys, is the Christ figure whom Macduff conceives as Macbeth. On the plot level, it is an insight into Macduff's uneasy conscience and his reputation as the Baker in England; the scene also homes in on fundamental religious and existential paradoxes. Morality is revisited in Macduff's argument as to why people prefer to be fed than to be free, confronting the issues humanity has with freedom of moral choice and the forever timely mystery of the human need to cling to an idea or subject freedom to a religion. Macduff's triumphant "The time is free" after he kills Macbeth gains a new resurgence and a new meaning in the novel, exposing the cyclic nature of human ambition and vanity. And all is left for Scotland is to cover up her ravished wounds with a summer snow.

"How hateful that every human should be so at the centre of their own sorry universe; as though theirs was the only life that mattered; as though their paltry sin was exceptional."

The language is rich, exposed, and anatomical. Fernie and Palfrey seem to have reshuffled the English language into new collocations - unashamedly literal, raw, obscenely possible. New coinages turn up on pages characteristic of Shakespeare's own word-formation techniques - 'rat-arsed', 'un-ambitious', 'unburied', 'piss-yellow' - to name but a few.

It is the dialogues in the novel that are in the spirit of Dostoevsky, while the storytelling itself resounds with Shakespeare. The English tongue is bent and twisted with scandalous ease, climaxing into epileptic dialogues and releasing a frenzied texture of English words.

'But what if you are?' 'Recognized?' 'Truly - perfectly - recognized.' 'Even in your secrets?' 'Even in - even as.' 'Who could know such things? It is not for human hearts. It is for God alone. Or, or, it is demonic.' 'Precisely. Precisely! This world - all of this - ' and Fyn flicked at his sleeves and around the messy room - 'me, you, this pathetic vessel - it is not the thing at all. Not at all!'

On a parallel dimension, Macbeth, Macbeth, as well as Macbeth, is a tragedy of a woman with motherhood unhad. And this is in no way pushed to the edges in the novel. Fernie and Palfrey's created nunnery reminds of an idiosyncratic illumination in a medieval manuscript of a burning cauldron where nuns with shaven heads, who are all mothers who lost their sons, indulge in self-infliction, hoping to regain their virginity. A mute collective of weird sisters devoted to they know not what. The insight and impact derived from this part of the novel could not be exaggerated.

Similarly profound are the characters of Sod and Lulach who are one idea split into two characters. What the authors do with them goes beyond anything found in their sources of inspiration and well beyond the conventional portrayal of a holy fool. Almost randomly, Sod and Lulach are both the illegitimate sons of Macbeth but it is their relationship with the woman of the novel, Gruoch, that bears the most significance to the conundrum of the story. Lulach is Gruoch's lost boy; Sod is all at once the Thane of Ross, Sister Rose, and a goblin - Sod and then Sodomite. This baffling creature accounts for some of the most poignant, and embarrassing scenes in the novel. Like his poor vile body, Sod embodies the pathos of humanity with all its infinite beauty and vice, a weeping organ of the collective soul.

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There is a tendency in some of modern day fiction when the author evades tackling complex scenarios in the story under the pretence of a purposeful stylistic technique. But there is a fine line between artfulness and art, between the sentimental shock effect that sadly defines some of modern art today and a genuinely paralysing intellectual and emotional impact. No such defects here. In other words, Macbeth, Macbeth is not a construction of a novel - it is an idea. And the language, much like the character of Sod, keeps regenerating. Fernie and Palfrey confront in the raw - with unblinking openness - complex feelings and give name to things silent, our darkest thoughts, fears, and desires, hardly dared outside our own intimate dialogues with our own selves.

"Oh, the ordinary man is a beastly thing!"
As the date of the EU referendum vote draws closer and closer, polls are worryingly beginning to show the Brexit campaign stretching out in front. But do we truly understand the intentions behind the Leave campaign and the knock-on impacts a Brexit vote will have on our country?

Whilst issues such as sovereignty and the economy are bandied about in worn out campaign rhetoric, there is no doubt that the primary issue and cause celebre of the referendum movement is immigration and its perceived impacts on society.

It is important we remember that this is a referendum that has only been made possible due to a long, hard-fought campaign by those on the far-right and political movements ridden with allegations of bigotry, xenophobia, and racism.

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Nigel Farage - the UKIP leader who once said that his party "would never win the nigger vote", refers to Chinese takeaways as "a chinky", and said people would feel "concerned" to live next to Romanians - is the man who should take a significant chunk of the credit for us having this referendum. It was his party's success in the European Parliament elections, as well as defections which he brokered from the Conservative Party, which has led us to this point today.

Even if you are a Leave supporter without a hateful bone inside you, you should be under no doubt that voting for Brexit would mean handing over a massive win to some of the most racist people in our society.

Some of the names and groups which are backing a Leave vote include the English Defence League; Britain First; the British National Party; Tommy Robinson; Nick Griffin; Marine Le Pen; and Donald Trump.

As a country whose strong economy is, in part, built upon centuries of disregarding the sovereignty, people, and borders of other nations during the era of the British Empire - we should, in my opinion, be a country which is more, not less, open to immigrants and integration.

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However, despite studies showing the positive economic impact EU immigration has had on the UK, many in the Leave campaign continue to happily blame the ills of society on immigrants (EU or not), rather than on politicians.

Boris Johnson - the Leave campaigner accused of "dog-whistle racism" for criticising Obama based on his "part-Kenyan" ethnicity - said that the EU is a problem for the UK because "it has led to the absurd situation in which we stop highly qualified people coming from around the world who could contribute enormously to our society because we cannot stop millions of unskilled people coming here from the EU."

This is a view shared by most of the other key Leave campaigners including Mr Farage who has repeatedly advocated an "Australian-style points-based immigration system."

In doing so, they are sending out a message that so-called "unskilled" migrants offer nothing to our country, whereas in reality, the opposite is true.

Some of the best doctors, nurses, and teachers (amongst other valued public servants) are the children of so-called "unskilled" migrants. Arguing that we should leave the EU because there are "unskilled" migrants coming to this country serves only to divide and turn people against each other.

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And I question the idea that our country is somehow turning away at the door "highly qualified" migrants from outside of the EU. The non-EU citizens who are actually locked out the most from our immigration system are those who are deemed to be "unskilled".

In my mind, the issue around sovereignty is a red-herring and the arguments on the economy are settled.

As Hillary Benn nicely put it on Question Time, you have to be "pretty confident" that you are right, if you are disagreeing with the likes of the IFS, the OECD, the IMF, the Treasury, and the Bank of England on the economy.

Personally, I think the success of the single market economy is dependent on having a collaborative set of regulations which enables businesses to sell one version of goods and services across 28 countries rather than having to create 28 versions of those goods and services to meet individual rules.

However, while to some the campaign for Leave may simply be a vehicle to manoeuvre their way into Number 10 Downing Street, I worry that for others it is a vehicle to drive forward their agenda against "the other."

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This, in many respects, has been evidenced by the level of fear-mongering espoused by the Leave campaign which has included everything from "Paris and Orlando-style terrorists attacks" to "immigrant sex attacks on British women."

The way I see it, this is more of a campaign for immigrants to leave the UK, than it is for the UK to leave the EU.
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Oh! It was never meant to be like this! It can never have been the original intention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that he should finish up 10 days before the EU referendum poll promising to implement a Brexit emergency budget to butcher pensions and the NHS in the event of a Leave vote, which is looking increasingly possible.

The polls last summer persuaded most people that a win for the Remain side in an EU referendum was a foregone conclusion. I remember, because it was hard to rustle up much interest in starting an official Leave campaign. The government's intention was, like Harold Wilson's administration in 1975, to bring back a renegotiation package that would be hailed as a transformation of our terms of membership, and which, with the backing of all the machinery of government would the push Remain into an unassailable poll lead. It was never intended to have a photo-finish, like the Scottish independence referendum.

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This time it could still be different from that. The SNP could not explain what currency an independent Scotland would use. The UK has its own currency. The SNP could not explain how it would manage the Scottish government's finances without the 8billion subvention from the rest of the UK. The UK government will be net 10billion per year better off when we stop contributing a gross 350million per week to the EU budget. And Scotland really was choosing between the status quo in the UK, or a "leap in the dark" to Scottish independence. But there is no status quo option in this referendum, because it is clear that the EU must change if it is to contain the migration crisis and to save the Eurozone from implosion.

The Chancellor's decision to threaten pensioners and the NHS should be treated with some good natured derision. When I first heard that they were planning this, and I saw a leaked draft of a press release, I could not believe it. I asked Vote Leave to check it was for real. I thought it might be some kind of spoof. When it turned out to be true, I was absolutely astonished. It is a clear sign of panic in the Remain camp, and a loss of perspective.

All the anecdotal evidence that has come in since then is that it has backfired. It is not credible to threaten massive cuts in public spending when the Prime Minister has said previously that the UK can thrive outside the EU. He assured Andrew Marr earlier this year that it was sensible to have this referendum because even if we leave the EU, "of course the trading would go on" he said.

The attempts to bully and intimidate voters into voting remain have become increasingly ludicrous. It begs the question: how do all those countries outside the EU manage on their own? Most of them do just fine. In fact, most countries outside the EU are doing better than many inside the EU. Famously, the only continent with slower economic growth than the sclerotic Eurozone is Antarctica. There are no countries in the world that have suffered the economic meltdown which the Euro has inflicted on some of its member states like Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy.

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Of course, there are a lot of myths about trade and trade agreements. You don't actually need a trade agreement to trade with the EU. The US hasn't got one. Nor has China or India. In fact, the US is the UK's biggest single trade partner (where we have a big surplus), and there is no trade agreement.

It is worth recalling what the Remain campaign chairman, Stuart (Lord) Rose, said in his Times interview last autumn. He said leave the EU would be "a gentle process" - and we would not see much difference for the first five years. This is rather at odds with the latest scare story from No 11, which we had best dismiss as 'campaign over- enthusiasm'.

As Vote Leave has just pointed out in its proposals for leaving the EU, it would in fact be relatively straight forward for the rest of the EU and the UK to make a bi-lateral trade agreement, because for years so much business and product regulation has been harmonised across the EU. Leaving the EU brings all these matters in the UK under UK control, but none of it is going to be changed instantly.

At the heart of this referendum is the question: who governs the UK? Is it to be your own democratically elected politicians, or a cabal of anonymous and unaccountable commissioners and officials in Brussels? What this debate has demonstrated is how many ordinary people, who concerned about the pressure on wages and public services from uncontrolled immigration, understand this basic point much better than 'the Establishment': the big banks, the big corporates, Whitehall and Westminster. They can see that the deal we get from the EU Single Market is a poor one - a 67billion trade deficit and a 10billion net subscription for the privilege.
Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (GDIF), is something of a miracle. It's an event where audiences can expect to see spectacular, high quality theatre and dance productions from UK and international companies - all presented for free. Over 10 days each year, streets, parks, public spaces and a variety of locations across Greenwich and East London are disrupted and transformed with performances and events which leave audiences with a feeling of wonder, surprise and conviviality.

Over the years (and this year GDIF celebrates its 21 st birthday) audiences have been treated to a parade of life-sized crimson giraffes, a circus performance on a ship spurting a tidal wave of foam, breathtaking aerial choreography integrated with the paintings of Frida Kahlo and even a super-real sculpture of a Sperm Whale washed up onto the banks of the Thames. Audiences tend to get swept up in the sense of surprise and the unexpected.

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Whilst GDIF has been delighting audiences with free outdoor arts over the last 20 years, a wider revolution in the use of public space has been taking place. Twenty or thirty years ago, it was often quite difficult to find an outdoor table at which to eat, but, it's hard to imagine that now, with al fresco dining everywhere and an expanding street food industry an everyday part of our working and social lives.

Public space has also been increasingly reinvented: 20 years ago Trafalgar Square was a traffic island. Cars and buses used to run outside the National Gallery: it's now a destination venue where you can regularly catch major events including concerts from the LSO. Cities around the country have seen similar transformations with public spaces integrated with cultural venues to create iconic new civic landmarks such as Birmingham's Centenary Square, Liverpool's Pierhead and the bridges and banks of the Tyne in Newcastle/Gateshead.

But there are also many local transformations of public space in towns and cities across the country which also deserve to be better known: Hounslow's Bell Square has become a destination for outdoor performances; productions at Doncaster's new theatre CAST, spill out into Nigel Gresley Square, whilst next year, Hull will be enjoying an overhaul of its public spaces as it prepares to celebrate its year as UK City of Culture.

The inspiration for much of this has come from Europe. The Spanish concept of "El Paseo", (the word used to describe the social and cultural experience of a leisurely evening stroll), has found a new home in the UK, as we increasingly take to the streets and squares of our cities for leisure and cultural experiences. At GDIF, our whole approach and the very festival model that we work with, has its roots in the fetes and fiestas of France, Spain and Italy, where outdoor theatre festivals are much more prevalent. Not surprisingly when it comes to creating the programme for the Festival, the inspiration of companies from Europe is always a constant.

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This year GDIF (24 June - 2 July) will feature artists and companies from France, Spain, Poland, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and of course the UK. All of the companies share a passion for the outdoors and the opportunity public space offers to engage with audiences in an informal and unthreatening environment, whilst surprising, delighting and disrupting the everyday rhythm of the city.

During the Festival, audiences will be treated to a dance performance in a huge sculptural head, a parade of 9 masked characters creating an Everyman story for the 21st century, a poetic and highly moving exploration of the impact of war on civilians using puppetry, stilt performance and fire, as well as performance, (taking us back to food once again), taking place inside a theatrical stomach.

There will also be a landmark opening production on 24 June called "The House" marking the 400 th anniversary of the Queen's House at the National Maritime Museum, which was built in 1616 by architect and theatre designer Inigo Jones, (taking his inspiration from the Italian architect Palladio). Combining video projection, new music, narration, aerial performance and pyrotechnics, it sets out to get this year's 21 st Festival off to a spectacular and barnstorming start with an impressive creative team including BAFTA award winning film maker Tal Rosner, a German street theatre company Pan Optikum, who create spectacular theatre with mechanical objects and pyrotechnics, Olivier award winning Sharon D. Clarke as well as the voice of legendary actor Sir Ian McKellen.
Christopher Furlong via Getty Images

I am 20 year old woman and live in the Northern Powerhouse so beloved yet neglected by Westminster.

I am an apprentice, a feminist and someone who is passionate about worker's rights.

The EU is my advocate. EU law ensures that I receive equal pay for equal work as my male colleagues, it gives me paid holidays and has given me access to the European Social Fund which goes to create apprenticeships like mine as well as improve skills and increase employability.

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Most importantly, the EU allows me to live in peace, something that young women cannot now take for granted.

The European Union was formed following World War II.

I am only the second generation in my family to grow up in a peaceful country.

I will not easily watch my children and grandchildren grow up in the midst of conflict like my great grandparents and grandparents did.

28 countries are stronger than one when it comes to defending ourselves against Daesh and threats that other countries put upon us.

I will be voting yes because the EU makes our universities better because they benefit from EU funding, and they have the ability to recruit the best academics and researchers from across 28 countries easily.

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I will be voting yes because the EU makes our apprenticeships better for people like me, through the European Social Fund.

I will be voting yes because independent analysis has shown that over 3.1million British jobs are directly linked to the EU - roughly one in 10 British jobs.

I will be voting yes because the EU is working with partners to combat Female Genital Mutilation practices and increase awareness among communities to the dangers of FGM.

I will be voting yes because the EU is the biggest aid donor in the world - funding projects that support women farmers, girls' education, and a range of projects across the globe.

I will be voting in the referendum to exercise the democratic right that women before me bravely fought, suffered and died for.

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We cannot waste our chance. We cannot wake up on June 24th to a broken Europe. We must stand united against the racist rhetoric and lack of alternatives the 'Leave' campaign poses. We must vote YES to remain in a united, peaceful Europe.
ADRIAN DENNIS via Getty Images

Let me share three facts:

 1/3 of the world's food is wasted - 1.3billion tonnes.

 Almost a billion people - one in nine globally - go to sleep hungry each night.

 Food loss and waste costs the world $940billion each year.

Incredible figures - and yet I just don't feel we're doing enough to reduce food waste.

I still think of myself as a newcomer to retailing, but I've learned more about food in two years at Tesco than I've done in many years. It's been a journey which has left me mixed emotions. Too often, I've seen examples across the supply chain of good, edible food being thrown away.

We have to fix this - working together, across the food industry, in partnership.

Food waste occurs in three areas: in farming and production; within retail operations; and in our own homes. We need to take action in each.

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That starts with retail. When I arrived at Tesco, we were the only UK retail company to publish our food waste data. What that data shows clearly is where we need to focus our efforts - so it's really important that other retailers share their data in this way too.

When food waste does occur in our stores and operations, we have to make every conceivable effort to redistribute it to people in need. Earlier this year I made a very simple commitment to make sure all surplus food from UK stores is offered to charity by the end of 2017 - and through our partnership with FareShare and FoodCloud, that's what we're able to achieve.

We're also partnering with producers and growers to tackle food waste in our supply chain. We've created a new range: Perfectly Imperfect which means we can take much more of the crop, maximising the amount of fresh produce that we can sell in our stores. We are also changing the way that we forecast and order products so that growers and suppliers have more certainty about what we are going to order and when.

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But where we have the biggest opportunity is in our own homes. We know that customers get annoyed with promotions which lead to uneaten food being thrown away. So at Tesco we've not run any 'buy one get one free' promotions on fresh fruit and veg since 2014. What we want to do now is work with our partners across the food industry to develop more, helpful promotions for customers which help people reduce waste.

So: transparency, innovation, redistribution. In each area, there are very specific things we need to do to reduce global food waste. As I said in my speech, the reasons to act are huge - and we've got no time to waste.
"The most sacred thing is to be able to shut your own door." G.K. Chesterton

Westminster Council are currently considering getting rid of its fixed CCTV cameras in September due to the cost of replacing and managing them. They claim that there is only "limited evidence" fixed CCTV cameras prevent crime and disorder and their cash might be better spent on improved street lighting. Is this the only way we can engage with this increasing infringement of our privacy?: cost vs efficacy.

Wiretapper is an outdoor audio project attempting to hide performance in very public spaces; in urban centres that are closely observed by our increasingly anxious guardians. The documentation of this project is unavoidable and relentless - captured by the numerous cameras that tirelessly record our public existence.

We are all inadvertently making a vast multi-camera, avant-guard art film that is infinitely long and can only be viewed by submitting a subject access request for CCTV footage (under the data protection act) and then each individual will be able to watch the bits that they are in (with everyone else's faces blurred out.) To watch the whole film you would need everybody present to also submit a subject access request and then somehow piece it all together.

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Amazingly you can still demand to see any footage of you that has been captured by CCTV. This is what is written on the government's website:

"You have the right to request closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of yourself.

The CCTV owner must provide this within 40 days, and can charge up to 10. You need to make a request in writing to the owner of the CCTV system. The owner's details are usually written on a sign attached to the camera, unless the owner is obvious (like a shop). You should tell them you're requesting information held about you under the Data Protection Act, and provide information to help them identify you, like:

 a specific date and time

 proof of your identity

 a description of yourself

The CCTV owner must provide you with a copy of the footage that you can be seen in. They can edit the footage to protect the identities of other people.

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The CCTV owner can invite you to a viewing of the footage if:

 they're unable to provide you with the footage itself

 you agree with that arrangement

They can refuse your request if sharing the footage will put a criminal investigation at risk."

It seems so easy; we could completely overwhelm the finite resources of whatever individuals and organisations that are happily sticking up more and more cameras by our constant requests for footage.

If all the insanely unethical psychological experiments from the 50's taught us anything - it was that our humanity is hanging on by a thread and that when we are knowingly observed we tend to think twice about indulging our darker fantasies (unless, of course, those fantasies are contingent on being observed). But when Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching." we can probably assume that having his prostate checked was not one of the things he was imagining. An innocent and prudent act, yet not one for the webcam.

"Arguing that you don't care about the right to privacy because you have nothing to hide is no different than saying you don't care about free speech because you have nothing to say," Edward Snowden 2015

The most surprising thing about Edward Snowden's revelations was how unsurprised we all were by them. The dystopian visions of our most paranoid friends had been confirmed and we all kind of shrugged and added a capital letter to our password which we later changed back to lower case because it was too difficult to remember. Clearly our opinion of the integrity of our governments and what their agencies get up to was already pitifully low.

In the hotel room where he blew the whistle to journalists Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MacAskill and the filmmaker Laura Poitras, he actually hid under a duvet while he typed something into his laptop. Is that the logical end point of our fear? Permanently covering ourselves with bedding?

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We can all point our fingers at Jeremy Bentham, the philosopher who founded modern utilitarianism, and his Panopticon which has become a metaphor for the state we're living in. Or we can literally point our fingers at his actual mummified head which is locked in a box in University College London; locked away to prevent students from stealing it at a time before the cameras dutifully watched the corridors.
It's the EU referendum next week. I know this not because I've been avidly following news coverage of it, but because my daughter's birthday is the day before and every time I think about that, I remember the vote.

In all honesty, I mentally switched off a few months ago just after campaigning began. I am an NHS GP. The outcome of this referendum will have a huge impact on my daily life, my work, and my children's future. But I have to put my hands up and confess - I'm a doctor, and I don't get the EU referendum.

I'm usually pretty keen on politics and enjoy seeing the sparring that goes on between rival parties. But the rapid degeneration into "Leave says X; Remain says Y" left me bemused. It is worse than a playground fight. Other than gut instinct, how do you decide who to believe? Each side presents their facts and figures, each side can counter claims to suit their agenda. There is precious little independent analysis going on. I'm trained to look at the evidence as part of being a doctor; this should be easy. But even I am confused.

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What do I know? I make no judgement on the wider picture, but we are all experts in our own sphere. So if you want the view from the NHS, here are my thoughts.

I know I have worked with doctors, nurses and NHS staff from across the world in my career so far. I know I would happily continue to do so. Many have known far more than me, and have worked harder than me. That's a bit of a statement isn't it? I'm not sure which of those doctors or nurses would not be welcome here if we vote to leave. Will it the the excellent German obstetrician, the talented Indian surgeon, the compassionate Irish psychiatrist, the caring Malaysian nurse, or the Polish healthcare assistant? I don't want any of them to.

I know the NHS relies on an international staff. Leaving the EU will throw up untold complications to these staff remaining employed here. The UKs medical education is viewed as one of the best in the world, and people travel here to do their training, and to stay and work here. They easily contribute above and beyond anything they have "taken out". I simply can't get my head around the logistics of having to establish the long term immigration status of all these people and the idea of deporting some of them because they don't earn enough.

I know I have treated patients from across Europe and the world. I know I would happily do so again. In fact, during my stints working weekend shifts in A&E, the abuse I received was from intoxicated English nationals. The polite thanks I received was from the economic migrants from Eastern Europe. Go figure.

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I also know I cannot shift the feeling that there is a racist agenda underlying the debate. That is entirely my own view, and I couldn't tell you where it comes form. Maybe all the anti-immigrant rhetoric. I just know it leaves me feeling deeply uncomfortable as to what kind of country we will live in if we do leave. Does that mean people truly believe all our ills are because of immigration? I worry my children will grow up labelling people they meet as British or not British. What difference does it make? It seems a small step from that to lumping every non-Caucasian into the same camp as ISIS, and us all turning into Donald Trump.

I know there is already enough political interference in the NHS, without all the problems a Leave vote will cause for it. Will we be asking patients at the door their nationality before I can treat them? Will doctors and nurses be expected to police a tighter system? Will I have to refuse care to a patient because they aren't British?I genuinely don't know. I don't believe being a doctor makes me more open minded than any other job, I treat the people who need help. End of story. If where they come from is a problem then it's someone else's problem, not mine.

I worry that the NHS lose more funding. It is already incredibly unstable. Waiting lists are long; I can't see my patients for follow up in less than three weeks. For all the promises of money being freed up if we leave, the NHS doesn't simply rely on the UK to run. It is part of Europe, and access to the single market directly affects what the NHS can provide for it's patients. Not to mention the research that goes on behind the scenes to make sure UK patients are getting the best possible care. I'm not sure how much more change it can take; patient care is already suffering.

This feels like an argument between the past and the future. I heard one story of an elderly man who asked his granddaughter how he should vote. When she told him it was his decision, the Grandfather said "It's your future this affects, not mine. This will change your life. Tell me what you want the future to be like?"

The horrific attack on the LGBT community in Orlando is an attack on us all. The violence marring Euro 2016 in France is an embarrassment to us all. The aggressive division being sown in the Brexit debate is dangerous to us all.

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Decisions are not being made based on facts, because there are precious few out there. But on vitriol, fear and lies.
The recent news story of a female employee sent home from work for her refusal to wear heels for a nine-hour shift really struck a chord with me, as I'm sure it did for many female professionals. To hear that this archaic attitude is still acceptable in many industries, particularly those located in international business hubs such as London, is concerning.

To update those unaware of the story, after telling her manager of her reluctance to wear uncomfortable shoes throughout her work day, 27-year-old corporate receptionist Nicola Thorp was ordered to go home without pay or to go out and purchase heels that were between two and four inches high. She refused to purchase heels, and alleges that her employer, Portico - the company that runs PwC's reception at its Central London office - followed through with its threat and sent her home.

Is treatment such as this to be expected for women, even in 2016? And if it is, is this really fair?

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According to UK law, employers can dismiss members of staff who fail to live up to 'reasonable' dress code demands, on the condition they are given enough time to purchase the correct shoes and clothes. While different dress codes can be prescribed for men and women, as long as they are of an equivalent level of smartness, the question lies in whether requesting that women wear heels is based on anything but the need to be perceived 'attractive' at all times.

Speaking to the BBC, Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said a dress code demanding women wear high heels "reeks of sexism", claiming the footwear "should be a choice, not a requirement". But why do some organisations still hold the belief that women need to look a certain way in the workplace, and is this leading to women feeling as though they cannot progress in their careers to the level they aspire to?

Research has long-since pointed to a disparity between the way women perceive their career progression compared to their male counterparts. A survey carried out by Sellick Partnership in early 2016 pointed to a widespread lack of confidence among women in regards to actively pursuing a promotion, regardless of their experience and skillset. Of those surveyed, 34 per cent of women had actively pursued a promotion throughout their career, compared with 51 per cent of men. Despite this, the same number of people were successful in gaining a promotion (76 per cent), regardless of gender.

For many years, women have struggled to find a balance between family life and work. Encouragingly, the increase of flexible and remote working opportunities is helping to alleviate this pressure, and encouraging women to stay in employment for longer. However, the case of Ms. Thorp has reinforced the concern that attitudes to women in the workplace are often still outdated.

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So, what can be done?

While the introduction of quotas to promote equality in the number of men and women hired with certain sectors has seen some success, the fact that such measures are even needed simply demonstrates the severity of the situation at hand.

Essentially, the issue lies in the fact that women are still being treated differently from their male counterparts because of their gender, whether it be through a dress code, or a general attitude, and this shows that there is still an incredibly long way to go until we can be satisfied that many industries promote true gender equality.
That is no country for the young, where the old plan to rob their children of a future just to bask in the nostalgia of a past that never was. That is what the British people plan to do next week, if they vote to leave the European Union. They will turn out in their millions to vote away their children's inheritance, because they are scared of a world that has grown too large for them.

I remember as a child asking my grandmother, a Londoner born and bred, if she thought life was better when she was young -- I think I was just looking to hear some of her stories, she was forever on about the past. But she looked at me and said "Oh no, we had the Blitz. They were bombing us, you see, every day."

If you want to understand what the European Union is about, you won't find the answers in Brussels. Go out, instead, to the poppy fields of France and Belgium, where thousands of young European soldiers died in agony from chlorine and mustard gas. Go to the Somme, where more than a million were killed and maimed. Go to Auschwitz.

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Today, you can drive across the border between France and Germany without noticing it. People commute to work past Verdun, where 700,000 fell, across the border that was the frontline of two world wars. That is the work of the European Union.

Go out to the border between Germany and Poland, where the Nazis killed six million and razed the capital, Warsaw, to the ground. Today people stroll across the border to shop. It is a place of peace and cooperation. That is what the European Union is about.

The European Union was founded on the idea that the nations who fought the most calamitous wars in history could put aside their rivalries and work together for their children's future. They would no longer compete for the continent's land and resources, they would share it. A brotherhood of man. And it has worked: the European Union has brought half a century of peace to the most war-ravaged continent in history. That is what the Brexiteers want to turn their back on.

And for what? Leaving will free us from red tape and unnecessary regulation, they say, but it's not really true. The British were world champions at red tape long before the European Union was ever dreamed of: just look at the reams of needless health and safety laws which come from Westminster, not Brussels.

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A vote to leave won't save you from red tape: it will just mean the regulations are written by Michael Gove. Gove, the Robespierre of this revolution, doesn't want freedom from Brussels for you, he wants it for himself. Citizen Govespierre will sit up late into the night, his pen scratching out laws for every detail of your life. It doesn't matter how much mayhem he unleashes on the way to his paradise, Citizen Govespierre knows best.

And Boris Johnson? Everybody loves a clown, they say, but children are scared of clowns and they're right. The smile is just a mask, behind it a cold man hungry for power. Fifty years of peace won't stand in Boris' way. He'll be dangling from that zipwire, grinning at you as the country slides into ruin.

And it doesn't matter how many stern pronouncements they make about the "supremacy of parliament", you can't simply stamp your feet and get your own way when it comes to dealing with other countries. There are only two ways to conduct foreign affairs: talk or war.

If Britain wants to go on trading with other European countries, it will have to reach agreements with their governments. The European Union is one way of doing that; the alternative is years of negotiations in which Britain will try to get a deal as good as the one it already has.

But I don't think that's what most people are deciding on. I think this vote is about identity, and that is why David Cameron has failed so miserably with his ill-advised Project Fear campaign. I think generations of Britons are already afraid.

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They are afraid of losing their identity in a new world of wider horizons, that they will somehow lose their Britishness by embracing their European identity. And I want to tell them that's not true, that the reasons other Europeans want them to stay are not economic or political: they're emotional.

When Germany's Der Spiegel published a heartfelt plea for Britain to remain in the EU, it illustrated it with a drawing of John Cleese performing the Ministry of Silly Walks. Our neighbours want Britain to be part of Europe for our humour, our uniqueness, our difference. For Shakespeare, Dickens, Jane Austen. For the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. And for those extraordinary days in 1940 when a nation of shopkeepers stood alone and saved the world.

I write looking out my window on Berlin, where Germans still live among the ruins of the Second World War. That is why there is no support for leaving the EU here: to the Germans, the War is not a bedtime story of derring-do. The ghosts are still alive for them, just as they were for my grandmother.

In the years since she told me of the Blitz, I've been out into the world and seen war for myself, in the Balkans, in Iraq, in Afghanistan. And I know the future does not belong to angry men clinging to tattered flags.

Yet they are on the rise again, from Donald Trump in America to Vladimir Putin in Russia. This is no time to turn our backs on the world.

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Of course there are problems with the European Union: only a fool would deny it. But leaving instead of staying to fix them is like burning your own house down because the roof leaks.

Before you vote, look at your children, your grandchildren, and picture a future where they are free to follow their hopes and dreams wherever they take them in Europe, from the forests of Finland to the mountains of Spain, from the poppy fields of France to the rebuilt cities of Poland.
Stefan Rousseau/PA Archive

This week I was proud to join Jeremy Corbyn, my Shadow Cabinet colleagues and leaders from across the trade union movement to make our strong and united call for Britain to remain in the European Union. We came together because we passionately believe that our public services are better off in, and to leave would put them at serious risk, not least our NHS.

People across the health sector are telling us this is the case. The Faculty of Public Health released a report last week saying "a decision to remain in the EU would ensure continued protection for health, notably from legislation on clean air, water, safe food and consumer products, a flow of qualified workers for the NHS and funded opportunities for researchers to thrive in a dynamic scientific community. In contrast, leaving the EU would, on balance, be likely to be detrimental to the health of the UK population, impede effective public health practice and act as a barrier to UK research."

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My colleague, Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Health, Heidi Alexander has warned about the huge uncertainty a vote to leave Europe would mean for the 130,000 EU nationals working in our NHS and care sector. Analysis she commissioned from the House of Commons' Library showed that Brexit could lead to a 10.5billion black hole in the NHS budget by the end of the decade.

Last month the chief executive of the NHS in England also warned that Britain leaving the EU could send the economy into a 'tailspin' that would damage our health service, especially funding for cancer treatment and mental health.

This would come at a time when mental health spending needs to increase, not face more cuts. We especially need to invest in prevention, early diagnosis and intervention, and research into mental health. I know from meeting mental health service users, carers and staff up and down the country, that we are facing a real shortage of mental health nurses, psychiatrists, psychological therapists and social workers.

To close the staffing gap, we need to encourage, develop and train our own staff, but we also need to continue to attract the best from across the European Union. If we were to vote to leave, we could lose many of the staff from across the EU who today help to make our NHS the best health service in the world. We would have to rely on the Tory administration to start training and supporting a new generation of health service staff - the same Tory administration that has destroyed junior doctor morale and failed to recruit enough nurses, including mental health nurses, since 2010.

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I know that funding for mental health research is too low. Mental health research charity MQ says that less than 10 is invested in research per person affected by mental illness - over 100 times lower than the amount spent for other physical health conditions. Up until 2013, the UK received over 700million of funding for medical research projects from the European Union's FP7 programme; more than any other EU country. An additional 60 billion of funding has now been made available to EU countries through the successor Horizon 2020 programme. We need to remain in the EU so we can compete for and win much more of those funds for mental health research.

Over the next year alone, the European Commission's Horizon 2020 Health, demographic change and well-being programme includes funding for research aimed at preventing mental health problems in young people through population level interventions, supporting people with long-term mental health problems to use new technologies to help self-manage their health and assist older people with mental health conditions to stay out of hospital. I want us to remain in the EU in order that research into these key areas are funded to take place here in the UK.

Over the last ten years, the EU has developed the European Framework for Action on Mental Health and Wellbeing. This plan has succeeded in creating a shared understanding of what needs to be done and how each Member State can collaborate to bring about an improvement in the mental health and wellbeing for all its citizens.

The framework supports Labour's aim of creating an equality between physical and mental health and recognises that mental health affects us in our homes, our workplaces and in our communities. If we are serious about tackling the challenges of our nation's mental health we need to look beyond our health services to how we lower levels of mental distress and prevent mental ill health in the first place.

In the next decade the EU will use the framework to work with member states to bring each up to the standards of the best and to encourage the collaboration we will need if we are to break the last of the taboos and discrimination which mean that mental health gets treated differently to our physical health.

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We should not be putting all that progress and all those possibilities at risk by walking out the exit door next week. The NHS is too important, and mental health services are too vital, to throw into the chaos of Brexit. This is just one reason why I am voting to remain in the European Union on 23 June.
It is not enough to pray for Orlando. We need to speak about -and ultimately, end -- oppression, marginalisation, and violence against LGBTQ people.

Judith Butler, in her 2010 book Frame of War, asks the question of what makes some lives grievable and others ungrievable. This question is not a purely academic exercise- we hear this question in the reporting of violence, we feel this question bubble up when we internalise news of a tragedy. The assumption that some lives are worth more than others is what allows us to wring our hands over refugees and ignore the war zone that created them. It is this question that bubbled up when I read the news, and later the response, to the massacre at Pulse in Orlando - the lives of the victims are imminently grievable, and yet the response to the shooting was, and is, unsettling. I, a white, heterosexual and cisgendered woman, was unable to articulate what exactly was bothering me about these hashtags until I read the Facebook statuses of a friend.

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The trouble with the proliferation of #PrayforOrlando and #LoveNotHate is that the victims and survivors of the violence are all but erased from the conversation. This is not to say that the fact that the massacre occurred in a gay nightclub and that the victims were targeted explicitly because of their sexuality and/or presumed sexuality has been missed or ignored, and that rainbow flags and hearts have not abounded. They have. But while Orlando has undoubtedly been rocked by the massacre at Pulse, casting the massacre as belonging to Orlando as a whole erases the fact that it was violence specifically done to the LGBTQ community (in fact even saying this erases the fact that it was violence done to the LGBTQ Latinx community). #LoveNotHate silences the anger, the fear, and the rage that the LGBTQ community may be feeling, and is above all entitled to feel. These hashtags, these prayers, to paraphrase my friend, are not making the LGBTQ community safer.

My position as a white, heterosexual, cisgendered woman meant that I was unable to name what I was sensing - erasure - until I read the words of this person who has encountered it. The communities hit by this tragedy are being erased from the conversation about what made this tragedy possible. It is of course about gun violence in America. It is of course a tragedy that should both sadden and shame us as Americans. But more than guns, this particular event is about the quiet acceptance of practices of hate directed towards the LGBTQ community. It's about the ways in which LGBTQ people are marginalised, silenced, bullied, and terrorised every day, how normal and yes, even accepted this is in American (and more broadly, in Western) society.

That ISIS has been brought into this conversation smacks of hypocrisy. We condemn ISIS's homophobia for making the Pulse massacre possible while we support legislation that allows for interpersonal discrimination based on "religious freedom". But it highlights something else, which is a phenomenon of tragedy appropriation or a hijacking of the narrative. ISIS is something Westerners feel entitled to fear, therefore we can all feel fear and pain as we #PrayforOrlando. Equally sinister is that it allows us to externalise homophobia as something that "those people" practice in contrast to us. We should be angry about the accessibility of guns in America. We should be angry about hate. We should be angry about terrorism. But we should not allow this anger to silence the specific anger of the communities targeted by this violence, because we are culpable in their marginalisation. The erasure of the victims, the hijacking of the narrative, are all adding to the violence, making the violence possible, producing the violence.

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Many critically important issues affecting our future wellbeing have failed to get more than a mention in the EU referendum debate thus far - farming, fisheries and the security and sustainability of our food supply being just some of them.

I say mention, because I've often heard Brexiters saying "we should leave because then we'll get back control of 'our fish'" - one of their statements that I've never yet failed to get a laugh when

quoting, since the idea of a fish with a passport tucked under its fin, securing its national identity while being able only to swim in circles, is inherently laughable.

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Nonetheless, we've seen little serious debate on the issue.

The National Farmers' Union has concluded that the interests of farmers are best served by a remain vote (unsurprising when it is estimated only 10% of farms could survive without subsidies), as have many in the food production chain, right up to the Cornish Pasty Association, allowing many jokes along the lines that the Brexit campaign is looking flaky.

So all credit to the independent research group UK in a Changing Europe which last week hosted a session on the food, farming and fisheries at which I spoke.

It was an opportunity to address not just direct food issues, but broader debates around our place in the EU.

I pointed out that when we talk about democracy, what's been insufficiently drawn out is the key role that Britain has - with its fellow union members - in making decisions about EU policies and directives.

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These are not "Brussels' decisions", they're our decisions. Democratically elected politicians, who can be influenced by our campaigning and lobbying, decide what changes should be made, what new ideas introduced.

Take the Common Fisheries Policy. This was substantially reformed in 2013, producing what Friends of the Earth, among others, describe as, now, an effective, science-based approach that isn't perfect, but is clearly far better than what's gone before and on which it's hard to

imagine a go-it-alone Britain improving.

One key aspect of the reformed European policy was the abolition of the wasteful, environmentally abusive practice of discarding fish catches. A campaign in which many Britons, famous and not-so-famous, played a prominent role, was a key factor in that decision.

The Fisheries Policy gives lie to the common claim that the EU is unreformable - one of its important planks has been significantly reformed in a democratic way.

If there are cases where EU policies have failed to adequately represent British interests and British views, well blame has to be in part laid at inadequate efforts by our UK representatives. Nigel Farage MEP sits on the fisheries committee but only attended one of 42 meetings.

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The second key point to draw from the discussion was that many of the criticisms of how things are now, how they operate on the ground and the impact that they have, blame the European Union for decisions and choices made far closer to home.

I pointed to the failure to cap the CAP, to limit the level of payments to large landowners such as the Duke of Westminster, something that's within the power of the British government, should it choose to do so.

And while the failures of the British government computer system in delivering CAP payments has directed widespread anger and frustration towards the scheme, this is our failure, not a result of EU membership.

Criticism of the implementation of the Fisheries Policy in Britain often focuses on the allocation to large corporations, not our own, small-scale, job-generating, environmentally preferably small fishers - but that's a decision of Westminster, one made - inexplicably - by our own government.

One issue that was drawn out in the discussion was how different nations in the UK would have to come to new common policies between them - whether on farming or fishing - likely to be the cause of long and bitter wrangling. The views of the Westminster government on genetically modified organisms in agriculture, for example, is directly opposite to that of the Scottish and Welsh governments.

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Yet what also emerged in the discussion was the need to be consider the big issues - how can we secure food supplies and sustainable agriculture to supply them far into the future.

The perspective that emerges from Europe currently is far more encouraging than that in Westminster. Whether it's the neonicotinoid ban (to which the British government has had to be dragged by the science and public opinion), or the still evolving question of the treatment of glyphosate, the EU has proved far more robust against corporate lobbying and prepared to listen to concerns than Westminster - and that's to all of our good.

More, we've much to learn from other European countries, who've maintained small-scale, job-generating, localised, healthy agriculture and food production far more than Britain. The EU Protected Food Names scheme is in part a product of that understanding, something that

surviving British traditions, including the pasty, have benefitted from. That Britain has relatively few of these products is perhaps in part a product of history, but also reflects successive government's failure to promote and take full advantage of the scheme.

Farming and fisheries have, in different EU countries, far more political clout - far more voters who live in communities reliant on these industries or who work directly in them. Our farmers and fishers - vital industries to our future food security - are able to rely on that, to benefit from that, now.

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They're better off in the EU, as we're better off with stronger policies for sustainable agriculture and fisheries to secure our future food supply that come from being part of the EU where these
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images

We are, of course, a sea-faring nation, so perhaps it was apt that the EU referendum campaign took to the water today.

Apt, but still bizarre. Very bizarre, as the two rival campaigns decided to duke it out on the River Thames.

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Leading the Leave fleet was Nigel Farage who, having nearly died in a plane crash and almost lost his leg in a car accident, might have thought twice about giving Fate another mode of transport with which to cripple him.

The Leave flotilla did not have the biggest vessels, but it could call on the greater number, with more than 45 fishing boats forming Farage's navy.

The Ukip leader has been warning us of his People's Army for years, but the People's Navy seems to be a new development.

The motivation was to bring the concerns over the impact of EU fishing quotas on the UK fishermen and women right into the heart of Westminster, traveling up the artery of the Thames.

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Standing in their way was the Remain side, lead by Sir Bob Geldof. Pop star, activist, man who likes to swear and now sea-faring campaigner.

He was aided by a huge sound system and small 'In' dinghies zipping around like wasps at a picnic, just staying far enough away from Farage's flotilla to avoid being struck.

As soon as Farage's boat left the dock and sailed under Tower Bridge, Geldof cranked up the stereo and attacked his enemies with noise, blasting out the '60s hit In With The In Crowd over and over again,

Before long Geldof himself took to the mic to blast the Ukip leader as a "fraud" and "no fisherman's friend."

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From my position on Farage's boat, I could see Geldof, Boris Johnson's sister Rachel and other shiny happy people all cheering and jeering the Ukip contingent.

Even Arron Banks, the Ukip donor who has bankrolled the anti-Brussels group Leave.EU, admitted it looked more fun on their boat.

After Geldof had finished his diatribe, he joined with others on his boat in making a wanker gesture at Farage. Hardly surprising - this is after all someone who is known for liking the odd swear word.

Farage is no saint, but he refused to throw any bad language - or rude gestures - back in Geldof's direction.

"A load of rich kids," he muttered to himself as he surveyed the Remain campaigners.

His assistant, Michael Heaver, was much more forthcoming. "What a bunch of cunts," he said.

As we sailed down the Thames towards Parliament, our boat was flanked by more and more small fishing vessels manned by fishermen and fisherwomen.

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These weren't pop stars, newspaper columnists or power hungry politicians.

These were, to use that horrible turn of phrase, real people.

One man on a fishing boat was almost shaking with anger as he shouted across to us how the quota system was destroying his industry. He didn't want to be lectured by Geldof, who seemed more intent on calling Nigel Farage a wanker than expressing a genuine interest in the fishing industry.

Geldof fired up the stereo again and then loudly repeated his attack on Farage.

But now it seemed slightly less entertaining. Around us were people who feel negatively affected by the UK's EU membership, and Geldof was shouting over them.

Is that why he was there? Just to shout at Farage?

Perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps over the years Geldof has often spoken of the impact of the EU fishing policies on Britain's coastal towns. Perhaps today was the culmination of a long period of work and campaigning.
In a few days the nation will be gripped by the EU referendum vote. The arguments for and against are compelling, Brexit want to reclaim Britain's sovereignty and control who comes into the UK by policing the country's borders to halt untenable levels of immigration, gain autonomy over key decision making areas and forgo the billions spent each year for the EU membership fee. To leave would mean they no longer enjoy the benefits of free trade devoid of tariffs, but instead be able to establish their own laws related to agriculture, justice, home affairs and immigration.

If Brexit wins the UK will engage in the laborious process of establishing its own trade agreements - a potentially protracted affair. Brexit argue they could enjoy the benefits of free trade without being bound by EU regulations. In order to dissuade other countries from emulating the Brexit route, the UK could face a backlash from fellow EU members making it hard to trade freely as before.

The main fear for the Remain camp is how Brexit would impact on trade with businesses moving from the UK to neighbouring EU countries for the free trade benefits, for example. However Brexit believe their departure from the EU would precipitate a domino effect leading to the collapse of the EU project; subsequently businesses would remain in the UK - seeing it is a safe place to continue to expand their businesses and attract investment.

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And what of the implication on jobs? The Remain camp predict 3 million job losses, the Brexit camp argue the halting of immigration would mean more job opportunities for people in the UK. Yet cutting immigration could result in labour shortages in key sectors. Wages might rise if Britain leaves, which doesn't bode well for employers. Loss of freedom of movement within the EU would diminish the ease with which people can work in other countries reducing the pool of talent for employers to choose from dampening UK's competitive edge.

If the UK left they would retain control over their fishing rights, but fisherman would still have to trade with EU member states with limited access to the single market. Leaving would make it difficult to trade and they would have no say or influence on the rules and laws that directly impact them.

In terms of the UK's position on the world stage, leaving would mark a shift in global hegemony. The Brexit camp argues the UK would be independent again, but it could mean reverting to the pre war world of tenuous and strained networks. Departing would diminish the UK's voice and influence on the world stage and compromise US relations.

As for security, the inability to monitor or implement proper checks on the people entering the UK makes it easier for insalubrious characters to enter and for criminal activity to take place with relative fluidity across Europe. Being excluded from the EU could make the UK more vulnerable since they will not have ease of access to key information and intelligence related to combating terrorism. The Brexit camp argue that leaving would help to facilitate new controls on who comes into the UK increasing security at home, but it seems a myopic view in light of the global threat that Islamic extremism poses.

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The overriding issue driving the debate is immigration; currently under EU law Britain can't prohibit anyone from another member state from coming to live/work in the UK. This has enabled people all over Europe to resettle and work in any European member state. The UK is an ageing population - immigration has encouraged growth and contributed to the richness of UK society. But the Brexit camp claims that levels are untenable putting a huge strain on health, housing and education provision.

And what of the ordinary man on the street - what do they make of the EU referendum vote?

In London I spoke to a black cab driver vociferous in his views about leaving the EU - it was immigration that bothered him.

'They let anyone one in, murderers, rapists, I want OUT, I am sick of it.'

I let him rant and then said, 'my parents came over here in search of a better life. We assimilated and abided by the rules - there are many immigrants who are making a contribution to British society.' It went quiet in the cab - then he resumed his Brexit rant. It was then that I felt a sudden disconnection. Moving between London, Europe and Asia, I am a drifting nomad not part of any society/ community. Would I exercise my right to vote or abstain feeling excluded from the whole debate? I still pay UK taxes, own a London flat, but for a long time have barely utilised any of the services available to me as a British or EU citizen, including health care. Were there others like me, rootless and a bit lost in the midst of the heat of a debate that will rage until the very last vote is cast.

Whatever happens if the Remain camp wins EU grumblers won't stop; if Brexit wins it will change the landscape of British politics redrawing the balance of power in the European region.

I sensed from that British male white cab driver, born and brought up in London, that he was hankering for another time that is long gone. However, our society has changed irrevocably, it is not the same Britain, if Brexit win they might assert border control again, but it won't change the fact that we still live in a UK society that is heterogeneous and incredibly diverse.

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Drawing of east London view (pen on paper, 2001)
There are not many better bits of news than being offered a job. But for 81,000 people offered jobs working with children and vulnerable people in London, that joy has been lessened as they wait for months for necessary police checks to take place before starting work.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) handles these checks for criminal records, which have to take place before people can work in jobs classified as 'sensitive'. The results should come back within two months at the latest, but at the last count in February 2016, the Metropolitan police were only responding to 31% of DBS checks within this time limit.

The total number of people waiting has increased from 68,000 at the end of 2015, to 81,000 despite the Metropolitan Police adding more staff to the team that handles enquiries from the service. To me it's unacceptable for this many Londoners to be stuck on this waiting list and potentially not working.

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Psychology graduate Lorraine had to wait seven months last year for her DBS check before she could volunteer to work with vulnerable adults that suffered from drug and alcohol abuse.

She says:

"I waited so long for the police checks to clear that I became extremely demotivated and thought about looking for another job countless times. I wanted to volunteer my time to help desperately vulnerable adults but the charity could not use my skills to help overworked and under resourced staff for over six months. During that time so many more people could have had the support that they needed."

Ebinehita, a youth worker, experienced similar problems:

"Even calling up was a waste of time as they said the same thing over and over again. Then I found out the delay was caused by someone misspelling my name. This delay really affected me personally as it started to make me feel as if I was being held back."

Local authorities and charities are already stretched due to massive government cuts and these delays to recruiting new staff only add pressure to these front line services. Key workers who are passionate about supporting vulnerable adults and children should not have to wait such a lengthy amount of time before they can start helping the community.

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Stories like Lorraine's and Ebinehita's are why I am calling on the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to get the DBS to prioritise these kinds of workers when making requests to the Met. Adding more staff to the Met's enquiry-handling team will clearly not solve the problem without giving priority to London's most needed professions.
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Cards on the table: I am in favour of Britain staying in the EU. But I am a Remainer who understands the appeal of the case for Brexit. In an era of accelerating global economic change, the clarion call to 'restore sovereignty' and take back control is appealing. Anger at immigration is widespread across the UK, and too often met with patronizing responses by leaders in politics and business. If you think restricting immigration is the greatest political challenge we face, Brexit has enormous superficial attractions.

Meanwhile the EU is not in great health - saddled with a Euro that is not working for too many of its members, tin-eared when European voters stand up to Brussels or Frankfurt, and struggling to cope with an unprecedented migration crisis. No wonder many Brits look across the Channel and think: "Whatever is going on there, I don't want to be part of it".

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Remainers need to understand that Brexit has appeal, and we dismiss it at our peril. But we British are a hard-headed lot, and know that Brexit is for life not just for Christmas. Those tempted to vote for Britain to leave the EU may not be certain about what life will be like post-Brexit, just as Remainers cannot be certain about what lies ahead if we stay in. But they will want some sense that Britain can succeed, and that the glide-path to a prosperous, confident and secure Britain outside the EU is a navigable one.

What needs to happen for Brexit to be the right choice for the UK? Fortunately we know quite a lot about this. Not least because the Brexiteers have set out multiple purported advantages of leaving - freedoms and choices once Britain is untethered from the EU that we can exploit to our national advantage.

So here is my starter for ten about the 8 things that need to go Britain's way for Brexit to be successful.

1.No capital flight in the weeks and months after Brexit

In the immediate aftermath of a Brexit vote, businesses operating in the UK will have to make a decision about whether or not to move jobs and investment out of the country to other locations inside the EU, to ensure they continue to enjoy access to the Single Market. The problem is that they, along with the rest of us, will be faced with enormous uncertainty: not least about the timing and terms of Brexit (which will take two years to negotiate), and the timing and terms of any re-engagement with the EU once we have left (which will take many more than two years to negotiate). In the presence of such prolonged uncertainty, it isn't surprising that around a third of companies - both foreign and UK-based - have said they would reduce capacities or relocate altogether in the immediate aftermath of a Brexit vote. If Britain is to avoid a significant relocation of business activity to other sites in the EU, there will have to be a concerted plan to provide reassurance on a bewildering array of unknowns, and to provide it very quickly.

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2.Securing a new trade deal with the EU

Key to the prospect of Britain thriving outside the EU will be our ability to deliver on the Brexiteers' claim that the EU will have a strong interest in offering us access to the single market. Much discussed has been the terms on which this might take place - ranging from the Norwegian and Swiss options to the South Korean and Albanian option. But what kind of deal will the EU give us? Surely, Brexiteers argue, given how much the EU relies on buying UK goods, they will not refuse a deal that would cause economic self-harm.

Well, actually, they might. In fact they probably will. To believe otherwise you'd have to think that statements such as that of German finance minister Schaeuble, insisting that Britain will not enjoy access to the Single Market if it left the EU, are pre-referendum bluffs. You would also have to believe that the EU is prepared to decide to offer the departing UK a deal that includes the main benefits of membership without the costs. Just why a club would find it in its interest to offer better terms to non-members than members is unexplained. Let alone why an EU, most of whose governments face an unprecedented surge in radical Eurosceptic populism, would give this amount of encouragement to anti-EU political forces in their own country.

It is a misunderstanding of the revealed preferences of Germany and other EU member state governments - who prize the integrity of the EU so strongly - to think that Britain will not pay a big trade penalty for initiating divorce proceedings. And it suggests a strange contradiction in Eurosceptic reasoning: the same people who believe that Britain is constantly frustrated by an intransigent EU while it is a member think that the minute we leave we will succeed in getting the trade deal of our dreams from Brussels.

3.New trade opening up with the rest of the world

The Brexit camp claim as one of the main advantages of leaving the EU the possibility of unleashing new trade deals between the UK and the rest of the world.

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This claim rests on a number of assumptions. The first is that we live in a time of expanding trade. We don't. The ratio of world trade to GDP is now lower than it was in 2008. The second is that we will be more attractive as a trade partner outside then EU than we were inside. We won't be. Countries contemplating doing trade deals with the UK will stand to gain access to an area that is equivalent to just 8% of the population of the EU. The third is that our membership of the EU is holding back expansion of trade elsewhere. The evidence for this is weak. Since 1990, our EU ally Germany's exports to China have increased by 2,300% to a value of over 70billion. Britain's exports are one-fifth of that. There is ample scope for the UK to improve its poor export performance, but blaming membership of the largest trading union in the world for our poor performance thus far doesn't really wash.

4.A deregulatory boost to UK investment and productivity

The Leave campaign's politicians and economists have made much of the positive growth and productivity boost that would come from shedding EU regulations post-Brexit. Priti Patel has claimed that "halv(ing) the burdens of the EU social and employment legislation could deliver a 4.3billion boost to our economy and 60,000 new jobs". While the Open Europe think-tank has argued that the deregulation that Brexit would make possible could add 1.3% to UK GDP.

Putting aside questions of the political desirability of Britain making its way in the world with a race-to-the-bottom competitive strategy, is this a plausible account of the benefits that await? I seriously doubt it. Because Britain is already one of the most deregulated countries in the advanced industrial world - ranked second lowest among all OECD countries for both product market regulation and employment protection, for example. When you're as deregulated as Britain is, it's dubious in the extreme to think there is any more water to wring out of the tea-towel by leaving. So the fact that "deregulation-via-Brexit" is the primary supply-side mechanism by which Leavers see Britain flourishing outside the EU seriously weakens the economic case for Brexit.

5.A significant decrease in immigration

If Brexit wins the day a week from now, it will be predominantly due to its appeal as a mechanism for reducing immigration. All eyes will therefore be on how successful Britain will be in achieving this in the aftermath of leaving the EU.

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But Leave campaigners have mixed messages on immigration. Daniel Hannan, Leave's most articulate exponent, says that levels of immigration at the moment are "about right". Others argue that there would and should be a significant decrease in net migration following Brexit. Still others claim that migration from non-EU countries (especially from the Commonwealth) would be allowed to increase following Brexit - making the implications for the total net-migration figure at best unclear.

It is likely to be more difficult that most people think to reduce immigration by any sizeable amount. Migration from outside the EU has always been greater than that from inside the EU, yet Brexiteers offer the prospect of that number increasing still further. Countries that have adopted the much-discussed Australian points-based system have higher per capita net migration than the UK. Providing objective criteria for foreigners to qualify to work in Britain sets a bar but doesn't provide control: if you meet the test, you get to come in, and we can't control how many people from across the world meet the test.

On top of this, skill shortages across the UK are likely to mean a range of industries knocking on Whitehall's door for special deals to import migrant workers - including our NHS, which at present recruits 36% of its doctors and 15% of its nurses from overseas. The politics of immigration post-Brexit are likely to involve contradictory pressures: to get overall numbers down, support industries who rely on skilled migrants, and look for levers of control in a system that promised to limit numbers but probably will not.

6.Continuing cooperation with the EU in areas important to Britain's national interest

The Leave campaign insists that Brexit would not mean withdrawing from cooperation from the EU in those areas central to our national interest. Collaboration on counterterrorism, international criminal networks, climate change and foreign policy - and much else besides - would continue as a partnership between Britain and our former EU partners.

I fear much of this is wishful thinking. If we leave the EU, we will leave mechanisms of cooperation such as the EU's European Arrest Warrant system, responsible for deporting 6,500 criminals from the UK since 2010. We will lose our membership of Eurojust, through which member states' criminal investigations provide evidence valid in UK courts, and the Schengen information system that allows the UK access to intelligence sharing activities in Schengen countries. Climate change agreements in Europe will continue to affect us profoundly, but we will be spectators to the deal.

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The problem with arguing for a "pick and mix" approach to cooperation with the EU after Brexit is that it misunderstands how the EU works. Byzantine as the European Union undoubtedly is, it is fundamentally a system that commits its members to cooperation across a spread of policy issues. If a crisis about floods comes up, it gets discussed between government ministers in the margins of a scheduled meeting about terrorism. It is a system that enables compromise between countries, and trade-offs across dossiers, in the name of getting something done rather than achieving nothing. If we leave the EU, we will be excluded from the more effective forms of cooperation that only members can access, even in those areas where we welcome rather than resent European partnership.

7.No consequences for constitutional integrity of the UK

Irrespective of its consequences for the European Union, if Brexit is seen to be responsible for fracturing the Union at home in the UK it will lose a lot of its political legitimacy. Here there is at least significant uncertainty.

It is true that polling suggests no current majority in Scotland for independence or for a second referendum. But do we honestly think that a vote for Brexit, carried predominantly by an English majority against Remain majorities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would not re-animate demands to revisit the 2-2013 Scottish decision to stay in the Union?

And then there is Northern Ireland. The Good Friday Agreement that brought an end to 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland is a contract between signatories to the European Convention of Human Rights, guaranteed by membership of the EU. If Brexit was a prelude to a push for Britain to leave the ECHR, as Theresa May has suggested in her one referendum intervention so far, the Good Friday Agreement would have to be reconstituted.

However the question of the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic is of greater concern. It is true that a Common Travel Area has existed for nearly a century between the two. But Brexit would make that border an external border with an EU we would have left, a decision propelled largely by insistence on restoring control of our borders. Even if our future leaders want to keep goods, services and people flowing without checks across the Northern Irish border with Ireland, the prospect of Greeks, Hungarians and Bulgarians being able to fly to Dublin and enter the UK without any border controls is very likely to make these leaders think again. Quite how the different communities inside Northern Ireland will react to these changes is difficult to predict. But it is not a recipe for stability and continuity.

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8.A public spending dividend for the UK from money released by Brexit

The Leave campaign has promised much from the 8.3billion that would be saved in net contributions to the EU Budget. It would enable 5billion in extra spending on the NHS, and a 5% cut VAT on domestic fuel, they argue. These sums work if you assume something totally implausible - that our economy will not react in any meaningful away to the decision to leave the European Union. In the past four days, the mere prospect of Leave drawing level with Remain in the polls has wiped out 100billion from the value of the FTSE-100 - equivalent to 12 years of UK net contributions to the EU. Virtually every economist, think-tank and international economic organisation has forecast a significant hit to UK GDP and our public finances in the wake of a Brexit vote. As the FT's Chris Giles has remarked, the world's economists are not always right, but they have never been as unified as they are that Brexit will hurt Britain's economy materially. In light of the overwhelming evidence, Leavers' promise of a "Brexit dividend" of public spending is an act of pure fantasy politics.

Taken together, the chances for each one of these eight conditions for Brexit's success are not great. The chances of some subset of them happening are very slim. The chances of all of them happening are as close to zero as you can get.

The odd thing about Brexit is that, as inflamed as all our passions are in advance of the referendum, in the aftermath of a vote to leave the EU we will all have to come together to make it work. But we can't work miracles. Whatever the appeal of detaching ourselves from the frustrations, compromises and Kafka-esque bureaucracy of the European Union, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that voting for Brexit next week would be a gross act of economic self-harm that would haunt and hurt Britain for many years to come.

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To me, the case for membership of the EU is a compelling one. As well as building peace and prosperity across Western Europe for over 60 years, it has also contributed massively to many of the rights we enjoy today - particularly the rights of women, workers and families.

And the case for staying in the EU is even stronger for so long as we have a Tory government in charge. Over the past few years the UK Tory Government has led a full-on assault on our rights, rolling back the support offered by the state at every opportunity. Imagine if they were able to scrap statutory maternity and paternity leave, along with maternity and paternity pay? For make no mistake, the reason many Tories want us to leave the EU is so that they can scrap the rights we all enjoy largely thanks to the EU.

Much has been made of the UK's financial contribution to the EU, and claims that this money could be better spent by the UK Government. The idea that the UK Government would spend the money no longer paid to the EU on our priorities, like our public services, is laughable. This is the party that has started down the road of privatising the NHS south of the border, that spends billions on nuclear weapons, that has cut vital support for disabled people across the UK and continues to punish some of the most vulnerable people in our society for the mistakes of bankers and politicians. I don't for a minute believe the Tories can be trusted to spend our money more wisely than the EU.

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In my own constituency, for example, two employability projects have recently begun to offer support to unemployed people across North Lanarkshire, with significant funding from the EU - in the form of two European Social Fund grants of over 6million. A grant from the European Regional Development Fund of 1.8million is also helping fund investment in business advisory support services across the area. Over the years, EU funding has directly contributed to and often initiated valuable projects across my constituency, with significant funding for employability projects in particular. The same is true all across Scotland.

It was Boris Johnson, the leader of the Brexit campaign, who said that a pound spent in London was of more value than a pound spent in Scotland. If he gets his hands on this EU cash, I don't fancy the chances of Scotland seeing a penny of it, or that money being spent on the right priorities.

On Thursday 23 June I will be voting to remain in Europe, and ask you to do the same. It is the EU which offers Scotland the opportunity of a genuine partnership of nations - one where we choose to work with our friends and neighbours to make real progress on economic, environment and social issues within Europe and the wider world. And more immediately, it offers some much needed protection against the worst excesses of this right wing Tory Government.
It is with a very heavy heart that I write this today. On 12th June 2016, the world was subjected to the most violent singular attack on the LGBT+ community in recent history.

My heart goes out to the victims of this tragedy, but also to their friends, families, the LGBT+ community, and every person in this world who believes in freedom and liberty - because this was also an attack on them.

But this is not a time to dwell on the circumstances that led to this attack. It is not a time to allow a deeper divide to be driven between our communities. Mahatma Gandhi famously said, "An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind" and I completely agree.

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It is now the time for us all to stand together and to support each other.

I founded OUTstanding to prove that LGBT+ could be visible, safe and successful in the workplace and am so proud of the continued commitment we all make to improving LGBT+ rights and opportunities at work.

But employees don't stop being that when they walk out of the door; we must be visible in our support at all times, in all places.

We have already seen some of the world's most influential companies publicly show their support, with moving statements from Google, JP Morgan, Aviva, Vodafone, PWC and Virgin to name a few, as well as the incredible show of solidarity displayed in the vigils that were held all around the world yesterday.
The historic child sex abuse inquiry, led by Justice Goddard, announced yesterday that it was fast tracking claims that child migrants sent to Australia and Canada between 1920 and 1970, had been sexually abused. Prior to and on arrival at their overseas homes. In 1998, a parliamentary report documented that the abuse suffered by some of those in Australia was "widespread, systematic and exceptionally depraved".

The inquiry will look at the role of the state, the Church of England and high profile charities in the abuse and cover up of children from as young as three.

Twenty years after the Rotherham child abuse scandal, the first arrest was made on Thursday. In the wake of the Jay report, which revealed the rape and trafficking of 1,400 children between 1997 and 2013, the National Crime Agency (NCA) began an investigation in 2014. Last week it was announced that the investigation will take at least 8 years to complete. Two years in, and having already been ignored by the South Yorkshire Police for a decade, this protracted timeline adds insult to injury for beleaguered survivors.

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In January, Les Paul was convicted (for the third time) for abusing four boys whilst he was a care home manager in Lambeth in the 1980s. The Goddard historic child sex inquiry is currently investigating claims of high level systemic paedophile networks operating throughout Lambeth care homes in the 80's and 90's.

A recent Newsnight investigation revealed that, in 1986, Lambeth discovered that one of its care home managers, Michael Carroll, had a previous conviction of child abuse which he hadn't disclosed in his job application. Yet, the conviction, and his failure to disclose it, did not result in his dismissal. It gets worse, when Carroll asked if he could turn one of the care homes into a centre to provide therapy for victims of child abuse, Lambeth agreed. It wasn't until Carroll was sacked for fiddling his expenses in 1991 that the press was made aware of his child sex convictions.

In a report published on Thursday, Leicestershire County Council pledged its full support for the Goddard inquiry. The council is one of several organisations required by law to contribute to the inquiry's first investigation which is looking into allegations against former Leicester Labour MP Grenville Janner.

Some survivors have expressed misgivings about the pressure being brought to bear on Justice Goddard by lawyers representing the myriad of institutions accused of exposing children to abuse by powerful politicians. Nigel O'Mara was recently rejected by Justice Goddard to be a "core participant" in her inquiry into alleged abuses by Lord Janner and the late liberal MP Sir Cyril Smith.

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In 1992 Mr O'Mara co-founded a helpline for survivors of sexual abuse and claims to have received a number of calls from young men alleging they had been abused as children in care by Janner and Smith. He said the reports were sent to Kenneth Clarke, then home secretary, in 1992 and 1993 but that no response was forthcoming.

David Enright, Mr O'Mara's solicitor, told the press that the high court was "overflowing with lawyers and barristers representing every institution and organisation alleged to have failed to protect children from sexual abuse by these powerful politicians". All of whom, he said, enjoyed full participation in the Goddard inquiry, including ongoing access and influence over it. "A key witness" (Mr O'Mara) will not".

When Justice Goddard took over the inquiry she promised to put survivors at its heart. If she is to instil trust and credibility, survivors' voices cannot be silenced and side-lined by loquacious lawyers acting on behalf of powerful institutions and individuals.

I was critical of Justice Goddard's predecessors. Their establishment links undermined trust amongst survivors, without which the inquiry could not claim credence. I publicly gave Ms Goddard my conditional backing when she was appointed sixteen months ago. I said then and repeat again now, that survivors must have absolute trust in the integrity of the process. Otherwise, it will unravel.
It is rare that MPs across parties agree on something, but on Monday night Steve Double MP concluded the debate on international aid by saying there was a 'clear cross-party support for spending 0.7% of GDP on international development'.

The almost unanimous support for continuing to ring-fence the aid budget might have come as a surprise to some after 231,388 people signed the Mail's petition to stop spending 0.7 percent on foreign aid.

MP after MP cited countless examples of why aid, well spent, is good for everyone.

So why did the Mail's petition against aid spending garner so much public support? One of the conclusions that Steve Doughty drew yesterday was that we haven't done a very good job of explaining how investing in aid benefits us here in the UK.

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It seems examples of aid spent badly often get more of a media spotlight than aid spent well.

That's not to downplay the vital importance of rigorous checks and balances to make sure that money given to aid is spent efficiently and effectively - and it is right to call out and challenge any seeming bad practice.

But the reality is that spending British taxpayers money on helping the poorest countries in the world makes the UK - and the world - a safer and better place for all of us.

And, until Monday's debate, this important point had not had enough airtime.

There is, of course, also a moral argument that sharing our wealth is a decent thing to do when so many of our global neighbours are suffering in absolute poverty or hit by disasters outside their control.

Last year, during Ebola, Mariama became a teenage mum. She had been abused and impregnated whilst her parents were in hospital with Ebola. Her mother survived Ebola but she lost her dad, the breadwinner for the family. Mariama, her mum and little sister resorted to crushing rocks to try and eke out a living. Today, thanks to Street Child - funded by UK aid - instead of crushing rocks, Mariama is back in school, and so is her sister. We helped her mum start a sustainable business that allows her to look after Mariama's baby and fund education for both her daughters. It's hard not to feel like that's the right thing to do.

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Whether you share this view or not, it is harder to argue against the fact that investing in a world where more people are educated, and fewer are in desperate poverty, is actually good for the UK. It just makes sense.

As Stephen Doughty MP said:

'It is irresponsible for us to ignore those in a world where poverty, insecurity and instability have consequences for our streets and our cities.'

He, and others, cited examples of how gross poverty fuels extremism, and leads to migration as people seek to escape the very poverty and insecurity that UK aid aims to help tackle.

He asked 'Do we seriously think that diseases such as Ebola and other pandemics, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, resist borders? Of course they do not. Our aid plays a crucial role in tackling such diseases.'

Ebola is one very clear example of the danger that a lack of education and healthcare in a country thousands of miles away can pose to all of us.

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The first victim of Ebola in Sierra Leone, Finda Nymah, was a grandmother from a village called Kpondu.

Her death in May 2014, a tragedy in its own right, led to tragedy on a vast scale. The World Health Organisation estimates that her funeral alone led directly to 350 deaths from the virus.

Over the following two years, Ebola spread far beyond the small, remote village of Kpondu on the Guinea-Liberia-Sierra Leone border to claim almost 4,000 lives in Sierra Leone, and leave 12,000 children orphaned. It marked the start of the deeper region-wide Ebola crisis and caused a global health emergency.

The incredibly low levels of healthcare and education in the three worst hit countries were the key underlying factors behind the spread of Ebola, putting other countries at risk and requiring huge sums of international aid to be spent to control the virus.

Finda Nymah and the many Finda-like tragedies that played out on grim scale over West Africa in late 2014 showed how the illiteracy of one person was not just their own personal problem or tragedy - it was something that could have dramatic consequences for all of us.

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Illiterate people who engage in dangerous health practices do not just endanger themselves - but can unwittingly put lives at risk on the other side of the planet.

Finda lived in a cluster of 12 villages where there has never been a school. It is easy not to get Ebola - don't touch ill or recently deceased people. But if you don't have the educational ability to receive, or scientific understanding to trust, this message you are at grave risk at a time when the virus is around. And as a result so to some extent are we all.

Today, builders in Sierra Leone will be working on Kpondu's first school, built by UK NGO Street Child with funds donated by the British public and Government. The school means that Finda's twin toddler granddaughters will have access to the education that could have saved their village, and Sierra Leone, from Ebola.

As Stephen Timms MP highlighted when he spoke about the importance of education for all, this is not just good for these girls - it is good for everyone, wherever they are.

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DFID is currently match funding all donations to Street Child's Girls Speak Out appeal which aims to help 20,000 poor and Ebola-hit children to access school this year. Programmes like this, investing in preventing Ebola orphans from becoming a lost generation and giving them hope for life, change lives in Sierra Leone, but also make us that bit safer, here.

Of course there are rightful questions to be asked about how aid is invested - after all badly

administered aid helps no-one - but what the Mail's debate has actually revealed is the depth of cross-party support for helping our international neighbour.

The Mail's petition also proved that we need to talk more about the huge positive impact that British generosity is having both at home and abroad. Perhaps, then, the next debate will not be about reducing aid spending but asking whether we are giving enough?
When was the last time you took time to meet someone for lunch outside the office? According to research in the UK, it probably wasn't recently. It is a real shame that the business lunch has been dying out because I am a firm believer in taking the time to get to know someone out of the office environment. If you want to seal a deal, or make a business partnership, I believe it is best to do so over lunch.

Last year, I spent three months living in Barcelona and I learned the importance of leaving the office for a sit-down lunch. Here in London, we tend to eat at our desks or get takeaway lunches. Not only is it healthier to take a break from work, due to the fact that you eat in front of a screen and it impacts your digestion, but it is also much more social. In Barcelona, they have mastered the art of a 30-minute business lunch.

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In the past couple of months, I have made a concerted effort to follow the "Barcelona rule" of eating outside the office as much as possible. Any time I have a meeting with a potential client or investors, I suggest that we meet at a restaurant. Most people choose to go to restaurants in the evenings or for celebrations. What they don't realize is that there are amazing lunch specials during the day.

Some of the most exclusive restaurants offer special deals for their lunch hours. The chic dining venue, Aqua Shard, for example, is the most booked restaurant in London over lunchtime. Menus in restaurants across the country are evolving to meet the demands of diners so a lunch out does not have to cost an exorbitant amount or keep you away from your desk for too long.

Another great benefit of taking time out of your day to have lunch is that your meeting will probably go much better. Bookatable, the website for restaurant bookings, has found that 40% of workers say bonding with clients or consultants over lunch is the key driver to signing on the dotted line. Additionally, more than one in five (22%) people say that business lunches help them to retain clients. I totally agree with these facts; people are always happier when they are eating or drinking, so if you want to seal a deal or make a business partnership, it is best to do so over lunch.

Financial pressures (41%) and a lack of time (28%) are both factors in the decline of business lunches, with 17% of workers blaming the "credit crunch" for ditching dining outside the office. Workplace pressures also play a role, with a fifth of Brits (19%) saying staff shortages mean they cannot take time out of the office to attend business lunches.

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These are valuable points, but when you consider that taking a client out for lunch makes them feel valued and more likely to renew contracts, the practice should be seen as an investment.

Overall, what are the key benefits of visiting restaurants during the day versus during the evening?

1)It's healthier. It is much better to eat heavy foods at lunch, rather than at dinner. If you are looking to indulge in a large plate of spaghetti, it's much better to do so during the day! Additionally, you are better off eating in a peaceful environment, as opposed to eating while you work. Your body will absorb the food better.

2)It's cheaper. Lunch specials make eating out during the day much more affordable than eating out at night.

3)You're more likely to seal a business deal. Meeting in the office is not as pleasurable as eating out. And people tend to be happier when they are eating. It releases endorphins in the brain!

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John Cornyn says he wont talk about Donald Trump until after the election, at which point he will apologize to president-elect Trump. The Senate voted to include women in the draft, because women haven't been dragged into enough men's mistakes. And Marco Rubio is reconsidering leaving the Senate, because another balding, middle-aged guy with slightly-above-average public speaking skills is just the thing the GOP needs going forward. This is HUFFPOST HILL for Wednesday, June 15th, 2016:

GOP OBAMACARE REPLACEMENT BILL NOT VERY SERIOUS, IT TURNS OUT - We are shocked. Peter Sullivan: "The plan, set to be released next week, will include a tax credit to help people afford insurance and a cap on the current exclusion of employer-based health insurance plans from taxation. However, it will not include specific dollar amounts on how large the tax credit would be, nor will it note which employer health insurance plans would be subject to taxation, lobbyists and aides said." [The Hill]

RUBIO RECONSIDERING RUN - Mike DeBonis: "Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who pledged for months not to seek re-election to the Senate as he waged an ill-fated campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, said Wednesday that he is rethinking that decision and could enter the race as soon as next week. Rubio said his decision followed a Sunday conversation with his friend Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera (R), who is running to succeed him in the Senate, on the sidelines of the scene of the terror attack in Orlando. 'Obviously, I take very seriously everything thats going on  not just Orlando, but in our country,' Rubio said. 'I enjoy my service here a lot. So Ill go home later this week, and Ill have some time with my family, and then if theres been a change in our status Ill be sure to let everyone know.'" [WaPo]

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TRUMP CHANGES POSITION ON OBAMA'S TERRORIST SYMPATHIES - The presumptive Republican nominee for president implied Wednesday that he was right all along to suggest President Barack Obamasympathizes with Islamic terrorists. Donald Trump, who has long promoted the false conspiracy theory that Obama was born in Kenya, tweeted Wednesday that he was right to raise the possibility a few days ago that Obama secretly sympathizes with radical Muslim terrorists... Trump received a barrage of criticism for his baseless insinuation. Later, he seemed to deny having made it, growing incensed when The Washington Post reported that he had said the thing he said. [HuffPost]

He has also changed his position on the thickness of his own skin.

DEMOCRATS PROTEST LACK OF GUN CONTROL MOVEMENT - Mike McAuliff: " Led by the senators who represent Newtown, Connecticut  where a gunman fatally shot 26 people, including 20 children, in 2012  Democrats took control of the Senate floor Wednesday and vowed to keep talking until lawmakers start doing something about gun violence. 'Newtown is still putting itself back together, probably will be for a long time,' said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who launched the filibuster-style takeover, declaring it was time for the Senate to do something about gun violence beyond the usual ineffective debatesMurphy interrupted consideration of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Act. Among other things, it funds the Justice Department, and Democrats had already planned to try to add amendments related to gun violence to it. The first was expected to be a measure that would bar people who are on the terrorism watchlist from buying guns." [HuffPost]

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Strange bedfellows: "Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday he will meet with the National Rifle Association about not allowing people on a terrorist watch list to purchase guns." [HuffPost]

Gawker appears to have one of the hacked DNC documents on Donald Trump.

DELANEY DOWNER - The Federal Reserve says "the pace of improvement in the labor market has slowed while growth in economic activity appears to have picked up. Although the unemployment rate has declined, job gains have diminished." The good news is that realizing this means the Fed will not deliberately stomp on the economy right now. [FederalReserve.gov]

Does somebody keep forwarding you this newsletter? Get your own copy. It's free! Sign up here. Send tips/stories/photos/events/fundraisers/job movement/juicy miscellanea to huffposthill@huffingtonpost.com. Follow us on Twitter - @HuffPostHill

CLINTON CAMPAIGN TAKING OVER DNC - "The majority of Hillary Clinton's campaign staff has transitioned immediately to the payroll at the Democratic National Committee, two sources familiar with the change tell The Hill. The move telegraphs that the general election has officially begun for Clinton, and that the DNC is shifting its focus to November even as Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) continues to compete in the Democratic Primary. 'The DNC is becoming Hillary for America, essentially,' one source familiar with the change said.. Sources familiar with the transition, a common practice in general election cycles, say the move will ensure that party building functions  including field, data and political operations  in states will be paid out of the DNC. The shift is meant to ensure that the money the Clinton campaign raises and spends can be used for such items as advertising and candidate travel." [The Hill]

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SENATE VOTES TO INCLUDE WOMEN IN DRAFT - Congress giving women the opportunity to once again have people ask for their number whether they like it or not. Jen Bendery: "The Senate voted Tuesday to require women to register for the draft, an action with little practical impact anytime soon  the U.S. has relied on an all-volunteer military force for decades  but one that reflects a growing consensus that women are just as capable of serving and leading in the military as men. The provision was tucked into the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed 85-13. Its weird that the issue is being debated since the draft, also known as Selective Service, hasnt been in use since 1973. Whats also surprising is that lawmakers who rarely agree with each other on anything are all for requiring women between the ages of 18 and 25 to sign up to serve their country...The Obama administration lifted the ban on women in serving combat units in late 2015. Since then, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has endorsed expanding the draft to women, and the Congressional Budget Office found that doing so would actually reduce federal spending." [HuffPost]

"LA LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!" update: "Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn on Tuesday went a step further than McConnell, telling POLITICO he will no longer talk about Trump until after Nov. 8."

CLINTON SPEAKS WITH HUFFPOST - Having apparently not blacklisted us, the Democratic nominee spoke with Sam Stein. Among an array of topics, she discussed a possible all-woman ticket, supported most vociferously by Harry Reid: "Well, I think it is a great comment, and I really always appreciate Senator Reids candor and his observations. Im going to be diving into the issue I face about choosing someone to be the vice presidential candidate, and we have a lot of great potential candidates, including women. Im delighted that we have such a deep bench of Democrats who could not only hold the position and become a great partner but become president if necessary." [HuffPost]

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TRUMP NOT BOLSTERED BY BOTS - The vileness of the person aside, that a self-professed billionaire somehow managed to develop a true grassroots following is pretty remarkable. Darren Samuelsohn: "According to an analysis obtained by POLITICO that matches Twitter handles to public voter data, seven out of every 10 of @realdonaldtrumps followers appear to be his supporters. The report, produced by San Antonio database marketing agency Stirista, also found that nearly 90 percent of Trumps followers are reliable turn outs at the ballot box; roughly 11 percent of Trumps followers should be classified as first-time presidential voters." [Politico]

So much for Maryland and its 10 electoral votes: "Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said emphatically Wednesday that he does not plan to vote for Donald Trump, his partys presumptive  and divisive  presidential nominee. Although the first-term governor has repeatedly said he does not support Trump, he had never before stated whether he would vote for him in the general election." [WaPo's Ovetta Wiggins]

HOUSE OVERSIGHT CENSURES IRS OFFICIAL - AP: "A Republican-run House committee Wednesday voted along party lines to censure IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, saying he failed to provide information demanded by Congress and lied under oath as lawmakers investigated allegations the agency targeted tea party groups that had applied for tax-exempt status. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Koskinen had made untrue statements to investigators examining the IRS' treatment of conservative groups, including testimony the agency had turned over emails requested by Congress when it had not The 23-15 party-line vote doesn't mean the measure will get a floor vote, however. Two other committees have jurisdiction and Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has not rushed to embrace the idea." [AP]

BECAUSE YOU'VE READ THIS FAR - Here's a dancing toddler.

A LOOK AT D.C.'S PRIMARY - Alas, Jason Cherkis is still not mayor. Will Sommer: "Ward 7 Councilmember Yvette Alexander lost her seat by double-digit margins to Vince Gray, the former mayor and her former mentor. Ward 8 Councilmember LaRuby May, in Marion Barrys old seat for just a year, was chucked out by rival Trayon White. In the surprise of the night, At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange lost to challenger Robert White by two percent of the vote. Even Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd, re-elected again in the mayors home ward with her endorsement, couldnt clear 50 percent of the voteAfter three of her D.C. Council allies went down Tuesday night, Mayor Muriel Bowser now has to face new councilmembers who won by running against her, newly emboldened Council veterans who arent so afraid of her, and a chunk of voters that apparently doesnt like her very much. Forget whether there are any members left on the Green TeamBowser now has to consider emboldened challengers waiting to take her on in 2018." [WCP]

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COMFORT FOOD

- Baby moose believes in LGBTQ equality.

TWITTERAMA

@KatyTurNBC: Trump: "They either love me or they hate me"

Man behind me: "I love you!" (pause) "manly love."



@leahfinnegan: my barista quit in the middle of making my americano to work for vice

Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.): "...but I think I'm losing Lego Land."

Tom Rooney's kid: "You're losing Lego Land??!!!"
Three years ago, before I moved to Mississippi from my native Manhattan, I would have jumped on the boycott bandwagon to punish the state for its so-called "Religious Freedom Bill" -- a Dixie-tinted Nuremberg Law depriving gay people of civil rights. I would have supported the tactic of starving this state into civility. I would have hailed author Sherman Alexie's protest of the bill when he canceled his scheduled address at the University of Mississippi next fall. And I would have been wrong.

In a place where hateful politics grows as thick and fast as kudzu, isolation is fertilizer for discrimination. Mississippi needs Americans who support gay rights to pour into the state, just they did to support voting rights in the Freedom Summer of 1964. Only active intervention from outsiders can help Mississippi overcome its latest civil rights challenge.

But Mississippi can overcome, as the New York Times reported in a story about "racial redemption" in a Mississippi Delta high school earlier this week.

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Boycotting can be an effective driver for change, as it was during the mother of all civil rights boycotts, the Montgomery Bus Boycott. But in reality, a boycott of Mississippi now won't hurt its rightful target: the relative handful of white men who wield power in this state and milk it dry. These are the elite who will be cutting educational funding, including funding for the state's only school for blind and deaf children, in order to give tax breaks to their corporate clients and enrich themselves. This is the very group that thrives in the shadows of isolation.

A macro view of this Mississippi shows an intractably bigoted place. A micro view reveals a complex mix of institutionalized bigotry and boundless individual kindness. This is a place where a stranger helps a stranger. A place where I was stranded in a gas station late one night with a blown-out tire and a man not only drove home to fetch the four-way crowbar he needed to change the tire but, finding he didn't have one, phoned his neighbor to borrow one and together they drove back to help me.

Change is possible, even dramatic change, as when last year the University of Mississippi's student and faculty senates -- both filled with non-natives -- voted to bring down the state flag (blink and you see the Confederate flag) on campus.

Mississippi is a complicated place, as confusing to navigate as a human soul, and at times as dark as our worst impulses. But America mustn't turn its back on Mississippi if there's any chance for salvation.
By Robin Bade, Founding Partner, Mirum

Millennials this, millennials that. Its time to put the spotlight on Generation Z, a demographic who straddle high school to university. They are the first generation to be true digital natives and make up about a quarter of the UK and US population.

Open minded and politically and socially engaged for Generation Z, digital and technology is the norm. It is their playground. They use the internet to create, connect and change, not just browse it to find out what Bieber is doing post Monaco Grand Prix.

More importantly, they can smell BS a mile off. With that in mind, how can brands reach them effectively?

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Crystal balls

Ethically minded Generation Z like to understand processes. If they use your tech, they want to know you are doing right by the world, so stashing cash under the mattress when you should be paying tax is a no-no. Brands should be upping the transparency stakes. Even if you are in the business of serving up dead flesh, you should be informing your customers about your animal welfare policies.

Chipolte is a great case. In 2013 they became the first national restaurant chain to voluntarily disclose the presence of GMOs in their products and last year, switched to serving food solely made with GMO free ingredients.

Enjoy, dont sell

With so many subcultures in operation, the path from subculture to commerce is short and Generation Z certainly dont appreciate their scenes being stolen and manipulated to farm a quick buck

Employ people from Generation Z to speak with their peers in a genuine manner.

YouTubers are crucial to selling product through placement and connecting with Generation Z in a way celebrities cant. However, all too often brands approach YouTube as if they were making a traditional advert. Let the YouTuber control the creative. They wont be interested in tricking the viewers into buying something they have no interest in whatsoever.

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Gleam Futures helps Asda on one of their YouTube channels. The supermarket has zero editorial control and the resulting, Mums Eye View, promotes the supermarket while fitting naturally into the work the YouTubers do.

PS. How not to do it, is examined in the @BrandsSayingBae twitter feed, which ridicules brands trying to be fleek and falling flat on their face.

Sexual orientation is shifting

Generation Z celebrate a fluidity of sexuality. They prefer not to be categorized. Accordingly, brands should take a gender neutral approach when trying to appeal to them. Selfridges introduced unisex shopping spaces to help promote its Agender, genderless clothing line.

Omnichannel shopping

If its on the website it should be in the store as well. Generation Z will harvest ideas from multiple online channels and be happy to make the purchases using an app but would still rather pick up the goods at the store.

They are looking for instant gratification, avoiding the wait. Amazon Prime Now offers 1 and 2 hour delivery services in selected cities across the globe.

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Brands need to be firing on all cylinders when it comes to making on and offline work seamlessly and should not concern themselves with whether a Generation Z converts in store or via a tap of the touchscreen, as long as they convert with them.

And while traditional offline brands are moving into the digital arena, online brands will also see gains being made if they move offline. The personal relationship is still key and its what Generation Z are looking for.

In addition to this, a physical space allows brands to create cool and non-traditional experiences for its shoppers. Amazon recently opened up its first bricks and mortar outlet in Seattles University Village and chief executive, Jeff Bezos, has recently announced he plans to continue this trend.

Holistic thinking and omnichannel is key. It should be as natural to brands as it is to Generation Z and in achieving this brands should hang out with the kids

What next?
"The captain has turned off the 'fasten seatbelt' sign. You may now move around the cabin."

How many times in your life have you heard that message? It is not quite the invitation to move about, stretch your legs and network with your fellow passengers that it once was. It is common to see images from the Golden Age of Travel (1950s and 60s) in which passengers are networking over drinks or cheerfully talking over a lavish dinner. But times have changed and so has the reality of travel. Now it is more common to read tweets about overcrowded planes, lost time on the tarmac, terrible client service, etc. Most modern communication about flying is negative -- and therefore most people view that trip to 30,000 feet as an essential nuisance.

Flying for pleasure or with your family has its own set of challenges, but at least the end destination is something enjoyable. Business travel, on the other hand, is necessary for job advancement and the success of your company. Quite a few business travelers complain of feeling like cattle being prodded through the airport and onto the flight instead of individuals who paid good money for a seat on the plane.

It would be great if flying was like the image above; planes filled with happy people, talking and enjoying each other's company and the flight, and flight attendants and customers respecting each other. Unfortunately, travel is not like that in 2016. So what makes flying -- especially for business -- so painful?

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Top 5 Reasons Business Travel is Frustrating:

Unproductive Work Environment - When flying for business, it is natural to want to make the most of the downtime of travel. Send out emails, finish up a presentation or catch up on some needed work. In an ideal situation, we'd be able to network prior to the big conference. However, the airport is filled with people hustling to planes, screaming kids, limited seating and very few electronic outlets, making it a less than ideal place to set up an office. The few airports that offer WiFi are often running at capacity, thanks to the teens streaming from YouTube. Private airline clubs catering to business travelers are great, but oftentimes are located nowhere near your gate. Then once on the plane space is tight, internet is is yet another cost and the environment is not great for concentrating.

Lack of Good and Healthy Food Options - Airport food might be fine for those travelers on vacation who can afford to splurge. But seasoned flyers understand that the greasy burgers and fries are not helping frequent travelers' waistlines. The food found in airports and airlines is rarely fresh and is filled with salt and sugar that is hard on your body. Over the years, the bad food and lack of exercise that naturally goes hand-in-hand with business trips puts frequent travelers at a higher risk for obesity.

Chronic Business Travelers Age Faster and Have a Weaker Immune System - Recirculating air in planes exposes travelers to germs. Couple that with the stress and fatigue that tends to accompany business travel, and the result is a weaker immune system over time. The stress starts to wreak havoc on the body, which can make people age faster. We all know business travel can be a pain, but who knew it could potentially shorten your life?

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Long Wait Times - It is hard to predict how long security lines will be, especially at the busiest airport hubs. Chicago O'Hare and Midway Airport have recently been in the news because of their long TSA lines. They have started encouraging travelers to arrive to airport three hours before their flight. When time is money, that's quite a sacrifice to make.

Flight Delays - Flight delays are an unexpected frustration and can throw a curveball in any trip, but are especially frustrating when trying to be on time for a business meeting. In the month of April alone 9,000 domestic flights were canceled and 139,000 were delayed. Luckily, winter storms will not be an issue for at least half the year, but spring thunderstorms can still cause their fair share of delays.

Unfortunately, the average passenger can't solve these frustrations on her own. The trick is to find a way to make the most of travel. Luckily, companies like Flyght Club are working to bring back the social experience of flying. This app, which taps into "social aviation," helps connect passengers by allowing them to network with fellow travelers before, during and after the flight. Passengers are able to make connections on their own terms and take full advantage of the time that they spend on an airplane or waiting to board. Thanks to social aviation, the Golden Age of Travel in the 21st century is right around the corner.
I don't cry about the news. Mass murders, celebrity deaths, cholera in Haiti - I always take a moment to think about what a sad state the story reflects and ponder possible solutions, but it's all very intellectual for me. I'm not heartless. Quite the contrary, I'm a social worker and have devoted my life to service, but in order to be effective, I found I've had to harden my heart somewhat or I would crumble at all the sadness in the world. Then the Orlando shootings happened. I've been living in Alaska for three years, but my first 28 were spent in the sunshine state, in various parts of The City Beautiful (that's one of Orlando's nicknames.) I interned at Grace Medical Home, a community clinic just a stone's throw away from Pulse nightclub. I lived a two-minute walk away and spent many nights dancing there. Orlando is where I grew into a woman, found my passion for human rights activism, and where I still call home. So for the first time in my adult life on Sunday, I cried at the news.

I've been all over the world and have put many people in their place when they thought they knew Orlando, "that place with all the theme parks." I tell them about our great and varied music scene, the myriad artists, poets, lovers, and dreamers, our skilled healthcare workers, the numerous small and creative business owners, the multitudes of cuisines and cultural expressions, our Christ-like volunteers who work tirelessly for the betterment of Orlando's communities, and of course, our smart and steadfast activists and politicians. I've always wanted Orlando's name in lights, but not like this. Right now every story, every face, every time I hear The City Beautiful's name, I cry like an infant. This article's intention is twofold. First, you've heard all about the terror which took place. I want to fill you in on the splendor which happened in the days after. Second, I want to talk about what we can do - individually and collectively - to help with this seemingly impossible issue.

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So let's talk about Sunday in Orlando. After the initial shock started to wear off, it was overwhelming the way my newsfeed lit up with friends and acquaintances from back home turning out to help. Blood banks had lines around the block with people wanting to donate. Friends who worked at local hospitals said so many employees showed up they had to be turned away. Many 100s of local mental health practitioners donated their time and professional services to do grief counseling. Spanish speakers lent their time to translate for families of victims coming for hospital visits, funerals, and vigils. Jet Blue, a largely Orlando-focused company offered free flights to family members of the affected. My friends' moms and dads filled up their minivans with water and snacks and brought them to needed areas. One of my friends - who is a talented writer - penned a piece about the attack and the strength or our city in the format of a letter to his young son.

Several of Orlando's LGBT activists got to work raising funds, making outreach calls, and telling the story to media outlets so the rest of the world could know what happened. That night, there were no vigils in Orlando due to police's security concerns, but love and light poured in from around the state, country, and world. Then Monday night, after Orlando police had given their blessing, 1000s of people showed up to pay their respects, show their solidarity, and promote Orlando's strength and resilience. It was a beautiful thing, and I have never been more proud of my hometown. I felt impotent being so far away though and wanted to do something, and writing to all of you seemed like a good start. So, now that I've told you a bit about our great city, let's get into how we can stop this from happening elsewhere.

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I have to be upfront about something, though. I used to HATE guns, period. Hunting was dumb, target practice was idiotic, any potential partner of mine could have a life of holding me or a gun, but not both. I thought they were destruction machines and no type was any use to any civilian, ever. Then I moved to Alaska. People here use guns to hunt for food, to protect their families from animals (which is a real and present danger here), and it's an honored tradition. My boyfriend was raised here and learned how to shoot - and respect - guns when he was six years old. It's a big part of the culture, and I suspect there are similar gun users all throughout the country. I get that now, and I don't want these people's guns "taken away." However, it appears to me that a steep divide still exists in our country on this issue. Why can't we all be on the same side? Whether you love guns or hate them, can't we all agree that they should never be put in the hands of someone who means to take an innocent life, let alone 50 at once? And if we do agree on that, then doesn't there HAVE to be some common sense changes we can make to the relevant systems to help deter gun violence in our country?

The United States is the leader in gun violence. Compared to other developed nations, our gun related murder rate is 25 times higher , even when adjusted for population size. What are other developed nations (UK, Germany, Spain, France, Canada) doing that we are not? Low gun deaths in a developed country is possible, even when starting from a place of terror as Australia showed in 1996. Innovation, integrity, freedom - isn't that what our country prides itself on? Why can't we extend our beloved values into such an important issue which continues to affect so many of us? We've taken a big bite out all sorts of public health issues in our country's past. We haven't had a cholera outbreak since the early 1900s. We've taken AIDS from an epidemic with an automatic death sentence, to something far less frequent and which a person can now live and thrive with.

Granted, lowering gun mortality is a complex problem, but what have we done to try and fix it? What are we doing now? Aren't the lives of the free and the brave worth it? Let's examine what leading scholars suggest! Let's look more closely at possible common sense solutions. One option that I find particularly promising (which many developed countries with low gun death rates utilize) is simply requiring a permit to purchase a gun. These often need you to pass a thorough background check, take a safety course, state the purpose for the gun, and require a delay in acquiring the gun while these matters are attended to. I have heard some people say in the US that they find this option intrusive. But isn't a mild intrusion worth it if it can help prevent senseless deaths? Some states within the US already have similar measures in action and have had astounding results. For example, in 1995, Connecticut put a permit requirement in place and they saw a 40% drop in homicide in the coming years. We - as a nation - can also work to prevent guns from reaching people illegally via gun trafficking, re-establish the ban on assault rifles (do civilians really need access to such an extreme killing machine?), and we can keep better records to help gun sellers have more information about who they're selling to. These are just a few of the many ideas out there.

Watching the events of terror unravel in my hometown - even from afar - was one of the most disturbing events of my life. Refreshing the City of Orlando's website every few minutes for 48 hours to see if someone I love had died hurt deep in my bones. This should not happen to one more city. Unfortunately, I know it will (depending on the source, somewhere between 30 - 100 people die every day in our country via firearms ) but it shouldn't. I'm not saying that there are easy answers. But as a nation... can't we agree to try? As individuals, can we start to be more curious? Maybe then we can start to channel our sadness, and our fear, and our rage, into action. What can you do as an individual? Find your state and federal representatives and tell them how you feel and what you want, as one of their constituents. Get involved in politics, elect leaders who want to see this change in our country and are willing to try. If you're not sure how to get started there are many sites which can help, like this one: everytown. If you want to give money to help those in Orlando, I'm including a list of Orlando-based fundraisers being put together for the families of ones lost, as well as local agencies that lined up to help. Alright, that's it from me. Now, let's take all the emotion this has evoked, and use it to ensure this doesn't happen again.

https://www.gofundme.com/pulsevictimsfund

https://www.gofundme.com/29758fqk

http://www.thecenterorlando.org/

http://www.eqfl.org/node/8

http://www.orlandohealthfoundation.com/

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Apparently people like Hamilton the musical. Apparently they like it a lot. I'm fairly certain that Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda could run for president, right now, without having won a single primary or super delegate, and easily win the White House.

As if it wasn't already impossible to score tickets to the Broadway smash hit, something tells me that after the Tony Awards--Hamilton nabbed eleven Tonys, including Best Musical--the world will be even wilder for Hamilton, the Pulitzer-prize winning show chronicling the life of our nation's first Treasury Secretary.

Are you, like so many others, humming the thrilling tunes #NONSTOP and rapping along to the historically-laden lyrics? Perhaps you're hoping to some day get yours hands on a ticket--maybe even within the next decade?

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For all you rabid HamilFANS out there who can't score HamilTIX, fear not! Here are 10 books that you simply must read. Call it an immediate and literary way to get your #HamilFIX:

1. The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki

A particularly fun nugget from the lyrics of Hamilton: "Martha Washington named her feral tomcat after him." Apparently Alexander Hamilton had success with the ladies. And you know one lady in particular who caught his eye? Peggy Shippen, the beautiful and beguiling young wife of patriot-turned-traitor Benedict Arnold. And so, from the very first pages of this novel about Benedict and Peggy Arnold and the plot to betray America, Alexander Hamilton emerges as the trusted right-hand man of George Washington and a central figure in the unraveling of the treasonous conspiracy.

Hamilton happened to be completely seduced by the charms of Peggy Shippen Arnold, never suspecting the Tory belle of her central role in her husband's plans to sell West Point to the British. The rumors and reports were that Hamilton, who was in Arnold's home the day the plot was thwarted, was so moved by chivalrous concern and empathy for the poor Peggy that he brought her flowers in bed.

2. America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie

Before the deadly duel and the infamous Aaron Burr bullet that ended his life, Alexander Hamilton had another longtime rival, and his name was Thomas Jefferson. And Thomas Jefferson had a daughter, Patsy, and her fascinating life is the subject of this must-read historical novel. 'America's First Daughter' sweeps readers from Monticello to Revolutionary France to the Jefferson White House and beyond. Compelling and richly researched--authors Dray and Kamoie drew from thousands of letters and original sources--this little-known story of Patsy Jefferson sheds new light on some of the most fascinating moments of our nation's founding.

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And there's even more good news: power duo Kamoie and Dray are teaming up again. Their next subject? Elizabeth Schuyler, also known as Mrs. Alexander Hamilton! Sign me up for the pre-order on that one.

3. The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss

Miranda's lyrics "Everyone give it up for America's favorite fighting Frenchman!" refer to the Marquis de Lafayette, and Hamilton's Tony-winning version of the French aristocrat lays down his revolutionary raps so fast you won't need any guillotine to get your head spinning. I think the crowds actually levitate when Lafayette bursts onto the scene with the enthralling "Guns and Ships" number.

But guess what? There was another famous fighting Frenchman who won glory on the other side of the Atlantic, and his name was General Alexandre Dumas. If that name sounds slightly familiar, it's because he shares a name with his more famous son, the novelist who gave us such timeless tales as 'The Three Musketeers' and 'The Count of Monte Cristo.' Turns out Dumas's plot and action for 'The Count of Monte Cristo' came from his own father's life story and career fighting as an officer in the French Revolution. Dumas the Father's life was chock-full of dramatic and salacious--and historically accurate--moments like shipwrecks at sea, battles across Europe, alligator hunts and a very high-profile feud with Napoleon himself. His life, and Reiss's brilliant novel about it, presents a story that only history can inspire, because you truly could not make this stuff up.

4. Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow

Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda drew much of the inspiration for his musical from the Ron Chernow biography of Alexander Hamilton, which is flying off the shelf these days.

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But Ron Chernow has written another brilliant biography about Alexander Hamilton's mentor and commander and first boss, George Washington. Believe me, America's most famous Founding Father was even cooler in real life than his namesake character on stage at the Richard Rodgers theater. Here comes the general!

5. Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey

The American Revolution never would have succeeded without the financial support and naval power of the French, not to mention Lafayette's tactical brilliance on the battlefield. For that, we have King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette to thank.

So, take a break from the bloodstained battlefields of Brooklyn and Yorktown for a bit and visit Versailles, where, at the same moment in history, the halls tinkled with the sounds of violins and champagne. Grey shows readers a naive young woman in her struggles to assume the role of queen within a shifty and dangerous court, at the helm of a collapsing empire.

6. New York by Edward Rutherfurd

Hamilton the musical tells us "In New York you can be a new man," and so much of the story's action unfolds against the backdrop of the earliest days of the Big Apple. If you want to dive even deeper into what New York City at that time looked like, read this brilliant and sweeping Rutherfurd novel that takes readers through the evolution of New York City, beginning in the years prior to the American Revolution and covering four centuries.

You'll be transported back to the New York City of Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, Elizabeth Schuyler and the rest of the beloved Hamilton cast. "Look around, look around, the Revolution's happening in New York!"

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Want to be in "the room where it happened"? Then read this book and you get a front row seat to all of the action that set the stage for the American Revolution in its critical first year.

This one is jam-packed with explosive detail and breathtaking drama that criss-crosses the Atlantic and follows the events of the Siege of Boston, the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, and the earliest battles that enabled the great fight for independence. McCullough doesn't disappoint, and neither does the history.

"How does a ragtag volunteer army in need of a shower somehow defeat a global superpower?" Kilmeade and Yaeger give us the answer in this account of America's first spies. Alexander Hamilton won glory and freedom for America on the battlefield, but the men and women of the Culper Spy Ring did work behind the scenes that was just as critical in securing our fragile and unlikely freedom from the world's dominant superpower.

Packed with historical detail, this one is nonfiction, but it reads like a thrilling spy page-turner.

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9. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

"Ladies and gentlemen! The moment you've been waiting for! The pride of Mount Vernon!" What an entrance. George Washington looms large over much of the musical Hamilton, and with good reason.

It turns out that George Washington once wrote his own life credo, a list of "Rules of Civility," a code by which he lived his life. The list includes everything from the first President's ideas on how to sit politely at the dinner table to how to develop one's integrity and character.

Those brilliant and thought-provoking sayings form the framework for this Towles novel set against a glittering backdrop of New York City in 1938. It's not entirely unlike the journey of the young Alexander Hamilton, in that it's a coming-of-age story of a young woman who finds herself in New York City, seeking answers about herself and her place in the world during a glamorous and gritty moment in history.

10. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Alexander Hamilton was there, along with George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers to win our independence and establish the new nation.

But when our union fell apart during the Civil War, one man emerged more than any other to save the United States and salvage the American dream. If you love learning about the critical figures of American freedom, then you must read about Abraham Lincoln as well. Doris Kearns Goodwin has earned the nickname "America's Historian In Chief" for a reason, and this one is considered by many to be her best work.

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John Linder, an American politician, once asserted that "Our values and way of life will prevail - terrorism will not."

At no time should this be held truer than now, after the deadliest mass public shooting in modern U.S. history, where Omar Mateen killed at least 49 innocent people and wounded 53 more in an Orlando nightclub.

The news is ablaze with descriptions of his victims and stories of a community and world coming together to mourn this tragedy. Unless you've been under a rock the last few days, you've seen the faces of promising young people killed prematurely and their loved ones who are now forced to face the senseless manner in which they died.

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And we're left with the single question of why.

Why did Omar Mateen kill all of these people? What did he hope to accomplish?

Without rehashing the news, it appears clear that he had sexual identity issues, mental illness, violent tendencies, social isolation and little in the way of personal accomplishments. Although Mateen pledged allegiance to ISIS before the shooting, it is becoming less clear how directly his actions were linked to this group as opposed to his upbringing, personality, and skewed perspective.

And this is where the lesson begins. We can pray for the families and those we've lost, share inspirational pictures of unity, hold tributes, denounce the NRA, dissect Omar and pledge opposition to the misdirected ideals of terrorist groups.

But in the end, much of this won't prevent another attack from happening, and that is what we must come together to do.

We need to create a world where terror does not stand, where it cannot stand.

We need to implement systems and policies that promote openness, acceptance, health and wellbeing. We need to foster gratitude and kindness and put forth peaceful solutions.

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We need to make treatment for mental illness accessible, affordable and socially acceptable.

We need to stop glorifying violence.

We need to dedicate more resources to early detection and treatment of aberrant behavior. And we need to stop denouncing behavioral research as secondary fluff and start realizing the powerful impact that it can have on preventing violence, miscommunication, strife, and conflict.

We need to be aware of and appreciate the enormous impact that our environment plays in shaping our behavior and use this to design communities to foster better health and well-being.

Our educational system, parents, community leaders and politicians need to be aligned in developing a new breed of humanity - one built on awareness, positivity, kindness, balance and heart.

Look around - hatred is killing us.

Bias and discrimination are killing us.

Closed-mindedness and judgment are killing us.

Keeping the status quo is killing us.

We can keep up with our cycle of sensational news stories, screenshots of the dead, and #[Insert tragedy] proclamations. One right after the other they come, tales of death and destruction, hopes squandered, and dreams squashed.

Or we can vow collectively to do something different.

It has to be a commitment we all make, one to honestly discuss our issues, to lay our mistakes on the table, to collectively admit that something isn't working and that our only solution is to stop insisting our way is the best and realize that a better way might be possible.

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It will hurt and be uncomfortable. People will be offended. We will falter, make mistakes, get stuck and have to go back to the drawing board. We will wonder if this was all worth it as we struggle to find answers to hard questions, to find solutions when it appears that there are none.

But the time has come. How much blood has to run down the streets before we feel it in our gut, before it drowns us all?

To take a lesson from social sciences, consider yourself standing downstream a river. If dead fish are flowing from it, we can keep lifting those fish out, tirelessly working to clean the water. But in the end, we will get tired and have to stop. The dead fish will overwhelm us, and our work would have been for nothing. An alternative solution would be to go upstream, locate the source of the problem and fix it. Better yet, we make sure it can't happen again.

It's about prevention, not just managing the outcome.

For us, it's about changing our values, connection to one another and way of life. Yes, it sounds idealistic and yes, you may be blowing this off as inspirational junk. All words and no concrete solutions. But we haven't come together yet. We haven't unleashed the massive creativity and brainpower that only a group can provide, the energy of commitment.

We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to stop crippling this world with hatred and scorn just because that's how it's always been or because the alternative way seems implausible or silly.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin listens during a live video link with regions suffering from forest fires from the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. Russiaas president has flipped the switch to open the last of four electricity lines to Crimea aimed at allowing the Russia-annexed peninsula to end its reliance on Ukrainian electricity. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

The massacre in Orlando is not just a tragedy for America, but a tragedy for the whole world. Leaders of many countries lamented this murder of innocent civilians. Russia did so as well, and I, being Russian, was quite surprised by this gesture, since the killing took place in a gay nightclub.

Although he didn't directly acknowledge the LGBT identity of many of the victims in his condolences to America, President Putin did declare that he regretted what had happened and "wished a speedy recovery to those injured." This comes from a president whose public image during the last decade has become increasingly socially conservative. This comes from a president of a country, which, during recent years, has seen an uptick in discrimination against the LGBT community. For example, one law in Russia is now essentially preventing LGBT individuals from expressing their identity in public.

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And now a considerable part of Russian society thinks that this inequality between people is normal. Reading my Facebook feed, which consists mostly of Russian speakers, for news about the shooting in Orlando in the aftermath of the attack, I saw things like, "Well, that's the moment of payment for American tolerance" and "I could say that 'I am Charlie,' but I can't say 'I am dead gay from Orlando.'" Such reactions are very much the result of government policy towards gays in Russia.

Protesters take part in a demonstration against Russia's 'anti-gay' laws outside the Embassy of the Russian Federation in London. (REUTERS/Neil Hall)

But now this same president, whose government actions seem to be encouraging homophobic views throughout Russian society, says that he feels sorry about what happened to people who largely identify with that community. This suggests that something has changed.

At this moment, Putin's image inside the country has become less important than his image in Europe and America. It is true that this gesture is part of diplomatic protocol and that he made a similar declaration after the 9/11 attacks. Now, Russia's actions in Syria, though successful, have largely been seen by the West in Cold War terms -- as a backing of the anti-democratic president, Bashar Assad, against the stated intentions of the Western alliance and its ideological goals.

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But perhaps this reading of Russian foreign policy strategy in terms of Cold War scenarios and ideological conflicts is not quite accurate. For although Russia has inherited many traits of the Soviet Union, there are significant differences between its current way of building international relationships and its previous, ideologically driven, expansionism. A consistent feature of Russian foreign policy in the last decade has been an assertion of military strength in chosen regions of interest surrounding the borders of Russia. The rationale for this behavior is slightly different from an ideological agenda: it aims to assure that Russia should be taken seriously, but it does not seek to promote a particular worldview. Therefore, the relationships that Russia can have with the West may be varied and ambivalent. In certain cases they will clash, and in others they can find a common cause -- or at least some form of pragmatic partnership.

At this moment, Putin's image inside the country has become less important than his image in Europe and America.

The current situation is as follows. As a result of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia lost a major part of its foreign connections. Because of its weak economy -- caused by the drop in the oil price, among other things -- its only means of reestablishing international relations was therefore through military activism, which is, I suggest, the main reason why Russia started fighting terrorism in Syria.

For a brief moment Russia enjoyed the position of Middle East peacekeeper. Yet, because of growing tensions with Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, Russia then had to begin withdrawing from Syria. In this situation it is natural that Russia will seek more opportunities to find common ground with Western countries, and it is likely that it will aim to be part of common military actions in the future. It is also likely that the international fight against terrorism will form the platform for such common actions. When the U.S. and Europe evaluate the actions of Russia on the international stage, they should therefore bear in mind that Russian isolationism, and the continuation of Cold War trench-making, is tempered by Russia's need to also establish relationships with other countries.

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It is against this backdrop that we must examine President Putin's gesture of sympathy to the victims of the Orlando shooting. This horrible event provided him with an occasion to address the U.S. not as a rival, an enemy or a critical opponent to be met with defiance, but simply as another country.

Also on WorldPost:
As a young woman growing up in Kenya, Beth Koigi became extremely sick from drinking dirty water. One of five children, Beth's access to clean water was an issue that she and her family struggled with daily. And they were not alone. More than half the population of Kenya faces the same challenge, which is what motivated Beth to dedicate her life to addressing this problem.

Through her research, Beth discovered that eighty percent of all disease in her home country is water-borne. Her work led to a government grant to study at university, where she developed a project to distribute affordable water filters via village women's groups and schools.

"I believe that access to clean water is life's most basic need," Beth says, "We offer low cost household water filters to ensure that everyone has access to clean drinking water irregardless of the source of water."

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To date, Beth has supplied high quality water filters to over 500 women-led households who would not otherwise have access to clean water. She is well on her way to distributing another 1,000 filters this year.

Beth is just one of the young environmental leaders we are supporting through a unique partnership between the Pollination Project and Levi Strauss & Co.

Driven by the desire to uplift youth who show innovation, vision and leadership, we teamed up with Levi Strauss & Co. in 2015 to provide seed grants for young heroes working on environmental solutions worldwide.

This year, we have expanded the program to have a broader impact. Our shared goal is to develop the next generation of global environmental leaders to conserve, protect, restore and advocate for the ecosystems upon which our civilization depends. The program is designed to ensure funding reaches communities that don't typically have access to grants from U.S. foundations like the Pollination Project, or international companies like Levi Strauss & Co.

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"Together with the Pollination Project, we are bringing opportunities to young environmentalists around the globe so that they can have an outsized impact where they live and work," said Michael Kobori, vice president of sustainability, Levi Strauss & Co.

Young environmental advocates in the U.S., Kenya, Indonesia, Mexico and Haiti will identify and make grants to support environmental protection, conservation and awareness projects led by youth in their own local communities. This team is well positioned to find and fund efforts led by young leaders who may not have the literacy to write a grant application, or have computer or internet access to seek out traditional funding sources.

Our 2016 youth environmental grant making team includes:

Beth Koigi, a water access champion in Nairobi Kenya.

Hayu Patria, an agroecology advocate in Java, Indonesia.

Charles Orgbon, a youth environmental organizer in Athens, Georgia (US).

Louino Robillard, a peacebuilder focused on reforestation and community building projects in St. Raphael, Haiti.

Selene Gonzales Carrillo, an environmental network builder in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Throughout the rest of 2016, they this team will identify and direct small startup grants to 25 youth- -led environmental projects, plus larger follow-up grants to the most successful projects.

Funding at a truly grassroots level takes a lot of patience, hard work and trust, and we are grateful for the passionate and creative team at Levi Strauss & Co. who shares our passion for making impactful change around the world.

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As Beth Koigi said, "Sometimes it is not the big projects that make the most impact. Anyone can do something that will change someones life."
The attack in Orlando is a game changer for how to address the guns issue. The massacre exposed a vulnerable U. S. national security flank which the FBI and other agencies can do little to secure within the current legal framework. The fact is that last Sunday a man killed 49 people and injured 53 others using an assault rifle he bought locally; and that entails an essential lesson: A gun can be equally or even more effective as a terrorist weapon than a bomb, and terrorists can legally buy such a weapon in the U.S. without even being traced.

After the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. and the majority of the world improved and strengthened security controls in airports and public venues. The Department of Homeland Security was created along with a new intelligence coordination entity. The Patriot Act was signed and the security, intelligence, defense and justice institutions of the U.S. were given greater capabilities and authority to face the "new" terrorist threat. Citizens gave away some of their rights in exchange for security. The attacks of March 11th, 2004 in Madrid and the 7/7 attacks in London were also a game changer for Europe and the world. More recently, the terrorist acts in Paris triggered a re-assessment of security and intelligence practices and lifted international alerts and cooperation to new levels. In all those cases measures were taken with one central goal: to prevent or at least dramatically reduce the possibility of a similar attack.

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So what to do after Orlando?

So far, the guns debate in the United States has been about the spirit and purpose of the Second Amendment -- the right of every citizen to bear arms and the limits and interpretation of such right. Different views on this issue have been turned into political flags and the hundreds of shootings that take place in the U. S. and cost the lives of over 30 thousand people every year have been more or less central to the way each side supports its arguments. But the issue has taken on a new dimension now and the debate on how to address it should change.

After the 9/11, March 11, 7/7 and the Paris attacks, governments did not propose arming their citizens as a way to face the new terrorist threat. They modified their laws, changed their approach and took security and intelligence measures to protect their people. That is exactly what must be done after Orlando. This is not only about the Second Amendment anymore; it is about terrorism. Guns are now the terrorist's weapons of choice and it turns out that unlike any other country in the civilized world, in the U.S. it is legal and possible for a person with terrorist intentions to acquire the weapon to execute an attack without being traced, and the FBI can't do anything about it even if they have knowledge of his or her process of radicalization. How about that for a vulnerability? Would people be willing to compromise their right to own high-caliber weapons in exchange for protection against terrorism?

It is urgent that we learn this painful lesson from Orlando and act quickly to prevent another attack. From now on, we must see guns as potential terrorist weapons and we must do something about it.
By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - China has begun implementing an official policy for a 4.5-day work week as part of an effort to boost domestic consumption and leisure spending. As a result, South Korea is expected to benefit from it as Chinese tourists (also known as "youker") would visit Korea all year unlike in the past when they visited on certain national holidays or long weekends.

[China's 4.5 day work week is expected to boost domestic tourism./ Source: search engine Baidu]

Such assertion is not an exaggeration considering the positive response from provincial governments after the State Council released an official document last August encouraging government units to grant employees two and a half days off per week, in an effort to boost domestic spending and tourism. According to the June 14th report of Modern Express, one of Chinese leading newspapers, nearly 10 provincial governments have expressed their willingness to implement the two-and-a-half-day weekend scheme. Most of all, Zhejiang and Guangdong, the two provinces with big economies, are showing an enthusiastic attitude.

Moreover, three to four provincial governments including Jiangsu are also expected to come out in sympathy soon. This means that nearly half of 31 provincial governments are showing positive response to the two-and-a-half-day weekend scheme. It seems that implementation of 2.5-day weekend is likely to spread throughout the country by the end of the year or early next year.

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Of course, the central and provincial governments will not set the 4.5-day work week policy into law. It will be up to each company to implement the policy according to their own circumstances. Companies that choose not to follow the recommendation will not be penalized.
It's been more than three months since the assassination of Berta Caceres, tireless defender of the environment and human rights in Honduras. Her murder quickly gave birth to a global movement calling for justice. It has become a turning point for human rights and environmental defenders and, especially, in the fight for the rights of women and indigenous peoples in Latin America. For that, March 3 will never be forgotten.

There aren't enough words to describe adequately who Berta was, and who she will always be in our memories. She represented what it meant to be a woman, an indigenous person, an environmentalist, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a colleague and a friend. As the BBC said, she's the Honduran woman who twisted the arm of China and the World Bank; her work led to the withdrawal of their funding for Agua Zarca, the dam Berta was so passionately fighting against.

For all that she did, and all that she was, the loss of Berta has severely hurt us all. In a matter of hours, her death caused an unprecedented global outcry. Thousands of organizations, institutions and individuals from around the world have been speaking out against her murder and loudly demanding justice.

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Point of no return



Ironically, the night Berta was murdered, I watched Selma, a film that narrates a key moment in the Civil Rights Movement. Fifty-one years ago, on March 7, 1965, a voting rights march that left Selma toward Montgomery, Alabama was violently repressed. That senseless act of violence became the catalyst for the passage of the Voting Rights Act, which aimed to overcome legal barriers that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote.

Similarly, we must make Berta's murder the catalyst that breaks the systematic impunity of cases like this, in Honduras and throughout the region. It's time to ensure that our indignation, and the demands for justice and investigation made by countless organizations and international authorities, will have an impact.

Like Alabama in 1965, Honduras has endured years of systematic human rights violations, linked in large part to infrastructure and mining projects. Just days before her death, Berta and COPINH, the organization she directed, reported threats received for their opposition to the Agua Zarca Dam project. It had been years since the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights first granted precautionary measures to protect Berta's life, with which the Honduran government failed to comply.

After Berta's murder, on March 5, due to the gravity of the situation the Commission authorized precautionary measures to protect Berta's family, her colleagues at COPINH, and Gustavo Castro, the sole witness to her death. But days later Nestor Garcia, another member of COPINH, was also assassinated. Then, Gustavo was prevented from returning home to Mexico despite cooperating with the investigation, and despite his ability to continue doing so under the Treaty of Judicial Cooperation between Mexico and Honduras. Members of COPINH and Berta's relatives continue to report new threats.

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Many international officials--including the Organization of American States, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN special rapporteurs, and members of the congresses of the United States, Costa Rica and the European Union--have demanded an objective investigation into Berta's murder.

The situation in Honduras reflects the alarming reality of human rights in Latin America, particularly there and in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Multiple reports conclude that the region is under fire. Those who fight to protect their rights, their land, and the environment are risking their freedom, their integrity, and even their lives.

Irresponsible financing



Berta's murder also underscores the responsibility of companies, financial institutions and others involved in the Agua Zarca Dam project. The project's outright threats to the environment and human rights have been reported for many years. Those threats are the reason the World Bank and Sinohydro pulled out of the project in 2014. The FMO of Holland and Finn Fund of Finland also withdrew their support on March 16, after the assassination of Nestor Garcia. Then, under international pressure, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) froze funding to the project.

The situation surrounding Berta's death clearly demonstrates one reason large dams are a bad energy solution--they create severe socioenvironmental impacts. Honduras, like the rest of Latin America, has options to produce energy in ways that truly promote development and reduce poverty. It's time to learn from the mistakes of the past and move into the 21st century by implementing sustainable energy alternatives.

The shocking loss of Berta, the unsecured situation of activists throughout the region, it all reminds me of the words of a friend of mine, a journalist who was driven out of his own country for what he wrote. He said that extractive industries, including large dams, are the banana republics of our century. I think he's right.

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In Latin America, the uncontrolled extraction of natural resources today is akin to the reign of dictators in the 1960s. We cannot afford to let this happen again.

This time will be different. What happened in Honduras must be a watershed moment--a time, finally, to enforce international standards for human rights and the environment.

In Berta's case, there must be an immediate, effective and independent investigation. It should acknowledge the responsibility of the companies involved with Agua Zarca. The hydroelectric project itself should be analyzed to find suitable alternatives. Honduras and all the States involved should implement corrective measures to ensure that what happened to Berta and Nestor does not happen again.
(This blog is slightly rewritten from the original posted in November 23, 2015; I feel it's even more relevant now. It's a "distant mirror" to the mounting hysteria in the United States and Europe today.)

We're outraged by Donald Trump's demand to clamp down on all Muslim Immigration and his assertions that America's Muslim communities must know about the radical jihadis in their midst. We're ashamed by the memory of Roosevelt's interning more than 100,000 Japanese American residents and citizens during World War II. But Winston Churchill went even farther. He ordered the interment of tens of thousands of Jewish refugees in England, labeling them dangerous enemy aliens.

Nationals from Germany and Austria who were living in England when World War II broke out, had already been assigned to different groupings based on their apparent threat to the UK. Category A were the "high security risks." All 600 of them were immediately interned. Those deemed "no-security risk" in Class C, included 55,000 refugees from Nazi oppression. The great majority of them were Jewish. They were left free -- at first.

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But then, in the Spring of 1940, with the fall of France. the fear of a German invasion, then the entry of Italy into the war, there was an outbreak of spy fever in England, a demand that more be done about the thousands of "dangerous aliens" living there. Unwilling to consider which of those foreigners might actually be dangerous, Churchill commanded "Collar them all."

Brushed aside were objections that huge numbers of those ordered interned were Jews who had fled for their lives from the Nazis. The irrational fear was that they might still somehow become a dangerous Fifth Column, they could be blackmailed to engage in espionage or whatever.

The frenzy was fed by the groundless alarms of MI 5, Britain's domestic intelligence service.

They were amplified by a totally irresponsible media. The rightist Daily Mail, which had supported the Fascists in the 1930's, led a campaign to have all aliens in Britain interned. Some employers began to fire all foreigners. Other workers were sacked just because they had foreign ancestors. There were calls to deport all of them. In that case, some calmer souls tried to point out, the British Royal Family should be deported as well, since their ancestors had originally come from Germany.

Pleas for more nuanced rational measures were ignored in the madness.

Whether Jew or not, all men between 16 and 60 from Austria, Germany and Italy were to be interned.

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One young sixteen-year-old Jew from Austria, Fred Stern, recounted how he was interrogated, his belongings searched. His Austrian passport was stamped with a symbol denoting he was a Jew. "Israel" was also written after his name. The police impounded it.

Their suspicions were stoked when they discovered a Morse code set Stern had used as a Boy Scout in Vienna. That set was confiscated along with a map of Switzerland on which Stern had marked the route taken by the bus during his vacation there with the Scouts.

Conditions in the internment camps were often appalling, the prisoners at first held in tents without mattress. Some had proper toilets facilities. Others had buckets or pits.

The majority were interned on the bleak Isle of Mann off the coast of Scotland. In one of the camps more than 80% of those interned were Jewish. Wives were separated from their husbands. Internees were also forbidden newspapers, to listen to the radio, or receive letters. Many were prevented from finding out what had happened to family members trapped in Nazi Europe. Several refugees who had fled to England to avoid persecution committed suicide in these camps.

To relieve the pressure on England, more than 7,000 of the internees were deported to Canada and Australia. One of the passenger liners transporting them, the Andorra Star, was sunk by a German U Boat. 714 persons drowned, must of them internees. Others carried in an overcrowded ship to Australia later wrote of the dreadful conditions on the two month trip; many had their belongings thrown overboard or stolen by their British military guard.

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Even in far off Canada and Australia they were still treated as a dangerous threat, dispatched to hastily prepared camps, guarded by armed soldiers, surrounded by barbed-wire. They were allowed two censored letters a week, 'Prisoner of War' embossed on the envelopes

There were 26 camps in Canada, including the horrific Camp I in Ile-aux-Noix, Quebec, where Austrian and German Jews who thought they had escaped Nazism by fleeing to Britain during the 1930s found themselves interred in camps with the same Nazis they had escaped.

One internee wrote that at another Canadian camp, "we were welcomed by German PoWs singing the Horst Wessel Song. It was most gruelling to hear the words 'Wenn das Judenblut vom Messer spritzt' (When Jewish blood sprays from the knife)"

Rampant anti-Semitism in England and Canada also played a role in internment policies. Canada's immigration minister at the time, Frederick Charles Blair, believed "an international Jewish conspiracy was trying to skirt Canadian immigration policies by sneaking the refugees into the country,"

Fred Stern's father escaped, but the rest of his family perished in the Holocaust. After more than a year, his parents in England finally managed to obtain his release and return to England.

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This column was originally published by Truthdig.com.

As we head for the general election, the First Amendment--particularly, freedom of the press--is at risk.

In and of itself, this is nothing new. From the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 to the Sedition Act of 1918, the Red Scare of the 1950s, the Cointelpro intrigues of the 1960s, the publication of the Pentagon Papers and beyond, press freedoms have often been threatened by the power elites that have ruled America.

Each era, however, is defined by unique dangers.

This time, in the continuing shadow of 9/11 and the never-ending war on terror abroad and at home, the dangers come not only from the expanded operations of government agencies like the NSA and FBI, but from the ambitions of both presumptive presidential nominees--Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton--who seek control over the levers of mass surveillance and the coercive powers of the state.

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They also come from a different, largely right-wing direction, animated by a subset of the super-wealthy who are able and determined to use the courts to pursue personal grievances with the media--a technique deployed for years by Trump and recently taken to new, improbable heights by Terry Gene Bollea, the professional wrestler also known as Hulk Hogan, in a dispute with the website Gawker. Understanding the overlapping nature of the current mix requires a detailed analysis, most easily begun with Trump, whose involvement pervades all facets.

Personal Vendettas and Defamation Lawsuits

In a temper tantrum disguised as a news conference on May 31, which was called to provide a long-overdue accounting of the money he allegedly had raised for veterans, Trump all but declared war on the media, lambasting an assemblage of prominent reporters as "dishonest," "unfair" and "sleazy" for daring to look into the issue of exactly how much money he had donated. Gruffly responding to questions, he promised to bring the same insulting style to the White House briefing room after his inauguration if elected.

Considered by notable mental health professionals to be a brittle narcissist prone to lashing out in speeches and on Twitter at the slightest criticisms, Trump reportedly has compiled his own Nixonian "enemies list," banning such publications as the National Review, Univision, BuzzFeed, The Huffington Post and Mother Jones, among others, from campaign rallies. This week, he added The Washington Post to the list. He has also threatened, if elected, to initiate an antitrust case against Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in retaliation for the perceived negative coverage he has received from the Post, which Bezos also owns.

But of all the threats against the media that Trump has made, none has been as persistent or pernicious as his vow to "open up" the nation's libel laws.

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As I explained in a Truthdig column published in March, what Trump means by "opening up our libel laws" is that as president he would aim, through appointments to the Supreme Court, to overturn or weaken a line of landmark decisions dating to the historic 1964 ruling in The New York Times v. Sullivan.

Before that case, defamation lawsuits were considered private matters governed exclusively by state law, and they were decidedly slanted in favor of plaintiffs, especially rich ones who could afford the steep costs involved. To prevail, plaintiffs only had to establish that they had been defamed by a preponderance of the evidence--the lowest standard of proof in our legal system.

The Sullivan case changed that by providing protections for defamation defendants under the First and 14th Amendments to safeguard what the Supreme Court termed our "profound national commitment" to uninhibited, robust and wide-open debate. Under the court's ruling, public officials are precluded from recovering damages for allegedly false and defamatory statements related to official conduct unless they establish by "clear and convincing evidence" (a far higher standard of proof) that such statements are made with "actual malice"--that is, that they are made with the knowledge of their falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth.

In a series of subsequent decisions in the late 1960s and early '70s, the court extended the "actual malice" rule to defamation lawsuits brought by "public figures," such as Trump and many of the corporations he controls and operates.

Because of Sullivan and its progeny, less than 10 percent of defamation cases brought by public figures have resulted in plaintiff victories. Nonetheless, Trump has repeatedly filed defamation claims among the astounding 3,500 legal actions he and his business interests have been involved in over the past three decades. He's done so because he knows that even if he loses, he can inflict a world of economic pain on his adversaries.

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In one such case, initiated in New Jersey in 2006, Trump sued Time Warner Books and writer Timothy O'Brien, then a reporter with The New York Times and now the editor of Bloomberg View, alleging that he had been libeled in a biography O'Brien had written, "Trump Nation: The Art of Being The Donald." The purported defamation was O'Brien's claim that Trump's net worth was actually in the neighborhood of $150 million to $250 million rather than the $5 billion to $6 billion, he had claimed.

After five long years of litigation, O'Brien won a ruling from a state appellate court granting judgment in his favor and finding that Trump could not, as a matter of law, meet the actual malice test.

Unbowed and unrepentant, Trump told Washington Post reporter Paul Farhi earlier this year: "I spent a couple of bucks on legal fees, and they [O'Brien and Time Warner] spent a whole lot more. I did it to make his life miserable, which I'm happy about."

He has followed a similar tack in one of the federal fraud lawsuits pending in San Diego against the now-defunct Trump University, lodging a defamation counterclaim against plaintiff Tarla Makaeff for speaking out in letters to the Better Business Bureau, her bank and government agencies, and in comments published online, against the instructional real-estate program that bore his name.

The counterclaim was eventually thrown out by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals also relying on the Sullivan decision. The case is now set for trial in late November.

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Interviewed on Fox News by Megan Kelly last month Trump doubled down on his litigation rationale. "[I]t's a tactic for me," he acknowledged. "It's a business for me, and I have been successful, and I've ... used litigation ... sometimes ... maybe when I shouldn't."

It would be bad enough if Trump were the only 1 percenter who used meritless defamation complaints as a means to punish his critics in the press and elsewhere. But he isn't. To the contrary, he's created a template that others have followed.

In 2013, for example, Idaho billionaire and longtime Republican donor Frank VanderSloot sued Mother Jones magazine for defamation related to a 2012 story about VanderSloot's $1 million contribution to Mitt Romney's super PAC. Although Mother Jones managed to have the case dismissed two years later, doing so cost it and its insurer $2.5 million in legal expenses, including $650,000 in out-of-pocket costs for the magazine.

Like Trump, whom he now supports for president (after initially backing Marco Rubio), VanderSloot has no regrets. Despite his courtroom setback, he's created an endowment--the Guardian of True Liberty Fund--to help defray the legal expenses of others allegedly defamed by Mother Jones and other liberal press outlets.

The chilling effect on press freedoms posed by such undertakings, especially for thinly capitalized publications, couldn't be clearer.

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Hogan, Litigation Funding and the Demise of Gawker

Last Friday, Gawker Media LLC, the publisher of the eponymous celebrity online gossip blog, petitioned a federal court for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection prompted by a $140 million civil judgment that had been returned against it by a Florida jury this March in an invasion of privacy case brought by Hulk Hogan (Terry Gene Bollea).

Hogan's case against Gawker began in October 2012 after Gawker posted a videotape showing the wrestler having sex six years earlier with a woman named Heather Clem, the wife of Hogan's then-best friend, Todd Clem, a former Florida radio disc jockey who had legally changed his name to Bubba the Love Sponge. The tape had been filmed surreptitiously by Bubba, and was subsequently sent to Gawker by an anonymous source.

Seeking damages for emotional distress, Hogan's lawyers based their complaint not on defamation grounds, but on privacy violations. In particular, they argued that Gawker had committed a tort (or civil wrong) recognized in most states, including Florida, that creates liability for the publication of embarrassing private facts.

Unlike defamation claims, which assert that published material is false, privacy actions like Hogan's permit recovery for the publication of true stories. In addition, plaintiffs suing for the publication of private facts are not subject in most jurisdictions to the Sullivan rules requiring a showing of actual malice or recklessness. They must, however, prove that the published facts were not "newsworthy" or a matter of legitimate public concern.

With the newsworthiness of the video as the central issue, the case was fiercely and expensively litigated all the way through trial, with Hogan's attorneys arguing that the tape was nobody's business and Gawker's lawyers countering that given Hogan's celebrity status and long-standing boasts of sexual prowess, the tape was of genuine public interest and its publication protected under the First Amendment. The six-person jury seated in the case resolved the issue against Gawker.

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In late May, in a bombshell that Gawker apparently never saw coming, Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, a co-founder of PayPal and chairman of the lucrative Clarion Capital hedge fund, revealed that he had secretly ponied up $10 million to help pay Hogan's legal expenses.

Thiel had been outed as gay in a 2007 article posted on a Gawker-controlled website. His decision to come to Hogan's aid, he explained in an interview with New York Times financial columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, was "less about revenge and more about specific deterrence. I saw Gawker pioneer a unique and incredibly damaging way of getting attention by bullying people even when there was no connection to the public interest."

Notwithstanding Gawker's undeniable sleaziness, the crippling damage award entered against it carries enormous implications for other, entirely legitimate publications accused of going too far in exposes of public figures. Just as Trump has created a model for defamation attacks on the media, some commentators, such as Fusion's Felix Salmon, fear that Thiel has fashioned a "blueprint" for other billionaires to transform the "concept of philanthropy" into "weapons-grade attacks on America's free press."

Should the jury's verdict be upheld on appeal, its impact could indeed be far-reaching. In the meantime, Thiel will be heading to the Republican convention next month in Cleveland as a California delegate for--you guessed it--Donald Trump.

Clinton, Trump and the Chilling Effect of Government Surveillance

As important as they are, the dangers to press freedoms stemming from right-wing Republican litigation are by no means the most severe. Even greater are the threats that come from government surveillance and the prosecution of whistleblowers--practices that are strictly bipartisan.

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The mass spying systems erected by the NSA, FBI, CIA and other government agencies in the aftermath of 9/11 not only imperil Fourth Amendment rights, but they also have a chilling effect on First Amendment rights, curtailing investigative reporting as well as the public's access to vital information.

As the writers' advocacy group Pen America concluded in a 2013 study, the modern security state has forced some journalists to self-censor their work, and also left confidential informants afraid to come forward.

Writers, too, have become targets of direct harassment. In perhaps the most egregious instance of its kind, New York Times reporter James Risen was threatened with federal prosecution for seven years for refusing to testify in the espionage trial of former CIA employee Jeffrey Sterling.

Both journalist Glenn Greenwald and filmmaker Laura Poitras were also threatened with arrest after their receipt of evidence from Edward Snowden of covert NSA spying. Even before the Snowden leak, Poitras had been detained some 40 times by agents of the Department of Homeland Security at American airports because of her work on U.S. military involvement in the Middle East.

Under the Obama administration, there have been eight prosecutions of whistleblowers for violations of the 1917 Espionage Act. Before Obama, there had been only three.

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The subject of what to do with Snowden, the most famous whistleblower of them all, was raised during the primary season in the presidential debates of both parties.

In a GOP session in March, Trump branded the former NSA contractor "a spy" who should be brought back from Putin's Russia to face trial.

In the first Democratic debate, in October, Clinton took a nearly identical position, declaring that Snowden "broke the law" and shouldn't be allowed to return home "without facing the music."

In a speech delivered in December after the Islamic State-inspired mass shootings in San Bernardino, California, she went further, calling for an "intelligence surge" in the war on terror, including greater monitoring of suspects and increased oversight of social media. She has renewed those calls in the aftermath of Sunday's carnage in Orlando, Fla., while Trump has launched several Islamophobic tirades.

Whatever important differences they may have in other policy areas or in terms of personal style, temperament and experience, neither Trump nor Clinton can be counted on as an ally or partner in the struggle to preserve freedom of the press against excessive state surveillance.

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One should never shout fire in a crowded theater. In his panic-stricken response to the horrifying massacre that occurred over the weekend at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Donald Trump has come close to doing just that.

Crises demand a coolness of purpose and language. That is especially so where ISIS-inspired terrorism is concerned. News reports indicate that ISIS is a weakening, not a growing, threat in the Middle East and around the world. The territory it controls in Syria and Iraq is shrinking daily. Its access to money and weapons has been gravely impaired. Indeed, there are credible news reports indicating that ISIS has been forced to execute deserters from its ranks as a last-gasp means of keeping its own adherents from abandoning the cause.

If this is the case, then we should not want to embark on a course of action that will only succeed in reinvigorating a movement that will soon enough collapse. Unfortunately, the proposals Donald Trump advanced in his speech of June 13 will have precisely that effect. Indeed, they will weaken the United States and gravely damage our interests in the Middle East and throughout the Islamic world.

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Let us review the steps that Trump has proposed the United States undertake. First, he has reiterated his plan to close down immigration from the Arab Middle East and from other predominantly Islamic nations. Where to begin? Despite Trump's bluster, his proposal is not a show of strength but a declaration of fear and panic. It says to the world that we stand in such abject fear of one of the world's great religions that we shall try to prevent its followers from traveling to or residing within the United States.

The consequences of such a ban would be devastating to America. We are a global nation. Everyday we invite the world to our shores, to do business, to marvel at our nation's beauty, to attend our colleges and universities, and to seek out the world's best medical care. Think of the impact of shutting down travel from Islamic nations. There would be no engineers from Egypt or Jordan. There would be no gifted surgeons from Kuwait or Pakistan. Professors from Indonesia to Tunisia would be forbidden to deliver papers or to exchange ideas with our greatest minds. There would be no eager young students from Malaysia or Qatar. The world works through intellectual, economic, cultural, and social interchange. The Trump ban would cut off the circulation of world talent that makes America great.

We would, in other words, erect castle walls and moats around our nation and hunker down in irrational fear. We must not do that. Americans ought not to live in trembling and trepidation, withdrawn and isolated from the wider world.

Not only would the Trump ban plunge Americans into fear and isolation, it would empower ISIS. ISIS has announced that its purpose is to eliminate the "gray zones," those spheres of coexistence, cooperation, and ambiguity where Muslims living in the West interact on a daily basis with the secular world.

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Donald Trump's plan would effectively do ISIS's dirty work for them. He would blow up the gray zones and substitute for them a binary choice: our way, or ISIS's. William McCants of Brookings Institution wrote that ISIS "selected a stark black for [their] flag rather than green, yellow, or white; the color suits their Manichean world view, which permits no gray areas." (ISIS Apocalypse, p. 151). Donald Trump would have us hoist the very same flag of defeat and despair.

This is bad enough but there are yet other destructive elements to Trump's speech that require attention. He called upon Americans to conduct surveillance on one another. "The Muslim community," he stated, "has to work with us." "They have to cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad. They know, and they have to do it, and they have to do it forthwith."

Trump should know that most Muslims are like most other Americans. They work hard, pay their taxes, and seek better lives for their children. And, yes, like other Americans they cooperate with law enforcement.

Trump's call for self-surveillance and self-policing has an authoritarian quality to it. Neighborhood vigilantism was a feature of Soviet Communism and of fascists everywhere. Police your neighbors, ferret out their hidden thoughts, and if they harbor forbidden ideas, report them to the authorities.

Does Trump have any idea how such a system can be abused? How such systems have been historically exploited to take petty vengeance on neighbors who just don't quite "fit in?" The tyranny of the neighborhood watch committee has been a staple of oppressive regimes around the world. And now Donald Trump wants to build such a system on shores? I think it is time to question Trump's loyalty. Just how un-American is he?

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Trump, finally, would empower gun owners. There is much that was horrifying about his speech, but ask yourselves whether this was not the single most frightening passage: "I will be meeting with the NRA, . . . to discuss how to ensure Americans have the means to protect themselves in this age of terror. I will always be defending the Second Amendment."

And just what would the NRA propose as a solution? Their steady recommendation is to put ever more weapons in the hands of ever more Americans. So, the way to solve gun violence is with more gun violence? We are a nation of guns and gun owners. There are more than 300 million guns in the United States, more guns than there are adults. A depressingly large number of Americans already fetishize their guns. It would make more sense to pass an assault weapons ban. Or would Donald Trump arm us all with AK-47's subsidized by the federal government?

There are yet other aspects of the speech too absurd to merit comment, such as the conspiracy-mongering about President Obama. This is McCarthyism relived as farce.

There is, however, one aspect of his speech which I will refrain from criticizing, and that was his expression of solidarity with the LGBT community. This, after all, is more than many members of his Party have had the courage to say. Paul Ryan (R.-Donor Class), for one, in his statement of June 12, never mentioned that the targets of this heinous attack were gay. As bad as Trump is, Ryan managed to be even more craven.

In truth, this horrific mass murder in Orlando has a depressing familiarity to it. How, really, does Omar Mateen's crime differ from that of the alleged mass murderer Dylann Roof? Roof was motivated by white supremacy. He flew the Confederate flag, he made racist jokes, and visited white supremacist web sites before entering that Charleston church. And while we do not know all the particulars about Mateen's path to mass homicide, I am guessing that there are some resemblances to Dylann Roof's journey.

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January 20th, 2017

Hillary Clinton was officially sworn in as the 45th President of the United States Friday, an occasion that was met with rejoicing and celebration from Clinton's supporters. President Clinton is the first woman to be elected to the highest office in the land in all of America's history.

"I've been waiting seven decades for this," said Lenore Bernard, a 72-year-old grandmother from Connecticut who attended the Inauguration. "I get to look at my granddaughters' faces when they look at the television and know that they too can be president someday."

Not all Democrats or liberals were ecstatic, however. Demonstrators also flocked to our nation's capital to protest what they call "a premature inauguration."

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"I mean, so she defeated Bernie Sanders in the Democratic Primary, and then Trump in the general election. So what? It's always possible that the FBI could reopen their investigation of her, which would give Bernie a shot," said Mike Hunt, who drove all the way from California to take part in the protests. "It's typical of the Clinton campaign at this point. Declaring victory before they've actually won."

Demonstrators held up signs and marched in circles, chanting slogans such as "Bernie or bust!" and "This is what Democracy looks like!"

"Just because she won a majority of votes, doesn't mean she won the election," said Tanya Skagle, a marijuana enthusiast and legalization advocate from Michigan. "I mean, there could've been voter fraud. We'll never know what the actual vote counts were. And the superdelegates, er, I mean members of the Electoral College, were pledged to her from the start. It was a conspiracy."

Ray Drecker, a 28-year-old Uber Driver from Chicago, led many of the demonstrators' chants through a bullhorn. Drecker said that he did not believe that Clinton could have actually won the election.

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"We have people chanting," Drecker said, patting his bullhorn as if he were proud of it. "I've never seen anyone chanting for Hillary Clinton. How can you possibly win an election, or institute progressive change, without chanting?"

When asked why he was still supporting the long-shot candidacy of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) even after Sanders conceded, endorsed Clinton, and campaigned for her during the general election, Drecker and other supporters shrugged.

"I think it's a strategy," said Howard Koontz, another Californian who'd come to DC specifically for the protests. "Bernie Sanders has created the greatest presidential campaign of all time, with no Super-PACs. Sure, he lost the election, but anything can happen. He's a senator, right? So there could be a freak accident that kills literally everyone in line for the presidency in front of him. President, vice president, cabinet, every single congressman and senator except for Bernie. It could happen. A meteor, maybe."

Ronnie Haxon, 26, would not speculate on any specifics of Sanders's plan to get into the White House, but did insist, "He's cooking something up. You know that famous Gandhi quote? I think it was Gandhi. Might've been Abe Lincoln: First they fight you, then they ignore you, then they laugh, I think, then you win? Something like that. Well, we're at the point where they're ignoring us now. Soon they'll laugh...and then we'll win."

Back on the Capitol's western lawn, supporters of President Clinton seemed unconcerned by the protests.

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"Are they still on about that?" Lenore Bernard, the grandmother we heard from earlier, said when asked if the protests bothered her. "No. They can do what they want." Bernard took a moment to clap as President Clinton waved goodbye and departed the stage.

"You know," she said when it was quiet enough to hear again. "I did like Senator Sanders. I thought his agenda was right for this country. It's a shame all his young supporters are too busy being angry and making excuses to actually keep fighting for Bernie's ideas. I bet if all of them got together to do that, nothing could stop them."
This now the fourth year I've been given the chance to speak at the Bodine High School for International Affairs' commencement. It's such an honor and a joy.



For the last three years, I've told your classmates that yours is the most important generation in human history, that you stand as the bridge between the adolescence and the potential for the adulthood of humanity.



And this remains true - you are a unique cohort, the first in all of time to have a significant chance at living part of your lives during 3 centuries, and the one which may, which should, be the makers of and the witnesses to the realization of dreams people have had from the beginning of time - the end of absolute poverty, the universalization of access to clean water, to electricity, to modern medicine. The cures to cancer and other afflictions - you should live to see those days. The blind will regain sight, the paralyzed will walk - truly you could live in the age of miracles. People living and working routinely in space - maybe even the first contact between humanity and some of the ETs who are almost certainly out there. Truly momentous times.



Let me read you how the creator of Wired Magazine says it:

"Right now, today, in 2016 is the best time to start up. There has never been a better day in the whole history of the world to invent something. There has never been a netter time with more opportunities, more opening, lower barriers, higher benefit/risk ratios, better returns, greater upside than now. Right now, this minute. This is the moment that folks in the future will look back at and say, 'Oh, to have been alive and well back then!'...But what's coming will be different, beyond, and other. The things we will be constantly, relentlessly becoming something else. And the coolest stuff of all has not been invented yet.

It is the best time ever in human history to begin.



But you, the class of 2016, will be remembered as having graduated in a year with dark clouds hanging over all of those opportunities for bright days ahead.



It's been a long time since the world was this unstable, and since more nations and groups have actively sought to harm our country -- from Putin's Russia, to the surging Chinese military, to Iran's ruling Mullahs, to North Korea's insane dictator with nuclear weapons, to the slaughterhouse of Syria, to the global terrorist reach and utter depravity of ISIS, the Taliban, and other Jihadi groups. Some fear that the world of your graduation year, 2016, is too much like 1913, the year before the barbarism of World War I began, the year in which the conditions for a firestorm existed, just ready for a spark to ignite the blaze.



But I want to tell you today that the choice between the great promise and the great peril of this moment, whether the world will make it across that bridge to the adulthood of humanity, or watch it burn and fall into some dark ravine, remains mostly in the hands of the United States of America, remains largely to be decided by who we Americans decide we are and want to be, and what role we play in the wider world.



It's this moment, here in our country, more even than all the dangers in the world, that I believe will decide the future of the world.



Alas, this doesn't make things feel all right, right now.



Why are so many Americans angry, so focused on grievances, when we have so much to be thankful for?



Why do we look in our popular culture, our media, mass and social media, for dark clouds around silver linings, instead of the other way around?



Let me give you just one of so many possible examples of how our culture has turned perversely despairing, as if we are trapped wearing goggles that show us only a virtual unreality.



Every presidential candidate this year, all 20 of them when we started, from the most conservative, to self-described socialist, Bernie Sanders, has agreed on a problem, a crisis even, threatening the very foundation of the American experiment in democracy and opportunity--a shrinking middle class. All twenty invoked a statistic that, in 1970, kind of the peak of post-WWII U.S. domination of the whole world's economy, 61% of U.S. adults lived in middle income households. By 2014, that had dropped to 50%.



Wow, an existential crisis--maybe we need to turn to socialism and have a political war on the rich, or maybe we need to build walls and throw up trade barriers and pledge allegiance to a leader who promises to "make America great again."



But, wait, here are the actual facts below the dumbed-down headline--of the 11% of Americans who left the middle class since 1970, only 3% dropped into lower income. By a ratio of almost 3 to 1, the middle class got smaller because an improving American economy (measured in decades, not individual year) lifted people into upper income households, six figure income households, and all categories--lower, middle, and upper income - experienced double-digit income gains in each of the 3 decades from 1970 - 2000. This includes in all racial groups.



I'm old, so believe it or not, I can actually remember the 1970s and my family was very much middle class. In those days, a middle class home didn't have air conditioning or a dishwasher or a microwave. It had one TV and one car in the driveway - a car which would kill you in a 25 mile per hour crash. Going out to eat meant McDonalds or KFC and that was a special Sunday night. Today, of course, most of that has changed, improved, for most of the middle class and all of the larger upper class, not to mention all the things most of us have that no one, not even the very richest, had then, because they didn't exist yet.



Why, then, do we seem to be despairing, many of us, who aren't in that 3% who took a hit, and to be embracing political extremism?



Well, the Great Recession did pause the progress, and erased some of the gains for many folks, but nothing has shut down the upward trend of living standards for the great majority of Americans. For jobs "lost", through trade, technological disruption, or even corporate greed and stupidity, many more jobs exist today and typical household income is more than one third higher that it was in that supposedly golden era, around 1970.



Our sensationalist media culture and sensationalized political culture have, perhaps deliberately, mischaracterized what history tells us was a temporary setback as permanent stagnation.



Why would 20 candidates for president who otherwise have so little in common all push a message that is substantially untrue? Because he or she can't be the savior who will fix something if there's nothing critically broken. But, in a free country, convincing many millions that things are broken, breaks them.



So, we come back to the importance of this year, your emblematic year, and the importance of you and your generation--whether you are willing to learn to divide facts from spin, to participate, look for and work towards the common good, to serve and when necessary, to sacrifice.



Yes, there is danger. We could be living in 1913. We could squander the greatest opportunity in human history for transformational progress, and see instead untold destruction and regression.



But I see silver linings in many places, not just the fundamentals of our economy, including in you.



Even in this crazy year in politics, remarkable things happened. My favorite is that Bernie Sanders, the crotchety old Jewish guy from a nearly all-white state, won the only places in America, various towns in Michigan, that have a voting majority of Muslims.



Think about that, think about that in the context of the larger world, that in America, American Muslims voted by a wide margin for the first serious Jewish candidate for president.



Let me quote from President Obama, at the Howard University graduation:

"If you had to choose one moment in history in which you could be born, and you didn't know ahead of time who you were going to be--what nationality, what gender, what race, whether you'd be rich or poor, gay or straight, what faith you'd be born into--you wouldn't choose 100 years ago. You wouldn't choose the fifties, or the sixties, or the seventies. You'd choose right now."



"Choose right now," yes, and choose correctly now.



When I worry too much about your future, I remember other times of great danger to the American experiment, and how we have not only prevailed these 240 years, but improved.



I leave you with something I saw on live TV as a kid, much younger than you are now, which I have never forgotten--powerful words of hope by a leader in the scary days of Watergate, when we had a severe test of our Constitutional system:



Here is Congresswoman Barbara Jordan of Texas.



"Thank you Mr. Chairman. Earlier today we heard the beginning of the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States: 'We the People...' It's a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed on the 17th of September in 1787, I was not included in that 'We the People'. I felt somehow, for many years, that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision, I have finally been included in 'We the People'.



Today, I am an inquisitor, and hyperbole would not be fictional and would not overstate the solemnness that I feel right now. My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total, and I am not going to sit here and be an idle spectator to the devolution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution."



And neither should you. Don't buy what the peddlers of depression and division are selling. Choose right now.



Thank you and congratulations.
With the slew of LGBT victories during the Obama administration it's often been asked these past few years whether we should continue celebrating Pride. People are getting married, moving to the suburbs and raising kids, and some kids who are only slightly older are coming out at an age which we elders find stunning. The pace has been extraordinary, but it has also been occurring in parallel with another cultural wave - political fascism and triumphalist religious fundamentalism.

Most Pride celebrations, including parades, occur in their bubbles. It's only in deeply homophobic states, such as Russia, where one cannot exist even for a moment oblivious to state-sanctioned forces of prejudice, that such bubbles do not exist. But here at home, even in the least-welcoming of places, LGBT folks have been able to carve out time to celebrate, time to be themselves, time to live.

Until Orlando.

I've written about the civil rights dialectic before, and in some grand, value-neutral, academic manner even Orlando can be fit into the narrative. Great success engenders vicious backlash - Pride sparks growing prejudice - and the Orlando massacre is different from the usual violence only in the scope of the murderous rage, enabled by an assault weapon. We know every day that while we are gaining our rights, and have the protection and support of the President and his administration, that it is the cultural change that is needed to underpin and solidify those rights. In the Age of Trump where the hate is brazenly showing its face (make no mistake, it's always been there, but now it's emboldened after decades of conservative and religious hate speech and action by a broken political system), the risks to body and soul are greater. In some respects we can view the backlash as the result of our success, however horrid it is to contemplate. If we were all in the closet, there would be no backlash.

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The real long-term communal danger comes when a society, from top to bottom, demonizes a group of distinct people for long enough that the general population, under an enabling political party, comes to agree with the governing philosophy and to then consider that their lives would also improve if the offenders were removed. This has happened throughout human history, most horrifically during the last century, but the potential remains, and we are, to our surprise and consternation (thank you, Republican party!) seeing the first shoots of such a political world today. In a functioning democratic constitutional system the people can be protected, and the dialectic allowed to progress in an ultimately positive direction, bending towards justice. We must believe that possibility still exists here, and we must campaign and vote in November as if our lives depended on it. Because they do.

Orlando is the demonic side of intersectionality. Reports are still sketchy, and I do not want to jump to conclusions, but it is entirely possible that the jihadist Islamist, whose Afghani father admires the Taliban, was a closeted, misogynistic gay man with an untreated mood disorder, living in a southern state without general anti-discrimination protections, and, because this is America, easy access to assault weapons. He was even able to escape the FBI's interest.

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Friends report that he was shy and bullied as a young boy, and one classmate believed he was gay. He reportedly attended the Pulse club multiple times prior to the massacre; we still don't know why. To scout out his killing field, or to be, for however short a time, anonymously with his people?

Where have we heard this story before? It's just that this time the guy is a Muslim who called 911 to announce his fealty to ISIS. Because he meant it? Or because his shame as a closeted Muslim man became so great he needed to project his hate in a more socially acceptable manner? That wouldn't be very different from the behavior of closeted radical Christian fundamentalists in this country who do the same from the pulpit or elected office. Self-loathing is destructive not only to the self, but, as we've repeatedly seen, to many others as well.

All the factors that go into creating a personality are important - the intersectionality theme - and we can't allow our Pride to be erased in the discussions of the attack. It's already happened, both here and abroad, though it seems to be fading as we in the community speak out. In an era where some college students love to shout "cultural misappropriation" to African-Americans who enjoy sushi or caucasians who practice yoga, we must ensure that the targets of the attack are clearly recognized. Yes, an attack on an American gay club is an attack against America, but it is, first and foremost, an attack against gay people in America. Just as the murder of the journalists at Charlie Hebdo was viewed as an attack against French and western society, it was first an attack against caricaturists who offended the perverted religious sensibilities of the terrorists. Just as the attack against the Parisian kosher supermarket was an attack against Parisian multiculturalism and openness, it was first and foremost an attack against Jews. The massacre in Orlando was an attack against gay people, trans people, gender non-conforming people, and, let's not forget, Latino Americans as well.

The intersectionalities that compose the lives of the victims, and not just the killer, must be recognized in totality, and then we can all unite in the knowledge that it is only in lands that are free and self-governing that such a confluence of cultures is possible. And that freedom, unfortunately, also facilitates the hatred of those who hate themselves for not being able to express their authentic fullness in their own lives, their own communities, or their own countries.

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Pride and Prejudice are the yin and yang of our postmodern society. We need to understand that in all its facets if we're going to deal with the curse of intolerance.

And we have to start by dealing with the only factors in the massacre over which we, as citizens, have direct control - naming the perpetrator, and describing him clearly, when all the facts are known; and dealing with the availability of weapons of mass destruction on our streets. We must hold all our elected officials accountable, Democrats as well as Republicans, however difficult some of those conversations may be. We've got pretty good at speaking for ourselves about ourselves as LGBT people; let's join with our neighbors and speak clearly as Americans.
The staff of the U.S. Department of Education has just recommended that a controversial college accrediting body face what a Department official labeled "termination" -- an end to recognition by the Department as an agency that accredits schools. The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), founded in 1912, has been under fire for a year as part of the fallout of the collapse of giant for-profit Corinthian Colleges, which was exposed for egregious deceptions of students and taxpayers.

According to the Department, ACICS currently accredits 243 institutions exclusively or primarily, and most of those are for-profit colleges. Without accreditation, schools cannot receive federal student grants and loans, and $4.76 billion in taxpayer dollars went from the Department of Education to ACICS schools last year.

A Department official this morning suggested that was enough. He said that ACICS failures to police for-profit college abuses "were not just narrow misses, these were quite severe, quite egregious, irreparable." He said that "some schools provide extremely poor outcomes for students or even commit fraud but nevertheless still maintain accreditation."

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The Department's move today is far from the last step in the process. The staff recommendation goes to a Department panel called the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), which meets next week to review the status of a number of accreditors, including ACICS. (The Department said today that its staff recommended that other accreditors up for review at next week's meeting be renewed, although it proposed that some of those be required to make improvements.) NACIQI's recommendation, whatever it is, and the staff recommendation to dump ACICS then go to a senior Department official. If that official approves the staff recommendation, ACICS could appeal to the Secretary of Education. If it lost that appeal, it could sue in federal court.

Another Department official said today that only in one prior case did the Department staff recommend that an accreditor be fired. In that instance, the accreditor eventually shut down voluntarily.

If ACICS closes its doors, voluntarily or by a final Department decision, ACICS-accredited schools will have eighteen months to find a new accreditor or else lose access to student aid, which would mean game over for their owners.

ACICS has been under fire this year, given that a number of the schools it was supposed to oversee, not just Corinthian, have been exposed as leaving many students worse off than when they started.

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Many ACICS-approved schools have poor track records -- including those owned by predatory companies ITT Tech, Kaplan, EDMC (the Art Institutes), Career Education Corporation (Sanford-Brown), Alta Colleges (Westwood), Globe, FastTrain, and Daymar; all these companies have been under investigation by law enforcement for deceptive practices.

Some of those schools have, like Corinthian, shut down under the weight of abusive and reckless business practices. (FastTrain's CEO has been convicted of federal crimes and sentenced to eight years in prison.) Others, like ITT, Kaplan, EDMC, and CEC, have continued to receive billions in taxpayer dollars, but have performed so dismally that one wonders how another accreditor, in light of today's Department action, would be willing to sign them up.

Other Department actions, like the gainful employment rule aimed at penalizing colleges who leave students with excessive debt, and new rules proposed Monday to grant relief for defrauded students, are at last tightening the screws around fraudulent colleges, increasing hope that decades of waste, fraud, and abuse by greedy, arrogant college operators may be coming to end, and federal aid can be directed to those career training schools that actually are helping students.

ACICS head Albert Gray, who resigned in April, endured a blistering cross-examination by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) at a hearing last summer over the Corinthian debacle and whether ACICS was asleep at the switch. WATCH:

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In his Senate testimony, Gray said ACICS "found no evidence that [Corinthian] lied to their students or defrauded them." Pressed as to whether ACICS had erred regarding Corinthian, Gray testified, "I'd be the first to admit that accreditors like any other organization make mistakes. This was not one of those mistakes."

In advance of next week's NACIQI meeting, a number of advocates for students have called on the Department to end its recognition of ACICS as an organization whose approval allows schools to receive federal student aid. Those sending letters asking the Department to dump ACICS include thirteen state attorneys general; Ben Miller of the Center for American Progress; nine veterans groups including Student Veterans of America and Vietnam Veterans of America; and a coalition of 23 groups that advocate for students, consumers, and educators.

Another blistering report by Senator Warren last week criticized ACICS for its weak oversight of colleges, and also took the Education Department to task for its weak oversight of accreditors.

The letter by the coalition, which includes the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), Consumers Union, National Consumer Law Center, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), USPIRG, and VetJobs, concludes, "It seems impossible that ACICS could have conducted anything resembling a rigorous investigation of the allegations against Corinthian and come up with no problems." The letter charges that "lax gatekeeping" by ACICS "has resulted in the worst student outcomes of any major accreditor--a trail of numbers that represents a massive toll of human devastation across the country. It has left low-income students burdened by debts they have no hope of repaying after being lied to and lured into programs of questionable quality through false promises and statistics." (Disclosure: I participate in the coalition work that produced this letter and other advocacy on for-profit college issues.)

The attorneys general, in their letter, write, "Even in the crowded field of accrediting failures, ACICS deserves special opprobrium." They note a recent investigation by ProPublica that found that just 35% of students at ACICS-accredited schools graduate, "the lowest rate for any accreditor." Moreover, the AGs noted, "Of students who actually did graduate, more than one in five defaulted on their student loans within the first three years after graduation. A full 60% had not yet paid down a single dollar of the principal balance on their loans."

ProPublica found that two-thirds of ACICS' commissioners since 2010 were simultaneously executives at for-profit colleges. The ACICS board of directors and committees has included representatives of predatory schools including ITT and Corinthian, a fact that, the AGs write, raises "serious questions about potential conflicts of interests and therefore ACICS's ability to impartially evaluate those and other schools."

ACICS told ProPublica that the coalition letter contained "misleading allegations" and that it was preparing a "comprehensive response" to the various criticisms.

Last week, ACICS announced a series of reforms and a temporary halt to new accreditations. But for the Department of Education, it was clearly too little, too late.
By Debra Whitman and Jilenne Gunther

"For years I suffered silently. I didn't want to tell anybody. I couldn't muster the courage and you have to have courage."

The person speaking, it may come as a surprise to some, was late Hollywood icon Mickey Rooney, addressing a hearing before a Special Senate Committee on Aging. What also may come as a surprise is that he was sharing his own experience as a survivor of financial exploitation.

Unfortunately, Mickey Rooney was not alone. One of every two older Americans has been financially exploited or knows someone who has been a victim. Thousands of people age 50+ are financially exploited every day. Each victim loses an average of more than $120,000.

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Financial exploitation will only get worse as the older population continues to grow. This problem has the potential to wipe out the retirement savings of millions of Americans. This is a problem for banks, too, as their losses exceed more than $1 billion in deposits each year as a result of financial exploitation of older Americans.

Older financial customers have the clout to take action. Backed by their ownership of over two-thirds of all deposits and assets, they are now asking their financial institutions to help. Four of every five older Americans want their financial institutions to proactively fight exploitation.

Hearing Mickey Rooney and many other survivors' call "to stop elder abuse now," we at AARP have joined forces with the financial industry to create a national initiative to fight exploitation. AARP's BankSafe Initiative is empowering financial institutions and the advocates to protect consumers from financial exploitation and keep retirement savings safe - before the money leaves the account.

As we celebrate the 11th anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day at an annual global summit, we applaud the leadership of many financial institutions that have voluntarily developed simple yet effective solutions to fight exploitation. Here are a few examples:

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Problem: An investor suddenly can't manage his finances and his investment advisor suspects dementia. However, because of privacy banking laws, the advisor is unable to discuss his or her concerns with family members.

Solution: Wells Fargo Advisors developed a client emergency contact form giving financial advisors permission to contact a designated third party if they suspect exploitation or dementia. Now Wells Fargo can reach out to family members or friends for help when diminished capacity becomes an issue for a customer.

Problem: Many banks are seeing an increase in scams and exploitation of their 50+ customers.

Solution: The Oregon Bankers Association, in conjunction with the Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Department of Justice, and AARP, developed a training kit to help bank employees prevent financial exploitation. Since the training began in 2006, bank reporting of abuse has increased by 287 percent.

More of these solutions are outlined in two new reports, Snapshots: Banks Empowering Customers and Fighting Exploitation and Preventing Exploitation: Five Banks Leading the Fight. These reports serve as a guide for financial institutions wishing to expand their services, augment employee training, use new technology, or increase their community involvement efforts.

Mickey Rooney did his part, and now it's our turn. We urge financial institutions to use these guides as a tool to take action now.
Think what you will of me but the more I ponder the case of Omar Mateen, the more I see a closet gay man crumbling horribly under the weight of an unforgiving religion. These are the conditions of mental stress that are ideal for inane ideas to resolve an irreconcilable life by turning to the self-destructive excuses of ISIS-type jihad.

That the man acted as if he was crazy is clearly true. You see similar stress indicators in most of the other incidents of this type. People go mad as hatters in our midst. We ignore their plight because it's inconvenient and denounces them when pain turns to violence. We have no credible mitigating mechanisms despite decades of declaring our concern.

I wonder why in a plural society like the United States of America, we have let our notions of the right to explore our dreams become trapped by all manner of dogma. I see it on the right, I see it on the left. So many Americans now believe that being different means you must be banished to a lower caste of American. We have lost the very notion of being created equal endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

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So here we are, creating the mental illness powder kegs that drive the weakest among us into the devil's arms. And we remain smug in our individual elitism to fail to see that the problem is that we have abandoned the very soul of our Nation.

We too search for excuses to soothe our preconceptions and prejudices. In so doing, continue to kill whatever little we still have that binds us and makes us strong.

In this regard I agree with both President Obama and with Donald Trump. The problem is us and our inability to admit to the inconvenient truths of what we have turned this country into. President Obama is right to point out that we jump too soon to blame others; oddly, this includes himself. Donald Trump is right that we delude ourselves with our political correctness; that we look directly at problems and cannot seem to accept that they are there. Most Americans can't hear him because they're looking for polish instead of content; a bit more charm may help at the moment. The question today is, can we be a good enough nation to hear them both for the attempts they are making to find pathways out of our malaise?
Since standing as a Conservative Parliamentary Candidate in 2010, I have worked with charities and social enterprises supporting some of the UK's most vulnerable people. These outstanding organisations help homeless people move into accommodation, employment, education and training, rehabilitate offenders, support people who have been long term unemployed into work and help children in care find their forever families. What's strikes me about the EU Referendum debate is how little has been talked about how the EU helps us be a kinder and stronger society and country.

Every year, the EU spends over 1.5 billion in the UK tackling disadvantage and spreading opportunity through the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund targeting areas of deprivation and real need. This vital funding has created real social change; for example, between 2007 and 2015, 521,000 people who are long term unemployed have been helped into jobs and 533,000 disadvantaged young people have been helped to enter employment, education or training. In 2005, after the collapse of MG Rover, the EU helped fund an emergency job-finding taskforce for the 6,000 staff made redundant.

Over the next five years, EU funding will help people into employment, support the disabled, ethnic minorities and ex-offenders and help people into apprenticeships. Examples of projects funded include the Bad Boys Bakery helping inmates in Brixton Prison become bakers when they are released around and Social Farming which is a rural project helping change the lives of people living with disabilities.

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As employees, the EU has helped us too; it's given us the right to not work more than 48 hours a week, it's enabled men and women to have equal pay and it has ensured that workers have holiday pay.

Not only has the EU helped us build a kind and strong society at home, it helps us build friendships with countries who were once our enemies. Europe is historically the continent that has most been at war; virtually every decade before the EU was founded, a European country was at war with another. Winston Churchill said that our task was to "re-create the European Family, or as much of it as we can, and provide it with a structure under which it can dwell in peace, in safety and in freedom." Europe has been at peace for the last fifty years and the EU has also seen the end of dictatorships across Southern Europe, helping democracy and human rights flourish.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) receives applause from participants at the first congress of the country's ruling Workers' Party in 36 years, in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this photo taken by Kyodo May 9, 2016. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MANDATORY CREDIT. JAPAN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN JAPAN.

North Korea has completed its first Korean Workers' Party congress in 36 years. The ruling elite appeared to be getting along fine despite international sanctions. Washington needs to find a new approach toward the North.

The so-called Democratic People's Republic of Korea poses one of the most vexing challenges to American policy. For more than 20 years U.S. presidents have insisted that the DPRK cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. Yet it apparently is preparing for a fifth nuclear test.

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A military strike, as proposed by Ashton Carter before he was appointed Defense Secretary, would risk engulfing the peninsula in war. So the U.S. has relied on sanctions. Every time Pyongyang misbehaves--especially tests a nuclear weapon or launches a missile--American officials impose tougher domestic economic penalties and press for harsher UN sanctions.

After the North's latest nuclear test earlier this year, China agreed to a new round of restrictions. The increased penalties had no impact of North Korean policy. To the contrary, in early May the Kim regime used the party congress to highlight Pyongyang's nuclear program.

Foreign sanctions usually stiffen domestic resistance. Even friendly populations resent outside meddling. And when a government believes its policies to be necessary for survival--as, it would seem, does the North Korean regime--the chance of forcing change short of war is small.

Sanctions have had an impact. The People's Republic of China has been losing patience and appears to be more tightly regulating cross-border commerce. Some North Korean representatives of blacklisted agencies moved from China to Southeast Asian nations. The regime has resorted to smuggling to bring in banned products. Moreover, Pyongyang appears to be having more difficulty selling weapons abroad.

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Nevertheless, Beijing continues to moderate the impact of sanctions. Illicit goods still cross the border and some observers expect the PRC commitment to fade as Western attention moves elsewhere. Beijing more fears chaos on its border than a North Korea with nuclear weapons. President Xi Jinping recently declared: "As a close neighbor of the peninsula, we will absolutely not permit war or chaos on the peninsula.

The Xi government so far refuses to halt energy and food shipments, the only step that would apply bone-crunching pressure to the Kim regime. Even then, Pyongyang might refuse to comply. Argued Russian diplomat Georgy Toloraya, outside sanctions "are in fact a blessing for mobilizing the whole country against such an external threat." The regime already is blaming the West, preparing its people for what it calls an "arduous march."

Throughout the Cold War the North protected its autonomy even from its nominal allies, China and the Soviet Union. During the late 1990s the regime survived the virtual collapse of the economy and starvation death of a half million or more North Koreans. The Kim dynasty might survive similar hardship in the future.

Unfortunately, the uniform experience of sanctions is that they hurt those with the least resources and influence. In nations as varying as Burma, Iraq, Russia, Sudan, and Yugoslavia, Western sanctions impoverished the many while only inconveniencing the leadership.

That appears to be the case in North Korea. So far the elite have prospered, despite penalties directed against luxury imports. Lu Chao, a Senior Researcher at China's Academy of Liaoning Social Science, argued that "there are so many channels for importing these goods. The ban is just propaganda and has no significance."

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The streets of Pyongyang suggest he's right. Privileged North Koreans have money and goods which were lacking only a few years ago. The Washington Post recently reported on "Pyonghattan," home to North Korea's privileged elite: "They like fast fashion from Zara and H&M. They work out to be seen as much as to exercise. They drink cappuccinos to show how cosmopolitan they are. Some have had their eyelids done to make them look more Western."

In contrast, argued Andrei Lankov of Kookmin University, "the average North Korean will also bear the brunt of the sanctions." For instance, restrictions on the minerals trade will directly hit engineers, miners, truck drivers, and those serving mining communities.

Hunger continues to stalk much of the land and health care is lamentable. The latest round of sanctions has increased hardship. Choi Ha-young, chairman of the Love North Korean Children Charity, complained: "Currently, due to the UN sanctions, people in the lowest class are really impacted."


Karl Lagerfeld's "Visions of Fashion" at Palazzo Pitti, image by Proj3ct Studio

At a morning preview for his event at Pitti Uomo, I asked Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy if he believes fashion is a way for people to unite, to find common ground -- to belong.

"Right now, it's better to be together than separated," he said, and his longtime collaborator, stylist Lotta Volkova continued, "in a way Gosha has become what connects teenagers from all over the world, they are obsessed with his fashions." In a recent Financial Times interview, writer Charlie Porter wittily added that though his fashion is directed at teenagers worldwide, Rubchinskiy "has amassed a wide following of adult men who still think of themselves as teenagers."

Perhaps that's the clue to the industry's wild success, even in dire times. Fashion is about never growing up, playing dress-up forever, being a male or female Peter Pan. Tinker Bell is of course replaced by the voice of a fashion conscience of our liking, be that Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs or, in this case, at this very moment, Gosha Rubchinskiy who is man of the hour in trendiness. But walking around Pitti Uomo's main venue, the Fortezza da Basso, one can observe this wondrous parade of boys and girls -- and I use that term in the most loving way possible -- dressing up every day in the clothes of their dreams.

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I'll admit, I'm a Peter Pan too. I refuse to grow up, or worse yet, grow old. I'm more at home in a summer white lace dress than in a tailored suit because a dress to me offers endless possibilities. And for a man like the one pictured below, even a suit becomes a feat of the imagination, veering away from traditional colors and cuts, to become the stuff tailored dreams are made of.

Perhaps it's a sign of the times, perhaps it's the great momentum the "Made in Italy" brand has been enjoying, but Florence for Pitti Uomo this time around feels energized, alive, refreshed and refreshing. With one foot planted into the past of the city where modern civilization started, designers are also looking to the future.

It may be a combination of things. Designers are becoming more away of the whimsical aspect of fashion. At a interview with a Swedish brand's creative director, he basically said that those making and selling fashion need to lighten up. The consumer, he admitted, has it right, possesses the joy necessary to appreciate fashion, but those working behind the scenes are taking themselves a little too seriously.

There is also here in Florence a wonderfully cooperative spirit going on at the moment. The newly appointed director of the Uffizi Gallery, German art historian Eike Schmidt admitted in an interview earlier today that he'd always dreamed of bringing fashion into the art venues, and never imagined it would happen so quickly. This time around, art museums, famous landmarks and antique squares have been sprinkled with the mischievous spice of fashion. It's as if the art and fashion world are showing us the way. If the world is going to be OK after all, it's going to be through inclusion, not exclusion.

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So how is the business of fashion going? I think Gaetano Marzotto, Chairman of Pitti Immagine, said it best at the opening ceremony for this Pitti Uomo 90 when he stated that "you express your personality with clothing." He pointed to the challenges ahead for Italian fashion, with a declining Russian market and a Chinese market slowing in growth, falling a bit behind expectations. The upside is that our own US market happens to be the most constant, most stable at growth for the 'Made in Italy' brand, and that's good news all around.

But perhaps most importantly, Marzotto reminded us of something even more important.

In 1952, fashion as we view it and purchase it today, was born in Florence, in the Sala Bianca of the Pitti Palace. There, the first official Italian fashion show was held and from then, there was no turning back.

Today, at this edition of Pitti Uomo more than 60 years later, fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld has chosen that same venue to display his photography in an exhibit titled "Visions of Fashion". There, his images find a new temporary home, hanging from the ceiling as sparkling crystal chandeliers dangle teasingly nearby. To say that it has made for more than a few goosebumps moments while viewing Lagerfeld's exhibit is an understatement.

Raffaello paintings, frescoed ceilings, marble statues and iconic images by Lagerfeld made for an experience I'll never forget.

In the words of master filmmaker, poet and writer Pier Paolo Pasolini, whom Rubchinskiy named as his primary inspiration for the collection we're about to view, awaiting it with bated breath, "They'll teach you how to stop shining. And you, instead, must shine on."

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FBI director James Comey flatly said that there is no evidence of any foreign direction behind Omar Marteen's Orlando nightclub massacre. In three probes of Marteen prior to the rampage, one lasting nearly a year, the FBI found no hard evidence that he was an embedded ISIS plant. President Obama flatly said that there is no evidence of any foreign tie to Marteen. Could he have been influenced by ISIS, or Al-Qaeda videos, speeches or sentiments, yes. But that's all speculation, and a far cry from a smoking gun link to ISIS.

What's not speculation is that he was born in America, went to elementary, high school and graduated from a community college in America. He was married to an American (from California), worked at a security outfit that had of all things a top government clearance, had aspirations to be a cop, bought the guns he used in the massacre legally from gun shops in the area, and worst of all, partied and socialized at the gay club that he shot up. Reports of Marteen's alleged crackpot, obsessive, homophobia, and alleged manic abusive nature, ranks much closer to the top as a possible motive for the rampage.

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Yet, none of this mattered to Trump and countless others. He, and they, instantly and relentlessly branded him an ISIS want to be terrorist. The three operative words that tell why Trump and others furiously relaunched the hunt to brand him an ISIS Manchurian candidate are fear, ignorance, and politics.

The fear and ignorance are the easy ones to explain. In the steady parade of mass shootings, even the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood massacre, last November, where the alleged shooter is as American Waspish as can be, the first thing out the news box was the shooter Muslim, or was there a Mid-East connection? This stokes, fans, and inflames the deepest, basest, and by now well-conditioned, anti-immigrant fear and hysteria among many Americans. This is a sure fire bet to garner headlines, massive media attention, and a nudge up in the ratings for the networks. And when there are reports that someone such as Marteen may have made some loose, usually uncorroborated, statements or threats about terrorism that feeds even deeper into the anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant belief that America is under attack from outside its shores.

The politics behind the witch-hunt of Muslims is just as easy to see. It's been an ace card for legions of GOP demagogic, fear-mongering officials and candidates. Trump simply took it to the next demagogic level. His is part calculation, part pandering, maybe even part belief. The bigger part is that it's paid rich dividends. It started with his almost single-handed revival of the false, phony, and racist birther hit on President Obama during the early days of the 2012 presidential campaign. He hit the political jackpot this campaign go-round with the snide call for banning some, many or all Muslims depending on who he was talking to.

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This instantly transformed him from a reality show curiosity to a legitimate presidential candidate and propelled him on the fast track to the GOP presidential nomination. His anti-Muslim crusade has even cowered other GOP opponents and party leaders into tip toing around him when he dangerously spews anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rants. Trump's verbal war with Obama and Hillary Clinton over "radical Islam" and who and what's to blame for the Orlando massacre is his double down on the tragedy to score political low points. But there's more.

In elections past, polls have shown that by big margins GOP presidential candidates have gapped Democratic presidential candidates on the question of who Americans think will be tougher on terrorism and assorted Mid-East bad guys, especially when there's the possibility of another home grown attack. Trump scored much higher here than Clinton, while Americans had little confidence in Obama's handling of a domestic terror attack.

Obama's continued care in putting the blame and the action needed on radical, and hateful deranged individuals, and not on all Muslims or immigrants is the type of caution and restraint needed but obviously is not what legions want to hear. Trump knows that.

This brings it back to Mateen; a born and bred American citizen, who was educated, worked, and raised a family here as has been true with just almost all the perpetrators of mass killings and attacks from Boston to San Bernardino, and now Orlando, during the past decade. And in the decades before ISIS was even thought of, mass murders such as the Oklahoma City bombing in 1996, have been the diabolical handiwork of American citizens. And each time fear, ignorance, and political opportunism come into deadly play with finger-pointing, harassment, and physical attacks against American Muslims, Islamic mosques and community centers.

Muslim organizations and leaders are the first in the door to loudly denounce individuals such as Marteen who sully Islam by committing abominable acts. No matter, this and all the statements from the FBI and Obama about no foreign involvement in mass murder attacks by men like Marteen will fall on the deaf ears of others and Trump, even though a Mateen is as American as him.

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Rifle brass mixed with broken glass on a nighttime concrete slab

As ashamed as I am to admit this, when it comes to shootings in America, I'm suffering from serious compassion fatigue. For those who aren't familiar with the term, compassion fatigue is the apathy that arises from repeated exposure to crises. It seems like every other day I see a breaking news alert on a shooting. Last week it was Boston, today it was Texas. So when I learned early Sunday morning that there was a shooting at an Orlando nightclub, I rolled over and went back to sleep. It was just another shooting, just another day.

I woke again to worried texts from my family, only to understand the magnitude of the situation. Hostages were taken and then killed in a gay night club on Latinx night. The body count was initially reported at 20, because the police didn't discover the numerous others until later. Over 100 people were killed or wounded, and doctors at Orlando Regional Medical Center say still more may succumb to their injuries.

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Only hours before, my friends and I contemplated going to Machine, one of Boston's gay clubs, where my close friend was bartending. We'd spent the day at Boston's Pride Parade and the Back Bay Block Party, celebrating our remarkable community. At the block party, one lesbian said to me, "It's my first time around this many queer women. I've never felt so loved." Although it wasn't my first Pride, I had to agree. I believed that here, we were home. Despite the religious protestors, hate would not flourish at this event. We would unapologetically be ourselves and we would do so in safety. Had we gone to Machine afterwards, I imagine it would've been packed to capacity with queer folks of all ages, colors and genders, while security attempted to keep the single narrow staircase clear for safety purposes.

I can only believe that the solidarity and safety I found at that block party, the queer community of Orlando found at Pulse. Omar Mateen attempted to take that from not only Orlando's community, but from all of us. He perpetrated what we're calling the nation's deadliest mass shooting and intentionally targeted a hub of the queer community. How long will this massacre hold this title? A few weeks? Several months? How long will it take for our country to get divided by arguments on radical Islam, or gun control, or mental illness, and forget that people died? How long before we forget that an American man chose to kill based on hatred born and bred in America?

Every time we stall out on gun control laws, we fail these victims. When we slash funding for mental health care, we set the stage for another tragedy. When we ignore the facts and point to buzzwords like radical Islam, we foster the growth of hatred and fear. And when our pain is used to further a political career, we do more than let down everyone affected by this horrific violence: we insult them.

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As a nation, we failed not only the victims in Orlando, but Mateen himself. We fueled his belief that pledging his life to ISIL in a 911 call would bring him infamy. We subsequently granted him said infamy when our politicians emphasize his links to international terror groups, all the while minimizing the queer identities of the victims. We refused to pass laws that would have prevented him from easily acquiring weapons. We argued over who can use a public restroom, demonizing trans* people and feeding into anti-queer bigotry. We created this and it is our responsibility to dismantle it. If not for the victims of Pulse or Charleston or Columbine, then for your own loved ones.
Girl kissing dolls

What happens when you mix African inspired prints and mix it with curves with bold patterns? You get an eccentric and beautiful collection that will surely match your personality. I met Serwah Asante last year at an I-CAF event where I first tried on Asante's designs. Her lined then was called Rue 114. I absolutely loved not just the beautiful designs but what resonated with me the most was the high quality fabric that held and concealed my problem areas while accentuating what I loved the most. It was the first time I was asked to model a collection and the dresses had such an amazing hold (this is important to curvier women, trust me) that I was smitten. Fast-forward a year later and Asante drops a brand new collection under a new name. I will admit, a few months ago she did tell inform me that she will launching a new collection but I wasn't ready for this! Bold, vibrant, playful and seductive is what this collection is. Asante covers all women sizes in her new collection and features models Liris Crosse and Yewande Olasokan.

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Image credit: David Cortorreal



This is me wearing Serwah Asante's then Rue 114 line last year.



Image credit: David Cortorreal

What's the inspiration behind African Barbie? "I had an idea of how I wanted the this to visually come across and I had saw some pink background paper I thought looked nice and the photographer, Ryle Watson wasn't sure at first. But when we started the see the results it was just beautiful - the photographer was amazing." The current collection uses hues of orange, purple and blue and creates an exotic backdrop for her animal-like stripes. This collection is a must if you enjoy pieces that will make you standout and start conversations.

What type of woman or man (she designs for men as well) would wear this collection? "Any type of woman. A woman should define her own style. There is no right or wrong way to wear fashion. I'm not one of those designers that wants to dictate on how people should wear my designs. I actually like when women put their own twist and spin on my designs and wear in a different way I wouldn't have thought of." Asante told me right after her new website went live. I asked her what was her inspiration for the her current palette and she told me that she doesn't care to follow Pantone's color scheme but it was a coincidence her vision board just happened to correlate with this year's color of the year (Rose Quartz and Serenity).

If you are looking for the perfect plus-size bathing suit, weekend bag or body-con dress that will show your personality, I suggest you give Asante's new line a try - you won't regret it.

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People hold up candles against a rainbow lit backdrop during a vigil for those killed in a mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub downtown Monday, June 13, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. A gunman has killed dozens of people in a massacre at a crowded gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday, making it the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

The mind cannot quite take it in -- the wantonness of the Orlando events that now rank as the worst mass shooting spree in U.S. history. The longer range repercussions cannot yet be calculated, but if the past is any judge, nearly all of them are likely to be bad. How can we possibly bring any kind of rational "explanations" to bear on it? That it was an evil act is utterly clear. But when confronted with such horrific events we want better answers.

In this case, as in so many others, there is no single cause to explain it all -- although some will hasten to offer you one-size-fits-all explanations. Indeed, nothing could be more dangerous than to latch onto any single cause theory to clarify everything. Like most things in life, all-of-the-above factors are at work. Not one or two, but all. Here they some key ones, in no particular order of priority.

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Nothing could be more dangerous than to latch onto any single cause theory to clarify everything.

- The killer was deeply disturbed, deranged, flawed. This goes almost without saying for anyone capable of such an inhuman act. A gasoline-drenched mind awaiting a spark.

- The killer was Muslim. In the last minutes of his life he claimed for the record that he owed allegiance to ISIS (the "Islamic State"). It's not yet clear if he had been recruited by them -- probably not, but he was at least self-recruited -- a lone wolf seeking wider connections.

- We cannot avoid mentioning Islam in the context of this massacre -- not because Islam is an inspiration for murder, but because some Muslims in the last decades have self-identified with Islam as now representing the out group, the oppressed. Even some disturbed non-Muslims have converted on that basis. Think how many black American Muslims converted to Islam as a statement against racism in white American culture. Radical Islam has become today the ideology of preference for some individuals seeking out a "higher cause" by which to justify their frustrations, resentments, fantasies and even savagery.

Radical Islam has become today the ideology of preference for some individuals seeking out a 'higher cause' by which to justify their frustrations, resentments, fantasies and even savagery.

- There will always be deranged individuals filled with hate, compensating for failure and impotence. They will always seek those higher justifications that can seemingly lend dignity to their own wretched state of mind and acts of rage. If it is not Islam today, it will be something else tomorrow. Anarchist and communist (Marxist-Leninist) killers proclaimed ideology to justify their acts of violence. Weird Buddhist sects in Japanese subways. Or "sacred nationalism" invoked. When religion is added, it only intensifies the psychological brew as it raises the "moral banner" higher.

- Guns kill. The availability of military assault weapons to almost any unstable individual who seeks one unquestionably was key to the record number of deaths in Orlando. A handgun or a knife also kills -- but not 50 people in as many seconds. Sadly, similar massacres in the past have left the gun lobby unfazed; it is unlikely it will be any different this time.

- Homophobia is widespread in the U.S.. Christian scripture as well as Islamic law inveigh against it. In traditional Jewish law, male homosexuality called for death. Seventy-seven countries currently ban homosexuality. But while broad elements of U.S. society today have attained a fairly high tolerance for sexual freedom, there still exists a macho popular culture in many parts of the country which regularly puts gays at risk of homophobic attack.

A prayer with members of the LGBT and Muslim community for the victims who were shot and killed by a gunman in Orlando. (Christian K. Lee/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

- The Muslim world right now is undergoing intensely traumatic conditions of war, death, civil strife, sectarian witch hunts, breakdown of social norms and the destruction of law, order and infrastructure. There have long been many outstanding local problems, but rarely has the extent of regional devastation been of this magnitude. We must acknowledge the huge degree of U.S. responsibility in creating and prolonging many of these conditions abroad. The anguish of the region is now spreading out across much of the globe and leaching back into our own American society. The U.S. cannot kill at leisure abroad and remain untouched at home.

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- This exceptionally ugly current environment in the Middle East is churning the religious, ethnic and ideological pot, producing a broad range of extreme or deviant interpretations of Islam relating to identity, community self-preservation and resistance. People especially turn to religious faith in times of desperation. Now, clearly, the Orlando killer experienced none of these conditions firsthand. But events in the Middle East, on television non-stop, constitute part of the ambient atmosphere in and around where all Muslims live.

There may be other specific explanatory factors at work here as well. But all of these factors must be acknowledged -- we can't pick and choose our favorite hobby horse. It's not "all guns," or "all Muslims" or "all homophobia," or "all U.S. Middle East policy," or "all Israeli occupation." If each person's pet issue is cherry-picked to "prove" their position without reference to the others, we are just playing at high school, or Fox, debating.

We can't pick and choose our favorite hobby horse. It's not 'all guns,' or 'all Muslims' or 'all homophobia,' or 'all U.S. Middle East policy,' or 'all Israeli occupation.'

There are no, repeat no, policy steps -- Donald Trump notwithstanding -- that can immediately alleviate these conditions in the short term. The domestic and foreign scene have created a deep and volatile mix not readily amenable to any quick fixes.

But some medium term steps that need to be taken? They are pretty much the obverse of the conditions we cited above.

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- The U.S. and the West must cease use of military force in the Middle East as the primary tool of foreign policy. U.S. "boots on the ground" everywhere are as much or more of the problem as existing local problems on their own. The presence of western armies abroad feed the "clash of civilization" myth and distract regional people from dealing with issues themselves.

There are no, repeat no, policy steps -- Donald Trump notwithstanding -- that can immediately alleviate these conditions in the short term.

- We can ban the sale of assault rifles -- to anyone. Gun deaths in the U.S. staggeringly outweigh those in other industrialized countries.

- If U.S. domestic politics cannot permit an even-handed American role in the Arab-Israeli problem -- obviously the case -- then let other nations do it. It is not America's role to make Israel safe for expansionist Zionism.

- Work more closely with U.S. Muslim communities in helping spot wayward and troubled youth who might otherwise eventually find their way to zealots advocating murder. This does not mean more FBI stings against sad, vulnerable souls fast-talked into some wacko plot. Muslim communities are the first to pay the highest price for murderous events of this sort. Muslim American communities are deeply motivated to stop them, especially when they are included as security partners. This is already taking place in many communities.

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NYPD officer, protestor watch discussions on legal action challenging surveillance of businesses frequented by Muslims and mosques. (TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

Given the magnitude of the problem today, there is a temptation for the U.S. government itself to monitor and control the rhetoric of preaching in U.S. mosques. But it won't really work. The issue has already long since been politicized. Is organizing political action against Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands to be treated as "hate speech" and incitation to violence? It certainly will if AIPAC has anything to say about it. Are anti-Russian Chechens to be perceived as nothing more than freedom fighters? American Muslim communities themselves will have to take up the sensitive and complex role of monitoring aberrant speech and behavior in their own mosques and speak out against radical interpretations of Islam in their communities. And foreign preachers may well come under particular scrutiny, posing complex judgment calls.

These are not easy times.

This article first appeared on GrahameFuller.com

Also on WorldPost:
For a long time, I stood in front of my kitchen chalkboard and stared at the number I'd written there.

86,400.

A number I'd been obsessing over for weeks now.

The number of seconds in a day.

It all started with a simple quote I read somewhere.

You've got 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to smile?

I've got so many inspiring quotes rushing past on my various feeds every day, but for some reason this one made me really stop and think.

86,400.

86,400.

It seems like such a large number, but I'd already used up 600 seconds or so just standing there pondering the number.

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Poof. They were gone. Sand at the bottom of an unflippable hourglass.

I try my very best to live every moment to its fullest, but how many seconds had I wasted doing things I didn't want to do?

How many seconds had I spent living like a drone, wishing for the day to be over before it had even begun?

Thinking about it sent a wave of panic washing over me. All those precious seconds I'd taken for granted, neglected, and that were now gone forever.

Was I living half a life?

Shortly after, I went to Cuba for my family vacation, and I was determined to savour every one of my 86, 400 seconds.

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I woke up every day with only one goal; live life to the fullest and don't waste a second. That might sound like two goals, but the two go hand in hand, don't you think?

So, for four days I lived the best I've ever lived. We drank tropical cocktails under the Havana sun, toured the city in a convertible with the top down, and laughed so hard our stomachs hurt. It was a beautiful time in a beautiful place.

But by the fifth day I could feel my anxiety starting to creep back in. This would all be over soon, and I'd have to return to my regular life. My half life. A sad thought, since I'd really gotten to like living a full one.

Could I keep living my 86, 400 seconds to the fullest back in reality? Was that even possible?

We went to a restaurant that night, and I immediately noticed a woman sitting alone at the table next to ours.

Our eyes locked and she smiled at me. I smiled back.

As we waited for our drinks to arrive, my boys reminisced about the amazing day we'd had. In our enthusiasm all of us were talking over each other, recapping our favourite moments, laughing constantly.

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I looked over and noticed the woman was watching us and smiling.

Our drinks showed up, and as we looked over the food menu, there was a natural lull in the conversation.

The solo diner took advantage of the silence and remarked, "You have a lovely family."

We thanked her. My husband looked at me and motioned his head towards her. I knew he meant: Should we ask her to join us?

I nodded. Yes. Of course.

Mike extended the invitation to her.

Without hesitation she said yes, grabbed her wine glass, and moved to our table.

Her name was Nicole. She lived in Quebec and was traveling alone.

She was lovely, and I immediately liked her.

Nicole was an avid traveler, and she dazzled us with stories of her escapades, which she told in such vibrant detail it felt like we were living every moment with her.

Her energy was magical.

We learned a lot about her. She'd done so much, her life packed with joy and adventure, most recently a whirlwind love affair with a beautiful dancer. The story was so exotic and glamorous, I wondered if she'd stepped out of the pages of a romance novel.

Her special charm was intoxicating to be around, and we hung on every word she spoke.

Her zest for life was so vibrant, so youthful.

So you can imagine our shock when she revealed that she was actually 70 years young.

We all gasped! She chuckled at our reaction.

This truly was a woman taking advantage of her 86,400 daily seconds.

I had to ask: "Nicole, what's your secret to living such an extraordinary life and embracing every moment like you do?"

"Oh, my friend", she said, "life is not always champagne and fireworks. I've also experienced my fair share of sadness and struggle. I just choose to look at these moments as a doorway to understanding life. These uncomfortable emotions can empower you and help you see what really matters: kindness, love, and compassion."

"The way I look at it...Life is terminal and I just have to live every moment."



Then she picked up her wine glass, raised it in the air, and announced, "I may have more adventures behind me than ahead of me, but my answer is a renewed passport for ten more years!"

"To living life!" We all raised our glasses and drank.

Meeting her was such a gift that day. She helped me realize I wasn't wasting any seconds during times of struggle, doing things I didn't want to do. I needed to understand that these moments are crucial in shaping and guiding me towards my best life.

Without these times I won't become the person I need to be.

Thank you, Nicole, for making me realize that I really am living 86, 400 seconds every day!

So, how are you spending yours today?

The clock is ticking.

Written by Heidi -- Founder of the Positive People Army
Co-authored by Natasha Ardiani



Panelists of the "Youth and the New Urban Agenda" event.

The world is more becoming more urban by the day. The United Nations project that by 2050, 70% of the world population will reside in urban areas, "making urbanization one of the 21st century's most transformative trends". As the world population is increasingly urbanized, so will many of our challenges across all segments of society.

The battle for sustainable development will be won or lost in cities. It is on the sidelines of rapid urbanization--of population, poverty, social inequality, and climate change, among others--that the United Nations is convening the Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador, this October. Despite the dilemmas that cities face, they are also the locations for creative experimentation and interventions. The New Urban Agenda, the outcome document of this upcoming conference, is aspiring to become a radical and transformative tool that will guide global thinking and action on urbanization for the next twenty years. Before this document can achieve this goal, it must address many gaps present in the current draft, among them the lack of focus on youth and implementation mechanism.

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Around the world, young people have shown their tremendous competencies and leadership in creating positive change. However, their potential remains largely untapped and uninvested. With as many as 60% of the world urban population predicted to be under the age of 18 in 2030, and with many pockets of youth concentrated in developing countries, this neglect is dangerous and socially, environmentally, and economically expensive. There is no time for hesitancy and compromise. Young people must be placed at the center of the New Urban Agenda and empowered in the three-pronged approach to sustainable urbanization: urban rules and regulations, urban planning and design, and municipal finance.



Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi, UN Secretary General's Envoy on Youth, handed the "Youth and the New Urban Agenda" report.

Last week, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) hosted the "Youth and the New Urban Agenda" event oriented around the publication of its recent report on the integral role of youth in urbanization. Mr. Purnomo Chandra, Minister Counselor at the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations, stated, "These are young people who are looking to better themselves, their communities, countries and the world. They are seeking to be educated, looking for jobs, finding a place to live and starting families. Their youthful energy and innovation can be a positive force for change at all levels if they are pro-actively engaged as partners." His opinions were both echoed by the representatives from the Mission of Kenya and the Mission of Canada to the United Nations.

To realize the New Urban Agenda and empower young people in the process, there needs to be a strong implementation mechanism. The good news is that one currently exists: UN-Habitat, an agency created after Habitat I upon worldwide recognition of rapid and unchecked urbanization, and tasked with the mission of providing adequate shelter to all, in light of the rapid proliferation of slum settlements. Member States and stakeholders must use Habitat III as an opportunity to strengthen UN-Habitat and expand its mandate to oversee the employment and review of the Agenda. After all, UN-Habitat is the United Nations' only agency with a mandate directly focused on urban areas, so it possesses the professional knowledge and expertise to successfully lead the New Urban Agenda.

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We remember Muhammed Ali today, on the 30th Anniversary of A Conspiracy of Hope. He championed the case for Human Rights

Early on April 30,1976, I was awakened by a phone call from Dick Gregory. Dick was running in New Mexico, well into the "Dick Gregory Bicentennial Run against Hunger" across the USA in support of eliminating world hunger. Dick and I had planned this run for a year and there was good coverage at the starting point in LA. He wanted to finish the Run on July 4, 1976, the Bicentennial of the USA. He felt that on that important day this serious issue needed to be in the national dialogue, rather than just a bunch of ships going up the Hudson. Along the route, Dick spoke to civil groups, churches, synagogues, mosques and political figures.

But by the time he reached New Mexico, the press was just not providing good coverage, and it was time to change that. So Dick asked me and George O'Hara of Chicago to go out to the hotel in Maryland where Muhammed Ali was staying as he prepared to fight Jimmy Young that night. With some serious skepticism, we went to the hotel.

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Per usual, Lil Gregory, Dick's wife and fellow activist, arranged for us to join the line inside the Champ's room. Ali was sitting behind a desk and speaking with each person as the line moved forward. Ali was the biggest and baddest looking man I had ever seen. But he was also quiet and serene. Ali told us that he was the greatest fighter of all time and he would destroy Jimmy Young that night. We agreed. Then he said, "What do you want?"

"Mr. Gregory is requesting you to join him on his anti-hunger run," I said. "We need the press you can bring." He repeated his assertion of greatness and his threat to beat Jimmy Young. Then he looked up at us and said, "I will pee blood for two weeks and pay for this myself?" I nodded sheepishly.

"Yes, I will do it." After his fight in Germany, he did exactly that. Ali was a man of his word and thus a champion.

We thanked the Champ profusely and stepped aside for a group of children who were next in line. There were about ten students. Special children. George and I were invited by Ali to join him and the children in his room. Ali proceeded to call every one of their parents and told them he was the greatest and that he would destroy Jimmy Young that night. They each agreed. Ali then asked George and me if we would like to go to Germany for the next fight as well. And "stick with me when we enter the arena tonight."

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After 15 brutal rounds, Ali won the split decision. Instead of telling everyone he was the greatest, he used the microphone to support Dick Gregory 's run across America. He remembered every word George and I encouraged him to say. At the very top of his game, Ali took the time to support his friend Dick Gregory and the important issue Dick was raising, namely the end to world hunger.

Several years later, I recruited Dick Gregory and Muhammad Ali to be two of our presenters at Amnesty International's concert at Giant Stadium on June 15,1986. It was thirty years ago today. Bill Graham, John Sher and I were producing A Conspiracy of Hope, a six-city tour of the USA for Amnesty. Naturally I want these two voices for justice and peace and human rights to be there on that day. The eleven hour concert featured the Police, Miles Davis, U2, Bryan Adams, Joan Baez, Peter Gabriel, Yoko Ono, Ruben Blades, Hooters, Carlos Santana, Little Steven, Jackson Browne, Stanley Jordan, Lou Reed, Peter Paul and Mary, Fela Kuti and the Neville Brothers to name a few, was live on MTV and going out nationally in support of human rights and Amnesty. All this for a ticket price of just $36.

When Ali took to the stage, a massive roar erupted. John Sher kindly adjusted the mic for Ali to address the crowd. Then the rock and roll crowd went quiet. They wanted to hear from the Champ.

Listen to Ali speak for himself. Short, powerful and worth your time. Truly this man was the greatest.
As a frustrated biomedical engineering student, Max Hodak came up with one idea that could "shake up science" itself.

His idea was simple but ambitious: to revolutionize the way basic science research is done by making it cheaper, faster and more accessible.

To Hodak, this means bypassing the drudgery of repetitive lab work and letting scientists focus on the intellectual work behind scientific discoveries.

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This idea culminated into the Google Ventures-backed, $14-million-funded "robotics cloud laboratory" Transcriptic, whose warehouse in Menlo Park, California houses robots that perform life sciences experiments.

The startup promises to bring "your lab to the cloud", and scientists who want to test their research but hope to spend less time on repetitive testing can pay Transcriptic to perform their experiments for them.

THE PROBLEM WITH SCIENCE

So why are scientists excited about this?

"When I was doing my PhD, most of it was lab work - six months into it, I knew I didn't want to spend the rest of my life in a lab," confessed Yvonne Linney, who has a PhD in Genetics and serves as Transcriptic's COO.

"It was boring, frustrating, sometimes it was routine - often it wouldn't work. You spend all this time troubleshooting - it was very, very inefficient,"

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Those of us who do not spend our days tinkering with test tubes in the lab might be tempted to think that Linney's problem does not apply to us. However, the fact that leaders in academia and pharmaceutical corporations all face the same issue means important advances related to our health are potentially thwarted - partly because of inefficiencies that have remained an unquestioned staple of laboratory work for many years.

"If you look at a life science lab today, and look at one from twenty years ago - it hasn't changed." said Linney, "pipetting has not changed for 25 years at all."

WHEN IN DOUBT...USE ROBOTS



The cure for today's most malignant diseases could be just around the corner, so how can we help scientists find them quicker?

The solution?

According to the Transcriptic team, it's robots.

With a combination of equipment that the team has built themselves and purchased, Transcriptic's robots perform programmable, reproducible, and accurate experiments that yield quick results.

Scientists, academics, even students can design their own protocols, pay for device time, and have their projects carried out without the need to purchase a single equipment.

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"I definitely love the idea of the ability to ultimately do your lab work without the lab," explained Tom Driscoll, VP of Business Development at Transcriptic. "But the extension of that - to work through complex scientific problems, and to do it iteratively, essentially all from the convenience of my laptop, is a tremendously valuable thing."

Living up to its mission statement of efficiency, Transcriptic also cooperates with other companies that also streamline experiments. For example, Transcriptic works with Desktop Genetics, a company that develops operating systems for users to design genome engineering experiments on their laptops, which would then be automated in Transcriptic's warehouse.

THE ROAD AHEAD

In early 2016, the Siegel Lab at UC Davis published a peer-review study crediting Transcriptic for generating the largest dataset of its kind on computational enzyme design. This was also the first publication to show that using a cloud-based lab, as opposed to running each time-consuming experiment by the researchers themselves, has helped overcome an experimental bottleneck.

Moving forward, the Transcriptic team intends to focus on aspects of life sciences that can benefit most from fast and large sets of data.

"Machine learning and computational biology - we're definitely heading in that direction, which is basically an extension of what Siegel has published," said Driscoll. "It's going beyond enzymes and for much larger data sets, with broader work flows,"

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Guest piece co-written with Tiffany Ma.


The critical need for men to demonstrate daily advocacy for women

Women's leadership advancement is stuck. We can talk about the business case, strategies and talent initiatives, yet when you really examine internal corporate numbers, women's advancement is still moving too slowly. We need a sense of urgency and the will to commit to change. And neither of these will take place without men joining in the discussion to solve the problem.

Simply stated men never make a connection between advocating for women in the workplace and the impact this will have when their daughter enters the job market.

I believe up to 30% of men in the workplace do want to help but don't know what to do on a daily basis. To help other fathers take meaningful action, I created the Father of a Daughter initiative. It's a simple opt-in program. Men commit to do a minimum of one of ten things (hopefully more) to advance women.

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What is the Father of Daughter Initiative?

The Father of a Daughter Initiative is a roadmap for men to make the connection between women at work and their daughters -- and to take action to bring about change for the women in their lives.

And yes the initiative is driving change. To date, dozens of companies from a variety of sectors and sizes, such as Novartis, Bacardi and major divisions of GE and Amdocs as well as a host of other Fortune 500 companies have posted and taken the challenge.

Chief Diversity Officer, Sandra Sims-Williams of Publicis Groupe - a corporation with global digital and media affiliates including Digitas, Razorfish, Leo Burnett, and Saatchi & Saatchi said, "Jeffery Halter's Father of a Daughter initiative is both timely and effective since it offers men actionable ideas to support the advancement of women in the workplace. I've sent the Father of Daughter information to our entire organization to encourage them to take the pledge. I urge other organizations to embrace the initiative and share the pledge."

Why are companies sharing the Father of a Daughter initiative?

Because it demonstrates tangible actions men can take to bring about change in the workplace for their daughters, working spouses and female colleagues. For more details on how the program has inspired action, I reached out to Natalie Runyon, Director, Operations & Strategy, in the Legal business at Thomson Reuters serving as a volunteer leader on the global steering committee for Women@ThomsonReuters, the women's business/employee resource group at the company. Thomson Reuters sees the opportunity to invest in women as a larger part of its business strategy, adding that a more inclusive leadership team benefits the business and bottom line.

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One initiative was the spotlight on Financial Services Market Opportunity on Women's Growing Economic Power (via The Wall Street Women's Alliance). In October 2015, Women@ThomsonReuters, started to intentionally focus on engaging men by co-hosting a program on behalf of the Wall Street Women's Alliance, which is a center of excellence for women's business resource groups (BRG) within Financial Services.

Runyon said, "We intentionally targeted our panelists, who mostly were senior men and executive sponsors of their company's women's BRGs, to discuss the market and business opportunity, of women's growing purchasing power in banking and financial services. The event was packed with over 200+ attendees from more than 40 financial services companies in attendance."

A second initiative focused on the We4She campaign for International Women's Day. In March of 2016, Women@ThomsonReuters launched the We4She campaign as a global initiative around International Women's Day and Women's History month in the US. It was generated in the spirit of the UN Women's HeforShe movement. Included in this campaign was an engagement initiative with a We4She pledge and photos open to all 50,000+ colleagues and spotlights on male and female We4She champions. It was one of the most successful global, internal campaigns, with over 36,000 views of campaign content, 49,000 views, likes, rates, and comments on content and 25 We4She champions sharing stories that had over 7500 views.



What's Next?

As companies grapple with strategies to attract and retain talent, it's time for business leaders - namely men, within organizations to step-up to help bring about the much-needed change for their daughters and working spouses
Anyone in business knows that having the right people in the right roles at the right time is critical. But getting that done is harder - and more important - than ever. So how can you attract high-quality applicants to your workforce?

I'm not talking traditional advertising to fill vacancies - that's just a small piece of the puzzle. While three in 10 companies are still starting outreach efforts only after they need to fill a role, organizations that have their talent acquisition act together are 2.6 times more effective at hiring outcomes AND 1.3 times more effective at business outcomes.

Here are six key tips for becoming one of those companies.

1. Get Integrated

When it comes to strategically attracting talent, nothing is more important than integrating all related efforts:

Structurally: Forge new partnerships between the right teams

Strategically: Ensure all tactics interlock under one key plan

Technologically: Connect systems and acquire new ones needed to ensure smooth operations and measurement

Analytically: Gain agreement on what success looks like and how to measure that success.

Most critically, ensure your recruiting strategy is aligned with key business objectives - otherwise there's no point to any of it. Work backwards from short-, medium- and long-term business goals to talent needs and plan accordingly.

2. Evangelize, Evangelize, Evangelize



Corporate initiatives can only succeed with executive support, starting with the CEO. "Talent attraction," as it's sometimes called, is no different. Executives must wholeheartedly and repeatedly communicate the importance of having the right people in the right roles at the right time.

If they do, everyone from middle management to the front lines will understand that the future of the organization is at stake. After all, who do you think job candidate referrals come from?

And the stakes are high. According to PwC's 17th Annual CEO Survey, 70 percent of U.S. CEOs worry that the availability of key skills will undermine their strategies and plans for growth--a dramatic increase from 54 percent the previous year.

3. Build Your Employer Brand



To attract great employees, you need to be known and trusted as a great employer. This won't happen by chance. Companies rated highly for employer branding were 280 percent more likely to "have established a process for refining the employer brand" than low-rated companies.

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Part of managing your employer brand is delivering a start-to-end positive recruiting experience that is aligned with company values. This includes how candidates are treated when they don't get the job.

And remember, like any brand promise, your employer brand is worthless if you can't deliver on it.

4. Wield People Analytics



Big benefits await. Companies that build capabilities in people analytics outperform their peers in quality of hire, retention and leadership capabilities and are generally higher ranked in their employment brand, according to a 2013 study.

Predictive analytics can aid recruiting by forecasting candidate success and identifying characteristics of successful hires overall (cultural fit, skills, experience). Adaptive algorithms can match jobs with candidates based on profile demographics and real-time behavioral feedback.

Yet

by Oxford Economics and SuccessFactors, an SAP company, found that while 53 percent of executives say workforce development is a key competitive differentiator:

Only 38 percent have enough workforce data to assess their talent strengths and weaknesses.

Just 39 percent use metrics and benchmarking in strategic workforce development.

Less than half can extract insights from data at all.

Don't get caught behind the curve. Daunting as it may seem, dive in.

5. Leverage Social Media



Social media is just as crucial to attracting talent as it is to marketing, customer relationships and brand building. According to a 2014 Jobvite study 93 percent of recruiters already use or plan to use social media and 55 percent use or plan to use a mobile career site, citing benefits like shorter time to hire (14 percent) and better candidate quality (13 percent). Digital marketing tools also enable companies to segment and target talent with relevant roles and communications at scale.

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Unfortunately, similar to data analytics, just because the tools are out there doesn't mean we know how to use them. According to Jobvite, 82 percent of recruiters believe their social recruiting skills to be only proficient or worse.

If your house isn't already in order, now is the time.

6. Be the Kind of Company People Want to Work For



If you want to recruit great talent, you need to help the employees you already have flourish and grow in a positive, supportive environment with prospects for an attractive future. In other words, be the kind of company that will attract the talent you want.

This is so important that company culture is the #1 tactic recruiters use to remain competitive against other employers; significantly more than offering superior benefits (73 percent vs. 53 percent).

Being a terrific employer isn't just about warm fuzzies. Highly engaged companies can hire more easily, deliver stronger customer service, reduce voluntary turnover and be more profitable over the long run, according to the Great Place to Work Institute.

And remember

that only 70 percent of the U.S. workforce is engaged, with 18 percent actively disengaged? The same poll reported that disengagement costs the United States between $450 billion and $500 billion in lost productivity each year. The good news? Gallup also suggested three key ways to grow engagement:

Select the right people.

Develop employees' strengths.

Enhance employees' well-being.

Yep, it's not enough to find the right people--you have to treat them right once they join you or they won't stick around.

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What it All Comes Down To



Your employees spend more hours of their lives contributing to your organization than doing anything else. They want to feel that it's worthwhile and that they serve the customer and advance the mission regardless of their actual job.
The British go to the polls next week to vote up or down a proposal to leave the European Union (EU). It is fair to say that just about every government finance minister and the great majority of business leaders in Great Britain and throughout Europe believe a British withdrawal from the EU would be an unmitigated disaster.

If the British vote to leave the EU, the impact will not be immediate. The diplomats would have two years to negotiate the terms of Britain's withdrawal which would be the first since Greenland in 1985. This will create a period of political and economic uncertainty.

Along with Germany and France, Great Britain - which is itself the world's fifth largest economy - is a mainstay of the EU. It has a major voice in the legislation and policies set by the EU, the world's largest economic entity. Outside of the EU, Great Britain will have no say in EU matters which would be a serious problem considering that Britain has always depended on global commerce and half of Britain's trade is with EU nations. Without question, leaving the EU would lead to a loss of thousands of jobs in the financial sector. JMorgan Chase contends 4000 of its staff might be moved to the continent. Other banks would follow.

I recently returned from an extended visit with friends and relatives in France. They are without exception anxious about the possibility of Britain leaving the EU. They believe, and I think rightly, that London provides an essential balance to Berlin and Paris. Without that steadying influence, the EU would have even more difficulty finding consensus on divisive issues. The EU has been a great success in terms of binding Europe together economically, reducing trade barriers and embracing a common currency. But despite all that it remains a work in progress and would clearly begin to unravel if Britain were out of the picture.

Some Britons hope a "leave" vote would still permit Great Britain to participate in EU affairs through the European Economic Area (EEA) much as Norway has done. But Norway like Greenland is a small economy and even Norway feels the pinch of exclusion from EU decision making. The EU is constantly imposing new rules and policies that affect the economies of all European nations, not just those in the EU. Without a voice at the table, Norway - and possibly Great Britain - have no say in those decisions.

But the key bone of contention for many in Great Britain is not economic but rather the free movement of people which has led to increased immigration and potential for increased terrorism. There is more than a tad of Donald Trumpism in the hostility to immigrants that underlies this otherwise campaign for economic isolation. But this misplaced prejudice will not make Britain more secure. Even if Britain should withdraw from the EU and remain in the EEA, a sort of second class membership, it would still be subject to the free movement of people rules.

All in all, it would be much better for Great Britain and the EU if the Brexit movement were to fail. The vote is June 23. It will be pivotal.

Jerry Jasinowski, an economist and author, served as President of the National Association of Manufacturers for 14 years and later The Manufacturing Institute. You can quote from this with attribution. Let me know if you would like to speak with Jerry. June 2016
I don't read thrillers, and I especially don't read thrillers with police as heroes, but I read "Night Life" non-stop, and when it was over, I cheered. And when it was nominated for a Hugo Award --- not the sort of thing that happens to debut novels --- I cheered again. What didn't David C. Taylor know about 1953? Nothing. (Read more about "Night Life" here.)

When we left Michael Cassidy, the rich boy turned incorruptible cop, at the end of "Night Life," he had survived a handful of nasty and potentially life-ending scrapes with the likes of J. Edgar Hoover, some dangerous right wing patriots, the usual cadre of corrupt cops and the Russians. Oh, and there was a woman of interest, last seen leaving the Waldorf on New Year's Eve.

Michael Cassidy returns in "Night Work." Now it's December, 1958, and he's got a Cuban killer to transport from New York to Havana. A simple assignment? Think again, to "Godfather 2," and all that happened in Havana on New Year's Eve of that year. Well, Cassidy will be in the thick of that. And there will be a woman, and some unsentimental soldiers and equally unsentimental revolutionaries, and a corrupt Senator from Florida --- what a surprise! --- and, not least, Fidel Castro. (To read most of the first chapter, click here.)

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And then there's the New York story, which begins like this: "The dead man sat on a wooden kitchen chair just inside the 72nd Street entrance to Central Park." Who he is, and what he's doing there, and how he connects to the rich people who live just off Fifth --- that's going to require some great detective work. You'll want to pay attention to the well-dressed cop, and the woman we last saw in Havana, and another woman, very hot, who also made an appearance in Havana. And... but you see where this is going: into one of those tight plots that makes you think one thing, then another --- and has you reading deep into the night.

You'll learn a lot in these pages. Why the revolutionaries should have someone walking point, and what happens if someone forgets. How "you can be on the right side and still be beaten, force can defeat ideals, courage is not always rewarded." Why dirty deeds are mostly done at night. Why the first cigarette is the best cigarette of the day.

And the dialogue!

The Deputy Chief of police asks Cassidy: "Who'd you vote for in fifty-six?"

The answer: "Mickey Mantle."

And: "You're a bright boy, aren't you, Cassidy?"

The answer: "That's what my mother always told me, and she was as objective as a mother can be."

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A cop's toast: "To crime."

And sentences like this, about a society woman: "She looked bright, fresh, and clean, as if she had just been taken out of the box."
On June 15 a panel of federal judges from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will meet in Honolulu to hear oral arguments that are likely to result in the most important environmental legal decision of our time.

The hearing involves recent Federal District Court decisions that took the draconian step of intervening to invalidate public safety laws in three different Hawaii counties. The laws had been passed to protect the basic civil rights of citizens to a safe environment by regulating the toxic pesticides that are being sprayed on hundreds of experimental GMO test sites across the islands.



If these rulings are not overturned by the Appellate or Supreme Court, then the precedent set by an activist Hawaii Federal District Court on behalf of the six largest agrochemical companies on earth could create the environmental equivalent of a Citizens United decision.

Few Americans were aware of the implications of the "corporate-personhood" creating Citizens United decision until it became enshrined into case law by a similarly activist federal court system, granting unprecedented power to the world's largest corporations to hijack democracy in the name of "free speech."

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Progressive Source, my small public interest communications company, has created the animated two minute video below, as well as this Change.org petition, to build public awareness of what I call the Monsanto Doctrine--before it is too late to stop it.

Ronnie Cummins, the outspoken founder of the Organic Consumers Association, believes the Monsanto Doctrine is an appropriate legal characterization of what he calls "genetically modified democracy." Cummins observes that "Hawaii is a dumping ground for GMO testing and the dumping of untested chemicals that always accompanies them." Cummins warns that the federal court's interventions in the Hawaii cases as "part of a growing trend of federal preemption of state rights in which the judicial branch, which is supposed to act to balance federal, state and local power, has become part of the establishment."

Simply put, the Monsanto Doctrine is the right of agrochemical corporations to spray unlimited quantities of industrial poisons regardless of any local law passed to protect human or environmental safety. If it is upheld by the federal Appeals Court, then local governments around the country will be rendered powerless to protect its citizens' basic civil right to health and safety.



Zen Honeycutt, a mother of three whose child's reactions to toxic food caused her to found the grassroots Mom's Across America organization, says that the District Court decisions show, "tragic disregard" for the citizens of Hawaii. She believes that, "Health and environmental issues must always be governable by the local counties because they are the ones experiencing the health and financial burden of pollution. We expect our federal government to support local democracy, not destroy it. The Federal District Court's decisions in Hawaii were a shameful mark on the history of our society and we look forward to a correction of justice."

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The Hawaii District Court decisions to be reviewed on June 15 blocked important, prudent public safety laws passed in Maui, Kauai and Hawaii counties from taking effect. They were based upon the ominous legal finding that the very power of the counties to make these laws was supposedly "preempted" by the superior power of either the State or Federal Departments of Agriculture, despite the facts that neither agency has ever tested the safety of the pesticides being used in Hawaii.

In this, and in accepting preemptive powers from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration (which have also never independently tested the long term impact of GMO food, Roundup or other pesticides on human beings), the federal judiciary is being used as an instrument to hijack local democracy.

The Monsanto Doctrine means that the federal agencies that were established by Congress to protect public health and environmental safety have been reinvented as legal shields to protect the world's most toxic agrochemical companies from the authority of local government to provide that very protection to its citizens.

These rulings are based upon the finding that Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow Chemical, BASF, Dupont and Bayer, multinational corporations which sell tens of billions of dollars of pesticides each year, would, according to the federal court, "suffer irreparable harm" from curtailing their operations to comply with local laws.

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This Monsanto Doctrine of pre-emption convinced the Federal District to invalidate common sense safety laws passed by County legislators in Kauai and Hawaii County, as well as a GMO Moratorium ballot initiative passed by the citizens of Maui during the November 2014 election.

Maui's ballot initiative called for a moratorium on the production of GMO seed crops until they had been independently tested and proven safe. Although such tests are something that the federal EPA, DOA, and FDA have all failed to ever do, the federal court took the historic step of prohibiting Maui's government from certifying the vote or implementing its new moratorium law.

In cases involving the islands of Kauai and Hawaii a federal judge struck down local government laws that would have required buffer zones to prevent pesticide spraying near schools, and open air genetic engineering experiments that were seen as threatening to local organic agriculture.

Gary Hooser, a Kauai County Council Member who spearheaded his County's legislation, interviewed below, describes his government's uphill battle to provide the County's citizen's with their "core basic human rights: the right to free speech, free expression, clean air, clean water and self-determination by our community."

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Hooser created Kauai's Bill 2491 a few years ago in response to concerns about illnesses in the community from the more than 300 annual field tests conducted on the island by Syngenta, Dow, Dupont, Pioneer and BASF. "Doctors who had delivered babies were saying they believed we had 10 times the national rate of certain heart defects on the West Side of Kauai," he explained. "Kids were getting sick in the schools, sea urchins dying in the ocean. So we drafted a bill that required disclosure (of which pesticides were used) and modest buffer zones of 500 feet between pesticide spraying and schools, hospitals and homes. And rather than comply with our law that we passed democratically in our community, they took us to court. They are suing us today for the right to spray poisons next to schools and not tell us about it."

The Ninth circuit Appellate decision to uphold or overturn the Federal District Court in Hawaii may have global implications. That's because a Monsanto Doctrine victory could be applied by pesticide multinationals to a secretly negotiated international trade agreements like NAFTA, the TPP and TPIP. Such challenges to common sense regulation by the agrochemical giants would be decided by secret industry-selected tribunals, who would have unappealable authority to impose rigged GMO and pesticide "safety" findings upon entire nations. With zero transparency, these tribunals could levy fines of billions of dollars in imaginary "lost income" for toxic polluters whose corporate rights are infringed upon by common sense public safety regulations.

Kauai's Gary Hooser, whose County will is a plaintiff in the June 15 oral arguments that activists have dubbed, "Environmental Justice Day," believes that justice will prevail in the Ninth Circuit Appellate Court, which has a reputation for upholding civil rights. "There is no state law and are no court cases before this that keeps us from passing laws to protect ourselves. The state constitution says that the State and all its political subdivisions, which means counties, shall protect the environment and health and water. So as a Council Member It's my job to look out for the people in my community. And the Federal judge is saying I can't do my job? I have a hard time with that."

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On June 12, a few days before the trial, hundreds of native Hawaiians attended an "Aina Protectors United" rally, then marched through the rotunda of the Hawaii State Capitol, blowing conch shells and demanding justice.
If you've been on the internet in the past week, chances are you've seen and heard about the troubling Stanford rape case. Brock Turner, a former Stanford University student, is now a convicted rapist after he sexually assaulted an unconscious woman behind a dumpster on campus. If you've read any of the articles or summaries about what happened, it's a chilling account of a woman searching for answers after she woke up in a hospital with no recollection of what went on that night. I had seen the headline circulating for a few days, but until I finally clicked on the link to the victim's letter published by Buzzfeed, I didn't realize this case would have such a profound impact on me.

The victim, who is choosing to remain anonymous, wrote about the severe effect the assault had on her. She describes in painfully accurate detail how she remembers waking up on a gurney in a hospital hallway, being asked to sign papers that said "rape victim," and reading an article in the news about herself -- which was how she found out about her own assault. That's how she learned about what happened to her, at her desk at work, surfing the internet just like everyone else.

Reading her letter brought me to tears. It brought me to tears because I can imagine exactly how she was feeling. In fact, what happened to her was my worst nightmare. I've been in situations so similar to hers it's scary. In her letter, she describes finally being able to go to the bathroom after being questioned and surveyed by doctors and nurses at the hospital. She said, "I went to pull down my underwear and felt nothing. I still remember the feeling of my hands touching my skin and grabbing nothing." I've been there, except it wasn't in a hospital. It was in a strange house with a strange man. I've woken up to the horror that is not knowing what happened, attempting to piece together the events of the night, and feeling absolutely sick over the whole thing.

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When drinking heavily we ask for a hangover, a sleepless night, or a lost purse. We don't ask for our bodies to be violated by men who think it's okay to commit a crime.



Like this young woman, I blacked out. I drank to the point that my brain could no longer create short-term memories. Blacking out wasn't abnormal for me, and sometimes I went out with the thought that I wanted to get wasted beyond oblivion. But does that mean I was asking to be raped? No, it doesn't. I read something on the internet this week that said, "Drinking is not a crime. Rape is." And I could not agree more.

The worst part about the Stanford rape case is that the rapist used the college binge drinking culture and sexual promiscuity as reasons for his actions. But these two things are not inherently related. I read a comment about the case on Facebook that said, "What did she expect, going to a frat house with drunk fraternity bros full of testosterone?" This infuriated me. Just because frat bros get drunk doesn't mean they can just sexually assault people while intoxicated. There is no reason those two things should go hand-in-hand. Alcohol does not give you permission to commit rape. Sexual assault should never be something that just happens, whether you're drunk or not.

That brings me to another relevant topic. Consent. Have you heard of it? Well, you should have, but if not, listen carefully. A person who is drunk cannot give consent. They could be in a blackout and not remembering anything at that moment. It should be obvious, then, that a person who is unconscious because of how much she has had to drink cannot give consent either. It all boils down to entitlement. Brock Turner felt entitled to taking advantage of that woman's body. Whether she flirted with him, danced with him, or just looked at him, he felt entitled to forcing himself on her for his selfish pleasure. This is rape culture in action. This is sexism in its purest form, men believing women are sexual objects whenever they please.

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I've been the girl who shamed and blamed herself for getting that drunk, for blacking out, for putting herself in that position, for "asking for it." I've been the girl who continued to drink away the pain and agony of not actually knowing if she had been raped or not.





I've been the girl who actually has "consented" but had no idea that she did until the next day when she was told. I've been the girl who shamed and blamed herself for getting that drunk, for blacking out, for putting herself in that position, for "asking for it." I've been the girl who continued to drink away the pain and agony of not actually knowing if she had been raped or not.

You know what crossed my mind when considering that it may have happened to me? No one will believe me, and I have no proof. If the Stanford case shows us anything it's how badly victims of sexual assault are treated. One in five women will be raped in her lifetime. Out of every 1,000 rapes, 994 perpetrators will walk free because of these unreported crimes. We encourage women to speak up against violence, then we watch as they're shamed, blamed, ridiculed, while their rapists are only given six months in jail because longer would "greatly affect their lives."

Yes, blacking out is a sign of an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, but when drinking heavily we ask for a hangover, a sleepless night, or a lost purse. We don't ask for our bodies to be violated by men who think it's okay to commit a crime.

You are not a bad person for drinking, even if you black out. That little belief kept me in my active addiction for years. I thought, if I let these horrible things happen to me and don't remember it because of drinking, I am a worthless human being and I don't care if I die. But the reality is, it doesn't matter how much you drink, how short your skirt is, or how hard you were flirting with anyone; no one has the right to rape you.

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This article was originally published on AfterParty Magazine.

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Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-656-HOPE for the National Sexual Assault Hotline.
For some time now experts have hailed the health benefits of having an office dog. Now, Professor Paul Zak, neuroeconomics professor at Claremont Graduate University in California is taking it a step further saying that an office dog can in fact create a rise in profits.

This is good news for my daughter, Catherine and I who run a media management company. Business is very good but, like any new company, there have been a lot of unexpected costs, so it's good to know that our office dog, Bailey, is an asset rather than a deficit.

Our chocolate lab is also a health boost. While we stress out over deadlines, edits and clients, Bailey's only concern is exactly how and when he's likely to be on the receiving end of his next biscuit. His laid-back attitude serves as a healthy reminder that there is absolutely no point in having a nervous breakdown over things you can't change.

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The fact is, Bailey is a vital member of Team Carillo. Available to play with during our lunch breaks, on hand to cuddle following a work crisis, there to cry on when we're having a particularly tough day. As to being a profit booster, I can only hope that Professor Zak is accurate in his prediction and that this time next year we, along with our clients, will be sunning ourselves in the Maldives!

Here Are CaNINE Reasons An Office Dog is Good For Business

1. PROFIT BOOSTER: According to scientists studies show that employees become more trusting, relaxed and nicer towards each other after interacting with a canine which can improve productivity and profits.

2. STRESS BUSTER. Playing with a dog can reduce stress by up to a third according to experts.

3. HE HELPS US KEEP IT SIMPLE. It's easy to get tangled up in clumsy language when you're writing a pitch or a press release. When I find myself getting too wordy, I just look at Bailey and imagine I'm pitching the project to him. I simplify, and it's all the better for it.

4. GETTING AHEAD THROUGH A PAT ON THE HEAD. People don't always appreciate what you do for them, but my dog is another story. If I'm feeling low I give Bailey's head a friendly pat, and his wagging tail restores my energy.

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5. HE ACCEPTS BLAME BEAUTIFULLY. Missing documents, coffee spills, pens that run out of ink...no matter what the problem is, we can blame it on Bailey. It sure beats yelling at each other, and this lab never holds a grudge.

6. SOURCE OF IDEAS. You'd be amazed at how many great ideas I've had while taking Bailey on his daily walks. That's something I wouldn't be doing if I didn't have a dog.

7. HE DOESN'T MIND WORKING ODD HOURS. I've had great ideas in the middle of the night and gone to my office in my pajamas to write them down while they're hot. Bailey is right there at my ankles, and he never hits me for overtime.

8. HE REDUCES OUR CARBOHYDRATE INTAKE. Cupcakes, cookies, sandwiches. Our input is cut dramatically due to a dribbling lab with whom we are forced to share. It's win-win for the three of us.

9. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. No matter how well or poorly the day goes, Bailey's love is something we can rely on. In an increasingly unreliable world, that's a lot to be thankful for.

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The 2016 Global Nutrition Report -- From Promise to Impact -- has launched. The report is in-depth, weighty, and backed by some of the best researchers and practitioners in the nutrition field. The title hints at the shift that these leaders would most like to see -- the actual delivery of existing commitments as well as increased evidence-based action and investment to enable millions of lives saved and sustainable, inclusive economic growth for all.

It's a big agenda and requires strong global nutrition and early childhood development (ECD) champions from all sectors to lead the way.

One such champion -- African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina -- opened the 2016 Annual Meeting by asking heads of state to take a bold step forward together to tackle malnutrition reminding them that, "When the growth of our children is stunted today, the growth of our economies will be stunted tomorrow. But when Africa's children are nourished and can grow, learn, and earn to their full potential, we will be able to unleash the potential of the entire continent."

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President Adesina has joined forces with other champions: Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations and John Kufuor, former President of Ghana to launch the African Leaders for Nutrition. This powerful new group will be critically important to create the necessary political momentum to end malnutrition and provide the best start for all children across Africa.

This kind of leadership is sorely needed. Last week marked the three year anniversary of the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit, hosted in London, where more than $4 billion in nutrition-specific (and $19 billion in nutrition-sensitive) pledges were made. Not all of those pledges have been delivered.

Even if all pledges had been delivered, however, it would still not be enough to meet the global nutrition targets, agreed by 194 countries (and now enshrined in SDG2) or the even more ambitious targets for African nations in 2014's Malabo Declaration.

Investments Needed

Research released in April of this year shows it will take an average of an additional $7 billion per year for the next decade from national governments, donors, the private sector, households, and innovating financing mechanisms to reach the global nutrition targets.

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These resources are significant -- a significantly smart investment. New analysis just released also provides increasingly compelling case that investing in malnutrition is good for the economy. Malnutrition currently costs African nations between 3% and 16% of annual GDP, however a 40% reduction in severe malnutrition (stunting) would result in combined national income growth of $83 billion or more. In Africa, every $1 invested in interventions to prevent stunting has roughly $16 in economic returns. On the other hand, sub-optimal breastfeeding practices alone currently cost the global economy $302 billion each year because children do not grow to their full cognitive and physical potential.

In human terms on a global scale, the projected impacts of needed investments would mean:

at least 65 million fewer children stunted and able to reach their full potential

105 million more children exclusively breastfed for the first six months after birth

65 million fewer women suffering from the impacts of anemia in 2025

and at least 3.7 million child lives saved

How do we get there?

In April, at the World Bank event 'Early Childhood Development: A Smart Beginning for Economies on the Rise' World Bank President Jim Kim spoke passionately about the challenges we face. Kim argued that one of the biggest obstacles to a better, more just world "is our collective failure to help parents provide adequate nutrition, safe environments and sufficient stimulation to their children during the first 1,000 days of their lives."

Kim then challenged leaders to do more on nutrition and the entire package of early childhood development interventions, remarking that the climate change meetings in Paris "...forced action on a historic political agreement to tackle climate change' and that 'the world needs a 'Paris moment' on early childhood development to force the kind of urgent global action and accountability commensurate with the crisis."

Kim invited Ministers of Finance from around the world to join him for this 'moment' at the World Bank Annual Meetings in early October 2016.

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What needs to happen in October 2016?

Real commitments.

Evidence-based, impact-driven policy and financial commitments should be a feature of the October moment, and Ministers should show up ready to take action on nutrition and the full package of early childhood development interventions.

There may be a temptation for the summit to focus more narrowly on nutrition, but nutrition, child health and education experts and advocates must insist on not just the goal of ending stunting, but a holistic early childhood development revolution so that all children will have what they need for the best start in life -- a fair start.

Lifesaving nutrition interventions are made more effective by early childhood development efforts such as care and stimulation for young minds (including pre-primary education), and child health interventions. Just as we know ending stunting is about reaching adolescent girls, pregnant women, and infants with pro-nutrition programs, we also know that the intergenerational cycle of stunting is heavily impacted by access to education (especially early education) particularly for girls.

Nothing short of the ambition to use absolutely all the tools we have to interrupt stunting should be our goal in October and beyond.
For years, women's health rights in the U.S. have been steadily eroding, in large part due to restrictive laws passed by conservative state governments regulating abortion clinics, known as TRAP laws (Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers), particularly in the South. While cloaked in faux concern for women's health on the part of legislators, these laws are in fact are so onerous to service providers that many cannot afford to make the accommodations necessary to stay in business.

In addition to the dwindling number of clinics left in operation, there has also been a concerted effort nationwide to defund family planning services. Together, these restrictions have led to a women's health crisis, primarily affecting poor and underserved communities.

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In January, director Dawn Porter (Gideon's Army) premiered her latest film Trapped at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for For Social Impact Filmmaking. Trapped follows the clinic workers most affected by TRAP laws (who also face threats to their personal safety) as they prepare to bring their case to the Supreme Court. A ruling in the case, which went in front of the Court this March, is expected any day now. How the court defines "undue burden" could have a massive impact on whether abortion remains safe and legal for millions of American women.

Must-see documentaries like these can have the power to enlighten audiences and inspire societal change. As we collectively wait for the ruling, PBS Independent Lens will screen this crucial documentary on Monday, June 20. On the eve of the film's broadcast, Dawn Porter shared her thoughts about what, exactly, is at stake.

I think many people were vaguely aware of the slow and steady erosion of women's health in this country, but your film brings into sharp relief the severity of the threat to our collective rights. How did you learn about the restrictive TRAP laws? Was this an issue you had been following?

Dawn Porter: I was working on another project in Mississippi in early 2013 and was reading the local paper when I stumbled upon a story about some recent TRAP law regulations at the time. I was stunned.

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TRAP laws did not yet have the robust national profile that they do now, and I started to do some further research on the subject and learned about the work of Dr. Willie Parker in the process. He is a Harvard-educated doctor who traveled from Chicago to Alabama and Mississippi to perform abortions at the clinics featured in Trapped. I met with Dr. Parker on a trip to Chicago in December of 2012. Among other things, he shared stories about how TRAP laws were eroding access to abortion and disproportionately impacting low-income women of color. After our meeting I knew that I needed to make this film.



Scene from Trapped, courtesy of the filmmaker

What do you think has precipitated this swing back to the right, 43 years after Roe v. Wade? Why is our country so divided?

Dawn Porter: In 2015 Pew Research conducted a study about American opinions towards abortion and found that, in general, more Americans are open to the legality of abortion. In truth, 56% of Americans believe that it should be legal in most or all cases. However, there are certain populations within the U.S. that are more strongly against abortion in any case than ever before. These tend to be overwhelmingly white, protestant Christians who live in the southeastern part of the United States.

Because of this, I do not have a good answer as to why this shift has taken place. To the best of my understanding of the issue, I would say that there is a highly vocal minority of people with influence in state legislatures who have strong opinions about the morality of abortion and want the law to reflect their moral convictions on this issue.

Once you started to dig in to your research, what surprised you the most about what you discovered?

Dawn Porter: The most surprising and disturbing thing about this issue for me is the fact that state legislatures will not only remove access to healthcare procedures for their citizens, they will also require doctors to share medically inaccurate or misleading information to their patients before they can consent to treatment. There is no other procedure or medical service where physicians are required by law to knowingly share mis-information with patients.

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Scene from Trapped, courtesy of the filmmaker

The protagonists in your film are heroes of the highest order, dedicating their lives to protecting the right of women across the country to make decisions about their own bodies. What do these people represent to you?

Dawn Porter: To me, these people are the calm in the midst of the storm going on around them. They are persistent, determined and resilient. Their level of care for the cause and those they treat is so impressive. They work tirelessly and put themselves in financial jeopardy to keep their clinics open and to continue supporting women and families in need of their services.

I was most amazed by their tenacity. These are dedicated, compassionate people who have navigated the bureaucratic legal maze of laws that are often inconsistent with modern medical knowledge and practice because they believe so strongly in what they do. Any other person would've given up long ago in the face of what some of these professionals have endured, but they keep fighting because of what they believe in their cause. It is humbling to see such a commitment to such difficult work.

I especially appreciated the men working in tandem with women at the forefront of the women's health movement. Were you expecting to find that equality?

Dawn Porter: I am not sure what I expected in terms of the gendered dimension of the issue in this regard. Although this issue uniquely affects women, it is a community and social issue. Many people seem to think that it's simply about terminating an unwanted or unviable pregnancy, but the deeper questions are apparent. What happens when that fetus becomes a baby requiring care and support? What happens when that baby becomes part of a family? That affects everyone.

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Smart men understand that women's issues are human issues and women's rights and health are human health and rights. For example, I encountered one husband who drove his family to a clinic in an RV so that his wife could have an abortion. He understood that the implications of that choice were far reaching and affected him, too.



Scene from Trapped, courtesy of the filmmaker

So many of the stories in your film are heartbreakers, and you treat them with sensitivity and care. How did you connect with the subjects in your film? Was it tough to get them to open up to you?

Dawn Porter: Like with any human relationship, it takes time. I often expect characters in my films to take a while to open up because it's human nature to act differently when we know we're being watched. But, I know I've reached the point of authenticity when the characters act the same whether the camera is on or not, and that is the point at which I start to put together their story.

Your film could not be more timely, as a landmark case is currently in front of the Supreme Court; a decision could be handed down any day. Can you talk a little about what's at stake? What is the definition of "undue burden"?

Dawn Porter: The question of what constitutes an "undue burden" is the very core of this issue; that is the crux of the whole matter at hand. In the 1992 Casey v. Planned Parenthood case, the ruling stipulated that states could not impose an"undue burden" on abortion access. The ruling defines this as "substantial obstacle" put in place to bar women's access to the fundamental right of choice. But, a substantial obstacle apparently is in the eye of the beholder.

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The justices in the 5th Circuit, when posed with the fact of a 200-mile-plus round trip journey, said that "women could drive fast." So for some, the time and expense of travel to get an abortion is not an undue burden; for others it means not being able to afford rent or groceries for the month. The Court's decision is incredibly important not only because it will determine how access to this right is defined, but it will have the added effect of either equalizing or creating further imbalance of access to abortion.



Filmmaker Dawn Porter

Given the current breakdown of the Court, what should we expect from their ruling? Is there reason to hope?

Dawn Porter: I do not think that this is a time to take anything for granted. The case presents a fascinating legal question about the immediate impact of law and the power of the ruling for states besides Texas. Regardless of the outcome, the effect of the ruling has the potential to be far-reaching.

Since Trapped's premiere at Sundance, you've been sharing the film with audiences around the country. What has the reaction been?

Dawn Porter: The reaction has been so authentic, so genuine. From Hawaii to Maine we have hosted more than 240 community screenings, as well as a theatrical run. People are reaching out with kind words, and letting me know how this film personally resonates. My favorite feedback about the film is hearing about when mothers take their daughters, and daughters take their mothers.

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Also, I have been so proud of communities where TRAP laws are affecting women the most. Often, there is a spiral of silence that occurs when groups or individuals are targeted and marginalized by laws and regulatory practices. But we have seen groups in these places stand up, speak out and engage in meaningful public discourse on the issues affecting their community in the context of a Trapped public screening and discussion. This is why documentary films are so important to me--they help give names, faces, and perspectives to issues that have profound human consequences.



Scene from Trapped, courtesy of the filmmaker

How can we get involved in supporting the protagonists and the important work they do? What is the most crucial action step we can take? (I imagine voting in the upcoming election is near the top of the list.)

Dawn Porter: The most important thing anyone can do is get involved with their communities on this issue, get educated, and vote. If anything, I hope this film shows the extent to which local elections and candidates matter. Right now, our national focus is on Trump, Clinton, and Sanders, but it is your state assembly representative who might be legislating your body next session.
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 12: People and members of the gay community gather for a vigil near the Sao Paulo Museum of Art to mourn for the victims of the mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Cris Faga/LatinContent/Getty Images)

The world is still in shock over the mass shooting that killed 50 people and left another 53 wounded in Orlando, Florida. By "the world," I mean those people who are truly human, and not those who take advantage of such a tragedy to spew hatred and indifference.

We know the facts: Omar Mateen, a U.S. citizen born to Afghan parents, entered Pulse nightclub in downtown Orlando and opened fire on the crowd. The nightclub is popular among Orlando's LGBT community. The 29 year-old Omar was killed by the police. According to his own father, he was a homophobe.

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When analyzing this incident, we must address several aspects, such as the xenophobic rhetoric that has been used against Muslims -- most notably by the loathsome presidential candidate Donald Trump -- and the issue of gun control. As much as Omar Mateen hated LGBT people, he probably wouldn't have been able to murder them so easily if weapons weren't so accessible in the U.S.

We must also address where homophobia begins and how it develops.

Although many people refuse to admit it, the overt homophobia of the Islamic State has a lot in common with the homophobia pervading Brazilian society.

The religious fundamentalism of certain Muslim groups is no different from the fanaticism of some evangelicals. The only difference is that many evangelicals in Brazil aren't brave enough to admit that they hate the LGBT population. They would rather use empty and hypocritical discourse, such as their claims that we set a poor example for children. (As if the fanatics or fundamentalists of any religion could set good examples for anyone.)

Many still deny that the massacre in Orlando was driven by homophobia. Those people don't want to admit it because it would be embarrassing to show the world that they actually share the sentiments of someone who killed 50 innocent people.

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When an evangelical pastor or a congressman states that gays are freaks, he justifies the shooting in Orlando and the violence against the LGBT population in Brazil.



Even though Brazilian religious fundamentalists don't take up arms, in a way, they are killing us every day. With their rhetoric and their theories on gender, they constantly authorize the violence that we, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people suffer on a daily basis.

When an evangelical pastor or a congressman states that gays are freaks, he justifies the assault in Orlando and the violence against the LGBT population in Brazil. And they're doing the same when they say that we must be cured or when they prevent us from using our social names.

The perpetuation of this cycle of violence against LGBT people seems to be the main task of these false prophets. They completely ignore that Brazil is one of the countries with the highest number of LGBT murders in the world. Alternatively, they could be fully aware of the situation -- perhaps it pleases them. They may even feel that their mission is being carried out successfully.

Religious fundamentalists, of course, are not the only homophobes (and lesbophobes, biphobes, and transphobes.)

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People must understand that their words have an impact. It is hard to imagine that men like Bolsonaro, Feliciano and Malafaia (all extremely conservative congressmen) are not aware of the wave of violence that their words can cause against certain groups.

The same is valid for Trump, who is now using the tragedy in Orlando to once again attack all Muslims, and paint them as terrorists. Not all Muslims are terrorists, just as not all evangelicals are fundamentalist bigots -- but unfortunately, the hate speech spewed by these radical groups has a very negative impact.

Homophobia starts at home, it starts in school, and it starts in religious temples. All these places are directly or indirectly responsible for the violence suffered by LGBT people. When there is no room for dialogue, all that's left is hypocrisy.

When the ousted president Dilma Rousseff -- under pressure from conservative congressmen -- vetoed the anti-homophobia educational kit, it legitimized the violence against the LGBT population.

When gays are not allowed to donate blood to friends who had been injured in the Orlando attack, the violence against the LGBT population is being legitimized. When part of LGBT community itself decides to support a man like Bolsonaro, they are legitimizing the violence against themselves.

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Homophobia (or LGTB-phobia) is rooted in society, in the predominant discourse, the jokes, and habits. And every little detail kills us. Every day, here or in Orlando, we suffer from violence and our lives are threatened.

Praying alone will not be enough to bring forth a more just and less prejudiced world. We need education. We need awareness. We need to fight.

Our bodies mean resistance.

Our love is persistence.

Our pain is experience.

Our mere existence

represents a gross indecency.

Our dreams are wasted.

Our gestures are judged.

Our identity is questioned.

Our joy is buried in blood.

We do not victimize ourselves, because we are victims already.

Underdogs. Trash. Scum. Those terms never represented us.

We move on. Fight is our element.
This month marks five years since the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) - a landmark moment in the acceptance of human rights as not just being a corporate responsibility issue but fundamental to core business practices. The UNGPs define a global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of negative human rights impacts by business activity.

However moving from principles to practice in the last five years has not been easy.

Making good ethics good business

The first achievement of the UNGPs has been to make a strong business case to companies to ensure they manage human rights risks. Companies that proactively manage human rights issues benefit from enhanced reputation, increased business opportunities and reduced exposure to risk. While those that don't can suffer real value destruction, if and when things go wrong. For example in 2012, the share price of South African platinum producer Lonmin dropped 30% the week after 34 workers were shot and killed at its Marikana mine. Another powerful example was cited in a 2010 report of then Special Representative of the Secretary-General John Ruggie that helped launch the UNGPs. That report noted that a major oil and gas company experienced an estimated $6.5bn worth of value erosion from 'non-technical' risks such as human rights issues over a two-year period.



The regulatory environment is tightening

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In the last five years we have also seen a greater focus on this issue by regulators with a trend for putting responsibility for oversight of these risks not only on the shoulders of company management but right through to the boardroom. The UK Modern Slavery Act, enacted in 2015, requires every organization conducting business in the UK with a total annual turnover of $36m or more, to produce a slavery and human trafficking statement for each financial year of the organization. Organizations are required to publish this statement on their website and include a link to the statement from a prominent place on the website's homepage.

Investors at risk

Investors have also played their part in pushing corporate action from principles to practice since the UNGPs' adoption. In February 2015 an investor statement in support of the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework - a framework for corporate disclosure on human rights - was launched and today has 84 signatory investors managing over $4.8 trillion in assets. One of the drivers for this investor action is the growing risk of reputational damage to investors themselves if their risk management and due diligence procedures for assessing human rights risk are perceived to be weak. In 2013, despite being minority shareholders, two European investors faced censure by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) when they were perceived to have applied insufficient human rights due diligence over their investments in POSCO - a South Korean steel company linked to forced evictions and human rights violations in India.

Given the wide range and value at risk, it should be no surprise that investors are increasingly asking the companies in which they invest to know and show how they are managing human rights related issues throughout their businesses from M&A activity and down through their supply chain.



Time to hit the accelerator

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A recent report commissioned by law firm Eversheds showed that expectations have shifted. They surveyed 200 in-house general counsels, members of company boards, and human resource directors in 10 industries across 34 countries, and found that over one quarter of organizations are already making positive advances with 33% publicly reporting against the UNGPs. And 47% use their purchasing power to exert leverage on supply chain to support human rights. That is encouraging but still leaves much work to do. In the next five years the focus should be on catalysing even wider change and the Eversheds survey also highlighted two key challenges to this: A lack of awareness and adequate resources to support progress. In total, 43% of respondents give their senior leadership a low rating for their human rights approach and a priority for the coming years should be ensuring that change comes from the top.

Making it simpler in the next five years

We must make it as easy as possible for companies to understand the expectations of investors and others so they can embed good practice in their everyday business. In an age where many companies have global operations and complex supply chains this requires clear and simple guidance.

As the title suggests this sets out straightforward guidance for directors of UK companies to help them identify, mitigate, and report on the human rights risks and impacts of their businesses. The guide is equally helpful for investors as it facilitates a more productive dialogue with companies around the five steps they should take to ensure the organization and board of directors fully understand the responsibilities laid out under the UNGPs. These obligations need to then be shored up by appropriate employee training, along with resources to drive implementation.

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The launch of this guide is an important milestone, one that I hope ushers in strong commitment from businesses - from the boardroom down through their supply chain - to actively respect human rights around the world.
633 3RD AVENUE, NEW YORK NY USA, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - 2016/06/09: Around 300 people protest outside Governor Andrew Cuomo's office in New York City. Palestinian human rights has reached a critic point as Gov. Cuomo just signed a McCarthyism executive order requiring state agencies to divest from organizations that support the Palestinian call to boycott companies profiting from, or cultural or academic institutions complicit in, Israel's oppression of the Palestinian people. Furthermore, the order requires the creation of a publicly available blacklist of all companies and institutions that support the movement.The protest organized by Adalah-NY, The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel, Jewish Voice for Peace-NY, and Jews Say No!. (Photo by Mark Apollo/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Over the past year, several attempts in the New York legislature to pass laws protecting Israel against the boycotts, divestment and sanctions collectively known as "BDS" have failed. BDS punishes Israel for its illegal occupation of Palestinian lands. In an unprecedented end run around the legislative process, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order this month that would accomplish just what the legislature has refused to do.

Cuomo's order directs all agencies under his jurisdiction to discontinue all dealings with companies and organizations that support BDS. It also mandates that Cuomo's commissioner compile a list of institutions and companies that support a boycott of Israel. The blacklist will be publicly posted. The burden of proving that these entities do not support the boycott is on the companies and institutions themselves.

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What Is BDS?

The boycott, divestment and sanctions movement was launched in 2005 by representatives of Palestinian civil society. They called upon "international civil society organizations and people of conscience all over the world to impose broad boycotts and implement divestment initiatives against Israel similar to those applied to South Africa in the apartheid era ... [including] embargoes and sanctions against Israel."

This call for BDS specified that "these non-violent punitive measures" should last until Israel fully complies with international law by (1) ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the barrier Wall; (2) recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and (3) respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their land as stipulated in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194.

The BDS movement has had several successes in recent years. Groups honoring BDS include the United Church of Christ, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Methodist Church, Mennonites and Quakers and several academic institutions, as well as many artists and intellectuals.

In 2014, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu excoriated BDS during his address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, the powerful United States-based organization that lobbies for Israel. Cuomo now walks in lockstep with Netanyahu. In his executive order, Cuomo declared, "If you boycott against Israel, New York will boycott you."

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Omar Barghouti, a founder of the BDS movement, said in an email to The New York Times: "Having lost many battles for hearts and minds at the grass-roots level, Israel has adopted since 2014 a new strategy to criminalize support for BDS from the top" in order to "shield Israel from accountability."

What Is the Israeli Occupation?

Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is a form of colonialism. Israel maintains effective control over Gaza's land, airspace, seaport, electricity, water, telecommunications and population registry. Israel deprives Gazans of food, medicine, fuel and basic services. The occupation constitutes collective punishment, which is considered a war crime.

In 2002, more than 100 Israeli army reservists declared they would no longer fight in the West Bank and Gaza Strip "with the aim of dominating, expelling, starving and humiliating an entire people." "The price of occupation," they said, "is the loss of the Israeli Defense Forces' semblance of humanity and the corruption of all of Israeli society." The soldiers reported firing at Palestinians who hadn't endangered them, stopping ambulances at checkpoints, and stripping areas clean of groves and trees necessary to people's livelihoods.

Cuomo's executive order is a blatant ploy to prevent any criticism of Israel's policy of occupation and oppression of Palestinians.

An Unconstitutional Executive Order

Cuomo's order is also unconstitutional. "The Supreme Court has made clear [that the] government can't penalize people or entities on the basis of their free expression, and political boycotts are a form of free expression," the New York Civil Liberties Union declared. "Creating a government blacklist that imposes state sanctions based on political belief raises serious First Amendment concerns."

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"Boycotts are a constitutionally protected form of speech, association and assembly -- as well as a non-violent form of resistance to oppression," according to Audrey Bomse, co-chair of the National Lawyers Guild's Palestine Subcommittee.

Barghouti concurs. He told the Times that the boycott is a "time-honored tactic of resisting injustice in the US."

Boycotts Achieve Social Change

Indeed, it was the domestic consumer and rent boycotts, the international academic boycotts and divestments, and the UN General Assembly's call for boycotts and sanctions against South Africa that nourished the anti-apartheid movement.

"As someone who successfully moved a boycott of South African goods in 1962 ... I fully support the right to use a boycott as a legitimate expression of those who oppose [Israel's policies]," said Lord Hughes, chairman of the UK's Anti-Apartheid Movement for 20 years, in an interview with Al Jazeera.

From 1965 to 1970, a consumer grape boycott organized by the United Farm Workers (UFW) forced growers to sign their first union contracts, granting workers better pay, benefits and protections. UFW President Cesar Chavez called it "a gate of hope through which [farm workers] expect to find the sunlight of a better life for themselves and their families."

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And the 1955 to 1956 Montgomery Bus Boycott by African Americans, guided by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. after Rosa Parks refused to relinquish her seat on a bus to a white man, ultimately led the US Supreme Court to order the integration of Montgomery's bus system.

"Gov. Cuomo has decided that his moral compass points in the direction of Joseph McCarthy rather than Rosa Parks," said Columbia Law School professor Katherine Franke, who chairs the board of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR).

The National Lawyers Guild, Palestine Legal and CCR wrote in a legal memorandum that the anti-BDS bills pending in the New York legislature "harken back to the McCarthy era when the state sought to deny the right to earn a livelihood to those who express controversial political views." The memo added, "The courts long ago found such McCarthy-era legislation to be at war with the First Amendment," as they "unconstitutionally target core political speech activities and infringe on the freedom to express political beliefs."

More than 100 churches, human rights groups and legal organizations signed a letter to the New York legislature opposing the pending legislation, saying "it would chill and deter constitutionally protected speech by intimidating people from engaging in political actions for fear of being blacklisted ... These measures are dangerous and unconstitutional. No legislation should restrict the rights of New Yorkers to engage in efforts to bring sanctions against a nation engaged in human rights violations."

In addition, "It is unprecedented for a state to create a list of entities that support or engage in a First Amendment protected political activity, and deny them financial benefits because of it," according to Palestine Legal.

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BDS Is a Nonviolent Anti-Occupation Strategy

Last week, Ron Huldai, mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffa and a former Israeli Air Force pilot, made news when he declared that Israel's occupation is a factor that causes Palestinians to turn to terrorism. Likewise, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barack once said that if he were a Palestinian, he would have joined a terrorist organization.

After the June 8 terrorist attack in Tel Aviv claimed the lives of four Israelis, an editorial in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz stated, "The terror will continue as long as the Palestinian people have no hope on the horizon ... The only way to deal with terrorism is by freeing the Palestinian people from the occupation. Until then, the Palestinians will continue their opposition using force, as most peoples have done throughout history."

In Bomse's words, "The response of the movement in solidarity with the Palestinian people should be to build an even stronger consensus in support of Palestinian human rights and against Israeli colonialism."

Rebecca Vilkomerson, executive director of Jewish Voice for Peace, said, "There will not be progress toward a just peace without pressure on Israel to respect Palestinian rights." She added, "Bringing about that pressure, through a global grassroots mobilization, is exactly what BDS is about."

BDS should be embraced as a nonviolent strategy to challenge the Israeli occupation.

Copyright, Truthout. Reprinted with permission.
America is heartbroken. Sunday, in the middle of a celebration of life and love during Gay Pride Month 2016, a horrific act of terror and hate struck the LGBT community when a gunman opened fire at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. I am grief-stricken for the victims of this tragedy and their loved ones.

We know that at least 50 people were murdered in cold blood and even more were injured in this senseless attack, which is now the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. Although law enforcement is still trying to determine a motive, it is evident that this was the act of a terrorist targeting the heart of America's LGBTQ community through malice and violence.

Today our hearts may be consumed by outrage, fear, or even hatred. But we are strong. We know that instead of allowing collective rage to take seed, the voices of our love must carry the day. Our spirit -- our resolve -- is the weapon we wield against our enemies. In time, LGBTQ Americans and our allies must respond to this act terror not with venom, but with our love for one another. Loudly and publicly, we will show our oppressors that we are resolute. We are family. We are stronger.

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Today, over 100 of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters and their families began their darkest day. Please join me in helping them. These 100 souls and their families were attacked not because of their beliefs, but simply because of who they love. They now need our care, either through emotional support, medical assistance, or helping with other expenses related to this tragedy.

Many in the LGBTQ community have asked: "How can I help?" I would like to provide an option for those who wish to comfort to the Orlando shooting victims and their families. Executive Pride is proud to support Equality Florida's efforts in this time of need.

Please visit OrlandoVictimRelief.org for more information. Consider giving what you can, and show our enemies around the world that America's LGBTQ family and our allies are stronger than hate.

Donations will be processed through GoFundMe, and will be distributed to victims and local community groups by Equality Florida, the largest LGBTQ civil rights group in the State of Florida. Executive Pride members have already donated over $30,000. Please consider joining us. Thank you in advance for your love and support.



Please visit OrlandoVictimRelief.org

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"Trump is a pig and a thug, the political equivalent of a terrorist.''

-- In Trump's own words: "Somebody said this.''



In a long rhetorical slog for the most inventive invectives and corrective character assessments of the presumptive Republican Party nominee for president in 2016, no loathsome lodestone has gone unturned.

First it was his own party's rivals who thought they might beat Donald Trump at his own vitriol. After all, it was he who started the social-media mudslinging: "Low-energy Jeb, Little Marco, Lyin' Ted'' and now "Crooked Hillary.'' Yet even the party's own nominee in the last presidential election couldn't deflect Trump at lingo Bingo. "A phony, a fraud,'' Mitt Romney called him in vain. "Choke-artist,'' Trump concluded.

The more they have fought fire with fire, the brighter the brash billionaire's bonfire has burned.

Now it's Hillary Clinton's turn. Trump "is not just unprepared -- he is temperamentally unfit to hold an office that requires knowledge, stability and immense responsibility,'' the presumptive Democratic nominee for president said last week. "Donald Trump's ideas aren't just different -- they are dangerously incoherent. They're not even really ideas -- just a series of bizarre rants, personal feuds, and outright lies.''



It's not only Trump's readiness with direct assaults on stage, on camera and on Twitter that propel his candidacy. It's also his penchant for unsupported innuendo that irritates anyone attempting to engage him in debate.

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Like his words on Fox News for President Barack Obama's intentional avoidance of the term "radical Islamic terrorism'' in the fight against ISIS and other militants in the Middle East and at home: "There are a lot of people that think maybe he doesn't want to get it,'' Trump said on Fox News in the aftermath of the weekend massacre at a night club in Orlando. "I happen to think that he just doesn't know what he's doing, but there are many people that think maybe he doesn't want to get it. He doesn't want to see what's really happening. And that could be."

Obama minced no words in his reaction to Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric after the attack carried out by the son of an Afghan immigrant, the biggest mass-shooting by a criminal on U.S. soil and worst terrorist attack on the mainland since 9/11 almost 15 years ago.

"We're starting to see where this kind of rhetoric and loose talk and sloppiness about who exactly we're fighting, where this can lead us,'' Obama said today. "What exactly would using this language accomplish? What exactly would it change? Would it make ISIL less committed to try and kill Americans? Would it bring in more allies? Is there a military strategy that is served by this? The answer is none of the above," he said. "Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away."

Just as calling Trump names does not make him go away.



"He was more angry at me than he was at the shooter, and many people said that,'' Trump said after Obama's remarks, portrayed by CNN's evening political newsletter as "a stunning soliloquy on live television... a president castigating one of the two people who could succeed him." Yet it was Trump who was operating in his own stunning "some people say" deflection mode. "The level of anger -- that's the kind of anger he should have for the shooter and these killers that shouldn't be here.''

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The first problem with this insulting campaign is that none of the most creative criticism for either Trump or Clinton reaches beyond the choirs of the candidates' own most fervent supporters. It's about as intellectually challenging as tuning in to MSNBC's Rachel Maddow for her newest screed on Trump -- poking fun at his use of the odd word "bigly,'' she said that's the name of one of her dogs and suggested, "I think he's messaging me'' -- or Fox News' Sean Hannity for his latest indictment of the Clintons in general -- "wait until she has to start answering for her scandal-ridden past.''

Instead of sculpting adjectives, some have attempted to place Trump in a greater and "bigly" dangerous historical context -- he as the latest in a long tradition of demagogues, even fascists. He is playing, as others have before him, on the prejudices and fears of the lesser educated, the under-employed and fully bigoted -- "there are a lot of people who think that,'' remember.

An erstwhile mentor of mine compares this year's campaign with George Wallace's in 1972. "Wallace had 'busing' as code for blacks, Trump has Mexicans and Muslims,'' journalism dean Tom Fiedler writes from Boston. "Both attacked their party's establishment, the press, liberals, intellectuals, and both incited violence at their rallies). Many people today also aren't aware that, had Wallace not been shot on May 15th of that year, he would have won the Democratic primary, defeating George McGovern and Hubert Humphrey.'' After explaining this to an audience, Fiedler writes at Facebook, "an older man in the audience, who had been a child in WW II, asked me if I also saw the parallels between Trump's appeal to voters and the rise of the Nazi Party in the 1930s. I was taken aback by the question and told him that I wasn't prepared to draw a parallel between those who supported the Nazis -- and specifically Hitler -- and Trump. Now I am.''



Yet even these more probing reasons for explaining and potentially resisting Trump's rise to power this year carry little sway among those to whom Trump's words have given voice, and serve mainly to reinforce the views of those who simply cannot believe this is happening in 21st Century America.



For the longest time, the conventional wisdom had it that Trump's own words eventually would sink him. After all, this is all on camera, all online, all rewindable in campaign commercials.

-- On that business about Trump the "pig'' -- "some say so:"



"Mr. Trump, one of the things people love about you is you speak your mind and you don't use a politician's filter.,'' Fox News' Megyn Kelly asked him during the first televised Republican debate. "You've called women you don't like 'fat pigs,' 'dogs,' 'slobs' and 'disgusting animals.' ...Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women's looks. You once told a contestant on 'Celebrity Apprentice' it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees. Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president...?"



It wasn't so much Trump's response as his comments about Kelly the next day that stuck: "She gets out and she starts asking me all sorts of ridiculous questions," Trump said in an interview with CNN. "You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever. In my opinion, she was off base." (He meant her nose, he tweeted the next day.)

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-- On that business about Trump the "thug" -- some (like Clinton) do say so.



In her first campaign ad, the former secretary of state is airing footage of Trump's comments at campaign rallies, where fights have broken out more than once. "I'd like to punch him in the face,'' Trump is seen saying of one protester. "Knock the crap out of them, would ya'? -- Seriously.''



-- On that political terrorism of Trump's -- some (like Obama) say so.



In his speech the day after the slaughter in Orlando, Trump issued a broad indictment of the American Muslim community. "I want us all to work together, including in partnership with our Muslim communities,'' he said. "But Muslim communities must cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad -- and they do know where they are.''

"Each year, the United States permanently admits more than 100,000 immigrants from the Middle East, and many more from Muslim countries outside the Middle East. Our government has been admitting ever-growing numbers, year after year, without any effective plan for our security.'' Clinton, he alleged, is ready to admit fivefold more, "without a screening plan.... Altogether, under the Clinton plan, you'd be admitting hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Middle East with no system to vet them, or to prevent the radicalization of their children.''

If one shooter could inflict so much damage in Orlando, he said, "Can you imagine what they'll do in large groups, which we're allowing now to come here?... This could be a better, bigger version of the legendary Trojan horse.''



Today, the president denounced the presidential nominee's language as "dangerous." "We hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests entire religious communities are complicit in violence... What I will not do is demonize and declare war on an entire religion,'' Obama said.



What we really haven't heard from yet is that vast voting bloc known as middle-of-the-road America, attuned neither to the right nor left, passing up MSNBC and Fox for CSI TV reruns. This may come down to one of those contests where we simply have to trust the maturity of the American people.

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To those who felt the bern,

I voted for Bernie Sanders.

I endorsed Bernie Sanders.

I flirted with the possibility of going to Iowa to work for Bernie Sander's campaign.

I think super delegates (and the electoral college) should be abolished.

None of this changes one simple fact. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in the Democratic primaries by 3 million votes, a victory margin of over 10%. She has won the Democratic primaries and will be the nominee because more Democrats voted for her. Period. There is no feasible or rational argument why that will not be the case and anyone who tells you otherwise is deluded, uninformed or intentionally misleading you.

Sander's receipt of just over 4 in 10 votes in the primaries is heartening to a young progressive who shares his vision for America. I believed in the revolution, and will continue to fight for progressive ideals for decades to come.

There will be natural successors to the #FeelTheBern movement. I, like so many of you, want to be one of them.

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It is now incumbent upon Hillary Clinton to meet 4 in 10 Democratic voters halfway with a truly progressive platform built around un-rigging our economy and re-establishing our country's middle class. I truly believe that if given the opportunity, she will do so.

To those in the #BernieOrBust movement. Hillary Clinton's vision of America is so much closer to your's than Donald Trump's that I can't even put it into words. After these contests, she is indebted to people with your values, from your background. She was nominated by middle and working class people of all races and religions. She is aligned with the likes of President Obama, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Sherrod Brown and others who have worked tirelessly to move us closer to the vision of the #PoliticalRevolution.

In time, all of these individuals will endorse her, and so will Bernie Sanders. They will tell you to join them as a unit, to deny Donald Trump access to the most powerful, sacred office that voters can bestow an American. In his place, they will ask that you support a former Senator, Secretary of State and First Lady who possesses boundless intellect, thoughtfulness and I truly believe with all my heart, a desire to leave a legacy of progress and prosperity in her wake as the 45th President of the United States.

When the time comes, you must make a choice. The choice is between Hillary Clinton's America, which is at it's worst a slower progression of the #PoliticalRevolution and Donald Trump's America. Life is about how you make hard choices. You don't get to ragequit politics and be derelict of your duty as a progressive to keep this country moving forward as quickly as you can just because your first choice candidate lost.

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I've got news for you. Your first choice isn't always going to be a choice you get. GET OVER IT, or risk being complicit in a presidency which could endanger your very existence and the existence of those you love. You won't be shouting #BernieOrBust when Trump's raids come to throw immigrants over the wall and persecute women for exercising their legal rights over their own reproductive health just before he launches a nuke at Europe because he wanted to "win something" after his nephew beat him in a game of Yahtzee.

Put simply, I believed Bernie Sanders would have put us two steps forward as a country, I believe Hillary Clinton will put us one step forward. Donald Trump will bring us ten thousand steps back.

The revolution will live on well past 2016.

For now,
People pay their respects and place candles and tributes at Saint Anne's Church in the Soho district of central London, during a vigil for the victims of Sunday's Orlando shootings at a gay nightclub in Florida, Monday June 13, 2016. Wielding an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a handgun, Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old American-born Muslim, opened fire at the crowded Pulse Orlando club early Sunday, killing dozens and wounding others. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Here we go again. Another act of 'domestic terrorism,' and this one left over 100 people injured or dead. The shooter, 29-year old Omar Mateen, broke the old record set by James Holmes, who shot 72 people in a Colorado movie theater in 2012, of whom 60 survived. And Holmes broke Seung-Hui Cho's 2007 record of 49 victims at Virginia Tech, and on it goes back to Charlie Whitman, who gunned down 49 people from his perch in the Texas University Tower in 1966, although only 16 lost their lives.

There's an unemployed academic out there pretending to be a researcher named John Lott, who actually tried to 'prove' that at least ten other countries have higher death rates from mass public shootings than what we experience here in the U.S.A. Which is not hard to do if a country has a fraction of our population and one mass shooting takes place. But any rational, normal and semi-intelligent person who actually believes that mass shootings are an everyday fact of life anywhere but in the United States is either hopelessly delusional or is simply trying to burnish his shopworn credentials as a flack for the NRA.

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The bottom line is that there have been three horrendous shootings in the last seven months (Umpqua, San Bernardino, Orlando) which together have resulted in the loss of 74 lives, and I'm not even bothering to count the little mass shootings - a few bodies here, a few bodies there - which take place all the time. Our friends at the Gun Violence Archive count 25 shootings with at least 4 victims each time over the last -- ready? -- three weeks!

Maybe we haven't figured out what to do about this seemingly unstoppable carnage, but what does seem to be emerging from the unending slaughters is a convenient way of ignoring the use of guns. Because the problem isn't the gun, after all, it's the person who uses the gun, and that person is now invariably described as a 'domestic terrorist,' which I guess means someone who is somehow tied to some kind of terrorist organization but happens to permanently live and was maybe even born in the United States. Back in the old days, meaning before the 2016 presidential election cycle, the term 'domestic terrorist' was usually applied to an American who had actually been in contact with a terrorist organization, or had received or planned to receive training in terrorist activities, or in some other way was directly involved in terrorist behavior of some sort. In 2014, two young Americans from Minnesota were killed fighting with ISIS in Somalia and Iraq; home-grown terrorist bomb plots have recently been thwarted in Wichita, Boston and New York.

Of course depending on what political gains can be made from the anguish and fear that any mass shooting evokes in the general population, the presumptive Republican candidate, Street Thug Trump, wanders back and forth between condemning 'domestic terrorism' and 'radical Islamic terrorism,' but let's leave Street Thug alone, because he's incapable of understanding what the real issue is all about.

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And the real issue runs like this. Omar Mateen was young, he was stable enough to hold down a job, he was socially isolated and alienated but he was, and this is very important, he was able to get his hands on a gun. And the gun he chose to carry into Pulse was what has become the weapon of choice for young men who want to kill lots of people in one place - an AR-15.

So it doesn't matter whether this shooter was a 'domestic terrorist,' or a 'radical Islamic terrorist,' or a homophobic maniac or whatever else he was or claimed to be. He walked into a gun shop and bought some guns. And that's the real reason that 49 patrons at the Pulse are now dead. It's the gun stupid, it's the gun.
(L to R) Leader of the People's Party (PP) and Spain's caretaker Prime Minister and party candidate, Mariano Rajoy, Leader of Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), Pedro Sanchez, Center-right party Ciudadanos leader and party candidate, Albert Rivera,(C), and Leader of left wing party Podemos and party candidate, Pablo Iglesias, pose prior to a televised debate at the congress centre IFEMA in Madrid on June 13, 2016 ahead of Spain's general election.Spain is holding its second elections in six months, on June 26, after being governed by a caretaker government with limited powers since the December 20 polls put an end to the country's traditional two-party system as voters fed up with austerity and corruption scandals flocked to new groups. / AFP / JAVIER SORIANO (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)

Let the apostles of the new-age politics stone me for what I'm about to say: My favorite thing about bipartisanship is face to face, one-on-one debates. For example, I can't wait to watch how the shrewd Hillary Clinton will deal with the madman, Donald Trump.

A one-on-one debate can be intense, bitter, or even boring, but it is always direct and elementary, like television. But when you watch a debate among four candidates, you could easily get confused or lost.

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That said, it was very revealing to watch Spain's acting prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez, centrist Ciudadanos candidate, Albert Rivera and Podemos candidate, Pablo Iglesias fighting on television -- for the first and last time. For if there was a third electoral round -- they all deny this could happen, but we can't rule anything out -- it is unthinkable that these four candidates could face each other again. Some of them will not make it alive.

Everything in the debate could have been improved: The dynamics, the moderation, the set itself. Still, it gave us a few insights:

- Mariano Rajoy is not going to do anything different from what he did after the December 20, 2015 election. He will leave the future of the People's Party (PP) in the hands of arithmetic, period. It also became clear that Rajoy can't stand Pedro Sanchez, that he doesn't get along with Albert Rivera, and that he despises Pablo Iglesias -- which does not mean that he underestimates the force that Podemos represents.

- Albert Rivera dreams of a grand coalition among the centrist party Ciudadanos (Citizens), the PP and the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) after the general election on June 26. This coalition would have a sine qua non request; namely, the removal of the popular leader. Nevertheless, Rivera won't bring back the phrase "Go away, Mr. Rajoy," which he had used during the previous and very short term. The most he will do is ask him "to reflect" on the damage that his presence has had on governance.

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- It is clear that Pedro Sanchez would sooner die than join forces with the PP. He also feels threatened by the Unidos Podemos (United We Can), an alliance between Podemos, the United Left as well as other parties. Sanchez is convinced that comparing Anguita-Aznar to Iglesias-Rajoy is the best possible move by which to confuse and discourage the socialist electorate.

- Pablo Iglesias is not allowing Unidos Podemos' ascension in the polls to lull him into a false sense of security. Belonging to the second most important political force constrains him to a tamed version of himself. He refrains from attacking the PSOE, and resorts to almost begging the party for some sort of compromise.

- Pedro Sanchez and Albert Rivera have signed another treaty: a non-aggression pact for the campaign's duration. It is an understandable decision, if they want to focus on the progress they've made in the past four months. But behind this temporary truce, both of them are competing like wolves for the same electoral space on the center of the board.

- Greece is the new Venezuela. Iglesias and his party can't disparage Tsipras like they did Maduro.

- The future of Catalonia will remain the main Gordian knot of Spanish politics in the coming years.

- The words Barcenas, Gurtel, Caja BB, Blesa, Rato, Barbera or Panama preserve their destructive power against Rajoy's attempts to build a positive narrative about the beautiful and hollow concept of: "Spain is a great country!"

- A debate with four candidates is very inefficient with regards to discussing tangible proposals on taxes, research, pensions, the minimum wage, labor reform, education or autonomy. They didn't even discuss Europe. That is, even the most important subjects were not tackled directly. And in that haze, the two million jobs that Rajoy stubbornly promises sparkle like a piece of candy. Bling-bling.

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- The debate was not very well structured.

To conclude: I couldn't identify the winner of the debate. In that sense, I believe it was a failed one.

Undecided voters: Stay tuned.


The Geek x VRV

The rise of the boutique record label is redefining how music is distributed. Labels such as All Good Records are providing stability without sacrificing artistic freedom and intimacy. In my interview with Jordan Kleiman, we discuss the history of All Good Records as well as mission statements, signed artists and much more.

Morena: When and how was All Good Records founded?

Jordan: Officially, All Good Records launched in January 2015. The idea was formerly birthed sometime over drinks in Brooklyn, while GRiZ was on tour at the end of 2013. However, even before that, Grant (GRiZ) had already began networking within our close community of artists and set the proper gears in motion to bring this team together.

Morena: What genres of music does the label most prominently feature? Who are some of the label's most popular artists?

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Jordan: While we're trying our best to never be categorized as one specific genre, I'd have to say we lie in the realm of electronic funk and soul. Regardless of genre, we operate at the amazing intersection where live instruments and electronic production collide. There is a huge spectrum of sounds that can come out of that space, we intend to explore new territories over time and challenge our fan-base to explore new vibes with us.

While GRiZ is the biggest artist on our roster, I'd rather not rank them by size or popularity. One fan might prefer SunSquabi, another Manic Focus or The Geek x VRV. That being said, it's definitely not worth nothing that The Floozies are also headlining their own show at Red Rocks later this year. Proud of those guys.

Morena: What is your company and group's mission statement?

Jordan: We have a mantra that we like to represent, 'Motown soul, funky vibes, and anything on the forefront of sound.' That last part there let's us be a little flexible, but we're really just trying to be a refreshing change of pace within the music industry. It's important to us to make our music as accessible as possible, even gladly offering it up for free.

Lastly, we try to represent more of a family at All Good Records. It's about the community. If we're bringing an artist into this space, it's because we deeply believe in them and their abilities. We want to be able to set that artist up for a more long term success.

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Morena: Tell me about a big project All Good Records is currently working on.

Jordan: The new EP from The Geek x VRV is one of our bigger projects at the moment. It's the first time we've worked hands on with an act from Paris. Having to go through the ordeals planning and strategizing with a team half way across the planet. Different time zones, language barriers, obtaining visa documents, etc. It's been a great experience for our team.

We recently launched a radio program, aptly titled, All Good Radio. Each month a different producer or DJ, whether from our label or extended network, putting together 60 minutes of unique and original music programming. We've had a great response thus far and we're very excited with where it's going.

Morena: Are there any big All Good Records events coming up, particularly in the festival circuit?

Jordan: We were fortunate to work on a curated event at Electric Forest, coming up at the end of June. Officially, we're just doing a showcase at one of the smaller stages, The Observatory, but we have a lot of activities planned throughout the weekend to treat our fan-base and make it a very special experience.

We started throwing our own monthly parties in Detroit called the 'All Good Family Affair.' The first two events were jam-packed at these warehouses that ran until five in the morning. Tons of special guests and surprise performances, great vibes. We're getting ready to announce the next few Family Affairs and it's going to be a great summer in Detroit.



Morena: What kind of new acts or projects can fans expect from All Good Records this year?

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Jordan: A lot of the bigger artists on our roster (GRIZ, The Floozies, Manic Focus) are currently cranking away on new material. We're putting out a compilation record later this season, styled as more of a 'summer vibes' type project. Ten original songs from ten up-and-coming producers we've really been digging. The compilation is a great opportunity to properly introduce a variety of new artists to our family.

Lastly, there is a really great new act out of Detroit called Gosh Pith who we're going to be bringing into the fold more over the next year. They're really unique and special, honored to be working with them.

Morena: What's something you are really excited about right now, be it music, artists, festivals, foods, hobbies, anything?

Jordan: Aside from Electric Forest, we're really excited for GRIZ's upcoming headline show at Navy Pier. It's the biggest GRiZ show to date and we're going to pull out all the stops. Chicago has always been a very supportive market and feel it only right to show them something proper.

All Good Records

Website | Facebook | Soundcloud

Be sure to check out All Good Records' newest release, The Origami EP by The Geek x VRV, out now! A unique mixture of viscous bass sounds, hip hop, R&B and funk, the 6-track album oozes straight from the minds of Paris' Axel Rondeau and Vincent Teoule. They will be heading to the United States for a supporting tour featuring stops at Low End Theory, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Knitting Factory and Electric Forest.
As more information becomes available about Omar Mateen and his possible motives for killing 49 people and wounding more than 50 others, the Orlando terror attack and hate massacre has prompted another question: are faith communities doing enough to combat hateful rhetoric and violence against LGBTQ individuals?



Whether Mateen pledged allegiance to ISIS or not is irrelevant in the bigger picture as Muslim Americans debate their own community's views on homosexuality. The truth is, while Islamophobia and homophobia are two of the prominent forms of bias and prejudice in contemporary American discourse, there has been a large disconnect between both groups. I've spoken with Muslim leaders, both within my capacity at the Hindu American Foundation and prior to that, about the community's reluctance to discuss homosexuality. Some see it as a line that cannot be crossed, while some couch their compassion in the language that many Evangelical Christians use: "love the sinner, hate the sin." Still, as more progressive Muslim voices become prominent in contemporary discourse, the issue of homophobia within the Muslim American community will become a more central point of discussion.



But rampant and violent homophobia is not limited to one religious community, and it appears Mateen might have resorted to a theological justification for his hatred in order to deal with his own conflicted sexuality. But even as Orlando recovers, and communities of color across the country assess the impact of this latest act of mass gun violence, what faith communities - Muslim, Christian, and others - need to start doing is proactively working to end homophobia and the dehumanization of LGBTQ individuals.



This doesn't mean that faith communities or sects that might have problems with marriage equality based on interpretation of scripture need to transform overnight, but it does require an honest self-assessment among many faith leaders - particularly those whose religious interpretations are more dogmatic - about how they might be dehumanizing homosexuals and transgender individuals through their rhetoric. Even the "love the sinner, hate the sin" justification is unabashedly paternalistic, condescending, and encourages a form of symbolic violence that can have the same type of erasure effects as a hate crime committed by a gun.



To be sure, the violence committed against homosexuals by those who claim to be inspired by Wahabi Islam or a radicalized/distorted rendering of the Quran is a growing problem in other parts of the world. However, in this country, the symbolic violence against homosexuals and transgender individuals - under the premise of a homophobic and intolerant reading of Christianity - can be just as destructive. In several states, the Christian Right has pushed "religious liberty" bills that allow businesses to deny service to people based on their sexuality, an effort that is as antithetical to the idea of love they neighbor as it is appalling to the sentiments of secular society. These bills essentially legalize discrimination against and dehumanization of LGBTQ individuals, and seek to deny their basic human and civil rights.



While efforts such as the "Do No Harm Act" (supported by HAF and 40 other organizations) seek to counter these forms of discrimination, more needs to be done in houses of worship to counter hate and intolerance against LGBTQ individuals. Regardless of our faith, we can no longer stand silent if and when we hear faith leaders spout hate against our LGBTQ brothers and sisters, as in the case of an Evangelical pastor's chilling sermon in Northern California several days ago. Faith communities don't necessarily have to agree when it comes to the morality of homosexuality (that is something that has to come organically from within different faith groups), they do have an obligation to live up to their faith's ideals of compassion when it comes to helping their LGBTQ friends, neighbors and relatives and shielding them from hate and violence. Even leaders from religions that are more scripturally accepting of homosexuality - such as Hinduism and Buddhism - need to do a lot more to connect that scriptural acceptance with daily practice.



Within the Hindu community, these dialogues have already begun, and there has been a slow but steady progress towards ensuring LGBTQ individuals of the faith are able to safely and confidently assert both their religious and sexual identities. I'm not sure whether similar conversations are taking place in other religious groups, but I hope that what might start as internal dialogues within faith communities can develop into an interfaith (and secular) movement to stop violence of all forms against LGBTQ individuals. We need to make sure the lives of those lost to bigotry and terror are honored, and that their deaths galvanize us towards living the ideals of what our faiths teach us.
I woke late on Sunday, June 12, 2016. I had been out dancing with friends the night before and when I opened my eyes, I found many more phone notifications than usual. In the moments that followed, I skimmed headlines and texts; I tried to process quickly. First, intellectual remorse set in. I couldn't think of any personal acquaintances that might have been at Pulse the night before, but I was sad. I sighed heavily, rolled onto my back, and tried to conceptualize the idea that reports at the time cited 50 dead and 50 more in the hospital with gunshot wounds. The sheer number was difficult to comprehend.

Context. Context set me sobbing in my bed. I tried to shower and clean myself, but context brought red eyes and wet cheeks to my face as I looked in the mirror. Context made me an hour late to the park where I was supposed to be meeting friends for Pride festivities. Context is what made me realize that the LGBTQ party I had been at the night before probably only had about 100 people in attendance. If the tragedy had happened there, I and all of my friends would have been shot, if not dead. Context is what crippled me as I thought about the dozens of gay clubs in cities I have visited around the world -- San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Toronto, Paris, Amsterdam, Singapore, Bangkok, Tel Aviv, New York. I've visited them all. I have friends in them all on any given night -- people I have laughed with, touched, kissed, hugged, loved.

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I've shed more tears for this tragedy in the few days that have followed. I've attended vigils and shared my love with my friends and family. As I continue to heal, my purpose in writing this is to help explain the sense of community felt by the LGBTQ community and the reason why this hits so close to home for so many.

Members of the LGBTQ community earn their place not just by birth, not just by name. For most, it is a badge of Pride because of the adversity we face while in the pursuit of happiness. For me, it was nearly two decades of lying to everyone, including myself, about who I was. It was bullying. It was rejection. And I am not alone in this. When, finally, we find solace amongst those with a shared experience and identity, it is a sort of rebirth -- an experience that gives us permission to start life anew and to define ourselves in whatever way we please, knowing that we will have the love and support of the people around us. We find a new family -- not necessarily to replace the one we already have, but to augment it in a unique way.

For any such group, there are physical locations used to express this sense of community -- of belonging. To the LGBTQ community, many of these places are bars -- dark spaces hidden from the public eye where dance, revelry, and self-expression flourish. We frequent these places, we meet new people, and we make connections that last a lifetime. This is our home and the attack on June 12th took a part of that from all of us.

I leave you with a thought that has haunted me the past few day, a thought that might make this pain more immediately relatable for those outside the LGBTQ family. Look around you now or later today. How many people do you see in your office, your train car, or the store. How many of them are there? 50? 100? Do you know them? Are they strangers? Think of their families, their loved ones. Feel that?

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Context.
Hunter Lovins explains that when it comes to valuing nature, it's better to be roughly right than really wrong.

This article has been submitted as part of the Natural Capital Coalition's series of blogs on natural capital by Hunter Lovins, President, Natural Capitalism Solutions, Professor of Sustainable Management, Bard MBA and Time Magazine Millennium "Hero of the Planet".

"NATURAL CAPITAL!" the famous author snarled at me, "It's NATURE! It's PEOPLE! not capital. You can't call them capital; they're... they're...spiritual," he spat at me. "You can't put a price tag on them. It's immoral."

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"Financial markets put prices on them every day," I answered. "Actuarial tables assign a value to human life. Captains of industry see both people and nature as capital." I quoted Pavan Sukhdev, chair of the landmark report from The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), who pointed out that if you cannot prove that nature has a higher worth, corporate beancounters will enter it into business equations as having a value of zero. "That", I said, "is why so much of what we value is being liquidated. No price on nature can ever capture its full worth, but it's better to be roughly right than really wrong."

The author went away mad, and we've yet to have the conversation saying that I agree with him that the wild places of the world should be accorded intrinsic worth, that the loss of cultures and languages driven by the Mac-homoginization of the world is tragic. How many times have I quoted Theodore Geisel to audiences: "I am the Lorax, I stand for the trees." Then, "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

Those of us who want to see nature and humans properly valued, both for themselves and in economic equations, care just as much about the integrity of ecosystems and of community as those who believe them degraded by being calling "capital." But perhaps we're a bit more realistic.

Business defines capital as money or assets that can be used (often as means of production) to create ever more wealth. It's worth noting that the word "wealth" derives from the old English "weal," or well-being, which is what we ought really to be enhancing.

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Part of the issue is that we measure well-being as increased GDP: he who dies with the most toys wins. The idiocy of this practice is another conversation, but it's worth noting that most of what people now call 'wealth creation' is simply the liquidation of one form of capital (forests or people's welfare) for another (money.) This is just bad capitalism, or as activist Randy Hayes puts it, "cheater economics." A good capitalist will steward and seek to enhance ALL forms of capital, thereby gaining the ability to create ever more genuine wealth, measured as the well-being of us all.

It's common to think of "capital" only as money and stuff. But there are at least four forms: financial and manufactured (which we now count and manage,) as well as human and natural (which we are currently liquidating.) Many say there are five, adding social capital. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales counts seven, adding intellectual and relational capital. In our book, Local Action for Sustainable Economic Renewal we added institutional, historic and cultural, entrepreneurial, technological and exchange capital (making markets in keeping agricultural and ecosystems intact.) Others add spiritual as well. However many you count, it's more than two.

Until we transform the economy (a good idea, but also another conversation) we must attach as much value to nature and community as we legitimately can, and ensure that all forms of capital are properly accounted for, enhanced and stewarded.

Why does all this matter?

There's the academic reason and the real reason. One: just as we are being bad capitalists, we are also bad accountants. The TEEB program commissioned the consultancy Trucost to examine money "earned" by the biggest industries (primarily extraction and industrial farming) and comparing it with the costs of using non-renewable assets like fossil fuels and minerals; and such biological capital as forests and fisheries. Counting water use, land use, greenhouse gas emissions, waste pollution, land pollution and water pollution, the study found that these losses exceeded the profits of primary production (agriculture, forestry, fisheries, mining, oil and gas exploration, utilities) and some primary processing (cement, steel, pulp and paper, petrochemicals.)

If the real value of natural capital being squandered by industries that are allowed to do so is counted, almost no industry would be profitable. For example, the uncounted costs of East Asian wheat and rice farming are roughly $500 billion in 2009. 2012 revenue from that farming was less than $100 billion. Coal generation in East Asia and North America imposed costs of nearly $800 billion to deliver revenues of $690 billion.

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TEEB found that the uncounted costs from the loss of natural capital in the industries studied were at least $7.3 trillion in 2012, or 13% of global GDP. They published the report so that investors can better assess the risks to companies and supply chains, shifting investment to companies with lower costs, and thus lower risks, and incidentally signaling the worst offenders that they are going to be penalized for their bad capitalism.

The real reason is that without knowing the true value of nature, we allow economic activity to damage it irreparably. The value of natural capital (and intact communities) is real, but by allowing companies to use it for free, we're squandering the wealth of future generations, and losing quality of life for ourselves.

Best case, this information is integrated into policy. I was honored to part of a team analyzing the value of the ecosystem services delivered to the economy of the City of Sanya, on the island paradise of Hainan, China. Chaired by Dr. Robert Costanza, we, and our Chinese colleagues from the Institute of Green Investing of the De Tao Academy, found that the value of the natural capital in the city exceeded the value of the economy that was counted. De Tao, a business-led effort to transform Chinese education, wanted to know if they could convince the government to make development concessions contingent on a developer assessing the value of the natural capital in the virgin land, and committing to delivering at least equal ecosystem services over the life of the development.

Will China do this? It would be transformative if it did. China is the only country to write into its Constitution that it will be "The Ecological Civilization." To achieve this, it will have to get its accounting right.

Disclaimer: Articles in this series are submitted by people who work in organizations who are part of the Natural Capital Coalition, or people who are involved in the natural capital space more generally, the views expressed here do not necessarily represent the views of The Natural Capital Coalition, other Coalition organizations, or the organization that employs the author.

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Keep up to date with Hunter Lovins on Twitter: @hlovins

Keep up to date with Natural Capitalism Solutions on Twitter: @natcapsolutions

Hunter Lovins is President and founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions and co-creator of the "Natural Capitalism" concept. Named Millennium TIME Magazine Hero of the Planet, Hunter Lovins was awarded the 2008 Sustainability Pioneer Prize by the European financial community for her 30 years of work framing the sustainability movement, setting forth the business case for energy efficiency, renewable energy and resource productivity and climate protection.

A social entrepreneur, she mentors for the Unreasonable Institute, and consults to large corporations, small businesses, communities, and dozens of nations around the world. A founding professor at Bard MBA and several other graduate programs, she was called by Newsweek Magazine the "green business icon." Previously, she co-founded Tree People, serving as its Assistant Director for 6 years, and Rocky Mountain Institute, which she led it for 20 years as CEO.

Author of hundreds of papers and 15 books, including the landmark work, Natural Capitalism, Ms. Lovins travels the world, lecturing at such venues as the World Economic Forum, the UN, WOBI, TED and many others. Her private and public sector clients include Unilever, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Wal-Mart, Royal Dutch/Shell, the International Finance Corporation, and the governments of Afghanistan, Australia, Bhutan, Canada, Honduras, Jamaica, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, the US and many more.

On 13th July 2016, The Natural Capital Coalition will launch a standardized framework for business to identify, measure and value their impacts and dependencies on natural capital. This 'Natural Capital Protocol' has been developed through a unique collaborative process; a World Business Council for Sustainable Development consortium led on the technical development and an IUCN consortium led on business engagement and piloting. The Protocol is supported by practically focused 'Sector Guides' on Apparel and Food & Beverage produced by Trucost on behalf of Coalition.

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Keep up to date with the Natural Capital Coalition on Twitter: @NatCapCoalition


By Barbara Marquand

San Diego life insurance agent Chris Huntley has heard one story after another from people who were talked into pricey whole life insurance policies they couldn't afford. What many of them really needed, he says, was inexpensive term life insurance.

The anecdotes make him cringe. Whole life insurance has its place, he says. "What I'm not OK with is how whole life is sold."

Now Huntley is asking personal finance bloggers, insurance agents and consumers to join him in a "Whole Life Insurance Rebellion," an effort to educate consumers about life insurance and the risks of buying the wrong product. His website serves as the hub for the push.

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Comparing the policies

Huntley's rebellion is the latest salvo in a decades-long battle between proponents of whole life and term life insurance. Here's how the two compare:

Whole life insurance:

Permanent: It covers you for your entire life, no matter when you die.

Includes a cash value account: You can borrow money against the cash value or surrender the policy for cash. The value grows slowly over time tax-deferred, and the minimum rate of return is guaranteed.

Expensive: Annual quotes for a whole life policy are much higher than for a 20-year term life policy. A NerdWallet comparison of online quotes found the average lowest quote for a $500,000 whole life policy for a healthy nonsmoking 30-year-old man was about $5,000 a year.

Term life insurance

Temporary: You choose the term, such as 5, 10, 20 or 30 years, and the policy pays out if you die within the term. If you outlive the term, the policy pays nothing.

No cash value: You cannot borrow money against the policy or surrender it for cash.

Inexpensive: The annual price of a 20-year term life policy is a fraction of what you'd pay for the same amount of whole life. A NerdWallet comparison of online quotes found the average lowest quote for a 20-year, $500,000 term life policy for a healthy nonsmoking 30-year-old man was about $245 a year.

Whole life insurance is an unsexy product that sparks a lot of sharp debate. In recent years, personal finance celebrities Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman have trashed whole life and other permanent life policies that are sold as "investments." Ramsey dubbed it "one of the worst financial products available."

Long-standing debate

"I've been in the business for 50 years, and that criticism was there when I started," says Marvin Feldman, president and CEO of insurance industry group Life Happens. "It was there when my father started in 1938."

James Hunt, a life insurance actuary with the Consumer Federation of America and a former Vermont insurance commissioner, recalls how Primerica, whose life insurance business focuses solely on term life, referred to permanent life insurance as "trash value life insurance" in the 1980s. Those on the other side of the debate referred disparagingly to agents who promoted only term life as "termites," a word that would then be embraced by some pro-term agents.

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Huntley's firm, Huntley Wealth & Insurance Services, sells mostly term life and some whole life. The whole life policies he sells are often for smaller amounts to cover final expenses. He says he's not against whole life as a product. His beef is with agents who pitch whole life as an investment to consumers who have modest incomes.

Agents earn larger commissions on whole life than term life. "Just because someone can make good money selling something doesn't mean it's a bad product," Huntley says. But he adds that there is a lot of pressure on agents from some companies to sell whole life insurance.

If you can't make a payment on a life insurance policy, the coverage ends. And if that happens in the early years of owning a whole life insurance policy, you walk away with little or no cash value. The thousands of dollars you've spent on the policy are gone. This is what happens to consumers who get talked into a whole life policy they can't afford, Huntley says. They end up without life insurance coverage and with nothing to show for their "investment."

More than a quarter of whole life policies are terminated in the first three years, according to the latest available data from the Society of Actuaries and LIMRA.

Huntley's "Whole Life Insurance Rebellion" asks participants to do three things:

Educate themselves about life insurance.

Share information about the rebellion on social media.

Sign the "Insurance Bill of Rights," a petition created by Tony Steuer from InsuranceLiteracy.org. Among other things, the bill says agents should act in consumers' best interest and recommend affordable and appropriate coverage.

When whole life might make sense

Before even thinking about investing in whole life, Huntley says, consumers should max out contributions to tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Meanwhile, they can buy cheap term life to get the life insurance coverage they need.

Feldman says term life is a good choice for someone with a temporary need for life insurance, such as providing money for his or her family to pay debts or living expenses for a limited number of years in case he or she dies.

"This is not a subject where there's a hard-and-fast rule where you should only buy this or buy that," he says. "The answer isn't either-or; it's a 'depends' or 'maybe.'"

He adds that whole life is a good solution for people who need lifelong coverage and want the safety and guarantees the product provides. He's had clients who managed to keep businesses afloat because they could borrow against the cash value in their permanent life policies.

Whole life can make financial sense as an investment alternative for people with money to burn. These are folks who have maxed out contributions to tax-advantaged retirement accounts and want a safe, conservative vehicle for extra cash to diversify a portfolio. The cash value growth in a life insurance policy is tax-deferred. To build up enough cash value to make it worthwhile, though, the policy needs to be held for at least 20 years, Hunt says.

Huntley says his main goal for the rebellion is for consumers to be better educated about life insurance. Although he expects to get some pushback from others in the industry, he says he launched the effort because, "I just feel like it's the right thing to do."

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In April, I had the privilege of moderating a discussion at the Skoll World Forum on the subject of "Leading Through Adversity." My panel consisted of Mary Robinson, Ireland's first female president; Halla Tomasadottir, a good friend who is currently campaigning to be president of Iceland; Alaa Murabit, an activist who founded The Voice of Libyan Women; and Rev. Canon Mpho A. Tutu, daughter of Nobel Peace-prize laureate, Desmond Tutu, and an ordained Episcopalian Minister in South Africa.

All of these women know a lot about leading through adversity. They talked about the need for more women in leadership positions and shared their ideas about what it takes to be a strong leader.

I hope you'll take the time to view the entire discussion, but because I know how little time we all have for such reviews, I've focused on a few highlights from that conversation and links to other insights shared in other forums by these four women leaders.

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One big take away from the Skoll World Forum session and many other conversations I've had over the years about women's leadership is that the decision to become a leader is one that is often made early in one's life. We began by talking about some of the formative experiences the women had had early on in their careers.

Mary Robinson first ran for political office in her early 20s. During that first campaign, she took a controversial and courageous stand on reforming family planning in Catholic Ireland. She became an object of hatred overnight, denounced from pulpits and the recipient of bags of hate mail. She still won, serving 20 years in Parliament and then seven years as president. "If you really believe in something and want it," she explained, "you've got to pay a price - and you've got to be prepared to pay a price."

Learning that lesson at a young age helped her to find the strength to maintain her values and principles while under attack throughout her political career, especially when she was seeking ways to build consensus. These are skills she continues to use in her work as the climate ambassador for the UN.

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Finding Common Ground

Alaa Murabit talked about the importance of consensus and finding common ground with those who oppose you in her work as a women's rights activist in Libya.

Alaa is one of 11 children. Born in Canada, she returned to Libya in 2005 at the age of 15. She founded The Voices of Libyan Women and led a campaign to change the way in which women were represented and viewed in the country. She wanted to facilitate a national conversation about how the rules of Islam were being used to severely limit women's rights in Libya. Early on in the process - to the dismay of some of her fellow women's rights activists - she decided to include religious leaders in the conversation. By opening up the lines of communication, her campaign was able to gain access to schools and media outlets that enabled her to send her message out to the people who really needed to hear it.

In May of last year, Alaa gave a talk at TEDWomen about her campaign that has been watched by over 1.65 million people online. Her campaign, which has been recognized by the United Nations as one of the most successful in history, has been used as a model for similar work in 24 countries.

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Another way in which the panelists talked about finding strength in the face of adversity was through faith.

Doing the Next Right Thing

Rev. Mpho A. Tutu talked about the need to stay strong in your faith in order to be courageous enough to defy the rules and politics that restrict personal freedoms - as is also the case for women in Libya - and even to challenge the religious beliefs and policies that restrict women's rights and positions in their societies.

She also talked about growing up in the Tutu family and the lessons she learned from both her father and her mother, who she described as having her own "kitchen table ministry." She told the audience: "That was the ministry that was most visible to us as a family on a daily basis."

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One of the main lessons she drew from both her parents was what she called the "courage to do the next right thing." She explained: "The vision isn't: I have in mind a Nobel Prize down the road. It is rather, the person in front of me now has a need for this type of care from me, and so this is what I'm going to do. All of us have the capacity for that piece of courage. I can do the next right thing."

Until last month, Mpho was a leader in the Episcopalian church in South Africa. She challenged the church's rules by marrying her partner, Marceline van Furth, and as a result was forced to resign her leadership position in the church.

The Strength of Community

All four women agreed that it's always harder to be the first to challenge or to be alone facing adversity, and finding and building a community is critical to becoming and sustaining leadership positions.

Iceland's Halla Tomasadottir had faced adversity before when she was asked to help her country avoid the economic disaster of 2008. She and a woman partner created a new model of financial management based on feminine values. With their leadership, her company, Auour (Sister) Capital, weathered Iceland's crisis and Halla proved herself to be a decisive, creative leader during very tough times.

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"You have to be your authentic self to be a good leader and you have to stick to your principles," she told the audience. "You have to believe in your insights and the way you feel just as much as what you can rationalize or what seems good to everyone else."

Over the next few years, Halla built up a community of like-minded women business leaders by convening an annual women's empowerment conference in Iceland and taking on leadership roles in the global business community. In March, she announced her intention to run for president of Iceland. Now she's among the top four favored candidates in Iceland's presidential election that will be held in two weeks.

After the panel, Mary posed for pictures with Halla and offered to go to Iceland to campaign for her...as did all of us, but Halla demurred, knowing the country's political traditions are not based on fundraising or outside influence but rather on independent thinking that reflects on candidates' experience and credentials of leadership within Iceland.

So all of us will be watching the polls closely on June 25 and sending all good thoughts for Halla's election as well as in other elections around the world where women leaders are stepping up to leadership position or seeking them.

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We know that in nearly every instance, from business to the public sphere, women leaders will be called upon to lead through adversity (note the numbers of women CEOs who are hired when companies are faltering) and the ways in which they face those challenges - how they approach problem solving, consensus building, and staying true to their values while embracing their power - will continue to make the case that women's leadership can be just the change that's needed for a country, a company or indeed even the world.

I have no doubt increasing the number of women in positions of leadership - from the president's office to the pulpits, from the "C" suite to the front lines of every challenge and global crisis - will not only make it somewhat easier for other women to choose to become leaders but will also add to the insights and perspectives needed for the kind of leadership that results in less adversity and greater equity, peace and shared prosperity.

Watch the Entire Panel

With gratitude to these four incredible women for sharing their stories with me -
Heal The Bay Gala at the Jonathan Club Beach Club 2016

The charity organization Heal the Bay raised nearly $1M last week at their annual awards gala that celebrated their successes over the past year as well as the supporters who helped them continue their environmental mission of protecting the waters of Santa Monica Bay.

Actresses Amy Smart and Ali Larter

The event was held at the Jonathan Club Beach Club under the stars and on the sand where dinner and dancing was held a mere fifty feet from the lapping ocean shore that the organization prides itself on watching over these past 30 years. Actresses Amy Smart, Ali Larter, Andie McDowell, Ireland Baldwin, Breeda Wool and Perrey Reeves among others came out to support the event.



Jonathan Club Beach Club

In 1985 the organization was started by grass roots activist and L.A. mother Dorothy Green who discovered that raw sewage was being dumped directly into the Santa Monica waters by the city of Los Angeles Hyperion Sewage Treatment Plant. Many decades later the waters are much cleaner thanks to this progressive organization which has grown to a staff of 40 and an operating budget in the millions.

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Nearly 1000 guests who hold the charity in high esteem were wined and dined, as they donated through the evening at a silent auction, and later at a highly spirited auction where many items from exotic travel destinations, aquatic adventures, and many ocean themed events from sailing to whale watching to even new cars were auctioned off to great success to the benefit of the charity.



President Alex Hobbs and Actress Amy Smart with the LA Life Guard award winners

The President of Heal The Bay, Alex Hobbs, told me that this is their largest party of the year, and it means a lot to them to say thank you to all the people who stand by them during their advocacy and education work. Not to mention the fact that this event can raise as much as one quarter of their annual operating budget.



We worked very hard on getting a plastic bag ban over the entire state of California on the ballot this year and now we'll be able to go to the polls in November and vote to support that. Marine debris is a huge issue, one of our priority issues. By 2050, by bio mass, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish if we keep going at the rate we're going.

It seems an impossible concept to support in one's mind, let alone one we can't allow for the planet.

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When you think that seven of the ten most polluted beaches in California are right here in L.A., we're looking ahead to the next thirty years. Urban run off, the ten million gallons of filthy water that goes down our storm drains every day and travels directly into our local ocean waters, needs to be addressed. We have ideas for ways of treating that water, putting it back in the aquifer, using it for irrigation, whatever we can do to reclaim it for the city.

Actress Amy Smart gave one of the evenings two 'Walk The Talk' award to the Las Angeles Life Guard Division whose members make 15,000 rescues a year. These first responders who do rescue and law enforcement and live in the waters around Santa Monica, watch over eight million tourists who visit just beaches of Santa Monica alone in one year. Amy Smart admitted "I've had a schoolgirl crush on a lifeguard or two."

Andie McDowell

Paul Stimpfil from Wells Fargo Bank and the bank were honored with the second Walk The Talk award for many years of support.

A business person is a person who has a family. My son is in the water all the time, surfing and swimming. And I feel we have a responsibility for that. It started with me buying tickets to a raffle one year, years ago, and every year we have done more. It's a great honor to be part of heal the bay.

Ireland Baldwin



Actress Perrey Reeves from HBO's Enterage introduced California's State Water Resources Control Board chair Felicia Marcus who won this Dorothy Green award, She started as a lawyer with Heal the Bay years ago and now works in Jerry Brown's administration as the water czar for the state of CA and has helped put out over $1M in low coast loans to help with water projects.

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Heal the Bay made a difference because of Dorothy, and receiving an award in her name is an honor. Meeting her was a life changing experience for me, inf fact one of the most important things to have happened to me in my life.

One of the challenges of this city is keeping one of its jewels, the ocean front of Los Angeles, clean. As they head into the summer Heal the Bay will be continuing their environmental work, organizing many beach clean ups and pushing their plastic ban initiative.

For more information: Heal The Bay

PHOTO CREDITS: Philip Morton / Jason Kempin for Getty Images
By: Marisol Mosquera

When I got my college degree I had no inkling that I would set up my own business one day and that social responsibility would be a centrepiece of it. I did a degree in finance and was mostly interested in the exciting and dynamic workings of the global financial markets, which at the time were imploding.

But as time went by and my career flourished, I gradually realized that I needed a greater incentive to get up in the morning than just making a salary, and I started pondering the need to do something more meaningful.

I was born in Peru and my family moved overseas as a result of the social, economic and political difficulties affecting Peru when I was a child. That crisis ensued until I was an adult, and I grew up in a more stable and peaceful part of the world but not without a nostalgia for my homeland.

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I returned many times as a child and young adult, and witnessed first-hand the difficulties many of my compatriots continued to experience in their daily lives, not only during the years of crisis, but for decades and centuries. The uneven distribution of wealth, the discrimination and the lack of respect of a very valuable heritage and belief system, always made me feel uneasy.

When my work in the financial services industry brought me into contact with Peru, many years later, the situation in that country had stabilized and I realized I had the experience and the sensitivity to make something work in Peru, both for my benefit and for that of those who were less privileged.

I believe strongly in entrepreneurship and I wanted to create social impact through those means, building a business, setting an example of creating and developing it with the principles I believe in: integrity, honesty and sincerity. I also feel that everyone - in particular if you happen to come from a country where the majority of the population are struggling - has the moral obligation to give back and contribute to society.

Travel had always been my passion, as I have an insatiable thirst for ideas and learning. My passion and my motivation came together in creating a travel company whose commitment was to showcase the proud and valuable heritage of the people from my country and region to an avid and interested clientele, whilst promoting positive change.

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Throughout the past two decades, Aracari has proudly supported local communities and businesses, with social responsibility at the heart of our operations.

We supported the Albergue Rural Suasi eco lodge in Lake Titicaca right from the start, when few people believed in it; it is now a successful and well-established private reserve for the wildlife of the Altiplano.

We bring our clients to visit Cusco's Centre of Traditional Textiles, supporting the traditional skills of master weaver Nilda Callanaupa and forming one of the main sources of income for her weaving community.

We have also sought to publicise some of the fantastic but lesser-known properties in the region, encouraging travel and income to the communities they support.

What makes me most proud is that my initial vision, established at the very beginning, of promoting the natural attractions of Peru and Bolivia sustainably through low impact, high quality tourism, still stands true: I haven't deviated one bit.

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I have managed to conceive and successfully build a profitable business that creates jobs, disseminates ethical business practices and provides a market for locally sourced services, whilst allowing me to continue learning and living the life I want to live.

Pioneers for Change is a seed-bed for innovative thought. An activator of personal potential. A catalyst for collective energy. A community to drive social change.

Our annual, international Fellowship is open to anyone aged 28 - 108 years old. We gather change-makers -- a business person, a community person, an investor, a thinker or doer -- who are willing to harness their talents, energy and resources as a force for good. Pioneers for Change is an initiative of Adessy Associates.

Adessy Associates believes a better world is possible, and equips and enables organisations and individuals to make positive change happen and contribute to a sustainable future. We focus on benefit for people, planet and profit and our bespoke services harness sustainability, innovation, consciousness and purpose. We are proudly B Corp certified.
Mourners observe a minute of silence outside Barcelona's city hall during a vigil at Sant Jaume Square in Barcelona on June 13, 2016, called by LGTBicat community in remembrance of victims after a gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida in the worst mass shooting in US history. US anti-terror strategy came under fresh scrutiny after a gunman previously cleared of jihadist ties launched a hate-fueled rampage in a Florida gay club that left 50 dead. / AFP / JOSEP LAGO (Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images)

Co-authored by Everett Arthur.

Everett Arthur is a rising third-year at Emory University School of Law. In his free time, Everett likes to play the Bach cello suites.

We're here on the precipice of the premiere of Suited, an HBO documentary we're both featured in, and of living in a world where our families, communities and countless strangers can see it. These folks range from our peers and allies to people who can't comprehend our humanity and may even go so far as to debate it, and needless to say, opening ourselves up to this audience has us feeling a lot of feelings. When we made a date to work on this essay together, long-distance style -- Everett lives in Atlanta, Rae in New York City -- for Sunday evening, we had intentions of crafting it to contextualize Suited. This was going to be Suited annotated by two of its subjects, an attempt to remind its audience that this is a 75-minute glimpse into an infinitely diverse community through the extremely specific lens of a custom suit company.

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That precipice has been eclipsed by the reality that we now live in a world where one of the few spaces folks like us have to feel safe has been targeted and devastated. And now our whole community feels targeted and devastated. We are too bereft to find meaning in annotating Suited, but we still want to write about our community to balance being bereft with being resilient -- something the LGBTQ+ folks unfortunately have a lot of practice doing.

In a culture that takes turns recognizing our humanity and undermining it, we ended the work week with a positive precedent. On June 10th, the Oregon circuit court ruled that Mx Jamie Shupe could legally change their gender to non-binary. Ilona Turner of the Transgender Law Center stated "As far as we know, this may be the first ruling of its kind in the US. This is an important step toward ensuring non-binary members of our community have access to identity documents that reflect who they are, just like everyone else." Despite the reality that two letters from primary care doctors were needed to achieve this, this was a hopeful moment for us. Rae couldn't help but think of their non-binary friends, including some of the subjects in Suited, who are continuously trying to situate themselves in a world that would prefer they commit to a binary gender. After months of hateful rhetoric and propaganda against the trans community, specifically targeting our trans sisters, it was a relief to be reminded that the law could be used to affirm us rather than discriminate against us. But we continue to be subjected to the everyday whiplash between progress and punches.

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To wake up to the news on Sunday that forty-nine members of our queer family had been murdered and countless others had been harmed and terrified -- how can any language ever begin to describe how that feels? When something like this happens, it feels like every deplorable aspect of our culture has come together in a hideous attempt to destroy a community, and divide our society. But every negative element of that culture, every active voice of hate and every cowardly evasion of compassion forgets the power of our community's values. As queer people are constantly inundated with images of our lifeless bodies and rhetoric that belittles our personhood, it is easy to feel like we are entirely alone in this fight. But it is crucial we remember that throughout a history filled with ostracism and isolation, our community's foundational pillar -- for survival and for happiness -- has been in our power to choose our family, and from it to bolster our humanity and strengthen our love.

Having grown up in Orlando, Everett frequented Pulse during the hardest years of his life; the years where the only refuge he could find was on a dance floor with his beloved queer community. And as much as people want to keep calling Orlando "The City Beautiful," it was and is far from that for queer, trans, and gender nonconforming folks. Couple sexuality and gender identity with the intersections of class, sex, and race, one can recognize how vital spaces like Pulse, Revolution, and Parliament House are to queer people recognizing themselves in their surroundings and recognizing their worth. One can quickly realize how necessary these spaces are to reinforce the sacredness of queer love and liberation in Orlando, and in the world.

That sacredness feels stolen from all of us after the Orlando shooting. It was swiftly taken with each person killed and injured at Pulse. It was snatched from our hands by each media outlet blaming this tragedy on Islam and refusing to acknowledge the fear-mongering at the crux of all of this. And again, it was stripped away by the very people who help construct that fear: the politicians who are fueled hateful rhetoric, who are funded by bigoted organizations, and who then legislate that vicious energy into anti-trans bathroom bills and other discriminatory regulation of our lives. The same politicians who have created propaganda about LGBTQ Americans are sending us their thoughts and prayers. These are people who build hostile environments around us, and somehow think we can accept and find comfort in their condolences. The same politicians who have failed to enact gun control measures send similar messages. We want legal protections. We want our lives to be the reason you legislate, not our deaths to be the reason you pray.

To say that these politicians are hypocrites is too generous; they are dangerous. Anyone using the deaths of queer people -- and largely queer people of color -- to justify Islamophobia doesn't know anything about queer values. We own our lives and we own our deaths, and as we have always fought to be allowed to love, we refuse to be used to further anyone's hate. Homophobia, transphobia and Islamophobia -- and more specifically homophobes, transphobes and Islamophobes -- try to limit our humanity, demonize us and erase us. We will always be here and we will always be human. Our anger is power, our love is power.

Our anger and our love grows stronger after the slaughtering of our Latinx Orlando siblings. Especially in times when our existence seems fleeting, may the Orlando queer community, and the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, remember its history of creating loving circles around themselves. May our Orlando queer siblings use their power to pick their circles of friends and family recognizing that hate has no strength over the depth of their love and liberation. To our queer siblings everywhere else, continue to rally in support of those lost and injured in Orlando. Our dear Orlando kindred: let us remember that the streets we are afraid to walk down as our real selves, or while holding our partner's hand are just us much ours as anyone else's. Let us remember that living authentically is an act of radical self-love. Let us remember that our refuge is found together and that nothing can take that away from us.

Robert Jones, fondly known as Papa Jones, is the father of a gay child and a trans child whom we had the pleasure of getting to know through Suited. Papa Jones reached out to us with the sincere prayer of an ally, which serves as a balm, especially in a time of so many empty prayers. "I live with the fear that my children will face similar violence for who they love or who they are. That fear is seconded only by my fear that they will live in hiding. Hiding within themselves from the world. For I believe in my heart that hiding one's self from the world is far more toxic to the soul than any assassin's bullet." He writes that he wants to see Pulse be reopened so that self-made people and self-made families can return and heal. He asks God that after a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims of the Orlando attack:

That your LGBTQ+ children laugh and dance and sing as they did before. That the sounds of their joy and their glee ring out so loud and so strong that it be heard in every corner of the world. That in their joy and glee a message be heard. From that place at that time a message that the world will hear and the world will learn. That although a heart can be stopped the pulse of the community endures. That a body can be broken but not a spirit. I pray to the God of my understanding that the message of your LGBTQ+ children be heard that they will not go away and they will not go back into hiding. That love, all love, is infinitely stronger than any measure of hate.

Amen.

This essay is for our LGBTQ+ siblings, those living and those resting in power, and for all the gay bars that helped raise so many of us.

Stanley Almodovar III, 23

Amanda Alvear, 25

Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33

Antonio Davon Brown, 29

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25

Luis Daniel Conde, 39

Cory James Connell, 21

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22

Paul Terrell Henry, 41

Frank Hernandez, 27

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25

Kimberly Morris, 37

Akyra Monet Murray, 18

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25

Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34

Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33

Martin Benitez Torres, 33

Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37

Luis S. Vielma, 22

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37
Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. I always believe that ultimately, if people are paying attention, then we get good government and good leadership. And when we get lazy, as a democracy and civically start taking shortcuts, then it results in bad government and politics. - President Barack Obama

Americans do not allow just anybody into the political arena. Most of them are graduates from great universities and have had a great career in the past. Their track record is always in front of the public for them to evaluate their leaders. Politics is the art of the possibilities. Nepalese citizens need to learn to evaluate their leaders too, and only allow those that are qualified into the office. Now that Nepalese citizens are being educated at famous universities all around the world, Nepalese politicians need to examine themselves and their qualifications or risk being outdated.

Any politics that is done for power and pleasure will not work in America. When King of England tried to impose different taxes and law upon America without the consent of the American public in the past, the civil war broke out and Britain lost the entire colony. This eventually led to the foundation of federal republic of America that has set a great model for the modern system of government. Nepalese leaders could learn a lot just by observing America and its leaders.

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Because of the unqualified and stupid people in the political arena of Nepal, many well educated Nepalese think that it is beneath them to enter into the political arena. This has been the greatest tragedy of the country. Fyodor Dostoyevsky says "The more stupid one is, the closer one is to reality. The more stupid one is, the clearer one is. Stupidity is brief and artless, while intelligence squirms and hides itself. Intelligence is unprincipled, but stupidity is honest and straightforward." Same thing is happening in our society. Well qualified people need to build leadership and contribute in the formation of laws and execution of their ideas that can help millions of people inside and outside the country.

These folks need to rise beyond their own status and think about using their talent to uplift Nepal. If we just become conscious of this fact, Nepalese peoples are well established in different parts of the world today could create a drastic improvement in the condition of Nepal and Nepalese politics. There is no doubt that there are plenty of resources and abilities among Non-Resident Nepalese throughout the world.

President Obama Says, "The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don't wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope." Nepalese peoples should not be hopeless because hope always begins from dark. Everything has its bright and dark part, but we should aware about dark park. American novelist and public speaker Anne Lamott say "Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up."

Nothing is going to change unless we decide that enough is enough and begin leading ourselves. People do what they see and when they see their leader a murderer, thief, cheat, liar and immoral, they will follow the same. It is the old principle of "monkey see, monkey do." The only option is examine our character and this I am especially referring to the leaders themselves. Leaders need to make substantial changes in the way they talk, walk, clothe and live.

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Oklahoma State University professor John Foubert, who designed his school's rape prevention program, asked a group of first-year fraternity brothers in a 2007 study whether they'd ever raped someone. They all said no. Foubert changed the phrasing, however, and 10 percent of first-year brothers reported they'd penetrated a woman against her permission.

"They don't see this behavior as rape, perhaps as a way to protect themselves, to not be responsible for their behavior if that happens," Foubert said. "It's not just college students. You hear these beliefs in broader society."

These perceptions have endured even as the national conversation about sexual assault has grown.
Surveillance and research is key after the first-time discovery of a bacteria carrying the mcr-1 gene - a gene that makes the last-line antibiotic colistin useless against them - in the United States. In May, bacteria carrying the MCR-1 resistance gene were found in human and animal samples for the first time in the United States. Researchers in China had first described findings of the MCR-1 gene in pigs and humans in November 2015. It was since reported in several countries.

Emil Lesho: We found the MCR-1 gene by following the normal operating procedures of our surveillance network. The military has public health mandates that authorize the army and soon all military hospitals to send samples to our central lab.

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Normally these are samples of ESKAPE pathogens. The term is an abbreviation of what experts believe are the five most problematic healthcare associated pathogens: Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species.

When a lab in a clinical hospital thinks they have found one of those pathogens, they send it to us. They also send us the demographic and clinical information associated with the isolate. We do an extensive array of tests to characterize it. Currently that includes sequencing the genome and antibiotic susceptibility testing and sometimes we also do manual broth dilution. This is a test where we manually dilute an inoculum of the bacteria and confront it with increasing micro-solutions of the antibiotic, to see when and where it responds to it.

In this case, one of our scientists, Patrick Mc Gann was sent a sample by one of the local hospital microbiologists and he happened to be testing these isolates for colistin resistance. That's what alerted him to the possible presence of the MCR-1 gene. He sent us the isolate, we sequenced it and we then confirmed the gene's presence using PCR and by sequencing the whole genome. As part of our normal operating procedure we reported our findings back to the submitting hospital and found that the patient was successfully treated. The good news in this case was that even though the bacteria was resistant to colistin - which is also called the agent of last hope - that didn't mean it was resistant to all antibiotics.

RG: There have been other colistin-resistant bacteria. Why is the MCR-1 gene of such concern?

Lesho: The concern is twofold. Resistance against colistin is usually the result of a mutation caused by existing drug pressure. In the case of MCR-1 gene however, the gene that encodes the resistance sits on a highly mobile genetic element called the plasmid. This plasmid can be easily shared among bacteria of different species. If it were to carry this resistance to colistin to another ESKAPE pathogen then you would potentially end up with an untreatable pathogen that's resistant to all known antibiotics.

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Another reason why finding the MCR-1 gene was concerning is that it was found in E.coli. E.coli is the most common cause of urinary tract infection. If the MCR-1 gene became widespread in E.coli, the future scenario for patients with a bladder infection could involve having to go to the hospital for intravenous therapy.

This story does also have two positive elements. For one, as I said, the pathogen was susceptible to a few other antibiotics, including a pill. The other was that it was found in the patient's urine. When bacteria have a high level of resistance and they infect the bloodstream or anatomic sites that are harder for antibiotics to penetrate, like the joints or the spinal fluid, they become very difficult or impossible to treat. In a urinary tract infection however, the antibiotic needs to get to the bladder and urinary tract, where it's present in high concentration by default because the body excretes the medication through the urine.







RG: What do you know about the origin of the 1-gene?

Lesho: What we know is based on the current literature. It was first found in China in late 2015 and first reported in the medical journal Lancet in February 2016. Since then it has been found in several European countries. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) also found it in pig intestinal samples. From our preliminary discussions with the USDA, we learned that the plasmid belongs to a different family of plasmids and the bacteria has two different strain types.

As far as the origin of the MCR-1 gene in the sample we investigated is concerned, the Department of Health is currently checking all of the patients' healthcare contacts. The patient didn't have any overseas travel within the last six or seven months and was living a normal life. She isn't an agricultural worker either. We have no clue how she could have been infected with the bacteria carrying this gene. It's not unreasonable to speculate that it will show up more often in the US. Maybe there are isolates that predate the one we found that just haven't been discovered or reported yet.

RG: How are you monitoring the MCR-1 gene?

Lesho: All army hospitals are required to participate with us. Soon this requirement will be extended to the US Navy and Airforce, so that all branches of the service will participate in our network.

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We believe in the strength of collaboration and we have partnerships with civilian organizations in nine countries at the moment. We've been contacted by institutions in Kenya, Nigeria and Honduras for help with potential outbreaks of superbugs and wherever possible we try to help with that. We characterize these bacteria for them and do genetic fingerprinting.

We get about 300-600 samples a month and we do extensive testing on all of them which includes sequencing the whole genome. After testing them, we archive the isolates in our repository and the characteristics in our database for future reference. They're then available to researchers who can test assays, vaccines and other countermeasures. Currently we have almost 50,000 of these select ESKAPE pathogens in the repository.

RG: What are the most common types of ESKAPE pathogens in your repository and database?

Lesho: We have thousands of Acinetobacter. Acinetobacter were the pathogens associated with the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Before the US was involved in those conflicts, the Acinetobacter were fairly susceptible to many antibiotics. It was actually rare to find a highly resistant Acinetobacter. With the severe wounds, polytraumatic injuries and for other reasons - some of them unknown - there was a dramatic increase in highly resistant Acinetobacter.



RG: What research do you think is needed to successfully fight resistance against antibiotics?



Lesho: The challenge these organisms present requires a multi-faceted approach. What we specialize in is surveillance and characterization. You can't overemphasize the importance of surveillance. If you're not surveilling for these pathogens, you don't know what's out there and you don't know if it's getting worse or better. Then, equally important, ongoing surveillance lets you assess what impact or outcome interventions are having. Whole genome sequencing is key in surveillance and fortunately it is becoming faster and more accessible.

The other thing is countermeasure development. People say that as quickly as we can develop a new drug, the bacteria will evolve resistance. We need new drugs, but for many reasons antibiotics development is difficult for big pharma: there are regulatory challenges, there are economic disincentives, and trials also are very expensive and hard to conduct.

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It has become so predictable that you can practically set your clock by it. I'm talking about the point after a national trauma when actual Christianity gets hijacked by someone spewing the kind of hateful, harmful utterly unchristian diatribes that make Jesus - in the words of Anne Lammot - "want to drink gin straight out of a cat dish." It is a sad and crowded history.

Jerry Falwell blamed the 9/11 attacks on "gays, abortionists and feminists." Pat Robertson blamed Hurricane Katrina on gay people. And Terry Jones burned copies of the Quran to mark the anniversary of 9/11.

Today's hijacker of actual Christianity is Sacramento Pastor Roger Jimenez. In his Sunday sermon -- just hours after the Orlando massacre -- he asserted "these deaths shouldn't be mourned because if the victims were gay, then the Bible calls them sinners, and they deserved to die." He went on to say "If we lived in a righteous government, they should round them all up and put them up against a firing wall, and blow their brains out."

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For those of us who are Christians, our horror and outrage at having our faith hijacked by this homophobic asshat (and yes, this IS me choosing my words carefully) is a tiny window into what billions of Muslims feel every time they hear the horrific distortion of their faith being called "Islamic."

This man is to Christianity what ISIL is to Islam ... and (I'm speaking to my Christian brothers and sisters now) it is up to every single one of us to speak out against this hijacking of the core tenets of our faith by those who would distort them as weapons of mass discrimination; lob them like incendiary devices to ignite hate and division; and convince any sane person that Christianity is that last thing they want anything to do with.

It is also up to us to stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters when their religion is hijacked by media pundits and political candidates who ignore the billions of faithful followers of Islam - a religion of peace, justice and compassion - and feed into the agenda of the terrorists.

As President Obama said in his June 14 remarks from the White House:

Groups like ISIL and al Qaeda want to make this war a war between Islam and America, or between Islam and the West. They want to claim that they are the true leaders of over a billion Muslims around the world who reject their crazy notions. They want us to validate them by implying that they speak for those billion-plus people; that they speak for Islam. That's their propaganda. That's how they recruit. And if we fall into the trap of painting all Muslims with a broad brush and imply that we are at war with an entire religion -- then we're doing the terrorists' work for them.

Speaking at the June 13 Interfaith Vigil in Los Angeles, Muslim leader Salam Al-Marayati called ISIS "a cult of death" that "does not represent me and does not represent 1.5 billion Muslims -- you represent the worst of humanity, not just a distortion of the faith."

Al-Maryati went on to address the LGBTQ community saying: "We are your shield. The Muslim community stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the LGBTQ community. We are one, we are all part of one humanity, and we will defend each other -- we will work together."
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Attendees hold signs as they listen to speakers during a rally calling for an end to corporate money in politics and to mark the fifth anniversary of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, at Lafayette Square near the White House, January 21, 2015 in Washington, DC. Wednesday is the fifth anniversary of the landmark ruling, which paved the way for additional campaign money from corporations, unions and other interests and prevented the government from setting limits on corporate political spending. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Today the people of New York scored a significant victory for democracy in the United States by officially becoming the 17th state on record in support of a constitutional amendment to overturn disastrous Supreme Court decisions such as Citizens United. This decision, among others, has created an out-of-balance system that allows powerful corporations and other wealthy interests to spend unlimited amounts of money to buy access and influence to advance their political agenda at the expense of everyone else.

This landmark accomplishment in New York comes as the result of a multi-year effort to encourage legislators in the state Senate and Assembly to sign onto a formal letter calling for such an amendment. Because of the work of dedicated activists and a broad coalition of organizations, lawmakers from both parties, representing a majority of each house of the legislature, have joined to represent the will of the people. Over twenty municipalities from the state of New York including Buffalo, Syracuse, Albany, Mt. Vernon, Ithaca and New York City have passed resolutions supporting an amendment to the constitution. Moreover, since 2010 -- the year of the Citizens United decision -- nearly 700 cities and towns nationally have passed resolutions calling for an amendment and more than five million petition signatures have been gathered in support.

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This victory represents the results of collaborative campaigning, with a diverse coalition of organizations coming together to educate, organize, and apply the political pressure necessary to win. On behalf of our more than 156,000 New York members, People For the American Way is proud to have been one of several national organizations to play a role in advancing this effort. Since the start of this campaign several years ago, our members have signed petitions, written letters, called their legislators and shown up to advocate and protest in person.
Over the years, I've heard a number of highly employed (senior management and up) clients, friends, and (occasionally) coworkers complain about the lack of validation they get at work. It seems that senior managers are told, often repeatedly, about the need to give positive feedback to those in their charge. And it seems the people below them definitely appreciate the validation, becoming more loyal, working harder, etc. But the senior managers themselves rarely (if ever) receive similar encouragement.

Consider, for example, a close friend who recently left a high level, high paying job to work for a rival company. Over lunch she explained that even though she was taking a pay cut to make this move, she felt it was necessary for her long-term happiness. She said, "I'm just tired of cramming 60 hours of work into a 40-hour week with nobody ever saying thank you. I'd rather make less money but work for people who appreciate me." When I asked if she had voiced this complaint to her boss (the CEO), she said, "Yes, and the SOB told me, 'I think you're missing a fundamental piece of what it means to be upper level management. The fact that I've put you in this role should be all the validation you need.' And then he told me, 'Coming in here and telling me you'd like an occasional pat on the back just seems a little needy.'"

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Ouch!

As stated earlier, I hear this type of story relatively often from clients, friends, and coworkers. So my question to you is this: Who is right, my friend who opted for less money with more emotional validation, or her CEO who thought responsibility and a giant paycheck should be enough?

Digging into this further, it is helpful to observe that within the fields of both child-rearing and business there are concepts of reward commonly referred to as "explicit validation" and "implicit validation." Interestingly, explicit validation means the same in both worlds, but implicit validation does not.

Explicit Validation (Childcare and Business Alike): This is the overt validation of what other people are thinking and feeling, and/or praise for their efforts. Explicit validation of thoughts and emotions is expressed through statements like, "I understand how you are feeling. I would feel the same way if I were in your shoes." Explicit validation for effort (not necessarily success, but effort) is given with statements like, "I really appreciate how hard you worked on this project. You should definitely be proud of that."

Implicit Validation (Childcare): Emotionally healthy children need implicit validation as much as they need explicit validation. With kids, this need appears most often with feelings. Implicit validation of their feelings is given when a parent or some other caregiver simply sits with a child, fully present, while the child experiences his or her emotions, whatever those emotions might be. In this way, the child implicitly learns that it is OK to have feelings, both good and bad.

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Implicit Validation (Business): In the business world, implicit validation is given through responsibility and income. Usually, entry-level through middle-management workers receive implicit validation (modest responsibility and a paycheck) plus relatively constant explicit feedback, with higher ups thanking them and letting them know that they are appreciated. However, as workers climb the corporate ladder, the explicit kudos often disappear, with only the implicit validation (increased responsibility and a bigger paycheck) remaining. The thinking seems to be, "I trust you with lots of responsibility and I give you a really nice paycheck, so you shouldn't need me to also pat you on the back and say, 'Great job. You're fabulous. We couldn't do it without you.'"

In my opinion, human needs don't change much as we age and move forward with our lives. As children, we need both explicit and implicit validation of our feelings and actions. Together, the two forms of validation let us know that what we're thinking, feeling, and doing is OK. And we learn that if we're not getting both forms of the validation we need/desire, it's probably because we're doing something wrong and need to make some healthy changes (putting in more effort, not being a jerk, etc.) As adults, my analysis is exactly the same. We need both explicit and implicit validation of our feelings and actions, regardless of our station in life. And if/when we don't get both, we automatically think that it's probably because we're doing something wrong.

Based on this idea, I asked my friend one final question about her decision to switch jobs: "Did the lack of explicit validation, even with all the implicit validation you were getting, make you feel as if you were underperforming?" And wow, did her face ever light up. "Yes, that's exactly it," she said. "I felt like I must be doing a crummy job because nobody ever told me I was doing well. And I carried that feeling around with me everywhere I went. I felt ashamed and not good enough all the time, and the paycheck just wasn't enough to overcome that feeling."

So it seems clear to me that employers, like parents, need to both explicitly and implicitly validate their charges, and they need to do so at all levels of employment, because the effects on senior management will likely be the same as on everyone else -- happier, more loyal, harder working people. Conversely, equating explicit validation with success (increased responsibility and higher pay) may be as bad as no validation at all.
Blonde and redhead woman wrapped in rainbow flag

I've been sitting here for the last 36 hours or so glued to social media. I've been watching my Facebook feed, my Twitter is on fire, all with up-to-the-minute reports of the shooting in Orlando. People are hurting, angry, defiant and some, I've noticed, are in a state of disbelief. People are totally shocked that their Facebook feed isn't overflowing with love and support for the LGBTQ community in the wake of this tragedy.

People are expressing true disbelief, disappointment and disillusionment over how their friends and families are failing to even make mention of the lives lost. Although it's disappointing, I'm less surprised.

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Consider this, when you regularly post things pertaining to the LGBTQ community, how many people that are NOT part of said community engage with that post? How many people seek a way to create a dialog?

I understand where it's coming from. People are hurting. They need to make sense of things and they are looking for their entire community to support them as they come to terms with it. For the most part, I've the challenges come in one of two ways.

One of the challenges that people are facing is that somehow they thought that now that our community has suffered the same kind of tragedy as other communities, people would somehow rally around our humanity. Somehow they would stop seeing us as separate. Somehow our community would become part of a larger consciousness. We could finally all come together as a community against gun violence. We could finally come together and be seen as the "United States of Humanity." Then it happened.

People didn't say anything. Or worse, reports starting coming in of the heinous, hate-filled things people were saying. How can this be?

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The other challenge that I see people facing is the idea that this happened during Pride. The one time of year where LGBTQIA people allow themselves to feel safe enough to truly express their authentic selves in public. How could someone try to take that away from us after we have fought so hard to be here? What do we do now?

Here's what I have to say: if you find yourself identifying with the first challenge, welcome back to the understanding that people are still working under the premise that we are a marginalized community. Because it happened at Pride, people were able to ignore it because they couldn't see themselves there. They are not gay and if they don't have any out gay friends, then it can stay something that happened to "those people." Or the ones that do have out queer friends are not privy to the things that we do when we get together for Pride. They've never been.

They can, however, identify with just being some tourist walking a Paris street when a bomb goes off. They can imagine themselves just sitting in a movie theater when some gunmen sprays bullets in the audience. They can imagine what it feels like to be a parent sending their child to school with the assurance that they will arrive back home safely and then they don't. If they can imagine how it could have happened to them, then they can see how they are connected.

Now, the second challenge is really one of breaking your rainbow bubble. Let me tell you this, hate doesn't stop because it's your special day/weekend. People don't give you a pass, because they know it's Pride. I'm sorry that for some reason you thought things like this couldn't happen to our community. Our celebration does not prevent tragedy. Hate never rests, so neither can we.

This is what I think we can do about it. Spread love and be out. The only way terrorism works is for us to be terrified, remember? Instead of accusing people of not seeing your humanity, invite them to stand with you in celebration. Invite them to experience Pride with you. Have you ever done that? How can they see themselves having been there without ever having been there? This year be firm in your authentic self. Be as queer as you want to be. Invite all of your humans to join you.

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At my old church, we used to have an annual fall event called, "Bring a Pie and a Friend." It was intended to create fellowship among the congregation after many had been away for the summer and the official beginning of our fall church calendar. You were invited to attend and bring at least one person with you, plus a pie of course. Then we would share pie after service and see old friends and make new ones.

I invite you to do the same. Maybe not pie, how about your annual Pride brunch/BBQ/pool party? I know. You don't think that they would "have a good time" because they're not queer right? Sorry I'm calling bullshit. That's you judging them before they get a chance to judge you. Knock it off and at least invite them to come. Let them take pride in being themselves in the midst of all of the gaiety.

The same way people didn't stop flying to Paris and people didn't stop going to movies, or sending their children to school, we must remain just as proud as we were when we went to sleep Saturday night. We must NOT cancel any plans that we had to celebrate Pride. In fact, invite more people. Make our numbers bigger. Let's double the size of every Pride celebration for the rest of the year, holding hands with our friends, family, partners, spouses, children and allies. Let's as my friend Leon said, #BeMoreGay
Israeli flag.

Terror struck Tel Aviv, Israel on the night of Wednesday June 8. Folks were minding their own business in a cafe when two Palestinian men dressed as Hasidic Jews opened fire. Four people were killed and several others were wounded. It is reminiscent of other recent terror attacks, such as the ones in Paris, France and Brussels, Belgium.

When these two other attacks occurred, folks rushed to social media with words of support. The hashtags #JeSuisParis and #JeSuisBrussels became popular trends on Twitter. It was cool and fashionable for people to show how distraught they were over those senseless acts of violence. The senseless act of violence the Israelis suffered, however, didn't catch on the same way. I couldn't help but wonder why. Is it because these kind of attacks are so common over there? Or is there another reason behind it?

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Obviously, it's no surprise that supporting Israel isn't very cool or fashionable these days. There seems to be a bias against Israel that leaves out several key facts. However, despite whether you side with Israel or Palestine, it's sad that folks ignore innocent civilians who are attacked. After all, isn't that what so many Palestine supporters accuse the Israeli army of doing? Don't they paint the Israeli army as evil human beings who attack innocent civilians?

What they don't pay attention to, is the fact that the Israeli army warns civilians in Palestine to stay away from the areas they plan on attacking. This is because they don't want to hurt innocent people. However, the leaders of Palestine tell the civilians to stay put. The Palestinian army uses their own people (including children) as human shields. Then, folks look at the destruction and blame the Israelis. Call me crazy, but that doesn't seem fair at all.

Of course, people may be asking why Israel is attacking at all. I believe it is out of self-defense. The Israeli army only attacks when attacked. There have been several attempts at cease-fires. On one occasion in 2014, Hamas resumed attacking Israel 90-minutes into a cease-fire. If Israel didn't fight back, their entire land and population would be wiped out. If you ask me, any reasonable person in that situation would do the same.

Authorities in Israel have frozen 83,000 entry permits for Palestinians in the wake of the attack. I think it should be clear to people that this is a security measure. It's unclear how terrorists were able to get into Tel Aviv with their weapons. So it shouldn't come as a shock to see Israel making efforts to protect themselves from another attack.

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However, I have a feeling some will try to spin this as Israel violating Palestinian human rights. It is very similar to when the issue of Palestinian home demolitions comes up. There are those that say Israel targets Palestinians in these demolitions based on their ethnicity alone. In reality, these home demolitions are practiced on homes belonging to people suspected of, in connection with, or convicted of violent acts against Israelis, including suicide bombing. These demolitions have been proven to reduce terrorism against Israelis.
For many Americans, Washington D.C. personifies much that is wrong with governance in the United States. In the eyes of Bernie Sanders , "Washington is dominated by big money," or those of JFK describing D.C. as "a town of Southern efficiency and Northern charm." Many view this relatively small city of 675,000 people as the ultimate emblem of waste, fraud, abuse, incompetence. Remember that famous quote attributed to Horace Greeley, circa 1865, "go west young man, go west?" Well, the first part of that comment could have come from somebody's Yelp! review last week: "... Washington is not a place to live in. The rents are high, the food is bad, the dust is disgusting and the morals are deplorable." Well, as a native Washingtonian who went West to embrace bi-coastal tendencies, I'm here to tell you that leadership in this city evolved over time. (I might add that Mr. Greeley's advice to flee D.C. morals came well before Los Angeles became, well, Los Angeles.) Also, many overlook the fact that D.C. was created as a bifurcated city where the federal government and the federal district co-exist, and not always harmoniously. How would you like Congress to help run your town? We mostly operated like our prodigal Uncle Sam: inefficient, unbalanced, and beholden to conflicting interests, special and otherwise. However, D.C. is more or less redefining itself, not only in how it manages its finances, but also in the type of leadership qualities we seek in our mayor. Which brings me to Muriel Elizabeth Bowser. She is only the eighth mayor of D.C., and credits diversity as helping her set a new tone. After having the opportunity to interview Mayor Bowser, some trends of that new tone emerge. Born and raised in Washington D.C., Mayor Bowser knew that a career in public service was in the cards: "I always knew that I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others and help people. I've been interested in politics and governing ever since I was a little kid," she said. The mayor actually followed in her father's steps, becoming an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner herself in 2004 and 2008. After serving Ward 4 on the City Council, the mayor realized she could have a more lasting impact as mayor and was elected to office in 2014. "Sustainability of a middle class" is the cornerstone of her agenda, according to the mayor.

"When I came into office, I committed to creating pathways to the middle class," explained Mayor Bowser. "Those pathways come in different forms - to a stronger education system, to more good paying jobs for District residents, to the kind of services and programs that ensure every Washingtonian gets a fair shot."



However, it's perhaps not only the access to opportunity but making the actions of government more transparent. Bowser stated that "Over the last year, we have worked to make the government more open and transparent by hosting forums on everything from budget to homelessness, civil courts and issues facing our youth."



While some will doubtless question her on transparency issues, there's no doubt the mayor has been out and about. From controversial new homeless shelters to budget forums to hospital plans, she has held neighborhood discussions - and not always amid adoring fans.



On immigration, Bowser echoes the words of President Obama: "Washington D.C. stands with President Obama's executive action to fix what he can to build an immigration system that lives up to our proud history as a nation of immigrants." This position is directly tied to her plans to expand the middle class: "We need to create pathways to the middle class inclusive of immigrants. That starts with undocumented workers in the District and across the country have a fair shot."



Washington has been largely able to avoid the civil unrest that has plagued many municipalities such as her neighbor to the northwest (Baltimore) and west (Ferguson) by embracing a divergent staffing model.



Bowser credits a "diverse police force," reflective of the district's population, as key to maintaining harmony among her constituents.



Said the mayor: "...cities are stronger when we build trust between our community and the folks who have signed up to protect our neighborhoods. We have a police chief who understands that it's important to build a culture of respect and understanding."



She noted how district police officers were recently successful in deescalating a situation by challenging some teenagers to a "dance off." According to Bowser, "the video went viral and served as a refreshing counterpoint to some of the negative interactions we've seen play out across the country."



As a native and fifth generation Washingtonian, it's no surprise that the mayor is "committed to statehood" for the District of Columbia as the majority of its residents are strong supporters of the Budget Autonomy Act of 2012. This act allowed for more autonomy with respect to how the district disposed of local revenue.



She states that "...the 650,000 residents who call D.C. home deserve full democracy and an equal voice. The families, veterans, seniors, and business owners of D.C. pay their fair share of taxes and have a right to their fair share of representation."



At the end of the day, House Speaker Ryan's objections and legal opposition to D.C. Home Rule may well be the stumbling block to Mayor Bowser's legacy and may eventually test her gamble on greater budget and legislative authority before the U.S. Supreme Court. So here's a suggestion for continued progress: After supporting many of his policies, maybe Bowser should consider enlisting Kalorama's future resident, President Obama, to represent his neighbors in seeking their full rights to representation?
candle light vigil

Every day, a host of issues, big and small, command my attention and yours. Right now we have a monstrous shock to this rhythm. We have a problem that is simply unacceptable, demanding our attention ahead of anything else.



I can't stop thinking about the violent attack in Orlando, and maybe you can't either. I can only continue to absorb the heartbreaking impacts, and to re-encounter the wounded heroes of past attacks, like the Sandy Hook mom who posted a letter, "I am sorry. I am so, so sorry. I am sorry that our tragedy here in Sandy Hook wasn't enough to save your loved ones."

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As this most recent "impulse massacre" incident sinks in, we need to not just think about it; we need to do something about it.

Overwhelmed? Where to begin? I have a few ideas.

If you're a boss, you can let your employees and customers know how you feel, not only about the shooting but also about the principles that hold value for you now. Work hard on good things, be respectful, be kind. Say thank you more often, and mean it. Here's an example, from my friend Jon Foley's letter to his staff at the California Academy of Sciences. Jon begins, "Dear Academy Family, I wish I had the right words--words that would somehow reassure and comfort all of us during this terrible time, when nothing seems to make sense. But I don't. No one does. Instead, I would simply encourage us all to try a little bit harder, be a little bit kinder, and honor those we lost by creating a better world, starting today. Ultimately, we all have to make a choice with our lives, and it's a simple one: we can be inspired to do something and work for a better world, or we can be trapped by despair and accept the world we have."

If you're a parent, you can limit your children's exposure to gun glamorization. You can explain that there's something broken in our system, and you can ensure them that you're interested in using your influence--a petition, vote, or a contribution--to help stop gun violence. Jimmy Fallon asks, What do I tell my children? Jimmy, with your vast audience to influence, you can tell your children that you are on it.

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If you're a communicator, then communicate. Use your talents to get to the heart of this situation. Inspire the rest of us, as Anderson Cooper does here, and as Charles Blow does here, as Jeffrey Toobin does here, as Hillary Clinton (never mind if you plan to vote for her) does with her statement that people on no-fly lists and/or suspects on terrorist watch lists shouldn't be allowed "to just go and buy a gun."

If you're a teacher, you can pause for a moment of respectful silence at the beginning of your next class, as yogini Chanel Luck did in her class on Monday, in Boston: "I walked in teach my 6pm class, having been in a daze since Sunday morning. How can I offer hope to my students when I too, am scared and speechless? What will I say? How will I teach? I take a few deep breaths ... hoping that I can source my teaching from something greater than me. I begin by asking everyone to share their name and any sentiment on how they are feeling. Most of us are tired, broken, drained, scattered. One student said, 'I feel like a sack of rocks that just got dropped,' yes, yes.. I understand. I suddenly realize, yes, we have a collective field here...."

You get it: Think about this, for sure. Cry, brood, absorb. But then, when you have your thoughts together, do something. Don't keep your feelings to yourself. Try harder, be kinder, make the world a better place. Lead, and love--wherever you are. Start now.

For me, the mess begins with the stupefyingly easy access to killer weapons by people who are well-known to be out-of-control angry, abusive, in need of counseling, and/or even suspected of terrorist leanings. And not just any old weapon, but a 7-pound rifle that fires 24 shots in 9 seconds. So let's start with that.

Who would object to such a sensible step? I guess plenty of people, especially those who have a pecuniary interest in the AR-15. It's a big country. But I suspect there's an overwhelming majority of us, shooting enthusiasts included, who are now saying enough is enough, and will start doing something about it.



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The NRA would call me an "extremist," and maybe I am. I would have thought I had a ways to go to get to that point, but nobody feels like an extremist themselves, I imagine.

I would have thought an anti-gun extremist would support repealing the Second Amendment, which I never have. I would have thought an extremist would want all firearms banned, which I do not. Still, I concede I'm no middle-of-the-roader when it comes to gun safety, and that restrictions I may be fine with might be pushing it a little too far for others.

I stipulate as well that I just don't like guns -- I've never owned one, have fired one only a handful of times in my life -- and that may make my views too easy to dismiss for people who do like them, but I also understand that if everything I didn't personally like were illegal then line dancing, Bikram Yoga and flavored whiskey would all be punishable offenses.

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There is a Second Amendment, and while we can argue about its breadth and language we must begin my acknowledging that it is there and that it does explicitly guarantee specific freedoms.

What we must also acknowledge, however, is that the scope of freedoms the NRA wants us to believe it guarantees has changed and grown dramatically, not only through our nation's history but over the course of the last few decades as well. I'm sure you're sick of hearing that the Bill of Rights was written when firearms meant muskets (me, too) but that doesn't mean there isn't some truth to it, and while I certainly don't suggest the Second Amendment should be restricted to 18th Century technology, I also think it's just common sense that we have to draw the line somewhere. Nuclear bombs are "arms" too, after all, and none of us want people in our neighborhoods permitted to bear and stockpile those.

Assault rifles are not used for hunting or sport. They are not used for home protection. They are offensive (meaning made for offense rather than defense, as made clear by the name "assault rifle") by their nature. Service members are trained on them and use them on our behalf to attack threats to our national security, and we rightfully honor them for it. Stateside, the best we can ever hope for is that they are never used, because when they are it's always tragic.

From 1994 to 2004 the sale of assault rifles was illegal, and neither tyranny nor the repeal of the 2nd Amendment followed. No one's guns were taken from them, as assault weapons purchased before the ban went into effect were grandfathered in. Since 2004, however, when (mostly Republican) legislators (under pressure from the NRA) let the assault weapons ban expire, we've seen them used to threaten and intimidate government officials, slaughter innocent people at night clubs and movie theaters, and murder 26 children and educators in a single school on a single day. Their only purpose is to kill as many people as possible as quickly as possible, and so resurrecting the assault weapons ban which we employed for a decade with some success and no infringement on the legitimate rights of Americans does not seem like an extreme position to me. Rather, arguing against it does.

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But the NRA doesn't stop there. It also put political and financial pressure on legislators to block attempts to keep people on the terrorism watch list from buying guns -- a common-sense precaution which would have prevented the Orlando nightclub shooter from acquiring his weapons so easily less than a week before he used them. The NRA wants us selling guns to people we won't let on our airplanes.

But the NRA doesn't stop there, either.

It uses its power to ban our public health institutions from studying gun violence to see if there are any other solutions beyond restricting weapons that we might be able to discover.

It blocks research and development into smart gun technology, which would prevent toddlers from picking up and accidentally firing weapons -- a tragic occurrence we are now seeing almost every other day in America.

It pushed through legislation in Florida (and is trying to push similar laws in other states) that makes it illegal for a pediatrician to ask families if there are guns in their homes so that they might try to educate parents who want to keep weapons about the importance of proper storage and safety.

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And so I have to ask: who really is the extremist here?

Maybe I'm still an extremist, but it's painfully, tragically clear that the NRA is, too. That they are funded by the gun manufacturers is well known, but what that means in practice is that they are not fighting for constitutional rights but simply for a bigger market. They aren't trying to defend the Second Amendment but rather encourage existing gun owners to buy more (and more expensive) guns and frighten more Americans into feeling that arming themselves in their only option.

They want proliferation, and proliferation is something that gun rights and gun safety advocates should be able to agree poses a clear and present threat to our national security.

This is why I'm writing to reasonable gun-owning Americans. Stopping the national slide that threatens to turn all of our communities into self-inflicted war zones is, I'm sorry to say, up to you.

The good news is that none of us extremists can make you do anything. Leftists like me can't take away your guns or force policies on you that will erode the fundamental rights the Second Amendment guarantees if you don't want us to, and the NRA can't use the Second Amendment as an excuse to erode our fundamental rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness just to make a bit more money if you stand up and refuse to let them.

Please don't let them.

Joining the NRA may have seemed like a good idea if you thought crazy liberals like me really were plotting ways to confiscate your pistols, rifles and shotguns--and they certainly pitched that idea hard--but the reality is that they are using your money and support to push the extreme, profit-driven motives listed above. At every turn they are using their members' money and political capital to fight the background checks that three quarters of their members support.

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And don't take my word that we crazy liberals won't come after your guns, either. I have no interest in it but that is not to say others don't. The truth is there are a lot of organizations dedicated to defending the Second Amendment but also committed to common sense and public safety, perhaps because they understand that, while proliferation might benefit some people financially in the short term, it ultimately threatens the Second Amendment by making it unsustainable. The American Hunters and Shooters Association folded, but you can still join Americans for Responsible Solutions, which is spearheaded by proud gun owners who have also faced the tragedy of senseless gun violence. ARS also recently launched the Veterans Coalition for Common Sense.

There are other steps we, as a country, need to take, of course. We need better mental health care. We need to fight ISIS and stand up to hate-based perversions of religion at home and abroad. We need to stem the fracturing of our society which results in a pervasive lack of empathy. No combination of these will do much without a return to common sense in our gun laws, however, and the most important thing you can do to that end is to stand up and make it clear that the NRA does not speak for you.

And that ball is in your court. Everyone knows the NRA doesn't speak for an "extremist" like me, but if gun owners, if NRA members stand up and leave--like President George H. W. Bush and so many principled conservatives already have--they could change the whole country for the better.
So, it is 11 AM and my wife is keeled over, holding the bed with one hand and her tummy with the other, in obvious pain. It is quite obvious that the labor has kicked into another gear from even a few minutes ago and that we are getting closer. "It is time to go", she says... Flashback, flashback... Remember, remember, my mind screams. Think back to all the classes you attended... "Your wife will know when it is time to go... then, you don't question it, you just go."

And so, for the second time in less than 12 hours we get our stuff ready, I summon an Uber and we are heading out the door to the hospital. "Please don't send us back this time", I am silently praying. All the while I am also wondering and hoping if there is any chance that our baby will pop out on the car ride over. "I am not prepared to deliver a baby here", I think. Wait, what? I am not prepared to deliver a baby anywhere.

Thankfully, no baby in the car, and 20 minute later, we are at the hospital, back in the same room we were a few hours ago. This time it is a different midwife who is examining my wife. She seems a lot sterner and one that wouldn't deviate from the rulebook - the strict headmistress kind you know. Is she going to let us stay or is she going to send us back? I put on my best 'sad puppy', 'don't send us back home' face with the hope of convincing her. No one who had ever seen that look escaped it... and this time too it worked! After examining my wife, even though she hadn't met NHS' threshold for a stay (in terms of centimeters or something technical), I think my charm and sad puppy face did the trick. "I am going to put you in a smaller room for now and as things progress, we will move you to a larger room. You're lucky we have space right now."

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"Yes! No worries... we will take the small room"... Score! Strike up one more for the sad puppy face!

And so it began. My wife was changed into her hospital gown and made to pick the most convenient / comfortable position for her... Stand, walk around, lay down, kneel... use the forces of gravity and let it pull the baby out of you, she was told. By that regard, shouldn't it already be out then, given how much she has been walking, I wondered. But nature has its own way... And for the next 8 or so hours we were going to watch nature work its magic and take effect on my wife, me and everything around us as our little baby worked his way into the world.

I was transfixed... I was also scared, confused, panicked, worried and emotional at the same time. There were parts of me that didn't know what to do. Parts of me didn't know if I could even do anything. For those of you that have just witnessed childbirth in Hollywood movies, I can assure you it is nothing like that... it is probably a 100x scarier... 500x louder... and maybe even a bit all too natural. "It's all getting a bit natural in here", the midwife commented at some point during the process. She wasn't kidding. My wife, who decided not to take any pain relief and do the entire process naturally, with only the help of 'gas and air' and some other minor support, was definitely feeling it and exhibiting all her natural instincts. On her hands and knees, her screams were getting louder and wilder... 'Let it go, let it go' would be an apt description here.

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As the contractions got stronger and harder, her screams got louder... the feeling in my stomach got sicker and I felt more helpless. "Why didn't I push her to take medication", I admonished myself. "How could I let this happen? What kind of a sick husband likes to see his wife in pain?" I wondered. At the same time, I am looking at the only other human in the room - the midwife - (my wife had moved on into zombie territory by this time and there was no way I could have had a rational conversation with her), again with a sad puppy look, wondering if some kind of relief could be implemented here. "Are we past the point of no return? Can we provide her with an injection" I was trying to ask.
Following a heavy downpour and severe flooding, a building collapsed in the crowded Huruma neighbourhood of Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least 52 tenants. Sixteen months earlier, a building in the very same neighbourhood collapsed and killed at least two people. In both instances, many more were injured.

Nairobi is rapidly urbanising, as the city is poised to grow to six million people by 2030. But its growth is driven in part by rural push factors rather than urban industrial growth, contributing to a large informal sector and stark inequalities between neighbourhoods.

After the first building collapse, Nairobi city county responded by fast-tracking a bill to fix the problem. The second was marked by a blame game. The public and the national government pointed fingers at the county government for failing to demolish the structure as planned. Others scorned the public for littering and building unauthorised structures on flood plains.

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In addition, many pinpointed corruption as at least partly at fault for the crumbling infrastructure. Officers in the county government are accused of taking bribes to overlook building code violations. However, others have argued, these codes and penalties make no sense. The Architectural Association of Kenya has been drawing attention to poor development control frameworks for many years.

At root then is a complex set of failures that must be understood within the context of politics in historical perspective. Many current problems emerged at the very beginning of Nairobi's birth as a colonial town: flooding, poor infrastructure, marginal "housing" for the majority that served as labour reserves, lack of development control, rampant "land grabbing" and speculation. Added to this has been the presence of a privileged elite who could not or would not conceive of a broader public interest.

As the insightful blogger and cartoonist Peter Gathara points out, many of these speculative land and real estate dynamics persist, distorting prices in the housing market and creating high rents, gluts on the high-income end and shortages on the middle- to low-income end.

The 'low-quality, high-cost trap'

Nairobi's long-term urban governance "failures" are symptoms of deeper problems. "Failures" are economic opportunities for others. Recently, Africa Uncensored's investigative series, "Kanjo Kingdom", revealed the way cartels operate to extract money from poor traders in Nairobi. Many of these traders have no space to operate because of the theft over time of public utility spaces meant for markets.

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Low incomes and limited jobs in the formal sector, much as in colonial times, means that to survive people must rely on running small businesses in marginal spaces in the city that are not officially designated as commercial. The failure to allocate space to vulnerable people means they become prey to cartels linked to the City Inspectorate. This is the very antithesis of service provision - it is poverty production through perverse "planning".

A similar dynamic is at work when we come to the problem of slums and affordable housing. Slums, which were founded as colonial labour reserves, still persist in their informal status and use as labour "reserves". Many slums are on government or former government land that was misallocated. Instead of using Nairobi's once ample public land as a way to subsidise affordable housing (or industry and commercial activities), cartels and government officials extract from the poor who are in search of housing and livelihoods.

In the film "Living with Corruption" journalist Sorious Samura shows, for example, how he had to pay at least US$300, much of that in payments to officials, to build a shack in Nairobi's Kibera slum with insecure rights.

These transactions signify a larger problem with corruption in Kenya's political economy. According to the 2013/2014 Auditor General's report, 98.8% of the money spent by Kenya's ministries could not be clearly and lawfully accounted for, contributing to significant barriers to economic development.

As Sumila Gulyani and Debabrata Talukdar argue, Kenyan slum residents - the same types of people who were victims of the Huruma building collapse - are stuck in a "low-quality, high-cost trap." Housing is not affordable in Nairobi's slums, infrastructure does not improve and people are stuck with poor and insecure living conditions. All because this is quite lucrative for many who get high rental returns for providing next to no services, including safe shelter.

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Owning property in Kenyan slums requires political connections and payment of significant fees (and often bribes) to get a building permit. Coupled with that is willingness to bear the risk of loss of capital if the structure is demolished. But once the investment is made, landlords benefit from informality and ambiguous land tenure rights, and work very hard to maintain the status quo. Politicians use tenure insecurity as a way to mobilise voters, promising private goods in exchange for electoral returns.

The housing challenge across Africa

The housing and flooding "crisis" of over 100 years is not unique to Kenya. Flooding is one of the most deadly disasters that periodically hits African cities. Rapidly growing cities Kampala, in Uganda, and Lagos, in Nigeria, have experienced significant flooding in the past year, and Ghana's Accra has recently been in the midst of terrible flooding. This is likely to get worse with climate change and rapid urbanisation.

As in colonial times, the urban poor often become scapegoats for broader structural and political problems. Slum dwellers get blamed for poor infrastructure and lack of sanitation, while politicians and municipal authorities fail to deliver the public services needed to keep cities safe. Municipal authorities often advance demolition and displacement as solutions, rather than in situ and creative upgrading strategies and increasing housing stocks by freeing up land on a citywide scale.

In Accra, poor urban residents face eviction threats every rainy season. When elections occur every four years, these threats are tabled until after the voting takes place. Politicians, their intermediaries and community leaders often take advantage of this insecurity to bolster their own personal power.

While many African cities are trying to deal with the urbanisation challenge byimproving infrastructure, fixing drains and investing in sanitation, perverse incentives continue to hamper progress in addressing the deep causes of poor housing and services.

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Secure and safe affordable housing is still very difficult to find in most African cities. Simplistic slum upgrading schemes are not enough. As Dr Joan Cloas, Executive Director of UN-Habitat recently said,

You need to build cities - not houses.

Building better, inclusive cities involves creating a politics that enables using public land, land value and taxes wisely to ensure more and lower-cost, high-quality housing and amenities for all.


By Adam Sanchez

Fifty years ago this week, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee chairperson Stokely Carmichael made the famous call for "Black Power." Carmichael's speech came in the midst of the "March Against Fear," a walk from Memphis, Tennessee, to Jackson, Mississippi, to encourage African Americans to use their newly won right to vote. But while almost every middle and high school student learns about the Civil Rights Movement, they rarely learn about this marchor the related struggles that continued long after the Voting Rights Act.

Most U.S. History textbooks teach a narrative that the Civil Rights Movement began with the Supreme Court Brown v. Board decision in 1954 and abruptly ended in 1965 with the passage of federal legislation. Not only does this narrative tell students that politicians and judges are more important than activists and organizers, it reinforces the myth that structural racism is a relic of the past and the United States is on an unstoppable path of progress. As Black Lives Matter activists once again take up the fight against racial inequity and police brutality, excavating the long, grassroots history for students is crucial if we hope to use the past to inform our struggles today.

What Was the Civil Rights Movement?

With my high school students, I begin teaching the Civil Rights Movement by asking them to name the people and organizations that were involved.

"Martin Luther King!"

"Rosa Parks!"

Students shout out names like Emmett Till, Malcolm X, the Little Rock Nine.

I divide the whiteboard in half: Any person or group famous for events or actions before the Voting Rights Act of 1965, I write on the right side of the board; those famous for events or actions after the Voting Rights Act, I write on the left side of the board. Without fail, the right side of the board is always full and the left side of the board nearly bare.

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After explaining to students what I had done, I direct their attention to a Civil Rights Timeline poster. We read aloud the first and last entries: "May 17, 1954, Supreme Court outlaws school segregation in Brown v. Board of Education" and "July 9, 1965, Congress Passes the Voting Rights Act."

I ask: "Why don't we ever learn about the Civil Rights Movement after 1965?" I don't expect them to answer this right then, but I tell students that as we learn about the Civil Rights Movementboth before and after 1965I want them to consider this question.

What the Textbooks Teach

It's no accident my students learn a narrative that stops in 1965. Most history textbooks end their chapter on the Civil Rights Movement with a short one- or two-page section on "Black Power" that covers Malcolm X and a few post-1965 events. One example is Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's

United States History

. The section titled "Urban Violence Erupts" reads:

. . . five days after President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law, one of the worst race riots in the nation's history raged through the streets of Watts, a predominantly African American neighborhood in Los Angeles. Thirty-four people were killed, and hundreds of millions of dollars worth of property was destroyed. The next year, 1966, saw even more racial disturbances, and in 1967 alone, riots and violent clashes took place in more than 100 cities.

What is startling about this passage is the omission of the causes of these urban rebellionsfrom police violence to the assassination of MLK. The violence in Watts, and the riots that followed, didn't materialize out of thin air. Watts was a neighborhood where residents had long protested poor housing and sanitation, underfunded and segregated schools, and a heavy police presence. Although sparked by an incident of police brutality, the conditions that led to the Watts uprisinglike the conditions that have led to today's Black Lives Matter protestsstarted long before protestors hit the streets. As Joshua Bloom and Waldo E. Martin Jr. explain in Blacks Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party:

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Between January 1962 and July 1965, Los Angeles law enforcement officers killed at least 65 people. . . . These included 27 cases in which the victim was shot in the back by law-officers, 25 in which the victim was unarmed, 23 in which the victim was suspected of a nonviolent crime and four in which the victim was not suspected of any crime at the time of the shooting.

Much of the violence during the riot targeted police cars. And in the aftermath, activists in Watts organized Community Alert Patrols to observe how police treated residents. Yet the textbooks ignore this context to deliver a message: the urban rebellions were the end of the Civil Rights Movement worth studying.

Textbooks reinforce the Voting Rights Act-as-the-end-of-the-movement narrative when they draw a line between the Civil Rights Movement and the call for Black Power. One example is Teachers Curriculum Institute's widely used History Alive! The United States. One page after extolling the virtues of the Voting Rights Act, the authors write in their "Black Power" section:

By the time King died, many African Americans had lost faith in his vision of a society in which the color of a person's skin didn't matter. Angry young African Americans looked instead to new leaders who talked about black pride and black power.

Missing from this passage is the angry young King, who reminded us after 1965 that his dream had "turned into a nightmare," who attacked segregation in the North, who opposed the Vietnam War, who advocated for a massive redistribution of wealth, who called for Black pride, and who worked closely with Black Power proponents.

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Also missing is the roots of Black Power in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1965, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) began organizing the Lowndes County Freedom Organization (LCFO)which became known by its symbol, the Black Pantheras an attempt to build an independent political party to challenge Alabama's ruling Democratic Party. Though LCFO candidates did not win, SNCC registered 2,000 Black voters during the campaign. Lowndes County field organizer Stokely Carmichael was soon elected chairperson of SNCC and became the leading proponent of Black Power.

The passage from History Alive! continues: "Black Power groups formed that embraced militant strategies and the use of violence. Organizations such as the Black Panthers rejected all things white and talked of building a separate black nation." This is the only mention of the Black Panthers in a 500-plus-page textbook. This passage is a gross mischaracterization of the Panthers' ideology and it erases their efforts to build multiracial coalitions. The broader curricular crime is that History Alive! teaches students to accept the turn to Black Power as the end of the successful Civil Rights Movement, and therefore not worth spending class time exploring. This narrative prevents us not only from learning the lessons of the organizations and activists that continued the struggle against racism after the Voting Rights Act, but also from drawing out the relevance of the pre-1965 freedom struggle that dealt with much more than the fight for voting rights.

Teaching "The Long Civil Rights Movement"

Far from being the end of the Civil Rights Movement, 1965 marked a legislative milestone and provided activists with another tool. But the new legislation was not a solution to the problems people had been organizing against for many years. In the North and the South, activists continued to confront poverty, unemployment, lack of health care, poor housing, inadequate education, and police and sheriff brutality.

U.S. history textbooks fail to look deeply at the urban rebellions, Martin Luther King's campaigns against war and poverty, the Lowndes County Freedom Organization, and the rise of the Black Panther Party. And there are countless other post-1965 events that should be brought into the classroom: the Memphis Sanitation workers' strike and the subsequent workers' struggles of the 1970s, the Orangeburg Massacre, the fight for Ethnic Studies programs, the national campaign for welfare rights, the Attica Prison Uprising, the battle over segregated schools in Boston and community control in New York, the fight in the South to ensure the Voting Rights Act was put into practice, and many more.

The shallow understanding of the Civil Rights Movement that my students brought to class goes beyond not knowing post-1965 events. As historian Jeanne Theoharis has noted, before the Watts Rebellion there was more than two decades of nonviolent activism against legalized segregation in Los Angeles. And in 1963, after what is widely taught as a successful nonviolent struggle to desegregate downtown Birmingham, Alabama, 2,000 African Americans, fed up after segregationists bombed hotels that housed movement leaders, turned to violence. They threw rocks and bricks, looted stores, and set fire to a nearby grocery. Despite the fact that this precipitated Kennedy's endorsement of the Civil Rights Act, this violence is often left out of the story of Birmingham, just as nonviolent activism is left out of the story of Watts.

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What this example reveals and what a growing work of scholarship argues, is that we have been sold a narrative of the movement that ignores enormous parts of Civil Rights history. By mythologizing a successful, exclusively nonviolent struggle against racial segregation in the South that becomes a polarizing call for Black Power as it moves North after 1965, we leave out struggles across the country that don't fit this stereotype.

We should replace this limited narrative, these scholars argue, with one of "The Long Civil Rights Movement," a national Black freedom struggle rooted in struggles of the 1930s and extended through the 1970s, that used self-defense and nonviolent direct action, that dealt with issues of race and class, that developed international solidarity, and participated in countless local struggles in the North and South.

In classrooms across the country, guided by the official textbooks and curricula, students learn a version of the Civil Rights Movement that leaves its lessons in the past. School districts across the country should provide time for teachers to produce a people's curriculum of the movement in order to teach the local histories that are left out of the official narrative. This way our students who we hope will join and shape today's social movements can do so with knowledge and insight about what came before.

Adam Sanchez (asanchez@zinnedproject.org) teaches at Harvest Collegiate High School in New York City. He is an editor of Rethinking Schools magazine and the Zinn Education Project organizer and curriculum writer. This article is part of the Zinn Education Project's If We Knew Our History series. Learn more about the Zinn Education Project and how you can help bring people's history to the classroom.

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Image credits:
Cross-posted from UN Women

I have a niece who has had the Zika virus. Shes indigenous. Women in Brazil are in a state of panic. Indigenous communities are very distant and isolated, sometimes without any means of communication. Indigenous women have not been told how the Zika virus is transmitted. They do not know how to handle outbreaks. How can an indigenous woman, who does not live in a capitalist culture, get products to prevent mosquito bites? How can these women, who do not have television or access to mass communication, learn about this virus and its transmission or prevention? They are being hit by this virus with a total lack of knowledge.

We work to raise awareness among indigenous women, firstly about this virus, how it is transmitted and how to avoid infection; and secondly, for women whove already been infected, we tell them its not a curse but an illness like any other. For affected women, we teach them how to work with indigenous health organizations.

I do this work with COAPIMA, an organization that coordinates the indigenous organizations of the state of Maranhao. I also work with a network of indigenous youth that is using information technologies to spread information, by email, Internet and text messages. We also partner with a broader network of indigenous women across the Americas.

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Maria Judite da Silva Ballerio, 21, is an indigenous woman from the Guajajajara community, Maranhao, Brazil. She is a political advisor for the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of Maranhao (COAPIMA), raising awareness at the local level among indigenous women on health and womens rights. UN Women is mobilizing a variety of networks and grass-roots organizations to provide information on zika and support, to prevent and minimize infection in their communities.UN Women is also providing information through mass media, including radio programmes in the Amazon region, as well as offline products, such as 50,000 flyers being shared with various networks, including Articulacao de Povos Indigenas do Brasil (APIB), a national-level indigenous rights organization affiliated with COAPIMA. Sustainable Development Goal 3 aims to ensure healthy lives for all, including by ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age and ending epidemics including tropical and other communicable diseases.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, back) attends a signing ceremony with Russian President Vladimir Putin (L, back) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China September 3, 2015. REUTERS/Parker Song/Pool

MOSCOW -- Chinese officials have visited Russia, the Russian government has announced plans to increase trade volume with China by $200 billion in the next few years and the China National Petroleum Corporation has expressed interest in increasing its stake in Russian oil giant Rosneft.

So, is Russia pivoting to China or not? This question took on ideological importance when, early in the Ukrainian crisis, the Kremlin stepped up its propaganda, touting China as an alternative to Moscow's partnership with Europe.

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Even the most critical take on Russian-Chinese relations must acknowledge that the relative share of Russia's trade with China has tripled since the start of the 21st century, and has increased significantly even in absolute terms. China is Russia's largest trading partner after the European Union. Russia has launched major oil and gas projects with China and already competes with Saudi Arabia as one of Beijing's leading oil suppliers.

China is Russia's largest trading partner after the European Union.

At the same time, hopes that Russian-Chinese relations would gain new momentum have not panned out. Russian propaganda's insistence that Moscow was pivoting to Asia only resulted in disappointment when no breakthroughs actually occurred. (The gas contract that Moscow signed with Beijing in 2014 was the result of many years of effort and can hardly be considered a result of that pivot.)

In fact, Russia's negotiations with China on major economic projects continue just as slowly and with just as much exhausting and nerve-racking maneuvering as ever. Under such circumstances, any such project requires at least five to seven years of preparation before it moves into the implementation phase.

This approach is justified to some degree. Major state-owned Chinese companies such as CNPC are essentially a direct extension of the Chinese state bureaucracy. Any future disagreements will very likely shift to the political level, as happened in 2011 when Transneft and Rosneft clashed with CNPC over tariffs for pumping oil through the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline.

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Any purely economic dispute can become extremely serious and have an impact on national security.

In other words, any purely economic dispute over, say, the terms in a contract can become extremely serious and have an impact on national security. That is why Russian leaders in the post-Soviet period have always advocated an extremely cautious, skeptical approach when closing major deals with China in strategically important areas. That approach began to change slowly only a few years prior to the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis.

Russia had a good opportunity to change that cautious approach to an open door policy in the second half of 2014, when the country's economic prospects looked dismal due to falling oil prices and Western sanctions. It was a time of near panic.

Back then, Moscow was ready to agree to just about anything. Frightened leaders were even prepared to take drastic measures to attract Chinese investment and lending. They were poised to make irreversible decisions that would have, at the least, given China a strong presence in Russia, and at most, allowed it to dominate the Russian fuel and energy sector for decades.

Putin's visit to China will probably result in a raft of important intergovernmental agreements.

But the Chinese were too slow to react. By mid-2015, the Russian authorities understood that no apocalypse was imminent. Russian government economists now expect economic growth to resume in late 2016, early 2017. Skeptics, however, expect continued stagnation or a sluggish recession, but even they do not predict a radical upheaval.

Thus, despite the fact that the Ukrainian crisis spurred closer bilateral relations with China, especially in industry, no real qualitative changes have taken place.

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President Vladimir Putin's visit to China this month will probably result in a raft of important intergovernmental agreements to, for example, create wide-body aircraft, construct a high-speed railway between Moscow and Kazan and further develop cooperation on oil and gas. However, no serious changes in Russian-Chinese relations are likely -- at least not this year.

Russian-Chinese relations might stand on the verge of major changes, but they are unlikely to occur earlier than next year.

There are several reasons for this. First, both the Russian and Chinese ruling elite are split over fundamental issues. The Russian elite have yet to reach a consensus on economic and foreign policy. The Chinese elite are locked in an ongoing debate over future relations with the United States and the possibility of adopting a more assertive foreign policy befitting a superpower.

Second, and more importantly, they both are in a state of uncertainty concerning the outcome of the next U.S. presidential election. Regardless of the outcome, it will lead to major changes in U.S. foreign policy. Those changes might influence the U.S. approach to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, relations with Russia and alliances with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Therefore, Russian-Chinese relations might stand on the verge of major changes, but they are unlikely to occur earlier than next year.

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Earlier on WorldPost:
Omar Mateen's shootings in Orlando were, as President Obama said, an act of hate and terror. Mateen targeted an LGBT club. He terrorized its patrons, the city of Orlando and the nation. The question is why. The answer to that question is being determined by intelligence and law enforcement experts. But even as the details are unfolding, it has not stopped some from jumping to conclusions untethered to evidence or thoughtful consideration.

In particular, Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump called for a ban on all Muslims coming to the US and apparently expanded it those who come from nations with a history of terrorism. He seems to imply that President Obama is trying to cover something up because he does not approach the issue with the same frenzy that he does. In short, Trump is playing true to form--high-pitched rhetoric, misinformation and no policy alternatives.

What makes Trump's diatribe so dangerous this time around is that he offers cover for those who do not want to take a hard look at what happened in Orlando and elsewhere with the plethora of mass shootings across the nation.

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There are three takeaways from Trump's remarks that are of particular concern. One, he blames Orlando and other similar events on Muslims coming to this country, apparently equating what he calls radical Islamists with the majority of Muslims globally. This line of thinking is not only false--Mateen was born in New York City not far from where Trump was born-- it risks alienating 1.6 billion Muslims.

In the very real fight against terrorists, who are cultists, there needs to be an alliance between the United States and Muslim communities in the US, as well as nations with a significant Muslim population in order to defeat this common enemy. In addition, Trump ignores the significant contributions that Muslims make to the United States and globally. In effect, he is helping ISIS make the argument that the United States and the West are the enemies.

Second, by immediately pivoting to blaming Orlando on ISIS as a premeditated terrorist attack, Trump again plays into ISIS's hand. There is an investigation into the possible links that Mateen has with radical Islamic groups, but from what we know now, while he may have been inspired by ISIS, he seems to have been confused about ISIS, Al Qaeda and Hezbollah, apparently conflating these organizations. His allegiance may have been rhetorical rather than an active process of self-radicalization. This is significant because if every sick individual who commits an act of terror as Mateen did claims fealty to ISIS without any real connection, it builds ISIS up, making their reach much more significant than it really is. It gives them free propaganda not based on fact but on supposition.

This is not to say that ISIS is not a very real problem and does not provide both inspiration and operational support for fanatics like Mateen. It does, but giving them credit where it is not due runs counter to efforts to defeat and destroy ISIS and other terrorist groups. It also means that more deluded, wanna-bes like Mateen will launch attacks in the future.

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Third, Trump refuses to even consider any gun control measures, calling them an attack on the second amendment. President Obama, Secretary Clinton and Senators like Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) have worked hard to put in place measures that would at the very least limit access to automatic weapons like the AR-15 that was used in Orlando. Retired General Stanley McChrystal, former commander of US forces in Afghanistan, has been quoted as saying he does not want assault weapons on our streets or around our schools. Mateen would not have been able to kill as many individuals he did without an assault weapon.

In contrast to Trump's over-the-top, uninformed rant, Secretary Clinton made sure that she put politics aside, focusing on both mourning for the victims and laying out a strategy for how to deal with these tragedies. She talked about the need to come together, to support first responders and the intelligence community. She has real, substantive plans for dealing with terrorist attacks and other acts of violence.


By Nick Chasinov

Many companies are caught up in search engine optimization, but this approach belongs in the past. In my 15 years working with SEO, I've watched the process evolve from a black hat spam tactic into a nuanced, quality-based marketing strategy--and that evolution has only just begun.

New algorithms increasingly account for user behavior metrics, such as site speed, structure and mobile optimization, rather than just trawl for keywords. And marketers must follow suit. It's time to leave search engine optimization in the past and embrace search experience optimization instead.

Human Experience vs. Machine Experience

Too many marketers still focus exclusively on links and rankings. While these metrics have their place, they're not the most important elements anymore. Businesses need a more holistic approach that combines traditional practices with new methodologies to place users at the heart of the process.

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CURL, which stands for content, user experience, RankBrain and links, are all influential factors in Google's ranking algorithm. This methodology provides a model framework for optimizing the search experience. The first two CURL factors are fairly self-explanatory: How relevant is the content? And has the website been developed with the user experience in mind?

But RankBrain is a little more technical. This is Google's latest machine-learning artificial intelligence system, which helps provide relevant search results for users. While the specific elements it considers are unknown, it shows us that Google is transforming its algorithm's ability to function like a person.

Links are also more complicated than they used to be. Not all links are created equal, and instead of focusing on quantity, it's time to target quality. A small selection of reputable, relevant and resourceful links is worth a lot more in today's SEO than an abundance of links.

Creating Unique Customer Journeys

By ensuring a strong, responsive user experience, marketers can increase the likelihood that website visitors will follow a call to action. And with the average conversion rate for U.S. websites at under 4 percent, it's clear that more needs to be done.

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Customer journeys are always morphing and evolving, and each website visitor will create his or her own path. These five steps will ensure the best possible experience:

1. Conduct surveys. Voice of customer surveys are essential. Ask visitors and customers how their experiences could be improved and send out Net Promoter Score surveys to discover how likely they are to recommend you to family and friends. Change your website based on these responses.

My company also conducts exit surveys from specific pages, such as shopping carts or product pages. Based on customer responses, we can direct them to an appropriate notification, offer a discount if the price is too high, start a live chat, or provide upgraded shipping.

2. Optimize the UX. The user experience cannot be ignored. Free products like Crazy Egg can find where visitors click and scroll, while eye-tracking reports uncover where users look, gaze and fixate. As the co-founder of LookTracker, an eye tracking technology company, I have seen first hand how insightful it can be to see through a visitor's eyes as they navigate a site or app. Likewise, testing with Optimizely can help uncover the strongest website design. These tools all provide insight into how users engage with a website and offer valuable feedback for improvements.

A client of ours had just launched a new website with an unfortunate loss of conversions. Utilizing the above products, we determined where users were overlooking CTAs, shifted the arrangement of the site and tested new layouts. The site saw over 350 percent more searches, a 4.6 percent increase in conversions and a 32 percent rise in monthly sales, just from a few small adjustments.

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3. Publish killer content. Content comes in all shapes and sizes. It could be a long-form post that offers authoritative and detailed information, or it could be a video that breaks down a complex issue into easily digestible takeaways. Whatever the content, ensure it presents your business as an expert in the space and offers trustworthy advice. Not only does this help with customers, but with Google as well.

On a recent piece, we had the lofty goal of ranking on Page 1 in Google by Super Bowl Sunday. With the right imagery, videos, headings, keywords and CTAs, the content saw a healthy 188 percent boost in viewership by kickoff.

4. Be available. Customers want information tailored to their needs, and that sometimes means going beyond standard website information. The most responsive websites will offer quick access to a rock-star customer success team via live chat features, ensuring that any gaps in the content are quickly addressed.

Based on Qualaroo surveys for one client, we found that customers were frequently looking to ask questions about a product. Installing a live chat tool on its website not only helped this company improve its user experience but the efficiency of its customer service team.

5. Keep improving. Just as SEO has evolved, marketing overall won't be the same in 2020 as it is today. Never stop looking for ways to improve your website to meet customer needs. Look at qualitative and quantitative feedback and implement changes responsively.

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Every customer journey is unique. While old SEO approaches were focused on machine experience, the new search experience optimization is all about offering value to end users. SEO is about people, not machines. Taking customers out of the one-size-fits-all sales funnel can increase web traffic, improve user engagement and raise conversion rates: all keys to a better bottom line.
Joshua Roberts / Reuters Governor of the Reserve Bank of India Raghuram Rajan speaks at a forum on financial development at the 2016 IMF World Bank Spring Meeting in Washington April 17, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo

The bad debt crisis at Indian banks is likely to continue for sometime, at least until the banks have purged their balance sheets of non-performing debt--a mandate Reserve Bank Of India governor Raghuram Rajan has described as deep surgery.

However, the exercise is proving far more painful as each markdown has lead to strained balance sheets, in what SBI chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya earlier this week likened to going to war with bare hands" with no weapons.

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In the latest move to help banks deal with their stressed assets, RBI has issued guidelines to help banks identify opportunities to convert up to half of their non-performing debt positions in indebted companies into equity, should the borrowers meet certain criteria that would determine if their debt is sustainable in the long-term. Under RBI's Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets, the conversion into equity or quasi-equity instruments could provide an incentive to lenders to share in the profits should the indebted company turn around, according to an RBI note.

So what types of bad debt situations are eligible for this provision? Stressed debt related to all commercially operational entities that owe more than Rs500 crore to lenders, including interest, would qualify. Additionally, their debt should also meet RBIs test of sustainability which includes:

- The ability of the indebted company to service the term of all its debt with its current cash flow, even if the future cash flows fail to increase. - The sustainable debt portion should make up more than half of all the debt owed.

Once the sustainable debt has been worked out, the banks and borrowing companies can evaluate various recapitalisation scenarios with the help of an external agency. The equity portion of the deal will have to be "marked to market," or deemed at fair value, according to the RBI note.

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Banks would also have to follow certain terms and conditions that will govern the sustainable debt portion -- such as one that would prohibit them from extending the repayment schedule of the loans, or otherwise amending loan terms, according to the note. Other caveats and conditions can be found here.

To be sure, banks have had the option to convert their debt into equity in the past, but the procedures have been somewhat onerous in India that would allow banks to take haircuts, where a lender agrees to a loan repayment less than what is owed.

The latest move is good news for banks as they have another option and framework at hand to resolve their bad debt mess, according to Srikanth Vadlamani, a senior analyst with Moodys Investors Service.

It is an enabling provision for the banks, Vadlamani said, adding that this move should not be seen as an accounting leeway.

It could also pave the way for distressed debt investors to play in the Indian market where lenders have been reluctant to take "haircuts" on their debt positions due to differences over pricing. A number of international stressed debt investors like WL Ross & Co., Oaktree Capital Management, and Apollo Global Management, have already begun evaluating opportunities in the stressed assets space in India, according to media reports.

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Last week, Moodys said in a report that stressed Indian public banks will need 1.2 trillion rupees ($18 billion) in capital through 2020, about more than double the capital the government plans to inject into them.

While Indian banks are facing solvency related challenges, they remain very comfortable on the liquidity front. Hence, we see the chances of a systemic banking crisis being remote"

Asked if Indias current bank debt problems pose a grave risk to the economy, Vadlamani said, "while Indian banks are facing solvency related challenges, they remain very comfortable on the liquidity front. Hence, we see the chances of a systemic banking crisis being remote.

Banks have had to clean up their balance sheets and report non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans as part of a massive clean-up drive, also known as asset quality review, which was prompted by RBI last year. The move led to a number of banks running into heavy losses.

Debt equity swaps have been tried in other markets, too. Earlier this year, Chinese officials indicated they would encourage market-oriented debt-equity swaps to help Chinese banks reduce their corporate indebtedness.

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David Brown, a partner at PwC in Hong Kong, wrote in the Financial Times, "banks are not motivated to write down their loans if they get nothing back in return... Allowing banks to take an equity stake in return for writing off some portion of their loans (they will rarely convert all) enables the banks to share in any upside. In successful cases, the equity upside could exceed the amount of the original loan."

Also see on HuffPost:
Rupak De Chowdhuri / Reuters A labourer pushes a handcart loaded with sacks containing tea packets, towards a supply truck at a wholesale market in Kolkata, India, June 26, 2015. For years Indian businesses have lobbied for a nationwide sales tax, hoping to replace a chaotic structure that inflates costs and halts their trucks at state borders for duty payments, and to unify the country into one of the world's largest single markets. But after political compromises that finally got a goods and services tax (GST) bill before parliament, they have turned wary. Picture taken June 26. REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri

For Finance Minister Arun Jaitley a nationwide goods services tax (GST) is a transformative idea that cannot wait any longer. But he will have to do some more spadework to get states on board if he is to introduce it next April.

While support has broadened among states for the sales tax, differences persist on key details, in particular pitching the tax at the right level to offset possible revenue losses.

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A government-appointed panel has suggested a standard GST rate of 17-18 percent. But India's states are reluctant to accept it.

On Tuesday, Jaitley met his state counterparts in a renewed attempt to forge a compromise. The meeting, however, failed to achieve a breakthrough.

"There is no consensus on the rate," said Parminder Singh Dhindsa, finance minister of the state of Punjab. "We want a detailed study to ensure there are no revenue losses."

State finance ministers will meet again in the second week of July to break the deadlock on the measure that, two years into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's term, remains blocked in the upper house of parliament.

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Jaitley has threatened to take the GST to a vote in July's monsoon session of parliament.

(Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaks at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, June 18, 2015. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson)

SILVER BULLET

Investors have billed the GST as a "silver bullet" for Asia's third-largest economy that would supplant multiple federal and state levies - a chaotic structure that inflates costs for businesses.

Jaitley calls it the biggest reform since 1947 that would for the first time create a single market for one-sixth of the world's population and could boost the rate of growth by 2 percentage points.

For the measure to become a reality, Jaitley needs not only the backing of states but also of the opposition Congress party to secure the required two-thirds majority needed to pass a key constitutional enabling amendment in parliament's upper house.

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But pleasing one runs the risk of antagonising the other.

For example, the GST is globally known as a consumption-based tax, but Jaitley has agreed to allow states to impose a 1 percent additional levy on the cross-border transport of goods. This proposal is anathema to the Congress party.

The Congress, the original author of the tax reform, wants the proposed levy to be scrapped - a position the government-appointed panel has also backed. States are ready to forgo the tax, provided Jaitley offers higher compensation from the national budget.

The principal opposition party has also asked for capping the GST at 18 percent and setting up an independent mechanism to resolve disputes on revenue sharing between states.
HuffPost Staff

In a smackdown that was hailed on social media as epic, sassy and very rockstar-like, the Bombay High Court pretty much asked the Central Board of Film Certification to behave like adults. Adults, but perhaps not too old.

"Do not act like a grandmother. Change as per the times now, a bench comprising judges SC Dharmadhikari and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi, told the CBFC.

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Peals of laughter rang through social media. For many, it must have felt like a deservedly delicious conclusion to a ridiculous drama. We have called the board regressive, foolish, stupid, intoxicated, illogical, irrational, stuck-up and idiotic, but the Bombay HC came up with seemingly the most satisfactory word to tell off the board. "Grandmother!! Lol, granny! Bringing cool back to the court," we chortled.

Amidst the euphoria of Pahlaj Nihalani being cut to size, we glazed over the court using 'grandmother' as representative of an unyielding, blinkered, regressive world view.

The court, therefore, used the word 'grandmother' as representative of an unyielding, blinkered, regressive world view. Hmmm.

When that line surfaced on my Twitter timeline, I grumbled a bit, spontaneously. I was immediately reminded of my maternal grandmother, a big movie buff, who came back very impressed with one of Rituparno Ghosh's earliest films--Unishe April. The film explored the complicated relationship between a mother and daughter and was far from the usual, vanilla rom-coms that grandparents are usually subjected to. However, she had one grouse. "Arey, why did we need to see Prosenjit (the film's hero) peeing for so long? Then zipping up? No, as in, how is Prosenjit's urine relevant to the story? Or just because it's Prosenjit's urine, we are supposed to gawk at it?" she wondered aloud, her voice alive with mellow irritation.

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Prosenjit, a big commercial name in Bengali cinema, was routinely fawned over at home, on television screens and in the tabloids she read. The man didn't impress her Uttam Kumar-Soumitro Chatterjee aesthetics of the 60s, so watching him pee was never high on her wish list. "Aha, art film toh (aha, it's an art film no)," my grandfather offered in consolation, apparently explaining the unfamiliar props of storytelling to her. We--my grandparents, parents, brother and I--laughed hysterically over the exchange. This was 1994. Sonama (that's what I called her), had she been alive, would have rolled her eyes over the news of Shahid Kapur's peeing scene in Udta Punjab, and smirked, "Oh please, Uttam Kumar never had to pee to make his films hit." We would have both laughed.

That was the grandmother I knew--old fashioned, yes, but wise, funny and not reluctant to understand the times she had moved into. She knew it was as much her time as mine, and as long as she lived, she spoke about her past with glowing fondness, but never pined for it. Yes, she may have squawked, 'dhyar baba (oh goodness)' if Kapur peed for longer than she would have liked on screen, but no, she wouldn't be horrified that a film on drug abuse in a state existed. Or that it was named after the state. Or wouldn't suspect that if I watched a film on drug abuse, I would rush to the nearest store to score cocaine to snort. She was not extraordinary, she just had enough common sense to see her through without too many embarrassments for 76 years of her life.

It makes me wonder what kind of grandmothers the lordships have known.

Chances are nobody will be very upset with the court here. After all, they asked Pahlaj Nihalani to take a hike, sanskaar in tow. The hero-worship of the court also, somewhat, is rooted in the language of 'bravado' that it has used. What could be more insulting for the self-proclaimed upholders of patriarchal morality than to be called an old woman, right? Oh, you could almost hear the shards of their alpha masculinity dropping on the ground with a loud, clanking noise. That's the kind of sound that's music to a lot of ears right now.

For some of the liberal voices in the media and social media too, the Bombay HC making grandmothers seem dubious is a tiny inconvenience, which should be largely ignored because of the slap it gave on the face of a virulently conservative, illogical, right wing entity. The Bombay HC's politics roughly mirrors their own at the moment and that's a big deal. Sorry, grannies!

The court's statement is also sort of in line with the routinely used language of criticism in India and across the world. Where to cut someone to size--be it a man or a woman--you accuse him/her of being a prototype of a woman, who is believed to be completely irrelevant and undesirable.

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So a melodramatic and supercilious Smriti Irani becomes an 'aunty' in a newspaper front-page, a hungry and pissed off boy in a Snickers advertisement becomes a 'heroine' and a regressive film certification board becomes a 'grandmother'.

So a melodramatic and supercilious Smriti Irani becomes an 'aunty' in a newspaper front-page, a hungry and pissed off boy in a Snickers advertisement becomes a 'heroine' and a regressive film certification board becomes a 'grandmother'.

An aunty, a grandmother, a heroine, a diva, or a bitch aren't repulsive by themselves. So when we use the words as an insult or a reprimand, we do two things--we establish, actually reiterate the fact, that despite all the cultural evolution we pride ourselves in, our language still subconsciously associates vice with women. And when we use the words as insults--we stereotype the demographic that comes under the original implications of the word, as unworthy and undesirable. And who, ever-so-gently, leads us down this path? Yes, our dear familiar friend patriarchy.

'Oh, it's just a joke.' 'Oh, but the person saying it is not a bad person, he is perhaps even a feminist.' 'But that word was used to insult some really vile people!' The language of misogyny has many defenders. Jokes, good people and their odd moments of indiscretion, insults, critique--patriarchy can feed on all of these to survive.

In a brilliant post dating back to 2007, Mellisa McEwan, explained what has perpetuated the use of misogynistic language. One, the overtly patriarchal prejudices of the society we are brought up in and continue to live in. And two, our refusal to repeatedly examine if we are slipping up--those 'oh he/she's just a non-misogynist cracking a harmless joke' moments.

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"And the ultimate result of resisting being deemed a misogynist for the use of misogynistic language is that its yet another way of giving oneself permission to resist self-examination. As Ive said no fewer than a nonillion times before, all of us, failing extraordinary effort to examine the narratives of biaswith which were all indoctrinated by our culturein an attempt to extricate ourselves from their divisive grip, will hold prejudices. The only question is whether you allow your own to be unexamined prejudices," she writes.
WIN-Initiative via Getty Images The lion (Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four big cats in the genus Panthera. With exceptionally large males exceeding 250 kg (550 lb) in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger. Wild lions currently exist in Sub-Saharan Africa and in Asia with a critically endangered remnant population in northwest India, having disappeared from North Africa, the Middle East, and Western Asia in historic times. Until the late Pleistocene (about 10,000 years ago), the lion was the most widespread large land mammal beside humans. They were found in most of Africa, much of Eurasia from western Europe to India and, in the Americas, from the Yukon to Peru.

Police have taken 18 lions into custody for the murder of three people in Gujarat, reports the BBC.

According to the report, the 'suspects' will have their paw prints taken and their feces will be tested as forest officials in Gujarat try to figure which among those 18 lions is the 'murderer'.

"The officials are also studying the animals' behavior," wildlife expert Ruchi Dave told the BBC.

Once they find out who is the 'guilty' one, that particular lion will be kept in a zoo for life while the others will be released back into the Gir sanctuary.

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Gujarat's top forest official, JA Khan, told BBC that the lions had been "arrested" over the past two months and were now being held in separate cages while tests were carried out.

"We think we have pinpointed the guilty lion, but we are still awaiting the results of nine more animals," he added.

There are approximately 400 Asiatic lions left in the wild, and they are the only lion population outside of Africa, notes The Washington Post.

Wildlife officials say that Gir National Park, where almost all these lions live, can only accommodate 270 of them, leading some prides to venture outside its boundaries.

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Sofia Ashraf

'The fight ain't done', says Chennai-born rap artist Sofia Ashraf of the 'Kodaikanal Won't' fame, in her new video about the struggle of victims of the Bhopal gas Tragedy and fixing of blame in one of the world's worst industrial disasters.

Titled 'Toxic Rap Battle: DOW Vs. Bhopal', Ashraf's video is an appeal to fix responsibility for the leak of around 40 tons of methyl isocyanate gas from a pesticide factory owned by U.S. multinational Union Carbide Corp in the early hours of Dec. 3, 1984.

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The government had recorded 5,295 deaths. Activists estimate 25,000 deaths from illnesses since the leak.

'Whose side are you on?', Ashraf asks as she goes on to rap both sides of the argument.

"What's this fuss about? We bought UC not its liabilities," she speaks for Dow.

On her YouTube page is also a link to a petition to the US White House telling them to stop shielding Dow Chemical from its corporate crimes in Bhopal.

In June, Ashraf's rap set to the tune of Nicky Minajs hit song Anaconda, was released as a petition against Unilever. In the video Ashraf lambasts the Anglo-Dutch company for failing to clean up the toxic mercury contamination.

Ashraf told the Hindu the toxic rap battle was put together after a petition to the White House was not gathering enough signatures. The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB), who started the petition, approached me after they realised the petition wasnt moving fast enough. We had a small window of opportunity, so we had to move fast, she said.

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Nikolai Sorokin via Getty Images Woman eye and light

Remember the feeling of being uncomfortable within the confines of your home? Checking every window twice over to make sure they are shut properly, there's not as much of a crack through which anyone can peer in? Women across the Indian subcontinent are familiar with this constant self-surveillance. Because we are somewhat conditioned to believe that if we are not constantly vigilant, something very bad may happen to us.

A couple of days back, a girl in Karachi bore the brunt of patriarchal excesses that embolden men to barge into women's personal spaces without any fear of reproach. In a Facebook post, shared on a popular group called Girls at Dhabas, the girl shared her horrifying experience. She recounted how at 12 in the morning, she heard a light knock on her window - mind you, she lives with her parents in the house inside a gated community in Karachi.

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On opening the window, she saw three leery men in their 20s asking her to take a chit from them. At first she refused and when the guys persisted, despite her shouting at them, she took the chit. In the small piece of paper, the boys dared her to come out of the house and meet them. They threatened that they had a 'nude' video of her - and so that she doesn't have any doubt about the veracity of their claims, they even put down the colour of the underwear she was wearing.

She rushed out, father in tow to catch the boys, but they ran away. When the neighbours were alerted about the security breach, besides expressing concern, they also wondered aloud, why the girl had left the window open while changing. She had not - she had just not bolted it, the boys managed to prise the window open and shoot her in a sly. They even suggested slyly that she may have been 'involved' with one of the boys. Thankfully, her parents rooted for her and told the ridiculous neighbours off.

In a subsequent post, she clarified that boys were being brought to justice the best possible way she and her parents knew of.
BalajiMotionPictures/YouTube

The fate of Abhishek Chaubey's Udta Punjab remains jinxed by unforeseeable events.

In an unfortunate turn of events, early morning today, a copy of the film that was submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC, popularly referred to as the Censor Board) found its way on several torrent sites.

While the producers have filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime cell in Mumbai, all fingers currently point towards a leak from the CBFC itself.

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The Pahlaj Nihalani-led Board has been entangled in a bitter battle with Udta Punjab's makers after the former suggested 89 cuts in the film. Refusing to bow down to its diktats, the makers took the CBFC to court and won the case.

On Wednesday evening, as per the court order, the film's censor certificate finally arrived, two days before its slated release. A picture was tweeted out by one of its stars, Shahid Kapoor.

The court battle has affected a considerable financial strain on the film's producers, who have been struggling to exhibit the film in its entirety so it's highly unlikely that they'd themselves leak the film (it's a 60-crore project, and piracy is one of the biggest deterrents for a film's box-office collections.)

Meanwhile, the Board literally has acted in a manner that suggests it has an axe to grind with Udta Punjab as the Bombay High Court minced no words while putting it in its place.

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Justice Dharamadhikari, in the court ruling, had also scolded the CBFC counsel saying, "Why are you troubling them unnecessarily?" as the Board went out of its way to sabotage Udta Punjab's release.

While both Balaji Motion Pictures and Phantom Films, its producers, remained mum on the recent controversy, a source told HuffPost India that their anti-piracy wing has gotten pro-active on the leak and since afternoon, has pulled down as many as 600 links.

Said the source, "Two copies of the CD were sent to the CBFC and this version is from the same source. It's literally a no-brainer to conclude where the leak has come from and, sure enough, the cyber crime cell will get to the bottom of this."

However, quite a few people on social media have accused the Censor Board of deliberately sabotaging Udta Punjab.

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Pahlaj Nihalani > "Have given the certificate but also leaked the Censor Board copy to torrent websites" #UdtaPunjabhttps://t.co/VtdEyl4Nre  Berozgaar Kunder (@FilmyJoker) June 15, 2016

Udta Punjab leaked online. Seeders : CBFC board members Leechers : Entire India  P*kch**p*k R*j* Babu (@HaramiParindey) June 15, 2016

Udta Punjab movie leaked online by someone in Censor Board who want to teach producers of Movie a lesson! Is it Nihalani?  Kapil (@kapsology) June 15, 2016

CBFC HAS LEAKED THE UDTA PUNJAB MOVIE ONLINE!  Shan (@klpe) June 15, 2016

If it is conclusively proven that the CBFC is behind the leak, the incident would be a serious breach of protocol that would merit strong action against the Board. However, there's a good possibility that there could be a middleman who may have got his hands on the copy meant for CBFC and uploaded the film on the Internet.

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This isn't the first instance of a censor copy getting leaked on to the Internet. Nagraj Manjule's Sairat also suffered the same problem last month. Nitin Keni, one of its producers, told Mumbai Mirror that the leak had affected the film's business by "at least 10 per cent".

In either case, it's potentially damaging to the makers who have fought an exhausting battle just to ensure the film releases in the way it was envisaged, in cinema halls.

The film, whose censor certificate arrived on Wednesday evening, opens in theatres this Friday.

Also see on HuffPost:
Buhler JV and freshman football will not be defeated

The Buhler JV squad capped its unbeaten season with a 34-22 victory at McPherson Monday night with help from members of the freshman team.
Hundreds of local residents chose love over hate on Tuesday. Rainbow tears were chalked onto the sidewalks. Attendees brought flags and signs in support. Rev. James Lumsden led the crowd in song. Mayor Linda Tyer. North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright. Local NAACP President Dennis Powell. The crowd hugged each other to show love. City Council President Peter Marchetti. State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier. Pastor Tim Weisman. The crowd numbered in the hundreds. PreviousNext

Hundreds Attend Vigil For Victims of Orlando Shooting



With prompting from Dennis Powell, the attendees took a moment to hug each other and tell their neighbors, friends, and family that they loved them. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier is not going to take a moment of silence for the victims of the Orlando, Fla., shooting. She's not going to take 49, one for each one. Instead, she's going to be loud.

She's going to be loud in fighting to stop the list of shootings from growing. She's going to be loud in her support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. And she wants everyone to join her in her fight to "stop the madness."

"I choose not to have a moment of silence or 49 moments of silence in response to what happened in Orlando. I will not be silent. I will not stand silently by when this kind of insanity is happening in our country. We need to all take responsibility," Farley-Bouvier said. "Standing silently isn't a sign of respect for those who lost their lives in Orlando, taking action, using our voices, that is what's going to be respectful to the victims in Orlando."

Farley-Bouvier was one of 11 speakers to address hundreds of people who gathered in Park Square on Tuesday in a vigil for those who died in the shooting and standing against gun violence and hate.

"This is not simply an attack on a club, this was a hate crime. This was a hate crime meant to terrorize people, a hate crime meant to make people feel uncomfortable for going out dancing and being with their friends and neighbors. And that is not acceptable," Farley-Bouvier said.

Orlando is just the latest in many mass shootings in America. A gunman stormed into the Pulse Nightclub early Sunday morning and opened fire, killing 49 and injuring 53.

Dennis Powell, president of the local NAACP branch, called it the worst shooting in modern days. But, it wasn't the only one in American history, he said. There were massacres of black men, women, and children in 1917 in St. Louis, 1919 in Arkansas, a riot in Tulsa in 1921. And all throughout history, innocent men and women have been killed. Powell asked what they all had in common.

"Hate," he answered his own question.

"History, they died because of the hate for the color of their skin. Modern massacre, they died because of hate because same-sex individuals chose to love one another. History massacres died because of nothing, because of absolute nothing, just being born, absolutely nothing. Modern massacre died because they loved, because they loved," Powell said. "Hate is a taught behavior and let's not ever think otherwise. You are not born hating, you are taught to hate."

With messages of love and tolerance, the speakers and the crowd roared and sang together and called for action to stop the violence. The shooting was miles away from Berkshire County but still hundreds are impacted and are sad, discouraged, and angry.

North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright was angry when he watched the news early Sunday morning detailing the incident.

"Sunday morning we all watched with sadness and anger at the horrific events in Orlando that left 49 dead and 53 wounded. In that attack on 102 people, their families, the friends, their community suffered unimaginable and unconscionable lose in this act of terror and act of hate," Alcombright said. "Not only what this an attack on all Americans but shamefully and without cause specifically targeted on the LGBT community."

While the LGBT community was the target, Alcombright says the impacts are far more reaching.

"Here in Berkshire County, we have many communities. We have the LGBT community. We have communities of color. We have religious communities. We have school communities just to name a few. But that common thread, the thread that brings us here tonight, is that word: community," Alcombright said.



Dozens of rainbow flags were flown to show unity with the LGBT community. Tuesday's vigil gave that entire a community a chance to grieve together as a community and mourn for the victims and their families.

"Although this specific tragedy was aimed at the LGBT community, we have all witnessed other tragedies that have attacked other groups of people. It was then I realized that this is not an LGBT issue that this is a human race issue," City Council President Peter Marchetti said.

Marchetti spoke as both a member of the LGBT community and an elected official and called for the community to unite and look past the things that divide each individual and group.

"The differences that separate us should, could, and would always unite us in our struggle for equality and the need to protect and support each other instead of a community of several different groups working separately," Marchetti said.

But for these tragedies to stop, love needs to win out.

"For compassion to win, we need to be wholeheartedly curious about all cultures and lifestyles. For kindness to win, we have to remember that every person thrives in a place where radical acceptance is practiced. For harmony to win, we have to work harder to embrace and celebrate our differences," Mayor Linda Tyer said.

For Farley-Bouvier, that love is not simply sending "thoughts and prayers," it's stopping the hate.

"We have to ask are thoughts and prayers enough? Prayers remind us of what is most important in life. And thoughts inform us how to turn those into real actions. However, thoughts and prayers are not enough," Farley-Bouvier said.
Don Harr from Atlantic Retail Properties outlined the site plan to the PEDA board on Wednesday morning.

Walmart Looking to Move to William Stanley Business Park



The PEDA board was unanimous in its support for the letter of intent. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Wal-Mart is looking to move to the William Stanley Business Park.

The Pittsfield Economic Development Agency granted Waterstone Retail a letter of intent, giving the company the exclusive right to pursue development of a 16.5-acre parcel known as "the teens," where General Electric buildings once stood.

The plan is for Wal-Mart to develop a new 190,000 square-foot super center and move out of its existing location in Berkshire Crossing. Waterstone, which is heading the development, now has to pursue permits and approvals from the city as well as work out a purchase agreement with PEDA.

"Allowing them to make their case is what this is all about," said PEDA Executive Director Corydon Thurston.

The agreement gives the company 60 days to reach a lease and sales agreement. Thurston said the company will lease the property during construction  putting it on PEDA's insurance should unexpected contamination be found  and then purchase it. The price is $65,000 per acre, giving PEDA some $1.07 million.

"Once the building is up, they would buy it," Thurston said.

Don Harr, of Atlantic Retail Properties from Boston, teamed up with Waterstone on this project, dating back six years now. He said Wal-Mart would build at the intersection of Tyler Street and Woodlawn Avenue  on the eastern side of Woodlawn  and once ready, the 200 or so employees at the Berkshire Crossings location will move into that operation.

"We have a business deal in place with Wal-Mart to occupy the entire teens parcel. Wal-Mart has approved this site corporately, we have a signed agreement with Wal-Mart," Harr said.

Wal-Mart has a re-tenanting division that finds new companies to occupy spaces it vacates; that division would find a replacement for the empty building on Hubbard Avenue.

Harr said the construction would be $30 million, including a plan to further remedy the contaminated land. He said some $12 million will be spent on just the foundation alone and another $18 million on the project. He estimated some 350 construction jobs and that the super center  with added grocery  would create an additional 80 to 100 jobs.

"There literally has been no project of this size and scope that been constructed in the city for 10 years, 15 years. We're talking about a $30 million project," Harr said.

Waterstone had come before the PEDA board in the past with retail plans but didn't reveal the anchor. The focus was to start with a big box retailer and then the rest of the park could be developed in with mixed uses. However, that became a contentious fight with many residents pushing back against having retail on the industrial land. It even became a pillar of discussion during the 2013 elections.

"Six years ago the idea was that the teens parcel was a good retail location. Anton [Melchionda from Waterstone] and I teamed up and thought we could provide an anchor tenant," Harr said.

Former Mayor Daniel Bianchi fought and campaigned against it. Bianchi had more recently said he told Waterstone to back off the property and that he was skeptical that somebody was "going to receive a payday that the public will never know about." He allegedly told the company that PEDA would was going in a different direction.

And the plan fizzled from public view.

Just six months into the new administration, Waterstone has returned and this time revealed the name of the tenant, which it hadn't done in the past. Thurston said PEDA and Waterstone have remained in touch and this plan hasn't changed much.

"We tried to maintain their interest and they maintained interested in the property," Thurston said.

The executive director says the property eyed is not only the largest but also the "most complex" to redevelop. But, he said PEDA isn't taking a stance on supporting the project or not  just giving the company the ability to apply.

"As an economic development agency, PEDA has a responsibility to bring all qualified opportunities to the city that put the properties of the William Stanley Business Park back on the tax rolls with quality investments that create jobs but the special permit will be up to others," reads a statement Thurston crafted. "This project proposal meets that obligation and this letter of intent simply sets the basic terms for the lease/sale of the land to Waterstone contingent upon it receiving the necessary permits."

That message was also what PEDA board member Christina Barrett relayed from current Mayor Linda Tyer's office who, according to Barrett, is supportive of letting any business use go through the process that includes public hearings.

Tyer released a statement Wednesday afternoon supporting the company's right to the permitting process and looking for a plan that meets both the needs of the developer and the needs of the neighborhood. "The city of Pittsfield welcomes any developer who expresses an interest in locating a business in our city. As mayor of Pittsfield, I believe strongly in the right to a due process concerning proposed business developments. This applies to the Waterstone Retail Development proposal," Tyer wrote. "This recent proposal now marks the third time, first in 2011 and then in 2013, that Waterstone has pursued the City of Pittsfield, namely the William Stanley Business Park, as a location for its retail enterprise. As it has in the past, we know that the proposed development will lend itself to a spectrum of varying and staunch perspectives about the nature of the development and its place in Pittsfield. This, too, is a part of the process. It is important to realize that while it's really easy to say no without further discussion, it's often harder to engage in dialogue that challenges us to consider positions other than our own. Is there a way to establish a finished product that not only works for the developer, but the neighborhood and landscape as well?"

During mayoral debates, Tyer voiced support for developing a number of uses for the park and not just focused on industrial development.

Al Maiorino feels the public's sentiment is behind the development of the long-vacant land. He is the president of Public Strategy Group and is working with Waterstone and Atlantic on the project.

He said he conducted a survey that showed 95 percent of those who responded supported development of the park with 82 percent supporting retail and mixed use. He said 75 percent support "large retail downtown as opposed to the mall."

"These numbers were by far the strongest I've seen in 20 years in economic development," Maiorino said.

Harr further contends that placing a premium on the William Stanley Business Park because of its industrial zoning is misguided. He said there are 185 acres of available industrial land in Pittsfield and it is significantly more inexpensive to renovate an existing building than build new. He presented comparables showing recent industrial property sales trending far behind the cost to build new.

"Some of the opposition we've been dealing with is the thought that there is no industrial land to be developed in Pittsfield," Harr said. "The fact is there are several industrial-zoned properties that are able to be developed."

The three developers said they will be meeting with the Office of Community Development on Thursday to further discuss the plan and start the process of permitting.

"I appreciate the developer's interest in our community," said PEDA Chairman Mick Callahan.
Duck Derby to Raise Funds for Family Center

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. - The Family Center of Northern Berkshire County, a program of Child Care of the Berkshires, is harnessing the power of rubber ducks on Saturday, June 18, to raise funds to pay for playgroups, family support, parent education and early literacy programming for local families.



Behind the walking track next to Noel Field in North Adams, hundreds of ducks will travel down the Hoosic River. The event takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. From 11-11:30 any remaining ducks will be available for adoption and the duck race will begin at noon.



The goal of the event is to bring families and the community together, say organizers, but also to help the Family Center to raise funds. Amy Hall, the program director of the Family Center, said she has been wanting to have a duck derby in North Adams for a long time.



I went to a duck derby in Arlington, Vermont, many years ago with my own children and was intrigued by the idea," Hall said. "Rubber ducks make people smile and the idea of raising money in this fun way is exciting.



Hall, and other Family Center staff members, talked with City of North Adams officials, who were very supportive, Hall said.
Mark Elder Abuse Awareness Day With Awareness, Tips

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  In honor of Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, five local stakeholder organizations are hoping to cut down on financial exploitation of the older residents of the Berkshires through a collaborative effort to bring awareness and training to the greater community.



The Berkshire Bar Association, Berkshire County District Attorneys Office, Berkshire Elder Protective Services, Elder Services of Berkshire County and Greylock Federal Credit Union are launching a campaign titled They Earned It, You Can Help Them Keep It to raise awareness and prevent financial exploitation of elders.



Every day 10,000 people turn 65 in the United States, and that trend is expected to continue over the next 20 years. Demographics are shifting, and soon there will be more elder people in the United States than ever before. At the same time that the population is growing, a startling number of elders face abusive conditions of all kinds. Every year an estimated 5 million, or 1 in 10, older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.



That is only part of the picture. Experts believe that for every case of elder abuse or neglect reported, as many as 24 cases go unreported.



Awareness and intervention may make the difference between protecting or losing a lifetime of savings for a senior. The campaign will help the community recognize changes in circumstances such as altered appearance, non-typical spending habits, and new people entering an elders life. These indicators should be evaluated and reported immediately if necessary.



If your intuition recognizes something is wrong, assistance is available through: Berkshire Elder Protective Services at 855-874-3242; Elder Services of Berkshire County at 413-499-0524; the Berkshire District Attorneys Office at 413-443-5951, or local Police Departments by dialing 911.



The community effort will run through the summer and fall and will include training programs, awareness campaigns and outreach throughout the county.



In addition, Adams Community Bank is urging older customers and their trusted caregivers to safeguard all personal information and stay alert to the common signs of financial abuse. The bank offers the following tips:



* Plan ahead to protect your assets and to ensure your wishes are followed. Talk to someone at your financial institution, an attorney, or financial advisor about the best options for you.



* Carefully choose a trustworthy person to act as your agent in all estate-planning matters.
Page Content

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (right) with Solar Impulse pilots and innovators Bertrand Piccard (left) and Andre Borschberg (centre), during Mr. Bans visit Monday evening.

MONTREAL, 15 JUNE 2016  United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised the environmental contributions of the Solar Impulse project and its founders earlier this week, during his tour of the pioneering solar-powered aircraft in its temporary hangar at JFK airport in New York.

The UNSG stressed the importance of innovation as governments strive towards the climate change targets under the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030, and he highlighted the UNs participation in the landmark solar flight through the assistance being provided by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

ICAO has been an important Institutional Partner to the Solar Impulse project, coordinating with States to help to secure fly over authorizations, take-off and landing permits, and certifications to facilitate this remarkable aircrafts round the world journey, the Secretary General remarked.

ICAOs Solar Impulse partnership is directly in line with its current Strategic Objective to reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions from international civil aviation activity, using a multi-faceted approach.

The UN agencys assistance also supports its mandate to develop air navigation techniques and encourage the arts of aircraft design and operation for peaceful purposes.

The Solar Impulse initiative illustrates aviations profound commitment to technological research and development, and why modern passenger aircraft are some 80 percent more fuel efficient than the first commercial jets, declared Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, President of ICAO Council. Technological advances are a key aspect of the basket of measures through which ICAO and its States have been mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from international flights, and in addition to streamlined procedures, sustainable alternative fuels, and market-based measures, innovation will continue to be essential to aviations carbon neutral goals for the foreseeable future.

ICAO is proud to be an Institutional Partner of the Solar Impact project, and to be able to highlight through our assistance how new aircraft technologies not only bring benefits to aviation, but also to overall progress on clean energy, added Dr. Fang Liu, Secretary General of ICAO. Through these and other partnerships today we are helping States around the world to understand how many aspects of aviation development can contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 13 of which are directly supported by ICAOs current Strategic Objectives for global civil aviation.

Another landmark development for international aviation is expected later this year, during ICAOs 39th triennial Assembly at the end of September, when the world will be looking for its 191 Member States to forge agreement on a new market-based measure (MBM) to mitigate international flight emissions  a world first for any major industrial sector.

Resources for editors
We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector

We work towards an equitable,

gender-just, self-reliant and

sustainable fisheries,

particularly in the small-scale,

artisanal sector
Governor Brown Issues Proclamation Declaring Flag Day

Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued a proclamation declaring June 14, 2016 as "Flag Day" in the State of California.

PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

On June 14th, 1777, in the midst of our struggle to free ourselves from the colonial rule of Great Britain, the Second Continental Congress adopted the "Stars and Stripes" as the flag of the nascent United States of America.



Since that day, our flag has served not only as a cherished national emblem, but also as a beacon of liberty and self-determination for peoples around the world. Our brave armed forces, marching and sailing under the Stars and Stripes, have vanquished far-flung and powerful adversaries for over two hundred years. The buildings where we make, interpret, and execute our laws all proudly fly the flag, as do the schools where our children acquire the skills they need to become citizens in a free society. The number of stars on the flag, symbolizing each of our states, has grown from thirteen to fifty, but the underlying principles of justice and equality remain the same.



Each year, we celebrate the birthday of the Stars and Stripes on the anniversary of its adoption. I call on all Californians to join in this nationwide observance by displaying the flag at their homes and businesses, and by taking the time to remember all that it represents.



NOW THEREFORE I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2016, as Flag Day.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 13th day of June 2016.







___________________________________

EDMUND G. BROWN JR.

Governor of California





ATTEST:







__________________________________

ALEX PADILLA

Secretary of State
The Internet of Things: Implications for Agriculture

Sacramento, California - Internet of Things (IoT) refers to an emerging trend where more devices are connected to users and other devices via the Internet:

IoT enables smart networks that allow different devices to function together or independently

IoT could help with things like fungicide application, animal health and supply management

Internet of Things (IoT) refers to an emerging reality where more and more devices are connected to users and other devices via the Internet. The ramifications of IoT will touch us all in the very near future.

Almost any device or product with electronic on-off controls can now be equipped to connect to the Internet. The most obvious benefit is that a user can control the operation of the product online. The smartphone is often the most convenient way to do this and the phone becomes a remote control. But the implications go much further.

IoT enables so-called smart device networks. For example, a smart house may have Internet-connected door locks, smoke and CO2 detectors, furnace and air conditioning thermostat, security cameras, TV and more. The smart part refers to how these devices can network to function together or independently. It may soon be possible to set your GPS-enabled smartphone to activate the furnace or air conditioning when you are within 15 kilometres (about nine miles) of home. The appropriate lights would turn on when you are within one kilometre (a little more than a half-mile), and the coffee machine could commence brewing the moment the garage door opener kicks on.

IoT on the farm

What could a smart farm look like? Connected field-specific weather stations and soil moisture sensors could alert you when conditions warrant a fungicide application. Controlled tile drainage valves could open or close automatically according to conditions detected by sensors.

Performance and yield data can already be transferred wirelessly from many forms of farm equipment. Where this real time data goes and what it will connect to is open-ended. Drones? Robotic tractors? Well see.

Bio-monitoring devices that track temperature, heart rate, respiration and movement on sentinel animals in livestock herds will provide an early warning for animal health issues or stressors. Appropriate climate and feed adjustments could be initiated automatically or remotely. A bio-monitoring and messaging prototype product for horses called SeeHorse already exists.

Farmers and employees may also benefit from bio-monitors that help detect fatigue and stress.

Connected sensors will automatically monitor inventories of all descriptions  fuel, feed, crop protection products. When levels drop below a prescribed level, an order could be generated automatically.

Did I mention data? Every connected device can generate data in real time and retain it via the Cloud. An avalanche of data from the billions of connected devices will come on line in the next few years. The bottom line is, if it can be connected, it will be connected.
Secretary of State John Kerry's Meeting With Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Washington, DC - Secretary Kerry hosted Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on June 13 for an iftar dinner in recognition of the Deputy Crown Prince's visit to the United States. The two reviewed the strong and enduring relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia and discussed a broad range of regional issues, including Yemen, Syria, Libya, and countering terrorism.

They also discussed the Kingdoms plans to transform its economy through its National Transformation Program. Finally, the two discussed this weekend's shooting in Orlando and expressed their shared commitment to continue their cooperation in combatting the spread of violent extremism, both regionally and internationally.
Closure of Opposition Political Society Al-Wefaq in Bahrain

Washington, DC - We are deeply troubled by todays alarming move by the Government of Bahrain to dissolve the opposition political society, Al-Wefaq. We are following this situation closely and urge Bahraini officials to reconsider this decision. As we have consistently maintained, peaceful criticism of the government plays a vital role in inclusive, pluralistic societies. Bahrain has made some progress in addressing the concerns and grievances of its citizens since the events of 2011.

The governments action today against Al-Wefaq is not consistent with a commitment to sustaining that progress or pursuing unfulfilled reforms.

We are concerned this action against Al-Wefaq, as well as other recent decisions, including the detention yesterday of prominent human rights activist Nabeel Rajab and resentencing of Al Wefaq chairman Sheikh Ali Salman, will restrict freedom of expression. Collectively, these actions divert Bahrain from dialogue necessary to ensure its security and stability and to continue the reforms that its leadership has pursued in the 16 years since King Hamads National Action Charter was approved.
The United States Calls for Restraint on the Ethiopia-Eritrea Border

Washington, DC - The United States is gravely concerned about the military action that took place on the Ethiopia-Eritrea border, June 12 and 13. As both Ethiopia and Eritrea are party to the 2000 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and there cannot be a military solution, we call for both sides to exercise restraint and engage in political dialogue.

We also urge both Ethiopia and Eritrea to cooperate in promoting stability and sustainable peace in the region.
Watch: Bison Pushes Its Own Kind Into Clutches of Wolves to Distract and Escape
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Donald Glover is joining Sonys Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Theres rumors Glover could be playing Miles Morales but it seems unlikely as Tom Holland has only recently been cast as the young Peter Parker, and hes made his debut in Captain America: Civil War. Glover has previously voiced Morales in the past in Disney XDs Ultimate Spider-Man series. However, Marvel has remained tight lipped thus far on Glovers role, according The Hollywood Reporter.

Still, fans set the Internet on fire advocating for Morales, the half-black, half-Latino teen, to hit the big screen. While Sony was casting The Amazing Spider-Man, fans made their case for Glover with the #Donald4Spiderman tag back in 2010.

Glover will be joining Marisa Tomei who's playing Aunt May, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Michael Keaton who is rumored to play the films villain. Other actors of color have also joined the film as Zendaya, Tony Revolori and Laura Harrier have been cast in unannounced roles in the film.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is set to hit theaters on July 7th, 2017.
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Exuding calm and confidence, Patrick Wilson does not look the sort to get freaked out by ghosts. The actor, who recently played the rock-steady Sheriff in the second season of Fargo, is back this week in The Conjuring 2, the sequel to James Wans 2013 mega-hit. Taking $318m globally, Wans first film became the second-highest-grossing original horror movie of all time after William Friedkins 1970s classic The Exorcist.

Wilson reprises the role of Ed Warren, the famed paranormal investigator who  together with his clairvoyant wife Lorraine (Vera Farmiga)  formed the New England Society for Psychic Research. In The Conjuring 2, these real-life ghostbusters journey to late-1970s London to investigate the so-called Enfield Haunting, one of Britains most famous paranormal cases, as a poltergeist terrorises a family in their council house.

After meeting with Lorraine (Ed died in 2006), Wilson admits that he was left open to the idea of a spirit world. It doesnt scare me. It doesnt worry me, he claims. Im the guy who thinks, You dont have to believe in the Devil to believe in God.' What about YouTube videos of poltergeists flinging furniture around? Does he believe? I dont want to sit there and have to dispel everything. The unexplained is the unexplained and thats OK.

Indeed, he doesnt even seem overly concerned when he tells me about the old house in Montclair, New Jersey, where he lives with his Polish-American actress-wife Dagmara Dominczyk and their two sons, Kalin and Kassian. Unrelated to these movies, Ive heard people on two different occasions say theyve heard kids laughter in the middle of the night, in my house. And that used to freak my wife out. He quizzed Lorraine about it. She said, Sometimes kids spirits want to play.

While this all feels harmless enough, Wilson grows a shade darker when we start talking about on-set paranormal experiences. If The Conjuring  right down to its bold yellow titles  wants to be this generations take on The Exorcist, its managed it in a disturbing manner. Rumour had it that Friedkins film was cursed, after a fire almost destroyed the set and injuries and even death befell some of the actors and their relatives. Did the same happen to The Conjuring?

There was some weird stuff on the first one, nods Wilson, referring to Joey King, the teenage actress who starred in the first film as one of the children of a couple whose Rhode Island farmhouse is haunted. Wilson remembers taking his son, who was sick, to the paediatrician when he saw King there with her mother. Wed just been shooting for a couple of weeks and she has bruises all over her body. First of all, kids dont do stunts. She hasnt done any stunts. She didnt get hit by anything.

In the film, Lili Taylors mother, played by Carolyn Perron, wakes up with similar unexplained bruises. Of course, I didnt say that, but it was looming in the air, says Wilson. It went away towards the end of shooting; never had it since, never had it before. Shes all good. But it was weird. It seems like a good thing to talk about during press for a movie, but I didnt do it then because Im a parent and I wouldnt just make light of someone. I saw the fear on her face. You literally see this little girl going, I dont know.

Despite also appearing in Wans two Insidious movies, Wilson does not come from a horror background. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, his early showbiz engagements were in musical theatre  gaining two Tony nominations for Broadway performances in The Full Monty and Oklahoma! he made a splash in HBOs Angels In America opposite Al Pacino before breaking into film  notably in Hard Candy, Little Children and Zack Snyders adaptation of Alan Moores graphic novel Watchmen.

 The Conjuring 2 Clip - Voice On The Tape

Hes actually come full circle recently, working again with director John Lee Hancock, who cast him in 2004s big-budget western The Alamo, the first major film of his career. Hancocks latest is The Founder, an intriguing-sounding drama about Ray Kroc (played by Michael Keaton), the man famed for establishing fast-food empire McDonalds after purchasing a small-scale franchise from originators Dick and Mac McDonald.

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It is the perfect American movie, and I mean that in every way possible, says Wilson, who plays Rollie Smith, first husband to Krocs eventual wife Joan. Its capitalism at its best and capitalism at its worst. For about half the movie, youre like, He can get anything. You gotta get that, Ray! Get your money and be a great businessman! And then all of a sudden, its Oh but dont hurt those people on the way. And, Oh wow, at what cost?

Wilson, who believes its a film with both commercial and critical appeal, is curious to see how it will play out in America. Look at the state of our country right now, and the presidential nominees, he says. I think a large part of the country could watch The Founder and go, I thought that was fantastic. What a great guy! And some people will go, Are you kidding me? What a horrible man!

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, he was raised in Florida, where his father John Wilson was a news anchor for WTVT. Politics is practically in his DNA. So how does he view the current electoral cycle? Ive watched nearly ever debate. I watch the undercards. Every debate, Ive watched at least part of. I think like most Americans, Im curious how this is going to shake down. He pauses for a second. Am I worried? Yeah. Yeah.

Does he think that Donald Trump will be Americas next president? Could that happen? I dont think it will, he says. Then again, how many people said, Hes not going to last four months? I think, very simply, if the Bernie Sanders supporters dont support the Democratic side, and he doesnt get the youth vote, then I think youre in trouble. Those disenfranchised people that really went with Obama, I think a lot, sadly, will go the other way. And thats a lot scarier than ghosts and ghouls.

The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Case is in cinemas now.
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An interesting move in Disney's full-on remake assault on its archives, 1977's quaint animation/live-action hybrid Pete's Dragon isn't exactly the sacred grounds of Beauty and the Beast or The Jungle Book.

Possibly for the better, since it's granted the studio an absolute sense of freedom in its approach to revisiting its tale of a friendship between a young boy and his dragon pal. First off, they've gambled with a fantastically visionary director, David Lowery, who's previous film Ain't Them Bodies Saints versed in the poetic Neo-Westerns of the 1970s.

Big-budgeted family adventures may seem an intimidating step for Lowery, but it looks like Disney's faith in his vision may pay out handsomely.

The new trailer for the film is awash with rich visuals, a contemplative tone, and a sweeping romantic heart; it's certainly one to get excited about, and there's an earnestness and soul already apparent here that could very well deliver Pete's Dragon as the studio's next big hit.

Set around the late '70s and early '80s, Pete's Dragon sees Oakes Fegley as Pete, the 10-year-old discovered living alone in the woods by forest ranger Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard); that is, alone outside of the beast he calls Elliott, whose descriptions seem to match the fierce dragon populating the tall tales of Grace's father (Robert Redford). The film also stars Oona Laurence, Wes Bentley, and Karl Urban.

Pete's Dragon hits UK cinemas 12 August.
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Utilising all the subtleties of a bull with a nuclear device strapped to its horns wreaking havoc in your mas china shop, Hecks reputation for battering venues and whipping the disenfranchised into a frothing frenzy is quickly passing into the hallowed metaphorical hallways of punk legend. These noisy oiks are four very distinct and individual characters that coalesce to form a juggernaut that is vehemently more than the sum of its parts.

Jonny Hall, with his scrawny hobo-chic looks and extraordinary Spiderman-like abilities to scale seemingly insurmountable surfaces, is a stunning visual focal point in a frenetic band brimming with stunning visual focal points. Born in Sheffield on 6th November 1985, he moved with his parents and older sister to Kuwait where his father worked as a computer programmer for a prominent retail chain. My Dad's been out in the Middle East for about 35 years, says Jonny. Hes always managed to blag himself a load of programming jobs, he never really knew what he was doing, he'd just go into interviews and manage to bulls**t his way into jobs. He moved out there and took my Mum with him but she didn't really trust the Kuwaiti medical system, so she flew back to the UK when having me and my sister. So I was born in Sheffield but never really lived there as such. I went to Kuwait as soon as I was old enough to fly and lived there until I was about 11.

An example of Jonny's speaker scaling prowess at Download 2016 (Jennifer Mccord)

On 2nd August 1990, their lives were thrown into turmoil when Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait in an occupation that lasted seven months. My Dad was on the last flight out of Kuwait, there was a flight that went out at about 1:30am and a flight that came in at around the same time. The Iraqi army took control of the airport and held the flight coming into the country hostage. All the Westerners got released because if you keep Western hostages, you're going to attract a lot of unwanted attention. My Dad was on the last flight out and I remember watching the news and seeing a British Airways plane on fire. I was sitting there, not really understanding it fully, but thinking, 'that might be my Dad.'

Thankfully, Jonnys Dad was safe, completely oblivious to the fact that the country he had just left was now under siege from an invading Iraqi force. He heard the news on the radio halfway up the M1 says Jonny, before somewhat understatedly musing, it was a pretty weird time. The Iraqis were claiming to have weapons that they were threatening to use on Kuwait. The governments advice was to take a little towel to school in case someone fires a chemical weapon. You dampen the towel, put it over your mouth and nose and then go somewhere indoors  and that's it! That's all you can do! We used to gaffer tape an X across our windows in case anything blew up outside our house. Apparently it was to hold the window together so that you didn't get as much shrapnel flying in from an explosion. And you just did it because there was nothing else you could do!

With the political turbulence of Kuwait in mind, the decision was made to move the family back to the UK, where Jonny and his sister attended a catholic school. He pinpoints this as the first time he was alienated by those around him, a common theme that many drawn to heavy music can relate to. Me and my sister come from quite a secular family, wed never had any religion pushed upon us but our grandparents were very religious. It was confusing for us at that age because we got to see these kids go up and eat bread every day at church and we were like, 'I want a bit of bread! I want a biscuit!' And everyone said, 'No, you can't have any!' so we just sat there with no idea what any of this was. That was the start of feeling that we weren't the same as everyone else, which is a bit of a strange feeling when you're a kid. We never found it threatening or upsetting or anything. The attitude was, if I don't care about the fact that I'm different, then surely you are the one with the problem.

After 4  months of international condemnation and warnings, a military intervention led by the US drove the invading Iraqi forces out of Kuwait; the operation was codenamed Desert Storm and lasted 43 days. Jonny returned to Kuwait with his father and sister but once there, they found that there was little left to return to. I remember going back to our house and it had been turned into a bunker by the Iraqi Army. All the windows had been bricked up and all of our possessions had been destroyed and thrown into a single room. I remember going through a huge pile of stuff to see if there was anything salvageable. We picked out a couple of bits we could still have, a couple of toys that werent too damaged and went to a new place. We lost pretty much everything, which I know changed my Dad's attitude to possessions; he never really tried to re-acquire a lot of the things that he had lost as a result of the war. It proved to him that nothing like that ever actually mattered, which definitely rubbed off on me as well, materialistic urges just disappeared. It made me understand the fragility of any given situation, anything that you own can disappear overnight, all it takes is for someone to decide to invade the country you live in and all the things you have are gone, so what's the point in owning anything!?

Jonny Hall in action at Hevy Fest (Jennifer Mccord)

This relaxed attitude towards material possessions is something that has served Jonny well in his time with Heck, a band not known for being cautious with their instruments. Drum skins are regularly pierced, amp cabs routinely wrecked and guitar necks often snapped, all in pursuit of the most intense unadulterated catharsis. The thing about guitars is they get fixed, Jonny says. Ultimately all it is a bit of wood. I wouldn't spend a lot of money on a guitar; I just see it as a tool that enables me to play a song. I like playing nice guitars but I wouldn't buy one because there's no point. Ultimately, everything is there to do a job and if you break it, you fix it. Obviously that mentality was instilled in me quite early on, expensive things never appealed to me because we had it and we lost it. Its a great mentality to have in a band because you have to get used to having nothing for a long time.

Shortly after returning to Kuwait, Jonnys parents divorced. My Mum was a nurse back in Sheffield and she left my Dad because she'd fallen in love with another nurse called Shirley. My Mum just didn't find men attractive anymore and that was it. She fell out of love with males and started falling in love with females. Ive never understood why you would abuse someone for being gay. When I found out my Mum was gay, it was fine. It doesn't change anything at all. The fact that anyone, in this day and age, could ever have a problem with someone being gay is just absolutely mind-blowingly ignorant. I just don't understand it, I don't understand how anyone can have a problem with anyone else's personal choices. As long as they don't harm anyone else, as long as you don't cause physical or mental anguish towards another human being, then theres no issue. So my Mum stayed in the UK with Shirley, my Dad got re-married and my sister and me moved across to Bahrain with him.

Jonny Hall does his best Jimi Hendrix impersonation in Burnley (Jennifer Mccord)

Jonny shows no animosity towards Shirley, embracing her and her family as part of his own; in fact, it was Shirleys brother who broadened his musical horizons and first inspired him to pick up a guitar. He was a few years older than me, the first band he ever showed me was Mansun, which was essentially my introduction to guitar music. Theres a bonus track on their album Attack of the Grey Lantern called Take It Easy Chicken and he just picked up a guitar and started playing it whilst proclaiming it to be the best riff ever. Its a piece of piss really but at the time, everyone was trying to play it and I thought I reckon I could do that'. So I picked it up and I started playing it and I was like 'Yeah, I can do this guitar thing!'

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It wasnt long before Jonny was craving music a little heavier, harder and faster. A mate of mine put on the first Slipknot album and it all escalated from there. Slipknot went into Amen, Amen went into Will Haven, Will Haven went into SikTh, SikTh went into The Blood Brothers  then I heard Glassjaw and that changed everything! I loved Daryl Palumbos voice, I loved his delivery and the emotion he put in to it, almost like painting pictures with music. I heard Worship & Tribute and it will forever be my favourite album, I don't think anything will ever surpass it for me. Your first favourite album very rarely gets topped!

Metal, punk and post-hardcore were hardly readily available in the Middle East however and it wasnt until the advent of internet piracy that Jonny had access to a far larger library of music. I would take a few CDs back from the UK and listen to them over and over again because that was all I could get. Then Napster and things like that came along, more music opened up to me. I remember trying to download a Lostprophets song and someone had put Refuseds The Shape of Punk to Come instead. This used to happen quite a lot, people used to upload songs saying they were one thing when they were in fact something else entirely. So I remember downloading New Noise, thinking it was Shinobi vs Dragon Ninja and I was just like 'I have no idea what this is, but this is the best song Ive ever heard!' So I started listening to heavier music, it was the only thing that really fulfilled my need for a release of energy. My attention span was terrible and I just needed to run around and do stuff all the time.

Despite the instability of the Middle Eastern countries the family now resided in, there was a certain stubbornness instilled in them to stay where they were. When asked if theyd ever considered moving back to the UK, Jonny simply says, We never deemed it necessary. I remember watching TV, we had Sky News and there were little banners scrolling across the bottom of the screen saying 'The British foreign office urges all British nationals to leave Bahrain due to civil unrest' and I remember looking out the window thinking, 'there's nothing going on here! I don't know what they're talking about.' When you put things into perspective, the worst that could happen is something blows up and you die and you don't know anything about it. You know, s**t happens! I know that makes it sound trivial and I don't want to belittle people who are in war-torn countries, absolutely not! It is an awful thing to have to live like that. But when you take a step back and look at it, there is nothing you can do about it. It is where we lived, it was our home and if something's going to happen, you can't change that. I wouldn't wish that situation upon anyone, but when youre there, you just get on with it.

Jonny at the launch of the band's Signature Brew beer, Bullhorn (Jennifer Mccord)

Jonny was taught a British curriculum in Bahrain all the way up to his A-Levels. When it came time to look into furthering his education, he looked to a city just 50 miles from his place of birth in Sheffield. I chose Nottingham because I wanted to do a degree in physics and astronomy, mainly because I was good at it. I was very good at blagging my way through exams, which was definitely a trait I picked up from my Dad. I looked at the gig listings for (esteemed venue) Rock City and there was a Pitchshifter gig with support by SikTh happening in my first term, and that was it! It was weird, even without visiting Nottingham, I just felt like I wanted to go there, there was something about it.

It was in Nottingham that Jonny found the rest of the guys in Heck, or Baby Godzilla as they were called before legal troubles surrounding the rights to the name forced them to change it. The members of Baby Godzilla also played in a rock n roll covers band called Butch of the Cassidys, and drummer Tom Marsh reached out to Jonny when they needed a last-minute replacement for their guitarist. Jonny was aware of Baby Godzilla and their debut EP, Npag, and during rehearsals asked to jam some of their songs. We played them for a bit and then they asked, 'Do you want to learn some new songs?' So I learnt seven songs, which were the beginnings of the Oche EP, and I played my first gig with them in April 2011.

Jonny in front of the crowd at Download Festival 2016 (Jennifer Mccord)

Jonnys initial experiences with the band werent all plain-sailing though, as is apparent from the experience he recounts of their first European tour. We bought a van for 500, drove down to the channel tunnel, the engine blew in the car park while we were waiting to get on the train and that was that! Van was dead, tour cancelled, we thought we could maybe just about limp home, but the wheel-baring went while we were pulling out of a service station. An AA man came out and said, 'If you drive that on the motorway, you will die'. So we got dragged home and that was our first European tour! It took us 36 hours and we played 0 gigs.

When it comes to Hecks appeal and their underground critical success, particularly since the release of this years debut album Instructions, Jonny has remarkable insight into the chemistry that has endeared them to legions of hardcore fans. I'm a terrible guitarist, he says, rather self-deprecatingly, but I'm good at being in a band. I put everything into what I do and for me, music performance is about putting yourself out there. As long as it's true to yourself, as long as it's your personality coming through, it doesn't matter what it is, if people don't like it, then people don't like it. If you're lucky, people will like it and we've struck lucky which I think is down to the combination of all our personalities coming through in the music.

Jonny Hall and Matt Reynolds together at Download 2016 (Jennifer Mccord)

Like many of the greatest bands, Heck are a gang, made up of four very strong and distinct individuals; its the key to their brilliance but it can also prove to be a tricky balancing act. It's a difficult dynamic to juggle, me and Matt used to clash a lot early on. We're both front men and I dont mean this in a negative way, but that role requires a bit of ego. It's very easy to look at someone else doing what you do and go, 'I want to do better than that.' We used to have some fall outs about stuff, there have been some very explosive moments during our relationship. I threw a glass at him once whilst we were on stage, which is a particular low point for me morally, because that's awful behaviour. There was always this tension between us but all it took to sort it out was getting drunk and talking it through.

Thanks to the magical relationship healing properties of hard liquor, Heck have managed to make a name for themselves as one of the most incendiary live bands in the UK and with Instructions finally released, they now have a fistful of stunning songs to soundtrack the bedlam they cause. For Jonny, Heck is not merely an outlet for catharsis, but also a chance to live the childhood that he was not able to have. I felt like I never got to enjoy my childhood properly, because of the situation that I was in. With Heck, I get to be playful, I get to be a bit juvenile and its a lot of fun. I'm a 30-year old scumbag with a crap job, no security, Im probably about to get kicked out of my house and I can't think of anything else Id rather do. When people in bands get to my age, they often want to settle down and that's just never been a part of my life. I've never been settled, I've never had security, Ive never wanted a house or family or kids, I don't want any of that! It doesn't make sense to worry about things you cant control. All weve ever wanted to do is play, were very romantic in our ideas about what music should be. Its DIY, you go out, you do it and no-one's going to f**king stop you because no-one can. If you have the right attitude, no-one can stop you doing anything.

Heck, from left to right, Paul Shelley, Matt Reynolds, Jonny Hall and Tom Marsh, at the end of their triumphant set at Download 2016 (Jennifer Mccord)

Heck and Black Peaks will head out on a co-headline UK & European tour starting in September

UK

Sept 4th, Huddersfield, The Parish

Sept 6th, Bristol, The Fleece

Sept 7th, London, Boston Music Rooms

Sept 8th, London, Boston Music Rooms

Sept 9th, Sheffield, The Plug

Sept 10th, Edinburgh, Electric Circus

Sept 11th, Aberdeen, Cafe Drummonds

Sept 13th, Wolverhampton, Slade Rooms

Sept 15th, Cardiff, Club Ifor Bach

Sept 16th, Swansea, Sin City

Sept 17th, Exeter, Cavern

Sept 18th, Southampton, Talking Heads

Europe

Sept 20th, Belgium, Antwerpen, Kavka

Sept 23rd, Netherlands, Den Bosch, W2

Sept 24th, Netherlands, Zaandem, Flux

Sept 25th, Denmark, Copenhagen, Pumpehuset

Sept 27th, Germany, Berlin, Cassiopeia

Sept 28th, Germany, Cologne, MTC

Oct 1st, France, Paris, Le Boule Noir

Instructions, the debut album by Heck, is available now. Special thanks to Jennifer Mccord for the use of her fantastic photos that accompany this piece.
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Leaving the turmoil of Ukraine - the 19-year-old Bloom Twins arrived in London a few years ago.

After releasing a cover of 'Get Up, Stand Up' as a stand against the political situation in Ukraine, they toured their own moody electronic pop music with Duran Duran at the end of last year, and are now working on their debut album with Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes.

Don't expect much in the same vein as Pussy Riot - this duo is pretty sedate - but their music is autobiographical and speaks of the ongoing strife taking place back home.

Check out the video premiere for their new track 'Amnesia' and let us know what you think

Q&A with the Bloom Twins

What are you listening to at the moment?

Weve been listening to HVOB (Her Voice Over Boys), who are a really cool Austrian electro duo. Weve also been spinning some GusGus, another electro band, from Iceland. Rihanna's 'Anti', and a bit of Tricky have also been on the stereo!

What are your plans for summer 2016?

The summer has started really well. We just finished an Italian tour with Duran Duran in some of the most beautiful places - Taormina, Rome, Verona, Florence and Milan. Towards the end of the summer, were also planning to release our first EP.

What was the first gig you ever played - and what's been the best so far?

It was at a blues bar in Central London where people just come to jam and have a good time. We didnt speak a word of English and had never improvised before. We sang 'The Thrill is Gone by BB King, and nothing has ever been that nerve-wracking!

As for the best gigs so far, weve got three favourites, including our first ever headline show in the Ukraine, which completely sold out. There was a thousand people there amongst friends and family, and it was a really special night. Also, the Rome and Milan shows on these latest Duran Duran dates. Not only was the tour spectacular, but the audience were so warm.
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The Life of Pablo saga continues. Since revealing the album at his Yeezy Season 3 fashion show, Kanye West has made numerous changes to TLOP, adding tracks, changing others, and trying to fix Wolves.

While many presumed the previous iteration of the album, featuring 19 tracks, was the final product, Kanye has once again shaken things up, adding the song "Saint Pablo.

Earlier this year, Saint Pablo leaked online and was thought to be part of the upcoming album Turbografx 16, which Kanye previously said would be out later this year.

The new song is currently streaming on TIDAL and Apple Music but has yet to hit Spotify - much like how TLOP streamed exclusively on Jay Zs streaming service for weeks.

Hours before the track dropped, Kanye announced a new tour to support the album, titled The Saint Pablo Tour, appropriately named after the track.

Kanye West premieres The Life of Pablo Show all 7 1 /7 Kanye West premieres The Life of Pablo Kanye West premieres The Life of Pablo Hold positions until the end of the show Getty Images Kanye West premieres The Life of Pablo Concentrate, focus Getty Images Kanye West premieres The Life of Pablo Behave as if no one was in the room Getty Images Kanye West premieres The Life of Pablo Be calm, be strong, be neutral Getty Images Kanye West premieres The Life of Pablo No sexy posing Getty Images Kanye West premieres The Life of Pablo Alternate between attention and ease Getty Images Kanye West premieres The Life of Pablo Do not ever look at the jumbatron Getty Images

As yet, no UK dates have been announced.
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Led Zeppelins Stairway to Heaven copyright trial got underway in Los Angeles on Tuesday but already there has been a dispute over whether a video played as evidence had been properly submitted to the case, sparking debate about a possible mistrial.

Frontman Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page are facing a jury over claims they stole their iconic 1971 songs intro from Spirits 1967 instrumental track Taurus, with the plaintiffs lawyer Francis Alexander Malofiy previously confirming that the case is about credit where credit is due rather than winning damages. He is seeking a mere $1 settlement along with a writing credit for Spirit guitarist and composer Randy California, real name Wolfe. Californias trustees would then receive future profits from Stairway to Heaven.

US District Judge Gary Klausner ruled in April that Stairway to Heaven bore substantial similarities with Taurus after Michael Skidmore, a trustee for California, filed a lawsuit alleging that Page had been inspired to write his hit after touring with Spirit in the late Sixties.

Malofiy is citing a 2014 copyright law change as the reason why the case has been brought to court more than 45 years after Taurus was released, along with repeated indications that Led Zeppelin were fans of the band and their music. He said in his opening statement that while Plant and Page were incredible performers, incredible musicians, they covered other peoples music and tried to make it their own.

However, Malofiy hit a stumbling block on the trials opening day when he tried to play a video of an acoustic session musician performing Taurus and Stairway to Heaven first separately. Defence lawyer Peter Anderson objected, claiming that the video had not been noted in the case exhibit list. If its not been received in the evidence, its the basis of a mistrial, Klausner said, according to US music magazine Rolling Stone, which had reporters present in court. Malofiy proceeded to play the video anyway, followed by Page and Plant playing the opening 2.14 minutes of Stairway to Heaven in contention.

Best guitar riffs of all-time Show all 10 1 /10 Best guitar riffs of all-time Best guitar riffs of all-time 1. Led Zeppelin with Whole Lotta Love Getty Best guitar riffs of all-time 2. Guns 'N' Roses with Sweet Child O'Mine Getty Best guitar riffs of all-time 3. AC/DC with Back in Black Getty Best guitar riffs of all-time 4. Deep Purple with Smoke On The Water Getty Best guitar riffs of all-time 5. Derek and The Dominoes with Layla Getty Best guitar riffs of all-time 6. The Smiths with How Soon Is Now? Rex Best guitar riffs of all-time 7. Status Quo with Down Down Getty Best guitar riffs of all-time 8. Dire Straits with Money For Nothing Rex Best guitar riffs of all-time 9. The Kinks with You Really Got Me Getty Best guitar riffs of all-time 10. Pink Floyd with Money Getty



Anderson claims Wolfes trust does not own Taurus, which he alleges has been introduced into the lawsuit by unclean hands after royalties were secretly denied to Wolfes son (whom California tragically drowned saving from a riptide in 1997). He also argues that evidence shows the descending chromatic line has been a commonplace feature of songs since the 1600s, noting that Spirit failed to credit Michelle by The Beatles on Taurus. Anderson insists that even if the jury does hear similarities between Stairway to Heaven and Taurus, it will likely be a result of Led Zeppelin using musical elements that cannot be copyrighted. He also claims that Plant and Page created Stairway to Heaven independently without resort to Taurus or without copying anything in Taurus.

Listen to the two songs here:

Stairway to Heaven



Taurus



Klausner has ruled that any testimony relating to Led Zeppelins reputation as serial plagiarists will be banned. The group have previously been ordered to pay portions of the royalties for songs like Whole Lotta Love and Boogie with Stu to other writers, and forced to add credits to several other tracks. The plaintiff is also forbidden from using band members alcohol and drug use as evidence when arguing against the defences claim that Led Zeppelin had not heard Taurus before composing Stairway to Heaven.

Plant, Page, Skidmore, Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, Spirit bassist Mark Andes and music producer Lou Adler are all expected to testify. It is not yet known whether Anderson will argue for a mistrial.
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Women should begin planning to become pregnant soon after they graduate from university, a fertility expert has warned.

Dr Gillian Lockwood, medical director at the Midland Fertility Clinic, has suggested the optimum age to become pregnant is 25-years-old when fertility levels are at their peak and risk of miscarriage and genetic conditions are at their lowest. She suggested that while women may feel they can stave off the ageing process effects on their external appearance, she warns women "you cant botox your ovaries".

She made the controversial comments while speaking at Cheltenham Science Festival, The Daily Record reports.

She said: Age 25 is exactly the time when today's young women have left university, are trying to get off on a good career, trying to pay back their student loans, trying to find someone who wants to have babies with them and trying to get on the housing ladder.

But the bleak reality is that the chance of IVF working with your own eggs once you are 40 is absolutely abysmal and in what other branch of medicine would we let, yet alone encourage, patients to pay for an elective operation with a less than 5% chance of working?

Dr Lockwood added that freezing eggs could lead to a worrying social dynamic caused by a growing generational gap: The suggestion was made that since every proud father is looking forward to being an even prouder grandfather one day, perhaps the perfect graduation present for a 21-year-old daughter would be for her dad, instead of buying her a second hand car, actually did an egg freezing cycle for her because the current evidence is that if you have 15 nice mature young eggs you have got at least a 95% chance of having at least one baby and that is better than any other branch of IVF.

But I think there are quite worrying social consequences of allowing the generation gap to spread from 25 years to 40 years which egg freezing would encourage. One of the most poignant aspects of the spreading generations is that we might lose this wonderful relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.

If you have got an 80-year gap between their grandparents and their grandchildren it is very difficult for them to have that rich and rewarding relationship that we all grew up with.

We could end up with this zimmer frame-cum-pram-cum-shopping trolley for the elderly woman who decided that aged 55 was a really good time to have that baby she always wanted and unfortunately she has got some nice eggs that she had frozen at 25. Is this really where we want to go?

Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests  but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty

She suggested that while women may not feel or appear old, their reproductive systems are constantly changing with time. She said: The problem we have here is that women on the outside are shiny, young and youthful and on the inside their ovaries know exactly what it says on their birth certificate. As I always tell my patients - you cannot Botox your ovaries.

In February of this year, a report into births at NHS hospitals in the UK, found the number of babies being born is at the lowest level for a decade. It found the most common age group for mothers giving birth was aged 30-34. Experts have suggested this is in part linked to increasing financial pressures on younger people caused by the financial crash, which mean many spend their twenties paying off student loans, working in temporary and insecure job contracts or living in cramped accommodation unsuitable for children.
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The first species of mammal has been wiped out because of human-caused climate change.

The Bramble Cay melomys was an endemic species to the Great Barrier Reef and lived on a tiny island in the eastern Torres Strait off the coast of Queensland. Scientists from the University of Queensland and the Queensland Government led a survey in March 2014 that failed to find any evidence of the Bramble Cay melomys in their last known environment. The animals were last seen in 2009, according to records.

The study, first reported by the Guardian, concluded the habitat was destroyed following rising sea levels, resulting in the loss of 97 per cent of the animals' habitat.

Climate change plays a huge role in the possible extinction of certain species of animals. The WWFs most recent State of the Planet Report in 2014 found that the largest reduction of species is in the tropics, where 63 per cent of wildlife has declined since 1970. The worst affected areas it found were central and South America, with a regional decline of 83 per cent. Species in Australia and New Zealand are also considered to be highly at risk as they have a high level of animals that are not found anywhere else in the world. Australias white lemuroid ringtail possum is also threatened by climate change. The species is vulnerable to temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, and would not be able to survive in this heat for more than four or five hours.

Recommended Read more Climate change breakthrough as Iceland turns carbon dioxide into stone

Professor Adrian M Lister, a researcher at the Natural History Museums Earth Sciences department, told The Independent that extinction from climate change is just the tip of the iceberg. Habitats are being threatened and are disappearing due to drought and rising temperatures and sea levels caused by climate change. Normally species should be able to shift their ranges of where they can live in response to this. We have seen some insects and birds appearing in the UK that never were here before after shifting their range northwards where its cooler. However, human destruction of habitats often interferes with this, and for some animals that already live on the northernmost rims, they will have nowhere else to go, and thats when they become seriously at risk.

Some species have a limited geographic range and are not able to adapt. The world is changing at such a fast pace, that in most cases natural Darwinian selection would not happen in time, leading to extinction. Its too late to stop some extinction; we know the majority of species are being reduced and some will become extinct over the next few decades. But we cannot just stop climate change and the world takes a long time to recover. There will be extinction, but there is still everything to play for and countries need to stick to their commitment from the Paris Climate Change Agreement, and even exceed it to help stop it.

Paris climate talks in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Paris climate talks in pictures Paris climate talks in pictures A man is covered with a multi-coloured banner with the message, "Climate" as environmentalists attend a demonstration near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) that meets in Le Bourget, December 12, 2015 Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures French President Francois Hollande (C) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (R) applaud after a statement at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures US Secretary of State John Kerry (C) speaks with China's Special Representative on Climate Change Xie Zhenhua (R) and officials at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures Delegates and members of NGO's read and work on copies of 'The adoption of the Paris agreement' is pictured after the announcement of the final draft by French Foreign Affairs minister Laurent Fabius at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning Getty Paris climate talks in pictures UN climate chief Christiana Figueres (C) speaks with French President Francois Hollande (L), United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (2ndL) and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (R) after a statement at the COP21 Climate Conference in Le Bourget, north of Paris, on December 12, 2015. The years-long quest for a universal pact to avert catastrophic climate change neared the finish line today with conference host France announcing that the final draft had been completed in the early hours of the morning Getty Paris climate talks in pictures A Swiss Dominican priest poses with activists dressed as polar bears as activists gather for a demonstration to form a giant red line at the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures Activists hold up a giant banner reading 'Climate justice' by association 'ourpowercampaign' during a demonstration near the Arc de Triomphe at the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris. Getty Paris climate talks in pictures Representatives of indigenous peoples demonstrate in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015. Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures Environmentalists demonstrate near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015. Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures Environmentalists demonstrate near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, as the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) continues at Le Bourget, December 12, 2015. Reuters Paris climate talks in pictures Activists form a giant red line during a demonstration on the Avenue de la Grande armee boulevard in Paris on December 12, 2015, as a proposed 195-nation accord to curb emissions of the heat-trapping gases that threaten to wreak havoc on Earth's climate system is to be presented at the United Nations conference on climate change COP21 in Le Bourget, on the outskirts of Paris ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/Getty Images Paris climate talks in pictures The slogan "No Plan B" is projected on the Eiffel Tower as part of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) in Paris, France, December 11, 2015. Reuters

The Hainan gibbon is currently the world's rarest mammal, with only approximately 26 thought to be left in China's rainforests. But these animals could face extinction due to climate change, according to Dr Samuel Turvey, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Zoology. The gibbons live on a very small patch of a mountain rainforest, and any changes to this habitat caused by shifting climate changes could have grave repercussions for a species that has adapted to such a limited area.

But some experts think the effects of climate change could be worse. Dr Jonathan Bennie, research fellow at Exeter University, says: There is lots of evidence showing we are living through a time of mass extinction, as life on Earth is being affected by humans to an unprecedented extent. The direct effects of climate change, such as wiping out low-lying habitats, will happen increasingly in the future."

In a study published in Nature, professor Chris Thomas estimated that by 2050, between 15 and 37 per cent of the worlds species could become committed to extinction due to climate change.

Given the uncertainty about the rates of climate change and how rapidly we will be able to cut emissions, as well as how species will respond or adapt, these figures can only be taken as rough estimates, adds Dr Bennie.

But Yadvinder Malhi, professor of ecosystem research at Oxford University, says climate change is not the most important factor in extinction as invasion from other species of plants and animals, and destruction of habitats, are the biggest causes of extinction. He said environments are fragmented already from other pressures and the effects of climate change are the remaining factor that pushes it over the edge, which has been evident in coral reef and island flooding.

Heather Sohl, chief advisor of wildlife at WWF-UK, says: This news should act as a stark reminder of the grave threat climate change imposes on many species and people across the globe. Sadly, its too late for the Bramble Cay melomys, but it highlights the urgency and need for action. This isnt tomorrows problem  climate change has consequences on todays world. The impacts could be vast, from African elephants having to range further in search of water, the bleaching of the barrier reef in Australia, and small island nations in the Pacific at threat from rising sea levels. Here in the UK, our emissions are part of the problem and we must ensure our government produces a strong strategy to meet our climate change targets this autumn.
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One of the most famous investors in the world has said he is looking to invest in more women-run companies and bring more women onto his board.

Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, told the audience at the first ever United State of Women summit in Washington DC that he currently invests in six companies with female CEOs and is "looking for more.

He also has three women on the board of Berkshire Hathaway and wants to up that number too.

What makes me even more enthusiastic about the future, is that 90% of that time [in the past] we were only using half of our talent. Think about what would happen if we used all the talent for 100% of the time, he said. Its like having one hand behind your back.

The first woman to join his board in 2003 was Charlotte Guyman. Her name was suggested to him at first by his wife.

I said bingo, but I didnt think of it myself, and that demonstrates one of the problems we men have to get over, he confided.

Since then, Susan Decker and Meryl Witmer have joined the 12-strong board, which includes Bill Gates and Mr Buffett's son, Howard Graham Buffett.

Out of the younger crowd of directors - and by that I mean under 60 - three out of five are women are therell be more, he said.

He told the audience that he bought a business in 1983 from 89-year-old Rose Blumkin, an uneducated and illiterate Russian immigrant who could not speak English and who started off selling second-hand clothing and used the money to bring over her family members.

She bought a small amount of furniture in Omaha and it grew to become the largest home furnishing store [Nebraska Furniture Mart] in the United States, doing over $400 million worth of business, he said, She worked till she was 103, she quit and died the next year. So I use that as an example to our other managers that they retire early.

Mr Buffett said he thought it was very unfair that his two sisters were expected to marry and stay at home.

They scored higher on intelligence tests than me, had better personalities and were far better looking, he said.

Not only is Mr Buffett investing in women, but also women are investing in him.

The anonymous donor at a charity auction who bid $3.5 million this month to have a private lunch with the investment mogul was a woman, said Mr Buffett.

She now co-holds the record for the largest amount ever donated to charity to spend time with him.

The last woman who won a bid to have a lunch with him was a few years ago, from Canada, he said, and spent around $2 million.
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The BBCs religious affairs correspondent Caroline Wyatt is to step down from her position after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Wyatt, who has worked at the corporation for more than twenty years, has had the condition for 25 years but was only diagnosed at the end of last year. She recently announced she had been off work because of the illness on social media.

The veteran reporter said she is very sad to be stepping down but is overwhelmed by the support she has received.

I have been utterly overwhelmed by the support Ive had from my colleagues, friends and family in recent days and months, and am so grateful for the support the BBC is giving me while I recover from my current relapse, Wyatt said in a statement sent to The Independent.

People news in pictures Show all 18 1 /18 People news in pictures People news in pictures 7 October 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in an ice hockey match between former NHL stars and officials at the Shayba Arena in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Vladimir Putin spent his 63rd birthday on the ice, playing hockey with NHL stars against Russian officials and tycoons EPA People news in pictures 6 October 2015 German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and model Cara Delevingne (C) appear at the end of his Spring/Summer 2016 women's ready-to-wear collection for fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais which is transformed into a Chanel airport during the Fashion Week in Paris, France Reuters People news in pictures 5 October 2015 Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne addresses the Conservative party conference in Manchester. The Chancellor argued that reducing the payments to people in low paid jobs would give them economic security by reducing the Governments spending deficit Getty Images People news in pictures 4 October 2015 Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston takes a moment in the centre of the field with his daughter Frankie Thurston, holding dark-skinned doll, after winning the 2015 NRL Grand Final match between the Brisbane Broncos and the North Queensland Cowboys at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. The image quickly became the talking point of Australias National Rugby League Final and provoked a strong reaction on social media, with many praising Thurston for giving his child a toy that promotes inclusiveness and diversity Getty Images People news in pictures 3 October 2015 Pope Francis gives a thumbs-up as he greets people at the end of an audience to the participants of a meeting organized by the "Food Bank" at the Paul VI audience hall in Vatican Getty Images People news in pictures 2 October 2015 Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne (L) throws an American football as he meets with former American football players Dan Marino (2nd R) and Curtis Martin (not pictured) at 11 Downing Street in London, ahead of the New York Jets playing against the Miami Dolphins at London's Wembley Stadium on 4 October Getty Images People news in pictures 1 October 2015 An honor guard opens the door as Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall to attend a meeting with members of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia People news in pictures 30 September 2015 Former Mrs America Lisa Christie, who alleges misconduct by Bill Cosby, holds up photos of her younger self during a news conference at the law office of attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Matt Damon has defended himself against claims that he instructed gay actors to remain in the closet. He had said I think youre a better actor the less people know about you and sexuality is a huge part of that. Whether youre straight or gay, people shouldnt know anything about your sexuality but an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show said, I was just trying to say actors are more effective when theyre a mystery. Right? Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Marion Cotillard has said that there is no place for feminism in Hollywood. Speaking to Porter magazine, she saidFilm-making is not about gender/ You cannot ask a president in a festival like Cannes to have, like, five movies directed by women and five by men. For me it doesnt create equality, it creates separation. I mean, I dont qualify myself as a feminist." Getty People news in pictures 29 September 2015 Actor Paul Walkers daughter, Meadow, is suing Porsche over her fathers death in a lawsuit that claims he was trapped in the burning car because of design flaws and the seat belt. The Fast and Furious star was killed when the Porsche Carrera GT he was a passenger in hit a pole in California in 2013. The driver, his friend Roger Rodas, also died when the vehicle burst into flames. AP People news in pictures 28 September 2015 Robert Mugabe waits to address the United Nations General Assembly. The leader of Zimbabwe reportedly exclaimed 'We are not gay!' as he criticised Western nation's "double standards and attempts to prescribe new rights that are contrary to our values, norms, traditions and beliefs. In 2013 he described homosexuals as worse than pigs, goats and birds. Reuters People news in pictures 28 September 2015 South African comedian Trevor Noah hosts the first 'Daily Show' since taking over from Jon Stewart as host. Stewart had presented the US satirical news show since 1999 and was described by Noah during the show as a 'Political father' 2015 Getty Images People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Sir Elton John may have received a phone call from the real Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesman announced he had made contact weeks after the singer was duped by pranksters pretending to be the Russian President. Getty People news in pictures 25 September 2015 Actor Leonardo DiCaprio was mistakenly declared as the artist who produced the Mona Lisa by Fox News anchor Shepard Smith. It was in fact Leonardo da Vinci. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 A new biography claims Donald Trump expected to be dead by 40 and never marry. The Guardian says the a new book also claims that in 1980, Mr Trump manufactured a fake vice-president of his real estate conglomerate, whom he called John Baron. People news in pictures 24 September 2015 The Dalai Lama has said that Britain's policy towards China is just about 'Money, money, money.' And asked 'Where is morality?' People news in pictures 24 September 2015 Puff Daddy secured the number-one spot on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list, with the publication calculating he made an estimated $60million (39m) between June 2014 and June 2015.

I have lived with the condition for the past 25 years, so the diagnosis came as a relief as it enables me to have treatment and to do all I can to manage it. I am tremendously sad to be stepping down from my current specialism as BBC religious affairs correspondent at a time that understanding religion has rarely been more important.

Since starting as a trainee at the corporation in the 1990s, she has gone on to report from all corners of the world. As the BBC foreign correspondent, she reported on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the conflicts in Kosovo and Chechnya and later the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as BBC Defence Correspondent.

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On Tuesday, the BBCs Head of Newsgathering Jonathan Munro announced the news and commended Wyatts long-running contribution to the BBC.

A few months ago, Caroline was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis - a condition she has battled with for many years, Mr Munro said.

As you will appreciate, MS is a complex condition but specialists agree that more predictable working patterns are important to managing the symptoms. For that reason, Caroline has decided to step down as Religious Affairs Correspondent for BBC News with immediate effect.

After the summer, Wyatt will return to the airwaves as a presenter on BBC Radio Four and the World Service. She will also have occasional reporting roles for television where they are suited to her medical advice.

When I return to work in the autumn, I am really looking forward to starting a new chapter as a presenter for BBC Radio, and I hope in the future to raise both awareness and money for more research into MS, Wyatt said.
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George Takei has called on the LGBT community to lead the fight for gun reform in the US after the Orlando nightclub shooting, at a time when the face of Americas tragedy is gay.

The former Star Trek actor, who is openly gay, has campaigned for a number of LGBT issues throughout his career. On Wednesday, he urged LGBT people to work to engender real change in a powerful essay for The Daily Beast.

He said the mass shooting, the worst in modern US history, was undoubtedly a direct attack on gay people and highlighted how the Isis terror group proliferates homophobic hatred.

In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Show all 44 1 /44 In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Frank Escalante AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Luis Daniel Conde AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Brenda Lee Marquez McCool In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Joel Rayon Paniagua AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Jerald Arthur Wright AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Paul Terrell Henry AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Shane Evan Tomlinson AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Antonio Davon Brown AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Jason Benjamin Josaphat AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Enrique L. Rios, Jr. AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Darryl Roman Burt AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Cory James Connell REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Tevin Eugene Crosby AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Jonathan Antonio Camuy-Vega AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Leroy Valentin Fernandez AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Christopher Andrew Leinonen AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Angel L. Candelario-Padro AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Simon Adrian Carrillo-Fernande AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Javier Jorge-Reyes AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Gilberto Ramon Silva-Menendez AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Juan P. Rivera-Velazquez AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Miguel Angel Honorato AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Jean Carlos Mendez Perez REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Mercedez Marisol Flores REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Anthony Luis Laureano Disla REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Franky Jimmy De Jesus Velazquez REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Oscar A. Aracena-Montero REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Martin Benitez Torres REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Stanley Almodovar Facebook/Stanley Manolo Almodovar III In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Eddie Justice Faebook/ Eddie Justice In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Luis Vielma Twitter/@jk_rowling In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera Facebook/ Eric Rivera In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Juan Ramon Guerrero Facebook/ Juan Ramon Guerrero In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz Facebook/ Peter Gonzalez Cruz In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Amanda Alvear Facebook/ Amanda Alvear In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Anthony Disla Facebook/ Anthony Disla In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Edward Sotomayor Twitter/@ryanraiche In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo Facebook/Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Kimberley Morris Twitter/ @katiezavadski

Takei warned now is the time to challenge policy built upon the Second Amendment that allows would-be terrorists to walk the streets in the US while armed.

Would-be terrorists cannot so much as board a plane without a thorough screening, yet we give them nearly unfettered access to very dangerous weapons," he wrote. "Arguments that we will never stop all shootings by restricting access to such weapons fails to account for our strong and common desire at least to stop many of themor any of them.

Like it or not, this history and this obligation have been thrust upon us, and we must now rise to its challenge. For if there is one group in this country with more will, more experience, and more tenacity than the NRA, it is the LGBT community.

You dont want to mess with us.
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Oscar Pistorius has walked around a courtroom without his prosthetic legs as his lawyer appealed for a lenient sentence for the killing of Reeva Steenkamp.

Judge Thokozile Masipa has the power to reduce South Africas minimum 15-year prison term for murder after listening to evidence from the prosecution and defence.

As he continued appeals for mitigation, Pistorius lawyer called the former Paralympian to the stand and asked him to walk without his prosthetic legs.

Barry Roux said he wanted to give the court an idea of his defendants experience on the night he shot his girlfriend dead, adding: Hes very embarrassed but he understands its important.

The lawyer said his client suffers from an anxiety disorder, adding: His balance was severely compromised and without (a weapon), he would not be able to defend himselfthis must all be seen in the context of his disability."

Reeva Steenkamp was murdered by her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius (AFP)

Pistorius appeared to be crying in silence as he remained standing while his lawyer described the killing.

Mr Roux went on to claim Ms Steenkamps death had nothing to do with gender violence and said the public nature of the trial had ruined the disgraced athletes life.

Speaking during Pistorius sentencing hearing at the North Gauteng High Court, Barry Roux claimed the live broadcast of hearing had driven a media frenzy.

This trial by public opinion will continue to haunt the accused long after the conclusion of the criminal process, he said, saying his client had been the victim of a character assassination.

Mr Roux argued Pistorius had no intent to kill his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp and believed she was an intruder when he shot her through a door on Valentines Day 2013.

Despite the fact that the finding remains that the accused did not want to kill the deceasedthe accuseds case is still portrayed in the public domain as an example of gender-based violence, the defence lawyer said.

 Brother of Pistorius speaks

That hurts him because he was a person opposed to gender violencethis man in his mind has no gender violenceits not the consequence, its the intent.

This case has nothing to do with gender violence but the penny doesnt drop, because some people dont want the penny to drop.

Pistorius sat with his head in his hands as the hearing continued on Wednesday, watched by members of Ms Steenkamps family.

Mr Roux said the defendant had faced public abuse and harassment after becoming the face of gender violence in South Africa.

As a result of this sustained campaign of misinformation, the accuseds reputation will never recover, he added.

Ms Steenkamps cousin has described her father as a broken man as she described the harrowing impact of her death on the family earlier in the hearing.

Kim Martin was the last state witness to give evidence on the third day of his sentencing for murdering is girlfriend.

Not a day goes by without thinking about her, she said. As a family we will never be able to carry on like normal.

Barry Steenkamp giving evidence in Pretoria yesterday

Im coping, yes, because youve got to get on with your life but the scars, the effect runs very deep.

Im the mother of three children, so I have to copeI have to be strong for them.

Ms Martin told the court in South Africa that birthdays, Christmas and other celebrations had become a funeral since Ms Steenkamps death.

Valentines Day is the worst day for us, she added. I saw my father cry for the very first time when Reeva died...Barry (Ms Steenkamps) father is a broken man."

Giving evidence yesterday, he said his daughters murder had devastated his family.

In a voice shaking with emotion, Barry Steenkamp revealed he has tried to imagine the horrific moment of his daughter's death, and said: Oscar has to pay for what he did.

Charlotte Mashaban, a prison nurse, told the court Pistorius could be violent, having tantrums and becoming angry during her time treating him.

In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Show all 90 1 /90 In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius arrives at court Oscar Pistorius arrives at court prior to another day of cross examination during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius arrives at court Oscar Pistorius is greeted by the "Support for Oscar" Facebook group members as he arrives at the Pretoria High Court In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Prosecutor Gerrie Nel in court Prosecutor Gerrie Nel walks past a courtroom reconstruction of the toilet in which Reeva Steenkamp was shot and killed during Oscar Pistorius' murder trial at the high court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Prosecutor Gerrie Nel in court Prosecutor Gerrie Nel gestures as he explains a possible scenario into how Oscar Pistorius might have fired on girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial The door through which Reeva Steenkamp was shot used as evidence in court The door through which Reeva Steenkamp was shot used as evidence and displayed during the Oscar Pistorius murder trial at the high court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius leaves court Oscar Pistorius leaves the high court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial June Steenkamp in court June Steenkamp, mother of Reeva, is comforted by unidentified relative after her dead daughter's picture was shown on screen during the trial of Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Aimee Pistorius and Lois Pistorius in court Sister of Oscar Pistorius, Aimee Pistorius (L) and aunt Lois Pistorius (R) listen as Oscar Pistorius testifies in court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Gina Myers in court Gina Myers, Reeva Steenkamp's best friend, is overcome with emotion as she listens to Oscar Pistorius' testimony in the Pretoria High Court In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Aimee Pistorius cries in court Aimee Pistorius (R), sister of Oscar Pistorius, cries as she hears her brother tell his story of the events on the night he killed Reeva Steenkamp during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial June Steenkamp in court June Steenkamp hides her face as she listens to Oscar Pistorius' testimony in the Pretoria High Court In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Arnold and Lois Pistorius cry in court Arnold and Lois Pistorius overcome with emotion as they listen to their nephew Oscar's testimony in the Pretoria High Court In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius reacts as he listens to evidence by a pathologist during his trial in court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius reacts during his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Gerrie Nel speaks in court State Prosecutor Gerrie Nel speaks as he cross-examines the pathologist during the trial of Oscar Pistorius in court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius puts his hands to his head while he sits during his trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius reacts during his trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius speaks with relative Oscar Pistorius speaks with a family member during his trial in Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Aimee Pistorius in court Aimee, sister of Oscar Pistorius, cries as her brother takes the stand to testify at the high court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Carl Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius' brother Carl Pistorius reacts during Oscar's trial at the high court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial June Steenkamp in court June Steenkamp, mother of the late Reeva Steenkamp listens to evidence by a pathologist during the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius in court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Arnold Pistorius and Lois Pistorius in court Uncle Arnold Pistorius and aunt Lois Pistorius look on during the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius at the high court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius cries as he sits in the dock during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius sheds tears as he sits in the dock during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius shedding tears as he sits in the dock during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock during his murder trial at the high court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius makes his way to the dock during his ongoing murder trial in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Kenny Oldwage questions a witness Kenny Oldwage a member of South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius' legal team questions a state witness during the ongoing murder trial in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Hilton Botha arrives in court Hilton Botha, former lead detective in the Oscar Pistorius murder case, arrives ahead of Pistorius's trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial A member of the African National Congress Women's League outside the court A member of the African National Congress Women's League holds a mobile phone with a picture of Reeva Steenkamp outside the high court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius cries during his trial Oscar Pistorius cries during his trial at the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius is comforted by relatives Oscar Pistorius is comforted by relatives as he sits in the dock during court proceedings at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius is comforted by relatives Oscar Pistorius is hugged by his aunt Lois in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius in the dock Oscar Pistorius holds his head in his hands in the dock during cross examination of a witnesses in court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius leaves court Oscar Pistorius is photographed as he leaves at the end of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius and Aimee Pistorius Oscar Pistorius with his sister Aimee Pistorius during the murder trial at the high court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Photographs of Pistorius taken after the shooting Pistorius from the waist up, with a tattoo visible on his back, and blood on his left arm In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Photographs of Pistorius taken after the shooting Photographs of Pistorius taken soon after fatal shooting of Reeva Steenkamp were shown in court. The athlete's prosthetic legs are splattered with blood In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius' watch collection with blood marks on it A photograph of Pistorius' watch collection with blood marks on it. One of the watches went missing the night police searched the house after Reeva Steenkamp was shot on Valentine's Day. In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius's bedroom with the duvet on the floor A close up of Pistorius's bedroom, with the duvet on the floor. Pistorius argues he woke up to bring a fan from his balcony when he heard noises coming the bathroom In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius covers his head with a notebook as he listens to forensic evidence Oscar Pistorius covers his head with a notebook as he listens to forensic evidence during his trial in court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius puts his hands to his head while he sits in court Oscar Pistorius puts his hands to his head as he listens to forensic evidence during his trial in court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius reacts while listening evidence in court Oscar Pistorius reacts during his murder trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius places his head in his hands Oscar Pistorius places his head in his hands as he listens to the cross examination during his trial in court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius during his continuous trial Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock during his murder trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Lt Col JG Vermeulen demonstrates the effect of hitting of a bathroom door Lt Col JG Vermeulen demonstrates the effect of hitting of a bathroom door with a cricket bat during the trail of Oscar Pistorius in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Lt Col JG Vermeulen recreates a possible scenario at Oscar Pistorius home Lt Col JG Vermeulen recreates a possible scenario at Oscar Pistorius home when he shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius's defence team questions forensic evidence Pistorius's defence team questions forensic evidence suggesting the athlete was wearing his prosthetic legs when he hit the lavatory's door with a cricket bat In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial State prosecutor Gerrie Nel speaks in court State prosecutor Gerrie Nel makes a point during the trial of Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius speaks with his legal team Oscar Pistorius speaks with a member of his legal team prior to a hearing of his trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius sits in court Oscar Pistorius sits with hands on his head at the court dock during the ongoing murder trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius in court during ongoing trial Oscar Pistorius sits in the dock on another day of his trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial State prosecutor Gerrie Nel in court State prosecutor Gerrie Nel takes part in Oscar Pistorius' ongoing murder trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius arrives in court The accused arrives at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius cries in court Oscar Pistorius cries as he listens to cross questioning about the events surrounding the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, in court during his trial in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius cries in court Oscar Pistorius cries as he chats to his lawyer Barry Roux during his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius on the sixth day of his trial Oscar Pistorius holds his hands to his face as he sits in the dock during day 6 of his murder trial at the High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius sits in court Oscar Pistorius is pictured with hands on his head during a hearing on the sixth day of his murder trial In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Relatives of Reeva Steenkamp in court Relatives and friends of Reeva Steenkamp, Gina Meyers (C) and her mother Desiree (R) attend a hearing of Oscar Pistorius on the sixth day of his trial In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius arrives in court Oscar Pistorius arrives at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Security guard Pieter Baba testifies Security guard Pieter Baba testifies the murder trial of South African Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius at the high court of Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pistorius family in court Aimee Pistorius, sister of Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar, rests her head on an unidentified woman's shoulder during the fifth day of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius listens as witness testifies Oscar Pistorius puts his hands to his head while a witness testifies and speaks about the morning of the shooting of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius cries Oscar Pistorius cries while a witness testifies during the fourth day of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius looks at notes Oscar Pistorius looks at notes during the fourth day of his trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius on the second day of his trial Covering his ears, on empty benches, Oscar Pistoius gestures after arriving at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius reads defense paperwork Oscar Pistorius looks at his defense team paperwork during a break on the second day of his trial at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Members of the media during the trial Members of the media work during a break in proceedings on the second day of the murder trial of South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius during trial Oscar Pistorius looks on inside the Pretoria High Court In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Chief investigating officer Lieutenant General Vineshkumar Moonoo during the trial Chief investigating officer Lieutenant General Vineshkumar Moonoo gestures during the second day of the murder trial of South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius leaves court Oscar Pistorius leaves North Gauteng High Court during the lunchtime break as he faces trial accused of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius and Barry Roux in court Oscar Pistorius and Barry Roux at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Advocate Barry Roux speaks in court Advocate Barry Roux at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius in court Oscar Pistorius walks at the Pretoria High Court as Reeva Steenkamp's mother looks on In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial June Steenkamp in court Reeva Steenkamp's mother looks on inside the Pretoria High Court In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Lois, Arnold and Aimee Pistorius in court Lois, Arnold and Aimee Pistorius at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Carl, Aimee and Lois Pistorius in court Carl, Aimee and Lois Pistorius speaking with a member of his legal team at the Pretoria High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Carl Pistorious in court Carl Pistorious, the brother of South African Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, leaves the courtroom during a lunch recess at the High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Prosecutor Gerrie Nel Prosecutor Gerrie Nel reads out the charges on the opening day of proceedings in the High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Pretoria news A newspaper vendor sells the Pretoria News as the Oscar Pistorius trail starts at North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius denies the allegation claiming he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder inside their home on Valentines Day 2013 In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial June Steenkamp in court June Steenkamp (L), mother of the murdered Reeva Steenkamp, sits in court ahead of the trial of Olympic and Paralympic track star Oscar Pistorius at the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial June Steenkamp arrives in court June Steenkamp (C), the mother of Reeva Steenkamp, arrives at North Gauteng High Court for the trial of Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial June Steenkamp arrives in court June Steenkamp (R), the mother of Reeva Steenkamp, arrives at North Gauteng High Court for the trial of Oscar Pistorius in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Carl Pistorius arrives in court Police try to hold back the media as Carl Pistorius, the brother of Oscar Pistorius, arrives at North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Media outside the court in Pretoria Bewildered media stand outside North Gauteng High Court as Oscar Pistrious slips into court through another door to face trial accused of the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in Pretoria In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Daily News front page day after the shooting Oscar Pistorius was arrested in South Africa in the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp at the Feather Awards in 2012 in Johannesburg In pictures: Oscar Pistorius trial Reeva Steenkamp Reeva Steenkamp who was shot dead on the Valentine's Day 2013

His lawyer, Mr Roux, contested the claim and accused her of embellishing her account of the incidents.

Pistorius, a former Paralympic champion, has been convicted of murdering his girlfriend at his home on Valentines Day in 2013 in a case that transfixed the world.

The double-amputee, who also competed at the 2012 London Olympics, is currently under house arrest after initially serving one year of a five-year prison sentence for manslaughter for shooting Ms Steenkamp at his Pretoria home.

That conviction was overturned last year by an appeals court, which convicted Pistorius of the more serious charge of murder.

Judge Thokozile Masipa, who initially acquitted Pistorius of murder, will decide the new sentence in a hearing scheduled to run until Friday.

Pistorius shot Ms Steenkamp, a model and reality television star, several times through a toilet door.

He claimed in his trial that he thought his house had been broken into, and that he opened fire in the belief that an intruder was hiding in the small room.

Ms Martin told the court the family wanted to know the truth and for Pistorius to apologised for the killing.

South Africa has a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for murder, although it can be reduced by a judge.
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The Duke of Cambridge has become the first member of the royal family to be photographed for the cover of a gay magazine.

Attitude, one of the UKs leading gay magazines, has announced Prince William as their July cover star.

Prince William has used the article to highlight the issue of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying and the enduring mental health consequences of these experiences.

Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Show all 32 1 /32 Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, paint an elephant statue at Kaziranga Discovery Park in Panbari village, in Kaziranga, some 250 km from Guwahati, the capital of the north-eastern state of Assam Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, feeds a baby elephant at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) at Panbari reserve forest in Kaziranga in the northeastern state of Assam, during the royal visit in India Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge, meet a rhino calf at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) at Panbari reserve forest in Kaziranga in the northeastern state of Assam Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Catherine and Prince William take a Game drive at Kaziranga National Park at Kaziranga National Park in Guwahati Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William visit a contact centre run by the charity Salaam Baalak, which provides emergency help and long term support to homeless children at New Delhi railway station Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge meet a young dancer as they watch dancing by the fireside during a Bihu Festival Celebration at Diphlu River Lodge Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet Prime Minister of India Narenda Mod in New Delhi's Hyderabad House during day three of the royal tour to India and Bhutan Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Catherine and William visited the Banganga Water Tank. They were given a traditional welcome at Bangana Water Tank and met representatives from SMILE, an organisation working in an economically deprived urban area to support local enterprise Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Duchess Of Cambridge enjoys a game of cricket during a visit to meet children from Magic Bus, Childline and Doorstep, at Mumbai's iconic recreation ground, the Oval Maidan Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge at India Gate in New Delhi Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and his wife Catherine take part in an event at the Gandhi Smriti, a museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, in New Delhi Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge meet young entrepreneurs during a visit to Mumbai Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge prepare to lay a wreath at the Inida Gate in New Delhi Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge remove their shoes at Gandhi Smriti in New Dehli, India before paying their respects at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India The Duke and Duchess toured the museum housed in the Old Birla House and paid their respects at the place where Mahatma Gandhi's life ended on 30 January 1948 Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William pose for a picture at India Gate Memorial Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and Catherine pay their respects at the place where Mahatma Gandhi's life ended on 30 January 1948, at Gandhi Smriti, the Old Birla House museum Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge poses with local school children as they tour Old Birla Hous in Gandhi Smriti in New Dehli Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India The Duke Duchess of Cambridge meet children from local charities Magic Bus, Childline and Doorstep, and join game of cricketwith boys from the Dilip Vengsarkar Academyat the Oval Maidan recreation ground Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are garlanded as they arrive at the Banganga Water Tank in Mumbai Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Catherine, Duchess Of Cambridge plays football during a visit to meet children from Magic Bus, Childline and Doorstep Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge react after playing football during a visit to the Banganga Water Tank in Mumbai Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William play football games during a visit to the Banganga Water tank, where they met representatives of SMILE Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at a Bollywood Charity Gala hosted by the British High Commission and the British Asian Trust at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives for a Bollywood Inspired Charity Gala at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge speak with Boman Kohinoor during a meeting in Mumbai Prince William and Kate Middletons visit to India The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stand after laying a wreath on the martyrs memorial at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai

He invited nine members of the LGBT community to Kensington Palace to hear and discuss their experiences.

Attitude's editor, Matthew Todd, 42, said he got in touch with Prince William about campaigning work he was doing about bullying and mental health in the LGBT community.

I wrote to the Duke of Cambridge after writing about the realisation LGBT people can suffer higher levels of mental health problems and a growing awareness this is caused by experiences at school, Todd told The Independent.

I knew I was gay when I was 10 or 11 and it was completely isolating and I had no one to turn to, he added.

Recommended Read more Piers Morgan attacks Prince William and Kate Middleton for rhino photo

Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry have been focusing on mental health issues in that last year and I think they realised that there this is a significant problem with LGBT-phobic bullying in schools which needs to be addressed.

Mr Todd emphasised how bullying of the LGBT community had long been overlooked by the mainstream and was viewed as a fringe issue and a gay issue. He commended the fact the royal family were now bringing it to the attention of the wider public.

The highest institution of the country, the royal king, is saying its not suitable to bully someone because of their sexuality, he added.

The royal family shared the cover photo on Twitter with a link to a taster of the article.

Prince William and Kate Middleton signed a book of condolence for the victims of the LGBT nightclub shooting in Orlando at the embassy in Westminster on Tuesday.

A total of 49 people were killed and 53 were injured after Omar Mateen, apparently inspired by Isis, stormed LGBT nightclub Pulse in Orlando, Florida, in the early hours of Sunday morning. It was the biggest mass shooting in modern US history.

The July edition of Attitude will be available to buy 22 June.
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Ever since Elon Musk founded a start-up space company 14 years ago, the goal has always been the same: Establishing a colony on Mars. Now hes finally beginning to reveal how he plans to get there.

Starting as soon as 2018, Musks SpaceX plans to fly an unmanned spacecraft to Mars. The unmanned flights would continue about every two years, timed for when Earth and Mars are closest in orbit, and, if everything goes according to plan, build toward the first human mission to Mars with the goal of landing in 2025, Musk has said.

But in an interview with The Post this week, Musk laid out additional details for the first time, equating the spirit of the missions with the settlement of the New World by the colonists who crossed the Atlantic Ocean centuries ago. And he acknowledged the immense difficulties of getting to a planet that is, on average, 140 million miles from Earth.

The months-long journey is sure to be hard, risky, dangerous, difficult, Musk said, but he was confident people would sign up to go because just as with the establishment of the English colonies, there are people who love that. They want to be the pioneers.

Before those pioneers board a rocket, though, Musk said the unmanned flights would carry science experiments and rovers to the planet. The equipment would be built either by SpaceX, or others. The early flights also would serve to better understand interplanetary navigation and allow the company to test its ability to safely land craft on Mars.

Essentially what were saying is were establishing a cargo route to Mars, he said. Its a regular cargo route. You can count on it. Its going happen every 26 months. Like a train leaving the station. And if scientists around the world know that they can count on that, and its going to be inexpensive, relatively speaking compared to anything in the past, then they will plan accordingly and come up with a lot of great experiments.

The mission is all the more audacious in that SpaceX is a private company without the resources of a government agency. NASA has previously said it would provide technical support for the 2018 mission, though not financially, in exchange for what it said was valuable, descent and landing data to NASA for our journey to Mars, while providing support to American industry. NASA is planning its own manned Mars mission with the goal of landing in the 2030s. But some in Congress have indicated they are inclined to steer the agency back toward a moon mission first.

SpaceX's 2018 trip would use what the company calls its Dragon spacecraft boosted into space by Falcon Heavy, a massive rocket powered by 27 first-stage engines. When it flies for the first time later this year, it would become the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two, SpaceX says on its website. Falcon Heavy would have more than 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, or about the equivalent of 18 747 airplanes.

The rocket needs to be big. The Dragon spacecraft would become the largest object to land on the Martian surface by a factor of 10, Musk said. That would make it one of the most ambitious Martian landings ever attemptedand difficult. Of the 43 robotic missions to Mars, including flybys, attempted by four different countries, only 18 have been total successes. The latest, a NASA mission, delivered the unmanned Curiosity rover that is currently roaming the planet.

An artist's rendering of what a SpaceX Dragon capsule would look like landing on Mars. (Photo courtesy of SpaceX.)

Some have pointed out that Musk's timeline is exceedingly ambitious, especially considering SpaceX has yet to fly the Falcon Heavy or land Dragon by using its own engine thrust, which is a key component to landing in the relatively thin Martian atmosphere.

By the next launch window, in 2020, Musk said the company would aim to fly at least two Falcon Heavy rockets and Dragon spacecraft, loaded with experiments. By that time there will be quite a few organizations  that are interested in running experiments on Mars, he said.

Then in 2022, Musk said he hoped to launch what the company now sometimes refers to as the Mars Colonial Transporter, designed to bring a colony to Mars.

Musk declined to provide too many details, saying he would unveil the system at a conference in September. But he was clearly excited about the prospect and could barely contain himself.

Science news in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Science news in pictures Science news in pictures Pluto has 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen Pluto has a 'beating heart' of frozen nitrogen that is doing strange things to its surface, Nasa has found. The mysterious core seems to be the cause of features on its surface that have fascinated scientists since they were spotted by Nasa's New Horizons mission. "Before New Horizons, everyone thought Pluto was going to be a netball - completely flat, almost no diversity," said Tanguy Bertrand, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center and the lead author on the new study. "But it's completely different. It has a lot of different landscapes and we are trying to understand what's going on there." Getty Science news in pictures Over 400 species discovered this year by Natural History Museum The ancient invertabrate worm-like species rhenopyrgus viviani (pictured) is one of over 400 species previously unknown to science that were discovered by experts at the Natural History Museum this year PA Science news in pictures Jackdaws can identify 'dangerous' humans Jackdaws can identify dangerous humans from listening to each others warning calls, scientists say. The highly social birds will also remember that person if they come near their nests again, according to researchers from the University of Exeter. In the study, a person unknown to the wild jackdaws approached their nest. At the same time scientists played a recording of a warning call (threatening) or contact calls (non-threatening). The next time jackdaws saw this same person, the birds that had previously heard the warning call were defensive and returned to their nests more than twice as quickly on average. Getty Science news in pictures Turtle embryos influence sex by shaking The sex of the turtle is determined by the temperatures at which they are incubated. Warm temperatures favour females. But by wiggling around the egg, embryos can find the Goldilocks Zone which means they are able to shield themselves against extreme thermal conditions and produce a balanced sex ratio, according to the new study published in Current Biology journal Ye et al/Current Biology Science news in pictures Elephant poaching rates drop in Africa African elephant poaching rates have dropped by 60 per cent in six years, an international study has found. It is thought the decline could be associated with the ivory trade ban introduced in China in 2017. Reuters Science news in pictures Ancient four-legged whale discovered in Peru Scientists have identified a four-legged creature with webbed feet to be an ancestor of the whale. Fossils unearthed in Peru have led scientists to conclude that the enormous creatures that traverse the planets oceans today are descended from small hoofed ancestors that lived in south Asia 50 million years ago A. Gennari Science news in pictures Animal with transient anus discovered A scientist has stumbled upon a creature with a transient anus that appears only when it is needed, before vanishing completely. Dr Sidney Tamm of the Marine Biological Laboratory could not initially find any trace of an anus on the species. However, as the animal gets full, a pore opens up to dispose of waste Steven G Johnson Science news in pictures Giant bee spotted Feared extinct, the Wallace's Giant bee has been spotted for the first time in nearly 40 years. An international team of conservationists spotted the bee, that is four times the size of a typical honeybee, on an expedition to a group of Indonesian Islands Clay Bolt Science news in pictures New mammal species found inside crocodile Fossilised bones digested by crocodiles have revealed the existence of three new mammal species that roamed the Cayman Islands 300 years ago. The bones belonged to two large rodent species and a small shrew-like animal New Mexico Museum of Natural History Science news in pictures Fabric that changes according to temperature created Scientists at the University of Maryland have created a fabric that adapts to heat, expanding to allow more heat to escape the body when warm and compacting to retain more heat when cold Faye Levine, University of Maryland Science news in pictures Baby mice tears could be used in pest control A study from the University of Tokyo has found that the tears of baby mice cause female mice to be less interested in the sexual advances of males Getty Science news in pictures Final warning to limit "climate catastrophe" The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a report which projects the impact of a rise in global temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius and warns against a higher increase Getty Science news in pictures Nobel prize for evolution chemists The nobel prize for chemistry has been awarded to three chemists working with evolution. Frances Smith is being awarded the prize for her work on directing the evolution of enzymes, while Gregory Winter and George Smith take the prize for their work on phage display of peptides and antibodies Getty/AFP Science news in pictures Nobel prize for laser physicists The nobel prize for physics has been awarded to three physicists working with lasers. Arthur Ashkin (L) was awarded for his "optical tweezers" which use lasers to grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living cells. Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou were jointly awarded the prize for developing chirped-pulse amplification of lasers Reuters/AP Science news in pictures Discovery of a new species of dinosaur The Ledumahadi Mafube roamed around 200 million years ago in what is now South Africa. Recently discovered by a team of international scientists, it was the largest land animal of its time, weighing 12 tons and standing at 13 feet. In Sesotho, the South African language of the region in which the dinosaur was discovered, its name means "a giant thunderclap at dawn" Viktor Radermacher / SWNS Science news in pictures Birth of a planet Scientists have witnessed the birth of a planet for the first time ever. This spectacular image from the SPHERE instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope is the first clear image of a planet caught in the very act of formation around the dwarf star PDS 70. The planet stands clearly out, visible as a bright point to the right of the center of the image, which is blacked out by the coronagraph mask used to block the blinding light of the central star. ESO/A. Muller et al Science news in pictures New human organ discovered that was previously missed by scientists Layers long thought to be dense, connective tissue are actually a series of fluid-filled compartments researchers have termed the interstitium. These compartments are found beneath the skin, as well as lining the gut, lungs, blood vessels and muscles, and join together to form a network supported by a mesh of strong, flexible proteins Getty Science news in pictures Previously unknown society lived in Amazon rainforest before Europeans arrived, say archaeologists Working in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, a team led by archaeologists at the University of Exeter unearthed hundreds of villages hidden in the depths of the rainforest. These excavations included evidence of fortifications and mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs Jose Iriarte Science news in pictures One in 10 people have traces of cocaine or heroin on fingerprints, study finds More than one in 10 people were found to have traces of class A drugs on their fingers by scientists developing a new fingerprint-based drug test. Using sensitive analysis of the chemical composition of sweat, researchers were able to tell the difference between those who had been directly exposed to heroin and cocaine, and those who had encountered it indirectly. Getty Science news in pictures Nasa releases stunning images of Jupiter's great red spot The storm bigger than the Earth, has been swhirling for 350 years. The image's colours have been enhanced after it was sent back to Earth. Pictures by: Tom Momary

This is going to be mind blowing, he said. Mind blowing. Its going to be really great.

At another point he said: Im so tempted to talk more about the details of it. But I have to restrain myself.

Still, he said that the first mission wouldnt have a huge number of people on it, because if something goes wrong, we want to risk the fewest number of lives as possible.

And he acknowledged that the company would have to get lucky and things go according to plan to hit a launch window for manned flight in late 2024, with a landing in 2025.

But I do want to emphasize this is not about sending a few people to Mars, he continued. Its about having an architecture that would enable the creation of a self-sustaining city on Mars with the objective of being a multi-planet species and a true space-faring civilization and one day being out there among the stars.

He said he hadnt yet figured out who would be among the first to go, or how they would be chosen. But he said they would be pioneers willing to take the risk. Hopefully theres enough people who are like that who are willing to go build the foundation, at great risk, for a Martian city.

Its dangerous and probably people will dieand theyll know that, he continued. And then theyll pave the way, and ultimately it will be very safe to go to Mars, and it will very comfortable. But that will be many years in the future.

Copyright: Washington Post
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A former British ambassador has revealed he has been approached by several people making further claims of sexual abuse by Clement Freud, amid fears the MP and broadcaster could have sexually abused dozens more children.

Freud has been accused of abusing young girls between the 1940s and 1970s. The allegations have been made by two women, Sylvia Woosley and an anonymous woman, who claim he abused them as children. The second woman says he raped her when she was 18.

The Independent can now reveal that, after helping expose Freuds paedophilia, the former British ambassador Craig Murray has been contacted by people making further claims of abuse by Freud.

Mr Murray, who says there must now be serious questions asked over whether senior political figures knew of his behaiour, said: I have had all kinds of people contacting me, telling me that they knew about this behaviour  not victims, but people who were told about it, people who knew victims.

I have been contacted by seven people this morning. I dont have concrete intelligence, but it seems there are a lot of claims that there is more stuff out there.

The same as with Jimmy Savile, he added, This stuff comes pouring out once the gates are opened.

Mr Murray revealed that after he posted a favourable obituary of Freud on his blog following the broadcaster's death in 2009, an anonymous comment was left underneath the article by a woman saying Freud had abused her.

The comment reads: Writing as one of his 1000s of sexual victims, still surviving, terrified as I write for fear he is not yet quite yet dead  the man was an evil, conniving, ruthless user for his own bottomless ego of all he came into contact with.

Our children  boys and girls are all that much safer for his demise.

And that is just the tip of an iceberg of political and media dirty dealings that reaches into the heart of the broken Britain he has left behind him.

His family will now, unfortunately, reap the rage and revenge of those he destroyed and their much needed justice for his many heinous  still untold  actions.

After being contacted by ITV in 2015, Mr Murray contacted the woman and helped put her in touch with the makers of the documentary, in which she claims that Freud, whom she met in 1971, groomed her from the age of 11, abused her at 14, and violently raped her at 18.

Her testimony added to that of Ms Woosley, who said that Freud began sexually touching her in 1952, when she was 14.

 Sylvia Woosley: "I would like to just return to the child I was, before I was molested physically"

On Tuesday night, Mr Murray published another blog entry, entitled Clement Freud, my part in his downfall', which he says has prompted people to contact him with further claims of abuse.

Mr Murray, who lost his job as British ambassador to Uzbekistan in 2004 after speaking out about human rights abuses in the country, said: It seems astonishing now that paedophilia seems to have been quite so rampant among senior people and plainly, as with Cyril Smith, [with whom Freud shared an office in the House of Commons], as with Greville Janner, quite a few people knew about it.

Mr Murrays remarks will add to anxieties that there were long-held suspicions about Freuds activities that were not acted upon.

Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade Show all 12 1 /12 Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade Edward Snowden NSA leak Articles in The Guardian revealed that the US and the UK spied on foreign leaders and diplomats at the 2009 G20 summit. Reuters Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade WikiLeaks' US diplomatic cables leak In 2009, former US soldier Chelsea Manning, downloaded hundreds of thousands of classified US Government documents, and passed them on to Jullian Assange's whistleblowing website WikiLeaks. Among the documents were 250,000 State Department diplomatic cables. One disclosed the close relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and then-Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the Guardian reported. Allegations included "lavish gifts", lucrative energy contracts and the use by Berlusconi of a "shadowy" Russian-speaking Italiango-between. Getty Images Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade WikiLeaks' US diplomatic cables leak WikiLeaks' US diplomatic cables leak: In a revelation which bruised the UK's 'special relationship' with the US, WikiLeaks published conversations by US commanders criticising Britain's military operations in Afghanistan. Getty Images Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade WikiLeaks' US diplomatic cables leak WikiLeaks' US diplomatic cables leak: One document disclosed startling levels of corruption in Afghanistan, including an incident involving the then vice-president, Ahmad Zia Massoud, who was reportedly stopped and questioned in Dubai when he flew into the emirate with $52m in cash. Getty Images Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade WikiLeaks' US diplomatic cables leak Another cable documented fears in Washington over Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme, in a volatile country with a strategic position in the Middle East. PA Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade WikiLeaks' US diplomatic cables leak Day four of the gradual drip of leaks exposed allegations that Russia and its intelligence agencies are using mafia bosses to carry out criminal operations, with one cable reporting that the relationship is so close that the country has become a "virtual mafia state". Getty Images Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade Edward Snowden NSA leak In 2013, The Guardian published classified US National Security Agency (NSA) documents, from a then anonymous whistleblower. Four days later he was exposed as former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. A month after the initial leak, the New York Times allegeded that the NSA received emails, video clips, photos, voice and video calls, social networking details, logins and other data held by a range of US internet firms. Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade Edward Snowden NSA leak Since Snowden revealed that the US had eavesdropped on German Chancellor Angela Merkel's phone, German-US relations have been strained. In May 2014, Mrs Merkel said still had significant differences with the United States over surveillance practices and that it was too soon to return to business as usual," according to the New York Times. Getty Images Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade Edward Snowden NSA leak On 7 June, The Guardian published the Presidential Policy Directive 20, whcih included a list of potential targets for cyber-attacks by the US Government. Rex Features Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade Samy Kamkar iPhone and Android expose In April 2014, hacker and researcher Samy Kamkar revealed that Android phones collect user location data every few seconds. Files are then transited to Google several times an hour. Getty Images Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade Samy Kamkar iPhone and Android expose It is believed Apple and Google are using the data to better target adverts to smartphone users, according to The Guardian. Getty Images Whistleblowing controversies of the last decade Samy Kamkar iPhone and Android expose The two companies have since justified the collection of data. In a letter to the US congress Apple confirmed it collected the data and said that, in order to be useful, "the databases [of tower and network locations] must be updated continuously". A Google spokesman told the Guardian Android phones explicitly asked to collect anonymous location data when users turned them on. Getty Images

Peter Saunders, chief executive of the National Association for People Abused in Childhood, told the Daily Mail that Freud had been on the radar of the charity.

Mr Saunders said: About 12 years ago, before his death, something was said to me about an allegation of rape concerning him. At the time, I never thought it would go anywhere because he was rich and powerful. Later I spoke to a friend at Rape Crisis, and she said his name had come up in her world too, a long time ago, but she couldnt remember the details.

Mr Murray, 57, also revealed that he had his own first-hand experience of Freuds predatory behaviour towards much younger, but adult women, dating from when he was a first-year student at Dundee University and Freud was rector there.

Mr Murray said he saw the president of the students association emerge yelling and swearing after a phone call from Freud.

He was saying that Freud had phoned him and asked him to line up female students for him and was trying to use him as a pimp.

At the time, Freud was about 35 years older than the students.

Mr Murray, who later became rector of Dundee University himself, said friends from his student days had also heard about Freuds behaviour towards younger women.

At my last birthday [in October] they told similar anecdotes, about sexually predatory behaviour towards young students, and towards students coming to him, as rector, with problems. It wasnt illegal, but it wasnt pleasant.

Mr Murray added that his 2009 online obituary of Freud had also received the comment of one reader claiming: He was a notorious old goat and his pursuit of young women could verge on the sinister. I met one of his young victims who told me about a job interview with him turning into a very traumatic experience.

Mr Murray said that senior Liberals who were in charge when Freud was an MP between 1973 and 1987 must have known at least about Freuds aggressive sexual approaches to much younger adult women, and they should have expelled him from the party.

He said: It seems to me unlikely that the senior party had no inkling. If he was aggressively approaching people at job interviews, then it must have got back to the party leadership. It was continual behaviour. It cant just have not been noticeable at all.

He certainly shouldnt have been in politics. There has to be very serious questions about what people knew.

At the time of Freuds death, one former MP, who knew nothing about Freuds alleged sexually aggressive behaviour towards younger women or about his alleged paedophilia, did refer to his famed reputation as a womaniser.

But most obituaries made only oblique reference to Freuds womanising.

Mr Murray said that he had no inkling of any paedophilia allegations when he wrote his obituary of Freud in 2009, and admitted he didnt want to reveal what he had heard about Freuds behaviour to much younger women.

You just dont feel like digging it up once someone has died, he said.

He added: I am glad the woman did make those comments on my blog. At the time she came forward the ITV researcher had only one person talking about this, and you cant stand up a story with just one source.

If it wasnt for that comment appearing on my blog, I dont think this ever would have come to light.
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A Catholic teenager was hung from a crucifix by work colleagues in a mock crucifixion, a court has heard.

The teenager, who suffered the alleged abuse during his apprenticeship with a shopfitting company in Selby, North Yorkshire, also said he was bullied in numerous other incidents.

His former co-workers, Andrew Addison, 30, Joseph Rose, 21, Christopher Jackson, 22 and Alex Puchir, 37, are on trial at York Crown Court accused of religiously aggravated assault.

Recommended Read more 11 signs your job is making you miserable

The teenager, whose identity must be kept anonymous for legal reasons, told the court that he was working on a bank refit in Hull, East Yorkshire, in January 2015, when company manager Mr Addison and Mr Jackson grabbed his arms and legs.

Mr Puchir was told to make a cross, he said, which he fashioned from two pieces of timber.

"I was then lifted up and put on to the cross and secured on to it," the teenager said, adding: "I was then put up on to the wall."

The alleged victim, who was 17 and 18 at the time of his complaints, told the jury he was suspended about three feet above the floor and said a number of people working on the site had filmed the incident.

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He said: "At the time, I didn't really know what to feel. I just felt, like, ashamed that everyone else saw what was happening to me and it wasn't happening to anyone else. I just felt really embarrassed.

"Afterwards, I started thinking maybe they were just trying to take the mickey out of my religion. I didn't really understand why there was a cross made."

References to his religion featured in other episodes of abuse, the teenager said. He described an earlier incident when the company was working on a site in Essex and Mr Rose used a marker pen to cover him "from head to toe" in crosses, penises and squiggles while he was asleep in a hotel room.

He was left with sore, red skin after scrubbing the marks off, he told the jury.

The court also heard that Mr Rose, on another occasion, sprayed deodorant towards the teenager's head and lit it while Mr Addison recorded the incident on his mobile phone.

Mr Addison is also accused of tying the teenager to a chair with duct tape and cable ties and leaving him locked, blindfolded in a room by himself and giving him a wedgie by pulling his underpants up so forcibly he was lifted off his feet and suffered cuts and bruises to his buttocks.

The alleged victim told the court that he did not make a complaint at the time of the incidents because he was scared of his colleagues, did not want to get sacked and did not want anyone to know what was happening to him.

Workplace banter was to blame for the incidents, the men said in their defence.

Mr Addison, 30, of Selby, and Mr Rose, 21, of Bubwith, East Yorkshire, both deny putting a person in fear of violence by harassment and religiously aggravated assault by beating.

Mr Addison also denies a charge of assault by beating. Mr Jackson, 22, of Barlby, North Yorkshire, and Mr Puchir, 37, of Edinburgh, both deny religiously aggravated assault by beating.

The trial continues.
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The late broadcaster and MP Sir Clement Freud has been accused of abusing two girls between the late 1940s and 1970s.

Sylvia Woosley, who first met Freud when she was 10 and later went to live with him when her mother's marriage broke down, claims in an ITV Exposure documentary that he molested her over several years.

A second woman, who wants to remain anonymous, alleged that the Liberal politician also abused her as a child and raped her when she was 18.

In a statement released in response to the programme, his widow Jill Freud, 89, said she was deeply saddened and profoundly sorry for what has happened to these women.

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said: These allegations are horrific. We are desperately sorry to learn that lives have been ruined by a man whose public face was so greatly at odds to his true character. It has clearly taken a lot of courage for these women to speak out, after a lifetime of having to hide it.

This is the latest in a terrifying line of cases where high profile figures have systematically used their status, celebrity and power, to abuse and to rape.

Clement Freud was a senior figure in the Liberals, our party's predecessor, and we are deeply shocked and horrified by this news. Our party was never aware of what happened, and our hearts go out to the women who were affected.

In the programme, due to be broadcast on Wednesday, Ms Woosley, now in her late 70s, said: I just want to clear things up before I die...I want to die clean.

Having been so hard on myself, trying to destroy myself so many times, you can't bury the truth forever, it needs to be heard.

I don't want to take this to my tomb. I would like to just return to the child I was before I was molested physically, before I was introduced to that side of life too early.

She told the programme she first met Freud, known as Clay, when he was aged 24 and worked at the Martinez hotel in Cannes in the late 1940s. She was 10 and her family was living in the south of France.

Ms Woosley claims that he kissed her on the mouth during a bus trip. She said: I was disgusted and helpless. I just didn't react in any way because I couldn't. I didn't know what to do.

From the age of 14, when she lived with Freud and his wife in London for five years, she claims that he frequently molested her, even playfully touching her breast in front of his wife, although she believes Mrs Freud had no knowledge of the abuse.

Clement Freud's wife Jill in 2005 (Rex)

Later, aged in her early 40s, Ms Woosley said she confronted Freud at the House of Commons and asked why he had abused her. She says he replied: Because I loved you. You were a very sensual little girl.

The second woman said that she first met Freud in 1971 at her family home as a lonely, neglected and socially isolated 11-year-old.

Then a celebrity, he would call her on the phone and tell her she was special and intelligent, and was treated as a surrogate father figure by her parents, she said.

Two years later, after he was elected as an MP, he would take her on trips to Parliament and his home, and would kiss her on the mouth and hug her.

She said: I felt sick but grateful at the same time. Frightened and unable to move or react in any way.

When she was 14, she claims Freud asked her and another friend of the same age: Would you like to get naked and have some fun?

Four years later, in June 1978, when she was 18, the woman alleges that he came over to her parents' flat and brutally and perfunctorily raped her.

She told the broadcaster: I live in constant terror that I'll be found out, exposed. I've already suffered across nearly 40 years. It's not simply to be labelled as depression or mental illness, this is disempowerment, self-destructiveness and grief. This is what real suffering looks like.

Writer, broadcaster and politician Freud, who died at his desk aged 84 in 2009, first became a household name in the 1960s and 70s in Minced Morsels dog food adverts.

A celebrated food, sport and comment print journalist, he also enjoyed a long career as a television and radio personality, regularly contributing to Radio 4's Just A Minute for 30 years and featuring on shows including Have I Got News For You.

ITV said two of Freud's children had viewed the documentary before broadcast on their mother's behalf.

Mrs Freud said: This is a very sad day for me. I was married to Clement for 58 years and loved him dearly. I am shocked, deeply saddened and profoundly sorry for what has happened to these women. I sincerely hope they will now have some peace.

Exposure: Abused and Betrayed - A Life Sentence will be broadcast on ITV at 11:05pm on Wednesday

PA
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Gerry and Kate McCann "will be appalled" by the revelation that their friend, the late MP Sir Clement Freud, has been accused of sexually abusing young girls.

Freud, a popular broadcaster and politician who died in 2009, is to be outed as a paedophile in an ITV documentary, and his widow Lady Freud has apologised to his alleged victims.

Police are now expected to investigate any possible link to the McCann family after it emerged that Freud had a home in Praia da Luz, the Portuguese resort where Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007.

Recommended Read more Madeleine McCann police to investigate link to paedophile MP Freud

And a source close to the McCanns told the Mail: "It certainly raises a lot of questions. They will be appalled to hear the details."

Two women have come forward to allege sexual abuse at the hands of Freud between the 1940s and the 1970s.

One, Sylvia Woosley, says he abused her when she was 10 and then repeatedly over the years after she went to live with him when her mother's marriage broke down.

Another, who remains anonymous, says he molested her as a child and then violently raped her when she was 18, and he already a Liberal MP.

In her book about her daughter's disappearance, Madeleine, Ms McCann details how Freud contact the family out of the blue.

One of the original celebrity chefs, Freud wrote to Kate and Gerry to say he was "ashamed of the intrusion to your lives by our media".

He offered: "If you would care to come to lunch/dinner at any time before Wednesday next, do ring and let me know. I cook decent meals."

"Im embarrassed to admit that Gerry and I thought this letter was a hoax, Ms McCann wrote.

They discovered it was not, however, and met Freud for dinner. In the proceeding weeks, the couple stayed in touch with the MP via email.

Freud phoned the McCanns on a number of separate visits to Portugal and, on the day the couple were named as formal suspects in the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance, was due to have them round for dinner again.

They cancelled, Ms McCann wrote, but at almost 10pm at night he rang them to invite them for a drink, warning: "Youll have to forgive my night-time attire."

As Ms McCann recalled: "We found Clement watching a cookery programme, dressed, as promised, in his nightshirt. It was so ordinary and comforting, a bit like going to see your grandad after a horrible day at school.

The Madeleine McCann case Show all 25 1 /25 The Madeleine McCann case The Madeleine McCann case Madeleine McCann One of the last photos of Madeleine before her disappearance EPA The Madeleine McCann case Madeleine McCann Madeleine McCann was three when she was abducted during a family holiday in 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Top worn by a man that detectives investigate with connection to disappearance of Madeleine McCann A computer generated image of the distinctive burgundy long sleeve top worn by a man that detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are looking for The Madeleine McCann case Apartment in Portugal from where Madeleine went missing An aerial view of the Ocean Club apartments and pool where Madeleine McCann went missing Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images The Madeleine McCann case Kate McCann Kate McCann speaks to the press outside the court house in Lisbon on 12 September 2013 following the first audience of the McCann couple's libel proceedings against former inspector Goncalo Amaral for a book written about the case of their missing daughter The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Kate McCann and Gerry McCann before the start of the 'Miles for Missing People' charity run in Regent's Park in London, 2011 The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Kate and Gerry McCann make an appeal at a press conference in the holiday resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal 7 May 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann The McCann's give an interview with a Spanish television channel at their home in Rothley The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Madeleine McCann was abducted in Portugal in May 2007 AP The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Preliminary forensic analysis on samples recovered from the McCanns' hire car raised the possibility of a match with Madeleine's DNA profile, according to the leaked report Getty Images The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Pope Benedict XVI blesses a photo of four-year-old abducted British girl Madeleine McCann, while meeting her parents Gerry and Kate McCann, after his weekly general audience at the Vatican, 2007 Reuters The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Gerald McCann and Kate McCann speak to the press on 4 May 2007 at the Ocean club appartement hotel in Praia de Luz in Lagos after Madeline vanished while her parents were out to dinner The Madeleine McCann case Portuguese police search for Madeleine Dozens of Portuguese police aided by dogs search for missing three-year old British girl Madelaine McCann in front of the Ocean club appartment hotel in Praia de Luz in Lagos The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Gerald McCann and Kate McCann walk holding their two other children outside the Ocean club apartment hotel in Praia de Luz in May 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Madeleine McCann Madeleine McCann pictured at the age of three, left, and as she might have looked aged nine PA/Teri Blythe The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have described as "pure speculation" reports in the Portuguese press suggesting that a chief suspect in the disappearance of their daughter was killed in a tractor accident four years ago. PA The Madeleine McCann case Tribute for missing Madeleine in Rothley, Leicesteshire Three year old Cally prepares to add a yellow ribbon to a floral tribute for missing Madeleine McCann in Rothley in Leicesteshire, 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Support for the missing Madeleine Everton captain Lee Carsley (L) leads his team onto the field, followed Mikel Arteta (C) and Manuel Fernandes (R) wearing Tshirts bearing a message of support for the missing British toddler Madeleine McCann, prior to the English Premiership match between Chelsea and Everton, at Stamford Bridge in London, 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Madeleine McCann A poster appealing for information about Madeleine McCann at a Spanish railway station PA The Madeleine McCann case BBC's Crimewatch reconstruction of Madeleine McCann's disappearance Former porn star Mark Sloan (L) was cast in the BBC's Crimewatch reconstruction of Madeleine McCann's disappearance BBC The Madeleine McCann case Clarence Mitchell holds two artist's impression of the new suspect McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell holds two artist's impression of the new suspect on 20 January 2008 in London. The description has come from British woman Gail Cooper, who was staying with her family close to the McCann's apartment in Portugal The Madeleine McCann case Image of a woman sought in the case Clarence Mitchell, the press spokesman for the McCann family, releases a photofit image of a woman sought in the search for missing Madeleine McCann Getty Images The Madeleine McCann case Suspect in disappearance of Madeleine McCann Police released two e-fits of suspect in disappearance of Madeleine McCann Getty Images The Madeleine McCann case Raymond Hewlett Convicted paedophile Raymond Hewlett, who is being sought in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann PA The Madeleine McCann case A picture of a suspect An artist's impression of a suspicious man seen by a witness apparently watching the McCann family's apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, the day before Madeleine McCann went missing Channel 4

"He gave me one of his looks and a giant glass of brandy, and managed to get a smile out of me with his greeting: So, Kate, which of the devout Catholic, alcoholic, depressed, nymphomaniac parts is correct?"

The Metropolitan Police have long ceased commenting on each new twist in Operation Grange, the ongoing investigation into Madeleines disappearance.

But Colin Sutton, a former murder squad detective, told the Telegraph: "If this is something that investigators had not been aware of then it would be certainly a potential line of inquiry that would be worth pursuing.

"It is not something that ought to be taken lightly and you would also want to look any connections he may have had in the area at the time."
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Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann have been alerted to the revelation that the MP Sir Clement Freud, who befriended the McCann family, was a paedophile who sexually abused young girls for decades.

Freud's widow, Jill Freud, 89, said in a statement she was deeply saddened and profoundly sorry for what has happened to these women after an ITV documentary found the late broadcaster and politician was accused of abusing two girls between the late 1940s and 1970s.

Sylvia Woosley, who first met Freud when she was 10 and later went to live with him when her mother's marriage broke down, claims in the ITV Exposure documentary that he molested her over several years.

A second woman, who wants to remain anonymous, alleged that the Liberal politician also abused her as a child and raped her when she was 18.

Freud, who died in 2009, had a holiday home in the Praia da Luz resort in Portugal where Madeleine disappeared in 2007.

He met Gerry and Kate McCann in the weeks after the incident, staying in touch by phone and email and, according to The Telegraph, hosting them at his home on at least two occasions.

It is expected police will now assess the information about his past to determine whether it is relevant to the investigation into Madeleine's disappearance. The Freud family reportedly say he was not in Portugal at the she vanished.

In the programme, due to be broadcast on Wednesday, Ms Woosley, now in her late 70s, said: I just want to clear things up before I die...I want to die clean.

Having been so hard on myself, trying to destroy myself so many times, you can't bury the truth forever, it needs to be heard.

The Madeleine McCann case Show all 25 1 /25 The Madeleine McCann case The Madeleine McCann case Madeleine McCann One of the last photos of Madeleine before her disappearance EPA The Madeleine McCann case Madeleine McCann Madeleine McCann was three when she was abducted during a family holiday in 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Top worn by a man that detectives investigate with connection to disappearance of Madeleine McCann A computer generated image of the distinctive burgundy long sleeve top worn by a man that detectives investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are looking for The Madeleine McCann case Apartment in Portugal from where Madeleine went missing An aerial view of the Ocean Club apartments and pool where Madeleine McCann went missing Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images The Madeleine McCann case Kate McCann Kate McCann speaks to the press outside the court house in Lisbon on 12 September 2013 following the first audience of the McCann couple's libel proceedings against former inspector Goncalo Amaral for a book written about the case of their missing daughter The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Kate McCann and Gerry McCann before the start of the 'Miles for Missing People' charity run in Regent's Park in London, 2011 The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Kate and Gerry McCann make an appeal at a press conference in the holiday resort of Praia da Luz, Portugal 7 May 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann The McCann's give an interview with a Spanish television channel at their home in Rothley The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Madeleine McCann was abducted in Portugal in May 2007 AP The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Preliminary forensic analysis on samples recovered from the McCanns' hire car raised the possibility of a match with Madeleine's DNA profile, according to the leaked report Getty Images The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Pope Benedict XVI blesses a photo of four-year-old abducted British girl Madeleine McCann, while meeting her parents Gerry and Kate McCann, after his weekly general audience at the Vatican, 2007 Reuters The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Gerald McCann and Kate McCann speak to the press on 4 May 2007 at the Ocean club appartement hotel in Praia de Luz in Lagos after Madeline vanished while her parents were out to dinner The Madeleine McCann case Portuguese police search for Madeleine Dozens of Portuguese police aided by dogs search for missing three-year old British girl Madelaine McCann in front of the Ocean club appartment hotel in Praia de Luz in Lagos The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann Gerald McCann and Kate McCann walk holding their two other children outside the Ocean club apartment hotel in Praia de Luz in May 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Madeleine McCann Madeleine McCann pictured at the age of three, left, and as she might have looked aged nine PA/Teri Blythe The Madeleine McCann case Kate and Gerry McCann The parents of missing Madeleine McCann have described as "pure speculation" reports in the Portuguese press suggesting that a chief suspect in the disappearance of their daughter was killed in a tractor accident four years ago. PA The Madeleine McCann case Tribute for missing Madeleine in Rothley, Leicesteshire Three year old Cally prepares to add a yellow ribbon to a floral tribute for missing Madeleine McCann in Rothley in Leicesteshire, 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Support for the missing Madeleine Everton captain Lee Carsley (L) leads his team onto the field, followed Mikel Arteta (C) and Manuel Fernandes (R) wearing Tshirts bearing a message of support for the missing British toddler Madeleine McCann, prior to the English Premiership match between Chelsea and Everton, at Stamford Bridge in London, 2007 The Madeleine McCann case Madeleine McCann A poster appealing for information about Madeleine McCann at a Spanish railway station PA The Madeleine McCann case BBC's Crimewatch reconstruction of Madeleine McCann's disappearance Former porn star Mark Sloan (L) was cast in the BBC's Crimewatch reconstruction of Madeleine McCann's disappearance BBC The Madeleine McCann case Clarence Mitchell holds two artist's impression of the new suspect McCann family spokesman Clarence Mitchell holds two artist's impression of the new suspect on 20 January 2008 in London. The description has come from British woman Gail Cooper, who was staying with her family close to the McCann's apartment in Portugal The Madeleine McCann case Image of a woman sought in the case Clarence Mitchell, the press spokesman for the McCann family, releases a photofit image of a woman sought in the search for missing Madeleine McCann Getty Images The Madeleine McCann case Suspect in disappearance of Madeleine McCann Police released two e-fits of suspect in disappearance of Madeleine McCann Getty Images The Madeleine McCann case Raymond Hewlett Convicted paedophile Raymond Hewlett, who is being sought in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann PA The Madeleine McCann case A picture of a suspect An artist's impression of a suspicious man seen by a witness apparently watching the McCann family's apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, the day before Madeleine McCann went missing Channel 4

I don't want to take this to my tomb. I would like to just return to the child I was before I was molested physically, before I was introduced to that side of life too early.

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats said: These allegations are horrific. We are desperately sorry to learn that lives have been ruined by a man whose public face was so greatly at odds to his true character. It has clearly taken a lot of courage for these women to speak out, after a lifetime of having to hide it.

This is the latest in a terrifying line of cases where high profile figures have systematically used their status, celebrity and power, to abuse and to rape.

Clement Freud was a senior figure in the Liberals, our party's predecessor, and we are deeply shocked and horrified by this news. Our party was never aware of what happened, and our hearts go out to the women who were affected.

Clement Freud's wife Jill in 2005 (Rex)

Ms Woosley told the programme she first met Freud, known as Clay, when he was aged 24 and worked at the Martinez hotel in Cannes in the late 1940s. She was 10 and her family was living in the south of France.

She claims that he kissed her on the mouth during a bus trip. She said: I was disgusted and helpless. I just didn't react in any way because I couldn't. I didn't know what to do.

From the age of 14, when she lived with Freud and his wife in London for five years, she claims that he frequently molested her, even playfully touching her breast in front of his wife, although she believes Mrs Freud had no knowledge of the abuse.

Later, aged in her early 40s, Ms Woosley said she confronted Freud at the House of Commons and asked why he had abused her. She says he replied: Because I loved you. You were a very sensual little girl.

The second woman said that she first met Freud in 1971 at her family home as a lonely, neglected and socially isolated 11-year-old.

Then a celebrity, he would call her on the phone and tell her she was special and intelligent, and was treated as a surrogate father figure by her parents, she said.

Two years later, after he was elected as an MP, he would take her on trips to Parliament and his home, and would kiss her on the mouth and hug her.

She said: I felt sick but grateful at the same time. Frightened and unable to move or react in any way.

When she was 14, she claims Freud asked her and another friend of the same age: Would you like to get naked and have some fun?

Four years later, in June 1978, when she was 18, the woman alleges that he came over to her parents' flat and brutally and perfunctorily raped her.

She told the broadcaster: I live in constant terror that I'll be found out, exposed. I've already suffered across nearly 40 years. It's not simply to be labelled as depression or mental illness, this is disempowerment, self-destructiveness and grief. This is what real suffering looks like.

Writer, broadcaster and politician Freud, who died at his desk aged 84 in 2009, first became a household name in the 1960s and 70s in Minced Morsels dog food adverts.

A celebrated food, sport and comment print journalist, he also enjoyed a long career as a television and radio personality, regularly contributing to Radio 4's Just A Minute for 30 years and featuring on shows including Have I Got News For You.

ITV said two of Freud's children had viewed the documentary before broadcast on their mother's behalf.

Mrs Freud said: This is a very sad day for me. I was married to Clement for 58 years and loved him dearly. I am shocked, deeply saddened and profoundly sorry for what has happened to these women. I sincerely hope they will now have some peace.

Exposure: Abused and Betrayed - A Life Sentence will be broadcast on ITV at 11:05pm on Wednesday

Additional reporting by agencies
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A man has died after being shot with a Taser by police in Wales.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said officers from the Dyfed-Powys force were called to an incident Llanelli.

Officers attended and, during engagement with the man, it is understood a Taser was discharged," a spokeswoman said.

The man became unresponsive and was subsequently pronounced dead. The IPCC has begun an independent investigation.

The man was Tasered in Llanelli (Creative Commons)

Officers were called on Tuesday evening by a member of the public who had become concerned about the welfare of the man, who appeared to be injured in the Morfa area.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said it was called at 7.35pm and sent two rapid response vehicles and an ambulance.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police did not give any details of the incident but said it related to the behaviour and welfare of a man.

A full investigation has commenced and Dyfed-Powys Police referred the matter to the IPCC, who will now conduct an internal investigation, she added. We are fully cooperating with them. Our thoughts are with the family of the man.

The Police Federation has been pushing for the extended distribution of the weapons to all officers, arguing they are needed to defend against terror attacks and other violent incidents.

Tasers were intended to be a non-lethal was of incapacitating violent suspects but have caused hundreds of deaths around the world, often by causing cardiac arrhythmia or ventricular fibrillation, which can lead to heart attacks or cardiac arrest.

A shocking test of the Taser  and why police want more of them Show all 6 1 /6 A shocking test of the Taser  and why police want more of them A shocking test of the Taser  and why police want more of them 24-stunt-gun-si.jpg Susannah Ireland / The Independent A shocking test of the Taser  and why police want more of them 24-stunt-gun7-si.jpg Susannah Ireland A shocking test of the Taser  and why police want more of them 24-stunt-gun6-si.jpg Susannah Ireland A shocking test of the Taser  and why police want more of them 24-stunt-gun5-si.jpg Susannah Ireland A shocking test of the Taser  and why police want more of them 24-stunt-gun4-si.jpg Susannah Ireland A shocking test of the Taser  and why police want more of them 24-stunt-gun3-si.jpg Susannah Ireland

Police used Tasers more than 10,000 times in England and Wales in 2014, according to home Office figures, being fired on more than 1,700 occasions.

Around two thirds of the people involved were mentally ill and black people were three-times more likely to be targeted than white suspects, the statistics showed.

The United Nations has also questioned the UK on its use of Tasers against children after a sharp rise in incident involving minors.

A discharge was the most likely cause of a fire that burned a man to death in Plymouth in 2013. Andrew Pimlott had poured petrol over himself and was holding a lit match, when an officer fired the weapon to stop him setting himself alight.

An inquest found a Taser caused the death of 23-year-old Jordan Begley, who was shot with the stun gun at his home in Manchester in 2013.

A man in Merseyside also suffered a heart attack after being hit twice by the weapon at a hotel in Liverpool in 2012 but survived.

A blind pensioner was controversially Tasered in 2012 after police in Lancashire mistook his white stick for a sword, leading to an undisclosed court settlement.
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A terror alert was enacted in Leeds on Tuesday after a suspicious wife attached a GPS device to the car of her husband, who mistook it for a bomb.

The man, formerly a member of the military, noticed the object and called the emergency services.

It was believed the threat was credible because of his prior involvement with the armed forces, making him a possible target for extremists.

Recommended Read more Vibrating sex toy sparks bomb scare and evacuations in German town

"It looks like there's a viable device in my car," he told a 999 operator at around 10am, according to Sky News.

A cordon was put in place around the vehicle and the bomb squad was contacted.

As per the city councils emergency terror plan, homes on Providence Avenue, Woodhouse - where the car was located - were then evacuated. Preparations for transport and a reception area for evacuees in a community centre were also made.

There were also plans being made to evacuate local schools and offices until the bomb squad realised what the item was  a GPS tracker.

At around 11am, the mans wife admitted she had - for reasons unknown - attached it to the car, stopping the terror response plan before it went any further, the Yorkshire Evening Post reported.

In pictures: Terror attack exercise in Manchester Show all 7 1 /7 In pictures: Terror attack exercise in Manchester In pictures: Terror attack exercise in Manchester Counter-terror exercise at the Trafford Centre The emergency services and volunteers take part in a simulated terror attack at the Trafford Centre on 10 May, 2016 in Manchester, England. PA In pictures: Terror attack exercise in Manchester Counter-terror exercise at the Trafford Centre Emergency forces and shoppers take part in a simulated terror attack at the Trafford Centre on 10 May, 2016 in Manchester, England. Getty Images In pictures: Terror attack exercise in Manchester Counter-terror exercise at the Trafford Centre The emergency services and volunteers take part in a simulated terror attack at the Trafford Centre on 10 May, 2016 in Manchester, England. Getty Images In pictures: Terror attack exercise in Manchester Counter-terror exercise at the Trafford Centre The emergency services and volunteers take part in a simulated terror attack at the Trafford Centre on 10 May, 2016 in Manchester, England. Getty Images In pictures: Terror attack exercise in Manchester Counter-terror exercise at the Trafford Centre Emergency services and volunteers take part in a simulated terror attack at the Trafford Centre in Manchester on 10 May 2016. Getty Images In pictures: Terror attack exercise in Manchester Counter-terror exercise at the Trafford Centre Emergency services and volunteers take part in a simulated terror attack at the Trafford Centre in Manchester on 10 May 2016. Getty Images In pictures: Terror attack exercise in Manchester Counter-terror exercise at the Trafford Centre People playing the role of injured shoppers react during an exercise at the Intu Trafford Centre in Trafford, Manchester, on May 10, 2016. PA

This morning officers were called to a suspicious package in a car and an operation was put in place, a spokesman for West Yorkshire Police told the newspaper.

Leeds City Council also confirmed to Sky News that emergency plans had been put into action.

"We were asked by the police to invoke our emergency procedures," a spokeswoman told the broadcaster.

The Independent was unable to contact the police or council services involved.
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June is set to be the wettest ever on record, after Met Office forecasters revealed more thunderstorms are on the way throughout the rest of this week.

Bookies have stopped taking bets that this month will set new records after having to slash the odds a number of times already.

Ladbrokes were offering odds of 1/5 for June to be the wettest on record until betting was suspended last week. Paddy Power is continuing to offer odds of 9/1 for the UK to have the wettest summer on record.

The damp British weather is likely to affect a number of events, including Glastonbury, Wimbledon and Royal Ascot, which all fall within the next few weeks.

Marco Petagna, a Met Office forecaster, said: After a dry start to June, the rest of the month does look to be unsettled.

For this week, the weather is looking wetter and wetter with an increase in thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.

Alison Baptiste, flood-risk duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: "Heavy rain showers across parts of England over the next few days could lead to some surface water flooding with disruption to roads and travel possible.

"Environment Agency teams are out working on the ground and will support local authorities in responding to surface water flooding. Please don't drive through flood water: remember just 30cm of flowing water is enough to move your car."

In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Show all 17 1 /17 In Pictures: Floods hit the UK In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK Members of Cleveland Mountain Rescue and soldiers from 2 Battalion The Duke of Lancasters Regiment evacuating people from the Queens Hotel in York city centre as the River Ouse floods on December 27, 2015 In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK Teams in Whalley evacuate villagers from their homes In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK A resident of Glenridding, which flooded for the third time this month, surveys the damage In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK The River Ouse, York, has burst its banks In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK A soldier from the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancasters regiment helps to sure up flood defences in Appleby, Cumbria, one of the areas worst affected by the floods In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK Experts believe the cost of clearing up the most recent flooding could exceed 50m (PA) In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their homes in York In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK A police helicopter photographed the extent of the flooding in York on 27 December. In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK Flooding at Clifford's Tower in York on 27 December In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK Flooding along York's Inner Ring Road on 27 December In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK Water runs out of the Lowther pub in York on 27 December after the River Ouse bursts its banks in York city centre. In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK Flooded streets in Dumfries, Scotland on 30 December Getty In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK A car left submerged in floodwater in Newton Stewart, Scotland PA In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK Staff at the Worlds End bar in Dumfries Scotland desperately try to pump floodwater out of the building PA In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK A man stands in the doorway of his cottage in the flooded town of Straiton in Scotland PA In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK Flooding in the village of Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland In Pictures: Floods hit the UK Floods hit the UK Man wades through floodwater outside a fish and chip shop in Dumfries, Scotland PA

A street party to celebrate the Queens 90th birthday, attended by 10,000, was hit by torrential downpours last week as storm clouds gatecrashed the event in London.

Earlier in the month, flash floods struck South London, turning streets into waterways and submerging cars. Firefighters were called to Croydon, Mitcham and Wallington after thunderstorms brought heavy rain downfall that overwhelmed drains.
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Around 60 Conservative MPs have pledged to vote down their partys own budget if Britain left the EU  as Tory tumoil over Europe deepens.

George Osborne last night warned that after Brexit he would have to raise the basic income tax by 2 per cent, raise the higher rate by 3 per cent, and inheritance tax by 5 per cent.

He also pledged 2.5bn cuts to the NHS budget, defence spending reductions of 1.2bn, and education cuts of 1.15bn.

The Chancellor said the budget, based off calculations by the Institute for Fiscal Studies about the impact of Brexit, was necessary to plug a black hole in the public finances that would open up.

Sky News however reports that 57 Conservative MPs have however signed a letter point-blank refusing to back the cuts  raising the prospect of the Government collapsing.

Dr Liam Fox, a eurosceptic, said Mr Osborne was putting his own position in jeopardy with the planned budget, while Steve Baker said he was shocked at the plans, which he said broke Tory manifesto pledges.

The threat to kill the Conservative budget could lead to an early general election because budgets are treated as so-called confidence votes in the competence of the administration.

With a narrow majority of around a dozen MPs, the Chancellor would almost certainly be unable to pass a budget that was not backed by his significant cadre of eurosceptic MPs.

Dr Liam Fox, Conservative MP for North Somerset, is among planned rebels (Getty Images) (Getty)

Mr Osborne however told BBC Radio 4s Today programme this morning that the country simply would not be able to afford its current level of spending after Brexit.

The point is the country does not have a plan if we quit the EU. Wed wake up in just over a weeks time with no economic plan for our country, with years of instability, he told the programme.

The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit Show all 7 1 /7 The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 22 May 2015 In his regular column in The Express Nigel Farage utilised the concerns over Putin and the EU to deliver a tongue in cheek conclusion. With friends like these, who needs enemies? PA The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 13 November 2015 UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Mike Hookem, was one of several political figures who took no time to harness the toxic atmosphere just moments after Paris attacks to push an agenda. Cameron says were safer in the EU. Well Im in the centre of the EU and it doesnt feel very safe. Getty Images The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 19 April 2016 In an article written for The Guardian, Michael Gove attempts to bolster his argument with a highly charged metaphor in which he likens UK remaining in the EU to a hostage situation. Were voting to be hostages locked in the back of the car and driven headlong towards deeper EU integration. Rex The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 26 April 2016 In a move that is hard to decipher, let alone understand, Mike Hookem stuck it to Obama re-tweeting a UKIP advertisement that utilises a quote from the film: Love Actually to dishonour the US stance on the EU. A friend who bullies us is no longer a friend The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 10 May 2016 During a speech in London former work and pensions secretary Ian Duncan Smith said that EU migration would cause an increasing divide between people who benefit from immigration and people who couldnt not find work because of uncontrolled migration. The European Union is a force for social injustice which backs the haves rather than the have-nots. EPA The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 15 May 2016 Cartoon character Boris Johnson made the news again over controversial comments that the EU had the same goal as Hitler in trying to create a political super state. Napoleon, Hitler, various people tried this out, and it ends tragically. The EU is an attempt to do this by different methods. PA The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 16 May 2016 During a tour of the womens clothing manufacturer David Nieper, Boris had ample time to cook up a new metaphor, arguably eclipsing Goves in which he compares the EU to badly designed undergarments. So I just say to all those who prophecy doom and gloom for the British Business, I say their pants are on fire. Lets say knickers to the pessimists, knickers to all those who talk Britain down. Getty Images

Youd have to cut your cloth accordingly: the country would not be able to afford to size of the public services we have at the moment and we would have to increase taxes.

He pointed to the fact the plan was also backed by former Labour chancellor Alastair Darling. Labours current leadership has however refused to back the policy.

I doubt since 1957 youve had a situation where a Conservative and Labour chancellor both agree, the Chancellor said.

Im pointing out that the kind of measures wed have to take are ones that any chancellor would have to take.

Lets be clear  no Conservative wants to raise taxes, least of all me. But equally Conservatives understand that you cannot have chaos in your public finances. You would have to deal with the hole that would emerge in your public finances if you quit the EU.

Former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling has backed the sharp cuts (Getty)

The Tory row over post-Brexit cuts comes as Labour argues over whether there should be new restrictions on freedom of movement within the EU.

Deputy leader Tom Watson yesterday said he backed new controls of immigrants from Europe, but leader Jeremy Corbyn last night rejected them.

The European Union referendum will take place on 23 June, next week. The deadline to register to vote in the poll has now closed.
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Three of the countrys largest employers have accused the official Leave campaign of deliberately attempting to mislead voters by using their logos on a taxpayer funded leaflet making the case for Brexit.

In a furious letter to Boris Johnsons Vote Leave campaign and seen by The Independent, the heads of Unilever, Airbus and GE accuse the group of using their names for propaganda purposes to imply their support for exit from the European Union.

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The chief executives add that the leaflet, which has been sent to millions of homes up and down the country at taxpayers expense, is both highly misleading to British voters and an act of bad faith towards our companies.

They have warned Vote Leave that if any more of the leaflets are distributed they will consider taking legal action against the group and say they have raised their concerns with the Electoral Commission that is regulating the referendum.

Under the rules of the referendum both the Leave and Remain campaigns are entitled to one publically funded leaflet sent to every voter in the country.

The letter is the latest embarrassment for Vote Leave that has already been censored by the UK Statistics Authority for making misleading claims about the cost of Britains EU membership.

It has also been criticised for using the official NHS logo on its campaign material without permission implying that Brexit would be good for the Health Service.

The leaflet, which has been passed to The Independent, includes a section, which it describes as an EU myth buster. It then asks would jobs be at risk?. Under the logos of Unilever, Airbus, GE as well as the car manufacturers Toyota, Nissan and Vauxhall it states: EU regulations make it harder for British firms to hire staff. Major employers like Toyota, Nissan and Vauhxall, Unilever, GE and Airbus have all said theyll stay in the UK whatever the result of the referendum.

But the chief executives of three of the companies say this deliberately distorts their position as all of them are in favour of Britain remaining in the EU.

Toyota and Nissan are understood to share similar sentiments but were unwilling to go public in their criticisms of Vote Leave.

Paul Kahn, President of Airbus Group UK, told The Independent he was shocked and dismayed to see his companys name and logo being used as propaganda for the Leave campaign.

We do not support leaving the EU, and our position is widely known, he said.

For Vote Leave to suggest anything else is deliberately misleading.

Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, added: The use of our company name and trademark in this way is a clear attempt to mislead the British people. Unilever does not support Vote Leave and does not advocate leaving the European Union, and never has. We believe that for jobs and investment the United Kingdom is far better off remaining a member of the EU.

What has the EU ever done for us? Show all 7 1 /7 What has the EU ever done for us? What has the EU ever done for us? 1. It gives you freedom to live, work and retire anywhere in Europe As a member of the EU, UK citizens benefit from freedom of movement across the continent. Considered one of the so-called four pillars of the European Union, this freedom allows all EU citizens to live, work and travel in other member states. What has the EU ever done for us? 2. It sustains millions of jobs A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, released in October 2015, suggested 3.1 million British jobs were linked to the UKs exports to the EU. What has the EU ever done for us? 3. Your holiday is much easier - and safer Freedom to travel is one of the most exercised benefits of EU membership, with Britons having made 31 million visits to the EU in 2014 alone. But a lot of the benefits of being an EU citizen are either taken for granted or go unnoticed. What has the EU ever done for us? 4. It means you're less likely to get ripped off Consumer protection is a key benefit of the EUs single market, and ensures members of the British public receive equal consumer rights when shopping anywhere in Europe. What has the EU ever done for us? 5. It offers greater protection from terrorists, paedophiles, people traffickers and cyber-crime Another example of a lesser-known advantage of EU membership is the benefit of cross-country coordination and cooperation in the fight against crime. What has the EU ever done for us? 6. Our businesses depend on it According to 71% of all members of the Confederation of British Influence (CBI), and 67 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU has had an overall positive impact on their business. What has the EU ever done for us? 7. We have greater influence Robin Niblett, Director of think-tank Chatham House, stated in a report published last year: For a mid-sized country like the UK, which will never again be economically dominant either globally or regionally, and whose diplomatic and military resources are declining in relative terms, being a major player in a strong regional institution can offer a critical lever for international influence.

Mark Elborne, President & CEO GE UK & Ireland, said: We are very unhappy with the unauthorised use of our trademark by the Leave campaign. At no point was our permission sought, and it would not have been given had we been asked. Our position is clear - GE supports the United Kingdom remaining in the European Union.

The letter to Vote Leave has been seized upon by the Remain campaign who accused them of using tax payer funds to lie to the British people.

The Vote Leave campaign has also come under fire for using the NHS logo without permission (Getty)

This is disgraceful behaviour by the leave campaign, said the Energy Secretary Amber Rudd.

To misrepresent major companies for propaganda purposes as part of their official election address is nothing short of using taxpayers money to lie to the British people.

Vote Leave have resorted to lying about British businesses because they know they cannot get their support honestly.

British employers  like every credible economist and institution  know that staying in the European Union is better for our economy, our businesses, our families, our jobs and the money in our pockets.

No one from Vote Leave was available for comment at the time of publication.

The EU referendum debate has so far been characterised by bias, distortion and exaggeration. So until 23 June we were running a series of question and answer features that explain the most important issues in a detailed, dispassionate way to help inform your decision.

What is Brexit and why are we having an EU referendum?

Will we gain or lose rights by leaving the European Union?

What will happen to immigration if there's Brexit?

Will Brexit make the UK more or less safe?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will leaving the EU save taxpayers money and mean more money for the NHS?

What will Brexit do to UK trade?

How Brexit will affect British tourism

What will Brexit mean for British tourists booking holidays in the EU?

Will Brexit help or damage the environment?

Will Brexit mean that Europeans have to leave the UK?

What will Brexit mean for British expats?
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Jeremy Corbyn has made an 11th-hour appeal to Labour voters to back a Remain vote, placing the NHS front and centre of the partys EU message, and branding Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage as wolves in sheeps clothing who want to destroy the health service. Appearing alongside the entire shadow cabinet and the leaders of the countrys biggest trade unions, Mr Corbyn implored Labour voters to think very carefully about their vote, and to back Remain.

With another poll giving Leave the lead, and barely a week to go before polling day, the Remain camps hopes are now pinned to the so-called Labour fight-back, which has seen the oppositions leading figures take centre stage in the referendum debate.

On Wednesday, Labour deputy leader Tom Watson will argue that staying in the European Union could create more than a million new jobs for Britain by 2030. The figure is based on an analysis of the four per cent boost the Treasury estimates membership of the Single Market grants to UK GDP.

Mr Watson has also indicated that Labour may campaign for tighter controls on freedom of movement within the EU, telling the BBC that voters had given a pretty clear signal that immigration was a major concern.

Mr Corbyn, who has faced criticism over his commitment to the pro-EU cause after admitting he was seven or seven and a half out of 10 in favour of Remain, sought to rally Labour voters around the NHS in a speech in London.

Attempting to wrest the mantle of NHS champions from the Leave campaign, which has pledged to spend 100m more a week on the health service, Mr Corbyn claimed that Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Nigel Farage were faking their enthusiasm for a publicly funded service. There are people leading that campaign who have argued against the NHS and free healthcare on demand as a principle, he said. These same people now have the audacity to portray themselves as the saviours of the NHS. Many dont even want there to be an NHS.

Nigel Farage called for an insurance-based system to replace the NHS. Michael Gove is co-author of a book that claims the NHS is no longer relevant in the 21st century. And Boris Johnson has said: If people have to pay for NHS services, they will value them more.' Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson really are wolves in sheeps clothing, using this concern for the NHS to mask their real agenda, he added.

He also hailed the role of the 52,000 EU migrants working in the NHS. Whats the answer Johnson, Farage and Gove have got for that? The NHS couldnt afford to lose 52,000 dedicated professionals and still offer the services we need. They should think about these things before they shoot their mouths off in the way they do, he said.

What has the EU ever done for us? Show all 7 1 /7 What has the EU ever done for us? What has the EU ever done for us? 1. It gives you freedom to live, work and retire anywhere in Europe As a member of the EU, UK citizens benefit from freedom of movement across the continent. Considered one of the so-called four pillars of the European Union, this freedom allows all EU citizens to live, work and travel in other member states. What has the EU ever done for us? 2. It sustains millions of jobs A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, released in October 2015, suggested 3.1 million British jobs were linked to the UKs exports to the EU. What has the EU ever done for us? 3. Your holiday is much easier - and safer Freedom to travel is one of the most exercised benefits of EU membership, with Britons having made 31 million visits to the EU in 2014 alone. But a lot of the benefits of being an EU citizen are either taken for granted or go unnoticed. What has the EU ever done for us? 4. It means you're less likely to get ripped off Consumer protection is a key benefit of the EUs single market, and ensures members of the British public receive equal consumer rights when shopping anywhere in Europe. What has the EU ever done for us? 5. It offers greater protection from terrorists, paedophiles, people traffickers and cyber-crime Another example of a lesser-known advantage of EU membership is the benefit of cross-country coordination and cooperation in the fight against crime. What has the EU ever done for us? 6. Our businesses depend on it According to 71% of all members of the Confederation of British Influence (CBI), and 67 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU has had an overall positive impact on their business. What has the EU ever done for us? 7. We have greater influence Robin Niblett, Director of think-tank Chatham House, stated in a report published last year: For a mid-sized country like the UK, which will never again be economically dominant either globally or regionally, and whose diplomatic and military resources are declining in relative terms, being a major player in a strong regional institution can offer a critical lever for international influence.

His intervention, aimed at winning back support for Remain among Labour voters who consistently list the NHS as one of their chief political priorities, came as a new poll by TNS again showed Leave in the lead, this time by 47 to 40.

The late Leave surge is causing deep concern in Downing Street and has led to the worst volatility in the value of sterling since the financial crisis of 2008.

The EU referendum debate has so far been characterised by bias, distortion and exaggeration. So until 23 June we were running a series of question and answer features that explain the most important issues in a detailed, dispassionate way to help inform your decision.

What is Brexit and why are we having an EU referendum?

Will we gain or lose rights by leaving the European Union?

What will happen to immigration if there's Brexit?

Will Brexit make the UK more or less safe?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will leaving the EU save taxpayers money and mean more money for the NHS?

What will Brexit do to UK trade?

How Brexit will affect British tourism

What will Brexit mean for British tourists booking holidays in the EU?

Will Brexit help or damage the environment?

Will Brexit mean that Europeans have to leave the UK?

What will Brexit mean for British expats?
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With a week to go until the polls open in the EU referendum, it appears many British people remain ignorant about the very institution they are voting on whether to remain part of or leave.

According to research released earlier this week, Britons are still very shaky on fundamental aspects of the UKs relationship with the EU.

From immigration to benefits to the amount the UK contributes to the EU on an annual basis, respondents in a survey of 1,000 people were significantly wide of the mark when it came to answering questons about the EU.

For example, 84 per cent of people think the UK is in the top three contributors to the EU budget. 23 per cent think it is the single biggest. In fact, the UK is in fourth place behind Germany, France and Italy.

The Independent has put together a quiz so you can test your knowledge on some of the basic aspects of the EU.

Let us know how you get on in the comments below.

The EU referendum debate has so far been characterised by bias, distortion and exaggeration. So until 23 June we were running a series of question and answer features that explain the most important issues in a detailed, dispassionate way to help inform your decision.

What is Brexit and why are we having an EU referendum?

Will we gain or lose rights by leaving the European Union?

What will happen to immigration if there's Brexit?

Will Brexit make the UK more or less safe?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will leaving the EU save taxpayers money and mean more money for the NHS?

What will Brexit do to UK trade?

How Brexit will affect British tourism

What will Brexit mean for British tourists booking holidays in the EU?

Will Brexit help or damage the environment?

Will Brexit mean that Europeans have to leave the UK?

What will Brexit mean for British expats?
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A flagship of the pro-Brexit flotilla that sailed up the Thames was involved in the UKs largest ever frauds involving illegal catches of fish, it has emerged.

The Christina S, a 72-metre-long pelagic trawler, was one of two largest vessels to take part in the river protest organised by Scottish skippers heading to Westminster to call for the UKs withdrawal from the EU.

But in 2012, skipper of the boat Ernest Simpson, 65, and his son Allan, 43, were fined 65,000 each illegally landed mackerel and herring worth a total of 2,031,501. The pair also had to pay "proceeds of crime" confiscation orders of over 360,000.

The pair were caught after a seven-year investigation prompted by suspicions that large profits in the fishing industry could not have been made legally given EU fishing quotas at the time.

Judge Lord Turnbull, who presided over the case, branded it an "episode of shame" for the industry.

Lindsey Miller, head of the Serious and Organised Crime Division, said: "These individuals had no regard for the law or for the consequences such large-scale under-declarations would have on fish stocks, the environment or the hard working fishermen trying to make an honest living in the industry.

"There is no place in Scotland for those who want a lifestyle funded by crime."

What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Show all 5 1 /5 What's the European Parliament ever done for us? What's the European Parliament ever done for us? A cap on the amount of hours an employer can make you work The Working Time directive provides legal standards to ensure the health and safety of employees in Europe. Among the many rules are a working week of a maximum 48 hours, including overtime, a daily rest period of 11 hours in every 24, a break if a person works for six hours or more, and one day off in every seven. It also includes provisions for paid annual leave of at least four weeks every year Getty Images What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Helping the people of Britain to avoid smoking In 2014 MEPs passed the Tobacco Products Directive strengthening existing rules on the manufacture, production and presentation of tobacco products. This includes things like reduced branding, restrictions on products containing flavoured tobacco, health warnings on cigarette packets and provisions for e-cigarettes to ensure they are safe What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Helping you to make the right choices with your food Thanks to the European Parliament, UK consumers have access to more information than ever about their food and drink. This includes amount of fat, and how much of it is saturated, carbohydrates, sugars, protein and so on. It also includes portion sizes and guideline daily amount information so people can make informed choices about their diet. All facts must be clear and easy to understand What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Two year guarantees and 14-day returns policy for all products Consumers across the EU have access to a number of rights, from things which are potentially very useful, to things which used to be annoying. For example, shoppers in the UK receive a two-year guarantee on all products, and a 14-day period to change their minds and return a purchase, these things are useful www.PeopleImages.com-licence restrictions apply What's the European Parliament ever done for us? Keeping your air nice and fresh (and safe) Believe it or not, although the situation is improving, some areas of the UK have appalling air quality. A report by the Royal College of Physicians released on 23 February says 40,000 deaths are caused by outdoor air pollution in the UK every year. Air pollution is linked to a number of illnesses and conditions, from Asthma to diabetes and dementia. The report estimates the costs to British business and the health service add up to 20 billion every year

The Christina S now owned by Peter and J Johnstone a company controlled by major fishing firm Andrew Marr International, which controls 12 per cent of all UK fishing subsidies through a series of subsidiary companies, according to Greenpeace.

The 2016 Sunday Times Rich List said Andrew Marr and his family are worth 122m - making them the 825th richest family in the UK.

Andrew Marr International had a stake in the Christina S between 2005  2008 when the so called black fish scam took place, but they were not among the firms prosecuted and there is no suggestion they or the vessel's other owners played any role in the scam of faced prosecution.

The flotilla, which was joined by Ukip leader Nigel Farage, was supposed to represent British fishers struggling under unfair EU rules depriving them of their fair share of fishing rights.

But Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said it was an unfortunate choice of vessel to lead the flotilla.

"A trawler once involved in Britain's biggest fishing fraud and now owned by a Sunday Times Rich List millionaire is an unfortunate choice to lead a flotilla supposed to represent a fishing industry on its last leg because of Brussels, he said.

It's also an unwitting clue to where the real problem lies. It's not the EU but the grossly unfair division of fish quota rubber stamped by successive UK governments that's threatening the livelihoods of thousands of small-scale fishers.

Brexit cheerleaders like Nigel Farage are cynically exploiting the legitimate anger of many British fishermen for political gain.

Quitting the EU will only condemn the industry to years of wrangling over new fisheries agreements, with no guarantee of a better deal for fishers or stronger protections for our seas."

Greenpeace said many small fishing businesses blame a fish quota allocation that favours large over small vessels for their dire predicament. But the organisation points out that distribution of fishing rights within the UKs fleet is the responsibility of the UKs fisheries minister.
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David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn teamed up at the final Prime Ministers Questions before the EU referendum to attack Boris Johnson and the Leave campaign for masquerading as the saviours of the NHS.

It comes amid a deepening in tensions within Tory circles over the upcoming referendum as 57 MPs pledged to derail George Osbornes budget if Britain voted to leave the EU. The Chancellor had warned  to the dismay of his Eurosceptic colleagues  that Britain would face a fresh round of austerity in the event of a Brexit vote.

Speaking at Prime Ministers Question the Labour leader denounced Mr Johnson and Michael Gove, the pro-Brexit Justice Secretary, as wolves in sheeps clothing as they masqueraded as the saviours of the NHS.

He added: A major funder of the Leave campaign said: If it were up to me I would privatise the National Health Service. The honourable member for Uxbridge said if people have to pay for NHS services they would value them more. Both he and the honourable member for Surrey Heath are members of a government that has put the NHS into record deficit.

Mr Corbyn also raised the defection of prominent Tory MP Sarah Wollaston from the Leave camp to the Remain camp. Didnt the honourable member for Totnes get it right when she rejected the duplicity of this argument in the Leave campaign and decided to join the Remain campaign? the Labour leader asked.

Dr Wollaston, a former GP who chairs an influential parliamentary committee, quit the Leave campaign earlier this month over its false NHS claims. She added that Vote Leaves claim that leaving the EU would provide 350 million for the NHS simply isnt true.

The doctor, who declared for Leave at the start of the campaign, said she realised her view had changed after she had received her postal ballot papers.

Responding to the Labour leader Mr Cameron said he was delighted that Ms Wollaston changed her mind and said it was a brave thing for a politician to do. He added: They key to a strong NHS is a strong economy and there cant be any doubt that nine out of ten economists saying our economy.

What has the EU ever done for us? Show all 7 1 /7 What has the EU ever done for us? What has the EU ever done for us? 1. It gives you freedom to live, work and retire anywhere in Europe As a member of the EU, UK citizens benefit from freedom of movement across the continent. Considered one of the so-called four pillars of the European Union, this freedom allows all EU citizens to live, work and travel in other member states. What has the EU ever done for us? 2. It sustains millions of jobs A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, released in October 2015, suggested 3.1 million British jobs were linked to the UKs exports to the EU. What has the EU ever done for us? 3. Your holiday is much easier - and safer Freedom to travel is one of the most exercised benefits of EU membership, with Britons having made 31 million visits to the EU in 2014 alone. But a lot of the benefits of being an EU citizen are either taken for granted or go unnoticed. What has the EU ever done for us? 4. It means you're less likely to get ripped off Consumer protection is a key benefit of the EUs single market, and ensures members of the British public receive equal consumer rights when shopping anywhere in Europe. What has the EU ever done for us? 5. It offers greater protection from terrorists, paedophiles, people traffickers and cyber-crime Another example of a lesser-known advantage of EU membership is the benefit of cross-country coordination and cooperation in the fight against crime. What has the EU ever done for us? 6. Our businesses depend on it According to 71% of all members of the Confederation of British Influence (CBI), and 67 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU has had an overall positive impact on their business. What has the EU ever done for us? 7. We have greater influence Robin Niblett, Director of think-tank Chatham House, stated in a report published last year: For a mid-sized country like the UK, which will never again be economically dominant either globally or regionally, and whose diplomatic and military resources are declining in relative terms, being a major player in a strong regional institution can offer a critical lever for international influence.

Mr Corbyn also used the last debate before the crucial referendum next week to attack the opportunistic pro-Brexit Tories who should be condemned for faking a "Damascene conversion" to the anti-austerity movement by warning they will block a punishment Budget if Britain leaves the EU.

He criticised the 57 Tory MPs who vowed to vote against George Osborne's potential Brexit Budget, with the Chancellor warning of tax rises to fill a 30 billion black hole that would emerge if the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Cameron said it was one of the very few times he agreed with the Labour leader and insisted the Government would have to further cut public services and increase taxes if Britain votes to leave on June 23.
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Jeremy Corbyn has urged people to stop "blaming Brussels" as Nigel Farage led a flotilla of boats down the Thames to protest the issues with the fishing industry.

The Labour leader was speaking during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday lunchtime, and he brought up the bizarre display taking place on the river outside.

Mr Farage said the boats were there because "we want our waters back", saying: "EU membership has destroyed our industry."

But Mr Corbyn said it was the Government who had given the majority of its fishing quota to just three large companies, at the expense of small fishing enterprises.

He said: "You will be very well aware that reforms that were made three years ago actually put the power back into the hands of member states and it's the UK Government that has given nearly two-thirds of the English and Welsh fishing quotas to just three companies.

"Thus excluding small fishing communities all along our coasts.

"Can you stop blaming Brussels on this and tell us small-scale and sustainable fishing communities what action you will take to allow them to continue their work and indeed go further out in collecting fish?"

David Cameron said the UK fishing industry had grown by around 20% thanks to Government reforms, and insisted it would be hit with tariffs on the sale of fish if Britain pulled out of the EU.

What has the EU ever done for us? Show all 7 1 /7 What has the EU ever done for us? What has the EU ever done for us? 1. It gives you freedom to live, work and retire anywhere in Europe As a member of the EU, UK citizens benefit from freedom of movement across the continent. Considered one of the so-called four pillars of the European Union, this freedom allows all EU citizens to live, work and travel in other member states. What has the EU ever done for us? 2. It sustains millions of jobs A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, released in October 2015, suggested 3.1 million British jobs were linked to the UKs exports to the EU. What has the EU ever done for us? 3. Your holiday is much easier - and safer Freedom to travel is one of the most exercised benefits of EU membership, with Britons having made 31 million visits to the EU in 2014 alone. But a lot of the benefits of being an EU citizen are either taken for granted or go unnoticed. What has the EU ever done for us? 4. It means you're less likely to get ripped off Consumer protection is a key benefit of the EUs single market, and ensures members of the British public receive equal consumer rights when shopping anywhere in Europe. What has the EU ever done for us? 5. It offers greater protection from terrorists, paedophiles, people traffickers and cyber-crime Another example of a lesser-known advantage of EU membership is the benefit of cross-country coordination and cooperation in the fight against crime. What has the EU ever done for us? 6. Our businesses depend on it According to 71% of all members of the Confederation of British Influence (CBI), and 67 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU has had an overall positive impact on their business. What has the EU ever done for us? 7. We have greater influence Robin Niblett, Director of think-tank Chatham House, stated in a report published last year: For a mid-sized country like the UK, which will never again be economically dominant either globally or regionally, and whose diplomatic and military resources are declining in relative terms, being a major player in a strong regional institution can offer a critical lever for international influence.

The Prime Minister said: "We export every year about a billion pounds worth of fish to the EU, and there is no country in the world that has a trade agreement with the EU that doesn't involve tariffs, taxes, on the sale of its fish,so there's no way we would get a better deal from the outside than the deal we get on the inside."

Speaking while his flotilla clashes with rival boats led by Sir Bob Geldof and the Remain campaign, the Ukip leader said: "The governing principle of the common fisheries policy is that of 'equal access to a common resource'.

"Fish stock that should be within the UK's internationally-recognised territorial waters is now shared with our European partners.

"This has led to a 60 per cent drop in oversized landings and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in our industry."

Jobs were also being lost in the charter angling fleet due to new EU regulations on recreational sea angling, said Mr Farage, who said that Norway, outside theEU, was able to control stocks up to 200 miles off its shores and had a "booming" commercial fishing and angling industry.
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Michael Gove has defended his claim that his fathers business was destroyed by the European Union  after the man himself appeared to contradict him.

The Justice Secretary, who is campaigning to leave the EU, claimed earlier this month that his family had a fishing business in Aberdeen destroyed by the European Union and the common fisheries policy.

Ernest Gove however told the Guardian newspaper that the business was not closed because of any hardship or things like that.

I just decided to call it a day and sold up my business and went on to work with someone else, Mr Goves father told the paper.

[I] couldnt see any future in it, that type of thing, the business that I had, so I wasnt going to go into all the trouble of having hardship. I just decided to sell up and get a job with someone else. That was all.

Despite his fathers comments Mr Gove again invoked the tale on a BBC Question Time special discussing the European Union referendum on Wednesday evening. He was immediately pulled up on the comments by presenter David Dimblebly.

Your dad [is] quoted in the newspapers today as saying it wasnt like that  it wasnt hardship or anything, it wasnt the EU that made me close my business, Mr Dimbleby said.

Michael Gove however said his father had had words put into his mouth during the interview and that he was clear about the Common Fisheries Policys role.

My dad was rung up by a reporter from the Guardian who tried to put words into this mouth, he said.

 Brexit 2016: Roundup

But my dad has been clear, he was clear to the BBC on Sunday night, he was clear to me as a boy: that the business that he had invested so much care and time in had to close as a result of the Commons Fisheries Policy.

I remember when my dad ran his business. Two of his employees were lads in a care home. My dad took them in, gave them a job, and allowed them to work in his business and to sleep there in as pare room that he made for them.

That business closed and those boys lost their home when that happened. I know what my dad went through when I was a schoolboy and I dont think that the Guardian or anyone else should belittle his suffering or try to get a 79-year old-man to serve their agenda instead of agreeing and being proud of what his son does.

Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit Show all 10 1 /10 Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit A Fishing for Leave pro-Brexit "flotilla" makes its way along the River Thames in London PA Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit Boats from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group join a flotilla along the Thames River Getty Images Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit Supporters of the EU Remain camp attach banners to Tower Bridge as they await a flotilla of fishing boats campaiging for Brexit to pass under the bridge AFP/Getty Images Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit A Fishing for Leave pro-Brexit "flotilla" alongside HMS Belfast (left) as it makes its way along the River Thames PA Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit Bob Geldof (centre) on board a boat taking part in a pro-EU counter demonstration PA Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit A flotilla of fishing vessels campaigning to leave the European Union REUTERS Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit A boat from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group and smaller boats from the 'In' campaign join a flotilla along the Thames River Getty Images Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit A fishing boat campaiging for Brexit passes by the Tower of London AFP/Getty Images Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit A boat decked out in flags and banners from the 'Fishing for Leave' campaign group Getty Images Nigel Farage joins 'Fishing for Leave' flotilla campaigning for Brexit Fishing boats campaiging for Brexit pass under Tower Bridge AFP/Getty Images

Elsewhere in the wide-ranging question session Mr Gove refused to back his own partys plan for a post-Brexit austerity budget.

George Osborne said last night he would expect to have to raise the basic rate of income tax by two per cent and also increase the higher rate of income tax and inheritance tax because of a black hole left by Brexit.

But Mr Gove said said he would not back the plan, effectively ruling himself out from a government job were the Chancellor to remain in post after Brexit. He said he did not believe the predictions of the many organisations who have said leaving the EU would hurt Britains public finances.

David Cameron will appear in a similar Question Time special on Sunday evening on BBC One.

Mr Goves confirmation came as Cabinet colleague Theresa May, who is supporting a vote to Remain, said that there was nevertheless a case for further reform of EU freedom of movement rules.

The Home Secretary, who has kept a low profile during the referendum debate, told the BBC that she understood voters concerns about immigration.

There are some changes coming up in free movement rules, to make it easier for us to deal with illegal immigrants and I think again as I've said that we should look at further reform in the future, she said.

But when we look at the question of membership I understand people have concerns over immigration, but this is about our economy, our security it's about our future place in the world and I think it's important that people look at all these issues.

The European Union referendum will take place on 23 June this year. The deadline to register to vote has already passed.
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MP's have said Britain should develop its own expanded national space programme, and the Government should be more ambitious in its plan for a UK spaceport. In a report on the countrys space and satellite industries, the House of Commons Science and Technology committee found that three-quarters of the UK Space Agencys spending is channelled through the European Space Agency.

But MPs said that more Government spending should support home-grown technologies to allow the UKs satellite industry to flourish, alongside work done jointly with European neighbours. The Government plans to set up a UK spaceport by 2018, with sites in Glasgow and Newquay in the running for a licence to host commercial space flights in the future.

However, MPs said, that any such spaceport should not just accommodate horizontal take-offs by a future generation of sub-orbital space planes, but also vertical launches that can put satellites in space and are therefore of more use to the UK industry.

Nicola Blackwood, chair of the committee, said that attention on Major Tim Peake, the first British European Space Agency astronaut, and his mission aboard the International Space Station, had led to renewed interest in the UKs role in space exploration, and urged the government not to waste the opportunity to expand the countrys programme, alongside its European commitments. The UK has, so far, only taken small steps towards launching a national space programme that would enable our innovative space and satellite industries to get the flight heritage they need. Now is the time to take a confident leap towards that goal, she said.

In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Major Tim Peake blasting off into orbit on board the Soyuz space capsule on his way to becoming the first British astronaut to join the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) PA In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Major Tim Peake (left) blasting off into orbit on board the Soyuz space capsule on his way to becoming the first British astronaut to join the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) PA In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Photographers take pictures as Russia's Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft carrying the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 46/47 crew of Britain's astronaut Tim Peake, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and US astronaut Tim Kopra blasts off from the launch pad at Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome AFP In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Expedition 46-47 crewmembers ESA astronaut Tim Peake, NASA astronaut Tim Kopra and commander Yuri Malenchenko launch into space from Baikonur cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan Getty Images In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space The Russian rocket launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in front of the world's media following weeks of preparation PA In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space The Russian rocket minutes before launch In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Tim Peake, member of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), waves to his children from a bus prior the launch of Soyuz TMA-19M space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space US astronaut Tim Kopra waves as he boards the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft at the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome, prior to blasting off to the International Space Station (ISS) Getty Images In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space Britain's astronaut Tim Peake (bottom), Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko (top) and US astronaut Tim Kopra board the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft at the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome, prior to blasting off to the International Space Station (ISS) Getty Images In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space British astronaut Tim Peake, member of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), during inspecting his space suit prior the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan AP In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space British astronaut Tim Peake, left, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, center, and U.S. astronaut Tim Kopra, members of the main crew of the expedition to the International Space Station (ISS), walk to report to members of the State Committee prior to the launch of Soyuz TMA-19M space ship at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan AP In pictures: Tim Peake goes into space From left, British astronaut Tim Peake, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and U.S. astronaut Tim Kopra, members of the main crew to the International Space Station (ISS), wave to their relatives near a bus prior the launch of Soyuz-FG rocket at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan AP

The report found that the overall UK space economy had a turnover of 11.8bn in 2012-13, and employed more than 35,000 people. Britain is a world-leader in the manufacture of small satellites, a sector MPs said could benefit from a focused UK space programme to sit alongside the countrys contribution to the European Space Agency. The Government has set a target for the UK to have 10 per cent of the global market in space technology by 2030. 60m in public funding has been invested into the development of a revolutionary new jet-powered space plane engines  a programme that is running concurrently with plans for a space port.

The Governments plans for a UK spaceport will help keep the UK at the forefront of developments in space plane technology, Ms Blackwood said. It is a bold ambition but it now needs solid action.
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Just 24 per cent of net migration since 1990 is down to the UKs membership of the European Union, analysis by the Independent can reveal.

The findings throw cold water on the increasingly histrionic statements about immigration made in recent weeks by Vote Leave, the official campaign for Brexit, as well as claims made this week by The Sun and Migration Watch.

A total of 76 per cent of net migration by non-British citizens over the past 25 years has come from non-EU countries.

What has the EU ever done for us? Show all 7 1 /7 What has the EU ever done for us? What has the EU ever done for us? 1. It gives you freedom to live, work and retire anywhere in Europe As a member of the EU, UK citizens benefit from freedom of movement across the continent. Considered one of the so-called four pillars of the European Union, this freedom allows all EU citizens to live, work and travel in other member states. What has the EU ever done for us? 2. It sustains millions of jobs A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, released in October 2015, suggested 3.1 million British jobs were linked to the UKs exports to the EU. What has the EU ever done for us? 3. Your holiday is much easier - and safer Freedom to travel is one of the most exercised benefits of EU membership, with Britons having made 31 million visits to the EU in 2014 alone. But a lot of the benefits of being an EU citizen are either taken for granted or go unnoticed. What has the EU ever done for us? 4. It means you're less likely to get ripped off Consumer protection is a key benefit of the EUs single market, and ensures members of the British public receive equal consumer rights when shopping anywhere in Europe. What has the EU ever done for us? 5. It offers greater protection from terrorists, paedophiles, people traffickers and cyber-crime Another example of a lesser-known advantage of EU membership is the benefit of cross-country coordination and cooperation in the fight against crime. What has the EU ever done for us? 6. Our businesses depend on it According to 71% of all members of the Confederation of British Influence (CBI), and 67 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU has had an overall positive impact on their business. What has the EU ever done for us? 7. We have greater influence Robin Niblett, Director of think-tank Chatham House, stated in a report published last year: For a mid-sized country like the UK, which will never again be economically dominant either globally or regionally, and whose diplomatic and military resources are declining in relative terms, being a major player in a strong regional institution can offer a critical lever for international influence.

Leaving the EU would have no effect on levels of net migration from these countries; net migration is the number of people immigrating to the UK minus those emigrating from it.

The chart below dates to 1975, just after the UK joined the EU. Full 40-year figures show an even smaller proportion of immigration has been from the EU.

Source: Office of National Statistics

The Independents analysis is based on data provided by the Office of National Statistics. And their data lets us assign a specific host country to 2.1 million of the 5.2 million net migrants who have come to the UK since 1990, when immigration levels began to rise.

These 2.1 million cover the most significant countries: around 40 per cent have come from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh; with 15 per cent from China; 11 per cent from the Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Canada; 5 per cent from the USA; and 3 per cent from the Philippines.

10 per cent have come from Western Europe countries, mainly from Germany, France and Italy, with the other 15 per cent or so coming from countries that joined the EU more recently, such as Poland, Lithuania and Romania.

ONS measure migration through their International Passenger Survey, which runs all year-round and questions people entering and leaving the UK at airports, ferry terminals and the Channel Tunnel, using their responses to estimate migration for the entire country.

The analysis also reveals that migrants from Poland  the fourth most popular host country since 1990, after India, China and Pakistan  are coming to England far less than they did in the mid-2000s and are increasingly emigrating back to Poland.

Between 2009 and 2014, between 27,000 and 34,000 Poles migrated to England each year. Thats half as many per year as immigrated in 2005 to 2008. And an average of 17,000 per year have returned to Poland in the six years since 2009.

Credit: Getty

It is migrants from India, China and Pakistan who are arriving in the UK in far greater numbers, and have so far been less likely to leave.

Net migration from India was more than twice as high as from Poland in 2014, the latest year for which detailed data is available, and an average of 49,000 Indians have arrived in the UK every year for the past decade, while only 12,000 per year have left.

The UK has also become more Chinese than Polish since 2005, with 30,000 migrants arriving on average each year from China and 11,000 departing.

The figures also capture the churn in the past decade of migrants from less remarked-upon countries, such as Australia (18,000 per year arriving and 15,000 departing) and the USA (19,000 arriving, 11,000 departing).

While many tabloid headlines over the past decade have focused on Poland, and other Eastern European countries like Lithuania and now Romania, the data shows how a country like Pakistan  while it was no longer a top ten host country for immigrants in 2013 and 2014  has actually contributed more net migrants to the UK since 1990 than Poland; the emigration rates of its migrants are very low, they stay in the UK.

Regardless of ones views about immigration into the UK, and ignoring any of its potential cultural, economic or psychological benefits, the numbers tell a clear story: Brexit will not bring net migration down into the tens of thousands.

For that to happen Britain must change its approach to migrants from India and China, but students from these countries effectively fund much of the UKs higher education sector, subsiding British students.

 What to believe about the EU referendum

Without Indian and Chinese students (88 per cent of Chinese immigrants in 2014 were aged 15-29, 56 per cent of Indian immigrants were), domestic tuition fees would have to rise drastically.

There are few easy fixes. And when it comes to immigration, the data suggests Brexit would solve very little.

The EU referendum debate has so far been characterised by bias, distortion and exaggeration. So until 23 June we were running a series of question and answer features that explain the most important issues in a detailed, dispassionate way to help inform your decision.

What is Brexit and why are we having an EU referendum?

Will we gain or lose rights by leaving the European Union?

What will happen to immigration if there's Brexit?

Will Brexit make the UK more or less safe?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will leaving the EU save taxpayers money and mean more money for the NHS?

What will Brexit do to UK trade?

How Brexit will affect British tourism

What will Brexit mean for British tourists booking holidays in the EU?

Will Brexit help or damage the environment?

Will Brexit mean that Europeans have to leave the UK?

What will Brexit mean for British expats?
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Boris Johnson was left flustered on Tuesday after being forced to admit  during a live debate on the EU referendum  that he hadnt read a Bank of England report he had seconds earlier misquoted.

The blunder became evident after the former Mayor of London claimed during the debate that large movements of labour across the EU have a compressing effect on wages.

But Alex Salmond, the former Scottish First Minister who was on the panel arguing the case to Remain in the EU, asked: Who in the Bank of England said that?

Mr Johnson replied: It was a Bank of England study that showed that for every 10 per cent increase in immigration there was a two per cent reduction in wages.

Mr Salmond, however, continued to interrogate the former London Mayor. He asked: Have you read that study Boris? Have you actually read it,

After a short silence, Mr Johnson replied: I have not read that study.

Mr Salmond added: Can we just nail this because Ive heard this from a number of people. So Ive taken the trouble of reading the study it says a 10 per cent rise in immigration would result in a one third of one pence diminution in average wages. One third of one pence."

It comes as Lord Stuart Rose, the chair of the Remain campaign, said he had been misquoted over claims wages would go up if Britons voted to leave the EU  adding they would in fact go down.

He told the Guardian: I would say this, wouldnt I, but I was misquoted. I was asked a straight economic question  which is if labour goes down in availability, what happens to the cost of labour and the answer is simple economics, the cost of labour goes up.

But that is not anything to do with the actual argument about whether we should or shouldnt be in the bigger community. What we really have to be sure about is a continually growing economy, which I believe we have more chance of doing in a 500 million-person community and the largest economic bloc in the world.

The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit Show all 7 1 /7 The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 22 May 2015 In his regular column in The Express Nigel Farage utilised the concerns over Putin and the EU to deliver a tongue in cheek conclusion. With friends like these, who needs enemies? PA The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 13 November 2015 UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Mike Hookem, was one of several political figures who took no time to harness the toxic atmosphere just moments after Paris attacks to push an agenda. Cameron says were safer in the EU. Well Im in the centre of the EU and it doesnt feel very safe. Getty Images The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 19 April 2016 In an article written for The Guardian, Michael Gove attempts to bolster his argument with a highly charged metaphor in which he likens UK remaining in the EU to a hostage situation. Were voting to be hostages locked in the back of the car and driven headlong towards deeper EU integration. Rex The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 26 April 2016 In a move that is hard to decipher, let alone understand, Mike Hookem stuck it to Obama re-tweeting a UKIP advertisement that utilises a quote from the film: Love Actually to dishonour the US stance on the EU. A friend who bullies us is no longer a friend The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 10 May 2016 During a speech in London former work and pensions secretary Ian Duncan Smith said that EU migration would cause an increasing divide between people who benefit from immigration and people who couldnt not find work because of uncontrolled migration. The European Union is a force for social injustice which backs the haves rather than the have-nots. EPA The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 15 May 2016 Cartoon character Boris Johnson made the news again over controversial comments that the EU had the same goal as Hitler in trying to create a political super state. Napoleon, Hitler, various people tried this out, and it ends tragically. The EU is an attempt to do this by different methods. PA The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 16 May 2016 During a tour of the womens clothing manufacturer David Nieper, Boris had ample time to cook up a new metaphor, arguably eclipsing Goves in which he compares the EU to badly designed undergarments. So I just say to all those who prophecy doom and gloom for the British Business, I say their pants are on fire. Lets say knickers to the pessimists, knickers to all those who talk Britain down. Getty Images

Speaking at the online debate, Mr Salmond also quoted the SNP manifesto for last month's Holyrood elections which stated that the parliament should have the right to hold a new referendum if a UK poll saw Scotland taken out of the EU against her will.

"You don't know the result of a referendum in advance, but what we do know is that the SNP stood on that manifesto in last month's election and got 47% of the vote in Scotland.

"Now, this referendum we are having just now was held by David Cameron on a mandate of 37% of the vote.

"So, it would have to go through the Scottish Parliament. It would have to be a Remain vote in Scotland, accompanying a Brexit elsewhere, but under these circumstances, the answer to your question is yes," Mr Salmond said.

The comments appear in contrast to Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's stance that she is only interested in campaigning for a Remain vote and will not speculate on possible political repercussions of Brexit.

The EU referendum debate has so far been characterised by bias, distortion and exaggeration. So until 23 June we were running a series of question and answer features that explain the most important issues in a detailed, dispassionate way to help inform your decision.

What is Brexit and why are we having an EU referendum?

Will we gain or lose rights by leaving the European Union?

What will happen to immigration if there's Brexit?

Will Brexit make the UK more or less safe?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will leaving the EU save taxpayers money and mean more money for the NHS?

What will Brexit do to UK trade?

How Brexit will affect British tourism

What will Brexit mean for British tourists booking holidays in the EU?

Will Brexit help or damage the environment?

Will Brexit mean that Europeans have to leave the UK?

What will Brexit mean for British expats?
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The wreckage of an EgyptAir flight that went missing over the Mediterranean last month has been found, say Egyptian officials.

The committee investigating the crash said in a statement that a vessel contracted by the Egyptian government to join search efforts for the Airbus A320 had identified several main locations of the wreckage.

Accordingly the first images of the wreckage were provided to the investigation committee, it said.

All 66 people and crew on board flight MS804 were killed when it crashed on 19 May after disappearing from radar en route to Cairo from Paris.

Wreckage from EgyptAir flight MS804 has been found in the Mediterranean Sea (EPA)

The cause of the disaster remains unknown and no group has claimed an attack.

Automatic messages sent in the minutes before the plane disappeared from radar appeared to indicate problems with the cockpit windows, autopilot and the flight control system, and smoke on board.

The search team and the investigators on board will draw up a map with the wreckage distribution spots based on the locations, it added.

In pictures: Wreckage from EgyptAir flight 804 Show all 5 1 /5 In pictures: Wreckage from EgyptAir flight 804 In pictures: Wreckage from EgyptAir flight 804 EgyptAir wreckage The Egyptian army published photos showing wreckage and debris from EgyptAir flight 804 on 21 May Egyptian army In pictures: Wreckage from EgyptAir flight 804 EgyptAir wreckage The Egyptian army published photos showing wreckage and debris from EgyptAir flight 804 on 21 May Egyptian army In pictures: Wreckage from EgyptAir flight 804 EgyptAir wreckage The Egyptian army published photos showing wreckage and debris from EgyptAir flight 804 on 21 May Egyptian army In pictures: Wreckage from EgyptAir flight 804 EgyptAir wreckage The Egyptian army published photos showing wreckage and debris from EgyptAir flight 804 on 21 May In pictures: Wreckage from EgyptAir flight 804 EgyptAir wreckage The Egyptian army published photos showing wreckage and debris from EgyptAir flight 804 on 21 May

Earlier this month, a French company said its special undersea search ship had picked up signals emanating from EgyptAir flight 804s black boxes in the Mediterranean Sea.

The missing flight data recorders may hold vital information for officials investigating what caused the plane to crash.

Egypts civil aviation minister initially said he believed terrorism was a more likely explanation than equipment failure but so far no hard evidence has emerged.

A forensics official said body parts retrieved so far were small and pointed to a possible explosion on board, but the head of Egypts forensics authority dismissed it as mere assumptions.

Among the victims was Richard Osman, a father-of-two from Wales, and a Frenchman who almost missed the fated flight after losing his passport.

EgyptAir said 30 Egyptians, 15 French passengers, two Iraqis, and one passenger from Britain, Sudan, Chad, Portugal, Algeria, Canada, Belgium, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia were on board.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Crime scene photographs of Reeva Steenkamps dead body after she was killed by her boyfriend Oscar Pistorius will be made public, a judge has ruled.

Judge Thokozile Masipa approved a request on Wednesday from Chief Prosecutor Gerrie Nel to release the pictures showing Ms Steenkamp's fatal wounds including a severe head injury.

Recommended Read more Pistorius removes prosthetic legs as lawyer appeals for leniency

The decision comes after Pistorius walked around North Gauteng High Court without his prosthetic legs as his lawyer Barry Roux attempted to show the double-amputee Olympic athlete is a vulnerable man who deserves leniency when sentenced.

The former Paralympic and Olympic athlete is due to be sentenced for the murder of his girlfriend after his initial manslaughter conviction  for which he served 10 months of a five-year sentence  was upgraded to murder upon appeal.

Mr Roux argued Pistorius had no intent to kill his girlfriend and believed she was an intruder when he shot her through a door on Valentines Day 2013.

 Oscar Pistorius removes prosthetic legs

WARNING: Below are images of Reeva Steenkamp that some readers may find distressing

Arguing that Pistorius was a scared and disabled man when he shot Ms Steenkamp, Mr Roux told the court: "I don't want to overplay disability but the time has come that we must just look [at Pistorius] with different eyes.

Pictures of Ms Steenkamps dead body have previously been withheld from the public in order to protect the integrity of the deceased.

Speaking at Pistorius sentencing hearing, Mr Nel asked Judge Masipa to lift the order banning the publication of the photographs, citing a request from Ms Steenkamps her father in his testimony on Tuesday.

GRAPHIC CONTENT: Exhibit pictures of Reeva Steenkamp after the court released them following a request from her family (Getty Images ) (Getty Images)

Barry Steenkamps father broke down in the witness box as he told the court how he and his wife have struggled to cope since his daughters murder.

While speaking of the emotional impact of his daughters death he said had seen only one photo of Ms Steenkamps murdered body, the one that was produced in court when Mr Steenkamp was present two years ago, but that he wanted the world to see the others, as a warning to anyone thinking of using firearms.

Barry Steenkamp, father of Reeva Steenkamp, gives evidence in the Oscar Pistorius sentencing hearing at the high court in Pretoria

Mr Nel repeated the request in court adding: The court should have access to these photographs. The court itself should revisit certain things in sentencing.

Four bullets tore through her body. The court should take that into account as an aggravating factor Its part of sentencing.

We think its time that people should see what those bullets did; what the accused did.

The defendants brother, Carl Pistorius, who is in court, said over twitter that the application to release the photos was distasteful.

This application is distasteful to all parties. Except perhaps some parties who stand to profit from such, said Mr Pistorius.

Defence lawyer Mr Roux suggested the application was inappropriate at this stage of the proceedings and should have been a separate application with separate submissions. He asked the court: Must children look at it?.. What is going to be achieved?

Reeva Steenkamp: Model and law graduate Show all 5 1 /5 Reeva Steenkamp: Model and law graduate Reeva Steenkamp: Model and law graduate v2pistorius1.jpg South African Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp AP Reeva Steenkamp: Model and law graduate Reeva-Steenkamp-FHM-model,-.jpg Reeva Steenkamp, girlfriend of Oscar Pistorius GETTY IMAGES Reeva Steenkamp: Model and law graduate fhm.jpg Reeva Steenkamp appeared in FHM FHM Reeva Steenkamp: Model and law graduate Reeva.Steenkamp.jpg Reeva Steenkamp Getty Images Reeva Steenkamp: Model and law graduate Reeva.Steenkamp.cooking.jpg Reeva Steenkamp Getty Images

While allowing the request to release the pictures, Judge Masipa said as it was the state that initially asked for the pictures to be withheld and it is now the same party now asking for them to be made public, the request did not need to be dealt with in a separate application.

Judge Masipa has the power to reduce South Africas minimum 15-year prison term for murder after listening to evidence from the prosecution and defence.

Mr Nel said Pistorius should get the minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for murder, arguing that he had not shown genuine remorse as well as noting the seriousness of the crime and the devastating impact on Ms Steenkamp's family.

Judge Masipa says she will announce Pistorius' sentence for the murder of Ms Steenkamp on 6 July.

Additional reporting by agencies
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The headmaster of a primary school has sparked controversy after writing to parents warning them to not let their children fast during Ramadan.

The state school in Melilla, a Spanish city in North Africa, told parents that children under 12 would be exempt.

Observing Ramadan could provoke episodes of light-headedness, migraines and sunstroke as a result of dehydration or lack of sustenance, said Alfonso Garcia Zafra, the head of the Juan Caro public primary school.

Recommended Read more Elderly Hindu man beaten up for eating during Ramadan in Pakistan

Along with the letter was a missive from the schools Islamic Studies teacher that said students who have not reached puberty  and all who study here are under 12  are exempt from fasting under Islamic teaching."

So I advise  and am supported by the Islam teacher  that parents follow this recommendation because of the host of activities planned until the end of term, and because of the heat," wrote Mr Zafra.

Parents have rejected the letter as interfering in religious issues, and Dris Mohammed Amar, the leader of Melillas Islamic Council said a school had no place interfering on religious matters, according to local news El Faro Digital.

He added a school cannot dictate when a child reached puberty, which is the stage from which Muslim children will fast during the holy month.

It is up to parents and not the school to decide whether they have reached puberty and whether or not they should observe the fast, he said.

Jose Mauel Calzado from Melillas Department of Education said the letter was only sent to remind parents that the school year was not yet over and that physical activities may form part of the curriculum and that fasting was not compulsory for children.

During Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims except for the sick and travelling, do not eat or drink between dawn and dusk.
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The body of a 2-year-old Nebraska boy has been found by Florida officials on Wednesday more than 15 hours after the toddler was attacked by an alligator at the Walt Disney World resort in Orlando.

A source close to the investigation told CNN that the boys body has been recovered after he was attacked in the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian resort around 9pm on Tuesday night.

More than 50 deputies are searching to rescue the child on Wednesday morning.

"The sad reality of it is it's been several hours, and we're not likely going to recover a live body," Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said at a news conference.

Boats equipped with sonar equipment failed to find any alligators with signs of evidence they were involved in the attack. Officials have euthanized four alligators in the search.

 Alligator drags 2-year-old into water at Disney World resort in Florida

Weve already taken four alligators and looked at four alligators and couldnt find any evidence that they were involved, Nick Wiley, spokesman at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said at the news conference. They had to be euthanized to be analyzed.

The boys father also made an attempt to rescue his son, suffering minor scratches on his hand from the failed attempt.

"Just overheard a group talking about how the father was wrestling with he alligator," one witness wrote on Twitter. "This just gets worse and worse."

As the three hour search party continued, fireworks went off in the resort, even as helicopters circled the resort's Seven Seas Lagoon.



AJ Jain said that he and his family were playing on the beach near the incident on Tuesday night.

Im just here to say a prayer, Jain told the Orlando Sentinel. I cant imagine what those parents are going through. Its been one tough week in Orlando.

Authorities have scheduled a press conference for early Wednesday morning.
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Four alligators have been euthanised during the search for a missing child, dragged into a lagoon by one of the creatures at a Disney resort, investigators have said.

Their bodies were examined but there was no evidence of an attack on the two-year-old boy, who was was snatched as he paddled in view of his family on the shore of the Seven Seas lagoon at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Orlando, Florida.

A search for the child is continuing but has so far been unsuccessful.

Officials from the Florida Wildlife Commission said its investigators were trained to identify possible culprit alligators, leading to the deaths of the four reptiles.

The lagoon's size is unknown to investigators, but it feeds off in to a number of different canals, further complicating search efforts.

The alligator was estimated to be between 4ft and 7ft long. The animals are common throughout Florida and have been known to grow to enormous sizes.

The revelation comes after police told of how the boy's father desperately fought to rescue his son after he was snatched by the alligator.

Its my understanding the father was there nearby and the child was playing in the water, just a foot or so into the water, and the alligator came up, Orange County Sheriff, Jerry Demings, told reporters on Tuesday.

The father at some point struggled to try to get his son and was not successful and then alerted others to try and assist him in the process.

The mother of the child also may have entered the lagoon in an attempt to rescue him, Sheriff Demings said.

 'Monster' alligator filmed ambling around Florida golf course

A 50-strong search party, including an alligator tracker, sonar, marine units and helicopters searched through the night in a bid to find the child. A similar response is expected today, and police vowed to continue searching.

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney is helping the family. When asked if Disney was aware of alligators on the property, Ms Wahaler said there were signs that said "no swimming."

US alligator hunters break record for biggest beast ever caught Show all 8 1 /8 US alligator hunters break record for biggest beast ever caught US alligator hunters break record for biggest beast ever caught alligator-1.jpg AP US alligator hunters break record for biggest beast ever caught alligator-2.jpg Reuters US alligator hunters break record for biggest beast ever caught alligator-3.jpg Reuters US alligator hunters break record for biggest beast ever caught alligator-4.jpg Reuters US alligator hunters break record for biggest beast ever caught alligator-6.jpg Reuters US alligator hunters break record for biggest beast ever caught alligator-7.jpg @thecanadacom/Twitter US alligator hunters break record for biggest beast ever caught alligator-8.jpg mdwfp US alligator hunters break record for biggest beast ever caught alligator-5.jpg Reuters

There had been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks on the lake, Ms Demings said, adding, "We have no record of this happening before."

The incident comes two days after a gunman killed 49 people at a gay nightclub nearby in Orlando in the worst mass murder in modern US history.
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Officials in Florida have said they now consider the toddler taken by an alligator at a Disney resort could not have survived and were now working to recover its body. They also revealed that Disney was part of a criminal investigation into the incident.

Orange County Sheriff, Jerry Demings said on Tuesday morning that it was more than 15 hours since the two-year-old from Nebraska had been taken. There were eye witnesses who saw the child taken under the water, he said.

Four alligators had been euthanised during the search for the child, dragged into a lagoon by one of the creatures at the Seven Seas lagoon at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Orlando. Yet none of the animals were deemed to have been involved in taking the child.

The police officer also said there was ongoing criminal investigation into the incident. Asked whether that included Disney and its role in what happened,Mr Demings said: That is correct.
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What is No Fly, No Buy?

The FBIs Terror Screening Center complies a secret database of people suspected of having involvement with terrorist activities. There are two separate lists: the terrorist watch list of more than 400,000 names and the no-fly list, which prevents more than 16,000 people from boarding planes in the states.

Peter King, a Republican from New York, and Dianne Feinstein, a Democratic senator from California, introduced the Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act last year but the measure was struck down by House Republicans with a 45-54 vote. An amended version of the bill would have only delayed each purchase for 72 hours pending an investigation.

The proposed legislation, which Senate Democrats are currently filibustering for gun control, would give the attorney general authority to deny people on terror watch lists from legally purchasing firearms and explosives.

What are the current laws?

Theres no law currently in place that bans the sale of firearms or explosives to people on terror watch lists or no fly lists. FBI officials are notified when gun shops conduct background checks on people on watch lists but they cannot intervene.

Between 2013 and 2014, individuals on watch lists legally purchased firearms with a 94 percent success rate. Those denied had previous convictions for substance abuse, domestic violence or suffered adjudicated mental health.

Why was it blocked after San Bernardino?

The Republican controlled Congress argued in 2015 that the no fly list and terror watch lists are only follow suspicious persons who have not been accused or convicted of any crimes.

Igor Volsky, a contributing editor at Think Progress, found that the National Rifle Association spent $19.7 million on candidates who publicly offered their prayers to the shooting victims with no mention of gun reform.

What are the chances of it being passed?

Little to none.

Following the worst mass shooting in US history, House Democrats and the presumptive Republican nominee announced renewed support for the failed legislation, the NRA responded by promising that they surely support the legislation, despite their ongoing contributions to Congress that would suggest otherwise.

The NRA believes that terrorists should not be allowed to purchase or possess firearms, period. Anyone on a terror watch list who tries to buy a gun should be thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the sale delayed while the investigation is ongoing, NRA legal director Chris Cox said in a statement.

If an investigation uncovers evidence of terrorist activity or involvement, the government should be allowed to immediately go to court, block the sale, and arrest the terrorist. At the same time, due process protections should be put in place that allow law-abiding Americans who are wrongly put on a watch list to be removed.
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An ex-Marine who was working as a bouncer at the Pulse nightclub on Saturday night is believed to have saved as many as 70 lives after he reacted first to the sound of high calibre gunfire.

Imran Yousuf, a 24-year-old Hindu who left the Marine Corps just two months earlier, broke down in an interview with CBS News as he said: I wish I could have saved more to be honest there are a lot of people dead.

The veteran found himself at the centre of the worst mass shooting in modern US history, and likely walked right past the shooter Omar Mateen as he did his rounds.

But he was at the back of the club when Mateen walked in armed, firing indiscriminately with an AR-15 style assault rifle.

Many witnesses have spoken in the aftermath of the shooting about how they initially thought the noise of the gunfire was part of the show. But Mr Yousuf said he recognised it right away.

The initial one was three or four (shots), he said. That was a shock. Three of four shots go off and you could tell it was a high calibre.

Everyone froze. I'm here in the back and I saw people start pouring into the back hallway, and they just sardine pack everyone.

In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Show all 44 1 /44 In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Frank Escalante AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Luis Daniel Conde AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Brenda Lee Marquez McCool In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Joel Rayon Paniagua AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Jerald Arthur Wright AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Paul Terrell Henry AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Shane Evan Tomlinson AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Antonio Davon Brown AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Jason Benjamin Josaphat AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Enrique L. Rios, Jr. AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Darryl Roman Burt AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Cory James Connell REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Tevin Eugene Crosby AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Jonathan Antonio Camuy-Vega AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Leroy Valentin Fernandez AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Christopher Andrew Leinonen AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Angel L. Candelario-Padro AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Simon Adrian Carrillo-Fernande AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Javier Jorge-Reyes AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Gilberto Ramon Silva-Menendez AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Juan P. Rivera-Velazquez AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Miguel Angel Honorato AP In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Jean Carlos Mendez Perez REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Mercedez Marisol Flores REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Anthony Luis Laureano Disla REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Franky Jimmy De Jesus Velazquez REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Oscar A. Aracena-Montero REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Martin Benitez Torres REUTERS In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Stanley Almodovar Facebook/Stanley Manolo Almodovar III In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Eddie Justice Faebook/ Eddie Justice In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Luis Vielma Twitter/@jk_rowling In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera Facebook/ Eric Rivera In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Juan Ramon Guerrero Facebook/ Juan Ramon Guerrero In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz Facebook/ Peter Gonzalez Cruz In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Amanda Alvear Facebook/ Amanda Alvear In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Anthony Disla Facebook/ Anthony Disla In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Edward Sotomayor Twitter/@ryanraiche In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo Facebook/Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo In pictures: The victims of the Orlando shooting Kimberley Morris Twitter/ @katiezavadski

In the panic, no one thought to try a locked door leading out the pack of the club onto the street. Mr Yousuf shouted at them to open the door!, but they were all shocked into inaction.

There was only one choice. Either we all stay there and we all die, or I could take the chance, and I jumped over to open that latch a we got everyone that we can out of there.

As soon as people found that door was open they kept pouring out and after that we just ran.

Mr Yousuf estimates there were probably over 60, 70 people trapped in the corridor before he got them out. According to the Daily Gazette, he stayed on afterwards to help carry the wounded to ambulances.

Speaking to the Gazette, Imrans brother Ameer Yousuf said: This was so unexpected but because of my brothers training in the Marine Corps, he was prepared and used strategies from that to do everything he did.

Ameer said his brother joined the Marines at 17 straight out of high school, and served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Hed been working at Pulse for around a month before the shooting on Saturday night, and is also back in school learning to become a personal trainer.

 Orlando survivor: There were bodies everywhere

Because of his training, he knew to remove his security shirt and how to think as quickly as he did, said Ameer.

Mr Yousuf wrote in a Facebook post on Monday, describing how he only reacted by instinct and asking people focus their efforts on the victims and their families.

I have lost a few of my friends that night which I am just finding out about right now and while it might seem that my actions are heroic I decided that the others around me needed to be saved as well and so I just reacted, he wrote.

We need to show our love and profound efforts to the families and friends who have lost someone and help them cope with what happened and turn our efforts to those who truly need it.

Once again I sincerely thank everyone and bless all those who are recovering and trying to make sense of it all.
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A Republican Congressman has sparked outrage by reportedly claiming that the nightclub targeted in a massacre that killed 49 people was not a gay club.

Pete Sessions described Pulse, which branded itself as Orlandos premiere gay nightclub, as a place for young people on Tuesday.

Daniel Newhauser, a reporter for the National Journal, quoted the Texas representative: It was a young persons nightclub, Im told. And there were some [LGBT people] there, but it was mostly Latinos.

More than 300 people were attending Saturday nights Latin music event at the club when Omar Mateen opened fire with an assault rifle and handgun, killing 49 people and wounding 53 more.

 Orlando survivor writes poem

Mr Sessions representatives later reportedly said that he was confused over the fact that straight people and those of Latin American descent had also been at Pulse.

His alleged comments sparked outrage as reports spread on social media, causing an avalanche of comments on the Republicans official Facebook page.

You are a disgusting piece of work, one commenter wrote.

Bobbie Halegewelle added: Latino, gay, and young people are not mutually exclusive terms. LGBTQ folks come from all walks of life.

Mr Sessions office has not yet responded to The Independents request for a comment.

Before the attack, Pulses website described the club as the hottest gay bar in Orlando.

In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People gather at a vigil in solidarity for the victims of the Orlando nightclub mass shooting, at Taylor Square in Sydney EPA In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Brett Morian, from Daytona Beach, hugs an attendee during the candlelight vigil at Ember in Orlando AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People and members of the gay community holding the peace rainbow flag gather for a vigil near the Beaubourg art center in downtown Paris AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A man places a hand print on a makeshift memorial in a parking lot near the Pulse nightclub in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People attend a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Orlando attack against a gay night club, held in San Francisco REUTERS In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People place candles by a statue of Abraham Lincoln during a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Orlando attack against a gay night club, held in San Francisco REUTERS In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Tel-Aviv city hall lit up with rainbow flag colors in solidarity with Florida's shooting attack victims AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Juan Mantilla (L) stands with his partner during a vigil in memory of the victims of the Orlando mass shooting, in Miami Beach AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A couple shares a kiss as they embrace each other under a pride flag while residents of San Francisco and the Bay Area gather to mourn, honor, and remember the victims of a mass shooting at a LGBT nightclub in Orlando EPA In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Austin Ellis, a member of Metropolitan Community Church, carries a cross with a sign in memory of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting as he marches in the 2016 Gay Pride Parade in Philadelphia Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A rainbow flag flies at half mast on the Space Needle in Seattle, in honor of the victims of the nightclub shooting in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People at the LA Pride event in West Hollywood, write signs and light candles showing solidarity with victims of the mass killings in Orlando AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims In reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida people hug outside the Stonewall Inn near a vigil for the victims in New York AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A woman offers free hugs in Washington, in reaction to the mass shootings at a gay club in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A U.S. flag is flown at half staff at the White House after the Orlando mass shooting Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A man lays flowers on a rainbow flag in front of the embassy of the United States in Madrid, to pay tribute to the victims of the shooting of Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims The Michael Fowler Centre is lit in rainbow colours by the city council during a candle lit vigil across the road at Frank Kits Park in Wellington, in remembrance of victims after a gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Participants hold candles during a vigil at Frank Kits Park in Wellington, in remembrance of victims after a gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Vixon Noir (R) consoles Trashina Cann, both of San Francisco, during a vigil at Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro district of San Francisco AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People gather in the Castro District for a vigil for the victims of the Orlando shooting at a gay nightclub, in San Francisco REUTERS In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A couple joins residents of San Francisco and the Bay Area to mourn, honor, and remember the victims of a mass shooting at a LGBT nightclub in Orlando EPA In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Mourners pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting during a memorial service in San Diego AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims The Orlando Eye observation wheel lights up in rainbow colors, to remember the people killed and injured in the Pulse nightclub shooting AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People sit by the water with candles during a vigil in a park following a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando REUTERS In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Members of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence carry a sign of remembrance for mass shooting victims in Orlando, at the 46th annual Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade in West Hollywood REUTERS In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Former Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and Shawn Lang of Hartford embrace after Segarra spoke, during a vigil organized by the state's Muslim and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, on the steps of the state Capitol building in reaction to the mass shooting in Orlando AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims The City Hall Building is lit in the rainbow colors in New York, in reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims One World Trade Center is lit in the rainbow colors in New York, in reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People hold a vigil after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history at a gay nightclub in Orlando, in front of the White House in Washington REUTERS In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A man lays down 50 roses to honor each victim of the gay Orlando night club shooting as people gather outside of the Stonewall Inn as a vigil is held following the massacre Getty Images

The page is now black with a statement from owner Barbara Poma mourning the horrific assault on a place of love and acceptance for the LGBT community.

The club is holding a fundraiser on Wednesday night at Southern Nights, an LGBT-friendly club in Orlando, where all proceeds will be given to staff members unable to work since the attack.

Pulse has remained closed as investigations continue and has not announced if, or when, it will reopen.

During the attack, a rushed message was posted on its Facebook page. Everyone get out of pulse and keep running, it said.

On Wednesday, there was a message of defiance: We will not be defeated.

Mateen reportedly laughed as he shot randomly into dancers in the crowd before taking hostages in the early hours of Sunday morning.

People hold a vigil for the Orlando shooting victims. (Mandel Ngan/Getty)

The 29-year-old was shot dead in a gun battle with police who stormed the premises following a three-hour stand-off.

His attack was the worst mass shooting in US history and the deadliest terror attack on American soil since 9/11.

The shooting has sparked an outpouring of grief and solidarity with the LGBT community around the world, seeing thousands gather for vigils in London and other cities.

Mateens wife, Noor Salman, could soon be charged in connection with the plot amid reports she knew of Mateens plans.

Isis claimed responsibility for the shooting, calling the gunman a soldier of the Caliphate, but there was no indication that the terrorist group had contact with the gunman or directed the atrocity.

It does appear that at the last minute he announced allegiance to Isil (Isis) but there is no evidence so far that he was in fact directed by Isil or that it was part of a larger plot, Barack Obama said.

The President called the massacre "act of terror and an act of hate" against the LGBT community.

As well as pledging allegiance to the leader of Isis, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Mateen expressed admiration for the Boston bombers and the first American suicide bomber in Syria.

There have been conflicting reports of possible motivations for his attack, with his former wife saying he was mentally ill and his father telling media he had been angered by seeing two men kiss, while acquaintances claim Mateen was himself gay but felt unable to be open about his sexuality.
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A police sex-sting operation in Northern Virginia, aimed at finding men who wanted to have sex or commit indecent acts with juveniles, has nabbed a fellow officer in Maryland, officials said on Monday.

Christopher Dunkes, 27, a patrolman with the Montgomery County Police Department, answered a Craigslist advertisement posted by an undercover officer who was posing as a 15-year-old girl from Prince William County, detectives said in a criminal complaint filed in Prince William court.

Dunkes emailed and texted with the undercover officer about sex acts, according to the complaint. He twice proposed a specific act and suggested that they meet in his car, according to the court document.

He agreed to meet the undercover officer at a Target store and was arrested without incident, police said.

Dunkes has been suspended without pay, said Capt. Paul Starks, a Montgomery police spokesman. Dunkes had joined the force in 2014 and most recently had been assigned to the Bethesda bureau.

"We are cooperating with the investigation, Starks said. Our internal affairs division is communicating with Prince William County police.

Dunkes was charged in Virginia with three counts of using a communication device to facilitate offenses with juveniles, according to Prince William County police.

Montgomery County police officer Christopher Dunkes (Prince William County Police)

Dunkes was being held without bond Monday, said an official at the Prince William jail. It was not clear from court records whether he has an attorney.

The week-long sting operation began June 6, Prince William police said. It was a proactive operation and not in response to any specific incident.

"During this operation, undercover detectives used social media and an undisclosed online site where they posed as underage juveniles, Prince William police said in the statement. Male suspects contacted the undercover detectives and, during the course of communications, solicited sexual or indecent acts. These conversations involving the accused parties took place through electronic means. In each of the incidents, the suspect made arrangements to meet the undercover detective at a public location in Prince William County. Once there, detectives arrested the individual without incident.

Police identified six other men arrested as Steven Castillo, 20, of Woodbridge; Jeffrey H. Dimond, 35, of Fredericksburg; Curtis M. Jenkins, 54, of Fairfax; Jordan Kolbinskie, 23, of Manassas; David Lee Mathes, 58, of Warrenton; and Chad M. Warner, 24, of Sterling.

Copyright: Washington Post
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President Obama just condemned an ancient double-standard. "We need to change the attitude that punishes women for their sexuality," he said Tuesday, "but gives men a pat on the back for theirs."

He declared this during the White House Summit on the United State of Women, a conference that tackled reproductive health, among other issues. The crowd of advocates, businesspeople and students exploded in applause.

Taking aim at a number of gender inequalities, the president called himself a feminist.

"I might be a little grayer than I was eight years ago, but this is what a feminist looks like," he said.

Obama might be the first sitting president to publicly denounce the perception that men are studs for racking up lots of sexual partners and that women who do the same are, well, terms we can't use here.

"We're going to have to change the way we see ourselves," he said. "This is happening already, but we need to be more intentional about it."

President Obama speaks at the White House Summit on the United State of Women on Tuesday. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Then he quoted Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress: "The emotional, sexual and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says: It's a girl."

Juliet Williams, a gender studies professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, said the comment, dropped into a 20-minute speech about economic opportunity, was a flash of progress. Presidents haven't talked about sex-shaming, she said, because Americans until recently didn't talk about sex-shaming.

"It was an everyday expression of a longstanding, traditional gender ideology that tethered a woman's social value to her chastity," Williams said. "Things have changed."

Second Wave feminists, she said, sparked a seismic shift in how Americans hooked up. "Activists legitimised the idea that women not only have sexual desire but are entitled to sexual agency," Williams said.

Betty Friedan, author of 1963's "The Feminine Mystique," inspired both praise and outrage for suggesting women enjoyed sex. "No woman gets an orgasm from shining the kitchen floor," she wrote.

But judgment lingers. A 2013 University of Illinois at Chicago study of roughly 24,000 college students found young men are more likely than their female peers to hold the traditional double standard. The majority, however, didn't subscribe to the old beliefs: 66 percent of men and 70 percent of women said they didn't sex-shame based on gender. (Some indicated they thought promiscuity was off-putting regardless of your sex.)

Carrie Preston, director of the Women's, Gender and Sexuality Program at Boston University, thought Obama's statement showed how far the country has come since just 1998. She recalls the Monica Lewinsky scandal, a high-profile example of sex-shaming. Sure, Bill Clinton caught flak when the public learned he had engaged in a sexual act with a 22-year-old intern. But Lewinsky, the much younger person with far less power, became a target of global scorn.

Lewinsky addressed the issue last year in a Ted Talk.

"Now I admit I made mistakes -- especially wearing that beret -- but the attention and judgment that I received -- not the story, but that I personally received -- was unprecedented," Lewinsky said. "I was branded as a tramp, tart, slut, whore, bimbo."

Preston was a college sophomore when the news broke. "I remember her shaming," she said. "It was a formative thing. Here she was, this young woman, being shamed by the president, the country and ultimately the world."

The lesson she internalised: Men get to recover from a high-profile affair, from the world peering into their sex lives. Women are forever branded.

Talking about the double standard raises awareness, the first step to breaking it, she said. Still, it plays out in how we respond to the presidential candidates' intimate pasts.

Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, for example, has talked and talked and talked about his sex life.
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Florida senator Marco Rubio is considering re-running for a second term in the senate in the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando.

Mr Rubio said he would not run again for senate when he announced he would compete against Donald Trump for president, but he quit the race in March after he lost out to Mr Trump in his home state in Florida.

After the worst shooting in US history over the weekend, which killed 49 people and injured 53, Mr Rubio has been considering whether to jump back in for a second term as senator.

The 45-year-old said his decision followed a conversation with his friend and Florida Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera, who is running to succeed him in the senate.

Obviously, I take everything very seriously what is going on, not just in Orlando but in our country. Ive enjoyed my service here a lot. So Ill go home later this week and spend some time with my family, and if theres been a change in our status Ill be sure to let everyone know," he said.

The Florida senator made the comments just after he had left a private briefing on the Orlando attack with law enforcement and homeland security officials.

He has a deadline of 24 June to decide if he will run.

Mr Rubio hinted of his change of mind on Hugh Hewitt's radio show as early as Monday, just one day after the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub.

I haven't even given it thought in that perspective, other than to say I've been deeply impacted by it, and I think when it visits your home states, when it impacts a community you know well, it really gives you pause, to think a little bit about your service to your country and where you can be most useful to your country, he said.

As reported by CBS, Democrats are planning to spend millions in the Senate race if Mr Rubio decides to jump in. Candidate Patrick Murphy has already raised more than $7 million for his campaign, more than any Republican.

Shortly after the attacks in San Bernardino, California, Mr Rubio opposed banning people on the FBI terrorist watch list from buying guns.

Politico reported that senate minority leader Harry Reid reacted to the news: How can the junior senator from Florida  who all of a sudden is again interested in running for reelection  how can he speak of running for office again when he voted to let potential terrorists buy assault weapons and explosives?

Representative David Jolly, one of five Republicans running for Mr Rubios seat, but he told Fox News he would support Mr Rubio if he re-entered the senate election campaign.
COLUMBUS  Children are expressing their creative sides using brushes, colors and their imaginations.

A four-week Summer Art Camp at Columbus Art Gallery is in full swing with instructor Megan Graybill, a teacher at Columbus Middle School, showing children entering third through sixth grades different artistic skills.

Each week, a new form of art is taught. The first week covered drawing. Other topics include chalk, oil pastel and painting. This week, pottery was featured.

Participants got their fingers dirty by rolling clay into spheres to form pinch pots. The handmade pottery is created by pushing in the clay spheres to form a hole then thinning the sides of the clay by pinching them to make a pot.

The camp is presented by Columbus Arts Council.
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The Trump campaign was forced briefly to abandon plans for a Thursday rally in north Texas after two municipalities refused to offer suitable venues citing overcrowding and security fears.

It what could have been embarrassing set-back, the candidate found himself on the losing end of a negotation, that seemed to have been caused in part by the chaotic nature of his campaign. One of the two cities involved said it had been given only 48 hours notice to agree to a rally and it wasnt enough.

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On Monday, the campaign sent out an advisory email to reporters listing rallies in Dallas on Thursday and Houston on Friday as upcoming events to look out for. Early on Wednesday another email appeared in reporters inboxes. Texas, a key state for both parties in the run-up to Novembers election, had abruptly vanished.

By Wednesday afternoon, the Texas trip, which will also include two fundraising events, had been reinstated. The campaign said it had settled on holding its rally at small venue in Dallas itself. Called Gilley's Dallas, it has made its South Side Ballroom available to the campaign. It will, however, be a squeeze. The ballroom, which was a main location in the 1980 film Urban Cowboy, can only fit 3,800 people, a paltry crowd by Mr Trump's normal standards.

The campaign subsquently confirmed a second rally in Houston on Friday evening.

It remains possible that the Trump campaign has allowed confusion to linger over the presumptive Republican nominee's Texas appearances because of threats from several groups in the Lone Star State  notably Hispanic grassroots organisations  to greet him with loud and and angry protests.

Had it not been for the agreement with the managers of Gilley's, Mr Trump would have found himself with a conspicuous two-day hole in his itinerary in a week that has emerged as critical to the futures of himself and also Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton.

Its very unusual that the Republican candidate for president in this deep red state would be having trouble finding a venue for his rallies, Cal Jillson, a professor of political science at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas told the local CBS station.

The first to turn him down, according to the Dallas Morning News, was Grand Prairie, just west of Dallas, where the Trump advance team had identified the Verizon Theatre, which can accommodate about 7,000 people. But local police told the campaign it was not practical, not least because of other events scheduled in the area also for Thursday evening.

Then the next-door city of Irving also made clear that it was not interested in offering an alternative site because the campaign had approached it too late. They also cited the special security considerations that a Trump rally would raise, a clear reference to other appearances by the candidate that have spawned confrontations between Trump fans and protestors and police.

In consultation with the Irving Police Department, the city of Irving decided it was not given sufficient time  given a 48 hour notice  to gather the resources necessary to ensure the safety and security of those attending such a large-scale, high-profile event, the city said in a statement.

There were indications that several Hispanic protest groups were gearing up to give Mr Trump as noisy a welcome to Texas as possible. Passions are running especially deep after the Orlando gay club massacre where victims were overwhelmingly Hispanic.

Domingo Garcia, one organiser, told ABC News, he was still ready should Mr Trump come after all. We are going to be peaceful; we are going to be nonviolent. We are going to be dressed in white for peace. We are going to be carrying American flags for American values and we are going to be standing up to the bully.

It was precisely the promise of protests like the one he had been planning that has made securing a venue so difficult, Mr Garcia added. Weve understood theyve had a lot of problems getting a venue and getting a police department or law enforcement that can number deal with the types of things that happen at Trump rallies, he said.
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Gawker Media, the legally embattled network of popular blogging sites founded by British journalist Nick Denton, says it is under threat of a new lawsuit, this time pertaining to Donald Trumps hair.

All things to do with the billionaires famously extravagant coiffe normally demand only the most frivolous of comment. On very close inspection, The Independent can attest, it is an entirely perplexing meringue, voluminous enough to stuff a small cushion and the colour of unsalted butter.

Recommended Read more Gawker files for bankruptcy and says it will sell to Ziff Davis

But last month Gawker chose to take, as it were, a deep reportorial dive into The Donalds proudly swirled mane. The resulting investigation, reported by their own Ashley Feinberg, asserted that its unusual appearance was the result of unusual restorative work by a specialist named Edward Ivari, who in fact maintained an office in Trump Tower on the same high floor as the boss himself.

The lengthy report  it runs to some 3,500 words  contends that Mr Trump spent $60,000 on Mr Ivaris signature microcylinder weave technique to give his hair new body. The microcylinders contain donated human strands that intertwine, with help from tiny clamps, with the patients own hair. There is additionally a $3,000 per month maintenance cost to the whole affair, the article said.

As Gawker is now boasting, it drew considerable attention as well as not a little praise from fellow journalists for its thoroughness. Hair styling may not usually rank near the top of public policy concerns in a US presidential election, but Mr Trumps might seem to warrant a little explaining.

Yet it is now reporting that it is in receipt of a letter from legal representation hired by Mr Ivari threatening a legal suit for alleged emotional distress, invasion of privacy and something called "tortious interference. Gawker, in its reporting of the suit, has described the claim of legal harm as ridiculous.

The lawyer in question is Charles Harder, who was in the wheelhouse of Gawkers other recent and not insignificant legal tangle  the lawsuit against it by Hulk Hogan, also for invasion of privacy regarding a sex tape aired on the site. Earlier this year that resulted in a $140m court finding against Mr Dentons company which just last week, was forced to file for bankruptcy.

Helping fund Mr Hogans case  and paying the lawyers fees  has been Peter Thiel, the early Facebook investor and PayPal co-founer, who, by his own public admission, was eager to see Gawker taken down as retribution for a piece it ran several years ago outing him as homosexual.

The question arises, naturally, whether Mr Thiel also encouraged the filing of the hair-do assault. No one can be sure, Gawker itself concedes.

An attorney from an as yet undeclared source is "helping a man sue Gawker Media over an article that comes nowhere near invading his privacy, concerns a clear matter of public interest, and explicitly states that the subject is not guilty of a crime, Gawker asserts, denouncing the new attacks against it.

While Thiel has acknowledged funding multiple legal attacks, including Hogans, nobody knows for sure whether hes behind all of Harders efforts to harm the company, or just some of them, or if he can even control what his money is used for, Gawker went on.

Equally obscure is what role, if any, Mr Trump himself may have had in encouraging this latest lawsuit. He does, however, have a long track record of resorting to aggressive legal measures to assail his critics and defend himself and his businesses.

Add to that Mr Trumps well-known willingness to fire torpedoes, rhetorical or otherwise, at media organisations in general. This week he banned The Washington Post from attending his campaign events because of its phoney reporting. More chillingly he has spoken about changing the libel laws if he becomes president to make media outlets more vulnerable to legal challenges.

Gawker supporters will not find the letter from Mr Harder on any Gawker sites, because the letter itself includes a direct warning of further legal trouble if it's reproduced anywhere in public.

But it reportedly contains many demands for Gawker to answer if it is to avoid another lawsuit that it would surely not welcome. It requires that all of the original hair-related reporting be removed from public view and that all confidential sources that may have helped Ms Feinberg write the report be identified to Mr Harder so that he can then pursue them with legal remonstrations also.

Handing over the names of sources is rarely an option any news organisation will contemplate without being exposed to extreme legal duress.

But Gawker also asserts that the bulk of Ms Feinbergs reporting was informed by the brochures of Mr Ivaris company  Ivari International  and publicly available documents relating to a 2001 lawsuit that was filed against it by a former customer.

Among Mr Harders alleged complaints is the inclusion of Mr Ivaris Trump Tower address in the original article. Ms Feinberg wrote: Whats more, Ivaris New York location is inside Trump Tower  on the private floor reserved for Donald Trumps own office. Yet that information was precisely available in Ivari Internationals own public literature, the site pointed out.
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Hillary Clinton coasted to an easy victory in the District of Columbia primary on Tuesday, the final skirmish in a protracted and often prickly Democratic presidential race. With more than 90 per cent of the vote counted, the former Secretary of State led her challenger, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, by 78 to 21 per cent in the nations capital.

As the polls closed, the two rivals met face-to-face at a downtown Washington DC hotel, for the first time since Ms Clinton claimed the mantle of the partys presumptive nominee a week ago. The final days of Mr Sanderss campaign have been overshadowed by the violence in Orlando, but he and Ms Clinton have, at least, been united in their criticism of Donald Trump.

Recommended Read more Clinton and Trump steer divergent paths after Orlando horror

The Democratic establishment will hope the two can find further common ground as the party gears up to face Mr Trump at Novembers general election. A new Bloomberg Politics national poll released on Tuesday showed Ms Clinton opening up a double-digit lead over the contentious Republican billionaire.

However, Mr Sanders this week reiterated his intention to fight on until the party convention in Philadelphia next month and make the case not only for his progressive policy agenda, but for changes to the partys leadership and nominating process. The time is long overdue for a fundamental transformation of the Democratic Party, he told reporters in DC on Tuesday.

Since she clinched the nomination with primary wins in New Jersey and California last Tuesday, Ms Clinton has been endorsed by several top Democrats, including President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, the standard-bearer for the partys left flank.

Speaking to Telemundo, Ms Clinton said she looked forward to a wide-ranging conversation with Mr Sanders, saying they would discuss common goals and how we can work together and insisting: We have a lot in common.

Mr Sanders, meanwhile, told NBCs Meet the Press that he would press the former Secretary of State on policy. I simply want to get a sense of what kind of platform she will be supporting, whether she will be vigorous in standing up for working families and the middle class, moving aggressively in climate change, health care for all, making public colleges and universities tuition-free, he said.

Mr Sanderss spokesman Michael Briggs said on Tuesday that he would not be dropping out of the race today, tomorrow or the next day. But the Vermont Senator has scheduled a live, online video address for Thursday evening to outline whats next for his campaign.

In an email to supporters, he said: After today, the voting is done, but our political revolution continues This campaign is about more than Bernie Sanders. It is about all of us together. It is about millions of people from coast to coast knowing that we can do much better as a nation."
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An upsurge in the international and local demand for avocados has inspired widespread theft in New Zealand, creating a black market for the popular fruit.

So far this year there have been nearly 40 large-scale thefts from avocado orchards on the North Island with as much as 350 avocados being stolen each time.

Avocados are currently selling between $4-6 (2-3) across New Zealand following a poor harvest in 2015.

Exacerbating the problem was an additional 96,000 households who started buying the fruit last year.

New Zealand Avocado Market Manager, Bevan Jelley, told Stuff.nz: "We have reports of people driving utes [utility vehicles] into orchards and filling up the entire back tray. Growers are finding blankets and duvets in their orchards with piles of avocados in them that thieves have picked before being interrupted.

"There's certainly a large scale theft going on and large numbers of it going on."

Police Sergeant Aaron Fraser of Waihi said there have been "spates" of avocado thefts during his career but nothing on the scale of the current criminal activity.

As the stolen avocados are normally raked instead of picked, they are likely to be sold with stalks of 3-4cm.

He told the Guardian: "These stolen avocados can carry risks.They are unripe, some have been sprayed recently and they may still carry toxins on the skin.

"But with the prices so high at the moment, the potential for profit is a strong inducement for certain individuals.

Food and drink news Show all 35 1 /35 Food and drink news Food and drink news Healthy living makes us more inclined to binge, research suggests Gluten-free breads, dairy-free milks and other plant-based products have been some of the most favoured foods in British supermarkets this year. However, while were busy filling our shopping trolleys with gluten-free goodness, were also jamming it with junk food and alcohol, new research suggests Getty/iStock Food and drink news Growing list of Vegan celebs Making the switch to veganism is a major lifestyle choice, one that many claim can improve energy levels, lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and clear up any skin issues. Beyonce, Natalie Portman and Jessica Chastain are among the growing list of Hollywood stars who have eschewed animal products from their diets in recent years. Theres also been an increasing number of professional athletes who have gone vegan, such as boxing champions Mike Tyson and David Haye, thus debunking the myth that following a plant-based diet will leave you feeling weak and malnourished. AFP/Getty/NARAS/iHeartMedia Food and drink news McDonald's has announced the launch of a new vegan burger on its menu in Germany This will mark the first time the German franchise of the fast food chain has offered a vegan burger to its customers. The Big Vegan TS burger consists of a patty made from soy and wheat. It is served in a classic sesame seed bun, and contains salad, tomato, pickles and red onion. McDonald's Germany Food and drink news Drinking too many protein shakes could lead to an increased risk of obesity and a reduced lifespan, a new study has claimed Researchers from the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre carried out an investigation to determine the impact excessive consumption of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) has on the body. BCAA supplements are often consumed in the form of powder, which is then added to water to make a shake. Published in journal Nature Metabolism, the study found that while BCAAs help to build muscle, they can also negatively impact an individual's temperament, cause weight gain and lead to a shortened lifespan Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Britain consumes more chocolate than any other country Most people love chocolate but it turns out no one does more than the Brits  with the average Brit found to have consumed 8.4 kg of chocolate in 2017, according to new data. Chocolate consumption around the world is on the rise, according to Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), which found that in the past year alone, Easter chocolate production has risen by 23 per cent Food and drink news 'Easter eggs should be banned for children under four' Dr Becky Spelman, chief psychologist at Harley Streets Private Therapy Clinic, is calling for Easter eggs to be banned for consumption for children under the age of four, claiming that giving them the opportunity to binge on chocolate so young will give them an unhealthy relationship with food later on. "This is a nightmare situation for parents of this generation as they have no idea how to teach their children to delay their response to cravings, she said, explaining that too many young kids binge on these chocolates because their parents dont know how to stop them. "Once a child starts overeating behaviour at a young age its very hard to turn things around for them in terms of food and their eating habits moving forward, leading to obesity from at very young age," she added PA Food and drink news Pineapple overtakes avocado as the UK's fastest-selling fruit According to Tesco, pineapple has overtaken avocado as the UKs fastest-selling fruit, with sales increasing by 15 per cent in 2017. In comparison, avocado sales rose by just under 10 per cent last year. The popular supermarket says the surge in popularity comes as shoppers buying the versatile fruit are beginning to use it as a main ingredient in everything from curries and barbecues, to juices and cocktails Getty Food and drink news Marks & Spencers launches stoneless avocados Rather than the result of genetic modification, the avocados are formed by an unpollinated avocado blossom. The fruit develops without a seed which in turns stops the growth, creating a small, seedless fruit. Whats more, the skin is actually edible, unlike a regular avocado. The flesh is much like that of a normal avocado - smooth and creamy, pale in colour and rich in flavour M&S Food and drink news Office teabags contain 17 times more germs than a toilet seat, reveals study The average bacterial reading of an office teabag was 3,785, in comparison to only 220 for a toilet seat. Other pieces of kitchen equipment also stacked up highly in their findings, with the bacterial readings averaging at 2,483 on kettle handles, 1,746 on the rim of a used mug and 1,592 on a fridge door handle Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news New study shows drinking more coffee leads to a longer life There is good news and a final hope for coffee addicts and lovers. You will now be able to drink coffee for longer as new study shows its can lead to a prolonged life. Scientists showed that those who drank between two and four cups of coffee a day had 18% lower risk of death compared to non-coffee drinkers. PA Food and drink news Coke Zero is replaced with Coke Zero Sugar Coca-Cola is pulling the plug on its Coke Zero. The much loved drink will be replaced with a new improved taste. The move, backed with a 10 million campaign, is said to come from Coca-Cola supporting people to reduce their sugar intake. Coca-Cola want people make this move while not sacrificing sugary taste of Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola Food and drink news Starbucks introduce new avocado spread The avocado craze has grown from hipster brunch restaurants to Starbucks. Starbucks have introduced their new avocado spread earlier this year and it has the internet in debate. Some argue that it not a spread but guacamole while others question if there is any avocado in there at all. When buying the new spread you can also buy an optional toasted bagel. It is a must try for all avocado connoisseurs. Starbucks Food and drink news New Mars chocolate bar The iconic British chocolate bar is about to get its partner in crime. The new bar, named Goodness Knows, will replace the gooey caramel goodness of the mars bar with oats. It is said to be more like a Florentine biscuit with a thin dark chocolate bottom. While being moderately healthy Mars says that is has good intentions. One pack has 154 calories and will sell for about 90p. Mars Food and drink news Wine prices could increase because of Brexit Wine lovers across the UK might soon have to shell out close to a quarter more for their favourite tipple after Brexit, as a weaker pound and sluggish economy takes its toll, a new study shows Rex Food and drink news Chocolate may be good for the heart A new study, published in the British Medical Journal: Heart, found that moderate chocolate intake can be positively associated with lessening the risk of the heart arrhythmia condition Atrial Fibrillation Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Brits throw away 1.4 million bananas each year British families are throwing away 1.4 million bananas that are perfectly good to eat every day at cost of 80m a year, new figures have shown PA/Armin Weigel Food and drink news Rosemary sales spike over exam time There has been a surge a surge in sales of the herb rosemary after a recent study found it helps improve memory. According to high street health food chain Holland & Barrett, sales of the herb have increased by 187 per cent compared to the same time last year Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Gluten-free diets 'not recommended' for people without coeliac disease Avoiding wheat, barley and rye in the belief that a gluten-free diet brings health benefits may do more harm than good, according to a team of US nutrition and medicine experts Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Starbucks launches two new coffee-based drinks Starbucks is launching two new coffee-based drinks in the UK, as it strives to tap into consumers growing appetite for healthy beverages. The Cold Brew Vanilla sweet cream and the Cappuccino Freddo, will both be available in stores throughout the UK from the start of May Twitter/@SbuxCountyHall Food and drink news Cadburys Dairy Milk Tiffin is making a permanent comeback after 80 years The Cadbury Dairy Milk Tiffin, first produced in 1937, is making a permanent comeback to the UK. The raisin and biscuit-filled chocolate bar is being launched after a successful trial last summer saw 3 million chocolate treats  at the cost of 1.49 for each 95g bar- purchased by nostalgic customers Cadburys Food and drink news Pizza restaurant makes worlds cheesiest 'Scottie's Pizza Parlor' in Portland Oregon has created the worlds cheesiest pizza using a total of 101 different cheese varieties. Facebook/Scottie's Pizza Parlor Food and drink news A pizza joint in Portland Oregon has created the worlds cheesiest pizza using a total of 101 different cheese varieties. Why not eating before a workout could be better for your health A study published in the American Journal of Physiology by researchers at the University of Bath found you might be likely to burn more fat if you have not eaten first Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news New York restaurant named best in the world A New York restaurant where an average meal for two will cost $700 has been named the best in the world. Eleven Madison Park won the accolade for the first time after debuting on the list at number 50 in 2010. The restaurant was praised for a fun sense of fine-dining, blurring the line between the kitchen and the dining room Getty Images Food and drink news Why you crave bad food when youre tired Researchers at Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University in Chicago recently presented their results of a study looking into the effects of sleep deprivation upon high-calorific food consumption. Researchers found that those who were sleep-deprived had specifically enhanced brain activity to the food smells compared to when they had a good nights sleep Shutterstock Food and drink news Drinking wine engages more of your brain than solving maths problems Drinking wine is the ideal workout for your brain, engaging more parts of our grey matter than any other human behaviour, according to a leading neuroscientist. Dr Gordon Shepherd, from the Yale School of Medicine, said sniffing and analysing a wine before drinking it requires exquisite control of one of the biggest muscles in the body Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news British dessert eating surges after people ditch healthy eating in February : In heartening news for anyone feeling guilty about quitting their New Year diet, it seems lots of us have given in to our sweet tooths once again. New data from nationwide food-delivery service Deliveroo reveals there was a surge in Brits ordering desserts in February compared to the first month of 2017 Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news US congress debates definition of milk alternatives A new bill has been created that seeks to ban dairy alternatives from using the term milk. Titled the DAIRY PRIDE Act, the name is a tenuous acronym for defending against imitations and replacements of yogurt, milk, and cheese to promote regular intake of dairy every day. It argues that the dairy industry is struggling as a result of all the dairy-free alternatives on the market and the public are being duped too Getty Images Food and drink news Cadburys launches two new chocolate bars UK confectionary giant Cadbury has launched two new chocolate bars, hoping to lure those with a sweet tooth and perhaps help combat some of the challenges it faces from rising commodity prices and a post-Brexit slump in the value of the pound.The companys new products will be peanut butter and mint flavoured. They will be available in most major super markets as 120g bars, priced at 1.49, according to the company Cadburys Food and drink news You can now get a job as a professional chocolate eater The company responsible for some of your favourite chocolate brands  think Cadbury, Milks, Prince and Oreo  have officially announced an opening to join their team as a professional chocolate taster. The successful candidate will help them to test, perfect and launch new products all over the world. Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news MSG additive used in Chinese food is actually good for you, scientist claims For years, weve been told MSG (the sodium salt of glutamic acid) - often associated with cheap Chinese takeaways - is awful for our health and to be avoided at all costs. But one scientist argues it should be used as a supersalt and encourages adding it to food. Getty Images/iStockphoto Food and drink news Lettuce prices are rising Not only are lettuces becoming an increasingly rare commodity in supermarkets, but prices for the leafy vegetables seem to be rising too. According to the weekly report from the Governments Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a pair of Little Gem lettuces had an average market price of 0.86 in the week that ended on Friday, up from an average of 0.56 in the previous week  thats an almost 54 per cent increase. Getty Images Food and drink news Do-It-Yourself restaurant To encourage more people to cook and eat together, IKEA has launched The Dining Club in Shoreditch  a fully immersive Do-It-Yourself restaurant . Members of the public can book to host a brunch, lunch or dinner party for up to 20 friends and family. Supported by their very own sous chef and maitre de, the host and their guests will orchestrate an intimate dining experience where cooking together is celebrated and eating together is inspirational Mikael Buck / IKEA Food and drink news Ping Pong menu with a twist Gatwick Airport has teamed up with London dim sum restaurant Ping Pong to create a limited edition menu with a distinctly British twist; including a Full English Bao and Beef Wellington Puff, to celebrate the launch of the airports new route to Hong Kong Food and drink news Zizzi unveil the Maamgharita Unique pizza art has been created by Zizzi in celebration of the Queens 90th birthday. The pizza features the queen in an iconic pose illustrated with fresh and tasty Italian ingredients on a backdrop of the Union Jack Food and drink news Blue potatoes make a comeback Blue potatoes, once a staple part of British potato crops, are back on the menu thanks to a Cambridge scientist turned-organic farmer and Farmdrop, an online marketplace that lets people buy direct from local farms. Cambridge PhD graduate-turned farmer, Adrian Izzard has used traditional growing techniques at Wild Country Organics to produce the colourful spuds, packed with healthy cell-protecting anthocyanin, which had previously disappeared from UK plates when post-war farmers were pushed towards higher-yielding varieties

Jen Scoular, New Zealand Avocado CEO, said this year's good harvest should kill the demand for black market avocados and theft.

She said: "Its an easy way to make a quick buck, but I dont think we are dealing with a sophisticated or highly organised operation here, more opportunistic.

This stolen fruit will only have made it to the local markets, it would never reach our export markets."

Ms Scoular added that many avocado producers have now installed alarm systems and automatic lights to deter persistent thieves.

The popularity of avocados has not only been soaring in New Zealand, the UK market for the fruit has also struggled to keep up with demand.

Exports of avocados from Peru to Britian have risen by 58 per cent in the last year.
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A group of hikers in the Austrian Alps had to be rescued after their local guide allegedly got drunk and wandered off by himself.

Emergency services were called to Rax Mountain to lead 60 Hungarian tourists to safety following their leader's disappearance, as bad weather set in.

One of the men in the group called in distress when he and his daughter got lost, reportedly claiming their accompanying guide had been drinking since the group set off at 3pm on Saturday.

When they were brought back down the mountain by 12 mountain rescuers, the guide was found to have descended on his own and did not explain his disappearance.

He did however claim he was not drunk and had not had any alcohol during the trip. The man did not have to face the breathalyser as no one was hurt during the incident, police said.

Gerhard Rieglthalner, a mountaineering expert working with Austrian police, told Kronen Zeitung: The man was unprofessional and he was not a trained mountain guide.

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

On the same day and in a separate incident in Austria, a helicopter was called to rescue a 53-year-old German woman who had become stranded on a mountain in Styria and collapsed from exhaustion.

She had undertaken an 11-hour hike with her husband through the region but complained of feeling weak when the couple were an hour from their destination.

The unnamed woman was brought to a local hospital and treated for severe fatigue.
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A gay couple were arrested after attempting to place a sign that read Love Wins outside Moscows US Embassy at a memorial for the victims of the mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando.

Felix Glyukman and his boyfriend Islam Abdullabeckov were filmed by Russian TV network, Rain TV, being taken away by authoritires before laying their tributes.

Authorities said the pair were suspected of violating a Russian law that prohibits individuals from organising or holding public events without permission.

Mr Glyukman posted a picture showing the couple in the backseat of a police car and posted it to Facebook.

The police arrested us straight away and pus us in their car for so-called unauthorised action, Mr Abdullabeckov told Russian media.

We only wanted to express our condolences for the murder of these people and we had not at all planned any kind of political act."

Omar Mateen shot 49 people dead before killing himself in Americas largest mass murder shooting at gay nightclub Pulse, in Orlando, on Sunday.

Right now were just shocked. Soon well go to the police station again and hope that this weird case wont make it to court, Mr Glyukman told Buzfeed News.

In a video posted to his Facebook page, Mr Glyukman said the pair were detained for about three hours before being released.

The couples lawyer, Sergy Pancahenko, said he hoped the ugly situation would not end up in court.

Thing is, policemen there tried not to let people use any LGBT symbolics and when the guys came to the embassy and put down their banner they were immediately arrested and brought to Prenenskiy police station, he added.

Gay rights demonstrations are banned in Russia, where homosexuality was a criminal offence until 1993 and it was categorised as a mental illness until 1999.

In May, an estimated 20 people from St.Petersburgs LGBT community were arrested for taking part in the citys annual May Day parade without permission.
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At least one person has been killed and six seriously injured after a section of bridge under construction in southern Germany collapsed, police said.

A 40m newly-built section of bridge, as well as the scaffolding surrounding it, fell 20m while 20 workers were present at the site, police spokeswoman Kathrin Thamm said.

It is not immediately clear what led to the collapse of the bridge on Wednesday, which runs parallel to an existing bridge on the A7 near Werneck in northern Bavaria.

A collapsed scaffolding lies under a highway bridge near Werneck, Germany (EPA)

In addition to the one dead and six seriously injured, several other workers have also been slightly injured, she added.

Officials initially reported that several people had been killed.

Police spokesman Bjorn Schmitt told the BBC there may a possibility workers are still buried underneath the wreckage.

Work on the new 236m bridge began last year and is supposed to be complete by the end of 2017.

Additional reporting by agencies
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Germany is to end its unofficial tolerance of polygamy - including marriages involving minors, the country's justice minister has vowed.

Heiko Maas said the move was designed to prevent people in Germany committing to more than one marriage.

No one who comes to us has the right to put their cultural roots, or their religious beliefs, above our laws, Mr Maas told Bild newspaper.

Recommended Read more Eritrean minister condemns hoax polygamy story

For that reason multiple marriages cannot be recognised in Germany.

Polygamy is a criminal offence in Germany, but Bild alleged German authorities often look the other way if a migrant brings several wives to the country.

Mr Maas said arranged marriages also needed to be addressed, especially in cases where underage girls were involved.

We cannot tolerate forced marriages, he said.

According to Unicef, there are 39,000 child marriages every day in the world.

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Authorities are unable to register more than one wife to the same man, which has proved difficult and causes other problems such as listing other wives as single mothers and the distribution of inheritance.

In 2013, Germanys president Joachim Gauck became an honorary godfather to a baby of a couple where the man had more than one wife. Under the law, parents can apply for the status if they have seven children as part of the presidents duties to support families with multiple children.

 What marriage would be like if we followed the bible

A Christian Democratic Union MP called for the president to renounce the title on the grounds of polygamy being illegal.

Polygamy, where a man has multiple wives, is legal in much of the Muslim world including the Middle East, Indonesia, and almost all of Africa.

In 2015, Indias Supreme Court ruled out polygamy for Muslims, stating it was not a fundamental right for followers of the religion. Having more than one wife is illegal in US, but is still quite widely practiced in Utah, where there are said to be around 30,000 polygamists.
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An Iraqi refugee who raped a 10-year-old boy at a swimming pool in Austria has been jailed for a minimum of six years.

The 20-year-old man, who has not been named, had admitted rape and the aggravated sexual abuse of a minor at a court in Vienna.

His attack in December last year sparked a backlash against migrants in the country, which has since seen support for anti-immigration groups rise and implemented a controversial cap on refugee numbers.

Reported sexual harrassment by asylum seekers at swimming pools has sparked controversy across Europe (EPA)

Police said the man attacked the boy in a toilet cubicle at the Theresienbad swimming pool in the Austrian capital on 2 December.

The child reported the rape to a lifeguard and his attacker was arrested at the scene, reportedly telling police in initial interviews that he was pursuing desires and had not had sex in four months.

A court awarded his family 4,700 (3,700) compensation on Tuesday, Kronen Zeitung newspaper reported, after prosecutors described the boy suffering physical injuries and profound depression.

Defence lawyers cited the rapists clean criminal record, young age and unfavourable living conditions in mitigation.

He six-year sentence may be reviewed, with a maximum term of 15 years, after which he may be deported.

Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Show all 10 1 /10 Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Migrants walk in a long line along the highway near Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015 AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Migrants walk on the railway tracks between Bicske and Szar, some 40 km west of Budapest, Hungary, 04 September 2015 EPA Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria The destination for most of those walking is reportedly Austria AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Most refugees have come to Hungary through the southern border with Serbia AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria People walk in a long line along the highway near Budapest, Hungary AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Over 150,000 people seeking to enter Europe have reached Hungary this year AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees walk along Budaorsi Street on their way out of Budapest EPA Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees hold up an EU flag as they on the highway out of Budpest AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees exit Budapest AP Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Refugees march from Hungary to Austria Hundreds of migrants walk after leaving the transit zone of the Budapest main train station AFP

The victims mother had previously revealed the boy, known as Goran, had been screaming and crying every night since the attack and had talked of suicide.

The woman, who moved to Austria as a Serbian refugee, told the Heute newspaper she felt her blood boil when she read reports of the attackers so-called sexual emergency.

The man arrived in Austria in September having travelled along the Balkan route and settled in Vienna.

Reports of sexual harassment and attacks by asylum seekers at swimming pools have generated controversy across Europe, sparking a ban on male migrants at one pool in Germany and vigilante patrols in Sweden.

Police statistics in Germany showed that sex offences make up a tiny proportion of crimes committed by refugees and migrants in the country, which are mostly related to transport and documents.
COLUMBUS  A 23-year-old Columbus man charged with first-degree sexual assault of a minor and identity theft after authorities discovered the 14-year-old local girl he had been dating for more than a year was pregnant is going to trial in district court.

Platte County Court Judge Frank Skorupa bound Francisco Batz-Chicaj over for trial on the charges in connection with a sexual relationship that was discovered in late March when the teen was seeking treatment for another medical issue.

Batz-Chicaj, who required a Spanish interpreter, waived his right to a preliminary hearing before being bound over for trial. The judge scheduled the city man for arraignment on the charges July 8 in district court.

First-degree sexual assault of a minor is a Class 2 felony, punishable by up to 50 years in prison. Identity theft-$5,000 or more is a Class 2A felony and carries a maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars.

The defendant has been free from custody on a $125,000 bond, 10 percent allowed for release, since a day after his April 7 arrest.

Court documents describe a Columbus Police investigation that got underway March 25 with the report of the girls pregnancy.

Investigator Jaymee Levander wrote in her probable cause arrest statement that the victim reported having sex with the defendant in a city park about two months earlier.

During an interview with police, the defendant admitted the sexual contact and time frame and said he had been dating the victim for about 15 months, the investigator wrote in her statement.

Levander said the defendant was aware the victim was pregnant and said he planned to marry her when she turned 18. The victim believed the defendant was 20 years old, the investigator said.

Batz-Chicaj was in possession of several pieces of false identification when arrested, including a Missouri ID card, Visa debit card, work ID card at a local manufacturing plant, Pinnacle Bank Visa card, Guatemala Department of Transit card and Consular ID card.

Levander said the defendant reported he got the identification cards from a friend who died and the cards were for employment and banking.
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An information technology worker has been arrested at Mossack Fonseca, the center of the Panama Papers leak scandal.

The employee had been placed in detention on suspicion of removing confidential documents, Le Temps reports. The suspect denied involvement in the data leak while prosecutors seized computer equipment and searched the companys office.

Recommended Read more The occupations of people in the Panama Papers

A procedure has been opened by the public ministry of Geneva following a complaint made by Mossack Fonseca, a spokeswoman for the city prosecutor told The Guardian.

An anonymous person leaked 2.9 terabytes of documents to the International Consortium of Journalists in April revealing off-shore shell companies used by politicians, public figures and criminals in the US and Europe.

Geneva prosecutors announced the investigation back in April shortly after the leak embarrased world leaders.
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Israel has cut off the water supply to large areas of the West Bank, Palestinian authorities have claimed.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have reportedly been left without access to safe drinking water during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting, at a time when temperatures can exceed 35C.

The northern city of Jenin, which has a population of more than 40,000, said its water supplies had been cut in half by Mekorot, Israel's national water company. Jenin is home to a refugee camp, established in 1953, which contains 16,000 registered refugees.

 Ramadan 2016 - All you need to know

Ayman Rabi, the executive director of the Palestinian Hydrology Group, told Al Jazeera that in some areas people had not received water for more than 40 days.

He said: "People are relying on purchasing water from water trucks or finding it from alternative sources such as springs and other filling points in their vicinity.

"Families are having to live on two, three or 10 litres per capita per day."

A spokesperson for the Israeli government told The Indepedent there is "no truth" in the claims, and said the shortages were down to faulty water lines.

They said: "Several hours ago, COGAT's Civil Administration team have repaired a burst pipe line, which disrupted the water supply to the villages of Marda, Biddya, Jamma'in, Salfit and Tapuach. The water flow has been regulated and is currently up and running.

"Any effort to connect the disruptions with terror is mistaken and misleading.

"Given the failure to develop infrastructures as a result of the unwillingness on behalf of the Palestinians to convene the Joint Water Committee (JWC), there are problems in the water supply."

Saleh Hijazi, Amnesty International's Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories researcher, said the reports were "alarming".

He told The Independent: "Israel already allows Palestinians access to only a fraction of the shared water resources in the occupied West Bank, with unlawful Israeli settlements getting almost unlimited water supplies which enable settlers to maintain lush gardens and even fill up numerous private swimming pools.

Water is a basic need and a right. Mekorot should restore any water supplies to Palestinians it has cut off and the Israel authorities should end their discriminatory water policies, lifting all arbitrary restrictions it currently imposes on Palestinians access to this vital resource.

According to UN guidelines, 7.5 litres per person per day is the minimum requirement under nornal conditions but in some areas of the Palestinian territories the minimum requirement is much higher.

The municipality of Jenin, several villages in Nablus and the city of Salfit and its surrounding villages claimed to have suffered cuts to their water supply.

Almost 200,000 Palestinians in the West Bank do not have access to running water, and require permission before collecting it themselves, according to a report by Amnesty International.

The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Show all 10 1 /10 The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Medics evacuate a wounded man from the scene of an attack in Jerusalem. A Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a bus stop then got out and started stabbing people before he was shot dead AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Israeli ZAKA emergency response members carry the body of an Israeli at the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem. A pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus in Jerusalem and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders, in near-simultaneous attacks that escalated a month long wave of violence AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Getty Images The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians throw molotov cocktail during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank. Recent days have seen a series of stabbing attacks in Israel and the West Bank that have wounded several Israelis AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Women cry during the funeral of Palestinian teenager Ahmad Sharaka, 13, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at a checkpoint near Ramallah, at the family house in the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jalazoun, Ramallah AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A wounded Palestinian boy and his father hold hands at a hospital after their house was brought down by an Israeli air strike in Gaza Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians look on after a protester is shot by Israelis soldiers during clashes at the Howara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus EPA The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Undercover Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian in Ramallah Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinian youth burn tyres during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Bet El, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after Israel barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child

Since 1967, Israel has limited the water available to Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip since its forces occupied the territories.

Mekorot could not be reached for comment.
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A 12-year-old girl shot in the stomach as she collected water with her family is among the hundreds of civilians injured and killed during a supposed ceasefire in Yemen.

Humanitarian organisations say intense fighting and bombardment has continued in parts of the country since Aprils agreement, as the internationally recognised government, rebels, Isis and al-Qaeda battle for territory.

At least 9,700 civilians casualties have been recorded in the conflict so far and men, women and children continue to be caught in the brutal crossfire.

Sunood was standing with her friends and siblings when she felt what she thought a stone hit her stomach, but she looked down to find she had been hit by a bullet and was bleeding.

Ibrahim, 12, at an MSF hospital in Taiz, Yemen, after being shot in the neck as he left a mosque in April (Crystal Van Leeuwen/MSF)

She is now recovering in hospital alongside other victims of the civil war, including 12-year-old Ibrahim, who was shot in the neck as he left his local mosque.

Will Turner, the Doctors Without Borders (MSF) head of mission in Yemen, said he walked into an emergency clinic to find the children lying in beds next to each other.

The boy had been hit by a bullet in the neck as he left the mosque, the girl next to him had her stomach ripped open by a bullet as she waited to collect water, he said. Such tragic stories occur on a daily basis in Taiz.

Mr Turner told The Independent that civilians have little hope for ongoing peace talks in Kuwait, which have floundered amid reports of numerous violations to a truce brokered between Houthi rebels and government forces in April.

I think the reality is that Yemen has been forgotten by the world, he said. The proportion of civilians being killed is simply unacceptable  we expect more to be done to protect people. A conflict of this intensity with heavy weaponry and artillery should never be happening in such a heavily populated area.

MSF medical charity has treated more than 1,600 people  almost half of them civilians  at its clinics in the Taiz region in the past two months alone.

 Yemen: Medical facilities crippled by war

Medics said shelling and air strikes continued to rage down on the city, where fighters loyal to President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, Houthi rebels, Isis and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) have been fighting for control.

Civilians trapped in the besieged area are at the mercy of bomb blasts, landmine explosions and daily sniper fire as battles rage in densely populated areas.

In one incident on 3 June a missile hit a crowded market, killing at least 12 people and injuring at least 135 more as they shopped ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Salah Dongudu, MSF's project coordinator in Taiz, said the vast majority were undoubtedly civilians, showing a blatant disregard for their safety among all warring parties.

There is simply no let-up in the violence, she added.

The year-long siege of Taiz has left residents unable to escape as they lose their homes, loved ones and livelihoods, while electricity has cut off and access to healthcare, food and clean water is critically limited.

The town of Taiz was destroyed in a year-long Houthi siege. People have no jobs and no money to pay for scarce supplies when they become available (Reuters)

Rocket and mortar attacks have appeared to deliberately target civilian areas and schools, hospitals and medical facilities have been destroyed in air strikes.

The bloodshed has also continued in Yemens port city of Aden, where an MSF anaesthetist described treating women and children hit by grenades and shot in their heads, chests, abdomens, arms and legs.

But the worst ones were the mine injuries where limbs would just be ripped apart, said Helmut Shoengen. Occasionally patients would arrive from a long way away. They would sustain an injury and then travel for a number of hours in pain and once they arrived, often all we could do was amputate.

And you could say these were the lucky ones because they had made it to the hospital.

The United Nations has accused all parties in the Yemen war of killing civilians and recently blacklisted Saudi Arabia for its alleged responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of children.

10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty

But the government swiftly contested the report, which alleged that Saudi-led air strikes  in support of the Hadi government  had killed 510 children and injured 667 more in 2015, and the listing has been controversially removed pending a UN investigation.

The recruitment of child soldiers, mostly by Houthis, has also been recorded alongside the denial of humanitarian assistance as hundreds of thousands of people remain at risk of starvation.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said he was profoundly concerned for the suffering in Yemen.

The humanitarian situation is disastrous and continues to worsen, he added, saying 2.8 million people had been forced to leave their homes.

I strongly urge all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular concerning the protection of civilians.

Between March 2015 and 8 June 2016, the UN has documented at least 3,539 civilians killed and 6,268 injured.

MPs have raised urgent concerns about continuing British arms sales to Saudi Arabia during the conflict, while the Ministry of Defence is urgently investigating evidence of the coalition's use of British-made cluster bombs.

The British Government says it supports the coalitions military intervention to deter aggression by the Houthis  [and] allow for the return of the legitimate Yemeni Government but would raise concerns over violations of international law with Saudi Arabia.
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The English department at one of the worlds most prestigious universities has addressed a student campaign seeking to decolonise a reading list deemed too white.

Professor Langdon Hammer, head of the department at Yale University in Connecticut, the US, acknowledged how the almost 100-year-old major English poets module has been a prerequisite course for English majors for decades, adding that its never been in the news before.

Students studying the course had launched a petition saying Yale risked losing out on young talent, and that it was unacceptable a Yale student considering studying English literature might read only white, male authors.

According to the courses requirements, students spend two semesters in the company of major English poets, including Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Alexander Pope, and T. S. Eliot.

The campaigners, though, insisted that a lack of works by women, people of colour, and queer folk harms all students, regardless of their identity.

The students further argued the module is especially hostile to students of colour, and said, when they are made to feel so alienated that they get up and leave the room, something is wrong.

Professor Hammer, though, said the course introduces students to a particular literary tradition, and has the status of a tradition. He added: The thing about literary traditions is they are always being upended and remade. That is the history of English poetry from Chaucer to Eliot. So, it seems fitting for students and faculty to raise questions about the course and its role in the major.

Encouraging a wider conversation among the student body and faculty, he said: The questions on my mind about [this course] are: How can this course be made better? What is its relationship to the rest of the English department curriculum? What should and shouldnt the faculty require of its majors? What does a strong education in the discipline of English look like today? And what should it look like tomorrow?

The English department faculty is charged with asking those questions about all of our courses. We ask them in formal and informal ways every year, and we will again next year. Well be in conversation with our students who have a range of views. And well make decisions about what we teach and what we ask of students that seem appropriate to us.

Despite the petition and queries over the reading list, Yale Daily News reports the English department itself has made strides in recent years, particularly with a more diversified faculty.

The Yale campaign echoes a similar one in the UK which was launched earlier this year by students and staff at The Forest Academy in Ilford who said women and ethnic minorities must be fairly represented on the GCSE and A-levels curriculum, having found current reading lists are weighted in favour of white, deceased, male writers.

One of the teachers behind the campaign, Olivia Eaton, said: Its important students are able to recognise themselves and their heritage in some of the texts they study, and that theyre exposed to a variety of authors and backgrounds to gain a better understanding of the society they live in.
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The head of one of Malaysias oldest universities has announced there will be a thorough investigation after it came under fire when a set of controversial religious education slides leaked online.

The slides, part of Universiti Teknologi Malaysias (UTM) Islamic and Asian Civilisation Studies course, reportedly claimed Islam introduced manners and body cleanliness to early followers of Hinduism.

According to Indian broadcaster NDTV, the slides also claimed Hindus consider dirt on their bodies as part of their religious practice to achieve nirvana, and that the early foundations of the Sikh faith came about after founder Guru Nanak combined Islam and Hinduism, something he had a shallow understanding of.

In a public statement, UTM vice-chancellor, Dr Wahid Omar, expressed his utmost regret and deep remorse for the lack of sensitivity on the part of our lecturers teaching the subject.

Referencing specific slides shown on social media, Dr Omar said the language used does not reflect the true content of the subject matter in question, adding they were not part of the Massive Open Online Courses (Moocs) slides endorsed by the Ministry of Higher Education.

He continued: UTM has its code of ethics as a guide to all academic staff which clearly stresses on the need to uphold true values and nobility of character in order to instil the right mindset and principles among staff and students, while encouraging respect for one another and inculcating understanding among diverse cultures, creed, and religion.

To prevent a recurrence of this incident, UTM will ensure our lecturers only use the slides that have been endorsed by the ministry. We will also engage experts of Asian civilisation to provide input when needed. At the same time, we will continuously remind our academics to be more vigilant in future and be more aware of the language and presentation of content on their teaching slides and modules so as not to touch on sensitivities of others.

According to the latest census figures, just over 61 per cent of Malaysias overall 30.5 million population is Muslim, while just 6.3 per cent is Hindu.

Sivarraah Chandran, a politician from the Malaysian Indian Congress, said the country needs an independent centre for the study of religion and culture to avoid such silly mistakes. He added in a statement: Such errors should not be repeated as they can cause confusion and hurt in many segments of society, not just students. These are derogatory comments on Hindus and Sikhs.

All teaching materials should have been thoroughly vetted for accurate facts and should not have been blindly accepted for publication.

The course in question, also known as TITAS, created controversy in 2013 when it became compulsory teaching in all of Malaysias public universities, regardless of students religious beliefs.

According to University World News, the issue has been a highly emotive one, with critics accusing the government of creeping Islamisation into Malaysian society.
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A Baptist pastor has praised the attack on an LGBT nightclub in Orlando that killed 49 people, the deadliest mass shooting in US history, during a sermon in Sacramento.

The remarks, made by Roger Jimenez just hours after the shooting, appeared on the Verity Baptist Churchs YouTube account.

Are you sad that 50 paedophiles were killed today? he said in the sermon. Um no, I think thats great! I think that helps society. I think Orlando, Florida is a little safer tonight.

The tragedy is that more of them didnt die. The tragedy is Im kind of upset he didnt finish the job  because these people are predators. They are abusers."

Mr Jimenez went on to say he wished homosexuals would be put in front of a firing squad.

He said: "I wish the government would round them all up, put them up against a firing wall, put the firing squad in front of them and blow their brains out.

We dont need to do anything to help. As far as Im concerned, Orlando is a little bit safer tonight.

In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People gather at a vigil in solidarity for the victims of the Orlando nightclub mass shooting, at Taylor Square in Sydney EPA In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Brett Morian, from Daytona Beach, hugs an attendee during the candlelight vigil at Ember in Orlando AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People and members of the gay community holding the peace rainbow flag gather for a vigil near the Beaubourg art center in downtown Paris AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A man places a hand print on a makeshift memorial in a parking lot near the Pulse nightclub in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People attend a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Orlando attack against a gay night club, held in San Francisco REUTERS In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People place candles by a statue of Abraham Lincoln during a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Orlando attack against a gay night club, held in San Francisco REUTERS In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Tel-Aviv city hall lit up with rainbow flag colors in solidarity with Florida's shooting attack victims AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Juan Mantilla (L) stands with his partner during a vigil in memory of the victims of the Orlando mass shooting, in Miami Beach AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A couple shares a kiss as they embrace each other under a pride flag while residents of San Francisco and the Bay Area gather to mourn, honor, and remember the victims of a mass shooting at a LGBT nightclub in Orlando EPA In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Austin Ellis, a member of Metropolitan Community Church, carries a cross with a sign in memory of the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting as he marches in the 2016 Gay Pride Parade in Philadelphia Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A rainbow flag flies at half mast on the Space Needle in Seattle, in honor of the victims of the nightclub shooting in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People at the LA Pride event in West Hollywood, write signs and light candles showing solidarity with victims of the mass killings in Orlando AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims In reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida people hug outside the Stonewall Inn near a vigil for the victims in New York AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A woman offers free hugs in Washington, in reaction to the mass shootings at a gay club in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A U.S. flag is flown at half staff at the White House after the Orlando mass shooting Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A man lays flowers on a rainbow flag in front of the embassy of the United States in Madrid, to pay tribute to the victims of the shooting of Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims The Michael Fowler Centre is lit in rainbow colours by the city council during a candle lit vigil across the road at Frank Kits Park in Wellington, in remembrance of victims after a gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Participants hold candles during a vigil at Frank Kits Park in Wellington, in remembrance of victims after a gunman opened fire in a gay nightclub in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Vixon Noir (R) consoles Trashina Cann, both of San Francisco, during a vigil at Harvey Milk Plaza in the Castro district of San Francisco AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People gather in the Castro District for a vigil for the victims of the Orlando shooting at a gay nightclub, in San Francisco REUTERS In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A couple joins residents of San Francisco and the Bay Area to mourn, honor, and remember the victims of a mass shooting at a LGBT nightclub in Orlando EPA In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Mourners pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando shooting during a memorial service in San Diego AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims The Orlando Eye observation wheel lights up in rainbow colors, to remember the people killed and injured in the Pulse nightclub shooting AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People sit by the water with candles during a vigil in a park following a mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando REUTERS In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Members of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence carry a sign of remembrance for mass shooting victims in Orlando, at the 46th annual Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade in West Hollywood REUTERS In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims Former Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and Shawn Lang of Hartford embrace after Segarra spoke, during a vigil organized by the state's Muslim and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, on the steps of the state Capitol building in reaction to the mass shooting in Orlando AP In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims The City Hall Building is lit in the rainbow colors in New York, in reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims One World Trade Center is lit in the rainbow colors in New York, in reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando AFP/Getty Images In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims People hold a vigil after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history at a gay nightclub in Orlando, in front of the White House in Washington REUTERS In pictures: The world mourns Orlando shooting victims A man lays down 50 roses to honor each victim of the gay Orlando night club shooting as people gather outside of the Stonewall Inn as a vigil is held following the massacre Getty Images

Sandrea Nelson, the Pride director of the Davis-Phoenix coalition, said in a statement: Hes not a man of God. He is not teaching religion.

Statements like this can cause more harm to our youth and people in the closet; it causes them to feel worthless. Bottom line is to love thy brother as you love thyself."

Kevin Johnson, the mayor of Sacramento, condemned the remarks.

He said: "The hateful comments made by a preacher in Sacramento do not reflect Christian values and have no place in our society."
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Sir Philip Greens performance in front of a joint hearing of the Business and Work and Pensions select committees yesterday delivered precisely what his reputation suggested it would. Brash, aggressive, charmless and frequently menacing, he evinced little to none of the pleasantries such occasions usually engender.

Fine, if pleasantries arent your thing; goodness knows pleasantries arent what made him a billionaire. But in his repeated failure to answer the central questions, and indeed allegations, against him, Sir Philip confirmed what has already become a consensus not just in the media coverage he so despises, but in the City, whose favour and approval he so craves.

Following the Rupert Murdoch approach to these hearings, Sir Philip got his mea culpa in early. At the very outset he said that he would like to apologise for the demise of BHS. Later, he said that he was extremely keen to help sort out the mess that is the BHS pension scheme, which was in surplus when he bought it but now faces a 571m deficit, causing anguish for its 20,000 members.

 Philip Green apologise to BHS

But even the most favourably disposed observer would have to conclude from his tone and disposition that this apology and offer of help were somewhere on the spectrum between woefully insincere and way too little, way too late. In the rest of his evidence, Sir Philip couldnt hide what seemed a flagrant disregard for the suffering his mismanagement has caused.

There were two main pillars to his defence. The first was that, in a company so big, and in a sector (retail) so challenged, it was unrealistic for an owner such as he to be on top of all the detail of what was happening in the business.

The second, familiar to juries and judges the whole world over, was that many of the events he was being interrogated about happened many years ago and he couldnt possibly remember. Neither defence was satisfactory.

Though Sir Philip Green repeatedly said he was not running away, and that it wasnt his style to blame other people, the very clear implication was that it is indeed the fault of his advisers that the pension scheme was catastrophically mishandled.

In several exchanges, his shameless elision of the failings of the scheme with discussion of his advisers shortcomings made clear, in a very unsubtle way, that he was in fact blaming those around him. That looked cheap, immature, cowardly and unconvincing.

As for his lack of memory on key details, this too verged between the implausible and the suspect. Asked specific questions about what he did and didnt say about the pension scheme to Dominic Chappell, the former bankrupt to whom he sold BHS, and also Steve Webb, the pensions minister, Sir Philip prevaricated.

It simply isnt credible to give no account, when asked by MPs, about what he did or didnt say to a prospective buyer of such a vast business  and also a government minister  about a pension scheme that he will have known had gone from surplus to 571m deficit under his watch.

He kept saying without wishing to be rude, only to then promptly be extremely rude. His manners and wealth seem to grow in inverse proportion. The various MPs who had to deal with him are sufficiently grown up to handle his viperish tendencies, but the impact of his actions will be felt far beyond Westminster  and even beyond the families of the 11,000 people put out of work while he took out hundreds of millions in dividends for his Monaco-based wife (who legally avoided tax on that income).

The case of Sir Philip Green and the collapse of BHS is a verdict on the status of capitalism itself. The Independent is staunchly capitalist  so long as everything possible is done to ensure capital reaches the poor.

Nearly eight years after the financial crash, huge swathes of the poor in advanced countries are seeing their real incomes fall because of globalisation and technology. Inequality is rising; our social fabric is fraying. The likes of Sir Philip Green, meanwhile, are pulling away, legally avoiding paying their fair share because of the international mobility of modern capital.

Only by a brutally rigorous enforcement of the law, and an all-out assault on the growth of money and tax evasion, combined with smart policy that ensures the poor are given proper access to capital, will capitalism win the popular support it so desperately needs, and which it is currently losing. Only by relentless and ruthless public scrutiny of the fat cats who destroy businesses while financially engorging themselves will capitalism fulfil its moral potential.

If that means Sir Philip Green needs to be made an example of, so be it.
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Loaded with honours and a Legion dHonneur, holder of Frances top literary award, one of the French Immortals in the Academie Francaise, no less, and perhaps the finest living novelist in both Arabic and French, youd think that Amin Maalouf was beyond reproach. No one who has read The Rock of Tanios  a grim, painfully accurate account of sectarian life in Lebanons Chouf mountains and colonial interference in the Levant  or Leo the African, can doubt his literary magnificence.

But then zoot alor! Maalouf, who holds both Lebanese and French citizenship and writes in French, gave an interview in French about French culture to an Israeli-French television station, and the sky has fallen in. In his native Lebanon, Maaloufs head is on the block. There are demands that the countrys greatest living writer should be deprived of his Lebanese nationality and put on trial, amid accusations that he has betrayed his people. Attacked by the international boycott of Israel movement, Maaloufs Leo the African has now been dubbed 'Leo the Israeli'.

And of course, since Maalouf is a Christian  Lebanese Maronites are traditionally more sympathetic towards Israel than Lebanese Muslims whove been killed in their tens of thousands by Israeli forces over more than half a century  those anxious to destroy Maaloufs reputation are largely Muslim. Its a sorry tale that would itself make a good novel with its cocktail of hypocrisy, snobbery, nationalist hatred, history and downright stupidity.

Just after he published Rock of Tanios, I met Maalouf in a fog-smothered Christian Maronite monastery in the Metn hills. He was a chubby, humorous, humble man whose politics were a lot less impressive than his literature. My profound conviction, he announced in a later portentous and boring political work, is that too much weight is placed on the influence of religion on people, and too little on the influence of people on religion. But he condemned the lies of the Western leaders who invaded Iraq. The country of Abraham Lincoln reached the conclusion that (the emergence of Arab democratic regimes) was much too risky, he said.

So far, so good. Then came his latest appearance on the Israeli i24 channel, owned by the Franco-Israeli businessman Patrick Drahi. As a Frenchman, of course, Maalouf broke no French law by talking to Israeli television. But of course, by chatting away about Western culture while making absolutely no reference to Israels cruelty towards his country of birth, Maalouf did  at the least  miss the chance of putting across the reality of Lebanons past suffering to thousands of Israeli television viewers. The Lebanese French-language and very Christian newspaper LOrient Le Jour naturally defended its favourite author, but even its own writers were upset.

Yes, we are at war with Israel, Dominique Edde wrote. Yes, Patrick Drahis channel is far from being as neutral as it would like us to believe, and yes, we hoped that a writer of such international renown, loaded down with honours and prizes, would have seized the opportunity of such an interview to express his disagreement with a regime with so murderous an identity. He didnt do that, and thats a pity. But whats all this nonsense about a trial? Maalouf, Edde added, is not a man of conflict.

True, but only months after Israels bloody 1982 invasion of Lebanon, Maalouf became part of an official Lebanese-Israeli delegation set up to create what would have been a totally unequal and one-sided peace treaty between Israel and Lebanon; as much of his country lay in rubble, Maalouf sympathetically visited the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Shmona to examine some shell-holes in a building. He later chose, wisely, to remain silent on these activities.

But no one complained when Maalouf participated in an interview in Brussels in 2013 with the Israeli novelist David Grossman, whose soldier son was killed in the 2006 Lebanon war. In fact, that meeting was not even reported in Lebanon although one newspaper reader, recalling the event now, says that Maalouf should not have given his latest Israeli television interview since there are surely dozens of other occasions to be interviewed on non-Israeli channels and if the purpose was to make an opening to a people with whom we are in conflictit will only be exploited by some Israeli media to prove that Israel is accepted by intellectuals. In reality, the Jerusalem Post highlighted not Maaloufs presumed exercise in cultural bridge-building but the slurs cast upon him by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement which demanded he apologise to Palestinians and Lebanese.

But now for the hypocrisy bit. Millions of Arabs are well aware that Palestinian officials speak daily to Israel military and political leaders. They are even more alert to the fact that Al-Jazeera, the plaything of Qatars billionaire emir, maintains offices in Jerusalem and regularly interviews Israelis, beaming their comments across the world. Indeed, after the death of ex-prime minister Ariel Sharon  who sent the Lebanese Christian militia into the Sabra and Chatila camps in 1982 where they murdered up to 1,700 civilians  Al-Jazeeras presenter, talking to an Israeli official in Jerusalem, expressed her companys condolences on Sharons demise.

But there were, of course, no demands for Al-Jazeera to be taken to court. Nor was it accused of treachery. Amin Maalouf comes from a wealthy family which made its fortune in Egypt  but he is not as rich as the Emir of Qatar (nor, for that matter, as well off as i24s owner Patrick Drahi, whom Forbes has named as the richest man in Israel).

Another LOrient reader has written that there would surely have been no shame in Maalouf saying on Israeli television, that there is injustice in Palestine that the Palestinians suffer under Israeli military occupation.A pity! An opportunity missedBut Im sure that our illustrious Amin Maalouf will find another occasion to rectify this mistake.

Dont bet on it. Maalouf left Lebanon at the start of the civil war in 1975. And exiles, however brilliant, have a remarkable habit of recalling their original homes and social history with devastating accuracy  look at James Joyce  but losing all touch with the political reality and suffering of the countries they have left behind. Here, the name of Auden comes to mind. But no, Maalouf is unique. Thats why he is as untouchable as he is immortal. But given the frightening political leadership in Jerusalem, Israeli television might not be the best way to bridge any cultural gaps just at the moment.
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Many British people know who the Peshmerga are and that our female fighters frighten the murderers and rapists of Daesh. I have often heard this in my first year as the Kurdistan Regional Government's representative in this country.

Our Peshmerga are great ambassadors but most importantly they are holding the line against Daesh not just for our people but also for the free world as a whole. The very name of the Peshmerga is based on bravery as it is Kurdish for "those who face death". Nearly 1,500 Peshmerga have been killed and more than 8,000 have been injured.

Less well known is that many of our Peshmerga are needlessly dying from injuries of the sort that British soldiers have routinely survived for decades. Injuries can soon prove lethal if not tackled in the first golden hour but that's harder on the frontline. By the time a Peshmerga reaches a city hospital, it is often too late to save them and we need frontline medical facilities that British and other western soldiers take for granted.

But we're struggling economically to cope with the war. Not only are we defending a 650-mile border against Daesh but we are also looking after nearly two million people who have fled from Daesh and sought shelter in Kurdistan. There will be more people fleeing as Mosul nears its liberation after two years of Daesh rule. And the oil revenues we depended on have been shot to pieces.

I recently briefed MPs from the all-party parliamentary group on the Kurdistan Region, which has been a valued friend for a decade. MPs visited the frontline with me in Kirkuk last year and saw for themselves what the Peshmerga are up against.

The MPs have agreed to urge the British government to lend us a helping hand to reduce Peshmerga deaths and help the seriously injured. Colonel Bob Stewart, who fully understands frontline life as the former British Commander in Bosnia, is is asking the government to provide field surgical teams for the Peshmerga. Labour's Ian Austin has asked the Defence Secretary to assess the merits of providing a British field hospital.

They could save Peshmerga but over 7,000 have already been injured and many have lost limbs. We don't have the specialist facilities to adequately help amputees. Col Stewart, who is also a senior member of the Defence Select Committee, is urging British ministers to provide some seriously injured Peshmerga with specialist treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Its professional staff were crucial to helping British soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. France and Germany have allowed several hundred Peshmerga to recover in their hospitals.

I know the UK is doing much to help us already. Your airstrikes have been and remain invaluable, as do your intelligence and reconnaissance, training, demining and heavy machine guns with armour-piercing ammunition. But the medical assistance urged by MPs on both sides of the Commons is also vital. An appeal for all these measures is contained in a cross-party Commons motion tabled by Mary Glindon, the Labour MP.

We are doing our best to reform our economy so we can look after our people in an age in which oil and gas revenues can no longer cover our needs. But we face an immediate emergency in caring for our Peshmerga.

America has recently given us substantial supplies of equipment and funds to pay our Peshmerga too  our economic crisis means they have not been paid for months. They fight without pay because the war against Daesh is about our very existence against a monstrous foe that also targets the West and Britain, as many British people recognise.

Karwan Jamal Tahir is Kurdistan Regional Government High Representative to the UK
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Weve only just extracted ourselves from one union why on earth would I want to vote in favour of joining another? - these were the words uttered from the lips of an Estonian mother to her daughter when it became clear that Estonia along with nine other former eastern bloc countries were to apply to join the EU. This mother, like many others of her generation, had suffered the deprivations of the Soviet regime having been transported to the eastern camps as a young girl with her parents only to be allowed to return to her homeland some time later but this time without her parents who did not qualify for repatriation. That was the last she was to see of them.

We will never know whether this mother voted to join the EU but 11 years into Estonias membership her daughter now holds down a good job, is married with a family and living in the UK where her mother regularly visits from their family home in Estonia. This scenario is undoubtedly replicated across all the EU member states where people who had simply existed under a grey, faceless and repressive regime were able to step finally into the open and make a life for themselves. Surely this is the true essence of the EU project. We can argue about the economics and the politics but at the end of the day the EUs real strength is its ability to bring people from many different nations and from all walks of life to live and work alongside each other and in so doing break down the barriers that a century of bitter and ugly world wars with massive loss of life did not succeed in doing.

So to turn the Estonian mothers question around - why on earth would the UK want to leave such a project? Why would the UK want to turn its back on the commitment the EU has made over many decades to not only protect its people but also to create a fertile environment for individual furtherance?

Such an act could only be seen as grossly irresponsible and deeply uncaring on many levels at a time when the many challenges presented across this much troubled world require a European response which is demonstrably united in form and collectively wise in content.

J. Wells

Essex

SEN tribunals

As someone with thirty five years experience working in special educational needs I read your recent story about increasingly adversarial SEN tribunals with sadness. The relatively new SEN code of practice is, in my view, strong on rhetoric and inadequate in providing the resourcing required to make its aspirations deliverable. This legislation cruelly raises the hopes and expectations of parents of young people with special educational needs. At the same time it leaves front-line professionals in the invidious position of knowing many of those expectations cannot be met within current levels of resourcing and staffing. A toxic mix that was prophesied by many of us when we responded to the initial consultation process on this legislation. National policymakers should, in my view, hang their heads in shame because this whole chain of events was totally foreseeable.

Pete Crockett

Address unknown

Everyone deserves a second chance

In response to Racist killer hired as assistant at special needs school close to murder scene.

We speak to people with criminal convictions every day who are struggling to find work many years after they have served their sentence. With over a quarter of people out-of-work having received a criminal record in the last 10 years, its in societys interest to enable people who have offended in the past to become contributors to society rather than burdens on the state.

With over 10.5 million people in the UK with a criminal record, we need to encourage employers to treat every applicant on a case-by-case basis and not have blanket exclusions towards people with criminal records. Thats why campaigns like Ban the Box, and the recent commitment by David Cameron to apply this approach to the civil service, are so important in changing the attitudes of employers towards people with a criminal record.

People who have committed crime cannot change the past, but they can focus on what they do in the future. Ian Devlin looks to have done everything he can since he was released from prison to become an active, positive member of society. The school clearly recognised this in their recruitment process. We should encourage more employers to do the same.

Christopher Stacey

Address unknown

Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown seems a puzzling choice to win over Labour supporters who are leaning towards Leave, given his track record of contempt for those with concerns about EU migration (remember that bigoted woman).

His task is to persuade us its the economy (stupid) and that we should ignore massive net immigration. But the latter can hardly be a negligible issue when the Remain project is to grow the economy by growing the population through migration. We are asked to believe that we need yet more jobs when actually we need fewer people.

John Riseley

Harrogate

EU funding

What is it with these folk who go on about all this EU funding we receive. Let me put it this way: you save up a certain amount of money in the bank every month - say the HSBC - then after a while decide you want a new fitted kitchen costing 10,000. When you draw out your hard-earned cash to pay for it, would you consider your kitchen has been funded by the HSBC bank? Of course not because it was you who put the money there in the first place. The only difference between this example and EU economics is that Brussels would have demanded an additional 3,000 for the trouble. Vote Leave next week for a better life.

Peter Flynn

Sheffield
Detention Center

The inmate count at the Platte County Detention Facility on Tuesday was 64, with 37 from Platte County and 27 from out of county.

Police

June 4

10:41 a.m.  In a parking lot at 340 E. 24th St., a vehicle driven by Brian Scheel, 37, 20212 250th St., struck pedestrian Bert Swett, 79, 4005 38th St., No. 315, in a motorized wheelchair.

June 5

4:16 p.m.  At the intersection of 23rd Street and 33rd Avenue, Jorge Aguilar, 29, Carriage House Estates, No. 106, was cited for a traffic signal violation.

June 7

4:06 p.m.  At 2354 39th Ave., a vehicle driven by Byron Gaskill, 59, 6829 53rd St., struck an overhead door owned by Bob Theilen, 6073 Shady Lake Road.

June 8

2:02 p.m.  At 4330 23rd St., Olga Bonilla-Reyes, 43, 424 Seventh St., was cited for shoplifting.

June 9

10:17 a.m.  At the intersection of 23rd Street and 23rd Avenue, traffic accident. Drivers were Shaelene Lassek, 26, Osceola, and Kristel Hall, 41, 4024 31st St.

1:21 p.m.  At the intersection of 48th Avenue and 38th Street, traffic accident. Drivers were Kathleen Ladehoff, 51, 1658 40th Ave., and Melinda Akers, 47, 3504 36th St.

2:44 p.m.  In a parking lot at 3375 45th Ave., traffic accident. Drivers were Brian Aerni, 43, 916 53rd St., and Amber Limbach, 36, 2103 Sixth St.

9:18 p.m.  At the intersection of 26th Avenue and Ninth Street, a vehicle driven by Tyson Quigley, 27, 2512 Ninth St., struck a parked vehicle owned by Mindy Shelton, 871 26th Ave.

June 10

9:37 a.m.  In the 3300 block of 25th Street, traffic accident. Drivers were Brock Hoover, 36, 4635 29th St., and Amanda Rosas, 31, Duncan.

1:53 p.m.  In a parking lot at 2903 23rd St., traffic accident. Drivers were Jason Gansebom, 45, Omaha, and Sherry Kemp, 51, 14120 S Road, Lot B.

10:30 p.m.  In a parking lot at 304 23rd St., traffic accident. Drivers were Jonathan Ramos, 29, 2657 40th Ave., No. 15, and Tina Graff, 32, 2579 47th Ave., No. 8.

June 12

8:20 a.m.  In a parking lot at Super 8 Motel, 3324 20th St., a vehicle driven by Larissa Collins,17, Guthrie, Oklahoma, lost control and struck the motel wall.

9:58 p.m.  At the intersection of 25th Avenue and Seventh Street, traffic accident. Drivers were Ryan Asay, 21, 4418 Solar Place, and Drew Schultz, 18, Duncan.

Sheriff

June 13

6 a.m.  Suspicious person at 9680 63rd Ave., Dwayne Ford of Kansas jailed for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Antonio Rodriguez of Columbus jailed for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Boats carrying the Ukip leader Nigel Farage and the prominent Remain supporter Sir Bob Geldof have clashed in a bizarre "battle for the Thames" ahead of the EU referendum.

Nigel Farage proclaimed the flotilla of up to 60 vessels, which passed under London's Tower Bridge at around 10am, was "not a celebration or a party but a full-throttled protest".

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Geldof was joined by Rachel Johnson, sister of former London mayor Boris and a prominent Remain campaigner, on a boat blasting out the song "In With The In Crowd" on a large on-board sound system.

And video from the Thames showed a number of rubber speedboats bearing large "In" banners weaving in and out of the Brexit fleet.

The protest and counter-protest clashed as Mr Farage's larger flotilla passed by Parliament - though there were no reports of actual violence beyond rumours a Remain craft was targeted with water from a fishing boat's hose.

Fishing was the issue at the heart of Wednesday's bizarre "battle", with Mr Farage telling the Press Association EU membership had "destroyed our industry".

.@Nigel_Farage is being heckled by Geldof now. Seems Mr Farage should have got a bigger loud speaker pic.twitter.com/rWVwnAa9lC  Tom Calverley (@tcalverley) June 15, 2016

Speaking eight days before the referendum, he said: "The governing principle of the common fisheries policy is that of 'equal access to a common resource'.

"Fish stock that should be within the UK's internationally-recognised territorial waters is now shared with our European partners.

"This has led to a 60 per cent drop in oversized landings and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in our industry."

Jobs were also being lost in the charter angling fleet due to new EU regulations on recreational sea angling, said the Ukip leader, who said that Norway, outside theEU, was able to control stocks up to 200 miles off its shores and had a "booming" commercial fishing and angling industry.

"EU membership has destroyed our industry," said Mr Farage. "Today's flotilla is not a celebration or a party but a full-throttled protest. We want our waters back."
The Taoiseach will not link up as planned with the British Prime Minister when Mr Kenny goes on the Brexit campaign trail in England this week.

Mr Kenny is to visit Liverpool tomorrow before going on to Manchester on Friday morning. It had been expected the Taoiseach would meet with David Cameron on Friday morning before moving on to Glasgow later that day.

No explanation has been given for the cancellation of the meeting with the British Prime Minister. Dublin officials merely said that "Mr Cameron's plans had changed."

But political sources said the tightness of the referendum on whether Britain should 'Remain' or 'Leave' the European Union had led to a profound change of strategy among those who, like the Prime Minister, are urging that British voters back the stay side on June 23.

Campaigners believe that the key battle is the English regions, notably the Midlands and North. These are traditional Labour strongholds and, while the Labour side is officially backing a 'Remain' vote, there is now deemed to be a need to strengthen the message.

"Labour needs to take centre stage in places like Manchester if the 'Remain' side is to prevail," one source said.

Mr Kenny's spokesman again defended his intervention in the British campaign as "measured and appropriate" and rejected arguments that it was either excessive or too weak and late.

"It is a message from a good friendly neighbour which stresses the mutual benefits of EU membership. It is mainly directed at Irish communities and business interests," the Taoiseach's spokesman said.

Read more: EU referendum: Brexit campaign takes lead with just over a week to go
Greencore chief executive Patrick Coveney thinks Britain will vote to leave the European Union next week, writes Gavin McLoughlin.

Coveney said it would be "very very bad" for the Irish, European and world economies if Britons voted for a so called Brexit.

"My personal judgment is that that's what they're going to do...I don't think it's like Scotland where the simple shock value enabled the Scottish people to come back from the precipice," he said.

Coveney said he thought there would be an outflow of resources from the UK on "a pretty massive scale" if Brexit happens.

He said Brexit would be negative but not catastrophic for Greencore, adding that the company's costs would rise due to probable weakness in sterling and its revenues would probably fall due to reduced British demand.

He said restrictions on the free movement of people would have a modestly negative effect on the business.

Coveney, a brother of Housing Minister Simon Coveney, was speaking at a Dublin Chamber of Commerce event this morning. The vast majority of Greencore's business takes place in the UK.
A British decision to exit the EU would have an immediate impact on Irish agri exports due to the volatility of the pound, it has been warned.

Simon McKeever, head of the Irish Exporters Association, said estimates have varied from a 9pc to 20pc devaluation of sterling in the event that the UK votes to leave the EU.

"If a Brexit does happen the price of the pound is really the only immediate short-term consequence as there would be a two year period for Britain and the EU to negotiate an exit and whatever terms they can trade on going forward," he said.

However, with the UK the current destination for over 40pc of Irish agricultural exports, producers have warned the consequences could be high.

Already the weakening of sterling against the euro in recent months has put additional pressure on Irish meat exports to the UK, according to meat factory bosses.

Meat Industry Ireland (MII) chairman Philip Carroll warned that with 50pc of Ireland's 2bn beef exports destined for the UK, along with significant quantities of pork, sheepmeat and poultry, the impacts of a Brexit would be "significant".

He said it may drive up the cost of doing business, bring back day-to-day customs and certification issues and may also result in a deal between the UK and South American beef powerhouses.

The IFA's chief economist Rowena Dwyer said here was no provision for a negotiation of a special Ireland-UK trading deal.

She pointed out studies have shown the drop in Irish exports to the UK could vary between 150m to 800m.

The farm body urged those with Irish relatives to highlight the risks to them.
Forestry conferences can be tiresome affairs with the only benefits being the opportunity to meet with fellow timber growers and share ideas during the breaks.

Happily the most recent one I attended, organised by the Society of Irish Foresters and the Wood Marketing Federation was a notable exception to the rule and produced encouraging information on the progress of forestry in Ireland.

Unlike many other farming sectors, forestry is prospering and is now accepted as an established and profitable farm enterprise. It was good to hear our new Minister of State for Forestry, Andrew Doyle (pictured), speak knowledgeably on his brief and also announce the measures being taken to facilitate the construction of new forest roads.

Even better, we now have a minister who clearly understands forestry and who comes from Wicklow, a county where woodland plays a huge part in the local economy.

The supply of timber from the farming sector has become very important for sawmills and the emergence of forest owners' groups has played a large part in helping farmers get the best prices available.

With an average plantation size of 8ha, it is not easy to manage these individually. Contractors with huge and very expensive machinery can only afford to work on large sections of woodland but through local cooperation and the "clustering" of smaller woods, thinning and harvesting is now being carried out economically and on time.

The production of woodchip from private woodlands is another rapidly expanding business and again, through pooling resources, local groups are making the most of this opportunity.

It is worth remembering that CAP subsidies are keeping livestock farming going whereas, once woodland has been established, forestry becomes self-sufficient.

It was amusing to hear Coillte employ a classic euphemism in reference to their selling of land for wind farms, data centres, tourism facilities and other requirements.

Their representative referred to Coillte "being a provider of land solutions for diverse projects". Don't you just love it? A masterpiece of political obfuscation if ever I heard one. I always considered that Coillte's vast landholding belonged to the State, ie you, me and all other Irish citizens.

I don't really have a problem with Coillte selling land for specific worthwhile projects but it would be more appropriate if their substantial profits from asset sales went towards replanting rather than taking land out of forestry.

Having said that, they do a brilliant job by allowing free public access to their woods and facilitating group visits while maintaining signs and walking routes to a high standard. This in turn helps greatly in assisting the public to learn more about the overall value of trees and woodland in the broader landscape.

While most of the speakers stressed the many advances that have been made in promoting Irish timber and the fact that it is now highly sought after for construction purposes, it appears there will be serious supply problems in the future.

Not enough farmers are planting trees and during question time at the conference, bureaucracy was cited as the main problem.

It was also stated that too much land is being clearfelled and not replanted, a further difficulty that only the Forest Service can deal with.

It is now 21 years since I first availed of an afforestation scheme and I can only say that it was a positive experience which subsequently turned out to have been a very fortunate investment.

The officials at that time seemed to be doing everything in their power to help farmers like me to plant and care for their trees. Nowadays it appears to be a different matter with endless red tape and difficulties being encountered when seeking felling licenses.

Overcoming spurious environmental objections was also quoted as a major handicap. It would almost seem that, perhaps due to a shortage of funding, lip service is being paid to encouraging planting while in effect, the opposite is the case. Through the imposition of a bewildering raft of rules and regulations, farmers are giving up in despair of ever being allowed to plant.

Planning permissions are required where they were not needed before and there are also issues relating to public access that have yet to be resolved. Our new Minister has a tough job on his hands but he looks to have the ability to deal with it. We wish him every success.

Why I stopped using glyphosate

I have mixed feelings about the the potential banning of glyphosate in the EU.

Over the years it has been an invaluable tool in ridding tillage fields of scutch grass and in controlling vegetation in freshly planted forestry land.

We have however already stopped using it due to problems in preventing slight spray drift on to young trees when carrying out grass control.

Last year I had to replace a number of beech trees which had been slow to come in to leaf and had tiny bonsai like buds.

I was told that this could have been due to the effect of even a minute amount of glyphosate reaching the stems and this seemed to confirm similar experiences of stunted beech in the past.

Formerly we also used to spray tree stumps with glyphosate to prevent regrowth following thinning but then found that neighbouring trees were beginning to look poorly and in some cases died.

At first I thought that this was related to some disease but on discussing the problem with other foresters, I was told that glyphosate is so effective, it could possibly translocate through the roots of the sprayed trees to those adjoining them.
Irish dairy farmers have hit the ground running since the abolition of milk quotas in April 2015. Milk production for the 2015 calendar year was up 13.4pc on and a further increase this year means we are well on target to meet the Food Harvest 2020 target of 50pc extra milk volumes by the year 2020.

Yes, we are experiencing a big speed bump en route as the annual price of manufacturing milk has fallen by 38pc since the high of 2013.

Increased milk production from dairy farmers in America, New Zealand and some of our European neighbours combined with reduced Chinese demand and a Russian ban on dairy imports from the EU have caused a surplus of dairy product on world markets.

Milk prices internationally have been falling since the autumn of 2014 but Irish dairy farmers have been cushioned by milk purchasers supporting the milk price in 2015.

However the current milk price fall is unlikely to slow down the march of Irish dairy farmers to milk more cows and produce more milk after the frustration of over 30 years of stagnation due to EU milk quotas.

However, after the initial surge in milk production the question must be asked, where is Irish dairy farming heading and where will it be by the middle of this century.

The key question for Irish dairy farmers to ask about the future is what will the average milk price be for the next 10 years?

Base milk prices in the region of 24c/l for a sustained period of time will break most confinement dairy farmers in America and mainland Europe as they are actually losing money every day at present prices.

The average spring milk dairy farmer in Ireland had a cost of production of 20.3c/l in 2015 per Teagasc Profit Monitor. It's true that this does not include the farmers own wage but neither does it include the Basic Payment Scheme nor off farm income.

The fact is the average farmer in Ireland is not actually losing money at present milk prices - they are just not making money. Dairy farming now is what beef farmers are accustomed to every year.

It is probably a fair assumption that the longer the milk price stays low the greater and longer will be the uplift when the recovery comes around, as present prices are clearly not sustainable for the majority of dairy farmers in the world.

Therefore the focus should be on what the average milk price will be in the next decade and not on volatility which is the dominant topic in dairy discussions.

Assuming the milk price is in the 30-35c/l range in real terms, it is fair to assume there will be a major expansion in the Irish dairy farming over the next 40 years.

The number of dairy farmers in Ireland is expected to continue to decline according to Teagasc.

This would be accelerated by low milk prices but other factors will include age demographics, land fragmentation and the capital costs of entering dairying are also significant hurdles.

The factors which will determine the future size of the Irish dairy industry are:

how much land will transfer from beef, sheep and arable into dairying

how many extra cows will be milked on existing farms

stocking rate

milk production per cow

kiwi experience

New Zealand is an example we can examine to speculate or project what the future may hold for Irish dairy farming as it had a similar experience with the removal of state subsidies in the 1980s.

Dairy farmer numbers there have dropped by over 27pc in the 36-year period since 1979, yet production has increased by 373pc. Average herd size has increased from 124 cows in to 419 cows and both land farmed and stocking rate have significantly increased in the period.

The scale of the progress is simply staggering. Will we make similar progress?

Applying the New Zealand experience to Ireland over the next 40 years we see a very different dairy industry emerging from the one we have today.

Yes, New Zealand has approximately five times more land mass than Ireland but if the projected numbers are achieved dairying would still only account for 32pc of all the agricultural land in Ireland.

If the historical difference of dairying being five times more profitable than beef, sheep and arable enterprises continues, the swing to dairying in Ireland could be strong indicating these projections are possible.

Nobody can predict the future, yet dairy farmers and their families make decisions every day in their businesses and personal lives which will shape the future of our industry.

Nationally it is imperative that the future of the dairy industry is planned in a meticulous manner rather than vaguely working towards aspirations from previous plans that may already be out of date.

What is possible and what is desired may be two different goals but if we fail to plan we plan to fail.

Mike Brady is an agricultural consultant based in Cork email: mike@bradygroup.ie
On Thursday week we will know if Britain is going to stay or leave the European Union.

And if Britain decides to go - Irish farming will be the first in the firing line.

It is hard to think of any other sector across the 28 member states which would be left more exposed. Discussions in the Dail last week had an air of gloom.

Labour's redoubtable Willie Penrose was posing the questions and new Agriculture Minister, Michael Creed, did not dodge or try to downplay the implications for Ireland's agribusiness.

"There is no absolutely no upside for this economy from a Brexit," the Minister said twice during the exchanges.

The campaign has been bewildering for the middle-of-the-road British voter. Zealots on both sides conjured up apocalyptic images of the implications of staying or leaving.

The short answer to most conjectures is that we really do not know. The nearest to a precedent is the eventual departure of Greenland in 1985 after they had voted in a 1979 referendum to quit.

Greenland, with just over 56,000 people, it is comparable to County Monaghan or Waterford City. Britain has 64 million people and is the world's fifth largest economy. They are also hefty net contributors to the EU budget with a contribution of Stg13m last year.

CAP, which still accounts for 37pc of the EU budget, and could take a big hit if Britain leave. Some 50pc of Irish beef goes to Britain in trade worth 1.1bn per year. Britain buy 60pc of our pigmeat worth 3.3m per year.

Ireland also buys heftily from Britain, importing 3.8bn, against exports of 5.1bn. Of course people will argue, with some justification, that Ireland and Britain have always traded, long before any EU.

But the real rub here, and it is still not taken properly on board by many people engaged in this debate, is that if Britain leave, our trade arrangements with them will have to be fixed via Brussels and the other member states.

There is a dangerous assumption that Britain can just cherrypick the border-free single market - and junk the political stuff they find bothersome. They argue that Switzerland and Norway have managed to do just that.

But it may not be that simple. Anti-EU sentiment is not unique to Britain and it is clear that very serious reforms must be made.

An EU-wide study for the Pew Research Centre this week showed very high unfavourable sentiment across a range of larger member states. In Greece it was over 70pc and in France it was 61pc while it was in the high forties in many countries.

Against that backdrop there may be a rush of others trying to push the case to leave with Grexit, Frexit and other unlovely terms. Those trying to hold the line may decide there must be some consequences to Britain leaving.

Is there any cause for optimism? Well, British voters might opt to stay. And at all events post Brexit negotiations on details would be long and arduous. Many people believe the estimate of two years is wildly optimistic.

"Russia's accession to the WTO took 20 years. It will be a very high risk bet to hope that negotiations would be quickly completed and that negotiations would be uneventful," WTO boss, Roberto Azavedo said.

John Downing is an Irish Independent political correspondent
COLUMBUS  A Columbus-area program teamed up with the Platte County Extension office to form a new 4-H club for migrant children.

The Migrant Education Program is a U.S. Department of Education initiative for youths who have lived in an area less than a year and whose parents work in the agriculture or fishing industries. Melinda Velecela is the migrant liaison and a licensed teacher based at Educational Service Unit 7 in Columbus who works with these children.

The purpose of the migrant program, in general, is to either close or make sure there isn't an achievement gap for the migrant students, she said.

During the school year, Velecela visits schools and helps students in the program catch up academically.

Velecela said the program focuses on students with families working in agriculture because they tend to relocate frequently.

The jobs tend to be temporary. They might get laid off or they might follow the crops, so they might be here in Columbus for a time period and then go to Kansas or Illinois or somewhere else, said Velecela. And every time they move, the kids switch schools. And if youre switching schools all the time you tend to get behind.

Ruth Serrano, an incoming freshman at Columbus High, said when she was younger she moved back and forth from Norfolk to Mexico for a few years, before her family settled in Columbus three years ago.

(The migrant program) helped me with my math, my science, my social studies, she said.  ... It helped me a lot.

Karen Gonzalez, who will be a seventh-grader at Columbus Middle School this fall, was born in Norfolk but enjoys doing arts and crafts related to her heritage.

I like the (crafts) from Mexico because Ive never been to Mexico, but my mom is from Mexico, she said.

Velecela reached out to the Platte County 4-H program because she wanted to expand the activities offered during summer school.

My own kids are in 4-H and I really like a lot of the projects, she said. And I thought it would be a fun thing for the migrant students to participate in.

Last week, the migrant students were part of a GPS workshop through the Extension office that taught mapping and navigation skills. This week, they made a quilt that will be entered in the Platte County Fair then presented to a local military veteran. They are also learning how to sew pillow cases.

Its really fun because were learning new stuff, said Esdeidy Zayas Vargas, whos going into sixth grade at CMS.

Platte County Extension educator Jill Goedeken said working with the migrant students, who were unfamiliar with 4-H, provides a unique opportunity for the educators and students.

This is a unique look at 4-H, taking a group of kids who havent been introduced to 4-H before, she said. And they are learning the same life skills as other 4-H'ers but through a different lens.
There are only a handful of purebred Jersey herds in Ireland, but internationally the breed is under-going somewhat of a boom.

"There are predictions that Jerseys are going to double in number in the US over the coming years to the point where they will make up 20pc of the national dairy herd," claimed Ben Tyrell, a third generation pedigree Jersey farmer in Kildalkey in Co Meath.

His was one of several Irish farms hosting the World Jersey Congress last week.

Jersey enthusiasts from 19 countries around the world visited several Irish Jersey breeders, along with the nascent Jersey herd being established at Teagasc's research centre in Moorepark.

The Tyrells' agricultural advisor, Mike Brady, said that the Tyrell farm was proof that Jerseys could be just as profitable as any black and white dairy animal.

"I didn't know anything about Jerseys before I started working with the Tyrells nearly 10 years ago," admitted Mr Brady.

"This farm is in the top 10pc of dairy farms nationally, and it's still a work in progress.

"Obviously, the weakness of the breed is the low cull value (300-400) of the cows, and the complete absence of any value in the bull calf.

"But people get hung up on these things. The reality is that if you cut out the vested interests in Irish agriculture, most of the black and white calves coming off the dairy herd would be just as worthless as the Jersey bull calf. And the extra value of the cow's milk more than makes up for her lower cull value," he said.

Mr Brady presented figures showing the impressive milk price that the Tyrell's Woodtown herd has been achieving for the last five years.

It averaged 47c/l, peaking at 55c/l in 2013. These averages include a bonus for winter milk, which Mr Brady calculates as being worth 2c/l, but even with this excluded, the Tyrells are averaging a full 10c/l higher than the national average.

The fantastic milk price comes from average proteins of 4.1pc and fats at 5.7pc. It means that the herd average for milk solids was 561kg in 2015, despite the fact that first calvers made up nearly 40pc of the rapidly expanding herd.

"This herd has grown from 170 cows in 2012 to 240 today. It is on track to milk 300 next year, and 400 by 2020," said Mr Brady.

Despite the stellar milk solids, the Woodtown herd sub index for production EBI is just 30, with the overall index at 177.

"EBI doesn't work for my herd because it isn't able to cope with information from other breeds. It's a real pity because it's putting the Jersey breed at a real disadvantage in Ireland," said Ben Tyrell.

It is this issue, along with a lack of genetic variation within the breed compared to the Irish pool of Friesian genetics, that has prompted Teagasc to invest heavily in a new Jersey herd research programme in Cork. However, the trial is still too young to have generated any results.

While the Tyrell's net profit per cow and per litre is lower than the top 10pc of milk producers nationally, Mr Brady estimated that their profitability per hectare is higher at 2,225 in 2015.

"The profit per litre and per cow is reduced by the fact that over 1.7t of meal was fed per cow last year.

"However, this is improving all the time, and combined with the smaller size of the Jersey cow and her better feed-to-milk conversion ratio, there is scope for this farm to be even more profitable in the future," he said.
As a successful breeder of sport horses, and founder of the well-established Irish Breeders' Classic, Tinahely-native Ronan Rothwell knows no limits and has recently gone one step further in developing a new business within the world of equine genetics.

It is this business acumen that saw him scoop the Equestrian Business of the Year accolade at the recent Zurich Farm Insurance Farming Independent Farmer of the Year awards in Dublin.

"I really was delighted to win the award as it not only meant a lot to me, but also my staff at Boleybawn Horses, my wife Suzanne and my family who have supported me throughout," he said. "It is great to have something so prestigious to your name."

For decades the Rothwell name itself has been synonymous with both thoroughbreds and sport horses, so it would be hard to have imagined Ronan pursuing any other interest outside of the industry, although dairy farming did cross his mind at one stage.

"Dad always had dairy cows and after a stint with showjumper Marion Hughes I came home with a view to getting back into that, but I soon realised that the horses were more of a draw to me. We always had a few mares at home and instead of me getting further into farming, the equine herd began to grow."

From there he dabbled in thoroughbreds through his brother, trainer Philip, and trained a few point-to-point winners before switching his focus to sport horses full-time.

While his father Noel had little interest in the equines on the farm, Ronan's time with him in the milking parlour was certainly not wasted, but only as he was to discover later in life.

"Dad has always been fascinated in bovine genetics and I remember as a child watching the cows being covered by AI. I suppose that is how I developed an interest in the area of embryo transfer in mares, although it was 15 years ago when I first tried it on a mare we had here. It was so expensive back then I said I would never do it again."

Surrogates

Much has changed since then, however, and embryo transfer is accepted today as a valuable tool in equine practice to increase the number of progeny from genetically valuable mares, many of whom continue to compete while a surrogate carries its foal for 11 months. Its growing popularity has now also made it affordable to breeders as more veterinary surgeons offer the service.

It was only last year when Mr Rothwell had an opportunity to take embryos from another few good mares and transfer them into recipient mares that he saw a possible new business in the pipeline.

"It was while I was attending some of the veterinary clinics to get mares scanned that I realised how many people were actually doing embryo transfers. It was then I saw the demand was there for recipient mares."

In the following months he began to purchase mares suitable as recipients and offer them for hire. "Breeders know that it is hard to synchronise recipient mares with donor mares but we take care of that. All they have to do is get their own mare in foal."

During the entire process he works closely with specialist vets Tim Brennan, Larry Dunne and Andreas Carli.

Of the 16 mares in the herd, no fewer than 10 of those have successfully undergone embryo transfer and are now acting as surrogates for sport horse foals.

As a long-time producer of top-class event horses such as Boleybawn Ace, Ronan Rothwell knows the value of good pedigrees, and now through this process, he hopes to breed another few superstars in the coming years.

The latest addition to his string of young horses is a four-year-old mare by Verdi out of Ballypatrick Flight.

National champion as a seven-year-old, Ballypatrick Flight is exceptionally well-bred as a half-sister to Greg Broderick's Olympic-bound MHS Going Global and Mr Rothwell is optimistic that this young mare's breeding will also see her go to the top.

"The aim is now to cover her and take some embryos from her before she goes jumping. She is part of the plan going forward - to breed out of younger mares and then sell them on."

In recent years Mr Rothwell has seen himself lean more towards continental sires as part of his breeding programme, though it all started out rather differently.

One of his first mares, Fairwood Princess, was traditionally bred (Kildalton Gold-Lucifier) and her dam Greenhall Madam was a winner at the RDS.

Gifted to Mr Rothwell by his grandfather, the late Derek, Fairwood Princess went on to produce the international show jumpers Boleybawn Riverdance and Boleybawn Perfection and event horse Imperialist (formerly Boleybawn Impression).

"At the time it was great to have Fairwood Princess here and we still have some of her progeny here breeding. Initially I tried to protect the line but in the last few years I have had to be ruthless and not let the heart rule the head.

"I believe that if family can't keep itself, protecting it is not beneficial to anyone.

"To be honest I have ended up going the warmblood route by default, and not by choice, as some of the best breeding stallions in the world are warmblood. I always breed to suit the mare - it is so important and in my opinion not enough attention is paid to the mare's pedigree."

Among his current valuable herd of older broodmares is the 11-year-old Arina, a daughter of Air Jordan Z and closely related to the multiple medal-winning mare Ratina Z. An expensive purchase at the time as an unbroken two-year-old, she has since recouped her cost through the sale of her progeny. This includes Fernhill Splash, who is now eventing in the States.

"I suppose I have never been a follower of fashion with regards to my breeding strategies but thankfully, most of the time I have gotten it right - to produce a good jumper with step.

"Sadly 50pc of breeders are still breeding without a focus. To be honest this end of it and the whole industry needs more support. It is shocking and disappointing that an industry worth 700m can still only get 4m from the State. In order for things to improve this needs to change," he concluded.
On November 3, 2011 in the middle of the night, a number of machines were seized from Slievenamon Agri Services.

"We were behind on payments, but we had paid off 60,000 in the previous 10 months, and our total loans remaining came to less than 120,000, so this was not a crisis situation for the bank," explains Richie White, one of three brothers running the contracting business.

Richie went public about his plight, where the bank sent in repossession men, who came in through a neighbouring farm into the White's farmyard to seize a loader and three tractors, some of which didn't even have finance outstanding on them.

The brave stance paid off, with the bank returning all the machines and apologising to the family for the way the situation was handled.

"We haven't heard a dickie bird out of them since. But it was ridiculous, and a situation that the bank created for themselves.

"They had pulled stocking loans and overdrafts from loads of farmers in the area, a lot of whom would've been clients of ours.

"We ended up becoming the banking facility in the locality. These were good customers of ours, and we knew that they would be good for the money. But milk price had collapsed in 2009, the banks pulled their lending, and we got caught in the crossfire," explains the Tullowcussane man.

Five years later, the Whites are going better than ever, with business up by 40pc as dairy clients look to contract out more of the workload.

But not content with 12 hour days, Richie White was elected chairman of Farm Contractors of Ireland (FCI) in recent weeks, a role that will see him spend at least a day a week working on behalf of the young organisation's 200-plus members.

"I must be a glutton for punishment, and it's been a hard slog getting FCI up and going, and I'd hate to think of all the hours that have gone into it so far. But I think that it is necessary to ensure the role that contractors play is recognised at every level in Ireland, from the ground up to government."

The organisation was formed in 2012 by contractors looking for other options from the long established Professional Agricultural Contractors (PAC) .

When asked if he is frustrated by the fact that there are now two bodies competing for members and resources to represent agri contractors, White claims that the situation doesn't cost him a thought.

"We've teamed up with the EU's umbrella group for rural contractors called CEETTAR, which actually has 250,000 members across Europe. They've been great, helping us stage national conferences like the one we had in Cillin Hill in Kilkenny last March," he says.

FCI also run an annual BBQfundraiser and are pushing to secure funding from the National Development Plan for training of young drivers for part-time positions during the summer months.

"That's the biggest problem we have at the moment - getting help that is skilled enough to drive modern machinery.

Profession

"We'd have a full-time crew of three lads in addition to myself and the two brothers (John and Martin), so these lads are well able to drive the more complicated gear like the harvesters or mowers, but we still need lads to pull trailers and tankers during the summer months," says the south Tipp man.

He points to a three-year part-time course that has existed in Germany for over 10 years that is aimed at giving people that work with large machines qualifications to do so.

"This has helped ensure that contracting is viewed as a real profession in Germany. The Danes also have a well established body to represent contractors that we could learn from," says Richie.

However, the contractor leader admits that large machinery on small country roads at this time of year are often a public liability.

"Everything is a lot faster now but the biggest cause of collisions is lack of visibility, and I think that landowners should be made cut their hedges and verges to ensure that this issue is tackled," said White.

He also says that it is important that councils maintain even verges for tractors to pull in on.

"Tractors are reluctant to pull in because some of the ruts would send you out through the windscreen," he says.

During his two year term, White hopes to highlight the importance of farmers' partnerships with their contractors.

"That's the way I see everything going. If you look back 25 years ago, our customers were 40-50 cow men. Now they are 120-400 cow herds.

"And the more dairy cows, the more silage that has to be made, and slurry and fertiliser to be spread. That means that farmers have become more reliant on contractors to share more of the workload in these operations.

"The most profitable dairy farms that I've been on have very little in the way of machinery.

"Silage, fertiliser and slurry spreading is routine, but we find ourselves doing more and more work on grass reseeding, spraying paddocks for docks, and even work such as feeding cows. I've had a good number of farmers ask me in recent weeks if we'd be interested in doing the winter feeding of the dry cow with a mixer wagon.

"That's something that would really suit us in terms of keeping work in front of lads during the winter months, so we're thinking hard about that at the moment. The opportunities are growing all the time, but there's still only so much that you can do in the day."

GPS the way forward for fuel and labour efficiency

The Whites have a built up a large machinery fleet during the 20 years that they have been in business.

No less than nine tractors grace the yard, headed up by a beefy 250hp Claas 840. It is flanked by two Claas 650s and a Claas 640.

In addition, a 230hp 6499 Massey, two John Deere 6930s, a Case Puma 165 and a New Holland 155 complete the range, which vary in age from a couple of months to 10 years.

"Our first tractor was a Valtra 8100, and I think we wanted to try them all out, but we're probably heading towards a scenario where we have just two brands in the yard to simplify repairs and maintenance," comments Richie.

GPS has also been added to two tractors at a cost of about 10,000 each. While the Whites haven't done the exact costings on it, they believe that it is the way of the future in terms of minimising fuel and time input into each job.

Two Claas self-propelled harvesters are kept on hand, but it is the 2015 870 model that does the majority of the work at the moment.

"We'd be covering about 150ac per day, which would be about 10 hours of cutting, but in reality the day starts at 7.30am and doesn't really end until 10.30pm To be fair, my wife doesn't see much of me at the moment!" he laughs.

The big Claas tractor powers a new 30ft butterfly mower combo, while the brothers also run an older self-propelled Claas mower unit and a 20ft Kverneland front-and-back unit. Six Redrock trailers and a 70H Volvo loader, along with a series of tedders and rakes make up the rest of the silage outfit.

The Whites also operate two Samco maize sowers, covering 500ac. However, this is well down on the 1,000ac that they were planting in previous years.

"The maize area has fallen, but it's nearly all under plastic now, ensuring that it is a higher quality crop. Wholecrops have also held their own, and I can see a place for both of these crops on farms in the future," he says.

Another new addition that has proved to be a big hit this year is the dribble bar system for their umbilical slurry spreading set-up.

"Some lads didn't really know what to expect when we arrived in with it this year, but nearly all of them remarked on the difference it made compared to the splash-plate.

"Cows were able to get back out to graze it quicker, and it seemed to produce a better boost, probably because you are losing less of the nitrogen being volatilised in the air," says Richie.
A significant number of hosted researchers work in engineering (23pc), while physics and chemistry attracted 17pc and 15pc respectively of the non EEA researchers. Picture posed

Graduates from the developing world are the most likely to avail of an EU directive which lets non-EU citizens take up research positions in Ireland.

The EURAXESS programme allows researchers freedom of movement within the EU in their chosen field. The programme aims to recruit top R&D talent from across the globe.

Researchers from China and India are the most likely to avail of the scheme here, with China sending 503 and India sending 619 researchers since the scheme's launch back in 2007. Ireland processed a total of 2,920 "hosting agreements" since the EU Directive became active, with over 2,500 of those coming from outside the EU.

The fields of ICT and computer science have seen the largest influx of researchers, accounting for 53pc of the total number of hosting agreements granted over the past nine years.

A significant number of hosted researchers work in engineering (23pc), while physics and chemistry attracted 17pc and 15pc respectively of the non EEA researchers.

University College Cork has recruited most researchers (554), followed by University College Dublin with 460, while Trinity College Dublin has brought in 451. DIT has the highest number of overseas researchers of the country's institutes of technology (44).

There are 664 researchers working in universities across the country - 330 in Dublin and 334 in the rest of the country.

"Our capacity to attract high quality researchers increases our ability to compete for cutting edge business to deliver well paid and stimulating jobs in the capital," said Irish MEP Brian Hayes. "We have to be honest, we cannot compete internationally on wages or for heavy industry.

"To compete in the international jobs market and to attract the type of jobs our young people want, we must continue to attract the best and the brightest researchers from around the world," he said.
Increasing the minimum wage will not tackle poverty because the majority of workers earning it actually live in middle-income households, a new study claims.

The startling findings come as the Government is under pressure to increase the 9.15-an-hour statutory rate.

A new report by the ESRI, which is partly State-funded, warns that increases in the basic statutory pay rate will do little for households living below the breadline.

The report, to be published today, questions the impact increases in the statutory wage have on reducing poverty. It finds that recent hikes in the national minimum wage have mainly benefited people in middle-income households.

The economic think tank found the proportion of low-wage employees rose from 20pc in 2005 to 23pc in 2014. But it added: "Results also confirm that very few low paid individuals are found in households with incomes below the most commonly used poverty line income cut-off."

The report - 'Low Pay, Minimum Wages and Household Incomes: Evidence for Ireland' - says 11 out of 12 low paid workers are living in households above the poverty line.

In most cases, low paid employees are not the sole earners. It finds that even where they are the sole earners, fewer than one-in-five are at risk of poverty.

The report notes that a young adult may be earning a low wage but living in the family home where the parents' income is enough to keep the household above the poverty threshold. In addition, low wage earners with few dependants will be at lower risk of poverty.

In contrast, employees with an above average wage may be more at risk of poverty when they are the sole earners in the household or have many dependants.

But it notes a young adult may be in a poverty trap at home because they could not afford to buy or rent a home, while other workers may feel they are not earning enough to start a family.

Poverty

"This is not to say that a minimum wage policy is flawed if it fails to reduce poverty," says the report. "Rather, it is important to understand the possibilities and limitations of targeted efforts to increase wages."

It notes that government policy may, of course, be concerned with low individual incomes as well as with low household incomes.

"But it is important to be clear about what minimum wage policy can, and cannot, achieve. It is also important, as recent UK experience illustrates, that the design of tax and welfare policy changes should take such factors into account from the outset," it says.

The Government has committed in the Programme for Government to a hike in the wage to 10.50-an-hour over the next five years in a bid to reduce "poverty levels" for the 124,000 workers on it.

Unions want the Low Pay Commission to recommend it boosts the rate beyond this when it reports next month due to the economic recovery and a hike in the minimum rate in the UK.

The leader of Mandate trade union said it would be "ill conceived" if the Government does not increase the minimum wage.

"It's disappointing that a body that would have had a social agenda in the past would come out with a negative statement in relation to pay, particularly low pay," said John Douglas. "The Low Pay Commission hasn't come up with any proposal as yet to increase the minimum wage but an increase is vital."

He said raising the minimum wage was not a "cure-all" to poverty, but an essential part of tackling poverty.
The goods trade surplus expanded by more than a fifth in April as exports increased and imports fell.

Preliminary figures for the month, published by the Central Statistics Office, shows that seasonally adjusted goods exports increased by 254m to 9.24bn in the month.

By contrast, goods imports slipped by 11pc to 4.7bn, dragged down by a fall in machinery imports.

This meant that the trade surplus increased 819m, or 22pc, to 4.53bn.

Year-on-year, the value of goods exports slipped 2pc in April compared with the same month last year.

The value of goods exports for the period January to April was 36.44bn, an increase of 770 million when compared with the first four months of last year.

The EU accounted for half of total goods exports in April, of which 1.2bn went to Belgium and around 1bn to Britain.

The USA was the main non-EU destination accounting for 2.42bn of total exports.

The EU accounted for 62pc of the value of goods imports in April, with 1.2bn coming from Britain.

Economists fear the fall-out of a potential vote in the UK to withdraw from the European Union on Irelands crucial export sector.

If a so-called Brexit occcurs, sterling is expected to plummet in value, which would have a knock-on effect for Irish exports into the UK market.

There are also wider issues over trade between the two countries.
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, has said that the 11.7m lent by Micro Finance Ireland (MFI) has helped sustain 2,000 jobs.

In a written Dail reply to Fianna Fail's Niall Collins, Minister O'Connor described the output by Micro Finance Ireland as "a very satisfactory performance in a difficult market at a very difficult time".

Minister Mitchell O'Connor said that since its inception in October 2012, Micro Finance Ireland (MFI) has approved 867 loans out of a total of 1,826 loan applications received.

She said 591 applications were declined with 317 were withdrawn.

"To secure the future development of MFI my officials are in negotiations regarding securing a tranche of 10m additional Exchequer funding required to keep the fund operating as a going concern beyond 2017 in line with company law requirements," the Minister said.

"This equity injection is combined with additional bank funding of 15m."

Last year, the State-backed not-for-profit lender to micro-businesses saw a record 50pc rise in the number of loan applications.

Approvals for startups, sole traders and small businesses reached an all-time high in 2015 with the lender approving 5.4m in funding to 357 businesses across every county throughout 2015, supporting the creation and maintenance of 930 jobs last year.

MFI was established in late 2012 by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation under the Action Plan for Jobs.

A total of 752 businesses applied for loans in 2015, compared with 508 applications for 2014.

The average loan size approved during 2015 was 15,190.

Figures provided by Minister Mitchell O'Connor show that the highest number of loans approvals to the end of March this year totalled 196 with the number of loans approvals in Cork at 70; Limerick and Meath at 42; Galway 38; Tipperary and Wexford 33; Cavan 32; and Kildare 34. MFI offers business loans of between 2,000 and 25,000.
US medical technology company Zeltiq Aesthetics is to create 60 jobs in Galway with the establishment of a European manufacturing facility.

Based in California, the firm has created a fat treatment using a process called apoptosis or the killing of fat cells - its CoolSculpting system is available in 70 countries.

The company employs 600 people worldwide.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell OConnor TD said: "I am delighted that Galway will benefit from Zeltiqs decision to establish its European manufacturing facility with the expected creation of sixty jobs.

"This is a really exciting development and I very much welcome Zeltiq to Galway.

"Ireland already has a dynamic and vibrant medical technologies sector and we are keen to expand its footprint into new areas and especially to see it develop further into regional centres."
SCHUYLER  Schuyler Police Chief Lennie Hiltner is stepping down after 17 years with the department.

Hiltner, who joined the Schuyler Police Department in January 1999 and was promoted to chief in November 2002, submitted his resignation Tuesday. Hell remain in the position until July 23.

Hiltner, whose resignation will be considered next week by the Schuyler City Council, said he plans to retire from law enforcement and pursue a second career.

I feel that I have done the best that I could have done for the city of Schuyler, Hiltner said Wednesday morning. I think it is time for me to move to the private sector.

The police chief started his law enforcement career in 1993 as a military policeman for the U.S. Army. In 1997, he was hired as a police officer for the communities of Hooper and Scribner in eastern Nebraska before joining the Schuyler department.

Schuyler Mayor Dave Reinecke said Hiltner is leaving the city on good terms.

I hate to see him go, Reinecke said. He did a great job for the city while he was here. We wish him well.

Hiltner credited city officials for supporting the local police department.

City council members voted in 2014 to raise wages for entry-level police officers and agreed last year to hire Colfax County Sheriffs deputies to cover shifts for the shorthanded department.

Hiltner said the higher pay increased the number of qualified applicants seeking positions with the police department, which recently added two officers, leaving just one open spot.

The city has done the best that they could with what they have, he said. I have no complaints about that.

And theyve treated me really well, Hiltner added. Thats the hardest part about leaving.

The 46-year-old plans to take a few weeks off following his July 23 resignation before deciding what his next step is.

Im looking forward to the second part of my career, whatever that may be, he said.

Hiltner, who lives in Columbus, also runs a part-time parking lot striping business but said hell be looking for something full time.

Im leaving Schuyler in hopes that I have done the best job that I can do, and hopefully the new person can move forward and make it even better, he said.
The High Court held that the negligence had caused substantial losses for Rosbeg.

One of Ireland's biggest law firms, LK Shields, has lost an appeal against a High Court decision that it must pay a client 8.5m because a failure to register a property meant a 10m offer at the height of the boom for the property from truck importer Pino Harris could not be effected.

The client, Rosbeg Partners, is owned by businessman Robert Stewart, and is now in Receivership.

The case was originally before the High Court in 2013.

Rosbeg had acquired a unit at the Western Industrial Estate on the Naas Road in Dublin in 1994. The property actually comprised five lots, made up of five separate titles. The relevant lot in the action was known as Lot 3.

The Land Registry had raised some questions regarding boundaries in relation to the property. LK Shields undertook the task of registering the transaction with the Land Registry. However, despite significant efforts made by a number of solicitors employed by LK Shields, the vendor's solicitor did not rectify the mapping issues. As a result, and because of human error, the issue was never successfully addressed.

The omission only came to light in September 2007 when Mr Harris made his 10m offer for the property.

The High Court held that the negligence had caused substantial losses for Rosbeg.

LK Shields had contended that Rosbeg never made a final decision to accept the 10m from Mr Harris. The legal firm had argued that Rosbeg's directors had been undecided as to whether or not they would accept the 10m, or hold out for a higher price.

The High Court Judge rejected that assertion, and ruled that the omission to register the land in question was a breach of duty which caused the loss of the sale to Mr Harris.

LK Shields appealed that ruling to the Court of Appeal.

It again argued that Rosbeg had not confirmed it was prepared to accept the 10m offered.

But the title difficulties meant the deal couldn't be consummated because of the title difficulties. At the end of October 2007, it was communicated to Rosbeg that Mr Harris saw no point in trying to pursue the transaction because of the issues with title.

However, in 2008 two further offers - one of 8m and then another for 6m - were made by Mr Harris for the property, with both rejected by Rosbeg.

By 2013, the site was valued by representatives of Mr Harris at 1m, while Rosbeg's valuer estimated it to be worth 1.5m.

Counsel for LK Shields argued that Rosbeg had not mitigated its loss, specifically in rejecting the offers of 8m and 6m, in circumstances where there was a declining market, and where Mr Harris was, effectively, "the only show in town", insofar as potential purchasers were concerned, the Court of Appeal noted.

It added that Rosbeg endeavoured to sell the site, and that the company had retained LK Shields to ensure it got good title. Rosbeg didn't, and suffered a loss, the court said, in dismissing LK Shields' appeal.
An astronomical calculator dating back to 60BC Ancient Greece may have also been used to predict the future, researchers have revealed.

The Antikythera Mechanism, described as "the worlds first analogue computer" was created 2,000 years ago and discovered in 1901 in a shipwreck off the Greek island of the same name.

Remaining fragments of the device have been pieced together over the past 12 years using x-ray imaging technology, revealing the secrets of the device.

It was previously revealed the calculator had been used by the Greeks to map the movements of the planets and stars across the sky, as a means of navigation.

However, scientists have now decoded the broken inscriptions on the surface of the device, which appear to reveal an astrological purpose.

Professor Mike Edmunds, from University of Cardiffs astrophysics department, told a conference in Athens: We are not quite sure how to interpret [the inscriptions], but they could hark back to suggestions that the colour of an eclipse was some sort of omen or signal.

Certain colours might be better for whats coming than other colours. This is the first instance we have in the mechanism of any real mention of astrology rather than astronomy.

The Antikythera Mechanism is a complex clockwork mechanism consisting of over 30 meshing bronze gears, designed by Greek scientists sometime between 150 and 100BC.

Before the discovery of the device, researchers thought such technology had not existed for well over 1,000 years after.

All known fragments of the Antikythera Mechanism are currently held for research at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
Philip Green has apologised to the staff of collapsed retailer BHS, adding that he will "sort" the firm's dilapidated pension scheme which has a 571m black hole.

The Topshop billionaire is facing MPs from the Business and Pensions committees who are investigating the firm's failure.

He said: " Nothing is more sad than how this has ended and I hope during the morning you will hear that there was no intent on my part for anything to be like this and didn't need to be like this.

"I just want to apologise to all the BHS people who are involved in this and have been involved."

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BHS's collapse has left a potential 11,000 jobs at risk and a 571 million pensions black hole, with the schemes of approximately 20,000 current and former workers falling into the Pension Protection Fund (PPF).

But the tycoon vowed: "We want to find a solution for the 20,000 pensioners. We still believe that money into the PPF does not resolve it. The schemes are quite complex, but from what I've seen I would say it's resolvable, it's sortable, we will sort it, we will find a solution and I want to give my assurances to the 20,0000 pensioners that I am here to sort this."

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He told the MPs that there was now "a light in the tunnel" for the scheme.

Green added that he had little to do with BHS's pension trustees but took the blame for the current state of the scheme.

"It's my fault," he said.

Green has also come in for criticism for taking 400 million in dividends out of the firm during his 15-year ownership and selling it to former bankrupt Dominic Chappell for 1 in 2015.

However, Green claimed that, through his Arcadia retail empire, he had pumped 600 million into BHS after the dividend payments.

He also defended his use of the tax haven Monaco to run his business, saying "I don't accept that it is tax avoidance. I could have been a lot more aggressive than I probably was. Every penny our company has made in the United Kingdom has paid tax."

In an extraordinary exchange, Green stopped mid-sentence at one point to rebuke Richard Fuller MP for "staring" at him.

He said to Mr Fuller: "Sir, do you mind not looking at me like that all the time, it's really disturbing. You just want to stare at me, it's uncomfortable."

Mr Fuller replied: "I don't wish to make you feel uncomfortable, Sir Philip."

Striking a more convivial tone, Mr Fuller added: "I think it is another parliamentary colleague that is known for his death stare. I am sorry if I unnerved you but I learnt from my previous career in business and also in politics that if you are doing something important you should look someone straight in the eye."

Green replied: "Now we are talking, we can look at each other."

At times Green appeared agitated during a series of protracted exchanges.

Richard Graham MP put to Green Mr Chappell's claim that the 1 deal for BHS would be pension free and that Project Thor, a plan to save the pension scheme, would go ahead.

In a series of exchanges, Sir Philip replied: "I am sorry, are we in the same room? I am not sure we are. I think you should come and sit here.

"You keep asking me the same question."

He then pleaded to committee chairman Frank Field "I apologise sir, I can't deal with this," before adding: "This is really simple. I am happy to get a phone in the room now. We are currently working on this as we speak, an updated Project Thor. They have been working on it for the past two or three weeks."

When probed on what sort of person or organisation he was looking to sell BHS to, Green said: "Someone who can take the business forward. Most of the people that turned up wanted to do a process - almost everybody.

"I think most of the people wanted a pre-pack or admin, take the business through bankruptcy; that was unfortunately where we ended with everybody who turned up."

Defending his decision to sell BHS to Mr Chappell in 2015, Sir Philip sought to shift the blame on to the former bankrupt's advisory firms Grant Thornton and Olswang, saying their involvement in the deal gave him "credibility".

He said: "We thought the buyer was legitimate."

Green also said he "one million per cent, would not have done business" with Mr Chappell if his own adviser Goldman Sachs had said not to.

He went on to cite the bankruptcies of Walt Disney and HJ Heinz as further justification for selling BHS to Mr Chappell.

When asked if he considered the risk to his reputation of selling to Mr Chappell, Green admitted: "We found the wrong guy."

"There were a lot of people who accepted him at face value. What happened was beyond horrible, sad."
Inditex, the world's biggest clothing retailer, beat forecasts with a 6 percent rise in profits on Wednesday driven by strong sales as fast turnover allowed the owner of fashion chain Zara to react quickly to unseasonable weather.

The first-quarter results sent shares in Inditex, one of the most expensive retail stocks globally, up 3.2 percent, outperforming Swedish rival H&M which reported a pickup in sales growth in May after a fall in its first-quarter profit.

Inditex, well known for whisking the latest trends from runway to stores in a matter of days, is bucking a broader industry trend with other major fashion retailers complaining of weak demand.

The group, which recently lowered its guidance on growth in store space to shift focus to larger flagship stores and online sales, said its full stable of brands - from homewares store Zara Home to upmarket clothing label Massimo Dutti - would have an online presence in all European countries and Turkey by the end of this financial year.

Inditex reported a net profit of 554 million euros ($621 million) for the period from Feb. 1 to April 30, beating a Reuters forecast of 541 million euros, as sales jumped 12 percent on the year-ago period. However, results were tempered by negative currency effects.

Sales of lingerie-inspired, lace-trimmed dresses, oversized shirts and other items from flagship chain Zara helped push sales across the group's brands up 15 percent at constant exchange rates in the first weeks of the second quarter from May 1 to June 13, it said.

While this implied a slackening of like-for-like sales in recent weeks, according to analysts, sales growth was still exceptionally strong while other retailers complained of unseasonal spring weather hurting sales.

"In a market environment where most retailers are bemoaning the weather, Inditex's results demonstrate the strength of the business model and its ability to deliver superior results," said Bernstein analyst Jamie Merriman.

Inditex said the opening of new stores and Internet sites so far this year was in line with targets.

The group reports in euros but makes around half of its sales in other currencies, meaning the fluctuations of the euro against a basket of 38 currencies affects earnings.

Adverse currency translation wiped 5 percent off Inditex's sales growth during the period, said Societe Generale in a note.

Inditex's financial year runs from February to January.
The BBCs religious affairs correspondent Caroline Wyatt is to step down from her position after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Wyatt, who has worked at the corporation for more than twenty years, has had the condition for 25 years but was only diagnosed with it at the end of last year. She recently announced she had been off work because of the illness on social media.

The veteran reporter said she was very sad to be stepping down but had been overwhelmed with the amount of support she had received.

I have been utterly overwhelmed by the support Ive had from my colleagues, friends and family in recent days and months, and am so grateful for the support the BBC is giving me while I recover from my current relapse, Wyatt said in a statement.

I have lived with the condition for the past 25 years, so the diagnosis came as a relief as it enables me to have treatment and to do all I can to manage it, she added. I am tremendously sad to be stepping down from my current specialism as BBC religious affairs correspondent at a time that understanding religion has rarely been more important.

Since starting as a trainee at the corporation in the 1990s, she has gone on to report from all corners of the world. As the BBC foreign correspondent, she reported on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the conflicts in Kosovo and Chechnya and later the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as BBC Defence Correspondent.

On Tuesday, the BBCs Head of Newsgathering Jonathan Munro announced the news and commended Wyatts long-running contribution to the BBC.

A few months ago, Caroline was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis - a condition she has battled with for many years, Munro said in a statement sent to The Independent.

As you will appreciate, MS is a complex condition but specialists agree that more predictable working patterns are important to managing the symptoms. For that reason, Caroline has decided to step down as Religious Affairs Correspondent for BBC News with immediate effect.

After the summer, Wyatt will return to the airwaves as a presenter on BBC Radio Four and the World Service. She will also have occasional reporting roles for television where they are suited to her medical advice.

When I return to work in the autumn, I am really looking forward to starting a new chapter as a presenter for BBC Radio, and I hope in the future to raise both awareness and money for more research into MS, Wyatt said.
Kathryn Thomas at an IFTA screening of WHERE TO INVADE NEXT at The IFI, Dublin

She's already conquered the world of Irish TV, but Kathryn Thomas still has one big ambition left on her dream list - to front her own talk show.

The Carlow native has been a fixture on the small screen since the tender age of 19 and with almost two decades of experience behind her, Kathryn hopes to pursue getting her own show in the future.

Although she admitted TV was currently crowded with chat shows, she doesn't see why she can't join the club.

"As long as you are challenged, that is the big thing for me," she told the Diary.

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"As long as something doesn't become boring or run of the mill. It's about bringing something new to it.

"The chat show is there, we are inundated with chat shows at the minute, but that would definitely be something I would look at doing down the line."

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The 37-year-old also revealed she would love to release her own series of documentaries.

"I would like to, possibly down the line. I've done a few radio documentaries which I loved," she said.

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"I have an interest in politics and the economies overseas because I've travelled as much as I have.

"I have my finger in many pies in terms of what's going on in the world."

Kathryn currently has her hands full running her Pure Results Bootcamp, which is running week-long courses in Co Westmeath at the moment.

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"We've had really positive feedback. We give everyone an evaluation form. We've gotten lots of referrals, lots of word of mouth, things are going great," she said.

"It's mostly weight loss that people come for, so on average they're losing between five and 10 pounds a week.

"It really varies but on average we're on about seven pounds a week.

"The big thing is trying to maintain that after they leave camp.

"Having gone back to all our clients they are maintaining the weight loss, which is the big thing for us. They do a weigh-in the week after the camp."

Although she has conquered the world of showbiz on Irish shows, Kathryn admitted she does not have much interest in heading to the UK to try her hand at the British market.

"I don't think so at this point. I would never say never but I am happy where I am, I have good projects coming up and I have a really good relationship with the Irish viewers so for me, I am happy."

The blonde does have a brand new TV project coming up, however she remained tight-lipped on what sort of show it will be.

"I think people will love it. It's been a long time coming and it's going to be fun," she added.
Pro-choice campaigners are planning to fly abortion pills from Ireland into Northern Ireland using a drone.

The unusual move, scheduled for next Tuesday, has been described as an act of solidarity between women on both sides of the Irish border to highlight the strict laws on terminations that exist in both countries.

Rita Harrold from Rosa which is helping to co-ordinate the 'abortion drone' said: "The action is an act of solidarity from women in the south where abortion is criminalised and women in the north where abortion is also criminalised and unfortunately there have recently been a number of prosecutions.

"We will be sending the drone over the border and bringing the pills into Northern Ireland to show women that they are still available and they are still safe."

The flight will start at Omeath in Co Louth and land close to Narrow Water in Co Down.

A number of women, who are not pregnant, are expected to swallow the tablets - mifepristone and misoprostol - which can be taken up to nine weeks into a pregnancy and have been approved for use by the World Health Organisation since 2005.

"Obviously there have been prosecutions and the threat looms large but the women who will be taking the pills won't be pregnant at the time," she added.

"This is an act of protest against the Eighth Amendment in the south and the lack of abortion rights in the north."

833 Northern Ireland women travelled to Britain for abortion in 2015, Department of Health report reveals.

A number of pro-choice groups, Alliance For Choice; Rosa; Labour Alternative and Women On Waves which staged a similar flight from Germany into Poland, have collaborated on the issue.

The groups say legislation permits the drone to fly abortion pills lawfully from jurisdiction to the other.

They said in a statement: "The 'abortion drone' will mark the different reality for Irish women to access safe abortion services compared to women in other European countries where abortion is legal."

The maximum penalty for the crime of administering a drug to induce miscarriage under the relevant law in Northern Ireland, namely the Offences Against The Person Act 1861, is life imprisonment.

In the Irish Republic, the offence of procuring an abortion carries a potential 14-year jail term.

Pro-life campaigners have vowed to do all in their power to stop the drone.

Bernadette Smyth from the Belfast-based group Precious Life said: "I am currently seeking legal advice and may very well be in contact with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to ensure that these pills will be confiscated and to ensure that they are not used to destroy the lives of unborn children.

"These people are hell-bent on destroying lives but we will be doing everything in our power, legally, to protect lives."

Pro-choice campaigners also plan to take their protest to the gates of Belfast High Court where an appeal against a ruling which found Northern Ireland's abortion laws breached human rights legislation, is to be heard on Tuesday.
One of Berkeley fire department's first responders at the scene of the June 16 balcony collapse remembers the incident as the worst hes dealt with during his 30-year career.

Fire Captain Rick Guzman (57) was asleep at the fire house at the Berkeley Fire Department, seven blocks away, when the medical call came in for a balcony collapse on Kittredge Street shortly after midnight.

That got your attention right away. This isnt a type of call that we go on routinely, he told independent.ie.

As two ambulances, one fire engine, and one fire truck raced to the scene, the crews believed they would be dealing with an incident involving up to eight students and a balcony collapse from two or three storeys.

But when they arrived outside apartment 405, it was clear that the incident was a lot more serious.

As we were going down the street, we were going maybe 10mph, I could see all the cops, a lot of students around, basically a lot of commotion going on right on the sidewalk, right outside the building. Thats when I had my first glimpse of what had taken place, he said.

You could see everything that had just happened. There were a lot of students lying on the ground not moving There were a lot of other students that had come from downstairs...they ran downstairs to support their friends. It was pretty chaotic at that point.

Some of them were comforting and holding some of their friends that had just fallen. Others were taking a few steps back, but I could still see them. It was all these people lying still. Nobody was moving, which Ill probably never forget."

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Guzman said himself and his colleagues soon realised that 13 students had fallen from the balcony and assessed the situation.

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The emergency crews set to work at what they deemed a multi-casualty incident, which effectively puts local trauma centres on alert that they would be receiving numerous patients.

We just knew that they were going to have multiple broken bones, internal injuries, and head injuries. So even though on the outside they didnt look too bad, we knew on the inside that they were going to have major problems.

We knew that we had to get these people out of there as soon as we could Out of 13 people that fell at the time, only one was walking which surprised me.

Students Eoghan Culligan, Lorcan Miller, Nick Schuster, Eimear Walsh, Olivia Burke and Olivia's Irish-American cousin Ashley Donohoe died after falling to the ground when the fourth-floor balcony gave way.

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Seven other Irish students, Aoife Beary, Clodagh Cogley, Sean Fahey, Conor Flynn, Jack Halpin, Niall Murray and Hannah Waters, were seriously injured.

The J1 students has been celebrating a 21st birthday party. When they stepped out onto the balcony, they couldnt know that they were moments away from tragedy.

Four of the students were pronounced dead at the scene. Nine others were transported to hospital within 27 minutes of the emergency crews reaching the scene.

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Luckily a lot of the ambulances were available that night to get the kids out of there as quick as we could You didnt have much time to digest the incident. We just knew that we had to get to work and do something, he said.

I even saw some of the police officers also vomiting there just because of what they were visualising at the scene. There were so many kids involved and they would vomit and come back and say ok what do you need us to do. That stands out.

A staging area was set up with c-spine equipment and backboards, and a log was taken on each patient, their injuries, and which hospitals they were being transferred to.

While the victims were being tended to, some of the crews were sent to check that the fallen balcony was secure and there were no other casualties on the balcony on which it landed.

We were concerned that the balcony up above might collapse or that somebody was on the balcony below the one that broke so I just wanted to make sure that nobody was up there so we sent a truck company up there to make sure the balcony was secure," said Captain Guzman.

It flipped upside down, 180 degrees, and landed perfectly on the balcony just below it, so luckily the balcony stayed on top of the other balcony there were pieces of it on the ground. It could have been worse if the balcony had dropped all the way to the ground.

The tragedy left in its wake countless traumatised victims, families, friends and witnesses. For the emergency crews, traumatised too, the debriefing process would last for many months.

Part of this healing process was the journey which some first responders made to Dublin last March to take part in the capital's St Patrick's Day Parade. Captain Guzman and his colleagues met parents of the survivors and the tragic victims.

The request from some of the families wanting to get together with us and just show a bit of appreciation and gratitude was [important]. We had to deal with a bad call. However, we didnt have to deal with losing a son or a daughter. So I felt it was a good call for us to go there in number and show support for the families who were grieving.

I dont think Ive ever seen anything like what the Irish community did for us and for themselves. It was just an incredible show of support."
The Irish priest who was instrumental in offering support in the aftermath of the Berkeley tragedy has been bolstered by the strength of those who were injured in the balcony collapse.

"In the midst of all their pain, they were really strong and positive about getting their lives back together," Fr Brendan McBride of San Francisco's Irish Immigration Pastoral Centre (IIPC) told independent.ie.

"That was a great thing for me, that those who were injured were going to make things happen in their lives."

Six young lives were stolen and seven more were seriously injured in the heartbreaking accident on June 16 last year in the Californian city, popular with Irish J1 students.

''For the anniversary we are gathering in Oakland [just south of Berkeley] as the volunteers who were involved need the support, they need to be together," said Fr Brendan McBride.

"They were very emotionally involved with the parents [after the balcony collapse] - and for the parents, this is going to be a particularly difficult time."

Fr McBride recalls receiving the call in the early hours of the morning from Executive Director of the IIPC's Celine Kennelly to tell him that emergency services had responded to an apartment complex where a number of Irish J1 students had been celebrating a 21st birthday party.

"Myself, one of the directors and a staff member went to Berkeley and met with the police and the fire department just to get an idea of what had happened," he said.

"It was only then that the enormity of the tragedy hit."

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Five Dublin students - Eoghan Culligan, Lorcan Miller, Niccolai Schuster, Eimear Walsh and Olivia Burke - and Ms Burke's California-based cousin Ashley Donohue were all killed when the fourth floor balcony on Kittredge Street fell 12 metres to the ground below.

Seven other Irish students - Aoife Beary, Clodagh Cogley, Sean Fahey, Conor Flynn, Jack Halpin, Niall Murray and Hannah Waters - were all gravely injured.

Fr McBride, who has been recognised with a presidential medal for his work with immigrants, said that the following hours were full of confusion and uncertainty.

"There were three different hospitals so we went to the hospitals to try to find out who was where, who was injured and what the situation was - just trying to piece information together," he said.

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"Because of social media, news was travelling so quickly but there was a certain amount of confusion as well. We were just trying to piece together accurate information and the Irish consul [Philip Grant] had been working about an hour before we got on the scene. They were compiling information as well."

A fund to help the families of the victims was opened almost immediately with two large donations from The American Ireland Fund and The Iris O'Brien Foundation proving "very helpful" as the priest and volunteers tried to offer guidance and support - while providing resources for the parents' day-to-day needs.

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"We lost six young people and others were seriously injured and emotionally - it was very difficult as we were trying to do the practical things and be of support emotionally at the same time," said Fr McBride.

"People came from Ireland with the clothes on their backs because they left so quickly. They travelled to a different place geographically as well as emotionally. Everything was strange to them so the fact that we had a good band of volunteers who were there as a support to them - that was very important."

"They came as strangers but they left as friends, and those friendships are still intact."

But while he maintains that "we will always be a part of them no matter what" he will not be reaching out to them around the anniversary. "I think everybody needs their space and for the families, it is a very tough time," he said. "We don't want to intrude on their time."

"They were a wonderful group of young people and none of us will ever forget them."
LC Irish (H) - The danger of students trying to second guess the examiner was brought home to candidates who sat the Leaving Certificate Irish Higher Level Paper 2, according to teacher Ruth Morrissey.

She said since a course change in 2012, different poems and prose had appeared "and some students predicted that the last ones would come up but they didn't; that is the danger of putting all the eggs in one basket".

She also noted that the usual poetry questions asking candidates why they liked a particular poem didn't appear either.

But the Olympics and climate change made for two topical comprehension pieces.

Teacher Robbie Cronin of Marian College, Ballsbridge, Dublin and the ASTI said the one on the Olympics was very interesting, although the "language was a bit challenging for those aspiring for a D or C".

He said the climate change questions were fair, but he was "still trying to find out in my own mind what an important term in the piece actually means: forbairt inbhuanaithe".

The phrase was explained in the last paragraph, but he didn't know how it would translate in English.

Mr Cronin said the Prose and Poetry questions were easy to understand, while questions on the play/short story/extra poetry were open and accessible.

LC Irish (O)

Popular actress Saoirse Ronan and another Irish screen great Maureen O'Hara had starring roles on the Leaving Certificate Irish Ordinary Level Paper 2.

They featured in what teacher Robbie Cronin described as "an interesting comprehension text" with "good questions".

The second comprehension piece was about Waterford city and its history and famous characters, and Mr Cronin singled out Question 4 (b) - Why are memorial events going to take place this year? - as "tough for this level; the language here was very difficult".

On the other hand, Mr Cronin said the questions on prose and poetry were well received by students.

Ruth Morrissey of St Michael's Community College, Kilmihil, Co Clare, and the TUI agreed that the text on the comparison between O'Hara and Ronan was a "lovely piece".

She described the questions on the second comprehension as "well within the grasp of students".

Overall, she regarded the paper as "fair".

So did Clare Grealy of the Institute of Education, Dublin, although she thought there were "certain areas that might have caused some difficulties for students".

These included the question on the Spailpin Fanach where the word uirlis (working tool) appeared, "which many may not have understood".

LC Biology

Very challenging, with off-putting phraseology and not enough modern biology, was how teacher Lily Cronin described the Leaving Certificate Biology Higher Level paper.

"The students I spoke to afterwards all found it very difficult," said Ms Cronin of Mercy Mount Hawk Secondary School, Tralee, Co Kerry and the ASTI.

She said students felt in some questions "they did not quite know what they were being asked" and she herself thought the paper "very long and wordy".

Question 10 was one of those with which she took issue. "The phraseology was difficult and there were so many different parts, students would have had to think long and hard."

She said Question 11 had a "very difficult" start, but otherwise was nice.

Mona Murray, of the Institute of Education, Dublin agreed that it was a "tough" paper.

"It required very careful reading and students would need to have known the fine details of the syllabus in order to answer all parts of the questions. Some of the questions were quite indirect and students were required to think outside the box," she said.

In contrast, Ms Cronin said the ordinary level paper was "student friendly with good clear diagrams, especially in Section A questions 2 and 3". However, she thought Question 9(b) "might have been a bit of a challenge".

JC Business Studies (H&O)

A question on the new mortgage rules on the Junior Cert Business Studies Higher Level Paper 1 was so up-to-date that it isn't covered in the textbooks, so candidates would need to keep abreast of current affairs, said Keith Connolly of Lusk Community College and the Business Teaches Association of Ireland.

Both he and other teachers agreed that the papers overall were very fair,

Eamonn Scully of Maria Immaculata Community College, Dunmanway, Co Cork, and the ASTI said there was no question that higher level students could not attempt.

David Duffy of Adamstown Community College, Co Dublin and Education Officer, TUI, said the papers gave good coverage of the course with topics such as economics, savings, loans, budgeting and final accounts appearing on both levels,

He described Higher Level Paper 1 as "very up-to-date with issues such as Question 3 on economic growth and EU membership, while Paper 2 was in line with expectations from previous years. Question 6 was very imaginative in using the idea of renting housing to tenants as a basis for a question on business ownership and sales promotion," he said.
Education Minister Richard Bruton has announced plans to create more choice for parents by opening more non-Catholic schools, at both primary and post-primary level.

Whatever progress is made on this latest initiative, the Catholic Church will continue to be the single biggest patron, by far. Even the Government's most ambitious target will not cause a huge dent in its dominance in education.

But the minister has created a competition for the second most popular primary school model - between Educate Together and the newer-style community national schools (CNS), which are under the umbrella of local education and training boards (ETBs).

At primary level, the Catholic Church runs about 90pc of the 3,200 schools, while at post-primary, the religious (overwhelmingly Catholic) are sole patrons of 51pc of schools and share patronage in many others.

Mr Bruton has set out on a path to increase the total number of multi-denominational schools from the current level of 137 - 108 at primary and 29 at post-primary (with a further 330 interdenominational) - to a total of 400 by 2030 - about 10pc of all schools. In the short term, he wants an additional 20 new multi-denominational schools opening per year.

Educate Together has been around since 1978, battling against the establishment to offer an alternative to parents who do not want to send their children to a religious-run school.

It has been a slow process, but it has a 30-year head start and, this September, there will be at least 79 Educate Together primary schools, against 11 community national schools (CNS), the first of which opened in 2007. Mr Bruton's declared support for the CNS model has given a boost to efforts by ETB Ireland to quicken its pace.

The key difference between the two is that Educate Together does not offer any religious instruction during the school day. While they have classes in ethical education, it is left to parents to make their own arrangements, or not, for faith formation, outside school hours.

Community national schools offer a hybrid between the traditional denominational school and Educate Together. There is no baptism barrier to entry, and in place of a daily class on Catholicism, they offer a multi-belief programme called Goodness me Goodness You. On top of that, they also facilitate faith education within the school day - for all faiths, if asked. Pupils are broken into different groups, accordingly, and in some schools the segregation happens over a four-week block period, once a year.

The minister and his officials are looking at a number of ways to advance the choice agenda.

Where choice is being offered, what say will parents have? In fact, parental preferences are key to deciding who gets to run a new or remodelled school and, as the new initiative gets underway, parents should not underestimate their role.

The opening of a brand new school has been the main method of improving diversity, but it is limited to areas where new families abound, often entirely new communities, such as in the Dublin commuter belt. They may also start up in established areas, where there is a concentration of new families, a recent example of which was the announcement on an Educate Together school in the Drumcondra/Marino area in Dublin.

The various patron bodies bidding for such schools canvas the support of parents and Educate Together has been the undoubted front runner. Is that down to their different approach to religion or a lack of familiarity with the newer CNS model?

ETB Ireland (ETBI) is preparing to raise the profile of community national schools. ETBI general secretary Michael Moriarty says they will be appointing a development officer to promote the model and aim to have at least one CNS in each of their 16 regions by the end of 2017. Their existing 11 schools are located in four regions.

The Department of Education is also continuing discussions with the Catholic Church about handing over a school in each of 28 established communities where parents have expressed sufficient demand for choice to warrant divestment of a school from Catholic control.

In almost 20 of those areas, parents are still waiting for that to happen. Again parental preferences are central to deciding on the new patron, although it is a number of years since the Department of Education canvassed their views.

Joint patronage is also being explored as a way of increasing diversity. Paul Rowe of Educate Together offers some views on the page opposite.

Such partnerships are most likely between ETBs and the Catholic Church. It would allow the CNS brand to grow in established communities, while a church, whose priests are increasingly thinly spread, could relieve itself of the burden of day-to-day running of schools. Perhaps more importantly for the church, it would offer certain guarantees in relation to faith education.

Fr Michael Drumm of the Catholic Schools Partnership sees potential in situations where small schools are being amalgamated. We don't know how many of those there might be, and, in rural Ireland at least, the Government is committed to consultation with parents on any such moves.

It's a question of watch this space to see how many amalgamations the church wants to happen.

A multi-belief approach

Citywest and Saggart Community National School, outside Dublin, has children from 31 different nationalities and 10 different religious and secular beliefs.

It is oversubscribed and priority is given to siblings and, after that, pupils are selected on the basis of chronological age.

Its multi-belief approach to religion is based on Goodness Me Goodness You, a story-based programme with weekly themes, such as peace and love, through which pupils explore together their own beliefs and those of others.

Principal Seamus Conboy says beyond that schools have different approaches, and it depends on what they negotiate with parents.

He says the only group of parents at Citywest and Saggart that have also sought faith-specific education within school hours are Catholics. This year, the school had its first group of pupils making their First Communion.

He says: "Once a week a teacher of an infants class, which had finished for the day, took this group for sacramental education, while the rest of the class continued with Goodness Me Goodness You. It was not sacramental preparation, we don't do any of that. It is done by parish workers."
The National Maternity Hospital is grappling with the challenges posed by an ageing and increasingly overweight cohort of expectant mums.

More than a third of expectant mothers who attend the National Maternity Hospital in Holles St are now overweight, raising the risk both for themselves and their unborn baby.

One in eight pregnant women at the nation's busiest maternity unit is actually classed as obese, posing even more serious medical risks.

The hospital's master Dr Rhona Mahony has revealed the scale of the problem of overweight-mothers-to-be.

She warned they have "all the attendant medical risk including miscarriage, congenital malformation, gestational diabetes".

Gestational diabetes can develop in women during pregnancy because the mother's body is not able to produce enough insulin.

And she noted that overweight women risk increased and more complicated intervention by medics during their pregnancy.

At the same time, almost 40pc of women attending the hospital are over 35 years old, which is also associated with a range of adverse outcomes.

These include miscarriage and chromosomal anomalies such as Down Syndrome.

The increasingly complex cases facing the hospital, where 9,389 babies were born last year, are highlighted in its annual clinical report for 2015.

The report comes as the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre in UCC found that more than half of Irish mothers who lost an infant in the weeks before or after birth were either overweight or obese.

The centre traced women who experienced perinatal loss in all units across the country from 2011 to 2014.

Complications

Dr Paul Corcoran, one of the report's authors, warned that addressing levels of obesity and smoking in pregnancy is crucial because of the wide range of complications they can trigger.

The perinatal mortality rate - recording deaths of babies around the time of birth - was 4.4 per 1,000 in Holles Street, which had no maternal deaths at all last year.

But Dr Mahony warned: "It is clear that the volume and complexity of our caseload continues to increase, creating continued challenges as we continue to operate with inadequate resources and grave infrastructural challenges."

The Caesarean section rate rose to 25.9pc and obesity and older mothers are also factors in this trend.

Other reasons that increase the risk of a C-section include having had a previous section or other medical conditions.

The most recent HSE report on all 19 maternity units across the country show the national rate was 29.6pc, although this disguises major variations nationwide.

Dr Mahony also warned that the rise in heavy bleeding in women after giving birth "should be of major concern".

This is partly explained by women having children at an older age. She said that postpartum haemorrhage has "always been among the leading direct causes of maternal death" but it is also a relatively common obstetric emergency.

"Advances in maternal case have helped prevent death from obstetric haemorrhage but the frequency of haemorrhage means that severe maternal morbidity and mortality remains a constant challenge in this context," she said.

Meanwhile,Dr Mahony stood firm behind the insistence of the National Maternity Hospital to maintain its independence if it moves to the campus of St Vincent's Hospital.
Philip Cairns was in first-year of school when he disappeared. Inset: Eamon Cooke is now the suspect in his disappearance

Gardai believe people who were young children at the time may have information on the schoolbag of missing boy Philip Cairns.

Schoolboy Philip Cairns disappeared on his way back to school at lunchtime in 1986. The boy was never seen again and the missing case shocked the country.

Speaking at a press briefing this evening in Dublin, Garda Superintendent Peter Duff said they believe people may not be a position to assist them.

"In May of this year, a statement from a particular person was given to investigating gardai in Rathfarnham," he said, speaking of the alleged connection between the case and the recently-deceased convicted paedophile DJ Eamon Cooke.

"Aspects of this statement were corroborated which resulted in lines of inquiry being opened.

"These lines of inquiry included interviewing people and cross referencing DNA profiles which those on items recovered as part of the investigation.

"At this point in time, these new lines of inquiry are on going.

"The investigation is very much active and I would like to thank those people who assisted me in this investigation so far," he continued.

"From our inquiries I believe there are people who were young at the time who may have information in relation to Philip's schoolbag and for whatever reason did not come forward.

"I am conscious that due the passage of time and changing circumstances, that these people may now be in a position to assist.

"This may be playing on their minds. I would ask these people to now come forward.

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"I can reassure them they will be treated sensitively and discreetly.

"For the sake of Mrs Cairns and her family, who have been suffering for 30 years, it is important we bring this investigation to a conclusion," he added.

"We're anxious to hear from anybody who may have knowledge how the schoolbag came to be in the laneway, who may have seen it being put there or who observed it there at anytime.

"We think that is an important aspect to the investigation and we would like to focus on that."

Superintendent Duff also said that he could not "confirm or deny" if the young people gardai would like to come forward were connected to Cooke.

He also said that he would need to "pinpoint a search area" to conduct searches in the Dublin Mountains.

He added "there is a number of lines of investigation still open" and that gardai were not "going into those particular lines of inquiry" that Cooke was involved "at this stage".

"At the time of the incident the person that came forward was a very young child," he continued.

"She came forward from an appeal and offered some information to An Garda Siochana.

"It took some time for the person to be able to provide specific information to us.

"That information was provided earlier this year.

"We are treating that witness very sensitively.

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"I commend her for coming forward, even after the passage of time, to say she had information. I think that is a very commendable act," he added.

Superintendent Duff said the woman came forward "late April, early May" with specific information.

"There is over 160 lines of inquiry that have been commenced since that statement was taken," he said.

"A number of those are on going at the moment."

He added that a large number of people have come forward with information in recent days and a number are being interviewed on an ongoing basis.

"We are getting to people who have contacted us and assessing whatever they have to offer," said Superintendent Duff.

When asked if gardai have been given any possible locations for Philip's remains, Superintendent Duff said "not at this stage".

He said that the Cairns family are being fully briefed by gardai and are "coping quiet well".

There is a team of 40 gardai currently working on the case.

He added that some of the lines of inquiry focused around Dublin but added it's a "wide ranging investigation".

"There was DNA found on the school bag historically," he added.

"With new technology we can focus on the DNA more so."
Raymond Donovan failed in his appeal against his murder conviction 26/1/09 Pic: Courtpix

A man has described himself as horrified that his sister's murderer is asking for parole after only serving 11 years of his life sentence.

Raymond Donovan was given a life sentence in June 2006 for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Ann Walsh.

Mr Donovan had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Walsh, who was strangled in the grounds of St Senan's Church, Kilrush, on August 24 2005.

Mr Donovan admitted to holding Ms Walsh's throat for between one and half and two minutes but told Gardai that he didnt mean to choke her.

Steven Walsh told RTEs Liveline today that there is no justice if his parole request is successful.

Life should mean life. We feel as a family he should serve a lot more time. He can get out when hes alive, my sister well never see her again, said Steven.

Steven said it gave his family some comfort knowing that Donovan was in prison but the thought of mentioning parole 11 years later is 'awful'.

Well never get over what happened. She should be here today enjoying herself. She was only 23-years-old, the prime of her life. She never had a chance to have kids or to enjoy life. In the blink of an eye, her life was taken from her, he said.

Steven told Liveline that since Ms Walshs murder the whole family have been on medicine to battle their depression.

I was just 16-years-old when it happened. I didnt understand. I never saw my sister again," he continued.

He said he has had to watch his devastated father going back to where she was buried three times a day, rain, sleet or snow.

If Donovan is granted parole Steven said he would see him in their hometown.

If he got out, he wouldnt be too far away from us," he said.

Former Governor of Mountjoy Prison John Lonergan told Liveline that the average life sentence served by prisoners is 14 years, but depends on their maturity and risk to society.

While they might not serve a life sentence, there will be life warrant put in place. They can be re-arrested any time, said Lonergan.

He also said that just because a person applies for parole doesnt mean it will be granted.

Steven added that Donovan has been allowed out of prison twice before to visit his sick father.

It feels like the murderer after what he done has more of a say in this than we do, he said.

She was so innocent. 11 years on we havent got over it, we never will. Life should mean life.
A man has been arrested in connection with the seizure of over 500,000 worth of cannabis at a home in Dublin yesterday.

Over 1,100 cannabis plants were found at a house at Heronford Lane in Shankill, Co. Dublin.

Gardai found the cannabis during an on-going investigation targeting the cultivation of cannabis in the south Dublin area.

A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene and is detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1996 at Shankill Garda Station.

The house is sealed off for a forensic technical examination which will take place today.
Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has begun personally texting and phoning constituents in a bid to prevent a 'Brexit'.

Mr Varadkar has also sent out hundreds of letters to constituents in his Dublin West constituency with a British connection urging a vote to remain.

Sources say the minister is making the calls and texts in a "non directive" way in a bid to inform constituents of the importance of the vote on June 23.

The news comes as Taoiseach Enda Kenny prepares to visit Liverpool and Manchester tomorrow as part of the campaign.

British Prime Minister David Cameron pulled pit of an engagement with Mr Kenny.
Health Minister Simon Harris has said that the National Maternity Hospital at Dublins Holles Street is an inappropriate and sub-standard building.

And he branded a row over a plan to move the hospital to the St Vincents Hospital campus as an unedifying spat.

Mr Harris was speaking in the Seanad in response to a question from Labours Kevin Humphreys.

Senator Humphreys highlighted the turf war between the two hospitals and said we cannot allow up to 10,000 babies be delivered in a hospital that was built in the 1800s.

Mr Harris said he has visited Holles Street since becoming Minister for Health.

One cannot leave the place without thinking this is an entirely inappropriate and sub-standard building.

It is not up to the standards we would want for expectant mothers and their infant children and indeed for frontline staff to work and deliver babies in.

It is utterly unacceptable, he added.

Mr Harris said he appointed former Workplace Relations Commission chief Kieran Mulvey to mediate between the two hospitals.

The minister said he intends to use his office to find a solution to the row.

An unedifying spat between two of our great medical institutions does not serve patients well, he added.

The two hospitals are at loggerheads because the proposed governance requirements set down by St Vincent's for the new hospital on their grounds in Elm Park will place all services, including tertiary maternity and neonatal services, under the control of the St Vincent's board and shareholders, the Religious Sisters of Charity.

Under such an arrangement, the role of the Master of Holles Street, Dr Rhona Mahony, would be replaced by a single clinical director reporting to a CEO appointed by St Vincent's.
The prospect of US Presidential candidate Donald Trump visiting Ireland next week is back on the cards, Independent.ie has learned.

US-based news website Irishcentral.com reported earlier today that Mr Trumps visit to Doonbeg was cancelled.

However, Mr Trumps official spokeswoman told Independent.ie today that the visit to the West Clare resort may still take place.

Mr. Trump's schedule has not yet been finalised, the spokeswoman said in response to an email query.

Expand Close HOPEFUL: Donal Trump pictured at Doonbeg in west Clare. Photo: Kip Carroll / Facebook

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Whatsapp HOPEFUL: Donal Trump pictured at Doonbeg in west Clare. Photo: Kip Carroll

Pressed on whether the Irish leg of the European tour would happen, the spokeswoman replied: We hope so.

Reports Mr Trump, the presumptive republican nominee, had pulled out of his visit was treated with relief within Government circles.

On Friday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he would meet Mr Trump - despite describing his views as racist and dangerous.
Serial paedophile Eamon "Captain" Cooke kept a framed etching of him with an 11-year-old girl he was suspected of abusing.

The sexual predator used the picture in a bizarre attempt to illustrate how close he was to the child and to explain why he breached a court order to stay away from her.

Cooke admitted taking the girl away for "trips" but vehemently denied that he was sexually abusing her.

"We're just very close friends," he said before claiming that the child had asked him to run away with her. On one occasion the girl ran away, undercover gardai followed her to Cooke's home.

When they forced their way into the house, the officers found him semi-clothed sitting on a bed while the child was hiding behind a chair. The authorities were so concerned about Cooke's influence over his victim that they were forced to have her placed in care.

But his psychological hold over the girl was such that she refused to tell care workers what had happened to her.

While he was on the run in 2002, Cooke contacted this reporter to complain that he was being unfairly denied access to the child in the photograph.

"She (girl's name) would ask me to run off with her to London and Cork and places like that and we would go off for a few days at a time. It was great fun," he said.

The paedophile then sent a letter which purported to come from the child, but was clearly written by an adult.

The former pirate radio boss, who died almost two weeks ago, has been linked to the abduction and murder of Dublin schoolboy Philip Cairns in 1986.

Gardai launched a fresh investigation into one of the country's oldest child abduction mysteries after a woman claimed she saw Cooke beating Philip Cairns over the head at his radio studio in Inchicore.

They are trying to locate an area of land which was being used by Cooke in the Dublin Mountains at the time of the abduction and which they intend searching for possible remains.

Separately detectives are also following up claims that a second woman who was then a child victim of Cooke's, was instructed by Cooke to dump Philip Cairns' schoolbag in a laneway six days after he vanished.

However the missing boy's mother Alice told the Irish Independent yesterday that she was not aware if her son knew the pirate radio boss.

She said: "He never mentioned him (Cooke) and as far as I know, he didn't know him. I never saw him before and never heard Philip talk about him.

"He (Philip) had hardly ever been in the local record shop. He was just starting secondary school and left here to go back to school. After that, we just don't know still.

"I'm glad the gardai are following any line of investigation because it shows they are determined to find out what happened. I'm open-minded about it.

"You're always hoping there will be something, a new lead, but then when it happens, you have more questions."
An ex-garda diver who searched for Philip Cairns in 1986 has spoken of his belief that his schoolbag holds the answer to the mysterious disappearance of the Rathfarnham schoolboy.

Retired garda Tosh Lavery, who was part of the search for Philip, said he "always knew the case would be solved".

Mr Lavery - who was part of the first garda sub-aqua unit - said that despite seemingly vanishing without a trace, he was always confident that details of what happened to the 13-year-old schoolboy would emerge.

"I always knew the case would be solved because of that schoolbag. The bag had been put there by someone, and I thought it would eventually come out who had put it there or what happened," he said.

Searches

Extensive searches of lakes, rivers and the Dublin Mountains were carried out by gardai and sub-aqua divers in the days after Philip disappeared on October 23.

"We searched for days after - we were even in Dublin Zoo at one point," he said.

"I remember it because there were people down from HQ and we were looking in about four foot of water."

Despite the sweeping searches, no trace of the schoolboy was ever found.

Read more: 'This is the strongest lead we've ever had in Philip Cairns' case' - former detective Gerry O'Carroll

Mr Lavery said that Eamon Cooke's crimes were not known at the time Philip went missing.

"No one ever knew at that time that he was a paedophile it must be horrible for them [the Cairns family] to be going through this again," he said.

"It's hard to believe someone would go to their grave without saying anything," he said.

Philip's mother Alice revealed this week that she had never heard her son mention the predatory pirate radio DJ and that the link between the two came as a bolt from the blue.

She remains hopeful that the investigation will come to a successful conclusion three decades after her son first went missing.

"I'm glad the gardai are following any line of investigation because it shows that they are determined to find out what happened.

"I'm open-minded about it," she told the Irish Independent.

"You're always hoping there will be something, a new lead, but then when it happens you have more questions."

Mr Lavery, who has continued working with the families of missing people since retiring from the force, said he feels for the Cairns family as they come to terms with the latest revelations.

"The family are going through hell now knowing (Cooke) lied and didn't disclose what he knew," he said.

"All families want a grave and without that it's prolonging the torture."

Philip's father, Philip Snr, passed away in 2014 without ever learning what happened to his son.

Poignant

That poignant detail has stuck with Mr Lavery as the years have passed without any conclusion to the investigation.

"It always seems to be the women left behind for some reason. I often think about that," he said.

The new lines of inquiry in the case are a genuine breakthrough in the investigation, Mr Lavery believes.

"It's probably the most constructive evidence ever obtained in the case and gardai should be able to tie a lot of it together," he said.

Read more: Predator DJ Eamon Cooke 'was a weirdo who showed up to crime scenes' - former head of Cold Case Unit
An Irish bride who spent 11 days at a sit-in says redundancy 'ruined' her wedding plans.

Rachel Quilivian was one of 17 workers who were made redundant without warning when Limerick nursery school Tic Toc shut its doors on June 3.

The workers from the creche in Westbury barricaded themselves into the building for 11 days and pledged to stay until they received holiday pay, redundancy settlements and forms allowing them to claim social welfare.

Ms Quinlivan left the protest on Tuesday to marry her long-term partner, Lawrence OShaughnessy.

The bride-to-be had to shelve her honeymoon plans to go on a cruise around the Mediterranean as well as her plans to go to a spa for her hen party due to the pay battle.

Instead of pampering and preparing for her big day, the mother-of-three slept on the floor of a dining room in the creche to fight for what she was owed.

I should be relaxing and taking it easy ahead of my big day, she told the Irish Daily Mail before the sit-in ended.

But I dont know whether I am coming or going, trying to organise, trying to phone people and make sure everything is in place.

Im really anxious now. But I have to be here with the girls to stand up for what we deserve.

However, despite the adverse conditions, the wedding went ahead and Ms Quinlivan said her vows at the Star of the Sea Church in Quilty, Co Clare on Tuesday.

She made the decision to go ahead with the wedding due to the large deposits she would have lost otherwise.

Ms Quinlivans colleague Rose ODonnell said it was awful that her friend had to deal with the redundancy right before her wedding, which she had worked so hard for.

I know this because I could see it every day. Then to have to cancel things and scale back on things she thought she was going to have for her wedding is just terrible, she said.

The workers received their redundancy money on the same day, and the sit in officially ended at 3:30pm.
The figures are hard to ignore if you drive 15,000km a year. You could be waiting EIGHT years to get back the extra money you spend on a (costlier) diesel car over a petrol model.

If you do 20,000km annually you'd spend six years filling up before you'd starting benefiting financially from your diesel purchase.

These are figures computed for us by Skoda who, remember, sell a lot of diesels. But they - like so many others - sniff change and see petrol coming back into its own.

However, we are so hooked on diesel as a nation and I don't know how long the even-partial turnaround process is going to take.

Meantime, if we are to believe the figures, we will spend more buying a diesel car and then waiting up to eight years to recoup the additional running-costs outlay.

Agreed, your diesel might be worth more secondhand and that isn't taken into account in the calculations. But it's still a strong case, don't you think? Or is it? Let me know.

The extent of the 'time lag' was unveiled to us as Skoda let us off in their Octavia with a new1-litre 3cyl petrol under the bonnet.

Significantly, they say performance is up there with the 1.6-litre diesel; It's certainly more powerful and greener than the 1.2-litre petrol it replaces. It arrives in Ireland next month. There is no price increase (from 22,880 for Ambition trim).

While smaller than the 1.2-litre, it produces 5bhp more; road tax is 190. Developed by Volkswagen, it is by far the smallest in an Octavia thus far.

There has to be a catch, right? Well, not so we could see. I drove it nice and hard, nice and slow and nice and moderately and I can only say you'd never think it was a 3-cylinder or a 1-litre. Loads of pulling power down and up the revs. Smooth too. It does give the 1.6 TDI 110bhp diesel a run for its money. Just for balance: it uses 1.1 litres more per 100km than the 1.6 TDI 110bhp.

Now I'm as guilty as most of asking about engine size. We need to stop that and think output and pulling power.

Put it this way: If you were my passenger when I was driving this and I said nothing about the engine, I think you'd have assumed it was a 1.6-litre petrol at least.

And remember, the first petrol Octavia (18 years ago) was a 2-litre 8-valve (110bhp). Now one half its size produces more power (115bhp) and uses less fuel. It costs only 1,300 more in real money, despite being light years ahead on technology, design, safety etc.

This little 1-litre is another example of technology revolutionising petrol engines. An attendant plus is the significantly lower levels of NOx emissions compared with diesels.

So there you have it. A 1-litre Octavia.

Other changes and/or options for the car is the adaptive Dynamic Chassis Control for versions starting from 150 PS.

And there is a Phonebox for connecting and inductively charging a smartphone.

We also gave the Octavia RS230 a little bit of a lash. Seeing as we were in the Czech Republic, like. But I'm still looking forward to giving that 1-litre - or should I say 115bhp petrol - a big, big drive on Irish roads.
Left to right: Priti Patel, Boris Johnson, host Aasmah Mir, Liz Kendall and Alex Salmond taking part in a EU debate in London. Photo: David Rose/The Daily Telegraph

Are you concerned at the lack of any real analysis in Official Ireland's position with regard to the upcoming EU referendum in Britain?

Do you find it odd that in a plebiscite as tight as this, where the implications for politics, economics and society are so uncertain, that our Government and the main organs of the Irish State are so overwhelmingly backing one side?

Wouldn't it be far more sophisticated to assess what is in Ireland's interest and act accordingly?

Why has Official Ireland lined up so unambiguously on one side in a debate with two potential outcomes and uncertain ramifications?

Maybe the reason is that this is exactly how Ireland works. Ireland is a country that is enormously susceptible to 'group think'.

We saw this during the boom. At the very top in Ireland there was no questioning the official mantra of the 'soft landing' because the people at the top had created the mantra.

We are seeing something similar with the 'Brexit will be a catastrophe' mantra.

We are a small country, with a small number of people at the top politically, socially, in the business world, academia, the professions and the commentariat.

In small countries, people at the top tend to promote people who think like them.

After all, this is the prerogative of being powerful, it's kind of natural. So the top is not only bonded by social class - with access, power and money - but it is also cemented by a suite of ideas. Like all clubs, the suite of ideas becomes a sort of creed.

The creed, which is only a set of common notions shared by people who promote each other, soon morphs from being a set of ideas into something called conventional wisdom.

Therefore, far from being an open place where ideas are teased out and examined, the top of a society, or the professions, becomes an echo chamber of conformity.

Conventional wisdom is the great bully pulpit of conventional people. You will notice that powerful people, who believe in conventional wisdoms, like to be taken very seriously.

So in time, a conventional idea will come to be believed by a group who are termed by themselves and others as 'serious people'.

Serious people like to hang with other serious people and congregate around a few serious ideas.

The other implication is, of course, that those people who might question the conventional wisdom are not serious people.

They are cranks! They are not to be taken seriously. They are mavericks or - even worse for serious people - dismissed as 'self-promoters'!

Serious people never see themselves as promoters of anything as base as themselves (the group does that); and, anyway, the conventional wisdom is the self-evident truth and doesn't have to be promoted.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is how propaganda begins; and this is how 'group think' becomes solidified in a small society.

Therefore, we get to a situation where a contentious statement like 'Britain leaving the EU will be bad for Ireland' stops being a 'contention' and miraculously becomes a 'truth'.

It is the same process that transformed the contention 'Ireland will have a soft landing' from being a highly questionable assertion to become the conventional wisdom of the society.

But back then, those who questioned this conventional wisdom weren't debated with but dismissed or ridiculed. The reason for dismissing those with unconventional counterviews is because deep in the soul of the 'serious' person is the fear of being wrong.

Because he has invested so much time in the conventional wisdom and all his friends believe it too, and the belief is a gelling agent which binds the group together, the conventional man risks ridicule if he is wrong.

Because if he is wrong, how can he be serious?

In truth we are all wrong all the time, because we are human. But being so human is not what being serious is all about.

Serious people think themselves to be infallible. This fear of being wrong is the reason so many serious people spout such nonsense on so many issues, even when events suggest they may be wrong. I suppose there must be comfort in numbers.

Indeed, the great economist JK Galbraith, when speaking about such serious conventional people, observed that: "When faced with the choice to change his mind or find the proof not to do so, the conventional man always gets busy looking for the proof."

This is where bad economics comes in because so much of economics is used to quench debate and opinion. Economics, with its pretense of certainty via numerical answers, can often stifle dissent because it purports to have the single right answer.

So models are used to prove that Brexit will be a disaster.

In the past few weeks, rarely can so much spurious economic argument have been deployed with such abandon and so much certainty.

In fact, rarely has so much 'opinion' been shoved into economic models in order to produce 'fact'.

Here in Ireland and all across Europe, 'Giga' econometric models have been cranked up to support, almost overwhelmingly, the Remain side. Can I remind you that the last time we had such uniform certainty from economic models was also during the 'soft landing' era. We all know what happened next.

These are Giga models: 'Garbage in, garbage out'.

A Giga model is marketed as being at the cutting edge of economic forecasting, bolstered by unimpeachable rigour and mathematical elegance. But in truth, these models are more often than not wrong.

The reason is simple: these models fail to forecast that one creature who is central to how the economy works - you, the human being.

But despite a lamentable record in the past forecasting the future growth path of the economy, they are being used confidently today to tell us what will happen tomorrow.

I've no idea what might happen economically if there's a Brexit. My hunch is that it might be good for Ireland.

What is clear is that Official Ireland, by backing one horse in a two-horse race, has taken the tyranny of conventional wisdom to its limits once again.
Last week's ruling by the United Nations Human Rights Committee on Amanda Mellet v Ireland once more brought to global attention the dichotomy in our State system and its treatment of pregnant mothers in cases of fatal foetal abnormality.

The UN committee found that our country's prohibition and criminalisation of abortion services violated the human rights of Ms Mellet and had caused her "intense physical and mental suffering".

The ban on terminations for medical reasons is not a ban, it is merely a 'NIMBY' gesture. As the obstetrician employed by the HSE gives you the bad news, they don't ban you from taking action; you can leave the jurisdiction if you wish. The gardai will not stop you getting on a plane. There is nothing unlawful about your decision, your journey or your action.

The wrong is on the part of the State. Taking a claim against the State is no easy task. Whether it is to the United Nations Human Rights Committee or, in my case, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, you would only do it to save others from the same injustice. You risk everything in your personal life for the sake of justice.

In February 2002, before the referendum in March 2002, I asked the then Fianna Fail government why had the issue of fatal foetal abnormality not been taken into account. The Taoiseach's office response was that the issue had not been "comprehended". And that was that.

For four years the State found words to fight my case, D v Ireland. The government maintained that, as soon as the diagnosis was confirmed, I should have initiated an action in the High Court, pursued if unsuccessful to the Supreme Court, to obtain a declaration that Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution allowed termination in the case of fatal foetal abnormality, together with the necessary ancillary mandatory order.

Up to recently, the Supreme Court had a four-year backlog. Can you imagine any woman pursuing a Constitutional challenge as she walks out of the hospital? Considering nobody has done so thus far, this is the stick that will continue to be used to beat women. The Government considered that failure to bring legal questions before the High and Supreme Courts left "a vacuum precluding" the ECHR's proper examination of the case.

It claimed that the X Case had demonstrated the potential for judicial development in this area and did not exclude the possible evolution in cases such as mine.

The government wanted to prove to the ECHR that it was open to evolving and interpreting the Constitutional remedies for fatal foetal abnormality.

The government noted that, in my case, there might be an issue as to the extent to which the State was required to guarantee the right to life of a foetus which suffered from a lethal genetic abnormality. The meaning of "unborn" in Article 40.3.3 had attracted some public and academic comment, but there had been little judicial examination of the meaning of "unborn" and no case comparable to mine.

For me, though a small mercy, the most significant aspect of the State's opposition was the modicum of sympathy extended in the following paragraphs: "Accordingly, although it was true that Article 40.3.3 had to be understood as excluding a liberal abortion regime, the courts were nonetheless unlikely to interpret the provision with remorseless logic particularly when the facts were exceptional.

"If, therefore, it had been established that there was no realistic prospect of the foetus being born alive, then there was 'at least a tenable' argument which would be seriously considered by the domestic courts to the effect that the foetus was not an 'unborn' for the purposes of Article 40.3.3 or that, even if it was an 'unborn', its right to life was not actually engaged, as it had no prospect of life outside the womb. In the absence of a domestic decision, it was impossible to foresee that Article 40.3.3 clearly excluded an abortion in the applicant's situation in Ireland."

This argument,that the government was amenable at the time to testing the interpretation of Article 40.3.3. is, 10 years later, untested. Despite the case of Miss D v HSE and now, Amanda Mellet v Ireland.

When the government of the day insisted that there was scope to evolve the interpretation of Article 40.3.3 and that there was a Constitutional remedy open to me, then why now do we have resistance from Fine Gael and Fianna Fail to a referendum? Why do we even need the bogus consideration of a Citizens' Assembly, when this robust argument was put forward in 2006 by the Fianna Fail government in the European Court of Human Rights?

As if to enforce his commitment to do nothing but delay, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has stripped Dr James Reilly of his deputy leadership of Fine Gael, seen as a direct response to Dr Reilly's call for a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment last year. Dr Reilly is a rare Fine Gael politician who has met directly with parents who have had to leave the jurisdiction following the tragic diagnosis of fatal foetal abnormality.

While Mr Kenny is in power, women like Amanda will continue to suffer, every week of the year.
Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius walks across the courtroom without his prosthetic legs during the third day of his resentencing hearing

Judge Thokozile Masipa looks on during the resentencing hearing of Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius

Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius reacts during the third day of the resentencing hearing for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp

GRAPHIC images of gunshot wounds to Reeva Steenkamp's body have been made public following an appeal from her parents.

Some of the pictures show her hair matted with blood and severe bruising around her eye.

Judge Thokozile Masipa allowed six crime scene images to be released.

Earlier Oscar Pistorius shuffled through a Pretoria court without his prosthetic legs to show how vulnerable he is as the Paralympian seeks to avoid prison for murdering his girlfriend.

The 29-year-old faces a minimum 15-year jail term for the Valentine's Day killing in 2013 in a case that has attracted worldwide interest and divided South Africa. He will be sentenced on July 6.

Pistorius has always said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired four shots through a locked toilet door in his Pretoria home, killing her almost instantly.

Expand Close Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius walks across the courtroom without his prosthetic legs during the third day of his resentencing hearing / Facebook

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Whatsapp Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius walks across the courtroom without his prosthetic legs during the third day of his resentencing hearing

During his closing arguments, defence lawyer Barry Roux asked the gold medallist, known as the "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, to walk on his stumps to show the difficulty he faced dealing with the threat of an intruder.

The lower part of his legs were amputated when he was a baby.

His body shaking with emotion, Pistorius removed his prosthetics and stood on his stumps for about five minutes in front of the court television camera, wiping away tears with a tissue.

"The accused was vulnerable because of his disability," Roux said. "His failure to conduct a rational thought process does not negate his vulnerability."

Expand Close Judge Thokozile Masipa looks on during the resentencing hearing of Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius / Facebook

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Whatsapp Judge Thokozile Masipa looks on during the resentencing hearing of Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius

The defence says Pistorius did not deliberately kill model and law graduate Steenkamp and was "a broken man", calling for a non-custodial sentence that includes community service.

A state prosecutor argued that Pistorius - who did not take the stand himself - had shown no remorse or told the court why he fired the shots, and asked the court jail the athlete for the prescribed minimum sentence of 15-years.

The athlete originally received a five-year sentence for a manslaughter conviction, that was upgraded to murder on appeal. The original trial judge, Thokozile Masipa, was presiding at the hearings at the Pretoria High Court.

FIERCE DEBATE

Roux asked the judge to consider that his client was vulnerable because of his disability and that the prescribed 15-year minimum sentence should give the court "unease".

"The fact is that a disabled person in jail has a more difficult time," Roux said.

The case has prompted a fierce debate in a country beset by high levels of violent crime against women and still dealing with the legacy of decades of apartheid race-based rule.

Some rights groups have said Pistorius, a wealthy white man, has received preferential treatment.

Pistorius reached the pinnacle of his fame in London 2012 when he became the first double amputee to run in the Olympics, reaching the 400 metres semi-finals, before taking two golds in the Paralympics.

Roux said the publicity surrounding the case led to it being portrayed as an incident of gender-based violence, despite the facts showing it was not. Pistorius had now "become the face of gender violence", he said.

Shortly after Roux asked Pistorius to walk without his prosthetics, prosecutor Gerrie Nel requested that the judge allow photos to be shown of Steenkamp's bloodied head and torso.

Masipa ruled that the photos be made available to the public upon request. She said the photos had been banned to protect the Steenkamp family, who had now agreed to lifting the ban.

The victim's father Barry Steenkamp said on Tuesday that Pistorius must pay for his crime.

Prosecutor Nel said Pistorius had failed to show remorse.

"There's a chasm between regret and remorse," Nel said. "Real remorse would have been the accused taking the court into his confidence, telling the court why I fired that shot, why I did what I did. We don't have that."

Johannesburg-based criminal law attorney Zola Majavu said the judge could only deviate from handing out the minimum sentence if Pistorius had demonstrated exceptional circumstances to warrant such a deviation.

He said Pistorius' decision not to speak in court could prove central: "It was a perfect opportunity to show the court that he does take responsibility for his actions."

Pistorius has given an interview to British television, which will be aired next week.
Oscar Pistorius removed his prosthetic legs during his sentencing hearing in the High Court in Pretoria (AP)

Oscar Pistorius has removed his prosthetic legs in a South African courtroom as part of his defence team's argument that the double-amputee athlete, convicted of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, deserves leniency when he is sentenced.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux asked Pistorius to remove his prostheses, and the former track star then walked in front of Judge Thokozile Masipa, who will deliver the sentence after hearings end this week.

Pistorius was not wearing his prosthetic legs when he fatally shot Ms Steenkamp through a toilet cubicle door in his home 2013; he testified at his murder trial that he felt vulnerable and thought an intruder was in the house.

Prosecutors have said Pistorius intentionally killed Ms Steenkamp after an argument.

Mr Roux's plea to Judge Masipa followed the evidence of the final witness at the hearing, a cousin of Ms Steenkamp, who accused Pistorius himself of not giving the "true version" of the shooting.

The cousin, Kim Martin, also criticised Pistorius for not testifying at this week's sentencing hearing but agreeing to a television interview that will be broadcast after the hearing ends.

Expand Close Oscar Pistorius (right) with Reeva Steenkamp in 2012. Photo: Frennie Shivambu/Reuters. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Oscar Pistorius (right) with Reeva Steenkamp in 2012. Photo: Frennie Shivambu/Reuters.

"I think it's very unfair to want to talk to the world about your version when you had the opportunity in court to do so," Ms Martin said under questioning from chief prosecutor Gerrie Nel.

Pistorius is currently living under house arrest after initially serving one year of a five-year prison sentence for manslaughter for shooting Ms Steenkamp multiple times in 2013. That conviction was overturned last year by an appeals court, which convicted Pistorius of the more serious charge of murder.

But Mr Roux said there were "serious enemies" of Pistorius's case and listed what he said were misconceptions that still existed about the shooting and the Supreme Court of Appeal's decision last year to change Pistorius's conviction to murder.

Mr Roux said the first misconception was that people believed Pistorius was convicted of murder for intentionally killing Steenkamp when he shot her through a toilet cubicle door in his home.

The Supreme Court found Pistorius guilty of murder in that he realised that someone might die as a result of his actions and went ahead anyway. The ruling did not say that Pistorius knew it was Ms Steenkamp - and not an intruder, as he claimed he thought it was - behind the door.

Mr Roux also said it was not the "strong, ambitious" Pistorius, the history-making Olympic runner and multiple Paralympic champion, who fired four shots that night. Rather, it was a disabled man in fear for his life, Mr Roux argued.

"It was not the man winning gold medals that must be judged," the defence lawyer said. "It is common cause it is a 1.85-metre man standing on his stumps at 3 o'clock in the morning in the dark that must be judged."

Later, Mr Roux said: "They want to see Oscar Pistorius running to the bathroom with his gold medal around his neck."

The "emotions" of the trial had also clouded some facts, Mr Roux argued, including that the prosecution's allegation that there was a loud fight between Pistorius and Ms Steenkamp before he shot his girlfriend had never been proved.

As Mr Roux spoke about the shooting, Pistorius hunched over in the courtroom and held his head in his hands. At other times, he sat up straight on his wooden bench.

Judge Masipa, who initially acquitted Pistorius of murder before her decision was overturned, will also decide the new sentence. The hearing is scheduled to run through to Friday this week. South Africa's minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for murder can be reduced in some circumstances.

While prosecutors are seeking a long jail term for the 29-year-old Pistorius, his defence has argued that he should be spared prison and allowed to do community work with children.

In her testimony, Ms Martin, Ms Steenkamp's cousin, said she and her family are struggling to cope with Ms Steenkamp's death and that every Valentine's Day - the day when Ms Steenkamp was fatally shot - is the "worst day for us".

Ms Martin said her family lights a candle for Ms Steenkamp, a model, at Christmas and that they try to celebrate such special days despite the grief.

"We don't want every occasion to become a funeral," she said.

Ms Martin also questioned Pistorius's statement that he killed Ms Steenkamp by mistake thinking an intruder was in the house.

"All we've ever wanted is the truth," Ms Martin said. "People say we've got the truth, but we didn't. Oscar's version has changed so many times. I don't feel the true version came out."
The California judge facing criticism over his sentencing of a former Stanford University swimmer convicted of sexual assault was removed from a new sexual assault case after complaints by prosecutors, officials said

The California judge facing criticism over his sentencing of a former Stanford University swimmer convicted of sexual assault was removed on Tuesday from a new sexual assault case after complaints by prosecutors, officials said.

Expand Close Brock Turner was sentenced to six months in prison (Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office/AP) / Facebook

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"We lack confidence that Judge (Aaron) Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient," Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. He called the move "rare and carefully considered."

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Rosen cited the six-month jail sentence Persky handed down to Brock Turner, 20, earlier this month following the former swimmer's conviction for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman after a party in January 2015. Prosecutors sought a six-year prison term.

Turner was convicted of assault with intent to commit rape, penetration of an intoxicated and unconscious person. Under California law, those charges are not considered rape because they did not involve penile penetration.

Stacey Capps, chief trial deputy for the District Attorney's office, said the new case was reassigned to another judge and a hearing was held on Tuesday afternoon. She said that the victim was "particularly vulnerable" factored into the move.

Capps said in the new case, Cecil Webb stands accused of touching the vagina and breast of a woman who was anesthetized ahead of a surgery at a Santa Clara hospital in November 2014.

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Webb has pleaded not guilty and his attorney could not be immediately reached for comment.

A juror in the Stanford University sexual assault case wrote to Judge Persky saying he was disappointed and "vehemently" disagreed with the June 2 sentence, according to the letter, which was posted online late on Monday by the Palo Alto Weekly newspaper.

"I expected that this case would serve as a very strong deterrent to on-campus assaults but with the ridiculously lenient sentence, I am afraid that it makes a mockery of the whole trial," the juror wrote, concluding the letter with "shame on you."

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Persky is prohibited from commenting on the case because Turner is appealing his conviction, a spokesman for Santa Clara County Superior Court has said.

Turner's sentencing drew criticism after the publication of a letter the victim read in court, detailing the devastation she felt from the assault. A Stanford law professor is leading a drive to gather signatures for a petition to remove Persky.
Early morning view of the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa located in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Orlando, Florida on September 28, 2003, near where an alligator dragged a small boy into a lagoon. File picture

Four alligators have been euthanised during the search for a missing child, dragged into a lagoon by one of the creatures at a Disney resort, investigators have said.

Their bodies were examined but there was no evidence of an attack on the two-year-old boy, who was was snatched as he paddled in view of his family on the shore of the Seven Seas lagoon at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in Orlando, Florida.

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A search for the child is continuing but has so far been unsuccessful.

The boy was attacked by the reptile about 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday at the Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Lake Buena Vista near Orlando, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

The boy was playing in the water while his family, vacationing from Nebraska, relaxed on the shore nearby, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told a news conference.

"The father entered the water and tried to grab the child and was not successful," Demings said.

The mother also tried to rescue the boy and the father suffered hand injuries, he added. The family has not been named.

The search continued to no avail into Wednesday morning as wildlife officials announced four alligators had been euthanized overnight to check for any signs of the toddler.

"As a father, as a grandfather we are going to hope for the best in these circumstances but, based on my 35 years of law enforcement experience, we know we have some challenges ahead of us," Demings told reporters.

He said the animal was thought to be between 4 and 7 feet (1.2 and 2 meters) long.

Wildlife and marine officials were drafted into the search, which ran through the night.

"We're putting every effort into locating the child and trapping this alligator," Florida Fish and Wildlife Officer Chad Weber told reporters.

A spokeswoman for Walt Disney World Resort said everyone there was devastated by the tragic accident. "Our thoughts are with the family and we are helping the family," she said.

On May 28, a 3-year-old boy fell into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo, causing zookeepers to kill a gorilla to protect the child.
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West has asked fans for support (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for EJAF)

Reality star Kim Kardashian West has thrown the social media spotlight on a campaign for justice for a man who was wrongly kept on death row for over 20 years.

Kardashian West tweeted about the "heartbreaking" story of Kerry Max Cook, who was sentenced to death in 1977 for the rape and murder of 21-year-old Linda Jo Edwards, which DNA evidence has since proved he did not commit.

Cook has been free since 1999 after accepting a plea bargain of no-contest with no admission of guilt, but the state of Texas has contested a full exoneration which would see him eligible for more than $3million (2.7m) in compensation, plus additional benefits, for the 22 years he was imprisoned.

In a series of tweets, Kardashian West said she had googled Cook's story when she could not sleep.

She encouraged her fans to get behind the campaign to support Cook and "#RightThisWrong".

She wrote: "Just read the story of Kerry Max Cook. He had been on death row for a murder he didn't commit for almost 40 years.

Innocence

"His charge were just dropped after DNA evidence was finally brought in and cleared him. Can you imagine being wrongly imprisoned for 40 years.

"Wait, prosecutors agreed to drop the murder charges, but they will continue to oppose Cook's claims of actual innocence. Always a hang up! This will now prevent him from receiving the compensation he deserves for the decades he spent on death row.

"You should google Kerry Max Cook, his story is fascinating and heart breaking #RightThisWrong."

Cook is one step closer to exoneration after a judge dismissed murder charges against him earlier this month.

The ruling sends the matter to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals where Cook will seek a full exoneration.
Nicole Edwards and her wife Kellie Edwards observe a moment of silence during a vigil outside the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for the mass shooting victims at the Pulse nightclub June 13, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Getty)

The second wife of the Orlando gunman has reportedly told federal agents she knew in advance about the attack that left 49 people dead and tried to talk her husband out of going ahead with it.

As officials said they were searching the online history of Omar Mateen and also probing whether he had an accomplice, it was reported his second wife had once dropped him off at the Pulse night club because he wanted to scope it, and had been with him to buy ammunition and a holster.

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NBC said that agents from the FBI had questioned Mateens second wife, Noor Zahi Salman, 30, who apparently lived with the gunman and their three-year-old son at an apartment building in Fort Pierce, about two hours from Orlando. Local media on Monday filmed her and the couples son leaving the building, her head covered with a blanket.

There have been no charges brought against Mateens wife. The network said that she was cooperating with agents. However, it said officials were considering bringing charges against her for failing to tell them what she knew before the attack. No decision has yet been made.

The news came amid a flurry of developments in the often twisting and turning story of the attack on the Pulse club and the motives of the man who carried it out. It was also reported that Mateen, a security guard, had visited Pulse on a dozen occasions, used gay dating applications, while others suggested he may himself have been gay or bisexual.

It also emerged that investigators had determined that Mateen had at least twice visited the Disney World resort, a few miles from Orlando.

One of the visits took place just days before he carried out the attack and came as the resort held its annual Gay Day celebration. The event can draw as many as 50,000 mostly gay and lesbian tourists from around the country.

On Monday, as officials started to release the names of some of those who were killed they also announced that while there were no reports that Mateen had any sort of accomplice when he stormed into the nightclub in central Florida in the early hours of Sunday, they confirmed they were looking for clues as to whether anyone helped plan the attack.

There is an investigation of other persons. We are working as diligently as we can on that, US prosecutor Lee Bentley told reporters. If anyone else was involved in this crime, they will be prosecuted.

Mr Bentley did not specify whom he was responding to, but there will be now be assumptions that he had the gunmans second wife in mind.

In Washington, FBI Director James Comey said officials had evidence that Mateen had been radicalised online.

There are strong indications of radicalisation by this killer and of potential inspiration by foreign terrorist organisations, he said. Were highly confident this killer was radicalised at least in some part through the internet.

Details about Mateen and his second wife are still emerging. It is known that she lived in a suburb of Chicago before moving into Mateens Fort Pierce home in 2012, and then buying a house with him in nearby Port Saint Lucie the next year. Mateen worked as a private security guard.

But in December 2015, it appears that Ms Salman, who is reportedly of Palestinian descent, moved across the country to live with her family in Rodeo, California. Sarwan Kaur, a former neighbour, said her mother was unhappy about the infrequency of her daughters visits.

Her mother would always complain that the husband did not let her visit the family, Ms Kaur told the San Jose Mercury News.

Mateens father, Seddique Mateen, claimed Salman and the couples son were with Mateen only a few months ago, when he became enraged by seeing gay men in Miami kissing in front of his family. The father said the incident may have made Mateen snap.

On Tuesday he told reporters that he was unclear what his sons second wife knew about what happened. He said his son was responsible for his own actions.

I cant say what she knew, when they last talked or what they talked about, he said.
A visibly exasperated President Barack Obama has torn into the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, for demonstrating what he called a "dangerous mindset" in the wake of the Orlando massacre, saying it peddles the notion that "entire religious communities" are complicit in violence.

"We've gone through moments in our history before when we acted out of fear and we came to regret it," Obama offered.

"We've seen our government mistreat our fellow citizens and it has been a shameful part of our history...This is not the America we want, it does not reflect our democratic ideals. It won't make us more safe, it will make us less safe."

"Where does it stop?" Obama demanded to know in an unusually raw appearance before the press with top aides and officials to discuss the fight against Isis that has become dominated by the response to the Orlando shooting.

"We hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests entire religious communities are complicit in violence," Obama said. Trump this week appeared to double down on his proposals to close borders to Muslims and has also reiterated his support for more intrusive police monitoring of the entire Muslim-American community.

"Are we going to start treating all Muslim-Americans differently? Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance? Are we going to start discriminating against them because of their faith?" Mr Obama said, before going on: "Do Republican officials actually agree with this?"

It was Obama's most aggressive assault on Trump yet, apparently triggered also by the Republican candidate's continued contention that the president is somehow missing in action on the fight against terror because of his failure to utter the words "radical Islam".

Obama, who cancelled plans to campaign today with Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin and will instead head to Orlando to pay tribute to victims, called the argument a "political distraction" that has no basis in his administration's record of attempting to thwart extremism and protect the country. "It's a political talking point, not a strategy," he said.

"What exactly would using this label accomplish; what exactly would it change?" he asked. "Would it make terrorists less committed to trying to kill Americans? Would it bring along more allies? Is there a military strategy that is served to say this? The answer is none of the above."

What Obama did not directly address were remarks made by Trump on Monday that seemed to suggest his failure to say "radical Islam" was because he harboured secret sympathy for terrorists.

Before letting loose on his Republican critics, Obama again laid out his strategy to defeat Isis, insisting that while the campaign was difficult, progress had been made, notably in Iraq.

"Enough talking about being tough on terrorism," Obama said, adding his reluctance to use the same phraseology as Trump was because he did not want to encourage the notion that the West is at war with Islam. "To do so would play directly into the hands of Isis."
Twenty-eight pets needed treatment last year after swallowing corn on the cob, according to research from a vet charity.

PDSA vets surgically removed a range of items including stones, babies' dummies, socks and even kebab sticks.

The charity, which has 51 pet hospitals across the UK, compiled a top 10 list of items swallowed according to the number of cases, with bones requiring the most treatment.

PDSA vet Rebecca Ashman said: "Pets, especially puppies and younger dogs, like to use their mouth to investigate objects as well as to eat. Sometimes a pet will swallow an item by mistake, even though they had only meant to investigate it.

"We might think it's comical but in some cases it is incredibly dangerous and can even prove fatal. If an object moves along the digestive system, it can cause a tear or life-threatening blockage.

"If you have pets at home, try to keep anything dangerous or easy to swallow out of paws' reach. Only let them play with suitable pet toys and try to supervise them to avoid any accidents. If you do suspect your pet has swallowed something you should contact your vet for advice immediately."

Among those who needed emergency surgery last year was Hooch the American Bulldog who ate a corn on the cob husk from his owner's bin after she left home for work.

Mother-of-three Sarah Baldwin, 40, from Elland, Yorkshire, said: "The next day he wasn't himself at all

"He was sick, he wasn't eating and didn't want to walk. One of my sons had seen him finishing off the corn on the cob so we did a quick Google search and were horrified at how dangerous they can be for dogs."

Hooch was kept at Bradford PDSA Hospital for two days before being discharged on pain relief and antibiotics. He has since gone on to make a full recovery.

Top 10 items swallowed by pets:

1 Bones (59 cases)

2 Stones (29)

3 Corn on the cob (28)

4 Plastic (25)

5= Rubber balls (19)

5= Rubber (19)

7 Socks (11)

8 Thread (9)

9 Babies' dummy teats (9)

10= Kebab sticks (7)

10= Peach stones (7)
A French police officer lays flowers while paying tribute to his colleagues killed in a knife attack near their home in Magnanville, west of Paris, France, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. French President Francois Hollande says that the stabbing attack that left two police officials dead was "incontestably a terrorist act." (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

A man with known psychiatric problems stabbed a 19-year-old girl three times in western France on Tuesday, telling police he had heard voices ordering him to make a "sacrifice" for Ramadan, the Rennes prosecutor said.

The attack came a day after a jihadist killed a French police couple in a small town near Paris, in a stabbing inspired by the Islamic State group.

"Voices told him that he had to make a sacrifice on the occasion of Ramadan," the holy Muslim fasting month that began on June 6, prosecutor Nicolas Jacquet told AFP.

The 32-year-old man was immediately assessed by a doctor and sent to a psychiatric hospital after stabbing the girl twice in the wrist and once in the abdomen, Jacquet said, adding that the teenager's wounds are not life-threatening.

The assailant told a witness that he was Muslim before handing over the knife after the attack, Jacquet said.

The man had been in and out of psychiatric wards several times, the prosecutor said, adding that he told investigators he was being treated for schizophrenia and was supposed to receive an injection on Tuesday.

An investigation has been opened into attempted murder.

It emerged on Tuesday that the convicted radical who killed a French police couple in an Isil-inspired stabbing was carrying a "hit list" of VIPs and urged followers to turn Euro 2016 into a "graveyard".

Monday's assault in a small town northwest of Paris was the first deadly strike in France since the coordinated attacks in the capital by an Islamic State cell in November, which killed 130 people.

In the wake of the attack in Magnanville, police unions said officers will now be able to carry weapons while off-duty beyond a state of emergency that was declared after the November attacks, but which is due to expire next month.

Larossi Abballa, who was under surveillance after serving time for links to jihadist networks, stabbed 42-year-old police commander Jean-Baptiste Salvaing outside his home.

He took Salvaing's 36-year-old partner Jessica Schneider and the couple's three-year-old son hostage in the house and killed the woman by slitting her throat.

Abballa then posted on Facebook a live 13-minute video of himself with the child in which he admitted the murders and urged fellow jihadists to carry out more bloodshed.

The 25-year-old was killed during a police raid which ended the standoff.
The widow of Sir Clement Freud has apologised after the late broadcaster was accused of abusing two girls between the late 1940s and 1970s.

Sylvia Woosley, who first met Freud when she was 10 and later went to live with him when her mother's marriage broke down, claims in an ITV Exposure documentary that he molested her over several years.

A second woman, who wants to remain anonymous, alleged that the Liberal politician also abused her as a child and raped her when she was 18.

Freud, who was friends with Gerry and Kate McCann, the parents of missing three-year-old Madeleine who disappeared in 2007, was married to Jill, 89, for nearly 60 years.

In a statement released in response to the programme, his widow said: "This is a very sad day for me. I was married to Clement for 58 years and loved him dearly. I am shocked, deeply saddened and profoundly sorry for what has happened to these women. I sincerely hope they will now have some peace."

ITV said two of Freud's children had viewed the documentary before broadcast on their mother's behalf.

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In the programme, due to be screened on Wednesday, Ms Woosley, now in her late 70s, said: "I just want to clear things up before I die ... I want to die clean.

"Having been so hard on myself, trying to destroy myself so many times, you can't bury the truth forever, it needs to be heard.

"I don't want to take this to my tomb. I would like to just return to the child I was before I was molested physically, before I was introduced to that side of life too early."

She told the programme she first met Freud, known as Clay, when he was 24 and working at the Martinez hotel in Cannes in the late 1940s. She was 10 and her family was living in the south of France.

Ms Woosley claims he kissed her on the mouth during a bus trip. She said: "I was disgusted and helpless. I just didn't react in any way because I couldn't. I didn't know what to do."

From the age of 14, when she lived with Freud and his wife in London for five years, she claims he frequently molested her, even "playfully" touching her breast in front of his wife, although she believes Mrs Freud had no knowledge of the abuse.

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Later, when she was in her early 40s, Ms Woosley said she confronted Freud at the House of Commons and asked why he had abused her. She said he replied: "Because I loved you. You were a very sensual little girl."

The second woman said she first met Freud in 1971 at her family home when she was a "lonely, neglected and socially isolated" 11-year-old.

Then a celebrity, he would call her on the phone and tell her she was special and intelligent, and he was treated as a surrogate father figure by her parents, she said.

Two years later, after he was elected as an MP, he would take her on trips to Parliament and his home, and would kiss her on the mouth and hug her.

She said: "I felt sick but grateful at the same time. Frightened and unable to move or react in any way."

When she was 14, she claims Freud asked her and another friend of the same age: "Would you like to get naked and have some fun?"

Four years later, in June 1978, when she was 18, the woman alleges that he came over to her parents' flat and "brutally and perfunctorily" raped her.

She told the broadcaster: "I live in constant terror that I'll be found out, exposed. I've already suffered across nearly 40 years. It's not simply to be labelled as depression or mental illness - this is disempowerment, self-destructiveness and grief. This is what real suffering looks like."

A celebrated food, sport and comment print journalist, Freud also enjoyed a long career as a television and radio personality.

He wore "so many hats" that he was hard to pin down, Kate McCann noted, recalling the time she and her husband were invited to Freud's for lunch in Portugal shortly after Madeleine went missing.

He was "incredibly warm, funny and instantly likeable", and cheered the couple up with his "lugubrious wit", she wrote in her book on her daughter's disappearance.

A spokesman for the Liberal Democrats said: "These allegations are horrific. We are desperately sorry to learn that lives have been ruined by a man whose public face was so greatly at odds to his true character. It has clearly taken a lot of courage for these women to speak out, after a lifetime of having to hide it.

"This is the latest in a terrifying line of cases where high-profile figures have systematically used their status, celebrity and power, to abuse and to rape.

"Clement Freud was a senior figure in the Liberals, our party's predecessor, and we are deeply shocked and horrified by this news. Our party was never aware of what happened, and our hearts go out to the women who were affected."
An Egyptian journalist holds a candle and a poster supporting EgyptAir during a candlelight vigil for the victims of Flight 804 (AP)

Egypt has spotted and obtained images from the wreckage of the EgyptAir plane that crashed into the Mediterranean last month, killing all 66 people on board, according to officials.

The country's investigation committee said the vessel John Lethbridge, contracted by the Egyptian government to join the search for the plane debris and flight data recorders, "had identified several main locations of the wreckage".

It added that it obtained images of the wreckage between the Greek island of Crete and the Egyptian coast.

The next step, the committee said, will be drawing a map showing the wreckage location.

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The 82-yard-long survey vessel is equipped with sonar and other equipment capable of detecting wreckage at depths up to 6,000ft.

The EgyptAir Airbus A320 en route to Cairo from Paris had been cruising normally in clear skies on an overnight flight on May 19. Radar showed that the aircraft turned 90 degrees left, then a full 360 degrees to the right, plummeting from 38,000ft to 15,000ft before disappearing at about 10,000ft.

Leaked flight data indicated a sensor detected smoke in a toilet and a fault in two of the plane's cockpit windows in the final moments of the flight.

The cause of the crash has not been determined. Ships and planes from Egypt, Greece, France, the US and other nations have been searching the Mediterranean Sea north of the Egyptian port of Alexandria for the jet's voice and flight data recorders, as well as more bodies and parts of the aircraft.

Since the search began, only small pieces of wreckage and human remains have been recovered in a hunt that has been narrowed down to a three-mile area.

Egypt's civil aviation minister Sherif Fathi has said he believes terrorism is a more likely explanation than equipment failure or some other catastrophic event, but no hard evidence has emerged and no militant group has claimed to have downed the jet.

The new announcement came nearly two weeks after the French ship Laplace detected black box signals from the missing plane.

Locator pings emitted by flight data and cockpit voice recorders can be picked up from deep underwater. The Laplace is equipped with three detectors designed to pick up those signals, which in the case of the EgyptAir plane are believed to be at a depth of about 10,000ft. By comparison, the wreckage of the Titanic is lying at a depth of 12,500ft.

Ten days later, Egyptian investigators said time was running out in the search for the black boxes. They said on Sunday that nearly two weeks remain before the batteries of the flight's data and cockpit voice recorders expire and they stop emitting signals.

If retrieved, the boxes could reveal whether a mechanical fault, a hijacking or a bomb caused the disaster. The voice recorder should contain a record of the last 30 minutes in the cockpit, and is equipped to detect even loud breathing. The data recorder would contain technical information on the engines, wings and cabin pressure. Investigators hope the black boxes will offer clues as to why there was no distress call.
An Iranian-British woman held in Iran is facing charges accusing her of trying to cause a "soft toppling" of the Islamic Republic's government, reports said.

Iran's state-run news agency IRNA's report on Wednesday marks the first official acknowledgement of the detention of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who works for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of the news agency.

IRNA said Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested on April 3 at Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport and later transferred to a prison in the country's Kerman province.

A call to the Thomson Reuters Foundation in London was not immediately answered on Wednesday.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe joins a growing number of dual Iranian citizens detained in the wake of the country's nuclear deal with world powers.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained while trying to fly out of the country with her toddler daughter, Gabriella, who remains in Iran with family after authorities seized her passport, according to Amnesty International.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said Zaghari-Ratcliffe, 37, had participated in the "design and implementation of cyber and media projects to cause the soft toppling of the Islamic Republic". It did not elaborate. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Iranian law does not recognise dual citizenship. Iran's government harbours deep suspicions about both Britain and the United States, linked in part to their role in a 1953 coup. A billboard put up in Tehran before February's parliamentary election showed the face of the Queen replaced with that of a camel, warning voters about "foreign meddling".

The Revolutionary Guard, a paramilitary force charged with protecting the Islamic Republic, increasingly has targeted those with Western ties since the nuclear deal in which Iran agreed to limit its uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

A prisoner swap in January between Iran and the US freed Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian and three other Iranian-Americans.

But at least two Iranian-Americans, businessman Siamak Namazi and his 80-year-old father, Baquer Namazi, remain in detention. Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese internet freedom advocate who is a US permanent resident and has done work for the American government , is held as well. The whereabouts of former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorised CIA mission, are still unknown.

Also held is Homa Hoodfar, a Canadian-Iranian retired university professor who had been on a trip to see family and do research after the death of her husband, according to her family.
A senior Iraqi military commander has been killed while fighting Islamic State militants in the country's north, defence officials said.

The Joint Military Command said Brigadier Ahmed Badr al-Luhaibi, the commander of Brigade 71st of Division 15, was killed by sniper fire during an operation to retake a village to the south of the IS-held city of Mosul.

It said his death "will increase our determination to clear" the entire province of Nineveh, where Mosul is the provincial capital.

Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, has been under IS control for two years.

Along with a major offensive to retake Fallujah, a city in western Anbar province, Iraqi troops have this week resumed small-scale operations to dislodge IS militants from areas to the south and south-east of Mosul.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.  The body of a 2-year-old Nebraska boy who was snatched off a Walt Disney World beach by an alligator and dragged underwater was recovered Wednesday, ending a ghastly search at one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.

Divers found the body of Lane Graves of Elkhorn about 16 hours after authorities first got the call that an alligator had taken the boy at Seven Seas Lagoon, Sheriff Jerry Demings said. The child's father tried to save him but couldn't.

The sheriff said it appeared the gator drowned the child and left the body near the spot where was last seen. An autopsy was planned.

"Of course the family was distraught, but also I believe somewhat relieved that his body was found intact," Demings told a news conference.

The boy's parents were identified as Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn. A family friend released a statement on behalf of the couple thanking well-wishers for their "thoughts and hope-filled prayers."

The boy's father desperately tried to fight off the gator, suffering lacerations on a hand, but he could not save his son. Neither could a nearby lifeguard, officials said.

Disney World closed beaches around Seven Seas Lagoon during the search, and it was not immediately clear when they would reopen.

The family of four from Nebraska was on vacation and wading in the Seven Seas Lagoon about 9:20 p.m. Tuesday in an area where "no swimming" signs were posted when the child was taken by an alligator estimated to be between 4 feet and 7 feet long, Demings said.

The grim news is the latest for a Florida city hammered with tragedy in the past few days. On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, leaving 49 people dead in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. On Friday night, Christina Grimmie, 22, a contestant on season six of "The Voice," was killed as she signed autographs after a show in Orlando.

At least five alligators were cut open and their remains examined after they were euthanized.

The beach area is part of the luxury Grand Floridian resort, across the lake from Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park. The manmade lake stretches about 200 acres and reaches a depth of 14 feet. Called the Seven Seas Lagoon, the lake feeds into a series of canals that wind through the entire Disney property.

More than 50 law enforcement personnel had searched the well-tended lagoon along with an alligator tracker and two marine units before the boy's body was found intact.

More than a million alligators live throughout Florida, though the species remains listed as an endangered species because it closely resembles the endangered American crocodile.

Though Florida has grown to the third-most populous state, fatal alligator attacks remain rare. There have been 23 fatalities caused by wild alligators in Florida since 1973, according to data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Those fatalities were among 383 unprovoked bites not caused by someone handling or intentionally harassing an alligator.

Eight children, ages 2 to 16, are among the fatalities. Five died while swimming in lakes, rivers and canals. The youngest victims were killed near lakes, including a 2-year-old girl who wandered 700 feet from her fenced backyard and a 3-year-old boy who left a roped-off swimming area in a county park to pick lily pads.

Williamson, the sheriff's spokesman, said the boy was at the edge of the water, probably about a foot or two into the water, when the alligator attacked. The water was dark Tuesday night as searchers looked for the boy, he said.

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney is helping the family.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said his heart goes out to the family of the boy.

Ricketts said "no family should ever have to experience such horror" and that he and his wife are praying for them.

Minnesota residents John and Kim Aho, visiting Disney with their 12-year-old son Johnny, were stunned to hear what had happened to the child.

"We have been to Yellowstone and encountered grizzly bears, but this is just freaky," John Aho said.

Kim Aho said their son is leery of the water around the park.

"He's a little freaked out about the gator," she said.

The sheriff said there had been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks on the lake.

The wildlife commission said eight of the 15 adults killed by alligators had been swimming in freshwater bodies of water, including a 36-year-old man swimming across a pond while trying to elude police. One 54-year-old woman was seized by an alligator while landscaping near a pond, and an 82-year-old man was killed while walking his dog on a path between two wetland areas.

Alligators are opportunistic feeders that will eat what is readily available and easily overpowered. It's illegal to feed wild alligators because that causes them to lose their fear of humans. According to wildlife commission biologists, alligators seldom bite people for reasons other than food.

Wildlife commission statistics show Florida averages about seven serious unprovoked bites a year, and the frequency of these bites is rising. However, the likelihood of someone being seriously injured by an unprovoked alligator in Florida is roughly one in 2.4 million.
SHARE Mike Gambrell Rockey Burgess

By Kirk Brown of the Independent Mail

State Sen. Mike Gambrell of Honea Path won the South Carolina Senate District 4 GOP primary on Tuesday.

Based on unofficial results, Gambrell received 65 percent of the votes in the sprawling district that covers southern Anderson County, part of Abbeville County and western Greenwood County. His challenger, Williamston Town Councilman Rockey Burgess, got 35 percent.

Gambrell, 58, said he was "honored and humbled" by the support that he received Tuesday.

Burgess, 40, said he had "no regrets."

"We made a good effort," he said.

Tuesday's primary marked the third time since March that Gambrell bested Burgess in a Senate District 4 election. After Sen. Billy O'Dell death in January, Gambrell received more votes than Burgess in a March 22 primary and then defeated him in an April 5 runoff. Gambrell won a May 17 special election in which he was the only candidate on the ballot to serve the remainder of O'Dell's term. He gave up his state House of Representatives District 7 seat to join the Senate for the final two weeks of the recently completed legislative session.

It is unclear if Gambrell, who owns a trash-hauling business, will face opposition in the general election in his bid for a full four-year term. Williamston resident Mark Powell has filed to run as a Democrat in November but party officials have refused to certify his candidacy and the dispute may wind up in court.

Follow Kirk Brown on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM
SC superintendent race: business donors, teacher's movement, fate of public schools

Millions have flowed into SC's superintendent race where a teachers' movement is up against a network of politicians and business owners
<p>In this Jan. 13, 2005, photo, newly sworn-in Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill, foreground, stands with arms folded after speaking to his deputies in Jonesboro, Georgia. Hill, who was acquitted three years ago in a major public corruption case is now accused of shooting a woman in a subdivision near the suburb of Lawrenceville, Georgia.</p>

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By Associated Press

A prosecutor says he has fundamental questions about a Georgia sheriff's account of conducting "police training exercises" when he accidentally shot a female real estate agent inside a model home for sale in a subdivision well outside his jurisdiction.

But so far, Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter says he's getting no help finding answers from Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill.

Gwenevere McCord, 43, remains physically unable to tell investigators what happened and Hill still refuses to do so, Porter said Wednesday. McCord, who is a friend of Hill, was shot in the abdomen and critically wounded in the shooting on Sunday near Lawrenceville in Atlanta's northeastern suburbs.

She and Hill were alone in the house at the time, officials have said. The shooting scene is about 50 miles northeast of Jonesboro, where Hill's office is located.

Hill left the scene without giving an official statement to investigators and has not been arrested.

What investigators found inside the model home raises questions about the sheriff's explanation in his 911 call, Porter said.

"The statement on the 911 tape was that they were doing police training exercises," Porter said.

The placement of some items at the scene, he said, "sort of make you think about that - I want to look at that," he added.

Police have not released the 911 call, and Porter said he couldn't go into specifics about the evidence found at the scene. But the police training scenario is fueling questions in his mind, Porter said.

"You have to ask yourself about police training exercises anyway," he said. "If you assume that to be true, are there things at the scene that are consistent with that happening? And that's where my questions arise."

But Porter said he was told by Hill's lawyer that the sheriff would not be speaking with investigators.

"It would certainly assist the investigation if we had his side of the facts, but that's his choice to make," Porter said. "I can't force him to."

Lawyer Drew Findling, who has represented Hill previously, didn't immediately return a phone message from the Associated Press on Wednesday.

Hill did give his cellphone to investigators at the scene. "He provided the password to it so we didn't have to break it to get into it," Porter said.

Hill also turned over his clothing and both guns he had at the time, Porter said.

Clayton County sheriff's Chief Deputy Shon Hill, who arrived at the model home at some point after the shooting but did not witness it, is willing to be interviewed, the district attorney said. "He indicated to me yesterday afternoon that he's willing to talk to us about what happened," Porter said. He said Shon Hill is not related to Victor Hill.

Victor Hill's time as sheriff in the county south of Atlanta has been filled with controversy, dating to his first day in office a decade ago when he fired more than two dozen deputies. He has put forth a tough-on-crime message in his campaigns, and used a military tank on drug raids.

He was voted out of office in 2008, but won it back again in 2012 despite facing more than two dozen criminal charges in a corruption case. A jury later acquitted him of all 27 charges, including theft and giving false statements. That cleared the way for Hill to continue as sheriff.
VMware today announced the intention to acquire Arkin Net, a leader in software-defined data center security and operations. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in Q2 2016.



Organizations globally are adopting a software-defined data center (SDDC) architecture based on VMware virtualized infrastructure and management to deliver automation, security and continuity for applications. SDDC breaks down the barriers between traditionally disparate domains of compute, networking and storage. This evolution requires an operational model that delivers cross-silo visibility and collaboration. With the acquisition of Arkin, and through the integration of VMware vRealize Suite, cloud management teams will have access to a new generation of planning, troubleshooting and automation platform that provide visibility and control across the entire data center environment.



VMware NSX network virtualization is being widely adopted in large scale production deployments as part of the SDDC where cross-silo visibility and collaboration is critical. Identified by Gartner in Cool Vendors in Enterprise Networking, 2016(1), Arkin is purpose-built for NSX environments. The Arkin platform provides insights into the datacenter traffic flows via a pre-assessment tool that enables faster NSX deployments via micro-segmentation planning. Post deployment, Arkin significantly lowers time to resolution, leveraging constructs such as time-machine, plain English search and contextual analytics across virtual and physical layers.



Today, VMware vRealize Operations provides extensive management across both physical and virtual compute and storage environments. With the acquisition of Arkin, VMware vRealize Suite will have the ability to extend across the entire SDDC, including the VMware NSX network virtualization layer.



Arkin is a great fit for VMware and its customers as we look to accelerate our growth businesses including cloud management and network virtualization, said Ajay Singh, senior vice president and general manager, cloud management business unit, VMware. With VMware NSX combined with Arkin and vRealize, VMware will deliver the security and operations management plane for the SDDC. Over time, Arkin will solidify vRealize Suites position as the industrys most comprehensive Cloud Management Platform that delivers application-focused operations, NSX micro-segmentation at scale and cross-domain visibility and context across physical and logical infrastructure.



Arkin and VMware have been great partners and were now excited to join the VMware family to take Arkin to the next level, said Shiv Agarwal, co-founder and chief executive officer, Arkin. Arkin delivers a new operations paradigm that has been built from the ground up for VMware NSX network virtualization and is fully aligned with the core NSX use cases of IT automation, security and application continuity.



VMware and Arkin are already collaborating to meet the needs of mutual customers such as Columbia Sportswear, California Department of Water Resources (CDWR) and Nebraska Medicine.



Operational visibility, which accounts for both hardware and software, is critical to how organizations succeed in using next-generation data center technologies, said John Spiegel, IS/Global Communications Manager at Columbia Sportswear. The combination of VMware NSX and Arkin provides us a tactical and strategic lens for managing our virtualized data center.



Arkin and VMware are strategic partners helping Nebraska Medicine deploy our next-generation NSX based software-defined data center, said Brian Lancaster, Executive Director of Information Management at Nebraska Medicine. Arkin real-time flow analytics makes it extremely easy to implement micro-segmentation security. The visibility and troubleshooting capabilities that Arkin provides to our networking and operations teams enables us to more quickly and confidently scale our NSX deployment.
SBI: ChrysCapital Investment Advisors India Pvt. Ltd and Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC Pte. Ltd are planning to acquire 5% stake in National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE), according to reports. : ChrysCapital Investment Advisors India Pvt. Ltd and Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC Pte. Ltd are planning to acquire 5% stake in National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE), according to reports.



Aviation stocks in focus: Aviation stocks are likely to be in focus. The cabinet is likely to take a call on 5/20 rule today and may modify it, as per media report.



Coal India: The company said its subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields Ltd will buy back shares worth Rs.1,200.19 crore.



Infosys: Infosys has added almost Rs. 1 lakh crore in market value in the last two years, says report.



Tata Power : The company will buy 25% of Resurgent Power for $300 million as part of a consortium to primarily buy both coal-fired and hydro power assets in India, besides looking at power transmission companies, as per media report.



PNB: Punjab National Bank declared a list of 913 willful defaulters, including Kingfisher Airlines and NAFED, with total outstanding dues of Rs.11,486 crore.



Aurobindo Pharma: FIPB has approved two FDI proposals, including that of Aurobindo Pharma, as per media report.



Fertiliser stocks: Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizer Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said that it will not increase the prices of urea for the next 3 years.



Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd: The company said HDFC Mutual Fund has trimmed its stake in the company by 2.01% to 7.20% by sale of shares worth Rs.168 crore in the open market.



Bharti Infratel: The telecom company will buy back shares worth Rs.2,000 crore from shareholders.



Aditya Birla Nuvo: Aditya Birla Nuvo announced in reference with the Joint Venture Agreement entered into by the Company with MMI Holdings, a leading South African Insurance based financial services group, to enter into the Health Insurance and Wellness business in India, subject to the regulatory approvals.



Suven Life Sciences Ltd: The company announced that the grant of one product patent from Canada and one product patent from Hong Kong corresponding to the New Chemical Entities for the treatment of disorders associated with Neurodegenerative diseases and these Patents are valid through 2032 and 2030 respectively.



Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd: The Company proposes to issue Secured Redeemable Non Convertible Debentures amounting to Rs. 400.00 Crore and a Greenshoe option up to Rs. 175.00 Crore on Private Placement basis, pursuant to special resolution passed by the shareholders of the Company at the 31st Annual General Meeting held on July 23, 2015, on the terms and conditions.



HDIL: The real estate company is in talks to sell 3-4 land parcels near Mumbai as it looks to bring down its net debt to about Rs.2,000 crore by the end of this fiscal.



Union Bank of India: The Bank intends to raise capital funds through issuance of Tier 2 bonds. In this regard, CRISIL Ratings has assigned 'CRISIL AAA' rating with negative outlook to the Bank's proposed Basel III compliant Tier 2 bond issue of Rs. 1000 crore.



Satin Creditcare Network Limited: The company has raised Rs. 25 crore by issuing Non-Convertible, Redeemable, Cumulative, Preference Shares (NCRCPS) to Karvy Capital Limited. IFMR Capital executed the private placement of the CARE BBB rated Preference shares at coupon of 12.10% p.a and redeemable after approximately 5 years.



Kwality Ltd :The board has approved raising up to Rs.60 crore by way of preferential allotment of equity shares, convertible warrants and compulsory convertible debentures from "persons/entities other than promoter group".



Tata Motors: According to the Cogencis report, the company's luxury car making arm Jaguar Land Rover has started a new manufacturing plant in Brazil.



Union Bank of India: The bank is planning to raise funds through the issuance of Basel III-compliant tier-II bonds.
Shares of the subsidiaries of Indias largest bank, State Bank of India (SBI), spurted on the bourses today on Cabinets approval to the proposed merger of SBIs five subsidiaries and Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) with the parent bank. State Bank of Mysore hit a 20% upper circuit at Rs.547.90 on BSE.CNBC TV18 reported that the Cabinet has given a go-ahead to SBI and its arms for the proposed merger. On the back of the green signal given by the Cabinet, State Bank of Travancore surged 19% and State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur soared 18% on BSE.Aviation stocks rallied after Union Cabinet has approved the new aviation policy that brings a slew of benefits for the passengers. According to the new policy, airfare is capped at Rs.2,500 for an hour-long journey. SpiceJet surges 5% to Rs.67.35.IndiGo climbed 3.5%. Jet Airways rallied 2%.Share of Emami Infrastructure has hit 20% upper circuit at Rs. 50.10. The company announced High Court at Calcutta has, today, the June 14, 2016, sanctioned the Scheme of Arrangement for Amalgamation of Emami Realty Limited and Emami Rainbow Niketan Private Limited, the wholly-owned subsidiaries, with the Company Emami infrastructure Limited in the open Court.NMDC gained 0.61% to Rs.91.35 after the company has reported 4.99 million tonnes of iron ore production and logged sales volume of 4.98 MT up to May 2016. The companys Chhattisgarh mines produced 3.29 MT of iron ore and registered sales volume of 3.31 MT, while Karnataka mines produced 1.70 MT of iron ore and sold 1.67 up to May 2016.Zensar Technologies rose 1.4% to Rs.961 on BSE. The company signed multi-year managed services deal with John Lewis.Thiru Arooran Sugars jumped 10% to Rs.108.05 on BSE. The company reported net profit of Rs.27.37 crore for the quarter ended March 2016 as compared with net loss of Rs.18.61 crore in a year ago quarter.SBI stock was up by 2% at Rs. 211. ChrysCapital Investment Advisors India Pvt. Ltd and Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC Pte. Ltd is planning to acquire 5% stake in National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE), according to reports.Kwality Ltd gained 1.3% to Rs.112 after the company has announced that board has approved raising up to Rs.60 crore by way of preferential allotment of equity shares, convertible warrants and compulsory convertible debentures from "persons/entities other than promoter group".Godrej Industries stock was up by 2% at Rs. 362. Godrej Industries' subsidiary Godrej Agrovet Ltd's board has approved monetisation of its 100 acre land in Bengaluru, through joint development with group company Godrej Properties.HDIL stock was up by 1% at Rs. 96. Report says that the company is in talks to sell 3-4 land parcels near Mumbai as it looks to bring down its net debt to about Rs.2,000 crore by the end of this fiscal.Unitech Ltd stock was lower by 5% at Rs.4.86. Delhi court ordered initiation of proceedings against the company and its top bosses in a case of alleged cheating lodged by an investor for not giving him possession of a flat booked in 2006 in Greater Noida, says report.Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd stock was lower by 1% at Rs. 135. Report says that HDFC Mutual Fund has trimmed its stake in the company by 2.01 per cent to 7.20%.Dish TV India gained 1% to Rs.92.85 on BSE. Sling TV and Dish TV has announced a landmark agreement with Zee, as per TV report.DCM Shriram rose 1.7% to Rs.207.50. The company has commissioned 420 TPD of additional Chlor-Alkali capacity at its Unit Shriram Alkali and Chemicals, Bharuch (Gujarat) as a first phase of its expansion project. The balance Chlor-Alkali capacity and the Power expansion project will be commissioned in phases by September / October 2016.Aegis Logistics rallied 3.8% to Rs.126.45 on BSE. Around 33.7 lakh shares were traded in a multiple block at Rs. 119 on the BSE and NSE.Sintex Industries jumped 6% to Rs.80.55 on BSE after the stock will be included in the futures and options segment of the National Stock Exchange with effect from Jul 1.Punjab National Bank gained 2% to Rs.91.20. The bank has declared a list of 913 willful defaulters, including Kingfisher Airlines and NAFED, with total outstanding dues of Rs.11,486 crore.
ChrysCapital Investment Advisors India Pvt. Ltd and Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC Pte. Ltd is planning to acquire 5% stake in National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE), according to reports.

Report says that ChrysCapital and GIC are seeking to buy SBIs stake at a price of around Rs.4,000-4,050 per share.

State Bank of India ended at Rs. 207.55, up by Rs. 5.35 or 2.65% from its previous closing of Rs. 202.2 on the BSE.

The scrip opened at Rs. 204.1 and touched a high and low of Rs. 208.25 and Rs. 204 respectively. A total of 25888568(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 161116.44 crore.

The BSE group 'A' stock of face value Rs. 1 touched a 52 week high of Rs. 291.85 on 05-Aug-2015 and a 52 week low of Rs. 148.3 on 12-Feb-2016. Last one week high and low of the scrip stood at Rs. 212.8 and Rs. 200.3 respectively.

The promoters holding in the company stood at 60.18 % while Institutions and Non-Institutions held 27.88 % and 10.07 % respectively.

The stock traded above its 200 DMA.

The stake was put on the block by State Bank of India (SBI).
After falling for four consecutive trading sessions, the Indian equity markets finally made a strong comeback amid positive vibes coming from the Asian and European markets. The market rallied after Union Cabinet approved new civil aviation policy and merger of 5 associates with SBI.The buying was so fierce that not a single sectoral index on the BSE ended with losses; power, capital goods, banking, oil and gas, utilities, industrial and FMCG stocks ended with the top gainers. Even the mid-cap and the small-cap stocks participated in todays rally.Going ahead, all eyes would be on the verdict of the two-day FOMC meet and the BOJ meet later today.Among the 51-stocks of Nifty, NTPC, SBI, L&T, Power Grid, Maruti Suzuki, Bharti Airtel, BPCL, Ambuja Cement and Hero MotoCorp were among the gainers on NSE, whereas Bharti Infratel, Aurobindo Pharma, Adani Ports, Eicher Motors, Sun Pharma and Dr. Reddy's were among the losers today.Finally, the BSE Sensex ended with a gain of 331 points at 26,726. The BSE Sensex opened at 26,501 touched an intra-day high of 26,753 and low of 26,447.The NSE Nifty closed with a gain of 98 points at 8,206. The NSE Nifty opened at 8,139.40 hitting a high of 8,213 and low of 8,123.The India VIX (Volatility) index was down 0.78% at 17.0550.Out of 1,418 stocks traded on the NSE, 430 declined and 927 advanced today.The rupee was trading up 17 paise at 67.09 per US dollar.On the global front, the Shanghai Composite index closed higher by 1.5%. Hong Kongs Hang Seng index and Nikkei 225 closed marginally up.European shares rose early on Wednesday after a five-day losing streak caused by jitters about next weeks British referendum on European Union membership. The FTSE 100 was trading up 0.87%. DAX and the CAC 40 are gained 1% each.Shares of the subsidiaries of Indias largest bank, State Bank of India (SBI), rose today on Cabinets approval to the proposed merger of SBIs five subsidiaries and Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) with the parent bank. State Bank of Mysore hit a 20% upper circuit at Rs.547.90 on BSE. CNBC TV18 reported that the Cabinet has given a go-ahead to SBI and its arms for the proposed merger. On the back of the green signal given by the Cabinet, State Bank of Travancore surged 19% and State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur soared 18% on BSE. SBI jumped 4% to Rs.216.International Paper jumped 6% to Rs.303 after the company said in a notice to exchanges that its promoters to sell 20% stake to parent for restructuring.Aviation stocks rallied after Union Cabinet approved the new aviation policy that brings a slew of benefits for the passengers. According to the new policy, airfare is capped at Rs.2,500 for an hour-long journey. SpiceJet surged 3.5% to Rs.67. IndiGo climbed 2%. Jet Airways closed marginally higher.Emami Infrastructure hit 20% upper circuit at Rs. 50.10. The company announced High Court at Calcutta has, today, the June 14, 2016, sanctioned the Scheme of Arrangement for Amalgamation of Emami Realty Limited and Emami Rainbow Niketan Private Limited, the wholly-owned subsidiaries, with the Company Emami infrastructure Limited in the open Court.NMDC gained 1% to Rs.91.70 after the company reported 4.99 million tonnes of iron ore production and logged sales volume of 4.98 MT up to May 2016. The companys Chhattisgarh mines produced 3.29 MT of iron ore and registered sales volume of 3.31 MT, while Karnataka mines produced 1.70 MT of iron ore and sold 1.67 up to May 2016.Thiru Arooran Sugars hit 10% upper circuit to Rs.108.05 on BSE. The company reported net profit of Rs.27.37 crore for the quarter ended March 2016 as compared with net loss of Rs.18.61 crore in a year ago quarter.Unitech cracked 4.5% to Rs.4.91. Delhi court ordered initiation of proceedings against the company and its top bosses in a case of alleged cheating lodged by an investor for not giving him possession of a flat booked in 2006 in Greater Noida, says report.Crompton Greaves slipped 1.4% to Rs. 135. Report says that HDFC Mutual Fund has trimmed its stake in the company by 2.01 per cent to 7.20%.Sintex Industries jumped 6% to Rs.80.45 on BSE after the stock will be included in the futures and options segment of the National Stock Exchange with effect from July 1.Punjab National Bank gained 1% to Rs.90.40. The bank declared a list of 913 willful defaulters, including Kingfisher Airlines and NAFED, with total outstanding dues of Rs.11,486 crore.A total of 81 stocks registered a fresh 52-week high in trades today, whereas 19 stocks touched a new 52-week low on the NSE.
Amara Raja Batteries has drawn up plans to increase its batteries manufacturing capacity for supply to two and four wheelers, both original equipment manufacturers and after-market. (BL)

Maruti Suzuki resumed production at its Manesar unit and is working at more than 90% capacity to make up for the loss. (BL)

Kerala government has promised all support to Kochi Port in resolving the pipeline issues of the Petronet LNG Terminal. (BL)

Coal India auctioned 1.04mtpa of linkages to sponge iron companies for Rs1bn. This supply deal will be for five years. (BL)

Ajanta Pharma announced the launch of anti-dementia Memantine Hydrochloride tablets in the US market. (BL)

IVRCL has allotted 0.65mn shares to Bank of Nova Scotia as part of a strategic debt restructuring (SDR). (BS)

Bharti Airtel and Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel) have combined resources into one network to form one of the largest Internet Protocol Virtual Private Networks (IP VPN) globally to deliver high-speed, secure data network coverage to enterprise customers in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the US. (ET)

Blackstone Group, GIC of Singapore and Brookfield Asset Management have fired slightly over USD1bn separate bids to acquire a 40% stake in DLF's commercial property unit that owns rent-yielding assets. (ET)

Suven Life Sciences was granted one product patent from Canada and one product patent from Hong Kong corresponding to the new chemical entities (NCEs) for the treatment of disorders associated with neurodegenerative diseases and were valid through 2032 and 2030 respectively. (BS)

BHEL has commissioned another 195MW unit at Muzaffarpur thermal power station in Bihar. (ET)

Bharti Infratel will buy back 47mn shares for Rs425 each in a deal valued at Rs20bn, in a bid to return surplus funds back to shareholders. (BS)

A court has ordered initiation of proceedings against Unitech Ltd and its top bosses in a case of alleged cheating lodged by an investor for not giving him possession of a flat booked in 2006 in Greater Noida. (ET)

HSBC, offloaded over 2.6mn shares of Reliance Infrastructure for an estimated Rs1.44bn through an open market transaction.

Punjab National Bank (PNB), declared a list of 913 wilful defaulters, including Kingfisher Airlines and NAFED, with total outstanding dues of Rs114.86bn. (BS)
Shares of the subsidiaries of Indias largest bank, State Bank of India (SBI), ended after hitting 20% upper circuit today on Cabinets approval to the proposed merger of SBIs five subsidiaries and Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB) with the parent bank. State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Travancore and State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur each hit 20%.The Cabinet has given a go-ahead to SBI and its arms for the proposed merger. On the back of the green signal given by the Cabinet, all three listed subsidiaries of SBI zoomed on Dalal Street, while SBI closed with 4% gains.State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Hyderabad and Bharatiya Mahila Bank are not listed on the bourses.State Bank of Travancore ended at Rs. 478.9, up by Rs. 79.8 or 19.99% from its previous closing of Rs. 399.1 on the BSE. The scrip opened at Rs. 401.5 and touched a high and low of Rs. 478.9 and Rs. 401.5 respectively. A total of 2728720(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 2837.77 crore.State Bank of Mysore ended at Rs. 547.9, up by Rs. 91.3 or 20% from its previous closing of Rs. 456.6 on the BSE. The scrip opened at Rs. 462 and touched a high and low of Rs. 547.9 and Rs. 462 respectively. A total of 1082190(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 2192.14 crore.State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur ended at Rs. 599.6, up by Rs. 99.9 or 19.99% from its previous closing of Rs. 499.7 on the BSE. The scrip opened at Rs. 508 and touched a high and low of Rs. 599.6 and Rs. 508 respectively. A total of 4062204(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 3497.9 crore.State Bank of India ended at Rs. 215.65, up by Rs. 8.1 or 3.9% from its previous closing of Rs. 207.55 on the BSE. The scrip opened at Rs. 209.9 and touched a high and low of Rs. 217.4 and Rs. 208.55 respectively. A total of 54059196(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 161116.44 crore.
Show Kayla Rodriguez a jar of honey, and she will tell you its medicine.

Against the odds is one way to describe the young, Latina entrepreneur in the predominantly white, male-dominated, global biotech industry. Kayla Rodriguez, a 28-year old of Puerto Rican descent, co-founded SweetBio, a start-up biotech company that uses honey to heal the body.

Rodriguez started the Memphis-based company with her brother Isaac, 31, who holds a Ph.D. and is CEO and chief scientific officer. Marsalas Whitaker, 25, also a co-founder, is chief marketing officer. Together, they are pioneers in adapting an ancient remedy into an oral-medicine treatment.

Honey has been used for thousands of years because of its wound-healing and antibacterial properties.

Medical patients already enjoy the benefits of manuka honey. Hospitals use it to treat burns, cuts and ulcers. Manuka honey even may be effective against MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection that sometimes plagues hospitals and kills patients.

SweetBio, which launched in 2015, is the first company to introduce honey into the practice of dental surgery. The epiphany came to Isaac who knew that skin cells are similar to gum cells and if honey can work on skin, why not on the mouth? SweetBio soon was born.

Heart and respiratory problems are some of the risks associated with gum infections. This technology will help fight infections. It will decrease your chances of getting heart or lung disease, Kayla Rodriguez said. I want everyone to know this is a natural remedy.

Dr. Martin Green, director of the University of Tennessees graduate periodontal program, agrees. This will help grow back jaw bone structure, help people live a more fulfilled life, smile and eat better, he said.

SweetBios product is designed to be easy to use and pain-free. The SweetBio membrane device is like a Listerine strip. Its placed in the mouth after oral surgery. It helps ones mouth heal correctly and dissolves on its own. This device can also be used after a tooth has been pulled.

The Food and Drug Administration has yet to greenlight SweetBio. This government-approval process can take months to years. Related FDA fees can cost from a few thousand to a quarter million dollars. Still, SweetBio hopes to be in market next year.

Kayla Rodriguez says her grandmother, Lluminda Rodriguez, inspired her entrepreneurship. She left her kids in Puerto Rico to start a better life in New York, Kayla Rodriguez said. She worked hard at a sewing factory. At a young age, she embodied the entrepreneur spirit of passion, persistence and self-awareness by making smart decisions to turn your life around. Based in Puerto Rico today, Lluminda Rodriguez now owns one of the largest bridal chains in the Caribbean.

Our community has helped to open doors for SweetBio, Kayla said. Unfortunately, because we are young, we get the door shut on us a little sooner than I likeJust because we are incredibly positive, that does not mean we are not aware of the prejudice, and we dont feel these rejections. We live them and use them to empower us. I want young Latinas to know they can do this and not have to settle for less.

What appeals to investors about SweetBio and specifically about Kayla is her authenticity, said Katie Milligan, director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship with the Delta Regional Authority. In any pitch or any conversation, she loves her company, her team and she is always engaged in her community and wants to support other entrepreneurs.

Its important for others in the medical field to see the journey of a young entrepreneur, said Dr. Elena Rios, president of the National Hispanic Medical Association, which co-sponsored an event where Kayla Rodriguez recently spoke.

If you are thinking about starting a business, do it now, said Rodriguez. You will never be ready, and there will never be a perfect time in your life. If you have a good idea, go talk to 10 people and see if there is a market. You need to see if someone else wants your product or service. If you find the interest of 100 people, you have something going.
First Lady Michelle Obamas Lets Move! Outside initiative is meant to inspire younger generations to play, learn, serve and observe the environment around them.

Mayor Joe Hogsett joined Senior Advisor to the Secretary, David Jayo, and Eric Ellsworth, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis to announce that Indianapolis has been selected as one of the 50 cities to participate in the nationwide movement, according to a press release.

The initiative, funded by a $5 million national commitment by the American Express Foundation, will provide two years of funding for the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis to help coordinate efforts, facilitate collaboration, grow resources, and increase participation in outdoor programs on all public landsfrom local parks to federal lands and waters.

I am grateful that Indianapolis was chosen to partner with the U.S. Department of Interior to invest in our greatest asset, our young people, said Mayor Hogsett. Thanks to this program and organizations like the Indianapolis Parks and Recreation Department and the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, we have yet another avenue to connect children with projects that will better their neighborhoods and encourage the next generation to spend time in the wonderful outdoor assets Indianapolis offers.

Many people in our urban neighborhoods dont always have the chance to experience all that our public lands in and around the city have to offer, said Ellsworth. This initiative will help us bring together leaders in conservation, education, recreation and service to provide opportunities for children and families to have fun, deepen connections to the citys natural and historic sites, develop important skills, and engage in activities where they can give back and strengthen our community.

The remaining cities will be announced throughout 2016. For more information about the initiative, visit: http://www.doi.gov/youth.

This work is part an overall strategy by the Obama Administration to connect young people to the outdoors. Other efforts include the Every Kid in A Park program to provide all fourth grade students and their families with free admission to national parks and other public lands and waters for a full year, according to a press release.

These complement the National Park Services Find Your Park campaign preparing for this years centennial of the National Park System.
Pani puri, golgappas, gupchups or phuchkas  one word is enough to make you feel nostalgic. And enough to make you run down the road to get your fill of the snack!

Golgappas, or the sundry other ways they're known as, are hands down the most popular one in this multi-cultural nation. The crunchy puris filled with tangy spiced water have not only mesmerised Indian audiences but are also flooring foodies internationally.

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The love affair with golgappas seems endless, but it's really no mystery why. The simple, easy-to-eat gastronomical wonder presents itself in different avatars. From mashed potatoes to chickpeas, from tamarind water to raw mango pulp, the amazing pani puri continues to enthrall us. Take a look at some of Indias hottest spots to wolf down a plate or two. Seriously, who

1. Elco, Mumbai

allindiarecipe.com

Treating oneself to some yummy pani puri after a shopping spree at Hill Road, Bandra, is a lovely routine to follow. Regarded as the best chaat house of the city, Elco will surprise you with its lip-smacking flavoured water balls. It is priced slightly higher at Rs. 60 per plate, serving six pieces, but Elco is worth every penny. You can savour this tangy, spicy treat with the hygienic environment only tempting you further.

2. Sindhi Pani Puri House, Chembur Sindhi camp, Mumbai

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Mumbai, being a cosmopolitan city, believes in adding variation. Just like Sindhi Pani Puri House, that's been serving hatke pani puris for over 30 years. Opening at 4.00 pm sharp, till 10.00 pm every single day, Sindhi House serves their famous ice-cold boondi-filled tangy pani puris. The tiny roadside kiosk is also a hit for its Dahi Puri and Mirchi Bhajji.

3. Padam Chaat Corner, Old Delhi

Raghav Pasricha

Located in Kinari Bazaar of Chandni Chowk is the popular pani puri joint of Padamji or Panditji  Padam Chaat Corner. Panditji, as he's fondly addressed by the regulars, will hand you a pattal (small bowl made of leaves) and take your taste buds on an absolute joyride. There is also a selection of chaat he calls Kitty Party on the menu. Unlike the routine six pieces of pani puri, Padam Chaat Corner has four pieces a plate, but dont let the number baffle you, for they are a delightful offering of pale green masala water, saunth, chutneys, soft-boiled potatoes and pickled guava.

4. Ashok Chaat Bhandar, Delhi

sodelhi.com

Ashok Chat Bhandar, right outside the Chawri Bazar metro station exit, attracts more than 700 people daily! This stat alone is enough to understand just how this over-70-year-old chaat corner needs no introduction. The obnoxiously popular shack is famous for its mint-flavoured spicy water that will leave the freshness in your mouth long after you're done eating.

5. Lala Babu Chaat Bhandar, Chandni Chowk, Delhi

Taglick

Lala Babu Chaat Bhandar presents one of Delhi's most gastronomical wonders. The roadside stall in the ancient part of the city is famous for its golgappas served with spicy jaljeera water that's flavoured with a digestive called Harad.

6. Dilip das phuchkas, Kolkata

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From my experience of spending a few months in Kolkata, it is safe to say every galli or street has their own favourite phuchkawalla. Seen as no one less than a star, they are eagerly awaited every evening by people, irrespective of age. The famously known Dilip da at Vivekananda Park, off Southern Avenue, serves phuchkas different from other variants of the same snack. The filling is made of lightly mashed boiled potatoes with black salt, salt, tamarind pulp, spices and chili powder while the water is the light and tart Tetul Jol or Tamarind Water prepared by mixing tamarind, spices and salt.

7. Chakraberia, Kolkata

imgkid.com

Meet Upinder, owner of a phuchka stall near Triangular Park in Chakraberia, which specialises in serving special Jain pani puris. Running the business for the last 40 years, he caters to the demand of the Jain community residing nearby. Instead of potatoes, the masala is prepared with mashed bananas, providing a unique flavor. He also prepares aloo phuchka for his non-Jain customers. The other ingredients of this landmark dish are mineral water, shredded chilies and boiled grams.

8. Vardaan Market, Kolkata

The Bong Foodie

Easily the staple snack of Kolkata, phuchka is widely consumed by customers of all age groups just outside Vardaan Market. Often described as heavenly, the filling is prepared with freshly ground spices. The aroma of jeera, methi, dhania and ajwain is enough to give you a foodgasm. The minty-tamarind chutney is definitely the best in competition.

9. New Alipore, Kolkata

thecalcuttagirl

New Alipore has blessed us with two supremely famous phuchka stalls - Bada Phuchkawalla, and the other in front of Nandan Market. While Bada Phuchkawalla, true to its name, provides extra-large phuchkas, the latter proudly specialises in giving a variety of flavoured water. From raw mangoes to icy-jal jeera, the phuchkas, costing Rs 10 for five, are short of delicious.

10. Pani Puri Stalls at the Marina Beach, Chennai

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You dont have to be in North India to enjoy pani puris. The golden fried puris filled with tangy tamarind water are available at the stalls in Marina Beach in Chennai as well. There is definitely a fondness for this snack among the locals when it is accompanied by the cool sea-breeze. More than a snack, Marina pani puris are the experience of a lifetime.

11. Ramraj's Pani Puri, Frazer Town, Bangalore

talkingstreet

Closest to the authentic Kolkata phuchkas, Ramrajs pani puri serves up the right combination of crunchy puris and masaledar tangy water. It started six years ago with a single stall to slowly becoming four at prominent places in Bangalore. The origin of Ramrajs pani puri stall is a rather interesting story. The owner Ramraj, from Allahabad, started the stall after he failed to make it big working in a diamond factory. To survive, he began working with a Pani Puri vendor from Kolkata. And the rest, as they say, is history.

12. King Of Chaat, Lucknow

Zomato

This list would be incomplete without mentioning a popular batasha joint from Lucknow, an evergreen foodies paradise. King Of Chaat is constantly swarming with people patiently awaiting their turn to gorge on the famous snack.

Zomato

King of Chaat, located in Hazaratganj, is renowned for its Paanch Swaad ke Batashe, referring to five types of water.

13. Shukla Chaat House, Lucknow

BohemianFoodies

Yet another gift from the land of delicacies, Hazratganj, is Shukla Chaat House. The 45-year-old small stall specialises in selling just three items  pani-batasha (another name for pani puri in UP), Matar chaat and aloo tikki. They also serve nimbu pani to beat the heat. What makes Lucknawi pani ke batashe different from your regular pani puris is that the golden casings are filled with a combination of curd and chutney.

Bhaiya, ek aur sukha puri milega?
imgjunk

The Orlando nightclub shooting has shocked the entire world. With at least 53 injured and 49 dead, it is being called the biggest mass killing after the 9/11. The deadly massacre at the Florida gay club is being seen more as an attack on the sentiments of the LGBT community. And giving it a powerful voice is Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley. The strong advocate of the LGBT rights feels shaken after the ugly incident.

"In the Orlando attack, everyone lost someone  parents, sisters, brothers, friends It was unbearable for me to watch their plight of those who escaped and the trauma on their faces. What legacy are we giving our children?"

thestar

Celina has been supporting the equality of the LGBT community and gay rights movement in India and abroad. She has been involved in the community activities for the past 10 years. The former Miss India in an interview with DNA said the first news about the Orlando attack left her in immense shock and horror.

"It is very disheartening and is the biggest hate crimes act of its kind. Why do countries like the USA offer a buffet of guns to such demented minds? I saw on TV that this guy purchased his firearm a week ago. The law is the only thing making people equal, and the law sells guns. When guns fall into peoples hands, they commit the most heinous of crimes  hate crimes.

indianexpress

The 34-year-old actress asserted that targeting someone based on their sexual orientation needs to stop! She demanded the authorities to stop the easy access to guns.

"Some of those who went to the nightclub will never return to their homes again. They were targeted because of who they are, and their sexual orientation and that's so terribly sad and tragic Hate crimes are interconnected They are contagious, so they just become bigger. This heinous crime will go down in history as one of the biggest hate crimes against the LGBTQI community. The lawmakers must revoke access to guns because the record of these weapons falling into wrong hands seems to be only growing and none instead of self-defense. The law is the only thing capable of making people equal. And safe!"

(Also read: World's Major Landmarks Turn The Colours Of A Rainbow In Tribute To The Victims Of Orlando)

Omar Mateen, who single-handedly carried out the shootout has left a big question regarding the value of life and human rights. As the world continues to mourn the loss, it also needs to give it a thought as to how far can hatred take you!
They had a common connect (read man) between them. Now they seem to be fighting over the same man! Salman Khan's rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur has hit out at the actor's "good friend" Daisy Shah through an Instagram post.

Instagram

The apparent catfight broke out when Iulia got the news that Salman had gifted a car to Daisy. Iulia reportedly also voiced her concerns before the superstar and his Khan-daan. Many detective brains are suggesting that this might be the reason why Daisy, once a frequent visitor to Salman's home, has been keeping away from meeting him of late. Just to tell you all, Salman had his Jai Ho co-star Daisy by his side during an event in Dubai last month.

yahoo

According to Bollywood Life, Daisy was "never friends with Iulia".

"I am not her friend. So, it doesn't really matter if she is there or not. I am Salman's friend, he means a lot to me, his family means a lot to me, and again I give her due respect because she is my friends' friend. So that acknowledgement is there, but I really don't know anything about her. She has been introduced as Salman's friend and that's all I know about her". - Daisy Shah

Salman is responsible for giving Daisy her big Bollywood debut after she worked in his film Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya as a background dancer. Daisy had last year shared a beautiful message on Salman's birthday. The two have remained thick friends for years now.

Happy 50th to this beautiful soul! I am blessed to have u as a friend, mentor and a guardian @BeingSalmanKhan.  pic.twitter.com/NRtwE6HFG6  Daisy Shah (@ShahDaisy25) December 27, 2015

Twitter

Just to trigger your memories, Daisy had last year said she doesn't want Salman to tie the knot because she doesn't believe in marriage. She once revealed that she wanted to kiss Salman! Looks like such bold statements didn't go down well with Iulia provoking an angry reaction from her. While Salman and Iulia's impending wedding is still the talk of the town, Daisy keeping away from visiting Salman's Galaxy Apartments gave enough fuel to the fire about an apparent cold war between the two ladies!
Leave aside Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, we have one actor who can give anyone lessons how to balance their Bollywood and Hollywood careers.

Meet Irrfan Khan!

Still from Inferno

The awesome actor that he is, even Hollywood isn't able to keep its hands away from him. Irrfan's latest Hollywood venture Inferno is already making news. And adding to the excitement of his fans back home is the fact that he is sharing screen space with Tom Hanks!

*breathe*

The cast of the film attended the premiere in Singapore. And Irrfan looked his dapper best brushing shoulders with Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard, both Oscar-winners, while walking the red carpet. Our Bollywood star definitely added the perfect desi flavour to the starry event. Those present couldn't miss Irrfan's son Babil who also accompanied his father, and kept clicking his pictures of the evening. Both Hanks and Howard were all praises for the Indian actor. While Howard assured that Irrfan has important scenes as he values the actor's artistry, Hanks had a rather interesting take on him.

comingsoon.net

Speaking about Irrfan, Hanks said he was 'beguiled by his magic eyes and his specific physicality'.

While Hanks wore a simple and crisp black suit, Irrfan went with his simple and minimalistic style. The venue turned into a passage to the world of Inferno for the fans and attendees as it was draped in myriad colours like green, red, purple and an impression of a still from the movie being cast over it.

Alicia Ileana

Irrfan who comfortably maintains his parallel career in Hollywood surely looked kicked about Inferno. While his Bollywood contemporaries keep doing, rather blink-and-miss roles in Hollywood, Irrfan has made it a point to leave an impression on the audience's minds with his characters. He delivered memorable performances in Life of Pi, Jurassic World and Slumdog Millionaire. Now, he's back with a bang with Inferno. Back home, he's shooting for Madaari.

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Check out some pictures the trio shared from their Singapore promotions.

Irrfan Khan. Ron Howard. Some guy. Promoting INFERNO. Let the social media barrage begin! Hanx pic.twitter.com/S6vaeQ3Nmr  Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) June 13, 2016

comingsoon.net

Inferno is based on the 2013 novel of the same name. While Hanks is reprising the role of Robert Langdon, a professor of symbology at Harvard University, Irrfan is playing Harry "The Provost" Sims, head of The Consortium. This will be Howard's third consecutive Dan Brown adaptation after The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. Inferno releases in US on October 28 and also stars Felicity Jones, Omar Sy and Ben Foster.

Catch it's trailer here!




Six years ago, Wang Huanming was paralysed from the neck down after being injured. Today, he hopes he has found the answer to walking again: a new body for his head. Wang, a 62-year-old retired gas company worker, is one of several people in China who have volunteered for a body transplant in the northern Chinese city of Harbin.

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The idea for a body transplant is the kind of thinking that has experts around the world alarmed at how far China is pushing the ethical and practical limits of science.

Such a transplant is impossible, at least for now, according to leading doctors and experts, including some in China, who point to the difficulty of connecting nerves in the spinal cord. Failure would mean the death of the patient.

nyt

The orthopedic surgeon proposing the operation, Dr Ren Xiaoping of Harbin Medical University, who assisted in the first hand transplant in the US in 1999, said he would not be deterred. In an interview, Dr Ren said that he was building a team, that research was underway and that the operation would take place "when we are ready."

His plan: Remove two heads from two bodies, connect the blood vessels of the body of the deceased donor and the recipient head, insert a metal plate to stabilize the new neck, bathe the spinal cord nerve endings in a gluelike substance to aid regrowth and finally sew up the skin. Whether or not he performs the operation, leading medical experts have condemned the plan.

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"For most people, it's at best premature and at worst reckless," said Dr James L Bernat, a professor of neurology and medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine of Dartmouth College.

Dr Huang Jiefu, a former deputy minister of health in China, said that when the spine is cut, the neurons "cannot be reconnected, so it's scientifically impossible."





"Ethically it's impossible," Dr Huang added. "How can you put one person's head on another's body?"

Critics attribute such medical experimentation in China to national ambition, generous state funding, a utilitarian worldview that prioritises results, and a lack of transparency and accountability to the outside world. Ethical issues have long dogged Chinese researchers in the field of organ transplants, where China was an international pariah for using the organs of executed prisoners.

guim

Dr Ren is not the only one exploring the science of body transplants. Dr Sergio Canavero of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group in Italy, is a prominent advocate, and scientists at the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics at the Russian Academy of Sciences are also researching aspects of the procedure. nyt news service
Vehicles were set ablaze. Police station was stoned. Police clashed with mob. Teargas shells were fired. Mobile and internet services were suspended. Paramilitary is likely to be called in and curfew might get imposed in Jammu .

All this after a video surfaced showing the ransacking of an ancient temple by suspected mentally disturbed Muslim man on Tuesday.

Tensions escalated when clashes broke out between Police and protesters who were demanding arrest of the accused for ransacking Shiva temple in Jammu's Janipura area.

AFP

This is what happened

The trouble began when a youth entered Aap Shambu temple in Janipura area and ransacked the temple by breaking the protective glass in front of the idols and also allegedly misbehaved with women performing Puja. The protesters created ruckus after the CCTV footage of the youth ransacking the temple went viral. Although the police has arrested the suspected who was identified as Yasir Alfaz of Shiva village in Doda district.

AFP

Police sources revealed that Alfazs mental condition isnt good enough and he was reportedly upset over the rumours of ISIS chief Abu Bakr-al-Baghdadi being seriously injured in a US airstrike in Raqqa, Syria.

CCTV footage where Alfaz can be seen ransacking temple spread like a wild fire through social media and resulted in massive protests across the city of Jammu. IndiaTimes, however, doesnt attest the authenticity of footage.

The angry crowd later in the evening on Tuesday attacked the police station were police had kept Alfazs brother Tanvir.

Meanwhile, CCTV footage of the desecration went viral on social media, adding fuel to the fire. As angry protesters gathered outside the police station, Alfazs brother Tanvir was taken into protective custody.

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The crowd also demanded immediate arrest of the main accused. The people also demanded the suspension of the two police officials who allegedly defended the accused and abused the complainants.

AFP

Once the spat between police and protesters got high, the protesters stoned the police station and set ablaze three vehicles including two buses of a police school. Police later lobbed teargas shells to disperse the crowd.

Fears of communal flair-up

Reinforcements have been deployed in Janipura and senior police officials are taking stock of the situation. Although as of now Curfew hasnt been imposed but if tension escalates, the state government might impose curfew in a few areas of the city.

With the state having a history of communal incidents, the government is taking no chance this time around.
reuters

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the much-awaited civil aviation policy , which puts a cap of Rs 2500 for a one-hour flight on special routes and at the same time aims to extend air connectivity to more cites.

The Cabinet has also tweaked the 5/20 rule that prevented Indian airlines from flying overseas unless they have operated for at least five years and have a fleet of 20 aircraft. Read more

Here are 5 more stories that will interest you:

1. Gay Brother Of Chandigarh Minor Gangrape Victim Alleges Sexual Abuse By Police

The doctor

More than two years after a minor girl was gangraped by five policemen in Chandigarh, her cousin, a homosexual man has filed a complaint in the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging sexual assault on him by police.

The homosexual man alleges that in 2014 he was picked up by police and was tortured. They first beat me up, impounded my vehicle and then groped me, including my penile areas...," more gruesome details here.

2. Two Years Ago 39 Indians Were Abducted In Iraq, Their Families Still Wait For Their Return

hereandnow

It was on June 15, 2014 the lives of the families of 40 Indians took a turn for the worst. Thier loved ones working for a construction company in Mosul Iraq was abducted by suspected ISIS men.

While one of them, Harjeet Masih managed to escape from the terror group wand was safely flown back to India, the 39 others weren't that lucky. In fact there has been hardly any information on the whereabouts of these men, most of them from Punjab in the past two years. More details on their fate here.

3. You Can Get A Class XII Certificate In Bihar For Rs 5 Lakh, Even Without Taking The Exam

twimg/representational image

The special investigation team probing the Intermediate toppers' scam on Tuesday raided the premises of Ganga Devi Mahila College in the city with a SIT source telling TOI that a man detained on Monday night said the scamsters were charging Rs 5 lakh per fake Intermediate certificate.

The SIT source said, "The man revealed that the scamsters would charge Rs 5 lakh from each candidate for an Intermediate certificate without taking the exam or even enrolling with any college. A police team is now in Aurangabad district following his tip-off." Read more

4. After Temple Ransacking, Jammu Is On The Verge Of A Communal Riot

AFP

Vehicles were set ablaze. Police station was stoned. Police clashed with mob. Teargas shells were fired. Mobile and internet services were suspended. Paramilitary is likely to be called in and curfew might get imposed in Jammu .

All this after a video surfaced showing the ransacking of an ancient temple by suspected mentally disturbed Muslim man on Tuesday. Here's what really happened

5. Punjab Is Trending, But Mizoram And Manipur May Be Equally Addicted

reuters/Rupak De Chowdhuri

With Punjab continuing to hog the drug discussion (and it should considering the number of people addicted), the rest of India doesn't present a drastically rosy picture either.

From the year 2011 till 2015, the officials seized 105, 173 tonnes of illegal drugs and only 39 percent of it is seized from Punjab. Apart from Punjab, Manipur, Mizoram and Assam are among the top Indian states in terms of usage of drugs. Read more details
When the state forest minister of Assam, Pramila Rani Brahama, visited Kaziranga last week, he was greeted by a tragedy. Poachers had attacked and killed a female rhino during the minister's visit and the forest officials tried to cover up their mistake by spraying chemicals and salt on the carcass.

The minister has released yet another statement this Saturday, stating that the state police will also be included in the activities to counter poaching activities in Assam. The minister has also promised strict action against the forest officials who have been charged with aiding the poachers.

PTI

"People are talking about poaching and community-led conservation programmes as if they are fool-proof plans. They are not. For every villager who helps the poacher, there is a monetary prize. In the conservation programme, there is nothing," says Dr Bibhab Talukdar, Chair of the IUCN SSC Asian Rhino Specialist Group, Secretary General of Indian NGO Aaranyak, and Asian Rhino Coordinator for the International Rhino Foundation.

The current poaching crisis is attributed to the growing demand for rhino horn in Asian countries, mainly Vietnam and China. According to a report by Save The Rhino, "Vietnam has been identified as the largest user country of rhino horn. Although rhino horn has no scientific medical benefits, consumers are using it to treat a wide range of conditions, from cancer to hangovers, and due to its high value it is now also used as a status symbol by wealthy individuals. The high price fetched for the horn has attracted the involvement of ruthless criminal syndicates who use high-tech equipment to track down and kill the rhinos."

Within India, there is a tried and tested route to get the horn out in the market quickly.

oxpeckers.org

Dr Talukdar adds, "There are two primary routes to get the rhino horn out of the country and into China, via Myanmar or through Nepal. There is a nexus of poor residents living along the borders of each state who help the poachers in turn for some money." Without proper jobs and money, this nexus continues to thrive.

A report by the Rhino Resource centre states: "From confidential sources in West Bengal, Assam and Bhutan, it appears that traders in Bhutan from at least the mid-1980s to the present have been buying the majority of West Bengal's horns. Usually the horns are taken overland from Siliguri to Phuntsholing on the border with India in south-west Bhutan. Phuntsholing is a trading town and, unlike other parts of the country, Indians can go there without a visa."

assam.gov.in

The report further states, "Rhino horns from West Bengal are brought to Phuntsholing sometimes by people of the Bodo tribe (originally from Assam) living in West Bengal (where they are called 'Mech'). In 1992, they sold the horns to Bhutanese for around $8,600 a kilo. Bodos also bring to Phuntsholing horns from rhinos poached in Assam."

PTI

There are three main pieces of evidence verifying Phuntsholing's role in the rhino horn trade. First, there have been several seizures of Indian horns in and around this town. There has even been some trade in African rhino horn. In 1984, one African horn weighing 2.2 kilos was confiscated by Indian officials. Second, the state governments of India pay informers who have reported on this trade route. And third, a Bhutanese Princess educated at Cambridge University, Dekichoden Wangchuck, aunt of the former King, was arrested at Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek airport in September 1993 with 22 Indian rhino horns.

The rhino horn trade is still active in Phuntsholing.

AP

"The horns are not carried in bulk. They can be ferried around in small backpacks or dolls. With the lack of personnel, several portions of the state border remain vulnerable and are used by the poachers to move into and out of the states,"explains Dr Talukdar.

"Intelligence is the key to counter the crimes," he says. "It is not that the government has not taken steps. The government has and continues to take steps which may or may not be enough to tackle the situation. At present, we need to work on building a stronger village network of witnesses to the crimes and involve more than just forest officials to track the poachers on the ground. Once caught, the poachers should face strict and swift action to deter the rest of their kind."

In recent years, the number of female rhinos being poached has gone up.

bccl

Reflecting on the current spate of female rhinos being poached as opposed to the larger and more profitable male rhino horn, Dr Talukdar explains "There is a very small window of opportunity that the poachers have. In that time frame when there is no official around, they will strike at whatever they find. Male or female rhino does not matter. Also, in many cases, there are revenge killing of the rhinos by the poachers in retaliation to some members of their group being caught."

Tragically, Indian officials are aware of some of the well-placed rhino traders in Bhutan but are unable to take action on them. "In 1994, one trader from Bhutan's capital, Thimpu, even had the audacity to use a business card stating that he was a trader in rhino horn," a report on the Rhino Resource Centre states.

bccl
Twitter turned a battleground yesterday with Smriti Irani and Ashok Choudhary locked in a war of words over the salutation "dear".

When Bihar's Education Minister addressed Smriti Irani as "dear" in one of his tweets, the latter was not impressed.

@AshokChoudhaary mahilaon ko 'dear' keh ke kab se sambodhit karne lage Ashokji ?  Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016

And it didn't stop there.

Not to disrespect but educate... Professional emails start with "dear". @smritiirani Ji Kabhi mudde pe jawab dijiye, don't circle around it.  Dr. Ashok Choudhary (@AshokChoudhaary) June 14, 2016

@AshokChoudhaary all my communications to you or any other person start with 'adarniya' but since you are now communicating allow me 1/3  Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016

@AshokChoudhaary Bihar is possibly the only state which has not done grass root consultations for the education policy 2/3  Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016

@AshokChoudhaary have not received state views on education policy neither did you in your 1 on 1 meeting with me give any suggestions 3/3  Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) June 14, 2016

When things like this happen, Tweeple can't stay mere spectators now, can they?

Oh, dear!
At a time when the national capital is unable to quench its thirst, the water bodies here might soon be a part of history. Courtesy the governments inability to maintain or protect its existing water bodies. Information provided by different government agencies under the Right to Information Act (RTI) reveals that a sizeable number of Delhis ponds, lakes and marshes have either completely disappeared or have been encroached upon.

bccl

Its not that the government is unaware of this. A total of 971 water bodies are registered in the state records, say the documents accessed by Afroz Alam Sahil under the RTI, while 40 more have not been traced so far.

Illegal encroachment is killing Delhi's ponds

However, of the total, 168 water bodies have been encroached upon and illegal constructions have taken place on 39 of them.

For instance, a cremation ground came up in Joharpuri encroaching two water bodies in the area. Similarly, there is now a graveyard and an Eidgah at the place where a pond used to exit in Mustafabad. The same happened in Babarpur where a small pond was replaced by a cremation ground.

bccl

70 percent of the water bodies have dried, according to the RTI, in Fatehpur Beri village where a temple has been built encroaching upon 40% of the area. A water body spread over 78 bigha of land in Chhattarpur has been issued to a temple, while another one in the same area was taken over by a Jain temple.

Google Map

In Karawal Nagar too, two water bodies have been encroached upon, one by a private party and the other has been leased out for 99 years to the Delhi Transport Corporation to build a bus terminal. In Gokulpur, the water body has been encroached over by 22 households. All these households are part of an unauthorised colony which is in process of being regularised.

Interestingly, the government is also the culprit here. Illegal constructions have taken place on 78 water bodies by the state government.

bccl

In Kalkaji tehsils Johar Tughlakabad village, a water body, according to the RTI reply, have been encroached upon by the DDA. One such example is Bankner village in the city where a stadium has come up on a dried up pond. The situation is worse in Sultanpur, where five water bodies have dried out completely and have been allotted to a government school.

In total, out of the total 1,011 water bodies, 285 have disappeared off the map while 338 have dried up completely.

Saving what's left

After the National Green Tribunal expressed concern over the depletion of the water table in the city and ordered the Delhi government to restore and clean all natural water bodies in the national capital in three weeks, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday constituted a high-level committee to look into the matter.

bccl

Water Minister Kapil Mishra and Environment & Forests Minister Imran Hussain will be members of the committee. The CEO of Delhi Jal Board, Keshav Chandra will be its Member Secretary. The committee, according to reports, will look into issues related to taking necessary steps like site inspections, proper identification/confirmation of water bodies for updated inventory, suggesting suitable recommendations to restore them, rain water harvesting for the benefit of water bodies along with their development and beautification plan on targeted basis for all the water bodies-owning agencies.

The government is also trying to use satellite imaging to map its water bodies.

Every single day, Delhi uses over 300 crore litres of water to quench its thirst, but still falls short by about 100 crore litres. The issue of water shortage in and around the city has increased drastically over the years because of decreasing water level here.
More than two years after a minor girl was gangraped by five policemen in Chandigarh, her cousin, a homosexual man has filed a complaint in the Punjab and Haryana High Court alleging sexual assault on him by police.

The doctor

The homosexual man alleges that in 2014 he was picked up by police and was tortured.

They first beat me up, impounded my vehicle and then groped me, including my penile areas. Then they took me to the Sector 34 police station, where they assaulted me for hours. A policewoman said I was not a man, and said that my cousin was lying, DNA quoting the victim reported.

Police was reportedly infuriated over him pursuing a case against fellow cops who had gangraped his cousin, who was a minor.

He says that he was first beaten up, and asked to give up the case, in which he was a witness.

The 17-year-old-girl was gangraped in 2013 by five policemen, in Chandigarh's Khuda Lahora area for nearly two-and-a-half months. The five men were dismissed from service after the rape allegation.

Indian Express

Her cousin who first made the sexual assault allegations against policemen in 2014 said he didn't get any support.

He said despite the NHRC asking the inspector general of police, Chandigarh, to take appropriate action, nothing has been done so far, which made him to approach the court seeking justice.
3 IIT students have created FAME One, a prototype device that can convert waste cooking oil from our kitchens into biodiesel, which can power engines. The washing machine sized device is designed to be eco-friendly and affordable, and can be set up in an hour! In rural agricultural settings, oil seeds can be the input for abundant access to diesel.

ht

We read somewhere that India generates the highest amount of waste cooking oil and this is what drove us towards creating a technology that could actually compensate for more that 30% of the countrys energy deficit. If people adapt to this change we can have a better India, said Mohit Soni, a student told the Hindustan Times. Testing has confirmed that the device can be used for big hotels, which generate a substantial amount of waste cooking oil as byproduct.

India currently only produces 0.1% of the global biodiesel fuel, but we produce a LOT of waste cooking oil. If India produces so much waste cooking oil, we thought that there has to be a way to use it in a productive manner. So we connected with hotel chains and utilised the oil that gets wasted every day, said Mohit.
Facebook helped save a life here on Tuesday. Varun Malik, an IT employee, who slit his wrist and posted a suicide note and a picture of the slit wrist on the social networking site, was saved after help got to him on time and he was rushed to a private hospital.

Facebook

Although the exact reason behind the suicide attempt is not known, sources said Varun was depressed ever since his mother passed away a year ago.

Varun (32), a resident of Karamyogi Apartment in Sector 10A, is now battling for life in the ICU of Sunrise Hospital. An avid social networker, he posted not just his suicide note online but also the picture of his slit wrist moments after the act.

Friends who saw his post immediately urged anyone nearby to rush to his aid. They also informed the police.

Varun. employed as an engineer at Nagarro Software Private Ltd, posted two pictures of his cut in his left hand on his Facebook account around 10am on Tuesday. He also uploaded a video and a message saying he killed himself and no one was to blame for it.

Facebook

After being informed by his friends, police reached Varun's flat only to be told that his doctor-brother, who runs his own clinic, had already taken him to Sunrise Hospital. Police later found Varun in the hospital's ICU.

The suicide note on his Facebook his account said, "I Varun Malik in all my senses want to declare that I am ending my life because of internal struggle. I hold no one responsible for it. I have beared the burden for long. Ab nhi ho paa raha. I don't have any one. I am all alone. Ending my life is the only option left with me. No one understands the pain I am going through daily. Every breath I take has became a burden. Kehne ko family hai par koi nhi hai. Ab or nhi bardast ho raha hai. Mere death ke liye kisi ko na responsible samjh jaye n hi pareshan kiya jaye. Shanti se mujhe jala dena. Bas ye hi last wish hai", Varun Malik."

Facebook

Sub-inspector Naresh Kumar, the investigating officer, said, "No case has been filed as (Varun) Malik is unfit for any statement." Sources said that he had been upset for the past year since the death of his mother, who had also donated her kidney to him when one of his kidneys had failed. Police said Varun's father, S P Malik, a retired Haryana police sub-inspector was wheelchair bound following paralysis.
Students of the Anjuman-e-Islam school in Ahmedabad are practising yoga every day to help them through their Ramzan fasting. For thirty minutes every day, the students practice yoga with an aim to assert that the spiritual discipline knows no religion and that it can benefit anyone who is keeping the ongoing Ramzan fast.

ANI

"We all know that Yoga has several benefits. Yoga is not associated to any religion and can be practiced by everyone. Yoga helps us to get through the day in a healthy fashion. We are not supposed to drink water nor eat anything during Ramzan and practicing this helps us with the pressure," said a student, Nameera, as reported by ANI.

Zee

The Physical Health instructor of the school, Mallick Husseinbai said that the students were reaping great benefits from the exercise and had the liberty to decide whether they wanted to chant the mantra 'omkar' or not.
It was on June 15, 2014 the lives of the families of 40 Indians took a turn for the worst. Thier loved ones working for a construction company in Mosul Iraq was abducted by suspected ISIS men.

hereandnow

While one of them, Harjeet Masih managed to escape from the terror group wand was safely flown back to India, the 39 others weren't that lucky.

In fact there has been hardly any information on the whereabouts of these men, most of them from Punjab in the past two years.

Despite the repeated assurances by the Indian government about them being still alive, the families have had little to be relieved.

kaltura

They have been regularly travelling to Delhi and meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj seeking information on their loved ones.

Swaraj has repeatedly assured them that the men are safe and that negotiations are still on to secure their release.

However Harjeet and two Bangladeshi workers have gone on record saying that the 39 men were killed by the gunmen who abducted them.

Daily Mail

According to Harjeet he was among the group of 53 men abducted by men holding Quran and guns. Later they segregated the captives based on their religion and 13 Bangladeshis were let-off.

The Indians were later taken to a distant place and shot dead. Harjeet claimed he escaped execution by pretending to be dead.

The Indian government has rejected his claims and still maintains that the men are alive. Even while repeating this again and again the government has not yet given any credible proof to back it up, but says their information is based on inputs received from three West Asian governments over the last 12 months which said at least some of the captives are alive.

PTI

But it difficult to believe that a group like ISIS whose hatred to people of non-islamic faith is well documented, would keep these 39 men alive for two years and is willing to negotiate with the Indian government.

Even some senior Kurdish officials have pointed at the possibility of the captives being killed.

From all information we have, our assessment is, regrettably, that the Indian workers were shot dead near Badoush (in Mosul) within days of being taken hostage by the Islamic State, and then buried in a mass grave near Sahaji," The Indian Express quoting senior Kurdish officials reported.

Organizations like The Iraqi Red Crescent which has people on the ground have also failed to provide any credible evidence on them being still alive.
Scientists have accidentally ended up discovering a never-seen-or-heard-before sex position after learning about the rather weird mating habits of one particular breed of frog. Found only in India, the Bombay night frogs, instead of mating like other amphibians, performed a 'dorsal straddle'. A delightfully confusing sex act many are terming as the froggy style!

Youtube/New Scientist

The frogs, somehow magically, can fertilise a female's eggs without making any contact. They just leave their sperm to trickle down on the female's back and straddle. Yes, it's absolutely frickin' absurd. The male doesn't embrace the female at all, it just straddles over her back by holding onto a nearby object like leafs or branches of a tree. Talk about acting like a cold motherf***er.

The Bombay night frog would then just walk away, allowing the sperm to trickle down the female's back so eggs can be fertilised. Professor Sathyabhama Das Biju of Delhi University said, "This is a remarkable frog with an unprecedented reproductive behaviour, which is unique for a number of reasons."

cloudfront.net

Till now, only 6 mating positions were known to man but the Bombay night frog has ended up changing everything. The research was conducted over a period of 40 nights between 2010 and 2012 during the monsoon season in the Western Ghats of India.
This is stuff made of angels.

At a memorial organised for the Orlando shooting victims, 49 birds appeared in the sky. Right overhead the vigil.

The vigil was held on Monday at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center.

The photographer was pleasantly surprised when she later counted the number of birds and found that they were an exact 49 - as if symbolising each one of the dead in the Orlando shooting. Of course, minus the one bird that signified the shooter himself - Omar Mateen - who was responsible for the horrific act of terrorism.

Courtesy Photo/CNN

As the names of all the victims were being read at the vigil, the photographer looked up to see the flock of birds flying.

She clicked a photo but it wasn't until later that she would count the number and be surprised to relate their significance to the victims.

Reuters

"I then showed everyone around me and had them count. We were all stunned. Seeing the birds made me feel a sense of peace about the tragedy," the photographer said.

49 doves were released into the sky from a separate vigil that was organized in Lakeland, Florida. In the picture, however, they appear black.

Doves, as we know, symbolise peace. Need we say more?
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Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com.

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Russia And China Have To Step UP Ideological War

By Andre Vltchek It as if this horrid nightmare, is the only imaginable future for our human race. Continue

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Why Is The Western Media Ignoring The New Cold War?

By Thom Hartmann and Stephen Cohen Thom speak with Professor Stephen Cohen about Russia and NATO. Continue

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Hillary Clintons Project For A New American Century

By Dan Wright It looks like those waiting in the wings to staff her government are anxious to wet their bayonets. Continue

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The Next U.S Foreign/Military Policy

By Jack A. Smith Both U.S. neoliberal capitalist political parties are absolutely dedicated to world domination. Continue

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Its Official: Our World is Governed by Psychopaths

By Vanessa Beeley The global humanitarian and legal entities are now officially in the hands of genocidal psychopaths. Continue

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Remembering the U.S.S. Liberty

The Power of the Israel Lobby

By Philip Giraldi Does the modern American economy not fit the definition of fascism? Continue

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Orlando Attack Was Retaliation For U.S. Aggression In Afghanistan

By Matt Peppe An example of a negative consequence of U.S. foreign policy. Continue

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Tracing The Origin Of Dysfunctional and Violent Human Behaviors

By Robert J. Burrowes How was social control achieved? The same way that social control is achieved today: by terrorizing children into obedience. Continue

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Only Clinton Can Save Trumps Electoral Victory

By James Petras Trumps embrace of the neo-liberal business elite follows Sanders submission to the Democratic Party bosses. Continue

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Brexit Is The Only Way the Working Class Can Change Anything

By Lisa Mckenzie Working-class people are sick of being called ignorant or racist because of their valid concerns. Continue

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70 persons killed as battles heat up in Aleppo: At least 70 jihadist fighters and military soldiers were killed over the past 24 hours during battles in Syria's Aleppo province, a monitor group reported on Wednesday.

ISIS jihadis abduct dozens of Kurdish civilians in Syrias Aleppo : Extremists of the Islamic State group (ISIS) on Tuesday kidnapped dozens of civilians after breaking into a number of Kurdish villages near al-Bab city in the northern countryside of Aleppo, northern Syria, activists and eyewitnesses reported.

Turkey commanding Daesh near Syrias Aleppo : Russia: Russia says Turkeys military advisers are commanding Daesh terrorists operating around Syrias northwestern city of Aleppo, which has been the scene of fierce fighting over the past few weeks.

100 Al-Nusra terrorists arrive in Syrian-Turkish border region  Russian Defense Ministry : Around 100 heavily armed Al-Nusra Front jihadists were spotted arriving in the border region between Syria and Turkey by locals living in Kbana, a village in Syrias Latakia province

10 IS militants killed by Turkey shelling in Syria : Turkish artillery units on Tuesday shelled 17 IS targets as coalition warplanes conducted air operations in the region, Xinhua news agency quoted the security sources as saying.

German, French special forces in Syria 'an aggression' : The Syrian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday French and German forces are deployed to Ain al-Arab, also known as Kobani, and Manbij alongside US military personnel.

Kerry tells Russia US patience on Syria very limited : US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russia and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday to respect a fragile ceasefire, warning that Washingtons patience was running out.

Fighting in Yemen kills at least 48 over past 24 hours : They say Wednesday that some 65 people were wounded in combat between rebels and government forces around the besieged city of Taiz as well as in Shabwa, Jawf and Marib provinces.

Yemen conflict: Girl shot while collecting water among hundreds of civilians killed and injured during 'ceasefire' : Sunood, 12, survived but the UN says almost 10,000 civilians have been killed and wounded

UAE says war is over for Emirati troops in Yemen : The statement left open the likelihood that Emirati troops would remain in Yemen, where they operate in the southern province of Hadramawt and the port city of Aden. The Saudi coalitions spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

16 Daesh militants killed in coalition strikes in Iraq: Eight civilians are killed in separate bomb attacks in Baghdad

8 Iraqi troops killed in clashes with Daesh militants : Police officer Ahmed al-Duleimi said that Iraqi forces engaged in fierce clashes late Tuesday with Daesh militants in southern Fallujah, where a military offensive is underway to retake the western city from the terrorist group.

Seven Iraqi soldiers killed in a bomb blast south of Baghdad : The explosion was carried out by a bomber wearing an explosive belt, the source said, adding that several people were also injured in the attack.

Senior Iraqi military commander killed by Isis snipers south of Mosul: Islamic State (Isis) snipers have shot and killed a senior Iraqi commander south of Mosul as government forces look to make gains against the Sunni militant group near their de-facto Iraqi capital.

Israeli official hails Saudi kings stance on Iran, handling of economy: Major-General Herzi Halevy, the chief of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, applauded King Salman at an international security forum in Herzliya in the occupied territories on Wednesday.

Israel absolves colonel who shelled clinic to honor soldier: The Israeli army has decided not to indict a colonel who ordered the shelling of a clinic in Gaza Citys Shujaiya neighborhood to honor a soldier who had been killed by sniper fire.

Israel cuts water supplies to West Bank during Ramadan : Tens of thousands of Palestinians are left without access to safe drinking water during the Islamic holy month.

AIPAC Criticizes White House : The American Israel Public Affairs Committee said it was deeply disappointed in the Obama administrations opposition to increased missile defense funding for Israel, weighing in on an issue that is apparently obstructing U.S.-Israel talks on renewing defense assistance.

Israel spin doctors move to exploit Orlando massacre: The US and Israeli far right are moving to exploit Mateens crime to further a narrative that indicts Muslims collectively and fuels hatred and confrontation.

Iran files lawsuit against US at IC Justice over seized assetse : : Iran has filed a lawsuit against the United States at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) demanding compensation over the seizure of USD 2 billion worth of the country's assets by a top American court.

Libyan Official: 9 Fighters Killed in Battle to Take IS City: A Libyan hospital spokesman says nine pro-government fighters have been killed and 50 wounded in latest fighting for the Islamic State group's bastion of Sirte.

Boko Haram Kill 4 People, Abduct Women In Borno State : Boko Haram terrorists stormed the remote village of Kautuva in Damboa Local Government Area (LGA) in Borno State on Tuesday morning and killed four people while setting homes ablaze.

Nigeria's Baby Farmers : Video - Investigating Nigeria's notorious baby farms and the criminals who abuse and exploit women for profit.

Afghanistan: 21 ISIS loyalists killed in military ops: The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said the operations were conducted jointly by the Afghan ground and Air Forces in Nangarhar province, reports the Khamma Press.

5 key Taliban leaders, 26 militants killed in Afghanistan : Kabul: At least five senior commanders of Taliban were killed in coalition forces air strike in Babaji district, Helmand province, officials say here on Wednesday

NATO plans for Afghan war through 2020 : President Obama granted U.S. troops in Afghanistan expanded authority to attack Taliban insurgents. The new rules allow U.S. forces to advise regular Afghan combat units and to call in airstrikes

More Gunfire at Pakistan-Afghan Border, Afghan Guard Killed : Renewed clashes overnight at a Pakistani-Afghan border crossing killed an Afghan border guard and wounded five, an Afghan official said Wednesday, as Islamabad dispatched more troops to the volatile boundary amid an escalation between the two neighbors.

Pakistan fires heavy artillery at Afghan forces on Khyber Pass border : "When our people began construction work on the gate on Wednesday, Afghan forces again opened fire at our troops and construction workers," said a Pakistani security official who declined to be identified.

ISIS fighters en route to Europe for attacks on Belgium & France  security sources : The terrorists in question "left Syria about a week and a half ago to reach Europe via Turkey and Greece by boat without passports," Belgian newspaper DH reported, quoting the alert.

Dutch ship rescues nearly 200 migrants in Mediterranean: A Dutch marine ship in the EU border agency Frontex rescued nearly 200 migrants on a sinking ship in the Mediterranean, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

Turkey fails to meet criteria for visa-free EU travel: European commission says Turkey has not met conditions of possible deal including border security and human rights issues

Evo Morales to John Kerry: Latin America Is Not Your Backyard: Morales said he was considering withdrawing Bolivia from the OAS if the regional body continues to interfere in the internal affairs of member countries.

Two-Thirds of Brazilians View Temer Government Unfavorably: A series of unpopular measures by the coup government of Michel Temer have made for an unhappy and pessimistic population.

The typical American couple has only $5,000 saved for retirement : A perverse tax policy helps the rich to save, but doesnt help the rest of us

Senate Votes to Require Women to Register for the Draft: On Tuesday, the Senate approved an expansive military policy bill that would for the first time require young women to register for the draft.

ISIS Praises Mateen as 'Lion of Caliphate,' Urges Attacks at Theaters, Hospitals, Amusement Parks

Police may have killed Orlando club patrons : Orlando Police Chief John Mina and other law enforcement officers offered new details about the shooting, including the possibility that some victims may have been killed by officers trying to save them.

My Several Million Readers Are Unable To Help Me Prove The Official Story: Paul Craig Roberts : I close my attempt to prove the governments case.

The U.S. spends billions a year on counterterrorism, with generally poor oversight. : The counterterrorism field includes at least 1,072 governmental organizations and agencies, plus some 2,000 private companies funded by $115 billion, U.S. tax dollars. That means lots of money for companies like G4S, which hired Mateen back in 2007.

FBI swamped by an avalanche of terror tips: The number of Isis cases in the US is unprecedented, said Seamus Hughes, deputy director of George Washington Universitys programme on extremism.

Orlando gunman's wife could be charged: reports : Noor Salman, Omar Mateen's wife, had "some knowledge" of husband's plan to carry out massacre at gay club, reports say.
America's Gestapo - The FBI's Reign of Terror



By John W. Whitehead and The Mind Renewed

We discuss the seemingly-inexorable transformation of the USA into a police state



Constitutional attorney and author John. W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Foundation, a nonprofit civil liberties and human rights organisation headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Posted June 14, 2016

Copyright  2016 The Mind Renewed

Americas Gestapo: The FBIs Reign of Terror



By John W. Whitehead

We want no Gestapo or secret police. The FBI is tending in that direction. They are dabbling in sex-life scandals and plain blackmail. J. Edgar Hoover would give his right eye to take over, and all congressmen and senators are afraid of him.President Harry S. Truman

Dont Be a Puppet is the message the FBI is sending young Americans.

June 14, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Rutherford Institute " - As part of the governments so-called ongoing war on terror, the nations de facto secret police force is now recruiting students and teachers to spy on each other and report anyone who appears to have the potential to be anti-government or extremist.

Using the terms anti-government, extremist and terrorist interchangeably, the government continues to add to its growing list of characteristics that could distinguish an individual as a potential domestic terrorist.

For instance, you might be a domestic terrorist in the eyes of the FBI (and its network of snitches) if you:

express libertarian philosophies (statements, bumper stickers)

exhibit Second Amendment-oriented views (NRA or gun club membership)

read survivalist literature, including apocalyptic fictional books

show signs of self-sufficiency (stockpiling food, ammo, hand tools, medical supplies)

fear an economic collapse

buy gold and barter items

subscribe to religious views concerning the book of Revelation

voice fears about Big Brother or big government

expound about constitutional rights and civil liberties

believe in a New World Order conspiracy

Despite its well-publicized efforts to train students, teachers, police officers, hairdressers, store clerks, etc., into government eyes and ears, the FBI isnt relying on a nation of snitches to carry out its domestic spying.

Theres no need.

The nations largest law enforcement agency rivals the NSA in resources, technology, intelligence, and power. Yet while the NSA has repeatedly come under fire for its domestic spying programs, the FBI has continued to operate its subversive and clearly unconstitutional programs with little significant oversight or push-back from the public, Congress or the courts. Just recently, for example, a secret court gave the agency the green light to quietly change its privacy rules for accessing NSA data on Americans international communications.

Indeed, as I point out in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People, the FBI has become the embodiment of how power, once acquired, can be easily corrupted and abused.

When and if a true history of the FBI is ever written, it will not only track the rise of the American police state but it will also chart the decline of freedom in America.

Owing largely to the influence and power of the FBI, the United Statesonce a nation that abided by the rule of law and held the government accountable for its actionshas steadily devolved into a police state where justice is one-sided, a corporate elite runs the show, representative government is a mockery, police are extensions of the military, surveillance is rampant, privacy is extinct, and the law is little more than a tool for the government to browbeat the people into compliance.

The FBIs laundry list of crimes against the American people includes surveillance, disinformation, blackmail, entrapment, intimidation tactics, harassment and indoctrination, governmental overreach, abuse, misconduct, trespassing, enabling criminal activity, and damaging private property.

And thats just based on what we know.

Whether the FBI is planting undercover agents in churches, synagogues and mosques; issuing fake emergency letters to gain access to Americans phone records; using intimidation tactics to silence Americans who are critical of the government; recruiting high school students to spy on and report fellow students who show signs of being future terrorists; or persuading impressionable individuals to plot acts of terror and then entrapping them, the overall impression of the nations secret police force is that of a well-dressed thug, flexing its muscles and doing the boss dirty work of ensuring compliance, keeping tabs on potential dissidents, and punishing those who dare to challenge the status quo.

The FBI was established in 1908 as a small task force assigned to deal with specific domestic crimes. Initially quite limited in its abilities to investigate so-called domestic crimes, the FBI has been transformed into a mammoth federal policing and surveillance agency. Unfortunately, whatever minimal restrictions kept the FBIs surveillance activities within the bounds of the law all but disappeared in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. The USA Patriot Act gave the FBI and other intelligence agencies carte blanche authority in investigating Americans suspected of being anti-government.

As the FBIs powers have grown, its abuses have mounted.

The FBI continues to monitor Americans engaged in lawful First Amendment activities.

COINTELPRO , the FBI program created to disrupt, misdirect, discredit, and neutralize groups and individuals the government considers politically objectionable, was aimed not so much at the criminal element but at those who challenged the status quonamely, those expressing anti-government sentiments such as Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lennon. It continues to this day, albeit in other guises.

The FBI has become a master in the art of entrapment.

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks the FBI has not only targeted vulnerable individuals but has also lured them into fake terror plots while actually equipping them with the organization, money, weapons and motivation to carry out the plotsentrapmentand then jailing them for their so-called terrorist plotting. This is what the FBI characterizes as forward leaningpreventativeprosecutions.

FBI agents are among the nations most notorious lawbreakers.

In addition to creating certain crimes in order to then solve them, the FBI also gives certain informants permission to break the law, including everything from buying and selling illegal drugs to bribing government officials and plotting robberies, in exchange for their cooperation on other fronts. USA Today estimates that agents have authorized criminals to engage in as many as 15 crimes a day. Some of these informants are getting paid astronomical sums: one particularly unsavory fellow, later arrested for attempting to run over a police officer, was actually paid $85,000 for his help laying the trap for an entrapment scheme.

The FBIs powers, expanded after 9/11, have given its agents carte blanche access to Americans most personal information.

The agencys National Security Letters, one of the many illicit powers authorized by the USA Patriot Act, allows the FBI to secretly demand that banks, phone companies, and other businesses provide them with customer information and not disclose the demands. An internal audit of the agency found that the FBI practice of issuing tens of thousands of NSLs every year for sensitive information such as phone and financial records, often in non-emergency cases, is riddled with widespread violations.

The FBIs spying capabilities are on a par with the NSA.

The FBIs surveillance technology boasts an invasive collection of spy tools ranging from Stingray devices that can track the location of cell phones to Triggerfish devices which allow agents to eavesdrop on phone calls. In one case, the FBI actually managed to remotely reprogram a suspects wireless internet card so that it would send real-time cell-site location data to Verizon, which forwarded the data to the FBI.

The FBIs hacking powers have gotten downright devious.

FBI agents not only have the ability to hack into any computer, anywhere in the world, but they can also control that computer and all its stored information, download its digital contents, switch its camera or microphone on or off and even control other computers in its network. Given the breadth of the agencys powers, the showdown between Apple and the FBI over customer privacy appears to be more spectacle than substance.

James Comey, current director of the FBI, knows enough to say all the right things about the need to abide by the Constitution, all the while his agency routinely discards it. Comey argues that the governments powers shouldnt be limited, especially when it comes to carrying out surveillance on American citizens. Comey continues to lobby Congress and the White House to force technology companies such as Apple and Google to keep providing the government with backdoor access to Americans cell phones.

The FBIs reach is more invasive than ever.

This is largely due to the agencys nearly unlimited resources (its minimum budget alone in fiscal year 2015 was $8.3 billion), the government's vast arsenal of technology, the interconnectedness of government intelligence agencies, and information sharing through fusion centersdata collecting intelligence agencies spread throughout the country that constantly monitor communications (including those of American citizens), everything from internet activity and web searches to text messages, phone calls and emails.

Today, the FBI employs more than 35,000 individuals and operates more than 56 field offices in major cities across the U.S., as well as 400 resident agencies in smaller towns, and more than 50 international offices. In addition to their data campus, which houses more than 96 million sets of fingerprints from across the United States and elsewhere, the FBI is also, according to The Washington Post, building a vast repository controlled by people who work in a top-secret vault on the fourth floor of the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building in Washington. This one stores the profiles of tens of thousands of Americans and legal residents who are not accused of any crime. What they have done is appear to be acting suspiciously to a town sheriff, a traffic cop or even a neighbor.

If theres one word to describe the FBIs covert tactics, its creepy.

The agencys biometric database has grown to massive proportions, the largest in the world, encompassing everything from fingerprints, palm, face and iris scans to DNA, and is being increasingly shared between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in an effort to target potential criminals long before they ever commit a crime.

This is whats known as pre-crime.

If it were just about fighting the bad guys, that would be one thing. But as countless documents make clear, the FBI has no qualms about using its extensive powers in order to blackmail politicians, spy on celebrities and high-ranking government officials, and intimidate dissidents of all stripes.

Its an old tactic, used effectively by former authoritarian regimes.

In fact, as historian Robert Gellately documents, the Nazi police state was repeatedly touted as a model for other nations to follow, so much so that Hoover actually sent one of his right-hand men, Edmund Patrick Coffey, to Berlin in January 1938 at the invitation of Germanys secret police. As Gellately noted, [A]fter five years of Hitlers dictatorship, the Nazi police had won the FBIs seal of approval.

Indeed, so impressed was the FBI with the Nazi order that, as the New York Times revealed, in the decades after World War II, the FBI, along with other government agencies, aggressively recruited at least a thousand Nazis, including some of Hitlers highest henchmen, brought them to America, hired them on as spies and informants, and then carried out a massive cover-up campaign to ensure that their true identities and ties to Hitlers holocaust machine would remain unknown. Moreover, anyone who dared to blow the whistle on the FBIs illicit Nazi ties found himself spied upon, intimidated, harassed and labeled a threat to national security.

So not only have American taxpayers been paying to keep ex-Nazis on the government payroll for decades but weve been subjected to the very same tactics used by the Third Reich: surveillance, militarized police, overcriminalization, and a government mindset that views itself as operating outside the bounds of the law.

This is how freedom falls, and tyrants come to power.

The similarities between the American police state and past totalitarian regimes such as Nazi Germany grow more pronounced with each passing day.

Secret police. Secret courts. Secret government agencies. Surveillance. Intimidation. Harassment. Torture. Brutality. Widespread corruption. Entrapment. Indoctrination. These are the hallmarks of every authoritarian regime from the Roman Empire to modern-day America.
How Corrupt America Is By Eric Zuesse June 14, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " SCF " - The best reporting on the depth of Americas dictatorship is probably that being done by Atlanta Georgias NBC-affiliated, Gannett-owned, TV Channel 11 Alive, WXIA television, The Investigators series of local investigative news reports, which show, up close and at a cellularly detailed level, the way things actually work in todays America. Although its only local, it displays what meets the legal standards of the US federal government in actually any state in the union; so, it exposes the character of the US government, such that whats shown to be true here, meets Americas standard for democracy, or else the federal government isnt enforcing federal laws against it (which is the same thing as its meeting the federal governments standards). The links to three of these local TV news reports will be provided, along with a summary of each of the videos; and then the broader context will be provided, which ties the local picture in with the national, and then the resulting international, picture. So, this will be like a zoom-lens view, starting with three selected close-ups, and then broadening the view to wide-angle, showing the context in terms of which whats happening in that fine detail (those close-up views) makes sense. The central video will be the second of the three, which deals with the impact that the national organization called ALEC plays in creating the entire situation in the US, and which ties the Georgia-state reality in with the reality of the US federal government. Here are the three videos, and their respective summaries: <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">This is democracy in the nation that dictates to other nations governments what they must do in order to be at least minimally acceptable as constituting a democracy.</span> Georgians are prohibited from seeing Georgias laws unless they pay over $300 to buy the law books. (Thus, for example, Georgians get arrested, then charged, then judged, then perhaps imprisoned, according to laws they cant even so much as see beforehand.) <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Whereas the medical patient (as shown in the third video) has no control over what he or she must pay, and basically (as shown in the first of the three videos) isnt even allowed to know what the laws are that govern this, the ALEC employee (as shown in the second of the three videos) is allowed to call over an armed Sheriffs deputy who has been standing guard near him, so as now to threaten, perhaps to jail, but certainly to remove from the hotel, the TV stations reporter, when that reporter has asked one-too-many follow-up questions of that ALEC employee. Not only dont the operatives who work for the remote and unseen individuals who actually create and shape the laws have no need to explain to the public what theyre doing and how theyre doing it, but the government itself works for them and physically threatens anyone who tries to impede what theyre doing, or who merely tries to report to the public what they are doing. And whereas ALECs expenses are tax-deductible to the billionaires who fund it, the reporter and even his employer are fully liable and will have no legal recourse if and when they subsequently become called upon to pay medical bills that might result from their resisting this democratic government. Instead of enjoying tax-exemption, the victims  the public  must pay the taxes that fund this government: they must pay for the police, prisons, judges, and lawmakers, that represent <em>not really</em> the public, <em>but instead</em> those remote if not invisible rulers; and this is called democracy.</span> Georgias laws are written in secret by the Kochs and other billionaires charity (like NGOs but operating only within a nation, not internationally) called ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), which pays legislators to approve the laws that it writes, and which requires them to pass these laws (or else theyll lose their legislative seats as being representatives of the people). NOTE: Perhaps because of the explosive nature of news reporting such as this, that TV station prohibits the Web Archive, web.archive.org, from archiving their investigative reports, but this particular TV report was also recently posted by someone to YouTube. This TV reports transcript also was once available at another of Gannetts Georgia TV stations, and that station didnt block web-archiving, so this transcript, though no longer online, was web-saved and will thus permanently be available. <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is the concluding passage from the transcript of the middle video (the second one), where the ALEC agent finally had had enough of the reporters questions; this is the passage that ends the middle one of the three videos that are linked-to above:</span> Georgians have no way of knowing who or what will be charged to them on their medical bills. Patients who have a medical emergency are especially flying blind into deep indebtedness and possible bankruptcy, over which theyve got no control. He signals to the Sheriff's deputy.

I'm a guest of the hotel sir.

Not for long, not for long.

I'm here  I'm a paying guest of this hotel sir. We'll take care of that.

Let me escort you up to your room to get your things.

Did we violate some law or something? I mean, are we violating a law here?

WXIA Reporters say they filed half a dozen open records requests with Georgia legislators including the speaker of the house  asking for receipts and reimbursements to ALEC events  but had their requests denied because the general assembly exempted themselves from the Georgia Open Records law. This, then, is the reality in the nation that now is trying to impose upon the entire world the same corporate type of government that already exists in America. This is what, in the West, is now the reality of its democracy. It is Newspeak democracy, not what used to be called democracy. And, so, it was with remarkable honesty, courage, and frankness, that the best-known living Georgian, Americas former President Jimmy Carter, said recently of the US government:  Now its just an oligarchy with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations for president or being elected president. And the same thing applies to governors, and US Senators and congress members. So, now weve just seen a subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors, who want and expect, and sometimes get, favors for themselves after the election is over... At the present time the incumbents, Democrats and Republicans, look upon this unlimited money as a great benefit to themselves. Somebody that is already in Congress has a great deal more to sell. And thats what we just now saw in practice at the state level, in that middle video. Former President Carter was describing there the democracy that now presents itself to the global public as being the model that the entire world must copy or else! According to this government, the nations that resist, do it because they are corrupt and not democracies. America, and NATO, and its allies (including Saudi Arabia, etc.?), demand to be obeyed, on that basis as being the worlds opponents of corruption and of dictatorship. For this, their enemy nations (e.g., Iraq, Libya, Syria, and via a coup in February 2014  Ukraine) are being invaded, to impose compliant governments: millions are killed, and tens of millions are forced to flee and become unwanted refugees. And America and its allies then blame other nations, especially Russia (their favorite bogeyman), for that. By contrast, the West is supposed to stand for clean government, transparency, and democracy. So, how corrupt is America? Its become corrupt enough to threaten to take over the entire world. And, perhaps soon after the NATO Summit on 8-9 July, well know whether or not the national aristocracies that are subordinate to the US aristocracy, are, indeed, willing to join the American aristocracys willingness to use nuclear weapons to achieve the objective. Eric Zuesse is an American writer and investigative historian
Witness: "America Needs To Stop Bombing ISIS" - Orlando Shooter



Video



Orlando shooting victim says he played dead for 3 hours to stay alive.



A witness who survived the terrorist attack inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando recounts his interactions with the terrorist who held hostages on ABC's 20/20



Posted June 14, 2016





First, the man tells how the terrorist confiscated everyone's cell phones. "Then he asked, Are you guys black? And a couple of them said Yes," the victim recalled. "And he said, I dont have an issue with the blacks."



"He got on the phone, I don't know if it was with the news or the police, telling them that America needs to stop bombing ISIS, he called somebody on the phone. Stop bombing ISIS in Syria," the witness reported. "And then he called somebody else that he knew, and he mentioned that he was the fourth shooter, and there were three others, one with I believe a female name, who was playing dead, and she had a bomb vest."



The witness says that he played dead for three hours until they were rescued. Is This PROOF Orlando Shooting Was a STAGED HOAX... This is the only video you need to see to know that this whole Orlando Shooting was Nothing but a STAGED HOAX See also Orlando Shooter was a regular at gay hotspot : Ty Smith and Chris Callen recalled the eventual killer being escorted drunk from the Pulse bar on multiple occasions, including one incident where he pointed a knife at a friend.
Kill List: Smashing the 'B' in BRICS By Pepe Escobar



June 14, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Sputnik " - The stakes could not be higher. Not only the future of the BRICS, but the future of a new multipolar world is in the balance. And it all hinges on what happens in Brazil in the next few months. Lets start with the Kafkaesque internal turmoil. The coup against President Dilma Rousseff remains an unrivalled media theatre/political tragicomedy gift that keeps on giving. It also doubles as a case of information war converted into a strategic tool of political control. A succession of appalling audio leaks has revealed that key sectors of the Brazilian military as well as selected Supreme Court justices have legitimized the coup against a President that has always protected the two-year-old Car Wash corruption investigation. Even Western mainstream media was forced to admit that Dilma did not steal anything but is being impeached by a bunch of thieves. Their agenda; to stifle the Car Wash investigation, which may eventually throw many of them in jail. The leaks also unveiled a nasty internecine carnage between Brazilian comprador elites  peripheral and mainstream. Essentially the peripherals were used as lowly paperboys in Congress for the dirty work. But now they may be about to become road kill  along the illegitimate, unpopular, interim Michel Temer government, led by a bunch of corrupt-to-the-core PMDB politicians, the party that is heir to the sole opposition outfit tolerated during the 1960s-1980s military dictatorship. Meet the vassal chancellor An insidious character in the current golpeachment scam is the interim Minister of Foreign Relations, senator Jose Serra of the PSDB party, the social democrats turned neoliberal enforcers. In the 2002 presidential election  which he lost to Lula  Serra had already tried to get rid of peripheral Brazilian oligarchies. Yet now hes incarnating another role  perfectly positioned not only to retrograde Brazilian foreign policy to some point around the 1964 military coup, but mostly as the Beltways point man inside the coup racket. Exceptionalistans key ally in Brazil is the oligarchy in Sao Paulo, the wealthiest state and home to the financial capital of Latin America. This is Brazils A-list. Its from their ranks that an eventual national savior may eventually spring up. Once the peripherals are history, then no holds would be barred to criminalize  and imprison  an array of leftist leaders, Lula included, as well as manufacture a fake election legitimized by a noxious Supreme Court justice, Gilmar Mendes, a PSDB stooge. It all hinges on what happens in the next two months. The prosecutor general finally asked the Supreme Court to throw three top peripherals in jail; they are all accused of plotting to derail the Car Wash investigation  an extremely complex juridical-political-police network of myriad concentric/parallel circles. Meanwhile, the final judgment of Dilmas impeachment at the Senate is bound to happen on August 16  11 days after the start of the Olympic Games. The coup plotters suffered a heavy blow as they were trying hard to accelerate the proceedings. As it stands, the outcome is uncertain; after the leaks, four to five senators are already wavering, as the leaks also implicate Temer personally. The leader of a zero-credibility, corruption-crammed scam, hes among the targets of several corruption investigations and has just been banned from running to political office for the next 8 years. The Brazilian mainstream media monopoly (five families)  popularly referred to as PIG, the Brazilian acronym for Pro-Coup Media Party  has changed its anti-left tune and is now also going after selected members of the Temer racket. According to the constitution, if both the Presidency and Vice-Presidency are vacated in the last two years of a given term, its up to Congress to elect the new President. This implies two possible scenarios. If Dilma is not impeached, its increasingly likely she will call for new presidential elections before the end of the year. If she is impeached, the PIG will tolerate the stooge-crammed Temer interim racket until January 2017 at the most. The next step would be what Serra and about-to-be-jailed Senate leader Renan Calheiros are campaigning for; the end of direct presidential elections and the onset of Brazilian-style parliamentarianism. The man best positioned to be the national savior in this case is former president Fernando Henrique Cardoso  also former Prince of Sociology and a major star (during the 1960s and early 1970s) of the dependency theory, then metamorphosed into an avid neoliberal. Cardoso is a very close pal of both Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. The Beltway/Wall Street axis loves him. Cardoso would be elected mostly by the pack of Congress hyenas who got the Dilma impeachment rolling on April 17. The hard node of golpeachment goes way beyond peripheral Brazilian elites. It is comprised of a political party (the PSDB); the Globo media empire; the Federal Police (very cozy with the FBI); the Public Ministry; most of the Supreme Court; and sectors of the military. Only the Beltway/Wall Street axis has the means and the necessary pull to regiment all these players  by hard cash, blackmail or promises of glory. And that ties in with key unanswered questions regarding the recent audio leaks. Who taped the conversations. Who leaked them. Why now. Who profits from a nation in total political/economic/juridical chaos, with virtually all institutions totally discredited. Neoliberalism or chaos Those were the days when Washington could mastermind, with impunity, an old-fashioned military coup in its backyard  as in Brazil 1964. Or as in Chile during the original 9/11  in 1973, as seen through crack Chilean film maker Patricio Guzmans moving documentary about Salvador Allende. History, predictably, now repeats itself as farce as the 2016 coup has turned Brazil  the 7th largest economy in the world and a key Global South player  into a Honduras or Paraguay (where recent US-supported coups were successful). I have shown how the coup in Brazil is an extremely sophisticated Hybrid War operation going way beyond unconventional warfare (UW); four generation warfare (4GW); color revolutions; and R2P (responsibility to protect), all the way to the summit of smart power; a political-financial-judicial-mainstream media soft coup unveiled in slow motion. This is the beauty of a coup when promoted by democratic institutions. Neoliberalism may have failed, as even the IMF research wing has concluded. But its rotten corpse still encumbers the whole planet. Neoliberalism is not only an economic model; it surreptitiously takes over the juridical realm as well. In another perverse facet of shock doctrine, neoliberalism cannot prevail without a juridical framework. When constitutional attributions are redirected to Congress that keeps the Executive under control while generating a culture of political corruption. Politics is subordinated to economics. Companies engage in campaign financing and buy politicians to be able to influence the political powers that be. Thats how Washington works. And thats also the key to understand the role of former leader of the Brazilian lower house Eduardo Cunha; he ran a campaign financing racket out of Congress itself, controlling dozens of politicians while profiting from proverbially fat state contracts. The Three Stooges in what I called the Provisional Banana Scoundrel Republic are Cunha, Calheiros and Temer. Temer is a mere puppet while Cunha remains a sort of shadow Prime Minister, running the show. But not for long. Hes already been suspended as the speaker in Congress; he bagged millions of US dollars in kickbacks for those fat contracts and stashed the loot in secret Swiss accounts; now its a matter of time before the Supreme Court has the balls  its not a given  to throw him in the slammer. NATO vs. BRICS, all across the spectrum And that brings us once again to The Big Picture, as we proceed in parallel with an analysis by Rafael Bautista, the head of a decolonization study group in La Paz, Bolivia. Hes one of the best and brightest in South America whos very much alert to the fact that whatever happens in Brazil in the next few months will drive the future not only of South America but the whole Global South. Exceptionalistans project for Brazil is no less than the imposition of a remixed Monroe doctrine. The main target of a planned neoliberal restoration is to cut off South America from the BRICS  as in, essentially, the Russia-China strategic partnership. Its a short window of opportunity after all those years under the Bush-Obama continuum where Washington was obsessed with MENA (Middle East/Northern Africa), a.k.a. the Greater Middle East. Now South America is back in a starring role in the geopolitical (soft) war theatre. Getting rid of Dilma, Lula, the Workers Party, by all means available, is only the start. It all comes back to the same, defining 21st century war; NATO against the BRICS; the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO); and ultimately the Russia-China strategic partnership. Smashing the B in BRICS carries with it the bonus of smashing Mercosur (the South American common market); Unasur (the political Union of South American Nations); ALBA (the Bolivarian Alliance); and South American integration as a whole, compounded with integration with key emerging Global South players such as Iran. The ongoing destabilization of Syraq fits the Empire of Chaos; when theres no regional integration, the only other possibility is balkanization. And yet Russia graphically demonstrated to Beltway planners they cannot win a war in Syria while Iran demonstrated after the nuclear deal that it wont become a Washington vassal. So the Empire of Chaos might as well secure its own backyard. A new geopolitical framework had to be part of the package. Thats where the concept of North America fits in, backed by the Council on Foreign Relations and devised mostly by former Iraq surge superstar David Petraeus and former World Bank honcho Bob Zoellick, now with Goldman Sachs. Call it a mini whos who of Exceptionalistan. You won't see it enounced in public, but the Petraeus/Zoellick concept of North America presupposes regime changing and gobbling up Venezuela. The Caribbean is seen as a Mare Nostrum, an American lake. North America is in fact a strategic offensive. It implies controlling the massive oil and water wealth of the Orinoco and the Amazonas, something that would forever guarantee Exceptionalistans preeminence south of the border. The Caribbean is already a done deal; after all Washington controls CAFTA. South America is a tougher nut to crack, roughly polarized by whats left of ALBA and the US-driven Pacific Alliance. With Brazil falling to a neoliberal restoration, its over as a promoter of regional integration. Mercosur would eventually be absorbed into the Pacific Alliance  especially with a man like Serra as Brazils top diplomat. So, politically, South America must be annulled at all costs. Whats left for South America would be its aggregation  as marginal players, part of the US-driven Pacific Alliance  to those NATO on trade deals, the TPP and TTIP. The pivot to Asia  of which TPP is the trade arm  is the Obama doctrines push for containment of China, not only in Asia but also across Asia-Pacific. Thus its natural that China (Brazils number one trade partner) should also be contained in the hegemons backyard, South America. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, and beyond Its never enough to stress the geo-economic importance of South America. The only way South America can be fully integrated to the multipolar world is by opening up to the Pacific, boosting its strategic connection with Asia, especially China. Thats where the Chinese push to invest in a massive high-speed rail project uniting the Brazilian Atlantic coast with Peru in the Pacific fits in. Thats South American interconnectivity in a nutshell. If Brazil is politically annulled, none of this will ever happen. So every coup is now literally allowed in South America; indirect attacks to the Brazilian currency, the real; bribing local comprador elites with the backing of the global financial system; a concerted attempt at the implosion, simultaneously, of the top three economies: Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela . SOUTHCOM went so far as to produce a report on Venezuela Freedom earlier this year, signed by commander Kurt Tidd, which proposes a strategy of tension, complete with encirclement and suffocation techniques and allowing to mix street action with a calculated use of armed violence. Echoes of Chile 1973 do apply. South America is now arguably the prime geopolitical space where Exceptionalistan is laying the bases to restore its unrivalled hegemony  as part of a multi-dimensional, geo-finance war against the BRICS bent on perpetuating the unipolar world. All previous moves have lead to this geostrategy of imploding the BRICS and reducing South America to an appendix of North America. Wikileaks revealed how the NSA spied on Petrobras. In 2008 Brazil came up with its own National Defense Strategy, focused on two key areas; the South Atlantic and the Amazon. This did not sit well with SOUTHCOM. Unasur should have developed it to a continental level, but they didnt. Lula decided to award to Petrobras the prime exploitation of the pre-salt deposits  the largest oil discovery of the 21st century. Dilmas administration gave a firm push to the BRICSs New Development Bank (based on the Brazilian BNDES) and also decided to accept Iranian payments bypassing the US dollar. Anyone involved in South-South trade bypassing the US dollar enters a kill list. Hillary Clinton is the presidential candidate of Wall Street, the Pentagon, the industrial-military complex and the neocons. She is the Goddess of War  and in a Bush-Obama-Clinton continuum she will go to war against any player in the Global South that dares to defy Exceptionalistan. So the die is cast. We will know for sure by the time theres a new US President  and arguably a new, unelected Brazilian President  in early 2017. The geostrategic game though remains the same; Brazil must fall so BRICS-led integration must fall, and Exceptionalistan may concentrate all its firepower in an all-out confrontation against Russia-China.
Donald Trump Speech After Orlando Attack



Video and Transcript



"I dont want them in our country."



Donald Trump's speech in Manchester, NH at Saint Anselm College on National security and Hillary Clinton. Posted June 14, 2014 Thank you for joining me today. This was going to be a speech on Hillary Clinton and how bad a President, especially in these times of Radical Islamic Terrorism, she would be. Even her former Secret Service Agent, who has seen her under pressure and in times of stress, has stated that she lacks the temperament and integrity to be president. There will be plenty of opportunity to discuss these important issues at a later time, and I will deliver that speech soon. But today there is only one thing to discuss: the growing threat of terrorism inside of our borders. The attack on the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, was the worst terrorist strike on our soil since September 11th, and the worst mass shooting in our countrys history. So many people dead, so many people gravely injured, so much carnage, such a disgrace. The horror is beyond description. The families of these wonderful people are totally devastated. Likewise, our whole nation, and indeed the whole world, is devastated. We express our deepest sympathies to the victims, the wounded, and their families. We mourn, as one people, for our nations loss  and pledge our support to any and all who need it. I would like to ask now that we all observe a moment of silence for the victims of the attack. [SILENCE] Our nation stands together in solidarity with the members of Orlando's LGBT Community. This is a very dark moment in Americas history. A radical Islamic terrorist targeted the nightclub not only because he wanted to kill Americans, but in order to execute gay and lesbian citizens because of their sexual orientation. It is a strike at the heart and soul of who we are as a nation. It is an assault on the ability of free people to live their lives, love who they want and express their identity. It is an attack on the right of every single American to live in peace and safety in their own country. We need to respond to this attack on America as one united people  with force, purpose and determination. But the current politically correct response cripples our ability to talk and think and act clearly. If we don't get tough, and we don't get smart  and fast  we're not going to have a country anymore -- there will be nothing left. The killer, whose name I will not use, or ever say, was born to Afghan parents who immigrated to the United States. His father published support for the Afghan Taliban, a regime which murders those who dont share its radical views. The father even said he was running for President of that country. The bottom line is that the only reason the killer was in America in the first place was because we allowed his family to come here. That is a fact, and it's a fact we need to talk about. We have a dysfunctional immigration system which does not permit us to know who we let into our country, and it does not permit us to protect our citizens. We have an incompetent administration, and if I am not elected President, that will not change over the next four years -- but it must change, and it must change now. With fifty people dead, and dozens more wounded, we cannot afford to talk around the issue anymore -- we have to address it head on. I called for a ban after San Bernardino, and was met with great scorn and anger but now, many are saying I was right to do so -- and although the pause is temporary, we must find out what is going on. The ban will be lifted when we as a nation are in a position to properly and perfectly screen those people coming into our country. The immigration laws of the United States give the President the power to suspend entry into the country of any class of persons that the President deems detrimental to the interests or security of the United States, as he deems appropriate. I will use this power to protect the American people. When I am elected, I will suspend immigration from areas of the world when there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies, until we understand how to end these threats. After a full, impartial and long overdue security assessment, we will develop a responsible immigration policy that serves the interests and values of America. We cannot continue to allow thousands upon thousands of people to pour into our country, many of whom have the same thought process as this savage killer. Many of the principles of Radical Islam are incompatible with Western values and institutions. Radical Islam is anti-woman, anti-gay and anti-American. I refuse to allow America to become a place where gay people, Christian people, and Jewish people, are the targets of persecution and intimidation by Radical Islamic preachers of hate and violence. Its not just a national security issue. It is a quality of life issue. If we want to protect the quality of life for all Americans  women and children, gay and straight, Jews and Christians and all people  then we need to tell the truth about Radical Islam. We need to tell the truth, also, about how Radical Islam is coming to our shores. We are importing Radical Islamic Terrorism into the West through a failed immigration system -- and through an intelligence community held back by our president. Even our own FBI Director has admitted that we cannot effectively check the backgrounds of the people we are letting into America. All of the September 11th hijackers were issued visas. Large numbers of Somali refugees in Minnesota have tried to join ISIS. The Boston Bombers came here through political asylum. The male shooter in San Bernardino  again, whose name I won't mention -- was the child of immigrants from Pakistan, and he brought his wife  the other terrorist - from Saudi Arabia, through another one of our easily exploited visa programs. Immigration from Afghanistan into the United States has increased nearly five-fold in just one year. According to Pew Research, 99% of people in Afghanistan support oppressive Sharia Law. We admit many more from other countries in the region who share these same oppressive views. If we want to remain a free and open society, then we have to control our borders. Yet, Hillary Clinton  for months and despite so many attacks  repeatedly refused to even say the words radical Islam, until I challenged her yesterday to say the words or leave the race. However, Hillary Clinton  who has been forced to say the words today after policies she supports have caused us so much damage  still has no clue what Radical Islam is, and wont speak honestly about what it is. She is in total denial, and her continuing reluctance to ever name the enemy broadcasts weakness across the world. In fact, just a few weeks before the San Bernardino slaughter, Hillary Clinton explained her refusal to say the words Radical Islam. Here is what she said: Muslims are peaceful and tolerant people, and have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism. Hillary Clinton says the solution is to ban guns. They tried that in France, which has among the toughest gun laws in the world, and 130 were brutally murdered by Islamic terrorists in cold blood. Her plan is to disarm law-abiding Americans, abolishing the 2nd amendment, and leaving only the bad guys and terrorists with guns. She wants to take away Americans guns, then admit the very people who want to slaughter us. I will be meeting with the NRA, which has given me their earliest endorsement in a Presidential race, to discuss how to ensure Americans have the means to protect themselves in this age of terror. The bottom line is that Hillary supports the policies that bring the threat of Radical Islam into America, and allow it to grow overseas. In fact, Hillary Clintons catastrophic immigration plan will bring vastly more Radical Islamic immigration into this country, threatening not only our security but our way of life. When it comes to Radical Islamic terrorism, ignorance is not bliss  it's deadly. The Obama Administration, with the support of Hillary Clinton and others, has also damaged our security by restraining our intelligence-gathering and failing to support law enforcement. They have put political correctness above common sense, above your safety, and above all else. I refuse to be politically correct. I will do the right thing--I want to straighten things out and to Make America Great Again. The days of deadly ignorance will end, and they will end soon. As President I will give our intelligence community, law enforcement and military the tools they need to prevent terrorist attacks. We need an intelligence-gathering system second to none. That includes better cooperation between state, local and federal officials  and with our allies. I will have an Attorney General, a Director of National Intelligence, and a Secretary of Defense who will know how to fight the war on Radical Islamic Terrorism  and who will have the support they require to get the job done. We also must ensure the American people are provided the information they need to understand the threat. The Senate Subcommittee on Immigration has already identified hundreds of immigrants charged with terrorist activities inside the United States since September 11th. Nearly a year ago, the Senate Subcommittee asked President Obama's Departments of Justice, State and Homeland Security to provide the immigration history of all terrorists inside the United States. These Departments refused to comply. President Obama must release the full and complete immigration histories of all individuals implicated in terrorist activity of any kind since 9/11. The public has a right to know how these people got here. We have to screen applicants to know whether they are affiliated with, or support, radical groups and beliefs. We have to control the amount of future immigration into this country to prevent large pockets of radicalization from forming inside America. Even a single individual can be devastating, just look at what happened in Orlando. Can you imagine large groups? Truly, our President doesn't know what he is doing. He has failed us, and failed us badly, and under his leadership, this situation will not get any better -- it will only get worse. Each year, the United States permanently admits more than 100,000 immigrants from the Middle East, and many more from Muslim countries outside the Middle East. Our government has been admitting ever-growing numbers, year after year, without any effective plan for our security. In fact, Clinton's State Department was in charge of the admissions process for people applying to enter from overseas. Having learned nothing from these attacks, she now plans to massively increase admissions without a screening plan, including a 500% increase in Syrian refugees. This could be a better, bigger version of the legendary Trojan Horse. We can't let this happen. Altogether, under the Clinton plan, you'd be admitting hundreds of thousands of refugees from the Middle East with no system to vet them, or to prevent the radicalization of their children. The burden is on Hillary Clinton to tell us why she believes immigration from these dangerous countries should be increased without any effective system to screen who we are bringing in. The burden is on Hillary Clinton to tell us why we should admit anyone into our country who supports violence of any kind against gay and lesbian Americans. The burden is also on Hillary Clinton to tell us how she will pay for it. Her plan will cost Americans hundreds of billions of dollars long-term. Wouldn't this money be better spent on rebuilding America for our current population, including the many poor people already living here? We have to stop the tremendous flow of Syrian refugees into the United States  we don't know who they are, they have no documentation, and we don't know what they're planning. What I want is common sense. I want a mainstream immigration policy that promotes American values. That is the choice I put before the American people: a mainstream immigration policy designed to benefit America, or Hillary Clinton's radical immigration policy designed to benefit politically-correct special interests. We've got to get smart, and tough, and vigilant, and we've got to do it now, because later is too late . The media talks about homegrown, terrorism, but Islamic radicalism, and the networks that nurture it, are imports from overseas. Yes, there are many radicalized people already inside our country as a result of the poor policies of the past. But the whole point is that it will be much, much easier to deal with our current problem if we dont keep on bringing in people who add to the problem. For instance, the controversial Mosque attended by the Boston Bombers had as its founder an immigrant from overseas charged in an assassination plot. This shooter in Orlando was the child of an immigrant father who supported one of the most repressive regimes on Earth. Why would we admit people who support violent hatred? Hillary Clinton can never claim to be a friend of the gay community as long as she continues to support immigration policies that bring Islamic extremists to our country who suppress women, gays and anyone who doesnt share their views. She cant have it both ways. She cant claim to be supportive of these communities while trying to increase the number of people coming in who want to oppress them. How does this kind of immigration make our life better? How does this kind of immigration make our country better? Why does Hillary Clinton want to bring people herein vast numberswho reject our values? Ask yourself, who is really the friend of women and the LGBT community, Donald Trump with his actions, or Hillary Clinton with her words? Clinton wants to allow Radical Islamic terrorists to pour into our countrythey enslave women, and murder gays. I dont want them in our country. Immigration is a privilege, and we should not let anyone into this country who doesnt support our communities  all of our communities. America has already admitted four times more immigrants than any country on earth, and we continue to admit millions more with no real checks or scrutiny. Not surprisingly, wages for our workers havent budged in many years. So whether its matter of national security, or financial security, we cant afford to keep on going like this. We owe $19 trillion in debt, and no longer have options. All our communities, from all backgrounds, are ready for some relief. This is not an act of offense against anyone; it is an act of defense. I want us all to work together, including in partnership with our Muslim communities. But Muslim communities must cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad  and they do know where they are. I want to fix our schools, roads, bridges and job market. I want every American to succeed. Hillary Clinton wants to empty out the Treasury to bring people into the country that include individuals who preach hate against our own citizens. I want to protect our citizens  all of our citizens. The terrorist attack on the Pulse Night Club demands a full and complete investigation into every aspect of the assault. In San Bernardino, as an example, people knew what was going on, but they used the excuse of racial profiling for not reporting it. We need to know what the killer discussed with his relatives, parents, friends and associates. We need to know if he was affiliated with any radical Mosques or radical activists and what, if any, is their immigration status. We need to know if he travelled anywhere, and who he travelled with. We need to make sure every single last person involved in this plan  including anyone who knew something but didn't tell us  is brought to justice. If it can be proven that somebody had information about any attack, and did not give this information to authorities, they must serve prison time . America must do more  much more  to protect its citizens, especially people who are potential victims of crimes based on their backgrounds or sexual orientations. It also means we must change our foreign policy. The decision to overthrow the regime in Libya, then pushing for the overthrow of the regime in Syria, among other things, without plans for the day after, have created space for ISIS to expand and grow. These actions, along with our disastrous Iran deal, have also reduced our ability to work in partnership with our Muslim allies in the region. That is why our new goal must be to defeat Islamic terrorism, not nation-building. For instance, the last major NATO mission was Hillary Clinton's war in Libya. That mission helped unleash ISIS on a new continent. I've said NATO needs to change its focus to stopping terrorism. Since I've raised that criticism, NATO has since announced a new initiative focused on just that. America must unite the whole civilized world in the fight against Islamic terrorism, just like we did against communism in the Cold War. We've tried it President Obama's way. He gave the world his apology tour, we got ISIS, and many other problems, in return. I'd like to conclude my remarks today by again expressing our solidarity with the people of Orlando who have come under attack. When I am President, I pledge to protect and defend all Americans who live inside of our borders. Wherever they come from, wherever they were born, all Americans living here and following our laws will be protected. America will be a tolerant and open society. America will also be a safe society. We will protect our borders at home. We will defeat ISIS overseas. We will ensure every parent can raise their children in peace and safety. We will make America rich again. We will make America safe again. We will make American Great Again. Thank you.
Campaign 2016s Brave New World



As the U.S. election shapes up as a battle between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, the prospect for the public hearing anything approaching a truthful exchange of ideas appears hopeless, writes David Marks.



By David Marks



June 14, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Consortium News " - In 1958, a quarter century after publishing Brave New World, Aldous Huxley wrote a reflective essay on the themes of his book that ring with prescient truth. His analysis delves into the rise of deceptive candidates who prioritize personal interests over supporting democracy. Huxleys words precisely describe the techniques used in the current presidential campaign. The core issue is the motivation behind the candidates words. Hillary Clinton promotes herself as the first female presidential candidate without embracing the pacifist foundations of feminism. She has supported many of the aggressive military actions of the United States in recent years. Her use of liberal rhetoric belies her ties to military and corporate interests and membership in the American oligarchy. Clintons deceptive techniques in gaining popularity rely mostly on omission of truth. Except for a few grudging mistakes-were-made formulations, she admits to no faults. Donald Trump brings distortion of truth to a new level. He is an iconic salesman, offering a magic potion that will cure all social and political ills. And in that tradition, he repeatedly assails the status quo, claiming to identify and empathize with the downtrodden and ignored. He intentionally attracts followers in hypnotic, pied-piper fashion, repeatedly asserting he will solve all their problems. Trump drives this home by encouraging the disenchanted to project their discontent onto current leadership, rather than considering their own role in, or awareness of the dysfunctions in U.S. politics and economy. He offers no real solution to the individual except, Vote for me. This subversive approach of spewing emotion while ignoring facts appeals to the darkest recesses of the human psyche and has become the norm in elections. In that sense, U.S. politics has reached a new low with the Trump candidacy. Very few of Trumps supporters can delineate his policy or position; rather they cite his attack on the establishment or his honesty or strength as reason for allegiance. Trumps act uses manipulative tactics aimed at stirring the unconscious forces of repressed discontent and frustration. Trump repeatedly compliments himself on his own simple common sense values as his rhetoric fuels the hostile impulses of his followers. Trumps intolerance and bullying are symptomatic of undisguised fascism. Different Styles Candidate Clinton relies on more subtle techniques. She promotes conventional wisdom and the false premise that the U.S. is the arbiter of democracy in the world to justify military intervention. She makes her case for use of force citing strategic interests, omitting the corporate and financial motives that are the foundation of her policies. While her arguments appear more logical than her opponents, they are no less deceptive. Though candidate Trump criticizes Clintons penchant for regime change, he often suggests that forceful intervention or violence is a viable remedy in resolving international crises, stopping extremism, or punishing those who voice protest against him. This resonates with frustrated voters and encourages followers to act out personal anger against those who would doubt the supremacy of their leader. Trumps arrogance and self-absorbed persona are catalysts for unchecked hostility both domestically and internationally. In his essay of nearly 60 years ago, Huxley describes how propaganda is used to justify violence: Propaganda in favor of action dictated by the impulses that are below self-interest offers false, garbled or incomplete evidence, avoids logical argument and seeks to influence its victims by the mere repetition of catchwords, by the furious denunciation of foreign or domestic scapegoats, and by cunningly associating the lowest passions with the highest ideals, so that atrocities come to be perpetrated in the name of God and the most cynical kind of Realpolitik is treated as a matter of religious principle and patriotic duty. Huxley had observed the rise and fall of Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. His evaluation of the social psychology of U.S. politics did not shy away from the universal similarities in human behavior at its worst. That perspective is no less valid today. Both presidential candidates can be assailed for their use of propaganda with incomplete evidence. Clintons appeal is to the status quo, supporting a United States where military expenditures represent the highest proportion of tax revenues, where interests of big business and banking come first, and where mass shootings are a cultural norm. She has an advantage because of her appeal to the majority of voters who cling to normalcy. Clinton attacks Trump as unpredictable and dangerous. Trump counterattacks by portraying her as deviant, abnormal and criminal, Crooked Hillary. He also taps into the dissatisfaction with government and the reasonable belief that politicians have led the country astray, calling American leaders weak and incompetent in contrast to his supposed strength and skill. He relies on a cult of personality and a searing indictment of current leadership to raise his status. Rather than appealing to factual data and proposing viable solutions, Trump is the supreme authoritarian targeting the unchecked emotional forces of those who are entranced by his bravado. Riding the Discontent Trump is the voice of collective dissatisfaction, projecting and revealing one version of the American reality. He describes a political world that he also embodies: Washington is broken, and our country is in serious trouble and total disarray. Very simple. Politicians are all talk, no action. They are all talk and no action. And its constant; it never ends. Trump gladly enters this disarray, the realm where he is most comfortable. His stream of consciousness oratory and narcissistic candidacy bring a new bizarre character to the stage in U.S. politics, yet his rise in popularity is the extension of a growing phenomenon. For decades presidential candidates have harvested the bounty from conflicted emotions and despair to gain votes. Their empty sales tactics are often forgotten when they are elected. (In 1988, even the supposedly responsible Republican George H.W. Bush exploited racism with the Willie Horton commercials and promised, read my lips, no new taxes, before raising taxes as President.) Fear of Trumps words and demeanor has prompted critics and rivals to show distain, but attacks on him are hurled back with vindictive force. He succeeds in deflecting criticism and bringing former enemies into his camp. We witness the potential rise of an unpredictable tyrant. Trump initially flaunted his independent wealth, claiming immunity from the pressure of lobbyists. With this, he unwittingly confessed allegiance to personal economic interests and policies that also favor the wealthiest Americans. Many of these same power brokers come to his side as he becomes the likely Republican presidential candidate. Now that he could be elected, Trumps conflicted presentations of domestic and foreign policy have yet to alienate the politicians, millionaires and billionaires who join his campaign. The real list of priorities for them is short: little else matters but money and profits. Despite concerns about the personality and idiosyncrasies of their candidate, those who not long ago scorned the idea of a President Trump join an extremely dangerous bandwagon. A billionaire with no leadership experience rises as the voice of the maligned and economically downtrodden. A candidate whose wealth is more telling than any of his stated positions has become the defender of those who suffer from an economy that overtly favors the richest individuals and corporations. Beyond recognizing and criticizing his blustering racism and fascism, there is minimal challenge to Trumps most ludicrous claim: to represent any other economic class than his own. Trumps greatest vulnerability lies in his status as the super-rich candidate who dubiously presents himself as someone who will come to the aid of the economically challenged. Allies of the Wealthy Yet neither wealthy presidential contender  Trump nor Clinton  can be expected to do much that will discomfort the comfortable. While claiming to have altruistic motivations, they are inextricably tied to the forces that drive policies favoring profiteering over basic needs. The most costly impact of Trumps candidacy to Americas economic elite will come when the public finally recognizes that the wealthiest Americans have gained vastly disproportional influence. The founding principles and structure of the U.S. democracy rest on keeping power out of the hands of a small clique of people and their indiscriminate financially based decisions. An oligarch reaching for political office by any means confirms that the interests of an elite class are an entrenched priority. Yet despite his crude emergence, Trump is not an anomaly. The rise of extreme nationalism in the face of economic crisis is a consequence of decades of corrupt domestic and international policies. The crisis that faces the United States is certainly exemplified by the rise of Donald Trump and would be seriously exacerbated by his presidency, but will not be resolved by his electoral defeat. Huxley, as early as 1958, adds perspective to a continuing syndrome: At this point we find ourselves confronted by a very disquieting question: Do we really wish to act upon our knowledge? Does a majority of the population think it worthwhile to take a good deal of trouble, in order to halt and, if possible, reverse the current drift toward totalitarian control of everything? In the United States of America is the prophetic image of the rest of the urban-industrial world as it will be a few years from now; recent public opinion polls have revealed that an actual majority of young people in their teens, the voters of tomorrow, have no faith in democratic institutions, see no objection to the censorship of unpopular ideas, do not believe that government of the people by the people is possible and would be perfectly content, if they can continue to live in the style to which the boom has accustomed them, to be ruled, from above, by an oligarchy of assorted experts. Trump, the self-absorbed snake-oil salesman, may self-destruct as quickly as he has risen; however we cannot dismiss the illness allowing his candidacy. Materialism cloaked as patriotism needs to be faced head on and not blamed on a single candidate. Perhaps Hillary Clinton is more subtle about the forces she is tied to; and clearly has more political experience and a better understanding of the constitutional system. Yet whoever is elected president of the United States will be wed to the identical economic forces. The presidential election of 2016 will be remembered as when Americans were forced to realize that their power has been handed to the economic elite. Huxleys question becomes more relevant: Do we really wish to act upon our knowledge? Aldous Huxleys full 1958 essay, Brave New World Revisited, can be read at: http://www.huxley.net/bnw-revisited/ David Marks is a veteran documentary filmmaker and investigative reporter. His work includes films for the BBC and PBS Frontline, including Nazi Gold, on the role of Switzerland in WWII.
Fascism: A Bipartisan Affliction By Ron Paul June 14, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - If neoconservatives and progressives truly understood fascism, they would stop using the word as a smear term. That is because both groups, along with most political figures and commentators, embrace fascist ideas and policies.



Fascisms distinguishing characteristic is a mixed economy. Unlike socialists and communists who seek to abolish private business, fascists are content to let business remain in private hands. Instead, fascists use regulations, mandates, and taxes to control business and run (and ruin) the economy. A fascist system, then, is one where private businesses serve politicians and bureaucrats instead of consumers. Does the modern American economy not fit the definition of fascism?



Fascism benefits big businesses that can afford the cost of complying with government regulations, unlike their smaller competitors. Big businesses, which have more political influence then entrepreneurs or small businesses, also significantly benefit from government subsidies. In order to maintain their power, big businesses finance the deep state  the network of lobbyists, journalists, think tanks, bureaucrats, and congressional staffers who work behind the scenes to shape government policy.



Obamacare is an example of fascism that is often mislabeled as socialism. Obamacare did not create a government-run single payer" system as would exist under socialism. Instead, Obamacare extended government control over health care via mandates, regulations, and subsidies. The most infamous part of Obamacare  the individual mandate  forces individuals to purchase a product from a private industry.



Modern Americas militaristic foreign policy aimed at policing and perfecting the world is another example of fascism that enjoys strong bipartisan support. Both right-wing neocons and left-wing humanitarian interventionists claim our supposedly noble goals justify any and all actions taken by the US government. Thus, these supposed human rights champions defend preemptive war, torture, and presidential kill lists.



Many politicians supporting a militaristic foreign policy are more concerned with spreading largesse to the military-industrial complex than with spreading democracy. This is why some supposed free-market conservatives sound like Paul Krugman on steroids when discussing the economic benefits of military spending. Similarly, some anti-war progressives will support large military budgets if some of the money is spent in their states or congressional districts.



Mass surveillance and limits on personal freedom are additional hallmarks of fascist regimes. While there is a movement to reform the police state, few want to abolish mass surveillance, civil asset forfeiture, police militarization, and other police-state policies adopted in the name of the wars on terror and drugs. The federal government has even used force to stop people from selling raw milk! Attempts by progressives to silence political opponents are more examples of how many supposedly anti-fascist Americans are embracing fascist policies.



The growth of the welfare-warfare state has been accompanied by an increase in presidential power. This centralization of power, and the support it receives from the political class, is one more indication of the fascistic nature of our current regime. Of course, many in Congress will fight to rein in the executive branch, as long as the occupant of the White House is of the opposing party. Even the fiercest opponents of excessive presidential power instantaneously become lap dogs when their party wins the White House.



For all their alleged anti-fascism, todays neoconned conservatives and progressives both support the use of force to reshape society and the world. This is the defining characteristic not just of fascists, but also of authoritarians. The true anti-fascists are those who reject the initiation of force. The true path to real free markets, peace, and individual liberty starts with rejecting the bipartisan authoritarianism in favor of the non-aggression principle.
The Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, has debunked speculations that the government was on the verge of declaring curfew in the state capital, Calabar.

He debunked the speculation on Tuesday through his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Ita.

Commercial activities have in the last one week been brought to a halt in Calabar following bloody clashes by members of rival gangs.

The fighting by the rival cult groups known as Marvians and Ekpat, has claimed several lives and shattered the peace and serenity that has Calabar has been renowned for over the years.

Despite the ugly development, Ayade, a Professor, said in a statement that he has no intention to declare curfew in Calabar or any other part of the state.

He, therefore, urged residents of the state to disregard the rumour and go about their lawful businesses.

Mr. Ayade said there was no security challenge in Calabar that would warrant imposition of curfew.

He also assured that security agencies were on top of security situation as 36 cultists who recently breached the peace in the state capital, were already in police custody.

There is no security challenge in Calabar that would warrant imposition of curfew, Mr. Ayade said

I want to assure our people that security agencies are on top of security situation as 36 cultists who recently breached the peace in Calabar are already in police net.
The Cameroonian military have disclosed that the bodies of 42 fishermen have been pulled from Lake Chad in Cameroon.

The fishermen had been kidnapped by Boko Haram militants on 8th of June from the village of Darak, located near the Nigerian border. The militants also killed 10 fishermen in nearby Touboun Ali on 6th of June and 32 soldiers in Bosso, Niger on 3rd of June.

Boko Haram have been conducting attacks in remote villages in the north-east region of Nigeria close to borders with Cameroon and Niger.

SEE ALSO: Boko Haram Kidnaps Three Women, Kills Four Villagers In Fresh Attack
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed heartfelt condolences to President John Mahama of Ghana and his family on the passing away of his mother, Hajia Abiba Nnaba.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said Buhari, in a telephone call Wednesday, prayed that Almighty Allah grant the soul of Hajia Nnaba eternal rest and comfort all who mourned her.

The statement quoted President Buhari as telling his Ghanaian counterpart that his personal thoughts and prayers as well as those of Nigerians were with him as he mourned the passage of a beloved mother.

It said Buhari further prayed that the loving memory and virtues, which Hajia Abiba Nnaba lived for, would continue to inspire all who knew her and generations to come.
The trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki for alleged false and anticipatory declaration of assets at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja, has been adjourned.

The hearing was adjourned on Wednesday after prosecution counsel failed to show up.

The tribunal chairman, Justice Danladi Umar, fixed next Tuesday for continuation of trial only 45 minutes into Wednesdays proceeding.

Mr. Umar, who has again be asked to step down from the case on allegations that he lacked moral standing to continue to preside over Senate President Sarakis trial, also fixed Tuesday for hearing on the motion seeking his disqualification by the defence team.

The tribunal chairman said a notice would be communicated to the lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, advising him on the new date.
The Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo has granted a mandamus order compelling the state Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, to provide full information about the debt profile of Osun state and the pay back plan in place.

This came following the move by a human rights lawyer, Mr Kanmi Ajibola, pursuant to Order 40, Rule 3 of the High Court. Ajibola asked the court to compel Aregbesola to provide the list of all capital projects being executed by his government since November 26, 2015.

The applicant also sought an order compelling the Governor to provide information about the financial cost of all the capital projects executed by Governor Aregbesola. He also asked the court to compel him to provide evidence of the lodgment of the deductions from the salaries of the Osun State Civil Servants, being their contributions to the Pension Scheme into the Retirement Savings Account.

Workers in Osun State have not been paid for months. They have also been receiving half salary since last year as the governor claim reduction in the states monthly allocation has caused it.
The Chinese supermarket located in Gwarinpa area of Abuja has explained the reason behind its decision to deny Nigerians entry into the premises, saying it is because of their alleged nefarious activities.

The supermarket came into limelight on Tuesday when a resident of the area took to the social media to allege that he was denied entry into the premises because of his skin color.

The management denied that the decision to ban Nigerians from entering the premises was not geared to discriminate between tribe and colour.

It, however, said Nigerians are allowed to enter the supermarket individually and not in group.

The supermarket, which is situated at 9 Bauchi Street, War College Estate, Gwarinpa, is a residential building turned supermarket and without a name, only a Chinese inscription on the fence and a traditional Asian lantern hung on the gate.

The gateman at the premises, who gave his name simply as Maxwell, said for more than one Nigerian to be allowed entry into the premises, they would have to be accompanied by policemen.

Justifying the managements decision, one of the attendants, Samuel Azenda, a Nigerian, claimed that the supermarket was robbed by Nigerians in May during which more than N2.5 million was stolen.

Azenda said until May, the gate was always open to all and sundry.

It was learnt that the owners of the supermarket were currently not in the country as they were said to have been flown to China for medical treatment as a result of the injuries sustained during the robbery.

The supermarket attendant, who also claimed to have been beaten during the robbery, said about five personnel were beaten after a group of four armed men entered the premises in May to rob.

Azenda further explained that since the supermarket specializes mainly in Chinese foods and items, Nigerians are not their sole consumers but only a few that patronises Chinese products.

He also said those people are always welcome at the supermarket.
Detectives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday stormed the Lagos homes of the erstwhile Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

The houses raided by the anti-graft operatives were Mr. Obanikoros private residence at Park View Estate and the house near Banana Island where his two sons  Jide and Gbolahan live with the families.

The detectives, who arrived the ex-senators main residence in three unmarked vehicles wearing jackets with EFCCs insignia, took over the entire street, restricting vehicular and human movement while the operation lasted.

When they were done, the operatives allegedly carted away vehicles, wristwatches and other valuables belonging to Obanikoro and his sons, who are all currently in the U.S.

The media aide to the former minister, Jonathan Eze, who confirmed the raid, claimed that the EFCC officials harassed innocent kids and intimidated occupants of the properties, adding that the commission has never invited Obanikoro for questioning.

The spokesman said: Officials of the EFCC on Tuesday, in their characteristic Gestapo like manner, invaded Senator Obanikoros houses in Ikoyi with unnecessary intimidation and harassment of occupants, who are majorly innocent kids, teenagers, his wife and daughter in-laws, not without carting away cars, wristwatches and other valuables.

This is against the backdrop of the fact that the anti-graft agency has never invited him nor his sons for questioning beyond the tirades and allegations they have been propagating, using the media spaces.

We are using this medium to draw attention of all Nigerians to yet another infringement on the fundamental and inalienable rights of the Obanikoro family.

To our chagrin, the vehicles driven away were cars and trucks bought since 2006 and thereabouts when Senator Obanikoro served as an Ambassador in Ghana among others, which obviously has no bearing with the purported investigation they are supposedly carrying out.

We condemn in strong terms the brigandage and the idea of inflicting trauma on innocent dependants and violating their privacies without recourse to the rule of law.

Senator Obanikoro has consulted with his lawyers and are prepared to meet them in court to stop this intrusions and persecution, Eze stated.

Confirming the raid, Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwajeren said it was in line with ongoing investigations.

I can tell you that no one was harassed in the course of the search and that it is part of ongoing investigation on the man. Our operatives, who went there, conducted their affairs in best practices and took some vehicles away. I cannot immediately give inventory on the things that were carted away, but that will be made known in due time.

I do not think we need any permission from the man to do our job. Full details will be disclosed when we get there, he said.
The Federal Government and TUNS Farms Nigeria Limited, Osogbo, Osun State, yesterday, signed a N25 billion agreement on the National Egg Production Scheme (NEGPRO).

According to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, the pact has become necessary because the federal government was about to begin school feeding programme in which every child will be given an egg a day or at least three eggs a week.

The minister said the deal to be financed by the Bank of Industry, will enable the farm to create a network of poultry farmers out-growers scheme with a target of generating one million jobs and 50 million table eggs daily by 2018.
Following the unfortunate incident at the Elegushi Beach which claimed the lives of Adeshola Ogunefun and Olufunmilayo Odusina,the Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to beach operators in the state.

While also expressing condolences to the families of the deceased, it revealed that the state will no longer curtail avoidable and needless deaths of its citizens.

SEE ALSO: Elegushi Beach Managers Arrested

INFORMATION NIGERIA brings you 3 strong points they made.

1. Beach operators in the State must adhere strictly to the safety regulations guiding their operations, warning that defaulters would be appropriately sanctioned.

2. That operators of beaches and other public spaces earmarked for leisure must give priority attention to safety measures that will prevent avoidable mishaps.

3. Also, Lagos State Government shall not hesitate to take appropriate action against operators of beaches and other public places who fail to comply with the states safety regulations henceforth.
Atlanta based medical practitioner, Bartum Kulah has accused Ghanaian actor Van Vicker of having an affair with his wife Clarice Ford-Kulah, says NigeriaFilms.

Clarice is said to be Van Vickers Manager and Business partner but according to the Doctor: My wife will deny the accusations and claim to be Van Vickers Manager and Business partner, thats what she always says, its all a cover up, and Ive caught them at a hotel twice.

Dr Kulah and Clarice are married with two kids but the doctor claims that the wife doesnt care about her family or the kids. She has been in Accra since Wednesday to premiere the film Skinned at the Silverbird, they will then go to Liberia to premiere the same film next Saturday, not only that but sleeping with my wife anywhere they go to premiere the movie.

This is the second trip in a year. They have traveled to Haiti, Liberia, Nigeria, Ireland and multiple cities in the US Dr. Kulah added. I really have evidence to show that Van Vicker is sleeping with my wife and even warned my wife on that but still they are doing it. It is a shame to Ghallywood/Nollywood actor Van Vicker sleeping with peoples wives as he is married too.

He threatens This is part one. I will bring all the pictures and videos. I mean all the evidence out if they refuse to stop especially Van Vicker.
A federal high court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday remanded a former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Domestic Matters, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa in prison custody.

Also remanded in prison custody was one Iwejuo Joseph Nna, Dudafas accomplice.

The duo were arraigned today before Justice Mohammed Idris by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 23 count-charge bordering on N1.6billion fraud.

In the charge, the EFCC alleged that Dudafa and Nna, who also claimed to be Taiwo Ebenezer and Olugbenga Isaiah at different times, had between June 11, 2013, and June 2015, used different companies to fraudulently commit the alleged offences.

When the charges were read to them in court, the accused persons pleaded not guilty.

The EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to remand them in prison custody pending when their trial will commence.

However, counsel to the accused persons, Gboyega Oyewole and Sunday Abumere, informed the court that their clients bail applications have been filed, and same served on the prosecution.

Messrs. Oyewole and Abumere urged the court to admit their clients on bail in liberal term.

After listening to the submissions of both parties, the trial judge, Justice Idris, ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody till the court decides on their bail applications on Thursday (tomorrow).
Nollywood actor Kalu Ikeagwu is set to marry his longtime love and makeup artist Ijeoma Eze on Saturday, June 25, 2016.

The British-Nigerian actor was one of the most eligible bachelors in Nollywood before he proposed to Ijeoma last year.

Few months later, the couple had their introduction ceremony at the brides hometown in Enugu state.

See their fun and happy pre-wedding photos as captured by NOBIS photgraphy.

Congrats to them!
Former Governorship aspirant and PDP member, Musiliu Obanikoro had his home raided yesterday by Security Operatives said to be men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

SEE ALSO: EFCC Operatives Raid Obanikoros Home

SaharaReporters confirmed the incident which occurred on Tuesday night. There have no been official charges leveled against Obanikoro and it is unclear why the EFCC raided his residence

Obanikoro expressed his disappointment in the Federal Government today as he said that he had lost confidence in the government

Let me reiterate clearly: I have never received any invitation from EFCC over any issue up till date. This invasion therefore is premature.  Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) June 15, 2016

Furthermore, no Court ordered a Raid on my house or Seizure of my belongings. Any such move is Illegal and will be fought against Legally.  Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) June 15, 2016

Such Invasion and Raid of my house without prior Invitation from EFCC to me or any Court Order towards this Signals a Return to Despotism.  Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) June 15, 2016

The Illegal Invasion without EFCC invitation, Notice of Investigation or a Court Order is also a Mockery of the Intelligence of Nigerians.  Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) June 15, 2016

If hounding PDP members will solve Nigerias Economic Woes then we Welcome it. This Rather is a Woeful Attempt to Distract from those Woes.  Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) June 15, 2016

I put close to Two Decades into Public Service, in Opposition and in Government, all with an Unblemished Record and a Clear Conscience.  Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) June 15, 2016

EFCC has never OFFICIALLY made public ANY investigation of my record in Government at ANY TIME before this Illegal Invasion of my house.  Musiliu Obanikoro (@MObanikoro) June 15, 2016
The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has taken a new turn.

The PDP is currently at loggerheads as Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi both lay claims to being Party chairman.

The partys National secretariat in Abuja has become the venue of much of the infighting. On Tuesday, Modu Sheriff attempted to force his way into the secretariat.

SEE ALSO: Makarfi Denies Stepping Down For Modu Sheriff

Both men mobilized their supporters on Wednesday morning as they staged protests at the Wadata Plaza.

It was learnt that the anti-Sheriff protesters were the first to besiege the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the opposition party, carrying placards with inscriptions such as Its not by force to lead, Ali Modu Sheriff please leave PDP alone and Ali Modu Sheriff is APC agent etc., in several mini buses.

SEE ALSO: Modu Sheriff Attempts Takeover Of PDP Secretariat

The protesters, who are mostly youths, also chanted anti-Sheriff slogans and demanded that he stopped laying claim to the chairmanship position of the party.

The protesters took a short break during which time pro-Sheriff protesters also came in singing and dancing insisting that the former Borno State governor remains the partys national chairman.

Some of the protesters who wore T-shirts emblazoned with a portrait of the embattled chairman, were also chanting solidarity songs in support of Mr. Sheriff.

Some carried placards with the inscription PDP governors respect court order, Makarfi must go, Ali Modu Sheriff carry go, etc. while dancing to traditional Hausa music.

A handful of policemen and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, maintained vigilance as the opposing groups carried out their protests.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as baseless and laughable, allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was contracted by the governing party and the Presidency to destroy the PDP.

The APC, which said it would not join issues with PDP, noted that the main opposition party was suffering from its sins of the past.

Recall that the spokesperson of the Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the PDP, Dayo Adeyeye, had on Tuesday accused the APC and the Presidency of being behind the Sheriff faction, which took over the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat of the party on Monday.

According to the caretaker committee, the agenda of the APC and the Presidency was to ensure that the PDP is in perpetual crisis and unable to produce credible candidates for the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states.

Reacting to the claim, the APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, in a statement last night, said For the umpteenth time, the APC wishes to state that instead of joining issues with the baseless and laughable allegations, the APC would rather join issues that will bring about all-inclusive development in the country.

However, it should be put on record that the PDP forced on them whatever crisis it is troubled with today due to its politics of imposition and other undemocratic practices which the APC abhors.

The PDP should put its house in order rather than playing to the gallery and blaming others but themselves for their sins which has come to hunt (sic) them. Also, it is evident that the PDP has chosen to employ diversionary tactics because of its inability to produce credible candidates for the forthcoming elections in Edo and Ondo states, Buni said.
The Cross River State police command, on Wednesday, paraded 46 cult, murder, kidnapping, and armed robbery suspects at the force headquarters.

Briefing newsmen in Calabar, the commissioner of police, Mr. Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, said the suspects were arrested between May 2  June 14, 2016, in various locations across the state.

According to Ozi-Obeh, some of the cult suspects, including one Felix Okon Etim, a member of Vikings confraternity, had confessed being initiated into the cult group in October, 2015.

The commissioner disclosed that two of the murder suspects including, Effanga Offiong and John Edet, found in possession of dangerous weapons, were arrested after a tipoff to the Atakpa Divisional Police Officer.

While explaining how the kidnapping and armed robbery suspects were arrested, Ozi-Obeh said all the suspects would be charged to court soon.

In the period under review, a total of 46 suspects have been arrested for the offences of cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, murder and unlawful possession of ammunition.

They will all be charged to court soonest, he said.

Source: Leadership
The Police in Nasarawa have confirmed the arrest of five applicants during the ongoing nationwide police recruitment exercise in Lafia, over forgery of certificates and theft.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the exercise in the state, Alhassan Mamoda, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

According to Mamoda, four of the applicants were discovered to have forged their certificates in order to gain employment while the fifth was arrested for stealing a cell phone.

Imagine someone who wants to join the police to protect lives and properties now stealing a handset at the venue of the screening exercise.

He stole the handset and hid it in his pants and was discovered and apprehended in the cause of investigation.

They were all handed over to the appropriate department of the force for further investigation, he said.

Mamoda also advised other applicants with criminal tendencies to desist as they would face the wrath of the law if caught.

The commissioner also disclosed that 5, 200 applicants of the 9,627 that applied from the state had so far been screened. (NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with President John Mahama of Ghana and his family on the passing away of his mother, Hajia Abiba Nnaba.

Buhari who is on vacation in the United Kingdom spoke with Mahama on phone today. He prayed that Almighty Allah will grant the soul of Hajia Nnaba eternal rest and comfort all who mourn her.

The President told Mahama that his personal thoughts and prayers as well as those of Nigerians are with him as he mourns the passage of a beloved mother.

He further prayed that the loving memory and virtues which Hajia Abiba Nnaba lived for will continue to inspire all who knew her and generations to come.
The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William is on the cover of a gay magazine (Attitude Magazine) to draw attention to the plight of the LGBTQ community. In the cover line, Prince William says No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason.

Prince Williams stand for the fair treatment of LGBT comes on the heels of an attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida on Saturday.

SEE ALSO: Gunman Kills 50 At Gay Club In Orlando

Prince William held discussions with the magazines editors as well as its members and invited them to share their experiences with homophobia and bullying.

He went on to say in a statement;

No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives,
A middle-aged man simply identified as Onya, has been arrested by the police in Benin, Edo State, for allegedly setting his wife, Margaret Onya, ablaze after a disagreement.



The incident occurred at 35, JB street, Ekosodin quarters, off Ugbowo-Lagos Road, Benin City.

The man was alleged to have poured petrol on his wife and set her ablaze with a match stick.

Margaret who suffered severe burns from the incident is now being treated at a private medical facility in Benin City.

Trouble started when Onya allegedly refused to attend the burial ceremony of his father in-law.

Neighbours said that though the funeral rites of the father in-law had been concluded, Margaret was not happy with her husbands decision not to attend her fathers burial.

Elder brother of the victim, Mr. Julius Eteghe, who described the development as shocking, added that the incident happened late on Saturday.

On her part, Mrs. Margaret who spoke on her hospital bed said:

We had a quarrel and my husband told me he would teach me a lesson. After our disagreement, I sat on the chair and my husband went inside, brought petrol and wanted to pour it on me.

I held the jar and as we were dragging, I was shouting for help. He overpowered me and poured the contents on me and lit a match. I was saved by one of my neighbours who rushed into our apartment and put out the fire, she stated.

Efforts to reach the State police spokesman, Abiodun Osifo, a Superintendent, was unsuccessful as calls put to his mobile phone went unanswered.

A source at the state police command, however disclosed that Onya has been detained.

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Source:
The senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has denied reports in the social media that he criticized the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, in a statement.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, senator in a statement he issued Wednesday, described the report as thrash and falsehood.

He said, My attention has been drawn by a close friend to a statement against Rt Hon Rotimi Ameachi, Minister of Transport, credited to me.

The statement is nothing but absolute falsehood and a complete fabrication of those who authored it. I have never made such a statement and there is no reason to.

My views on local, national or international issues are always posted and pasted on my blog or social media handle of which there is none of this. Those who want to fight wars, should have the courage to do so and not hide behind someone to fire their bullets.

I advice those mischief makers to stop using my name and desist from engaging in such defamatory and libelous statements against the Hon Minister.

Again, Im restating that the statement is nothing but a thrash of falsehood.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Haruna Yerima, has described the factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, as a creation of the opposition party and it should be ready to tolerate him.

Mr. Sheriff is currently in a leadership tussle with the caretaker committee chairman of the PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, with both sides laying claim to the leadership of the opposition party.

Yerima, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from Borno State, claimed that during the 16 years reign of the PDP at the centre, Sheriff, who was governor of Borno State for eight years during the period, worked for the party even though he was in the now defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and later briefly in the APC.

In 2007 and 2011 presidential elections, Sheriff had worked against Muhammadu Buhari and openly campaigned for the PDP candidates, the former Reps member said.

He also claimed that Sheriff adopted a system where he was in ANPP in Borno and PDP in Abuja, adding Aso Rock was his second home under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.

Yerima disclosed that under a peculiar arrangement, the PDP in Abuja looked the other way while Sheriff dealt with its own members in Borno State.

He also made reference to the failed Third Term Agenda of former President Obasanjo, saying the former Borno governor was one of the arrowheads of the purported tenure elongation plot even though he was in the ANPP, which had a presidential candidate.

Yerima stressed that to link Sheriff to the APC is most uncharitable because it was public knowledge how he almost stalled the APC merger for PDPs sake.

Sheriffs influence in PDP was never in doubt having nominated his sister-in-law as minister in PDP administration, he stated.

Mr. Yerima said Sheriff is patriotic, committed and loyal to no one and anybody except to himself, adding that the former governor is fighting for his political survival and relevance in Nigeria and he has nowhere to go if the PDP rejects him.
On this day in 2014, no fewer than 15 people including traders were killed when some suspected members of Boko Haram terrorists stormed a local market in Daku village of Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno state.

Several shops, houses, vehicles and motorcycles were not left out in the attack as they were set ablaze.

Askira Uba shares local boundaries with Biu, Chibok, Gwoza and Hawul council areas, which is south and about 190 kilometres drive from Maiduguri, the state capital that have witnessed series of deadly attacks and killings in recent past.
The issue of President Muhammadu Buharis certificate was a hot debate during the presidential election. However, it became a subject of discussion for Nigerians again on Wednesday morning when it was reported that Buhari appealed the ruling of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja who on May 26, 2016 dismissed his preliminary objection.

A lot of Nigerians have gone on social media to react and INFORMATION NIGERIA brings you everything they have to say.



One Twitter user by the name Power urged Buhari to just show his certificate and stop wasting everyones time. Others stressed that it totally spelled corruption for the president to withhold his WAEC certificate.

Imagine deploying 12 SANS to lodge an appeal.

Buhari shuld just show his certificate & stop beating round the bush. #PMBShowUsUrCertificate  POWER (@emmaikumeh) June 15, 2016

Corruption continues as PMBs certificate is nowhere yo be found. Instead 12 SANs have been mobilized. #PMBShowUsUrCertificate  TAYO TAIWO (@pingtayo) June 15, 2016

How a Man who is Fighting corruption produced a Fake Result is still a Mystery #PMBShowUsUrCertificate pic.twitter.com/JXKbN3o7ID  OchinanWata 1 (@mr_ochonogor) June 15, 2016

The Man that said lawyers should not defend alleged looters is now hiring a battalion of lawyers #PMBShowUsUrCertificate  ESE JOHNSON OKE (@Ese_sharp) June 15, 2016

The greatest form of impunity is when a president claims he graduated from a sec. school with no certificate to show #PMBShowUsUrCertificate  edward egbelo (@eddyegbelo92) June 15, 2016

Where was Buhari when other past military heads were quickly going back to school to secure a certificate #PMBShowUsUrCertificate  TAYO TAIWO (@pingtayo) June 15, 2016

Even Yakubu Gowon went back to Study, but after 30 years @MBuhari cannot boast of an OND . Shame #PMBShowUsUrCertificate  OchinanWata 1 (@mr_ochonogor) June 15, 2016

I dont understand Buhari again..

You swore on your integrity that you have your certificate..

why contract 15 SANs?#PMBShowUsUrCertificate  iRadical (@RadicalYouthMan) June 15, 2016

If @MBuhari can Boldly Flash his Doctorate , why Employ the services of 15 SANs ?#PMBShowUsUrCertificate pic.twitter.com/kAWvkyFFWR  OchinanWata 1 (@mr_ochonogor) June 15, 2016

Someone who rode to power on an anti corruption mantra cant produce a simple WAEC certificate, shameful #PMBShowUsUrCertificate  DV Dandestiny (@iam_mandc) June 15, 2016

I wrote WAEC too, God knows I dont know where my certificate isbut if I go there now, I sure say dem go find am #PMBShowUsUrCertificate  SK  Sola Kuti (@SKSolaKuti) June 15, 2016

Wen it comes to doing d Brain work Buhari hired Yoruba & Igbo SANs, not a single Fulani SAN #PMBShowUsUrCertificate pic.twitter.com/w7SGbzgEIM  Charlemagne (@flokemite) June 15, 2016

Highest form of corruption is certificate forgery. That is the root of all other forms of corruption.. #PMBShowUsUrCertificate  SK  Sola Kuti (@SKSolaKuti) June 15, 2016

Which is easier: hiring 13 SAN to defend u in court or just present the certificate for the world to see? #PMBShowUsUrCertificate  Peter Ofor Ogbonnaya (@ofor_peter) June 15, 2016
The hand-wringing over enterprises no longer being able to rely on Microsoft's Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) to block software exploits appears to have been premature: A new cyberespionage outfit is targeting a critical vulnerability in Adobe's Flash Player, and EMET is effectively mitigating the attacks.

Adobe has warned that a critical vulnerability in Flash Player (CVE-2016-4171) is currently being exploited in limited targeted attacks. The flaw exists in the latest Flash version 21.0.0.242 and earlier for Windows, MacOS, Linux, and Chrome OS. A patch is expected later this week as part of the monthly security bulletin.

"Successful exploitation could cause a crash and potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system," Adobe said in its brief security advisory.

New advanced persistent threat (APT) group ScarCruft has been using the Flash zero-day against high-profile victims in Russia, Nepal, South Korea, China, India, Kuwait, and Romania since March, said Kaspersky Lab, who discovered the exploit and reported the vulnerability to Adobe. The APT group has been targeting companies and organizations for high-value information and data as part of Operation Daybreak. Kaspersky Lab held back details of ScarCruft's ongoing campaign targeting the vulnerability, but recommended enterprises use EMET.

"We confirm that Microsoft EMET is effective at mitigating the attacks," said Costin Raiu, director of global research and analysis team at Kaspersky Lab.

Microsoft released EMET in 2009 to enforce modern exploit mitigation mechanisms such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP), Export Address Table Access Filtering (EAF), and Export Address Table Access Filtering Plus (EAF+) in legacy applications that don't have them. By deploying EMET on the endpoint, enterprises make it harder for attackers to exploit flaws in certain programs on those systems. Enterprises have benefited from deploying EMET as a line-of-defense for attacks targeting zero-day vulnerabilities in Flash, Silverlight, and a handful of other technologies. With EMET, enterprises were able to protect the endpoints while waiting for the vendor-supplied patch.

Earlier this week, FireEye researchers observed that Silverlight and Flash Player exploits capable of evading EMET have been added to the Angler exploit kit. This isn't the first time exploit kits and malware have successfully bypassed EMET, but the alarm was related to the fact that Angler is widely popular in the criminal underground. Angler has been seen in various web-based attacks such as malvertising, ransomware, and other drive-by downloads.

However, simply because Angler and other exploits are adding EMET bypasses doesn't mean enterprises should abandon EMET. Exploit kits are increasingly becoming more sophisticated, but EMET is still effective against zero-day vulnerabilities. Enterprises should not rely on EMET exclusively to protect applications, but should continue to use EMET as part of a robust vulnerability management program.

As always, if the system doesn't need Flash, remove it. Many browsers are set up to disable Flash Player or make it click-to-play. There's no need to have a potentially vulnerable application on a system that doesn't use it, so close off that avenue of attack, if possible.
Omar Mateen Was With G4S, In UN Global Compact, ICP Asks, Monitoring

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 14 -- The killer in Orlando, Omar Mateen, worked since 2007 at private military contractor G4S. A co-worker there is quoted that it was quite apparent that the guy had anger issues and was very unstable -- but G4S kept him on.

G4S is a member of the UN Global Compact, and when Inner City Press asked the UN why this mercenary firm was a member, the response was the business is not illegal. How about, irresponsible?

On June 14, Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here:



Inner City Press: the shootings in Orlando, the the shooter, or Omar Mateen, was an employee of this G4S, which is a security or private military contractor. And it's come up before in this room, because somehow it's a member of the Global Compact, even though there are many controversies surrounding its actions. It was said The Wall Street Journal quoted one of his co-workers as saying he had anger issues and was very unstable. I'm just wondering if there are any what's the procedure for the UN Global Compact, number one, allowing in a company that's basically a mercenary or private military contractor, but, two, when it becomes clear that they're providing automatic weapons to somebody who is described as having?



Spokesman Dujarric: Okay. I think we're jumping to conclusions here. First of all, I know our colleagues at Global Compact are as saddened and heart-broken as we are all about what happened in Florida. Whenever concerns are raised about a company, such as the one you mentioned, contacts are had, and they are having there are being they are monitoring the investigation at this point, and they will monitor and decide whether or not appropriate action should be taken with G4S' place in the Global Compact.



Inner City Press: And is there any just relatedly, on the Global Compact, are there any Ng Lap Seng-affiliated or funded companies that remain at one time, the World Harmony Foundation was in?



Spokesman: Not that I'm aware of, but that's a question you need to ask them.



The UN Global Compact allows companies to claim affiliation with the United Nations as long as their practices are not illegal -- and even then, the Global Compact put on its board of directors a South Korean businessman convicted of fraud with the SK Group, Chey Tae-won.



On March 15, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Martin Nesirky if Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has any problem with his Global Compact allowing the company G4S to join, despite it being a private military contractors which has even supplied security technology to seven Israeli prisons and two remand prisons located in Israel and on the occupied West Bank.

Nesirky's response was to say that Ban has confidence in long time Global Compact director Georg Kell.



But G4S reportedly faced prosecution for the death of an Angolan deportee in the UK - click here for that.



Subsequently, Kell's and the Compact's spokesman Matthias Stausberg sent Inner City Press a previously put out response to criticism of the Compact by the UN's own Joint Inspection Unit. Inner City Press replied:

At the noon briefing I asked about the Global Compact accepting private military contractor G4S into the Compact, despite protests about its involvement in, for example, prisons in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This is what I am requesting a Secretariat response on, for example this link.



Please advise, thank in advance.

Stausberg asked for more time to respond -- therefore this couldn't be included in the initial story -- and subsequently on this point wrote to Inner City Press that the provision of private security services is not an illegal activity. We therefore saw no reason to deny G4S participation in the UN Global Compact.



In fairness, Stausberg's full response, praising and defending G4S, is set forth below. While he raises a question about the term mercenaries, we note that private military contractors, and even forms of mercenaries, are not illegal either.

Here is the question: should the only standard applied by and to the UN Global Compact be whether an activity is legal? Manufacturing weapons is legal, as is the production of pornography.

Would the UN Global Compact allow pornographers and weapons merchants to join? Apparently yes.



In any event, as to G4S, note that



Scotland Yard is considering bringing a corporate manslaughter charge [under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007] against the world's largest private security firm over the death of an Angolan deportee.



Detectives investigating the death of Jimmy Mubenga, who collapsed while being deported on a commercial flight from Heathrow, have interviewed whistleblowers from G4S, the company hired by the government to deport foreign nationals.



They are considering whether the company could be held responsible for his death under rarely used legislation that came into force three years ago.

Now what will the UN and Global Compact do? Watch this site.

Stausberg wrote:

Subject: Press Q at noon re Global Compact accepting private military contractor G4S into the Compact

From: Matthias Stausberg [at] un.org

To: Matthew Lee [at] InnerCityPress.org

Cc: Kristen Coco [at] un.org, Farhan Haq [at] un.org, Martin Nesirky [at] un.org, Ursula Wynhoven [at] un.org

Hi Matthew, here are some answers for you:

Since you use the term "mercenary", can you please clarify (and provide sources) which current G4S activities you believe would qualify under commonly accepted definitions of the term mercenary (e.g., as in the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries)?

2. The provision of private security services is not an illegal activity. We therefore saw no reason to deny G4S participation in the UN Global Compact.

3. Regarding the specific provision of security technology to various clients in Israel and the Occupied Territories, please note the recent announcement by G4S that it will cease providing certain services and technologies through its Israeli subsidiary. (http://english.themarker.com/danish-company-halts-equipment-supply-to-west-bank-in-wake-of-public-protest-1.349239)

4. Please note also that G4S is a signatory to the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC), which was launched in November 2010 as a voluntary initiative to improve industry standards and ensuring respect for human rights and humanitarian law by private security service providers. While the ICoC is not intended to replace national regulation and state control, it marks a critical effort to clarify the role of non-state actors in this arena.
Leaders of Dallas Womens Foundation, California Women's Foundation, The Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts, Womens Foundation for a Greater Memphis, New York Womens Foundation, Washington Area Womens Foundation, the Women's Foundation of Minnesota, The Women's Fund of Greater Birmingham and Ms. Foundation on stage at the United State of Women Summit on June 14 in Washington, D.C.Heres some good news this week, in case you need a little cheering up: The Obama administration hosted the first-ever United State of Women Summit in Washington, D.C. With Michelle Obama and Oprah headlining the event, this convergence included many old and new fighters for gender equality including Darren Walker, Gloria Steinem, Matt McGorry and Amy Poehler.

President Obama and Vice President Biden also participated, with the president drawing wild cheers from the crowd as he announced in classic Obama style: I may be a little grayer than I was eight years ago, but this is what a feminist looks like.

Wrapping up today, the summit was convened by the White House Council on Women and Girls, and hosted in partnership with the Department of State, the Department of Labor, the Aspen Institute, and Civic Nation. Other sponsors include a long roster of businesses and foundations, such as the Ford Foundation, Goldman Sachs, Pepsico Foundation, the Tory Burch Foundation, and the AOL Charitable Foundation.

The summit included a ground-breaking announcement of $50 million in new commitments to support for women and girls. In one notable move, the Washington Area Womens Foundation (which we wrote about here) joined with seven other womens foundations to announce the Young Women's Initiative, which will fund efforts to improve the lives of young women across the U.S., with a particular focus on young women of color.

Related: How This Women's Foundation Plans to Amp Things Up

Joining Washington Area Womens Foundation in making this commitment are the Women's Foundation of Minnesota, California Women's Foundation, Dallas Women's Foundation, the Women's Fund of Greater Birmingham, Womens Foundation for a Greater Memphis and the Women's Fund of Western Massachusetts, and the New York Womens Foundation, which had previously launched a Young Womens Initiative in 2015. We will have more on this effort as we talk with the women's funds that are involved.

Related: As Women of Color Get Attention from The White House, We've Got Some Questions

Other big pledges include more than $20 million in new commitments to the Obama Administration's Let Girls Learn Initiative, which provides girls worldwide with access to education. CARE pledged $15 million to this effort, Oracle pledged $3 million, and the International Rescue Committee pledged $1 million. These new dollars will reach adolescent girls in many parts of the world, including India, Afghanistan, and Egypt, and girls in high-conflict nations in Africa and the Middle East.

There is much more to this announcement, including new efforts directed at reducing violence against women, increasing support for early childhood educators, and providing more funding for STEM efforts that target girls.

The White House also announced commitments from 28 leading companies to conduct annual company-wide gender pay analysis across occupations." In other words: gender equity pay audits! The companies also pledged to review their hiring and advancement practices. The full pledge and more statements from companies are here.

All this action suggests that this was one historic event for women, with more of its kind likely to occur in the coming years. To get a real taste of what the summit entailed, you can watch parts of it here.

Weve been saying here for a while that there is a big disparity between White House engagement with My Brothers Keeper and its work on issues of equality for women and girls. After the summit, things are looking a tad more balanced.
Premier Storage Investors LLC, a self-storage real estate investment and development company, recently acquired more than 6.5 acres of land in Nashville, Tenn., on which it intends to build self-storage. The properties were purchased in two transactions for a total of $2.3 million, according to the source.

The company most recently paid $1.1 million for three parcels totaling 5.53 acres at 6350 Nolensville Pike near Brentwood, a Nashville suburb. Council member Fabian Bedne told the source he planned to hold a community meeting to gauge homeowners thoughts on possible self-storage development.

Premier has already received city approval to develop self-storage on just over an acre at 4326 Kenilwood Drive. The company purchased the property for $1.2 million and intends to build a three-story facility comprising 88,800 square feet. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer, with project completion expected next spring, according to the source.

The two facilities will be Premiers first self-storage locations in the Nashville area.

Launched in January 2014, Premier has offices in Los Angeles and Memphis, Tenn. The company specializes in self-storage acquisitions and development within the top 40 U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas. It acquired its first self-storage asset, Broadway Self Storage in Holbrook, N.Y., nearly two years ago.
STORBOX Self Storage and The Wine Grotto has added solar panels to its facility in Pasadena, Calif. The project, completed six weeks ago at the 2233 E. Foothill Blvd. property, represents the largest non-institutional, photovoltaic array in the city, according to the source. The 744 panels deliver 230 kilowatts of power and will meet nearly 100 percent of the facilitys annual energy needs. The system was installed by California Solar Inc., a Torrance, Calif.-based provider of solar-photovoltaic systems.

The cost of the panels and installation was about $515,000. A new roofing systema requirement for the panel installationcost another $240,000, according to facility owner Brett Barnard. The new single-ply roof is white and made of a vinyl-like material.

UV light is what kills your roof, and if you have a solar system that will last 35 to 40 years, you dont want to put that on top of a roof that might last another 10 years, said Will Breiholz, owner of California Solar.

A portion of the solar-panel installation costs were offset by federal, local and state incentive programs. The federal government is offering a 30 percent tax credit, so the installation costs were covered, and the city also has an incentive program that pays you back for solar production, Barnard told the source.

The citys incentive program is part of the Pasadena Solar Initiative, which is helping individual Pasadena Water & Power customers install 14 megawatts of solar power by 2017, the source reported. Eligible customers will receive a reduced net-energy metering rate until the aggregated capacity of all solar installations in the utilitys territory exceeds 5 percent of its system-peak demand.

Barnard plans to add 70 more panels to his property atop a new 43,600-square-foot building thats under development. The structure will include five levels, two of which will be below ground. Once the new panels are installed, hell also integrate a solar-battery system thatll store energy to be used during peak times as well as during a power failure.

Opened in 2001, STORBOX Self Storage comprises approximately 200,000 square feet of space, which includes storage units, 5,000 square feet of leased office space and 13,000 square feet of wine storage. The family-owned and -operated company currently has about 600 wine-storage customers, Barnard said.
@hillsracingteam (June 15, 2016) Six Nations, Ontario  Alex Hills season of firsts continued last weekend, as the 16 year old driver and her #77x Sprint Car team competed at The Sprint Car Capital of the World for the first time.

Alex was a bit nervous about racing at Knoxville Raceway for the first time, but she quickly forgot about that once she got onto the famed Iowa half-mile. Unlike her first Eldora Speedway experience a few weeks ago, the cushion at Knoxville wasnt right next to the wall.

It was a great track and I love it there. It wasnt as fast as I thought, but I think no track will compare to Eldora, Alex laughed. It was fun and it didnt take that long to get comfortable, because the track wasnt right around the top right at the beginning  It slowly made its way up to the wall, but it wasnt even really near the wall.

Her time trial effort of 16.965 seconds on Friday was good enough for 16th overall, but the time was disallowed when her car was found to be light at the scales. She started 10th and finished 9th in her heat race, and followed that by running from 19th to 15th in the A-Feature.

Saturday started better, as Alexs time of 16.552 seconds was good enough for 15th overall in qualifying. She kept eventual feature winner Clint Garner and other strong contenders behind her to claim 2nd in her heat race.

She would have won the heat, but (the leader) missed the bottom and slid up in front of her which killed her momentum coming to the white (flag), noted crew chief Daryl Turford.

A close call with another competitor resulted in a spin at the finish line in the Saturday night A-Feature, and she was credited with 17th.

Next up for Alex and her #77x is a home track race at Ohsweken, Ontario on Friday, June 17, followed by a Saturday, June 18 race at Waynesfield, Ohio against the National Racing Alliance Invaders series. She finished 13th in her last Ohsweken start on June 3, and got rained out in her last try at Waynesfield on May 28.

BACK AT HOME

-Cory Turner started 14th and finished 13th in the A-Feature on Friday night at Ohsweken, with invaders from the Patriot Sprint Tour on hand to take on the weekly Friday night racers. Cory remains fifth in the Ohsweken points standings with his #97 after four weeks.

-Dain Naida finished second in the Patriot Sprint Tour dash race at Ohsweken on Friday, but wasnt able to start the A-Feature due to mechanical problems. Dain is still third in the Ohsweken points standings with his #17x after four weeks.

-Shone Evans and Jerry Hill continued their rookie campaigns in Ohswekens Crate Sprint Car division on Friday. Evans crossed the finish line ninth after starting 13th, while Hill came home 11th. Evans has his #87x sitting seventh in the points standings, while Hills #49h is 10th.

-Steve Hess started 14th and moved up to finish 11th in the Thunder Stock A-Feature at Ohsweken on Friday. Steve has his #777x sitting 6th in the points standings after four weeks.

LINKS

Website: www.HillsRacingTeam.com

Twitter: @HillsRacingTeam

Facebook: search Hills Racing Team

Instagram: www.instagram.com/HILLSRACING

HILLS HELPERS

The Hills Racing Team would like to thank Iroquois Hereford Farms, Townline Variety, BMO Bank of Montreal, Tony Stewart Racing, CARSTAR Collision & Glass Service, Ackland Insurance, M-One, Davis Fuels, and Engine Pro Racing. Visit www.HillsRacingTeam.com to find out how you can join the team!

MAILING LIST

Send an e-mail to tgoudgecommunications@gmail.com with Hills in the subject line to get on the Hills Racing Team mailing list.
West Texas Intermediate crude-oil futures contracts for front-month delivery declined by nearly 2 percent in early trading on Wednesday, extending a string of losing sessions stretching back to last Friday. The pullback followed in the wake of announcements that Nigerian rebels in the Niger Delta are approaching the negotiating table, potentially ending production interruptions in the region. Separately, Baker Hughes rig-count data for the U.S. released yesterday rose for the second consecutive week. Other contributing bearish factors include Iranian production continuing to expand after the removal of Western sanctions and political chaos in Venezuela that may compel the government to compromise with the U.S. on trade. Critically, inventory data released by the American Petroleum Institute indicated that total U.S. crude inventories expanded by more than a million barrels during the week ending on June 10, versus forecasts for a decline of 2.3 million. As investors focus on todays Federal Reserve announcement and the June 23 Brexit referendum in Britain, the perception that oils year-to-date rally may have peaked is weighing on sentiment across equity markets globally.

U.K. unemployment drops. The U.K. Office for National Statistics released unemployment data that revealed an improvement during the three months ending in April, with the headline rate falling to 5 percent versus consensus forecasts of 5.1 percent. Wages expanded by an annualized 2.3 percent during the period. The monetary policy committee of the Bank of England will meet tomorrow for its monthly rate announcement. Analysts do not expect a shift in policy as improving labor conditions are offset by risks associated with next weeks Brexit vote.

House Republicans attempt to censure IRS chief. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will vote today on a resolution to censure Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen. Republican members of Congress have charged that Koskinen blocked investigations into claims that the IRS targeted conservative political groups. Next week the House Judiciary Committee will vote on beginning an impeachment process against Koskinen.

MSCI snubs Shanghai. Yesterday MSCI released a statement that confirmed that Chinese equities will not be added to the companys widely followed emerging-markets index as concerns over transparency in the domestic Chinese markets outweigh demand for access. According to MSCI, time will be required to ensures that foreign allocation quotas and trading limits provide international investors with sufficient liquidity.

PBOC data shows surge in new loans. Data from the Peoples Bank of China released on Wednesday included a nearly $150 billion increase in renminbi-denominated loans in May, almost twice the consensus economist forecast. The data point is potentially contentious after many critics, including the International Monetary Fund, recently warned about a looming Chinese credit bubble.
Reinsurance broker Aon Benfield and the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance ( ANZIIF ) have announced the winner for the 2016 Aon Benfield Scholarship.Michael Gregory, a strategic business analyst at Suncorp , has won the scholarship with his essay about whether the insurance industry can unlock Big Data and what it means for insurability.Gregory will attend the 51Annual Aon Benfield Global Clients Reinsurance Seminar in London from 20-30 June 2016 for an intensive study program where he will learn about the principles and practices of arranging reinsurance on a global scale.It is an absolute privilege to have been chosen as the winner of this years Aon Benfield Scholarship, said Gregory. He shared the credit to his leaders and mentors at Suncorp for offering him their support and guidance.The opportunity that has been afforded to me by both Aon Benfield and ANZIIF will certainly not be taken for granted. I am very excited to learn more from industry leaders and immerse myself in the Global Clients Reinsurance Seminar in London, Gregory said.The scholarship, which is now on its 12year, was set up by Aon Benfield in partnership with ANZIIF to reward and recognise outstanding insurance professionals in Australia and New Zealand. The scholarship also aims to emphasise the importance of continuing professional development in all aspects of the industry.Said Robert De Souza, President APAC/CEO Australia and New Zealand, Aon Benfield: The scholarship allows insurance and reinsurance professionals to explore and discuss highly relevant issues to our industry, with the added opportunity of gaining knowledge and best practice insights about the reinsurance market globally.The Aon Benfield Scholarship offers the opportunity for a passionate insurance professional to expand their horizons, to learn and grow, and we know that this will be a life-changing experience for Michael, added De Souza.Gregory will also be recognized during the annual Australian Insurance Industry Awards which will be held in Sydney on 31 August 2016.
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has called on two main political parties for election commitments to substantially boost federal funding for natural disaster mitigation and community resilience measures.The ICA appeal was made after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten voiced in Tasmania last week the need to focus more on preventing damage, rather than post-disaster recovery efforts.ICA CEO Rob Whelan said both leaders personally witnessed how mitigation prevented Launceston from experiencing significant financial loss and personal heartache. The citys $58 million flood levee protected the low-lying areas of the city from severe flooding, and according to Whelan, from a potentially more costly recovery and clean-up effort.With less than four weeks of the election campaign remaining, the ICA now urges both leaders to take the next step and commit to funding projects that will protect additional at-risk communities from natural disasters, Whelan said.Whelan also stressed the importance of building permanent, well-maintained infrastructures to lower the risk to communities, helping ensure economic stability, and reducing the need to spend tens of millions of dollars on natural disaster recovery.Mitigation infrastructure is one of the keys to enhancing community resilience, alongside more stringent building standards, better land use planning and greater access to insurance through removing inefficient and unfair taxes on insurance, Whelan said, adding that lowering the risk can also help to reduce the cost of insurance to households and businesses.According to ICA, the funding for the National Partnership on Natural Disaster Resilience remains far below the $400 million-a-year state and federal commitments recommended by the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Natural Disaster Funding Arrangements. Meanwhile, the Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience and Safer Communities has predicted that natural disasters will cost Australia $33 billion a year by 2050.
Professor Allan Manning, industry leader and managing director of LMI Group , has criticised the media for releasing unbalanced insurance reports, and accuses the sector of being its worst enemy in a blog post published last week.Manning said that the media focused on a handful of unlikely-to-be-insured houses beside the ocean instead of the 14,500 claims  the Insurance Council of Australia had received in the wake of storms  that are being assessed and paid.He also noted the lack of criticism for the local authorities who permitted the development, or for the homeowners themselves.Said Manning, news organisations focus on the bad news because this attracts readers, viewers, or listeners. With high ratings, organisations can retain or increase their rates to advertisers. This, Manning noted, is where the irony in all of these comes in.If you watch the commercial television channels, listen to commercial radio channels you will hear and see, they are one of the biggest advertisers used by the insurance industry.So our industry gets demonised as being uncaring and horrible people whom (sic) look for ways not to pay claims by the media. To counteract this, and win back customer support for our vital service and protection, we as an industry advertise more on the very stations that damage the brand insurance in the first place!Manning also blames the industry for advertising their products to the same media that gives them bad press.As an industry, I sometimes think we are our own worst enemy. We are the pawns falling for a three card trick orchestrated by the media barons.Manning clarified that he doesnt wish the media to be gagged, only that it should be fair and unbiased in its insurance reports.He says that that negative image of insurance demotivates people in the industry from doing their job, prevents good people from joining the industry, as well as allows decision-makers who keep putting home and business owners in risk-prone areas to avoid their responsibility.
Munich Re has announced that it will divest its primary insurance arm Great Lakes Australia (GLA), following a strategic review.



The international firm has said that it will refocus on reinsurance in Australia and New Zealand as GLA will be moved on after nearly a decade on the Australia market.



After a strategic review, Munich Re has come to the conclusion that the capabilities of GLA might be better realised with a change in ownership, Munich Re said in a statement.



Therefore, Munich Re will pursue a divestment of its primary insurance arm in Australia and New Zealand.



GLA, which currently has a gross written premium of around $500 million, could not achieve Munich Res growth ambition and positioning for the specialty niche business in Australia and New Zealand, due to a competitive and consolidated Australian market which requires a critical size, the statement continued.



With the sale of GLA, Munich Re has said that they will now focus on their core reinsurance business in the Australia and New Zealand markets.



Australia remains an important market for Munich Re, which will now have a clear focus on reinsurance, the statement noted.



The company will continue to be a strong partner in property and casualty as well as in Life reinsurance business.



The change announced today allows Munich Re in Australia and New Zealand to refocus on where it can provide the best value to the market and its reinsurance clients.





Related stories:

Asia to drive global insurance growth, Munich Re

First insurance fund against pandemic launched by World Bank

Munich Re appoints new Australasian managing director


Pro Global Insurance Solutions plc announced that it has become the first company to file an application for a new domestic insurer in Rhode Island to facilitate insurance business transfers (IBT) under the August 2015 amendment to the states Insurance Regulation 68.

Pro Global is a London-based reinsurance and insurance services provider and consultancy with more than 25 years of experience internationally managing run-offs.

The company said Rhode Islands Insurance Regulation 68, modeled after the Part VII in the U.K., allows for the transfer of portfolios of business into a Rhode Island protected cell company.

Pro Global said it is expected to form the first Rhode Island carrier established specifically to accept run-off portfolios, subject to regulatory approval. The new entity will be called ProTucket.

Rhode Islands recently amended regulation balances stakeholder interests and fills a tremendous need in the U.S. insurance market, with the value of U.S. business in run-off estimated to be as much as $100 billion, according to Pro Global.

Insurance business transfers free up trapped capital, management, and administrative resources, Pro Global said. The company noted that until now, a run-off portfolio in the U.S. had to be managed in its entirety; and existing methods of disposing of a run-off portfolio did not provide true finality to the transferring entity.

In 2007 Rhode Island legislature changed the statute to allow reinsurers and insurers to transfer blocks of business into a shell company in Rhode Island. The 2015 update of Insurance Regulation 68 now provides a process to separate run-off portfolios and lift and drop them into separate protected cells within a single Rhode Island domestic insurer that assumes the risk of the run-off portfolio by means of a statutory novation.

Pro Global said the ability to transfer separate run-off portfolios combined with the finality of the statutory novation to the Rhode Island insurer will provide reinsurers and insurers with insurance business transfer options previously unavailable in the U.S.

We have worked closely with the regulator as they have ushered in this ground-breaking regulation and we are the first to file for a new carrier, Pro Globals U.S. Managing Director Mory Katz said.

Pros Rhode Island 68 carrier, ProTucket, will continue our growth in the United States and establish us as a major player in legacy services in the U.S., as we are in the U.K., Katz said. This move reinforces our intention to be a leading reinsurance and insurance services provider in the U.S.

Topics Carriers USA Legislation Reinsurance
The structural changes announced by Zurich Insurance Group late last week are intended to organize the company around the customer and improve customer innovation, according to Chief Executive Officer Mario Greco.

While a simplified structure will create cost benefits, that is not the focus of the organizational changes, emphasized Greco, delivering on a promise to simplify the companys complex operational structure.

We are combininglife and nonlife, and moving to a regional structure with the CEOs of each region reporting directly to me, said Greco, the former CEO of Italys Assicurazioni Generali SpA, who took over the helm of Zurich in March.

Each country will report up to the region. The structure is so simple and will have a clear line of sight to the people looking after our customers, he explained during a conference call with reporters after last weeks announcement.

Greco said each customer will have one interface with the firm, engaging with an expert who truly understands their circumstances can deploy the full range of Zurich products and services to meet their risk management needs.

Greco said the unification of life and non-life business is primarily happening on the retail side (which includes both personal lines and SMEs), but not for corporate and commercial insurance business.

Corporate and commercial are sold through different distribution channels and so integrating the offer doesnt help that much. However, he indicated that the new organizational structure still matters a lot for corporate and commercial clients because the targets, incentives and Zurich priorities will be unified in every country.

Breaking Down Silos

Greco noted that the existing fragmented structure didnt just add to costs, it also complicated relationships with customers, sometimes to the point where different units within Zurich ended up competing against each other.

By breaking silos, underwriters cannot compete internally, he noted. There is a big market out there and we want to compete in the big market. We dont want to compete inside the house.

Focusing on Customer Service

Our strong belief is that by simplifying the relationship, by giving customers ownership and clear accountability, our market position could become better, he said.

These structural changes give a signal that Zurich is focusing on customer service and customer innovation, he said. Were focusing on the markets and we are simplifying and reducing the famously complicated structure of Zurich insurance, Greco added.

The new structure will promote innovation and will meet the evolving expectations of customers, employees, and shareholders and the broader society in which Zurich operates.

The prospects for the insurance sector are strong in a world of proliferating risks, he said, noting, however, that Zurich has been challenged to adapt to remain effective in helping customers manage those risks.

Impact on Costs

He acknowledged that the changes will have an impact on the companys costs, but it is too early to be able to quantify it.

Between July 1 and Sept. 1, Greco said, the organization of Zurichs countries and regions will be studied. With second-level managers set to be chosen and actively working on their responsibilities by Sept. 1, the impact of organizational changes on costs will be clearer at that time, he said.

Greco promised that full details of Zurichs future strategic plan will be announced during an Investor Day scheduled for Nov 17, when financial targets, objectives, strategy and market focus will be revealed. Financial targets and strategic objectives are the things that will shape the future of the company much more than a simplified structure, he emphasized.

I hear too often talk of job cuts and layoffs In reality, this [reorganization] gives us an enormous benefit in terms of unifying required investments, he said, explaining that in the past there were too many silos and disconnected units in countries and regions, which led Zurich to unnecessarily repeat operational investments.

I expect significant benefits of this new structure from unified choices on investments to be taken and this is a much bigger number than anything related to labor costs and workforce, Greco said.

My focus is to get Zurich back to [being] competitive in the market, to be leading product and services innovation, he said, emphasizing that the company is in good shape and does not require radical change that will transform it or dramatically change the balance sheet or the capital position.

A version of this article first appeared in Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management.

Related:
Britains partners are stepping up warnings that if it votes next week to leave the European Union, banks and financial firms based in London could lose their money-spinning EU passports.

The City of London vies with New York as the worlds biggest financial center in part thanks to the automatic right to sell services across the 28-nation bloc with low costs and a single set of rules under a system known as passporting, industry and European officials said.

Asked by Reuters what would happen in case of a Brexit after the June 23 referendum, French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said: There will be no passport, or that would have to be negotiated against a lot of reciprocal concessions.

Sapin said aloud what many EU officials and diplomats are saying privately. Unfettered access for financial services is widely seen as the crown jewels of British membership benefits, and Londons partners would charge a high price for keeping it, if they were willing to do so at all.

Germany, France, Luxembourg and Ireland would all be vying to pick up business from London in areas such as investment banking, clearing and settlement and fund management.

EU membership gives Britain access to what effectively is a financial Schengen zone  a single set of rules that allows banks, including many U.S. and other non-European institutions, to operate freely across the blocs borders.

Just as the 26-nation Schengen area, which Britain has never joined, permits citizens to travel without border formalities, the single market allows lenders, fund managers and investment firms to operate EU-wide without different national rules and controls.

Britain is the biggest beneficiary as UK-based banks and investment firms play a key role in European financial markets for derivatives, foreign exchange, cross-border bank lending, asset management and insurance services.

A passporting system allows British-regulated banks to open branches in EU countries simply with a notice to the British supervisory authorities.

Financial services account for 8 percent of British national income, according to the Bank of England. The sector accounts for almost a quarter of all EU financial services income and 40 percent of EU financial services exports. Eighty of 358 banks operating in Britain are headquartered elsewhere in Europe.

A key concern of many UK banks and investment firms is that the exit of the UK from the EU would mean that they would no longer benefit from the passport and would be subject to similar restrictions as non-EU firms, banking lobby AFME said in a report that raised doubts about the future of London as a hub for continental financial services.

The impact would be as severe on American, Japanese and other non-European banks that have their European headquarters in London. Many are already considering giving up parts of their business in Europe, or moving them to inside the euro zone, in the event of a Brexit.

Options

Banks would still be able to set up subsidiaries, as opposed to branches, in European countries where they seek to operate, but a banking industry official said this implies bigger commitments and higher costs. Subsidiaries have to be capitalized separately and are subject to national regulation and potentially to national ring-fencing of liquidity.

The EU treaty provides for two years to negotiate a divorce once a country decides to leave. That period could only be extended by unanimous agreement. When exactly the countdown starts would depend on when a British government formally notified EU partners of its intention to leave.

EU officials say it is unlikely that Britain would give notice at a summit on June 28-29 if next weeks referendum vote produces an Out result, but they want the process started by the end of the year.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said Britain would have to negotiate withdrawal terms first and become a third country before it could reach agreement on any new relationship.

Britain could theoretically keep the passport system if it became part of the European Economic Area of which Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein are members.

But this would mean applying all EU rules automatically without its existing power to influence the legislation. It would also mean paying a contribution to EU coffers for market access and fully implementing the so-called four freedoms or movement for capital, goods, services and people.

Since putting an end to the automatic right of EU citizens to work in Britain and stopping net transfers to Brussels are two of the key goals of the Leave campaign, it seems hard to imagine a post-Brexit government accepting such terms.

Yet German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said last week Britain would not be able to continue benefiting from the single market unless it did.

For that, the country would need to stick to the rules of the club that it now wants to quit, Schaeuble told Germanys Der Spiegel magazine. In is in, out is out.

Alternatively, Britain could try to negotiate bespoke deals with the EU, as Switzerland has done. But this would take much longer than two years, even if the two parties were in full accord, EU financial services commissioner Jonathan Hill told the European Parliament on Tuesday, citing past examples.

(Additional reporting by Emmanuel Jarry in Paris; editing by Pravin Char)

Topics Europe London
Insurance broker Lockton has added Jerry Paulson in its Chicago office as producer and senior vice president. He will work with Locktons clients to deliver the companys full suite of products, as well as evaluate political risks, credit risks, and the risks associated with trade and investment in emerging and domestic markets.

Paulson comes to Lockton with 15 years of experience in trade credit insurance consulting and business development.

Most recently, Paulson was head of Bank Channel in the Americas Region for Euler Hermes North America. Prior to that, he worked for Activity Management as the national sales director.

Source: Lockton
A federal appeals court sided with Boeing and one of its suppliers in the whistleblower lawsuit brought by three ex-workers at the aircraft manufacturers former plant in Wichita, Kan..

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a federal judges decision that the former workers failed to show Boeing defrauded the U.S. government in a $1.6 billion contract.

The three-judge appellate panel said it found no evidence Boeing knowingly submitted a false claim to the government. It upheld the 2014 summary judgment in favor of Boeing and California-based supplier Ducommun Inc., rejecting claims brought by former employees Taylor Smith, Jeannine Prewitt and James Ailes.

Their 2005 lawsuit alleged that Boeing defrauded the government in a contract for two dozen 737 Next Generation aircraft by using bogus parts.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Aviation Kansas Aerospace
Prosecutors cant change drunken driving charges once theyre filed without a judges permission, a state appeals court ruled in upholding a judges decision to order a felony charge against a suspected drunken driver.

The case began in 2014 when prosecutors in Oneida County charged Brian Corvino of Madison with fourth-offense felony drunken driving. Under Wisconsin law at the time, a fourth offense was a felony only if it was committed within five years of the third offense. Corvinos record showed his third offense occurred in 2010, so a fourth-offense felony charge was in order.

Prosecutors downgraded the charge to a misdemeanor as part of a plea deal. Judge Michael Bloom refused to allow the deal, citing provisions in state law that require judges to approve changes to drunken driving charges and then only if the change serves the public interest in deterring people from driving drunk.

Bloom said he couldnt in good conscience see how reducing the charge would serve that public interest and ordered prosecutors charge Corvino with a felony.

Corvino argued on appeal that only prosecutors hold the power to amend drunken driving charges and Blooms decision improperly infringed on their authority.

The 3rd District Court of Appeals upheld Bloom, ruling that the statutes plainly state that a prosecutor must ask a judge for permission to amend drunken driving charges. Prosecutors discretion is subject to the Legislatures acts, the court added.

Bloom properly exercised his discretion in refusing to allow the deal, the court said, noting the judge remarked that the states case against Corvino was strong and downgrading the charge would be inconsistent with serving the public interest in deterring drunken driving. The court went on to say that Bloom has the inherent authority to order a felony charge.

Corvinos attorney didnt immediately return a voicemail seeking comment.

Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill in April that makes a fourth drunken driving arrest a felony regardless of when it occurs.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Personal Auto Oklahoma Wisconsin
Within venture capital circles, the insurance industry is sexy right now. It seems not a week goes by without another startup being announced, some with niche angles such as peer-to-peer distribution, insurance for on-demand workers, and even insurance for the insurable moments people spend with their latest tech gadgets. In some cases, insurance companies themselves are among those backing these startups.

One of the most recent instech startups is called Embroker. Its San Francisco-based, and it just came away with $12.2 million in venture capital funding. It got that on top of a $2.2 million round last July.

Embroker was founded in 2015 by CEO Matt Miller, a principal at the private equity firm Hellman & Friedman, which has had interest in numerous insurance-related firms. It owns global broker Hub International and insurance technology vendor Applied Systems and it has investments in Arch Capital Group. It previously owned another insurance technology firm, Vertafore, which it sold in 2010.

Miller formerly served on the boards of Hub and Applied Systems. Prior to joining Hellman & Friedman in 2013, Miller worked at Bain Capital in Boston and Hong Kong and at Bain & Co. in New York.

Miller is not to be confused with other entrepreneurs who seem to have little respect for traditional businesses or the insurance industry who call themselves disrupters.

I prefer the term massive improvement to disruption,' says Miller, who learned about the insurance business while working with Hub and Applied Systems and while surveying small business owners about their insurance experience..

Embroker is a commercial lines platform that empowers  hence the name, Embroker  small businesses to manage, buy, analyze, compare and store all of their insurance information data in one place. In many respects Embroker is Zenefits for the property/casualty side, rather than employee benefits.

Embroker is not so much displacing or disrupting what commercial insurance brokers now do as it is supplementing and complementing their traditional methodswhile giving small business customers who want it more information, convenience and control along the way.

Online Commercial

Embroker is far from alone in wanting to simplify and bring small business insurance online.

A number of independent agency carriers have joined the TrustedChoice.com online commercial insurance platform backed by the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America to sell small business insurance. Bolt has for several years provided a platform for insurers to offer products and customer service online. Other commercial lines platforms include CoverHound, Insureons Insurance Noodle for agents, and Seattle-based AssureStart. Insurer Hiscox has been expanding its online platform for small businesses for a number of years. CoverHound announced it will in July start selling online what may be one of the most complex insurance products  cyber insurance  to small businesses.

American International Group, Bermuda-based Hamilton Insurance Group and hedge fund firm Two Sigma Investments have joined to create a technology-enabled insurance platform for sales to the small to medium-sized business market.

Berkshire Hathaway, which owns GEICO, is building Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Co. to sell insurance directly to businesses over the Internet.

Too Complex

Embroker entrepreneur Miller actually believes that commercial lines insurance is too complex and too much work to be turned over to digital operations entirely. But he also believes the process can be made simpler and more transparent for small business customers. Embrokers technology is there for customers who are comfortable with it but to the extent they are not, Embroker offers humans. This startup has licensed agents and brokers on staff and on the phones.

Miller believes that small business owners want to know they have the right coverages, theyre paying the right amount, and that if anything happens, they have a partner they can trust.

But they also want more than that. They want that to happen in an efficient and as painless a way as possible. That is the need that we are meeting, he says of his venture.

Embroker promises to bring more risk management services to small businesses that Miller thinks get a bad deal now relative to what larger customers get.

He said that there are a lot of great insurance brokers that put together programs, manage claims, perform risk management functions and offer loss control services. But they cant afford to do all of this for small customers, so these customers miss out.

They get some guy that calls them once in a while, that just checks in, and collects a commission. Thats really what were addressing, he said.

Q&A with Embroker CEO

In the following interview with Wells Media Groups Andrew Simpson, Miller discusses what he thinks small businesses want from insurance brokers versus what they now get, how Embroker works with customers and carriers, the role of relationships in the business, and his vision for his startup and the future of the property/ casualty insurance industry.

How Embroker Works and Why Its Needed

While other instech startups seem focused on direct sales, and there have been several attempts to streamline the relationships between brokers and carriers through new technology, Embroker is tackling distribution and the relationship between brokers and customers. Why? Is that based on your experience, or do you think thats really where things are more solvable?

Miller: A little bit of both, actually. It was certainly where I had more experience, but it was also what I felt to be more of an acute problem. I really had been around just speaking to businesses that I knew, business owners that I knew, people running businesses, and asking them about their insurance experience. I did a lot of that work, actually, when I was at Hub, and previously just core customer work, speaking to people that run a business with $10, 20, 30 million in revenue, and saying, How do you buy insurance? Is the process painful? Does it work well? Do you understand it? What could be improved? I spent a lot of time doing that, just speaking to people that were running businesses, and trying to understand from their perspective, what were the pain points, what needed to be improved. Thats really what led me to focus on the distribution side.

They obviously have the ability to go buy insurance. Carriers have the ability to create products that serve business needs. Its just everything about the process of actually finding out what you need, buying them, managing them, that creates problems.

Lets get down to the nuts-and-bolts of it. What problem does Embroker solve? What tools does it bring to the customer to help solve them?

Miller: The problems that we solve are numerous. Id say the main one is fundamentally, a lot of businesses dont understand what theyre covered for. They dont understand what they should be covered for. They dont feel like they have a good handle on risk management as a core operational part of their business. They dont feel that they have any tools that help them with this process. Theyre basically entirely reliant on their insurance broker to come up with the exact right program for them to find the right prices, to manage this whole part of this business.

Thats a pain point, especially because there are a lot of fantastic insurance brokers that do a really good job of that. But Im a business owner myself, so to be entirely that dependent on an external third party, and one for whom you have no idea of validating whether theyre doing a good job or not, is a real problem.

If we could get a little bit specific, in terms of an example. Say I own several restaurants in California. How might I use Embroker?

Miller: One of our largest customers is a chain of many restaurants in California, actually, so thats a good example to use. Essentially, how you would use the platform is we upload a lot of information about his business. We take his locations, his employees, his payroll, basically all the type of exposure data that normally you fill out in paper applications to get it all the policies you need each year, and you would basically at renewal need to fill out different applications.

We store that, and keep that up to date in the cloud-based platform. He has the ability to update. If he wants to add a location, if he wants to change the payroll. If he wants to change the equipment that hes covered for, we can do that with our platform.

Similarly, he can manage and track his claims online, so that when he has a claim, he can check and see whether its been updated or not. He can also benchmark what hes paying, and what his coverages are, versus other types of restaurants.

He can look at workers comp, what his rates are based on different payroll. Just everything that he really needs to do around his insurance policies.

What does the platform do for the buying process? Does it allow for comparison? Does it allow for shopping?

Miller: It does. Weve built out an ability to go online, take that information, and return it with quotes and comparison. Were not an online shopping platform. We dont think commercial insurance is meant to be like going to Travelocity and buying a ticket from Reno to San Francisco. Its more complicated than that.

Id say that really what weve spent more time on than actually comparison shopping is deep, deep analysis of what actually those policies are covered for. We have people that would help him navigate that process, understand what are some different options that he would have. Where we use the technology is actually to drill into the policies, and to actually look at what are the differences in coverages. We can do that very quickly because we have built a data model that allows us to compare policies.

Among your customers, who tends to be the person that you deal with? Is it the owner? Is it a CFO?

Miller: Depending on the size of the company, when they have a CFO, its the CFO. Primarily, Id say with most of our customers, its the CFO or VP of Finance. I know in some businesses that are on the smaller side, that they dont have as established of a finance organization, its the owner or the CEO.

In many cases, with technology companies especially, they dont bring on a CFO until theyre pretty much significantly larger. It falls on the CEO to have to manage all of the insurance parts of the business.

What do you see as the target audience? Im wondering, Are there that many businesses that really want to know that much about their insurance? I guess, is the question.Do they really want to have that much involvement in insurance, when they could just pick up the phone, and say, Joe, I added three employees. Do it?

Miller: They always could. Whats interesting about the role of technology is that, when I think about what businesses want, and what insurance provides in general, people dont come to work thinking that they want a directors and officers policy.

Thats not usually the way that their mind, its not a need that you need to fit. What they want is their insurance to be taken care of in a high quality way. They want to know that they have the right coverages, theyre paying the right amount, that if anything happens, that they have a partner that they can trust, and they can deal with it. They want that to happen in an efficient and as painless a way as possible. That is the need that we are meeting. Id say that the number of businesses that want that, I would probably describe them as all businesses. All businesses in the U.S. want that, and Id say the number of them that have that is a pretty low percentage.

The truth is that there are so many manual processes involved in doing a good job as an insurance broker. There are a lot of great brokers that do it, but it involves a lot of work, as anyone would tell you. Youre actually going to put together a program for somebody, and youre going to put together a benchmark and study for them, youre going to manage their claims, youre going to perform risk management functions, youre going to do some loss control.

Smaller businesses just dont get those services. Its not possible for brokers to provide that. They get a really bad product, essentially. They get some guy that calls them once in a while, that just checks in, and collects a commission. Thats really what were addressing.

You mentioned restaurants. Are there other markets that youre targeting that you think are most likely to

Miller: A lot of our customers are technology companies. That speaks to they are early adopters of technology products in general. Theres a lot of them here in the Bay Area, of course, but Id say we are also focusing on a lot of Main Street businesses, restaurants, retail, real estate, and health care are some big ones for us.

Whats behind the technology? The human element? How else do you help this customer, who Im assuming in a case of even a small restaurant owner, whatever, has five, six, seven different insurance policies. How does Embroker go beyond the technology?

Miller: Were very, very focused on actually building a great organization. That means that we have fantastic brokers. We employ a full team of licensed agents, as well as account executives, also licensed, that are meant to be on the phone and help customers with their questions.

In that way, we dont operate that differently from a standard brokerage firm. We hope that we have better agents, perhaps. We hire the best ones that we think we can find. Fundamentally, business owners have different levels of comfort with insurance. We want to make sure that our ability to serve them is not dependent on their expertise. If they feel comfortable engaging with software, and thats a better way for them to engage with their policies, then we provide that. If they would rather just call us on the phone, and have somebody manage it for them, we do that as well.

Would you term Embroker a disrupter of the insurance process?

Miller: I prefer the term massive improvement to disruption.

Relations with Carriers

You seem focused on improving the interactions, relationships between the broker and the customer. Does Embroker do anything to address the relationship of the broker with the carrier?

Miller: Yeah. Its a very interesting question. I would say that, in general, the way that we approach itWe are, obviously, an insurance broker. Were an independent agent, and we work with a number of carriers as their business partner. Our philosophy around it is that we want to be great partners to those carriers. We want to win when they win. Id say that that is, first and foremost, what we focus on, is that we look for ways that we can win together, and provide value to them.

The way that we would want to provide value is by performing our role as a broker in the most effective possible way, but utilizing technology, being different, and saying that, if we want to bring great risk to you, we want to really do a good job of educating those customers about what risks that they could and should insure themselves against. Then match them with the right carrier that has a product in that space thats appropriate for them. We just hope to do it a little differently, and more efficiently, by using technology.

I read that you have about 10 carrier partners at this point including Hartford and Travelers. What do you look for in a carrier?

Miller: First and foremost, we need to work with carriers that have great products, that have a great value proposition, because its hard for us to sell things to companies if its not the right product and value proposition from an insurance perspective. Id say that thats the number one thing. We want to work with the top carriers, that are the leading brands, that our customers feel that they want to have those products, and theyre going to have the right value, and the right coverage. Thats first and foremost.

The second piece is, Id say, less than any specific bit of efficiency that we need out of the gate, or ability to build specific technology, were in this for the very long game. We see this as a 10- to 20-year evolution in the industry, and that were just getting started. Its important for us that we get partners that share the same mindset, that have an approach towards innovation, that they believe in investing in innovation, they believe in investing in change that benefits its customer base. Id say that that attitude is what were looking for more than any specific piece of technology right now.

Im sure you get this question a lot but how do you compare with you do to Zenefits, for example, that seems to do similar things, or try to, in the employee benefits space?

Miller: That is the primary difference, of course, is that theyre working in employee benefits. Id say theyre also probably working with slightly smaller companies overall, and especially recently, theyve doubled down on the 1- to 50-employee entities.

Theres a large difference between the roles of a good benefits broker, and the role of a good P&C broker. What we focus on is really being the best possible risk manager that we can. We think about ourselves as the first next-generation risk manager. Everything that we do is around helping businesses really understand their risk, manage their risk, mitigate risk, and then matching them with the right insurance products that allow them to do that.

From that role, we think about insurance as financial products, rather than benefits are primarily, its an HR product, really, thats meant for employee health and safety. What we think about is the role that we can have in bringing insurance to be something that businesses see and value as just another tool in their financial arsenal.

It strikes me that what youre doing, the platform you have, could be used by other brokers. Is that part of the plan?

Miller: I wouldnt say its part of the plan. Id say right now, were really focused on just building a great organization, and delivering value to our customers. Id say that we will really focus on investing in a great product, and what I hope to be the best product available for insurance and insurance management.

If there is a point in the future, where it makes sense to look to allow other people to use the product, we will consider it, but its certainly not part of the plan right now. Id say right now, the plan is just execution, building a great product, and delivering great customer service.

It sounds like with your system youre able to do for some of smaller- and medium-sized businesses some of the risk management or analysis pieces that they might not get otherwise. It sounds like youre doing more work for these customers. Are you getting more pay from the carriers for doing all that?

Miller: No, were not right now. Yes, were doing a lot more work, I think, than anyone else. In many ways, the reason why weve raised venture capital is because we have a cost base that probably would not support that with our current revenue base right now.

Our goal is that a lot of that work will be able to build technology, the efficiencies that, over time, will come from a big investment in technology. Right now, you can get a huge engineering organization that would not be supported by our current customer base. Over time, as we grow that customer base, and the software improves, that well be able to actually do that work much more quickly and easily than anyone else. Well be able to have better products to a large number of customers.

Maybe youll get an insurance carrier to compensate you for it, too?

Miller: Someday, maybe, but no, were not charging any more money.

Culture and Recruiting

I wanted to talk about the culture of your company, and of the high tech industry. Insurance has a reputation. Its hard to get young people to be interested in the business. It just isnt sexy enough. Although if you go through a recession, and you still have a job, youre grateful that maybe they were conservative at the time. Everyone wants to work in high tech, and yet, theres been some bad press lately. There are some questions about the diversity in the industry, or lack thereof. Theres also some talk about taking advantage of young, out of college, low-income, low-paid workers, while the venture capitalists and the founders get rich. What kind of culture do you want to build at Embroker?

Miller: Culture is extraordinarily important to us. The culture that we want to build is one that has certain core values at its heart. I think that the core values that we have are those that help us build a world class service organization. We never lose sight of the fact that yes, were a technology company, but were also a service company. We only exist and thrive when our customers are happy, when were providing them with a great product that really meets their needs and experience, an entire experience thats a great one.

Its an extraordinarily competitive industry. I dont think we have any magic behind what were doing, but I think we have a great product. The culture that we need to build is one that supports that in every way. That means going above and beyond for our customers, but also supporting ourselves internally.

We need to build a culture that attracts young people, attracts great talent, both on the software side, and on the insurance side. Id say that thats one of the things that is certainly a challenge, but its something that I enjoy a lot.

Its really one of the biggest opportunities, is building a place that really does mend a best-in-class Silicon Valley technology organization with a best-in-class insurance organization, and that can provide a place that gives incredible career opportunities to people from both factions, lets them learn from each other.

Do you think the technology angle gets young people more interested? Are you more able to recruit young people, and will you be able to because you are so focused on the technology?

Miller: Id say yeah. Theres been a huge amount of interest from people in the industry, especially younger people, that are looking for something that represents a different way of doing business, that stays true to the mission.

Theres a lot of people that have had fantastic careers in insurance, and they dont want to leave the industry. Its a fantastic career path. Especially with younger people, they want to find a way to remain engaged, and add value in this profession, but do so in a way that feels innovative, and that allows them to use their talent and skill set in a different kind of environment.

I was shocked when you said this was a long-term commitment of 10, 20 years, because we dont hear that from tech people too often. Whats down the road?

Miller: I think there are a lot of changes that will be coming to the insurance industry, and I hope we can help catalyze some of them. Theyll be really good changes, in the sense that right now, we have a problem, both in this country and globally, with underinsurance. Uninsured losses are actually higher, as a percentage of GDP, than theyve been historically. Fundamentally, you have businesses and individuals that just arent buying sufficient coverage. Thats a problem in terms of the value that we can potentially add just by helping make sure that both businesses and people have sufficient coverage. That will require a change in the way that the industry thinks about distribution, in the way they think about creating products, in the way they think about everything, operationally. Well have the ability to start going down that path now.

It may happen gradually. It may happen quickly, but I think we need to move to a place where the industry is innovating and creating products that people can really understand, and can access and find value.

Insurance and Relationships

I enjoyed reading your blogs on your website and I would encourage people to do so at embroker.com  addressing certain myths about insurance and technology. One of them is about insurance being an industry of relationships, which we hear. I think you even confessed to saying that once yourself, but you say that the problem is that the relationships that are there now are not the important ones to customers. What do you mean by that, and whats the future of human relations in this business?

Miller: Its a point that I want to clarify because it is a nuanced point. The point is not that relationships dont matter, and that relationships are bad or negative in any way, and that we shouldnt have relationships, and relationships shouldnt be important to business. All of those things are not what I mean. What I mean is that I think there are relationships that dont benefit customers, frankly, because they depend so much on that relationship that essentially they, in some way, shape, or form, end up with a suboptimal outcome. Whether somebody hasnt done enough work or theyre paying too much, it creates a sense of complacency, in many cases, that can be problematic. If you just look at the big picture, and you look at where dollars of premiums go, a lot of people, even in the industry, they might not talk about it that much. If you looked at an insurance brokerage, does it make sense that the producers are earning their salaries, and the CSRs or account execs that are actually placing the business, and dealing with carriers and actually doing the work, are actually making those salaries?

Stepping back, its like, Does that make sense? A lot of people, I think, would question it because its the people with the relationships that are earning the money. That does not advantage the customer.

Finally, one of the other points you make is that the insurance industry has been pretty slow to change. You might have overstated it. You might have said no other industry is as slow as it is. I wonder, first of all, if you think some of that has to do with the regulatory structure and whether thats part of the problem? Beyond that, how can Embroker or other technology help the industry come up with more innovative products? What does the industry have to do to take advantage of the technology and create new products?

Miller: On that point, absolutely, the regulation has been a piece of inhibiting innovation to some degree. Its a fair balance that we need to strike, both as a society, and as a country. The regulation is absolutely there for a reason, and it also has the impact of inhibiting innovation, especially 50 state regulation frameworks. We know that. Its something that anyone in the industry thats tried to create product, or tried to operate in the environment knows that it just makes it more challenging. Thats probably a fair trade-off, to some extent, that we just need to make sure that were evaluating it constantly, and that the regulation we have in place is protecting individuals, protecting our overall economy, and not overburdening innovation.

Hopefully, turning to what it makes it now possible, I do think that advances in technology will help create a number of opportunities for innovation that have never existed before. If you look at it, even on the personal side, weve seen usage-based auto insurance come out of nowhere. Now to be still, perhaps not the dominant form of insurance, but growing. Its taken a little while. Even now, if you look at where it was 10 years ago, and where it is 2 years ago, the pace of change has accelerated.

Well continue to see that across different areas, whether its insurance for the on-demand economy, whether its usage-based insurance, in different ways, shapes, or form, whether its the integration of wearable technologies in both underwriting and loss control, theres a number of really exciting opportunities to use technology to innovate.

Are you talking a mindset change? Does the industry have to change the way it looks at things?

Miller: I believe it does. Its starting to happen, actually. Weve talked to a lot people that have been in the industry for a long time, that maybe previously have thought that this was something that you could pay lip service to, and what would be something that we would talk about, but wouldnt actually happen. People are starting to come around, that changes are going to happen quickly now. Its important for people to really have a mindset to embrace those changes, and to try to learn how to create value from whats now possible to do.

Anything that you think you should get out about Embroker that we missed?

Miller: Were very excited, is the short answer. We know that theres a lot of work to do in the space. Its an incredibly exciting time and space for us to be in. Over the next year and couple years, were going to really make sure that were doing everything we can to really push the industry forward, and to provide something that really feels new and innovative to businesses.

If you do talk to a lot of business owners, they would probably reiterate a lot of what Ive said, that there are opportunities for improvement in the entire process, and hopefully, that well hard at work in figuring what those are.

I assume you have no lack of places to spend that 12 million bucks, right?

Miller: Theres always opportunities for investment.

Thats great.

Topics Carriers Legislation Agencies InsurTech Commercial Lines Tech Business Insurance Property Casualty Market Risk Management
Zenefits, a human resources software startup that has been beleaguered by compliance issues, is laying off more than 100 employees, as investors point to the company as a cautionary tale for startups that try to grow too quickly.

San Francisco-based Zenefits will lay off 106 people, or about 9 percent of the staff, according to an internal memo by Chief Executive Officer David Sacks seen by Reuters.

The companys Arizona sales operation will be closed and many of the staff laid off.

In addition to the layoffs, Sacks is offering employees who voluntarily quit two months of severance and four months of health care benefits.

Zenefits provides software for businesses to automate aspects of their human resources services, including health care, stock options and vacation time. It offers software for free and makes money acting as a health insurance broker, working as the middleman between businesses and providers such as Anthem Blue Cross, and charging a broker fee.

Zenefits co-founder and former CEO Parker Conrad resigned in February amid revelations that the company had flouted insurance regulations.

Some Zenefits staff who sold insurance did not have the proper licenses to do so. Regulators in Washington state and California have launched investigations into the companys practices.

In his memo, Sacks, who joined Zenefits more than a year ago as chief operating officer, said the company had repaired many of its problems, including its licensing issues.

He also outlined a total redesign of Zenefits, including changing how the company is organized, how it does business with customers and his expectations of employees.

BuzzFeed News first reported the layoffs on Tuesday and was first to report the compliance turmoil at Zenefits.

The company also cut 250 jobs in February.

Investors once touted Zenefits as the fastest growing software startup in Silicon Valley history. Today, some venture capitalists point to the company as a cautionary tale of startups who raise too much money and try to grow too quickly.

Since launching in early 2013, Zenefits has raised more than $500 million from investors, including two rounds of financing from venture firm Andreessen Horowitz within four months. In May 2015, it had a $4.5 billion valuation.

(Reporting by Heather Somerville in San Francisco; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

Topics Agencies InsurTech Talent
A Baton Rouge state judge has ruled that a lawsuit that claims the Jindal administration mismanaged the state health insurance program and illegally implemented changes to it can move forward.

Six retired state employees allege the state Office of Group Benefits  which provides coverage to some 230,000 state workers, teachers, retirees and their dependents  failed to follow approval procedures required in Louisiana law that call for prior notice and public comment.

The Advocate reports Winston DeCuir Sr., one of the states attorneys, argued before District Judge Janice Clark that a public hearing was held but was poorly attended.

Thats because the hearing was a sham, countered J. Arthur Smith III, who represents the retired workers who filed suit in April 2015.

Everything was already done. (The hearing) was like window dressing, Smith told the judge.

Michael Adams, who also represents the state, indicated the state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal will be asked to review and reverse Clarks ruling.

The suit, which seeks monetary damages, accuses the Office of Group Benefits of poor financial management.

Group Benefits encountered financial problems after the Jindal administration reduced insurance premiums by more than 9 percent. State government and school boards pay 75 percent of the premium, so a reduction freed up dollars that could go to other budget requirements.

But the premium reduction and rising health care costs ended up eating into a once healthy $500 million-plus Group Benefits reserve account. It was down to less than half of that within two years and continued to decline, threatening the financial health of the program.

The administration then revamped the program, resulting in higher premiums, deductibles, co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses to try to stabilize the situation.

Former Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols has said the administration acted properly to deal with rising health care costs.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Legislation Louisiana
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin scrapped most current members of a powerful commission and replaced them with his own appointees for a second time, in spite of a judges order that temporarily blocked the reorganization.

Bevins spokeswoman said the new executive order is an attempt to address the concerns without waiting for a lengthy appeal. But critics say they were blindsided and have vowed to fight the new order in court.

The Workers Compensation Nominating Commission recommends people to serve as administrative law judges. When workers get hurt on the job and file a workers compensation claim, these judges decide if and how much employers have to pay. The governor appoints those judges with the consent of the state Senate, but he can only select from the names the nominating commission sends him.

Last month, Bevin  a Republican who took office in December  abolished the commission, rewrote the rules that governed it and then replaced it with new members. Labor unions sued, fearing Bevin would try to stack the court with judges more likely to side with employers.

Last week, Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd temporarily blocked Bevins order. But instead of appealing the judges decision, Bevin rescinded his previous order on Monday and issued another one similar to the one the judge already blocked. He then asked Shepherd to dismiss the case. A hearing is scheduled for next week.

He has acted in a reasonable, good-faith manner to preserve the workers comp system, Bevin spokeswoman Jessica Ditto said. She said the labor unions that sued will only delay claims currently awaiting review if they continue to challenge Bevins order restricting the commission in court.

Bevins new order renames the commission the Workers Compensation Nominating Committee. It reduces the number of members to five from seven and stops paying them. But Bevin said Charles McCoy, who was a member of the old commission but was retained for the new committee, will still get $100 for every meeting.

Bevin says his action is necessary to avoid a lengthy appeals process. Kentucky will soon have six vacant administrative law judge positions that, if left unfilled, could delay people receiving medical and other benefits. The governor can only appoint judges nominated by the commission. If the commission cant meet because of the court challenge, Bevin cant appoint judges.

But Kentucky AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan said Bevins maneuver on Monday could cause further delays.

I guess the logic there is the initial act was found to be inconsistent with the law so lets just do it again, he said. How that equates into saving time or limiting delays is beyond logic.

Shepherd did not rule on Bevins request to dismiss the case, media outlets reported Monday. Instead, he left his order in place preventing the commission from taking action and scheduled another hearing for June 20.

The court appreciates the fact that I think theres some real movement here and some real good faith efforts that have been initiated now to try to resolve this matter, Shepherd said, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Workers' Compensation Kentucky
North Carolinas cyberbullying law, designed to protect children from harassing online posts, violates free speech rights and is unconstitutional, the state Supreme Court ruled June 10.

The opinion strikes down the 2009 law that made posting on the Internet information designed to intimidate or torment a minor or the childs parent, or encouraging such postings, a misdemeanor. While nearly all states have laws against electronic forms of harassment, North Carolina has been among at least 18 states with criminal sanctions for such cyberbullying, according to a research clearinghouse on such laws.

This is the first time that Im aware of a state-level criminal statute thats been struck down by a state supreme court, said Justin Patchin with the Cyberbullying Research Center.

Justice Robin Hudson, writing for the seven-member court, said while the purpose of the law is commendable  protecting children from the harms of online bullying  the law prohibits a wide range of online speech and doesnt require victims to show they suffered injury. The law also offers no definitions of what it means to intimidate or torment and what compromises private, personal, or sexual information pertaining to a minor that is an element of the crime, according to Hudson.

The statute sweeps far beyond the states legitimate interest in protecting the psychological health of minors, Hudson wrote. Civility, whose definition is constantly changing, is a laudable goal but one not readily attained or enforced through criminal laws.

The ruling involved Robert Bishop, who was an Alamance County student charged with the crime in 2012 and later convicted. Fridays ruling reversed a Court of Appeals ruling and overturned Bishops conviction. He had received a 30-day suspended jail sentence and probation that was stayed on appeal, his lawyer said.

We were pleased that the court got it right, said Jim Grant, an assistant appellate defender, after the decision.

According to the opinion, it all began in 2011 when another student at Southern Alamance High School inadvertently sent a sexually themed text message to a third student, who then posted it to Facebook.

More postings and angry comments followed. It came to the point that the mother of the teenager making the original posting found her son crying and hitting himself on the head. Worried her son may harm himself, the mother contacted police, which performed undercover online work leading to the arrest of Bishop and other students.

Bishop was convicted in two trial courts and a unanimous three-judge panel on the Court of Appeals rejected his arguments, saying the law didnt regulate speech but rather conduct. But communication doesnt lose protection simply because of how it is dispersed, the Supreme Court said.

Posting information on the Internet  whatever the subject matter  can constitute speech as surely as stapling flyers to bulletin boards or distributing pamphlets to passers-by  activities long protected by the First Amendment, Hudson wrote. There were no dissenting opinions on the seven-member court.

Attorney General Roy Cooper, whose office defended the law in court, encouraged legislators to re-examine the issue after the ruling.

Just because violence happens online doesnt make it any less real or less hurtful, Cooper said in an emailed statement. Cyberbullying can lead to physical harm, depression in its victims and even suicide and its troubling to see this law overturned.

Patchin, a criminal justice professor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, said the ruling may direct lawmakers in North Carolina and other states to be very precise in the language that they use for such laws. But defining the specific harm caused may be difficult, and the effect an online posting has depends on the experiences of the person who is the subject, Patchin said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics North Carolina
The Montana Supreme Court says a man who was convicted of stealing $26,500 in cash and merchandise from his employer must pay full restitution, even if the stores losses were mostly covered by insurance.

John Creswell Dovey appealed District Judge Kim Christophers decision to require Dovey to fully repay Westland Seed in Ronan. Dovey pleaded guilty to felony theft in May 2015.

Doveys attorney, Martin Judnich, argued his client should only have to pay about $300 _ the feed stores insurance deductible. Judnich argued any other payments would result in a windfall of redundant payments.

The Supreme Court upheld the higher restitution amount in a 5-0 decision last month, saying Dovey didnt deserve to benefit more from the insurance policy than his victim.

Topics Profit Loss
The Small Business Investor Alliance is throwing its support for behind a bill to reauthorize and amend the California Organized Investment Network program.

Assembly Bill 2728 will reauthorize COIN and ensure that insurance companies in California continue to provide capital to invest in Californias small businesses, and the group says its amendments will boost capital in program.

SBIAs proposed amendments will enhance the current COIN program by making it easier for California small businesses to receive insurance company investments through the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program, a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) program, Jeri Harman, chairman elect of SBIAs board of governors, said in a statement.

COIN pre-qualifies SBICs for California insurance companies under the COIN bulletin program.

The COIN program could make a significantly larger impact in California communities, attract more insurance company investments, and provide a higher return on investment for California taxpayers, if SBICs could more easily qualify for the COIN Community Development Financial Institution tax credit program, SBIA argues.

Currently, the requirements for the CDFI Tax Credit Program are too onerous to permit SBICs to become a COIN-certified CDFI, according to SBIA. The groups proposed amendments would permit SBICs to qualify automatically as COIN-certified CDFIs.

COIN is up for renewal this year, and AB 2728 would extend it to 2022. Under the program, investors earn a tax credit worth 20 percent of their investment, which can be applied to their state personal income tax, corporation tax or insurer premium tax.

Each year the California Department of Insurance allocates $10 million in tax credits to support $50 million in community development investments through the program. Many of the investments are in low income communities.

Related:

Topics California Commercial Lines Business Insurance
A Washington physician faces charges in connection with insurance fraud following an investigation by the Washington Department of Insurance.

Dr. Jian Xu, 59, faces felony charges in King County Superior Court of first-degree theft, filing a false insurance claim and forgery. He is scheduled to be arraigned in July.

Xu collected more than $304,000 in long-term disability payments and $55,400 in unemployment benefits to which he was not entitled, according to an investigation by Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidlers special investigations unit.

Xu collected long-term disability payments from 2006 until 2015 from UNUM Insurance while he was working at several jobs, including higher education and financial institutions, investigator charge.

Xu also altered Social Security Administration documents that he submitted to UNUM as proof that he was not eligible for Social Security disability insurance, according to investigators.

Topics Fraud Washington
Insurers are faced with more options than ever when it comes to housing and transmitting data, specifically any service model in which computing resources are shared and maintained on the Internet. Andy Scurto, CEO of ISCS, clarified some of the various ways and options for attendees at the IASA Educational Conference and Business Show this week, challenging them to rethink their cloud options.

There are lots of ways to define cloud, he said, and we know cloud offers many advantages, including lowering costs and scalability, but what we are seeing now is a bolder move toward taking advantage of what the cloud has to offer in terms of our core systems.

Scurto, who moderated a panel session of insurers called Core in the Cloud, defined the various types of cloud environments--private, public, hybrid, Infrastructure as a Service and Software as a Service--as possible options for insurers.

SaaS is one of the more perplexing for insurers, because its often confused with yet another element, single or multi-tenant, he said. With single-tenant SaaS you get your own environment, with multi-tenant, you are basically renting the software.

Jon Ritchie, SVP of Tampa-based American Integrity Insurance, one of the regional carriers that surfaced in 2006 after Florida saw larger carriers move out of state due to storm risk, told the audience that his companys overall strategy was to evaluate its build-buy-lease options, and in-source pieces of the business where it felt it was cost effective and made sense.

We started to look at adding a new flood product, one our legacy system couldnt handle, and had previously outsourced our legacy system, but ended up doing more development and programming than we wanted to. We really want to be an insurance company, not an IT shop.

After a 10-month implementation, the company runs the ISCS SurePackage (SurePower Innovation cloud delivery) suite of core products in a hybrid SaaS environment, choosing this method due to scalability, maturity and security of infrastructure. Our leverage here is huge, said Ritchie, because we can take core upgrades to our systems that all ISCS customers get. ISCSs PowerTools component allows the insurer to perform maintenance and configure changes on the fly. We can throw the changes over the wall to ISCS for final implementation. This way we dont have to get down to a code level, which gives us the opportunity to leverage our core competencies.

Bob MacLeod, AVP of Information Systems at Union Mutual of Vermont, shared a different approach to its cloud implementation. The provider of home, auto and commercial lines insurance, having just completed a refresh of its core systems (moving off the AS/400) in 2012, didnt think it made sense to invest in having another company run its core systems, so the insurer opted for an in-house option, implementing ISCSs SurePower Innovation.

Looking back, if we were going live today, we would have no question about having ISCS host, said McLeod, who admits that his companys growth has also meant exponential growth in data, resulting in another challenge. In its fifth year of using ISCSs SPI server-based core system, Union Mutual is at a point where its hardware and operating systems need to be refreshed again.

Our systems response time on SPI is deteriorating rapidly, and disaster recovery is also a concern, McLeod told attendees. With a projected increase in business and data (currently at one terabyte) the company performed a cost/benefit analysis and found the costs for both cloud and internal hosting to be surprisingly similar. The company plans move ISCSs SurePower Innovation from on-premise to hosted by ISCS in the cloud. Additionally, the company plans to move other systems to the cloud, such as Office 365, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, and File and Print.

We are not making the decision to move to the cloud based on costs alone, McLeod said. We also are looking at scalability, security, and backup/disaster planning. However, like any technology that matures, McLeod said he expects the cost for cloud-based services to drop.

Scurto concluded the session by reminding attendees to look at the business problem that is generating the discussion to move core systems to a cloud-based environment. You have many choices, so evaluation of the choice that best solves your business problem is the choice to make.
Walmart (WMT) is a U.S.-based multinational retail corporation that operates as a chain of discount department stores and a chain of warehouse stores. As of Sept. 2021, the company has over 10,500 locations across the globe. Additionally, Walmart is one of the largest private employer in the world with over 2.2 million employees.

Walmart has made investments in its employees, such as increasing wages and offering benefits for same-sex partners. For investors, the company is an attractive investment, as it has outperformed the S&P 500 over the past few years. For investors on the fence, the following are the top four benefits of investing in Walmart.

Key Takeaways Walmart's focused expansion into emerging markets provides investors some stability as they grow their international portfolio by backing a well-known company into these newer Asian markets.

Technology investments made by Walmart allow the company to remain relevant and profitable in spite of increased competition from e-retailers.

Reinvesting in the company as well as giving back to shareholders via increasing dividends provides a strong message regarding the health of the company.

Stability and Brand Name

With Walmart, it is pretty well-known what an investor is going to get from an operational perspective. Walmart remains a stable company that should be viewed as a long-term blue-chip investment.

Roughly 75% of Walmart's store management began their careers as hourly employees with the company. This shows the company's focus on retaining talent by investing in employee growth as well as growing the business.

Dividends and Reinvestment

For investors, Walmart has done a great job managing its increasing profit, using a smart reinvestment strategy, and giving back to shareholders. As of Jan. 2020, the company has reinvested over $10.7 billion in capital expenditures (CAPEX), paid out $6 billion in dividends, and bought back over $5.7 billion in shares.

Walmart has a track record of increasing its annual dividend every year since it started paying a dividend in 1974, and its dividend yield is roughly 1.55%, as of Dec. 2021. As of Jan 2020, Walmart sat on almost $9.5 billion in cash, providing additional opportunities for the company to reinvest and return capital to shareholders. These are all good signs that regardless of current stock performance, Walmart should continue to grow and add value to shareholders through capital gains and dividend payments.

Focused Effort on Continuous Innovation

While the company is a retail giant, it has also done an admirable job ensuring it is not slow-moving. Walmart has made strides to introduce new technologies, such as a "scan and go" app for iOS and Android.

The scan-and-go app is designed to offer customers a more efficient way to shop, and also makes Walmarts daily operations more efficient. Additionally, the company has been investing in e-commerce to stave off competition from the likes of Amazon and eBay. It also rolled out emerging e-commerce strategies such as pickup lockers for online orders.
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In 2018, we saw significant legislative efforts within the retirement planning space. In all, seven bills were introduced, including one by the Senate known as the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2018 (RESA).

That same year, an identically named bill was likewise introduced by Republicans in the House of Representatives. And in 2019, the House reintroduced that same bill, renaming it the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2019. Although neither bill has yet to pass, the collective provisions proposed aim to help Americans save their retirement dollars in a myriad of ways.

Key Takeaways In 2018, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate authored bills identically named the Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2018 (RESA).

RESA aims to stimulate Multi-Employer Pension Plans (MEPs), where small companies can more easily band together to reduce the administrative costs of retirement plans to increase their employees' investment returns.

RESA provisions would encourage 401(k) plans to incorporate annuities into their portfolios by shielding the 401(k) plans from litigation, should the annuity providers fail.

Improve Multi-Employer Pension Plans (MEPs)

MEPs let small companies band together to reduce administrative costs and ultimately increase investment returns for their respective employees. Currently, for companies to jointly participate in MEPs, they must share a thematic connection, such as operating in the same industry. RESA seeks to eliminate this requirement.

Facilitate 401(k) Plan Annuities and Annuity Information

Although traditional pension plans are currently allowed to offer annuity options, many decline to do so because even though annuities potentially create lifelong income streams for employees, they also present significant downsides. Not only do they charge high fees, but also annuity insurers have high failure rates that may jeopardize a participant's income. If this were to happen, 401(k) plans that include annuities as part of their underlying investment holdings could become vulnerable to lawsuits.

For this reason, many plans avoid including annuities. But certain RESA provisions would protect 401(k) plans from lawsuits in the event that an annuity provider goes under or fails to satisfy its investment mandate. By encouraging annuity consumption among 401(k) plan participants, RESA aims to promote increased retirement savings.

Expand Tax Credits to Offset Costs of Starting and Amending a Retirement Plan

Companies presently receive a $500 tax credit for each new 401(k) or SIMPLE IRA plan they initiate for an employee. RESA would spike this credit to $5,000a whopping 900% increase. The provision would further entitle companies that offer automatic re-enrollment in established plans an additional annual $5,000 credit for up to three years.

Create Retirement Savings Incentives for Graduate Level Students

One section of the bill would let graduate and postdoctoral students treat certain taxable non-tuition fellowship or stipend payments as compensation for IRA purposes. This would increase the contributions students could make to their own IRAs. Currently, taxable non-tuition payments are not considered income.

Create a New Family-Friendly Universal Savings Account (USA)

The proposed Universal Savings Account (USA) would incentivize families to start saving for retirement sooner by allowing them to withdraw their cash in case of emergencies. Similar to Roth-style savings accounts, USAs would grow tax-deferred and would levy no penalties on withdrawals made at any time, for any reason.

While the fate of RESA remains in question, much of its provisions have been echoed in the recently passed legislation known as the Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which likewise aims to stimulate retirement savings.

Provide a New Infant Savings Plan Option

This provision would let families access retirement funds, without penalty, upon the birth or adoption of a new child. Funds could be returned to the accounts at some future point. It is presently unclear if the withdrawn cash must solely go towards medical expenses or if it may also be spent on clothing, furniture, and other items.

Bottom Line

While it's difficult to predict if RESA will ultimately become law, it has nevertheless received tremendous bipartisan, bicameral support. The legislation has likewise been championed by outside groups, including financial-services firms, economists, researchers, and the AARP.
Top News - Investor Idea

Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) Continues Acquisition Path With Purchase of ELMS Assets Including Factory in Mishawaka, IN., Enabling EV Production for Retail and Commercial Vehicle Lines

BREA, Calif. - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces the US Bankruptcy Court approval on Oct. 13th, 2022 of its acquisition of electric vehicle company ELMS's (Electric Last Mile Solutions) assets in an all cash purchase.

Top EV Stock News - Investor Idea

Breaking EV Stock News: Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) Announces the I-GO, New Urban Commercial Electric Delivery Vehicle Available Now for European Markets

BREA, Calif. - October 24, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces today it has secured exclusive sales, distribution and branding rights to the new compact urban delivery electric vehicle, the I-GO, which is fully EU Standard homologated and certified for sale in select European Markets.

Top EV Stock News - Investor Idea

EV Stocks Driving Higher: (NASDAQ: $MULN) (NASDAQ: $TSLA) (NYSE: $NIO) (NYSE: $F)

Vancouver, Delta, BC - October 20, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Investorideas.com, a leading investor news resource covering EV and automotive stocks releases a special report featuring Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), covering the continued growth of the EV market as government policy and infrastructure plans sync up with consumer and investor interest in the EV space.

Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea

Breaking AI Stock News: FatBrain (OTCQB: LZGI) Acquires Confidential Computing Platform ZeroTrust to Protect Data Privacy and Accelerate Innovation for Millions of Growth Businesses

NEW YORK, NY - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, has acquired the confidential computing and privacy intellectual property (IP) plus software assets of Zero2A PTE LTD ("ZeroTrust Platform"), a software company based in Singapore.

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After the last few years of a global pandemic, and the resulting pressure that is being put on many care providers, health is
Alireza Ashnagar, Irans Kordestan province deputy governor general for political, security and social affairs said on last Wednesday that Iran dispatched the first cargo of its gas oil to Iraqs Kurdistan region.



He also mentioned that 290,000 liter of gas and oil were sent by 10 tankers to the Iraqi Kurdistan region in a bid to enhance living condition of people who are living in the border areas especially. It would also prevent smuggling of fuel by local people.



Iran has an important role to play in the reconstruction process of Iraq. Presently Iraq imports goods from Iran, like construction materials, cars, spices, fruits, medicines, etc. As per reports, in 2013, the volume of trade between Iraq and Iran was $12 billion.





| Soruce: Natural Gas Europe | By S.Seal
A new business network was launched yesterday to promote the growing trade links between Ireland and Scotland.

Founders of the not-for-profit Irish Business Network Scotland aim to bring together businesses from the two countries, taking advantage of the unprecedented levels of trade that currently exist between them.

Speaking at the network's launch in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, yesterday, Irish Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe said: The establishment of the Irish Business Network is further evidence of the already close co-operation that exists between Ireland and Scotland at so many levels.

The network will provide an opportunity to bring together businesses from the two countries for their mutual benefit. The Irish Government is especially keen to foster such links.

Sampling local culture w/Scottish Cabinet Secretary @FionaHyslop before addressing the @IrishBusNetwork in Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/MyF2VsDRKB  Paschal Donohoe (@Paschald) June 8, 2016

Minister Donohoe also said the network should help unlock $319 million in European Commission funding for collaborations across boundaries, including Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Scottish exports to Ireland are worth around 1.125 billion [$1.632 billion] while the turnover of Irish businesses here in Scotland is over 2.5bn [3.6 billion], supporting nearly 6,000 jobs, added Scottish external affairs minister Fiona Hyslop.

The Scottish Government is pleased to welcome the development of the Irish Business Network Scotland to provide a way for businesses wanting to expand to tap into companies with experience already located in Scotland.

With support from both the Irish and Scottish governments, the network expects to draw members from the established Irish business community in Scotland, including founding member Allied Irish Bank, which already has branches in Edinburgh and Glasgow. AIB is interested in working with Scottish energy, technology, construction and life science companies.

The network also expects to attract firms from both countries looking to expand.

We want to create a network that shares ideas and information, creates opportunities for partnerships and collaborations, said Founding chairman Colm Moloney, and taps into the experience of those people and companies that have made a success of broadening their horizons across the Irish Sea.

Read more: Tunnel or bridge between Scotland and Ireland under discussion

H/T: The Scotsman
Irish Arts Center this week announced two major gifts totaling $500,000 that provide yet another boost of momentum to its historic campaign to build a landmark new cultural facility on Manhattans west side.

The gifts come on the heels of its historic centenary concert event and capital campaign public launch, "Ireland Rising," presented by Grammy-winning composer Bill Whelan and Pulitzer-winning poet Paul Muldoon.

IAC has received a $250,000 gift from John and Patricia Nallen. John Nallen is Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for 21st Century Fox, the worlds premier portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay-TV and satellite assets. A member of the 21st Century Fox executive team, Nallen oversees all financial aspects of the company including capital market and merger and acquisition transactions. His signing on to the IAC project is a coup for the campaign.

Pat and I have been enjoying Irish Arts Center programming for a number of years. Nallen said.

The Irish Arts Center deserves a home that matches their commitment to the highest standard of artistic excellence and the incredible Irish talent they showcase. As proud Irish-Americans we are proud to contribute to this project  something that will remain for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.

John and Pat Nallen join more than a dozen other major donors at the Founders level ($250,000 and up), including Loretta Brennan Glucksman, the Breslin family, James and Pat Houlihan, and the actor Roma Downey, who contributed $1 million to the campaign.

Irish Arts Center has also received a second anonymous challenge gift of $250,000 from one of New York Citys most renowned cultural philanthropists, who has helped support some of New Yorks most innovative multidisciplinary cultural institutions, including BAM and St. Anns Warehouse.

This generous anonymous donor issued the gift as a challenge grant, and has agreed to make another capital pledge as soon as the original $250,000 commitment has been matched by another donor. This is a wonderful opportunity for a generous Irish American to make a gift to the Almost Home campaign and more than double its impact.
How do I know this weekend's shooting massacre in Orlando was an anti-gay hate crime?

Because 49 LGBT people are dead. Because they were targeted in an LGBT nightclub. Because every LGBT person in the country can feel the threat and implications of this attack in the pit of their stomachs the way they were intended to.

Yes it was terrorism, but it was terrorism motivated by homophobia. That point is essential to grasp.

There were two attackers. One successfully carried out his plan in Orlando and the other was foiled in Los Angeles. One was Muslim and the other was Christian, both were born here, both were American citizens, neither of them knew of each other, neither was particularly religious, both of them said they wanted to harm gay people and one of them succeeded.

It was nauseating to watch opportunistic craw thumpers like Donald Trump, no friend to the gay community, rush to Twitter and to the national press to congratulate himself on being right about the threat of Islamic fundamentalism.

Doing a victory lap before the victims had been named or their loved ones even informed of their passing shows you just how self-regarding his blowhard candidacy really is.

I thought I could not loathe Trump or what he represents more than I already did until I saw him Tweeting out congratulations to himself within hours of the attack. 49 young people were dead, but for Trump the real story was that he was right to stop Muslims from coming to the country.

Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016

But the truth is the shooter, like Trump himself, was born in Queens, and the other captured shooter was born in Indiana. Trumps hucksterism, given these facts, was unspeakable.

On Sunday morning as Trump was making his repulsive victory laps I was fielding multiple phone calls from my horrified gay friends, many in floods of tears on the phone, crying for people they didn't know but being gay could easily identify with, because every gay person shares some formative experiences in common, including knowing what it means to be threatened for who they are.

What really froze my blood was the thought of being a mother or father or lover or friend on the other side of a flickering cell phone screen when that assault rifle attack was occurring.

Knowing that you're utterly powerless to help them. Knowing that someone you love is being ruthlessly hunted by a man with an assault rifle. Knowing how fixed the fight is, how one-sided, how cell phones and pleas for mercy are no match for high powered rifles and homophobic hatred.

The Orlando shooter was not a lone wolf, no matter what the news reports say. Neither was the man who planned to attack the Gay Pride Parade in Los Angeles. They belonged  they actually volunteered to belong  to a much larger, longstanding international prejudice that crosses every border and creed, one that emboldened and approved of their actions.

Homophobia isn't unique to the Arab world. It's true that ISIS regularly throws gay men as young as 15 from tall buildings to their death, but we shouldn't pat ourselves on the back too enthusiastically, because violent hate crimes against gay people in the United States were up again last year, with over half of the victims failing to even report them to the police.

Two hundred anti-gay bills have been proposed by lawmakers in the United States in the last six months. Not five or ten or even 15 bills - 200. Each one of those bills says that gay people are less deserving of the same rights that everyone else takes for granted. That message is endorsed most of all by the people who hate us and want to harm us.

If the law says we are less than and society says we are less than, what's to stop anyone with a bias from attacking us? Which bathrooms will transgender people be allowed to hide in during the next anti-gay assault rifle shooting, I wonder?

Read More: Guns, not the trandgendered, are the real threat to America's children

Hate crimes against trans people rose 32 percent last year. No doubt the lawmakers crafting the so-called bathroom bills that make trans people look like drooling predators (despite there having never been a single case of a trans woman molesting a young girl in a bathroom in the history of this country) will insist there is no connection between the terrifying narrative they are crafting and the fact that many people clearly feel free to threaten or assault them for dire threats they do not actually pose.

Here's a thing you might not know. When you're gay you learn early on how to read every room, street and city that you walk into. You grow a sort of antennae that scan every situation you enter for the merest hint of a threat. It's a survival skill; you have it because you'll need it.

You learn to see flying fists coming before anyone else does and you can feel a room darken before an attack. Straight women have a similar  though not quite the same  skill set. We are all of us forced to live under the unforgiving rule of men, after all.

Because I developed this survival skill set as a teenager I know that most of the people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando shared it too. I know that they knew pretty quickly what was coming for them, even over all the loud music and flashing lights. I know that they knew because I've seen some of their frantic text messages in the news reports. He's coming for me. I'm going to die, one read, unforgettably.

Some news reports are now suggesting that the Orlando shooter, although twice divorced with one child, visited the Pulse gay bar that he later attacked on multiple occasions. Reports claim he maintained profiles on gay social apps like Grindr and Adam4Adam. The California would-be killer was said to gay too.

Some have suggested that these were simply monitoring accounts, set up for the sole purpose of stalking his intended victims. Others are suggesting he was a bipolar, or a conflicted closet case, or someone whose religious background and openly homophobic father made it impossible for him to live an authentic life.

Whether he was inspired by radical Islamism, or homophobia, or mental illness, or all three, the real problem is this unbalanced shooter on an FBI terrorist watch list had no problem walking into a store and buying a semi-automatic rifle. Without an AR-15 he would just have been another disgruntled schmuck at a bar.

So more guns doesn't mean more safety, it means more chances of being shot by guns. There was at least one reported guard on duty at the Pulse nightclub. She was shot dead. Police then got into a live standoff with the shooter and multiple shots were fired on both sides. Guns didn't fix the problem, they simply inflamed it.

Meanwhile, I don't know who the shooter is and I don't care. I have pointedly not printed his name. He doesn't deserve to to mentioned in the same breath as his victims. Those 49 people are more than just a list of names. They are people who loved and who were loved.

Their loved ones have just had their lives destroyed over insane American gun laws that sell weapons of mass destruction to anyone with a few hundred dollars in their hand.

Read More: As mass shootings continue, the GOP is pro-guns but not pro-life

Homophobia has always been with us. But thanks to the GOP senators who voted to permit people on FBI watch lists to buy assault weapons  and thanks to the National Rifle Association which represents the gun manufacturers and not the gun owners  that anti-gay toxic prejudice has now found a way to become weapons grade, with a body count unprecedented in American history.

The Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan Tweeted yesterday, I hope the gay agenda now is 'take down the NRA' because they could do it. He's right about that. Gay people are not fooled about who really facilitated the lethal carnage at the weekend.

I hope the gay agenda becomes "take down the NRA" because they could do it https://t.co/LI4FTUC31n  Graham Linehan (@Glinner) June 13, 2016

That means we must confront the political leaders and the out of control gun lobby now. We have already waited too long to smack them down. America has no place for this insane carnage. None. Shame. Back you go. It's time.

Unlike every other social group in the USA, LGBT people are literally everywhere. In the Army, the Navy, the White House and the Pentagon. We're in the churches, the state capitols and all the press. We're Republicans and Democrats and Independents. Our diversity is what makes us such formidable opponents.

And what will make us utterly relentless now in pursuit of an assault weapons ban is that we know, thanks to our politicians and the NRA, that our very lives depend on it.
The Supreme Court has upheld President Trump's travel ban on several Muslim countries. According to this logic, he'd also have to ban the Irish.

On Tuesday, June 26, the Supreme Court upheld President Trumps ban on travel from several mostly Muslim countries, rejecting a challenge that it discriminated against Muslims or exceeded Trump's authority.

The 5-4 decision Tuesday is the courts first substantive ruling on a Trump administration policy but is also a win for one of the President's most racist and discriminatory actions. Why? Well, because if Trump was really to tar all immigrant communities in the US with the same brush because of the actions of a radical few, he would also be targeting the Irish.

Back in June 2016, Donald Trump vowed that if elected president he would enact a ban on immigration from all countries with ties to perpetrators of terrorist attacks against the US or its allies.

In a speech at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire  his first speech following the horrific massacre at an LGBT club in Orlando, Florida  Trump declared:

When I am elected, I will suspend immigration from areas of the world when there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies, until we understand how to end these threats.

We cannot continue to allow thousands upon thousands of people to pour into our country, many of whom have the same thought process as this savage killer.

Later on, after mistakenly reading that the attacker was born in Afghanistan and not Queens (which is also Trump's birthplace) he said, The bottom line is that the only reason the killer was in America in the first place is because we allowed his family to come here.

That is a fact and it's a fact we need to talk about.

The speech was notable for being one of only a handful of public speaking engagements on the campaign trail for which Trump used a teleprompter, and the words are faithful to the transcript his campaign office released, so one can only conclude that Trump meant what he said.

And this presents a number of problems for Trump because it means, according to his own logic, that people from an awful lot of countries, including some of the Unites States closest allies, will be blacklisted.

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria were among the countries he cited directly, but, following the strategy he presented, President Trump would also have to suspend immigration from Ireland and the UK, two countries whose citizens have carried out acts of terrorism more recently than many people like to remember.

To list only a few of the terror attacks throughout the Troubles and the Peace Process:

15 civilians were killed and 17 injured in an Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) attack on McGurks, a Catholic bar in Belfast.

On June 21, 1972, a day known as Bloody Friday, 9 people were killed and 130 injured as the Provisional IRA detonated 22 bombs throughout Belfast over a span of 75 minutes.

33 people were killed and 300 injured in bomb attacks carries out in Dublin and Monaghan on May 17, 1974. The UVF later claimed responsibility.

21 civilians were killed in IRA bombings at pubs in Manchester on November 21, 1974

On August 27, 1979, the IRA coordinated attacks in Down that killed 18 soldiers and a bombing at Mullaghmore Harbour in Co. Sligo, killing Lord Louis Mountbatten, his grandson, his daughters mother-in-law, and a local boy who was helping on the boat.

A car bomb planted by the IRA outside of the Harrods department store in London exploded on December 17, 1983, 37 minutes after a warning had been called in but before the area was fully evacuated. Ninety people were injured and six people killed, including an American, Kenneth Salvesen (28).

According to the Stalker Report compiled by a senior British policeman numerous "shoot to kill" incidents were caried out by British forces on suspected Republicans.

Loyalists aided by the RUC according to the Ombudsman report shot dead six Catholics in Loughiniisland, County Down during a World Cup match they had gathered to see.

A time-delayed bomb planted by the IRA was detonated on October 12, 1984 at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, England, where then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet members were staying in advance of a Conservative Party conference the following day. Five people were killed and 31 injured.

A UVF gun attack on a crowded pub in Co. Down, where people had gathered to watch Ireland play in the 1994 World Cup, killed six civilians and wounded five.

The Omagh bombing took place on August 15, 1998, when a dissident group called the Real IRA detonated a bomb in the Omagh city center, killing 29 and injuring nearly 300.

On August 3, 2001, a car bomb planted by the Real IRA detonated in Ealing, West London, injuring seven people.

As recently as May 2016, MI5 raised the level of threat for a potential Northern Ireland related terror attack on British soil by Irish Republican dissidents from moderate to substantial, the third-highest category out of five. The threat level throughout the UK of an international terror attack is one level higher, at severe.

Over these decades, Britain did not enact a ban on the Irish migration to the UK. In fact, from 1951 to 2001 the Irish were the largest foreign-born group in Britain.

How did the US react? President Clinton helped lay the groundwork for the Peace Process by giving the controversial order to grant Gerry Adams, head of Sinn Fein, then the political arm of the IRA, a 48-hour visa to speak in New York.

The following year, Sinn Fein held a fundraising event at the Essex House in New York in March 1995, for which Adams was again permitted to travel to the US. Who was one of the guests of honor at the luncheon?

Donald Trump.

The real estate mogul was one among a number of celebrities who paid to hear Adams speak, and he even got a special shout-out from the podium, following which the two men shared a moment and a handshake.

Trump? Clasping hands with the representative of a party that had ties to an organization that committed "acts of terrorism?" The man does seem to contradict himself.

But for Trump, thats not a problem. In his exceptionalist rhetoric, words and ideas are interchangeable to a dangerous degree, such that a Muslim and a radical Islamist are one and the same, the entire Muslim community is tasked with answering for the actions of individuals whose violent actions the majority abhors, countries with a proven history of terrorism means almost exclusively the Middle East, and being the child of immigrants is a red flag (except when it comes to Trump himself, of course).

*Originally published in June 2016.
Earlier this month, Jack Conway was cutting turf in the Emlagh Bog in Co. Meath when he hit upon a round, oblong mass, covered in dirt.

It was bog butter, and Conway was likely the first person to hold it in 2,000 years.

Bog butter is pretty much exactly what it sounds like  butter that was left in a peat bog (sometimes for practical purposes; sometimes as an offering to the gods) and preserved. Discoveries of these ancient butter troves are not uncommon in Ireland, but what makes Conways discovery unusual is the size of the bog butter, which weighs in at 22 pounds.

Conway immediately called Cavan County Museum, he told UTV, who took custody of the amazing find before it was transferred to the National Museum of Ireland for further inspection. Experts there will use the bark fragments and dirt surrounding the orb of ancient butter in order to determine a more exact date range for the butter.

After testing, it will be returned to the Cavan County Museum, where it will reside in a refrigerated display case as an exhibit.

What is bog butter like in person? It did smell like butter, after I had held it in my hands, my hands really did smell of butter. There was even a smell of butter in the room it was in, Conway told UTV.

The largest recen discovery of bog butter in Ireland took place in 2013, when two men found a 100-pound chest full of bog butter in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
Microfinance Ireland is the State-backed project aimed at funding small businesses.

Ms Mitchell OConnor also said the 11.7m lent by Microfinance Ireland has helped sustain 2,000 jobs.

In a written Dail reply to Fianna Fails Niall Collins, she described the output by Microfinance Ireland as a very satisfactory performance in a difficult market at a very difficult time.

Ms Mitchell OConnor said that, since its inception in October 2012, Microfinance Ireland has approved 867 loans out of 1,826 loan applications received.

Some 591 applications were declined with 317 being withdrawn.

Microfinance Ireland was established by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation under the Action Plan for Jobs.

Ms Mitchell OConnor said: To secure the future development of Microfinance Ireland my officials are in negotiations regarding securing a tranche of 10m additional exchequer funding required to keep the fund operating as a going concern beyond 2017 in line with company law requirements.

This equity injection is combined with additional bank funding of 15m.

Last year, the State-backed, not-for-profit lender had a record 50% rise in the number of loan applications.

Approvals for start-ups, sole traders and small businesses reached an all-time high in 2015 with the lender approving 5.4m in funding to 357 businesses across every county in Ireland, supporting the creation and maintenance of 930 jobs in the process.

A total of 752 businesses applied for loans in 2015, compared with 508 for 2014, an increase of 48%. The average loan size approved during 2015 was 15,190.

Figures provided by Ms Mitchell OConnor, show the highest number of loan approvals to the end of March this year totalled 196 with the number of loan approvals in Cork at 70, Limerick and Meath at 42, Galway at 38, Tipperary at 33, Wexford at 33, Cavan at 32, Kildare at 34, Mayo at 33, Wicklow at 30, Waterford at 28, and Kerry at 23.

The fund offers business loans of 2,000 to 25,000 to companies with fewer than 10 employees, and with a turnover of less than 2m.

According Microfinance Ireland data on the gender breakdown of those making loan applications, 76% were from males and 24% from females.
The health insurers profits surged 5m higher than 2014 levels to 16.4 as revenue increased and the cost of claims fell.

Aviva Healths net written premium climbed marginally to 116.3m while the cost of claims it incurred during the year dropped by almost 2% to 84.4m.

The directors of the company expressed their satisfaction with the results, saying it performed well in a challenging market in 2015.

They also said that the affordability of health insurance remains a concern for many of its customers.

Consequently, the company focussed on managing expenses and claims to keep premium costs down.

As a result of its improved profitability, Aviva Health paid out a 12.5m interim dividend last year.

This represented an increased on the 11m interim dividend paid the previous year while no dividend payment was made in 2013.

Some 70% would have been paid to its parent company Aviva with the remaining 30% going to its joint venture partner, AIB.

Aviva Health was bought by Irish Life in March 2016 after the joint venture partners put it on the market towards the end of last year.

At the time of the sale, Aviva Ireland chief executive Hugh Hessing said that its health insurance division had made a positive contribution to the companys performance since its acquisition in 2008 but added that sufficient scale was needed to deliver strong returns in the private health insurance market.

Aviva would continue to focus on its life and general insurance businesses in Ireland, he added. Irish Life snapped up Aviva Health as part of its strategy to expand its footprint in the Irish health insurance market.

It also took full control of insurer GloHeath earlier this year by acquiring the remaining 51% of the company it didnt already own.

Both moves combined handed it 400,000 policyholders and positioned it as the third largest player in the market. Irish Life is owned by Canadian insurance-focussed financial company Great-West Lifeco.
Hemera Technologies/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Active shooter incidents in the United States continue to rise in frequency, with new FBI statistics showing the highest average of incidents ever in a two-year period.



The release Wednesday of the FBIs latest review of active shooter incidents comes just three days after the worst mass shooting in American history, when a 29-year-old Florida man, identified by authorities as Omar Mateen, opened fire in an Orlando nightclub frequented by members of the gay community, killing 49 and wounding more than 50.



According to the FBI, 2014 and 2015 each saw 20 active shooter incidents. Thats more than any two-year average in the past 16 years, and nearly six times as many as the period between 2000 and 2001, the starting point for the FBIs review.



Several high-profile incidents occurred last year alone -- from the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California, which killed 14, to the assault at a community college in Roseburg, Oregon, where seven were killed. Most of the 40 incidents in 2014 and 2015, however, didnt receive such national attention.



For example, in February 2014, a 44-year-old woman allegedly opened fire at an eviction hearing in a tribal office in Alturas, California. Four people died, including three of the shooters relatives. The shooting only stopped after a citizen restrained her, according to the FBI.



In all, not including any of the shooters, 92 people were killed and another 139 wounded in active shooter incidents last year and the year before, according to the FBI.



A previous FBI study of active shooter incidents looked at two seven-year periods, spanning 2000 to 2013. That previous study found that between 2000 and 2006, an average of 6.4 incidents occurred annually, but between 2007 and 2013 that average increased to 16.4 incidents annually.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
At yesterdays launch of the Central Banks latest macro-financial review, deputy governor Sharon Donnery said that the regulator has been engaging with financial sector firms to assess their preparedness for the risk associated with Brexit.

When asked what level of readiness has been found, Ms Donnery replied that the Central Bank is satisfied all short-term contingencies have been prepared for and that the bank does not have any huge concerns about firms struggling should Britain leave.

In its latest review, the Central Bank says that a vote in favour of Britain leaving the EU, on June 23, would have short-term and long-term impacts on Ireland.

A negative impact on Irish exports to the UK could be expected, the bank said.

Commentators have also pointed to the obvious short-term shocks from a Brexit vote, of market and exchange rate volatility and uncertainty.

Sterling would, some have suggested, fall in value by around 15% in the immediate aftermath of a Leave vote.

Ms Donnery offered a blunt no comment when asked about the Central Banks forecast for how steep sterling might fall in the event of a Brexit.

She said that the Central Bank would be on hand to help via the provision of liquidity and communication and information to financial services firms should Brexit come about.

Overall, the Central Bank reiterated that economic conditions are improving and that while public and private debt levels remain high, they are slowly moving in the right direction.

However, it warned that the external risks to Irelands economic wellbeing remain elevated and have increased since its last macro-financial review.

Today also sees the Central Bank launch the consultation process or call for evidence surrounding the controversial mortgage lending rules it introduced last year.

Submissions can be made up until August 10 and the findings of its first review of the rules will be published in November.

However, Ms Donnerys comments on the matter, yesterday, did not suggest any alteration is likely.

We acknowledge that our measures impact individuals ability to access credit and purchase houses, she said.

However, these loan-to-value and loan-to-income ratio limits are designed to protect the system as a whole and limit the risk of a house price-credit cycle emerging once again. And, in this context, we must take a medium to long-term view.

Meanwhile, in light of budgetary watchdog, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council last week expressing initial doubt that Ireland will remain in line with EU fiscal rules, in terms of meeting its budget deficit reduction targets, the Central Banks chief economist Gabriel Fagan yesterday said he was not too concerned that wed violate the rules.

He said staying within the rules is not a choice or an option but a requirement and Ireland will adhere to that.

The general government gross debt-to-GDP ratio remains high, leaving the public finances vulnerable to economic and financial shocks, the Central Bank said in its latest review.

Maintaining fiscal discipline is necessary to keep the public finances on a sustainable path.
The National Dairy Council is to host a seminar entitled Promoting Irish Dairy Excellence, to be opened by Agriculture Minister Michael Creed.

Kilkenny hurler Henry Shefflin will join speakers from Ornua/Kerrygold, Teagasc and the national judging panel for the NDC and Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards.
Members of Porsche SE, a holding company for the Porsche and Piech families which controls 52% of Volkswagens voting shares, have spoken out against VWs proposal to pay a dividend for 2015 when it is still grappling with the fallout of its emissions test cheating scandal.

One of the four family members on VWs 20-strong supervisory board warned at a board meeting in April that the Porsche-Piech clan would use its voting power at the June 22 shareholder meeting to block a dividend payment, two people familiar with the matter have told Reuters.
The farmer group has expressed deep concern in relation to family farm debts due to creditors use of these orders, which typically provide that EU payments owed to farmers by the Department of Agriculture can be frozen in favour of the creditor.

The ICSA says the process is stacked in favour of the creditor, who can get the order without giving the debtor a chance to state his case in the first instance, and the only option available for the debtor is to appeal to the courts.
Robert Rosenberg of Chicago Booth School of Business  one of the top business schools in the world  is in Galway this week discussing the challenges in scaling a business.

Building the next billion dollar company in Ireland depends on having the skillset to scale a business from a start-up and our focus is putting the structure and the skills in place now, to allow that to happen, said NUIG adjunct lecturer in entrepreneurship Caitriona Lynch.
The gay 21-year-old has reached millions of people with his defiant and purposeful attitude in the face of death and hatred.

His letter was first printed in the online media site xojane.com and has since been reposted on a number of international news sites due to the poignant and beautiful message it contained.

Im a young, gay man who was born in New Jersey and grew up in Orlando. I love my friends, I love my parents, Im half Puerto Rican, half Dominican, 21 years old, and at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, you almost took my life.

I go to Pulse nightclub in Orlando because I feel comfortable there, and I can be myself. Several of my friends were there that night, including my friend Stanley.

I will never see Stanley again. You took that away from me.

Saturday night was Latin night, and it was a party vibe because of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. It was a hot night, and the club was filled with life and love and dancing and - until you arrived - pure joy.

My friends and I arrived at Pulse around 11 p.m. Ive been going to the club for a few years now, and its a wonderful place to let loose and really be yourself in Orlando. We had been having an amazing weekend, and we were planning to stay until it closed, but as it turned out, my friend Vincent had the premonition that he wanted to head out before everyone tried to leave at once, since last call was already upon us.

My friend Vincent saved my life.

Across the street, moments after we left, we heard the gunshots start. They sounded like firecrackers. We were terrified. We saw people running all around us, some of them jumping fences. We had no idea the all-consuming nightmare we narrowly escaped inside.

Minutes after we left, without realizing how precious those minutes were, thats when the massacre began.

"The deadliest mass shooting attack on U.S. soil."

"The worst terror attack since 9/11."

Please. Lets call it what it was: the worst attack - on love - on U.S. soil.

Edward, Stanley, Luis, Akyra, Luis, Juan, Eric, Peter, Kimberly, Eddie, Enrique, Anthony, Jonathan, Yilmary, Cory, Mercedez, Deonka, Miguel, Jason, Darryl, Jean Carlos and Luis Daniel, Oscar and Simon, Shane, Amanda, Martin, Gilberto, Javier, Tevin, Alejandro, Franky, Xavier, Joel, Juan, Luis, Juan, Jerald, Leroy, Jean, Rodolfo, Brenda, Christopher, Angel, Frank, Paul, Antonio, Christopher, Geraldo...

These men and women were strangers to you. All of them had one precious gift, one saving grace that you could never, ever have. That much is clear. I know you had a child and a wife and a father and a mother, but you did not have what they had. You never could have. What happened never could have happened if you did.

But Omar, you failed.

You tried to massacre the very one thing that you can never destroy in our community. Ever.

You can not take away our love.

It is more powerful than anything else that exists in the world.

Im 21 years old now, but I came out when I was 16. I remember my exact words: "Mom Im gay."

Violence had long been part of my life. Ever since fifth grade, I have been made fun of and called a faggot and had to fight for dignity and pride all my life. But in that moment when I came out to my mom, she looked at me, and she knew. I could tell she had always known, and she loved me so much. She gave me a look that told me she would love me forever.

"Okay," my mom replied to me. "And?"

And she didnt care. She saw me as her son. She saw me the same way she had always seen me. She saw me with the healing, transformative eyes of love.

I am so sorry you must not have ever had that in your life. Otherwise, I cant imagine you would have wanted so badly to end mine.

In the aftermath of almost dying, of narrowly escaping your wrath, my friends and I have been walking around like zombies all day. We survived, but now all we have are questions. What do we do now? Why am I still here? How could this have happened?

And of course - why, why, why do you hate us like you do?

I know that there is only one answer. Every time I ask these questions, it is the only thing that makes logical sense to me in this sea of devastation and heartbreak and grief.

I think about Eddie Justice who sat in the bathroom and sent those terrified texts: "Im gonna die. Mommy, I love you."

Violence all around him, and he found the love.

Omar, we are stronger than your hate. We always will be.

Eddie did not survive.

Stanley did not survive. Edward did not survive. Luis did not survive. Akyra did not survive. Luis did not survive. Juan did not survive. Eric did not survive. Peter did not survive. Kimberly did not survive. Eddie did not survive. Enrique did not survive. Anthony did not survive. Jonathan did not survive. Yilmary did not survive. Cory did not survive. Mercedez did not survive. Deonka did not survive. Miguel did not survive. Jason did not survive. Darryl did not survive. Jean did not survive. Carlos and Luis Daniel did not survive. Oscar and Simon did not survive. Shane did not survive. Amanda did not survive. Martin did not survive. Gilberto did not survive. Javier did not survive. Tevin did not survive. Alejandro did not survive. Franky did not survive. Xavier did not survive. Joel did not survive. Juan did not survive. Luis did not survive. Juan did not survive. Jerald did not survive. Leroy did not survive. Jean did not survive. Rodolfo did not survive. Brenda did not survive. Christopher did not survive. Angel did not survive. Frank did not survive. Paul did not survive. Antonio did not survive. Christopher did not survive. Geraldo did not survive...

But love did.

In fact, it just grew stronger.

We will not be DEFEATED  Pulse Orlando (@pulseorlando) June 15, 2016

H/T: BreakingNews.ie
Terms for a commission to examine the future of charges as well as that of Irish Water are also set to be finalised next week.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney brought details of the legislation to suspend charges before his Cabinet colleagues, which will be published later this week.

The particulars of the Water Services Bill were essentially agreed between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail during the government formation talks and specifically the supply and confidence agreement.

A Government spokesman yesterday said charges would be suspended by June 30. But a spokesman for Mr Coveney said this was not conclusive as the date would depend on when the legislation passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Under the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail deal, charges will be suspended for nine months while a commission examines them. Its recommendations will then be referred to an Oireachtas committee. The Dail will then vote on that committees final recommendations.

Mr Coveney has already indicated that the period of suspension could be longer than nine months. This would likely be the case if the commission or committees work did not finish during that time.

Elsewhere, the Cabinet yesterday approved two weeks paternity leave to be introduced in September. This will allow fathers take leave with welfare payments.

Separately, Health Minister Simon Harris also had legislation to outlaw the possession of certain prescription drugs without authorisation agreed at Cabinet. This will essentially fast- track a ban on the use of benzodiazepines and Z drugs, where there is no prescription, a move that has been sought by gardai and drug addiction support groups in urban areas, particularly in Dublin.

Benzodiazepines and z- drugs are controlled under existing misuse of drugs legislation whereby it is illegal to sell them without a prescription. Extending this legislation will make it an offence to possess the drugs without a prescription.

Reviews of legislation on the possession of certain prescription drugs began in 2013, but were derailed by a constitutional court challenge which overturned existing drug laws. Emergency legislation reinstated those last year, but complicating factors put back work on banning the street use of certain prescription drugs.
The decision to appeal the case is, says Arts Minister Heather Humphreys, because the ruling has widespread implications for planning and development nationally.

The decision was taken after consultation with Attorney General Maire Whelan as well as other departments.

Minister Humphreys department yesterday said one of the reasons for the appeal was the potential for the judgment to set a precedent which could affect a wide range of vital infrastructure projects.

The minister also said: I have considered whether it would be possible to appeal sections of the judgment, but that is not a viable legal option.

A consultative group on the future of Moore Street will also be established, it was announced, which will include cross-party Oireachtas members.

Reacting to the announcement to appeal the case, families and relatives of 1916 Rising fighters said they would fight the appeal.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams also criticised the Government move: It is scandalous that in the centenary year of the Rising that the government would refuse to uphold a court judgement that would protect Moore Street and its environs that are part of the legacy of 1916.

Instead of defending and protecting the historical legacy of the Rising the government is putting the rights of developers and profiteers first.

Labour welcomed the decision to set up a consultation group by the Government. But Joan Burton, party spokeswomen on arts, also said: I have seen the properties in Moore St and they are in a very precarious condition, but they are the very heart of the story of the 1916 Rising, and it would be reprehensible if the Government were to allow the centenary year pass without any real progress being made to bring about a long-term solution.

The former tanaiste added: It is incumbent on the minister to ensure that the group is given every opportunity to come up with a long-term solution for Moore St that is sustainable and workable.

The Government also says they are appealing the case because of the judgments impact on the planning and development code as well as the manner in which the judgment widens the scope of national monuments status in an unprecedented manner.
Raymond McDonagh, aged 28, of Ard Alainn, Bruree, Co Limerick, appeared before Limerick District Court, charged with assault causing harm to Carolann Keenehan, in the car park of the Brothers of Charity, on Mulgrave St, Limerick, on June 12.

Mr McDonagh, who was on crutches, was also charged with the unauthorised taking of Ms Keenehans Nissan on the same date. The vehicle was found 12 hours later submerged in water at Quilty pier in West Clare.

Detective Garda Barry OGrady alleged that Mr McDonagh approached Ms Keenehan in the car park of her workplace at around 8am and struck her on the head with a crutch.

He said the accused then drove off at speed in Ms Keenehans car with the terrified owner inside.

Det Garda OGrady said after driving around for a few minutes, Mr McDonagh allowed her to get out at the Ballysimon Roundabout after she pleaded with him.

During a bail hearing, Det Garda OGrady said he believed Mr McDonagh would commit further serious offences while on bail if he was granted it and said the alleged offences were extremely serious.

Someone could have been seriously injured, he said.

Mr McDonagh broke down a number of times during the court hearing.

Judge Mary Larkin said she was concerned for the accuseds well-being.

Would you behave like an adult. Youre like a 16-year old who got caught with his hands in the cookie jar. Now pull yourself together.

She granted bail on condition that half of a 6,000 surety be lodged in cash with the court; that the accused stay away from the alleged victim; that he sign on twice daily at Bruff Garda Station; and that he be available to gardai at all times.

Mr McDonagh was remanded to appear before Limerick District Court, on June 21, for directions from the DPP.
The Irish Childrens Triage System, the first of its kind, will be launched tomorrow by the National Emergency Programme at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

The Irish Association for Emergency Medicine (IAEM) described the system as a milestone for Irish emergency medicine and nursing.

A pilot study has shown the new regime enhances the level of care provided to children attending emergency departments (ED).

IAEM spokesman Fergal Hickey said current prioritisation systems for children were not fit for purpose, and this had been recognised for many years.

The consultant in emergency medicine said existing scales were derived from adult practice, and did not accurately reflect the likelihood of a child needing admission.

There were many examples of children being given a high triage priority who ended up being discharged home from the ED.

Some children given a low triage priority ended up needing to be admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit.

The situation prompted the Emergency Nursing Interest Group, and the Emergency Medicine Programme, to build on initial work done in the Dublin paediatric EDs to address the issue.

Mr Hickey said the hospitals involved in the pilot study opted to keep using the system. It was found to be equally successful where both adults and children were seen in EDs.

The new system will be featured at the International Social Media and Critical Care Conference, which is being held this week at the Convention Centre, Dublin.
Speaking during Leaders Questions yesterday afternoon, Mr Kenny confirmed that he will deliver on the Programme for Government promise to set up the convention within six months.

This morning I informed the Cabinet that I would bring a memo to Government next week initiating the citizens assembly which I committed in the programme for Government to have set up within six months of the Government being formed. I intend to bring that memo to Cabinet next week, he said.

Mr Kenny said the first item for reflection by the citizens assembly will be the question of the eighth amendment.

However, under pressure from Anti-Austerity TD Ruth Coppinger over last weeks United Nations Rights Committee call on Ireland to lift the constitutional ban on abortion, Mr Kenny said it is pointless to rush into a constitutional referendum unless there is a realistic consensus for whatever change might be recommended here.

Ms Coppinger raised the human rights committee finding that Irelands laws subjected Amanda Mellet to severe emotional and mental pain and suffering by denying her access to abortion services in Ireland.

Will the Taoiseach apologise to Amanda Mellet and commend her on her bravery in going public and exposing her personal situation?, Ms Coppinger said.

In response, Mr Kenny stopped short of giving such an apology.

It is very prudent and proper that ordinary people from around the country based on geography, gender, age and so on would be involved in giving their reflections on the issue that has arisen in the Mellet case and many others, he said.

Mr Kenny also faced questions from Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin on the controversial sale of Namas northern loan book, known as Project Eagle.

Mr Martin said the Irish taxpayer has been the biggest loser in the affair which is the subject of several separate investigations in other countries but not here in the Republic.

He criticised what he called the nothing to see here attitude of the Irish Government.

The sale of Project Eagle by Nama, becomes more untenable by the day, the sense that there is nothing to investigate down here or that there is no necessity for the Government of the Irish Republic to be overly concerned about this particular deal. I do not believe that position is credible. The sales process, whether we like it or not or whether Nama likes it or not, was not robust or competitive and did not secure the best outcome, Mr Martin said.

In response, the Taoiseach insisted that his information was that Nama had no questions to answer as to its role in the sale. No allegations of wrongdoing against Nama, he said. Nama continues to co-operate with the NCA and other relevant authorities in these investigations. The Department of Finance has previously made all relevant information on Project Eagle available publicly on its website.
The Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA) says the money would enable 70,000 households and 2,200 businesses produce their own power and generate 7% of national electricity needs within six years, while providing 7,300 jobs in the process.

According to the association, the financial supports sought would add 19 to the average households electricity bill each year, far less than the 60 state levy currently added annually to domestic electricity bills, mainly to support wind and peat energy.

It argues that with resistance to wind farms growing and peat-burning power plants increasingly falling out of favour in the search for clean energy solutions, the time has come to stump up for solar.

Ireland is expected to fall short of EU targets of producing 40% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020, and could face fines of 300m per year until the target is achieved.

ISEA chairman David Maguire said in 2014 just 23% of the countrys electricity was generated from a mix of wind, hydro, and biomass sources, and in the same year, 85% of energy requirements had to be imported, and coal-powered electricity production increased by close to 20%.

It is clear the country is facing a real challenge to meet these targets and avoid significant fines, he said.

Despite the successful deployment of wind energy in Ireland, which enjoyed considerable State support, wind alone will not ensure that we reach that goal.

He said most other EU countries had already turned to solar to ensure they met their targets and Ireland was lagging ever further behind.

We are ready to deploy immediately and just need a support mechanism similar to that afforded to other technologies in order to kick-start the sector.

Some 400 planning applications have been prepared for solar projects of various types and sizes, but mainly comprising proposals to rent farmland for the installation of low-rise solar panels.

Mr Maguire said the average solar farm needed to be around 25 acres to be viable and most applications had been prepared for the south and south-east of the country, in particular in Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Wexford.

He said he anticipated little public opposition to them once they were lodged. The panels are just 2.5m high so theyre low visibility, they have no moving parts, they make no noise, they create no emissions and theyre designed to absorb the sun, not reflect it, so theres no glare.

You install them, let sheep graze around them, plant a hedge around them and its hard to even see them.

Mr Maguire said he believed the State had been slow to support solar because it used to be an expensive technology. Deployment costs have fallen 80% in recent years and will continue to fall 7% per year. Now is the time to start installing.
People are talking about having a strike when Joe Biden comes, an artistic strike, because the Government has let down the arts, and yet Ireland is being promoted as being this wonderful cultural country when in fact theyre [the Government] doing nothing about it, said Rea, who has starred in Michael Collins and V for Vendetta, and was nominated for an Oscar for 1992s The Crying Game.

Its just hypocritical. They dont mind using pictures of great artists on calendars. Were not good about the arts.

I mean, have we ever seen any of the party leaders in the theatre? Ive never seen Enda Kenny in a theatre, Michael D goes to the theatre and the last time I went to see Martin [Hayes] in the concert hall with The Gloaming, Michael, the President, came into a huge standing ovation.

Hes immensely popular because he really means it about the arts. Hes the best representative of the arts weve got, he was a wonderful minister for culture.

The actor was in Merrion Square in Dublin yesterday promoting Kilkenny Arts Festival, which begins on August 5. He will be reading Seamus Heaneys final work, Aeneid Book VI, at the festival.

Its a remarkable translation by Seamus Heaney, his translations are wonderful, said Rea.

Im honoured to be asked to do it. Its got more high- powered now, the Kilkenny Arts Festival.

Another late artist with whom he was close was playwright Brian Friel, who died last year. Rea plans to honour Friel at this years MacGill Summer School with a special tribute.

In relation to the playwrights legacy, Rea said the work will speak for itself.

The work will last and it will be constantly revived and constantly reassessed and thats what Brian has left and thats there forever, he said.

Rea won Best Supporting Actor at the 2015 Baftas for his role as a spy in the BBC production, The Honourable Woman. While the actor plans to take time off, he will team up Hugo Blick again, the writer of the award- winning TV series.

I hope Ill be teaming up with Hugo Blick, who wrote The Honourable Woman, on a new television series next year which hes asked me to be in. I dont know what its called but its about human rights, Rea said.
Known as Irelands cheeriest twins, David and Stephen Flynn are now about to bring south the fruits of their success with The Happy Pear  a vegetarian food business, cafe and shop in Greystones, Co Wicklow.

The identical Flynn twins, who are SuperValu Good Food Karma Ambassadors, are set to attend the 2016 Cork and Kerry Food Forum.

David and Stephen, who are all about making natural and healthy food mainstream, will be demonstrating how easy it is to cook healthy food using local, fresh produce on Sunday, June 26, at Cork City Hall.

The Cork and Kerry Food Forum is backed by a partnership including the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) Cork and Kerry, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Kerry County Council, SuperValu, and Bord Bia. The hugely successful food event will feature more than 75 indigenous food producers from the Cork and Kerry region.

The two-day event, which is free to attend, will focus on health this year and will take place on both June 26 and 27 from 12pm to 5pm.

We are thrilled to announce the inclusion of The Happy Pear to the 2016 Cork and Kerry Food Forum line-up. David and Stephen are a shining example of how to eat well using whole and natural foods, said Joe Burke, LEO South Cork.

They love what they do and they will no doubt inspire the crowds at the Cork and Kerry Food Forum on Sunday 26 June to make healthier food choices.

The event will also feature cookery demonstrations from Kevin Dundon. A chef with a love of locally-sourced indigenous produce, Kevin will be in Cork on June 27, and will cook a specially crafted healthy recipe using ingredients from food academy producers.

The Cork and Kerry Food Forum will include food producers from the hugely successful Food Academy Programme. The programme which is run in conjunction with Bord Bia and the Local Enterprise Office network, nurtures small businesses through their journey from start-up to getting their products on supermarket shelves. The food academy currently supports more than 6,000 small food producers throughout Ireland.

The Cork and Kerry Food Forum showcases some of the best producers in the region and our good food karma ambassadors, The Happy Pear, will be on site cooking up a range of simple and easy to make dishes using some of the exciting food academy produce and inspiring the crowds to make better, healthier choices, said Kenneth OConnor, food academy project manager, with SuperValu.

For more information, see www.foodforum.ie
Under the plans, the Government is seeking to introduce laws to allow them replace managers in hospitals where there are consistently poor outcomes, patient experiences, and financial management.

The Irish Examiner understands Mr Harris is adamant that, in light of 800m in increased spending on health services this year, greater accountability is required.

However, the minister is keen to reward and incentivise good or excellent performing hospitals by creating a ring- fenced investment fund to further improve services and research.

So far, bad performing hospitals who overspend and fail to deliver get rewarded by the end of year bailouts. That has to stop and by making managers directly accountable, we can improve the situation, a senior Government source said.

Up to this point, only the director general of the HSE Tony OBrien and some top HSE executives are accountable to TDs and senators, along with their Department of Health counterparts.

However, under new plans, chief executives of poor performing hospitals will be subject to scrutiny from the likes of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Health Committee and the Finance Committee.

Mr Harris and his officials are also seeking to increase the oversight and audit powers of the Comptroller and Auditor General in order to improve the level of accountability in the health service, which has an annual budget of more than 14bn.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday gave voice to the greater expectation within Government on managers within the health service to perform  now that the normal end of year bailouts for health are no longer available because of new European budgetary rules.

It is not possible for any minister to continue to go to that well as if nothing ever happened, he said. Those people who are in charge of management of hospitals who have budgets to manage had better understand that we cannot have a situation with no further Supplementary Estimates being available.

There has to be effectiveness in terms of the taxpayers money being spent, Mr Kenny said.

I hope that, in the Minister for Health now speaking to each of the managers in the hospitals, particularly the acute hospitals, there will be an understanding here of getting best effect in the interests of the patient for the moneys that have been allocated, the Taoiseach added.

In addition, the plans commit to establishing a Performance Management Unit to provide assistance to hospitals and service providers in reaching their targets.

Mr Harris, who is a former member of the PAC is keen to ensure basic standards of care in all hospitals are delivered, but believes to achieve that, greater direct accountability is required.

The Government is also seeking to base health expenditure on multi-year budgeting supported by a five-year Health Service Plan based on realistic, verifiable projections.

The latest HSE survey of hospitals showed that Galway University Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda are the two worst performing hospitals in the country.

In its 2012 grading survey of green, orange, and red, the HSE Healthstat marked both the Galway hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes as red.

Fianna Fails health spokesman, Billy Kelleher, told the Irish Examiner that he supports any move that increases the accountability within the hospital sector.

Mr Kelleher cautioned against any move to move the hospitals to private trusts, insisting public funds have to remain publically accountable.

The Programme for Government has committed to turning the current hospital groups into stand-alone statutory trusts.
Several Cabinet members met community leaders in the inner city last night to come up with a plan to deal with crime and to combat the gangland feud which has hit the area.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, North Wall Community Association chairman Gerry Fay said three decades of neglect had created a social apartheid for people in the inner city.

He pointed out that there had been broken promises over the years to help the community with housing, including in the luxury Spencer Dock developments nearby, as well as when the Irish Financial Services Centre was developed.

Speaking outside his shop on Seville Place, just metres from the meeting, he said this had included promises of social housing.

I want someone to apologise to me and the community for whats happened over the last 30 years, he said. Theyll say this and that and promise the future.

Mr Fay said there had been five murders in the area in 80s and 90s and nothing was done. But youre also probably standing in the most valuable price of real estate in the country.

Regarding the feud between the Kinahan and Hutch gangs which has so far resulted in the death of seven people, he added: The dogs on the street know who they [the members] are.

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe admitted there had been decades of underinvestment in the area. He was joined at the meeting at St Laurence OTooles School by colleagues Frances Fitzgerald, Richard Bruton, Finian McGrath, and junior ministers Damien English and Catherine Byrne.

Speaking before he went into the meeting, Mr Kenny said he wanted to speak to community leaders who had an interest in promoting education and safety.

Former Dublin City Mayor Christy Burke called for an urgent action plan. There was a need for teachers, apprenticeships, and policing.

Lets hope before the summer we see some action, he said. If there are false promises, the reception here might not be so diplomatic next time.

Suggestions at the meeting are expected to contribute to a taskforce. Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald said this needed to act fast and the community didnt just need a pat on the head.
And Irish cannabis users are above average for seeking medical help, according to Global Drug Survey 2016.

The survey, conducted among 100,000 drug users in more than 50 countries, reports a doubling in the number of Irish users buying chemicals off the darknet, or hidden internet, and a substantial increase in use of new psychoactive substances.

The GDS report flags particular concerns at the dangers posed by synthetic cannabis and high-dose ecstasy (MDMA) tablets.

The survey, which included a survey of 707 Irish users, found that 1.5% of Irish MDMA users sought emergency medical treatment in the last 12 months.

This was joint second highest out of the 23 main countries surveyed, just behind Belgium (1.6%).

The report expressed concern at high-dose MDMA pills, leading to increased risk of acute harm.

The research said: 2016 might be the worst time to start taking MDMA in a generation.

In many countries, high- purity MDMA crystal now competes with high-dose MDMA pills. In many parts of Europe, the average dose of MDMA found in ecstasy pills is now 100-150mg/pill, with doses over 300mg having been reported.

While no dosage level is safe for MDMA, the report estimates 80g is sufficient to provide its effects.

In relation to alcohol, Irish drinkers were second only to Mexican drinkers for wanting to consume less alcohol.

It said that 43% of Irish respondents wanted to drink less, and 14% said they would like help, placing us fourth.

Ireland got stiff competition this year, when it came to which country has the highest proportion of people who wanted to drink less, said the report.

In terms of acute harms, Ireland and Norway were second to Scotland.

Some 2.2% of the Irish and Norwegians reported seeking emergency medical treatment after drinking, compared to 2.4% of Scottish drinkers. These compared to an average of 1.1%.

The survey said 1.6% of Irish people who used cannabis in the last year had sought emergency medical treatment (average 1.2%).

The research expressed surprise at how many cannabis users sought help. It said in most cases, high potency cannabis was involved.

Some 37% of Irish users reported a preference for high potency cannabis, and 57% for normal weed.

Overall, the research said a third of users wanted to use less and that 10% were dependant.

The research found that new psychoactive substances (former head shop drugs) resulted in more medical emergencies (average 2.6%), with synthetic cannabis the worst (3.6%).

It estimated the risk of an emergency was 30 times greater after taking synthetic cannabis than natural cannabis.

It said that 5.6% of Irish users reported buying NPS in 2016 (about average), compared to 3.3% in 2015.

It said the number of Irish drug users purchasing substances on the darknet doubled between 2015 and 2016, from 5.2% to 10.9%.

globaldrugsurvey.com
Mr McGuinness is among the six Fianna Fail TDs nominated to chair committees with Sean Fleming selected to head the Public Accounts Committee which is the most powerful committee as it has powers to seek evidence from departments and investigate financial transactions.

While Fine Gael has yet to announce its six selections to committee chair roles, Sinn Fein also announced its three committee chair nominations yesterday.

Caoimhghin O Caolain will chair the Justice and Equality Committee while Peadar Toibin will chair the regional development committee.

The party has also selected first-time TD Kathleen Funchion to chair the Belfast Agreement committee.

Under the DHondt system which is being introduced for the first time, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail will chair 13 of the 19 Oireachtas committees. Sinn Fein has three, while Labour will chair public service, oversight and petitions. The rural alliance, made up of the Healy-Rae brothers, Michael Collins, Michael Harty, Mattie McGrath, and Noel Grealish, has been given the chair of the European affairs committee.

The Independents4Change group will chair the Irish language committee.

Last night Mr McGuinness expressed his delight at his nomination to become chairman of the Finance Committee, having been omitted from Mr Martins front bench.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr McGuinness said: I am happy Micheal has recognised talent here. I am really looking forward to the new challenge. The Finance Committee has a broad scope and I am eager to get stuck in.

Other Fianna Fail TDs selected by Mr Martin include first-time TDs Fiona OLoughlin who has been given the chair of the Education and Skills Committee and Mary Butler who has been appointed chair of the Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Committee.

John Curran will chair the Social Protection Committee and Brendan Smith has been selected to the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence Committee.

Announcing the partys nominations Sinn Fein chief whip, Aengus O Snodaigh said: Oireachtas Committees play an important role in the legislative process through pre-legislative scrutiny, dealing with amendments to Bills and discussing departmental budgets, as well as conducting public hearings, and a strong chairperson is vital to their function.

Ms Funchion said: We are coming up on 20 years since the Good Friday Agreement so its important that we see the full implementation of it, its exciting for me as a new TD to be taking on this role, so I am very much looking forward to it.

It will be a learning experience for me, but it will be good to work with other parties and with out colleagues in the North.

Fine Gael, which has been given chairs of budget, health, housing, agriculture, transport, communications and children committees, is due to announce its nominations in the coming days.
Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) subject representative Ruth Morrissey said that the two comprehension pieces  one about Olympics controversies and the other on climate change  were tough.

Not alone were they heavy topics, she felt there was a lot of unfamiliar vocabulary in them, although the questions about them were manageable enough. Some of the final questions on each also required students to have understood the pieces in great detail.

The story of Oisin in Tir na nOg may have disappointed students who expected questions on another story, An Gnathrud. Ms Morrissey said students may have been even more surprised that one of the questions asked about the part of Saint Patrick in the story, even though he only appears briefly in Oisin i dTir na nOg.

She felt a question about the importance of adjectives in the poem An tEarrach Thiar was tough for some students, and also mentioned that many students had expected An Geibheann to be examined.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) subject spokesperson Robbie Cronin was more pleased with the paper, and considered both comprehension pieces topical and interesting.

He did agree, however, that the language may have been challenging for students hoping for a D or C grade.

There were no problems with the prose and poetry sections, where questions were easy to understand which is crucial. He considered the questions on the play, short story and extra poetry open and easily accessible. Mr Cronin thought the first comprehension piece on ordinary level Irish Paper 2, contrasting Irish actresses Saoirse Ronan and Maureen OHara, was interesting and the questions on it seemed good.

A second piece about the history of Waterford and famous characters was tough for ordinary level, and language in a question about memorial events was very difficult.

However, he reported that poetry and prose questions were well received.

Ms Morrissey also considered the Ronan OHara item a nice extract, and she said questions on the poems Geibheann and An Spailpin Fanach were in line with those of previous years.

As the most popular non-compulsory subject, nearly 35,000 Leaving Certificate students took Biology yesterday. However, many will have found the higher level exam tough going, with a lot of reading to be done and fewer diagrams than normally found on the paper.

ASTIs Lily Cronin said a lot of the syllabus was covered and questions were very detailed.

Students who are very good and who revised well will be rewarded, but a lot of students would have found it challenging, she said.

She said students had to read questions extremely carefully and, with a lot of elements in some of them, they had to change their thinking to different topics quickly. The phrasing of a question about the cell cycle may have been tough for weaker students.

The start of a long question about cell metabolism might have put students off going ahead and doing the rest of what was otherwise an okay question overall. There was welcome help on a question on the ear with the listing of the parts to be labelled, but the language in a follow-on part about the eye might have turned some students off attempting it.

Ms Cronin thought there was a lost opportunity to include questions based on topics or articles on modern biology. She said there is plenty in the news all the time about things like genetic engineering, stem cell research or advances in DNA profiling, and students may have been rightly disappointed not so see such topics featured.

A TUI spokesperson on biology thought the exam was okay, but agreed that the phrasing of some questions would have caused problems for less able students.

However, it was felt that well-prepared students had plenty to choose from, and that material from teacher guidelines was a feature, as it had been in previous years.

The TUI spokesperson considered the ordinary level exam fair, in line with those of other years, and students should have been well prepared. Ms Cronin shared this view, saying the short questions had a good selection of diagrams. She said questions about experiments were fair, although students may have been challenged in trying to explain the purpose of different implements or substances they used.

It was good to see native species like bees in Ireland and the Irish elk form the basis of questions, and there was nice use of modern biology in part of a reproduction question that asked about in-vitro fertilisation.
Struggling mortgage owners will be protected by a pause on all repossessions until the government implements proposals to help address the housing crisis, while the committee has also set a target of providing 50,000 social housing units by 2020.

These homes would be either built or bought and would not included private properties rented by those in receipt of payments such as HAP.

It comes as the government announced a 200m fund to incentivise developers to build more housing by giving local authorities money to provide the infrastructure needed for developments.

However, speaking in the Dail yesterday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed that this funding would not be available until 2017.

The Housing Committee which is set to publish its report on Friday will also recommend that rent certainty be introduced through measures which could including linking rents to the consumer price index.

More flexibility from the EU around the amount that can be spent on social housing and seeking funding for developments from the likes of pension funds or credit unions are also among the recommendations.

Committee member Barry Cowen said: The recommendations that will emanate from the committee this week will show and prove that other means to attract the level of funding that is necessary is possible if the government are prepared to take on board the suggestions that are there.

I am thinking specifically about a special purpose vehicle that has the powers to raise quite a lot of money off balance sheet to address this issue because a lot of money is needed to address it.

I dont want to hear the Taoiseach say that the monies wont be available until 2017 or 2018 because they can be provided if the will is there and the will is there, the Fianna Fail TD said.

Announcing the roll-out of the 200m fund Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Simon Coveney confirmed that development levies will also reviewed.

But pressed by Labour leader Brendan Howlin Mr Kenny told the Dail: The draw-down will not be until next year but work will commence this year.

Alan Kelly interjected that this is impossible.

Mr Donohoe said the fund would be spread over a three year period and local authorities would have to bid for the finance.

A key issue that many local authorities are experiencing across the country is that developers will not move ahead with building of homes, because crucial pieces of infrastructure are still missing, it could be a bridge, it could be a road, it could be a connection to an ESB station, a connection to a gas mains.

This is an issue that is effecting the delivery of between 15,000 and 20,000 homes. Its an emergency one-off response from this government to a critical issue which this country is experiencing, he said.

Minister Coveney said this would be the first of a series of initiatives in response to the housing crisis in Dublin, Cork and other main centres.
Between 20,000 and 50,000 people in Ireland are chronically infected with hepatitis C, but half are unaware they have it.

Since late 2014, 700 people have been treated with direct-acting antiviral drugs. These can cure the disease in most patients.

Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in 2004 and, since then, 14,500 people diagnosed with it have been reported to the HSEs Health Protection Surveillance Centre. Between 700 and 800 new cases are reported to the HPSC every year.

Hepatitis C is spread mainly by blood-to-blood contact. In 15-30% of cases, the bodys defence system can eliminate the disease, but the others develop chronic infection.

A National Hepatitis C Treatment Programme was set up in 2015 to eliminate the disease in Ireland by 2026.

At first, the sickest patients were prioritised  those with end-stage liver disease and cirrhosis, and patients infected by contaminated blood products.

Health Minister Simon Harris welcomed the extension of the clinical eligibility to directly-acting antivirals drug treatments.

Mr Harris said the HSE extended the treatment programme using the 30m in government funding provided for in the 2016 HSE National Service Plan.

The HSE is confident that everyone affected will have started treatment by the end of next year. The new direct-acting antivirals give 90% of those treated the chance of being cured.

Expanding the programme will enable more people to get that chance at a cure, improving their lives immeasurably, while also helping free-up scarce resources in our hospitals, said Mr Harris.

Consultant hepatologist and clinical lead for the National Hepatitis C Treatment Programme, Suzanne Norris, said the new phase allowed them to include an additional 1,500 people in the treatment programme.

It is not often that we say we can cure a patient of a disease, but these new medicines offer the chance of a cure in excess of 90% of patients who complete a course of treatment, said Prof Norris.

The drugs act directly on the virus, so they stop it reproducing within the liver, and the outcomes are significantly better. Before 2014, the treatment for patients with hepatitis C consisted of an injection every week and tablets every day over 48 weeks. Infection clearance rates would have been between 50% and 70%.
At the announcement of its pre-budget submission, SVP said the approach to social housing must be entirely reversed.

The Social Housing Strategy 2020 was compiled by former environment minister Alan Kelly and outlined that 70% of social housing needs should be met through rent supplement and housing assistance payments to those renting in the private market. Local authority social housing units would then meet the remaining 30% of demand.
A review of the special needs assistants scheme will also be carried out, the minister announced: Diagnostic methods have changed, we know more about needs of how children progress. Its appropriate we view this on how to make things better, so kids get on better and make more progress and get better outcomes in the education system.

Asked if the announcement of the special needs assistants would ensure every child who needs one would get one, the minister replied: It does, absolutely.

The extra 860 additional special needs assistants will be made available between September and December this year, he said. This will bring to 12,900 the total number of assistants.

Mr Brutons officials said the cost for the new assistants would be up to 9m for the remainder of this year but would be more next year.

Asked where money for the new assistants will come from, Mr Bruton said he would find it within his existing budget.

The INTO welcomed the appointment of the extra special needs assistants to primary schools to meet increased enrolments of children with special needs.

The union also welcomed the timing, which gives schools time to start an appointment process where this is required

. The new assistants will complement an increase in resource teachers  also going ahead in the autumn.

The INTO said the extra assistants represent a 7% rise in the number of special needs assistants; bringing the number in primary schools to 7,709  a rise of 470 on the end of this school year. The Department of Education said, overall, the increase will bring to 12,900 the number of special needs assistants in all schools. This will cost 425m annually.

The separate review of special needs in schools will be carried out by the National Council for Special Education. Schools will be notified of their SNA allocations for the next year. Details will also be published on ncse.ie.
HIV Ireland and the Ana Liffey Drug Project have come together on Irish Aids Day to launch a campaign highlighting the risk of HIV infection for people who inject snow blow.

Provisional data published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) shows that 491 people were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2015, a 30% rise on 2014. These figures are the highest on record.

For 2016, the upward trend in HIV diagnoses has continued. Provisional data shows that there were 231 new HIV diagnoses from the beginning of the year up to last month. There were 167 new diagnoses during the same period last year. The provisional data means there has been an increase of 38% compared with the first 22 weeks of 2015.

Tony Duffin, director of the Ana Liffey Drug Project, says that injecting snow blow increases a drug users chance of contracting HIV.

Depending on a persons drug habit, a person who injects heroin may inject about four times a day; however, people who inject snow blow may inject every two hours, said Mr Duffin. More injecting means more blood exposure and this means more risk.

This makes someone more vulnerable to HIV, Hep C, death by overdose, abscesses, etc.

Mr Duffin is calling on the Government to look at the draft legislation that has been prepared to give a legal framework for supervised injecting facilities.

This increase in HIV in Dublin among people who inject drugs and who have multiple and complex needs further highlights the need for supervised injecting facilities, said Mr Duffin.

It is essential that the draft legislation in relation to supervised injecting facilities is debated, finalised and enacted as a matter of urgency if we are to save lives and taxpayers money.

Niall Mulligan, executive director of HIV Ireland echoed Mr Duffins calls for government intervention.

We must reverse this trend in new HIV diagnoses, he said. The Government needs to invest in the prevention of HIV including more access to free testing in a variety of settings and a sustained national HIV prevention and awareness campaign  and HIV prevention should be included as a priority action in the next National Drugs Strategy.

To address the increasing incidences of HIV diagnoses HIV Ireland and the Ana Liffey Drug Project are providing harm-reduction and HIV-prevention information for people who inject drugs.

They will circulate this information online at www.drugs.ie, as well as through social media. Lord mayor of Dublin Criona Ni Dhalaigh launched the campaign and commended the work of the two bodies.

I want to commend the Ana Liffey Drug Project and HIV Ireland for working together, sharing their expertise, and providing much-needed harm-reduction information to people who are more vulnerable to HIV, said Ms Ni Dhalaigh.

This targeted initiative is very much in line with Irelands Healthy Ireland framework for improved health and wellbeing to address the specific needs of at-risk groups to reduce health inequalities.

Ana Liffey is a national addiction service and provided direct services to more than 2,914 clients in 2014.
FirstLight said it needs to raise 25,000 to hire a regional bereavement co-ordinator to ensure parents and families who lose a child or young person suddenly and unexpectedly, receive the appropriate professional supports in their darkest hour.

Every year in Cork, more than 300 parents and families are affected by the devastation of losing a child or young person suddenly. We have seen a 63% increase in the number of calls for support to FirstLight in the last year, charity spokesperson Louise OSullivan said.

The charity, formerly known as the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association, originally supported parents bereaved by cot death.

Thanks to education and awareness, the number of cot deaths in Ireland has drastically decreased in recent years.

But Ms OSullivan said there are about 970 sudden child deaths in Ireland each year  about 370 children die in accidents, about 280 die suddenly in neonatal, and about 350 die suddenly each year from life limiting or terminal illness.

She said the charity recognised the parents of these children also need supports and services, which FirstLight provides through a national network of 79 counsellors and experts.

But after a surge in calls to its helpline, from 243 last year to 201 by May of this year alone, its now appealing to 100 businesses in the Cork region to donate 250 each to help create the new position . Broadcaster PJ Coogan, the charitys ambassador, will launch its FirstLightCork100 campaign in the city next week.

The increased demand for our services in the region has arisen thanks to increased awareness about us and our services, Ms OSullivan said. I have attended various healthcare conferences over the last year, and addressed those working at the coalface with bereaved parents  the public health nurses, GPs, paramedics, first responders, and even gardai at their training college in Templemore.

Our aim is to ensure that every family in Ireland that suffers the sudden death of a child knows that we exist.

Parents in need of support following the sudden death of a child can contact FirstLights 24/7 helpline on 087-2423777 or visit www.firstlight.ie.
Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, and University College Dublin have made a list of institutes which are doing the most to advance science, invent new technologies, and help drive the global economy.

Nearly all of them emphasize practical research and applied science, as opposed to pure academics, said Reuters.

In compiling the list, Reuters said: The Republic of Ireland only has three schools on the entire list, but with a population under 5 million people, it can boast more top 100 innovative universities per capita than any other country in Europe.

Trinity was in 48th position in the ranking.

Today Trinity is notable for holding a higher percentage of cited patents in its portfolio than any other university in Europes top 100  more evidence of Irelands outsized impact on global research and development, said Reuters. There were 91 patents flied between 2008 and 2013 with 20.9% granted.

The authors of the list said Trinitys research portfolio has reached a value of more than 520m and the university brought in 95m in new research funding last year.

University College Cork ranked 74th on the list Reuters said it had filed 82 patents between 2008 and 2013 with 25.6% granted. Reuters said the university puts an emphasis on technology transfer.

UCD made it into the rankings in 94th place with 68 patents filed, 27.9% of which were granted.

The school has raised more than 1 billion in research grants during the past 10 years. UCD has more than 250 industry partnerships, including a three-year, 1.7 million initiative announced in 2016 involving six food and nutrition companies, which will focus on improving food quality and safety, Reuters said.

The most innovative university in Europe, according to Reuters, is KU Leuven, a Dutch-speaking school based in Belgiums Flanders region. It said the university maintains one of the largest independent research and development organizations on the planet  in fiscal 2014, research spending exceeded 426m.
Former Fas worker Eileen Power, aged 64, from Waterford, settled two separate actions over two different operations at the hospital. Her sons, Frank and Shane, said outside court that they can now give their mother the care she needs and in some sort of comfort.

Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Kevin Cross praised Ms Powers two sons and said the way they had cared for their mother had been exemplary. He said what happened must have been a terrible blow to them and the court wanted to congratulate them on the care they had provided for her.

Counsel Aidan Walsh told the court Ms Power went into Waterford Regional Hospital for a hysterectomy in 2004, but her bowel was perforated. She later had to have other procedures and it was decided that she would reattend for an open procedure to repair a hernia as she could not even bend down.

However, counsel said further damage was caused and Ms Powers condition deteriorated and she developed septicemia.

Counsel said Ms Power was in an induced coma but made a miraculous recovery and came out of the coma.

One of her sons had given up his job to care for his mother.

Eileen Power, formerly of Tir Connell Avenue, Lismore Lawn, Waterford city, but who now resides in residential care had sued the HSE over the hysterectomy operation which was carried out in Waterford Regional Hospital in June 2004, and a subsequent procedure in 2009.

After the second operation, it was claimed she went into a coma and suffered brain damage and while she has the use of her limbs is mentally and physically disabled.

She will have to be in full-time residential care for the rest of her life.

Counsel told the court that liability was admitted in relation to the hysterectomy but causation remained at issue in relation to the 2009 operation.

Ms Power settled her action over the hysterectomy operation for 365,800, and the other action over the 2009 operation for 1.259m.
Mr Trump wrote on his Facebook page: Based on the incredibly inaccurate coverage and reporting of the record-setting Trump campaign, we are hereby revoking the press credentials of the phony and dishonest Washington Post.

He wrote that hes no fan of US president Barack Obama, but faulted the Post for a headline on Monday that he said read: Donald Trump suggests President Obama was involved with Orlando shooting.

The headline on Monday afternoon read: Donald Trump seems to connect President Obama to Orlando shooting.

Mr Trump said on Fox News that when it comes to fighting terrorism, Mr Obamadoesnt get it, or he gets it better than anybody understands.

Post spokeswoman, Kristine Coratti Kelly, said the headline was changed to more properly reflect what Mr Trump said. She added: We did so on our own; the Trump campaign never contacted us about it.

A Post photographer and reporter attended Mr Trumps speech in New Hampshire without issue.

In a statement, Post editor Martin Baron said Mr Trumps decision to revoke the papers press credentials is nothing less than a repudiation of the role of a free and independent press.

When coverage doesnt correspond to what the candidate wants it to be, then a news organisation is banished, said Mr Baron.

The Post will continue to cover Donald Trump as it has all along  honourably, honestly, accurately, energetically, and unflinchingly. Were proud of our coverage, and were going to keep at it.

Kathleen Carroll, executive editor of The Associated Press, said: This is a race for the most powerful position on the planet.

The public is interested in what the candidates do and say, and having independent coverage is part of what keeps the public informed.

The founders who crafted the US Constitution may very well have disliked some of the stories written about them, but they enshrined the right to a free press in the First Amendment anyway.

Mr Trumps campaign has also revoked credentials from The Daily Beast, Politico and the Des Moines Register.
Francois Molins said attacker Larossi Abballa made the declaration of allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in exchanges with officers during a three-hour standoff on Monday night in Magnanville, about 56km west of Paris. He was eventually killed by police.

Abballa was responding to IS calls to kill non-believers where they live, and with their families, Mr Molins said.

IS news agency Amaq cited an unnamed source as saying an IS fighter carried out the attack.

Prosecutors office spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre said French authorities had no reason to doubt the claim.

Mr Molins said Abballa stabbed 42-year-old Jean-Baptiste Salvaing, a police commander, outside his home.

He then went inside and took Mr Salvaings partner and three-year-old son hostage.

He killed the woman, who was a police administrator in the suburb of Mantes-la-Jolie, but did not harm the boy.

Abballa recorded a 12-minute video related to the attack and posted it on Facebook, Mr Molins said, but did not provide further details or confirm an earlier report from a police official who said Abballa posted the video on live-streaming service Facebook Live.

Mr Molins said three people  ages 27, 29, and 44  were detained in the probe. He did not provide any other details.

French president Francois Hollande said earlier it was incontestably a terrorist act and that France faces a threat of a very large scale.

The country has been on particularly high alert as it hosts Euro 2016, and is still under a state of emergency after the November IS attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

France is not the only country concerned [by the terrorist threat], as we have seen, again, in the United States, in Orlando, he said.

In 2013, Abballa, 25, from Mantes-la-Jolie, was sentenced to three years in prison for recruiting fighters for jihad in Pakistan, according to two police officials.

A resident of the building where he lived said police raided it early yesterday. Neighbourhood resident Henriette Yenge, who lives and works near the building, said she would say hello to Abballa when he went to the mosque around the corner.

He was a neighborhood kid, she said. I was surprised it was him. Its sad to see things like that.

A Facebook profile bearing the name Larossi Abballa  which vanished from the internet early yesterday  showed a photo of a smiling, bearded man.

Two recent posts featured videos critical of Israel and Saudi Arabia. The last publicly available post was a mock-up of the Euro 2016 logo, highlighting what the poster said were masonic and occult symbols.

Some will say we see evil everywhere! Abballa said in a message posted about 18 hours before the attack.

Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve visited the police station in Les Mureaux where Mr Salvaing worked. He said more than 100 people seen as potential threats have been arrested in France this year, including in recent weeks.

Mondays attack shook police officers, and Mr Cazeneuve said they would be allowed to take home their service weapons.
James Wesley Howell was arrested early Sunday in Santa Monica, California, with the weapons and explosives in a car he apparently drove from Indiana.

He told police he was headed to a gay pride event in West Hollywood that attracts hundreds of thousands of people.

It is unclear whether Mr Howell intended any violence at the LA Pride event, but the timing of the arrest  hours after the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida  put police and event organisers on heightened alert.

An Indiana probation officer met with Mr Howell, 20, of Charlestown, Indiana, three weeks ago, rated him a low-level offender, and had yet to schedule the in-home visit, said James Hayden, chief probation officer in Clark County.

Mr Howell did not have permission to leave Indiana after pleading guilty to a misdemeanour intimidation charge. Authorities there are seeking to have him returned as a probation violator. The FBI is continuing to investigate.

We have processed the vehicle and are consulting with prosecutors to determine if charges apply, said Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman in Los Angeles.

Court records in Indiana and friends depict Mr Howell as a gun enthusiast with a quick temper.

Twice within four days last October, he was accused of pulling a gun and making threats.

The first incident involved Mr Howells then-boyfriend and the second a neighbour, identified in police records as Jeremy Hebert.

Mr Howell was charged with intimidation in the case involving Mr Hebert, a conviction that led to his year-long probation and weapons prohibition.

Mr Hebert remembered Howell being hot-headed but said he had no interest in pursuing an intimidation charge against him.

I wasnt going to ruin his life for it, Mr Hebert said, adding that he was fine as long as Mr Howell did n0t return to the neighbourhood.

Prosecutors apparently pursued the case without Mr Hebert.

Grace Logsdon, Mr Howells former roommate, said Mr Howell owned five guns and liked to spend time at a shooting range. He enjoyed teaching Ms Logsdon about guns, she said, but he had a bad temper.

During one trip to a gun range, she said Mr Howell told her: I wish I could kill a lot of people.

She said Mr Howell lived in a duplex apartment with Ms Logsdon, her husband and Mr Howells now-former boyfriend late last year.
Oscar Pistorius must pay for murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, her father has told a South African court. The crime has devastated the family.

The 29-year-old Paralympian gold medallist faces a minimum 15-year jail term, after his manslaughter conviction for the 2013 killing was upgraded on appeal. He originally received a five-year sentence.

Called to testify by the lead state prosecutor in Pistoriuss sentencing hearing, a tearful and trembling Barry Steenkamp said forgiving the runner was very hard.

It just devastated us, I ended up having a stroke... I just dont wish that to anybody in this world, the 73-year-old said. He has to pay for his crime.

Mr Steenkamp said he and wife June had relied financially on their daughter, and he had hurt himself to try to relive the pain that his daughter went through: I jabbed myself with needles.

He asked the court to allow pictures of his daughter to be shown to the world as a deterrent to would-be killers.

Jonathan Scholtz, a psychologist called by Pistorius lawyer, told the court on Monday, the first day of the hearing, that the athlete was a broken man, on medication for depression, anxiety, and insomnia, who should be hospitalised and not jailed.

However, prosecutor Gerrie Nel said Pistorius has shown no remorse for killing Ms Steenkamp when he fired four shots through a locked door in his Pretoria home.

Mr Nel also said Pistorius had had temper tantrums while serving his sentence.

The case has prompted a fierce debate in a country beset by high levels of violent crime against women.

Some rights groups have said the white athlete has received preferential treatment.

Charlotte Mashabane, an assistant health manager at the prison where Pistorius was held for a year, told the court yesterday he threw tantrums while in prison and she felt threatened by him.

Ms Mashabane said Pistorius became angry when she declined to change his approved medication for medication supplied by his family, and that he had thrown some medicine on her table.

She also said there was no report of Pistorius being assaulted while in prison, as Mr Scholtz had asserted.

At his original trial, Pistorius argued that he mistook Ms Steenkamp for an intruder.

His manslaughter conviction was upgraded to murder, after an appeal heard by the Supreme Court, which ruled in March that Pistorius had exhausted all his legal options.

The original trial judge, Thokozile Masipa, is also presiding at the sentencing hearing, at Pretoria High Court.
Bookmakers cut the odds of an exit vote in the June 23 referendum to as short as 6-5.

Remain was still the favorite, but only just, after several phone and online polls, released late Monday, suggested growing support for leaving the 28-nation bloc.

Senior Labour Party figures warned that leaving the EU could cause a recession and trigger big, public-sector job losses.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said trade unions across Europe had brought us better working conditions, longer holidays, less discrimination, and maternity and paternity leave.

We believe that a Leave vote will put many of those things seriously, and immediately, at risk, he said.

Leave campaigners insist the UK government will have more money if it does not have to pay millions a week to the bloc.

The Rupert Murdoch-owned Sun tabloid urged its readers to vote for an EU exit, with a front-page editorial, on Tuesday, under the headline BeLeave in Britain.

The newspaper  which has a history of backing the winning side in elections  urged voters to reject a dictatorial EU that has proved increasingly greedy, wasteful, bullying and breathtakingly incompetent in a crisis.

The Sun remains Britains biggest-selling newspaper, with a circulation of more than 2m.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage has said he has absolutely no idea what will happen if Britain votes to leave the EU next week.

He said his partys MEPs, of which he is one, would act as the canary in the mine shaft in the European Parliament if the government failed to act upon a Leave vote by the British people.

Mr Farage was speaking during a walkabout with supporters in the London borough of Kingston upon Thames.

Mr Farage said he was absolutely thrilled and over the moon with the Sun newspapers decision.

Arriving in Kingston aboard his purple Brexit battle bus, to the theme tune of The Great Escape, Mr Farage, flanked by five security guards, posed for selfies, exchanged handshakes, and signed one supporters car.

He also accepted a 5 note from another supporter, who offered it on the condition he bought himself a beer.

Polls have shown a rise in support for Leave, but Mr Farage warned that any Brexit campaigner who thought they had it in the bag was a fool.

A YouGov poll for The Times put Leave seven points ahead, on 46%, with Remain on 39%. And a pair of ICM polls for The Guardian  one carried out by telephone, the other online  has Leave ahead by 53% to 47%, if the dont knows are excluded.

Asked what he thought would happen after next weeks vote, Mr Farage said: Ive absolutely no idea. What I do know is that if we vote for Brexit, then the Ukip delegation in the European Parliament has a very important job over the next 18 months or two years.
Asia Beheading in Philippines Draws Outrage But No End in Sight for Abu Sayyaf

Enraged by the beheading of a Canadian hostage by Abu Sayyaf extremists, Philippine troops have pressed an offensive in the south against the insurgency.

MANILA  Enraged by the beheading of a second Canadian hostage by ransom-seeking Abu Sayyaf extremists, Philippine troops pressed a major offensive in the south Tuesday but there was no sign of an end to the small but brutal insurgency that a new president will inherit in about two weeks.

With a black Islamic State group-style flag as a backdrop, Abu Sayyaf fighters beheaded Canadian hostage Robert Hall on southern Jolo island on Monday after a ransom deadline passed. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Philippine counterpart, Benigno Aquino III, expressed outrage and vowed to exact justice.

Another Canadian, former mining executive John Ridsdel, was beheaded by the militants in April. The fate of two other hostages from Norway and the Philippines who were abducted with Hall and Ridsdel from a small marina on southern Samal Island in September remains unknown, according to the military.

This latest heinous crime serves to strengthen our governments resolve to put an end to this reign of terror and banditry, Aquino said through his spokesman.

In Ottawa, Trudeau said his government is more committed than ever to working with the government of the Philippines and international partners to pursue those responsible for these heinous acts and bring them to justice, however long it takes.

Mondays beheading is the latest tragedy in the volatile mix of poverty, firearms, neglect and lawlessness that has cursed the southern Philippines.

The resource-rich region, where foreign and domestic mining, pineapple and banana companies have made fortunes, has been engulfed by Muslim and Marxist insurgencies.

The Abu Sayyaf emerged in the early 1990s as an extremist offshoot of a decades-long Muslim separatist rebellion waged by a large group named the Moro National Liberation Front. But the nascent Abu Sayyaf lost its commanders early in combat, sending its mostly rural fighters on a violent path of criminality, banditry and terrorism.

The group currently has about 400 fighters split into at least four factions.

Aside from support from an informal network of armed groups, the Abu Sayyaf also finds a lifeline among relatives and friends in rural communities who shelter them and provide food, logistics and information when they are pressed by army offensives.

Some local officials have also been suspected of providing support, regional military spokesman Maj. Filemon Tan said, explaining why the militants have endured in the mountainous hinterlands despite on-and-off military offensives against them.

There are an extraordinarily large number of troops now trying to find the Abu Sayyaf on Jolo island, Tan said. The problem really is how to locate them.

Early last year, a US military force ended more than a decade of non-combat counterterrorism support, including satellite and drone surveillance, for Filipino troops battling the Abu Sayyaf, as the militants zeal waned.

The underfunded military, one of Asias most ill-equipped, began focusing instead on external defense as territorial rifts with China in the South China Sea escalated.

Under the new circumstances, the Abu Sayyaf sprang back into action with ransom kidnappings of tourists from neighboring Malaysia as well as the southern Philippines, including the Samal island marina where Hall, Ridsdel, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipino woman Marites Flor were taken at gunpoint last Sept. 21.

Following Ridsdels beheading on April 25 and Canadian expressions of outrage, Aquino ordered an intensified offensive against the militants. He plans to fly to Jolo, about 960 kilometers (600 miles) south of Manila, this week to impart a sense of urgency in containing the Abu Sayyaf, according to two military officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about details of the trip with the media.

One of the officials, a general, said Aquino has made tremendous efforts to end the Abu Sayyafs brutal presence before he steps down at the end of the month. As things stand, however, the incoming president, crime-busting Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, will have to take over the campaign to end the groups insurrection.
Asia Orlando Shooting Gives LGBT Singaporeans an Unlikely Opening

A tragedy half a world away has created a small opening for a repressed community in Singapore, galvanizing the Southeast Asian city-states LGBT people.

SINGAPORE  A tragedy half a world away has created an unlikely opening for a repressed community in Singapore.

The mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, has galvanized LGBT people in Singapore, where a candlelight vigil was held Tuesday to express solidarity with the victims. In the process, they highlighted the predicament of their own largely underground community.

Although there is little fear of gun violence in Singapore, we must remember that violence takes many forms, not only physical, said Lynette Chua, an assistant professor of law at the National University of Singapore. The gay, lesbian and transgender community is still unprotected by the law from discrimination on the basis of their sexuality or gender identity, she said.

In Singapore, sex between men is banned by a law, a holdover from British colonial days. Over the years, however, the small Southeast Asian city-state has loosened up and homosexuality is now quietly tolerated. Singapores leaders have even said the anti-gay law, known as Section 377A, will not be enforced. But discrimination remains rife, although it is subtle and often masked under the need to protect a pro-family Asian culture.

I felt that a show of solidarity, no matter how small a group would go a long way as a silent statement that the shooting is inherently wrong, said Nicholas Lim, 36, the administrator of GLBT Voices Singapore, a Facebook page that organized the vigil. The page has more than 48,000 followers.

At the evening gathering of about 400 people, attendees held hands and sang songs in remembrance of the Orlando shooting victims. The victims names were read, and some people hugged, overwhelmed with emotion. The crowd raised multicolored glow sticks above their heads and displayed them in the shape of a heart on the ground. The glowing sticks were used instead of candles since open flames are banned in Singapore parks.

A 36-year-old teacher, who only wanted to be identified as Jonathan, said: It is important to show solidarity with the LGBT community around the world. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. There is little fear of gun violence in Singapore, but discrimination is discrimination around the world.

Not all attendees were members of the LGBT community. I felt that it was important as the tragedy took place during pride month and there have been negative comments on the Internet, said social media executive Donna Louisse, 24. As allies, we are not going to stop fighting for our LGBT friends. Just showing up is a sign of support.

Public meetings in highly regulated Singapore can be held only with police permits. Politically and socially sensitive meetings can only be held in a designated area, Hong Lim Park, for which no police permit is needed but have to be approved by park authorities. Lim had planned to hold the vigil on Monday, to coincide with similar events in the US, but couldnt get the necessary approval.

The fact that approval was given, even if a day later, shows how far Singaporea contradictory crucible of modernity and industry under the thumb of a virtual one-party rulehas come in shedding its image as an all-work-no-play country.

While open display of same-sex affection such as holding hands or kissing is not common, it is also an open secret that there are several gay bars in the Tanjong Pagar district that come alive on Friday and Saturday nights. One such is DYMK, which stands for Does Your Mother Know.

Official space for LGBT people, however, is far more restrictive.

Before enlistment to the compulsory military service, all men must declare if they have gay inclinations. Gay marriages, including those solemnized overseas, are not recognized here. Accounts of being thrown out of homes or being discriminated against in the workplace are rampant on the GLBT Voices Singapore page, where many members remain anonymous for fear of further discrimination.

In 2014, the National Library Board removed three childrens books including And Tango Makes Three, based on a true story of two male penguins in a New York zoo who hatched an egg. Earlier this month, following complaints from the public, a kiss between two male actors was removed from a production of the musical Les Miserables.

I am afraid that Singaporeans have forgotten what it took to make Singapore special, which is to live side by side, accepting and respecting our cultural differences, Lim told The Associated Press, referring to the huge economic strides the countrys ethnically diverse 5.5 million people have made since independence in 1965.

Singapores leaders have long emphasized that its prosperityit is the third richest nation in the world on per capita income basisdepends on social, racial and religious cohesion. Of late, they have also had to maintain an increasingly uncomfortable balance between conservatives and gay rights supporters.

In June, the Ministry of Home Affairs said it will take steps to make it clear that foreign entities should not fund, support or influence the annual Pink Dot event, that advocates the freedom to love.

Yet the ministry said it will not pursue action against 18 sponsors, including Google, Facebook and Goldman Sachs, of Pink Dots latest run on June 4. Organizers said attendance increased from 2,500 in 2009 to 28,000 last year. Numbers this year were not tracked.

While it is apparent that Singapores government is not fundamentally opposed to homosexuality, it is reluctant to remove Section 377A from the books for fear of angering conservatives. But making it clear that the law wont be enforced appeals to the gay community.

Last June, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said there is space for the gay community but they should not push the agenda too hard because  there will be a very strong pushback. Where we are I think is not a bad place to be.

In 2014, a survey of 4,000 Singapore residents by the Institute of Policy Studies found that 78.2 percent of respondents felt that a same-sex relationship is wrong, and a similar percentage was against gay marriage.

The governments dilemma was clear from Lees condolences to President Barack Obama on Monday following the Orlando shooting. He condemned the attack as brutal and senseless, and said it resulted in the loss of many innocent lives.

They condemn the attack without even mentioning the fact that gay men were the target. Even when we are being persecuted they deny us our identity, said writer Ng Yi-Sheng, 35, who plans to attend the vigil.

He said he knows of people in Singapore who have refused to condemn the Orlando attack, and even praised it. So yes, it has been traumatic and people need a space to come together.
Burma Displaced Shan Return to Villages in Northern Shan State

Shan communities displaced by conflict have returned to villages where the Shan State Army-North has left but the Burma Army remains embedded.

The last of over 1,000 ethnic Shan displaced by conflict in northern Shan States Hsipaw Township the previous month have now returned to their villages.

On Tuesday, a last group of 300 voluntarily left Hsipaw town, where they had obtained shelter with the aid of community leaders, including a state parliamentarian of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and members of the Shan Literature and Culture Committee.

The displaced have returned to the villages of Thein Hain, Nar Thaw and Pan Nar bordering Lashio Township, where fighting between the Burma Army and the Shan State Army-North prompted them to flee starting May 19. The area is now considered conflict free.

Nang San San Aye, an SNLD state parliamentarian for Hsipaw Township, told The Irrawaddy that they had given the returning villagers 18,000 kyats (US$15) per person, along with rice, cooking oil, salt and other commodities for them to eat when they got back to their villages.

Nang San San Aye said she had overseen the first group sent back on June 1, with subsequent groups sent back on June 6, 13 and 14.

She said that now is the time is for the local Shan to plant paddy in their villages, with the onset of the rainy season across Burma.

According to local community leaders, the SSA-N is no longer in the area where the Shan villagers have returned; only the Burma Army has retained bases in the vicinity, and the fighting has stopped.

Local authorities in Hsipaw Township have also facilitated the handout of citizenship documentation to those displaced, including Citizenship Scrutiny Cards (pink cards), before their return. Many had not possessed such documents previously, despite being eligible for citizenship.

Nyo Nyo Myat, another female community leader in Hsipaw assisting the return, said the citizenship documents along with recommendation letters from the government would provide safety for those returning by proving they were from those villages.

Only the Burma Army remains in their villages now. If [the returning villagers] show their citizenship cards, they will be allowed to stay there, said Nyo Nyo Myat.

Nang San San Aye of the SNLD explained that, Many of our ethnic Shan cannot speak Burmese, and Burma Army soldiers beat them because of it. Those [citizenship] cards will prove they belong to the villages.
Burma Drug Precursors Worth $1.7 Million Seized in Northern Burma

Sagaing and Mandalay division police have netted a substantial haul of chemicals from alleged drug traders en route from the Indian border.

MANDALAY  Anti narcotics police in Mandalay and Sagaing divisions on Tuesday seized over 2 billion kyats (US$1.7 million) worth of pseudoephedrine tablets and powder.

According to police sources, the interception in Sagaing town of a passenger car, carrying 61.5 kilograms of pseudoephedrine powder, traveling from the India-Burma border town of Tamu to Mandalay City has led police to other drug traders in Mandalay.

After questioning the two men arrested in Sagaing, we learned that the powder was being taken to people in Aungmyaythazan Township of Mandalay [City], deputy police Col Myint Aung from Drug Elimination Police Force Division 1 told The Irrawaddy.

Weve arrested two women and a man [in Mandalay], and seized pseudoephedrine tablets and powder weighing about 500 kilograms. They have been charged with illegal drug trading and they are currently in police detention, Col Myint Aung added.

Col Myint Aung later informed The Irrawaddy that, close to midnight, police made five more arrests, three women and two men, in Pyigyitagon Township in Mandalay City. More chemical substances were seized at this time.

Pseudoephedrinea stimulant also prescribed for medical purposesis combined with other chemicals to produce amphetamine-type drugs, the domestic market for which has been growing in Burma in recent years, with a particularly severe affect on urban youth.

We are pursuing the other drug traders, cooperating with police from Sagaing Division, because these traders came from Tamu in Sagaing Division, said Col Myint Aung.

According to police, the India-Burma border at Tamu is a significant transit point for drugs entering Burma; drug traders have been caught repeatedly using this route.

The incident on Tuesday is the second largest drugs haul recorded in Mandalay, after the seizure of 36 billion kyats ($30 million) worth of drugs and precursor chemicals in Pyigyitagon Township in March.
Burma New Govt, Old Censorship Laws: Film About Shan Prince Banned as Threat to Ethnic Unity

A film based on the true story of an ethnic Shan leader and his Austrian wife was banned by the film censorship board, claiming it could harm ethnic unity.

RANGOON  A foreign-produced film about an ethnic Shan leader and his Austrian wife, Twilight Over Burma, was banned from public screenings in Burma by the film censorship board, claiming that the movie could harm the ethnic unity in the country.

Although the film was scheduled to open the annual Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festival (HRHDIFF), on Tuesday at Rangoons Naypyitaw Cinema, it has since been pulled. It marks the first time that an international film scheduled for a festival has been banned by the Ministry of Informations Film and Video Censor Board under the new democratic government led by President Htin Kyaw and State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.

The move faced big criticism by the public and many local filmmakers who said the ban is a threat to the artistic freedom and liberty of the country. Festival organizers initially planned two other public screenings of the film in Rangoon during the festival.

The film tells the real-life tale of an Austrian woman, Inge Sargent, who became royalty when she married Sao Kya Seng, an ethnic Shan princeor saophafrom Hsipaw, Shan State. It covers the early days of Burmas independence up to the years immediately following the 1962 military coup, and is based on Sargents autobiography, Twilight Over Burma: My Life as a Shan Princess.

According to the original book, Sao Kya Seng instituted land reforms and promoted democracy, but was arrested by the Burma Army during Gen Ne Wins coup and later disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, the organizer of the HRHDIFF said at the opening ceremony of the film festival that the film did not get the green light. It was unexpectedly banned at the last minute after receiving comments from the censorship board which described the content of the film as potentially harming the image of the military.

Thida Tin, deputy director general of the Information and Public Relations Department and deputy chair of the film and video censorship board, said that the film could create instability at a time when the 21st century Panglong conferencewhich intends to initiate a national reconcilitation process in the countryis in the planning stages under the leadership of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.

We found some possibilities in the film of some content that could harm the ethnic unity [of the state] and create hate speech, she said.

We are concerned that ethnic unity will be confronted by unnecessary problems because of the bitter experiences [of Sargent] presented in the screening, which could touch sore points of the country and create hatred, she added.

Igor Blazevic, a human rights campaigner, founder of One WorldEuropes biggest human rights documentary film festivaland jury member at HRHDIFF, told The Irrawaddy that the act of not recognizing citizens suffering under the military regime could, in fact, undermine the chances for reconciliation.

Banning the film does not help reconciliation, he said. Censoring the truth is harming reconciliation. Honest recognition about the [wrongdoings] which have happened beforeand which are still happeningwill do much more for reconciliation.

Blazevic also said that the pain that many families and communities carry must be taken into consideration and should not be ignored.

If Burma genuinely wants to address human rights abuses, Blazevic explained that culture, art [and] media should be encouraged to bring [into the open] the truth and painful stories about past and current wrongdoings.

The film censorship board is made up of 15 representatives, mainly from the Ministry of Informations Myanmar Motion Picture Development Department, and other different associations including the Myanmar Motion Picture Oganization (MMPO), the Myanmar Music Association and the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture. The military-controlled Home Affairs ministry is also represented on the board.
Rangoon Takes On Illegal Developers

After years of lax enforcement, the Rangoon government is fining contractors and landowners who are building without or beyond permits.

RANGOON  The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) has brought charges against the developers and landlords of more than 2,000 low-rise buildings who violated the citys rules and regulations, said Mayor Maung Maung Soe on Tuesday at Rangoon divisional parliament.

National League for Democracy (NLD) regional lawmaker Kyaw Kyaw Htun of Hlaing Township said in his constituency many low-rise buildingsstructures typically seven- to eight-stories highare being built without official approval from YCDC. Some customers had reportedly already bought apartments in buildings which were unlawfully constructed. The YCDC has barred anyone from moving in to the apartments and have fined the developers 300,000 kyats (US$250) per month to YCDC until their case is resolved in the courts.

This has become a big problem for the apartment buyers, said Kyaw Kyaw Htun.

The mayor said the government has been regularly issuing construction permits, but some landowners have joined up with unlicensed contractors to exploit the consumers without following YCDCs regulations.

Some contractors and landowners submitted proposals for three-story buildings but later they built five or six stories, said Maung Maung Soe.

Shorter buildings require less approval time, lower fees and are not subject to the regulation requiring installation of elevators for buildings over 62 feet high.

Maung Maung Soe said YCDC charged the contractors or landowners under Articles 68 and 69 of the building code. Violating Article 68, which applies to developers who do not abide by their own proposals, carries a maximum punishment of one year in prison or 500,000 kyats (nearly $420), or both.

Article 69 is for unlicensed landowners or contractors who illegally build houses or apartment buildings. If someone who was already punished in accordance with Article 68 commits a repeat offense, they will be charged under Article 69 and fined up to 50,000 kyats (about $42) per day. Most judges fine offenders 3 million kyats (more than $2,500) per month.

The mayor said that in the past, YCDC had been lax about enforcing these provisionsinstead of fining offenders, they simply required owners to seek YCDC approval instead.

But those days are over, Maung Maung Soe added. He has tasked the engineering department of YCDC with reviewing and taking responsibility for illegal buildings. A fine of 15,000 kyats (about $12) per square foot has been imposed on buildings which have more stories than permitted or were constructed without permission.

We have rigorous regulations for the developers, but they are not paying the fines on time, said the mayor Maung Maung Soe. That is why their [re-application for] permits have been delayed.

Thukha Yadana Construction Company Director Thaung Htike Min said while his company has not violated any laws, there are many unlicensed contractors operating in the country.

Some landowners who do not have the capital to construct buildings on their own often invite contractors to build the apartments for them, said Thaung Htike Min, adding that some of these contractors do not have the proper YCDC licenses.

The fine payment system is reasonable for big construction firms, he said. But for the small private businesses it is a bit harsh.
Business Rumors of Foreign Investors Soon Accessing YSX Quashed

Foreign investors will be unable to buy shares on the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) as long as the Myanmar Companies Act is not amended, says a YSX official.

RANGOON  Foreign investors will be unable to buy shares on the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) as long as the Myanmar Companies Act is not amended, a senior YSX official said, dispelling rumors that shares trading would open up to foreigners this week.

Earlier this week, misleading news apparently spread after Maung Maung Win, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Myanmar, was reported on Monday in the weekly Chinese paper Golden Phoenix as preparing to allow foreign investors access to the YSX.

According to the Myanmar Companies Act, foreign investors arent allowed to buy shares from local companies. Thats why, until its amended, shares trading will be inaccessible to foreign investors, Thet Tun Oo, a senior YSX officer, told The Irrawaddy.

Some media outlets probably misunderstood what U Maung Maung Win said. He was saying that its possible but that it all depends on [amending] the act.

The Myanmar Companies Act was enacted in 1914, but while some of its clauses are seen as ill-suited for present-day Burma, it has yet to be updated by Parliament.

Six firmsMyanmar Agribusiness Public Corporation (MAPCO), First Myanmar Investment (FMI), Myanmar Citizens Bank, Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings Public Limited (MTSH), First Private Bank and Great Hor Khamwere supposed to be listed on the YSX in March, but FMI and MTSH are the only two that have since been ready for shares trading.

Myat Thin Aung, vice chairman of Yoma Bank, FMIs sister company, said that allowing foreign investors access to the YSX would be a boon to Burmas market.

Regarding FMI shares, Ive heard that many foreign investors are interested in buying. If the government would allow this, the stock market would develop, Myat Thin Aung said.

According to several industry sources, some foreign investors have been forced to try to buy shares under a local Burmese citizens name instead of their real name.

Making it legal [for foreigners to buy shares] would boost the stock market, Myat Thin Aung said.

The YSX, Burmas first modern stock exchange, officially opened in December, but it initially only traded through internal dry-run testing.
Twilight Over Burma Eclipsed by Censorship Board

With Twilight Over Burma banned from a human rights film festival, The Irrawaddy revisits a trip to the late Shan Prince Sao Kya Sengs residence.

Twilight Over Burma, a film about the real-life story of an Austrian woman, Inge Sargent, who became royalty when she married Sao Kya Seng, an ethnic Shan prince, was banned from premiering in Burma at the annual Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festival that started on Tuesday. A film censorship board member told The Irrawaddy that the film was under review because it could allegedly damage ethnic unity in the country.

Given this news, The Irrawaddy is revisiting a story originally published in September 2012 about a trip to the late princes neglected residence in Shan States Hsipaw Township.

During my last trip to Burma in June, I went up to Lashio, northern Shan State, and decided to stop in en route at Hsipaw to visit the residence of famed Shan Prince Sao Kya Seng.

Otherwise known as East Haw, the house is surrounded by a large compound and guarded by tall tamarind trees. Yet when we arrived the place seemed desertedthe gate was locked and all was quiet.

After bellowing for a short time, a young man wearing the regions traditional loose trousers emerged and met us at the gate. He was flanked by a dozen canine bodyguards and carried a Shan sword.

At first, he was reluctant to allow us in and I appreciated the sensitivity of the situation. As ethnic Bamar, or Burman, we were guests in Shan State. The young boy was polite and smart yet I could feel his innate mistrust of these foreign visitors.

He explained that his great uncle was arrested for tourism charges and only recently released. I showed him our business cards and was glad to learn that he was familiar with The Irrawaddy and the famous Shan cartoonist Harn Lay who has contributed fantastic work.

But even with our credentials confirmed, he steadfastly refused to open the gate. My driver went back to the car and started the engine so gave one final plea of, Can we come back tomorrow on our way back from Lashio?

Then he smiled and I felt the mood change. I dropped the names of a few prominent Shan people I know living in northern Thailand. Do you want to come in now? he relented. The gate finally opened.

Sao Kya Sengs palace is in a sad state, but with a little careful restoration, could be a great place to learn about the history of Hsipaw and tragic tale of its royal family. I had read Twilight Over Burma by Sao Kya Hsengs wife, Inge Eberhard, and so had wanted to visit Hsipaw Palace for a long time.

Sao Kya Hseng was last seen in March 1962 being arrested in the state capital Taunggyi while visiting his ailing sister. He was blissfully unaware of what had taken place in Rangoon at the time. Gen Ne Win had staged a coup that placed the military at the head of state power.

The prince was arrested on his way to Heho Airport to catch a flight to Hsipaw. He was last seen being taken to an unknown place of detention by armed soldiers.

Born in 1924, Sao Kya Hseng was educated at schools at Darjeeling, India, and went to study engineering at the Colorado School of Mines in Denver, the United States, where he married his Austrian bride.

Eberhard decided to follow her husband to live in Burmaa country she had never visited. It was a fairytale trip as she had no idea that Sao Kya Hseng was a Shan saopha or prince (some Shan spell it chofa while it is sawbwa in Burmese) and the ruler of Hsipaw.

Only when their ship arrived in Rangoon did Eberhard see the hundreds of people playing music and carrying flowers to welcome their illustrious guests. She wondered who the important passengers on board were until her husband then explained about his royal blood. It quickly became apparent that she had married a Shan prince.

Eberhard subsequently took the name Sao Nang Thusandi and became Mahadevi (celestial princess) of Hsipaw.

These days, however, the luster has dimmed a little on the royal household. Our young guide took us inside East Haw where Sao Kya Hseng and Sao Thusandi lived with their children and servants. We saw the family tree and living room as well as photos of the prince and his family.

East Haw is in a sorry state of disrepair. Burma is blessed with many historic buildings but too many are neglected and forgottenindeed, Hsipaw Palace has been left overgrown by bushes seemingly for political reasons.

While it would be valuable to restore the palace to reveal the real story of Sao Kya Hseng, and it would certainly receive some tourists, the authorities would no doubt constantly harass the occupants.

Our young guide, a relative of the late prince, was proud to show how his ancestor built the palace and brought in the old tractor still parked by the portico. He also explained how Sao Kya Hseng introduced new ideas regarding the states age-old feudal system.

Journalist Bertil Linter wrote in his foreword to Twilight Over Burma, Perhaps the most radical idea was to give all the princely familys paddy fields to the farmers who cultivated them. In addition, [Sao Kya Hseng] bought tractors and agricultural implements that the farmers used free of charge, cleared land to experiment with new crops, and began mineral exploration in the resource-rich valley.

Sao Kya Hseng was undoubtedly more than just a privileged landowner. He was an MP for Burmas House of Nationalities, a member of the Shan State Council and secretary of the Association of Shan Princes. He remained in politics while many Shan saophas gave up their positions. But then in the 1950s, a cloud descended onto Shan State.

In 1958, Burmese government troops arrived to drive out a Chinese Kuomintang incursion and quell a rising resistance movement which wanted Shan State to secede from the Union. Shan rebels and sympathetic villagers were arrested, tortured and disappeared. However, the Shan were not even united amongst themselves.

Amid this turmoil, it is uncertain how Gen Ne Win and his loyal military officers viewed Sao Kya Hseng as they prepared to seize power in a coup.

In her book, Sao Thusandi said that the Shan who desired an independent Shan State wanted Sao Kya Hseng to lead the revolt but he was reluctant. On the other hand, pro-Union advocates suspected him of being a secessionist due to his open criticism of Burmese politics and army misconduct.

Indeed, Ne Win and Sao Kya Hseng certainly did not get along well. When Ne Win, then army chief, was passing through Hsipaw, the prince wanted to invite him for lunch at East Haw where Burmese ministers and politicians often visited.

One of Ne Wins officers declined on his behalf and instead asked the prince to wait by the roadside for the generals motorcade. Shocked to hear such a disrespectful suggestion, the ruler of Hsipaw declined.

Sao Kya Hsengs supporters insisted that Ne Win and his military intelligence chief Col Lwinalso known as Moustache Lwinmust have had knowledge of what became of the prince after his detention.

However, Ne Wins regime denied taking part and made several contradictory statements regarding the princes disappearance. In fact, Sao Thusandi received a short letter from her husband that said he had been detained in Ba Htooa garrison town in Shan Stateand was still OK. Nevertheless, the Burmese authorities never officially admitted apprehending the prince.

Sao Thusandi went to meet Ne Wins wife Khin May Than in Austria in 1966 where the general was having medical treatment. The dictator often went to Europe where he would meet Professor Hans Hoff, chairman of the Psychiatric and Neurological University Hospital of Vienna. Some sources close to the general suggested that he suffered from bipolar disorder.

Hans Hoff had earlier written a letter to Sao Thusandi in Rangoon that stated her husband was in detention. Ne Win assured his doctor that the Shan prince was well and two orderlies have been assigned to take care of his every need.

Hans Hoff then wrote, The physician who looks after Sao [Kya Hseng] was introduced to me, and he testified that Sao is in good shape, both physically and emotionally. Yet that same day Sao Thusandi received a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs saying that the government had never detained the Shan prince. Was Ne Win trying to deceive his psychiatrist for some reason?

Meanwhile, several associates of Sao Thusandi told her that the prince was no longer alive. One of them was Bo Setkyaa member of the legendary Thirty Comrades. Bo Setkya, who must have had supporters in the army, came to meet the princess and told her that her husband had died. Sao Kya Hseng was killed near Ba Htoo several weeks after his arrest, he said. Sao Thusandi and her family finally left Burma in 1964.

It is not known what actually happened to the prince, although Ne Win and his top officers must have been well aware of his fate. One theory was that Sao Kya Hseng died during interrogation, while another said that he was killed trying to escapearmy officers were given shoot to kill orders at the time.

The last theory was that he was caught alive and when young officers asked a superior what to do, they were simply ordered to execute him. Those involved then cowardly remained silent after they realized the magnitude of what had taken place.

We walked towards a wooden building far from East Haw surrounded by spirit houses and were told that this is where the late prince prayed and read books. The building, if restored, would be an elegant addition to Burmese ethnic culture, but unfortunately it has already almost collapsed.

Since the day Ne Win staged a coup, Sao Kya Hseng was prevented from ever seeing East Haw again. However, perhaps his soul somehow managed to return to this royal abode.
How to Promote Yourself on the Job

A lot of companies are acknowledging that management isnt for everybody in the software development world, and they need to provide the means for developers to advance in their careers, and to be rewarded accordingly, outside of the management track. One such company is Acquia, a digital experience platform provider headquartered in Boston.

I recently had the opportunity to discuss this topic with Andrew Kenney, vice president of engineering at Acquia, who opened the discussion by explaining his companys approach:

I firmly believe that there should be separate tracks for individual contributors and for managers. At Acquia, we have individual contributors who are able to be technical team leads, as well as architects.

As they grow in their career and progress through the different levels, they demonstrate best practices and the ability to deliver novel solutions on time and under budget. They also show leadership qualities via mentoring their colleagues, helping new people get up to speed, researching new programming languages and methodologies. A lot of these mechanisms help show they are not just a great senior engineer, but a great leader of their team. Its the kind of behavior we want to encourage.

I asked Kenney if hes found that the pool of strong management candidates among a group of software developers is smaller than the pool in other professions, just by virtue of the nature of the people who tend to gravitate toward software development. He said its definitely harder to find engineers who naturally put themselves forward as a strong manager, or even a strong team lead:

A lot of that has to do with being light on soft skills, so we work to grow those, as well, and to challenge the employees to stretch themselves in different ways. So I think some of it is just the nature of who is in this profession. Its harder for us to find engineering managers than it is to find senior engineers.

Were looking for certain qualities in our engineers  were constantly asking them if they want to take on not just leadership on a technical level, but leadership of people or initiatives. Every once in a while you find a gem in the rough, but often you have to go outside the engineering department, within the rest of the company.

Of course, there are plenty of software development and engineering students who do aspire to be leaders, if not necessarily managers, so I asked Kenney what his advice is for those young people to prepare themselves academically. He said beyond the basics of the curriculum, students need to prove themselves outside of school:

We look for things such as, are they working on open-source projects in their free time? Do they build their own website, or websites for organizations theyre a part of? Are they only learning Java or whatever is offered by the school, or do they pick up different programming languages on their own free time? That thirst for knowledge while theyre in school is something we think is the mark of an excellent engineer as they enter an organization.

How many clubs are they a part of? Are they just an individual participant, or are they a leader? These are all things we look for, and we encourage candidates to do co-ops and internships. Make sure you dont just pick the company you aspire to go to, but get a feel for the various types of software development and engineering that are out there. Make sure you pick something that youre excited to be doing when you go into work every day.

For a student who aspires to take the management track, is the engineering degree sufficient? Kenney responded by saying Acquia doesnt hire a lot of managers directly out of school:

Its usually a trait that is demonstrated over time. We are primarily looking for excellent engineers, those who can constantly pick up new skills. If someone does want to progress into management, I think the type of thing they need to demonstrate, and what will give them great experience, is just taking a challenge, really going for some lofty, ambitious goal, and delivering upon that. That shows the ability both to stretch yourself and commit to something over time, and to execute in the trenches at the same time. Thats a skill that works well while youre in school, as well as once you get out into the work force.

I asked Kenney if he had it to do over again, what he would do differently to better prepare himself for what hes doing now. He said he would take advantage of internships and co-ops:

When I was in school I had summer jobs, but they werent tied to my future profession. I was always more of a hobbyist entrepreneur, and not working for large organizations and stretching myself in professional software development and technology companies. The colleges we have the most successful relationships with are those that have great co-op and internship programs. You get the cream-of-the-crop students  they learn a tremendous amount, and they add value to Acquia as well as take back their experiences to their peers and to their curriculums. So I would definitely encourage a younger me to go the co-op and internship route as much as possible.

Kenney wrapped up the conversation by advocating a culture in which inspiring a little crazy isnt a bad thing:

I think a key thing that isnt talked enough about is enabling autonomous, empowered people and groups, and giving them the chance, for better or worse, to make decisions, learn from their experiences, and celebrate failure as well as success. That way, they can tell their peers and the leadership what went right and what went wrong, what theyve learned, and what theyre going to do differently next time.

The organizations that innovate and deliver the best products are not afraid of risk. Theyre willing to go out and tackle audacious challenges, and learn from those experiences. The people who are driving startups are those who are often willing to go out on a ledge, and just do crazy things. One of the core things in our DNA is to inspire a little crazy, and we look for candidates who are willing to do that sort of thing.

A contributing writer on IT management and career topics with IT Business Edge since 2009, Don Tennant began his technology journalism career in 1990 in Hong Kong, where he served as editor of the Hong Kong edition of Computerworld. After returning to the U.S. in 2000, he became Editor in Chief of the U.S. edition of Computerworld, and later assumed the editorial directorship of Computerworld and InfoWorld. Don was presented with the 2007 Timothy White Award for Editorial Integrity by American Business Media, and he is a recipient of the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for editorial excellence in news coverage. Follow him on Twitter @dontennant.
There have been a lot of rumors circulating about why mobile manufacturers are keeping their latest releases until the end of the year. Whether it is because the companies are waiting for the latest processors to come out, or they are just seeking for competition, the public is eager to learn which among them will reign supreme.

Apple has not officially released the design of their upcoming iPhone 7, but prototypes have been leaked and experts have made their assessments based on the same. According to Vibe, the new iPhone will sport a dual lens camera system, which will give users SLR quality photos and even give images a 3D effect.

The 16GB option will no longer be available for the iPhone 7, with the minimum now starting at 32GB. It is also expected that Apple will continue to introduce new colors for their mobile line, which will be deep blue this time around. In fact, the company is expected to drop space grey to make room for the new dark blue.

From the prototype photos, it seems the iPhone 7 will no longer have a headphone jack. Reportedly, Apply has come up with a new set of headphones that are Bluetooth compatible, so there is no need for such. Another thing that seems to be missing is the home button. Analysts are suggesting that all buttons will now be accessible though the touch screen.

Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Phone will come with the Kaby Lake processor, according to Christian Daily. It will also come with Windows 10 pre-installed, which is why the company is holding off on the release for now. The processor from Intel is expected to arrive next year, while Windows 10 has no release date yet.

There will be three options for the Surface Phone, which will all sport a QWERTY keyboard - 4GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage or 6GM of RAM and 128 GB of storage space. The pro version will come with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.

The Surface Phone will also come with a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C port and a 20MP Carl Zeiss camera.
On Monday, June 13, Apple's Craig Federighi has declared in the opening demo at this year's edition of the World Developers Conference that iOS 10 is the biggest release of iPhone software in its history.

Apple has made many important iOS 10 announcements at WWDC, explaining that the upcoming operating system will come with a solid set of new features. The high-tech giant is expected to launch the final version of iOS 10 in September.

According to MacRumors, Apple's mobile operating system introduces now third party developer support in the iMessage chat platform. Developers will be able to create app extensions with the new SDK, similar to third party keyboard apps already available on the App Store. Users will be able to interact with these apps from directly within Messages.

The Square Cash payment service will work as an app extension for Messages. Users of iMessage chat platform could pick an amount and attach it to a message. However, international payment transfers are not available as of now.

Emojis within Apple's Messages app are now three times bigger. Predictive emoji will be offered as well. This feature allows emojis to replace words in a semi-autonomous way.

A clever time saver feature called Tapback was also implemented in the iMessage chat platform. The feature allows users to send one of six quick responses.

According to Irish Examiner, the iOS 10 will also come with a redesigned lockscreen, adding shortcuts so user can quickly access music apps and the camera, interactive live updates with apps like Uber and rich messages. Widgets have been upgraded and 3D touch on the homescreen provides more information for selected apps.

Among the important improvements within iOS 10 is Siri. The virtual assistant will work with specific apps, since has been opened up to developers.

Apple Photos will come with added scene, facial and object recognition. Users can also view their photos on a map. In "Memories," users will be able to group their photos based on people, trips and activities.
The Angler exploit kit, which first appeared three years ago and was in wide use by nefarious individuals, appears to have disappeared, according to researchers at Forcepoint Labs.

In its place, those looking to infect systems with malware appear to have turned to the Neutrino exploit kit, according to Nicholas Griffin, a senior security researcher.

Exploit kits are used in a process known as a drive-by download which directs a browser to a Website that hosts the kit. The kit is then used to infect the system, depending on the vulnerabilities present.

The process is generally unknown to the user, happening without his or her intervention.

After its first appearance,grew in popularity, with those behind the kit acting quickly to evade detection by common security products. The rise of Angler appears to have occurred after the alleged operators of the Blackhole exploit kit were arrested in October 2013.

Griffin said the halt in the use of Angler was all the more surprising given a recent report that it had been modified to evade Microsoft's Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit.

However, he said it could be related to the arrest of a Russian gang which had been using Angler to distribute a banking trojan known as Lurk.

On a blog devoted to malware issues, the author known as Kaffeine said that those who had been using Angler were now moving to another exploit kit known as Neutrino.

Demand and supply is equally at work in the world of exploit kits and Kaffeine had noted that the suppliers of Neutrino had now increased the price of their exploit kit, Griffin said.

From US$880 per week on a shared server and US$3500 per month on a dedicated server, Neutrino was now only catering to dedicated servers and had doubled the price to US$7000, Kaffeine noted.

This is akin to what happened to exploit kit prices after the infamous Blackhole kit went out of use.

"We will continue to monitor Angler to see if it re-emerges or if it is truly dead and buried," Griffin said. "In its absence we expect to see a sharp increase in hits on other active exploit kits such as RIG and Neutrino."
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has welcomed new federal government regulations banning the import of signal jamming devices.

The government has amended regulations under which the Department of Immigration and Border Protection is now able to stop import of the jamming devices, and allowing Border Force Officers to seize the jammers.

The ACMA worked closely with the department on the amendments which came into force on 10 May.

For some time, the authority has prohibited the possession, supply and operation of signal jamming devices, and stressed that mobile phone jammers can be used to block, or otherwise interfere with, radio emissions between a mobile phone and a base station, potentially putting lives at risk.

Mobile phone jammers can be used to block, or otherwise interfere with, radio emissions between a mobile phone and a base station. This can cause interference to mobile phone signals, which can be frustrating and have potentially dangerous consequences. If a mobile phone user is attempting to contact emergency services, interference from mobile jammers to the call may put lives at risk, the ACMA warns.

And, the ACMA also cautions that RNSS jammers, more commonly known as GPS jammers, cause interference to GPS and navigation type devices, which can also be essential in emergency situations.

The new amendment applies to all jamming devices prohibited by the ACMA under Section 190 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992, unless otherwise exempted by a written declaration made by the ACMA under Section 27.

To find out more about devices prohibited by the ACMA click here.
NBN Co has issued a reminder to users of medical alarms to ensure their devices are compatible with the National Broadband Network.

The company warns that anyone with an alarm device needs to check with their device or retail provider about their current medical alarm, as existing devices may not be compatible with the NBN and are unlikely to work during a power blackout.

Information on the NBN's Medical Alarm Register helps identify households with medical alarms and where support may be needed to help minimise a break in service.

NBN executive general manager of migrations, Katarzyna Stapleton, says: Its important those using a medical device register early and begin the process now to help us identify households which may need assistance during the rollout of the NBN network.

Minimising disruptions to services such as medical alarms during the rollout of the network is an issue we take extremely seriously.

If you are already using the NBN network and have your medical alarm connected to it, it is a timely reminder to check your alarm compatibility with your medical alarm provider and fully understand the implications of a power outage and consider your options.

Rollout of the NBN involves a complete upgrade to Australias fixed line telephone infrastructure and Stapleton says NBN Co has been working closely with medical alarm providers since 2010 to develop solutions to device compatibility challenges.

This has resulted in a number of support initiatives for medical alarm users, including a national register of medical alarm users, letters sent to everyone who is having the NBN installed in their area with information about medical alarms, extra advice provided over the phone and in-person visits in some cases.

Stapleton says individuals using professionally monitored medical alarms that are compliant with the Australian Standard, AS4607-1999, may be eligible for migration to a new system that does not rely on a fixed line connection, and should contact their alarm provider for more details.

Individuals using a medical alarm or alert (or a family member, carer or friend) can list a medical alarm on the NBN Medical Alarm Register by calling 1800 227 300 or completing the online form on the NBN Co website.
Australias IT industry is one of the worst business sectors when it comes to employing women, particularly at executive management level, with just 14% of women in the top positions.

Nationally in the IT industry, men generally outnumber women 2:1, which is consistent in all states, and of the total IT participation, 69% are men and just 31% women  with the number of women in middle management roles higher than those in executive positions.

The diversity report on women in technology has just been released by recruitment consulting firm Davidson Technology which conducted the survey in conjunction with professional network LinkedIn to get an informed insight into the IT participation rates in Australia and the representation of women in key job types.

Davidson Technology chief executive Brendan Kavenagh says in a time of keen focus on the number of females represented in all business sectors, the IT sector is one of the poorest performers when it comes to the gender diversity challenges it faces.

Despite the poor overall result, theres some evidence of a better situation for women, with the survey revealing that the top five IT roles that have a greater representation of women include program manager/director, release/change manager, designer, business analyst and test managers.

But, Davidson found that core coding type roles are still less inclined to attract a large representation of women.

Kavenagh says Davidson identified a need for the report when discussing gender targets with clients.

To determine realistic targets, businesses need to be informed, but there was no single source of information in the public domain that captures data on how many people work in the IT sector, where exactly in Australia they are and their gender  until now.

The best information we have at our disposal is from the worlds largest professional network, LinkedIn.

According to Kavenagh, the survey findings suggest that it is unrealistic for businesses to aim for 50:50 gender balance across all job types, when the pool of female talent averages about 30%.

The true value in this report is the analysis of female population size within role types. This data enables us to assist organisations to set best practice targets for female participation.

Now that we have this information the next step is to work with organisations to determine how best to attract female IT workers.

Kavenagh says strategies to attract women need to be well thought out and planned, and retention strategies are equally as important.

This report will help us have better conversations with organisations about how to attract candidates and to assist them to set realistic gender targets based on the data available.

On the flipside, it also provides us with valuable information on candidates so we can work more proactively in this area and provide them with unique opportunities that helps them continue to develop and further their career plans.
A press release from OnePlus for its new US$399 OnePlus 3 flagship Android smartphone  regrettably not sold in Australia  got me thinking again about value for money.

Almost a year ago I wrote that The end of the $1000 smartphone should be nigh and at that time I mentioned fledgling Chinese smartphone makers offering flagship specification phones for about a third of this price. It is still a relevant read as a precursor to this article.

Since then I have visited OPPOs factory; seen OPPO grow to number three in Australian market share; gotten a better understanding of the Chinese Tigers  makers like OPPO, VIVO, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Huawei and more; and seen (and used) first hand some excellent phones including OPPOs flagship Find 7 and mid-market R7, R7 Plus, and R9. I hope to test the R9 Plus soon.

All these offer incredible value and quality, ranging in price from $449 to $699 (including GST and a very unfavourable currency exchange rate). They also have mass market phones from $199. That is why I would like to tell you about the OnePlus 3  a phone we may never see in Australia but one that portends the future of smartphones.

There will always be a need for a range of price points and features as evidenced by the motor car industry. Over 90% of the cars sold in Australia are under $64,132 (base luxury car tax limit)  and 60% of these are in the cut-throat, competitive under $20,000 market. That leaves a scant 10% for gold-plated excess or ego-driven choices.

Similarly, the flagship smartphone market ($1000+) is less than 10% of the market. Samsung, for example, knows this and uses the Galaxy as a flagship to win hearts and minds (brand cred) and its features and R&D filter down over the next couple of years to mid- and finally mass-market models. It has the whole market covered from sub-$100 to the prestige end, but it makes its money from volume, not out of flagships.

Now I readily admit to using "thousand dollar" phones like the desirable and curvaceous Samsung S7 Edge, really liking the Windows 10 Lumia 950XL for business, coveting a Huawei P9 (yet to be tested), and keen to play with an LG G5 (ditto). And I admit in the past to owning prestige, ego-driven cars because I could afford to play in that 10% of the market. But I have an admission to make  I would be just as happy with the OPPO R7 or Plus and will probably trade in my excellent Beamer for a Suzuki!

Because as Joe Average sees it, a $10 toaster from Kmart will probably do as good a job as a $100 one!

Back to the OnePlus  which incidentally is owned by the BBK Group that own OPPO and VIVO and use the three brands for different market segments.

The OnePlus 3 has gobsmacking specifications  believe me, as a reviewer, these are the stuff electronic dreams are made of.

6GB of DDR4 RAM

64GB of UFS 2.0 storage (three times faster than the usual eMMC)

Qualcomm 820 quad core and Adreno 530 graphics processor (the creme de la creme of processors)

USB-C connector (the future of USB)

3000 mAh battery and Dash charge (60% in 30 minutes and new technology that uses standard 5V but 4A charging increases battery life and reduces charging heat)

5.5, 1080p, 401ppi, Super AMOLED, Gorilla Glass 4 covered, 2.5D screen and a free screen protector

16MP; f/2.0; Sony IMX289 PADF sensor; 1.12 m pixels, HDR; Dynamic De-noise processing (DSP by the Qualcomm); RAW image; Optical and Electronic image stabilisation; 4K video

8MP; f/2.0; Song IMX179 sensor; wide-angle, 1.4 m pixel; EIS; low light, selfie

Dual SIMM and Cat 6 LTE (300Mbps) totally unlocked world phone

NFC, Fingerprint sensor, Wi-Fi AC dual band, Bluetooth 4.2

Android 6.x

152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35 mm and 158g

Now a US$399 phone will cost more like $599 here, but these specs meet or exceed every Android flagship (and iOS, although the iPhone 7 is coming in September and we dont know what that will bring). I could have just as easily been writing about the OPPO R9 or the Xiaomi Mi 5  and future models will continue to offer more bang for buck.

There have been many articles written about the market but mark my words  in 12 months when I revisit this article you will see the Chinese companies occupying at least four of the top five global market share slots by units shipped. These phones are becoming both inspirational and aspirational.

I think Samsung is now agile enough with a broad range of phones to keep ahead of the pack. I respectfully suggest that Apple's haemorrhaging market share with its flagship only policy will cater to an ever dwindling portion of that 10% who can afford it and the company will have to adjust its business model accordingly.

In the words of OnePlus  Never settle!
its a given that solar power and in-home battery storage is the future of home electricity generation  that is, until we get back to the future with a plutonium-powered nuclear fission reactor and a flux capacitor.

Simon Hackett, the executive chairman of Australian energy storage specialist Redflow, has called for state governments to offer consumers the opportunity to voluntarily trade in their solar feed-in tariffs (FITs) in exchange for battery subsidies, effectively reducing a long-term liability for these governments and kick-starting an innovative new industry for Australia.

Of course, Hacketts Brisbane-based company Redflow makes flux capacitors  sorry ZCell batteries built on an equally scientific sounding zinc-bromine flow battery that can supply 10-kilowatt hours of on-demand, stored energy harvested free from the sun. It is the logical extension to solar panels.

Hackett has few words to say about other battery technologies like lead-acid or Lithium-based alternatives. "If you cant say something nice " would seem to be a good start. ZCell has a 100% depth of discharge (no memory effect), operates up to 50 without the need for external cooling, and is intrinsically fire retardant  there is no risk of thermal runaway or fire. Add a 10-year warranty and this local company has the undisputed lead.

Hackett said FITs had already achieved their goal of kick-starting solar panel adoption in Australia. Over the past year, Australia has emerged as a global battery testing ground because of its widespread deployment of PV solar panels and higher electricity costs.

From a public policy point of view, continuing to pay FITs beyond this point represents a substantial forward liability that does not deliver improved public good outcomes. However, state governments are clearly sensitive to the political risk of simply cancelling these long-running tariff schemes, some of which hold liabilities to as far as 2028, Hackett said.

The way out of this problem, outlined at the start of this story, will, he believes, serve both the public policy and industry development agenda while removing these long-term liabilities from the public purse.

In practice, the cost of a government battery subsidy would not exceed the remaining forward liability for a customer, which can be readily estimated based on past subsidy payment patterns. Hackett believes that the net present value of the future liability is so much more than the immediate battery system cost that the saving overall would easily exceed (and hence justify) any short-term budgetary impact. Governments routinely make business decisions based on the net present value of the alternatives concerned.

Hackett said the FITs buyout concept, widely discussed in the Australian renewables sector, was reportedly under consideration by Queensland.

Widespread energy storage will also benefit far-sighted electricity companies by reducing demand during peak power usage periods and giving them the potential to buy home-stored energy as a virtual on-demand power source rather than relying on fossil-fuelled driven peaking gas generators," he said.

"It will also help Australia achieve its international carbon reduction commitments by time-shifting renewable energy so it can be used 24/7, not just when the wind is blowing or when the sun is shining. Swapping FITs for a home battery subsidy is a win-win.
In order to evolve and succeed in the mobile-centric future, companies will require revolutionary increases in the speed, capacity and connectivity of mobile devices  and theyre looking to 5G networks to provide it.

That is according to a new report from Forbes Insights, in association with Huawei, "The Mobile Industrial Revolution: Anticipating the Impact and Opportunities of 5G Networks on Business". Global business leaders say that mobile and wireless are critical to the way they do business, but they worry that their needs are outpacing existing access networks.

The introduction of 5G networks in the next five to 10 years is expected to create huge opportunities to build enterprise value in a range of industries, profoundly affecting business operations, profit and loss economics, asset valuations and revenue models.

The global survey of more than 1000 executives found a capability gap:

more than one-third of all executives say that their current systems already cant support the evolving needs of their business, including 55% of executives at organisations with revenues more than $10 billion;

38% of executives in the Asia/Pacific region agree theyve outgrown their mobile network; and

36% in Europe and 34% in North America see the need for much more capacity.

Bruce Rogers, chief insights officer at Forbes Media said, Organisations with an eye on the future are already anticipating the impact of 5G technology. They are working on long-term plans to innovate and realise value from this.

Qiu Heng, president of wireless networkmMarketing operation of Huawei said, 5G will help to realise a completely new world for consumers, for vertical industries, and operators. This will be a fully connected world converging the physical world and the cyberworld, and this world will provide infinite new business opportunities for vertical industries and operators.

Other key findings include:

67% say they need mobile networks that provide ultra-high throughput.

64% say they require massive numbers of connections

59% require ultra-low latency (59%)  anticipated to be provided by 5G networks.

Education is key 36% said they know very little or nothing about the technologies and issues around 5G wireless; 38% say they "understand the fundamentals"; 27% say they are "very familiar"; and Executives based in Europe tend to be far better informed than their colleagues, with only 24% saying they know little or nothing, compared with 42% in Asia/Pacific and 40% in North America. Unsurprisingly, leaders in the technology industry are much better informed than their colleagues in other verticals



26% say they are extensively exploring or planning how they might use 5G.

15% say they are not planning at all. The companies sitting on the sidelines tend to be smaller and earn less revenue: 28% of executives at companies with revenues below $500 million say they arent making plans  five times as many as the 3% of executives who arent planning for 5G at $10 billion-plus organisations.

80% believe that 5G technologies will have positive effects on multiple areas of their business. The areas where theyre most bullish about the benefits of 5G: customer experience, service/ product quality and worker productivity.

Comment

There is no doubt that in Australia the pent-up demand for 4G has nearly outstripped the technical capacity to deliver. Things like 4GX, VoLTE, Cat 6 to 11 or band aggregation are just band-aids. The world is going mobile, and Australia is an early adopter.

5G is not just a faster 4G  it is a complete rethink designed to keep up with the explosion of connections. It theoretically can provide stable 10Gbps data rates in perfect conditions or extremely high rates  "tens of megabits per second for tens of thousands of simultaneous users"  no more "Melbourne White Night" or footy data blackouts. It supports beacons, sensors, IoT devices and segregates them (kind of a Quality of Service issue) from voice and data and should achieve less than 1ms latency. It will make it possible to download 4K and VR content  in seconds to minutes, to send large medical files and X-rays, etc. It will be backwards compatible with existing 4G networks.

You can read more (not too technical) about 5G at GSMA Intelligence.

We will begin to see 5G devices and networks in commercial operation by 2020  perhaps later in Australia. In the interim, the quest for standards goes on, and Huawei is a major player in this area.
The FBI has fallen short on assessing the privacy risks and accuracy of a huge facial recognition database used by several law enforcement agencies, a government auditor has said.

A new report, released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office Wednesday, shows the FBI's use of facial recognition technology is "far greater" than previously understood, said Senator Al Franken, the Minnesota Democrat who requested the GAO report.

The FBI's Next Generation Identification-Interstate Photo System (NGI-IPS), which allows law enforcement agencies to search a database of more than 30 million photos of 16.9 million people, raises serious privacy concerns, Franken added in a press release.

"Facial recognition technology is a new and powerful tool that holds great promise for law enforcement," he said. "But if we dont ensure its accuracy and guard against misuse, I am concerned about the risk of innocent Americans being inadvertently swept up in criminal investigations."

The FBI's use of NGI-IPS has lacked transparency because the agency has been slow to assess the privacy impact when changes are made to it, according to the GAO report.

Before NGI-IPS became fully operational in April 2015, the agency also conducted only limited accuracy tests of the service, the GAO added.

The FBI "has not assessed how often errors occur," the report said.

The agency isn't conducting operational tests of the system, added Diana Maurer, a homeland security director at GAO. While the FBI has tested the system in controlled settings, "what we don't know is how accurate it is in real-world use," she said in a GAO podcast.

The FBI agreed with a handful of recommendations from the GAO but disagreed with two others. The agency and the Department of Justice don't need to re-evaluate the way they assess the privacy impacts of the system because those assessments were done and because the DOJ "continually strives to assess and refine its internal processes and procedures," the FBI said.

The FBI searches photo databases "in strict compliance with state and federal law," the agency added.

Concerns about the accuracy of the system are overstated, according to the FBI. NGI-IPS is not used for a positive identification of a criminal suspect, but instead "provides a gallery of likely candidates that are to be used as investigative leads."

The FBI has no authority to enforce the accuracy of photos coming from other sources, it added.

Photos in NGI-IPS come from criminal mug shots, drivers' license applications, and other sources.

As of December 2015, the FBI had agreements with seven states that allow them to search NGI-IPS and was working with more states to grant access.
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Uber drivers have filed a lawsuit against the company regarding their employment status. This comes after the ride-sharing company raised $3.5 billion from a new investor.

Tech Crunch reported that the New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) and 10 Uber drivers are accusing the ride-sharing company of stealing wages. The group represents 5,000 Uber drivers in New York.

The NYTWA filed the lawsuit on Thursday. They claimed that the company skims Uber drivers' wages without providing added protections as employees.

According to Fortune, Uber drivers have been misclassified as independent contractors. The group believes that the drivers should be considered as employees and should be given minimum wage, overtime pay as well as reimbursements for expenses.

Uber spokesperson Matthew Wing has described the lawsuit as "a thinly veiled stunt." He also criticized the NYTWA for only filing the lawsuit on behalf of Uber drivers and not its other members.

Moreover, the group filed a separate lawsuit with the National Labor Relations Board. The other claim alleged that the company was illegally preventing Uber drivers from filing class action suits against the company.

"Uber, through its practices and broken promises, severely harmed the thousands of drivers they recruited and have contributed greatly to a 'race to the bottom,'" the lawsuit read. Apparently, the company has violated state and federal employment laws.

Meanwhile, the company's issue with Uber drivers comes after the startup raised $3.5 billion from a new investor. Inc. reported that Uber has received a cash infusion from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

This is the most recent round of funding for the ride-sharing startup which totaled for over $5 billion and increased the company's value at $62.5 billion. It has also become the largest investment from a single investor.

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has confirmed that the company's partnership with Saudi Arabia is part of efforts to support its economic and social reforms. The company has had operations in the kingdom since 2014.
Recently, the 5-hour workday has become one of the most-talked about ideas in the business world. Does it really improve productivity?

According to The Atlantic, the French have it right when they are required to take 31 days off per year. Moreover, these vacations serve one purpose - to avoid the tipping point of overwork.

"That's because, even though the amount of time you work tends to match how productive you are as if on a sliding scale, length of work and quality of work at a certain point become inversely related," the publication wrote. "At some point, in other words, the more you work, the less productive you become."

Florida State University psychology professor K. Anders Ericsson conducted a study in Berlin about how successful musicians spend just 90 minutes each day to practice. The study also revealed that these musicians had the tendency to take more naps throughout the day and took breaks whenever they felt tired or stressed.

Overworking has been known to lead to life-shortening stress as well as disengagement at work. Henry Ford solved the right problem when he cut his employees' schedules from 48 hours a week to 40 hours a week.

Speaking to Inc., Tower Paddle Boards co-founder and CEO Stephan Aarstol shared why he implemented the 5-hour workday to his employees and how it helped them be more productive.

"The type of work done today is knowledge-work: learning, idea generation, and communication," Aarstol said. "Thanks to technology advances, all of these things can be done in a fraction of the time they took to do previously."

He revealed that modern-day employees are only just doing about two or three hours of real work while taking eight hours to do it. Majority of workers today don't even use the tools that could boost their productivity.

"As a result, workers identify and use these productivity tools," he added. "There is pressure to not waste time so things like online shopping and engaging in social media just don't happen. The pressure to perform is heightened, which has made our employees teach themselves to be highly productive, creating a competitive advantage."
You may have always thought about working with rockets and figuring out how to help mankind move forward when it comes to technology and space advancement. Those are big dreams and when it comes to working in SpaceX, the workers there aim to do just that. However, one often doesn't consider the security that it brings. Is SpaceX the place for a tenured or newly graduate employee that seeks job security and career advancement?

According to Indeed, 29 reviews were placed by employees who are working in SpaceX. These employees talk about their experiences with the advanced company. If you'd like to find out if working in SpaceX is the right fit for your job security and career advancement expectations, noting down some reviews from these current and previous employees might help. Here are some helpful reviews:

1. A former Final Integration Technician said that "What you see is what you get." He claims that growth as a professional was unrestricted.

2. A former Lead Engineer said that promotions are easy to obtain but noted that there is a lack of experience in management and on some engineering teams.

3. One former employee claims that working in SpaceX is problematic because of the constant changes of the company (from a small one to a bigger company).

4. A Composites Manufacturing Engineer explained that the corporate culture is cut throat because of the need to fulfill groundbreaking work.

5. One Technician had a miserable experience, saying that the company is still young and has so much to learn about the aerospace industry's procedures and work practices.

6. A current Propulsion Technician expressed that SpaceX is an amazing place to work in and that the company is constantly changing for the better.

7. But one Dragon Structure Tech thought that his experience as an aircraft worker was horrible, citing that advancement can only be possible if you're friends with the management.

Are you a previous or current employee working in SpaceX? Let us know your thoughts on job security and advancement.
When employees who identify well with their employers when faced with job issues, it often minimizes the chance of them leaving.

The motivation to stay at work is strong only when the company realizes stressful situations before it actually happens.

However, when angry, it could force employees to quit. A new research from the Academy of Management Journal states that employees are more motivated to stick around and improve their situation, rather than rush out of the workplace fuming with anger. Business News Daily has it that employees who identify well with their organization tend to blame themselves rather than their employers because of job issues. Their employer is part of what defines them.

Jochen Menges, a lecturer at the University of Cambridge's Judge Business School in the United Kingdom and a professor at WHU - Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany, said: "The study suggests that company policies that are designed to promote positive emotions or minimize negative emotions may, in fact, not have the intended effect."

Rather than trying to suppress emotions at work, companies should instead adopt practices that encourage organizational identification.

Aside from the feeling of anger, guilt and pride also play a role in the workplace. There are negatives with positive emotions and positives with negative emotions. Pride, for example, usually encourages workers to stay. However, pride can be considered when quitting when it comes to work-related identifications.

Employers should try to identify these emotions and encourage either open conversation or ensure that the workplace is conducive to a much more positive emotional space.

How do you motivate your employees to work? Have you ever encountered a situation where negative emotion halted work? Tell us your thoughts about preventing attrition at work.
The BBC is known to be one of the most outstanding reporting companies. It's a network that generates readership through extensive and diverse content. It employs hundreds of workers in different departments. To note, Laura Kuenssberg is an on-air editor at BBC and she is only one of the few women in a top reporting role.

Recently, women are emerging in different industries and taking over tasks dominated by men. However, according to the Telegraph, the BBC is finding it difficult to attract women in their top reporting roles because they lack confidence at work.

Jonathan Munro has indicated that women now held six of BBC's top 15 reporting posts. These posts were dominated by men more than three years ago. However, he is seeing very capable women who are not pursuing these posts because they don't have the confidence to do so.

Katya Adler is another woman in the top ranks. She is the broadcaster's Europe editor who Munro described as having a "fresh new tone of voice."

The four other women to hold one of the 15 coveted on-air editor positions are Sarah Smith, the Scotland editor, Carrie Gracie, the China Editor, education editor Branwen Jeffreys, and Lucy Manning, whose role as special correspondent is considered an editor-level post.

Munro, who is the head of news gathering, explained that in the past, male executives have been guilty of "unconscious bias." They have hired men who reflect themselves. "Appointments we made over the years were people hiring in the image of themselves. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I don't think people realised they were being biased, but the evidence was pretty strong," said Munro.

Munro hopes to see women fill the top ranks. He aims to help women reach their potential within BBC. Even Pauline Cafferkey noted on Twitter that there are talented women all around the corporation. Munro hopes to see changes.
Many have speculated if "One Punch Man" season 2 will be released this year or not at all. Fans were getting restless looking for information about the upcoming second installment.

Now, "One Punch Man" season 2 may be released by the end of the year and in addition to the release, a new villain will be introduced.

"One Punch Man will no doubt come to Toonami. Probably by the end of the year," quotes Cross Map, coming from an official tweet from the verified "One Punch Man" account. However, there are still those who doubt it because there has been no reports on the show's progress.

The anime features Saitama, a skilled fighter, who can defeat anyone with just one punch in battle. The coming second installment may feature a foe worthy of his strength and could even be stronger than him. Last season, he has defeated Lord Boros. Christian Times has it he used the "Collapsing Star, Roaring Cannon" techniques on him. Now, Lord Boros could make a come back this second season. Fans thought that he was already destroyed but then he does have self-healing and regenerative capabilities. Is he the new villain that could come back this second season?

It's unlikely. Lord Boros could make an appearance but speculations have risen that Saitama could be facing a stronger foe in "One Punch Man" season 2. Having mastered Fang's Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist technique. Garou would be a worthy opponent indeed.

While there is no official release date for "One Punch Man" season 2, fans are already gearing up for the possibility that it will air on the same date as the first season. "One Punch Man" season 1 aired in Japan between Oct. 5, and Dec 21, 2015 via TV Tokyo. For now, fans can only hope and wait.
For those getting ready for the world of employment, an internship is the way to go. It's a venue for learning and experience and at the same time, gives the intern an insight about what to expect if he plans on working for the same company.

Apple is one company where many under graduates and post graduates go to for internship experience. Headquartered in Cupertino, CA, the company already amassed over 10,000 employees. Apple revolutionizes personal technology since the Macintosh was introduced in 1984. Today, it's known for multiple devices and techy product lines that fit user needs and experiences. From the iPhone to the Mac, Apple has been constantly innovating itself. But it won't be possible without a team behind it and the company makes sure to take care of its people.

If you're planning to intern or work at Apple, Glassdoor has it that Apple employees have these experiences and perks:

1. A current Specialist in Deer Park, Illinois said that the full health insurance is reasonable. He enjoys the paid time off options as well plus covered travel expenses and transportation. The company also matched his 401k up to 6% which means his retirement is growing. "Great benefits over all," he said.

2. A current Family Room Specialist in New York, New York State also thought that the 401K match is great. "They match up to 6% of your pay at 50% for the first two years, then it increases to 75%, then 100% after 5 years. The employee stock plan is also really great," he explained.

3. Another current employee is an Apple Genius in Columbus, Ohio. His perk is different, he found free counseling and "also if you decide to adopt while at Apple, they will reimburse every expense associated with the process."

Many agree that the 15-25% employee discount (or more) is a plus. The Health insurance has amazing coverage. Over-all, the company matches the 401K plan and supports investment.
The hustle and bustle in the news regarding Microsfot buying LinkedIn stocks have left some people in the industry perplexed. Which is why Jeff Weiner, Chief Executive Officer of LinkedIn, decided to explain the reason behind the sale.

Employees were wondering how the successful social networking and tech company, LinkedIn, went through a curious financial route. Weiner wrote a memorandum to LinkedIn employees this Monday morning to explain the surprising decision about selling the company to Microsoft.

In total, Microsoft bought LinkedIn for $26.2 billion. There is a hidden reason behind the sale. According to CNBC, the company has been struggling regarding stock prices and its reliance on the market. Some analysts even indicated that the company has "over-relied" on stock-based compensation.

On the record, NY Times displayed a time-line that depicts the rise and fall of LinkedIn stocks. In February of this year, LinkedIn's stock dipped more than 40%. The shares have floated at $225 and closed at $100 this to-date.

Microsoft buying LinkedIn stocks helped solve the problem for investors and most importantly, its employees. LinkedIn employees are largely paid in company stocks. Which is why the company's workers are anxious about this sale.

"LinkedIn is among the most aggressive in using share-based compensation - there is no question about that," said Mark Mahaney, a veteran technology analyst at RBC Capital Markets. He explained that Microsoft buying LinkedIn is a saving grace. "If the stock had stayed down, it would have seen employee churn," he said.

Employees relying on stock based compensation would mean a total personal investment of the workers. Since Microsoft has absorbed LinkedIn, Mahaney indicated that the combined company would be following Microsoft's practice. Which means employees may not be enjoying stock-based happiness. Though Weiner insisted that the deal was not focused solely on stocks but more on the company's trend. Utimately, the executive decision resulted in LinkedIn having a better competitive advantage if linked with Microsoft.
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Can a 10-dollar-plus minimum wage work? Yes. Can it work everywhere? Maybe.

As part of the ongoing debate over a raise to the pay floor, at both the state and federal levels, the Wolf administration has been promoting Pennsylvania businesses that are now starting employees at higher wages.

Yesterday, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Director Dennis Davin toured thredUP, a clothing re-seller that opened its largest of four national distribution centers in Upper Allen Township roughly 18 months ago.

We want to see if these businesses work and how they work, Davin said in regard to companies who are paying above average. Clearly, these wages arent just being given away  theyre being inserted back into the local economy and the business is making gains.

thredUP is an online secondhand clothing store. Interested sellers order a packet from the company, which includes a pricing guide as to how much they may get for their lightly-used clothes, and a bag in which to send the items they wish to divest of to one of thredUPs warehouses. The original location is in California, and hubs have recently started in Indiana and Georgia.

A lot of people have clothes they buy and never wear, and are pretty much perfect, said Tammy Salas-Miller, manager of the facility on Louise Road just outside Mechanicsburg. We go through [each bag submitted] and pay out for the quality of the garment and the value of the brand.

Each item is meticulously catalogued using a proprietary software system. Employees photograph each piece of clothing and upload it so customers can view and order pieces online. Clothes are then stored until packed and shipped.

With up to 6,500 bags of clothing coming in each week, labor demand is high  roughly 300 employees at the Upper Allen building currently, Salas-Miller said, with a goal of 350 in order to meet demand growth.

Pay starts at $11 per hour for the morning shift, and $11.50 for the evening shift. Regular raises are offered  the average pay on the floor is now a little over $13.00 per hour, Salas-Miller said. Employees also receive health benefits, and stock options after a vesting period.

We thought the higher pay would attract a more desirable workforce, she noted. The key thing was to reduce attrition. We want to retain people.

For example, employee Cassandra Halterman said she had previously worked in warehouses  but when looking for a new job, ThredUP offered a better wage, more guaranteed hours, or both. Take-home pay was reliably higher than anywhere else.

I definitely enjoy it more than my previous jobs, she said.

But from a policy standpoint, the question facing Pennsylvania and the nation is whether mandating pay similar to threadUPs will work for everyone, and what kind of impact on the economy it will have.

Although hiring has slowed, unemployment is still at a post-recession low for both Pennsylvania and the nation. Demand for workers has caused labor rates to rise  first quarter results from the US Labor Department put total employee compensation on track to rise 3.9 percent this year.

Government-mandated hikes, critics say, could put too much of a squeeze on businesses whose rate of reinvestment is already stubbornly low. With annualized GDP growth at a mere 0.8 percent, and per-employee production running at 0.6 percent loss, enthusiasm is likely to remain flat.

But if not now, wage-hike proponents argue, when? Corporate value is still increasing, net of fixed capital consumption, at an accelerating ratean annualized level of about $7.3 billion for the first quarter. Clearly, headroom exists, even if confidence is low.

Further, consumer appetite is strong, with retail and food sales for May 2016 up 2.5 percent over the same month in 2015, according to Commerce Department data released yesterday. Those who would receive the biggest boost from a minimum wage hike are also those most likely to spend, proponents argue.

Anyone who says that more money going to employees will reduce our competitive strength, I dont believe them, Davin said. Especially in Pennsylvania, we have a great opportunity with proximity to major markets and a good quality workforce.

Davin pointed to the states Workforce and Economic Development network (WEDnet), which provides $12 million in funding for job training, as a major contributor to Pennsylvanias desirability.

Gov. Tom Wolf raised the minimum wage for state workers to $10.15 earlier this year and has supported a similar private-sector increase. Pennsylvanias currently has no minimum wage level above the federal $7.25 mandate.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.  The body of a 2-year-old Nebraska boy who was snatched off a Walt Disney World beach by an alligator and dragged underwater was recovered Wednesday, ending a ghastly search at one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.

Divers found the body of Lane Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska, about 16 hours after authorities first got the call that a reptile had taken the boy at Seven Seas Lagoon, Sheriff Jerry Demings said. The child's father tried to save him but couldn't.

The sheriff said it appeared the gator drowned the child and left the body near the spot where was last seen. An autopsy was planned.

"Of course the family was distraught, but also I believe somewhat relieved that his body was found intact," Demings told a news conference.

The boy's parents were identified as Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn. A family friend released a statement on behalf of the couple thanking well-wishers for their "thoughts and hope-filled prayers."

Disney World closed beaches around Seven Seas Lagoon during the search, and it was not immediately clear when they would reopen.

A Disney representative, speaking on condition of anonymity because the company had yet to prepare a formal statement, said the company closed the beaches "out of an abundance of caution."

While "no swimming" signs are posted at the beach where the animal snatched the boy, no signs warn about alligators. The company representative said it would "thoroughly review the situation for the future."

Walt Disney World drew more than 19 million tourists in 2013, making it the world's most-visited amusement park, according to the Themed Entertainment Association, an industry group.

Wildlife officials said the attack was a rarity in a state with a gator population estimated at 1 million. But it still spooked visitors in a city built on tourism.

"We have been to Yellowstone and encountered grizzly bears, but this is just freaky," said Minnesota tourist John Aho, who was staying at the park with his wife, Kim, and their 12-year-old son, Johnny.

Kim Aho said their son was "a little freaked out about the gator."

The child had waded no more than 1 or 2 feet into the water of the Seven Seas Lagoon around nightfall Tuesday when he was taken from a small beach, authorities said. The Nebraska family of four was on vacation at a Disney World resort.

The boy's father desperately tried to fight off the gator, suffering lacerations on a hand, but he could not save his son. Neither could a nearby lifeguard, officials said.

Demings said there have been no other alligator attacks on the lake.

Some visitors were surprised to learn the reptiles lived on the property.

"My question is why are there alligators in there?" said Michelle Stone, who lives near Detroit and was visiting Disney for 10 days with her two children.

A Disney spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The sheriff said the company has a wildlife management system and has "worked diligently to ensure their guests are not unduly exposed to wildlife here in this area."

Nick Wiley with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said witnesses estimated that the alligator was 4 feet to 7 feet long.

The beach where the reptile grabbed the child is part of the luxury Grand Floridian resort, across the lake from Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park. The man-made lake stretches over about 200 acres and reaches a depth of 14 feet. It feeds into a series of canals that wind through the entire Disney property.

More than 50 law enforcement personnel searched the well-tended lagoon along with an alligator tracker and marine units equipped with sonar to search the lake's sandy, mostly flat bottom. Divers were standing by.

Though Florida has grown to the nation's third-most populous state, fatal alligator attacks remain rare. Since 1973, 23 people have been killed by wild alligators in Florida, according to data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Those fatalities were among 383 unprovoked bites not caused by someone handling or intentionally harassing an alligator.

Eight children, ages 2 to 16, were among the fatalities. Five died while swimming in lakes, rivers and canals. The youngest victims were killed near lakes, including a 2-year-old girl who wandered 700 feet from her fenced backyard and a 3-year-old boy who left a roped-off swimming area in a county park to pick lily pads.

The grim news was only the latest for a city buffeted by tragedy in the past few days.

On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, leaving 49 people dead in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. On Friday night, Christina Grimmie, 22, a contestant on season six of "The Voice," was fatally shot as she signed autographs after a show in Orlando.
OnRamp OnRamp offers conversation and connections among the entrepreneurs who are shaping Wisconsin's economy, and brings corporations and start-ups together at statewide events. To contribute to this blog, contact Joe Kirgues at joe@gener8tor.com or Matt Cordio at matt@skillspipeline.com or Scott Resnick at resnick@hardindd.com. SHARE

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Wisconsin's knowledge economy had another setback today. The State's budget is again going to be used to pick winners and losers with startups ending up on the wrong side of the law.

As reported by Kathleen Gallagher, the Wisconsin legislature has once again voted to move millions of dollars out of the Early Stage Business Tax Credits Program. The credits will instead be going to support more tax incentives for later-stage companies in Wisconsin.

I went on record the last time this happened (it has happened a lot) as objecting to the transfers on the grounds that these funds would be better spent increasing support for local startups.

Essentially the legislature is deciding not to increase incentives for startups, which operate predominately in Wisconsin's underserved knowledge economy, while further increasing incentives for existing companies that often come from Wisconsin's legacy manufacturing base.

If Senator Lassa's claim that these manufacturing companies are raiding startup resources because they no longer have tax liability is accurate, then the welfare dynamic of reducing resources from tomorrow's new companies to finance yesterday's existing ones is absurd.

Regarding the legislative claim that the current program's credits go unused, this is a particularly painful objection for us as we have had multiple companies that we've supported through gener8tor receive rejection letters from the WEDC.

To make it worse, one of these rejected companies has grown to millions of revenue and created dozens of jobs in its first year in Wisconsin but was rejected on the grounds that they were not innovative enough. One wonders what more they might have done to increase employment in Wisconsin with additional support had badly needed amendments to the program been as a high of a priority as raids on its piggybank.

Having worked with close to two dozen Wisconsin startups as they raised angel and venture financing, we remain convinced that the first round of financing remains the most difficult (although every stage of startup financing in Wisconsin remains precarious). Clear opportunities exist to increase usage of the program's already authorized capital by, for example, raising the amount of investment eligible for the credits from 25% to 40% for the first million in investment capital a startup receives.

If we're trying to get more high-impact entrepreneurs to create jobs in Wisconsin this seems like a great next step for the program. Or at least a much better one than continuing to raid it to fund older, bigger companies.

Wisconsin desperately needs leadership that facilitates a transition into the knowledge economy. If leadership is absent on this issue the consequences for our future growth and wealth creation will be devastating. We cannot continue to let our existing infrastructure rot at the precise moment we should be investing into it. We have got to stop making startups the losers here.
A report of a pothole over the weekend led to the discovery of a sinkhole and erosion issue near the dam at Childrens Lake in Boiling Springs.

South Middleton Township Supervisor Tom Faley said a pothole was reported by residents over the weekend, and when township crews explored the area and dug into it Monday, they discovered the sinkhole.

What concerned the township, however, was the water that kept filling in the hole as it got bigger on Bucher Hill Road at the intersection with Race Street and Mountain Road.

Faley said the water authority in the township investigated and determined that there were no leaks in any of the water mains and no loss of pressure that would have contributed to the water in the sinkhole.

Michele Jacoby, director of the bureau of engineering at the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, said they were contacted by the township since the lake and dam fall into their jurisdiction. Commission crews determined the water was coming from the lake.

Jacoby explained that water from the lake seeped into the ground and followed a path of least resistance, eroding soil underneath that part of Bucher Hill Road. If the water had gotten any farther, there could have been concerns regarding the dam.

Commission staff lowered the elevation of the water at Childrens Lake by about a foot and used gold dye tablets provided by the township to determine where exactly the seep was occurring.

While the township backfilled the sinkhole and placed a metal plate over it, the commission is looking at what could be a permanent fix for the problem.

Jacoby said they are working with the state Department of Environmental Protections dam safety engineers on getting the green light for a soil cutoff wall, that will run parallel to the dam. The wall that will be constructed underneath the ground wont allow water to pass through the soil.

Its a pretty common repair, she said.

Jacoby said the commission does not expect to drain Childrens Lake any farther in order to complete the cutoff wall. However, it will take the rest of the week to get the permission from DEP and the next two to three weeks to coordinate with township staff, given the proximity to water and sewer lines.

In the meantime, Jacoby said the commission will continue to monitor the water level and the situation at the lake. Once the cutoff wall is built, the commission will raise the water level back to where it was and will monitor the lake to make sure the wall works. If everything works properly, Jacoby said it could be the permanent solution to the problem.

Were really thankful the township gave us a call as soon as they saw something, she said. They were there and wanted to do anything they could.
Hillary Clinton leads Donald Trump by 7 points among registered voters according to a new poll by the Marquette University Law School. Credit: Getty Images

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With the election more than four months away, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton still have time to improve their woeful standing with Wisconsin voters.

But right now there is little sign that either is making much progress.

The contest for Wisconsin remains Clintons to lose, a new poll by the Marquette University Law School suggests: she leads Trump by 7 points among registered voters and by 9 points among likely voters.

But both candidates face striking divisions inside their parties and both are widely disliked by independents.

About two-thirds of Wisconsin independents (68%) say theyre uncomfortable with Clinton as president. About three-fourths (74%) say theyre uncomfortable with Trump as president.

That helps explain why 25% of independents in the survey answered neither and 10% said dont know when asked which of the two candidates they planned to vote for in November. Those two groups combined (35%) are larger than the number of independents who picked Clinton (33%) or Trump (32%).

There was at least one piece of positive news for Trump in the poll. Since he lost the Wisconsin primary last April, he has improved his remarkably dismal standing among Republican voters. He no longer has a negative rating in his own party here: 52% of GOP voters now view him favorably, 35% unfavorably.

But he still has a long way to go, says Marquette pollster Charles Franklin. A 35% unfavorable rating in ones own party is an awful number for a presidential nominee at this stage of the campaign, and is symptomatic of a state where many influential conservatives and Republicans remain cool or hostile to Trump.

On top of that, enthusiasm among GOP voters has backslid since Trump wrapped up the nomination. Back in March, 87% of Republicans said they were certain they would vote this fall. In the new poll, that dropped to 78%.

Franklin called that a warning signal to the party.

Republicans thrive in Wisconsin because they typically have very high turnout, said Franklin. If divisions and dismay over Trump within the GOP drag down turnout, it could damage the partys candidates down the ballot.

In a sign of outright pessimism, almost half of GOP voters in the state think their party will still be divided by the time of the November election.

Almost half (44%) are uncomfortable with the idea of Trump, their presumptive nominee, becoming president.

Trumps liabilities among important voting groups remain startlingly large.

He is viewed unfavorably by 71% of women, 73% of college grads, 65% of suburban voters and 66% of moderates in the poll of 800 registered voters, taken last Thursday through Sunday.

Seven in 10 voters overall say they are uncomfortable with him as president.

It is hard to imagine a nominee with these kinds of numbers being remotely competitive, but the new poll isnt that much kinder to Clinton, who is viewed unfavorably by 66% of men, 65% of independents and 62% of rural voters.

Her public standing is not as negative as Trumps, but it has been stuck in negative territory all year, with no positive movement. The share of Wisconsin voters who view her unfavorably was 55% in January, 55% in February, 59% in March and 58% in the new poll.

Clinton gets higher ratings than Trump for being able to handle a crisis, for caring about people and for her qualifications to be president.

But she gets slightly lower ratings for trustworthiness: 32% of voters called Trump honest, while 28% called Clinton honest.

Clinton lost Wisconsin by double digits to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the April primary, and Sanders continues to enjoy far better ratings here. His positive rating with registered voters is 16 points higher than Clintons.

While Clinton leads Trump by 7 points among registered voters, Sanders leads Trump by 25. And Sanders backers remain tepid toward Clinton: only two-thirds of Sanders Democratic supporters say they plan to vote for Clinton, with 4% picking Trump, 24% saying neither and 5% saying dont know.

Thats pretty bad for Clinton, says Franklin, though its something both Clinton and President Barack Obama will be trying to remedy in the campaign ahead. A joint appearance by the two in Green Bay, planned for Wednesday, was postponed after the Orlando massacre, but is expected to be rescheduled.

The reservations inside both parties about their candidates are far deeper than they were at this point in the election cycle four years ago, when Republican Mitt Romney and Obama faced off.

Romney had an unfavorable rating of 12% in his own party in Marquettes June 2012 poll; Trumps is 35%.

Obama had a unfavorable rating of 5% in his own party in June of 2012; Clintons is 27%.

There is a lot to be concerned about no matter which party youre in, says Franklin, but especially if youre a Republican.

Four years ago, only 2% of Democrats and 3% of Republicans in Wisconsin said they would vote for neither candidate in November.

In the poll results released Wednesday, 13% of Democrats and 18% of Republicans supported neither.

Right now in Wisconsin, its a battle to see which candidates political liabilities are greater. The answer at the moment is Trumps. But having two nominees with such glaring weaknesses adds to the volatility of the Wisconsin race.

Graphic: Marquette poll results

Follow Craig Gilbert on Twitter @WisVoter
For the first time in more than three decades, J.C. Penney will be in the major home appliance business, selling brands such as Samsung, LG, GE and Hotpoint.

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With the housing market growing and people investing in their homes again, J.C. Penney Co. wants a bigger piece of the action.

This summer, about 500 of J.C. Penney's U.S. stores  including Brookfield Square and Southridge Shopping Center in Greendale  will begin featuring home appliance showrooms.

It's the first time in more than three decades that J.C. Penney will be in the major home appliance business, a strategy retail analysts say is aimed at taking sales from struggling department store competitor Sears and getting more production out of its large locations.

The move follows a 22-store pilot program last winter that J.C. Penney says brought an "outstanding" response. Starting in July, J.C. Penney plans to introduce major kitchen and laundry appliances to new stores every week until about 500, or about half of its stores, are selling appliances with brands such as Samsung, LG, GE and Hotpoint. The company also will be selling appliances online at jcp.com.

J.C. Penney, based in Plano, Texas, has 14 stores in Wisconsin. Company spokeswoman Sarah Holland said for competitive reasons she could not provide a full list of stores that will feature major home appliances. But she confirmed that the stores at Brookfield Square and Southridge will add appliance showrooms later this summer.

"To make room for major appliances, we have eliminated unproductive brands and downsized certain home categories," Holland said.

An employee of the Brookfield Square store said the appliance area was expected to open in August in the Home section.

J.C. Penney's Home department, especially its window treatments, always has been considered a strength. But apparel sales at J.C. Penney  as with many major retailers  have been lagging.

One analyst said the move into appliances stems from the fact that J.C. Penney's new chief executive, Marvin R. Ellison, comes from Home Depot and is very familiar with the sales of refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers.

"He comes out of that world," said Howard Davidowitz, chairman of Davidowitz & Associates, a national retail consulting and investment banking firm in New York City. "Penney's shares anchors in tons of malls with Sears, and he sees Sears continuing to close doors. He thinks he may be able to take advantage of this and get some of that business. I think it's strategically a wise move."

Adding appliances "makes tremendous sense" for J.C. Penney because it needs to generate more revenue per store, said retail analyst Anne Brouwer.

"In today's world, if you're sticking with just basic soft line products, you don't have enough reasons for customers to come into your store," said Brouwer, senior partner at McMillan Doolittle in Chicago. "In the malls today, traffic is down."

She also thinks Sears is the competitor most likely to be affected by J.C. Penney's decision to sell appliances.

"They've left the door wide open for Penney's to come in and add that business back," Brouwer said.

Sears has been losing money and closing stores. It has 11 stores in Wisconsin, down from 15 five years ago. Its total sales last year, at $21.2 billion, were about half of what they were five years earlier.

But J.C. Penney has been closing stores, too, and Sears doesn't intend to lose appliance business to Penney without a fight.

"Without question, appliances remains one of our strongest and most important product categories," said Sears spokesman Brian Hanover. "Sears remains a leading retailer of home appliances in the U.S."

Hanover noted that Sears sells the top 10 appliance brands, including its Kenmore brand.

"We have and are taking several steps to maintain our leadership position," Hanover said.

Among those steps: maintaining competitive pricing, adding more products to its online offerings and expanding its appliances for sale at Kmart stores, which also are owned by Sears Holdings Corp.

Although the internet has changed the way people shop for many things, such as consumer electronics, home appliances have remained an important part of the mix for some retailers that have a brick-and-mortar presence around the U.S. Brouwer noted that appliances, which today are loaded with the latest technology and seem not to last as long as in years past, are important to people who want fashionable kitchens.

Best Buy has stepped up the home appliance business by adding its Pacific Kitchen & Home departments, going from 55 in 2013 to 176 today. In its fiscal year 2016, the domestic appliance business generated more than $3 billion in revenue for Best Buy, up from about $1.7 billion in 2010, according to company spokeswoman Bianca Jones.

"We have made significant investments in our appliance business in order to give our customers an improved shopping experience," Jones said.

Electronics, appliances and furniture retailer hhgregg Inc. reported that in the last fiscal year, home appliances accounted for 53% of its net sales, up from 42% three years earlier.

Among all categories in the retailing, home products  a category that may include products such as furniture, decor, kitchen appliances, lighting  in general are among few bright spots, analysts say. Many retailers, including Boston Store, are adding or expanding furniture departments to get in on the demand for home products.

A revived housing market is behind the home category's rise, analysts say.

"We had a major turnaround in home," Davidowitz said. "Fewer people are under water on the mortgages. People are back to investing in their homes. That's why Home Depot and Lowe's are two companies that are performing well."

Davidowitz said he doubted J.C. Penney's re-entry into the home appliance business would have an impact on retailers other than Sears.

"At the end of the day, from Penney's point of view, there is a certain amount of business of this type done in the malls," Davidowitz said. "Right now, Sears does it all. If you walk into a mall, no one else is selling it except Sears."
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One Solstice Inc., a Madison company with a proprietary booking platform for live music events, has raised $450,000 of equity funding from individual angel investors, according to a filing with federal securities regulators.

One Solstice will use the money to hire more Javascript software developers and to expand into more Texas cities and music hubs such as Seattle and New York, said Matt Ford, the company's co-founder and chief executive officer. Mark Bakken, managing partner at HealthX Ventures, led the funding round; all of the investors are from the Madison area, he said.

One Solstice in 2015 serviced 38 live music festivals around the U.S. and booked about 1,500 concerts in Austin, Texas. It is headquartered in Madison and has operations in Austin, where Ford is based.

"We service the live music industry in a way that Airbnb services short-term rentals," Ford said.

The "pain point" that One Solstice addresses is that music venues get a tremendous number of inquiries about booking via phone calls, e-mails, Facebook messages and other communication modes, Ford said.

"There are probably 20 steps to booking one bigger act," he said. "If a venue has multiple stages and they're open year round, our technology simplifies and streamlines the booking process."

One Solstice started in Madison in 2013 as a volunteer project for organizing the Make Music Madison outdoor music festival that happens across the city every year on the day of the summer solstice.
Members of the Milwaukee chapter of the Latin American Motorcycle Association gather at their southside clubhouse. Credit: Rick Wood

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They are factory workers, business owners, U.S. military veterans and more, all sharing a passion for Latino culture and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

For more than 50 years, many Latino Harley riders have called themselves "Harlistas" as a way to proclaim their feelings for the Harley brand and the bonds shared between fellow riders.

It has helped make Harley-Davidson the No. 1 seller of new, on-street motorcycles among Hispanics in the United States, an important distinction as Harley broadens its market with sales to minorities and nontraditional customers.

Harley sells more than five times as many new bikes to African-Americans as its competitors and more than four times as many to Hispanics, said Shelley Paxton, Harley-Davidson's vice president of global marketing and brand.

There are many Harlistas in Milwaukee, some of them from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central America and South America, bringing their cultural styling points to their motorcycles.

Sporting tall handlebars, a lowrider chassis and a sound system blasting Latino music, some of the bikes would be at home on the San Bernardino freeway in Los Angeles.

"Everybody has their own individual style and their own idea of how they want to be represented on their Harley. It's almost like a tattoo on your body," said Robert Miranda, a Harlista and a member of the Latin American Motorcycle Association  known as LAMA  chapter in Milwaukee.

For many Latino immigrants, especially, owning a Harley-Davidson represents their success in the United States.

"They feel as if they've graduated to the big boys of motorcycle riding," said Miranda, who owns a 2006 Harley Softail and a 2010 Harley Electra Glide.

Harlistas are Harley-Davidson enthusiasts, but not all LAMA members ride Harleys. Also, the Latin American Motorcycle Association, which is based in Chicago and has chapters across the nation, says it welcomes motorcyclists of all races.

The Milwaukee chapter members say they welcome spouses, children and extended family to their events.

They emphasize that LAMA is not an outlaw group like the Hell's Angels or the Pagans.

There are rules, for instance, against unruly behavior and drinking and riding.

It's the complete opposite of an outlaw club, said Jorge Valle, chapter president.

The Milwaukee group has raised money for local charities, but often its efforts are focused on helping families facing an unexpected need.

"We are totally family-oriented. That's the way LAMA was started 39 years ago in Chicago and that's the way we want to keep it," Valle said.

The group stands out when it rolls into small towns with loud, colorful motorcycles and the riders clad in biker leathers.

"But it's all good. A lot of people come up to us and want to talk about the bikes," Miranda said.

The Milwaukee chapter is seven years old. It has only a couple of dozen members, which isn't many considering the growing number of Hispanics in the area.

The cost of owning a motorcycle is an issue for some new immigrants as they get established in this country.

Many people buy a used bike, partly because it's more affordable, and also because some of the older models haven't changed that much in appearance over the years.

"You can customize your bike, little by little, just the way you want it. You get attached to the bike itself," said Valle, who rides a 2008 Electra Glide.

Jose Ortiz, a quality-control technician at a manufacturer in Grafton, recently bought his first Harley, a 2009 Road King Classic. Previously he rode foreign-made sport bikes built for speed, not comfort.

"When you get a little bit older, you just want to cruise. I am not into speed and crotch-rocket bikes anymore," Ortiz said.

Much of Harley-Davidson's success has come from its status as an American icon, and that it represents a rebellious, free-spirited kind of individual.

That image is popular outside the U.S., too.

Ricardo Rangel, a Harley dealer in Merida, Mexico, said he used to wear a suit and tie to work. But when he came to Milwaukee for Harley's 100th anniversary celebration in 2003, he shaved his head, got his ears pierced and switched to Harley T-shirts.

"When they put me in my wooden pajamas (a coffin), I don't want to be wearing a suit," Rangel said in a 2012 Journal Sentinel interview.

As the U.S. normalizes trade relations with Cuba, Harley-Davidson could benefit from the brand loyalty that's still intact decades after the company stopped selling motorcycles in the communist country.

Cuba's Harlistas have had to scrounge for spare parts to keep their vintage machines going. Urban legend has it that Fidel Castro's regime buried 1,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycles after the 1959 revolution that put Castro in power.

Harley is waiting for its opportunity on the island nation.

"We certainly have a passionate customer base in Cuba, so we have a great foundation laid for when it makes sense to enter the market," said Harley-Davidson spokesman Tony Macrito.

One of the most powerful documentary films about Latino motorcyclists is called "Harlistas: An American Journey."

In that film, director Alfredo de Villa follows the emotional journeys of real-life Harlistas. One of the stories comes from a biker who mourns his deceased father and copes with his grief through the motorcycle culture that his father loved.

The bonds that Harlistas have with their bikes, and with each other, are powerful.

The allure of a Harley, with its throbbing V-Twin engine that runs such a powerful machine, is bigger than anything Harley-Davidson controls and the brand itself, de Villa said.
Ross Bishop and his wife, Marcy, dig up a slug with their dog Amber after finding damage to soybean plants on their farm in Jackson. Farmers are experiencing a credit crisis as their income plummets with low commodity prices and they struggle to make loan payments. Credit: Sam Caravana

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Some farmers who borrowed heavily to expand their operations during the commodity boom a few years ago are now struggling to repay those loans and remain in business.

A crop glut has eroded commodity prices and sent farm profits to a 14-year low, but land rents have barely budged and debt levels are the highest in more than three decades, according to new U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

Bankers are cutting back on loans that aren't secured by land, so more farmers are tapping into a USDA program designed to be the lender of last resort. And that program is almost out of money, according to Bloomberg Business News.

The USDA's Farm Service Agency has allocated $140 million a month on average for direct operating loans since Oct. 1, leaving just $129 million in the budget for the remaining four months of the fiscal year.

The ratio of debt to income on U.S. farms has more than doubled in three years to 6.8%, the highest since 1984, when the Midwest was mired in a farm crisis that saw the highest foreclosure rates since the Great Depression.

More debt-strapped and younger farmers will be forced out of business if they can't get operating loans, according to some farm groups.

"That's already happening," said Kara O'Connor, government relations director for Wisconsin Farmers Union. "The availability of credit is a really important piece of the puzzle to get someone through a low period."

The problem highlights the need for changes in the way farm commodities are priced, she added.

Some prices are about half of what they were a few years ago, yet farmers are paying the same, or more, for what they need to run their businesses.

"The volatility in the market is killing us," said Ross Bishop, a beef cattle and crops farmer in Washington County.

Farmers have tapped into their equity and savings to remain in business, said Mark Kastel, founder of The Cornucopia Institute, based in Cornucopia.

Those who were smart banked away money during the good times, realizing a more difficult period would follow, Kastel said.

The price that Wisconsin dairy farmers receive for their milk plummeted in 2015 and remains below a profitable level.

Dairy farmers face tough decisions because producing more milk lowers their cost of production, on a per unit basis, but adds to an oversupply problem and further depresses prices.

They seek operating efficiencies to squeeze out a profit, or lose less money, rather than reducing the number of cows they milk.

Farmers who are highly leveraged now, and face continued high expenses, are in the most trouble.

"That's a difficult situation to be in, for sure," said Gordon Speirs, a dairy farmer from Brillion and president of the Dairy Business Association, based in Green Bay.

Some farmers will be forced out of business by the current low prices and difficulty obtaining credit, but those who can weather the downturn stand to make a nice profit when the markets eventually rebound.

Also, Wisconsin dairy farmers, overall, haven't felt the depth of the downturn as much as some farmers in other states.

"The dairy industry has experienced one less year of trying times than what cash-grain farmers have dealt with," said Bruce Jones, an agricultural economist with the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The nation's biggest grain-producing states, such as Iowa and Kansas, have been most affected by the credit crunch.

Agricultural bankers surveyed during the first three months of the year by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said demand for loans was the highest since the quarterly survey began more than two decades ago, while repayment rates were the lowest since 2003.

Loan renewals and extensions were the highest in 13 years, which is worrisome to farm groups.

"Access to annual operating credit is a make-or-break issue for many farmers, especially those just starting out," a coalition of eight farmer and rural-banker groups, including the American Banking Association and the National Farmers Union, said in a June 2 letter to Congress.

Each dollar of net farm income results in an additional 60 cents of economic activity as farmers spend money in their local communities, according to University of Wisconsin research.

That translates to millions of dollars for the rural economy and urban centers as well, since most of the items farmers buy come from other places.

If farmers have trouble getting credit this year, it will be felt across the state, according to Kastel with The Cornucopia Institute.

The best rural economic development project ever would be fair commodity prices for farmers, Kastel said.

"When they are making a profit, the money flows from their farms," he said.

Bloomberg Business News contributed to this report.
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The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. said Wednesday it has awarded as much as $750,000 in state tax credits to American Packaging Corp. to support a new $50 million satellite facility in DeForest.

American Packaging, a privately held company based in Rochester, N.Y., expects the 170,000-square-foot facility  which is scheduled to be completed in 2017  to help create more than 60 new jobs, according to a WEDC news release. The company's Wisconsin division, which is based in Columbus, prints flexible packaging for brands like Hershey, Planters, Ricola and Betty Crocker.

American Packaging considered expansion opportunities outside of Wisconsin before deciding to build in DeForest, the WEDC news release said.

"We continue to see a promising future for rotogravure printing, and chose DeForest as home to our first satellite facility, based on location, talented labor pool and the historical success we've enjoyed in Wisconsin," Peter Schottland, American Packaging's president and chief executive officer, said in the release.

American Packaging must meet certain job creation and wage level requirements over the next five years to receive all of the $750,000 in tax credits. The company is also receiving subsidized land, infrastructure and other incentives from the village of DeForest.
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The United Performing Arts Fund, which raises core operating funds for area performing arts groups, raised $12,163,486, an amount $96,514 shy of the goal it set in March but a record nonetheless. The amount is an all-time high for the organization and $162,260 more than last year.

UPAF has fallen short of its fundraising goal 14 of its 49 years, though most of those occurred in the early life of the organization. The last shortfall came in 2008 due to the economic downturn, when the group missed the goal by about $100,000. The only other time in recent memory was in 2003, when it raised about $300,000 less than hoped.

UPAF generally meets or exceeds its goal each year and, except during the economic downturn, typically sets a higher "stretch" target for each subsequent campaign. The group could not pinpoint any particular reason the goal was not met this year, and disbursements to arts groups will be unaffected, said Dave Fantle, chief marketing officer for UPAF.

The group also wants to be transparent about the modest shortfall.

"It is not our policy at UPAF to go back to major donors to help fill a last-minute gap just so we can say we met a goal," said Deanna Tillisch, UPAF's president and CEO. "We want our campaigns to be authentic and our outcomes realistic."

The group has also increased the funds raised annually by more than $2 million since 2012. UPAF raised $12,001,226 last year, $11,728,476 the year before, $11,005,419 in 2013 and $10,129,411 in 2012.

More than 200 companies gave through workplace giving campaigns, including 22 new additions, and Northwestern Mutual once again raised more than any other company. The insurance giant's employees and retirees contributed $990,000 to UPAF this year, bringing the company's overall gift to $1.72 million.

UPAF raises operating funds for 15 performing arts organizations such as the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and First Stage. It also provides one-time grants to arts organizations.

The results of this year's campaign, which included the UPAF Ride for the Arts, were announced at a finale celebration on Tuesday at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.
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Federal authorities on Tuesday announced charges against 18 people associated with the Edgardo Rivera drug trafficking organization for conspiring to distribute heroin.

Seventeen of the 18 defendants, who live in Milwaukee, Kenosha and Chicago, were arrested. One of the defendants, Eddie Rivera, is still at large.

If convicted, the defendants face sentences from 10 years to life in prison.

The Milwaukee DEA conducted the investigation in conjunction with an extensive team of local, state and federal agencies. These authorities executed search warrants in Milwaukee and Kenosha, seizing heroin, cocaine, 16 firearms and $150,000 in cash.

Law enforcement said the organization was elaborate, receiving narcotics from Puerto Rico, Florida and other areas and then distributing those drugs in Milwaukee and surrounding areas.

U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad noted that the organization is connected with a number of heroin overdoses in the city.

"The nature of the substance itself is particularly lethal when it comes to heroin," he said. "That's what makes the public health and public safety problem here particularly acute."

Those charged include: Edgardo Q. Rivera, 45; Edgar Velez, 51; Carlos David, 47; Eddie Rivera, 34; Justo Capeles, 45; Jose E. Deanda, 34; Omayra Rivera, 40; Edgardo S. Rivera, 27; Jorge Fontanez-Masso, 28; Jose Santos-Marti, 23; Isaac Elena-Leonardo, 25; Ramon Elizondo, 44; Brenda Fontanez-Masso, 43; Carlos Velasquez, 44; Luis Diaz, 23; Emerito Quiles, 64; Jason Rivera, 35; and Jaime M. Vega, 19.

"We expect this to make a significant dent in the heroin distribution problem here in Milwaukee," Haanstad said.
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David Comey probably thought his Swiss bank account would come in handy when he finally finishes his 13-year Wisconsin prison term for sexual assault next year.

But he may never see more than $1 million of it, if the IRS has its way.

The federal government has suedComey, 69, asking a court to convert a long unpaid federal penalty into a $1.08 million judgment.

The suit says that Comey was a 1980s critic of the Elmbrook School District and repeatedly unsuccessful candidate for the Elm Grove Village Board before he was convicted of the sex crime in 2003. He hasn't filed a federal tax return since 1992. In addition, the suit says, he willfully failed to disclose his account with UBS in Switzerland, as required by federal tax law.

In the past, Comey, who holds an engineering degree from Northwestern University, has said he is an inventor and owned stocks he had inherited.

He did a prior stint of more than a year in the Dane County Jail in the mid-1990s for failure to file state tax returns for companies he owned.

And in 2013, after his mother's estate was finally closed after years of litigation in probate court, prior state tax warrants against Comey were paid off to the tune of nearly $460,000.

The recent federal lawsuit zeros in on 2007, a year it says Comey maintained an account with UBS AG in Switzerland and failed to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Finance Reports, known as an FBAR in tax accounting.

The government calls Comey's failure willful and deliberately designed to conceal the existence of the account. Prosecutors cite documents Comey sent to UBS, such as: "I would like to avoid disclosure of my identity to the US Internal Revenue Service under the new tax regulations."

The suit says the Swiss account, at the time of the FBAR violation, was worth at least $1.9 million, and that the IRS assessed the statutory penalty of 50% of that value in 2008. The government wants that plus interest and penalties that have accrued since then.

The government contends Comey transferred nearly $1 million to Swiss banks between 1988 and 1997, money the state Department of Revenue could not trace.

Comey is due for release from prison on July 1, 2017, but would still face 12 more years of extended supervision. A jury found him guilty of sexual assault of a mentally ill victim. Prosecutors charged him with kissing and fondling his mother in a nursing home in 2003. She died five days after Comey was sentenced to prison in July 2004.
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A Milwaukee man was charged with second-degree reckless homicide Wednesday after stabbing his partner during an argument on Saturday, according to a criminal complaint.

The man, Fredrick Ramsey, 30, got into an argument at a gas station with his partner, Alexandria Taylor, a day after Taylor told Ramsey she was leaving him, according to the complaint. That argument was broken up by police, but when Taylor left the scene, Ramsey followed her home, where he stabbed her to death on their porch in the 3600 block of N. 5th St., the complaint said.

Ramsey and Taylor had two children and had been together for 11 years, according to the complaint.

The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 25 years in the prison system.
Former Carlisle attorney Karl Rominger was charged Tuesday with income tax evasion, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

U.S. Attorney Peter Smith said Rominger, 43, in 2012 attempted to evade federal income taxes due and owing for the calendar years of 2006 to 2010, all years in which Rominger received taxable income.

Smith said Rominger allegedly made false statements to agents of the IRS concerning the location of his business operating accounts, with the intent to evade the actions of the IRS.

Rominger is also charged with willful failure to file a federal income tax return for 2012.

The charges stem from an investigation by the IRS.

The office noted that the government has filed a plea agreement with Rominger, which is subject to the approval of the court.

Rominger had lost his attorneys license after being charged in February 2015 with felony theft and misappropriation of funds. An investigation found that he had stolen thousands of dollars from former clients.

Rominger in that case pleaded guilty last month, and sentencing is expected later this year.
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Republican lawmakers said Wednesday that they hope to boost funding for urban education priorities in the next legislative session, from expanding summer school and early childhood programs to improving access to mental health care for students.

The priorities are spelled out in a report released Wednesday by the state Task Force on Urban Education, convened by Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) last year with the aim of improving educational outcomes at urban schools.

Speaking at Milwaukee Public Schools' MacDowell Montessori School alongside Republican members of the committee, Vos called the report "a step forward" and said members are committed "to working together to make sure that every single one of our schools continues to thrive and succeed."

MPS Superintendent Darienne Driver, who testified before the task force in January, called the report "encouraging" and evidence that urban educators have been heard.

"I do believe we are on the right track in terms of moving our students forward, and these policies will help to support that," said Driver.

The committee's five Democratic members, including Vice Chairman Sondy Pope (D-Mt. Horeb), did not attend the announcement.

Pope issued a statement calling the task force "a clear waste of time and taxpayer resources."

"The report presented today doesn't begin to scratch the surface of the issues facing our urban schools," said Pope, who complained that she wasn't provided a copy of the report until Wednesday morning.

"We heard about the significant impacts of poverty, of inadequate resources, of barriers to attracting new teachers into our urban schools, of the dire need to address mental health issues, and more  yet no substantive direction is provided in this final report," she said.

Pope said the Democratic members would issue their own, separate report soon.

The 13-member urban schools task force took testimony from urban educators around the state from September to March. They focused on a key areas, including teacher recruitment and retention, and strategies for addressing truancy, poor academic performance and low graduation rates.

Among the task force's recommendations:

Encourage teacher education programs to provide instruction in how to teach in an urban setting and how to teach reading to all teacher license applicants. Under state law, instruction in how to teach reading is required only for certain license categories, and there is no requirement that applicants study urban education.

Expand access to mental health care in schools through Medicaid reimbursement, and investigate whether state law inhibits communication between physicians and mental health care professionals about students' mental health.

Clarify the statutory definitions of truancy and habitual truant and clarify the procedures for addressing truancy.

Review state funding for summer school programs and consider a special state categorical aid program to better fund summer school. Under current law, a school district may include 40% of its summer school enrollment in determining its revenue limit, the amount of money it can raise through state aid and local property taxes.

Review state funding for 4-year-old kindergarten and explore additional options for investing in early childhood education. Under state law, per-student funding for 4-K students is about half of what it is for older students. The state allocates nearly $1.4 million in grants for the start up of new 4-K programs, providing as much as $4,500 per student over a two-year-period.
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It took years of hard work to achieve, but now, newly tenured faculty members in the University of Wisconsin System aren't exactly sure what they have earned.

The UW Board of Regents released the list of faculty newly approved for tenure last week  the first group to receive that designation since a new tenure policy was enacted earlier this year.

Nick Fleisher, an associate professor in UW-Milwaukee's linguistic department, was among those approved.

"The changes to tenure and shared governance that have been enacted in the past year are like a business telling an entire class of owners that the terms of their ownership have been unilaterally changed, their stakes devalued," Fleisher said. "It's still a big deal to get it (tenure), but it doesn't do what it needs to do."

Under the old policy, if a program or department was discontinued, faculty with tenure had to be placed in a different position. Tenured faculty could be laid off only in a campuswide financial emergency or be terminated for just cause.

Last summer, the Republican-led Legislature eliminated faculty tenure protections from state law in concert with a $250 million cut from the UW System's 2015-'17 budget and another two-year tuition freeze for resident undergrads.

Lawmakers then directed the Board of Regents to develop its own policy with the understanding that it would give chancellors the ability to lay off tenured faculty if a program was discontinued. Lawmakers also called for stronger post-tenure review policies to evaluate faculty. Along with Gov. Scott Walker, they derided what they saw as a "jobs-for-life" tenure program that took performance-based management out of the hands of chancellors.

Margaret Noodin, in UW-Milwaukee's English department, received tenure last week. She doesn't view it as a "job for life," but as a term of respect.

And Robin Miller, a newly tenured research librarian at UW-Eau Claire, worries about the effect the new policy will have on the UW System's ability to retain and recruit faculty. Like Fleisher, she thinks the policy is weak, but noted she doesn't think it will diminish the work she has accomplished over the years. She doesn't look to it for job protection, but as a symbol of her life's work.

"I earned tenure from years and years of work," Miller said. "A lot of people have been telling me tenure is meaningless now, but to me it doesn't diminish my achievement."

Chuck Rybak, a tenured assistant professor at UW-Green Bay, said he views tenure as a form of compensation that he already earned from his labor. By changing the policy, UW essentially backed out of its contract.

Before the policy change, he was offered a higher paying job but elected to stay at UW-Green Bay. If he had known what was going to happen to the UW tenure policy, he said he would have left.

"I earned tenure based on labor that has already been extracted from me," he said. "They are taking away property from me, as tenure is an earned property right. It is irrelevant if changes are modest."

A spokeswoman for UW-Madison Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf had no comment about the tenure policy other than referring to a blog published by university Chancellor Rebecca Blank that defends the policy as consistent with other universities.

"I want to be clear that we will take all steps to retain tenured faculty at UW-Madison," Blank said in her blog. "I hope everyone will give this new policy a chance."

It's worth noting that last month, Blank told the Board of Regents that UW-Madison gave out $726,436 in raises and $8 million in research support to retain 40 top faculty members that competing universities tried to lure away.

Educators argue that tenure was never about guaranteeing a job for life, but rather was intended to act as a protection for faculty who may be doing cutting-edge research or teaching controversial topics. The concern is that watering down tenure could lead to watered down education that bows to the ideological whims of the day.

"Tenure is to guarantee academic freedom," Fleisher said. "Weakening tenure is weakening academic freedom and that is bad for both the faculty and the students."
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A continuing education institute at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has received a $1 million grant from the The Bernard Osher Foundation in San Francisco, UWM Chancellor Mark Mone announced Tuesday.

UWM's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is part of the university's School of Continuing Education.

The institute provides its 1,400 members ages 50 and above with more than 250 courses and programs, ranging from foreign language and literature to travel excursions locally and abroad. A majority of the nearly $3.7 million the university has received from the foundation since its initial funding in 2008 has gone to this institute, according to a news release from the university.

"We are grateful to the foundation for their longtime support that has allowed us to offer this valuable program to the community," Mone said. "The institute at UWM has seen tremendous growth since receiving its initial funding in 2008, both in terms of doubling its membership and tripling its program offerings in recent years."

The Bernard Osher Foundation supports 119 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes around the country. UWM's is the only Osher program in Wisconsin, though others in the region host them, including Northwestern University, the University of Minnesota and the University of Michigan.
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The former Milwaukee police detective who was charged with excessive force for beating a handcuffed suspect in a 2013 interrogation pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Tuesday afternoon.

The case goes to sentencing Oct. 13.

Federal sentencing guidelines recommend that the former detective, Rodolfo Gomez Jr., who was fired from the department in December 2013, receive a sentence of a year and a day, but the sentencing judge, Pamela Pepper, is not bound by those recommendations. The maximum sentence allowed under the law is a fine of $250,000 and 10 years in prison.

Gomez, 48, was indicted in federal court in early April for "willfully depriving an arrested subject of his civil right not to be subjected to excessive force," according to the U.S. attorney's office.

He was previously acquitted in state court in a February 2015 jury trial that dealt with the same incident.

In August 2013, he was caught on video punching Deron Love, a suspect in the death of his infant son.

Love had one arm handcuffed to the wall. When he approached Gomez after getting angry with a comment the detective had made, Gomez struck him, pinning him in the corner.

Michael Steinle, Gomez's attorney, previously argued in court that Gomez was acting in self defense.
The sun rising over the lake symbolizes a new day. The blue bars in its reflections represent the citys three rivers and founders.

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A snow white sun rising over a deep blue Lake Michigan, three stripes of light blue notched into the orb's reflection on the water.

That's the design of a new, but still unofficial, city of Milwaukee flag, designed by Robert Lenz and unveiled Tuesday evening.

The announcement of the flag comes at the end of a four-month-long design contest. The contest drew 1,006 entries, which began flowing in on Feb. 18. The entries were narrowed down to five finalists, which were rated by more than 6,000 people on a 1-10 scale online.

It remains to be seen whether the city will adopt the design as its official flag, supplanting the old one. Mayor Tom Barrett and Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton were present at the unveiling of the five finalists in May, and Barrett has called the city's current flag "outdated."

"This is an opportunity to change the conversation from the past to the future," said Ken Hanson, executive director of Greater Together, an organization that works on increasing diversity in the city's creative industries and was involved in the flag initiative.

The design, titled "Sunrise over the Lake," is meant to symbolize a unified future, Lenz said in a May interview.

The three light blue stripes in the sun's reflection represent the city's three rivers and founding towns. The gold background is a nod to the city's wheat growing and brewing history, and the rising sun above the lake represents a city united.

The contest to create a new flag, organized by the People's Flag of Milwaukee Design Initiative and Greater Together, came after Roman Mars, host of the popular design podcast 99% Invisible, called the City of Milwaukee flag a "hot mess" in a widely viewed TED talk on flag designs.

The old flag features a hodgepodge of items including a stalk of barley, a red ship, Milwaukee City Hall and the now-demolished Milwaukee County Stadium. There's also a church, a lamp, a factory, and a flag with two stars. The right side of the flag shows the date the city was established  1846  and the bottom reads "Milwaukee."

The flag, in short, isn't in keeping with the main principles of flag design, which value, above all, simplicity.

The other principles, said Steve Kodis, a graphic designer who spearheaded the People's Flag of Milwaukee Design Initiative, are that the flag has to have meaningful symbolism, must generally feature two to three colors in a standard color set  though there is flexibility with this principle, and must not feature lettering or a city's seal. It can also feature symbols that pop up in other flags and places.

The new "people's flag" could fly alongside the city's official flag if it doesn't replace it.

"Nobody is saying we should burn the old flag or throw it away," said Hanson.

The initiative wasn't only about finding a better-looking flag. It was also meant to engage the city's residents, especially young residents of color, and in the process, have honest conversations about what the city means to those young people, Hanson said.

Greater Together and the People's Flag of Milwaukee Design Initiative held flag design workshops throughout the city, at the elementary, middle, high school, and college levels.

Over 20% of the design submissions came from those workshops, Hanson said. Some entries even came in crayon.

"Sunrise over the Lake" received a 6.87 rating online. The second place design, "The 'M' Star," came in with a 6.26 rating.
Autumm Hargraves of Grafton places a rainbow flag in the middle of a circle of candles and roses during a vigil held for victims of the Orlando, Fla., mass shooting at Milwaukee City Hall on Monday evening. Credit: Calvin Mattheis

She rarely attends community vigils, Joan Stewart tells me.

"I never come to these things," she says as we stand in closed-off Wells St. and look up at the large rainbow flag draped on Milwaukee's City Hall.

"But we just have to remember we're all humans. Nothing this horrible should happen to human beings."

You know the horrible thing she means. America now ranks its many mass murders, and what happened early Sunday at a gay nightclub in Orlando tops the list of deadliest gun massacres so far. Forty nine people at the club are dead, plus the shooter, and 53 were wounded.

Joan lives on the city's west side and works at an asset management company downtown. She came to the vigil alone on Monday evening.

"It's just such a good and immediate response," she says.

Hundreds of us stand together against the terror, seeking comfort for ourselves, offering it to each other, and trying to find some hope for the future. We each clutch two small flags, one the Stars and Stripes, the other a rainbow.

"To members of the LGBT community, we share your agony and your heartbreak," Mayor Tom Barrett says when it's his turn to speak. "We are here for you. You are part of us, and we are part of you. We are one community."

The crowd applauds that line, and again when he says we need to address the easy access to guns. Not guns that people might use for self-defense, but the kind of assault rifle that's designed to do exactly what happened at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

This message resonates with Harry Sutton, a retired florist who lives in Mequon. "That kind of equipment doesn't need to be on the street. If the military trains you to use it, you need to sign it out. And when you're out of the military, you sign it back in," he tells me. I agree with him, even as I understand that any gun can do great damage in the hands of a criminal.

Harry is wearing a shirt that says "Human" to signal this is not a gay thing, but an all of us thing.

"It breaks my heart," he says, "to see a whole generation having to grow up with this fear and lack of freedom. Something has to happen in this country. I don't care which lunatic they put in office. Something has to change."

The murderer's name is not spoken at the vigil, and I will not speak it here. He failed if he thought he was spreading hatred toward our LGBT brothers and sisters, because the opposite is happening as we stand in solidarity beside them.

Think about how suddenly same-sex marriage has become the law of the land. Brian Buchberger and Andy Schaidler of Milwaukee pledged their love in a commitment ceremony in 1998 and made it legal in 2008 by traveling to California and marrying.

The news of what happened in Florida has been sinking in slowly and painfully for them.

"That's part of the reason we're down here is because we feel kind of helpless. What else can you do but show up with your friends and do a group hug and say why?" Brian, a graphic designer, tells me at the vigil.

"After PrideFest was over and all the streamers were taken down, we all started thinking now we're going back to our jobs and our day-to-day lives, and all those people aren't," he says.

The amount of crushing grief and loss caused by this spasm of violence is incomprehensible.

"I don't want us to deny that this is a hate crime," says another speaker at the event, community activist Brenda Coley, stressing that many of the dead are Latino. "And I don't want you to make this about Islam. It's about homophobia and transphobia and racism."

Those hate germs have not magically gone away even as gay people enjoy greater acceptance in America. This terrible crime reminds us of that.

"This national tragedy happened against a backdrop of anti-LGBTQ legislation that is sweeping this country, and we cannot forget that in our time of grief," Karen Gotzler, the final speaker of the event, warns us. She is executive director of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center.

Finally, the words and music give way to a minute of silence punctuated by the tolling of the City Hall bells more than a dozen times. The mayor says it's one ring for each instance when President Barack Obama addressed the nation following a mass shooting.

It will take more than silence to prevent the next one.

Call Jim Stingl at (414) 224-2017 or email at jstingl@jrn.com. Connect with my public page at Facebook.com/Journalist.Jim.Stingl
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Why are assault weapons needed?

In the aftermath of the brutal event of yet another senseless mass shooting, it's time to rethink the question of who is responsible. We already know the terrorists and those with mentally illnesses perpetrate these crimes, but what about those who place these weapons of mass destruction in their hands?

A 10-year ban on assault weapons was put into effect by Congress in 1994 but was sadly allowed to expire in 2004. It is clear that the National Rifle Association lobbied to let the ban expire so they could increase their sales and profits. Recently, the NRA would not support an effort to stop people on the terrorist list from buying guns, arguing that some may be on the list by mistake.

The NRA wants us only to focus on finding and stopping terrorists or the dangerously mentally ill. This isn't enough. We need a national discussion of why assault weapons are even needed in a civilized society.

A ban won't stop a terrorist from building a bomb. But doesn't it make sense to join together as citizens and demand a sensible ban on assault weapons and guns with high-capacity magazines?

Barbara Capstran

Milwaukee



Thanks to the art police

Thank goodness for Ald. Robert Bauman and his fellow art experts on the Architectural Review Board! Without them and their keen and enlightened sensibilities we might see the Third Ward subjected to a building mural that's "too bold and too bright" for that neighborhood ("Third Ward mural criticized," June 9).

Horrors  can you imagine? C'mon, this is Milwaukee, not one of those hip and trendy cities like Portland, Minneapolis or Austin. I'm sure that all Milwaukeeans join with me in praising Bauman for his efforts to keep our fair city firmly mired in the Laverne & Shirley image that has characterized this city to outsiders for decades.

The alderman has been wise enough to recognize that once you open the door to bright colors and bold designs, it's merely the first step onto a slippery slope that inevitably leads to the kind of thinking that not only questions the brightness of art pieces but also of the individuals playing the role of art police for this community.

Paul H. Henning

Milwaukee



Ryan's critics off base

In the June 10 Journal Sentinel, Robert Weiner's and William Kim's commentary, "Ryan wrong on safety net," once again argues that a Republican proposal to make America a better place is simply wrong because it is a Republican proposal (Opinions).

Weiner and Kim hit all the Democratic talking points  Social Security, SNAP, food stamps and Obamacare without offering even a single idea for making these programs sustainable in the future. They even criticized House Seaker Paul Ryan's plan to transfer anti-property spending into "State Flexibility Funds" simply because they view it as a way to "get rid of government programs."

It's time we stopped listening to unsupported talking points by the likes of Weiner and looked at the state of our nation with an open mind.

Phil Bail

Grafton



Spectacle of violence

I know this issue has been raised before, but I must raise it again in the wake of the outlandish response to the shooting death of a gorilla in Cincinnati, Ohio. Recent Internet estimates are that millions of people worldwide objected to the killing. A similar outcry happened last year when a local dentist killed a lion in Africa.

Yes, I am an animal lover and stand firmly against indiscriminate killing of any animal, as well as any human. But something is amiss here. In sharp contrast, there is little outcry when children are killed in their homes or on playgrounds, or when a boat carrying mostly women and children trying to escape unspeakable violence and war overturns in the Mediterranean, or when the Syrian government ruthlessly uses chemical weapons on its own people, killing mostly women and children. I could go on and on.

Has the constant deluge of people dying in war, violence, terrorism, mass shootings, etc. paralyzed and anesthetized us? Perhaps the sheer and constant spectacle of obscene violence in the media, in video games and in the movies has clouded our view of reality, skewed our perspective, hardened our souls and warped our judgment.

Mike Weber

Fredonia
Demond Means (left) and Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele discuss their plans for implementing the Opportunity Schools Partnership Program in Milwaukee. Means was appointed commissioner of the program by Abele, under state legislation mandating the program. Credit: Patrick Thomas

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To Milwaukee Public Schools:

On April 21, we presented a proposal to you for a partnership between Milwaukee Public Schools and Opportunity Schools Partnership Program (OSPP). As we said at the time and have said all along, this proposal was a result of an effort on our part to implement OSPP  a mandate from the state  in the most productive way possible, while preserving funding for MPS, maintaining the student count and protecting teacher jobs.

Furthermore, per MPS's request, we agreed to this partnership for only one school and that we would implement additional wraparound and other services to help the struggling school succeed. Instead of privatizing the OSPP school, we chose instead to craft a path for it to remain under public control. This is not only vital to us, but also to the community.

At that time, we said that we hoped that proposal would be the beginning of a conversation and we could work toward a shared agreement over a couple of months. The two-month timeline left us with enough time to change course in case we could not reach an agreement.

Since that presentation, you have appropriately spent time asking questions of us and doing your due diligence. While we have answered every question we have received from you, we also have asked for an opportunity to have a conversation about how this proposal can be better molded to suit your needs.

Our multiple requests for a conversation have largely gone unanswered. You have held two closed door meetings without giving us an opportunity to participate or providing us any guidance on how you would like to proceed. In the meantime, we have heard some of you in the media saying that you have many more questions and concerns about this legislation. It is difficult to see how this is anything other than a stall tactic to prevent making a decision.

You have clearly expressed your displeasure with this legislation and we have said from the beginning that this legislation is not how we would have approached a turnaround effort. We did not seek this legislation nor did we have any input into its drafting. However, as elected officials, we take an oath to uphold the law. We understand that you are in a very difficult position; however, partnering with us in no way shows that you support this law  just that you want to ensure funding for MPS.

We would like to clarify what options exist at this point. If we do not receive an answer from MPS or even an expression of willingness to work with us, we are still mandated to implement the law. This means a private provider would run the school and the millions of MPS dollars currently allocated to that school would have to be given to the private entity to operate the school. We have worked hard to find a way to avoid that scenario.

As you know, there are thousands of students who attend one of the more than 50 struggling schools identified by the state that do not know what their future holds and whether their school will be the one identified. The instability and uncertainty created by the fact that we have not been able to resolve this issue is unfair to them and only perpetuates instability and uncertainty in the lives of families who are already struggling.

While we understand that you view this law as a distraction from your own turnaround efforts, by continuing to stall and waiting out the timeline you are perpetuating this uncertainty for hundreds of students, parents and teachers. By either declining or avoiding partnering with us, you are in essence forcing a "takeover" and the loss of millions of dollars from the public system, which is exactly what we are trying to avoid with our proposal to you.

This decision to partner or not should not be made for political reasons, but because we both care about the students and families of Milwaukee. We can put an end to the uncertainty they are feeling now by showing that we can work together for their benefit.

For over six months we have reiterated our support for MPS. We have never viewed this as an "us vs. them" situation, nor do we now. We know you care passionately about the children and families we serve. We do too. We continue to believe that we are stronger if we work together and we ask again that you engage with us in a dialogue about how we can make the best out of this situation.

Chris and Demond

This letter to the Milwaukee School Board was written by Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele and Opportunity Schools Commissioner Demond Means.
A Marquette University Law School poll released Wednesday shows Democrat Russ Feingold (right) with a narrow lead over Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson. Credit: AP

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Democrat Russ Feingold and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson are in a tight contest in their rematch race, while Gov. Scott Walker's approval ratings have sagged, according to the Marquette University Law School Poll released Wednesday.

In the Senate race, Feingold leads among registered voters with 45% support, compared with 41% for Johnson. Feingold led by 5 points in a March poll.

Among likely voters, Feingold's support expanded to 51% over Johnson's 42%, as Democrats polled said they were more likely to vote in the fall than Republicans, although the race remains fluid.

Feingold, the former three-term senator who lost to Johnson in 2010, was viewed favorably by 40% of registered voters and unfavorably by 33%. Another 26% couldn't give an opinion. Johnson was viewed favorably by 33%, unfavorably by 31%, with 35% unable to give an opinion about him.

"We've seen very little movement in the favorability and the name recognition of both Johnson and Feingold," said poll director Charles Franklin.

The race has heated up in recent weeks, with Johnson launching his first statewide TV ad and Feingold countering with a spot.

"This may be the point where that race really kicks off and over the next couple of months we see voters focus on it and begin to be hit by a lot of messaging from the campaigns," Franklin said.

The two campaigns stuck to their talking points in the wake of the results.

Brian Reisinger, a Johnson spokesman, said: "Ron Johnson is an Oshkosh manufacturer who knows how to take on Washington dysfunction, create jobs, and keep Wisconsin communities safe. Senator Feingold is a career politician who Wisconsinites fired once, and they'll do it again because after 34 years he has become everything people hate about politics."

Michael Tyler, a Feingold spokesman, said: "While Russ maintains a consistent lead, we've known from the very beginning that this will be a tough, close race all the way to November. Wisconsinites have a clear choice between Russ, who is listening and fighting for them, and Senator Johnson who has hitched his wagon to Donald Trump and Washington Republicans."

Walker continued to have trouble connecting with Wisconsin voters, a problem that has dogged him since he dropped out of the presidential race last year.

Fifty-seven percent of voters disapproved of his performance as governor, while only 39% approved. Those figures came even as the second-term Republican governor suggested he might run for a third term. In March, he briefly gained traction when he reached 43% approval against 53% disapproval.

Wisconsinites are split on the state of the state, with 46% saying the state is moving in the right direction, and 50% claiming it's moving in the wrong direction.

On the state budget, 31% say it's better than a few years ago, 37% say it's worse and 25% say it's about the same.

Walker discounted the poll's findings on the direction of the state and his approval rating. He said he hears primarily good things when he holds listening sessions with citizens that are closed to the press.

"The headlines are always about negative and bad things, so it's no wonder that people felt that way in the polls. But from what I hear from people  obviously people always want to do better  but we hear positive things about how people feel about ... the economy, about the future, about where things are headed," Walker told reporters in a conference call.

On trade, 41% said free trade agreements have been a good thing for the United States, while 44% said they've been a bad thing. But there are partisan differences, with only 36% of Republicans seeing the benefits of trade agreements for the country, compared with 52% who said those agreements were bad. Among Democrats, 46% said the U.S. benefited from the agreements, while 37% said it did not.

"We are seeing the party that has traditionally been pro free trade now has a plurality or majority of its members with deep reservations," Franklin said. "And (we're seeing) Democrats being a little less opposed to it than in the past, and on balance being pro-free trade."

Fifty-three percent said free trade costs jobs, while only 11% said it creates jobs.

On immigration, 60% favored a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, 18% said undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay as guest workers, while 17% said undocumented immigrants should be required to leave the U.S.

Fifty-four percent favor a raise in the minimum wage, while 42% said the wage should not be raised. But there was a split between parties, with 73% of Republicans opposing a raise and 79% of Democrats favoring a raise.

Sixty-four percent favor same-sex marriage, with 28% opposed. Again, there was a party difference, with 84% of Democrats favoring same-sex marriage. Among Republicans, 43% favored same-sex marriage and 48% are opposed to it.

Sixty-three percent favored taxing the rich to reduce income inequality, while 33% opposed. At 90%, Democrats were nearly unified in supporting a tax increase on the rich, while 63% of Republicans were in opposition. Interestingly, only 40% said it was government's responsibility to reduce income inequality, while 55% said it was not.

The survey of 800 registered voters  and 666 likely voters  was conducted Thursday through Sunday by landline and cellphone. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points for registered voters and plus or minus 4.9% for likely voters.

More than 100 people were interviewed Sunday night after the mass shooting in Orlando. There was no significant statistical difference in the Sunday sample compared with the previous three days, Franklin said.

Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this story.
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Madison  Gov. Scott Walker effectively cut the field of candidates for a seat on the state Supreme Court from 11 to five Wednesday, and in the process revealed the name of one of them for the first time.

The candidates were interviewed Monday by a committee of Walker advisers, and he announced Wednesday these five would get a second interview with top aides  Appeals Judge Mark Gundrum; Appeals Judge Thomas Hruz; Waukesha attorney Daniel Kelly; Jefferson County Circuit Judge Randy Koschnick; and Marinette County Circuit Judge James Morrison.

Kelly had asked for his name to be kept confidential in the early stages of the appointment process and it wasn't released to the public until Wednesday. Kelly has done work for the Walker administration and recently served as an attorney for Justice Rebecca Bradley when she ran for the court earlier this year.

Walker plans to name someone to the high court by the end of July, when Justice David Prosser is stepping down. The appointment is expected to keep the 5-2 conservative majority in place.

Six others who applied for the Supreme Court opening didn't get second interviews  Minnesota attorney Andrew Brown; Appeals Judge Brian Hagedorn; Madison attorney Claude Covelli; Public Service Commissioner Ellen Nowak; Milwaukee attorney Paul Scoptur; and former Dane County Circuit Judge James Troupis.
HARRISBURG  About $170 per second. Four billion dollars per year.

The pension clock continues to run, visible for all to see just outside the Capitol cafeteria.

The overall pension debt is now approaching $70 billion.

The state House passed Rep. Mike Tobashs, R-Schuylkill/Dauphin, bill that, he says, will begin to fix a problem decades in the making.

In its most basic, fundamental form, were introducing what the private sector has and shrinking down what we cant manage, Tobash said of the bill that passed the House Tuesday by a 136-59 vote.

It is called a stacked hybrid plan and it would not affect current workers.

It would only apply to state and school district employees hired in 2018 and beyond.

In simple terms, the first $50,000 in income would be put in a traditional defined benefit plan. Employees would contribute 7.5 percent of their salary.

Income beyond $50,000 would be put into a 401(k)-style plan. State and school districts would match 4 percent.

Tobash calls it an important first step and long overdue.

Lets get it established. Lets allow it to grow. This doesnt mean were finished working on this crisis, but this is a major step in the right direction for Pennsylvania, he said.

But critics, and there are many, insist it doesnt go near far enough.

People will say, well, its a step in the right direction, said Rep. John McGinniss, R-Blair, but its like bringing a squirt gun to a house thats fully inflamed. Its not gonna do anything of consequence.

McGinniss, who had his own pension bill thats stuck in committee, says the only real fix to the pension crisis would be a dedicated funding source to pay off the huge debt and simultaneously putting all future hires totally into a 401(k)-style plan.

This bill is doing something that does nothing, McGinniss said. It is simply window dressing and puts off for a long time real reform measures.

Pension watchdog Barry Shutt, who created the clock and has been perched outside the cafeteria advocating for real reform for nearly two years, agrees with McGinniss.

Ive had half a dozen legislators come by this morning and say, Well, we did it. Its not gonna fix anything. It probably makes things worse, but they voted for it anyhow. Wheres the courage? Shutt asked.

The bill now goes to the Senate and faces an uncertain future. Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, said his chamber will look at the House version, but he generally prefers getting taxpayers off the hook by putting all new hires into a 401(k)-style plan.

Well compromise to a point, but were not gonna say we did something and pat ourselves on the back, he said. Pension reform is whats driving revenue discussions here in Harrisburg. The reason people are talking about tax increases is because of pensions. So this is the top priority.

The House version would not touch the pensions of current elected officials. Corman said the Senate prefers a plan that would require current lawmakers and public officials, upon re-election, to go into whatever new pension plan theyre proposing for others.

Gov. Tom Wolf supports the House version and, in a statement late Tuesday afternoon, urged the Senate to move quickly to pass it.
Gov. Scott Walker says Mexican officials he has spoken to have trade concerns about all the potential presidential candidates  Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Credit: Associated Press

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Madison  Gov. Scott Walker said Mexican officials have raised concerns with him in recent days about the trade policies Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders would adopt as president, but didn't consider any one of them a bigger threat than the others.

"In general, they're concerned about trade, and interestingly they're concerned not just about the presumptive Republican nominee, they were concerned about statements made by both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton about trade as well and what impact it might have," the GOP governor said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters.

Walker, who is in Mexico with other Wisconsin officials on a trade mission, didn't say which officials had discussed their concerns about the trade policies of the presidential candidates. But he said they did not raise any more concerns about Trump  a Republican who has angered Latinos by repeatedly saying he will get Mexico to pay for a border wall  than the two Democrats.

"They didn't distinguish," Walker told reporters. "They just brought up trade and that it was so much talked about in the presidential election that from their standpoint they were concerned about any of them.

"They heard comments, it started out with Senator Sanders, but certainly Hillary Clinton started to echo some of those comments, and so they were concerned across the board."

All three presidential candidates have questioned whether international trade deals have been good for American workers, with Trump and Sanders being the most vocal.

State Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) said he found Walker's claims impossible to believe.

"As soon as I read it, the BS meter went off," he said. "I can't think of a way he could bend over backward (more) or bend the truth so much."

Also Wednesday, Walker said the most important thing to do after Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando is stress the importance of, "If you see something, say something." A longtime proponent of gun rights, Walker expressed skepticism at tightening gun laws, citing last year's attack in a Paris theater.

"France already has  you know, where the attacks were last year  you had some of the most aggressive gun control measures, including as I recall a prohibition on fully automatic firearms and restrictions on semiautomatic, requiring a license and I think background checks and things of that nature," Walker said. "In that case, obviously, when you've got people who are committed to terrorist acts, they're not following the law to begin with. So I think the biggest issue for us is just trying to figure out how do we work together."
No verdict reached after first few hours of deliberations in Darrell Brooks trial
Gov. Scott Walkers administration is just beginning to monitor agency progress and determine how each agencys performance will be shared with the public. Credit: Morry Gash

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Three months after Gov. Scott Walker ordered state agencies to overhaul how they handle public record requests, his administration is just beginning to monitor agency progress and determine how each agency's performance will be shared with the public.

Some agencies report minor improvements, such as establishing central email addresses to receive requests and developing systems to track those requests.

But only five of the 18 major agencies polled by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported full compliance with the order. Further, the Department of Administration  tasked with overseeing other agencies' efforts  only recently scheduled meetings to begin monitoring progress.

Laurel Patrick, spokeswoman for the department, said meetings scheduled with agencies in June and July are meant to set expectations and determine how progress will be tracked and shared with the public.

The department hasn't set uniform measures to assess each agency, Patrick said, but instead will tailor expectations based on the types of requests an agency receives and its structure.

"Some might have best practices to share with others," she said.

She said an initial assessment of agencies is likely to happen in the coming months  and definitely by the end of the year.

Transparent processes

In his March 11 executive order, Walker called on state agencies to speed up response times to public records requests, which in some cases took several months or a year to fulfill. He also asked agencies to create tracking systems of public records requests and directed the Department of Administration to "work with all cabinet agencies to assess their performance."

Walker's executive order came after his administration and Republican lawmakers attempted to undermine the state's open records laws by slipping unannounced changes into the budget heading into last year's Fourth of July weekend. The move was met with backlash from conservatives and liberals alike, and the changes were abandoned within days.

Walker's administration has also come under scrutiny for withholding email exchanges showing he supported changes to the mission statement of the University of Wisconsin System  changes he'd initially described as "drafting errors." The changes would have removed the Wisconsin Idea, which states that "the search for truth" and creating an impact beyond the classroom are central to the system's mission. Walker only released those emails when a Dane County circuit judge ordered him to do so late last month.

Specific directives in Walker's order included the following:

 Fulfill any small and straightforward request within 10 business days of receipt, whenever it is practicable to do so;

 Publicize a primary email address to receive public records requests and acknowledge each request received within one business day;

 When a requester asks for an update on the status of his or her request, respond within five business days;

 Provide a written explanation of the reasons for redacting any information in records provided;

 Provide public records training to all employees both as part of orientation and on an ongoing basis.

The order applied to state agencies, including departments, boards, councils and commissions. It did not apply to the Department of Justice, which  although not a cabinet agency  has also been criticized for slow response times by open records advocates. Spokesman Johnny Koremenos said the department, overseen by Attorney General Brad Schimel rather than Walker, has had a request tracking system in place for the past year. He didn't know whether response times have improved during that period.

Last summer, Schimel hosted a daylong summit on open government issues, and established the Office of Open Government within the DOJ. He was open in his criticism of proposed open records law changes.

Agencies' progress varies

Most state agencies and offices were already informally tracking requests on spreadsheets before the executive order. Others, such as the Department of Revenue and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., have formal systems.

But oversight of the tracking systems  including monitoring response times  wasn't always clearly assigned to staff members. Since the order, the Department of Corrections, criticized for slow response times by frequent records requesters, has assigned responsibility of the process to its chief legal counsel, said spokesman Tristan Cook.

So far this year, the department has received nearly 800 requests. But Cook wouldn't say how many are outstanding or comment on whether response times have improved.

"Each request is unique," he said. Because of the large number of requests that come through, "it's hard to say generally that they've been faster or the same."

The Department of Natural Resources has logged more than 1,615 requests so far this year. Before the executive order, response time averaged around a month for requests deemed complex, the Journal Sentinel found in a review of those requests.

Since then, complex requests have taken an average of 16 days to complete  but that measure doesn't account for the 66 requests that are outstanding. Those have been open for an average of 20 days.

The average completion time for simple, routine requests was less than four days both before and after the order.

In late March, the DNR settled a lawsuit with Midwest Environmental Advocates, a law firm that said it had waited more than 10 months for one request to be filled and seven months for another. The settlement was seen by open records advocates as an acknowledgment of a pattern of delays in releasing records.

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has received more than 200 requests so far this year, releasing over 23,000 pages of documents. But the 29 open requests have been open for an average of 38 days.

Part of the difficulty of gauging improvements lies in the fact that some requests  including a handful received by that department  require preparing thousands of pages for release. The order called for agencies to fulfill "small and straightforward" requests within 10 days. Because it is not always possible to anticipate how complex a request will be, appropriate response times can become subjective.

Agencies receiving fewer requests have less work to do. The Department of Financial Institutions has received fewer than 50 requests so far this year and filled many of them in less than two days. Only one item, which took two weeks, took longer than five days to fill. The Public Service Commission, the state's public utilities regulator, has received just 10 requests so far this year.

Monitoring order's impact

Though agencies are at varying stages of implementing tracking systems and the DOA is just beginning to oversee progress, some open records advocates are hopeful.

Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, an advocacy group for open government, said he is encouraged by the spirit of the governor's directive, which seems to acknowledge that requests were taking too long to fulfill.

"But the good karma that the governor gets by issuing this directive will evaporate if it takes forever to happen," he said.

Ultimately, each agency's improvements will need to be measured against past performance, a baseline that isn't necessarily available, Lueders said. As tracking improves, it will be easier for the public to gauge progress.

Walker spokesman Tom Evenson said coordinating efforts and best practices related to public records processes across agencies is "a significant undertaking that Governor Walker has prioritized."

"We believe Wisconsin will stand out as a leader in government transparency," he added.
Badger Guns and its owners this week settled a lawsuit brought Milwaukee police Officer Jose Lopez (right) and former Officer Alejandro Arce. Credit: Michael Sears

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Two Milwaukee police officers wounded with a gun sold by a former West Milwaukee shop settled their lawsuit for $250,000, according to court documents.

Officer Jose Lopez received $22,500 and former officer Alejandro Arce received $85,000 from the insurance company representing Badger Guns and its owners, according to the settlement signed this week and obtained by the Journal Sentinel on Wednesday.

The case was settled before trial. The balance of the settlement went to the City of Milwaukee for worker's compensation and expenses.

In comparison, Officer Bryan Norberg and former officer Graham Kunisch  who filed a similar lawsuit  settled their case for $1 million. That case went to trial and the jury found in favor of the officers.

In the settlement, Norberg and Kunisch received, respectively, $75,000 and $216,000, with the rest going to the city, legal fees and expenses.

In the Norberg and Kunisch case, the jury issued a first-of-its-kind verdict, which was noted nationwide. The jury found that Badger Guns and its owner broke federal laws and negligently sold the gun used to injure the officers to a straw buyer  someone buying a gun for someone who cannot legally purchase one. Jurors awarded nearly $6 million in health care costs and lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.

Patrick Dunphy, attorney for all four officers, said Wednesday the officers' goal of holding the gun dealer accountable was achieved.

"To have the first verdict here, the city of Milwaukee set the standard of imposing responsibility on gun dealers for the rest of the country to try to live up to and follow," Dunphy said.

Badger Guns attorney James Vogts did not immediately return a call for comment.

The jury selection in the case brought by Arce and Lopez was abruptly ended last month for reasons that were not explained at the time by Milwaukee Circuit Judge John DiMotto and the lawyers in the case.

The plan was to try to pick another jury the following Monday but before that happened, the two sides settled.

A newly available transcript revealed that DiMotto granted a mistrial after finding that Vogts, the lawyer for Badger Guns, violated a legal rule in Wisconsin that says jurors cannot be told what impact their verdict will have.

In juror questioning, Vogts said that if the attorneys for Lopez and Arce did not meet their burden, the officers "don't get any money. They leave the courtroom without money."

Vogts said he made a similar statement during the first trial against Badger Guns, according to the transcript. Dunphy did not object at the time, but DiMotto said that does not matter.

Vogts' comments in front of the jury could not be fixed with any special instructions, DiMotto found, according to the transcript from May 18.

DiMotto also found that Vogts and his firm should pay Milwaukee County $6,000 for the cost of bringing in a new jury pool of 100. That sanction, however, was withdrawn later as no second jury was called.

According to the transcript, DiMotto and the lawyers agreed to say nothing about why the jury was being dismissed because having the reason for the dismissal disclosed in the media could taint the incoming jury pool.

Dunphy said officers in both cases settled once attorneys for Badger Guns made a settlement offer. He said the lawsuits were not about money but to make the gun store accountable.

In the latest case, he said Lopez and Arce wanted to avoid a three-week trial when personal details of health problems would become public.

"It's very sad, very personal information" that they didn't want to be discussed in court, Dunphy said.

Lopez and Arce were shot by Victor Veloz, then 15, in November 2007. Veloz was using a gun purchased and provided to him by 24-year-old Jose Fernandez. That gun and another were purchased by Fernandez just weeks earlier.

On Oct. 16, 2007, Fernandez bought a Masterpiece Arms 9mm assault-style gun with a flash suppressor and two 30-round clips. Eight days later, Fernandez returned to the store and bought a Taurus 9mm handgun.

Liability suits against gun dealers have been rare following the passage of a 2005 federal law that prevented most of them. However, the law allows civil suits to be brought if the plaintiffs can show the gun dealer broke the law and negligently put a gun in the hands of an offender.

The case brought by Kunisch and Norberg was the second in the country to go to a jury and the first to result in a gun store losing.

Badger Guns opened in 2007, just a month before the sale of the first gun to Fernandez, used to shoot Lopez and Arce. Its predecessor was Badger Outdoors.

In 2006, regulators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives recommended revoking Badger Outdoors' license. But there was no revocation.

The players then took on new roles and a new license was issued to Adam Allan, the son of former owner Walter Allan, creating what one federal official called a "clean slate," a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation found. The other owner of Badger Outdoors, Mick Beatovic, said he always planned to retire.

Badger Guns and Badger Outdoors were top sellers of crime guns recovered in Milwaukee for more than a decade. In 2005, Badger Outdoors was the top seller of crime guns in the nation with 537 such weapons recovered.

Wiped Clean Series

The Journal Sentinel for two years investigated how Congress has created special rules for gun stores that protect even the biggest sellers of guns to criminals. See jsonline.com/wipedclean.
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The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for 27 counties including areas north and northwest of Milwaukee.

The tornado watch is in effect until 8 p.m.

Among the affected counties are Ozaukee, Washington, Sheboygan and Fond du Lac. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for producing severe thunderstorms that are capable of creating tornadoes.

Meanwhile, thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and evening in southeastern Wisconsin as a low pressure system pushes a cold front into the area. The colder temperatures will collide with a warm, moist and unstable air mass - conditions that frequently create thunderstorms.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook calling for a slight risk for severe thunderstorms along southern Wisconsin. Large hail and damaging winds are the primary hazards because of wind shear in the atmosphere.

If thunderstorms develop, they're likely to arrive between 5 and 8 tonight with clearing skies by around 9 p.m. in the Milwaukee area, said Denny VanCleve, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Sullivan.

Computer models are showing the best chance for thunderstorms is north of Milwaukee. Temperatures are expected to drop into the low 60s with the cold front this evening, said VanCleve.

Dew points in southeastern Wisconsin are now in the mid 60s to around 70  above 60 is when it starts to feel sticky and 70 and above feels very humid, VanCleve said.
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Vicente Medina | (Informed Comment) |  

While President Obama did not formally apologize for the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japanese civilians at the end of WWII, by visiting Hiroshima one might speculate that he had tacitly apologized to the Japanese people for our past wrongdoings. But even if one were to conceive of his behavior and feelings of contrition as a tacit apology, such a tacit apology, while meaningful to some of the victims, is not a formal apology.

A formal apology from having committed a significant immoral act is an act of moral strength rather than weakness. The moral strength embodied in the values of American constitutional democracy whose leaders, at times, have been willing to acknowledge past wrongdoings: from President Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation, to President Johnsons Great Society, to President Reagans Apology to Japanese Americans for their unjust interment during WWII. Japans reluctance to apologize for their past wrong doings is just an obtuse remnant of imperial arrogance in the face of the incontrovertible evil that they inflicted on so many civilians, including their own citizens, prior and during WWII.

Japanese leaders reluctance to apologize for Imperial Japan past crimes should not be used as an excuse for us not to recognize our wrongful acts. Even the late John Rawls, who was an infantryman in the Pacific during WWII and was one of the most influential political philosophers of the 20th century, in his brief article Fifty Years After Hiroshima acknowledged that the fire-bombing of Japanese cities and the dropping of the atomic bombs were great evils.

Rawls admits that for some questioning the bombing of Hiroshima is an insult to the American troops who fought the war. According to him, this is hard to understand. And I concur with his opinion. He encouraged us to look back and consider our faults after fifty years. He continues, we expect the Germans and Japanese to do that . Why shouldnt we? One might underscore that the Allied forces had right on their side and hence they were justified to go to war against Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan and Fascist Italy who were the unquestionable aggressors. But, regrettably, the Allied forces committed atrocities oftentimes equivalent to the ones committed by the Axis powers.

We can learn an important lesson from the catastrophic events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Sometimes grave moral wrongs can bring about felicitous results for those who survive, such as the establishment of a decent constitutional democracy on the ashes of what was a formerly vicious imperialist regime. Those consequences, however, do not justify the deliberate annihilation of about 240,000 civilians which, regardless of his intention, President Truman authorized. Of course, many still believe that the dropping of the atomic bombs on mostly Japanese civilians saved more lives at the end. From such a belief it does not follow that these unprecedented tragic acts were morally justified. In hindsight, these unprecedented acts can be reasonably conceived of as a war crime or perhaps even as a colossal terrorist act.

In his interview with Errol Morris for the documentary The Fog of War, Robert S. McNamara, who was a captain in the USAAF responsible for analyzing bombing efficiency during the latter part of World War II, candidly admits that if the US had lost the war, he and his superiors would have been tried for war crimes for their firebombing of Japanese cities that resulted in the estimated deaths of hundreds of thousands civilians. Even General Curtis LeMay, who implemented such a morally questionable policy, admits as much. This seems to be another possible lesson that reasonable and fairminded people can learn from the events leading to and including those of Hiroshima and Nagasakitwo or more wrongs do not make a right.

It is painfully ironic that two of our most distinguished military commandersGenerals Eisenhower and MacArthurdid not see any military merit in the dropping of the atomic bombs. They thought that they were unnecessary to win the war. Scholars are likely to continue debating ad infinitum about what would have been the number of casualties, or whether they Japanese were ready to surrender had the atomic bombs not been dropped. Nevertheless, there is consensus that in August 1945 Imperial Japan was no longer a significant threat. The problem of deciding a policy based on future or potential casualties, as in the case of the dropping of the atomic bombs, is that we deliberately killed hundreds of thousands civilians, whose actual rights were violated, to presumably save millions of potential casualties. Potential casualties, however, are not actual casualties.

Vicente Medina is Professor of Philosophy at Seton hall University and author of Terrorism Unjustified: The Use and Misuse of Political Violence


VANCOUVER, June 15, 2016 /CNW/ - Garibaldi Resources (TSX.V: GGI) (the "Company" or "Garibaldi") is pleased to announce that it has acquired an option to purchase a 100% interest in the historic E&L nickel-copper-gold deposit and surrounding claims located at Nickel Mountain, contiguous to Colorado Resources' KSP Property and 6 km southwest of Eskay Creek in the heart of escalating exploration activity within northwest British Columbia's prolific Golden Triangle.

This acquisition boosts Garibaldi's holdings in the district to more than 150 sq. km covering three strategic properties, targeted on the merits of key geological features mapped along mineralized trends. Garibaldi's E&L and Palm Springs Project (PSP) adjoin half of the entire eastern border of the KSP which stretches 15 km north-south.

The E&L deposit was discovered by 5 diamond drill holes in 1966 with mineralization extending to 210 meters and zones remaining open laterally and to depth. Work since 1971 has been limited to aeromagnetic surveys with no documented exploration since 1990. The claims covering the deposit were held by Silver Standard Mines from 1958 to 2014, and Silver Standard retains a 1% NSR.

Historic reports show that mineralization at E&L consists of disseminated and massive pyrrhotite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite hosted in an olivine gabbro stock that intrudes Lower Jurassic sediments and volcanics. The Nickel Mountain gabbro is a unique lithology in the Stewart-Iskut region.

According to the B.C. Ministry of Energy & Mines MINFILE no. 104b 006, the E&L has historic Indicated and Inferred resources estimated at 2.9 million tonnes of 0.80% Ni, 0.62% Cu, 0.34 g/t Au, and 6 g/t Ag with anomalous values in platinum group elements (Quartermain, R.A., 1987; Sharp, W.M., 1968). In its 1971 Annual Report, Silver Standard noted grades exceeding 1% Ni and 0.70% Cu over 100 feet with sections up to 10 feet returning 5% Ni and 1.5% Cu.

The Company cautions investors that a Qualified Person, as defined by NI-43-101, has not done sufficient work to classify these historical estimates as current mineral resources or reserves. These estimates should not be relied upon until they have been verified and supported by a NI-43-101 report. The Company is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources.

Steve Regoci, Garibaldi President and CEO, commented: "The E&L is another great example of an important early discovery in this prolific district that was never systematically followed up on. New technology to test this type of magmatic deposit offers our team a game-changing opportunity. Exceedingly improved conditions warrant revisiting the E&L now given the tremendous amount of renewed activity and excitement in the district brought on by expanded infrastructure, receding ice fields, new surface discoveries and mine development at Brucejack and KSM.

"We have obtained a wealth of high-quality historical data on the E&L, including detailed mapping, sampling, drill core logs, aeromagnetic, magnetic and VLF surveys," Regoci continued. "This information will allow our geological team to reinterpret the projected geometry of this deposit, aiming to capture its full potential after Sumitomo Metal Mining Corporation's underground drilling in 1970-71 provided many valuable clues.

"The geological richness of the district is incredible, and we intend to further demonstrate this over our large landholdings including E&L this summer. We also look forward to drill results from programs on properties around us, including of course Colorado's adjoining KSP where the high-grade Inel gold target is being advanced. Seabridge Gold, Tudor Gold, Eskay Mining, Aben Resources, Metallis Resources and Romios Gold all border ground held by GGI and their work will certainly help our district model," Regoci concluded.

The Deal

Garibaldi can acquire a 100% undivided interest in the 766-hectare E&L claims from the vendor by completing the following over the 4-year option period:

Making cash payments totaling $100,000 CDN, issuing 1,100,000 shares of Garibaldi over a 4-year schedule and incurring exploration expenditures on the property totaling $375,000 CDN by the 4th year of the option.

The vendor retains a 2% NSR, half of which Garibaldi may purchase at any time for $1,000,000 CDN. In regards only to claim 104449 (comprising 9 cells covering the historic E&L deposit), the 2% NSR royalty provision is divided into two separate 1% royalty payments, to be paid to Silver Standard Resources as to 1% and to the vendor as to 1%. Garibaldi may purchase one half the vendor's 1% NSR at any time for $500,000 CDN.

Area Map

Please visit the following URL for an updated June 15 area map that features the E&L deposit contiguous to the eastern border of Colorado's KSP Project, Garibaldi's PSP Project bordering the KSP and the Eskay Creek mine, and the King Project (North and South) immediately north of the past producing Snip mine.

Qualified Person

Mr. John Buckle, P.Geo., P.Geoph., a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-01 regulations, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

About Garibaldi

Garibaldi Resources Corp. is an active Canadian-based junior exploration company focused on creating shareholder value through discoveries and strategic development of its assets in some of the most prolific mining regions in Mexico and British Columbia.

We seek safe harbor.

GARIBALDI RESOURCES CORP.

Per: "Steve Regoci"

Steve Regoci, President

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Garibaldi Resources Corp.
JURIST Guest Columnist Abed Awad of Awad & Khoury, LLP, discusses the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement

In 1880, English Captain Charles C. Boycott led an eviction campaign against tenants in Ireland. Appalled at the inhumanity of Mr. Boycotts ruthless actions, his employees refused to work for him. These events introduced the word boycott to the English language as a way to describe economic protest to effect social, political and economic change.

Boycotts in the 20th Century have ignited and facilitated historic social and political change. The Montgomery, Alabama, Bus Boycott against racial segregation, Cesar Chavezs grape boycott against abuse of farm workers, Harvey Milks boycott against LGBT discrimination, the Anti-Apartheid boycotts in the 1980s against the Apartheid regime in South Africa are but a few examples of boycott activism against injustices and human rights abuses.

American may be surprised to learn that state lawmaker are currently considering bills intended to abridge the freedom of speech of Americans, American businesses and institutions to engage in such peaceful protests of injustice.

In 1948, Israel was established resulting in the displacement of the indigenous Palestinians. While hundreds of thousands became stateless refugees, a sizable number of Palestinians remained. Currently Palestinian citizens of Israel make up about 20 percent of the population. They are subjected to systemic institutional discrimination. Non-Jewish Israeli citizens are legally excluded from living in more than 400 Jewish communities. Palestinian citizens suffer legally sanctioned discrimination with close to 50 discriminatory laws against Palestinian citizens of the state in employment, education, housing and land ownership.

After the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Israel occupied the rest of historical Palestine&8212;East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Since 1967, Palestinians in the Occupied Territories have been living under Israeli military occupation. Israel restricts and denies Palestinians their basic human rights. Israel continues to confiscate Palestinian land to build and expand illegal settlements. The demolition of homes, uprooting of crops, restriction of movement and numerous other abuses documented by human rights groups like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and BTselem have become routine.

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement seeks to pressure Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories and comply with international law. The US civil-rights and South African anti-apartheid movements inspire and guide BDS. BDS is a peaceful tool to achieve justice and equality.

BDS is gaining traction in American civil society. The United Methodists, the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ have all endorsed elements of BDS. Academic associations, university student governments, labor groups and others have similarly supported BDS. This is a healthy development forcing a serious public debate on Israels treatment of Palestinians.

As of this writing nine states have passed anti-BDS laws. At least nine other states have considered or are considering similar laws so far this year. Even county and municipal governments are considering such legislation. There are three common threads in the legislation aimed at curtailing the BDS movement that is pending or has passed. Bills that condition the receipt of state funding for higher education institutions on non-engagement in boycotts of Israel have so far been defeated because of their blatant unconstitutionality in states including Illinois and New York. Such bills are still pending in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Other bills legislation prohibits the investment of State public retirement funds in entities that boycott Israel. Some legislation goes as far as prohibiting the state from entering into contracts with companies that boycott Israel.

Much of this legislation makes it a condition that recipients of government benefits espouse the State governments anti-BDS position. The effective result of these bills is that any opposition or critique of the state of Israel is treated as an exception to the First Amendment. Their unconstitutionality is blatant.

Many lawmakers are entitled to disagree with my opinion. But it is unthinkable for a state legislature to suppress a citizens right to participate in a peaceful boycott against human rights abuses.

That boycotts are a recognized form of political speech is well-established in American jurisprudence. In NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co, for example, the NAACP organized a boycott of white-owned businesses to pressure government officials to meet their demands of equality and non-discrimination. The Supreme Court explained in that case that political boycotts are protected First Amendment activities directed at issues of public concern, and on the highest rung of the hierarchy of First Amendment values. By succumbing to Israeli government pressures to suppress BDS, State lawmakers are using their states economic leverage to restrict, discourage and silence constitutionally protected boycott activities of Americans.

Moreover the Supreme Court in Perry v. Sindermann held that the governments;may not deny a benefit to a person on a basis that infringes his constitutionally protected interests  especially, his interest in freedom of speech.

Recently the United States Supreme Court in Agency for International Development v. Alliance for Open Society International, Inc. (2013) held that requiring that organizations receiving funding under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act to have a policy expressly opposing prostitution violated First Amendment free speech protections.

Like in Claiborne BDS supporters are exercising their rights to free speech and association to effect justice and equality for Palestinians. Like in Perry and Agency for International Development , requiring organizations receiving government funding to hold or reject a particular social policy or political position cannot survive constitutional scrutiny.

Abed Awad is a founding partner of Awad & Khoury, LLP located in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. His practice focuses on general civil litigation and business advice, including complex matrimonial law, commercial law, Islamic law and international law. Mr. Awad has native fluency in Arabic and is an expert in Islamic law and the laws of the Middle East.

Suggested citation: Abed Awad BDS-Oped, JURIST- Professional Commentary, June 13, 2016, http://jurist.org/professional/2016/06/abed-awad-sanctions-movement.php.

This article was prepared for publication by Elizabeth Dennis, an Assistant Editor for JURIST Commentary. Please direct any questions or comments to her at commentary@jurist.org
The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit [official website] on Tuesday upheld [opinion, PDF] the net-neutrality regulations designed to ensure an open Internet. Last year the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) [official website] passed new rules [JURIST report] that prevent service providers from offering speedier lands to those willing to pay extra. This caused controversy between businesses such as Google and Netflix with service providers like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast [company website]. There has been additional concern that while all customers have not been treated equally neither has all content. This has occurred as a result of various providers offering free data for viewing certain web videos over others. In its decision, the appeals court likened Internet service providers to utilities, saying that they should act as neutral, indiscriminate platforms for transmission of speech. AT&T has stated [Bloomberg report] its intention to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

Net neutrality [JURIST backgrounder] has emerged as a major political issue in the US and internationally. In November 2014 US President Barack Obama said [statement] that he strongly supports the concept of net neutrality. In May 2014 the FCC adopted [JURIST report] new Internet traffic rules in light of a court decision [opinion, PDF] that struck down former rules requiring broadband providers to employ nondiscriminatory practices in the treatment of Internet content. In April 2014 the European Parliament approved [JURIST report] a net neutrality proposal that prohibits Internet service providers from enhancing or restricting services for selected Internet traffic. The proposed law, approved by a 534-25 vote with 58 abstentions, aims to treat all Internet traffic equally by making it illegal to block, slow down or give preferential treatment to certain specific applications and services for economic or other reasons.
In response to the mass killing in Orlando, the UNs top human rights official on Tuesday urged [press release] the US to increase its gun control measures. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein [official website] stated [UN News Centre report] that the US must live up to its obligations to protect its citizens from the horrifyingly commonplace but preventable violent attacks that are the direct result of insufficient gun control.' This coincides with a new UN human rights report [text, PDF] that highlights the impact of gun violence on human rights. This comes after 49 people were killed [CNN report] by a single gunman in a gay nightclub in Florida over the weekend.

Gun control [JURIST backgrounder] and the Second Amendment continue to be controversial topics across the US. Last month the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that the Second Amendment protects the right to buy and sell guns [JURIST report]. In February the US Supreme Court heard arguments [JURIST report] in a case addressing firearm possession for people convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors. In January US President Barack Obama announced executive actions on gun control [JURIST report]. In November an appellate court in Wisconsin ruled that a state law that prohibits possession of certain knives [JURIST report] violates the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
While self-driving cars are not yet available to the public, there are a number of models offering some form of advanced assistance to the driver. These include adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning systems that require a camera to be fitted, typically behind the windscreen. Upon replacing the windscreen, the camera typically needs to be recalibrated. To learn more, we spoke to Hella Gutmann Solutions GmbHs managing director Bjorn Rietschel about the companys camera calibration tool and the prospects for self-calibrating systems.

Could you tell us about your diagnostic technologies?

The traditional key competence of Hella Gutmann lies in multi-brand diagnostic tools. Our mega macs series includes mega macs 66, mega macs 56, mega macs 42SE, mega macs PC, as well as customised solutions.

Moreover, we have considerably expanded our product range of repair shop equipment over the past few years. It now also includes high-quality analogue and digital beam-setters in the SEG range, the HUSKY air conditioning service stations, the TPM-Tool for all work on tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), the BPC-Tool for battery analysis, and the SLD tool for leak detection. It also includes the Camera Calibration (CSC) Tool.

What does the CSC Tool do?

The tool was launched in 2013. It has been designed to enable our mega macs models for the adjustment and calibration of cameras and radar sensors, since there is a growing demand. A large number of car shops and repair specialists in Europe are already working with a mega macs CSC Tool combination. It provides the necessary equipment for static und dynamic camera calibration of 17 automotive brands. Only recently, the tool was upgraded with the addition of two kits for the adjustment of radar systems which cover the three most common types.

When is front camera calibration required?

Front cameras need to be calibrated if the windshield or the cameras themselves have been replaced. Calibration is also required after a major damage repair on the vehicle body or after the leveling of front axle or rear axle has been modified.

Why does it matter when replacing a windscreen?

Like other sensors for ADAS [Advanced Driver Assistance Systems], video cameras collect information far ahead of the car. Those high tech sensors need to be accurately aligned parallel to the geometrical axis of the vehicle. If the windshield position differs just slightly after it was replaced, the viewing angle of the camera is likely to be incorrect. Since the camera clips cannot be adjusted, any deviation must be compensated by the ECU if the ADAS is to function correctly.

What are the unique features of the CSC?

The CSC Tool is a flexible, easy-to-use calibration tool which works together with our diagnostic tools of the mega macs series. Both, the mega macs and the CSC Tool are truly multi-brand. The camera calibration procedure covers about 90 percent of all common vehicle brands in Europe. Moreover, with the optional CSC radar kit, the mega macs CSC Tool combination makes it also possible to adjust and calibrate vehicle radar systems. This is service which is on growing demand in vehicle repair shops.

Can your CSC be used for vehicles of any car manufacturer?

It can be used on a variety of brands depending on the calibration strategy of the manufacturer and the system generation. Most of todays camera systems require a static calibration, which needs an absolute parallel alignment of the CSC tool plus a specific target, that has to be placed absolutely parallel to the cars rear axle. The number of vehicle brands covered by combining mega macs and CSC tool is growing rapidly. As we are speaking, our targets for camera calibration cover Audi, Mercedes, Seat, Skoda, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Nissan, Renault, Toyota/Lexus and Volkswagen. Other brands like BMW, Ford, Mitsubishi and Volvo require a dynamic calibration of cameras, which are supported as well  in terms of the initialisation and documentation.

Roughly-speaking. how much would a garage pay for the CSC?

The product is competitively priced and varies depending on its use for camera calibration or radar adjustment. Pricing is also subject to the number of car makers that need to be covered. If the garage already owns a mega macs, the additional CSC Tool should amortise quickly. Hella UK will be pleased to make an individual offer for specific needs.

How do you see the future of self-calibrating cameras?

The acceptance of ADAS has been growing rapidly over the past years and even small cars are equipped with numerous ADAS for more convenience and safety. In order to support repair shops and specialists in their demanding jobs presently and in the future, Hella Gutmann has designed the corresponding equipment. Those basic tools are flexible in use and easy to adapt for future needs. Fact is that the car manufacturers have been changing the ADAS technologies quickly and even within the period of a model. Thats why a mechanic needs to be set for all kinds of calibration procedures. Even todays so-called self-calibrating systems dont actually calibrate themselves. They require dynamic calibration, which has to be initialised with a diagnostic tool like the mega macs. Moreover, the mechanic needs specific instructions such as driving the car in a certain manner with certified speed over a given period of time. Today, there are only a few car makers who use the dynamic calibration strategy.

Thus, we see a trend for systems that require both, static and dynamic calibration. At Hella Gutmann, our aim is to design and produce repair shop equipment that supports the automotive technician in all of these strategies and which is constantly adapted to our clients needs.
Teens from Madison County and across Missouri gathered on the University of Missouri campus June 1-3 for the 71st annual State 4-H Congress.

In all, 233 teens ages 14-18 participated in a variety of hands-on workshops that fit their interests. Choices included topics such as marketing, agriculture education, electricity, leadership, line dancing, and a food challenge.

4-H is about belonging to a group that is learning new skills and exploring the things they care most about," said Kristi Baker, 4-H Youth Development Specialist. State 4-H Congress is a place where teens find positive new friends, develop leadership, and explore possible careers as they experience life on a university campus. Delegates also worked to set priorities for the 36 peers they elected to represent their regions on Missouris State 4-H Council for the coming year, outlining youth-identified goals for the next 3-5 years. The State 4-H Council represents their voice at the state level, working as ambassadors of 4-H and representatives of the youth in their regions.

4-H in Missouri is a program of MU Extension. Over 23,000 Missouri children and teens participate in 4-H clubs, and 269,000 were reached by Missouri 4-H programs in 2015. Research shows young people involved with 4-H more likely to pursue careers in science, attend college, and are nearly four times more likely to contribute to their communities.

For more information about Missouri 4-H programs, visit http://4h.missouri.edu.
James Wesley Howell, 20, of Indiana, appears in Superior Court in Los Angeles Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Howell faces felony weapons charges after authorities say they found assault rifles and explosive chemicals in his car in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 12, before a major Los Angeles gay pride parade. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
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The headline says it all. At 3:45PM we are waiting to see if regular trading can maintain a modest little up-move  around $1.30 an ounce  in the face of a very healthy greenback. Dollar strength is dragging gold down over $7.00 at this juncture. Silver, however, cant compensate enough to push into the green zone.

Raise your hand if you are eagerly awaiting tomorrows FOMC statement and glad to get it off of our backs? Thank you. We are also wishfully wanting the Brexit vote to be over, but we have another nine days before that insanity plays out on June 23.

The oddest and most annoying aspect of both events is that in reality their outcomes would not really have much of an effect on the broader economy of the world.

A rise to 0.75 on the Feds overnight rate would not stall the U.S. economy. There are many other factors aiding in that process. And an actual Brexit may generate a fair amount of negative pull on the British economy but we are beginning to think that it may benefit especially France and Germany, as well, quite a bit. So there will be some reciprocity of good versus bad in Europe.

The yield on the U.S. 10-year bond fell to 1.57 in pre-U.S. trading. It is now back up to 1.62 but there is enough interest in the instrument to keep it low till tomorrow morning at least.

Europe set the tone for todays equities trading as all three major bourses remained jittery to the downside. That helped to keep a tight lid on action in New York. The DAX is off 1.40%, FTSE down around 2.00% and the French CAC off most at -2.30%.

It is noteworthy that the German 10-year bund is at a 0.00% yield for the first time. Zero yields mean that bondholders actually pay the central bank for the honor.

Of course low yields hurt banks and other financial institutions very hard, as they earn nothing on their holdings of government paper.

Another leading culprit in sliding stock prices around the world is the price of oil, which is trading in the $45.50 range, a far cry off last week when it was flirting with a real rally that allegedly could have taken it toward $60 per barrel.

There is no concrete fundamental reason gold should go much higher right now. Perhaps in the fall when everyone in that market is hoping and praying that Chinese demand will pick up. Even then, supply can keep up easily if demand rises another 20% to 25%. Might want to ponder that if youre thinking of going long oil.

West Texas Intermediate is off just about 0.60% at 3:45PM in New York. Brent North Sea, buffeted by the Brexit issue, is down even more  1.00%.



The VIX volatility index just keeps barreling upward, reacting primarily to the Brexit concerns. Because they dont know what it all means, investors, especially foreign investors  and even more especially Middle Eastern oil magnates and sovereign fund managers  are looking for protection.

Many are betting on more volatility. We dont think the Fed non-move is involved with this strategy. In fact, the VIX may decline a bit after tomorrows FOMC meeting closes.



Wishing you as always, good trading,



Gary Wagner

Thegoldforecast.com
Aureus Mining Inc. (TSX, AIM: AUE) announces that it has entered into an agreement for an equity financing with MNG Gold Jersey Ltd., which will result in changes in senior management. The transaction will strengthen the company's balance sheet and fund working capital as Aureus completes the restart of the processing plant at the New Liberty Gold Mine in Liberia, expected mid-June 2016, the company reports. Highlights of the agreement include a $30 million equity investment in which the per-share price represents a premium of 22.3% to the closing price on AIM on Tuesday, with MNG Gold to become a 55% shareholder in Aureus and appoint three representatives to the board. As for management, Aureus reports that upon completion of the transaction, David Reading will resign as chief executive officer and be replaced by Serhan Umurhan, currently general manager of MNG Gold. Paul Thomson will resign as chief financial officer but continue for 12 months in a consultancy role, while MNG CFO Geoff Eyre will be appointed as CFO of Aureus. The company has faced challenges starting up Liberias first commercial gold mine, including the Ebola virus outbreak and financial constraints during the global mining downturn, as well as recent operational challenges, Aureus reports. We believe that this transaction, which will result in MNG Gold becoming a major shareholder, will provide Aureus with an exciting future as we prepare to restart production at New Liberty and aim to optimize the asset to deliver on its full potential, says David Netherway, chairman of Aureus Mining.

By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com

Klondex: True North Project On Schedule; Production Decision Expected In 2H

Klondex Mines Ltd. (TSX: KDX; NYSE MKT: KLDX) says development activities at its True North Gold Mine (formally known as Rice Lake Mine) in Manitoba are on schedule and within budget. The company says it envisions recovering between 8,000 and 12,000 gold ounces in 2016 through a combination of test-stope mining and a tailing-reprocessing project. The company is now reprocessing material from existing tailings, and an update on mineral resources is expected in the third quarter, followed by a production decision. Our project development progress continues to be on budget and on schedule, and we also have a tremendous opportunity for further value creation by reprocessing the tailings through the existing mill, says Paul Huet, president and chief executive officer. He adds that the company is on track to announce a production decision in the second half of this year."

By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com

Timmins Gold Repays Secured Debt

Timmins Gold Corp. (TSX: TMM; NYSE MKT: TGD) announces the company has repaid a $10.22 million credit facility with lenders Sprott Resource Lending Partnership and Goldcorp Inc. A bonus of $204,450 will be paid to Sprott and a bonus of $70,416 and 550,000 common shares will be paid to Goldcorp, the company adds. "Settlement of this debt is a very significant achievement for Timmins as it has been a top priority to place the company in a stronger financial position going forward," states Mark Backens, interim chief executive officer. With the debt paid off, we gain flexibility and can renew focus on the advancement of the Ana Paula feasibility study and permitting work. Initial funding for this work will be provided by the cash flow generated from the San Francisco Mine.

By Allen Sykora of Kitco News; asykora@kitco.com
By Tristan Baurick of the Kitsap Sun

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND  Bainbridge is getting another bridge.

Calm down islanders, this isn't the feared bridge to Bremerton. It's actually a small bike and foot bridge that will help connect two parts of Winslow that have long been divided by Highway 305.

The project is in line to receive $2.1 million in federal funding. It was the only Kitsap County project among 18 selected for the region last week by the Puget Sound Regional Council. The funding won't be finalized until October, but the project ranks high enough that it looks like a sure thing, according to city officials.

The bridge would be part of the planned Sound to Olympics regional trail. Envisioned as a nonmotorized highway, the path would start at the Bainbridge ferry terminal, run the length of the island and a section of North Kitsap before connecting to the Hood Canal bridge.

The bridge would span the highway between Knechtel Way and the Vineyard Lane condominiums. Preliminary designs show the trail paralleling the highway on its east side from Winslow Way to Vineyard Lane. The trail would move up a ramp to the bridge, cross the highway and then continue north to High School Road along the highway's more populated and developed west side.

The city has about $3.5 million in grant and city funding to complete the 1-mile trail section between Winslow Way and High School Road. Construction has stalled, but city officials hope to start work before summer's end.

Construction on the bridge would begin during summer 2019. The city plans to chip in nearly $1 million to reach the bridge project's total of just more than $3 million.

Former Bainbridge council member and Vineyard Lane resident Barry Peters said the bridge is something Winslow residents have wanted for several years. The bridge was called for during the Winslow Tomorrow planning process more than a decade ago.

"I think it'll be a great public amenity," he said. "(It) will create a better east-west connection over the Great China Wall that is Highway 305."

Winslow businesses on the east side of the highway have long complained that most pedestrians  including the thousands of tourists arriving in Winslow from the Seattle ferry  stick to the town's west side, avoiding the highway crossing.

Residential development is growing on Winslow's east side. The Ferncliff Village affordable housing development is expanding and a large residential project is planned north of the Harbor Square development. The bridge will give these growing neighborhoods better access to downtown, according to the city's application to PSRC.

"The proposed bridge will unite the east and west sides of the town center of Winslow that are currently divided by the 305 'superblock' between Winslow Way and High School Road," the application states.

The trail's advocates say Kitsap would get the same benefits as other communities with regional trails. Seattle's Burke-Gilman Trail and the Olympic Discovery Trail, which runs between Sequim and Port Angeles, are celebrated as recreation amenities, alternative commuter routes and tourism boosters.

"It's truly a win for all of Kitsap to have a walkable and bike-able community and the gateway for our regional trail," said Don Willott, a member of the city's Nonmotorized Transportation Advisory Committee.

In its application, the city said that the trail could "encourage more compact and less auto-dependent development" on the island. "Smarter development will reduce impacts to air quality and climate change while improving mobility, livability, and health for residents."

The trail isn't without critics. Some Vineyard Lane residents worry that the bridge will require the partial removal of a earthen berm that muffles highway noise in their neighborhood. A few islanders have expressed concerns that the trail might come at the expanse of trees that screen the highway.

Island resident Doug Rauh sent a letter to PSRC asking that the money go instead to pedestrian improvements at the Bainbridge ferry terminal. Doubting the bridge would get much use, Rauh believes the bridge would essentially be "a private overpass for Vineyard Lane."

The PSRC transportation policy board will review the bridge proposal and other funding recommendations in July. The executive board will take final action in October.
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By Andrew Binion of the Kitsap Sun

PORT ORCHARD  A Bainbridge Island man, who is employed as a teacher at a Tacoma-area alternative high school, was charged Tuesday with second-degree child molestation after being accused of sexually assaulting a girl about four times between 2012 and 2014.

Chad Robert Lee, 38, who works at Gates High School, is being held in the Kitsap County Jail on $100,000 bail. He also is listed as adjunct faculty on the Olympic College website.

Lee allegedly assaulted the girl, who was known to him, and then left Bainbridge. However, Lee began attending the girl's church recently after having had no contact for years.

"This caused great concern for (the girl), and she decided to come forward with what Lee had done to her," a Bainbridge police detective wrote in court documents.

Lee is not accused of sexually assaulting children at schools, although he had been accused of using "excessive physical force" against students when he worked at a Sequim elementary school about 10 years ago, according to court documents. He was arrested Monday at Bainbridge Municipal Court. Lee declined to answer the officer's questions and asked for an attorney, according to court documents.

Franklin Pierce district officials were notified Tuesday morning of Lee's arrest, spokesman Willie Painter, said and Lee was placed on administrative leave.

Lee, who passed a pre-employment criminal background check, started with the district in September 2014 and worked as a substitute throughout the district. In February he started as a physical education teacher at Gates as a temporary replacement, Painter said.
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Ralph Nicholas Garguile

Bremerton, WA

Sept. 7, 1932 to June 9, 2016

Businessman. Provider. Adventurer. Philanthropist. Charmer. Life-long learner. Devoted husband, father and grandfather -- a family man in every sense of the term. Ralph Nicholas Garguile, Nick, was all of these things and more.

Nick was born September 7, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Dominic and Lucy Garguile. After the sudden death of his father when Nick was four, he was enrolled at Stephen Girard School for Boys, where his younger brother Dominic later joined him. It was here where Nick was instilled with the values and principles that would shape the man he would become; integrity, service, perseverance and dedication, to name a few.

After graduating Nick joined the Navy where he served on the USS Essex, which brought him to the Port of Bremerton in 1951. It was here where he met his wife, Kay Francis Winger.

Nick worked at, and eventually took over Kays fathers grocery store, Noahs Shop Rite. Ever the entrepreneur, Nick took that one store and grew it into a family enterprise that included four grocery stores and a restaurant. The shop rite, now called Midtown Market, and the restaurant still stand strong today and are run by Nicks children and grandchildren.

Nick was insatiably curious, with a strong sense of wonder about the world. His travels later in life took him across five continents; through Italy and Peru, to Egypt, across the Great Wall of China and beyond. Although his travels took him far and wide, Bremerton was always home, a place he truly loved and to which he felt a deep sense of loyalty and connection. The city had been good to him and his family, and he always felt a strong call to give back to its community.

Above it all, Nick Garguile was a family man. He is preceded in death by his wife, Kay (1937 -1997), the love of his life and the glue that held the Garguiles together. He is survived by his six children, Rick Nielsen (Donna), Nick (Janet), Tim (Mary), Claudia Watters, Lori and Steve, his brother, Dominic, 19 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, who were the light of his life and through whom his infectious spirit and passion for life will live on. He will be forever missed.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 15 between 5 and 8 p.m. at Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 16 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Bremerton. Memorial donations may be made to the Coffee Oasis.

Ralph Nicholas Garguile

Bremerton, WA

Sept. 7, 1932

to June 9, 2016

Veteran

Businessman. Provider. Adventurer. Philanthropist. Charmer. Life-long learner. Devoted husband, father and grandfather -- a family man in every sense of the term. Ralph Nicholas Garguile, Nick, was all of these things and more. Nick was born September 7, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Dominic and Lucy Garguile. After the sudden death of his father when Nick was four, he was enrolled at Stephen Girard School for Boys, where his younger brother Dominic later joined him. It was here where Nick was instilled with the values and principles that would shape the man he would become; integrity, service, perseverance and dedication, to name a few. After graduating Nick joined the Navy where he served on the USS Essex, which brought him to the Port of Bremerton in 1951. It was here where he met his wife, Kay Francis Winger.Nick worked at, and eventually took over Kays fathers grocery store, Noahs Shop Rite. Ever the entrepreneur, Nick took that one store and grew it into a family enterprise that included four grocery stores and a restaurant. The shop rite, now called Midtown Market, and the restaurant still stand strong today and are run by Nicks children and grandchildren.Nick was insatiably curious, with a strong sense of wonder about the world. His travels later in life took him across five continents; through Italy and Peru, to Egypt, across the Great Wall of China and beyond. Although his travels took him far and wide, Bremerton was always home, a place he truly loved and to which he felt a deep sense of loyalty and connection. The city had been good to him and his family, and he always felt a strong call to give back to its community.Above it all, Nick Garguile was a family man. He is preceded in death by his wife, Kay (1937 -1997), the love of his life and the glue that held the Garguiles together. He is survived by his six children, Rick Nielsen (Donna), Nick (Janet), Tim (Mary), Claudia Watters, Lori and Steve, his brother, Dominic, 19 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, who were the light of his life and through whom his infectious spirit and passion for life will live on. He will be forever missed.Visitation will be Wednesday, June 15 between 5 and 8 p.m. at Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 16 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Bremerton. Memorial donations may be made to the Coffee Oasis.
Country

Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. 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
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Rozellen Burgess

Port Orchard, WA

April 14, 1923 to May 25, 2016

Rozellen (Rose) Burgess, 93, of Port Orchard, was a retired Real Estate broker, and a faithful member of Jehovahs Witnesses most of her life. Rose is survived by daughter, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. Memorial service: 11:00 am, Saturday, June 18th at Port Orchard Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses, 1901 SE Beilmeier Rd.

To see more see Online Tribute to Rose at: frontdesk@havenrest.com

Rozellen Burgess

Port Orchard, WA

April 14, 1923

to May 25, 2016

Rozellen (Rose) Burgess, 93, of Port Orchard, was a retired Real Estate broker, and a faithful member of Jehovahs Witnesses most of her life. Rose is survived by daughter, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. Memorial service: 11:00 am, Saturday, June 18th at Port Orchard Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses, 1901 SE Beilmeier Rd. To see more see Online Tribute to Rose at: frontdesk@havenrest.com
Brian Rudman writes:

Sometimes it really is embarrassing to be a baby-boomer. Were the generation that enjoyed free school milk, free university education and free healthcare, then, after sucking those teats dry, turned off the taps and told those following that the free ride was over.

Now, my fellow oldies sit back in their million dollar, debt-free homes, moaning about a piddling $15 for a transport swipe card which will give them free travel on Aucklands buses, trains and ferries for the rest of their lives.
Stuff reports:

Television New Zealand and TV3-owner MediaWorks would not likely be allowed to merge, Prime Minister John Key has indicated.

Key appeared to confirm there had been interest in a transaction short of a merger, after a report of talks between TVNZ and MediaWorks in the Australian media.

What I am aware of is a bit of discussion that there might have been some interest on the TVNZ side in relation to some of the assets owned by MediaWorks, Key said. TVNZ spokeswoman Georgie Hills would not identify the assets Key was referring to.

Key said a merger was very unlikely to happen.

I dont think there is a great deal of support around that on the government side, which is a critical part of it as the Government would have to allow that to happen on the TVNZ side, he said.

We like the concept that there are competing networks.
Greg Johnson, News Sentinel columnist.

Brothels in Bangladesh. Brick kilns in India. Farm workers in faraway places. This is what we normally think of when we hear the appalling term "human trafficking."

No more. Three women were arrested recently on charges of practicing massage without licenses in Sevierville. This followed a law enforcement operation that saw two women arrested in Seymour on similar charges. Another series of arrests in Knoxville last month rounded up 32 men, including two pastors  one who worked with kids  in a sting involving Craigslist.

The common theme in the three stings was sex, of course. One targeted "johns." The others targeted practitioners. But the operations had another thing in common  all were connected to broader efforts to combat human trafficking.

The Knox County sting was sickening, yielding the arrests of two men of the cloth who held positions of trust within their communities. The Seymour arrests were sad, making me wonder how such a thing could happen in a bedroom community to Knoxville.

The Sevierville arrests shocked. I jogged past Chinese Pressure Massage on Monday. I've walked or jogged past the nondescript storefront in a nice but unexceptional strip mall hundreds of times over the past few years. I've driven past thousands of times over the many years. Millions of tourists drive obliviously by every year.

Human trafficking hit home when I read the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was involved in an operation less than a mile from my home. I've written on trafficking before. We give money monthly to International Justice Mission. Still, these arrests come too close.

With millions of tourists each year, the sheer volume of humanity could increase demand for sex trafficking, specifically, and human trafficking, generally, in Sevier. A 2013 survey by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation showed 16 to 25 cases of sex trafficking of minors and 51 to 100 incidents of adult sex trafficking in Sevier County. Knox County, meanwhile, reported more than 100 cases of minors and more than 100 cases of adult sex trafficking.

Sevier Countians are not naive. The influential tourism trade group Pigeon Forge Hospitality Association addresses human trafficking on its website as an issue of interest, publishing the state phone number (1-855-558-6484) and the website to report suspected trafficking (www.stopsextraffickinginTN.com) as well as listing a link to the U.S. State Department trafficking website.

Human trafficking, as I've said before, is a stain on the soul of humanity. Now, I can see it from home.
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By News Sentinel Staff

KNOXVILLE  No one was injured during an armed robbery at a North Knox County pharmacy on Emory Road on Tuesday evening, according to the Knox County Sheriff's Office.

According to authorities, the robber entered the CVS pharmacy in the 4500 block of East Emory Road just before 8 p.m. and approached the pharmacy counter, where he "fashioned what was believed to be a handgun under his clothing" and demanded prescription medication from the clerk.

He ran after the clerk handed over the medication, according to a news release.

Authorities described the robber as a white man, about 5 feet, 7 inches or 5 feet, 8 inches tall, about 140 pounds, and about 40 years old with brown hair and short brown facial hair. He wore a black long-sleeved thermal-type shirt with a white design, black shorts and a camouflage ball cap with black sunglasses .

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact the KCSO's Major Crimes Unit at (865) 215-2243.

More details as they develop online and in Wednesday's News Sentinel.
Knox County E-911 Board of Directors on June 15, 2016, discuss a shortfall for the 2017 budget. (DON JACOBS/NEWS SENTINEL)

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By Don Jacobs of the Knoxville News Sentinel

The Knox County E-911 Board of Directors on Wednesday discussed how to deal with a nearly $472,000 shortfall in the 2017 budget.

The 10 members of the board also agreed to delay for 45 days a vote on joining the Tennessee Valley Regional Communications System, based in Chattanooga. The agreement was supposed to be finalized June 30, when price reductions granted by Motorola Solutions were set to expire.

The board must find a way to cut or reallocate $471,786.39 from the 2016-17 budget year that starts July 1. The total proposed 2017 budget for the E-911 center that accepts emergency phone calls from the public and dispatches emergency units is $8,963,960.39.

The 2016 budget ending June 30 is $8,572,858.89, according to Kim White, administrative office manager at the E-911 center.

Because of the shortfall in funds, the 10 board members present opted to delay a vote approving a 2.5 percent raise for employees in 2017. The raise had been recommended by the board's personnel committee and would cost about $120,000.

As the board reviewed budget items looking for ways to make the expenditures match revenues, board member Brad Anders suggested paying a $150,000 contract with Blue Wing Services from operational reserves and reducing the budget deficit. The $150,000 contract was signed June 2 after the board agreed members wanted a specialized consultant to oversee acquisition of equipment, installation of Motorola radio components and performance testing of a new digital radio system.

Anders also suggested canceling one of two information technology mapping positions the board had recommended earlier this year. Alan Bull, interim director of the E-911 center, had requested two new mapping positions totaling $100,000 because there is only one person at the center capable of fixing any computer mapping problems that may arise.

"Mapping is the key to the system," Bull told the board Wednesday. "If the mapping is wrong, the officer is in the wrong place."

Anders suggested cutting a proposed $60,000 mapping job and instead contracting with Knox County's geographic information systems for mapping services. That would address Bull's concern that the E-911 center is vulnerable to computer mapping problems when the sole mapping employee is on vacation.

"That would work," Bull said.

Anders is a lieutenant with the Knoxville Police Department who also serves as a Knox County commissioner.

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, who serves on the E-911 board, recommended the board consider various cost-reducing suggestions, including contracting with the county's geographic systems unit.

Rogero recommended that instead of voting June 22 at a special meeting of the board on joining the regional system, the board use that time to pass a 2017 budget.

Rogero suggested delaying for 45 days a vote on joining the regional radio system to ensure all emergency providers that will use the radio system are satisfied the Motorola equipment will meet performance expectations.

"Not all of our questions have been answered yet," Knoxville Fire Department Capt. Mark Wilbanks told the board.

Wilbanks serves on the user's committee that has been evaluating the regional system and the equipment Motorola is selling to operate on the system.

"We want to make sure we fully understand and get all our questions answered," Wilbanks told the board. "We asked Motorola to extend their pricing 45 days."

The board unanimously voted to postpone for 45 days a vote on joining the regional system. It was left unclear whether the 45-day extension was to begin on June 30, when the price reductions expired, or on Wednesday.

No one from Motorola attended the meeting who could agree to the 45-day extension.

The estimated $10 million Motorola radio system would tie in with the existing regional system that serves more than a dozen counties in East Tennessee and North Georgia. The board, after more than two years of discussion, previously rejected an $8.9 million radio system offered by Harris Corp.

The Harris Corp. digital radio system had been selected by an evaluation committee as the best of three bid submissions to replace the 30-year-old analog Motorola system. The board paid Blue Wing $40,000 last year to evaluate the Harris Corp. product against the Motorola equipment preferred for the regional system.

Blue Wing found the Harris system would be a better option and cost less than the Motorola equipment. Blue Wing also warned of potential hidden costs involved with installing Motorola's digital equipment.

Despite that recommendation, board member Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones insisted the regional system with Motorola radios was best for emergency providers. Jones said members of various emergency agencies could communicate easier on the regional system.
Entrance to the University of Tennessee campus at Cumberland Avenue and 11th Street. (MICHAEL PATRICK/NEWS SENTINEL)

By Adam Tamburin, USA TODAY NETWORK The Tennessean

The University of Tennessee on Wednesday published new policies that outline when and where employees can carry guns on campus in anticipation of a new law that takes effect this summer.

The law, which will generally allow all full-time state college employees with handgun-carry permits to carry guns on campus, will go into effect July 1. University President Joe DiPietro sent a message Wednesday discussing how the university system would handle the change.

A news conference to discuss the new law is planned for noon today at the University of Tennessee Police Department.

"I understand strong feelings exist regarding guns on campus and want to assure you of our unwavering commitment to the safety of our faculty, staff and students as we implement this change," DiPietro said in the message.

DiPietro and other college leaders across the state were staunchly opposed to the law as it made its way through the General Assembly earlier this year. Gov. Bill Haslam also expressed opposition to the legislation, although he allowed it to become law without his signature.

Throughout the legislative process, lawmakers did amend the law to reflect some input from colleges and law enforcement. For instance, employees who want to carry a gun, which needs to be concealed, on campus will need to notify the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the campus, and may not bring a weapon into a stadium or gymnasium during school-sponsored events or in meetings regarding discipline or tenure. The legislation also was amended to place liability on the permit-holder, not the college, if there is an accidental discharge.

UT's policy goes into more detail regarding the rules surrounding the law's implementation.

The policy says, for instance, that full-time employees could not carry a gun on campus if they also are enrolled in a campus course, unless that course was taught entirely online. The policy also forbids employees from intentionally showing another person their gun, but it allows lenience for employees who accidentally show their gun to someone else.

The policy DiPietro announced Wednesday will apply to UT campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Martin and Memphis. Leaders and law enforcement at each campus will discuss their individual approaches to parts of the policy in coming days, DiPietro said.

State Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, who sponsored the law in the House, has said he believes the "important next step" is to allow students to go armed on campus as well.

"My intention is to eliminate all gun-free zones, whether it's the Legislature or a college campus," Holt said earlier this year.
Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden (AP Photo/Erik Schelzig)

By Joel Ebert, USA TODAY NETWORK, The Tennessean

After reportedly receiving death threats from a previously unidentified Memphis-based male, Rep. Andy Holt is planning on pressing charges and moving forward with a criminal investigation into the matter.

On Tuesday, Holt, R-Dresden, said he identified the caller as "Democrat activist Michael Barrach."

We spoke with law enforcement and other staffers here at the Capitol and they say the number and behavior matches that of Mr. Barrach, said Michael Lotfi, an assistant to Holt.

On Monday, Lotfi reportedly fielded multiple threatening phone calls from a previously unidentified male caller who said he would "beat our a--es" while the caller also indicated he had multiple guns. Holt classified the phone calls as "death threats."

Continue reading at The Tennessean, a News Sentinel partner.
By Choi Sung-jin



Since it took office in 2013, the Park Geun-hye administration has announced major reform plans almost yearly for state enterprises to reduce debts, merge similar businesses and introduce a performance-based salary system.



Officials said these reforms were needed to streamline a disorderly public sector and improve its efficiency. Actually, however, they were inevitable to clean up the mess left by the former Lee Myung-bak administration, which used state firms as tools for carrying out pet projects without parliamentary approval.



Lee mobilized state companies for his controversial "four-rivers project"  $20 billion of public works to turn the nation's four largest rivers into reservoirs by building 16 small dams  and "resources diplomacy"  developing oil, coal and other energy resources abroad, which ended up wasting billions of dollars because of poor preparation and hasty implementation.



Many of these state companies are reeling from project failures, asset losses and the aggravation of financial solvency.



None more so than energy-related firms such as Korea National Oil Corp. (KNOC), Koreas Resources Corp. (KORES), Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) and Korea Gas Corp. (KOGAS). They competed to jump into overseas resources development under the previous administration and are now finding themselves on the operating table to slim the organization, trim manpower and curtail projects.



These surgical operations are inevitable, given their balance sheets.



KNOC's debt ratio, which was 64 percent in 2007, a year before Lee took power, soared to 453 percent last year. That of KORES rocketed from 103 percent to 6,905 percent over the period. If these companies were private businesses, they should have gone through bankruptcy processes long ago. To pull down their debt ratios without injecting additional taxpayer money, drastic restructuring is unavoidable, industry watchers say.



For instance, eight subsidiaries of KEPCO will be listed on the stock market, one after another, from next year. Officials cite the need for more transparent management and stricter market surveillance as reasons but the scheduled IPOs are equally aimed at attracting private capital to improve their exacerbated financial health.



At first glance, these appear to be self-help measures on the part of public corporations by solving losses caused by the Lee administration's policy failure. Industry experts say, however, taxpayers will be forced to shoulder eventual burdens  as they have always done. More problematic, few can tell for sure the size of total losses and the financial burden to cover them. Officials say withdrawals from overseas resource development projects will help ease these companies' dire situations but they stop short of estimating how much.



Worse still, taxpayers may have to pay more if the state utility and other energy firms  or their privatized successors  raise power or gas prices, citing the need to improve their bottom lines.



Despite the inevitability of such a housecleaning at an early date, not many are certain about its smooth progress  given the tangled interests of numerous parties involved.



Korea Coal Corp.'s downsizing will entail mass unemployment in all coal mining areas, developing into a national issue, which shows why the government fell short of including a specific timetable in its restructuring plan released Tuesday.



Listing the stocks of state energy companies and opening the power retailing business to the private sector will cause controversy about eventual privatization and favoritism of specific conglomerates, the experts said. Overseas asset sales are also likely to result in quarrels about selling them at dirt-cheap prices.



President Park said in the meeting: "Public sector reform will continue till the end of our tenure."



The experts, however, are skeptical  for two reasons, at least. First, the reform schedule has a long time span that ends in 2025. Second, only a liberal government that has "no political liabilities" to the conservative Lee administration can clean the house through a bolder program based on fair rewards and punishment, they said.




Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin speaks to reporters at a groundbreaking ceremony for a chemical plant jointly owned with Axiall in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Tuesday (local time). In his first public appearance since June 10 when the prosecution began its investigation of Korea's fifth-largest conglomerate, Shin said he will return to Korea late this month after attending a shareholders' meeting of Lotte Holdings in Japan. / Yonhap



Embattled tycoon plans to return home soon to face probe



By Lee Hyo-sik

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin has pledged to list the shares of Lotte Hotel on the local bourse by the end of this year, despite the widening prosecution investigation of his embattled conglomerate on suspicion of various illegal corporate activities.

Shin said he will return home late this month after attending a shareholders' meeting of Lotte Holdings in Japan where he will face a no-confidence vote brought forward by his older brother Dong-joo, a bitter rival for succession of the conglomerate.

"I will do whatever's necessary to take Lotte Hotel public this year," the chairman told reporters at a groundbreaking ceremony for a chemical plant jointly owned with Axiall in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Tuesday (local time).

This was Shin's first public appearance since June 10 when the prosecution launched a probe into Korea's fifth-largest conglomerate.

"It is not that the plan to list Lotte Hotel has been put on hold indefinitely," he said. "We will make every effort to take the hotel unit public late this year because we promised the public we would do so."












By Lee Hyo-sik





Jean Touboul

Pernod Ricard said Wednesday that it will appoint Jean Touboul as the CEO of its Korean unit effective Sept. 1, replacing outgoing chief Jean-Manuel Spriet who will leave the French company after 26 years.

Pernod Richard Korea, widely known for its Imperial whisky brand, has been suffering sales declines under Spriet's leadership over the past few years. Among others, Spriet's trouble with the firm's union has made it difficult for the French liquor maker to compete with Diageo and other rivals amid Korea's shrinking whisky market.

The new CEO is expected to face a range of daunting tasks. He will first have to improve labor-management relations, prop up a crumbing sales network and introduce new products in line with rapidly changing consumer tastes, according to industry analysts.

"Touboul, who is the head of Pernod Ricard Taiwan, will succeed Spriet effective Sept. 1," a Pernod Ricard Korea official said.

After graduating from ESCP Business School in France in 2001, Touboul joined Pernod Ricard Europe in 2004, working in finance and strategic planning. In 2011, he moved to company headquarters to become vice president in charge of the firm's investors' relations and financial communication.

Since 2014, he has been heading the whisky maker's operations in Taiwan.

"Pernod Ricard Korea is the pioneer of the domestic premium scotch whisky market," Touboul said. "We have great potential to grow with our deep and large portfolio and continuous brand innovations supported by a strong and committed team. Let's put our collaborative efforts into moving forward to the next step and regain the leading position in Korea."
By Jhoo Dong-chan

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) will fire 1,500 workers and cut salaries of executives by 30 percent under a restructuring plan announced Wednesday.

SHI CEO Park Dae-young said 30 to 40 percent of the workforce will be laid off by the end of 2018. The company's executives will also return some 30 percent of their salaries, starting July, to help stabilize the company. Park said he will return 100 percent of his salary.

A voluntary retirement campaign this year will cut 1,500 jobs.

The shipbuilder will also gradually suspend parts of its production facilities to reduce costs.

The nation's second-largest shipyard submitted its restructuring plan to the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), under which it will sell its Pangyo R&D Center and Samsung Hotel Geoje, as well as stockholdings, to raise about 1.5 trillion won.

The KDB approved the plan earlier this month.

SHI has failed to clinch any shipbuilding contracts this year.
By Jhoo Dong-chan



Officials of the U.S.-based global online car-sharing company Uber visited Hyundai Motor's R&D center in Namyang, Gyeonggi Province, to attend a seminar on autonomous driving technologies.



Hyundai Motor researchers on autonomous driving are holding the seminar for two days until Thursday at the institute.



The seminar is raising speculation that two companies may work together in the future.



A Hyundai official, however, denied some media reports that the two companies have recently decided to tie up over the introduction of an autonomous driving taxi.



"Uber officials showed interest in our autonomous vehicle technologies," said a Hyundai official. "However, two companies haven't agreed with each other to carry out any projects. It was a hype."



It is, however, believed that Uber's interest in Hyundai Motor reflects the automaker's recent achievements in the related technologies.



Hyundai Motor's EQ900 and G80 sedans are equipped with partial autonomous driving technologies such as "automatic emergency brake" and "highway driving assistance" system.



In March, the automaker's luxury division Genesis got approval to test the nation's first fully autonomous vehicle on the street, and has since carried out the operation.



Industry insiders expect full autonomous-driving vehicles to hit the street in the near future.



Established in 2010, Uber is a multinational transportation network company with 1 million members in 300 cities across 58 countries. Uber is expected to introduce an autonomous-driving taxi division by 2020, using it mobile application.



If self-driving taxi is introduced, the company is expected to gain huge profits without paying its member drivers.



"We are not considering to produce cars by ourselves. Instead, we will work together with automakers to introduce autonomous taxi," said Uber founder Travis Kalanick during a conference held in Berlin, Germany.



Alliance between automakers and such companies has been a trend in the market as more people tend to share cars in the future.



GM has recently announced that it will invest $500 million to Uber's rival Lyft. The two companies are expected to carry out a long-term development project for autonomous call taxi.



The world's largest automaker Toyota also signed a memorandum of understanding with Uber last month, under which the automaker offers lease deals to Uber drivers.



German premium brand Mercedes Benz has operated a car-sharing service, "Car2Go," since 2008 while BMW has "Drive Now" service with 450,000 members in Europe.




Samsung Heavy Industries, a local shipyard, on Wednesday unveiled its detailed self-restructuring program which centers on a cut in workforce and having executives return part of their salaries.

Earlier, the shipyard has said it will conduct a self-rehabilitation scheme worth 1.5 trillion won ($1.27 billion), including asset sales and a cut in employees. Its creditors provisionally approved the program.

According to the plan, Samsung Heavy will reduce its workforce by 1,500 through an early retirement scheme this year, and further cut its employees down the road. Also, its executives will return some 30 percent of their salaries starting from July.

The shipyard also plans to suspend part of its production facilities, including floating docks, in gradual phases to tide over a fall in new orders.

Samsung Heavy, a shipbuilding unit of the country's top conglomerate Samsung, also proposed a stock sale, spawning speculation that its affiliates, including Samsung Electronics, may join forces to salvage the embattled shipyard.

Samsung Electronics is the largest stakeholder in the shipyard with 17.62 percent, and other affiliates, such as Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung SDI, also own stakes.

Some market observers speculate that Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong may participate in the potential stock offering.

Last year, the group's apparent heir expressed his intention to buy stocks in Samsung Engineering, to help the group's plant-engineering unit improve its worsening financial footing. (Yonhap)
By Jhoo Dong-chan



Officials of the U.S.-based global online car-sharing company Uber visited Hyundai Motor's R&D center in Namyang, Gyeonggi Province, to attend a seminar on the autonomous driving technologies.



Hyundai Motor researchers on autonomous driving are holding the seminar for two days until Thursday at the institute.



The seminar is raising speculation that two companies may work together in the future.



A Hyundai official, however, denied some media reports that two companies have recently decided to tie up over the introduction of autonomous driving taxi.



"Uber officials showed interest in our autonomous vehicle technologies," said a Hyundai official. "However, two companies haven't agreed with each other to carry out any kinds of projects. It was a hype."



It is, however, believed that Uber's interest in Hyundai Motor reflects the automaker's recent achievements in the related technologies.



Hyundai Motor's EQ900 and G80 sedans are equipped with partial autonomous driving technologies such as "automatic emergence brake" and "highway driving assistance" system.



In March, the automaker's luxury division Genesis got approval to test the nation's first fully autonomous vehicle on the street, and has since carried out the operation.



Industry insiders expect full autonomous-driving vehicles to hit the street in the near future.



Established in 2010, Uber is a multinational transportation network company with 1 million members in 300 cities across 58 countries. Uber is expected to introduce an autonomous-driving taxi division by 2020, using it mobile application.



If self-driving taxi is introduced, the company is expected to gain huge profits without paying its member drivers.



"We are not considering to produce cars by ourselves. Instead, we will work together with automakers to introduce autonomous taxi," said Uber founder Travis Kalanick during a conference held in Berlin, Germany.



Alliance between automakers and such companies has been a trend in the market as more people tend to share cars in the future.



GM has recently announced that it will invest $500 million to Uber's rival Lyft. Two companies are expected to carry out a long-term development project for autonomous call taxi.



The world's largest automaker Toyota also signed a memorandum of understanding with Uber last month, under which the automaker offers lease deals to Uber drivers.



German premium brand Mercedes Benz has operated a car-sharing service, "Car2Go," since 2008 while BMW has "Drive Now" service with 450,000 members in Europe.




Fintech Center of Korea Chairman Jeong Yu-shin, left, listens to instructions from an official of a Korean fintech firm that participated in the Fintech Demo Day in Singapore event held at the Expo Hall in Singapore, Wednesday.

/ Courtesy of Fintech Center of Korea



By Nam Hyun-woo

The Fintech Center of Korea held a Fintech Demo Day in Singapore on Monday as part of its efforts to help Korean financial technology (fintech) firms make inroads into overseas markets.

According to the center, the event was held to promote Korea's fintech at Echelon Asia Summit 2016, one of Asia's largest technology and business fairs, running Wednesday and Thursday in Singapore's Expo Hall.

Eleven Korean fintech firms participated in the event, introducing their technologies and having one-on-one meetings with interested local investors.

The center said financial firms and venture capitalists from various countries expressed interest in Korean fintech services and discussed applying them in their countries.

During the event, the center signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation in fintech services between Korea and Singapore, with the Fintech Consortium of Singapore, a private institution set to enhance exchanges within the fintech market.

The MOU contains details about connecting potential business partners in the two countries, and sharing information with companies seeking to advance in each others' countries.

Also at the event, Standard Chartered Bank Korea launched its mobility platform in Singapore and introduced the bank's business model for the platform.

A mobility platform refers to a service in which customers can request a visit from a bank worker who provides financial services including deposits, loans or card issuance using a tablet PC.

"It is an opportunity for us to reaffirm the hot global interest in fintech," said a Korean fintech executive at the event. "Our company agreed to continue discussions about investment requirements after exchanging contact information with several potential investors," he said.

During the event, Financial Services Commission (FSC) Executive Director Kim Hak-kyun had a meeting with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Chief Fintech Officer Sopnendu Mohanty, where they agreed on mutual cooperation for the advance of fintech services in their two countries.

The MAS in May 2016 opened a fintech office by integrating fintech-related functions of government agencies to position the country as a leading fintech hub of Asia.

The FSC said it plans to hold Fintech Demo Day events down the road in the U.K., the U.S. and China, in a bid to strengthen its support of Korean fintech firms active overseas. The Fintech Center of Korea is an affiliate of the FSC.
Deborah Smith, the English translator of the Korean novel "The Vegetarian" by Han Kang which won the 2016 Man Booker Prize, holds up the book at the Seoul International Book Fair at COEX in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap



Deborah Smith says love of literature is crucial for translators



By Yun Suh-young

Deborah Smith, the British translator of the "The Vegetarian" by Han Kang which won the 2016 Man Booker Prize, said translation of a work of literature is rewriting it creatively in another language.

She was visiting Korea to participate in the Seoul International Book Fair which opened Wednesday and runs through Sunday.

"Translation is a process that needs varying degrees of interpretation and editorial decision," said Smith during a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday.

"Translators know better than anyone that we don't improve the original. I aim to be faithful to the spirit of the original work, to the letter, as much as I can without compromising the spirit."

Smith said her Korean has improved much since translating The Vegetarian.

"I'm encouraged that my Korean language ability has improved since 2013 when I translated The Vegetarian, and encouraged even more that whatever flaws there are in my translation have not hampered the enjoyment and understanding of the readers," she said.

She said she became a translator not out of a desire to enjoy fame but because she wanted to share with a wide audience the books she has come to love.

When asked whether much had changed in her life after receiving the Man Booker International Prize last month, Smith said life was the same as usual.

"I'm not famous, or at least not in England  maybe slightly in Korea. My daily life changed for a few days  I received a lot of emails  and then it went back to completely normal. Until I came here I didn't notice any difference and I'm very happy with that," she said.

During a speech she gave, she raised concerns on classing translators based on their background, quoting Ewha Womans University professor Jung Ha-yun who wrote in the Korea Times about the danger of "excluding or prioritizing certain types of translators based on their qualifications, especially their backgrounds."

"I think a love of literature, patience and dedication are more important for translators. The spirit of humility and cooperation is what makes the translation community what it is and makes me proud to be a part of it," she said.

She also pointed out that Koreans shouldn't be obsessed with receiving the Nobel Prize.

"I don't really understand the obsession with the Nobel prize. It's quite baffling to me and maybe for many other people as well. Prizes are just prizes," she said. "Writers writing great books and readers appreciating them is enough of a reward in itself I think."

Asked if she ever felt like writing her own book when she was translating other people's works, she said, "No."

"I never thought I wanted to become a writer myself. When you're translating, you're a writer of sentences and you're creating rhythm and style which I enjoy and thought I could do well," said Smith.

"I appreciated the fact that I didn't have to think of the story, character and setting. And the nicest thing about translating is that you don't get writer's block."

While translating, she paid particular attention to the cultural representations.

"I am sensitive to issues of representation because I realize that in the U.K., Korean culture is still very little known. People might be reading the translations and it might be their first encounter with Korean culture," she said.

"When I first started translating, I would be using terms such as soju or manhwa and the editors would not know what this was although it was clear from the context.

"They would suggest why don't we call it Korean vodka, or Korean manga' and I explained to them that it's not a good thing to make one culture sound like it's a derivative or a lesser version of another. But sometimes editors can be funny about foreign words putting readers off which I don't think is right."
President Park Geun-hye will meet South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) chief Gen. Vincent Brooks on Wednesday to highlight the importance of the bilateral alliance in maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula, her office Cheong Wa Dae said.

Brooks, who took command of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) in late April, will visit the presidential office in the afternoon.

"President Park, as the commander-in-chief, will congratulate the commander, who is in charge of the CFC, the U.N. Command (UNC) and the USFK, on his new appointment and ask him to make efforts to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula based on the robust South Korea-U.S. alliance and combined defense posture," presidential spokesman Jung Youn-kuk told reporters.

Brooks, who formerly served as U.S. Army Pacific commander, replaced Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti. His appointment came as Seoul is seeking closer security cooperation with Washington to better cope with Pyongyang's persistent nuclear saber-rattling. (Yonhap)
A police officer speaks during a press briefing on a high school student suspected of hakcing a total of 3,847 websites since April 2015 at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) in central Seoul on June 14, 2016. / Yonhap



By Kim Da-hee

A Korean high school student who allegedly hacked almost 4,000 websites from 87 countries has been arrested.

The student, 16, whose identity was withheld, was charged with hacking a total of 3,847 websites between April 2015 and April this year, police said Tuesday. He is believed to follow international "hacktivist" group Anonymous.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the student said he learnt hacking from programs accessed via Google. He told police he participated in a hacking operation that Anonymous launched to support Hong Kong's democratic movement in 2014.

Among the 3,847 websites, 141 were Korean, mainly of small and medium enterprises. Police said the student did not damage the sites' private data but displayed a message that read "Website got hacked" on the homepages. The suspect then posted a list of the websites on his social media accounts, they said.

He allegedly committed the crimes to demonstrate his hacking ability. The number of hacked websites could be greater because he allegedly started hacking three years ago, police said.

The student's family had no idea of their son's activities. "My son's academic grade was not bad and he got along well with other students," his parents told police.

The case has been sent to prosecutors.
A sign saying, "No splitting bills," is put up on the door of a restaurant in Dongdaemun, eastern Seoul, Monday. Some restaurant owners complain that they are getting annoyed by customers seeking to pay separately. / Yonhap



Owners say splitting bills at busy times damages operations

By Lee Kyung-min

An office worker surnamed Choi, 31, went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch with five of his colleagues.

Each of them had a bowl of noodles or rice, which cost 6,000 won per dish, and ordered a large dish of "tangsuyuk," (Chinese sweet-and-sour pork) which cost 30,000 won.

When the six people asked the restaurant owner to split the bill six ways, with each amounting to 11,000 won, the owner snapped at them."Why do you have to make my busiest hours during the day even busier?" he asked. "Next time, just have one person pay the full amount and split the bill among yourselves afterward, or whatever."

While more and more people want to split the bill in equal amounts because they think it is the fairest way of having meals, restaurant owners say such a "selfish" mindset hampers their business.

"The lunch hours are the busiest time during our day. And isn't it inconsiderate if people want me to issue small credit card transactions individually for a meal they had as a group?" asked a restaurant owner in Yeouido, Seoul.

"People come here hungry and want quick service, but spending time on charging for the same amount repeatedly means delayed orders for others and angry customers," she added.

Such a conflict comes amid an increase in the number of credit card transactions at restaurants coupled with a decrease in a per capita transaction amount.

According to the National Tax Service, the number of credit card use at restaurants doubled over four years from 1.2 billion in 2009 to 2.6 billion won in 2013.

However, the amount of payment per customer decreased by 27.5 percent from 40,000 won to 29,000 won during the same period.

To avoid the hassle altogether, some restaurant owners put up a sign that says: "No splitting bills here." Some others even set up a meal coupon machine outside the shop which usually costs 3 million won.

"I often see people who are about to come in at the entrance turn away for other restaurants, thinking there are no available tables by looking at the long queue of six or seven people at the counter paying their split bills," another restaurant owner said.

"Nothing frustrates me more than that. I am sure all the owners of small restaurants like me feel the same way," she added.

Customers say they are inconvenienced by such "self-centered" restaurants. Given that office workers have to eat every day at least once or twice with colleagues, many are frustrated by the idea of having to worry about the payment method on every occasion.

"We do not have meals with the exact same people every day, so taking turns for payment is not a guaranteed way of getting my money back next time. I just want to pay only for what I eat," an office worker who declined to be named said.

Another worker, surnamed Park, said, "The price of food at restaurants has gone up, and it is financially burdensome if one person pays for all the members of the group. It is more reasonable that each pay for their share. Paying in a group or paying individually is up to customers, not to the restaurant owners."
North Korea's intelligence agency has recently conducted lecture sessions on defection prevention for senior provincial ruling party officials aimed at stemming the tide of people fleeing the country, U.S.-based Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported Wednesday.



Citing remarks from a Japanese journalist, the RFA said the lectures by the State Security Ministry were held early this month. It added that it is very rare for the communist country to hold such lectures for senior Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) cadres in the provinces, although there were cases of similar lectures for ordinary residents in the past.



Jiro Ishimaru, who heads the Osaka office of Japan's Asia Press, told the RFA the lectures were held after North Koreans working at state-owned restaurants recently defected en masse to South Korea in two separate occasions.



A group of 13 North Korean people defected from the same Pyongyang-run restaurant in China and came to South Korea in early April in what has become a steady stream of people leaving the isolated country.



North Korea has consistently claimed South Korea abducted the workers and demanded that they be returned to their loved ones at once. Pyongyang also threatened to take strong actions against the South if its demands are not met.



Ishimaru said that the Pyongyang regime must have been assuming that more North Koreans working in third countries are likely to defect to the South out of dissatisfaction over North Korea's political system and yearning for South Korea.



According to the Japanese journalist, North Korean instructors made preposterous claims during the lecture such as, "In South Korea, people who have no money can die without medical treatment; North Korean defectors are treated as beggars; North Korean defectors are treated as foreigners and left to take dangerous jobs at construction sites."



Ishimaru was also quoted as saying the lectures tended to excessively distort facts and claimed all North Korean defectors are leading hard lives in South Korea under constant discrimination.



At the end of the lecture, the instructors said that the North Korean regime forgives defectors and will allow them to lead a happy life if they return to the North, according to the RFA report.



Citing remarks from a Japanese journalist, the RFA said the lectures by the State Security Ministry were held early this month. It added that it is very rare for the communist country to hold such lectures for senior Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) cadres in the provinces, although there were cases of similar lectures for ordinary residents in the past.



Jiro Ishimaru, who heads the Osaka office of Japan's Asia Press, told the RFA the lectures were held after North Koreans working at state-owned restaurants recently defected en masse to South Korea in two separate occasions.



A group of 13 North Korean people defected from the same Pyongyang-run restaurant in China and came to South Korea in early April in what has become a steady stream of people leaving the isolated country.



North Korea has consistently claimed South Korea abducted the workers and demanded that they be returned to their loved ones at once. Pyongyang also threatened to take strong actions against the South if its demands are not met.



Ishimaru said that the Pyongyang regime must have been assuming that more North Koreans working in third countries are likely to defect to the South out of dissatisfaction over North Korea's political system and yearning for South Korea.



According to the Japanese journalist, North Korean instructors made preposterous claims during the lecture such as, "In South Korea, people who have no money can die without medical treatment; North Korean defectors are treated as beggars; North Korean defectors are treated as foreigners and left to take dangerous jobs at construction sites."



Ishimaru was also quoted as saying the lectures tended to excessively distort facts and claimed all North Korean defectors are leading hard lives in South Korea under constant discrimination.



At the end of the lecture, the instructors said that the North Korean regime forgives defectors and will allow them to lead a happy life if they return to the North, according to the RFA report. (Yohap)




The Army's delivery drone



By Jun Ji-hye

The Army plans to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed to deliver supplies to troops as early as 2018, officials said Wednesday.

The Army conducted a demonstration of a delivery drone earlier in the day at the Gyeryongdae military headquarters in South Chungcheong Province, during which the drone airlifted a 15 kilogram package to a designated spot.

The demonstration was watched by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Jang Jun-gyu and other senior officials.

The drone demonstrated higher performance in comparison with U.S. online retailer Amazon's delivery drone that picked up a five kilogram package in an earlier demonstration, an Army official said on the condition of anonymity.

The Army and the Korea Aerospace University has co-developed the supply drone and carried out test flights twice so far.

"We will conduct the third test later this year and produce a prototype by the end of this year," the official said. "Then, additional operational tests will take place next year. If everything goes off without a hitch, we will be able to actually deploy the drones in 2018."

Carrying 20 kilograms of goods, the drone could fly some five kilometers at a maximum altitude of 500 meters, according to the Army.

Once deployed, it will be used to deliver supplies to remote mountainous areas or isolated posts during wartime as well as to send emergency relief goods to civilians in the event of a natural disaster, the Army said.

During the meeting, the Army also displayed KAISHOT, a mobile digital video and audio recording system with a compact size and high resolution images, usually used by military and police.

KAISHOT was used during the operation, code-named Dawn of Gulf of Aden, carried out by members of the Navy's elite Underwater Demolition Team in 2011, during which the team killed eight pirates and captured five who hijacked a Korean ship in waters off Somalia.

The Army said the KAISHOT displayed this time utilizes long-term evolution (LTE) technology that greatly improves its performance.

The equipment used in 2011 was based on a satellite signal.

The Army expects its Special Forces to make the most use of the equipment in combating and preventing terrorism, and disaster relief.
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Choi Jeong-ho, vice minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, aboard a luxury express bus at the Government Complex parking lot in Sejong City on Tuesday. /Yonhap



By Lee Jin-a

Passengers will be able to ride a "first-class" express bus from September 12, the transportation ministry said Tuesday.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the luxury bus service will be test-operated on the Seoul-Busan and Seoul-Gwangju routes.

The buses will have large reclining seats providing more leg room and individual monitors so passengers can watch movies and TV programs. Like first-class seats on an airplane, each seat will have a foldable table, a USB port and partitions to assure privacy.

The luxury bus from Seoul to Busan will cost 44,400 won ($35), 30 percent more than the premium express bus, but 25 percent cheaper than the KTX (Korea Train Express).

"Passengers who rode on the luxury bus showed high satisfaction rates regarding the quality of the new facilities and service," the ministry said. "We will continue to make efforts to successfully manage the luxury express bus service based on passengers' opinions."
By Jun Ji-hye, Joint press corps



Korean defense firm Hanwha Techwin is in talks with at least seven countries in Asia, Europe and Africa to export its K-9 self-propelled howitzers, defense officials said Wednesday.



Among them, one Asian country is about to conclude a deal to buy some 100 howitzers.



The officials refused to reveal the names of the countries, citing confidentiality obligations.



Some European countries have also been expressing their intentions to buy the howitzers in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2014, officials said, noting that the negotiations have made rapid progress especially in Northern Europe.



Some African countries have also shown their interest in buying the howitzers, officials noted.



The company developed the 155-millimeter howitzer for the nation's armed forces in 1998 to replace K-55 howitzers.



The howitzer, with a maximum range of some 40 kilometers at a maximum speed of 67 kilometers per hour, can fire six rounds in a minute.



Officials said that the K-9 has high competitive edge as it offers great price and performance, and has been very reliable during its operations.



The K-9, one of the core weapons used by the ROK Army, played a key role in countering North Korea's artillery shelling of Yeonpyeong Island, near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), on Nov. 23, 2010, that killed two Marines and two civilians.



The defense firm is currently displaying its self-propelled howitzer in Eurosatory, a biennial international defense and security trade show, which kicked off Monday for a five-day run in Paris.



Eurosatory is one of the world's largest defense exhibitions, which brings together some 1,600 defense-related suppliers from some 70 countries this year.



In 2011, the company sold 350 K-9 howitzers to Turkey on a technology transfer basis, which called for the firm to provide the parts and technology. The value of the trade was estimated at about $1 billion.



Then in 2014, the firm also signed a deal with Poland to sell 120 K-9s.



At the time, the company said the export, whose total value was estimated at about $310 million, was expected to help the firm pave the way for more sales in Europe.



During the defense and security expo underway in Paris, a total of 21 Korean defense manufacturers including Hanwha Techwin and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) are showcasing their weapons made with domestic technologies.



KAI displayed a mockup of its Surion (KUH-1), the first Korean-designed helicopter, while Kia Motors showcased its light tactical vehicle, a version of the Humvee tactical vehicle.




Visitors are seen inside a room in which Hansen's disease patients were confined on Sorok Island in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province in this 2010 file photo. / Korea Times photo by Choi Heung-soo



By Kim Bo-eun

The Seoul High Court will open a hearing on Sorok Island off the country's southern coast, where Hansen's disease (leprosy) patients were kept isolated for nearly a century.

In a compensation suit filed against the government by 139 people who suffered from forced sterilizations and abortions, the victims requested the judges to conduct on-site examinations and reflect them in its ruling.

The court will open the hearing on June 20 at the Sorokdo National Hospital in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province, to examine the facilities and medical records and question witnesses.

This is the first time for judges to visit the island for cases involving lepers on the island.

"We have decided to open the hearing on Sorok Island considering that it is difficult for the witnesses there to come to the court in Seoul," a judge said.

Judges will examine the operating rooms where sterilizations and abortions were conducted.

There is a possibility that Austrian Sister Marianne Stoger, 82, who volunteered at the hospital for 43 years, may testify. Stoger took care of patients from 1962 to 2005.

Sorok Island became a leper colony during Japanese colonial rule (1910-45). Japan set up a hospital on Sorok Island and sent some 700 patients there in 1916, records show.

In the hospital, Hansen's disease patients were forced to undergo sterilization and abortions because at that time leprosy was believed to be a hereditary disease, although it is not and is now curable.

The forced operations stopped after Korea was liberated from Japan, but were resumed a few years later when the Korean government was established in 1948. The operations continued under the name of preventing infections and records at the hospital show they lasted until the early 1990s.

It was only in 2006 when the legal grounds for isolating Hansen's disease patients were abolished, following a revision to regulations on preventing contagious diseases.

The government acknowledges there were some regulations on birth control for leprosy patients but says it did not force the operations.

In 2013, a committee under the Prime Minister's Office recognized 6,462 patients as victims of the forced sterilizations and abortions.

Currently, a total of 540 victims are proceeding with five suits.

In 2014, the Gwangju District Court's Suncheon branch recognized the government's responsibility for compensation for 19 victims, the first ruling of this type. The case is being reviewed at a regional high court there.

The other four cases are being dealt with at the Seoul High Court.

In the case of the 139 victims, the lower court ordered the state to give 30-40 million won in compensation to each of them, saying, "The state failed to set up reasonable measures for lepers but kept the sterilization policy for a long time based on social prejudice. This damaged the victim's dignity as human beings."


By Kang Seung-woo

President Park Geun-hye has virtually scrapped her much-trumpeted initiatives aimed at building trust with North Korea due to the latter's missile and nuclear threats, analysts said Wednesday.

To lay the groundwork for durable peace  and eventually unification  Park unveiled "trustpolitik" and other reconciliatory programs after taking office to boost dialogue and mutual exchanges.

However, following the North's fourth nuclear test in January and a missile test in February, the Park government is seeking total isolation of North Korea from the international community through a sanctions-only policy.

In addition, she has repeatedly rejected the North's dialogue offers, holding its denuclearization as a precondition for a resumption of any inter-Korean talks.

"The Park administration has not succeeded the joint declarations outlining inter-Korean reconciliation and economic cooperation from the two inter-Korean summits in 2000 and 2007. The initiative stressed the need for inter-Korean talks to overcome difficulties between the two sides, but the South is staying away from discussions with the North," said Hong Hyun-ik, a senior researcher at the Sejoing Institute, a local think tank.

"In this respect, I think that the current government has practically scrapped the trust-building initiative."

Analysts say that the trust-building initiative has failed to yield meaningful progress because it was established on an ill-advised premise.

"According to the initiative, South Korea would engage North Korea in dialogue should the latter show sincerity for building trust first, which is preposterous," said Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University.

"In addition, the North Korean nuclear crisis has been raging since the former Lee Myung-bak administration, but the Park government unveiled the initiative calling for very low level inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation in the fields of the environment and education in order to address the nuclear issue and achieve unification. In other words, it was unrealistic."

Cheong Seong-chang, another senior fellow at the Sejong Institute, echoed Chang's view, saying, "The initiative just focused on low-level inter-Korean cooperation in which the North has little interest, so it fell through."

Cheong added: "The initiative articulates no action plan and only rhetoric, merely stating its goal was to make the North abandon its nuclear program."

However, the Ministry of Unification said that the initiative was still valid.

"The engagement policy is still focused on balancing national security on the one hand and inter-Korean exchange and cooperation on the other to change the North," said spokesman Jeong Joon-hee.

Amid strained inter-Korean relations, analysts advise that the South Korean government should engage in talks with the Kim Jong-un regime at least to avoid unnecessary military tension on the peninsula.

"I think it is important to continue trying to build trust between the two Koreas. Maintaining some level of dialogue can be useful if for no other reason than to keep tension levels manageable," said Terence Roehrig, a professor at the U.S. Naval War College.

"Dialogue does not mean giving in to North Korean demands or rewarding bad behavior. It is also important to remember that efforts have been made to reach out to North Korea but Pyongyang has not done much to demonstrate a willingness to work with Seoul and Washington. But it is important to keep trying, if only to avoid the spikes in tension that can lead to a crisis, miscalculation, and violence."
Baik Sung-gi, chair of the University Reformation Committee at the Ministry of Education, gives a presentation

during a discussion session at Sogang University in Seoul, June 7. The ministry held the session to hear different opinions on the ongoing university restructuring program. / Yonhap



More drastic measures needed to close troubled institutions



By Chung Hyun-chae



The Park Geun-hye administration has made little progress in the much-needed restructuring of colleges and universities in order to cope with the falling number of new students amid the low birthrate and to let go of nonviable learning institutions.



The Ministry of Education started the long-term restructuring program in 2014 with the goal of reducing the total enrollment quota by 160,000 by the end of 2023. In the short term, the ministry planned to cut the quota by 47,000 between 2014 and 2016.



However, critics have hit out at the government for being too slow in structural reforms by taking only expedient measures.



The ministry has so far focused on encouraging universities to reduce their student quota on a voluntary basis in return for financial aid. This aid package includes the Program for Industrial Needs-Matched Education (PRIME) and the Initiative for College of Humanities' Research and Education (CORE).



PRIME is to help universities beef up their science and engineering departments while curtailing the student quota in humanities and social sciences. The aim of this program was to meet industrial demand for engineers and technicians.



In May, 21 universities, including Konkuk University and Ewha Womans University, were selected as participants of the program. The ministry will provide a combined total of 600 billion won to those schools over the next three years.



At the same time, the ministry also selected 16 universities including Korea University and Sungkyunkwan University to promote the humanities so that they can meet society's needs in related fields. The ministry said it will provide a total of 60 billion won to the selected institutions this year.



The aid-induced restructuring formula has drawn criticism that it is helping competitive universities both in Seoul and provincial areas receive government financial support in exchange for a voluntary cutback in their student quota, while nonviable universities are going all-out to subsist on tuition without drastically slashing enrollment quotas or closing their operations.



"Although the structural reform was made to kick out troubled universities and make strong universities more competitive, the current restructuring move rather allows reeling universities to survive without undergoing comprehensive restructuring," Lee Ju-ho, a professor at the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, told The Korea Times.



The reform drive was initially designed to cope with a rapid demographic change that will bring about a significant reduction in the number of students due to the low birthrate.



The ministry expects the number of high school graduates to drop from 615,000 in 2013 to 549,000 in 2018 and 405,000 in 2023.



The total university enrollment quota now stands at 560,000. If it remains unchanged, the quota will overshoot the number of high school graduates by a big margin. That's why the ministry has set the goal of curtailing it by 160,000 by 2023.



Against this backdrop, it will be hard for many shaky universities, especially located in provincial regions, to meet their student quotas. Thus it is inevitable for them to face downsizing or even closure.



Professor Lee called for the government to change direction in its university restructuring plan and support universities to take a leading role in cooperating with industry and the community so that they can nurture future leaders.



The government has also been under attack for intervening in the operation of higher education institutions by imposing the structural reform program on them. Some argue that the restructuring formula should be based on market principles.



However, it is necessary for the education authorities to spearhead university restructuring, considering that the education market has been unduly distorted and that no universities want painful reforms no matter how dire their situation.



"If the government takes a hands-off approach, the nation will face unpredictable consequences because university education is greatly challenged by rapid demographic changes and the rapidly changing education environment," Baik Sung-gi, chair of the University Reformation Committee at the Ministry of Education, told The Korea Times.



He said that the government should be allowed to force colleges and universities to reduce their student quota because no institutions are willing to do so voluntarily.



Baik also called on all higher education institutions to reduce their enrollment quota more drastically regardless of their academic competitiveness and financial situation.



He stressed that the overall quota reduction is only a starting point for university structural reforms which are ultimately aimed at improving the quality of education and helping local universities advance in rankings of the world's most-renowned institutions.



Voluntary closure of universities



On June 7, Hanlyo University in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, and Seonam University's medical school in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, announced plans to shut down voluntarily.



The universities' foundation is expected to present their plans to the education ministry soon. If the plans are approved, the two troubled universities will become the first institutions subject to closure under the Park administration.



The case can be compared to six universities and two vocational colleges which were shut down under the previous Lee Myung-bak government.



This indicates how difficult it is to make nonviable universities subject to closure. The education ministry's stopgap measures are partly responsible for the doldrums in the restructuring of universities.



In this context, the ministry has sought to pass a government-initiated university structural reform bill through the National Assembly. The bill, if enacted, is expected to give the ministry more power to forcefully shut down nonviable institutions and speed up university restructuring.



However, the Assembly failed to approve the bill due to opposition parties' objections to a controversial clause that would allow foundations of troubled private universities to retrieve part of their assets on closure of their universities.



Now the ministry is trying to present the bill again to the new Assembly which was formed following the April 13 general election.



Despite the opposition to the bill, Baik said, "We should provide an exit for the founders who established a university with educational aspirations but cannot run the school anymore due to the worsening educational environment."



Experts said what's most important is to create a national consensus over how to push for more comprehensive restructuring of universities. They pointed out that university reforms cannot produce successful results without such a consensus.
By Kyung Moon Hwang

A new exhibition in the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art commemorates the centenary of the birth of painter Lee Jung-seob, who died 60 years ago while destitute and suffering from psychological trauma. This suggests a classic case of an impoverished, despondent artist struggling to gain recognition because his art was far ahead of its time.

In other ways, however, Lee's life and career well reflected his time, which was a particularly turbulent period in modern Korean history. When he was born in 1916, Korea had just fallen under Japanese colonial rule, and he reached his artistic maturity during the years of the Pacific War, the post-liberation experience after 1945, and the Korean War.

Lee's surviving paintings, which unfortunately appear to represent just a fraction of his total output, seem to portray vividly the fierce determination to survive and express the turmoil of the time.

Indeed, many of Korea's most celebrated painters serve as illuminating representatives of Korea's past. We can begin with Kim Hong-do and Sin Yun-bok, contemporaries in the late 18th century and creators of the most celebrated paintings from the Joseon era.

Kim produced many masterful works, but the most cherished today are his genre paintings (pungsokhwa), depictions of people of various backgrounds going about their everyday lives. These treasured works offer an inquisitive, attentive, and sympathetic perspective on their human subjects, who are the focal points of the illustrations, as most of the surrounding background is omitted.

Sin's genre paintings, meanwhile, take a stylistically different approach, filling in the brilliant details of the natural surroundings and mostly focusing on a narrower range of human subjects: aristocratic males and glamorous females, particularly gisaeng courtesans.

Although prized for their distinctive techniques, the works of both Kim and Sin demonstrate the sensitivities and sentiments of the artists' real-life circumstances. They were both court painters, professionals in the Office of Painting (Dohwaseo) who came from long-established lineages of technical officials, or jungin. Members of the jungin also filled government posts as interpreters, physicians, accountants, scientists, and legal officials.

In the late Joseon era, the jungin belonged to a kind of middle class, suffering social discrimination due to their lower hereditary status below the ruling aristocracy (yangban), but also better educated than the majority commoner population.

This probably endowed them with the motivation, insight, and experience necessary to produce such masterfully sensitive portrayals of Korean society. This is probably also why these genre paintings are more prized today than the official works produced for the court and more compelling than those from aristocratic artists like Jeong Seon, whose best known works are classic landscape paintings.

Jo Hui-ryong, of the 19th century, was another jungin painter, as well as a renowned poet and calligrapher. Although not one of the court painters himself, Jo moved in their circles, and although he did not produce genre paintings, Jo's social standing and sentiments likely were reflected in his revolutionary flourishes to traditional themes.

His most accomplished creations are paintings of plum trees and flowers that colorfully burst forth in unconventional ways, as if this was his means of expressing resistance to the constraints imposed upon him by Korean society. Such a theme became highlighted in director Im Kwon-taek's film "Chihwason," which dramatized the struggles of the painter Jang Seung-eop as a symbol of the injustices and instabilities of the late 19th century.

The final acclaimed court painter, An Jung-sik, remained active well into the 20th century. In fact his best known work dates from the early Japanese colonial period: "Spring Dawn in Baegak [Bugak] Mountain" (1915), a pair of portraits of the Gwanghwamun Gate and Gyeongbokgung Palace, with the graceful peak looming behind them. These two paintings, especially the second one, can be read as An's sorrowful retrospective on Korea's passing, showing a contemplative nostalgia for the country's traditional seat of political power following the loss of political independence.

The circumstances of colonial rule, however, also helped nurture the first generation of modern Korean painters, most of whom studied in Japan. Among the best known are Go Hui-dong, a descendant of a prominent jungin family, and Na Hye-seok, likely from a family of late-Joseon hereditary clerks, who as a teenager went to study in Tokyo.

Back home Na became a prominent artist, author, essayist, and revolutionary champion of women's rights. One can detect this perspective in some of her illustrations as well, which were Western oil paintings but mostly of Korean subjects and themes.

More recently, another artist from the colonial period, Lee Qoe-de, has gained recognition as perhaps the most skillful modern practitioner of figure paintings, from epic canvasses featuring dozens of people to several remarkable self-portraits.

Contemporaneous with Lee Jung-Seob but living until the mid-1960s (we believe), Lee's work was mostly unknown until recently because, like his friend Lee Jung-Seob, Lee Qoe-de was very much a product of Korea's tragic mid-20th century history.

Lee Qoe-de chose to move to North Korea during the Korean War, and so under the dominant anti-communism of South Korea, awareness of his art was forbidden and mostly forgotten. Now that they have been rediscovered, Lee Qoe-de's extraordinary paintings can be appreciated for illustrating such aspects of Korean history as much as for their inherent artistic merit.

Kyung Moon Hwang is professor in the Departments of History and East Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Southern California. He is the author of "A History of Korea  An Episodic Narrative" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2010). The Korean translation was published as , "   " (21 , 2011).
/Courtesy of Twitter

By Lee Han-soo

The Chinese government has expanded sanctions against North Korea, banning the export of materials that can be used for nuclear weapons, missiles and other weapons of mass destruction.

China's Ministry of Commerce said Tuesday 40 items are covered and the bans are effectively immediately. They are in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The new sanctions come after China banned coal and aviation fuel trading with North Korea on April 5. Sources said the bans had resulted in the hermit kingdom's imports dropping 20 percent compared with 2015.












By Yi Whan-woo



The opposition parties called on the government to try to mend relations with North Korea, Wednesday, on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the signing of a historic inter-Korean declaration.



The main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) asked President Park Geun-hye to resume dialogue with the Kim Jong-un regime in line with the June 15 declaration that called for peaceful unification of the two Koreas.



Smaller opposition parties  the People's Party and the Justice Party  joined the MPK to demand the government inherit the spirit of the joint declaration.



The declaration signed between then-President Kim Dae-jung and then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during the first inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang.



"The government should keep in mind that change through dialogue was the key idea of the declaration," MPK spokesman Lee Jae-kyung said.



The People's Party spokesman Rep. Son kum-ju said that civic exchanges should be allowed first to make a breakthrough in the stalled relations, adding, "We'll otherwise not be able to move forward for unification."



Justice Party spokesman Han Chang-min warned that President Park's hard-line policy will only bring bigger risks to the peninsula.



"Her signature theory of Unification as a Jackpot can only be realized if the government recovers the spirit of the June 15 declaration," he said.



Han also stressed the importance of a subsequent declaration announced during the second inter-Korean summit on Oct. 4, 2007, in Pyongyang.



Progressive-minded President Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Jong-il agreed in their declaration to better implement the June 15 declaration. Roh was Kim Dae-jung's successor. He died in 2009.



The June 15 declaration served as a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliatory efforts, including the opening of the inter-Korean industrial park in Gaeseong, North Korea.



The Park administration shut it down and also banned all inter-Korean exchanges in response to the Kim Jong-un regime's fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and a rocket launch, Feb. 7, which was suspected to be a U.N-banned ballistic missile test.



The Ministry of Unification said it slapped a fine last week on seven South Koreans who met North Koreans in Shenyang, China, in May to discuss a joint celebration of the June 15 declaration.



On Wednesday, 78 lawmakers from the three opposition parties proposed a motion together, demanding the government designate June 15 as a national memorial day.



Rep. Kim Han-jung of the MPK, who served as one of Kim Dae-jung's presidential aides, initiated the motion.



The MPK also held a Supreme Council meeting at Imjingak, a park near the inter-Korean border in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, to commemorate the June 15 declaration.



Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo said he will open a discussion, Thursday, concerning an envisioned bill aimed at reviving the Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC).



Hong calls for enactment of a law that will make the government compensate 124 South Korean companies that suffered financial losses due to the shutdown of the GIC.



North Korean authorities reportedly sold raw materials, finished goods and factory machines belonging to the 124 companies abroad without their approval.



On Tuesday, MPK floor leader Rep. Woo Sang-ho met with the company owners. He asked President Park to maintain a two-track policy that deals with political and economic issues separately and urged the resumption of operations at the GIC around Aug. 15.



North Korea has been waging a peace offensive toward South Korea in what is seen as a bid to avoid accelerated international isolation after the U.N. Security Council imposed its toughest sanctions on Pyongyang March 2.




Alejandro Cao de Benos, the leader of pro-North Korea group the Korea Friendship Association, was arrested for alleged arms trafficking in Spain. /Courtesy of Twitter



By Lee Jin-a

Alejandro Cao de Benos, the only Westerner working for North Korea's Kim Jong-un regime, has been arrested for allegedly trafficking arms in Tarragona, Spain, a U.S.-based media outlet said Wednesday.

According to Radio Free Asia, Spanish police found four modified guns and 2,000 cartridges at his home and arrested him for allegedly dealing weapons near Barcelona, Tuesday. But there was no evidence that the alleged dealing was directly linked to the isolated country.

Benos, 42, is an honorary special delegate for the North's Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. He also leads a pro-North Korea organization, the Korea Friendship Association, which has official representatives in 28 countries.

With his Korean name, "Jo Seon-il," Benos reportedly lives in Pyongyang almost six months a year as a middleman between the North Korean government and foreign investors.
South Korea's chief financial regulator said Tuesday it will oversee whether the restructuring efforts by the country's debt-laden shipbuilders will go as planned in efforts to ratchet up pressure on them to carry out their promised overhaul moves.



Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Yim Jong-yong will chair a bi-weekly meeting, starting from this week, to closely monitor local shipbuilders' self-rescue plans and their implementation, an FSC official said.



Government officials and the main creditor banks of the three financially-troubled shipyards -- Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and Samsung Heavy Industries -- will meet to take a closer look at every development of restructuring in the builders, the official said.



"In the first meeting, the chairman plans to underline that the shipbuilders should thoroughly complete their promised self-help measures, including job cuts and asset sales, to avoid being placed under court receivership," he said.



The three builders have recently drawn up a combined 10.35 trillion won ($8.8 billion) worth of rehabilitation programs to tide over a protracted slump and mounting losses. Last week, their creditors gave the go-ahead to the programs.



Under the programs worth 10.35 trillion won, the three have to reduce 20 percent of their overall production facilities and cut 30 percent of their workforce in the coming two and a half years. The strict programs came based on the projection that their combined new orders in the next three years will plunge by up to 50 percent compared to the average of $14 billion in the 2010-2015 period, the FSC said.



The shipyards are required to submit their detailed action plans by next week to their creditors, it said.



Shipbuilders have been under severe financial strain in the face of falls in new orders since the 2008 global economic crisis due to a glut of vessels and a tougher competition with Chinese rivals.



The Big 3 suffered a collective operating loss of 8.5 trillion won last year due largely to increased costs stemming from a delay in the construction of offshore facilities and an industrywide slump. A huge chunk of the loss, some 5.5 trillion won, came from DSME.



Meanwhile, the DSME's unionized workers cast a vote on a possible strike in protest of massive potential layoffs as a result of restructuring.



On Tuesday, its main creditor Korea Development Bank warned, "If Daewoo Shipbuilding workers go on strike, there will be no financial aid to help put its business back on track."



The voting results have yet to be released by the union.




By Charles L. Olmsted

Some countries and officials seem to talk more and more of North Korea's imminent demise as if they are on some kind of death watch. Or maybe it is just wishful thinking.

It is a fate that South Korean presidents and some world leaders throughout history have been hoping and predicting for decades. This may be the closest North Korea has been to collapse since the Korean War when President Syngman Rhee wanted to sabotage the peace talks and plan his own war to unite Korea.

The North's nuclear armament plan continues to draw critics from the usual foes and few friends. Yet, the North continues to plunge ahead more and more alone. The preoccupation with its nukes just neglects the economic reforms so desperately needed.

It may be time for the other countries in the Six-Party Talks to meet and discuss their wayward stepchild. Not a discussion like at the end of wars where they divide up the country, but more how to manage a successful transition. If done correctly, it could pay dividends for a new Korea for decades not just regionally but internationally.

South Korea needs to lay out the rules, guidelines and work duties. It needs to set a timetable and stick with it. And China, Japan, Russia, and the United States need to listen and obey. By this point, in-fighting is a great threat. It was one country before 1945 and it needs to remain one country.

South Korea needs to look inside and be united in dealing with North Korea in this situation.

China has a fear of its border being overrun when North Korea implodes but I disagree. First, it's highly doubtful the Kim regime, who rules the airwaves as everything else, would go public to admit such a failure. Second, there is not a national audience glued to the TV to watch such a pronouncement if one were to occur. And third, the only running for the border would mainly be a handful of elites who knew they could be punished.

The everyday person would not hear such a thing, would not believe such a thing and, more importantly, would not act on such a thing.

The first people crossing the border should be military and scientists going inside to locate, disarm and remove the North's nuclear weapon program. This needs to be secured before terrorists, rogue nations, and other opportunists fill out their Christmas wish list of the North's leftovers.

South Korean officials need to go on the air with well-known North Koreans to explain the situation shortly thereafter and inform the citizens they will be taken care of and to just stay where they are. Trucks and ships need to follow close behind with food, water, and medicine. Security needs to be part of the relief effort to ensure the people get the food and not some black marketers.

The medical end of it will need more than just a few doctors. It will need the scope of Doctors Without Borders along with volunteer physicians, nurses, technicians, nutritionists, and pharmacists from South Korea and other countries. Most of these citizens have never seen a doctor and medical care is woefully behind.

Government officials need to accompany the relief effort, collecting names of each citizen, vital info, and any family contacts in the South. Communications should be set up so families can start being reunited. Abductees, POWs and those on reunion waiting list should get first priority.

Of course, with a massive manpower effort like this, those helping out will need support too, so housing should be established. Distribution will be key for food and medicine.

Political prisons will need to be handled carefully because they are so heavily armed and the inmates are fragile and brainwashed.

Schools will need to be immediately closed to stop the Kim propaganda machine but just as quickly re-opened with honest and fair education instruction.

Many things can be established with planning beforehand so they can be implemented with little problem when the time comes. And the fun part is this is just the beginning. This is the initial contact with citizens to feed them, care for them medically, and make sure they are safe. Plus, this is just the pleasant weather contingency. The list gets longer for inclement weather.

You will have businesses, currency, agriculture, reforestation, infrastructure, transportation with KoRail, a justice system and more social services to consider. Hopefully, the Bureau of the Five Northern Provinces will have some of this under control or at least planning manuals to reference.

It will be a culture shock for most everyone involved but if planning is thorough, the headaches should be few and the rewards many. It could be Korea's finest hour.

Charles Olmsted, a former newspaper writer from Louisiana and Texas, received a master's degree in Asian Studies from Sejong University in 2013. He can be reached at clolmsted@hotmail.com.
By Shim Jae-yun

Out of curiosity about my integrity, I have been longing to know about the origin of my family. Fortunately enough, along with three others who have the same family name as mine (Shim), I recently had a chance to visit a small village in Huizhou, Zhejiang Province, in China. The Zhudun village is one of many famous places in China where Shim (Shen in Chinese) families flourished for thousands of years. It was kind of tracking down the origins of my family.

A silk merchant, Shim Man-seung, immigrated to Goryo in 1110 to settle in Poongsan (currently Andong in North Gyeongsang Province) to become the progenitor of Shim families in Korea, according to chronicles published by the village and the genealogy of the Shen family.

Other data show Shim families dating back 4,000 years ago during the Zhu Dynasty whose emperor Mu sent his offspring to the Shen Dynasty. Historian Shim Baek-gang who was in the group with me said the Shen Dynasty lasted for more than 500 years and its descendants came to have Shen as their surname in honor of their ancestors.

There are some six million Shen families in China including some 500 in the village, compared to some 270,000 in South Korea. There are about 250 family names in Korea many of which originated in China including major surnames Kim, Lee, Kang, Cho, Jang, Oh and Ryu. The Hyun family, led by former prime minister Hyun Soong-jong, was also said to be exploring their roots in China. China has more than 4,000 family names.

A global annual event took place in Fuzian Sheng last year, attracting some 2,000 Shim family members from around the globe, including Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia and the United States. Each nation has its own organization for Shim families.

Many foreigners came to the peninsula and became the progenitors of their own family lines. One of them is Ly Yong-sang of the Hwasan Ly family who came to Hwasanmyeon, Ongjingun, Hwanghae Province in 1226. Ly, a prince, arrived here along with his relatives to avoid a political coup in his home country which is now called Vietnam.

A sympathetic King Gojong bestowed land to them and Ly and his descendents settled in the region. According to national statistics compiled in 2000, there were some 230 households of the Hwasan Lys in South Korea numbering 1,775. When members of the Ly family association visited Vietnam in 1995, then party general secretary Do Muoi and other Vietnamese leaders welcomed them, acknowledging them as the descendents of the Vietnamese royal family.

Since then, it has become customary for any Vietnamese leaders to visit the Ly families when visiting here, enabling them to play a bridging role between the two countries.

There was a risk in our recent visit to China as it could have been used as propaganda by the Chinese authorities in their so-called Northeast Project, asserting the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo as one of its provinces. Even the fact that the ancestor of the Shim families came from China can bolster China's claim of territorial and racial dominance on the peninsula and the Korean people.

But what China should not forget is that the people in China's Northeastern provinces belong to the Dongi race (eastern people), widely referring to the Korean people. The Dongi area covered Shandong, Hubei, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces.

Some scholars like Prof. Jin Tae-ha of Inje University even claim the Chinese characters were developed by the Dongi people, not by the Han people, who are regarded as the authentic Chinese. Many Chinese history books including the Sikuquansu prove that Han refers to those people who lived in the middle part of China around Shanxi Sheng.

The history of immigration and neutralization is a common global phenomenon, and it should be used as a messenger of peace and cooperation between relevant countries, rather than being exploited with adroit political motives.
By John J. Metzler



UNITED NATIONS  The artillery rumbles like a rolling late Spring storm. Small arms fire reaches a staccato, only to fall silent just as quickly. And hapless civilians on both sides of an arbitrary divide endure and suffer as the forgotten slow burner conflict in eastern Ukraine continues far from the headlines but embedded in the acute anxiety of European and U.S. policymakers.



The French Senate has called for a lifting of economic sanctions on Russia which were slapped on Moscow after Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea two years ago. Now Military planners in NATO, are running a once unthinkable scenario of major multinational maneuvers aimed at very visibly reinforcing the vulnerable security of Poland and the Baltic states from Vladimir Putin's political probing. Meantime the USA remains embroiled in a divisive presidential campaign where foreign policy remains more of a laugh line than a serious focus.



But along the cultural fault-lines which divide Ukraine's eastern regions bordering Russia, the gritty industrial areas where language, customs and religion are profoundly linked to Moscow's eastern embrace. The majority of Ukraine looks westwards towards Europe.



But it is no wonder that in a hyper-nationalist post Soviet polity, that President Putin would press to reintegrate the culturally Russian regions of Ukraine's east, as well as Crimea. Moscow's actions have produced justified fears in the Baltic states that they too may face an inevitable threat to their sovereignty more than 20 years since they broke free from the former Soviet Union.



There's genuine reason for concern. According to the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights survey, "From mid-April 2014 to 15 May 2016, OHCHR recorded 30,903 casualties in the conflict area in eastern Ukraine, among Ukrainian armed forces, civilians and members of the armed groups. This includes 9,371 people killed and 21,532 injured."



The report adds, "After two years, the situation in the east of Ukraine remains volatile and may develop into a frozen conflict', creating a protracted environment of insecurity and instability; escalate, with dire consequences for civilians living in the conflict- affected area; or move towards sustainable peace through the meaningful implementation of the Minsk Package of Measures. The stakes are high."



The World Food Program (WFP) adds that "the two-yearlong conflict in eastern Ukraine has left 300,000 people severely food insecure and in need of immediate food assistance." It chastised the so-called The Donetsk people's republic' and Luhansk people's republic' denial of access to humanitarian agencies and resulting lack of protection.



The UN's OHCHR states "Since the Maidan events in 2014, Ukrainians have gained greater freedom to exercise individual liberties, including their rights to freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression. The last two years have seen a notable increase in active civil society groups and volunteer engagement." That's positive assessment of the period in which the corrupt and pro-Moscow administration in Kiev was toppled by mass pro-democracy demonstrations in the capital's Maidan Square.



Yet the same events triggered a slow-burning conflict in which Russia has used its own troops as well as supported and armed unwieldy separatist militias to dismember Ukraine's territory.



While openly criticizing both the Ukraine government and the Moscow backed separatist enclaves, the survey clearly states, "In the territories controlled by the armed groups, freedom of expression, including the ability to openly express dissenting views, remained severely restricted." Moreover the report adds that in Russian-annexed Crimea, "residents have witnessed a sharp deterioration of the human rights situation, including the imposition of a new legal framework restrictive of civil liberties, abductions and disappearances, the shutting down of opposition media outlets and the silencing of dissenting voices through the initiation of repressive measures, including abusive criminal proceedings, targeting mainly pro- Ukrainian activists and Crimean Tatar institutions."



OCHCR access to Russian-controlled Crimea has been blocked.



Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, advised the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,



"Russia's invasion of sovereign Ukrainian territory, first in Crimea, then in eastern Ukraine, shattered any remaining illusions about the Kremlin's willingness to abide by international law or live by the rules of the institutions that Russia joined at the end of the Cold War."



As Vladimir Putin approaches parliamentary elections in the Summer, one wonders if he will make the hyper-nationalist gamble to turn up the heat in eastern Ukraine? Although relatively weak petroleum prices have put a damper on Russia's political maneuverability, an uptick in the oil price combined with European indifference and American detachment, could allow for Moscow's mischief if not wider malevolent moves.



John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism: The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea." Contact jjmcolumn@earthlink.net.




Fixing chaebol (II): Lotte case to break no pattern



The rule of law is the key to chaebol reform. On its flip side, it means that laws  statutory laws and market laws  are often violated, blocking the efforts to change family-oriented conglomerates. Regretfully, the ongoing probe into Lotte Group will not likely break this pattern, meaning the chaebol system will survive with few bruises, so to speak.



History speaks for itself.



Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, the third-largest conglomerate, was sentenced to four years in prison for embezzling 50 billion won, or $40 million, from affiliates to cover his personal trading in 2013. He appealed but the appellate court confirmed the district court's sentence. He was pardoned, with his rights fully restored as a result of the Aug. 15, 2015, presidential amnesty. He was released after serving less than three years.



Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, unconscious and bedridden after he suffered a heart attack in May 2014, has had his share of brushes with the law. In 2008, numerous bank accounts opened under borrowed names  in violation of the real-name transaction law  were uncovered, forcing him to resign, along with his heir, Lee Jae-yong, chief operating officer of the company. The senior Lee was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for tax evasion, stock market manipulation and breach of trust, with its execution suspended for five years. In December, then President Lee Myung-bak pardoned Lee, who was the only person up for leniency, likely the first such case in history.



Kim Seung-youn, Hanwha chairman, got a suspended one-year sentence for buying a mansion belonging to Sylvester Stallone and depositing millions of dollars in overseas accounts, in violation of the law on foreign currency management, in 1993. In 2008, his suspended sentence of one year and six months was revoked because he beat up a bar employee who got into a brawl with his son, obliging him to serve his prison sentence. In 2012, he was granted a suspended three-year sentence for a breach of trust.



Although criminal cases involving chaebol abound, a couple of patterns are hard to miss. Often, the aforementioned cases show they get special treatment  all serving less time than they were sentenced. Chey supporters claimed that Chey should be released so as to devote himself to running his group and contributing to the national economy. For Lee, the hype was as if the nation's No. 1 group was on the verge of collapse and his backers claimed that his help as a member of the International Olympic Committee was pivotal in the nation being awarded the right to host the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.



Interestingly, it was not just the government but the people who contributed to the strong tendency to be generous with white-collar crimes of this magnitude, surely perpetuating this "vicious cycle."



One case that trumps all others is the merger of two firms, the deal that has helped seal the junior Lee's control of the Samsung business empire. The state-run National Pension Service threw its support behind the merger to fight off the blocking bid by U.S. hedge fund Elliott Management, obviously knowing that it would benefit Lee at the cost of minority shareholders. Even the media forsook all of its neutrality pretensions to back Samsung.



We hope against hope with a great deal of pessimism that the Lotte case would break this pattern, for instance by never allowing Chairman Shin Dong-bin to control the group, if he should be found guilty of wrongdoing.




By John Burton

Korea watchers in Washington DC are debating what policy Hillary Clinton will adopt toward North Korea if she is elected the next president of the United States as I found out during a recent visit to the nation's capital.

Her stance is being closely watched since North Korea is likely to receive a higher priority in her administration than it did under President Barack Obama, who pursued what has been called a position of "strategic patience" by largely ignoring the North Korean issue for eight years as he focused on dealing with the growing power and possible nuclear breakout of Iran in the Middle East.

"The US government can't handle more than three or four major issues at the same time and North Korea didn't make it into that top list as the Obama was preoccupied with other issues," such as reviving the US economy and responding to growing instability in the Middle East, according to Marcus Noland, executive vice-president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, who has written extensively on North Korea.

In addition, "Obama's early efforts to establish some sort of dialogue with North Korea were quickly rebuffed by Pyongyang and he concluded in a realistic appraisal that his attention should be focused on problems elsewhere that had a greater chance of being solved," Noland added.

Clinton will not have the luxury of avoiding the North Korea issue as Pyongyang appears to be rapidly accelerating its program to build up its nuclear weapon stockpile and develop long-range missiles that would give it a possible strike capacity in attacking the U.S mainland.

The debate among Korea watchers is whether Clinton will tilt toward a policy of engagement with North Korea or else adopt a harder line policy than Obama in confronting North Korea that reflects her reputation as a foreign policy hawk.

Since Clinton herself has not referred much to North Korea during the just concluded presidential primary campaign against Bernie Sanders, the best clues for what she might do can be found in recent statements made by her foreign policy advisors.

Most of her advisors come out of the moderate Democratic Party foreign policy establishment and many served with her when she was U.S. Secretary of State during the first term of the Obama administration. Several played public or behind-the-scene roles in helping reach an accord to halt Iran's nuclear arms program under her successor as Secretary of State, John Kerry.

That background has persuaded some that Clinton will pursue a policy of engagement with North Korea similar to the one that her husband, Bill Clinton, tried to implement during his last years in office between 1998 and 2000, which included a visit by his Secretary of State, Madeline Albright, to Pyongyang to meet Kim Jong-il.

Jake Sullivan, who is Clinton's top foreign policy advisor and seen as the strongest candidate to become her National Security Advisor in the White House, recently suggested that the experience of reaching the successful nuclear deal with Iran could also be applied to solving the North Korea nuclear issue. Sullivan played a key role in the U.S. negotiations with Iran when he was at the U.S. State Department.

But some analysts believe that North Korea's aggressive ramping up of its nuclear ambitions has reduced the chances that Clinton will opt for negotiations. "Too much water has passed under the bridge and North Korea's actions has narrowed the spectrum of opinion on which should be done," said Scott Snyder, senior fellow for Korean studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Clinton is in danger of confronting a domestic political backlash if she is seen as adopting a policy of acquiesce toward Pyongyang.

A more confrontational approach was recently expressed by Wendy Sherman, who was the policy coordinator for North Korea during the Bill Clinton administration and once was seen as a dove on dealing with Pyongyang. She was also one of the chief negotiators in concluding the Iran nuclear deal and has been mentioned as a possible Secretary of State in a Clinton administration.

In a speech last month, Sherman said that North Korea was a much more difficult problem to solve than Iran and called for increased economic sanctions that would be "severe, requiring comprehensive implementation" over a long period of time. She also expressed support for continuing military exercises, the THAAD missile defense in South Korea, and an increased focus on human rights violations in North Korea, suggesting that the end game would be the collapse of the Kim Jong-un regime. Noland described the speech as offering a policy of "all sticks and no carrots."

Whatever approach Clinton decides to take in regard to North Korea will largely depend on the actions of Pyongyang and its determination to preserve its nuclear weapons program. But given current trends, I expect that Clinton will be tougher on North Korea than Obama has been..

John Burton, a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is now a Seoul-based independent journalist and media consultant. He can be reached at johnburtonft@yahoo.com.
Poet Jeong Ho-seung, 66, is a representative lyrical poet of Korea. / Courtesy of Jeong Ho-seung







Jeong's collection "To Daffodils" Jeong's collection "People I Love" A Spanish version of "Dying After Having Loved"

By Kim Ji-soo



Korea's representative lyrical poet, Jeong Ho-seung, is well known for his poetic inspiration that comforts the readers.

"Of the many roles that poetry has, I believe the ability to give comfort is the most precious," Jeong said.

The beloved 66-year-old poet, who debuted in 1973 with the poem "Cheomseongdae," enjoys a broad base of readers in Korea. The Cheomseongdae is an ancient astronomical observatory inGyeongju.

For a poet whose works  for example his 1997 collection "Dying After Having Loved" that sold about 100,000 copies  have provided solace to readers, Jeong is neither a romantic nor a dreamer. He wants his readers to face the inevitable sorrow in human life, to find hope and rapture in it.

"People's lives behold the tragedy; that's what makes for art, I believe," Jeong said. "The joy, the rapture, the happiness in people's lives ... they are tragic joy, tragic rapture and tragic happiness," he said. "There are some tragedies that even the gods are amazed at," he added, quoting from one of his poems. "I mean to share ... to affirm and to understand this sorrow," Jeong said, describing the aim of his works.

To that end, he often employs stars, flowers, hands, a mother and a never-melting snowman to realize and embrace the suffering in human lives. One of his best-known works, "The Daffodils" begins as follows:

"Don't cry.

To be lonely is to be human.

To go on living is to endure loneliness.

Do not wait in vain for the phone call that never comes.

When snow falls, walk on snowy paths,

when rain falls, walk on rainy paths.

A black-breasted longbill is watching you from the bed of reeds.

Sometimes even God is so lonely he weeps.

Birds perch on branches because they are lonely

and you are sitting beside the stream because you are lonely.

..."

Jeong, a Catholic, is known for using relatively familiar words in his poems, which may explain his popularity among readers from all walks of life and from different age groups. "Every word in this world can be used in a poem," he said.

Yet, there is a powerful paradox and irony in his poems that often coaxes ones lips into a smile. "Well, all these things should harmonize in a poem," Jeong said.

Born in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, and raised in Daegu, Jeong studied the Korean language and literature at Kyung Hee University. He has cited Beomeocheon stream, "where I met people and nature," as source of inspiration. The city of Daegu has erected a monument at the stream in his honor. He constantly takes notes, which provide him an impetus to write poetry.

Jeong's first poetry book, "From Sorrow to Joy," published in 1979, has a far more raw edge than his more recent ones. The "From Sorrow to Joy" is also the title of his poem. He said the poems in that book were written in his 20s, and accordingly, were more passionate and critical of the times, that is, the volatile late 1970s South Korea.

The politically and socially oppressive atmosphere of the late 1970s of South Korea prompted some poets and writers to incorporate social issues into their mass-oriented works. Jeong embraced part of that too because he worried about how to live as a Korean poet during a turbulent time in his homeland.

"But I made sure to keep to the lyricism of poetry and not use the raw voice too much," he said. According to Brother Anthony of Taize, who is currently translating Jeong's poems that have been published in The Korea Times, Jeong's poem the "From Sorrow to Joy" contrasts the selfishness that results from the quest for happiness at all costs with the realization that love goes hand-in-hand with sorrow, since love is expressed through compassion. The poem has also been published textbooks.

But Jeong said his works, like himself, have changed with the passage of time.

"It is about perspective. I used to be interested in, let's say, if there was an island, what was beneath the island. Now I am interested in the island itself. Let's compare that to a flower. Whereas I was interested in the roots of a flower in my younger days, I am now looking at the flower and more so at the fruit it bears," he said.

"The island, the trees, the flowers," their passage or evolution is just like his poetry, he said. In addition to poems, he has written several essays and a novel, "A Memorial Service for the Departed" in 1982 as a submission to a Chosun Ilbo competition. In fact, from 1990 through 1997, he concentrated on writing novels. "I found out the hard way, time and economy-wise, that my literature temperament was suited more for poetry," Jeong said. "What I can say in a word in poem, I had to write in specific detail and development for a novel," he added.

His essays fared better than the novels. The essay "The Words That Gave Me Comfort" published in 2006 sold 300,000.

So in 1997, he returned to his first love, poetry. Jeong has won numerous awards, including the So Wol Literary Award, Jeong Ji-yong Literary Award, Sanghwa Poetry Award and Gongcho Literary Award. He is currently an active speaker on cultural issues, specifically on issues that are central in life and that can be expressed through poetry.

"That breaks up my routine of writing poetry at home and at my office," he said.

The poet did not reject the assessment that he overcomes the sadness, the tragedy in life through positive energy through his poems. It is the tragedy in human life that makes for a poem or art, he said. When asked if art was not about freedom, Jeong paused before saying "Human are fatalistic beings. Whatever freedom we have, it is limited," he said.

Ultimately, he wants to sing about love through poems; a poem is all about understanding humans and nature, he said.

"A poet is your ordinary man or woman, but he or she cannot write a poem without love for humans, nature and other things," the poet said.

"It is the ability to see and identify the pain, let's say, of a worm that crawls out after the rain only to find his body withering under the shining sun. "If you don't have that love, or the sensitivity to feel that, you cannot write a poem," he said.

He recently finished selecting poems for publication this year. He originally wrote more than 100 poems but excluded tens of them, for now.

"I was not satisfied," he said. "You know when a poem has achieved that poetic formulation, which is kind of hard to explain," he added.

The upcoming collection is tentatively titled "I Reject Hope."

"The first line from that is I reject hope that is without hope,'" Jeong said. He explained that nowadays, hope without hope translates into more anger due to waiting rather than into the joy of waiting. "That rage could put people into hopeless despair," Jeong said.
Company vows for investment in China, India



By Kim Yoo-chul



Cheil Worldwide CEO Lim Dai-key said Wednesday that Samsung Group has decided to scrap its plan to sell its advertising unit.



"My role is to lift corporate growth momentum," Lim told reporters on the sidelines of Wednesday's weekly regular meeting of senior executives at Samsung Group affiliates.



Touching on the reason why earlier talks with Publicis Group collapsed, the CEO said, "I will try my best to help Cheil become the global advertizing company."



Shares of Cheil Worldwide added 0.3 percent to end at 16,700 won on the Seoul bourse.



The remarks by Lim were a major reversal from earlier talks that Samsung was still eager to sell Cheil Worldwide.



Publicis confirmed its talks with Cheil Worldwide broke down and added Samsung remains a Publicis Group client.



It had attempted to acquire a 30 percent stake in Cheil Worldwide with Samsung C&T and Samsung Electronics collectively owing 25 percent.



However, the Paris-based public relations company asked Samsung to let it "exclusively handle" Samsung Electronics' advertisement for a "certain period." Samsung Corporate Strategy Office, the group control tower, advised Cheil's management to refuse the deal.



Several unnamed investors including private equity funds approached Cheil Worldwide seeking to acquire a stake in the firm.



Cheil's moves to sell shares brought keen attention because the move came as the Samsung Group has been accelerating efforts to sell of none-core and unprofitable assets.



Samsung insiders say the decision by Cheil was in line with Samsung's stance to further boost shareholder returns.





Business expansion



Lim sent a letter to employees after talks with Publics collapsed, saying he will aggressively seek business expansion.



"You have to believe me that there won't be any talks of collaboration with third-parties. Cheil Worldwide will hire experienced human assets. We will invest if we have to."



Samsung Electronics spent 2.73 trillion won ($2.3 billion) on advertising globally for the nine months through September 2015, according to a regulatory filing.



Cheil Worldwide plans to purchase other companies to shift its business away from the Korean market. The firm has identified China and India as its next targets.



But it remains to be seen whether Cheil's moves to cut its heavy reliance on Samsung units and the Samsung brand itself will pay off given its rigid corporate structure.



According to officials and filings to the Korea Exchange, Samsung affiliates accounted for 65 percent out of total advertisements that Cheil won last year, down from 76 percent a year earlier.



Cheil Worldwide added Etihad Airways, a global healthcare company of Abbott, 3M and JD.com as its new clients in 2015. This year, it struck a deal with Yili of China, Acuvue and CSL  the largest mobile firm in Hong Kong  for business collaboration.



"Whether Cheil Worldwide products are creative is being questioned given its reliance on Samsung affiliates. One of the options is to create lots of inside spin-off ventures with Cheil holding a controlling stake in them to put more creative content into ads," an executive at a Samsung affiliate said.



Cheil Worldwide is the country's top advertising agency. Last year it had 2.8 trillion won in sales and 127 billion won in operating profit. It has about 6,000 employees and is the world's 15th largest ad firm.




By Kim Yoo-chul



Samsung Electronics denied rumors that the world's top memory chip producer will invest up to 25 trillion won by next year to boost three-dimensional (3D) NAND chips.



"Reports that said Samsung will invest 25 trillion won on 3D NAND chips by next year aren't true. Samsung has yet to finalize specific investment plans on 3D NAND flash chips," Samsung Electronics said in a regulatory filing to the Korea Exchange (KRX), early Wednesday.



Shares of Samsung Electronics rose 2.39 percent to end at 1,413,000 won on the Seoul bourse, Wednesday.



The Korea Economic Daily reported that Samsung was planning to expand the annual capacity of 3D NAND flash memory chips at the company's plant in Hwaseong, on the outskirts of Seoul, in a bid to further tighten its grip in the global memory chip market.



The report said Samsung overturned its decision letting the second-phase of its investment in 17th line at the Hwaseong plant as the 3D NAND-only line. Samsung will notify its local parts suppliers of the updated business plan when the line is operational early next year.



Samsung earlier designated Line 17 as the factory to only manufacture logic chips.



But given Samsung's struggle to manage its logic chip-producing business and the growing demand for advanced memory chips, Samsung put the first-phase of its investment in that line as the DRAM line with the second-phase investment being fixed for 3D NAND flash memory chips.



"Samsung is very aggressive in its actions to boost 3D NAND chips as it has also decided to produce 3D NAND flash chips at its plant in Pyeongtaek, which will be operational next year, giving Samsung three spots for 3D NAND chips," an industry official said.



Kim Kyung-min at Daishin Securities said price for NAND chips will remain solid thanks to the rising demand of NAND flash chip-embedded digital devices such as solid state drives (SSD) for use in PCs, corporate servers and high-end mobile devices.



Meanwhile, Apple is said to expand the storage capacity of its upcoming iPhone  tentatively named iPhone 7  with 32 GB, 128GB and 256GB, requiring Samsung plants to keep busy with additional investment, said the analyst.




By Yoon Sung-won



Apple has said it will strengthen its digital secretary service Siri with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as machine learning for its new iOS10 mobile operating system.



At the Worldwide Developers Conference 2016 in San Francisco, Monday, the company also pledged to open Siri to more diverse third party service providers. During the announcement of iOS10 and its new upgrades, Apple Senior Vice President Craig Federighi demonstrated sending a text message through WeChat, the most-used mobile messenger app in China, by orally ordering it to Siri.



The moves have been seen as a countermeasure to the rapid advancement of other AI-based digital secretary services such as Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Facebook's interactive chatting software "Chatbot." This also strikes a contrast to Apple in the past when it had insisted on a closed environment while its competitors like Google expanded their presence on the back of the openness of the Android system.



Apple said it will also connect Siri to other services such as the mobile call taxi service Uber and users will able to call a taxi by ordering the digital secretary to reserve one.



To this end, the company will open the software development kit (SDK) for Siri to non-Apple application developers to encourage them to roll out more creative apps, enlarging the market ecosystem for the service.



Besides Siri, Apple said it will also open its text messaging app "iMessage," map information app "Maps" and interactive touch recognition technology "3D Touch" to third party developers. Expectations are that Apple will have a chance to challenge Google's market dominance once more apps compatible with the company's exclusive technologies are available on the market.



According to global mobile market researcher Strategy Analytics, 83.6 percent of smartphones sold in the first quarter had Google's Android system on the back of strong performances by handset makers like Samsung Electronics and Huawei, whereas Apple's iOS, which is exclusive to iPhones, was only 15.4 percent.





Limited openness?



Though it is true that Apple rarely opens its key system service, the company has also shown that it still wants to control the system as the Siri SDK is not compatible with all third party apps.



The company said the Siri SDK will support apps only in six areas  ride booking, messaging, photo search, payments, audiovisual calls and workout assistance  adding Apple's automobile information system CarPlay. This means that apps in other criteria such as music streaming, email and productivity cannot be controlled using Siri for now.



"Considering that Apple has insisted on going this way, it will not easily give up control over the data transaction that runs beneath its systems," an industry source said. "The company has also established an image that it values users' privacy. It will open the SDK to more third party developers but only through thorough consideration on security."




/Courtesy of Twitter



By Lee Han-soo

Donations have flooded into a crowd-funding site after a gunman killed 49 people and injured 53 at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12. But authorities have issued a warning over donation scammers.

More than $4.1 million (4.8 billion won) has been raised at GoFundMe over two days.

Equality Florida, a Florida-based organization fighting for the rights of LGBT people that launched the campaign, said more than 90,000 people have donated.

But scammers have begun to prey on the generosity of people eager to help the tragedy's victims.

Authorities said potential donors should not respond to emails and texts from anonymous groups asking for donations, or social media pages that urge a contribution.

According to Florida news channel WPLG, the scammers' contacts are allegedly linked to a donation site similar to GoFundMe. But when a donor enters his credit card information, the site implants malware and saves the information.
A 23-year-old man from Springfield is charged with committing two armed robberies 16 minutes apart early on June 6. For Ktwaun Allen, the two charges of first-degree robbery that were filed on Tuesday are on top of another first-degree robbery charge that was filed on June 7.

Police believe Allen is the man who held up a Kum & Go convenience store on East Division Street at 12:39 a.m. and a Kum & Go store on East Sunshine Street at 12:55 a.m., both on June 6. At the second store, the robber pointed a gun at the clerks head.

Chasity Harper, who police say drove the robber to the stores, was charged on June 8 with being an accessory to the two robberies. Police caught Harper after she drove away from the second store being robbed and a witness described the van to a 9-1-1 call-taker. She told a detective that she didnt know Allen was going to rob the stores, but she couldnt explain why a bag of stolen money was left in the van, along with a handgun.

Heres the edited probable cause statement used as the basis of the two charges of being an accessory to first-degree robbery.

On June 6, 2016, around 12:39 a.m., Springfield Police responded to a reported robbery at Kum & Go, 2963 E. Division St., Springfield. The clerk reported to officers he was in the back of the store when he heard a sound he recognized as a handgun being loaded with slide being pulled back and released forward. (He) then saw a man in the store with the handgun. The robber demanded the clerk provide him with money from the register. The clerk put the money in a Kum & Go plastic bag and the robber then fled.

On June 6, 2016, around 12:55 a.m., Springfield Police responded to a reported robbery at Kum & Go, 2404 E. Sunshine. The clerk reported he saw a man matching the description of the previous robbery entering the store. The robber pointed the gun at the clerks head and demanded money from the register.

The clerk put the money in a plastic Kum & Go bag. A witness reported he was leaving the Kum & Go at the time of the robbery. The witness saw a gold minivan traveling east bound on Madrid (the road directly behind the Kum & Go) without its headlights on. He thought the vehicle looked suspicious and drove to the Sonic drive-in next to Kum & Go. The van then left at high speed traveling east on Sunshine.

As the van was accelerating away, the robber ran out of the Kum & Go. The witness contacted 91 1 and told what he saw, providing a partial license plate, in addition to the description of the robber and the vans driver.

An officer spotted the van driving through the parking lot at 2200 E. Sunshine. The officer stopped the van and identified the driver as Chasity Harper. The officer was able to see, in plain view in the vehicle, a Kum & Go bag, which contained cash as well as a handgun holster. Harper also told the officer she had a handgun in the vehicle.

The witness positively identified Harper as the person he had seen driving the van behind Kum & Go. Harper was arrested and taken to the Greene County Jail. The van was towed to Police Headquarters and secured.

A detective interviewed Harper at the jail. She said she was with a man and did not know he was going to commit a robbery when she drove him to the Kum & Go on East Division. Harper said she parked in a parking lot behind the store as the man went inside. Harper then saw the man running away from the store, realizing he had just committed a robbery, and picked him up at Cedarbrook Avenue at Division.

Harper then drove the man to the area of the Kum & Go on East Sunshine, stating she again did not know he was going to rob the store and further claiming she was going to drop him off and not pick him up again. Harper was not able to explain why the man would have left the money from the first robbery in the vehicle and claimed to not have any involvement with the robberies.

Harper consented to a search of the vehicle she had been driving. A detective searched the vehicle and located a Kum & Go plastic bag containing money of various denominations in the rear seat of the vehicle. He also located a loaded handgun and a handgun magazine in the vehicle.

Surveillance video from both robberies showed the robber wore black pants with two distinctive white stains and a white bracelet on his right wrist. Police say they recognized Allen as being the robber in the video. They said he also was wearing similar clothing when they arrested him on June 6 for the assault and robbery that occurred in May.

Detectives interviewed Jeremy Harper, brother of Chasity Harper; he said the robber was Allen. Jeremy Harper said hed been in the van with his sister and Allen prior to the first robbery but got out before it occurred. He also said his sister called him and said Allen committed the robberies.

After the second robbery, Allen went to the Lamplighter Inn on Sunshine at Glenstone Avenue. He borrowed a telephone there and made several calls to try to get someone to pick him up. An employee at Ziggies at the Lamplighter identified Allen as the man who borrowed her phone to make calls and logged onto his Facebook account on her phone. He was at Ziggies from about 1 to 3 a.m. on June 6.

In the apartment where Allen was arrested, officers say they found a gun and a black bandana like those used by the robber in the surveillance videos.

End of edited probable cause statement

The robbery for which Allen was charged last week involved marijuana and a shooting that hospitalized a woman.

Police said four people went to a home on West Atlantic Street near Kansas Expressway to buy pot on the afternoon of May 14. One person bought some weed but Allen didnt like the price he was going to be charged, police heard, so he and Eric Hempstead stole it and fled in a car with the other two people inside it.

The marijuana seller and a woman grabbed her handguns and chased them in an SUV. The chasers caught up to the fleeing marijuana thieves at Kansas Expressway, according to the probable cause statement, leading to a shootout after the marijuana seller got out of the SUV and approached the car. Allens shots hit the SUV and the woman inside it. Allen told police it was Hempstead who fired at the SUV; he also said the marijuana seller fired first.

The two vehicles left the shooting scene but a police officer found the damaged SUV and the wounded woman inside of it. She was holding the left side of her chest, breathing with difficulty, and wondering if she was going to die, according to the probable cause statement.

Hempstead and Allen are both charged with robbery for the drug deal that went bad.

Allen has a $100,000 bond for both robbery cases. Allen previously served prison and parole time for an assault in July 2011. He completed his parole for that conviction last September.
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Chamber retreat helps discover strengths in communication The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce has proved that networking can come in many ways. It doesnt have to come at a luncheon or happy hour or Christmas party, but...

COLUMN: Mourning the queen with love for my other country Like the rest of the world, Ive been following the hours of coverage of the death of Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II, since Sept. 8. I grieved along with...
The price of LITRO gas cylinders would be further reduced in the first week of November in accordance with the

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The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary

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PRESS RELEASE

Chinas Change-4 Mission Will Land at the South Pole Aitkin Basin, on the Far Side of the Moon

June 14, 2106 (EIRNS)Chinas deputy director of the space agencys Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center, Liu Tongjie, told Xinhua today, that the Change-4 spacecraft, to be launched in 2018, will land in the south pole region on the far side of the Moon. This is the first definite mention of a landing site. Landing on the far side will be a challenge, and aiming for the south pole, out of the equatorial plain, is an additional one.

The great South Pole Aitkin Basin has been chosen, Lui said, "because the region is believed to be a place with great scientific research potential." A very large impactor created a crater about five miles deep. The lower depths of the basin, and the material brought up to the surface from the impact, will reveal some of the complex geological history of the Moon.

As the landscape is very rugged, and the landing more complicated than the previous near-side lunar landing of Change-3, the up-coming lander will be equipped with descent and terrain cameras, for a guided descent. The Change-4 lander will have a surface-penetrating radar, similar to the successful instrument on Change-3.

The probe will carry three scientific instruments. A low-frequency spectrometer, contributed by the Netherlands, will be on a relay satellite, which is being positioned in deep space to allow communication between the lander and the Earth. Observing radio emissions from the large planets in the Solar System, the radio background spectrum, and detecting bright pulsars and other transient phenomena will be the task of the instrument. There will also be low-frequency radio spectrometers on the lander. Sweden is contributing an advanced neutron analyzer for the rover, to study the interaction between the solar wind and the Moons surface. And the lander will measure the radiation at the landing site, using a German neutron dosimeter.

"Its in-depth, friendly, and win-win international cooperation, under the leadership of the China National Space Administration," said Liu.

"The cooperation will help engineers and scientists from different countries study together. Scientists could conduct joint research and share scientific data."

The article reports that young people have been encouraged to participate in the mission. A contest was held among students early this year, to propose ideas on the design of scientific payloads for the lander, rover, and relay satellite. A total of 257 submissions were collected, and in September there will be an announcement of the experiments chosen for the mission.

"The contest is based on creativity, but engineering feasibility has to be considered," Liu explained. "Well try to select one or two items eventually to take to the Moon.
Will the opening of Shanghai Disney suck the wind out of the sails of Hong Kong Disneyland or push more mainland Chinese to visit the new resort?

Thats the multimillion-dollar question facing Hong Kong government officials and Disney executives as the theme park giant prepares to open its Shanghai resort on June 16.

Attendance at Hong Kong Disneyland dropped sharply in the 12 months ending September 2015, the park has said, falling to 6.8 million from a record high of 7.5 million in 2014. Hotel occupancy declined to 80% from 93%. The facility  which is 52% owned by Hong Kongs government and 48% by Disney  reported a loss of about $20 million.

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The resort was battered by a slowing economy and a decline in tourism from mainland China in the wake of 2014s pro-democracy protests in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

Executives say theyre optimistic that visitors will be attracted by a new Iron Man attraction, now undergoing testing, along with a 750-room Explorers Lodge Hotel that will debut in 2017. In addition, Disney representatives expect that some mainlanders who have their first taste of Disney in Shanghai will be enticed to experience other parks, including Hong Kongs.

Disney representatives say that the market is large enough to support multiple parks.

From the beginning, our strategy was to create two complementary parks that have their own distinct experiences, Disney spokeswoman Angela Bliss said. The U.S. supports two Disney resort destinations, with six theme parks, and the population is relatively smaller than Chinas.

Bliss noted that many vacationers who first sampled Disneyland Paris later opted to take a longer trip to Disneys parks in Orlando, which offer an even wider variety of attractions as well as more tropical weather.

However, Hong Kong Disneyland is highly dependent on mainland visitors. Last year, mainlanders made up 41% of visitors, while Hong Kongers accounted for 39%. The remaining 20% came from other countries. In 2014, mainland visitors accounted for 48% of guests.

For many Disney aficionados from southern China, Hong Kong will continue to be more convenient than Shanghai, which is 800 miles away on the eastern coast.

The market for theme parks tends to be regional in nature, said John Ap of the Institute for Tourism Studies in Macau. Hong Kong will continue to draw from the 50 million people in the Pearl River Delta, whereas Shanghai will attract tourists from the 300 million-strong Yangtze River region, he said.

But Hong Kong will need to come up with fresh offerings to maintain its appeal, he said. Any theme park needs to constantly innovate and change, he said.

Hong Kong resident Dicky Yu and his wife bought annual passes after their son, Carson, was born five years ago. They come two to four times a year, and Carson particularly enjoys attractions like the Disneyland Railroad, a faux steam locomotive, and the Autopia race cars.

But Yu knows the park wont hold his sons attention when hes older, and Yu himself is bored with it.

Its just too small. I want to see something that surprises me, he said. Once he grows out of the thrill of the rides, well stop coming. If the park stays like this, I feel the number of visitors will decline.

When plans for a Shanghai park were announced, about two years after the 2005 opening in Hong Kong, media reports described a sense of shock  and betrayal  among the public. But we always knew there would be a park in Shanghai, said Mike Rowse, a retired government official who led the negotiation with Disney. Rowse recalled local officials had prodded Disney to consider Beijing, 400 miles farther away than Shanghai.

Theme park consultant Edward Marks, who worked on Shanghai Disney, said the Hong Kong park was much too small when it opened. Whats more, the attractions werent comparable in quality to those in the California or Florida parks, said Marks, executive producer and co-chief executive of the Producers Group.

Since then, the Hong Kong park has added three themed lands and grown by about 25% to 68 acres. In addition, the Hong Kong government has said it is in discussions with Disney about the expansion of Hong Kong Disneyland.

There is still room around the park for growth, if both Disney and the Hong Kong government can agree on a new investment.

Liu Wenwen was visiting the park in early May with his two children. His daughter, he said, had been begging to come since her kindergarten classmates had visited.

So over the May Day holiday weekend, he and his kids took a three-hour bus ride from the mainland city of Guangzhou to Hong Kong for a rare getaway. He says hes unlikely to go to the new Shanghai Disneyland.

Shanghai is kind of far, Liu said. The water park in my city is much better.

Law, a special correspondent, reported from Hong Kong and Makinen, a Times staff writer, reported from Beijing. Times staff writer Hugo Martin in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

julie.makinen@latimes.com
In the name of clean energy, Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed resurrecting a plan from nearly two decades ago to expand Californias electricity grid  a strategy that was part of efforts to deregulate the states utility industry.

Calls to curb pollution and thwart climate change have breathed new life into a concept that was part of Senate Bill 96, passed in 1999 that, among other things, sought to expand the western grid by tying Californias electric system more intricately to its western neighbors.

San Diego lawyer Michael Aguirre, a former assistant U.S. attorney and San Diego city attorney, argues that the latest effort to integrate more of Californias electric operations with Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and other states isnt so much about spreading the clean energy gospel but returning the state to the era of manipulated energy markets that led to the 2000-2001 energy crisis.

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This is an old idea, and it has nothing to do with renewables, Aguirre said.

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Aguirre plans to present his findings during the latest discussion of the western grid expansion at a workshop Thursday at the California Energy Commission in Sacramento.

In April 2015, the California Independent System Operator and the investor-owned utility PacifiCorp announced they had entered into a memorandum of understanding to explore the feasibility, costs and benefits of PacifiCorp joining the nonprofit as a participating transmission owner.

Cal-ISO, which has a board appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate, manages the long-distance transmission of most of the states electricity.

Browns office referred questions to the Energy Commission. Chairman Robert Weisenmiller defended the plan, saying that a regional approach to electricity would be more efficient and cost effective.

Obviously, the driver is always saving money, he said. The economics are pretty compelling without renewables but much more compelling with renewables.

In a February letter to Brown, state legislative leaders questioned the proposal to expand the electric grid and add PacifiCorp into a regional energy market with Cal-ISO. PacifiCorp is one of the largest users of coal-fired power plants in the West.

The letter raised concerns about the proposal hindering efforts to meet the states new mandate that 50% of the electricity supplied to Californians come from clean sources such as solar and wind energy. In addition, Senate leader Kevin de Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said they did not want California to lose authority to regulate the utility industry.

The proposed regionalization must not undermine state sovereignty or cede authority of our states cutting edge clean energy and climate policies to others who do not have the same strong commitment and legal framework to reduce climate pollution and promote clean energy, the letter stated.

Supporters of grid expansion say that a more regional approach to electricity will help manage the variable nature of solar and wind.

For instance, when the wind is blowing in Wyoming, electricity generated by windmills there can be sent to California at times when there is little or no wind blowing in the Golden State. Otherwise, wind and solar plants might generate more electricity than is needed at a particular time with nowhere to send it.

The 1999 proposal to expand the western grid died after the failed efforts at deregulation led to manipulation of the California energy markets, a jump in electricity prices and rolling blackouts.

Bill Corcoran, a Western director of the Sierra Club, said that although the creation of Cal-ISO contemplated expansion of the western grid, and the expansion could present some benefits, the partnership with PacifiCorp is troublesome.

The problem at the center of the issue is a very dirty utility that would be linked with the California grid, Corcoran said.

Aguirre goes further. He said the partnership with PacifiCorp contradicts the goal of making better use of renewables and raises questions about its real intent.

This is just another power move by the utility industry, Aguirre said. This idea didnt come out of renewables. It came out of deregulation efforts.

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Follow me at @ivanlpenn
Tom Wheeler, the hard-charging head of the Federal Communications Commission, is a history buff whos written books on Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.

Cable TV executives  infuriated at a series of recent agency actions, including placing them under utility-like oversight through his net neutrality initiative  might suggest a new research subject: Benedict Arnold.

Wheeler was a lobbyist for the industry during crucial formative years, from 1979 to 1984, earning induction into the Cable Hall of Fame. When President Obama tapped him to be FCC chairman in 2013, a top cable trade group called the selection an exceptional choice, while some consumer advocates worried the nations top telecommunications regulator would be too friendly to his former employers.

Fast forward three years and those views have flipped.

Wheeler has become a hero to consumer advocates while the cable industry portrays him as a turncoat.

Hes pushed an aggressive agenda that helped torpedo a major merger between Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable and has subjected the industry to tougher regulation.

Wheeler earned a big victory Tuesday when his net neutrality rules  which Obama strongly backed  were upheld by a federal appeals court panel after a legal challenge by the cable industry and other opponents.

The actions by the FCCs Democratic majority reflect the broader approach by the Obama administration to leverage regulation and enhance consumer protection.

There are more industry-rattling changes on Wheelers to-do list before he steps down as chairman, most likely after the next president takes office in January.

They include opening up the market for the set-top boxes that cable companies lease to their subscribers, placing tough limits on what cable and other Internet service providers can do with the personal information of their customers and imposing price regulations on data services sold to businesses.

Wheeler said one of his goals is to promote competition to lower costs for consumers.

For example, the average household pays about $231 a year to rent set-top boxes, according to a Senate study. Allowing third-parties to more easily manufacture rival devices would make it easier for consumers to purchase them instead of renting while also spurring technological advances, such as the ability to stream Web programming through the boxes, Wheeler said.

Last month, Michael Powell, the head of the National Cable and Telecommunications Assn. trade group  the job Wheeler once held  accused the FCC of targeting the industry with a relentless regulatory assault.

And a top Comcast executive recently pondered publicly whether Wheelers mantra of competition, competition, competition had morphed into regulation, regulation, regulation.

When you look at all these regulations combined it does seem were being singled out, said Matthew Polka, president of the American Cable Assn., which represents about 800 small and medium-size companies.

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FOR THE RECORD

7:11 a.m. An earlier version of this article said the president of the American Cable Assn. was Michael Polka. His name is Matthew Polka.

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Wheeler, a Democrat, denied he was targeting the cable industry. He said hes just doing his job in a time of fast-moving change.

If I were sitting in their shoes and the choice was between regulation or no regulation, there is no question what the answer I would prefer is, Wheeler said.

But there is also this public interest obligation and the issue of the rights of consumers in this evolving world, and were just not going to go stick our head in the sand on that, he said.

Richard Greenfield, an industry analyst with BTIG Research, said Wheeler is using new regulations to try to promote competition as cable companies have become the dominant providers of high-speed Internet service.

The top cable companies have about 62% of the nations broadband subscribers and are growing much faster than the top phone companies, accounting for 99% of the 1.1 million new subscribers in the first quarter of the year, according to Leichtman Research Group.

In his first speech to National Cable and Telecommunications Assn.s annual gathering as FCC chairman in 2014, Wheeler said cable TV companies were insurgents when he worked for the industry. Now, he said, they are the powerful incumbents and that more regulation is needed to spur competition.

Its a big change for cable, said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, a Georgetown University law professor and long-time consumer advocate.

The cable industry has had a remarkable run of getting favorable treatment from government, he said. Now that they have succeeded in becoming immensely powerful and a defacto monopoly for high-speed broadband in most of the country, the cable industry is understandably unhappy that its receiving regulatory scrutiny.

Not all of Wheelers decisions have gone against the industry.

He voted to allow cable companies to raise rates without getting approval from local governments. And he gave the green light to Charter Communications purchase of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, although with several significant conditions.

Still, cable companies are fighting back.

The two leading cable trade groups  National Cable and Telecommunications Assn. and American Cable Assn. -- were among the plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the net neutrality regulations. The rules prohibit broadband providers from blocking, slowing or selling faster delivery of legal content flowing through their networks to consumers. To enforce them, the FCC changed the legal classification of high-speed Internet service so it could be regulated like conventional phone service.

Although a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the rules Tuesday, the National Cable and Telecommunications Assn. and other opponents indicated they would appeal.

Cable companies also have joined Hollywood studios, minority programmers and members of Congress in opposing Wheelers set-top box proposal.

The cable industry worries that the plan could allow companies such as Google to produce boxes that wrap advertising around programming or viewing guides without having to pay to license the content.

Robert McDowell, a former Republican FCC commissioner, said some people incorrectly assumed Wheeler would be friendly to business because of his work as a lobbyist for cable and later the wireless industry.

But Wheeler believes in the power of regulation to shape markets, said McDowell, now an attorney at Wiley Rein.

Cables not alone in facing tougher FCC regulation, he said. But cable came from an historic posture where it was less regulated, so this is an ugly new world for them.
John Williams is one of the few movie composers who is also a household name. His body of work encompasses Star Wars, the Superman movies, the Harry Potter franchise and nearly the complete Steven Spielberg filmography, including E.T., the Indiana Jones series and Schindlers List.

But one of Hollywoods great populist composers has a lesser-known side that qualifies as moody, edgy and sometimes even eccentric.

Its a side of the 84-year-old maestro that hasnt received much attention in the outpouring of praise coinciding with his AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute, which took place June 9 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and airs Wednesday evening on TNT.

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While not necessarily B-side Williams, these scores show the composer working in a different register than his blockbuster side:

Images (1972, director Robert Altman)

Even by the iconoclastic standards of Robert Altman, this chronicle of a womans psychological breakdown is offbeat and sometimes off-putting, marked by odd narrative rhythms and surrealistic plot twists. Williams score is similarly unconventional, taking its cue from ominous wind-chimes while flirting with atonality and dissonance. The soundtrack features sporadic eruptions of Japanese percussion, created by the celebrated avant-garde composer Stomu Yamashta.

Family Plot (1976, director Alfred Hitchcock) / The Fury (1978, director Brian De Palma)

Williams collaborated in short succession with Alfred Hitchcock and then the directors self-appointed heir, Brian De Palma. Williams music for Family Plot  Hitchcocks last movie  pays homage to the lush symphonic sounds of old Hollywood, while also evoking the featherweight playfulness of the plot. According to Williams, he questioned at one point Hitchcocks demand for a lighter musical touch, only to have the director reply: Mr. Williams, murder can be fun. For The Fury, Williams created a dark, brooding score to accompany the story of a young woman wrestling with her psychic powers. As recounted in A Musical Biography of John Williams, De Palma asked the composer to channel Bernard Herrmann, who was Hitchcocks preferred composer before they fell out over Torn Curtain.

Presumed Innocent (1990, director Alan Pakula)

This adaptation of the Scott Turow legal bestseller is understated and hushed in tone. Williams score similarly eschews sensationalism, for the most part relying on a subtle, almost sorrowful piano motif to telegraph the storys growing layers of ambiguity, culminating with the movies twist ending. If Williams has often composed music that trumpets its own presence, here he has composed a soundtrack that recedes into the background and is barely there.

JFK (1991, director Oliver Stone)

The music for Oliver Stones polarizing magnum opus on the John F. Kennedy assassination is arguably one of Williams most sweeping soundtracks. It features soaring orchestral passages that sound almost Spielberg-ian in their wholesome patriotism, only to be followed by some of the most sinister compositions of Williams career. Among the darkest moments: the 10-minute sequence in which Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) meets secretly with an anonymous former military official (Donald Sutherland). Williams scores the scenes extended monologue with a succession of anxious percussion beats and uneasy chords that together sound like pure musical paranoia.

david.ng@latimes.com

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The story at the heart of Warner Bros. recently released film Me Before You is what fairy tales are made of. An adaptation of Jojo Moyes 2012 book of the same name, the movie follows the relationship between a young banker (The Hunger Games  Sam Claflin) left paralyzed after an accident and his caregiver (Game of Thrones  Emilia Clarke). But to some, the choice of the able-bodied Claflin is yet another example of the film industry limiting the roles actual disabled actors get to play.

Diversity has been the talk of Hollywood, but for the most part, the conversation has centered mostly on race and gender. Some have brought in issues of sexuality, but many feel the discussion should expand to include the disabled.

If youre going to discuss diversity, it has to be completely inclusive of the groups that really define diversity, not just a select group that is popular, said actor Danny Woodburn. Its popular to say LGBT groups, women, people of color define diversity. Its not so popular to say people with disability define diversity. But the reality is that disability puts the D in diversity.

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Hollywood has long received criticism over its lack of diverse representations of people in front of and behind the camera. The most recent critique came earlier this year when the film academy announced an all-white slate of acting nominees for the second year in a row. The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite, created by April Reign, immediately trended on social media. In an interview with The Times, Reign verbalized her stance on what she called the erasure of marginalized communities and posited a definition of diversity that included differently abled people. Most of the advocacy thus far, however, has centered on women, people of color and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Even when the film academy president, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, announced the organizations commitment to diversity post-#OscarsSoWhite, only women and people of color were singled out. Additionally, The Times list of 100 people who could help broaden diversity in the academy  and in Hollywood  was focused on race, gender and sexuality.

To Woodburn (Jingle All the Way, Seinfeld and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), who as a little person counts himself as a person with a disability, such an exclusion puts forth dangerous rhetoric that ignores a significant group of people.

According to the U.S. census, about 19% of the population identifies as differently abled -- thats 56.7 million people. Their conditions range from intellectual disabilities such as Down syndrome to physical disabilities such as paralyzation or cerebral palsy. Others sensory perceptions could be affected, such as those with autism, blindness or hearing loss. A 2012 census report noted that this community has a lower likelihood of being employed and a higher likelihood of experiencing persistent poverty. As such, any diversity conversation that doesnt make room for disabled people is dangerous, Woodburn said, considering the economic and policy-oriented ramifications.

One way policy is affected by such exclusion can be seen in New York, where the Writers Guild of America, East has endorsed and lobbied for modifications to the Empire State Film Production Tax Credit to include television writers and directors who are women or people of color. Woodburn, as vice chair of SAG-AFTRAs Performers With Disabilities Committee, is working to get disability added to the potential list of supported diversity.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour >>

Its that same separate, but equal phraseology of the 1960s, that its not your turn yet, he said. It gets my ire up. It gets me activated.

Gail Williamson, a talent agent at Kazarian, Measures, Ruskin and Associates, has been advocating on behalf of the differently abled for more than 20 years. With 120 disabled clients on her roster, she believes a number of them could have easily taken on the Me Before You role.

We refer to it as cripface, as in blackface or painting Italians to look like American Indians, said Williamson. Were hoping in the future that these films would hold up more if they indeed had an actor with a disability.

Preempting retorts that disabled people dont have the talent, training or experience necessary to take on major roles -- a similar refrain used to justify inadequate representations of women, people of color and LGBT folk -- Williamson, whose son is an actor with Down syndrome, echoed the words of winner Viola Davis speech at the 2015 Primetime Emmys about just needing the opportunity.

Weve got them waiting, people who are trained, have done their homework and have credits, but they wont open up the doors for them, Williamson said. But my guys are never going to be able to come into the room with the experience that these other guys have, because its not awarded to them. Someone is going to have to see it in them.

Marlee Matlin, who as a deaf actress was cast as the lead in 1986s Children of a Lesser God, won an Oscar and instantly became a star for the role, her first credited gig ever.

As for people the industry should be paying attention to, Williamson and other community advocates highlight Ali Stroker (Broadways Spring Awakening, Faking It), Jamie Brewer (American Horror Story), JLouis Mills (Heartbeat, The Tribe) and Robert David Hall (the CSI franchise), among others.

But as Adam Moore, SAG-AFTRAs national director of equal employment opportunity and diversity, added: Not only do they not have the opportunity for anything that is specifically written about [disabled people], but when [the story does have disabled characters] they dont get the chance to even compete for those jobs more than half of the time.

Moore likened the situation to casting experiences of people of color where roles are slated for whites unless otherwise stated.

It also means nondisabled, unless otherwise labeled, he said. [Disabled people] are excluded almost from the beginning because stories arent being thought of to be told in these ways.

Furthermore, Moore cautioned, the experience can be doubly or triply oppressive for those living at the intersections of other identities disadvantaged in the industry, such as a disabled woman of color.

But this is why disabled people need to be included in the industrys definitions of diversity, Woodburn said. They too should be able to see themselves reflected in societys cultural productions.

I dont want disabled people to be a footnote in this discussion, he said.

Get your life! Follow me on Twitter: @TrevellAnderson.
Pilates is known for strengthening and lengthening your core muscles, but what about your backside? Turns out more and more Pilates studios are adding Bootylicious classes as a way to offer total body toning for clients.

At Dr. Pilates in Larchmont, instructor Chelsea Gabrielle created a 50 minute class that works every part of your derriere. At a recent Bootylicious Power Hour class taught by Lauren Kokenes, several of the eight students in attendance were surprised and pleased to learn that the class would be devoted exclusively to the backside. (The studio hosts more than a dozen classes a day from beginning to advanced workouts on the reformer.)

It wasnt easy to do an entire class devoted to glutes, but if you sit long hours at work, what muscles are more deserving? If you really just want to get a better booty, note that Dr. Pilates offers the Bootylicious class three times a week.

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Dr. Pilates, 418 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, drpilatesla.com

Chelsea Gabrielle leads a Pilates class focusing on gluteus muscles at Dr. Pilates. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times )

Aura

The studio is stylish and airy with large windows facing Larchmont Boulevard, elegant and white framed full-length mirrors and new reformers. There is also a massage room and shower. Ive taken more than a dozen different classes here and the vibe is always the same  comfortable, friendly and relaxed. Most students here are experienced, but no one is frowned upon for being a novice.

1 / 10 Build a better booty with Dr. Pilates (Mariah Tauger / For The Times) 2 / 10 Participants of the Bootylicious Power Hour class do leg presses. (Mariah Tauger / For The Times) 3 / 10 Participants in the Bootylicious Power Hour class at Dr. Pilates work their backsides. (Mariah Tauger / For The Times) 4 / 10 Participants in the Bootylicious Power Hour class at Dr. Pilates work their hamstrings and glutes on the reformer. (Mariah Tauger / For The Times) 5 / 10 A student warms up with leg presses on the reformer. (Mariah Tauger / For The Times) 6 / 10 The Bootylicious Power Hour class at Dr. Pilates includes work on the reformer. (Mariah Tauger / For The Times) 7 / 10 Working core and glutes in the Bootylicious Power Hour at Dr. Pilates. (Mariah Tauger / For The Times) 8 / 10 Participants in the Bootylicious Power Hour class at Dr. Pilates use the reformer to work their backside. (Mariah Tauger / For The Times) 9 / 10 The magic circle works the glutes. (Mariah Tauger / For The Times) 10 / 10 The Dr. Pilates studio in Larchmont offers more than a dozen Pilates classes a day ranging from beginning to advanced. (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

Effort

We warmed up with simple leg presses on the reformer and then moved to jumps on the jump board. Lying on our sides and gliding up and down on the reformer, we did a series of kicks on each side  forward, backward and up to the ceiling. This is where my glutes and hamstrings started burning. Without resting, we moved on to more kicks using the small loop attached to the reformer, and lying on our backs, raised our legs to the ceiling while keeping our butts off of the carriage. We ended with a skater pose, where we pushed the carriage out with one foot  this worked the outside glutes  while standing on the reformer with the other. When Kokenes introduced bicep curls using the reformer straps and moved into the Pilates 100 series, it felt like a reprieve.

Chelsea Gabrielle demonstrates proper form in the Bootylicious Power Hour class at Dr. Pilates. (Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times )

Style

The exertion level is up to you as you control how much weight you use on the reformer. Kokenes suggested weight amounts, but offered adjustments if it didnt feel like you were working hard enough. Because of the studios small size, teachers are hands-on, offering individualized advice on proper form and alignment. Kokenes would occasionally jump on to a machine to demonstrate the moves, but spent the entire class making sure everyone had proper form, which was really helpful. At the end of class my legs felt like rubber.

Cost

$28 per class. Classes are available on Class Pass subscriptions. Discounts are available by purchasing class packs of five, 10 and 20. There is metered parking on Larchmont Boulevard and street parking in the neighborhood. Please note: toe socks are required.

Dr. Pilates, 418 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, drpilatesla.com

lisa.boone@latimes.com

Twitter: @lisaboone19

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Shop for handmade, one-of-a-kind objects at the latest Parachute Market, a Los Angeles-centric seasonal design fair and marketplace that returns to the downtown Arts District June 18-19.

The sixth annual market, presented in conjunction with the Los Angeles Design Festival, is a curated event conceived by vintage dealer Coryander Friend that explores the theme, Who are you within the group and who are you alone?

Thus, the show is titled Alone Together.

Featuring more than 40 vendors, the event will include prints from Capricorn Press, laptop cases from Larsen and Lund, furnishings by Shapiro Joyal Studio, wooden planters by Estudio Persona, handmade pottery by Pax Ceramics and Victoria Morris, a selection of brands from La Lonja MX in Mexico City and many others.

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Parachute Market, Alone Together, 405 Mateo St., downtown Los Angeles Arts District. A first look preview will be held at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $100. Regular market hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 18 -19. General admission is $10 or $18 for a weekend pass.

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lisa.boone@latimes.com

Twitter: @lisaboone19
Nearly 900 pages of previously classified CIA emails, interrogation reports and internal investigations revealed disturbing new details about the CIAs use of torture after the Sept. 11 attacks.

They include an internal CIA memo dated June 7, 2006, that says President George W. Bush expressed unease to Porter J. Goss, then the CIA director, about mistreatment of detainees.

The president was concerned about the image of a detainee, chained to the ceiling, clothed in a diaper and forced to go to the bathroom on themselves, the CIA memo states about Bushs meeting that day with Goss.

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That was about four years after the CIA had begun using harsh interrogation techniques at secret prisons around the globe known as black sites.

A 36-page investigation of the 2002 death of Gul Rahman, a captive who froze to death in a CIA interrogation facility in Afghanistan known as the Salt Pit, offered further details.

Often, prisoners who possess significant or imminent threat information are stripped to their diapers during interrogation and placed back into their cells wearing only diapers, it reads. This is done solely to humiliate the prisoner for interrogation purposes.

When the prisoner soils a diaper, they are changed by the guards. Sometimes the guards run out of diapers and the prisoners are placed back in their cells in a handcrafted diaper secured by duct tape. If the guards dont have any available diapers, the prisoners are rendered to their cell nude.

The documents show that some CIA prisoners were snatched in error, and others had less intelligence value than CIA operatives had initially told their superiors.

More than 50 documents were released Tuesday in response to a lawsuit filed under the Freedom of Information Act by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The documents underscore the cruelty of the methods the agency used in its secret, overseas black sites, said Jameel Jaffer, ACLU deputy legal director. It bears emphasis that these records document grave crimes for which no senior official has been held accountable.

The documents revealed intense debate inside the agency and the Bush administration about the effectiveness of the CIAs brutal interrogation techniques and its use of secret prisons from 2002 to 2008.

See the most-read stories this hour >>

In late 2004, White House aides asked the CIA whether its so-called enhanced interrogation techniques had yielded valuable intelligence about terrorist plots.

Condoleezza Rice, Bushs national security advisor, asked the CIA to commission an independent study to gauge the effectiveness of the program.

The CIA refused. There is no way to conduct such a study, Goss wrote.

Some of the documents were cited, but not released, in the Senate Intelligence Committees explosive 2014 report on the torture program. That report concluded that torture did not work and that CIA officials had misled Congress, the White House, the Justice Department and the public.

Some of the newly released documents offer early glimpses of how the CIA intended to treat Al Qaeda suspects in its custody.

Abu Zubaydah, a Saudi member of Al Qaeda who was waterboarded at least 83 times in CIA custody, was a particular focus. Senior CIA officials uniformly believed he should be hidden away in isolation for the rest of his life, according to a heavily redacted memo from 2002.

All major players are in concurrence that AZ should remain incommunicado for the remainder of his life, it reads.

Zubaydah was later deemed to be of relatively low importance in Al Qaeda. He is still held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

President Obama banned the CIA interrogation tactics when he took office in 2009, and John Brennan, the current CIA director, has said the agency wont use torture again.

Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has said he would bring back waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics if he was elected.

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Robert Bob Paine, an influential ecologist best known for introducing the concept of keystone species and who nurtured a generation of scientists, has died. He was 83.

Paine, a retired zoology professor at the University of Washington, died Monday of acute myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer, at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, according to UW biology professor Jennifer Ruesink, who was informed of Paines death by one of his daughters.

Hes a giant in the field of ecology, said Ruesink, who worked alongside Paine and as a graduate student in his lab.

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During the 1960s, Paine conducted experiments off the coast of Washington state that gave birth to the idea that certain species, which he labeled keystone species, play an outsized role in maintaining the diversity of their ecosystem.

He showed that by removing a top predator, a common sea star, from the shoreline, dramatic changes occurred. The mussels that the starfish feed upon took over and pushed out other species, lowering biodiversity.

He essentially used the rocky inter-tidal  tide pools and things like that  as the example of how ecosystems and biological communities function, said Robert Warner, distinguish research professor in the department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology at UC Santa Barbera.

Paine was among those who demonstrated the power of conducting experiments in the field, which wasnt as routinely done then as it is now.

He referred to it as `Rambo ecology because you had to do dramatic intervention to understand how the natural world works, Ruesink said.

Paine was born in Cambridge, Mass., in 1933. He received a bachelors from Harvard in 1954 and his doctorate from the University of Michigan in 1961. He joined the faculty at the University of Washington in 1962 as zoology professor. He retired in 1998.

Discussing his inclination to study the natural world in an interview in 2013, Paine recalled sitting in a dirt driveway as a toddler, being utterly fascinated with ants.

Paine also spent years studying the ecology of the small uninhabited island of Tatoosh, off the northwest tip of Washington, with the permission of the Makah tribe.
UC Merced moved forward with a major campus expansion Wednesday, announcing the selection of a developer to build new classrooms, dorms and labs to accommodate 4,000 more students over the next five years.

Plenary Properties Merced (PPM) will oversee the design, construction and maintenance of the $1.14-billion project, which will nearly double the universitys physical capacity. The school, which opened in 2005 and enrolls about 6,600 students, is the youngest and smallest of 10 University of California campuses.

The plan envisions state-of-the-art research facilities arranged around a new tree-lined quad, as well as a dining hall, recreation facilities, a competition pool and 1,700 new beds.

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UC Merced Chancellor Dorothy Leland has said the expansion will help boost college-going rates among students in the San Joaquin Valley, one of the states poorest regions.

PPM, a consortium of design, engineering, construction, maintenance, operations and financial partners, will raise $386 million from developers. That commitment helped persuade UC regents to award the contract to a single private development team, their first such approval for a project of this scope.

Project financing also will include up to $600 million in revenue bonds issued by the UC regents, pending their approval in July. UC Merced will contribute $157 million.

If approved, the project is set for groundbreaking as early as September, with completion expected by 2020.

teresa.watanabe@latimes.com

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Sam Little, the convicted murderer who earlier this year claimed he had killed at least 90 women across the U.S., has confessed to slayings in at least 37 cities stretching back decades, according to an FBI timeline made public Tuesday.

Heres a look at some of the other notorious killers that have terrorized California:

Joseph James DeAngelo (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

Joseph James DeAngelo, the suspected Golden State Killer

A serial rapist terrorized a swath of Northern California in the 1970s, breaking into dozens of womens homes in attacks that spanned three years and sparked fear throughout the suburbs of Sacramento and Contra Costa counties.

The crimes then moved south through Oakland, and Santa Barbara and Orange counties.

More than 40 years later, prosecutors in Santa Ana announced in August they had charged a man in those horrific crimes. Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., who already faces 13 counts of murder as the suspected Golden State Killer, is also accused of 13 counts of kidnapping to commit a robbery as well. He will stand trial in Sacramento County.

The killer is believed to be responsible for 45 rapes and more than 120 residential burglaries between 1976 and 1986.

Lonnie Franklin Jr. answers questions from the witness stand in January 2014. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Lonnie Franklin Jr., a.k.a. the Grim Sleeper

The series of killings began in South Los Angeles in the summer of 1985 and continued with some frequency until 1988, when a woman was raped and shot. She lived to describe her attacker as a black man in his 20s, 5 feet 8 to 5 feet 10, about 160 pounds, soft-spoken and articulate, with neatly trimmed hair and a pockmarked face.

For more than 13 years, the killer had no known slayings until the body of a teenage girl was discovered in Inglewood in March 2002, a lull in attacks that led to his description as The Grim Sleeper.

On July 7, 2010, Los Angeles police arrested Lonnie David Franklin Jr. at his home in South L.A. in connection with the killings. On May 5, 2016, after a day and a half of deliberations, jurors found Franklin guilty on 10 counts of murder in the killings of nine women and a 15-year-old girl. Jurors later decided Franklin should be put to death.

Timothy McGhee (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Timothy Joseph McGhee

A northeast Los Angeles gang leader described by police as a monster who boasted in rap lyrics about his hatred of police and his love of killing. McGhee, a member of the Toonerville gang, was sentenced to death in January 2009 for the murder of two rival gang members and the girlfriend of a third.

A jury in 2007 convicted McGhee of murder in the gang-related shootings of three people between 1997 and 2001. Jurors also found McGhee guilty of the attempted murder of four other people, including two Los Angeles police officers caught in a predawn ambush in Atwater Village as they chased three other Toonerville gang members.

Charles Manson . (Associated Press)

Charles Manson

On an infamous summer night in 1969, Manson and his young followers entered a Benedict Canyon mansion and murdered five people.

A maid arrived at the rented home of director Roman Polanski and his pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate, and found Tate and four others dead, their bodies scattered around a Benedict Canyon estate in what police said resembled a ritualistic mass murder, The Times reported.

Manson died of natural causes in November 2017 at age 83.

Bruce Jeffrey Pardo (Associated Press)

Bruce Jeffrey Pardo

Police say Pardo opened fire at a 2008 Christmas Eve party at a Covina home and then set the house ablaze, killing nine people. Several hours later, Pardo killed himself at his brother's home in Sylmar.

Richard Ramirez (Los Angeles Times)

Richard Ramirez a.k.a. the Night Stalker

A Los Angeles jury convicted Richard Ramirez in 13 killings that terrorized Southern California in the mid-1980s. He was sentenced to death and remained on death row in San Quentin from 1989 until his death in June 2013.

Ramirez went on a months-long rampage of sexual assault and murder that generated widespread fear throughout Southern California.

In most of the cases, Ramirez entered homes in the early morning hours through open windows or doors.

Some of the victims were found strangled, others had their throats slashed, but most had been fatally shot.

Spray-painted pentagrams  a distinctive Satanist symbol  were also found on the walls of some victims homes.

Angelo Anthony Buono Jr. (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Angelo Buono Jr.

Angelo Anthony Buono Jr. is one of the men known as the Hillside Strangler. He and his cousin Kenneth Bianchi were convicted of kidnapping, raping, torturing and killing girls and women from late 1977 to early 1978. They committed their crimes in the hills above Los Angeles.

Louis Craine (Los Angeles Police Department)

Louis Craine

Louis Craine, an unemployed construction worker, was portrayed by his defense attorneys in court as an illiterate man with a fourth-grade education and an IQ of 69, unable to kill anyone. Yet in 1989, with the help of testimony from members of his own family, he was convicted of the first-degree murder of four women who were strangled.

Daniel Lee Siebert (Associated Press)

Daniel Lee Siebert

In 1987, while awaiting trial in connection with four murders in Alabama, Daniel Lee Siebert confessed to killing two women in South Los Angeles, offering details that authorities said only the killer would know.

Although investigators said that Siebert admitted to as many as 13 killings across the United States, he was not a suspect in any of the other deaths initially attributed to a killer dubbed the Southside Slayer.

Authorities said their attention was drawn to Siebert by police in Talladega, Ala., who learned that the suspect in five murders there had formerly resided in Southern California, working as a painter and frequenting the Hollywood area.

Siebert died in prison, at 53, in 2008.

Wayne Adam Ford (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Wayne Adam Ford

Wayne Adam Ford stunned authorities when he walked into the Humboldt County Sheriff's Department on Nov. 3, 1998, and confessed to killing four women. He arrived carrying one victim's severed breast in his pocket. The Arcata trucker confessed to slaying the women and dumping their body parts across the state.

Michael Hughes (File photo)

Michael Hughes

Michael Hughes was a former security guard who targeted vulnerable women on the streets, some of whom had drug problems, according to authorities. In 1998, he was convicted of killing four women, three of whom were dumped in alleys in a commercial area of Culver City. They had been choked to death.

He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

A decade after his conviction, prosecutors accused Hughes of strangling four additional victims, ages 15 to 36. Hughes was identified through a cold-hit DNA link. Most of the victims bodies were dumped outside and found by passersby.

He was convicted on Nov. 3, 2011, in three of those deaths: Yvonne Coleman, 15; Verna Patricia Williams, 36; and Deborah Jackson, a.k.a. Harriet McKinley, 32.

On June 22, 2012, Hughes was sentenced to death for killing Coleman, Williams and Jackson.

Cary Stayner

Cary Stayner killed three women who were staying at a motel where he worked as a handyman on the outskirts of Yosemite National Park. He was sentenced to death. Separately, he was convicted of beheading a nature guide.

Chester Turner (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Chester Dewayne Turner

From 1987 to 1998, Chester Turner raped and strangled his victims, most of them South Los Angeles women who were addicted to crack cocaine. He strangled eight with his bare hands. Four of the killings took place within six blocks of Turners home. The last two victims died on skid row, after Turner had moved downtown. Turner is currently on California's death row.

Randy Kraft (File photo)

Randy Kraft

Randy Kraft, a computer programmer, was convicted and sentenced to death in 1989 for strangling 16 hitchhikers, mostly from Orange County, after drugging and sexually assaulting them.

William Bonin (Mike Meadows / Los Angeles Times)

William Bonin, a.k.a. the Freeway Killer

William George Bonin, known as the Freeway Killer, kidnapped, robbed, raped and murdered a total of 14 teenage boys between 1979 and 1980.

Bonin was executed on Feb. 23, 1996, at San Quentin State Prison. Bonin was the first California inmate to be executed by lethal injection.

Vincent Brothers (Casey Christie / Associated Press)

Vincent Brothers

Vincent Brothers, a former elementary school vice principal in Bakersfield, was convicted in 2007 of the fatal shootings of his wife, three children and mother-in-law. He was sentenced to death.

According to prosecutors, Brothers crafted an elaborate alibi in advance, visiting relatives in North Carolina and Ohio just before the killings. With no physical evidence placing Brothers at the crime scene, the prosecution used odometer readings and dead insects found in a rental car to prove that he had secretly driven from Ohio to Bakersfield to commit the crimes.

Juan Corona (Associated Press)

Juan Corona

The onetime farm labor contractor was found guilty twice and sentenced to life in prison without parole in the early 1970s for hacking to death 25 transients and itinerant farmworkers near Yuba City.

Marcus Wesson (Getty Images)

Marcus Wesson

Marcus Wesson was found guilty in 2005 of killing nine of his children in Fresno. Their bodies were discovered in a back bedroom, stacked youngest to oldest, ages 1 to 25.

The mayor called the case Fresnos Sept. 11. Police called it Fresnos worst mass murder. National media carried headlines: House of Horrors and Suffer the Little Children: Murder in Fresno.

Charles Ng (Reed Saxon / Associated Press)

Charles Ng

Charles Ng was convicted and sentenced to death for killing six men, three women and two infant boys in a kidnapping and sex-slavery ring in Northern California.

Ng's victims were killed between 1984 and 1985 at a rustic cabin in Calaveras County near the Sierra Nevada foothills. There, authorities found more than 40 pounds of charred human remains scattered around the property, and at one point they estimated that as many as 19 people may have perished.
A serial killer believed to be responsible for as many as 10 unsolved slayings in Orange, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties from 1979 to 1986 apparently got his start a few years earlier as the notorious East Area Rapist of Northern California, officials said Tuesday.

New DNA evidence revealed Tuesday links the killer  dubbed the Original Nightstalker by local detectives  to at least 44 rapes committed from Sacramento to San Ramon during a three-year period in the 1970s.

Unfortunately its still a faceless person, said Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriffs Department.

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Still, Amormino said, the DNA link is exciting news.

Now more and more information is going to come out, he said. There is lots of work to do  the most exciting news would be to match this up to a suspect and bring him to justice, and I believe this brings us closer to doing that.

Sheriffs detectives believe the killer is responsible for the beating deaths of Patti and Keith Harrington in their Laguna Niguel home in 1980. The other slayings occurred in Irvine, Ventura and the small community of Goleta, near Santa Barbara.

In Contra Costa County, where many of the earlier rapes occurred, authorities have kept semen samples from those investigations in the hope that a suspect would eventually be found.

The Homicide Report: A story for every victim 

Fortunately, we had some people here with foresight enough to hold on to the evidence even after the statute of limitations ran out, said Paul Holes, supervising criminalist for the Contra Costa County Sheriffs Office.

When the new DNA technology became available, Holes said, he talked to a now-retired investigator in the rape case and he speculated that the rapist had moved to Southern California in 1979. A series of phone calls, Holes said, eventually led to the Orange County Sheriffs Department, which had retained DNA samples from the murders, and the match was made.

Its a breakthrough from the standpoint that the investigators down there all of a sudden have 44 new cases where investigations were done, Holes said. Now the homicide investigators have a history of the early offenses  were all hoping that it leads to [the killers] apprehension.

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Los Angeles school officials vowed Tuesday to fight to be able to spend the money they get from the state for special education programs.

The response follows a California Department of Education decision in May that required the district to redirect hundreds of millions of dollars for students with disabilities to other high-needs groups, including English language learners, poor students and foster children.

Under a state funding process called the Local Control Funding Formula, students in those groups are supposed to get more money because they often require more support from their schools.

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The states decision is not legally supportable, and we intend to challenge this decision.  L.A. Unified School District Supt. Michelle King

Community Coalition, a South L.A.-based advocacy group, sued the district last year and filed a complaint with the state Department of Education, accusing L.A. Unified of misusing money on students with disabilities instead of giving direct services to the targeted students in the other groups.

The states decision is not legally supportable, and we intend to challenge this decision, Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Michelle King said during Tuesdays board meeting.

Most special education students also fall into another local funding category and should be included as a targeted group, L.A. schools Chief Financial Officer Megan Reilly said during Tuesdays meeting.

The board discussed the superintendents proposed budget and will vote on it June 21.

The district spends about $1.4 billion of its annual $7-billion budget on special education students, about $400 million of which comes from state or federal funds.

Somehow lost in all of this are the hundreds of millions of dollars that are being spent by this district because of the inadequacy of special education funding and distribution, L.A. Unified board President Steve Zimmer said during the meeting.

Students with disabilities have a federal right to a free and appropriate public education, thanks to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. While that includes federal funding, the money is usually not enough to cover all needs; the rest comes from the districts general funds.

This is something that was left out of the LCFF formula, or [the state needs] to fully fund the cost of special education students needs, Reilly told the board.

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If the district were forced to find the money for special education students elsewhere, schools would have to increase class sizes and eliminate staff, Reilly said.

Board member Scott Schmerelson agreed, asking district staff whether it was possible to dedicate a full-time staff member to advocate in Sacramento for the addition of special needs students to be included in the Local Control Funding Formula.

The district might not need to redirect $450 million in funds, as originally thought. A letter received Tuesday from state Supt. Tom Torlakson said L.A. Unified may be able to keep a large chunk of funding for special education students if the district can explain why those students should fall under the funding formula. The letter also allows the district to implement changes for the 2017-18 school year, instead of in the 2016-17 fiscal year.

Students and community members who attended Tuesdays meeting said they wanted their schools to get more money and they wanted to be heard.

Parents from the District-level English Learner Advisory Committee complained that the district didnt listen to them in conversations about how to spend the state funds.

Jaquay Jones, a rising senior at Crenshaw High School, asked for restorative justice funding in South L.A. and told the board that days have gotten shorter at her high school. There was a point, she said, when there were only two bathrooms open on campus for hundreds of students because of budget concerns.

We need this money to help keep our bathrooms open, to get programs like Linked Learning into Crenshaw, Jones said. To get more counselors to meet with students and put them on the path to college.

Times staff reporter Howard Blume contributed to this report.

Reach Sonali Kohli at Sonali.Kohli@latimes.com or on Twitter @Sonali_Kohli.

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The California rail authority on Tuesday approved increasing a contract to build the first 29 miles of the bullet train system by $63 million to compensate its lead contractor for delays in land acquisitions.

Tutor Perini was awarded a $1-billion contract in 2013 to construct bridges, viaducts, trenches and other structures from Madera to downtown Fresno, hoping to complete the job no later than 2017. But at the time the state had secured only a few of the hundreds of parcels needed, and Tutor delayed the start of construction by more than two years.

The High-Speed Rail Authority said $50 million of the increase would offset labor, materials and equipment standby charges that the company incurred as a result of the delay. Another $13.6 million will go toward speeding up construction, including embarking on a six-day workweek, the authority said.

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The contract schedule also was lengthened by 17 months, with Tutor now aiming to complete the work by August 2019. Officials said the additional money would come out of contingency funds set aside for the high-speed rail project.

The state encountered stiff opposition to its efforts to buy parcels, particularly from farmers who objected to the diagonal crossing of their fields.

Opponents of major infrastructure projects have long used legal maneuvers and other tactics to try to stop construction  practices that hurt local businesses, delay hiring and waste taxpayer dollars, rail authority spokeswoman Lisa Marie Alley said. Fortunately, weve prepared and accounted for these sorts of situations by building in a prudent reserve  as reflected in our business plan  and the projects overall budget and schedule will not be impacted.

The rail authority has acknowledged in the past that it was not fully prepared to begin an aggressive land acquisition program in 2013 and had to take time to get enough appraisers and other professionals on board.

The $50-million in delay compensation is about half of what internal Tutor documents had been projecting as of late last year. The company had parked dozens of pieces of heavy equipment at yards in Fresno, as it awaited land to being construction.

ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com
Santa Clara County prosecutors have blocked the judge who sentenced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail in a sexual assault case from hearing an upcoming sex crimes case.

The move comes as Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky faces growing criticism over Turners sentence, which many consider far too lenient.

This is a rare and carefully considered step, prosecutors said in a statement.

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The district attorneys move came after the judge dismissed a non-sex crimes case before the jury could deliberate.

We are disappointed and puzzled at Judge Perskys unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate, Dist. Atty Jeff Rosen said. After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient. In the future, we will evaluate each case on its own merits and decide if we should use our legal right to ask for another judge in order to protect public safety and pursue justice.

California court procedure allows prosecutors and defense lawyers to file a motion to remove a judge from a case and have it reassigned to another jurist.

We are disappointed and puzzled at Judge Perskys unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate.  Dist. Atty Jeff Rose

Prosecutors made the move to remove Persky after several jurors refused to serve in the judges courtroom because of his actions in the Turner case.

Persky could not be reached for comment.

An effort to recall Persky is gaining steam, with several political groups vowing to raise money for the campaign.

One of the jurors who voted to convict Turner of sexual assault wrote a letter to Persky saying he was absolutely shocked and appalled at the sentence.

On Monday, some state lawmakers said the Turner case proved that the definition of rape was out of date and needed updating.

When Turner was convicted by a jury in March, he faced a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. Prosecutors asked the judge to sentence him to a six-year prison term for the three felony counts of which he was found guilty, assault with the intent to commit rape of an unconscious person, sexual penetration of an unconscious person and sexual penetration of an intoxicated person.

Later, Turners chief probation officer, Monica Lassettre, recommended a sentence of county jail, three years probation and sex offender treatment, according to a probation report.

In the weeks after Turners sentencing, nearly 1 million people signed online petitions calling on the California Commission for Judicial Performance to remove Persky.

Persky, who was appointed to the bench by Gov. Gray Davis in 2003, is up for reelection in November.

So far, no one has submitted paperwork to challenge Persky or recall him, according to Anita Torres, spokeswoman for the Santa Clara County registrar of voters.

The woman who was sexually assaulted by Turner read a 12-page letter in open court, calling the lack of a state prison sentence a soft time-out, a mockery of the seriousness of the assaults.

More than 250 students signed a letter submitted to Persky before Turners sentencing, asking that he be held accountable for his actions.

Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter 

At Sundays commencement ceremony, several Stanford students waved signs in support of victims of sexual assault and called on university officials to publicly release names of students who were found responsible for sexual assault.

Judges are rarely recalled from office in California. Most who do leave office are removed following an investigation by the state Commission on Judicial Performance with a hearing on an issue of serious abuse, Loyola Law professor Laurie Levenson told The Times last week.

An effort to recall Orange County Superior Court Judge M. Marc Kelly for sentencing a child molester to 10 years instead of 25 years to life failed this year. Nancy Wieben Stock, a now-retired Orange County judge, weathered an unsuccessful recall effort in the 1990s after she awarded O.J. Simpson custody of his two children following his acquittal on charges of killing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson.

Some in Santa Clara County have come to the judges defense, saying he is a strong jurist who was within his rights to hand down the sentence. Legal experts have said the sentence was within the law but lighter than normal for such cases.

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Los Angeles County supervisors backed off from a proposal Tuesday that would have required pharmaceutical companies to pay for a countywide drug take-back and disposal program, opting instead for a scaled-back voluntary program in the near term.

The county has been considering a mandated take-back program for prescription and over-the-counter drugs and syringes over the last year. Several other California counties have already adopted similar ordinances.

Consumer advocates and public health officials said an expanded drug take-back program is needed because the existing drop-off sites  including 21 sheriffs stations and seven Walgreens pharmacies around the county  are too few for a county of 10 million people and inconvenient for many residents.

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They argue that a better disposal system would prevent water contamination and overdose deaths.

The nexus between inadequate disposal of prescription drugs and the nationwide opiate epidemic is well established, interim county Health Officer Jeffrey Gunzehauser told county supervisors Tuesday.

Pharmaceutical industry representatives, who would be required to pay to set up and run the program, pushed back against it, saying it would be ineffective and too expensive.

Industry groups opposed to the proposal spent more than $300,000 lobbying the county over the last year, according to disclosure documents.

Instead of a mandatory take-back program, drug manufacturers offered to pay for an education and outreach program about existing take-back options and to explain how to dispose of unused medications in the trash, a method opposed by county public health officials.

At Tuesdays hearing, supporters, including environmentalists, senior groups and Los Angeles Councilman Paul Koretz  who said that as a diabetic, he had struggled with how to dispose of his used needles  urged the supervisors to adopt the disposal program, while industry groups pushed for their own proposal.

Carrie Hartgen of the Advanced Medical Technology Assn. told the supervisors that a voluntary industry-funded education campaign would produce real results in a more cost-effective manner.

In the end, Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who had originally proposed the mandated drug take-back program, offered a new proposal under which county staff will work with the industry groups and other stakeholders to come up with a public education campaign and to host quarterly take-back events while studying the outcomes of the disposal kiosks at Walgreens.

Any action on a mandatory program would be pushed back to at least November.

The board voted to approve the new proposal, with supervisors Sheila Kuehl and Hilda Solis abstaining. The two had pushed for a more extensive disposal program.

Antonovichs health deputy, Fred Leaf, said the drug manufacturers had agreed to pay for the more limited program the board passed Tuesday.

He said Antonovich wanted to move forward with a program as quickly as possible, and that other counties that passed mandatory programs havent been able to move anything forward successfully.

He would like to do this as a true public-private partnership, he said.

A coalition of five industry groups praised the boards action in a statement, saying, Thanks to the leadership of the  Board of Supervisors, a broad coalition is coming together to teach, promote and enable proper medication disposal in LA County.

Priscilla VanderVeer, a spokeswoman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, could not provide a cost estimate for either the take-back program originally proposed or the scaled-back voluntary program.

Heidi Sanborn, executive director of the National Stewardship Action Council, a consumer advocacy group that supports mandated drug take-back programs, said she was not surprised, and incredibly disappointed by the boards vote.

It doesnt seem to matter what the public thinks, she said. The pharmaceutical industry groups, she said, dont want to pay, but theyll spend a fortune on lobbyists.

Antonovich and Supervisor Don Knabe will retire from the board at the end of this year. Kuehl promised to keep pushing for a mandated, industry-funded disposal program after that.

I look forward to a very strong ordinance, even if it has to be in 2017, she said.

abby.sewell@latimes.com

Twitter: @sewella
Los Angeles County supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to call for a state declaration of emergency on Californias homeless crisis.

The countys homeless population was about 47,000 as of this years count by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. There were an estimated 115,738 people homeless statewide in 2015.

County officials have been lobbying, so far without success, for a change in state law that would grant the county authority to seek a special tax on incomes over $1 million to pay for programs to address homelessness.

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The county resolution introduced by Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Sheila Kuehl passed Tuesday asks state legislative leaders to pass a resolution calling on the governor to make an emergency declaration that would open the door for more state money and resources to be directed to the problem.

If an earthquake or flood suddenly left tens of thousands of individuals homeless, the county and state would not hesitate to act swiftly and decisively, the supervisors wrote. Although the causes may be different, the impact is the same.

That declaration, they said, should include access to $500 million from a state fund to implement statewide re-housing efforts, including street outreach, crisis housing, rental subsidies and case management.

They called for the state to deploy staff to homeless camp hotspots to give housing assistance and to assemble a public-private team to develop a short- and long-term plan for combating homelessness statewide. They also urged the state to find streams of ongoing funding for local governments to deal with the issue.

The concept of a homelessness state of emergency is not new. Los Angeles officials last year held a news conference in which they announced plans to declare a state of emergency over homelessness. The declaration never materialized.

But behind the scenes, Mayor Eric Garcetti wrote to Gov. Jerry Brown in December asking for a similar declaration at the state level, and pointing to the anticipated El Nino rains. Brown rejected the request at the time, arguing it would be unwise to declare a state of emergency before the rains arrived.

A spokeswoman for Garcetti could not be immediately reached for comment on the countys action Tuesday.

Ridley-Thomas said the new attempt by the county was an effort to underscore the urgency of the matter and he expected the city would join in support.

This message has to be made clear to Sacramento, Ridley-Thomas said. My conversations with the governor make it clear to me that it needs to be moved higher on his agenda, and we seek to engage our legislative leaders to help to accomplish that.

Since the beginning of the year, local and state leaders have proposed several methods to pay for increased housing and services to get people off the streets.

Though the countys attempt to get state authority for a millionaires tax appears to be running out of time for a measure to appear on the November ballot, city officials are considering placing a bond measure of their own on the ballot to pay to build more housing for the homeless.

And state officials are considering issuing $2 billion in bonds, to be paid back with mental health services money, to build permanent supportive housing for homeless people with mental illness.

The bond money could only be used for construction, not for ongoing services such as mental health and substance abuse treatment.

abby.sewell@latimes.com

Twitter: @sewella
A woman was sentenced this week after pleading guilty to vandalizing several national parks, where she defaced rock formations with her art and signature tagline creepytings.

Casey Nocket, 23, was ordered to serve two years probation and 200 hours of community service after pleading guilty to seven misdemeanor charges, according to the National Park Service.

She was banned from entering any national park while serving her sentence and will be required to pay restitution, which will be determined at a hearing at a later date.

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Nocket spent 26 days in 2014 traveling to seven locations in California, Oregon, Utah and Colorado, where she used acrylic paints and markers to draw or paint designs that she later posted online to her Instagram and Tumblr accounts.

The accounts have been taken down, but several sites  including PetaPixal  had posted copies of the photos online. According to that website, the graffiti was discovered and reported to authorities after two bloggers in California saw the postings.

Acting U.S. Atty. Philip Talbert said Nockets art reflected a lack of respect for the law and our shared national treasures.

Talbert said the National Park Service has worked hard to restore the rock formations to their natural state, and that five of seven parks have been cleaned up, with two more remaining to be worked on as weather permits.

Charles Cuvelier, who heads up law enforcement for the National Park Service, said the case sends a message to those who would consider such inappropriate behavior going forward.

The areas that were vandalized include Yosemite, Death Valley, Rocky Mountain, Canyonlands, Zion and Crater Lake national parks and the Colorado National Monument.

debbi.baker@sandiegouniontribune.com

Baker writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune

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A Navy SEAL has been arrested on suspicion of beating and stabbing a man to death not long after the pair were involved in a fistfight on the Santa Monica Pier, police said.

Theo Andrew Krah, 28, was arrested Monday in San Diego in connection with the mans death, said Santa Monica police Lt. Saul Rodriguez.

Police have identified the victim only as a Santa Monica resident.

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Officers were called to break up a fight between Krah and the man on the pier around 4 p.m. Saturday, according to Rodriguez. Nobody was arrested or injured in that incident, he said.

Roughly an hour later however, the other man was found lying in the 1300 block of 5th Street  about a half-mile from the pier  suffering from head trauma and stab wounds, according to police.

The man died from his injuries at 4:40 a.m. Sunday at an area hospital.

Krah and the victim did not know each other before Saturdays fight, Rodriguez said.

Krah, is being held on $2 million bail.

A Navy Personnel Command spokeswoman said she couldnt comment on Krahs arrest because he was a SEAL.

Navy spokesman Zach Keating in San Diego said he would only confirm that Krah is a petty officer 2nd class assigned to a West Coast-based special warfare unit.

According to the Naval Special Warfare Command, the group has eight SEAL teams, one SEAL delivery vehicle team, three special boats and supporting units. About 9,200 personnel, including more than 2,700 active duty special warfare operators and 700 special warfare boat operators, make up the unit.

The Navy SEAL website describes the Naval Special Warfare Command is a small, elite force.

Krah, who enlisted in 2012, was awarded a Korean Defense Service medal after serving in South Korea, Keating said. He also earned a sea service deployment ribbon.

The Navy is cooperating with the Santa Monica Police Department in its investigation, Keating said.

The Navys Criminal Investigation Service is also looking into Krahs arrest.

For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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The San Jose Police Department is mourning the death of an officer who was killed Tuesday when his motorcycle was struck by a minivan.

Officer Michael Katherman was on duty and riding his motorcycle north on North 10th Street at 4:22 p.m. when a silver minivan traveling south on the same street tried to make a left turn onto Horning Street, according to a police department statement. Thats when Kathermans motorcycle and the minivan collided.

A witness stopped to help Katherman and used his radio to call for assistance. Katherman was taken to an area hospital and was later pronounced dead.

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The minivan driver is cooperating with detectives who are investigating the crash, officials said.

Today we lost a brother officer, the department said Tuesday. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Michaels family and friends. Rest in peace Officer Katherman.

NEWSLETTER: Get essential California headlines delivered daily >>

Katherman, 34, was an 11-year San Jose police veteran who was married with two sons. He loved riding motorcycles and the motor unit, Chief Eddie Garcia said.

He loved doing his job, Garcia said at news conference. He loved his family. Its tragic. He put a uniform on, left to go to work, wanted to see his family when he got off, and he didnt make it.

Officers will be wearing a black slash over their badges in honor of Katherman, officials said.

RIP Police Officer Michael Katherman, San Jose (CA) Police Department https://t.co/b9EdUUMqcc pic.twitter.com/y1fgNbUkc5  NLEOMF (@NLEOMF) June 15, 2016

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo expressed sadness over the officers death, asking residents to pray for his family and friends.

Heroes inspire and sustain all of us through their sacrifice, he said in a statement. SJPD Officer Mike Katherman performed his noble duty to serve and protect until his last moments.

Hours after the collision, law enforcement agencies throughout the Bay Area added their tributes.

We mourn Officer Katherman who made the ultimate sacrifice today in the line of duty, the California Highway Patrol in Contra Costa County said in a statement. Rest in peace brother.

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For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.
A meeting between members of a law enforcement task force and suspected drug traffickers turned violent at a shopping center in Chula Vista on Tuesday, leaving one man dead.

A group of suspects fled after the shooting. Four were later taken into custody. Authorities were still searching for one or two men who sped off in a red vehicle.

Federal officials said members of Operation Alliance had set up a meeting with about half a dozen men at the shopping center near Mount Miguel and Proctor Valley roads. The task force  comprised of members of state, local and federal law enforcement agencies  targets mid- to high-level drug traffickers.

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An altercation broke out about 2 p.m. during the encounter and a senior Homeland Security Investigations agent shot one of the men several times in the parking lot of the Shops at San Miguel Ranch.

One of the suspects became violent and forced our agent to take offensive action to defend himself, to defend his life, said Mike Carney, acting special agent in charge of the federal agency.

The wounded man was taken to a hospital, where he died. The agent also was taken to a hospital to be evaluated. He was unharmed.

Carney wouldnt detail how the shooting unfolded. He also wouldnt say if members of the task force, who were in plain clothes, were undercover at the time.

Immediately after the shooting, the rest of the men at the meeting fled. Some left in vehicles, and at least one of them was seen walking into the shopping center.

One of the getaway vehicles, a white car, crashed a short distance away. Two men who were inside ran but were arrested a few blocks away, near Lane Avenue and Boswell Road.

At some point, a third suspect was taken into custody. Authorities did not disclose information about the arrest, but a condominium complex off Mackenzie Creek Road, just south of the shopping center, was cordoned off in police tape.

A fourth suspect was arrested after being discovered in the trunk of a car that was parked in the strip mall parking lot, officials said said

Chula Vista police officers went door to door through each business in the shopping center after the shooting. Employees emerged with their hands in the air.

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After a sex scandal rocked Oakland police, officials are trying to figure out how to restore public trust
The judge who sentenced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail in a sexual assault case is facing a recall effort as well as demands that he be disciplined.

But hes also facing a different kind of threat from the local district attorneys office.

Santa Clara County prosecutors on Tuesday blocked Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky from hearing another sex crime case, citing his decision in the Turner case.

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We are disappointed and puzzled at Judge Perskys unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate, Dist. Atty. Jeff Rosen said. After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient. In the future, we will evaluate each case on its own merits and decide if we should use our legal right to ask for another judge in order to protect public safety and pursue justice.

Prosecutors remove judge in Stanford swimmer sex assault case from new sex crimes case 

California court procedures allow prosecutors or defense lawyers to file a motion to remove a judge from a case and have it reassigned to another jurist.

Legal experts described the move, known as papering, as unusual but hardly unheard of.

You have a right to remove one judge one time in a case. You are saying you believe another judge will be fairer. It is rare. It is a strategic call, but it does happen, said Dmitry Gorin, a defense attorney and a former sex crimes prosecutor in Los Angeles. Sometimes papering a judge sends a message to the judge.

A rarer move is known as blanket papering, when a prosecutor seeks to remove a specific judge from all their prosecutions, Gorin said. In such extreme cases, a judge can end up being moved to another courthouse or another part of the court system, such as hearing civil cases, so they can function on the bench.

This issue came up several years ago when Orange County prosecutors rejected a judge for several cases after he scrutinized the district attorneys office over its controversial jail informant program.

Papering a judge is a lot easier than recalling them from office, said Loyola Law professor Laurie Levenson. A prosecutor, if they repeatedly do it, can effectively remove the judge from their cases.

Levenson said getting a recall on the ballot requires an enormous number of voter signatures across a county and noted that it would be months before an election could be held to vote on a judges removal.

Its unclear whether Santa Clara prosecutors will challenge Persky on other cases.

Prosecutors sought to have Persky removed after several jurors refused to serve in the judges courtroom because of his actions in the Turner case.

Persky could not be reached for comment.

An effort to recall Persky is gaining steam, with several political groups vowing to raise money for the campaign.

One of the jurors who voted to convict Turner of sexual assault wrote a letter to Persky saying he was absolutely shocked and appalled at the six-month sentence.

On Monday, some state lawmakers said the Turner case proved that the definition of rape was out of date and needed updating.

See the most-read stories this hour 

When Turner was convicted by a jury in March, he faced a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. Prosecutors asked the judge to sentence him to a six-year prison term for the three felony counts of which he was found guilty, assault with the intent to commit rape of an unconscious person, sexual penetration of an unconscious person and sexual penetration of an intoxicated person.

Later, Turners chief probation officer, Monica Lassettre, recommended a sentence of county jail, three years probation and sex offender treatment, according to a probation report.

In the weeks after Turners sentencing, nearly 1 million people signed online petitions calling on the California Commission for Judicial Performance to remove Persky.

Persky, who was appointed to the bench by Gov. Gray Davis in 2003, is up for reelection in November.

So far, no one has submitted paperwork to challenge Persky or recall him, according to Anita Torres, spokeswoman for the Santa Clara County registrar of voters.

The woman who was sexually assaulted by Turner read a 12-page letter in open court, calling the lack of a state prison sentence a soft time-out, a mockery of the seriousness of the assaults.

More than 250 students signed a letter submitted to Persky before Turners sentencing, asking that he be held accountable for his actions.

At Sundays commencement ceremony, several Stanford students waved signs in support of victims of sexual assault and called on university officials to publicly release names of students who were found responsible for sexual assault.

Judges are rarely recalled from office in California. Most who do leave office are removed following an investigation by the state Commission on Judicial Performance with a hearing on an issue of serious abuse, Levenson told The Times last week.

An effort to recall Orange County Superior Court Judge M. Marc Kelly for sentencing a child molester to 10 years instead of 25 years to life failed this year. Nancy Wieben Stock, a now-retired Orange County judge, weathered a recall effort in the 1990s after she awarded O.J. Simpson custody of his two children following his acquittal on charges of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson.

Some in Santa Clara County have come to the judges defense, saying he is a strong jurist who was within his rights to hand down the sentence. Legal experts have said the sentence was within the law but lighter than normal for such cases.

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UPDATES:

12:12 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from Loyola Law professor Laurie Levenson.

This article was originally published at 8:34 a.m.
The day after Omar Mateen shot about 100 people in an Orlando nightclub, killing 49 in the worst mass shooting in modern American history, many in this quiet Florida seaside town were upset when the local newspaper splashed ONE OF US across its front page.

Just two nights before the massacre, Mateen brought his son to Friday prayers at the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce, a tiny mosque on the southern outskirts of this sprawling town. Yet many inside this Islamic center  and across the town  balk at the idea that Mateen somehow represented them.

He was not the product of this town, Linda Hudson, the 73-year-old mayor, said as she sat outside a gelato shop in the quaint, historic downtown area, gazing at a marina full of sailboats and a man sprawled out in a deckchair, fishing. This is a sleepy little town. Its small-town America.

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Mateen is not the first American terrorist with links to Fort Pierce, a town of 43,000 about 65 miles north of West Palm Beach. Another, Moner Mohammad Abusalha, worshiped here sporadically before he flew to Syria in 2014 to carry out a suicide bombing.

Inside the mosque, a converted Christian church with a pitched roof and a steeple, all were quick to express horror and shock at the mass shooting. Many insist that the presence of two killers in their midst was a coincidence. What happened in Orlando, they say, was not part of a pattern.

There is no connection, said Adel Nefzi, a chemistry professor who is a board member of the Islamic Center, sitting in the centers prayer room as men knelt behind him on the pastel green carpet. The Syrian bomber, he said, had little connection with the mosque, and he never saw the two men communicate.

People think its related to the mosque, but we didnt know him, said Habiba Haque, 37, a Bangladeshi homemaker, as she sat cradling her brother-in-laws son in the Islamic Centers smaller room for women. We raise our children to do good for our society. We dont want these things. After every night prayer, our imam says good things.

Since the attack, Haque said shes been fearful for the safety of her 11-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter. After the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, she said they were bullied at school and came home in tears. After the Paris attack, their classmates said: You did all these things. You are terrorists.

She added, Still, we are taking the blame for all of this.

Mustafa Abasin, Mateens brother-in-law, said demonstrators showed up outside his home in nearby Port St. Lucie on Sunday as investigators searched inside. We want to be living in peace, he said from the doorway of his pastel pink, three-bedroom home. We have small kids and are living in this neighborhood.

In the wake of the shooting, an undercurrent of anxiety tugs at Fort Pierce, an ethnically diverse town where the lagging economy is slowly shifting from citrus and cattle to tourism. Named after an Army installation built in 1838, it is one of the oldest towns on Floridas east coast.

At a gas station a block from the mosque, the Indian owners said they were on good terms with their neighbors at the mosque.

Its a lone wolf, insisted Vipul Shukla, the owner.

Not everyone was convinced.

I hate to say it, but it sounds like Trumps right, said Cameron Kuchar, 18, a customer who lives a couple of blocks away, as he waited in line at the station.

I knew it was coming, Anita Easterday, a local bartender, said as she stopped at the station to pick up a pack of Camels and fill up her silver Chevrolet sedan. Islam teaches hate and these people want to destroy America. Its coming, and theyve already infiltrated.

At the Midway Launderette a few blocks away, Cindy Bell, a manager, shook her head as she folded a quilt.

Its not safe to go nowhere no more, she said. I dont think they should be allowed into this country.

Her co-worker Isabel Ramirez, 55, a Mexican who moved to Florida 30 years ago, looked tense as she ironed a red shirt.

They come to stay for a little while, but they dont come here to work and they do something bad, she said.

Already, Phil Halleck, 56, a salesman at a local autoshop, was tired of hearing all the talk.

Oh, you know, a lot of stuff about bomb them all and turn the Middle East into a glass factory, he said. I havent heard a whole lot of informed discussion. Thats what happens when people spend too much time on the Internet and are not studying the tenets of religion.

Monika Reddick, 18, a nursing student, pushed grocery carts across the hot asphalt parking lot of the Winn-Dixie Marketplace. Its shocking that he lived so close to here, but you really cant say just because he lived here, its the communitys fault.

Within the Muslim community, opinion seemed divided on whether there is a broader pattern of extremism, as well as what, if anything, the Muslim community could do to counteract it. One member of the mosque, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was trying to get the community to engage in more discussion.

Its the second time in two years, he said. Why do we let this happen a second time? We should have been more proactive the first time.

Maged Metwally, 72, an Egyptian, said he was tired of discussing the issue. I dont believe we need to talk about it, he said. The situation has been resolved. Life goes on. If its not broken, dont fix it.

Hudson, who grew up here and has been mayor since 2012, admits there is fear. Yet she is confident the town will move on.

Many of us are wondering Do we have something to worry about? she said. But I dont think the town will be dwelling on this for long. We dont want it to define us.

Jarvie is a special correspondent
Illinois governor asserted Wednesday that his administration has been heroic in keeping state government afloat as he presides over a historic, yearlong budget impasse that has deprived state residents of key social services, halted construction projects and driven the states credit rating close to junk status.

I have to say, I give our team and our administration tremendous credit for being able to run the government for 18 months with massive deficits and no budget, Gov. Bruce Rauner said. Its an extraordinary performance by the leaders in our team. Were doing heroic things.

The Republican governors remarks came at a Capitol news conference in which he reiterated pleas for state lawmakers to return to Springfield and approve his short-term solutions to the budget stalemate. Rauner first floated the idea during the final hours of the spring session last month and has spent the weeks since blasting Democrats for failing to act on it.

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Lawmakers, meanwhile, are huddled in private working group meetings intended to negotiate a way out of the budget mess. The impasse centers on Rauners demand for cost-cutting changes for business that Democrats say would hurt workers collective bargaining rights.

Rauner says he wants his budget proposals passed as is. The governors two-part solution includes short-term funding for government operations and social services, as well as an education spending measure that would ensure no school district receives less state aid than it was granted last year.

Ruling Democrats in the General Assembly have other ideas. They want to funnel extra money to Chicagos public schools to help the district start to dig out of its financial hole, an idea Rauner repeatedly has dismissed as a bailout.

On Wednesday, Rauner said he wants lawmakers to return to the Capitol and vote on his two bills, and he warned them not to fatten the bills up with extra spending.

NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj 

Were calling on the General Assembly: Come back here to Springfield, vote on these two bills; lets get them passed, Rauner said. And dont play games with them, dont delay, dont come up with excuses why action cant be taken.

The governor continues driving his message on the budget impasse day after day, but its likely that any stopgap budget that emerges will be the result of negotiation and compromise with Democrats as pressure builds to ensure schools reopen in August.

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Once a vanguard of the right, Sharron Angle barely stood a chance in Nevada primary
In an election that illustrates the declining power of the tea party, Sharron Angle, once the face of hard-right politics in Nevada, was resoundingly defeated in Tuesdays Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Rep. Joe Heck captured 65% of the vote, compared with 23% for Angle. In the general election in November, Heck will face former Nevada Atty. Gen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who easily won the Democratic primary.

The Angle of today is a far cry from the Nevada legislator who barnstormed the state in 2010 with the backing of the tea party and nearly toppled then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with 45% of the vote.

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In that race, Angle had $30 million to spend against her Democratic foe, a national profile, the rising tide of a political movement that was scoring big wins, and the support of major donors.

She was feted by mainstream Republicans, introduced in speeches by Sen. John McCain and could draw 1,000 people to a rally.

In the teeth of the Great Recession, she preached strict fiscal discipline and an unwillingness to compromise with the legislators of either major parties who had voted to bail out the banks in 2009. Her prescription for the nations woes was to pay down the national deficit, eliminate most types of federal spending and stimulate the economy with lower taxes and less regulation.

She drew her support from a grass-roots effort that opposed establishment politics and what Angle saw as its enablers, especially the media. Her 2010 campaign was so media-shy that a code phrase emerged among staff to alert Angle that the press was present: Its time to water the plants.

But that didnt save her from well-publicized gaffs.

In a Fox News interview with host Neil Cavuto on July 12, 2010, Angle struggled to explain her opposition to Reids phone calls on behalf of a casino entering bankruptcy, which Angle described as a bailout.

You wouldnt do that? the host asked. You wouldnt be doing everything possible to keep that big employer?

Angle replied that she would not help one business over another.

Reids campaign reveled in her apparent self-contradictions, such as when she called for the end of Medicare and Social Security in a recorded interview in May 2010, then, six months later, insisted she never made the statement.

By this year, Angles support and contributions had dwindled.

She managed to raise just $136,000 by the end of May, compared with Hecks $6 million.

Buyers remorse from 2010 [has] settled in, said Jon Ralston, who hosts a statewide public television show about Nevada politics. No one who backed her in 2010 is backing her now. The Tea Party Express has left the station.

Angle did not return calls or answer emails from The Times on Tuesday. In The Angle Examiner, a voter guide on her website, she had said that poor poll numbers should not worry her supporters.

I have always been behind in the polls, until Im ahead, she wrote.

But it did not come to pass.

She did have at least one popular supporter. In a television spot released in late May, GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump waves Angle over to a podium.

Sharron, Trump says, Sharron is great.

UPDATES:

1:03 p.m., June 15: This article has been updated with election results.

This article was originally published at 6:59 p.m. Tuesday.
The vacationing father looked out as his 2-year-old son waded in the shallow waters of the Disney World hotel beach.

Suddenly, an alligator swam up and grabbed the boy. The father desperately tried to wrestle his child from the animals powerful jaws.

To no avail.

The boys body was recovered Wednesday afternoon, authorities said, after hours of searching the lakes that sprawl behind the Orlando, Fla., theme parks resorts.

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Sheriffs spokesman Jerry Demings said in a news conference that the family had been notified, and he identified the parents as Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn, Neb. The boy was identified as Lane Graves, 2.

He said it appears the child was drowned by the alligator. His body was found about 10 to 15 yards from the shore in water no deeper than 6 feet.

See the most-read stories this hour 

A 2-year-old boy was grabbed by an alligator Tuesday night at a Disney World hotel in Orlando, Fla. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times )

The family of four from Nebraska checked into Disneys Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on Sunday, according to a Disney spokesperson. The couple also have a 4-year-old girl.

For the resort city, Tuesdays alligator attack was the latest blow in a week of horrific news.

On Friday, Christina Grimmie  a singer who gained fame on the television show The Voice  was shot to death while signing autographs after performing at one of the citys oldest music halls, Plaza Live. Two days later, a gunman opened fire inside a packed gay nightclub, killing 49 and injuring about 50.

Hotel guest A.J. Jain and his wife traveled from Georgia to Disney for a conference.

Im just here to say a prayer, he said. I cant imagine what those parents are going through. Its been one tough week in Orlando.

NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj 

As part of the search, wildlife authorities captured at least four alligators and killed them, even though the animals did not seem to have been involved in the attack. The gator that dragged off the boy was 4 to 7 feet long, authorities said.

Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said rangers will continue to search for the alligator that grabbed the boy, though he said it is possible that it was among those that were captured and killed.

Deepest condolences to the Graves family. Thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/nXaRrgjLhl  Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) June 16, 2016

The lagoons abut the theme parks Magic Kingdom and a couple of resort hotels. In the past, Disney World has been proactive in monitoring the presence of alligators and getting rid of them, Wiley said.

There are no signs warning of gators in the area, but there are notices posted against swimming in the lake.

As urban development encroaches on nature, locals say, alligators and other wildlife find themselves interacting with, or confronting, an unprepared human population. Alligators tend to hunt for food at night and often troll the shores of lakes looking for raccoons, birds and other small animals to eat.

Wiley said the alligator probably mistook the boy for an animal.

People  even small people  are not their typical prey, he said.

Disney closed its beaches after the attack. Dozens of police and wildlife officers searched the lakes overnight Tuesday into Wednesday with both helicopters and divers.

Alligators have inhabited Floridas marshes, swamps, rivers and lakes for many centuries, and are found in all 67 counties, the wildlife commission said on its website. In recent years, Florida has experienced tremendous human population growth. Many residents seek waterfront homes, and increasingly participate in water-related activities. This can result in more frequent alligator-human interactions, and a greater potential for conflict.

Still, authorities said an attack on a human is relatively rare. There was one fatal, unprovoked alligator attack in Florida last year  the first since 2007, according to wildlife officials.

A sheriffs boat searches for a young boy who was grabbed by an alligator Tuesday night at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. (Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel )

Duncan Dickson, a former Disney executive who now teaches at the University of Central Floridas Rosen College of Hospitality Management, said the propertys interconnected network of canals makes it difficult to keep gators out of the lakes.

The team attempts to relocate the gators to the uninhabited natural areas as best they can, but the gators dont understand the boundaries, he said.

Orlando Sentinel reporters Christal Hayes, Stephanie Allen and Elyssa Cherney contributed to this report.

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UPDATES:

1:31 p.m.: This article was updated with news that the boys body was found.

12:02 p.m.: This article was updated with L.A. Times staff reporting throughout.

11:08 a.m.: This article was updated with news that the Orange County sheriff has said the boy is likely dead.

June 15, 7:07 a.m.: This article was updated with additional background.

June 15, 4:01 a.m.: This article was updated with a quote from an official.

June 14, 10:28 p.m.: This article was updated to say the child had not been found yet.

This article was originally published at 8:22 p.m. June 14.
Things started out fairly well, by a busy emergency rooms standards. The Orlando Regional Medical Center had been warned that gunshot victims would be arriving from a nearby gay nightclub, and the first one was conscious, talking and medically stable.

We didnt know exactly how many we were going to get, Dr. Kathryn Bondani recalled Tuesday. We thought maybe theyre all gonna be like this, and that would be great.

But then another victim from the mass shooting early Sunday at the Pulse nightclub arrived, and another, and another, in critical condition with devastating injuries. Four or five of the earliest patients died. And then victims kept coming  not always arriving in ambulances, but sometimes in the backs of trucks, sometimes seemingly just appearing in the halls of the hospital, awaiting treatment.

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Gunshot victims arent an unusual sight at the 75-bed facility in downtown Orlando, nor are they for any trauma center handling the daily chaos of a major American city.

FULL COVERAGE: Orlando nightclub shooting 

But on Tuesday, staff at the hospital described what it was like to confront the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history, with one staffer likening it to a war scene. Forty-nine victims were killed.

Nine of those victims died in the first few minutes after arriving at the Orlando Regional Medical Center, which received 44 victims from the shooting, according to Dr. Michael Cheatham, the hospitals chief surgeon.

Six of the 27 victims still being treated at the hospital Tuesday were in critical condition, and doctors warned that some may die. Twelve victims were also treated at Florida Hospital in Orlando, where six remained in fair condition.

The victims arrived at Orlando Regional Medical Center in two waves over the course of Sunday morning. There was an initial batch of almost two dozen who arrived shortly after shooting began at 2 a.m. A second group arrived after police confronted and killed the gunman.

Some of the wounds were small, looking like they were from the shooters handgun; others were much larger, probably from the shooters .223-caliber semiautomatic rifle, according to Joseph Ibrahim, the centers trauma director.

Some victims looked like theyd been shot from close range. Some looked like theyd been shot while running away. One victim had 11 gunshot wounds; another had four surgeries after arriving Sunday, doctors said. Many of those who died suffered head wounds, they said.

One of the victims taken to the hospital was clubgoer Angel Colon, who was shot three times in the left leg as he ran away from the gunman, and then was trampled by other club patrons trying to escape.

Latest updates on the Orlando terror attack 

Angel Colon, a survivor of the shooting, speaks at a news conference at Orlando Regional Medical Center. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images )

Speaking at Tuesdays news conference, Colon said his left leg was shattered and he couldnt run, so he lay down and played dead as the gunman began shooting everyone thats already dead on the floor.

I can just see him shooting at everyone, I can hear the [shots getting] closer, and I look over and he shoots the girl next to me, Colon said.

Im next  Im dead, he recalled thinking as the gunman approached.

The gunman shot him in the hip and hand and moved on as Colon tried to show no reaction.

Soon the police arrived, and Colon said he could hear officers trading gunfire with the assailant. Colon saw an officer, and the officer grabbed his hand, saying, This is the only way I can take you out. He then dragged Colon out  as broken glass cut Colons back and his legs.

I dont feel pain, but I just feel all this blood on me, from myself, from my other people, Colon said. He just drops me off across the street  outside a Wendys restaurant -- and I look over, and theres just bodies everywhere, were all in pain. There, an ambulance took Colon to the safety, and the chaos, of the Orlando Regional Medical Center.

The hospital normally gets alerts from a very advanced emergency medical service system that lets hospital workers know when certain patients are headed their way, said Medical Director Gary Parrish. This time, there was really no advance notice at all.

As more patients arrived, the on-duty staff began calling more doctors, and more nurses and other staffers, who answered their phones in the middle of the night with a common answer: Ill be right there, according to surgical intensive-care unit director Chadwick Smith.

An army of nurses arrived  dozens who were supposed to be off-duty  along with X-ray and blood technicians as doctors set up a triage to treat the most gravely injured patients, said Bondani. Workers speedily cleaned up operating rooms after the end of one surgery so doctors could immediately begin another. Coordinators responded immediately whenever supplies ran low.

The scene was emotional, with people in pain, people worrying about their loved ones, people not knowing where their loved ones are, said Smith.

But doctors said that despite the chaos, the hospitals emergency plan worked smoothly and efficiently. Aside from the initial patients who died immediately after the shooting, no one else at the hospital had died in the 48 hours since the attack, doctors said.

Smith got emotional at Tuesdays news conference as he talked about watching hospital staffers arrive in tears to do their jobs.

It was singularly the worst day of my career, and the best day of my career, Smith told reporters. I would think this is probably the same for every person you see standing up here.

Times staff writer Molly Hennessy-Fiske in Orlando contributed to this report.

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Inside Pulse: A timeline of the night emerges

Investigators say Orlando shooter sought out Islamic State propaganda, may have staked out Disney sites

A small Florida town is left to wonder: How did 2 terrorists come from here?


6:41 P.M. Orlando

Orlando shooter had been removed from his job as a courthouse security guard Omar Mateen, shown in undated photograph. (AFP/Getty Images) Ken J. Mascara, the sheriff of St. Lucie County in Florida, said Thursday that the man who carried out the massacre at an Orlando nightclub was removed from his job as a security guard at the countys courthouse in 2013 after he made inflammatory comments about women, Jews and the mass shooting at Ft. Hood. Here is Mascaras statement: Omar Mateen was one of multiple contracted security guards that rotated through the St. Lucie County Courthouse as part of a contract with G4S Secure Solutions USA Inc. In early 2013, our staff was made aware of inflammatory comments made by Mateen. Our courthouse supervisor first requested that G4S management transfer him out of the courthouse rotation permanently. That was immediately granted. Our agency then made the appropriate notifications to inform our federal partners. It was at this time that the FBI began an investigation into Mateen that was later deemed inconclusive. Molly Hennessy-Fiske



June 12, 2016, 4:30 p.m. Who they were: The victims of the Orlando terror attack Read more



2:06 P.M. Obama on gun violence President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at a memorial in Orlando, Fla., for the victims of Sundays mass shooting at a gay nightclub. (Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images) The motives of this killer may have been different than mass shooters in Aurora or Newtown, but the instruments of death were so similar. President Obama

1:52 P.M. Watch President Obama speak in Orlando



1:28 P.M. Obama: Notion that being armed would have saved Orlando victims defies common sense President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden place flowers for the shooting victims at a memorial at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 16, 2016. (SAUL LOEBSAUL/AFP/Getty Images) In Orlando, Fla., President Obama referred to Donald Trumps recent claim that more lives could have been saved at Pulse if more patrons were armed themselves. Such a notion defies common sense, he said, without naming Trump. Obama said he was pleased the Senate would hold votes on gun safety measures, one day after Democrats waged a filibuster to force the issue. Earlier, Obama met with the owners and staff of the Pulse nightclub, a place, he said, to be who you truly are. The attack, an act of hate, was an opportunity for Americans to reflect on how we treat one another, Obama said. Hatred toward people because of sexual orientation, regardless of where it comes from, is a a betrayal of whats best in us, he said. Christi Parsons

1:26 P.M. Obama: Lone wolves require different approach Obama said the nation would continue to be relentless in its fight against terrorist networks like Al Qaeda and Islamic State. But he noted that attacks in Orlando, Fla., and San Bernardino were perpetrated not by sophisticated cells but so-called lone wolves, requiring a different approach. We cant anticipate or catch every single deranged person who may wish to do harm, he said. But we can do something about the damage they do. As he embraced the victims families, Obama said they pleaded for him to do more. They dont care about the politics, and neither do I, he said. Christi Parsons

1:25 P.M. reporting from orlando, fla.

Most of all, there is love, Obama says in mourning Orlando victims Orlandos response to the Pulse shooting massacre is a reminder of what is good about America, President Obama said in an emotional tribute to the victims Thursday. After hours-long meetings with their families and survivors of the deadly attack, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden traveled to a makeshift memorial to leave bouquets of 49 white roses -- one for each life lost -- among the other flowers, balloons and photos that have collected there. In brief remarks to reporters after, Obama said those lost showed us what is best about humanity. It will carry us through this atrocity and other challenges, he said as a light rain began to fall. Out of this darkest of moments, that gives us hope. Though the city was shaken by an evil, hateful act, the president added, most of all, there is love. Christi Parsons



1:06 P.M. Sen. John McCain: Obama directly responsible for Orlando shooting Sen. John McCain speaks on Capitol Hill in April. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Republican Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Thursday that President Obama is directly responsible for the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla,, because Obama has allowed the growth of Islamic State group on his watch. McCain  who lost to Obama in the 2008 presidential election  made the comment to reporters while Obama was in Orlando visiting with the families of those killed in Sundays attack and some of the survivors. Barack Obama is directly responsible for it, because when he pulled everybody out of Iraq, Al Qaeda went to Syria, became ISIS, and ISIS is what it is today thanks to Barack Obamas failures, utter failures, by pulling everybody out of Iraq, a visibly angry McCain told reporters in the Capitol as the Senate debated a spending bill. So the responsibility for it lies with President Barack Obama and his failed policies, McCain said. However, McCain later sought to clarify his comments, saying over Twitter: To clarify, I was referring to Pres Obamas national security decisions that have led to rise of #ISIL, not to the President himself. Associated Press This post was updated to reflect McCains clarification of his earlier remarks. The original post was published at 12:06 p.m.

12:04 P.M. Florida Sen. Bill Nelson also meets with victims families



11:09 A.M. Medical examiner kept gunmans body separate from victims The body of one of the Orlando massacre victims arrives at the Orange County, Fla., medical examiners office on June 12, 2016. (Alan Diaz / Associated Press) The medical examiner who oversaw the autopsies of the 49 victims in the Pulse nightclub shooting says he kept their bodies separated from the gunmans body. Dr. Joshua Stephany said in a statement Thursday that the remains of gunman Omar Mateen were being held in a building separate from the victims. He also says the gunmans autopsy was conducted in a separate building from the victims. Stephany says he decided to do that not because of any requirement but because he thought it was the right thing to do. The medical examiner says his staff was able to identify and conduct autopsies on the all victims within 72 hours after Sunday mornings shooting. Associated Press

10:59 A.M. Flags of Puerto Rico and Mexico appear in Orlando memorials Marisa Gerber

10:39 A.M. Obama arrives at the Amway Center

10:36 A.M. An Orlando cops gesture of solidarity with the citys Puerto Rican community

Nearly half of those killed in the Pulse nightclub massacre had ties to Puerto Rico.



10:29 A.M. CIA director predicts more terrorist attacks like those in Orlando, Brussels and Paris John Brennan responds to a senators question during his February 2013 confirmation hearings to be director of the CIA. (Michael Reynolds / European Pressphoto Agency) CIA Director John Brennan warned Thursday that as Islamic State loses ground in Syria and Iraq, it probably will use guerrilla tactics to launch more terrorist attacks like those in Orlando, Fla., Brussels and Paris. The CIA has seen no sign that Omar Mateen, who killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, was in contact with Islamic State or any other terrorist group, Brennan told the Senate Intelligence Committee. Like the married couple who killed 14 people on Dec. 2 in San Bernardino, Mateen appears to have been self-radicalized online, in part by listening to jihadist sermons and watching videos of beheadings by militants. Brian Bennett Read more



10:26 A.M. Islamic State inspiring DIY terror Crime scene investigators search Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Maliks SUV after a gun battle with the couple in San Bernardino on Dec. 4, 2015. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Islamic State supporters have accounted for 67 homegrown violent jihadist plots in the United States between 2014 and early June 2016, according to an analysis by the Congressional Research Service, although only a handful were carried out. The plots, in which Americans either joined terrorist organizations abroad or committed violent attacks at home or overseas, involved more than 100 individuals, the 18-page report said. A total of 13 homegrown attacks were carried out in the United States since 2001, the CRS found, five of which involved people inspired by the Islamic State. The analysis said these attackers, which include the Orlando shooter and the couple who gunned down 14 people in San Bernardino, often acted alone and did not have sustained, substantive, in-person contact with foreign terrorist organizations, rather they scraped together ideological justification from online and social media sources. In essence, these attacks involved do-it-yourself  DIY  terrorists, the study said. Largely isolated from the operational support of terrorist organizations, they acquired violent skills (however rudimentary) by themselves or relied on abilities that they had developed prior to becoming violent jihadists. W.J. Hennigan



10:07 A.M. Obamas Orlando visit will be different than previous trips following mass shootings (Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press) President Obama has arrived in Orlando, Fla., to meet with the family members of victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre. But unlike some of the presidents previous trips for memorial services after mass shootings, this one will be decidedly low-key: no address to a large crowd, but simply a few personal reflections to the press after spending time with mourners. The White House has worked closely with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to coordinate the visit, spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters traveling with the president, and did not want to overburden local law enforcement officials strained by the attacks. The quick visit, though, was a way for both Obama and Vice President Joe Biden to show that Americans stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of central Florida. Theres no more tangible way to show support than by traveling to the city where this horrific incident occurred, Schultz said. The shooting has quickly become fodder for the presidential campaign, but Obamas visit has a bipartisan note. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida joined Obama aboard Air Force One to travel to Orlando. And among those greeting Obama upon arrival was Republican Gov. Rick Scott. Michael A. Memoli



10:01 A.M. Vigil for Orlando shooting victims held in politically conservative Orange County Sisters Sarah Bryant, left, and Katy Bryant, both from Irvine, listen as the names of the Orlando shooting victims are read during a vigil at the Velvet Lounge, a gay bar and club in Santa Ana. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) The comfort of words flowed, as smooth as their spirits. A vigil for the victims of the Orlando mass shooting, the largest in U.S. history, took place in a gay nightclub in Santa Ana  the seat of famously conservative Orange County. This is the church of the LGBTQ community, our safe space, Sian Wiltshire of Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church said Wednesday night, standing under rainbow-colored spotlights at the Velvet Lounge. About 100 people, many of them holding flickering candles, intoned the names of the dead. He shattered a veneer of safety that we all had constructed. I feel like we have to go back and reclaim that. Rev. Kent Doss of Tapestry Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Mission Viejo Read more Anh Do

9:56 A.M. Obama arrives in Orlando
After Sundays terrorist attack at an Orlando nightclub, presumptive Republican nominee Donald J. Trump issued a statement saying that President Obama should resign because he disgracefully refused to even say the words radical Islam in condemning the violence.

Trumps comments were cynical, tasteless and served to politicize the tragic events. But he isnt alone in believing that it is an excessive fealty to political correctness that has left the president unwilling to utter those two magic words  radical Islam. The idea that Obama wont name the enemy, as Sen. Ted Cruz put it, is a popular applause line for Republicans. The underlying assumption is that unless the I-word is insistently uttered, success is impossible in the military campaign against Islamic State.

On Tuesday, Obama heaped appropriate scorn on that notion. What exactly would using this language accomplish? he asked. What exactly would it change? Would it make [Islamic State] less committed to try and kill Americans? Would it bring in more allies? Is there a military strategy that is served by this? The answer is none of the above. Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away.

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Hillary Clinton, whom Trump had also faulted for not using the term radical Islam had a similar reaction. The presumptive Democratic nominee said on Monday that she had no problem using the term radical Islamism to characterize the ideology behind the atrocity in Orlando. But she emphasized that it matters what we do, not what we say.

Obamas Republican critics  perhaps with the exception of the obtuse Trump  know perfectly well why the president has been careful with his language. True, Islamic State and those it inspires are Islamic in the sense that they find their inspiration in their intolerant interpretation of that religion. At the same time, the vast majority of the worlds Muslims are not violent extremists.

If Obama has sometimes erred on the side of sensitivity  for example, with his comment in a 2014 speech that Islamic State is not Islamic  its because, like President George W. Bush before him, he recognizes that a worse evil would be seeming to tar millions of peaceful Muslims as terrorists. (He also realizes, we suspect, that some of those who clamor for him to modify every reference to terrorism with the word Islamic regard all Muslims as the enemy. Isnt that, after all, the message of Trumps proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the United States?)

Its unlikely that Trump will be chastened by Obamas powerful rebuke Tuesday. But if other Republicans who have raised this non-issue are honest with themselves, they will distance themselves from Trumps nonsensical insistence on magic words.

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Dear British friends, Im writing to say Im sorry my president has been meddling so much in the debate about Brexit, your June 23 vote on whether to remain part of the European Union. The speeches, the BBC interview, the op-ed in the Daily Telegraph  its all been a bit much.

Still, good friends cannot help but offer advice. Ive watched the polls swing back and forth  a recent Guardian/ICM poll suggested leaving is up 53% to 47%, while poll aggregators see a dead heat with about 10% of you undecided. As an American whos worked in international affairs, lived in the EU, and loves both Burgundy wines and Devon clotted cream, let me offer you this bit of advice: In this existential decision, dont let experts and politicians  yours or ours  scare you. Take everything with a dose of salt.

Of course, we all know that if Britain leaves the EU there would be some messy years of negotiations with Brussels. Its hard to understate how complicated the task of detaching from the EU would be and how many people in Europe would be affected. But complicated does not mean impossible or disastrous.

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I dont envy those of you trying to make sense of the guesstimates about the economic impact. Yes, the studies indicate that Brexit would damage Britains economy, but it all will depend on what terms of trade remaining EU members would give Britain. One theory is that the EU (read Germany and France) would play hardball to punish you and dissuade other potential defectors (read Denmark).

I think thats unlikely. Some 2.2 million non-British Europeans work in Britain. Not to put too fine a point on it, but London is full of young French workers who could not find jobs in France. Whether they are cafe waiters or bankers, Francois Hollande cannot afford for you to send them home jobless, so France will want to make reasonably nice. More than 750,000 Brits live in Spain, a good chunk of them retirees pouring British pensions into Spanish society. Madrid will not want to disrupt that.

Multinational corporations also will press for everything to stay the same. Kelloggs provides breakfast cereals to Europe from a factory in Manchester; BMW sells Mini Coopers in Europe that are made in Britain. And so on.

In other words, because everyone has so much to lose, the post-Brexit economic landscape might look much like what exists now. Indeed, Britain might succeed keeping the economic benefits of the single market without its regulatory and financial burdens.

Most Americans probably agree with our president and would prefer that Britain stay in the EU. Besides fear of the unknown, I am not sure why.

Nonetheless, most Americans paying any attention to Brexit probably agree with our president and would prefer that Britain stay in the EU. Besides fear of the unknown, I am not sure why.

Different people have different reasons. In his Daily Telegraph op-ed President Obama argued that EU membership doesnt moderate British influence  it magnifies it. But that really depends on the issue and the forum.

In many fields, U.S. diplomats actually might welcome the return of a separate British voice speaking for 65 million people and the worlds sixth-largest independent economy. On some issues Britain might work more closely with other Anglophone countries than with continental Europeans. Britain would get to speak its own mind at the World Trade Organization and other international institutions. Frankly, Britain would probably punch above its weight.

But Obama clearly meant something specific about Britains influence. He meant British influence in Brussels and, implicitly, the idea that Britain often echoes American perspectives in the EUs internal deliberations.

Historically, no one was more responsible for this theory than French President Charles de Gaulle, who repeatedly targeted his post-World War II enmity toward les anglo-saxons, a term that for him implied a shared outlook between Brits and Americans. Of course, there is some truth here; a special relationship really does exist between our countries.

But it is also terribly old-school thinking  a lot like being a Gaullist. Simply put, the mental divide between continental Europeans and les anglo-saxons has narrowed considerably over the decades. EU/U.S. differences remain on a host of issues, but we hardly need Britain to speak up for us in Brussels when so many European leaders have Ivy League degrees, spent high school semesters in California, and grew up watching American films.

Obamas activism may reflect a larger concern: that a British exit from the EU would commence a full unraveling of the European Union. If that is what hes thinking, it is a bit insulting to Europeans because it fails to appreciate the full scope and depth of continental Europes post-1945 integration. The immediate refugee crisis and the long-term Euro debt crises are greater hazards to a united Europe than whether Britain leaves the club.

Indeed, a decision to Brexit is more likely to unravel the United Kingdom than the European Union. A Brexit vote may prompt the Scots  and perhaps the Welsh and Northern Irish  to demand new referenda on their independence from Britain.

But you dont need me, or my president, to tell you that.

Justin Hughes was the chief U.S. negotiator for two recent multilateral treaties; he teaches international trade and intellectual property law at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.

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The general election campaign has barely started, and its already turned into a clash of civilizations. Not a clash between Islamic and Judeo-Christian civilization, although Donald Trump sometimes makes it sound that way. Instead, its a battle between two different views of American civilization. Are we teetering anxiously on the edge of destruction? Or are we still optimistic despite recurring terrorism and mass violence?

One candidate, Trump, speaks to the gut and unabashedly stokes voters fears.

If we dont get tough  were not going to have our country anymore, the presumptive Republican nominee said in the aftermath of the shooting in Orlando, Fla. There will be nothing  absolutely nothing  left. Nothing?

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He also accused American Muslims of willfully harboring terrorists.

The Muslims have to work with us, he said. They knew that [the Orlando gunman] was bad. They knew that the people in San Bernardino were bad. But you know what? They didnt turn them in. And you know what? We had death and destruction.

Actually, law enforcement officials say many of their best tips about potential terrorists come from Muslim communities. And Omar Mateen, the Orlando shooter, was turned in to police at least twice.

The other candidate, Hillary Clinton, pleads for unity and proposes wonky policy plans  including such bloodless stuff as an intelligence surge to bolster our capabilities across the board, with appropriate safeguards here at home.

This week, she suggested that incremental improvements in law enforcement, plus a new commitment to civility, could overcome the terrorist threat.

I have no doubt we can meet this challenge if we meet it together, she said.

And she recalled that on Sept. 12, 2001, We did not attack each other; we worked with each other to protect our country. I am so confident and optimistic that is exactly what we will do.

Theres not much evidence for that in the campaign, though.

Its not just horrific violence that exposes the rift in how the candidates perceive the countrys position.

It was not the type of speech that one would expect from someone who wants to lead our country through difficult times.  Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), referring to Donald Trumps response to the Orlando terror attack

Trump says he wants to make America great again  an America that, in his view, is losing its identity and its security because of uncontrolled immigration from Mexico and the Middle East.

Clinton says she wants to make America great too, but the again is missing from her version. Clintons America is in fundamentally good shape except for a sputtering, unequal economy.

The dichotomy is mirrored among their voters. A Pew Research Center poll in March found that 75% of Trump supporters believed life in America had gotten worse (for people like you) in the last 50 years. Among Clinton supporters, only 22% thought life had gotten worse, and 53% thought life had improved. (Among voters overall, 46% thought life had gotten worse, 34% that it was better.)

This time, Trump may have gone too far. A chorus of Republican leaders said Tuesday that they were distressed at their nominees slash-and-burn rhetoric  and at his renewed insistence that immigration from Muslim countries be stopped.

I do not think a Muslim ban is in our countrys interest, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) said. I do not think it is reflective of our principles.

The vast, vast majority of Muslims in this country and around the world are moderate. Theyre peaceful. Theyre tolerant. And so theyre among our best allies.

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), said he was disappointed by Trumps speech.

After 49 people have perished, it was not the type of speech that one would expect from someone who wants to lead our country through difficult times, he told me.

In recent weeks, Corker and other GOP leaders have urged Trump to sound more presidential.

I must admit that I am personally discouraged, said Corker, who has been mentioned as a potential vice presidential candidate.

But Trump may be acting more strategically than it looks, as is often the case. The GOP historically gets the benefit of the doubt from voters on national security issues, and so far that has benefited Trump as much as any Republican. A Gallup poll last month (before Orlando) found that 50% of voters think hes better equipped than Clinton to deal with terrorism and national security. (Her number was 46%.)

If Trump can turn the election into a referendum on whether Americans feel safe against terrorists, he might win. On the other hand, if the election becomes a referendum on whether voters will feel safe with Trump as president, hes more likely to lose.

Its far too early to make predictions. All we know for sure from these initial skirmishes is that Trump doesnt plan on pivoting to a more presidential persona  and that this is already the ugliest presidential campaign in modern memory.

doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com

Twitter: @DoyleMcManus

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook
Here is the plain and dangerous truth facing the cosmopolitan world: In the opinion of many millions of Jews and Christians and Muslims, the Abrahamic God of the desert is a homophobe.

Omar Mateen, the nightmare killer of Orlando, Fla., may have been, as his ex-wife tells us now, crazed; he may also have been, as she says, abusive. He may have been, as she suggests, a closeted gay. His father tells us that Mateen took offense at the sight of two men kissing.

Mateen spent many hours each day in the gym. He left behind selfies taken in the ghost-realm of the bathroom mirror; his face, his form, obviously interested him.

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In the end, like many mass terrorists we have gotten to know, Omar Mateen was a killer for God. Murder was his confession.

A few weeks ago, Farrokh Sekaleshfar, who is described on Internet sites as a Muslim scholar, was traveling through Orlando, encouraging male listeners at mosques to believe that the remedy for homosexuality is to get rid of the vermin.

I have no idea whether Mateen heard any of Sekaleshfars sermons. But when he entered the Pulse nightclub on Sunday morning, Mateen evidently had convinced himself that he was in league with the Islamic State and that murder is prayer.

Almost a year ago, Yishai Schlissel, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish resident of Jerusalem, stabbed six marchers in that citys gay pride parade. Schlissel had just been released from prison after serving a 10-year sentence for exactly the same crime  stabbing several gay pride revelers in 2005. He told the police in 2015 that he had come to kill in the name of God.

On Sunday, within minutes of the terrible news from Orlando, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick of Texas, a Baptist, tweeted a verse from Galatians 6:7: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. After an angry response from other tweeters, Patrick deleted the biblical quote and consigned his views of homosexuality to silence.

Hate crimes too often are the product of religions affronted by love.

Because I am a Christian, I suppose I more easily mock the views of another Christian, like Dan Patrick, toward my homosexuality, than I would mock a Muslim. But the wider problem with the Abrahamic religions remains: How will the new sexual freedoms of the West meet the religious conservatism of the East, especially as immigration has made distinctions between West and East moot in West Detroit or East London?

The desert religions of Abraham  Judaism, Christianity, Islam  were shaped by an encounter with a God who revealed himself within an ecology of almost lunar desolation. In such a place, the call to belief was tribal, not individualistic. Sexuality was an expression of faith to increase the tribe. Allegiance to God and to ones ancestors was fulfilled by giving birth. And it is not only some radical Muslim teacher in a Florida mosque who professes such a theology. St. Augustine, one of the most sublime teachers of the Christian church, argued that the primary reason for marriage is having children.

Having multiple wives is often excusable in cultures where the woman as mother is more important than the woman as wife. Indeed, where women are treated as mothers rather than wives, a certain separation often occurs between male and female societies. Mateen might have been offended by the sight of two men kissing in Orlando, but one wonders what he have would made of Arabian and Afghan societies, where men stroll arm in arm and enjoy the night at cafes without women.

My sexual liberation is a Western liberation. I credit my freedom as a gay man to the womens movement of the 19th century. When Oscar Wilde was in jail in England for loving another man, increasing numbers of women in England and Europe and America were marching for equal civic stature with men, regardless of whether they were mothers or wives. Womens insistence on suffrage expanded in the 20th century to become the demand by women to exist in public as freely as men, and in private to govern their own bodies.

In the 21st century, women in Cologne, Germany, and Stockholm have come to realize that there are immigrant men watching the way they walk down the street, men who take offense at what they are wearing  how little  and their obliviousness to male lust. As a gay man, walking in East Jerusalem or Dubai or small-town America, I have to be careful holding my partners hand, or seeming too gay. As a Roman Catholic, I long ago learned to duck my head when the talk was all about love.

The FBI estimates that 18% of all hate crimes in the U.S. are anti-gay. The problem with the term hate crime is that it doesnt get at what is making the world most dangerous: Hate crimes too often are the product of religions affronted by love.

You will say that I exaggerate the problem. America is not Kabul. You would think, perhaps, that Orlando today is relatively safe for two persons of the same sex to dance for their own pleasure. After all, Disney World, a few miles away, has gay nights.

And yet, there was the need, obviously, this last Saturday night for many homosexuals to seek their freedom in a large nightclub of noisy permission, to dance at the joy of being free  free until they were cut down by a believer in the desert God.

Richard Rodriguez is the author, most recently, of Darling: A Spiritual Autobiography.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook.

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Three years ago, Mark Carson was walking with a friend in Greenwich Village, the Manhattan neighborhood that birthed the contemporary LGBT movement. It was a Friday night in early spring; they wore cut-off shorts and cowboy boots. When they turned a corner onto West 8th Street, a group of men appeared behind them.

What are you, gay wrestlers? one taunted. F----t! another yelled. Queer. Finally, one asked the question Carson would never get to answer: Do you want to die here? He shot Carson in the face with a .38-caliber revolver. Carson, who died from his injuries, was the fifth openly gay man to be violently attacked in Manhattan in a span of just three weeks. In court, his killer, Elliot Morales, claimed to have acted in self-defense. The defense characterized Morales as self-loathing, highlighting his fraught romantic relationship with a transgender woman.

A year later, Ali Muhammad Brown used the gay and bisexual dating app Grindr to lure two men to meet him outside of R Place, a popular gay bar in Seattle. Less than 17 minutes after picking them up, he had killed both execution-style in his car. Brown said his mission was vengeance for the U.S. killings in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. He described himself as a jihadi.

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In the wake of the horrific attack on the Pulse club in Orlando, Fla., the motivations of gunman Omar Mateen will be dissected ad nauseum. The information we have right now points to an increasingly complex case, with myriad potential social and political motivations. International terrorism, however, is on the lips of politicians and pundits after it was revealed that Mateen pledged his fealty to ISIS. Whatever the particularities of this case, however, the reality is that the threat and realization of violence against the LGBT community are not isolated to a lone Florida club. The scope of the Orlando attack was shocking, but acts of violence against the LGBT community are disturbingly common.

The victims went to Pulse nightclub to be themselves in a safe corner of a hateful world, and the price they paid was their life.

The year 2015 was the most lethal on record for transgender people in America, with a 40% increase in fatalities from 2014. My grandmother is 90 and I have more dead friends than she does, a 46-year-old transgender woman told Ebony. Killing us is nothing new. Its like being a policeman. When you go to work, you know you might get shot. Its just something that comes with the territory. Trans women also experience sexual violence at nearly twice the national rate.

LGBT youth are frequently bullied, sometimes to death. Perhaps the most notorious case in recent years was that of Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers freshman who killed himself after his roommate surreptitiously recorded him kissing another man. Clementi is far from alone in his suffering. In a 2015 study, LGBT students were found to be 91% more likely to be bullied and 46% more likely to be victimized than their peers. Activist and author Dan Savage created the It Gets Better campaign to bring hope to queer youth who are struggling under constant harassment. Its videos have been viewed more than 50 million times.

Gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans are still the frequent subjects of systemic violence. Two years ago, James Cosby killed both his daughter and her girlfriend in Houston; hed mentioned to his family that he disliked her sexual orientation. In Cosbys bedroom, the Koran had been left open to a page that described homosexuality as a sin. Last month, Nick Hawkins was shot dead on his way home from a beauty pageant; a group of young men has since been charged in the crime. While Hawkins was proud of his bisexuality, hed already had to drop out of high school due to constant harassment.

The Orlando attack gave many straight people a glimpse into what LGBT Americans have known all along: that the world is dangerous if youre queer, more dangerous if youre also an ethnic or racial or religious minority. The victims went to Pulse nightclub to be themselves in what they thought was a safe corner of a hateful world. The price they paid was their lives. The Orlando attack chillingly underscores that, for LGBT Americans, there are no safe corners.

Saturday night was Latin night at Pulse. The music was a mix of reggaeton, bachata, merengue and salsa. Ray Rivera, a straight man, DJd. Trans talent performed. There are so many other countries where that night couldnt have happened. In the wake of the attacks, conservative politicians have referenced the need to adhere to our founding documents, so lets meet them there. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are the inalienable rights given to all Americans. Those are the rights our government was created to protect. The Orlando victims were part of a community that deserves the full promise of our country. They were part of a community that deserves better than what we have given them.

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A 15-hour filibuster by Senate Democrats to try to block gun sales to suspected terrorists ended before dawn Thursday without any clear sign that the proposals will pass when votes are held next week.

The dramatic talkathon, days after the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., gave Democrats a chance to voice their frustration at the congressional impasse on gun control while they tried to reconcile potential measures with Republicans.

The Senate is likely to vote on two of the Democrats proposals as early as Monday as amendments to a spending bill.

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One amendment would bar those on federal terrorism watch lists from purchasing firearms. The other would mandate background checks for sales and gun shows and over the Internet.

See the most-read stories this hour >>

Its not clear whether Democrats can get the votes to pass the amendments in the GOP-led chamber, and even less clear whether the GOP-led House will agree.

We dont know, Sen Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said when asked whether the restrictions would pass.

But he expressed hope, adding, For the first time, a few of our colleagues are actually saying, We ought to do something.

Sen. Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.), who launched the filibuster at 11:21 a.m. Wednesday and ended it at 2:11 a.m. Thursday, said Republican leaders had agreed to hold votes on the Democrat-backed measures.

We still have to get from here to there, but we did not have that commitment when we started, he told reporters.

He credited the filibuster with pressuring Republican leaders to allow a vote. But he added there was no guarantee that those amendments will pass.

The slaying of 49 people in a gay nightclub Sunday in Orlando again raised concerns over why people on the FBIs terrorism watch list and no-fly list can legally purchase weapons.

You cant do a no-fly bill, you cant do a terrorist watch list, and then leave a loophole, Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) told reporters.

The Orlando gunman, Omar Mateen, was on the FBIs terrorism watch list for 10 months in 2013 and 2014, but his name was removed when the FBI closed its investigation of him. Mateen legally purchased a semiautomatic rifle and a handgun this month.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she was preparing a proposal that would deny guns to those on the watch list going back five years. That would have covered Mateen.

Opponents of the legislation say they are concerned that people may be added to a terrorism watch list by mistake and unfairly blocked from purchasing firearms.

Sen. Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.) said he would introduce a bill that would require the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to review requests from the attorney general to block individual terrorism suspects from buying or selling guns.

Senate Democrats said Thursday the legislation presented by Toomey and past legislation from Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) would not produce real change.

Schumer said their proposals would almost never prevent a terrorist from buying a weapon.

The National Rifle Assn. released a statement after the filibuster began, calling for a process that allows people to appeal their being added to any watch lists.

Murphys filibuster outlasted one led by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in 2013, which had held the record for the longest in the last 20 years.

Speaking for about 13 hours, Paul tried to block confirmation hearings for John Brennan, President Obamas nominee for CIA director, to protest the administrations surveillance policies. Brennan was later confirmed.

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jill.ornitz@latimes.com

UPDATES:

3:15 p.m.: This article was updated with quotes and information about the upcoming vote.

11:23 p.m.: This article was updated with information that the filibuster ended.

This article was originally published at 1:46 p.m.
Donald Trumps expansion of his proposal to bar Muslims from entering the U.S. to include people from countries with a history of terrorism has been panned in both parties. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson called it overly simplistic. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said its neither in American interests nor reflective of our principles.

Yet after the Orlando massacre heightened fears of terrorism, Trump renewed and expanded his call for such a ban, and polls have shown a high level of support, particularly among Republican primary voters. But as with many of Trumps proposals, the details have been sketchy at best. Immigration specialists say that most, but not all, of the elements would be impossible to apply, and that diplomatic repercussions could be severe on those provisions that could be enacted.

What did Trump propose?

After the San Bernardino attack, Trump called for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on.

Then, this week, after a gunman killed dozens at a a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Trump claimed vindication. He also seemed to expand the parameters of his proposal to include areas of the world where theres a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies, until we fully understand how to end these threats."

What did Trump mean?

Trumps spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, did not respond to a request to explain the statement. On its face, the indefinite ban could include a broad group of countries, including the U.S., where Orlando gunman Omar Mateen was born. It could also include Russia, controversial allies such as Saudi Arabia, and closer allies such as France.

Trump probably did not intend to include close allies and was more likely to trying to insulate himself from criticism that he was targeting people purely based on religion, said David Martin, a former top official in the Department of Homeland Security in the Obama administration. But its conceivable you could have a country like Belgium on the list, given the countrys emergence as a breeding ground for terrorist plots, he said.

Is it legal?

Probably, though such a ban has not been tested in court. The Constitution has strong protections against religious discrimination. But the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 grants the president broad authority to suspend entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States [who] would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.

That power has been used, Martin pointed out, but usually to restrict access to smaller groups of bad actors, such as Moammar Kadafi and his family before the U.S. intervention in Libya, or certain Russians involved in fighting in Ukraine. Barring entire religions and nationalities would almost certainly invite a court challenge and Supreme Court justices could raise questions about the use of such sweeping power, particularly by religious test.

How would the government bar entire nationalities?

For most countries, the U.S. could simply stop issuing visas and depend on airlines to help with enforcement. The U.S. does not require visas for people holding passports from 38 countries. But even people from so-called visa waiver countries are required to apply for a visa if they hold dual nationality in Iraq, Iran, Syria or Sudan. Immigration inspectors have authority to accept or reject anyone from entering the country, whether traveling on a visa or not. And the U.S. could remove countries from the waiver list, or add other barriers.

But there is always the possibility of fraud, such as fake passports, given the large numbers of people involved in the bans. And unanswered questions remain about what to do with citizens of those countries who are already here as legal residents or on work visas.

People that are trying to get in from those countries for evil reasons, they would be the hardest ones to keep track of, said Julie Myers Wood, who led Immigration and Customs Enforcement under George W. Bush.

Could the government ban an entire religion?

This is much tougher. Few, if any, passports list a religion. The U.S. does not track the religions of people already here. Immigration officials could ask, but terrorists and other evildoers would be the least likely to answer such a question truthfully. The proposal would spark a cottage industry of fake baptismal certificates, Wood predicted.

She said the government could use its leverage with other countries to get help, especially those that track religion.

In this horrible, make-believe world  where you can force people to pay for walls, perhaps you can persuade them to cooperate, Wood said.

How would other countries respond?

Not well.

Muzaffar Chishti, New York director of the Migration Policy Institute, mentioned the diplomatic ramifications of rejecting a member of a royal family as an example of the potential to harm U.S. business and diplomatic interests when applying a blanket ban on everyone from king to the pauper and the most innocent to the most extremist.

Countries would probably retaliate, restricting or banning access for American citizens and rescinding other forms of cooperation. The move would also put large portions of trade at risk, especially for businesspeople who are used to traveling freely in countries that grant visa waivers to U.S. citizens.

It would be a major foreign policy development, Martin said. Its not just a matter of a few people not being allowed to get on an airplane.

Would it stop terrorism?

There is little evidence it would. In addition to the risk of fraud, many terrorists, from Mateen in Orlando back to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh or the leftist radicals of the 1970s, were born in the United States.

noah.bierman@latimes.com

Twitter: @noahbierman

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Frustrated House Democrats with limited ability to influence the congressional agenda tried for the dozenth time Tuesday to force a gun-control vote.

Specifically, lawmakers used a procedural move in an attempt to get their colleagues to vote to prevent people on the FBIs terrorist watch list from being able to purchase a gun. Given Republican control of Congress and a years-long logjam on anything related to guns, the push was symbolic.

But it was the second emotional and tense moment for Democrats who have repeatedly pushed for the provision and other changes to gun laws in the months since Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and other California members first stalled House floor action in the days after the San Bernardino shooting in an effort to raise the same issue.

It came in the wake of the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, and as the California Legislature considered its own package of strict gun-control measures during a debate that centered around the massacre in Orlando.

FULL COVERAGE of the shooting 

Democrats, many wearing rainbow ribbons on their lapels in tribute to the 49 people slain in the gay nightclub Sunday morning, were visibly angry throughout the day as the effort failed  again  on a party-line vote. Only one Democrat, Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota, joined Republicans.

Thompson called Congress inaction cowardice and an embarrassment.

Weve had moments of silence ad nauseam, but Ill tell you what we havent had, we havent had one single vote on any piece of legislation to address the issue of gun-violence prevention, Thompson told reporters Tuesday. We have not had one single vote on any piece of legislation that tries to make sure that we do everything possible to keep people who shouldnt have guns from getting guns.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) told reporters that Democrats are frustrated that no legislation has been brought up for a vote despite repeated shootings.

As Mondays moment of silence ended for the victims in Orlando, several Democrats yelled out their frustration to House Speaker Paul Ryan, demanding to know when he would call a vote. Others walked out of the chamber. Becerra said emotions were still high in Democrats weekly meeting Tuesday morning.

We cant just have moments of silence when we see American lives perish, Becerra said. By God, this is the peoples House. If we cant stand up, and then do something, then we are in trouble.

Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) said he is not optimistic Congress would pass any gun-violence legislation in response to the Orlando nightclub shooting. The no-fly list issue, in fact, was on the House floor on Dec. 2, as Aguilar first learned of the San Bernardino shooting in his district.

Look, weve spent months talking about this issue. Id love to see some action, I think that Americans want to see some common-sense measures that we can take, and Ill continue to advocate for those, he said.

Aguilar said like others who had seen tragedy back home had reached out to him, he called Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.) quickly after learning about the attack in her district.

A shooting back home 

Obviously this is a small club of members of Congress that is growing, sadly, he said.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) said in an interview he thinks the FBI should also be notified if someone who was investigated or was once on the no-fly list suddenly buys weapons or ammunition in large quantities. Schiff, the highest ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said hes not sure if that would require legislation to accomplish.

Let the FBI determine what use to make of that information. It may very well warrant a reopening of the investigation, certainly if it indicates that someone is about to actualize radical thoughts that theyve expressed in the past, he said.

https://twitter.com/RepZoeLofgren/status/742747327857823746

House Republicans plan to repackage three already-approved bills dealing with terrorism recruitment and send them to the Senate as a single bill, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday.

"As we mourn and pray, we must also respond to the threat ISIS poses to our homeland. We must secure our nation from terrorism and prevent radicalization here at home so the American people can be safe and live without fear," McCarthy said in a statement.

Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) said Congress should focus on mental health and terrorist threats rather than new gun laws. He suggested the Democratic efforts were a diversion" and that it is a "problem that lawmakers are trying to turn this into a gun debate.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said in a statement Tuesday that Congress should reconsider the military-style assault weapon ban, and she may put forward legislation to do so herself. Congress banned the manufacture, sale and possession of semi-automatic, or so-called assault weapons, in 1994, but allowed the ban to expire in 2004.

Feinstein pushed to have the ban reinstated after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

If Congress had approved the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013, the manufacture of these weapons would have been prohibited, and I believe the Orlando gunman would have been prevented from buying the Sig Sauer MCX, she said. While its true that an assault-weapons ban would not stop every attack or shooting, its clear that a weapon of war that can kill 49 people and wound so many others does not belong on our streets.

President Obama also called for an assault weapons ban in a speech Tuesday.

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough) made her case during a passionate speech on the House floor Tuesday morning.

The American people are too familiar with the AR-15, a weapon designed to hunt Americans in their most vulnerable places, the classroom, the movie theater, the nightclub, she said.

Rep. Jackie Speier talks about gun violence after a shooting in an Orlando nightclub that killed 49 people.

Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Los Angeles) said he is looking for new co-sponsors on his legislation to change the chambers rules to require a congressional hearing each time its members stand in silence to recognize gun-violence victims.

Its overdue that we actually do something and its incredibly frustrating, he said. Weve got to stop being silent on even discussing the issue.

sarah.wire@latimes.com

Follow @sarahdwire on Twitter

Read more about the 55 members of California's delegation at latimes.com/politics

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Updates on California politics
Some like it hot. But a new report from the World Health Organization suggests that when it comes to beverages such as coffee, liking it too hot may increase the risk for esophageal cancer.

The warning, issued Wednesday, follows an exhaustive review of studies on coffee, tea and cancer by the WHOs International Agency for Research on Cancer. A working group of 23 scientists declared that drinking beverages hotter than 149 degrees Fahrenheit is probably carcinogenic to humans  a category that also includes red meat, the pesticide DDT and the human papillomavirus.

However, the report makes clear that it is temperature that makes an espresso, cappuccino or plain old cup of joe risky  not the coffee itself. The panel downgraded coffee from its former status as possibly carcinogenic to humans to a category of items whose cancer risk is unclassifiable.

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As a heavy coffee drinker, I have always enjoyed my coffee guilt-free, said Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. But now there is scientific evidence to justify that.

Indeed, Americas 130 million daily coffee drinkers are likely to feel vindicated by the report. The expert panel said that coffee may actually reduce the risk of liver and endometrial cancers. They also cleared it of any role in causing cancers of the breast, uterus and prostate.

But some coffee lovers may want to change the way they drink the beverage. Until last week, the National Coffee Assn. recommended that hot coffee be served between 180 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Now it advises people to allow the beverage to reach a comfortable temperature before enjoying.

The experts on the WHO panel traced their concern to limited evidence from animal studies that drinking beverages at temperatures above 149 degrees Fahrenheit, or 65 degrees Celsius, may promote the growth of tumors. In addition, they noted that epidemiological evidence connecting beverage temperature and esophageal cancer risk showing that the hotter the beverage consumed, the greater the incidence of esophageal cancer has strengthened over time.

Dana Loomis, deputy head of the IARC program that classifies carcinogens, said the agency began to look into a possible link after seeing unusually high rates of esophageal cancer in countries where drinking very hot beverages is common.

Acknowledging that experimental evidence was scant, the international group of scientists noted one plausible explanation: that drinking very hot liquids can injure the cells lining the esophagus. That, in turn, might unleash a cascade of biological processes leading to cancer.

Loomis said that even at temperatures below 140 Fahrenheit, hot beverages can scald the skin. It stands to reason that very hot beverages might cause a thermal injury in the throat that eventually could promote the growth of tumors, he said.

The IARC initially declared that consumption of coffee and yerba mate  a highly caffeinated tea widely drunk in South America  might cause cancer in 1991. After sorting through more than 1,000 well-conducted studies 25 years later, however, the drinks got a virtual all-clear.

See the most-read stories in Science this hour 

The working group suggested that their predecessors might have missed a key signal: that heavy smoking and alcohol use often are more common among people who consume lots of coffee and mate. In 1991, researchers did not adjust their findings to take this into account.

Smoking and heavy drinking are known to be key factors in esophageal cancer risk. But heat, too, may have been an unseen factor, the working group suggested.

In drafting its warning on the consumption of hot beverages, the expert panel cited a 2000 analysis of esophageal cancer and hot-beverage consumption in South America that showed significantly increased relative risks for drinking very hot tea and other beverages. They also cited the findings of a 2009 study that tracked a large population of tea-drinking Iranians that showed increased esophageal cancer risk among those who drank their tea hot or very hot.

In laboratory experiments, drinking plain water heated to about 150 degrees Fahrenheit increased the incidence of esophageal cancers in mice and rats. By contrast, cold mate had the opposite effect, reducing the incidence of esophageal and liver tumors.

The IARC report was published in the journal Lancet Oncology.

The goal of the working group was only to assess whether hot beverages were associated with cancer risk, not to determine the magnitude of the risk. As such, the report offers no guidance on how many hot drinks it would take to significantly increase ones likelihood of developing cancer.

Other experts cited a 2015 analysis published in the journal BMC Cancer that concluded that men who drank very hot beverages had an average esophageal cancer risk 2.36 times as high as those who did not. Women who drank very hot drinks were 2.45 times more likely to develop esophageal cancer, the study found.

Fortunately, this is 2.40 times a very small number, said Dr. Thomas G. Sherman of Georgetown University Medical Center.

Indeed, Brawley suggested that those concerned about their risk of developing esophageal cancer might want to look up from their steaming cup of coffee and stay focused on better-established causes of the malignancy, which currently claims the lives of close to 16,000 Americans per year.

Quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption are much more significant for reducing cancer risk than the temperature of what youre drinking, said Brawley, who likened the cancer risk posed by drinking hot beverages to that tied to eating pickled vegetables.

The WHOs experts did not recommend a specific temperature that made coffee safe to drink. Luckily, a pair of researchers from the University of Texas in Tyler have analyzed this very question.

Using mathematical models, they weighed the sensory benefits of drinking hot coffee against the danger posed by scalding, according to their report in the journal Burns. In the end, they determined that the optimal drinking temperature was approximately 136 degrees.

The Associated Press was used in compiling this report.

melissa.healy@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @LATMelissaHealy and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.

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UPDATES:

2:37 p.m.: This article has been updated with staff reporting throughout.

This article was originally published at 7:09 a.m.
The Burbank nonprofit Family Promise of the Verdugos may have been in existence for only six years next month, but the work the organization has done has already left a positive impact on the communities it helps, according to a state official.

State Sen. Carol Liu (D-La Canada Flintridge) is recognizing Family Promise as her Nonprofit of the Year for its efforts to end homelessness in Southern California. An award ceremony will take place next Wednesday at the state capital in Sacramento.

Family Promise of the Verdugos is a vital program in our communities as we struggle to end homelessness, Liu said in an email. Research tells us that housing is a critical first step in providing services to families that help them regain their independence and financial self-sufficiency. Family Promise not only helps families take these first steps toward permanent housing and jobs, but also it engages the community in the effort and serves as a model for other communities to take action.

Working with four families at a time, no more than 14 people in total, Family Promise helps families around the clock by helping parents find stable jobs and affordable housing.

The nonprofit will work closely with each family for 90 days, but most of them find employment and move into a permanent residence in about 60 days, said Albert Hernandez, executive director of the nonprofit.

Because of those numbers, we can provide that quality programing that these families need to be sustainable after the 90 days with us, he said. I always tell everybody that were not a revolving door. I dont want these families to keep coming back over and over again and be dependent on us. I want them to come for their 90 days to get the tools and resources that they need to become independent. The only time I want to see these families ever again is when they come in just to visit or when they want to come in and volunteer.

Hernandez, who has been with the nonprofit for about a year, said that there has been about a 90% success rate for those who sought help from Family Promise.

He added that he is honored that Family Promise is being recognized for its hard work over the past six years, which included a 10-month hiatus a few years ago due to poor marketing.

Though there was a long pause in services from the nonprofit in the past, Hernandez said he thinks morale among the organizations volunteers and workers is at a high, with everyone focused on helping the community.

Im so proud of what weve done over these past 11 months and by getting this award, it only speaks to what were doing and our success here, he said.

--

Anthony Clark Carpio, anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpio

--

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Burbank educators and school board members combed through eight districtwide goals and many more subgoals during a lengthy meeting last week, and offered up suggestions to make progress on new and existing targets during the 2016-17 school year.

Burbank Unified, like all California school districts, is required to outline several goals each year as part of a requirement by state education officials who want teachers and parents to work together to create objectives fitting to their district.

NEWSLETTER: Stay up to date with whats going on in the 818 >>

Burbank Unified Supt. Matt Hill moderated the meeting last Thursday where Burbank High English teacher Diana Abasta suggested the district create specific meanings attached to grades to better explain to parents and students the grades earned on any one assignment or class.

Parents should know exactly what were trying to cover in class and the grades should also reflect that, she said, adding that other school districts have adopted uniform language to explain all the skills  such as critical thinking  that a student uses to deserve an A grade, and other letter grades.

Its hard when your child may be getting As all along...and [then] they dont get that A. Why? Its difficult, after the fact, but if our district says, Heres what an A looks like, Heres what a D looks like. Right now, the way we have it, C is average. And no one wants to be average.

Other suggestions among the participants included school board member Larry Applebaum proposing that all three of Burbanks middle schools offer drama programs, instead of only John Muir Middle School, and board President Charlene Tabet pushing for additional music class offerings.

School board member Armond Aghakhanian recommended better training for teachers using technology in the classroom, and fellow participants acknowledged that some teachers are much more savvy with technology in the classroom than others.

The goal needs to support the rationale for putting money there, Applebaum said.

Beyond technology training, professional development for teachers emerged as a key focus, including in addressing students social and emotional needs as well as in teaching writing.

I think writing is a huge deficit in this district across every student group that I come across and a lot of that has to do with teacher time to work with students. Id like to see us talk about what were actually doing with this, Applebaum said, adding that as a student himself, he once struggled with writing.

However, Sharon Cuseo, assistant superintendent for Burbank Unified, said teachers are still being trained in teaching writing after the district adopted new California State Standards last year.

I think were right where we should be, she said. Were in process.

--

Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com

Twitter: @kellymcorrigan

--

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Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis will be the guest speaker at the Corona del Mar Residents Assn. board of directors meeting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

The meeting will be held at the Oasis Senior Center, Room 5, 801 Narcissus Ave.

For more information, call (949) 478-2454 or visit www.cdmra.org.

Newport Beach councilman to discuss upcoming election

Newport Beach Councilman Keith Curry will discuss the upcoming City Council election during the Newport Beach Womens Democratic Club meeting Thursday.

Three council seats are up for grabs in November.

So far, Mike Glenn, an 11-year Newport resident and activist, Jeff Herdman, a 17-year Balboa Island resident and Lee Lowrey, a local businessman, have entered the race for District 5, which includes Balboa Island and Fashion Island.

Former Planning Commissioner Fred Ameri, local lawyer Phil Greer and Finance Committee member Will ONeill are trying for the District 7 seat representing Newport Coast and Newport Ridge.

Councilman Tony Petros is running for re-election in District 2, which includes Newport Heights and Newport Crest. Shelley Henderson also is trying for the seat.

Curry, who will be termed out at the end of the year, will speak at 6 p.m. at the Newport Beach Yacht Club, 1099 Bayside Drive.

Vanguards center for women wants nominations

The Global Center for Women and Justice at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa is accepting nominations for the annual Diamond Awards to be presented at the centers Priceless Luncheon to End Human Trafficking fundraiser Sept. 17 at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach.

The awards recognize individuals, businesses, organizations and groups for their dedication to promoting justice for women and children affected by human trafficking. Nominations are reviewed by a panel of community leaders, philanthropists, businesses and Vanguard faculty members.

Nominations may be submitted at vanguard.edu/diamondaward.
A request from a youth arts program to move into a business park next to John Wayne Airport won approval from the Costa Mesa Planning Commission on Monday, despite concerns from some neighboring businesses that it could strain parking in the area.

The commissions unanimous vote clears the way for the Arts & Learning Conservatory  an educational nonprofit organization that offers musical theater and performing arts classes  to buy and move into 3184 Airway Ave., Suite A.

The space will host the organizations summer day camp and up to six theatrical productions on weekends throughout the year. It also will be used for administrative purposes and the conservatorys after-school programs.

I think its a great vision and a great plan, Commissioner Colin McCarthy said. I think its going to work really well at this location.

The space is currently owned and occupied by Berean Community Church, which plans to relocate. Dozens of the churchs parishioners packed Mondays meeting to show their support for the proposal.

Its one of the few times weve had this big of a crowd and they werent ready to basically string us up, Commissioner Tim Sesler quipped, to laughs from the audience.

Not everyone was cheering the proposal, though. Some business owners in the park sent letters urging the commission to deny the project, saying it would put further stress on parking in the area.

Michael Kehoe, an attorney, spoke to the commission on behalf of the Koll Irvine Community Assn., which he said is in charge of the park and the parking.

Its wonderful what theyre doing for children, Kehoe said of the conservatory, but it needs to be appropriately located.

Parking concerns are nothing new to the area. Earlier this year, Berean Community Church parishioners protested a proposal from the Ismailis, an Islamic group, to open a center in the business park.

The Planning Commission denied that project, citing parking concerns. The City Council later overturned that decision.

Commissioners said the project before them Monday was very different.

This is not an intense use that is going to create problems that I foresaw in the other project, McCarthy said.

Rather than churchgoers taking parking spots every weekend, the conservatory will be allowed to stage performances only six weekends a year, commissioners noted.

Its a better option for the area as a whole as far as the parking impacts are concerned, Commissioner Stephan Andranian said.

Commission Chairman Robert Dickson agreed, calling the conservatory project a win for the center because youre reducing the parking demand quite dramatically.

The commissions decision is final unless appealed to the City Council.
The Newport Beach City Council took initial steps forward Tuesday on a proposed charter amendment that could mandate residents approval of certain amounts of future bond debt.

The council voted 4-3 to send the amendment to the city Finance Committee so the seven-member advisory body can vet the proposal before the council can vote to place it on a ballot. Council members Keith Curry, Tony Petros and Ed Selich dissented.

The move slowed the process for the amendment, which was originally considered for the Nov. 8 election. Instead, 2018 is the earliest voters could see it on the ballot.

Discussion of the charter amendment came at the behest of Councilman Scott Peotter, who has long criticized the previous City Council for incurring bond debt to fund a portion of the controversial $143-million Civic Center project. The charter amendment, he said, would place much-needed controls on the citys future spending habits by imposing certain debt procedures and restrictions.

Its not going to bring back that money, but its going to insert the voters in the process, Peotter said. I trust the voters, and I have no problem erring on the side of the voters.

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The city charter currently restricts the city from entering general obligation bond debt similar to school bonds  that exceeds an amount equal to 15% of the total assessed value of the property in the city. General obligation bonds, which cause an increase in local property taxes, cannot be issued without two-thirds voter approval.

The proposed charter amendment would not affect the rules for general obligation bonds.

However, Peotter is suggesting that the city also restrict other types of debt, such as certificate of participation bonds, which were used to fund part of the Civic Center project. COP bonds do not require an increase in property taxes, according to city Finance Director Dan Matusiewicz.

Under the proposed amendment, a single debt issuance could not exceed 25% of the annual revenue of the fund that would repay the debt.

For example, if the city planned to repay bond debt from the roughly $200-million general fund, the amendment would cap the citys borrowing potential at $50 million. A simple majority of voters would have to sign off if the city wanted to borrow a larger amount, according to Matusiewicz.

The proposed amendment also seeks to restrict the city from incurring non-callable debt, or debt that keeps the city from paying it off early or refinancing if rates allow.

The $128 million in bonds that helped fund the Civic Center project, which are repaid by the city over a 30-year period, cannot be refinanced or paid early without the city incurring a penalty.

Bonds that dont allow payoff within five years would not be allowed without a majority vote of the people, unless voters decide to extend the time period, according to the proposal.

Curry has been vocal in his disapproval of Peotters proposal, calling it irresponsible and an example of amateur-hour politics.

This is designed to leave a big turd in the city after [Peotter] leaves, Curry said. This is pathetic. This is bad public policy. Nobody else in America has this policy. Its an absolute disgrace.

This is designed to leave a big turd in the city after [Councilman Scott Peotter] leaves ... This is pathetic. This is bad public policy. Nobody else in America has this policy.  Keith Curry, Newport Beach City Council

Another proposed charter amendment would ask voters to consider whether the charter should require at least five of the seven council members to vote in favor of a general tax increase before placing the increase on the ballot for voter consideration. Current city policy requires a simple majority of the council.

The council signed off last year on the measure, which was spearheaded by Curry. On Tuesday it was expected to vote to add it to the ballot for this years election.

However, Mayor Diane Dixon opted to combine Peotters proposal with Currys and send them both to the Finance Committee for consideration.

Neither the two-thirds vote on new taxes nor the bonded debt item was vetted by the Finance Committee and exposed to in-depth public debate and discussion, Dixon said. There has been no council-approved special tax imposed on residents in over 50 years or in anyones memory, and I do not believe any such tax increase is likely to see the light of day, particularly between now and November 2016. So I do not believe there is a need to put such a matter on the November ballot this year before the Finance Committee has had a chance to look at it.

Curry took issue with the amendments being combined, partly because his had already been vetted by the City Council.

Theres no real question about its value; its simply a political ploy to try to combine it with a very poorly drafted, poorly conceived proposal from Mr. Peotter and to sort of hijack this idea and have everybody pretend the history thats happened over the course of the last year didnt occur, Curry said.

The Finance Committee and the City Council will both have to sign off on the proposed charter amendments before they can move forward.

--

Hannah Fry, hannah.fry@latimes.com

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN

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Kerlissa Lefeged and Gilbert Camacho moved from Colorado to Los Angeles in early May, taking with them little more than clothes and a hope for a new life.

But the job that Camacho was promised fell through, and the couple and their three children bounced from motel to motel until the money ran out.

Ultimately, Andres, Olyvia and Amellio, ages 7, 6 and 4, would spend their nights at their grandmothers home in Highland Park. Lefeged and Camacho would sleep in his mothers car.

Lefeged estimates she called at least 50 homeless shelters in Los Angeles. All of them were full or said Camacho could not stay with his wife and children at night. She was beginning to lose hope.

Finally, it was just awful, Lefeged said.

After seeing a listing for Family Promise of the Verdugos, she made a call that led to the familys placement in the program. At the Burbank service center, families like the Camachos look for jobs and permanent housing. They also receive financial and job counseling.

At night, families sleep in one of the roughly 20 Glendale or Burbank churches and eat dinner provided by volunteers. Family Promise partners with the houses of worship to provide for its clients.

As the Camacho family works to get back on their feet, they enrolled their two school-age children at Washington Elementary, a school they have come to adore within a matter of weeks, and one they want their children to remain enrolled in.

Lefeged said her children feel comfortable there, where they wear school uniforms donated by Family Promise. The teachers and staff have been supportive, and the childrens classmates are unaware their parents are searching for a permanent home.

For now, however, the service center on a quiet residential street is almost home. This is where they wash their clothes, store their belongings in a locker, and plan for the future.

One recent morning, the youngest member of the family, Amellio, rested his head on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pillow and watched cartoons.

The courtyard at the center, with a round stone mosaic table, is where Lefeged goes to collect her thoughts.

About three weeks ago, while walking home from school, Olyvia asked her mom when they would have their own house, and Lefeged told her daughter she was trying.

Later that day, Lefeged confided in Albert Hernandez, the executive director of Family Promise, that she was frustrated.

I told Albert, You know, I dont see that light anymore at the end of the tunnel. He was like, Go down in the tunnel and make a left. If you make a left, you can see it. Its not a straight shot, but its there.

Hernandez stepped in as executive director of Family Promise in July, after the organization went on a hiatus for several months to raise money.

A single successful fundraiser netted $30,000, and the nonprofit resumed serving families.

Were getting families in and out and theyre not coming back, Hernandez said. Were successful because of the constant communication with them and the one-on-one attention we give them.

When Lefegeds days become tough, Hernandez said he tries to make them easier, sometimes inviting her to cry or scream.

Hernandez also keeps track of birthdays, and for each one the family has celebrated recently, there have been a birthday cake and candles.

There should be more Alberts out there, Lefeged said. It makes you know  somebody is out there and cares, and you can actually make it. Thats Family Promise. To me, it promises just what the name says. It promises a family of hope, of belief and faith. This is something that we wanted so bad. We wanted a place to shine, to show that we can pick up everything that was on the ground and bring it back up. And we were blessed with this place.

Lefeged never imagined her family would be homeless. At food banks, she would meet others who felt the same  people who could no longer afford their four-bedroom home because they lost their job.

It happens to people with degrees, or people who have been working their jobs for 25 years, she said.

Prior to her own circumstances, Lefeged believed that homeless people must have made the wrong choices somewhere along their way.

Now that Im going through it, its changed me a lot. It gives me a different perspective on it, and a respect because it happens to just anybody.

Earlier this month, the family slept on air mattresses at Glendale Presbyterian Church with only the minimum necessities: blankets, sheets, clothing and school supplies.

At the church last week, volunteers fed them taquitos, fried chicken, rice, beans and kabobs, part of the many volunteer-made meals the family has survived on for the last several weeks, including hamburgers, pasta and lasagna.

In the morning, a shuttle delivers the family back to the service center. The children go to school and Lefeged and Camacho focus on their life ahead.

Each night, they talk about their plan for the next day as well as their long-term plan.

Last week, Camacho began his new job assisting drivers with FedEx deliveries, a position he secured through Family Promise. The couple continue to look for a permanent apartment.

I just want them to have a home. It will be for them, Lefeged said. It will be for us, too, but mostly for them to feel secure, and happy and normal.

--

Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com

Twitter: @kellymcorrigan
Fountain Valley city officials and community members gathered Tuesday in council chambers to take stock of a 20-year financial sustainability draft plan aimed at generating city revenue and achieving fiscal stability.

The draft plan, presented by the citys Finance Director David Cain, follows Fountain Valleys recent decision to adopt its 2016-17 budget with tighter restrictions on city services, as it will need $1.7 million of its general fund reserve to help balance its budget.

The city may run out of money by 2020 if fiscal problems arent addressed, according to the plan.

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If we dont address it now, the structural deficit will continue to grow, Cain said. We cant put a Band-Aid on it for a year or two. Were not in that position.

The city gathered community input on what services ranked highest for residents through various meetings and surveys conducted within the last few months. City staff then developed possible solutions for revenue enhancements through a 20-year period.

Significant cuts began in 2008, as the city faced state takeaways, increased costs and the elimination of Californias redevelopment agencies, which gave local governments the ability to capture a greater share of property taxes.

Cain said about $116 million has since been taken away from local revenue after Proposition 13.

In 2002, the city reduced its workforce from 257 to 221. Healthcare subsidies were also reduced and city employees have been required to contribute more to their retirement funds.

Contracting city services for trees, landscaping, janitorial and street sweeping are being done to help cut down city costs, but Cain said more needs to be done.

Some proposed options include:

Closing Fire Station No. 2, saving about $1.5 million a year.

Eliminating police programs such as the cadet programs, saving about $200,000.

Removing recreational and senior programs or increasing fees to cover costs, saving an estimated $1.2 million.

Ending general fund capital contributions for road and park maintenance, saving about $550,000, which also poses a risk of facing higher costs if left unattended.

Cain said the most viable option would be to have local control and require residents and nonresidents to pay a 1% sales tax, generating about $11.5 million dollars instead of a parcel tax paid entirely by residents that would average to $700 per parcel or banking on transient occupancy taxes from city hotels.

Unlike other cities that can build their way out, Mayor Cheryl Brothers said Fountain Valley doesnt have vacant land.

City leaders will continue to gather community input until July 19, when a final version of the 20-year sustainability plan is presented to the City Council with a formal recommendation.

Vega is a contributor to Times Community News.

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Refuge Calvary Chapel in Huntington Beach will host a job fair Tuesday for anyone looking for employment in fields like public safety, retail and food service.

Organizations and companies, including The Orange County Sheriffs Department, Fresh Grill Foods, AT&T, Easter Seals, Herbalife and Trinet Internet Solutions, will interview candidates for hundreds of job openings.

Positions include jobs in accounting, administration, clerical, customer service, education, financial services, health care, nursing, law enforcement, management, manufacturing, sales and transportation.

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The free event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 7800 Edinger Ave., and is open to everyone, regardless of age, skill sets or education level, according to a news release from Refuge Calvary Chapel.

Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and bring multiple copies of their resumes.

--

Brittany Woolsey, brittany.woolsey@latimes.com

Twitter: @BrittanyWoolsey
Energy-efficient measures may be added to the Oak View neighborhood in 2018, but residents are voicing concerns about the proposed pilot program.

The Advanced Power and Energy Program at UC Irvine has partnered with with the city of Huntington Beach, environmental technology developer Altura Associates and utility companies to study adding solar panels, natural gas infrastructure, renewable gas sources and zero-emissions backup generators to the neighborhood.

The proposed project, if approved, would cost about $3.2 million, with grant funding from the California Energy Commission, Southern California Edison, the Southern California Gas and other entities.

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The plan is to begin studying the suitability of the community next month and gather feedback from residents, said Jack Brouwer, associate director for the Advanced Power and Energy Program at UCI.

If the district is found to be an acceptable location, improvements could start being added after the study period ends in March 2018, he said.

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Oak View, which is generally bounded by Slater and Warner avenues and Beach Boulevard and Nichols Lane, will serve as the pilot area to see whether the technology can be adopted citywide.

Brouwer said the neighborhood was chosen after the UCI program partnered with the city to identify a disadvantaged neighborhood that could benefit from the renewable energy technology.

The goal, he said, is to identify the needs of the community.

None of the proposed advancements are binding, and the organizations would only implement what was deemed necessary, he said.

This is all just a simulation and a study, he said. We want to understand the community status, build a model and simulate what might happen if new improvements were added.

Electric vehicle charging and rental stations have also been proposed for the one-square-mile neighborhood.

Resident Victor Valladares, co-founder of Oak View ComUNIDAD, questioned why the stations would be needed in an area where family incomes average $15,000 to $20,000.

Most residents, he said, cannot afford electric vehicles.

The lowest-priced, mainstream electric car on the market is the Mitsubishi i-Miev, which retails for just under $24,000, according to Green Car Reports, but most cost considerably more.

Brouwer said residents might be able to rent EVs for free but did not immediately know where they could be located or how they would be funded.

The idea is using what we call a shared-use station car model, he said. The idea is that the charging stations would be owned by the neighborhood somehow, not by individual people in the community.

Valladares believes problems with infrastructure, like deteriorating buildings, should be addressed first and ComUNIDAD leadership hopes to work with the partners to educate the community.

He said many residents are fearful of being priced out of their homes, if the additions are made.

We want to be 100% part of the whole process, he said. Right now, this just doesnt make any sense, but it could end up being a good thing. Who knows?

Brouwer said infrastructure improvements would likely need to be done first before the additions were installed to guarantee the buildings can support them.

His organization also plans to draft an agreement with interested property owners to guarantee they will not raise rents because of any improvements.

He did not immediately know if the additions could raise property values.

There is a goal to have the tenants be the primary beneficiaries, Bouwer said. I dont think it can be 100%. There will probably be some benefits to the landlords but we want to make sure there is not a single tenant displaced.

Bouwer said while the study session is in place, his organization plans to meet with residents at town hall meetings, gather information through surveys and see residents homes first-hand to see what improvements should be made.

--

Brittany Woolsey, brittany.woolsey@latimes.com

Twitter: @BrittanyWoolsey

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Oscar Pistorius, facing a possible 15 years in jail for murder, hobbled tearfully across a Pretoria courtroom Wednesday in a final desperate bid to avoid a long prison term for the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

The former Olympic athletes defense used the demonstration to argue that his vulnerability on the night of the murder  hardly able to walk without the prosthetic legs he normally wears by day  mitigated his crime.

But because Pistorius did not testify, prosecutor Gerrie Nel said the court had no way to judge whether he was truly remorseful over the killing at his home in 2013.

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The court could impose a sentence lower than the 15-year minimum for murder if there are strong mitigating circumstances. Defense lawyer Barry Roux urged such a reduction, arguing that Pistorius is a broken man who has punished himself far more than any court.

Pistorius, who rose to global fame as the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics, was convicted last year of the murder of Steenkamp, whom he claims to have mistaken for an intruder when he shot her through a bathroom door. An earlier conviction for culpable homicide, or negligent killing, was overturned. He had served one year in prison for that before being released in October.

The trial has seen a bruising courtroom contest between the prosecutor and the defense lawyer, and the last day of the long legal drama was no different. After the demonstration by Pistorius of his unsteady gait on his stumps in front of the judge, Nel played his own dramatic card, calling on Judge Thokozile Masipa to lift a ban on the publication of photographs of Steenkamps body.

He said the victims parents, Barry and June Steenkamp, were in favor of showing the images in the hope it might deter similar crimes.

We think its time. It is time that people would see what those bullets did, Nel said. The court should take into account what happened to her.

Pistorius older brother, Carl, reacted with outrage. This application is distasteful to all parties. Except perhaps some parties who stand to profit from such, he tweeted.

Roux said Pistorius did not intend to kill Steenkamp but had opened fire in a state of terror and vulnerability, unable to move swiftly on his stumps, believing there was an intruder in the house.

But Nel pointed to testimony on Tuesday from Barry Steenkamp, who said that when he has thought of the pain of his dying daughter, he has jabbed himself with a needle to see if I could feel the same amount of pain.

That is a broken man who gave evidence before this court, Nel said.

He said the only way that Pistorius belief he was shooting an intruder could qualify as mitigation would be if the court regarded an intruders life as less valuable than Steenkamps.

In December, the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the culpable homicide verdict and found Pistorius guilty of murder, concluding that he must have realized that firing four bullets through the door of a cubicle would kill whoever was inside. It also found that Pistorius had never offered a satisfactory explanation for his actions, a finding Nel hammered in his final address to the court.

Pistorius served a year in the hospital wing of Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria, sharing a small communal area and an outdoor courtyard with one other prisoner.

A psychologist appearing for Pistorius, Jonathan Scholtz, said in the court Monday that Pistorius told him he had been assaulted in prison, had overheard another inmate raped and seen the body of a man who committed suicide by hanging. He said Pistorius was in effect confined to his cell 18 hours a day.

He testified that Pistorius was seriously ill with depression and anxiety and should not be in prison, but instead should be in a hospital. Nel countered that no one admitted him to a hospital when he was released by the parole board.

Masipa will hand down her sentence on July 6.

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In June 2015, a restaurant declined to hire Gao Xiao as a line cook because of her gender. Men prepare the food, a restaurant employee told her; women only serve it. So Gao filed a lawsuit.

In the U.S., this likely would have been treated as a straightforward case of employment discrimination. In China, it earned her a visit from the police. Since the spring, authorities have threatened her, contacted her parents and harassed her landlord who, in March, evicted her from her apartment.



For the record: This article originally said police detained five movement leaders in March. It has been corrected to say March 2015.

My psychological condition wasnt very good, said Gao, a 27-year-old in Guangzhou who, like many young activists in China, goes by a nickname to avoid government reprisals. Because there were so many obstructions; after launching the lawsuit I felt like I was under attack.

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In recent years, a small number of Chinese feminist activists  most of them outspoken, social media-savvy women in their 20s  have used creative campaigns to protest strains of male chauvinism that run through contemporary Chinese society. Since 2012, theyve occupied mens public toilets to protest unfairly sized female restrooms; donned faux blood-spattered wedding dresses to protest domestic violence; and shaved their heads to protest education inequality.

What several years ago began as a fringe movement has sparked a nascent feminist awakening  and authorities have responded by cracking down. In March 2015, likely threatened by the activists independence, organizational prowess, and not least, popular appeal, police detained five of the movements leaders (dubbed the Feminist Five) for planning a campaign against sexual harassment on buses and subways. This provoked an international outcry; after several weeks, they were released.

But activists say that since then, feminism itself has become a sensitive political topic  authorities have begun treating them not as socially conscious youth, but as threats to state security.

Over the past year, Chinese authorities have tightened control over all aspects of society  they have detained lawyers and journalists, shuttered NGOs and passed laws making it more difficult to publicly criticize the government. But you cant just lump [the feminists] in with a broader government crackdown on civil society, said Leta Hong-Fincher, a sociologist and author of Leftover Women: The Resurgence of Gender Inequality in China. Thats definitely a part of it. But I believe there really is a unique threat to the government coming from this feminist movement.

Feminism is a sensitive topic. No matter what we do, theyll watch us very closely.  Xiao Meili, 26, the owner of an e-commerce business.

It wont be easy to stamp out, she said  its become far too popular. When I was doing my [book] research several years ago, it was very demoralizing to time and time again run into these young women who were just completely blind to blatant sexism, she said. But now more and more women are aware of injustice and inequality. Thats extremely heartening.

In April, the Japanese cosmetics company SK-II released an emotional, four-minute commercial that challenged the crushing family pressure that many young Chinese women face to marry. The ad went viral in China, drawing widespread praise on social media sites.

That same month, security camera footage of a woman being harassed at a hotel in Beijing, in full view of bystanders, also went viral on social media, sparking a wide-ranging conversation about sexual violence and abuse.

Another part of this is that the Communist Party has been for a long time very strongly promoting extremely traditional gender norms, Fincher said. You look at the propaganda, the state media, its strongly encouraging women to return to the home and have babies. The end of the One Child Policy is part of this as well. Its an attempt to address these very severe demographic crises  the shrinking of the workforce, the aging of the population, falling birth rates.

See the most-read stories in World News this hour 

In China, women do enjoy a broad range of social and professional opportunities  more than 70% of women are in the workforce, about the same as the U.S. China has more female billionaires than any other country. Yet women remain scarce in leadership roles. In politics, only two women sit on the powerful 25-member Politburo; in business, only about 2% of Chinese women hold managerial roles.

Gao eventually won the lawsuit  the court awarded her about $300 in damages, a small sum, even by Chinas standards. She has found a new apartment, and now works at a bakery. Yet the restaurant management has not apologized, and Gao, dissatisfied with the cases outcome, has launched an appeal.

Many of her contemporaries say that since March, their lives have gotten harder. All the street activities that we could do, were not allowed to do anymore, said Xiao Meili, 26, the owner of an e-commerce business that sells feminist-themed merchandise. And now, feminism is a sensitive topic. No matter what we do, theyll watch us very closely. (Xiao, also a nickname, was Gaos roommate until March, and was also evicted from the apartment for her activism).

Xiao has spent years advocating for gender equality. In 2013, she trekked 1,200 miles across China to draw attention to sexual violence (she called the project Beautiful Feminist Walk: A Protest Against Sexual Abuse to Promote Womens Freedom). She has directed a feminist drama inspired by The Vagina Monologues. This spring, she crowd-funded about $6,000 to post an advertisement in the Guangzhou subway warning against sexual harassment.

Her activism has won her plaudits online, even in some domestic news reports. She has also experienced failures and setbacks  her girlfriend attempted to sue Sina, the Chinese company behind Weibo, a Twitter-like microblog service, for blocking accounts that include the word feminism in their names. Several courts refused to hear the case, and her girlfriend eventually gave up trying.

A small group of university student activists in Guangzhou has been seriously harassed in recent weeks, Xiao said. One student  a transgender activist  is being threatened with expulsion. She refused to give further details, to protect the students privacy.

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Last week, a group of activists took photos of themselves holding handwritten messages to protest the lenient sentence given to Brock Turner, the Stanford University swimmer convicted in March of sexual assault, and posted them online. Again, the images went viral.

Xiao Men, 24, an assistant at a law firm in Guangzhou and one of the campaigns organizers, said that although police have harassed her and her family several times over the last year, she plans to continue her activism. (Xiao also uses a nickname; she is not related to Xiao Meili).

Since she began her activism three years ago, she said, shes learned many things  Ive learned to acknowledge that Im a feminist, and I feel empowered by that. It makes me feel like I have a voice.

Sisterhood  this is something that I place a lot of importance on, she continued. Its strong bonds among women, thats what keeps me going. Well get a lot of pressure, and it will come from the masses, or family, or the government. But you can rely on your sisterhood to get you through.

Follow @JRKaiman on Twitter for news from China

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Venezuela, where anger over food shortages is still mounting, continued to be roiled this week by angry protests and break-ins of grocery stores and businesses that have left five dead, at least 30 injured and 200 arrested, according to various news reports.

The latest fatality came from the southwest city of Merida, where 17-year-old Jean Paul Omana died Wednesday after being shot Tuesday during a disturbance amid looting.

Widespread violence has been reported there, as well as an attack by protesters on the headquarters of President Nicolas Maduros United Socialist Party of Venezuela, or PSUV.

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As consumers grow increasingly frustrated with ongoing food scarcities and lengthening lines outside stores, protests are turning more violent. A Social media reported protests on Wednesday in the Los Teques, Los Altos Mirandinos and Santa Teresa del Tuy suburbs of Caracas, the capital.

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A common thread among protesters demanding the government provide food is that they are suffering from hunger and in some cases heat exposure from spending hours in line. Mired in economic crisis, Venezuela must import the bulk of its food items, but supplies have run short because of the governments cash shortage, triggered by falling oil prices.

The rising violence comes as U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Tuesday that his representatives would soon hold talks with Venezuelan officials in a bid to improve frayed bilateral relations. Maduro says his country is the victim of a U.S.-promoted economic war. The U.S. says the increased chaos in Venezuela poses a security threat to the region.

On Wednesday, most shops in the northeastern coastal oil-refining city of Puerto La Cruz remained closed because of fears of looting after armed forces subdued a student protest over the lack of food.

We cant take it anymore. Our children ask for food and all we can get are mangoes. Until when? said Milagros Perez of Puerto La Cruz, quoted in El Tiempo newspaper.

NEWSLETTER: Get the days top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj 

Two of the deaths and 150 of the arrests were reported Tuesday in the northeastern coastal city of Cumana following two days of scattered riots in which more than 100 stores were reported broken into, according to national media. Circumstances of the deaths were still murky Wednesday. Additional police officers have been sent to the city to restore order.

A 4-year-old girl, Britani Lara, was reportedly shot to death Tuesday in the Caracas suburb of Guatire as she stood in line with her mother outside a government-owned Mercal grocery store.

El Nacional newspaper reported that gangs on motorcycles have fought over the right to control and distribute food at the Guatire store and that the gunfire may have been a result of that dispute. Eight others were reportedly injured in the incident.

Violence also was reported at a food protest staged in front of a store in the city of Cariaco in central Sucre state, where 21-year-old Luis Fuentes was killed by a gunshot. Eleven others were wounded, according to El Nacional newspaper.

Residents who live close to the store reportedly attached signs to the entrance demanding the business be closed because of the violence it generates.

Gang members who want to take over the sale of food in the store threaten those who stand in line with knives, neighbor Dubraska Gonzalez told El Nacional.

Venezuelas Ministry of Communication and information responded to an email requesting confirmation and the circumstances surrounding the five reported deaths by referring reporters to the VTV national television channel and to Twitter accounts of government officials.

Speaking on the sidelines of an Organization of American States meeting in the Dominican Republic, Kerry said talks would be held in Caracas and that the U.S. would be represented by veteran diplomat Thomas Shannon.

Kerry made the announcement shortly after insisting that a referendum to recall Maduro be held. Opponents to Maduro collected more than 1 million signatures in favor of a referendum, but claim the government is using delay tactics to avoid a vote.

Maduro confirmed the talks and said he would propose that the two countries reestablish full diplomatic relations. No date for the start of talks was mentioned.

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Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump defended comments made about Gonzalo Curiel, the federal judge overlooking a civil lawsuit against the now-defunct Trump University, by labeling the judge a "hater" with obvious biases toward his border wall policy.

Trump backed the claim by suggesting Curiel was part of La Raza, a civil rights organization advocating for immigration reform. Curiel is part of La Raza, only he's involvement with San Diego's La Raza Lawyers Association. One group is not associated with the other.

Last week's decree is that latest in a string of bloviated claims about Mexicans and Central Americans Trump has made since announcing his campaign last June; a campaign that kicked off by calling Mexicans "rapists" and "criminals." Trump's targeted everyone from politicians to reporters to Latino advocacy groups along the way, indifferent to how Latinos -- the fastest-growing demographic in the country -- feel about it.

Here are five Latinos Trump has attacked over the last year, beginning with the judge who once fought a Mexican drug cartel.

Gonzalo Curiel

Curiel was born in Indiana, though his Jalisco, Mexico-born parents each became naturalized citizens. Nevertheless, Trump believes Curiel's Hispanic heritage makes him biased.

"He's a Mexican," Trump told CNN's Jake Tapper earlier this month. "We're building a wall between here and Mexico. This judge is giving us unfair rulings. Now I say, why? Well, I want to - I'm building a wall, ok? And it's a wall between Mexico, not another country."

Trump began the interview by saying he respects Curiel for being proud of his heritage. It ended by the assertion that Curiel cannot do his job because of his race.

Trump undermined the judge's record by insinuating he could not separate personal beliefs from judicial duties, but Curiel's heritage was never questioned while he was persecuting Mexican drug cartel leaders.

Working as a federal prosecutor in Southern California in late 1990s, Curiel worked to extradite members of the multi-billion-dollar Arellano Felix cartel. A security detail traveled with Curiel as cases played out, lasting through at least 2002 while he was lead attorney for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Trump incorrectly labeled Curiel a "Mexican" and assumed this was enough for him to play favorites. Curiel's track record says otherwise.

Susana Martinez

Republican New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez may be the most prominent Latina political figures in the country.

In addition to serving as first-ever Latina governor, Martinez is also chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association. TIME has named her one of the world's most influential people, and the people of New Mexico agree, giving Martinez a 54-percent approval rating in a state predominately favoring Democrats.

These accolades, it appears, do not satisfy Trump.

At a May 24 rally in Albuquerque, Trump said Martinez was "not doing a good job." He falsely blamed the Mexican-American governor for a high unemployment rate and an influx of Syrian immigrant settling there.

Martinez's office replied a day later, saying she "will not be bullied" into endorsing Trump.

"Governor Martinez doesn't care about what Donald Trump says about her," the governor's press secretary Mike Lonergan said in a statement. "She cares about what he says he will do to help New Mexicans."

Whether he meant it or not, Trump was pressuring Martinez into supporting him. Martinez is the Latina Republicans turn to for diversity, and she's the one rumored as a potential VP pick. An endorsement from the term-limit governor would have gone a long way in earning the Latino vote.

Marco Rubio

Trump's impeded run to the party's presidential nomination hurt Florida Sen. Marco Rubio more than anyone.

Rubio was seen as the GOP candidate likely to face Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in the general election; a Hispanic voice Republican leadership though could win the Latino vote.

But Rubio buckled under Trump's attacks. Rubio failed to match Trump's grade-school insults. He chided the real estate magnate for having small hands and flying around on "Hair Force One," a wry joke about Trump's hairdo.

Three months after suspending his campaign, Rubio is struggling to gain favor in his home state.

A Public Policy Polling survey found 54 percent of Floridians disapprove of their Cuban-American senator. Seen as one of the least popular senators in the country, only 39 percent of voters would like him to run for re-election.

Rubio said he retrospectively would not have made the crude jokes. Trump, meanwhile, said he would love to have "Little Marco" as part of his cabinet.

Jorge Ramos

Until last August, Mexican-American journalist Jorge Ramos interview leaders around the world without incident. It ended Aug. 25, when Trump booted Ramos from a press conference for questioning his immigration policy.

The presidential candidate avoided Ramos throughout the evening, first by overlooking his raised hand and then by telling Ramos to "sit down" and "go back to Univision." When Ramos interrupted by questioning his plan to deport 11 million immigrants over two years, a bodyguard escorted him out.

Trump then posted Ramos' cell phone number on Instagram. As the Univision reporter told NPR, the lesson here was that he should never have given Trump his number in the first place.

"He tried to shut me down. He said that I did not have the right to ask a question; of course I had the right to ask a question, as a journalist and an immigrant and a U.S. citizens," Ramos said.
Odd you should say that, but one of the sub-contractors I work with, who is a Muslim who's family originally comes from Pakistan, was telling me he was going to vote to leave the EU because of his worries about the large number of Eastern Europeans coming into the country. :unsure:All you could hear after him saying this was the thud of my jaw hitting the floor :wacko:ps: off on my hols today, thought I'd go a spend a week in an Islamic country(Turkey), to see if its true that they really do want to kill or enslave us all
An immigrant, who was in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, became the eighth detainee to die while in their custody during the current 2016 fiscal year.

Luis Alonso Fino Martinez, at 54 years old, died at University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, after being rushed there from the Essex County Detention Facility by ambulance on June 13.

Autopsy Pending

The preliminary cause of death of the Honduran national remains a mystery and authorities are planning to conduct an autopsy.

Fino Martinez was taken into the custody of ICE officials on June 12, 2015, after serving time at the Northern State Prison on felony weapons and attempted murder charges.

Fino Martinez's immigration case was still under appeal at the time of his death. ICE is now working with the Honduran consulate to notify the victim's family.

Over the last six weeks, Jose Leonardo Lemus Rajo and Igor Zyazin also died while in ICE custody. The 23-year-old Rajo died at a Florida hospital after being in custody for just three days. The El Salvadoran native was being held at the Krome Detention Center in Miami when he became ill in late April. Five days later, Zyazin perished at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego after being in custody for 10 days after presenting himself at the border.

According to government records, 159 people have now died while in ICE custody over the last 13 years. In many cases, faulty medical treatment at the government's 637 immigration detention centers has been found to be a contributing factor in most of the deaths.

ACLU Report Probes Deaths of Eight Detainees

Earlier this year, the American Civil Liberties Union and Immigrant Justice Center unveiled the details surrounding the deaths of eight detainees who died while in ICE custody.

In its "Fatal Neglect: How ICE Ignores Death in Detention" report, researchers concluded "violations of medical standards" contributed to the deaths.
It's June 15 once again, and it's another year since President Barack Obama announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allowed more than 700,000 undocumented immigrant youths to stay in the U.S.

DACA's Requirements

On June 15, 2012, from the White House, the Obama administration introduced DACA, which allows undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. before reaching 16 years old but were below 31 years old at the time of the president's announcement, to apply for two-year renewable authorization to remain in the U.S. and avoid deportation. DACA applicants must have no felony convictions, significant misdemeanor and pose zero threat to national security and public safety.

DACA applicants must be a student, attending either public or private high school, or secondary school or obtained a GED. Among the series of requirements, there is also a fee to apply, but exemptions are available.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been tasked to oversee the DACA application process. Since its introduction, the USCIS approved more than 728,285 DACA applications, which includes a criminal background check,

Immigrants who receive DACA status are still not considered as lawful U.S. residents.

DACA in Numbers

Most of DACA's applicants, as of March 31, are of Mexican descent. The USCIS have approved over 569,000 DACA applications from immigrations originally from Mexico, follow by El Salvador with just over 26,000, Guatemala with 18,000 and Honduras with 17,000.

DACA applicants aren't solely coming from Central America, but also South America and beyond. Peru finalizes the top five DACA countries, followed by Brazil and then South Korea with nearly 7,000 applicants.

Other countries of origin that have applied for DACA include Philippines, Jamaica, India, Trinidad and Tobago, Pakistan, Poland, Nigeria and other Latin American countries.

The U.S. state that is home to most DACA applicants is California, with over 210,000 applications approved and another 148,000 renewed. Texas, Illinois, New York and Florida comprise of the top five states. But even U.S. territories are home to DACA recipients, such as Puerto Rico, Virgina Islands and Guam.

What's Next for DACA

In November 2014, Obama announced an extension of DACA, which would expand eligibility for immigrants over 31 years old and extend the two-year stay to three renewable years. In his executive action, Obama also introduced the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA), which aims for the parents of either legal permanent residents or U.S. citizen children to also temporarily stay for three renewable years. DAPA and DACA's extended guidelines would allow up to 4.9 million undocumented immigrants to remain in the U.S.

Legal troubles, led by Republican governors or attorneys general, have paused the federal government from implementing the two new programs. Lawsuits to block DACA+ and DAPA have reached to the U.S. Supreme Court, and a decision is expected this June.

With an eight-member Supreme Court, a potential tie, 4-4, would render a stay in the lower courts' decisions, which allowed the blocking of DAPA and DACA's expansion.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.
Jaime Rodriguez Calderon, Mexico's first independent governor, is under hot water for comments he recently made during a speech.

In a speech, made on June 13, the Nuevo Leon governor was discussing teenage pregnancy and obesity when he made comments that were clearly insulting towards women.

Its better if we as parents tell our sons: Hey, look son, come over here. Heres whats going to happen, no one wants a fat girl. Yes, its tough, but it will get their attention," said Calderon

The comments were not received well and, soon after realizing the damage his comments caused, Calderon attempted to clarify what he meant on social media.

"The intent of my message was to create awareness in decision making of adolescents and prevent unplanned pregnancies," he tweeted. "I want to express to those that perhaps misunderstood what was not too explicit about the topic, and that might caused confusion."

La intencion de mi mensaje era crear conciencia en la toma de decisiones de los adolescentes y evitar embarazos no planeados  JAIME RODRIGUEZ C (@JaimeRdzNL) June 14, 2016

Quiero expresar a los que malinterpretaron que quizas no fui lo demasiado explicito sobre el tema, y eso pudo causar una confusion.  JAIME RODRIGUEZ C (@JaimeRdzNL) June 14, 2016

He also shared a longer and more formal apology on his official Facebook page.

"I apologize to those who feel insulted by these comments, my purpose is solely to raise awareness about this serious problem and get to work to raise awareness in our children and to make them more accountable for their actions," he said.

Prior to his controversial comments, Calderon, nicknamed "El Bronco," was known for his historic 2015 victory against Mexico's PAN and PRI parties to become governor of Nuevo Leon.
Prince William takes a strong stance against the bullying of LGBT people in a cover story piece for the British gay magazine Attitude.

In a feature piece that marks the first time any member of the British royal family has been pictured on the cover of the mag, Prince William declares in the cover line, "No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason."

The article came together after the Duke of Cambridge invited editors from the magazine to bring members from the LGBT community to Kensington Palace for a gathering where they all shared their experiences

Victims Shares News of Ordeals

In a brutally candid discussion, participants recounted struggles that have included suicide attempts, depression, drug addiction and eating disorders.

"The young gay, lesbian and trans-gender individuals I met through Attitude are truly brave to speak out and to give hope to people who are going through terrible bullying right now," said Prince William. "Their sense of strength and optimism should give us all encouragement to stand up to bullying wherever we see it."

A recent mental health report found by a British organization found that 34 percent of all young LGBT people had made at least one suicide attempt compared to just 18 percent of like heterosexuals.

Researchers also found a staggering 48 percent of all trans young people had attempted suicide. In addition, 57 percent of all LGBT people had self-harmed themselves, compared to 38 percent of young heterosexuals and 85 percent of trans young people.

First 'Attitude' Issue Since Orlando Mass Shooting

The new issue of Attitude is the first by the magazine since a deranged gunmen opened fire at a gay Orlando nightclub, killing 49 people and injuring over 50 more.

Omar Matten, 29, also died amid all the bloodshed. Friends and acquaintances of the Matten have since told authorities he was known for expressing anti-gay sentiments.
In an effort to push gun control legislation in Congress, U.S. Senate Democrats are filibustering the legislative body to "close the terror gap."

Filibuster in the Senate

In a statement put forth by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., he and fellow Democrats are seeking to prevent people on the FBI's Terrorist Watch List from purchasing guns and increase background checks.

During a Senate speech, Murphy said there should not be any debate on the current Commerce, Science, Justice, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill unless progress is made on two pieces of legislation pertaining to greater gun background checks and prohibiting people on the FBI Terror Watch List from buying guns.

"By acting, by coming together and finding a way to act on these two noncontroversial measures, I think we also send an important signal to the American public and to would-be murderers that we're serious about stemming this epidemic," said Murphy on Wednesday. "And so I'm going to remain on this floor until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together on these two measures, that we can get a path forward on addressing this epidemic in a meaningful bipartisan way."

To view the live feed of the U.S. Senate filibuster, courtesy of C-SPAN, click here.

What Brought the Filibuster?

For Democrats, the filibuster comes just a few days after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, which killed 49 people, largely affecting the LGBT and Latino communities.

The shooting, which has been labeled as both a terror attack and hate crime, started on early Sunday morning. President Barack Obama said the attack is yet another example of how easy it is to obtain a weapon and shoot place, whether it's a school, theatre, house of worship and now a nightclub.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.
As a 60 yr. old gay man and growing up in a time in this country during all out attacks on gay men. My life was not easy for me in my early years.

Both my partner and I have been the victims of phobics and we both endured violent attacks when we lived in NYC and DC.



Times are much better now without everyday persecution.

I have been a life long Democrat. But I am done with the dims and becoming independent.



I can't believe Hillary is the best we could offer up. She is a power lusting crazy that I will never get behind. She wants to disarm us and says so all the time. She wants to destroy our right to protect ourselves. The only thing she and Obama have in common is destruction of our right to protect ourselves by owning firearms.



My partner and I both own guns and carry them everyday legally. Why in these dangerous times do they want to disarm us. If any of our brothers and sisters had guns on them, perhaps the Orlando tragedy would have turned out differently.



Hillary is concealing the fact she does not believe in same sex marriage, but lies and says she is for it. She is married to a slimy guy who took multiple trips with another pervert to a private island (name orgy island) and raped underage girls!



My Cuz worked for the Federal govt during the Clinton years and as a fellow gay man said the Clinton's are the worse kind of people. Her husband was impeached and she thinks she is entitled to the White House. I don't understand the woman platform and the support for her.



We are ready as a nation to have a woman POTUS but she is an awful choice and will prove so if we are stupid enough to give her the office. I Hate Trump and the GOP ilk.

and cannot envision him as POTUS. But if he is the only candidate to not take our ability to defend ourselves I will have to take a really hard look at a woman who wants to subjugate our citizenry. I am all for not letting a certain segment of America not being allowed to have firearms.



Religion has FU this world. Now we have to deal with Muslims that hate gays and want to persecute us again. How does taking our ability to own and have guns away going to keep us safe? The Clinton Foundation has taken money from sources that hate women and the LBGT community.



We should really be finding a good prospect from our community to run for the highest office. No more lying to us and representing themselves as sympathizers

to our minority communities.



Okay, I apologize for the rant but happen to be cruising the net looking for outreach to the people murdered at Pulse and saw this post on horrible Clinton. She is no friend to us or anybody for that fact because all she wants is power to exploit us all.



We don't need a mean mommy as President. I am a NO WAY gay to what the dumocRATS want to get us to support their candidate. I will probably vote for Bernie even though he never had a chance against the scummy Clinton's



It is not my intention to cause negative feelings with my bros & sisters. But we cannot be part of this awful person's sick ambition.



I really hate politicians.
SWEET HOME  Richard Frick has been retired as operations supervisor for the Linn County Parks Department for almost two years.

But Parks Director Brian Carroll coaxed him out of his home woodworking shop to tackle a pet project  more than doubling the size of Whitcomb Creek Campground on Green Peter Reservoir, adding 53 new camping sites to the original 39 sites.

Carroll said this phase of the project will cost about $655,000 including excavation, site preparation, rock, camping slips, initial infrastructure and vault toilets.

That funding includes a $250,000 grant from Oregon State Parks, more than $50,000 from the sale of trees harvested at the site that were donated in-kind by the Corps of Engineers and the countys share of RV licensing fees.

The Corps of Engineers also paid for the environmental assessment on this first phase, and thats worth a lot, Carroll said.

The second phase of the project will include showers and flush toilets.

Frick and Terry Watkins, who owns an excavation company in Sweet Home, have been working for several weeks site prepping 53 new campsites at the popular site.

The 328-acre Whitcomb Creek Campground is about nine miles from the intersection of Highway 20 and Quartzville Road east of Sweet Home.

Trees were logged in December, Frick said. Weve been doing ground work since April.

Basically, the county is building a new campground, Frick noted. The new camping spurs and roads virtually encircle the former camping slips.

Its scheduled to be paved the second week of September, he said.

Frick said roads and camping spurs are being rocked as the project proceeds to avoid a massive pile-up at the end of the schedule.

Weve talked about this for 10 years, he said. Its a beautiful place, and its going to be even better when were done.

Camping continues as the work is proceeding.

Derral Hunt of Albany stopped to tell Frick how much he enjoys the campground.

Ive been coming here every summer for 10 years, Hunt said. Its a beautiful place. I love the big, old trees.

Hunt tries to visit four times per summer. He enjoys boating and fishing in addition to camping.

A former truck driver, Hunt is now studying at Linn-Benton Community College to become a web designer.

Im glad to see that Linn County is spending money to make additional camping available to more people, he said. Its nice to get away from the everyday routine and go boating and fishing.

The project is part of a long-term development plan along the Quartzville Recreation Corridor.

The Corps of Engineers and other agencies closed public camping along the road two years ago, with the plan to increase organized camping spaces such as Whitcomb Creek.

Other camping is being created at Trout Creek, and boat-in only camping opportunities are on the discussion table.
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Sometimes it's best to talk to others face to face, the Rev. Beth Goudy explains.

While social media passes for conversation, sometimes it's not enough.

"We need to keep talking together in person. ... We need to connect personally," she said.

So at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley, people will have a chance to communicate and grieve and simply listen to others as the country works its way through the slaughter of 49 people early Sunday morning at a gay bar in Orlando.

"It's one thing a church offers," she said, assigning the label "anti-LGBT violence" to the one-man terrorist onslaught that also wounded more than 50 people.

But there is a second side to the communitywide prayer service at 1401 Greenview Drive in Bethlehem.

Leaders from the local Muslim and Jewish communities will speak along with those of the Christian faith.

Muslims and Jews in America share something very much in common with the Metropolitan Community Church, Goudy said.

Their members are all minorities in the Lehigh Valley.

The church's mission "is bringing God's hope and sharing Christ's love with the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allied community by the power of the Holy Spirit through bold and courageous action," according to an online posting.

There are real similarities, she said.

"They know oppression, they know violence, they know the pain of being invisible," she said of the other faiths.

If you watch TV, you might wonder if Muslims at an LGBT church is safe mix, considering the shooter was both Muslim and vocally anti-gay.

But the Muslim Association of the Lehigh Valley, in addition to embracing equality, said in a statement that "there is absolutely no justification for any such act in any religion."

The local organization is "outraged by the ruthless and barbaric act of violence and total disregard for humanity," the statement said.

It's important, Goudy said, to discuss Orlando "across these faith boundaries."

But is there hope that, in general, mass shootings are stopped and, specifically, that violence against the LGBT community can be put in check?

Beth Goudy of the Metropolitan Community Church in Allentown in a 2009 file photo.

"Everything is probable, including this," she said. "No. 1 is that we as a country -- as well as locally -- get over our love affair with guns and assault weapons.

"When we start advocating for that, that change will come. We just need more people behind us.

"Unfortunately, you don't want it to be a mass shooting to get the advocacy started."

But the discussion has begun, even if the politics are a huge hurdle.

"This is it," Goudy said. "The time is now to change that and change laws."

As for equality, the right to marry was a significant step forward, she said.

"Our struggle comes in pieces and then there are incredible victories," she said. But efforts for "basic protections have been piecemeal," she said.

In the big picture, "we're not there as a country or a state," she said, although anti-discrimination legislation is getting a fresh look in the Pennsylvania Legislature.

Politicians and others need to say the words that make up the letters LGBT, she said. The more they use the words, the more likely something positive is to happen, she said.

"We can't see these things as unwinnable," she said.

She hopes as well that the tragedy brings renewed focus to mental health funding. Perhaps if the Orlando shooter had gotten help, the shots never would have been fired, she said.

Knowing the history of violence against many of those who are to gather, Goudy is "not at all overly concerned" that someone might try to disrupt the service. But Bethlehem police have been asked to be outside the church.

"Just as a precaution," she said. "In terms of due diligence, it's something I felt necessary."

Forty-nine shoes, with a candle next to each, will be displayed during the service, Goudy said.

"These young people were gunned down on a dance floor," she said.

But the keys going forward are the sharing and communication, she said.

"It's just so important to come together in flesh and blood at times like this," she said.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
An armed man wearing a clear mask robbed a First Niagara bank in Upper Macungie Township on Wednesday morning, police said.

Upper Macungie Township police are looking for this man, who robbed a First Niagara branch on June 15, 2016. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

The robber is described as 5-feet 8-inches tall, with scruff on his chin and wearing a clear mask, a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.

He fled in a white/silver sedan; police said a dye pack exploded during the robbery, and the suspect may have red dye on his body, clothes or car.

Police said the robber entered the First Niagara branch, 861 N. Route 100, about 9:50 a.m., pulled out a silver revolver and told a teller he was robbing the bank.

After taking cash, he fled out a rear door. No employees were injured.

Anyone with information is asked to call township police at 484-661-5911. The township police are being assisted by state police and the FBI in the investigation.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A Lehigh County woman is among two former employees of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission accused of "stealing time" by falsifying time cards, and of using state vehicles outside of work.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office announced the charges Wednesday against 56-year-old Sharie Anne Sacco, of Upper Milford Township outside Emmaus, and 51-year-old Luzerne County resident Stephen Michael Dombek.

Sacco, of the 3600 block of Lenape Lane, is charged with two counts each of tampering with public records and tampering with records, as well as one count each of conflict of interest, theft by deception and theft.

She was released on $20,000 unsecured bail.

Dombek, of the 200 block of Lakeside Drive in Hunlock Township, is charged with two counts each of tampering with public records and tampering with records, as well as one count each of conflict of interest, theft by deception and theft.

Dombek was also released on $20,000 unsecured bail after being arraigned in Lehigh County.

"I hope these arrests serve as a stern reminder that we have no tolerance for anyone who steals from the public," Attorney General Kathleen Kane said in a statement. "We especially will prosecute any public employee picking the pockets of the people."

Sacco and Dombek worked for the turnpike commission as construction managers, and were responsible for overseeing and inspecting projects on the turnpike commission's Northeastern Extension.

Sacco worked for the commission for 32 years, most recently out of the Quakertown Maintenance Facility in Bucks County. Dombek worked for the commission for eight years, and recently worked out of two locations, in Luzerne and Lehigh counties.

Authorities say Sacco was paid $5,918 after falsifying her time card, and Dombek received $2,196 the same way.

The pair are also accused of improperly applying for meal payments, and using turnpike commission vehicles outside of work.

Investigators said they watched Sacco over 39 days between April and June 2015, and she falsified her work time on all 39 days.

Dombek was watched over 17 days in February and March of 2015. Investigators alleged during that time he lied about when he showed up for work and when he left for the day.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
An Easton area man is charged with helping defraud Utz Quality Foods out of nearly $1.5 million, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania reports.

Jonathan Haas, 45, was the owner of Haas Packaging & Design in Upper Nazareth Township, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release.

He was working between January 2010 and August 2014 with Utz's then director of purchasing Kevin Myers, 38, formerly of Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, in a scheme that involved about 83 false invoices and about 43 bogus purchase orders, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Haas and Myers were charged Tuesday with wire fraud in paperwork filed in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The government has plea agreements with the two men awaiting the court's approval, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

U.S. Attorney Peter Smith laid out the alleged scheme in the news release and in court papers.

Haas Packaging & Design was a vendor supplying the Hanover, Pennsylvania, snack food company with shelving and packaging products, Smith explained. Haas would submit the phony invoices and purchase orders prepared by Myers for shelving and packaging products Utz never received, Smith said.

Myers would approve Haas' payment paperwork and then Haas would kick back a portion of the money to Meyers, Smith said.

Haas received about $1,474,765 from Utz and sent about $651,000 to Meyers, Smith said. Some of the kickbacks were shown as payments for services to a bogus business called Meyers Packaging Consulting, Smith said.

The wire fraud charge relates specifically to an interstate wire transfer of $26,000 into a Myers Packaging Consulting bank account in January 2014, Smith said.

The case was investigated by the FBI's Harrisburg office and Utz cooperated, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The maximum sentence Haas and Myers face is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. They would be under supervision after their releases, court papers say

Haas, as part of his guilty plea, has agreed to pay back the money he made from the scheme, court papers say. He also won't object if the government wants to turn over his records to the IRS, court papers say.

The phone at Haas' home was disconnected and a message seeking comment and Haas' current status with the company left at the business wasn't immediately returned. The company's website wasn't functioning properly on Wednesday afternoon. Haas' attorney Stanley Margle, who was in a client meeting, didn't immediately return a phone message.

Incorporation papers say Haas' company was in a home in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, but contact information is for 300 Industrial Drive in Upper Nazareth. The company was incorporated in 1993, database entries show. A Linkedin page for the company says it was founded in 1989 and employs between one and 10 people.

Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A truck hauling a trailer burst into flames Tuesday evening on Interstate 78 in Warren County.

It was reported about 4:40 p.m. at mile-post 4.5 of I-78 East in Greenwich Township, New Jersey State Police confirmed.

The fire was out as of about 5:30 p.m., a trooper said, and there were no initial reports of any injuries. State police at Perryville had no further information available Tuesday night on the investigation into the incident.

The incident temporarily closed the right lane of the highway just east of Exit 3 (Routes 173/22).

Responding along with state police were the Stewartsville and Alpha volunteer fire companies.

Freelance photographer Dave Dabour contributed to this report from the scene.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
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A Leicestershire village has been named one of the top five places to bring up a family in the UK.

The village of Quorn has many of the ideal qualities for raising children, according to a list by Leaders, one of the UK's largest residential property groups.

The survey described the area as having "something for everyone," and "it offers the peace and space that all children thrive on."

Kevin Shaw, national sales director at Leaders, said "Great schools, low crime levels, plenty of green and open spaces, access to childcare services, a range of local amenities and a good selection of suitable housing are all likely to be priorities."

Quorn is a small village of around 5,000 residents in Leicestershire, and can be found next to the larger university town of Loughborough.

(Image: Beth Walsh)

One of the key attractions to the quaint village is the green location, despite being located within 30 minutes of much larger towns and cities.

Nottingham, Leicester and Loughborough all surround the village of Quorn, making commuting to a job in the city much easier according to the top five list.

Boasting open, green spaces and even a range of restaurants to take the family to, Quorn could be the perfect place to raise a new family.

(Image: Beth Walsh)

Other places in the top five include Chichester, a small city in West Sussex which has a number of parks for kids, and Sevenoaks, a town in the south-east of London that's perfect for parents with a job in the city.

At the top of the list is Altrincham, which makes claim to excellent schools and Metrolink travel to the city of Manchester, and Cheltenham, sitting on the edge of the idyllic Cotswolds with excellent schools and plenty of activities for the kids.

Top five best places to bring up a family

5. Chichester

4. Sevenoaks

3. Quorn

2. Altrincham

1. Cheltenham
The horrific murders in Orlando on Sunday have upset me greatly. To see one particular group of people targeted only for who they are is just awful. On a typical Saturday night, many of my friends will be in gay clubs and bars, enjoying themselves in exactly the same way those people were in Pulse. Euan and Jenny have already written about their reactions to this crime of homophobic hatred.

It gets me very time I see those texts from the young man to his mother from his hiding place. She must have felt so powerless to help her child.

Its so important to understand the shock and sadness felt by the LGBTI community. We must acknowledge that and never allow it to be airbrushed out as US politicians focus on the racist notions of the Republican nominee and yet another argument over gun control. Dont get me wrong, its well beyond time for gun control, but we need to make space for the LGBTI voices to be heard.

Many of my friends have commented that few of their work colleagues have appreciated how they are feeling about this attack on their community. Its not just another remote shooting in a far flung part of the world.

I was particularly struck by John Pearts blog to his heterosexual friends which was shared by my friend Stephen on Facebook:

It hurts because its not so different from the violence we experience every day. Until youve been scared to hold your partners hand in public, unless youve faced fear of revealing yourself to those closest to you; you can sympathise, but you cant understand. This hurts because whilst families and our community are grieving, the media is denying our collective identity. The world around us tries to politicise every part of our lives as an LGBT community: our fundamental rights, who we can marry, whether we can donate blood. And yet, the rare occasion we want our community to be at the forefront of politics, the politics of hate is erased from the discussion. This wasnt Americas Bataclan. It wasnt an attack on the West or Western culture. This attack was specific. Pre-meditated. Fuelled by a hatred of people like me. This hurts because so many remain silent when usually they are most vocal. Theyll mourn the death of a gorilla but they wont mourn 50 dead LGBT people.

He concludes on a similar note to my instinctive reaction to the murders:

We should all ask ourselves what we are going to do today and every day to rid the world of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.  Caron LINdsay (@caronmlindsay) June 12, 2016

I took part, from home, in the minutes silence for Orlando which took place in the Scottish Parliament. I found it and the subsequent statements from party leaders very moving and was almost in tears at some points. Last week the annual Scottish hate crime figures were released. They showed an increase in homophobic and transphobic incidents. There was some discussion around these in the Parliament yesterday afternoon, with remarkable consensus. We are remarkably lucky to live in a country where all the party leaders in our Parliament just get it. That, of course, set me off thinking about the many millions of LGBTI people who live in countries where that is not the case, and they face persecution or worse. But even in a country that is one of the best places in the world to be LGBTI, the number of hate crimes shows that there is still work to be done. I want to see all schools becoming places where LGBTI kids can feel safe and comfortable and all teachers trained in making sure that happens. Willie Rennie said:

On behalf of the Liberal Democrats, I express our deep sadness at the horrific events in Orlando. I agree with the First Minister that there was some comfort from the darkness in the crowds gathering in cities not just in the United Kingdom but across the world. Does the First Minister agree that one of the most powerful signals that we can send would be to accelerate our programmes on equality for all the LGBTI community? All of us in the Parliament have common programmes that we want to deliver. Let us use this incident to accelerate those programmes, so that we send the strongest possible signal to haters and terrorists that we will not be intimidated.

Alex Cole-Hamilton has put forward a motion in the Scottish Parliament showing solidarity with the victims in Orlando and the LGBTI community:

On behalf of the Liberal Democrats, I express our deep sadness at the horrific events in Orlando. I agree with the First Minister that there was some comfort from the darkness in the crowds gathering in cities not just in the United Kingdom but across the world. Does the First Minister agree that one of the most powerful signals that we can send would be to accelerate our programmes on equality for all the LGBTI community? All of us in the Parliament have common programmes that we want to deliver. Let us use this incident to accelerate those programmes, so that we send the strongest possible signal to haters and terrorists that we will not be intimidated.

Im going to be at the vigil tonight in St Andrews Square in Edinburgh. If youre around, its in St Andrews Square at 7pm. If you are in town, you are welcome to come and join the 2,300 people who have already said they are going.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
SINN Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan has urged the Department of Health to establish a local drugs task force in the city, to help tackle substance misuse problems in Limerick.

Deputy Quinlivan recently raised the issue with Minister of State Deputy Catherine Byrne in the Dail.

He told the Limerick Leader that he has been campaigning for a new facility for a number of years, and there never has been an explanation for not providinga local service.

We have a huge number of heroin addicts in the city, and I have always believed that a focus on the city would be very, very useful, and that is why I have been campaigning for this for a long time.

There is one in Cork, there is one in Bray, there is quite a number of them in Dublin, and we never got one in Limerick. While there is a problem with drugs all across the Mid-West region, Limericks problem is unique. We would have benefitted and we will benefit from a local drugs task force, he said this week.

He also asked Deputy Byrne why funding for the Mid-West Task Force has been cut. He claimed that funding has been reduced by 51.8% since 2009.

Deputy Byrne said that every effort has been made to protect the budgets of the regional task forces.

The overall allocation to the Mid-West Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force for community-based drugs initiatives from the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive in 2016 is 1,407,989. This is the same overall level of funding allocated in 2014 and 2015, and a reduction of 9% on the 2009 allocation, she responded.

She said that her Department has commissioned external consultants to develop a framework for drug and alcohol task forces across the country.

The study will also inform the question of how best to align Drug and Alcohol Task Forces in order to address locally identified needs.

She added that the framework is also under consideration for the development of the new national drugs strategy.
THIS years Bring your Limericks to Limerick International Poetry Competition will take place in August.

A joint venture between The Limerick Writers Centre and Global Limerick, the competition final will take place on Saturday, August 27, at the Savoy Hotel.

Dr Matthew Potter, who has written a history of the limerick, has said its important to create an awareness of the connection between the place and the poem so that Limerick can establish itself internationally as one of the few places that gave its name to a literary form.

Think Shakespeare and Stratford, Joyce and Dublin, Burns and Scotland, Limerick and the Limerick, said Dr Potter.

Dominic Taylor, of the Limerick Writers Centre, said that he was delighted to welcome Global Limerick Network on board as partners for this years competition.

Mr Taylor said he hopes to make the competition an integral part of the cultural life of the city and further their aim of making the Limerick verse form synonymous with the city.

This year the prize is two nights accommodation in a deluxe room at the Savoy Hotel, breakfast and dinner in Hamptons Bar & Grill on one evening.

The competition was made an international event in 2013 as part of The Gathering celebrations in the University of Limerick. Since then over 2,000 entries have been received for the competition from Ireland and overseas, with 50 finalists turning up on final night to battle for the overall prize.

Previous winners of the event include English poet Christine Robinson, Clare-based US poet Knute Skinner and last year Killaloe-based writer Fiona Clark Echlin won the prize. Entries can be made online at www.facebook.com/limerickcompetition or www.limerickwriterscentre.com or pick up an entry form from your local library and bookshops around the city.
Jun 14, 2016, 12 PM

A postmark from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C., celebrates the opening of a new exhibit.

By Michael Baadke

A postmark from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C., celebrates the opening of a new exhibit.

A new temporary exhibit titled Trailblazing: 100 Years of Our National Parks is now open at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, and is scheduled to run until March 25, 2018.

Linns Washington Correspondent Bill McAllister reported on details of the exhibit in May.

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The exhibit features numerous items on loan from various national parks around the country, from collectors, and from the United States Postal Services Postmaster Generals Collection.

The exhibit commemorates the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service by chronicling intersections between the mail and our national parks.

A companion display can be viewed online.

Collectors might choose to use one of the 16 National Parks forever stamps issued June 2 to obtain an example of the new postmark.

To obtain this postmark, which has been granted a 120-day extension, address your requests to:

SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL POSTAL MUSEUM Station, Special Cancellations, 2 Massachusetts Ave., Washington, DC 20002-9998, June 9.

The following postmarks are also available:

DUCK STAMP Station, Cancellation Services, 8300 NE Underground Drive, Pillar 210, Kansas City, MO 64144-9998, June 24. (Two swans in flight.)

AFTON STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Afton, MN 55001-9998, June 25. (Text written on wooden sign surrounded by strawberries.)

100TH ANNIVERSARY Station, Postmaster, S. Church St., Sudlersville, MD 21668-9998, June 25. (1916-2016, rectangle, unspecified design.)

75TH ANNIVERSARY Station, Postmaster, 20 S. Park St., Clyde, NY 14433-9998, June 28. (U.S. Post Office, post office building including U.S. flag.)

MANITOU SPRINGS Station, Postmaster, 307 Canon Ave., Manitou Springs, CO 80829-9998, June 30. (Similar to older U.S. duplex cancel with 1891 RMS 2016 in killer area.)

25 YEAR ANNIVERSARY NEWBERRY Station, Postmaster, 51649 Huntington Road, La Pine, OR 97739-9998, June 30. (Scene with mountain, forest, LA PINE OREGON Gateway to Newberry Volcanic National Monument.)

ICE CREAM SUNDAY Station, Postmaster, 1516 18th St., Two Rivers, WI 54241-9998, June 30. (Ice cream sundae with straws, Home of the Ice Cream Sunday Station, First Day of Sale.)

The following postmark has received a 120-day extension.

PUBLISHERS PRESS Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Lebanon Junction, KY 40150-9998, July 1. (Publishers Press insignia, 150 Years banner, 1866-2016.)

The following postmarks have received a 30-day extension.

SMALLVILLE KANSAS Station, Postmaster, 128 E. First Ave., Hutchinson, KS 67501-9998, June 11-12. (Skyline, Smallville Comiccon, Comic Book & Pop Culture.)

LEWIS AND CLARK STATE PARK Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Lyons, NE 68038-9998, June 11-12. (Lewis & Clark in banners, Blue Lake Festival.)

EID GREETING DEDICATION Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Louisville, KY 40203-9998, June 13. (All text postmark within shield.)

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE BIENNIAL CLASSIC Station, Postmaster/Philatelic Services, 461 Northwest Wa Na Pa St., Cascade Locks, OR 97014-9998, June 16. (20-year celebration; Columbia River Volkssport Club insignia with hills, river, trees; Voted Best Multi-Day Walk Event in the U.S.)

VIRGINIA GAME AND INLAND FISHERIES 100TH ANNIVERSARY Station, Postmaster, 2100 E. Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228-9998, June 17. (Department insignia, including state outline, deer, bird, fish, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; 1916-2016 100 years.)

HIGHWAY 14 SLIDE Station, Postmaster, 313 Main St., Elk City, ID 83525-9998, June 22. (Hills, roadway, clouds.)

24TH OF JUNE MASONIC CELEBRATION Station, Postmaster, 1045 Fifth St., Florala, AL 36442-9998, June 25. (Old car, Masonic Celebration 146th.)

Share information by writing to Postmark Pursuit, Box 4129, Sidney, OH 45365.

Instructions for requesting postmarks

Linns subscribers can see complete instructions for requesting postmarks by registering here.

Read more Postmark Pursuit columns:

Michigan air show postmark June 18-19 features mail, aviation

Ropex stamp show postmarks recall 1934 National Parks commemoratives

Stamp show postmark commemorates California native, author Jack London
Jun 14, 2016, 11 PM

An illustration by comic book artist Neal Adams, on the 39 Green Lantern stamp issued in 2006.

By Michael Baadke

Neal Adams is one of the most respected comic book artists in history. Born June 15, 1941, in New York City, Adams studied at the School of Industrial Art (now the High School of Art and Design) in Manhattan. After graduation he found work with Archie Comics, and later began drawing a Ben Casey daily comic strip and working as a commercial artist.

Adams began contributing to DC Comics in the mid-1960s and was soon drawing its famous superhero characters, including Batman. Within a few years he was also drawing for rival Marvel Comics, revitalizing its X-Men title.

At DC, Adams and writer Dennis ONeil were giving a bold new look to established characters including Batman, Green Arrow, and Green Lantern. Over the years, Adams has completed covers and interior art for many of the most popular DC and Marvel characters.

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Adams and artist/editor Dick Giordano founded the art studio and production company Continuity Studios in 1971. Adams was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1998.

Adams dramatic illustration of Green Lantern was featured on a 39 stamp in the DC Comics Super Heroes set of 20 issued July 20, 2006 (Scott 4084b). Printed on the backing paper for the Green Lantern stamp is this text: Green Lantern/Art by Neal Adams/In 1970, writer Dennis ONeil and artist Neal Adams launched a new era of relevance in comics, crafting stories in which the Green Lantern  accompanied by his friend, Green Arrow  addressed important issues then considered taboo for the typical comic book.

In 2014, Neal Adams artwork appeared on the Batman with Bat Signal forever stamp (Scott 4933) issued as part of a set of eight stamps commemorating the 75th anniversary of Batman.
Jun 15, 2016, 1 PM

One has to think the Rolling Stones themselves would get a kick out of the piece of stamp art that was recently created by an England artist to honor one of their iconic symbols.

By Colin Sallee

1. Rolling Stamps

The world of stamp art is a fascinating one. And not just the art on stamps, but the art created with stamps.

John Bottomley, an artist from Clayton, England, recently created a tribute to one of the most iconic bands of all time when he compiled about 4,300 stamps and arranged them to honor the famous tongue logo of the Rolling Stones, according to the Manchester Evening News.

The paper is reporting that this isn't Bottomley's first major stamp creation.

The one I did from The Shining I used more than 600 Christmas stamps, the one of Amy Winehouse took 3,600 stamps, he told the newspaper.

Bottomleys latest masterpiece is six-feet high, took over five weeks to complete, and is valued at roughly 2,500.

Have a look at the finished product.

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2. Collectors learns about China

Paul N. Davey presented a large variety of Chinese postage stamps to the Royal Philatelic Society London recently.

The RPSL said in a release that the presentation included commemoratives, postage dues and perfins, plus the so-called anti-bandit controls, the two or three character overprints applied mainly to high value definitives to restrict the use of the stamps to the town named as a deterrent to theft.

Read more about highlights of his presentation.

3. State of the Stamp Hobby

World Stamp Show-NY 2016 wrapped up earlier this month, but before it did, the Linn's team held a State of the Stamp Hobby roundtable discussion seeking to gain input from others about how to improve the stamp hobby and attract new collectors.

There was much discussion sparked by those in the standing-room-only audience.

Several members of the audience expressed concerns about an aging collector base and minimal representation of minorities, Donna Houseman writes. One man observed that there were few young people at the show.

Get Housemans full recap of the discussion.

4. Connect with Linns Stamp News:

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5. Hot topics

Check out three more interesting articles recently posted on Linns.com:

1. Rare use of Chinas Large Dragon on 1879 cover from Taiwan in InterAsia auction

2. Born June 12: Anne Frank

3. Intrepid cachetmaker Lazaroff achieves his goal: 50 first-day ceremonies attended in all 50 states
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Vietnams Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said June 14 he hopes bilateral trade with Thailand will rise to $20 billion by 2020, nearly double from more than $11 billion in 2015.

Phuc made the comment in a meeting with Thailands new Ambassador to Vietnam, Manopchai Vongphakdi, according to a statement from the Vietnamese government portal on Tuesday.

Thailand has invested more than $7 billion in Vietnam. This [trade and investment] is the strong point in the relationship between the two countries. Many industrial parks and projects invested by Thailand in Vietnam are very successful, Phuc said.

Catfish, one of the products Vietnam exports to Thailand. Photo by Vietnam News Agency/Vu Sinh

As Vietnam and Thailand are two leading rice exporters in the world, the Prime Minister urged the two countries to closely cooperate in this field for mutual benefit.

The Thai government announced on April 25 that it would sell 11.4 million tons of stockpiled rice in May and June for a targeted Baht100 billion ($2.81 billion). This is the biggest stockpile sale in the history of the worlds second largest rice exporter, and higher than the target of nine million tons set for this year.

Ambassador Manopchai said bilateral trade between Vietnam and Thailand reached $3 billion in the first quarter and will rise to $13 billion this year. He also emphasized that Thai investors are paying attention to Vietnams retail market.

Thailands Central Group announced on April 29 that it had bought Big Cs operations in Vietnam from France's Casino Group at a cost of 1 billion euros ($1.14 billion).

Another Thai company, the consumer goods group TCC Holding Co. Ltd, in January this year completed its acquisition of the Vietnamese operations of Metro for 655 million euros ($704.1 million).

Related news:

> Thailand eager to join TPP trade deal: Deputy PM

> Thailand overtakes China to become Vietnams top car supplier

> Vietnam scales up catfish exports to Thailand
International low-cost airline VietJet Aviation JSC was the only Vietnamese brand to break into the top 500 of Asia's Top 1,000 Brands recently released in Campaign Asia-Pacific magazine by Nielsen.

Viettel (501) and Petrolimex (512) were its closest domestic rivals, according to an exclusive survey conducted by Nielsen.

Vietnams largest dairy company Vinamilk ranked 558th while the country's third largest telecommunications provider MobiFone came in at 605th. Domestic coffee brand Trung Nguyen also made the list at 626th.

Asia's Top 1,000 Brands explores which brands, global or local, are best perceived by consumers in the world's largest continent.

Vietnamese brands emerged in the middle ranks on the list of Asia's 1000 best brands. Photo from Niesel Vietnam

The four remaining Vietnamese firms that made it into Asias Top 1000 Brands were Hao Hao noodles (654), Vietnam Airlines (708), Vietcombank (753) and Unilever toothpaste P/S (807).

Leading global brands unsurprisingly dominated the top positions, with Samsung once again claiming the top spot, followed by Apple. The South Korean consumer electronics giant has held the crown since 2012.

Taking a few steps back and looking at the brand landscape, fellow Asian brands were also well represented in this years Top 1,000 list. Sony (3), Panasonic (5), LG (7) and Canon (8) all claimed spots in the top 10.

Asias Top 1,000 Brands aggregates data from an online survey developed by Campaign Asia-Pacific and global information and insights provider Nielsen. The study explores consumers attitudes in 13 markets: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Research relies on a total of 400 respondents in each market, except India and China where participants numbered 800 and 1,200 respectively. To be representative of market populations, the survey classifies target age, gender and monthly household income.

The study encompassed 14 major categories (alcohol, financial services, automotive, retail, restaurants, food, beverage, consumer electronics, computer hardware, computer software, courier services, media and telecommunications, travel and leisure, and household and personal care) and 73 sub-categories.

Related news:

> Viettel named most valuable telecommunications brand in Cambodia

> Failure to establish global brand holds back Vietnam's rice exports
The sun comes out, and so do the tourists

It's been a good start to the summer for Vietnam's tourism sector, with Khanh Hoa Province leading the way. Around 1.6 million visitors touched down at the popular beach destination in May alone.

Close on its heels was Hanoi with the capital welcoming 1.5 million guests, while Sam Son Beach in Thanh Hoa Province was mobbed by 936,000 visitors across the month.

Since 2005, there has been an upward trend in Vietnam's tourism revenue. In 2015, Vietnam made $15 billion from tourism.

The number of travel agencies has increased over the years.

Vietnamese people seem to be favoring inland travel destinations with numbers steadily rising since 2011. However, the number of foreigner visitors touching down in Vietnam has fallen sharply.

In May, Khanh Hoa welcomed 1.6 million people, an increase of 14.37 percent from the same period last year. About 1.5 million people chose to visit the capital, up 10 percent, while Thanh Hoa welcomed approximately 20 percent more visitors.

Source: Institute for Tourism Development Research

Related news:

> Weak marketing hurts Vietnam's tourism growth

> Illegal Chinese tour guides take advantage of Khanh Hoa tourism boom

> Laos and Cambodia en route of overtaking Vietnam in tourism
The Vietnamese government has confirmed that the national legislature intends to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal at its first plenary session from July 20 to August 9.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will create a free-trade zone among 12 nations around the Pacific region that accounts for 40 percent of the worlds economic output.

Vietnam signed the trade agreement in February, allowing the agreement to be put in front of lawmakers for consideration before the final decision is made, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh on Wednesday at a workshop on how Vietnam can seize the opportunities arising from new-generation free trade agreements.

Signing does not mean ratifying, Khanh added, because the pact can take effect only if it is agreed on by half of the participating countries representing 85 percent of the trade zones gross domestic product.

Khanh said each country has up to two years to consider the deal.

The U.S. is the largest economy among the 12 TPP member countries. Without the approval of the U.S. Congress, the trade accord wont come into effect even it is ratified by all the other countries, the deputy minister said.

It remains unclear whether U.S. legislators will sign on to the TPP. However, during his landmark three-day visit to Vietnam last month, President Barack Obama said he was optimistic that Congress would pass the proposed trade agreement this year.

Vietnam is getting ready for the TPP

Vietnams economy must continue to grow and integrate further into the global market and do so through free trade agreements such as the pending TPP and the free trade agreement with the European Union (EVFTA), Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue reiterated at the workshop co-hosted by the World Bank and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

New-generation free trade deals, which will eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers on Vietnamese products, will offer commercial opportunities by opening and expanding export markets for Vietnamese enterprises.

The Vietnamese government is trying its best to stabilize the macro-economy and facilitate economic restructuring, emphasizing the need to reform state-owned enterprises and the banking system. [The government] is focusing on clearing bad debts, balancing the state budget, keeping public debt under control and restructuring the industry, services and agriculture sectors, said the deputy PM.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said Vietnams economy must continue to grow and integrate further into the global market and do so through free trade agreements. Photo by VGP.

The TPP does require certain changes to Vietnams laws and regulations, and Vietnamese lawmakers have already made some legislative and regulatory changes with the aim of increasing enforcement before the country can enjoy the TPP's benefits.

For instance, the TPP will require the Vietnamese government to allow independent labor unions to come into being within five years. If after those five years Vietnam has not fulfilled such commitment, the U.S. can unilaterally re-impose tariffs or cancel ongoing tariff incentives on Vietnamese products.

I cant say the exact number of legal documents that have been amended, however, I can tell you that we havent gone over our planned number, said Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Khanh Ngoc.

Reluctance to change holds back domestic businesses

Local Vietnamese businesses have become more aware of the TPP agreement, according to a survey conducted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

About 88 percent of respondents have heard of the TPP and half of them have carefully studied the trade pact.

Nearly 90 percent plan to improve their product quality, utilize technological innovation and gain access to new markets in the next three years in an attempt to get themselves ready for the TPP's benefits.

However, the Vietnamese business community is also aware that in addition to opportunities, the TPP will bring many challenges.

One of the challenges to local businesses is poor competitiveness," said Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, head of the WTO Center under the VCCI.

They are faced with many difficulties in their efforts to enhance their competitiveness including cumbersome bureaucracy, excessive customs paperwork, weak infrastructure and an unskilled labor force, Trang continued.

She also highlighted other difficulties such as the lack of information regarding the TPP and tariff reductions.

Vietnamese businesses are now aware of the upcoming changes but they havent got the courage to change, Trang said.

There arent many things that small and medium-sized companies in the steel industry can do to survive under the current circumstances, said Nguyen Van Sua, vice chairman of the Vietnam Steel Association.

They have to either merge or expand their businesses to be more competitive, he suggested.

The free trade agreement holds great potential for Vietnamese enterprises in various sectors.

If Vietnam can make use of tariff incentives, Vietnams exports of textiles and garments could generate $50 billion by 2020, said Le Tien Truong, chief executive of the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex).

The potential of free trade agreements are significant. According to the World Bank, the TPP could potentially raise Vietnams GDP by eight percentage points by 2030.

Vietnam is preparing and getting ready itself. However there are still a lot of things to do to get where it can maximize the benefits. And it is particularly important to get the private sector ready, said Victoria Kwakwa, the World Banks Regional Vice President for East Asia and Pacific.

Vietnam cannot afford to miss out on the benefits of the TPP, Kwakwa pointed out. If Vietnam isnt well prepared for the trade pact, it will not only lose market share in the fastest growing region in the world, but also pass up on the opportunity to boost economic reform.

The World Banks Trade and Competition Practice Manager Mona Haddad urged the Vietnamese government not to see free trade agreements such as the TPP and EVFTA as an end in itself but rather a tool to push institutional reform.

Related news:

> TPP offers promising new world for Vietnam's textiles sector

> TPP could be rejected due to environmental concerns

> U.S. offers $30 million to help Vietnam implement TPP
The Embassy of Thailand in Vietnam donated $100,000 on June 14 to help the country counter the effects of its most severe drought in almost a century.

The money was contributed by the Thai government as well as Thai citizens and 10 enterprises operating in Vietnam.

Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi said that Thailand is also affected by drought and salinity, so they can understand the difficulties the Vietnamese people are facing due to climate disasters. The ambassador added that Thailand is willing to share its experiences in handling drought and saltwater intrusion with Vietnam.

Nguyen Thien Nhan from the Vietnam Fatherland Front received the donation on behalf of the country, and promised to allocate it to those worst hit by the disaster.

It is estimated that climate change has cost Vietnam about $287 million so far this year. More than 1.5 million people are without clean water, and more than 400,000 hectares of crops have been ruined.

The country has for the first time also called on the international community to support a $48.5 million program to overcome the most severe drought it has suffered in nearly a century.

Related news:

> UN backs Vietnam's call for $48.5 mln in aid to combat record drought

> Laos digs deep to help Vietnam counter effects of climate change

> EU grants Vietnam $100,000 to overcome historic drought
Just days after a gunman opened fire in a gay club in Orlando, Florida, a complex and sometimes contradictory picture of his motivations is emerging. He called 911 during the attack to pledge allegiance to the jihadist group ISIS and its rival, the al-Nusra Front, according to the FBI. He was known to spew hatred against women, Jews, black people and gays, but apparently used gay dating apps and visited Pulse (the nightclub he would later attack) regularly for years, according to multiple people who knew him before the shooting.

As bizarre as these facts are, mixed and murky motivations are standard for so-called lone-wolf attackers, regardless of whether they are defined as terrorists, experts say. There is no template for the path to violence, and rarely can a single cause explain any one atrocity.

What that means is that researchers and others trying to prevent these attacks are focusing less on ideology and more on behavior. One study of lone terrorists of all stripes found that 83 percent had hinted to others about their plans before becoming violent, said Mia Bloom, a professor of communication at Georgia State University who researches suicide terrorism. The Orlando club shooter was reportedly no exception: NBC has reported that his wife told the FBI that she knew of his plans and tried to talk him out of attacking.

No template for violence

The revelation that the Orlando shooter used gay dating apps and frequented Pulse has led to speculation that closeted self-loathing played a role in the shooting. There is some scientific evidence that self-hate can be outwardly destructive. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that people with implicit same-sex desires (revealed by word-association tasks) who identified strongly as heterosexual were more likely than those who were more in touch with their sexual desires to show hostility toward gay people.

Parenting also played a role in this association. In the 2012 study, people who grew up in authoritarian households  those with strict, harsh parents  showed larger gaps between their implicit sexual desires and their outward sexual orientation than people raised by more accepting parents. [5 Myths About Gay People Debunked]

The problem with understanding lone-wolf terrorists or mass shooters, however, is that anger or hate alone doesn't predict violent action.

"There is no template," Bloom told Live Science. In the past, many scholars looked at terrorism as a destructive, but basically logical, decision. People born to Irish nationalists in Northern Ireland in the 1950s, for example, might have absorbed political messages from a young age about British oppression and then joined a paramilitary group that matched their ideology, Bloom said.

"What we're seeing more and more is that the logical, normal sequence is out of whack," Bloom said. Jihadist groups such as ISIS recruit in prisons, luring people who have checkered pasts with the promise of personal reinvention or greater meaning in life. Lone actors may use political causes as a veneer of respectability to cover for personal rage or despair, she said.

"You can have multiple, overlapping motivations," Bloom said.

Personal or political?

Some researchers think that even people who seem like straightforward terrorists  suicide bombers, for example  are driven by personal mental-health problems. In his book, "The Myth of Martyrdom: What Really Drives Suicide Bombers, Rampage Shooters and Other Self-Destructive Killers" (St. Martin's Press, 2013), University of Alabama criminal justice professor Adam Lankford argues that mental-health problems are common in suicide attackers. In a sample of 130 suicide terrorists, he found that 44 showed signs of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental-health issues; 104 had dealt with a crisis event before the attack; 12 had serious physical injuries or disabilities; and 66 had previously lost a loved one unexpectedly. [Mass Shootings: Why It's So Hard to Predict Who Will Snap]

Lankford's analysis goes against the mainstream view of suicide terrorists, which holds that most are psychologically normal, he said. The debate hints at the challenges of understanding motivations across time and culture, especially when a suicide attacker's family or fellow terrorists have a vested interest in making him or her seem sane and devoted to a righteous cause.

Lone-wolf terrorists are less likely to be suicidal than public mass shooters in the U.S., Lankford told Live Science, but many lone wolves suffer from mental-health problems or personal crises that echo those seen in public mass shooters. A terrorist is defined as someone who uses violence in pursuit of political aims, whereas a public mass shooter is generally driven by more personal motivations.

However, these categories can blur and overlap, said Lankford. For example, the shooter who killed African-American congregants at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, ultimately was not charged with terrorism but rather a hate crime. That was a controversial decision, as many saw his desire to start a "race war" as a political motivation.

It can also be difficult to tease out who is ideologically motivated. For example, the shooter who carried out an attack on Virginia Tech in 2007 referred to martyring himself "like Jesus Christ," but isn't usually seen as having religious motivations.

"We just tend to dismiss such claims because we 'know' that Christianity isn't really the explanation for the [Virginia Tech] killer," Lankford wrote in an email to Live Science.

A final complication is that terrorist organizations are constantly changing and adapting. When Israel's security forces started to catch male suicide bombers, Bloom said, terrorist groups started sending women strapped with explosives to checkpoints. In Nigeria, the Islamic militant group Boko Haram has even used children to carry out attacks. ISIS has, at various points, tried to recruit everyone from violent prisoners to do-gooders who feel the urge to help war orphans, Bloom said. The group also exhorts loners with no real connection to ISIS to commit attacks in its name.

"The moment there is a profile, you know what they do? They switch it up, and they change the operative," Bloom said.

Mass shooting intervention

With no consistent profile to use as a guide, researchers and threat-assessment professionals are working to figure out who, among the unstable and rage-filled, might progress to violence. This is not an easy task.

"You can't measure the dogs that don't bite," Bloom said.

Standard measures for violence risk in extremists often fall short. Scientists reporting in a paper published in March in the Journal of Threat Assessment and Management attempted to use a standard risk checklist called Identifying Vulnerable People to determine if that list could have predicted people who committed violence under a host of ideologies, including radical Islam, animal-rights activism, far-right ideology, militant Sikh ideology and the Irish Republican Army. School shooters were also used for comparison.

The checklist turned out to be somewhat reliable in screening Irish Republicans and Islamic terrorists, the researchers found, but it didn't do well at detecting those who committed violence for animal rights, or nonideological school shooters. The screening tool was best used for screening conventional violent extremists, the researchers concluded. Even then, the predictive power is modest, given that violence is a relatively rare outcome.

Another method is to look for red flags in online missives. A study published online in January in the Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention found that automatic text analysis can detect linguistic patterns that predict self-harm or violence toward others. The researchers analyzed suicide notes and legacy videos from active shooters and compared them to writings by typical college students. Red flags from online rhetoric could provide justification for law-enforcement sting operations, Lankford said, though sting operations themselves can be controversial.

Perhaps the best hope for stopping terrorists and active shooters before they kill is to recruit bystanders, Bloom said. By studying the cases of 119 lone-wolf terrorists, scientists found that in 82.4 percent of cases, people around the terrorist knew of his or her grievances prior to the plot; in 63.9 percent of the cases, the attacker actually told at least one other person that he or she planned to take violent action. In nearly a quarter (22.7 percent) of cases, the person issued a direct pre-attack warning, the scientists reported in 2013 in the Journal of Forensic Sciences.

In almost 54 percent of cases, friends and family described the lone-wolf terrorist as angry. Of those, 62.5 percent noted that the person had been increasingly angry leading up to the attack.

In that sense, the Orlando shooter is very typical. Former co-workers and his ex-wife have described him as angry and violent. His father reported that the shooter had flown into a rage after seeing a gay couple kissing. He had been reported and investigated by the FBI in 2013 and 2014 because of talk about terrorism, but those investigations were closed. Though his wife apparently knew of his plans and even accompanied him to buy weaponry, authorities didn't know of the final planning phases of the attack. That's where bystanders could have mattered, Bloom said.

"We need to get rid of the bystander effect," Bloom said. "We need to find a way that if someone says they are planning to do something, that there are safe mechanisms for the individual to report without themselves becoming a suspect or a person of interest. We need to come up with a way of separating the wheat from the chaff as far as people who are serious."

Original article on Live Science.
Detailed close-up sonar images of the legendary Andrea Doria shipwreck have been captured by a manned submersible for the first time since the ship sank 60 years ago.

The images, which are still being processed, show the wreck has decayed more than expected. A large section of the bow has broken off, suggesting that other parts of the ship are in a similar condition.

"When you look at the shape of the hull, it appears a lot has come off," Stockton Rush, chief executive officer of the ocean exploration company OceanGate, said at a press conference on Monday.

Lying in 240 feet of water, about 50 miles south of Nantucket, Mass., the Andrea Doria has been described as the "Mount Everest of wreck diving."

RELATED: Titanic Site Reveals Hints of Human Remains: Photos

Since the ship sank, 16 divers have lost their lives on scuba trips to the wreck. Indeed, the Doria presents many dangers even to the most experienced diver because of treacherous currents, sharks, wires and cables hanging like spider webs.

Identifiable landmarks have decayed over time, making it more difficult for scuba divers to safely navigate the wreck during their 20-minute dives.

WATCH VIDEO: How Our Ocean Obsession Led to a One-Man Sub

OceanGate's team had planned to spend a week diving to the wreck site with Cyclops 1, a five-person submersible capable of diving to a depth of 1,640 feet.

But foggy conditions and rough seas cut the expedition short. Nevertheless, the team was still able to produce 17 individual sonar scans of the bow and surrounding debris field.

"We were able to view the Andrea Doria area for nearly four hours, which is more than 10 times longer than scuba divers can," Rush said.

RELATED: Dark Side of Costa Concordia in Photos

An icon of national pride for Italy and a floating art gallery, the Andrea Doria was the most beautiful ship of its time.

The ship had already crossed the Atlantic 100 times, plying the Genova-New York route, when it collided with the 13,000-ton Swedish liner Stockholm in the waters off Nantucket, some 100 nautical miles from New York Harbor.

Following the collision, it stayed afloat for 11 hours, and sank, with all its lights on, on July 26, 1956.

On board were 1,134 passengers, 572 crew members, 401 tons of cargo (including 1,000 Olivetti typewriters and 500 Necchi sewing machines), 522 pieces of baggage, 1,754 bags of mail and nine cars, including the Norseman, a special prototype car that was a joint project of Chrysler and Ghia. The car was valued at more than $100,000.

The Andrea Doria was under the command of 58-year-old Captain Piero Calamai, a decorated skipper who had spent 39 years at sea. Bound for Gothenburg in Sweden, the Stockholm was commanded by 63-year-old Captain Gunnar Nordenson, a veteran of 46 years at sea.

RELATED: Women and Children First? Not Anymore

At the moment of the collision, Nordenson was in his cabin and a young third mate, Johan-Ernst Carstens-Johannsen, was in charge of the bridge.

Incredibly, only 51 people died in the accident  five crew members of the Stockholm and 46 passengers of the Andrea Doria. Among them 43 died instantly when their cabins were obliterated.

In what is considered one of the greatest sea rescue in history, all the passengers who were alive after the collision were saved, as the Andrea Doria tilted helplessly and cold ocean water flooded into the gash at its side.

A later investigation by U.S. naval engineer John Carrothers came to the conclusion that Stockholm's Third Officer Carstens-Johannsen caused the crash by misreading his radar, assuming it was on the 15-mile-range scale (further away) when, in reality, the scale was at five miles.

In a study published in 1971 in the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, Carrothers explained that this was an easy mistake since the scale was not illuminated and there was no variable range indicator. A computer simulator at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has confirmed Carrothers' study.

The 697-foot-long ship has become one of the most popular  yet dangerous  wreck sites in the world, since it is dotted with relics and it is not protected, unlike other famous wrecks such as the Lusitania and the Titanic.

Silverware and china, along with two of the ship's three bells, have been recovered. While the stern bell was retrieved in the late 1980s, the bridge bell was recovered six years ago.

The forward bell might never be found since it stood in a part of the ship that has now collapsed.

OceanGate plans to continue its long-term study of the wreck and return to the site next year. The aim is to update the sonar mapping work and create a "virtual model" of the exterior of the wreck as well as its debris field.

The Washington-based company is currently developing the next-generation Cyclops 2 submersible, which will be capable of reaching depths of 13,000 feet.

"We're going to take mankind to the bottom of the ocean and discover things that no one can even imagine," Rush said.

Originally published on Discovery News.
Police in Hanoi rescued a shipment of wild animals on June 14 following a loris-for-sale Facebook advertisement.

The shipment was being transported from the northern province of Lang Son to Hanoi, and contained 35 green frogs, four black-breasted leaf turtles and a loris, all of which are raised as pets in Vietnam.

Workers at Education for Nature Vietnam ENV spotted a loris-for-sale advertisement on Facebook the previous day, and immediately contacted the police in an effort to save the endangered animal. The animals are being kept at the Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center.

After their arrest, one of the two suspects testified that they had bought the animals in Lang Son Province to sell in Hanoi. The suspects have been detained pending further investigation.

From June 3-7, ENV also rescued another loris, three monkeys and five sea turtles.

According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the loris is a vunerable animal while the black-breasted leaf turtle is on the list of endangered animals.

Related news:

> Police seize bear paws in northern Vietnam

> Police seize 4 frozen tiger cubs, arrest one

> Vietnam's wild tigers on the edge of extinction

> Rescued bear makes a splash on return to freedom in Vietnam
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A Philippine eagle inside an inclosure at the Philiippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) center in Davao City, in southern island of Mindanao. Photo by AFP/Ted Aljibe

Surprisingly loud chirps accompany a clumsy flurry of tiny wings as a wispy-haired chick breaks through its shell, its birth offering rare cause for celebration in the struggle to save the Philippine eagle from extinction.

Tropical rainforest destruction and relentless hunting have decimated the population of the majestic bird, one of the world's biggest and most powerful, with just hundreds believed to be left in the wild.

A small band of conservationists at a tiny sanctuary on the fringes of Davao, the southern Philippines' biggest city, is trying to ensure their survival by running the world's only breeding program for the eagles and by rehabilitating the wounded.

"The center serves basically as insurance, or a Noah's Ark so to speak, for the species," Philippine Eagle Foundation executive director Dennis Salvador told AFP on a recent visit.

"But it certainly doesn't substitute for a population in the wild."

The foundation estimates there are about 800 of the Philippines' national bird remaining in the wild, though it is impossible to count accurately due to their remote habitats. International conservation groups say there could be as few as 250 left.

In more than three decades of trial and error experiments by the foundation that have yet to fully understand the eagles' breeding habits, just 27 have been born in captivity.

The eagles are notoriously hard to pair, with the larger female known to attack and even kill an unwanted suitor in the wild. Once they do find a suitable partner, it is generally for life, although even in the forests the couples will generally only reproduce every two years.

"It's difficult because we don't really know what happens in the wild, and we can't replicate that here in captivity," said Anna Mae Sumaya, the foundation's curator.

"Exciting, fantastic"

However, after failing to breed any eagles for nearly three years, recent successes have raised hopes.

Go Phoenix, which was brought into the centre after being ensnared in a hunter's trap, and MVP, a shooting victim, were successfully paired in 2013 and have produced two chicks in quick succession, the latest in February.

The exceptionally rare moments in nature were filmed from behind glass enclosures, the footage showing chick number 27 breaking out of its shell with a burst of energy and chirping before resting its head on pebbles in a small metal dish.

"It was exciting, a fantastic feeling, we were very lucky," Sumaya said, adding she hoped Go Phoenix and MVP could produce again next season while two other pairs were also a chance to breed.

However a growing problem is space: 35 eagles live in cages of various sizes in the centre, which covers just eight hectares (20 acres) of forest.

The centre's ultimate goal is to release the eagles back into the wild, but this has proved even more of a challenge than breeding them.

One of the biggest problems has been the eagles becoming too accustomed to human contact at the center. When released, they have been shot after getting too close to communities that are in or near the diminishing forests.

Formerly known as the monkey-eating eagle, the birds are protected by law. Killing one is punishable by a maximum 12-year prison term and a one million-peso ($21,000) fine, but shooters are rarely caught.

Out of 15 eagles from the center that have been released, only one is known to still be alive in the wild, according to Sumaya. She said four had been brought back to the center after sustaining injuries while the others were confirmed or presumed dead.

"Devastated"

In the most recent failure, Matatag was shot in February. He had survived about a year after being released into the forests on Mt Apo, the Philippines' highest mountain.

Matatag had initially been brought to the center after being shot when he was just one year old, then spent three years in rehabilitation before his ill-fated release.

"I was devastated. I thought: 'It's happening all over again'," Sumaya said, but added the bird was recovering well.

The centre is trying to eliminate contact between humans and the eagles that are earmarked for eventual release, although Sumaya said there were no plans in the near future to set any more free.

Those that are too badly injured or old to be released are put on display for tens of thousands of tourists and students who visit the centre each year.

While breeding the eagles is important, foundation executive director Salvador said the key to the eagles' survival was educating Filipinos about their plight and raising awareness about the need to stop logging, mining and other forest-destroying activities.

School children watching a Philippine eagle named "Fighter" streching wings at the Philiippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) center in Davao City, in southern island of Mindanao. Photo by AFP/Ted Aljibe

Four-year-old Fighter spends his days chained to a perch, his grey eyes constantly darting as if he thinks he is searching for prey in the wild, while his striking brown and white crest occasionally flares in a sign of stress or territorial aggression.

Fighter is missing nearly half of his left wing from a gun shot injury so would not survive in the wild, but he is helping to teach visitors about the eagles' plight.

"Just dont destroy the habitats of eagles, dont destroy their forests," said nine-year-old Daneen Sinsuat, when asked what she had learnt from her visit to the centre with her classmates.

Related news:

> Endangered birds make surprise touchdown in Lao Cai

> Singapore destroys tons of illegal ivory

> Genes tell how the giraffe got its long neck
Eugene McCabe's play , 'King of the Castle' was described by Cllr Joe Mooney at a meeting of Leitrim County Council as a slander on Leitrim and the women of Ireland.

In a vicious attack on RTE who screened the play recently, Cllr Mooney said the station should be bringing up standards and not lowering them. Ironically the councillor's son Paschal, is a regular broadcaster on the network.

Mr Mooney criticised Monaghan-born McCabe for using Leitrim as a base for the play. Why hadn't he the guts to locate this filth in his own county?, he asked. He felt the play was particularly hurtful because it seemed to suggest that the going-ons in it were part of everyday life in county Leitrim and this was something he strongly refuted.

The use of a Leitrim registered car at a pig fair further added to the insult and brought home to the people all over Ireland a false impression of the county.

Afterwards in a Longford Leader interview, Mr Mooney, one of the country's most famous parish pump politicians, said that the play could lead to a new wave of permissiveness. The play might have gone down well with the so-called intelligentsia in Dublin who liked nothing better than to have a cheap joke at the expense of rural Ireland, he said.
Local companies who depend heavily on UK exports couk see their profits wiped out overnight if Britain decided to pull out of the EU.

That's the view of treasury and financial management guru John Finn.

The Lanesboro native, and managing director of Cork based firm Treasury Solutions Ltd, believes the risks to Ireland and in particular British orientated exporters are huge.

And at the top of that list, Mr Finn conceded, remain the likely aftereffects a Brexit would have on foreign exchange markets.

The biggest issue facing companies is currency, he said.

Based on current markets if a company is exporting to the UK they would be down 10 per cent already.

If a company was making making 90,000 profit on sales last year it would be wiped out this year because of the (change in) currency.

When you consider the average industrial wage is 30,000 or so that's the cost of employing three people a year which to an SME is an awful lot.

Huge consequences

Mr Finn, who grew up in the south Longford town and attended St Mel's College, said the consequences of an exit vote next Thursday (June 23) is huge on so many fronts.

It's an analysis which leading and international global ratings agency S&P validated last week.

According to a Brexit sensitivity index it carried out in recent days, the economies of Ireland, along with Luxembourg, Malta and Cyprus, remained most at risk by a Brexit vote.

Mr Finn said companies, big and small, were bracing themselves ahead of the June 23 vote.

 If they decide to stay in it(currency markets) will probably strengthen, meaning companies will get more euros for their sterling, but if they leave it will have big risks and you could even see it go as high as 0.85 which is a huge move.

He said a Brexit made no economic sense and was an outcome that would have far reaching consequences for locally based tourism and hospitality firms.

 Last year you could have got around 1.40 for 1 but if that (exchange rate) goes to 0.85p (for 1) you are then talking about a 1.16-1.17 return.

That could then mean that people will stop travelling or you are going to have to look at cutting prices, he warned.
Local News, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: June 15 2016

Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary crew members rescued a stranded mariner northeast of Port Jefferson, New York, Tuesday.

Port Jefferson, NY - June 14, 2016 - Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary crew members rescued a stranded mariner northeast of Port Jefferson, New York, Tuesday. The stranded mariner was found adrift in the inflatable raft pictured.

Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound watchstanders received a call at approximately 9:30 a.m. from an off-duty Coast Guard Auxiliary member, reporting that he had rescued a distressed mariner in a small inflatable dinghy.

The person in the dinghy reported he and a friend had been afloat for two days after departing from Milford, Connecticut on Sunday.

On Monday, at approximately 2:00 p.m. one of the mariners entered the water and attempted to swim to Charles Island near Milford, Connecticut.

Sector Long Island Sound issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast requesting vessels in the area to be on the look out for a person in the water who was attempting to swim to Charles Island.

Sector Long Island Sound launched a Station New Haven 45-foot ResponseBoat-Medium (RB-M) and two Aids to Navigation Team vessels from New London, Connecticut.

The Station New Haven RB-M arrived on scene at 9:50 a.m., and transferred the mariner from the off-duty auxiliary vessel to the Station's RB-M.

Sector Long Island notified Stratford Fire Department, Milford Police and Fire Departments who located the second individual near Silver Sands State Park during low tide.

Both individuals were transferred by emergency medical services to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

The Coast Guard is reminding mariners to always wear a personal floatation device, carry a hand held VHF radio and to review current and forecasted weather conditions. It is also important to stay mindful of prevailing and forecasted winds, tides and currents, and the potential impacts they have on returning safely to shore.
Ends Prior Insurance Authorization to Allow for Immediate Access to Inpatient Treatment as Long as Such Treatment is Needed: People suffering from addiction who seek treatment need immediate access to services, but prior authorization requirements by insurance companies are often a roadblock to admission to inpatient programs. This legislation requires insurers to cover necessary inpatient services for the treatment of substance use disorders for as long as an individual needs them. In addition, the legislation establishes that utilization review by insurers can begin only after the first 14 days of treatment, ensuring that every patient receives at least two weeks of uninterrupted, covered care before the insurance company becomes involved.

Ends Prior Insurance Authorization to Allow for Greater Access to Drug Treatment Medications: People seeking medication to manage withdrawal symptoms or maintain recovery must often request prior approval from their insurance company, which slows or stops the individual from getting needed medication. This legislation prohibits insurers from requiring prior approval for emergency supplies of these medications. Similar provisions will also apply to managed care providers treating individuals on Medicaid who seek access to buprenorphine and injectable naltrexone.

Requires All Insurance Companies Use Objective State-Approved Criteria to Determine the Level of Care for Individuals Suffering from Substance Abuse: Insurance companies often use inconsistent criteria to determine the covered level of care for persons suffering from substance use disorder, which often creates barriers preventing these individuals from receiving care. This legislation will require all insurers operating in New York State to use objective, state-approved criteria when making coverage determinations for all substance use disorder treatment in order to make sure individuals get the treatment they need.

Mandate Insurance Coverage for Opioid Overdose-Reversal Medication: Naloxone is a medication that revives an individual from a heroin or opioid overdose and has saved thousands of New Yorkers lives. To expand access to this life-saving medication, the new legislation requires insurance companies to cover the costs of naloxone when prescribed to a person who is addicted to opioids and to his/her family member/s on the same insurance plan.

TREATMENT ENHANCEMENTS

Increase Evaluation for Individuals Incapacitated by Drugs from 48 to 72-Hours: Sometimes, individuals suffering from addiction are at risk for overdose and thus pose a threat to themselves. The legislation allows families to seek 72-hours of emergency treatment, an increase from the current 48-hours, for their loved one to stabilize and connect them to longer-term treatment options while also balancing individual rights of the incapacitated individuals.

Require Hospitals to Provide Follow-Up Treatment Service Options to Individuals Upon Hospital Discharge: Hospitals play an important role in caring for individuals suffering from addiction who are often admitted to hospital emergency rooms after an overdose. This legislation requires hospital medical staff to provide discharge-planning services to connect patients who have or are at-risk for substance use disorder with nearby treatment options to provide continuous medical care.

Allow More Trained Professionals to Administer Life-Saving Overdose-Reversal Medication: Overdose-reversal medication such as naloxone saves lives. However, the law does not currently allow certain licensed professionals to administer this medication to individuals overdosing from heroin and opioids. To ensure that more people are able to help reverse overdoses, the new legislation authorizes trained professionals to administer naloxone in emergency situations without risk to their professional license.

Expand Wraparound Services to Support Long-Term Recovery: Individuals leaving treatment are at great risk for relapse. To provide services during this critical period, the legislation extends the wraparound program launched in 2014 to provide services to individuals completing treatment including education and employment resources; legal services; social services; transportation assistance, childcare services; and peer support groups.

PREVENTION

Reduce Prescription Limits for Opioids from 30-days to Seven Days: There is a well-established link between the rise in opioid prescriptions and the current heroin crisis. To reduce unnecessary access to opioids, the legislation lowers the limit for opioid prescriptions for acute pain from 30-days to no more than a 7-day supply, with exceptions for chronic pain and other conditions.

Require Ongoing Education on Addiction & Pain Management for All Physicians and Prescribers: Physicians and other opioid prescribers are important partners in preventing addiction linked to abuse of prescription opioids. To ensure that prescribers understand the risks presented by prescription opioids, the legislation mandates that these health care professionals complete three hours of education every three years on addiction, pain management, and palliative care.

Mandate Pharmacists Provide Easy to Understand Information on Risks Associated with Drug Addiction and Abuse: Consumers may not understand the addiction and abuse risks posed by prescription opioids. To improve consumer awareness about these risks the legislation requires pharmacists to provide educational materials to consumers about the risk of addiction, including information about local treatment services.

Require Data Collection on Overdoses and Prescriptions to Assist the State in Providing Additional Protections to Combat this Epidemic: Current and accurate data is critical to combat the heroin and opioid crisis yet gaps currently exist in statewide data on overdoses and usage of opioid reversal medication. To fill that gap the legislation requires the State Commissioner of Health to report county-level data on opioid overdoses and usage of overdose-reversal medication on a quarterly basis.

Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said, "As co-chair of the Governor's Task Force, I have heard from parents, doctors and recovery experts who all spoke of the devastation and heartbreak this crisis has caused countless families and communities across our state. We have responded to the cries for help with bold action. This agreement acknowledges that the only way to save lives and stop this epidemic is with a comprehensive approach that includes limiting prescriptions at their source, removing barriers to treatment and expanding recovery options. I commend the Governor, Legislature and Task Force for taking this issue head on and making New York the national leader in solving this problem, which has plagued all of us for too long.



NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez said, "We traveled the state and heard from New Yorkers about what they need to battle opioids and addiction. I am pleased and proud to say that this comprehensive package of legislation addresses the needs of New Yorkers battling addiction and positions New York's substance use disorder care system as one of the strongest in the nation. I thank Governor Cuomo, Lieutenant Governor Hochul, Task Force members, the Senate and Assembly, and my dedicated team at OASAS, for their commitment to strengthening our addiction system of care and their hard work to enact a package of bills that will help New Yorkers overcome addiction now and into the future."



ADDITIONAL INITIATIVES TO COMBAT ADDICTION



The 2016-2017 budget invests nearly $200 million through the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic -- an 82 percent increase in state spending since 2011. This investment includes $66 million for residential treatment beds, including counseling and support services for roughly 8,000 individuals; $38 million to fund medication-assisted treatment programs that serve approximately 12,000 clients in residential or outpatient settings; $25 million in funding for state-operated Addiction Treatment Centers; $24 million for outpatient services that provide group and individual counseling; and $8 million for crisis/detox programs to manage and treat withdrawal from heroin and opioids.



Todays agreement also allocates funding to add 270 treatment beds and 2,335 opioid treatment program slots across the state to help New Yorkers suffering from substance use disorder and to expand vital treatment and recovery resources.



The agreement funds additional family support navigators across New York to assist substance users and their families locate and access treatment options and cope with addiction. The agreement will also expand the on-call peer program which partners individuals in recovery with people in hospitals suffering from substance use disorder to help connect these individuals to treatment and other resources upon discharge. The state is also increasing the number of Recovery Community and Outreach Centers and Adolescent Club Houses statewide to provide safe spaces for teens in recovery that deliver health and wellness services for teens and young adults.



The Governors Heroin and Opioid Task Force  comprised of a diverse coalition of experts in healthcare, drug policy, advocacy, education, and parents and New Yorkers in recovery  held executive meetings and eight listening sessions across the state  hearing directly from health care providers, family support groups, educators, law enforcement officials, and community members and gathering input that has influenced the initiatives announced today. The task force is co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez. The final report and recommendations can be found here. For more information, please visit here.



Since 2014, Governor Cuomo has implemented a series of aggressive reforms to combat heroin and opioid addiction, including signing historic Combat Heroin Legislation that year; expanding insurance coverage for substance use disorder treatment; increasing access and enhancing treatment capacity across the state, including a major expansion of opioid treatment and recovery services; implementing the comprehensive I-STOP law to curb prescription drug abuse; and launching a public awareness and prevention campaign to inform New Yorkers about the dangers of heroin use and opioid misuse.



State Senator Terrence Murphy said, Across New York and the nation, far too many lives are being lost due to heroin and opioid addiction. Combating this epidemic has been and remains a top priority of mine and this legislative package will help us save the lives of vulnerable New Yorkers by expanding access to treatment, removing insurance barriers and enhancing community prevention statewide. I was proud to be a member of the Governors Heroin Task Force, as well co-chairman of the Senate's task force, both of which played a roles in seeing these reforms enacted. I commend Governor Cuomo, Lt. Governor Hochul, Commissioner Gonzalez-Sanchez and everyone involved for putting the people of our state ahead of partisan politics.



NYS Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, "This agreement between Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature will help us battle the growing opioid and heroin epidemic and save countless lives. These measures will increase access to treatment for people trying to recover from addiction, and require physicians and patients alike to fully understand the potential dangers of opioid abuse."



Maria T. Vullo, Acting Superintendent of Financial Services said, The nationwide opioid epidemic requires bold and innovative action and this Administration is leading the way. The elimination of insurer prior approval for inpatient care and essential medications, along with the adoption of objective, state approved criteria to determine insurance coverage for necessary inpatient treatment will ensure that New Yorkers suffering from addiction, and their loved ones, will receive the assistance they desperately need. I am honored to have been part of the Opioid and Heroin Task Force and to contribute to the creation of this groundbreaking legislation.



Susan Salomone, a Task Force member and Executive Director of Drug Crisis in our Backyard, said, I thank Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature for agreeing to this important package of legislation. These groundbreaking initiatives will save lives and make recovery a possibility for many more families in New York."



Anne Constantino, a Task Force member and CEO of Horizon Health Services, said, "I thank the governor for his leadership in prioritizing this important public health crisis. The changes represented in this package will go a long way in helping us to prevent serious addiction and to provide timely access to treatment and recovery support. These solutions are workable and will make an immediate impact. I am grateful for the courage of those who shared their personal stories, and for the commitment and compassion shown by all those that have advocated for lives to be saved."



John Coppola, Executive Director of the NY Association of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers, said, "Governor Cuomo and the Senate and Assembly are acutely aware that the epidemic of overdose and addiction related to prescription opioids and heroin is a public health emergency. Their agreement on a legislative package to address this crisis provides impacted families and communities with hope."



Patrice Wallace-Moore, CEO of Arms Acres, said, "As a person who works on the front lines of addiction treatment, I cannot thank Governor Cuomo and the Legislature enough for their actions. This package will have a significant and positive impact for those struggling with addiction and their families."



New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the states HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). New Yorkers can find an OASAS-certified substance use disorder treatment provider by using the OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard. For help with accessing care and insurance coverage, visit the Access Treatment page on the OASAS website. To find a naloxone overdose reversal medication training near you, visit the OASAS opioid overdose prevention trainings page. Visit here for more information on addressing heroin and prescription opioid abuse, including a Kitchen Table Tool Kit to help start the conversation about the warning signs of addiction and where to get help. For additional tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing underage drinking or drug use, visit the States Talk2Prevent website.
"We've worked hard to cut red tape, lower costs and roll back burdensome regulations to help New York's craft beverage industry thrive and create jobs, as well as some of the best beer, wine, cider and distilled spirits in the world," Governor Cuomo said. "This agreement to overhaul this state's archaic blue laws will build upon these ongoing efforts by knocking down artificial barriers for restaurants and small businesses and helping this industry grow even stronger."

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said, "There was broad consensus between the Governor and Legislature that New York's blue laws were outdated and in need of reform, specifically the provision which barred those enjoying brunch from purchasing an alcoholic beverage before noon on Sunday. Working with our colleagues in government, I am pleased we were able to arrive at an agreement to make common-sense changes that reduce red tape and eliminate regulations, help businesses grow and thrive, and reflect the overwhelming wishes of consumers all across this state."

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, As New Yorkers, we are fortunate to have a wealth of resources at our fingertips that allow us the opportunity to craft some of the best wine, beer, cider and spirits in the country. This legislation represents our ongoing commitment to the beverage and hospitality industries so that they can continue to showcase the best of what New York has to offer. By making it easier to do business here, we will encourage new business development, inspire tourism and open the door for new ventures.

Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeffrey Klein said, "This agreement updates an archaic law with common sense changes that will undoubtedly be a brew for better business in New York State. I'm proud that we eliminated burdens and regulatory obstacles to help small businesses flourish in this state."

The Agreement

The agreement will ensure the craft beverage industry in New York continues to thrive by amending the ABC Law to include the following:

Expand Sunday Sales: The ABC Law includes provisions strictly prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages at on-premises establishments (restaurants, bars, taverns) before noon on Sunday. The agreement expands Sunday sales at restaurants and bars by changing the statewide opening hours from noon to 10 am. In addition, the agreement enables these licensees to apply for a permit, limited to twelve per year, to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises on Sundays between 8 a.m. and the new 10 a.m. opening hour in areas outside New York City.

Eliminate Burdensome Paperwork Requirements for Craft Manufacturers: At the 2012 Wine, Beer and Spirits Summit, Governor Cuomo ended the State Liquor Authority's policy prohibiting multiple manufacturing licenses at the same location, recognizing the additional burdens this placed, for example, on a small winery that wanted to also make whiskey  including building a separate facility. However, businesses holding multiple licenses must still file paperwork and renewals for each separate license. The agreement combines craft manufacturing licenses into one application to reduce burdensome paperwork for these small businesses.

Authorize the Sale of Wine in Growlers: Current law requires that wine sold at retail for off-premises consumption be kept in their original sealed containers, and consequently, New York wineries are prohibited from filling growlers. This prohibition unduly burdens wineries that can open a container to sell wine for on-premises consumption, or can sell wine for off-premises consumption, but cannot fill a growler to be taken away from the winery. The agreement enacts a common sense change to the law to allow wineries to fill their customers growlers. In addition, the agreement authorizes wineries and farm wineries to allow customers to take home partially finished bottles of wine.

Reduce Fees for Craft Beverage Salespeople: The ABC Law currently requires that any salesperson or solicitor employed by a manufacturer or wholesaler must obtain a solicitors permit in addition to a bond. Recognizing the financial hardship imposed by these unnecessary additional fees, the agreement eliminates the fee for a solicitors permit for craft manufacturers and removes the bond requirement for all manufacturers.

Reduced Fees for Small Wholesalers: The primary business of most alcohol beverage wholesalers is selling their products to licensed retailers, such as bars, restaurants and liquor stores. However, there are currently a number of small wholesalers in New York that sell limited number of brands they import directly to large wholesalers for distribution to retailers. Under the current law, these small wholesalers must pay the same amount for their license as their larger counterparts, with costs ranging from $1,460 for a one year beer license to $27,280 for a three year liquor wholesale license. This financial burden often requires these small businesses to make a choice between continuing to hold a New York wholesale license or to relocate their business outside of New York. The agreement amends the ABC Law to create a low-cost importers license that would be available to wholesalers that sell only to other wholesalers.

Authorize Gift Wrapping: The agreement allows liquor stores to sell gift wrapping and gift bags to their customers.

Legislation to amend the ABC Law was first proposed by Governor Cuomo in May as a direct result of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law Working Group  a blue ribbon panel created by Governor Cuomo in November 2015 tasked with developing recommendations to modernize the laws governing the manufacturing, wholesale and retail of alcoholic beverages in New York State.

Building on Prior Industry Reforms to Grow New York's Economy

The agreement builds on the progress made by the Governor over the past five years, including enacting the Craft New York Act, to cut burdensome requirements on producers and ease restrictions regarding the marketing of craft products. Since 2011, the state has implemented a number of significant reforms and expanded programs to grow the craft beverage industry, including creating new farm-based manufacturing licenses, launching a $60 million statewide promotional campaign and hosting wine, beer and spirits summits across the state.

The success of New Yorks investments in the craft beverage industry can be seen from the Finger Lakes to the North Fork of Long Island. Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, New York is now home to nearly 900 wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries. The number of farm wineries in New York has increased by nearly 60 percent, from 195 in 2010 to 310 today. Additionally, the number of microbreweries has grown by 263 percent, from 40 in 2010 to 145, while the number of farm distilleries grew from just 10 in 2010 to 90 today. Two new licenses have been created since 2011: the farm brewery license in 2013 and the farm cidery license in 2014, with New York now home to 120 farm breweries and 21 farm cideries businesses.

New York State Liquor Authority Chairman Vincent Bradley said: This legislation is another example of the Governors continuing efforts to make the state a better place to do business. While these policy proposals have been discussed and debated for years, todays agreement demonstrates that leadership matters, and I thank Governor Cuomo, the community and industry leaders who served on the working group, as well as the members of the legislature for reaching an agreement on these important and needed changes."

New York State Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball said: No State has done more to assist and promote craft beverage manufacturing than New York, and these changes to the ABC Law build on the commitment to further strengthen the already booming industry. By amending confusing and outdated aspects of the law, current and future craft beverage manufactures in the state will be able to operate more freely, grow their businesses and boost the economy. I commend Governor Cuomo and members of the legislature for recognizing the importance and benefit of these modifications.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: June 15 2016

An estimated 180,000 veterans are incarcerated each year nationwide, with a significant rate of re-offense according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Yaphank, NY - June 14, 2016 - An estimated 180,000 veterans are incarcerated each year nationwide, with a significant rate of re-offense according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Now, Suffolk County is making a push to reduce veteran recidivism and provide soldiers with the tools and the resources to appropriately cope with stressors, improve life skills, and attain educational and vocational training.





Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco, Suffolk County Legislator Bill Lindsay, Judge John J. Toomey of the Veterans Treatment Court, New York State Senator Tom Croci, and Veteran Mentors from the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 11, launched an Incarcerated Veterans Re-Entry Initiative at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility this past Friday. The program will help incarcerated veterans re-enter society with services in place to address some of the underlying causes of their contact with the justice system. Many of the jails incarcerated veterans suffer from PTSD and substance abuse issues, and have been involved in heavy combat situations.





The Veterans Re-Entry Program will address the re-entry needs of veterans returning to society after a period of incarceration at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility. The program will emphasize substance abuse recovery, coping with stress disorders, improving, life skills, family re-unification and vocational and educational assistance.



I have made continuous efforts to prioritize cost effective offender rehabilitation policies that address the root cause of crime and recidivism, said Sheriff DeMarco. The program will provide veterans with re-entry services that will allow them to leave jail with greater opportunities, and will go a long way in meeting the needs of our veterans and our County as a whole.

The Veterans Re-Entry Program will consist of:

Separate Veterans Pods at the Yaphank Jail

Increased Classification of Veterans and Program Screenings

Standardized Schedule of Programs

Educational & Vocational Training

Transitional Case Management

Coordination with the Veterans Treatment Court

Ongoing Post-Release Case Management

Focus on Family Reunification, Coping Skills, and Life Skills

Army Reserve Brigadier General Richard K. Sele joined the panel as the keynote speaker at the programs launch. BG Sele is a Long Island-native who grew up in Sayville and graduated from Sayville High School in 1979. He enlisted in the Army in 1983 and has served on active duty for 24 years. Sele currently serves as the Deputy Commanding General of the 108th Training Command (IET), headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

On Friday BG Sele said, I think I see many of these same attributes in the veterans program that the Sheriff and his team are launching today. I wish them the best of luck in the program and I want to thank all of those responsible for putting this together. And a final note to our veterans that will participate in the program, I think you have a great opportunity in front of you and I wish you nothing but success in the future.

Suffolk County has one the highest veteran populations in the United States and we need to provide better services to meet the needs of our veterans, said Suffolk Legislator Bill Lindsay. Our soldiers come home with very few resources to re-enter civilian life; many begin to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol and wind up in the justice system. Today we are making strides to ensure that our veterans have the resources they need to live, work, and live freely in the home they worked so hard to protect.



Long Island has a military veteran population of 174,000  more than any other area in New York State. Many of Long Islands returning veterans are Reserve and National Guard members. These veterans face many issues which can increase the likelihood of contact with the criminal justice system.



Veteran Fact Sheet



Employment:

Gulf War II (those who served in Iraq or Afghanistan post 9/11) veterans have the highest unemployment rate of all veterans.

A 2011 survey of 585 National Guard veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan found that only a third had obtained full-time employment 45 to 60 days after returning to civilian life.

Mental Health/PTSD and SUD:

16% of all Gulf War II veterans are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

More than 2 of 10 Veterans with PTSD also have a Substance Use Disorder (SUD).

Almost 1 out of every 3 Veterans seeking treatment for SUD also has PTSD.

In the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, about 1 in 10 returning soldiers seen in VA have a problem with alcohol or other drugs.

People with PTSD have a harder time overcoming addiction than those without it. The symptoms of withdrawal combined with the symptoms of PTSD amplify negative feelings and emotions that may lead to a relapse.

Approximately 20 percent of service members reported binge drinking at least once a week. This rate is even higher for those with combat exposure.

Some veterans addicted to prescriptions for pain and PTSD turn to illicit substances. Illicit drugs like heroin are often cheaper and easier to obtain than prescription painkillers.

Traumatic Brain Injury:

From 2002 to December 2012, 253,330 service members were diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) of some kind.

MBTI  or mild traumatic brain injury  is often described as the signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Suicide:
Mrs. Allen-Muhammad believes that one of the greatest investments are in the education and the well-being of our children. She quotes the late Dr. Myles Munroe, "You can't have success without a SUCCESSOR!"She also stated, "It is extremely important in this day and age that we wisely investment our time, our talent and our treasure to thoroughly educate our children on the values of entrepreneurial leadership, financial freedom and the ability and the capacity of becoming self-sufficient and community driven."The Dollicia F. Holloway Memorial Foundation, Inc, through their youth initiative, The H.I.P. H.O.P. Movement Community Enrichment & Economic Development Program, will be hosting their 3rd Annual "Walking Towards A Brighter Future" 8K Walk-A-Thon at Wantagh Park on Saturday, June 25, 2016. The walk will start promptly at 9:30AM.This years recipients of the 2016 H.I.P. H.O.P. Movement Gold Merit Award for Community Service will be graduates, Gregory Allen II and Byron Rudolph. Both are scheduled to graduate in June. Allen, a Senior from Holy Trinity Diocesan High School of Hicksville, will be attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice this fall and Rudolph, a Senior from Paul D. Schreiber High School of Port Washington, will be attending Buffalo State University.The award was created to allow the students community, along with various corporate sponsors to engage and become stakeholders in the educational future of these college bound High School seniors, with assisting them to raise an unlimited amount of funds to offset college expense and to recognize them for their commitment to education and community service.The award will also allow each recipient the opportunity of coming back to their alma maters and enable, equip, encourage and empower students to take part in their educational future and their commitment to their communities. One of the goals of the Hip Hop Movement is to keep education at the forefront of all they do and to teach kids to become financial fit, economically empowered, as well as mission minded and motivated.The Dollicia F. Holloway Memorial Foundation, Inc. are pleased to recognize the great work of other community leaders along with a pioneer of the Hip Hop Community. Along with Mrs. Allen-Muhammad,, the recipients of the 2016 Hip Hop Movement Community Service Award and Certificates of Recognition for their contribution to education, economic empowerment and youth mentoring are Mr. Steve Muir, Co-Founder/President of Heeling Soles, Mr. Wayne Devonish, President/Founder, 500 Men Making A Difference.and Hip Hop Legend, Mr. Parrish Smith of EPMD.To register for the "Walking Towards A Brighter Future" 8K Walk-A-Thon, you can visit here or here . Corporate Sponsorships, Vendors and Volunteer opportunities are available.The Dollicia F. Holloway Memorial Foundation, Inc, is a IRS certified 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit Educational Organization. The mission of the Foundation is to be committed to serving men, women and children by bringing awareness to the community and providing informational, educational and financial resources to survivors of Domestic Violence, hearing impaired adults and the youth oto empower, encourage and equip so they may overcome and obtain a better quality of life.The mission of the H.I.P. H.O.P. Movement Community Enrichment and Economic Development Program is giving assistance to distinguishing our youth from other groups; to contribute assistance towards their promotion in the community;to help them flourish physically and to grow strong financially. "The H.I.P. H.O.P. Movement" will also pay public respect to individuals already implied, who have the capacity to develop something useful, leading towards their future success."For further informaion about the 8K Walk-A-Thon, please send an email
Music, Movies & Entertainment, Arts & Culture, Press Releases, Travel & Local Attractions, Local News, Seasonal & Current Events, Local Steals & Deals

By Long Island News & PR Published: June 15 2016

Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and their team are excited to return to New York! They plan to film episodes of the hit series American Pickers throughout the region this summer.

Long Island, NY - June 15, 2016 - Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz, and their team are excited to return to New York! They plan to film episodes of the hit series American Pickers throughout the region this summer.

American Pickers is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique picking on History. The hit show follows Mike and Frank, two of the most skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for Americas most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections and learn the interesting stories behind them.

As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, Mike and Frank are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, the Pickers want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. The pair hopes to give historically significant objects a new lease on life, while learning a thing or two about Americas past along the way.



Mike and Frank have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something theyve never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them.

American Pickers is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos via email or call 855-OLD-RUST.




Crime, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: June 15 2016

Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found in a Huntington nature preserve this morning.

Fernando Romualdo, 28, of Huntington Station, was arrested for the 2013 murder of Sarah Strobel.

Update - June 16, 2016 - Suffolk County Police today arrested a Huntington Station man for the murder of Sarah Strobel in 2013.

Homicide Squad detectives charged Fernando Romualdo with Murder 2nd Degree for killing Strobel, whose body was found in the Froehlich Farm Nature Preserve in Huntington on October 3, 2013.

Romualdo, 28, of Huntington Station, was incarcerated at Mohawk Correctional Facility located in Rome, NY, for an unrelated charge at the time of his arrest. Romualdo has been arraigned and is currently being held without bail at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The original press release and earlier update is below.

Update - October 3rd, 2013 @ 7:20 PM: Sarah Strobel, 23, of 11 East 6th St., Huntington Station, has been identified as the woman whose body was found in a nature preserve in Huntington this morning.

Huntington, NY - October 3rd, 2013 - Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found in a Huntington nature preserve this morning.

Police responded to the Froehlich Farm Nature Preserve after a person walking on a path noticed the body of an adult female off to the side of the path at 8:50 a.m. The woman, who has yet to be identified, was pronounced dead at the scene and her body will be transported to the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner where an autopsy will be performed.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on this case to call the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

Incident: Woman Found Dead in Nature Preserve

Location: Froehlich Farm Nature Preserve, West Rouges Path, Huntington

Date/Time: Thursday, October 3, 2013 at 8:50 a.m.
Looking to stay up to date about all of the news stories and local headlines that are important to Long Islanders? We've rounded up the top coverage for all of the important topics from multiple sources around Long Island, so you can be sure you've got the most recent update on the top stories for Long Island. Have an idea for a news story? Email us at news@longisland.com

Columnists Press Releases
More than half online users get news from Facebook, YouTube and Twitter

A man reads a newspaper at the reception area of Facebook's new office in Mumbai, India May 27, 2016. Photo by Reuters/Shailesh Andrade

Social media has emerged as a leading source of news among online users who increasingly access it on their smartphones, a thinktank said on Wednesday, warning that the embrace of free news was becoming a challenge for publishers of quality news.

More than half of online users get their news from Facebook and other social media platforms, refusing to pay for news and using ad-blocking, which hurts publishers' revenue, the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) said.

But although free news distributed through social platforms creates an opportunity to reach more readers, it also makes it more difficult for publishers to get recognized and connect with their audience, the RISJ said in its annual Digital News Report.

"These things are happening because of us," Rasmus Kleis Nielsen, Reuters Institute director of research, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a phone interview.

"We prefer news in the digital form because it's convenient but you get what you pay for. It takes money to do professional journalism."

Facebook is playing an increasingly significant role in the distribution of online news, with 44 percent of people using it as their source of news, followed by 19 percent of people using YouTube and 10 percent using Twitter, the report said.

Nielsen said that in developing countries, where access to independent and reliable news was limited, there were even more people who relied on social media for news.

"Many people in Asian and African countries are using mobile phones to get their online news and in those regions social media is even more important as source of news," he said.

Thirty-six percent of people preferred news to be selected for them by algorithms compared with 30 percent who relied on editors or journalists, although some feared missing key information or challenging viewpoints, the report said.

For the first time social media has overtaken television as the main source of news for 18 to 24-year-olds, with 28 percent of them citing social media as their main source of news compared with 24 percent who said they watched news on television.

More than half of the respondents said they were using smartphones to access news, with highest levels in Sweden (69 percent), Korea (66 percent) and Switzerland (61 percent), the study said.

In Britain and the United States the use of smartphones to access the news has for the first time overtaken computers and laptops.

The survey was carried out online in 26 countries in Europe, Asia, North America and South America.

Related news:

> Facebook says found no political bias on Trending Topics

> Zuckerberg to meet conservatives over Facebooks alleged political bias in Trending Topics

> YouTube plans online TV service -Bloomberg
The U.N. Development Program has announced a partnership with the start-up incubator Hatch Ventures to facilitate innovative action for social good among Vietnam's youth.

The partnership agreement was signed on June 14 in Hanoi by Dr. Pratibha Mehta, UNDP resident representative in Vietnam, and Pham Quoc Dat, director of Hatch Ventures, an incubator for new consumer products and services in Vietnam.

The collaboration will focus on three game changing areas of common interest: innovation for development; mobilization of young people into innovative action towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals; and partnerships with the private sector.

Through this partnership, we shall bring innovative technology and development agenda closer and encourage new ideas, prototype and creative solutions that increase access, reduce cost, and enable citizen participation and feedback, said Mehta at the ceremony

This agreement builds on the initial partnership in 2015 around the Hackathon for Social Good, which mobilized more than 100 young people into action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. This competition resulted in two innovative ideas: the For People (the 4P) app on mobile phones to collect feedback on public services, and GT-101  an educational tool to encourage citizens to report any misconduct by traffic police.

In 2016, the UNDP will collaborate with Hatch Ventures on the Social Innovation Camp and the Social Innovation Summit to identify and scale up innovation for development solutions. Campers will be challenged to come up with innovative solutions to tackle issues under five of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely responsible consumption and production; climate cction; life below water; life on land; and peace and justice.

What's different about the 2016 Social Innovation Camp is that it will stimulate sustainable innovative solutions for social issues, that can be scaled up to make a difference across the country, said Pham Quoc Dat. He said that the camp will take place in August in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City to facilitate nationwide participation.

I hope that the 2016 cooperation will yield even more innovative ideas and galvanize thousands of young people into creativity to speed up information sharing and promote citizens participation and transparency for SDGs implementations, said Dr. Mehta.

Dr Pratibha Mehta (left), UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, celebrates the partnership agreement with Pham Quoc Dat, director of Hatch Ventures. Photo by UNDP

Vietnam has made remarkable economic and social progress in the past three decades, with the national poverty rate declining from 58 percent of the population in 1993 to just seven percent today. However, this progress has been hampered by persistent disparities (notably by ethnicity and locality), environmentally unsustainable production and consumption and the ongoing threat of climate change. Meanwhile, peoples expectations for improved services and living conditions have risen dramatically as they become better-educated.

Related news:

> Vietnam strategizes to be a start-up nation

> Deputy PM suggests setting up a stock exchange for start-ups

> Vietnamese win first prize at education start-up contest
The Taliban took control of a district center in the central Afghan province of Uruzgan after several days of fighting Afghan forces who are reported to have been supported by US forces.

The Taliban said it overran the police HQ [headquarters] and other installations at Char Chino and dismantled the district administration center and other buildings. The jihadist group made the claim on its official propaganda website, Voice of Jihad.

According to the Taliban, it launched the attack yesterday morning and killed 35 puppets, or Afghan police and military personnel. The Taliban claimed it destroyed two armored personnel carriers and 7 Ford Ranger pickup trucks. Four Taliban fighters were killed during the assault, the group claimed.

The fall of Char Chino was confirmed by Stars & Stripes, which reported that the international coalition was providing support to government forces during the fighting.

However, the spokesman for Uruzgan province claimed that the governors office was still under Afghan forces control and security forces withdrew from the police headquarters in a tactical move, Stars and Stripes reported.

The Taliban currently control 39 districts in Afghanistan and contest another 43, according to data compiled by The Long War Journal. Districts under Taliban control are being administered by the group, or it controls the district center. Typically the Taliban controls all of the areas of a district except the administrative center in contested districts. The Taliban likely controls or contests more districts displayed on the map above, however the districts listed on the map are ones that can be confirmed via independent sources such as Taliban claims, government reports, and news reports.

In Uruzgan, the Taliban contest five districts and control one more (Char Chino).

Fighting in the provinces has intensified over the past month. Just prior to taking Char Chino, the Taliban killed 11 Afghan soldiers and captured 12 others in the district of Dehrawood on June 7. And on May 31, the Taliban overran 11 police checkposts in Gizab district.

The Taliban considers Uruzgan to be a strategic district, and has previously said that it controls all areas of the province except for the district centers.

In a Voice of Jihad interview in April 2016 with Mullah Aminullah Yousuf, the Talibans shadow governor for Uruzgan, he described the province as the linking point for many provinces and a traditional strong fortress of mujahideen.

The enemy thinks that if the province fell into the mujahideens hands, recapturing it back would be very hard, Yousef said.

Yousef explained that US, Dutch, and Australian forces committed significant resources to secure Uruzgan and stand up to the police and Arbakis, or local militias. But the Taliban continued to fight in the province and gained grounds after Coalition forces withdrew.

[I]n the course of last year, with the exception of district headquarters, all villages, suburbs, and valleys slipped away from enemy hands, Yousef claimed in April.

Yousef said the Taliban would continue to pursue gaining control of the district centers, and predicted that the loss of all five districts would be a serious problem for the Afghan government.

If  the mujahideen capture the headquarters of districts as we expect and have plans for, then provincial headquarters will not be able to resist. It would be a big blow to the enemy, and the enemy would leave the area, he stated.

Now one of Uruzgans five district centers is controlled by the Taliban.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of The Long War Journal. Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
How to detect fake cops in Vietnam? Tips to help you avoid being robbed

Foreign tourists are a prime target for criminals in Vietnam, and various scams to part them from their property are becoming more and more sophisticated. Some of the more brazen thieves have been dressing up as police and robbing people in public with little or no resistance from foreign tourists, so here's how to avoid being the next victim.

It is high time that foreign tourists are made aware of what is becoming a common trick used by small-time criminals. When you are stopped by someone claiming to be a cop who asks you to hand over your documents or possessions, here's what to do.

1. Keep calm and gradually slow down: If you are driving a bike or a car, stop at a safe area to park with people around and wait for the police to come to you. Do not forget to take the key from your vehicle and put it in your pocket.

Do not follow police to empty lots with no-one around because it would be an ideal place for a robbery.

2. Observe the police:

Watch how they behave! Do they seem to be in a rush and appear threatening? Real police do not usually behave like that. They are supposed to say hello to you, introduce themselves and treat you politely, unless you have committed a serious crime!

A police officer says hello to a civilian. Photo by NLD

3. Do not hand over anything: Do not hand over your possessions or documents until you are 100 percent sure they are real police.

4. Check for ID: Ask to see an official police badge and see if they are wearing a name tag. If they do not have either of these, they are either fake or do not have the right to stop you.

5. Ask locals to help: Fake police would immediately run away if other residents intervene.

6. Shout for help or call the police: If you think someone is impersonating a police officer or you see signs of threatening behavior, call in the real guys.

Numbers to remember: Emergency: 113 Hanoi: 043 9396886 Ho Chi Minh City: 083.9200377 Da Nang:05113 821306 Hai Phong: 0313 895827 Or you can search for the number of local district police and add it to your contact list for safety.

Related News:

> Fake cops arrested after targeting tourists in Saigon robbing spree
RIDGETOP, Tenn. (June 15, 2016)  Two retirees received the Distinguished Civilian Employees Award today from the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District during Engineering Day Picnic festivities at Smiley Hollow June 10, 2016.

Lt. Col. Stephen Murphy, Nashville District commander, recognized Johnny E. Wilmore Jr., former Construction Branch chief, and Jim Davis, former project manager for the Tennessee River Area, for their distinguished service during lengthy careers with the Corps of Engineers.

Murphy first honored Davis, who retired in January 2014 after 46 years of federal service.

Relationships determine results, meaning how effectively you build relationships with other people determines how successful you are, Murphy said. I would say that defines Jim and the great relationships he built with TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) and all the folks on the river in 46 years.

Davis began his career in the Operations Division in 1968 as a laborer at Wheeler Lock on the Tennessee River in Rogersville, Ala., following service in the U.S. Army, which included a combat tour in Vietnam. In 1970 he completed the Lock and Dam Operator Training Program and became a lock operator at Barkley Lock on the Cumberland River. He received a promotion as lockmaster at Wilson Lock on the Tennessee River in Florence, Ala., in 1978, a position he held for 10 years. He then became Tennessee River Area operations manager, overseeing Corps projects along 700 river miles.

Murphy said it is difficult to cherry pick from the accomplishments over a long career, but noted that Davis is credited for his heavy engagement in the transition of the Tennessee River locks from hard wire to programmable logic computers, a move that transformed these projects to more reliable state-of-the-art operations and significantly reduced the number of unscheduled outages resulting from lightning strikes and other anomalies. He also developed innovations related to navigation that have since been incorporated into the management of other locks and waterways across the country, Murphy added.

On behalf of the Nashville District I really want to thank you so much for all you have done and your legacy here really lives on, Murphy said.

Davis said he had the good fortune during his career to work for great supervisors who allowed him to do his job and would support him. He also lauded the employees on the Tennessee River who did stellar work maintaining and operating the projects.

This is a very humbling experience being able to accept this award, Davis said. I am truly honored.

The commander then honored Wilmore, who retired in November 2013 after 40 years of federal service.

Just amazing work as well, Murphy said. Thank you on behalf of the district for all you have done.

Wilmore began his career in 1973 as an engineer performing contract administration duties on the $15 million construction project for the Cordell Hull Dam Power Plant on the Cumberland River. From July 1977 to December 2000 he continued to support field elements and significant construction projects such as the $250 million Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Divide Section construction project, the largest Corps of Engineers civil works project at the time. He also supported the $100 million Wolf Creek Dam Foundation Seepage Cutoff Diaphragm Wall, $85 million Big South National River and Recreation Area Development, and $100 million Upper Cumberland Section 202 Flood Protection Project in southeastern Kentucky.

In March 2007 Wilmore became chief of the Construction Branch where he managed a team instrumental in completing some of the most challenging work the Nashville District has ever performed, including the $594 million Wolf Creek Dam Foundation Seepage Remediation Safety Project, and the $364 million Center Hill Dam Foundation Seepage Remediation Dam Safety Project.

Murphy lauded Wilmore for his accomplishments with these projects, adding the he is known and respected for his caring leadership and exceptional management skills, and selfless service to the Corps of Engineers.

The exceptional management skills were evident with the many large construction projects that cost hundreds of millions of dollars, Murphy said. It was extremely impressive.

Wilmore said he too is humbled by this honor and said he always tried to do more good than harm throughout his work experience.

Im proud to say I had a great career. I think God was with me in my life and directed me to the Corps of Engineers, Wilmore said. I really enjoyed working on projects that would help people in Southeast Kentucky with homes in flood plains and VA (Veterans Administration) projects.

Wilmore and Davis represent 86 years of combined federal service and will now have their names added to the Distinguished Civilian Wall of Honor located at the Nashville District Headquarters in the Estes Kefauver Federal Building in Nashville, Tenn.

(For more news, updates and information please follow the Nashville District on Facebook at
Luton is a large town, borough and unitary authority area of Bedfordshire. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 258,000. Luton is home to Championship team Luton Town Football Club, London Luton Airport and The University of Bedfordshire. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. For all the latest news from Luton sign up to our newsletter here.
Nguyen Thi Nhu Thuy, a Miss Vietnam finalist, is deemed to be ineligible for the beauty contest as she has yet to hold a high school diploma.

Nguyen Thi Nhu Thuy

On June 12, Miss Vietnam 2016s southern final round concluded with 18 competitors continuing to compete for the title. The most disputed one is yet to graduate from high school as required by the competition.

Miss Vietnam 2016 requires all competitors to be from 18 to 27 years old, at least high school graduate and unmarried, which has caused quite a stir when Nhu Thuy was accepted to the national final round.

The explanation from the organizers is as follows: some parts of the competition happened earlier due to changes in the plan, making some young candidates technically ineligible because the high school exam that would qualify them happens later than Miss Vietnam 2016.

The solution is easy: the "unqualified" go on to compete and still sit for the high school graduation exam. Those who fail to acquire the graduation certificate fail the Miss Vietnam 2016 too.

Related news:

> Measured, assessed and judged: Miss Vietnam 2016 about to kick off
Detox Retreat at Four Seasons Resort Santa Fe

If you're fed up with it, it's time to try a new approach. Join Amie Valpone, HHC, AAPD and author of, at a life-changing retreat July 18-22, 2016 at the Four Seasons Santa Fe and heal what ails you once and for all.Valpone isn't just an expert; she's lived your journey, battling a host of ailments from Lyme disease and Hypothyroidism to C-diff colitis over a frustrating 10-year battle with her immune system. When the medical establishment couldn't cure her, she turned to her own research and ultimately found the key that unlocked the door to health. Her experiences form the basis for the program she will deliver at the retreat.She will share techniques on how to eat clean and fight inflammation through cooking demos and interactive talks about how to live clean while detoxing on a daily basis. You will learn how to get your body working for you- not against you- and understand that you have more control over your health and your weight than you realize.The program includes 5-days/4 night's accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, shuttle service to and from the airport, all taxes and gratuities, and a daily gift bag. An Early Bird Promotion is available until June 18th for $3312/double occupancy and $3957/single occupancy. The retreat does not include airfare, but flights can be booked through Retreats Unlimited.Located in one of the most romantic and adventurous getaways, the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado offers a one-of-a-kind getaway in Santa Fe. The intimate 65-room property combines the service excellence of Four Seasons, a spa featuring regionally inspired treatments, a restaurant featuring local ingredients and influences, and exclusive access to adventure and nature right out your front door.The Detox, Fight Inflammation, and Reset Your Body retreat is curated by Retreats Unlimited and Wild Wellness Travel. To make a reservation, review the detailed itinerary or for additional information visitor call 312-961-3280.
Health Concerns At The Olympics: What You Should Know

This viral outbreak has triggered a number of health and safety concerns for those living in the country, and health organizations including the CDC and WHO (World Health Organization), have issued travel warnings for people visiting Brazil for the Olympic Games.As a travel medicine specialist, I understand how important it is for people to scratch that trip of a lifetime off their bucket list; I just don't want them to kick the bucket doing it! I've sent clients to every corner of the globe to participate in various expeditions, excursions, and round the world treks. Regardless, when it comes to disease outbreaks like this one, it can be tough to prepare for every possible scenario.First, it is imperative that travelers to Brazil have all of the knowledge and resources necessary to prevent water, airborne, and insect-related illnesses. While there is no foolproof way to avoid the Zika virus, there are things spectators and Olympic athletes can do to reduce their risk of acquiring or transmitting the disease. Before diving into some of these health tips, there are a few things people should know about the virus itself.Zika is a virus that is transmitted to humans by the bite of mosquitoes infected with the bug. The Zika virus has occasionally occurred in parts of Africa in the past, but began circulating in South America in January 2014. It has spread rapidly since then, and (as of May 26, 2016) the CDC reports the Zika virus is now endemic in 48 different countries. Mosquitoes carrying this disease have been reported in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.Most people do not experience symptoms from a Zika infection; however, some patients infected with the virus will experience a fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and joint pain that lasts 2 to 7 days. The real danger is that researchers have also found that pregnant women infected with Zika can pass it onto their unborn children, which can result in a serious birth defect called microcephaly.Currently, there is no cure for Zika nor is there a vaccine yet available to help reduce a person's chance of becoming infected. If someone becomes ill with a Zika infection, their physician may suggest symptomatic treatment until the infection is cleared by the body's immune system.There are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of getting the Zika virus. The most important is to take steps to prevent getting bit by mosquitoes in the first place. Using insect repellent, covering exposed skin, and staying in hotels with air conditioning and good window and door screens can help prevent insect bites.Someone infected with the virus can also transmit the disease to others through sexual contact. Anyone visiting an area with Zika risk is advised to use condoms or consider avoiding sexual activity with a partner who could become pregnant. Before traveling to Brazil, talk to your travel medicine specialist about your travel health risks and avoid becoming infected with the Zika virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses.8757 E. Bell RoadScottsdale, AZ 85260Norman Bizon, nbizon@travelbughealth.com Website: travelbughealth.com
INCA Announces New & Exclusive Serengeti Journey



Four days walking in the Serengeti Wilderness Area led by Richard Beatty, who is OBE and Honorary Consul in Arusha. This is a special-permit area with no lodges and vehicular traffic



Three days with the Hadza, one of Africa's last hunter-gatherer societies, learning archery and accompanying a hunt



Three days walking with the pastoral Maasai, who are famed as warriors, to visit their village and local school and attend a traditional dance



With INCA - newest journey, Secrets of the Serengeti , guests will have exceptionally intimate experiences including foraging with the nomadic Hadza, hiking and sharing stories with the Maasai and walking in the Serengeti Wilderness Area accessible to few visitors. On this exclusive 17-day wildlife and walking safari (February 10 to 26, 2017), INCA guests will enjoy chance encounters with wildlife that are not possible on the usual lodge-and-vehicle safaris.Highlights of INCA's program include:While there are many high points on INCA's Serengeti journey, walking in the Serengeti Wilderness could well be the most rewarding. Guests head out with Richard Beatty and an armed guide into untracked bush that has rarely been visited in the past 50 years. This is Africa as it was a hundred years ago, unmarred by game-viewing tracks, lodges or groups of vehicles. During these days of leisurely walks, guests will immerse themselves in the life of the bush, enjoy picnics and return to their mobile camp for the night.With the greatest concentration of plains game in Africa, the Serengeti National Park hosts the planet's most magnificent wildlife spectacle as one million wildebeest, 300,000 Thomson's gazelle, 200,000 zebras and hundreds of thousands of other plains game migrate south and then north within its 14,700 square miles. Elusive leopards watch from acacia trees. Here, cheetahs prowl, while golden-maned lions feast on stragglers.Encompassing three stunning volcanic craters up to 2,000 feet deep and huge expanses of savannah, bush and forest, the 3,200-square-mile Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority is the only place on earth where man and wild animals co-exist in harmony. More than 30,000 large mammals live here including 7,000 wildebeests, 4,000 zebras, 3,000 eland and 3,000 Grant's and Thomson's gazelles. Guests will see lions, black rhinos, elephants, leopards, buffalo, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, rare wild dogs and more than 500 species of birds.INCA's' journey starts with a visit to Tarangire National Park where herds of up to 300 elephants will thrill guests, as will oryx, gerenuk, hartebeest, Kori Bustard, the world's heaviest flying bird and the world's largest, the ostrich. Next is a visit to Lake Manyara National Park to view the famed tree-climbing lions and thousands of pink flamingos.Days spent walking with the nomadic Hadza people will give a sense of life as it was thousands of years ago. Guests can accompany a hunt, forage for berries and try their hand at archery. A joyous people, the Hadza often end the day with dancing and singing. In journeying into Maasai territory, a local chief welcomes guests to his village, explains daily life and leads walks into the bush. A visit to the village primary school shows Maasai children are eager to learn. In the evening, young Maasai men dance, show how high they can jump and invite guests to join in.Accommodations are in comfortable lodges and authentic tented camps, and several, such as the Hadza and Pembezoni Camps, move seasonally. The Serengeti Wilderness Camp is relocated each day by the staff while INCA guests are out walking.INCA's new 17-day Secrets of the Serengeti walking safari starts at $22,495 per person for two guests; $17,995 for four to five and $14,995 for eight guest. Included are private charter flights from Serengeti Wilderness Area and Kilimanjaro International Airport; all accommodations in luxury and award-winning tented camps and lodges as noted; all meals, soft drinks, wine and beer; all guides, park fees, activities, tours and sightseeing arrangements as specified in itinerary, and roundtrip airport transfers between Kilimanjaro International Airport and Arusha Coffee Lodge (when arriving on the KLM flight from Amsterdam). Not included are: international airfares; optional hot-air balloon ride in the Serengeti; airport taxes and fees; visas; tips for guides; excess baggage charges, or other items of a personal nature.For further information, contact INCA or call 1-510-420-1550.
Romantic Hotel, Domes Noruz Chania Opening in Crete

The new adults-only hotel, set to be one of the world's most exciting new resorts, is opening 20 July 2016 in the extraordinary destination of Chania.Sister hotel to the legendary Domes of Elounda, the Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection is an 83 room and suites, adults-only, beachfront boutique hotel. Like its sister hotel, Domes Noruz joins Autograph Collection, an evolving ensemble of strikingly independent hotels. Each destination has been selected for its quality, bold originality, rich character and uncommon details, created for the traveller seeking an escape from the predictable. This brand new Exactly Like Nothing Else experiential hotel in Chania, complete with a buzzy atmosphere, will be a must visit destination for the couple, or the group of friends, that likes to relax and have fun in chic, ultra-stylish surroundings.The spell-binding city of Chania plays host to this thrilling new venture. Located on the northwest coast of Crete, this is one of the Mediterranean's must sees' and a hot new destination for UK travelers, with direct flights from London's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, as well as most other UK's major airports. Lively Chania will charm you from the moment you arrive, inviting you to explore its captivating streets and endless hidden treasures. With its utterly enchanting Venetian harbor and lighthouse, its Riviera-rivaling beaches, and a seamless blend of Ottoman, Venetian and Greek architecture, the old town is just 10-minute drive from the hotel and is sure to be a magnet for guests. Explore the cobbled streets of the old town where you will unearth delicious local cafes and exquisite restaurants. Its waterfront and promenade come alive at night with bars, clubs and restaurants and Aghia Marina, complete with flowing champagne, stylish pool parties and a beautiful and affluent set, offers an incredible choice of all day beach bars and night clubs. For those seeking culture, Chania is also steeped in history and the best place if guests want to visit Polyrinia, one of the most fortified towns in ancient Greece, as well as being home to an historic market and impressive Archaeological Museum.Domes Noruz Chania, with sporting clean lines, splashes of vibrant colors and a striking design, is an exclusive All Adult' hotel offering a bright and airy ambience, exuding a cool and romantic feel. Its adults only status, allows for a holiday of privacy, intimacy and exclusivity, but with nightlife and cultural attractions easily accessible. Domes Noruz's modern thinking and open mind invites all guests to enjoy this new and elegant hotel.Room options include those with spectacular pool and sea views as well as private outdoor baths or plunge pools, most looking out onto a wide swath of naturally sanded beachfront on the lapis Cretan Sea. The architecture is breath taking, inspired by the Venetian heritage of the old town of Chania, made of eye-pleasing Cretan sandstone. And all details here have been carefully considered with delightful touches everywhere, such as mini Smeg fridges and other luxurious surprises.Domes Noruz embraces the past and the present of Chania, by building on its inherent charisma and introducing a fresh, contemporary opportunity for design-savvy guests to enjoy each and every moment in their own way. The word Noruz' means new light' and with this, the play of sunlight and the ever-changing sky will become a focal point throughout the style, interiors and architecture of the property. Domes Noruz doesn't want to merely host guests, but to curate the holiday they've been dreaming of. A strong sense of locality fused with the highest standards of hospitality and a well-researched touch of innovation, here it's about creating once in a lifetime, tailor-made experiences - whether that be fine cocktails with unexpected local ingredients, to late night events at the Domes Noruz's sandy beach under the moonlight and helicopter rides at the breathtaking UNESCO protected Samaria Gorge'.Wellness is deeply a part of the philosophy here. The beautiful seaside with stunning ocean views are ideal for private yoga lessons. Thoughtful touches have been added throughout such as preloaded (in room) MP3 players with uplifting music, with the emphasis on creating the right setting and anticipating every guests need.The inviting spa is a haven of serenity and tranquility. With design inspired by traditional local embroidery and fabrics, this calming space is dominated by a soothing shade of sky blue. Intentionally sub-lit, with diffused, indirect lighting to sustain a sense of relaxation, it offers the latest in natural massage and experiences, while using organic herbs from the island. The pool area and the juice bar nearby are just two of the highlights.The hotel's hotly anticipated opening of restaurant Zeen will offer delectable Cretan cuisine with international accents  all lead by the acclaimed, award-winning chef, Doxis Bekris. A dynamic, modern all day restaurant and bar with different deli corners during breakfast, such as a bakery display and a vitality bar, this vibrant space puts an emphasis on local produce and organic ingredients, while adding an international flair to beloved Cretan recipes. Chef Bekris' talent has lead him to work in places such as Dubai, New York, Italy, Japan, Zambia, Zurich and Kenya and brings with him a very cosmopolitan and current approach to food. The rooftop Raw Bar and The N Bar at Domes Noruz Chania are both sleek and stylish, offering guests an extensive selection of exciting and innovative cocktails.George P. Spanos, Vice-president of Ledra Hotels and Villas SA (owning and managing company of Domes Noruz Chania) commented, ''We added our own touch of aesthetics to make accommodation at Domes Noruz Chania a unique experience. From the initial design to completion, our team has been working at creating an innovative, boutique and fresh property. These elements which will be seen throughout the property will be further enhanced by the spectacular destination of Chania.''Commenting on this new addition to Autograph Collection, John Licence, brand leader for Autograph Collection Hotels in Europe, says: We are delighted to welcome the luxurious Domes Noruz as our second Greek and Mediterranean resort into the Collection. As the portfolio grows in Greece, in a country where Autograph Collection has been so well received with Domes of Elounda, we believe that Domes Noruz Chania truly embodies the philosophy of our collection by showcasing unique attributes ensuring that the brand's offering is nothing short of exactly like nothing else.Taking the very best of an incredible location and elevating it to the highest levels in hospitality is what Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection will do this July. It is without question the perfect setting for a holiday that is sure to create a host of wonderful memories, to be savored for years to come.Visit website:
Two Yves Saint Laurent Museums to Open in Paris and Marrakech in 2017

June 15, 2016

Musee Yves Saint Laurent Paris



The Parisian museum will be hosted in the historical couture house, 5 avenue Marceau, where Yves Saint Laurent designed and created his work for almost 30 years, from 1974 to 2002; and home to the Fondation Pierre Berge-Yves Saint Laurent since 2004. The public will explore the richness of this heritage through a constantly updated display of the collection. By walking through the former haute couture salons and Yves Saint Laurent's studio, visitors will experience the essence of the creation process within the haute couture house.



Address: 5 Avenue Marceau, Paris 75116, France

Telephone number: +33 (0)1 22 31 64 00

Opening Days: from Tuesday to Sunday

Pricing: from 8 to 12



Musee Yves Saint Marrakech (mYSLm)



Located on Rue Yves Saint Laurent near Jardin Majorelle, the new Musee Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech will open in autumn 2017. Dedicated to the work of the legendary French fashion designer, the museum will house an important selection from the Fondation Pierre Berge  Yves Saint Laurent's impressive collection, which comprises 5,000 items of clothing, 15,000 haute couture accessories as well as tens of thousands of sketches and assorted objects, all currently archived in Paris.



Spanning over 4,000 square meters, this building will be more than a simple museum: it will comprise a permanent display of Yves Saint Laurent's work, a space for temporary exhibitions, an auditorium, a research library, a cafe restaurant and a shop.



Address: Rue Yves Saint Laurent, Marrakech 40 000, Morocco

Opening times: every day except Wednesday, from 10am to 6pm

Indicative pricing: 100 Dh (an option for combo tickets with the Jardin Majorelle will be available)
Ho Chi Minh City Police yesterday arrested the ring leader and two members of a gang who have been impersonating police officers to rob foreign tourists.

Dang Tuan Thanh, 21, the ring leader, had taken advantage of his ability to speak a little English to communicate with foreigners, pretending to be a police officer and asking them to hand over their luggage for inspection. Then he would just simply rev up his motorbike and drive off with their belongings.

A British tourist was the first to report he had been robbed by a fake cop. The cop stopped his motorbike while he was driving from District 1 to Dien Bien Phu Street.

The cop, with a gun in his hands, asked the tourist to hand over his personal legal documents and pay a fine for a traffic violation. The tourist did not have cash with him, so the fake cop escorted the tourist to an ATM where he stole VND8 million ($360) and a mobile phone.

Dang Tuan Thanh, 21, the ring leader, was arrested yesterday. Photo by Kienthuc.com.net

On May 26, a Japanese was listening to music on his Iphone 6 while exercising on Thu Thiem Bridge in District 2 when a man approached him and asked him to hand over his phone for inspection. The man said he was a cop and suspected he was using the phone for criminal purposes. The cop snatched the phone and ran off with it. On May 31, a Dutch tourist lost an Ipad, a camera and VND2 million ($90) to the same scam.

Police arrested Thanh last Friday at his rented house in District 7. They also seized luggage he had stolen from tourists and a fake police card that said: "Police Office on Drug Crime."

According to police, Tuan was once a motorbike taxi driver ('xe om') and he used the money for drugs.
Rescued pilot, Major Nguyen Huu Cuong (second from right) returning to his base.

One of the two Su-30 pilots has been rescued and transported safely back to the mainland in stable condition. Chances of finding the remaining pilot are "high".

Refresh for latest updates

Major Nguyen Huu Cuong was rescued by a fishing boat at around 4:30 a.m. today, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tran Cong Luc, Deputy Commander in Chief of Nghe An Border Forces, told VnExpress. He was found in the waters off the coast of Nghe An central province, about 28 nautical miles from the location where the fighter jet Sukhoi SU-30 MK2 is believed to have been missing.

All the resources, including fishing vessels, navy ships, border guards, marine police and at least four helicopters continue to search for missing Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Khai, Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff, 923rd Fighter Regiment.

Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the Vietnam People's Army, said "the number one priority right now is to find pilot Tran Quang Khai, ships and plane must continue their job unless ordered otherwise."

Search area for the missing jet

Pilot Nguyen Huu Cuong told Colonel Pham Van Ty, Deputy Director General of Search and Rescue Department (Ministry of Defense), over the phone that both pilots had managed to eject from the plane before it crashed. "Cuong said that when he landed on the sea, both pilots could still see each other's parachutes. The chance of finding the other pilot is very high so the team is restlessly searching," said Ty.

Vietnam People's Air Defense - Air Force confirmed it lost contact with a fighter jet flying offshore the central province of Nghe An yesterday morning. The status of the other pilot, Lieutenant Colonel, Tran Quang Khai, has yet to be confirmed.

The jet departed from Tho Xuan Airport in central Thanh Hoa province for training in the sea. The Su-30MK2 disappeared from radar at 7:29 a.m.

Deputy Minister of Defense has denied rumors that one pilot has swum to the shore.

Based on fishermen's accounts of seeing a falling jet and the last contact point, the search team has narrowed down the location of the jet to around Hon Mat Island (Cua Lo Town, Nghe An Province), around 20 nautical miles from the shore.

Military Command of Nghe An Province and Vietnam People's Air Defense - Air Force have mobilized helicopters and fishing vessels for the search.

Related news:

> Missing pilot and fighter jet in action during training exercise

> Vietnamese fighter jet missing, search continues
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on last day directed all the senior police officers in the state to restrain from any sort of corruption to ensure an effective police system. In the high level meeting convened at the police headquarter, CM also directed the cops to ensure proper behaviour to anyone who approaches them.

He also emphasised the need for ensuring women safety in the state and the police should give priority to the protection of women and children. CM Vijayan also directed the top officials to conduct inspections at police stations. The police should reach out the problems of dalits and elderly citizens, he said. The Chief Minister also warned strong action against the corruption in police force.

He also directed the officials that cases should be investigated in a speedy manner and Vijayan also laid stress on strengthening the relationship between complainants and the police. Additional Chief Secretary Nalini Netto, State Police Chief Loknath Behra, R.Sreelekha, B.Sandhya and others senior police officers were present at the conference held the police headquarters.
NYK is participating in a study launched by Japans Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Tourism (MLIT) to explore the feasibility of LNG bunkering in Yokohama.



This study is examining the technological and infrastructural requirements for establishment of an LNG bunkering hub at the port of Yokohama to supply LNG as fuel to ships. A kick-off meeting of the studys steering committee was held on June 9 for the creation of a facility development plan by the end of the year.



In accordance with the NYK Groups medium-term management plan, More Than Shipping 2018, NYK has started the process of using LNG to fuel some ships. In August 2015, the company received delivery of Japan's first LNG-fueled tugboat named Sakigake. Moreover, NYK has already begun construction of the worlds first LNG-fueled car carrier and LNG bunkering vessel, and has teamed with ENGIE and the Mitsubishi Corporation to develop the LNG bunkering business. NYK looks forward to applying the companys knowledge and know-how to this study for the development of LNG fuel for ships.



About feasibility study



Supervising Office: Designated Port Management Company Supervision, Management and Operation Division, Ports and Harbours Bureau, MLIT

Steering Committee Members:

 Ports and Harbours Bureau, MLIT

 Maritime Bureau, MLIT

 Japan Coast Guard

 Natural Resources and Fuel Bureau, Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy

 Yokohama City Office

 Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd.

 Yokohama Kawasaki International Port Co. Ltd.

 Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line)



Emission controls for ships



The requirements applicable to ships for controlling sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are getting stricter every year. In particular, regulations aimed at reducing SOx emissions by vessels are becoming ever more stringent. Thus, applicable emission limits were reduced from the current 1.0% to 0.1% in 2015 in certain emission control areas, or ECAs (the North Sea, the Baltic Sea area, and areas around North America). Outside the ECAs, emission limits will be reduced from the current limit of 3.5% to 0.5% in 2020 or 2025.



Use of LNG fuel to reduce environmentally hazardous substances



Use of LNG almost completely eliminates SOx and particulate matter (PM) emissions, and the operation of LNG-fueled vessels can result in a reduction of nearly all SOx and PM emissions compared to emissions by vessels powered with conventional heavy fuel oil. Use of LNG can also reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 30% and can reduce NOx emissions by up to 80%. The widespread adoption of LNG is thus considered to be an influential measure by ships to control greenhouse gas emissions.


Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has signed new contracts with Maran Gas Maritime and Maran Tankers Management for the construction of two ME-GI powered LNG carriers and two VLCCs, both shiptypes with a number of options. Maran Gas Maritime has already four ME-GI powered LNG carriers on order at DSME.

Maran Gas Maritime is the LNG shipping company of Angelicoussis Shipping Group, Greeces largest shipowner, and Maran Tankers Management is the tanker arm of Angelicoussis.

The Korean shipbuilder announced on June 9 that it won the orders at the international shipping exhibition Posidonia in Greece. The LNG carriers are slated for delivery in 2019 and the VLCCs are due in the first half of 2018.

The newbuildings are described as the next generation of eco-friendly vessels meeting IMO Tier III.

The 173,400 cbm LNG carriers  length 295 m and breadth 46 m  will each be fitted with MAN B&W 2 x 5G70ME-C9.5-GI gas and fuel burning engines fulfilling IMO Tier III by EGR in both gas and fuel mode. This engine type is expected to raise fuel efficiency significantly compared to a standard LNG carrier, while at the same time lowering emissions.

The 318,000 dwt VLCCs  length 336 m and breadth 60 m  will each be powered by a single MAN B&W 7G80ME-C9.5 high-efficiency engine fitted with the latest fuel saving technologies and an exhaust gas recirculation system ensuring Tier III compliance.
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A still image captured from video footage of a robber and his victim in an attack in district 10 on May 17 2016

The city's party chief has asked local residents to join anti-crime efforts with the police by offering rewards with plans to revive a legendary community watch group.

We cannot expect to completely crack down on criminal activities within a few days or months, but once we have the city's residents on our side, criminals will feel like they are being hunted everywhere they go, said Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City's Communist Party Dinh La Thang at a meeting yesterday.

According to police, 1,173 crimes were committed in the city over the last three months. Undercover police arrested 500 suspects in that time, including 99 muggers and 169 pickpockets. The flying squad also pulled over 2,000 individuals, confiscating knives, stun guns, cudgels and heroin.

Police plan to re-enforce patrols in high-risk areas and are preparing to deploy a community watch task force made up of local residents.

Police chief Le Dong Phong admitted that the local overall crime rate is still high, with more criminal gangs from other provinces moving to the city and networking to operate shady businesses such as pawnshops, bars and black market credit.

The city's Party chief has asked the police to find out why the crime rate is still high despite tougher measures to prevent criminal activities.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Dinh La Thang (R) in the meeting with Department of Police. Photo by VnExpress/A.X

Ho Chi Minh City has been tightening its grip on crime. In February, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong even threatened to remove district leaders from their positions if they were unable to cut the crime rates in areas under their management.

Related news:

> Fake cops arrested after targeting tourists in Saigon robbing spree

> How to detect fake cops in Vietnam? Tips to help you avoid being robbed
Japanese classification society ClassNK announced it has resumed operations in Iran with the reopening of its Tehran office and agreements with the Iranian Classification Society (ICS) and Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO), Ministry of Roads & Urban Development of Iran.



ClassNKs Tehran office was originally opened in December 2009 but was closed in 2012. The classification society has decided to reopen its Tehran Office as of June 15 in light of recent changes in the region, ClassNK said in a press release.



ClassNK has also signed an agreement with ICS in February 2016 which sets out a framework for surveys and certifications for NK/ICS dual-classed ships.



A separate agreement with the Iranian maritime administration PMO is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, enabling ClassNK to perform statutory surveys and certifications on Iranian-flagged vessels in cooperation with Port and Flag State Control officers.
Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company has put into commissioning four dry cargo vessels that will operate beyond the pale of the Caspian Sea, reports AzerNews.

An event to raise Azerbaijan`s state flag in the Vagif, Sabir Huseyn Cavid and General Hazi Aslanov vessels was held at the Tersan shipyard in Yalova region of Turkey on June 11.

Caspian Shipping Company has also opened its office in Istanbul within the framework of the event.

The number of dry cargo vessels of Caspian Shipping Company operating outside the Caspian Sea currently amounts to 11. New ships with the deadweight of 5,490 tons and breadth of 16.5 meters were constructed in Russia.

The ships will be involved in the freight transportation operations in the Black and Mediterranean seas. The total number of dry cargo vessels which provide dry cargo transportation among ports of Caspian Sea littoral states amounts to 14.

The merchant fleet consists of 98 vessels being 34 tankers, 13 ferries, 14 universal dry-cargo, 2 Ro-Ro type ships as well as 35 different auxiliary ships.

Offshore support fleet is comprised of 188 vessels of which 21 crane vessels, 22 supply and tug vessels, 29 passenger ships, 2 pipe lay barges, 7 firefighting vessels, 5 geological survey vessels, 11 diving support vessels, and 84 other support vessels.
THE Incheon Port Authority said a regular container service connecting the port directly to the Middle East has been launched for the first time, backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL).



According to MANA,The Iranian state-run IRISL will deploy its 5,100-teu vessel Touska in the Middle Eastern route, named HDM Loop, it said in a statement. Two containerships of 5,100 teu capacity each will be put in operation, along with four 6,500 teu container carriers. No other details on the six vessels were provided.



The seven vessels will enter Incheon New Port at fortnightly intervals, the IPA said. Incheon New Port was partly opened in June last year.



"We believe that Iran will be the starting point for opening a new silk road to expand trades with Iran's neighbouring countries, as well as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," IPA president Yoo Chang-keun said in the statement.



Compass Maritime chief executive GH Zahmatkesh said the new route would "make a contribution to South Korea's increasing trade with the Middle East and central Asia, as well as Iran". Compass Maritime is the agency for IRISL in South Korea.



The shuttle service will run from Iran (Bandar AbbasAsaluyeh) - China (Qingdao-Tianjin-Dalian) - South Korea (Incheon-Gwangyang-Busan) - China (Shanghai) - Dubai (Jebel Ali) - Iran (Bandar Abbas), IPA said.
Rapido Gee, a 42m steel monohull utility vessel, has been delivered and is currently in transit to the Middle East. The vessel will be operated by Rashied Marine Services in the service of offshore platforms.

Designed by Incat Crowther and built by Strategic Marine, Rapido Gee is a further development of the design used for the 10 vessel fleet of Infield Utility Vessels delivered by the shipbuilder.

In response to calls for construction simplicity, Incat Crowther reengineered the vessel with mild steel used in the hull in place of the original high tensile steel. The result is reduced material cost and material lead times with only minor impact to the vessels performance.

Rapido Gee features a 100 square meter aft working deck, with 40 metric tons of cargo capacity. Stern and bow platforms are fitted for personnel transfers.

The main deck cabin seats 40 personnel, as well as accommodating 100 survivors in the event that the vessel is called into an emergency situation. A sick bay is also located on this deck, as are a galley, crew mess and food storage for the vessels 14 crew.

Rapido Gees crew sleep below decks, with a noise lock / service void separating them from the engine room to minimize transfer of noise and vibration to the accommodation spaces.

The vessels propulsion system consists of a trio of Yanmar 12AYM-WET main engines, the center of which drives a fire pump. Propulsion is by fixed-pitch propellers via ZF gearboxes. Rapido Gee has a service speed of 20 knots.

The vessels are classed to Lloyds Register SSC rules.



Specifications

Principal Dimensions

Length Overall: 42m

Length Waterline: 40.5m

Beam Overall: 8m

Draft (hull): 1.9m

Draft (prop): 2.8m

Depth: 3.65m

Construction (hull): Steel

Construction (superstructure): Marine grade aluminum

Capacities

Fuel Oil (day tanks): 13,000 liters

Fuel Oil (long range tanks): 67,000 liters

Fresh Water: 31,000 liters

Sullage: 3,000 liters

Oil Dispersant: 1,000 liters

Deck Cargo: 40t

Deck Area: 100m2

Deck Load: 3.5t/m2

Personnel: 50

Crew: 14

Survivors: 80

Propulsion and Performance

Speed (Service): 20 knots

Speed (Max): 22 knots

Main Engines: 3 x Yanmar 12AYM-WET

Rated power: 3 x 1,140kW at 1,900rpm

Propulsion: 3 x Fixed pitched propellers

Generators: 2 x Yanmar 6HA2-WDT, 450hp

Regulatory

Flag: Jordan

Class / Survey: LR +100A1 SSC Workboat Monohull G3 +MCH
The U.S. Navy recently launched USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000), lead ship of the all-new Zumwalt-class of stealth destroyers. Named for Admiral Elmo R. Bud Zumwalt, this new vessel was developed under the US Navys DD-21 21st Century Destroyer program.

Having been selected as the primary navigation and GMDSS emergency communications provider for the USS Zumwalt, Furuno has provided a range of equipment for the vessel, as well as training and support throughout the entire installation and commissioning process, with the system meeting all the high expectations of Bath Iron Works and the U.S. Navy.

The USS Zumwalt is equipped with an electronic navigation package that includes two Furuno X-Band and two S-Band FAR2xx7 Radar systems (four navigational Radars total) along with a complete RC1815 GMDSS communications package. Both X- and S-Band Radar systems are installed fore and aft of the deckhouse. Each system combines into a single display presentation, allowing the fore and aft X-Band Radars to provide a cohesive X-Band picture on a single display. The same is true for the two S-Band Radars.

Other Furuno equipment onboard includes the FA150 AIS, GS100 Satellite Speed Log, and NX700P Navtex systems, all installed by Bath Iron Works, a part of General Dynamics Marine Systems. Operating out of Bath, Maine, they are a full service shipyard specializing in the design, construction and support of complex surface combatants for the U.S. Navy.

The USS Zumwalt is expected to carry a complement of 80 Tomahawk long-range, subsonic cruise missiles, designed to attack a variety of surface targets. While the ship has no current expectation for ballistic missile defense, the USS Zumwalt is currently capable of launching the SM-2 surface-to-air (SAM) missiles, which can be dual-purposed to attack enemy ships, both at line-of-sight range as well as over the horizon, using inertial guidance and terminal infrared homing.

Future adaptation of the weapons systems include plans for a railgun, as its turbines are capable of producing up to 78 megawatts of power - sufficient to power the impressive electromagnetic weapon.
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office is to release five new Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) for the expanded Panama Canal.

The new ENCS are produced by the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) and provide end-to-end coverage of the Canal at a scale of 1:10 000.

They contain new survey data and up-to-date information for the expanded Canal, which will receive its first official transit on June 26.

Jason Scholey, Senior Product Manager at the UKHO, commented: The Panama Canal serves a vital purpose for international shipping and world trade. Its expansion will not only double the Canals capacity, it will also allow post-Panamax vessels to use the Canal to transit directly between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans for the first time.

In order to stay safe and compliant, we advise all ECDIS-equipped vessels planning to transit the Canal to purchase the new Panama Canal ENCs. Shipping companies should contact their ADMIRALTY Chart Agent for more information.

The expansion of the Panama Canal has created a new lane of traffic through the construction of a new, larger set of locks and improved navigational channels that will double the capacity of the Canal. The existing locks allowed the passage of up to 5,000 TEU vessels, but the expanded Canal will allow the passage of post-Panamax vessels, capable of carrying up to 13,000/14,000 TEUs.

The ADMIRALTY Vector Chart Service (AVCS) is the world's leading digital maritime chart service, with nearly 15,000 official Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) to help bridge crews navigate safely and efficiently.
The Meyer family is building ships since 221 years. Ever since, the family companys success relied on a long-term approach that aimed to develop the technology, advance the skill-set of employees, and reinvest profits. The basis for this success is a stable ownership structure. To ensure this stability also for the future, the family has decided to donate its shares into family foundations. The legal form of a German family foundation is a proven framework to ensure a long-term stable ownership in a single hand supporting the sustainable development of the shipyards in Turku, Papenburg and Warnemunde.



The Meyer family business has developed from a small local shipyard in Papenburg / Germany to a global market leader in its sophisticated niche market of cruise ships, ferries and special ships with three shipyards in two countries. The Meyer family business has survived and thrived over 221 years in the difficult and highly competitive global shipbuilding market. During all these years the demand for ships has been very volatile and the pace of technological change has accelerated.



To survive in such a market the Meyer family has employed a long-term approach to develop the technology, advance the skills of the shipyard employees and to reinvest profits. The basis for this all is a stable ownership  also for future generations.



Now the next family generation is entering the business: Dr. Jan Meyer (39) is in the family business since 2008 and the CEO of Meyer Turku Oy, since 2014. Since 1st of June, 2016, Tim Meyer (34) has entered the family business as one of the managing directors at Meyer Werft in Papenburg. Furthermore Dr. Paul Meyer (33) is taking over the responsibility for the IT of all shipyards as CIO.



To reflect the new constellation, the Meyer family has decided to donate its shares into two family foundations. Hence in the future one family foundation will be the long-term owner of Meyer Turku Oy and another family foundation will own the shares in the German Meyer family companies. The operative management will not be affected by the introduction of the foundations.



Family foundations are for us the ideal framework to maintain a single and stable owner for the shipyards in Turku, Papenburg and Warnemunde  also for future generations. By this step we want to secure the core success factors of our long-term success and maintain the character of a family company., highlights Bernard Meyer.


France's CGT union is calling for a nationwide port strike on June 23 and June 28 as part of ongoing protests against the government's labour reform bill, the union said in a statement on Wednesday.

Port workers have participated in rolling nationwide strikes in recent weeks, notably disrupting activity at the oil terminal in Le Havre, northern France, which handles about 40 percent of French crude imports.

Tuesday saw a latest day of nationwide demonstrations against the labour reform, including protests in Paris marked by violent clashes between police and youths.

(Reporting by Valerie Parent, writing by Gus Trompiz)
Eric Haun is editor of Marine News. He has covered the commercial maritime and...

As Dampskibsselskabet NORDEN A/S further tightens its focus in the dry cargo segment to medium-sized Supramax and Panamax vessels, the company has sold four Handysize dry cargo vessels.

Following the sale of Nord Hong Kong (32,282 tdw built in 2011), Nord Houston (32,389 tdw built in 2011), Nord London (32,312 tdw built in 2011) and Nord Vancouver (32,353 tdw built in 2011), the shipper now owns eight Handysize vessels.

Norden said it plans to continue to operate a significant fleet within the Handysize vessel type, which in the long-term will only consist of chartered vessels.

The proceeds from both sales will be reinvested in Nordens Supramax and Panamax fleet.
India plans to form an alliance with Japan and South Korea to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) at "reasonable prices", the country's oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.

India may soon rope China into the alliance as well, he said.

A Reuter report quoted Dharmendra as saying: "For the next two to three decades, gas is going to be a major part of the energy basket for Asian energy consumers. We want to bring together the countries and form a network which can together source reasonable, rational and affordable LNG"

State-owned GAIL Ltd is spearheading the talks, which follow a similar attempt in 2013, on India's behalf.

Natural gas currently accounts for about 8 percent of India's overall energy mix. In the last decade, while India's domestic natural gas production has grown by 10 percent, imports of LNG have risen by 335 percent.
Deputy Minister of Defense Nguyen Chi Vinh signed a $20 million joint project with representatives of the South Korean government to remove land mines and leftover UXO in Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Vinh An

Vietnam has completed the first phase of a national map that outlines mines and unexploded ordnances (UXO) left over from past wars following years of surveys and clearance efforts, according to the Ministry of Defense.

The map will be updated annually, said Nguyen Chi Vinh, deputy minister of Vietnam's Defense Ministry.

Recent survey results show that Vietnam has about 6.1 million hectares (over 18 percent) of land that is still littered with mines and UXOs. Vinh said that drawing up the map has been particularly difficult due to the variety of weapons used in past wars. By drawing up and updating the map, Vietnam hopes to minimize detonation accidents.

The map will also help determine the technology and approach needed for effective clearance, in addition to identifying the category of bombs and landmines in each specific area, the deputy minister added.

Many countries have shown willingness to support Vietnam to clear unexploded bombs and mines. On June 14, Vinh signed a joint project between Vietnam and South Korea to remove land mines and leftover UXOs.

Based on the agreement, South Korea will offer Vietnam $20 million in non-refundable aid to clear 8,000 hectares of former battlefields in the central provinces of Quang Binh and Binh Dinh. The project is scheduled to begin in the second half of the year and run through 2020.

According to Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, an estimated 800,000 tons of UXOs are left in Vietnam since 1975. All provinces and cities in Vietnam are polluted by landmines and unexploded ordnance, mainly from the American-Vietnam War and the Sino-Vietnamese War. The worst affected areas are in the central region and some northern border provinces.

Each year, on average, mines claim 1,535 lives and permanently injure 2,272 people. A preliminary survey of six central provinces (Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue and Quang Ngai) shows that there have been 22,760 victims of war mines in total, of which 10,529 people have died and 12,200 people have been injured.

Vietnam spends over VND1 trillion ($44 million) annually on demining operations and hundreds of billions of dong for treatment, assistance, rehabilitation, vocational training and resettlement for the victims of UXOs, according to government website.

Related news:

> Scrap-dealer blowtorches a bomb-like object, kills four people in Hanoi massive explosion

> Wartime bomb safely detonated in Bac Lieu
London International Shipping Week (LISW) is proud to announce Inmarsat Global Ltd as Lead Diamond Sponsor for LISW 2017. Inmarsat is a British satellite telecommunications company which provides mobile communication services to the maritime industry worldwide. Inmarsat continues to be highly supportive of LISW, choosing to renew their prestigious diamond sponsorship positioning, which the company held in both 2015 and 2013.



London International Shipping Week is a highlight in the global maritime calendar, says Ronald Spithout, Inmarsat Maritime President. The UK has been a driving force in the maritime industry from the beginning. Being at the heart of a hugely successful event in London reflects our heritage at Inmarsat as a UK based organisation and also highlights the continued role of the UK as a hub for innovation.



Following the recent launch of Inmarsat Maritimes Fleet Xpress service, LISW 2017 is an ideal opportunity to engage with friends from all areas of the global maritime sector to take forward the dialogue on what the Internet of Everywhere means for shipping and how the next generation of ship-to-shore connectivity is redefining whats possible for enhancing operations, crew welfare and safety at sea.



This adds to a number of confirmed sponsorships including, The Baltic Exchange (Gold) and law firm Hill Dickinson LLP (Bronze).



Jeremy Penn, Chairman of the LISW Steering Group said: I am delighted that LISW 2017 is already attracting sponsorship from companies and organisations of such a high calibre. This highlights the strong reputation that LISW has built over the last few years as a leading event in the maritime calendar, and suggests that LISW 2017 will be another huge success.




Following a successful Network Innovation Competition bid in 2015, DNV GL has secured innovation funding from SGN to partner in a project to demonstrate the viability and practical reality of a mixed-source, energy-centric gas network for the future. The project was developed, and will be delivered, in partnership with SGN who are one of the UK's key gas distribution operators, and industry leaders in innovation.



The integrated energy network of the future must be flexible, secure, cost effective and above all safe. The changing gas industry, driven by a reduced North Sea supply is increasingly required to accommodate gas from more diverse sources such as biomethane and shale gas. Each source has a range of different gas compositions, physical properties and energy content that must be accounted for within the network.



Gus McIntosh, Innovation & New Technology Manager and Project Director for SGN said: We are excited by this partnership with DNV GL and the opportunity it affords to radically change how we manage and design our networks, whilst removing barriers for new sources of gas and stimulating downstream gas renewables. A key challenge is to not only manage the volume and flow in our network, but to manage and model the energy content. Once again we are showing the energy market that gas has a significant role to play in the future energy mix.



A crucial part of the endeavour will be a field trial which aims to understand the energy flows within a low pressure gas distribution network. Lower cost gas quality and flow devices will be verified for use downstream of more accurate traditional high pressure network measurements. Network and consumer meter data will be collated on DNV GLs cloud server and used to model energy flow through the gas network in real time.



This is an exciting opportunity to transfer and update some of the technologies and methods used in the high-pressure transmission system to complex low pressure gas distribution networks. The project is timely as it combines innovative applications of data cloud technology, big data, real-time network modelling to facilitate the challenge of distributing a wide range of different gas qualities. It could potentially redefine business as usual for the gas networks of the future, says DNV GL Principal Specialist, Sarah Kimpton.



Over the course of the three year project, DNV GL will fulfil all aspects of the project from selection & procurement of leading-edge equipment, to real-time data collection and development of a prototype real-time network model updated regularly from the data cloud.



DNV GL will leverage our leading solutions Synergi Gas and Synergi Pipeline Simulator, in combination with novel developments built in the Internet of Things and real-time analytics, to perform analysis and calculations needed to make design, planning and operational decisions, says Are F. Tjnn, Software CEO, DNV GL. Most of our stakeholders are looking to decrease cost, increase productivity and create more value through efficiency improvements. By leveraging the tremendous potential in cloud based solutions, smart censoring and instrumentation of pipelines this project will demonstrate how we help our customers achieving data smart business operations, he says.



The project will provide a turn-key solution for SGN that will ensure the UK gas industry will understand and meet future energy challenges.




Shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes totaled 3,806,526 tons in May, a virtual repeat of a year ago when the trade totaled 3,809,701 tons, reports the Lake Carriers Association (LCA). This Mays loadings were, however, slightly below the months five-year average.

Loadings out of U.S. quarries totaled 3,053,669 tons, a decrease of approximately 40,000 tons compared to a year ago, while shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 752,857 tons, an increase of 37,000 tons, LCA said.

According to LCA, year-to-date the Lakes limestone trade stands at 6,064,130 tons, an increase of 3.7 percent compared to a year ago. Again, loadings from Michigan and Ohio quarries are virtually unchanged from a year ago at 4.9 million tons, while shipments from Ontario quarries total 1,169,739 tons, an increase of 216,000 tons.
During a ceremony to honor women who served in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, DDG 123, will be named Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee.

Higbee, the future ship's namesake, was a pioneering United States Navy chief nurse, who served as the Superintendent of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps during World War I and was the first female recipient of the Navy Cross.

It is a great honor to name this ship in recognition of Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee, Mabus said. I have no doubt that all who serve aboard her will carry on the legacy of service and commitment exemplified by this pioneer of U.S. Navy Nurse Corps.

The former USS Higbee (DD-806), commissioned in 1945, was the first ship named in her honor and the first U.S. Navy combat ship to bear the name of a female member of the Naval service.

Mabus honored the service and sacrifice of women who served in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps during a sunset parade on United States Marine Corps Iwo Jima Memorial grounds.

This ship will be a part of our fleet for decades, and the legacy of Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee and her service to our nation will live on for decades through the ship's voyages across the oceans, and through the lives of the crew who will sail aboard it, Mabus said.

Higbee's professionalism, leadership and selfless dedication to her nurses and patients reflect the highest standards of naval service, said Dr. Regina T. Akers, naval historian. She and her nurses provided the best treatment possible often under some of the worse conditions. Higbee will continue to inspire all who learn of her courage, honor and commitment.

Arleigh-Burke class destroyers conduct a variety of operations from peacetime presence and crisis response to sea control and power projection. DDG 123 will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and will contain a combination of offensive and defensive weapon systems designed to support maritime warfare, including integrated air and missile defense and vertical launch capabilities.

The ship will be constructed at Ingalls Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, in Mississippi and is expected to enter the Navy fleet in 2024. The ship will be 509-feet-long, have a beam length of 59 feet and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 30 knots.
CMA CGM S.A. (CMA CGM) and PSA Singapore Terminals Pte. Ltd. (PSA) will form a joint venture company CMA CGM-PSA Lion Terminal Pte. Ltd. (CPLT) to operate and use four mega container berths at Pasir Panjang Terminal Phases 3 and 4 in Singapore.



CPLT will start operations from the second half of 2016, and allow CMA CGM and its shipping line affiliates to leverage industry-leading port infrastructure and technologies at this latest Pasir Panjang expansion, which has the capacity and scale of operations to better serve mega vessels in the region.



CPLT will provide long-term terminal services to CMA CGM and its shipping line affiliates hence securing best-in-class services for its fleet.



Mr Rodolphe Saade, Vice Chairman of CMA CGM Group: CMA CGM is pleased to announce this important partnership with PSA. It is a significant step, demonstrating the ongoing importance of Singapore to our strategy, and delivering on our commitment to making Singapore the Asian hub for the Group.



Mr Tan Chong Meng, Group CEO of PSA International: We are honoured to embark on this win-win partnership. CMA CGM-PSA Lion Terminal will cater to the volume growth of the CMA CGM Group in Asia. PSA looks forward to working alongside CMA CGM to ensure that its hub operations flourish, and enhance Singapores premier status as the worlds busiest transhipment hub.




Newly built chemical and product tanker Stenaweco Impulse was named by H.R.H. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, whobroke a bottle of champagne against the tankers bow and wished the vessel, her captain and his crew fortune and prosperity.

Named on Monday at a cerempny at Langelinie Pier in the center of Copenhagen, Stenaweco Impulse is the newest vessel owned by Stena Weco, a joint venture between Swedish Stena Bulk and Danish Weco Shipping for the transport of vegetable oils, chemicals and petroleum products.

Stenaweco Impulse (length: 183 meters, beam: 32 meters, deadweight: 50,000 tons) is the sixth in a series of 13 IMOIIMAX MR tankers ordered and will trade in Stena Wecos global logistic system, which includes more than 60 vessels.

Erik Hanell, President and CEO of Stena Bulk and CEO of Stena Weco, said, We are very proud of our IMOIIMAX fleet with six vessels delivered so far. The concept, with its innovative design, has already proved to be very successful, as has the operative collaboration with Weco Shipping, which was formed five years ago.

The Stenweco Impulse, has given our collaboration with Stena Bulk a new dimension as we now also have a jointly owned vessel, said Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg, chairman of Weco Shipping. I am, naturally, extra proud that the naming ceremony took place in Copenhagen with H.R.H. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark as the godmother. We look forward to a continuing healthy and positive development of Sten Weco together with Stena Bulk.

Technical design for the IMOIIMAX, a further development of an already established concept, has been developed by Stena Teknik together with the Chinese shipyard GSI (Guangzhou Shipbuilding International), offering large cargo flexibility, a high level of safety and 10-20 percent fuel consumption when sailing at service speed, Stena Weco said.

The Stena Impression, Stena Image, Stena Imperial and Stena Important were delivered in 2015 and the Stena Imperative in January 2016. The remaining six vessels, after Stenaweco Impulse will be delivered every third month and the last vessel in 2018. Three of the 13 IMOIIMAX tankers are wholly owned by Stena Bulk, six together with GAR (Golden Agri Resources), two by Stena Bulks sister company Concordia Maritime and two by Stena Weco.
The Hour of Power Comes of Age

The marine industry is now recognizing the potential of utilizing hybrid power and innovative propulsion systems. Certain maritime sectors are potentially well suited to hybrid systems. These include ferries, pilot boats and workboats that have relatively consistent duty cycles. For military applications, hybrid systems are relevant for patrol, intercept and autonomous vessel duties.

Submarines have utilized batteries and stored energy for many years. Diesel/electric systems have long been in use, but these are not hybrid systems. The diesel/electric vessel uses its engines to connect directly to an electrical generator; the power in the system is then transferred electrically to the propeller shaft via a motor controller and electric motor. The system may have multiple generators and multiple motors, but until recently there was no storage of electric energy.

Emissions and the Balance of Power

On January 1, 2015, Emission Control Areas (ECA) came into effect for the USA, Canada, the North Sea and the Baltic. Separately, China has voluntarily imposed ECAs in effort to reduce pollution. Options to reduce emissions include exhaust cleaning scrubbers. Operators that infrequently visit ECAs may make a commercial decision that it is cheaper to be fined than to comply, but this is not a viable option for ferries and cruise ships on a regular port rotation.

The traditional operating model for shipping is to moving goods from point-to-point quickly. Slow steaming is introduced in order to lower costs by reducing fuel consumption. The requirement for power is also changing for many professional small craft operations. As new technologies evolve, objectives more important than pure speed include power trains that do not fail, redundancy, extended operating range, reduced costs, fuel economy and environmental compliance.

The professional workboat sector is also entering a period of rapid change and commercial opportunity. Boat builders, engine manufacturers, technology designers and naval architects are now developing hybrid systems for pilot boats, tugs, survey vessels, patrol vessels, yacht tenders and unmanned craft. All of the benefits that appeal to shipping also apply here.

Hybrid systems are not a one size fits all proposition. To that end, a consistent process of quantifying operating conditions helps to identify which duty cycles are hybrid solutions candidates and, indeed, first adopters. With vessel life cycles of over 20 years, naval architects and builders of new craft will offer designs that have space and access routes to enable retrofit of hybrid installations. Todays focus is on the sub IMO/80 feet (24 meter) workboat sectors.

Green Energy Provides Military Power

For military applications, hybrid systems give patrol vessels the ability to turn off their main engines to loiter silently on station at sea with a low heat signature. Training exercises and maneuvers that require command and control from slow moving or stationary vessels could utilize stored energy from high energy battery systems. Patrol vessels will still use their main engines to move rapidly from point to point. Once in position, a vessel can patrol slowly on battery electric power. This will be particularly relevant to vessels undertaking port or estuary patrols at low speeds. Stealth and the element of surprise have many applications for customs, border, riverine and fisheries protection. For specialist operations, boat teams could utilize stored energy to approach the target in silence. Once the energy is on board, engine designers could also configure the main engines to use extra kilowatts of battery power to create increased top speed for short bursts.

As requirements grow for 24/7 security in ports and waterways, Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) will be considered for various roles and the drivers for rapid technology development are significant. As no crew changes are required, USVs can remain at sea for days at a time. As diesel engines were not designed for start- stop operation, hybrid systems that enable USVs to use stored energy will be a viable solution.

Batteries can be initially charged from shore power or mother vessel. During missions, batteries can receive their main charge from a diesel generator, with a secondary charge from solar power. In the near future, alternative sources of energy, including wave action, will provide free sustainable energy sources that can be utilized to sustain unmanned vessels for extended durations at sea.

The Hour of Power

The Hour Of Power is a hybrid concept using a combination of diesel/electric/battery that enables a vessel to use conventional diesel engines and propulsion, charge batteries when running diesels, charge batteries from shore power, run on battery/electric for up to one hour or loiter on battery for significantly longer. The concept enables vessels to run in and out of port for an hour on electric with battery power and then carry out their open sea work on diesel power. The aim of this hybrid solution is to enhance conventional power and propulsion systems. Vessels can reduce emissions and improve fuel consumption, while extending engine maintenance periods and engine life.

The Hour of Power focuses on hybrid solutions linked to viable business cases. This is not green energy for the sake of it. Many commercial harbors around the world have 10 knot speed limits for low wash or safety reasons and are within one hour of sea. For commercial organizations, the simple concept of running vessels with zero emissions shapes decisions that lead to improvements of in-service systems and procurement of next generation vessels. The overall objective is fuel savings and improved efficiency.

There are various methods to determine the most efficient speed for a vessel to travel at on battery/electric power. Naval architects can create vessel-by-vessel models, but identifying how many kilowatts of alternative energy needed can be a simpler task. One of the main criteria that enable battery/electric power to work efficiently is to operate the vessel below both hump speed and hull speed. The start of the hump is beyond the point where the boat exceeds its displacement hull speed.

The hump is clearly defined on the speed / resistance curve for any size of vessel. As speed increases a fuel meter shows fuel consumed, which will significantly increase at the hump. Another source of information is to generate a speed / power curve from the engine management system that shows how many Kilowatts of energy are consumed at a particular speed. For the sake of simple calculation this should be done in zero current and zero wind conditions. Separate allowances can be made for favorable or opposing current and or wind. The main objective is identifying how many Kilowatts of battery energy are required to replace Kilowatts of diesel energy.

Hybrid for Wind Farm Service Vessels

Certain maritime sectors are potentially well suited to hybrid diesel / electric systems. These include pilot boats and wind farm support vessels undertaking maintenance. Both have relatively consistent duty cycles, often running seven days a week, to drop off or collect pilots and technicians. If wind, wave and tidal energy installations are striving for genuine green credentials it is logical to reduce consumption of fossil fuels wherever possible.

A typical working day starts with the WFSV crew preparing the vessel for departure at 06.00. The vessel would be disconnected from shore power which has been used for overnight battery charging. The vessel can leave the dock on battery/electric power, which also means zero emissions. At the outer sea buoy, diesel power takes over for the high speed transit out to the wind farm and to deliver the technicians onto the wind turbines, during which time, batteries are recharging.

Many vessels have hours of waiting in the wind farms, as they are on standby they cannot anchor. Loitering at low speed and low revs is not an efficient load cycle for diesel engines, plus it leads to increased maintenance and reduced engine life. This loitering period could be on battery power. Later in the day, diesel power is used for the high speed transit to port, with the batteries again recharging. At the sea buoy, battery power takes over to enter the harbor, with zero emissions.

Next Generation Cells and Batteries

U.S. battery manufacturer XALT Energy has the experience of taking high voltage battery projects from concept through cell production into the finished system for maritime applications. The company works with builders, naval architects and operators to analyze workboat duty cycles. Robert Young, Technical Lead for Marine Applications at XALT Energy told Marine News, Engine management data can be matched to battery characteristics to develop the most efficient solutions. Onboard energy management systems are designed to ensure that battery systems operate at optimum performance. The objective is hybridizing and electrifying marine vessels to produce financial benefits and reduced emissions. XALT designs scaled, modular Lithium-ion battery systems that consider the footprint, weight, cost benefits and safety case for marine applications.

Operators have learned that power and performance are relevant, but reliability and durability are important factors for all types of propulsion. A vessel with battery/electric capability linked to two main engines, one generator and a battery bank has various power options that greatly improve redundancy and get home capability. For example, banks of batteries can be permanently installed in each hull on catamarans. For workboats designed to carry ISO containers, an alternative would be to create portable energy units that could be carried on deck. As many workboats are designed to have modular payloads this would enable containers to be moved between vessels as changing duty cycles, or contracts with green credentials, require alternative energy on board.

The Hybrid Future

The IMO Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) aims to reduce emissions from large ships by 30 percent between 2014 and 2025. Countries developing new green energy policies may want to enter the offshore wind, tidal and wave energy sectors by specifying vessels that harmonize with the global reduction in the use of fossil fuels. Class rules, safety, performance and cost are relevant to naval architects when considering innovative battery power and diesel electric propulsion systems. The challenge for designers is to engineer solutions utilizing hybrid technology which are both practical and affordable.

As new sources of energy become available it is important to identify which energy source best fits the vessel, duty cycle and environment to give efficient power when it is needed. Since no two vessels, routes or captains are alike, decisions can be improved with data logging and analysis. Commercial off the shelf power management systems will ultimately bring together all components with big data solutions to create optimized whole vessel hybrid systems. As other sectors  ashore and afloat  move rapidly towards hybrid solutions, commercial and military small craft will do the same. How that plays out will make all the difference.





Images courtesy of John Haynes & Shock Mitigation

The Author

John Haynes is an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute, a Yachtmaster Ocean and Advanced Powerboat Instructor. Subject matter expertise includes high speed craft consultancy, product development and specialist training. He is Operations Director of Shock Mitigation, providing WBV Awareness training www.shockmitigation.com and founder of the RIB & High Speed Craft Directory www.ribandhsc.com
International Maritime Organization (IMO) is contributing to a United Nations meeting covering marine debris, plastics and microplastics in New York (13-17 June).

Discussions are focusing on information exchange between key players involved in the protection of the marine environment  in the context of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which establishes rules governing all uses of the oceans and their resources.

IMOs Stefan Micallef, Director of the Marine Environment Division, took part in a panel on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of marine debris, plastics and microplastics.

He provided an overview of the progress made in preventing, reducing and controlling pollution in this field, including an overview of IMOs work to address this issue.

This includes IMOs MARPOL convention for the prevention of pollution from ships, which bans the disposal of plastics into the sea from ships and generally prohibits the discharge of all garbage into the sea, except in certain very specific circumstances, and the London Convention/Protocol, which in effect bans the dumping of plastics at sea.

The Organization is also a co-lead for sea-based litter in the Global Partnership on Marine Litter and manages the GESAMP group of scientific experts, which studies the impact of microplastics in the marine environment.

In addition to this weeks meeting, Stefan Micallef and Fredrik Haag will represent IMO at the annual face to face meeting of UN-Oceans, where recent progress of joint activities, and the 2016-2017 work programme is being discussed.
The Vietnam Association of Financial Investors (VAFI), a local non-profit organization, has questioned former Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang for a number of appointment decisions involving his son, one allegedly resulted in million dollar losses at a state-owned company.

Hoang was one of the cabinet members under former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dungs government who stepped down in April this year. He was Minister of Industry and Trade for two tenures, from August 2007 to April 2016.

In a letter dated June 13 posted on its website on Tuesday, the VAFI asked the former minister to explain why he had appointed his son Vu Quang Hai to key positions at the Saigon Beer, Beverage and Alcohol Corporation (Sabeco), one of the biggest state-run beverage companies in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vu Quang Hai (left) being appointed general manager of PVFI in 2011.

The VAFI said in 2015, Hai, 28, was appointed by the ministry to serve as a deputy general director and a member of the board of directors at Sabeco, representing the governments interests in the company. According to the association, Hais track record at work proved he did not have the ability to fulfill the role or deserve the position at Sabeco, which has equity of more than VND12 trillion ($530 million).

In 2011, when Hai was 25 years old with no experience in business management, he was appointed general manager of PetroVietnam Trade Union Finance Investment Corporation (PVFI). State-owned PetroVietnam holds a 51 percent stake in PVFI, which has charter capital of more than VND300 billion ($13.2 million). PetroVietnam operates under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. During the two years under Hais management, PVFI incurred a total loss of more than VND220 billion, the VAFI said.

After that, Hai was transferred to the Ministry of Industry and Trades Trade Promotion Agency, leaving the PVFI on the edge of bankruptcy. After a year at the agency, Hoangs son was appointed to a high position at Sabeco.

The VAFI said Sabeco carried out an initial public offering (IPO) eight years ago, but former minister Hoang delayed transferring the governments ownership in Sabeco to the State Capital Investment Corp. and listing Sabeco on the stock market, enabling him to appoint his son and his secretary to senior positions at the company. The State Capital Investment Corp. is the governments shareholder in state-run firms.

In its letter, the VAFI urged the former minister to ask his son to step down from his current position at Sabeco to pave the way for more capable people to replace him. The VAFI also called for Hai to take responsibility for the losses at PVFI when he was on duty there.

Vice Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa, who directly appointed Hai to Sabeco, was asked to explain her decision. The VAFI said it raised the matter with the ministry more than a month ago, but has yet to receive a response.

According to the VAFI, the quality of personnel under Hoangs 10-year term in the ministry resulted in the poor performance of many state-run companies. One of the typical examples is Trinh Xuan Thanh, vice chairman of Hau Giang Province Peoples Committee. Prior to being assigned to his position in Hau Giang, Trinh Xuan Thanh was the chairman of PetroVietnam Corporation (PVC) from 2007 to 2013. In 2012, the company reported surprise losses of VND293 billion ($14 million). Despite the speculations surrounding Thanhs responsibility for the losses at PVC, he continued to move up to more powerful positions.

Related news:

> Vietnam aroused by Party leader's probe into official's luxury car

> Top state-owned beverage company plans to sell half its stake
Search continues on Wednesday after Vietnam People's Air Defense - Air Force lost contact with a fighter jet flying offshore the central province of Nghe An yesterday.

One of the two missing pilots has been rescued by a fishing boat at 4:30 a.m., Senior Lieutenant Colonel Tran Cong Luc, Deputy Commander in Chief of Nghe An Border Forces, confirmed with VnExpress. One source in Nghe An Border Forces said the rescued pilot is Major Nguyen Huu Cuong. The status of the other pilot, Lieutenant Colonel, Tran Quang Khai, has yet to be confirmed.

Refresh for latest updates

Vietnam People's Air Defense - Air Force has confirmed it lost contact with a fighter jet flying offshore the central province of Nghe An on Tuesday morning.

Major Nguyen Huu Cuong.

The jet departed from Tho Xuan Airport in central Thanh Hoa province for training in the sea. The Su-30MK2 disappeared from radar at 7:29 a.m.

Two experienced pilots are in the missing fighter jet according to a VnExpress source:

- Lieutenant Colonel, Tran Quang Khai, Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff, 923rd Fighter Regiment (43 years old),

- Major Nguyen Huu Cuong, Deputy Commander of the 1st Squadron, 923rd Fighter Regiment (39 years old)

Deputy Minister of Defense has denied rumors that one pilot has swum to the shore.

Based on fishermen's accounts of seeing a falling jet and last contact point, the search team has narrowed down the location of the jet to around Hon Mat Islan (Cua Lo Town, Nghe An Province), around 20 km from the shore. The status of the two pilots has yet to be confirmed.

Military Command of Nghe An Province and Vietnam People's Air Defense - Air Force have mobilized helicopters and fishing vessels for the search.

6:00 p.m.

Major General Do Minh Tuan said: "The search team has identified the exact location of the crashed fighter jet Su 30 based on many signs. Many vessels and planes are approaching for rescue. There's been no sign of the pilots."

4:30 p.m.

Deputy Minister of Defense Nguyen Chi Vinh said that Ministry of Defence and relevant agencies are pooling all the resources for the search. Deputy Minister Vinh denies rumors that one pilot has swum to the shore.

4:00 p.m.

The search team has found traces of oil to the north east of Hon Mat Island (Nghe An Province). The area has been marked for rescue planes and vessels to approach.

Around the same time, fishermen reported to have spotted debris thought to belong to the crashed jet to the north east of Hon Mat Island, 40 km away from Dien Chau Beach and 200km away from the jet's starting point.

Deputy Chief of the Vietnam People's Army, Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan said he is on his way to Nghe An to oversee the search for the crashed jet. Search and rescue teams have not found any sign of the jet or the two pilots.

Huynh Thanh Dien, Deputy Chairman of Nghe An People's Committee has just set up the Steering Committee for the jet's search and rescue headed by Dinh Viet Hong, Deputy Chairman of Nghe An People's Committee. The province will mobilize soldiers, fishery control and fishermen to work with Military Zone 4 forces under Ministry of Defense to search for the missing jet.

Basic supplies are loaded onto the ship about to join the search.

3:00 p.m.

Current temperature on Hon Mat Island is around 40C, wind blows South West at speed of 25 km/h, visibility is 10 km.

One leader of the Air Force Helicopter Regiment 916 of Division 371 said, about half an hour ago, four Mi Mi 171 and 172 helicopters of the regiment joined the search.

Basic supplies are provided for the ship searching for the missing jet.

2:50 p.m.

Helicopter searching for the missing jet. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Binh

At noon, Military Zone 4 has established a command post in Cua Lo Town (Nghe An Province) to oversee the search. The Provincial Military Command has advised Nghe An People's Committee to set up a Steering Committee for the jet's search and rescue.

"We have sent three ships with 36 officers, soldiers to search around Hon Mat Island. There are more than 10 big fishing vessels and other forces too," said Colonel Tran Van Hung, Deputy Commander in Chief, Chief of Military Command of Nghe An Province.

2:40 p.m.

Three rescue boats belonging to Nghe An Border Squadron 2 on duty at the port waiting for the command to join the search.

The car carrying basic supplies waits at the port to top up two ships that have been searching all morning upon their return

2:30 p.m.

Major General Do Minh Tuan, who is directly in charge of the search and rescue operation, said there's been no sign of the pilots. Besides information from fishermen who had reported seeing a falling plane, the team has narrowed down the location of the missing jet. However, the team is still working to identify the exact location.

The Su-30MK2 might have fallen to the sea east of Nghe An Province, around 20 nautical miles away from the shore. Both pilots on the jet are highly experienced.

02:10 p.m.

At least six ships are searching around Hon Mat Island, Nghe An Province. At the time Vietnam lost contact with the missing jet, wind speed in the sea was around 50-61km/h, equivalent to a tropical depression.

According to an expert, during an emergency and depending on elevation, speed and flight direction, pilots have to pull the eject lever to escape. The plane cannot eject pilots automatically because this function could be dangerous.

Location of ships searching for the missing jet.

2:00 p.m.

137 Squadron's ship searching for the missing jet near Hon Mat Island. Photo by VnExpress/CTV



1:00 p.m.

Pilot Tran Quang Khai (43) is missing. This photo was taken in 2013 when he was on a training session with Su-30. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung.

12:30 p.m.

Two pilots are in the missing fighter jet according to a VnExpress source:

- Lieutenant Colonel, Tran Quang Khai, Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff, 923rd Fighter Regiment (43 years old),

- Major Nguyen Huu Cuong, Deputy Commander of the 1st Squadron, 923rd Fighter Regiment (39 years old)

Both are experienced pilots.

10:35 a.m.

A team of Su-30 fighter jets departed from Sao Vang Airport in the central province of Thanh Hoa this morning. By around 8 a.m., one of the fighter jets disappeared from the radar.

Major General Do Minh Tuan, Deputy Commander of Vietnam Air Defense - Air Force told VnExpress that the jet lost contact when it was training east of Nghe An central province.

Lieutenant General Le Huy Vinh (Vietnam Air Defense - Air Force) and Tuan are directly overseeing the search for the missing jet. Helicopters have been mobilized to search the sea in Nghe An and Ha Tinh areas.

Around 9 a.m., at least six ships are searching in sea, around Hon Mat island, Nghe An Province.

By 11 a.m., ships under military command, border guards, marine police, fishery control in Nghe An have joined the search.

Colonel Hoang Bui Hai, Deputy Commander of the Military Command of Thanh Hoa Province said his unit has been informed of the incident and is sending forces to help with the search.

The pilots flying the Su-30 are from the 923rd air regiment. Set up in 1965, this is the second air force fighter regiment under the Vietnam People's Air Force established during the American - Vietnam War.

The Su-30 is a Russian fighter jet and it's considered to have many advantages over the generation four of U.S. fighter jets.

Su-30MK2 during a training. Photo by VnExpress/Tung Nam

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One year after the passing of their leading comrade Camilo Cahis, Canadian supporters of the International Marxist Tendency gathered for their 16th annual congress. Facing such a blow, it would have been understandable for the group to stagnate or even decline. However, the exact opposite happened. In the face of adversity, the Marxists fighting the Canadian State did not just hold their ground but advanced impressively. The group grew to over 100 activists, increased their impact on a number of campuses, began to develop work in the unions, and have launched a campaign to hire Farshad Azadian as their 4th full-time organizer. Challenging times forced the comrades to rally together and build as a tribute to their fallen comrade.

Over 70 were able to attend this congress, with the largest delegation so far from comrades in Quebec. The fully bilingual congress was held between May 21-23rd in Toronto, and it started off with inspiring greetings from sections of the IMT around the world. Revolutionaries from Indonesia, Italy, Belgium, New Zealand, USA, Britain, Morocco, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, amongst others, sent warm regards. These messages really set the tone of socialist internationalism right from the opening of proceedings.

World Perspectives: The Anti-Establishment Mood is Rising

Every year, the comrades bring over a prominent figure from the IMT to provide an international perspective. This year the Canadian comrades were lucky enough to host Rob Sewell, editor of the Socialist Appeal Magazine in the UK. Sewell led off the first political session on World Perspectives by putting into context the world situation we are now facing. Eight years after the 2008 financial crisis, the global economy has not been able to maintain sustainable levels of recovery and growth. And now we are facing the prospect of a new global slump. Sewell made it clear that while booms and slumps will continue, the overall tendency will be downward. This is a period of prolonged austerity which in turn is a recipe for an explosive class struggle.

The essential theme underlying this session was the anti-establishment mood that has shaken world politics to the core. US politics has entered a period of turmoil that was inconceivable only a few years ago. Both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders represent the right and left of the anti- establishment mood, respectively. The anti-establishment feeling in Scotland has manifested in the growth in the Scottish National Party (SNP), while in England left-wing Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn has channelled the discontent of workers and youth. We have also witnessed the rise of new parties such as SYRIZA in Greece, and Podemos in Spain.

Photo: FighbackSewell highlighted the heightened crisis facing the European Union. The upcoming Brexit vote in June is symptomatic of this and could potentially lead to the disintegration of the EU. The refugee crisis has further strained the situation with the progressive rolling back of the Schengen Agreement. Sewell pointed out that the IMT has always explained that a united Europe could not be maintained on a capitalist basis. The only way to achieve genuine economic, monetary, and political union would be on the basis of a socialist society governed by the working class and not the competing capitalists of various nations.

Sewell highlighted that there are many indicative signs of the revolutionary period we are living in. The birth of new parties, like Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain, and corruption scandals like the Panama Papers, all create a world situation where turbulence and sharp changes are to be expected. Reformism can no longer achieve reforms, resulting in a new period of protracted class struggle and instability. In the past, a revolutionary situation would rise and fall within a relatively short period of time. But the working class is now far stronger than it was before WW2, meaning that the ruling class cannot so easily move towards bonapartism or fascism. Conversely, the genuinely revolutionary forces are far weaker now than in the pre-war period - meaning that the workers do not have the leadership necessary to overthrow capitalism. This impasse will exist until the workers can solve the crisis of revolutionary leadership. It is vital to build the forces of Marxism to solve this contradiction. A revolution in a single country would change the entire world situation.

Canadian Perspectives - Preparing for the Next Stage of Struggle

Alex Grant - Photo: FighbackAfter Rob Sewell set the stage with an international context, the discussion moved on to Canadian politics. Fightback editor Alex Grant led off the session on Canadian perspectives. Grant explained how the election of the Trudeau Liberals marks a new stage in the Canadian class struggle. After the fake-left anti-austerity Liberal election campaign, there are massive illusions in Trudeau, who is enjoying a significant honeymoon period. But eventually, economic reality will overcome sunny ways, as there are significant weaknesses in the Canadian economy. Low oil, high consumer debt, the housing bubble and dead money all serve to make Canada far more susceptible to the next global downturn. Trudeau will eventually be forced to take the road of austerity, or face unsustainable debt and deficits.

The session included a discussion about the processes that led to the dethroning of NDP leader Tom Mulcair. Fightback comrades who attended the Federal NDP convention reported back on the revolt against Mulcair and the discussion of the Leap Manifesto. It is amazing that the rank- and-file was able to defeat the leading bureaucracy despite the fact that no significant figure gave an organized lead to the revolt. Grant explained that the role of Leap was contradictory. On the one side, the manifesto clearly played a progressive role in turning the ideological tide away from Blairism and opening up space for discussing politics in the NDP. But on the other side, the document itself is very vague. However, it is important to defend the Leap Manifesto from the right-wing who label it as far-left, radical, and anti-capitalist. It is the job of Marxists to put forward concrete solutions to the problems posed by Leap. At the end of the day, you cannot save jobs while industry remains in private hands, and you cannot save the environment while industry is privately owned and controlled. Only a socialist approach can unite workers and the environment.

The federal NDP leadership race opens up the opportunity for radical socialist politics in the NDP, similar to that of Bernie Sanders or Jeremy Corbyn, but only if a figure of sufficient prominence is brave enough to unapologetically promote such ideas. Fightback comrades will fully participate in such a movement.

Photo: FighbackThe discussion period was packed with interventions from comrades who were eager to share and comment on the Canadian situation. The discussion period also included a very important point about marxism and oppression. The Canadian perspectives document was expanded to include a section on the rising inequality and oppression that aboriginal youth, black youth, other visible minorities, working class women and LGBTQ workers and youth, feel in Canada. Marxists are at the forefront of fighting all forms of oppression in the here and now. However, to fundamentally end the unbearable suffering under capitalism we require class unity to fight for a socialist society. As it says in the discussion document:

It is the duty of all revolutionaries to fight against discriminatory attitudes and behaviors in the movement whenever they occur. We must be in the forefront of this struggle. But, in the final analysis, we have to recognize that the only way to change these attitudes on a mass scale is precisely through united struggle. In common struggle, people begin to view each other based on what they have in common instead of what divides them. It also happens to be the case that it is only through such a united struggle of all workers and layers of the oppressed, that we can transform society and end the social conditions that breed the different forms of oppression which movements seek to address.

The most important lesson from the discussion was how thousands upon thousands of youth are being radicalized and are open to revolutionary ideas. World events, the global economic crisis, Corbyn, Sanders, and movements such as Black Lives Matter, Idle No More and Occupy, are having the effect of individually politicizing people. Due to the lack of leadership, this molecular, atomized, process of radicalization has not yet resulted in a mass struggle in Canada. In Quebec, four years of mass struggle has faced a temporary defeat, and the workers and youth are looking for answers. More and more workers, but especially youth, are open to revolutionary socialism and the comrades set themselves the task of reaching and training these people in Marxist ideas. Sooner or later a mass movement will come, and now is the time to prepare for the next stage of the struggle if we are to achieve victory.

Growing the Forces of Marxism

Farshad Azadian - Photo: FighbackWhat was particularly striking throughout the weekend, was the enthusiasm and determination of the predominantly young comrades to build and promote the ideas of Marxism. Farshad Azadian, who recently started work as a full-time organizer, led the discussion on how to build the forces of Marxism. Comrades learned from each others experiences of the successful work on many university campuses in both English and French Canada, and shared best practices to take the movement to the next level in the coming academic year. Comrades also reported on the exciting new work in the labour movement, with a growing presence in labour councils and the plan to use the Marxist youth to support trade unionists on picket lines. There was also discussion and enthusiasm around developing the political understanding of comrades through reading groups and publishing theoretical literature - especially heading into the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution.

The development of the forces of Marxism in Quebec in the last year has been incredibly impressive. As the movement has entered a temporary impasse, young people are seeking out Marxist ideas. The influence of ultra-left anarchist ideas burned out many of the students, while opportunist reformism has failed trade unionists. The comrades of the IMT have been able to give people the answers they are looking for. Reflecting this, the number and quality of contributions in French throughout the congress was noted by all attending. Building a united revolutionary organization across French and English Canada is a real conquest that was hard won. The comrades in Quebec made the decision to change the name of the French language paper to La Riposte Socialiste in order to sharpen the political impact of the paper while retaining the link to her sister publication Fightback.

The real test of the comrades determination was during the finance appeal. Marco LaGrotta and Julien Arseneau in turn explained the need to raise funds to build the revolutionary forces, while treating the audience to a series of jokes that elicited a loud response. A report on the campaign to find the funds to sustain Farshad as a full-time organizer detailed the successes of the appeal so far - but highlighted that there are still more supporters to be approached about donating. The donation target was surpassed by $5000, a new record for the organization! Furthermore, many hundreds of additional dollars, from dozens and dozens of people, were raised in monthly solidarity subscriptions. This showed the commitment of the comrades to do what needs to be done to put Marxism on the map in Canada.

Comrades rallied together with great passion and spirit. On the second evening an impromptu open mic night broke out with renditions of revolutionary working class songs, in French and English, plus poems, stories, and comedy.

Photo: FighbackThe congress was concluded by Alex Grant with inspiring encouragement for comrades to be proud of the work that has been done considering our sad loss of Camilo, which could have set us back immensely. Honouring Camilos memory and dedication, comrades have pushed forward, taking ownership of the revolutionary tasks that must be completed. As Grant stated, we should be proud of ourselves while always looking forward. Following this appeal to continue to advance our work, the comrades gathered and sung the Internationale with passion. The sense of sacrifice and enthusiasm was clear throughout the weekend and will only grow stronger against the barbarity, misery and war that continues to plague this world under capitalism. Comrades will carry the torch of Marxist ideas forward and fight to build an international socialist society.

For all those who wish to join us, or start up a Marxist discussion club, please contact: fightback@marxist.ca
Deputy Chairman of Hau Giang Peoples Committee Trinh Xuan Thanh on Wednesday said he will not seek another term in office until the investigation into his alleged misuse of an official plate on a private Lexus has been completed.

The news that Thanh would not be running for re-election to the provincial Party Committee was confirmed by Nguyen Quoc Ca, vice chairman of Hau Giang's Peoples Council.

Thanh said he had voluntarily withdrawn from the race and stated that it would not be too late to run for reelection later after an investigation into his case was launched on June 9.

Hau Giang Peoples Committee is expected to meet on June 16 to elect its leaders for the 2016-2021 tenure, including the president, vice president and members of Peoples Council Standing Committee.

Holding the post of vice chairman of Hau Giang for a year, Thanh was considered a qualified official. He was recently elected to the National Assembly with the highest number of votes among the six candidates elected in the province.

In early June, the media reported Thanhs alleged abuse of an official plate on his luxury car that has sparked public interest.

Thanh is in the spotlight for three reasons. First, he used a blue license plate on a private Lexus LX570 that should only be used by official vehicles according to Vietnamese law. Second, PetroVietnam Corporation where Thanh was chairman from 2007 to 2013 incurred heavy losses during that time. Third, why has he continued to move up to more powerful positions despite his track record.

Vice Chairman of Hau Giang People's Committee Trinh Xuan Thanh (L). Photo by VnExpress/H.Nguyen

Thanh previously made clear that he did not own the car but had borrowed it from a friend in Hanoi when he was transferred to Hau Giang. He also said the car originally bore a white plate with a Hanoi registration number.

The blue plate was licensed by the local police after having been approved by provincial leaders of Hau Giang to help me do the job, he said. I am willing to return the plate if it upsets the public.

Thanh added he would not ask for another public car as a replacement because Hau Giang is still a poor province. On June 13, Hau Giang Peoples Committee admitted they had been wrong to issue the blue plate to Thanh.

Related news:

> Vietnam aroused by Party leader's probe into official's luxury car

> "Borrowed" luxury car lands Vietnamese government official in hot water
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Big Y FastCare.jpg

Seen here at the new Johnson Memorial Hospital retail health clinic at the Big Y in Stafford Springs is Stuart E. Rosenberg, president Johnson Memorial Hospital; Patricia Jagoe, R.N., M.S.N., CNOR, assistant vice president patient care services, Johnson Memorial Hospital; Nicole D'Amour Schneider, Big Y director of pharmacy; Joanne Hanks, Stafford Springs Big Y store director; Dave Argento, Big Y pharmacy operations manager; and Anthony Frassinelli, first selectman Stafford Springs.

(Photo Provided)

STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. -- Johnson Memorial Hospital and Big Y plan to open a retail health clinic at the Big Y World Class Market at the Stafford Springs grocery store by the end of summer.

It will be Johnson Memorial Hospital's first retail clinic, said Fiona Phelan, a spokeswoman for Trinity Health - New England. It's partner in Trinity Health - New England, St. Francis in Hartford, already has similar clinics in Simsbury, Connecticut; Manchester, Connecticut; and Glastonbury, Connecticut, Phelan said.

Springfield-based Big Y has a Consultation and Wellness Center run with the Western New England University College of Pharmacy. This center offers consultations with a pharmacist and things like blood glucose evaluations and meter training, blood pressure monitoring and wellness activities.

The JMH FastCare site at the Big Y, 87 West Stafford Rd. in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, will be staffed by advanced practice registered nurses.

Phelan said she expects the location to open in August. Construction is underway now.

Those nurses are licensed to prescribe medications and provide care for common, non-urgent illnesses and ailments such as cold and flu symptoms. They can administer flu and shingles vaccines and standard vaccinations for adults and children. They can treat ear infections, insect bites, poison ivy, minor sunburn, sinus infection, sore throat, remove ear wax and do physical exams, Phelan said.

On-site tests are available including rapid strep, urinalysis, urine pregnancy test, mononucleosis, and TB skin tests.

FastCare accepts most insurances and a co-pay will apply.

A FastCare visit is $79, including basic laboratory work.

In Massachusetts, Mercy Medical Center and the Sisters of Providence Health System are also part of the Trinity Health - New England, network.

Phelan said Trinity has no current plans to open clinics in Greater Springfield.

Retail clinics are a fast-growing tend. There are more than 1,400 retail clinics nationwide, which record 6 million visits per year, according to the American Medical Association. The clinics didn't even exist before the year 2000.

Founded in 1936, Big Y has 67 stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Thanh Hoa Province's famous Sam Son Beach is being mobbed by 70,000 people per day, creating a man-made (literally) spectacle that stretches down the 3.5 kilometer coastline.

Located 150 kilometers to the south of Hanoi, the coastal province of Thanh Hoa has a strong tourism industry thanks to Sam Son Beach. Near the estuaries, the water at Sam Son is a reddy-brown due to the sediment in the river, which isn't all that appealing to most foreigners. However, any large body of saltwater is tempting enough for inland citizens craving the chance to cool off.

According to the tourism center in Sam Son, since the start of June the number of beach-goers has been reaching 60,000 to 70,000 people on the weekends. Photo by VnExpress/Le Bich

Weekdays are less crowded but still draw about 40,000 guests. Photo by VnExpress/Le Bich

The recent heat wave is the obvious culprit for this temporary exodus to the beach, with temperatures in the north reaching up to 40oC. Photo by VnExpress/Do Dung

Sam Son has 14,000 rooms available at hotels and guest houses, but all of those have been booked for the rest of June. Some hotels are even fully booked for July and August. Photo by vnExpress/Kim Anh

Over one million people spent their holidays on the beach of Sam Son in May. Photo by VnExpress/Thu Le Nguyen

Photo by VnExpress/Le Bich

Sam Son Beach used to be one kilometer long, but after improvements, the beach now stretches about 3.5 kilometers. Photo by VnExpress/Le Bich

Photo by VnExpress/Le Bich

Related news:

> Mercury rises to 40C as Hanoi scorched by heat wave

> Hanoians take cover as heat wave bakes city
SPRINGFIELD -- The Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts is expected to draw more than 300 developers and corporate decision makers to its Western Massachusetts Developers Conference next week.

Gov. Charlie Baker will be the keynote speaker, wrapping up a morning-long event Thursday, June 23 at the MassMutual Center convention space downtown, said Richard K. Sullivan Jr. president and CEO of the Council.

This is the second Developers Conference the EDC has hosted. The most recent was held two years ago.

Sullivan said Baker is expected to detail his administration's economic development bill.

The bill is a $918 million piece of legislation that could let the state help Gateway Cities like Springfield, Holyoke and Chicopee develop unused industrial brownfields and accomplish other tasks. The bill also looks to regions around the state to take the lead in business matters, instead of looking to Boston for direction.

For the communities of Western Massachusetts, the event is an opportunity to showcase their assets and available sites.

"The message is that Western Massachusetts has opportunities here for the growth of your business," Sullivan said. "We think certainly with costs and transportation and other assets that people look at, Western Massachusetts can be very competitive."

Boston's economy is booming, Sullivan said. That boom is bringing rising costs for employees, for housing and for space. Western Massachusetts has lower costs not just compared to Greater Boston but compared to some areas in neighboring states.

"We are seeing a lot of interest form Connecticut and other states," he said.

The morning will include a CEO panel with Jon Schaefer of Berkshire East ski resort, Dave Williams of Archipelago Investments -- the firm behind the Kendrick Place project in Amherst -- and Lucas Walsh of Weld Management, the company behind a renovation that transformed the former Holyoke Catholic campus into Chestnut Park Apartments in Holyoke.

There will be a workshop in incentives offered to developers, and a series of "lightning round" presentations from DevelopSpringfield; MassTDI or MassDevelopment's Transformative Development Initiative and the Holyoke Innovation District.

"Twenty slides and 20 seconds each," said Marcos A. Marrero, Holyoke's director of planning and economic development, emphasizing how short these presentations will be.

Marrero plans to highlight a few now-vacant mill buildings and brownfield sites in Holyoke, as well as the former Holyoke Geriatric Authority building at 45 Lower Westfield Road. The facility is being leased now to the Hampden County Sheriff for the temporary relocation of an alcohol and drug treatment center.

All these places are challenging sites to reuse, Marrero said. That's why he and the city have to work at marketing them.

"If you have a small space that is ready to go, the market will take care of that," he said. Of larger sites, he said: "It's on our plate because the market by itself won't solve the problem."
redwood.JPG

Parks and preserved forests such as this redwood grove in northern California, help to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

(Karissa Yzerman-Gleason photo)

By KARISSA YZERMAN-GLEASON

Global warming by definition, is know as a "gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere, generally attributed to the greenhouse effect and caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants."

Every year, the temperature here on earth rises more and more. According to a recent analysis of the geologic record, carbon is being released into the atmosphere faster than at any time in the past 66 million years.

According to the study, humans are producing carbon emissions that are 10 times greater today than they were during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) era, or prehistoric hot-period.

What this means, is that humans have now exceeded the level of carbon produced from the hottest period on earth, a statistic that is equal parts shocking and frightening. Climate change has a great number of negative effects on the planet, although one of the most troubling is the rise in sea levels.

Studies involving the physics of ice predict that by 2100, sea level could rise between five and six feet. This threatens many coastal cities, as well all of the species that inhabit the planet. Another study, conducted last September, confirms that we will melt the entire Antarctic, and most likely all of the ice on earth if we burn all of our fossil fuel reserves.

There are about five million cubic miles of ice on earth, and no one really knows how long it would take it melt it all. However, if all of our fossil fuel reserves are burned, some five trillions tons of carbon will be added to the atmosphere, and as a result, the average global temperature will rise from 58 degrees Fahrenheit to 80 degrees.

As a result of this extreme change in temperature, planet earth will be ice free for the first time in 30 million years.

The effects of global warming and climate change are ultimately horrifying. According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are around 100 species that are currently endangered or threatened, and the list only grows. The millions of people that live in coastal cities are threatened by the rising waters, as well as the animals that live in glacial habitats.

As a young adult preparing for my future, these statistics have greatly influenced the way in which I view my changing world. I now realize how important it is for my generation to consciously take care of our planet, and I value eco-friendly practices more than I ever have before. Global warming is such an important issue in today's world, and I think that my generation can do so much to work with it.

Karissa Yzerman-Gleason is a student at Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield.
BOSTON - Plainridge Park Casino, the state's sole slots parlor, took in $13.5 million in the month of May, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.



The gross slots revenue figure is an increase from April but slightly less than what the slots parlor posted in March.



Plainridge took in $13.49 million in March, and $13.3 million in April. The May figure was $13.48 million.



The facility first opened at the end of June 2015. Plainridge, located in Plainville, has 1,250 slot machines.



In its first full month of operation, July 2015, the slots parlor pulled in $18.1 million, though Plainridge officials defended the decline, after a grand opening, as normal within the industry.



So far, the state has collected $75.3 million from Plainridge in taxes and other assessments.



Located 35 miles southwest of Boston, close to the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border, it competes with Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Twin River is 11 miles away.



Plainridge Park Casino revenue dips in April

Its opening represented Massachusetts' entry into expanded gambling, with resort casinos planned in the near future.



MGM is building a casino in Springfield, while Wynn Resorts is seeking to build one on the Mystic River in Everett, close to Boston.



MGM is hoping to open its casino in 2018, while Wynn is eyeing 2019 for the Wynn Boston Harbor project.



The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is also building a casino in Taunton and hoping to open in 2017.
CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. -- Former Lee Police Chief Joseph Buffis' life is about to change drastically.

After turning himself into the custody of U.S. marshals on Tuesday morning on a judge's order, Buffis cooled his heels in an 8-by-10-foot holding cell at the federal courthouse in Springfield until his ride arrived. He traveled the 82 miles from Springfield to Wyatt Detention Center in Providence County in a segregated van, according to U.S. marshals.

Aside from his wedding band and religious medals, Buffis, convicted last year of extorting two former Lee innkeepers, will have to leave all else behind.

The married father of two will trade the trappings of small-town life for a strictly regimented schedule, round-the-clock "counts" and one pair of prison-issued sneakers.

He will trade his favored sharp suits and ties for tan prison drabs, and the onetime status of being a small-town police chief for being inmate No. 95503-038.

This, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and Wyatt's 35-page "detainee orientation handbook" that dictates every aspect of prison life in painstaking detail.

An interior shot of a cell block at Wyatt Detention Center in Rhode Island.

And, it will simply be a stopover in a 27-month prison sentence for Buffis, 57. Wyatt will be a temporary placement until Buffis is "designated" by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. That will likely take a couple of weeks, said Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Daniel Spellacy. His status as a former law enforcement official will surely complicate matters.

Buffis was convicted of using his position to shake down the innkeepers for $4,000 in 2011. The married couple was under investigation for offering "happy ending massages" at the now-defunct Inn at Laurel Lake. Buffis first leaked the story to the local press, then accepted $4,000 from the couple to shelve the investigation in its early stages.

The former chief presented the transaction as a charitable donation as an alternative to criminal prosecution to make the case go away before charges were filed. But evidence presented during a three-week trial in U.S. District Court showed the money quickly ended up in Buffis' own bank account.

At Buffis' May sentencing, Judge Mark G. Mastroianni told the former chief that a whiff of arrogance and reluctance to take responsibility for his actions caused the judge to tack on additional months behind bars.

Wyatt was the country's first publicly owned, privately operated federal detention center when it was built in 1993, according to its website. It was developed for the northeast U.S. Marshals Service and primarily houses pretrial inmates, those in transition, immigration detainees and members of the U.S. Navy who have been court-martialed.

The mostly male main facility averaged 466 inmates daily in 2015, its annual report states. Its capacity is 770. Also according to the yearly report, the center offers inmates courses in basic literacy, math, world history and Greek mythology, as well as vocational training as maintenance and laundry workers and law and library clerks.

Group counseling programs include "anger management," "changing criminal lifestyles" and "rational thinking." However, the average length of stay, according to its annual report, is 95 days.

Lori H. Levinson, Buffis' attorney, made an 11th-hour argument to delay her client's "self-surrender" date for a few more weeks until Buffis received a permanent prison placement that suited his medical and security needs.

Buffis has heart problems and raised concerns that he may be housed with federal inmates he helped put in prison. Mastroianni rejected both arguments, noting that he had recently toured Wyatt and had seen first-hand its medical facility and special security provisions.

According to the orientation handbook, living arrangements at Wyatt include dormitory-style housing, two-man and four-man cells.

"Indoor recreation and leisure activities, i.e. walking, board games and cards are available in these units," the handbook notes.

There is a "segregation unit" available for inmates who need to be separated from the general population for their safety or the safety of other inmates and staff. When asked for comment on where a former police chief may be housed, Daniel W. Martin, warden of the facility, responded:

"The only information I can share with you is that all detainees that enter the facility are reviewed by our classification staff and are assigned housing in accordance with their classification. Our classification system is set up to facilitate safety for all detainees and staff."

Six "counts," including "standing counts," are completed between 7 a.m. and 3 a.m. each day, the handbook states.

"Detainees may be lying down during the 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. counts ... however, the officer must see your living, breathing flesh," the handbook reads in bold print. "Stand-up counts require that detainees stand up at arm's length from their cell door in plain view of the counting officer."

Other standards, including how many bars of soap and pairs of tube socks inmates are allowed to keep and how many times per week they are allowed to visit the commissary, are included in the handbook.

Spellacy said Buffis calmly turned himself in at the marshal's office in Springfield precisely at the 10 a.m. required deadline.

"He didn't show any outward emotion. He just came in the office and said, 'I'm here to turn myself in,'" Spellacy said.

Marshals led him into the holding cell and shut the door behind him.
NORTHAMPTON - Guy Bush Jr., the New York man who heard a jury read a guilty child sexual assault verdict for him in May only to have the judge declare a mistrial due to a hung jury, will be back in Hampshire Superior Court for a second trial in October.

Bush, 47, of Grand Island, N.Y. will also remain held on $25,000 bail until then as Judge John Ferrara on Wednesday denied his motion to reconsider the bail amount.

Bush has pleaded not guilty to one count of child rape and three counts of indecent assault and battery of a child. He was tried in May but the trial ended in a hung jury.

At the trial, the young woman who is accusing him testified that Bush touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions and raped her once when she was 5 years old in late 2001 or early 2002. This all occurred in her room at her South Hadley home, she said.

Bush testified that he never touched the girl inappropriately.

Twice the jury told Judge Daniel A. Ford that they were deadlocked and couldn't reach a unanimous verdict, Bush's attorney, Jonathan Heyman, explained in court Wednesday. Ford sent them back to continue deliberating and after about a day and a half, the foreman announced that they had a unanimous verdict: Guilty on all counts.

Heyman told Ferrara that he had asked that the jury be polled and Clerk of Courts Harry Jekanowski Jr. asked each juror if the verdict was unanimous. The tenth juror said that she felt that some jurors did not agree with the guilty verdict.

Ford sent them back to deliberate further, but they again said they were deadlocked and asked to be dismissed. A mistrial was declared.

Assistant Northwestern District Attorney Caleb Weiner told Ferrara Wednesday that the commonwealth had every intention of retrying the case and that October would work best for both attorneys and the court's schedule.

Heyman asked Ferrara to reconsider Bush's $25,000 bail, arguing that circumstances have changed due to the mistrial and a new opportunity for Bush to reside in western Massachusetts, as opposed to New York.

Weiner argued that if the mistrial changes anything, it may only serve to make Bush feel and act more desperately if released because the majority of the jurors said they believed he was guilty.

"You have a life felony on the table," he said. "And the defendant knows the commonwealth has presented a case where many members of his community were satisfied that his guilt had been proven."

Heyman said that part of the reason Bush's bail was set so high initially was to ensure his appearance in court since he does not live in the area. But now, if he was able to make a lower bail amount, he could live with his sister in Springfield. What changed was that her daughter turned 18. Bush's bail conditions state that he cannot have unsupervised contact with or reside with anyone under 18.

Heyman had proposed $1,000 bail, but Ferrara denied his motion to reconsider bail.

Bush's sister wept as he was once again led out of the courtroom in shackles.
Update: Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jeff Williamson said at a Wednesday morning news conference that it's still being considered a search and rescue operation.

____________

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Authorities were searching early Wednesday for a 2-year-old boy who was dragged into the water by an alligator near Disney's upscale Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

The family of five from Nebraska was on vacation and wading in a lake Tuesday evening when the attack happened, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told a news conference. The father tried to rescue his son but was unsuccessful, Demings said.

More than 50 law enforcement personnel were searching the Seven Seas Lagoon along with an alligator tracker and two marine units and would continue searching through the night, Demings said.

"We're going to hope for the best in these circumstances," Demings said.

The attack happened in an area of the Seven Seas Lagoon where "no swimming" signs were posted, Demings said. The alligator was estimated to be 4 to 7 feet long, but its exact size was not known, Demings said.

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated by what happened and Disney is helping the family.

When asked if Disney was aware of alligators on the property, Wahaler advised there were signs that said "no swimming."

Demings said there had been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks on the lake.

"We have no record of this happening before," he said.
dt.jpg

Amherst named the 6th best small town by livability.com

(Republican file)

AMHERST - Calling the home of Emily Dickinson, two elite private colleges and the flagship University of Massachusetts campus a "quintessential New England town," Livability.com has ranked Amherst number six on its 2016 list of "10 Best Small Towns."

Traverse City, Michigan topped the list, while Dobbs Ferry, New York and Sebastopol, California rounded out the top three.

Amherst's college-town reputation weighed heavily in its ranking, with the site's description stating that residents "... benefit from the academic, cultural, artistic and political events, activities and programs the colleges offer the community."

That description came with a disclaimer explaining the listing is for "Amherst Center," a Census Designated Place within what the site referred to -- incorrectly -- as the "city of Amherst."

The description called Amherst College "one of the most diverse liberal arts schools in the country" -- a claim that appears to be drawn from a U.S. News and World Report ranking -- and added, "this diversity spills over to the Amherst Center community."

The description references in-town recreational opportunities such as Puffer's Pond, the Norwottuck Rail Trail and the ice rink at the Mullins Center, as well as attractions in other Pioneer Valley communities such as the Deerfield River and Community Field in Holyoke.

According to Livability.com's homepage, the site "... explores what makes small-to-medium sized cities great places to live." The site relies on analyses of "community amenities, education, sustainability, transportation, housing and the economy" to create its rankings.

The Livability.com listing is one of several recent "best of" lists that have included Amherst.

In May, the town was ranked the 15th "most charming college town" by RentLingo, a website that helps renters find apartments.

Last year, College Values Online ranked it 27 on a list of "50 Best Small College Towns."

Culture Trip, a global culture and lifestyle website, named Amherst one of the 10 most beautiful cities and towns in the state last year.
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With 16 legislative days left until funding for the Federal Aviation Administration expires on July 15, the House and Senate are trying to compromise on a bill to reauthorize spending for the agency. The final version of the bill could determine whether the nations air traffic control system is a thriving, vibrant part of U.S. aviation or becomes as infamous as the Post Office and Amtrak in terms of consumer service and as a sinkhole for taxpayer money.

Awaiting floor action is a House bill supported by the federal National Air Traffic Controllers Association union. It would spin off the air-traffic control part of the FAA into a federally chartered nonprofit corporation. Another FAA reauthorization bill recently passed by the Senate does not include the spinoff provision. Congress should go with the Senate version.

In a February 2016 memo to its members, NATCA listed 14 advantages in the House bill. These include keeping the union as the exclusive representative of those represented today; collective bargaining agreements, orders, rules, practices remain in effect until renegotiated; labor seats on the governance board; and the carry-over of all benefits and contracts.

True privatization would be a step forward. But with NATCAs provisions in the bill, the new Air Traffic Control entity would not have the flexibility to reduce costs in the same way as other private entities can. It also would be a monopoly, so it would be protected from competition. Government-sheltered monopolies such as Amtrak and the post office have been a steady drain on taxpayers for decades. In 2015 Amtrak lost $307 million, and the Post Office lost $5.1 billion.

Amtrak and the Post Office have unionized workforces that make it difficult for them to implement cost- and labor-saving technology. The same would be true of the new ATC Corporation, which would have union representation on its board of directors and on its advisory board.

After President Reagan fired more than 10,000 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization when they refused to return to work during a 1981 strike that threatened to cripple the U.S. economy, air-traffic controllers organized again under the National Air Traffic Controllers Association in 1987. NATCA has powerful friends in Congress, including Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), chairman of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Rep. Frank Lobiondo (R-NJ), chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, who want to help the union cause.

Paul Rinaldi, the president of NATCA, testified before the House Transportation Committee on February 10, 2016, that his union supports the proposed ATC Corporation because it keeps workers compensation packages, including pay, pensions, health insurance and negotiated agreements for their work rules. He threatened to withhold support for the legislation if these principles are violated.

NATCA lobbied extensively to make sure that its workers face no change under the new bill, including any change to their collective-bargaining rights. Air-traffic controllers can make a top salary of $185,000, plus federal benefits such as health insurance and pensions, work-life benefits such as elder care, and legal and concierge services, and tuition reimbursement.

Under current law, ATC workers, along with other federal workers, have to take an oath not to strike, and workers who do strike can be fired. Under the House bill, striking would be treated as merely an unfair labor practice, for which the penalty is not firing, but a hearing before the Federal Labor Relations Authoritywhich has to wait at least five days before holding the hearing. Imagine five days of grounded flights.

The House bill codifies in law that NATCA would be the exclusive representatives of FAA employees in the new ATC Corporation. But with the same union, the same contract, no permitted competition from other firms, and no serious penalty for striking, there would be no advantage to moving air-traffic controllers to a separate ATC Corporation. The union provisions in the House bill were crafted to attract support from Democrats, but not one voted for the bill.

A better approach would be to give air-traffic controllers the same right as other Americans to choose their own unionor no union at all.

Instead of creating a new federal entity, Congress should free each airport to choose the air-traffic-control service it prefers. There could be one agreed-upon set of communications protocols, and each service provider would have to abide by those protocols. There are tens of thousands of public safety systems in the U.S., and they all can connect with each other.

Privatizing an inefficient government bureaucracy would be true progress. But real privatization means competition and getting the government out of regulating business practices, including compensation. In drafting their Senate bill, Sens. John Thune and Bill Nelson, the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, were clever enough not to repeat the Post Office and Amtrak mistakes with FAA reauthorization. It is time the House wised up as well.

This column originally appeared on MarketWatch

Diana Furchtgott-Roth, former chief economist of the U.S. Department of Labor, directs Economics21 at the Manhattan Institute. You can follow her on Twitter here.

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Dans le cadre du confinement decrete par le Gouvernement, les operateurs locaux dont les exportations necessitent un Certificat de Regles dOrigine sont avises que ce document sera delivre par la Trade Division du Ministere du Commerce et de la Protection des Consommateurs uniquement les lundis de 10hr a 13hr et ce a partir du 15 mars 2021.

Lexercice se fera au comptoir de la Trade Division situe au premier etage de la Custom House a Mer Rouge.

Ces Certificats de Regles dOrigine concernent les marches de lAGOA, du GSP, du COMESA et de VISA.

10

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Tourist arrivals in the first semester of 2022 from main markets were France (93,446), United Kingdom (55,717), Republic of South Africa (42,022), Germany (39,834), Reunion Island (16,490), India (15,059), Switzerland (9,130) and Italy (6,854).

In the first semester of 2022, France, our top tourist generating country, registered an increase of 92,845 tourist arrivals compared to first semester of 2021. Increases in tourist arrivals were also observed in the other main markets as follows:

United Kingdom (+55,630),

Republic of South Africa (+41,885),

Germany (+39,740),

Reunion Island (+16,439),

India (+14,662),

Switzerland (+9,072)

and Italy (+6,809).

During the period under review, the number of tourists in age group 20-49 years was 199,558 representing 53.0% of tourist arrivals.

Compared to the first semester of 2021, increases in tourist arrivals were noted for the following tourist destinations in the Indian Ocean region during the first semester of 2022:

Maldives (from 510,564 to 813,263),

Sri Lanka (from 16,908 to 411,377),

Mauritius (from 3,225 to 376,556) and

Seychelles (from 50,444 to 156,287).



Compared to 1st Semester 2021:

 the number of nights spent by tourists who departed during 1st Semester 2022 increased from 299,804 to 4,719,867; and

 the average length of stay decreased from 92.2 to 12.4 nights

As at end of June 2022, there were 113 licensed hotels of which 3 were temporarily closed, 3 were closed due to renovation works and one new hotel not yet in operation. The total room capacity of the 106 hotels in operation was 13,649 with 31,745 bed places, there were 58 large hotels (i.e. well-established beach hotels with more than 80 rooms) in operation.

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Le Board Of Racing Stewards compose de Messrs S. de Chalain (Chairman), H. Maigrot, A. Rousset et Ms J. Keevy a rendu public le premier Racing Stewardss Report de la saison hippique 2020.

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Le Chef du gouvernement a repondu aux questions des parlementaires avant que le Speaker ne suspende la seance pour 75 minutes.

Pravind Jugnauth a repondu a deux questions de Richard Duval, une de Patrick Assirvaden et une de Rajesh Bhagwan.

PQ B 1



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Pravind Jugnauth a repondu a sept questions lors du Prime Minsiters Question Time lors de la seance parlementaire du 18 Juin 2019.

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Chicken will be the best-positioned protein due to its low price position in times of pressure on consumer spending power but rises in production costs and the long-term impact of COVID-19 threaten to disrupt the sector, according to Rabobank.


On a recent visit to Michigan, we stopped by the offices of FlexDex, makers of a really innovative instrument platform for minimally invasive surgical tools. The FlexDex system is designed to overcome the limitations of traditional laparoscopic devices that rely on triggers, buttons, and knobs, but may even end up competing with immensely more expensive robotic surgical systems such as DaVinci. We were intrigued by what we saw in the firms short video released a few months ago that gave a quick peek at how the technology works. But technologies that promise to improve the ergonomics and intuitiveness of existing tools need to be tried to really understand their benefits, so that was why we had to make a visit.

Anyone who has tried using laparoscopic tools knows how clunky they can be, requiring years of specialized training before surgeons can attain proficiency. Intuitive, easy to use controls is partially why robotic surgical systems have become so popular, but they cost millions, require lots of effort to setup and maintain, and are not beneficial in a host of situations.

The FlexDex system is purely mechanical and relies on a few brilliant ideas developed in good part by Shorya Awtar and colleagues at the Precision Systems Design Lab of University of Michigans Department of Mechanical Engineering. Weve seen pretty cool tools that can flex in unusual ways at TU Delft in The Netherlands, but achieving intuitive control has remained a critical challenge. A major technological achievement within the FlexDex is the idea of a virtual center, a way of transferring the motion of the wrist to the same motion of the instrument at the tip of a shaft. Additionally, an unusual three-axis gimbal that connects to a click-on wrist band and an infinity handle provide remarkable ergonomics and efficiency of motion control at the distal end. This technology was spun out as a start-up, FlexDex Surgical, along with co-founders and co-inventors Dr. James Geiger and med-device entrepreneur Greg Bowles.

Rotating the infinity handle spins the tool the same amount of degrees, and flexion is achieved by simply bending the wrist. This is impressively intuitive and really does feel like ones hand movements are transmitted to the tool. A wide squeezable trigger on the handle activates the tools, such as opening and closing a gripper.

This performance was made possible by the companys R&D engineers Deepak Sharma, James Licht, and Zach Zimmerman. While the articulating end-effector faithfully follows the surgeons wrist, the only aspect requiring getting used to is that the tool shaft moves opposite to the forearm, which laparoscopic surgeons are already accustomed to.

Spending a few minutes with a lap-trainer and peg board you realize just how little effort is required to use the FlexDex. The motion is soft and fluid, and theres no clicking or other usual noises produced by the mechanism inside. One can reach down or up, so one can work quite extensively within the abdomen without having to take uncomfortable arm positions. Interestingly, any tremor of the hands as you use the device doesnt translate into jerking motion of the tool at the end of the shaft. We didnt think wed ever be able to say this about a purely mechanical laparoscopic instrument.

We were still trying the final prototypes and the final product is supposed to turn out looking even more finished than what we were using, but it already felt like a ready to use device. The technology has the capability to integrate a way of adjusting how much motion is translated to the distal tool, so for more delicate work one would be able to turn down some sort of controller and have the tool respond more gently.

It takes just a few minutes to instruct someone on how the device works and after just a bit of practice it starts to feel like second nature. Having tried using conventional laparoscopic tools in the past with discouraging results, in our eyes the FlexDex has set itself far apart from the competition. It provides the agility, strength, and intuitive operation thats completely unlike anything else.

To ease any doubts, take a look at this video of a novice suturing on a practice board after just a short training:

The company is planning to launch the product this August and has hired a properly ISO certified manufacturer to make the first product line.

Initially the FlexDex will be a fully disposable device, but the company expects to soon release a reusable version. Being a completely mechanical tool, under FDA classifications its just a Class I medical device like a pair of surgical scissors. As FDAs recent denial of a 510(k) clearance to TransEnterix has shown, surgical robotics still has to meticulously prove itself to the regulators.

All this means is that the FlexDex is coming to an OR near you and we believe that it may dominate the industry surprisingly fast.

Link: FlexDex
Scoop.co.nz, Tuesday, June 14, 2016 6:44 AM

New Zealand bank Reserve Bank has warned of email scam which looks like it is coming from the bank. The spam message is targeting businesses in the financial sector and asks recipients to click a malicious link to view so-called New Transaction Guidelines.

Read the whole story at Scoop.co.nz 
While other MediaPost newsletters and articles remain free to all ... our new Research Intelligencer service is reserved for paid subscribers ...

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Lucke previously worked for Quartzs parent company, Atlantic Media, as vice president of marketing and strategic partnerships, and for sister brand The Atlantic as associate publisher.

In her new role, Lucke will oversee Quartzs global marketing operation, which includes a team of 40 staff in New York, London, and San Francisco, as well as additional sales operations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.

That brings the combined sales and marketing team to a total of 70 staff globally.

"Quartz has re-invented digital advertising with a distinct, organic and consumer-focused approach that works exceptionally well in connecting brands to hard-to-reach audiences," Lucke told Publishers Daily. "My top priority is to continue and deepen this work, moving beyond the traditional bounds of advertiser-publisher transactions to build deep symbiotic partnerships that benefit both brands and readers."

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Quartzs overall staff has continued to grow since the companys launch in 2012, bringing its full-time staff to 200 in offices worldwide. After launching Quartz India in 2014 and Quartz Africa in 2015, the company quadrupled its London staff and plans to double its headcount in Hong Kong this year.

Lucke most recently led the marketing teams for Upworthy Media and Bloomberg Media.

In 2008, Lucke joined The Atlantic as the brands first leader of marketing and creative services efforts. In 2012, she was promoted to run marketing and strategic partnerships for Atlantic Media and was part of the team that created and grew Quartz.

According to a statement, as of May, revenues for Quartzhave increased 121% from the same time period last year and 20% higher than revenues for all of 2015.
by Thom Forbes @tforbes, June 15, 2016

London mayor Sadiq Khans ban of body-shaming advertisements in Londons public transit system Monday has engendered a worldwide debate about censorship and resurrected social-media conversations over a controversial ad last year that featured a bikini-clad model illustrating the question: Are You Beach Body Ready?

As the father of two teenage girls, I am extremely concerned about this kind of advertising, which can demean people, particularly women, and make them ashamed of their bodies, Khan said. It is high time it came to an end.

Nobody should feel pressurized, while they travel on the Tube or bus, into unrealistic expectations surrounding their bodies and I want to send a clear message to the advertising industry about this.

The mayor, who was elected in May, had pledged to tackle advertising on the Tube network during his campaign after ads such as the Beach Body Ready campaign last April led to protests. An online petition calling for their removal attracted more than 70,000 signatures, Jasper Jackson reports for The Guardian.

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The company behind the ads, Protein World, was accused of directly targeting individuals, aiming to make them feel physically inferior to the unrealistic body image of the bronzed model, in order to sell their product.

But the U.K.s Advertising Standards Authority cleared the ad last July despite nearly 400 complaints, MediaPosts Sean Hargrave reported. Protein World reveled in the controversy, claiming last April that it had picked up 5,000 customers in 50 countries over one four-day period and that sales had tripled overall, Lucy Clarke-Billings reported for The Independent.

It is, once again, getting scads of free publicity. The bikini-clad body illustrates far more media stories about this weeks announcement than the most common alternative  a mug shot of Khan  with captions like, Advertisements like this will no longer be permitted on the Tube.

Clearly the Beach Body Ready weight-loss ad  which is long-gone  is the mayors real target here. But does he care if I get fat and then die from diabetes because of a junk food addiction? Is he worried that Ill throw away my familys life savings because of a compulsion to gamble? Is he OK with alcoholics being drip-fed endless ads extolling the virtues of booze, asksForbes contributor Grant Feller. He also points out endless magazines with airbrushed six-packed men and gravity-defying women on the front covers.

In proposing a blanket ban on bus and Tube ads that make people feel bad about their bodies, Sadiq has revealed his authoritarian, paternalistic contempt for the people who swept him to power, writes Brendon ONeill for The Spectator after expressing regret that he was one of the 1.3 million Londoners who voted for Khan in the election.

Note to London Mayor Sadiq Khan: Please stop 'helping' women with your subway ad ban, reads the headline on Stephanie Gutmanns piece for Fox News. This edict is ridiculous on so many levels. First of all, advertising is always aspirational. Its designed to make you feel uneasy about what you have because thats the only way youll want something new, Gutmann writes.

There were kudos, too, of course.

Self-Esteem Team, a U.K.- based group that promotes body confidence, applauded the action but told RT.com that a ban is not the only solution: Critical thinking is often greater than bans. However, we support Sadiq Khan, as manipulative ads are not freedom of speech but [rather] a harmful agenda.

A great start for Londons feminist Mayor, the Womens Equality Party tweeted.

Ian Twinn, a spokesman for the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers, said he had no problem with the regulation as long as it focused solely on not promoting unhealthy body images, Dan Bilefsky reports for the New York Times.

Parents dont want their children to see ads of models who are unhealthily thin children, and send out a message that this is what you should look like, Twinn said. Equally, we dont want people who are comfortably chubby threatening to ban perfectly reasonable ads. We are not meant to go around with excessive fat on our waists. If fat is the new normal, we dont want that to be the reason to censor people who are not fat. That seems barmy.
by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, June 15, 2016

New research from Nielsen shows that increasingly, Americans are looking for better-quality and more convenient items when they go food shopping, and are willing to pay more for them. That should be good news for Whole Foods Markets, still struggling with its reputation for overpricing  except the Food & Drug Administration has just issued a warning to the company, saying serious violations, with multiple contamination with filth issues, pose harm to consumers.

First, the Nielsen data: The new report says that an increase in urbanization and growing Millennial spending power around the globe have driven key shifts in all retail structures, with smaller-format stores gaining ground, and mass-market approaches becoming less appealing.

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For example, among U.S. consumers (who differ from those in other regions in this regard), better-quality produce is more important than price for 58% of the survey, while convenience is more significant to 56%.

As a result, it is projecting just 2.6% annual growth for discount chains in the 2015-20 time period, compared with 6.8% per year for retailers selling natural and gourmet chains. And in what may be a testimony to growing consumer confidence in the United States, 47% of Americans say theyd continue buying fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables even if prices jumped by 10% or more, and 43% say the same about meat and poultry.

The survey, based on online responses from 30,000 people in 61 countries, says this means its time for food retailers to break their addiction to price promotions, and instead focus on delivering what consumers most want, which is quality, value, convenience, and selection. In North America, dairy, personal care products and produce (both fresh and frozen) are the least price sensitive categories, while prepared foods, alcoholic beverages and sweets are most sensitive.

Whole Foods, meanwhile, says its fixed all the problems cited by the FDA, and in a statement, says it is surprised that the FDA released a statement without reflecting the changes. We were honestly surprised, says Ken Meyer, operations EVP for the Austin, Tex.-based retailer. Weve been in close contact with the FDA, opened our doors to inspectors regularly since February and worked with them to address every issue brought to our attention.

Last year, Whole Foods paid $500,000 to settle a probe by New York City for overcharging customers.
by Sara Guaglione , June 15, 2016

AOLs automotive news and car shopping Web site Autoblog is expanding into the event space. The brand is hosting their first two-day conference this October, called Upshift, to explore the future of mobility and technology.

Upshift will be held at the Russell Industrial Center in Detroit, Michigan, from October 5-7, 2016. The conference will feature keynote speakers, panels and live demonstrations, with engineers and innovators from the automotive industry, city and state-level government planners and start-ups.

There will be a special focus on autonomous driving and the impact that technology will have on infrastructure, security, design and economics.

The car is going to change dramatically in the next 15 to 20 years, and we wanted to put on an event that explores that, Michael Austin, editor in chief of Autoblog, told Publishers Daily. We wanted to establish Autoblog as a thought leader in the automotive space, since we dont have a legacy print publication.

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Austin said that their sales team is currently selling the conference to advertisers now. Autoblog chose to host the event in Detroit because of the citys built-in automotive audience.

Detroit is changing and growing and improving every day, and its a metaphor for the way automotive is going to change, Austin said. Its important to us to get outside of the stigma about Detroit that automotive is this cocoon of thought. Thats not the case, we want outside ideas.

Austin added that another big project in the works for Autoblog is virtual reality -- especially now that AOL has acquired virtual reality studio RYOT. Automotive really lends itself to VR. We have a head start and we want to be a leader in the space, he said.

Tickets for Upshift will go on sale soon. For those who cant make it to Detroit, Autoblog will cover the event with live video.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, June 15, 2016

Verizon should revise FiOS ads boasting that its broadband service is the top-rated for speed, an ad watchdog says.

The company's ads, which were challenged by rival broadband provider Comcast, conveyed that Verizon's Internet speed is top-rated based on "objective performance measures," according to The National Advertising Review Board, an appellate arm of a self-regulatory unit administered by the Better Business Bureau.

Verizon argued that its ad statements -- including the boast "FiOS Internet is Rated #1" -- were not problematic because they were based on PC Magazine's customer satisfaction survey.

The NARB rejected that position. "Consumer satisfaction survey results should not be used to show objective superiority with respect to measurable performance," the appellate body wrote in an opinion made public this week.

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The group added that it agreed with the National Advertising Division (which initially considered Comcast's challenge) that advertisers "may truthfully tout customer satisfaction ratings determined by independent surveys," provided the ads make clear that the rating reflects consumers' opinions, as opposed to objective measurements.

"Claims made with respect to specific objectively measurable attributes, such as Internet speed, are more likely to be understood by consumers as indicating that performance was objectively measured and/or determined in a head-to-head comparison," the NARD writes.

Verizon also argued that FiOS in fact offers the fastest broadband speeds, but the self-regulatory group didn't address that issue for several reasons, including that it was the subject of separate litigation.

The NARB considered ads that appeared on TV, the Web and radio. One of the TV ads included "small text that is difficult to read" stating that Verizon's boast was based on PCMag.com's survey, according to the NARD opinion. The watchdog found that disclosure insufficient in the context of the "fast-moving" ad.

Verizon said it disagrees with some of the NARD's conclusions, but will consider its recommendations in future ads, according to the opinion.
Researchers have successfully used human stem cells to generate functional pituitary tissue that secretes hormones important for the body's stress response as well as for its growth and reproductive functions. When transplanted into rats with hypopituitarism - a disease linked to dwarfism and premature aging in humans - the lab-grown pituitary cells promoted normal hormone release. The study, which lays the foundation for future preclinical work, appears in Stem Cell Reports, the journal of the International Society for Stem Cell Researchers.

"The current treatment options for patients suffering from hypopituitarism, a dysfunction of the pituitary gland, are far from optimal," says first study author Bastian Zimmer of the Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. "Cell replacement could offer a more permanent therapeutic option with pluripotent stem cell-derived hormone-producing cells that functionally integrate and respond to positive and negative feedback from the body. Achieving such a long-term goal may lead to a potential cure, not only a treatment, for those patients."

The pituitary gland is the master regulator of hormone production in the body, releasing hormones that play a key role in bone and tissue growth, metabolism, reproductive functions, and the stress response. Hypopituitarism can be caused by tumors, genetic defects, brain trauma, immune and infectious diseases, or radiation therapy. The consequences of pituitary dysfunction are wide ranging and particularly serious in children, who can suffer severe learning disabilities, growth and skeletal problems, as well as effects on puberty and sexual function.

Currently, patients with hypopituitarism must take expensive, lifelong hormone replacement therapies that poorly mimic the body's complex patterns of hormone secretion that fluctuates with circadian rhythms and responds to feedback from other organs. By contrast, cell replacement therapies hold promise for permanently restoring natural patterns of hormone secretion while avoiding the need for costly, lifelong treatments.

Recently, scientists developed a procedure for generating pituitary cells from human pluripotent stem cells--an unlimited cell source for regenerative medicine - using organoid cultures that mimic the 3D organization of the developing pituitary gland. However, this approach is inefficient and complicated, relies on ill-defined cellular signals, lacks reproducibility, and is not scalable or suitable for clinical-grade cell manufacturing.

To address these limitations, Zimmer and senior study author Lorenz Studer of the Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research developed a simple, efficient, and robust stem cell-based strategy for reliably producing a large number of diverse, functional pituitary cell types suitable for therapeutic use. Instead of mimicking the complex 3D organization of the developing pituitary gland, this approach relies on the precisely timed exposure of human pluripotent stem cells to a few specific cellular signals that are known to play an important role during embryonic development.

Exposure to these proteins triggered the stem cells to turn into different types of functional pituitary cells that released hormones important for bone and tissue growth (i.e., growth hormone), the stress response (i.e., adrenocorticotropic hormone), and reproductive functions (i.e., prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone). Moreover, these stem cell-derived cells released different amounts of hormone in response to known feedback signals generated by other organs in the body.

To test the therapeutic potential of this approach, the researchers transplanted the stem cell-derived pituitary cells under the skin of rats whose pituitary gland had been surgical removed. The cell grafts not only secreted adrenocorticotropic hormone, prolactin, and follicle-stimulating hormone, but they also triggered appropriate hormonal responses in the kidneys.

The researchers were also able to control the relative composition of different hormonal cell types simply by exposing human pluripotent stem cells to different ratios of two proteins: fibroblast growth factor 8 and bone morphogenetic protein 2. This finding suggests their approach could be tailored to generate specific cell types for patients with different types of hypopituitarism. "For the broad application of stem cell-derived pituitary cells in the future, cell replacement therapy may need to be customized to the specific needs of a given patient population," Zimmer says.

In future studies, the researchers plan to further improve the protocol to generate pure populations of various hormone-releasing cell types, enabling the production of grafts that are tailored to the needs of individual patients. They will also test this approach on more clinically relevant animal models that have pituitary damage caused by radiation therapy and receive grafts in or near the pituitary gland rather than under the skin. This research could have important implications for cancer survivors, given that hypopituitarism is one of the main causes of poor quality of life after brain radiation therapy.

"Our findings represent a first step in treating hypopituitarism, but that does not mean the disease will be cured permanently within the near future," Zimmer says. "However, our work illustrates the promise of human pluripotent stem cells as it presents a direct path toward realizing the promise of regenerative medicine for certain hormonal disorders."

The researchers were supported by the New York State Stem Cell Science and the Starr Foundation. The work was further supported in part by the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.


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Isaac Cann, a professor of animal sciences and microbiology at the University of Illinois, and his collaborators at Mie University School of Medicine (Japan), have found that a protein made by the human body may be key in preventing cell death in diabetes.A research collaboration between the U of I and Mie University Faculty and Graduate School of Medicine in Japan, shows evidence that supplementation of protein S, a plasma protein that is reduced in people with diabetes, can help minimize the effects of the disease by suppressing cell death of the beta-cells."A significant problem of diabetes is the death of the beta-cells which of course, produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes is mostly genetic, whereas type 2 is basically lifestyle-related, but the progression of diabetes is the same," Cann explains. "We know that in each case there is apoptosis (death) of these cells that produce insulin. So this study is really looking at how to prevent this cell death. Irrespective of the type of diabetes, if protein S is actually able to prevent death of the cells that produce insulin, then of course it is going to help in both cases."And so by finding that this protein, which is actually made by humans, suppresses the death of these cells is really a major finding. Maybe supplementation of this particular protein can help alleviate the progression of the disease."Protein S is an anticoagulant factor that regulates inflammation, as well as cell destruction or cell death. Little has been known about the effect of protein S on diabetes and its related complications.Cann and collaborators set up a study to compare the development of diabetes in mice that were overexpressing human protein S (transgenic), or were administered protein S after developing diabetes.The researchers saw significant inhibition of beta-cell death through observed improvements in blood glucose levels, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and less severe kidney damage in the protein S mice and the mice that had been treated with protein S.Because the level of circulating protein S is reduced in people with diabetes, the researchers were encouraged to see that supplementing protein S did have an impact."Our bodies are very complex. Unless there is another protein that degrades that protein S - which in that case, this sort of treatment is not going to work - we thought that perhaps boosting or administering protein S could work. We did not see degradation of protein S, at least in a mouse. If you administer it directly or increase the level, you see the good effect. So perhaps if you give it to humans, it will not be degraded and it will prevent the death of cells that make insulin," Cann explains.Esteban Gabazza, an immunologist and professor from Mie University, explains that death of cells that are essential for the function of organs is the cause of several diseases, one of which is diabetes. "Death of structural cells from the kidneys also causes kidney disease in people with diabetes. Therefore, based on this experimental discovery, it is possible that supplementation of protein S may prevent not only diabetes progression but also its related kidney complications."Because the prognosis of diabetic subjects is far worse than the healthy general population, clinical application of this new discovery will definitely change the life expectancy of many people suffering from this disease," Gabazza says.Though Cann says it could take some time before a treatment could be available, he adds that the study gives enough evidence to suggest that researchers should keep moving forward with protein S.Ultimately, Cann says it is about finding a treatment that can be offered earlier to lessen the complications of diabetes."Basically, when you have diabetes, your body is malfunctioning. The balance in your entire physiology is thrown out of whack. If we are able to arrest the problem from earlier stages of the progression, we can prevent the downstream effects," he says.Cann will continue collaborating with Gabazza (corresponding author) and colleagues at Mie University to further understand diabetes."We think this is just a first step for these collaborations. We will also be bringing in our knowledge of the microbiome to work on diabetes, and maybe find some new solutions," Cann says. "Many labs are working on this, but this is a very important contribution. Hopefully this is a concept that others will go out and test."Source: Eurekalert
Following the June 8, 2016 shooting in the Sarona compound in central Tel Aviv, Hani Al-Masri, a columnist for the Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam, wrote that a distinction must be made between organized resistance, which should be subject to strategic considerations, and spontaneous actions by individuals, which are an effective deterrent because the Israeli security forces are hard pressed to prevent them. He added that, in the absence of a leadership and organized action, spontaneous actions are better than nothing.

Al-Masri called to preserve the option of armed Palestinian resistance as defense against the aggression of the Israeli occupation and the settlers, and to combine it with other modes of resistance, as circumstances require. He added that all Israelis are legitimate targets, since they all serve in the military except for the ultra-Orthodox, most of whom are extremists who incite to kill non-Jews. Al-Masri did advise to avoid targeting children or targeting people indiscriminately in public places, "as befitting the just nature of the [Palestinian] cause and our moral superiority," and to "take into account" the presence of Israeli Arabs and "Jews who oppose the Zionist enterprise or who are fighting to defend Palestinian rights."

The following are excerpts from the article:[1]



Hani Al-Masri (image: Arab48.com)

"The Tel Aviv operation [i.e., the Sarona shooting] drew particular attention... There is disagreement among Palestinians, between the officials and part of the elite, who opposed it[ii] ... and the majority of the people and factions, who supported it... There is no choice but to make a distinction between organized resistance, carried out by organizations, and actions carried out by individuals, and it is inappropriate to apply the same rules to both types of action. Organized action must be subject to considerations of strategy and benefit... whereas the actions of individuals are not subject to such criteria. When actions by individuals become frequent, as happened in the recent wave of the intifada, the so-called 'Knife Intifada,' we should discuss the reasons and motivations for this, instead of automatically opposing [these actions], condemning them or condoning them - because the reason for these actions is the occupation, as the mayor of Tel Aviv said. Furthermore, when there is no [united Palestinian] leadership, no united national body, no active forces and no vision or strategy, this accelerates the law of nature [i.e., Newton's Third Law] that states that 'for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.' This is not [an attempt] to sanctify these spontaneous [actions by individuals] but rather an attempt to understand them in the context current of the Palestinian [situation].

"Spontaneous [action] is not always devoid of political context or disassociated from the struggle, either on the tactical level or the strategic one. On the contrary, it could be a decisive response, since when Israel carries out its actions against the Palestinians, [exploiting] the absence of a [Palestinian] leadership and the helplessness of the factions, individual action is a fitting response to the uniqueness of the Palestinian situation, as Israeli security forces are hard pressed to prevent it... Thus, this is an effective deterrent response [that can] cause the Israelis to question the effectiveness of force and of the the security and military solution, and make them consider... changing their position and seeking out a political solution that the Palestinian side will accept.

"If some method was appropriate as the main method of operation at a particular time, that does not mean we should reject, oppose, or condemn other courses [of action]. On the contrary, historical experience teaches that struggles - including the Palestinian, the Indian, the South African, and other struggles - can combine peaceful [modes of] struggle with armed combat... One side cannot unilaterally determine the proper course of struggle. The nature of the conflict, its special characteristics, its circumstances, the factors influencing it, and the behavior of the other side all play a substantial role in determining the nature of the struggle.

"When the enemy is something like the Israeli occupation, which is realizing an imperialist settler plan which rejects an arrangement; which has radical goals and the ability to influence it from within is limited or non-existent; and which uses more and more force to achieve its goals - then it is no use rejecting armed resistance, even if, at one stage or another, this is not the most appropriate [choice as] the main course [of action].

"Armed struggle should be ever-present, being a guaranteed right. [But] it should be used in accordance with circumstances and cannot be totally ruled out or defined as a crime. In this stage we should mainly use armed resistance to defend ourselves from the aggression of the occupation soldiers and the hordes of settlers who are armed to the teeth, and to resist the repeated military aggression against the Gaza Strip and the daily hostile acts by settlers in the West Bank...

"The matter of harming civilians in Israel should be examined, taking into account that [Israel] is an imperialist racist settlement entity in which everyone is a soldier, and this view is [based on the fact] that weapons are common everywhere [in it], and that hundreds of thousands of civilians bear arms in the streets, and everyone serves in the military except for the ultra-Orthodox, most of whom are extremists who incite to kill non-Jews. Accordingly, the resistance activity must be well thought out and not indiscriminate, and must not be aimed against children or public places, as befitting the just nature of the [Palestinian] cause and our moral superiority. Likewise, [this activity] must take into account that there are some two million Palestinians with 'Israeli citizenship' and that there are Jews who oppose the Zionist enterprise or who are fighting to defend Palestinian rights or against the Israeli occupation.

"In the absence of an alternative, it is inconceivable that the solution will be for us to stand by with our arms folded and wait for rescue that will perhaps come from above... We must act to create an alternative, step by step, layer by layer, because when there is no alternative, there is a vacuum, and this [vacuum] will be filled by isolated operations of heroic resistance or by something else. Spontaneity... contributes to keeping the Palestinian cause alive; therefore, it is better than nothing, or than the possibility that the existing vacuum will be filled by terrorist organizations or by collaborators."

Endnotes:
After the June 12 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which left 49 dead and 53 others wounded, two Urdu-language Pakistani Islamist newspapers - Roznama Islam and Roznama Ummat - featured editorials blaming American intelligence agencies and the so-called Jewish/Zionist lobby in America for orchestrating the attack, which was carried out by Omar Mateen, an American of Afghan origin.

Roznama Islam not only accused American intelligence agencies of carrying out the Orlando attack, as well as previous attacks, but also promoted a conspiracy theory stating that the purpose of the attacks was to benefit the "pro-Zionist" U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Roznama Ummat, which is close to Pakistani military intelligence, justified the attack, stating that homosexuals that had mocked the Prophet Lut suffered a similar fate. It stated: "It is more correct to describe the attack as god's punishment rather than the result of Omar Mateen's terrorism and hate."

Following are excerpts from the editorials:

Roznama Islam: "It Is Not Far-Fetched That The Hand Of American Secret Agencies Could Be Behind The Orlando Incident"



The editorial in Roznama Islam

An editorial in the daily Roznama Islam state: "No religion in the world permits such a massacre of innocent and non-combatant civilians. The killing of innocents is terrorism regardless of perpetrator or location. However, it is pertinent to stop here for a moment and analyze this incident. Therefore, the first point worth discussing is that America has become a strongman for establishing peace across the world and at the highest level [of its government] it reserves a large budget for establishing peace and defense. Despite this, in [an American] city and in broad daylight, an armed man targets a public place. So, it raises a question mark on America's defense measures and capabilities.

"It is not far-fetched that the hand of American secret agencies could be behind the Orlando incident because previous such incidents have occurred, in which American agencies had been directly involved. In such circumstances, it is not baseless and beyond probability to mentally provoke a Muslim youth to take an extreme step against the local culture [i.e. the LGBT community] and subsequently blame all the debris on Muslims in order to strengthen the atmosphere of Islamophobia present in America.

"The Zionist class is extremely unhappy about the rapidly growing popularity of Islam and the impact of the Koranic teachings in America - and this is the reason that attempts are being made to block its path [by orchestrating such attacks]. Therefore, it is not strange that American secret agencies might have attempted to hit two targets with a single arrow [by inciting this attack]. In other words, they attempted to besmirch the character of Muslims domestically and to pave the path for a new front against Muslims on the international level.

"As per some commentators, there is a need to see this incident in the context of the coming presidential elections in America. At this point, the race between the U.S. presidential candidates includes a pro-Zionist, extremely prejudiced and extremist [candidate] such as Donald Trump, whose aggressive, hateful and inflammatory speech against Islam and Muslims has divided and convulsed the entire American society. Therefore, all the benefits of this incident will reach those anti-Islam presidential candidates... If this incident strengthens Donald Trump in the presidential race, this [satisfies] the long-held desire and efforts of the Jewish lobby present in America."[1]

Roznama Ummat: "First, This Attack Was Not Carried Out On Innocent People; Rather, People Engaged In Extremely Immoral Activities Were Targeted"



The editorial in Roznama Ummat

An editorial in the daily Roznama Ummat stated: "At the time of the attack, about 300 homosexuals were present at the night club. There are several aspects of the details that have emerged regarding the attack on the Orlando club: First, this attack was not carried out on innocent people; rather, people engaged in extremely immoral activities were targeted. Such [homosexual] people had mocked the Prophet Lut, and as a result, God had rained stones on them from the sky. In this context, it was inevitable for punishment of some form or another to descend on the depravity spread in American society.

"Americans cry over the 9/11 to this day but do not think of reforming themselves. Homosexuality is a curse in any society; not only is it legally permitted in America, France and other Western countries, but its shamelessness is to such extreme degrees that homosexual nightclubs have opened everywhere where [sexual] debauchery is committed. On this basis, it is more correct to describe the attack as God's punishment rather than the result of Omar Mateen's terrorism and hate.

"Second, America sometime fights the war for its defense [such as] in Vietnam, and at other times becomes guilty of killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people by aligning against unrelated people in Afghanistan and Iraq. Whether through ignorance or deliberate expression of enmity against Muslims, it invades Muslim countries by blaming every act of subversion and terrorism on them. Despite being the world's lone superpower, it does not have the capability to save its own nation and people. Only yesterday it rejected the involvement of Saudi Arabia in 9/11.

"Third, Omar Mateen was without doubt Muslim and of Afghan origin, but by birth and legally he is an American citizen. He had been under the investigation by American investigating agencies, which had cleared him.

"Fourth, two days before his attack on homosexuals, he had bought two weapons and had allegedly informed the secret agencies of his connection with the Islamic State [ISIS]. Despite this, the security officials did not watch him, which gives birth to doubts and machinations.

"Secret American agencies have orchestrated most terrorist acts carried out in America in order to achieve their specific and dreadful objectives. For example, last year it was revealed that a bomb discovered in a Jewish prayer house in Florida's big city of Miami was placed there by a black Muslim at the behest of a plainclothes FBI official.

"Fifth, no immediate evidence could be found about Omar Mateen; therefore, an attempt is being made to prove he is a terrorist by linking him to the Islamic State."[2]

Endnotes:
GRAFTON, N.H. (AP)  Its a mine, but it could be yours for $2 million.

Ruggles Mine, which produced mica and other minerals for 160 years before being turned into a New England tourist attraction in 1963, is up for sale. The 235-acre property includes a gift shop, small museum and an enormous pit with tunnels and caverns that make up the oldest and largest mine of its kind in the United States.

Its quite spectacular when you drive up that country road and theres nothing but trees all around. And you get to the top of this mountain, and theres a magnificent view, said the mines 90-year-old owner, Geraldine Searles. Walking down into this massive rock formation that you could walk right through  it was thrilling.

Searles late husband purchased the New Hampshire property in 1960 for $20,000, hoping to continue the mica mining operation. But after the federal government stopped subsidizing the industry, leaving domestic mines unable to compete with the overseas market, the couple decided to open the property to the public. Since then, a steady stream of school groups and tourists from around the world have paid admission to poke around and collect as many rocks as they can carry.

While adults often saw just plain old rocks, the children were quite knowledgeable, Searles said.

They were well taught in school and they have a great curiosity, naturally, and this is a wonderful spot for them, she said. I used to get a big kick out of the kids because they were so enthusiastic.

The mine was discovered in 1803 by Sam Ruggles, who reportedly kept it secret for years and used to transport the mica, a layered mineral, in the middle of the night to Portsmouth. From there, the transparent sheets were shipped to England, where they were turned into windows for ships, woodstoves and whale-oil lamps. By the early 1930s, an estimated $12 million worth of mica had been removed. Since then, the mica has been used for electrical insulation, roof shingles and cosmetics, and in later years, in scouring powder.

As a tourist attraction, the mine attracts thousands of visitors from May to October. Douglas Martin, of Keller Williams Realty, said several potential buyers have expressed interest.

People are interested in buying something so they can make a living, maybe work six months of the year and go to Florida, he said.

Fellow listing agent Beth Decato Beaulieu also has heard from another mine owner, as well as some who want to keep the tourist attraction but expand in new directions, perhaps adding a campground.

Theres even been some discussion of a mountaintop restaurant and making it a full-day attraction that might bring Grafton to another level, she said. I just hope that someone who purchases it knows the value it has had for all the generations that have gone through there.

The mine is not open this spring and summer, except for June 18, when it will host a free open house for the public.

Its just time for me to stop working, said Searles, who has run the attraction with her daughter and other family members. I hope someone enjoys minerals and will enjoy the mine as much as I did.

Moshe Miller visited the mine with his parents as a child and has returned several times with his wife and children. The minerals theyve collected over the years are prominently displayed in their New York home, he said.

We have a special collection from each of our visits, marked by year, he said. Its a lot of weight to take back from New Hampshire to New York  it makes the car heavier  but we bring it back to remind us of our trip.

Miller said he hopes the new owners retain the tourist attraction.

The idea that we wouldnt be able to go there again is devastating, he said. We love the place.

The mine was discovered in 1803 by Sam Ruggles, who reportedly kept it secret for years and used to transport the mica in the middle of the night to Portsmouth.
The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, the most important Orthodox Church event in the past 1,300 years, is taking place from 16 to 27 June, in Kolymbari, Crete.



At 20:00 tomorrow, Thursday, 16 June, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will be in Crete to host a dinner in honor of the Orthodox Primates.



The Greek state, having the historic privilege of hosting on its territory the first meeting of all of the Orthodox primates and bishops since the Schism of 1054 AD, is taking all necessary measures to ensure the absolute security of all participants and the organizational success of the Council.
Today, on behalf of the Greek government, I welcomed His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who, as the first of Orthodoxy, will preside over the Holy and Great Council, the most important Church event of recent centuries, which is being held here in welcoming Crete.



The Greek state has taken all of the necessary actions to ensure the smooth coordination and functioning of the state services contributing to the organization of the Council.
ELKO  Friends and family gathered at the Great Basin College Solarium on Saturday, June 4 to celebrate 14 students who completed the Paralegal Certificate Training Program offered by Great Basin College Continuing Education.

Their graduation from the program comes during a time that is described by legal professionals as a rapidly-evolving law era.

According to the U.S. Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for trained paralegals and legal assistants are projected to increase by nearly 20 percent between 2010 and 2020.

As the economy continues to improve nationally, the demand for paralegal professionals in Northeastern and rural Nevada is increasing.

Legal professionals provide legal services to all sectors of the economy, including industry, environmental, academia, governments, non-profits and corporations.

This is the third year the program has been offered by GBC Continuing Education in Elko and broadcast via interactive video to other rural sites.

The program is taught by Zane Negrych, Esq. Negrych is a retired litigation attorney and later worked as a staff attorney for the Elko County District Court.

Having legal knowledge is having power. You are going to have the opportunity to do really good things for people, and help people, Negrych told graduates.

Students awarded certificates are Denna Anderson Haynes, Shauna Baumann, Sandra Bullon-Natividad, Saenah Earle, Tiffany Eklund, Lisa Hofheins, Dezirae Konakis, Benjamin Le, Vanessa Leavitt, Jill Maher, TJ Robison, Monica Schmidt, Cassie Strom, and Julia Unruh.

Like many of this years paralegal students, Sandra Bullon-Natividad decided to return to school while maintaining a full-time job.

I have lived in Elko for 15 years now, only working in the customer service industry. I came back to school and I thought it was going to be very difficult due to the legal terminology. I dedicated myself and Zane is a wonderful professor. He was there with us from beginning to end to answer any questions we had. I love working with people and my customer service skills will be useful when I begin my career, said Natividad.

The one-year training certificate program is also sought after by practicing legal assistants.

The GBC Paralegal curriculum includes coursework in Law Office Management, Tort Law, Legal Research and Writing, Civil Procedure, Legal Ethics and Communication Skills, Contract Law, Evidence, Investigation, Discovery and Trial Preparation, and Family Law. Participants can enroll for individual courses or the entire program.

Many of my students take the program to augment what they already do that is not paralegal specific, said Negrych.

Ely graduate Vanessa Leavitt stated she was employed as a legal assistant prior to starting the program, and will now have a new title as paralegal.

I have many new tasks and responsibilities thanks to everything that Ive learned from the program and hope to be a huge asset to the firm.

Judge Nancy Porter advised graduates to go confidently towards their goals and to always be ethical. You are graduating from a difficult program. You all worked hard and you now have skills that other people dont have, so be confident in those skills, said Porter. Be ethical. If you want to continue to work as a paralegal, you need to be ethical.

The Great Basin College Paralegal Program is a non-credit, certificate program offered by interactive video in Battle Mountain, Ely, Pahrump, Wendover, and Winnemucca. Courses cost $199 each, not including books and materials. Classes are 8 weeks long.

For more information about the upcoming years Paralegal Program classes offered in Fall 2016 and Spring 2017, plan to attend the paralegal orientation on Tuesday, August 15 at 5:30 pm.

Students can enroll for the orientation online at campusce.net/gbcnv. There is no charge for the orientation. Denise Bradshaw will be present to hand out the Bradshaw Law, LLC Paralegal Scholarship applications and talk to the students about the importance of a proper education for paralegals.

For more information or to register, visit www.campusce.net/gbcnv call Continuing Education at 775-753-2231.
RENO . The Bureau of Land Management generated $31,027 during its quarterly oil and gas lease sale on Tuesday, selling 3,764.96 acres located in the Battle Mountain District. The high bid was $21 per acre.

The BLM pointed out in a news release that the sale was legally mandated. It was conducted despite protests involving hundreds of Nevadans, according to a press release from a public relations group.

Public lands are not meant to line the pockets of dirty energy corporations, said AJ Buhay of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, prior to the sale.

The BLM offered 74,661 acres for lease out of the 134,461 acres originally nominated by industry. A total of 59,839 acres were removed from the sale or deferred in areas where there were incompatible uses, including sage grouse habitat, wilderness and large scale mining activity, stated the BLM.

Once a lease is producing, a royalty of 12.5 percent is charged. Nearly half the bid and rental receipts go to the state of Nevada.

Opponents said fracking in the Big Smoky Valley could, if fully developed, deplete and pollute precious surface and ground water, industrialize traditional indigenous land and habitat for wildlife, impact agriculture and create almost a half-million tons of greenhouse gas pollution.

The BLM said oil and gas leasing is just one of many uses that the agency permits as part of its multiple-use mission.

The agency also leases land for renewable energy development which, in Nevada, includes solar, wind, geothermal and alternative technologies like the ARES rail-based energy storage system, stated the BLM.
Photodisc/Thinkstock(JUNAGADH, India)  Forest officials in Gujarat state in western India have arrested 18 lions in a hunt for an animal suspected of killing three people. Officials will test the lions' prints and excrement in an attempt to identify the killer.



There have been reports of six attacks on humans near the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat. The sanctuary is the only habitat of the Asiatic lion.



Officials told the BBC, via BBC Hindi, that the man-eating lion will be imprisoned for life in a zoo while the innocent lions will be returned to the sanctuary.



JA Khan, Gujarat's top forest official, said that over the past two months the lions had been arrested" and were being detained in separate cages while tests were carried out.



"We think we have pinpointed the guilty lion, but we are still awaiting the results of nine more animals," he said.



Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
ELKO  Elko County commissioners will begin their summer traveling schedule by meeting in West Wendover today at the city hall.

In years past weve tried to get out and about, said Elko County Manager Rob Stokes. Weve slowed down a bit.

This summer, the commissioners intend to visit Midas, Tuscarora, Jackpot and Jarbidge for their mid-month meeting.

The commissioners will meet at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

The out-of-town meetings normally dont have a lot of items on the agenda.

There are some things that legally we cant do out of the county seat, Stokes said.

He said these trips are an opportunity for the commissioners to meet with people throughout the county.

The meetings also piggy-back on other events in the area, he said.

During todays trip, the commissioners will attend part of the Two Cities, One Community event between West Wendover and Wendover, Utah.

West Wendover Mayor Emily Carter and Wendover mayor Mike Crawford have partnered with several entities as well as Tooele and Elko counties to launch an initiative urging parents to set clear family rules discouraging underage drinking.

We are very proud of the citywide commitment from both the public and private sectors to keep our kids alcohol-free, Carter stated in a press release.

Stokes said the commissioners will attend the event in support of what the two cities are trying to accomplish.

During the Countys meeting, commissioners may vote on allowing West Wendover to be a satellite office for the Elko County Clerk to issue marriage licenses.

Stokes said there are some administrative requirements that may hinder West Wendover becoming a satellite office. He said he expects the issue wont be decided until a later meeting.

Since the meeting is the day after the Primary Election, County Clerk Carol Fosmo will not be able to attend, Stokes said.

The commission meeting will be at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time in the West Wendover city Hall 1111 Gene L. Jones Way, room 137.
ELKO  Elko County residents gathered Monday night to show compassion and solidarity for the 49 people killed and 53 injured Saturday in Orlando.

Rural America Pride Corp. organized a candlelight vigil in the Elko Peace Park. The groups president, Steve Christean, said the mass shooting affected the local LGBT community because it happened at the same time as Elkos Pride Festival.

He said one of the performers who attended Elkos event, Yara Sophia, had performed in Pulse three weeks earlier and she said some of her friends died at the shooting.

Vigils have happened throughout the country for the victims of Saturdays mass shooting. According to reports, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, an American-born Muslim, carried out the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

The attendees at the Elko vigil lit candles for each of the victims killed. Christean had the photos of the identified victims set up as a memorial.

Many people at the vigil were not members of the LGBT community, but wanted to show support in a time of tragedy.

Edwin Lyngar of Carlin said he came to the event as a concerned bystander.

I think this is very tragic that the LGBT community has been targeted like this, especially with radical extremists, he said. I think the medias reaction to this has been very interesting with Donald Trumps and Hillarys reaction. I think that it is horrible that were not doing anything to stop these kind of attacks by not doing anything with gun control. I worry that people declaring war on the Middle East or banning Muslims will go further into helping their cause. Its really quite concerning.

Lyngar was in the Air Force for three years and he said being in the military made death more common because he heard about someone dying on a regular basis.

I came because I wanted to show our two little girls that no matter what happens that we still need to support the people that need to be supported, he said. Stuff like this is really horrible and its tragic, but if we shrink away and we hide from it, then what does that make us? All of our thoughts and prayers are with the families and we hope that the injured can recover from this horrific event.

Hailie Perry, 10, of Elko said she came to the vigil to pray because she was sad.

It was so very sad that this had to happen and people had to be so cruel to innocent people, she said.

Her advice for people who are feeling sad is to pray to Jehovah and he will make you feel better.

Elko City Councilman John Rice said the word that came to his mind all day long was grace.

There are all kinds of ways to respond to an event like whats happened in Orlando and I think a gathering like this shows an amazing amount of grace and an amazing amount of community, he said. Its grace and community, I think, that gives us all the strength we need to endure these things and to assure ourselves, and our families and our friends that it can never, never, never happen again.

Jenifer Henry of Elko said she came to the vigil to show that were all part of the human race. When you hurt 50 of us you hurt a piece of us all.

Christean thanked everyone for coming and said he hopes the community comes together more in Elko.

Senseless acts like this, they dont need to happen, he said. We just all need to get along and be happy and love each other.
Starting next month, Transport for London will not allow ads that cause pressure to conform to "unrealistic or unhealthy body shape."

Khan says that as the father of two teenage girls, he is "extremely concerned about this kind of advertising which can demean people, particularly women, and make them ashamed of their bodies. It is high time it came to an end."

Concerns were raised last year when an advertisement featuring a model in a bikini asked "Are you beach body ready?"

Graeme Craig of TFL says advertising on the network is unlike other places, because "our customers cannot simply switch off or turn a page if an advertisement offends or upsets them."
Not constant  except the hum of air conditioner fans  but always there: People talking; the KA-THUNK! of closing doors; footsteps here and there.

Every Monday at 6 p.m., however, the sounds seem to recede for participants in Vanderburgh County's Therapeutic Work Release program who take part in the 15-20 minute weekly mindful meditation sessions.

Sounds that might be distractions any other day drift by unheeded, like clouds in the sky.

"We don't really have no peaceful time in here. I have not had peace and quiet like that in a long time," said Leonard Lemon, after a recent meditation session.

"Relaxed" and "quiet" were some of the words participants used to describe it afterward.

"It was peaceful. That 20 minutes passed faster than any 20 minutes I've had in here before," said Shane Teare.

The two were among 13 men participating in the mindful meditation session.

It's part of a relatively new focus on rehabilitation at the county's community corrections facility, renamed Therapeutic Work Release when judges overseeing the county's treatment courts took over responsibility for it.

In July 2015 Superior Court Judge Wayne Trockman and Circuit Court Judge David Kiely, who oversee the various county treatment court programs, took over daily administration of work release. Sheriff David Wedding remains responsible for security and maintenance at the facility, located next to the county jail.

Meditation is just one of the many programs at the overhauled work release program, which offers behavioral, educational, vocational and employment counseling, substance abuse treatment and classes covering everything from personal finance to GED preparation to fatherhood.

When defense attorney Chris Lenn heard about the shift from incarceration to rehabilitation at work release, he knew he could contribute something unique  mindful meditation practice.

He had already had some experience working with the local Mindful Heart Buddhist Sangha, volunteering to help lead meditation groups at the state's Branchville Correctional Facility.

Lenn helped organize, and often leads, secular meditation sessions at Therapeutic Work Release.

"I thought it was important to be secular. The point is to bring in the practice of mindful meditation without any cultural or religious baggage," he said.

In any given week, the group of work release participants meditating may include both return participants and those new to the practice. That suits Lenn fine.

"Basically, you're always starting over because new people are there. It's always brand new. It's always being in the present moment," he said.

The idea of mindfulness for stress reduction was pioneered by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn as way to help people deal both with physical pain and the stress of modern life, Lenn said.

"There is an element of self-love that develops. It actually changes the way that the brain works," Lenn said.

This is done through focusing attention on something, usually breathing, while sitting still. As distractions such as thoughts, noise, physical sensations come to attention, the idea is to acknowledge them passively and let them pass, clearing the mind and remaining focused.

"The idea is to create a gap between external stimulus and their response," Lenn said. "This is important because that is how many people wind up in trouble. They got there because of their unskillful approach to dealing with external stimuli, whether it's drugs or alcohol or anger."

What develops is the ability to take a moment and think before reacting to something.

"The key to it is to do it every day," Lenn said.

To help with this, the meditation work release participants are encouraged to find time, even if it is just five minutes, to practice the technique, whether it is in a chair or in their bunks or during a break at their jobs.

Sometimes the quieting of the mind involved in meditation can reveal long-suppressed issues for some participants.

"When you settle down inside and start to calm down a lot of buried trauma, psychological trauma, starts to arise," Lenn said. "What is great is there is a lot of support there with the counseling staff."

Austin McShanog said meditation has been helpful for him.

"I have ADHD, so I tend to act before I think," he said.

He said he has attended a dozen of the meditation sessions so far and they have helped him.

"I do it before I go to bed at night," McShanog said.

Ed Madry said he has attended several of the weekly sessions and found them beneficial.

"I wanted to change my thinking," he said. "I want to show my kids that it doesn't always have to be chaos  let my kids know they can step away from things and think them through."
BAD AXE  A nurse-in is planned Friday afternoon at the McDonalds restaurant here to raise awareness of a law that allows public breast feeding in Michigan.

The event is in response to an incident that took place last week where a breast-feeding mother felt uncomfortable feeding her child, said Crystal Bowers of Port Hope, who organized the nurse-in.

I wanted to show her that there was support in the community and not let what one person said make you quit doing whats best for your baby, Bowers said. A group of mothers plan to gather inside the restaurant and nurse their children at 3:45 p.m., she said.

Michigan has a state law that allows breast feeding in public, and proponents of the nurse-in hope to attract attention to that law, as well as educate the community.

Its not to cast a negative light on McDonalds, said Alycia Melick, communications specialist for the Michigan Breast Feeding Network (MBFN), which is headquartered in Lansing. The point of the nurse-in is to normalize public breast feeding in the state, she said.

A breast-feeding mother was in the restaurant last week, and indicated in a Facebook post that employees at McDonalds made her feel embarrassed.

We are very mom- and family-focused at McDonalds, said owner Jim Luth in a statement distributed by McDonalds public relations firm this week.

Moms with children of all ages are very special customers. We are dedicated to ensuring that all moms feel comfortable at all times and we look forward to hosting the nurse-in moms later this week.

The MFBN offered the mother assistance in educating McDonalds employees about the breast-feeding law, Melick said. It was signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2014. It prohibits discrimination against those who breast feed in public. The mother, however, turned down MFBNs offer.

We recognize that women need support, Melick said.

Its not just a womens issue or a childs issue, Melick said. Breast feeding is a family issue that needs statewide support, she said. Its an unfortunate situation where (the mother was) made to feel like she was unwelcome or doing something wrong.

Bowers said she is currently breast feeding her 16-month-old daughter, which inspired her to organize the nurse-in.

I wanted to do it to express support because I know that when youre first starting out its really hard, she said.

(The incident) made me angry, Bowers said. I wanted to back her up. I didnt want her to quit.

Late in the day Tuesday, 12 people were planning to go to the nurse-in and 30 were interested in it, according to the events Facebook page.
ELKO  The creation of Department B for the Elko Justice Court has been years in the making and Tuesdays primary results determined Elias Choch Goicoechea and Andrew Mierins will proceed to Novembers general election for the final vote.

Goicoechea led the primary with over 45 percent of the vote. Mierins won more than 23 percent.

Goicoechea said late Tuesday night he was grateful to voters.

I thank them for their support and I look forward to pushing on with the general election, he said.

When the general election comes along, if they vote me in, then I look forward to serving them and giving back to them what theyve given to me, he added. I just want the voters to know that Im going to continue to be fair and unbiased, and look out for the best interest of the community and the subjects that come to the court.

Mierins was also looking forward to the next phase of his campaign.

I think it comes down to experience in the job, said Mierins, telling the Free Press he appreciates all the support and hes looking forward to the rest of the campaign.

The Justice of the Peace hopeful said his message has always been about whether or not the citizens want an experienced judicial officer.

David Loreman, Will Lehmann and Dennis Parker also campaigned for the Elko Justice of the Peace Department B seat.

Anthony Leiker chose not to actively campaign for the position, but instead endorsed Mierins, who has served as Family Court Master since his appointment in 2012.

Goicoechea expressed in earlier statements that he looks forward to working with current projects and future endeavors, believing a second judge should lighten the workload and allow for further concentration on specific issues.

Goicoechea has worked for the Nevada Highway Patrol for the past 16 years.

Mierins announced his candidacy soon after the creation of the second court.

According to Free Press records, Mierins said the creation of a second court will allow operations to be more efficient and provide the necessary resources to take on new programs to make the community safer.

Loreman, a locally practicing attorney for over 25 years, won more than 16 percent of the vote.

Lehmann, a former Elko police captain, took 7.5 percent of the vote.

Parker, the owner and operator of Parker Heating Co. for over 30 years, had 6 percent.

The creation of a second court was a political issue for approximately three years. Judge Mason Simons notified the county on Oct. 2 that the creation of a second, full-time justice of the peace position was warranted because of caseload, county population, voter accountability, the number of search warrant applications and more.

The county has said the addition of the second court has created a financial burden. As of January, the Elko County Commission has gone as far as to ask the Nevada Attorney Generals Office for an opinion on the second judges salary and whether the position must be full-time.
BAD AXE  A Bad Axe man accused of beating a young child with a belt, causing welts and bruising, pleaded not guilty to the crime in circuit court this week.

Bradley M. Prill will head to trial in September on charges of child abuse-third degree and habitual offender-fourth. The charges stem from a March 6 incident, in which the 30-year-old allegedly struck the victim with a belt, roughly 10 times, while Tracy Prill  his wife  was present.

The day following the alleged beating, March 7, the victim returned from school and ran from home to a friends home and notified the parents of what was going on, according to court records. The parents testified during Prills preliminary examination that the victim appeared very scared with marks on their body. Prill was arrested April 1.

He appeared in Huron County Circuit Judge Gerald M. Prills courtroom for arraignment on Monday. His attorney, Dallas Rooney, pleaded not guilty to the charges on his clients behalf.

The judge and the suspect are not related. The suspect is related to the victim.

Rooney told the judge he filed a motion requesting an expert witness for the case.

The only thing to dispute is if he (Bradley) used excessive force to cause the welts, Rooney said, noting the victim was pudgy and an expert witness could determine whether the victim bruises more or less than the average child.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Schumacher objected to the victim being examined by a third party.

On what basis? Judge Prill asked.

I think it would be distressing for the (victim), Schumacher responded.  And Im not sure an expert can provide that type of information.

Rooney said he sent a request to the victims current pediatrician and psychiatrist seeking an opinion, but hasnt heard back.

The child wouldnt have to be asked about the incident, he said. (The victim) could just be examined without any remarks made about the incident.

Judge Prill denied the motion for the time being, but did not completely rule it out.

A final pretrial was ordered for 10 a.m. Aug. 15 with a plea cutoff date set for Sept. 1. The trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Sept. 1 and is anticipated to last around a day and a half.

If convicted, because of his habitual offender status, the suspect faces up to 15 years in prison.

His co-defendant, Tracy Prill, 28, was sentenced to 10 days in Huron County Jail on one count of child abuse-fourth degree at her district court appearance Monday afternoon.
Despite Flipping in Surf 4 Times in a Year, Marines Say New ACV Is the Future of Amphibious Warfare

Some Marine veterans familiar with the vehicle and its operations have worried about the reliability of the ACV.
U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopters have gone into action in Iraq for the first time in support of the slow-moving advance on Mosul but were being kept out of the ongoing siege of Fallujah, where increasing reports of abuses and killings of Sunni refugees have emerged.

Baghdad government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said an investigation had begun of charges that the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Shiite militia backed by Iran that has joined the Iraqi Security Forces encircling Fallujah, had gone on a killing spree against Sunnis fleeing the city 40 miles west of Baghdad, Reuters reported.

The investigators "are following up on the violations and a number of arrests have been made. Strict orders were issued to protect civilians," Hadithi said.

Suhaib al-Rawi, governor of Anbar province where Fallujah is located, said on Sunday that 643 men who escaped from Fallujah had gone missing between June 3 and June 5, and "all the surviving detainees were subjected to severe and collective torture by various means." He charged that 49 Sunni men had been executed by the PMF.

The United Nations and Amnesty International last week said they had received "credible reports" of the beatings and executions of Sunni men and boys who were separated from the women and children after fleeing Fallujah and were interrogated on suspicion that they might be members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), or sympathizers.

Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said "we're certainly aware of the reports, the allegations against the PMF," but the U.S. was not involved in the effort to cope with the flow of refugees, or in sorting out whether ISIS members might be hiding in the groups fleeing Fallujah.

Davis said American trainers and advisers teach the Law of Armed Conflict on the humanitarian treatment of civilians to Iraqi forces, but the U.S. has no dealings with the PMF.

Davis said Apaches attacked and destroyed an ISIS vehicle-borne improvised explosive device near the town of al-Qayyarah in the Tigris River Valley about 40 miles south of Mosul on Monday.

The government of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi authorized the use of the helicopters for the plan to retake northwestern Mosul, but there were no immediate plans to use the gunships in Fallujah, Davis said.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, who was in Brussels for a NATO defense ministers meeting, told reporters on his plane Monday that the Apaches "were employed against an ISIL target, an ISIL target was struck in the operation. This is the first time that it's been called into action, and effectively" against ISIL (another acronym for ISIS), Carter said.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran is being recognized as a hero for helping dozens of people escape the mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub.

Imran Yousuf, a 24-year-old Hindu and former Marine who served in Afghanistan, was working as a bouncer at the Pulse nightclub when he heard the familiar sounds of gunfire.

"That was a shock. Three or four shots go off and you could just tell it was a high caliber," he told CBS News. "Everyone froze."

As patrons raced to flee the gunfire, they packed into the back staff hallway where he was, Yousuf said. He instructed them to open a latch on a nearby door to exit the building, but they froze in a state of panic, he said.

"I'm just screaming, 'Open the door! Open the door!' and no one's moving because they were scared," Yousuf told the news organization. "There was only one choice: Either we all stay there and we all die or I could either take the chance and get shot and save everyone else. And I jumped over, opened that latch and we got every one that we can out of there."

When correspondent Mark Strassmann asked him how many people exited the door, Yousuf estimated between 60 and 70. Strassmann told him he saved a lot of lives.

"I wish I could save more, to be honest. There's a lot of people that are dead," he said, his voice breaking. "There's a lot of people that are dead."

A total of 49 people were killed in the attack, including Antonio Davon Brown, a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve. Another 53 people were injured in the shooting, several of whom remain hospitalized with serious injuries.

The deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history began around 2 a.m. Sunday at the nightclub, which caters to the lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender, or LBGT, community, and lasted until around 5 a.m. when a SWAT team raided the building.

The shooting is also the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil since Sept. 11, 2001, when al-Qaida militants crashed airliners into the World Trade Center in New York City; the Pentagon near Washington, D.C.; and a field in Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3,000 people.

Armed with a Glock pistol and a Sig Sauer MCX rifle, the gunman was killed in a shootout with police. He was identified as Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, 29, a U.S. citizen and Muslim who lived in Fort Pierce, Florida, and whose parents were of Afghan origin. While Mateen was apparently acting alone, he had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. The FBI has acknowledged he was under surveillance for a time.

Yousuf is a native of Schenectady, New York, near the state capital of Albany. After graduating from Niskayuna High School, he served for almost six years in the Marine Corps, from 2010 to 2016, achieving the rank of sergeant, or E-5, according to his service records.

He served as an engineer equipment electrical systems technician and completed a seven-month tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2011. His last duty assignment was with the 3rd Marine Logistics Group.

His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2), Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and NATO Medal, according to his service records.

On his Facebook page, Yousuf said the television interview has brought "closure."

"It created such closure for me that I believe I am finally able to move on from this and get focused back on my goals and my life," he wrote. "I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for their kind words, prayers and support. It means more than you realize!"

-- Hope Hodge Seck contributed to this report.

-- Brendan McGarry can be reached at brendan.mcgarry@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Brendan_McGarry.
Army Reserve Capt. Antonio Davon "Tony" Brown, who joined the service three years before the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy against openly gay service was scrapped, is believed to be the only fatality with a service connection in the Orlando nightclub mass shooting.

Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said Tuesday the military was as yet unaware of any other members of the military or veterans among the 49 patrons of the Pulse nightclub who were gunned down early Sunday morning by a shooter police identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen.

Matt Thorn, executive director of OutServe-Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, also said he did not know of any other service member or veteran among the 49 killed or 53 wounded on "Latin" night at the nightclub frequented by members of the LGBT community in Orlando.

A survivor of the attack was 24-year-old Imran Yousuf, a Marine veteran of Afghanistan and a bouncer at the club, who leaped over a bar during the shooting to unlatch a door and allow dozens to escape, according to CBS News.

"I wish I could have saved more, to be honest," he told CBS. "There are a lot of people that are dead.

"There was only one choice," Yousuf added. "Either we all stay there and we all die, or I could take the chance, and I jumped over to open that latch and we got everyone that we can out of there."

The 30-year-old Brown, who was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 383rd Regiment, 4th Cavalry Brigade, 85th Support Command, based in St. Louis, was fatally shot at about 2 a.m. during the rampage by Mateen, the 85th Support Command of the Army Reserves said in a statement.

"Capt. Tony Brown was a loyal and dutiful United States Army Reserve officer who truly cared about the soldiers in his charge," said Lt. Col. Kevin Dasher, commander of the 3-383rd. "In his career with the 3-383rd, he faced any and all challenges with a smile on his face, and an unwavering spirit that everyone in our unit cherished. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with his family in this time of tragedy."

Brown, 30, with his home of record listed as Orlando, graduated from Florida (A&M) Agricultural and Mechanical University with his undergraduate degree in criminal justice. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant on August 8, 2008. In 2010, he received his master's degree in business administration from the University of Mary, North Dakota.

Brown was a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) while at Florida A&M, the university said in a statement, and "he is being remembered fondly by classmates and fellow alumni.

"In the meantime, the Florida A&M University community stands with the entire Orlando community in the wake of tragedy," the university said. "Our thoughts, and prayers for peace, are with everyone in central Florida and across this nation."

Following his commission, Brown was assigned to the 642nd Combat Support Group in Decatur, Georgia. In May 2009, he served on active duty with the 1st Special Troop Battalion, Fort Riley, Kansas. It was during that assignment with the battalion that Brown served an 11-month overseas deployment to Kuwait, the Army Reserve said.

Brown was promoted to captain on March 6, 2012, and was reassigned to the 642nd Combat Support Group in May 2012. He transferred to the 2nd battalion, 350th Regiment, at Camp Blanding, Florida, in August 2012, and in November 2013 he was assigned to the 3-383rd, 85th Support Command as an Observer-Controller/Trainer Platoon Leader. Brown served as a Troop Program Unit soldier.

His awards and decorations include a Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with "M" Device and the Army Service Ribbon.

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said he was "deeply saddened" by the news that Brown was killed in the attack.

"Capt. Antonio Davon Brown served his country for nearly a decade, stepping forward to do the noblest thing a young person can do, which is to protect others," he said in a statement. "His service both at home and overseas gave his fellow Americans the security to dream their dreams, and live full lives. The attack in Orlando was a cowardly assault on those freedoms, and a reminder of the importance of the mission to which Capt. Brown devoted his life. "The men and women of the Department of Defense grieve with Capt. Brown's family and with all of the families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy," Carter added. "We stand with the people of Orlando and the nation's LGBT community during this difficult time, and stand in determination to defeat ISIL and prevent the spread of its hateful ideology."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
The U.S. was tentatively sticking with a plan to draw down the number of troops in Afghanistan from 9,800 to 5,500 by early next year while leaving ample room for President Barack Obama to reverse course, depending on how fighting against the Taliban goes this summer, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Wednesday.

At a NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, Carter also said the alliance had agreed to extend the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan by keeping German troops in the north near Mazar-i-Sharif and Italian troops in the west at Herat, while the U.S. continues to maintain bases in Jalalabad in the southeast and Kandahar in the southwest.

In cautious and sometimes opaque remarks at a news conference, Carter said that troop levels in Afghanistan had not been a formal topic of discussion at the ministerial meetings but then restated the original Obama plan to draw down U.S. forces to 5,500 for 2017.

Going down to 5,500 was "the current plan," Carter said, though "the president has indicated consistently (that) he is willing to look at the U.S. force presence on the basis of circumstances in Afghanistan and he is expected to do that at the end of the year. He has expressed a willingness to do that but that was not a topic of discussion at today's meeting, per se," he said.

Carter said troop levels and funding would likely be fleshed out at a NATO summit in Warsaw next month. However, he said "there should be no doubt about our commitment to Afghanistan."

The secretary's statements contrasted with those of British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon and NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg, who were more forthcoming on where the U.S. and the allies would eventually end up on the presence in Afghanistan.

"This is the wrong time to walk away from Afghanistan," Fallon told reporters. "Everyone has an interest that our effort there is sustained. That's why, as Ash Carter told us, the troop numbers are being looked at again."

Stoltenberg said several nations committed to a troop presence next year in Afghanistan. "With a regional presence, we will continue to advise, train and assist the Afghan national forces because we are very committed to continuing to support Afghans," he said.

Carter made no mention of the recommendations on troop levels from Army Gen. John Nicholson, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Army Brig Gen. Charles Cleveland, Nicholson's spokesman, said in a briefing to the Pentagon from, Kabul earlier this month that Nicholson had wrapped up his report, which was believed to be working its way up the chain of command through Army Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of U.S. Central Command, and then to Carter, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford and the White House.

Nicholson's predecessor, Army Gen. John Campbell, had warned of the dangers of continuing to withdraw U.S. troops while a resurgent Taliban, now amply funded by a bumper poppy crop this spring, was inflicting heavy losses on the Afghan National Defense Security Forces (ANDSF).

In addition, Obama has been expanding the role for U.S. forces in Afghanistan this year, rather than focusing on preparations for more withdrawals.

In January, he authorized U.S. airstrikes against a growing presence of followers of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in southeastern Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, Obama lifted a ban on airstrikes against the Taliban, which had been in effect since late 2014, and also approved embedding U.S. trainers and advisers with conventional ANDSF forces, rather than just Afghan Special Forces.

Carter said the changes would allow for "more American firepower through close (air) support" for the ANDSF, and also "more opportunities" for U.S. troops "to accompany and enable" the ANDSF to take back ground lost to the Taliban, particularly in southwestern Helmand province.

The U.S. began the year backing the efforts of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to draw the Taliban into regional peace talks with the support of China, Russia and Pakistan. Ghani later blamed Pakistan for the collapse of the effort.

The regional prospects took another turn for the worse this week with reports of cross-border clashes with small arms and artillery between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

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A progressive veterans group is criticizing Donald Trump as "uninformed and irresponsible" for suggesting American soldiers stole millions of dollars intended for Iraq reconstruction projects.

Paul Eaton, a retired major general in the U.S. Army, said Trump's "smear" against American troops and veterans should disqualify him as a presidential candidate.

The remarks stand as "testimony to why Mr. Trump is unqualified to serve as Commander in Chief of the finest troops on the planet," Eaton said in a statement released through VoteVets.org, where he serves as a senior adviser.

During a speech on Tuesday evening in Greensboro, North Carolina, Trump criticized U.S. policy during the Iraq war to send millions of dollars in cash to Iraq, which he called "a corrupt country," with no supervision.

"Millions and millions of dollars, and handing it out," the presumptive Republican nominee said. "I want to know, who were the soldiers that had that job? [Because] I think they're living very well right now, wherever they may be."

A spokeswoman for Trump immediately tried to quell criticism, telling NBC News that the candidate didn't mean to suggest American troops were stealing; he was referring to Iraqi soldiers.

Yet while Trump's remarks were bound to draw a critical response, there were, in fact, more than 100 American service members convicted of graft and corruption stemming from their handling of aid funds in both Iraq and Afghanistan, according to published reports.

For example, former ArmyCapt. Michael Dung Nguyen of Oregon was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty in 2010 of pocketing more than $690,000 while serving as a civil affairs officer overseeing millions of dollars in Iraq reconstruction project money and pay for private Iraqi security forces.

In 2014, former ArmySpc. Stephanie Charboneau of Colorado was sentenced to seven years after pleading guilty for her role in a scheme to steal and sell fuel from Forward Operating Base Fenty in Afghanistan. Charboneau's was the fourth to be found guilty in connection with the scam, which cost the U.S. some $1.2 million in lost fuel.

According to a report last May in Slate.com, at least 115 enlisted personnel and military officers had been convicted since 2005 of theft, bribery and contract-rigging crimes valued at $52 million during their deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.

VoteVets.org is lobbying group that typically supports progressive candidates and causes. Eaton served in Iraq from 2003 to 2004, commanding U.S. forces charged with establishing the country's military forces following their disbanding after the U.S.-led invasion.

"Trump's attack against the courageous American men and women who heroically worked to restore law and order in Iraq is at once uninformed and irresponsible," Eaton said.

The retired officer also recalled some earlier military-related remarks and actions Trump, including his criticism of Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona for being captured and held prisoner during the Vietnam War.

Trump also tried to get disabled veterans removed from Trump Tower in New York City, once belittled military service "by calling his sexual exploits in the 80s his 'personal Vietnam,'" Eaton said.

"It is clear Trump has no respect for military service, or the people who serve," he said.

-- Bryant Jordan can be reached at Bryant.jordan@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at@BryantJordan.
Jenny Specht's husband, Nick, joined the Army just before his 19th birthday.

High school sweethearts, Jenny moved to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, to be with him. But just six months after their wedding, Nick deployed to Iraq on what was supposed to be the last of the deployments to that country, and Jenny moved home to Minnesota to work on her college degree.

When Nick returned from Iraq, he chose to leave the active-duty Army at the end of his four-year contract and go Reserve near Jenny's school. Since then, they have started a family and have a 3-year-old daughter as well as twin 18-month-old girls.

Military.com: Why did you decided to get out of the military? Specht: Nick followed his original contract of four years active and four years reserve. If I hadn't been in school and needed to be back in Minnesota, he probably would have stayed active duty. Leaving the Big Army was terrifying.

Q: Think back to before you got out. What did you think transition would be like? A: We knew our transition would be rocky financially. I was still in school and he had no job prospects. Thankfully, we had saved up some leave time so we continued to receive paychecks for almost a month after Nick's final sign-out date. We also counted on the Army to pay for our moving expenses, though we owned almost nothing. Instead, we took that money and used it for bills. Because we were moving to Minnesota, we knew ahead of time that Nick would qualify for unemployment as soon as he got home. He also planned on using his Montgomery GI Bill as soon as he could.

Emotionally, we were unprepared for the change. It didn't even cross our minds that moving home would be hard.

Q: How did what actually happened compare to what you imagined? A: Financially, things went almost as expected. The Army took their sweet time paying for his move. His new unit was able to fix some ongoing pay issues almost immediately, so there was a good chunk of back pay that came at just the right time.

Emotionally, things were hard. His life had been so structured for so long, that moving home and being unemployed was hard. It probably caused as much emotional and psychological stress as coming home from the deployment. He had no responsibilities for months. He just sat at our apartment, not knowing anyone or having anything to do. Starting school that January probably saved his life.

Q: What do you wish you could go back and tell yourself about military transition? A: Nick was unprepared for how different the Reserves would be from the Big Army. At 23, he was older than almost every member of his unit. Except for the highest ranking guys in his unit, he was the only one who had deployed.

Having just come home from a deployment, he was so stressed about the training his new unit provided. He couldn't wrap his mind around how none of them took training seriously. It was just a big party once a month. He would come home from drill angry and exhausted. And I didn't know how to support him through that. What do you say to a man who is struggling so intensely with his own demons who feels like the place he should feel most comfortable in his new life has somehow betrayed him? Even having a heads-up that it would be hard would have been nice.

Q: What was your smartest military transition decision? A: We had done a lot of research into the government-run support systems that would be available to us. We knew right away what unemployment checks would look like, what our monthly GI Bill stipend would look like, and what our real expenses would be. Somehow, we were able to pay every bill on time through the entire year and a half before Nick got a good job.

Q: What should families considering Guard/Reserve know? A: A lot of the time, Guard and Reserve units are more of a hobby than a job. The people probably won't understand how intensely your spouse feels about the Big Army, good or bad. Even though they are wearing the same uniform, it is a completely separate organization. There is no sense of urgency. Rank structures are a lot more blurred.

Q: How did the transition out of the military affect your own job or career choices? A: We knew we were moving home, so we had a lot of freedom in our choices. I hadn't started a career at all, so I wasn't really affected by the transition. After our kids were born, I have had to let employers know up front that my husband is in the Reserves, as I cannot always be available to work when he has three-day drills or is gone for different schools in the summer.

Q: When you got out, did you feel prepared with information about your spouse's new military or VA pay? A: I had no idea what VA compensation would look like. He went through the process before he was discharged, but wasn't given any contacts or resources if we had any questions. Years later, we were finally able to add myself and our children as dependents to his disability claim. We were finally able to get in touch with the Veterans Service Officer with our county in the last few months, five-and-a-half years after transition. He has been helpful, but the VA is still a nightmare. Nick was diagnosed with sleep apnea, and we cannot for the life of us figure out how to get the VA to re-evaluate his claim.

Nobody told us that you cannot collect both VA disability and drill pay at the same time. One day, our VA check just stopped coming. It took several years for them to catch that we had been "double paid" and held his VA check for months as back pay. Basically, each day of drill counts against 1/30th of a check. Now that we know it is coming every year, it is usually just one or two smaller checks.

Q: What advice do you have for spouses trying to find non-military community friends? A: Throw yourself into something. The military forces people to be fast friends, and that is gone when you get out and move away. Guard and Reserve spouses don't always have the same sense of urgency as they are usually close to family and in communities they've lived in for years. They probably won't be as welcoming as spouses at past units.

Try not to speak in acronyms or military lingo. The rest of the world has no idea what they mean. Just tell people your spouse is a soldier. They don't know what rank or unit mean anyway. For us, everyone thought Nick must be a Red Bull (the local Guard unit), as that is what is in the news. I stopped explaining the difference between Guard and Reserve.

-- Do you have a military transition story to share? Email amy.bushatz@military.com to be considered for this series.
Mets third baseman David Wright is weighing the options with his injured neck and a surgical option is on the table, MLB.coms Anthony DiComo was among those to report. Replacement of a herniated disk would likely come with at least a three-month recovery timeline, quite possibly ending Wrights season.

The tough-luck star was already battling through a chronic back condition when the neck problem arose. While the team has suggested that the two issues are unrelated, its obviously especially difficult for Wright to deal with yet another injury.

Its not yet clear that surgery will be chosen. But last we heard, surgery wasnt a near-term consideration. Wright was instead slated to rest for six to eight weeks before trying to ramp things back up. It appears that the possibility of a procedure is at least on the rise at this pont.

GM Sandy Alderson didnt sound a particularly promising tone. I always prefer certainty over uncertainty, so having some resolution will be helpful, he said. False hope is never useful, or not often useful. We like to be pragmatic.

Alderson suggested that New York is beginning to look at fill-in options while relying on Wilmer Flores in the interim. He appeared at least to be open to the possibility of Cuban star Yulieski Gurriel, who was recently declared a free agent, though that would likely require a fairly significant outlay since therell be competition.

I dont feel that theres any immediate timeline for necessity to know one way or the other, in part because the availability of replacements is so limited-to-nonexistent at this point, Alderson said. This is not the time of year when full-time third basemen, other than [Gurriel], are typically available. So we march on.

Speaking more generally about the clubs plans earlier today, Alderson largely demurred when asked about Gurriel, as ESPNNewYork.coms Adam Rubin was among those to report. He did note that the organization isnt quite as flush with prospect talent now as it was this time last year, raising questions about what the team could accomplish via trade. Theres no question, though, our farm system is not quite as healthy today as it was then in part because of all the trades we made, said Alderson. So to the extent that were active, it may hurt us a little more this year than it did last year.

It appears that the organization will wait to decide upon a future course until Wright has decided whether or not to undergo surgery. DiComo writes that the veteran will make the call this week.

Its important to note that Wright is playing on a $20MM salary this year and is under contract for another $67MM through 2020. A good piece of those obligations could be covered by insurance, though, potentially creating some flexibility if it becomes clear that Wright wont be able to return in 2016.
Goose Island Migration Week

Michigan native Robby Zahm hosts Migration Week for Goose Island Brewery in Grand Rapids this week.

(John Gonzalez)

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN- This week Goose Island Brewery brings their famous Migration Week to Grand Rapids. The brewery travels coast to coast bringing out rare beers, hosting special tasting events, and bringing plenty of swag for beer lovers to enjoy.

Although Goose Island was sold to AB-InBev in 2011, they are still based in Chicago, and still make some pretty special beers. They also employ several Michigan natives, including Robby Zahm, from Rockford. Zahm is focused on developing new markets for the brewery.

On Tuesday night, however, Zahm was really just hosting his very proud local family and friends at the kick off party for Migration Week held at The Intersection. John Gonzalez and I stopped by to try some non-Michigan beers.

The Four Star Pils, while a standard pilsner style, actually had a really nice hop kick, with a hint of citrus, and a nice clean flavor. I checked when I got home and was surprised to see that it has 44 IBU's (international bittering units), surprisingly high for this style. It was very drinkable.

The star of the night was the special tasting of a 2015 Bourbon County Brand Stout. This. Was. Awesome. Thick, rich, boozy but smooth, huge notes of caramel, chocolate, and a creamy top. Totally stellar and worth my trip down to try this.

The Four Star Pils and Bourbon County Brand Stout from Goose Island Brewery

There are events all week that you can check out, and taste different beers from the brewery, experience food pairings, meet the brewers and more.

Wednesday, June 15

Event:

Time: 6:30-9 p.m.

Location: Monelli's

5675 Byron Center Ave. SW, Wyoming, MI 49519

Description: Want an excuse to go out to dinner on Wednesday? We've got ya. Join us for a progressive beer dinner with the talented folks at Monelli's for a four-course craft beer treat.

Featured Beer: Sofie, Madame Rose, Gillian and 2014 Proprietor's

*Contact Monelli's to reserve your tickets 616-530-9700

Event:

Time: 9:30-11 p.m.

Location: Gravity Tap House

3210 Deposit Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Description: The Migration Week crew loves drinking great beers just as much as you do. Take flight with us as we take over Gravity with our kick-ass rare beers.

Featured Beer: 2015 BCS, 2015 Regal Rye and Lolita

Thursday, June 16

Event:

Time: 4:30-6 p.m.

Location: D. Schuler's

2754 44th St., Wyoming, MI 49519

Description: Here's your chance to meet two of our finest brewers and have an opportunity to purchase some great beers.

Featured Beer: 2015 BCS Rare Madame Rose, Lolita, CALM Radler

Event:

Time: 6:30-10 p.m.

Location: Lubbers Family Farm

862 Luce St. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534

Description: We're making a rare splash with this special event at Lubbers Family Farm. Sample some rare beers in our outdoor beer lounges created by The Campfire Experience, and feast on a three-course beer dinner down on the farm. We'll crack a few beers after dinner and listen to live folk tunes around the fire.

RSVP Here: http://craftbeerexperience.eventbrite.com/ ***SOLD OUT***

Featured Beer: Sofie, Matilda, Lolita, Halia and other fun surprises

Friday, June 17

Event:

Time: 12-2p.m.

Location: Big Bob's Pizza

661 Croswell Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Description: Pizza and Bourbon County for lunch is well worth taking an extended "executive" lunch hour. We'll see you there.

Featured Beers: 2015 Bourbon County

Event:

Time: 5-7 p.m.

Location: J.D. Reardon's

Description: Geek out with our brewers and some of your hometown brewers from Elk Brewing. We'll be posted up on the patio sippin' great beers, snacking on BCS sweet treats and talkin' brew with some of the best.

Beer Featured: TBD

Event:

Time: 9-11 p.m.

Location: Brick and Porter

47 Monroe Center St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Description: This is where you don't read what we have to say and just skip down to see what glorious beers we'll be featuring at our last event. Trust us and just bring your face to Brick and Porter to send us back to Chicago in style. We'll be sharing beers, long, awkward hugs and terrible jokes.

Featured Beers: 2013 BCS, 2014 BCS and 2015 Coffee BCS
SPARTA, MI - Tesa Tape Inc. announced it will break ground next week on a $20 million expansion of its manufacturing facility in Sparta, creating at least 15 new jobs when the expansion is completed by late summer of 2017.

The 24,000-square-foot expansion will bump the total number of Tesa jobs in this northern Kent County village to nearly 100, according to a news release issued on Wednesday, June 15.

The addition will house innovative coating, adhesive mixing and converting technology that utilizes environmentally-friendly, water-based, solvent-free adhesives, according to the announcement.

This is in addition to recent research and development facility enhancements and new hires, co-located at the Sparta facility, located at 324 S. Union Avenue, according to the company.

"The ongoing investment into people, plant and equipment in Michigan is another sign of Tesa's strong commitment to its valued customers and to the Sparta community," said Tesa North America Regional President Carsten Meyer-Rackwitz.

The plant expansion in Sparta comes on the heels of the December 2015 grand opening of the Tesa Automotive Solution Center in Novi. The company also operates its primary North American warehouse in Walker, west of Grand Rapids.



Tesa also makes products in Sparta that are engineered to supply diverse global markets such as appliance, food packaging, oil exploration and other uses.

"The new coating and converting operations will supplement existing extruding, coating and converting capabilities already in place," the company said.

Tesa is one of the world's leading manufacturers of technical adhesive tapes and self-adhesive system solutions for industrial and professional customers as well as end consumers.

Jim Harger covers business for Mlive Media Group. Email him at jharger@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook or Google+.
Photographer and Wayne State University student Michael Tokarz shot more than 30,000 photographs at some of Michigan's most scenic locales -- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Isle Royal National Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the Porcupine Mountains -- to assemble this serenity-inducing time-lapse video.

Of the more than 30,000 photos, shot over the course of a year, about 3,000 were distilled into the two-minute video, which Tokarz titled "The Forest."

Tokarz, who is 19 and pursues photography as a hobby, said he was inspired to start the project on a trip to Isle Royale with his uncle.

"I wanted to do something that I hadn't really seen before, and time-lapse photography is not really something that's common," he said.

After the trip to Isle Royale, he continued traveling around the state, finding scenic spots and sweeping views, and building the video, shot by shot.

"My favorite thing about time-lapse photography is that it shows what you don't usually see: like the stars moving across the sky," he said. "It gives you a whole new perspective."

None of the sweeping scenes were shot with a drone, either; Tokarz says he sought out (and in some cases, stumbled on) some incredible overlooks, like Lake of the Clouds in the Upper Peninsula, and the Glen Lake overlook in Leelanau County. His favorite scenes, though, are the night shots.

"Something like a third of the world's population can't see the Milky Way," he said. "It's awesome, being able to share that with people."

Tokarz is working on another time-lapse project right now, featuring scenes and locations around Detroit.

"I love exploring Michigan," he said. There's so much to see."

You can check out more of Torkaz's work on his website and Facebook page.
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Eastern Michigan University students walk through campus. EMU will open its doors to undergraduate students and working professionals who are interested in exploring graduate degree options during on open house, Saturday, June 18 in the Student Center Ballroom, located at 900 Oakwood St., Ypsilanti, MI. Courtney Sacco | The Ann Arbor News

(ANN ARBOR NEWS)

YPSILANTI, MI - Eastern Michigan University students looking to take the next step in their education are invited to attend the university's Graduate Open House on Saturday, June 18.



The event is open to undergraduate students and working professionals interested in exploring graduate degrees. The event on Saturday is set for the Student Center Ballroom, located at 900 Oakwood St., in Ypsilanti. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to noon, and is free and open to the public. Check-in begins at 9:45 a.m.



Graduate advisers and program representatives will provide information about a variety of disciplines such as science, art, business and technology, as well as answer any questions.



Attendees can expect to learn about graduate-assistant positions and doctoral fellowships, speak with a college representative about specific programs and their faculty advisers, meet with faculty members from several programs and have their application fee waived.



Students also have the chance to attend a College of Business graduate program information session from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Register here.



To register for the event, visit the open house homepage or call the Graduate School at 734-487-0042.



For more information email emu@emich.edu or call 734-487-6453.


ANN ARBOR, MI -- The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority has released plans for a major makeover of the South U streetscape.

By this time next year, construction is expected to be underway on a $2.1 million project along three blocks of South University Avenue -- on both sides of the street from East University Avenue to Washtenaw Avenue.

The project aims to address several maintenance issues on what the DDA considers cluttered and constrained sidewalks.

The plans include new sidewalks, street trees and planters, benches and bike hoops, among other changes.

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority has released this image showing what the redesigned South U streetscape will look like.

The large concrete tree planters that double as circular benches and have been part of South U's look for decades will be removed and replaced with new tree plantings in grates, creating more space for outdoor cafe seating.

DDA Executive Direct Susan Pollay said the existing tree planters take up a lot of room and interfere with cafes using the space, plus the trees are slowly dying and will need replacement anyway.

The project is expected to go out to bid this fall, with construction starting in late spring 2017 after the University of Michigan's spring commencement. Work is expected to continue through Labor Day with a pause for Art Fair.

Design images were presented to the South University Area Association in May. Scroll through the gallery above to see them.

The DDA board originally voted in October 2015 to approve a $1.5 million budget for the project so that maintenance issues such as broken planters, ponding water and heaving pavers could be comprehensively addressed.

The board increased the budget to $2.1 million in March, expanding the project scope to include mid-block street trees and pedestrian safety elements, including sidewalk expansions, corner bump-outs at the Forest and Washtenaw intersections and new streetlight globes to improve lighting.

Through extensive evaluation and discussion with city staff, DDA officials said, it became clear that pedestrian crossings, light levels and urban forestry components did not meet current standards and must be addressed.

South U as it looks now with large concrete tree planters, which will be removed next year and replaced with new trees in grates.

The DDA board voted this month to approve the final schematic designs, which DDA officials said were the product of several months of site evaluations and meetings, including input from users of the corridor, businesses, property owners, the University of Michigan, the Downtown Area Citizens Advisory Council and other nearby residents, city staff and others.

The South U area already has seen some big changes in recent years, including three new apartment high-rises and another one awaiting approval.

Oakland County developer Ron Hughes of Hughes Properties also confirmed last week he plans to eventually bring forward plans for a major private redevelopment that would involve demolishing existing buildings along both sides of South U and constructing new buildings with new ground-floor retail spaces. That's separate from the streetscape work the DDA is doing.

Maggie Ladd, executive director of the South University Area Association, said she's looking forward to the revitalization of South U that's coming.

She said the association has been working with the DDA for years on the streetscape improvements that are planned.

In spring 2015, the DDA completed an 18-month collaborative process with the city to create a Downtown Street Design Manual, providing a framework for applying strategies through downtown streetscape projects.

Through board retreats in January and April of 2015, the DDA board prioritized four streetscape projects through 2021, selecting South U as the first one.

See upcoming DDA projects

The DDA is an arm of Ann Arbor's city government tasked with improving the downtown and managing the city's parking system. The DDA, which has a $29.2 million budget for 2016-17, gets its money from collecting a portion of downtown tax revenues and downtown parking system revenues.

Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com.
YPSILANTI, MI -- Fifteen Ypsilanti Community Schools employees were set to be laid off for the 2016-17 school year, but the Board of Education decided Monday, June 13, to take more time to consider the impact the move would have on the high school, especially.

The district planned to lay off 10 high school teachers, a high school counselor, a career technical teacher, a teacher at Washtenaw Intermediate Middle Academy and a teacher at Estabrook Elementary School, according to a list generated June 9 by the human resources department.

The main reason for the layoffs is the consolidation of Ypsilanti Community High School's three small learning communities into one building, so not as many staff members are needed at the high school level, said Jack Bauman, director of human resources at YCS.

But at Monday's school board meeting, the board opted to table the layoffs until a future meeting. One concern is how it would impact programming at the high school to lose so many teachers, said board President Sharon Irvine.

"The board was uncomfortable voting on the reduction until it had an opportunity to receive and consider this information," Irvine wrote in an email. "Additionally, the board also wanted to give the district additional time to confirm that the list was generated in compliance with state law in the use of evaluation for staff reductions."

State law requires that teachers with lower ratings on their annual evaluations be dismissed first in staff reductions, rather than basing the decision solely on seniority as it was in the past.

Along with the layoff recommendation, the HR department also made recommendations for terminating or not renewing the contracts of four teachers and a custodian and accepting the resignations of seven employees. Tanya Bowman, the former Ypsilanti Community High School principal who has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of bribery, was included in the list of resignations.

The board approved the terminations, contract non-renewals and resignations. The teachers whose contracts were not renewed had been on probation and received ineffective ratings on their evaluations, Human Resources Director Jack Bauman explained. Those positions will be filled by re-assigning current employees, rather than hiring new people, he added.

Also at Monday's meeting, the board declined to take action on proposed changes to the compensation structure for building principals and the Office of Student Affairs.

"It was an attempt to improve compensation for our building principals. It would have been a raise for some people and others would have stayed the same," Bauman said, adding that the merit pay component and additional stipend options in the proposals were new elements as well.

In all, the proposed changes would have cost the district another $17,000, he added.

Board members did not feel it was an appropriate time to grant administrative raises, Irvine said.

"The board was uncomfortable approving administrator raises at a time when it was being asked to consider significant staff reductions and privatization," she said. "The board has no plans to revisit this in the near future."

In the 2014-15 school year, the average annual salary for YCS principals was $83,400, ranging from $66,000 to $110,000, according to the Michigan Department of Education.

Saline Area Schools is the only one of Washtenaw County's nine public school districts that has a lower average principal salary than Ypsilanti Community Schools.

Lauren Slagter covers K-12 education for The Ann Arbor News. Contact her at 734-255-1419, lslagter@mlive.com or on Twitter @LaurenSlagter.
BANGOR TOWNSHIP, MI - Bay County residents honored Old Glory during a Flag Day ceremony aboard the USS Edson Tuesday June 14, 2016.

The event was hosted by the Bay City Elks Lodge.

"It's the foundation of our nation," said Elks Lodge member Tony Bosco, "It's a symbol of our beliefs."

It was the first time the Elks Lodge held the ceremony aboard the destroyer. State Rep. Charles Brunner, D-Bay City, and Iraq War veteran Sgt. Douglas Szczepanski gave speeches at the event.

"It has served as a beacon for millions of poor and oppressed refugees abroad and stands as a promise that the under-privileged will not be forgotten," Brunner said.

The ceremony ended with a song by the Harbor Sounds Chorus and a 21-gun salute by the Bay County Veteran Council Honor Guard.

"It represents our country," said David Garn, a member of the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum.
GLADWIN, MI -- A 58-year-old Coleman man accused of being under the influence of marijuana when he crashed into a horse-drawn buggy, killing its Amish driver, is a step closer to facing a trial.

The preliminary examination for Kevin D. Toner was to take place Monday, June 13, in Gladwin County District Court. However, Toner waived his right to have the hearing and his case was then bound over to Circuit Court for further proceedings.

Toner is scheduled for rearraignment before Gladwin County Circuit Judge Roy G. Mienk on Monday, June 20.

Toner is charged with one count of operating a motor vehicle under the influence causing death. According to court records, the substance Toner was reportedly under the influence of was not alcohol, but THC, the main psychoactive component in marijuana.

The charge is a 15-year felony.

Toner's charge stems from a collision that occurred about 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14. Toner was driving a work van westbound on Beaverton Road west of Townhall Road in Beaverton Township when police say he rear-ended an Amish buggy traveling in the same direction.

Inside the buggy were 31-year-old Sarah Stutzman and her three children. Responding medical personnel pronounced Stutzman dead at the scene. The children were transported by ambulance to a Midland hospital and later taken to Covenant HealthCare hospital in Saginaw.

Gladwin County Sheriff Michael Shea has said Toner was cooperative at the scene. Neither Toner, nor passenger Kevin Johnroe of Bay City, were injured in the incident, police have said.
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(Twitter Screenshot)

DETROIT -- Animal control was called to a residence on Detroit's east side to remove a two-foot alligator from its backyard Wednesday.

The reptile was discovered on Strathmoor Street near I-96 and Hubbell Avenue. The Detroit Police Department has not commented on where the alligator may have come from, WDIV-TV reports.

The TV station has a video of the animal control officers capturing the alligator on its website.

While a rare occurrence, this isn't the first time an alligator has found its way to Detroit. Back in 2012, two alligators were spotted in the 8300 block of East Jefferson in Detroit. Both were estimated to be about two-feet long.

"Officers captured one of the reptiles and placed it in a box," MLive reported in 2012. "The other fled to the Detroit River and eluded the law."

A spokesperson with Detroit Animal Control said a press release offering more details would be issued late Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday's alligator spotting came on the heels of an alligator snatching a 2-year-old boy out of the water at a Walt Disney World resort in Florida. The child was presumed dead as authorities and wildlife officials continued to look for the boy's body, the Associated Press reports.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said witnesses estimated the alligator to be between 4 to 7 feet long, AP reports.
As Ralph Reed, the longtime evangelical leader, sees it, Donald Trump did two smart things in his appearance before Reeds Faith & Freedom Coalition Road to Majority conference in Washington recently.

First, Trump showed up. Showing up really matters, and we have not had, either at Faith & Freedom or my preceding work at Christian Coalition, a nominee show up, announced, with a full-dress speech, since George H.W. Bush in 1992, Reed told a small group of reporters after Trumps appearance. (Bob Dole did an unannounced drop-by in 1996, Reed said.)

Second, Trump hit the right notes, according to Reed, focusing on the issues that resonated with the activists in the audience: right to life, traditional marriage, religious freedom, support for Israel, opposition to the Iran nuclear deal.

Yes, Trump did indeed say all the right things. But Trump has often said the right things on Reeds issues. The bigger question is whether there is sufficient basis for conservative voters to believe him.

As an example, I asked Reed about Trumps list of possible Supreme Court justices. Most conservatives said it was a great list, of top-notch candidates. Its just that some of those same conservatives dont trust a President Trump to actually do what he says.

Reeds answer was both confident and nuanced. I trust him, Reed said  and by the way, what has trust gotten us in the past?

Reed explained that he met Trump in 2011 after he, Reed, saw Trump discuss abortion with Fox News Bill OReilly. In a later interview with a religious blogger, Reed praised Trumps performance, and almost immediately after the post hit the internet, Reeds cellphone rang. It was Trump. Reed invited Trump to that years Road to Majority gathering. Trump came, and the two have kept in touch ever since.

Based on that experience, Reed said he has faith in Trump to do what he says. Trump and I developed a relationship, Reed said. And when he says thats what hes going to do, based on my interaction with him, I dont really have any questions about whether or not he means it.

But that wasnt Reeds entire answer. The other thing I would say is, compared to what? he continued. Compared to whom? Reagan, who told us those things, and then appointed Sandra Day OConnor as his first nominee? More than George H.W. Bush, who appointed Souter? I mean who are we talking about?

By that argument, you would never be for any candidate, Reed concluded. Because you would just cross your arms and say, I dont trust them.

Of course, thats exactly what some evangelical leaders say about Trump. I asked Reed about one, the Southern Baptist Conventions Russell Moore, who has called Trump representative of the reality television moral sewage coming through all over our culture. (Moores shot earned a response from Trump calling Moore truly a terrible representative of evangelicals and a nasty guy with no heart.) Is Moore wrong? I asked Reed.

I have a great deal of respect for Russell, hes a good friend, Reed began. (Reed, who has been in evangelical politics for a long time, answers a lot of questions that way.) I just think that its a binary choice between one of two candidates, and given the fact that Hillary Clinton is not only advancing, but I would argue enthusiastically advancing, what we consider to be great moral evils  I just think you have to choose between these two candidates.

During his speech to the Road to Majority gathering a little earlier, Reed took an obvious shot at those faith leaders who cant accept Trump. Describing the extensive voter contact effort his group will launch this fall, Reed said no one should sit on the sidelines.

There are some who counsel timidity and retreat, Reed said. And they recommend that people of faith retreat to the cold comfort of a stained glass ghetto and decline to muddy our boots with the mire and the muck of politics. But that is not an option for followers of Christ. You see, were called to put away our my-way-or-the-highway pride.

Reed stayed publicly neutral during the long Republican primary fight. But now he is touting plans for his groups biggest-ever voter turnout operation. The Faith & Freedom Coalition will distribute 35 million nonpartisan voter guides in 117,000 churches, Reed told the crowd. It will make 15 million phone calls. Send 20 million emails and texts to seven million evangelicals in the key swing states of Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Colorado. Knock on a million doors in those states.

All on behalf of Donald Trump. After all, Trump showed up, which is more than a lot of presumptive nominees have done. In the years before a big race  2007, 2011, 2015, the primary candidates fall all over themselves to speak before groups like Reeds. In the election year, after the nomination is in the bag  not so much. Trump, who after a miserable week mired in controversy over his attacks on the judge in the Trump University case, had reasons of his own for coming. But in return he got the message from Reed that there is at least one (large) part of the evangelical world thats on his side.
Nevadas congressional representatives who represent the states rural communities continue to chip away at the massive federal public lands under the control of various federal agencies in an effort to aid economic development and recreational opportunities.

Both managed to get bills passed out of the House this past week.

Republican Rep. Cresent Hardy of Mesquite saw the House pass his Eastern Nevada Implementation Improvement Act (H.R. 1815) overwhelmingly. The vote was 360 to 7.

Republican Rep. Mark Amodei of Carson City cleared the House on a voice vote with his Nevada Native Nations Land Act (H.R. 2733).

Hardys bill, introduced a year ago, affects tracts in Lincoln, White Pine and Nye counties, as well as the town of Mesquite.

In Lincoln, the bill authorizes efforts to reduce fuels and prevent wildfires that devastate grazing land and damage greater sage grouse habitat.

The bill also corrects language in previous legislation that was blocking creation of a conservation plan for the Virgin River watershed to protect various species and allow Mesquite to acquire land for development.

In addition, the bill releases from the Arc Dome Wilderness Area land containing a small dam that is owned and maintained by the Yamba Tribe, releases from the High Schells Wilderness area land where a frequently used Girl Scout camp is located and adjusts the designation of a road near McCoy Creek and releases from the Mount Moriah Wilderness Area a section that will allow access to the main road and facilities at the Big Canyon Trailhead.

This is a well-balanced, bipartisan piece of legislation that will reduce wild land fire threat and greatly benefit local communities, wildlife and its habitat, and the future management of public lands in Nevada, Hardy said.

Amodeis bill places 70,000 acres of federal public land under the control of six Nevada tribes. The bill allows those tribes to address housing shortages, promote development of natural resources, support additional grazing and agricultural activities, promote renewable energy and preserve cultural resources.

The Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone Tribe will take over 19,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management land in Humboldt County. This will help resolve jurisdictional issues over checkerboard lands  which were created when the railroads were built and they were granted every other section of land along the right of way. It also will enable housing development.

The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation would receive 82 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in Elko County for housing and offices.

The Summit Lake Paiute Tribe would take over 941 acres of BLM land in Humboldt County to unify the reservation around Summit Lake.

The Reno-Sparks Indian Colony would take over 13,000 acres of BLM land in Washoe County to better manage the Hungry Valley residences.

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe gets more than 6,000 acres of BLM land in Washoe County to expand the reservation boundary to fully incorporate the watershed of Pyramid Lake.

The Duckwater Shoshone Tribe receives more than 31,000 acres of BLM land.

I commend my colleagues in the House for joining me to pass this critical piece of legislation that will transfer more than 70,000 acres of Nevada public lands back into local control  empowering those who are best suited to make decisions surrounding economic development, Amodei said. By carefully balancing the unique needs of our Nevada tribal nations with those of local ranchers, land owners, public lands recreationalists and businesses, my bill will allow Nevadans to chart brighter futures for their communities while preserving their cultural heritage and traditions. I urge the Senate to take up this common-sense measure as soon as possible.

While these two efforts are welcome, the House needs to press forward with Amodeis Honor the Nevada Enabling Act of 1864 Act (H.R.1484), which was introduced more than a year ago and has been referred to two subcommittees of the Committee on Natural Resources. The bill calls on Congress to hand over 7.2 million acres of federal public land to Nevada in a first phase  only a little more than 10 percent of the federal land in Nevada.

The bill states: The Federal Government promised all new States, in their statehood enabling Act contracts, that it would dispose of federally controlled public lands within the borders of those States, but it failed to honor the promise.

Now, that would be significant.
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Planning and Finance Minister U Kyaw Win received a barrage of requests to cut taxes during a meeting with a group of almost 50 business associations in Yangon earlier this week.





The minister met with entrepreneurs at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, to ask their opinions on economic development and learn about the challenges they face.

Overwhelmingly, businesspeople asked for taxes to be reduced or restructured. The new government has prioritised tax collection as it tries to climb off the bottom rung of tax yields worldwide.

An official from the Myanmar Gems and Jewellery Entrepreneurs Association said that lower taxes would help to legalise trade. Most gems imports from abroad are illegal but if taxes were lowered we could have an official trade, he told the finance minister. The ministry should consider removing the special commodities tax on gems and jewellery, and charging only commercial tax.

The special commodities tax was passed by the former government in January under the Union Tax Law for 2016, payable in addition to income tax and capital gains tax.

It is charged on landed costs for imports, or on sales proceeds for locally produced goods, and applies to alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, teak, jade, gems, precious stones, jewellery, vehicles, natural gas, petrol and other fuels.

U Kyaw Win, chair of the Myanmar Gold Entrepreneurs Association, said the special commodities tax is also causing problems for gold traders. Gold is not like other commodities, because consumers buy it and sell it back again. The ministry should reconsider the tax system for gold, because it is not appropriate to charge a tax on every sale, he said.





Gold shop owners are finding it difficult to charge the special tax to buyers when they make jewellery, and some have run into problems.

The government should also consider establishing a central gold market, he said. A gold and metals exchange is on the cards, though state media reported earlier this week that plans had been shelved due to a lack of enthusiasm among traders.

U Myint Soe, chair of the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association, asked the minister to cut taxes on his industry entirely. The garment sector in Myanmar depends on the cut-make-pack model, which operates on narrow margins, he said.

Until the sector develops, it is unfair to charge a 2 percent export tax, he added, We require a 0pc commercial tax on both imports and exports, not just on imports.

In Mon State, high vehicle taxes promote smuggling, said U Hla Shein, chair of Mon State Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He asked U Kyaw Win to cut licence registration fees for motorbikes from K1 million to K100,000. The cost of registering for a licence is so high that there are many illegal motorbikes. If you amend this, the country will benefit from more tax, he said.

U Kyaw Win said that he had taken the issues on board. Tax is a cornerstone of economic development. I will consider the facts presented in this meeting; there are some things that can be amended and some that cannot. Above all, we will prioritise the interests of the country.

Under the military regime domestic businesses typically evaded taxes. According to the Asian Development Bank, Myanmar has one of the lowest levels of tax yield in the world. It said the actual tax yield was calculated at just 6.6 percent of economic output in the 2013 fiscal year.

Since U Thein Seins government took power in 2011, tax collection has been slowly improving, though evasion remains the norm. The annual list of top taxpayers published by the IRD since 2014 shows payments are rising, with the highest revenues coming from import-export businesses and the banking sector.

The revenue department collected over K158 billion in tax in the 2011-12 financial year, over K402 billion in 2012-13, over K412 billion in 2013-14 and more than K549 billion in the 2014-15 financial year.

Translation by Khant Lin Oo
Frustrated with complex procedures, taxes and advantages held by Chinese traders in the border town of Muse, fruit farmers in upper Myanmar have floated the idea of forming companies in the hope of finding strength in numbers.





In May, the government tried to help farmers and small-scale importers and exporters in Northern Shan State, Mandalay and Sagaing regions by raising the five-day individual trading quota to K15 million. Fruit sellers say this has not helped, as business is still constrained by complex procedures and arbitrary taxes.

Mango traders said they are frustrated with a long-standing dispute over duty fees with brokers in Shan States Muse, on the border with China.

Even if we use the individual trading cards we still have to use brokers in Muse to sell our produce and they charge us K180 per box, said Mandalay Region Mango Association vice chair Ko Kyaw Soe Naing.

Individual Trading Cards were introduced in 2012 to help the government regulate commerce. More than 300 cards were issued at 18 trading points in 2014-15 and 146 cards were distributed last fiscal year.

The government sees them as a solution to the taxation problem; last year commerce ministry director U Zaw Min told farmers in Muse that if they carried an ITC, they would not need to pay fees.

This is not the case, say farmers, who have been trying to solve the problem for several years. A new association formed in May will meet at the end of the mango season at the end of June to discuss solutions, said Ko Kyaw Soe Naing.





We will discuss forming a company. We are not sure whether it will be a private or a public business  that will depend on what everyone wants.

As Chinese demand for Myanmar watermelons shows no signs of slowing, local watermelon farmers are also considering forming their own company, said U San Linn, deputy chair of a local association.

ITC cards are good for importing agricultural machinery and for individual direct selling, but not for fruit farmers, he said.

For us, selling through centres is better than using the ITC. I think the ITC procedures are hard for the farmers, he said. Instead of selling individually, we are planning to form a public company.

Competition from Chinese traders is rising, even within Myanmar. Many are now cutting out the middleman and extending their reach deep into the country to deal directly with fruit farmers, and opening their own fruit shops in Muse.

Now, Chinese brokers are connecting directly with the farmers, giving them money, equipment and seeds. This is making life hard for small local traders, Sai Khin Maung, secretary of the Muse fruit retailers association, told The Myanmar Times last year.

They profit on both sides of the border, buying fruit cheaply in Myanmar and selling it on in China.
He left his heart in Phon Kan Razi. Now, travel photographer Kyaw Kyaw Winn, having braved biting sand flies, foul weather, avalanches and frostbite, has achieved his dream of half a lifetime and conquered its snow-capped peak.





Phon Kan Razi, at 3635 metres, boasts the mildest and lowest slopes of northern Myanmars mountains. Yet it does not lack for beauty, mystery and danger.

Kyaw Kyaw Winn became a photographer in 2001, and conceived an ambition to promote the high and lonely places of Kachin State in the hope of making at least their base camps more accessible by road.

When I became a travel photographer 15 years ago, I dreamt of reaching those snow-capped mountains, he said, inspired by the spectre of the highest peaks in Southeast Asia.

It was something I had to do before I died, he said.

But cost, time and distance conspired to keep him from his goal.

Last year his friend, photographer Kyaw Thar, climbed three of those mountains. The pictures he took from their peaks filled Kyaw Kyaw Winn with fresh inspiration.





Last April, along with Kyaw Thar and another photographer with some experience of climbing, Kyaw Kyaw Winn set off on the long road to Phon Kan Razi, about 60 miles (97 kilometres) northwest of Putao in Kachin State.

Phon Kan Razi base camp lies four or five days out from Putao by foot. A hardy and experienced alpinist can make the summit from the camp in four hours.

It took just a few hours to reach the summit from base camp, but it took several days to reach the base camp from Putao. If the road to the base camp was accessible by car or motorbike, it would attract a lot of climbing enthusiasts, he said.

Kyaw Kyaw Winn is under no illusions about the relative ease of his conquest. Residents of Ze Yar Dan village in its foothills often stroll up it just for fun.

Luckily for them, they dont have to face the challenges of getting to the base camp, which include ferocious sand flies, drenching rain and dense forest.

The itching from the bites lasted for days. That was the worst, he said.

But his trip sparked interest abroad after he hosted an exhibition of the photographs he took during his trip to the mountain on May 28.

Foreigners were unaware we had mountains. They asked me how to get there, he said.

Next year I will climb a higher mountain, and promote that one as well, he vowed.
A military helicopter crashed and burst into flames in Bago Region yesterday, killing all three of the officers onboard, according to an official statement.





The incident was attributed to poor weather.

The Mi-2 helicopter was flying from Meiktila to Hmawbi yesterday morning, but went down around mile post 72 along the Yangon-Mandalay highway, according to a statement released by the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services.

The helicopter took off at 8:40am yesterday following repairs at the Meiktila Air Force Base. It stopped at Taungoo Air Force Base at 10:30am for a fuel refill and kept flying toward Hmawbi at 11:30am. The aircraft crashed into a ravine near Gonenyin creek, in Bago Regions Daik-U township.

According to yesterdays statement the three crew members died instantly.

According to the Defence Services, pilot Major Yan Naing Htoo, associate pilot Captain Tun Tun Naing and Sergeant Tin Tun Lwin were all onboard. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash.

When contacted by The Myanmar Times, U Aung Ye Htun, deputy secretary of the transportation ministry, declined to comment yesterday and deferred questions to the Ministry of Defence. It is a military issue and not related to the ministry, he said.





Defence ministry spokesperson Major General Aung Ye Win declined to provide any further information than indicated in the official statement.

Dont ask me more. We already published a statement. This is all that we can say for now, he said.

In February, five military crew members died when a Beechcraft passenger plane crashed in a field in Nay Pyi Taw soon after take-off on a test flight.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun
Local aid groups in southern Rakhine State said they found six bodies of people killed by high water levels yesterday, while government aid has started arriving for flood-affected villages.





U Myint Moe, a member of a local aid group in Thandwe, warned the final death toll could rise. Four of the bodies found by the group were young girls aged between 11 and 14 years from Taunggok township. The other two victims were Thandwe township residents.

We have alerted everybody in order to find out whether family members are still missing because we have found some bodies but are not able to confirm the total number of deaths yet, U Myint Moe said.

The Thandwe Red Cross confirmed that six bodies were found yesterday.

Ko Kyaw Zayra, a resident from Taunggok township, said the girls bodies had been recovered near the river at a point far from the village, leading him to think they had attempted to cross it.

Floodwaters in southern Rakhine State have left at least 700 people homeless and in need of aid after monsoon rains struck last weekend.

Ko Tun Thant Kyaw, a resident from Shwe Hlay village in Thandwe township, said the government had started supplying aid yesterday after three ministers visited the affected areas.

The government provided over 200 tents on June 14 and small amounts of medicines as well as purified water, but it is not enough, he said.





Over 5800 households, or 26,000 people, were affected by the floods, according to initial data from the Department of Relief and Resettlement. Daw Phyu Lae Lae Tun, the departments director, said that the department is supporting four areas  Rakhine State and Sagaing, Bago, and Ayeyarwady regions. A total of 246 houses have been swept away and some houses have been damaged by the floods, she said.

The department said that two people from Wuntho township in Sagaing Region were killed by floodwaters on June 9 and over 5500 households were innundated by floods in Kawlin township. In Ayeyarwady Region, 46 households from Kyankhin township have been affected. In Bago Region, 13 household were temporarily transferred to dry land after houses were swept away by water. In Padaung township, Bago, 90 household were affected.

Daw Phyu Lae Lae Tun emphasised that the public should listen to the weather warning and be as prepared as possible.

The publics cooperation is needed to avoid disasters because people know the nature of their local weather conditions best. The residents should be aware of the departments protection guidelines and how to prepare for any inclement disaster, she said.

U Kyaw Lwin Oo, director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), blamed the heavy monsoon in Myanmars coastal area on a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal. The total rainfall from June 15 to 21 in the delta, Mon, Rakhine and Kachin states, and Tanintharyi and upper Sagaing regions is expected to be between 8 and 12 inches, he said.

U Kyaw Lwin Oo added that the monsoon is expected to range from moderate to strong in the delta, as well as in the Mon and Tanintharyi coastal areas starting June 15. After June 18, the same is expected for the delta and Rakhine coastal areas.

When the monsoon is strong, heavy rain is expected in the whole region and isolated heavy rain could occur. It is called the primary hazard of a strong monsoon. The secondary hazards are increasing water levels in rivers, landslides and floods, he said.

According to the DMH, the strength of monsoon is forecasted to be strong from June 14 to June 16 and strong winds can blow from 35 to 40 miles per hour (56-64 kilometres) in the coastal area.

Rainfall will be low in Yangon and Bago regions after heavy rain for about two more days, deputy director general U Kyaw Moe Oo said.

He warned of high water levels.

People who live near streams and small rivers need to be aware of flooding following heavy rain. People who work in the sea, on fishing boats or water transportation, they need to watch out for rough sea conditions when the monsoon is strong, he said.
A solar-powered scheme to deliver water door to door has rescued a Magwe Region village from the fear of drought  and given it a future. In Bin village, Pauk township, had been gradually dying of thirst over the past several years, its population draining away as people sought work, and access to water, elsewhere. Now villagers say they will stay, and the community looks set to prosper.





Instead of waiting all night by the villages single well, hoping it could supply enough water for their needs the following morning, all the villagers have to do is turn on the tap in their own kitchen.

The transformation cost each villager about K25,000.

In Bin is located about two-and-a-half hours drive from Bagan, and can be approached through Pakokku, Kan Ma and Pauk. Fields adjacent to the village are harrowed for cereal on either side of the road. A nearby stream had dried up, revealing only a sandy bed. But roadside trees in the village were green and lush.

The head of the quiet, clean village said 667 residents occupy 115 households.

But many spend little time there, having taken work in Lashio or even Yangon. They come home only for the annual Tabaung pagoda festival in March.

The villages only well is half a mile away. It is an unreliable source, and often villagers would have to spend the whole night beside it waiting for enough water to accumulate. They lived with constant drought, or fear of drought.





We had to wait at the well all night to get water. Our children couldnt bathe. I wanted to get out because of the drought, said resident Daw Khine, 40. Villagers even bathed in their cattle mangers to save water for the livestock.

All that is now in the past. With the help of the UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the Department of Rural Development and the UK Department for International Development, the villagers have built a solar-powered door-to-door water distribution system. Underground water is pumped by solar power into a tank that stands on a hill in front of the local primary school, and is then distributed by underground pipelines to every house via a water meter. The supply can be accessed at any time of day or night.

U Tun Myint Aye, head of the village and a patron of the water committee, said the committee would use the water rates collected to offer loans to villagers for business use.

A number of nearby villages have also benefited from the same project. U Kyaw Win, a patron of the water supply committee in nearby Kan Pyo village, said, UNICEF and the Department of Rural Development invited all the villages nearby to build a water supply system. It was at a time when many workers were leaving because of the drought. With this project, we have no more worries about water and we can run businesses in our villages.

He said the village water committee collects K3 million a year in water charges, which they lend to villagers at low interest.

Daw Khine said she had paid K25,000 toward the scheme. Before, I was ashamed to invite guests to my home because there was no water. Now I dont mind who comes. I can live here until I die, she said.

A near neighbour, Daw Ohn Htay, 49, who has nine children, said, I cried when we got the water. Lack of water was a problem for so many years. We could never use a single drop without thinking about it. Now our three family members can get on with their work without wasting their time waiting for water. Our family earns much more than before. I can use as much water as I need.

U Khin Aung Thein, project manager for UNICEF, said the agency had been working with the Department for Rural Development, with DFID funding, to bring water to 110 villages in the dry zone, and that the project could be extended elsewhere in the country. About 70 of the villages had already installed door-to-door water supply systems.

U Khant Zaw, director general of the department, said they were working in about 64,000 villages throughout the country with a target date of 2030 to provide all of them with similar systems, spending K25 to K30 billion to provide water to more than 2000 villagers annually.
A BBC reporter convicted of assaulting a police officer during a scrum in Mandalay will appeal for a reduced sentence, his lawyer told The Myanmar Times.





Ko Nay Myo Lin, also called Ko Nay Lin, was sentenced to three months in prison with hard labour by Chan Mya Tharsi Township Court on June 6. He was charged under section 332 of the penal code for attacking a civil servant on duty and faced up to three years behind bars.

But Ko Nay Myo Lin, who works as a journalist for the BBC Burmese service, disputes the charge, as did dozens of witnesses called to testify about the police-led crackdown on a student protest in March 2015 during which the alleged offence took place.

Media outlets and Ko Nay Myo Lins lawyer have since said that the Mandalay-based reporter may have unintentionally pushed a police officer during the crackdown.

We will submit the appeal whenever Ko Nay Myo Lin wants to. The case was not committed with any intention to harm. If any hurt happened, it was done accidentally. The police and media are friends and both sides should support a mutually beneficial relationship, said advocate U Thein Than Oo, one of Ko Nay Myo Lins lawyers.

If they [the police] are fighting for peace then they should be able to forgive. And if so, they should forgive reporter Ko Nay Myo Lin for something accidentally committed.

We submitted an appeal for the court to consider reducing the sentence of three months. We hope he will be acquitted, said U Thein Than Oo.

Ko Nay Myo Lin said outside the court on the day of the verdict that the conviction was not fair, and that he believed the police were behind it.





Media organisations have slammed the conviction.

Burma News International yesterday released an appeal calling on the government to review the case and pardon Ko Nay Myo Lin for unintentionally push[ing] a Burmese police officer in a commotion.

The Foreign Correspondents Club of Myanmar said in a statement following the verdict, We believe that such a harsh sentence meted out against a journalist could tarnish the image of the new civilian government that espouses flourishment [sic] of democracy and reforms.

The BBC said in its own statement that it will continue to work with his [Ko Nay Myo Lins] lawyer to support his appeal.

Translation by Emoon
A textile factory embroiled in a contract dispute is being sued by the Mandalay Region labour ministry, according to government officials.





It is the first time a company will be sued under the 2013 Employment and Skill Development Law, according to U Min Min Win, deputy director of the Department of Labour. The factory is up against charges for allegedly breaching its employment contract after instituting changes to the agreement in April.

The amendment of the contract was one-sided, from the employers side. A contract can be amended or cancelled, but agreement is needed from both sides under the law. I have submitted the case to the judge who will decide whether its a breach of contract or not, U Min Min said.

Over 200 workers from Panda Textile Factory in Singu township have been staging a sit-in protest since June 3, after the companys management ordered the labourers in March to come in on Saturdays and Sundays. The employer refused to pay workers who would not agree to the weekend shift, according to the labourers. Workers are demanding wage cuts be reversed and to have their previous contract reinstituted.

Our sit-in protest has not been cancelled yet. Were still going even though it is raining. We request [the factory] follow our old contract. We demand it because the company breached the contract, Ko Hla Ko, a leader of the workers, told The Myanmar Times.

Panda Textile Factory issued an official letter in March announcing it would adopt a 44-hour work week with eight-hour days in accordance with sections 59 and 62 of the 1951 Factories Act, according to factory general manager Daw Tin Tin Shwe. She said the factory will accept the courts decision but disputed the accusation that the factory had ever breached contract.

Such cases happen because the current labour law is confused, she said. We will try as hard as we can to prove we didnt breach the law ... We let the workers know about the changes to the working hours in advance. We issued an official letter.

One thing I want the [labour ministry] to consider is how we can be expected to manage workers later if every time there is a dispute they fulfill the workers demands, she said.





Section 39 of the Employment and Skill Development Law stipulates that anyone in breach of an employment contract can be sentenced to a maximum of three months in prison, a fine or both.

The Panda factory was formerly run by the Ministry of Industry as No 2 Textile and Garment Factory.

Translation by Khant Lin Oo
The government has denied ordering a controversial nationwide ban on the popular stimulant betel. A statement issued by the State Counsellors Office yesterday said non-specific instructions were issued to state and region authorities last month advising them to curb usage of the carcinogenic chewing nut, but not to outright outlaw it.





There has been no instruction to ban betel sale by force, said the State Counsellors Office statement. [State and region officials] were told to follow the rules and laws by educating and campaigning to get public cooperation.

Last month, the Union government instructed ministries, along with state and region governments, to develop and implement plans to reduce betel usage due to ongoing public health and environment concerns. The order also instructed all government employees not to chew betel during office hours, and not to allow any betel vendors within government facilities.

But the instructions appear to have been interpreted by some as licence to shut down the widespread industry.

Betel farmers told The Myanmar Times they were afraid a decision to ban sales of betel near hospitals, schools, government offices and tourist attractions would wipe out their livelihoods.

A spokesperson for the health ministry yesterday denied any responsibility for the campaign against betel in Yangon, which he said was the brainchild of the region government. Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein could not be reached for comment yesterday. He does not have a spokesperson, and has previously told reporters that he is the only spokesperson for the region government.

The State Counsellors Offices statement suggested its instructions had been misconstrued further down the hierarchy, leading to unintended consequences such as bans, and resentment, gaining traction in various parts of the country.





On May 27, Kayah State authorities took aim at betel chewers in Bawlakhe township with a ban that has since garnered much attention, public outcry and copycat instructions in other areas.

Quoting municipal laws, the government statement yesterday explicitly spelled out that betel sale is not prohibited.

In carrying out executive duties, including the campaign for the reduction of betel chewing and the irresponsible behaviour of betel spitting, care should be taken not to go beyond the legal provisions, and not to do things by force. Various levels of executives should try to set themselves as an ideal for rule of law, the statement said.

Officials were reminded that using executive power to exert force on or bully citizens is not the way democratically elected governments act and violates instructions to rule by mercy.

During a meeting last month with state and region chief ministers, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said that in exercising executive powers official should focus on reforming and instituting the rule of law in conjunction with legal consultation from experts.

The Presidents Office is currently conducting online and off-line public opinion polls on how to deal with the betel issue. President Offices deputy director general U Zaw Htay said the government is trying to assess how people perceive betel chewing.

As of yesterday the online results reveal that 54 percent of poll respondents support a ban on betel, gambling, narcotic drugs and alcohol, while 25pc voted that they totally support the campaign for reducing betel chewing and spitting. Only 1pc voted against the campaign.

A recent Ministry of Health and World Health Organization survey showed that 62pc of men and 24pc of women in Myanmar use smokeless tobacco products such as betel, which contains both tobacco and areca nut  both known carcinogens.
Police are to mount a crackdown in four Yangon Region townships to restore the rule of law in what have been deemed crime black spots. The regional parliament announced the plan yesterday, identifying targets as drug trafficking, gambling, protection rackets and illegal massage parlours.





Officers will patrol Hlaing Tharyar, South Dagon, Kamaryut and Thanlyin townships in vice squads in a bid to cut crime figures, said Colonel Tin Aung Tun, the security and border affairs minister for the region. Addressing parliament, the minister revealed his plans.

We will occupy the entire township of Hlaing Tharyar with a view to making arrests of people engaged in criminal conduct, he said.

The crackdown comes as 13 MPs had demanded immediate action over drug trafficking into Yangon Region. U Kyaw Kyaw Tun, MP for Hlaing township, said young people were at risk from narcotics, and most were already using tobacco.

The sale of cigarettes and betel near schools and universities has been banned, but they are still being sold, he said.

The security minister responded that narcotics abuse was a matter of concern for all, and everybody shared the responsibility to prevent illegal trade in drugs to young people.

Since January, 689 people have been arrested for possession of drugs, 1050 for selling alcohol without a licence, seven people for running illegal massage parlours and two people for human trafficking.

Drug trafficking will not disappear in our country as long as there are ethnic armed groups, said Col Tin Aung Tun. He added that 362 arrests had been made for illegal gambling and K30 million seized from gambling joints.





Police have also arrested 1133 escapees from prisons and labour camps, as well as military absconders and deserters, since January.

Parliament heard that drug lords exported heroin and amphetamines from Shan State to Bangladesh and Thailand, and ice or methamphetamine from northern Shan State was smuggled across the border, while drugs were also exported to Bangladesh.

Myanmar is considered the hub of drug production for the region, with seizures in Thailand, Bangladesh and China all sourcing back to the country.

Myanmar remains the second-largest producer of opium in the world, but is also increasingly involved in the production of synthetic drugs like ice, according to the UN Office of Drugs and Crime.

In a record seizure, police netted US$106 million worth of methamphetamine tablets in a single raid in Mingaladon township last year.
The National Blood Center is urging more Yangonites  both local and foreign  to give blood.





Between 500 and 700 additional donations are needed per month for the institution to hit its targets.

This call came as part of yesterdays World Blood Donor Day, where the health industry took stock of recent progress around the subject.

Blood transfusions contribute to saving countless lives in Myanmar each year. They can be used in a variety of medical procedures  from emergency care to cancer treatment.

The deputy director general of the National Blood Center, Dr Thida Aung, told The Myanmar Times that donating blood has become increasingly common in Yangon.

Figures show that about 12,000 voluntary donations were received in 2003 compared with more than 55,000 in 2015.

The rise is credited to more public outreach and increased understanding about the importance and ease of giving blood.





But this is still much less than in developed countries, Dr Thida Aung said.

She made particular mention of the fact that there was a constant need for rare blood types, adding that foreigners may be the missing piece of this puzzle as rarer blood types can be more common in people of European heritage.

Several international entities such as embassies and United Nations offices are already involved in regular blood donation programs in Yangon.

We need to find a new generation of donors to help patients  I am optimistic that more and more people will start to donate, Dr Thida Aung said.

A spokesperson for the World Health Organization in Myanmar said that an estimated 18 million units of blood are required every year in Southeast Asia. Out of these, 15.9 million units are collected annually  around 2 million units less than needed.

As the Myanmar healthcare system continues to expand and develop, more donations will be needed to meet national demands, she said.

Any healthy person aged 18 to 60 who satisfies minimum health requirements is encouraged to donate blood.

The call for more blood donors was made across the world yesterday.

Although we have many external differences, the same vital blood pumps through all our veins, said World Health Organization director general Margaret Chan.

Voluntary, unpaid blood donation is the act of giving life - the greatest gift any person can give or receive.

For more information about donating blood at the National Blood Center contact 01-372753.
To mark International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, Yangon police this year will destroy a record amount of seized illicit narcotics.





Police Brigadier General Win Naing from the Yangon Police Force said the amount will be three times higher than last year.

The Yangon Region Police Force will destroy illicit drugs seized in 2015 in lower Myanmar. This includes nearly 5.4 million amphetamine tablets, but some illicit drugs are excluded from the list because court cases related to them have yet to be finished, Police Major Hla Wai said.

The drugs that will be destroyed were confiscated in Bago, Tanintharyi and Ayeyarwady regions, as well as in Mon, Rakhine and Kayin states, by the Border Guard Police Force and the Highway Police Force, he said.

On June 24, 5.2 million amphetamine tablets will be destroyed, along with 1 kilogram of heroin, 21kg of dried poppy latex, 50kg of hemp and up to 400 ecstasy tablets, said Pol Maj Hla Wai, adding that the drugs from Rakhine State had yet to be transferred to Yangon.

More than 1.8 million amphetamine tablets were burned last year.

Drug-burning ceremonies will be held in Yangon, Mandalay and Taunggyi on June 24. A total of 468 drug cases have been handled in Yangon Region so far this year. An award ceremony for a drawing competition celebrating the day against drugs will be held at the Yangon Drug Elimination Museum on June 26.





Translation by Zar Zar Soe
Ever since Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, now state counsellor, admitted to the media that she is not an icon of democracy or a human rights defender so much as a working politician, she has been subjected to relentless criticism.





I believe criticisms of her human rights record are premature. In their interpretation of Myanmars practical politics during the transition, analysts have missed countless significant points, among which I would cite the following:

After 53 years of military dictatorship, the country is now ruled by a democratically elected government. The peaceful transfer of power that took place following last Novembers election was the first this country has ever known. In this unknown territory, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has to move cautiously to consolidate her legitimate power through non-violent means. Though her party won a landslide victory because of her personal popularity, she was barred from the presidency by the 2008 constitution drafted by the military.

Secondly, the current leadership of the Tatmadaw wants to maintain the status quo. There is no immediate prospect of effective civilian control over the military, one of the hallmarks of a democratic state.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has prioritised national reconciliation as the country strives to end the armed conflicts around its northern and western fringes. Her proposed 21st-century Panglong Conference is the first vital step toward the goal of restoring peace between the army and ethnic armed groups, for the benefit of all.

Without peace, job creation opportunities are limited and economic development constrained. The nation should not waste any more opportunities during this transition.

Thirdly, there was no equality, justice, human rights or democratic culture for nearly three generations in Myanmar. After she returned from the United Kingdom, The Lady spread the ideas of the Magna Carta such as human rights, liberty and bills of rights. Without her, Myanmars human rights and democratic movements would not have become globalised. She spent more than a decade as a political prisoner defending and promoting values of human rights and social justice in Myanmar. Allegations that she has abandoned such principles to become a dictator and enforcer of authoritarianism are an utter fallacy.





Fourthly, the country needs to be given a full fiscal year in order to efficiently identify problems and solutions before a performance-based analysis can be conducted. To make conclusions about the abilities of the current government, which has held power for less than 100 days, is unwise.

For democracy to truly operate in Myanmar, the elected civilian representatives need to have control of the armed forces, including ethic armed organisations and the Tatmadaw. It is the right time to urge the Myanmar army to return to their barracks and to press ethnic armed groups to lay down their guns. It is the right time for Myanmar to stop being a battlefield and become instead a global marketplace.

Fifthly, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has embodied Otto von Bismarcks saying that politics is the art of the possible. Barred from the presidency, and put in a seemingly impossible bind, she strategically countered the constitutions 59(f) clause by creating the role of the state counsellor, enabling her to occupy the promised position above the president. No political leader in Myanmar has ever gained more legitimacy than her in post-independence Myanmar. She was able to wield the power and legitimacy the election results granted her into becoming the institutional leader of Myanmar.

Finally, she is fulfilling the values of thitsa (loyalty) and mitta (love) as she crafts the national reconciliation cabinet with the old military personnel who once arrested her. She is again, in this case, proving her legitimacy as a political leader.

A performance-based analysis critiquing the state counsellor and foreign ministers achievements as a leader can be carried out one or two years from now. An overly hasty analysis will not accomplish anything.

Naing Ko Ko is a PhD student at the Regulatory Institutions Network at the College of Asia and the Pacific at Australian National University.
The families of the homegrown nursery group, christened Babalia, in the Poble Sec neighborhood of Barcelona. Juan Barbosa

Im going to paint my hair! sings four-year-old India from the improvised stage in a square in the neighborhood of Poble Sec in Barcelona.

Surrounded by her friends and companions in the homespun nursery where she is being brought up, India is one of the tribal set. Babalia began in 2011 as a parenting project in which various families got together to share the job, explains Indias mother, Julia Le-Senne, 27.

This tribal model of nursery education is growing rapidly, not only due to the lack of places at public nurseries and the cost of private ones but also because it is seen to make sense for the child. Even left-leaning CUP party spokesperson Anna Gabriel has declared that she is in favor of children being brought up by the tribe.

In Barcelona alone there must be 30 of these groups. Catalonia is very keen on this alternative

Conventional families are not particularly enriching for a child, said Gabriel, triggering an avalanche of criticism  directed not only at her words but also at this type of education.

Bringing children up as part of a group is nothing new, says a a member of ACEIM, the association for kindergartens in Madrid. It can work, but there are two problems. The first is whether it provides a good base for the next phase of education. The second is that these projects fall below the radar.

Controversial they may be, but in Spain there are now 130 such groups, according to the alternative database for education, Ludus. In Barcelona alone there must be 30. Catalonia is very keen on this alternative, says Le-Senne. It is really something that people have been doing since time began.

While India sings, her mother and father cook. Babalia has organized a fideua party in the neighborhood in which all the parents are involved, though not so much in the care of the children as in the preparations.

India and her friends from Babalia at a fideua party organized by their parents. Juan Barbosa

When Babalia was first established, each parent took a turn of being the teacher, but the idea was abandoned when the kids played up. Now they appoint specific parents to the task. Who they are and how they work is, of course, decided by the group.

The families don't live together, but they establish a very strong bond, says Martine Mancini, 31, who takes care of the children along with another parent. From 9am to 4pm, they engage their small charges in different activities inside a building donated by La Base association. But they also go out on expeditions. For example, one day a week they visit an old peoples home, where, as India puts it, they play with the grandparents.

The parents pay 220 a month, which is about half what they might pay at a conventional private nursery. The costs are low, partly because of the donated building and partly because of the parents cooperation  the 20 families take turns producing an ecological lunch for their children and they also club together for car rides and outings.

The parents pay 220 a month, which is about half what they might pay at a conventional private nursery

We agree not only on the educational line we want to take, but also on how often we want to go out, says Le-Senne. Babalia works because we have an educational model in common. It's really lovely to see how confident the little ones feel in the group.

The emotional well-being of the children is one thing, but there are those who are concerned that, even at this young age, the children should be schooled in the established system. While not totally against the tribal method, Adela Coello, Vice President of ACEIM and the director of the private nursery Nanos in Madrid since the 1980s, argues: You would have to see how the child develops and if he or she is as prepared as their peers when its time to start school. Its not that the tribal model cant work, its just that society isnt ready for this yet. It has been tried at different periods in the past and hasnt always delivered.

I dont understand why we cant simply be different, says Carolina del Olmo, Director of Culture at the Circulo de Bellas Artes, philosopher and author of the book, Where Is My Tribe?, in which she talks about the loss of ideas and values that belonged to the extended family and the community  both of which are in decline.

People are scandalized by talk of the tribe but its clear that the nuclear family no longer works, she continues. Taking children to school to be with people they neither know nor choose to be with, or getting a childminder to look after the child all day is now seen as normal. Spending two hours a day with the child themselves is also considered normal. But a parenting group strikes them as madness.

The inspiration for these groups is often drawn from so-called free education philosophy, which is based on respect, confidence building and nurturing the childs emotional development

Le-Senne believes that children are looked upon as possessions, which is why there is such an individualistic approach to bringing them up. But while modern society sees a childs development as the responsibility of the parents alone, the tribe considers it to be shared. After all, as Le-Senne points out, children are our future.

The inspiration for these groups is often drawn from so-called free education philosophy, which is based on respect, confidence building and nurturing the childs emotional development. In fact, there is a crossover with the Montessori method, which originated at the end of the 19th century, and with Rudolph Steiners Waldorf schools.

In an era in which creativity is so highly appreciated, more and more people are keen to offer their children a different, more stimulating education. In Britain, the popularity of Montessori schools has rocketed by 65% since Prince George started attending one in Norfolk after Christmas. And according to research from Yale University, 300 state schools have introduced the Montessori method to the classroom in the US in the past 15 years.

The children can develop in an environment of love and respect without pressure, explains Pam, another mother from the Poble Sec tribe.

By definition, tribal nurseries stop at the age of six. Subsequently, the children will be obliged to pore over text books and memorize the names of numerous mountains and rivers, though the perceived dryness of the Spanish education system has also seen a surge of alternatives in primary and secondary education, such as the Roure School in Alto Penedes, which takes children up to the age of 16, or the Escuela Libre Micael in Madrid.

We have created a community and a network of support. We dont share the parenting because were not that organized

When their children are older, many parents feel confined by the demands of society to remain within the system, but at nursery level, the tribal option is gaining momentum. Martha Monaster, mother of two, belongs to the Arganzuela Tribe, a group of parents who support each other in the Arganzuela neighborhood of Madrid.

We have created a community and a network of support. We dont share the parenting because were not that organized, she says.

For some reason, there is an association between this method and what happened on the Israeli Kibbutz, which was famous for communal childrearing. In fact, the urban education tribes have little or nothing to do with Israeli model, which was peculiar to a very specific set of circumstances.

Meanwhile, in the square in Poble Sec, some children are still singing, microphones in hand, but India has deserted the stage and is drawing with chalk on the ground. Close by is a stall filled with childrens clothes and shoes. These have been donated by the families and are on sale for a euro or two. Instead of buying everything new, we recycle and the money helps support Babalia, explains Indias mother, whose parting words are: Now that we dont have family clans, we have our tribe.

English version by Heather Galloway.
Mariano Rajoy and German chancellor Angela Merkel in December. EFE

The date is February 19, 2015. Acting Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy arrives at a key European Council meeting to discuss the UK referendum on remaining in the EU. There are around 200,000 Spaniards living in Britain and their future could be compromised if Brussels allows London to discriminate against European workers.

The first session stretches on. All the leaders take turns speaking to draw their own red lines in lengthy addresses. All, except one. Diplomats who were present at the gathering say that Rajoy employed fewer than 50 words to express support for the conclusions, and to say that any limitation to freedom of movement should be temporary.

In percentage terms, Rajoys statement represents one percent of all words uttered at the meeting. Nobody in the room spoke less than the leader of the regions fifth largest economy.

The Germany of the South became once again your stereotypical Club Med

Josef Janning, ECFR

And that was no exception. With few exceptions, Rajoys voice has barely been heard at the Council, say diplomats from six delegations.

For this and other reasons, Spain is losing clout in Brussels. It was already fading into the background under former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who was never comfortable in Brussels and was ultimately forced into a corner in May 2010 and made to take the axe to Spains public spending.

Rajoy has been apathetic during every visit to the European capital, in contrast with the proactive attitudes of his foreign and economy ministers, Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo and Luis de Guindos. The rest of his cabinet are nowhere to be seen. Spain may head the global unemployment charts, but the acting labor minister, Fatima Banez, has missed half the EU meetings on the subject.

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Spain punched above its weight during the administration of Felipe Gonzalez in the 1980s and 1990s, and kept up a high profile under his successor, Jose Maria Aznar.

But the nations influence in the EU has been visibly waning ever since then. The reason has partly to do with the crisis and a bank bailout that cost 40 billion and eroded Spains credibility on the international markets. It is also partly because Madrid has lost all its battles for positions of influence: it lost its seat on the European Central Bank and failed to secure the presidency of the Eurogroup for De Guindos.

Above all, however, its a problem of attitude, say observers. Madrid barely proposes any initiatives, it is incapable of forging alliances except with Germany, none of which has produced a return on investment and it has shown a reactive attitude on all major issues, including the refugee crisis.

A recent study by the Pew Research Center shows that half of Spaniards believe Spain is playing a smaller role in the EU than it did 10 years ago. And elites share the feeling: a survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) among high-ranking EU officials and think tanks suggests that Spain has lost significant ground compared since the 1990s, when it threatened to overtake Italys influence.

The bailout changed Europeans perception [of Spain]: the Germany of the South became once again your stereotypical Club Med, sums up Josef Janning of the ECFR.

English version by Susana Urra.
Dr Clarice Ford-Kulah, the lady accused by her husband of sleeping with actor Van Vicker, has rubbished the allegations as baseless.

The woman, who is the actors manager and business partner, says the allegations by her husband, Dr Bartum Kulah, are without merit.

Earlier this week, Dr Bartum Kulah, who is based in Atlanta, Georgia, alleged on social media that Van Vicker is having physical and emotional affair with his wife.

He said, My wife will deny the accusations and claim to be Van Vicker's Manager and Business partner, thats what she always says, its all a cover up, and Ive caught them at a hotel twice.

Dr Kulah added that he has been married to his wife for some years now with two children - a boy and girl - but his wife does not care about the children, all she knows is travelling with Van Vicker.

She has been in Accra since Wednesday to premiere the film Skinned at the Silverbird, they will then go to Liberia to premiere the same film next Saturday, not only that but sleeping with my wife anywhere they go to premiere the movie. This is the second trip in a year. They have traveled to Haiti, Liberia, Nigeria, Ireland and multiple cities in the US, Dr Kulah alleged.

But a press statement released by Dr. Clarice Ford-Kulah and copied Myjoyonline.com said none of the allegations levelled against her and Van Vicker is true.

According to her, her husband has security issues due to an accident that has completely interrupted his life. He has been harassing all of my male friends, including pastors, ministers, and deacons for years and I chose to ignore.

Read the full statement below:

PRESS RELEASE

Van Vicker's Manager reacts to husband's claims.

In response to the recent rumors trending on the internet concerning Van Vicker and I, none of it is true. Neither Van nor myself would do such a thing. We both have families that we love and care about dearly. Van and I have worked together professionally and as a family for over five years and have never encountered such nonsense accusations.

My husband has security issues due to an accident that has completely interrupted his life. He has been harassing all of my male friends, including pastors, ministers, and deacons for years and I chose to ignore.

However, this accusation is too ridiculous for me to ignore because it is in the public domain.

Further, it is my understanding that my husband is going through some type of medical crisis. I will be returning to the US shortly to deal with this situation and would love my family to be left alone whiles dealing with this unfortunate situation privately.

I am currently in Liberia attending to business. While here, we will be premiering our film along with another business associate who also flew in with me from the States to attend both the Ghana and Liberia premieres of the movie 'Skinned'.

I assure everyone that there is no evidence of any sort to back up these baseless claims by my husband. Whatever pictures and videos he says he can produce will be of us going in and out of events premises, pick ups and drop offs. None of these pics or video will be compromising in any way.

Again, I am asking that these rumors be put to rest. Van Vicker is my client and 'family'.

Dr. Clarice Ford-Kulah

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Ernest Dela Aglanu (Twitter: @delaXdela / Instagram: citizendela)
Accra, June 14, GNA - Ghana will host a high-level discussion on the 'Role of Leadership in Sustainable Development in Africa' on the 30th of June, 2016.

The event, dubbed: 'The Leadership Factor', would bring together speakers from across Africa to discuss leadership as a catalyst for growth and development.

A statement from the organisers, Transition Africa, a leadership-focused social enterprise, said the event would be a thought-provoking discussion focused on leadership, governance and sustainable development in Africa.

Among the special guests of honour are ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor, Nana Kwabena Nketsia IV, the Paramount Chief of Essikado Traditional Area and Bishop Titus Awotwi Pratt, the Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana.

The panelists would include Franklin Cudjoe, the Founder & President of IMANI Ghana, Dr Esi Ansah, Chief Executive Officer of Axis Human Capital Ltd & Assistant Professor at Ashesi University, Audu Maikori, President of Chocolate City Group, Nigeria, Raphael Obonyo, the World Bank African Representative to the Youth Co-ordinating Board, Kenya and Jesse Agyepong, the Marketing Director of Millicom Ghana.

The statement said the speakers had made tremendous strides through exemplary leadership in various fields and shared a vision of consistent excellence and transforming societies.

The discussion would provide an opportunity for the audience to engage with the speakers and benefit from insights, knowledge and experience.

'Everyone talks about change but how do we achieve the change for sustainable development through focused leadership? The Leadership Factor aims to make the conversation tangible and practical for a candid discussion on the way forward,' it said.

The discussion will focus on Innovative Leadership, Leadership in Entrepreneurship, Leading with Integrity, Excellence - The Hallmark of Leadership, and Citizen Leadership.

The event targets to engage hundreds of young Ghanaians and an estimated online audience via live streaming.

Transition Africa is a nonprofit and non-governmental organisation founded on the 5th of September 2011.

The organisation comprises young, dynamic and highly motivated individuals who share similar passions and vision for governance, development, entrepreneurship and leadership.

GNA
The Accra Security Council has cautioned commercial operators at Kantamanto CBD market and the private developer against acts that could destabilise the security of the region.

Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister, Isaac Djanmgba Vanderpuye, said it is important both parties engage each other in a peaceful manner to avoid the loss of lives or properties.

Traders at the popular cloth joint in the nations capital, Kantamanto clashed with police , city officials, and a private developer over the demolishing of their structures.

The private developer moved in with officials of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and police personnel to lock down the market for demolition on June 14, 2016.

The traders made up of men, and women engaged in all forms of antics including drumming to thwart efforts of the city authorities.

They argued the destruction of their stores will result in the loss of their source of income and livelihood.

But speaking to Joynews, Mr Vanderpuye said: The land in question is not the property of the AMA.

Though it falls within the jurisdiction of the AMA, he argued, It is the property of the Ghana Railway Authority and therefore the Ministry of Transport.

He remarked they are interested about the breach of peace and anything that will bring about the breach of peace.

According to him, when the peace of the regional capital is threatened, they will be left with no choice than to bring in the appropriate security agency to deal with it and that is where we come in.

He cautioned both sides to exercise utmost restraint in dealing with each other so that this does not result in the loss of life and properties.

Mr Vanderpuye said the Office of the Regional Minister will get the AMA to get the Ministry of Transport to meet the appropriate persons involved in the matter to solve it ones and for all.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | Email: [email protected]
Soweto (South Africa) (AFP) - On June 16, 1976, thousands of black students spilled into the streets of Soweto against a government order that South African schools could only teach in the Afrikaans language used by whites.

Forty years on, it is still unclear how many people died that day, but within a few months, at least 500 people were dead as a result of reprisals.

Those images of violence and death brought the injustices of the apartheid regime to the world's attention and marked a turning point in the anti-apartheid struggle.

As protests spread across South Africa, a new era of black activism emerged that eventually led to the collapse of the regime and Nelson Mandela's election as president in 1994.

Every year since that election, South Africa has commemorated the students' sacrifice.

Thursday, the 40th anniversary of the protest, President Jacob Zuma will address the nation from the township where it all began.

Imposing Afrikaans to the black majority - which spoke it badly or very little -- "was a strategy by the apartheid regime to hamper our progress, education wise, so that we wouldn't achieve anything," Joy Rabotapi, a student protester in 1976, told AFP.

Dan Montsitsi, a student leader who was there that day, said the march had been planned for months.

But "our parents did not know about it, our teachers did not know about it, even the police did not know about it," he told AFP.

"We were amazed with the number of students that we had been able to put in the streets to protest against Afrikaans," he said.

The students, most of whom were in their school uniforms, carried placards reading: "Afrikaans stinks", "To hell with Afrikaans" and "Afrikaans needs to be abolished".

"We were singing and dancing just at the corner of Orlando West High" Montsitsi said. "Suddenly, the police came."

"They did not talk to us to begin to negotiate," he said. "They gave us five minutes to displace. Of course we refused to displace."

Montsitsi said the police released a dog into the crowd, which ended up "dead at the feet of the police".

"The police were very angry obviously and they decided they would use teargas."

"We began to attack with stones and they started to shoot," Montsitsi said. "Apartheid police shot at us, mostly at the back when we were running away."

The first to fall was Hector Pieterson, a 13-year-old boy.

The black-and-white photo of his body being carried away by a student in tears, Pieterson's clearly distressed sister alongside him, became the iconic image of the Soweto uprising.

The photo, broadcast all over the world, came to define South Africa's liberation struggle.

"We did not expect that somebody could just die from marching with a fist clinch," said survivor Trofomo Sono.

"I saw some boys trying to shield themselves from the bullets with dust bins lids."

- 'Country on fire' -

The next day, "the whole country was on fire," Montsitsi said. "Our own community no longer feared the police, no longer feared the Afrikaners. They were prepared to fight on."

The world jolted into action and in 1977, the United Nations imposed a mandatory arms embargo against South Africa.

Granny Seape, a student at Fort Hare near Cape Town at the time, travelled to the capital Johannesburg and heard about the Soweto uprising.

On arriving in Soweto, "we could see the buildings on fire and the smoke," she told AFP.

She immediately tried to locate her brother, Hastings Ndlovu, a 17-year-old student in the township.

"We looked for him and found him after 5 days at the morgue, in a pile of bodies," Seape said.

Among the first victims killed, the boy was shot dead between the eyes.

Seape said she was harassed by the police and decided to go into exile. She wouldn't return to her native country until Mandela walked out of prison in 1990.

"I have a great respect for those kids," said Reverend Frank Chikane, who survived an assassination attempt by poisoning during apartheid.

"Those kids changed South Africa," he said. "The South Africa we have today, it is because of them."

"South Africans are able now to vote," Montsitsi said. But "transformation in South Africa is very very slow."

Trofomo, who is unemployed, doesn't hide his bitterness.

"There are times where poverty makes you think some people might have sacrificed their life for nothing," he said.

More than a quarter of the working population, half under 35, remain unemployed.

"Overall, you still say it was worth it, because here we are," Trofomo added. "There is democracy."
Workers of the Tema Shipyard have welcomed government's decision to hand over the administration of the Shipyard and the Dry Dock Company Limited to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

The workers contend that the move will enhance efficiency and increase governments revenue.

It means that we are moving from one zone to another and we believe that the GPHA will take care of us the way we want to be treated, Chairman of the Senior Staff Association Christian Dogbe told Citi Fm's Tema correspondent, Elvis Washington.

Cabinet yesterday announced that it has directed the Ministry of Transport to hand over the operations of the PSC Tema Shipyard and Dry Dock Company Limited (PSCT) to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

A statement on the move also explained that the decision would in the long term attract the needed resources to venture into the building of Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels for the oil and gas industry even as it continues to provide services to the ports and harbours and related sectors in the short to medium term.

Transport Minister Fiifi Kwetey is however expected to conclude the official transfer to the GPHA within the next few weeks.

Transfer is a relief from 'poor' leadership

The workers earlier in May had demanded the withdrawal of the CEO over allegations of mismanagement leveled against him.

They had also demonstrated in support of his removal from office.

At the time, Transport Minister Fiifi Kwetey assured the workers he was going to take their concerns into consideration especially the termination of the appointment of their two colleagues.

We are going to look into the termination properly in order to determine whether the proper procedure has been followed and if they have not been followed, we will take a decision in order to change that position.

But the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association Christian Dogbe tells Citi Business News the move will reverse what he describes as the inefficient management by the company's former MD; Alhaji Tunde.

The style of management was very poor and his human relationship equally poor. A few years now there has been neither salary increment nor bonus for we the workers so all the Ghanaian workers had to leave to Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal.

He also criticised Alaji Tunde of contributing to a decline in the company's revenue due to a decline in business for the past three years he was in office,

Before he took over we used to 52 vessels in a year service about 14 vessels in the first year; 18 in the second year while this year being the third year, up till June, we have serviced only 5 vessels, Mr. Dogbe noted.



By: Pius Amihere Eduku/Elvis Washington/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
We the youth of Nimoro and Buwaa in general have earlier on petitioned the Upper West Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Sissala West Constituency on this subject on 23/05/2016. But for more emphasis, we are demonstrating today for our dear President, John Dramani Mahama to step in by advising his appointees (District Chief Executive and the Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Sissala West Constituency). Your Excellency, this is because;

Fielimuo is a multi-settler community made up of several ethnic groups. Fielimuo situation is not different from other settler communities in Ghana such as Kintampo, Hamile, Ejura, and Aboabo. The Fielimuo settlement on Nimoro land is of relatively recent time.History has it that, the Lobi-Dagarti fled from Mangangne around 1927/28 as a result of the atrocities of their leader  chief Dernyu and the hardships of French Colonial Administration as well as a severe famine that broke out in that part of Burkina Faso. Following Ghana's independence, the Local Government Ministry issued a circular on 16th April, 1958 with reference No. MLG.4900/109/SF.5/30 and it was entitled Recognition of Headmen of stranger communities. The circular reads as 'Government has decided to exercise some control over stranger communities in towns and villages and it has therefore been decided that in order to effect such control, all heads of stranger communities should be required to register with Government Agents of their respective district..' In compliance with the directives, the then Sissala district government agent recorded among others, the names of Danikuu (Dargati); Issah Walla (Wala); Zato (Moshie); and IssakaGrushie (Grushie) as strangers' settler headmen at Fielimuo. Your Excellency, we recall with pains, how politicians in power over the years have emasculated our less enlightened and illiterate traditional leaders whilst at the same time cunningly propping up some communities, especially the majority Lobi settlers on Nimoro land in order to gain electoral advantage. The political game where politicians go to the settler communities to make promises which are of customary and traditional nature for electoral gains have continued till date. This has always been demonstrated clearly by the Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Upper West and Sisaala West Constituency respectively. In December 2014, a Court of Competent Jurisdiction (Wa High Court) placed an injunction on the celebration of Kuku Bagre a Lobi-Dagaaba settler's festival at Fielimuo but the Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Sisaala West disregarded the order and participated actively in the celebration and chose not to attend Buwala Kelwie Festival even though he was duly invited. This is just to show the level of discrimination the minister has towards the land owners and the people of Buwaa for obvious reasons. It is alleged that he finances the Defendant [the Lobi-Dagarti] in court over the dispute over the landownership between the allordial landowners and Lobi-Dagarti due to electoral gains. The Minister through government institutions has created a culture of impunity in the Nimoro Divisional area. The Sisaala landowners' animals have been killed and farm lands were seized as well as destruction of food crops by the Lobi-Dagarti and no arrest has so far been made. Government operatives and agencies have displayed opened bias towards the Sisaala people as far as we are concerned. The Lobi-Dagarti petitioned the Regional House of Chiefs through the Regional Minister, Hon. Alhaji Amidu Sulemani indicating that Nimoro Division should not be elevated to a paramountcy status which led to an abrupt suspension of the process on 25/5/2016. They did this because they knew that the Minister is seen as the conduit to achieve their parochial interest. Your Excellency, in as much as we the youth appreciate the efforts of Government to bring development to the people; it ought to be done with proper consultation. Government efforts should not be seen to be discriminatory and divisive and an election oriented to canvass votes. The Nimoro R/C Primary/JHS, Fielimuo L/A Primary/JHS and the Fielimuo Church [Parish] all in Fielimuo were built after the land had been released by the Nimoro allodial owners of the land. It is therefore, sad to notice that in similar ventures, government operatives within the district wanted to site SHS without following due process. We the youth are therefore scared if care is not taken the sad incident that occurred between the people of Mirigu and Kandiga in the Upper East Region in 2008 as a result of the siting of a health facility will occur here in the Nimoro Division. Following a similar case in 2014, the Sisaala Landlords [Tietinawa] poured libation and cut the sod for the commencement and building of three (3) CHIP Compounds at Kuochuuri, Kankaduoli and Chetu. What has then changed to warrant this total disregard for the status quo? By this action, is it that the land occupied by the Lobi-Dagarti is owned by the Lobi settlers in Fielimuo? This is certainly NO. It is therefore contemptuous to site a school at Fielimuo without recourse to the Sisaala landowners and /or the determination of the dispute in the High Court. Besides, the ownership to the land occupied by Fielimuo and its environs is under determination in the High Court at Wa and until that is done, any move to site a school in Fielimuo without following due process would worsen the already fragile peace in the area. We have had enough of this naked discrimination as far as the determination of the matter in the Court is concerned. Your Excellency, the Lobi-Dagartis have made several attempts to change the names of installations in the Fielimuo Area such as Nimoro R/C Primary and JHS to St. Aquinas Primary/JHS schools; Buo to Mbo; Bupal to Bukpal with aim of re-writing the history of the area. In all these, we have been calm and exhibited non-violent posture. In the light of this historical exposition of Fielimuo and its occupants, we therefore state without doubt in our minds that

Nobody can claim landowner besides the alordial landowners of Nimoro.

The Youth of Nimoro Division in particular and Buwaa in general express our grave concern over the lack of due process in the siting of the proposed Senior High Technical School at Fielimuo by the government without consulting the landowners of Nimoro. The authorities concerned should follow due process so that collectively we support Government in its quest to bring education to the door steps of the people.

We shall resist with our blood if this culture of impunity continue to exist. Where in a matter of criminal cases, perpetuators are not arrested, we will advise ourselves. And nobody should blame us.

As a result of government operatives' support, the Lobi-Dagarti people have perpetually disrespected the very people that settled them. And hence forth, we will not accept this gross disrespect from anybody.

We are deeply disturbed that failure to resolve these issues would: Create security problems in the area; Create conflict among the Sisaala and Lobi-Dagarti people; Bring disunity among the communities.



Therefore, we wish to clearly state that due process should be followed to avert untoward reaction by the people of Nimoro Divisional Area and Buwaa in general. We appreciate your support and prompt resolution of the dispute between the conflict parties in the area.

Thank you.

Thro:

The District Chief Executive

Sisaala West District  Gwollu.

Thro:

The Regional Minister

Upper West Region, Wa.

Conveners

*****Signed*******

Bentoh Solomon [member]

Youth of Nimoro Division

Tel: 0203065294

*****Signed*******

Chommbui Micheal [Member]

Youth of Nimoro Division

Tel: 0267175599

*****Signed*******

Cc:

Peace Council, Wa

The Media

Buwaa Traditional Council, Zini

BNI  Sisaala West District
The Supreme Court has dismissed a review motion filed by incumbent NDC Member of Parliament for the Klottey Korley Constituency, Nii Armah Ashitey.

Mr. Ashietey, whos challenging the eligibility of the partys parliamentary nominee for the constituency Zanetor Rawlings, filed the application for judicial review of the Supreme Court's ruling stopping the hearing of his case at the High Court.

The dismissal of the application follows the withdrawal of the application by the MPs lawyer, Gary Nimako, after the Supreme Court punched holes in the suit.

Background

Mr. Ashietey is challenging the eligibility of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) elected parliamentary nominee for the constituency, Dr. Zanetor Rawlings at the High Court. But Dr. Rawlings headed to the Supreme Court which ruled that the High Court did not have jurisdiction over the matter which is a subject of constitutional interpretation.

The ruling stated that Justice Kwaku T. Ackah Boafo, erred by giving himself powers beyond what is due him, as he tried interpreting the constitution in his ruling on the 22nd of March.

But lawyers of Mr. Ashietey said they held a different view on the ruling of the Supreme Court on the 19th of May 2016, hence their decision to seek a review.

Dr. Zanetor Rawlings has since her election been fighting a legal tussle where the incumbent NDC MP for the constituency, Nii Armah Ashietey, is challenging her locus and capacity to represent the party in the 2016 parliamentary elections.

In his suit, Mr. Ashitey claims Dr. Rawlings was not qualified to contest the primary since she was not a registered voter.

Zanetor Rawlings is now registered

Meanwhile Zanetor Rawlings in April 2016, registered when the Electoral Commission opened the register for new voters in its limited registration exercise.

But lawyer for the incumbent MP, Gary Nimako, has said the sudden registration by Dr. Zanetor Rawlings in the limited voters' registration exercise, will not exonerate her from any wrongdoing or bring the case to a close.



By: Delali Adogla Bessah/Fred Djabanor/ citifmonline.com/Ghana
15.06.2016 LISTEN

He has since apologized and so it is time to move on to other more pressing issues. But even more important is the fact that Nana Akomea, the Communications Director of Ghanas main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has roundly condemned Mr. Maxwell Kofi Jumahs rather shockingly intemperate use of language in the public political arena. It goes without saying that what the former NPP-Member of Parliament and former Mayor of Kumasi, Ghanas foremost royal capital and commercial hub, said about Mr. Jon Benjamin was inexcusably scandalous (See Jumah Apologizes for Calling British High Commissioner a fool Peacefmonline.com / Ghanaweb.com 6/1/16).

It was tantamount to gratuitous abuse even though, as it turns out, the British High Commissioner to Ghana was quite a bit inaccurate when he promptly and vehemently tweeted that there had been absolutely no incident, whatsoever, involving Mr. Allotey Jacobs, the equally temperamentally intemperate and obnoxiously loquacious Central Regional Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Heathrow Airport recently. There had, in fact, been a notable incident involving British security officials and the widely remarked unprepossessing Mr. Jacobs, a notorious foulmouthed NDC apparatchik incessantly on the lookout to creating problems for the key operatives of Ghanas main opposition New Patriotic Party, at Heathrow Airport.

According to reliable sources, including one inside the National Democratic Congress, Mr. Jacobs had, indeed, been pulled off British Airways Flight 078 on or about May 30, before any passengers had been permitted to disembark, and been peppered with questions for an unspecified amount of time. The NDC stalwart was also reported to have flown into the ancient British capital with the intention of catching a connecting flight to the United States, which he successfully did that same day. It is quite likely that as Britains Chief Diplomatic Resident in Ghana, Mr. Benjamin had enquired about the widely circulating rumor regarding the alleged arrest of Mr. Jacobs on criminal charges and been promptly informed by his associates back home that nothing on the order alleged by the rumor had occurred at Heathrow.

As usual, rather than honestly open up about the matter, the Truth Economists among the vanguard ranks of the National Democratic Congress had unwisely decided to circle the proverbial wagons and play Cosa nostra with such an incident of inescapable national relevance. It was relevant because Mr. Jacobs had been widely rumored to have been nabbed and interrogated for possibly indulging in money laundering activities, a globally classified act of criminality, and especially coming on the heels of the Nayele Ametefe Heathrow heroin or cocaine bust, I forget which.

Mr. Benjamin, ever the vocal albeit healthily self-effacing gentleman, is reported to have tweeted that he bears no grudge against the man who so cavalierly and caustically impugned his professional competence and moral integrity. In his characteristically lighthearted manner, Britains Resident Chief Diplomat was reported to have joked that he had at least learned the Akan word for a fool, to wit, kwasia. I am not quite certain that kwasia is a really edifying word or vocabulary to learn from the language of a culturally refined and intellectually and morally generously endowed people like the Akan. Meda Wase or Onyame Nhyira Wo, maybe.

Nevertheless, as a rude-awakening signal vis-a-vis how to constructively deal with a high-strung main political opposition in a watershed election year, maybe it was all well and good for Mr. Benjamin to have come into knowledge of the Akan verbal equivalent of a bloody fool! I personally admire the man and would like to see him continue to play his no-nonsense role of promptly and boldly speaking to morally unbecoming national issues in dire need of the sort of frontal redressing in the progressive and constructive manner in which he has endeared himself to millions of Ghanaians, both at home and abroad, including yours truly.

If Mr. Jumah really believes that life is too short to engage in rancorous rows and disagreements, and also that it is better to court the friendship of Jon Benjamin, rather than win an argument at the risk of his enmity, then, by all means, Mr. Jumah may do himself and the rest of us proudly to arrange a making-up visit over breakfast or lunch with the man one of these days. I am quite certain that Mr. Benjamin would welcome such a gentlemanly gesture. After all, hasnt the man demonstrated ample goodwill and friendship with Ghanaians within the couple of years that he has so creditably represented Her Royal Majesty and unreservedly demonstrated himself to be, literally, one of us?

*Visit my blog at: kwameokoampaahoofe.wordpress.com Ghanaffairs
Kerry and Rodriguez agreed in Santo Domingo to begin bilateral talks. HO (EFE)

More information Estados Unidos abre un dialogo directo e inmediato con Venezuela

The United States and Venezuela have agreed to begin direct talks immediately.

A statement by US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday evening in Santo Domingo, which was confirmed shortly afterward by Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, says that the talks will focus on ways to reduce tension between both countries and bring about dialogue between the government and opposition.

The bilateral talks will be between Kerry and his Venezuelan opposite, Delcy Rodriguez. Kerry has tasked US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon with contacting officials in Venezuela to set up talks aimed at overcoming old rhetoric.

I said to her [Rodriguez], look, we can stay trapped in this war of words. But we have to achieve something that meets the needs of the people of Venezuela and respects the Constitution and the Venezuelan process, Kerry told journalists after the meeting in Santo Domingo.

Kerry added that Rodriguez had suggested starting a new era of dialogue through new communication channels and a series of high-level meetings immediately.

The key figure in this attempt to improve relations with Venezuela is Thomas Shannon, a regional expert and career diplomat

Shortly afterward, Maduro appeared on Venezuelan television to officially announce the initiative. The long-term goal of the talks will be to reestablish diplomatic relations.

Tension between Washington and Caracas reached a high point in March 2015, when the United States declared Venezuela an unusual and extraordinary threat to national security and foreign policy and imposed sanctions on a number of senior government officials it accused of corruption and human rights abuses.

The key figure in this attempt to improve relations with Venezuela is Thomas Shannon, a regional expert and career diplomat. Shannon was reportedly behind the initiative to send Spanish former prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, along with Leonel Fernandez and Martin Torrijos, the former presidents of the Dominican Republic and Panama, to Venezuela to mediate between the government and the opposition.

Washington has made clear its support for efforts by the Venezuelan opposition to arrange a recall referendum. The opposition says that the only way out of the countrys worsening economic crisis is through a change of government. It proposes reducing the presidential term from six to four years, as well as requiring Maduro to step down and for a recall referendum to formally depose him.

Venezuelas opposition has already gathered more than 1.1 million signatures for the petition for a recall referendum on the president.

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Under Venezuelas Constitution, presidents can be removed from office by means of a referendum once they have served half their term.

Venezuelas National Electoral Council (CNE) is on its way to being able to announce the next step in the process to call the referendum. After a meeting with the CNE, the executive secretary of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) opposition group, Jesus Torrealba, said that it had validated 1.3 million of the nearly two million signatures on the petition calling for a vote on Maduros continuing leadership. In fact, the opposition has delivered more than six times the number of signatures needed to start the process.

Venezuela is mired in an economic crisis partly caused by a prolonged drought, prompting the government to introduce a state of emergency and a four-day working week. In turn, the opposition, which controls Congress, blames the government for economic mismanagement that has led to widespread shortages of basic goods and continual power cuts.

English version by Nick Lyne.
I was smitten with bewilderment as I mused over Asiedu Nketias warped and fatuous claim. It is not exactly clear why he and his party yeasayers would delude themselves into thinking that the violent image that the ordinary Ghanaian unmistakably associates the NDC with is now dead as a doornail (See, NDC @24:Weve shed our violent image-Nketia, starfmonline.com june 10, 2016).

It took me quite some time to get a grip on myself and to steadily lose my smouldering emotions on my computer. To be certain, Asiedu Nketia is under no stricture vis-a-vis what to say to animate NDC aficionados. But a sternly critical assertion like this, flagitiously assaults the sensibility of the Ghanaian who witnessed the horrifying and deadeye twenty something years of political domination by the P/NDC.

Ghana was thrown into a state of shock when in July 1982, three high court judges in Accra, namely Justice Kojo Adjei Agyapong, Justice Fred Poku Sarkodie and Mrs Cecelia Koranteng Addo were abducted, driven 50 miles away into the Afram plains and executed in cold blood. Not only were they executed, their bodies were doused in petrol and set on fire. After months of sitting by a special investigation board,10 persons were recommended for arrest and prosecution including Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.

She was cited to have kept the key to a white fiat campagnola jeep,allegedly used by the murderers.As a matter of fact, the murdered judges were sitting on review cases that had to do with victims of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council atrocities headed by Flt.Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.

Subsequently,it was alleged that the ghastly murder of the judges was ordered by Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings with the aim of punishing members of the bench who were perceived as reversing the gains of June 4 and to summarily proscribe the legitimate judicial governance of property acquisition.

It perhaps doesnt come worse than a sitting President, beating up his vice .Does it? On December 28,1995, during a cabinet meeting, chaired by the then Vice President Nkensen Ackaar, President Jerry John Rawlings whose hackles had risen over comments made by the former at the party congress the previous week, challenged him to go out and prove to the world, the corrupt things that took place during cabinet meetings.

The late Ackaar had attended the NDC congress and detailed salient instances of corruption scandals in which the NDC Cabinet then had been mired. According to Ackaar,Rawlings gave him a terrible blow on the shoulder which sent him falling to the floor.

A few minutes later the president then took his arm, insisting that he should leave. Ackaah reacted by attempting to shrug off the hand holding him.Jerry John Rawlings tore the shoulder of his jacket in the process. In his frustration, he kicked Ackaar a couple of times in the groin before members present were able to restrain him.

And so precisely what was Asiedu Nketia yelping about when he jadedly got into his usual spin overdrive? One cannot help but look on with no small measure of amusement when proponents of the maleficent era of the P/NDC luridly try hanging the violent tag around the neck of the New Patriotic Party. Indeed it is for this reason that, the NDC disingenuously misrepresent the all die be die clarion call by Akuffu Addo as a way of labelling the latter as a violent person.

And on the preceding score, the NPP has stressed that the all die be die mantra by its flagbearer was a wake up call to its members who had suffered severe brutalities and intimidation from members of the rulling NDC to defend themselves. Again,members of the rulling NDC are quick to tar the NPP with the same brush as being violent by citing the Afoko-Kwabena Agyapong vicissitude of dustups that bedevilled the NPP some months ago, and resulted into the gruesome murder of Adams Mahama,the then Upper-East regional chairman of the NPP.

It goes without saying that the upward spiral of Akuffu Addo into political prominence and statesmanship following his unguarded acceptance of the supreme court petition verdict even though he disagreed and could have appealed or incited his incontinent supporters to resort to violence, gives the NDC the heebie-jeebies, hence they would want to cramp his style and make him look violent in the eyes of the Ghanaian people.

While I unreservedly agree that violence permeates every sector of the society including political parties in Ghana, it can hardly be gainsaid that the NDC was born out of violence. Given that it was the bloody junta of the AFRC- PNDC, that metamorphosed into NDC.

The poignant memory of the brutalities of the AFRC-P/NDC is so dense that it would probably require the ocean to wash it off completey from the memory of the Ghanaian.Perhaps as knavish as Asiedu Nketia and his NDC are, they are probably inspired by Vladimir Lenins quote that says,A lie, told often enough becomes the truth.

They have a penchant for deep political machinations. They reckon that the average Joe doesnt have the mental capacity to subject such claims of worthless validity to critical thinking and ratiocination. To this end, members of the NDC would give their eye teeth to shoehorn the political space with hogwash and subterfuge.

Out of the 66 years of Ghanas independence, the P/NDC has governed for over 25 years. More than any other political regime in Ghana. Asiedu Nketia should have used the occasion of their 24th anniversary to tell us what his partys government is doing about the topsy-turvy state of the economy and the unbridled corruption that has plagued upper echelons of this government unconscionably. Otherwise, no political party worth its sort would barefacedly throw down the gauntlet on such an occasion only to be hauled over the coals.
The Buhari government was willing to negotiate with the European Union regarding the influx of Nigerian refugees, Nigerias Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama told Deutsche Welle ahead of a meeting with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. While a number of questions remained unanswered, Onyeama told DW that we certainly do not in any way encourage irregular migration.

Onyeama confirmed that younger people especially were leaving Nigeria for Europe for economic and security reasons. This is a great concern to the government, and we feel that it really requires a holistic approach, he said. We understand that we really have to get our house in order, the politician said. If we can deal with the question of security, and once we can get the economy moving, lifting people out of poverty, providing jobs for our youth and so forth, there should not be that push factor to emigrate.

We face enormous challenges, but its our firm belief that its the job of the government to really tackle those fundamental problems. Nigeria is a country that has tremendous economic potential. One of the main reasons for our country being in the position in which we are today is bad governance.

According to Onyeama one of the main points of negotiation with the EU is repatriation, and how we can work on an agreeable and dignified manner of repatriating the irregular migrants. If an individual has family here, that is a factor which might also be considered, within the framework of the law, of course. In cases where there is no documentation, the German government is looking at giving European travel documents of some kind, whereas the Nigerian government is quite keen to give them Nigerian travel documents.

Likewise the foreign minister spoke about attacks on oil pipes in the Niger Delta which caused global petrol price turbulence. An accommodation was reached with the various militant groups, and part of that accommodation was to involve them in the security and safeguarding of these pipelines, he said. But the country does not have the financial resources to be paying as much for that as the previous government.

Onyeama denied that his government had initiated any investigation against former president Goodluck Jonathan. He said the acting president Muhammadu Buhari had been effusive in his praise of his predecessor and the way he conducted the handover.
Government has admitted a vehicle given to President John Mahama by a Burkinabe contractor is part of its pool of vehicles at the Presidency.

A statement signed by Communications minister Omane Boamah said this in response to findings of investigations by Joy News' Manasseh Azure Awuni.

The Burkinabe contractor who built a wall around a parcel of land for Ghana's Embassy in that country at the cost of $650,000, Mr. Djibril Kanazoe, said he gave the vehicle to the president who is a friend.

It was not to influence the president in anyway.

Dr. Omane Boamah in his statement said the 2010 Ford Expedition is in government's pool of vehicle and that the process for the award of the contract for the construction of the wall begun in 2011 when Mr. Mahama was not president.

See the full statement as issued here:

The Ministry of Communications has noted the contents of a programme aired on JoyFM this morning. The programme sought to link a vehicle presented to the President in 2012 to two contracts awarded to a Burkinabe-owned construction firm.

The said vehicle, which was placed in the vehicle pool at the Presidency as per established convention had nothing to do with the award of the contracts.

The inference of conflict of interest is therefore absolutely false and untenable.

THE FACTS:

CONSTRUCTION WORKS AT GHANA EMBASSY, BURKINA FASO

The processes for the construction of a perimeter fence wall on a large parcel of land allocated to the Government of Ghana began in 2011, prior to President John Mahama becoming President. The scope of construction works on the 673.0 meters long fence wall involved:

Removal of topsoil, clearing of existing rice farm and compensation for owners in accordance with Burkinabe Laws

Reinforced concrete wall with an overall thickness of 300mm and an average height of 220mm above ground and 80mm below ground

The mid-section of the wall involved a reinforced 12mm diameter high tensile steel at 450mm centers both ways and

Construction of security posts with visitors waiting area among others.

Ghanas mission in Burkina Faso forwarded three quotations from construction companies to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for consideration. The quotations from the respective companies were as follows:

KANAZOE FRERES: 353,136,603 CFA

 COSITRAP: 413, 177, 892 CFA

 IBOUS: 462, 608, 949 CFA

The Architectural Engineering Services Limited (AESL) provided pre- and- post contract consultancy services in terms of architectural, structural, land surveying, quantity surveying services leading to preparation of technical specification, bills of quantities and tender documents, evaluation of tenders, award of contract and supervision of selected contractor to execute the construction works.

Upon due diligence, the contract was awarded to KANAZOE FRERES, who presented the lowest figure among the three companies.

There was no involvement whatsoever of the President in the processes leading up to the award of this contract. Any suggestion therefore to the contrary is palpably false and untenable.

THE 46.4km EUROPEAN UNION FUNDED DODO-PEPESU ROAD CONTRACT

The award of this contract was the result of an international competitive bidding process which was in compliance with laid down requirements of the European Union. There was absolutely no involvement of the President in the processes leading to the award of this contract.

Again, any suggestion of conflict of interest in the award of this contract is without merit.

The President remains committed to transparency and accountability in governance and has worked over the past years to make that a cornerstone of his administration. That commitment is unwavering.

Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com
I am saddened by the loss of a young soul that seemed to have a long life ahead of it. Alas, the Almighty GOD who we serve cut it short, and for reasons best known to HIM.

My sadness for the loss of the young and beautiful lady, wife of Mr Peter Boamah Otokunor, was no less than the grief I would feel for the loss of any other person, especially the young. However, taking cue from many lessons in life, it is evident that one is fed from the same plate that they feed others from. In this context, we call it, "Karma"; and Karma is a bitch!

A young couple as Peter Otokunor and his wife were, they had expectations in a beautiful life ahead of them. In happiness and in sorrow, in plenty and in little, in toil and enjoyment, theirs seemed to be cut out as the life of any normal couple one may accost or know. However, the caution in this statement suggests that in everything that one does, the reciprocal results are in commensurate measures. In other words, a certain percentage of output is the result of a specific quantum of input.

Besides, in our world, especially in Ghana, it is a known fact that most people resort to spiritual domains alongside the conventional religions worshipped. Again, Peter Otokunor, accept my sympathies and condolences. However, when you started hyping the lie that Nana Akufo-Addo killed his first wife, little did you know that you had spelled doom on your innocent wife. You did that all in the name of the dirty politics that the NDC pushed you to do.

You must understand that in everything that one may do, there are red lines that cannot be crossed, especially when it comes to issues of religion and family. The hurt of losing a loved one is excruciating, and more so if that person is a loving wife. Today, and I wished it weren't so, GOD has made you taste the pain that you put Honourable Nana Akufo-Addo through when you directly accused him of a heinous crime that he is very innocent of. You hurt Nana Akufo-Addo with diabolism of a dirty kind. As your masters urged you on while the imbeciles, Kokoon Anyidaho, Mugabe Maase, Oudzeto Ablakwa, Kojo Twum Boafo, et al, continued to fire up the evil propaganda, Otokunor, you frolicked in grace and cheers, oblivious of a similar craze that was about to draw your heavy tears.

Peter Otokunor, today, in your sorrow, you stand alone. Those who pushed you to do this dirty job do not feel your pain. In fact, they will come to the funeral and donate some GHs500 and tout their solidarity, but when you are home alone, the darkness of your unfortunate predicament will hit the very depths of you. You, alone, will cry, because the mourners are temporary. Their wailing and crocodile tears only last for the little time that they are paid to perform at the funeral.

Besides, it would be prudent on your behalf to apologise to Nana Akufo-Addo for the unfortunate comments and rambunctious manner that you peddled that lie against him. That is my twopence, if you like, but worth the thought. I am suggesting that this is the beginning of a long chain of calamities, and I am advising you to act in accordance with tradition.

You must apologise to Nana, lest the beginning of your woes be the result of someone's curse for disrespecting the elderly as you exhibited pompously on air and in the media with total disregard to the dictates of the culture that we belong to.

Peter Otokunor, whether you apologise to Nana, is another matter. You know the implications of any possible curse that you may have been saddled with. Whatever it is, I commiserate with you and feel sorry that, as a nation, we have lost a young soul who might otherwise have been of benefit to Ghana.

Peter otokunor, m3 mawo yaak)...Dimirifa Due.

#KarmaIsABitch #WhatGoesAroundComesAround
The 2016 Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has extended his condolences to President John Dramani Mahama, following the death of his mother, Abiba Nnaba.

Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo said in a tweet: I extend my condolences to @JDMahama and his family on the passing of his mother, Madam Abiba Nnaba. May she rest in perfect peace.

The mother of the President passed on on Tuesday, May 14. President Mahama suspended his Accounting to the People Tour following his mother's demise.

Sympathizers have been sending messages of condolence to the President and his family after Communications Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah confirmed the news.

She is survived by six children including the President. Her body will be flown to Busunu from Accra today for burial in accordance with Islamic tradition.

Story by Ghana| Myjoyonline.com| AA
This piece is a continuation of an article written by Citi FMs correspondent, Obrempong Yaw Ampofo dubbed: Polifishians' and dwindling fish stock.

In this piece themed: The Keta songs, the Half Assini prayer and the canoe's holiday Obrempong chronicles some activities that has led to dwindling fish stock in most fishing communities in the country.

Below is the the write up:

From Keta to Half Assini, fishing is becoming unattractive.

Not because fishermen are abandoning canoes for classrooms, but nets cast return little or no fish. Perhaps, the Sea Never Dry mantra was an illusion! The stock of fish in the sea has steeply taken a downward decline.

Not even the Sardinella [Emane] and the Anchovies [Keta School Boys] that were largely produced in Ghana than other parts of the world are surviving. As a result, the livelihood of some 2.7 million people is threatened.

But, should anybody be surprised? No! Fishermen thought the adage, Chew your eggs, and you are chewing your chicks was applicable only to the farmer. And so when the farmer was reminded of the consequences when he eats ups his eggs, the fisherman was singing Sea Never Dry.

They have by their neglect fished the day old fish and the pregnant mother. Very cruel isn't it? If this treatment was meted out to a mad human, the perpetrators might have been languishing in the deep belly of the Nsawam prisons!

Fishing did not start today. But chewing of the day old and pregnant fishes can be traced.

Fish catch since 1986

Consider this: In 1986, a total of 190,197 metric tons of fish were caught between Keta and Half Assini by artisanal fishers. This was done with a total of 8,214 canoes. By year 2000, [14 years later] the number of canoes had reached 8,610, and the number of catch reached it all time record of 275,965mt. [Addition of 99,728mt to the 1999 catch of 176,237mt].

This was the end of glory for the Ghanaian artisanal fisherman.

The after mathematics is disturbing! In their quest to increase fish catch like the 2000, an astronomical 2,609 canoes were added in just four years [between 2000 and 2004] from 8,610 to 11,219 to the fleet of canoes from Keta to Half Assini.

But, despite more canoes, fish catch kept dwindling. It reduced to 267,910mt in 2004 from its 2000 record. [Reduced by 8055mt] The cycle kept dwindling when it dipped to 202,602mt in 2013. [A loss of 73,363 in 12 years] Still believing it was more canoes they needed to increase their catch rather than restocking or conservation of the stock, canoes numbers kept increasing from the 11,219 in 2004 to 12,847 in 2013. [Addition of 1,628 canoes] [Source-Fisheries Management Plan of Ghana -2015-2019].

Even the 2015 figure of 11,213 artisanal canoes in Ghana, it is still above the recommended figure.

Mention is not even made of the industrial fishers and their activities. The trawlers! Superheroes behind the infamous transshipment or Saeco!

Add all the different fishing vessels, the semi industrial [240], the Trawlers [72 or 93?] and Tuna [37] and you have a total of 11,562.

But, from the figures, one thing is clear; as the fish stock is reducing, the number of canoes keeps increasing. Many canoes are therefore chasing fewer fishes in the sea. It is estimated that an excess 3,847 canoes are in the Ghanaian fishing space. Only 9,000 canoes are recommended by international scientific agencies for Ghana. [But as at 2013, there were 12,847 artisanal canoes in Ghana]. This is the beginning of the advent of illegal fishing practices we are about to discuss.

Fishing at the spawning grounds of fishes

Picture a farmer sitting close to an egg laying hen with pan and cooking oil. Anytime the hen lays one egg, the farmer fries it up. He enjoys but complains of low chicks in his pen. That has been the attitude of our fishermen!

After finishing the catch at the shallow seas, fishermen headed for the deep belly of the ocean where many fish spawn at different seasons. Trawlers even go deeper.

Artisanal fishermen at this stage dip down light [Light for fishing] to the bottom of the sea which highly attracts majority of life in the ocean. When fishes, including those spawning for the next season gather around the light, unapproved fishing nets such as monofilament nets are casted wide. It traps all the surrounding fishes. In effect, little or no fish is left to spawn for the next season. This has gone on for a very long time, culminating into the dwindling fish stock. Same reason is why August and September are no longer the fishing bumper seasons as we knew from infancy! Yet fishermen come back ashore to complain of low fish catch to us as if it's someone else's fault.

Use of chemicals

After trapping both young and old with light, fishermen out of greed apply chemicals such as DDT, Carbide and dynamite at the concentrated area of the fish, killing every life. Now, they cast their nets wide to trap every dead fish. By this, they make good catch. But, the chemical pollutes the space for a period of time.

Now consider; fishermen at Jamestown are poisoning, those at Moree, Elmina, Anomabo, Dixcove and Axim etc are all doing same. They have been doing this for only God knows how long.

Imagine the level of chemical concentration getting into the sea. So someone traps your offspring, poisons and kills your family members and expects life later back in your home.

Consider also, the chemical concentration in the fishes we have been eating. It is not for nothing that some fishes are brought ashore with reddish and sunken eyes and broken flesh. It is a testimony that the fishes were caught illegally and cruelly. The practice poses greater health risk to consumers. Some of the chemicals may be bio accumulating in our tissues, first in the tissues of the fish, and then it's transferred into our own tissues which affect our nervous system. Blame the fishermen for the dwindling fish stock!

Transshipment or Saeco

Transshipment is forbidden in Ghana. It is perpetrated largely by trawlers with their local counterparts. As at 2013, their numbers had increased from 58 in 1986 to 115. Even though there are conflicting figures of their current number, it reduced to 72 or 93 in 2015. Thank God!

These trawlers go to the bottom of the ocean to catch big fishes. By their operations, they will catch small fishes at shallow waters. The law allows 15 percent of their total catch per trip to be small fishes. But, the Chinese operators of many of the trawler vessels and their co Ghanaians on board engage in shallow fishing. When many smaller fishes are caught, a canoe is called from the shore to the sea to buy the fishes and leaves approximately the 15 percent onboard. So a canoe goes to sea without net but returns with fish.

Here too, blame the fishermen. They see their colleagues go fishing without nets, but no one raises alarm. Saeco has somehow gained grounds in the Ghanaian fishing industry. If trawlers are allowed to engage in this practice, their activity will finish up the remaining stock.

These and other practices have been allowed to go on in the Ghanaian waters. In the next article, we will consider how you and I on land are to blame for the decline in fish stock.



By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

[Samuel Acquah Swanzy] [email protected]
Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu the second is asking multi-national mining companies in Ghana to engage more local professionals.

Mining firms have often been criticized for engaging Ghanaians only for what is considered menial jobs.

Otumfuo is convinced the country has the requisite technical capacity for her citizens to be given equal opportunity.

He was speaking at the commissioning of the first phase of Asanko Gold Mines at Obotan in the Amansie West District.

The mine opens at a time when unstable gold prices have serious implication for operational projections, forcing some firms to either shut down or downsize.

The company has kicked-start its corporate social responsibility program in earnest as 200 indigenes of Obotan and Manso Nkran in the catchment area of the mine have been introduced to various empowerment initiatives.

Asanko Gold Mine has trained these locals in vocational and financial literacy programs.

Plumbing, Electric and Masonry produced handled the resettlement program for the affected communities.

Chief Executive Officer, Peter Breese explains this demonstrates the companys commitment to supporting the livelihoods of its partnering communities.

"Even before the company produce its first gold bar or generate any revenues, we have implemented empowerment initiatives to demonstrate a long-term commitment to the host communities," he said.

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osah Mills, reiterated the need for the company to adhere to the local content policy.

He says it is one of the measures to address Ghanas unemployment challenges.

The first phase has seen over $300 million investment with another $300 million expected to be injected into the second phase within the next two to three years.

Officials are optimistic this will increase production by 100 percent to over 400,000 ounces of Gold every year after the second phase.
Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur, Second Lady, has appealed to Ghanaians not to allow politics to divide them ahead of the 2016 elections.

The Wife of the Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, made the call when she donated trays, head pans and fishing nets to the Enyidado Fish Mongers Association the in Effutu constituency in Winneba in the Central region.

The people in the area must unite for the development of the region and the country towards peace, unity and accelerated socio-economic development, she said during a donation at Winneba.

She told the fisherfolks that Ghanaians must not allow partisan politics to destabilise the peace of the country because there is only one Ghana.

She revealed that the objective for the donation was to help in her own small way by putting smiles on the faces of the fishmongers, through an appeal made to her by Mrs Baaba Amamoo.

Mrs Amamoo also doubles as the Association's organizer and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Womens Organizer for the Effutu constituency.

The Second Lady said government was committed to helping the fishmongers and other professionals.

She said the NDC government places a premium on the fishing industry because it provided jobs for two million people and reaffirmed its resolve to support women in the industry.

Mrs Amissah-Arthur also took her environmental crusade to the area and urged them to be clean and live in a clean environment to avoid cholera.

She also called on them to empower their children through education since it remains one of the best ways to the countrys socio-economic development.

Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur also called for the empowerment of women since it will increase their roles in leadership, the economy, and development arenas.

She adds that government will continue to play its part towards ensuring food security in the country and urged the fishermen to work together and live in peace.

She also called on the people of the area to vote for the NDC candidate for the area, Eric Don-Arthur, describing him as someone who has good character and impeccable track record.

She said she is confident Mr Don-Arthur will bring development to the area.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | GN
Hillary Clinton

15.06.2016 LISTEN

It was a day of great pain for the Pan-Africa. The vultures had triumphed and the liberators were ecstatic. The benevolent dictator had fallen and the fall was indeed thunderous. The alien bombers were once again successful. Years earlier, their victory was publicly declared by the man nicknamed, Liberator of Baghdad. In his famed speech after the invasion of Iraq on 1st May, 2003, nothing was as striking as the big banner that hung at the background with the bold inscription, "Mission Accomplished." But was it really mission accomplished or was it the beginning of a long nightmare?

Ten years later, we have a similar narrative under a very different setting. This time, victory was to be unofficially declared by another hawk, with a leftish ideology, seeking the highest office of her land. Her decision to support the invasion of Iraq as terrible a judgment as it has proven to be was not enough to dissuade her from actively campaigning for the bombing of Libya. Julius Caesar is reported to have once stated experience is the teacher of all things but it was the words of Winston Churchill that will eventually drive the final nail through the coffin of Caesars wisdom, those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ebulliently boasted with a characteristic giddiness, the following on CBS in 2011, We came, we saw, he died." The mission was over!! NATO had ousted Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi. So we ask again, was it really over?

The stark reality of the monster Hillary had helped to create will linger for long in her political life and will be a deciding factor as the US head for the polls on November 8. On that famous evening of September 11, 2012, when Islamic militants attacked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, killing U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the rebels who were casually presented as liberators had finally taken off their masks, and their faces indeed didnt inspire hope.

Libya is a disaster, but why should the fall of Libya, death of Qaddafi and the role of presumptive Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton be a defining issue for the young mechanic in northern Nigeria, the tourist- guide in Tunisia and or the unemployed graduate in Mali?

In a special report published by the Telegraph in November, 2015, the UN warned of Libya sliding into bloodshed and chaos. But this report was almost charitable. The forbidden and unspoken truth is that: an entire nation has been destabilized and destroyed, its people driven into abysmal poverty, forced to sail the boisterous waters of the Mediterranean as they drown in thousands.

A separate 94-page report by the U.N. Security Council's Group of Experts also concluded;

"The proliferation of weapons from Libya continues at an alarming rate. Illicit flows from the country are fuelling existing conflicts in Africa and the Levant and enriching the arsenals of a range of non-State actors, including terrorist groups."

Libya is in flames but it is the whole continent that burns. ISIS may be stationed in Libya but their bombs explode in Maiduguri, Nigeria as much as it resonates in Sousse, Tunisia. The weapons were dropped on Libyan soil but it is that unemployed Malian who wields it. Libya is wounded but it is Africa that bleeds and she vows never to forget her scars.

So, you, tell me how the collapse of Libya shouldnt be of grave concern to Ghanaian security experts or their counterparts in Kenya. Explain to me why the families of victims in the Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast attack shouldnt be irked and or why families of the last November Egypt plane crash shouldnt have genuine concerns over the instability in Libya.

Libya was a prosperous nation that had no external debt with its foreign reserves amounting to $150 billion, only a few years ago but this was all about to change because of the recklessness of one diplomat. Global Research report; March 2016 stated;

In a bitter irony, after having stolen Libyas oil wealth and confiscated its overseas financial assets, the donor community has pledged to lend the (stolen) money back to finance Libyas post-war reconstruction. Libya is slated to join the ranks of indebted African countries which have driven into poverty by IMF and the World Bank since the onslaught of the debt crisis in the early 1980s.

This is what Hillary has assisted in creating!! Libya as it has become a cliche of western media is a failed State and presumptive Democratic nominee, Hillary played a vital role in this failure.

The New York Times two-part series report on Hillary Clinton titled "The Libya Gamble," written by Jo Becker and Scott Shane quoted Hillary on her Libya admissions.

The United States was asked to support the Europeans and the Arab partners that we had. And we did a lot of due diligence about whether we should or not, and eventually, yes, I recommended, and the president decided, that we would support the action to protect civilians on the ground. And that led to the overthrow of Gaddafi.

She succeeded in changing the narrative. Libya, once the beacon of hope in Africa now reels under civil war. Her god was stripped bare in his home city, Sirte but it is Africa that was found naked. Hillarys NATO came, saw and destroyed.

Libya is as much Obamas greatest blunder as it should be for Hillary. The only difference is that while the former is unconvincingly apologetic about Libya and is set to exit; the latter expresses no remorse about her role in the destruction of a once thriving region even as she seeks to replace the former.

It will be irrational for Africa to forget Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton and her involvement in destroying a country that was once the most successful story on the continent of Africa.

G. K. Sarpong

Email: [email protected]
15.06.2016 LISTEN

Election is not about war. It is all about nationals expressing their views on which group of political activists are best suited to manage affairs of state.

In Europe and other advanced societies, elections are very civil events. In Great Britain and the United States of America, for instance, there are no elaborate institutions solely in charge of conducting elections, like the Electoral Commission in Ghana, for instance.

Yet, elections are conducted without any rancour and bitterness. Unfortunately, in many parts of Africa, elections are conducted under clouds of suspicion, which could erupt to open warfare at the least provocation.

In Cote D'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Kenya, election-related issues led to civil conflicts in which many nationals were needlessly slaughtered.

Ghana has escaped conflicts generated from election-related issues, merely because of the tolerance level of its political leaders.

Unfortunately, the prognosis is not that very good for peace, as we inch closer to the next poll. It stems from suspicion that the central referee, the Electoral Commission, might not be fair in its dealings with all political parties and that, by the conduct of its chairperson and other officials, the Electoral Commission may be in bed with the ruling National Democratic Congress.

The two appear to speak with the same voice, while on paper the commission is supposed to be independent.

It is two and a half years now when the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, pronounced that the voters' register was bloated and cannot be relied upon to give a free and fair verdict at the polls.

The court directed that the Electoral Commission should take measures to clean up the register. With barely five months to the polls, not much has been done about the bogus register.

On May 5, this year, the Supreme Court ordered the Electoral Commission to delete the names of all those who registered with National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) cards as a form of identity, from the voters register.

The court in its wisdom directed the EC to offer such people a window of opportunity to re-register.

It was a clear unambiguous directive. Strangely, the EC issued a statement suggesting that, the commission's decision was not clear to Mrs. Charlotte Osei and her charges at the Electoral Commission.

Typical of Ghanaians, those who should put pressure on the EC to do the right thing and ensure peaceful elections are rather looking elsewhere, while the commission gradually sows the seed for civil conflict.

It is in this vein that, The Chronicle welcomes the communique issued jointly by the Christian Council of Ghana and the Ghana Charismatic Council at the week-end, calling on the Electoral Commission to implement the Supreme Court's directive and delete the names of people who registered with NHIS cards.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court established that any person living in Ghana, and not necessarily only Ghanaians, could come by NHIS cards. In other words, ownership of an NHIS card is no proof of Ghanaian identity.

As a matter of fact, issuance of the card has been so abused for political purposes that there are many non-Ghanaians within and without the borders of this country who are proud holders of NHIS cards.

We do not shy from stating that giving NHIS cards away to non-Ghanaians was a direct policy of some leading members of the governing party, to influence the vote.

The Chronicle would like to state without equivocation that the dragging of feet by the Electoral Commission on the Supreme Court directive does not stem from the failure of the leadership of the commission to understand the import of the court ruling.

In our considered view, that it is a deliberate ploy to buy time and spring the idea at the last minute, that with the election so close, it would be impossible to delete the names of all NHIS card holders on the voters' register.

That is one reason why we welcome the statement from the clergy. We believe pressure on the EC is necessary to get the commission to do the right thing.

On that score, The Chronicle would like to invite all other stakeholders in the November vote, to speak up.

We are disappointed with the National Peace Council and its leadership as a result of the organization's failure to stand and be counted up when it matters most. We cannot stand aloof and expect peace. Peace, we would like to believe, is nurtured.
Prosecutors are seeking prison terms for two Spanish youths who crushed 79 piglets to death in January and shared a video of it on social media.

The incident took place on January 7 on a pig farm in Huercal-Overa, in the Andalusian province of Almeria. The suspects, who worked at the farm, had been tasked with transferring the seven-day-old animals to a different unit for weaning.

The suspects are also facing a request for 4,470 in damages to cover the losses incurred by the farm

Instead, D.A.A., 19, and M.R., 22, trapped the piglets inside the connecting passageway, closing off all escape routes. The younger man then began throwing himself on the animals, as though diving into a childrens ball pit, while the older one captured it on video with his cellphone.

A total of 79 piglets died as a result. The youths were arrested by the Civil Guard and charged with animal abuse after one of them shared the video on Whatsapp.

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Prosecutors are seeking a one-year sentence for D.A.A. and 18 months for M.R, the news agency Europa Press reports. Under Spanish laws, however, defendants without a prior conviction who receive sentences of under two years are often exempt from going to prison on the judges decision.

The suspects are also facing a request for 4,470 in damages to cover the losses incurred by the farm, a further fine of 4,380 and a four-year ban on working with animals in any way.

English version by Susana Urra.
15.06.2016 LISTEN

By Ken Sackey/Benjamin Mensah, GNA

Mr. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, Member of Parliament (MP) for Efutu, has alerted the nation of possible financial mishaps that may arise by telecommunication companies through mobile money transfers.

Against a backdrop of the recent financial scandals involving some micro-finance companies, the MP argued the grounds why the telecommunication companies are operating mobile money transfers without the proper legislation, rather than the present administrative procedure by the Bank of Ghana.

According to the Legislator, there was a whopping approximate GH33 billion being kept in transfer of monies as at last year, and expressed worry why the companies continue to operate without legislation to regulate their operations. Mr. Markin, speaking in Parliament on the Business Statement, prayed the House to invite the Governor of the Bank of Ghana to brief the House on the legal framework within which the telecommunication companies are operating mobile money transfers.

The Business Statement, presented by Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi, Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Ashaiman was silent on the mobile money issue, which Mr Afenyo Markin had filed. Some of the noted fraudulent activities that affect operations of mobile money are  vishing/smishing: use of phone calls or SMS to gather personal details such as account numbers, PINs or personal identification details; advance fee scams, where customers are duped to send funds under fake circumstances or promises; payroll fraud: non-existent or ghost employees receiving funds.

Other forms of fraud are reversal requests, where a customer requests to reverse transactions that were in fact successful; false transactions by sending fake SMS to make customers believe a transaction was successful, often accompanied by a reversal request.

There are also split transactions, where agents split cash-in transactions in order to earn multiple commissions (only applies to tiered commission structure); false transactions: agents transferring customer funds to personal account; as well as registration fraud, where there is creation of accounts for false, invalid or duplicated customers for the purposeof obtaining extra registration commissions.

There may also be internal fraud by employees colluding for unfair personal financial gain as well as identity theft where employees accessing and exploit customer information without authorization. Mr. Afenyo-Markin expressed the need for proper due diligence to avoid the risk that befell the nation with similar operations like micro finance companies last year.

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations and MP for Tamale South, however, drew the attention the Efutu Constituency Legislator that the activities of the telecommunication companies are regulated by the National Communications Authority.

Mr. Iddrisu, however, cautioned Mr Afenyo Markin to tread cautiously, reminding him that, the political party, the New Patriotic Party, on whose ticket he (Mr Afenyo-Markin) is in Parliament is raising funds through mobile money. Mr. Afenyo- Markin also raised the matter of why the Council of the University of Education, Winneba, which was situated in the Efutu Constituency, has not been constituted since 2013.
We are saddened by the news of the untimely death of Madam Abiba Nnaba Mahama, the mother of His Excellency President John Mahama, which occurred at SSNIT hospital today after a protracted ailment.

The NDC UK and Ireland Chapter wish to express our heartfelt condolences to His Excellencey President Dramani Mahama and his family.

Our thoughts and prayers go to the President and his family in this difficult times. We mourn with you and your family as you grieve your dear mum. We pray that the good Lord consoles you and your family and give you strength.

May her soul rest in perfect peace.

Michael Frempong

PRO N D C UK & Ireland Chapter
Algiers (AFP) - An Algerian court on Wednesday halted a bid by billionaire Issad Rebrab, the country's richest entrepreneur, to buy a media group that has been critical of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

Rebrab's $45 million (40 million euro) purchase of the El Khabar group would have added an influential daily newspaper and a TV channel to his estimated $3.3 billion portfolio.

But after the sale was agreed in April between El Khabar and Ness-Prod, a subsidiary of Rebrab's Cevital conglomerate, the government went to court to stop the deal.

An administrative court on Wednesday froze the sale pending a final decision, giving the defendants until June 22 to present their case.

The government has cited an article in the law that prevents a single legal entity owning more than one Algerian daily newspaper. Rebrab already owns the French-language daily Liberte.

El Khabar chief Cherif Rezki condemned what he called Algeria's "trend towards authoritarianism" and intolerance.

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the court's ruling was "extremely worrying".

Rebrab has frequently accused the government of blocking his attempts to invest both in Algeria and overseas.

The El Khabar sale would have included the KBC television channel and one of Algeria's flagship dailies, also called El Khabar (The News) -- with a circulation of 300,000.

The group had strongly opposed Bouteflika standing for a fourth term as president during 2014 elections, supporting his rival, former prime minister Ali Benflis.

It is facing financial difficulties after losing advertising business from the state.

"You don't win a case of this size against the state," Khaled Bourayou, an expert on Algerian media law, told AFP.

"We face a justice system subservient to the executive," he said.

The state's efforts to block the sale of El Khabar, which also includes a printing press and a distribution firm, caused an outcry from Algeria's independent press and the political opposition.

Dozens of journalists and El Khabar employees gathered outside the court in the Algiers suburb of Birmandreis, holding copies of the newspaper and chanting "El Khabar won't die", despite a heavy police presence.

Rebrab was Algeria's richest man and the ninth-richest in Africa in 2015, according to Forbes magazine.

He founded Algeria's biggest privately held conglomerate, Cevital, which employs 12,000 people and is active in electronics, steel, and food and has recently acquired businesses in France and Italy.

Forbes says the Algerian industrialist also owns one of the largest sugar refineries in the world, producing around 1.5 million tonnes a year.
Less than 24 hours after the death of Madam Abiba Nnaba, mother of President John Dramani Mahama, there is confusion over where to bury the old woman.

The Chief of Busunu, younger brother to Madam Nnabas father has refused to allow the deceased to be buried in Bole which is the hometown of President John Mahamas father E.A Mahama.

The Chief is currently in a meeting with a delegation from President Mahama fathers family led by the DCE for Damongo.

He insists that because President Mahamas father divorced Madam Nnaba along the line, it will be improper to allow the formers family to bury Madam Nnaba in Bole, as against Busunu which is the latters hometown.

Kasapa FMs Northern Regional Correspondent, Illiasu whos currently at Busunu monitoring the meeting reported that several people are grieving over Madam Nnabas death, with sympathizers gathering at the family home.

He added that theres presence of police and Military officers to ensure a peaceful deliberation.

Madam Abiba Nnaba passed on Tuesday. She is survived by six children including the President.

The family of Abiba Nnaba at Busunu in the Northern region is yet to be officially notified as tradition demands.

Her body will be flown to Busunu from Accra today for burial in accordance with Islamic tradition.
15.06.2016 LISTEN

We must ask all the cheerleaders encouraging Niger Delta Avengers and other militia groups mushrooming demands or blackmail: which part of Arewa Republic, Odua, or IPOB Republic are we willing to concede to Ijaw President? Biafra would have died if Ojukwu had been President.

How soon we forget that it was only yesterday that Ijaw was only one of the small minorities in the Delta. However they emerged, they are now so big, Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Urhobo and Edo are on equal status with Ijaw agitation. They became the most prominent ethnic group as a compensation for the degradation of their environment since the rest of Nigeria fed on their oil income. No population in a state with their right sense would poison the well they drink from.

Niger Delta was that well. One would expect Nigeria to pay special attention to these polluted areas where oil comes from. Any part of Nigeria looking at the polluted swamp would never pray or wish for such oil discovery near them. The amount of money, effort and cooperation needed to restore many areas of Niger Delta is so gigantic, the price of oil needed worldwide may not be enough to compensate for opportunity cost or repairs; if this damage continues.

The point must be made clear to Ijaw that one of them became the President, not because it was their turn since there were bigger minorities waiting. Ijaw was made the President for the sake of peace and harmony in the Country to compensate them for the injustice perpetrated on their land that was turned into environmental polluted wasteland. It was not their turn or right.

Six years were long, though a short time in history. If separation was the only option left, there was no one in a position to implement it than the Ijaw President himself. It could have been easier for President Jonathan than any other President from other parts of the Country. Indeed, the other parts of the Country are so sick and tired may have been infected by separation fever.

Those who claimed it was harder for Ijaw President, Ojukwu couldnt, were being disingenuous. What is harder for all Ijaw is to become the President that includes any part of the Country. They simply do not have the number and if they decide to carve out separate entity mainly for their ethnic group, they will run into others like the Urhobo and Itshekiri that will not be willing to subject themselves to Ijaw rule. A snake no matter how big cannot successfully digest a cow.

Ijaw minority status will make their situation worse because in a democracy, a majority carries the votes. There are just not enough of them. In the South-southern states except in Bayelsa, Urhobo and Anioma outnumber them in Delta State. In River State Ikwere outnumber them. In Akwa Ibom and Cross River states they are smaller than Ibibio and Efik. The real powerhouse or the sleeping giant of the South-south are the Edo in their State and Anioma in Delta.

Even more powerful are the Ikwere, the Igbo cousins that mixed with the Efik and the Calabari. In the creation of the old Mid-West, Osadebay became the Premier of the Region from the powerful Anioma group made of combination of Igbo cousins. By the time we count the Edo, Anioma, Ikwere and Urhobo, it becomes clear that it is only in Nigeria that the behemoths of the Nigeria (that is Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo) could pick or vote for an Ijaw as their President.

Outside the fragile experimentation of Nigeria for more than half a century, the Ijaw stood little chance of leading the Country. Indeed, it was Obasanjo a Yoruba from one of the 3 behemoths that made it possible for Jonathan, an Ijaw to become President. Even then, it was not an easy task because an incapacitated President YarAdua could have ruled the Country through the committee of some wise Hausa/Fulani. It is now history that an Ijaw man became the President.

It was not unexpected that choosing one of them as leader was the right move to reverse the devastation and bring back clean environment so that common people could go to their old way of life by fishing and creation of petrochemical industries. For over six years that the Ijaw President was at the helm of affairs, the environment got worse. Every percentage created as special allowance to compensate, ameliorate or train locals disappeared into individual pockets.

Ijaw cheerleaders do not want to talk about self-responsibilities, they are no different than their Nigerian crooks, we might even say with impunity. We are now at a point where militia groups are springing up continually demanding gratis and appeasement otherwise they would blow up the economic mainstream of the Country. The same cheerleaders would not accept Ijaw leader outside Nigeria if we break but they want Ijaw to champion secession for them; and then what?

Buhari has been quoted as saying attack on Boko Haram was an attack on the North. Well, he came back to kick their asses. When cheerleaders gear you up for secession, they may be the very one like Buhari that would come back and kick your butts. Politics is different from reality. There are war cries of secession around the Country. Some are not just loud mouths but people with causes. They have lived the Nigerian experience and it has not worked out for them.

There is nothing the North could do if all parts of Nigeria have had enough. Some Northerners threatened us against making Jonathan President. When they unleashed Boko Haram they paid dearly with their own people too, not only the lives of Southerners. It should teach us a lesson that violence begat violence and nobody has a monopoly on it. It is like a ranging fire that consumes friends and foes alike. Be careful what you wish for.

When each ethnic groups are invaded either by religious zealots or opportunists as Maitatisine, Shiite, Boko Haram or the cattle herdsmen, people want exit. The danger here is complacency on the part of Buhari Administration to face the facts and hold the bulls by the horn. Grazing areas, whether restricted to the North or South, is not the solution. Its implementation is the key so that it is not used to justify land grab in the Middle Belt and South of the Country.

Actually, there are cheerleaders around the Country that do not care, which way Nigeria goes because some know; either way they can survive. Those threatening dislocation will never stop until disintegration gets to their villages. No government can chase so many problems coming from the East, West, North and South on a constant and irritating basis. We must go for loose association or confederation; this unitary system is not working.
15.06.2016 LISTEN

Citi News sources within the Ghana Military High Command say they are on a manhunt for one of their officers who is suspected to have links with terrorist group ISIS.

The Officer, Bawa Abdul Rahman, vanished into thin air after his commanders invited him for questioning and further investigations.

According to reports within the Military, Private Bawa Abdul Rahman in dramatic fashion jumped out of the vehicle which was sending him to his bosses for the military inquisition.

Currently, Citi News understands the Military high command is on his heels before he attempts to leave the jurisdiction. 26 -year old Bawa Abdul Rahman is 1.7 meters tall.

It is unclear yet how long he had been in touch with ISIS or whether he has already been recruited.

The Public Affairs Directorate of the military has declined to comment on the matter for now. A few months ago, the national security presented a report to the Education Ministry, warning it about activities of ISIS on the various tertiary institutions, recruiting interested candidates.

In 2015, a student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and one other, joined ISIS.
By Samira Larbie/Jessica Addo, GNA

Accra, June 15, GNA - Nana Oye Lithur, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, on Wednesday inspected the ongoing free biometric registration of pupils under the School Feeding Programme onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The project, which started in April, was in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Ghana Education Service and the Gender Ministry to enable the pupils to have access to free quality healthcare as their fundamental human right.

Nana Oye Lithur visited the St Mary's Anglican School where 800 pupils are expected to be registered and the Mantse Tackie Primary School which is to register 500 pupils.

Addressing the media, she said government intended to register all 1.7 million pupils under the School Feeding Programme and that so far 1.33 million pupils had been registered and issued with the cards.

Nana Oye Lithur said this was to ensure a holistic and all-inclusive social protection service to enable the children to have access to basic healthcare at all times.

She said the School Feeding Programme sought to provide school children with healthy meals as well as boost the domestic food production, increase small holder farmer's income and create employment by absorbing about 20,000 caterers and cooks nationwide.

She said currently 1,728,681 schools in the 261 districts were to benefit from the programme adding that with the new system in place government would save GH24 million every term.

Nana Oye Lithur said government had also cleared all caterers' arrears and that 'all these are to ensure reduction in food insecurity and enhance learning of the students'.

She said education was critical in sustainable development hence the Government's social intervention in education such as provision of free school uniforms and exercise books to increase enrolment in schools at the basic level.

Nana Oye Lithur, therefore, urged the students to put in their best and strive for excellence in all they do.

She advised them to keep their cards well to enable them to receive free healthcare when they visited the hospitals.

Mr Patrick Acheampong, the National Co-ordinator of the School Feeding Programme, expressed gratitude to government for settling all caterers' arrears saying we would be going round to monitor the caterers to ensure they cooked quality food for the children.

He said though the programme had been successful it was confronted with logistics and monitoring challenges and called on the Government to help in those areas.

Mrs Vida Badza, the Headmistress of St Mary's Anglican School, expressed gratitude to the Minister for visiting the school and appealed to her to provide them with a school bus and furniture to allow for more enrolment.

GNA
15.06.2016 LISTEN

By Bajin D. Pobia, GNA

Wa, June 15, GNA - A United Kingdom based group called Friends of Nana Akufo-Addo, Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, has donated assorted items to the Muslim Community in Wa to support them during the Ramadan fasting.

The items included 22 bags of sugar and 153 brands of tea.

Alhaji Bin Salif, leader of the group, who presented the items to Alhaji Issahaku Yakubu, the Upper West Regional Chief Imam, urged Muslims to remember Ghana in their prayers to ensure peaceful election.

He said the unity of the country was dear to the NPP and its flagbearer and that all must show commitment to ensure peace and prosperity of Ghana, a 'task we all must work to achieve'.

Alhaji Bin Salif advised the youth to give peace a chance in this year's electioneering and especially on the Election Day, pointing out that they must look at their circumstances before casting their votes.

The Chief Imam thanked the group, whose members hail from the region, for their kind gesture and wished them Allah's blessings while urging them to be concerned about the development of their people and Ghana.

He appealed to the youth to help sustain the peace in Ghana to enhance development.

GNA
Accra, June 15, GNA - Zakat Foundation of America (ZF), a Muslim non-governmental charitable organization, has donated food items to 500 Muslim families in Kumasi.

Out of the number, 150 residents of Aboabo, a suburb of the Metropolis received the largest.

A statement signed by Mr Habib Abubakar, the Country Programme Manager of the Foundation which is based in Chicago-United States and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday stated.

The statement said the food assistance which is an annual event was held in commemoration of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is currently being observed worldwide.

It said Mr Habib Abubakar, the Country Programme Manager of Zakat Foundation of America during the donation said: 'The food donation is also a source of help and support to the poor and vulnerable, especially for those fasting.

Mr Abubakar said the Ramadan period is used to do good to others, as it brings bountiful blessings to the giver and Allah forgive and save the one from destruction.

'About 1000 Muslim families in other parts of the country will also benefit from the package this Ramadan,' the Programme Manager said.

Sheikh Abdallah, an Islamic Scholar, presenting the food items, urged Muslims in Ghana to endeavour to work hard so that they could feed themselves and their families.

He called for the establishment of an endowment fund from which Muslims could draw assistance in times of need instead of waiting for help from outside.

'It is time that Muslims fight against ignorance, poverty and diseases and to do this, we must invest in education and build schools and hospitals to keep us well adjusted and healthy,' Sheikh Abdallah said.

Sheikh Abdallah thanked Zakat Foundation of America for reaching out to the poor.

The ZF, Ghana Office based in Kumasi was set up in 2003, to address the immediate needs of the poor and less privileged ones by making them self- reliant through Zakat and Sadaqa funds from privileged ones around the world.

It work in the area of food security, orphan care, health care, mosque construction, water wells construction, education and sustainable development (Livelihood Improvement and Vocation and Training)

GNA
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The rebel Lord's Resistance Army is stepping up attacks, expanding into new areas and abducting more children in the Central African Republic, a UN envoy said Wednesday.

The LRA "appears now to be deviating from what had been for a certain period of time a low-profile posture," Abdoulaye Bathily told the UN Security Council.

Bathily said there had been "attacks against larger and less isolated population areas" and an increase in the number of children "kidnapped and kept."

Attacks in the Central African Republic have increased in the first three months of the year, with 42 incidents, six deaths and 252 abductions, according to a report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

For all of 2015 there were 52 incidents, five deaths and 113 abductions blamed on the LRA.

Bathily expressed concern about the pullout of Ugandan troops fighting the LRA from the Central African Republic, saying it will create a "vacuum" that will fuel arms trafficking, illegal mining and forced recruitments.

The LRA first emerged in northern Uganda in the mid-1980s when it took up arms in the name of the Acholi ethnic group against the government of President Yoweri Museveni.

Over the years, it has moved freely across borders, shifting from Uganda to southern Sudan before heading into northeastern DR Congo in 2005, finally crossing into the southeastern Central African Republic in 2008.

LRA commander Dominic Ongwen will face trial in December at the International Criminal Court on charges of keeping sex slaves, recruiting child soldiers and other crimes.

The LRA's leader Joseph Kony has also been charged by the ICC with war crimes, but remains at large.
Hillary Clinton on Tuesday in Pittsburgh. Andrew Harnik (AP)

More information Hillary Clinton vence en las primarias de Washington

Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee to the White House, won the Washington, D.C. primary on Tuesday. The contest was purely nominal since Clinton had already surpassed the number of delegates she needed to clinch the nomination last week, but the victory puts more pressure on Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to drop out of the race and unite the party behind Clinton.

The former secretary of state won 79% of the votes in the capital and now has 2,784 delegates while Sanders trails her with 1,877. Clinton closes this primary season with 34 victories over Sanders, including eight of the last 11 contests. The two candidates held a private meeting in Washington on Tuesday night that lasted more than an hour and a half.

Over the last year, the progressive senator has shown his ability to draw the support of a large sector of the Democratic Party and thus forced Clinton to back more progressive measures than expected. Though there is no mathematical equation that will result in a nomination for Sanders, he has said that he will challenge his rival at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July.

Both camps said they had a positive meeting during which they examined the best ways to increase voter participation

Sanders success in the primaries has earned him a seat at the table where he can help determine the partys platform even if he is not the nominee, his campaign says. The senator may try to push Clinton to adopt his campaign promises, promises that mobilized millions of voters, including a minimum wage increase, election law reforms and tougher restrictions on Wall Street.

In a statement, Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said: Sanders and Clinton agreed to continue working to develop a progressive agenda that addresses the needs of working families and the middle class and adopting a progressive platform for the Democratic National Convention.

Both camps said they had a positive meeting during which they examined the best ways to increase voter participation in elections and talked about the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation.

Over the last week, despite the fact that President Obama and Senator Elizabeth Warren, one of the more inspiring voices on the US left, have endorsed Clinton, Democratic Party leaders have shown a good deal of patience with Sanders. They recognize the importance of his campaign. If Clinton becomes the official Democratic nominee, she will need to rally Sanders voters in order to win the White House.

According to his campaign, Sanders will address supporters on Thursday night to announce his next step.

English version by Dyane Jean-Francois.
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Contrary to what you might think, we didnt once touch on Chinas credit quality and growing debt issues. You see, Chinese tend to look at very different indicators than IMF economists.

It is the month of global institutions to shine. Over the week, the IMF generated great sensation by red-flagging Chinas ballooning corporate debt. Also, the MSCI is also back in focus with its pending decision on whether to include Chinas A-shares in its Emerging Market equity indices. This is a key decision that can draw billions to Chinas A-shares listings  or prevent it for another year.

While media professionals and analysts busied themselves with these two pieces of news, I was having dinner with some family friends. Sometimes, conversations over the dinner table are the best. Since everybody at the dinner table was Chinese, with investment interests in China, it was inevitable for us to discuss it.

Contrary to what you might think, we didnt once touch on Chinas credit quality and growing debt issues. You see, Chinese tend to look at very different indicators than IMF economists. We mainly focus on Chinas social dissent, business conditions, and the political climate.

During this particular dinner, our focus was on giving a score to Xi Jinping. I remember when I was interviewing Chinese CEOs two years ago. Everybody was still waiting to see how Xis term would turn out. Now we are four years in, and its time to give some preliminary marks to his current term.

Xi currently receives a very poor mark from the population at large. At first, the crackdown on corruption was a positive sign for citizens. Many were hopeful that Xi would be different in manoeuvring China out of a very difficult economic situation. But now it is plain to see that the crackdown was just a smokescreen to cover up a party-wide cleansing of opposition to Xi.

He has largely been successful in concentrating power from administrative to military control over the party. The crackdown likely made him many enemies. His tactical design has become much more visible as he extends tougher control inside and outside the party. The illusion of crackdown was also a disappointing factor to ordinary people, as they now feel a strong sense of disappointment.

On the subject of economic reform, the assessment was the same: poor. Most now view Xis political reach to be interfering with effective economic management. For example, Xi handles many of the premiers work. Li Keqiang, the premier, is a technocrat whose role is overshadowed by the direct political presence of Xi.

More deeply, many believe that Xi has modelled himself after Mao. Or perhaps he wants to create a legacy that more or less reflects the approaches of Mao, which was a strong-handed one. Xis direct influence inside the party through anti-corruption drives, and outside the party through cyberspace and media control, is clear to see.

The indicator that is widely adopted to analyse dissent is the speed it takes for the government to take down socially and politically sensitive articles, and media from social media apps such as WeChat and Weibo. Although the speed for taking down such items normally range from 30 minutes to one hour, that window is believed to be allowed by Xis oppositions working at the lower level.

Of course, it is unfair to pin everything on the government, but the wide-ranging and deep-rooted environmental, social and legal problems leave the party with little room to run.

What do you need to look at? Credit quality and banking system stability are important things to care about, but China is a political-control-centric country. It has been operating under this model for thousands of years, and will not change in the near future. You need to look at Beijing, you need to look at Xi Jinping, and you need to look at Chinas politics. Because those are the things that really matter.

Everything comes down to Xi and the degree of political struggle inside the party. Social, environmental and economic problems exert external pressure on the government, and increase infighting. As a response, there is likely to be more heavy-handed control over individuals, groups and society as a whole. Of course, that is a negative feedback loop in itself, and it will end badly if not managed properly.

Credit quality and financial market reform (inclusion in the MSCI index) fall under the banner of economic reform. It is one of the metrics people use to measure the effectiveness of the leadership. Beijing doesnt have to deliver fully on market liberalisation (as it has promised to the West) to win the hearts of its own people. What it is more concerned with is (massive) unemployment, falling wealth and social instability.

Regards,

Ken Wangdong,

Analyst, Emerging Trends Trader

From the Port Phillip Publishing Library

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A2 Milk announced that they expected earnings to beat original expectations yet again. But what was it that made A2 Milk raise their earnings expectations?

Earlier this year, China sought to impose an e-commerce tax on foreign bought goods. Consumer products like baby formula and vitamins were going to be taxed as high as 11.9%. However, this policy must be taken with a grain of salt. Not all goods are tariffed.

There is whats called a positive list. This list is a collection of approved foodstuffs for online sale in China. Some of the approved foodstuffs include wine and pet food. But the positive list has caused some confusion among investors.

They are unsure whether some foodstuffs are on the positive list or not. To be safe, investors sold out of many Australian consumer goods to limit their potential losses. Shares of Bellamys Australia [ASX:BAL] dropped as much as 11.5%, and Blackmores [ASX:BKL] fell 19.1%.

Instead of being fearful when others are, investors should be greedy. Sure, you could end up being wrong. But the way you decrease your chances of being wrong is by doing your homework. If you believe the tax wont disrupt Aussie consumer products, then dont run with the masses. Instead, based on your opinion, you can pick up companies like Bellamys and A2 Milk [ASX:A2M] for cheap.

I have a feeling that a lot of investors will be running back into A2 Milk this morning.

A2 Milk raises their outlook

This morning, A2 Milk announced that they expected earnings to beat original expectations yet again. This is the third time in the past six months that A2 Milk has increased their expected earnings. Even with the negative spin of the e-commerce tax, and the woes of the dairy industry in general, A2 Milk is still coming out on top.

They expect full-year revenue to be in the range of $350360 million. And full-year operating earnings are expected in the range of $5254 million. In addition, the balance sheet positive is forecasted to remain strong. This will reflect improved operating cash flow in the second half. Cash on hand is likely to exceed $50 million.

But what was it that made A2 Milk raise their earnings expectations?

Continuing to perform strongly

A2 Milk acknowledged a number of changes had taken place within the baby formula industry. The regulations have become extremely negative  at least in the eyes of investors. Chinas e-commerce tax is still a burden on the outlook for baby formula.

However, the optimism of the positive list is helping to soften fears. This is also coupled with the more recent Infant Formula Registration Rule. The rule extends to both domestic and imported baby formula products into China.

And [While] the overall volume of infant formula exports is unlikely to change, there are likely to be fewer brands sold, according to Jan Carey, the chief executive of The Infant Nutrition Council.

So it was strong continued demand from China that spurred A2 Milks positive expectations. Yet there is always room for improvement. The company continues to adjust and evolve its manufacturing and distribution model in response to such changes, the group said.

Some basic calculations

Before we start, Id like to note this is a super simple example of how to use earnings expectations to determine things like earnings per share (EPS) and price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios.

OK, first we can find out EPS using the following: divide earnings by the outstanding number of shares. If we want to be technical, then we use:

Source: Investopedia

But lets keep things simple. Lets also use the lower range of A2 Milks earnings expectations to be conservative. The number of outstanding shares is around 723 million.

Therefore, if we divide 52 million by 723 million, we get 0.07189. The idea is to achieve a really high EPS. As a point of comparison, a competitor like Bellamys has an EPS of 0.20.

But lets now calculate P/E ratios to see how they stack up.

Using EPS, we can obtain P/E by dividing current share prices by EPS. As of close on Tuesday, A2 Milks share price was $1.50 per share. Now, just by plugging in the numbers, A2 Milk has a P/E ratio of 20.8.

If we put this figure into words, investors are willing to pay $20 for every $1.00 of current earnings. Comparing this to Bellamys P/E ratio of 52.5, A2 Milk is definitely the cheaper option. However, there could be an expectation that Bellamys might have much more potential than A2 Milk.

Again, keep in mind these are simplistic calculations to show you how you might do this with earnings expectations. If you wanted to do this properly, then averages and multiple variables need to be taken into account.

But hopefully this example might help you in your own further research into A2 Milk, or any other stock for that matter.

Harje Ronngard,

Junior Analyst, Money Morning

PS: Investing in the stock market can be easy. Some may tell you that its hard, throwing complicated examples at you. But thats because theyre interested in your money sitting in their back pocket!

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In Kris report, The Ultimate Starters Guide for Buying and Selling Shares, hell show you all the ins and outs of investing. Whats more, Kris will reveal the one type of stockbroker you should never use. And theres also a secret you need to know about investing correctly.

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The chronicle of a life split between urban Manhattan and rural Montana.
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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

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Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia

Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair

Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan

I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General

I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox

UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS

There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur

EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol  Armenia and Azerbaijan  to do so without delay

An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".

UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022

Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully

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The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces

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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

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ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression
The Morgan Hill Library kicked off its summer reading challenge and youth programs June 11 with a sidewalk chalk art extravaganza. Children of all ages were invited to the library, located at 660 W. Main Ave., to display their colorful creations on the sidewalks and walkways outside the building.

The library also started its Read for the Win summer reading challenge June 1. All kids, teens and adults are invited to step up to the challenge by reading five books from June 1 to July 31. Registration can be done in person at the library, or online at sccl.org/summer2016. Programs and incentives are divided into three age group activities.

Participants in the challenge get a chance to talk to a Santa Clara County Parks Ranger at one of the Santa Clara County Library Districts scheduled Ranger visits throughout the summer. And all reading challenge participants get a free pass to the Childrens Discovery Museum.

According to the California Library Association, reading for pleasure is one of the building blocks needed for young people to grow into healthy, productive adults. Enhanced vocabulary, increased knowledge and reduction in stress, improved memory and better focus concentration are all benefits of reading, according to a SCCLD press release.

Upcoming events for children and teens at the Morgan Hill Library include Toy Box Physics with Childrens Discovery Museum, 3 p.m. June 17; clay class for teens, 3 p.m. June 21 (registration required); Wild Cats, 3 and 4:30 p.m. June 22; and Seans Music Factory, 3 p.m. June 29.

For a full schedule of summer events and more information about the Read for the Win challenge, visit sccl.org.
Acting Armenian Patriarch of Turkey: Shameful Tool of Turkish Propaganda - Harut Sassounian

By Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com Archbishop Aram Ateshyan, General Vicar of the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey, sent a highly controversial letter last week to President Recep Erdogan, criticizing the German Parliaments decision to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The Acting Patriarchs letter created a major controversy among Armenians worldwide, including the Armenian community of Turkey. Some called for his resignation; others, including a member of the Armenian Parliament, demanded that he be defrocked! While successive Turkish governments have attempted to pressure Abp. Ateshyans predecessors to serve as propaganda tool for Ankara, no previous Patriarch has written such an offensive letter regarding the Armenian Genocide. It is not clear whether the Acting Patriarch wrote last weeks letter on his own initiative or it was drafted for him by Turkish officials. Those who personally know Abp. Ateshyan insist that the letter could not have been written by him because he is not too proficient in the Turkish language. Whatever the case, he did sign and disseminate the letter to the media, which was published by several Turkish newspapers. Regrettably, this is not the first time that the Acting Patriarch has displayed such a boot-licking attitude vis-a-vis the Turkish authorities, intending to secure the support of the government for his hoped for election as Patriarch. During a public meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Istanbul last year, Abp. Ateshyan dared to insult her for criticizing Pres. Erdogans violations of human rights! Describing the Armenian Genocide merely as events that happened during the tragic times of World War I, Abp. Ateshyan stated in his letter that the Armenian community of Turkey shared the Turkish nations regret for the German Bundestags decision. The Acting Patriarch, speaking on behalf of the Armenian community of Turkey, claimed that the German Parliament has no right to pronounce judgment on behalf of the entire German nation. He further added: it is also questionable to what extent this decision expresses the feelings of German citizens. It is nonsensical for Abp. Ateshyan to insist that the Parliament does not speak for the German people, since it adopted the resolution on the Armenian Genocide with a near unanimous vote! Also, the Acting Patriarch blamed the German Parliament for sidestepping the negative role of the Third Reich in a few sentences and pointing to the Ottoman Empire as the sole perpetrator. It is shocking that Abp. Ateshyan is covering up Turkish denials of the Armenian Genocide and belittling Germanys honest admission of complicity! Those who try to justify the Acting Patriarchs anti-Armenian statements, by claiming that one has to live in Turkey to fully appreciate the oppressive nature of Erdogans regime, should know that many Armenians in Turkey are outraged by Abp. Ateshyans letter. They wrote dozens of messages on his Facebook page, expressing their disagreement. The harshest criticism of the Acting Patriarch came from the editor of Agos, an Armenian newspaper published in Istanbul: We read your letter  with sorrow, anger and shame. Your presentation of the systematic annihilation, by state decision, of its own citizens living on its own lands, using the governments description as events that happened during the tragic times of World War I, is an affront to the ancestors, victims, and survivors in the eyes of the society to which you also belong. Contrary to the Acting Patriarchs claim that Armenians are treated as equals with Turks, Agos asserted that Armenians have been subjected to discrimination, fascism and public threats. The newspaper also countered Abp. Ateshyans statement that the German Parliaments decision had caused sorrow and pain, by affirming: The pressure that forced you to pen this letter is a source of pain and sorrow for us. The Armenian communitys identity is harmed by your words, not as you say, by the Bundestags decision. Agos also told the Acting Patriarch that his letter represented a specific statement of denialism against your own people. We will shortly see who will enthusiastically welcome your words. We pray that God bestows upon you good sense, sound judgment and thoughtfulness. In order not to cause further damage to his people and their sacred cause, I humbly advise Abp. Ateshyan to refrain from any future political and propagandistic statements. Otherwise, he should seriously consider resigning from his post, since Armenians of Turkey will never accept him as their chosen Patriarch, even if Erdogan supports his election!
Reservations for the July 16 Leadership Excellence Award Dinner celebrating farmer, community supporter, philanthropist and good guy Joe Aiello are available. Please go to leadershipmorganhill.org to reserve your seats now.

More than 200 community leaders, supporters of Leadership Morgan Hill (LMH) and friends of the honoree are expected to attend this community celebration to honor Joe and his family and to benefit the local nonprofit LMH educational organization.

This years event will be held at Guglielmo Winery, a beautiful, tranquil outdoor venue set in the winerys vineyards at 1460 East Main Ave., Morgan Hilljust a short distance from where Joe started his farming career.

The theme for this years event is Italian Farm to Table, embracing our honorees heritage and his vocation. The menu reflects the theme, and delicious Italian-oriented food will be freshly delivered from farm to table for your enjoyment.

Dinner is only part of the evenings program. Youll want to browse the silent auction before and during dinner; it will have unique and enticing items. After dinner we will celebrate Joe and his family in a brief award program, which will be followed by music featuring the local band Bad Monkey and dancing. Joe wants all attendees to come and have fun doing whatever makes it a memorable event for them. In keeping with the outdoor setting, dress for the event is casual, upscale summer fun.

Aiello is an icon in the agricultural community. His Uesugi Farms is a very well-known producer of many crops including peppers, melons and strawberries. Their Pumpkin Patch in Morgan Hill is extremely popular, especially right around Halloween. Joes support of the Future Farmers of America programs in all our local high schools is extensive and truly inspires participants to put farming in their future. Some who do that also reap the award of a Uesugi- sponsored scholarship due to Joe and the familys philanthropy.

Joe is a leader who truly reflects the ideals of the LMH organization. Please come help us celebrate with this great guy and his family.

Reservations and more information are available at leadershipmorganhill.org.

Tate is the mayor of the City of Morgan Hill.
New Tax Code passes First Reading: BHK abstains from voting (video)

The new Tax Code of Armenia passed its first reading in the National Assembly, after receiving 68 votes in favour, 21 against and 18 abstentions. Before putting the bill to a vote, lawmaker Edmon Marukyan suggested recalling the bill as the legislature did not consider its impact on small and medium-sized businesses. Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Galust Sahakyan, said there is no violation of the law and lawmakers are free to voice their observations later. A number of opposition lawmakers expressed their disapproval of the bill, saying the adoption of the law is unacceptable for them. Levon Zurabyan, Head of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) faction, said there is a need to organize serious discussions on such an important document while opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinyan said, Once the bill is passed, it will increase the prices of gas and diesel fuel. Lawmakers of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) will abstain from voting, considering the different views on the package, said Naira Zohrabyan, Head of the BHK faction. Republican Vardan Ayvazyan said he did not see any obstacle for rejecting the bill and said the legislature can discuss all observations and concerns during the Second Reading debates.
Morningstar's "Perspectives" series features investment insights from third-party contributors. We hear from Matthew Sutherland, Investment Director, Fidelity International.

Chinas equity markets have been relatively quiet in recent months; a welcome change from the volatility seen at the beginning of the year when a weakening yuan hit markets not just in China but around the world.

The Shenzhen connect would broaden the range of stocks to which foreign investors would have access

There are a number of factors that could support sentiment for Chinese equities as we head into the second half of the year.

First off, at the end of May the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges announced stock halt and resumption rules aimed at avoiding a situation like last year when half the market was suspended in a rapidly falling A-share market. Key measures include better disclosure of reasons for suspension and maximum suspension times for different corporate activities.

Next, an announcement on the launch of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Stock Connect scheme could be announced this month. This follows on from the launch of the Hong Kong Shanghai Stock Connect last year. The scheme allows mainland investors to invest in Hong Kong listed stocks and vice-versa.

China has two domestic stock markets, in Shanghai and Shenzhen. Most listed firms on the Shanghai Stock Exchange are state-owned and/or from traditional sectors such as financials, industrials, energy and utilities. Companies listed in Shenzhen represent more of the private sector of the Chinese economy, such as technology, telecoms, consumer discretionary and pharmaceuticals. The Shenzhen connect would broaden the range of stocks to which foreign investors would have access and would thus be a positive move, especially as many sit in the areas of Chinas new economy that is experiencing significant policy support.

If announced, the earliest possible launch date would be in September this year.

China A-Share Inclusion

These two measures are part of a push by China to have its A-shares included in MSCI indices. MSCI could announce any such inclusion in mid-June. Despite the size of Chinas economy and capital markets, A-shares are not currently represented in MSCI indices that international funds typically track or benchmark themselves against, and access to the market remains restricted.

Whilst any inclusion would likely be only partial  perhaps a 5% inclusion, meaning that for each A-share that is included, its index market capitalisation would be capped at 5% of its free-float adjusted market capitalisation, the long-term view is that A-shares will be fully included at some point.

Finally, on May 31st we saw the second phase of the inclusion of China American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) into the MSCI China benchmark. ADRs are stocks that trade in the US and represent a specified amount of shares in a foreign company. They can be an easy and cost effective way for investors to shares in a foreign company, especially so in the case of Chinese equites where access can be restrictive.

Chinese Internet giants Alibaba, Baidu and JD.com will all see their weighting in MSCI China increased, and passive funds that track the index will need to adjust to their new weightings.

So we have four catalysts, each of which could produce some positive boost to sentiment for stocks, especially those in Hong Kong and China financial services. Fundamentally, we dont expect these catalysts to have much direct earnings impact as they are more sentiment than fundamentals driven.

Disclaimer

The views contained herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of Morningstar. If you are interested in Morningstar featuring your content on our website, please email submissions to UKEditorial@morningstar.com
Residents' opinion was ignored during consolidation of communities - lawmaker

Residents of Berdavan community in Tavush province complain that their village was merged with Koghb village and not with Noyemberyan under the governments program of community expansion. Why wasnt the decision discussed with the residents of this community? Why wasnt a referendum held on the issue? Armenian lawmaker Edmon Marukyan asked the question to Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration Vache Terteryan during a discussion in the National Assembly. We organized discussions before the consolidation of the previous three communities. But this time we have not done it because under the countrys Constitution, the legislature hears the opinion of community residents through lawmakers. We have also talked to the head of the given community, trying to answer all his concerns, Mr Terteryan said. Elinar Vardanyan, a lawmaker from the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) asked why the government did not wait for the results of the community expansion pilot program before merging more communities. We needed to have a sufficient number of communities to be able to make comparisons. These new communities with be merged with the previous three ones, Vache Terteryan said. He advised Elinar Vardanyan not to fix on the fact that the program needs extensive experience for implementation.
Following the launch of BEACON 9 by Equifax, brokers are reporting record-high credit scores  including one likened to mythical creatures.Clients who pay their mortgages on time, that will be reflected on the credit score. Yesterday, one of my underwriters saw a 900 BEACON, which I always thought was a myth, the unicorn, the White Whale, Mike Havery, a mortgage planner with Mortgage Architects , told MortgageBrokerNews.ca. I think thats more a reflection of reporting things that reflect positively like mortgage payments.Equifax unveiled a new BEACON score, which will be delivered on the Expert and Morweb platforms, earlier this month.Its the newest FICO Score version in Canada to help you make credit decisions with confidence, according to the user guide provided to brokers, which was obtained by MortgageBrokerNews.ca. It allows you to effectively evaluate new prospects by predicting the probability of an account going bad.So far, brokers have noticed both positive and negative impacts of the credit score.Basically its much more pronounced on the positive and negative side. An example: I pulled a BEACON  one client seemed to be more penalized for a recent late payment, Havery said. Recent late payments are going to penalize you more and over the limits are going to penalize more.The positives are more heavily weighted, but so are the negative. I asked the guy from Equifax if he had ever seen a 900 and he said he hadnt.That experience has also been had by Mike Maguire, a broker with Mortgage Wise Financial, who has noticed record-high credit scores.The change has been positive. Im sure people are dropping but Ive never seen BEACONs so high. Ive never seen an 880 beacon before, Maguire said. We have some a lot of clients with very good credit, so its kind of cool when you tell them they have 875 instead of 809.
Photo: Texas Shark Slayers via San Antonio Express-News

After a two-and-a-half hour "fight," a team of Texas anglers said they brought in a 9-foot bull shark on Bob Hall Pier in Corpus Christi on Sunday.

The Texas Shark Slayers, based in Corpus Christi, told mySA.com at least 10 people used a Shimano Tiagra reel and about 100 yards of Extreme Braid fishing line and Jerry Tackle to bring in the massive catch.
The global oil market will be almost balanced next year as demand continues to rise faster than production, while the current oversupply is much smaller than previously thought, the International Energy Agency said.

The surplus in the first half of this year is about 40 percent smaller than estimated a month ago, as consumption proves stronger than expected while disruptions reduce supply, the Paris-based agency said. Still, the "enormous inventory overhang" that accumulated during years of oversupply will limit any significant increase in prices, it said.

"At halfway in 2016 the oil market looks to be balancing,"said the agency, which advises 29 nations on energy policy. "Less oil has been stockpiled than we originally expected" as "oil demand growth has been significantly stronger" and "unexpected supply cuts" strained the availability of crude.

Oil prices in New York have surged about 80 percent from a 12-year low in February to trade near $48 a barrel as production retreats amid investment cuts, wildfires disrupt operations in Canada and militant attacks hit exports from Nigeria. Prices tumbled last year as OPEC refused to concede market share to a crude surplus triggered by years of booming shale oil output from the United States.

Supplies outpaced consumption by 800,000 barrels a day in the first half of this year, the agency said, having estimated that difference at 1.3 million a day in last month's report. In the second half, the market will be balanced as a drop in inventories in the third quarter counters another increase in the fourth. The rebalancing of the market may be delayed if halted supplies in Canada, Nigeria and Libya are able to restart, the IEA said.

"Overall, this is another bullish IEA report" that points to "clear light at the end of the tunnel and oil prices well above current levels," Oswald Clint, a London-based analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, said in a report.

In its first published estimates for supply and demand for 2017, the IEA estimated that global oil demand will increase by 1.3 million barrels a day next year, the same rate as this year, to reach 97.4 million barrels a day.

Production outside the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will grow by a "modest" 200,000 barrels a day, with gains limited to Canada and Brazil. While U.S. shale oil production will start to recover by the middle of next year, average output for 2017 will be 190,000 barrels a day lower, after falling 500,000 a day in 2016. Global inventories will decline by 100,000 barrels a day through the year, the IEA said.

As growth in demand exceeds non-OPEC supply, more crude will be required from OPEC. The organization will need to provide an average of 33.4 million barrels a day next year, about 800,000 a day more than the 32.6 million a day its 13 members pumped in May, according to the report. Iran, now the fastest-growing OPEC member as it restores exports curbed by international sanctions, may boost output by 100,000 barrels a day next year to 3.7 million a day.

For 2016, the agency raised forecasts for global oil demand by 100,000 barrels a day on stronger U.S. fuel use, and cut projections for non-OPEC supply by the same amount. Global oil supplies suffered their first "significant" contraction last month since 2013, falling 590,000 barrels a day from a year earlier as a result of spending curbs and unplanned outages.
MMH Auxiliary makes donations

Midland Memorial Hospital Auxiliary earlier this year donated funds for a new lobby information desk and intensive care unit mattresses.

The auxiliary donated $277,800 for the information desk project, according to a press release from the auxiliary. Included in this donation were 50 wheelchairs and audio visual equipment for the chapel.

The organization contributed $250,000 toward the purchase of 48 mattresses; the Midland Memorial Foundation also contributed $200,000. The mattresses are especially designed for patients who will have lengthy hospital stays, according to the release.

The auxiliarys funds come from gift shop and pop corn sales and donations.

Veterans can get free dental care

Aspen Dental offices across the country will be offering free dental care to veterans 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 25.

The Midland office is at 4400 N. Midland Drive, Suite 702. To make an appointment, call 242-7426.

MMH events

-- Opioid Abuse, 12:15-1:15 p.m., today, Midland Memorial Hospital Conference Rooms C & D. For more information, contact Rebecca Pontaski at 221-1625 or rebecca.pontaski@midland-memorial.com

-- Advance Care Planning Training (Part II of II), 1:30-2:30 p.m. today Midland Memorial Hospital. For more information, contact Collette Underwood or collette.underwood@midland-memorial.com

-- Becoming a Mom class, 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday at Midland Memorial Hospital West Campus private dining room. 221-1150.

Support groups this week

-- Bariatric Support Group, 11:30 a.m. today, ACT Counseling Center, 2445 E. 11th St., Odessa; 272-4333.

-- Diabetes Support Group, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday Midland County Library Centennial Branch, 2503 W. Loop 250. For more information, contact Megan Casselman at 221-3045 or megan.casselman@midland-memorial.com.

-- Diabetes Support Group for Spanish Speakers, 2-3 p.m. Thursday at Casa de Amigos; sponsored by Midland Memorial Hospital; 221-3286.

-- New Beginnings cancer support group, 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Texas Oncology - Allison Cancer Center, 400 Rosalind Redfern Grover Parkway, Suite 100, 218-8714, fatima@giftsofhopemidland.org.

-- West Texas Amputee Support Group, 11 a.m. Saturday, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital; 550-4371.

-- Midland Odessa Chapter of the United Ostomy Association , 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Midland Memorial Hospital West Campus.

-- Helping Hand Metastatic Cancer Support Group meets noon Tuesday at Texas Tech Physicians of the Permian Basin Clinic, Room 210B. Lunch will be served. To RSVP, call Amber Chavez at 620-1023.

Weekly support groups

-- TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Christian Church of Midland, 2609 Neely Ave. 694-8643.

-- Overeaters Anonymous; 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays and 3-4 p.m. Sundays; B&J Plaza, 206 N. Midkiff Road, Suite 1-D; 553-1031.

 survivors of sexual abuse; interactive Bible study to help deal with the consequences of sexual abuse meets Tuesdays. Child care available; House of Hope, 570-5935.

-- Peer to Peer support group for veterans, active duty, guard, reserves and their families, 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Permian Basin Community Center, 401 E. Illinois Ave., Suite 403; Wil Hoggard, 213-5342, william.hoggard@wtcmhmr.org.

-- PDAP meetings:

7-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays: Parents group and younger group (12-17), 1208 W. Wall St.; college group (18-26), 2503 W. Ohio Ave.; older group (27 and over), First Presbyterian Church

11:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays: older group, 1208 W. Wall St., includes lunch

* * *

Alcoholics Anonymous  hotline 580-7868.

 Serenity Group, 8 p.m. daily, 3101 N. A St., Building C; 685-3100.

 710 Group, 7 a.m., noon and 8 p.m. Wednesdays, 710 Ohio Ave.; 682-8162.

 Alpha Omega, 8 p.m Tuesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 311 S. Pecos St.

--12-Step Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. Saturdays; 206 N. Midkiff Road; 697-0272.

Narcotics Anonymous  hotline 582-2926.

 Laundry Group, 8 p.m. daily and noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 104 N. Marshall St.

 Xodus Group, 5:30 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 7 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays, 206 N. Midkiff Road.

-- CODA Group, 12-step program for relationships, 7 p.m. Thursdays, 206 N. Midkiff Road; 697-0272.

-- La Hacienda Alumni, support group for former patients, 7 p.m. Thursdays, 206 N. Midkiff Road; 697-0272.

***

MMH payment options

Midland Memorial Hospital recognizes that our community is facing challenging financial times. Resources are tight and families are having to make important decisions about what to spend money on now and what has to wait.

Realizing health care can be expensive and the increasing deductibles make it hard to manage, the hospital has adjusted its payment procedures. We want to make sure you receive the care you need, when you need it. To find out about the new options now offered to better accommodate your payment needs, call 221-4705.

Source: Midland Memorial Hospital

***

How sick are you?

Midland Memorial Hospital offers a a nurse triage program 68-NURSE.

The program is designed to help people determine whether their health situation warrants a trip to the emergency room. Midland residents can call the line by dialing 686-8773.

The program is free and available 24 hours a day-365 days a year. Local nurses are available to help you determine the best place to receive care for your situation. 68-NURSE can help you save time and money by directing you to the most appropriate healthcare option, whether its a neighborhood clinic, urgent care center, emergency room  or just staying home.

* * *

The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services has a toll-free number residents can call to obtain information on services for the disabled or long-term care.

For more information, call 855-937-2372.

* * *

Contact your Hospital District representative

Midland Memorial Hospital

400 Rosalind Redfern Grover Parkway, Midland, TX 79701

Phone: 221-1111

Website: www.midland-memorial.com

President Russell Meyers 221-1584

Directors -- District 1: Dwain Tomlin, District 2: Dorothea Logan, District 3: Tommy Lent, District 4: Cressinda Hyatt, District 5: Alison King, District 6: Joe Kiowski, District 7: Jeffrey Beard
The West Texas chapter of Black Nurses Rock -- which was established in February -- will host a health fair at this weekends Juneteenth Midland celebration.

Tameka Polk, a nurse and stroke coordinator at Midland Memorial Hospital, began reaching out to different health organizations last year for this year's clinic. The BNR West Texas chapter took it from there.

Polk co-founded the local chapter with Takeisha Wonsley and AToya Miller when the national nonprofit organization put out a call for more chapters. Polk has a masters degree in nursing, Wonsley is currently working toward her bachelors and Miller is a licensed vocational nurse.

This weekends event at Washington Park will help people of all age groups access health care and information, Polk said.

My goal is to reach people who arent readily going to the doctors office, and offer them resources so they know where to go and what testing and things they need to be looking for, Polk said. I know theres a lot of the elderly generations live around that area (Washington Park) and ... have no rides to where they need to go (for health issues). Its important to let them know that resources are readily available.

Services available at the Juneteenth event will include free blood pressure checks and HIV testing as well as information on heat stroke, trauma, diabetes, breast cancer awareness and stroke awareness. The last two in particular were important, she said.

We wanted to address everything but focus in on things that are big health disparities. Breast cancer has a 40 percent mortality rate in African American women, Polk said, adding that stroke and high blood pressure have high mortality rates among African Americans as well.

Interim Home Health, St. Josephs Home Health, Health South, Safe Place, 68-Nurse, Home Hospice, Memorial Walk for Babies and Legacy Ranch Home Health will have tables at the health fair.

Weve been preparing a while, Wonsley said. Its our biggest event yet. Were excited the weekend is coming up to reach out to our community and get them their referrals that they need as far as their health.

Besides health care education and referrals, BNR hopes to encourage those in attendance to pursue jobs in the health care profession, Polk said.

Follow Cassie on Twitter at @Cassie_Burton51
Though many expected a messy fight over Texas telemedicine rules next year, medical and industry groups are coming together to try to hammer out a compromise over how health care can be provided remotely.

The question is whether the coalition can keep the peace between doctors, telemedicine companies and health insurers until state lawmakers convene and take up the issue in 2017  all while a federal lawsuit challenges the states existing rules governing long-distance health care.

Texas, home to both a business-friendly climate and an influential physician lobby, has long grappled with the practice of telemedicine, in which remote, sometimes out-of-state doctors can make diagnoses and write prescriptions after consulting with patients by phone or on the Internet. Last year, the state passed a rule backed by doctors groups requiring most physicians to meet patients face to face before treating them remotely. Business groups cried foul, saying the state was stifling innovation in health care. The regulations are currently tied up in court.

Now, some of those competing groups are hoping to present the Texas Legislature with a compromise. On Tuesday, their lobbyists held a closed-door meeting to discuss "modernizing our telemedicine statutes and reducing the regulatory footprint governing the provision of telemedicine services, according to an email obtained by The Texas Tribune.

Representatives for the health care groups said the negotiations are still in their infancy but that they hope to reach a compromise by the end of the summer  largely to take advantage of new technologies that have made it easier for patients and doctors to exchange information without meeting in person.

Those advances have made telemedicine a more convenient option for consumers, they say, and a more palatable one for traditional doctors, who fear missing out on a business opportunity.

Tom Banning, chief executive of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, said the negotiations signified a thawing of tensions between doctors and the telemedicine industry.

Telemedicine is really an exciting area of medicine, said Dan Finch, legislative affairs director for the Texas Medical Association, a physician lobby group.

What we used to be fighting about is, What can technology do? said Nora Belcher, executive director of the Texas e-Health Alliance, a health care information technology industry group. Now were talking about what technology should do.

Despite the optimism around reaching an agreement, Tuesdays meeting comes at a tumultuous time for the states telemedicine regulations, which are tied up in federal court.

The Texas Medical Board, which licenses and regulates doctors, adopted a rule last year that would in most cases prohibit doctors from treating Texans via remote technology without an existing doctor-patient relationship  one first established face to face. That threatened the business model of Teladoc, a Dallas-based company that connects doctors and Texas patients over the phone, and led the company to file a lawsuit against the medical board. In May 2015, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ordered that the telemedicine rule could not go into effect while the lawsuit was ongoing.

Teladoc is sure to be following the current negotiations closely to see if they would resolve the lawsuit  or pose a new threat to the companys phone-based model, which it refers to as telehealth.

A representative for Teladoc who attended Tuesdays meeting declined to comment.

The new regulations under discussion in Texas are said to be modeled in part on a law passed this year in Indiana. That law does not require an in-person visit to establish a doctor-patient relationship as long as remote telemedicine consultations meet certain standards of care. Teladoc supported the law in Indiana, according to legislative records.

Also looking on are health insurers, who have been vocal supporters of expanding patients access to telemedicine but are wary of mandates that would require them to pay a certain amount for telemedicine services. Doctors, on the other hand, hope to use the negotiations as an opportunity to draft laws requiring payment for care provided remotely.

Disclosure: The Texas Medical Association and Teladoc have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them - about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
(Screenshot of a report on WPBF in West Palm Beach) via Houston Chronicle

Stories and images of the terror attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando continue to flood social media and news outlets two days after the horrific mass shooting.

Among them was a viral Facebook post by a physician who tended to the victims.
Bees are dying, and Cindy Fiser wants to know why. Now the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is helping her look for answers.

Fiser, a fourth-year applied ecology and environmental sciences major in Michigan Tech's School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, has been named a winner of the EPA's Greater Research Opportunities Undergraduate Fellowship. The award provides financial support as well as a summer internship with the EPA at one of three locations.

In Fisers case, Colorado will be her home for the next 12 weeks. There, she will get to lead her own research project, a study of bees, focusing on alternative treatments to pesticides and herbicides, such as native predators and grass buffers around areas of agriculture.

Pesticides and herbicides may harm the environment by potentially contaminating native pollinators or predators and their habitat on site, as well as the surrounding rivers and streams, Fiser explains She is hoping alternative treatment approaches will help bring back the diminishing bee population.

For the past three years Fiser has worked with Michigan Tech PhD student Colin Phifer as a research field assistant. She traveled with Phifer to Wisconsin and Brazil. Phifer also studies bees, more specifically how land use change associated with bioenergy feedstocks impacts both birds and native bees. This work prepared Fiser for her EPA research project.

Graduate Student Mentor

It was Phifer who suggested she apply for the EPA fellowship. Im very proud of her, he says. I brought the EPA fellowship to her attention and then mentored her in how to begin the application process. But Cindy did all the work: she worked very hard to draft, edit and revise a winning application.

Cindy is bright and extremely focused, Phifer continued. Shes almost self-taught on insect identification, and she is well prepared for her own project. She has the skills to develop research questions and testable hypotheses, to design a project to test those ideas and to complete the research. I expect her to excel in her EPA position and beyond. I will soon be working for her.

Fiser spent a semester in Alberta Village near Lanse. The Integrated Field Practicum or Fall Camp brings students from various environmental disciplines together to work collecting data and writing a group final research paper. The experience allows students to learn from each other, providing an understanding of other fields of study.

Cindy is one of those rare undergraduates who possess a level of maturity, confidence and capacity for responsibility and leadership, that one sees only every few years in my position, says David Flaspohler, professor of forest resources and environmental sciences and Fisers advisor. She is a future leader in ecological and environmental science.

Environmental Problems, Research Solutions

I want to get out there and do something, Fiser says. This is the first time I get to go to the public with information on the environmental problems we face and find a potential solution. I am excited to head my own project, and hopefully the results will make a positive change.

Fiser hopes that other students interested in the environment to look into all the opportunities Michigan Tech has for them. In the Forestry building we are like our own community, she says. Professors care about you and how you are doing. They make themselves available.

Fiser is especially grateful for the hands-on education she has received from Flaspohler and from Kathleen Halvorsen, professor of natural resource policy, and Christopher Webster, professor of forest resources and environmental science, as well as Phifer. She worked for the past two summers with Halvorsen, who is director of the Partnerships in International Research and Education (PIRE) program. She says this experience has provided her with a wealth of useful tools that she can now apply to her research project with the EPA.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigans flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
Vicksburg, MissThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District will enter a Partnership Project Agreement with mayors of several Mississippi communities. This signing, to be held at District Headquarters Building on June 16, 2016, is a part of the Mississippi Environmental Infrastructure Program (Section 592) as authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1999.The Section 592 Program provides environmental assistance to non-federal interests in Mississippi. Assistance may be in the form of design and construction assistance for water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects in Mississippi. This includes, but is not limited to, projects for wastewater treatment and related facilities, elimination or control of combined sewer overflow water supply and related facilities, environmental restoration, and surface water resource protection and development. Assistance may be provided only for projects that are publically owned and the non-federal interest must enter into a written cost share agreement to furnish its required cooperation for the project.The city of Clarksdales water and sewer systems will be rehabilitated at a cost of $974,750; the town of Decaturs sewer and water systems will be rehabilitated at a cost of $1,142,812; the city of Greenvilles sanitary sewer system will be rehabilitated at a cost of $901,053.33; the city of Laurels water system will be rehabilitated at a cost of $475,000. These cost share agreements will be 75 percent federally funded and 25 percent non-federally funded.Mayor Bill Luckett of Clarksdale, Mayor Patrick ONeill of Decatur, Mayor Errick D. Simmons of Greenville, and Mayor Johnny Magee of Laurel, are expected to attend and sign Partnership Project Agreements for their respective cities and towns.

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers' Vicksburg District is one of 41 Corps districts worldwide and one of six districts in the Corps' Mississippi Valley Division (MVD). The Vicksburg District covers 68,000 square miles in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The District's 1,000-person workforce is eager to serve you and to be the Engineer of Choice for the 21st Century. Explore our web site at www.mvk.usace.army.mil

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"If it requires removing all cabinet ...
Sacramento, CA  A proposal to switch to year-round Standard Time has passed a committee test in Sacramento.

The bill, introduced by Democratic Assemblymember Kansen Chu of the Bay Area, was approved 9-2 in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee. It now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for review.

California voters approved Daylight Saving Time via Proposition 12 in 1949. If Chus proposal gains support in the Assembly and Senate, it would be placed before California voters to have the final say via a ballot measure.

Daylight Saving Time is an institution that has been in place largely without question for more than half a century, says Chu. I think we owe it to the general public to be given the opportunity to decide for themselves whether or not it ought to be continued.

Chu argues that the move would result in energy savings, and reduce public safety hazards. He notes that the number of recorded heart attacks, workplace accidents and traffic collisions traditionally increase in the days following a time change.

If passed, California would join a small list of other states not to acknowledge Daylight Saving Time, which includes Hawaii and much of Arizona.
Cheyenne Fire, CAL Fire Image View Photos

Update at 10:40 p.m.: Cal Fire reports that fire resources continue to make progress on the Cheyenne Fire burning in Calaveras County. While the acreage remains at 83 acres, the containment has grown to 60 percent. Overnight crews will continue working to fully contain the flames, according to Cal Fire Dispatch.

Update at 6:40pm: Calaveras County Sheriffs officials report roads that were closed, due to the Cheyenne Fire, have reopened and evacuees are being allowed to return to their homes However, Cal Fire continues to report the blaze as only ten percent contained, holding at about 83 acres.

Update at 5:40pm: Calaveras County spokesperson Sharon Torrence reports that the Red Cross evacuation center at Toyon Middle School is closing, apparently because it was determined that it was not needed to support evacuations relating to the Cheyenne Fire in Burson. Cal Fire states that the blaze remains at approximately 83 acres with ten percent containment.

Update at 4:54pm: Cal Fire reports that the Cheyenne Fire is now ten percent contained and recalculated, due to better mapping, from 225 down to 83 acres. Cal Fire spokesperson Lindy Shoff shares that fire officials have determined it was a lawnmower that sparked the blaze.

Calaveras County Sheriff Rick DiBasilio reports that currently Camanche Parkway is open but that Arapaho Way, Steadman Ranch Road, Cheyenne Way and Cobb Lane are closed. The Sheriff cautions those in the area to be cognizant of where the flames are spreading, adding that his dispatcher is hearing that Cal Fire seems to be getting a good handle on the blaze.

Update at 4:40pm: Calaveras County spokesperson Sharon Torrence reports that county staff has set up the Cheyenne Fire evacuation center at Toyon Middle School on Double Springs Road and that Red Cross is on the way to take over command operations there.

Update at 4:10pm: There is still no containment on the Cheyenne Fire, which firefighting units are continuing to hold at approximately 225 acres, according to Cal Fire. The Red Cross is in the process of setting up an evacuation center at Toyon Middle School (3412 Double Springs Road). There is no word on what number of residents have evacuated.

Update at 3:30 pm: In an exclusive Clarke Broadcasting interview with Cowgirl Up Ranch owner Marybeth Wiefels,whose property is near the heart of the Cheyenne Fire, Wiefels provides the following eyewitness account

I heard either two gunshots or popsand somemale voices hollering and then a couple of people then went running up off the hill  and then the fire started, and that is what [fire officials] will be investigating, Wiefels shares, adding that the fire may have started on her or the back acreage of her neighbors property. It is really windy and [the fire] burnt all the properties out hereweve lost some outbuildings. From her perspective, Wiefels estimates that the fire was mainly running between Navaho and Arapaho ways. The fire spread so fast, she says, where she was, there was no time for large animal evacuations but they did manage to get a couple of their elderly neighbors out. The fire was on top of us  we just went with our fire plan, which is to get [the horses] in the cleared out pasture, she states. In the process of evacuating extra hands and small animals when she signed off with us, Wiefels says she plans to remain in place.

Update at 3:20pm: Cal Fire reports the acreage has grown from 50 to 225 acres. Additionally, the CHP reports Arapaho Way at Cobb Lane is closed.

Update at 3pm: The CHP reports Camanche Parkway has been reopened to traffic.

Update 2:45pm: Cal Fire reports two outbuilding have been destroyed. However, the fires size is holding at 50 acres and some of the aircraft has been released, according to Cal Fire.

Update at 2:15pm: The CHP reports that, due to the Cheyenne Fire in Burson, located in the 12000 block of Cheyenne Way near Arapaho Way, Camanche Parkway is closed at Burson Road. The fire is now described by Cal Fire as 50 acres in size. Evacuations continue. Residents are asked to avoid the area and allow the fire crews to safely work. According to the CHP San Andreas Unit, Highway 12 in the area is open.

Update at 2:04 pm: Cal Fire reports containment on the earlier reported vegetation fire near Don Pedro in the 9700 block of Rastro Way near Laredo Drive (see below). At last check the size estimate of the blazes, located between Lake Don Pedro and Lake McClure, was estimated at 12 to 15 acres in size. No cause has yet been determined.

Update: at 1:47pm: The Calaveras County-based fire that broke out just before 1 p.m. is now described as being at 16 to 21 acres and located in the 12000 block of Cheyenne Way near Arapaho Way. It has been named the Cheyenne Fire. As structures are threatened, evacuations continue. A road closure was just ordered for Highway 12 at Burson Road.

12000 Block of Cheyenne Way near Arapaho Way, Burson, CA, United States loading map - please wait...

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 more information

Update at 1:28pm: Cal Fire reports that forward progress has been stopped on the fire near Don Pedro in the 9700 block of Rastro Way near Laredo Drive. The blaze, located between Lake Don Pedro and Lake McClure, is now described at 12 to 15 acres, threatening one structure. The Columbia air tankers have been released.

Update at 1:24pm: There are some evacuations underway in Calaveras County due to the vegetation fire in the 12000 block of Cheyenne Drive near Pattison Road. It is in the Burson area in the vicinity of Lake Camanche. There is currently not a size estimate, but the Calaveras County Sheriffs Office is evacuating some of the nearby homes. Well pass along more details when they become available.

Original story posted at 1:15pm: Fire resources are heading to two fires.one in Mariposa County and the other in Calaveras County, which both broke out around 12:50 p.m.

Cal Fire reports four engines, a dozer, Columbia Air Attack and one helicopter are on the way to a vegetation fire near Don Pedro in the 9700 block of Rastro Way near Laredo Drive. It is between Lake Don Pedro and Lake McClure.

Seven engines, a dozer and two hand crews are heading to another vegetation fire in the 12000 block of Cheyenne Drive near Pattison Road in Burson. There are no details related to size, rate of spread or whether any structures are threatened in the either fire at this time. We will bring you more details as soon as they come into the news center.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Malaysian Ambassador M. Zamruni Khalid (Source: VNA)



Meeting Malaysian Ambassador M. Zamruni Khalid, the Government leader asserted Vietnam always treasures its strategic partnership with Malaysia and wants to make it stronger.

The Vietnam-Malaysia action plan for 2016-2018 should soon be put in place and agreements on the transfer and extradition of the convicted, aviation service, education and legal support should be sealed to serve cooperative activities, he suggested.

He stressed the need to establish a deputy ministerial defence dialogue mechanism, a joint patrol method, and a hotline to step up fishery affiliation, search and rescue operations and the combat against pirates.

The fifth meeting of the Joint Committee on economic, scientific and technological cooperation should be convened in this third quarter, he noted, expressing his hope that the Malaysian Government will support Vietnamese businesses investments in its country.

On the issue of Vietnamese workers in Malaysia, he told the diplomat about the need to cooperate in handling emerging issues to ensure the workers rights and interests and encourage their contributions to the host countrys socio-economic development.

He hoped the two countries close collaboration and mutual support at multilateral forums in the region and the world will continue.

Ambassador M. Zamruni Khalid said his country is working hard to complete the two countries 2016-2018 action plan.

He expected the Vietnamese Government will help Malaysian enterprises coming to seek to invest and do business in Vietnam.

Receiving Thai Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi, PM Phuc showed his delight at the two countries growing two-way trade, which hit USD11 billion and is set to reach USD20 billion before 2020.

Among the worlds three biggest rice exporters, both countries should work together to bring about benefits for their people, he said, suggesting increased connectivity in other realms also, especially employment.

Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi conveyed the greetings from the King and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ochas invitation to visit Thailand to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The two diplomat guests vowed to do their best to elevate their countries relations and cooperation with Vietnam to a new height./.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs on Wednesday officially announced a family assistance center for the family and victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting.

The family assistance center is at the Camping World Stadium

It's for family members of victims and those suffering physical, emotional injuries from the Pulse shooting



Some of the services include air travel, lodging, a medical examiner and funeral services

The center is located at Camping World Stadium, formerly known as the Citrus Bowl.

City leaders said it will make services available to family members of the victims, those suffering physical and emotional injuries and Pulse staff members and regular customers.

Dyer first broke news of the family assistance center Tuesday night at a citywide prayer service at the First Baptist Church of Orlando.

"Our goal is to quickly set up a place where you can access any and every kind of assistance you might need," Dyer said. "Counseling, help with funeral arraignments, lodging, travel for your loved ones, a place to mourn with families of other victims, a place to go when you just don't feel like being alone."

Added Jacobs: "Even if you don't need a piece of information, you don't need help with funeral arrangements, you just need to be in the company of people who care and people who are going through the same thing, so if we accomplish that, and we have a place where they can gather, then we've accomplished a great deal."

Services available include:



Air Travel

Child And Family Services

Consulate Services

Counseling/spiritual Care

Crime Victim Services

Funeral Services

Ground Transportation

Health Care Assistance

Identification Documents

Language Translation

Legal Aid

Lodging

Medical Examiner

Senior Services

The center will opened Wednesday and the city released these hours of operation:

Wednesday, June 15, 10 a.m.  8 p.m.

Thursday, June 16, 10 a.m.  8 p.m.

Friday, June 17, 10 a.m.  8 p.m.

Saturday, June 18, 8 a.m.  2 p.m.

Sunday, June 19, 12 p.m.  8 p.m.

The center may remain open after Sunday, depending on the need from family and victims.
Democrats in the U.S. Senate are blocking an appropriations bill by launching what is essentially a filibuster to force a vote on gun control legislation. The act is in answer to the attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando on Sunday.

Democrats blocking an appropriations bill to force action on gun control

They want those on the terror watch list blocked from getting guns

Sen. Cornyn, Sen. Feinstein working on bipartisan compromise

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy said he would remain on the Senate floor "until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together," as he also evoked the Newtown school shooting in his state in 2012. His plea came as presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would meet with the National Rifle Association about the terror watch list and gun purchases.

"For those of us that represent Connecticut, the failure of this body to do anything, anything at all in the face of that continued slaughter isn't just painful to us, it's unconscionable," Murphy said.

Twenty children and six educators died in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012. Murphy said he cannot look into the eyes of those children's relatives and tell them that Congress has done nothing since.

The election-year fight over gun control pits strong proponents of the Second Amendment right to bear arms against those arguing for greater restrictions on the ability to obtain weapons. Trump, who has the endorsement of the National Rifle Association, told a rally in Georgia: "I'm going to save your Second Amendment."

Since the Sunday morning shooting in Orlando, Democrats have revived their push for gun control legislation but face fierce opposition.

It's been nearly a decade since Congress made any significant changes to federal gun laws. In April 2007, Congress passed a law to strengthen the instant background check system after a gunman at Virginia Tech was able to purchase his weapons because his mental health history was not in the instant background check database. Thirty-two people died in the shooting.

The law increased the quantity and quality of records entered into the system, but the amount of money provided to help states improve their contributions has lagged well below what was originally envisioned.

Murphy is seeking a vote on legislation from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that would let the government bar sales of guns and explosives to people it suspects of being terrorists. Feinstein offered the amendment in December, a day after an extremist couple killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California, but the Republican-run Senate rejected the proposal on a near party-line vote. He also wants a vote to expand background checks.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was added to a government watch list of individuals known or suspected of being involved in terrorist activities in 2013, when he was investigated for inflammatory statements to co-workers. But he was pulled from that database when that investigation was closed 10 months later.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Wednesday that he and Feinstein were talking about a potential compromise between her bill and a version he has offered that would let the government delay firearms sales to suspected terrorists for up to 72 hours. Prosecutors would have to persuade a judge to block the transaction permanently, a bar Democrats and gun control activists say is too high.

In a statement, the NRA said it was happy to meet with Trump and reiterated its support for Cornyn's bill.

Cornyn and other Republicans argue that Feinstein's bill denies due process to people who may be on the terror list erroneously and are trying to exercise their constitutional right to gun ownership. Cornyn did not sound overly hopeful of reaching compromise with Feinstein.

"We're trying, we're trying," he said. "But we're not going to presume somebody's guilty and deny them due process of law, we're going to require the government to show some evidence and to provide for a constitutional process, that's where we differ."

He said Murphy's filibuster is "just filling dead air" while senators negotiate.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid also sounded cynical.

"If they have something that's decent we'll work with them," he said, but added that "this is not the end" of the issue for Democrats.

Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control group backed by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, says it is also working on a compromise with Pennsylvania Sen. Patrick Toomey, a Republican in a tough re-election race this year who has sought compromise in the past on gun control measures. Toomey said in a brief speech on the Senate floor that he thinks that he thinks the two sides should come together.

Democrats used the hashtag "#enough" on Twitter to give updates on the debate. Murphy began speaking at 11:21 a.m., and joining him on the Senate floor were Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and other Democratic senators. Some Democratic House members even crossed the Capitol to watch the debate from the back of the chamber.
SpaceX successfully launched two communications satellites Wednesday morning from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, but the booster landing didn't go as planned.

SpaceX rocket carries 2 satellites into orbit

1st-stage booster didn't successfully land on barge

The company's Falcon 9 rocket lifted off on time at 10:29 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 40 over warm, partly cloudy skies.

Both the Eutelsat 117 West B and ABS 2A satellites achieved their orbits, SpaceX said, but the rocket's first-stage booster did not successfully land on the company's drone barge hundreds of miles off the Space Coast, CEO Elon Musk said via Twitter:

Ascent phase & satellites look good, but booster rocket had a RUD on droneship

 elonmusk

Looks like thrust was low on 1 of 3 landing engines. High g landings v sensitive to all engines operating at max.

 elonmusk

Low thrust caused the booster to have a hard landing, the company said. The drone ship was OK, however. SpaceX has been successful at previous attempts to land its boosters on the ship and even on land. The company's goal is to reuse the first stage boosters for future launches to drive down costs.



The 117 West B satellite will provide video, data, government and mobile services to Latin America, and the ABS 2A satellite will deliver communications services across Russia, India, the Middle East, Africa Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.


President Tran Dai Quang greeted at the airport (Source: VNA)



Immediately after his arrival, he visited the Vietnamese Embassy and met representatives of the Vietnamese community and investors in Cambodia.

He spoke highly the Embassy and Vietnamese representative offices in Cambodia in consolidating and developing the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

He asked the offices to boost economic, cultural and defence diplomacy, together with their external relations tasks on politics.

They were requested to continue serving as a bridge to successfully organise activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic ties in 2017, and educating the Vietnamese community in Cambodia on bilateral relations.

Sharing the difficulties facing Vietnamese people in Cambodia, the State leader affirmed that he will raise their recommendations and expectations to Cambodian leaders to help them have a better life and more favorable business conditions.

He expressed his hope that Vietnamese people will unite, support each other, strictly follow the host countrys law and contribute more to the Vietnam-Cambodia friendly neighborliness.

He took the occasion to present USD20,000 to the Embassys study encouragement fund and USD20,000 to the fund in support of Vietnamese Cambodians./.
Matthew Kaplan

CHICAGO - The Edison Electric Institute on Tuesday presented Xcel Energy with the associations Emergency Recovery Award for its outstanding power restoration efforts after Winter Storm Goliath hit New Mexico and Texas in December 2015.

The award is presented twice annually to EEI member companies to recognize their extraordinary efforts to restore power to customers after service disruptions caused by severe weather conditions or other natural events. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process, and the awards were presented during EEIs Annual Convention in Chicago.
As state legislators try to decide the fate of the STAAR exam while also trying to sort out the snafu caused by missing test results and glitches, Plainview ISD has announced it will end summer school early and parents should expect to receive their student's tests results in early July.

Last week the Texas Education Agency announced that Texas students in grades 5 and 8 will not be forced to pass standardized reading and math assessments for the 2015-16 school year in order to move on to the next grade level.

Computer glitches relating to the exam affected students in larger districts around the state, including Houston and San Antonio.

The next month, several Texas districts expressed their complaints on the tests to exam makers Educational Testing Service, some even citing confusion because questions did not have correct answers.

As a result, the TEA decided to remove student consequences attached to STAAR testing this year for 5th and 8th grades.

Test results from the March exams did arrive on time at some school districts like PISD, but did not for schools like Lubbock Cooper.

"Plainview ISD had received our grade 5 and 8 test scores on schedule as previously announced by TEA, so our students that needed accelerated learning started summer school last week," said PISD Executive Director of Curriculum and Instructional Services Sharon Wright.

Summer school has been designed for students who did not fare well on STARR and the extra class helps prepare students for a summer retest.

"When we were notified late Friday the Commissioner had cancelled the testing scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, we made the decision to dismiss summer school on Friday of this week."

"In addition to the accelerated learning the summer school students were receiving, these students will be scheduled for accelerated learning during the regular school year just as they have been in past years."

PISD said decisions about promotion and retention will be handled on an individual basis.

The complete ISD test scores for each Texas district will be delayed however, from June 15 to July 5.

"We were notified yesterday that all of our other grade 5 and 8 scores, along with grades 3, 4 and 7 will be delayed," Wright said Tuesday.

"They were originally to be released yesterday, but that date has been pushed back to July 5. We will be mailing individual student results to parents as soon as we receive them."
President Tran Dai Quang and Senate President Say Chhum (Source: VNA)



Senate President Say Chhum and National Assembly Chairman Heng Samrin said the Cambodian people will never forget the sacrifices made by Vietnamese voluntary soldiers to save Cambodia from the genocidal regime and win the historic victory on January 7th, 1979.

They expressed their firm belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vietnam will reap more achievements during the process of industrialisation and modernisation.

NA Chairman Heng Samrin spoke highly of close cooperation between the legislative bodies of Cambodia and Vietnam on bilateral and multilateral channels, particularly at regional and global inter-parliamentary forums.

President Quang stressed that the two countries need to further tighten solidarity and friendship to meet the expectations of the two peoples amid complicated developments in the region and the world at present.

In such a spirit, both sides agreed to hold activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic ties (June 24th), considering it a chance to raise awareness of the two countries younger generations about the tradition of friendship, cooperation and mutual support between the two nations.

In the meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen, the Vietnamese President expressed his belief that the Cambodian Peoples Party and the government led by Hun Sen will continue taking the country on the way toward prosperity in the coming years.

He thanked his host for directing support for Vietnamese nationals living in Cambodia over the past years, adding that he hopes the Hun Sen government will deal with difficulties faced by them, especially those regarding legal position, to help them settle down in the host country.

Host and guest committed to fully realising commitments to contribute to peace, stability and development in the region and the world, facilitating high-level visits and people-to-people exchange.

They agreed to direct their ministries and agencies to work closely together to fine-tune relevant mechanisms and agreements to push forward trade, investment, economic connectivity, education-training, and tourism.

The two sides also vowed to consider measures to raise bilateral trade to USD5 billion, including the signing of an agreement on double taxation avoidance and building of a programme to connect the two economies, especially cross-border economic development.

Discussing regional and global issues of shared concern, the two sides pledged to continue coordinating at multilateral forums to which they are members, speeding up the peaceful settlement of regional and global disputes, and working with each other and with other Mekong River Commission members to ensure the sustainable management and use of water resources in the Mekong River.

In the evening, King Norodom Sihamoni hosted a State banquet in honour of the President and his entourage./.
A strained forearm muscle is a well-known precursor to Tommy John surgery. So Monday night against Texas, when left-hander Sean Manaea left in the fifth inning with a strained left forearm, As manager Bob Melvin was concerned.

When you hear its a forearm, youre always to an extent thinking of the worst, Melvin said. Thats not the case here, so well look at the bright side of it.

An MRI revealed only a minor strain. To avoid further injuring their prized rookie, the As placed Manaea on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday. The hope is that, after throwing couple bullpen sessions and making perhaps one rehab start, Manaea will re-join the rotation at the end of those 15 days.

It is yet another setback for a starting pitching staff that has logged the fewest innings in the majors. Since going 0-1 with a 11.37 ERA over his first three starts, Manaea is 2-3 with a 4.23 ERA.

It seemed like each time he took the mound, he was that much more comfortable, said Melvin, who is unsure who will take Manaeas rotation spot. He was getting more swings and misses, and he was a little better with the command of his fastball. All things were pointing in a good direction for him.

Jefferies introduced: Cal right-hander Daulton Jefferies, who went to the As No. 37 overall in last weeks MLB draft, met with reporters during batting practice Tuesday afternoon.

Jefferies has reportedly agreed to a $1.6 million signing bonus, $145,700 under slot value for where he was selected. He leaves Thursday for the As spring training facility in Mesa, Ariz., where hell rehab a shoulder injury before reporting to a minor-league affiliate.

Jefferies said that, though an MRI revealed no lingering issues with the shoulder muscle he strained this past season, he respects that Oakland is taking a cautious approach with him.

I feel good, said Jefferies, who was 7-0 with a 1.08 ERA, 53 strikeouts and eight walks in eight starts for Cal. But its always great to be 120 percent instead of 100 percent.

Said Melvin: We expect great things out of him.  This is a guy we were lucky to get in the spot we got him. Really, hes the total package.

The As have agreed to terms with 23 other draft picks, including right-hander Brandon Bailey (6th round, Gonzaga), left-handed pitcher William Gilbert (8th, North Carolina State) and left-hander Dalton Sawyer (9th round, Minnesota).

Briefly: In his first rehab start since May 15, right-hander Henderson Alvarez (shoulder) allowed three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings Monday for High-A Stockton. Melvin said Alvarez will throw a bullpen session Wednesday before the As decide where and when hell make his next start.  Right-handed reliever Liam Hendriks (elbow) made his third rehab appearance Monday, allowing one earned run in 1 2/3 innings for Triple-A Nashville. Hell pitch again Thursday for the Sounds, and could return to the As when he comes off the 15-day DL.

As lineup: CF Burns, 2B Lowrie, 3B Valencia, LF Davis, DH Butler, C Phegley, SS Semien, RF Smolinski, 1B Alonso.

Rangers lineup: RF Choo, CF Desmond, LF Mazara, 1B Rua, DH Fielder, 3B Profar, 2B Odor, SS Andrus, C Chirinos.

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: Con_Chron
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As jury selection began Tuesday in the trial of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. on criminal charges of violating pipeline-safety laws, a federal judge denied the utilitys request to dismiss charges or limit prosecution evidence because the government had shared secret grand jury information with private consultants.

Prosecutors illegally disclosed grand jury material to two consultants working on the case, but the violations were inadvertent and did not play a role in the grand jurys decision to indict PG&E on 13 felony charges, said U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson, who is presiding over the case.

The case stems from federal and state investigations of the September 2010 explosion and fire at a PG&E pipeline in San Bruno that killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes.

The utility is charged with 12 violations of federal laws that require operators of gas pipelines to maintain accurate records, identify risks to lines and inspect or test when pipe pressures exceed the legal maximum. PG&E is also charged with obstructing the San Bruno investigation by trying to conceal its policy of testing older lines for welding problems only if gas pressure exceeded the federal maximum by 10 percent. Convictions carry fines of up to $500 million.

The company asked Henderson to order the obstruction charge tried separately before a different jury, arguing that prosecutors are trying to sway jurors with evidence about the explosion that is irrelevant to the pipeline-safety charges. The judge rejected the request Tuesday, said Abraham Simmons, spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office.

Henderson rejected PG&Es request Tuesday to disqualify all prospective jurors, from a pool of 96, who had expressed negative attitudes toward the company in pretrial questionnaires. Jury selection is scheduled to last at least through Wednesday.

The company raised the issue of consultants in a May 25 filing that argued prosecutors had sidestepped laws of evidence and confidentiality by hiring private citizens who had also served as expert advisers during the state Public Utilities Commissions investigation of the explosion. That gave prosecutors access to PG&E records and other evidence held by the state commission without notifying the company or going to court, PG&Es lawyers contended.

Prosecutors argued that the consultants became government personnel, entitled to access grand jury material, once they were hired. Henderson disagreed but said he saw no evidence that prosecutors deliberately broke the rules or damaged PG&Es rights.

Prosecutors may have acted carelessly, but there is no indiction that the grand jury was substantially influenced by the disclosure of information to the consultants, the judge said. He also said the prosecution didnt need the consultants help in obtaining records from the state PUC, which has provided information requested by prosecutors throughout the case.

PG&E spokesman Greg Snapper declined to comment on the ruling, saying only that we want our customers to know we are focused on the future and on re-earning their trust by leading in safety, reliability, affordability and clean energy.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: egelko
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Twelve Northern California colleges and universities have been selected to share $50 million from the Koret Foundation to pay for scholarships, improve technology and expand research.

But unlike the typical philanthropic approach, where a charity bestows money for its pet purposes, the foundation wont tell the schools how to spend the cash that will be provided over five years. The schools were instead asked where they needed help the most.

These funds will be a tremendous help to our students, said Susan Lamb, chancellor of City College of San Francisco, where outdated technology has been a severe problem. City College will use its $1 million grant to enhance its Web technology and improve security on campus, Lamb said.

The idea of giving campuses freedom in spending the money came from Michael Boskin, president of Koret, a San Francisco foundation that focuses on Bay Area institutions and Jewish causes.

This program is designed to be a catalyst for new approaches to optimize student success ... particularly among underserved populations, Boskin said.

San Francisco State Universitys $2 million will provide college prep workshops at the S.F. Junior Giants Urban Youth Academic Family Program, among other uses.

The largest grants go to UC Berkeley ($11 million) and Stanford University ($10 million). Berkeley will establish an undergraduate research program and a research collaboration with UCSF at Berkeleys planned Global Campus in Richmond. Stanford will support its Koret Young Israeli Scholars program and help maintain its new Neuroscience and ChEM-H research complex.

Including Stanford, four recipients are private institutions. The University of San Francisco, a Jesuit school, will receive $5 million, in part for a new residence hall. Santa Clara University, also Jesuit, will use part of its $2 million for scholarships to first-generation college students and to support those studying science, technology, engineering or math.

Notre Dame de Namur, a Catholic college in Belmont, will add $1 million to its capital campaign to save the grand Ralston Hall, an 1868 national landmark that houses its admissions office and is rented out for weddings.

UCSF and UC Davis will each receive $6 million for medical programs and, at Davis, to help transfer students specializing in engineering and computer science.

San Jose State, Sonoma State and UC Santa Cruz will share $4 million, in part for scholarships.

The final $2 million will be set aside for the schools future priorities.

Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: NanetteAsimov
As the major annual conference for Apple developers opened in San Francisco, thousands of attendees paused to remember the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla. Sunday.

Apple CEO Tim Cook opened the meeting with a moment of silence. He called the shooting a "senseless and unconscionable act of terrorism aimed at dividing and destroying.


An item performed by Vietnamese artists (Photo: VNA)

The program left a deep impression on the Russian audience, and helped the local people further understand the culture and national identities of Vietnam, thereby strengthening the friendship between the two countries.



From the outset, many audience members, including overseas Vietnamese living in the city and local residents, gathered at the Tsarisynskaya Opera in the center of the city to watch the program.



The theater with nearly 500 seats had to add chairs to serve the needs of the large number of people who came out to enjoy the unique art program of Vietnam.



Like the performance in Moscow, the program in Volgograd completely conquered the audience with performances of traditional national musical instruments, dances of Vietnams ethnic groups and Russian songs performed by Vietnamese artists.



People's Artist Pham Anh Phuong, Director of the Vietnam National Opera Ballet, said that besides the items vividly reflecting the lives of the people of Vietnam, the troupe also performed Russian songs to exchange and reflect the deep friendship between the two peoples.



Many Russian friends and audience members expressed their surprise and delight when understanding more about the culture of Vietnam, and also said that the music and cultural exchange help cohere people regardless of the geographical distance and language differences./.
Steve Rogers has a lot of variables to worry about in opening a new manufacturing plant in Houston. There's the availability of workers, big moves by the competition, weather disruptions that could delay deliveries.

And now, there's steel. Rogers' company, Hannibal Industries, can't make its industrial rack product without the giant coiled rolls that are so heavy a flatbed truck can only handle one at a time. Up until last year, he didn't have to worry about the price of that key material: Rates had been stable since about 2011, and then started falling.

But since the end of last year, S&P Global Platts reports that prices have shot up again by more than 70 percent, and there's no telling when that might stop. "Looking at orders in late August, I don't know what steel costs are going to be," Rogers said.

The swing illustrates the challenge of keeping one industry in the United States stable without knocking another one off balance. So far, Rogers has been able to pass most of the costs to his customers, but it is hard to sell racks in the future if you can't quote a reliable price. And it's not just a problem for him  lots of U.S. manufacturers that use steel are affected, at a time when manufacturing is already facing substantial headwinds.

So where is the sudden price increase coming from?

The story starts with China, the biggest steel producer in the world. Not being a market-driven economy, China's companies continued to churn out record amounts while its own real estate market slowed and global demand remained sluggish. That released a rush of steel into the rest of the world, depressing prices to the point where higher-cost American producers couldn't break even. The decline in oil and gas production didn't help, forcing companies to idle plants and lay off workers in places like Lorain, Ohio and Fairfield, Ala.

But steel producers have a backup plan: Filing cases with the Department of Commerce alleging that China (and other countries, like South Korea and India) are unfairly subsidizing their steel exports, or "dumping." The U.S. government obliged, slapping Chinese steel with duties  which, along with the decline in U.S. production and other trade cases being launched around the world, made buying steel a much more expensive proposition.

"When big steel mills lost money for so long, they were trying to get some of that back," explains Rogers.

Under huge pressure from the U.S. and other steel-producing countries, there are signs that China is going to start decreasing its production, which is a delicate proposition when its steel mills support so many jobs. That's good news for companies like U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal, but not as welcome for the people who depend on buying steel rather than selling it.
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KTSA radio host Jack Riccardi chimed in on the Orlando Pulse massacre that resulted in the deaths of 49 victims, saying that calling the shooting a hate crime would land a huge victory for the Islamic State.

Riccardi made the statements Tuesday that because not all the victims of the Orlando shooting were gay, the shooting itself shouldnt be deemed a hate crime.

RELATED: SAPD to increase security after shooting at gay club in Orlando

I think you are going to find when we get to know these victims that they were gay, straight, all different ages, all different walks of life, he said during his broadcast. And I think it is a huge mistake and it hands a huge victory to ISIS if we allow ourselves to put this in a pigeon hole of, Well, this was a hate crime, this was a gay crime.'

A hate crime, according to the FBI, is a criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offenders bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.

RELATED: San Antonio's Bonham Exchange will donate weekend cover charges to victims of Orlando massacre

Riccardi also spoke on the topic of guns and Muslims, saying the shooter cant be the figurehead for all Muslims in the world, as well as all people who own guns.

And if its illogical to judge all Muslims and their motivations by what he did then its also illogical to judge all people that own a gun or seek to procure a gun or have a concealed carry license by what he did, Riccardi said in his Tuesday broadcast.

The shooting on Sunday at a gay bar, Pulse, in Orlando is the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

RELATED: Local activists, community members react to Orlando shooting

KTSA and Jack Riccardi did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding his statements.

Jack Riccardi has been with 550 KTSA since July 1999, and previously hosted shows on WOAI here in San Antonio.

When hes not on the radio, hes a dad, avid reader and classic car buff, according to KTSAs website.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

[h/t Raw Story]

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
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Ava Sambora is spicing up the internet this week with her revealing bikini photo shoot showing off her celebrity-bred looks.

The 18-year-old beauty recently started taking glamour shots with Baes and Bikinis, a modeling company based in Malibu, California.

RELATED: Meet rapper Tyga's reported rebound girl: Supermodel Demi Rose Mawby

TMZ reports the blonde starlet was working in that beautiful town in California on Monday, where she was seen taking skimpy bikini photos for a shoot.

Shes also been sharing photos from her various shoots on social media, and the response from fans has been positive.

RELATED: Meet model Abigail Ratchford

Her parents are Richie Sambora and Heather Locklear, known by the world for her age-defying beauty. Richie Sambora was known as the lead guitarist for rock band Bon Jovi for many years. He and Locklear were together for at least a decade in the mid-90s to late-2000s, according to People.

Its a good thing shes got her mamas looks, because shell likely have a thriving modeling career as a result.

RELATED: Meet Mara Teigen, the newly viral model who looks just like Angelina Jolie

Sambora has more than 133,000 followers on Instagram and more than 39,000 followers on Twitter.

Click through the slideshow to see a collection of photos of the blonde bombshell.

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
Trinh Xuan Thanh and the car (Photo: dantri.com.vn)

He shared, on June 15th with a reporter from the Voice of Vietnam (VOV), that he had sent an application to the provincial Party Committee, Peoples Council and Peoples Committee, voluntarily withdrawing himself from possibly being re-elected as Deputy Head of the provincial Peoples Committee for the new term during the first session of the provincial Peoples Council which will open on June 16th.

The withdrawal application was confirmed by Nguyen Quoc Ca, Standing Deputy Head of the provincial Peoples Council.

As a result, in the first session of the provincial Peoples Council term 2016-2021, key positions in the provincial Peoples Council and Peoples Committee will be elected, including three Deputy Heads of the provincial Peoples Committee, instead of four as planned.

In early June, many press agencies covered the news about Trinh Xuan Thanhs privately owned car having been registered with a blue plate numbered 95A-0699. Meanwhile, blue plates are only granted to public cars used by high ranking officials./.
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STAMFORD  The mayor has nominated the citys fire chief to fill the top emergency services job, opting for a second choice following backlash from officials who questioned giving the appointment to a New York City resident.

Mayor David Martin has asked the Board of Representatives to consider Trevor Roach, of Darien, for the emergency management directors position instead of Ted Jankowski, the citys public safety chief  who commutes more than 30 miles to Stamford from his home in Queens.

Martin asked the board earlier this month to waive a provision that the emergency management director live within 15 miles of the citys emergency headquarters on Washington Boulevard so Jankowski could take over for police Capt. Tom Lombardo, who has held the position since 2001.

Ted can do an equally good job as chief Roach  who lives within 15 miles  and if people feel more comfortable with that, then thats fine, Martin told The Advocate.

City officials routinely set aside the residency requirement for city jobs  it was waived for Jankowski to become public safety head in 2012  but were concerned about the ramifications this time since the director would need to be here during emergencies.

Even with a city attorneys approval, officials were not convinced they could set aside the rule, which is spelled out in the 1994 ordinance that created the position.

Jankowski said he will still oversee emergency planning as part of his duties directing police, fire and health operations.

No matter whos in that position, Im still responsible for overseeing emergency management, he said.

Martin said the citys fire chief serving as emergency manager will align Stamford with other mid-size cities that employ fire officials in this capacity.

Its more in line with their true responsibilities and professional expertise, Martin said.

Roach, whose based salary was $141,000 in 2015, will not get paid extra to take on emergency duties, officials said.

I think its a great opportunity for the fire department, Roach said. Its a planning position that plays well into the fire departments strength pre-planning emergencies.

Martin and Jankowski said Roachs appointment would free up Lombardo to return to the police department, which lost a captain when Tom Wuennemann was promoted to deputy police chief last year.

I need trained police officers back on the street, Martin said.

A group that opposed Jankowskis appointment was pleased with Roachs nomination.

The 15-mile requirement was enacted for obvious reasons and although Director Jankowski is otherwise very qualified, he does not meet that requirement, said City Rep. Kieran Ryan, R-1.

Im glad the Martin administration has apparently decided not to force the issue by instead proposing Chief Roach, also very qualified, and who actually lives within the distance required by the ordinance, he said.
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HARTFORD  A court battle that has been raging since the 2014 election was quietly defused Wednesday, when the state Democratic Party agreed to pay the State Elections Enforcement Commission a $325,000 penalty for attempting to skirt state campaign finance laws.

Michael Brandi, executive director of the SEEC, said the settlement lays out a very clear road map for future adherence to the 2005 state law that bans state-contractor contributions from General Assembly and top-of-the-ticket races such as governor.

This is a significant penalty, Brandi told reporters after the SEEC meeting. We believe its an appropriate amount to act as a deterrent.

The case hinged on the Democrats use of a federal campaign finance account, instead of its state account, to pay for an election mailer for Gov. Dannel P. Malloys re-election campaign. The federal account is, by law, supposed to fund only congressional campaigns. The law is intended to limit the influence of state contractors, lawyers and lobbyists who are barred from contributing to the state account but allowed to give to the federal one.

The deal, approved 2-1 by the appointed regulatory panel, still needs to be approved by a state Superior Court judge who has been hearing the case, which was originally filed in October of 2014, just days before Malloys 26,000-vote victory over Republican Tom Foley.

Deputy Attorney General Perry Zinn Rowthorn, said the office is committed to defending the states campaign-finance system.

It is clear to us that the decision by the State Elections Enforcement Commission to settle on these terms was not taken lightly, but rather reflects its careful consideration of the best interests of the programs it administers, including the Citizens Election Program, Rowthorn said in a statement.

Banned contractors

The settlement includes a promise by the Democratic Party to set up a separate account within its federal political action committee, from which contributions that are banned in state campaigns will be kept. Future use of the state Democrats federal contributions, therefore, will not have the taint of prohibited sources.

At the end of the grueling 2014 campaign in sight, Democrats transferred about $300,000 from the federal account to use for campaign mailers that included support for Malloy.

The move prompted Republicans to cry foul and pursue the issue as a violation of the 2005 campaign reforms set up after the conviction of John G. Rowland, the former third-term GOP governor who resigned in disgrace, then pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, serving a 10-month federal prison sentence.

The state Democrats Executive Director Michael Mandell called the stipulated agreement a positive step forward for the Democratic Party and, more importantly, the state of Connecticut and he is glad to put this matter behind us.

The settlement means that Democrats will not have to turn over to the elections commission documents regarding their fundraising practices.

Brandi said that the deal will create a clearer line over what the DSCC can and cannot do. If the case had moved forward and the SEEC won, probably after years of further court battles, Malloy could have been liable for millions of dollars in reimbursements to the Citizens Election Fund.

Backdoor donations

Republicans voiced disappointment with the settlement, which includes a $45,000 payment within 30 days, with the balance due before September 30, 2018 .

This matter should have been pursued to its conclusion but apparently the emails and communications between Gov. Malloy and his lieutenants were so highly damaging that they thought it best to settle the case quietly, said House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby. The Democrats preach clean elections and transparency in government and in the end they write out a check and make the issue go away.

The 2014 complaint was filed by the former state GOP chairman, Jerry Labriola. His successor, J.R. Romano, said the case should have gone forward.

They allowed backdoor donations from state contractors to flow into the Malloy re-election campaign, in direct violation of these laws, Romano said. By allowing the Connecticut Democrats to get away with these violations, the SEEC has missed the chance to set a precedent declaring that illegal campaign spending will not be tolerated in our state.

Superior Court Judge Antonio Robaina, has until Friday to act.

kdixon@ctpost.com;
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A 5-year-old girl was bitten by a shark Tuesday evening near Pirates Beach in Galveston.

She was bitten at about 5:30 p.m., Galveston Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis said.

A Kerrville father, his daughter and 12-year-old son were visiting relatives in Pirates Beach when the man and the children went for a swim on Tuesday evening.

The girl, whose name has not been released, was floating in knee-deep water in a ring float when her father heard a scream and saw a 3- to 4-foot shark with a white belly. He pulled the child away from the shark and it swam away.

The child was bitten below the calf above the left foot, Davis said.

A bystander applied a tourniquet after the father rushed his daughter to shore, according to Davis. She was transported to the University of Texas Medical Branch, where she underwent surgery.

She suffered vascular damage. Her condition is unknown at this time.

It was initially reported that the girl was 6, but a tweet from the Galveston County Health District EMS later said the child was 5 years old.

The Chronicle's Harvey Rice contributed to this report.
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About a dozen Muslim faith leaders joined with local elected officials Tuesday evening to condemn Sunday's mass shootings at an Orlando nightclub and encourage the entire Houston community to speak up if they suspect the possibility of violent behavior.

Wazir Ali, imam at the Masjid WD Mohammed in southeast Houston, described shooting suspect Omar Mateen's killing of 49 people and injuring an additional 53 at the Pulse nightclub as "an affront to human decency and our humanity." He also called upon counselors, psychologists and other mental health experts to help identify individuals who display signs they could be drawn to similar actions, regardless of background.

He said doing so could help "prevent atrocities and injustice like this in the future."

RELATED: Gunman's ex-wife urges no rush to judgment

He was among the speakers at the news conference, along with Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson and Sheriff Ron Hickman, both Republicans. The news conference was held at Lazeeza Restaurant on Hillcroft in southwest Houston.

The goal of the event was to remind the public to be especially vigilant in the wake of tragedies like Sunday's deadly massacre in Orlando.

Anderson praised Houston's diversity for bringing together different city leaders and called upon the public to be particularly aware of individuals who could be prone to violent acts. She said every time there is an act of violence, people look back and talk of the clues that were missed.

"You may know something," she said. "You may have heard someone say something that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. You know you need to tell, you need to let us know."

Anderson added that violent crime "will not be tolerated under my watch," and that any hate crime, whether related to gender, sexuality, race or religion, "will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

For people who have something to share but are uncomfortable reaching out to law enforcement, Syed Ali volunteered himself to take these calls.

Syed Ali, a Harris County Republican Precinct Chair, also asked the public to not link this "act of terrorism" to the broader Muslim community.

HERO: Reports: Heartbreaking photo of Orlando doctor's shoes goes viral

"If you don't want to contact the DA or the sheriff, contact me," he said. "I'm a half-sheriff, half-DA," he joked.

As is happening around the nation, faith-based leaders on Wednesday will gather again, this time with Mayor Sylvester Turner and representatives of the LGBT community, to hold a candlelight vigil in honor of the Orlando victims. The 7:30 p.m. vigil will take place in front of City Hall.
Why'd the chicken cross the road? Because it was evading the Freeport Police Department on Monday night.

Officer Curtis Land attempted to wrangle a loose chicken while on patrol near Church's Chicken in Freeport, about an hour south of Houston. The chicken fled police, making a run through the nearby Buc-ee's parking lot, until officers lost sight of it.
Dallas ISD police chief Craig Miller is redefining what it means to be "picked up by police" with an idea that will mimic the concept of ride sharing, except with police officers behind the wheel.

Miller, who said the business will go by the name Bubbl, plans on beginning small-scale operations in the Dallas area within the next month and has a group of partners who will run the business until his retirement from the school district, which is scheduled for Jan. 1.
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A man already serving a 135-year sentence in federal prison on child pornography charges could get up to an additional 99 years if a Bexar County jury finds him guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Closing arguments began Thursday morning in the states criminal case against Carl Wade Bailes, 40, convicted in federal court in July 2015. He was indicted October 2012 on multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, stemming from an investigation by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.

BCSO deputies arrested Bailes, a Marine and Navy veteran, in February 2014 after two girls, 16 and 6, made an outcry that Bailes repeatedly molested them.

The jury trial in the states criminal case opened Tuesday, and both the prosecution and defense rested their cases Wednesday after a day and a half of testimony from an accuser and relatives of the defendant.

The oldest accuser, now 19, testified Tuesday that Bailes began molesting her when she was 5, several times a week. She said the abuse evolved to sexual intercourse that continued until she was 16 years old. She also said he videotaped several of the encounters.

The Express-News does not identify victims of sexual abuse.

On Wednesday, the defendants half-brother, Brandon Puckett, and Bailes mother, Fran Bailes, testified for the defense.

Puckett and his mother each testified that they lived with Bailes, his wife and three children for long periods of time that coincided with dates of the alleged abuse. Each told defense attorney Charles Bunk that they spent lots of time with the defendant and his family and did not notice any unusual behavior when Bailes was around any children.

When prosecutor Kristina Escalona asked Fran Bailes if she believed what her sons accuser said in testimony, she replied, No.

Bailes was convicted July 15, 2015, on child pornography charges that included distributing, receiving and producing child pornography. Agents became aware of Bailes in September 2012 during an undercover operation that led them to San Antonio and to him. He was sentenced in November to 135 years in federal prison.

FBI agents and BCSO investigators found Bailes used software to wipe more than 200 files of child pornography from a laptop he used. Some also were recovered. Agents also discovered that Bailes produced images of two girls, ages 15 and 6, being sexually abused.

Aggravated sexual assault of a child is a first-degree felony, punishable by 5 to 99 years in prison.

If the jury convicts Bailes in this case, he would be sentenced by 290th state District Court Judge Melisa Skinner, who is presiding over the states criminal case.
Jenna Bush Hager of NBCs Today Show made a special stop in San Antonios Kiddie Park Tuesday where she signed copies of her childrens book, Our Great Big Backyard.

The event complete with face painting, carousel rides and photos drew a small crowd despite the heat.
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A 12-year-old black student came home from a Central Texas field trip with a rope burn so severe it appeared her neck had been "ripped open and stitched back together," according to a Travis County lawsuit that alleges three white students caused the injury.

Sandy Rougely and Kevin Parker, parents of the girl, are seeking $3 million in damages in the lawsuit filed Monday against Live Oak Classical School in Waco and Lawrence Germer, who owns a ranch in Blanco County.

The lawsuit alleges that chaperones on the trip didn't provide sufficient medical attention and downplayed the incident, which the family's attorney said could be racially motivated.

RELATED: Alamo Heights student was a victim of bullying before committing suicide, family says

The sixth-grader, referred to as "K.P." throughout the document, began attending the "largely white private school" in fall 2014 and was the target of bullying, including physical abuse, the following year, according to the lawsuit. The bullying escalated when her sixth-grade class went on its annual overnight field trip in April, the lawsuit reads.

The girl and her classmates went to Germer Ranch April 28, after a trip to Enchanted Rock in Fredericksburg, according to the lawsuit. At the ranch, students found a rope swing and started taking turns sitting on it.

The swing had two ropes one tied to a tree branch and another, "much longer" rope tied to the seat to pull, lifting the swing in the air, the lawsuit said.

RELATED: Exclusive: Fellow students threatened violence, insulted David Molak online before his suicide

The girl helped pull the rope as several children took turns sitting on the swing, but after awhile, stopped to watch, standing to the side. Three students were within arms length of K.P., when, during one swing, she felt the rope wrap around her neck, according to the lawsuit.

The girl was "violently jerked to the ground with the pull-rope wrapped around her neck," the lawsuit alleges.

The rope cut into her skin, leaving the girl with a "severe and painful" burn, according to the lawsuit.

Levi McCathern, the family's attorney who also represents the Dallas Cowboys, said the action of the three white boys may have been racially motivated, according to the Waco Tribune.

Attorney David Deaconson, who represents Live Oak, told mySA.com Wednesday there were not "three boys" that "did anything."

"There was a group of students, boys and girls, classmates, playing on a swing that had a pull rope," he said. "As the pull rope was released and pulled back past (K.P.), she was close enough to the rope swing that it caught her and gave her a rope burn."

Deaconson refuted the claim that the incident was racially motivated.

"It was an unfortunate accident," he said, adding that the girl went on to enjoy the rest of the trip with her classmates.

RELATED: School defends video of San Antonio students jumping rope with cat intestines, PETA upset

After the incident, the girl alerted Allison Buras, the school's dean.

One of four parent chaperones on the trip applied Vaseline to K.P.'s neck and gave her Motrin, according to the suit. Three other school officials chaperoned the trip, but no one contacted the girl's mother to alert her to the incident, according to the suit.

Deaconson said Live Oak's protocol did not require them to call K.P.'s parents after the rope burn incident. He said the policy has since changed and parents will be contacted regardless of the type of incident from now on.

When Rougely picked up K.P. the next day, she saw her daughter's neck and asked one of the parent chaperones what happened, the suit said.

The parent chaperone said they didn't know and that Buras would. Buras told Rougely that although K.P. had a rope burn, it was not a "matter of concern," according to the lawsuit.

Rougely took K.P. to the emergency room where she was treated for severe rope burns around her neck. At the hospital, Rougely filed a police report and an officer, upon seeing K.P.'s neck, took photos of the injury for use in an investigation, according to the lawsuit.

RELATED: San Antonio elementary teacher gunned down in apparent murder-suicide

The following Monday, May 2, Buras emailed Rougely asking how K.P. was and if she had been to the doctor.

Alison Moffatt, a founder of the school, emailed Rougely May 3 saying, "When you're ready to talk, I'm available. I think I can explain to you what happened and bring you some peace."

Rougely has since removed K.P. from the school that she thought would give her daughter a "better education and provide a wholesome learning environment," according to the lawsuit.

Two other families have come forward saying they pulled their children out of Live Oak due to bullying that went unaddressed by the school, according to the lawsuit.

Blanco County Sheriff's Office Capt. Ben Ablon told the Waco Tribune he planned to interview the parties involved, including the adult chaperones. The investigation remained ongoing Tuesday.

McCathern said he is requesting a jury trial, but will wait for a legal response from Live Oak.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
SAN ANTONIO  Mayor Ivy Taylor and San Antonio Police Officers Association President Mike Helle made it official Wednesday  the two sides have agreed to new terms for a labor contract.

Union leaders will now begin an "education" process with SAPOA's 2,150 members before an expected August vote. A majority of the membership has to sign off on the terms of the contract for it to take effect. After the union votes, the full City Council will conduct its own vote.
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San Antonio resident Meredith Shindler and her son, Keaton, got the surprise of a lifetime when touring Alcatraz Island last weekend  a front row view of the only known attack between a great white shark and seal in San Francisco Bay.

The two visited the island with the choir from San Antonio Academy when they witnessed the nearly two-minute frenzy.

Meredith Shindler said a 10-foot-long shark jumped out of the water with a seal in its mouth literally feet from us while they were waiting on a dock for a ferry to back to San Francisco.

Suddenly, there was the biggest pool of blood youve ever seen in your life, she said. We were literally freaking out. It was like something you see on TV.

RELATED: 8-foot hammerhead shark photographed on Padre Island shore

She said a few parents and choir mates, between 10 and 12 years old, were also waiting on the dock during the fight.

We were holding the kids back, she said, adding the shark even swam under the dock, while the seals carcass floated towards them.

She said although she was excited, but scared, the children were mostly in shock.

Could you imagine as a 10-year-old boy, thats the most exciting thing ever, she said about her son. It was a huge memory and highlight for them.

Her son was so excited, she said, that he asked her to publish a video of the ordeal on social media.

Since the video was published on YouTube on Saturday, it has received almost 1 million views as of Wednesday afternoon.

RELATED: New video released of 'biggest shark ever filmed'

Shindler said she was surprised with the high amount of press coverage, but being from the Bay Area, she knows the attack is a rare occurrence.

A report from the San Francisco Chronicle states fall is a peak season for great white sharks swimming off the San Francisco coast, but they are migrating north into uncharted territory because of El Nino.

This is the first recorded predation event I know of in the San Francisco Bay, David McGuire, a research associate at the California Academy of Sciences, told the newspaper.

This fall, large numbers of great white sharks  which can grow up to 21 feet and weigh as much as 7,000 pounds  have been spotted near Monterey Bay and elsewhere off the coast of San Francisco.

According to the report, sharks tend to surface at neighboring islands to feed during this time of year.

rsalinas@mysa.com
SAN ANTONIO  Investigators are searching for the driver of a vehicle that slammed into another car on Wednesday morning on the West Side and fled the scene.

San Antonio Police Department officers were called to the 1400 block of South Ellison Drive around 8 a.m. after receiving reports of the crash.
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The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department shared a photo of a unique fish common in the Gulf of Mexico that looks terrifying but are relatively harmless to humans.

A bighead sea robin, or Prionotus tribulus, is covered in armor-like scales and the creepy-looking fish popped up near South Padre Island. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department shared a photo of the fish taken by Pavel Vakhlamov on Monday.

RELATED: 20 nightmare-inducing creatures that live in Texas waters

This type of fish is most active at night in inshore waters, bays and salt marshes.

Lance Robinson, deputy division director of the TPWD's Coastal Fisheries, said in an interview with mySA.com that this type of fish is common in the Gulf of Mexico and bays along the Texas Coast. He said they are relatively harmless to humans, and do not carry venom.

Bigheads, similar to other sea robins, can use the lower spines of their pectoral fins to feel for shrimp and other food along the bottom of the water they are traveling in, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department said.

RELATED: Corpus Christi man catches massive 13-foot-long hammerhead shark off the coast of Padre Island

Robinson said the bighead sea robin is a predator, and will ambush its prey at the bottom of the water that it lives in.

Whats That Fish reports the fish primarily feeds off of shrimp and worms. They are typically buried in the sand.

The fish has soft spines on their bellies that they use almost like feet, which help them walk along the bottom of the ocean.

RELATED: Mysterious 13-foot-long sea creature washes up on Mexican beach

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
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FORT HOOD  After Spc. Ivan Antonio Lopez snapped in a dispute over obtaining a leave form, it took just eight minutes for him to kill three people and wound another 16.

The path of destruction was chaotic, with Lopez moving from Building 39001, where the first victims fell, to a series of streets.

As he slowly drove along those roads, Lopez shot at pedestrians and motorists, sometimes striking them, and then arrived at yet another building where he worked.

There, another soldier died.

As we have released earlier, we have only one alleged subject connected to the shootings, and he is deceased, Chris Grey, chief spokesman for the Army Criminal Investigation Command, said Monday.

We have found no evidence that these crimes were connected to terrorist or extremist organizations, but again we have not completely ruled that, he added.

For the first time since last Wednesday's shooting, the Army provided a detailed breakdown of just how Lopez, armed with a 45-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, struck the post in the second mass shooting here in less than five years.

The melee was only about a mile from a now-demolished soldier readiness center where Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan gunned down 13 people and wounded more than 30 others in a Nov. 5, 2009 shooting that stands as the worst ever on a U.S. military base.

The post's commander, Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, did not take the lectern for Monday's press conference, as he had this past week. Instead, Grey handled the bulk of the session, outlining what Lopez, 34, of Puerto Rico did before killing himself.

Col. Col Paul Reese, III Corps chief of current operations, also spoke briefly, telling reporters that 11 of the 16 who were wounded are back on duty, with five others still hospitalized. He did not give their conditions.

President Obama will appear Wednesday at a memorial service for the fallen soldiers, repeating a visit he made following Hasan's rampage. Hasan was tried and given the death penalty here last summer.

sigc@express-news.net
SAN ANTONIO  The interchange from Interstate 35 to Interstate 10 downtown was completely shut down for nearly four hours after an 18-wheeler rolled over, blocking traffic on both highways.

The crash happened around 10 a.m. when a big rig tipped over on its side while driving on a sharp curve connecting the two highways. The truck, which police said was hauling flour, leaked some oil and gas onto the roadway, causing a further delay.
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Comfort K9s from across the country were dispatched to Orlando to console those affected by the nation's deadliest shooting that occurred early Sunday morning.

Among the bunch of pooches that hailed from seven states was Phoebe, a comfort dog from Fort Worth.

RELATED: Funeral homes increasingly using dogs to comfort mourners

According to Phoebe's official Facebook page, she left the Lone Star state in the early hours of Tuesday morning to join 11 other LCC K9 Comfort Dogs of St. Paul Lutheran Church/The Summit before they headed to various vigils remembering the 49 people killed in the attack and the 53 who were injured.

Lutheran Church Charities updated their page Wednesday to report that 12 of their comfort dogs, in addition to 20 handlers, arrived in Orlando Tuesday night and had stopped at at least two vigils, visiting with "many nice folks" and first responders in hospitals, homes and public gatherings.

RELATED: Service dog brings peace to local veteran battling PTSD

The certified service animals were brought in to bring comfort to the grieving in devastating situations. The dogs have served those affected by the Sandy Hook school shooting and hurricane Sandy.

RELATED: Therapy dogs comfort Boston victims and others in need

The LCC group, which lists itself as a national ministry, also utilizes the furry pups to "touch people with mercy and compassion of Christ," their website said. They believe the animals create unique bridges of communication that allow "compassionate ministry to occur."

Click through the slideshow above to see photos of the animals dispatched to Orlando.

MMedina@express-news.net

Twitter: @MariahMedinaaa
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Roughly 30 animal activists staged a protest Friday in Beijing a week ahead of the annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China that will take place later this month.

The protesters met outside the Yulin government office to present a petition that was signed by more than 11 million people, according to the Humane Society International.

The petition called for the end of the festival, which starts on June 21, with assistance from the Chinese government.

RELATED: This Chinese dog-eating festival's days are numbered thanks to a massive social media campaign

The festival takes place each year in the Guangxi Province, where a large number of dogs are killed, cooked and sold to patrons. The festival is criticized for its inhumane treatment of the animals and unhygienic food practices, the Associated Press reports.

The Humane Society International, which opposes the festival, states that most of the dogs are stolen pets or strays that are grabbed from the streets, sometimes still wearing collars. At the slaughterhouses they are brought to, the dogs are generally beaten to death.

RELATED: This Entrepreneur Goes Undercover to Rescue Dogs From Torture in Asia

The World Health Organization states the dog trade spreads the risk of rabies and cholera significantly.

Dog meat is only eaten infrequently by less than 20 percent of the Chinese population, a news release issued by HSI said.

Next Shark reports the dogs are escorted around town in crates and cages, before they are skinned and cooked.

RELATED: North Texas man accused of severely beating dog that was later euthanized due to injuries

The publication also said the festival lasts 10 days.

Yulin officials told the publication that the government is not involved in the planning of this event, but residents and local businesses are. The officials said eating dog is similar to eating beef or pork, and that the animals are humanely killed.

twhite@mysa.com

Twitter: @tylerlwhite
For the second year in a row, local school administrations have chosen not to acknowledge the school ranking report from Children at Risk.

North East Independent School district officials even went as far as denying a request from the Express-News for a visit to a campus that ranked high in the report.

They said they had not participated in the study. It should be pointed out that school districts did not have to opt in to be included in the Children at Risk school-ranking report.

The Houston-based nonprofit, nonpartisan research advocacy organization that focuses on public policies and the effect they have on Texas children analyzed data collected by the Texas Education Agency. That public information is gathered from all the public schools in the state and is available to anyone for the asking.

There appears to be a consensus among local school administrators that the analysis Children at Risk provides is over-simplistic and does not present a true portrait of what is going on in the classroom. One administrator said he and his peers would prefer the organization roll up its sleeve and do something about the shortcomings rather than present data detailing what is common knowledge.

Chief among the complaints is that most of the highest-ranking schools are in affluent areas or preselect their students because they operate as magnet schools or early college high schools.

The rankings are based on multiple factors, including standardized test scores, year-over-year gains, graduation rates, and SAT, ACT, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate scores. They also factor in student demographics.

Opinions will vary on how best to use the data the state education agency collects from the more than 1,000 Texas school districts. No one method is going to meet everyones expectations.

Children at Risks A-through-F rankings system does not sit well with many, but it is a grading system parents can understand. It is a tool that can help the average person not immersed in education policy attempt to make some sense of what is happening in our classrooms.

Over the years, Children at Risk has adjusted the number-crunching to address school administrators concerns, and that dialogue should continue. School districts lack the resources to do the in-depth analysis of the data the nonprofit provides.

Instead of simply ignoring its existence, the report should be used as a conversation starter on why certain schools in a district rank as they do.

While the message contained in the Children at Risk report may not be welcome, it does not change the basic data.

If administrators believe there needs to be an asterisk attached to their districts report, parents need to hear that, too.
San Francisco supervisors unanimously passed a plan Tuesday to open a half dozen innovative homeless shelters in the city, after requirements for centers where alcoholics could drink and drug users could legally shoot up were put on the back burner.

Supervisor David Campos helped clear the way for passage when he amended his homeless shelter legislation to require only that the city explore the feasibility of a wet house shelter and removed references to a safe injection site.

But Campos said he plans to move forward with the proposal for a safe injection site in new legislation he is crafting.

We wanted to make sure that we addressed this issue in a thoughtful and intentional way that takes into consideration some of the outstanding legal issues, Campos said.

Tuesdays vote capped three months of negotiations over Campos plan, which generated no shortage of controversy when he introduced it in March. But none of that acrimony was apparent Tuesday, thanks largely to several amendments that smoothed over the disagreements.

The original measure would have required the city to open six innovative long-term homeless shelters, better known as Navigation Centers, within a year, including a wet house and a safe injection site. Navigation Centers allow people to bring in all of their belongings and companions as they seek permanent housing.

Mayor Ed Lee quickly rejected the idea of a safe injection site.

We have a vigorous disagreement over allowing people to inject heroin and meth, to literally destroy their bodies and their minds, in a city-funded shelter, as some have proposed, the mayor said in March.

Lee also argued there was no way the city could open six Navigation Centers in a year.

Among the sites Campos suggested as potential locations were parcels as small as 17 feet across and areas next to preschools or elementary schools. Campos countered at the time that Lee was focused on how it is that we cannot do something instead of looking at the possibilities.

The harsh feelings eased in the intervening months, and with the help of Jeff Kositsky, the citys new homeless czar, Campos and the mayors office worked out a plan acceptable to both sides.

The legislation now gives the city two years to open the six Navigation Centers and says existing shelters that are converted into Navigation Centers will qualify. Instead of requiring the city to operate a wet house, also known as a managed alcohol shelter, it says the city administrator will explore the feasibility of the idea.

And the revised plan emphasizes the importance of permanent supportive housing  something moderate supervisors like Mark Farrell criticized the original legislation for overlooking. The ordinance now requires a housing revenue plan to identify sustainable revenue sources to pay the cost of meeting the mayors goal of housing 8,000 homeless people over the next four years.

Campos said the legislation passed on Tuesday fulfills three goals: It adds capacity to the citys homeless shelter system, brings the shelters into the 21st century and will help identify permanent supportive housing.

The amendments, he said, were made in the spirit of making sure that (Kositsky) has, as he takes over this new role, the flexibility to be as effective and successful as possible.

Kositsky said he always supported the spirit of the legislation and commended Campos for making the changes.

If anything, I hope this shows that we can as a city make good compromises on things, he said.

Kositsky said he is open to the idea of safe injection sites and wet houses for homeless people but said they shouldnt be required without a lot more research. He added that his gut reaction to the idea of a wet house was that the city would do better to have one in permanent supportive housing instead of a shelter.

I gave (Campos) my firm commitment that we would look at it carefully, and he was totally understanding of that, Kositsky said.

Jennifer Friedenbach, director of the Coalition on Homelessness, also praised the legislation and highlighted another amendment  one less controversial but equally important, she said.

It is a requirement that the city administrator establish clear guidelines for who gets first priority for placement in Navigation Centers, and also who gets priority in transitional or permanent supportive housing.

Thats more a of a fair and equitable system instead of, I know someone, so I got in, Friedenbach said.

Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: egreen@sfchronicle.com

Twitter: emilytgreen
Posted on 06/15/2016, 1:01 pm, by mySteinbach

This afternoon at 2pm, members of Steinbach RCMP Detachment, students from Stonybrook Middle School and dignitaries from the Special Olympics will be conducting a Law Enforcement Torch Run.

The route will start outside the front doors, of Stonybrook Middle School, travel south on Lumber Avenue to Brandt Street, head north on Brandt Street to Main Street and then head east on Main Street to Reimer Avenue, ending at Steinbach City Hall. The entire run will be conducted on the sidewalk and encompasses 1.9 kms.

Upon arrival at City Hall, Deputy Mayor John Fehr will bring greetings on behalf of the City of Steinbach to the runners.
Our mini-fundraiser for Water Cooler is on! 30 donors have already invested to support Water Cooler, which provides both economic and political coverage, at a time when former Clinton Administration official Brad Delong announced, following the purge of two Sanders-supporting writers, that those deemed to be too far to the left will be gleefully and comprehensively trash[ed] come November. Independent funding is key to having an independent editorial point of view. Please join us and participate via Lamberts Water Cooler Tip Jar, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, or PayPal.

As reader Adrien put it, Just in case people thought that running for VP would distract Warren from keeping tab on Mary Jo White, Elizabeth Warren took on the SEC chairman for diverting scarce agency resources to an information overload project, an issue only in the minds of interests like the Chamber of Commerce, not investors themselves. Warren depicted White as performing even worse than she has prior to this date, of going in the opposite direction of the SECs mission of investor protection.

The two clips below show the tension between them. Even with the less than stellar video quality, White looks to be quietly annoyed while Warren is setting up her charge, that the White created a project that advances a pro-corporate agenda, and also takes agency resources away from long-over Dodd Frank rulemaking.

Youll notice Warren and White disagreeing over the substance of the initiative. White first attempts a misleading feint, by trying to depict the project as part of the JOBS Act. Warren responds by saying that the JOBS Act requirements to simply disclosure apply only to a subset of companies and even then on a subset of information items. Warren keeps pressing White for evidence that investors were saying they were getting too much information

White then shifts ground and depicts her project as part of an ongoing SEC mission and does manage to cite a Thurgood Marshall decision as supporting her effort. White also describes her initiative as part of a long-standing SEC effort and contends it will increase disclosure in some areas. The Wall Street Journal takes up that theme in its coverage of the hearing:

The disclosure project culminated with an April concept release that sought public comment on a range of disclosure topics. Far from simplifying or scaling back disclosures, the release sets the foundation for the SEC to eventually require companies to disclose more about how much in profits they park abroad and even how global warming could affect their businesses.

However, if you click on the link and look at the Journals report, it seems more consistent with Warrens description than Whites:

The Securities and Exchange Commission is getting back to basics as it considers an update to financial reporting rules. The Commission on Wednesday issued a concept release outlining some of the questions it is considering as part of a disclosure rules review. The release runs 340-pages and considers some fundamentals as it begins a months-long process to potentially update the rules SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White said in a statement Wednesday that the commission is trying to balance competing interests of investors who want more, not less, information and those of companies who complain about requiring unnecessary, immaterial disclosures.

In other words, Whites stonewalling seems to confirm Warrens charges: that this impetus for this project came from corporations, who should not be the SECs top priority, and that there was no reason to give it precedence over past-due Dodd Frank rulemaking.

It should also be noted that the SEC got headlines today for staff recommending that the IEX exchange application be approved. One has to wonder whether this was timed to divert attention from the Senate hearings, since Warren could be expected to pound Mary Jo White. And this is another lousy outcome. As we pointed out earlier, the SEC made high-frequency trading, which has no value to society or end investors, possible by approving rule NMS. Worse, as we have discussed, rule NMS has resulted in the most unstable market structure possible. But rather than challenge the patently-false more liquidity is always better mantra, the SEC has, years after the controversy began, made a response that it can claim addresses the issue but keeps the underlying status quo intact.

Since Im sure readers will bring it up, lets look at the other issue Adrien mentioned in passing, that of Warren enthusiastically throwing her support behind Hillary Clinton and saying shed be willing to become her Vice President (an outcome we see as unlikely). Pam Martens and Russ Martens did first-class shredding of how signing up with Clinton, while demanding no policy concessions, was a betrayal of her principles. From their post:

Senator Warren has built her career on criticisms of Wall Streets money spigot, which she correctly says is corrupting government, perpetuating the growing divide between the super rich and the other 99 percent, while perverting so many members of Congress that meaningful Wall Street reform like restoring the Glass-Steagall Act hangs in limbo. And yet, despite years of pounding the table on these issues, last Thursday Senator Warren went on the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC and spiritedly endorsed Hillary Clinton for President  an establishment politician with a criminal FBI investigation hanging over her head for violating State Department policy in the handling of her emails on a private server in her home while Secretary of State. Clinton is also the only Presidential candidate to have personally accepted millions of dollars from Wall Street for giving speeches and who is now refusing to release the transcripts of what she told Wall Street in exchange for those hefty fees.

One reason for reader frustration with Warren is that many Vichy Left and some bona fide progressive writers have hailed Warren at the Great Hope of the Left, when she was never going to be that. She has always been focused on her agenda of the welfare of middle class families, and she has been willing to go to war only where she has a mastery of the terrain from a technocratic standpoint, which further narrows her focus. It should come as no surprise that she has fallen in line with Democratic party positions on other issues. Even on some matters that ought to be in her wheelhouse, like student debt, Warren has offered band-aids that fail to address the underlying issue of feather-bedding and galloping cost increases particularly in administrator costs and staffing, that have nothing to do with improving the caliber of teaching and research, at colleges and universities.

We were leery of her Senate bid and argued forcefully against it. Initially, we looked to have made a bad call. Warren disproved one of our reservation, that of not being able to exert much influence as a single new Senator, by punching well above her weight through her brutal interrogations in Senate hearings and occasional but very effective speeches.

However, over time, our concern that she would be co-opted is being borne out. As we wrote in 2011:

For someone who has presented herself as a stanch defender of the middle class, to put herself in the position of being a Democratic pol, subject to the requirement of going along to get along, is a Colin Powell there are WMDs in Iraq level PR poly. And the long term damage to Warrens reputation is likely to be as severe as Powells taking a bullet for the Bush Administration proved to be. Running for Senate means Warren has implicitly agreed to support Obama on: 1. Balancing the budget on the backs of middle class families, in particular cutting Social Security and Medicare 2. Standing with Obama on his bank friendly policies, such as:  Not prosecuting the banks for fraud and mortgage abuses  Remaining silent as the CFPB is neutered (she cant do her promise blood and teeth on the floor routine from within the Senate; shed be restricted to letters asking obnoxious pointed questions in letters and hearings) 3. Supporting the war in Libya 4. Refusing to take unemployment seriously 5. Continuing the policies of extraordinary rendition and torture, which put US soldiers at risk and damages US credibility around the world Even if Warren bucks the will of the party with some frequency, she will nevertheless be perceived to have sacrificed her independence and agreed to serve as a standard-bearer for all that Obama and corporatist Dems stand for. I find myself in the unusual position of agreeing with house nemesis Dan Duncan: Right now Warrens beauty as a candidate is frozen in time. She should keep it that way. In this frame, she is free from time, yet she is simultaneously frozen in time. She is free to singularly co-exist as being both a DC Outsider and a Status Quo Harvard Insider. She does not have to confront compromise and the process of governance. She is Forever Progressive.

To Warrens credit, she has withstood the inevitable longer than one might have expected. But she does not seem to understand how she is likely to be used, as in misused, by the Clinton campaign.

The Clintons are partners with Wall Street, as defined by Ambrose Bierce in The Devils Dictionary:

When two thieves have their hands so deeply plunged in each others pocket than they cannot separately plunder a third party.

Clinton will not support anything stronger than cosmetic moves against financial firms. She is too dependent on Wall Street support, and the Clintons, like the Lannisters, do have a long track record of honoring their debts. So it is utterly implausible that Hillary will have a Damascene conversion and take up Warrens bank agenda.

So Warren is begin set up to play the same role that Paul Volcker did in Obamas 2008 campaign: regularly visible in public with the candidate,. Since Warren is a politician while Volcker was not, that includes stumping for Clinton, with voters getting the impression that Warren was in line for a major post in the Clinton cabinet, as it was assumed that Volcker would become Treasury Secretary (the rumor was on a relatively short-term basis, for a year or two and most to deal with the crisis, given his age). Instead, after the election, Volcker was dispatched to Siberia, to head an important-sounding committee that was removed from the action.

Warren is unlikely to be tossed aside quite as rudely, but another way to shackle her would be to give her a Cabinet post that has little to do with the financial services industry. That would help Clinton meet her goal of having half her key posts filled by women, while cashiering a major thorn in the side of the banking industry.

It would be better if I were proven wrong, but to paraphrase one of Lamberts favorite sayings, in this election, its hard to be cynical enough.
New X-ray method allows scientists to probe molecular explosions (Nanowerk News) Summer blockbuster season is upon us, which means plenty of fast-paced films with lots of action. However, these aren't new releases from Hollywood studios; they're one type of new "movies" of atomic-level explosions that can give scientists new information about how X-rays interact with molecules. A team led by researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory used the high-intensity, quick-burst X-rays provided by the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory to look at how the atoms in a molecule change when the molecule is bombarded with X-rays ("Hetero-site-specific X-ray pump-probe spectroscopy for femtosecond intramolecular dynamics").

A team led by researchers from the Argonne National Laboratory used the high-intensity, quick-burst X-rays provided by the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory to look at how the atoms in a molecule change when the molecule is bombarded with X-rays. This schematic shows the dissociation of a xenon difluoride molecule during the X-ray pump/X-ray probe process. (click on image to enlarge)

"The LCLS gives us a unique perspective on molecular dynamics because of the extremely brief X-ray pulses that we can use," said Antonio Picon, an Argonne X-ray scientist and lead author. "We're able to see how charge and energy can flow through a system with amazing precision."

By using a new method called X-ray pump/X-ray probe, the researchers were able to excite a specifically targeted inner-shell electron in a xenon atom bonded to two fluorine atoms. After the electron was excited out of its shell, the unbalanced positive charge in the rest of the molecule caused the molecule to spontaneously dissociate in a process known as "Coulomb explosion."

"The new X-ray pump/X-ray probe technique is so powerful because it allows us to shake the molecule at one point, and look at how it changes at a second point," said Argonne X-ray scientist and study author Christoph Bostedt.

The xenon difluoride molecule is only a first step for the technique. In the future, the same X-ray pump/X-ray probe method could find a broad range of applications, such as following the ultrafast structural changes that occur in light-sensitive molecules or the flow of energy in molecules. By understanding intramolecular energy flow, researchers can better develop novel materials to harness the sun's energy, such as photovoltaics and photocatalysts.

The new technique could also help researchers address challenges relating to the protein structure determination. For pharmaceutical studies, X-rays are often used to figure out the structures of proteins, but during that process they can also damage parts of them.

"This technique lets you see how neighboring atoms are affected when certain regions interact with X-rays," said Stephen Southworth, an Argonne senior X-ray scientist.

By using an X-ray pump to excite one of the innermost electrons in the molecule, the researchers were able to target one of the electrons that is most central to and characteristic of the molecule. "This technique gives us the ability to take a series of quick snapshots to see what happens when we change a fundamental part of a molecule, and what we learn from it can inform how we approach the interactions between light and molecules in the future," said Picon.
Members of the community walk to the front of the sanctuary at First United Methodist Church of Orlando to announce the 49 victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting one by one during an InterFaith service Tuesday night in Orlando, Fla. (Luke Franke/Staff)

SHARE Br. Louis Canter of the Order of Ecumenical Franciscan's sits for a portrait minutes prior to the beginning of the InterFaith service held at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando to address the Pulse shooting Tuesday night in Orlando, Fla. (Luke Franke/Staff) Gurpreet Singh, a member of the Sikhs Society of Central Florida, holds his cousin Suhavi Saini, 4, as she points out the window of the First United Methodist Church of Orlando minutes prior to the start of the InterFaith service held at the church Tuesday night in Orlando, Fla. (Luke Franke/Staff) Rev. Tom McCloskey, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Orlando, speaks to members of the InterFaith Council of Central Florida minutes prior to the beginning of an InterFaith service held at the church to address the Pulse shooting Tuesday night in Orlando, Fla. (Luke Franke/Staff) Portraits of the 49 victims of the Pulse shooting are posted one by one at the front of the sanctuary in the First United Methodist Church of Orlando during an InterFaith service to address the Pulse shooting Tuesday night in Orlando, Fla. (Luke Franke/Staff) Related Photos Vigil honors Orlando victims

By Maryann Batlle of the Naples Daily News

ORLANDO  Two strangers bowed their heads in prayer.

Jeanette Holloway, 36, and Matt Gilles, 28, met for the first time Tuesday evening near the flowers, signs and candles left in downtown Orlando to honor the 49 people killed and 53 injured last weekend at Pulse, a LGBT nightclub in the city.

Eyes closed, Holloway and Gilles asked that the people of Orlando heal from the mass shooting, one of the worst in American history.

They asked for unity and understanding.

"Love is love," said Gilles. "No matter who it's from."

Since the killings at Pulse, the hashtag "Pray for Orlando" has become a social media trend. Vigils and prayer services at churches across the city have given people who live in Orlando, and surrounding communities, spaces to meet in person and mourn.

As Holloway and Gilles prayed outside under the twilight sky, more than 200 others gathered across the street from the memorial, for an interfaith service at First United Methodist Church.

There, under the same roof, religious leaders shared words of peace from Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism and other faiths.

Through unity, Orlando will overcome the darkness of tragedy, said Louis Canter, of the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans. No one religion should be blamed or targeted for retribution, he said.

"We are sharing a common home," Canter said. "Common home means we are all in this together, and we are all looking for solutions rather than searching for problems."

Churches are "a safe space" and "a sanctuary," just like Pulse had been to so many, said Hannah Willard of Equality Florida, a statewide organization that advocates for LGBT rights.

The shooting is a reminder that hate  homophobia, Islamophobia, sexism  must be defeated by promoting empathy and respect, she said.

"We are committed to uprooting hatred anywhere it exists," Willard said. "That is how we build a better Florida. A safer Florida."

Brittnee Hopkins, 26, of Clermont, Florida, said she was vacationing on Sanibel Island when she and her husband, who was raised in Orlando, found out about the tragedy.

"We just got thrown right into the heartache," Hopkins said.

They came to the interfaith service Tuesday night to find comfort and to defy the shooter, she said.

Orlando will be strong, Hopkins said.

"Eventually, this is just going to be a scar," she said. "This is not going to change who we are as a city."

Related stories:
By Melissa Montoya, News-Press

Before moving to Lee County last year, Maura Quinones spent about three nights each month at Pulse, the now famous nightclub where a shooter killed 49 people Sunday morning. Twelve of those murdered were her friends.

Another two friends survived, she said.

"All of our friends' birthday parties were celebrated there," the Orlando native said. "It was an amazing place."

Quinones was one of more than 100 who attended a Tuesday vigil at Florida Gulf Coast University in honor of the victims killed by 29-year-old Omar Mateen in what is being called the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Quinones lit a candle for her close friend, 40-year-old Javier Jorge-Reyes, a Puerto Rican native who died in the shooting.

"He was a very happy, positive person, very charismatic and full of life," Quinones said of Jorge-Reyes. "He did no harm to anybody. He was just an amazing person and now God can enjoy his place in heaven."

FGCU President Wilson Bradshaw, in a speech, said the focus needs to be on the future and how people can make the world a better place.

"All we have are words, but words seem so inadequate," Wilson said.

For Quinones, the show of support has helped her work through her pain and loss. Her best friend who survived the shooting told Quinones the world's response to the terrorist attack is helping him cope, she said.

"He was like, you don't know what this means to me," Quinones said. "The little bit that everybody does makes a difference to those that have been affected."

Related stories:

The tragedy hit close for some of FGCU's students that tend to travel to places like Orlando and Miami, about a two-hour drive, said Dolores Kiesler, the assistant dean for Students Support Services and Outreach Programs at the university.

"We know now we have some students that know some of these victims," she said.

Sarah Stone, who is from Orlando, is an FGCU alum who graduated in 2012.

The 27-year-old spent the weekend before last partying at Southern Nights, another one of Orlando's LGBT bars. In a post on social media, Southern Nights said they would be hosting a fundraiser for the displaced staff of Pulse. The bar remained closed on Tuesday after staff decided it was still too soon to open its doors after the attack on Orlando's LGBT community.

For Stone, who identifies as an LGBT person, spending time at a bar that caters to the community gives her the opportunity to be herself.

"It's difficult to feel the freedom to live your life authentically," Stone said. "You feel like this heaviness that's been on your shoulders has been lifted off."

On Sunday night, Diane Smith made it a point to be at Bambusa Bar & Grill in Naples, a gay-friendly establishment, she said.

The 53-year-old Collier County paramedic, who is gay, said she went to support the LGBT community and in honor of the first responders. There was a moment of silence, she said.

"You could hear a pin drop," Smith said. "It was a somber moment."

Jeremy Burke, a 22-year-old FGCU junior from Orlando, said he has hometown friends that lost loved ones.

"It's sad to see your hometown go through troubled times," Burke said.
The Individual Deposit Guarantee Fund has prolonged temporary administrations at Smartbank and bank Mykhailivsky (both based in Kyiv).

The fund said on its website that the term of temporary administration at bank Mykhailivsky was extended until July 22, and in Smartbank  until July 24.

The fund introduced temporary administration to insolvent Smartbank on May 25 in connection to non-transparency of ownership structure.

Smartbank was registered in 2010.

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) placed bank Mykhailivsky to the list of insolvent banks on May 23, 2015 due to risky transactions.

The central bank also accused the bank of perpetrating a fraud on May 20. The burden on the Individual Deposit Guarantee Fund increased from UAH 1.6 billion to UAH 2.6 billion.

The owner of the Eldorado electronics retail chain Viktor Polischuk several days before bank Mykhailivsky was declared insolvent sold his controlling stake of 92.501% in Ekosipan LLC, which is 100% owned by a group of individual investors.
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Carolyn Faust and Delores Provancal, Naples

Opti-Mrs. Club of Naples

VIP treatment

As Opti-Mrs., we were given VIP treatment at Shadowlawn Elementary School's "Behind the Scenes" on Tuesday, May 31 at 6 p.m.

We were greeted by polite, informative fifth-grade student ambassadors. Wonderful delicious snacks and punch were served by staff members.

Laurie Mearsheimer, the principal, welcomed the full crowd. She gave a PowerPoint presentation listing organizations and volunteers and their donations.

We were delighted by the songs of the fifth-grade choir and their instructor. Vice principal Oliver Phipps echoed words of appreciation and inspiration for all the participants.

Participants were promptly divided into groups and two ambassadors guided us on the information tours. Each area was explained to us by the student ambassadors. A variety of organizations and donors were acknowledged from the local community for their support.

Shadowlawn's dedicated staff members had done an outstanding job organizing this wonderful event. Everyone was made to feel they had a special role in the school's success!
Lifelong learners in Southwest Florida will have the opportunity to meet new members of the community and expand their minds this summer, thanks to the Frances Pew Hayes Center for Lifelong Learning (CLL).



Releasing its summer session catalog, Hodges Universitys CLL provides a broad-based curriculum, incorporating discussion groups, lectures, field trips and workshops. The center has partnered with various sponsors, including Carlisle Naples, The Terraces at Bonita Springs, Terracina Grand and Sandalwood Village to provide classes at each location.



Some of the topics that will be covered throughout the summer session include Healthy Habits: A Jumpstart to Healthy Living, Facebook and Twitters Influence on the Way People Like to Communicate, and Photographs that Made or Changed History. Individuals will also have the opportunity to participate in field trips to Algenol, WGCU and Arthrex.



In addition, classes offered at off-campus locations will be free and open to the public. Classes such as Where the Panthers Prowl will provide valuable information about various species inhabiting Florida. On June 23 at the Carlisle Naples, General Mark Clark's Trousers: A Footnote to Operation TORCH, will focus on the dangerous mission into Algeria during World War II led by General Mark W. Clark.



To purchase a CLL membership, the price per person is $250 for an annual membership and $125 for a summer 2016 membership. Individual classes are $25 unless otherwise noted in the class description.



For more information, to become a sponsor or a member, to participate as a volunteer program leader, or to help expand the efforts of the program, visit www.hodges.edu/lifelonglearning to learn more about the program and view the complete listing of summer classes available.



About the Frances Pew Hayes Center for Lifelong Learning:

Hodges University's Frances Pew Hayes Center for Lifelong Learning was established in 1996 by the university and local leaders as the first lifelong learning program in Collier County. The CLL provides quality year-round educational programs for adults in the community.
Hungry families and children out of school for the summer will benefit from an evening of patriotic music and fellowship at First Celebrates Freedom, presented by First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers and sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships.



The event, planned for Wednesday, July 6, at First Presbyterian Church at 2438 Second St. in downtown Fort Myers, will be a 90-minute performance of patriotic music, hymns, instrumentalists, and special guests beginning at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.



Admission is free, although voluntary cash donations and cans of non-perishable food will be accepted to benefit Community Cooperative (The Soup Kitchen).



For some families, summer means a certain kind of freedom. For the families we serve, it means just the opposite. Summer months can be the cruelest season for families who cant rely on the schools to feed their hungry children, said Community Cooperative CEO Tracey Galloway.



During the school year, children often receive their only meals of the day at school.



To ease the strain this summer, Community Cooperative is partnering with Sam Galloway Ford for the third annual Summer Drive for Hunger with a goal of collecting 25,000 pounds of food and raising $25,000 to support hungry families during June and July. Sam Galloway Ford will donate $1 for every pound of food dropped off at the Fort Myers dealership.



Community Cooperative provided food and other services to 10,250 people last year with the help of partner agencies, including the Harry Chapin Food Bank and United Way agencies



Community Cooperative was founded in 1984 to help alleviate hunger and suffering in Lee County. The church has been a strong supporter of the agency from the beginning and continues to support its ministry there by providing volunteers and other support for The Soup Kitchen and the Meals on Wheels program.



Organizer and Sponsor Sam Galloway, Jr., said the annual event, now in its 18th year, was renamed from A Midsummer Nights Sing to reflect the patriotic music as well as hymns that will be sung.



We purposely planned the event close to July 4 to honor our great country and give everyone the opportunity to join in song to celebrate all that makes America wonderful, Galloway said.



Galloway has made feeding the hungry part of his lifes work. Our community has done so much to help our neighbors, but we need to do even more. If we each just gave the equivalent of what we would spend on a meal  either at home or in a restaurant  those few dollars could feed a family of four for an entire week. Galloway said.



Galloway annually sponsors the popular Mrs. Edisons Hymn Sing as part of the Edison Festival of Light in February. Because more than 4,000 people attend Mrs. Edisons Hymn Sing in the winter, organizers planned First Celebrates Freedom to allow more local residents to enjoy the same type of activity during the less crowded summer months.



The First Presbyterian Chancel Choir and friends will be featured during the evening, which will include sing-a-longs of well-known patriotic music and hymns everybody knows.



Please try to bring whatever cash donation you can and at least two cans of non-perishable food And, if youre unable to contribute but still want to support the cause, come anyway and have a good time, Galloway said.



First Celebrates Freedom is the second of three sing-a-longs sponsored annually by the Galloway Family of Dealerships. The other two are Mrs. Edisons Hymn Sing in February and the very popular Christmas Carol Sing, scheduled for December 6. All three events benefit Community Cooperative (The Soup Kitchen).



For more information, call 334-2261 or visit www.fpcfortmyers.org.



Community Cooperative is an innovative nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization made up of social service entrepreneurs fighting to end homelessness and hunger in our community. The agency provides more than 14,000 meals each month through its Community Cafes, Community Marketplace, and Community & School Mobile Markets as well as Meals on Wheels programs and offers homeless and comprehensive case management services through its Social & Education Resource Centers.



A proud United Way partner, Community Cooperative serves the greater Fort Myers area with campuses in Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach and mobile services in Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, and Lehigh Acres. Community Cooperative works in close partnership with the Harry Chapin Food Bank and the School District of Lee County as well as collaborating with fellow community and service groups, churches, businesses and community support organizations.



First Presbyterian Church of Fort Myers, located at 2438 Second St. in downtown Fort Myers, is a community of faith, celebrating a loving God. First Presbyterian Church was founded in 1901 and continues to be an integral part of Lee County by presenting some of the areas most well-attended events, such as Mrs. Edisons Hymn Sing in February as part of the Edison Festival of Light, First Celebrates Freedom in July, and the Christmas Carol Sing in December. All three events benefit The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative, which was founded in 1984 by First Presbyterian Church and other downtown churches. Services are offered Sundays at 11 a.m. with Sunday Adult Education from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A nursery is available from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Hearing assistive equipment also is available.
Thirty-six Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society members will travel to Killarney this Friday, June 17 for the annual Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) Awards Weekend.

The Society has been nominated for four AIMS awards.

Three of the nominations are for the Society's production of Sister Act in March. Irene Malone is nominated for the Best Comedienne award and the Sister Act cast are nominated for Best Chorus and Best Ensemble for Raise Your Voice. Carrick Musical Society back stage volunteer Ger Dunphy has been nominated for the AIMS "Unsung Hero" award.

Meanwhile Fergus Power, who has tread the boards as a panto dame in many Carrick Musical Society shows, is taking on a new role as chairman of the Society's Committee.

He was elected chairman at the Musical Society's agm. Siobhan Grace Regan is the Society's new president while Ray Nolan is vice-chairman.

Other Committee officers elected to run the Society over the next year were Jenny Hogan (treasurer), Yvonne Nagle (secretary), Caolan Deehy-Power (PRO), Michael Lonergan (corporate & patrons secretary) and James Dowley (social secretary).

In other Musical Society news, eight students of Carrick on Suir Academy of Performing Arts recently completed grade examinations with the Irish Board of Speech and Drama.

Amy Flynn, Caragh Cahill, Clodagh O'Loughlin, Daisy Dalton, Emily Keane, Liadhain O'Shea, Megan McCormack and Robyn McCarthy were all examined by Mr. David Meredith. All the students achieved first class honours with Robyn McCarthy gaining a Distinction and Liadhain O'Shea winning a Gold Medal for the second year in a row. The Society congratulates the students on their success.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has met with his Polish counterpart Antoni Macierewicz during a visit to NATO Headquarters to discuss bilateral cooperation.

According to the press service of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine, Poltorak thanked the Polish government for its assistance in treatment and rehabilitation of Ukrainian servicemen injured in military operations in eastern Ukraine as well as for constant political support on the international arena.

The Ukrainian minister also informed his colleague about the situation in Donbas and the process of reform implementation in the defense ministry.

The ministers also discussed further joint actions on training for the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG).

The sides also discussed further joint exercises on the basis of the International Peacekeeping and Security Center in Lviv region due in autumn 2016.
he long and proud tradition of community walking in St. Oliver's parish in Clonmel will continue on Friday evening, June 24 when the 6 kilometres Family Fun Walk takes place.

The annual event started as a fundraiser for the church and the parish centre, both built at a combined cost of 2 million, which are now fully paid for.

Sponsorship collected from the trek will be directed towards the maintenance of the church and parish centre but the emphasis is more on people coming together, according to Jimmy Moloney, one of the organisers.

"It's a community celebration and something that people of all ages can participate in", says Jimmy.

"We hope that as many parishioners as possible, including families, will take part and people from outside St. Oliver's are also welcome", he says.

Although this is the fourth annual walk, the history of community walking in the parish stretches back more than 20 years.

The parish was formed in 1983 and one of the first fundraising walks, in 1995, was led by parish priest Fr. Tom Griffin and followed a route from Dublin to St. Oliver's shrine in Drogheda.

Prior to the opening of the church on December 1 1996 a group of parishioners walked from the cathedral in Waterford to Clonmel that summer with a relic of St. Oliver's.

The parish faithful took to the roads again in 1998 when a group walked 100 miles over five days visiting the graves of the Irish martyrs in Tipperary, Cork and Kerry.

The registration for this year's event takes place at the parish centre from 6pm and the walk begins at 7pm.

It will follow the usual route down Heywood Road and along the Western Road before turning onto the bypass and returning to St. Oliver's.

Refreshments will await the walkers on their return and there will be a free raffle, with a dozen spot prizes up for grabs.

Even if people don't or can't complete the full route they can walk part of the way.

Sponsorship cards are available from Jimmy Moloney and the parish office.
Transnational company Bunge has invested $180 million in building a handling complex with an oilseed refinery, an oil handling terminal and the expanded grain terminal.

The company said in a press release that the project is one of the largest U.S. investments in the Ukrainian agrarian sector.

Thanks to the operation of the new handling complex launched by Bunge Ukraine exports of Ukrainian-made products and cargo handling at the port would increase by 1 million tonnes.

The capacity of the sunflower oil refinery allows refining 790,000 tonnes of oilseeds a year (2,400 tonnes of sunflower seeds and 1,700 tonnes of soybeans a day).

The company's annual transshipment capacities grew by 1.75 million tonnes of grain, oil cake and oil.

Bunge Ukraine Managing Director Dmytro Horshunov said that the complex continues the companys strategy aimed at developing infrastructure at Mykolaiv seaport. In 2011 the company built a handling terminal at this port and it expanded Ukraine's exports capacity by 3 million tonnes a year.

"The total cost of the two projects is $280 million. We will continue investing not only in the development of infrastructure and exports capacity of Ukrainian ports, but also in Ukrainian agriculture in general," he said.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko at the ribbon-cutting ceremony said that this investment is evidence of improving investment climate in Ukraine.

"The opening of the complex confirms firm confidence of investors in the better future of Ukraine," he said.

The president said that this project would allow increasing purchase prices of agricultural products, currency income and strengthening the Ukrainian currency exchange rate. These projects in Ukraine show that reforms conducted in the country are effective, the head of state said.

Poroshenko thanked Bunge Ukraine for its social projects. The company sent over UAH 1 million to support ATO soldiers in the past 12 months.
Strategic partnership between Ukraine and South Korea would give a new impulse to the development of the two countries, member of the inter-parliamentary group, MP Serhiy Taruta, has said.

"We should set a task to sign an agreement on strategic partnership in two or three years," he said at the South Korea-Ukraine Economic Cooperation Forum in Kyiv on Tuesday.

The lawmaker's press service reported Taruta urged that Ukrainians take South Korea as an example. The country not only restored after war in 1950s, but it also became one of the global leaders in economic development.

"They have taken the course of industrialization and innovation. There is no other way for the countries that want to develop quickly. We should do the same," he said.

Taruta added that agreements to hold a meeting of the Ukraine-South Korea intergovernmental high-level commission by the end of this year.

He proposed that Ukrainian business representatives prepare an investment map for Korean partners with possible projects that involve Korean technologies and Ukrainian raw materials. He said that amid sectors with the short payback period are energy and utilities. Ukraine and South Korea could cooperate in the aerospace sector, he said.

"Today our country is in the complicated economic and military situation, but on the other hand, we are potentially very attractive. Closer ties could bring large opportunities for Ukraine," the lawmaker said.

Taruta said that increasing Ukraine's investment attractiveness is one of the top priorities of the doctrine of the accelerated economic growth and modernization of Ukraine being drawn up by members of Ukrainian Business Initiative jointly with leading Ukrainian experts. The document foresees triple growth of the country's GDP in 10 years.

"South Korea needs a strategic partner in Europe. Our task is to show that Ukraine could be this partner. Then our goods turnover could expand to $7-10 billion a year. This is important for the country," Taruta said.
10:30 15.06.2016 Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference '12 Steps to Peace: Restoration of Peace, Status of the Region and Security'

1 min read

On Wednesday, June 15, at 11.00, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency's press center will host a press conference entitled "12 Steps to Peace: Restoration of Peace, Status of the Region and Security." The participants will include head of the Restoration of Donbas non-governmental initiative Olena Petriayeva; Deputy Director General of TNS Ukraine Company Svitlana Vynoslavska, and project coordinator at TNS Ukraine Konstiantyn Didenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). Admission requires press accreditation. More information by phone: (067) 249 6813.
Defence Ministers agreed on Wednesday (15 June 2016) to boost NATOs support for Ukraine with a Comprehensive Package of Assistance. The Package aims to help Ukraine strengthen its defences by building stronger security structures. In a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, Allied ministers also exchanged views with Ukrainian Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak on the current security situation in eastern Ukraine, and the progress of government reforms.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg explained that the Comprehensive Package brings together all the strands of NATOs support, and will help Ukraine establish more effective and efficient defence and security structures, and to strengthen civilian control over them. He highlighted that the Alliance is already implementing projects under the Trust Funds established for Ukraine, including on command and control, cyber defence, and rehabilitating wounded soldiers. We are also developing new projects, including in the areas of countering hybrid warfare and explosive devices, he said.

The situation in eastern Ukraine, caused by Russias actions, remains of concern, the Secretary General said, pointing to daily ceasefire violations and impediments to the work of OSCE observers. Ministers agreed that the Minsk Agreements remain the path to a sustainable solution to the conflict, and urged all parties to fully implement them. They also expressed NATOs enduring support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, reiterating that Allies do not and will not recognise the illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea. Russia needs to stop supporting the militants, and withdraw its forces and military equipment from Ukrainian territory, said Mr. Stoltenberg.

During the meeting, Minister Poltorak presented Ukraines defence reform roadmap, the Strategic Defence Bulletin. Modernising Ukraines forces while they are engaged in conflict is no easy task, but the government is making good progress, said the Secretary General.

Allies will meet with President Poroshenko in the NATO-Ukraine Commission at the Warsaw Summit in July.
(NaturalNews) An executive order issued in September 1999 by then-President Bill Clinton essentially gave the Pentagon permission to experiment on U.S. military personnel with an untested, untrusted and unapproved anthrax vaccine.As reported by Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota in November 2002, the injections which were mandated by the Defense Department led to a number of severe reactions in most of those who received it, prompting scores of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units in particular to either transfer to other units or leave the service entirely between 1998 and 2000, according to a Government Accountability Office survey.The GAO survey found that more than eight-in-ten, or 85 percent, of personnel forced to receive the anthrax vaccine had an adverse reaction to it, which was much higher than the 30 percent rate claimed by the vaccine's manufacturer in 2000, when the survey was taken (three-in-ten isa very high adverse reaction rate, truth be told).The mandatory program "appears to have adversely affected the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve in terms of retaining needed experienced personnel," the GAO report noted.The GAO recommended that the Pentagon establish an active surveillance program for reaction to vaccines, but even that would have been largely ineffective, former military medical personnel argued in this report. That's because often they were instructed to give more than one vaccine with the anthrax shot, making it next to impossible to figure out which one may have caused a reaction.What's more, according to medical personnel, the anthrax vaccines that were being given to troops had not even been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration , though according to Clinton's executive order,if Pentagon brass decided they should be given to troops anyway. From Clinton's order The Pentagon launched its program in 1998 in a bid to inoculate all troops against a perceived anthrax threat, which was never high. However, that program was scaled back because the manufacturer was having difficulty getting the vaccine approved by FDA.The survey was taken before the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and subsequent anthrax attacks in Washington, D.C., the following month. It showed that between September 1998 and September 2000, "about 16 percent of the pilots and aircrew members of the Guard and Reserve had (1) transferred to another unit (primarily to nonflying positions to avoid or delay receiving the anthrax shots), (2) moved to inactive status, or (3) left the military," the report said."Additionally, an estimated one in five (18 percent) of those still participating in or assigned to a unit in 2000 - that is those who had not already changed their status - indicated their willingness to leave in the near future. Both groups, those who had already left and those indicating their intention to leave, ranked AVIP [Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program] as a key factor in their decision to leave or change their participation."Thereport included witnesses who said it was obvious that the Pentagon was attempting to cover up the anthrax vaccine injury.Sources:
The dangers of fracking

Federal government protects fracking industry

(NaturalNews) The national anti-fracking movement continues to grow as voters have overwhelmingly approved a ban against fracking in Butte County, California - making it the fourth county in the state to pass such legislation.71 percent of voters supported Measure E, which bans all oil and gas fracking operations in the county. Agriculture is Butte County's biggest industry and locals fear that toxic waste from fracking operations will pollute aquifers in the area, destroying the "lifeblood" of the county's economy.CommonDreams.org quoted Dave Garcia, of Frack-Free Butte County, who said:Mendocino, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties have already passed similar bans, but the anti-fracking movement in California still faces major hurdles:Opposition to fracking in California is gaining momentum, however, as more counties in the state are expected to pass fracking bans. Both Alameda and Monterey county are poised to pass similar measures this year.The anti-fracking movement is also growing throughout the country - Vermont and New York have approved state-wide bans and Maryland has established a moratorium on fracking through 2017. Numerous local communities across the U.S. have also passed fracking bans.FromThe oil and gas industry has gone to great lengths to play down the dangers of fracking, but hundreds of studies have shown that fracking poses serious threats to the environment and human health.And the threats are numerous - fracking contaminates water supplies , air and soil with non-biodegradable toxic chemicals that will never go away. Heavy metals and radioactive substances that cause cancer and other serious health problems are released into the environment during fracking.Forests and natural wildlife habitats are destroyed by the fracking industry.Fracking causes earthquakes.Fracking contaminates 15 billion gallons of water each year.Despite the dangers, the fracking industry is protected by loopholes in environmental laws.From FoodAndWaterWatch.org:Fortunately, awareness of the threat is growing and the opposition is becoming more powerful. People are beginning to see the effects of widespread fracking and for the first time, a majority of Americans are opposed to the industry, according to a recent Gallup poll.You can do your part in the fight against fracking by signing the petition found here It's time to let our leaders know that fracking should be completely banned in the United States.
Lies and bribes

"This is about lives"

bribery

Profits vs. people
Nearly 25 years after declaring coffee a possible carcinogen associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer, the World Health Organizations (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reversed its position noting its latest review found no conclusive evidence for a carcinogenic effect" of coffee drinking."

The large body of evidence currently available led to the re-evaluation of the carcinogenicity of coffee drinking, previously classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) by IARC in 1991. After thoroughly reviewing more than 1,000 studies in humans and animals on more than 20 different types of cancer, the international Working Group of 23 scientists found there was inadequate evidence for the carcinogenicity of coffee drinking overall. In addition, many epidemiological studies showed that coffee drinking had no carcinogenic effects for cancers of the pancreas, female breast and prostate, and reduced risks were seen for cancers of the liver and uterine endometrium.

The agency did, however, issue a warning that drinking very hot beverages probably causes esophageal cancer, reaffirming WHOs position on this issue and advice to let hot drinks cool before consuming them.

IARC noted drinking very hot beverages is now classified as probably carcinogenic." The group based its findings on what it described as limited evidence from epidemiological studies that showed positive associations between cancer of the esophagus and drinking very hot beverages. The studies focused on places such as China and South America, where tea or mate is often consumed at temperatures of about 158 degrees Fahrenheitroughly 10 degrees hotter than people in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe are accustomed to drinking coffee or tea.

These results suggest that drinking very hot beverages is one probable cause of oesophageal cancer and that it is the temperature, rather than the drinks themselves, that appears to be responsible," IARC Director Christopher Wild said.

In June, a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found coffee consumption may decrease the risk of colorectal cancer. Whats more, the indication of decreased risk was seen across all types of coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated. In January, a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found contrary to current clinical belief, regular caffeine consumption does not lead to extra heartbeats, which, can lead in rare cases to heart- or stroke-related morbidity and mortality.
Until the day it dies, a cell that has become a skin cell remains a skin cell  or so scientists used to think. Over the past decade, it has become clear that cellular identity is not written in stone but can be rewritten by activating specific genetic programs. Today, the field of regenerative medicine faces a question: should this rewriting take the conventional route, in which mature cells are first converted back into stem cells, or, where feasible, a more direct approach? The green heart muscle cells are 'natural'. The orange ones were fibroblasts that have been directly reprogrammed to become heart muscle cells. Credit: Courtesy of the Gladstone Institutes

'Terminally differentiated' is a term that sums up the old way of thinking  that skin, muscle or other mature cells cannot be coaxed to adopt a drastically different fate. That idea began to falter a decade ago, when cell biologist Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University in Japan showed that a handful of genes could transform adult fibroblast (connective tissue) cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells1. Like embryonic stem cells, iPS cells can develop into any cell type, a property called pluripotency. They can also be produced in unlimited quantities, unlike embryonic stem cells, which must be harvested from human embryos and therefore come with considerable political baggage.

Just a few years after Yamanaka's discovery  which earned him a share of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine  researchers began uncovering shortcuts for switching cell types that they called 'direct reprogramming'. Mature cells of one kind could be coaxed to directly become another, with no pluripotent middleman. Researchers have learned how to turn skin cells into neurons or heart cells, and stomach cells into insulin-producing pancreatic -cells. It's amazing to watch the cells change right before your eyes, says Benedikt Berninger of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz in Germany, who uses direct reprogramming to generate neurons.

Research into direct reprogramming is more preliminary than work on iPS cells, but it is stirring excitement in regenerative medicine. Directly reprogrammed cells might be safer than cells that pass through a pluripotent state, because the latter share with tumour cells a capacity for extensive proliferation  making them potentially cancer-causing Trojan horses.

Clinical interventions based on iPS cells must be done carefully to ensure that no pluripotent cells are transplanted along with the fully mature cells. There's a risk that you could lose control of these cells and that they start proliferating uncontrollably after transplantation, says Malin Parmar, a neurobiologist at Lund University in Sweden who hopes to use direct reprogramming to reverse the loss of neurons in people with Parkinson's disease. But if you bypass the pluripotent stage, it's a lot quicker and potentially safer.

Changing programs

Rewriting cellular identities first requires an understanding of how those identities are established. Every cell in the body can trace its ancestry back to a single progenitor: the fertilized egg. As embryonic cells divide and mature, their destiny is determined by the specific genes that are switched on and off over the course of development. Proteins called transcription factors regulate this process by binding certain DNA sequences in the genome, and subsequently activating or suppressing adjacent genes. The ones that govern the fate of a developing cell are often called master regulators because they operate at the summit of complicated cascades of gene activity.

These master regulators are basically all defined by their pivotal roles in embryogenesis in the development of certain cell types, says Qiao Zhou, a cell biologist at Harvard Stem Cell Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Perhaps a progenitor cell can become cell A or B or C, but if you force it to express a certain master regulator, it will inevitably choose A.

An early demonstration of the usefulness of master regulators for direct reprogramming came as far back as 1987, when Harold Weintraub, Andrew Lassar and their colleagues at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, showed that forcing fibroblasts to express a certain portion of DNA put them on a developmental path to become muscle cells; they later discovered that the single gene responsible encodes the transcription factor MyoD2. That was a paradigm-shifting observation, and people in the field thought that most other cell types would have that one key factor that would be powerful enough to convert the fate of a cell, says Deepak Srivastava, a heart development researcher at the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease in San Francisco, California.

But it wasn't that simple. The hunt for individual master regulators that could initiate reprogramming would yield many years of disappointment  until Yamanaka's work on iPS cells revealed that the secret of effective reprogramming was not a single factor, but rather combinations of multiple genes. As researchers started to mix and match different sets of master regulators, success stories began to emerge.

In 2008, Zhou was part of a team led by Harvard scientist Douglas Melton that transformed one type of pancreatic cell into another, generating the insulin-secreting -cells that are needed by many people with diabetes. Our study concluded that you need a minimum of three master regulators to make that happen, says Zhou. In 2010, a group led by stem-cell scientist Marius Wernig of Stanford University in California turned fibroblasts into neurons, also using a trio of genes3. Further refinements and extensions of this work gave rise to a host of different, specialized neurons, with each type producing or responding to distinct neurotransmitter signals.

Most of these pioneering demonstrations of direct reprogramming have been achieved with cultured cells. Yet many researchers see much greater promise for regenerative medicine if cell conversions can be prompted inside the body. Pools of cells that are relatively abundant in an organ could be transformed into other kinds of mature cells that are more desperately needed. So far, there have been a handful of triumphs in animal experiments. Parmar's group, for example, found that glial cells can be converted into functional neurons by injecting viruses laden with genes for reprogramming factors into the brains of mice. And Srivastava has likewise turned mouse fibroblasts inside the heart into beating cardiac muscle cells, a strategy that may offer a way to repair damage caused by a heart attack. You've got this vast pool of cells that are already in the organ that you can harness for regeneration, he says. But no one has so far tried direct reprogramming inside a human.

Identity crisis

For now, most research is focused on ensuring the success of the reprogramming process. Investigators not only have to work out a successful combination of master regulators that turns on the genes that define a certain cell type: they also, ideally, have to discover the smallest possible set. This is because the most reliable way to force a cell to express master regulator genes is to deliver additional copies of these genes to it, and delivering many genes into a cell is a much tougher technical challenge than providing just a few. Working out the minimal set of master regulators can be a slog: often the roster of candidate combinations is huge, and the only way through a thicket of options is to systematically test each one. Parmar's team started with 12 candidate genes for generating dopamine-producing neurons, for example, before eventually narrowing it down to 2.

Some researchers have started to create software specifically for direct reprogramming that incorporates information about which master regulators control the formation of tissues. A team spread over three continents has developed an experiment-planning tool called Mogrify4, which brings together large quantities of gene-expression data from a long list of cell types with rules about the gene networks that different master regulators control. Mogrify uses these to predict the combination of reprogramming factors that will cause a desired cellular identity change. The idea is to provide researchers with a way to computationally identify the fewest possible master regulator genes that can directly reprogram one particular cell type into another.

But providing active master regulator genes isn't always enough to ensure complete reprogramming: the master regulators may successfully set a cell on a developmental path, but then leave it stranded in an immature, precursor state. Then the task is to identify which additional genes must be active to finish the process, and add them to the delivery package.

Stem-cell biologist Hongkui Deng at Peking University in Beijing struggled with this problem for years. His initial efforts to directly turn skin cells into liver cells through the forced expression of master regulator genes alone yielded cells that failed to perform key, liver-like functions. Then, during a second round of screening, he identified additional genes that could complete the reprogramming5. He calls them maturation factors  genes that are unimportant for initiating the conversion but crucial for obtaining functionally mature cells.

Other researchers have found that they can boost the success rate of direct reprogramming by augmenting the effects of master regulator genes with chemicals that act on cellular signalling pathways to promote reprogramming  occasionally, chemicals alone can prompt a cell-type transformation (see 'Better modifying through chemistry').

Even with the appropriate gene and chemical deliveries, it is hard to prove that any direct reprogramming is truly complete. Peering through a microscope can reveal whether a transformation has taken place  for example, whether flat, star-shaped fibroblasts have formed long, axon-like projections  but deeper analysis of the cell's inner workings is also needed. Put simply, how can one be certain that a reprogrammed skin cell has truly become a neuron, and is not merely 'neuron-like'?

Measuring the downstream activity of master regulator genes can offer insights into how well reprogramming has succeeded. If the introduced master regulators are doing their job, they should cause grand shifts in the overall patterns of gene expression in the cell nucleus, which should match the patterns found in mature cells of the target tissue. There are several ways to survey a cell's total gene expression  for example, sequencing all of the RNA molecules in it. Researchers at Boston University and Harvard University in Massachusetts have drawn on this kind of data in their development of CellNet, a software program that can assess how well the gene activity in reprogrammed cells matches that of target cells6. Researchers studying reprogrammed neurons in Malin Parmar's lab at Lund University in Sweden. Credit: Kennet Rouna

Still, the identity test that really matters is whether reprogrammed cells can functionally replace naturally differentiated cells. If they look like neurons and have gene expression like neurons, that doesn't mean they're really neurons, says Chun-Li Zhang, a neurobiologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Convincing proof requires a battery of assessments, such as electrophysiological measurements that confirm whether a newly formed neuron is firing and is therefore capable of activating other neurons that are linked to it by synapses. No one characteristic can provide sufficient evidence in isolation, says Zhou. His group's attempts to reprogram liver cells into pancreatic -cells yielded only dysfunctional intermediates. They synthesized and released insulin in large quantities  so much so that the animals died from hypoglycaemia, he says. This is because the cells lacked pancreatic cells' ability to sense and respond to blood glucose levels.

If they look like neurons and have gene expression like neurons, that doesn't mean they're really neurons.

One of the findings of these diagnostic tests is that prompting reprogramming within a target organ often works better than efforts with cultured cells. Most of our cells only partially reprogram to cardiac muscle when they're on plastic, says Srivastava. But in their natural environment, the majority go all the way to a beating state, where they're electrically coupled with their neighbours. This may be due to chemical cues generated by other neighbouring cells in the organ, or because of features of the 3D tissue environment that are hard to replicate in the lab. Whatever the reason, it bodes well for developing clinical applications.

Path to the clinic

Researchers agree that there are many hurdles to overcome before these methods can be tested in people. In general, human cells have proven more challenging to directly reprogram than mouse cells: they tend to take longer to go through the reprogramming process and often require additional transcription factors to those that are sufficient in animal experiments.

Gene delivery also poses formidable challenges, especially into organs such as the brain. In some cases, viruses that preferentially infect particular cell types could help to guide reprogramming factors to specific sites of disease or injury, but delivery to unintended sites may still pose risks.

Then there's the issue of 'robbing Peter to pay Paul'. Transforming glia into neurons in the brain reduces the number of glia there  which might pose a hazard. These cells are not just for decoration, says Berninger. They have important functions, and how do we replace them if we take them away? One possibility is to reprogram cells to a proliferative  but non-tumorigenic  neural progenitor state. That way, a few glia could yield numerous neurons.

Heart treatments are probably closest to the clinic. Srivastava's team has already begun studies to turn fibroblasts inside pig hearts into cardiac muscle cells. We have initial proof of concept that even in a big heart like ours, we can achieve efficacy, he says. The team is now carrying out safety studies and refining their gene delivery method with the aim of gaining regulatory approval for human trials. Importantly, heart fibroblasts are self-replenishing, so concerns over cell loss are less acute.

Zhou's team is also making headway towards the clinic in its attempts to switch cultured human gastrointestinal cells directly into -cells. The gut cells are easily obtained by biopsy, and after cultivation and reprogramming they could, in theory, be transplanted into the pancreases of volunteers who have diabetes.

Direct reprogramming is beginning to garner interest from industry, although biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are not quite ready to jump in with both feet. Although research into iPS cells and embryonic stem cells has a head start in this respect, the gap may close as the advantages of direct cell-type switching come into focus. There is not yet a comparable amount of resources and manpower going into this approach, says Zhou. But the field is quickly catching up, and I can't wait to see where it's going.
The cold shouldn't hinder NASA's latest telescope cooler to perform its mission in space. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California just finished examining the "first-of-its-kind" cooler for the NASA James Webb Space Telescope scheduled for launched in 2018.

The "cryocooler" a project of Europe and the U.S. was sent for testing at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, to affirm its readiness for spaceflights.

Although designed to the liking and the size of an actual refrigerator, the cooler has more complicated tasks than freezing food. The cooler will freeze the new telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). MIRI is crucial for the study of stars and exoplanets. The James Webb Telescope is equipped with MIRI, and will be launched to catch even the faintest whispers of light emanating from the oldest and first stars born un the universe which are billions of years old.

"When did stars start looking like they do today? MIRI will help us narrow in on the era of first light," said Michael Ressler, project scientist at JPL, in a press release by NASA.

The cryocooler compressor assembly was sent to the Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems facility in Redondo Beach, California where it will be reunited with the body of the James Webb telescope. Meanwhile, the MIRI instruments to be frozen are still at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The parts of the telescope will be assembled in Northrop Grumman ahead of its space flight in 2018.

"We fully expect that the MIRI will open up a whole new territory of astronomy, enabled by this cooler," said John Mather, lead project scientist and Nobel laureate at NASA Goddard, in a statement published by Phys.Org.

During its mission, MIRI will be the coldest instrument ever to be used by the agency. It is expected to operate beyond "frostbite temperatures" of no more than 6.7 degrees above absolute zero.

The frozen instrument will be able to detect "mid-infrared" glow, which is usually invisible to the naked eye. MIRI will be supported by three other instruments, which all requires cold temperatures but not as cold as MIRI.
Astrochemists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have detected the first evidence of chiral molecule in the interstellar space 28,000 light years away from Earth.

Chiral molecules are two enantiomeric forms that are almost identical but are actually different molecules. These molecules have may behave same way physically in terms of melting, freezing, and absorbing light. However, each of the "twin" molecules may react chemically with other substances in different ways. Chiral molecules are known to be "handed" molecules and can be typically found in meteors and comets, but never been detected before in interstellar space.

The chiral molecule found in the stellar space is the propylene oxide (CH3CHCH2O), which is being used on Earth to make polyethylene plastics. It is detected near the center of our Milky Way galaxy in a star-forming cloud of dust and gas known as Sagittarius B2 (Sgr B2).

"Propylene oxide is among the most complex and structurally intricate molecules detected so far in space," said Brandon Carroll, a chemistry graduate student at Caltech, in a statement. "Detecting this molecule opens the door for further experiments determining how and where molecular handedness emerges and why one form may be slightly more abundant than the other."

However, researchers can't determine if the propylene oxide detected in the Sgr B2 were left-handed, right-handed or both.

For their study, which was published in the journal Science, researchers used the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia and the Parkes radio telescope in Australia.

Data from the radio telescope suggests the existence of propylene oxide in a shell of gas outside the core of Sgr B2. These findings support previous notions proposing that complicated molecules can be formed on ice grains in diffuse clouds of interstellar gas and dust.

The discovery of chiral molecules in interstellar space can help researchers understand how chiral molecules from space may have crashed in the Earth leading to the formation of life.

"This [discovery] is going to provide us with a laboratory to try to test theories about the role that chiral molecules played in the origins of life here on Earth and how that chirality might play a role in the origins of life elsewhere in the galaxy," explained Brett McGuire, a researcher at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Virginia, in a press conference.


NASA is looking for more allies in its upcoming deeper space explorations including the Journey to Mars in 2030. The agency signed an Aeronautic Cooperation Agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Both the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed on enhanced cooperation when it comes to aeronautic research and the exploration and use of the outer space. The intent is to use airspace and beyond-Earth territory for peaceful projects to benefit humanity.

UAE Space Agency Chairman Dr. Khalifa Al Romaithi signed the agreement with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden in Abu Dhabi on June 12.

"NASA is leading an ambitious journey to Mars that includes partnerships with the private sector and many international partners," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, in a press release. "I am confident this new framework agreement with the UAE Space Agency will help advance this journey, as well as other endeavors in the peaceful exploration of outer space," Bolden added.

The first target of the partnership is the exploration of Mars, according to a report by The Verge.

The partnership between the U.S. and the oil-rich nation of UAE appeared strange or unlikely to some, but both nations agreed to explore the outer space together for the benefit of mankind.

Aside from space explorations, the two nations might also get involved in ground-based research in the future. One notable clause of the agreement is the exchange of scientific data, scientists, engineers and experiences on "relevant regulatory frameworks."

"We at the UAE Space Agency genuinely welcome the opportunity to collaborate and work with the USA and NASA in the fields of aeronautics, space science, and the peaceful exploration of outer space toward the common goal of fostering the well-being of humankind," said UAE Space Agency Chairman Khalif Al Romaithi, in a statement published by Space News.
Astronomers from Spain and University of Cambridge have devised a new calculation confirming that the six extreme trans-Neptunian objects, which have been used to announce the existence of planet Nine, are not as stable as previously thought.

Earlier this year, Astronomers from the California Institute of Technology have announced the possible existence of a giant planet ten times the mass of the Earth lurking in our solar system. The said planet is believed to take between 10,000 and 20,000 years to complete one revolution around the Sun.

The Caltech astronomers arrived at the conclusion that Planet Nine exists by running computer simulations with input data based on the orbits of six extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs). These ETNOs include Sedna, 2012 VP113, 2004 VN112, 2007 TG422, 2013 RF98 and 2010 GB174.

However, two freelance astronomers from Spain, accompanied by scientist Sverre J. Aarseth from the Institute of Astronomy of the University of Cambridge, conducted a study to determine how these ETNOs would behave if the proposed Planet Nine truly exists.

Their findings, published in the Monthly Notices Letters of the Royal Astronomical Society, suggest that if Planet Nine really exists, the ETNOs would move in lengthy, unstable orbits.

"These objects would escape from the Solar System in less than 1.5 billion years, and in the case of 2004 VN112, 2007 TG422 and 2013 RF98 they could abandon it in less than 300 million years; what is more important, their orbits would become really unstable in just 10 million years, a really short amount of time in astronomical terms," explained Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, one of the two Spanish freelance astronomer, in a statement.

With their findings, the researchers concluded that in order for the ETNOs to become really stable, there is a need for one or more planet beyond Pluto that are in mutual resonance.

"That is to say we believe that in addition to a Planet Nine, there could also be a Planet Ten and even more," Carlos added.

Evidences pointed out the existence of Planet Nine have been floating around and it has become an international race. If Planet was proven to exists, it will be the first planet to be discovered using entirely computerized numerical calculations.


The situation in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in Donbas remains tense. The number of attacks increased over the past 24 hours. Enemy shootings became even more intensive as of 06:00 p.m., the press center of the ATO headquarters reported on Wednesday morning.

"Fifty-eight attacks, including 32 in the Mariupol, 24 in the Donetsk, and three in the Luhansk sectors, were registered. The Russian occupation army broke the Minsk agreements by using mortars 18 times, artillery systems three times and a tank once," the ATO HQ wrote no Facebook.

In the Mariupol sector, gunfire was most intense near the town of Pavlopil where the militants used mortars and 122mm self-propelled artillery and launched attacks, the report said. Ukrainian army positions were twice attacked by a tank near Krasnohorivka at approximately 10 p.m.

Ukrainian army positions near Maryinka, Taramchuk and Novotroitske came under mortar fire, and various types of grenade launchers and large-caliber machineguns were fired on Ukrainian army positions near Hnutove, Talakivka, Chermalyk and Shyrokyne. In addition, the militants fired four shots from 122mm self-propelled artillery on Chermalyk, the report said.

In the Donetsk sector, the militant's mortars fired on Ukrainian army positions near Nevelske, Pisky, Avdiyivka, Verkhniotoretske and Luhanske, while heavy mortars and 152mm weapons bombarded the Putylivska (Butovka) mine.

The militant's large-caliber machineguns and automatic grenade launchers shelled Ukrainian army strongholds on the Svitlodarsk bulge.

The militants conducted random fire near Triokhizbenka and Nyzhnioteple in the Luhansk sector, it said.
Researchers from Australia have identified the first documented mammal to be wiped out due to man-made climate change. The Bramble Cay melomy, a rodent that thrives on a tiny outcrop in the Great Barrier Reef, has gone extinct.

The Bramble Cay melomy is a long-tailed miniscule rodent with whiskers that's native to the Great Barrier Reef. The said rat-size mammal could be found in a tiny Queensland island in the northeast Torres Strait. According to The New York Times, reasons for the death of the Bramble Cay melomy is the rising sea levels. During the 1970s, melomys have been abundant in the island but their numbers decreased through time, with the last of them spotted in 2009.

The scientists determined that the melomys have gone extinct when they conducted a survey of the mammals. From August to September 2014, Australian scientists have set up traps, cameras and daytime searches to be able to spot even just one melomy. However, their attempt was unsuccessful, leading them to conclude that the melomys are non-existent anymore.

The key factor responsible for the death of the Bramble Cay melomys is almost certainly high tides and surging seawater, which has traveled inland across the island. The seawater has destroyed the animals habitat and food source," said Luke Leung, a scientist from the University of Queensland and author of the study.

Leung added that the case of the melomys is the first documented extinction of a mammal because of an-made climate change. Business Insider notes that in 2014, seawater surrounding the island where the melomys lived have risen, resulting in lesser livable space for the rodents. To find refuge, scientists said that the mammals could have migrated to rock and crevices to survive while their food supply dwindled.

Anthony D. Barnosky, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, shows how humans contribute in wiping out species.

On land, were seeing the same thing, except rather than water barriers, the barriers are the 51 percent of the Earths land surface that has been taken over by people," Barnosky explained.

Ecologist John White told The Guardian that species that are restricted to small islands like the melomys will be the first one to be wiped out due to climate change, adding that this is just the first but certainly not the last.
Three puppies found shivering and alone in a Southern California park may end up with the police officers who helped rescue them.

Escondio Police Officers Nathan Visconti, Christopher Dare and Jose Guerrero were called to Kit Carson Park Monday at 6 a.m. for the final call on their overnight shift.

A woman running through the park stumbled on the eight-week-old lab mix puppies. The pups were barely bundled in a coat on the grass.

Tracy Plowy left the pups to call for help, and by the time she came back, she said "three policemen (were) holding each of the puppies."

"They were cold and scared," Visconti said as he described how he picked up one of the puppies and cradled it.

Immediately, as soon as I saw those three puppies, before they even had a chance, I picked mine, said Officer Guerrero. "I told them it's game over."

The puppies had probably been at the park all night before they found them, the officers said.

We're like 'Wheres Jose and the third puppy','" Visconti said. "And we look over and hes holding it up and he was singing to it."

As excited as he may have been, Guerrero denies there was any singing involved.

"I will admit the dog was being held up like baby Simba," he said.

Dare says it was like Christmas morning and an experience that they didnt want to come to an end.

We were sitting on a curb playing with puppies. Thats not an ending you see very often, he said.

At the same time Escondido Police were called, the San Diego Humane Society were told about the pups in the park.

The officers said they are interested in giving the puppies a home but they still have to get their loved ones on board with the plan.

"Mixed results," Visconti said. "We're working on it."

They've each chosen the name "Leo." There's apparently some debate over which officer chose the name first.

The puppies will be on hold at the San Diego Humane Society for the rest of the week while they receive medical exams.

NBC 7s Candice Nguyen talks with Escondido Police Officers Jose Guerrero, Nathan Visconti and Christopher Dare and the call theyll never forget from Kit Carson Park. Photos of the pups courtesy Tracy Plowy.
Aaron Persky, the judge facing intense backlash over his sentencing in the sexual assault trial of a former Stanford swimmer, has been removed from another sex assault case at the request of the Santa Clara District Attorney's Office.

The office said Tuesday it filed a motion to disqualify Persky from an upcoming trial in which a male nurse allegedly sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient. Persky was disqualified by the administrative judge of the court following the DA's request.

"We lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing," the DA's office said in a statement.

Persky's June 2 sentencing of former Stanford University star athlete Brock Turner to six months in county jail and three years' probation, sparked outrage in the Bay Area and worldwide. He sexually assaulting an intoxicated, unconscious woman after a fraternity party in January 2015. He had faced many more years in prison, and many felt a six-month sentence was too lenient.

Turner, who is likely to serve three-months of his sentence, is appealing his conviction. He will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Persky didn't respond to requests for comment, the AP reported.

A letter written by the woman Brock Turner assaulted  read out aloud in court  went viral after the sentencing, and more than a million people have signed a petition asking the California Commission on Judicial Performance calling to oust him.

The embattled judge slid into a new six-year term last Tuesday. Voters didn't get a chance to remove him from his post through the ballot, as he ran unopposed.

One juror in the Brock Turner case wrote a letter to Persky, Palo Alto Online reported Monday, saying "with the ridiculously lenient sentence that Brock Turner received, I am afraid that it makes a mockery of the whole trial and the ability of the justice system to protect victims of assault and rape."

Several potential jurors have told the judge they couldn't serve on a jury in his courtroom because of the Turner sentence.

Persky was removed from the new sexual assault case the day after he tossed out a misdemeanor mail theft case before it reached the jury. Persky ruled on Monday that prosecutors had not proven their theft case during the two-day trial and dismissed the case and the jury before deliberations started.

According to county prosecutor James Leonard, it was Persky's first case since the Brock Turner case.

A statement from the Santa Clara DA's office, released Tuesday, says:

We are disappointed and puzzled at Judge Perskys unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate. After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient. This is a rare and carefully considered step for our Office. In the future, we will evaluate each case on its own merits and decide if we should use our legal right to ask for another judge in order to protect public safety and pursue justice.

Information from The Associated Press was included in this story.
The fallout from the Orlando terror attack reverberating on the campaign trail with Donald Trump now calling for a ban on all people immigrating from the Middle East.

An estimated 30,000 Afghans live in the Bay Area, many with ties to Little Kabul in Fremont.

On Tuesday, many Afghans said they fear Trump's message may cause a backlash against their community.

"The anti-Muslim rhetoric is dangerous," said Aisha Wahab with the Afghan Coalition. "We do not want copycats and we do not want a rise in harassment of people who look Afghan or mid eastern."

Wahab said the horrific acts of the shooter in Orlando do not represent the Afghan community or the Muslim population.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has met with his Romanian counterpart Mihnea Ioan Motoc during a visit to NATO Headquarters in order to discuss prospects of Ukraine's participation in the multinational Bulgarian-Romanian brigade.

According to the press service of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine, Poltorak stressed that Ukraine was planning to discuss participation of Ukrainian servicemen in this brigade and mentioned that the country already had experience of being a part of another brigade.

"We have experience of the participation in multinational military forces such as a joint brigade of Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine (LITPOLUKRBRIG). I believe that it is another step towards security preservation in our region," he said.

"Today like never before it is very important to combine our efforts for fight against the enemy which threats security in the entire region. We take interest in cooperation for the sake of security in the Black Sea region," Poltorak added.

In turn, Motoc praised successful results of reform in the Ukrainian army.

The Romanian minister also said that the issue of Ukrainian servicemen participation in the Bulgarian-Romanian brigade would be discussed and added that it is an opportunity for the development and support of good relations between the neighboring countries.

In addition, Motoc accepted Poltorak's invitation to visit Ukraine and continue the dialogue.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the day before that the defense ministers of NATO member countries would recommend to approve the establishment of a multinational brigade in Romania during the upcoming Warsaw NATO Summit.
The sexual misconduct scandal that rocked the Oakland Police Department over the past few weeks has spread to other Bay Area law enforcement agencies, including the latest report that three San Francisco officers allegedly are involved.

The woman at the center of the case, Celeste Guap, 18, of Richmond, spent Tuesday meeting with authorities at the Richmond Police Department, where Chief Allwyn Brown confirmed its investigation of her claims.

"If we find misconduct, we will definitely take the appropriate corrective action," Brown said. "That's what we're committed to doing."

Guap says she's had sex with 28 officers from the Oakland, Richmond and San Francisco police departments, as well as the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office.

"We are aware of the investigation and are conducting a review to determine if any of our members had any inappropriate contact with the victim," Michael Andrychuk, spokesman for SFPD, told NBC Bay Area.

Guap claims sometimes the sex was in exchange for money and other times in exchange for information related to prostitution sweeps, so that she could avoid arrests. As of Monday, five Oakland officers were placed on leave stemming from her allegations and police Chief Sean Whent suddenly resigned last week, although Mayor Libby Schaaf said his departure was for "personal reasons."

At least one Contra Costa County sheriff's deputy also was placed on leave following claims he had sex with the teen when she was a minor, the department said.

Residents in Oakland gathered to sound off about the scandal and to demand the formation of an independent police commission.

"It's a shame; it's a disgrace," said Carroll Fife of Oakland Alliance. "They need to get out of our city."

Guap also told NBC Bay Area she befriended Whent's wife on Facebook and told her that she was dating an Oakland police officer when she was just 17.

A day after news broke that Oaklands police chief was leaving his post after 19 years in the department, Mayor Libby Schaaf on Friday made it formal: Sean Whent no longer has a job as the citys top cop. Bob Redell reports.

Guap has said she had sex with at least 14 Oakland officers, including three when she was underage; that two officers provided her with confidential police information, including tips on scheduled anti-prostitution stings; and that a retired OPD captain in his 80s paid $250 to have sex with her in a rundown San Pablo Avenue motel.

In April, Guap posted a photo of an Oakland police cruiser in front of a Food Mart with this message: "Took me back to richmond (sic) in style #saucy."

NBC Bay Area's Stephanie Chuang contributed to this report.
A Sacramento pastor is receiving backlash after video of his sermon discussing the Orlando massacre surfaced online.

In a YouTube video uploaded by Verity Baptist Church, Pastor Roger Jimenez praises the massacre of 49 people at Pulse night club in Orlando, Florida and claims to be upset that the gunman did not finish the job.

The video, which was removed by YouTube on Tuesday for violating their policy on hate speech, has already caught the attention of people intolerant of this pastors sermon.

As Christians we shouldnt be mourning the deaths of these 50 sodomites, Jimenez said. Because the bible teaches that these sodomites are all, every single one of them, a predator.

Known for his red-hot preaching, Jimenez is the pastor of Sacramentos Verity Baptist Church that began in his living room in 2010 and now has over 200 worshipers every Sunday morning.

After waking up to the news of the massacre in Orlando, Florida, Jimenez took the opportunity to preach statistics on gays and lesbians and defend his perspective on why Christians shouldnt mourn the massacre.

In the sermon Jimenez continued to quote directly from the New International Version Bible explaining that gays and lesbians are defined as abusers and pedophiles.

One of Jimenez main sources of evidence for his claims came from Judges 19:22-30, a story describing the vile habits of homosexuals.

Our society wants to classify everybody, its LBGT whatever, Jimenez explained. This passage proves they all go both ways, theyre all a bunch of perverts! The classification is this, theyre unnatural.

Throughout the heated 45-minute sermon that has received backlash from the general public, Jimenez calls for another massacre and reminds the worshipers that this isnt just his opinion, its the word of the Bible.

Arent you sad that 50 sodomites died, Jimenez asked. Its like the equivalent of asking me, Hey are you sad that 50 pedophiles were killed today? No. I think thats great, I think that helps society. I think Orlando, Florida is a little safer tonight.

Jimenez ended his sermon reminding those in the church that Christians should have no need to mourn the deaths, claiming that they had it coming.

Every less sodomite there is in this country is better for our country, Jimenez concluded.

YouTube users have responded furiously to a majority of the videos found on the Churchs page. Several have taken it upon themselves to rate them on Facebook, explaining their anger at the ignorance in his sermons.

This man does not know God, he is siding with terrorism....clearly full of self-hate, the blind leading the blind," Theresa Krause wrote on the church's Facebook page. "I hope one day he comes to know God, God is love. He is very far away from that at this point.

Another commenter expressed their disgust in the pastor's sermon.

This pastor is no man of God! He is hateful and promoting violence against human beings!" Maryann Ciali wrote on the church's Facebook page. "I am of Christian faith and we believe in gods love toward all mankind. So disgusted with this pastor.

Verity Baptist Church didn't immediately return a request for comment.
After each mass shooting in the U.S., calls for stricter gun control grow louder but responses from the National Rifle Association are minimal or non-existent, NBC News reported.

On Tuesday, Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, broke the NRA's silence two days after a rampage at a gay Orlando club where 49 were killed and dozens wounded. In an op-ed for USA Today, Cox blamed the Obama administration's "political correctness" for failing to prevent the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

The FBI looked into gunman Omar Mateen in 2013 after he claimed a family connection to al Qaeda, said FBI Director James Comey Monday. The bureau closed the 10-month investigation after Mateen explained that he made the comments out of anger because he thought his co-workers were discriminating against him.

Cox said gun control "will do nothing to prevent the next attack." The only solution, he wrote, is to address terrorism head on.
Property taxes for Cook County homeowners are about to spike, especially in Chicago.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel revealed his 2016 budget proposal last September, calling for a proposed $543 million property tax hike to raise money for pension payments for police and firefighters. As a result, the city adopted a four-year property tax increase.

The average homeowner in Chicago will see property bills go up nearly 13 percent or just over $400 per year, according to figures released Monday by Cook County Clerk David Orr.

Individual increases will likely swing much higher or lower, according to the Cook County Accessors Office, varying widely based on a propertys change in current market value.

The hikes come as market values for homes in many areas of Cook County have grown substantially as the economy continues to recover.

With the market now healthier, prices and value are better, a release from Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios read. Therefore, assessments have grown, just as they declined during the down market of previous years.

Cook County residents in the north and south suburbs will see the most modest increases, according to the data. A large majority of the additional money being paid by homeowners will go to schools, as well as the police and fire pensions. Homeowners will see the higher bills as soon as this week, before payments are due Aug. 1.

Emanuel and the City Council are also considering options for property tax rebates.

The options include a property tax rebate for homeowners with incomes of less than $100,000, proposed by Ald. Moreno and Ald. Smith; a property tax rebate for homeowners with incomes of 400 percent or less of the Federal Poverty Level and owners of certain rental propoerties, proposed by Ald. Rosa; a property tax rebate for homeowners with incomes of less than $50,000 based on the 2010 City Rebate Program; and a property tax rebate for homeowners with incomes of less than $50,000, based on Moreno and Smith's formula. The rebate would be structured in $25 increments and would be capped at $200.

According to an official from the City of Chicago's Office of Budget Managment, Emanuel's office doesn't have a rebate option preference. Following conversations with aldermen Tuesday, a solution with a combination of options is expected.

The payment of Chicago's fire and pension funds has been politicized in recent months. In May, Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a plan to reduce Chicago's payments to the funds for each of the next five years, saying it's the kind of "irresponsible" practice that led to Illinois' deep financial woes.

The Legislature approved the measure last year, after Democrats said it would save the retirement funds without crushing taxpayers. Following the veto, Emanuel said the Republican governor "just told every Chicago taxpayer to take a hike."

Nevertheless, both the Illinois Senate and House ultimately voted to override Rauner's veto days later.
In the wake of Sundays mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk has asked Chicago FBI officials to ensure security at the city's Pride Parade.



Kirk sent a letter Wednesday to FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge David W. Paun asking that the bureau's Chicago field office have a plan in place to ensure the safety of the 750,000 expected to be in attendance for the June 26 parade.

Given the importance of the LGBT community to my constituency in Chicago, Illinois, I want to make sure that you and your team in the Federal Bureau of Investigation Chicago field office offer the maximum security possible so that, in the wake of the Orland massacre, we can have the safest Pride Parade ever, Kirk wrote.

I want you to ensure that the FBI is coordinating with both local law enforcement and the community, Kirk added.

Kirk also directed Paun to liaise with Brian C. Johnson, the CEO of Equality Illinois, to coordinate a strong message of safety to all attendees.

FBI officials responded to Kirk's call Wednesday, claiming the bureau was working with the Chicago Police Department to ensure safety at the parade.

"The safety and security of the people of Northern Illinois is our top priority and we work hand-in-hand with our Federal, State and Local law enforcement partners to gather, share and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention," a statement from the FBI read. "In that light, we urge the public to report any and all suspicious activity to the FBI or are any of our partners.

Omar Mateen opened fire early Sunday morning at Pulse Orlando, a popular gay dance club, killing 49 people and leaving 53 more wounded, police said. The shooting is being called the worst in the countrys history.

Kirk responded to the attack Sunday, mourning victims and calling for action against ISIS.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this hateful terrorist act that targeted the Orlando gay community, Kirk said in a statement. Gunman Omar Mateens motivations remind us of the immediate threat the Islamic State poses to our counrty and the need for swift action to protect Americans from future attacks here at home.

Later on Sunday, an Indiana man who intended to go to Los Angeles Pride Parade was found with assault rifles, high capacity magazines, ammunition and chemicals to make explosives in his vehicle.

James Howell was arrested hours after the tragic shooting in Orlando. According to Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks, Howell told one of her officers of wanting to do harm to the gay pride event.

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office, Howell was charged with a litany of crimes Tuesday, including unlawful possession of an assault weapon and a destructive device on a public street, and manufacturing or importing a large magazine and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle.

Howell pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered a bail of $2 million Tuesday, NBC Southern California reported.
Police in central Iowa are investigating the death of a baby they say was left inside a sweltering car while his father visited a barber shop.

Des Moines officers were called to a hospital just before 8 p.m. Saturday to investigate a suspicious child death, police said in a written news release Sunday. Responding officers said they learned that the 6-month-old infant had died after reportedly being left in a car.

Detectives said they determined that the death had happened outside at a north Des Moines barbershop. Witnesses told police that Lance Williams Sr., 35, had left his infant son unattended in the vehicle while he was in the barbershop "for an extended period of time."

National Weather Service information showed the high temperature in Des Moines on Saturday was 91. If left in the sun, the temperature in the car would have climbed well into the triple digits.

WOWT-TV

Williams was arrested and charged with child endangerment resulting in death, police said. He remained in the Polk County Jail on Sunday on $25,000 bond. He could not be reached for comment.

It was not clear whether Williams had an attorney on Sunday. Williams' next court appearance has been set for June 22.

Police have not revealed the name of the baby or other details surrounding his death, but said officials planned to release more information at a later time.
A judge has refused to dismiss criminal charges against the widow a suburban Chicago police officer who authorities say staged his suicide.

Melodie Gliniewicz was charged after her husband, Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, died Sept. 1. Authorities say he staged his suicide because he feared discovery of his embezzlement of a youth program.

In making her ruling Tuesday, Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti said Gliniewicz's widow was legally accountable for funds misappropriated from Fox Lake Explorer Post 300.

Melodie Gliniewicz is charged with felony money laundering and misuse of charitable funds. The charges are tied to allegations that more than $10,000 was misspent from accounts intended for the now-defunct Explorers chapter her husband ran.

Attorneys for Melodie Gliniewicz have previously denied any wrongdoing.
Kanye West is planning a homecoming this fall.

The Chicago rapper will bring his "Saint Pablo" tour to the United Center on Oct. 7 and Allstate Arena in Rosemont on Oct. 8.

West will kick off the tour Aug. 25 in Indianapolis before traveling to almost 40 cities across the U.S. and Canada.

Ticket prices start at $29.50 and go on sale to the general public Saturday at 10 a.m. at livenation.com and ticketmaster.com.
The NATO-Ukraine commission has discussed the security situation in Ukraine, progress in defense reform implementation and NATO's support for the country in Brussels on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in his opening statement.

"We will prepare grounds for our meeting with [Ukrainian] President [Petro] Poroshenko at Warsaw summit. NATO still strongly supports Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Stoltenberg said.

He also promised that NATO would continue helping Ukraine to improve its ability to protect itself.

Stoltenberg stressed that "transformation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the conflict in eastern Ukraine is a complicated task."

"However, we can see progress in the development of necessary framework for defense and security reforms. It is important to keep following the path of reforms for the sake of stability in Ukraine and security in Europe," Stoltenberg said.
Whoever wins this years presidential election might want to call this Chicago-area eighth-grader up as a speech writer.

Jack Aiello is a young teen with big dreams ahead of him  and potentially a slot on "Saturday Night Live" or in the White House.

The Arlington Heights middle schooler has quickly garnered Internet praise for his hilarious graduation speech, which included impersonations of the 2016 presidential candidates.

Aiellos entire roughly 350-student graduating class was tasked with writing a graduation speech as part of an English assignment. The speeches were then evaluated by teachers and staff before three finalists were selected.

"He was hands down No. 1 because it was going to speak to the kids," principal Brian Kaye said.

Video of the eight-minute speech was posted to YouTube last week and has since received more than 23,000 views. It was also shared on Twitter by his school, Thomas Middle School.

"Ive decided that since were in the middle of an election year, that I would do my graduation speech in the style of some of the 2016 presidential candidates," Jack begins in the video.

But what unfolds after that is a series of spot-on impersonations that few in the audience could have anticipated from the soon-to-be-high-schooler described by many as "humble."

"Were learning languages from Spain, from France, from Germany and China," he said during his first impersonation of Donald Trump. "You know, people say I dont like China, I love China. I mean, I love China. I mean, I have so many terrific friends in China. But I took Spanish and let me just tell you, by the way, that it was fantastic. Muy fantastico."

Trump is followed in the speech by Ted Cruz, President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and finally, Bernie Sanders.

"Id like to start off by thanking the great hardworking teachers of Thomas Middle School, he said during an impersonation of Clinton. "Theyve been our champions. Theyve given us the skills to get us through sixth grade and through seventh grade and through eighth grade. And now were going to take those skills and apply them to high school."

Each impression was met with laughs and cheers from the crowd.

"As far as schools go, TMS is in the top one half of one half of one percent of schools in the entire country," he said as Bernie Sanders, ending his speech as the hundreds of people in the audience cheered and gave him a standing ovation.

Jacks parents say the teen has been doing impressions since he was a child and they werent surprised by his desire to do the speech as the 14-year-old is very much into politics.

"Hes been doing them since he was very young  family members, teachers, he even makes up his own silly voices and hes been doing that for a very long time," said his mother, Carla Aiello. "And then with the election, he watches the news clips and he just absorbs everything."

Jack, who is as much a fan of Dana Carvey as he is of politics, hopes to have a career in politics or comedy in the future, his parents said, noting that his current dream is to meet Carvey.

"If you were to ask him what he really wants to do, he really truly does want to be president someday. He feels a great desire to be a leader," said his father, John Aiello. "A politician or a comedian, which the lines do sometimes blur."

The family even took the teen to Iowa for the caucuses earlier this year, where they say he met Sanders and former Republican hopefuls Carly Fiorina, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul.

"Hes a unique 14-year-old, but a humble kid," John Aiello said.

And as for the viral fame hes since received for his speech, the family says theyre just trying to take it all in.

"Were enjoying it," John Aiello said. "Were trying to look at it as a blessing, as fun. Be yourself and dont change and smile a lot."
A Waterford veterinarian has determined Diggy, a rescue pup at the center of a controversy surrounding a Michigan town's ordinance banning pit bulls, is an American bulldog.

Diggy's new owner, Detroit musician Dan Tillery, has been fighting to keep his beloved rescue pup after a photo of the two went viral, garnering attention from the Waterford Township Police Department.

Tillery adopted Diggy from the Detroit Dog Rescue after he had been at the shelter for nearly 100 days. A photo of Diggy smiling with Tillery at his new home quickly took over the Internet.

According to the rescue, animal control and veterinary paperwork classified Diggy as an American bulldog, and the rescue called the township before approving the adoption.

But last week, city officials "made a visual identification on Diggy and classified him as a pit bull," the rescue wrote in a Facebook post Friday.

The Michigan city has an ordinance banning pit bulls or pit bull terriers. According to the ordinance, that includes "any dog which exhibits those phenotypical characteristics which substantially conform to the breed standards established by the American Kennel Club" for American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, or American pit bull terriers.

Police could not immediately be reached for comment on the matter, but told the Oakland Press they gave Tillery a three-day grace period Friday to remove Diggy from the home.

Waterford Police Chief Scott Underwood told the publication "it's a pretty clear case of an ordinance that makes it clear what's permissable and what's not."

Tillery, who received a $500 citation Monday for still having the dog in his home, said he submitted new paperwork from a Waterford veterinarian, who determined Diggy is in fact an American bulldog, to authorities this week. He is now waiting to hear from the township prosecutor, but no timeline has been set, he said.

"I love Waterford and I dont hate the police officers here," Tillery told NBC Chicago. "Im a pretty reasonable guy. I think that theyll follow the paperwork. I've provided what I needed to."

[NATL] Unbelievable Animal Stories: Dog Befriends Abandoned Baby Giraffe

Tillery said he anticipated there may be questions surrounding his beloved new pup after the photo went viral, but what he didn't expect was that his dog's appearance would be enough to cause such a problem.

"I thought that because I had two vets' paperwork, I thought thatd be it," he said. "I did not expect for them to say, 'Well he looks like a pit bull to me so hes got to go,' and for the whole world to rally around the dog."

A petition looking to keep Diggy at his new home and lift the "pit bull ban" has since received nearly 80,000 signatures.

"This ordinance has been in place for many years," the petition says. "Many families have had to give up their family pets due to this law. It is important for all of us to come together and be a voice for not only Diggy the American Bulldog, but all of the pets and people that have suffered heartache in the past years. We must remember, it is not the animal that is the beast, it is man that creates the beast. Aggressive dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and BREEDS. This should be handled on a case by case basis."

Tillery said while he appreciates all the support and hopes no other dog gets discriminated against like Diggy, his focus remains on his current battle.

"I keep trying to tell everyone that I want to help everyone, but as of right now my case is that I've got an American bulldog with paperwork and I want to keep him. I've got to focus on Diggy before I try to step in on anything else."

As for what might happen if police still say Diggy can't stay, Tillery said, "I'll cross that bridge when I get to it."

"I have no intentions of Diggy going anywhere," he said. "Diggy's my dog."
A young Philadelphia woman who survived the Pulse nightclub massacre Sunday said gunman Omar Mateen "wasnt going to stop killing people until he was killed, until he felt like his message got out there."

Patience Carter, 20, who graduated from University City High School and attends New York University, was wounded in the Orlando shooting and "laid there for hours and hours" bleeding on a bathroom floor, hoping police would come save her.

Carter and another survivor, Angel Santiago, spoke Tuesday afternoon from Florida Hospital in Orlando. They were among dozens injured in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. At least 49 others were killed, and a handful of survivors remain in "grave condition," officials said.

Carter opened with a poem, saying "my healing process is writing."

A young Philadelphia woman who survived the Orlando nightclub massacre is speaking out and sharing her account of the tragedy. NBC10s Denise Nakano has the details.

"The guilt of feeling grateful to be alive is heavy," she read.

Carter was shot while at the club with two friends, cousins Akyra Murray and Tiara Parker. The three were on vacation together.

"We were all having the night we dreamed of, going out on the first night of vacation," Carter said. "We just went from having the time of our lives to the worst night of our lives all within a matter of minutes."

She and Murray fled the club as gunfire erupted but ran back inside to look for Parker, who survived. Carter said they became trapped in a women's bathroom as Mateen wandered around shooting and talking on the phone to police. Authorities have said Mateen pledged his support to ISIS during a 911 call.

"People were getting hit by bullets, blood was everywhere and there was a moment when he stopped shooting in the bathroom," she recalled, saying Mateen tried at one point to fix a jammed assault rifle.

"The motive was very clear to us who were laying in our own blood and other peoples blood," Carter said. "He wasnt going to stop killing people until he was killed, until he felt like his message got out there."

She said victims were draped over toilets and strewn across the floor. Murray, who turned 18 in January, was among them. She is the youngest confirmed victim in the weekend attack.

Carter believed she, too, would die and prayed it would be quick.

[NATL] Deadly Nightclub Shooting Leaves Orlando Reeling

"[I was] begging God to take the soul out of my body because I didn't want to feel any more pain," she recalled.

A bullet shattered her right femur and entered her left leg. Carter remembered being pinned beneath another victim and said she owes her life to someone who blocked her from the spray of bullets.

"If it wasn't for that person shielding me, I wouldn't be sitting her today," she said.

Finally, it was over. Officers blasted their way into the club and a SWAT team member lifted her from the floor. Carter said she grabbed Murray's cellphone on the way out, hoping she'd have the chance to return it to her friend at the hospital. She never did.

Carter now struggles to reconcile relief with guilt, as she details in her poem:

The guilt of feeling grateful to be alive is heavy

Wanting to smile about surviving but not sure the people around you are ready

As the world mourns the victims killed and viciously slain

I feel guilty about screaming about my legs in pain because I could feel nothing

Like the other 49 who weren't so lucky to feel this pain of mine

I never thought in a million years that this could happen

I never thought in a million years that my eyes could witness something so tragic

Look at the souls leaving the bodies of individuals

Looking at the killers machine gun throughout my right peripheral

Looking at the blood and debris covered on everyone's faces

Looking at the gunman's feet, under the stall as he paces

The guilt of feeling lucky to be alive is heavy

It's like the weight of the oceans walls uncontrolled by levees

It's like being drugged through the grass with a shattered leg and thrown in the back of a Chevy

Its like being rushed to the hospital and told you're going to make it, when you laid beside individuals whose lives are brutally taken
Newtown Police are warning residents about someone claiming to be collecting money for the department's K-9 unit.

Officials believe the suspect is an employee of a legitimate fund raising company that represents the Connecticut Police Work Dog association.

Police launched an investigation following a complaint that said they had gotten a phone call from someone representing themselves as a K-9 officer.

The caller told the resident that he was collecting money for the Newtown Police K-9 Unit and that he would personally come to pick up the cash at a prearranged place and time, police said.

The Newtown Police is currently not engaged in any fundraising effort.

If you were a victim of this fraud please contact Detective McAnaspie (203) 426-5841.
Four juveniles have been arrested after a police chase in a stolen car in Bozrah early Wednesday morning and one is accused of car theft, drug possession and carrying a gun without a permit.

Police said a 2015 Lexus registered out of Massachusetts was going 86 miles per hour in a 65-mile-per-hour zone on Route 2 East around 1:40 a.m. and the driver refused to stop for the state trooper.

When the driver crashed on Fitchville Road, police arrested the four juveniles.

Their names have not been released, but police said one was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, interfering with a police officer, possession of narcotics, larceny of a motor vehicle and sixth-degree larceny.

The three other juveniles have been charged with interfering with an officer, larceny of a motor vehicle and sixth-degree larceny.

All four suspects have been released and are due in Hartford Juvenile Court on June 27.
A man who owed a restaurant manager $150,000 has plead guilty to orchestrating a murder-for-hire scheme, the U.S. attorney's office announced on Thursday.

Larry Talledo-Torrejon, 29, a citizen of Peru residing in Stamford, attempted to purchase a restaurant for $300,000 but gave the manager $150,000 in personal bank checks with insufficient funds, the attorney's office said in a release.

Talledo-Torrejon directed a person who owed him $5,000 to follow the manager to his New York home and murder him. In exchange for the murder, Talledo-Torrejon said he would absolve the man of the $5,000 debt and pay him an additional $5,000 in cash.

The individual then contacted police to tell them about Talledo-Torrejon scheme. The individual told Talledo-Torrejon that he had kidnapped the restaurant manager and was holding him hostage.

Talledo-Torrejon informed the individual of his debt with the restaurant owner and also suggested that the pair could start a business kidnapping and extorting people for money, the release said.

In early December, Talledo-Torrejon falsely told Stamford police that the restaurant manager had stolen $150,000 from him. He was arrested after he provided the presumed murderer with $500 in partial payment for the murder of the manager, the release said.

The charge for murder for hire carries a maximum prison term of 10 years.

Talledo-Torrejon has been detained since his arrest. It is not clear if he has an attorney.

He is expected to be sentenced on Sept. 7.
Hillary Clinton brought a close to the presidential primary season with a win Tuesday in the nation's capital and a meeting with dispatched rival Bernie Sanders, hoping to set a tone of Democratic unity heading into next month's party convention in Philadelphia.

Clinton's win in the District of Columbia, the final primary of 2016, had no bearing on her role as the presumptive nominee, but it nevertheless marked a transition in the lengthy primary fight between the two rivals.

In virtually identical statements released after meeting for more than 90 minutes, the Clinton and Sanders campaigns said the two rivals discussed their primary campaign, "unifying the party and ... the dangerous threat that Donald Trump poses to our nation." Neither spoke to reporters after the session at a Washington, D.C., hotel a few blocks from the White House.

Clinton told Sanders she appreciated his commitment to stopping Trump in the general election and the two discussed issues in which they share common goals, including "raising wages for working families, eliminating undisclosed money in politics and reducing the cost of college for students and their families." Both candidates agreed to work together on the development of the platform at the upcoming Democratic National Convention.

Before polls closed in Washington, Sanders vowed again to do all he can to prevent Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, from reaching the White House  but he declined to endorse Clinton.

The Vermont senator had said the private meeting would help him determine how committed Clinton will be to the policy issues he has staked out during his 13-month campaign.

"Our goal must not be to allow politicians, Donald Trump or anyone else, to divide us," Sanders said outside his Washington headquarters, telling reporters he will continue to "fight as hard as we can" to transform the Democratic Party.

Sanders said he would push for new leadership in the Democratic National Committee  his campaign has sparred with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the party's chair  along with a progressive platform in the summer convention and electoral changes, such as primaries that allow independents to participate and the elimination of superdelegates.

"We need major, major changes in the Democratic Party," he said.

Sanders was warmly received Tuesday by Senate Democrats at their weekly luncheon, where he offered an update about his campaign and some of the lessons he had learned during the past year. Lawmakers in attendance said Sanders did not indicate his future plans.

"He had an opportunity to talk to us about his campaign and how it has changed him and what he has learned," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. "I think we all listened intently because we are anxious to always do better and grow as a party and be more inclusive."

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who leads the Senate Democrats' campaign arm, said Sanders "absolutely will" support fellow Senate Democrats in the fall elections. "It was productive, it was good, it was vintage Bernie," Tester said.

Sanders met last week with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who both later endorsed Clinton, and signaled to Democrats that he hopes to play a constructive role in helping the party regain control of the Senate in the 2016 elections.

The self-described democratic socialist says he will take his campaign to the convention in July and advocate for his policy issues in the platform while urging Democrats to be more inclusive of independents, young people and working-class voters, all of whom were pivotal in his victories in 22 states. But what that will look like still remains unclear, and Sanders has been soliciting advice from supporters on how he should take his campaign forward.

The mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, has commanded the attention of both campaigns and prompted Democrats to point to Trump's call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S., an issue they view as a key contrast in the general election.

Without mentioning Trump by name, Clinton warned during a speech in Cleveland on Monday that demonizing Muslims would only empower extremist groups. "We should be intensifying contacts in those communities, not scapegoating or isolating them," she said.

Sanders attended a vigil in his hometown of Burlington, Vermont, on Monday night to show solidarity with the victims. Pointing to Trump's comments about Muslims, Sanders said the shooting was conducted by "one hateful person" and not committed by the Muslim people.

Looking forward, Sanders has begun helping Democrats preparing for congressional races and the battle to regain control of the Senate.

An early test of his clout came Tuesday in Nevada, where a Sanders-backed congressional candidate, Lucy Flores, competed in a three-way primary.

Sanders has opened up his campaign's massive email donor list to several Democratic candidates, hauling in more than $2.4 million for his allies. Flores has been the top recipient of those appeals, collecting about $390,000 from an email Sanders sent in April on behalf of her and two other candidates.
Prince William and Kate Middleton took a moment on Tuesday to pay tribute to those killed in the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, over the weekend.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked somber as they signed a book of condolences at the American Embassy in central London. They were greeted by the U.S. Ambassador Matthew Barzun before each of them took a moment to send a message to the victims and their families.

After reading Barzun's note, Prince William wrote, "With our deepest condolences and with our thoughts and prayers to all those affected." Kate stood solemnly beside him before eventually signing her name beside her husband's. Behind them, a flag hung that was previously presented to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by the Kaleidoscope Trust, an international LGBT rights group.

The Horror in Orlando: Social Media Proves It Has a Real Purpose in Times Like These

The couple also spoke with some of the embassy workers who are part of GLIFAA--LGBT pride in foreign affairs agencies--and donned custom-made badges that featured a combination of the British and American pride flags.

On Tuesday, William also revealed that he's being featured on the cover of the U.K. gay magazine, "Attitude" to speak out against bullying people because of their sexuality.

Though Prince Harry was not in attendance at the U.S. embassy, a source tells US Weekly that he has been "speaking at length to people out in Orlando privately." He recently spent quite a bit of time in the Florida city while leading the Invictus Games.

Omar Mateen opened fire at the gay club on Sunday morning after pledging his allegiance to terrorist group ISIS. The tragedy is now marked as the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, killing 49 people and leaving dozens injured.

Celebrity Deaths: 2016's Fallen Stars
When the Department of Labors new overtime rules go into effect on December 1, cultural institutions will need to cope with a new set of financial challenges.

To comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act, arts organizations with an annual revenue of $500,000 or more will need to pay their salaried employees more than $913 a week (or $47,476 per year). Otherwise salaried employees who work more than 40 hours a week and are paid less than $913 per week are eligible for overtime pay. The previous overtime threshold of $455 per week (or $23,660 per year) was established in 2004. The Department of Labor issued guidance for non-profit organizations, but much of the advice does not match the realities of working at a non-profit arts organization.

Kelsey Edwards

"It will pretty much affect everyone on staff," said Dana Schultes, executive producer of Stage West.

With seven full-time employees and an annual operating budget of $970,000, Schultes admits there is no room in the budget to add to salaries. Most employees, including Schultes, perform both administrative and artistic duties and work more than 40 hours a week on a regular basis.

Stage West will focus on rebalancing the hours spent in administration and production. During peak fundraising periods, Schultes may opt to take a break from acting and directing, sacrificing the dream work that drew her to the industry.

Schultes is concerned foundations may be maxed out in terms of fulfilling requests, but she would like to see the Fort Worth Arts Council offer help. "It would be nice to see additional funding from there," she said.

This overtime rule may be an opportunity to educate audiences about what their ticket price supports. "People dont understand how much arts costs," explains Schultes. "When people balk at a $35 ticket, they dont realize shows cost $40,000 to produce and it wasnt easy."

Kathryn Smith, the general director of Madison Opera in Madison, WI, explains why the Department of Labors suggestion of spreading hours across several weeks is not possible. She sums it up neatly with the phrase "tech week." Tech week is an intense period of rehearsal time immediately preceding the opening performance of a show. It typically results in 70 to 80 hours of work per employee in one week. While actors, directors, and production staff work on stage, marketing and development staff members are hosting fundraising activities and publicity events in anticipation of the opening night. Tech week is scheduled according to the availability of the stage and cannot be moved or expanded. As Smith points out, "The long hours are simply a fact of life in the arts and have been for a century."

At the moment, cultural institutions are focused on the new rules implementation on December 1, but the future will bring more changes. The Department of Labor currently plans to automatically update the overtime salary threshold every three years. The first update will take effect on January 1, 2020 and the anticipated overtime salary threshold is expected to rise to $51,000.

Click here to learn more about Stage Wests 2016-2017 season.

Kimberly Richard is a North Texan with a passion for the arts. Shes worked with Theatre Three, Inc. and interned for the English National Opera and Royal Shakespeare Company. She graduated from Austin College and currently lives in Garland with her very pampered cocker spaniel, Tessa.
Defense Minister of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak has met with his Georgian counterpart Tinatin Khidasheli during a visit to NATO Headquarters to discuss international cooperation and exchange of experience.

"We are ready to cooperate with you in all spheres and we support you in your fight. It is important for us to speak unanimously in the international arena. We must help each other and I emphasize this at all international forums," the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's press service quoted Khidasheli.

In turn, Poltorak said that positions of the Ukrainian army in eastern Ukraine have been attacked around 7,000 times since the beginning of the year.

According to the report, the defense minister of Ukraine stressed that exchange of experience with Georgia is very important to Ukraine "considering the threats we are facing."

"We have obtained great experience in this war and we are ready to share what we have learned," the ministry's press service quoted Poltorak.
A Parker County man accused in the attempted capital murder of a Fort Worth police officer was released on bond from the Tarrant County Jail Wednesday morning.

Ed McIver, Jr. was arrested in mid-March after he and his father attempted to evade arrest in west Fort Worth. His father, Ed McIver, Sr., was a wanted felon, shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire with police that critically wounded Fort Worth Police Officer Matt Pearce.

A Tarrant County grand jury no-billed McIver in Officer Pearce's shooting last week, but the District Attorney, adamant that McIver face a jury trial, immediately refiled the charges to put the case before a new grand jury.

Escorted by sheriff's deputies, McIver Jr. left the Tarrant County Jail a little before 9 a.m. Wednesday and made the three-block walk to the Community Supervision and Corrections Department. He was with approximately 13 other individuals taken from jail to the county's supervision office.

McIver did not speak or answer any questions. He is free on bond, but has numerous restrictions set by the judge in his case.

Texas state law requires prosecutors to secure an indictment against a defendant within 90 days. Since that didn't happen in McIver Jr.'s case, state law dictates he must be released or receive a bond he can afford.

McIver Jr. walked out of the probation office, with a GPS device fitted to his ankle and his attorney, Brian Walker, at his side. Walker says his client never fired a gun the day of the shoot out and that all the bullets from their car came from his father.

McIver Jr. did, however, run from police and investigators say he had a rifle when they found him hiding in the woods later that night.

Walker still believes the evidence will clear his client.

Were ecstatic, to say the least. This big kid right here is happy that hes out," Walker said Wednesday. "Of course, Im happy, his familys happy. Were all elated that hes gonna get a little taste of freedom for a little while. At least until we have the opportunity to fully get him exonerated and to prove his innocence through this process.

McIver Jr. is said to be indigent, as he has court-appointed attorneys, and his family and friends were only able to assemble enough for a $10,000 bond originally. But on Tuesday night, NBC 5 learned that McIver had posted a $17,000 bond -- down from the original bond of $2 million.

Ed McIver Jr, cleared by grand jury of attempted murder of #OfficerPearce, walks out of jail to probation #NBCDFWNow pic.twitter.com/FnnVNgb679  Alice Barr (@AliceBarrNBC) June 15, 2016

Conditions of his release including wearing both a GPS ankle monitor and a Scram device that detects alcohol and he cannot possess firearms or live with anyone that does. McIver must reside in either Parker or Tarrant counties and cannot consume alcohol or drugs.

Ed McIver Jr. should be released from the Tarrant County Jail on Wednesday. Ed McIver, Jr. was arrested in mid-March after he and his father attempted to evade arrest in west Fort Worth. (Published June 15, 2016)

Fort Worth Police Spokesman Sgt. Marc Povero told NBC 5 Wednesday:

"We have no issue with the decision of the judge in this hearing to reduce Mr. McIver's bond. We are hopeful that he will abide by the conditions and, if indicted, show up for his trial. We can only rely on Mr. McIver's better judgment and the advice of his attorney to abide by his bond conditions set forth by the judge. The bond conditions were put into place to reduce the chances of Mr. McIver re-offending before the grand jury convenes or before his trial."

The same spokesman said last week the Department was very disappointed with the grand jury's no-bill decision and that, like the District Attorney, they want to see McIver Jr. stand trial.

The new grand jury convenes next month to take on this case.
Mark Cuban said he plans to donate $1 million to the Dallas Police Department in the wake of the Orlando shooting that left 49 dead, according to a press release.

Cuban, who owns the Dallas Mavericks and is known for being an investor on Shark Tank, is donating the money to support the Dallas Police Department and their effort to protect the LGBT community and improve counter-terrorism efforts.

"Mark has been an ally. Mark has been a fairly quiet ally, but doing the work. This is just him putting some money where he's been putting his work," said Rafael McDonnell, advocacy manager with the Resource Center, a local organization serving the LGBT community. "He's been for us for a while. Anytime you have a major citizen of Dallas, someone everybody knows, take the time to invest in the security of a community that's a big thumbs up."

Dallas Police Chief David Brown said the department will track the donation and make sure it's used effectively in "creating a safe environment" for the LGBT community in Dallas.

Brown said the money will be earmarked for around 16,000 hours of police overtime to add additional police presence in the Oak Lawn area and "enhance counter-terrorism efforts."

McDonnell hopes the money can also be used to pay for other safety equipment such as additional surveillance cameras or emergency call-boxes.

At times, members of the LGBT community have been at odds with the department. There have been nearly two dozen attacks in the Oak Lawn area in less than a year. There have been no arrests made.

"The police have done the best job that they could under the circumstances by increasing patrols, but they do have budgetary restraints," said Steven Pomerantz, director of Taking Back Oak Lawn, a documentary film that chronicles the ongoing crime problem in the Oak Lawn area. "At this point I don't know if they're ever going to catch anybody."

"I'm proud to be able to help the City of Dallas," Cuban said in a press release.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said Cubans devotion to the city is constantly proven by his motivation to help out.

"In the wake of national tragedies, we often hear empty talk from politicians and other influencers, Rawlings said. With this pledge, Mark shows he is a man of action who cares deeply about his fellow Dallasites."

Police in major cities are beefing up security and utilizing extra precaution around strong LGBT communities. The DPD hopes the money will make Dallas all around safer.

"The Dallas Police Department thanks Mark Cuban," Brown said.
A Dallas psychologist is offering advice for parents who are looking for ways to talk with their children about the mass shooting in Orlando.

"Most of the time, kids are just wanting to know that they are safe," said Dr. Nicholas Westers, a clinical psychologist at Children's Health Dallas.

"They may not know where Orlando is, especially in different parts of the country, but they might still think that it's happening just down the street," he said.

"Many times we don't realize that repeated exposure on television or in the media can traumatize children, or cause emotional discomfort for children," Westers added.

A parent may think their child is being more defiant than usual or having other trouble, but that could be the child trying to make sense of what happened, he said.

"They may not state it out loud, they may end up acting out their anxiety," Westers said.

He has five key tips for parents:

Talk to your child and listen

Maintain routines

Limit media exposure

Allow playtime to help process their feelings

Seek help if needed

"They can start asking them questions about, 'Hey, what have you heard about what happened in Florida or Orlando?' Just open ended questions that will get them talking and see what their thoughts and feelings are about what happened," Westers said.

For more tips and ideas, read Westers's blog post on the Children's Health website.
A wallaby confiscated from a Far North Dallas condo last week has found a new home  at the Dallas Zoo.

The Bennetts wallaby spent some time at Dallas Animal Services after authorities were told last Wednesday that it was being kept in a cage on the balcony of a condo at Spring Valley Road and Montfort Drive, by the Galleria.

The zoo is fostering the wallaby  which Dallas Animal Services named Wally  until a permanent solution is found.

Click here to read more from our partners at The Dallas Morning News.
Egypt on Wednesday said that it spotted and obtained images from the wreckage of the EgyptAir plane that crashed into the Mediterranean last month, killing all 66 people on board, according to a statement by the country's investigation committee.

The committee said that the vessel John Lethbridge, which was contracted by the Egyptian government to join the search for the plane debris and flight data recorders, "had identified several main locations of the wreckage." It added that it obtained images of the wreckage located between the Greek island of Crete and the Egyptian coast.

The next step, the committee said, will be drawing a map showing the wreckage location.

The vessel is equipped with sonar and other equipment capable of detecting wreckage at depths up to 6,000 feet (1,830 meters).

The EgyptAir Airbus A320 en route to Cairo from Paris had been cruising normally in clear skies on an overnight flight on May 19. The radar showed that the doomed aircraft turned 90 degrees left, then a full 360 degrees to the right, plummeting from 38,000 feet (11,582 meters) to 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) before disappearing at about 10,000 feet (3,048 meters).

Leaked flight data indicated a sensor detected smoke in a lavatory and a fault in two of the plane's cockpit windows in the final moments of the flight.

The cause of the crash still has not been determined. Ships and planes from Egypt, Greece, France, the United States and other nations have been searching the Mediterranean Sea north of the Egyptian port of Alexandria for the jet's voice and flight data recorders, as well as more bodies and parts of the aircraft.

Since the crash began, only small pieces of wreckage and human remains have been recovered in a search that has been narrowed down to five-kilometer (three-mile) area of the Mediterranean.

Egypt's civil aviation minister has said he believes terrorism is a more likely explanation than equipment failure or some other catastrophic event. But no hard evidence has emerged on the cause, and no militant group has claimed to have downed the jet.

Wednesday's announcement came nearly two weeks after the French ship Laplace detected black box signals from the missing plane.

Locator pings emitted by flight data and cockpit voice recorders can be picked up from deep underwater. The Laplace is equipped with three detectors designed to pick up those signals, which in the case of the EgyptAir plane are believed to be at a depth of some 3,000 meters (9,842 feet). By comparison, the wreckage of the Titanic is lying at a depth of some 3,800 meters (12,500 feet).

Ten days later, Egyptian investigators said that time is running out in the search for the black boxes. They said on Sunday that only five days remain before the batteries of the flight's data and cockpit voice recorders expire and they stop emitting signals.

If retrieved, the boxes could reveal whether a mechanical fault, a hijacking or a bomb caused the disaster. Finding them without the signals is possible but more difficult.

Last October, a Russian airliner crashed in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula shortly after taking off from the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all 224 people on board. A local affiliate of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for downing the aircraft just hours after the crash. In November, Russia said an explosive device brought down the aircraft.

The two disasters have unsettled authorities at the Cairo airport, where false alarms or bomb threats have caused lengthy delays to flights and at least one cancellation last week.
When Donald Trump comes to Dallas on Thursday, he'll be met with a protest outside of his rally.

The "Dump The Dufus Donald Trump Rally & Protest," hosted by a group of community organizations and activists, begins Thursday at 6 p.m. at Gilley's Club on South Lamar Street.

Organizers including Domingo Garcia with the League of United Latin American Citizens Chapter 102, Carlos Quintanilla with Accion America, Hector Flores, Dominque Alexander with Next Generation Action Network and Rev. Peter Johnson.

"The opportunity to speak out against the racism and bigotry and the sexism of Donald Trump has to be done peacefully," Johnson said.

According to the protest poster, attendees should wear white t-shirts and bring only American flags (no wooden or steel poles).

"We are planning on having 40 to 50 marshals," said Garcia. "Most of them are retired military and also law enforcement."

Ahead of Donald Trumps rally in Dallas Thursday, the Dallas Police Department practiced crowd control techniques in Fair Park Wednesday, June 15, 2016.

Anyone causing a problem will be asked to leave, according to organizers.

They're providing buses at 5 p.m. to transport anyone who wants to attend the protest.

BUS LOCATIONS:



ARLINGTON

Wesley UMC - 2201 East Park Road

DALLAS

Bank of America - 400 Zang Boulevard

Cigarroa Elementary School - Webb Chapel Road and Walnut Hill Lane

Royal Shopping Mall - 2534 Royal Lane (Andres Vidales Indoor Soccer)

FARMERS BRANCH

Salon Gil - 2740 Valwood

GARLAND

Plaza Broadway - 3161 Broadway at Centerville Road

IRVING

DART - Irving Boulevard and O'Connor Road

NBC 5's Jocelyn Lockwood contributed to this report.
The daughters of a woman stabbed to death seven years ago in her Long Beach home spoke to a tearful courtroom during sentencing Wednesday for the man convicted in her murder.

Dontae Davis, 26, was sentenced to life in prison for the killing of 76-year-old Leam Sovanasy, who was meditating Jan. 31, 2009 in her Long Beach home when two men entered the residence through a window. The men were believed to have been burglarizing homes and pawning stolen merchandise, police said.

Sovanasy, a Cambodian immigrant who survived the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, was a mother of seven and a grandmother of 20, police said.

Family members, 10 of whom were seated in the courtroom's front row, spoke about Sovanasy at the sentencing. Daughter Samantha Bunma talked about her mother's diary, which documented the family's escape from Cambodia, in a statement that left many in the courtroom in tears.

"She was the center of our universe; the driving force that taught our family to love one another," said Bunma. "We are still picking up the pieces."

Yougest daughter Val Tubaces said her mother is "smiling down at us in this courtroom today."

"The murder of my mother is unforgivable," Tubaces. "I cannot understand why anyone would kill someone old and feeble, who wouldn't kill a fly.

"No matter what the punishment is, it will never bring her back. Putting the killers in jail will stop them from killing anyone else, but I can't change what they already did."

The cold case investigation received a boost in July 2013 when investigators received a tip about a white 1990s Chevy Caprice sedan seen near the crime scene. Composite sketches of two men suspected in the killing and a $10,000 reward for information in the case led to more leads, but it was a phone call to police from Davis that eventually led to the arrests.

Davis called investigators, saying that he looked like one of the subjects in the sketches, in an attempt to fish for information, authorities said. Davis and another man, Freddie Battle, were linked to the Chevy with traffic citations.

DNA was then used to connect the men to the crime, police said. Battle is expected to be sentenced at a later date.
Defense ministers of NATO member states have adopted a comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine which includes consultations and various kinds of aid, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

"During a meeting, the ministers adopted comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine. We will provide consultations and aid within the implementation of this package," he said after a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in Brussels on Wednesday.

Stoltenberg stressed that the package would be approved at a top-level meeting.

"It includes various ways of our assistance  consultations, support, use of funds, particularly for combat service support, implosive bombs disposal, command and medical rehabilitation. Our goal is to create more effective defense and security structures. We will send advisors for this. We are already doing this. We also would like to strengthen civil control over the security sector," he said and added that new projects would also be launched.

"This is partially related to fight against implosive bombs and projects against the hybrid war. We are also developing scientific projects on the improvement of mine clearing equipment," he said.
After a week of domestic living in Laguna Beach, 50 of North America's smallest mice  each roughly the weight of three pennies  have been ushered back into the wild.

Biologists released the group of Pacific pocket mice into Laguna Coast Wilderness Park on Monday night, a milestone moment in the four-year effort to rescue the mice species from extinction, according to the Zoological Society of San Diego.

The effort began with 22 mice, collected from three different wild populations  all separated, meaning they could not interbreed with each other  to a breeding program at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

In addition to swelling in numbers, the mice at the breeding center underwent training to prepare them for predators. The mice listened to recorded pocket mouse calls while exposed to a snake behind Plexiglas. They also experienced a simulated threat in the form of a taxidermy owl on zip line.

In the week leading up to the release, the mice adjusted to their new home in acclimation cages inside the Laguna Coast park, living in human-made nest chambers and burrows.

"I can't be happier with how they behaved when we pulled off their top cages," Debra Shier, associate director of applied animal ecology for the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, said at a Tuesday news conference. "They investigated the area, they sand-bathed, they foraged and they were wary  which is really critical for a prey species."

The mice are expected to improve the park's ecosystem, as their seed-eating and burrow-digging habits will bolster the growth of native plants.

Scientists still plan to keep tabs on the mice, which are marked by microchips, and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research will provide them with extra food until September.

September also marks the approximate end of the summerlong breeding season for the mice, meaning some of the newly released animals may be rearing pups in the coming months. Just a few decades ago, scientists believed these pocket mice to be extinct, until rediscovering the species in 1993.

"This little mouse also reminds us that we should celebrate hope," said Michael Long, division chief in listing and recovery of the Pacific Southwest Region Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "The hope that led biologists to continue to search for a diminutive mouse that many thought was gone from the face of the earth forever."
A tiny Los Angeles indie band fought media giant Vice in a trademark battle and won.

Vice Media, a multibillion dollar company, demanded the punk-funk trio ViceVersa change its name. But band frontman Zeke Zeledon, bassist Sarah Corza, and drummer Ariel Fredrickson, who had been playing gigs as ViceVersa mostly in the Los Angeles-area for nearly three years, took their challenge to the web after they received Vice's cease-and-desist letter.

"We are the official ViceVersa band," said guitarist Zeke Zeledon, who posted a video about the outcome here. "We're excited because people know who we are now and we got some notoriety. In a sense we accomplished what we set out to do."

Vice withdrew its challenge to the ViceVersa name last week after numerous phones calls between attorneys. Now ViceVersa can play gigs and record albums without the specter of being sued.

"We're glad this worked out for both parties, and we wish the band the best of luck," Vice said in a statement.

The band has played over 150 shows, released two EPs, and several music videos. On a good month ViceVersa brings in about $1,500 from gigs and merchandise.

When they got a letter from Vice, they were nervous.

"It was super stressful," Zeledon said. "Anytime you have to deal with lawyers, it sucks. I don't think they expected the kind of response they got from us."

The band, which stays in a low-rent art studio warehouse in Whittier, started an online campaign to raise money.

The band challenged Vice by posting a video online asking fans if they were confused by the name.

Vice started 1994 as Voice of Montreal and grew into a $2.5 billion international media company.
With Orlando in mourning after the massacre at the Pulse nightclub, many groups are organizing ways to help. Forty-nine people died and dozens were injured when 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened fire in the gay club early Sunday morning. From giving blood to donating money, here are some ways to assist the victims, their families and the city -- plus links to counseling and other services.

The Pulse Employee Recovery Fund: Created by the owner of Pulse, Barbara Poma, the fund will help traumatized employees with their daily needs while they are out of work and recovering from the shooting. It will operate through a PayPal system. "We have only begun the grieving process, and we need to heal," Poma said.

OneOrlando Fund: The city created the fund to support nonprofits helping the victims and their families; assist the Hispanic and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, and others affected by the tragedy; and to address its causes, Mayor Buddy Dyer announced.

Equality Florida: The state's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights group has created a GoFundMe campaign for the victims. More than $4 million had been raised as of Wednesday toward a goal of $5 million. GoFundMe contributed $100,000 toward the campaign. The money will be distributed with the help of the city of Orlando, local groups and the National Center for Victims of Crime, Equality Florida says on the page. On its website, it offers links to counseling services, legal help and other assistance.

OneBlood: After a tremendous response by blood donors, the blood center is urging other people who want to donate to make an appointment. Call 1-888-9-Donate or visit OneBlood.

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center of Central Florida: It also has created a GoFundMe account, which has raised more than $350,000 toward a goal of $500,000. It is looking for volunteers and is working with other LGBT organizations throughout central Florida to provide an emergency hotline and crisis counseling.

Muslims United For Victims of the Pulse Shooting: The group has created a fund on LaunchGood for the immediate, short-term needs of the families. "We wish to respond to evil with good, as our faith instructs us, and send a powerful message of compassion through action," the group says on the website. The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations will give the money raised to the OneOrlando fund.

The National Compassion Fund: Developed by the National Center for Victims of Crime, it is raising money for the immediate and long-term emotional and physical needs of the victims and their families. It says it is working with Equality Florida to combine efforts and ensure that donations are distributed fairly and transparently.

The Federal Trade Commission offers donors a list of tips to avoid scams trying to take advantage of the tragedy.
Investigators Wednesday worked to piece together a picture of nightclub gunman Omar Mateen and his crime and zeroed in on how much his Palestinian-American wife may have known about the plot that left 49 victims dead.

The FBI said it is still gathering evidence at the Pulse and poring through volumes of leads and tips about Mateen and those who knew him, and it urged anyone with any information about the killer to contact the bureau.

"We need your help in developing the most complete picture of what he did and why he did it," FBI agent Ron Hopper said.

Salman feared he was going to attack a gay nightclub but did not call the police or give anyone a warning, NBC News reported Wednesday.

The FBI has also recovered Mateen's phone and will use location data to verify whether he previously visited the club, the official said.

At a news conference Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley repeatedly refused to say whether any charges might be brought against anyone. He said authorities are talking to hundreds of people and investigating everyone associated with Mateen, including family, friends and business associates.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said Mateen drove around the Orlando area Saturday evening, going from one place to another, before he opened fire at the gay nightspot about 2 a.m. Sunday. The attack ended with the 29-year-old American-born Muslim being killed by a SWAT team.

Orlando is nearly a two-hour drive from Mateen's home in Fort Pierce, Florida.

"What I know concretely is that he was driving around that evening and visited several locations," Dyer said.

When asked exactly where Mateen visited, and whether the locations included theme parks as reported in news accounts, the mayor said: "I think it's been pretty accurately depicted on the news." He gave no further details.

In Fort Pierce, Florida, where Salman and Mateen lived, Salman made a brief visit to their first-floor apartment late Monday, escorted by police and her brother-in-law. Her father-in-law said she came to retrieve clothing. She did not speak with reporters.

She has otherwise been in seclusion.

Three people identifying themselves as FBI agents visited Salman's childhood home in Rodeo, California, on Tuesday and spoke with her mother, said Jessie Rojas, a next-door neighbor. Rodeo is in the dry hills near the oil refineries 25 miles northeast of San Francisco.

Salman and Mateen married in 2011 and have a 3-year-old son. Marriage documents on file in the Contra Costa County Recorder's office list Salman's parents' birthplace as Palestine. Their naturalization papers allowing them to stay in the country were approved in 1984.

In other developments:

 A newly unearthed clip from a film documentary about the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico shows Mateen  then working as a security guard at a cleanup site in Florida  talking cynically about people who make money off disasters.

The clip from 2012's "The Big Fix" shows Mateen telling a woman who pulls up to his guard booth that everyone is "hoping for more oil to come out and more people to complain so they'll have the jobs."

Security firm G4S confirmed Wednesday that the guard in the clip is Mateen and said he was stationed in Pensacola, Florida, for several months in 2010 to assist with the cleanup.

 Florida documents obtained by The Associated Press under open-records laws show that Mateen passed a psychological evaluation in 2007 as part of his application to be a security guard. The records say he took a written psychological test or was evaluated by a psychologist or psychiatrist.

On Tuesday, a survivor of the massacre, 20-year-old Patience Carter, shed more light on Mateen's thinking, saying he talked about wanting America to "stop bombing my country"  a possible reference to his father's native Afghanistan.

A number of possible motives and explanations have emerged, with Mateen calling 911 to profess allegiance to the Islamic State group, his ex-wife saying he was mentally ill and his father suggesting he hated gays.

The picture grew more complex when a U.S. official said the FBI was looking into a flurry of news reports quoting people as saying Mateen frequented the nightspot and reached out to men on gay dating apps. The official was not authorized to discuss the investigation and also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Some psychologists raised the possibility that Mateen was sexually conflicted and lashed out, or else was casing the nightclub and trying to find potential victims online.

Mateen's father, Seddique Mateen, denied his son was gay and said that if he had been in the nightclub before, he may have been "scouting the place."

Mateen's ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, said earlier in the week that he was mentally ill and abusive. Amid the latest reports about his club-going, she told CNN: "Well, when we had gotten married, he confessed to me about his past that was recent at that time and that he very much enjoyed going to clubs and the nightlife and there was a lot of pictures of him."

"I feel like it's a side of him or a part of him that he lived but probably didn't want everybody to know about," she said.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy launched a talking filibuster before noon Wednesday, saying he intended to give an extended speech to protest inaction on gun violence.

He was still speaking 12 hours later, having received help from many of his Democratic colleagues hoping to offer gun amendments to a spending bill that funds federal law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice, being debated in the Senate.

Murphy is holding up action, saying Democrats and Republicans should "not proceed with debate on amendments to this bill until we have figured out a way to come together on, at the very least, two simple ideas.

"I will remain on the Senate floor until we get some signal, some sign that we can come together," Murphy said as he evoked the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Dec. 14, 2012.

Murphy began speaking at 11:21 a.m., and by Senate rules, he has to stand at his desk to maintain control of the floor. When asked by another senator how he was feeling just before 7:30 p.m., Murphy said rehabilitation from a back injury in his 20s had helped him build up endurance. The senator didn't make note of hitting the 12-hour mark.

Murphy is seeking a vote on legislation from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that would let the government bar sales of guns and explosives to people it suspects of being terrorists. Feinstein offered the amendment in December  a day after an extremist couple killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California  but the Republican-run Senate rejected the proposal on a near party-line vote.

[NATL] Deadly Nightclub Shooting Leaves Orlando Reeling

Attempts at compromise appeared to collapse within hours of surfacing in the Senate Wednesday, underscoring the extreme difficulty of resolving the divisive issue five months to the election. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who had been involved in talks with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said there was no resolution.

The Orlando shooter was added to a government watch list of individuals known or suspected of being involved in terrorist activities in 2013, when he was investigated for inflammatory statements to co-workers. But he was pulled from that database when that investigation was closed 10 months later.

Murphy also wants a vote to expand background checks.

Joining him on the Senate floor is fellow Conn. Democrat, Sen. Richard Blumenthal. The two senators, galvanized by the 2012 shooting that killed 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in their state, urged a ban on assault weapons and better controls on who can buy guns.

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker joined Murphy and Blumenthal, stressing the need for such gun control measures, particularly in light of Sunday's shooting in Orlando that left 49 victims dead and 53 injured.

"I've cleared my entire day...so I can stay on this floor and assist Senator Murphy," Booker said.

The former mayor of Newark said many senators who will take to the floor Wednesday in support of Murphy's filibustering effort have the word "enough" in their hearts.

"What we're seeking is not radical. What we're seeking is not something partisan. What we're seeking is common sense," Booker said in an impassioned speech.

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer chastised the Senate, calling the legislative chamber a "shameful" body in "it's obedience to the gun lobby and not doing the most reasonable things most Americans support."

In a statement Wednesday, the National Rifle Association said it did not believe terrorists should be allowed to "purchase or posses firearms." But noted that "at the same time, due process protections should be put in place that allow law-abiding Americans who are wrongly put on a watchlist to be removed."

The pro-gun lobbying group has been accused of influencing lawmakers from passing such restrictions on firearm purchases, arguing that using a terror watch list as a basis for barring sales infringes on Second Amendment rights.

The election-year fight over gun control pits strong proponents of the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms against lawmakers arguing for greater restrictions on the ability to obtain weapons. Since the Sunday morning shooting in Orlando, Democrats have revived their push for legislation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The body of a 2-year-old Nebraska boy who was snatched off a Walt Disney World beach by an alligator and dragged underwater was recovered Wednesday, ending a ghastly search at one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.

Divers found the body of Lane Graves about 16 hours after authorities first got the call that a reptile had taken the boy at Seven Seas Lagoon.

Sheriff Jerry Demings said it appeared the gator drowned the child and left the body near the spot where he was last seen. An autopsy was planned.

"Of course the family was distraught, but also I believe somewhat relieved that his body was found intact," Demings said at news conference.

The boy's parents were identified as Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska, a suburban area of Omaha. A family friend released a statement on behalf of the couple thanking well-wishers for their "thoughts and hope-filled prayers."

Disney World closed beaches around Seven Seas Lagoon during the search, and it was not immediately clear when they would reopen.

While "no swimming" signs are posted at the beach where the boy was attacked, no signs warn about alligators. The company representative said it would "thoroughly review the situation for the future."

Demings said his agency and the state wildlife agency would look into the issue of warning signs. The sheriff said investigators would also review whether the boy's parents should be charged, but it's not likely.

"There nothing in this case to indicate that there was anything extraordinary" in terms of neglect by the parents, Demings said.

Wildlife officials said the attack was a rarity in a state with a gator population estimated at 1 million. But it still spooked visitors in a city built on tourism.

"We have been to Yellowstone and encountered grizzly bears, but this is just freaky," said Minnesota tourist John Aho, who was staying at the park with his wife, Kim, and their 12-year-old son, Johnny.

Kim Aho said their son was "a little freaked out about the gator."

The child had waded no more than 1 or 2 feet into the water of the lagoon around nightfall Tuesday when he was taken from a small beach, authorities said.

The boy's father desperately tried to fight off the gator, suffering lacerations on a hand, but he could not save his son. Neither could a nearby lifeguard, officials said.

No other alligator attacks have been reported on the man-made lake, according to Demings.

Some visitors were surprised to learn the reptiles lived on the property.

"My question is why are there alligators in there?" said Michelle Stone, who lives near Detroit and was visiting Disney for 10 days with her two children.

A Disney spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The sheriff said the company has a wildlife management system and has "worked diligently to ensure their guests are not unduly exposed to wildlife here in this area."

Nick Wiley with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said witnesses estimated that the alligator was 4 feet to 7 feet long.

The beach where the reptile grabbed the child is part of the luxury Grand Floridian resort, across the lake from Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park. The lake stretches over about 200 acres and reaches a depth of 14 feet. It feeds into a series of canals that wind through the entire Disney property.

More than 50 law enforcement personnel searched the well-tended lagoon along with an alligator tracker and marine units equipped with sonar to search the lake's sandy, mostly flat bottom.

Though Florida has grown to the nation's third-most populous state, fatal alligator attacks remain rare. Since 1973, 23 people have been killed by wild alligators in Florida, according to data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The grim news was only the latest for a city buffeted by tragedy in the past few days.

On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at a gay nightclub in Orlando, leaving 49 people dead in the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. On Friday night, Christina Grimmie, 22, a contestant on season six of "The Voice," was fatally shot as she signed autographs after a show in Orlando.
A South Florida hospital received a helping hand in bringing smiles to young patients that have overcome tough battles. A local cancer center gives away free iPads to patients who have finished treatment. They were running out of the gadgets, until a local company saved the day.

Call it an added incentive for kids to keep up the fight.

"We're here on behalf of AutoNation to hand out a bunch of brand-spankin' new iPads to some really special kids," said Patrick Starapoli, race car driver.

Starapoli stopped by Alex's Place, the pediatric unit at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Tuesday in Miami.

"I'm excited to see the look on these kids' faces," he said.

The company donated 45 iPads that are handed out when kids finish treatment and are cancer-free. Kids like 12-year-old Jondris Fernandez, who battled leukemia.

"You need to go through it," Fernandez said. "The doctor's take good care and everything.

The program has been around for several years and coincidentally was down to its last iPad when the opportunity came along. The car retailer, which had extra iPads on hand, decided to donate the gadgets instead of return them.

"It's all about people helping people, people loving people, people giving back to the community," said Jeff Shupert with AutoNation.

Giving back that goes a long way.

"A symbol of them transitioning to a new stage of their lives, cancer-free, hopefully forever. This will be, one day, a distant memory in their lives," said Dr. Julio C. Barredo with the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Foreign policy advisors to the presidents of the Normandy Four countries are holding a meeting in Minsk on Wednesday on the results of a phone conversation on May 24, reads a post on the website of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

"The participants of the meeting are discussing Donbas security issues, notably possible sending of OSCE police mission. The agenda also includes political settlement of the conflict and preparations for the next Normandy format phone talks," reads the statement.

Earlier, Ukrainian media reported referring to sources that participants of the meeting in Minsk would include Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine Kostiantyn Yeliseyev and Russian presidential aide Vladislav Surkov. The Interfax-Ukraine News Agency does not have official confirmation of this information.
Immediately after the mass shooting in Orlando, calls went out to donate to local blood banks to replace blood that was being used. People all across Florida answered that call.

There was a lot of love inside the OneBlood bus in Fort Lauderdale Tuesday, where Ann Major donated for the first time. Emotional over what happened at Pulse nightclub Sunday, she faced her fear and gave blood.

"It could've happened to my kids or to me, so why not," she said.

An urgent call for blood in Orlando prompted people to give all over the state, raising awareness of the need everywhere.

In Fort Lauderdale, dozens of donors braved the heat to send a message of love and support.

"This is the least any of us can do. I'm trying to do my part and donate the blood that I have. Hopefully make a small difference in our community and up in Orlando. It's tragic what happened up there," said Danny Janes, blood donor.

Tuesday's blood drive was so successful, a second bus was brought in to help handle the growing line outside. What's donated will stay in Broward County, where there is always a need.

Tuesday, June 14 also marked World Blood Donor Day.

A typical, successful day is getting 10 to 15 people to donate. There were at least 50 donors Tuesday by people moved to help those impacted by the Orlando tragedy.

For more information on donating, call 1-888-9-Donate or click here.
A second hearing was held Tuesday as a former Fort Lauderdale Police officer, accused of sending racists text messages, tries to get his job back.

"In my heart, I know I'm not racist," Jason Holding said during his arbitration hearing, fighting back tears.

Holding was among a group of four police officers from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department who was fired after it was revealed they had been circulating offensive text messages and a video.

Holding insists the messages he sent, including many with the N-word and illustrations, were not racist.

Holding said one text, "I'd have the noose ready," was not about lynching someone, it was about harming himself if his police car was rammed by a suspect. In general, Holding seemed baffled that he lost his job.

"I'm not a racist, never have been a racist, never will be a racist," he said.

What about a text that read: "Crazy N-----?" He said it was directed at another officer. "It was a term of endearment," he said.

Holding's case was bolstered by the appearance of his girlfriend, who is African-American.

But Police Chief Frank Adderly said it's an open and shut situation, there's no doubt Holding violated the police code of ethics, gave the department a black eye, and betrayed the community's trust.

"If we do not have the trust of our community that we serve, there is no way that we can do this job effectively," Chief Adderly said.

In addition, the State Attorney's Office said they had to drop at least ten of Holding's cases because defense attorneys would have a field day labeling the arresting officer as racially biased.

"Whatever happens here today, I just want to make it clear that I'm not a racist," Holding said.

Of the four police officers involved in this case, one resigned, one accepted the termination, one lost at arbitration and Holding is the last one trying to get his job back. The results of the hearing won't be known for several weeks.
Police responded to a double shooting in northwest Miami-Dade Tuesday evening.

It happened around 8 p.m. in the 800 block of Northwest 83rd Terrace.

Miami-Dade Police said Kel Payne, 25, was taken into custody for allegedly shooting his 18-year-old sister and 24-year-old girlfriend.

According to investigators, Payne got into an argument with his sister when his girlfriend intervened. That's when police said Payne pulled out a gun and shot both women.

One victim was shot in the buttocks and the other in the leg. They were both transported to the hospital in stable condition.

Payne fled from the scene but was taken into custody without incident several blocks away. It's unclear what charges he may face.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating a police-involved shooting involving officers of the Miami-Dade Police Department that resulted in a man injured and a dog killed.

It happened around 3:20 a.m. Wednesday in the 1300 block of Northwest 57th Avenue in Miami.

According to investigators, officers were conducting a check of an area known for loitering and narcotics activity. They approached two parked vehicles and requested the occupants to provide identification.

One subject identified himself as 21-year-old Bernardo Castaneda Jr. of Miami. As the officers were conducting a records check, one of the officers noticed Castaneda's actions that led him to believe he may attempt to flee.

Moments later, Castaneda ran towards his vehicle. The officers attempted to stop Castaneda, breaking the driver side window in an effort to gain control of him.

The vehicle then began to go in motion and shots were fired. Castaneda continued to flee the scene in an unknown direction.

The department later received information that a person arrived at South Miami Hospital emergency room suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The vehicle in which he arrived matched the description of the vehicle that had fled the scene.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported the injured person to Kendall Regional Trauma Center where he underwent surgery and is listed in stable condition.

It was later confirmed the person injured was Castaneda. The officers were not injured in the incident.

Investigators were informed that approximately two weeks ago, Castaneda fled from MDPD, Kendall District officers. He has now been charged with fleeing and eluding, and resisting without violence.

As crime scene technicians were processing the inside of the vehicle, they discovered a deceased dog from an apparent gunshot wound.
8-month-ago, a Minnesota family was told there were no options to save their newborn little girl with a deformed heart and she was inoperable.

That's a term a surgeon at Nicklaus Children's Hospital said he "hates." He used technology available to anyone and figured out a way to save lives.

Baby Teegan, now 11-months-old, was sent home Tuesday happy and healthy.

Teegan's twin sister, Riley, was born healthy. But Teegan was born with one lung and half a heart.

The hospital where she was born in Minnesota told the family to take their babies home and say goodbye to Teegan. The family refused.

"You can look in certain text books and never find a description of a heart like Teegan's and there's no operation for a heart like Teegan's," said Dr. Redmond Burke with Nicklaus Children's hospital.

There is now, thanks to Dr. Burke, the Director of Cardiovascular Surgery at the children's hospital in Miami, who found a way to perform the impossible.

The improbable? A piece of cardboard. Using an app to upload images of Teegan's heart, Dr. Burke used Google Cardboard to create 3D images of the deformed organ.

"Once those images come up, you can look at Teegan's entire chest, heart and lungs from every angle. And that's what I used to plan her operation," Dr. Burke said.

A team of 30 doctors spent countless hours coming up with a plan, literally visualizing how to perform the surgery and created an invaluable tool: an exact replica of Teegan's sick heart.

"We rebuilt her entire aorta using parts from another persons heart," Dr. Burke said.

Two surgeries and eight months later, Teegan's heart was rebuilt and healthy.

"We made the commitment knowing that she could have the surgery but yet we may not get to take her home," said Cassidy Lexcen, Teegan's mother.

That was the reality, along with a family split by 1,700 miles for six months and enduring a lot. Baby Teegan's first Christmas was spent in the hospital after a first-of-its-kind surgery.

"Your hope is what gets you through," Lexcen said.

Hope, a cellphone, a cardboard box and a surgeon's skill sums up a new reality for the Lexcen family.

"Two surgeries later and a lot of stuff in between, it really truly is a miracle," Lexcen expressed.

Doctors said Teegan will need one more surgery when she's 3-years-old, extra oxygen until her lung gets stronger and daily medications, but she'll live a normal life.
The Orlando gunman's wife, Noor Salman, feared he was going to attack a gay nightclub, but she did not call the police or give anyone a warning, NBC News has learned Wednesday.

Salman told the FBI Omar Mateen told her he was simply going to meet with friends, although she believed he was actually planning to attack the Pulse nightclub, a two-hour drive from their home in Port St. Lucie.

Salman told the FBI she was with Mateen when he bought ammunition and a holster, several officials familiar with the case told NBC News on Tuesday. She also told the FBI that she once drove him to Pulse, because he wanted to scope it out.

At a news conference Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley said it was "premature" to talk about whether charges would be brought in the case.

"It would interfere and hamper the investigation" to talk about possible charges, he said.

Investigators want to continue questioning Mateen's wife because she was closer to Mateen than anyone else, NBC News reported Wednesday.

Investigators are trying to figure out what led to Mateen's murderous rampage in the club where patrons say they knew him as just another regular who danced and sometimes tried to pick up men. Mateen and 49 others were killed in the attack.

A number of possible explanations and motives for the bloodbath have emerged, with the Muslim Mateen professing allegiance to the Islamic State group in a 911 call during the attack, his ex-wife saying he was mentally ill and his father suggesting he was driven by hatred of gays.

On Tuesday a U.S. official said the FBI was looking into news reports quoting patrons of the Pulse as saying Mateen frequented the nightspot and reached out to men on gay dating apps. The official was not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Some psychologists raised the possibility that Mateen was sexually conflicted and that those feelings might have contributed to his lashing out against gays.

"People who are struggling to come to terms with their sexual identity do at times react to that by doing the exact opposite, which could be to become more masculine or more vocal about their ideals of a traditional family," said Michael Newcomb, a Northwestern University psychologist.

Mateen passed a psychological evaluation in 2007 as part of his application to be a private security guard.

Florida records show Mateen was determined to be mentally and emotionally stable in September 2007 so he could work for The Wackenhut Corp., later renamed G4S Secure Solutions. The records state he took a written psychological test or had an evaluation by a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Mateen also stated in his 2007 firearm application that he neither had been diagnosed with a mental illness nor had a history of alcohol or substance abuse.

The documents were obtained by The Associated Press under open records laws. They are part of paperwork he filed to the state agency that issues firearms and security officer licenses.

Records show Mateen also scored well on his firearms tests.

The gunman's father, Sediqque Mir Mateen, spoke at a news conference Wednesday, blaming ISIS for his sons actions. He said hes a victim of terrorism because he lost his son, too.

He said he didnt know his son bought the weapons he used to carry out the rampage.

Federal officials told NBC News the FBI's analysis of electronic devices belonging to Mateen has so far not turned up anything that would help determine his motive for the massacre.

Mateen had a Samsung cellphone, a computer and a digital camera. Investigators found that he downloaded terrorist-related material, including sermons from Anwar al-Awlaki, the notorious al Qaeda propagandist killed in 2011, and videos of ISIS beheadings. But they have not found anti-gay material or anything written by Mateen related to the rampage, NBC News reported.

A water pipe was broken in the club during the operation to breach an outside wall to free people, NBC News reported, and water flooded at least some of the nightclub floor, making post-shooting forensic work more difficult

Matteen's cellphone had been sitting in the water when it was found, which made it harder for FBI to recover data from it, but analysts were able to get information from the phone.

The attack early Sunday ended with Mateen being shot to death by a SWAT team. Of the 53 people wounded, six were listed in critical condition Tuesday and five others were in guarded condition.

At a news conference at Florida Hospital Orlando, Patience Carter described praying to die as she lay on a nightclub bathroom floor covered in water and blood.

"We knew what his motive was. He wasn't going to stop killing people until he was killed," she said Tuesday during a riveting hospital news conference.

"I really don't think I'm going to get out of there," Carter, 20, recalled. "I made peace with God. 'Just please take me. I don't want any more.' I was just begging God to take the soul out my body."

In Washington, President Barack Obama said investigators had no information to suggest a foreign terrorist group directed the attack. He said it was increasingly clear the killer "took in extremist information and propaganda over the internet. He appears to have been an angry, disturbed, unstable young man who became radicalized."

The president also blasted Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric as dangerous and contrary to American values, challenged Congress to reinstate the assault weapons ban and lashed out at his Republican foes who have criticized him for not using the term "radical Islam."

"If someone seriously thinks we don't know who we're fighting, if there's anyone out there who thinks we're confused about who our enemies are," Obama said, "that would come as a surprise to the thousands of terrorists we've taken off the battlefield."

Although some men told stories of Mateen contacting them on social media platforms used by gay men, gay dating app Jack'd said it has been unable to confirm so far that Mateen had a profile on the service. Grindr officials said they "will continue to cooperate with the authorities and do not comment on ongoing investigations." And Adam4Adam said the company is looking at conversations and profiles in the Orlando area for any activity by Mateen but hasn't found anything yet.

Mateen's father denied his son was gay and said that if he had been in the nightclub before, he may have been "scouting the place." The elder Mateen, who lives in Port St. Lucie, Florida, said that apart from the time his son got angry a few months ago over seeing two men kissing, he never saw any anti-gay behavior from him.

Mateen's ex-wife, Sitora Yusufiy, said earlier in the week that he was mentally ill, controlling and abusive. Amid the latest reports about his club going, she told CNN: "Well, when we had gotten married, he confessed to me about his past that was recent at that time and that he very much enjoyed going to clubs and the nightlife and there was a lot of pictures of him."

"I feel like it's a side of him or a part of him that he lived but probably didn't want everybody to know about," she said.

The FBI has recovered Mateen's phone and will use location data to verify whether he previously visited the club, said an official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The number of militant attacks in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone increased, which demonstrates Russia's reluctance to refuse from its aggressive intentions, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has said.

"The situation in the ATO zone has become even more tense. The terrorist groups have broken the ceasefire regime and Minsk agreements, which ban the use of heavy armament, 7,000 times since the beginning of the year... This fact shows that Russia does not refuse from its aggressive intentions against Ukraine," the minister said following a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in Brussels on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian armed forces are not using heavy weapons and open fire only in retaliation, Poltorak said. "We responded to 7,000 instances of shelling only 900 times, and only when there was a real threat to our troops' lives, when terrorists resorted to assault activities, or there was a threat that new territories could be seized. Before using weapons, mainly firearms, we warn OSCE SMM monitors and only then respond appropriately," he said.

The minister denied allegations that Ukrainian forces had shelled cities in the Donbas areas not under Kyiv's control. "I want to deny reports that have been made from time to time that the Ukrainian armed forces are shelling Donetsk or other populated areas [...] We have proof that terrorist groups have fired upon populated areas under their control," he said.
Prince William has appeared on the cover of the U.K. gay magazine, "Attitude" to speak out against bullying people because of their sexuality.

The second-in-line to the throne is the first member of the royal family to appear on the cover of a gay publication.

William called on young people being bullied for their sexuality to seek help.

"No one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason and no one should have to put up with the kind of hate that these young people have endured in their lives," he said.

William had revealed his magazine appearance on Tuesday after signing a book of condolence for victims of the gay nightclub shooting in Orlando which left 49 people dead and dozens wounded.
A bisexual man convicted of murder as a hate crime for shooting a gay man he taunted on a New York City street was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years to life in prison, with the judge making a reference to the shooting attack at a gay nightclub in Florida.

A Manhattan jury had convicted Elliot Morales in the May 2013 shooting of Mark Carson in the Greenwich Village neighborhood, a center of American gay life for decades.

Prosecutors said Morales had issues with his own sexuality and was jealous that Carson and his roommate were openly gay. He yelled anti-gay slurs at the men before shooting Carson in the face at close range.

Arrested moments later, Morales began laughing and admitted killing Carson as officers held him down.

"Diagnosis dead, doctor," he is heard shouting on an officer's video.

At the sentencing, Judge A. Kirke Bartley talked about the Orlando shooting, where 49 people were killed, which he said was a parallel to Morales' crime. "That parallel is revealed in hate, self-loathing, fear and death," he said.

He characterized Morales as "a monster," and said, "Yours is a legacy of death and fear, nothing more, nothing less."

Morales, who represented himself in court, said he acted in self-defense and couldn't be guilty of a hate crime because he is bisexual. His star witness was a transgender woman who testified that she was his ex-lover.

As he cross-examined Carson's former roommate at trial, Morales blamed the two men for the conflict that led to the shooting and suggested they should have ignored the taunts and walked away.

In his closing argument, he wept and told jurors that he was "not a bigot of any type" and that charging him with a hate crime was "ridiculous."

The shooting happened a few blocks from the Stonewall Inn, the site of 1969 riots that helped give rise to the gay rights movement.

"Any life lost to gun violence is a tragedy for our city," Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said in a statement. "But homophobic, hate-fueled incidents like this one are particularly unconscionable. As we mourn the lives lost in Orlando, we remain committed to doing everything we can to combat and prevent crimes against LGBT New Yorkers."
A 29-year-old man in custody in the Caribbean has been indicted on a murder charge in connection with the disappearance of a Brooklyn honor student who was found strangled to death in a garbage bag in 2006, authorities said Wednesday.

Suspect Veron Primus is being detained in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and will be extradited to New York to face charges in the death of Chanel Petro-Nixon, the 16-year-old who went missing after leaving her Bedford-Stuyvesant home on Father's Day in June 2006.

Petro-Nixon was supposed to visit a friend. The investigation revealed she had said she would be meeting Primus, according to Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson. She didn't come home, and she was reported missing a day later.

Four days after Petro-Nixon was last seen, her body was found in a garbage bag in Crown Heights. A local resident found her remains after Department of Sanitation workers declined to take the bag because it was too large.

Primus, formerly of Crown Heights, was deported to the Caribbean in 2015 for crimes unrelated to the Petro-Nixon investigation. Investigators did not say what developments prompted the indictment in the 10-year-old case.

It wasn't immediately clear when Primus would be extradited to New York to face charges, nor was it known if he had an attorney.

He faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the second-degree murder charge against him.



"Ten years ago a promising young womans life was tragically taken, leaving her family and the community searching for answers," Thompson said in a statement. "My office remained steadfast in our search for justice and with this indictment, we will ensure that the defendant is brought back to Brooklyn and held accountable for the death of Chanel Petro-Nixon."



"This indictment is a testament to the fact that neither time nor distance will stop our investigators and prosecutors from the pursuit of justice," Police Commissioner Bill Bratton added.
A Jersey City mother ran out of her house with her lifeless 2-year-old daughter in her arms Tuesday afternoon screaming, "My baby is dead," and prosecutors are investigating what caused the toddler to die.

"The lady came down screaming, 'My baby, my baby,'" neighbor Misty Machado recounted of seeing the woman run into the street just after noon.

"She rang my bell, she said 'call 911,'" said another neighbor, Chadita Peneiro. "I ran downstairs and as I opened the door, she threw the baby in my hand and the baby was extremely, extremely cold. And blue. The baby had foam coming out of the mouth, like it was having a seizure before it died."

"Purple -- her lips, her body, her back, everything. She was just lifeless," said Machado.

"I couldn't believe it. I'd never in my entire life ever seen nothing like that. And to see something like that -- I can't, I can't wrap my head around it," she said.

The mother told neighbors she put the girl to bed Monday night and woke up to find her lifeless just after noon Tuesday. But neighbors said they heard the child crying overnight.

Hudson County prosecutors would only confirm they're investigating the death of the 2-year-old girl in a home on Union Street between West Side and Mallory avenues. They did not release the names of the girl or her mother.

The girl's 4-year-old sister, who does not regularly live with them, had been visiting, neighbors said. The mother also has a son who does not live with her.

Neighbors say the mother and her stepsister moved into the home about a month ago. The neighbors say the women frequently appeared to be high, and there were often men visiting the home.

"All I know, it wasn't the right parent to be having the child," said Peneiro.

Neighbors frequently called police to complain when they saw the stepsisters exhibiting indecent behavior or acting aggressively toward their children. When police stormed the sisters' home Monday night for a report of some sort of break-in or robbery, Machado said she hoped she'd see them take the children out. But the little girls stayed.

"Several days I was worried and thinking something was going to happen," said Peneiro. "Now that the baby is gone, it's like, is there anything I could have done? Is there anything anybody could have done?"

The woman was detained at the scene and placed in the back of a police car, witnesses said, but it's not clear if she was arrested.

Peneiro said she saw the stepsisters digging a hole in the backyard in the early-morning hours two nights ago, and then covering it with a carpet. It's not clear if that's part of the investigation into the girl's death.

Messages were left with Jersey City police about whether authorities ever investigated the woman's home for previous complaints of child neglect or abuse.
Hateful notes targeting the gay community were left on car windshields up and down a number of streets in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, but police don't believe the threat to be credible.

Someone posted copies of a handwritten note saying his or her priority was to "kill homosexuals" on car windshields between Eighth and Ninth avenues over the weekend, police said.

The note was almost incoherent and made disturbing claims in an area of the city that's become a haven for the LGBT community.

The owner of Vodka Soda bar said his employees were nervous after finding the note just hours after Omar Mateen killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

Michael Guerriera, owner of City Sandwich on Ninth Avenue -- where one of the most popular items on the menu is the LGBT -- said every threat has to be taken seriously.

"I think by putting our guards down, we are taking it lightly, and I think the only way to do this is fight back," he said.

An NYPD official said officers identified a person of interest and interviewed him. The man, who is schizophrenic, was not found to have committed a crime.

NYPD Commissioner William Bratton said Wednesday there have been a number of threats made against gay bars and nightclubs in the city, but none appear to be credible.

He said the threats were made by "cowards" who came out of the woodwork after the Orlando shooting.

There are no known, credible threats against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in New York, he said, but police will thoroughly investigate each of the threats and police treat all of them seriously.

Bratton says there will also be an increased police presence at the city's gay pride parade on June 26. He predicts this year's parade will be the largest in the city's history.

Further downtown, there were more messages of Orlando-style violence at NYU, which received a "broad threat of violence against American colleges and universities" on Wednesday, according to a university spokesman.

The college received the threat from an online web submission, according to spokesman John Beckman.

He said that the school wasn't aware of any specific threat against NYU, but it alerted the FBI and NYPD after getting the message.

"We will be working with law enforcement and following their guidance on campus safety," Beckman said.
Its been nearly five years since the most recent episode of HBOs Curb Your Enthusiasm, in which Larry David triggered his usual self-wrought humiliation by accusing Michael J. Fox of exaggerating his Parkinsons disease.

Davids proof: Hes convinced Fox purposely shook up a bottle of cola that exploded in Davids face (this came after David drew a Hitler mustache on a magazine cover photo of Foxs father-in-law).

While fans have missed the show, Larry David, like that soda, has gone all over the place: His hilarious 2013 TV movie, Clear History, mixed a new take on his anti-social TV persona with a Seinfeld-like plot built upon coincidence and missed signals. He starred on Broadway in A Fish in the Dark, a gut-busting 2014 farce he wrote about family and death.

And, of course, he spent more time on the Saturday Night Live stage this past season than some cast members, playing his vocal and physical doppelganger Bernie Sanders  including starring in a clever mash-up called Bern Your Enthusiasm (Sanders blows the Iowa caucus by alienating individual voters over petty, David-style clashes).

Now theres word that David will be back for a ninth season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. The news, to put it in Davidian terms, is better than pretty, pretty, pretty good  its pretty great.

The timing is pretty strong, too: His SNL appearances exposed his curmudgeonly charm to viewers too young to care that he co-created Seinfeld 27 years ago. Perhaps more significantly, Davids HBO comedy of bad manners can tap into a political-pop cultural zeitgeist where, for better or worse, some folks cant seem to get enough of blunt-talking, older New York-reared guys without social filters.

David, in a press release, addressed his Curb comeback in typically sardonic fashion: In the immortal words of Julius Caesar, I left, I did nothing, I returned. But its a safe bet the co-creator of a classic sitcom about nothing has more big things to say about the trivial at a time when stakes are high all over.

The worlds changed since Curb debuted in 2000, beginning an on-and-off initial 11-year run that brought the abrasive sub-current of Seinfeld to the surface with plots unabashedly tackling death, pornography and unfortunate obituary typos.

David constructed season-long arcs around a meta Seinfeld reunion and putting himself on Broadway in The Producers. He took the yada-yada-yada of catchphrases to new levels with the stop and chat (unexpected sidewalk conversations he tries to avoid), the chat and cut (sneaking onto a line when you spot an acquaintance) and upstreaming (stealing someones cab by doing a run-and-hail).

The exaggerated version David plays of himself helped usher in a post-Seinfeld era of the comedy of the uncomfortable, as evidence by programs ranging from both versions of The Office to Louie to Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Theres no word on exactly when the heavily improvised Curb for Enthusiasm will return. But it wont be soon enough for fans, old-school and newly minted, waiting for Larry David to shake up TV again.

Jere Hester is Director of News Products and Projects at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. He is also the author of "Raising a Beatle Baby: How John, Paul, George and Ringo Helped us Come Together as a Family." Follow him on Twitter.
The family of a pregnant Pennsylvania woman who was slain along with her unborn son in 2009 is objecting to the release of the convicted killer, who was 11 at the time of the slaying.

The parents of the victim, Kenzie Houk, 26, and other relatives confirmed Jordan Brown was released after a Monday juvenile court hearing closed to the public. Lawrence County judge John Hodge has jurisdiction over Brown until he's 21 and put the 18-year-old on probation in the custody of an uncle, who lives in Ohio, just across the border from the western Pennsylvania county where Houk was slain. Houk was the fiancee of Brown's father.

Prosecutors contend Brown hid his youth-model, 20-gauge shotgun hidden under a blanket when he shot Houk in the back of the head as she lay in bed that morning. She was more than 8-months pregnant with a son, who also died.

Houk's relatives contend Brown was jealous of her unborn son, while Brown's attorneys contend investigators rushed to judgment due to related claims by Houk's family.

The shooting occurred after Brown's father, Christopher, had left for work. Authorities contend the boy then walked to a school bus with Houk's 7-year-old daughter, dropping an empty shotgun shell on the way, leaving Houk's 4-year-old daughter behind with her dead mother.



Brown has always maintained his innocence, though police contend they found no evidence pointing to anyone else, his attorneys said.



The judge will review Brown's probation every six months, defense attorney Steve Colafella told The Associated Press on Tuesday. That means Brown's probation can be extended or even ended if the judge sees fit  but it could also be revoked, meaning Brown could again be incarcerated if he misbehaves.



But, no matter what happens, the oversight will end when he's 21 because Brown was prosecuted as a juvenile, Colafella said.



Jack Houk, the dead woman's father, said the family has tired of the focus being on Brown's progress.

"It's a double-murder. He killed my daughter and a baby," Houk told the AP on Tuesday. "Every six months they have a thing to see how he's doing. It's always about how he's doing."

State prosecutors initially charged Brown as an adult  meaning he faced the potential of life in prison if convicted  but the case was returned to juvenile court after successful defense appeals.

Brown was ruled "delinquent," the juvenile court equivalent of guilty, after an April 2012 trial and remained incarcerated, subject to periodic reviews.

Colafella said Brown was released Monday because "he's just sort of run the course of all the placement and programming they can offer."



Jack Houk said that before Brown's release the juvenile had already been granted weekend passes, then attended a public school under an assumed name while living in a halfway house. Houk and the boy's attorneys confirmed he has since graduated and plans to attend college.

Defense attorneys wouldn't comment on other specifics of Brown's release or use of another name.

A Superior Court panel is considering an appeal of Hodge's refusal last year to dismiss the charges or grant a new juvenile court trial. The defense contends that police didn't rule out whether anybody else entered the house the morning Houk was shot and that Houk's older daughter gave varying accounts to police about whether she heard a gunshot.

Brown has claimed he saw a truck resembling one owned by Houk's ex-boyfriend near their home that day. Prosecutors have deemed that a red herring, saying the only muddy male footprints leading to or from the house that morning were Brown's.
A New Jersey city is not appealing a ruling that allows the state to seize oceanfront land for a protective dune project.

The Press of Atlantic City reports Margate's Board of Commissioners unanimously decided against appealing a judge's April ruling that supported the state to seize property for the project using eminent domain.

State environmental regulators plan to assemble strips of privately owned beachfront land along the coast to build dunes.

Gov. Chris Christie began pushing for a protective sand dune project along the state's coast after Superstorm Sandy devastated parts of the shore in 2012.

Margate has opposed the plan but says it will work to try to address drainage and handicap access issues.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to go out to bid next month.
Russia and Ukraine are working together on the exchange of various candidates, among them film director Oleh Sentsov, but everything will depend on the president's decision, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

"Contacts are being maintained. Ukrainian representative for humanitarian affairs in the Minsk Group Medvedchuk is rather active. Various candidates are being discussed. In this case, the joint work is definitely being done," Peskov said, answering a question whether progress in the exchange of Ukrainian film director Sentsov was possible.

"Still, everything will depend, and I can speak only for ourselves, on the final say of the head of state," Peskov said.
At least one person was injured after a boiler exploded at an energy plant in southwest Center City Wednesday afternoon.

A boiler exploded at an energy plant in Center City Wednesday afternoon. NBC10s Drew Smith is on scene with the latest.

The blast occurred at the Veolia Energy Plant on 2600 Christian Street around 3:15 p.m. Officials say a boiler exploded inside the facility. Ten employees at the plant were evacuated, according to police. Fire officials say one person across the street from the plant was struck by shattered glass and was treated at the scene. A spokesperson for Veolia released a statement on the incident.

"Veolia North America experienced an eruption at our Schuylkill Station steam facility shortly after 3 o'clock today," the spokesperson wrote. "The incident was contained to the inside of the facility and there was no fire. There was one minor injury treated at the scene and all employees have been accounted for and are OK. Thermal energy services are uninterrupted at this time and we are shifting the steam load to our satellite facility as a backup. This plant provides thermal energy to approximately 300 clients in Philadelphia. The company will conduct a full investigation to determine what happened."

Boiler Explodes at Southwest Center City Steam Energy Plant

Christian Street was closed as inspectors and L&I officials investigated. It was later reopened.

Residents in homes and buildings as far as a mile away from the plant said the blast shook their windows.

"All of a sudden I hear a boom," a witness told NBC10. "It looked like a thousand bricks exploded. Like a mushroom cloud of red brick that went up in the sky."

Another witness told NBC10 she felt her entire house shake during the blast.

"[It felt] like someone hit my house," she said. "I looked outside and nothing was going on so I assumed it was something underground because the entire house shook. Things fell off my walls and everything."

Witnesses describe Philly steam plant explosion. This guy dropped a gallon of milk. @NBCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/NfgUBiKjBW  Drew Smith (@drewsmithtv) June 15, 2016

Officials continue to investigate the cause of the explosion.
A Philadelphia man admitted to stabbing a transgender woman to death inside an abandoned North Philadelphia home last year and will spend up to 44 years in prison.



Raheam Felton, 32, pleaded guilty Tuesday to third-degree murder and possessing an instrument of crime. He apologized for his crimes.

Felton, 32, stabbed London Kiki Chanel, a 21-year-old transgender woman, inside a rowhome along the 2200 block of Ingersoll Street in May 2015. The victim wasn't targeted for being transgender, said police.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said a domestic argument between Chanel -- identified also as London Banks -- and Felton sparked the deadly incident inside a middle bedroom on the third floor of the house.

The verbal tiff soon grew into a physical fight that ended with Chanel being stabbed twice in the back and once in the neck, according to Small.

At a hearing last year, a witness testified that Chanel accused Felton of sexual touching before Felton attacked the Chanel and screamed: "This is what we do to a snitch."

A native of Victoria, Texas, about 2 hours northeast of Corpus Christi, Chanel came to Philadelphia several years ago and spent time living at Covenant House, a youth shelter and crisis center in Germantown, according to friends.

"She had a heart of gold," Chanel's friend Kione Seymore said. "She hardly ever frowned. She always had a smile on her face. Her laughter was infectious."

A judge Tuesday sentenced Felton to 22 to 44 years in prison.
Gunfire erupted on a Wilmington, Delaware street late Tuesday, leaving four children ranging in age from 12 to 16 wounded.

Authorities said the kids were in the area of Elm and South Van Buren streets, in the city's Hedgeville neighborhood, about 9:15 p.m. when shots rang out.

The youngest victim, a 12-year-old boy, suffered gunshot wounds to his hip and feet. A 13-year-old girl took a bullet to her thigh, while a 15-year-old boy suffered gunshot wounds to his abdomen, hand and leg. A 16-year-old boy suffered wounds to both of his legs and his arm. The 15-year-old boy remained in critical condition at a local hospital Wednesday afternoon. All three of the other victims were stable.

A police spokesperson said the shooting is the third this month, and neighbors lamented the violence. One resident, Ralph Johnson, told NBC10's Monique Braxton that he knows the 15-year-old victim and that the area has seen an uptick in crime since a neighborhood Boys & Girls Club shut down.

A man initially believed to have suffered a graze wound was not injured, said police.

Officers later Wednesday continued to try to sort out the circumstances surrounding the shooting. No arrests, suspects or motives had been reported as of Wednesday afternoon.
The Senate sponsor of an equal protection amendment to Delaware's constitution tabled the measure Tuesday after fellow lawmakers said they need more time to consider the proposal.



The amendment says equal protection under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of race, sex, age, religion, creed, color, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.



While many of those protections already exist under current law, Sen. Karen Peterson said her amendment would offer stronger, broader protection and serve as a statement that Delaware treats all people equally.



"There's no guarantee of equal protection for any Delawareans," said Peterson, who explained the proposal to fellow senators and offered supporting testimony from Delaware Law School Dean Rod Smolla, then tabled the legislation.



The amendment requires a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate, meaning majority Democrats in both chambers would need Republican support to pass the measure, which must also be approved in two consecutive General Assemblies. Peterson acknowledged she did not have enough votes for its passage on Tuesday.



"If the votes turn up for it, I'll lift it from the table and we'll vote on it," she said.



Peterson said the current statutory equal protection measures are outlined in only five sections of the state code, leaving hundreds of other laws not covered.



"People with disabilities are routinely denied the right to work, the right to an inclusive education, and the right to live in our communities," said Peterson, who also noted the mandatory retirement of state troopers at age 55.



Smolla said the absence of equal protection provision in Delaware's constitution is "striking," arguing that if free speech and the right to bear arms are constitutionally enshrined, equal protection should be as well.



But Sen. Ernie Lopez of Lewes, a potentially important Republican vote, said in a written statement that he was concerned about redundancies and possible unintended consequences, and that he would abstain from voting if the measure came to the floor.



"I simply disagree that it takes a constitutional amendment to achieve equal protection when the Delaware code clearly states in statute that the protections already exist," he wrote.



Lopez also expressed concern that some supporters of the measure were saying that its passage would mean that events like the weekend shooting at a gay nightclub in Florida would be less likely to happen in Delaware.



Lopez said no law, whether in the constitution or the code, would prevent "a hateful, angry person from inflicting harm on others."




A man accused of intentionally lighting a Westlake building on fire where five people were found dead was arrested on suspicion of murder Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Five people, who had not yet been identified by authorities, were killed in the blaze, the Los Angeles Fire Department said Tuesday.

The man accused of setting the fire was identified as Johnny Sanchez, 21, according to the LAPD Captain Bill Hayes. Officials said he was a transient.

After a blaze ripped through what was supposed to be an abandoned building at 2411 West 8th Street Monday night, firefighters pulled three people from the blaze. One died later at the hospital, officials said.

On Tuesday, detection dogs began scouring the rubble and discovered two men and two women, all deceased, bringing the death toll to five. The four were all found huddled together under a "significant amount of debris," fire officials said.

The fire began on the second floor of the two-story building Monday evening at 7 p.m., quickly engulfing the majority of the structure.

More than 140 firefighters battled the blaze at its height. As many as five people were also injured.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the people pulled from the building Monday were not allowed to be there as the building was vacant. Those killed appeared to be transients, fire officials said.

Investigators said that though the cause of the fire had not yet been determined, they believe that Sanchez had a dispute with the other homeless people living in the building and intentionally set the fire.

He was being held on $1 million bail, police said. He suffered minor injuries in the blaze.

Police said the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office may seek additional charges after all of the victims have been identified.

Sanchez has a history of narcotics and domestic violence violations, police said.
A fifth and final suspect was arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border Wednesday in connection with a shooting that killed one person, injured a law enforcement officer and prompted Chula Vista businesses and residents to shelter in place for hours.

One person was killed and one law enforcement officer was injured when shots were fired following a meeting Tuesday afternoon between Homeland Security investigators and suspected high level drug dealers.

The meeting in the Shops at San Miguel shopping center parking lot developed into a violent struggle and shooting, law enforcement officials said.

Officers from several agencies carried high-powered weapons as they searched vehicles outside a shuttered grocery store located on Proctor Valley Road east of State Route 125.

NBC 7 Newschopper captured other officers searching a nearby apartment complex and several businesses including a UPS shipping center.

Four drug trafficking suspects were arrested, including Sergio Arias-Ibarra, 32, who was found hiding inside the trunk of his car, Chula Vista Police (CVPD) Captain Lon Turner said.

The other suspects who were taken into custody were identified by Turner as: Jesus Rizo, 22; Rafael Morataya-Aguilar, 19; and Jovani Bernal-Moreno. The final arrest in the ordeal was Miguel Parra, 22, who was arrested at the border in south San Diego.

Turner said an agent with a multi-agency drug task force called Operation Alliance engaged suspects in two separate cars in front of the store.

The officer feared for his life and fired his weapon, hitting one suspect, Turner said. The suspect was taken to a local hospital, where he died. He has not been identified. An officer was also taken to a local hospital. Turner said his injuries were not serious.

The suspects did not shoot at the officer.

Both cars involved fled the scene. A white Toyota was found at the Sedona Condominium complex where it crashed. Just around the corner, two suspects in that car were arrested.

After the remaining suspects escaped, officials launched a manhunt. Multiple teams in full protective gear armed with assault weapons searched the area.

Police searched for the remaining suspect, Parra, who may have fled in a red Chevy Trailblazer or red Dodge. No description of Parra was released.

He was later arrested without incident.

The five suspects face multiple charges. The name of the sixth suspect who was shot and killed in the encounter with law enforcement has not yet been released.
City leaders in San Diego have approved an emergency law that bans the synthetic drug spice.

The ordinance, considered the toughest of its kind in the state of California, bans the sale, manufacture, possession and distribution of spice and related drugs.

Spice or K2 is a chemical mixture sprayed on to a plant substance that users can then smoke or ingest to achieve a similar effect to marijuana.

It is sold under a variety of names according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

But the drug can lead to medical emergencies such as seizures, comas and hallucinations.

Since last November to March of this year, officials say there have been 650 spice cases. Of them, 120 cases have been in Downtown San Diego.

Current laws ban certain chemical combinations used in spice but manufacturers began experimenting with chemical combinations that were not covered.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that Head of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration Vadym Merikov has tendered his resignation.

"Corrupt officials will be put in prison. That is my principled position. These will apply not only to those who take bribes, but also to those who allow or do not respond to flagrant instances of corruption. There should be not only criminal, but also political responsibility. Yesterday, I had a meeting with Head of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration Vadym Merikov and, despite certain achievements, the work with the ATO [anti-terrorist operation] and other things, after the conversation with me Vadym Merikov wrote a letter of resignation from the post of the head of the regional state administration. This is his political responsibility. I emphasize that this is not the end," he said during a visit to Mykolaiv region on Wednesday answering a question from Interfax-Ukraine.

Poroshenko recalled the situation with First Deputy Head of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration Mykola Romanchuk.

"It only happened once before that a deputy governor was arrested in Ukraine. If memory serves me right, this happened in Rivne region as the result of the efforts of a new governor. Unfortunately, this did not happen in Mykolaiv region," he said adding that only thanks to the efforts of prosecutors and law-enforcers from Kyiv this case of corruption in Mykolaiv was exposed.

Merikov has led Mykolaiv Regional Administration since late July, 2014.

As reported, on June 3, 2016, First Deputy Head of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration Mykola Romanchuk and three other officials were detained on suspicion of taking a $90,000 bribe.

Criminal proceedings into bribe taking, during which Romanchuk was detained, are investigated under Part 4, Article 368 (acceptance of a proposal, promise or obtaining improper advantage by official) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

On June 8, Odesa Prymorsky District Court ordered Romanchuk arrested for two months pending release on UAH 5.5 million bail.
What to Know Vincent Gray defeated Yvette Alexander two years after losing his bid for a second term as mayor during a federal investigation.

Alexander was one of three incumbents endorsed by Mayor Muriel Bower who lost their primaries Tuesday.

Council member Brandon Todd, who also was endorsed by Bowser, won the primary for the Ward 4 seat Bowser held before him.

Two years after Vincent Gray lost his bid for a second term as District of Columbia mayor amid a federal corruption probe, he has assured himself a return to elected office in the nation's capital.

Gray, 73, won a Democratic primary Tuesday for a D.C. Council seat representing his home ward, defeating incumbent Yvette Alexander. No Republican or third-party candidates have filed to run for the seat in the heavily Democratic ward.

Alexander was one of three D.C. Council incumbents ousted in the primaries.

In Ward 8, Councilmember LaRuby May lost to Trayon White. And Councilmember At-Large Vincent Orange lost to Robert White.

Gray defeated Democrat Adrian Fenty in 2010 after the brash young mayor alienated many voters, particularly African-Americans.

Allegations of corruption in Gray's campaign began to surface just weeks after he took office, and the U.S. attorney's office launched an investigation that ultimately led to six guilty pleas from people who helped Gray get elected. The probe revealed that an influential businessman poured $660,000 in illegal cash into the campaign, and prosecutors said in court that Gray knew about the illicit funding scheme. Gray denied all wrongdoing, and the investigation ended in late 2015 when prosecutors decided not to charge him.

On the council, Gray could be an antagonist to Bowser, who defeated him in the 2014 Democratic primary after painting him as corrupt. He refused to endorse her after her victory, and the two are not on speaking terms. However, their differences are rooted more in personality than politics: Both are mainstream Democrats with liberal views on social issues and strong ties to the city's business community.

Gray's home ward is east of the Anacostia River, a section of the city that struggles with crime, poverty and unemployment. Voters there appeared to be skeptical of the investigation even in 2014, when Gray defeated Bowser in the ward by a 2-to-1 margin.

Gray remains bitter about the investigation, particularly the timing of public statements by prosecutors that led many observers to believe he would soon be charged. But he said this year's campaign has allowed him to regroup and focus his energies on public service.

"I'm moving forward," Gray told The Associated Press as he greeted voters outside a polling place. "Otherwise, it'll eat you alive."

Bowser greeted voters at polling places across the city, urging them to support Alexander and other council incumbents whom she considers allies. However, her efforts fell short in the Gray race and in a neighboring ward east of the Anacostia, where council member May lost to White, a 32-year-old nonprofit founder and community activist.

Gray endorsed Alexander when she first ran for the Ward 7 seat in 2007, then she backed him for mayor.

Gray had more endorsements, particularly organized labor, and more money.

D.C. Democrats also backed Hillary Clinton in the final Democratic primary election in the nation. Bernie Sanders held a campaign rally in the District last week, the same day President Barack Obama endorsed Hillary Clinton after she clinched the nomination.

Ward 8 Will Get a New Council Member

The D.C. Council will get a new member in the ward once represented by former Mayor Marion Barry as White defeated incumbent Council member May Tuesday.

His victory means new representation for both of the city's wards east of the Anacostia River.

May raised 10 times as much money as White.

Barry represented the ward on the Council for 10 years until his death in November 2014. May won a special election to replace him.

Orange Loses D.C. Council at Large Primary



Orange, who returned to the council in 2011 after previously serving as the Ward 5 Council member from 1999-2007, conceded defeat in the primary for an at-large council seat.

Unofficial results from the Board of Elections have White, of Brightwood Park, with 40 percent of the vote to 37 percent for Orange. David Garber, 32, of Shaw, got 15 percent.

White has been serving as director of community outreach for Attorney General Karl Racine. This was his second try for an at-large seat. He ran the first time as an independent.

Mayor Bowser endorsed Orange.

Incumbent Todd Wins Ward 4 Primary

One of the four council members endorsed by Bowser held on to his seat. Brandon Todd won a special election for Bowser's Ward 4 seat when she was elected mayor. She endorsed him then and did so again, and Todd got 51 percent of the votes.

His main challenger Leon Andrews, was second with 42 percent.

Arlington County Board Chair Keeps Her Seat



Arlington Board Chair Libby Garvey has been in public office there for almost 20 years. Her seat was challenged by Erik Gutshall, a planning board member who received a number of endorsements from people wanting change. Garvey won with 55 percent of the vote.

"I am proud to go on to November to represent you as the Democratic nominee for county board," Garvey said in a statement.

Gutshall then endorsed Garvey.

"Now that the primary is over, it's important that we come together as Democrats to ensure we keep Arlington blue, from the White House to the School House, he said.
Officers arrested a Virginia man Monday who they say assaulted an 89-year-old woman during a strong-arm robbery near a shopping center earlier this month, according to Fairfax County Police.

Antonio Williamson, 20, of Woodbridge, Virginia, is suspected of robbing and assaulting the elderly victim as she entered her car in the 6600 block of Loisdale Rd. in Springfield, Virginia, police said. The suspect approached the car about 10:15 a.m. June 3, injured the woman in an assault and then fled with her purse, police said.

The woman's injuries did not require treatment at a hospital, police said.

Williamson was arrested in Prince William County after police obtained a warrant for his arrest Friday.
Gov. Larry Hogan, the Republican governor of Maryland, will not back Donald Trump for president, he said Wednesday.

Asked if he would support the party's presumptive nominee, he shook his head.

"I'm not a supporter of Donald Trump, I'm not going to endorse Donald Trump, and I'm not going to get involved in the campaign," he said.

Hogan supported New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's candidacy for president. When Christie suspended his campaign and threw his support behind Trump, speculation arose that Trump might consider Christie as his vice presidential running mate.

Would Hogan support Trump and Christie as a package deal?

No, he said.

Speaking after a visit to Prince George's Community College, Hogan also said he would skip the Republican National Convention, set to be held in Cleveland in July.
Just as consumers get used to using their chip credit cards, experts say smartphones are the faster, safer way to pay.

They are going to be much safer even than chip cards, said Alex Johnson of payments consulting firm Mercator Advisory Group.

Johnson calls mobile payments the next generation.

The beauty is that they use a secondary authentication, Johnson said.

While using a chip card in the U.S. requires a signature, certain mobile payment technology requires a passcode or a thumbprint.

That makes it safer because its difficult for someone to steal both your phone and your thumbprint, Johnson said.

But only 28 percent of smartphone users made a mobile payment in 2015, according to the Federal Reserve, which cited security concerns as one of the main reasons people don't use mobile payment technologies.

Thats very, very safe, Johnson said. Its almost bulletproof. Its very difficult to compromise.

In addition to security, it's also convenient. Most mobile payment technologies have you load a major credit card onto your phone so you don't reach for your wallet. You hold your phone, tap and go.

When you tap the phone, you dont need to open it up, you dont need to unlock it, you dont need to select a card, Johnson said.

Some retailers, like Wal-Mart, offer a phone app to pay for purchases, but few merchants actually make mobile pay an option for consumers, even though many businesses have the technology available since it came with the new chip card readers.

So theres a lot of merchants that can accept mobile payments, but not many of them do today, Johnson said.

It's an added expense to have both up and running, the National Retail Federation said. It wants more flexibility in choosing mobile payment alternatives that will drive competition, cost less and be the best value for its customers.

Some banks offer rewards for consumers who choose to use their credit card as a default on their phones.

That, I think, is a really good way for consumers, especially now when these services are still kind of new, to cash in and actually benefit from some of these changes that are happening, Johnson said.
A police officer in Alexandria who was responding to a suspicious activity call ended up giving his own shoes and dinner to a hungry homeless man, City of Alexandria Police say.

Officers from the Alexandria Police Department responded about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to a call about suspicious activity in the 1000 block of Colonial Avenue.

The call was placed after a pedestrian had noticed an array of bike parts in the area. Upon arriving, officers determined the bike parts actually belonged to the broken bicycle of a man who was homeless and hungry.

After speaking with the man, one officer walked to his car and returned with sneakers and the turkey sandwich he had packed for dinner, police spokeswoman Crystal Nosal told NBC Washington.

The shoes just happened to fit the man perfectly, Nosal said.

When the deputy chief of the Alexandria Police Department heard about the officer's actions, he commended him and posted the story on social media.

"A true story of kindness and compassion that occurred in your community," the police department's Facebook post read.

A representative from the police department said officers respond to every call they receive, adding the suspicion is for citizens to determine, but the response is left to the discretion of the officers.
Authorities have charged a North Beach, Maryland, woman in a Valentine's Day crash that killed a young newlywed couple.

Anne Arundel County police said in a statement Wednesday that 27-year-old Lauren Scott has been charged with homicide by motor vehicle while impaired, criminally negligent manslaughter by motor vehicle and other offenses.

Charging documents state that Scott acknowledged using marijuana and heroin before the crash and medical records show she tested positive for the drugs. She is being held on $1 million bail.

Police say Scott's car crossed the center line on an road in Edgewater, Maryland, on Feb. 14 and struck a car head-on, killing the driver, 21-year-old Daniel Amos, and his 20-year-old wife, Kayla. Police say the California, Maryland, couple was celebrating six months of marriage.

Friends of the couple told The Capital Gazette some people thought they were too young to marry when they tied the knot last summer.

"They were soulmates," said Larry Patin, who officiated the couple's wedding, told the paper. "I don't know how she would've lived without him."

Scott's attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT

1. Abbotts Lobster in the Rough, Groton, Connecticut: Abbotts Lobster was founded in 1947. You can find all kinds of seafood there, but its mainly known for its lobster. Abbotts offers a full line of soft drinks, but does not serve alcoholic beverages.

2. Olde Mistick Village, Mystic, Connecticut: Olde Mistick Village allows you to enjoy shopping in distinctive buildings designed to represent a New England Village of about 1720. The shopkeepers pride themselves on offering you some of the most interesting and unique items from around the world. Olde Mistick Village is also home to some of Mystics best restaurants. It also features a multi-theater arts and movie cinema.

3. Mystic Seaport, Mystic, Connecticut: Mystic Seaport is the nations leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of Americas seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.

4. Fields of Fire Adventure Park, Mystic, Connecticut: Fields of Fire Adventure Park is set on 50 acres of woodlands in Mystic, Connecticut. It offers a new Aerial Adventure Park as well as a Paintball Park.

5. Argia Mystic Cruises, Mystic, Connecticut: Set sail during the summer through late October in an 18th century coastal trading schooner called the Argia. Public tours through Mystic River last over two hours. On the trip, you'll be able to help the crew hoist and trim the sails, and you'll travel by scenic coastlines, lighthouses and bridges.

6. The Whalers Inn, Mystic, Connecticut: The Whalers Inn is downtown Mystics largest inn. Its location allows you to walk to major attractions within minutes. The Inn recently underwent a major renovation and is still accepting reservations for the summer.

LITTLE COMPTON, RHODE ISLAND

7. The Barn Restaurant: The Barn Restaurant opened in 1987. The building is a renovated barn which has seating available on the main floor, the second floor loft and a seasonal outdoor patio. The Barn serves breakfast seven days a week and is located in Little Compton, Rhode Island.

8. Harmony Home Farm Bed & Breakfast: Harmony Home Farm Bed and Breakfast offers The Vernon Room and The Brady Cottage. The Vernon Room is named after George E. Vernon a 19th century Newport cabinet maker and ancestor of the current owner. The room is decorated with furniture made in his shop and passed down through the family for generations. The Brady Cottage is fully equipped, a 1-bedroom with a full kitchen and a pull-out couch bed in the family room.

9. Carolyns Sakonnet Vineyard: The vineyard located in Little Compton, Rhode Island is celebrating its 40th fruitful year of business. Visitors are encouraged to take a wine tour and tasting. All the wine is made from the grape vines growing on the property.

10. South Shore Beach: South Shore Beach is small and rocky, but it provides beautiful ocean views and great waves for body surfing. The constant breeze off the ocean makes for a great beach day as well. Although the beach doesn't have a concession stand, a food cart vendor is known to visit on occasion.
In this case, one sister's pain was another sister's laugh.

A Connecticut teen posted a picture of her sister on Twitter after the 21-year-old was infected with poison ivy in her eyes.

Days ago, Emily Petrozza, of Newington, noticed she had poison ivy on her arm after a day of fishing with her friends and taking care of feral cats in the neighborhood, her sister, Lauren, told NBC Connecticut.

At first, Emily wasn't concerned but after taking out her contact lens, her face swelled a little and Lauren took some photos before the sisters went to bed that night.

Lauren said the following morning, she heard her sister crying and saying she needed to go to urgent care. While, Lauren was still half-sleep, her sister went to a walk-in clinic and sent her sister a SnapChat photo.

The pictures shows Emily with her eyes swollen shut. Lauren posted onto her personal Twitter account to get some laughs.

"I think its funny. I thought people in my town would get a kick out of it," Lauren told NBC Connecticut. "But I guess everyone else did too."

The picture has been shared tens of thousands of times.

At first Emily was upset the photo of her inflamed eyes and skin was posted, but later found the response from people very funny.

"A lot of people said the same thing had happened to them," Lauren said. "Some posted pictures of cartoon characters and said she looked like them."

Lauren said her sister is doing much better, while still puffy, she is able to open her eyes and is on medication.

Lauren Petrozza
During the meeting the NATO-Ukraine Commission has discussed the possibility of official Kyiv participation in the initiatives on strengthening NATO presence in the Black Sea region.

"We considered this issue at our meeting. I met with our Romanian counterparts yesterday and counterparts from other countries. We were discussing the participation of our troops in joint operations," Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said at a press conference after the meeting of the Commission in Brussels on Wednesday.

He noted that Ukraine is involved in many operations held by NATO.

"We need to wait for the Alliance's decision concerning the security in the Black Sea region, especially the decisions by Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria. We are ready to join the security initiatives in the Black Sea water zone. This issue was discussed and when a decision is taken at the NATO level, we will join our counterparts," the minister said.

The defense minister also said he sees the development of bilateral relations with Romania as promising.

"This is a military-industrial complex and we will be considering such a possibility," Poltorak added.
A Pennsylvania man wanted as a fugitive from justice for making bomb threats to an attorney's home and office was arrested this week in Vermont.

Vermont State Police said they became aware earlier this week that 51-year-old John Large, a fugitive from justice from Pennsylvania, might be staying with an acquaintance in Washington, Vermont. Large was wanted out of Pennsylvania for numerous charges, including terrorist threats.

According to the Times News, Large had called in a bomb threat to the home and office of a Pennsylvania lawyer. No explosive devices were found at either location. Large had also previously been charged with making threatening phone calls to a judge.

Vermont State Police located Large at a residence at 185 Turnpike Road in Washington on Tuesday and were able to take him into custody after the owners of the residence were removed.

Large was scheduled to be arraigned on the fugitive from justice charge on Wednesday in Orange County District Court. There is no word yet on when he will be brought to Pennsylvania to face charges there.
Authorities are investigating after an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs collapsed and died after participating in a weekend triathlon in Connecticut.

Police tell the Stamford Advocate that 24-year-old Samuel Fisher collapsed about 10:30 a.m. Sunday after receiving his medal for participating in the KIC IT Triathlon in Stamford.

Medics on scene started working on Fisher immediately and he was taken to the hospital where he died.

Police are investigating and an autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of death.

Police say Fisher grew up in Newton, Massachusetts, graduated from Harvard University and was living and working in New York City.

Goldman Sachs said in a statement it was "deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague Samuel Fisher."
A man who spent 21 years in prison for a killing he says he didn't commit filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Wednesday against the city of Lynn as well as city and state police officers he accuses of framing him.

Angel Echavarria was convicted of murder in 1996 in the shooting two years prior of Daniel Rodriguez in Lynn and sentenced to life in prison.

He was freed by a judge last year based largely on the investigative work of the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism at Brandeis University. The judge cited flawed evidence and an ineffective defense lawyer.

The federal suit seeking unspecified damages was filed one year to the day after Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett decided not to retry the case.

The suit alleges that city and state police who investigated the 1994 shooting death of Rodriguez manipulated evidence.

"The evidence used to convict Angel Echevarria was invented out of whole cloth," attorney Steven Art said.

A state police spokesman and Lynn's city lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Some of the officers are now retired, Art said.

"Defendants subjected plaintiff to arbitrary governmental action that shocks the conscience in that plaintiff was deliberately and intentionally framed for a crime of which he was totally innocent, through defendants' fabrication and suppression of evidence and their use of unduly suggestive identification procedures," the suit says.

The only eyewitness to the shooting, which took place in a known drug den, was the victim's brother, and he twice identified another man as the shooter, Art said.

"That man had been arrested two months prior literally blocks away for the attempted murder of a drug dealer," Art said.

The victim's brother also said the shooter was a clean-shaven Puerto Rican man with a "stocky" build. The 5-foot-10 Echavarria is Dominican and in 1994 weighed 135 pounds and had a full mustache.

Echevarria, 49, now lives in Florida and recently got married, Art said.
As communities across the country celebrated Flag Day Tuesday, many did so on a somber note, after President Obama ordered flags flown at half-staff at the White House, public grounds, at military bases and at embassies overseas, in honor of the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting massacre.

In turn, many state governors echoed the president's directive, making the order also pertain to state facilities. Many individual citizens and businesses also lowered their flags.

"It is a powerful statement," said Craig Stevens, who set the large flag at the Midstate Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and Hyundai dealership in Barre, Vermont, at half-staff.

Stevens joined Americans around the country in remembering the 49 people killed at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando through his flag display.

"How do you grieve for these people and all the things that just happened?" Stevens sighed. "It's almost impossible."

Almost impossible, but Vermonters sure tried. Necn spotted flags at half-staff in several communities Tuesday, with each gust of wind producing another unfurling reminder of the lives honored with the symbol.

"To me, it shows togetherness; that we're all together and standing strong," said Taz Duranleau, who noted he sells many flags before Flag Day at the Stove & Flag Works store in Williston. "It's not just seeing a Vermont flag or a Maine flag or a New Hampshire flag, it's all 50 states. We all come together and show support for everyone in the United States."

The president's order directed flags to stay at half-staff until sunset Thursday.

Bob Bombardier of Richmond, whose barn has an American flag on a side wall, said he hopes the reverence behind the half-staff displays lasts, even after Old Glory goes back up.

"It's for the memory of those people and their lives," Bombardier observed. "I think it's time that we get together and unite the country and make the world a better place."

And it seems appropriate, particularly on this June 14th, to recall of one of those many song lyrics honoring our Grand Old Flag: "forever in peace may you wave."

It was 100 years ago when the United States first observed Flag Day. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14 as Flag Day, celebrating the anniversary of the adoption of our flag.
Police in Worcester, Massachusetts, say two men were arrested and almost $90,000 and about six pounds of drugs were seized in a bust Tuesday night.

Samuel Lopez, 28, of Ingleside Avenue, and Joshua Rivera, 22, of Mill Street, are expected to be arraigned in court Wednesday.

Police say the bust was a result of an investigation involving multiple agencies including local and state police as well as gang and K-9 units.

Search warrants were executed at five locations across the city and on two vehicles.

Police say they seized a handgun with a magazine and ammunition, $88,050, about six pounds of marijuana and two vehicles.

It is not clear if they suspects have attorneys.
Police in Central Falls, Rhode Island, say a man who admitted to running over a dog earlier this month has turned himself in.

Miguel Rondon, 45, turned himself in Tuesday, according to necn affiliate WJAR, who obtained a dashcam video of the incident.

The dog, 13-year-old "Lucky," was not serious injured.

Police say they traced the SUV to Rondon, who admitted he was driving without a license.

Rondon was released and is due back in court on June 29.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Police confirmed Foster's body was pulled from the Portland waterfron on June 22.

Police in Maine are searching for a missing Scarborough man who was last seen in Portland Friday.

Mathew Foster, 23, was last seen at a bar in Portland's Old Port, according to necn affiliate WCSH.

Foster, who is diabetic, only had a day's-worth of insulin and friends and family say he is sick and has trouble walking.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 207-883-6361.
The owner of a popular restaurant and event center in Portland, Maine, has come under fire for a social media post about semi-automatic weapons, in the wake of the Orlando shooting.

It appeared on the Facebook page for Grace, where owner Anne Verrill posted a picture of what appears to be an AR-15 and wrote, in part:

"I have spent 12 years, intentionally, not being political on this page... Let me be clear, this is not a political issue. This is a human rights issue. If you own this gun, or you condone the ownership of this gun for private use, you may no longer enter either of my restaurants, because the only thing I want to teach my children is love."

The post went on to say: "How many people have to bury their loved ones before we say together, no more."

Grace's Facebook page was quickly inundated with responses. A few comments were positive but many were negative. Some people gave the restaurant negative reviews, others threatened to boycott Grace and the other restaurant Verill owns, the Foreside Tavern in Falmouth, Maine.

"I don't think you should target the people who own [semi-automatic weapons], I think you should target the policy makers," said Maggie Coster, as she walked by Grace in Portland Wednesday.

"There are other ways," sadded Nakita Richards. "She could circulate a petition on her Facebook page to change the law."

The original post was deleted by Wednesday morning, replaced with a new status standing by the original, but explaining that it was deleted due to the nature of the comments.

Anne Verrill declined to speak on camera, but sent necn a private message, explaining: "I don't want to take anyone's gun away, I just do not believe that people should get to privately own assault weapons and call it a second amendment right. Too much has happened."

David Trahan, executive director of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, disagrees.

"People that do understand firearms look at that [post] and go, 'That's foolish,'" said Trahan. "The gun that she posted is no different than a semi-automatic hunting rifle. It's going to cost this young lady a lot of business, I think."
A nurse practitioner who was hired to babysit a developmentally disabled boy has pleaded guilty to assaulting the 9-year-old while his parents went on a rare night out.

Attorney General Peter Kilmartin says 49-year-old Kimberly Faneuf, of Cumberland, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty Tuesday to the 2013 assault at the family's home in Cranston.

She was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison.

Kilmartin's office says the boy's parents had set up a camera in his bedroom to monitor him because he was prone to seizures. When they checked the camera while at dinner, they saw Faneuf grab their son, assault him and toss him onto his bed.

Faneuf told police that she was overworked and tired.

Her nursing license was suspended.
As many as 623 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in Donbas since the start of 2016, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said.

"The war keeps on claiming the lives of the Ukrainian people's best sons. Our combat losses have reached 623 Ukrainian servicemen this year," the Ukrainian Defense Ministry press service quoted Poltorak as saying at the NATO headquarters on Wednesday.
Wednesday was day one of trial for a Vermont lawmaker accused of sexually assaulting one of his young constituents.

Sen. Norm McAllister, R-Franklin County, is accused of forcing sex on an employee of his dairy farm several years ago when she was still a high school student.

"I was in hell," the woman testified, describing how she felt one time when McAllister was on top of her.

Necn is not identifying the woman, because of the sexual nature of the case.

The petite woman testified the lawmaker forced her into both oral sex and intercourse, saying because McAllister is larger than her, he was able to overpower her.

"He would tell me he wanted me to go upstairs. I told him no, and then he grabbed my arm," the woman testified, describing one alleged instance when she said the senator pulled her to his bedroom.

The alleged victim testified under oath about more than five times when she rebuffed the lawmaker's advances but he forced himself on her anyway.

"He told me he wanted to get in my pants. I laughed at him and told him no," the woman said of an interaction she said preceded unwanted sex.

McAllister is a Republican who represented rural Franklin County in the Statehouse until his suspension from the Senate early this year amid the sex assault allegations.

McAllister protested the legislative suspension, because he had not been found guilty of anything and believed a presumption of innocence should have enabled him to keep representing Franklin County.

McAllister has insisted he never raped the woman.

McAllister's lawyers said Wednesday that her story has changed so many times that it cannot be believed, and added there's just no proof of sexual assault.

"In addition to all the inconsistent evidence related to the sexual assault allegations, you'll learn there was no physical evidence of the sexual assault, and there was no medical evidence to support the sexual assault allegations," defense attorney Brooks McArthur told the jury in his opening statement.

The woman said she kept working for McAllister or family members after the initial alleged sexual encounter because she needed a job. She testified that she never asked anyone for help because she has always been an independent type who has been reluctant to do so.

The young woman said eventually, she took an internship with Sen. McAllister at the Statehouse because she thought it would be good experience.

The alleged victim said the unwanted sexual contact continued during her internship at an apartment near the Statehouse in Montpelier. On at least one occasion, the woman testified others were in the apartment when the assault took place, but she didn't scream for help because she didn't want to wake anyone else.

Several times during the woman's testimony, McAllister could be seen subtly shaking his head in disbelief at what he was hearing.

The alleged victim is scheduled to resume her testimony Thursday.

The trial was expected to last the rest of the week, but attorneys said late Wednesday that evidentiary agreements may speed up that timeline.

Norm McAllister is facing other sex assault allegations from a different woman, who was a tenant. Those will be handled in another trial later this year.

McAllister has filed paperwork to be on the ballot in November, seeking reelection.
Two different reports reveal details about three government-backed hacker groups, two from Russia and one from China.

Russian government hacker groups Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear

Not one, but two groups of Russian government hackers broke into the computer network of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), spying on internal communications and stealing opposition research on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

CrowdStrike said it kicked out the adversary groups Cozy Bear and Fancy Bear over the weekend.

Cozy Bear, which had successfully penetrated the unclassified networks of the White House, State Department and Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2014, infiltrated the DNC last summer and had been monitoring email and chat communications. CrowdStrike believes Cozy Bear may work for Russias Federal Security Service (FSB).

Fancy Bear, which may hack on behalf of the Russian military, penetrated the DNC network in late April to get hold of oppositional research on Trump and exfiltrated some of it. This was the breach that set off the alarm. The Washington Post said Fancy Bear stole two files and had access to the computers of the entire research staffan average of about several dozen on any given day.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said, So far as we know, my campaign has not been hacked into.

If she becomes president, Clinton claims she will be absolutely focused on cybersecurity. That seems a bit ironic considering she continually ignored cybersecurity in favor of personal comfort, using her personal unencrypted BlackBerry and private email server. Nevertheless, she says she realizes Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and more countries are using hacking to steal our information.

Reuters claimed intelligence officials regard Russian hackers as the most talented of U.S. adversaries in cyberspace. It seems odd that two Russian government hacking groups would target the same victim, but CrowdStrike said the groups rarely share intelligence and even occasionally steal sources from each other and compromise operations.

Chinese cyber-espionage group Mofang

Elsewhere, Dutch security firm Fox-IT released a report (pdf) on the Chinese cyber-espionage group Mofang, which is politically motivated and most likely government-affiliated. The espionage campaign has a diverse list of targets, which are all aligned with Chinas economic interests.

The group has targeted at least 20 organizations in the different sectors of government, military, critical infrastructure, as well as automotive and weapon industries in the U.S., Canada, India, Germany, Singapore and South Korea.

Fox-IT said the only exploits the Mofang group uses are privilege elevation exploits built into their own malware.

Technically, the group uses distinct tools that date back to at least February 2012: ShimRat and ShimRatReporter. The Mofang group does not use exploits to infect targets; they rely on social engineering, and their attacks are carried out in three stages: 1. Compromise for reconnaissance, aiming to extract key information about the target infrastructure. 2. Faux infrastructure setup, designed to avoid attracting attention. 3. The main compromise, to carry out actions on the objective.

Fox-IT describes the graphic below as the "modus operandi of the Mofang group."

The whitepaper Mofang: A politically motivated information stealing adversary is chock-full of technical details if you would like to learn more.
After two years of being in stealth mode, 128 Technology came out of hiding this week and is making a bold claimthat they can fix the way the internet works.

128 Technology is led by Andy Ory, former CEO of Acme Packet, another Massachusetts-based company that was headquartered only a few miles from where 128 Technology is located. Also, many of the current employees of 128 Technology are former Acme Packet employees.

Other than physical location, there are a couple of other similarities between 128 Technology and Acme Packet. First, the names of the companies are equally non-descriptive of what they do. Second, and more important, Acme was one a pioneer in the session border control (SBC) market, which redefined how multimedia traffic moved across networks. 128 Technology is trying to do something similar with all network traffic.

It took the SBC market a long time to emerge and handle many skeptics, but Ory and his team stuck with it and were proven right, as the company was eventually sold to Oracle for $2.1 billion. I suspect given all the focus on software-defined networking (SDN), network function virtualization (NFV) and other trends that are trying to change the way networks operate, 128s ramp might be a bit faster than Acmes was.

Limitations with today's IP networks

So, whats broken with IP networks? The answer is nothingbut really everything. Todays networks work exactly as they were designedalmost almost 50 years ago now. IP packets are sent into a router, which looks up where to direct the packet and sends it on its merry way. The next packet comes in and could take an entirely different route, as routers are always computing the shortest path as measured by a combination or metrics, such as congestion, latency, etc.

This has many limitations that the industry has built a bunch of workarounds for. Thats why we have load balancers, firewalls, network address translation, deep packet inspection, MPLS and several other technologies. Here is where the problem is: Whenever a network needs to be changed, sometimes one or maybe all of these need to be touched, and performance is often still degraded because the shortest path may not be the best path.

Routers need to be more than packet-pushers

128 Technology is trying to make networks session aware and deterministic. What that means is routers cant simply be packet pushers and take a packet in and forward it on to the next hop. Right now packets are sent off everywhere and then reassembled when they reach the destination. Any packets going down a bad path are marked as lost and then retransmitted. This can be hell on networks and can cause significantly more traffic to be sent than is necessary. All of those other devices are needed to help regulate the traffic.

A session-aware, deterministic router can monitor all inbound and outbound traffic and be able to send all traffic from the same session down a particular path and then keep track of it. That will improve the quality of transmission and make networks faster without the need for many of the other devices that customers buy today. This should also make it easier to find problems and fix them, since theres no need to continually run traceroutes and pings to figure out where traffic is going.

The product is also highly secure, as its built on a zero trust model, which is the opposite of IP. Traditional networks are built on a concept of every device being able to access every other device. 128 Technology incorporates segmentation into their scheme and is based on a privacy model.

This technology isnt for everyoneat least not yetso 128 Technology is focusing on large enterprises, cloud providers and ISPs. All of those types of companies face to lose a lot when network performance suffers. These are all companies that Acme sold into before so the company was fully aware of the challenges in these organizations.

One other interesting point about the company is that while it has raised $36 million in venture funding, it is 78 percent owned by the 65 employees.

Theres certainly no shortage of vendors claiming to change the way networks operate today. The question for 128 Technology is: can its solution rise above the noise of everyone else? The best way to do this is through customer wins. Time will tell how good its solution is, but the company certainly has history on its side.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has noted Ukraine's progress on the path of reforms and the assistance of the alliance in this matter.

"Ukraine is making progress when it comes to implementing reforms in the defense sector. And Minister Poltorak highlighted the importance of Ukraine's commitment to continue to implement reforms. We discussed different parts of different elements of the reform process related to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. As I mentioned one part of this is a democratic control and also the fight against the corruption. But they still have a long way to go. And that's exactly why we will continue to support them," Stoltenberg said following the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in Brussels on Wednesday.

The secretary general said that in the defense and security sector NATO allies are helping Ukraine in many different ways - through the use trust funds, through sending advisors and other bilateral mechanisms.

However, the Alliance does not provide weapons to Ukraine, Stoltenberg stressed.

"NATO does not sell weapons. NATO does not process weapons. So NATO is not in a position where we can supply weapons to Ukraine because we don't possess weapons. Different NATO allies may engage in different kinds of agreements with Ukraine. But I am not able to update you on all those different bilateral activities which are taking place," he said.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak for his part said that in connection with the continued Russian aggression, they needed to speed up the reforms in Ukraine.

"All the ministers who are present at the meeting have noted our progress in holding reforms We need to speed up the reforms of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but time is short. And we have no right to mistake these reforms," he said.
Poroshenko promises to do everything possible to improve business climate in Ukraine

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko promises to do everything possible to improve the business environment in Ukraine.

"I am convinced that now Ukraine extremely needs investments," Poroshenko said during a visit to the production and handling terminal of Bunge group (U.S.) at Mykolaiv seaport on Wednesday.

The president is sure that Ukraine is able to ensure the stability of the banking system, the hryvnia's exchange rate and economic development in the current difficult conditions.

According to the president, the first quarter of 2016 has shown a positive trend for the first time. We have demonstrated an economic growth for the first time," the president said.

He assured that Ukraine would eliminate all obstacles in the tax and customs spheres for conducting of business and as well as fight against corruption.

Poroshenko stressed that, despite Moscow's desire to "economically strangle Ukraine", the country has survived and redirected its market.

The president reminded that Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman went to the U.S. to strengthen bilateral cooperation. During the visit "extremely important negotiations" will be carried out with the U.S. government to expand cooperation and increase investments and support of Ukraine.
The General Court of the European Union has decided to cancel the sanctions imposed in 2014 against the leader of the 'Successful Country' Party, former Income and Tax Minister Oleksandr Klymenko, Klymenko's press office has said.

At the same time a scanned copy of the court ruling dated June 10 was published on Klymenko's official Facebook page on Wednesday. It is noted that this court ruling became known on Tuesday, June 14.

The European Court ruled that the EU Council decision dated April 14, 2014 "concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in the view of the situation in Ukraine" to be voided as far as they relate to Oleksandr Klymenko, the report says.

As reported, on March 5, 2014 the EU imposed sanctions in the form of an asset freeze against 18 former high rank officials of Ukraine. In April four people were added to the sanctions list, including Klymenko. The sanctions were imposed on the basis of documents provided by the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine.

Klymenko has repeatedly refuted allegations made against him, saying they were political in nature.
No headway made in Minsk negotiations yet on issue of release of prisoners in Donbas

Participants in the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine have still not been able to achieve progress on the issue of the release of prisoners in Donbas, OSCE Special Representative Martin Sajdik told reporters in Minsk on Wednesday.

Sajdik said no progress has yet been achieved on the issue of the release of persons held during the conflict. He said that the subgroup coordinator had called on its members to intensify the work to release the sick and the wounded as a priority.

He also said the subgroup on economic issues had discussed issues relating to water supply, railway management restructuring and payments in Donbas.

There are considerable problems with railway communication, including those related to the social rights of railway workers, Sajdik said.
On June 8, at 18:30 in the Hilton Hotels New York meeting room in Kyiv the book "The Emotionally Intelligent Manager" was presented by David Caruso and Peter Salovey presented in Ukrainian. A concept of emotional intelligence (EI) was appeared in 1990 and became wide-spreading in Science Field of Western countries (UK, Germany and United States). It includes a number of skills in emotions perception, understanding and management which successful leaders must need to consider. The emotional intelligence is a component in the evaluation of leadership development along with the concept of IQ (intelligence quotient). The research authors have taught thousands of managers around the world to use the skills in their work. They, also, in collaboration with John Mayer, created a test that determines a level of emotional intelligence  Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). The authors of the book "The Emotionally Intelligent Manager" cooperated for some 30 years. David Caruso is a research affiliate at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence as well as one of the founders of the EI Skills Group. Peter Salovey, a world-well-known scientist, is the 23rd president of Yale University.The Ukrainian edition is the first in post-Soviet history. It was appeared as a result of a four-year authors collaboration with the teams of "MKD consulting" company which founded by Michael Prazian, and foreign language center X-language which is headed by Elena Viktorova. In early 2015 the publishing house "Summit Kniga" and the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE) joined the project. The publishing houses director, Ivan Stepurin and vice president of ULIE, Denis Krasnikov, presented the project.The presentation of "The Emotionally Intelligent Manager" Ukrainian edition is supported by the British-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, the club of Yale University alumni in Ukraine and "MKD consulting". Bate C. Toms, Chairman of the British-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and an alumnus of Yale University, spoke during the event. Presentations were attended by members of the British-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, Kyiv-Mohyla Business School, the US-Ukrainian Business Council, the club of Yale University alumni in Ukraine, American Chamber of Commerce Ukraine, scientists, representatives of the Ukrainian business environment, as well as civil society activists, parliament and government officials. One of the book authors  Professor David Caruso  presented his work via video. His enthusiastic speech lasted more than an hour. He was followed by David, Alexander Savruk, Dean of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Business School and his deputy, Eduard Maltsev who is studying emotional intelligence issue in Ukraine, Yuriy Zelenin, Vice-President of the International Institute of Business and Victor Halasiuk who head of the Commission for Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship of the Verkhovna Rada, also made a speech. The book will be valuable not only for students teaching, but also for Ukrainian business leaders Yuriy Zelenin said in Ukraine it is common for big business executives to lack interpersonal skills. That's why staff members dont stay more than a few months. Participants of the event supported the opinion of Mikhail Titarchuk, Deputy Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, about the need to create a personnel reserve for Ukraine's government on the basis of cooperation among the leading universities and organizations of Ukraine and organizations such as EI Skills Group and Yale University. The discussion had continued during the reception and dinner in the hotel Hilton restaurant with members of the club from Yale University alumni in Ukraine even after the presentation.
Norbert Ducrot, CEO of Airbus Helicopters China.[Photo/China Daily]

Airbus Helicopters, the top player in China's civil helicopter market, believes China will surpass the United States to be the world's biggest civil helicopter market soonand aims to increase its market share from the current 40 percent to 60 percent by 2020.

"The Chinese civil (helicopter) market might be the biggest one in the world in 2018 for light single and light twin helicopters and definitely before 2020," said Norbert Ducrot, president and CEO of Airbus Helicopters China.

"With the further opening up of the Chinese low-attitude airspace and the increasing growth in the civil and parapublic segments, China is gearing up to be the biggest market for helicopters in years to come," he said.

The parapublic sector is composed of a wide range of public missions that include police use, medical evacuation, search and rescue, use by utility companies and firefighting.

The helicopter maker is set to build its first ever final assembly line in China. It signed an agreement on Monday with a Chinese consortium to form an industrial partnership to launch an H135 helicopter final assembly line in Qingdao, Shandong province.

The consortium is made up of China Aviation Supplies Holding Company, Qingdao United General Aviation Industrial Development Company and CITIC Offshore Helicopter Co Ltd.

The move fulfilled the commitment of purchasing 100 H135s, which are worth about 700 million euros ($788 million), signed in the letter of intent last year between the consortium and Airbus Helicopters. The order of 100 H135s will be assembled in China over the next 10 years.

The assembly line is expected to start operations by 2018, to assemble up to 300 H135s over the next 10 years, said Ducrot, who estimated an output of 1,000 to 1,200 H135s in the coming 20 years.

A helicopter assembly line of Airbus Helicopters in France. [Photo provided to China Daily]

According to the agreement, a joint venture between Airbus Helicopters and the consortium will be established soon. Airbus Helicopters will hold "more than 50 percent of the shares," said Ducrot.

The consortium will also be Airbus Helicopter's biggest distributor in China, as it has ordered 100 H135s.

Last month, the State Council released a regulation about the development of the country's general aviation industry. It set several goals by 2020, including 1 trillion yuan ($151 billion) market value for the sector and 500 airports from the current 300.

The new regulation opened up more areas up for civil use, expanded their use in disaster relief, environmental monitoring and resource exploration. The regulation also allowed for promotion of research and increased manufacturing in the sector.

The number of helicopters in China now stands at around 750. Over the past five years the market has seen an annual sales of about 100 helicopters. Ducrot said the country will need another 5,000 to 10,000 helicopters and private jets in the foreseeable future.

Airbus sold 40 helicopters in China last year. The company plans to sell over 60 this year. Ducrot said within next week, the order book for the first six months will stand at more than 45 units.
Arun Banner locates in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, bordering Heilongjiang province to the south and east. Instead of being jammed by countless tourists, Arun Banner demonstrate its serene charm in its own way. (Photo/People's Daily Online)
Global nuclear weapons in early 2016 saw a slight decrease from 2015, with China ranking fourth with 260 nuclear weapons, which is about 3.7 percent of that of the U.S., an annual nuclear forces data report said.

As of January, the total number of nuclear weapons possessed by nine states  the U.S., Russia, the U.K., France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea  was 15,395, a slight decline from 15,850 of last year. Approximately, 4,120 of them are operationally deployed, according to the annual report of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which was issued on Monday.

The SIPRI report showed that Russia and the U.S. outnumber the rest of the nuclear countries with 7,290 and 7,000 nuclear weapons respectively, while both countries also had over 1,700 deployed ones. China ranked fourth with 260 nuclear weapons, none deployed.

The data shows that while the overall number of nuclear weapons in the world continues to decline, none of the nuclear weapon-possessing states are prepared to give up their nuclear arsenals for the foreseeable future, the report added.

Some countries cling on to nuclear weapons to maintain their hegemony and their military advantage over others, according to nuclear strategy expert Yang Chengjun.

China has the smallest amount of nuclear weapons among the five nuclear-weapon states but is in face of great nuclear threat. China needs to moderately develop nuclear technology to safeguard its core interests, Yang told the Global Times.
The Meewind offshore wind farm is located in the waters of the German Bight in the North Sea and 23 kilometers north of the island of Helgoland.

China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG), the world's largest hydropower development company, has acquired 80% of shares of Germany's Meewind project, an offshore wind farm, with 1.7 billion euro, The Paper reports on Tuesday.

CTG, one of China's biggest clean energy groups, purchased this from US private equity giant Blackstone and the deal was reached at some 1.7 billion euro (including debt). Both sides signed the agreement on investment and cooperation during German Chancellor Merkel's visit in China.

Located in the waters of the German Bight in the North Sea and 23 kilometers north of the island of Helgoland, the Meewind offshore wind farm is one of the largest offshore projects in Germany and has been in operation since February 2015. With a total installation capacity of 288,000 kilowatts, it can satisfy the electricity needs for 360,000 households.

It is the first offshore wind farm in Germany that has been presented a certificate by DNV.GL and the world's first offshore wind project that has obtained an investment-grade credit rating.

The deal is another amongst CTGs' European offshore wind energy acquisitions following the agreement signed with Portuguese national power company during Chinese president Xi Jinping's visit to Britain in October 2015. According to the agreement, the China Three Gorges Corporation and Portuguese national power company EDP-Energias de Portugal will jointly develop the 1.16-million-kilowatt offshore wind power project at the Moray Firth, north of Scotland, with a total investment expected to sum to nearly 40 billion pounds.

China remained the biggest investor in the global clean energy industry in 2015, with a 17 percent year-on-year increase in investment thereby reaching $ 110.5 billion.
Who is The Daily News Athlete of the Week? Here are the 7 nominees.

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Mainland Sets up 6 New Centers for Cooperation with Taiwan

An Fengshan, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan affairs office. [File Photo: Taiwan.cn]

The Chinese mainland has set up 6 new cross-straits exchange centers in addition to 43 existing ones, to facilitate greater cooperation with Taiwan.

An Fengshan, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan affairs office, says they will promote small-scale trade as part of cross-straits economic exchanges.

"The small-scale trade to Taiwan is a beneficial supplement in the overall cross-Straits trade and it has played an important role in promoting the direct links of cross-Straits trade for a long time. Currently, characterized by rapidness and convenience, small-scale trade is still playing a unique and positive role in promoting the cross-Straits trade of agricultural and fisheries produce, serving production and operations for Taiwan-invested companies on the Chinese mainland and facilitating communication between the two sides."

An Fengshan also says the exchange centers will allow people from both sides to review history, culture, family ties and seek further developments.

According to An, a Kuomintang Party youth-wing delegation will visit the mainland next week to discuss cross-Strait exchanges.

During the tour, the delegation is expected to meet with Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

At the news conference, the spokesman was also asked about the recent sharp drop in the number of mainland tourists to Taiwan.

An said the phenomenon is a normal result of market forces.

"As we all know, the political situation in Taiwan and the relations across the Straits have changed since this year, which increased worries among mainland companies and tourists. That has decreased willingness of mainland tourists to travel to Taiwan. That is mainly a change in market behavior. We have never set any traveling quota to Taiwan on our tourists. The quota, if any, is only set by Taiwan unilaterally."

Some Taiwan media are forecasting there would be even fewer mainland tourists to Taiwan after July.
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Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
BELGRADE, June 15 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Serbia is of great significance and will surely raise Sino-Serbian relations to a new high, the Chinese ambassador to Serbia said.

Political contacts between China and Serbia have been frequent in recent years and bilateral ties have grown steadily, Li Manchang said in an interview with Xinhua ahead of Xi's state visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan on June 17-22.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli visited Serbia in late 2014 and in mid-2015 respectively, while Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic attended China's landmark parade marking the 70th anniversary of the World Anti-Fascist War victory in September 2015.

Ambassador Li believed that the frequent exchange of high-level visits may reflect the constant growth of relations between the two countries.

Serbia built a strategic partnership with China in 2009. It is China's first strategic partner in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

On the Sino-Serbian relationship, Ambassador Li quoted Serbian Prime Minister Aleksander Vucic as saying that "Serbia is always China's reliable friend and partner."

The Chinese ambassador noted that China and Serbia firmly support each other on issues related to their own core interests and have become real strategic partners.

Both sides support and help each other on the basis of equality and mutual trust, and jointly maintain international fairness and justice, he said.

Sino-Serbian cooperation has set an example for China-CEE cooperation and boosted China-Europe relations, the ambassador said, citing the first China-built railway bridge in Europe, highways and hydro power stations as results of such cooperation.

Sino-Serbian cooperation have expanded constantly in recent years, from infrastructure construction to the realms of energy, iron and steel, telecommunications, and finance, and from loans to investment and joint ventures, Ambassador Li stressed.

China and Serbia signed a memorandum on jointly promoting the "Belt and Road" construction in 2015, he said, adding that Serbia has offered strong support for China's Belt and Road Initiative.

He noted that during Xi's upcoming visit, China and Serbia will sign a series of political and economic agreements, map out blueprints and plans for the future development of the two countries, and further enhance bilateral relations.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
Today leading experts on infectious disease and urinary tract infections (UTIs) will gather in London to discuss the alarming state of antibiotic resistance, and present findings from a landmark study that conclusively shows that cranberries can be a nutritional approach to reducing symptomatic UTIs, and as a result, may be a useful strategy to decrease worldwide use of antibiotics.

According to the study, recently published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, drinking an 8-ounce (240 ml) glass of cranberry juice a day reduces symptomatic UTIs by nearly 40 percent in women with recurrent UTIs - reducing the burden of UTIs and reducing the antibiotic use associated with treating recurrent UTIs.

"Currently the primary approach to reducing symptomatic events of UTI is the use of chronic antibiotics for suppression, an approach associated with side effects and development of antibiotic resistance. This study shows that consuming one 8-ounce (240 ml) glass of cranberry juice a day reduces the number of times women suffer from repeat episodes of symptomatic UTI and avoids chronic suppressive antibiotics," said Dr. Kalpana Gupta, infectious disease specialist and Professor of Medicine at Boston University's School of Medicine.

An author on the study and panelist at today's session, Dr. Gupta believes that cranberries can help to reduce the worldwide use of antibiotics and significantly improve the quality of life for women who suffer from recurrent UTI symptoms.

Single Largest Clinical Trial on Cranberries of its Kind

The 24-week study of 373 women, conducted by researchers at Boston University, Biofortis Innovation Services (a division of Merieux Nutrisciences) and 18 clinical sites throughout the US and France, is the largest clinical trial of its kind examining the effects of cranberry juice consumption on UTIs. This trial adds to more than 50 years of cranberry research and supports the cranberry's ability to support urinary tract health and reduce symptomatic UTIs among chronic UTI sufferers.

Researchers set out to find whether recurrent (or repeat) UTI sufferers could be protected from repeat infections by drinking cranberry juice. Participants were all healthy women, with an average age of 40, who had experienced at least two UTIs within the past year. During the study, participants were randomly chosen to drink a daily dose of eight ounces (240 ml) of either cranberry juice or a "placebo" beverage without cranberries.

The rate of UTIs decreased significantly among the cranberry drinkers, with just 39 diagnoses during the six-month study compared with 67 in the placebo group.

Compared to some other studies, this trial had greater statistical power to detect differences than others due to its larger sample, use of incidence density to account for the tendency of clinical UTIs to cluster in time within an individual, a high average level of compliance (98%), and a comparatively large percentage of subjects in each group completing the treatment period (86%).

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What's in a Symptom?

Women with symptomatic UTIs experience all the discomforts of a UTI, such as a strong, persistent urge to urinate or a burning sensation when urinating, but may or may not test positive for a bacterial infection upon a consult with a physician. In many instances, women are treated with antibiotics for symptom relief whether bacteria is found or not. According to Gupta, the key to avoiding the situation altogether may very well lay with the cranberry.

"The key to cranberry's benefit is consuming a glass daily to help avoid the infection altogether," said Gupta. "Most people wait to drink cranberry juice until they have a UTI, but once the symptoms start they'll likely need a course of antibiotics."

The Correlation between UTIs and Antibiotic Resistance

UTIs are among the most common bacterial infections in women worldwide. Up to 60 percent of all women suffer a UTI in their lifetime, and up to 25 percent experience a recurrence within six months. Some 150 million UTIs occur annually worldwide, according to the American Urological Association, resulting in $6 billion in annual health care costs.

Antibiotics are usually the first line of treatment for urinary tract infections, and women who have frequent UTIs may be prescribed low-dose antibiotics. Unfortunately, chronic overuse of these drugs has increased antibiotic resistance at an alarming rate globally. So much in fact, that the World Health Organization (WHO) cites a 50 percent resistance rate to one of the most widely used antibiotics to treat UTIs.

How Cranberries Work

Luckily, cranberries contain a unique combination of compounds including Type-A PACs (or proanthocyanidins) that prevent bacteria from sticking and causing infection. In addition to PACs, new studies have revealed a new class of compounds, xyloglucan oligosaccharides, which have similar anti-bacterial properties against E. coli as PACs. This means there are multiple, unique elements within cranberries working hard for your health.

These unique compounds can be found in a variety of products, including cranberry juice cocktail, 100% cranberry juice, light cranberry juice, dried cranberries and cranberry extract; however most of the research surrounding cranberries and UTIs has been conducted using juice.

Cranberries, a Natural Approach to Better Health

The suggestion that a nutritional approach like cranberry juice could reduce antibiotic use is welcome news given the alarming challenge it presents to public health, one that the WHO refers to as one of the greatest challenges to public health today, and that the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer said could become a threat 'greater than cancer'.

According to Gupta, those who suffer from UTIs can feel confident that this nutritional approach is a potential solution - further validating more than 50 years of well-documented cranberry research.
Dr. Grania Brigden THOUGHT LEADERS SERIES ...insight from the worlds leading experts

Please can you give an overview of Lord Jim ONeills global review on anti-microbial resistance and his recommendations for preventing the rise of drug-resistant infections?

The ONeill report is a wide ranging report recognizing anti-microbial resistance (AMR) as a global problem with major public health and economic significance.

It discusses and suggests interventions in a number of key areas of concern in relation to the fight against drug resistance diseases. It highlights 10 areas to work on and seven of these are directly linked to preventing further resistance and decreasing the use of current antibiotics available.

They include looking at the role of vaccines to decrease the amount of antibiotics currently used, limiting the use of antibiotics in animals and infection control as well as how to prevent the development of future drug resistant infections.

The other sections of the report look at the current market and how it is failing, in particular how the system for Researching & Developing drugs promotes the overuse of antibiotics and fails to incentivize innovation for new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics tools for drug resistant infections.

Project in Uzbekistan where MSF staff are caring for patients with Drug Resistant Tuberculosis. Credit: Alpamis Babaniyazov

What are your thoughts on the ONeill report?

MSF welcomes the reports high level commitment from the UK government on the issue of drug resistance.

Its helpful that the report takes a broad view of the challenges the world is up against with antibiotic resistance. It considers non-human use, infection control, surveillance, vaccines, diagnostics, and importantly how to finance and incentivize research and development into the new tools that are going to be needed to reverse the increasing trends of microbial resistance.

There are strong guiding principles mentioned in the report and it is important that they are maintained in any implementation of suggested solutions. However, patients needs must be at the core of implementation and any tools, whether drugs or vaccines, developed to combat AMR must truly answer the needs of all people affected by AMR.

MSF nurse prepares patients daily doses of drugs in Uzbekistan. Credit: Alpamis Babaniyazov.

How does the report relate to the work of Medecins Sans Frontieres/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF)?

MSF witnesses first-hand the emergence of antibiotic resistance in a wide range of the contexts we work in. For example, in our child nutritional centers in Niger, in our burn care units in Iraq and in adult trauma centers in Syria.

MSF has documented the presence of very resistant bacteria, including ESBL, CRE and MRSA in our projects. In recent years we have started using polymyxin, which is considered to be the last line of antibiotics for multi-drug resistant gram negative infections.

We are pleased to see the inclusion of TB in the report as a key part of the response to AMR as we see increasing numbers drug resistant forms of TB which have long, toxic treatments with very poor outcomes. Shockingly, we see 50% success rates for Multi Drug Resistant TB and only 25% for Extra Drug Resistant TB).

There are also a number of challenges that hamper our response to AMR. Firstly, there is a tremendous gap in our knowledge of the extent and burden of antibiotic resistance amongst our patients. This is largely because of the lack of diagnostic tools available that we can use in the contexts where we work.

Support group health education session in Uzbekistan. Credit: Alpamis Babaniyazov

Secondly, we are struggling to get affordable access to key vaccines which have been shown to reduce the need for antibiotics, such as the pneumonia vaccine (PCV). It has been estimated that universal PCV coverage would avert up to 11.4 million days of antibiotics use for pneumonia in children under 5 years per year and a 47% reduction in days on antibiotics. The pneumococcal vaccine alone accounts for about 45% of the total cost to vaccinate a child today in the poorest countries.

Finally, due to the siloed development of the first two new TB drugs in over 50 years, they have not resulted in any change in the long and toxic treatment regimens that we have to use. Moreover only 2% of those who are eligible for them have so far had access to them in the 4 years since they have been registered.

This is obviously unacceptable and underlines the need to ensure that access must be considered from the beginning of the Research and Development (R&D) process and not left as an issue to be dealt with once the product is developed and on the market.

What changes do you think need to be made to the pharmaceutical industrys system for researching and developing medicines?

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The current pharmaceutical industrys R&D model is driven by commercial imperatives: pharmaceutical companies develop drugs based on the likely return that a product will offer, through high prices and sales.

New antibiotics, as outlined in the ONeill report, do not represent a profitable return on investment due to the need to rationally use any new products. For commercial reasons companies choose to invest in other more profitable areas where they are able to promote and sell the new product during the granted monopoly (patent) period on the market.

What needs to happen for AMR, and other diseases that do not represent a commercial market for developers, is the de-linking of the financing of R&D from the price and sales of the end product. This would be in contrast to the current innovation system where the R&D funding is linked to price and sales.

MSF, with others, has been working on a de-linkage model of incentivizing R&D with regards to TB regimen development. The 3P project, mentioned in the ONeill report, is a new and innovative model of financing, incentivizing and organizing TB drug development, with a public health driven response that promotes new research and innovation, breaks down the current siloed R&D approach and rewards innovators for investing in TB, while enshrining the right to health with availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of end product at its core.

How important do you think governments and the WHO should be in setting priorities and making decisions about research and development?

AMR is a global problem affecting all countries in the world. The question of who sets the priorities for future antibiotics R&D is vital to ensure that patients needs are at the core and that any tools developed to combat AM, including drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tools, are truly answering the needs of all the country contexts and people affected by AMR.

WHO is an international organization that represents all countries and is therefore the best placed actor to ensure that all countries health needs are reflected in the target product profiles (TPP) which should be used to guide development of new products.

What needs to be done to make sure the needs of developing countries and vulnerable people arent left behind?

By placing WHO centrally and ensuring that the developed TPPs are guiding future R&D these countries and populations are able to feed into the process of priority setting.

Governments need to continue to priorities AMR as a public health issue so that they are able to contribute to the various global discussions, including of the ONeill report, on AMR.

How high on the worlds political agenda do you think defeating drug resistance needs to be put?

As the ONeill report highlighted there are considerable economic consequences of not addressing AMR now. However, it is also important to consider the human cost of AMR.

We are already seeing this human impact in our DRTB programs in Commonwealth of Independent States (FSU) where patients are dying from a disease that should be curable and in our surgical programs where we have run out of antibiotics that work.

There are a number of high level processes on-going at the minute (WHO AMR GAP, UN HLM on AMR, UN SG HLP on access to medicine) which the ONeill report needs to work in conjunction with to ensure that the issue remains high on the political agenda and more importantly working towards sustainable solutions.

When will we begin seeing infections that cannot be treated by all available antibiotics and what impact will this have?

We are already seeing it now. We have TB projects in India that are dealing with drug resistance TB cases that we are unable to treat and are only able to offer palliative care.

The result is that people die and this has a significant negative impact on their family, community and treatment providers, beyond the economic impact outlined in the report.

What do you think the future holds for drug-resistant infections?

I think that the future for drug-resistant infections is full of hope with an opportunity to show that innovative models to fund R&D, like the 3P project, can reverse the trends of lack of investment in drug resistant infections and develop products that answer the public health requirements, have the needs of the patients at their core and provide a product that is available and affordable to everyone. The current situation cannot continue and reports like the ONeill report show that out of the box thinking is required.

Where can readers find more information?

ONeill report website

MSF 3P http://www.msfaccess.org/spotlight-on/3p-project-new-approach-developing-better-treatments-tb

MSF Fair shot Campaign http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/fair-shot

MSF RnD:Lives on the edge http://www.msfaccess.org/content/rd-report-lives-edge

About Dr Grania Brigden

Grania Brigden, MBChB, MRCP is the TB Advisor for Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders' (MSF) Access Campaign. The MSF Access Campaign pushes for access to, and the development of life-saving and life prolonging medicines, diagnostic tests and vaccines for patients in MSF programs and beyond.

The Access campaign is working towards improving the diagnosis and management of TB in HIV co-infection, increasing access to medicines for pediatric TB care and increasing access to effective medicines and diagnostics to improve drug-resistant TB management. She has been based in Geneva, Switzerland since 2011.

She studied medicine at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. She has worked as an NHS respiratory doctor/pulmonologist in London, specializing in TB and continues to have a honorary consultant position at the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London.

In 2007-8 she worked in Uganda with VSO (Voluntary Services Overseas), helping to set up a TB diagnostic and treatment service in a slum area of Kampala.

She is a member of the steering committee of the Sentinel Project on Pediatric Drug-Resistant TB and RESIST TB. She is committed to improving TB treatment by increasing access to reliable diagnostics and quality treatment.
Every profession has a basic skill it seems they should just know. Architects can draw a blueprint, lawyers can write a brief and physicians and nurses can perform a physical exam.

But how do they learn those skills?

At the Texas A&M Health Science Center, future physicians and nurses learn with the help of specially trained teaching associates who teach not only the most effective ways to perform these exams, but also how to make the process as comfortable as possible for the patient. And even more than comfort, students are given new tools for empowering and educating their patients in ways like never before.

Male urogenital teaching associates (MUTAs) teach future health care providers how to perform a routine male genital-rectal examination. Their female counterparts, called gynecologic teaching associates (GTAs), teach the entire well-woman exam, including breast and pelvic examination. "They use their own bodies to train students," said Jerry Livingston, Ph.D., M.S.N, RN, assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Medicine. "Because these two types of exams are so dreaded by so many people, it is especially important to teach the future health care providers how to make their patients feel comfortable both mentally and physically." MUTAs and GTAs also provide real-time feedback, helping students practice their skills in a supportive and safe environment.

"MUTAs and GTAs act as both model and independent instructor," said Chelsea Knutson, BSN, R.N., a simulation coordinator at the Texas A&M Clinical Learning Resource Center (CLRC), who runs the MUTA and GTA programs. "They allow the student to actually perform the exam on them while giving the student immediate feedback. MUTAs and GTAs create a low-stress learning environment; the fear of hurting a patient has been eliminatedMUTAs and GTAs know their bodies well, and with the immediate feedback they are able to give, can prevent any harm from coming their way."

This is a better system than using untrained volunteers as the models with a clinical instructor to perform the exams and train the studentsand far more instructive than when, in decades past, students' training was done on a rudimentary mannequin. (Advanced mannequins are still used in conjunction with MUTAs and GTAs, but they are no longer the primary teaching method.)

The MUTA and GTA teaching model helps maximize the physicians' time, and it ensures that all students are taught a single, standardized way of performing an exam that is based on evidence-based practice. "If you get 25 physicians teaching different groups of students, you'll get several different ways of doing an exam," Dr. Livingston said. "Having MUTAs and GTAs teach the students eliminates this issue." In fact, a report by the the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics indicated that GTAs are the best way to teach pelvic and breast exams.

GTAs teach sitting up so they can better communicate with the studentsand so the students can learn how important it is that they can see their patient's face. "You can absolutely do an exam with the patient sitting up at a 90-degree angle," Knutson said. "It may seem a little strange at first, but even during a real routine exam, the person should never be lying flat on the table. Patient empowerment and interaction is a big part of what we're teaching."

They do so by imparting new vocabulary and communication skills to help ease the anxiety of the patient.

"If patients don't come in to have these exams because they feel uncomfortable, we're not really doing our job as health care providers," said Laura Livingston, M.A., associate director of the CLRC. "We're teaching our students to be the best patient stewards possibleand that also means reducing the mental stress of the situation so people keep coming in for these exams."

The detailed information and feedback students learn from MUTAs and GTAs allows them to approach exams in an entirely new way. Patients are no longer seen as a "problem visit" and students aren't just trying to find "what's wrong," instead the intricacies of the feedback from these specialized instructors allows students to learn how to teach patients about their own bodies and to encourage two-way communication with their patients.

Something as simple as teaching new vocabulary to students can open a lot of doors to this approach to health: an approach where patient and physician work together for the good of the patient.

No longer is the cover referred to as a "sheet," but now as a drape. The word "stirrups" is no longer used for where patients place their feet. No longer are patients asked to "lie down."

Beyond the simple uncomfortableness of these exams, they can be downright traumatic for patients who are assault and abuse survivors, or for patients who had painful experiences with previous physicians.

Although Knutson herself has a nursing degree, no medical degree is needed to become a good GTA. Before instructing students, GTAs go through 56 hours of intensive training, developed and approved by obstetricians, to become experts at teaching the exam. "I was a GTA before I was a nurse," Knutson said. "All that's really required is a good knowledge of your own body and a willingness to use it in this way."

Luckily for Texas A&M students, many people do seem willing to do so.

"The program has blossomed, absolutely blossomed," said Knutson, who was one of the first GTAs and the first trainer of other GTAs. "It started in Bryan, and it is now on all five campuses: Houston, Dallas, Round Rock and Temple, in addition to Bryan."

"The medical and family nurse practitioner students who interact with MUTAs and GTAs always have such wonderful feedback for us," Knutson added.

Although the GTA program at the health science center is well established, the MUTA program is still quite new, getting off the ground in February 2016. "We have stayed at the cutting edge to use everything that is out there to teach our medical students," Dr. Livingston said. Relatively few schools have their own MUTA program, and instead rely on commercial companies to provide the MUTAs for their students.

MUTA interactions start with a 20-minute didactic portion to reinforce the significance of this type of male exam for students, who can then pass this information on to their future patients. "Women's health care is something that is emphasized in our culture," Knutson said. "Men's health care appointments are far more often missed, and prostate exams are often turned into a punchline, it can be easy to forget that it's really so important."

The next step for the CLRC is a physical exam teaching associate (PETA) program to teach students how to perform non-gender specific portions of a medical exam. "These instructors are trained using evidence-based medicine to do assessments," Dr. Livingston said. "They can tell the students, 'right here is where you listen to the heart, to the lungs,' and they can tell if the student is doing it correctly."

"I love being able to help this program grow," Knutson said. "It's very rewarding to see students who are overtly nervous before their sessionterrified, sweating, saucer-eyed students who have never performed a female pelvic exam or a prostate examwalk out of their MUTA or GTA sessions smiling, happy and saying, 'That was an AWESOME way to learn and not as scary as I thought. I can do that in clinic!'"
An industry-driven consortium has developed a national roadmap designed to chart the path to large-scale manufacturing of cell-based therapeutics for use in a broad range of illnesses including cancer, neuro-degenerative diseases, blood and vision disorders and organ regeneration and repair.

Over the past decade, new and emerging cell-based medical technologies have been developed to manage and possibly cure many conditions and diseases. In 2012 alone, these technologies treated more than 160,000 patients. Before these treatments can be more widely available, however, the cell therapeutics community will have to develop the capability for advanced, large-scale manufacturing of high-quality and consistent living cells.

To advance that goal, the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) and the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) have launched the National Cell Manufacturing Consortium (NCMC), an industry-academic-government partnership that recently released the National Roadmap for Advanced Cell Manufacturing. Establishment of the consortium and development of this 10-year national roadmap was sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

The roadmap was announced June 13 at the White House Organ Summit.

"The cell manufacturing roadmap effort is mission critical to establish the United States as the world leader in cell therapy manufacturing," said Greg Russotti, Ph.D., vice-president of technical operations for Celgene Cellular Therapeutics. "Cell therapies offer exciting next-generation opportunities that may help patients live longer and better lives, reduce the burden on health care and benefit society. Producing sufficient quantities of high quality cell therapies so that patients have access will not be possible without significant advances in the field of cell therapy manufacturing. Industrial, academic, and government stakeholders collaborated to construct this roadmap, which delineates our path to U.S. leadership in the emerging field of cell therapy production."

Development of the roadmap required strong support and involvement from more than 60 representatives from industry, government and nonprofit organizations.

"MilliporeSigma (formerly EMD Millipore) supports consortia, like the National Cell Manufacturing Consortium, that bring together industry, innovators, clinicians and academics to advance the field of cell therapy," said Martha S. Rook, Ph.D., head of novel therapies for the company. "The consortium's cell manufacturing roadmap is a valuable resource to help identify and address challenges in cell manufacturing."

While research has demonstrated the value of cell therapies - using adult stem cells and immune system cells - improvements are needed to make these cells broadly available to the medical community.

"The aspirin you buy today from one pharmacy is essentially the same as the aspirin you buy from another pharmacy, but cell-based therapies may have different efficacy depending on the source and manufacturing processes," said Krishnendu Roy, Robert A. Milton Chair and professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. "There are established ways to quickly assess the efficacy and safety of small-molecule drugs that are acceptable around the world. We want to develop and establish similar processes for therapeutic cell manufacturing."

Established in 2014 through a NIST Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMTech) grant, the NCMC is an industry-driven consortium including cell manufacturing experts from industry, academic research, clinical good manufacturing practice (GMP) centers, government agencies and private foundations.

Georgia is positioning itself to be at the forefront of this new and growing market with its research institutions playing a vital role in the consortium. Researchers from Emory University, Georgia Tech, and the University of Georgia are contributing to the ongoing work of the NCMC. The Atlanta-based Marcus Foundation recently made a major gift to Georgia Tech to establish the Marcus Center for Therapeutic Cell Characterization and Manufacturing (MC3M). The new center, the first of its kind in the United States, will develop processes and techniques for ensuring the consistent, low-cost, large-scale manufacture of high-quality living cells used in cell-based therapies.

"The NIST grant kick-started our efforts to develop a national roadmap for cell manufacturing" said Michael Cassidy, president and CEO of the Georgia Research Alliance. "The cell manufacturing industry is an emerging and growing industry with annual revenues of over $1 billion. Completion of this roadmap positions Georgia at the forefront of one of the most exciting new initiatives of this century."

Source: Georgia Institute of Technology
Nearly 15 percent of opioid-naive patients hospitalized under Medicare are discharged with a new prescription for opioids, according to a study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Among those patients who received a prescription, 40 percent were still taking opioids 90 days after discharge. The rate of prescription varied almost twofold between hospitals, with some hospitals discharging as many as 20 percent of patients with a prescription for opioids.

Despite growing concern about the public health costs of long-term opioid use, little has been known about how often the painkillers are prescribed. Even appropriate short-term prescriptions can lead to long-term use and, potentially, abuse.

"Every day, 44 people in the United States die from prescription drug overdoses, especially opioid overdose," said Anupam Jena, lead author of the study, the Ruth L. Newhouse Associate Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School, and a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. "It's critical that we understand hospital prescribing patterns so that we can make sure we are prescribing these medications safely and effectively without fueling this deadly crisis."

Jena said that the researchers were especially interested to see whether there was a relationship between Medicare incentives to encourage hospital pain management and the rate of opioid prescriptions by hospitals.

Currently, hospitals that score well on patient-reported pain metrics receive cash bonuses. Could this policy encourage hospitals to overprescribe opioids?

While the study, which analyzed hospitalizations under Medicare in 2011, did find that the hospitals that scored highest on pain control measures also had the highest rates of opioid prescribing, the link was quite modest and did not explain most of the variation between hospitals.

While the study did adjust for differences in patient mix, diagnosis and other clinical factors, Jena said, it was possible that some hospitals had a high percentage of patients with more severe pain. However, he said it was more likely that the observed differences in prescribing rates were related to differences in how individual doctors prescribe or to differences in the prescribing culture of different hospitals or geographic regions.

Short-term prescriptions for opioids, while well-intentioned, can lead to long-term use. "Opioids have an important role to play in specific forms of acute pain, but the high risks of long-term use mean that adherence to proper prescribing guidelines is critical," said study co-author Pinar Karaca-Mandic, associate professor at the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health Division of Health Policy and Management.
RIKEN has entered into a collaboration with the Grace Science Foundation to conduct research on NGLY1 deficiency, a rare genetic disorder that was discovered in 2012 by American doctors. NGLY1 deficiency, which is thought to be caused by a deficiency in N-glycanase-1, an enzyme encoded by the gene NGLY1, is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including global developmental delay, movement disorder, seizures, and ocular abnormalities. It is an extremely rare disorder, with less than 50 known cases in the world today.

Genetics & Genomics eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today

Under the collaboration, the Grace Science Fund at the San Francisco Foundation will provide support and funding to RIKEN to gain a better understanding of NGLY1 deficiency and to look for potential therapeutic targets. Tadashi Suzuki, who is spearheading the research efforts at the RIKEN-Max Planck Joint Research Center in Japan, first identified N-glycanase-1 in mammals two decades ago. Suzuki recently discovered that a second enzyme, endo--N-acetylglucosaminidase (ENGase), may also be a potential therapeutic target. The project is also being supported by Hiroshi Mikitani, President and CEO of Rakuten, a major electronic commerce and internet company.

According to Matt Wilsey, President and Co-founder of the Grace Science Foundation,"I have been very impressed by Dr. Suzuki's 20+ years of research. I believe this collaboration with the Suzuki Lab and RIKEN will bring us closer to a cure for NGLY1 and other metabolic diseases."

According to Suzuki, "We appreciate the support from the Grace Science Fund at the San Francisco Foundation,. The Grace Science team is leading the charge to find a cure for NGLY1 deficiency. I have long been interested in N-glycanase-1, and it is a privilege that my work has been recognized as being important for the potential cure of a serious genetic condition."
Imagine you're ordering lunch from your favorite online delivery spot, and just before submitting your order, you notice that the club sandwich in your cart is marked with a red stop light signifying high calorie content. Would you keep it in your cart? New research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggests you might switch to a lower-calorie option. When researchers added color-coded or numeric calorie labels to online food ordering systems, the total calories ordered was reduced by about 10 percent when compared to menus featuring no calorie information at all. The study is the first to evaluate the effect of "traffic-light" calorie labeling - where green labels signal low calorie content, yellow labels signal medium calorie content, and red labels signal high calorie content - in the increasingly common setting of ordering meals online. Results are published online in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing.

"Calorie labeling appears to be effective in an online environment where consumers have fewer distractions, and the simpler traffic-light labeling seems as effective as standard calorie numbers," said lead author Eric M. VanEpps, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that in May 2017 it will begin mandating numeric calorie labeling for restaurants, movie theaters, vending machines, and food delivery services -- including delivery services with online ordering. States such as Vermont and cities including New York and Philadelphia also have begun to implement broad calorie-labeling mandates.

For the study, VanEpps and colleagues from Carnegie Mellon University set up a system in which corporate employees ordering lunch from a cafeteria via a newly-developed online portal were presented with the calorie information for menu items via numeric or traffic light calorie labels, both together, or none at all. Over the six week study period, 803 orders were placed by the 249 study participants.

The team found that each of the three calorie labeling conditions - numbers alone, traffic lights alone, or both labels together - reduced calories ordered by about 10 percent, compared to orders involving no calorie labels.

"The similar effects of traffic light and numeric labeling suggests to us that consumers are making decisions based more on which choices seem healthier than on absolute calorie numbers," VanEpps said.

As expected, the simple traffic light labeling of calorie content had a particularly strong impact among the subset of participants who scored poorly on a simple test of math ability (numeracy). Calorie labeling overall also had a stronger impact among obese participants than among non-obese participants. Results of the study add to ongoing research from the team examining calorie labeling's impact in different meal-ordering settings.

"Future studies looking at different menu types and sets of participants are necessary, but this study on its own provides clear evidence that both calorie labeling methods can be effective when ordering meals online," VanEpps said. "It's important that research be conducted in all ordering contexts where calorie labeling mandates might be applied."
(Global Times) 10:57, June 15, 2016

Right after the weekend bloodshed at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, late on Monday a French police commander was stabbed to death in his home near Paris and his partner was also killed. The perpetrator, killed during the police assault on the couple's home, reportedly claimed allegiance to the Islamic State (IS).

Has a terror war in the form of lone wolf attacks already kicked off? Fifteen years ago, when planes piloted by terrorists hit the World Trade Center in New York, terror attacks started becoming a nightmare for the whole world, which then translated into actual warfare when the US dropped tons of bombs in Afghanistan and Iraq.

But now, after the regime changes in Afghanistan and Iraq and Osama bin Laden was killed, victory remains remote. Terror attacks have turned from organized battles to lone-wolf guerrilla warfare. Terror is ubiquitous yet untraceable.

The Western media tends to look at the motives of a lone wolf from beliefs and values as if politically or religiously analyzing these people will lead us to the root of the attacks. Or this may bring people together under the same values against terrorists.

After the terror attacks, some media often defines them as attacking liberal society and targeting the values and faith adhered to by US and European society.

Labeling all motives behind terror attacks as assaults against values and beliefs doesn't mean we can define them all in the same league. But this may spur on other people with extreme mindsets to act. This is what terrorist organizations like the IS want keenly.

A bigger danger lies in whether defining a society as liberal or not indicates double-standards in identifying terrorists. If Western countries or countries that adopt the Western model are classified as non-liberal societies, terror attacks on them will be interpreted differently. Hence some Western media accuses developing countries like China of suppression when they enact anti-terror operations.

These people are called terrorists not because of their religion, nationality or race, but because their actions have breached basic human morality. They should be considered enemies of humanity.

Currently, Western countries are confronted by plights including dismal economies, dysfunctional political governance and public rifts. Highlighting the ideological nature of terrorists may win some public support, but will also ahelp spread extremism and terrorist organizations.

Increased global cooperation will lead to more effective anti-terror campaigns. Many in the Western media realize the importance after the latest attacks in the US and France. But differentiating anti-terror actions based on ideologies limits how far Western countries can go in global cooperation against terrorism.
Mahindra Trucks and Buses Ltd has said that it will relook into its bus business strategy after a year or two, once the company implements the ongoing Rs 700 crore project to rollout Intermediate Commercial Vehicle (ICV) and more LCV products besides doubling market share in HCVs.



"We are currently focused on ICV and new LCVs. We will relook on bus business in a year or two after the rollout of ICV is complete," Mahindra Trucks and Buses Managing Director and CEO Nalin Mehta said.



According to Nalin Mehta, Managing Director and CEO , Mahindra Trucks and Buses, Mahindra currently operates in the 15-42 seater small bus space, which has about 8 per cent marketshare. The company will relook at the bus business and only then will it be able to speak on new products and roadmap for the segment.



The company will pump in Rs 700 crore in three years, beginning last year for new ICV segment and deepening LCVs. In HCV the company has invested about Rs 1000 crore. The company was hopeful on revival of the market with green shoots in the economy, proposed rollout of GST and good monsoon, Mehta added.



Mahindra which is currently exporting its trucks to SAARC countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, is exploring to enter the African market, the MD said. The company has also roped in Bollywood star Ajay Devgan as the new face of its campaigns featuring product and service guarantees, he informed.
Durga Kami (C), 68, and his classmates pose for a group picture in their classroom at Shree Kala Bhairab Higher Secondary School in Syangja, Nepal, June 5, 2016. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar.

Some stories are just beautiful and inspirational, it restores some of our faith in the human race. This is a story of will, determination and perseverance. This is a story of wanting to grow. This is the story of a man called Durga Kami.Kami is a 68-year-old man from a small village nestled between hills called Syangja, about 250 kilometers away from Kathmandu in Nepal. A father to 6, and a grandfather to 8, Kami aspired to be a school teacher when he was a boy. Sadly for him, poverty had other plans.He never got an opportunity to go to school. He lived his life with that regret until one day he decided to make sure it doesn't stay a regret anymore. After the death of his wife, Kami enrolled as a student into the local high school to combat loneliness. Kami lives alone in a one room house. But here Kami got a shot at trying to fulfill his youthful aspirations.At 68-years-young, Kami is now in the tenth grade of Shree Kala Bhairab higher secondary school, which he attends 6 days a week. Kami started at Kaharay primary school where he learnt to read and write with the seven and eight year olds before leaving after finishing grade five with the 11-year-olds.Kami is the living embodiment of what one can do with sheer willpower and dreams. He says that he wants to study until his death and he hopes it would encourage others to ignore age obstacles."If they see an old person with white beard like me studying in school they might get motivated as well," he said in an interview with Reuters The following are a series of photos taken by Navesh Chitrakar of Reuters that capture Durga Kami's daily routine, from home to school and back. It is definitely of the most beautiful stories you will have heard.
Jammu: Mobile internet services were suspended in Jammu on Wednesday, a day after violent protests by locals over allegations that a temple in the area was desecrated by a "mentally unstable" young man.



Tension gripped Jammu after a mob attacked a police station and set two police public school buses ablaze on Tuesday night after a CCTV footage of the alleged desecration went viral on social media.



They also pelted stones at the police station and demanded immediate action against the accused. Police lobbed teargas shells to disperse them



Reports said a mentally unstable local man, who was visiting a psychiatrists clinic located next to the Aap Shambu temple in Janipura area, rushed inside the temple.



He reportedly damaged the protective glass in front of the idols and also allegedly misbehaved with some women who were present inside.



The suspect, identified as Yasir Alfaz of Shiva village in Doda district, was arrested by a police flying squad soon after the incident.



As news about the alleged temple desecration spread, angry protesters gathered outside the police station demanding strict action against the youth.



The accuseds brother Tanvir was also taken into protective custody, as a preventive measure.



The protesters also sought the suspension of two police officers who allegedly backed the accused.



Senior officials were reportedly camping at the police control room to monitor the situation. There is no curfew in the area at present.


Srinagar: Terrorists on Wednesday carried out two grenade attacks within a span of 10 minutes in Shopian district of Kashmir, resulting in injuries to two civilians, police said.



The first attack took place at 5.30 pm when terrorists lobbed a grenade at the police station building complex in Shopian town, a police official said.







The grenade exploded in the compound of the police station without causing any damage, he said.



In the second attack, the ultras hurled a grenade at Batapora chowk, about 200 metres away from the police station, resulting in injuries to two civilians.



The injured persons have been admitted to District Hospital for treatment, the official said. Security forces have launched an operation to track down the assailants, he added.



With PTI Inputs.
Why Kairana is in news



A small city in Shamli district, Kairana is in news for all the wrong reasons. On June 8, BJP MP Hukum Singh released a list of 364 people claiming they have left the city in the last two-three years after they were allegedly targeted by members of one particular community (Muslims). His claim had repercussions and the Akhilesh Yadav-led government immediately ordered an enquiry. The local administration got several teams to crosscheck the claims. National Human Rights Commission has also ordered an enquiry into the exodus of Hindu families.



District Magistrate report



But the ground report seems to be entirely different from what Singh claims.



Singh's list has become the basis of investigation for many, including the media and the local administration. While the district administration has taken up Singh's list to cross-check his claims, media took the list to visit the families or their neighbours or to see the locked gates.



When we reached Kairana, the district administration had already released a preliminary status report which rejected the claims made by Singh. According to Shamli DM, Sujit Kumar, "So far our preliminary report is not confirming the claims made by the MP. We are doing door-to-door checks. So far our report is confined to people whose names have been listed by MP Hukum Singh. If required, we will extend it and verify all the families." He further explained that of the people in the list, some are dead, some left the city 10-15 years ago, while others have shifted from the locality.



What we found at Ground zero



With the list in hand, we went knocking door to door to check if the people have actually left the city. We first went to Teachers Colony and found at least four houses locked. We asked one of the neighbours, Anita Chouhan (22), about her neighbours. "They left the city three years ago after two-three murders took place. Everyone was afraid. Our neighbours, Vijay Garg, left the city because of the spurt in crime. He is not the only one to leave. Many others in the locality have left and shifted to nearby cities," said Anita.



She said the city was peaceful after the Muzaffarnagar riots. It was the law and order situation which made people change the locality. She emphasised that safety of women is one of the biggest concerns in the city.



As we moved ahead in the same colony, we met one more family - Nirmala Devi's. She stays here with her daughters and husband. Her son has shifted to Uttarakhand but according to Hukum Singh's list, her family is also one of the 364 Hindu families who had left Kairana.



"After the riots he (her son) shifted to Uttarakhand but we are still here. We can not leave the place because we have our property here. We have shifted from one locality to another," said Nirmala Devi.



She also said that she had to leave her previous colony (Kayasthavad) because the Muslim population in that locality increased. Her daughter, Bhavana, said, "People would taunt us of living in mini-Pakistan. But those people never misbehaved with us."



She also said criminal activities were on the rise which is worrying. When her daughters go to their school or college, she prays for their safe return.



We moved to Kayasthavad which is supposed to be a Muslim-dominated area.



Mohammad Mukaram Ansari, a property dealer, has many Hindu friends. He said, "Please don't give any communal angle to what is more a law and order issue. We live here peacefully."



As we moved inside Kayasthavad, we found many advertisements along the walls on houses for sale. People have put their property on sale and have moved to different locations - not necessarily a different city. All these properties belong to Muslims.



So, one thing was clear - it's not just people of one community that was shifting to a different locality. Another person from the same locality said, "Provide us better opportunities in this city and we will not shift. Everyone is moving in hope of a better lifestyle and opportunity." Clearly, the migrations were for economic reasons like better health and education.



What is the law and order issue that everyone is talking about



In 2013-2014, a gang led by one Mukeeb Kala was active in the area. The gang members, coincidentally, were Muslims. They would beat someone to death in the market, or kill people for not paying an extortion amount. Superintendent of Police (Shamli) Vijay Bhushan, said, "Four of the gang members were killed in an encounter. Around 24 people of the gang are behind bars. They are not taken out even for the trials in the court. They undergo trial through video conferencing."



But the fear among people is still there. They are under constant threat of extortion and kidnapping.



What is the basis of Hukum Singh's report?



According to Hukum Singh, the basis of his report is the information provided by his workers. Whatever data he has prepared is on the basis of what his workers have checked and verified. When asked about giving a communal angle to a law and order issue he said his report is not wrong.



What is the need for releasing this list now?



Is releasing the list a political stunt ahead of upcoming Assembly Elections in Uttar Pradesh? Is the BJP trying to communalise what looks more like a law and order issue?



When we asked Hukum Singh, he said he will bring up the matter again and again till it is resolved. He accused the media of highlighting wrong things and focussing on the "Hindu" families. But the list which we have accessed shows Hukum Singh did out emphasis on "Hindu" families.



In his second press conference which Singh conducted, he said it's not a communal issue, but a law and order problem.
Mumbai: Shahid Kapoor's controversial film 'Udta Punjab' is finally set for this Friday release, and the actor has urged everyone to stop judging films without watching them.



"Stop judging the films and characters after seeing one-minute promo. It's a two and half hour film. If you feel any credibility in people sitting out here, please wait till you view the film before passing judgement or creating a controversy.



"All the controversies were created without viewing it. Our names and images are at stake. Why would we do that to ourselves?," Shahid told reporters at the 'Udta Punjab' press conference here on Tuesday.



He also said that people should give some credit to his co-star Alia Bhatt who is "known to look desirable and lovely and who got the courage to go and play the role of a drug addict".



"Why is she doing that to her image because there is some substance within her which is making her feel responsible enough to pick a role that's not just about looking desirable but a role which is real," he added.



He shared that the purpose of the film is 'humane'.



Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, 'Udta Punjab' also features Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh.




In its strong reply to the Election Commission over the office for profit controversy, AAP claimed the position of the Parliamentary Secretary is honorary in nature and that no financial benefits are attached to it.

These 21 parliamentary secretaries are constitutionally wrong. Rumour or truth was that they were being given a huge salary raise and they're able to look into files, but all this is not allowed." Dikshit said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of sabotaging his government's efforts to serve the people of the national capital as the political slugfest over the dual office bill continued on Wednesday.It comes after Opposition parties called for the removal of 21 MLAs of the Delhi government for holding additional positions as parliamentary secretaries, allegedly breaching rules on holding an office of profit.The Election Commission will submit its report to the President on the matter in the coming days.Earlier, the Aam Aadmi party also claimed that the complaints are politically motivated adding that no facilities such as office space, staff, vehicle or residential accommodation of any nature were procured by the MLAs in the capacity as parliamentary secretaries.State health minister Satyendra Jain strongly defended the allegations against the Delhi government."This is only a voluntary position and I see no problem if one man helps me as a volunteer. To run the system we need to create certain positions", Jain said.Former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit however slammed the government and termed their actions as constitutionally wrong.BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra also criticised the government for pointing fingers at PM Modi and the President and said that such decisions should have been taken as per the rules of the Constitution.Former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav too joined the Opposition chorus and questioned the governments actions."The real question is why does AAP need 21 parliamentary secretaries when the rule clearly allows you to have only one parliamentary secretary. Now they are dragging the central government and LG into this as an excuse to divert attention", Yadav said.
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Wednesday night stepped down from the post of Congress in-charge of poll-bound Punjab following the controversy over his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.



Nath wrote to party president Sonia Gandhi expressing desire to be relieved from the charges. The Congress president immediately accepted his resignation and relieved him of his charge as party General Secretary.



Nath, who was appointed as the General Secretary in-charge of Punjab as well as Haryana only three days ago, said in his letter, "..I request that I may be relieved of my charge (of Punjab) to ensure that the attention is not diverted from the real issues facing Punjab."



He said he was "hurt by the developments of the past few days wherein an unnecessary controversy has been created around the tragic 1984 riots in New Delhi."



Insisting that there was not even any complaint or FIR against him in the riots case, Kamal Nath said, "This canard is therefore nothing but a cheap political ploy to gain traction ahead of the elections.... Certain elements are raking up these issues now only for political gains."







Expressing gratitude to Gandhi for appointing him as General Secretary in-charge of Punjab, the Congress leader wrote, "I am practitioner of Nehruvian politics and maligning of the Congress party using false accusations is unacceptable to me.



"I wish the party to focus on the upcoming elections and highlight the issues of misgovernance, misery of the farmers and youth, break down of law and order and rampant drug trade that caused untold misery to the people of Punjab."



Soon after, party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said the Congress president had accepted Nath's resignation as AICC General Secretary.



"Kamal Nath has tendered his resignation from the responsibilities assigned to him in AICC. On his request, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has accepted his resignation," Surjewala said.



Both Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party had hit out at Congress for appointing Nath as its general secretary in charge of Punjab, where assembly elections are to be held in 2017.



(With additional information from PTI)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to grant urgent hearing to a plea of former MP Umakant Yadav seeking suspension of his conviction and a seven year sentence in a forgery case to enable him contest the upcoming assembly elections in the Uttar Pradesh in 2017.



The plea was mentioned before a vacation bench comprising Justices A K Goel and L Nageswara Rao, which said there was no urgency in the matter which can be taken up in due course.



On June 2, the same plea was mentioned before another vacation bench which had also refused to accord an urgent hearing.



Advocate Dushyant Prashar, appearing for Yadav who has also been three times MLA of Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, said he has been a former MP and legislator and if his conviction and sentence are not suspended till the pendency of appeals, he may not be able to contest the upcoming polls.



"There is no urgency in the matter. There are several convicted people out there," the bench said, adding that the matter will be taken up in due course.



Yadav, who is out on bail since 2013, was awarded a seven year jail term in 2012 in a forgery case.



In 2006, Yadav had got a plot of land registered in his name at Daulatpur Pilkicha village of Jaunpur district by allegedly misrepresenting before the registering authority. Yadav had approached the apex court after the trial court and the Allahabad High Court rejected his plea for suspension of conviction and sentence in the case.



In his plea before the apex court, Yadav said that out of seven years of punishment granted by the trial court, he has already undergone the sentence of six years and two months.



"Specific consequence that would follow from non-suspension of the sentence would be that the petitioner being a political leader, who has been elected thrice as Member of Legislative Assembly and was also a Member of Parliament once and the petitioner is prospective nominee for the upcoming election of Legislative Assembly in the state of UP, would not be allowed to contest the upcoming elections", his plea said.



He sought stay of the operation of the judgement of the trial court and suspension of the sentence and conviction in the case.


BEIJING, June 14 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming trip to Central and Eastern European Countries (CEE) and Central Asia from June 17 to 24 is expected to significantly boost the Belt and Road Initiative.

During his trip to CEE countries as well as Central Asia, two key regions under the framework of the initiative, Xi will pay state visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan from June 17 to 22, and attend the 16th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent on June 23 and 24.

The visits are also seen as a fresh move to enhance regional and international cooperation as the SCO member states are expecting new proposals from China on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of its establishment.

TO IMPROVE PRACTICAL BILATERAL COOPERATION

The trip to CEE countries comes within three months after Xi's last one, or his first visit to the Czech Republic as China's head of state and his first multilateral diplomatic trip in 2016.

Such frequent visits to countries in the region demonstrate the great significance of bilateral cooperation in efforts by both sides to shape regional and state diplomacy.

Liu Zuokui, an expert from the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, believed that promoting bilateral cooperation with Serbia and Poland will "play an exemplary and positive role in propelling China-CEE relations."

In 2009, Serbia became the first CEE country to establish a strategic partnership with China. In September last year, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic brought along a column of soldiers to attend China's landmark parade marking the 70th anniversary of the World Anti-Fascist War victory.

Increasing political mutual trust and accelerating cooperation over recent years have worked to usher in another occasion to further bilateral ties, Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Manchang said.

Poland, among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with new China, elevated the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership in 2011. Poland remains China's largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe, while China is Poland's largest trading partner in Asia as well as its third-largest importer.

As the third leg of Xi's upcoming trip after Serbia and Poland, Uzbekistan has witnessed rapid development in its relations with China since the establishment of a bilateral strategic partnership in 2012, boosted by many mutual visits and meetings by the leaders.

During the visits, Xi is scheduled to meet heads of state and attend signing ceremonies for cooperation agreements in such fields as energy, finance, infrastructure construction, technology and tourism.

TO LEAD SCO MEMBERS OUT OF DIFFICULTY

Marking the 15th anniversary of its establishment, the SCO summit this year is expected to have a significant and positive influence on its growth, said Chen Yurong, a director at the China Institute of International Studies.

Currently, the SCO needs to make its "two wheels" run well, she said.

Regarding security cooperation under the SCO framework, combating the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism remains an urgent task for all. In the meantime, increasing economic cooperation is necessary for member states currently under the pressure of an economic slowdown.

A Kazakh political analyst at the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University said that at the upcoming SCO summit, "many countries hope China can work to bring them out of difficulties," since "China is an important driving force for the SCO development as well as a major engine of the world economy."

Apart from discussing SCO future plans, member states are expected to approve at the summit a memorandum for India and Pakistanto join the organization, a key step closer to their SCO membership. Leaders from China, Russiaand Mongolia will hold their third tripartite conference on the sidelines of the summit to be held in Tashkent.

FRESH IMPETUS FOR BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE

Xi's trip is expected to focus on the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, given the relevance of the countries for the initiative, and importance of the SCO as a platform to dovetail China's Silk Road Economic Belt Initiative with Russia's aspiration under the Eurasian Economic Union framework.

During the state visits, Xi is expected discuss new measures with leaders of Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan.

The three countries were among the first to respond to China's Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Xi during his 2013 trips to Central Asia and Southeast Asia. They also have a strong desire to cooperate with China.

At present, Serbia is pushing forward a re-industrialization strategy,trying to attract more foreign investment, while Poland, as the sole member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in the region, hopes to provide a gateway for China to enter Europe.

As for Uzbekistan, whose economy relies mainly on energy and agriculture, there is great potential for capacity cooperation with China.
New Delhi: The Rs 251 (less that $4) smartphone that created a global buzz in February is set to be delivered to the first 30,000 customers beginning from June 28, a top official has said.



These people had pre-booked the device before the pre-booking website crashed owing to huge traffic.



According to media reports, Mohit Goel, CEO of Noida-based firm Ringing Bells Pvt. Ltd., has said that the company will start shipping Freedom 251 from June 28 in cash-on-delivery (COD) mode to those who had pre-booked the device.



In an earlier interview to IANS, Ringing Bells President Ashok Chadha had said that "Freedom 251" customers will be required to make payment only when the smartphone is delivered to them.



"The company has decided that we will, henceforth, offer 'cash on delivery' mode of payments for those who have placed an order for the 'Freedom 251' smartphone. This will ensure further transparency and clear any misgivings," Chadha had told IANS.



The company that planned to give 25 lakh handsets in the first phase before June 30, received a mammoth over seven crore registrations before the payment gateway crashed.



Ringing Bells launched 'Freedom 251' in February in the presence of veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.



It distributed some "prototypes" of the product to the media which turned out to be handsets from another domestic handset maker Adcom.



However, the company maintained that the device has been developed "with immense support" from the government.



According to the company, the smartphone will run on Android 5.1 operating system and sport a 4-inch qHD IPS display, a 3.2-megapixel primary and a 0.3-megapixel front camera.



"Our humble beginning to provide a high-tech gadget that will benefit all in the hinterlands and bridge the huge gap that clearly exists between the metros and semi-urban/rural areas is in keeping with the government's initiatives," Chadha had earlier told IANS.



However, doubts were raised after assessments of the handset's viability concluded that such a device cannot be offered for less than Rs 2,300-2,400.




There was no surprise left when OnePlus officially announced its next flagship - the OnePlus 3 - thanks to the series of leaks and price revelations hours before the global launch.The OnePlus 3 has been launched in India at Rs 27,999 and is priced at $399 in the international market. The successor to the OnePlus 2, the phone comes with a 5.5-inch Optic AMOLED capacitive display offering full HD resolution at 1920 x 1080p.It features a 16 megapixel rear camera with PDAF, EIS and Optical (OIS) stabilization technologies. It includes an 8 megapixel front facing camera.The OnePlus 3 is powered by OxygenOS based on Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 and under its hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad core processor coupled with 6 GB LPDDR4 RAM and 64 GB internal storage.The phone features Type-C connector and supports dual nano-SIM. It draws its juice from a 3,000mAh lithium-polymer battery.Highlight of the flagship device is that it is not invite-based and anyone can purchase it without waiting for the invitation. The OnePlus 3 will therefore be available without invites starting today on a leading e-commerce portal. The phone is available only in Graphite colour option.
Washington: Sidestepping Chinese opposition, US President Barack Obama will meet the Dalai Lama at the White House on Wednesday, a move likely to infuriate China which considers the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader as a separatist.



"In the morning, the President will meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the White House," said the presidential schedule on Tuesday.



The meeting to be held in the Map Room of the White House is closed press. The Tibetan spiritual leader is currently on a visit of the US.



Normally the US President meets the Tibetan spiritual leader when he is in the American Capital. In the past, the White House has maintained that the US President meets the Dalai Lama in his capacity as religious and spiritual leader.



Despite the US believing that Tibet is an integral part of China, every meeting of the Dalai Lama with the American President angers Beijing.



"As a revered figure to Tibetans and people around the world, His Holiness reminds us of our great responsibility to act to safeguard human rights, promote equality and protect our environment. Any attempts on the part of the Chinese to dilute the population of Tibetans in Tibet is something that would be just really wrong. Just plain and simple: wrong. Again, a challenge to the conscience," said top Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.



Welcoming Obama's decision to meet the Dalai Lama, Pelosi said Tibetan spiritual leader's friendship with the US and the respect commanded from leaders on both sides of the aisle serve "as a powerful tribute to the righteousness of the cause of Tibetan autonomy.



If freedom-loving people do not speak out against oppression in Tibet, then we surrender all moral authority to speak on behalf of human rights anywhere in the world".



Senators Bob Corker and Ben Cardin, the chairman and ranking member of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with the Dalai Lama and Lobsang Sangay, the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile.



"At a time when our country is grappling with an increasingly unstable and uncertain world, we are inspired by his universal message, which reflects many of our own deeply-held values," Corker said, adding that they discussed about issues important to the US and the people of Tibet.



"As I continue to underscore the importance of protecting and uplifting basic human rights in the foreign policy of the United States as well as in the work of our partners and allies abroad, the Dalai Lama remains a source of inspiration and guidance to me," Cardin said.



Speaking on the House floor, Democratic Minority leader Nancy Pelosi welcomed the decision of the US President to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader.



"I know that President [Obama] will be receiving His Holiness this week. Presidents have done that over time, which is a source of great pride for us in our country and in the relationship between His Holiness and our presidents," Pelosi said.



Pelosi said the relationship between an American President and His Holiness the Dalai Lama goes back to when he was a little boy and it persists into his 80s now, something that, again, "brings luster to us in our country that we have such a beautiful relationship, with such a spiritual figure in the world".



"Honoured to see the Dalai Lama on Wednesday, who continually inspires us to choose love over hate," tweeted Congressman Tim Walz.



Congressman Suzan K Delbene said over the past several years, the Chinese government had constructed more obstacles to efforts by Tibetans to preserve their culture and religion.



"Sadly, we know that Tibetans have used self-immolation as a protest against the religious and political oversight of the Chinese government. It is difficult to fathom the despair and desperation felt by Tibetans who take this last act of defiance," she alleged.



"The Chinese government has blamed the Dalai Lama and "foreign forces" for self-immolation instead of looking at how their own policies created such deep grievances," she said.



"The Chinese government also expanded its efforts last year to transform Tibetan Buddhism into a state-managed institution. They sought to undermine the devotion of the Tibetan people to the Dalai Lama and control the process of selecting Buddhist leaders," Delbene said.


Abidjan: President Pranab Mukherjee has been accorded the highest honour of Cote D'Ivoirie by its President Alassane Ouattara on his maiden visit to Abidjan (Ivory Coast).



After an elaborate reception accorded at the airport, Mukherjee attended a banquet on Tuesday hosted by Ouattara where he was accorded with Grand Cross National Order of the Republic of Cote D'Ivoirie in a simple ceremony in the President's Palace.



It is the first such honour accorded to Mukherjee, Press Secretary to the President Venu Rajamony said.



He said while Mukherjee has received number of honorary degrees, it is first such honour accorded to him by a country.



In his speech at the banquet, Mukherjee who is on the second leg of his three-nation visit to Africa, said it is rightly believed that the mutual goodwill between India and Cote D'Ivoirie is inversely proportional to the geographical distance separating the two countries, longstanding friendship and fruitful co-operation has made it irrelevant.



"I feel greatly honoured, Excellency, by your gesture of conferring on me the National Order of the Republic of Cote D'Ivoirie. I consider it to be emblematic of the long standing mutual friendship between the peoples of our two countries," he said.



Calling for UN reforms, Mukherjee said both countries share many commonalities as both are active participants in regional and international fora and have worked together in close cooperation on matters of shared interest and concern.



"We both recognise the imperatives of strengthening the UN system and other international organisations. We would like to see them reformed so that they remain relevant and effective in addressing the challenges that confront the world today.



In this context, India stands ready to shoulder greater responsibilities in the specialised organs of the United Nations, particularly the UN Security Council," he said. He also underlined "common concerns" of both countries in the fight against international terrorism.



"We have been coordinating closely in regional and multilateral fora on this and other key issues including disarmament, climate change and sustainable development," he said.



Mukherjee said India's commitment continued in the form of South-South Cooperation through developmental assistance and sharing resources for the development of her brother nations in Africa.



The President said India's public and private sector are keen to join Cote D'Ivoirie in setting up agro-based industries because of its fertile soil and agricultural and mineral resources.


Washington: The US has appealed to Pakistan and Afghanistan to reduce the tension following recent cross-border firing over the contentious fencing issue which resulted in casualties on both sides.



"I could tell you we are all watching the tensions very closely, that we are in touch with officials on both sides," State Department Spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday.



He was responding to questions on tensions between the two South Asian neighbours in aftermath of the cross firing at north-western Torkham border crossing.



In the firing, an Afghan border guard was killed while three Pakistani soldiers, including a senior army official and nine civilians were injured.



"We continue to urge a calm resolution to the tension. We obviously don't want to see clashes; we don't want to see violence; we don't want to see it get worse," he said.



The Special US Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Olson, was in the two countries over the weekend.



In Islamabad, Olson met with government officials, including Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif, to discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues.



In Kabul, he met with Afghan government officials to include President Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, and National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar. He also met with Resolute Support Commander, General John Nicholson, Kirby said.
Thomas Jeffersons Poplar Forest announced Wednesday it has met its fundraising goal for new plantings to enhance its historic landscape. Gifts from more than 50 people  ranging from $25 to $1,000  have been donated to the fund, exceeding its original $5,000 goal.

The campaign is a component of Poplar Forests new path to the historic property. In May, the organization announced a new road through a new park and trail system that would give visitors an opportunity to walk the route Thomas Jefferson once took to Lynchburg.

Every donation we receive, no matter the amount, is important to us, and all will help us to achieve our goals: to complete the restoration of the house and grounds to Jeffersons original vision; enhance programming to better tell the story of Poplar Forest; and raise the public profile of Jeffersons private retreat, President and CEO of Poplar Forest Jeff Nichols said in a news release.

The donations will be used towards purchasing plants and flowering trees at the new Enterprise Drive entrance.

Poplar Forest will use native plants, both ornamental and practical, to enhance the roads, parking areas, museum shop and other visitor spaces.

Rachael Smith
Black bags containing buildup of contaminated wastes are seen in the town of Iitate, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, March 7, 2015. [Photo: Xinhua]

China has again urged the Japanese government to give an honest explanation of the Fukushima nuclear leak incident and its impact on the environment as soon as possible.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the remarks after the Japanese government decided to lift the evacuation order in the highly radiated "residential restricted area," allowing evacuees to return to where they used to live.

"We have noticed that since the responsible person of the atomic energy department of the Tokyo Electric Power Company disclosed on May 30 the truth that had been concealed for five years, the Japanese government has, up to the present, not made any responsible and open response to the matter."

He added that the impact of the Fukushima nuclear leak on the environment, ecology and food safety is not limited to Japan itself.

Lu also addressed the issue of whether Chinese tourists to Japan are safe.

"I want to clarify that it is the freedom and choice of each and every Chinese citizen to make their own travel plan. But the Chinese government has responsibilities to give a necessary warning when there are uncertain risks and it is the compelling obligation of the Japanese government to give an honest and true answer of the Fukushima nuclear leak and its impact as soon as possible."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has issued an alert, warning Chinese citizens and tourist groups to be cautious when going to Fukushima, and other seriously affected areas.
WILLIAMSBURG  Daniel Sangjib Min was asked if he had come to photograph the naturalization ceremony. It was a logical question; just last month, he had photographed a similar event in Richmond.

But no was the response from Min, a staff photographer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Instead, he was there Tuesday to become an American citizen.

Being a photographer, out there, Im taking photographs and a part of it, but not really a part of it. But today, Im really in it, Min said.

The South Korea native was one of 94 people representing 46 nations to become U.S. citizens Tuesday during a naturalization ceremony at the Colonial Capitol in Williamsburg. The ceremony was a long time coming for Min, who came to the U.S. in 1997.

U.S. District Judge Mark Davis of the Eastern District of Virginia presided over the ceremony. He spoke on the importance of diversity in the nation.

We take pride and gain strength in our diverse culture and our heritage, Davis said.

He urged the new citizens to take an active role in government by participating in jury duty, being involved in civic conversations, and voting.

Min cant wait to vote. This is the fifth presidential election cycle he has seen since arriving in the U.S. and, come November, hell finally be able to cast his ballot.

Im very excited, especially this year; Im excited to have the right to vote, said Min, who was quick to get a voter registration form after the ceremony.

Voting is exciting, and its been a long while to become a permanent resident here and finally a U.S. citizen.

One by one, Min and his now-fellow citizens stood and recited their names and countries of origin. They came from all corners of the globe: Poland, Canada, India and Mexico, to name a few.

Some jumped out of their chairs when it was their turn; others stood slowly. Some held American flags.

They took the Oath of Allegiance to their new country, and their first act as a citizen was reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Every single one of you brings something to this country that we have never had before. You are bringing yourselves. You are bringing your experiences. You are bringing the piece of your society through your experiences. Those are valuable to this country, keynote speaker Stephen Seals of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation said in a speech that looked at the countrys past while discussing the significance of the American dream.

The 44-year-old Min brings 25 years worth of South Korean culture to the U.S. He spent about 26 months in that nations armed forces. And now hes the latest in his family to get his U.S. citizenship, two months after his wife, Daniela, got hers.

As I sat down and then stood up for the swearing in, it was very emotional and very meaningful, he said with his wife by his side.

Theres no better place to become a citizen than in Williamsburg, Min said. The ceremony featured the singing of The Star-Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful by Caroline Scruggs, who was wearing a Colonial-style dress.

People in Colonial military uniforms played music and presented the colors at the place that was integral in the events leading to the American Revolution.

When he came to the U.S., it was just Min and his wife. Now they have two children, one of whom will be graduating from high school this week. Its a time for new beginnings.

I feel very honored, Min said. This is a historically meaningful place, and I feel really honored to join the rest of my family as a U.S. citizen.
China bans exports of more items to DPRK

China on Tuesday released a list of goods banned for export to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), as the items could be used to develop weapons of mass destruction.

The ban, with immediate effect, follows UN Security Council resolutions, said the Ministry of Commerce website.

The list names dozens of banned items including metal hydrides, laser-welding equipment and plasma cutting equipment.

It also bans the exports of a dozen chemicals that could be used in the production of "chemical warfare agents".

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in March in response to the DPRK's nuclear test in January and attempted satellite launch in February.
LIMA, June 14 -- Peruvian President-elect Pedro Pablo Kuczynski will visit China on his first foreign trip after taking office next month.

Speaking to Channel 2 television recently, Kuczynski said his first official trip will be to China, prior to the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) summit Lima is set to host on Nov. 19 and 20.

"It's necessary to go to China before the APEC, because it is our No. 1 trade partner," said Kuczynski, who just won the presidential election.

Kuczynski's decision shows his determination to boost ties with Peru's biggest trade partner, said Carlos Aquino, director of the Economic Research Institute at the National University of San Marcos in Lima.

"China is our leading trade partner, the top investor in Peru, especially in the area of mining, and we have a great (joint) project of bicoastal train with Brazil that will hopefully become a reality," Aquino told Xinhua.

Reciprocal high-level visits between China and its trade partners in Latin America are getting more frequent in recent years. Leaders of Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Chile have all made China their first foreign trip destinations in recognition of China's growing importance in the economy of the region, said Aquino.

The president-elect's first agenda on the trip will be to boost trade, especially to increase the share of products with more added value that Peru exports to China, said Aquino.

Peru is also seeking to attract more Chinese investment in mining, fishing and infrastructure and more Chinese visitors, he said.

The total value of bilateral trade now stands at some 15 billion U.S. dollars, thanks to the free-trade agreement that went into effect on March 1, 2010.
$M BLAZE IN CENTRAL

Although firemen using appliances from several fire stations were able to contain the blaze after a two-hour long battle, the supermarket was completely gutted even as the building itself remains standing. While no official word was forthcoming last night from the owners of the supermarket, firemen said that losses are estimated in the millions.

According to a police report the fire started at about 3.15 pm at the warehouse on the upper level of the building. As plumes of thick, black smoke spread rapidly throughout the building, panic ensued and screaming workers scrambled out of the burning building. No injuries were reported. It happened so fast. I was cashing downstairs then I heard someone shout out fire fire, fire! I really did not know what was going on, but I saw everyone running out of the building, said a 35-year-old employee.

She recalled hearing screams and saw many of her co-workers crying.

Everyone was really scared. I was scared too, but I just kept running.

I still cant believe it, she told Newsday as her hands trembled.

Another traumatized worker said that some of the workers who were in the back of the building were not aware of the fire.

Some of the workers had to run to the back and call out to them, shouting their names to run out of the burning place. Everyone was just running and screaming. I thought the building was going to collapse, the worker said. Newsday learnt that the ceiling of the building began to collapse even while employees attempted to flee to safety.

It was a really horrible experience for me and even more worse when I wake up tomorrow, I do so knowing I dont have a job. I have two children and now I am without a job and thing are already bad in this country, an emotional worker said. Supervisor Mickey Silochan who was also inside the building at the time, recalled hearing a loud explosion inside the building which was followed by smoke and fire.

The explosion came from upstairs and then I saw workers screaming and running shouting fire, he related. Silochan who was at the time in the market section of the supermarket said that the fire started in the warehouse area where detergents and insecticides were stored. It is a really sad situation right now. We have 60 person unemployed, he said.

Silochan added that just recently they had to undertake infrastructural changes to give the building a facelift. A few weeks ago, fire also broke out at the Food Basket Southern Trinidad branch along Coffee Street in San Fernando. A refrigerator with frozen goods was reportedly destroyed in that blaze.

The cause of that blaze was listed as electrical. However, the cause of the blaze in yesterdays fire has not yet been determined. Speaking to reporters at the scene of the fire, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Roosevelt Bruce said that when fire appliances responded to the fire, the upper floor of building was already completely engulfed in flames. He said six fire appliances were called out with a total of 75 fire officers on the scene. Bruce further explained that initially, fire officers encountered difficulty as there was a lack of water in the hydrants. He said that subsequently, fire officers received assistance from officers of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and the Central Regional Corporation. While extinguishing the blaze, Bruce said that fire officers had halt operations, when a wall at the upper level of the building began to collapse. Eventually the fire officers battled were able to contain the fire and now we have it under control, he said. He said that an investigation into the cause of the blaze has started but a cause has not yet been determined. As fire officers battled for hours to extinguish the blaze, workers and customers watched on in horror.

Some workers, in tears, were seen consoling each other. Also at the scene, Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodan said that he was extremely saddened by the fire and consequent losses including to peoples employment. This business has employed a lot of people and also a lot of people accessed this establishment. I am concerned for the employees now. I am here to offer my support on behalf of the borough and all the other stakeholders, Boodan said.
Recall of Sleep

Apnea Device

Is Not Going Well
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15

Trend:

Armenian armed forces have 18 times violated the ceasefire with Azerbaijan on the line of contact over the past 24 hours, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said in a message June 15.

Armenian armed forces stationed in the Paravakar village of Armenia's Ijevan district opened fire at the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Kohnegishlag village of the Aghstafa district.

Azerbaijani positions, located in the villages of Aghbulag and Alibayli of the Tovuz district underwent fire from the positions located in the villages of Chinari and Mosesgeh of Armenia's Berd district.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani positions located on nameless heights of the Gadabay district were fired at from the positions located on nameless heights of Armenia's Krasnoselsk district.

Moreover, Azerbaijani positions underwent fire from the positions located near the villages of Garakhanbeyli, Horadiz and Gorgan of the Fizuli district and from the nameless heights in Goranboy, Fizuli and Jabrayil districts.

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.
Washington:

President Barack Obama will meet the Dalai Lama at the White House today, in a move likely to enrage China, which sees the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader as a separatist.

Obamas official schedule indicated that the pair, who have met before several times, would talk behind closed doors in the Map Room at 10:15 am (local time). The president usually speaks with dignitaries in the Oval Office.

They last met in the same room in February 2014, though they have had encounters since. Beijing has routinely accused Washington of meddling in its domestic affairs after such encounters.

China says the Dalai Lama is seeking to split Tibet from the rest of China and calls him a wolf in sheeps clothing. But the spiritual leader has pressed more for Tibetan autonomy rather than outright independence. Beijing vigorously lobbies against foreign leaders meeting the Dalai Lama in any form.

Many Tibetans say China in turn is repressing their Buddhist religion and culture, and preventing them from benefiting from the regions economic development. Since becoming president, Obama has made a pivot to Asia a cornerstone of his foreign policy.

Although the meeting will certainly draw Chinas ire, the concrete consequences remain unclear. The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since 1959 after a failed uprising in Tibet.

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New York:

29-year-old Omar Mateen, who gunned down 49 people at a gay club in Orlando, himself might have been gay but chose to hide his true identity out of anger and shame, his former wife has said as authorities looked into reports that he had visited the Florida club several times and also used a gay dating app.



Sitora Yusufiy said she had met Mateen online in 2008 and the two got married in 2009. He might have been gay but chose to hide his true identity out of anger and shame, she said.



A New York Times report cited a senior federal law enforcement official as saying that the FBI was looking at reports that Mateen had used a gay dating app.



Patrons of Pulse, the club where he killed 49 people in the worst shooting case in US history, were quoted as saying that he had visited the club several times.



Yusufiy said that her ex-husband had told her that he frequented nightclubs before their marriage, but that he did not tell her they were gay clubs. CBS News said in a report that club-goers have told investigators that Mateen had been at Pulse previously.



The Orlando Sentinel and other news organizations also quoted regular customers at the gay bar as saying they had seen Mateen there a number of times.



Sometimes he would go over in the corner and sit and drink by himself, and other times he would get so drunk he was loud and belligerent, said Ty Smith, a patron at the bar. Smith said he saw Mateen inside the club at least a dozen times.



Yusufiy, during an interview at her home in Colorado, said Mateen had seemed perfect American enough for her free spirit and Muslim enough to please her traditional family.



This man was a simple, Americanized guy that was also from my culture. And, you know, had the same religion, she said. So I was like, OK , this could potentially satisfy my parents. She moved to Florida, and they married in a quiet courthouse ceremony in 2009, but the short-lived marriage was marred by violence and isolation, she said.

She had no friends or family in Florida, and Mateen preferred that she stay in the house.She said he sometimes returned from work angry and agitated, including one night when she fell asleep on the floor waiting for him to return home.

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Washington:

Hours after President Barack Obama blasted him for his anti-Muslim rhetoric, Donald Trump today hit back calling him a lousy president who he said is more angry at the Republican presidential nominee than the Orlando shooter. He (Obama) was more angry at me than he was at the shooter, and many people said that. One of the folks on television said, Boy, has Trump gotten under his skin, Trump told his cheering supporters at an election rally in Greensboro, North Carolina.



The level of anger, thats the kind of anger he should have for the shooter and these killers that shouldnt be here. We have a radical Islamic terrorism problem, Trump said.



He was responding to Obamas strong statement earlier in the day in which he slammed the real estate tycoon for his anti-Muslim rhetoric including temporary ban of entry of Muslims in the US, increase in surveillance and for describing it as radical Islamic terrorism.



There is no magic to the phrase radical Islam. It is a political talking point. It is not a strategy, Obama had said in his remarks at the Department of Treasury after he held a meeting with his national security council.



We now have proposals from the presumptive Republican nominee for president of the United States to bar all Muslims from immigrating into America. And you hear language that singles out immigrants and suggests entire religious communities are complacent in violence, he said.



Where does this stop? The Orlando killer, one of the San Bernardino killers, the Fort Hood killerthey were all US citizens. Are we going to start treating all Muslim-Americans differently? Are we going to start subjecting them to special surveillance? Are we going to start discriminate them, because of their faith? Obama asked.



Obama said this makes Muslim-Americans feel like their government is betraying them. It betrays the very values America stands for. We have gone through moments in our history before when we acted out of fear, and we came to regret it. We have seen our government mistreat our fellow citizens, and it has been a shameful part of our history, said the president.



However, Trump stood his ground. I would have been very happy had Obama been a great president. Hes been one hell of a lousy president. Hes done a terrible job. Whats happening to our country is devastating and embarrassing and our lives will never be the same, Trump said.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Chandigarh:

A Punjab-based NGO has moved the Supreme Court against the release of controversial Bollywood film Udta Punjab. The NGO has challenged the Bombay High Court order which said that film can be released with just one cut instead of 89. Now, the NGO named Human Rights Awareness Association has moved the Supreme Court urging to stay the films release on June 17 as it "projected the state in a bad light".

It has requested an urgent hearing, however the apex court says it would ''mention'' the petition on Thursday.

The Bombay High Court had on Tuesday struck down all but one of 89 cuts made to the controversial film by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).



The NGO told a Supreme Court vacation bench that the Bombay High Court "could not have interfered with the decision of the CBFC.

Last week, Anurag Kashyap's Phantom Films had moved Bombay High Court against the CBFC's cuts. Punjab is facing a massive drug abuse problem with more than 70 per cent of young people being addicted to drugs, according to a study by Guru Nanak Dev University.

Cuts were recommended by the censor board in 13 categories that included references to Punjab and other cities in the movie, deletion of words like "MLA", "election" and "party" worker, abusive words in songs and dialogue.

Another Punjab based NGO named Fateh Foundation had last week said that it would press for Udta Punjab's release with absolutely no cuts whatsoever.

"So what is wrong if a movie shows the same thing that people are already talking about," he asked. "I am of view that there is pressure (to block it) from a strong political lobby whose electoral interests are at stake as the movie reveals the rampant abuse of 'chitta' (heroin) in Punjab", Anoop Singh Bhullar, the chairman of the NGO, said. "We will try to impress upon CBFC the importance of revelations in Udta Punjab for the people of nation," Bhullar said last week.

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New Delhi:

In what can be called the second incursion by its warship, a Chinese spy ship on Wednesday briefly entered Japanese territorial waters off an island in the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima in the wee hours, a Japanese official said. As China pushes its territorial claims in the South China Sea America and Japan prep themselves up by exhibiting its naval power. However, Beijing views access to Pacific as seminal for the supply line to the rest of the world's oceans and also for the projection of its naval power.

Earlier, in 2004 a Chinese nuclear submarine had entered the territorial waters near the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. This time the Chinese spy ship had been spotted by a Japanese patrol plane around 3:30 a.m.

Considering the security issues, the Japanese government now plans to take to take all possible measures for warning and surveillance activity for its territorial waters and airspace.

In this regard, Japan had summoned the Chinese ambassador to express concern after a Chinese navy ship sailed close to what Japan considers its territorial waters in the East China Sea.

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Ahmedabad:

In a bizarre attempt to find out a man-eater that killed 3 people in Gujarat, 18 male lions have been put on trial. If any one of these is found guilty, he will be sentenced to life in zoo. All the suspects are Asiatic lions and the species is endangered.



There has been a decline in the population of Asiatic lions, human settlements on its remaining habitat is to be blamed. Hence, in this process, these lions and humans are more likely to come into contact, which may lead to killings both ways.

Around 400 Asiatic lions are left in the wild and this is the only population outside Africa. According to Indian wildlife officials, almost all these lions live in Gir National Park, which can accommodate 270 of them. This forces some of them to venture outside its boundaries.



Recently, the Supreme Court of India had ordered Gujarat to shift some of its lions to other states, but the state is yet to comply.

The paw-prints and feces of these 18 lions in custody will now be tested in order to find out the culprit.



"The officials are also studying the animals' behaviour. Man eating lions usually get aggressive at the sight of a human being," wildlife expert Ruchi Dave told the BBC.

J.A. Khan, Gujarat's top forest official, said, "We think we have pinpointed the guilty lion, but we are still awaiting the results of nine more animals." Once identified, the guilty lion will be sent to a zoo, while others will be released back into the wild.

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Mumbai:

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi is of the view that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) should neither censor nor certify movies, instead only classify them.

Azmis comment came in wake of the censorship controversy that surrounded Bollywood film Udta Punjab, wherein the makers got embroiled into a tussle with the censor board over the film bodys demand for multiple cuts in the movie.

CBFC shud become a body that does not censor or even certify ONLY CLASSIFY films. That gives the audience the choice to watch a film or not, the 65-year-old Neerja actress tweeted.

Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, Udta Punjab is based on the issue of substance abuse in Punjab. As the fight with the board intensified, the films makers moved the Bombay High Court against the CBFCs decision. The court cleared the film for release with just one cut.

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Islamabad:

Nearly 500 Pakistani soldiers and 3,500 militants were killed during two-year long Operation Zarb-e-Azb launched by the military to clear the restive tribal region of terrorists, army said today.



The FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Region) has been cleared of all militants and the troops have reached upto the border (with Afghanistan), Military spokesman Lt Gen Asim Bajwa said, marking the second anniversary of the Zarb-e-Azb.



Operation Zarb-e-Azb (Sharp and cutting strike) was launched on June 15, 2014 to clear the North Waziristan of al-Qaeda linked militants.



Bajwa said more than 3,500 militants were killed while around 490 soldiers lost their lives during the operation.



He said 992 militant hideous were destroyed, 253 tonnes of explosives confiscated, 7,500 bomb factories dismantled, 2,800 mines removed and 3,500 rockets and mortars recovered during the operation.



The militants had enough explosives to continue bombing for 15 years with upto seven bombing every day, he said.



He said 4,304 sq/km was cleared in the tribal region and all militant networks in North Waziristan and Khyber were smashed, which were main source of terrorism.



He said the operation was done indiscriminately and all militants groups were targeted. He said the operation was still going on in the shape of combing operations.



Bajwa said that Pakistan suffered USD 107 billion of financial losses since 9/11 due to militancy in its region.



He said border management with Afghanistan was serious issues as Pakistan wants to plug all points on the 2,600 kilometer long border to stop illegal movements.



He said in the initial phase eight recognised crossing points will be managed and later presence of forces on the border will be increased.



We are having new recruits to increase manpower of Frontier Corps and border management troops to improve the security and bring all movement under control, he said.



Bajwa said that success in the tribal region had major positive impact on the security in the country. He also mentioned Karachi where over 1,200 militants were captured and several killed.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Hyderabad:

Two persons were today arrested for allegedly cheating the e-commerce giant Amazon by buying iPhones from the online portal and then reclaiming the money by returning duplicate phones.



Commissioners Task Force (South Zone Team) arrested Ankush Birajdar, who worked as a risk investigator at Amazon, and his friend Mir Feroz Ali.



Additional deputy commissioner of police N Koti Reddy said in a release that they bought expensive iPhones online from Amazon by creating fake customer email ids.



After getting the delivery they asked the company to take them back on the pretexts like tampered package, defects in the product or delayed delivery, etc.



However, they sold off the original iPhone and returned duplicate handsets.



Birajdar worked as a risk investigator of transactions, risk management team in Amazon at Madhapur here and found the loopholes in the online refunding process for the rejected items and decided to exploit it, police said.



Police seized six iPhones from them.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

With a controversy surrounding his three-day-old appointment, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath tonight quit as party in-charge of poll-bound Punjab in view of a canard regarding the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.



He wrote a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi who immediately accepted his resignation and relieved him of his charge as party General Secretary.



Nath, who was appointed as the General Secretary in-charge of Punjab as well as Haryana only three days back, said in his letter to Gandhi, .. I request that I may be relieved of my charge (of Punjab) to ensure that the attention is not diverted from the real issues facing Punjab.



The former Union Minister said he was hurt by the developments of the past few days wherein an unnecessary controversy has been created around the tragic 1984 riots in New Delhi.



His step came as Akali Dal, BJP and AAP had kept up attack on him and the Congress over his alleged role in the anti-Sikh riots which followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Describing his appointment as sprinkling of salt on wounds of Sikhs, the three parties were set to rake up the issue in the run up to the Assembly polls slated next year.



Kamal Nath insisted that there was not even any public statement, complaint or FIR against him till 2005 in the riots case and that he had been absolved subsequently by the Nanavati Commission set up by the previous NDA government.



This canard is therefore nothing but a cheap political ploy to gain traction ahead of the elections.... Certain elements are raking up these issues now only for political gains, he wrote to Gandhi.



Expressing gratitude to Gandhi for appointing him as General Secretary in-charge of Punjab, the Congress leader wrote, I am practitioner of Nehruvian politics and maligning of the Congress party using false accusations is unacceptable to me.



I wish the party to focus on the upcoming elections and highlight the issues of misgovernance, misery of the farmers and youth, break down of law and order and rampant drug trade that caused untold misery to the people of Punjab.



Soon after, party spokesman Randeep Surjewala said the Congress president had accepted Naths resignation as AICC General Secretary.



Kamal Nath has tendered his resignation from the responsibilities assigned to him in AICC. On his request, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has accepted his resignation, Surjewala said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15

Trend:

Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Paolo Gentiloni will visit Azerbaijan in coming months, Italian media reported.

Gentiloni spoke about his visit at the 4th session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Italy and Azerbaijan, held June 13 in Rome.

The minister said Italy relies on Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus and noted that from a geopolitical point of view, Azerbaijan has a strategic position and great economic potential; it is a key country linking Europe with Asia, as well as Italy's partner.

Speaking about the visits of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev to Italy in 2014 and 2015, as well as the mutual visits, Gentiloni said the Italian side wants that there were more official visits.

The minister also touched upon the importance of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) project in strengthening the Italian-Azerbaijani partnership.

He said the project is strategically important for Italy's economy and the Azerbaijani gas will be supplied to Italy via this pipeline in 2020.

Gentiloni went on to add that the trade turnover between Italy and Azerbaijan amounted to five billion euros in 2015 and Azerbaijan's demand for Italian products is increasing.

Italy wants to increase its exports to Azerbaijan, he added.

He also said the economic cooperation between the two countries shouldn't be limited to the energy sector; there are opportunities for cooperation in various fields.

Speaking about the importance of relations in cultural sphere, Gentiloni emphasized the attention paid by the Azerbaijani side, in particular, by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to this sphere.

The foreign minister also noted that Italy too must make efforts for restoring peace and stability in the Caucasus and for a constructive and fruitful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU.

He added that Italy supports the efforts of Germany, which chairs the OSCE, for the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The minister assured that in case of Italy's election as the OSCE Chair in 2018, the country will make every effort to resolve the conflict.

The 4th session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held with participation of Azerbaijan's delegation, led by the country's energy minister and the Commission's co-chairman Natig Aliyev, and various state structures representing the country.

Along with the Commission's session, an Azerbaijani-Italian business forum was held the same day in Rome with participation of the two countries' leading companies.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15

Trend:

Russia and Azerbaijan will develop military cooperation, said Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu.

He made the remarks June 15 at the meeting with Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, RIA Novosti agency reported June 15.

"Our military cooperation has a strategic character, as all other types of cooperation between our countries," said Shoygu. "I think there is a potential for the growth and development."

"Of course, we will do everything to further develop our strategic partnership and friendly ties," he added.

Moreover, Shoygu congratulated his Azerbaijani counterpart on the occasion of Azerbaijan's National Salvation Day.

Russia's defense minister also said he will be glad to see Azerbaijan's delegation at the International Military-Technical Forum "Army 2016", where the latest weapons and military equipment will be demonstrated.

During the meeting, the two ministers also discussed the issues of international security, including in the South Caucasus and the Caspian region.

Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov said almost 90 officers of the country's armed forces will start education at the Russian military universities in 2016.

"We have a good plan of the bilateral military cooperation," said Hasanov. "These are the issues of training of our future officers."

Hasanov noted that 72 people are studying at the Russian military educational institutions.

"We expect it will be 88 in the next year," he added.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Cezar Florin Preda and Stefan Schennach.

Co-rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee Cezar Florin Preda and Stefan Schennach noted the importance of their visit to Azerbaijan at a time when the country marks National Salvation Day. They stressed that the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe to be held in Baku would contribute to the expansion of international cooperation. The co-rapporteurs hailed the development of cooperation between the Council of Europe and Azerbaijan.

They hailed the significance of the Azerbaijani President's order pardoning a group of prisoners and the adoption of an amnesty act, adding that the moves were praised by the Council of Europe.

President Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe had enjoyed fruitful and constructive cooperation for long years, and hailed the current level of cooperation.

The president said Azerbaijan was one of the most active members of the organization. He also expressed his confidence that this cooperation would be further developed.

The sides exchanged views over the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as cooperation prospects.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15

Trend:

Some 200 convicts were released from correctional facilities June 15 in accordance with the amnesty act, Nizamaddin Jalilov, major-general, deputy chief of the penitentiary service of the Azerbaijani justice ministry, told reporters June 15.

The amnesty act was adopted by the parliament of Azerbaijan May 20 on the initiative of Azerbaijan's First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva.

"The execution of the amnesty act, adopted on the occasion of May 28 - Republic Day, has started today and will last four months," he said.

"The penitentiary facilities have already begun to execute the amnesty act," he said. "The amnesty act as a whole will cover 10,000 prisoners. Of these, 3,500 prisoners will be released from the places of detention."

The amnesty act also covers those who have dependant minors or children with the first or second group of disability, the persons who have participated in battles for the defense of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the persons displaced internally from their native lands as a result of the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories, and the persons of other categories.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

Shareholders of Azerbaijan's Ateshgah Insurance company will discuss the issue to increase the company's authorized capital in the next month.

This issue will be discussed during the extraordinary meeting of the company's shareholders on July 18, said the message posted on the company's website June 15.

Ateshgah Insurance was established in 1996. The company's authorized capital amounted to five million manats in late 2015.
DANBURY - The Power Veterans Initiative will hold what it hopes will be the first of an annual 5K road race June 26 to increase awareness and raise money for veterans through the American Legion.

Gerardo Malangone, Power Veterans Initiative team leader for Connecticut said, After talking with the American Legion, we realized that we are both being hurt by negative opinions of veterans. People think that veterans make poor workers, or are just old drunk guys. The Legion welcomed us with open arms and supported our mission.

Malangone, who served with the National Guard for four years, hopes the race will create a buzz in the community and serve to introduce the new initiative.

One hundred percent of the $20 registration fee will be given to Post 60 of the American Legion.

The Post plans to use the money to do a facelift on its current building at 138 Triangle St. It wants to attract millennials who have just left the force with a comfortable atmosphere. Malangone mentioned bringing in new televisions, a game room and possibly an upgraded bar.

Were teaming up with them because itd be perfect to encourage these veterans to come to Power, which is highly motivated to hire veterans, Malangone said.

Malangone said that Power is a remodeling company, but also offers marketing and communications positions. Every veteran on the staff receives a $3,000 bonus after working for three months. They also try to help out spouses of wounded veterans.

Charles Stofko, the communications liason for the Power Veterans Initiative, was inspired to help out veterans after seeing his great uncles, who served in World War II, cry when they saw how Vietnam veterans were treated.

It never really sat well with me to see the disconnect between the community and the vets, Stofko said.

Stofko said his family always gave the uncles a heros welcome, and loved hearing their stories when they were shared.

The 5K will begin at 131 Triangle St. Kick off begins as 9 a.m. and the run starts at 10 a.m. Registration can be paid the day of the race. In addition to the run the event will offer a raffle and a food and ice-cream truck.

The Power Veterans Initiative is a strictly volunteer organization.

We chose to do this mission and we are choosing to do it well, Malangone said.
NEW MILFORD  The town zoning commission is considering a proposed ordinance change that would permit the opening of a medical marijuana dispensary.

The commission had considered and abandoned such a zoning change two years ago, but is revisiting the issue at the request of New Options Healing LLC, which hopes to open a dispensary at 260 Danbury Road.

I think if you gave us a chance in your town, we wouldnt be detrimental, company president Russell Lutz told the commission Tuesday night.

A dispensary must also be licensed by the state Department of Consumer Protection.

Town zoning enforcement officer Laura Regan said the proposal made two years ago would have allowed dispensaries in the general business use zone, where traditional pharmacies are permitted. She said New Options Healings request is to add dispensaries to the list of permitted uses in the more restrictive B-2 zone.

If the zoning change is approved, Lutz would return to the commission with a separate application for the dispensary itself, including site plans and security details.

This would basically be a CVS with more security than youve ever seen, Lutz said.

The dispensary would have two different security systems in place, a security guard on-site 24/7 and constant supervision by the state using a state-of-the-art surveillance system, Lutz said. There would be no advertising and only a small sign above the door with the companys name.

You wont even know were here until you need to, Lutz said.

The zoning commission will continue the public hearing on the zoning change at its June 28 meeting.

Discussion of the earlier proposal focused on whether the zoning change should mandate that dispensaries be at least 1,500 feet from schools and churches. On Tuesday, commissioners questioned whether the town should mandate a separation distance this time around, or rely on the state regulation prohibiting dispensaries within 1,000 feet of a school, church, playground or day care.

Connecticut has six dispensaries, including one in Bethel. Three others have been licensed by the state and are expected to open this summer.

Lutz said the Bethel location is overwhelmed by demand and opening one in New Milford would help relieve that pressure. But even if New Milford grants the zoning change, it was not immediately clear how soon the state might approve an application for a new dispensary.

We are not currently accepting applications for new dispensary facilities, but may at some point as the program expands and there are more patients to serve, said Lora Rae Anderson, spokeswoman for the Department of Consumer Protection.

To buy medical marijuana, a patient must obtain a doctors permission and a state-issued photo identification card. Each patient only receives one card, but a caregiver can obtain the marijuana is the patient is unable, Lutz said.

Mark Landers, one of Lutzs partners in the venture, said medical marijuana has helped him immensely in treating nerve pain since he lost a leg in 2010. He was prescribed painkillers and opioids to deal with the pain and became addicted, but after switching to medical marijuana was able to get off opioids.

Its allowed me to function in my life and get back to the new norm, he said.

kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345; @kkoerting
It seems like it should be common knowledge, right? I mean, more than 3 billion of us are online every day.

So, how does the web work? Lets use some simple web browsing to break it down.

When you visit a website such as Entrepreneur.com for instance, the web server hosting that site can be anywhere in the world. For you to find the location of the web server, your devices browser will first connect to a Domain Name System, commonly referred to as a DNS server. The DNS acts like a phone book, which tells your device the IP address associated with the requested domain name of the web page you want to visit.

Related: Are You Living in a Digital Bubble? This Flowchart Will Tell You. (Infographic)

The IP address that the DNS returns to your computer allows your browser to contact the web server that hosts the website you requested.

For example, lets say youre in San Francisco, and the Entrepreneur.com site is hosted in New York. The browser in SF contacts the DNS server, which then tells the browser the location of the web server in N.Y. Then, that web server sends that webpage that you requested back to your device through the browser, and voila, youre surfing the net! (Yes, that term is from the late '90s, but its just so good.)

There you have it. To help clarify, lets break down some terms real quick:

Web server

A web server is a computer that hosts websites. There are companies such as Facebook and Google that have their own web servers, but most companies use a third-party service such as Godaddy, MediaTemple and Cloud9 hosting that charge a service fee to host your site.

Related: Study: Americans Are Ditching Home Internet for Mobile

Domain Name System (DNS)

A network of servers that act as phonebooks. They organize and maintain a list of domains and IP addresses, which computers and machines use to recognize different web pages, computers and users.

IP address

A unique number that identifies each unique computer over a certain network.

Webpage

When viewing a website, your browser will be receiving HTML and CSS from the web server that hosts the site. The web browser translates the HTML and CSS code to create the page that is viewable to an internet user.

Related: The Evolution of New Generic Top-Level Domains

Device

People access the internet all over the world, across a number of devices including laptops, mobile phones, desktops and tablets. Keep in mind, devices range in different dimensions, computing capacity and connection time.

All of that in a blink of an eye. Pretty crazy to think about how fast the internet works. We carry in our pockets computing power, which was only available to the most elite government agencies only 30 years prior. Now you can go ahead and awe your friends while at an ice cream social, book reading or bunco party. Woot.

Related:



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
The United States is woefully behind when it comes to parental leave. Currently we are one of the only countries that does not mandate paid leave of any kind. Whats more is that right now only 12 percent of private sector workers have access to paid family leave benefits through their employer. This leaves thousands of new parents with the challenge of caring for a burgeoning family while trying to earn an income.

While we still have a long way to go, the United States is making progress. Three states -- California, New Jersey and Rhode Island -- currently offer paid leave programs funded through employee-paid payroll taxes. New legislation requiring paid leave has been rolling out across the country, with New York City and San Francisco recently enacting paid leave policies. Additionally, more and more heavy-hitting companies like EY, Coca-Cola, Netflix and Facebook are also getting on board, including parental leave policies for both parents.

Though adoption of paid leave policies is a clear benefit to employees, it begs the question: what is the real impact of parental leave on businesses?

Related: Facebook Expands Parental Leave Ahead of the Birth of Mark ...

Parental leave can be a boon to your business.

For small to medium-sized businesses, the impact of adopting a paid family leave policy can be significant. Budgets are already tight in a competitive market and staying compliant with state and federal medical and unpaid leave regulations can be incredibly complicated. However, incorporating paid family leave may also benefit your business.

For one, the flexibility parental leave affords can lead to increased productivity when exhausted new parents have some time off to rest and organize family responsibilities. Paid leave benefits can also help employers garner employee loyalty and recruit top candidates in the global market. In fact, according to the White Houses Summit on Working Families, nearly half of parents have chosen to pass on a job that would conflict with family obligations.

So how can you successfully develop a paid family leave policy? Here are three ways to make the transition to providing paid parental leave more successful:

Related: How to Calculate the Right Parental Leave Policy

1. Know the laws.

First, know the laws and regulations for the states and cities where you conduct business so that you can develop your program in compliance with those laws.

For most businesses with 50 or more employees, you are required to comply with numerous federal regulations, one of which is the Family and Medical Leave Act. This act requires that employers provide 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for eligible employees. While you arent required to offer paid leave, you are required to give employees 12 weeks off for parental leave.

To make sure youre compliant, it may be worth the expense to hire an HR consultant or legal counsel who can help you sort through the nitty gritty of the regulations that pertain to your company, especially if you operate in multiple states or cities.

2. Know your budget and business goals.

Additionally, it is critical to know exactly what kind of policy you can afford to adopt. Having the best leave policies in the world arent going to do your workforce any favors if your company folds. Before you implement your paid leave plan, talk to a financial advisor so you can plan out your business strategy and know all of the variables involved, such as how many weeks and what percentage of pay you can actually provide.

Ideally, every business leader should consider parental leave, along with other paid time off programs, in the earliest stages of the business. You may not be able to afford to have a fully paid leave in the beginning stages, but with time you can scale your leave policy as your business grows.

In our experience working in small businesses, providing paid parental leave was not an option. We were candid and asked employees to suggest options that might work for him or her. We got creative and found workable solutions, such as allowing new parents the option to temporarily work part-time or telecommute and providing longer lunch breaks so parents could see their children during the day. Giving employees the opportunity to suggest flexible solutions to juggle their work and personal lives paid off in our business.

Related: 4 Data-Backed Reasons You Need to Offer More Parental Leave

3. Know how to divide up the workload.

Lastly, it is crucial you work with employees going on leave to ensure their work responsibilities that need to be covered are temporarily divided among other team members, or clearly articulated to a temporary employee. If you dont have defined job descriptions, ask employees requesting leave to write out each of their responsibilities, who will be covering for them and any necessary information others will need to know. For those who are covering these tasks, make sure you express your appreciation while also helping them balance their workloads.

Plan ahead by starting the conversation with an expectant parent as soon as possible after the employee announces the news. This will allow you to develop a workable plan for managing your business operations while meeting the employees time-off needs.

Ready or not, parental leave is on the way.

Parental leave is coming our way and businesses need to be ready for it. These changes in policy are critical to promoting the personal well-being and success of the millions of working parents in our country. By supporting your working parents with compliant and flexible leave programs when they need it the most, you create a more productive and engaged workforce, enhancing your employment brand and corporate reputation. Everyone wins.

Related:



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Theres a long-standing debate about the ROI (return on investment) of wellness programs and the discussion typically centers on cost savings and getting the buy in from the CFO. But these conversations miss the point -- while ROI is important, workplace wellness programs are all about employees.

Wellness programs really need to impress the CHRO (chief human resources officer). HR wants to know what these programs can do for employees and how they can inspire and align the workplace. They want to know wellness isnt just another benefit employees will never use.

Related: Are Wellness Programs Right for Your Company?

Workplace wellness does have a real, human impact -- its not just fluff. Heres what CHROs need to know about the real impact wellness can have on employees:

Brings teams together.

HRs dream is to have close knit teams that work together effectively in a supportive environment. Unfortunately, that dream is far from reality. In a 2015 Mental Health America report of nearly 2,000 respondents, an alarming 80 percent said they tend to work alone because of an unhelpful or hostile work environment.

Whats more, among the 2,175 U.S. hiring and human resources managers surveyed by CareerBuilder in March 2015, 37 percent said office gossip was a top productivity killer. So how can HR turn gossiping coworkers into a supportive team? With workplace wellness.

Fun social wellness challenges -- including everything from getting steps together to volunteering to holding innovation sessions -- can bring teams closer together, rally everyone around a common goal and improve workplace relationships. In fact, "The State of Workplace Well-Being survey" conducted by my company, Limeade, found that 52 percent of participating U.S. organizations use competitive team challenges in their programs.

Team challenges help employees to get to know one another better and allow them to work together in a more social setting. In addition, 39 percent of organizations surveyed in "The State of Workplace Well-Being survey" said they use social sharing in their wellness programs. That means the team building isnt limited to competitive challenges. Peers can share their goals, cheer each other on, answer questions and offer support as they go through initiatives together.

As employees work toward improving their health, well-being and work relationships, workplace wellness programs also help to create healthier work environments -- places where new norms shape behaviors and people fees supported.

Fosters trust between employees and leaders.

Workplace wellness doesnt just improve relationships between employees. It also helps improve trust between employers and employees. And these relationships need a lot of help.

Related: 5 Ways to Reboot Your Wellness Program

In a survey of more than 800 full-time, U.S. employees conducted by Globoforce in November 2015, 47 percent said they dont think their company leaders care about and actively try to create a human workplace. Whats more, in a 2015 survey of close to 800 North American employees conducted by Achievers, just 45 percent said they trust company leadership.

Without that trust, employees are more likely to be disengaged from their work and to look for a new employer. Trust is key to getting the emotional connection to work, which is at the core of all business success.

When employees feel like their employer cares about their well-being, the impact is powerful. A 2015 survey of nearly 2,000 U.S. employees conducted by Quantum Workplace and Limeade found that respondents were 38 percent more engaged and 18 percent more likely to go the extra mile when they felt their employers cared about their well-being. Employees were also 28 percent more likely to recommend their workplace to others. Lower recruiting costs, anyone?

Workplace wellness programs help employees feel like their leaders and employer genuinely care about them. Investing in their health and well-being makes people feel valued and that goes a long way.

Boosts morale and motivation.

The company mission and values are meant to lead the organization forward, drive behavior and remind employees what theyre working toward. But theres a huge disconnect.

Related: Employee Wellness Programs Are Due for an Overhaul

According to the Achievers survey, 57 percent of employees said they arent motivated by their companys mission. And when employees dont feel like their work has meaning, theyre less motivated to do it. That means decreased productivity and engagement.

Well-designed workplace wellness programs should reinforce the company mission and values at every turn, orienting newbies and reconnecting veterans in need of a boost. Promoting community charity walks, races and other events reminds employees that work is a community, not just a paycheck. Allowing employees time for volunteer activities of their choice fosters autonomy, renews a sense of purpose and provides a jolt of motivation.

Typical wellness programs only include physical activity. Programs that serve as a hub for everything CHROs dream about -- volunteering, referrals, team building, culture and energy -- is the key to an inspired and aligned workforce.

Related:



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15

By Azad Hasanli - Trend:

Arzu Azimov, chief executive of SOCAR Trading SA, the marketing arm of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), expects the oil price to reach around $60 a barrel by year end, Reuters reported.

Azimov does not exclude a drop to $40 in the interim, Reuters reported.

As of June 15, the price for August futures of the North Sea Brent oil mix reduced by 1.42 percent up to $49.12 per barrel, while the price for July futures of the WTI oil reduced by 1.40 percent up to $47.81 per barrel.

Azimov also spoke about the plans to expand SOCAR Trading's activity in North America.

"SOCAR's trading division is looking to expand in North America, having opened an office in Calgary in recent months and eyeing a second one in Houston," Azimov said.

"With our Houston office, the volumes will grow," Azimov added.

According to Reuters, the company, which opened an office of some 15 staff in Calgary, is moving away from being just a state-owned marketing arm and is now trading local Canadian crude grades, natural gas and financial derivatives. It also holds some storage at Cushing, Oklahoma.

According to Reuters, last month, SOCAR's Azerbaijani parent announced that it was closing several foreign offices - including those located in Belgium and Germany - to curb spending amid the oil slump.

Azimov said the closures were part of a cost-saving program, but not related to its trading division.

Azimov stressed that instead, market volatility has helped the trading arm.

Headquartered in Geneva, SOCAR Trading was incorporated in December 2007 as the marketing arm of SOCAR with a mandate to market Azeri barrels produced from the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli field and other surrounding fields in Azerbaijan.

While the company continues to market the bulk of SOCAR crude oil export volumes from Ceyhan port in Turkey, it has also been able to develop significant third party volumes through both leveraging its system barrels, as well as its experienced traders developing new business. SOCAR Trading's activities cover countries of Europe, Asia and the US.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, June 15

By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend:

Turkmenistan and China have expressed their mutual interest in developing cooperation in the oil and gas sector during a meeting in Ashgabat with Song Tao, minister of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party, the Turkmen government said in a message.

Speaking about the diversification of trade and economic cooperation, the sides discussed the use of the Chinese experience in modernization of Turkmenistan's industrial potential.

The Turkmen side expressed support for China's initiatives for construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt, which coincide with the initiatives of Turkmenistan in the transportation and energy fields.

China is the largest foreign trade partner of Turkmenistan. Beijing expects to increase annual purchases of Turkmen gas up to 65 billion cubic meters.

The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) buys gas from the Central Asia region since 2009.
OTTAWA, June 14, 2016 /CNW/ - The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde today welcomed the immediate investments in mental wellness for First Nations announced today by the Government of Canada.

"I lift up our NAN First Nations Youth, Ontario First Nations political leaders and all those who have worked hard and raised their voices to achieve these commitments, which are urgently needed," said AFN National Chief Bellegarde. "Yesterday, I met with a number of young people who are dealing directly with these crises in their communities. They are putting forward practical ideas and initiatives that warrant action. I am hopeful that the new measures announced today will make a difference, and will ultimately lead to a national approach directed by First Nations to address the multiple systemic factors that have brought about these health crises."

The Government of Canada announced today that it will provide new funding of approximately $69 million over three years which will support immediate measures to support to Indigenous communities in Ontario, Manitoba and Nunavut. The government also announced that it will work alongside Indigenous leaders in the context of the Health Accord to develop a long-term plan to address these important health issues.

"As Chair of the AFN Chiefs Committee on Health, this funding is a very significant step forward in terms of suicide prevention and life promotion for our youth," said Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day. "However, I must point out that at least twice as many mental health teams are needed in our communities right now, nation-wide. Last Thursday, I told the House of Commons Committee that a minimum of $136 million annually is needed now to address a wide range of mental health issues, from drug and alcohol addictions to continued support for Residential School survivors. This national crisis will not be solved with half measures. We also need full provincial and territorial involvement in order to implement strategies that will restore hope for far too many youth and elders who believe ending their lives is the only escape from despair."

This new funding from the Government of Canada will support a number of measures, including:

Four crisis response teams in regions located in Ontario , Manitoba and Nunavut identified as having the greatest need;

, and identified as having the greatest need; An increase of mental wellness teams from 11 to 43 for communities most at-risk;

Training for existing community-based workers, and

The establishment of a 24-hour culturally safe crisis response line.

The Assembly of First Nation is the national organization representing First Nation citizens in Canada. Follow #AFN on Twitter @AFN_Comms, @AFN_Updates.

SOURCE Assembly of First Nations

For further information: Alain Garon, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 382; 613-292-0857 or [email protected]; Jenn Jefferys, AFN Communications Officer, 613-241-6789, ext. 401; 613-222-9656 or [email protected]
TORONTO, June 14, 2016 /CNW/ - Discovery Air Inc. (the "Corporation") announced its financial and operating results for the quarter ended April 30, 2016. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Corporation's website at www.discoveryair.com.









Selected Financial Information



Three months ended April 30















(thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)



2016

2015

% change Results of continuing operations















Revenue

$ 42,245 $ 38,789

9%

EBITDA*

$ 4,474 $ 2,607

72%

Loss

$ (3,969) $ (3,876)

-2%

Basic and diluted income (loss) per share

$ (0.05) $ (0.06)

17%

Cash used in operations

$ (7,116) $ (10,001)

29%

Working Capital*

$ 51,068 $ 48,136

6%

















Results of discontinued operations















Revenue

$ 284 $ 3,626

-92%

Profit (loss)

$ 31 $ (578)





Basic and diluted income (loss) per share

$ 0.00 $ (0.01)





Cash provided by (used in) operations

$ (585) $ 208





















* See "Non-IFRS measures" below















Financial Highlights

Consolidated revenues for the three months ended April 30, 2016 (" Current Quarter ") increased 9%, in comparison to the three months ended April 30, 2015 (" Comparative Period "). The Aviation segment experienced increased revenue (a 10% increase from the comparative period) primarily due to increased airborne training in Canada and Germany , and increased activity in Northern Canada.





(" ") increased 9%, in comparison to the three months ended (" "). The Aviation segment experienced increased revenue (a 10% increase from the comparative period) primarily due to increased airborne training in and , and increased activity in Northern Canada. EBITDA for the Current Quarter improved $1.9 million in comparison to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to increased revenue.





in comparison to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to increased revenue. Loss for the Current Quarter was $4.0 million compared to $3.9 million for the Comparative Period. The variance was mainly attributable to increased EBITDA offset by decreased gains on disposal and reduced tax recovery.

"The first quarter results were a positive start to the new fiscal year" reported Jacob (Koby) Shavit, the Corporation's President and Chief Executive Officer. "For the first three months the Corporation has improved revenues while managing to keep costs similar with the prior year. Our rigorous cost containment efforts are bearing results while at the same time, we are experiencing an increased demand for our defence services. The Corporation will continue to focus on improving shareholder value with a continued emphasis on operating efficiencies in our traditional markets, while targeting and being focused on specific growth opportunities."

Recent Developments

In March 2016 , Discovery Air Fire Services Inc., a subsidiary of the Corporation, was awarded a three year air transport services contract, with the option for a two year extension, to support court related activities in Northern Ontario .





, Discovery Air Fire Services Inc., a subsidiary of the Corporation, was awarded a three year air transport services contract, with the option for a two year extension, to support court related activities in . In April 2016 , Great Slave Helicopters Inc. (" GSH "), a subsidiary of the Corporation, hosted a 32 nd annual Anniversary event. This event raised money for the Yellowknife community foundation and brought many of the local community and indigenous partners together for a weekend celebration and helicopter tours.





, Great Slave Helicopters Inc. (" "), a subsidiary of the Corporation, hosted a 32 annual Anniversary event. This event raised money for the community foundation and brought many of the local community and indigenous partners together for a weekend celebration and helicopter tours. During the three months ended April 30, 2016 , DA Defence participated in a number of international training exercises in both the U.S. and Europe , further establishing its presence in both these growing markets. Discovery Air Defence expanded its German program to include additional revenue flying in support of a German Navy frigate upgrade program, as well as the German Air Force Eurofighter fighter weapons instructor course.





, DA Defence participated in a number of international training exercises in both the U.S. and , further establishing its presence in both these growing markets. Discovery Air Defence expanded its German program to include additional revenue flying in support of a frigate upgrade program, as well as the German Air Force Eurofighter fighter weapons instructor course. In April 2016 , GSH was actively deployed in fire suppression activities in Western Canada , which was earlier than expected due to dry weather conditions in this region. In May 2016 , GSH was deployed to Fort McMurray to assist in the much needed fire suppression efforts in that community.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking information and statements are included in this earnings release. Please refer to the statement regarding forward-looking statements contained in the Corporation's MD&A for the quarter ended April 30, 2016, which are incorporated herein by reference. That statement provides an explanation as to what forward-looking statements are, and the specific factors, uncertainties and potential events that the Corporation has identified for the attention of readers. When relying on forward-looking information and statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider these factors and other uncertainties and potential events.

The Corporation's unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and MD&A for the quarter ended April 30, 2016, have been filed concurrently and are available on the Corporation's website at www.discoveryair.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The reader is encouraged to review the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and MD&A for the quarter ended April 30, 2016 for more complete disclosure on the Corporation's financial condition and results of operations.

The Corporation's Class A common voting shares and unsecured convertible debentures trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols DA.A and DA.DB.A, respectively.

Non-IFRS Measures

References to "EBITDA" are to net profit (loss) before finance costs, income taxes, depreciation of property and equipment and intangible assets, gains and losses on disposal of assets and extinguishment of debt, gains on acquisition and disposals, impairment losses, and gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of financial liabilities. Management believes EBITDA to be an important metric in measuring the performance of the Corporation's day-to-day operations. This measurement is useful in assessing the Corporation's ability to service debt and to meet other payment obligations, and as a basis for valuation. "Working Capital" is current assets less current liabilities excluding current portion of loans and borrowings and operating line of credit.

SOURCE Discovery Air Inc.

For further information: Sheila Venman, VP Human Resources & Communications, [email protected], 1-866-903-3247
MARKHAM, ON and CALGARY, June 15, 2016 /CNW/ - IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the University of Calgary have established a five-year collaboration to accelerate and expand genomic research into common childhood conditions such as autism, congenital diseases and the many unknown causes of illness.

As part of the collaboration, IBM will augment the existing research capacity at the Cumming School of Medicine's Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute by installing a POWER8-based computing and storage infrastructure along with advanced analytics and cognitive computing software.

Researchers have investigated hundreds of genetic cases at the Alberta Children's Hospital, contributing to the identification of 30 new genes. However, one in four children admitted to the Alberta Children's Hospital has an unknown or undiagnosed illness. With access to these new tools, scientists can better generate, store and analyze complex clinical, genetic and imaging data, and expect to reduce from months to days the cycle times required for investigations into how genes and environmental factors impact child health.

This precision-medicine approach will lead to opportunities for better diagnostics, prevention and more personalized treatment protocols.

"Advances in our ability to capture and analyze data have truly cross-cutting affects for research programs throughout the university," says Ed McCauley, vice-president (research), University of Calgary. "This collaboration will not only allow researchers to sort through larger data sets and provide advanced skill development opportunities for our trainees, it will increase capacity for genomics work in Calgary."

The initiative will support three projects including the work of Dr. Micheil Innes, a member of the Department of Medical Genetics as the Cumming School of Medicine. Dr. Innes is researching more rapid and accurate diagnosis of genetic disorders and through his work was able to help a Calgary teenager who was diagnosed with a rare form of autism.

Genomic medicine promises to revolutionize biomedical research and clinical care, enabling scientists to identify individuals at risk, provide early diagnoses based on biomarkers, and recommend effective treatments. But the field of genomics has been caught in a flood of data that often outpaces the ability to quickly store, analyze, share, and archive it, creating an obstacle to discovery. The new technology platform at ACHRI is designed to specifically address these challenges.

"IBM has always believed investment in research and development is an important driver for Canada's competitiveness, and few fields offer greater opportunities for innovation than healthcare," says Dino Trevisani, president of IBM Canada. "Improving the health and vitality of our children requires collaboration across government, social programs, life sciences, health researchers and providers. Taking a holistic view of the individual and entire populations, and sharing technology and knowledge, can lead to better, more cost-effective care."

About IBM

IBM is one of Canada's top ten private R&D investors, and in 2015 contributed more than $477 million to Canadian research activities. IBM has a unique approach to collaboration that provides academic researchers, small and large business, start-ups and developers with business strategies and computing tools they need to innovate. Areas of focus include health, agile computing, water, energy, cities, mining, advanced manufacturing, digital media and cybersecurity.

More information is available here.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is making tremendous progress on its journey to become one of Canada's top five research universities, where research and innovative teaching go hand in hand, and where we fully engage the communities we both serve and lead. This strategy is called Eyes High, inspired by the university's Gaelic motto, which translates as 'I will lift up my eyes.'

For more information, visit ucalgary.ca. Stay up to date with University of Calgary news headlines on Twitter @UCalgary. For details on faculties and how to reach experts go to our media centre at ucalgary.ca/news/media.

About the Cumming School of Medicine

The University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine is a leader in health research, with an international reputation for excellence and innovation in health care research and education.

On June 17, 2014, the University Of Calgary Faculty Of Medicine was formally named the Cumming School of Medicine in recognition of Geoffrey Cumming's generous gift to the university.

For more information, visit cumming.ucalgary.ca/ or follow us on Twitter @UCalgaryMed

About Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute

The Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI) is a multi-disciplinary research institute of the University of Calgary, Alberta Health Services and the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation. Through excellence in research, knowledge translation and education, the institute fosters the health and well-being of children from pre-conception to adulthood.

ADDENDUM

Initially, the platform will support these ACHRI researchers' efforts:

Dr. Micheil Innes, who is a geneticist at the Alberta Children's Hospital. Recently, he diagnosed a unique genetic trait causing the condition of autism in an Alberta teenager. The mutation was not previously identified. The diagnosis has helped the family learn about this specific kind of autism and helped them deal with the development of their child. By introducing IBM's technology, Dr. Innes will be able to pursue more cases like this one.

Dr. Suzanne Tough, who is an Alberta Heritage Foundation health scholar and scientific director for the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research. She has established a study of 3,000 mothers-infant pairs in Calgary and with this data, is leading a study, funded by Alberta Innovates, examining how families and children cope with stress from big events like the Calgary flood and the recent economic downtown. With the IBM collaboration, it will be possible for the information from the biologic samples to be managed with all of the data collected in the study since 2008. This integration of biologic data with lifestyle and environment data helps researchers untangle the relative contribution of genes and environment to childhood challenges such as coping with stress.

Dr. Sarah Childs, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Genetics and is a Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada Scholar. She recently published with a team of international scholars leading research in the journal Lancet Neurology identifying specific new genetic causes for stroke and hypertension, and providing a biological basis for these genes by using model organisms.

SOURCE IBM Canada Ltd.

Video with caption: "IBM and The University of Calgary to accelerate and expand genomics research into common childhood conditions such as autism, congenital diseases and the many unknown causes of illness.". Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RDI_I2e5P4

For further information: Media Contacts: Marta Cyperling, University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine, 403.210.3835, [email protected]; Jinna Kim, IBM, 905.316.2179, [email protected]
Imran Yousuf, a former marine who graduated from high school in Upstate New York, saved dozens of lives Sunday morning during the Orlando nightclub shooting--the deadliest shooting in United States history.

Yousuf, a bouncer at the Pulse nightclub, spoke to CBS News about the incident. The 24-year-old Afghanistan veteran was making his rounds when the gun shots started.

"The initial one was three or four (shots). That was a shock. Three of four shots go off and you could tell it was a high caliber," Yousuf told CBS. "Everyone froze. I'm here in the back and I saw people start pouring into the back hallway, and they just sardine pack everyone."

As people started panicking, Yousuf knew of a door located down the back hallway that could let people out of the club, the Huffington Post reports. "And I'm screaming 'Open the door! Open the door!' And no one is moving because they are scared," he told CBS. "Either we all stay there and we all die, or I could take the chance, and I jumped over to open that latch and we got everyone that we can out of there."

He estimated 60-70 people escaped through the door.

Yousuf recently moved to Orlando from Schenectady to be with his brother and other family members, The Daily Gazette reports. After graduating from Niskayuna High School in the Capital Region in 2010, he joined the Marine Corps and served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Footage showed Yousef stayed at the scene and helped carry wounded people away from the club, the New York Daily News reports.

After the tragedy, Yousef took to Facebook to share some thoughts:

"To my family and friends and everyone that has been worried sick...I am fine. I'm sure you've seen the photos and video on CNN yes I just happen to be lucky enough that training kicked in and I was able to help who I can. This was a terrible tragedy and my prayers to everyone who has lost someone last night."

Speaking to CBS News, Yousef shared his one regret: "I wish I could have saved (lives) more to be honest."

Watch his interview with CBS News:

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Despite the two-week ceasefire declared by the Federal Government, last Monday, soldiers on Wednesday morning, swooped on Tebijor, also kn...





Despite the two-week ceasefire declared by the Federal Government, last Monday, soldiers on Wednesday morning, swooped on Tebijor, also known as Okpelama, an Ijaw community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, in five gunboats hunting for militants.Operatives of the Nigeria Navy Ship, NNS Delta on Tuesday arrested three persons suspected to be pipeline bombers and oil thieves.These came as a new militant group, Niger-Sea Commandos, NDSC, said it had broken away from the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA.Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Liberation Force, NDLF, a non-operational militant group founded by the late John Togo, has slammed the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, JNDLF, for using its name without permission to announce plan by militants to launch missiles and attack government establishments.Commander of the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, confirmed to Vanguard on phone that navy arrested three suspects.I can confirm that the arrest was made, but I maintain my earlier stance that I do not want to attach group names to people. We are up against oil assets destroyers, oil thieves and other criminals in the waterways. Therefore, it is true we have made arrest of the three, but I am not at the moment concerned about what group people claim to belong. We deal with the impact of their crimes and through information they provide get hold of their collaborators. Identity claim could issue for another day, but there could identity claims though, he said.A villager, who spoke on the arrest, said: Three youths from Tebijor were unlawfully arrested today (Tuesday) by Nigerian Navy. The youths were coming from fetching mangrove sticks to set a fishing trap when they were apprehended by navy personnel on patrol at Tebijor.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, June 15

By Huseyn Hasanov- Trend:

The Chinese government attaches great importance to all kinds of cooperation with Turkmenistan, said Song Tao, minister of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party.

He made the remarks at the meeting with Turkmenistan's President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat, the Turkmen Vatan TV channel reported June 15.

The sides noted during the meeting that in recent years, despite the global financial and economic crisis, there is a process of constructive interstate dialogue, which has a long-term and strategic character.

The cooperation between Turkmenistan and China develops in the areas of energy, transportation and communications, computer technologies and education. About 5,000 Turkmen students study at the Chinese universities.

A separate topic of the meeting was the partnership in the field of transportation, considering the idea of revival of the "Great Silk Road" and Turkmenistan's role as an important transportation and transit center.

China is the largest buyer of Turkmen gas. The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) is developing the Bagtyyarlyk onshore field on the right coast of the Amu Darya River on the basis of a production sharing agreement (PSA).
The Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has condemned the sack of the staff of Daar Communications Plc working at ...

The Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has condemned the sack of the staff of Daar Communications Plc working at its broadcast station in Benin.The news had broken yesterday about the sack of the staffers of Benin station of African Independent Television, AIT, and Raypower FM owned by Daar Communications Plc.The decision was conveyed in a letter dated June 2, 2016, signed by the Senior Manager in charge of Human Resources, Victor Okasoga, who advised the sacked staff to surrender all company properties in their possession, warning that Failure to surrender company properties in your possession may delay the processing of your entitlements.But a statement issued by the NUJ chairman in the state, Rowland Osakwe faulted DAAR Communications management for sacking its workers without fulfilling necessary financial obligations.Osakwe said, It is not a good thing that you enslave labour, and at month end, you dont give them their stipend. Then, you are sacking them and not giving them their cheques.The act is condemnable. It does not even happen in the animal kingdom these days. We are not going to relent. We will write them a letter and ask the management to pay them their money or we will take a legal step.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday froze a bank account allegedly belonging to a wanted ex-militant, G...

It was learnt on Tuesday that the anti-graft agency found N3bn in the account and had frozen it pending the outcome of court processes.An operative of the anti-graft agency, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said, During investigations into the fraud at NIMASA (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency), we traced about N3bn to a bank account, which is owned by Tompolo.The account has since been frozen in accordance with Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act 2004 which empowers the commission to freeze any account suspected of being used for financial crimes.The source explained that the section stipulates that the chairman of the commission or any officer authorised by him might, if satisfied that the money in the account of a person was made through the commission of an offence under the Act or any enactment specified under Section 6(2) (a)-(f) of the Act, apply for the court exparte for power to issue or instruct a bank examiner or such other appropriate authority to freeze the account.Tompolo, who has been on the run since February, was arraigned in absentia alongside a former Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, and the latters six brothers on April 18, 2016, for an alleged N47.7bn fraud.The anti-graft agency had arraigned the suspects before a Federal High Court in Lagos on 22 counts bordering on fraud, conversion of money and forgery.The EFCC, in charge number FHC/L/C/31c/2016, alleged that the accused persons had sometime in 2014, within the jurisdiction of the court, with an intent to defraud, conspired among themselves and obtained the total sum of N47,683,464,822 from the Federal Government.The accused persons were also alleged to have, between May 6, 2014, and December 2, 2014, forged and uttered a Certificate of Customary Rights of Occupancy of the old Bendel State of Nigeria, and purportedly issued same to NIMASA, claiming that it was issued by the Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State, to the prejudice of the Federal Government of Nigeria.They were also alleged to have received sum of N11,900,000,000 from the Federal Government, by falsely pretending that all the land and its appurtenances lying and situated at Mieka Diva Training Institute, Kurutie, Warri South LGA, Delta State, be acquired by the NIMASA, for the temporary campus of Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Warri South.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday stormed the Lagos residences of former Minister of State fo...

Obanikoro Ikoyi residence

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday stormed the Lagos residences of former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, carting away cars and other valuables.The two homes raided were the former ministers private residence at Park View Estate and the house near Banana Island where his two sons, Jide and Gbolahan live with their families.It was learnt that the officials, who stormed the two houses in the afternoon, were there till about 6:00pm.According to Obanikoros media aide, Jonathan Eze, the officials took vehicles, wristwatches and other personal effects of the former minister and his sons, who are all in the United States.Eze claimed that they harassed innocent kids and intimidated the occupants of the properties, adding that the commission has never invited Obanikoro for questioning.Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday in their characteristic Gestapo like manner invaded Senator Obanikoros houses in Ikoyi with unnecessary intimidation and harassment of occupants who are majorly innocent kids, teenagers, his wife and daughter in-laws not without carting away cars, wristwatches and other valuables.This is against the backdrop of the fact that the anti- graft agency has never invited him nor his sons for questioning beyond the tirades and allegations they have been propagating using the media spaces.We are using this medium to draw attention of all Nigerians to yet another infringement on the fundamental and inalienable rights of the Obanikoro family.Lovers of freedom should not wait until our democracy is put at irreversible damage. The list of human rights violations and political persecution has reached an alarming rate.We see this as an affront and a further show of shame and ignominy of this present administration hell bent in politically persecuting its perceived opponents in other to stoop them and rubbish their hard earned reputation of untainted public services.To our chagrin, the vehicles driven away were cars and trucks bought since 2006 and thereabouts when Senator Obanikoro served as an Ambassador in Ghana among others which obviously had no bearing with the purported investigation they are supposedly carrying out.We condemn in strong terms the brigandage and the idea of Inflicting trauma on innocent dependants and violating their privacies without recourse to the rule of Law.Senator Obanikoro has consulted with his Lawyers and are prepared to meet them in court to stop this intrusions and persecution, Eze stated.Confirming the raid, Spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwajeren, said it was in line with ongoing investigations.I can tell you that no one was harassed in the course of the search and that it is part of ongoing investigation on the man. Our operatives who went there conducted their affairs in best practices and took some vehicles away. I cannot immediately give inventory on the things that were carted away but that will be made known in due time. I do not think we need any permission from the man to do our job. Full details will be disclosed when we get there, he said.
The Federal Government has barred banks in the country from giving loans to state governments . The decision was taken in line with the...

The decision was taken in line with the Fiscal Sustainability Plan, FSP, which has been agreed to by the Federal Governments economic team and state governors, to ensure prudent management of sub-national resources.This comes as the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, will today announce details of the much anticipated flexible foreign exchange rate policy. President Muhammadu Buharis administration, Finance Ministry sources said, was disappointed at the manner some past and current governors took loans from banks and misapplied such funds, while mortgaging their states finances.Currently, some states are left with too little to meet even their recurrent obligations, after deductions are made from their monthly federation account allocations.Rather than bank loans, the Federal Government asked states to source funds from the capital market for their infrastructure development. It also insisted that funds sourced through bonds must not only be on bankable, measurable projects but must also be released in tranches.It was gathered that the release of the proceeds of bond issuing will, henceforth, be on the basis of satisfactory utilization of earlier released proceeds. The FSP aims to improve accountability and transparency; increase public revenue; rationalise public expenditure; improve public financial management; and sustainable debt management.Specific action points of the reform include biometric capture of all civil servants; establishment of an efficiency unit in each state, implementation of continuous audit, improvement in internally generated revenue, IGR, and measures to achieve sustainable debt management. States that meet the above FSP conditions can access a new N50 billion facility to be guaranteed by the Federal Government.Meanwhile, the CBN will today announce details of the much anticipated flexible foreign exchange rate policy.Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Issac Okoroafor, confirmed this to newsmen, yesterday. He said: Yes, details of the policy will be announced tomorrow (today).The announcement is coming three weeks after the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, of the CBN decided to introduce greater flexibility in the management of the foreign exchange market. The foreign exchange market framework, now ready, the MPC voted unanimously to adopt greater flexibility in exchange rate policy to restore the automatic adjustment properties of the exchange rate.Consequently, all nine members voted to hold and introduce greater flexibility in managing the foreign exchange rate. The bank would, however, retain a small window for funding critical transactions. Details of operation of the market would be released by the bank at an appropriate time, the committee said at the end of its meeting on May 24, 2016. According to agency reports, sources at the CBN said an announcement by Governor Godwin Emefiele will be made in Abuja, having concluded consultations with various stakeholders on the policy.As part of the new policy, the CBN will allow market forces determine the exchange rate between the naira and other currencies but may retain a small intervention window to allow it intervene in some instances critical to the nations economic growth and will apply foreign exchange at an adjustable rate between N230 and N250, depending on the rate in the market.
The award-winning Nigerian author agreed to sell the film adaptation rights of "On Monday of Last Week" to Ghanaian director Adoma Akosua Owusu and her Ghanaian-based production company, Obibini Pictures.Owusu (pictured) says.The short story, which was first published in the literary magazine Granta, explores Kamara, a Nigerian immigrant, who becomes obsessed with the wealthy mother of the boy she babysits.Two other works of the Nigerian author have been optioned to become movies: 2014s "Half of a Yellow Sun" starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton and Anika Noni Rose; and the Lupita Nyongo-produced"Americanah", which has yet to be released."On Monday of Last Week" will be the first time one of Adichies short stories will be optioned for film.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said he is proud to be a member of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers and would never ...

He noted that as a member of the union, he would do his best not to disappoint them and would do everything possible to take Benue State to a greater height.He called on the union members to give him maximum support in order to succeed.Ortom stated this while receiving executive members of the NURTW, Benue State Council, at the Benue Peoples House, on Tuesday.He called on members of the NURTW to intensify farming activities, stressing that farming pays more than any other business in Nigeria.The governor said the problem of militants in the Niger Delta region has reduced Nigerias oil production capacity from 2.3 million barrels a day to less than one million and expressed the fear that it might reduce to less than 800,000 barrels a day.
The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide has carpeted former Rivers State governor and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, over comments ...





The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide has carpeted former Rivers State governor and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, over comments credited to him regarding the establishment of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta state, describing his comments as anti-Niger Delta.The group, however, lauded the Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibeh Kachikwu for standing with the people of the Niger Delta region and endorsing the development of the Niger Delta region.Ameachi had differed with Kachikwu at the Federal Government Town-Hall meeting at Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, on Monday. Amaechi defended the decision of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to scrap the Maritime University project on the ground that the previous administration of Goodluck Jonathan had paid too much to acquire a land for the university.Describing the project as a misplacement of priority, he said; My argument about Okerenkoko is that land alone is 13 billion(naira). If you give me 13 billion, I will buy the half of Lagos. That 13 billion has built the university already.Countering, however, Kachikwu said; First, let me say on Okerenkoko University, I disagree with the Minister of Transport, adding that any facility that is located in the South-South we should work close to developing it. I dont care the circumstances under which you are placed.Its not in my position to determine whether land was valued at 3 billion or 10 billion. The appropriate institution which is at the cost system will determine that. That has nothing to do with development of infrastructure. And as far as I know, so much has already gone into the university.Reacting in a statement issued yesterday by its spokesman, Eric Omare, the IYC said; We strongly condemn Rotimi Amaechis anti-Niger Delta position and commend the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu for standing with the people of the Niger Delta region and endorsing the development of the Niger Delta region.Mr. Kachikwu clearly demonstrated to the world that he is a worthy son and representative of the Niger Delta region.It stated that Amaechis comment about the acquisition of land for the setting up of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko is completely wrong and deliberately made to justify his unpopular and anti-Niger Delta opposition to the establishment of the Maritime University.Explaining how the Maritime University was established, IYC stated that the permanent site of the Maritime University is located at Okerenkoko town in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area which was acquired from the Okerenkoko Community at an amount less than N2billion naira against alleged claims by the Minister.Omare explained that after commencement of work at the permanent site, the Federal Ministry of Transport approached ex-MEND commander, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who reportedly owned a diving school at Kurutie, another community in Gbaramatu Kingodm to acquire his private diving school to be used as temporary site for the Maritime University.Stressing that the Diving school at Kurutue was an existing school with state of the art facilities and structures completely built before it was acquired, the IYC stated that in response to the request of the Transport Ministry, Tompolo did his own valuation and arrived at about N15bn, while the Ministry of Transportation also did their own valuation and arrived at N13bn.It stated that the completed diving school was then sold to the Federal Ministry of Transport at the valuation done by the ministry.The statement reads, Therefore, it is deliberate mischief for Mr. Amaechi who is now the Minister of Transportation and has access to all relevant documents to claim that land for the Maritime University.The land for the university was acquired for less than N2 billion naira contrary to Mr. Amaechis claim.It was the temporary site, which is a completely built up land with structures and world class facilities that was acquired for about N13billion naira, which again is far less than Ameachis N19 billion naira claim.The IYC expressed surprise that Amaechi who opposed former President Jonathan for not developing the Niger Delta region is now leading efforts to undo the Niger Delta region in the present administration.It also condemned Amaechis opposition to negotiation as a way out of the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta region, saying that his position shows that he is against the success of the Buhari administration.The IYC know as a fact that it is some top federal officials and party chieftains of Niger Delta origin in the Buhari administration like Amaechi who are against negotiation as a way out of the crisis that are frustrating government efforts to negotiate with Niger Delta stakeholders.The group, therefore, called on Buhari to completely disregard the claims of the Transport Minister on the Maritime University, Okerenkoko as well as his opposition against dialogue over the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta region, saying that Amaechis position is not in the interest of the federal government.
The Peoples Democratic Party, Bayelsa State chapter, has accused the All Progressives Party-led Federal Government of sidelining the stat...

The Peoples Democratic Party, Bayelsa State chapter, has accused the All Progressives Party-led Federal Government of sidelining the state in federal appointments.The party also frowned on the way and manner the Federal Government had been managing the nations economy, claiming the development was responsible for the inability of many states to meet their salary and other financial obligations to their workers.The Chairman, PDP, Bayelsa State, Mr. Cleopas Moses, on Wednesday cited the recent list sent to the Senate as Ambassador-nominees, saying no Bayelsa indigene was among.He said the development was a clear indication of the personal grudge the APC-led Federal Government had for the state.Moses queried the action and reason behind the decision, wondering if Bayelsa State does not have any career diplomat eligible to become an ambassador.He stated, The Federal Government does not mean well for our state. Out of 47 ambassador-nominees, the government did not consider Bayelsa indigenes as good enough for one, even Permanent Secretary. Nothing has come to us. He recalled that Governor Seriake Dickson had raised similar issue recently when he received the Head of Service of the Federation, when he decried the absence of a Bayelsan as Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service.He called on the state APC to immediately apologise to Bayelsa people for its role in the lopesideness, alleging that their self-serving agenda had landed the party in uncertainty as it could only boast now of a junior minister.The PDP chair equally commended Bayelsans for the show of maturity and understanding towards the ongoing verification in the civil service.Moses, who said the verification would curb payroll fraud, enjoined everyone to positively look forward to better days ahead and eschew attitudes inimical to the governments efforts.
Mr Adeyanju Deji, the new Media Director of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has slammed Musiliu Obanikoro on Twitter after the latter'...

They went to search your house, all of a sudden; u are talking.



When we condone impunity to others, it will gradually come to our doorsteps  Adeyanju Deji (@adeyanjudeji) June 15, 2016

Reason why EFCC can be so lawless is because, they kept Metuh for 2weeks, you didn't talk; now FFK for 36days, u didn't talk.  Adeyanju Deji (@adeyanjudeji) June 15, 2016

When Olisa Metuh was arrested & kept in EFCC for 2weeks without trial what did you do?



FFK arrested & detained for 36days, did you speak?  Adeyanju Deji (@adeyanjudeji) June 15, 2016

Mr Adeyanju Deji, the new Media Director of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has slammed Musiliu Obanikoro on Twitter after the latter's house was raided by operatives of the EFCC.Mr Deji claimed that Obanikoro has been silent for a very long time, while the APC-led Federal Government allegedly infringed on the rights of Nigerians, especially members of the PDP, naming Fani-Kayode and Olisa MetuhHe further claimed that he would pay Obanikoro in his own coin by keeping mute about the raiding of his room by the EFCC.See Tweets below
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 14

By Dalga Khatinoglu - Trend:

Trend's interview with Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski.

Q: Iranian media report that Tehran and Warsaw have signed MOUs worth $700 million during a recent visit of Iran's FM Mohammad Javad Zarif to Poland. What cooperation areas will be covered under those deals?

A: First of all, it should be noted that during the aforementioned visit some MOUs were signed, not contracts though; additionally a letter of intent was inked between the Polish Chamber of Commerce and the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture.

It means that there is still a long way ahead for the Polish and Iranian partners before these preliminary in fact agreements are transformed into fully binding contracts.

In fact, during the visit only two MOUs were signed - in the field of energy production and maritime infrastructure - however their value has not been disclosed due to trade confidentiality clauses, but we can assume that the total value is not even close to $700 million; the figure should be measured in much humbler range.

Of course, taking into consideration the potential of Polish and Iranian economies, there is a perspective for reaching such values in bilateral trade in the future. Of course, in order to achieve this, much more time is needed.

We should also remember the strong competition from international companies, mainly from other EU member states, Ukraine, Russia, Japan and South Korea among others, which are also interested in doing business with Iran.

Q: When the MOUs are expected to become operational? Have the banking problems been settled between the two countries?

A: Given Poland's successful story in adopting an effective model of free market economy with a major share of market consisting of private, small and medium enterprises, it only depends on management boards of the companies how their businesses are run and their new markets defined.

Polish government has no leverage in this regard. As the Polish FM, responsible among other things for strengthening commercial ties with foreign countries, I can only hope that these MOUs will become operational soon.

As to the banking issues, based on Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and SWIFT's decision on reopening operations for Iranian banks, there are now no legal barriers for money transfers between the EU and Iranian banks.

Polish banks were quite active in that field, and two Polish banks restored their ties with three major Iranian private-owned banks this March. Also during the business forum that took place during Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's visit to Warsaw, a session on banking issues was held with the participation of a number of Polish and Iranian banks.

Q: Polish deputy energy minister earlier said the two countries are negotiating over oil and gas cooperation. In which areas, the Polish oil and gas firms, including PGNiG, can cooperate with Iran?

A: Due to the scope of activities and financial capabilities of Polish oil and gas companies we do not aim at full-scale competition with major global players in terms of big investment contracts, which are a priority for the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum, but still there is a big field of cooperation in the framework of some smaller contracts, mainly in services sector: geophysical assessment and exploration, drilling, on-surface infrastructure construction and maintenance.

PGNiG's sister companies have significant experience in executing such international contracts and for sure Iran could be their partner. The talks are ongoing and we are optimistic about their progress.

Q: Does Poland plan to buy crude oil from Tehran?

A: Diversification of supplies, looking for new sources and suppliers, as well as channels of delivery of the crude oil and natural gas are matters of strategic importance for Poland.

As the market of hydrocarbons and political situation worldwide change rapidly, Polish experts, also in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assess feasibility of cooperation with various countries, not excluding any of them.

When it comes to Iran, taking into consideration the opinion of Iranian Ministry of Petroleum, there is no surplus of crude oil that would enable Iran to enter new markets.

Should investments in Iranian oil and gas sector be made according to the plans of Iranian administration, Iran would achieve significant export capabilities. Most likely, traditional pre-sanctions crude oil buyers from the EU, like France, Italy, Spain, Greece, will renew their contracts with Tehran, so we do not exclude that Poland also joins that group.
Opposing groups of protesters besieged the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday to press home their demands i...

Opposing groups of protesters besieged the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party on Wednesday to press home their demands in the ongoing crisis bedeviling the party.First, anti-Ali Sheriff protesters carrying placards with inscriptions such as Sheriff must go, Sheriff leave our party alone and Agent of APC stop killing our party stormed the Wadata Plaza building housing the secretariat in several mini buses.The protesters who are mostly youths chanted anti-Sheriff songs demanding that the ousted Chairman should give up his hold on the party Secretariat.The protesters took a short break during which time pro-Sheriff protesters also came in singing and dancing insisting that Sheriff remains the partys national chairman.Some of the protesters who wore T shirts embossed with Sheriffs portrait were also singing songs of their own. Some carried placards with the inscription Sheriff MUST stay and Sheriff is our man while dancing to traditional Hausa music.A handful of policemen and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps watched from the sidelines.
The Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday donated food items to the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (...

The Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday donated food items to the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abuja, for the Ramadan. Buhari, who was represented by an APC Board of Trustees member, Alhaji Nasir Dano, said that she had extended the gesture to some states, including Kano, Rivers and Borno.Receiving the items, which included bags of rice, sugar, beverages and cartons of spaghetti, National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, thanked the presidents wife for the gesture. I have been involved in some of the donations her Excellency has been doing by going out of her way to solicit support from well-meaning Nigerians to affect lives positively, he said.The chairman assured her that APC would not disappoint Nigerians in spite of the downturn in the economy. We will strive to deliver on our promises to the people and ensure that Nigerians get the `change they deserve, he added. The items are expected to be shared among party members in the six area councils in the Federal Capital Territory. (NAN)
Russia fans attempted to provoke England fans on Tuesday, who in turn threw bottles in retaliation in Lille. Both sets of fans' behav...

However that hasn't stopped some supporters from trying to continue the violence.Footage posted on social media shows England and Wales fans apparently teaming up and chanting: 'F*** off Russia, we're England and Wales'.Russia are set to play Slovakia in Lille today while England play Wales in nearby Lens on Thursday - with three-day booze bans now set to be enforced in each city.A group of around four or five thugs wearing Orel Butchers T-shirts tried to storm a bar where British supporters were drinking.They accused French police of standing by as the thugs put gum shields in and donned masks before attacking the supporters.However a Russian journalist Max Allanazarov tweeted video of one England fan allegedly being arrested.England fan Mark Crowe, 25, said: Everyone was standing outside the bar having a good time, English and Welsh together.Then these guys walked up and started on us. They were Russian and wearing masks. The police did nothing.Admittedly the English threw a couple of chairs back at them, but if you are attacked you have to defend yourself.After the attack the British fans chanted: F*** off Russians, were England and Wales.The Russian thugs were wearing Orel Butchers - Storm over Europe 2016 T-shirts.Ultras wearing the same T-shirts were photographed attacking fans in Marseille.The Orel Butchers are a well-known Russian hooligan group, affiliated to Locomotiv Moscow.French police have arrested 43 Russian fans suspected of being involved after stopping a bus in the Alpes-Maritimes region in the south of the country on Tuesday, according to local media reports.(Credits: Goal/Getty)
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15

By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:

Iran is not prepared to export light oil to Hungary, an Iranian oil official said. International Affairs Director at the National Iranian Oil Company Mohsen Qamsari has said that talks are underway for exporting crude oil to Hungary, Mehr news agency reported.

According to the official, the ides are studying a deal for Hungary's purchase of about 35,000 barrels of crude from Iran. Although Iran is not prepared to export light oil, the talks with Hungary still continue, the official added. Qamsari further said that several eastern European countries have become interested in purchasing Iran's oil following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Over the past several months Iran has hold talks with several eastern European oil companies. Meanwhile, Iran has shipped its first oil cargo (one million barrels) to Romania through Litasco, the commercial division of Russia's Lukoil.

France, the UK, Spain and Italy were among Iranian oil's major customers before imposing sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15

By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that his government is determined to implement the policy of the economy of resistance introduced by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The president made the remarks following a meeting with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani and Judiciary Head Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani, IRNA news agency reported.

Rouhani said that the way for improving the country's situation and creating job opportunities has been paved following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

He also called on media to avoid exaggerating the minor issues in the country.

Rouhani said that the officials discussed the latest regional developments, as well as economic issues during today's meeting.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 15

By Fatih Karimov - Trend:

Iran has made significant progress in development of the West Karoun oil fields which are shared with Iraq.

Yadavaran, North Azadegan, South Azadegan, North Yaran, and South Yaran oil fields are dubbed West Karoun oil fields.

According to an oil ministry report obtained by Trend the development of the first phases of both North Azadegan (with targeted output of 75,000 barrels of oil per day) and Yadavaran (aimed at producing 85,000 barrels of oil per day) are almost completed, ready to come into force.

The latest development situation of West Karoun oil fields

Project Progress by Aug. 2013(%) Progress by March 2016(%) Physical progress under President Hassan Rouhani's administration Yadavaran (phase 1) 83 98.7 15.7 North Azadegan (phase 1) 48 97.7 49.7 South Azadegan (phase 1) Chinese contractor dismissed in 2015. Currently drilling wells are undergoing. The project was completed by 20.1 percent by March 2016. South Yaran 4.3 56.8 52.5 North Yaran - 82.3 72 (since March 2014)

The Economy Council of Iran has approved the development of West Karoun oil fields as the largest joint oil fields development plan. The project targets producing 550,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

It was earlier announced that the country plans to boost its oil production to 5.7 million barrels per day by 2021.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari on Wednesday said Iran's talks with the US are just in the context of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Irna reported.



He told IRNA that recent statement of the US state department has been in line with the nuclear deal.

Ansari said, 'Our talks with the American party were only about ways of implementing the JCPOA.'

He said the American party had in the past and on the sidelines of the nuclear talks, under certain occasions voiced its stances on situation of Syria, Iraq and Yemen but no talks were ever held on the issues.

On the meeting of Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif and the US Secretary of State John Kerry in Oslo, he said the meeting was held behind closed doors for 70 minutes and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif raised Iranian complaint about procrastination of the US Department of Treasury for authorizing online dollar-euro exchange and regulating banking ties.

The statement of US department of state said that Kerry emphasized the important role of Iran and its influence with the Syrian government to secure safe passage of the humanitarian aid and the need for honoring truce with the Syrian moderate dissidents.
'He even shot across children,' witness says of Algiers shooting
Deputy Energy Minister for planning and economic affairs Alireza Daemi said on Wednesday that exporting electricity to Europe is on agenda of the ministry in the context of Economy of Resistance.



Daemi told IRNA that the Energy Ministry plans to introduce Iran as a regional hub for energy.

He said that electricity would be exported when fuel turns to electric energy, so gas price should be determined, which is not decisive yet for private sector and after that the model for business would observed.

He underlined that to implement Iran's agenda for exporting electricity in future years, it needs to change its transmission network.

Daemi said that Iran envisaged projects for exchange of electricity with seven countries of Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Turkey.

Because of insecurity in the region, export of electricity to Iraq and several neighboring countries in east and west of Iran has been ceased, but for other customers it continues.

He said that annually 11 to 12 billion kilowatts electricity is exchanging between Iran and seven neighboring countries which have land border with Iran, eight billion of the amount is being exported.

Energy minister said that Iran has drawn up plan in line with conventions to export a huge amount of gas and electricity to European states.
Thirteen people were confirmed dead and 13 others remain missing after heavy rain caused flash floods and landslides in east China's Jiangxi Province, south China's Hunan, Guizhou, Guangdong provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Xinhua reported.



As of 6 p.m. on Wednesday, floods had left three people dead in Jiangxi, according to the provincial civil affairs department. So far, 21,000 people in the province have been relocated to safer places and another 10,000 people are in dire need of assistance.



In Hunan, continuous rain resulted in swollen rivers, landslides and mud-rock flows. Three people died in Hengshan County, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters on Wednesday.



Three residents of Xiangtan County were reported missing after their home was buried by a landslide around 7 a.m. Wednesday, while in Longhui County one person is also missing. About 530 houses collapsed, and 11,900 people were evacuated, said the headquarters.



A reservoir with capacity of more than 70,000 cubic meters in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province, was reported to be leaking on Wednesday morning. As of Wednesday evening, workers were still at the site, trying to bring the situation under control. More than 1,400 people living downstream have been evacuated, said the local flood control office.



In Guangxi, one person was killed when a house collapsed in torrential rain, said the regional civil affairs department on Wednesday. Two unaccounted for people were swept away by floods while another was buried by a landslide.



The rain and ensuing disasters also destroyed 754 houses, seriously damaged another 408, ruined 20,200 hectares of crops, forced the evacuation of 5,900 people and inflicted a direct economic loss estimated at 150 million yuan (about 22.8 million U.S. dollars).



In Jinping County in Guizhou, five people have died and four are still missing, according to the county's publicity office.



Heavy rain pounded the county from Tuesday night until early Wednesday, with 202 millimeters of precipitation recorded in some areas. Traffic, power and telecommunications were all disrupted and homes destroyed.



Around 10,000 Guizhou residents have been displaced. The homes of 125 families have been destroyed and 300 more have been seriously damaged, said a statement from the provincial civil affairs department.



It is estimated that the rain has caused direct economic losses of 127 million yuan (about 19 million U.S. dollars).



In Guangdong, a female climber died and nearly 300 rescuers are searching for three members of her group who were swept away by a flash flood on Tianchi Mountain at around 2:30 p.m., according to the publicity office of Qujiang District, Shaoguan city.
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.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to German Chancellor Angela Merkel: China Wants No 'Trade War' with EU

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang holds a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Beijing. (Photo : Getty Images)

China wants to resolve all trade disputes with Europe the proper way as Premier Li Keqiang tells German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the Chinese government is doing its best to eradicate steel overproduction.



In a joint press conference in Beijing covered by the South China Morning Post, Li told Merkel that China vows to phase out cheap and low-quality steel, which has been one of Germany's major concerns.



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"We don't want to fight a trade war because this will benefit nobody, particularly when the global economy is undergoing a sluggish recovery," Li said per a video from Reuters U.K..



Merkel also made a similar statement on Sunday but called on China to make good on their word.



"It does not help us to emotionalize the whole subject. I am convinced that we can find a solution on the lines of what was promised 15 years ago," she said.



Germany's Dilemma



Germany has been having problems with China's industries that have overcapacity, particularly in steel.



The SCMP's sources explained that the recent exchange from the leaders from the biggest economies in Asia and Europe bring to light disputes over trade and foreign investment as well as overcapacity.



"Sources said talks over China's steel overcapacity--widely blamed for a surge in cheap exports, which have caused the closure of steel mills in European nations, including Germany--were 'tough,'" the report read.



According to the outlet's unnamed source, China's market economy status is highly unlikely to push through "without a steel deal."



Furthermore, the SCMP noted that tensions between the two nations have escalated following the European Union lawmakers' decision to vote against giving China the market economy status in May.



Trade Issues



While steel overcapacity is a big problem, Germany has more issues against China's trade sector, per a Reuters report posted on Yahoo Finance.



One is the lack of reciprocity to the financial sector where the playing field had been largely dominated by domestic banks.



"We will certainly pay even more heed to reciprocity in the financial sector than in classic industry," Merkel explained. "Germany has always presented itself as an open investment market. We expect reciprocity also from the Chinese side."



She noted that German banks were given a 20-percent limit on the number of stakes they can buy in their Chinese counterparts and urged a beginning of cooperation between the nations in the banking industry.



However, Li noted that Chinese banks also faced informal hindrances in Europe and were at a disadvantage there, further calling for more talks on the matter.






Apple Shouts Out to China to Show Love at the 2016 WWDC

Apple's WWDC 2016 is filled with love for China. (Photo : Getty Images)

Apple is not shy in showing how it adores the second biggest economy in the world as its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2016 developer keynote speeches were filled with shoutouts to only one country: China.



The Fast Company and netizens are quick to notice the multiple references to the Asian giant and companies hailing there as Tim Cook and Apple's developers spoke at the event.



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While it may be noteworthy, Apple's love for China had been proven numerous times in the past, particularly after the Cupertino-based company opened up its wallet to Uber's biggest Chinese competitor, Didi Chuxing.



Showing Love



The Fast Company listed down Apple's six major shoutouts to China, noting that when there is opportunity to namedrop the country, the company does so with little subtlety.



Among the shoutouts that occurred in the WWDC include the announcement of the new feature for Apple Watch called "Scribbles," which is only available in English and Chinese currently.



The company also revealed a new emergency calling feature for the Apple Watch when they specifically mentioned Hong Kong when talking about international support for the app.



China's widely used instant messaging platform WeChat was also mentioned during the event, particularly during the unveiling of a smarter Siri SDK who can be ordered to send a message via the Chinese-made app by voice command.



Apple also discussed Apple Pay, but did not forget to mention and emphasize its support for China's Alipay and noted that the new Phone iOS extension API can be useful in the country since it could aid in detecting phone scams.



Of course, Apple did not fail to mention its new partner, China's cab-sharing developer Didi, when talking about opening Apple Maps to developers.



Why All the Love



While some may be troubled at the sickly sweet way Apple treats China, CNBC believes that this love affair was the main reason why the company succeeded in doing business in the country where many failed.



According to a report posted early in 2015, Apple's success in China could teach so many tech firms in the United States about wooing the Asian giant.



Despite the cutthroat competition and massive hindrances guised as laws to protect China's national security, Apple was able to perform well in the Chinese market.



"All the stars aligned for Apple. Apple has a premium product in a country that is doing well economically," explained Craig Elimeliah of the marketing agency Rapp.



Echoing Elimeliah's opinion, Shanghai-based China Market Research Group managing editor Shaun Rein said that Apple is loved by the Chinese so much that they are willing to pay double to get their hands on Apple products from the black market instead of waiting months to get their orders.






New Yuan Trade Branches in London, New York to Boost RMB Status as Global Currency

Chinese banks are currently seeing an increase in non-performing loans. (Photo : Reuters)

The Chinese yuan is seen to enhance its status as a global currency as China's state-owned currency marketplace announced on Sunday, June 12, the opening of yuan trade branches in London and New York, as reported by Reuters.



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In a statement released by the China Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS), a subsidiary of China's central bank, said that the new branches are part of efforts serve as the main trading platform and pricing center for the yuan globally as it continues to expand offshore to serve more institutions overseas.



To allow more foreign participation in the local yuan market, China has eased up capital controls while maintaining yuan centers abroad to promote the international use of its currency.



The report said that an electronic bidding system for the yuan against foreign currencies will be provided by the CFETS, which also offers cross-rate trading, RMB interbank lending and bon trading.



A report by the Xinhua News Agency said that yuan-based trading on CFETS reached a total of 618.12 trillion yuan ($94.24 trillion) last year.



The CFETS also planned to further boost cooperation with overseas trading platforms, and eventually provide trading services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. From 4:30 p.m., the market platform has extended the trading hours for onshore yuan to 11:30 p.m. local time this year.



"CFETS is willing to provide comprehensive service and support to British institutions who participate in China's inter-bank market, and strengthen cooperation with them as Chinese companies go offshore," Sun Jie, executive vice president of CFETS, said in an event in Shanghai, which focused on yuan's internationalization. The event was attended by various financial institutions and by Chinese and British regulators.



Despite differences arising from Britain's criticism of China's human rights record, the two countries have been working to enhance their economic ties. In October last year, President Xi Jinping made an official state visit to Britain.



The London branch is now the world's biggest offshore yuan center, next to Hong Kong, according to Xavier Rolet, CEO of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSE.L), which is working with the Shanghai Stock Exchange to set up a a cross-border investment scheme that would connect the British and Chinese stock markets.


Sperm Donation (Photo : YouTube)

Because China limits use of assisted reproductive technology to married women, single Chinese and lesbians turn to foreign sperm donors to become pregnant. But even among locals, their semen are in demand because of the end of Chinas one-child policy.



While technically, producing sperm is what a lot of single men do when alone and horny, it is one matter to release ones semen during solo sex and another matter to donate it to a sperm bank. Several things prevent Chinese men from being sperm donors, although like other males around the world, they spill their seed when alone and need to release sexual tension.



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As a result, China has called Chinese men aged between 20 and 45 to donate their male seed for the sake of your country, reported The New York Times. The campaign is reminiscent of compulsory military service for young males in many countries.



With more than 500 million males in China, supply of sperm, hypothetically, should not be a problem. However, the unwillingness to donate is partly explained by Chinese traditional medicine linking semen with vitality, while some believe donating sperm goes against Confucian values.



Of the few who do donate, half of them have their sperms wasted because they have sexually transmitted diseases or fail to meet national semen benchmarks.



To reach a wider audience for sperm donors, Shanghai-based Renji Hospital and a Wuhan-based sperm bank  which spearheaded the drive  used WeChat messaging service since the subscribers of the app are young males, reported Daily Mail. The incentives of an iPhone and $1,000 cash would be given if the men donate at least 17 milliliters of sperm over six months.






Wheres Snow White? Some of the seven dwarves greet visitors during a trial run of Shanghai Disney Resort on June 11 in Shanghai, China. (Photo : Getty Images)

It was a wonderful experience and Ill spend money and time in [the] future to visit it again.



Those were the words of retired worker Chen Lanying quoted by the South China Morning Post regarding a visit to Shanghai Disney Resort earlier this month.



The 963-acre park opened its gate to the public on May 8, way before the scheduled grand opening on June 16, for a six-week trial run.



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Arguably enough, who would not feel wonderful to set foot in, according to the resorts website, a never-before-seen world of wonder?



Shanghai Disney offers, among many others, six themed lands, two resort hotels and, towering above them all, the tallest, biggest and most interactive of all Disney castles the world over.



Paying for 499 yuan for the park ticket for adults (375 yuan for children and seniors) could be all worth it then, not only for Chen but perhaps also for the thousand others who already trooped the place during its trial operations.



There is but one major concern: the long hours of lining up.



Imagine some two to four hours of waiting, according to SCMP.



A Boon for Hong Kong Disney?



I think its a good choice to go to Hong Kong, said Cheng Xiaojing, an office assistant, to SCMP.



According to Cheng, her friend waited in line for three hours to experience the Soaring Over The Horizon ride at the resorts Adventure Isle only to be told that it malfunctioned.



A polling group called Horizon conducted an online survey through a mobile app regarding the matter, reported SCMP.



The survey result revealed that 94 percent of visitors expressed unwillingness to fall in line for more than an hour.



After their visit to Shanghai Disney, 50 percent of those who took the survey said that over the next six months, they would not visit any Disneyland.



Thirty percent, on the other hand, said that instead of another visit, they would opt for its counterparts, either in Hong Kong or Tokyo, Japan.



When Shanghai Disney begins its full operation, Reuters said that such could dent the earnings of its Hong Kong counterpart.



Authentically Disney, Distinctively Chinese



That is how the management behind the $5.5 billion Shanghai Disney Resort promotes the most technologically innovative theme park on its website.



For one, the acclaimed musical Lion King will be presented in Mandarin.



On May 8 alone, the park received some 30,000 people. Management anticipates 15 million visitors every year, reported Bloomberg.



But according to Li Jin, an analyst from Hubei-based Chang Jiang Securities Company, the number of annual visitors could reach up to 50 million, with the park raking in 24 billion to 40 billion yuan yearly.



The dizzying income projections tell something significant about the country.



For China, its another indication that its moving from a developing economy to a developed one and is a major world power, said Elliott N. Weiss, an Oliver Wight Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia in the U.S.






LinkedIn and Microsoft Logos (Photo : Twitter)

Microsoft's purchase of LinkedIn on June 13, Monday gives the tech giant a social network with over 400 million users. The deal is valued at $26.2 billion and will likely result in Google making a similar acquisition to boost its business customers. Earlier this year the Alphabet subsidiary was reportedly interested in purchasing some business-centered cloud apps including Namely and Shopify.



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LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner sent an email to his employees explaining why he made the choice to sell the company. He mentioned the leadership of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella as a key reason.



Weiner argued that Nadella has made Microsoft more innovative, flexible, and open, according to Time. The LinkedIn chief executive was already thinking about approving the deal, but got excited about Nadella's ideas for weaving LinkedIn's services into Microsoft apps including Windows, Office, and Outlook.



During the past year the search giant has made big investments in its enterprise operations. The company hopes to focus on business ads, and Google's interest in business apps causes it to go toe-to-toe with the Bill Gates co-founded company.



Microsoft's purchase of LinkedIn now provides it with personal and professional data that Google does not have. In addition, the Washington-based company has stated that LinkedIn will assist its digital assistant Cortana, according to Recode.



Google's artificial intelligence (AI) is widely considered as the best in the tech world. However, Microsoft could now have a competitive edge over Google.



Google has the cash to catch up with Microsoft. In addition, Google's enterprise Senior Vice President Diane Greene has stated she wants to expand the unit even through purchases, and there are several options.



For example, Dropbox has over half a billion users that mainly use its file storage/sharing services. However, it has not stated a vision for doing business with big companies.



Another viable option for Google is the workplace messaging app Slack. It has 3 million daily users, and about one-third of them use accounts paid for by their companies. Slack has plans to launch an enterprise version this year and is adding AI features.



There is also the cloud storage/sharing platform Box. The company's long-term strategy is to build customer applications in specific markets and connect business apps such as Microsoft's Office and Google Apps. Box's customers include General Electric (GE), The Gap, and Campbell Soup.



Here's a video of Microsoft/LinkedIn CEOs talking about the deal:






All the key ins and outs for NRL Fantasy in the second of three major bye rounds during the 2016 NRL Telstra Premiership season.

Draw Widget - Round 15 - Rabbitohs vs Eels



Rabbitohs: Cody Walker and Luke Keary team up in the halves this week  meaning Walker is another week away from becoming a dual-position player in NRL Fantasy  with Greg Inglis and Adam Reynolds away on Origin duty. Bryson Goodwin's arm injury has also forced a reshuffle in the backline, with Siosifa Talakai moving to the centres while Fantasy cheapie Jack Gosiewski returns on the bench. Sam Burgess has been named but will fall in price after last week's injury-affected 11  he's still a hold for those who have him.

Eels: Vai Toutai replaces Michael Jennings in the centres in Parramatta's only change this week. Semi Radradra, Corey Norman and Manu Ma'u are the obvious options for Fantasy teams chasing overall points who want scorers for the next couple of bye rounds but haven't picked up Eels stars yet. Clint Gutherson is a hold for overall, but a sell for head-to-head.

Draw Widget - Round 15 - Dragons vs Storm



Dragons: No changes, although Tyson Frizell could still end up in the NSW squad. Jack de Belin has again been named on the bench with Mike Cooper retaining the lock role. De Belin, Frizell, Euan Aitken and the injured Josh Dugan are the keepers in this side.

Storm: Blake Green returns to the side and will wear the No.7 with Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith on Origin duty, with Kenny Bromwich named at hooker and Matt White and Young Tonumaipea joining the bench. Cameron Munster was always going to be a keeper this season but after last week's 99 he could end up outscoring James Tedesco in the run home.

Draw Widget - Round 15 - Warriors vs Roosters



Warriors: Manu Vatuvei is injured and Jacob Lillyman is into the Queensland side, with Ken Maumalo and Toafofoa Sipley joining the Warriors 17 this week. Simon Mannering and Shaun Johnson are both underpriced and hitting form, while Bodene Thompson continues to be the team's best scorer so far in 2016.

Roosters: With a couple of Origin players missing Joseph Manu will debut on the wing, Shaun Kenny-Dowall returns at centre and Mitchell Aubusson moves back to the second row, with Dylan Napa slotting back into the side at lock. The Roosters are a key Fantasy team this year as they'll be in action for the next two major bye rounds  which is good enough reason to keep the likes of Latrell Mitchell if you're playing for overall.

Draw Widget - Round 15 - Titans vs Sea Eagles



Titans: Nathan Davis has been named to return at centre with Konrad Hurrell to wear his now customary No.18 jersey. Agnatius Paasi starts at lock for Greg Bird while Ryan Simpkins joins the bench. Ryan James is averaging close to 60 points per game this season, while Ashley Taylor has just about peaked in price.

Sea Eagles: A couple of big ins with Martin Taupau coming back from suspension at prop and Jamie Lyon has been named to return from a hamstring injury at five-eighth. Matt Parcell is worth holding for at least as long as Daly Cherry-Evans is out of the side (and probably longer), while the Trbojevic brothers continue to impress with Tom a week away from becoming a dual position player now that he's playing in the centres.

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Blues prop James Tamou says it was an emotional conversation letting his club the Cowboys know he wouldn't be around in 2017 but has praised the professionalism with which the club has handled everything.

Tamou also praised Penrith, the club he is rumoured to be joining, but refused to confirm his 2017 destination.

North Queensland has done a remarkable job of retaining the bulk of its premiership-winning group with a number of key players extending their time at the club since their maiden premiership win last October.

When Tamou recently let the club know his future lay in Sydney he became the first high-profile departure and, speaking from Blues' camp in Coffs Harbour, he admitted it was tough telling the club his eight-year stay would finish at the end of 2016.

"There is a bit of relief there to the point I've told the Cowboys, the team, that I won't be there [next year]. That was playing on my mind a bit how they would react. When I did tell them they were nothing but supportive  put their hands out and shook mine," he said.

"I just said 'We've still got a job to do this year'."

He confessed to getting "a bit of a tickle in my throat" when it came time to break the news.

"I was thinking 'wrap it up before you start crying'. But they were really good. If anything they were really excited for me and wishing me well," he said.

"Hopefully [we can] go out this year with a bang."

Tamou remains hopeful an official announcement will be made soon.

"Now that I've told the boys I won't be there I just want to get it done now so I can concentrate on footy," he added.

Tamou has been widely tipped to join the Panthers in 2016 and while he wasn't letting anything official slip he did have some praise for what he said is a club on the rise.

"Wherever it may be. I'm pretty good mates with everyone here [in Blues camp] so wherever I am I don't think it will be too much trouble," he said when asked if he might be getting more closely acquainted with some future clubmates this week," he said.

He confirmed the western Sydney club had expressed an interest.

"They (Penrith's NSW representatives) did ask me the first camp and I just said 'Look I know they're interested' and I still hope so. Penrith is one of the up-and-coming teams with their young stars... and forward pack there," Tamou said.

"It would be good to be running around with the future players they have there... unreal.

"It's not just [the forwards] it's Te Maire Martin, [Nathan] Cleary and their backs. Obviously their forward pack but their backs have got some speed out there so it's very exciting where they're headed and it'd be awesome to be a part of that.

"They are definitely a team on the up."
Uganda's FM Okello is on a Middle East tour that aims to bolster cooperation with Arab states, with other stops to include the UAE and Oman

Related Uganda foreign minister in Cairo as part of Arab tour

Ugandan foreign minister Henry Oryem Okello condemned Wednesday all forms of violence and terrorism against Egypt in a meeting with president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

The Ugandan foreign minister also commended the Egyptian army's efforts to combat terrorism in North Sinai and Egypts efforts to bring peace to the Libya and the Middle East as a whole.

El-Sisi asserted Egypt's keeness on cooperation with other African nations, adding that the country aims to develop and maintain its relationship with all its African brothers, especially as the continent is currently facing many challenges.

The duo also discussed African development and mutual interests in the region.

Also in attendance during the meeting was Egypt's foreign affairs minister Sameh Shoukry.

During his multiple-day visit, Okello is also scheduled to meet with other top Egyptian government officials to discuss means of boosting cooperation between the two countries in several fields.

Egypt provided a $22.4 million grant to support Ugandan water projects over the past 16 years.

Okello is on a Middle East tour that aims to bolster cooperation with Arab states, with other stops to include the UAE and Oman.

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WASHINGTON  Former Rep. Gabby Giffords was back in Washington recently with her husband, Mark Kelly, calling for a more civil public discourse during a campaign season filled with what Kelly called kind of historic poor rhetoric.

Giffords and Kelly were on hand to help the University of Arizonas National Institute for Civil Discourse launch its Revive Civility campaign, which aims to bring more respectful behavior to the 2016 campaign.

In modern political history, weve never seen anything like were seeing this year, said Carolyn Lukensmeyer, executive director of the institute.

The 2016 campaign has seen widely reported taunts between presidential candidates in the primaries, name-calling, racial epithets and outbreaks of violence between supporters and opponents at some campaign rallies.

We have become a very polarized country, not only nationally but here in Washington, D.C., in Congress, Kelly said. And polarization really kind of paralyzes us. And discourse that isnt civil makes it even harder.

He and Giffords joined former Oklahoma Republican Rep. Mickey Edwards and Ohio state Rep. Stephanie Howse, who are members of the advisory board to the institute. It was formed in the wake of the 2011 Tucson shooting that killed six people and wounded 13 others, including Giffords, who was the target of the attack.

The assassination attempt forced Giffords, a Tucson Democrat, to resign her seat in Congress in 2012 so she could focus on her recovery.

In sporadic visits to Washington since then, Giffords appears to have made steady progress. She did not speak at the event, but walked unaided  if haltingly  to her seat on the panel and nodded in agreement to statements by the other panelists, interjecting a word or two on occasion.

Kelly, who spoke on Giffords behalf, said they were both dismayed by the current tenor of the national debate. He said its particularly important for both those in office and those running for office to behave respectfully.

People who run for the highest office in the land have to realize whether they like it or not, they are role models for young people, Kelly said. And they are accountable for what they say and to some extent theyre accountable for the actions of others. And we would all be in a much better place if everybody realized that.

He added that candidates should be held accountable at the polls by voters.

You dont reward people for bad behavior, Kelly said. So when you see somebody that may be using angry rhetoric, dont vote for them.

Edwards said the institutes focus has expanded from making sure there is civility between political leaders, to urging a standard of civility for the public as well.

Were not a Third World country, this is the United States, Edwards said. Were based on freedom of expression, were based on free speech and free press and the ability to exchange ideas.

Lukensmeyer said there is nothing wrong with opposing viewpoints and protests, both of which are deeply rooted in American tradition. But disagreeing with someone doesnt mean being disagreeable  or even violent.

The Revive Civility campaign includes standards of behavior, social media tools to encourage respectable behavior, a citizen toolkit and the civility seal of approval to highlight particularly good discourse, according to the institutes website.

Lukensmeyer said the current state of affairs developed over years and she knows it will take a long time to reverse the trends.

Were under no illusion that this campaign will not continue to be very negative and undoubtedly continue to give assignations to whole groups of people, Lukensmeyer said, assignations that she called just plain un-American.

Despite the size of the task, she said, the goal is not that complicated.

Theyre the things our mothers taught us before we went to school, Lukensmeyer said.
MUNSTER  The top executive at Community Healthcare System has announced his plans to retire.

President and CEO John Gorski will step down July 9. He had been in that position since last July after previously serving as chief operating officer. He will be replaced by Don Fesko, the hospital systems current chief operating officer and CEO of Community Hospital in Munster.

Community Healthcare System is made up of Community Hospital, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart.

Despite the ever-evolving landscape of health care, Johns leadership has helped us stay the course with our mission to make Community Healthcare System the best place for patients in our service area to receive medical care, said Frankie Fesko, board chairwoman for Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana, which operates Community Healthcare System.

His many years of service and significant contributions helped Community Healthcare System achieve significant growth and nationally recognized excellence for patient care.

Having started his career as a pharmacist, Gorski worked in health care for more than three decades. Prior to directing the operations of Community Healthcare System, Gorski spent 23 years at Community Hospital, beginning as director of pharmacy.

Fesko started his professional career as an optometrist, serving on the boards of Community Foundation of Northwest Indiana and Community Hospital before becoming hospital CEO in 2005.

I look forward to my expanded role and the opportunity to work with such a talented, compassionate group of people delivering health care in Northwest Indiana, Fesko said.

With the support of a great team, we will continue to embrace innovations and advances in health care that will enable our patients and the community to enjoy a higher quality of life and health.
HOBART  For the third time time in less than a week, an employee for a company that provides services to people with disabilities is accused of battering a man under their care.

Megan C. Akers, 23, of Chesterton, faces charges of battery against a disabled person, neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, battery with moderate bodily injury, neglect of a dependent, battery resulting in bodily injury and battery. A warrant was issued for her arrest.

The charges filed in Lake Criminal Court come the same week a civil lawsuit was filed in Lake Superior Court accusing ResCare, the company Akers worked for, of negligence.

Leeann Murphy is the mother of Jeffrey Wardlow, the man Akers is accused of hitting, and she said her family decided to pursue the lawsuit to bring attention to abuse against disabled people. Her son was previously hurt while in the care of another company.

Her 27-year-old son is autistic, has an intellectual disability and is considered non-verbal. He lives in a Hobart home with two other disabled men. ResCare provides home-care services for the men.

"All I know is that somebody has to bring this to light somewhere, and it's not going to happen to my boy, again," she said. "I just can't let it happen again."

In the lawsuit, Murphy accuses ResCare of not properly training and hiring appropriate staff. Her attorney, Donald Wruck, said companies such as ResCare typically have a low-paid, unskilled work force who are placed in difficult situations.

"So what you have is a system where you have a recipe for disaster," Wruck said.

Kristen Trenaman, director of communications and marketing for ResCare, said by email that she couldn't comment on the case or Akers' employment status because of the pending litigation.

Last week, four ResCare workers were charged in two separate incidents accusing them of battering men who lived in the 1600 block of Minnesota Street in Hobart. Trenaman said the men were fired, and ResCare is cooperating with police.

"Our mission is to assist people to reach their highest level of independence and serve compassion and respect every day," she said. "We do not tolerate behavior that does not comply with our mission."

In the latest case, Akers on May 24 was pulling into a home in the 800 block of Lake Street in Hobart. Neighbors told police Akers was seen holding some sort of object and using it to hit Wardlow while she was inside and later outside of her car. According to the affidavit, she was heard saying, "I will (expletive) you up."

One neighbor called the ResCare coordinator and police. When the neighbor urged Akers to stop, Akers allegedly told the neighbor to mind her own business while cussing at her.

Akers told police she used a technique taught by the company to control residents, according to the affidavit. The ResCare manager in the area told detectives that Akers didn't follow protocol to defuse the situation.

Murphy said she initially was told by ResCare that her son had red marks. Days later, the school her son attends told her Wardlow was crying and asking for help. Relatives took Wardlow to the hospital where he was treated for scratches, two black eyes, a swollen hand and bruises on his arms.

Her son later told her, "Megan hit me, mom," while showing her his bruised arms.

Murphy and her attorneys, Wruck and Keith Medved, question if Akers should have even been at work May 24.

A neighbor told her that Akers was seen the day before pulling and hitting another resident. The neighbor reported the incident to ResCare officials.

Murphy was furious to learn about what happened. She said Akers has worked with her son for a year.

"My heart hurts," she said. "It hurts, because she did that to my son. I trusted her."

Editor's Note: This story has been updated from a previous version to correct Megan C. Akers' age.
HAMMOND  A Gary man was sentenced Tuesday to 15 months in prison for lying to federal agents in 2012 about having sex with a teenage girl bludgeoned to death more than two decades ago.

U.S. District Judge Rudy Lozano addressed Barry Taylor, 35, of Gary, during the sentencing hearing.

What you did was stupid. I dont know how else to say it, Lozano told Taylor. Its important for you to be honest (with federal investigators.)  That being said, youre a human being."

Taylor was sentenced Tuesday to 15 months in prison, with two years of supervised release. Lozano also allowed Taylor to self surrender on or before July 14, the day he is scheduled to report to prison.

Taylor pleaded guilty in March to a one count of making false statements to federal law enforcement agents while they were investigating the Aug. 8, 1995 death of Johnice "China" White.

He has not been charged in the homicide.

White was found dead in Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Her body was facedown and partially clothed, and she had died from blunt force trauma to the head, according to an indictment.

DNA testing found an unknown males semen on her underwear, court records say.

FBI agents interviewed Taylor on Jan. 15, 2012, the indictment says. Taylor, who was a teenager when White was killed, allegedly denied having sex with White, knowing of anyone with a sexual interest in her or knowing of any reason his DNA would have been found at the crime scene.

An FBI lab test confirmed in March 2012 that the DNA on Whites underwear matched Taylors DNA, the indictment says.
HAMMOND  A 62-year-old Highland man has agreed to plead guilty to a cocaine charge, U.S. District Court records show.

Leonel Portes Sr. is scheduled to enter his plea June 30 to one count of possessing with the intent to deliver 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Portes, one of five men charged in the case, faces five to 40 years in prison at sentencing. In exchange for his cooperation, the U.S. attorney's office agreed to recommend a sentence no longer than five years, according to a plea agreement.

Humberto Morales, 69, of Gary, pleaded guilty June 6 and is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 29.

Leonel Portes Jr., 32, of Merrillville; Mauricio Portes, 48, of East Chicago; and Javonte Vaulx, 24, of Lake Station; all have pleaded not guilty.

The alleged cocaine sales occurred in 2015 in the Northern District of Indiana, but an indictment did not include any specific locations.
MERRILLVILLE  A 46-year-old man told police he heard detectives thought someone choked his brother to death.

Detectives in an affidavit filed Wednesday in Lake Criminal Court outline how they stayed mum about the cause of death for James Lardydell III. No one except officials knew that James Lardydell III had been strangled to death, which was complicated by blunt force trauma.

Demetrius Lardydell, of Merrillville, was charged Wednesday with murder in his brothers homicide. He was being held Wednesday at Lake County Jail without bail.

James Lardydell III, 47, was found dead May 27 inside his home in the 5900 block of Harrison Street in Merrillville. Its the same address listed for Demetrius Lardydell in court records.

Merrillville police at the time of the homicide only said James Lardydell III died of a suspicious injury. An autopsy determined that the blunt force trauma could have been caused by a hand or fist, according to the affidavit. It also was believed that he could have been dead for a while before his body was found.

A relative initially told police that she was asked on May 27 to check on James Lardydell III and had to force her way into his locked bedroom. She told police she found him sitting in a chair.

Police noted there was no visible damage to the bedroom door.

Upon further questioning, the relative said the brothers were arguing May 26 with the confrontation at one point turning physical, according to the affidavit. The relative said she tried to break up the men, but she eventually left the home.

When questioned by police, Demetrius Lardydell maintained that he didnt have anything to do with his brothers homicide.

He said he last saw his brother going into the bedroom where he remained until it was discovered that he was dead, according to court records.
WANATAH  Police officers on Wednesday stopped traffic and approached motorists at the spot where a Porter County woman was fatally struck by a still-unknown driver exactly three weeks ago.

The goal was to find a driver who regularly passes through at the time Shawn Rybicki, 46, was killed and might have noticed something that could help develop a lead in the unsolved case.

Another purpose was to keep the spotlight on the case in hope of jarring the memory of someone who might not realize they have potentially helpful information.

Were hoping that somebody saw something, said LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd.

Beginning at 1:45 p.m., eight officers spent nearly one hour stopping vehicles on U.S 421 and handing out fliers containing a picture of the victim and what transpired May 25 a half-mile north of U.S 30.

More than 200 vehicles had been stopped in both directions just prior to the effort wrapping up.

Nobody reported seeing anything, but as word spreads over time the hope is the stops will prove fruitful.

LaPorte County police Capt. Mike Kellems said the investigation has determined that Rybicki was more than likely on the shoulder of U.S 421 when hit.

She had just been given a ride from Wal-Mart in Valparaiso.

Kellems said police also know the person who gave her the lift and other details before she got out of the vehicle.

They dont believe her death is connected in any way to the 10-mile drive from Valparaiso.

Just prior to being struck, police said Rybicki was spotted on foot close to a nearby subdivision where officers knocked on doors while traffic was being stopped, hoping to find someone who could help the investigation.

Police also are looking at video from surveillance cameras outside homes in the subdivision to see if any images were captured that might help with the mystery.

Investigators also plan to do some forensic examination of cellphone towers in the area to determine if there was any communication from 1:55 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., when its believed the impact happened.

Rybicki, who was staying at various locations in Porter County, was wearing a light colored top and denim skirt, police said.

What brought her to LaPorte County remained one of the unknowns.

She doesnt have any family here. She didnt have any history in LaPorte County. She didnt have anywhere to go in LaPorte County that were aware of, Kellems said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the LaPorte County Sheriffs Office at (219) 326-7700, ext. 2404.
The series Al-Tabbal, or The Drummer, sits at the top of the minsitry of social solidarity watchgroup (FTAF) 'blacklist' for smoking and drug consumption on the small screen

A total of 348 scenes featuring smoking and drug abuse have been aired in TV series in the first five days of the holy month of Ramadan, the social solidarity ministry's Fighting and Treating Addiction Fund (FTAF) said in a Wednesday statement

The FTAF said that smoking and drug scenes occupied 10 hours of airtime. A majority of the scenes, 272 of the 348, featured smoking, while drug and alcohol consumption was depicted in 76 scenes.

The fund compiled a blacklist to condemn series that feature heavy smoking and drug use and another list for TV series featuring fewer of such scenes.

Around 30 Egyptian TV series are airing on multiple TV channels this year. Each series runs for 30 episodes with each episode lasting between 35-40 minutes.

The series Al-Tabbal, or The Drummer, topped the blacklist with 25 smoking scenes and 10 drug consumption scenes.

Amir Karara, who plays the lead role in the Al-Tabbal, starred last Ramadan in Bucharest Alleyways, which topped the FTAF's blacklist for heavy smoking and drug abuse.

Coming in second on the blacklist is Al-Keif, which is a remake of a popular 1985 movie about two brothers who create an inexpensive formula for a potent drug and corner the drug market.

The FTAF stressed in its statement the necessity of maintaining a dialogue with drama makers to limit drugs and cigarettes, as per a protocol of understanding signed last year.

The nonbinding protocol, co-signed by the Fund and the Egyptian Actors' Union, had urged makers of television series and movies to abstain from portraying behaviour that encourages smoking and the consumption of drugs.

The FTAF and the union promised awards to dramas which discuss negative repercussions of smoking and drug abuse.

Last year, during the first 15 days of Ramadan the fund observed a total of 990 scenes that depict smoking and drug consumption, which lasted a total of 27 hours and 48 minutes.

The World Health Organization estimates that around a quarter of Egyptian adults smoke tobacco and about 50 percent of Egyptians are exposed to second-hand smoking in their homes.

Ramadan has been known as the official month of TV series, with tens of shows competing for prime time viewership.

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The Society of Professional Journalists strongly supports the numerous journalists and news outlets which have been blocked, bullied and harassed during this election season.

Journalists covering a political campaign perform an important public service  they provide information to the American public seeking to determine our next leaders. Journalists must be free to do their jobs without fear of reprisal, intimidation and threat of physical harm.

Candidates for the office of president of the United States and all other offices must understand and respect the role of a free press, and must expect to be asked uncomfortable questions and receive tough but fair coverage. Journalists ask questions on behalf of all Americans who have the right to know the policies, positions and background of any person they are voting into the countrys highest office or other offices.

For a candidate to disown the principles of the First Amendment simply because they do not like their coverage is shameful.
INDIANAPOLIS  Earl Harris Jr. will remain a candidate on the November general election ballot seeking to represent portions of East Chicago and Gary in the Indiana House.

On Wednesday, the Indiana Election Commission rejected an eligibility challenge that claimed Harris is not a legitimate resident of House District 2. It was filed by Rosa Maria Rodriguez, who was runner-up to Harris in the May Democratic primary.

The outcome wasn't even close to uncertain as the two Republican and two Democratic election commissioners easily agreed, following an hour of testimony, that Harris met the state's legal standard for candidate residency.

Specifically, Harris expressed intent to live at his mother's East Chicago home beginning in March 2015, and took action to carry out that intent, such as living in the house, moving property into the house and changing his voter registration, bank records, insurance and other official documents to reflect his new address.

"There's nothing before us, I think no valid evidence, that gives question as to what he has stated his intent was," said Commissioner Suzannah Wilson Overholt, a Democrat.

Rodriguez argued that Harris should be removed from the ballot because Harris owns an Indianapolis house for which he received a 2015 homestead property tax credit, which only is available for a person's primary dwelling.

"How is it that Earl Harris now lives ... in East Chicago and still takes a homestead credit for his true residence in Indianapolis?" Rodriguez said. "Voter fraud? Tax code violation? Or both?"

Guided by attorney Scott Chinn, Harris explained that he moved from Indianapolis to East Chicago to live with his mother, state Rep. Donna Harris, following the March 23, 2015, death of his father, longtime state Rep. Earl Harris Sr.

Harris said he simply forgot about telling the Marion County auditor to remove the homestead credit while grieving his father's death, and later amid moving, helping with his mother's health issues, relocating his video production business and campaigning for state representative.

"With everything that was going on ... it slipped through the cracks," Harris said.

Harris testified that he recently contacted the county auditor to take off the homestead credit and take care of any unpaid taxes, since he intends East Chicago to be his permanent residence.

Rodriguez said she does not plan to challenge the election commission decision in court.

Though she remains upset that East Chicago residents will continue to be subject to the 34-years-and-counting Harris "monarchy."

"We need individuals that are going to represent the community. We need people that are going to be present and know what's going on in our city and our county," Rodriguez said.

No Republican currently is running against Harris in the heavily Democratic district.
Even before a gunman opened fire over the weekend at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 people before being fatally shot by police, efforts were underway in the Illinois General Assembly to strengthen the states gun laws.

The Illinois House is considering a bill that would require gun dealers to be licensed by the state and another that would create a lethal violence order of protection, allowing family members, roommates or law enforcement officers to seek court orders barring individuals from possessing firearms if theres evidence showing that they pose a danger to themselves or others.

Both measures are sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, who didnt respond to requests for comment.

Colleen Daley, executive director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, said mass shootings like the one in Orlando, the deadliest in U.S. history, underscore the need for stricter controls on the sale and possession of guns.

We see this time and time again, primarily in Congress, she said. Congress refuses to act, so we need to do things here in Illinois that are going to save lives."

The need for stronger gun laws should already be clear in Illinois, Daley said, noting that 42 people were shot, seven of them fatally, this past weekend in Chicago.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was able to purchase the semi-automatic handgun and rifle he used in the attack despite reportedly having previously been on the FBIs terrorist watch list.

Unlike Illinois with its numerous actual and proposed gun mandates, Indiana is considered a gun-friendly state due to its few restrictions on gun ownership or where firearms can be taken.

There is no limit on how many guns an Indiana resident can possess, and weapons do not have to be registered with the state.

Hoosiers are required to apply for permission to publicly carry a handgun, either concealed or open, but police are not permitted to reject an application except in limited circumstances, such as an active felony conviction.

A total of 661,364 Hoosiers, of out 5.03 million adults, were licensed to carry a handgun in 2015, according to Indiana State Police.

In recent years, the Republican-controlled General Assembly has expanded where Hoosiers can carry handguns to include school properties and in their employers parking lot, so long as the gun is kept out of sight in a locked vehicle.

Guns basically are prohibited only inside businesses that choose to exclude them, school buildings, courthouses, the Indiana Statehouse and Government Center, casinos, the Indiana State Fair and federally controlled properties, such as airports, courthouses and reservoirs.

Indiana also has a strong stand your ground self-defense statute that permits use of deadly force to prevent the serious injury or death of an individual, or a third party, due to an unlawful incursion into the persons home, land or occupied vehicle.

In 2012, the Legislature even authorized Hoosiers to shoot police officers, who are not engaged in their official duties, if a persons life is at risk and it is necessary to halt the imminent use of unlawful force, to prevent illegal police entry into a home, land or vehicle, or to stop police from unlawfully seizing property.

A 2014 report by the Chicago Police Department notes that four stores  three in suburban Cook County and one in Gary, Indiana  accounted for nearly 20 percent of the guns recovered in Chicago crimes from 2009 to 2013.
CROWN POINT  A split Lake County Board of Commissioners kept faith with troubled labor boss Randy Palmateer.

In the face of criticism over Palmateer's drunken driving arrest earlier this spring, the three-member county executive board reappointed him as their representative on the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority, which oversees millions of dollars in economic development projects.

Commissioners Kyle Allen, D-Gary, and Mike Repay, D-Hammond, voted for Palmateer. Commissioner Gerry Scheub, D-Crown Point, voted against reappointment.

It comes a month after the Democratic majority on the Lake County Council also gave their support to Palmateer, business manager of the 25,000-member Northwestern Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council, an AFL-CIO affiliate, which represents more than 38 union trade locals in Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties.

Palmateer has been under fire since Hammond police stopped him in late March at a sobriety checkpoint and arrested him despite his attempt to contact Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. Palmateer had a prior drunken driving arrest in 2011 in Crown Point.

In both cases, the prosecutor's office initially filed charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated against him and later reduced them to reckless driving convictions.

Palmateer, who wasn't present at the meeting, declined to comment when reached after the meeting.

Repay said Palmateer's service to county government on the RDA "has been as good as we can ask for. Despite his notorious legal troubles, those things haven't affected his ability to serve."

A Times review of the RDA board meetings Palmateer attended indicated he had been absent six out of 14 meetings. Repay said Palmateer told him RDA meetings once conflicted with his union meetings, but he has attended all RDA meetings since the meeting schedule changed.

Mark Leyva, who is challenging Repay in the general election this fall, said, "When you have people on these boards, they represent the county. When you have problems like Mr. Palmateer, what does that say to the public? Is this the best they can do?"

Allen said he made a promise to Palmateer to keep him on the RDA before the alleged drunken driving controversy erupted. "He made a mistake. I'll give anybody one chance," Allen said.

Allen said his vote wasn't swayed by any union financial support Palmateer can wield.

"I haven't received any contributions from the labor unions. I have only received one donation from Mr. Palmateer for $100 when I was on Gary City Council. Since I've been on the board of commissioners (four months) I haven't had a fundraiser and receive no financial support from the unions or Mr. Palmateer. I'm not doing this with blinders on," Allen said.

Scheub said voting against Palmateer, who he considers a friend, was difficult. "I feel sorry for his family. They've gone through hell on this. I just hope he understands what I did and we move forward," Scheub said.

"I got a lot of telephone calls. They thought he should go back and work on the building trades and make sure labor was tougher and stronger and back off on all this other involvement, get everything straightened out and go forward. I vote according to my district's wishes.

"I support labor. People say I do everything the unions want me to do. That's not true," Scheub said, recounting his opposition to the Illiana Expressway, the Singleton Quarry and other projects that would generate union jobs.

"This is one situation where I told them what I had to do. They weren't offended by it. Randy wasn't offended by it. They said do what you have to do," he said.

Schererville Town Councilman Jerry Tippy, who is challenging Scheub this fall, said afterward, "I found it interesting that Scheub did not try to convince his fellow commissioners to join him in voting against the appointment. It was almost as though he wanted them to vote in favor."

Lake officials first appointed Palmateer to the RDA in 2013.
HAMMOND  American girls face a new kind of childhood and coming of age as social media proliferates in their lives, devaluing them, making them sexual objects, subjecting them to cyber-bullying and creating a culture based on the key question, Do you like me?

And they hold that force in their hands in the form of smart phones.

Award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author Nancy Jo Sales brought that powerful message to the Real.Strong.Girls. kickoff event Monday night at Indiana Welcome Center.

Her most recent book, "American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers," documents a massive change in the way girls are growing up, a phenomenon that transcends race, geography and socio-economic status.

A talk with an editor at Vanity Fair magazine started Sales on her quest to learn more about how social media affects teenaged girls.

Negative effects on girls include anxiety, eating disorders and suicidal thoughts and actions, said Sales, 51, during the conversation moderated by Marisa Kwiatkowski, an investigative reporter for The Indianapolis Star and former investigative reporter with The Times of Northwest Indiana.

I interviewed over 200 girls in 10 states over 30 months, starting in 2013. Most were ages 13 to 19. I talked with some older girls. I found these problems are epidemic, said the New York City resident and mother of a 16-year-old daughter.

It is so common, so pervasive. Theres not a single school or community where it doesnt exist. Social media has a culture. You create your own reality.

Relating one conversation with teens at a Los Angeles mall, Sales said they told her, Social media is destroying our lives.

I asked then Why not stop it? They said, Then we would have no life, the author told the women and girls gathered for the Real.Strong.Girls. event.

The popularity contest that has been going on in high schools for generations now has graduated to social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat and Tinder, Sales said.

Im a reporter, not a fixer. Youre women who fix things, she told the women attending the event, many who are in leadership positions in business, industry and non-profits.

One thing I believe girls need is feminism, it has to be cool to be a feminist.

The social media platforms emanating from Silicon Valley were created by young white men who were in fraternities, Sales said.

We will have new and more of the same until we make a change as users and consumers.

Real.Strong.Girls. is a group of strong local women who are working together to establish a community that recognizes girls strengths and leadership capabilities and intentionally works to provide support to organizations that develop girls' potential, said Lisa Daugherty, president/CEO of Lake Area United Way.

Daugherty said startling data about our young women in Indiana led to the formation of the group and the push to raise funds for existing programs that we know work, including Girls on the Run.

We have to reach girls by 7 to 9 years old, she said. Ten, 11, 12, 13 year olds, theyre already in it.

Event host Violet G. Sistovaris, executive vice president of NIPSCO, stressed this message.

We need to ensure that todays youth, especially our girls, reach their full potential, Sistovaris said.

They are facing issues unlike anything before in history, and its occurring right here in our Northwest Indiana.
CROWN POINT  To accommodate the busy schedule of city Planning Director Anthony Schlueter, Mayor David Uran pulled a switcheroo involving Aaron McDermott.

Schlueter was appointed to the city's Redevelopment Commission in April 2015 to fill the vacancy left by the departure of former Chief of Staff Keith Stevens. The commission meets on the same Monday as the city's Plan Commission each month, and Uran said Schlueter needed more time to prepare for that meeting and to handle the workload of plans being submitted to the city.

McDermott, son of the former Hammond mayor Tom McDermott and brother of the current mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., has been the city's representative on the state's Alcohol and Tobacco Commission for about five years. Uran appointed McDermott to the redevelopment commission and Schlueter will take his place on the ATC, which meets on Thursdays.

A resident of the city for about 10 years, McDermott, 38, is founder and president of Latitude Commercial, of Schererville, a full-service commercial real estate brokerage selling and leasing commercial space in Indiana and Illinois, including representing a number of national tenants. He said the switch is a better fit for his line of work.

"I look forward to working with the city," McDermott said.
MUNSTER  Construction crews are back at the NIPSCO pipe line construction site on Calumet Avenue, excavating to determine what caused a water main break in that area Tuesday morning.

Northbound Calumet Avenue south of Fisher Street is restricted to one lane to enable that investigation, Rick Calinski, NIPSCO public affairs manager, said Tuesday afternoon.

Both southbound lanes are open to traffic, Dustin Anderson, Munster town manager, said Tuesday afternoon. Columbia Avenue is an alternate route for northbound vehicles, he said.

All lanes of Calumet Avenue reopened at 4 a.m. Tuesday after closing 100 feet south of Fisher Street at 8 p.m. on Friday so NIPSCO crews could replace the natural gas pipeline. On Tuesday morning, traffic was using all lanes of Calumet Avenue.

We are working to see if our construction in that area caused the water main break, Calinski said. Were excavating in the area to investigate what the cause is and we are working with the town.

However, Calinski said, We dont know how long that might be a concern.

On Tuesday, Munster Police Munster Police Lt. Ed Strbjak said police will be assisting traffic through the area as NIPSCO repairs the water leak.

Earlier this spring, NIPSCO crews began replacing 3.5 miles of natural gas pipeline at the Illinois/Indiana state line in Munster as part of NIPSCOs $779 natural gas modernization projects that started in 2014.
VALPARAISO  Calling it one of the few tools available to put money into the local roads, Mayor Jon Costas lauded the City Council's decision to adopt a wheel tax.

"It's an investment more than anything," Costas said.

In a 4-3 vote, the City Council during a public hearing Monday adopted the wheel tax ordinance.

Valparaiso joins Portage and Crown Point in enacting the tax to help pay for road improvement projects.

Schererville, Hammond and Hobart decided not to pursue the tax. Munster and LaPorte officials will vote June 20 whether to adopt the tax.

The Indiana Legislature granted cities with a population more than 10,000 the ability to enact an annual fee on vehicles for the purpose of road repair, construction and maintenance. The wheel tax is an ongoing annual fee that is raised through payments of vehicle registrations.

The wheel tax will go into effect Jan. 1 and will collect $25 per passenger vehicle and $40 per commercial vehicle registered within the city. The tax would be $12.50 for motorcycles, recreational vehicles and personal trailers.

The three Democrats on the council  Diana Reed, Deb Porter and Robert Cotton  voted against the tax.

Republicans John Bowker, Lenore Hoffman, Matt Murphy and Trista Hudson voted in favor of the tax.

Speaking for the Democratic caucus, Reed said while there is no doubt Valparaiso needs more money for roads, it's a problem not of their making, but as a result of Indianapolis's ability to act accordingly.

"We have been heavily paying our taxes with the expectation that the state would do right by us," she said. "But they have failed to do that. In our opinion this wheel tax is charging us twice."

Not a dime of it coming until 2018, she said.

The caucus said there is other money to be leveraged to get funds for fixing roads without a wheel tax. Reed said "not a dime" of the wheel tax would be available to the city until 2018 and that state Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, and state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, said they are committed to finding long-term funding for state and local roads. She also said the person she believes will be governor (John Gregg, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee) has made state and local road funding a major part of his platform.

"We believe a vote against the wheel tax is not kicking the problem down the road," she said. "Instead it is giving us the ability to do due diligence."

About a dozen people at the council meeting spoke either against or in favor of the tax, including Michael Simpson, Porter County Republican Party Chairman, who also owns a business in Valpo with a fleet of trucks that use city streets.

"I really believe this tax is necessary," he said. "These roads are terrible. Putting the tax off for one or six months and waiting for unicorns and rainbows and something fun to happen at the state is ridiculous."

"You were elected regardless of party to do the judiciary business of this city and be responsible for this city, and that means maintaining the infrastructure because that's what keeps businesses like me here," he said.

Bob Phillips, owner of Ace Hardware, on Calumet Avenue, said for the first time in nearly 40 years his sign has gone political as it tells people "not to vote for the tax."

"I don't think it should be pushed through as fast, I think we should look into it," he said.

Phillips said his home taxes went up 26 percent and with a wheel tax it would be 30 percent.

"It's wrong," he said.

Taxes at for the hardware store went up $9,000 because of school tax referendums and Phillips told the council he's trying to find out how he's going to charge more money on every single sale.

"There's not a business in this room that's not doing the same thing," he said.
The man, in his twenties, insists that he always wore shorts and an undershirt while attempting to escape the heat indoors

An Egyptian man was sentenced to six months in prison on Wednesday on charges of committing a lewd act in public after "appearing naked on the balcony of his house."

The defendant, who is in his twenties and is currently behind bars, said he sometimes stood on his balcony dressed in shorts and an undershirt because of the intense Cairo heat, but denied that he ever appeared naked.

However, the defendants' neighbours, who filed the complaint against him, refuted the man's story.

The plaintiffs reported that they complained to the accused mans family more than once, and despite the familys apology the man kept appearing naked in balcony. He later started to sexually harass his neighbours, they claimed.

The man was arrested after his neighbours finally filed a complaint with police.

The police report noted that the man regularly appears on his balcony without a stitch of clothing.

Investigations proved the defendant does not suffer from any mental illness and is fully aware of his actions.

The prison sentence can be appealed.

There is a possibility that a court will order the release of the defendant should he lodge an appeal.

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ORLANDO, Fla.  Orlando gunman Omar Mateen apparently made a series of Facebook posts before and during his attack on a gay nightclub, raging against the "filthy ways of the west" and blaming the U.S. for the deaths of "innocent women and children," according to a Senate committee letter released Wednesday.

The killer whose rampage left 49 people dead also searched for "Pulse Orlando" and "Shooting" online on the morning of the carnage Sunday and said on Facebook, "America and Russia stop bombing the Islamic state," according to the letter.

The messages were detailed in a letter from the Senate Homeland Security Committee to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg asking the company to produce information on Mateen's online activity and to provide a briefing to the panel.

The letter was released as the long, sad procession of memorials and funerals for the victims began in Orlando and the FBI appealed for the public's help in reconstructing the killer's movements. Investigators also zeroed in what role his wife may have played in the attack at Pulse dance club.

"We need your help in developing the most complete picture of what he did and why he did it," FBI agent Ron Hopper said at a news conference.

In its letter, the committee said staffers have learned that five Facebook accounts were associated with the 29-year-old American-born Muslim.

"The real muslims will never accept the filthy way of the west," Mateen wrote, according to the letter.

As he did in his call to a 911 operator during the massacre, Mateen pledged his allegiance on Facebook to the leader of the Islamic State and, in his final post, warned: "in the next few days you will see attacks from the Islamic state in the usa."

Despite his professed loyalty to the extremist group, the Obama administration has said it has seen no evidence that the shooting rampage was directed by the Islamic State.

A spokesman for the FBI did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday evening, and Facebook had no immediate comment.

The three-hour rampage began at 2 a.m. Sunday and ended with Mateen being killed by a police SWAT team. The FBI said it is still gathering evidence at the Pulse and analyzing cellphone location data to piece together Mateen's activities leading up to the massacre, while also interviewing people who had any dealings with him.

On Saturday night, hours before the rampage, Mateen visited Disney Springs, an outdoor restaurant, retail and entertainment complex at Walt Disney World, an official who was briefed on the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss the continuing investigation told The Associated Press.

The official said it is not clear what Mateen was up to.

Meanwhile, drag queens and motorcyclists turned out to pay their respects at an evening visitation at a funeral parlor for Javier Jorge-Reyes, a 40-year-old salesman, makeup artist and hair stylist.

Tiffany Clark recalled how Jorge-Reyes used to come to her home to cut her 7-year-old son JonJon's hair.

"My son doesn't understand why he's gone. My son has autism, and it's hard to explain to a baby why they're not here. ... All he knows is love," she said. Breaking down in tears, she said Jorge-Reyes was "very loving. Kind. Kindhearted."

Members of the SWAT team underwent a stress-management debriefing Wednesday, as hundreds of others involved in the response to the shooting have done, Orlando Police Chief John Mina said. Further counseling is being made available.

"These are some of the bravest toughest men I know," Mina said. "No one can prepare you for what those officers encountered that night. They stood toe-to-toe and went face-to-face with a mass murderer, and I'm extremely proud of that."

A key topic for investigators is how much Mateen's Palestinian-American wife may have known about the plot.

An official who was briefed on the case but insisted on anonymity to discuss a continuing investigation said authorities believe 30-year-old U.S.-born Noor Salman knew ahead of time about the attack.

Investigators have spoken extensively with her and are working to establish whether she recently accompanied Mateen to the club, said a second official who was not authorized to discuss the case publicly.

U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley repeatedly refused to say whether charges might be brought against the wife or anyone else. He said authorities are talking to hundreds of people and investigating everyone associated with Mateen, including family, friends and business associates.

Salman has been in seclusion for days.

In other developments:

 Florida documents obtained by the AP under open-records laws show that Mateen passed a psychological evaluation in 2007 as part of his application to be a security guard. The records say he took a written psychological test or was evaluated by a psychologist or psychiatrist.

 Orlando TV producer Matt Gentili of CFN 13 said Mateen called during his standoff to say he was doing it for the Islamic State. The station's managing editor traced the call back to a number associated with Mateen, according to NY 1 News, CFN 13's sister operation in New York. The FBI's Hopper declined to comment on calls Mateen made during the rampage.

 A newly unearthed clip from a film documentary about the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico shows Mateen  then working security for the cleanup  talking cynically about people making money off disasters.

The excerpt from 2012's "The Big Fix" shows Mateen telling a woman that everyone is "hoping for more oil to come out and more people to complain so they'll have the jobs." Security firm G4S confirmed that it's Mateen, saying he was stationed in Pensacola in 2010 to assist with cleanup.

___

Tucker contributed from Washington. Associated Press writers Jack Gillum in Washington; Michael R. Sisak in Philadelphia; Jay Reeves, Allen G. Breed and Tamara Lush in Orlando; and Holbrook Mohr in Port St. Lucie, Florida, contributed to this report.
It didnt take long for the most deadly mass shooting in the nations history to become politicized. There wasnt even time to first mourn the victims.

Donald Trump thanked those who said he was right about fighting terrorism.

Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama talked about gun control.

There were those who wanted to discuss the war in Iraq and the fight against ISIS.

Some blurred the line between Islam and radical Islam.

Others talked about the LGBT community, as if gay people are somehow different from anyone else.

Instead, how about first acknowledging the destruction of so many lives at the hands of a gunman  including the wounded, not just the dead. They most likely will have psychological damage, not just physical wounds, from the attack.

The discussion of gun control  or, as the Illinois General Assembly has discussed, increasing availability of guns  must happen. It should begin with Congress authorizing research on gun laws and gun-related violence. Lets see what the data say before making assumptions about restricting guns or increasing access.

As for fighting ISIS, its foolish to say the United States is idly standing by. The debate should be about what strategy is best. We already know the federal government is trying to stem the flow of money to terrorism, and ISIS in particular. And while its easy to say lets bomb them back to the Stone Age, or some such thing, think about how martyrdom fuels terrorism. Its like the Whack-A-Mole game, only worse. Kill one terrorist, and more pop up.

Weve been through this discussion of Islam before, too. Not all Muslims are alike, just as not all Christians are alike. If you dont want to go back to the days of the Spanish Inquisition or the Crusades or burning witches at the stake in Salem, Massachusetts, think about Westboro Baptist Church protesting at soldiers funerals. Radical Christians? Sure they were, or are. But that doesnt mean all Christians believe the same ideas.

Islam is a religion of peace. Some sects have corrupted that in their denunciation of Western values. What we should do in response is a subject for intense debate. Lets not hastily denounce all Muslims, just as we dont say everyone with a gun is a potential killer.

But let us also keep our eyes open.

The same day we heard of the Orlando, Florida, nightclub attack, we heard of a Hoosier armed to the teeth planning to go the big gay pride event in Los Angeles.

The Associated Press reported James Wesley Howell, 20, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, had three assault rifles and chemicals used to make explosives when he told the officers who arrested him that he was headed to a gay pride parade.

It is a reminder that our nation is not just under attack from outside forces. We must teach our children tolerance so we can become the great nation we aspire to be, yet we must not blindly trust each other, either.

We have many discussions that must take place across our nation, and we wont reach easy conclusions early if we keep our minds open as we should. These are difficult topics that require tough decisions.

Lets keep the politics and rhetoric in check while we look for root causes and possible solutions.
INDIANAPOLIS  Prosecutors say a 13-year-old boy is charged in the fatal shooting of a 9-year-old boy last month in suburban Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Star reports (http://indy.st/1ttQ3OI) that the teenager is charged in the May 27 death of Anthony Harmon Jr. The boy was shot in the face in the kitchen of an apartment in Cumberland and pronounced dead at the scene.

Court documents show the 13-year-old will be kept in custody because of the murder charge and to protect him and the community. He has denied the allegations

The Marion County prosecutor says in court documents that the case will remain in juvenile court.

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com
Law enforcement sources have confirmed the Orlando shooter called 911 twice and then called "a local news outlet," and NY1's sister station CFN 13 in Orlando says that outlet was them.



The FBI interviewed producer Matt Gentili after he says he took a call from someone claiming to be the Orlando shooter early Sunday morning.

Sources confirm Mateen called 911 twice to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State group, then called a local news outlet about 45 minutes after the shooting.

Gentili recounts the exchange:

"He said, 'I'm the shooter. It's me. I am the shooter.' And I didn't know what to say," Gentili said. "Then he started to say he did it for the Islamic State, he did it for ISIS, and he started speaking in Arabic. At the time, I didn't know what he was saying. He was speaking so fast."

Gentili said he asked where the caller was, but the caller said it was "none of my (expletive) business."

Gentili said he heard nothing in the background.

"It was silent for a while," Gentili said. "I asked him: 'Is there anything else you want to say?' He said no and hung up the phone."

The station's managing editor was able to trace the number and match it to Mateen.

The FBI wouldn't specifically confirm that Gentili spoke to the gunman.

Gentili formerly worked as a producer for TWC News in Albany.
A Brooklyn man is under arrest for allegedly threatening to carry out an "Orlando-style" attack on a gay bar in Bushwick.



Police say 40-year-old Justin Rice was asked to leave the Happy Fun Hideaway on Myrtle Avenue around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

They say he became aggressively agitated and shouted, "I will come back Orlando-style. I'll shoot this place up. I'll get me 50."

He also shouted anti-gay slurs, tried to throw a punch and threw a metal bucket, according to authorities.

A customer who lives in the area, but was not there at the time, says recent events are not going to change how he lives his life.

"I'm going to go to work like I do every day, and I'm going to have drinks when and where I feel," the customer said. "I mean, it's terrible, but at the same time, you know, you can't let a few crazy people, there's always going to be crazy people, and can't let crazy people dictate your life."

Rice is being charged with second-degree assault, second-degree aggravated harassment and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
The family of a 6-year-old boy is calling for the arrest of a teacher's aide who they say undressed and hit the boy at his Bronx school.



The alleged incident happened at the Rosalyn Yalow Charter School in Concourse Friday.

According to the student's family, a teacher's aide took the 6-year-old out of the classroom for refusing to take a test.

They say the aide took the boy into a closet where fencing gear is stored in the basement, then asked him to take off his clothes.

When the boy refused, the aide allegedly took off the boy's shirt, sneakers and socks.

The boy's family says the aide then showed the student pictures of naked African men and women, and hit him on the head with a sword-like object.

The family is now demanding the school take action.



"He's a 6-year-old boy, and to have that going on, it's like, his innocence, what about it? Did you care? Did you consider it when you was trying to install this corporal punishment on him?" said LaQuana Chisholm, the boy's mother.



"This family has every right to call for this individual to be arrested and to be put in a position to never ever hold a job working with kids again," said Tony Herbert of the Advocates Without Borders Network.



School officials say the aide has been put on administrative leave until their internal investigation is complete.




Family and friends said goodbye to a teenager who was shot to death last month in her Brooklyn apartment.



Loved ones of 16-year-old Shemel Mercurius held a funeral for the teen Tuesday in East Flatbush.



Mercurius was fatally shot while babysitting her cousin on May 31.



Taariq Stephens, 24, has been charged with second-degree murder.

Police say Stephens used a 40-caliber sub-machine gun to shoot the girl.

The victim's family and community leaders are calling for an end to gun violence in the area.



"The family would just like to thank the NYPD and the community that's been with us throughout this whole situation, and we're just asking for them to continue supporting us in fighting against gun violence and trying to get guns off the streets," said Ayashia Mercurius, the aunt of Shemel Mercurius.



"It's just not this family that's grieving, but the whole world is grieving," said Allison Jones of the Guyana Action Committee. "As you look around every day and you see on the TV, there's so much hate within the world, and so much senseless crime is happening."



The Mercurius family says they plan to set up a scholarship in her name.




Vigils were held across the city Tuesday to honor the victims of the shooting in Orlando.



The names of all those killed were read at Grand Army Plaza.

Khalisha Pressley, the daughter of Brenda McCool, one of the people killed, spoke at the event.

She says her mother had a military background and because of that was able to save the life of her brother, who was also at the nightclub that night.



"She knew to go into combat mode when they came in with guns, so she protected my brother using her basic skills of the military," Pressley said. "She's a hero. There's nothing else I can feel. My mother's a superhero."

At the Brooklyn Bridge, participants wore clothes and held balloons in the color of the rainbow to show solidarity with the victims.

"Not just as a gay man, but as a human being, it's important to understand that everyone should be respected and seen equally, regardless of your race or where you're coming from," said one attendee.

Another vigil was held in front of Club Evolution, a gay club on Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens.